ISIS Attempted to Erase Heritage of Assyrians and Yazidis

August 2024 marks the 10-year anniversary of the Islamic State group's genocide, in which thousands of people from Iraq's marginalized communities, including Yazidis, Christians and Shiite Muslims, were killed in Iraq's second-largest city, Mosul, and the surrounding areas.

The Yazidis, who follow a monotheistic religion, in which the Peacock Angel is chief among seven divine beings, and have been persecuted periodically in the past, suffered gravely. From 2014 to 2017, at least 5,000 were brutally killed, while 6,000 women and children were enslaved; hundreds of thousands were displaced from Sinjar and the Nineveh Plains, near Mosul.

Iraq's Assyrian Christians, who belong to a native Mesopotamian community consisting of early converts to a Syriac form of Eastern Christianity, also suffered under IS. In Mosul, IS marked Christian homes and forced them to either pay jizya, a tax historically levied upon non-Muslims, leave or be killed.

Even Muslims, particularly Shiites, whom IS deemed heretical for their adherence to forms of Islam beyond the narrow version of Sunni Islam the group espoused, were killed. While Shiite Muslims are a majority in Iraq, they are a minority in Mosul and the north, which is dominated by Sunni Muslims.

Iraq is the land where I was born. During a visit in the summer of 2016, I was able to see IS men from an ancient monastery atop a mountain near Mosul, which was especially troubling. Although IS was mostly defeated by Iraqi forces, in combination with a broader international coalition led by the United States, the consequences of the genocidal violence it perpetrated are ongoing.

In particular, Yazidis and Christians continue to suffer marginalization, the regions they inhabit remain unstable, and their heritage is subject to ongoing destruction. As a scholar of Iraq, I have a particular concern about the loss of intangible heritage such as prayers, songs and historic narratives -- which I am now working to preserve.

Historical significance

Since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, political parties in power have operated on a sectarian basis to marginalize minorities such as Christians and Yazidis.

The number of Christians in this area has dwindled from 1.5 million in 2003 to a few hundred thousand today. Other Islamic fundamentalist groups such as al-Qaida also targeted Christians, before IS did. The Alliance for Iraqi Minorities, a nonprofit based in Iraq, reported that 1,200 Christians were killed from 2003 to 2014.

Part of the reason for their suffering is that the region they have historically occupied, especially the Nineveh Plains, is coveted for its resources. It is rich in oil and also holds some of the most significant heritage of Iraq's early, pre-Islamic cultures.

Yet, it also holds special value for Iraq's Assyrian Christians. Nineveh and surrounding areas such as Nimrud and Alqosh have important artifacts, monasteries and church complexes, which date to Christianity's earliest periods. These areas were once part of Mesopotamia, a crucible of civilization, and contain a rich legacy of medieval literature, preserved in valuable manuscripts dating as far back as the fifth century.

Also adjacent to the Nineveh Plains is Lalish, the holiest sanctuary of the Yazidis. Within it lies the 12th-century shrine of Sheikh Adi, who is revered as an influential holy figure in the Yazidi faith.

These communities draw their cultural identity from this history. For the Assyrians Christians, the ancient Mesopotamian inheritance, including Christianity, is intertwined with a unique oral heritage that includes songs, folktales, recipes and tools for crafts preserved for centuries by local villagers as part of their now endangered Aramaic language and culture.

The language of farming used by these communities retains some influences from the Akkadian language used by the ancient Mesopotamian empires. For instance, in the dialect of the town of Baghdeda, in the Nineveh Plains, the word for storeroom of grains is "bakhshima" in Aramaic, which is a close descendant of the "bet hashiimi" in Akkadian for barn.

Preserving heritage

Even before the emergence of IS, rural and ethno-religious communities that did not occupy a central position of power were subject to the state's neglect and inadequate preservation of their heritage. In particular, Arab nationalist governments such as the Ba'ath, which held power in Iraq from 1968 to 2003, destroyed the villages of Assyrian Christians, forcing their displacement to large urban majority centers in Iraq. The Yazidis were similarly targeted.

Throughout the 20th century, Iraq's national libraries and museums have shown scant interest in representing the heritage of provincial and rural communities.

IS brought more destruction. Churches and shrines, cultural institutions and ancient heritage -- including the city of Nimrod -- were destroyed by IS. Those charged with preserving the heritage, along with other community members, were displaced from their towns and villages or killed. Some 400,000 Yazidis and about 200,000 Christians were expelled from the region between 2014 and 2017.

In the process, IS also erased memories of communities that would be passed to future generations. The damage was particularly severe for the Yazidi community, as it lacks textual scriptures; and for both communities, many traditions were passed down orally by men and women -- often themselves illiterate -- in the many languages of the region.

The aim of IS, as my colleagues and I found, was to erase not only these communities themselves but also the forms of intercommunal coexistence that had characterized northern Iraq historically. Many of the religious sites IS targeted were revered by multiple religions. For instance, Mosul's Mosque of Nabi Yunis was built on the site of a Christian church believed to be the shrine of the biblical Prophet Jonah. According to the Bible, Jonah was instructed by God to save the Ninevites. IS's destruction of this site revealed an Assyrian palace underneath the church-turned-mosque, which was dedicated to Jonah.

The path forward

Our current project documents the intangible and textual heritage of both Yazidis and Christians. The oral heritage often uses ancient languages and dialects -- especially the endangered Near Eastern neo-Aramaic dialects spoken by Christians. We also document the Kurmanji version of Kurdish spoken by Yazidis.

The memories and narratives are significant not only for Yazidis and Christians but for the pluralistic history of the northern region and of Iraq as a whole. One example is "Dazike Batzmie," or the "Blessing of the String" -- a sacred white-and-red string spun from wool and worn by Yazidis for good luck.

Another is the pokhin -- a mixture made from seven grains plus salt, eaten during the conclusion of the "Rogation of Ninevites," a fast by Assyrian Christians in remembrance of Jonah and their repentance before God. It is believed that those who fast will have prophetic dreams, and the salty pokhin mixture will help thirsty single people to dream of their future soulmates.

Such rituals are passed down from elders and associated with the lands these communities connect to.

Today, these communities remain dispersed, and their suffering continues. Many of the locals involved in our project, including colleagues who have acted as defenders of their culture, have given up -- often leaving the region, preferring to become refugees in unfamiliar lands with unknown futures. Younger generations may not appreciate the depth of connections between religious practices and community legends that oral history ties together.

The intense political and economic pressures and the insecurity they continue to feel are behind their reasons to leave. But as someone who knows the region deeply, I believe ensuring the continuation of the region's traditions and cultural diversity through preservation efforts can give hope and provide a path forward.
Helicopter crashes in Nepal, 4 bodies found: police

Xinhua) 10:53, August 08, 2024

KATHMANDU, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- A helicopter crashed in Nuwakot district of Nepal's Bagmati province on Wednesday afternoon, with four bodies having been found, local police said.

"The helicopter belonging to Air Dynasty has crashed. We have found four dead bodies," Tilak Bharati, spokesperson for the district police, told Xinhua.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
A beloved 65-year-old Walmart worker died in what appears to be a seemingly random stabbing attack allegedly perpetrated by a California parolee.

Longtime employee and mother of three Jessica Morales was allegedly stabbed to death in front of customers Monday morning at a Walmart in Lake Elsinore, California, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.

The suspect, identified as 29-year-old parolee Lonnie Hinton, turned himself in to authorities later that day and was booked for murder.

Hinton was released from prison earlier this year for robbery and was on active parole when he allegedly killed Morales in what investigators believe to be a "random event," the sheriff's office said.

Authorities did not elaborate on how much time Hinton served or what qualified him for early release.

"She was a really good person. Great friend. Everybody loved her," Morales' unidentified female coworker told KTTV-TV.

"You're here to work and try to help customers, not for you to be stabbed or insulted, you know? You want to be safe where you work and you're not," she added.

Morales worked at Walmart for over 25 years.

"We're heartbroken by what has happened at our Lake Elsinore store," the company said in a statement to the station. "The facility will remain closed as we work with police during their investigation. We offer our condolences and support to the family during this difficult time and will continue working with our associates, providing support as needed."

A GoFundMe campaign launched to help offset funeral costs described Morales as "kind, generous, and loving to everyone she encountered. She always put people before herself. Though it pains us, we now have a beautiful angel looking over our family."
Libyas National Oil Corporation (NOC) has declared force majeure at the Sharara oilfield, after protests halted production at the countrys largest field earlier this week.

Considering the current circumstances at Sharara that prevented NOC from carrying out crude oil loading operations, the state oil company of Libya declared force majeure effective August 7, NOC said in a notice.

Sharara fully halted oil production on Monday after output was curbed during the weekend due to protests.

The oilfield, which has the capacity to pump more than 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil, last produced around 270,000 bpd on Saturday.

However, the field began to gradually cut production on Saturday after workers at the oilfield were told to do so, according to Bloombergs anonymous sources.

Earlier on Monday, Libyas internationally recognized government accused its rival government in the east of political blackmail following protests that led to operational curbs at the Sharara oilfield.

The statement said the output reduction at the field was extortion but did not elaborate on the claim.

Reuters reported on Saturday that protesters at the field had forced the personnel at the field to begin winding down production, citing two unnamed engineers working at the field.

The Sharara field is a regular target for warring political and military factions in Libya, which boasts the biggest oil reserves in Africa but is having difficulty exploiting them fully due to the complicated political situation in the country.

The latest shutdown at Sharara took place in January this year, again prompted by protesters demanding greater involvement of the government in regional affairs such as job creation and more investments in the regional economy.

Earlier this year, the head of the National Oil Corporation said that there were plans to boost the total to 1.5 million barrels daily by 2025 and expand it further to 2 million bpd in 2027. Events such as the current ongoing output cuts at Sharara, however, suggest these plans will be quite challenging to implement in the absence of a radical shift in the countrys political environment.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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Occidental Petroleum reported second-quarter profits of $1.03 per share for a total of $1 billion thanks to higher production. The result exceeded analyst expectations by 34%.

The company reported oil and gas pretax profits of $1.6 billion for the second quarter of the year, up from $1.2 billion for the first quarter. It also reported an average realized oil price for the quarter of $79.89 per barrel, which was 5% higher than the average realized oil price for the first quarter, contributing to the financial result.

Oxy produced 1.258 million barrels of oil equivalent daily during the reporting period, some 600,000 boed above its guidance figure for the second quarter. Analysts had expected output of 1.24 million barrels of oil equivalent daily.

The companys full-year production guidance will be quite higher, too, to include production from CrownRock assets, for a total of 1.315 million bpd. In the third quarter of the year, Occidental expects production to rise strongly, by 140,000 bpd for a total quarterly average of 1.39 million bpd.

Occidental announced it would buy Permian-focused CrownRock at the end of last year, adding around 170,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of high-margin, lower-decline unconventional production in 2024 to Oxys portfolio in the shale play. It would also add approximately 1,700 undeveloped locations to the companys asset portfolio.

The strength of our operational performance resulted in impressive financial results for the second quarter of 2024, Oxys chief executive Vicki Hollub said at the release of the second-quarter results. We are excited to continue building on this positive momentum across our deep and diverse asset portfolio with the addition of CrownRock.

Oxy plans asset sales worth $970 million this year and debt repayments of $4.5 billion within the next 12 months. Capital spending for this year was raised by $400 million to a total of $6.9 billion.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Just a day after Libya was forced, once again, to reduce oil production from its largest field, Sharara, over protests, the Tripoli-based Libyan Prosecutors Office has ordered the arrest of the countrys oil minister on corruption charges, according to Libyan media reports.

An arrest warrant was ordered on Wednesday for Oil Minister Khalifa Abdul-Sadiq on charges of corruption in connection to a reported 600,000 euros used for the benefit of a foreign company, according to the Libya Observer, citing the arrest order.

The post of oil minister in LIbya has been embroiled in controversy for months, and for all intents and purposes, Libya has had dueling oil ministers since March.

In March, then-Oil Minister Mohamed Oun was suspended pending an investigation, and temporarily replaced him with Abdul-Sadiq. In May, Oun was cleared of wrongdoing, the investigation was wrapped up, and he was officially presumed fit to maintain his position as oil minister. However, at that time, Prime MInister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, head of Libya's Tripoli-based government, reportedly ordered Abdul-Sadiq to refuse to hand power back over to Oun, leaving the country essentially with two oil ministers working at cross purposes.

Then, this week, an arrest warrant was issued for Abdul-Sadiq, with Oun watching from the sidelines after demanding clarification in early July as to who is actually the oil minister. At the time, Oun had said he was voluntarily suspending himself from the post until he received clarification.

Now, with Abdul-Sadiq under arrest, it remains unclear whether the country still has an oil minister, and whether Oun will also be replaced.

In the meantime, reports are emerging from Libya that the protests that have once again caused a partial shutdown of Libyas Sharara oilfield may not have been organic. The Libya Observer has speculated that General Khalifa Haftar, behind the rival government forces in the east, may have orchestrated the protests and forced a shutdown in retaliation for his brief detention by Italian authorities in Rome just days ago on a Spanish arrest warrant connected to charges of weapons smuggling. Spains Repsol oil and gas company is one of the JV partners in Sharara.

As of Libyan media reports on Wednesday, Sharara was pumping 200,000 bpd, down from 270,000 bpd. The field has a capacity of 300,000 bpd.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Several Western insurers have provided coverage for tankers carrying Russian oil, Reuters has reported, citing shipping and insurance data.

The report noted that Western insurers are only allowed to insure tankers with Russian crude if the cargo sells for $60 per barrel or below. However, the average price of Russias flagshipand cheaperUrals blend has been $69.40 per barrel, according to LSEG data cited by Reuters.

The insurers that provided coverage for the vessels with Russian crude included the American Club, West of England, and Garda Norway based companyinsured ten tankers loaded with crude oil produced by Rosneft and bound for Asia. All tankers were insured this year.

The insurance industry was an important tool for the EU and the U.S. in enforcing sanctions on Russia following the 2022 incursion of Russian troops into the Donbass. Under a price cap agreed by the G7, Western-based insurers could only legally provide coverage for tankers carrying Russian crude on the condition that it sold for $60 per barrel or less.

Insurers noted early on that the enforcement of the price cap would be a significant challenge so most of them simply refused to cover any tankers carrying Russian crude. This, however, did not stop the export of the commodity from Russia. Russian insurers as well as companies from China and India stepped in to provide the necessary coverage and keep the oil flowing.

The enforcement of sanctions overall has failed to achieve its objective of stifling the Russian economy, with the World Bank a month ago adding Russia to its high-income country list, for the first time since 2015. Trade was among the main contributors to this development, booking a 6.8% increase last year, the World Bank said. The financial industryanother big target for Western sanctionsgrew by 8.7% last year, the WB also said.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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More than 1,000 participants from various industries, ministers of state, sales leaders, exhibitors, and seasoned speakers will storm the Accra International Conference Centre from 14 to 15 August 2024 to attend the maiden National Sales Leaders Conference (NSLC). The platinum sponsor is offering 200 complimentary tickets to early bird registrations.



The Minister of Finance, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, who is leading the countrys economic transformation, will deliver a powerful speech as the special guest of honour. At the same time, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Michael Kofi Okyere Baafi, will also address the participants as the guest speaker.



Dr Amin Adam will speak on how government policies are accelerating sales toward economic growth and development at a time when the countrys economy is on the path of recovery.



He is also expected to use the platform to update the business community on some of the governments major policies to improve the growth of businesses in the country.



Mr Okyere Baafis presentation would focus on growing and developing trade and the need for sales to promote trade and drive inclusive growth. He would also discuss measures the government has implemented to attract more investments into the country.



As one of the main speakers of the two-day historic conference, the President of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG), Dr. Daniel Kasser Tee, would throw light on the theme. Mr. Michael Abbiw, the Chief Executive Officer of MGA Consulting Ghana Limited, a leading management consulting firm and a seasoned sales expert with over two decades of experience, will deliver the welcome address and is expected to tackle aspects of the theme from a practice perspective.



The conference, organized under the theme Sales Unleashed: The Role of Sales in Sustained Organizational Revenue Growth and Economic Development, aims to highlight the importance of effective sales strategies in achieving economic success.



Additionally, the maiden edition of the National Sales Leaders Conference seeks to provide an ideal platform for Sales, Marketing, and Business Development leaders and professionals to discuss current challenges and opportunities in the countrys sales environment and how professionals can elevate the art of selling.



The conference would also put a searchlight on innovations in sales, revenue growth strategies, sustainable sales strategies, and sales leadership. The thought-provoking conference would allow the attendees to engage in keynote sessions, seminars, panel discussions, and workshops that address critical sales issues across various industries.



Commenting on the inaugural National Sales Leaders Conference, the General Manager of CoreEvents Solutions, Clarus Kwofie, said: These activities help sales leaders stay competitive, expand their professional networks, and enhance their organizations brand recognition and credibility, ultimately driving revenue growth.



He said: Organizations are encouraged to leverage this conference to empower their sales teams with modern technologies and strategies that can transform their operations.



The conference aims to initiate a national dialogue on the pivotal role of sales within organizations and its contribution to the Ghanaian economy, he added.



Mr Kwofie assured that the conference, after the first edition, would become an annual event on the calendar of the two companies and partners that have teamed up to organize it. Instructively, the premier national sales conference is organized by CorEvents Solutions Limited and MGA Consulting Ghana Limited in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) and Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (STCCI).



The National Sales Leaders Conference is sponsored by Telecel, Star Oil, Fidelity Bank, Bayport, Acacia Health Insurance, Hollard Insurance, SIC Life, Edward Mensah, Woods & Associates, Provident Insurance, Sekoe, iDevice Home, Bel-Aqua, Mont, McPhilix, and, Securisk Insurance Brokers.



The conference has media partners such as B&FT, TV3, Joy FM, Joy News, Accra Daily Post, Citi FM, and Asaase Radio.









Source: African Eye Report









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A physics teacher at St. John Bosco College of Education in Navrongo who won GH30,000 as weekly prize in the ongoing Telecel More Money Promo is still reeling from the experience after initially thinking it was a joke or scam.



Fred Tamakloe said when he received the call from the Telecel agent announcing his lucky win, he didnt believe the person at the end of the call, who was apparently more excited for him. He responded with a simple thank you before resuming his teaching duty.



There were several calls the next day from a regional executive asking me to turn up for the prize presentation at the Bolgatanga main lorry station, but I didnt believe it was true. I stopped picking up all calls at a point and told them to give whatever money they claim I have won to the orphanage, Fred recalled.



With the prize presentation ceremony all set at the Bolgatanga transport station the next morning awaiting Freds arrival, persistent calls to his number still went unanswered or ended up with no affirmation of attendance.



Telecels Executive Head - Northern sector, Pattison Antor drove over 30 kilometres from Bolgatanga to Navrongo to explain the newly found fortune to Fred in person and try to convey him to the prize presentation grounds. Even that wasnt convincing enough for the 28-year-old teacher as he remained indifferent.



Seeing the branded Telecel vehicle arrive to campus made me nervous. My students and some teachers came around and asked that a college security officer escort me to the supposed event to confirm if indeed it was true and not a scam, Fred said.



Fred was spellbound and shocked at what he saw when they arrived at the Bolgatanga station. The stage was done. People had been waiting for me for hours. Thats when it dawned on me that this is indeed real and true.



Fred plans on using the winning money to further his education by obtaining a masters in philosophy (MPhil) in pharmaceutical physics and investing the remaining into buying treasury bills.



The promo is real. I never dreamed of winning, but I have. Everyone should get a Telecel SIM card and opt in to join the promo so you can stand a chance to win like me, Fred said.



On the same day Fred received the weekly prize, two other lucky customers also walked away with the GH30,000 weekly cash prize at Takoradi Market Circle and Adum Market. The grand prize of GH1 million awaits the luckiest customer at the end of the promo period in September.



The shock and surprise Fred displayed goes to show how genuine the Telecel More Money Promo is. We are delighted to see so many winners experience these life-changing positive moments. We encourage everyone to keep participating in the More Money Promo for a chance to win," Pattison said.



The More Money Promo offers Telecel customers the opportunity to win daily cash prizes, weekly cash prizes, and a grand prize of GH1 million. To participate, customers simply need to activate the promo by sending 'WIN' to 500, dialling *500# or visiting the promo section of the Telecel Play App. Participants can then increase their chances of winning by recharging their airtime or purchasing data bundles.



All Telecel users, including mobile, prepaid, fixed and business customers are eligible to participate in the Telecel More Money Promo for a chance to win daily and weekly cash rewards and the grand prize of GH1 million.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged African countries to strengthen democratic institutions to promote inclusive, accountable, and participatory governance.



It is a fight that if it succeeds will bring progress and prosperity to the continent, and that has to be our goal, he advised.



In an interaction with the leadership of the Democrat Union of Africa (DUA) at the Jubilee House in Accra, the President stressed that military interventions and regimes were not the solution to the continents challenges.



The Union is convinced that the continent can only reach its full potential if it embraces the ideals of true democracy and promotes and defends human rights.



It believes in the free market and individual self-initiatives as critical to the growth of African economies, with a focus on developing inclusive societies where justice prevails, voices are heard, and opportunities flourish.



The President expressed concern about the incidence of military coups, terrorism, and violent extremism in the subregion, citing the ouster of legitimately elected governments in Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.



Today, there is a very real danger that the West African economic bloc, ECOWAS, will now be a fractured organisation for the next decade or so if things are not properly handled.



And the end result is going to be a continuing upheaval that we are witnessing here in West Africa, he noted.



The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), presenting the Secretary-Generals latest report, called attention to millions of children in the region who lack access to education because many schools had been closed due to instability.



Non-state groups are fighting among themselves for supremacy, pushing States to the margin and causing untold misery to millions of people who had to leave their communities to seek safety, the Office noted.



Expressing worries over the widespread insecurity in the Sahel, UNOWAS underscored the need for adequate, predictable, and sustainable funding for regional security initiatives.



The Lake Chad Basin and Central Sahel have emerged as epicentres and incubators of terrorism and violent extremism, as the UN works frantically to combat misinformation, promote inter-communal dialogue, and actively engage in deradicalization and reintegration.



Scores of democratic advocates and security experts are concerned about the regions democratic backsliding, condemning all coups and attempted coups, and calling for the restoration of constitutional order in the affected countries.



We are going through extremely challenging times in West Africa, said President Nana Akufo-Addo.



ECOWAS, some years ago, considered an oasis of democratic engagement, is today challenged by the spread of military insurrections that have taken place, he said.



The President lauded DUA for promoting democratic engagements to foster the rule of law on the continent.



He welcomed the mission to create an inclusive society where every voice was valued since it was the path to shaping a future of unlimited opportunity for all Africans.



Ms. Louisa Atta-Agyemang, the Co-Chairperson of DUA, commended Ghana for upholding democratic principles, and the President for being an avowed advocate of human rights.

Source: GNA









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Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has tasked stakeholders in the road infrastructure provision industry to critically evaluate the opportunities in the financing models for funding road construction projects.



That, he said, would go a long way to bridge the huge financing gap within the road construction sector.



The Vice President made the call during the 50th Anniversary launch of the Ghana Highway Authority and High-level Expert Panel Discussion in Accra on Wednesday.



The event was on the theme, Closing the Financing Gap on Road Infrastructure Development in Ghana.



Some key stakeholders including road contractors, engineers, financial institutions, and procurement officers deliberated on opportunities and challenges facing the road sector and charted the way forward.



Dr Bawumia noted that road transport was the common means of transporting commuters as well as goods and services in Ghana and called for sustainable ways of financing to maintain the over 94,000 km road network at the optimal level.



Recent estimates indicate that the nation requires $12 billion to clear the maintenance backlog and enable the network of about 94,203km to be at an optimal level.



However, the current funding levels only cover about 38% of the requirement, leaving a significant shortfall.



This gap translates into deteriorating road conditions, increased maintenance costs, and missed economic opportunities.



Globally, the Vice President said, the situation was similar, noting that the African Development Bank reports a continental infrastructure financing gap of between $68 billion and $108 billion annually.



This staggering figure underscores the importance of innovative solutions and strategic partnerships, Dr Bawumia stated.



The Vice President pointed out that public-private partnerships (PPPs) offered a viable solution to bridging the financing gap.



By fostering collaboration between the public sector and private investors, we can unlock new funding streams and leverage expertise in project implementation.



Successful PPPs have been implemented worldwide, demonstrating their potential to deliver infrastructure projects on time and within budget.



To foster successful partnerships, the Vice President said it was essential to build strong relationships with construction firms, engineering companies, and technology innovators who could provide both financial support and valuable expertise.



Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are vital for sharing the responsibilities and rewards of infrastructure development. Such collaborations often lead to improved quality of infrastructure and can significantly reduce the burden on public finances, allowing for the reinvestment of savings into other essential areas, Dr Bawumia stated.



He challenged the participants to explore innovative financing models such as the issuance of Infrastructure and Municipal bonds and reforming the tolling system to ensure equity in its payment.



He stressed the importance of generating sustainable revenue streams for road development and maintenance.



It is evident that we need to discuss a major paradigm shift in road financing at this technical forum. Some areas you might consider include concessioning of high-volume roads over a period.



This could be done on major trunk roads like Accra-Kumasi, Accra-Cape Coast, Accra-Akosombo as well new ring roads/ expressways around our major urban centres.



Congestion pricing, which aims to reduce the entry of low-capacity vehicles into central business districts and encourage the use of high-occupancy vehicles, is also another option, Dr Bawumia noted.



Discussing what he termed a controversial initiative, Dr Bawumia stated: I wish to propose a radical reform of the road tolling system in use. We are tolling the poor and leaving the rich and affluent to enjoy. Persons who live in places such as East Legon, Cantonments, Ridge and Labone do not pay any tolls, but they have some of the best roads in Ghana.



Meanwhile, people living in Kasoa, those who ply the motorway daily and others who pay tolls do not have these quality roads. I propose a major reform of the system, a toll on all drivers and passengers who use the road, irrespective of where they live, to address the concerns about equity and affordability, Dr Bawumia observed.

Source: GNA









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A Colorado teen who agreed to have sex with a man she met on Snapchat described her alleged would-be killer as "weird" moments before she met up with him.

Annabelle Floren-Wyant, 18, died during the early morning hours of Thursday at a residence in El Paso County, Colorado, according to the police report, KKTV-TV reported.

A friend called 911 to report he couldn't get a hold of Annabelle after he dropped her off at a home where she planned to meet one of her premium Snapchat subscribers to "collect money."

Authorities identified the premium subscriber as 26-year-old Jorge Luis Meza-Alarcon.

"[The friend] said Annabelle informed him Jorge was 'weird' and requested he check on her periodically via text message or phone call," the report stated.

When he was unable to reach the victim, he called 911.

Annabelle was found dead in the suspect's bedroom with blood pouring from her ear.

Deputies arrested a visibly injured Meza-Alarcon walking three miles away from the home.

During police questioning, Meza-Alarcon allegedly admitted he met Annabelle through Snapchat and agreed to pay her in exchange for sex, KOAA-TV reported, citing police records.

After the pair had sex, he said she asked him for payment and struck him when he went to grab the money.

He allegedly responded by putting her in a chokehold and claimed he later blacked out before regaining consciousness while walking in the street.

"Jorge was asked if he knew Annabelle was dead when he left the room and he stated 'without checking her pulse...' and said he 'knows how to do locks,' because he 'likes to train,' and he knows when the chokehold is used 'you only have 2-3 taps in you,'" the police report stated, according to the outlet.

The suspect "had an extreme indifference to human life when he knowingly applied a chokehold to Annabelle, which he reasonably knew would create a grave risk of death," police alleged, the records read.

Meza-Alarcon is being held on $1,000,000 bond. He is due in court Thursday.
James Kwabena Bomfeh has replied Ex-President John Dramani Mahama over his promise to create a new Region during his visit to the Bawku Nabas palace in the Upper East Region.



John Mahama told the people that he will ensure the creation of a new region for the Bawku area named Kusaug Region if elected President again.



He said; I discussed something with him. Your Member of Parliament, Im aware he has written a letter to the Speaker requesting that another region should be created out of the Upper East Region to cover the six constituencies in the Bawku area.



Bawku Naba raised it with me, and I told him in principle I think its a good idea for two reasons. One, for the reason of bringing government closer to the people.



Thats the principal reason for which we create new regions and new districts. And then the second reason is for security. Bawku is a special security zone because of the issues that have been happening here. And so it would be a good proposal to have a region so that it can be a focus to make sure that we deal with the security issues as well as we can.



And so, I dont think its out of place because the criteria are dependent on population, they are dependent on land size, and they are dependent on economic viability.



James Kwabena Bomfeh alias Kabila, in response on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, briefly stated; "I don't believe creation of a Region for Bawku is a solution to any problem there".





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama has accused President Akufo-Addo of creating diplomatic tension with neighbouring Burkina Faso.



During a press conference on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, John Mahama stated that the tension with neighboring Burkina Faso stemmed from an allegation made by the President in 2022. The President had claimed that Burkina Faso had hired Russian mercenaries and entered into an agreement with the Wagner Forces.



Today, Russian mercenaries are on our northern border. Burkina Faso has now entered into an arrangement to go along with Mali in employing the Wagner forces there, Akufo-Addo said at the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington in 2022.



According to Mahama, the President's comment caused tension with the neighboring country, but the President has since apologized.



The Flagbearer of the NDC called for the resolution of tensions and assured that the upcoming NDC government will make efforts to amicably resolve the issues with Burkina Faso.



We know what is happening in Burkina Faso. Indeed, we should be working closer with our comrades in Burkina Faso. Unfortunately, this government has created some tension between ourselves and Burkina Faso because our President went and opened his mouth too wide...You went and was doing nkonkonsa about your neighbour. We all are here and suffering, America called you small and you are so excited and you are doing nkonkonsa about him and so it has created some diplomatic tension".



He went there and went and apologized but still it is not the best and so when government changes we have to go and talk to our neighbours. Indeed, we must work together, he added.



He assured that the next NDC government will strengthen Ghanas relationship with Burkina Faso and initiate measures to help prevent the crisis in Burkina Faso from transpiring into Ghana.



Indeed, the whole anti-terrorism strategy of this sub-region was done in Accra and so we are the host of that initiative so we must be reaching out to them and seeing how we can collaborate with them so that we quench the fire in their houses. Because if theres a fire in your neigbours house, you dont help him to put it off, it will spread to your house and so I think we must strengthen our relationship with Burkina Faso, he further stated.



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Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Running-Mate to the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Election 2024, says the partys 24-Hour Economy policy will address some of the challenges bedeviling the economy and provide jobs for the youth.



Addressing members of the NDC Professionals Forum at the University of Cape Coast, she said: We dont have money, our currency is where it is heading to, which is not a good place. We cant pay our debt, and we are in a crisis worse than we imagined.



She said Ghana was broke and needed a quick fix.



This forms part of Prof. Opoku Agyemangs three-day campaign tour to the Central Region, a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency said on Tuesday.



She said with the high unemployment rate in the country, the NDCs 24-Hour policy and the National Apprenticeship programme were quick answers.



She noted that the unemployment rate was giving the NDC Flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, sleepless nights, hence the decision to implement the 24-hour Economy and create decent jobs for Ghanaians.



Some people claiming to be economists are deliberately saying it wont work and the NDC hasnt thought through it well. But interestingly, the same people are now saying, their government is already implementing the policy, she said.



Prof Opoku-Agyemang said political campaigns were about the sharing of ideas and therefore, urged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to tell Ghanaians what it could do to alleviate their pain.



She urged Ghanaians to vote massively for Mr Mahama in the December 7 general election to enable him to fulfill his promise of creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youth.

Source: GNA









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The Institute of Economic Affairs, IEA, says it will organise two Presidential Debates for selected flagbearers later in October and November this year.



The debates, to be held in Kumasi and Accra, will be preceded by Presidential Evening Encounters scheduled for September.



At a press briefing on Wednesday, the Institute said the Pre-Election Debate Series would also include one Vice-Presidential Debate in Accra for selected candidates.



The exact dates, times and venues for the events, it said, would be made public, after conducting engagements with candidates and their political parties.



Justice Sophia Akuffo (rtd), Distinguished Fellow of the IEA, said the debate would provide a platform for Presidential candidates to outline their policies and vision of governance for the country.



It will help citizens make informed decisions at the election, promote an issue-based campaign devoid of personal attacks and rancor, and promote peace before, during and after the elections, she noted.



While answering questions pooled from the entire country, the Presidential Candidates will have the opportunity to point out the weakness in the policies and programmes of their opponents.



The Vice-Presidential Debates are important because, as our Constitution mandates, the Vice-President assumes the role of the President when the latter is unable to perform the functions of that office. Vice Presidential aspirants, therefore, have to demonstrate adequate Presidential qualities, skills and competence, the Institute added.



Commending Ghanas 32-year fourth republican democracy, Mrs Akufo emphasised that the debate would help elicit the vision, competence, credibility, and capacity of candidates in addressing national challenges.



Ghanas development challenges are well-known but while we tackle our challenges, we need vision, wisdom to shape our common future. Itll require difficult decisions and a collective effort but all these will be influenced by the quality of leadership and policy direction of this country, she noted.



The Presidential Debates, according to the IEA, would require candidates to respond to anonymous questions from anonymous Ghanaians.



The Evening Encounters, on the other hand, would take a Town Hall format, and require candidates to respond directly to questions fielded in-person by representatives of key stakeholder groups.



The IEA said a Presidential Debates Committee was being constituted to determine the ground rules to govern the debates and evening encounters, and also solicit questions from Ghanaians.



The Institute debunked the notion that it was doing the bidding of any political party, stressing that it will continue to provide a neutral platform for healthy contest of ideas.



Eligible candidates have been encouraged to participate in the debate and Evening encounters.

Source: GNA









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Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has urged Ghanaians to reject John Mahama in the upcoming 2024 general elections.



He argued that a Mahama presidency would last only four years, making him unaccountable to the people as he would not be seeking re-election.



Dr. Bawumia made these remarks during his tour of the Eastern Region, where he has been engaging with constituents, traditional authorities, and religious leaders.



He stressed the importance of electing a leader who would be accountable to the people for a full term.



Dr Bawumia emphasised that Mr. Mahama, who would be on retirement after the polls, would not be seeking re-election, thus lacking the incentive to deliver on his promises.



Therefore, Dr. Bawumia urged Ghanaians not to vote for Mahama in the forthcoming election.



If we vote for former president Mahama, he can only become president for four years. Four years and that is it. He doesnt have to come back for another election. You wouldnt see him again in Lower Manya Krobo, he wont come back, hell just take the presidency and its bye-bye, honeymoon and its retirement.



The NPP flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has visited several constituencies in the Eastern Region, including Akropong, Asuogyaman, Lower Manya Krobo, and Yilo Krobo.



His campaign has focused on door-to-door engagement, community outreach, and meetings with traditional and religious leaders.



During one of his engagements, Dr. Bawumia pledged to provide a bus for Krobo Girls Senior High School, which was met with enthusiasm from the students.



I just told Nene Sackitey that Im going to personally buy a bus for Krobo Girls School so I will work on that for you," he promised.







Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com









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Essikado-Ketan Member of Parliament Joe Ghartey has reiterated the need for Ghanaians to consider voting for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the December 7, presidential election.



He believes Ghana should not be left behind in the technology world; hence, there should be a leader who can bridge the gap and ensure Ghana is well-developed.



Mr Joe Ghartey, however, said the New Patriotic Party's flagbearer is the only hope for Ghana and urged the Ghanaian electorates to vote for him come December 7.



The future of this country is in the hands of the NPP led by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. He told party members during the launch of the Effia constituency campaign team in the Western Region.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com









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The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has responded to a petition from the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, requesting an urgent recall of the House to deliberate on pressing government business under Article 112 (3) of the 1992 Constitution.



The request aimed to address urgent matters, but the Speaker noted these issues did not meet the constitutional threshold for a recall.



Here are some highlights of the speaker's response



Adjournment justification:



Speaker Bagbin defended the decision to adjourn Parliament sine die on July 30, 2024, highlighting that it was based on the Parliamentary Calendar and agreed upon by leadership.



He dismissed accusations of prioritizing international travel over parliamentary business.



"I have been accused of prioritising international travel over parliamentary business and of unilaterally deciding to adjourn the House on July 30, 2024. These accusations are unfounded and are made in bad faith," he said.



Unfounded accusations:



The Speaker refuted claims that he unilaterally decided to adjourn Parliament and emphasized that the decision was made with full involvement and prior communication with parliamentary leadership.



"The decision to adjourn the House Sine Representatives on July 30, 2024, was not made in isolation. This date was informed by the Parliamentary Calendar of the Fourth Session of the Eighth Parliament, which calls on Parliament to adjourn at the end of the month of July. This guide was discussed on several occasions at pre-sitting meetings of the Speaker and Leaders and agreed to weeks before July 30, 2024. As the official reports, voice, and video recordings of the proceedings of the House will clearly demonstrate, I consistently communicated to the House the agreed adjournment date throughout the meeting. The adjournment was neither sudden nor unilateral in this regard, as evidenced by the contents of the official reports of July 6th, 11th, 25th, and 26th, 2024," he added.



Logistical challenges:



Due to ongoing renovation work in the Parliamentary Chamber and the poor state of the Accra International Conference Centre, the Speaker cited significant logistical challenges in finding a suitable venue for Parliament to meet promptly.



"Again, at the beginning of the year, the Leadership of the House and the Parliamentary Service Board decided that the chamber be retrofitted in preparation for the 9th Parliament. The urgency of addressing structural defects and replacing the audio and video equipment cannot be overstated, as many have witnessed the failure of the equipment and some parts of the structure of the chamber in recent times, which has in some instances led to the abrupt suspension of sittings or adjournment.



"If Parliament does not undertake this work now, it will face significant challenges in finishing the necessary preparations before the transition to the 9th Parliament. The Chamber of Parliament is being retrofitted and upgraded and is unavailable for use by Parliament now.



Constitutional Interpretation:



The Speaker underscored the importance of interpreting Article 112(3) and Order 53 in a practical manner, considering the intent behind the provisions and the logistical realities, rather than a strict literal approach.



"It is important to note that the request for the recall is based on Article 112(3) and not 113. It is not a recall on the basis of an emergency. The reasons stated in the request are misconceived and are meant to throw dust into the eyes of the unsuspecting public.



Summoning Parliament:



Despite the practical challenges, Speaker Bagbin assured compliance with the constitutional requirement by summoning Parliament to meet on September 3, 2024. The exact venue will be communicated once it is available.



"To address these practical concerns and to allow sufficient time for preparations, as I intimated several times to the House before the adjournment sine die, I summon Parliament to meet on Tuesday, 3rd of September 2024, at a place and venue to be communicated as soon as one becomes available. Order 53 cannot therefore be fully complied with," he concluded.















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The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has officially summoned Members of Parliament to reconvene on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.



The decision follows a petition from the Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, requesting an urgent recall of the House to deliberate on pressing government business, graphic.com.gh reports.



In a response issued on Wednesday, August 7, Speaker Bagbin said that a thorough review of the matters outlined in the request from the Majority Leader indicated that they do not meet the threshold established by Article 112 of the Constitution.



"Most of the issues, including the $250 million IDA financing agreement, were already tabled before the House prior to the adjournment on 30th July 2024. The fact that these matters were already under consideration by Parliament and, in the case of the IDA Financing Agreement, were even subjected to debate and rejected, undermines the essence of the request for a recall," the Speaker noted.



He further pointed out that several of the bills listed in the petition are still under consideration by committees, and official reports from July 30 indicate a lack of enthusiasm, even among members of the Majority, to address the same businesses.



Bagbin emphasized that while Article 112 (1) of the constitution empowers him to designate the place for Parliament to conduct its business, the current logistical situation poses a significant challenge.



He highlighted the unavailability of the parliamentary chamber and the poor condition of the Accra International Conference Centre as key obstacles in finding a suitable venue for the meeting.



Relying on this constitutional provision and noting the unavailability of the Chamber of the House as stated above, the poor state of the Accra International Conference Centre, the Speaker has a practical challenge to appoint a place suitable for a parliamentary meeting, Bagbin explained.



In light of these challenges, Bagbin announced that Parliament will reconvene on September 3, 2024, at a venue to be communicated once arrangements are finalized.



He acknowledged that this situation makes it impossible to fully comply with Order 53 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, the report added.



NAY/AE











Source: ghanaweb.com









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Three upcoming Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna have been cancelled following a possible security threat.



The shows, part of Swift's Eras tour, had been due to take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Ernst Happel Stadium.



On Wednesday, two people were arrested on suspicion of planning attacks inspired by the Islamic State group on large events in the Austrian capital.



A statement from the organisers said: "Due to confirmation by government officials of a planned terrorist attack at the Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three planned shows for everyone's safety."

The statement added: "All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 working days."



Earlier, Austrias General Director for Public Security, Franz Ruf, said a 19-year-old Austrian citizen had been arrested on Wednesday morning in Ternitz in the province of Lower Austria.



He said a second arrest took place in Vienna in the afternoon, but gave no further details about the suspect.



According to the current status of the investigation, the two suspects became radicalised via the internet, Mr Ruf said.



He said the 19-year-old made an oath of allegiance to so-called Islamic State at the beginning of July.



A large police operation took place in Ternitz, where the 19-year-old lived. A number of houses nearby were evacuated while his home was searched.



Mr Ruf said chemical substances had been found and were being examined.



Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said in a post on X that the cancellations would be a "bitter disappointment for all fans" but that the situation had been "very serious".



"Thanks to the intensive cooperation of our police and [security agencies] with foreign services, the threat was recognized early, combated and a tragedy prevented."



The head of police in Vienna, Gerhard Purstl, said 65,000 people per day had been expected to attend the concerts, as well as 22,000 fans outside the venue.



Investigations are continuing.

Molly Surette, who lives in Leeds in the UK, had been waiting eagerly to attend Saturday's show with friends, having purchased tickets more than a year ago.



"When she first announced her European tours, I signed up [to try and get tickets] for as many dates as possible," she told the BBC.



"We've been looking forward to it ever since."



The group was making friendship bracelets - which fans have been taking to the shows to swap with each other during the tour - when they heard the shows had been cancelled.



"There's been so much building up to this concert and what the Eras tour is as a unique event to even attend," said Molly.



"And I'm missing that. So I'm devastated. I guess I'll be watching the recorded one!



"But I'm glad everyone is hopefully going to be safe."

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Miss South Africa beauty contestant at the centre of a nationality row has withdrawn from the competition, saying she took the decision for her and her family's safety and well-being.



Chidimma Adetshina's announcement on Instagram came a day after a preliminary investigation by the Home Affairs Department found that her mother may have committed "identity theft" to become a South African national.



Ms Adetshina - a 23-year-old law student - said she was born in Soweto, a township next to Johannesburg, and grew up in Cape Town.



In media interviews she explained her father was Nigerian and her mother was a South African of Mozambican descent.



For weeks her roots have been at the centre of a social media storm, with some South Africans questioning whether she was a South African.



As the row escalated, the organisers of the Miss South Africa pageant asked the home affairs department to conduct an investigation ahead of the event on Saturday.



In a statement on Wednesday, the department said it had so far found that the identity of an "innocent" South African mother "may have been stolen" by Ms Adetshina's mother.



However, Ms Adetshina "could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother as she was an infant at the time", the department said.



It added that it was conducting further investigations with the aim of pressing criminal charges, while also obtaining legal advice "on the implications of the alleged fraudulent activity on Adetshina's citizenship status".



In an Instagram post, Ms Adetshina did not respond to the findings, but said she had taken the "difficult decision" to withdraw from the competition.



She said she was grateful "for all the love and support" she had received, and wished the remaining contestants the best.



"Whoever wears the crown, represents us all," Ms Adetshina added.

Source: BBC









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Soon after Gov. Tim Walz was publicly announced as Vice President Kamala Harris' veep pick, Donald Trump and other Republicans started bashing him for how he handled the George Floyd riots in Minnesota.

In a video reaction to Harris picking Walz, JD Vance bashes him and Harris saying he "allowed rioters to burn down Minneapolis in the summer of 2020."

However, ABC News obtained audio of Trump talking to Walz on the phone after the riots, telling him he was "very happy" with how he managed the protests and the entire situation.

"I know Gov. Walz is on the phone, and we spoke, and I fully agree with the way he handled it the last couple of days," Trump told a group of governors on the audio recording of a call.

"I was very happy with the last couple of days, Tim," Trump said. "You called up big numbers and the big numbers knocked them out so fast it was like bowling pins."

Trump went on to insinuate that it was actually he who inspired Walz to make the call to the National Guard.

"I said, you got to use the National Guard in big numbers," Trump said.

In a statement to ABC News, Trump's spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said: "In this daily briefing phone call with Governors on June 1, days after the riots began, President Trump acknowledged Governor Walz for FINALLY taking action to deploy the National Guard to end the violence in the city."
So why do biblical scholars like Ian Paul believe that the actual traditional date for Christmas ought to be in September? This theory comes from a close reading of the clues left behind in Luke, particularly what the gospel's authors had to say about the timing of the birth of John the Baptist in relation to Jesus.

" " This 17th-century painting by Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione is titled "Angel Appearing to the Shepherds." Since the Bible says the shepherds were watching the sheep in a field at night, scholars assume this event took place in a warmer time than December. Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images

Luke's version of the Christmas story doesn't begin with Mary and Joseph. Instead, it starts with another couple, Elizabeth and Zechariah, who were older and childless.

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Zechariah, a priest, was visited by the angel Gabriel in the temple. Gabriel told him that his wife would have a son named John, who would prepare the world for the coming of the Lord.

Zechariah doubted Gabriel's message and was struck dumb. But when his service in the temple was over, the priest went home, and Elizabeth soon became pregnant.

As it turns out, the angel Gabriel also visited Mary to tell her she was going to conceive and give birth to baby Jesus, the Son of God, even though she was a virgin. Luke tells us that this second visitation to Mary happened "in the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy."

With that key fact, it's possible to deduce that Jesus was conceived six months after John. But that only helps us if we know when exactly John was conceived. And how would we know that?

More Biblical Clues

Again, the Bible provides more clues. Luke tells us that Zechariah "belonged to the priestly division of Abijah." Each division of priests took turns performing sacrifices and other services in the temple. In 1 Chronicles 24, the order of temple service is laid out by divisions numbering one through 24, with Abijah listed as eight in the rotation.

As Paul calculated on his blog, if each priestly division served for one week, with the first week of the ecclesiastical calendar landing in late March, that would put Zechariah in the temple in early June. If Elizabeth conceived soon after the angel visited Zechariah, and Mary conceived six months later, it places Jesus' birth in September of the following year.

Paul likes the September theory of Christmas for several reasons, including the shepherd idea mentioned above. Would Luke have placed shepherds in the fields in the middle of winter?

However, there are also some holes in this theory.

The biggest problem is that each priestly division served more than once a year in the temple. What if Gabriel appeared to Zechariah during his second stint in the temple six months later? That would place Jesus' birth in March, which Paul admits is a distinct possibility.

Ultimately, how important is it to solve the mystery of Jesus' actual birth date?

Thomas Wayment is a professor of classical studies at Brigham Young University who has written about the competing theories regarding the timing of Jesus' birth. He finds the debate over his birthday to be intellectually fascinating and worthy of discussion, but he also thinks it misses the point spiritually.

"Maybe, just maybe, we're better leaving it open in a sense," he says. He has seen early Christian references to Jesus' birth in April, May, and December and January. "We're celebrating an event, not a day."

We updated this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.

Now That's Interesting You may have read that Jesus' birth, according to Luke 2, took place when Caesar Augustus sent out a decree that "all the world should be taxed" (later translations called it a census). And that this was the first census to happen while Quirinius was governor of Syria. However, according to Josephus, Quirinius took the first census of Judea in 6 or 7 C.E., much later than the biblical account. Theologian Ian Paul says it could be a translation error  the verse could be translated from the original Greek as: "This census became most prominent when Quirinius was governing Syria." Or maybe Josephus just got the date wrong. "If you think that Josephus is infallible, then you haven't read Josephus," says Paul.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Burned trees are seen after illegal fires were lit by farmers in Manaquiri, Amazonas state, Brazil in September 2023.

Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest increased in July for the first time in 15 months, according to official data released Wednesday.

An area of 666 square kilometers (250 square miles) was destroyed in the Amazon last month, up 33 percent from the 500 square kilometers lost in July 2023.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has pledged to put a stop to illegal deforestation of the Amazon by 2030. The practice had dramatically worsened under his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro.

Among the factors that contributed to the increase in July, according to the government, was a strike by public employees in the environmental agency IBAMA.

In addition, "in July last year the decrease (in deforestation) was very high," Joao Paulo Capobianco, executive secretary of the environment ministry, said during a press conference explaining this July's poor results.

During the last 12 months, deforestation decreased 45.7 percent compared to the previous period.

"Over the past year, the reduction has been extremely significant," Capobianco said.

While deforestation destroyed 7,952 square kilometers between August 2022 and July 2023, it destroyed only 4,315 square kilometers in the same period in 2023-2024.

Deforestation is strongly linked to agricultural expansion and illegal mining.

The Amazon, the world's biggest rainforest, covers nearly 40 percent of South America. In the last century, it has lost about 20 percent of its area to deforestation, due to the advance of agriculture and cattle ranching, logging and mining, and urban sprawl.

Tropical forests absorb carbon and are a vital ally in the fight against climate change, but they are also the most ravaged by deforestation.

 2024 AFP
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Target pixel file (TPF) of TOI-6002 (TIC 102734241) in TESS sector 14. Credit: Ghachoui et al., 2024.

Using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), an international team of astronomers has detected two new super-Earth exoplanets orbiting nearby M-dwarf stars. The newfound exoplanets, designated TOI-6002 b and TOI-5713 b, are two times larger than our planet. The finding was reported in a paper published August 1 on the pre-print server arXiv.

TESS is conducting a survey of about 200,000 of the brightest stars near the sun with the aim of searching for transiting exoplanets. So far, it has identified over 7,200 candidate exoplanets (TESS Objects of Interest, or TOI), of which 543 have been confirmed.

The group of astronomers led by Mourad Ghachoui of the University of Liege in Belgium has confirmed another two planets monitored by TESS. They found that transit signals in the light curves of two M dwarfs known as TOI-6002 and TOI-5713, are of planetary nature.

"We used the 2-min-cadence TESS observations from four sectors for each target, ground-based photometry, high-angular resolution imaging, and spectroscopic observations to validate the planetary nature of the detected transit events. We jointly analyzed the transit light curves observed by TESS and ground-based facilities to characterize the planets," the researchers explained.

According to the study, TOI-6002 b has a radius of 1.65 Earth radii and is estimated to be nearly four times more massive than the Earth. The planet orbits its host star every 10.9 days, at a distance of some 0.06 AU. The equilibrium temperature of TOI-6002 b was calculated to be 321.1 K.

When it comes to TOI-5713 b, it is about 77% larger than the Earth and its mass is estimated to be about 4.3 Earth masses. The exoplanet has an orbital period of approximately 10.44 days and is separated from the parent star by 0.06 AU. It is estimated that the equilibrium temperature of TOI-5713 b is at a level of 347.2 K.

Based on the derived parameters, the authors of the paper classified the two newfound alien worlds as super-Earths. The so-called super-Earths are planets more massive than Earth but not exceeding the mass of Neptune. Although the term super-Earth refers only to the mass of the planet, it is also used by astronomers to describe planets bigger than Earth but smaller than the so-called mini-Neptunes (with a radius between two to four Earth radii).

The researchers added that the composition of the two planets is still uncertain, as they could be either rocky or water-rich worlds.

In concluding remarks, the astronomers underlined that both TOI-6002 b and TOI-5713 b are located just outside but near the inner edge of the habitable zone around their host stars. This makes them interesting targets for future studies aiming to explore the evolution of exoplanets from hot but potentially habitable to Venus-like worlds.

More information: M. Ghachoui et al, TESS discovery of two super-Earths orbiting the M-dwarf stars TOI-6002 and TOI-5713 near the radius valley, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2408.00709 Journal information: arXiv

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The synthesized double-helical monometallofoldamers exhibiting controllable chirality switching can lead to the development of novel artificial supramolecular systems for molecular information processing. Credit: Hidetoshi Kawai from Tokyo University of Science

The deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA, the molecular system that carries the genetic information of living organisms, can transcribe and amplify information using its two helical strands. Creating such artificial molecular systems that match or surpass DNA in functionality is of great interest to scientists. Double-helical foldamers are one such molecular system.

Helical foldamers are a class of artificial molecules that fold into well-defined helical structures like helices found in proteins and nucleic acids. They have garnered considerable attention as stimuli-responsive switchable molecules, tuneable chiral materials, and cooperative supramolecular systems due to their chiral and conformational switching properties.

Double-helical foldamers exhibit not only even stronger chiral properties but also unique properties, such as the transcription of chiral information from one chiral strand to another without chiral properties, enabling potential applications in higher-order structural control related to replication, like nucleic acids.

However, the artificial control of the chiral switching properties of such artificial molecules remains challenging due to the difficulty in balancing the dynamic properties required for switching and stability. Although various helical molecules have been developed in the past, reversal of twist direction in double-helix molecules and supramolecules has rarely been reported.

In a breakthrough, a team of researchers from Tokyo University of Science, Japan, led by Professor Hidetoshi Kawai from the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, and including Mr. Kotaro Matsumura from the Department of Chemistry, developed a novel mechanical motif, called double-helical monometallofoldamers with controllable chiral switching.

Prof. Kawai explains, "In this research, we succeeded in synthesizing a double helical mononuclear complex bridged with a single metal cation in the center of the helices to balance both stability and dynamic properties. These structures can undergo inversion switching by changing the left and right winding directions of both helix strands using different solvents."

Their study was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society on July 19, 2024.

The synthesized double-helical monometallofoldamers feature a metal cation in the center bridging the two helical strands, offering both controllable helicity switching and chiral transfer and amplification. Credit: Hidetoshi Kawai from Tokyo University of Science

The researchers synthesized the double-helical monometallofoldamers from two bipyridine-type strands with L-shaped units, which after forming a complex with a zinc cation formed double-helical structures. X-ray crystallography revealed the double-helical structures with a metal cation in their center.

The researchers investigated the switchability of monometallofoldamers in response to external stimuli and found that helix terminals of the double-helical form can unfold in solutions, resulting in the open form, favored at high temperatures, and refold to the double-helical form, favored at low temperatures.

Interestingly, the helicity of the double-helical monometallofoldamer with chiral chains can be controlled in response to achiral solvents. For example, in non-polar solvents (toluene, hexane, Et 2 O), it becomes left-handed or M-form, and in Lewis basic solvents (acetone, DMSO), it becomes right-handed or the P-form. The conformation of chiral chains introduced into the helix strands was found to be important for this M/P switching.

Furthermore, they found that when a helix strand with chiral chains is mixed with a strand without chiral chains, the winding direction of the helix is transmitted and amplified to the achiral strand without chiral chains, with the helicity inversion ability maintained.

Emphasizing the significance of this new molecule, Mr. Matsumura says, "Our synthesized double-helical monometallofoldamers has the potential to be applied to new switching chiral materials that output diverse chiral properties by small inputs and can be used to develop chiral sensors.

"In addition, we expect that this novel molecular structure will lead to facilitate the genesis of deracemized and organized supramolecular systems as those found in nature by transmitting and amplifying their superior chiral properties."

Overall, this study marks a significant step towards realizing artificial controllable double-helical structures, paving the way for novel high-order molecular systems and molecular information processing.

More information: Kotaro Matsumura et al, M/P Helicity Switching and Chiral Amplification in Double-Helical Monometallofoldamers, Journal of the American Chemical Society (2024). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c06560 Journal information: Journal of the American Chemical Society
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Self-portrait with straw hat, Elisabeth Vigee le Brun, 1782. In the 18th century, a pale complexion was associated with aristocracy. Credit: Wikimedia

If you're lucky enough to have escaped to sunny shores of late, chances are your colleagues will have complimented you upon your return on your summer glow. Yet tanning as a fashionable practice is both a relatively recent historical phenomenon and one that varies according to place. In fact, sunbathing first became chic by accident, after Coco Chanel inadvertently caught too much sunshine on a Mediterranean cruise in 1923. The photos of her disembarking from a yacht in Cannes set new beauty standards, which until then had associated darker skin tones with the lower classes' outdoor toil.

The utopia of the 'Polynesian' body

In France, historian Pascal Ory has sought to document the "epidermal regime" put forward by the French elites. From the medieval to the interwar period, white skinincluding that obtained with powderwas associated with ivory or snow, acting as a powerful marker of aristocracy. The artifice immediately distinguishes the aristocrat from the peasant, whose skin has also been transformed, but by toil and tan.

The 18th century and the Enlightenment put these norms to the test. As they map out the world, European explorers construct a space they called "Polynesia" as a distant paradise inhabited by the figure of the Otherembodied in particular by local women. As they discover the Tahitian nobility, the symbolic line between locals' skin tone and the one that is celebrated in Europe at the time becomes blurred. The male aristocratic gaze exalts the beauty of the wahine (in French: vahine), dubbing this new tropical paradise "New Cythera", in honor of the Greek island of Cythera considered to be home to Aphrodite, the goddess of love.

More generally, the skin color of Tahitians is a departure from both the same (the "white" European) and the radical embodied by the "Melanesians" (inhabitants of the "black islands"). It was in the wake of primitivism and the construction of the "noble savage" (or "good savage") that Gauguin's geographical imagination through which the colors burst forth would later emerge. The painter echoed the orientalist narratives and Tahitian stories told by Bougainville in his Voyage autour du monde (1771). The barely clad "golden" body becomes acceptable through an otherness constructed by distance (temporal and spatial) that integrates it into the category of the "exotic" and the "erotic". A new story about skin tones starts to take shape, and yet no one is talking about tanning yet.

'Rewilding' bodies

Our French and European perspectives aren't sufficient to understand how tanning came about in the West, which we define as a discontinuous area spread by Europe and its ideas across the world. Similarly to Edward Said's Orientalism, Tropicality, a potent discourse that constructs the tropical world as the West's environmental Other, changed the way we view skin tones. It's the Western vision of beaches in the "South Seas", where exoticized bodies lounge on the sand, awaiting transformation by heliotherapy.

A decade or so separated French writer Andre Gide's The Immoralist (1902), which captured the new pleasures of tanning, from Jack London's Hawaiian tales, which set out some of the practice's rules.

In The Cruise of the Snark (1911), which went on to become a bestseller in the United States, London sees the Honolulu neighborhood of Waikiki as the Mecca for muscular, tanned bodies crowding the world of surfing he came to know. High society, which distinguishes itself from the rest of society through its ability to travel, is ready to receive these images subverting the colonial gaze. Once tanned by the labor deployed outside, the working classes are now headed toward factory workshops, their skin pale. The fair complexion takes on a new stigma.

In Southern California, surf culture sought to "rewild" and beautify bodies by working out and freeing themselves from medical and hygienic standards, including by tanning. In Europe, tanning and new body standards spread as French and American actors mingle. A number of tourist attractions along the Cote d'Azur were designed to help these cultural worlds interact. During the Roaring Twenties, Americans fond of California and Florida spent more and more time in the French cities of Cannes, Antibes and Juan-les-Pins.

French American glamor

The millionaire couple of Sara and Gerald Murphy, who stayed at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, contributed to the advent of the summer beach by choosing to stay over the summer as well as the winter. Their social capital was combined with their "spatial capital", so much so that the beach, now inhabited during the summer, was arranged to enable meetings between cultural players open to the avant-garde, writers and artists who were interested in "negro art". Organized around the Lost Generation (Hemingway, Fitzgerald), this small world infused Paris, where Josephine Baker became an "eroticolonial icon".

Josephine Baker became an exemplary figure in the linking of American and French spaces when she was hired in 1925 by the Theatre des Champs-Elysees for the Revue Negre. Such was the aura of the woman who was nicknamed "Black Venus' that some ladies tried to emulate her by applying walnut stain to their skin.

Between the wars, the swimming costume market shrank at the cost of social struggles between the Catholic Leagues and the young modernist bourgeoisie. Combined with the success of sun creams, this stripping away of the skin reveals the sensuality that now associates the beach body with sun exposure and the (more or less ephemeral) transformation of the skin. The surge in tourism following the Second World War encouraged people to tan, in an intertwining of the therapeutic, the aesthetic and the hedonic. The anxiety associated with exposing the body to the sun was rekindled a few decades later with the emergence of new scientific knowledge questioning the vulnerability of different human skins to ultraviolet radiation. The repertoire of models for tanning widened, until it was no longer appropriate.

A globalized phenomenon?

Tanning is a practice that can be seen as a motif of globalization. This also means that its dissemination comes up against cultural filters that alter its meanings or may not absorb it. Fair skin is still viewed positively in "Asian" cultures (China, India, Japan, Korea, etc.), so much that exposing one's body to the sun comes across as subversive. In China, for example, a tan is strongly frowned upon, especially if it alters the female body, which is particularly invested by the norm of "milky" skin. No object exemplifies this cultural distaste better than the facekini, a full-head mask covering the entire head except for the nose and eyes worn sparingly on the Chinese coast.

We can explain its success through the growing number of Chinese tourists who strip off on the coast, such as certain beaches on the island of Hainan (southern China), regularly referred to as the "Chinese Hawaii." Even if the beach is still widely viewed by the Chinese as a place for play and socializing, sunbathing is growing more popular in the world of surfing, a water sport recently taken up by a small number of cosmopolitan individuals.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Tour group hikes through Jackson Demonstration State Forest in Northern California. Credit: Hilary Clark, U.S. Forest Service

Water trickles in a stream and redwoods tower overhead in Jackson Demonstration State Forest near Fort Bragg in Northern California. Joe Wagenbrenner, a research hydrologist with the U. S. Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station, shares the story behind the scenery.

"Our scientific findings here help inform the regulation of the timber industry within state and private lands in California," Wagenbrenner states.

Over 30 of us listen intently. A diverse group from the U.S. Forest Service, CAL FIRE, Northern Arizona University, Cal Poly Humboldt, and other organizations, we've gathered to learn about, or in some cases, speak about research occurring here.

Experimental forests and watershed studies

Standing next to a fiberglass structure, Wagenbrenner explains how this flume controls the flow of the stream, so scientists can more accurately measure streamflow. Caspar Creek, he adds, has a South and North Fork, each divided into smaller sub-watersheds, allowing researchers to do paired watershed studies.

In these studies, researchers treat some areas and not others, so they can compare the results. In their latest experiment, they monitored several watersheds where logging up to 75% of trees occurred in the smaller parts of the South Fork.

"We're still analyzing the results of the current study. In addition to streamflow and sediment movement, we're looking at soil moisture changes, how much water trees are using, groundwater conditions, light availability, and understory regeneration across the range of harvest conditions," Wagenbrenner states.

A proud history and a tight-knit partnership

Research at the site dates back to 1961 when CAL FIRE joined forces with the Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station to collaboratively manage the Caspar Creek Experimental Watersheds. Over 60 years later, that partnership is still going strong.

"When the state of California acquired Jackson Demonstration State Forest, they wanted to show it was still viable for timber production," Liz Keppeler, a hydrologist with the Pacific Southwest Research Station, adds.

In the 1970s, researchers removed trees from the South Fork for their first experiment. Removing the trees, especially those near watercourses, enhanced erosion and sent sediment into streams. Those findings informed California's forest practice rules, which evolve over time, as has the research.

Tour participants in Jackson Demonstration State Forest learn about research occurring there. Credit: Joe Wagenbrenner, U.S. Forest Service

After nearly 40 years in her role, Keppeler has witnessed management priorities change from focusing mainly on timber production to a more holistic approach. Today, in the grip of climate change, making forests more resilient is a priority.

"We work really closely with the Forest Service in the research we do," says Caitlin Grace an environmental scientist with CAL FIRE.

Protecting communities, redwoods, and watersheds

Even hardy, fire-adapted coast redwoods that can live for thousands of years are not immune to raging wildfires.

"Redwoods have thick bark and are high in tannins, which makes them naturally fire resistant. But their defense mechanisms may not be enough to survive with unprecedented climate change-driven fires we've seen recently," Grace adds.

CAL FIRE and research partners are using a combination of different fuel treatments, such as controlled burning, to see how the forest fares. They're assessing if cutting small trees before controlled burning helps reduce the fuels on the forest floor, and therefore, wildfire risk.

"These treatments will allow researchers to measure and compare different fire fuel mitigation methods for cost, vegetation change, wildlife use, as well as short- and long-term benefits," Grace emphasizes.

The partnership between CAL FIRE and the Forest Service is as interdependent as the health of the forest is to that of the watershed. CAL FIRE's work is particularly critical to supporting the Forest Service's Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to sustain forests and protect communities. That fuel mitigation work also compliments the Forest Service's hydrology research at Caspar Creek.

"This research has informed California's regulations on protecting watersheds through streamside buffers, road design, and other rules. That's critical," Keppeler stated.
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A commercial plane prepares to land at Ngurah Rai international airport in Denpasar, on Indonesia's Bali island.

Flying can be a nerve-wracking experience for many peoplebut a new study out Thursday finds commercial air travel keeps getting safer, with the risk of death halving every decade.

The fatality rate fell to 1 per every 13.7 million passenger boardings globally in the 2018-2022 period, a major improvement from 1 per 7.9 million boardings in 2008-2017, according to a paper by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

It's also a far cry from the dawn of commercial air travel: fatalities per passenger were 1 per 350,000 boardings in 1968-1977.

"Aviation safety continues to get better," said MIT professor Arnold Barnett, who co-authored the research that appeared in the Journal of Air Transport Management, adding the chance of dying "continues to go down by a factor of two every decade."

Barnett compared the trend to "Moore's Law," the famous prediction by Intel founder Gordon Moore that the computing power of chips doubles roughly every 18 months.

From 1978-1987 the risk of dying was 1 per 750,000 boarding passengers; from 1988-1997 it was 1 per 1.3 million; and in 1998-2007, 1 per 2.7 million.

The last major commercial airline disaster in the United States was in 2009, when Colgan Air flight 3407 crashed, killing 50 people.

Barnett cautioned however that ongoing progress is not assured. Recent near-collisions on US runways this year have made headlines, while federal investigators have been pressing Boeing on why a door-plug aboard a 737 MAX 9 aircraft came off mid-flight on an Alaskan Airlines plane in January.

Headline numbers also obscure vast global disparities in air safety, with the study dividing countries into three tiers based on their safety records.

The top tier includes the United States, European Union countries and other European nations, including Montenegro, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Australia, Canada, China, Israel, Japan and New Zealand round out this group.

Tier two consists of Bahrain, Bosnia, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Hong Kongcounted distinctly from ChinaIndia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

The world's remaining countries fall into tier three. Encouragingly, although the risk of dying is far greater in these countries, their air travel fatalities per boardings were also cut roughly in half during the 2018-2022 period.

More information: Arnold Barnett et al, Airline safety: Still getting better? Journal of Air Transport Management (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jairtraman.2024.102641

 2024 AFP
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Gaia's all-sky view of our Milky Way Galaxy and neighbouring galaxies, based on measurements of nearly 1.7 billion stars. The map shows the total brightness and colour of stars observed by the ESA satellite in each portion of the sky between July 2014 and May 2016. Brighter regions indicate denser concentrations of especially bright stars, while darker regions correspond to patches of the sky where fewer bright stars are observed. The colour representation is obtained by combining the total amount of light with the amount of blue and red light recorded by Gaia in each patch of the sky. The bright horizontal structure that dominates the image is the galactic plane, the flattened disc that hosts most of the stars in our home galaxy. In the middle of the image, the galactic centre appears vivid and teeming with stars. More information on: http://sci.esa.int/gaia/60169-gaia-s-sky-in-colour/

Is there intelligent life in the universe? And if so, just how common is it? Or perhaps the question should be, what are the odds that those engaged in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) will encounter it someday?

For decades, scientists have hotly debated this question, and no shortage of ink has been spilled on the subject. From the many papers and studies that have been written on the topic, two main camps have emerged: those who believe life is common in our galaxy (aka SETI Optimists) and those who maintain that extraterrestrial intelligence is either rare or non-existent (SETI Pessimists).

In a recent paper, David Kipping (Prof. "Cool Worlds" himself) and Geraint Lewis examined this debate more closely and offered a fresh take based on a form of probability analysis known as Jayne's Experiment.

By applying this method to astrobiology and the Drake Equation, they concluded that the existence of intelligent life in our galaxy may be an "all or nothing" proposition. To quote the late and great scientist and science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke: "Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the universe, or we are not. Both are equally terrifying."

Kipping is an Associate Professor of Astronomy at Columbia University and a Carl Sagan Fellow at the Harvard College Observatory. He is also the Principle Investigator of the Cool Worlds Lab at Columbia, which is dedicated to studying and characterizing exoplanet systems. Geraint Lewis is a Professor of Astrophysics at the Sydney Institute for Astronomy, part of the university of Sydney's School of Physics.

Their paper, "Do SETI Optimists Have a Fine-Tuning Problem?" was recently posted to the arXiv preprint server and is being reviewed for publication in the International Journal of Astrobiology.

The Drake Equation

In 1961, famed astronomer Frank Drake hosted the first SETI meeting ever at the Greenbank Observatory in West Virginia. In preparation for the event, he created an equation summarizing the challenges SETI researchers faced. This came to be known as the Drake Equation and is expressed mathematically as:

N = R*  fp  ne  fl  fi  fc  L

Where:

N is the number of currently active, communicative civilizations in our galaxy.

R* is the rate at which stars form in our galaxy.

fp is the fraction of stars with planets.

ne is the number of planets that can potentially host life, per star that has planets.

fl is the fraction of the above that actually do develop life of any kind.

fi is the fraction of the above that develop intelligent life.

fc is the fraction of the above that develop the capacity for interstellar communication.

L is the length of time that such communicative civilizations are active.

The Drake Equation was not intended to estimate the number of extraterrestrial civilizations (ETCs) in our galaxy but to stimulate dialogue about SETI. Since Drake first formulated it, the equation has been subject to criticism, additions, and revisions and has often been misrepresented in the process. As Prof. Kipping explained to Universe Today via email, part of the problem is how values are often arbitrarily applied to the parameters:

"Since we don't know most of the parameters, this is just pure speculation, and it should be labeled as such. Another point often missed is that it represents the mean number of civilizations and, thus, an expectation value of some underlying distribution.

"These days, it's become a bit of a sport to critique the Drake equation. Certainly, anyone using it as a calculator should be fairly criticized, but the basic idea is not wrong. There must be some number of civilizations out there, and we could, in principle, collect relevant parameters to calculate it. The issues arise in the exact formulation, which parameters to include, what they really mean, and how to deal with nuances like time variability."

Jayne's Experiment

Edwin Jaynes (19221998) was the Wayman Crow Distinguished Professor of Physics at Washington University in St. Louis. In 1968, he imagined an experiment where a person in a lab is presented with a jar containing an unknown and unlabeled compound (chemical X).

Along a laboratory bench, there are a large number of beakers filled with water, and the experiment is to test how often chemical X will dissolve within them. Jaynes argued that one should expect the compound to either dissolve in nearly every instance or almost never.

The function of the Haldane prior (F 1(1  F ) 1) that captures this behavior. Credit: D. Kipping & G. Lewis (2024)

When plotted on a graph, the probability distribution would be bowl-shaped, with values peeking at 0 and 1. As Kipping explained in more detail:

"Jaynes imagined a series of what we call Bernoulli experimentsthat is, experiments that return yes/no answers. These could be anything really, but as an example, he imagined dissolving an unknown chemical into a series of beakers containing water and then askingwhat fraction of them will dissolve?

"Another scientist, the legendary John Haldane, had already suggested that an answer of ~50% was unlikely a-priori. One should expect that either nearly all of them will dissolve or hardly any.

"Jaynes rigorously proved that and pioneered many of the tools of objective Bayesian inference. We can equally replace the Bernoulli experiment under consideration with other questions, like what fraction of stars will become a black hole?

"Before obtaining any observations, an answer of ~50% would be surprising, implying that the distribution of stellar masses is finely balanced such that half are above the critical mass threshold and half below. In reality the answer is one-in-a-thousand, which falls in line with Jayne's position."

Because of his immense contributions to the field of statistics, Jaynes is credited with being one of the founders of "Objective Bayesianism." While his experiment was not intended as such, Kipping and Lewis saw its potential application in astrobiology.

All or nothing?

In his seminal 1983 paper, "The Great Silencethe Controversy Concerning Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life," David Brin addressed the ongoing debate regarding the existence of extraterrestrial life. From this, he discerned the presence of two camps when it came to the debate: "Contact Optimists" and "Contact Pessimists"or as Kipping and Lewis refer to them in their paper, "SETI Optimists" and "SETI Pessimists"those who believe that there are civilizations in our galaxy humanity can make contact with and those who believe it is fruitless since humanity is alone in the universe.

When Jaynes' Experiment is applied to the question of intelligent life in our galaxy, we should expect that it would either be very common or very rare. In the middle, where the probability distribution is weakest (i.e., extraterrestrial life is semi-common), is where the "fine-tuning problem" emerges. In the context of cosmology and astrobiology, fine-tuning refers to the proposition that the conditions for life can occur only when certain universal constants lie within a very narrow range of values.

If any of these fundamental constants were slightly different, the universe would not be conducive to the development of matter, large-scale structures, or life as we know it. As Kipping explained, this presents a problem for SETI Optimists:

"Unlike the black hole example I gave you earlier, there's no lower bounds on this problem. With black holes, we know the smallest and biggest allowed star mass from astrophysics and it's only a few orders of magnitude. The black hole threshold must be in that fairly narrow range somewhere. When it comes to aliens, the probability of intelligence could be 1% or 0.000.00001% (add as many zero's as you like).

"With a such a vast range of possibilities, SETI optimists have to believe the rather contrived view that the % value is not so high that we wouldn't see anyone yet, but certainly far higher than the deep abyss of low probabilities that are plausible. Thus they have a fine-tuning problem essentially, needing the percentage to live in a fairly narrow corridor."

If our galaxy were filled with extraterrestrial civilizations, surely there would be undeniable signs that we would have noticedi.e., radio signals, megastructures, Clarke Bands, and other "technosignatures." If this is starting to sound familiar, it's because this argument is the very core of the Fermi Paradox (which we have written an entire series about!) As such, one could construe Kipping and Lewis' argument as an example of SETI Pessimism. Luckily, the story does not end there.

A new formalism

Faced with this result, Kipping and Lewis attempted to devise a new formalism for the Drake Equation that considers just two processes: the birth rate and the death rate of civilizations. When this is done, all of the parameters in the equation (except for L, the lifespan of civilizations) collapse into a single parameter: the birth and death rate of civilizations (rc). Or as it would appear mathematically: NC = rc x LC. Said Kipping:

"In the standard Drake equation, we often get caught up arguing about which parameters to include (should there be a fraction for the probability of life developing into multicellular life, for example). But it's completely undeniable that every civilization must have a beginning and an end, in fact we can even set the death rate to zero, which corresponds to infinite lifetimes if we so desire in this framework.

"In an ecological system, like a petri dish, for example, there is a well-defined maximum possible population that we call the carrying capacity. So, we updated the birth-death version of the Drake equation to account for this nuance."

Kipping and Lewiss revised formalism for the Drake Equation, based on the theoretical birth and death rates of civilizations. Credit: D. Kipping & G. Lewis (2024)

In this case, the distribution of probabilities became S-shaped (see image above), but the end result was still the same: either the galaxy is crowded or empty. One way around this is the idea that humanity could be alive during a period in which ETCs have emerged and are beginning to expand throughout the galaxy and thus have not been noticed by our instruments yet. However, as Kipping and Lewis showed, this also suffers from the fine-tuning problem, as biology indicates that population growth is an accelerating phenomenon.

"You see, galactic expansion phases should be relatively quick on a cosmic timescale; in fact, really like the blink of an eye," said Kipping. "So it's unlikely you'd live during such a phase; you're more likely to live when the galaxy is essentially empty before this happens or after it's happened (which, in fact, is arguably impossible since your planet is colonized). Once again, Fermi's Paradox rears its head, where the strongest likelihood is that humanity is either alone, early to the party, or one of a few civilizations currently existing in the Milky Way.

Hope for SETI?

But before you go thinking it's all bad news, Kipping and Lewis emphasize that SETI is an important and vital experiment that deserves dedicated resources. "While the odds of success appear small, such a success would arguably represent the most impactful scientific discovery in human history," they conclude. They also suggest several reasons to remain hopeful, which include Hanson's "Grabby Aliens" hypothesis, which states that humanity is at the midpoint in the S-shaped curve and that we will encounter an ETI in a few hundred million years.

In the meantime, Kipping also suggests that SETI could benefit from casting a wider net. If, as their study suggests, advanced civilizations are very rare (or non-existent) in our galaxy, then we should look to extra-galactic sources.

"I think my favorite way out is that our galaxy is just unusually quiet, most are busy and filled, but we are the first in the Milky Way," he added. "This seems improbable, but perhaps being born in a busy galaxy is impossible since the habitable real estate has already been gobbled up. This suggests we should put more emphasis on extra-galactic SETI as our best shot."
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Koalas are endangered in NSW, ACT and QLD. There are concerns about local koala populations in SA and VIC. Credit: Seth Seden, CSIRO

CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, is calling on Australians to record koala sightings in the Koala Spotter app, to help build the most accurate national population count to date.

Populations of the iconic marsupial were officially listed as endangered across New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland in February 2022.

Although numbers in South Australia and Victoria appear healthier, there are concerns for local populations amid the ongoing threats of habitat loss, car strikes, and disease.

During National Science Week 2024, themed Species SurvivalMore Than Just Sustainability, CSIRO is encouraging families across the country to actively take part in koala conservation.

CSIRO leads and coordinates the National Koala Monitoring Program (NKMP), a $10 million project funded by the Australian Government's Saving Koalas Fund. The collaborative program aims to build and deliver a robust estimate of koala numbers, which will aid ongoing recovery and management efforts.

CSIRO Quantitative Biologist, Dr. Andrew Hoskins, said a range of technologies and methods are needed to count koalas accurately.

"Koalas can be difficult to spot from the ground, and as they are most active at night, they often rest high in trees during the day," Dr. Hoskins said.

"To count the species, scientists have been using thermal drones to spot koalas from above, deploying acoustic recorders in the field and detection dogs, conducting scat analysis, while also carrying out systematic visual surveys and data integration from previous and historical sources.

"We need as many different eyes as possible to help paint the most accurate picture of koala numbers and distribution across the country.

"Citizen science apps are playing an increasingly important role, as they allow anybody to come out and record their sightings."

The latest koala national population estimate according to NKMP is between 224,000 and 524,000. The next estimate is due in March 2025.

The Koala Spotter app has played a key part in the NKMP's population count, with 730 records contributed by citizen scientists to date.

"Most of the data we've gotten from the app so far has come from families and children," Dr. Hoskins said.

"It's very easy to use, and the data provided is fed straight into the National Koala Monitoring Program.

"If you spot a koala simply record its location in the app, try and snap a photo if possible, and press 'done.'"

As part of National Science week, CSIRO is hosting a webinar and curriculum-aligned activities for school students to learn about koala populations and how to use CSIRO's Koala Spotter app.

To record sightings, download Koala Spotter from the App Store (Apple) or the Google Play Store (Android).

Register for The Great Koala Count webinar (suited to Year 4 to 6 students).

Provided by CSIRO
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At Contessa Entellina, the company's main estate in the province of Agrigento, there has been almost no rain since May.

On the hills of the Contessa Entellina vineyard in western Sicily, the harvest is already well underway, the grapes ripening earlier than usual because of drought and high temperatures.

The prestigious Donnafugata vineyards, which span the Italian island from the slopes of Marsala to the mantle of Mount Etna, began their harvest on July 22, an unprecedented two weeks early.

At Contessa Entellina, the company's main estate in the province of Agrigento, there has been almost no rain since May.

"Between October and the end of July, there has been 35 percent less rain," said Antonino Santoro, the estate's technical director and oenologist.

In 2022, the harvest had already begun on July 29.

The Sicily of myth is a fertile orchard blessed with rivers of pure water, but the modern day Mediterranean island suffers more and more from global warming.

Since the end of spring, water has stopped flowing, the soil and the springs parched.

Farmers here are used to the naturally arid territory, but they are being tested.

Even citrus fruits and olive trees are suffering from the drought and scorching temperatures which in 2021 set the European record of 48.8 degrees Centigrade (119.8 Fahrenheit).

Drop by drop

"Before, irrigation was useful, today it is essential," Antonino Santoro said.

With 460 hectares of vines and 3.6 million bottles per year across all its territories, the Donnafugata company has the financial resources to adapt.

"Before, irrigation was useful, today it is essential," Santoro said.

Around Contessa Entellina the estate has installed several retention basins which meet around 75 percent of its irrigation needs, the rest covered by public reserves.

During June and July, it irrigates the vines using a micro-sprinkler system, which provides water at a rate of four liters per hour per vine.

"The aim is to optimize water use," said Giuseppe Milano, the estate's head of cultivation.

Irrigation is not cheap, costing between 4,000 and 6,000 euros per hectare per year. The average size of an Italian vineyard is 11 hectares.

At the end of July, the Italian government recognized Sicily was facing "force majeure conditions and exceptional circumstances" due to the drought, according to Sicilian authorities.

This eases some EU rules on agriculture and allows farmers to defer payments and charges, the region said, in response to a year-long drought it said was "one of the most serious in the last 50 years".

For the first time, regional authorities have banned working in the fields during the hottest hours of the day, between 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm.

Quantity and quality

Donnafugata takes its name from the fictional town in "The Leopard", the novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa set in the area during the unification of Italy in the late 19th century.

Back then, the grape harvest did not begin before September.

As well as irrigation, Contessa Entellina adapts by growing its vines taller, up to 1.5 meters, so the upper foliage serves as a canopy to screen the grapes from the sun.

There is no such shade for the grape pickers, who use pruning shears to harvest the grapes under a blazing sun.

They started at dawn, and by 10:00am it is already 29 degrees Celsius.

For the first time, regional authorities have banned working in the fields during the hottest hours of the day, between 12:30 pm. and 4:00 pm.

They are now picking the Merlot grapes for red wine. The white Chardonnay ones were picked in July.

Antonino Santoro, oenologist and technical director of Donna Fugata vinery smells a glass of red wine during the harvest of merlot grapes in Contessa Entellina.

Depending on the varieties and the terroir, the grape harvest in Sicily this year will be spread out over three or four months"a unique situation in Europe", according to national agricultural association Coldiretti.

Contessa Entellina's harvest will be smaller than last year, with smaller grapes.

But Milano insisted that what it lacks in quantity is made up in quality.

Today, Donnafugata is involved in research projects to help prepare the vines for the evolving conditions.

"I am optimistic," said Santoro. "The vine adapts better than other crops."

It is not just heat that is affecting the harvest.

Last year, a combination of frost and floods in the north and mildew in the south cost the Italian wine industry a quarter of its productionallowing France to take the title of the world's leading wine producer.

 2024 AFP
Scientists identified more than two dozen pathogens that have the potential to trigger the next global pandemic.

Over 200 scientists from 54 countries contributed to the two-year study published July 30 by the World Health Organization. Throughout their research, they analyzed more than 1600 pathogens from 28 viral families and one core group of bacteria, according to the report.

Scientists narrowed down and identified the 30 most dangerous viruses and bacteria  classified as "priority pathogens"  that pose a pandemic-level threat to humans. Among the list are the viral families that cause monkeypox, COVID-19, dengue fever, and six flu strains.

These pathogens and more than 20 others are at an elevated risk of triggering the next Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC), scientists determined. Previously, scientists only identified roughly 10 priority pathogens in 2017 and 2018, according to the report.

"The prioritization process helps identify critical knowledge gaps that need to be addressed urgently," and ensure the efficient use of resources, the WHO's Ana Maria Henao Restrepo explained, according to Scientific American.

A majority of the viruses on the list are constricted to certain regions of the world, Naomi Forrester-Soto, a virologist at the Pirbright Institute in the UK pointed out, but the potential for worldwide transmission remains high.

"There isn't really any one place that is most at risk," she said of the Togoviridae family, which includes the mosquito-transmitted Chikungunya virus.

There is also the possibility the viruses could be used "by terrorists as a biological weapon", Neelika Malavige, an immunologist at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in Colombo, Sri Lanka, explained.

The study's strategy is aimed at bolstering "the capability to respond efficiently to unforeseen variants, emerging pathogens, zoonotic transmissions, and unknown threats such as 'Pathogen X,'" the report read.

"It also emphasizes the need for prompt identification and characterization of emerging threats, the streamlining of global R&D efforts, via collaborative and efficient research roadmaps and the integration of research into outbreak and pandemic response."
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Police unions have come under fire following recent police killings of Black Americans. For the most part, the unions work to improve pay and job conditions for police. But some critics say these police union contracts cost cities too much and make it hard to hold officers accountable.

Our new study with fellow Georgia State University researchers adds a troubling finding to this debate: As officers' pay went up in cities with police unions, more Black Americans died from police actions. This phenomenon didn't happen for white Americans.

We examined 282 U.S. city police departments from 2000 to 2013. Of these agencies, about 74% permitted collective bargaining.

We found that when officers get paid more, people die at lower rates during police encounters in general. But in cities with police unions, this was true only for white people. As officer salaries increased, the death rate for Black people from police actions also rose slightly.

A question of accountability

Higher salaries can attract more professional officers who avoid reckless behaviors, such as jumping in front of fleeing cars and then using force out of fear of being struck. Instead, they're likely to use safer strategies, not necessarily out of compassion but to keep their jobs.

Strong job protections from collective bargaining, however, can make some officers less worried about consequences. This might explain why better pay didn't benefit Black people encountering unionized police forces.

Union agreements often include rules that delay questioning officers after incidents or let disciplinary records be hidden or erased. Even after being terminated, problem officers are often rehired through arbitration.

Such protections undermine accountability and may embolden some officers to use force more readily, especially against Black citizens.

High-profile cases such as George Floyd in Minneapolis and Laquan McDonald and Sonya Massey in Illinois highlight the consequences of officers with troubling records staying on the job.

The officers who killed them had records of misconduct but faced little discipline.

A cycle of violence

Our findings suggest there is also a long history of distrust between law enforcement and Black communities.

Police unions often publicly oppose changes to make policing more open and accountable. This pushback only deepens the mistrust and fear on both sides, raising the risk of aggression and violent confrontations.

Our data also shows that when police pay goes up in unionized settings, so do attacks on officers. This points to a dangerous cycle of violence and community resistance.

As criminologists, including one former cop, we recognize the important role of police unions and the challenges officers face. But our findings suggest that some union protections may be going too far and endangering both Black lives and officers.

Restoring trust

While most police-caused fatalities are considered legal, and less than 0.002% of police-citizen encounters end in death, Black Americans are more likely than other groups to be the victims.

Each death deeply hurts Black communities, perpetuating cycles of grief, anger and distrust in law enforcement. Numerous studies show these deaths stoke a pervasive fear among Black people that they or their loved ones could be the next victim of police violence.

Restoring trust requires, we believe, rethinking union contracts.

While intended to protect officers' labor rights, union agreements sometimes result in unchecked authority in policing. In our view, governments should pay officers competitive wages and treat them fairly, but also hold them responsible for their actions.

This means making union negotiations public, keeping records of serious misconduct and investigating problems quickly and justly. Police departments should also focus on training officers to do better, not just punishing them after the fact. This training should teach officers how to deescalate, be aware of their own biases and respect different cultures.

Despite differences across jurisdictions, police pay has been rising in most places. In addition, the number of police jobs is increasing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 3% increase in the number of police jobs from 2022 to 2032, from 808,700 to 832,500.

With over half of the nation's officers in unions and most states allowing collective bargaining, this projection underscores the urgency of improving accountability among union-backed police forces.

Change is coming

As the police workforce grows, and with many officers joining unions, it's crucial to ensure they're serving communities properly. The nation cannot just give officers more money and power without making sure they're wielding it responsibly.

There is some good news. The National Fraternal Order of Police, the nation's largest police union with 356,000 members, has said it's ready to talk about reform.

In his 2020 statement before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, National Fraternal Order of Police President Patrick Yoes said his group "stands ready to work with anyone, speak with anyone and cooperate with anyone who genuinely wants to work collectively, in a fact-based way, to improve policing in our country."

States are taking actions too. Legislators in Colorado and Oregon passed laws making it easier to punish abusive officers. Further, new union contracts in cities such as Boston raised police salaries while eliminating officers' ability to contest disciplinary actions for serious offenses.

Achieving meaningful change while protecting officers' labor rights requires tough compromises and strong leadership. Reforming police union contracts won't fix everything. But it's a crucial step toward cultivating police forces that are more accountable, less deadly and fair to everyone.

It won't be easy, but we believe it's necessary to keep communities and police safe.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: NASA

Erosion, tectonic uplift, and a human-built dam have all helped shape the Upper Lake Powell area in Utah.

This astronaut photograph was acquired on July 28, 2023, with a Nikon D5 digital camera using a focal length of 1,150 millimeters. It is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space Center. The image has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed.

The International Space Station Program supports the laboratory as part of the International Space Station National Lab to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet.

Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth.

Provided by NASA
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People cool off at a cooling mist spot on July 4, 2024, in Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, File

Earth's string of 13 straight months with a new average heat record came to an end this past July as the natural El Nino climate pattern ebbed, the European climate agency Copernicus announced Thursday.

But July 2024 's average heat just missed surpassing the July of a year ago, and scientists said the end of the record-breaking streak changes nothing about the threat posed by climate change.

"The overall context hasn't changed," Copernicus deputy director Samantha Burgess said in a statement. "Our climate continues to warm."

Human-caused climate change drives extreme weather events that are wreaking havoc around the globe, with several examples just in recent weeks. In Cape Town, South Africa, thousands were displaced by torrential rain, gale-force winds, flooding and more. A fatal landslide hit Indonesia's Sulawesi island. Beryl left a massive path of destruction as it set the record for the earliest Category 4 hurricane. And Japanese authorities said more than 120 people died in record heat in Tokyo.

Those hot temperatures have been especially merciless.

The globe for July 2024 averaged 62.4 degrees Fahrenheit (16.91 degrees Celsius), which is 1.2 degrees (0.68 Celsius) above the 30-year average for the month, according to Copernicus. Temperatures were a small fraction lower than the same period last year.

It is the second-warmest July and second-warmest of any month recorded in the agency's records, behind only July 2023. The Earth also had its two hottest days on record, on July 22 and July 23, each averaging about 62.9 degrees Fahrenheit (17.16 degrees Celsius). Copernicus had previously identified July 21 and 22 as the hottest days, but changed that based on updated data.

During July, the world was 1.48 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer, by Copernicus' measurement, than pre-industrial times. That's close to the warming limit that nearly all the countries in the world agreed to in the 2015 Paris climate agreement: 1.5 degrees.

El Ninowhich naturally warms the Pacific Ocean and changes weather across the globespurred the 13 months of record heat, said Copernicus senior climate scientist Julien Nicolas. That has come to a close, hence July's slight easing of temperatures. La Nina conditionsnatural coolingaren't expected until later in the year.

Polar bears cool down in ice that was brought to their enclosure on a hot and sunny day at the Prague zoo, Czech Republic, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Petr David Josek

But there's still a general trend of warming.

"The global picture is not that much different from where we were a year ago," Nicolas said in an interview.

"The fact that the global sea surface temperature is and has been at record or near record levels for the past more than a year now has been an important contributing factor," he said. "The main driving force, driving actor behind this record temperature is also the long-term warming trend that is directly related to buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere."

That includes carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.

July's temperatures hit certain regions especially hard, including western Canada and the western United States. They baked, with around one-third of the U.S. population under warnings at one point for dangerous and record-breaking heat.

In southern and eastern Europe, the Italian health ministry issued its most severe heat warning for several cities in southern Europe and the Balkans. Greece was forced to close its biggest cultural attraction, the Acropolis, due to excessive temperatures. A majority of France was under heat warnings as the country welcomed the Olympics in late July.

Also affected were most of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and eastern Antarctica, according to Copernicus. Temperatures in Antarctica were well above average, the scientists say.

"Things are going to continue to get worse because we haven't stopped doing the thing that's making them worse," said Gavin Schmidt, climatologist and director of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, who wasn't part of the report.

Schmidt noted that different methodologies or calculations could produce slightly different results, including that July may have even continued the streak. The primary takeaway, he said, "Even if the record-breaking streak comes to an end, the forces that are pushing the temperatures higher, they're not stopping.

A resident measures the depth of the flooded street with storm water from Tropical Storm Debby, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 Pooler, Ga. Credit: AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton

"Does it matter that July is a record or not a record? No, because the thing that matters, the thing that is impacting everybody," Schmidt added, "is the fact that the temperatures this year and last year are still much, much warmer than they were in the 1980s, than they were pre-industrial. And we're seeing the impacts of that change."

People across the globe shouldn't see relief in July's numbers, the experts say.

"There's been a lot of attention given to this 13-month streak of global records," said Copernicus' Nicolas. "But the consequences of climate change have been seen for many years. This started before June 2023, and they won't end because this streak of records is ending."

Correction note (8/8/2024): This story has corrected the day of the agency's report to Thursday, to conform to the time of its release in Europe.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Researchers developed a fluorescence detection system (right) that can provide highly sensitive detection of deadly microorganisms in drinking water, without using any lenses. They are now converting the technology into a lensless dip-in handheld system (left) that could be useful for testing water quality in the traditional natural stone spouts widely used by people in Kathmandu Valley in Nepal (background). Credit: Rijan Maharjan, Ashim Dhakal, Phutung Research Institute

Researchers have shown that a fluorescence detection system that doesn't contain any lenses can provide highly sensitive detection of deadly microorganisms in drinking water. With further development, the new approach could provide a low-cost and easy-to-use way to monitor water quality in resource-limited settings such as developing countries or areas affected by disasters.

It could also be useful when water safety results are needed quickly, such as for swimming events, a concern highlighted during the Paris Olympics.

"In developing countries, unsafe water sources are responsible for more than one million deaths each year," said research team leader Ashim Dhakal from the Phutung Research Institute in Nepal. "We hope that our work will facilitate the development of simpler and cost-effective yet highly efficient sensing paradigms for drinking water, saving countless lives around the world."

Current methods used to assess microbial contamination in water require culturing the water samples and then quantifying harmful bacteria. This can take over 18 hours, making it impractical when immediate confirmation of water safety is needed. This is also a key reason why water surveillance is ineffective in developing countries, where the required skilled human resources, infrastructure and reagents are not readily available.

In a paper, "When a lensless fluorometer outperforms a lensed system" published in Optica, researchers from Phutung Research Institute, University of Sao Paulo in Brazil and University of York in the UK report that their new water monitoring fluorometer can detect fluorescent proteins from bacteria in water down to levels of less than one part per billion, without using any lenses.

This sensitivity meets the World Health Organization's criteria for detecting fecal contamination in drinking water.

"Today's fluorometers typically use costly lenses that are made of specialty UV-transparent glass and require precise positioning," said Dhakal. "We show that eliminating the lenses not only reduces the device cost, size and weight but also provides better performance given that we are not aiming for imaging here."

Getting rid of the lenses

This research is part of a larger project to pilot a portable, low-cost and user-friendly instrument for real-time water quality assessment. During development, the researchers closely examined the fundamentals of optical signal generation in applications like water quality monitoring.

They discovered that while optical lenses are commonly used in devices such as cameras, microscopes and telescopes, these optical components often reduce performance for practical situations that don't require images.

"This was an important finding because lenses account for a significant share of the costs of optical systems and their bulk and weight make it difficult to create practical portable devices," said Dhakal.

"Our analysis revealed that using a light source, detectors and sample sizes that are all as large and as close to each other as possible produces a stronger signal, leading to better performance for water quality monitoring."

Comparison with a lensed system

Based on their findings, the researchers designed a lensless fluorescence system using large (12 mm2) LEDs and detectors, which have recently become available in UV wavelengths. It works by using UV light to excite proteins from harmful microbes and then detecting the resulting fluorescence.

In addition to demonstrating the lensless system's sensitivity, they also showed that it produced a fluorescence signal that is about double the strength of a lensed system. They found that the performance of the lensed system was limited by its numerical aperture, the use of larger sources and detectors and the finite imaging distance required between the components and the sample.

The researchers are now developing a pocket-sized version of the lensless fluorometers for field testing. They point out that the instrument must be shown to withstand the harsh environments found in multiple scenarios before being widely applied. They are also working to demonstrate that their approach meets the specificity requirements for detecting specific bacterial contamination by incorporating measurement of multiple parameters into the device.

"Our system is already highly useful because the sensitive and accurate measurement of concentration of bacterial proteins that it provides is directly related to efficiency of water treatment, the dose of disinfectants required for disinfection and the likelihood of bacterial proliferation in a recontamination event," said Dhakal.

More information: Asim Maharjan et al, Lensless fluorometer outperforms lensed system, Optica (2024). DOI: 10.1364/OPTICA.527289 Journal information: Optica

Provided by Optica
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Mammoth fossils in the paleontology collection at the Royal BC Museum. Credit: Royal BC Museum

Mammoths, the massive pre-historic ice age cousins of the modern-day elephant, have always been understood to have inhabited parts of British Columbia, but the question of when has always been a bit woolly.

Now, a new study from Simon Fraser University has given scientists the clearest picture yet of when the giant mammals roamed Vancouver Island.

As part of SFU researcher Laura Termes' Ph.D. and published in the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, the study examined 32 suspected mammoth samples collected on Vancouver Island. Of those samples, just 16 were deemed suitable for radiocarbon dating.

The youngest sample was found to be around 23,000 years old and the oldest turned out to be beyond the range radiocarbon dating could measure, meaning it was older than 45,000 years.

Prior to the study, only two mammoth remains found on Vancouver Island had ever been dated before. Both lived around 21,000 years ago, so the Termes' study provides a greater understanding of when the massive mammals lived in the area.

"This is really exciting because it shows that mammoths have lived on Vancouver Island for a long time," says Termes, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Archaeology. "We were expecting similar results [to the two samples previously dated] but what we found were mammoths that were much older. It is fantastic that they could be preserved for that long."

SFU archaeology researcher Laura Termes examines a specimin in her lab at Simon Fraser University. Credit: Simon Fraser University

Termes says having the curatorial support at the Royal BC Museum and the Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Center allowing access to their collections was invaluable to the study.

"This research highlights the important role of museum collections for understanding how life has evolved and changed in British Columbia's deep history," says Victoria Arbour, curator of paleontology at the Royal BC Museum. "It's great to see Woolly's relatives in the Royal BC Museum's collections in the spotlight through this research study."

The UBC ADaPT Facility (which was instrumental in helping determine if samples were indeed mammoths and not whales or other animals) also played an important role in the research, Termes says.

And archaeologists need all the help they can get because while mammoths were enormous, finding intact samples in British Columbia is actually quite rare.

"When we imagine great big giant animals of the last ice age being found, we might have imagined fully articulated and complete skeletons being systematically excavated. But in southern B.C., that simply does not happen," says Termes. "Instead, we may get an isolated molar that's been tumbled around in the water for a long time, or maybe a piece of a tusk. And these are what everyday people are encountering."

For example, one sample she examined was a piece of mammoth tooth found by a child in the gravel at a local playground.

"So maybe it's a dog owner, taking their puppy for a walk on a rainy day, or a gravel pit operator at work," says Termes, who grew up in Qualicum Beach. "I really like how these magnificent animals are finding their way into people's lives in routine and everyday ways."

Termes says the study is part of a larger look at megafauna in B.C. and she plans on radiocarbon dating mammoth samples from other parts of the province.

More information: L. Termes et al, Survival of mammoths (Mammuthus sp.) into the Late Pleistocene in Southwestern British Columbia (Vancouver Island), Canada, Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1139/cjes-2023-0102 Journal information: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
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What was Lake Balaton like in its natural state, and when did it change? Can its near-natural condition still be restored? These are the questions the researchers from ELTE Science Faculty's Paleoenvironment and Climate Change Research Group sought to answer in their latest study, where they also made specific recommendations for the protection of the lake. Credit: Eniko Magyari / Eotvos Lorand University

What was Lake Balaton like in its natural state, and when did it change? Can its near-natural condition still be restored? These are the questions the researchers from ELTE Science Faculty's Paleoenvironment and Climate Change Research Group sought to answer in their latest study, where they also made specific recommendations for the protection of the lake.

According to the recently adopted Nature Restoration Law (NRL) by the EU, member states are required to restore at least 30% of the habitats covered by the law by 2030. But what could be the target state for Lake Balaton?

Many may recall blue-green algae blooms from their childhood, when the toxins produced by the algae mass caused skin irritation and created a less-than-ideal water surface for vacationers.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Central Europe's largest shallow lake, Balaton, received uncontrolled nutrient loads, leading to eutrophicationinitially causing the spread of aquatic plants and later algae blooms. However, Lake Balaton is one of the few lakes worldwide where successful water quality protection measures, starting in 1994, led to significant improvements in its condition, albeit with a decade-long delay.

Researchers were optimistic about the lake's future until 2019, when, despite low nutrient loads, recurring summer algae blooms began. This is due to internal phosphorus loading, where previously settled phosphorus compounds dissolve back into the water from oxygen-depleted sediments.

Although recent summer droughts have raised concerns about the lake's water level, it is important to note that these phosphorus backflows are related to the high summer water levels maintained in the lake. To understand why we should not be alarmed by occasional low water levels and what can be done to protect Balaton, we need to look into the geological recent past.

The lake, which formed around 17,000 years ago and has had a more or less continuous water surface for about 1011,000 years, has experienced numerous water level changes throughout its history.

In their recently published article in the July issue of Science of the Total Environment, the Paleoenvironment and Climate Change Research Group, led by Eniko Magyari, examined the last 500 years of Lake Balaton, analyzing changes in the lake's macroinvertebrate fauna up to the end of the Ottoman period. The goal was to reconstruct the lake's natural, pre-human impact fauna in the Szemes Basin, thus establishing a reference state for conservation purposes.

The researchers particularly examined the chironomid fauna, whose tiny, water-dwelling larvae are sensitive indicators of environmental changes. Their community composition alters if, for example, the sediment's grain size changes, if there is a sudden decrease in available oxygen, if a significant amount of organic debris is deposited on the lake bed, or if fish populations suddenly increase and consume the slow-moving, detritus-eating species.

According to the recently adopted Nature Restoration Law (NRL) by the EU, member states are required to restore at least 30% of the habitats covered by the law by 2030. But what could be the target state for Lake Balaton? Credit: Eniko Magyari / Eotvos Lorand University

Interestingly, the most intense and irreversible changes in the macroinvertebrate fauna occurred during the economic boom between the first and second world wars (post-Trianon), a period of extensive lake construction and recreational use, between 1925 and 1940.

During this time, the chironomid community completely transformed, with the Stempellina species, characteristic of the lake, disappearing from several basins. Following temporary dominance of an oxygen-tolerant species (Chironomus balatonicus), a predatory chironomid species (Procladius choreus) became dominant from 1940.

The changes in the chironomid fauna since the 1470s coincide with deforestation around the lake, increased shoreline erosion, and the onset of strict water level regulation, which limited water level fluctuations. The size of the chironomid population has significantly decreased since 1940, and researchers found no evidence that the reduction in nutrient loads since 1994 impacted the chironomid fauna. However, they demonstrated a strong correlation between the increase in benthivorous fish populations and the decline in the chironomid population, indicating that fish stocking also had a significant impact.

Due to the overstocked and over-maintained fish populations, chironomids, which play a crucial role in phosphorus removal, cannot perform this vital ecosystem service. Remember, Lake Balaton would naturally be an oligotrophic-mesotrophic system, with limited capacity to support fish fauna.

What does an oligotrophic-mesotrophic system mean? The term oligotrophic refers to water with low nutrient levels, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus. In contrast, mesotrophic waters have more nutrients and exhibit a slight increase in biological production. Lake Balaton is characterized by a west-east meso-oligotrophic gradient, with higher biological production near the Zala inflow, such as in the Keszthely area, and very low production near Siofok.

Therefore, researchers suggest that the fish fauna should be reasonably reduced.

They understand that regulated fishing is a major tourist attraction at Balaton, but hope their research will help people understand the principles of sustainable functioning of ecosystems like Lake Balaton and agree on the necessity of regulations to enjoy the lake's recreational activities for longer.

And what is the natural state we can set as a goal?

The researchers proposed that the reference lake state for restoration should be between 1740 and 1900, after the high summer water levels characteristic of the Ottoman period, when the lake's water regime was similar to today's. They emphasized that the natural characteristic of Central Europe's largest shallow lake is natural water level fluctuations, and its natural biotic communities are adapted to this, so we should not fear occasional low summer water levels concerning the lake's wildlife.

More information: E.K. Magyari et al, Large shallow lake response to anthropogenic stressors and climate change: Missing macroinvertebrate recovery after oligotrophication (Lake Balaton, East-Central Europe), Science of The Total Environment (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174191 Journal information: Science of the Total Environment
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Britain is braced for further violence and rioting, with 6,000 police mobilized to deal with about 100 anti-immigration protests planned across the country.

The week-long protests have been sparked by misinformation spread in the wake of a knife attack that killed three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party in Southport, England.

It was falsely claimed online that the 17-year-old arrested by police in relation to the stabbings was an asylum seeker.

Hossein Dabbagh, an assistant professor in applied ethics at Northeastern University, says far-right groups have used what happened in Southport "to push their agendas" and "tap into broader societal anxieties about crime, immigration and national identity."

Dabbagh explains that the destructive group behavior seen during the recent protests and the subsequent rioting can best be described as a form of "mob mentality" or "deindividuation."

Following a demonstration in Sunderland, protesters torched a police station, while 100 miles south in Hull, protesters shouted, "We want our country back," before looters went on to raid shoe shops, technology stores and even bakeries.

In Rotherham, protesters appeared to attempt to set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers.

"Deindividuation occurs," says Dabbagh, "when individuals feel anonymous within a group, leading to a loss of self-awareness and diminished personal responsibility.

"When people become part of a large, emotionally charged crowd, the usual social constraints that regulate individual behavior can weaken. Actions become driven more by the collective emotions of the group than by personal morals or ethics.

"The fear, anger and frustration stoked by online falsehoods created an environment where many felt justified in participating in the riots, even though their actions were destructive and harmful."

Misinformation in a social media age

Laura Edelson, an assistant professor and misinformation expert at Northeastern, says British media laws appear lacking in their ability to counter misinformation in a social media age in which "everyone is now a journalist."

Official attempts to dispel false information concerning the background of the Southport suspect were hampered by U.K. legal convention that advises against the public naming of a suspect yet to be charged and a law providing anonymity to defendants under the age of 18the legal threshold for adulthood in the U.K.

Two days after the attack, a judge took the unusual step of lifting the anonymity orderthe suspect was named as Axel Rudakubanain a bid to stop further misinformation spreading and the fact that the accused was about to become an adult within days.

But the decision came too late to reverse the deluge of anti-immigration and anti-Muslim rhetoric that had taken off online.

"In this example, there was the thing that everybody wanted to know," Edelson says. "The information demand was: "Was the alleged perpetrator an asylum seeker?"

"There was a lot of demand for that piece of information and there was no legitimate supply of that information. What has happened is we now have a free market for information.

"What that means is, if there is demand, supply will rise up to fulfill that information demand. And if those in the mainstream media are not willing or able to supply that information, other people will.

"People are asking, "Why would anyone do this [spread misinformation]?" It is because there is demand and they are fulfilling that demandand there are rewards for doing so."

Edelson says that those spreading misinformation might have been aware that what they were putting out was false but that it reinforced what they hold as a "core belief."

"They do it because they think there is some core truth that they are getting at with this incorrect fact pattern," she explains. "It reinforces something that they themselves already believe."

Far-right in Britain has evolved

Marianna Griffini, a London-based Northeastern expert on extremism, says the far-right in Britain has evolved over time.

Centrally organized groups, such as the anti-Islam English Defense League, have "faded into irrelevance" and instead have been replaced by less defined "movements" that are mostly active online, she states.

According to Griffini, the protests seen in the aftermath of the Southport tragedy seem to be less driven by a coherent ideology such as fascist or neo-Nazi political beliefsand more by social and economic grievances, particularly felt by those in Britain's white working-class communities.

"What prompted these people to act was apparently fake news [about the Southport defendant's identity]," she says. "It appealed to an ideological terrain of carrying grievances, of resentment against the government but also against whoever is different from an ethno-cultural point of view.

"If you ask the protesters, "What do you want?" It would be to drive immigrants out. They want to recreate a homogeneous white Britain, whatever that has come to mean over the past 60 years."

Griffini points out that the demonstrations have mostly been focused in Brexit-voting areas. The assistant professor in international relations and anthropology says part of what can attract young white males to join these protests is "the appeal of violence."

"I do not think that they consciously identify with an ideology," she says. "I'm not sure of the extent to which they are completely aware of the values and principles that they seem to be fighting for.

"This is underground. It is not about canvassing or going door-to-door; it is not about organizing a town hall meeting. It is not about doing politics according to its true meaningto deliberate, discuss, compromise and have dialogue.

"It is instead something that is behind the curtain and beyond what is permitted in the political mainstream, which does not allow for activism to become extreme, violent or even terrorism."

This story is republished courtesy of Northeastern Global News news.northeastern.edu.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Voids or pores have usually been viewed as fatal flaws that severely degrade a material's mechanical performance and should be eliminated in manufacturing.

However, a research team led by Prof. Jin Haijun from the Institute of Metal Research (IMR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has proposed that the presence of voids is not always hazardous. Instead, voids can be beneficial if they are added "properly" to the material.

The team demonstrated that a metal with a large number of nanoscale voids shows improved mechanical performance compared to samples without voids.

This work was published in Science.

The new material developed by the team has been dubbed nanovoid dispersed gold (NVD Au). It contains a huge number of nanoscale voids, with sizes ranging from a few nanometers to several hundred nanometers. These voids are distributed uniformly throughout the material. Manufacturing NVD Au combines a corrosion process called dealloying with compression and thermal annealing treatments.

The researchers found that NVD Au shows improved strength and ductility in tension in comparison with fully dense Au. In other words, NVD Au with dispersed nanovoids is capable of withstanding higher loads and can be pulled to greater lengths without fracture.

This is the exact opposite of the effect observed in materials with large voids that are prepared by powder sintering or additive manufacturing. The excellent properties of NVD Au are attributed to enhanced dislocation-surface interactions and suppressed crack nucleation in this structure.

"We achieved both NVD strengthening and density reduction simultaneously, and thus realized lightweighting," said Jin. "Also, it does not involve any change of composition or phase, so that the excellent physical/chemical properties of the base material can be largely preserved."

This strengthening approach may be explored for use in many areas, ranging from portable electronics to aviation manufacturing.

The study was conducted in collaboration with scientists from Liaoning Academy of Materials and Nanjing University of Science and Technology.

More information: Jia-Ji Chen et al, Strengthening gold with dispersed nanovoids, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.abo7579. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abo7579 Journal information: Science
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Test locations and indications. (A) Outdoor test location; flat grassy area surrounded by hedges and trees, relatively isolated from pedestrians and dog walkers. (BD) Indoor test location; clean and empty laboratory room. Dogs spontaneous indications of the target scent (4 typical types): (A) nose in the hole for > 2 s, (B) pawing, (C) looking at the owner, (D) lying down. Credit: Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62957-5

A new comprehensive study by the ethologists of ELTE Eotvos Lorand University provides valuable insights into the olfactory abilities of dogs, revealing whether certain environmental and biological factors do indeed impact their performance as previously thought. The study was published in Scientific Reports.

Dogs' olfaction has been used for various tasks from hunting to disease identification, sparking scientific interest in the factors that truly influence their olfactory performance. The first author, Attila Salamon from the ELTE NAP Canine Brain Research Group, said that "such tasks require specific training, but the outcomes of the tests conducted with these specially trained dogs cannot be generalized to the entire species."

A team of researchers from the Department of Ethology, ELTE Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest, undertook the challenge of examining the olfactory performance of more than four hundred untrained family dogs of various breeds. This study aimed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of dogs' scent detection capabilities and determine whether specific environmental and demographic factors influence their performance in an olfactory task.

The study used the Natural Detection Taskdeveloped by the team and already successfully applied even in the case of wolvesa simple search task, in which the dogs had to find a hidden dog treat in a line of pots. No training was necessary, as the test leveraged the dogs' natural motivation for food.

The task featured three difficulty levels; the first level acted as a pre-test to ensure the dogs understood the task, were motivated, and did not rely on alternative problem-solving methods. Dogs successfully completing the third level were considered to be the best.

During the test, an experimenterunaware of the location of the hidden foodwas observing whether the dog spontaneously indicated a pot (e.g., licking the pot, placing the paw on the pot, poking or pushing the pot with the nose).

Contrary to common assumptions, temperature (ranging from 0 to 25 C) and humidity (between 18 to 90%) were found to have no significant effect on the dogs' ability to detect the target scent. However, the test location was an important factor; dogs tested indoors outperformed those tested outdoors, indicating that distracting stimuli in outdoor environments may significantly impact performance in olfactory tasks.

Considering the demographic factors, there was no difference in olfactory performance based on the sex or neutering status of the dogs.

However, the study revealed that 23 year old dogs exhibited somewhat superior olfactory performance compared to dogs younger than 2 years and older than 6 years.

The researchers retested a subsample of the dogs to assess the reliability of the test and did not find a significant learning effect between the two test occasions, that is, the dogs did not perform better during the second test. This confirms the suitability of this method for testing the olfactory performance of untrained family dogs.

"By revealing the factors that really influence effectiveness, our study can provide answers to important questions that have long concerned professionals using the olfactory abilities of dogs. Focusing on a large and diverse sample of untrained dogs, we can better generalize these findings to the broader canine population," concluded Marta Gacsi, the lead researcher.

More information: Attila Salamon et al, Success in the Natural Detection Task is influenced by only a few factors generally believed to affect dogs' olfactory performance, Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62957-5 Journal information: Scientific Reports
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Credit: Johns Hopkins University

Republicans who believe Donald Trump won the 2020 election are anticipating a much more chaotic election cycle this year than other GOP, Democratic, and independent voters, according to new polling data from the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University.

Among Republican respondents who believe President Joe Biden did not lawfully win the 2020 election, about 31% think that either "a lot" or "a great deal" of political violence will occur after the 2024 electioncompared to 24% of Democratic voters, 21% of independents and just 12% of GOP voters who acknowledge Biden's victory four years ago, the poll found.

In addition, 65% of Republicans known popularly as "election deniers" also believe that the United States is "very likely" or "somewhat likely" to lapse into a civil warhigher than the 40% of other Republicans, 43% of Democrats, and 46% of independents who expressed similar sentiments.

The poll questioned 2,000 Americans eligible to vote and was conducted July 2630 by Lilliana Mason and Scott Warren from SNF Agora Institute and YouGov, a polling and data company based in the United Kingdom. The poll is the first of four that will take place during this election season and was commissioned as part of an effort to better understand the U.S. electorate and the growing divide between Republicans who do not accept the 2020 election results and those who do.

"Fortunately, most Americans don't think the same way as the 2020 election deniers. But that doesn't mean we're in the clear. Expecting chaos can fuel more chaos," said Mason, a political science professor who studies political violence and polarization and who is co-lead on the project with Warren. "If we're not diligent, that chaos can unravel the foundational threads of our democracy."

Researchers worked with YouGov to poll a demographically and politically representative sample of the U.S. electorate. Respondents were asked about their party affiliations, the 2020 election results, where they get their information from, and what they think about people from other parties.

Most respondentsnearly 70%think it's important to accept election results even if their candidate loses.

"For a free and fair democratic election to work, people need to believe in the electoral system and accept the outcome," said Warren, an SNF Agora fellow. "Our elected leaders should heed the fact that the vast majority of Americans believe that our elections work, and that losing candidates should concede. Rather than sowing doubts, leaders need to talk about how these democratic institutions work and build trust with the electorate."

Credit: Johns Hopkins University

Of note, 85% of respondents are still concerned about misinformation in the election.

Republicans who believe Trump won in 2020 are more concerned about misinformation than any other group surveyed and believe "liberal media" are responsible. These respondents also stated they are most likely to turn to "their favorite television news anchor," "friends and family," and "chief election officers" for information about the outcomes of elections in their states.

Democrats blamed misinformation nearly equally between "Republican politicians" and "conservative media" and reported relying on chief election officers for election results sooner than GOP respondents.

"We know that what leadership does matters. Leaders in politics and media have a real influence on their supporters," Mason said. "If they continue to push a dangerous and chaotic vision of what the election might look like, they could end up creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. If they prefer to have a nonviolent election, there are some simple and easy things they can do."

Mason said that leadership can refrain from inflammatory rhetoric, clearly state that violence from supporters is unacceptable, and disavow violence when it occurs.

Researchers will survey the same pool of respondents again in September, mid-October, and after the election in November to chart how their opinions and feelings shift over the presidential election cycle.

Other key findings:

If the election were held today, 43% of respondents would vote for Kamala Harris and 42% would vote for Donald Trump.

Most Americans don't trust the losing party to accept the election results. Only 16% of Democrats think Republicans will accept election results if their candidate loses in November, and only 15% of Republican election deniers think Democrats will accept the results if their candidate loses (50% of the other Republicans think Democrats will accept the results of a losing result).

Majorities of all voters agreed that violence is not justified to prevent an opposing party from controlling the country.
Authorities arrested a man accused of booby-trapping toilet seats at a pair of south central Texas car washes, triggering mayhem among customers.

Paul Moses Alden, 46, is facing arson-related charges in connection with the alleged July incidents in the public restrooms at Wash Tub car washes in San Antonio and Helotes, Texas, KENS-TV reported, citing court records.

A worker, a woman and a little girl were injured in separate instances when they each sat on toilet seats allegedly equipped with commercial fireworks underneath, causing them to discharge.

The victims suffered minor injuries.

Physical evidence and surveillance footage allegedly tied Alden to the scenes, detectives said, according to the records.

He was released on $50,000 bond this week.
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These are some of the commonly used words used in colloquial Singapore English or "Singlish." Credit: National University of Singapore

"30th got school meh it's a Sunday leh." If we asked an average American what this online message means and what they can discern about its author, they would likely be baffled.

But if we asked a local here in Singapore, or someone who has been living here for a while, they would easily identify this as Singlish, and explain that the person communicating is expressing skepticism that there would be school on the 30th because that day is a Sunday.

They might make an informed guess that the author is Singaporean, and that they are expressing themselves very casually to someone they are close to, maybe a friend. As for the gender of the author, they might hazard a guess that the writer is more likely to be male, based on the forceful tone conveyed by the message's wording.

Despite the access we have today to global media and the internet, researchers in linguistics (the study of language) have observed that our language use in "digital" contexts, like social media and SMS communication, remains highly regional, and is quite similar to how we speak in face-to-face-interactions.

In the context of Singapore, this means that Singlish (or, as many linguists call it, "Colloquial Singapore English"), our local English that has been shaped over time by varieties of Chinese, Malay, and other local languages, is used by many individuals not only in spoken communication, but also in online written communication.

The rise of digital communication presents exciting opportunities for linguists, and particularly for sociolinguists, who study how language functions in society. For many decades, sociolinguists at NUS have investigated topics related to how language is used in Singapore, including how Singaporeans with different social backgrounds speak and write in various situations.

One of the most significant achievements of linguistics research in Singapore to date is the development of a collection of real texts and conversations in Singapore English within the larger International Corpus of English (ICE), a set of linguistic databases that collects examples of English from around the world.

This corpus has helped linguists identify some of the many impacts of other languages on Singlishfor example, NUS Professor Bao Zhiming has used the corpus to examine how the Chinese language has influenced the structure of Singlish sentences that describe conditions and outcomes, such as, "You eat already you can die one."

But the ICE-Singapore corpus was developed more than 20 years agoso, while it is a valuable source of data for how Singapore English was used historically, there is a need to collect newer data to understand how Singaporeans use English today.

My colleague Associate Professor Mie Hiramoto had this need for updated data on Singapore English in mind in 2016 when she developed a concept for a new corpus. "The idea for the project began as an exercise for my undergraduate module on language contact," she explained.

"I wanted students to work with some simple language data that they had easy access toso, I thought of asking them to use their existing chat logs from WhatsApp."

"From a practical perspective, the study of language patterns connects with a number of industry sectorsautomatic speech recognition, machine translation, forensic linguistics, speech therapy, and language teaching, among others.

"In terms of scientific inquiry, the structure of language varieties like Singlish, which arise from contact between multiple languages, can tell us crucial things about how the brain processes information."

After seeing the wealth of data students were able to collect, Hiramoto realized that this corpus had significant potential beyond the scope of a class exercise. With this in mind, she obtained ethics approval to compile the data for research purposes upon receiving consent from the chat participants.

Each year, students in the course were invited to contribute their anonymized WhatsApp messages. Ultimately, Assoc Prof Hiramoto said, "it grew into the corpus we have today, of nearly 10.6 million words."

Working with an international team of linguistics researchers, including Professor Jakob Leimgruber at the University of Regensburg, Dr. Wilkinson Gonzales at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Jun Jie Lim at the University of California San Diego, and Mohamed Hafiz at NUS, Assoc Prof Hiramoto processed this large corpus of language data, now titled the Corpus of Singapore English Messages (CoSEM), and in 2022 released it publicly for the benefit of other researchers.

The data includes background information about each chat contributor, including their age, gender, ethnicity, and nationalitythis sort of information is crucial for sociolinguists, because it allows us to investigate patterns in Singapore English among different social groups.

What kinds of information can we learn from CoSEM? Let's return to the intuitions of the local Singaporean above, who felt that the example message was likely from a male author. In 2020, the CoSEM research team released an article investigating patterns in the use of "sentence-final particles," meaning the famous particles such as lah, leh, and meh that are typical of Singlish.

In their analysis, the authors found that many of these particles, including meh, are indeed used significantly more frequently by men in the corpus. Not only this, but there are also major ethnicity-based differences in who uses which particlesfor example, Indian Singaporeans use lah more frequently than other groups, while Chinese Singaporeans are the most frequent users of bah, which is one of the only discourse particles that originates from Mandarin (rather than Hokkien or Cantonese).

Using CoSEM data, Hiramoto and the research team were also able to identify usage patterns of new particles entering Singlish, such as siathese findings underscore that Singlish is not a static variety, but, like all language varieties, continues to evolve over time.

While these patterns are interesting to read about, some might wonder, why do linguists want to study Singlish in the first place? From a practical perspective, the study of language patterns connects with a number of industry sectorsautomatic speech recognition, machine translation, forensic linguistics, speech therapy, and language teaching, among others.

In terms of scientific inquiry, the structure of language varieties like Singlish, which arise from contact between multiple languages, can tell us crucial things about how the brain processes information. And in the study of public policy, investigating how Singlish has changed over time can help us understand the role of local languages as symbols of national identity.

For all of these reasons, and more, linguists including Assoc Prof Hiramoto and myself in the Department of English, Linguistics and Theater Studies are passionate about investigating how people use languageeven when sending a simple WhatsApp message.

More information: The Corpus of Singapore English Messages (CoSEM). osf.io/2ghj9/
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Lions at a commercial breeding facility in South Africa. Credit: Roberto Vieto / World Animal Protection

A paper, "Under the lion's paw: lion farming in South Africa and the illegal international bone trade," published in Nature Conservation has uncovered concerning activities within South Africa's captive lion industry, shedding light on the urgent need for comprehensive governmental action.

The study by World Animal Protection, conducted through direct interviews with workers at two closed-access lion facilities in South Africa's North West Province, reveals disturbing practices. These include:

The use of legal activities such as commercial captive lion breeding and canned hunting to mask involvement in the illegal international trade of lion and tiger bones.

Animal welfare violations including reports of malnutrition, lack of clean water, filthy enclosures and animals being deliberately starved throughout the low-hunting season.

Illegal hunting practices such as reports of animals being drugged and hunted within an hour of release in enclosures that violate legal minimum size requirements.

Unsafe working conditions including reports of a lack of protective gear for workers when preparing the bodies of hunted animals.

Potential shifts towards commercial exploitation of other felid species like tigers which could be used as substitutes for lion bones.

Poaching incidents of big cats from commercial captive lion farms by unaffiliated actors, with often only the heads and paws of the animals harvested by the poachers.

Facility workers detailed the use of various strategies, including security cameras, patrols, and messaging apps, to evade detection during inspections. These findings emphasize the complexity and severity of issues within the captive lion industry, necessitating immediate and decisive action.

Lead researcher Dr. Angie Elwin, Research Manager at World Animal Protection said, "Our study highlights the troubling reality of South Africa's captive lion industry. Legal activities are being exploited to facilitate illegal trade, and this is compounded by serious animal welfare violations and unsafe conditions for workers. Urgent action is needed to protect lions and people."

Lion at a commercial breeding facility in South Africa. Credit: Roberto Vieto / World Animal Protection.

Although the commercial captive breeding and canned hunting of lions remains legal, though poorly regulated in South Africa, the export of lion skeletonsincluding claws and teethwas declared unconstitutional by the South African High Court in 2019.

In 2021, the South African Government announced its intention to immediately halt the "domestication and exploitation of lions, and to ultimately close all captive lion facilities in South Africa."

However, a lack of enforcement of regulations and clarity on the future of the industry, has left a legal gray area, enabling some farms to operate what on the surface appear to be legitimate captive lion breeding and "canned" trophy hunting businessesbut which in reality supply the illegal international big cat bone trade facilitated by organized crime gangs.

In light of these revelations, the study calls for the South African Government to implement a comprehensive and well-managed plan to transition away from current practices in the captive lion industry. Key recommendations include:

Full audit of the industry: To ensure all commercial captive lion farms are officially registered and compliant with regulations until the industry is phased out.

To ensure all commercial captive lion farms are officially registered and compliant with regulations until the industry is phased out. Breeding moratorium: Establish an immediate moratorium on lion breeding to prevent further growth of the commercial captive lion population.

Establish an immediate moratorium on lion breeding to prevent further growth of the commercial captive lion population. Prevention of bone stockpiling : Develop and enforce plans to prevent the accumulation of lion bones, which risks fueling the illegal international lion bone trade.

: Develop and enforce plans to prevent the accumulation of lion bones, which risks fueling the illegal international lion bone trade. Phase out plan: Enact a time bound strategic plan to phase out the captive lion farming industry, ensuring ethical treatment of animals and safety for workers.

Prepared lion skeleton. Credit: Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC.

Senior researcher Dr. Neil D'Cruze, Head of Wildlife Research at World Animal Protection said, "The South African Government must take immediate action to fulfill its public pledge to end the controversial captive lion industry. Without a comprehensive time-bound plan and stringent enforcement, this commercial industry will continue to pose significant legal, animal cruelty, and conservation concerns."

It is estimated that between 8,00012,000 lions and other big cats, including tigers, are bred and kept in captivity in more than 350 facilities across the country.

This study serves as a crucial call to action for both the South African Government and the international community to address and resolve the complex issues surrounding the captive lion industry.

The publication comes at a time when South African NGO Blood Lions encourages the public to raise their voice by sharing the 2024 World Lion Day "You're killing them softly" campaign message, aimed at informing tourists and visitors to lion farms about the hidden suffering and cruelty involved, and to sign this petition urging the South African government among others to extend the ban on captive lion breeding and trading to other predators.

More information: Under the lion's paw: lion farming in South Africa and the illegal international bone trade, Nature Conservation (2024). DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.56.124555 Journal information: Nature Conservation
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The largest and longest-ever survey of wild koalas has confirmed a chlamydia vaccine, developed by the University of the Sunshine Coast, can protect the animals from developing and dying from the disease.

The study, published in npj Vaccines, found the vaccine effectively reduces the chance of a koala developing signs of chlamydial disease during breeding age, and reduces deaths from the disease in wild populations by at least 65%.

Lead author, UniSC Research Fellow Dr. Samuel Phillips, said more than a decade of clinical datagathered through regular screenings across a large wild koala population in South East Queenslandwas combined to evaluate the vaccine's effectiveness over multiple generations.

"Critically, the results show the vaccine can stop koalas dying from the disease and help aid the recovery of a declining population," Dr. Phillips said.

"By using this vaccine, the average age at which koalas are likely to develop chlamydial disease was pushed back more than three years, from five to over eight years old, crucially protecting them during their main reproductive years."

UniSC researchers, led by Professor of Microbiology Peter Timms, have been at the forefront of efforts to develop a vaccine, based on Chlamydia pecorum's major outer membrane protein (MOMP), to protect koalas from the devastating effects of infection.

"This study stands as the largest and longest-ever conducted on koalas, conclusively confirming the significant positive impact of this vaccine," said Professor Timms, who co-authored the study.

Chlamydia in koalas can cause conjunctivitis, urinary tract and reproductive tract infections, and in severe cases, blindness, severe cystitis, infertility and death. Left untreated, animals with severe infections may have their life expectancy reduced by several years.

"The current treatment is antibiotics, which has its limitations and can disrupt the koala's ability to digest eucalypt leaves, leading to starvation and occasionally death. Furthermore, treating infection often does not prevent future infection," Professor Timms said.

"We know that vaccination is essential to reduce the rapid, devastating spread of this disease, and this vaccine can play a role in the longer-term survival of koalas, especially in South East Queensland and New South Wales where chlamydia affects 50% or more of populations."

This latest study combines datasets from a 10-year project that tracked and monitored the health of a specific population of wild koalas in South East Queensland's Moreton Bay region.

Proving long-term benefits across life span of koalas

Dr. Phillips said it was "an unprecedented opportunity" to assess the effectiveness of UniSC's MOMP-based vaccine to protect koalas from chlamydial disease and or death.

The project involved more than 680 wild koalas, with approximately 150 koalas under veterinary management at any given time. It was led by co-author Dr. Jon Hanger from Endeavour Veterinary Ecology.

Across five separate trials, 165 koalas were vaccinated using four similar versions of the vaccine. While each trial lasted approximately two years, many of the koalas continued to be monitored until the end of the program in 2023.

"This allows us to evaluate the long term effectiveness of the vaccine across the life span of many individual animals," Dr. Phillips said.

The research team recommends future koala management plans should include vaccination as part of a holistic strategy to protect koalas from all known threats.

"When vaccination is combined with multiple koala conservation strategies, including addressing traffic, wild and domestic dogs and importantly, retaining and restoring habitatlocal population declines can be reversed," Dr. Phillips said.

More information: Samuel Phillips et al, Immunisation of koalas against Chlamydia pecorum results in significant protection against chlamydial disease and mortality, npj Vaccines (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00938-5 Journal information: npj Vaccines
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A researcher with a pack of field equipment walks through Illilouette Basin surrounded by burnt trees and regrowth. Credit: DRI

A few miles south of Yosemite's famed Glacier Point, ringed by striking granite domes, lies the Illilouette Basin. This small stretch of the Sierra Nevada Mountains has become a sort of fire laboratory, a place where natural wildfires have been allowed to burn since 1972. In contrast with the long-supported program of fire suppression that has dominated American forests since the late 19th century, resulting in dense and unhealthy forests, the Illilouette Basin's story is about the benefits that natural fire can bring to the landscape.

DRI's Gabrielle Boisrame, an ecohydrologist and environmental engineer, has been studying the area for more than a decade. The project began during her Ph.D., when a fire ecologist noticed wetland plants growing in the footprint of a burnt forest. He turned to hydrologists to help uncover how wildfire changed the way water moved through the area, and Boisrame soon had her dissertation project. She knew that the work had larger implications than understanding how fires alter the plant life growing in burnt forests, as the Sierra Nevada Mountains serve as one of the nation's most important sources of freshwater.

"This project is really important because the Sierra Nevada supplies most of California's water, which allows the state to grow many foods for around the world," Boisrame says. "Reducing fire size protects water quality."

Boisrame conducting fieldwork in the Illilouette Basin. Credit: Gabrielle Boisrame/DRI

Suppressing fire fueled today's infernos

California's forests historically burned frequently, lit by lightning strikes and indigenous communities. These fires were relatively small and burned slowly, leaving much of the vegetation intact. The forests adapted to these frequent burns, with many of the state's trees and other plants requiring fire to germinate (including redwoods, sequoias, many oaks, cypress trees and some spruce). One study estimated that before 1800, more than 1.8 million hectares burned per year in the state. To put that number in perspective, that's nearly the amount of land burned in the entire country between 1994 and 2004.

This pattern changed in the late 1800s, when the US government decided that fires should be put out aggressively, thinking the policy would protect the nation's timber supply. The decades of fire suppression that followed led to dense forests blanketed with thick understory growth. But dense trees are more susceptible to disease and drought, and the understory plants would dry out in the summer months, providing the fuel for the particularly large and hot fires we see today. Of the 20 largest wildfires in California's recorded history, only one occurred prior to the year 2000.

By the 1960s, wildfires had grown more out of control and become increasingly difficult to extinguish. Some researchers began raising the alarm about fire suppression methods and advocating for ecosystem-focused management of national parks. The National Park Service changed its policy in 1968 to recognize fire as an essential ecological process, with guidelines for when fires should be allowed to burn. In response, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks quickly established fire experiment areas, including the Illilouette Creek Basin. These natural fire laboratories provide scientists with the best long-term information about how fires transform ecosystems.

"It's so rare that studies can continue for more than a few years, so it's great that I've been able to work out here for a decade now, and that we have data since the 1970s when they first started this natural experiment," Boisrame says. "These long-term data sets are so important, because all of this is about looking at the bigger picture, not just what's going to happen with whatever fire is currently burning."

The natural fires burn differently than controlled burns, bringing higher "pyrodiversity," or more varied burn severity. Since the park established the fire experiment program in the Illilouette Basin, more than half of the area has burned in wildfires.

A fire burns through a tree stump in the Illilouette Basin. Credit: Elijah Boardman

A changed landscape

To study how frequent burns are changing the Illilouette Basin, Boisrame and her team installed monitoring equipment to track snowpack depth, creek flows, soil moisture, and a range of other ecological measurements. They also use satellite imagery to track changes in the landscape from space. All this information shows that fire has restored Illilouette Basin to a degree not seen for more than a century. Dense forests are thinning out, with parts giving way to thriving meadows and wetlands, bringing higher biodiversity.

The healthier forests are also proving more resilient to drought, insects, and diseases, and less prone to fueling severe, destructive wildfires. Key to the transformation is the way that the thinner forests protect the snowpack and support higher streamflow.

"I was surprised at how dramatic the impact on snowpack is," Boisrame says. "A lot of research shows that after wildfires, you get less snow because of the dark, burned surfaces and ash that melt the snow. But in the longer term, years after the fire, that seems to shift. I'd snowshoe into Illilouette Basin and see bare ground in places with dense tree cover, and then 100 feet away in an open, burned area with just tree snags left, the snow would be several feet deep."

Regrowth in a wildfire's ashes. Credit: Elijah Boardman

Vegetation impacts the depth, distribution, and longevity of the snowpack in many ways. The first is the way that plants intercept snow as it's fallingmore vegetation cover means more snow is stopped by leaves and branches. Tree cover also protects the snow beneath from solar radiation. However, the trees themselves absorb the sun's rays and radiate some of that energy outward into the surrounding snow, which causes the tree wells that skiers are so wary of. More plants also means more water transferred from the soil to the atmosphere through transpiration.

Boisrame says that small gaps between trees seem to provide the best conditions for a deeper, longer-lasting snowpack within forests. In areas where forest has converted to wetland, the snowpack is even deeper and longer-lasting. "The more open areas are keeping the snow around longer because there's less interception and less longwave radiation coming off of trees," she says. "We're starting to see this as we look in more areas around the watershed as well."

Illilouette Creek flows through the Illilouette Basin, eventually joining the San Joaquin River and nourishing California's farmlands in the Central Valley. Credit: Joseph Ammatelli/DRI

With temperatures in the summer months creeping ever higher, protecting the snowpack is increasingly important for ensuring that this natural mountain reservoir can supply water to the surrounding region until the next winter's storms. The USGS has stream gauges just downstream of Illilouette Basin and in three other nearby locations that have been measuring stream flow for more than a century.

Upper Merced River, which receives much of its flow from the Illilouette, has seen more consistent stream flow than the others, all of which have seen decreases of between 6 and 12%. Boisrame says this is indicative that more frequent burns may be reducing the water demands of plant life in the Illilouette compared to the denser forests in surrounding basins. Research has shown that Sierra Nevada conifer forests require as much as four times more water than meadows and wetlands.

Some of Boisrame's equipment monitoring snowpack depth and longevity in a recently burned forest. Credit: Gabrielle Boisrame/DRI

A slow-melting snowpack also keeps soils in the area wetter, helping to prevent drought conditions that can fuel more extreme wildfires. In 2015 alone, more than 10.5 million conifer trees were killed by drought in the southern Sierra Nevada. Boisrame's monitoring equipment has measured the way that soil moisture is protected during years when the snowpack sticks around later into the summer months, such as in the summer following 2023's record-breaking snowfall.

"Informing forest management is really the main goal of this workto see, 50 years after the start of this natural experiment, what happened?" Boisrame says. "Did it achieve the goals it wanted?"

Forest cover in the Illilouette Basin has decreased by 22% since 1972, replaced by growing meadows, shrublands, and wetlands. Credit: Conor Croskery

Lessons from the Illilouette

Boisrame's work shows promise for ways that scientists and forest managers can work together to tackle the growing risk of devastating wildfires under a changing climate. Fighting fire with fire may offer an opportunity to decrease the risks posed from larger, more severe burns, while supporting balanced ecosystems and protecting snowpack reservoirs. The strategy may help other mountain west regions experiencing similar challenges, she says.

"Our results hopefully give forest managers an extra reason to try this approach in more areas," Boisrame says. "And that can give us a better idea of where the strategy works well and where it may have less of an impact. This project is a great example of scientists and managers working together in a place that the public cares a lot about."
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China sweated through its hottest July on record last month.

It is "increasingly likely" 2024 will be the hottest year on record, despite July ending a 13-month streak of monthly temperature records, the EU's climate monitor said Thursday.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said last month was the second warmest on record books going back to 1940, only slightly cooler than July 2023.

Between June 2023 and June 2024, each month eclipsed its own temperature record for the time of year.

"The streak of record-breaking months has come to an end, but only by a whisker," said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of C3S.

Last month the global average temperature was 16.91 degrees Celsius, only 0.04C below July 2023, according to C3S's monthly bulletin.

But "the overall context hasn't changed, our climate continues to warm," said Burgess.

"The devastating effects of climate change started well before 2023 and will continue until global greenhouse gas emissions reach net zero," she said.

From January to July global temperatures were 0.70C above the 1991-2020 average.

This anomaly would need to drop significantly over the rest of this year for 2024 not to be hotter than 2023"making it increasingly likely that 2024 is going to be the warmest year on record", said C3S.

Sea surface temperature anomalies in July 2024.

'Too hot to handle'

July 2024 was 1.48C warmer than the estimated average temperatures for the month during the period 1850-1900, before the world started to rapidly burn fossil fuels.

This has translated into punishing heat for hundreds of millions of people.

The Earth experienced its two hottest days on record with global average temperatures at a virtual tie on July 22 and 23 reaching 17.6C, C3S said.

The Mediterranean was gripped by a heat wave scientists said would have been "virtually impossible" without global warming as China and Japan sweated through their hottest July on record.

Record-breaking rainfall pummeled Pakistan, wildfires ravaged western US states and Hurricane Beryl left a trail of destruction as it swept from the Caribbean to the southeast of the United States.

"The end of record-breaking monthly temperatures is not cause for celebration," said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at London's Imperial College.

Otto described the heat-related deaths of 21 people in a single day in Morocco in July as "a shocking illustration of just how deadly extreme heat can be".

July 2024, second-warmest July ever recorded.

"To stop climate change, we need to stop burning fossil fuels, stop deforestation and replace them with renewable energy. We have all the technology and know-how to do that... We just lack the political will," she said.

Temperatures for the oceans, which absorb 90 percent of the excess heat caused by human activities, were also the second warmest on record for the month of July.

Average sea surface temperatures were 20.88C last month, only 0.01C below July 2023.

This marked the end of a 15-month period of tumbling heat records for the oceans.

However, scientists at C3S noted that "air temperatures over the ocean remained unusually high over many regions" despite a swing from the El Nino weather pattern that helped fuel a spike in global temperatures to its opposite La Nina, which has a cooling effect.

On Wednesday, World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Celeste Saulo reflected on a year of "widespread, intense and extended heat waves".

"This is becoming too hot to handle," she said.

 2024 AFP
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

When it comes to juggling using digital technology for both work and family, women are at greater risk than men of "digital overload," according to new research led by Lancaster University.

The study, which has important implications for the unequal gender division of digital labor, highlights that women are more likely than men to frequently use information and communication technologies (ICT) in both work and family lives.

This work-family "digital double burden" heightens the potential risk of digital overload and burnout for women.

The new research, led by Professor Yang Hu, of Lancaster University, working with Professor Yue Qian from the University of British Columbia in Canada, examines gender and digital labor across 29 countries and is published in the journal Community, Work & Family.

Digital labor involves the use of a diverse range of digital tools and platforms, such as Zoom and WhatsApp, for completing everyday work and domestic tasks.

As the pandemic considerably accelerated the progress of digitalization, people increasingly and widely use ICT for work and family communication post-COVID-19.

"As frequent ICT use takes time and effort, it constitutes a new form of labor," explains Professor Hu. "Our study examined gender inequalities in the performance of such digital labor."

The cross-national study uses latest data from the European Social Survey and looks at how people maintain digital communication for work and family across 29 countries (including the UK).

They limited the sample to 6,654 working respondents aged 3059 who have both at least one child (aged 12 or above) and at least one living parent, to examine the respondents' ICT use for both work and family.

They found:

A distinctive work-family "digital double burden"women are 1.6 times more likely than men to juggle dual-high digital communication both at work and at home.

The traditional gender division of labor in work and family lives extends into the performance of digital laborwomen are 31% less likely than men to have high work-only digital communication, but they are 2.6 times more likely than men to have high family-only digital communication.

In the UK, 42% of the respondents have a dual medium-high work-family digital communication, which is lower than the average of 48% across the 29 countries examined. UK respondents are, therefore, to a lesser extent burdened by the dual digital (communicative) labor in work and family lives compared to respondents from, for example, Norway (59%), Spain (54%) and Serbia (65%).

UK respondents have one of the highest proportions of work-only digital communication, with 30% having a high level of digital (communicative) labor only for work but not in family life. This is one of the highest across the 29 countries examined (only after the 31% in Israel).

"Policymakers, educators, and practitioners are investing heavily in building digital capacity globally in many societies," said Professor Hu.

"Our findings show that among people with a higher level of digital literacy and in countries where people use the internet more intensely, women are particularly more likely than men to suffer the 'digital double burden.'"

Professor Qian added, "The findings urge policymakers, educators, and practitioners to incorporate gender equality considerations into their efforts at building digital capacity. Women's gain in digital literacy should not come at the cost of their juggling heavy digital burden in both work and family lives."

Following the pandemic, working from home is becoming more widespread.

The study findings also show that frequent working from home exacerbates the 'digital double burden' disproportionately falling on women's shoulders.

While working from home offers workers the flexibility to juggle work and family responsibilities, it's also becoming a crucial new site of gender inequality in digital labor.

"We need gender-egalitarian work-from-home arrangements and policies," added Professor Hu.

More information: Yang Hu et al, Gendering digital labor: work and family digital communication across 29 countries, Community, Work & Family (2024). DOI: 10.1080/13668803.2024.2373852
The Native Americans got it right. So did the down-and-outers making their way across the country in search of jobs during the Great Depression.

Native Americans have known the benefits of mineral hot springs for thousands of years. They named this area of Wyoming now the tiny town of Saratoga, just three hours from Denver  the place of magic waters.

Centuries later, pioneers, and then traveling itinerant workers during the Depression, would stop to soak their aching feet and clean up. Thus, the ignominious name Hobo Hot Springs. Today, these pools are free and open 24 hours a day with the Saratoga Hot Pool water temperature ranging from 101 to 110 degrees.

We go and soak and then jump in the freezing (North Platte) river and keep doing that, said Sean Hightower, working as a wrangler at the nearby Medicine Bow Lodge & Adventure Guest Ranch.

Before white settlers moved to southern Wyoming in the late 19th century, the land around the natural hot springs was neutral ground between Native American tribes who frequented this area for the healing waters.

Nearby, Saratoga Hot Springs Resort, just 50 rooms, first opened some 145 years ago as a log store and today is considered the states premier mineral hot springs.

I think it is one of the best hot springs destinations, said one visitor from Denver, who has visited m any hot spring s in Colorado and elsewhere. Besides the large pool, there are individual teepees over smaller pools for soaking, as well as a spa. The hotel was first built in 1884 but after it burned down, the state of Wyoming established the Saratoga Hot Springs State Reserve (50 cents a dip!). It was rebuilt in 1950. With new owners in 2008, it transitioned to a four-season resort. There is a craft brewery next door ideal for dinner.

The state has more than 1,300 hot springs, most in Yellowstone National Park that can be seen, but are not for soaking. (Here are eight good Wyoming options, including Hot Springs State Park in Thermapolis.)

Hot springs and hot springs resorts seem to be having a moment. The U.S. is home to more than 1,600 hot springs sites, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. There are more than 250 developed hot springs in the U.S., according to Hot Springs of America. (You can search based on location.) Hot springs properties are adding more wellness options (think massage or mud baths, for example), as well as renovation and expansion, according to Jessica Meath, executive director of Hot Springs of America. As Native Americans knew, soaking in mineral-rich hot springs can help many ailments from joint pain to anxiety and more.

A growing number are kid friendly, particularly in Colorado. Glenwood Hot Springs Resort has a Sopris Splash Zone with mini water slides and a Shoshone Chutes open-air tube ride. The resort has more than seven expansive pools on the property, including the original historic pool which is the worlds largest hot springs pool that has been drawing visitors from all over the world since 1888. The just opened new pools provide five different soaking experiences at varying temperatures, including cold water therapy pool.

Also in Glenwood Springs, the 16 geothermal pools on Iron Mountain Hot Springs legacy side, are now a National Natural Landmark.

Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort in Nathrop, Colorado, has just opened new double waterslides, winding their way down from an elevation of 8,250 feet.

Located in downtown Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Old Town Hot Springs offers hot springs-fed pools, two waterslides, a climbing wall and a fitness center. The swimming and soaking pools of Old Town Hot Springs served as a gathering and bathing place for the Ute Indians who first settled in the area. In the late 1800s, it was a social spot for the early homesteaders. We have loved visiting Strawberry Park Hot Springs outside of town (get reservations!). Its in a wilderness setting. You can stay in a rustic cabin, a covered wagon or even a train caboose complete with bathroom, solar lights and more. There is camping in the summer.

The Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop showcases 23 of the states premier hot springs.

Idaho boasts 120 soakable hot springs, likely more than any other state, from developed to natural and riverside to mountainside. Lava Hot Springs has an aquatic center with kid-friendly slides. Stay in a Conestoga wagon at Downata Hot Springs. Check out the zipline at Heise Hot Springs where animals as well as Native Americans soaked to alleviate their ills.

You can soak within national parks. Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, within Olympic National Park, offers rustic cabins.

Of course, many offer full resort amenities. The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia, has a big water play area complete with a big family pool, two water slides, lazy river water play zone and more. (Nights this summer offer discounts, and kids may eat free.)

Weve loved our visits to the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn in California, just an hour north of San Francisco, where all of the pools at the spa and the resort are mineral pools. (Water yoga, anyone?) It proved to be a great getaway with an adult daughter. Take your pick of more than 50 treatments, including individual mineral baths, mud wraps, body scrub and more. The historic hotel sits atop an ancient thermal mineral spring boasting five naturally heated geothermal mineral pools for year-round enjoyment. (Save up to 25 percent with the Endless Summer Memories package.)

Id also like to return to Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa, about an hour outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, another good bet for teens or grown kids. (Kids 12 and under are only welcome in the large pool.) Ojo Caliente is one of the nations oldest health spas and one of the only hot springs resorts with four healing minerals: Arsenic, Lithia, soda, and iron. I especially loved the private outdoor tub with its own Kiva fireplace. Take your pick of a suite with your own soaking tub, a historic hotel, cottages or even a vintage trailer.

Its the perfect (family) set up, said Erica Galvez, spending the weekend at the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort with her husband and four kids from Cheyenne, Wyoming. Even if the air is cold, the water is warm. The kids love it.

Grown-ups, too.

(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The fourth edition of The Kids Guide to New York City and the third edition of The Kids Guide to Washington D.C. are the latest in a series of 14 books for kid travelers published by Eileen.)
Tri-County United Way announces its partnership with Nemer Motor Group in leading the Kids With Packs program, which supports local schools. Joining forces this year are esteemed partners including Lions Club of Glens Falls, Charles R. Wood Foundation, Target and The Post-Star.

This program ensures students across Warren, Washington, and Northern Saratoga Counties have essential school supplies, setting up local schools for a successful start to the academic year.

The success of this years Kids With Packs program is further bolstered by the dedication of a record breaking number of volunteers who will participate in the Kids with Packs Assembly Day to be held at Nemer Ford on Aug. 23.

Leading up to the assembly and distribution of supplies, Tri-County United Way works closely with local educators and community leaders throughout the academic year to identify areas of greatest need per school. This proactive approach ensures that resources and funds raised for this program are allocated where they will have the most significant impact, particularly in underserved communities.

Through, United In Purpose Tri-County United Way plans to additionally support regional schools with other necessities that specifically address the needs of local ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) populations.

ALICE households often struggle to afford basic needs such as housing and childcare. In New York State, the ALICE population encompasses individuals and families with incomes above the federal poverty level ($26,000 for a family of four) but below the household survival budget ($75,800 for a family of four). This segment represents a significant yet often overlooked portion of our community facing challenges in affording essential needs.

Tri-County United Way extends heartfelt appreciation to all volunteers, including those from the Lions Club of Glens Falls, Hudson Headwaters Health Group, The Warren County Sherriff, The Hyde Museum, National Grid and other community organizations. Tri-County United Way extends its sincere thanks to partners, including Nemer Motor Group, Lions Club of Glens Falls, Charles R. Wood Foundation, Target and The Post-Star, as well as the generous donors who make this program possible year after year.

For more information and to get involved in this prestigious program, please contact with Laura Jensen, Director of Community Engagement at Ljensen@tricountyunitedway.org.
A Danish court on Wednesday handed a Polish man a four-month prison sentence and ordered him deported for punching the country's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in June.

The 39-year-old, who Danish authorities have ruled cannot be named in the media, was immediately apprehended after the assault on June 7 in a Copenhagen square.

"We have found you guilty of having punched the prime minister with a closed fist on the right shoulder," judge Jacob Scherfig told the man at the end of the trial Wednesday.

The man, who has lived in Denmark for five years, will be deported after serving his sentence. He was also banned from re-entering the Scandinavian country for six years.

During the two-day trial, he denied responsibility, saying he remembered coming face-to-face with the prime minister, whom he recognised, but not putting his hand on her.

He said he believed the memory loss was the result of alcohol use, and the surprise of suddenly coming face-to-face with the prime minister.

Frederiksen, 46, underwent a medical examination after the incident and was diagnosed with a "contusion on her right shoulder and a minor whiplash injury", her office said at the time.

The man was convicted of violence against a public servant.

He was also convicted of several counts of indecent exposure and fraud relating to other incidents.

Neither the prosecution nor defence called Frederiksen as a witness during the trial, as the prosecution argued they could present a strong enough case without her testimony.

The accused's lawyer Henrik Karl Nielsen said that his client accepted the ruling but that the four-month prison sentence was "a bit harsher than I had feared.

"He was calm, but he was, of course, disappointed that the length of the prison was four months," Nielsen told AFP.

Nielsen added that it was not clear how much of the sentence was related to the assault on the prime minister and how much was due to the other charges.

Having already spent two months in pre-trial detention, the Polish man will serve another two months in a Danish prison before being deported.

Frederiksen became Denmark's youngest-ever head of government when she was elected in 2019, aged 41. She won re-election in 2022.

The attack was widely condemned by leading European politicians. EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who called it a "despicable act which goes against everything we believe and fight for in Europe".

On May 15, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot four times at close range as he greeted supporters after a government meeting.

Several politicians in Germany had been attacked at work or on the campaign trail.

"We want a society where everyone, including prime ministers, can walk down the street safely and calmly without being harassed by others," special prosecutor Anders Larsson told AFP ahead of the verdict on Wednesday.
WEYMOUTH TOWNSHIP  Retired electrician Robert Winder just wanted help dealing with water pooling under his new $205,000 manufactured home in The Oaks of Weymouth when he approached the communitys owner, Hometown America.

The company kept telling him his homes installation on what was supposed to be an above-grade slab had passed federal Department of Housing and Urban Development inspections, he said.

HUD writes the code, Winder said, but doesnt do the actual inspections. Those are done by HUD-licensed inspectors chosen by Hometown America, he said.

The more research he did  and the more trips he took under the house on a wheeled board to examine things the more problems he found, Winder said.

Among other things, he and four neighbors have documented that there are far too few supports holding up the houses, they sit on slabs that are not thick enough and that are are too deeply buried, and hurricane straps and ductwork isnt properly installed and sealed.

Hometown America was allowed to hire whatever inspector they want, Winder said. We feel they never inspected the house.

Hometown America, which has dozens of manufactured-home communities in New Jersey and around the country, said through a spokesperson Wednesday that it is taking steps to address the concerns.

As a long-term owner/operator of the Oaks of Weymouth, our priority is to ensure the long-term viability of the community and residents home values, which includes the proper installation of all homes, the company said in a statement, which also said the company follows all regulatory requirements for inspections.

Smoother roads, better bridges are coming to South Jersey All around New Jerseys 2nd Congressional District, there are road and bridge projects under

The company statement also said a new HUD-certified inspector has been hired to perform inspections of all new installations in the community.

We have met with both the home manufacturer and the HUD inspector to discuss the issues raised by a handful of residents within the community and are currently waiting for a written plan of action from HUD in order to address those, the statement said. Once we receive that, we will coordinate with the affected residents and work alongside our installer, manufacturer and HUD to make the required corrections.

Hometown Americas properties in the area include the Fairways at Mays Landing, Mullica Woods in Egg Harbor City, and communities in Cumberland and Ocean counties.

The Winders and their neighbors say they have been given no definitive answers, and find it difficult to enjoy their retirement homes.

We bought a brand new house, said Robert Winders wife, Elaine. We thought, Great, we wont have any problems.

When he first noticed all the water under the house, Winder said he also discovered an extension cord running under the home in the water used to power a fan there.

Im a licensed electrician. Thats not legal, Winder said.

As time went on and he got more documents from the manufacturer, he discovered the missing supports for the house, and saw the ductwork was not properly sealed, leading air conditioning to leak under the house and causing condensation on piping.

Hurricane straps that are supposed to keep the house from moving sideways in big storms werent properly installed, he said.

In some areas, they are tied to the natural gas line, Winder said.

The concrete slab under the home is much thinner than plans called for, and it is sunk too far in the ground, causing rain water to find its way under the home, Winder said.

A neighbors six-year-old gas pipe had to be replaced at her expense, it was so rusted out by all the water under her home, Winder said.

HUD has agreed a third-party inspection was needed, and the five homeowners are waiting for that report to come to them, they said.

All the checks and balances are there, Winder said of HUD rules. But when everyone decides not to do their job, it leaves the retailer the ability to do what they want.

The contractor hired by Hometown America to install the homes did not follow many of the manufacturers rules for installation, Winder said, and the inspector either never looked at the installation or ignored the problems he saw.

We want them to fix everything according to code and set manuals, said homeowner Paul Wright, part of the group with Winder.

Mays Landing man who helped rescue 2 children from river at Weymouth Furnace dies The family of a 49-year-old Mays Landing man are calling him a hero after he died Wednesday saving two children from drowning in the Great Egg Harbor River at Weymouth Furnace.

Wrights peace of mind is a casualty sometimes, when he finds himself thinking about problems with the house.

My wife will say, Youre in house mode again, arent you? Wright said.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, has been trying to help the residents, Winder said. He is set to visit The Oaks of Weymouth on Friday.

Manufactured homes, which are built off site and brought to the lot on trucks in two pieces and then merged into one structure.

HUD-licensed inspectors are supposed to ensure the homes are properly attached to electrical, water and HVAC connections and structural supports before anyone is allowed to move in.

HUD inspectors are also supposed to ensure the roof is properly attached for structural integrity.

The group of five homeowners has spent hundreds of hours on research over the course of months.

Asked what they have learned, the Winders and Wright all said they should definitely have hired their own inspector.

Even if its brand new, Elaine Winder said, when buying a manufactured home, get it independently inspected, she said.

They love the neighbors and much about the interior of the house, they said. But they need a home that is safe to live in that will hold its value and not deteriorate.

Another tip for buyers: Make sure to report any problem in writing to the retailer that sold you the home within the first year, when the warranty is still in effect.

Most people are not able to do this, Wright said of all the research the group has done.

Many residents are elderly and cannot go under their homes to inspect the conditions, he said.

Like trailer homes, manufactured homes are considered vehicles and are titled by the state Motor Vehicle Commission.

Residents at The Oaks buy the home itself, but not the land under it. That is owned by Hometown America, which charges rent to residents.

GALLERY: Housing problems at The Oaks of Weymouth
In Real Time : Volunteer with QCAWC

Who doesn't want to over-indulge some pups? Celebrate National Spoil Your Dog Day this Saturday in Milan at the Quad City Animal Welfare Center Adoption & Education Center (QCAWC) at 724 Second Ave. W. from 1-4 p.m. by volunteering as a puppy spoiler.

QCAWC is looking for volunteers to play fetch, splash in kiddie pools, give baths and participate in indoor and outdoor activities with puppies who have no families. This event is exclusively for QCAWC volunteers who have attended and completed the QCAWC Volunteer Orientation & Training. For those interested in becoming a QCAWC volunteer visit the QCAWC website: https://qcawc.org/how-to-help/volunteer.

With the Family : Rock Island Artists' Market

Skeleton Key Art and Antiques is celebrating the eighth season of the Rock Island Artists' Market this Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. at 520 18th St., Rock Island. Join the artists and food vendors while enjoying live music from local musician Roger Carlson.

The venue is held the second Sunday of the month in the Skeleton Key Art parking lot. This event is free to the public and very family friendly. If you're an art lover this is an incredible outdoor event for you and the family.

Just for Fun : Toast N' Jam

This Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. head down to Bechtel Park, 499 E. Second St., Davenport, for a Toast N' Jam event put on by the city of Davenport and the Riverfront Improvement Commission. Enjoy some of your favorite food vendors and some live music.

Some of the featured vendors for this event are Chick N' Dips and Travelin' Toms Coffee Truck. The musical performance for this venue will be CJ Parker. Jam out and enjoy some unique food vendors this weekend.

On a Date : Summer Bash

If you're looking for something different to do on date night this week, try heading out to Gypsy Highway's Summer Bash in Davenport. Located at 2606 W. Locust St., Gypsy will start celebrating their bash at 8:30 Friday night with a $5 cover charge for two bands celebrating the summer.

Gypsy Highway offers a unique blend of American bar food like the Gypsy burger and wings, to incredible Thai dishes, along with a craft drinks menu.

Dine and Drink : Chillin' in the Courtyard

Moline Centre is presenting Chillin' in the Courtyard this Saturday at 1520 River Dr. in Moline from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This free for all ages daytime show will be performed in the Historic Block Courtyard by Carma and Mo Carter.

Bring a lawn chair and enjoy food and beverages from Bad Boyz Pizza, Dead Poet's Espresso Ltd., The Little Brown Box Deli and The River House Bar and Grill. Adult beverages can be purchased from River House, but no other alcohol or coolers are allowed.
The Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce is looking to 'grow' with a new organization aimed solely at economic development.

"Grow Quad Cities will be our regional, parallel, economic development organization that will be nested within the Chamber of Commerce focused on expanding our economic development footprint in the region," said Chamber CEO Peter Tokar III. "This new division of the Chamber will be entirely focused on economic development priorates of the Quad-Cities from both a public and a private perspective."

Tokar has been leading the Chamber as president and CEO since January, when he and his family moved to the region from Texas. Since then, he has hit the ground running with new ideas for how to grow the Chamber with a renewed focus on economic development, he told the crowd gathered for the Chamber's annual meeting at Rhythm City Casino in Davenport on Wednesday.

Currently the Chamber's focus is on community development, he said, growing the region, businesses and quality of life from within. The efforts are all internal to keep the community engaged in growing.

Tokar said the Chamber will continue these efforts, but will now move forward with more economic development, the external focus. The idea is to grow the GDP, population and footprint by looking at outside factors.

He had also spoken about the planned economic development group at a Davenport City Council meeting last month.

The main difference between the two, Tokar said Wednesday, is the Chamber is focused on networking, promoting and supporting the existing business. Grow Quad Cities will focus on on business development, workforce and talent development and quality of place development.

Business development looks at retaining and attracting new businesses while workforce and talent development helps to ensure there are high-quality, high-paying jobs in the region. A focus on quality of place ensures the Quad-Cities is an area people want to move to.

"Competition for talent and resources is at an all time high. Even though the economic development efforts of the Chamber and our partners have done an amazing job over the past few years of bringing development into the region, we are not realizing our full potential," Tokar said.

This is proven in many ways, Tokar said, pointing primarily to population growth, adding that in the last 10 years, the region has grown 0.86%.

"We are not taking specific actions to maintain the long-term sustainability of our region," he said. "From a GDP growth perspective, from a population perspective, from a diversity perspective, we will continue to remain stagnant if we don't use more economic development practices."

Current economic development practices are limited to the industrial sector, Tokar said. In the last three years the Chamber has helped create more nearly $400 million in economic impact for the region. While this is great news, there is more to development than just industrial work, he said.

"Economic development is not a one-lane road. To me, it's a six-lane highway," he said. "While we're very successful in our limited operation, we could be more impactful by serving the community in all areas of opportunity in the region."

Marketing is one area where Tokar feels the Chamber has done a great job of beginning, but the economic team can pick up the pace. Before his interview, Tokar said he had never heard of the Quad-Cities, but was sold on the area upon getting to town and experiencing it himself.

"The economic development organizations' role is to be the cheerleader for the Quad-Cities to the nation and beyond," he said. "Knowing is half the battle."

Tokar said with the help of the Grow Quad Cities, the two entities can work side-by-side to reinforce their joint mission of growing the region. Grow Quad Cities will focus on a handful of priorities, the first being business development that includes a new, robust market plan.

Targeting new industries is another goal, Tokar said, referencing his six-lane highway metaphor. By turning eyes to another form of development in the community, it opens another lane into the Quad-Cities that comes with jobs, economic growth and new opportunities.

For Chamber members, everything will stay status quo, Tokar said. The Chamber will continue its mission of supporting businesses within while Grow Quad Cities sets off to expand the reach and look for new investments to continue growing the region, the goal since the Chamber was formed in 2010.

Prior to then, Chambers of Commerce existed on both sides of the river. That is until about 1,250 people cast votes to merge the two into one unit, the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. That step unlocked growth opportunities for the region, Tokar said, and this new organization is aimed at doing the same.

"The Chamber has been a work in progress since its consolidation and it is now a highly effective organization serving the Quad-Cities," Tokar said. "Today, just like we did many years ago, we are taking our first step with Grow Quad Cities to begin our regional economic development journey together once again."
A California woman said her partner was threatening their young daughter. The woman was found dead soon after.

Lizbeth Arceo Sedano's family contacted authorities when they couldn't reach her, noting that it was highly unusual for Lizbeth not to answer calls.

The 25 year old's partner, Joshua Gonzalez, was taken into custody on Saturday after he threatened to harm their three-year-old daughter and attempted to attack a police officer.

Gonzalez was outside of the Watsonville Police Department when he called the dispatch center, stating he was armed with a knife and was going to hurt the the girl, authorities said.

The first responding officer stepped out of his patrol car and ordered Gonzalez to drop the knife.

Gonzalez ignored his commands and charged at the officer, who was forced to open fire in return. The suspect was taken to a trauma center, where he is reportedly in stable condition.

On Sunday, deputies were dispatched to Eureka Canyon Road and Grizzly Flat Road after they received a report that a deceased body had been found.

The Watsonville Police Department confirmed the body was that of Lizbeth Sedano. Her death is still under investigation, as authorities are calling it suspicious.

The cause and manner of death will be determined by a forensic pathologist.

A GoFundMe was launched on behalf of the 25-year-old.

Family and friends described Sedano as an outgoing, loving, and, above all, dedicated mother to her 3-year-old daughter.
Former President Donald Trump is set to hold a rally in support of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on Montana State University's campus Friday, which is likely to cause traffic and road closures nearby.

This will be Trump's first rally in the heart of Bozeman. His 2018 visit to the Gallatin Valley was held at the airport in Belgrade. The former president is slated to speak at 8 p.m., but doors open at 4 p.m. and road closures will begin around 1 p.m.

The local law enforcement agencies that are involved (Montana State University Police, Bozeman Police Department, Montana Highway Patrol and Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport Police, to name a few) have been mostly tight-lipped on what to expect around town and what security measures will be in place, but Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer said there will be a "significant" amount of security, including "over 100 law enforcement officers" across multiple local and state agencies not including the Secret Service.

This will be one of Trump's first rallies since the assassination attempt last month at a rally in Pennsylvania, and it appears to be top of mind for the Secret Service.

Following the events of July 13, the U.S. Secret Service has elevated the protective posture of all our protectees and bolstered our protective details as appropriate in order to ensure the highest levels of safety and security for the people and places we protect, Nate Herring, spokesperson for the Secret Service, said in a written statement. In order to maintain operational security, the U.S. Secret Service cant go into specifics regarding these enhanced security efforts or our protective means and methods. The U.S. Secret Service works closely with our local law enforcement partners to maintain a robust security posture, while minimizing disruptions to the public. Residents and visitors in or around the Bozeman area should expect intermittent road closures and parking restrictions as part of the visit."

Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and founder of a Belgrade aerial firefighting company, is challenging three-term incumbent Democrat Sen. Jon Tester in what is shaping up to be a tight contest. Republicans are dead set on flipping the Senate and Tester is one of a tiny group of Democrats standing in their way.

Starting at 1 p.m. on Friday, the streets around the fieldhouse will be almost entirely closed, save for an entrance to access the public parking, according to the Bozeman Police Department. Those streets include the following:

Kagy closed from South 7th to South 11th.

South 7th closed from Kagy to Grant.

South 11th closed from Grant to mid-way to Kagy.

Grant closed from South 11th to South 7th.

Based on these closures, it appears rally-goers may drive into the parking lot by driving east on Kagy Blvd from South 19th Avenue.

"We'll keep you updated, but plan for traffic delays and interruptions to the south side of Bozeman tomorrow afternoon into the evening," the department wrote on its Facebook page.

The fieldhouse has a capacity of 8,455 people. The University is charging $6,500, the rate for a two-day lease for the venue, said Montana State University News Service Director Michael Becker.

There are also protests planned around Bozeman and the campus and there have been criticisms lobbed at MSU for hosting the former president.

"MSU has received some calls about the event and has explained to callers that, as a public university, MSU is called to protect our constitutional rights, such as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly," Becker said. "MSU is following its normal procedures for rentals of this facility, just as it did in 2008 when the Obama campaign leased the Fieldhouse for a similar event."

The Bozeman Police Department said they "expect" the streets to re-open by 11 p.m.

These events tend to leave local law enforcement agencies with a hefty bill, which often angers locals. Following Trump's four visits to Montana in support of Rep. Matt Rosendale during the 2018 election cycle, conversations swirled about the former president's unpaid bills that the cities incurred from his visits.

Some of those appear to have been paid off while some were not, NBC Montana reported.

"Neither the campaigns nor the federal government pay for any of the services local first responders provide for these visits," the Gallatin County Sheriff's Department wrote in a press release. "However, we have built-in contingencies in our budgets for events just like this."
Pronghorns, also called antelope, are one of the coolest animals in Montana.

They have lived in North America since the last ice age when woolly mammoths and cheetahs roamed the region. Those animals are gone, but the pronghorns remain.

For four years Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks scientists, aided by graduate students, conducted a study of eight pronghorn populations across the state.

Here to tell us more about what the study revealed is Billings Gazette outdoor editor Brett French.

This podcast is created in partnership across five newsrooms  the Billings Gazette, Helena Independent Record, Missoulian, Montana Standard and Ravalli Republic. You can support this podcast, and our efforts, by becoming a subscriber.




By Raja Rajendra Timilsina, Dil Rahut and Apeksha Embuldeniya

Informal employment encompasses workers who are not effectively covered by formal arrangements, such as commercial laws, reporting procedures for economic activities, income taxation, labor legislation, or social security laws. This lack of coverage leaves them exposed to economic and personal risks (ILO STAT 2023, ILO 2023a, 2023b, 2024a, 2024b; DW4SD Resource Platform 2002). In developing countries, a substantial portion of employment and output generation is concentrated in the informal sector, contributing significantly to gross domestic product (Schneider et al. 2010).





Globally, the informal sector comprises over half of the labor force. Over 90% of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) worldwide operate within the informal economy, including 80%90% in South Asia. Informal work is closely tied to gender inequality, with women in low- and lower-middle-income countries more likely than men to hold precarious and low-paying informal employment positions. Although the size of the informal sector tends to decrease as economies develop, significant variations exist across regions and countries.





The high prevalence of informal labor, especially in emerging markets and developing economies, increasingly poses a barrier to sustainable development. Informal workers are more likely to experience poverty than formal workers due to the absence of formal contracts and social protection and lower educational levels. In South Asia, the agricultural sector has a relatively higher proportion of informal workers than the non-agricultural sector. Female participation in the informal economy is generally higher, except in Maldives and Sri Lanka, where it is considerably lower (Department of Census and Statistics 2022).





Efforts and Challenges Faced by the Informal Labor Market





South Asian countries have implemented various social security and welfare policies to support informal workers, underscoring the importance of these measures in enhancing livelihoods and reducing vulnerability. Bangladeshs National Social Security Strategy aims to extend coverage to all citizens, focusing on vulnerable groups and includes health insurance, social safety net programs, and extensive skills training initiatives. India offers health insurance through Ayushman Bharat, guarantees rural employment via the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, and provides pension schemes like the National Pension Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan for informal workers. The Maldives social protection system includes cash transfers, food assistance, a national health insurance scheme (Aasandha), and pension schemes for older citizens. Nepals Social Security Fund and National Health Insurance Program aim to extend benefits to informal workers, supported by employment support programs. Sri Lankas Samurdhi Programme provides financial aid and social welfare services to low-income households, including informal workers. Despite these efforts, challenges remain in ensuring adequate coverage, effectiveness, and accessibility of these programs, particularly for the most vulnerable segments of the informal economy.





Informal workers are found in agriculture and non-agricultural sectors and include small enterprises, private work, household projects, and community services. Agriculture and female workers are the most prevalent within these categories, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Agricultural workers and women are particularly vulnerable due to income inequality, seasonal instability and temporary work, fluctuations in harvests, and market prices.





Recent digitalization has revolutionized traditional work frameworks, leading to the categorization of workers into digital platform workers (platform workers) and traditional workers (non-platform workers) (Abraham et al. 2019). Despite this shift, the social protection issues for these workers remain the same. Both platform and non-platform workers face challenges such as a lack of fixed wages, ongoing contracts, and predictable earnings (Datta et al. 2023).





Expanding social safety nets alone is insufficient to support all workers in the informal economy, especially in urban and agricultural sectors in rural areas. There is a need for economic inclusion programs and productivity-enhancing measures, particularly for women, girls, and youth, to effectively address these social protection issues. The unique challenges faced by these groups are hazardous work environments, long hours, and climate change, which further exacerbate this vulnerability. Engaging in informal employment increases the risk of income insecurity, poor occupational safety and health, challenging working conditions, and lack of support for retirement, old age, disaster resilience, education, and legal aid (Lund 2012; Mahmood 2010; Mishra 2017; Rajan 2002; Sharma 2013; Unni and Rani 2003).





Country-specific characteristics and institutions influence the size of the informal sector, making it clear that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 aims to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work. To achieve this, target 8.3 calls for policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation, and the formalization and expansion of MSEs by enhancing access to financial services (United Nations, 2024). These changing work landscapes due to digital advancements and significant social security and welfare policy implementations offer hope for accommodating the evolving nature of work from traditional to platform-based.





Policy Recommendations





Education reforms should guarantee equal access for everyone and offer ample technical and vocational training opportunities. These steps are essential for providing individuals with the skills necessary to transition to employment on digital platforms. Integrating the entire informal sector into the digital network makes it easier for the government to track and reduce informality.





The tax system design should not unintentionally create more reasons for individuals and businesses to stay in the informal sector. This can be achieved by reducing tax rates, minimizing payroll taxes, and implementing supportive social protection measures to support the most vulnerable.





Financial inclusion is necessary, and the government should expand access to financial services and remove key constraints for informal firms and finance entrepreneurs by providing digital financial services, such as mobile financial services, to all individuals. Digital platforms, including government-to-person mobile transfers, can contribute to inclusive growth by providing financial accounts to the unbanked, empowering women financially, and helping small and medium-sized enterprises grow within the formal sector.








The Arizona grand jury that indicted 18 Republican supporters of Donald Trump who falsely claimed he won the state in the 2020 election wanted to consider also charging the former president, but prosecutors urged them not to, according to court documents filed this week.





The court records filed by Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes' office contain exchanges between prosecutors and the grand jurors, who heard 18 days of testimony.





As grand jurors were considering possible charges, a prosecutor asked them not to indict Trump, citing a U.S. Justice Department policy that limits the prosecution of someone for the same crime twice and making a PowerPoint presentation on that policy. The prosecutor, who isnt identified in the records, also didnt know whether authorities had all the evidence they would need to charge Trump at that time.





I know that may be disappointing to some of you, the prosecutor said. I understand.





Ultimately, the grand jury indicted 18 people on forgery, fraud and conspiracy charges, including the 11 Republicans who submitted a document falsely claiming Trump had won Arizona, five lawyers connected to the former president and two former Trump aides.





Although Trump wasn't charged in the Arizona case, the indictment refers to him as an unindicted coconspirator. The former president is charged in a federal case brought by special counsel Jack Smith with plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Jason Lamm, a former prosecutor who now works as a criminal defense attorney in Phoenix, said Mayes office isnt bound by U.S. Justice Department policy. That was a choice, rather than an obligation, said Lamm of prosecutors asking grand jurors not to indict the former president.





Lamm, who doesnt represent anyone charged in the case, said even if Trump had been indicted and Mayes office didnt want to prosecute him, there would have been alternative means to dispose of the case rather than potentially infringe on the autonomy of the grand jury. The filing by Arizona prosecutors also revealed that they had asked grand jurors not to bring charges against a group of Republican state lawmakers for signing a document that urged then-Vice President Mike Pence to accept the Arizona fake electors' forged electoral college certificates.





When grand jurors inquired about charging the 22 sitting Republican lawmakers and eight others who had won election but hadnt yet taken office, the prosecutor expressed caution when talking about proving an intent to defraud by all legislators who signed the document.





Earlier this week, attorney Jenna Ellis signed an agreement with Arizona prosecutors who will dismiss charges against her in exchange for her cooperation. She pleaded guilty in Georgia last year to a felony charge over efforts to overturn Trumps 2020 election loss in that state.





Also, Republican activist Loraine Pellegrino, who signed the document falsely claiming Trump had won Arizona, became the first person to be convicted in the states fake elector case. Prosecutors say she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of filing a false document.





The remaining defendants, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Trump presidential chief of staff Mark Meadows, have pleaded not guilty.





Eleven people who had been nominated to be Arizonas Republican electors had met in Phoenix on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign a certificate saying they were duly elected and qualified electors and claimed Trump had carried the state in the 2020 election. President Joe Biden won Arizona by 10,457 votes. A one-minute video of the signing ceremony was posted on social media by the Arizona Republican Party at the time. The document was later sent to Congress and the National Archives, where it was ignored.





Prosecutors in Michigan, Nevada, Georgia and Wisconsin have also filed criminal charges related to the fake electors scheme. Arizona authorities unveiled the felony charges in late April.





The grand jury excerpts were contained in a document in which prosecutors responded to requests by some defendants to dismiss their charges.





Defense lawyers argued their clients actions were based on their constitutionally protected speech rights. They also accused the Attorney Generals Office of bias against the defendants.





In their response, prosecutors said grand jurors are independent and have discretion over whether to bring charges against a person.




TORONTO (AP)  Canadian police have arrested a man after he allegedly made threats against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau online.





Police say the man made violent threats against Trudeau, the police and security personnel who might attempt to interfere with his plans in an online video. RCMP made the arrest with help from the York Regional Police in Ontario.





Dawid Zalewski, 33, of no fixed address, is facing two counts of uttering threats.





Threats to our national security can come in many forms and Canada is not immune, the RCMP said in a press release Wednesday.





We are aware of the heightened security environment for public officials and the danger this presents for all Canadians. Our No. 1 priority has been, and will always be, the safety and security of Canadians.





The arrest comes weeks after two Alberta men were charged after they allegedly directed death threats at the prime minister.




Guwahati: The lone Nobel laureate of Bangladesh, who has more visibility than any President and Prime Minister of the south Asian nation across the globe, agreed on principle to accept the responsibility to lead the interim government in Dhaka, which becomes necessary after PM Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country following a month long uprising led by the student community in association with millions of common Bangladeshi citizens.



"Finally Bangladesh becomes free from an occupational force. It's like the second liberation after 1971. Let's celebrate," this is how the banker turned social thinker reacted to this writer. Speaking from Paris, where he is now pursuing an honorary engagement with the International Olympic Committee, Prof Yunus admitted he had no idea about any formal proposal to assign him as the chief adviser of the caretaker government of Bangladesh for the next few months.



Mentionable is that the leaders of agitating students have already emphasized that Prof Yunus should be made the interim government chief as he enjoys a larger acceptability among the Bangladeshi nationals, including those living outside the country. They also claimed that the octogenarian motivator of social business agreed to take the responsibility considering the current situation in Bangladesh, which needs peace and normalcy as early as possible.



However Prof Yunus out rightly rejected the news of joining active politics. His involvement in the neutral government will have a minor space for a limited period, said the soft spoken gentleman, adding that his primary aim will be bringing back Bangladesh to a developed, progressive and peaceful nation. Prof Yunus hopes that it will be possible now as 'an occupation force, a dictator and a general' has left the country. He appreciated the young people for making it happen.



Meanwhile, Bangla President Muhammed Sahabuddin discussed with the representatives of various political parties and the agitating student community and ordered the release of opposition Bangladesh National Party chief Khaleda Zia who was under house arrest by the Hasina government. Even Prof Yunus faced a number of fictitious legal charges and he was almost jailed for 'manipulating' a large amount of money meant for Grameen Telecom employees' welfare.



Lately, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres urged calm and restraint by all sides emphasizing the importance of a peaceful, orderly and democratic transition. Expressing full solidarity with the Bangla people, he underscored the need for a full, independent, impartial and transparent investigation into all acts of violence. The secretary-general deplored the loss of life during protests in the country.
Guwahati: Now it's official- Bangladesh's lone Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus has been appointed as the head of interim government by Bangladesh President Muhammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday midnight following a series of discussions with the top military personnel, agitating student leaders and other law experts in Banga Bhaban.





Prof Yunus, who was in Paris following a special invitation from the International Olympic Committee, agreed on principle to accept the responsibility of chief adviser to the caretaker government, which became necessary after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country following a month long uprising led by the student community in association with millions of Bangladeshi citizens.





The agitating student leaders emphasized that Prof Yunus should be made the interim government chief as he enjoys a larger acceptability among the Bangladeshi nationals, including those living outside the country. The octogenarian motivator of social business however rejected the news of his joining active politics. His involvement in the neutral government will be for a limited period, said the soft spoken gentleman.





Earlier, President Sahabuddin ordered the release of opposition Bangladesh National Party chairperson Khaleda Zia who was under house arrest by the Hasina-led Awami League government in Dhaka. Soon after her release, Begum Zia expressed her concern over the nationwide violence, vandalism and looting of state resources amid the uprising and asked the people to maintain peace.




Meredith Lindemon Food and Drink Reporter Follow Meredith Lindemon 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

Sweetgreen is set to open its first Richmond-area location next year, plus Cava Mezze Grill is planning to open in Glen Allen and a new Dunkin Donuts recently opened in East Highland Park.

Dunkin Donuts

A new Dunkin Donuts recently opened at 4091 Concord Creek Place, just off Mechanicsville Turnpike in East Highland Park.

The new Dunkin is a newly designed 1,850 square-foot space that can seat 20 guests and has a drive-thru. The new space will also offer Dunkin on Demand, a dedicated mobile order pick-up area for guests who order ahead via the Dunkin App.

Sweetgreen

Sweetgreen, which makes healthy salad and grain bowls, is set to open its first Richmond location at Carytown Exchange in the first half of 2025.

Sweetgreen has leased 2,226 square feet of space in Carytown and is the latest of 10 locations in Virginia. The chain has 232 locations throughout the U.S.

Sweetgreen is known for its salads, warm bowls and sides, with healthy options prepared fresh daily. Sweetgreen was founded in Washington, D.C. and is now headquartered in Los Angeles.

The Sweetgreen will be located at the Publix-anchored Carytown Exchange at 3550-3403 West Cary St. and 3403-3550 Ellwood Ave.

Cava Mezze Grill

A new location of Cava Mezze Grill is scheduled to open in Glen Allen in the first quarter of 2025 at 9964 Brook Road.

The Mediterranean-inspired spot is popular for working lunches and will serve the standard items available in other Cava restaurants, including brunch, takeaway, lunch and dessert. The chain was founded by Brett Schulman, Ted Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos and Dimitri Moshovitis in 2010. There are 323 Cava restaurants in the U.S. and 33 locations in Virginia. The companys mission is to bring heart, hope and humanity to food.

14 Richmond rooftop bars to check out The Byrd House Casa del Barco Sloop: John B Kabana Rooftop Marylous rooftop deck New York Delis Rockaway Beach rooftop Q Rooftop Bar Juan's Rooftop & Cantina Havana 59 Common House Starr Hill Beer Hall & Rooftop Harry's at the Hofheimer rooftop The Pit and The Peel Rooftop Importante Bodega Bar
As CNN reporter Larry Madowo was on the air covering protests against corruption in President William Ruto's government, he was shot at by riot police in Nairobi, Kenya.

The video shows Madowo ducking and trying to take cover as several shots are fired near him. He's then suddenly struck in the face by fragments of a tear gas canister.

Madowo immediately yells at the Kenyan police: "That was aimed directly at me. He's aiming directly at me."

Seconds later, Madowo is hit once again by flying fragments.

"He's shooting directly at me. Why are you shooting at me? Why are you shooting at me? Why are you shooting at me? There's a flash bang there, watch out. He is still shooting."

BREAKING: Kenyan police targeted me directly today. I was hit by a fragment after officers aimed at me and my CNN team at least twice while covering protests in Nairobi pic.twitter.com/Nh8F7HOvjI  Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) August 8, 2024

[P]olice have been extra aggressive today. We've been covering these protests for the last two months, and today they've made sure that most of the city's deserted," Madowo told CNN anchor Jim Acosta in a debrief. "[I]t's almost entirely empty because anytime two or three people gather, police have been quickly breaking them up with flashbangs, with teargas, shooting in the air.

Protests erupted after a controversial finance bill that raised taxes was supposed to be withdrawn by Ruto. He was also forced to fire his entire cabinet. While Ruto did withdraw the bill and dismiss his cabinet, he backtracked by reappointing half of the ministers into his cabinet. The new cabinet was sworn in early Thursday, inspiring protests in Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria.

According to CNN, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights have said at least 61 people have been killed due to the nationwide protests.
A Richmond police officer faces a misdemeanor simple assault charge after a person was hurt during an arrest.

The Police Department in a statement said the incident happened in April when Paul Jenkins, 51, of Richmond, was helping other officers during the arrest of a person for driving under the influence.

"During the arrest, the officer attempted to remove the arrestee from the transport wagon, and the arrestee suffered an abrasion to his head. Although medical personnel were called, the arrestee refused treatment," the statement said.

The incident was reviewed by supervisors and forwarded to prosecutors, which is standard practice.

Jenkins has been with the department for 21 years. He's been put on administrative leave with pay, per department policy.

An internal review is planned.
American driver arrested entering Mexico with suitcase of marijuana

Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua  An American driver from the U.S. state of Georgia was taken into custody Wednesday along with his trunk load of pot. The unnamed man was stopped for an inspection when attempting to enter Mexico.

The physical inspection of his vehicle took place at the Reforma international bridge in Ciudad Juarez by the National Customs Agency of Mexico. During the inspection, customs agents located a total of 29 packages of marijuana.

Members of the National Guard arrested the American who was found transporting more than 14 kilograms of marijuana in his vehicle.

Mexico custom agents located 29 bags of marijuana in his vehicle. Photo: Guardia Nacional August 7, 2024.

In the trunk of the car among items of clothing they found a plastic bag containing nine packages of green, dry grass with the characteristics of marijuana as well as a suitcase with another 20 packages with the possible narcotic, for which reason the person was arrested, Guardia Nacional reported.

The male driver from Georgia was arrested and his vehicle and pot seized by federal authorities.
Thunderstorm leaves more than 200,000 around Cancun, Riviera Maya without electricity

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  A bout of rain that hit the coastal region Wednesday afternoon is being blamed for a mass power outage. Cancun and Playa del Carmen experienced a loss of electricity during an afternoon thunderstorm that rolled across the state.

According to the Federal Electricity Commission, damage to a high voltage line due to the electrical storm has been the said cause for the mass blackout. Nearly 300,000 residents and businesses were affected by the sudden loss of electricity Wednesday afternoon with the arrival of the storm.

In a statement, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) reported working with the National Energy Control Center (CENACE) to gradually restore power to the known 277,000 people suddenly left without. According to the Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE), power was gradually restored in grids to 89,000, then 108,000 and 78,000 by the end of the day.

CFE, in close coordination with the National Energy Control Center (CENACE), gradually restored power to affected users. With immediate work, the CFE in coordination with CENACE, gradually restored the electricity supply to affected users, as follows:

Road chaos in Cancun without functioning traffic lights. Photo: August 7, 2024.

At 16:48 Central Time, 89,694 users were recovered, representing 32% of the total number of affected users with a duration of 36 minutes.

At 18:01 Central Time, 108,426 more users were recovered, representing 72% of the total number of affected users with a duration of 1 hour and 49 minutes.

At 18:14 Central Time, the remaining 78,932 users were restored, representing 100% of the affected users, with a duration of 2 hours and 2 minutes.

CFE workers are seen here repairing lines in affected areas of Playa del Carmen in a separate power outage situation earlier this week.

CFE reaffirms its commitment, in this type of contingency, to restore power supply to affected users in the shortest possible time, guaranteeing the safety of its staff and the population, they reported in an official statement.

A transformer in Cancun caught fire Tuesday night leaving residents without electricity. Photo: August 6, 2024.

On Monday night, a burned CFE transformer left a central section of resident Isla Mujeres without power until Wednesday afternoon. On Tuesday night, a CFE transformer that caught fire left a block of Cancun residents in the dark.
This August 11 is the 10th anniversary of the death of Robin Williams, the most beloved comedian to come out of the new America unleashed by the 60s, entertaining the country for more than 40 years through a number of changes in genre and medium. Williams was distinctive because he showed us that he was crazy and we recognized ourselves in his act: being American is being crazy. Thats how we live, and he made it seem fun, even glamorous, given the success that followed on his exuberance and his shameless abandon of every propriety or restraint. In our hearts, we would like to rebel. Moreover, his craziness was full of vitality and seemed something we could all be part of. We wanted to believe him because were afraid of dying. He made our crazy lives look like they could expand to include anything, everything, and there would never be a price to pay. We didnt look behind the curtainwe believed the surprises would always be delightful. Then Robin Williams committed suicide, and we were mostly shocked.

These contradictions define Williams legacy as they define our way of life, and they therefore bear examining. The best place to start is the HBO two-hour documentary on his life and career, Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind. Its unusually well done while remaining within the boundaries of this age of the twilight of the Boomers. There is no judgment, the one thing we do not allow in America, but the documentary gets sadder in its second half, intimating that life is not all excitement, that for all the American promise, there are disappointments, too. I guess the pieties brought out by the tricks of the documentary tradethe pauses, silences, long shots and lamenting musicare intended to calm our fears.

For all the advantages of examining a mans life in its entirety, to say nothing of having access to all the people and documents, I admit, there is a downside to this nonjudgmental, therapeutic ethic. First, the documentary works hard to suggest that the unhappy end was all too predictablebut then shouldnt someone have done something? Secondly, it starts and ends with the assurance that Williams death was a medical issue (Lewy body dementia) beyond human controlhe didnt really kill himself. Rather, its like when you get cancer, an alien trouble. Thirdly, the spirituality-but-not-religion: his ashes were spread in the San Francisco Bay where he lived his life, according to his wishes; then his son swam there with a friend of the family, feeling his fathers presence all around; underwater shots of the bay

Comedy and Fear of Death

Well, we should be at least as brave as Williams wasafter all, the energy of his performance was contagious. The documentary lacks that bravery; it is intended to soothe fear of deathsomeone has to explain it away for us, with copious dollops of sentimentality thrown in. This does Williams a disservice; he really did try his hardest to be America, not just to be loved by America, but to embody American freedom and live it to the full. He certainly embodies our twin drives. First, to go out there, with a positive attitude, and have success and make people feel good, to be loved and liked and respected and unforgettable, too, and to get as much out of life as possiblebecause you get only one life and you never know when you might die. Secondly, to shut down, shut up, to hide, to be quiet, to get some catatonic release (lets call it Zen) from a frantic world so full of uncertainty where nothing ever lasts. But that was his private life, and we did not know it at the time.

Come Inside My Mind shifts constantly between Williams public and private lives, sometimes achieving a coherence of vision that restores to us the man, not just the performer, other times reducing him to a caricature of America: now manic, now depressive, now extravagantly rich and vital, now boringly banal, now excited about new possibilities, now retreating into suburban, rural, or nature-worshiping simplicity and quiet. Here he is partying with the biggest stars in Hollywoodthere he goes raising goats on a farm. The result for some will be a kind of adventure not too different from gossip, which our media has long specialized in; but others will see the story of a lonely man who didnt really have friends, trust, or advicethats the real indictment of the glamor industry. The few interventions by his friends shown in the film are also the only morally serious judgments, in restrained, kind ways. They offer a welcome contrast to the praise we all expect. On the other hand, his experience of Christianity is absent from the picture.

Williams was a lonely boy in the midst of midcentury wealth. Born in 1951 to a father who was a Ford executive who sent him to an expensive boarding school, he got his sense of humor from his Southern belle mother, who was nevertheless neglectful. He tells a touching story of seeing his father laugh at Jonathan Winters routines on Johnny Carson and wanting to have that kind of effect on his father, too. It seems he yearned to please, to make people wonder at him.

Then at the end of the 60s, the dedicated, dutiful student-athlete with a penchant for drama turned into the unfolding spectacle of freedom. He wasnt quite wildhe got a scholarship to and attended Julliard. But he fell in love with San Francisco and lived that life. To understand the lovable, made-for-TV, family-friendly Williams, look to Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters, Americas own LSD cult, the subject of Tom Wolfes Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1968). That religion of freedom included the childish jester busy with the histrionics of artistic improvisation, but also drugs and sexual promiscuity. It was the 70s, which, as a nation, we seem to have chosen to forget, and, as I said, we do not judge in America. We should nevertheless be grateful that Wolfe reported from the scene and we can now remember.

Williams was manic, but the flipside was occasionally on display in his movie career, in convincing performances as men who died insidethats the death toll for the experience of freedom with law. Williams himself cleaned up when he learned John Belushi diedhe had been with him, partying, the night he overdosed. Belushi was another star fabled for his energy, exploration of chaotic freedom, and overpowering personality.

In surviving the friend who most resembled him, Williams began his transformation into the avuncular figure we remember. Perhaps we can admit we ended up seeing authority in him, in his manly strength, his deep and powerful voice, his self-restrainthe had had experience and the luck or skill to have survived it all. That was his Oscar-winning role in Good Will Hunting, for example. Hence, also, his most patriotic work doing USO Tours to entertain the troops.

This older, wiser man, beaten but still alive, knew what we has talking about, had things to say, and was captivating to watch. He was no longer an oddity on TV, a youngish clown, a figure of ridicule, but the man who brought us the results from the longest national experiment in the wilderness. We listened to him often talk about his life in stand-up comedy and never noticed how he had spent four decades concealing in his silly jokes serious insights into how messed up we are. I think we owe it to him to see that in a way he suffered for our sake. In that sense, celebrity is a lot more like the burdensome obedience to a command than it is easy living.

The Dignity of the Comic Art

Williams had a head on his shoulders, which we see for the first time in Come Inside My Mind. We were impressed with the man and his act, so we never listened to him. This is, strangely enough, helpfulinstead of getting docu-wisdom and self-help or made-for-TV therapy, we get to hear what he was actually saying on stage and really listen to his jokes. It is not just his hedonistic excessesthere are many parts of American life he threw himself into with abandon and came back to give us the news, somewhat wiser and usually smart enough to conceal his hard-bought wisdom in jokes. The meaning of his all-American comedy was: Count your blessings.

In America much is promised, but nothing guaranteed. To prove our individuality is worth something, we need success in society, but to defend it, we need to escape into seclusion. For a long time, Williams pulled off this act, keeping his secrets from us, helping us admire him. He inspired in us the thought that we are worth inspiring. He started out a shy child, but he ended up understanding Americas juvenile pop culture and tried to play the role of the grown-up. We need documentaries and criticism because we do not take seriously what we find laughable. We have to grow upwe already know Williams was a talented comic, but we have yet to learn what talent is all about, why it has a national dimension.

In middle age, Williams took up biking long distance, one assumes, to get away from it all. This is the image that stuck with me from Come Inside My Mind, always moving but also staying in place, making the best of restlessness, trying to prove strength. You might think it Sisyphean, but striving is also pleasant. Maybe think of him as an American after the closing of the frontier, nature conquered, the bike replacing the horse, going up and down the California coast contemplating the endless ocean. Williams was more extravagantly the life of the party than we arehe was, of course, also more catatonic than the rest of us. We have to mix our love for him with an understanding that its our fantasies he was chasing. We bear some responsibility for our celebrities.
A "religious leader" in California was arrested after multiple victims came forward to report the sexual abuse of a child by the same individual at a residence in the 26000 block of Sandi Lane in the city of Moreno Valley.

After the Moreno Valley Sheriff's Station launched an investigation into the allegations, it was discovered that the assaults occurred at multiple locations within Riverside County.

The suspect and religious leader of a shamanistic community was identified as 59-year-old Ricardo Flores.

Officials arrested Flores on August 7 while he was returning to the United States from Mexico.

Flores was transported back to Riverside County and booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center on sexual assault and child sexual abuse charges.

The investigation is ongoing, as the Moreno Valley Sheriff's Station Investigations Bureau believes there may be other victims.
A Florida woman is accused of smacking her husband with dinner after the two fought over her decision to get food from Taco Bell and McDonald's for his birthday, according to a report.

Esha Persad, 34, a dentist, and her husband, Shiva Persad, began arguing shortly after midnight on Saturday at the St. Petersburg home over his birthday meal.

They got into an altercation getting the victim Taco Bell and McDonald's for his birthday, the affidavit, obtained by WOFL-TV says.

"The defendant then threw a soft shell taco at the victim, which struck the victim on the right side of the face," it says.

When police arrived, they found evidence of the dust-up on the husband's face.

"The burrito was still on the victim's face," the affidavit says.

The wife told officers that she retaliated after her husband of five years tossed a bag at her, a claim he denied.

Esha Persad was arrested and charged with domestic battery.

She has been released from the Pinellas County Jail.
We feature a curated selection of some of the biggest, most important, and fascinating news thats making waves online

Max Maeder of Singapore eyes Olympic glory in the kitefoiling final. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

And that's a wrap. Thanks for tuning in. We'll catch y'all again next week.

Hello to all our readers, before Yahoo Singapore brings you the live news updates today, we just want to say: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SINGAPORE!   

Singaporean kitefoiler Max Maeder has secured his place in the Olympic final after finishing second in the opening series. He is now in a strong position to secure Singapore's first Olympic medal since 2016. Maeder is now aiming to win two races in the final to clinch gold. All the best, Max! Singapore is cheering for you! Read on for more Olympics stories.

Forbes Asia's 2024 Best Under A Billion list includes seven Singaporean companies: Aztech Global, Choo Chiang Holdings, Credit Bureau Asia, Delfi, Eggriculture Foods, Old Chang Kee, and Singapore Exchange. These firms demonstrated strong financial performance and growth amidst robust regional economic conditions. Read on for the full list.

FairPrice is offering 30 Pasar Fresh Eggs for $5.90 to celebrate Singapores 59th National Day, reminiscent of a similar promotion last year, where housebrand eggs were sold at a reduced price to commemorate the national holiday.

Singapore has introduced the Energy Transition Measures and Other Amendments Bill to Parliament. This Bill aims to enhance regulatory oversight, establish a Future Energy Fund, and ensure energy security. Key proposals include centralising gas procurement and empowering EMA to implement power rationing during emergencies. Find out how Singapore is strengthening its energy security here.

Twenty-seven individuals have been arrested by Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for illegal employment activities. The arrests include 13 migrant domestic workers working without valid passes and 14 employers who facilitated these activities. Read on MOM's recent crackdown on illegal employment here.

Michael Phelps Olympic dominance is attributed to his unique physical characteristics, including a long wingspan, large hands and feet, lower lactic acid production, and a 12-litre lung capacity. These genetic traits, combined with intense training, have enabled him to become one of the greatest swimmers of all time. Phelps' genetic advantage in swimming is explained here.

A travel vloggers first-class journey on Singapore Airlines has captivated millions. His detailed TikTok video showcases the luxury amenities and exceptional service. Read the reactions that fuel an online debate about luxury travel.

It's a long weekend. If you're thinking of making a trip across the Causes, here are six things you should know before travelling to JB, including how to take the bus or drive a car from Singapore. And if you're wondering where to grab a bite afterwards, check out the 10 best places to dine in JB here.

Carlos Yulo has become a national hero as the first Filipino man to win an Olympic gold medal. His historic victory in gymnastics has earned him a slew of rewards, including a US$600,000 condo. This mirrors the experience of Singapore's Joseph Schooling, who received significant endorsements after his Olympic win. Will Carlos Yulo follow in Joseph Schooling's branded footsteps?

COE prices increased across all categories on Wednesday, (7 Aug), driven by high demand and new car launches. The latest COE prices are listed here.

Chinese gymnast Zhou Yaqin's wide-eyed reaction to her competitors biting their medals has gone viral. The 18-year-old's surprised expression was caught on camera during the Olympic podium ceremony. Viewers loved her relatable and adorable response. Read more about heartwarming moment here.

The USA artistic swimming team dazzled at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a performance inspired by Michael Jackson's iconic moonwalk, gaining widespread praise and earning them the silver.

Singapore socialite Kim Lim, daughter of billionaire Peter Lim, announced her pregnancy on social media, emphasising her support for single mothers. The reveal featured a grand celebration with friends and a touching message.

Flashy Singapore CEO David Yong, who had claimed that he was the "top 1% super rich" in the Netflix series "Super Rich in Korea", was given additional charges on Thursday (8 August).
Starting off the second day of MPIBA programming on Tuesday in Denver, Colo., the six authors of the books featured at the Novel Narratives keynote breakfast underscored the double meaning of the word "novel," showcasing their distinct approaches to fiction.

Pictured (l.-r.): Johnny Compton (Devils Kill Devils, Tor Nightfire); Nickolas Butler (A Forty Year Kiss, Sourcebooks Landmark, Feb. 4, 2025); Karen Russell (The Antidote, Knopf, Mar. 11, 2025); Jonathan Evison (The Heart of Winter, Dutton, Jan. 7, 2025); Michael Idov (The Collaborators, Scribner, Nov. 19, 2024); and Nnedi Okorafor (Death of the Author, Morrow, Jan. 14, 2025). (photo: Tori Henson)

Nnedi Okorafor described the metafictional aspect of her Death of the Author (Morrow, Jan. 14, 2025), some of which mines aspects of her own life--such as a surgery at age 19 for an aggressive case of scoliosis that left Okorafor, a semi-pro tennis star, paralyzed and relearning how to walk (an experience she chronicled in her memoir Broken Places & Outer Spaces). Her original angle is that the novel imagines what could happen if an author's--in this case heroine Zelu's--book were to be taken over by forces outside of her. Okorafor said the title comes from an essay by Roland Barthes that discusses how "the author and the author's work must be separate. I hate that essay." She calls Death of the Author a "literary Nigerian family saga set in Chicago" combined with "a post-human robot fable."

Johnny Compton's interest in horror began with the story of The Golden Arm. While his debut novel, The Spite House dealt with "shadows and voices in the dark," Compton said, his second novel, Devils Kill Devils (Tor Nightfire) features Sarita, watched over by a guardian angel she calls Angelo. Or is it a devil? The book opens with Angelo killing Sarita's husband on their wedding night. Compton's unusual take is his approach to horror: "Who is the real villain?" he asks. After all, in The Golden Arm, "an artifact of extreme value is buried with the corpse," Compton points out. "Often the graverobber is a family member who needs the valuable object." With that framing question, who is the villain in Devils Kill Devils?

Jonathan Evison's mother celebrated her 90th birthday on Monday. She was a single mother whose husband left when Evison was five years old, after a freak accident killed their daughter. Two years ago, she was diagnosed with jaw cancer. Evison became emotional describing what she's gone through, raising him alone. "I decided to write my mom the love story she deserves," he said, imagining an alternate narrative for her. The Heart of Winter (Dutton, Jan. 7, 2025) tells of Abe and Ruth's 70-year marriage "that weathers everything my mother did alone," Evison said. Loss of a child, marital improprieties, and differing politics. "It's somewhat about the culture wars. I want this country to heal," Evison said. "If Abe and Ruth can do it, we can do it."

The Antidote (Knopf, Mar. 11, 2025) by Karen Russell, in an original twist, overlays a sense of magic over the events of the 1935 Dust Bowl in a small Nebraska town. "It's about collapse and restoration," she said. "I joked that I was writing the sequel to Swamplandia!--'Drylandia!' " Townspeople can deposit a secret via an earhorn--the 1930s equivalent of a hearing aid, shaped like a gramophone--into the ear of the "Prairie Witch," who will hold them like a vault. Russell spoke of the research she did, including the government-funded Dorthea Lange photos familiar to many, and the "holepunched" photos buried by the politicians, the clearing of the plains that contributed to conditions ripe for a dust storm, and the flooding rains that followed. "I wanted to tell a story that would lead to solutions," Russell said, "to open the aperture and take a longer view of history."

A conversation that Nickolas Butler overheard on September 22, 2022, while sitting at the bar in the Tomahawk Room in Chippewa Falls, Wis., inspired A Forty Year Kiss (Sourcebooks Landmark, Feb. 4, 2025). A man and a woman in their 60s engage in a conversation, and at one point, he says, "I still dream about you. Can I kiss you?" Will it be a chaste kiss, Butler wondered, pretending not to eavesdrop? No. "It was super passionate. I start blushing," he recalls. "I felt I'd been given something from beyond." So begins Butler's story of Charlie and Vivian, in their 60s, meeting up again 40 years after a passionate three-year marriage dissolved due to Charlie's drinking. Butler calls it "a story of second-chance love."

Michael Idov, whose fourth novel is The Collaborators (Scribner, Nov. 19, 2024), was born in Russian-occupied Latvia to a Russian-speaking Jewish family. They came to the U.S. in 1992 and settled in Cleveland. Idov graduated from the University of Michigan, then moved to New York City, where he became a journalist and worked for New York magazine. He moved to Russia to become editor-in-chief of GQ Russia, where he lived from 2012-2014. There he made friends with Alexei Navalny and Pussy Riot, and "had a front-row seat to a country descending into madness," Idov recalled. Next was Berlin, and then back to the U.S., in Los Angeles. He wanted to write a spy novel based on his own experiences living in these countries. But he is not a spy. He had what he called two hard rules: "1) No scene will take place anywhere where I haven't lived. 2) At no point will any character speak a language I don't speak." As a follower of what he deemed "spy-fy," Idov said he was surprised by the number of CIA agents who get the details of the city they're writing about wrong. He claims you could map Moscow from his novel The Collaborators: "But don't go while Putin is in charge!" --Jennifer M. Brown

Binc director of development Kathy Bartson (l.) announced that MPIBA had raised $1,500 for booksellers during the conference. Binc development coordinator Jennifer Rojas (r.) was also on hand to celebrate. Dara Landry (center) from Class Bookstore in Houston, Tex., won the Binc Heads or Tails Game and a $250 prize.

A dozen creators presented a Buffet of Books at Tuesday's luncheon. Pictured: (front row, l.-r.): Carole Lindstrom (The Gift of the Great Buffalo, illus. by Aly McKnight, Bloomsbury Children's Books, Feb. 25, 2025); Sarah Gerard (Carrie Carolyn Coco, Zando); Joanna Cacao (The Squad, written by Christina Soontornvat, Graphix, Nov. 12); Yamile Saied Mendez (The Beautiful Game, Algonquin Young Readers); (back row) Buddy Levy (Realm of Ice and Sky, St. Martin's Press, Jan. 28, 2025); J.E. Thomas (The AI Incident, Levine Querido, June 10, 2025); Laurie Lee Hall (Dictates of Conscience, Signature Books, Nov. 20); Megan E. Freeman (Away, Aladdin, Feb. 11, 2025); Derek Lewis (Survive and Advance, Page Two, Jan. 28, 2025); Ethan Long (Hugs for Pug, Holiday House, Nov. 5); Richard Kyte (Finding Your Third Place, Fulcrum Publishing).

Fourteen authors local to MPIBA's 14-state region made the rounds to booktalk their titles to booksellers. Pictured: (front row, l.-r.): Laura Krantz (Do You Believe in Magic?, Abrams Books for Young Readers); Andrea Eames (A Harvest of Hearts, Erewhon Books, Mar. 4, 2025); Amalie Howard (Lady Knight, Joy Revolution, Apr. 1, 2025); Cynthia Levinson (Who Owns the Moon?, Margaret Quinlin Books, Jan. 7, 2025); Lydia Reeder (The Cure for Women, St. Martin's Press, Dec. 3); Nyasha Williams (Saturday Magic, Running Press Kids); John Janovy Jr. (Life Lessons from a Parasite, Sourcebooks); Marci Kay Monson (The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Gibbs Smith); Callie Fuqua (Goodnight, West Texas, Brown Books Kids, Nov. 12); (back row) David R. Slayton (Rogue Community College, Blackstone, Oct. 15); A. Kendra Greene (No Less Strange or Wonderful, Tin House, Mar. 4, 2025); Janet Sumner Johnson (The Winterton Deception 2: Fault Lines, Pixel+Ink, Nov. 12); Kristin Koval (Penitence, Celadon Books, Feb. 18); Lindsey Drager (The Avian Hourglass, Dzanc Books).

Day two of the conference closed on a high note with an MPIBA favorite: Literary Trivia, in which bookseller teams compete to come up with the title that answers the clue. Featured here is team "The Fellowship of the Quiz," with members (l.-r.): Allison Senecal (Old Firehouse Books, Fort Collins, Colo.); Jeanne Costello (Maria's Bookshop, Durango, Colo.); Laura Sharp (Literally, A Bookshop, Chandler, Ariz.); Kay Brizzolara (Chapterhouse Bookstore, Amarillo, Tex.); Rebecca Leber-Gottberg (Rediscovered Books, Boise, Idaho); and Joy Rhodes (Stardust Books, Clarkdale, Ariz.).
EAU CLAIRE, Wis.  Vice President Kamala Harris declared herself and her new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, "joyful warriors" against Donald Trump as they spent their first full day campaigning together Wednesday across the Midwest.

They got an unusual glimpse of how hotly contested the region will be when they overlapped on a Wisconsin tarmac with Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance.

The Democrats visited Wisconsin and Michigan, hoping to shore up support among the younger, diverse, labor-friendly voters who were instrumental in helping President Joe Biden win the 2020 election.

"As Tim Walz likes to point out, we are joyful warriors," Harris told the day's first rally in Eau Claire.

The Harris campaign said it raised $36 million in the first 24 hours after she announced Walz as her running mate.

The vice president said the pair look on the future with optimism, unlike Trump, the former president and Republican nominee whom she accused of being stuck in the past and preferring a confrontational style of politics  even as she criticized him herself.

"Someone who suggests we should terminate the Constitution of the United States should never again have the chance to sit behind the seal of the United States," Harris said, amid applause from a crowd her campaign said numbered more than 12,000.

Later, at an evening rally in an airport hangar outside Detroit where the campaign announced a crowd of 15,000-strong, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, herself frequently mentioned as a future presidential candidate, declared, We need a strong woman in the White House and its about damn time.

This elections going to be a fight, Harris told the Michigan crowd. "We like a good fight.

Wednesday's campaign swing was especially important for her and Walz since Biden's winning coalition from four years ago showed signs of fraying  particularly in Michigan, which emerged as a focal point of Democratic divisions over Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

With Biden now out of the race, leaders of the Arab American community and key unions say they are encouraged by the running mate choice. Walz's addition to the ticket soothed some tensions, signaling to some leaders that Harris heard concerns about another leading contender for the vice presidential slot, Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, who they felt went too far in his support for Israel.

"The party is recognizing that there's a coalition they have to rebuild," said Abdullah Hammoud, the mayor of Dearborn, Michigan. "Picking Walz is another sign of good faith."

Trump, too, put emphasis on appealing to voters in Midwestern states with his choice of Vance an Ohio Republican senator, as his running mate. Vance was even bracketing the Harris-Walz ticket with Michigan and Wisconsin appearances of his own Wednesday.

The dueling schedules overlapped enough that while Harris was greeting a group of Girl Scouts at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport in Wisconsin, Vance's campaign plane taxied in the distance.

Vance began walking over to Air Force Two, trailed by his security detail.

The vice president eventually climbed into her motorcade, and it pulled away before they could interact. Still, that the pair came so close to doing so on a tarmac was unusual, given the carefully scripted nature of campaign schedules.

"I just wanted to check out my future plane," Vance later told reporters, meaning that he'd travel on Air Force Two should he and Trump be elected in November.

He criticized Harris for not taking questions from reporters, though she sometimes answers shouted questions while boarding or leaving her plane for campaign stops.

Vance later told the crowd at his Eau Claire event, "We actually just saw the vice president's plane" and then joked of reporters traveling with him, "I figured they must be lonely because Kamala Harris doesn't take any questions."

"If those people want to call me weird I call it a badge of honor," Vance said, responding to a moniker Walz used to describe him that made the Minnesota governor notable online in the days before Harris tapped him as her running mate.

Addressing the Democrats' Wisconsin rally ahead of Harris, Walz had some critical words for Vance but trained most of his sharpest words on Trump, saying the former president "mocks our laws, he sows chaos and division amongst the people and that's to say nothing of the job he did as president."

Republicans are trying to portray Harris and Walz as too liberal for the Midwest, with Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., saying on a conference call that Walz is "part of the radical, crazy left as is Vice President Harris."

But Democratic enthusiasm surged since Harris announced her candidacy and picked Walz as her running mate.

The momentum could be pivotal in Detroit, which is nearly 80% Black, where leaders for months warned administration officials that voter apathy could cost them in a city that's typically a stronghold for their party. Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the NAACP Detroit branch, likened the excitement in the city now to Barack Obama's first run for president in 2008, when voters waited in long lines to help elect the nation's first Black president.

Photos: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
WAYNE, Neb.  A rural Wisner, Nebraska, man charged with fatally shooting his father will undergo a second psychiatric evaluation to determine if he's mentally competent to stand trial.

District Judge Mark Johnson on Wednesday ordered Carl Ruskamp to undergo the evaluation. Ruskamp's attorney, Timothy Noerrlinger, had requested the evaluation in a motion filed Tuesday in Wayne County District Court.

In the motion, Noerrlinger said he was aware of "sufficient facts" regarding Ruskamp's mental health that raise an issue about his competency. The examination will determine if Ruskamp is able to assist in his defense and understands the nature of the charges against him and the consequences if he were to be found guilty.

Ruskamp, 32, has pleaded not guilty of first-degree murder, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony and possession of a deadly weapon by a felon. Trial is currently scheduled for Sept. 10, a date likely to be continued while Ruskamp undergoes his evaluation.

Ruskamp was ordered to be examined in October 2022 and eventually underwent mental health treatment before he was found competent to stand trial last September.

Ruskamp is charged with the Sept. 7, 2022, shooting death of Gerald Ruskamp, 65, at a rural Wayne County home.

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office was called to a home in the 300 block of Y Road on Sept. 7, 2022, and found Gerald Ruskamp with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

During their investigation, authorities found a .22-caliber rifle in a closet, .22-caliber ammunition in Carl Ruskamp's bedroom and two empty shell casings. Authorities searching his phone found a threatening text message he had sent to his father. His google search history also included items such as "bullet in brain."

While investigating the shooting, authorities found a marijuana-growing operation on the property and charged Carl Ruskamp with manufacturing a controlled substance. He previously pleaded not guilty and awaits trial on that charge. His lawyer has filed notice that he will rely on a defense of not responsible by reason of insanity in that case.
Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. Submit questions here.

Dear Prudence,

I met the woman I thought Id spend my life with, and we were together for four years. As we got older and her extended family died and we started talking about kids, she became much more religious. Her religion passes through the maternal line, and so she says its very important for her as part of the family. She eventually gave me an ultimatum: Convert or break up. I love her, but Im an atheist and the best I would be able to do is lie my way through, which is a bad foundation for marriage. We broke up and its been two years, but I still miss her. Recently she reached out and said shed changed her mind and wants to try again, and I dont have to convert. I dont even know how to start thinking about this. What should I do?

Second Time Is or Isnt a Charm

Dear Second Time,

Theres obviously something special between the two of you. Give it another try. For six months. Use this time to hear about whats changed with her relationship to her religion, and whether she could truly be happy with someone who didnt convert. And do your own check-in about whether you feel as excited about her as you once did, and whether you can trust her not to make any more major life changes that result in her saying Do what I want or its over.

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Dear Prudence,

My late sister raised her stepdaughter, Zara, from practically her birth. The biological mother had a drug addiction issue, but still refused to surrender her rights to Zara. When my sister died, she and her husband were in a trial separation over his cheating. I know she was only staying because she was afraid of losing Zara. After her death, her husband took Zara out of state and has only allowed sporadic contact with our family. It particularly devastated my mother.

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I am expecting my first. But rather than being excited and happy for me, my mother keeps bringing up Zara. Trying to get me to Facetime her, or talking about how Zara will be a great older cousin, or insisting that Zara writes something in my baby book. Every time, it feels like the shadow of my sister and her loss are just swallowing us up. Zara is almost 8 now and it is obvious that her father has moved on. He is engaged again and the writing is on the wall that our time with Zara is running out, given what little he allowed. My mother refuses to accept that. I miss my sister and Zara, but I want to be excited about this baby and my mother keeps dragging me down. How do I get through to her?

First Baby

Dear First,

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The shadow of your sister and her loss may be swallowing your mother up, but you dont have to agree to be swallowed along with her. And you shouldnt let her determine your level of excitement about your own baby, either. Use some of the time before the birth of your child to work on untangling your emotions from your moms and to allow yourself the space to be disappointed, pissed off, sad, annoyed, and whatever else about the fact that she isnt able to give your child her full attention. (I do want to push back on your statement that shes not excited for youI think she is, but shes also excited for your babys place in the family and she considers Zara to be an important part of that family.)

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Consider that there may be a positive way to look at her attachment to this little girl. Your mom deeply loved a kid who came into her life under unusual circumstances. She is unwilling to give up on her. She is not interested in forgetting about her just because she is going to have a biological grandchild of her own. Its tough to be too mad at someone for being attached to a child who they knew since birth, and I honestly think her reactionrefusing to accept the end of the relationshipis a pretty understandable and even healthy one. It indicates to me not that she cares about Zara more than she cares about your child, but that she has a lot of love to give and that love isnt conditioned on who gave birth to a kid or where the kid lives. She sounds like good grandmother material, and I have a feeling that when your baby is born, shell show it.

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Dear Prudence Uncensored

Being super committed to a child and not forgetting about them as soon as you get a biological replacement would be an asshole move!

Jenee Desmond-Harris and Joel Anderson discuss a letter in this weeks Dear Prudence Uncensoredonly for Slate Plus members.

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Dear Prudence,

What do you do when a friend you were incredibly close to suddenly drops you, for no obvious reason? And what if you live near them, and your kids are close to them? What if you try to reconnect and try to repair whatever mysterious thing set them off, and they just keep ignoring you? (Trust me, there has been zero opportunity for me to have committed any sort of serious offense, so this is entirely based on something happening in her head, and Ive observed her doing the same to other friends shes told me about.) Do you call them on it? Walk awkwardly past them in the hood and just let them go forever, without any answers or closure? I know I wouldnt even trust her if we did reconnect, but I am just so upset and hurt that shes done this, I dont know how to let it go. And Im tired of lying to my kids about whats going on.

WTH?

Dear WTH,

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This felt like a mystery right up until the point when you said she has a history of cutting people off for imagined offenses. If you believe she is the kind of person who will end a friendship over something happening in her head, and she has rejected your offer to try to repair whatever she thinks you did, theres nothing more for you to do. The explanation to your kids is, Ashley decided she didnt want to be friends with me anymore and Im not sure exactly why. Im sad about it, but thats her choice and its a thing that happens sometimes. And the answer to how to let it go is: You dont. At least not yet. It is normal to be upset and hurt by this kind of rejection, especially when theres a sense that it wasnt deserved in any way. What might help a little, after some time, is to remind yourself that you didnt do anything wrong and to make it a point to make room for friends who live in reality, know how to navigate conflict, and can be trusted not to ghost you. The day-to-day experience with someone like this is going to be so much better than the one you had with your ex-friend, even before she decided to make up a story about you being her enemy.

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How to Get Advice

Submit your questions anonymously here. (Questions may be edited for publication.) And for questions on parenting, kids, or family life, try Care and Feeding!

Dear Prudence,

My girlfriend and I have pretty separate social lives, and it bothers me. To add a slight layer of complexity, were both bi, and she typically hangs out with other queer women, often single and often at clubs and dance parties. She knows it bums me out that we cant go to events together, but she says she dated a woman during her early twenties whom she shared a lot of friends with, and she didnt like the lack of autonomy. I dont want to restrict her freedom at all, and I wonder if this is more of just a relationship problem than an identity problem, but also my insecurities are rearing their ugly heads and wondering if theres something else at play here? Like her wanting to be around queer single women and not have me there?

Want to Feel Seen

Dear Feel Seen,

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I know how hard it can be to determine whether the little voice in your head saying I kinda hate this comes from a healthy instinct or your own insecurity. One thing thats unclear from your letter is your gender. So I dont know if cant go to events together means youre not invited to the queer-women-only parties because youre not a woman (which seems reasonable!) or if your girlfriend is excluding you because youre a person shes dating and she doesnt want you around. If its the former, you certainly have a right to prefer a relationship that involves spending all weekend together, but you may also have some insecurity work to do with a therapist. After all, its fair for your girlfriend to maintain a connection to that women-focused world, though I would hope that you two could find other venues in which to socialize together.

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If its the latter, and shes icing you out unnecessarily, I dont like it. You shouldnt be paying the price for a relationship she had in her twenties. I dont like that she knows youre unhappy and isnt compromising. And I dont like that all of this is making you question yourself and what you deserve. Dont get me wrong: Its not a crime for two people who are in a relationship to have completely separate social lives. But its also not an arrangement that you should have to do mental contortions to figure out how to be okay with. If, after thinking it over and perhaps even doing some counseling, you simply cant get there, you and your girlfriend may simply not be compatible in terms of how much time you want to spend together versus as a couple. Id like to see you work through this because it seems you want to be around her and she wants to prevent a relationship crisis similar to the one she had in her twenties, so you obviously both value what you have together and want to protect it. Its just a matter of figuring out what that looks like on a Friday night.

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Dear Prudence,

I am stuck in the middle of a relationship that I cant seem to escape, and Im only getting the bad parts. My two closest friends and I all live in the same area, and they have been dating for about a year and a half. Were all in college, but school is out right now and so I have zero community besides them. I have almost no other friends in town, and despite trying, I dont have many school friends. Im trying to get work and Im also volunteering this summer, but overall, I have hardly anyone in my life.

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My two friends started dating when we were all stuck in a very queerphobic school and community, so I was literally the only safe person they could talk to about stuff. Things have changed, but not much, and at the end of the day for three lonely queer kids, we dont have many options for now.

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I am going crazy. Theyve had a lot of relationship issues recently, and theyve both been leaning on me a lot. I try to keep boundaries (I make sure Im never a go-between or trying to tell them what to do), and to their credit they do care about me and listen when I need something, but Im still exhausted hearing about it from both of them. .

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I feel really bad because I know they dont have much support, but realistically, I am not a romantic person at all, and I have a lot going on in my life. I want to be there for them, but its become less of a welcome distraction and more of a tedious why cant they just figure it out mindset for me. This is the biggest thing in both of their lives right now, and Im trying not to scream please just break up and spare everyone the struggle. Sometimes I just mute their texts to get some me time, but I want friends!

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I know the answer is probably to talk to them about it, but I feel like theres nothing any of us can do since were all we have. Is there a way to shift the vibe of our friendship without just losing each other? I dont know how much longer I can be a shoulder to cry on for both of them at the same time!

Monkey in the Middle

Dear Middle,

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Muting their texts to get some me time is a great first step. Next, you should address how overwhelmed their nonstop complaints about their relationship make you feel by diluting their importance in your life. That means not just taking time away from these two and from your phone, but filling that time with other people and activities. Put as much effort as you can into making your life busy! I guarantee that a message about the latest miscommunication is not going to bum you out as much if it comes when youre at your volunteer gig, working a shift at your new job, or having coffee with someone who is talking about something other than relationship woes.

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In fact, the sentence that stood out most to me in your letter had nothing to do with your friends and their struggles. It was I have hardly anyone in my life. That puts you in a really tough position, and it makes you especially vulnerable to the few friends you do have going through phases when they cant be there for you the way youd like them to. Or phases when they simply annoy you! But were all human, and these things happen. People occasionally withdraw, or lash out, or become less pleasant to be around, or get really needy. Its best to design a life that means a situation like this, when a couple of your friends are bumming you out, doesnt totally derail your happiness.

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So instead of telling them to stop complaining to youwhich is an option, but not a great one because you do want to be there for them and you do want them to be there for when youre the one ventingyou need to put your focus elsewhere. Sure, its summer and people are gone, but you can call, text, and Facetime your friends from the school year. Go visit someone in another town or city, if you can. Reach out to an old high school classmate. Ask a fellow volunteer who you meet if they want to go to the beach one day. Connect with queer communities online. The people you connect with dont have to be your best friendsthey can just be people who provide enough distraction to allow you to get through this tough patch with the people who are. When you are inevitably asked to become an unpaid breakup therapist to your two close friends (and I think we all know a breakup is on the horizon), youll be even more relieved that they arent the only people in your life.

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Dear Prudence,

I am a fit, active 66-year-old woman, and Ive been with my husband Jon for 22 years. I do all the emotional labor in our relationship, including scheduling all his kids and grandkids visits. Jon is good with helping and yard work, but requires a list. He pays almost no attention to me as a person, and we do not date, travel, or have any fun, and if we do anything, I have to plan it and he just goes along. Zero initiative. I have my own money and I could leave, but that would still be very hard, as its a massive life change.

I feel I have tried everything. We even did a weekend workshop last year with a well-known couple who wrote books on marriage and relationships. Jon talks a good game, but almost never follows through on things like going on date nights or planning anything for us to do. Two years ago, I asked him to plan one thing to do together for the summer. Zero. After the counseling workshop, it was up to him to plan weekly date nights. Zero. He spends all his time on his pet projects. He is essentially working full-time in retirement but not getting paid. Looking back, I recognize that he was a workaholic. I really looked forward to retiring and doing all the outdoor things and travel, etc. We live on a lake and our boat sits thereour kayaks are 8 years old, and you know which one is his since it is still brand new.

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Divorce is not what I want, but I dont see any other option But before I blow up our family, I wanted to ask if there is anything else I can do. I told him yesterday that if he doesnt start doing the actions outlined in the counseling weekend, I would be ending the relationship in September after his kids leave from a visit. I also told him that if he is not here to host while his own children are here, I will be taking a vacation because Im not doing all the work by myself (again). We havent had sex in months, because what on earth is there for me to feel like it? Its torture being in a relationship where one feels so unimportant. I stopped complaining so we dont fight, so he likely thinks that means Im happy. Does he even like me? Im not sure.

Heartbroken but Ready for Change

Dear Ready for Change,

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I dont say this lightly because youve been married for so long, and I know splitting up will turn your life upside down, but its over. Its over whether you decide to get divorced or stay together, feeling tortured, ignored, and so hopeless that youve given up on complaining. If you want to ease into it, and maybe give Jon a wake-up call about how seriously unhappy you are, to see if he responds by turning into a different person (which seems very unlikely, but you never know!), you can move out without immediately filing divorce papers. Just try separating for a year or so. My suspicion is that rather than thinking about how bad your life is with him, youll actually experience how great it can be without him, and the right decision will become much clearer.

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Classic Prudie

I was first diagnosed with endometriosis at 18 and believed I was infertile for 17 years. My ex-husband and I split after several heartbreaking miscarriages and failed rounds of IVF pushed our marriage to the breaking point. However, I came to terms with being infertile, and I find that I actually prefer being singleit allows me to focus on my job, which I love, and Im the cool aunt to all of my friends children. I also have casually dated and had friends with benefits, but after my divorce, I realized I didnt want another committed relationship. A few months ago, I matched with a man on Tinder, John, who was in town on a work trip for a few days. We met for drinks, ended up sleeping together (with protection), and agreed that this wasnt more than a one-time hookup. However, the condom must have failed because I very unexpectedly discovered I was pregnant.
One-year countdown ceremony held for World Games 2025 in Chengdu

Ecns.cn) 13:47, August 08, 2024

A celebration ceremony is held to mark the one-year countdown of the 12th World Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 7, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/An Yuan)

Chengdu won the right to host the 2025 World Games in May 2019, making it the first city on the Chinese mainland to host the event. The 12th World Games is scheduled to be held from Aug. 7 to 17, 2025.

The first batch of the official costumes for the 12th World Games is released during the one-year countdown ceremony in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 7, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/An Yuan)

The first batch of the official costumes for the 12th World Games is released during the one-year countdown ceremony in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 7, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/An Yuan)

The first batch of the official costumes for the 12th World Games is released during the one-year countdown ceremony in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 7, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/An Yuan)

The first batch of the official costumes for the 12th World Games is released during the one-year countdown ceremony in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 7, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/An Yuan)

A celebration ceremony is held to mark the one-year countdown of the 12th World Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 7, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/An Yuan)

A celebration ceremony is held to mark the one-year countdown of the 12th World Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 7, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/An Yuan)

A celebration ceremony is held to mark the one-year countdown of the 12th World Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 7, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/An Yuan)

A celebration ceremony is held to mark the one-year countdown of the 12th World Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 7, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/An Yuan)

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Liang Jun)
A suicidal Colorado mom who admitted to murdering her infant son said she killed him because she "didn't want him to suffer in life" like she did.

On Wednesday, Anna Englund, 31, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the death of her 2-month-old Miles, according to the Boulder County District Attorney.

As part of the plea agreement, two counts of first-degree murder were dismissed and she was sentenced to 40 years in prison on the lesser charge.

"This guilty plea and lengthy sentence is the right result in this very sad case," DA Michael Dougherty said in a statement. "It is heartbreaking to acknowledge the immense emotional toll on the baby's father and family, as well as all the police officers who desperately tried to prevent this tragic murder."

Following the birth of their child, Miles' father had been concerned about his wife's mental health and "had been paying close attention to the mother and baby," said prosecutors.

When the father went to the bathroom on June 10, 2023, Englund drove Miles blocks away from their home and strangled him to death in the car "because I didn't want him to suffer in life like I have," she told police, according to the affidavit, the Denver Post reported.

"She was worried about all of the things that could happen" to her baby "because the world was 'crazy,'" police alleged.

Miles' father reported the pair missing that evening, but officers were unable to track mother and baby down. It wasn't until Englund showed up at Boulder Community Health five hours later that she called police and confessed to killing her baby.

Englund told investigators she was sleep-deprived, struggling with postpartum mental health issues and thoughts of suicide since welcoming Miles. A doctor prescribed her medication at the time, "but she only took it once and she felt more suicidal...she refused to take it again," according to the affidavit.

"Our prosecution team worked hard to ensure that we were able to secure the right outcome for this defendant, which is a very lengthy sentence to state prison," Dougherty stated.
In 2021, when J.D. Vance was asked at a conference why he had converted to Catholicism just two years earlier, he had a fairly simple answer.

I really liked that the Catholic Church was just really old, he said.

This anti-modern worldview is key to understanding Vance. In a party long dominated by anti-intellectual evangelical Christians with a hearty distrust of institutions, Vance stands out among its leaders for having embraced a church with a complex social doctrine built off the work of ancient philosophers. His enthusiasm for a particular and relatively obscure kind of contemporary Catholic political thought shows up in his politicshis longing for Americans to build robust nuclear families, his comments about banning porn, his scorn for childless cat ladies. Its tempting to see these stances as old ones from the Christian right, familiar to anyone who has followed the evolution of the GOP in the past couple of decades, but Vances past comments indicate that theyre motivated by something newer, and more radical, than that.

Vance wasnt always so unusual among his fellow Republicans: He grew up loosely evangelical Christian; he writes in Hillbilly Elegy that his commitment to his fathers church was strong but short-lived. As a young man, he identified for a while as an atheist. Then, as he recounted in a 2020 essay about his conversion for the Catholic magazine the Lamp, he reconnected with Christianity when he was searching for greater meaning in his life during law school. He began to feel drawn to Catholicism in particular after reading up on Catholic moral philosophers and discussing theology with conservative Dominican friars he knew.

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After he officially converted in 2019, Vance explained in an interview with his friend Rod Drehera conservative writer and Catholic convert who later went on to convert, again, to Orthodox Christianitythat he had come to Catholicism in part because of the writings of Saint Augustine. Augustine gave me a way to understand Christian faith in a strongly intellectual way, Vance said. As someone who spent a lot of his life buying into the lie that you had to be stupid to be a Christian, Augustine really demonstrated in a moving way that thats not true.

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This approach generally made sense for Vance, a man who, despite his boasts of blue-collar roots, clearly considers himself a serious intellectual.

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But as Vance would explain at that 2021 conference (held by the Napa Institute, a conservative Catholic organization), he was also drawn to Catholicism for its rules and relative stability over centuries. I felt like the modern world was constantly in flux, Vance said. The things you believed 10 years ago were no longer acceptable to believe 10 years later.

In the past few weeks, Vance has come under fire for resurfaced comments attacking childless cat ladies as miserable and bad for society; claiming that childless people tend to be deranged and psychotic; and proposing giving extra voting power to parents with young children.

We have, I believe, a civilizational crisis in this country, Vance said at the 2021 Napa Institute event. Even among healthy, intact families, theyre not having enough kids such that were going to have a long-term future in this country. For his Senate campaign, also in 2021, Vance praised Hungarian strongman Viktor Orban for policies that incentivized marriage and children. Orbans government had offered loans to married couples that were forgiven if the couple stayed together and had three children. (Orban is not himself Catholic but has privileged Christianity in a country dominated by Catholicism.) Why cant we do that here? Vance asked. Why cant we actually promote family formation?

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These anti-modern comments fit with a certain kind of worldview that prizes a traditional and family-oriented society above individual libertiesand even democracy. Its a guiding philosophy of a new faction of the conservative movement that pulls from elements of both the left and far right, that champions populist economics and radically conservative social policies, and that promises a revolution in the entire political order: the postliberal right.

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In recent years, a sect of the Republican Party has boomeranged away from libertarianism and toward Big Government. A set of young legislators, including Vance, Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton, and Josh Hawley, is snubbing the partys policies favoring tech companies and big business, instead infusing the GOP with populist energyand, in some cases, disdain for the liberal political order. (Liberalism here refers to the dominant political order of the modern world, with its emphasis on equality, personal liberty, and individual rights.) Those legislators who identify with the postliberal right advocate for state authority in order to build the kind of society they want to live in. They aim to control womens reproductive choices and individual freedoms concerning gender, sexuality, and identity; they prefer isolationist economic policies; they support unions and labor protections and oppose immigration; and they seek to elevate religious organizations place in their schools and civic institutions.

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A significant number of these legislators are influenced by Christian nationalism or philosophies that mirror the aims of Christian nationalism: to reclaim society and reorder it according to Christian values. The idea is to use soft power to gain control of the major secular institutions to align them with Christian aims, without too much concern for democratic processes.

At a practical level, weve seen this in the efforts in state legislatures to have schools display the Ten Commandments; in certain policy groups coming out to oppose no-fault divorce; in Floridas restrictions on health care for transgender adults; in Project 2025s plan to criminalize porn (or other materials deemed indecent that can be categorized as porn); in legal challenges to get prayer in public schools; and in Hawleys proudly pronouncing himself to be calling America a Christian nation.

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Theres a term for intellectual Catholics with a similar worldview: integralists. Theres no universally accepted platform uniting integralists; its more of an intellectual framework built around the idea that Catholic moral theology should govern society. Mat Schmalz, a religious studies professor at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, defined it simply as the idea of integrating spiritual and worldly, or integrating church and state. In other words: church before state.

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Vance gave the keynote address at a 2022 conference organized by Sohrab Ahmari, another Catholic convert and conservative intellectual, at Franciscan University of Steubenville, in Ohio. The conference gathered integralist and so-called postliberal Catholic thinkers to discuss policies and tactics to bring the country in harmony with their understanding of Christian values. (Extreme proposals, such as a ban on commerce on Sundays, were floated alongside ideas often associated with the left, such as paid parental leave and antitrust action.) Ahmari has written two books laying out the case for his postliberal ideas. His particular vision of society would place a check on the destructive nature of modern capitalism and build a strong social safety net with financial support for struggling parents and people with disabilities and mental health strugglesbut also banish abortion, porn, same-sex marriage, divorce, and drugs. Autonomy and individual liberty would be de-emphasized, meaning that people with addiction and mentally ill unhoused people would be given institutional care even if they didnt want it.

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That wasnt an isolated incident for Vance: At a 2023 speech at the Catholic University of America by the postliberal scholar Patrick Deneen, Vance strode into the room, made a bee-line for Deneen and wrapped him in an enthusiastic hug, according to Politico. Deneen and Ahmari are two of the leading voices in a small group of Catholic scholars who frequently discuss and co-write treatises on integralist and postliberal ideas. Another, Harvard Law professor Adrian Vermeule (another Catholic convert), spoke at Ahmaris 2022 conference that Vance attended.

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Vance does not claim to be an integralist. We dont know if he wants to put church over state or enmesh the two. But Schmalz thinks that Vances views, particularly around policing gender expression, indicate that he is at least pulling from a Catholic integralist strain.

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At the Catholic University of America event, Politico reported, Vance identified as a member of the postliberal right.  More recently, in the foreword he wrote for a book by Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts, another Catholic, recently republished by the New Republic, Vance praised Roberts for articulating a fundamentally Christian view of culture and economics that recognizes that virtue and material progress go hand in hand.

Roberts sees a conservatism that is focused on the family, Vance wrote about the architect of Project 2025. In this, he borrows from the old American Right that recognizedcorrectly, in my viewthat cultural norms and attitudes matter.

Setting aside political debates among Catholic intellectuals, the Catholic Church itself is technically aligned with Vances stances. The church under Pope Francis certainly encourages a less individualistic outlook. And it shares Vances ideas about gender and family, as seen in its official ban on birth controlin practice ignored by the vast majority of Catholicsand in Francis declaration that it is selfish to have pets instead of children. (These men often, however, express dismay at Francis leadership, given the ways he has curtailed certain traditional worship practices and emphasized tolerance and compassion over policing sexual morality.)

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Related From Slate Why Shia LaBeoufs Conversion to Catholicism Is So Scandalous Read More

The idea of forcing those values onto all of American society, through governmental policy, is what sets integralists apart from other traditionalist Catholics.

Its an idealization of the Middle Ages, said Steven Millies, a professor of public theology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. As Millies sees it, the efforts among conservatives to push classical education in schools and the efforts by traditionalist Catholics to worship with Latin masses, in the style of 16th-century Catholics, come from the same impulse. All these things are selective rereading of the past.

This longing for an imagined simple past, Millies said, is something that has drawn cultural reactionaries to the faith for decades. You gaze at stained-glass windows and Gothic architecture and you look at the orderliness of a 2,000-year-old tradition, and it looks like a rock to cling to in the torrents of modern life, he said. The present is disturbing to people. They feel unprepared for it, overwhelmed by it.

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In Millies view, though, it doesnt matter if Vance has a coherent articulation of some kind of postliberal political theology. Vance, he argues, isnt so much buying into a niche Catholic ideology as advocating for collapsing the walls between church and stateperhaps in an effort to cope with the discomfort of the modern worldwith some vaguely Christian reasoning built around that impulse. What matters more, Millies says, is that Vance is expressing a vision for taking us back in time to an imagined past. It reflects a desire to regain control, Millies said.

Vance, it seems, is optimistic the country is headed that way. As he said at the Napa conference: I believe, I really do, that the next 30 years in this country is going to be really exciting, really prosperous, and really good for Christian virtue and the values that we care about.
If you want Donald Trump to win, say that. Otherwise, Im speaking.

So said Vice President Kamala Harris at her rally in Michigan on Wednesday night after being interrupted for the second time by pro-Palestinian protesters (and after meeting with leaders of the uncommitted movement, which withheld support from President Joe Biden in the primary to signify dissatisfaction with U.S. policy toward Israel, before the rally).

Harris shutdown of the protesters played well in the rally: People enthusiastically cheered. And being heckled is frustrating: I have never run for president, but once, while giving a toast at my fathers birthday, I was heckled by his friend. Its been more than a decade, and Im still annoyed about it (John). But moving forward, perhaps the question for the campaign, which has, over the past few weeks, effectively crafted and stuck to a message on basically everything else, is: What is the message that they want to get out about Israel and Gaza? What will excite voters? What will keep people engaged? What will keep the largest coalition possible, including and especially in important swing states like Michigan, on board?

This will hardly be the last time Harris faces protesters at her rallies. In these moments, is her best option to shut down protestersor to acknowledge why theyre there and reiterate a commitment to working toward a cease-fire and related, shared goals?

Some argued that this approach did not work for Biden. The journalist Yair Rosenberg, for example, noted on social media, Biden did exactly this, it did not work. Harris was there and saw it happen. As the saying goes, she didnt just fall out of a coconut tree.  In general, if you want to influence a politician, you have to bargain and give them a little space, not just make constant demands, or they will determine that you cant be appeased and arent worth it.

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Leaving aside the differences between Biden and Harrishe is the president and effectively in charge of American foreign policy, and she is not; he was apparently holding smaller events to avoid protesters, which she is obviously notit is true that there is no single message or combination of words that will mollify protesters, at least as long as the war goes on. But it is also true that this is not only a conversation between Harris and protesters. Its between Harris and American voters, in Michigan and beyond.

Generally speaking, Americans do not like protesters and protests. But also, generally speaking, Americans do want a cease-fire, and have for some time, though they overwhelmingly reject a cease-fire deal that does not include a return of the hostages held in Gaza since Hamas attack on Oct. 7. This is what distinguishes pro-Palestinian protesters from, say, anti-abortion hecklers: Though people may disagree with them on specifics and on tactics, Americans who are considering coming out to vote for Harris broadly agree with them that the war in Gaza should stop.

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Harris cant, at present, stop the war, and she cant make protests stop or go away. But, at the risk of sounding like a political Pollyanna, she can try to take these moments when they happenwhich, again, they willto keep her campaign on message: to keep it about freedom, joy, human dignity, and empathy.

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She has a way to do this. She can acknowledge her own disappointments with the wars length and brutality, while noting the things she has done: She told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that its time to end the war and has met with stakeholders from across the political spectrum, including with the uncommitted activists.

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Thats not a substitute for a policy position paper on Gaza, and Harris should expect to continue to be asked how she would bring about a cease-fire. She should anticipate that, regardless of how she responds at a rally, she will be pushed on things like the arms embargo that, on Thursday, a top Harris aide said she is against.

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And again, some might argue that this still would not shut down or satisfy the protesters. But why would it? Nothing anyone says can stop these proteststhe protesters are not angry about language, but about action. The point of the protests is to keep the issue of Gaza at the fore and ideally and eventually try to change policy. They will not stop until the war ends. (Given that many activists have also become passionately opposed to, for example, Israels occupation of the West Bank and treatment of Palestinians more generally, they might not even stop then.) Harris goal, in responding to them, should not be to just shut them down or shut them up, but to respond accurately with what she thinks about their concerns, in a way that serves her own campaign and its message.

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I cannot say for certain how reiterating that she would work toward a cease-fire and ending suffering for Palestinians (and the families of Israeli hostages) if elected would have gone over at the rally, or what it would have meant for follow-on stories from Michigan. But clearly stating her commitments and values around this issue would probably have been more effectiveas a campaign message to all votersthan putting out a statement to that same effect after the rally.

Trump would almost certainly be worse, from a human rights perspective, on issues related to Israel, much as he would almost certainly be worse, from a human rights perspective, on every other issue. We know this because of his record in his first term and also because, during this campaign, he has criticized the Biden administration for holding Netanyahu back and has taken to using Palestinian as a racist slur.

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But we also know that not Trump cannot be counted on as a reason for people to go to the polls. And we know, based on the past 10 months, that Israels war against Hamas and in Gaza is a potentially significantly divisive issue for the Democratic Party. And we know that as the warwhich most Americans do want to see come to an endis not over, pro-Palestinian protests are not going away.

Politicians hold rallies to get out their message and excite voters. Those rallies will be interrupted by protesters from time to time. And in those moments, its one thing to regain control of the rally and continue speaking. Its another to consideras a politician and as a personwhat it is, in these moments, that you want to say.
Inspired by American ambulance drivers in world wars, former U.S. official Brock Bierman takes on similar mission to war-torn country.

Used emergency medical vehicles from America and Europe make a stop in Slovakia in June 2024. (Source: US Embassy Bratislava)

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On February 24, 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Brock Bierman, a former U.S. public official, found himself in Slovakia for work instead of his planned destination, Moldova. The unexpected detour was due to the temporary closure of the airport in the Moldovan capital Chisinau.

Ive visited Slovakia countless times. Its a beautiful country, and I love it, Bierman, a Rhode Island native and former employee of the U.S. Agency for International Developments Bureau for Europe and Eurasia, told The Slovak Spectator.

This time though he didnt stay in the country long enough to enjoy that beauty.

After calling a friend, he travelled to Ukraine, where he travelled across the western part of the country, speaking to everyone from plumbers to doctors, asking about their needs as the number of internally displaced people swelled.

Inspired by Ernest Hemingway and other Americans who volunteered as ambulance drivers during WWI, Bierman started driving ambulances to help Ukraine in its efforts to resist the Russian invasion.
AmCham boss talks nascent tech, Ukraine war, labour shortages and her organisations 30th anniversary.

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Recent layoffs in the countrys biggest business service centres have raised concerns over the health of what is Slovakias third largest economic sector.

Martina Slabejova, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Slovakia, sees the recent developments in the sector as a reflection of wider global changes, as society and businesses respond also to the growth of artificial intelligence (AI).

Im not worried [about what is happening], its just a phase, replicating whats going on in the world, she told The Slovak Spectator.

What is important is for the sector to have a pool of people able to learn new things and prepare for new jobs that are being created, she adds.

In an interview with The Slovak Spectator, Slabejova discussed how AI is affecting various industries, as well as other major business topics, including the effects of the war in Ukraine, how a change in government has affected business, labour shortages, nuclear energy, and the 30th anniversary of AmCham.

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Related article The US ambassador, an eternal optimist, is not bothered by Ficos criticism Read more

How do you perceive the current situation in the shared and business service centres sector? American companies Dell and IBM recently announced layoffs.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240808/f-16-fighter-jets-spotted-over-kherson-region---head-of-district-administration-1119679937.html

F-16 Fighter Jets Spotted Over Kherson Region - Head of District Administration

F-16 Fighter Jets Spotted Over Kherson Region - Head of District Administration

Sputnik International

F-16 fighter jets have been spotted over the Kherson Region, Pavel Filipchuk, the head of the administration of the Kakhovka municipal district in the Kherson Region, said on Thursday.

2024-08-08T12:16+0000

2024-08-08T12:16+0000

2024-08-08T12:21+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

kherson

russia

f-16

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"F-16s have been flying over our district since yesterday," Filipchuk said in a video message posted on Telegram. He expressed confidence that "they will be shot down and destroyed soon."Last Sunday, Volodymyr Zelensky announced the arrival of F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine. A day earlier, The Economist reported that the first ten of the 79 American jets had been delivered to Ukraine, noting that this occurred a year after the Biden administration approved their transfer to the Kiev regime. Additionally, The Telegraph wrote at the end of July that Ukrainian pilots had already made their first flights on the F-16s, using them as "air defense tools."Delivery of F-16 Fighters to UkraineOn July 10, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on the sidelines of the NATO summit that Washington and its allies had begun sending American fighter jets to Kiev. He indicated that these aircraft would be flying in Ukrainian skies by this summer. According to The Wall Street Journal, the United States plans to equip the F-16s delivered to Ukraine with AGM-88 HARM air-to-ground missiles, precision-guided bomb kits, AMRAAM, and AIM-9X air-to-air missiles, as well as small-diameter bombs. The report notes that the US has authorized the Ukrainian Armed Forces to use these weapons on Russian territory only "in response to attacks from across the border."Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that Moscow would view the transfer of F-16s as a deliberate nuclear signal from NATO. However, he stated that the presence of these jets in Ukraine would not change the situation on the battlefield, as they would be destroyed like other types of weapons.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240801/no-deus-ex-machina-f-16s-will-become-zelenskys-steiner-counterattack-moment-1119599192.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240808/gas-prices-in-europe-hit-years-highest-level-1119678660.html

Gas Prices in Europe Hit Year's Highest Level

Gas Prices in Europe Hit Year's Highest Level

Sputnik International

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Gas prices in Europe reached the highest level for 2024 at the beginning of Thursday's trading session following Ukraine's shelling of the... 08.08.2024, Sputnik International

2024-08-08T10:04+0000

2024-08-08T10:04+0000

2024-08-08T10:04+0000

economy

ukraine

russia

kursk

gazprom

european union (eu)

business

gas

gas prices

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On Tuesday, Sudzha was subjected to repeated massive shelling by Ukraine. On Wednesday, the head of the settlement described the situation in the town as "very tense." The supply route via the Sudzha gas metering station is currently the only one for Russian gas transit through Ukraine to Europe. September futures on the TTF index  Europe's largest hub  opened at $439.3 (+1.2%) per 1,000 cubic meters at 6:00 GMT, reaching the maximum figure since December 2023. As of 6:10 their cost decreased to $434.4. The dynamics of quotations are given by the estimated price of the previous trading day  $434.2 per 1,000 cubic meters, which also has become the maximum since December last year. In May 2022, Ukraine stopped accepting gas for transit through the Sokhranovka station, saying that it was under the control of Russian forces in the Lugansk People's Republic. As a result, the Sudzha station was the only one left for the transit of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine. Russian energy giant Gazprom supplied about 15 billion cubic meters a year through this pipeline last year, which accounted for 4.5% of total EU consumption. Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and Italy receive gas through the pipeline.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240311/gas-demand-recovery-might-cause-new-price-growth-in-europe-1117268627.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240808/harris-chose-walz-over-shapiro-to-ward-off-critics-of-israeli-war-on-gaza-1119676732.html

Harris Chose Walz Over Shapiro to Ward Off Critics of Israeli War on Gaza

Harris Chose Walz Over Shapiro to Ward Off Critics of Israeli War on Gaza

Sputnik International

US Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris' pick of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate was dictated by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's open support for the Israeli war on Gaza, experts told Sputnik.

2024-08-08T07:28+0000

2024-08-08T07:28+0000

2024-08-08T07:29+0000

analysis

us

kamala harris

josh shapiro

donald trump

israel

democrats

republican

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On Tuesday, Harris announced Walz as her vice presidential candidate in the 2024 election, saying he was a "battle-tested leader." President Joe Biden hailed Harris choice and called it a great decision. The announcement put an end to weeks of speculation that Harris would go for Shapiro, who was reportedly one of the top finalists for the role. "As far as I and everybody else can figure, they passed over Shapiro because he is Jewish and has been supportive of Israel in the past. It means the anti-Israel wing of the Democratic Party is very much in control. In my view, Shapiro would have been a much better pick in terms of winning the election," Roderick Kiewiet, professor of Political Science at the California Institute of Technology, said. The choice of a presidential contender's running mate rarely has any impact on the vote, Kiewiet argued. The only time it actually mattered was in 1972, when Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern's pick Tom Eagleton was discovered to have undergone electro-shock therapy at a mental institution. Eagleton quit the race but McGovern was humiliated and lost to Richard Nixon by a landslide. Shapiro's 2022 victory in the race for governor of Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state, proved that he had a good chance of helping the Democratic ticket take it in November, Alan Cafruny, Henry Bristol Professor of International Affairs with the Department of Government at Hamilton College, told Sputnik. "However, Shapiro has taken a strong stand in favor of Israel's actions in Gaza, notably condemning pro-Palestinian activists, especially students and many young people, as anti-Semitic. Young people are a core Democratic constituency. Israel's horrific actions in Gaza have profoundly altered public opinion among many Americans," Cafruny said. While the matter was probably not critical for Harris, it played a role in the choice of the vice presidential candidate, as Democrats believe that Walz, too, can deliver Pennsylvania and its 19 electoral votes, he added. "If I had been Kamala Harris, I would have chosen Shapiro as my running mate because he would have brought more strength to the ticket in Pennsylvania, a 'must-win' state for the Democrats. But this was Harris' choice, and, apparently, she did not want to further alienate the left wing of the party as, I expect, she attempts to move toward the center for the general election campaign," Richard Bensel, Professor of Government at Cornell University, said. Walz vs Vance: Battle of Personalities With Tim Walz tapped as the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Donald Trump's running mate JD Vance may appear "weird" and even "extremist," significantly damaging the Republicans' chances of winning in November, the experts predicted. Following the announcement by Harris, Trump sarcastically thanked her for her choice, while Vance said that he had called Walz and left him a voice message congratulating him and wishing for "robust conversations" in the future. The Trump campaign called Walz a "dangerously liberal extremist." "One of Tim Walzs strengths is that he will be a very good foil for JD Vance in the coming vice presidential debate (if there is one). Walzs appealing personality and moderate demeanor will only strengthen public impressions of Vance as an unstable extremist," Richard Bensel said, adding that this comparison was likely to be only a "minor" issue come the election. While the Minnesota governor is unlikely to bring significant changes to the Harris campaign, choosing him will probably boost the Democratic duo's standing "since one of the major points the Democrats will try to make is that the Republican ticket is 'weird'" and Walz is definitely "not weird" himself, Bensel explained. Cafruny said he did not expect any major changes in the Harris campaign because, while Walz "will certainly help the ticket," the presidential race is expected to be very close, and there are many variables over which the candidates, let alone their vice presidents, do not have any power. "Vance has not, at this point, at least proven to be a good choice, revealing a great deal of idiosyncrasy and being tagged as 'weird.' To take just one example, by condemning women who cannot or do not wish to have children as 'childless cat ladies' he has alienated many women (and men!). He will not compare favorably to Walz, by all accounts a more attractive and engaging personality," he said. Carfurny added that despite the fact that Minnesota, with its 10 electoral college votes, would have likely still gone to the Democrats, Walz was still good for the campaign due to his experience and background. "Waltz is a good candidate for a number of reasons: Midwestern, moderate but pro-union, charismatic, a former high school teacher, popular congressman, and then two-term governor. He is a former serviceman with 25 years in the National Guard and a hunter, although favoring stricter gun laws, thereby attracting Democratic support while not perhaps entirely alienating gun owners," Carfurny said. Both Carfurny and Bensel suggested that Trump and his campaign might now regret picking Vance as the vice presidential candidate. "From that perspective, Harris made a very safe choice that gives the Democrats an advantage," Bensel said. In July, President Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race and endorsed Harris as the Democratic nominee for president. Trump secured the Republican nomination and picked Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate. The presidential election is scheduled for November 5.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240807/whats-kamala-harris-running-mate-tim-walz-infamous-for-1119671310.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240806/harris-announces-at-rally-shes-now-officially-democratic-candidate-for-us-president-1119661937.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240808/hezbollah-may-strike-israel-regardless-of-irans-intentions---report-1119675512.html

Hezbollah May Strike Israel Regardless of Iran's Intentions - Report

Hezbollah May Strike Israel Regardless of Iran's Intentions - Report

Sputnik International

Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah may strike Israel regardless of Iran's decisions on possible response to the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, CNN reported, citing sources.

2024-08-08T05:45+0000

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2024-08-08T07:21+0000

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The Lebanese movement is moving faster than Iran in its preparations and is planning to strike Israel in the coming days, the broadcaster reported on Wednesday. Several officials told the broadcaster that Iran is apparently still mulling over its plans for a response to Israel. A US military official believes Iran has made some preparations, but not all of what the US expected to see before a possible major attack on Israel, the report added. How could Israel react?Israel has told the United States that Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah will pay a disproportionate price if it harms Israeli civilians as part of its retaliation for the assassination of its top commander Fuad Shukr, the Axios news portal reported on Thursday, citing two Israeli officials.Israel has recently warned the US that it was concerned that Hezbollah could strike populated areas if it attempted to attack military bases in central Israel. In particular, Israeli officials pointed to inaccurate missile attacks by the movement."In the internal discussions with the U.S., Israel stressed that the cost of another Hezbollah mishap would be heavy and that Hezbollah would pay a disproportionate price if it harmed civilians as part of its retaliation," an Israeli official was quoted by the news portal as saying.Israel carried out the assassination of Hezbollah's top military commander, Fuad Shukr, in Beirut last week. As far as the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31 is concerned, Israel has not claimed responsibility for it, although the Hamas movement, as well as Iran, blamed Haniyeh's death on Israel. Iran and Hezbollah are expected to launch retaliatory attacks on Israel. NBC News reported, citing an unnamed Israeli official, that the Jewish state was preparing for a potential prolonged attack by both Hamas and Hezbollah, keen to avenge the deaths of their leaders.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240803/israeli-assassination-spree-has-untied-hezbollahs-hands-for-broader-and-deeper-strikes-iran-says-1119621616.html

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Between 2001 and 2007, Between 2001 and 2007, US aid to Georgia, including security assistance, totaled over $945 million, averaging $135 million per year, up from $96 million per year between 1992 and 2000.

The US provided military The US provided military training to Georgian forces through the Train and Equip Program and Sustainment and Stability Operations Program until 2007, sending advisers to build up Georgia's military.

Under Saakashvili, Georgian military expenditures surged from $74 million in 2003 to $923 million in 2007, Under Saakashvili, Georgian military expenditures surged from $74 million in 2003 to $923 million in 2007, according to SIPRI. Defense spending as a share of GDP rose from 1.1% in 2003 to 9.2% in 2007.

Before the conflict, Georgia increased weapon imports from Israel, Turkiye, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. According to the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), the Georgian military acquired self-propelled artillery, multiple-launch rocket systems, infantry fighting vehicles, T-72 tanks, Mi-24 helicopters, Buk-M1, Rafael Spyder-SR surface-to-air missiles, and Polish Grom MANPADS. Before the conflict, Georgia increased weapon imports from Israel, Turkiye, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. According to the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), the Georgian military acquired self-propelled artillery, multiple-launch rocket systems, infantry fighting vehicles, T-72 tanks, Mi-24 helicopters, Buk-M1, Rafael Spyder-SR surface-to-air missiles, and Polish Grom MANPADS.

In March 2008, Saakashvili claimed Georgia's Armed Forces had grown to 33,000 professional service members and 100,000 reservists. In March 2008, Saakashvili claimed Georgia's Armed Forces had grown to 33,000 professional service members and 100,000 reservists.

In April 2008, during the NATO Bucharest Summit, the US supported Georgia's In April 2008, during the NATO Bucharest Summit, the US supported Georgia's NATO aspirations despite the substantial obstacle of Georgia's territorial dispute with South Ossetia.

In July 2008, the US held the Immediate Response 2008 joint exercise with Georgian forces, involving over 1,000 American troops. In July 2008, the US held the Immediate Response 2008 joint exercise with Georgian forces, involving over 1,000 American troops.

Responding to reports that Russian forces captured US-made Humvees, US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe demanded the return of any US military equipment seized during Responding to reports that Russian forces captured US-made Humvees, US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe demanded the return of any US military equipment seized during the August 2008 operation
A married teacher in Sydney, Australia, was arrested after claims that she engaged in sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old student in the backseat of a car.

Tayla Brailey, 30, is accused of having unprotected sex with the teen after exchanging lewd videos, according to 7NEWS.

In another incident, a student allegedly walked in on her performing a sex act on a boy at her home.

When police initially confronted the 30-year-old at Lurnea High, she immediately asked, "I'm going to jail, aren't I?"

Brailey is charged with sexually touching a person under special care and having sexual intercourse with a person under special care.

She appeared before a Liverpool court on Wednesday and was granted conditional bail.

The court granted her permission to attend the case hearing in October via video link.

Patrick Schmidt, Brailey's lawyer, said it was "early stages" when asked whether the teacher would be fighting the allegations.

"We're going to wait until we get the brief of evidence," he stated outside the courthouse.

The NSW Education Department informed 7NEWS that Brailey has been suspended without pay following her arrest and the charges against her.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240808/idf-claims-they-eliminate-senior-hamas-official-in-gaza-strip-1119678178.html

Israel Claims to Have Eliminated Senior Hamas Official in Gaza Strip

Israel Claims to Have Eliminated Senior Hamas Official in Gaza Strip

Sputnik International

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Thursday in a joint statement with the Israel Security Agency (ISA) that they had eliminated a senior Hamas official in the Gaza Strip allegedly to be involved in attacks on the West Bank.

2024-08-08T09:51+0000

2024-08-08T09:51+0000

2024-08-08T11:23+0000

world

gaza strip

israel

west bank

israel defense forces (idf)

hamas

intelligent speed assistance (isa)

palestine-israel conflict

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"On July 24th, during a joint IDF and ISA activity, a location in which the senior Hamas terrorist Nael Sakhl operated was struck in the Gaza Strip. Several days following the strike, intelligence was received, indicating that he was eliminated. For over a decade, Nael operated in Hamas' 'West Bank Headquarters', an organization responsible for directing terror activities in Judea and Samaria [Israeli name for the West Bank]," the IDF said on Telegram. The IDF added that Sakhl had financed and supplied weapons to "terrorist cells" that promoted terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers in the West Bank. On October 7, 2023, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. In addition, Hamas fighters infiltrated the border areas, opened fire on the military and civilians and took more than 200 hostages. Israeli authorities say that about 1,200 people were killed during the raid. In retaliation, the IDF launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip. The death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip since October 7 has exceeded 39,600, according to the enclave's health ministry.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240801/israel-reports-successful-strike-on-hamas-military-chief-deif-1119592407.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240808/russian-forces-eliminate-hundreds-of-ukrainian-soldiers-in-kursk-region-1119677873.html

Russian Forces Eliminate Hundreds of Ukrainian Soldiers in Kursk Region

Russian Forces Eliminate Hundreds of Ukrainian Soldiers in Kursk Region

Sputnik International

The Sever Battlegroup and Federal Security Services (FSB) continue to destroy Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) units in the Sudzhansky and Korenevsky districts of the Kursk region, which directly border Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Defense.

2024-08-08T09:56+0000

2024-08-08T09:56+0000

2024-08-08T09:56+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

kursk

ukraine

russia

federal security service

ukrainian armed forces

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"Throughout the day, border defense units, in coordination with border guards, reinforcement units, and incoming reserves, have successfully prevented enemy advances through airstrikes, missile forces, and artillery fire," the ministry reported.Russian forces struck detected concentrations of militants and UAF equipment, thwarting attempts by individual units to penetrate deeper into the Kursk region.Additionally, airstrikes were conducted against advancing Ukrainian reserves in the Sumy region.Since the beginning of hostilities in the Kursk direction, Kiev has lost 660 soldiers and 82 pieces of armored equipment, including eight tanks, 12 armored personnel carriers, six infantry fighting vehicles, 55 armored combat vehicles, and one engineering vehicle.In the past 24 hours alone, the UAF has lost up to 400 personnel and 32 armored vehicles, including a tank, four armored personnel carriers, three infantry fighting vehicles, and 24 Kozak armored combat vehicles.The situation in the Kursk region escalated on the morning of August 6 when Ukrainian units, numbering up to a thousand troops, attempted to seize a portion of the Sudzhansky district.During a briefing with President Vladimir Putin, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported that Russian forces halted the UAF's advance into Russian territory.As a result of Ukrainian attacks, at least four people have died. Additionally, several dozen Russian civilians, including children and military personnel, were injured. Approximately three thousand local residents were evacuated from the border areas.The Investigative Committee has initiated criminal proceedings on charges of terrorism, murder, illegal possession of weapons and ammunition, and attempted murder of law enforcement officers.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240807/whats-known-about-ukraines-botched-attack-on-russias-kursk-region-1119668114.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240808/taylor-swifts-vienna-shows-canceled-due-to-terrorist-threat-1119681075.html

Taylor Swift's Vienna Shows Canceled Due to Terrorist Threat

Taylor Swift's Vienna Shows Canceled Due to Terrorist Threat

Sputnik International

The organizers of US singer Taylor Swift's concerts in Vienna have decided to cancel the show due to a persisting terrorist threat, Austrian Federal Minister for the Interior Gerhard Karner said on Thursday, adding that the situation remains serious.

2024-08-08T16:21+0000

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beyond politics

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vienna

austria

austrian interior ministry

terrorist threat

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The Austrian Interior Ministry said on Wednesday that a 19-year-old Austrian national, suspected of planning a terrorist attack during a major event in Vienna, had been detained in the city of Ternitz. The police carried out more arrests later on Wednesday as part of investigation into the case. The situation was and remains serious due to the terrorist threat, he added. The 19-year-old suspect has pleaded guilty, representatives of the Austrian Interior Ministry and the state intelligence department told reporters, adding that the detainee intended to attack people outside the stadium and commit suicide. The suspect planned to murder people outside the stadium using piercing and cutting weapons and was assembling a bomb in Ternitz. He reportedly intended to drive into the crowd of Swift's fans near the stadium. The second detainee in this case was a 17-year-old teenager who worked for a company that was supposed to provide services at the stadium hosting Swift's shows. The law enforcement forces have seized materials related to the Islamic State* and al-Qaeda* terrorist groups from the teenager, Director of State Security and Intelligence Omar Haijawi-Pirchner said. Another 15-year-old detainee confirmed the investigators' conclusions during the interrogation. Taylor Swift is reportedly shocked by the situation and wants to return to Austria as soon as possible. Swift's concerts were scheduled to take place in Vienna on August 8, 9 and 10 at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion as part of the Eras Tour. Each of the concerts was expected to gather up to 65,000 visitors and from 15,000 to 20,000 Swift's fans beyond the stadium.* Terrorist groups banned in Russia and many other countries

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240808/us-aid-to-kiev-may-be-cut-in-case-of-israel-hezbollah-escalation---ex-australian-general-1119680106.html

US Aid to Kiev May Be Cut in Case of Israel-Hezbollah Escalation - Ex-Australian General

US Aid to Kiev May Be Cut in Case of Israel-Hezbollah Escalation - Ex-Australian General

Sputnik International

US support for Kiev, even if the Democratic Party wins the upcoming presidential election, could be reduced in case of a large-scale armed conflict between Israel and Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah, Mick Ryan, a retired Australian army major general, said on Thursday.

2024-08-08T13:08+0000

2024-08-08T13:08+0000

2024-08-08T13:08+0000

world

israel

sergey lavrov

ukraine

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"In fact, even if Democrats triumph, Ukraine could see U.S. support dip, depending on what happens in other parts of the world," Ryan said in an article for the Foreign Policy magazine, adding that "if conflicts in the Middle East expand, it will only further drain Ukraine of resources and attention  particularly if Israel's war with Hezbollah heats up." A full-scale conflict between Hezbollah and Israel would require almost the same types of artillery, anti-aircraft weapons, as well as NATO 155mm ammunition, tank ammunition, and precision air-dropped bombs that Ukraine needs, he said. The situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border escalated after Israel started hostilities in Gaza in October 2023. Israel carried out dual assassinations of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders in Beirut and Tehran, respectively, last week. Iran and Hezbollah are expected to launch retaliatory attacks on Israel. NBC News reported, citing an unnamed Israeli official, that the Jewish state was preparing for a potential prolonged attack by both Hamas and Hezbollah, keen to avenge the deaths of their leaders. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict. In April 2022, Russia sent a diplomatic note to all NATO countries on the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russian strikes.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240805/us-sends-military-forces-to-middle-east-as-observers-fear-catastrophic-war-is-imminent--1119639973.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240808/us-centcom-informs-f-22-raptor-jets-arrived-in-middle-east-to-counter-iran-threat-1119681263.html

US CENTCOM Informs F-22 Raptor Jets Arrived in Middle East to Counter Iran Threat

US CENTCOM Informs F-22 Raptor Jets Arrived in Middle East to Counter Iran Threat

Sputnik International

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Thursday that additional F-22 Raptors have arrived in the Middle East to counter "threats posed by Iran" and the groups it backs.

2024-08-08T16:25+0000

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On Friday, media reported that the US would dispatch additional combat aircraft to the Middle East to counter threats from Iran and Iranian-allied groups in Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen who expressed the intent to launch retaliatory attacks on Israel to avenge the death of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh. Israel carried out dual assassinations of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders in Beirut and Tehran, respectively, last week. Iran and Hezbollah are expected to launch retaliatory attacks on Israel. NBC News reported, citing an unnamed Israeli official, that the Jewish state was preparing for a potential prolonged attack by both Hamas and Hezbollah, keen to avenge the deaths of their leaders.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240805/us-sends-military-forces-to-middle-east-as-observers-fear-catastrophic-war-is-imminent--1119639973.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240808/us-military-bases-are-being-used-to-pump-out-and-steal-syrian-oil-1119683912.html

US Military Bases Are Being Used to Pump Out and Steal Syrian Oil

US Military Bases Are Being Used to Pump Out and Steal Syrian Oil

Sputnik International

US military bases in Syria are being used to pump out and smuggle Syrian oil, Russian Deputy Ambassador to the UN Dmitry Polanskiy said on Thursday.

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"US military bases built in Syria as a result of the West's aggression against this country are used inter alia to pump out and smuggle Syrian oil - essentially to steal it, Polyanskiy said during a UN meeting on terrorism. Moreover, the regions seized and occupied by the US military have led to the formation of a "real terrorist ghetto" around their bases, he added. The situation in these places is nothing but a humanitarian and food crisis, Polyanskiy said. Syria has been torn by conflict since 2011. Parts of its hydrocarbon-rich east are controlled by the United States and allied militants. After 13 years of instability, more than half of the countrys population requires food assistance, with millions being displaced, according to UN figures. The United States refused to leave the country after it invaded it in 2016 amid the Syrian civil war on the pretext of fighting terrorists. The government of Syria has repeatedly stated that it deems the presence of the US and Turkish troops on its territory as an act of military aggression and demanded that they immediately withdraw from the country.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240404/us-wants-another-kosovo-in-syrias-northwest-keep-control-of-oil-wheat-in-northeast-1117727871.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240808/west-pushing-destructive-agenda-in-south-caucasus---moscow--1119675082.html

West Pushing Destructive Agenda in South Caucasus - Moscow

West Pushing Destructive Agenda in South Caucasus - Moscow

Sputnik International

The West is pushing forward a destructive agenda in the South Caucasus, whose goal is to fragment the region and destroy historical ties with Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik.

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Earlier, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien in his statement actually admitted that Washington is trying to create conditions for a break between Yerevan and Moscow. He said a significant part of Armenia's population want to distance themselves from Russia, and the United States is creating conditions for this."The West is pushing forward a destructive agenda in the South Caucasus, the main goal of which is the same  to fragment the regions space, destroying Russias historical ties with its traditional allies and neighbors," Zakharova said, commenting on O'Brien's words.She added that the US statements that Armenia wants to turn away from Russia are unfounded, the ties between Russia and Armenia that have been formed over centuries will withstand all the tests of strength."As for O'Brien's unfounded assertions that Armenia wants to turn away from Russia, this is another example of the geopolitical engineering inherent in the Americans - the desire to fabricate in the eyes of the world community the 'reality' that Washington needs, which has nothing to do with what is actually happening," Zakharova said.The participants of the Geneva International Discussions should utilize their potential to start working out an agreement on the non-use of force between Georgia on the one hand and Abkhazia and South Ossetia, on the other, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman also said."We believe that participants in the Discussions should make a greater effort to utilise their potential by starting first of all to work out an agreement on the non-use of force between Tbilisi, on the one hand, and Sukhum and Tskhinval, on the other," Zakharova was quoted by the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying on the anniversary of the August 2008 conflict in the Caucasus.Moscow considers the adoption of such legal obligations as a guarantee against a repetition of the tragic events in the future, she said.The United States and its allies have intensified their attempts to use interregional contradictions in order to inflame the situation near Russia's borders, thus disregarding the interests and jeopardizing the security of the countries of the region, Zakharova added.The Geneva International Discussions is a multilateral forum that was launched to address the security and humanitarian consequences of the 2008 conflict between Georgia, its breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and Russia. The two self-proclaimed republics are recognized by Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria, while Georgia and the vast majority of UN member states have not recognized them.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240620/wests-agenda-in-south-caucasus-does-not-always-meet-interests-of-regional-states-1119032060.html

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Woodbine Mohawk Park has moved this weeks qualifiers from Friday, Aug. 9 to Saturday, Aug. 10 at 9:30 a.m.

Rain is expected to fall overnight Thursday into Friday and continue through the morning hours. Moving qualifiers to Saturday will allow the racing surface team the opportunity to prepare the track for Friday evenings races.

The entry box for Saturdays qualifiers closed with nine races scheduled.

(Woodbine)
Eight area fire departments battled a large grass fire that started Friday in Sioux County.

Scotts Bluff Rural Fire Chief Carissa Schank said that the departments firefighters were dispatched at about 5:47 p.m. to a large grass fire on Sugar Factory Road in Sioux County. The fire, called the Sugar Fire, damaged 314 acres.

Schank said the fire was believed to have started due to lightning and Schank described it as wind driven and threatening multiple structures. Due to these factors and the difficult terrain, she said air resources including a helicopter and single engine air tanker (SEAT) plane were called in to assist in holding the containment line and with extinguishment. She said several departments provided mutual aid, with firefighters from Gering, Minatare, Mitchell, Morrill, Scottsbluff Fire, Western Nebraska Regional Airport and Lyman/Kiowa responding.

Sioux County Roads Department assisted with heavy machinery. Scottsbluff County Sheriffs Department and Nebraska Game and Parks assisted with evacuations on Sugar Factory Road of seven residences and traffic control. Also assisting were Scotts Bluff County Communications and Nebraska Public Power District.

Schank said that no structures were damaged in the fire and all units cleared the scene around 11:30 p.m.
At a press conference in Mar-a-Lago Thursday, former president Donald Trump told reporters that he was "very protective" of Hilary Clinton as president.

"With Hilary Clinton, I could have done things to her that would've made your head spin," Trump said. "I thought it was a very bad thing. Take the wife of a president of the United States and put her in jail."

Perhaps in reference to his own legal dealings, Trump went on to say: "Then I see the way they treat me. That's the way it goes."

Despite everything, he claims he was "very protective of her" and that "nobody would understand that."

Trump referenced when his "people" would chant "lock her up, lock her up" he would tell them all to "relax, please."

Trump said his people wanted to prosecute @HillaryClinton and he could have done terrible things to her, but instead he was very protective of her because he didnt want to see the wife of a president to go to jail. pic.twitter.com/0UMg5S15Ua  Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) August 8, 2024

Trump may not have initiated the chant himself at rallies, but he has made numerous comments in the past suggesting Clinton should be jailed.

"I think Hillary is very weak, I think she's pathetic, I think she should be in jail for what she did with her emails, ok? I think she should be in jail," he said in 2016. More recently he suggested locking up both Biden and Hillary during a Florida appearance in 2020.
There are small signs of improvement in the mental health of U.S. teenagers, according to a new government survey, but the share of students  particularly girls  who feel sad and hopeless remains high.

From 2021 to 2023, the portion of high school students who reported feelings of persistent sadness or hopelessness declined from 42% to 40%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, released Tuesday. More than 20,000 students were surveyed at school in spring 2023.

Among girls, the percentage reporting persistent sadness or hopelessness fell from 57% to 53%. The share of girls reporting they had seriously considered attempting suicide edged downward from 30% to 27%.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many school activities, increased isolation among youth and may have contributed to the 2021 findings on mental health. But long-term trends also reflect a worsening of mental health among teenagers, particularly girls.

Social medias emphasis on appearance and body image contributes to the pressures on girls' mental health, said Dr. Anisha Abraham of Childrens National Hospital in Washington, D.C., and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

In 2023, 77% of students said they used social media several times a day, with girls more likely than boys to use social media that often. Sixteen percent of high school students said they'd been electronically bullied during the past year through texting, Instagram, Facebook or other social media. Girls and LGBTQ+ students were more likely to report electronic bullying.

Open conversations at home with caregivers and parents are really important, Abraham said. Parents who notice teens feeling hopeless or pulling away from normal activities should take those signals seriously and make sure they get in for counseling or further screening.

Data shows severe depression is most prevalent among teens Data shows severe depression is most prevalent among teens Teens face a mental health crisis exacerbated by social media, climate change, and COVID-19 How drugs and alcohol play a role What's being done to support teen mental health
The most recent blowout on Laura Briggs ranch began Aug. 1, said Hawk Dunlap, a well control specialist who works at neighboring Antina Ranch. Sarah Stogner Hawk Dunlap shows how the cement in a plug from 2021 has broken and is no longer holding it in place on Antina Ranch in 2023 near Monahans. He has been called in to address another leaking well at a nearby ranch. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer Hawk Dunlap smells a stick after dipping it into an abandoned well that had been plugged on Antina Ranch last year near Monahans. He has been called in to address another leaking well at a nearby ranch. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

Black water erupted from another West Texas oil well last week in the same area as one that flowed toxic water for weeks and inspired a controversial no-fly zone in December, worsening the recent rash of foul water blowouts affecting the area.

The most recent blowout outside Grandfalls in Pecos County also follows one on a neighboring ranch in June, which was roughly 14 miles from the unusual Crane County well that raised eyebrows earlier this year and about 5 miles from the so-called Lake Boehmer, the infamous ever-growing 60-acre body of poison water spewing from an old wildcat well.

A recent study from Southern Methodist University found these were not isolated incidents. Researchers linked the blowouts with the practice of injecting oilfield wastewater underground. The study suggests wastewater leaked from its containers into subsurface pathways, accumulating into an underground aquifer that is putting pressure on aging wells.

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As pressure mounts, several more such blowouts are possible in the near future, the study, which launched in January 2023 after the first big Crane County blowout in 2022, said.

The pressure is increasing because there is more and more water accumulating, Vamshi Karanam, an SMU researcher who authored the study, said in an interview last month.

The need for further study of the underground pathways contributing to these blowouts is urgent, he said.

The recent outbreak of toxic saltwater from old wells is also near Antina Ranch, the 22,000-acre property that has become a poster child for the issue of old wells springing back to life. The crew assembled to address the issue at Antina calls them zombie wells.

The most recent blowout on Laura Briggs ranch began Aug. 1, said Hawk Dunlap, a well control specialist who works at Antina. Dunlap, who said he was called to help address the issue, estimated water was flowing from the orphaned oil well at about 20 gallons a minute.

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Briggs said Thursday during an interview that the same contractor, Holman Well Service, plugged another orphaned well on her property last year that has already begun to leak. She said she fears improperly plugged wells on the property could lead to the formation of sinkholes.

"Whats unfortunate is this ones very close to my house," Briggs said, estimating that the new blowout is roughly 350 yards from her home.

Holman did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Sarah Stogner, an oil and gas attorney with Antina and a vocal critic of the state's oil and gas regulators, said she requested a temporary restraining order Wednesday that would prohibit state contractors from continuing to improperly plug the well.

Its putting a band aid on a severed artery, said Dunlap, who is also a Libertarian candidate for the seat held by Chairman Christi Craddick on the Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates the states oil and gas industry.

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A spokeswoman for the RRC said in a statement the agency began working at Briggs' property last week, using vacuum trucks and lined pits to manage the uncontrolled flow of water.
WASHINGTON  After seven months of investigation that generated 3,000 pages of records and 10 hours of testimony on Tuesday, its still not clear to federal investigators how a dangerously flawed Boeing 737 MAX plane left the Renton factory.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board circled around what happened in Boeings Renton factory over two crucial days last September. Whats clear is that workers there reinstalled a panel incorrectly, leaving off four critical bolts that secure the panel in place. In January, that panel exploded off the plane on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, shortly after it took off from Portland.

On Tuesday, representatives from Boeing, its key supplier Spirit AeroSystems and the International Association of Machinists, which represents the employees who likely worked on the panel, appeared before the NTSB. Board Chair Jennifer Homendy launched into the at times contentious hearing saying she was determined to stay put until all of the boards questions were answered.

At the close of the first day, it still wasnt clear exactly what went wrong.

Investigators did provide new details about the work surrounding those crucial moments, and shed light on long-standing issues at Boeing and Spirit that may have contributed to the nearly catastrophic incident. But the NTSB has yet to identify all of the workers involved in the crucial job, or determine why the bolts were missed.

What we want to know is what happened in March, April, May, June, July, August, September, leading up to ... what happened in January, Homendy said in the Washington, D.C., hearing room.

You can talk all about where you are today, Homendy told Elizabeth Lund, Boeing vice president of quality. But what is very confusing for a lot of people who are watching, listening is what was going on then?

The fuselage of the 737 MAX 9 that would later be at the center of the Alaska Airlines flight blowout rolled into Boeings Renton facility on Sept. 1. It arrived by train from Spirits Wichita, Kan., factory and stayed at Boeings Renton facility for two months, where Boeing workers installed the wings, tail and countless systems that make up a 737 MAX. On the fuselages first day in Renton, Boeing noticed an issue with five rivets near the mid-exit door plug  a panel that fits into a gap in the fuselage in which some airlines install an additional emergency exit  on the left side of the plane.

Boeing filed a nonconformance order  the official paperwork to document a defect  to request that Spirit contractors based in Renton revisit the fuselage.

That triggered a dayslong battle between Boeing and Spirit about whether the fix had been completed. Spirit twice told Boeing it had made the correction. Boeing disputed that both times, and pushed the concern on to senior managers.

On Tuesday, Michael Riney, Spirits on-site customer relations director for the Boeing Renton factory, told the NTSB the confusion came from a Spirit worker incorrectly signing off on the fix. That worker confused the plane with the faulty rivets with another aircraft they were working on the same day.

He stated he had removed and replaced them, when in actuality he had not, Riney said.

Though that confusion ultimately could not have been the determining factor leading to the panel blowout, it illustrates a chaotic system of record-keeping at the Renton factory and points to tension between workers at the two different companies who are often scrambling to keep the plane moving down the assembly line.

In an interview with NTSB investigators, one Spirit worker described themself and their colleagues as the cockroaches of the factory.

Riney told the board Tuesday that our entire job is to get out of Boeings way. We understand that we are inhibiting them.

After the panel blowout, Boeing began inspecting fuselages coming from Spirit before they ship to Renton. Boeings Lund said Tuesday that that has led to an 80% decrease in defects. Boeing also recently secured a deal to buy Spirit, hoping to revitalize its troubled supplier.

But the fault for the blowout appears to lie with Boeing. Spirit workers would not be able to remove or reinstall a door plug, both Lund and Riney told NTSB investigators Tuesday.

In Renton last year, after Boeing escalated the issue with the rivets to senior-level management, it made the decision Sept. 15 to partially remove the door plug.

On Sept. 18, the panel was fully opened so it could lay flat, Lund told investigators on Tuesday. The problematic rivets were replaced and the door was closed the next day, Sept. 19. But who replaced the door plug and who was responsible for ensuring it was reinstalled correctly is still a mystery.

Lund originally told investigators she believed a team called the move crew, which prepares the plane to move outside, closed the door in order to finish their other tasks. She walked that back after NTSB investigators said that didnt match what they learned through the course of their investigation.

Board members said the move crew did need to adjust the door plug to complete its work. But the board said it is still unclear who closed the door on the 19th. Members from other teams could have been involved, Lund confirmed.

Boeing quality inspectors signed off on the rivet rework Sept. 19, Lund told investigators Tuesday. At that point, there was an opportunity to fill out paperwork to initiate the reinstallation of the door plug. But that never happened.

Through its investigation, the NTSB found 62 other cases since 2019 when Boeing had documented a removal for a similar door plug in production or on the flight line. When investigators asked Lund if there was anything different about those cases and this one, she said there was not.

We have a gap, NTSB member Michael Graham remarked.

Lloyd Catlin, a Boeing employee based in Everett and member of the International Association of Machinists, testified Tuesday that the proper paperwork on a door plug removal, and the blankets that had been put in place around it, would have triggered another inspection.

That would have put three sets of eyes on that door plug, and may have caught the missing bolts before the plane left the factory, Catlin said. He went on to tell investigators that, even when using the proper channels to document work, Boeing had removed tens of thousands of inspections since 2016.

Theres some major issues the IAM has had over the last several years, he said.

Now, as Boeing works to repair its reputation following the door plug blowout, the company says it has added more inspections inside the planes it builds. Catlin disputed that.

When it comes to the door plug incident, the lack of documentation about reinstallation should have prevented other work from being done on the plane, Lund said. Instead, signing off on the rivet rework was the final step before that 737 MAX rolled out of the factory, one step closer to Alaska Airlines passengers.
Richland is poised to put the teeth back in rules that bar camping in parks and other public places, emboldened by a recent U.S. Supreme Court opinion that criminal penalties do not violate Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment.

It is the first local city to embrace the ruling. Kennewick's city council plans to talk about the implications at its Aug. 27 workshop.

A Pasco official told the Herald that their police will continue to enforce the city's daytime rules on downtown sidewalks. There's no scheduled discussion of the new court ruling.

The Richland council will consider restoring language enabling police and city park rangers to enforce a 72-hour limit on camping across five square miles of public spaces. That includes parks, public facilities, rights of way, federal lands and the Kennewick Irrigation District's Amon Wasteway.

The change is on the council's consent agenda for a first reading Wednesday, Aug. 7, and won't take effect until it is approved for a second reading at a future meeting. Consent items are considered routine and typically are not discussed in public session.

However, the city's elected leaders discussed public camping at a workshop in July, when they considered how to adapt to the latest court opinion on homeless camping, Johnson v. Grants Pass, released June 28.

"Opportunity just opened up for us," Joe Schiessl, deputy city manager, advised.

Opportunity for some is a hardship for others, one man told the Herald.

A man living with his dog in a car off Columbia Park Trail said the 72-hour limit will hurt people who are barely getting by.

The man, who did not give his name, said he ran a business and gave up his rental home when his landlord died and the property fell into disrepair amid a dispute among heirs.

"I refuse to pay someone else's mortgage," he said, adding, "We're all one paycheck away from barbecuing with our dog."

The Tri-Cities is reportedly the only urban area in Washington state without a so-called "low-barrier" shelter, a place for homeless people to seek refuge without having to qualify.

The Tri-Cities Union Gospel mission operates shelters for men and women. However, as a private, religious organization, it sets rules its guests must follow and is not classed as "low-barrier."

Boise homeless ruling overturned

The U.S. Supreme Court recently overturned a Ninth Circuit Court ruling in Martin v. Boise that anti-camping ordinances violate the rights of homeless individuals if there was no other place for them to go.

In its 6-3 opinion based on a Grants Pass, Ore., case the court affirmed that local governments rather than federal judges hold the power to address homelessness.

Richland, which previously amended its camping ordinances to comply with the earlier Boise ruling, is getting ready to undo those changes.

In the Boise decision, the Ninth Circuit Court created the "Martin test," holding that it was cruel and unusual to enforce anti-camping ordinances if no other shelter was available.

To pass the "Martin test," Richland tried, but usually failed, to coordinate with Benton County Human Services to help the unhoused with finding shelter. Schiessl explained that The Housing Resource Center is understaffed and has limited hours, rendering it unreachable on nights and weekends, when most crises occur.

More often than not, people decline help, he said.

The Grants Pass ruling eliminated the "Martin test" and the need to actively connect people with services. Instead, Richland is considering offering fliers to people in need that detail what's available.

Public camping in Richland

Richland has about five square miles of public land, including 330 acres of owned or leased land, 310 miles of right-of-way, 300 acres of federal land and the sprawling Amon Wasteway, a wide gully that extends from Meadow Springs to the Yakima River.

Schiessl said car camping is more common than tent camping, but the latter occurs in the Chamna Natural Preserve, Columbia Point South and the abandoned KOA campground east of the Reach Museum at the Richland Wye.

He shared a photo of an abandoned encampment packed with discarded belongings and concealed within a Russian olive thicket at Chamna, calling it an example of the types of camps discovered every week in Richland.

Schiessl said the city's process is to contact individuals, post notices on the site, then clean it up.

It retains personal possessions after another city in Washington state had to pay a five-figure settlement to an individual who claimed it threw out a priceless heirloom.

"You never know what somebody's priceless heirloom might be. It might be a bag of Doritos. That's in jest, but you never know," he said.

The city treats almost everything that isn't truly trash as a personal possession. A candy bar wrapper is trash. The candy bar isn't, Schiessl told the council. Few possessions are retrieved later, he added.

The Boise case opinion was not carte blanche to camp anywhere.

It allowed cities to create "no trespassing" zones in certain areas.

Richland designated more than a dozen areas as off limits to all camping  John Dam Plaza, Leslie Groves Park, Howard Amon Park, the Richland Library and Richland City Hall among them.

The revised code removes the off-limits list since it is no longer required.

Council wants action

Richland's elected leaders supported the stronger approach to homeless encampments.

Most indicated they want to revive the pre-Boise camping rules. They recognize too that enforcing an ordinance won't eliminate homelessness.

There were more than 50 unsheltered people living in Benton and Franklin counties in 2023, according to the most current Point in Time census.

The actual figure is thought to be higher and does not include people who are homeless but are living in an emergency shelter or transitional housing.

Pandemic related federal aid greatly boosted emergency housing funding, but that ended last year.

Mayor Pro Tem Sandra Kent said Richland should work with its neighbors on a solution, but said the city has a right to keep its public spaces safe and clean.

"We did not set up our parks system and our public facilities to be congregation areas for people experiencing homelessness," she said.

Councilwoman Johanna Jones favored heavier enforcement of the camping ordinances and the existing laws against public drug use, littering, dumping and bathroom use.

"Unless we are a little more strict about how we implement this, we are going to become a Yakima or Spokane or Seattle," she said. "We have to be a little more heavy handed on this issue."

Councilman Kurt Maier distinguished between mere camping and conduct that's already illegal. Camping is conflated with littering and dumping, but shouldn't be, he said.

"I don't want them to be treated as the same thing," he said.

Councilman Ryan Lukson said he was reluctant to criminalize activities if the city isn't able to enforce it. Washington has a public defender crisis that means few will face criminal penalties for camping.

"I don't anticipate us ever prosecuting anyone for this," he said. "I hate having things we're never going to utilize or enforce."

Richland not alone

The Grants Pass opinion is sparking a broad reaction across the western U.S.

The earlier Boise opinion was binding on the Ninth Circuit, a sprawling judicial district that covers California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Arizona, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

The city of Grants Pass, Ore., enjoyed broad support as it pushed to implement its own camping rules with countless jurisdictions arguing that the Boise decision exacerbated homelessness and tied their hands.

The cities of Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles together with organizations representing law enforcement and 20,000 American cities and 3,100 counties filed amicus briefs in support of Grants Pass's efforts to enforce camping laws.

The Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys, representing all the state's 281 cities, was one of them, as was the League of Oregon Cities and several Idaho organizations.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom was among the first to embrace the opinion: He ordered state agencies to begin sweeping homeless encampments in late July.

Closer to home, the opinion is prompting the sorts of conversations happening in Richland.

It's also sparking a legal backlash with potential to change the legal landscape in Washington state.

The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the cities of Spokane and Spokane Valley, saying their anti-camping ordinances violate the state constitution prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.

The ACLU sued after the Washington attorney general refused to make the case. the ACLU did not respond to an inquiry about the case.
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A new algorithm developed by researchers at MIT CSAIL helps robots practice skills on their own. In experiments, it guided a quadruped with sweeping and placing various items. Credits: Alex Shipps/MIT CSAIL

The phrase "practice makes perfect" is usually reserved for humans, but it's also a great maxim for robots newly deployed in unfamiliar environments.

Picture a robot arriving in a warehouse. It comes packaged with the skills it was trained on, like placing an object, and now it needs to pick items from a shelf it's not familiar with. At first, the machine struggles with this, since it needs to get acquainted with its new surroundings. To improve, the robot will need to understand which skills within an overall task it needs improvement on, then specialize (or parameterize) that action.

A human onsite could program the robot to optimize its performance, but researchers from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and The AI Institute have developed a more effective alternative. Presented at the Robotics: Science and Systems Conference last month, their "Estimate, Extrapolate, and Situate" (EES) algorithm enables these machines to practice on their own, potentially helping them improve at useful tasks in factories, households, and hospitals.

The study is published on the arXiv preprint server.

Sizing up the situation

To help robots get better at activities like sweeping floors, EES works with a vision system that locates and tracks the machine's surroundings. Then, the algorithm estimates how reliably the robot executes an action (like sweeping) and whether it would be worthwhile to practice more. EES forecasts how well the robot could perform the overall task if it refines that particular skill, and finally, it practices. The vision system subsequently checks whether that skill was done correctly after each attempt.

EES could come in handy in places like a hospital, factory, house, or coffee shop. For example, if you wanted a robot to clean up your living room, it would need help practicing skills like sweeping. According to Nishanth Kumar SM '24 and his colleagues, though, EES could help that robot improve without human intervention, using only a few practice trials.

"Going into this project, we wondered if this specialization would be possible in a reasonable amount of samples on a real robot," says Kumar, co-lead author of a paper describing the work, Ph.D. student in electrical engineering and computer science, and a CSAIL affiliate.

"Now, we have an algorithm that enables robots to get meaningfully better at specific skills in a reasonable amount of time with tens or hundreds of data points, an upgrade from the thousands or millions of samples that a standard reinforcement learning algorithm requires."

See Spot sweep

EES's knack for efficient learning was evident when implemented on Boston Dynamics' Spot quadruped during research trials at The AI Institute. The robot, which has an arm attached to its back, completed manipulation tasks after practicing for a few hours. In one demonstration, the robot learned how to securely place a ball and ring on a slanted table in roughly three hours.

In another, the algorithm guided the machine to improve at sweeping toys into a bin within about two hours. Both results appear to be an upgrade from previous frameworks, which would have likely taken more than 10 hours per task.

"We aimed to have the robot collect its own experience so it can better choose which strategies will work well in its deployment," says co-lead author Tom Silver SM '20, Ph.D. '24, an electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) alumnus and CSAIL affiliate who is now an assistant professor at Princeton University.

"By focusing on what the robot knows, we sought to answer a key question: In the library of skills that the robot has, which is the one that would be most useful to practice right now?"

EES could eventually help streamline autonomous practice for robots in new deployment environments, but for now, it comes with a few limitations. For starters, they used tables that were low to the ground, which made it easier for the robot to see its objects.

Kumar and Silver also 3D printed an attachable handle that made the brush easier for Spot to grab. The robot didn't detect some items and identified objects in the wrong places, so the researchers counted those errors as failures.

Giving robots homework

The researchers note that the practice speeds from the physical experiments could be accelerated further with the help of a simulator. Instead of physically working at each skill autonomously, the robot could eventually combine real and virtual practice. They hope to make their system faster with less latency, engineering EES to overcome the imaging delays the researchers experienced. In the future, they may investigate an algorithm that reasons over sequences of practice attempts instead of planning which skills to refine.

"Enabling robots to learn on their own is both incredibly useful and extremely challenging," says Danfei Xu, an assistant professor in the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech and a research scientist at NVIDIA AI, who was not involved with this work.

"In the future, home robots will be sold to all sorts of households and expected to perform a wide range of tasks. We can't possibly program everything they need to know beforehand, so it's essential that they can learn on the job. However, letting robots loose to explore and learn without guidance can be very slow and might lead to unintended consequences.

"The research by Silver and his colleagues introduces an algorithm that allows robots to practice their skills autonomously in a structured way. This is a big step towards creating home robots that can continuously evolve and improve on their own."

Silver and Kumar's co-authors are The AI Institute researchers Stephen Proulx and Jennifer Barry, plus four CSAIL members: Northeastern University Ph.D. student and visiting researcher Linfeng Zhao, MIT EECS Ph.D. student Willie McClinton, and MIT EECS professors Leslie Pack Kaelbling and Tomas Lozano-Perez. Their work was supported, in part, by The AI Institute, the U.S. National Science Foundation, the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the U.S. Office of Naval Research, the U.S. Army Research Office, and MIT Quest for Intelligence, with high-performance computing resources from the MIT SuperCloud and Lincoln Laboratory Supercomputing Center.

More information: Nishanth Kumar et al, Practice Makes Perfect: Planning to Learn Skill Parameter Policies, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2402.15025 Journal information: arXiv
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The Boeing 777X airplane is shown at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, north of Paris, France, on June 19, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Lewis Joly, File

A new chief executive takes over at Boeing on Thursday, and he plans to walk the floor of the factory near Seattle that has become the heart of the aerospace giant's troubles.

Robert "Kelly" Ortberg takes over a money-losing company that has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud, is struggling fix its aircraft-manufacturing process, and can't bring two astronauts home from the International Space Station because of flaws in a spacecraft it built for NASA.

"I'm excited to dig in!" Ortberg told employees on his first day in the job.

Boeing announced Ortberg's selection just over a week ago, on the same day that it posted another huge loss; more than $1.4 billion in the second quarter, which was marked by a steep drop in deliveries of new airline planes, including the 737 Max.

The National Transportation Safety Board just wrapped up a two-day hearing on the 737 Max that suffered a blowout of a panel in the side of the plane during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. The board's investigators have interviewed workers at the 737 factory in Renton, Washington, who say they are under too much pressure to produce planes quickly, leading to mistakes.

During the hearing, a Federal Aviation Administration manager said the regulator has 16 open enforcement cases against Boeingthree or four times the normal numberand half started since the door-plug blowout.

Ortberg will try to fix Boeing after the last two CEOs failed.

Dennis Muilenburg, a Boeing lifer, was fired in 2020 when the company was trying to convince regulators to let Max jetliners resume flying after crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people. David Calhoun, a longtime Boeing board member and General Electric executive, got the reworked Max back in the air but couldn't stem losses that now exceed $25 billion since the start of 2019. Calhoun announced in March that he would step down.

In a memo to employees on Thursday, Ortberg said, "While we clearly have a lot of work to do in restoring trust, I'm confident that working together, we will return the company to be the industry leader we all expect."

Boeing is a century-old aviation innovator with roots in Seattle, although the headquarters moved to Chicago and then to the Washington, D.C., area. The new CEO is planting a symbolic flag in the ground back in the Pacific Northwest.

"Because what we do is complex, I firmly believe that we need to get closer to the production lines and development programs across the company," Ortberg told employees. "I plan to be based in Seattle so that I can be close to the commercial airplane programs. In fact, I'll be on the factory floor in Renton today, talking with employees and learning about challenges we need to overcome, while also reviewing our safety and quality plans."

The company declined to make Ortberg available for interviews.

Ortberg's name emerged relatively late in the CEO search. Boeing Chairman Steven Mollenkopf, who led the search, said Ortberg has a reputation for running complex engineering and manufacturing companies.

Analysts have generally been favorable too. Richard Aboulafia, a longtime analyst and consultant in the industry, said Ortberg is deeply respected "and brings more hope for a better future than the company has enjoyed in decades."

One of Ortberg's top assignments will be fixing the manufacturing process and increasing production of Max jets, Boeing's best-selling plane. The FAA has limited Boeing to 38 per month since shortly after the Alaska Airlines blowout, but Boeing's top safety official said this week production isn't even that highit's in the 20s per month.

Calhoun did finish one job before Ortberg took over: the company reached an agreement with the Justice Department last month to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with development of the Max. A federal judge in Texas will decide whether to approve the deal, which includes a fine of at least $244 million Boeing investing at least $455 million in quality- and safety-compliance programs.

Boeing's defense and space unit is also struggling. It lost $913 million in the second quarter because of setbacks on fixed-price government contracts, including a deal to build two new Air Force One presidential jets.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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A 777-9, the last generation of the 777 family, is seen in Everett, Washington in June 2024.

Aviation experts and analysts have been full of praise for Kelly Ortberg, who returns from early retirement Thursday to take up the challenge of turning Boeing around after a series of quality and financial issues.

The appointment of 64-year-old Ortberg to succeed outgoing Boeing chief executive Dave Calhoun was announced on July 31, the same day the US aerospace giant posted a second-quarter loss of more than $1.4 billion.

"I'm extremely honored and humbled to join this iconic company," Ortberg said in a statement. He has not spoken publicly since his appointment.

Calhoun will meanwhile remain a special adviser to Boeing's board of directors until March 2025.

The aircraft manufacturer's finances are struggling to recover from the consequences of two fatal crashes of 2018 and 2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

But Dave Calhoun's downfallannounced at the end of Marchis the result of the accumulation of quality and compliance issues in Boeing's commercial aviation division.

"We see Kelly Ortberg as a win for Boeing," aviation experts at Melius Research wrote in an analyst note, adding that his experience as CEO of Rockwell Collinsnow an RTX subsidiary called Collins Aerospace"checks a lot of boxes."

"He has an engineering background, experience running a public company, a multi-decade tenure in the aerospace industry, and is a Boeing outsider, which should allow for a fresh approach to solving Boeing's issues," they said.

Ortberg is "a positive hire" given his prior industry experience and his role managing a large supplier," CFRA Research senior equity analyst Angelo Zino wrote in a note to clients.

Kelly Ortberg starts his new job at Boeing as a company outsider.

Moving on

The most urgent issue on Ortberg's plate is undoubtedly restoring Boeing's production quality, which has been criticized in several audits. The firm has already drawn up a roadmap to achieve this, as it was required to do by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

To accomplish the necessary quality standards, Boeing will also be taking back control of Spirit AeroSystems, a company it spun off back in 2005.

The $4.7 billion purchase, announced in early July, is due to be completed by mid-2025.

The appointment of Ortberg, who began his career in 1983 as an engineer at Texas Instruments, comes after two long days of hearings organized by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as part of its investigation into an in-flight incident in January involving a 737 MAX 9.

The consequences of the incident was a reshuffling of executives, a freeze of 737 production by the FAA, the launch of investigations, and the reactivation of the criminal case against the company.

These are just some of the issues that Ortberg will have to tackle.

Another factor working in the new CEO's favor is that he plans to work from Seattle, the birthplace of Boeing, where the assembly lines for the 737its flagship aircraftand the 777 are located.

Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, which was a Boeing 737-9 MAX, is seen in a handout picture provided by the NTSB in January 2024.

The new generation 777X also finally seems to be within reach of certification after years of delay. On the other hand, the 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 are still languishing.

The IAM-District 751 workers' union, which represents more than 30,000 Boeing employees around Seattle, called Ortberg's decision to base himself in the city "a step in the right direction."

The union's approval is important at a time when Boeing is negotiating its next collective agreement, which is due to come into force in September.

The union has already approved strike action if no deal is reached by this deadline.

Another major issue for Boeing is its guilty plea, announced July 24, in the criminal case relating to the crashes; the company is still waiting for the judge's decision, and civil proceedings.

Robert Clifford, a lawyer representing the families of the victims, also reacted positively to Ortberg's appointment, noting his "well-regarded reputation" and the fact he came from outside the company.

 2024 AFP
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The family of Paul-Henri Nargeolet has filed a $50 million lawsuit against the operator of the submersible that imploded during a dive to the Titanic, killing him and four other people.

The family of French deep-sea explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet has filed a $50 million lawsuit against the operator of the submersible that imploded during a dive to the Titanic last year, killing him and four other people.

Nargeolet's estate filed the wrongful death suit against OceanGate in the western US state of Washington, accusing the US-based company of gross negligence.

Nargeoletknown as "Mr. Titanic"as well as OceanGate chief executive Stockton Rush, British explorer Hamish Harding, Pakistani-British tycoon Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman died when the submersible, the Titan, failed during a June 18, 2023, expedition to the Titanic.

Tony Buzbee, one of the attorneys bringing the case, said the lawsuit, which was filed on Tuesday with a court in Seattle, "alleges serious issues with the Titan submersible."

"We are hopeful that through this lawsuit we can get answers for the family as to exactly how this happened, who all were involved, and how those involved could allow this to happen," Buzbee said.

Matt Shaffer, another attorney for the Nargeolet family, said Rush, the OceanGate CEO and founder, "wasn't forthcoming with the crew and passengers about the dangers he and others knew about but the passengers and crew did not."

OceanGate suspended operations two weeks after the tragedy.

The company charged $250,000 for a seat on its submersible, but previous concerns over its safety policies came to light after the implosion.

The victims were presumed to have died instantly when the Titan, about the size of an SUV automobile, imploded under the crushing pressure of the North Atlantic at a depth of more than two miles (nearly four kilometers).

A debris field was found 1,600 feet (500 meters) from the bow of the Titanic, which sits 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland.

The Titanic hit an iceberg and sank in 1912 during its maiden voyage from England to New York, with 2,224 passengers and crew on board. More than 1,500 people died.

It was found in 1985 and has become a lure for nautical experts and underwater tourists.

A US Coast Guard investigation into the implosion of the submersible is ongoing.

 2024 AFP
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The world is falling well short of a promise made at global climate talks last year to triple the amount of wind power, according to a report by an energy think tank released Thursday.

Last December, countries at the U.N. COP28 climate conference committed to tripling all renewable electricity by 2030. Wind power specifically must triple to achieve that, according to the International Energy Agency and others.

Examining national targets set by 70 countries that account for 99% of existing wind power, Ember, an energy nonprofit based in London, projects that over the next six years, wind power will double, not triple, compared to the 2022 baseline.

The report looked at wind turbines both onshore and offshore.

"Governments are lacking ambition on wind, and especially onshore wind," said Katye Altieri, electricity analyst at Ember. "Wind is not getting enough attention."

Wind often blows hardest when the sun is not high in the sky, making it a good complement to solar energy in efforts to make clean electricity 24 hours per day.

The report also measured countries' progress towards their own goals. The U.S. ranked worst on this, falling 100 gigawatts short, or enough to power more than 30 million homes. The target used for the U.S. comes from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, part of the Energy Department. In an email exchange, the department declined to comment.

The second-biggest gap between national targets and wind projects in development was in India, at more than 30 gigawatts. Despite having considerable wind potential, only 4% of electricity in India comes from wind, said Altieri. Several officials at India's energy ministry did not reply to emailed requests for comment.

Ranking best by this measure were Brazil and Finland which are on track to exceed their wind targets by 15 and 11 gigawatts respectively. They were among just 10 countries due to surpass their goals. Seven of the 10 were in Europe, including Turkey.

Brian O'Callaghan, a lead researcher at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at the University of Oxford, England, pointed out technology is key. Wind is stronger at altitude, so taller turbines can produce more electricity.

The past two decades have seen "dramatic technological improvements leading to taller turbines, especially offshore," he said.

That means there is a big opportunity for countries willing to grasp it.

Wind speed also matters. Doubling wind speed results in an eightfold increase in power.

"Most coastal nations have barely tapped into their offshore wind resources," he said. "The UK is a prime example."

Some countries have strong wind but have barely begun building out wind turbines. Altieri pointed to Russia, Japan and South Korea in this category.

Russia has among the greatest wind potential of any country, according to the NREL, but Ember said it generated less than 1% of its electricity from wind in 2023. John Reilly of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who's studied energy policy and climate change for 45 years, said Russia is not committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"It has huge amounts of natural gas and coal, so there's no real economic incentive for them to develop wind," he said.

Russia's Energy Ministry did not respond to emails seeking comment.

Like many islands, Japan is also very windy, but generates just over 1% of its power from wind, Altieri said.

"The ocean is very deep just a little bit offshore of Japan, so that makes it more difficult," said Reilly. The country is also steeply mountainous, making it hard to place turbines, he said.

Heavy regulation in South Korea makes it difficult to build wind turbines and public opinion had slowed development further, he said. Worldwide, there has often been resistance to wind turbines.

Japan's Trade and Economy Ministry did not respond to email requests for comment. South Korea's Energy Agency could not be reached for comment.

More broadly, the tumbling price of solar power may help explain the comparative lack of interest in wind, said Reilly.

"When many of these big commitments were made," he said, "wind looked like the cheapest renewable energy source."

But since 2020 the price of solar has fallen dramatically, he said.

While some countries are lagging behind, the study's lead author Altieri says there's reasons for encouragement.

"Europe is doing great," she said, and that's with the North Sea, an incredible wind resource, barely tapped.

She predicted Europe and China will continue to be dominant in the expansion of electricity made from the wind.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Guests pose for a photo at the Anime Matsuri convention at George R Brown Convention Center. Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle

Anime Matsuri

Gina Miller, left, of Salt Lake City, Utah shops with her daughters, Kiri Miller and Reece Miller, at Anime Matsuri in the George R. Brown Convention Center. Melissa Phillip/Staff photographer

Anime Matsuri celebrates its 18th annual convention with a diverse lineup of events. Attendees can enjoy art and cosplay exhibitions, fashion shows and a live concert featuring the Japanese group =LOVE. Special guests include Vic Mignogna, Yoshimasa Hosoya and Hana Bunny.

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When: Through Aug. 11

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Where: George R. Brown Convention Center, 5500 Main

Houston Shakespeare Festival

Laura Frye and Alan Brincks pose as Titania and Oberon. Houston Shakespeare Festival. July 25, 2024. Jonathan Burke / University of Houston/University of Houston

The Houston Shakespeare Festival marks its 50th anniversary with performances of "Romeo & Juliet" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Don't miss the final weekend of this celebrated event at Miller Outdoor Theatre.

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When: 8:15 p.m. through Aug. 10

Where: 6000 Hermann Park Drive

Cirque du Soleil: 'Songblazers'

Cirque du Soleil is going country with 'Songblazers', and Houston is the second stop on the tour. Courtesy of Public Content

Catch the last weekend of Cirque du Soleil's "Songblazers," in partnership with Universal Music Group Nashville. This show celebrates country music legends and stars with acrobatics and aerial performances set to tunes by Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, The Chicks, and more.

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When: Through Aug. 11

Where: Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land, 18111 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land

Houston Horror Film Fest

The annual Houston Horror Film Festival returns to Houston Marriott Westchase this weekend. Houston Horror Film Festival

Houstons premier horror film festival returns this weekend. The event features over 70 horror films, celebrity guests, special Q&A panels and more than 100 vendors. Attendees can explore horror memorabilia, apparel and works from artists and authors. Celebrity appearances include Ashley Greene (Twilight" series), Bonnie Aarons (The Conjuring" series), Devon Sawa (Final Destination"), Dylan McDermott (American Horror Story"), Kathy Najimy (Hocus Pocus") and Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th" series).

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When: Aug. 9-11

Where: Houston Marriott Westchase, 2900 Briar Park

MORE FROM ANA KHAN: Houston Theater Week will offer BOGO tickets to performances at Hobby Center, Houston Ballet and more

Sunset Bingo

Sunset Bingo at Levy Park. Levy Park Houston

Families are invited to gather at Levy Park for an evening of bingo benefiting the park, accompanied by music from DJ Del Sur. For $10 (cash only), participants receive a bingo packet with eight games. Don't forget to bring a blanket.

When: 6 p.m. Aug. 9

Where: Levy Park, 3801 Eastside

Watermelon Dash

Watermelon Dash 5K & 10K at Karbach Brewing Company. Houston Running Company

Houston Running Co. will host its 4th annual Watermelon Dash at Karbach Brewing Co., featuring a 10K, 5K and a Kids/Family walk. The event caters to serious runners and families seeking fun, with participants enjoying a slice of watermelon at the finish line.

When: 7:30 a.m. Aug. 10

Where: Karbach Brewing Co., 2032 Karbach

Galveston Family Beach Challenge

The annual Galveston Family Beach Challenge returns to East Beach on Sunday. Galveston Island/Galveston Family Beach Challenge

The annual event will transform a portion of Galveston's East Beach and Stewart Beach into a fun obstacle course, with life-size versions of classic games. It features 14 stations for kids and adults, including eight new games like a bean bag toss, life-size battleship, limbo, volley balloon, beam bag and giant Connect Four. The event is free and participants have a chance to win a $500 gift card and tickets to popular Galveston attractions.

When: 9 a.m. Aug. 11
SweetCup will soon bring its signature blend of traditional Italian flavors and Texas flair to Cypress. Amy Scott Photography Gelatician Jasmine Chida has owned Montrose-based gelato shop SweetCup since it opened. Jaclyn Warren / @starchefs The Montrose-based gelato shop, SweetCup, plans to bring a location to Cypress. Jaclyn Warren / @starchefs SweetCup has a full array of 48 flavors and offers gelato, sorbet, gelato custard and frozen yogurt. Christina Martinez Photography SweetCup has a full array of 48 flavors and offers gelato, sorbet, gelato custard and frozen yogurt. Christina Martinez Photography

The Montrose-based gelato shop, SweetCup, will soon bring its signature blend of traditional Italian flavors and Texas flair to Cypress.

The Cypress location will be the first branch to open since the original SweetCup began serving customers in 2012. It will feature SweetCups full array of 48 flavors and offer gelato, sorbet, gelato custard and frozen yogurt. Owner of the original SweetCup, Jasmine Chida, said she hopes the new location at 20711 Tuckerton Rd. will open before the end of 2024.

The Montrose-based gelato shop, SweetCup, plans to bring a location to Cypress. Jaclyn Warren / @starchefs

Were very excited to bring Sweet Cup to Cypress, Chida said. For us, its always been about making gelato more approachable, so the more people we can reach, the better.

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Chida, who has owned the business since it opened, said the new location will operate as a franchise under different owners. Sharing her gelato shops brand will be a first for Chida, who was both SweetCups owner and sole employee during its early years. She said shes confident the owners of the Cypress franchise will serve the same quality product fans have grown to love.

"Our goal has always been to create a welcoming space where families and friends can come together to enjoy our unique flavors that represent Houstons diverse culinary scene, Chida said. Im grateful to be partnering with our first franchisees that actually live in Cypress and believe in our product and want to share something unique with this special community.

Living in Cypress, Chida said, was a big plus for her when she was considering whether to franchise or not. For her, being a part of the community the store serves is almost as important as the gelato itself.

SweetCups Cypress expansion is just another step in Chidas goal to bring gelato to the mainstream. She said theres often a misconception in Texas that gelato is fancy, healthy and even haughty. Thats far from the truth, Chida said, and she hopes to spread the gospel of the peoples gelato to the residents of Cypress.

Gelatician Jasmine Chida has owned Montrose-based gelato shop SweetCup since it opened. Jaclyn Warren / @starchefs

I think a lot of times people look at gelato and think oh thats too fancy or oh thats that healthy ice cream stuff, Chida said. I just want people to be aware that its not fancy, it doesnt have to be healthy. A big part of the reason I named it SweetCup is because I didnt want to give the impression that this was too fancy for anyone.

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Chida said the name came from her dads nickname for ice cream. The simple fun of getting a treat with her father was what she wanted to emulate with the name SweetCup.

The Cypress location is still being built, but Chida said work is coming along well and that she hopes to have a grand opening event to mark its launch. She also said the location plans to work with local organizations to help empower the community
Sonia Garcia is a trending food reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at sonia.garcia@houstonchronicle.com.

A Rio Grande Valley native, she previously was an editor and writer for the Austin digital news startup Austonia after graduating from Texas State University. She enjoys trying new restaurants in Houston, where she lives with her 14-year-old Chihuahua.
Arizai Gonzales with her son, Daniel Fuentes Gonzales, 2, who is diagnosed with autism in their home on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Cleveland. Daniels speech language pathologist was laid off from Texas Childrens Hospital on Tuesday as part of system-wide layoffs. Gonzales is concerned that the progress her son has made over the last year will be lost as they try to find another therapist. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Arizai Gonzales with her son, Daniel Fuentes Gonzales, 2, head back into their home on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Cleveland. The family learned this morning, hours before their appointment, that Daniels speech language pathologist was laid off from Texas Childrens Hospital on Tuesday as part of system-wide layoffs. Gonzales is concerned that the progress her son has made over the last year will be lost as they try to find another therapist. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Daniel Fuentes Gonzales, 2, who is diagnosed with autism in his home on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Cleveland. Daniels speech language pathologist was laid off from Texas Childrens Hospital on Tuesday as part of system-wide layoffs. Gonzales is concerned that the progress her son has made over the last year will be lost as they try to find another therapist. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

After a year of speech and occupational therapy at Texas Childrens Hospital, 2-year-old Daniel Fuentes Gonzales had transformed.

The quiet boy with autism who wouldnt listen well to directions  who was scared to even try certain foods because of their texture  slowly became a different child as he tasted new foods and began to name cars, animals and family members, said his mother, Arizai.

Arizai was shocked Wednesday to learn Daniel would not be attending one of the weekly therapy sessions that propelled his development, after the pathologist who had formed a bond with her son was swept up in the mass layoffs that affected 5% of the hospital's workforce Tuesday.

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In addition to employees who worked in more administrative roles, the layoffs hit a range of employees who treated patients, from speech pathologists to registered nurses to patient care assistants to midwives, according to multiple employees who spoke to the Chronicle.

Hospital officials attributed the cuts to historic financial challenges, including enrollment drops in Medicaid, and said patient care would not be affected. However, the layoffs triggered uncertainty and stress for patients and families like Gonzales', and former employees are concerned about the long-term damage their absence could leave behind.

Were just heartbroken for our patients and their families, said Micaela Canales, who was part of a team of six nurse-midwives. She said her entire team was cut Tuesday.

A financial strain

The cuts affected more than 1,000 of the hospital systems roughly 20,000 workers. Texas Childrens declined to respond to questions about the number of layoffs among employees who treat patients.

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The hospital began cutting costs six to nine months ago, starting with its executive leadership team, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources officer Linda Aldred previously told the Chronicle. The hospital reduced the size of the team by about 10% by opting not to fill positions that had been vacated and instead reassigning duties to other executives. Executives will also take a pay cut this fiscal year, she said.

Texas Childrens did not respond to multiple follow-up questions Wednesday, including those asking for more details on executive pay cuts and about employees' concerns around patient care.

Multiple factors contributed to the hospitals financial struggles in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, when the hospital reported an operating income loss of nearly $200 million, according to Fitch Ratings, one of the three major credit rating agencies.

In recent years, Texas Childrens issued bonds to help fund massive expansion projects, including a $450 million Austin campus and a $245 million build-out of its Pavilion for Women in the Texas Medical Center. Fitch downgraded the bond rating last month, citing a delayed opening of the Austin campus, health plan challenges and patient volume declines.

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Hospital officials previously said changes to Medicaid eligibility led to a 30% drop in Texas Childrens Health Plan membership. Medicaid reimbursements had also declined, hospital CEO Mark Wallace said Tuesday in an internal email obtained by the Chronicle. Wallace also cited economic challenges facing all organizations.

A broken bond

Arizai and others struggled on Wednesday to find out what to do next.

She wonders if she will have to wait as long as she did, nine months, just to get an appointment with another speech pathologist at Texas Childrens. Calls to the main desk at the speech therapy department in The Woodlands, where Daniel received care, didnt give any answers by early afternoon Wednesday, she said.

He doesnt do very well with change, she said.

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She said she needs advice on what she and her son can do in the meantime. She has made unsuccessful attempts to reconnect with Daniel's former pathologist. By Wednesday evening, Arizai was informed that Daniel would get an appointment with an occupational therapist next week to help with his eating. She still had not received answers about speech therapy.

The Woodlands resident Jen Stroble was in a similar position. Her 3-year-old daughter is nonverbal and has autism spectrum disorder. She made little progress in speech therapy until her parents took her to Texas Childrens, where her therapist helped her learn to use a host of words, Stroble said.

Stroble said her daughter had developed a strong relationship with her therapist. Shes concerned that having to form another bond with a new therapist will hurt her development.

Children on the spectrum, they dont adapt well to change. At all, Stroble said.  Shes going to be very, very upset.

The hospital had not contacted Stroble with a plan to transfer her daughters care by Wednesday morning. She would like to continue working with her daughters therapist, but its unclear if or when they will be able to find another job.

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Far-reaching impacts

Cuts in other parts of the system left major impacts.

Canales, the nurse-midwife, said Texas Childrens officials informed her team that they would not be accepting new pregnant patients but would continue treating their current patients through March.

The hospital maintained a uniquely robust midwifery program that guaranteed all pregnant patients access to their services at the Pavilion for Women, Canales said.

Midwives are trained professionals who provide continuous one-on-one support throughout the pregnancy, from providing routine reproductive care like pelvic exams to helping with breastfeeding or changing diapers. Its a more holistic approach to pregnancy care that studies show can help reduce maternal mortality.

Now, patients will have to find those services on their own.

Some people just wont have access to midwifery care unless they are financially fortunate enough to be able to, Canales said.

The Chronicle spoke to six other employees who were laid off Tuesday. All requested anonymity out of fear of compromising their severance packages, future job prospects or potential legal action.

Many of them had seen signs of financial struggles months earlier. Two of the employees said they were informed of a hiring freeze in May and four had been asked to cut back their work hours or drop some of their usual assignments in recent months.

One employee, a speech language pathologist, said she found out about the layoffs in a 5 a.m. phone call with a human resources official. She was perplexed, she said, because she had been a productive employee and was led to believe cuts would not happen.

She estimated that a third of the speech language pathologists at her campus were let go Tuesday, including people who had been there for 15 years, she said.

She, too, worries about the strain created by the departures. Hundreds of children at a time wait to receive treatment from her and her former colleagues. Many of those families wait as long as the Gonzales' did, around nine months, just to get an appointment.

Children who seek out their services typically have autism or other complex medical needs that require close attention. In such a large hospital system, its not unusual to come across a child with a rare genetic abnormality that requires more time-consuming, personalized care.
Colored light is reflected by dichroic glass on an underside section of Canopy as native Texas artist and sculptor Anthony J. Suber speaks to media Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, regarding his recently installed steel, aluminum, dichroic glass and copper sculpture in Hermann Park as part of the Conservancy's Art in the Park program. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Canopy, a recently installed steel, aluminum, dichroic glass and copper sculpture by Anthony J. Suber, is visible in Hermann Park Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, as part of the Conservancy's Art in the Park program. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Copper plates accent Canopy, a recently installed steel, aluminum, dichroic glass and copper sculpture by Anthony J. Suber, is visible in Hermann Park Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, as part of the Conservancy's Art in the Park program. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Colored light is reflected by dichroic glass on an underside section of Canopy as native Texas artist and sculptor Anthony J. Suber speaks to media Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, regarding his recently installed steel, aluminum, dichroic glass and copper sculpture in Hermann Park as part of the Conservancy's Art in the Park program. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Colored light is reflected by dichroic glass on an underside section of Canopy Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, a recently installed steel, aluminum, dichroic glass and copper sculpture by artist Athony J. Suber in Hermann Park as part of the Conservancy's Art in the Park program. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Colored light is reflected by dichroic glass on an underside section of Canopy Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, a recently installed steel, aluminum, dichroic glass and copper sculpture by artist Athony J. Suber in Hermann Park as part of the Conservancy's Art in the Park program. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Colored light is reflected by dichroic glass on an underside section of Canopy Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, a recently installed steel, aluminum, dichroic glass and copper sculpture by artist Athony J. Suber in Hermann Park as part of the Conservancy's Art in the Park program. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Colored light is reflected by dichroic glass on an underside section of Canopy as native Texas artist and sculptor Anthony J. Suber speaks to media Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, regarding his recently installed steel, aluminum, dichroic glass and copper sculpture in Hermann Park as part of the Conservancy's Art in the Park program. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Canopy, a recently installed steel, aluminum, dichroic glass and copper sculpture by Anthony J. Suber, is visible in Hermann Park Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, as part of the Conservancy's Art in the Park program. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Native Texas artist and sculptor Anthony J. Suber, stands by Canopy, his recently installed steel, aluminum, dichroic glass and copper sculpture in Hermann Park Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, as part of the Conservancy's Art in the Park program. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

There's more than meets the eye hiding under "Canopy," a metal and glass sculpture by Anthony Suber, atop a hill in Hermann Park. The artist, who is an art professor at the University of Houston and artist-in-residence at Project Row Houses in historic Third Ward, hopes visitors will see a bridge connecting physical and spiritual realms, youth and old age, deconstructed geometry  and a photo-friendly place to seek shade.

On first glance, "Canopy" is a two-leaf shoot. The top, perkier piece is the youngest leaf, Suber explains. The arching bottom piece shows a different stage of growth, and life.

"Both leaves are for people who moved onto a different phase of existence," he says.

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He pitched the idea last year as part of Hermann Park Conservancy's Art in the Park initiative. "Canopy's" slice of elevated green space is within The Commons, a 26-acre project that completed the conservancy's $55-million "Play Your Park" capital campaign when it opened near the Texas Medical Center last April.

The previous year, Suber lost his father to COVID-19. The proposal for "Canopy" was born out of a cycle of joy and grief.

"It celebrates his and previous ancestors' memories," Suber says. "It has the ability to embody previous generations through posthumous expression."

A Texas native who received a bachelor of fine arts degree from UH and master of fine arts degree from Houston Christian University, his multidisciplinary practice is often three-dimensional and occasionally wearable.

Canopy, a recently installed steel, aluminum, dichroic glass and copper sculpture by Anthony J. Suber, is visible in Hermann Park Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, as part of the Conservancy's Art in the Park program. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

Made of steel, aluminum, copper and dichroic glass, "Canopy" is inherently unwearable, though in its presence, Suber wants visitors to think of how they use metal in their everyday lifestyle. A peek under the sculpture's leaves helps understand his vision better.

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There, a cathedral-like display of sheets in blue, green and amber hues await. "Take a selfie!" the artist encourages. "You see yourself, so you become part of the work. I wanted to play with light that changes like a sundial; they are markers of time. At different times of day there's a different experience with the sculpture."

He repurposed triangular shapes throughout. In their initial form, Suber viewed them as masks, wearable across the eyes.
Breaking news Houston Chronicle

A 50-year-old Magnolia woman accused of setting fire to her neighbors' house and several vehicles apparently had no interaction with them before Tuesday morning, according to the Montgomery County Fire Marshal's Office.

After a 12-hour standoff with Montgomery County Sheriff's Office SWAT and the Crisis Negotiation Team, Christine Riley was arrested at the 26000 block of Rhode Island in Magnolia and charged with arson with intent to damage or destroy a habitation or place of worship  a first degree felony.

Around 5:30 a.m., Riley set fire to her neighbors' home and several vehicles, forcing the family of four to flee their burning home through their back door, according to a release from the county fire marshal's office.

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TEXAS EXECUTION: Texas executes Arthur Lee Burton for 1997 murder of Houston jogger Nancy Adleman

Riley then fled to her house and refused to leave after sheriffs deputies and county fire marshal investigators tried to apprehend her, the release states.

Responding deputies suspected that Riley had access to a gun and was in the midst of a mental health crisis.

(Riley) had not had any interaction with the neighbor, said Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams. The victims dont know why she set the trucks on fire and set their house on fire. Were still investigating to determine the motive.

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Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a new "0.0.0.0 Day" impacting all major web browsers that malicious websites could take advantage of to breach local networks.

The critical vulnerability "exposes a fundamental flaw in how browsers handle network requests, potentially granting malicious actors access to sensitive services running on local devices," Oligo Security researcher Avi Lumelsky said.

The Israeli application security company said the implications of the vulnerability are far-reaching, and that it stems from the inconsistent implementation of security mechanisms and a lack of standardization across different browsers.

As a result, a seemingly harmless IP address such as 0.0.0.0 could be weaponized to exploit local services, resulting in unauthorized access and remote code execution by attackers outside the network. The loophole is said to have been around since 2006.

0.0.0.0 Day impacts Google Chrome/Chromium, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari, all of which enable external websites to communicate with software that runs locally on macOS and Linux. It does not affect Windows devices as Microsoft blocks the IP address at the operating system level.

Particularly, Oligo Security found that public websites using domains ending in ".com" are able to communicate with services running on the local network and execute arbitrary code on the visitor's host by using the address 0.0.0.0 as opposed to localhost/127.0.0.1.

It's also a bypass of Private Network Access (PNA), which is designed to prohibit public websites from directly accessing endpoints located within private networks.

Any application that runs on localhost and can be reached via 0.0.0.0 is likely susceptible to remote code execution, including local Selenium Grid instances by dispatching a POST request to 0.0.0[.]0:4444 with a crafted payload.

Put differently, the issue is as simple as a malicious web page sending requests to 0.0.0.0 and a port of its choosing that could then be processed by services running locally on that same port, leading to unintended consequences.

In response to the findings in April 2024, web browsers are expected to block access to 0.0.0.0 completely, thereby deprecating direct access to private network endpoints from public websites.

"When services use localhost, they assume a constrained environment," Lumelsky said. "This assumption, which can (as in the case of this vulnerability) be faulty, results in insecure server implementations."

"By using 0.0.0.0 together with mode 'no-cors,' attackers can use public domains to attack services running on localhost and even gain arbitrary code execution (RCE), all using a single HTTP request."
Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a novel phishing campaign that leverages Google Drawings and shortened links generated via WhatsApp to evade detection and trick users into clicking on bogus links designed to steal sensitive information.

"The attackers chose a group of the best-known websites in computing to craft the threat, including Google and WhatsApp to host the attack elements, and an Amazon look-alike to harvest the victim's information," Menlo Security researcher Ashwin Vamshi said. "This attack is a great example of a Living Off Trusted Sites (LoTS) threat."

The starting point of the attack is a phishing email that directs the recipients to a graphic that appears to be an Amazon account verification link. This graphic, for its part, is hosted on Google Drawings, in an apparent effort to evade detection.

Abusing legitimate services has obvious benefits for attackers in that they're not only a low-cost solution, but more importantly, they offer a clandestine way of communication inside networks, as they are unlikely to be blocked by security products or firewalls.

"Another thing that makes Google Drawings appealing in the beginning of the attack is that it allows users (in this case, the attacker) to include links in their graphics," Vamshi said. "Such links may easily go unnoticed by users, particularly if they feel a sense of urgency around a potential threat to their Amazon account."

Users who end up clicking on the verification link are taken to a lookalike Amazon login page, with the URL crafted successively using two different URL shorteners -- WhatsApp ("l.wl[.]co") followed by qrco[.]de -- as an added layer of obfuscation and deceive security URL scanners.

The fake page is designed to harvest credentials, personal information, and credit card details, after which the victims are redirected to the original phished Amazon login page. As an extra step, the web page is rendered inaccessible from the same IP address once the credentials have been validated.

The disclosure comes as researchers have identified a loophole in Microsoft 365's anti-phishing mechanisms that could be abused to increase the risk of users opening phishing emails.

The method entails the use of CSS trickery to hide the "First Contact Safety Tip," which alerts users when they receive emails from an unknown address. Microsoft, which has acknowledged the issue, has yet to release a fix.

"The First Contact Safety Tip is prepended to the body of an HTML email, which means it is possible to alter the way it is displayed through the use of CSS style tags," Austrian cybersecurity outfit Certitude said. "We can take this a step further, and spoof the icons Microsoft Outlook adds to emails that are encrypted and/or signed."
New energy vehicles reshape the industrial ecosystem

People's Daily Online) 14:09, August 08, 2024

New energy vehicles (NEVs) are shifting from being a new force to a new trend. Statistics reveal that in the first half of April this year, the wholesale and retail penetration rates of passenger NEVs exceeded 50 percent, achieving the planned targets 11 years ahead of time.

China has become the worlds largest consumer market for NEVs and has established a highly efficient and collaborative industrial system.

R&D: 100,000 workers strong

BYD is one of Chinas largest NEV manufacturers and battery makers. On its quest to enhance competitiveness through innovation, the company employs over 100,000 workers committed to just R&D, along with 11 research institutes.

Photo shows a production line for blade batteries at BYD, one of Chinas largest NEV manufacturers and power battery makers. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Its investment has paid off with the introduction of the blade battery in March 2020.

For a long time, the automotive industry struggled to achieve both battery safety and a long travel range. The blade battery was BYDs solution as it maintained the safety qualities of traditional lithium iron phosphate batteries while allowing for a longer driving range thanks to higher density and space utilization.

Compared to traditional lithium iron phosphate batteries, blade batteries increase space utilization rate by around 40 percent, explained Lian Yubo, chief scientist, chief automotive engineer, and director of the Automotive Engineering Research Institute at BYD. Lian added that the blade battery can be installed directly onto the car chassis, further improving space utilization and system safety.

The blade battery has become a flagship product for BYD, and along with other innovations produced by the company, has been proven to be a driving force for its success.

This focus on technology and R&D has paid off for the NEV industry as a whole. According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, the market share of Chinas domestic brands overseas continues to rise. In the first half of the year, the export of domestically produced new energy vehicles reached 605,000 units, marking a 13.2 percent year-on-year increase.

Testing: 1,172 scenarios and counting

Dou Jian, 37 years old, is deputy chief engineer of software quality at Chinese automaker Changan.

Dou Jian, deputy chief engineer of software quality at Chinese automaker Changan, tests a vehicle. (Peoples Daily Online/Hu Hong)

Dou, who has accumulated over 120,000 kilometers testing different vehicle types, said that a new vehicle model goes through a testing phase lasting 8 to 10 months before being introduced to the public.

Due to the rising demand for NEVs and evolving consumer needs, Dous testing responsibilities have increased. The number of testing projects has expanded from a few initial tests to 28 primary tests and 145 secondary tests.

The testing scenarios have also grown from 322 to 1,172, encompassing a wide range of scenarios including external discharge, camping in the car with air conditioning, vehicle-to-vehicle charging, wireless fast charging for mobile phones, and in-car karaoke.

These new scenarios are what NEV automakers compete over, Dou says with a laugh.

The problems should only be fed back to the company, not left for the user. This is the guiding principle that drives Dou and his team forward.

On August 2, Changan Nevo under Changan, announced its latest delivery data. The company delivered 12,445 vehicles in July and a total of 85,413 vehicles from January to July.

By 2030, Changan will invest a total of 200 billion yuan (about $27.85 billion) and add over 10,000 new employees to its technology innovation team in areas such as intelligence, new energy, and forward-looking technologies.

Ecosystem: Over 90 percent localization rate

Currently, Chinas NEV industry is accelerating the clustering of chains. Both upstream and downstream small and medium-sized companies are taking advantage of this opportunity, joining the NEV ecosystem for growth while supporting the industrial chain.

Data reveals that thanks to a complete industrial chain, major NEV manufacturers in China have achieved a component localization rate of over 90 percent, with some even surpassing 95 percent.

At a factory of NEV manufacturer Lynk & Co located in Yuyao city, a county-level city administered by Ningbo, east Chinas Zhejiang Province, a new energy vehicle rolls off the production line every 72 seconds, while car seats from a branch of Magna, a global developer and manufacturer of complete seating systems, are directly delivered to the assembly workshop of Lynk & Co in several hours.

The establishment of the NEV project of Lynk & Co in the China-Italy (Ningbo) Ecological Park in Yuyao has attracted 17 automotive supporting companies.

A staff member operates a film capacitor winding machine at Savy Machine, located in Xinbei district, Changzhou city, east Chinas Jiangsu Province. (Peoples Daily Online/Gao Chao)

Magna, which had just over 100 staff members in 2018 when it first settled in the ecological park, has doubled its workforce and increased monthly seat production from around 4,000 to nearly 10,000 units, according to Huang Fei, deputy general manager of the companys factory.

Currently, Yuyao has formed an industrial foundation that includes whole vehicles, lightweight automotive components, battery systems, and in-car optical devices, with upstream and downstream companies rapidly gathering.

Across the country, little giants are thriving thanks to the NEV industrial ecosystem.

From January to June this year, the sales of LS series capacitor winding machines surged to 1.5 times the figure of the same period last year, said Yu Shengwu, general manager of Savy Machine, located in Xinbei district, Changzhou city, east Chinas Jiangsu Province.

The capacitor winding machine plays a crucial role in the production of power batteries for NEVs. In this market, Savy Machine already ranks third globally in terms of market share.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
Youre exhausted when you open your eyes in the bedroom you had painted the color of a Veuve Clicquot champagne label. The bright marigold walls bring you 

Whats the word?



They bring you 

joy.

The walls bring you joy, thats the word, and you need to find joy in something.

Maybe you slept for 13 hours last night. Maybe you havent slept at all. Or maybe its the morning after your insomnia culminated in a 4 a.m. panic attack so severe that your mother thought you couldnt breathe when she raced downstairs and grabbed a Sunny D to spike your blood sugar, which had dropped to dangerous levels. You cried, I cant take this anymore, I cant take this anymore.

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You have been taking it for two and a half years.

You may still be asleep in the champagne room when your 11-year-old son goes to school in a green sweatshirt that matches his green kickball. Your mother, who lives with you because you cant do life on your own, will drive him. Your son is used to this. You hate that your son is 

Pause. Exhale.

 is used to this.

All you want is to be well enough to take him to a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert at Minute Maid Park on May 25. (His first, if you dont count the Incubus concert he went to in the womb, which he does.) Even if someone has to roll your corpse into the arena and arrange it on a seat, you will be there.

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(Your sense of humor keeps you going. Your sense of humor is not for everyone.)

Christine Coglaiti surrounds herself with keepsakes from her life before COVID, including her nursing badges, work shoes and graduation photo. (Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer) Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle Christine Coglaiti surrounds herself with keepsakes from her life before COVID, including her nursing badges, work shoes and graduation photo. (Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer) Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle

You werent always like this. Before you got COVID in the fall of 2020, you were a different Christine Coglaiti. That Christine was an ER nurse who never got tired and could make life-or-death decisions in an instant. That Christine had no trouble managing her Type 1 diabetes. That Christine had a photographic memory.

This Christine is one of as many as 23 million people in the U.S. with long COVID. People who, like you, went to doctor after doctor before finding one who said, Yes, I believe you. People whose symptoms range from inflammation to exhaustion to nausea to never-ending migraines to 

brain fog.

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You do not like this Christine, who speaks in starts and stops, pausing to reach for words she cant quite grasp even though the old Christine always got picked to read aloud at school and never stumbled, that was back in Catholic school, back in Louisiana when 

You are rambling. What were you supposed to be saying?

Christine Coglaiti, a former ER nurse, talks about her struggles living with long COVID. Elizabeth Conley Staff photographer

The new voice. The voice isnt  it just isnt yours.

You spend the morning in the champagne room, surrounded by Tibetan prayer flags and photos of your son and bright plastic dragonflies and a curlicue Winston Churchill quote: I could not live without champagne. In victory I deserve it. In defeat I need it. You lean back beside a pillow of a llama blowing a pink bubble and look out the window into your fenced backyard. You get lost in 

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you lose track of 

your thoughts.

Because today is a day youll venture out into the world, you push aside the flowered comforter and shower in a room painted the same pink as OPIs Bubble Bath nail polish, two black Cs interlocked in the Chanel logo. You pull on your LLAMA STAY 6 FEET AWAY T-shirt and stretchy pants. Most of your clothes are new, because this Christine is 50 pounds heavier than the old Christine. If you look at photos of yourself from just four years ago 

Focus.

Two years ago, you collapsed and nearly died in these rooms. Because you relived it every time you went back in, you slept on the living room couch. A contractor on hire to redo your mothers room, a man who knew the old Christine, said you needed a place to heal. The couch didnt cut it. So you created your sanctuary: The champagne room, the Bubble-Bath-pink Chanel room and a nearby bathroom painted robins-egg Tiffany blue, Christine & Co. stenciled on the walls.

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You drive with your mother to the nearby ketamine clinic, where you go to ease your physical pain and emotional depression. You check a box on an intake form that says: I feel sad more than half the time. In a private room with a reclining chair, a technician hooks up the IV. You ease in your earbuds and put on your ketamine playlist.

Adele croons. The room darkens.

Christine Coglaiti receives her ketamine treatment at Lone Star Infusion. The ketamine helps her mental health. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

The pandemic wreaked havoc on your mental health even before you got sick, when you used Coors Light and Grey Goose mixed with V8 Splash to numb the pain of treating patients who came into your care only to die. A few Halloweens ago, you left a message on your friends phone. You dont even remember dialing. You do remember your friend calling at 8:30 the next morning, demanding you open the door. Open the door, she said, or well break in. Your friends didnt leave until you went to the hospital.

Nowadays, you keep positivity journals and self-care handbooks. But you also keep Ziploc bags of wristbands from your hospital admissions and plastic boxes stuffed with dozens of orange prescription bottles. You have lain in your bed and waited for death.

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You wake up in the clinics reclining chair, groggy 

groggy from the drugs. You stretch, turn off your music, sigh, make yourself stand. Some days, standing is easy. Other days, when your left knee and your lumbar spine feel that mix of electric jolts and grinding pain, its nearly impossible.

Your mother drives you from the ketamine clinic to see another of your many doctors. He says youre doing well, which means today is a day you can get out of bed and walk further than the bathroom. You have trouble trusting the good stretches. Just when it feels like its all sunshine and rainbows  relative, of course  your face gets so hot you need ice packs and you vomit so much you cant keep food down and your head hurts too badly to sleep.

The doctors offices are whats left of your social life. You put on makeup the other day for the first time in years. The foundation that once matched your skin is now several shades too dark.

You are exhausted by the time you make it  breathe  you make it home and crawl back into bed.

Christine Coglaiti has been living with long COVID since she caught the virus as an emergency room nurse in 2020. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer Linda Coglaiti, Christines mom, asks about a field trip payment for Christines son, Lachlan. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer Christine Coglaiti marked the tops of her medications for easy identification and access. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer Christine Coglaiti sits for a portrait in her bedroom that shes been living out of for years. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer Christine adds nausea medication to her IV port. Its like having morning sickness all the time, she says. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer Christine Coglaiti watches a lecture on COVID in her bed. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer During her nights of insomnia, Christine Coglaiti takes notes on lectures and other videos she finds online about long COVID. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer Christine Coglaiti tattooed her wrist that was scarred and bruised from IVs with rings representing things that tried to kill her: diabetes, birthing her son, her dads death and COVID. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer Christine Coglaiti leaves her home for doctors' appointments as her dog, Remoulade, follows. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer Christine Coglaiti fills out paperwork with her mom at Lone Star Infusion. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer Dr. Joseph Varon hugs Christine Coglaiti during an appointment. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer Christine Coglaiti painted her bathroom a bubblegum color based on a nail polish and added a Chanel logo. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

Its four oclock and your son is home from school. Once, you asked him to describe a typical day with you. He gave a non-answer. If he were being honest, he would have said: You sleep 90 percent of the time.

Because the smell of food nauseates you, your mother and son have dinner without you. You can hear their laughter from your bed. You cant quite discern what theyre saying. On the evenings your mother isnt around, you make yourself endure the smells while your son eats. You need to give him a sense of normalcy. Even if its manufactured.

Your son visits before he goes to bed on what you call his rounds. Sometimes he asks if he can make a few dollars by picking up the floor; sometimes he flops into bed with you and you talk about everything from his school day to your health. Hell scold you if your stories ramble. Youre in awe that hes only 11. For a while, you tried to keep your illness from him. He figured it out anyway. You promised to never lie to him again.

Today you are so tired that he only lingers to say goodnight before he thumps upstairs to his bedroom.

You turn off your overhead light. The only illumination in the champagne room comes from the soft sepia glow of the square lamp you keep on your bedside table. You rest your head on a green-and-white zigzag pillow. You put on your music: Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan. You close your eyes.

Maybe tonight, you will fall asleep.

Christine didnt get to take her son to the concert. She was too sick.

Christine Coglaiti bought a Red Hot Chili Peppers T-shirt for a May 25 concert. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer
Philippines, S Korea agree to upgrade bilateral relations

By Vietnam News Agency Thu, August 8, 2024 | 11:56 am GMT+7

The foreign ministers of South Korea and the Philippines on Wednesday agreed to redouble efforts toward the official elevation of their bilateral relations to a "strategic partnership" within this year, a commitment shared by the two countries' leaders, according to Yonhap News Agency.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul (right) shakes hands with his counterpart of the Philippines, Enrique Manalo, ahead of their talks in Seoul on August 7, 2024. Photo courtesy of Yonhap.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul reaffirmed the commitment to expanding ties during the talks with his Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo, the Foreign Ministry's office said.

In the talks, Cho said South Korea and the Philippines are two "geopolitically important" countries in the Indo-Pacific, and stressed the need to strengthen two-way strategic cooperation to ensure regional peace and prosperity.

The Philippines is also a vital partner in South Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy and the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative, a landmark diplomatic initiative by the latter to strengthen its partnership with ASEAN, he stated.

The South Koream official affirmed commitment to working with the Philippines to open a new chapter by establishing a strategic partnership between the two countries in the coming months. He expressed his hope that more Korean companies will be able to take part in Manila's efforts to bolster its defence capabilities.

The ministers also agreed to work together for the early ratification of a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) signed in September last year, so that the people of the two countries can benefit from the pact.

Additionally, Cho said South Korea plans to support the Philippines in coping with rice shortages, not only through aid in kind, but also in terms of infrastructure and agricultural modernisation.

Previously, in March, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed in letters exchanged to mark the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, to push for an upgrade of the bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.
Vietnam still a darling for FDI despite global headwinds: HSBC

By Quang Minh Thu, August 8, 2024 | 5:40 pm GMT+7

Vietnam, whose solid fundamentals have attracted an influx of foreign companies, remains compelling to foreign direct investment (FDI) despite intensified global competition, according to HSBC.

As the global investment landscape shifts amid developments such as the implementation of the Global Minimum Tax, there are questions as to whether Vietnam can sustain the momentum of robust investment flows it has enjoyed since its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2007.

Chart by The Investor/Quang Minh.

In the past 20 years, Vietnam has grown to become a major manufacturing base that is tightly integrated with the global supply chain. Exports have grown more than 13% annually on average since 2007, dominated by foreign-invested enterprises.

Traditionally, FDI inflows have been led by South Korea, most notably by Samsung. Since Samsungs establishment of its first phone factory in the northern province of Bac Ninh in 2008, more than half its global smartphone production is now manufactured in Vietnam, with a cumulative investment exceeding $20 billion.

The efforts of these early movers have encouraged other tech giants to invest in Vietnams manufacturing capabilities. Since 2023, leading Chinese manufacturing firms have ramped up their investments in Vietnam, with almost 20% of newly registered FDI being sourced from mainland China.

South Korea has been a leading FDI provider, but China is catching up.

The surge in multinational corporations (MNC) interests in Vietnam stems from a variety of factors, including competitive costs and FDI-friendly policies. Comparing labor costs across Asia, manufacturing wages in Vietnam are lower than that in mainland China and other peers. This is despite the populations solid general education, suggested by Vietnams high PISA scores that measure the performance of 15-year-olds.

Manufacturing wages in Vietnam is less than half of that in mainland China

Other costs, such as of the energy needed to operate factories, are also competitive in Vietnam. When comparing electricity prices for businesses, Vietnam ranked second-lowest among its peers, though recent changes making electricity price adjustments more frequent may impact the current dynamics. Meanwhile, diesel, which is widely used in industrial sectors, reflects a similar competitive edge in terms of prices.

Electricity and diesel prices in ASEAN countries.

In addition, Vietnam has made significant progress in setting up various economic agreements with major trading partners, such as the EU-Vietnam FTA (EUVFTA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). In turn, these developments have facilitated and enabled foreign investment, with Vietnam seen as increasingly open to FDI, per the OECD.

FDI regulatory restrictiveness index.

Part of the favorable investment environment can be explained by proactive support from the government via the tax system. Vietnam has a competitive position relative to its peers with a 20% statutory corporate income tax rate. Some firms have been able to use lengthy tax breaks and holidays to reduce the effective rate further.

Statutory corporate income tax rate.

So far, these pull factors have been important in attracting investment and integrating Vietnam with the global value chain (GVC). In fact, Vietnams GVC participation rate has sharply risen over the years, now comparable to that of Singapore.

That said, the rise in participation has been captured primarily through greater backward GVC participation. Vietnam is now positioned as a hub for importing complex intermediate inputs for final assembly, corroborated by a low localization rate in the electronics industry.

HSBC researchers reckon that if the country is to sustain robust investment inflows, it will be critical for Vietnam to climb up the manufacturing value chain and raise the domestic value-added content in these goods. Compared with the sharp rise in consumer electronics exports, Vietnams share of global integrated circuit (IC) exports has grown at a slower pace.

In the first seven months of this year, manufacturing FDI shows no signs of slowing. Newly registered manufacturing FDI has grown 36% year-on-year, already exceeding some preceding years year-to-date.

Manufacturing FDI has exceeded full levels during 2020-2022.

The northern province of Bac Ninh, a major electronics hub, drew more than 30% of total registered capital in June and July. This was led by Amkor, which boosted its semiconductor project investment in the province by an additional $1.07 billion.

Assessing Vietnams FDI outlook for 2024, the Ministry of Planning and Investment said that the FDI picture will remain bright this year, driven by the countrys increasing role in MNCs diversification strategies; an ongoing economic recovery; and stable macroeconomic fundamentals.

Both foreign institutions and the ministry are fairly optimistic about FDI expectations in the second half of this year, said Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong last month. He predicted registered inbound FDI to reach $39-40 billion this year, equivalent to or higher than in 2023.

Although workers are equipped with a solid educational foundation, the current lack of skilled technical workers has led to challenges in developing semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, say HSBC researchers. This has prompted the government to work towards expanding its semiconductor workforce in the coming years.

The lack of specialized workers is also weighing on other sectors, such as maritime transport and logistics. Beyond expanding and improving vocational education on a national level, more initiatives to help promote foreign companies engagement with the domestic economy could help broaden out the benefits of increasingly complex FDI inflows.

For example, U.S.-based chip firm Synopsys recently signed an agreement to work with students and lecturers of Vietnam National University  Ho Chi Minh City on semiconductor design, training, and research.

Encouragingly, signs have emerged of more complex manufacturing knowledge and processes entering Vietnam. In 2022, Samsung established an R&D center in Hanoi to further develop manufacturing capabilities while commencing production of certain semiconductor components. Meanwhile, Apple has raised its stakes in Vietnam, allocating product development resources for the iPad.

The researchers point out that factors beyond tax considerations, such as the quality of infrastructure, will also need to be proactively addressed as the Global Minimum Tax is implemented across jurisdictions. Measures such as further leveraging digitalization to streamline trade processes, securing reliable and green energy, and facilitating goods transport through better infrastructure are likely to impact MNCs investment decisions in the coming years.
(TBTCO) - Gia xe SH moi nhat thang 10/2024 tai ai ly ang giam soc, mot so phien ban ang uoc ban re hon gia e xuat, ay la ieu hiem co cua dong xe Honda. Trong khi o, gia xe Vision tai ai ly ang o muc thap chua tung co, tinh trang oi gia cao gan nhu a khong con.
(TBTCO) - Theo bao cao tai chinh hop nhat quy III/2024 moi uoc cong bo, Cong ty CP Tong cong ty ia oc Sai Gon (ma CK: SGR) ghi nhan doanh thu gap 3 lan va loi nhuan sau thue tang hon 2 lan so voi cung ky nam truoc. Tuy nhien, du ket qua kinh doanh quy III kha quan nhung SGR van con mot chang uong dai e at uoc muc tieu nam, khi moi chi hoan thanh uoc 13,1% ke hoach e ra.
Death row inmate Arthur Lee Burton, who in 1997 raped and killed a jogger, is shown on zoom in court as Harris County DA asks Judge Ramona Franklin of the 338th District Court to sign an execution order on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Arthur Lee Burton, pictured, testified at trial that he didn't kill Nancy Adelman but said he was in the area where she died. Steve Campbell/ Houston Chronicle Family members of the victim, Nancy Adleman, arrive to witness the execution of Arthur Lee Burton at the Huntsville Unit, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Huntsville. Burton, the third person executed in Texas this year, was convicted for the 1997 killing of Adleman in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Michael Burton walks across the street to witness the execution of his brother, Arthur Lee Burton, at the Huntsville Unit, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Huntsville. Arthur Lee Burton, the third person executed in Texas this year, was convicted for the 1997 killing of Nancy Adleman in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg speaks to members of the press just after the execution of Arthur Lee Burton at the Huntsville Unit, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Huntsville. A jury convicted Burton in the murder of Houston jogger Nancy Adleman, a mother of three, in 1997. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Harris County Assistant District Attorney Joshua Reiss asks Judge Ramona Franklin of the 338th District Court to sign an execution order for death row inmate Arthur Lee Burton, who in 1997 raped and killed a jogger, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Judge Ramona Franklin of the 338th District Court is asked by the DA to sign an execution order for death row inmate Arthur Lee Burton, who in 1997 raped and killed a jogger, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Amanda Hernandez, director of communications for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, gives a brief statement to press just after the execution of Arthur Lee Burton at the Huntsville Unit, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Huntsville. Burton, the third person executed in Texas this year, was convicted for the 1997 killing of Nancy Adleman in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Amanda Hernandez, director of communications for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, gives a brief statement to press just after the execution of Arthur Lee Burton at the Huntsville Unit, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Huntsville. Burton, the third person executed in Texas this year, was convicted for the 1997 killing of Nancy Adleman in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Carlton CF Hazlewood, deputy director of religious services for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, is seen outside of the Huntsville Unit, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Huntsville. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Michael Burton walks across the street after witnessing the execution of his brother, Arthur Lee Burton, at the Huntsville Unit,Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Huntsville. Arthur Lee Burton, the third person executed in Texas this year, was convicted for the 1997 killing of Nancy Adleman in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Family members of victim, Nancy Adleman, are seen after witnessing the execution of Arthur Lee Burton at the Huntsville Unit, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Huntsville. Burton, the third person executed in Texas this year, was convicted for the 1997 killing of Adleman in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg is seen after witnessing the execution of Arthur Lee Burton at the Huntsville Unit, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Huntsville. Burton, the third person executed in Texas this year, was convicted for the 1997 killing of Nancy Adleman in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Family members of victim, Nancy Adleman, are seen after witnessing the execution of Arthur Lee Burton at the Huntsville Unit, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Huntsville. Burton, the third person executed in Texas this year, was convicted for the 1997 killing of Adleman in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Spiritual advisor to Arthur Lee Burton walks across the street after witnessing Burton's execution at the Huntsville Unit, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Huntsville. Burton, the third person executed in Texas this year, was convicted for the 1997 killing of Nancy Adleman in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Michael Burton walks across the street to witness the execution of his brother, Arthur Lee Burton, at the Huntsville Unit, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Huntsville. Arthur Lee Burton, the third person executed in Texas this year, was convicted for the 1997 killing of Nancy Adleman in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Family members of the victim, Nancy Adleman, arrive to witness the execution of Arthur Lee Burton at the Huntsville Unit on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Huntsville. Burton, the third person executed in Texas this year, was convicted for the 1997 killing of Adleman in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg arrives to witness the execution of Arthur Lee Burton at the Huntsville Unit on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Huntsville. A jury convicted Burton in the murder of Houston jogger Nancy Adleman, a mother of three, in 1998. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg arrives to witness the execution of Arthur Lee Burton at the Huntsville Unit, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Huntsville. Burton, the third person executed in Texas this year, was convicted for the 1997 killing of Nancy Adleman in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer The Huntsville Unit is photographed on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Huntsville. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer The Huntsville Unit is photographed on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Huntsville. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

On the morning of his execution, death row inmate Arthur Lee Burton met with visitors and packed up his Polunsky Unit cell, according to prison officials.

Hours later, the U.S. Supreme Court denied his petition to halt his execution, carving the way for his death by lethal injection Wednesday evening using the sedative pentobarbital. He apologized to the family of Nancy Adleman, the Houston jogger and mother of three he was convicted of killing, and sent well wishes to fellow death row inmates.

"To all the people I have hurt and caused pain, I wish we didn't have to be here at this moment," Burton said. "I am sorry for putting y'all through this."

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"I'm ready," he concluded around 6:23 p.m.

His breathing hastened before Burton, 54, let out a final, soft snore around a minute later. A doctor checked his pulse, heart and eyes and declared him dead at 6:47 p.m.

Two Harris County juries in the past 25 years have sentenced the Louisiana native to death. The first ordered Texas' harshest punishment for the rape and murder of Adleman. The second jury reached the same conclusion during another punishment trial years later.

Adleman was killed while jogging along Brays Bayou near her northwest Harris County home. Prosecutors in District Attorney Kim Ogg's office highlighted Burton's case as a nightmare for women who have exercised alone.

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Adleman's widower watched the execution alongside their son. A brother of Burton observed his sibling's death from another window.

Ogg, who was not on a witness list distributed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, also appeared at the Huntsville Unit to watch the execution. She spoke briefly with Adleman's family in the administrative office at the prison.

Ogg said although Adleman was alone when she was murdered, she often ran with her family in the same area. Ogg said Adleman fought back as Burton dragged her from the trail, beat her "just about half to death" and raped her before strangling her with her shoelaces.

"As Burton strangled her, she tried to deflect him," Ogg said, adding that Adleman asked Burton if he knew God and forgave him. "And he murdered her. He went back several times to make sure that she was dead because he said he heard her coming back to life."

Herlinda Wilkinson, the wife of Adleman's widower, told Ogg that her three children have excelled in life.

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Burton's final hours follow a judge granting him a four-day reprieve from execution in July after concerns of clerical errors in paperwork dictating how or when Burtons death would be carried out. The Court of Criminal Appeals admonished the judge, Ramona Franklin, for withdrawing the order without lawful cause and went on to deny Burtons request to push back his death over an intellectual disability claim. A federal court rejected similar claims.

The district attorney's office argued Burton's IQ scores were too high for an intellectual disability.

After exhausting most of his last-minute legal avenues in state and federal court to avoid death, the final attempt for Burton and his lawyers relied on the word of U.S. Supreme Court justices on whether his intellectual disability claim had merit. The nation's highest court denied his petition to delay his execution Wednesday afternoon with no other petitions pending that would have delayed Burton's execution, said Joshua Reiss, head of post-convictions and writs for the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

An account of Burton's final hours, detailed in a so-called "Death Watch" document that TDCJ distributes, shows Burton spent much of Tuesday reading. The prison last documented Burton as having eaten on Monday morning.

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The Texas Department of Criminal Justice last executed a Harris County death row inmate, Arthur Brown, in March 2023, with state records showing that nearly 70 inmates from the Houston area remain on death row.
(TBTCO) - Mot san pham voi thiet ke oc ao, am tinh nghe thuat va uoc bao boc boi ve ep cua thien nhien rong lon, nang niu cuoc song chu nhan la ieu ma thi truong bat ong san cao cap luon huong en. Dong can ho nghe thuat tai o thi nghi duong Sun Urban City (Phu Ly, Ha Nam) la mot kieu mau cua xu huong vi nhan sinh ang len ngoi nay.
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The Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) continued its strong financial performance in the first half and second quarter of the year with its revenues climbing 15.5% year-on-year to hit SAR38.2 billion ($10 billion), while its net profit for the period surged 16.6% to SAR5.2 billion ($1.4 billion).

For the second quarter, SEC said the positive trend persisted throughout the three-month period with a 13.5% revenue jump hitting SAR22.4 billion and a 8.2% rise in net profit soaring to SAR4.3 billion over last year.

SEC's improved financial performance in H1 and Q2 2024 was driven by increased regulatory returns due to higher regulated weighted average cost of capital and a growing regulated asset base, coupled with rising electricity demand.

Additionally, lower finance costs, reduced provisions for receivables, and higher other income contributed to the positive results, it stated.

While operating and maintenance costs increased due to business expansion and higher loads, improved resource management partially offset this. Excluding costs of ongoing construction contracts for clients, which are newly recognized in the current year, overall operating efficiency increased, it added.

To support future growth and enhance service quality, SEC said it had invested SAR25.1 billion in capital projects during H1 2024 (including SAR14.5 billion in Q2 2024), a 62.5% y-o-y increase. The company also secured nearly SAR18.5 billion in financing since the beginning of 2024.

In May, Fitch Ratings elevated SECs credit rating from A to A+ with a stable outlook, acknowledging the company's strengthened financial and strategic standing.

This upgrade aligns SEC's creditworthiness with the Kingdom's sovereign rating as assessed by all major global credit rating agencies: Fitch (A+, Stable), Moody's (A1, Positive), and Standard & Poor's (A, Stable).

On the solid performance, CEO Engineer Khaled Al Gnoon said: "The positive financial and operating performance during the first half reflects the companys continued progress towards achieving financial sustainability. The company has grown its business and operating asset base and has succeeded in improving resource management efficiency while effectively controlling operating expenses."

Al Gnoon pointed out that SEC was successfully implementing its growth plans by making significant investments to support the network expansion and development, diversify the energy mix, and meet the accelerating demand for electricity.

"The company is also making positive strides in enhancing its technical and operational capabilities. in alignment with the Kingdoms Vision 2030 aiming to ensure energy supply security, efficiency, quality, and reliability of electricity services while elevating sustainability profile within the company and the sector, aligning with the national sustainable development goals," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Leading UAE-based integrated facilities management provider Emrill has has completed 20 improvement projects and 20 Kaizen events, with a target of at least five improvement projects per year. These initiatives have resulted in efficiency improvements ranging from 20% to 40%.

This progress in its Continuous Improvement journey was made by launching initiatives that have not only transformed the organisations internal processes but also significantly benefited its clients through enhanced service delivery, efficiency and innovation.

Since its establishment 22 years ago, Emrill has prioritised continuous improvement as a core value. This commitment has matured over time, encompassing all business divisions and functions. Emrill primarily employs Lean Six Sigma methodologies to address challenges and drive improvements, enabling the company to develop a robust problem-solving culture and enhance the capabilities of its workforce.

Notable achievements

Emrills continuous improvement initiatives have yielded several notable achievements. 50% of Emrills eligible workforce is trained in identifying problems and opportunities and problem-solving skills, with a target to increase this to 90% of employees by 2024.

The organisation receives at least ten process improvement suggestions from employees each month, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous enhancement. By leveraging robotic process automation (RPA), business intelligence tools, and real-time dashboards, Emrill has eliminated manual tasks, enhanced data visualisation, and improved decision-making processes.

Stuart Harrison, CEO of Emrill, commented: "Our continuous improvement initiatives are at the heart of Emrills strategy to deliver world-class service quality and innovation. By investing in our people and processes, we ensure we stay ahead of industry standards and consistently exceed our clients' expectations."

Emrills continuous improvement efforts have significantly impacted customer satisfaction through improved service quality, efficient service delivery, and innovative solutions tailored to meet clients' evolving needs and expectations. Every improvement project is rigorously evaluated against targets to ensure effectiveness and benefits for both the business and its clients.

Emrills employees are at the heart of its continuous improvement initiatives. Through active participation in idea generation, problem-solving workshops, and feedback loops, employees have contributed to enhanced processes and services. The company celebrates its employees' success stories, highlighting their critical role in driving continuous improvement.

Tangible benefits

Vinod Azir, Continuous Improvement Manager, added: "The engagement and dedication of Emrills employees have been instrumental in driving our continuous improvement efforts. Their active participation in problem-solving and process enhancement has led to tangible benefits for both our business and our clients."

Looking ahead, Emrill aims to engage 90% of eligible staff in effective tools and methods for problem-solving and continuous improvement. The organisation plans to benchmark and upgrade processes, aligning with cutting-edge technology and best practices to enhance efficiencies. Emrill will prioritise digitalisation and process automation using RPA and analytics-based efficiency improvement projects.

Emrill Services LLC is a multi-award-winning integrated facilities management provider in the UAE. Emrills portfolio includes a range of services for residential, commercial, hospitality, retail, and healthcare sectors. The company is committed to delivering high-quality, innovative and sustainable solutions tailored to the needs of its clients.--TradeArabia News Service
Bahrain is set to host the seventh edition of the Bahrain Dermatology, Laser, and Aesthetics Conference & Exhibition (BDLA7 2024) from September 5 to 7 at the Radisson Blu Diplomat Hotel in Manama.

The event, headed by Dr Ameen Al-Awadhi, will feature the participation of local, regional and international dermatologists and plastic surgeons, alongside strategic partnerships with leading organisations and associations. The conference is organised by BDA for Medical Events.

BDLA7 2024 serves as a vital platform, uniting numerous consultants and specialists in dermatology, plastic surgery, and related fields. It also welcomes nurses, technicians, and other professionals from Bahrain and around the globe, providing an opportunity to stay updated on the latest scientific research, medicines, dermatological treatments, and new technologies.

Series of lectures

The conference agenda includes a series of lectures and panel discussions covering a wide range of topics such as psoriasis, alopecia, eczema, vitiligo, and the latest medical advancements in these and other skin conditions. Additionally, attendees will explore cutting-edge laser technologies for dermatology and cosmetology treatments.

The event will also feature training workshops on new devices and cosmetic injection techniques, as well as foundational training in dermatological and plastic surgery, aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skills of Bahraini dermatologists and plastic surgeons.

Dr Fatema Khamdan, Consultant Dermatologist and Head of the Medical Dermatology scientific Committee at BDLA7 2024, commented: "We anticipate another successful event, continuing the legacy of excellence and innovation established in previous editions."

Medical advancements

Dr Khamdan added: "The diverse range of topics and sessions will facilitate the exchange of experiences and ideas among doctors and practitioners, while also highlighting the latest medical advancements in both common and rare skin diseases. Attendees will benefit from scientific training sessions on the latest dermatological and cosmetic procedures and advanced skincare devices."

Dr Al-Awadhi emphasised the event's significance, stating: "Now in its seventh consecutive year, this conference builds on a strong foundation of accumulated experiences and successes. Hikmas continued growth and the ability to attract leading experts and companies in dermatology, cosmetology, and laser technologies have established BDLA7 as a prestigious international event. This reinforces Bahrains status as a prominent regional and global centre for dermatology and cosmetology."--TradeArabia News Service
The Emirates Family Office Association (EFOA), the unique independent body supporting UAE (and global) family offices, has announced several new appointments to its Board of Directors.

The Board will include the Associations Founder and Chairman, Adam Ladjadj, plus Co-founders Imran Khan and Fahad Al Ahbabi. Other new appointments include:

Hasan Fardan Al Fardan, CEO, Al Fardan Group;

Mishal Kanoo, Chairman, The Kanoo Group;

Fahad Al Gergawi, CEO, Dubai FDI;

Tijani Babatunde Folawiyo, Chairman and CEO, Yinka Folawiyo Group; and

Marcelo Pessoa, Founding Partner, GME4 Global Mining Exploration.

The appointments add some of the regions leading business names to EFOAs credentials. Their endorsement showcases EFOAs vital role in servicing the needs of multi-generational families with a diverse offering of independent advice, knowledge sharing, connectivity and a world-class ecosystem.

Thriving future

Ladjadj said: I am pleased to welcome our new members to EFOA Board. Each appointment brings a deep and diverse understanding of the family office landscape globally, and their experience will be invaluable in furthering the Associations efforts to empower family offices with networking and knowledge and help shape a thriving future for families.

Following the recent appointment of Aisha Al Mansoori as Executive Director, the Board will strengthen EFOAs commitment to celebrate family legacies, foster inter-generational success and forge meaningful connections within the expanding ecosystem, both in the UAE and cross-border.

Hasan Fardan Al Fardan is the Chief Executive Officer of Al Fardan Group, a leading family-owned conglomerate, where he leads the local and international strategic development of the organisations extensive portfolio, including Al Fardan Exchange, Al Fardan Jewellery, Al Fardan Real Estate, and Al Fardan Investments.

Mishal Kanoo is the Chairman of The Kanoo Group, one of the Gulf regions largest independent, family-owned, group of companies. Mishal is with one of the regions most well-known business figures and has previously been listed in Top 100 Powerful Arabs 2013, The 15 Wealthiest Arab Businessmen in the World 2012, among others.

Fahad Al Gergawi

Fahad Al Gergawi is the Chief Executive Officer of Dubai FDI in the Government of Dubai and is active in representing Dubai, the UAE and the International community for investment in many activities, events, committees and research centres, leading in over 400 economic activities for the UAE in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, in addition to Australia.

Tijani Babatunde Folawiyo is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Yinka Folawiyo Group, a conglomerate with interests in energy, agriculture, shipping and real estate. He is also the Chairman of Global Citizen Nigeria, an international movement dedicated to eliminating extreme poverty in the world.

Marcelo Pessoa is the Founding Partner, GME4 Global Mining Exploration, and an entrepeneur with over 40 years of experience in investment and the mining industry. He also he has been a founding partner of Grupo GPS, showcasing his ability to spearhead and nurture high impact ventures and many others.

Founded in 2023, EFOA is an independent, non-profit association and the only official body for family offices in the UAE - EFOA enables and allows engagements for families to be able to make better decisions in preserving and growing their wealth, modernise their business structures, and scale their operations internationally.--TradeArabia News Service
Over 400 exhibitors in 1,800 booths are expected to take part in the TaipeiPLAS 2024 (Taipei International Plastics & Rubber Industry Show) with ShoeTech Taipei (Taipei International Shoe Making Technology Show) scheduled to be held in September.

The exhibitors number is a 38% increase compared to the 2022 edition. The event will be held from September 24 to 28 at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center.

TaipeiPLAS 2024 welcomes the return of international buyers after six-year of break, caused by Covid-19.

According to Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), as of now, visitors from over 45 countries have registered to attend the event, including delegation groups from India, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Algeria.

This year's TaipeiPLAS will focus on the themes of Innovative Materials, Advanced Manufacturing, and Circular Economy, embodying the latest industry trends. The exhibitor team includes Chen Hsong, Chumpower, CLF, Conair, CYKF, Diing Kuen, FCS, FKI, Formosa Chemicals & Fibre, Formosa Plastics, Huarong, Igus, JSW, Lung Meng, Maguire, Moretto, Multiplas, Polystar, Siemens, Tenso, Victor Taichung, Wittmann, and YE I.

Further, with the addition of three brand-new zones, Bio, Recycled Plastics & Green Products, Composite Materials, and Adhesives & Glues, TaipeiPLAS aims to provide a comprehensive showcase of the latest advancements in the industry, high-performance products for diverse applications, and circular economy solutions.

The application of plastics and rubber are rather extensive, with the potential for replacing steel, wood, and glass. Beyond that, the ongoing development of high-performance materials are more durable, corrosion-resistant, heat-resistant, and lightweight, boosts the use of plastics and rubber in aerospace, smart mobility, healthcare, and green energy.

Notably, Chen Hsong will introduce its self-developed all-electric liquid silicone rubber injection molding machine, ideal for medical, electronic, optical, and consumer products. Besides, igus will present its dry-tech bearings, which are created as a replacement for traditional metal bearings particularly in special and extreme environments. And the eco-friendly TPU resins from Great Eastern Resins Industrial features high toughness, mechanical strength, bio-compatibility, and superior performance with improved environmental footprint compared with traditional materials.

In recent years, the global plastics and rubber industry has been striving for low carbon approaches. At TaipeiPLAS 2024, visitors can not only dig into the industrys sustainable and green supply chain but gain insights from industry leaders. As a result, the Visionary and Sustainable Development Summit, held on September 25, will gather experts from BASF, ARBURG, WITTMANN, REMONDIS, Victor Taichung, Formosa Plastics, and Eternal Materials to share their experiences in low carbon transformation , said by TaipeiPLAS
Dubai will host the UAE-Russia Investment Forum 2024 on October 1 bringing together a select group of decision-makers, experts and entrepreneurs to discuss the challenges facing the business sector.

The event will take place at the Millennium Dubai Hotel and will witness wide international and regional participation from senior figures, top CEOs, investors, and business leaders from both the public and private sectors from Arab and global countries.

The forum will explore new opportunities for effective investment companies that keep pace with these changes and transformations.

Available opportunities

Mubarak Salem Al-Atshan Al-Mansouri, Senior Advisor at Abu Dhabi City Municipality and honorary member of the forum, said: "The available opportunities for businessmen in Dubai span various fields such as real estate, trade, technology, tourism, and hospitality, among others. The emirate provides an encouraging legal environment and facilitates investment, establishment and operational procedures."

Al-Mansouri stated that the achievements and qualitative leaps in all fields in Dubai put us in a continuous race for excellence. Therefore, the UAE-Russia Investment Forum focuses on enhancing this role, unifying visions, providing an encouraging and flexible environment for companies and investors, building new partnerships, and extending bridges of cooperation to overcome challenges and eliminate all obstacles.

Imad Al-Halibi, the Managing Director of the UAE-Russia Investment Forum, said that the aim of the forum held in Dubai is to discuss and review the importance of investment, its pathways, developments, and advanced trends, and its impact on the economy in our region, especially since it effectively contributes to achieving sustainable development. He emphasised that the UAE has established a culture of excellence, which is an endless journey, and that being number one is a key component of the work system in the United Arab Emirates, which is a global centre for business and investment.

Global investment hub

Al-Halibi pointed out the importance of hosting this forum as Dubai holds a distinguished position as a global investment hub, attracting businessmen and investors. It is a city that combines modernity and economic development, providing an encouraging environment for startups and companies, and enhancing Dubai's attractiveness to investors from around the world with its advanced infrastructure and modern facilities.

He added: "Dubai reflects the spirit of innovation and development, attracting entrepreneurs and creatives from various sectors, especially as it is an emirate that brings together different cultures and nationalities, providing a platform for cultural, social, and economic cooperation and exchange."

Nidal Al-Sheikha, Director of the "Novotek" Group organising the forum, explained that the forum to be held in Dubai will discuss and review the importance of investment, its pathways, developments, and advanced trends, and its impact on the economy in our region, especially since it effectively contributes to achieving sustainable development.--TradeArabia News Service
The International Conference on Maritime Logistics and Ports (ICMLP) 2024 will be held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre from September 3 to 5 in Putrajaya, Malaysia, bringing together thought leaders, industry experts, and innovators from around the globe.

The Netherlands Maritime University College (NMUC) collaborates with the Port Training Institute (PTI) of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), STC International in organising the event. It is co-organised by MY Iskandar Sdn Bhd (MISB) and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT).

ICMLP 2024 will provide a platform for exchanging ideas, and best practices in maritime logistics, port management, supply chain management, and transportation. The conference will cover themes such as emerging markets in port development, maritime law, risk management in maritime and logistics, smart ports, green shipping, shipbuilding, cybersecurity, digital supply chain management, humanitarian logistics in disaster response, education and training for maritime professionals, a statement said.

The event speakers will provide insights, promoting innovation and collaboration. This event emphasises innovation and collaboration in maritime logistics, stressing efficient, sustainable logistics for global trade and economic growth.

A highlight of ICMLP will be the networking dinner, offering attendees the opportunity to connect with peers, forge new partnerships, and explore collaborative opportunities in a relaxed, prestigious setting. Additionally, participants can look forward to a special cruise tour on Putrajaya Lake, blending leisure with networking among the industries best and brightest, it said.

ICMLP 2024 invites exhibitors to present their products or services along with welcoming sponsors to support the event. This provides a unique opportunity for companies to enhance their visibility, engage with influential industry leaders, and establish valuable connections with key stakeholders in the maritime sector, thereby positioning themselves at the forefront of industry advancements, it said.- Trade Arabia News Service
Breaking news Houston Chronicle

A Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives employee was arrested in Montgomery County and is accused of possessing child sex abuse material, authorities say.

Spring resident Garrett Anderson Wilson is not an officer but works for the bureau, the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable's Office told ABC 13.

INMATE EXECUTED: Texas executes Arthur Lee Burton for 1997 murder of Houston jogger Nancy Adleman

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Wilson's employment status is unclear. The federal agency did not respond for comment.

Wilson currently was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on charges of possessing child pornography and possession with intent to promote child pornography, according to jail records. Bond amounts on the possession with intent to promote charges were set at $30,000.
Saudi Arabias industrial sector experienced a 63% increase in new investments in 2023, amounting to SR15 billion ($3.99 billion). The number of industrial units also surged by 10%, reaching 11,549 in 2023. These developments align with the kingdom's Vision 2030, aimed at diversifying the economy and reducing dependency on oil by fostering industrial growth and innovation, says Writer Relocations, a leading global player in the relocation industry.

The kingdom's major industrial cities, such as Jubail and Yanbu, are central to this development, attracting a significant influx of professionals from Europe and America.

Jubail and Yanbu

Anoop Bosco, Regional Head Middle East at Writer Relocations, remarked: Saudi Arabias swift ascent as a key industrial hub is showcased by its world-class cities like Jubail and Yanbu. These cities are driving industrial innovation and development, making the kingdom a sought-after destination for top talent from Europe and North America.

Writer Relocations is honoured to facilitate this influx of skilled professionals by ensuring seamless relocations for individuals and their families moving to the kingdom. Our mission is to provide a smooth transition and comprehensive support, enabling professionals to effectively contribute to Saudi Arabias industrial growth.

For over 75 years, Writer Relocations has been at the forefront of the global relocation industry, offering comprehensive end-to-end services in the people and asset mobility sector. Handling more than 8,000 relocations annually, the company caters to the needs of employees and executives from over 3,000 global companies, solidifying its position as a premier mobility partner.

Industrial success

Jubail and Yanbu are exemplars of industrial success, featuring state-of-the-art infrastructure, advanced facilities and a commitment to sustainable development.

These cities play a crucial role in Saudi Arabias Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and reduce dependency on oil by fostering industrial growth and innovation.--TradeArabia News Service
Beyon, a Bahrain-headquartered leading technology group, on Thursday announced that Mikkel Vinter will retire from his role as CEO of Beyon after a successful tenure of six years that ignited the digital transformation of the Beyon group. Andrew Kvalseth has been appointed as the new CEO effective August 25.

Kvalseth brings over 20 years of international leadership experience in TMT, financial services, online marketplaces, e-commerce and digital transformation. He has held senior executive positions ranging from Chief Commercial Officer, Chief Investment Officer to CEO and Chairman, across a range of leading companies, including Telenor and Schibsted.

Beyon Chairman Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa said: Mikkel Vinter joined the company in 2019 and we embarked on an exciting journey to transform Batelco and launch Beyon. Thanks to Mikkel and his leadership qualities and vision we have succeeded in delivering remarkable performance and achievements in all areas of the business including telecoms, global connectivity, international investments, and digital growth.

On behalf of the board, I extend my sincere appreciation and thanks to Mikkel for all the work he has done which led to truly transforming Beyon to a leading global technology company and a great place to work.

The board is very pleased to announce Andrew Kvalseth as the new CEO, added Shaikh Abdulla. Andrews track record of achievements and experience in telecom, digital, and investments, fits well with our vision and strategy for Beyons growth. This appointment is the next natural step in establishing a strong and experienced management team to lead Beyon towards its vision and meet the expectations of the Board and shareholders. We welcome Andrew to Beyon and wish him all the best

Beyon has recently announced key appointments in its executive team. Maitham Abdulla was appointed as Batelco CEO, Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa as Beyon Digital Growth CEO, Reem Altajer as the Chief Financial Officer, Jehan Hasan as Beyon Chief Strategy Officer, and Isa Alsabea as Beyon Chief Investment Officer. Today Bahrainis represent a majority of the Executive Management Team thanks to the ongoing succession planning executive development programs.

Vinter said: It has been an honour to lead Beyon. It has been an exceptional journey, and I had the pleasure of working with talented and passionate team members. Together committed to our bold vision, we have achieved great things that we can all be proud of. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chairman and Board of Directors for their support that made the vision possible. I extend my best wishes to Andrew as new CEO, and I am confident that he will successfully lead Beyon through the next phase of its journey to become a global technology group.

While I will miss Beyon and all the team, I also look forward to the new chapter ahead which includes focus on board roles in Europe and the Middle East. The Kingdom of Bahrain will always hold a big place in my heart, and I will continue to be a resident of this wonderful country, Mikkel added.

Kvalseth said he is very much looking forward to joining the team in Beyon. I am very excited to take on the role of CEO of Beyon at this time in its journey. The companys success to date lays a strong foundation to build upon. I cant wait to start working with the team to continue the progress and start the next phase of its transformation to become a global technology leader. - TradeArabia News Service
The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry, has revealed a notable 6% growth in exports of US hardwood lumber to the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region during the first half of this year.

Shipments reached a total value of $34.93 million during the six-month period, with significant increases seen in hardwood lumber exports to UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, stated AHEC, citing the latest data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Exports to the UAE saw a remarkable 27% increase in volume, reaching 10,192 cu m, while Saudi Arabia experienced an 8% rise in volume, totaling 4,472 cu m.

Egypt too showed a positive trend with a 15% increase in volume, amounting to 3,651 cu m.

These gains reflect the booming construction sector in the Arabian Gulf, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as well as Egypts gradual economic recovery after several challenging years.

However, there were slight decreases in shipments to Turkey and Morocco. Exports to Turkey declined by 2% in volume, totaling 8,458 cubic meters. This decrease is attributed to the global economic downturn, which has resulted in decreased demand for thermally-modified ash and red oak, of which Turkey is a major producer and exporter.

In Morocco, shipments saw a more significant downturn of 24% in volume, reaching 4,758 cubic meters. This decline is most likely due to overstocking in 2023, representing a market correction rather than a sustained decrease.

In addition to hardwood lumber exports, the report also highlighted a 4% increase in the total value of veneer exports, which reached $13.89 million. This growth in veneer exports indicates a steady demand for high-quality American veneers, with Turkey and the UAE remaining as the top markets.

The Turkish market has consistently shown a strong preference for American veneers, driven by the country's vibrant furniture and interior design industries. Meanwhile, the UAE continues to be a significant market due to its thriving real estate and construction sectors,which demand premium materials for high-end projects.

These positive trends underscore the sustained demand for American hardwoods in the MENA region, driven by the regions robust construction activities and economic dynamics.

The ongoing urban development and infrastructure projects in the MENA region have created a substantial demand for high-quality construction materials. American hardwoods are prized for their durability, aesthetic appeal, and versatility, making them a preferred choice for architects, builders, and designers across the region.
Dubai low-cost airline flydubai touched down at the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg today (August 7) becoming the first UAE carrier to operate direct flights to the European city of Basel, in northwest Switzerland, close to the countrys borders with France and Germany.

This marks the start of the carriers four-times weekly service to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL) from Dubai International (DXB).

With the start of flights to Basel, flydubai has now grown its network in Europe to 29 destinations including Budapest, Catania, Krakow, Milan-Bergamo, Prague, Salzburg and Zagreb.

On landing the inaugural flight was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute. Senior airport officials welcomed the delegation led by Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai.

Speaking at the press conference, Efendii said: "At flydubai, we are committed to opening up underserved destinations and creating free flows of trade and tourism and we are pleased to add Basel to our network in Europe. BSL serves Switzerland, France and Germany, making it an important hub for travel, trade and tourism in the tri-border region that will benefit our customers from the UAE and beyond."

Located on the banks of the river Rhine, Basel is renowned as Switzerlands cultural capital and features interesting museums and historic and modern architecture and serves as a gateway to the verdant landscapes of the Swiss countryside.

Situated on the borders of northwest Switzerland, the Alsace historical region in France and Baden-Wurttemberg in Germany, EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg serves as a unique gateway to three different countries.

"We also look forward to welcoming more travellers from Europe to Dubai and beyond on the flydubai network. Through Dubais aviation hub, passengers travelling from Basel can enjoy convenient connections to holiday destinations including Kenya, the Maldives, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand," added Efendi.

Welcoming the debut flight, EuroAirports Managing Director Matthias Suhr said: "We are proud that with regular direct flights to Dubai, the UAE is now even easier to reach from EuroAirport, which meets the growing demand for travel to this region and strengthens our role in ensuring connectivity of our trinational region."

The leading Dubai budget carrier said flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from Terminal 3, Dubai International (DXB). Emirates will codeshare on this route, offering passengers more options for connections through Dubais international aviation hub.

As a special offer, the airline has set the return Business Class fares from DXB to BSL at AED13,000 ($3,539) onwards and economy class Lite fares from AED1,500 ($408) onwards, while that from BSL to DXB has been set at CHF3,325 ($3,839) and CHF500 ($577) onwards.-TradeArabia News Service
Wayfairer Travel, a UK-based luxury travel company, has added Oman to its portfolio of destinations, marking the companys first foray into Middle Eastern territory, offering exclusive exploration of all major destinations within the sultanate.

Utilising its signature tailor-made travel concept, Wayfairer Travels new programmes in Oman introduces private travellers to the length and breadth of the country.

This includes the capital city Muscat, where an English-speaking guide introduces iconic landmarks such as the Sultans Palace and Royal Opera House, whilst uncovering vibrant souks, grand mosques, and stunning waterfront vistas.

Further inland, Wayfairer Travel invites guests to discover the Jebel Akhdar Mountains, which overlook a spectacular landscape of dramatic peaks, gorges and Wadis.

March and April offer opportunities to see roses in full bloom across the mountainous region and hikers can enjoy mid 20Cs temperatures whilst watching rose water distillation in local villagers homes.

Moving off-the-beaten-track, itineraries can be tailored to offer a glimpse into the life of Bedouins in the desert of Sharqiya Sands, with desert camping, dune bashing, camel trekking, luxury tented camp star gazing.

Alternatively, the "Wadis of Oman", situated between the verdant oasis of Wadi Shab and the emerald waters of Wadi Bani Khalid, offer quieter and less touristy opportunities to hike and explore the natural teal lagoons.

With Bedouin heritage, rich archaeology history and vibrant souk culture. Wayfairer Travels itineraries will open the door to off-the-beaten track nomadic regions and unconventional cultural experiences, said Jason Stevens, CEO Wayfairer Travel.

A private 24-hour concierge will act as a consistent contact for the client, handling all arrangements, whilst recommending appropriate accommodations, transport and experiences and ensuring elite standards are met at each stop.

Wayfairer Travel organises familiarisation trips for their team before launching any new destination to ensure quality across the board of the partners that they work with.

When to visit?

September: Turtle viewing is one of Oman's most popular eco-tourism activities, with the country hosting crucial nesting sites for four different turtle species: the endangered Green Turtle, the Olive Ridley Turtle, the Loggerhead Turtle, and the critically endangered Hawksbill Turtle.

In September, guests of Wayfairer Travel have the opportunity to visit Ras Al Jinz Scientific Centre, accompanied by an ecologist, to witness the remarkable sight of female turtles returning to the beach to lay their eggs.

October-April: For travellers craving winter sun or active outdoors adventures, Wayfairer Travel suggests planning a trip between October and April when temperatures sit in the mid 20Cs.

January: Wayfairer Travel can arrange all travel plans for party-goers wanting to experience The Muscat Festival in January.

June  August: During the summer, Omans subtropical climate and desert atmosphere means temperatures can reach up to 38C, offering an ideal destination for those who seek a cultural coastal break.

Whilst this is the low season, indoor affairs like the Bait Al Zubair Museum and the Museum of the Frankincense Land remain open providing travellers valuable insight into the countrys rich history.  TradeArabia News Service
Oman Air has resumed three seasonal routes for winter - Zurich (starting 5 October), Male (starting 27 October) and Moscow (starting 29 October).

With fares starting from just OMR88 one-way, its the perfect time for travellers to start planning their winter getaway, says the airline.

With direct flights from Muscat to over 40 destinations across Europe, the Far East, Indian Subcontinent, Africa and Middle East, and more frequencies than any other airline, guests can enjoy choice and convenience, it said.

Oman Air is also looking into increasing frequencies on its most popular routes, which will be announced soon, it added.

Gearing up for the peak winter season, the airline offers an exciting range of travel experiences for the whole family, from the sun-soaked shores of the Maldives to the snow-capped slopes of Switzerland and the cultural and historical riches of Russia, as well as many more. Whether travelling for business or leisure, guests can take advantage of affordable fares, seamless connectivity and award-winning service, said the airline. - TradeArabia News Service
Holiday Factory, a UAEs award-winning tour operator, has announced its expansion into the Asian market with the launch of its first package tour in the Philippines.

A press conference was held at the Marco Polo Ortigas Hotel in Manila on July 29, attended by over 120 media representatives to launch the package.

The Dubai-based package tour operator aims to make holiday packages more affordable and accessible for all Filipinos. Now, just like UAE residents, Filipinos can enjoy holidays for half the market rate and get more for less, the company said.

Holiday Factory's entrance into the Philippines is marked by a range of exciting local and international holiday packages. Among the standout local offers, is the Boracay package for just PHP3,699 inclusive of return flights, hotel stay with breakfast, airport-hotel transfers, travel insurance, tour guide and more. Holiday Factory also offers international destinations such as Thailand, Hong Kong and UAE, it said.

As a Dubai-based tour operator, its natural focus will also be to increase the number of holiday seekers to the UAE. Filipino customers can easily book these packages online by visiting www.holidayfactory.ph making the entire process easy and hassle-free as a one-stop-shop, it said.

Sandra Daemmrich, General Manager at Holiday Factory, commented: To celebrate the launch as the first tour operator in the Philippines, Holiday Factory is hosting a mega giveaway of 100 holiday packages to 100 lucky Filipinos. Everyone can participate for free by registering on www.holidayfactory.ph.-Trade Arabia News Service
The Radisson Blu Hotels & Suites GRT Chennai recently hosted an exceptional gathering, the "GReaT conversations," an exclusive event curated for top travel procurement leaders from leading corporate houses in Chennai, India.

Held on August 2, 2024, this event offered a unique platform for thought leadership and industry networking.

The evening commenced with an insightful address from the CEO of GRT Hotels & Resorts, Vikram Cotah, who elaborated on transforming the existing hotel to the first Radisson Blu Hotel & Suites GRT Chennai in India. He covered the unique design elements inspired by nature, the hotels efforts in taking care of guests' well-being, sustainable initiatives, and the new wing offering Biophilia suites.

Cotah added: "We have utilised a lot of technology, including AI, to enhance convenience and well-being for our guests. Our biophilia suites are a testament to our commitment to making our hotels more sustainable."

Following the keynote address, the GReaT conversations was launched with an engaging panel discussion.

The event demonstrated our commitment to facilitating high-caliber, engaging discussions about our industry and trends. It reinforced our dedication to providing premier hospitality and emphasized our commitment to engaging with our partners to understand new trends and explore ways to work better together, a statement said.

The conversation was moderated by Vice President Commercial, Jit Bose, who stated: "The vibrant and insightful panel discussion shed light on future trends in business travel and MICE, which is critical for our hotels to steer future strategies." - TradeArabia News Service
Etihad Airways will resume flights to Nairobi, Kenya, starting December 15, 2024. The airline will fly four-times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) nonstop between Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport and Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Lena Havia, Etihads Vice-President Network and Scheduling, said: We are pleased to resume flights between Abu Dhabi and Nairobi this winter.

We are grateful to the Kenyan and UAE authorities for the authorization to resume flights and thank our passengers eager to use this popular route for their patience.  TradeArabia News Service
Breaking news Houston Chronicle

A person died Wednesday as a result of a police chase that started in Montgomery County and ended in north Houston, authorities said.

Around 2:15 p.m., the Houston Police Department was notified that a person was hit by a vehicle as a driver was being chased by officers with the Montgomery County Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force, said HPD spokesperson John Cannon.

The driver being chased fled and was eventually arrested by the Harris County Sheriff's Office, according to spokesperson Sgt. Thomas Gilliland.

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That driver was identified by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office as Joseph Jebbia. Preliminary information suggests that Jebbia ran a red light and struck another vehicle, causing a chain reaction that resulted in the vehicle being driven by Jebbia hitting the person waiting at a bus stop.

Jebbia had an active warrant in Montgomery County for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to a release from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

ABC13 reported that the person who was killed was waiting for a bus near West Road and Interstate 45, before they were struck by a vehicle and pronounced dead on-scene.

Jebbia is accused of shooting his girlfriend in the chest June 14 before fleeing the scene, the Montgomery County agency's release states. A warrant for his arrest was issued after deputies were unable to find him.

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ECONOMIST Marla Dukharan has called for an independent and objective assessment of all countries worldwide to determine which ones are truly tax havens.

Dukharan stated that this approach would help combat the stigma often associated with the Caribbean region.
TRINIDAD Petroleum Holdings Limited (TPHL) has put the matter of Patriotic Energy Services Company Limited submitting allegedly fraudulent documents in its bid to acquire the former Petrotrin refinery in the hands of its legal team.

The claim, first made by Energy Minister Stuart Young during the budget debate last Friday, was again denied yesterday by Oilfields Workers Trade Union (OWTU) president Ancel Roget. TPHL stated in a media release yesterday that it had received a document submitted by Patriotic Energies in its non-binding offer for the refinery, which specifically identified as evidence a wire transfer of US$1.5 billion into a local bank, and which document identified Patriotic Energies as the beneficiary.
The prevalence of bullying in our school system has become a critical issue that demands immediate attention.

Too many students face harassment and intimidation from their peers, which can have severe emotional and psychological impacts.

This toxic environment not only affects the victims but also creates an atmosphere of fear that hinders the overall learning experience for all students.
Two Houston juveniles are dead in what police are calling a tragic accident involving a gun at the Timber Crossing Apartment in north Houston Wednesday. Godofredo A. Vasquez/Staff photographer

Two boys, 11 and 17, died after an accidental shooting and apparent suicide in north Houston, police said Thursday.

Police are calling the deaths Wednesday at the Timber Crossing Apartment a tragic accident. Houston Police Dept. Assistant Chief Keith Seafous said during a media briefing officers were dispatched to the complex in the 6860 block of Arto, northeast of the Hardy Toll Road and 610 North Loop, around 8:20 p.m. for a shooting in progress.

When officers arrived, they did find a young, juvenile male deceased inside of the apartment, Seafous said. They also located a male in a wooded area behind the apartment that had a gunshot wound as well.

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The 17-year-old found behind the apartment was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Seafous said four family members were in the apartment, ranging in age from 10 to 17.

The 17-year-old produced the weapon, possibly to show it off to the other individuals, Seafous said witnesses reported. One of the juveniles picked up the weapon, pulled the trigger possibly not knowing it was loaded.

Witnesses reported a 14-year-old girl picked up the weapon and, believing it to be unloaded, pulled the trigger. The weapon discharged and an 11-year-old boy was struck by the gunfire. The girl was not injured.

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Seafous said witnesses reported the 17-year-old picked up the weapon and ran.

Family members attempted to speak with him because he was upset about what had just happened, Seafous said. He fired several more rounds hitting several apartments. No one was injured and he then turned the weapon on himself.

No other information was available.

This is an example of why we need to keep our weapons locked up and secured, Seafous said. Its a very tragic scene.
Oklahoma filmmaker Ron Howards Emmy-nominated documentary Jim Henson Idea Man is ripe for its broadcast debut.

Henson, who died in 1990, was a puppeteer, animator and filmmaker who created the Muppets. If you ever channel surfed to Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock or even early episodes of Saturday Night Live, you were part of Hensons sometimes fuzzy world.

Also part of Hensons world: a Tulsa-born puppeteer who gave life to several Muppets, including an undead one.

Details?

First, here are the specifics about the documentary: Jim Henson Idea Man will air 7:30 p.m. Aug. 11 during ABCs Wonderful World of Disney Sunday night movie lineup. It is the most Emmy-nominated documentary project of the year with eight nominations, including one in the category of outstanding documentary or nonfiction special.

A news release said Jim Henson Idea Man takes viewers into the mind of a singular creative visionary, from his early years of puppeteering on local TV to the worldwide success of Sesame Street, The Muppet Show and beyond. Howard, granted unprecedented access to Hensons personal archives, crafted a fascinating and insightful look at a complex man whose boundless imagination inspired the world, according to the news release.

Different but related story: The Tulsa-born puppeteer who was a significant piece of the Muppet puzzle is Jerry Nelson.

Nelson, born 90 years ago, died in 2012. Joe Hennes once said on toughpigs.com (an online site for Muppet fans who never grew up) that if puppetry was music, Nelson would be a Beatle.

Interviewed by Hennes in 2009, Nelson said he got his start in puppetry when he was about 12 and visited grandparents in Oklahoma. He asked for, and received, a policeman marionette for Christmas.

As an adult, Nelson took a job at a TV station in Washington, D.C. It was the same station where Henson launched a Sam and Friends puppet show that featured a Kermit the Frog prototype.

Nelson didnt collaborate with Henson at that station, but Nelson logged puppetry experience elsewhere and was reunited with Henson on a couple of occasions, most notably when Sesame Street arrived.

Because Nelson (who wanted to be an actor) could sing and had a gift for voicing Muppets, he became an integral part of the Henson team.

Nelson is synonymous with the Muppet vampire Count Von Count (vun, two, three!), but he voiced legions of other characters on Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock and in Muppet specials and movies.

Sadly, someone who brought joy to millions of TV viewers had to deal with the worst kind of tragedy. A daughter, Christine, battled cystic fibrosis and died in 1982 at age 21. She appeared with her father in the film The Great Muppet Caper.

Nelson forged ahead with his career despite health problems of his own. After his death, a Sesame Street episode was dedicated to the puppeteer and Count Von Count. The episode debuted (fittingly for a vampire) on Halloween in 2013. A tribute event the previous year referred to Nelson as the man of 1,000 Muppets.

Joseph Bailey, a writer for The Muppet Show, wrote a Nelson eulogy that is available on toughpigs.com. Bailey said Nelson never took fame and celebrity seriously and, no matter what, remained the kid from Oklahoma.

Bailey also shared this story:

On a flight from London to New York, Jerry was seated next to the famous actor, Al Pacino. After they introduced themselves, they got into a conversation about show business and fame. Pacino said he liked being famous and how it had made his life easier. Jerry agreed, but countered by saying that he could play guitar and sing all night in any beer joint in Hoboken and never worry about being recognized by aggressive fans. When the plane landed, Pacino was mobbed by passengers and crew for autographs and photos. Jerry told me, I grabbed my bag from the over-head, patted him on the shoulder, said, See you later, Al, and walked off the plane.

The yet-to-open Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture, which will salute the pop culture contributions of creatives from Oklahoma, has acquired an archival collection from Nelsons family. Ryan Allen conducted an interview with Nelsons widow, Jan, for museum use.

Topics included Nelsons Oklahoma grandparents (they encouraged his creativity by giving him a quarter every time he learned a song) and the inspiration behind his voices.

He told me a bunch of times that, for a lot of his voices, he would think of a movie star, an older movie star, and try to imitate that, Jan told OKPOP. He was so bad that nobody would ever, you know, think that he was actually imitating that movie star.

Jan also told OKPOP there were aspects of her husband in every character he voiced.

When Allen asked Jan what she would like the world to know about Jerry Nelson, she led with this: He was a big person, but he was also very modest. He never thought of himself as famous. ... He was very real.
A few months ago, an internet rabbit hole had me tracing my family tree back several generations. I kept clicking, clicking, clicking until I suddenly discovered I could be directly linked to Salem, Massachusetts, in the 1600s.

Fascinated, I looked into some of the names and found that my eighth-great-grandfather, Nathaniel Felton, has a Wikipedia page. I was instantly filled with both curiosity and nervousness about what history I would find.

Instead of finding out that he was part of the witch-hunting mob or that he was a victim of the mob, I found something else. He was a neighbor of one of the accused, John Proctor. Nathaniel and his wife, Mary, started a petition on behalf of their neighbor, saying he was not only innocent of his charges but someone ever ready to help those in need.

After doing a little research, I realized what an extraordinary act this was. Both John Proctor and Nathaniel Felton had signed a similar petition for Rebecca Nurse, who had been arrested and would eventually be hanged.

Now that the village had turned on John Proctor, it would have been the safest bet for the Feltons to simply stay out of it. Instead, they stood between their neighbor and the growing crowd of accusers to essentially say, Wait! Listen! Hes not evil!

Even though 18 other neighbors joined in signing the letter, John Proctor was hanged. Nine months later, the trials ended, and everyone was eventually exonerated.

There were no evil witches in Salem making pacts with the devil. In fact, there were no witches in Salem at all. But there was a tremendous amount of fear concerning unexplained ailments that led people to grasp for explanations,  whether based in reality or not.

However tragic the outcome, the fact that the petition exists in recorded history shows that not everyone in Salem believed that their friends and neighbors were evil, and they were willing to call out blatant lies for what they were.

This isnt to say that they were bastions of morality  there are plenty of critiques to be made of Puritan culture, and a close look at any individual from that period would likely uncover deeply problematic behaviors.

Rather, it gives us such a clear example of the tragedy that can unfold when people in a community turn on each other  first with untruths, then with scapegoating and eventually with violence.

The phrase love your neighbor as yourself has often been written off in our modern society as some sort of feel-good, mildly naive phrase,  as if acts of love are somehow easier than acts of violence. In fact, truly loving our neighbors as ourselves might require a brave act of defiance against extremism.

For me in 2024, loving my neighbors increasingly looks less like lending a cup of sugar and more like unlearning the tendency to assume I know who they are simply by the labels associated with them.

It looks less like shallow interactions on social media and more like genuine, one-on-one conversations with those I disagree with. It looks less like giving a pass to unfair, incendiary language and more like vouching that someone isnt evil simply because of their party affiliation, religion, race, sexuality or nationality.

I definitely havent perfected giving love that looks like this, but if I ever hope to receive it from others, I know I have an obligation to expand my own capacity to offer it.

So much has changed since 1692, but we still have the same tendency to turn on each other when were operating from a place of fear. The temperature is undoubtedly rising in our society, and we are living through a period that will likely require all of us to redefine what it means to love each other as ourselves.

May we all commit to being ever ready to help our neighbors, even if that means boldly saying in the face of fabricated, extremist views, Wait! Listen! Theyre not evil!

The Tulsa World is where your story lives
U.S. President Joe Biden sent his congratulations to State President To Lam on his election as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, according to the formers statement released by the White House on Wednesday.

I congratulate President To Lam on his selection as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnams Central Committee," President Biden said in the statement.

Nearly one year ago, Vietnam and the United States launched our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking a new era of strong cooperation between our nations.

Vice President Harris and I look forward to working with General Secretary Lam to continue advancing this historic progress, which supports a strong, independent, prosperous, and resilient Vietnam."

The 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam elected State President Lam as General Secretary for the 2021-26 term at a meeting on August 3.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Hue Central Hospital in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam has treated two children who caught Whitmore's disease, also known as melioidosis, from neighboring Quang Tri Province, deputy director of the hospital Le Thi Lan Huong said on Wednesday.

Ten days earlier, Nguyen L.D.H., 18 months old, had a swollen boil under his left ear and was running a fever.

Doctors took a sample from the boil for biopsy testing and found Burkhoderia Pseudomallei bacteria, which causes Whitmores disease.

After two weeks of treatment, H. was released from hospital and underwent further treatment at home.

The second case was seven-month-old Trinh N.N..

Five days prior to being hospitalized, N. had been suffering from a constant high fever, diarrhea, rapid breathing, and shortness of breath.

N. was rushed to a hospital in Dong Ha City, Quang Tri Province and was diagnosed with severe pneumonia, sepsis, fever, rapid breathing, and shortness of breath.

N. was later transferred to the Hue Central Hospital, where N. was found to have caught Burkholderia Pseudomallei bacteria.

The child patient has improved but is still being treated at the hospital.

Do Van Hung, director of the Quang Tri Department of Health, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that local healthcare agencies have zoned off the patients residences and called on the residents there to ensure hygiene to prevent the bacteria from spreading and take caution upon contacting contaminated soil and water when having open wounds.

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Darryl George,18, stands next to his mother, Darresha George in front of Galveston County Court House on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Galveston. George will spend the remainder of the year in in-school suspension, extending a punishment that was first imposed in August over his hairstyle that district officials say violates their dress code policy. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Darryl George,18, stands next to his mother, Darresha George in front of Galveston County Court House on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Galveston. George will spend the remainder of the year in in-school suspension, extending a punishment that was first imposed in August over his hairstyle that district officials say violates their dress code policy. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Darryl George,18, stands next to his attorney Allie Booker, and his mother, Darresha George in front of Galveston County Court House on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Galveston. George will spend the remainder of the year in in-school suspension, extending a punishment that was first imposed in August over his hairstyle that district officials say violates their dress code policy. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Galveston County Court House on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Galveston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

A federal judge has dismissed portions of a lawsuit filed by a Barbers Hill High School student who challenged the school districts dress code policy after being disciplined for refusing to change his hairstyle.

Judge Jeffrey Brown dismissed a race discrimination claim filed by an attorney for Darryl George, who wears his hair in dreadlocks styled in a barrel roll  which district officials say violates school policy  but allowed a sex discrimination claim to continue.

The court acknowledges that the plaintiffs pleaded that Georges locs are an outward expression of his Black identity and culture, Brown wrote in a 30-page memorandum and order issued on Tuesday.

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The judge dismissed the race discrimination claim for failing to establish that Georges constitutional right to be free from racial discrimination was violated by an official policy.

In keeping the latter claim, Brown said the district did not provide any reason for the sex-based distinctions in its dress code."

While those reasons may provide insight for the districts motivation to have a dress code, they provide no support for the narrower question that forms the basis of this claim: what is the rationale for the dress codes distinction between male and female students, Brown wrote.

George has been in a monthslong court battle with Barbers Hill Independent School District. The school districts dress code prohibits male students from having hair below the eyebrows or below the ear lobes. It also mandates that boys hair cannot be below the top of a T-shirt collar or be gathered or worn in a style that would allow the hair to extend below the top of a T-shirt collar, below the eyebrows or below the ear lobes when let down.

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The lawsuit argues George's punishment violates the CROWN Act. The CROWN Act  an acronym for Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair  went into effect Sept. 1 of last year, prohibiting school and employment dress codes or grooming policies from discriminating against hair texture or protective hairstyles associated with race.

Superintendent Greg Poole has repeatedly stood by the districts policy and has not discussed any plans to change it despite being sued by multiple students regarding it.

FROM THE BEGINNING: How Barbers Hill ISD's hair policy became a court battle in the national spotlight

"Our policies and procedures for 95 years have been established by our community via a locally elected board of trustees," said Poole in response to Judge Brown's order. "Having high expectations for all students in all things is why we are one of the highest achieving districts in the state and it is why parents of all ethnicities continue to move to our district in record numbers."

The lawsuit named Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton and three individuals employed by the school district  Poole, Barbers Hill High School principal Lance Murphy and assistant principal Ryan Rodriguez. Brown moved to dismiss the plaintiffs state law tort claims, citing the Election of Remedies provision of the Texas Tort Claims Act. The court also dismissed claims against Abbott and Paxton.

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The plaintiffs 'have wholly failed to establish that Governor Abbott and General Paxton were even aware of the plaintiffs existence prior to the filing of the present lawsuit, court documents read.

Additionally, the lawsuit claimed the district violated Georges First and 14th Amendment Rights. However, Brown said Georges attorney Allie Booker did not provide any case laws where hair length is protected as expressive conduct under the First Amendment.

Aug. 14 marks the first day of school in the district. It remains unclear whether George will start his senior year at Barbers Hill High School. George's mother, Darresha George, and Booker did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Last year, George spent more than half of his time at alternative school or in-school suspension for his hairstyle and other infractions. Booker previously told the Chronicle they planned to do court intervention if the school district intended to place him in suspension.

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Injunctions must be taken up at the proper time period, and if this occurs again, it will be proper for the court to take the matter up in an effort to prevent him from being put in ISS again (while the case is pending), said Booker in a previous statement to the Chronicle.

In June, attorney Dylan Drummond filed an appeal in Georges case. On Feb. 22, Judge Chap B. Cain III, of the 253rd Judicial District Court in Chambers County ruled in favor of the school district. The action prompted the Texas Legislative Black Caucus to take up the issue of amending the CROWN Act in the upcoming legislative session.
What you need to know today in Vietnam:

Politics

 Leaders of foreign parties and countries, including Singapore, Thailand, India, and Australia, have extended their congratulations to State President To Lam on his election as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee.

 Vietnam and Japan agreed to enhance cooperation in various fields such as digital transformation, innovation, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, training, investment, trade, and technology transfer, heard the 12th meeting of the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee, co-chaired by Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and his Japanese counterpart Kamikawa Yoko in Tokyo on Wednesday.

 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday advised Vietnamese citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Bangladesh due to complicated protests in the country.

 Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has hailed the collaboration between the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and Laos' ministries and agencies, especially the Lao Ministry of Technology and Communications, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

Society

 A 8.5-km elevated section of the Nhon-Hanoi Station metro line, the second of its kind in Hanoi, starts commercial operations on Thursday morning, after nearly 14 years of construction, the Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board, the investor of the project, said in a press release on Wednesday.

 The director of the Healthcare Center of Muong Lat District in north-central Thanh Hoa Province said on Wednesday night that the district had put under control the diphtheria outbreak in Muong Lat Town three days after the first case was detected.

 A pile-up involving five vehicles occurred on an expressway leading to Thang Long Bridge in Hanoi on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in several hours of traffic congestion.

 Authorities in Binh Dinh Province, south-central Vietnam aim to spend over VND900 billion (US$35.5 million) growing trees in the provinces urban areas by 2030, an official said on Wednesday.

-- Vietnamese police collaborated with their Lao counterparts to dismantle an international online fraud ring, resulting in the arrest of 155 Vietnamese scammers, an officer reported on Wednesday.

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The administration in Da Nang, central Vietnam has developed solutions to address three abandoned property projects located in prime areas of the coastal city.

The three projects include Da Nang Center, Golden Square, and Vien Dong Meridian.

At a press conference on Tuesday discussing the citys performance during the first half of the year, the municipal Department of Planning and Investment revealed that Vu Chau Long Real Estate JSC, the investor behind the Da Nang Center project at 8 Phan Chau Trinh Street, proposed two plans for the site in February.

The first plan suggests that if the city reclaims the projects land for public use, the company would return the land and request compensation either in cash or with another land lot of equal value.

The second plan proposes that if the city cancels its reclamation, it should find a new investor for the project.

On April 22, the Department of Planning and Investment contacted Vu Chau Long Real Estate JSC and the Da Nang Investment Promotion and Support Board to seek a new partner for the project, following the firm's proposals being reported to the municipal Peoples Committee.

The Da Nang Center project, spanning nearly 8,000 square meters and valued at VND498 billion (US$19.7 million), was intended to feature high-end apartments, a trade center, and a five-star hotel.

Construction began in 2008 and a fence was completed in September 2009. However, the project has remained deserted since then.

The Golden Square project (R) in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Doan Cuong / Tuoi Tre

The Golden Square project was launched by Dong A Land JSC in 2008 and was officially halted on December 15, 2022 following the companys proposal to terminate it.

Dong A Land JSC is completing procedures to transfer the land and land-attached asset use rights.

The Golden Square project was envisaged to cover 10,600 square meters of land and include three towers and two basements with an estimated investment of VND1 trillion ($39.6 million), Dau tu (Investment) newspaper reported.

The project was scheduled to be carried out from February 2008 to February 2011.

However, its completion time was subsequently extended to October 31, 2018.

The project was put on hold following the construction of a surrounding fence, two basements, and four floors.

The Vien Dong Meridian project in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Doan Cuong / Tuoi Tre

Regarding the Vien Dong Meridian project at 84 Hung Vuong Street of Vien Dong Vietnam Land JSC, the city issued the investment certificate for it in 2007 and announted the projects cessation in 2019.

The land for the project was later transferred to Kinh Bac Da Nang Investment Co. Ltd., which is currently completing procedures to adjust its land use purposes to match the citys planning.

Vien Dong Meridian was planned to be a 220-meter-high building with 48 floors and three basements.

The skyscraper would feature a trade center, an international convention center which could accommodate 1,500 people, a four-star hotel, as well as high-end offices and apartments.

Construction began on the project in 2010 and was expected to be completed in 2012 at an estimated cost of $180 million, according to Nha Dau Tu (Investor) magazine.

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An 8.5-km elevated section of the Nhon-Hanoi Station metro line, the citys second route, began commercial operations on Thursday morning, after nearly 14 years of construction.

At about 6:00 am, many people arrived at Nhon Station to buy tickets to experience the metro line.

Nguyen Dinh Tien, a 72-year-old resident in Bac Tu Liem District, Hanoi, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that he was excited as he had been waiting for the operation of the metro line for years.

I am touched and happy. I live near Nhon Station. [I have] waited for it for dozens of years and now I can experience it," Tien added.

The metro line will help ease traffic congestion on Road No. 32. Residents should use it as it is convenient, fast, clean, and help reduce traffic jams.

Hanoi residents queue up to buy metro tickets at Nhon Station in Hanoi on August 8, 2024.

Vu Hong Truong, general director of Metro Hanoi Co. Ltd., told Tuoi Tre that he was deeply moved to see residents boarding the first train on the Nhon  Hanoi Station metro line.

Truong shared that a war veteran waiting for a train at Cau Giay Station at 7:00 am is one of the motivations for him and his team to improve service quality.

The elevated section of the Nhon-Hanoi Station metro line includes eight stations: Nhon, Minh Khai, Phu Dien, Cau Dien, Le Duc Tho, Vietnam National University, Ha Pagoda, and Cau Giay.

Trains on this route began running at 8:00 am on Thursday. Starting Friday, they will run every ten minutes from 5:30 am to 10:00 pm.

Operation times will be adjusted in the future to meet passenger demands.

Passengers use tickets to enter a train waiting area at Nhon Station in Hanoi on August 8, 2024.

Rides will be free for the first 15 days of the line's operation. After that, fares will be VND8,000 (US$0.30) per single ride between any two stations and VND12,000 ($0.50) for the entire route.

Daily passes will be available for VND24,000 ($1), allowing unlimited rides within a day.

Monthly passes will cost VND200,000 ($7.90) and VND100,000 ($4) for students.

Hanoi also offers free rides to children under six years old, revolutionary contributors, people over 60 years old, and the disabled.

A train arrives at Nhon Station in Hanoi and is ready to carry the first passengers, August 8, 2024.

The Nhon - Hanoi Station metro line runs 12.5 kilometers from Nhon in Nam Tu Liem District to the Hanoi Railway Station in the downtown area, with 8.5 kilometers on elevated tracks, four kilometers underground, and one depot.

Work on the metro line began on September 25, 2010 and its completion was initially scheduled for 2016.

However, the project was delayed several times for various reasons, increasing its total investment to VND34.5 trillion ($1.4 billion) from VND18 trillion ($712 million).

The underground section is currently 43.5 percent complete and is expected to be finished by December 2027, VnExpress reported.

The Cat Linh - Ha Dong metro route, the first of its kind in Hanoi, was put into operation in November 2021.

A large number of passengers wait at Nhon Station in Hanoi on August 8, 2024.

The first Hanoi people experience the Nhon - Hanoi Station metro line on August 8, 2024.

Inside a train on the Nhon - Hanoi Station metro line in Hanoi on August 8, 2024

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A Vietnamese National Assembly delegate recently proposed a solution for fostering a sustainable population, a thriving nation, and happy families: reducing workers hours to allow them more time to find partners, care for their children, attend to family needs, and pursue personal interests.

Nguyen Thien Nhan, a member of the 15th National Assembly and former secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, made the suggestion at a conference in Hanoi on Tuesday.

The event was meant to contribute ideas and refine policies related to the Population Law and demographic transition in Asia-Pacific economies.

According to Nhan, the current replacement fertility rate, the total fertility rate at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, is not sustainable.

The average number of children per woman of childbearing age is 1.96, the lowest on record, and is expected to continue declining.

Statistics from the Department of Population under the Ministry of Health show that urban women, who previously had more than 1.7 children on average, have seen their fertility rate drop below 1.7 in the past two years.

In rural areas, the fertility rate this year is projected to fall below the replacement rate, down from 2.4 a few years ago.

Currently, 22 provinces and cities have fertility rates below the replacement level, with the southeast region at 1.47 and the Mekong Delta region at 1.61 in 2023.

According to Nhan, for a typical family with two children, the combined income of the two primary earners should be sufficient to adequately support two adults and two children.

To achieve this, Nhan emphasized the need for a unified approach between the government, businesses, and workers.

This requires transitioning from minimum individual wage regulations to minimum living wage standards for a family of four.

Nhan also suggested that workers hours be limited to eight hours per day and 40 hours per week to allow time for increased family time, including finding a partner, caring for children, and pursuing personal interests.

A competitive housing market with state support and oversight is crucial to ensuring affordable housing options.

Working conditions, maternity and paternity leave, salary, and promotion policies should support marriage and childbirth without creating conflicts between work and family responsibilities.

Nhan advocated for universal preschool for children aged three months to five years to support working parents and ensure they can continue to develop professionally after having kids.

He also called for the development of both public and private education systems to provide universal elementary, middle, and vocational education.

Furthermore, Nhan highlighted the need for shared household responsibilities between spouses, true gender equality, and incorporating lessons on family happiness into high school and vocational education.

He proposed that education at all levels include subjects on Vietnamese happiness and that the state offer practical support for infertile couples.

The Ministry of Health is currently drafting the Population Law and is soliciting public feedback, with the proposal expected to be submitted to the government in December.

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Many Vietnamese travel companies have canceled or suspended most tours to Iran, Israel, and some Middle Eastern countries due to concerns over safety there following the assassination of an ex-Hamas leader.

Max Vu, CEO of Fit Tour, which specializes in operating tours to the Middle East and North Africa, said since the tension between Iran and Israel began to escalate in October last year, the company has canceled four delegations bookings for tours to Jordan-Israel-Palestine-Egypt.

Each tour, priced at VND110-125 million (US$4,353-4,946) per person, offers a valuable experience as travelers journey through culturally diverse destinations.

An October tour to Iran was canceled, and all tourists who booked this trip have received full refunds of their deposits.

Although the tour cancelations result in losses for the company, Thang stated that the decision was necessary to ensure the safety of tourists and mitigate risks for the company.

Tran Thi Bao Thu, director of marketing and communications at Vietluxtour Travel JSC, announced that the company had suspended tours to the Middle East, specifically Israel, Palestine, and Iran.

However, tours to Dubai continue, with the company sending one to two groups of tourists there each month.

On Monday, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that escalating tensions between Lebanon, Iran, and Israel pose risks to peoples safety and property.

The ministry advised Vietnamese citizens to avoid traveling to Lebanon, Iran, and Israel during this period.

Vietnamese nationals currently in Lebanon are urged to move to a third country or return to Vietnam as soon as possible.

The ministry also advised Vietnamese citizens in the region to adhere to local security and safety guidelines, and to stay updated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via consular departments or Vietnamese embassies in Egypt, Iran, Israel, and neighboring countries for timely responses.

For urgent support, Vietnamese citizens should contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt and Lebanon at +201 02 613 9869, the Vietnamese Embassy in Iran at +98 21 224 11670, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel at +972 50 818 6116, or the citizen protection hotline of the Consular Department at +84 981 84 84 84.

Ismail Haniyeh, the ex-leader of the Palestinian group Hamas, was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran early on July 31, an attack that drew threats of revenge on Israel and fueled further concern that the conflict in Gaza was turning into a wider Middle East war, Reuters reported.

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A court in Vietnam has sentenced a 21-year-old woman to nine years in prison for kidnapping two little girls and forcing them to make porn under the direction of her foreign boyfriend.

At a closed-door trial held on Wednesday, the Juvenile and Family Court under the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Court found Pham Huynh Nhat Vi guilty of two charges including employment of a person under 16 for pornographic purposes and abduction of a person under 16, as prescribed by the Vietnamese Penal Code.

Vi, originally from Tien Giang Province but a current resident of Ho Chi Minh Citys Tan Binh District, received three and a half years for the former offense and five and a half years for the latter, equaling a total of nine years behind bars.

The victims were seven-year-old N.K.T.M. and three-year-old L.H.T.L., whose mother is Nguyen Thi Chi, 27, a resident in the citys District 7.

Regarding civil liability, the trial panel ordered the defendant to pay VND80 million (US$3,170) in compensation to the two girls.

According to the indictment, Vi met an individual named Richard from the U.S. on a dating app in October 2023.

In November 2023, Richard visited Vi in Vietnam and the two stayed together at a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

After leaving Vietnam, Richard convinced Vi to find girls aged six to 12 and film them performing sexual acts.

He promised to pay her in exchange for videos of the girls.

In March 2024, Richard sent Vi US$500 and promised he would rent an apartment for her once she found the girls she could force to have sex for filming.

The trial panel at the Juvenile and Family Court under the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Court announces a sentence totaling nine years for Pham Huynh Nhat Vi, August 7, 2024. Photo: Dan Thuan / Tuoi Tre

On April 3, Vi found two girls named M. and L. sitting unattended on the sidewalk along Dong Khoi Street in downtown Ho Chi Minh City.

She offered each VND10,000 ($0.4) and took them to eat ice cream and fried chicken.

Vi then sent photos of the girls to Richard, who asked her to take them to the Saigon Pearl apartment complex in Binh Thanh District where he had rented an apartment through an online app.

During her stay with the two girls at the apartment from April 3 to 7, Vi shot 12 sexually explicit video clips and sent them to Richard.

On April 3, the mother of the two girls reported their disappearance to police in Ben Nghe Ward, District 1.

Police officers later mobilized over 200 officers to search for the children.

Through an investigation and with public assistance, local police tracked Vi and the children to the apartment at Saigon Pearl.

Vi was taken into custody, where she admitted to abducting the two girls and filming them in lewd acts.

The Ho Chi Minh City police department has requested that the Supreme Peoples Procuracy seek assistance from the U.S. Justice Department to investigate Richards involvement in the case and collect his statements.

Richards involvement is currently being treated as a separate case.

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Back L-R: Olivia Pullbrook, George Lekakis, Louisa Coppel, Ian Anderson, Antonio Raiola, Minister Colin Brooks, Caroline Pitcher, Michael Hudson, Andrew Jerram,

Front L-R: Richie Young, Glenn Arrowsmith, Greg McLean. Photo by Jane Zhang.

Western suburbs screen collective Melbourne Screen Hub has relocated from its Yarraville home, to a new and larger location in Moreland Road, Footscray.

Melbourne Screen Hub was first established in 2021 as an idea from a group of crew and small business owners.

The new, larger site, which is also supported by VicScreen, is less than four kilometres from Docklands Studios Melbourne.

At approximately 16,000sqm it is significantly larger than the previous premises, featuring more office, warehouse and storage space available to both local and international productions as well as permanent tenants.

Melbourne Screen Hub has provided 23 attachments or placement for emerging screen industry professionals.

Victorian Minister for Creative Industries, Minister Brooks said, The Victorian Government is proud to support Melbourne Screen Hub  a vital piece of Victorias screen industry infrastructure  in its new home in Footscray. Crew are the backbone of our industry, and we have some of the best crew in the world right here in Melbourne.

We know that a facility where screen businesses can safely store equipment and vehicles is important. But having a place where crew can come together, share information and resources and build a screen business community is also critical.

Melbourne Screen Hub, General Manager, Ian Anderson said, We have already seen an influx of new tenants and demand is strong. We know this new, larger location for Melbourne Screen Hub is what the industry wants and needs and its great to see the site bustling with activity and people.

We are pleased to be contributing to the upskilling of the next generation of screen practitioners and supporting the careers of young people entering the industry.
Mike Miles, superintendent, speaks during the Houston ISD convocation held at Delmar Sports Complex, 4400 W 18th St., Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer A dual language program teacher is teaching fourth grade science on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 at Gregg Elementary School in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer A dual language program teacher is teaching fourth grade science on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 at Gregg Elementary School in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer A dual language program teacher teaches third grade students on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 at Gregg Elementary School in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Houston ISD will start this school year with 748 fewer teachers than the start of last school year, according to a Wednesday email by state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles.

Miles wrote that the district will start Monday with 10,640 teachers, compared to last school year's starting number of 11,388 teachers. He pointed to declining enrollment as the main reason for the drop.

"To maximize our resources, we must adjust our staffing levels to match the enrollment in our campuses," Miles wrote. "Previous HISD administrations chose not to adjust staffing at schools that lost enrollment, and HISD simply cannot afford to overstaff these campuses any longer."

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He also wrote that 1,400 employees left the district since August 2023 due to performance.

"In HISD, we seek to staff our schools with effective teachers who want to make a real difference for our students, and who want to work in the most transformative District in the United States," Miles said. "As a result, it is sometimes necessary to remove some educators for performance. 1,400 (nearly half) of the employees who have left the District since August of 2023 were a result of performance issues."

Miles also wrote that more than 1,400 central office employees no longer have their jobs, "in addition to eliminating thousands of vacant positions."

"These decisions are never easy, and it discourages me every time these numbers are exaggerated or misstated because it takes away from the very real challenges HISD is facing," Miles said. "There are real people behind these numbers. These are the tough choices that allow us to serve students well. I hope this helps you understand how we approach staffing in HISD and clarifies the real story behind our staffing decisions."

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HISD previously told the Chronicle in a statement that it had 43 teacher vacancies to fill, aligning with Miles' Wednesday estimate of roughly 45 teacher vacancies. That district statement also indicated all teaching vacancies in the district's north were filled.
By Francesco Guarascio and Trevor Hunnicutt

HANOI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and Vietnam are discussing the sale of Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules military transport planes to Hanoi, two people familiar with the discussions said, in a sign of closer security cooperation between the two former foes.

The talks could lead to a supply agreement this year, the sources said, in what would represent Vietnam's largest military deal since it said publicly at the end of 2022 that it intended to diversify its defence supplies, which have for decades relied heavily on Russian gear.

The C-130 can carry soldiers, military equipment and other supplies, and would boost Vietnamese defence capabilities at a time of rising South China Sea boundary tensions with China and other countries in the region.

The United States could offer Hanoi financial support as part of a sale, the sources said. One of the sources, a U.S. official, said that could amount to tens of millions of dollars covering maintenance and other costs.

The other source, a Vietnamese person briefed on the talks, said the model under consideration was the C-130J, the aircraft's latest iteration.

Neither source would indicate the total cost of the possible deal and the number of planes under discussion. Both declined to be named because the talks were not public.

Lockheed Martin referred questions to the U.S. or Vietnamese governments. The White House declined to comment, and Vietnam's defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

Talks on U.S. arms supplies to Communist-ruled Vietnam have been under way for months, before major changes in Vietnamese leadership, which experts and analysts say should not significantly change the country's posture on foreign and economic affairs.

The discussions show the United States' growing efforts to gain influence with Hanoi, nearly half a century after the end of the Vietnam War.

Since an arms embargo was lifted in 2016, U.S. defence exports to Vietnam have been largely limited to coastguard ships and trainer aircraft, stymied by Hanoi's concerns over costs, U.S. government approvals and compatibility with existing gear.

FIGHTER JETS

Vietnam's police have looked into buying U.S.-made helicopters, and the defence ministry has considered different types of U.S. aircraft, including F-16 fighter jets, Reuters has reported.

The Vietnamese official confirmed the talks over F-16s, also produced by Lockheed Martin, but said those negotiations were less advanced because U.S. fighter jets were seen as more likely to affect Vietnam's relations with other countries, including China.

C-130s were "less sensitive", the official said, because they could be viewed as defensive or non-combat equipment.

U.S. congressional approval for the fighters may be more complicated than for C-130s, the Vietnamese official said, noting that Hanoi had also concerns about whether the U.S. would approve the sale of missiles to arm the F-16s.

U.S. State Department reports have laid out human rights violations in the Southeast Asian country, further complicating arms transfer approvals.

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio in Hanoi and Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington; additional reporting by Mike Stone and Patricia Zengerle. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
Back in the long-long-ago of 2015 when I was a brand new writer here at HDD, I had the pleasure of reviewing Scream Factorys double feature release of Tentacles and Reptilicus. That was my first viewing of the titular creature and its rampage across Denmark, and looking back at that review, I dont think wasnt very kind to it. At the time I rated it a 2.5/5 while also noting the high points and praising Sydney Pinks little creature feature where I could. Nine years, several viewings, and an MST3K revival later, this little monster movie gem has certainly grown on me! I still think its a bit labored up front taking a damned long time to get where it wants to go, but once the green/brown furry rod-puppet creature starts laying waste to entire model armies while destroying numerous scale buildings, the films a hoot! Heres what I said back in 2015 - but Im upping the score a full star because I just enjoy the hell out of his goofy flick.

Copper miners in the remote tundra of Lapland happen upon an amazing discovery while drilling - the severed tail of some sort of prehistoric creature! Still fleshy and bloody - they do the only sensible thing and take the partially frozen mass back to a team of scientists for study. The scientific team led by Professor Otto Martens (Asbjorn Anderson) and Dr. Peter Dalby (Povl Woldike) do the even smarter thing and thaw the tail out! Granted thawing the hunk of flesh was an accident, but when they discover that the piece of the animal flesh is still alive they show off their incredible brilliance by working to resuscitate it. Rather than killing it with fire, they show off their amazing discovery to the entire world and this would have been fine if the thing had ever stopped growing. Only it doesn't stop growing and soon it breaks free from the lab and is on the loose to spit green oozy acid onto the hapless public.

General Mark Grayson (Carl Ottosen) does what he can to combat the creature with his army of stock footage, but there is a fatal flaw to using brute force against the creature - any piece of the animal can spawn new Reptilicus monsters! With one arm tied behind his back. Gen. Grayson must figure out a way of trapping the beast and killing it in such a way that every last part of the monster is destroyed.

Released in 1961, part of me believes this is the movie that Ed Wood was born to make - but never got the chance to. 'Reptilicus' has an elaborate puppet for a monster that uses cheap forced perspective shots to make it look gigantic. Virtually every character takes a momentary pause in the action to pontificate about some heady yet unrelated world issue before going back to the task at hand. Then you have the stock footage, miles and miles of stock footage linked only to the scene in question because some of the cast are dressed like military commanders and sit in a jeep with a radio.

At its heart, 'Reptilicus' wouldn't be the movie it is without the titular creature. Talk about goofy! Too cheap to use state-of-the-art stop motion effects, the production apparently decided a rod puppet with model train backgrounds and scenery was the trick to use. Also, numerous shots are over-cranked because apparently, slow-motion means huge? It's an odd effect in of itself and then you add in the animated green slime that just leaps out of the creature's plastic mouth and you have the makings of an entertaining little flick that is actually very age-appropriate for youngsters. I have a feeling that if I'd seen this when I was five or six years old I would have loved every second of it. As an adult, it took me a bit of time before I was fully pulled into the movie. The front end of the film is rather laborious since they take a mile to go about ten feet, but the payoff is there.

While not the greatest movie ever made, 'Reptilicus' is a hoot. It may not be the most thematically cohesive movie to pair with 'Tentacles' but they do make for a decently goofy double feature. It's certainly not the best double feature Scream Factory has ever released, but it's a good time, and and can't see too many people being disappointed by this one.

Now whats extra special about this release is we get the longer 95-minute Danish version of Reptilicus. Its interesting to look at this longer version for the first time and come away feeling like I saw a different movie. This is something to do with the pacing of the film, how the exposition unravels, and even how the film was edited. All you have to do is look at the opening with the mining crew first digging into the creature and how the different edits flow. This Danish version likes to keep the camera back and away whereas the American version gets right into that drill bit and watches the viscera and blood peeled off. Hell, even at that moment we get an entirely different title card with Reptilicus spelled out in an ooey-gooey bloody font! If nothing else this American version lacks all the subtlety of the Danish edition. While we get more, more isnt exactly better. Its a different flavor, but still very enjoyable, but it doesnt have the same drive and suspense of the American cut.

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Reptilicus regenerates onto physical media as a three-disc 4K UHD set from Vinegar Syndrome. This is something of a definitive release because were scoring the 82-Minute American cut in 4K and Blu-ray, with the restored 95-minute Danish version on Blu-ray. The 4K version is pressed on a BD-66 disc, a Region A BD-50 handles the American Cut in 1080p and the bulk of the extras, and another Region A BD-50 stores the Danish Version. All three discs are housed in a three-disc black case without stacking with reversible insert art.
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Anti-Minority Waqf Bill 2024 referred to JPC

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, introduced in the Lok Sabha Thursday August 08, 2024, has been referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) after protests by the Opposition parties that called it anti-minority, divisive and unconstitutional.

Thursday August 8, 2024 9:02 PM , ummid.com News Network

New Delhi: The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, introduced in the Lok Sabha Thursday August 08, 2024, has been referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) after protests by the Opposition parties that called it anti-minority, divisive and unconstitutional.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 introduced in the lower house of the Parliament by Minority Affairs Minister, Kiren Rijiju, proposes to bring over 40 amendments to the existing Waqf Act 1995.

The key amendments including allowing a non-Muslim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and at least two non-Muslim members to be appointed by the State government to the Waqf Boards at the state level.

The Bill also proposes to change the status of the Waqf land under the centre and state possession, and gives sole power to district collectors for the purpose.

Opposing the proposal to include non-Muslims as CEO and members of the Waqf board, the opposition parties wondered whether Muslims can be members of governing boards of temples like the Ram temple at Ayodhya.

44 Amendments Proposed

Clause 1 of the Bill seeks to provide for short title and commencement of the proposed legislation.

Clause 2 of the Bill seeks to amend section 1 relating to short title and commencement so as to amend the short title of the Act from the Waqf Act, 1995, to the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.

Clause 3 of the Bill seeks to amend section 3 relating to definition so as to amend and substitute some definitions and provide new definitions in section 3, such as Aghakhani waqf, Bohra waqf, Collector, Government Organisation, Government property, etc.

Clause 4 of the Bill seeks to insert new sections 3A, 3B and 3C relating to certain conditions of waqf, filing of details of waqf on portal and database; and wrongful declaration of waqf. It provides for certain conditions of waqf, filing of details of waqf on portal and database and prevention of wrongful declaration of waqf.

Clause 5 of the Bill seeks to substitute section 4 relating to preliminary survey of waqf to replace the Collector in place of the Survey Officers, so as to confer powers upon the Collector to make the survey in accordance with the procedure in revenue laws of the State.

Clause 6 of the Bill seeks to amend section 5 relating to publication of list of auqaf so as to insert new sub-sections (2A) and (2B) to provide uploading of the notified list of auqaf on the portal and database within fifteen days. It further substitutes sub-section (3) which provides for making public notice of ninety days before deciding mutation of land records.

Clause 7 of the Bill seeks to amend section 6 relating to disputes regarding auqaf so as to insert the words Aghakhani waqf or Bohra waqf after the words Sunni waqf; and to omit that the expression and the decision of the Tribunal in respect of such matter shall be final.

Clause 8 of the Bill seeks to amend section 7 relating to power of Tribunal to determine disputes regarding auqaf so as to include therein Aghakhani waqf or Bohra waqf; and to omit that the expression and the decision of the Tribunal in respect of such matter shall be final.

Clause 9 of the Bill seeks to amend section 9 relating to establishment and constitution of Central Waqf Council so as to provide the composition broad-based by making provision for including two members from non-Muslim community.

Clause 10 of the Bill seeks to amend section 13 relating to incorporation so as to provide the establishment of a separate Board of Auqaf for Bohras and Aghakhanis if deemed necessary.

Clause 11 of the Bill seeks to amend section 14 relating to composition of Board so as to make the composition of the State Waqf Board broad-based inter alia making provisions for two members from non-Muslim community.

Clause 12 of the Bill seeks to amend section 16 relating to disqualification for being appointed, or for continuing as, member of the Board so as to include the conviction of two years imprisonment and more for any offence as a ground for disqualification.

Clause 13 of the Bill seeks to amend section 17 relating to meeting of Board so as to provide that the meeting of the Board to be held at least once in every month.

Clause 14 of the Bill seeks to omit section 20A relating to removal of Chairperson by vote of no confidence.

Clause 15 of the Bill seeks to amend section 23 relating to appointment of Chief Executive Officer and his term of office and other conditions of service so as to provide the Chief Executive Officer is to be not below the rank of Joint Secretary to the State Government and omit the requirement of him being a Muslim.

Clause 16 of the Bill seeks to amend section 32 relating to powers and function of the Board to omit Explanation and proviso to clause (e) in sub-section (2) to provide for giving of opportunity of being heard to the party affected; and to omit in sub-section (3) the expression and the decision of the Tribunal in respect of such matter shall be final.

Clause 17 of the Bill seeks to amend section 33 relating to powers of inspection by Chief Executive Officer or person authorised by him so as to omit in the words in the proviso in sub-section (4) of section 33 related to and the Tribunal shall have no power to make any order staying pending the disposal of the appeal, the operation of the order made by the Chief Executive Officer under sub-section (3); and to omit sub-section (6).

Clause 18 of the Bill seeks to amend section 36 relating to registration to provide that after the commencement of the proposed legislation, no waqf shall be created without execution of a waqf deed.

Clause 19 of the Bill seeks to amend section 37 relating to register of auqaf providing for the maintenance of register of auqaf by the Board in the prescribed manner.

Clause 20 of the Bill seeks to omit section 40 related to Decision if a property is waqf property.

Clause 21 of the Bill seeks to amend section 46 relating to submission of account of auqaf.

Clause 22 of the Bill seeks to amend section 47 relating to audit of account of auqaf so as to substitute the expression one lakh rupees in place of fifty thousand rupees.

Clause 23 of the Bill seeks to amend section 48 relating to Board to pass orders on auditors report to provide that the proceedings and orders of the Board shall be published in such manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

Clause 24 of the Bill seeks to insert new section 50A relating to Disqualification of Mutawalli.

Clause 25 of the Bill seeks to amend section 52 relating to recovery of waqf property transferred in contravention of section 51 so as to omit the words in sub section (4) related to decision of Tribunal on such appeal shall be final.

Clause 26 of the Bill seeks to amend section 52A relating to penalty for alienation of waqf property without sanction of Board provide for imprisonment instead of

rigorous imprisonment; and to omit sub-sections (2) and (4) related to offence being cognizable and non-bailable.

Clause 27 of the Bill seeks to amend section 55A relating to disposal of property left on waqf property by unauthorised occupants.

Clause 28 of the Bill seeks to amend section 61 related to penalties inter alia to provide penalty to be twenty thousand rupees which may extend to one lakh rupees for certain failure by the mutawallis.

Clause 29 of the Bill seeks to amend section 64 relating to removal of Mutawalli as so to provide that if without reasonable cause fails to maintain regular accounts for one year instead of two years or fail to submit within one year instead of in consecutive two years; and to provide further that the Mutawalli shall be removed if is a member of any association which has been declared unlawful under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967; and also to omit the words that the decision of the Tribunal on such appeal shall be final.

Clause 30 of the Bill seeks to amend section 65 relating to assumption of direct management of certain auqaf by the Board for submitting report by the Board within a period of six months.

Clause 31 of the Bill seeks to amend section 67 relating to supervision and supersession of committee of management to provide that aggrieved person may within sixty days of the order of the Board appeal to the Tribunal; and to omit the words relating of the finality of order made by the Tribunal.

Clause 32 of the Bill seeks to amend section 69 related to power of Board to frame scheme for administration of waqf so as to omit sub-section (3) and insert a proviso in sub-section (4) that no such order shall be made under this sub-section unless a written notice inviting objections from the person likely to be affected and general public, in such manner as may be prescribed by the State Government.

Clause 33 of the Bill seeks to section 72 relating to annual contribution payable to Board replacing the contribution to five per cent. in place of seven per cent.

Clause 34 of the Bill seeks to amend section 73 related to power of Chief Executive Officer to direct banks or other person to make payments and to omit the expression and the decision of the Tribunal on such appeal shall be final.

Clause 35 of the Bill seeks to amend section 83 relating to constitution of Tribunals, etc., so as to modify the composition of the Tribunal; and provide that if there is no Tribunal or the Tribunal is not functioning, any aggrieved person may appeal to the High Court directly; and to further provide that in absence of one member, the Chairman of the bench may exercise the jurisdiction, powers and authority of the Tribunal. It also provides that the Tribunals already existing prior to the commencement of proposed legislation shall continue to function till the expiry of the term of office. It also provides that the tenure of the Chairman and member to be for five years from the date of appointment or until the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier. It also provides the appeal to High Court within ninety days from the date of order of Tribunal.

Clause 36 of the bill seeks to amend section 84 relating to Tribunal to hold proceedings expeditiously and to furnish to the parties copies of its decision. It provide that if the matter is not decided within six months, the Tribunal may decide the matter within a further period of six months for the reasons to be recorded in writing as to why the matter was not decided within the said period of six months.

Clause 37 of the Bill seeks to amend section 91 relating to proceedings under Land Acquisition Act 1 of 1894 so as to substitute the reference of the Land Acquisition Act with the reference of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013; and to substitute the period of three months with the period of one month.

Clause 38 of the Bill seeks to amend section 100 relating to protection of action taken in good faith so as to include within its scope the Collector in place of Survey Commissioner.

Clause 39 of the Bill seeks to amend section 101 relating to Survey Commission, members and officers of the Board deemed to be public servant so as to include within its scope the Collector in place of Survey Commissioner.

Clause 40 of the Bill seeks to omit section 104 related to application of Act to properties given or donated by persons not professing Islam.

Clause 41 of the Bill seeks to omit sections 107, 108 and 108A relating to Act 36 of 1963 not to apply for recovery of waqf properties; special provision as to evacuee properties; Act to have overriding effect.

Clause 42 of the Bill seeks to insert new section 108B relating to power of Central Government to make rules.

Clause 43 of the Bill seeks to amend section 109 relating to power to make rules.

Clause 44 of the Bill seeks to amend section 110 relating to powers to make regulations by the Board



Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju Thursday also introduced the  Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024  to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923.

While introducing the bill in the Lok Sabha, Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Minority Affairs, said the colonial era Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923 is required to be repealed as it is outdated and inadequate for effective management of the Waqf properties in Modern India.

The proposed Waqf Bill introduced by the government during the ongoing monsoon session of the Parliament today and now referred to the Parliamentary Panel is being opposed by the Muslim organisations also.

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Plans to Amend (Weaken) The Waqf Act

The governments alleged plans to amend the Waqf Act 1995 has come under severe criticism both by the secular parties and Muslim organisations. But it also highlights the fact that the so-called Muslim leaders themselves are not ready to set their own house right

Thursday August 8, 2024 11:46 AM , Asad Mirza

The governments alleged plans to amend the Waqf Act 1995 has come under severe criticism both by the secular parties and Muslim organisations. But it also highlights the fact that the so-called Muslim leaders themselves are not ready to set their own house right.

Taking advantage of reported irregularities in many states Waqf Boards, the government it seems has taken this step to show these leaders their place in the countrys politics, after giving them a tight slap on the issue of Triple Talaq, earlier.

The Centre seems all set to make amendments to the Waqf Act, 1995 to restrict the powers of the Waqf Board, according to reports. India Today has reported that there are 40 amendments aimed to restrict the Waqf Board's authority to designate any property as "Waqf property".

"As per the proposed amendments, all claims made by the Waqf Board on properties will undergo mandatory verification. A mandatory verification process is proposed for properties claimed by the Waqf Board," India Today reports, adding that the bill for these amendments is likely to be introduced in Parliaments current session.

Waqf Act, 1995 was established to regulate Auqaf, meaning assets donated and designated as Waqf  by a wakif, - an individual who dedicates his/her property for purposes recognised by Muslim law as pious, religious, or charitable.

The proposed amendments talk about inclusivity by including Muslim women members to various State bodies. In fact, Muslims themselves are not against this, as Islam permits a woman to be a mutawalli  manager of a Waqf property, or be a member of any Waqf Board, as it is a managerial position and does not require any specific training of Islamic laws, according to a Mufti, associated with the Islamic Fiqh Academy, Delhi.

In fact, even the AIMPLB has several women members, he added further. So, this excuse is to mislead the wider populace that Muslims are against including a woman member to the various Waqf bodies.

The groundwork for bringing this bill was laid last year when a PIL was filed by lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay in March 2023, the Centre had told the Delhi High Court that nearly 120 writ petitions challenging one or more provisions of the Waqf Act were pending before various courts in the country.

Upadhyay had challenged the validity of certain provisions of the Waqf Act and sought a direction from the Centre to enact a "uniform law for trust and trustees, charities and charitable institutions, and religious endowments and institutions.

The petitioner said the Waqf Act 1995 was made under the garb of managing waqf properties but there were no similar laws for followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Judaism, Bahaism, Zoroastrianism and Christianity. "Hence, it is against the secularism, unity and integrity of the nation."

Here, one is forced to ask whether the government will be ready to regulate various trusts across India, which manage various temples from Badrinath/Kedarnath to Tirupati, on the same grounds. Will it be able to force these trusts to include women members, to increase inclusivity?

To further complicate the matters and sowing the seeds of discord amongst the Muslim community, the government allegedly wants to constitute separate Board of Auqaf for Boharas and Aghakhanis.

As the government prepares to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that there is a long-standing demand from poor Muslim groups to amend the legislation.

But he failed to identify these poor Muslim groups. The only group which has so far come forward to support the amendments is the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council (AISSC), which has welcomed the governments move and accused vested interests of misleading the Muslim community. But AISSC does not represent the Indian Muslims and does not have Muslim clerics from different sects as its members.

Reportedly, a copy of the bill accessed by The Hindu, claims that the proposed legislation will ensure representation of Muslim and non-Muslims in Central Waqf Council and the State Waqf Boards.

Now, why should non-Muslim members be included in an organisation, related to the welfare of Muslims? Once again, the earlier question arises, will Hindu Temples and religious trusts allow any Muslim to be their members.

To save itself from criticism, the government gives the argument that it is acting on the recommendations of the High-Level Committee under the chairmanship of Justice (Retired) Rajinder Sachar and the Report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf and Central Waqf Council, chaired by KR Rehman, though on their recommendations and detailed consultation with other stakeholders, comprehensive amendments were made in the Act in the year 2013.

Most Muslim organisations across India have vociferously condemned the proposed amendments. AIMPLB spokesman Dr SQR Ilyas said:

The BJP government always wanted to do this. Following the conclusion of the 2024 (Lok Sabha) elections, we thought that there will be a change in the BJPs attitude, but thats not the case. I, however, feel that this is not the right move.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has decried the proposed bill, accusing the BJP of pursuing a Hindutva agenda.

These amendments are with the intention of taking away waqf properties. The real reason for this act is to affect the freedom of religion. he alleged.

It is not Muslim bodies or leaders alone, who are condemning the proposed amendments, even the opposition parties are against them. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has said:

"We will be against it (Waqf Act amendment bill). BJP's only work is to divide Hindus and Muslims, snatch the rights of Muslim brothers and work on the manner in which to snatch the rights given to them in the Constitution.

IUML's E T Mohammed Basheer said the move on the part of the government is ill-intentioned.

"If such a legislation comes, we will very strongly oppose it. We will also speak with like-minded parties," he told reporters outside Parliament.

If the government goes ahead with the bill, it must be prepared for strong opposition, Basheer added.

Shiv Sena (UBT)MP Priyanka Chaturvedi alleged that the BJP-led government wants to run away from the discussion on Budget and, therefore, they have come up with the Waqf issue.

Also Read: Wakf misuse the biggest land scam in Indian history

CPI(M) MP Amra Ram said the BJP believes in "divisive politics" and instead of strengthening Waqf boards, they are trying to interfere with them. Another CPI(M) MP Sudama Prasad said the BJP-led government's only intention is to promote a divisive agenda.

"Bring a bill to deal with unemployment. But they are 24X7 only looking at divisive agenda like mandir-masjid and Hindustan-Pakistan," he said.

JMM's Mahua Maji has said that one-sided view should not be taken and if any amendments are to be made, the government should listen to all sides.

Hashim Soofi, a member of the Punjab Waqf Board, said the government was bent upon spreading hatred among the Hindus and Muslims by making such moves, ignoring that benefits of properties and institutes run by Wakf boards were equally shared by members of all communities, including Hindus and Sikhs.

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind on Monday asserted that bringing about any change in the status and nature of waqf properties or making it easier for the government or any individual to "misuse" them is unacceptable.

The prominent Muslim body also stressed that it is prepared to knock the doors of the Supreme Court if a move is made to weaken the Waqf boards.

(The writer, Asad Mirza, is a New Delhi-based political commentator and Interfaith practitioner. The featured image used here is generated by AI.]

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What if Yunus demands India to extradite Sheikh Hasina?

The delay in ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeking asylum or stay in destination to North America, the United Kingdom or Europe, has caused the elites in Indias South Block and Indian Prime Ministers Office in New Delhi to bite their nails.

Thursday August 8, 2024 2:12 PM , Saleem Samad

The delay in ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeking asylum or stay in destination to North America, the United Kingdom or Europe, has caused the elites in Indias South Block and Indian Prime Ministers Office in New Delhi to bite their nails.

With every day passing, Delhi is getting jittery for the unwelcome VVIP guest, who arrived unnoticed on a special military flight from Dhaka to Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad, near the Indian capital Delhi.

On August 5, Sheikh Hasina flew in a helicopter from the Prime Ministers official residence Gonobhaban to Kurmitola Air Base. She departed on a Bangladesh Air Force C-130J transport aircraft (Flight No. AJAX 1431) and flew her to India.

After a safe landing at 5:45 PM, Hasinas transport plane landed at Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad. Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval received her upon arrival and held an hour-long meeting and high-level discussion. The agenda mostly centred around the current crisis in Bangladesh and her immediate plans.

Sheikh Hasina, the longest-serving woman Prime Minister in the world , was elected to power for a fifth term only seven months ago in January. Her uninterrupted 15-year tenure as Bangladeshs Prime Minister came to a dramatic end on August 5, when she fled the country amidst a mass street uprising of students and also joined by millions of people.

The unrest, which began with protests over job quotas on July 01, 2024 and escalated into calls for Hasinas resignation, reached a tipping point with violent clashes in the first week of August.

The police and Helmet Bahini, armed vigilant gangs recruited from Awami League killed at least 400 people in the streets during the Red Revolution which lasted for the last six days of the student protests.

Sheikh Hasina promoted her nephew General Waker-Uz-Zaman as the Chief of the Bangladesh Army keeping in mind that he would protect her and her autocratic regime.

The military chief declared Hasinas resignation in a national broadcast and stated that the military would establish a caretaker government to restore order. He also announced the formation of an interim government.

Hasina was the first leader and head of government who fled the country to avoid the wrath of angry students and general public.

The following day, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar convened an all-party meeting to discuss the Bangladesh crisis. The meeting was attended by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge.

Jaishankar said the government is in a wait-and-watch mode, but hands-on and in touch with the Bangladesh Army. He said Sheikh Hasinas presence in India is a courtesy move to ensure she settles down, recovers, and feels comfortable enough to discuss her plans.

He also described that Hasina is in a state of shock and the government is giving her time to recover before it speaks to her over various issues, including her plans.

Jaishankar told the Indian Parliament that Hasina has requested at very short notice to come to India following her forced resignation as Bangladesh Prime Minister.

The parliament was informed that an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals of which about 9,000 are students are in Bangladesh. The bulk of students returned in July.

Indian Foreign Minister also referred to an address by Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman  made last Monday, shortly after Hasina stepped down  in which he said, I have met opposition leaders we have decided to form an interim government and appealed for the violent protests to end.

The interim government headed by Nobel Laureate Dr Mohammad Yunus was formed in Dhaka in the afternoon (Thursday August 08, 2024). Yunus is set to take the oath of office in the evening. He also announced a 15-member Adviser Committee in his interim government.

For the restoration of democracy, a tentative date of election for the inventor of micro-credit will be announced.

Earlier, in an exclusive interview with NDTV from Paris, where Yunus attended as a Special Guest at the Paris Olympics and had a minor operation, he issued a vile warning that Indias north-east, Myanmar will be affected if Bangladesh becomes unstable.

Yunus for the last 12 years faced several legal harassments and was even awarded six months imprisonment in a labour case.

Several times, Hasina humiliated Yunus and even said he is a bloodsucker and profits from exorbitant loan interests from disadvantaged rural women.

She blamed Yunus for jeopardising the financial support of the World Bank for the construction of the mega project, the Padma Bridge.

In a speech, at the inaugural event of Padma Bridge , she wished to dip the Nobel laureate and ailing former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia into the yawning Padma River.

Hasina has nowhere to go in the next several weeks, and will be stranded in a guest house on the outskirts of Delhi. India feel embarrassed to have her for long, which possibly dent the renewed bilateral relationship between the two neighbours  Bangladesh and India, of emerging new government under the rule of Prof Muhammad Yunus.

Several political observers understand, that Yunus after holding the reign of Bangladesh, is likely to appeal to global leaders to urge India to deport Hasina to stand trial for crimes committed against the people during her 15 years of repressive rule.

If Delhi bigwigs do not concede to Yunuss appeal to send back Hasina, not only bilateral relations and trade would be affected, but would also spark an anti-India campaign resulting in a call for Boycott India and would also more persecution against Hindus in Bangladesh, which will difficult for the interim government to neutralise.

(Saleem Samad is an award-winning independent journalist based in Bangladesh. A media rights defender with the Reporters Without Borders (@RSF_inter). Recipient of Ashoka Fellowship and Hellman-Hammett Award. He could be reached at saleemsamad@hotmail.com; Twitter. The above article is first published in The Northeast News, Guwahati, India on 8 August 2024.)

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AAMA's Early Childhood Center PreK-3 students Aldo Cornejo, center, and Jeremiah Green, 3, play red light, green light" in a courtyard, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021, in Houston. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Latino children across large swaths of the Houston area are facing a triad of health disparities, according to the nonprofit Children at Risk in a neighborhood-by-neighborhood analysis released this week.

Researchers examined food insecurity, mental health services accessibility and kindergarten preparedness among Latino children in nearly 250 ZIP codes in Harris County, weighing factors that the Houston-based advocacy organization says contribute to systemic inequities.

They created a map highlighting which areas these disparities were most prevalent for Latino children, identifying 33 ZIP codes that stretch from far-northwest Harris County near Waller to Sheldon in the east and the Hobby area to the south.

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When were talking about Latino children, not only in Houston but in Texas, were talking about the majority of our kids, said longtime Children at Risk President Bob Sanborn at a news conference Wednesday. It gives us great concern when we see specific health needs around Latino children in the Greater Houston area.

The combination of food insecurity, inaccessibility to mental health services and low kindergarten preparedness can be detrimental to childrens development.

The group noted these findings in a detailed report published earlier this year, saying, Barriers in accessing resources were found across all three indicators including: language barriers, immigration status, cultural bias, lack of insurance, food deserts, and the overall lack of resources available to the Latino community.

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Not having access to nutritious food can lead to chronic health risks such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease, according to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. As of 2022, according to the latest data from the food access nonprofit Feeding America, 16.4% of Harris County residents are experiencing food insecurity, up from 13.8% the year prior.

Vanessa Ortiz, the Houston Food Bank's school partnership supervisor, said schools should be a haven for children who would otherwise go hungry because meals are provided. She also noted that families struggle during the summer months when kids are on break. She touted Backpack Buddy, a Houston Food Bank program that provides meals over the weekends and breaks during the school year, and other food programs.

Teachers noted lack of concentration, decrease in academic performance, increased behavioral issues, children saying that theyre sick more often, she said at the news conference. All are consequences of food insecurity in our schools and education programs.

Earlier this year, Texas left $450 million in federal funds on the table for a lunch program that would have provided low-income families in the state with $120 per child to help keep them fed through the summer months.

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President of the East End nonprofit Community Family Centers, Maritza Guerrero, said the issues of food insecurity and access to mental health services go hand in hand. She said families struggling to afford food have reported stress, anxiety and depression, all of which can be exacerbated by the frequent natural disasters Houston has endured.

We know that after the pandemic and we also know that with disasters, the children in the family have post-traumatic stress disorder many times because they don't have the money to put a roof again on the house or the resources to fix their car, Guerrero said. They last days or many months without being able to fix something.

The solutions, she added, include increasing government funding for mental health and other social services.

Early childhood education is also key to helping close the health disparity gap for Houstons Latino children, said Diana Del Pilar of Children at Risk. Many families in the area cant afford childcare and often lose wages caring for kids themselves, also cutting off the children from an early start to their education.

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Children who begin formal learning early on tend to pick up better social and language skills, she said, but kids who arent might already be falling behind.
HA NOI  The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ministry of Industry and Trade are expected to shortly submit a proposal to establish a national rice council the Government.

At a meeting on August 6, Nguyen Anh Son, director of the Import-Export Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that the ministry is drafting a submission to the Government on the establishment of the national council.

On August 1 the ministry sent an official dispatch to other ministries, branches, localities and associations to gather opinions about establishing a council before reporting back.

According to the draft, the proposed members of the council include one chairman of the council held by the Deputy Prime Minister with two permanent vice chairmen of the council from the Minister of Industry and Trade and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The council members would be representatives of leadership from the ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, Planning and Investment, Finance, Science and Technology, and Foreign Affairs and the localities producing rice.

The council will be responsible for researching and proposing to the Government strategies, mechanisms and policies to create a transparent and effective legal environment, ensure stable market development, promote comprehensive and effective development of the rice industry, contribute to national food security and sustainable development in production and exports.

At the meeting, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan pointed out that rice is not only for export, it is also for domestic consumption and in addition Viet Nam imports rice.

The rice industry is also reacting to climate change and green growth with a project on developing one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta region by 2030.

According to Minister Hoan, besides removing the limitations of the rice industry, the national rice council would quickly handle emerging issues such as Thailand and India having new and sudden policies on rice exports or the Vietnamese ST 25 rice brand being counterfeited.

Hoan said that the council would meet once a year, but also have ad hoc meetings.

According to Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, rice production is still fragmented without advanced technology. Rice exports are still dependent on traditional markets, so the export market for Vietnamese rice is not diversified.

Excluding a few large enterprises, companies are not proactive in terms of material use, production chains and calculating long-term profits.

Minister Dien said that Vietnamese rice completely meets the high demanding markets. Although there is a Vietnamese rice brand, it has not been used in production and export activities, enterprises have not united to protect the brand and there is still unfair competition.

The rice production industry still lacks a stable and solid development strategy and policy, and there is still spontaneity in production and in each enterprise. This is a key industry but the investment from the State in production, trading and export is still too small.

"If this council is established, it will propose the Government have strong and feasible policies, so that Vietnamese rice has higher value and is a brand in the world market," Minister Dien said.

According to Dien, with the goal of multi-value, diversified products, diversified markets and income for rice growers, green production and effective use of resources, the rice production industry really needs an agency effective coordinating between ministries, localities and associations in production, trading and export of Vietnamese rice. That is the national rice council.

Tran Cong Thang, director of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agricultural and Rural Development, said that the rice industry needs strategic solutions for growers and localities producing rice and comprehensive strategies on dealing with issues such as changes in rice production and trading policies of other countries, climate change, consumer changes, trade disputes, copyright protection and new trends.

Therefore, the establishment of this council is necessary to solve those issues and propose solutions on carrying out the sustainable development goal of the rice production industry, said Thang.

In countries with strategic export industries having effects on the global market such as the oil palm industry of Malaysia, the coffee industry of Brazil and the rice industry of Thailand, they have similar councils, in addition to organisations of producers and traders such as associations and unions.

This is an agency that connects State ministries and organisations representing parts in the value chain like farmers, processors and traders and between localities producing rice. Along with that, it supports solving major issues and advises the Government on major policies relating to rice production and business.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries have changed their import policies to ensure national food security, affecting Viet Nam's rice export activities. Therefore, Nguyen Ngoc Nam, chairman of the Viet Nam Food Association believes that the establishment of the National Rice Council is necessary for Viet Nam to have sustainable development in rice production and export.

Nguyen Tien Cuong, head of the Economic Committee, Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union, and Tran Son Ha, General Director of the Northern Food Corporation (Vinafood 1) expressed their agreement with the council proposal to solve inter-sectoral macro issues. At the same time, the representative of Vinafood 1 added that the council should consider and add the issue of managing domestic rice consumption to its tasks.

Chairman of the ong Thap Provincial People's Committee Pham Thien Nghia welcomed the idea of establishing of the national rice council.

"We hope that the ministers will promote the establishment of this council sooner and faster to effectively remove existing difficulties for regions and the industry of producing rice and to promote the advantages and strengths in the rice production industry in the future," Nghia said.  VNS
HA NOI  Benchmark indices extended gains on Wednesday, supported by strong rallies of Vin-family stocks, while foreign investors net sold a significant value of over VN1.36 trillion (US$54.1 million) on the two main exchanges.

On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the VN-Index increased 5.6 points, or 0.46 per cent, to 1,215.88 points. The index recovered for the straight two days, recouping half of the big losses of Monday.

The market's breadth remained positive with 176 stocks ticking up and 124 declining. Meanwhile, liquidity continued to fall, down 13.9 per cent from the previous session to VN14.19 trillion.

The VN30-Index, tracking the 30 biggest stocks in term of market capitalisation on HoSE, rose slightly 0.77 points, or 0.06 per cent, to finish at 1,253.58 points. However, decliners outnumbered gainers in the VN30 basket by 14 to 10 and six stocks stayed flat.

Stocks of Vin-family boosted the market's uptrend, with Vinhomes (VHM) leading the gain. Shares of the property developer hit the ceiling price on the back of a stock repurchasing announcement.

Vinhomes said that it will buy back 370 million shares to protect the company's and shareholders' interests, after its shares hit bottom levels.

Vingroup (VIC) also finished higher at VN42,350 per share, up 2,54 per cent.

Also supporting the uptrend, big names on the market posted impressive performance, such as Vietnam Rubber Group (GVR) which soared 3.83 per cent, PV GAS (GAS) which climbed 2.72 per cent, Vincom Retail (VRE) surged nearly 6 per cent and Vinamilk (VNM) up 1.51 per cent.

By contrast, leading sectors such as banking, securities and steel saw few ticker symbols in green. Specifically, shares of many lenders reported sharp declines, with Techcombank (TCB) being the biggest loser, down 2.24 per cent.

Other banking stocks, including VPBank (VPB), BIDV (BID), Vietinbank (CTG) and SeaBank (SSB) dropped in a range of 0.75-1.91 per cent. Meanwhile, securities stocks mostly ended unchanged.

The HNX-Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX) also increased, up 1.49 points, or 0.66 per cent, to 227.95 points. During the session, over 43.4 million shares were traded on the northern bourse, worth $899 billion.

Foreign capital saw a significant outflow from the market, of which, foreign investors net sold nearly VN1.36 trillion on the HoSE and VN9.14 billion on HNX.  VNS
HA NOI In supporting micro and small enterprises to accumulate capital and develop business, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has proposed lowering the corporate income tax rate to 15-17 per cent for those with a total revenue of no more than VN50 billion, instead of the current flat rate of 20 per cent.

The tax cut, included in the draft Law on Corporate Income Tax (amended) is expected to be presented to the National Assembly for first review in October 2024 and for approval in May 2025.

Meanwhile, the ministry has been gathering feedback on the draft law from governmental agencies and the public. It said one of the drafting committees key objectives was to create a more favourable tax regime for micro and small enterprises.

According to the draft law, a 15 per cent tax rate is proposed for businesses with total revenue not greater than VN3 billion, and a 17 per cent tax rate is proposed for businesses with total revenue higher than VN3 billion and lower than VN50 billion.

The ministry said that out of the 900,000 businesses currently operating, micro and small businesses account for nearly 94 per cent of the total and have been earmarked for preferential policies to help them develop production and long-term revenue. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they were also beneficiaries of many of the Vietnamese governments support programmes.

International experience shows that many countries use tax support policies as a tool to promote the development of small businesses. For example, small businesses may be granted preferential tax rates, which could be a fixed tax rate or a progressive tax rate based on income streams.

The ministry said in principle small businesses should enjoy a lower tax rate in comparison to large enterprises, but in practice, this policy will not apply to all small businesses.

According to the Law on Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises, a business is classified as small or medium if it employs an average of 200 workers and meets one of the following two criteria - total capital not exceeding VN100 billion or total revenue in the preceding year not exceeding VN300 billion.

Based on these criteria, micro and small businesses currently account for nearly 94 per cent of all businesses in the country, and if medium-sized businesses are included, the group of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises accounts for over 97 per cent. If these criteria were used to determine eligibility for preferential tax rates, almost all businesses in the country would qualify.

During the initial feedback process on the draft Law on Corporate Income Tax (amended), the business community expressed enthusiasm about the tax incentives, but was also concerned that some provisions in the draft law could pose policy risks.

They have called for greater clarity and stronger measures to help businesses manage risk, promote investment activities, streamline operations and create additional jobs. VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam is the eighth largest tea exporter in the world, earning US$135 million from tea exports in the first seven months of this year, an increase of 34.8 per cent over the same period last year.

Tea export price averaged $1,272.7 per tonnes, up by 1.6 per cent.

In July alone, tea export reached 16,000 tonnes, worth $29 million, up 14.5 per cent and 6.8 per cent, respectively, over a month ago, statistics of the Ministry of Industry and Trades Import  Export Department showed.

Tea export products of Viet Nam include green tea, black tea and oolong tea.

Although Viet Nam was among the worlds largest tea exporters, the proportions of Vietnamese tea in the import of major markets remain modest, meaning that there are significant opportunities for Viet Nam to increase volumes.

Specifically, Viet Nams tea export to the EU, the worlds largest tea importer, accounted for just 0.19 per cent of the blocs total tea imports of $401 million in the first four months of this year, according to statistics from Eurostat.

However, the EU is raising higher requirements for tea quality, towards greener and leaner production, pushing exporters to update themselves on the new regulations.

Pakistan is also the second largest tea importer in the world, but the tea export of Viet Nam into this market remained modest due to the lack of market information.

The demands for tea of other major tea import markets such as the US and the UK are increasing, providing significant opportunities for Viet Nam to expand. A study by Research and Markets showed that the global tea market is expected to reach $37.5 billion in 2025, up from $24.3 billion in 2016.  VNS
HA NOI  Goods shipments to the US, Viet Nams largest market for export, have seen a strong resurgence over the recent months, with their value exceeding US$10 billion in June and July.

While the monthly export value in the early part of the year ranged from $8.3 billion to 8.9 billion, even dropping to about $7 billion, that in the past two consecutive months surpassed $10 billion.

Overall, the country exported a cumulative total of $66.09 worth of products to the US between January and July, an annual rise of 24.4 per cent - the highest among its importers.

In the seven-month period, American buyers spent a monthly average of close to $9.6 billion on purchasing goods from Vietnamese suppliers. Within the first half, they channeled $11.16 billion into computers, electronic products, and components; $9.19 billion into machinery, equipment, and spare parts; $7.21 billion in garment-textile; and $5.5 billion into phones and components, up 51.6 per cent, 15.8 per cent, 3.6 per cent, and 34.3 per cent, year-on-year respectively.

With the US accelerating goods purchases for the year-end festive season and the volume of their goods in stock plunging, the number of orders from US buyers is expected to grow significantly.

Vu Vinh Phu, an economic expert, predicted Vietnamese exports to the market such as electronics, leather and footwear, garment textiles, farm produce, machinery and equipment will continue to recover in months to come.

These product categories have seen improvement in quality and competitive pricing thanks to substantial foreign direct investment in production and export activities as well as their deep integration into supply chains, making them more favoured and trusted by US importers.

If the current growth momentum is maintained, bilateral trade could reach $135 billion this year.

As Vietnamese exports accelerate, they also face numerous trade defence cases. As of June, they have encountered over 250 trade defence investigations from 24 markets. The US alone has initiated 64 investigations, accounting for 25 per cent of the total. In 2023, out of the 15 new cases initiated by foreign countries against Vietnamese exports, the US initiated the most with seven cases.

Nevertheless, trade defence is a typical aspect of international commerce. Chu Thang Trung, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trades Trade Remedies Authority, explained that the US has extremely stringent laws on investigation and application of defence measures.

They investigate goods from all countries, not just Viet Nam. For countries with large export volumes to the US, the frequency of trade defence cases will be higher," Trung said.

The point is overcoming these obstacles to maintain our export markets and promote sustainable bilateral trade by complying with US regulations, enhancing product competitiveness through quality, increasing the value-added content in our products, and avoiding price-based competition, thus reducing the risk of becoming targets for trade defence investigations.

Trade defence is a routine activity in international trade, but it poses difficulties for Vietnamese enterprises because the US does not recognise Vietnam as a market economy. This means that Vietnamese exporters face discrimination in anti-dumping and subsidy investigations since their actual production costs are not used to calculate dumping margins. Instead, surrogate values from a third country are used.

Therefore, in specific cases, Vietnamese businesses need to prove to US authorities that the dumping accusations are inaccurate, providing information and data on their production activities and fair competition in an equal environment, recommended a representative from the Trade Remedies Authority.  VNS
HA NOI  Bac Giang Province will continue to strengthen cooperation with the Republic of Korea (RoK), Director of the provincial Department of Foreign Affairs Ngo Bien Cuong said.

To strengthen local-level cooperation, the authority will deploy cooperation agreements with Seo District of Daejeon, South Chungcheong Province. The districts, cities, and towns of Bac Giang Province are oriented towards cooperating with Korean localities at the district level that share similar characteristics and complementary strengths of Bac Giang.

The northern province prioritises investments in industrial production projects which enable the effective participation in the global value chains of Korean investors such as electrical and electronic components, equipment, machineries, software, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, nanotechnology, biotechnology and semiconductors, as well as agricultural and forestry product processing.

Regarding the trade and service sector, Bac Giang has called for Korean investments in value-added services such as finance, banking, insurance, postal and telecommunications, logistics and medical examination and treatments.

Bac Giang also aims to attract and encourage Korean investments in projects of preservation and processing to increase added value for agro-forestry-fishery products of the province.

Statistics from the provincial Department of Foreign Affairs, show that so far, the province has attracted US$2.7 billion worth of registered capital from Korean investors across 365 projects.

RoK is currently the largest investor in term of the number of projects and the third largest in term of registered capital (after China and Samoa) among 30 countries and territories investing in the province.

The trade between Bac Giang and RoK was estimated to reach $5.99 billion in the first five months of this year. Bilateral trade reached $16.3 billion in 2023 and $13.3 billion in 2022, making RoK the second largest trade partner of Bac Giang, coming after China.

In addition, Bac Giang City of Bac Giang Province has signed a cooperation agreement with Seo District of Daejeon City to strengthen cooperation in green and smart urban areas development, economic development, education, culture, healthcare, tourism and public administration.

Programmes and projects by Korean non-governmental organisations and enterprises have contributed sinigicantly to improving social security in the province.

In particular, Samsung and KFHI sponsored $250,000 to build toilets in schools and $850,000 to build Samsung Hope Schools. DIVA provided $300,000 to support the building of houses for the poor in Yen The District.

The Korean Embassy provides supports in sending volunteering teachers to teach Korean at Bac Giang Gifted High School. Since 2019 Samsung has also donated wheelchairs to the disabled in the province.  VNS
HA NOI  Domestic and foreign investors have proposed investment in waste-to-energy projects in Viet Nam's southern localities.

HCM City-based BNVITEK Ltd Company last month proposed to the municipal Peoples Committee a project on developing a 20-ha factory in the city to turn 4,000 tonnes of waste into 100MW daily.

Under the project, the company will sell carbon credits from collecting methane during its operation, contributing to realising the Net Zero goal by 2050.

In mid-July, BCG Energy, a member of conglomerate Bamboo Capital, kicked off construction on Tam Sinh Nghia waste-to-energy plant project in the citys Cu Chi district after years of delays.

The plant, with an investment for the first phase reaching VN6.4 trillion (US$254.5 million), is designed to treat 2,000-2,600 tonnes of waste each day.

Meanwhile, the municipal Peoples Committee also granted an investment licence to Vietstar Company to build a 2,000-tonne waste-to-energy plant.

Moreover, the HCM City Urban Environment Ltd Co and the Refrigeration Electrical Engineering Corporation have announced their interest in investing in waste treatment projects with respective capacity of 1,000 tonnes of waste and 2,000 tonnes.

In ong Nai Province, which borders HCM city, domestic and foreign investors have also proposed developing waste-to-energy projects. They include Ecotech Vietnam Technology Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company and Le Delta Joint Stock Company.

In the first half of this year, the provincial leaders received two investors from Taiwan (China) and Germany who came to seek investment opportunities in waste-to-energy development.

Willy Andreas Kirsch, Chairman of Germanys Asia New Generation, said that his company plans to invest $40 million in invest in a plant capable of burning 400 tonnes of waste daily in its first phase. The capacity is expected to raise to 1,000 tonnes per day in the next phase.  VNS
HCM CITY  The export of mollusks and other aquatic products from Viet Nam is expected to continue its upward trajectory for the remainder of 2024.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the export turnover of Viet Nam's mollusks in the first seven months of 2024 was estimated at over US$95 million, a 24 per cent increase year-on-year. Of this, clams accounted for $52 million, scallops $14 million, snails $16 million, oysters over $8 million, and other aquatic products nearly $4 million.

Among these products, snails saw the highest growth rate compared to the same period in 2023, with an increase of over 57 per cent.

Nguyen Thi Van Ha, a market expert from VASEP, highlighted that in the first seven months of 2024, China significantly increased its import of clams and scallops from Viet Nam, with a rise of 120 times compared to the same period in 2023. Additionally, the export value of other live, fresh, or frozen mollusks has also surged, surpassing $7 million, an increase of nearly 82 times year-on-year.

In addition to China, other countries have also boosted their imports of Vietnamese mollusks, Ha added.

She reported that markets are also increasing their imports of rock lobsters, octopuses, and crabs. In the reviewed period, China raised its import of rock lobsters and other types of sea shrimp to an estimated $111 million, marking a 32 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. Consequently, the share of Vietnamese rock lobsters in Chinas total import value for this product rose from 1 per cent last year to 25.3 per cent this year. Moreover, the export revenue of frozen rock lobsters to this market saw a dramatic increase of 682 per cent, reaching $4.7 million.

For crabs, China and Hong Kong (China) remained the largest import markets for crabs and other crustaceans from Viet Nam, accounting for 43 per cent of the country's total. In July alone, crab and other crustacean exports to this market increased 20 times year-on-year, reaching nearly $13 million, bringing the figure in the first seven months to nearly $63 million, a year-on-year rise of 623 per cent.

Exports to the US and Canada are also growing positively, with increases of 30 per cent and 44 per cent, respectively.

Meanwhile, exports to Japan have been on a downward trend for the past three months. The export value of crabs and other crustaceans to this market in the first seven months decreased slightly by 0.3 per cent to over $40 million.  VNS
HCM CITY  A seminar to discuss boosting bilateral trade in the export of goods between Viet Nam and Canada was held in District 1, HCM City yesterday.

The seminar, themed Seminar on bilateral trade promotion for Vietnamese exporters and with Canadian counterparts, was co-organised by HCM City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) and ATIM Consulting JSC.

Director of ITPC Tran Phu Lu, said Viet Nam is a key partner of Canada in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which opens up many opportunities for Canadian products and services to enter the Vietnamese and ASEAN markets.

Otherwise, the country also benefits from this agreement through advantages when exporting to Canada.

Canada is currently Viet Nam's third-largest trading partner in the Americas, while Viet Nam is Canada's largest trading partner in ASEAN.

Despite global economic downturns in 2023, the bilateral trade between the two countries reached US$14 billion.

According to the General Department of Viet Nam Customs, the total trade turnover between Viet Nam and Canada has reached over US$3.41 billion in the first half of 2024, with the country's exports to Canada amounting to US$3 billion.

The key exports to Canada included textiles, machinery, equipment, wood products, seafood, and cashews while Viet Nam mainly imported wheat and soybeans.

Canada is one of the 14th largest investors in Viet Nam, with over 247 projects and total registered capital exceeding $4.82 billion in 2023.

Seven Canadian projects were licensed in HCM City in the first half of 2024, with a total capital of over US$739 thousand.

President of Viet Nam-Canada Hub Solutions, ao Phuong Thuy, said that seafood and wooden furniture have recently been the most effectively traded sectors between Viet Nam and Canada.

This is based on the thriving seafood trade between the two countries, driven by strengthened cooperation. Vietnamese businesses maximise value through brand building, product innovation, and efficient use of local distribution.

The top seafood products exported to Canada include shrimp, pangasius, squid, filets and clams, while Viet Nam imports lobster, snow crab, salmon, mackerel and herring.

Viet Nam also exports a variety of wooden and furniture products to Canada, including upholstered furniture, outdoor furniture, office furniture, and children's furniture.

On the other hand, Viet Nam imports wood powder, paper or cardboard, softwood, hardwood and plywood from Canada.

CEO of The Herbers Agency Zach Herbers, said that Viet Nam is currently Canada's largest trading partner in the Indo-Pacific region and among the top 15 worldwide.

Trade between the two countries is expected to grow annually over the next decade, driven by Viet Nam's strategic location, young population, competitive costs, growing consumer market, and extensive trade agreements.

Moreover, the two countries benefit from the CPTPP by receiving tariff reductions or eliminations on exports across various trade sectors, though this has not been fully utilised.

He also said that to effectively enter the Canadian market, businesses should carefully research customer product needs, competitors, and pricing factors to ensure readiness and create product differentiation.

Additionally, experts at the seminar advised Viet Nam businesses to consider partnering with Canadian companies and e-commerce platforms to increase their presence and save costs.  VNS
HA NOI  Nguyen Thu Thuy, a conservationist of the Asian Turtle Programme at Cuc Phuong National Park, Ninh Binh Province, begins her day at 7am by inspecting every turtle and delegating chores to her staff teams.

During the breeding season, the animal care team will clean the enclosure, prepare and feed the turtles, and keep an eye on the eggs.

The medical assessment and care regimens for recently rescued or wounded turtles will be reviewed by the veterinary team.

After that, we'll take care of the eggs in the incubator, inspect the egg incubator to see if any turtles have been hatched, Thuy said.

Wild animal rescue staff at the Turtle Conservation Centre of Cuc Phuong Park are busy, she said, adding that they have to work every day including holidays and weekends.

"The rescue operations are ongoing around the clock. When the staff learns about animals seized from the illicit trade, they make plans to depart at any time of day.

We assist law enforcement agencies and partner units in identifying turtles for sale and providing guidance on temporary care plans while waiting for the rescue team to arrive. We also cooperate with domestic rescue centres and conservation areas to rescue animals and coordinate activities to release turtles into the wild," she told Bao Ve Phap Luat (Law Protection) newspaper.

She said employees in wildlife conservation have extensive training and expertise. They are responsible for making sure the animals are fed and have access to medical treatment.

After nearly a decade of employment at the centre, Thuy said staying with her favourite species and being close to nature are a great joy to her.

She is surrounded by a group of coworkers that are committed to their jobs and constantly encourage one another. She sees them as fellow enthusiasts.

She is also lucky to be able to travel, share and study in many places to work more effectively. These are the driving forces behind her continued hard effort.

The Turtle Conservation Centre of Cuc Phuong National Park is currently responsible for more than 2,000 animals including 24 native turtle species in Viet Nam.

The centre employs 14 staff members and two long-term international volunteers.

Eighty percent of the staff members are from the local community living around the park while 60 percent of them are indigenous Muong ethnic people.

In addition to caring for and preserving precious and rare wild animals, the centre bears the vital duty of caring for and nurturing wild animals that are evidence of the violation cases.

When wildlife creatures are used as proof of violations, emergency rescues are frequently necessary and can occur at any moment. As soon as we receive the news, we will quickly determine the number of individuals of each species through images from the investigation agency and guide them through basic initial care steps to keep the animals stable while waiting for the rescue team to arrive, she said.

When the rescue team arrives to the evidence collection facility, they will inspect every turtle, give them food and drink, tend to any wounds and keep healthy turtles apart from sick ones to prevent cross-contamination, according to her, she said.

Staff will conduct health checks and arrange suitable cages for each species/individual. Rescued individuals are kept for a minimum of 90 days in the quarantine area for parasite removal, treatment, monitoring and special care, she said.

Risks on health

Nguyen Tat Ha, a veterinary officer at Pu Mat National Park Wildlife Rescue Centre in central Nghe An Province, has a special memory during his wildlife rescue journey.

When caring for a monkey over ten years ago, the animal grabbed, scratched, tore and damaged his arm, leaving significant scars that remain to this day.

"I just returned to work after a lengthy vacation. The animals had not been around me for a while, so they were not accustomed to me, he said.

After 20 years in the field, Ha feels that caring for animals is similar to being an emergency physician in that it calls for commitment and rapid attention in order to treat animals that are in need of rescue.

The wild creatures that are brought to the centre have been malnourished, hunted, held captive and transported for several days, leaving them weak, hurt, or even dead.

No matter it is day or night, when they hear a phone call reporting injured or illegally trafficked wildlife being confiscated by the authorities and in need of assistance, they immediately arrive at the scene to promptly handle it professionally.

"Our joy is seeing the rescued animals being raised and cared for at this centre running, jumping and having fun every day, even though the work is challenging and demanding and the payment rate is not high.

The greatest happiness for conservation workers like us is when each individual grows healthy and can return to its natural habitat, he said.

Thuy from Cuc Phuong National Park sent a message to the younger generation: We are the reason why many wildlife species are threatened and hurt and we are the only ones to be able to make changes on that fact.

The fate of wildlife species lies in the understanding and actions of each individual. Wildlife conservation is a journey that takes many years to see results. Hopefully the younger generation will be the ones who will continue to make changes and witness that positive changes.  VNS
Texas Children's Hospital opened it's new campus in Austin. Courtesy Texas Children's Hospital

Texas Children's Hospital opened it's newest campus in Austin, marking the hospital's largest and latest expansion into Central Texas. Its opening, however, coincided with significant financial struggles throughout the system.

The hospital announced Tuesday it's laying off 5% of its workforce as a result of several historic financial challenges," executive vice president and chief human resources officer Linda Aldred told the Chronicle on Tuesday.

The hospital reported a loss of roughly $200 million through the first six months of its current fiscal year, due in part to fewer Houston patients and a two-week delay in the opening of its North Austin campus, according to credit rating analysts.

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Here's what you need to know about the recently-opened Texas Childrens Hospital North Austin Campus and what it means for the hospital's future.

When did the Texas Children's Austin location open?

After it was announced in 2020, the 365,000-square-foot Austin campus officially opened in late February.

The campus near North Lake Creek Parkway features a full-service emergency center, safe rooms for behavioral health patients and a five-story hospital connected to a 170,000-square-foot outpatient building.

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It's also poised for future expansion, with room for additional outpatient or hospital buildings, according to a news release.

How much did the Texas Children's Austin hospital cost?

The Austin campus cost the company roughly $485 million to build.

To cover the costs of the build and additional expansions and improvements, Texas Children's issued bonds but recently had its bond rating downgraded by Fitch Ratings, a major credit rating agency.

The lower rating was the result of many factors that led to an operating income loss of $198.1 million in the first six months of fiscal year 2024.

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It's a downgrade, but it's not the signal of something long-term dire or anything along those lines, Kevin Holloran, a senior director at Fitch, previously told the Chronicle.

Is the Texas Children's Austin hospital the first location outside of Houston?

The North Austin campus is the first Texas Children's hospital located outside of the greater Houston area, but further expands the hospital system's presence in Austin, which includes 20 locations offering urgent, speciality and pediatric care.

Austin families and the surrounding communities deserve access to the most advanced treatment from world-renowned physicians at any given moment and Texas Childrens is doing their best to ensure this will happen now and in the future, Russ Williams, senior vice president of Texas Childrens Hospital North Austin Campus, said in the news release.

What were some reasons Texas Children's built a hospital in Austin?

The campus is evidence of the hospital's growing expansion in Austin that began in 2018.

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About 30,000 children traveled to Houston from Austin for medical treatment in the last decade, according to a news release. The hospital said it hopes the new campus satisfies the need for speciality care in the city.

Ahead of the campus's opening, the Austin area was primarily served by Dell Childrens Medical Center of Central Texas and St. David's Children's Hospital.

It has been a longtime goal of mine to continue the incredible mission of our founders and expand access to Texas Childrens high-quality level of care to families throughout Texas, Texas Childrens CEO Mark A. Wallace said in a news release. As we celebrate our 70th anniversary as an organization, we are looking forward to serving even more children and women with one of the most elite clinical teams in the world.

Evan MacDonald and Julian Gill contributed to this article.
HA NOI  Food enthusiasts in Ha Noi will be delighted with a unique culinary week featuring the esteemed three-starred Michelin chef Bruno Menard and Singaporean culinary expert chef Mark Suah from W Singapore  Sentosa Cove.

Hosted by JW Marriott Hanoi, the 'Singapore Culinary Week' with chef Suah will take place from August 9-14 at JW Cafe, while the premium French-style lunch and dinner with chef Menard will be from August 14-18 at the French Grill.

Chef Bruno and chef Suah, with distinct culinary styles representing different traditions, will delight all lovers of global cuisine. These events promise a unique exploration of taste artistry and cultural discovery for all diners.

Starting his culinary journey at the age of 16, chef Suah has gathered over ten years of expertise and multiple honours around Asia. Since 2021, he has worked as Chef de Partie at W Singapore - Sentosa Cove, specialising in crafting locally inspired culinary creations.

In his first visit to JW Cafe, chef Suah will highlight the distinct flavours of Singapore's multicultural cuisine with a lunch and dinner buffet menu offering eight intriguing dishes such as Singapore Chilli Crab, Hainanese Chicken Rice and Salted Egg Chicken...and many more. Notably, his creative take on Laksa from W Singapore  Sentosa Cove will add an exciting twist to the week.

From August 14-18, connoisseurs can enjoy a remarkable culinary journey as celebrity chef Menard, a former three-starred Michelin chef, makes his highly-anticipated return to the French Grill.

A significant highlight of the voyage is the Elite Wine Dinner on August 16, showcasing exceptional wines from Chateau Lafite Rothschild, perfectly paired with an exquisite menu.

On August 17-18 chef Menard and chef Jean-Francois Nulli, the two top culinary artisans, will come together to deliver an unparalleled gourmet experience with weekend lunch of refined dining.

For more information phone (024) 3833-5588. VNS
Anh Ngo

Early on a sunny morning, Dr Paul D'Alfonso  a US chiropractor  begins his day at his clinic in District 7, HCM City. For the past 12 years, he has been a cornerstone of the community, known not just for his chiropractic skills but for his dedication to rescuing ill and abandoned pets.

Dr Paul's journey to Viet Nam began with his wife, who is American-born but half Vietnamese. The couple moved to Viet Nam in 2012, driven to live abroad, travel and reconnect with her roots. An opportunity to open a chiropractic clinic arose and they decided to take the leap.

"Viet Nam was brimming with new opportunities," Dr Paul told Viet Nam News. "We mustered the courage to start this adventure."

Besides treating sick residents in HCM City, Dr Paul and his wife have also established a small rescue network, helping ill and abandoned pets.

Her love for animals is strong and with her fundraising skills, she created a small team focused on animal rescue efforts in District 7 called RAD7, he said.

A leap of faith to Viet Nam

Since arriving, Dr Paul has been educating and working, helping the local population understand the benefits of a healthy spine, better posture and overall wellbeing.

One particular experience stands out in Dr Paul's memory. A few years ago, a man walked into his clinic, burdened with chronic pain that had shadowed him for years. "I treated him once by chance two years ago, then didn't hear from him until recently," he recalled.

The man returned with a story that moved him deeply. After that single adjustment, the man's pain had completely vanished. This newfound freedom from pain allowed him to rebuild his life in ways he never imagined possible. He met someone special, got married and now they are expecting their first child.

You never know how you'll affect someone and all the lives connected to that person when you help them," Dr Paul said.

Dr Paul's current passion project involves supporting an orphanage for children with disabilities, including cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome and spinal injuries. "We're working with a therapy called neuro suit therapy, which uses a specialised suit to help people with disabilities walk and achieve normal movement," he explained.

While doctors impact patients' lives, interestingly, the opposite happens as well  patients can change theirs.

The Vietnamese locals have welcomed me with open arms. I've had the chance to meet their families, been invited to dinners in their homes and even attended their children's weddings. These visits have allowed me to get close to the culture," Dr Paul said.

Animal rescue, a labour of love

As animal lovers, he and his wife are devoted to saving pets. They have established and operated an animal rescue group in District 7 for seven years with core members who volunteer and help make a difference.

It started when my wife's friend found an injured dog in the middle of the road. The medical bills were high, so her friend reached out to her for fundraising help. That case with Cherry (this injured dog) is how RAD7 came to be, he said.

The work can be emotional as they often encounter severe medical issues or terrible circumstances.

My wife describes it like a rollercoaster with highs and lows. All the cats and dogs that RAD7 takes on have a backstory, Dr Paul said.

Aside from treating ill pets, the group specialises in finding adopters for abandoned animals. "Wherever we live, one of our criteria is to have an additional bedroom for fostering," he said.

Despite having full-time jobs, some members commit to working after hours volunteering to helping the animals. RAD7 annually supports up to a hundred cats and dogs in finding new homes, either through their foster network or by providing resources and veterinary discounts to aid in their recovery and rehabilitation.

Our primary goal is to promote adoption and fostering over purchasing pets, encapsulated in our mantra: Adopt, don't shop'. It indeed takes a village and we're so grateful for the support of fosters, vets and the community we have.

The most rewarding aspect of animal rescue is witnessing the transformation of these animals as they heal and find loving homes.

With Dr Paul, it's a testament to the incredible impact that compassion and dedicated care can have on an animal's life, to be able to turn their stories of suffering into tales of hope and love.  VNS
TOKYO  Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and his Japanese counterpart Kamikawa Yoko co-chaired the 12th meeting of the Viet Nam-Japan Cooperation Committee in Tokyo on Wednesday discussing a number of issues including human training in key industrial sectors, semiconductors and artificial intelligence.

Son paid an official visit to Japan from August 7-10 at the invitation of Japanese foreign minister Kamikawa Yoko.

At the meeting, the two sides reviewed the results achieved since the 11th Cooperation Committee meeting and discussed measures to concretise the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World, which was established in 2023.

The leaders highly appreciated the re-launch of the Viet Nam-Japan Cooperation Committee mechanism after a five-year interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting on Wednesday was the first after the two countries upgraded their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, increasing political trust and strong development in all areas of bilateral relations.

The ministers agreed to further strengthen the connection between the two economies through promoting cooperation in Official Development Assistance (ODA), investment, trade and labour.

Minister Son proposed Japan continue to provide new-generation ODA with high incentives, simpler and more flexible procedures for Viet Nam in digital transformation, green transformation, climate change response, healthcare and large-scale key infrastructure development.

Minister Kamikawa Yoko affirmed that Japan wishes to support Viet Nam in building an independent and self-reliant economy, implementing industrialisation and modernisation, and achieving the goal of becoming a developed country by 2045.

She said Japanese enterprises are interested in and consider Viet Nam as an attractive investment destination to diversify the supply chain.

The two sides welcomed and affirmed that they would continue to closely coordinate to effectively implement the first phase of the Viet Nam-Japan Joint Initiative to ensure that efficient and sustainable activities of Japanese investors in Viet Nam.

They also look forwards to extending market opening for fruits, including Vietnamese grapefruits and Japanese grapes.

The two sides agreed to expand comprehensive cooperation to new areas including digital transformation, innovation, information technology, digital society through practical and specific initiatives and projects.

Minister Kamikawa Yoko emphasised that Japan wishes to cooperate with Viet Nam in sustainable development, emission reduction and environment through initiatives such as the Asian Zero Emission Community (AZEC).

Minister Son proposed Japan continue to simplify procedures and move towards visa exemption for Vietnamese citizens entering Japan.

Appreciating the positive contributions of the community of nearly 570,000 Vietnamese people to Japans socio-economic development, Minister Kamikawa Yoko introduced Japan's new labour policy issued in June 2024, which offer more preferential regimes for foreign workers, including those from Viet Nam.

She affirmed the Japanese government will continue to create a more favourable and attractive environment for Vietnamese workers.

The Japanese Foreign Minister affirmed Viet Nam is an important partner in implementing Japan's foreign policy towards the region.

Japan will support Viet Nam to successfully participate in the EXPO 2025 Osaka.

At the meeting, the two ministers also exchanged opinions on international and regional issues of mutual concern. They agreed to strengthen coordination and exchange of viewpoints at international and regional forums such as ASEAN, the United Nations, APEC, and OECD.

On this occasion, Minister Son invited Minister Kamikawa Yoko to attend the fourth Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) summit and the ASEAN Future Forum to be held in Viet Nam in 2025. VNS
HA NOI  The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), established on August 8, 1967, currently consists of 10 members, and Viet Nam has made its mark on the development of the bloc over the past decades.

The association comprises Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Viet Nam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia. Timor-Leste is in the progress of admission into the bloc as an official member.

From the initial population of about 260 million, ASEAN is now home to more than 650 million people and a highly potential market. It is forecast to become the worlds fourth largest economy by 2050. The association is about to enter a new development stage after completing the realisation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.

Since officially engaging in ASEAN on July 28, 1995, regardless of serving as a member or performing important tasks of the bloc, Viet Nam has always played a core and leading role to significantly contribute to the development of ASEAN.

As a proactive, active, and responsible member, the country has joined hands with other members to make practical contributions to the building of a strong ASEAN Community, the maintenance of ASEANs solidarity and unity, and the promotion of the blocs centrality for the sake of regional peace, stability, cooperation, and development.

The policy on participating in the ASEAN cooperation forms an important part of Viet Nams foreign policy in the new period and also a strategic focus of the countrys multilateral diplomacy.

Outstanding contributions include the three times Viet Nam acted as Chair of ASEAN  in 1998, 2010, and 2020.

In December 1998, just three years after becoming an official member, it successfully organised the 6th ASEAN Summit, where the Ha Noi Plan of Action was adopted, greatly helping strengthen solidarity, promote cooperation, and outline an orientation for the associations development and cooperation to carry out the ASEAN Vision 2020.

As Chair of ASEAN in 2010, with the aim of stepping up the translation of the ASEAN Vision into action, Viet Nams chairmanship was marked with such important decisions as adopting the first Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC 2015), expanding the East Asia Summit (EAS) mechanism to Russia and the US, and forming a defence cooperation framework between ASEAN and partners  the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

Holding the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020, Viet Nam promoted the ASEAN Communitys cohesiveness and responsiveness in response to unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby sustaining the blocs solidarity and trend of connectivity, assisting people to stabilise their life, and augmenting recovery efforts. The initiatives proposed by Vietnam in such a challenging context, including teleconferencing, have continued to be boosted by other members, contributing to ASEANs responsiveness and resilience and also accelerating post-pandemic recovery in the region.

Aside from fulfilling the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN, Viet Nam has considerably contributed to the making of decisions about the associations development orientation such as the fulfillment of the ASEAN-10 idea; the adoption of the Ha Noi Plan of Action in 1998, the ASEAN Vision 2020 in 1997, the Declaration of ASEAN Concord on the building of the ASEAN Community in 2003, the ASEAN Charter in 2007, and the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 in 2015; along with the ongoing building of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

In particular, as the bloc is preparing to herald a new development stage, at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia in September 2023, Viet Nam proposed an initiative to host the ASEAN Future Forum as a supplement to the official forums and mechanisms of the association, creating a chance for broad exchanges of ideas and initiatives on regional cooperation to help create a resilient and sustainable ASEAN Community.

The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 took place in Ha Noi on April 23, attracting nearly 400 delegates. It was one of the most important multilateral diplomatic events of Viet Nam this year, thus demonstrating the countrys active contributions to regional cooperation, the promotion of ASEANs centrality, and the placement of people at the centre of every decision and policy.

In addition, Viet Nam has served as a coordinator for the blocs relations with many important partners, including China, the US, Russia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, helping foster substantive and productive cooperation. It is going to act as a coordinator for ASEANs relations with New Zealand and the UK for three years, after July 2024.

Experts and scholars shared the view that for the last nearly 30 years, Viet Nam has undeniably proved that its ASEAN membership has created a new impetus for not only itself but also the 57-year-old bloc.  VNS
KUALA LUMPUR  National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Khac inh had a meeting with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof on Wednesday in his working visit to the Southeast Asian country from August 6-9.

On behalf of the State and people of Viet Nam, inh showed sincere gratitude to the Malaysian government for assigning Deputy PM Yusof to attend the recent state funeral for General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam's Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong.

The Vietnamese legislator said he is pleased to acknowledge the flourishing development of bilateral relations across fields.

He suggested Malaysia focus on promoting the implementation of agreed-upon contents; promptly complete negotiations and sign other important agreements on defence, security, and education, thus creating a foundation and framework for broader cooperation between the two countries, towards further promoting and deepening the Viet Nam-Malaysia Strategic Partnership,

inh urged the two sides to work together to lift bilateral trade turnover to US$18 billion in a balanced direction; facilitate import and export activities and minimise the application of trade barriers; and strive to soon sign a cooperation agreement in the field of Halal food in the coming time.

The official also underlined the need to enhance understanding and solidarity between the people of the two countries through promoting cooperation programmes on human resources training and development in the fields that the two sides have strength, and creating favourable conditions for citizens of each country.

For his part, Yusof agreed with Vietnamese legislators proposals for strengthening the relations between the two countries and their parliaments, suggesting the legislatures boost cooperation and exchanges between their bodies and legislators, and enhancing cooperation between ministries, sectors and localities of the two countries.

According to the Malaysian official, there remains great potential for the two countries to cooperation in the Halal food sector. He said Viet Nam should establish an agency for Halal food, which could refer to Malaysia's standards, models, and production processes of Halal food.

Yusof affirmed that Malaysia's Halal food promotion agency is ready to share experiences and send experts to support Viet Nam in this field.

The Malaysian official noted that with Viet Nam's great potential for developing green energy, the two countries can expand bilateral cooperation as well as partnership within ASEAN, following cooperation models of the European Unions member countries.

On the same day, Senior Manager of Putrajaya Holdings Puan Noor Izlina Idris received the Vietnamese NA delegation, during which he highly valued the strong relationship between Malaysia and Viet Nam in recent times.

The cooperation between Putrajaya Holdings and Vietnamese partners has produced many accomplishments, he noted, expressing the desire to seek Vietnamese partners for investment and specific cooperative activities, and explore Vietnamese firms, specially in urban development.

NA Vice Chairman inh welcomed Putrajaya Holdings' enhanced cooperation with Vietnamese partners in the field of urban planning

Showing his impression of Putrajaya  the administrative city of Malaysia invested by Putrajaya Holdings, inh welcomed the firm' enhanced cooperation with Vietnamese partners in the field of urban planning. He stated that Vietnam also looks to implement this model.

Viet Nam is Malaysia's only strategic partner in ASEAN, while Malaysia is the second-largest trade partner of Viet Nam in the bloc and the 11th in the world. The two countries closely cooperate in regional and international forums such as ASEAN, the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and others. The relationship between the two countries legislative bodies continues to be strengthened both bilaterally and multilaterally, contributing to promoting the bilateral relations. In March 2023, Viet Nam and Malaysia jointly celebrated the 50th founding anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties.  VNS
HA NOI  A flag-hoisting ceremony was held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ha Noi on Thursday to celebrate the 57th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (August 8, 1967-2024).

The ceremony saw the attendance of the ambassadors of ASEAN member states and the blocs partner countries, and representatives of some Vietnamese ministries, agencies and the municipal Peoples Committee.

Chairing the event, Deputy Foreign Minister o Hung Viet affirmed the groupings growing role and position, saying in the context of global uncertainties with conflict and fragility, it remains a model of regional connectivity and cooperation.

He highlighted ASEANs major achievements over the past 57 years such as the peaceful, stable political environment, consolidated cooperation, tightened regional economic connectivity, sustainable, inclusive and adaptive growth, and the harmonious and sharing society where people are put at the centre, and the promotion of the spirit of the ASEAN Community.

With direction as the strategic vision, solidarity as the fulcrum, centrality as the foundation, and specific programmes as the tools, ASEAN will be able to harmoniously adapt to possible volatilities, and grow further in the next decade, the official highlighted.

Viet Nam also emphasised Viet Nam's efforts and contributions to a united and strong ASEAN as the country has considered ASEAN cooperation and connectivity a top priority and a strategic choice.

Viet Nam will continue working together with other member countries to maintain and carry forward such achievements, and help Laos perform its ASEAN Chairmanship this year, the diplomat said, informing that Viet Nam will continue to host the ASEAN Future Forum 2025 following the 2024 edition in Ha Noi in April.

The country will also work harder to bring together ASEAN and partners, especially in its capacity as the coordinator of the relations between the bloc and New Zealand and the UK for 2024-2027, for peace and prosperity in the region and the world, and for a resilient, dynamic, creative, and people-centred ASEAN.

ASEAN groups 10 member nations, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam.  VNS
PHNOM PENH Vietnamese Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and Permanent Secretary of State at the Cambodian Defence Ministry General Chay Saing Yun have compared notes on defence cooperation orientations between the two countries while co-chairing a dialogue in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

At the seventh Viet Nam-Cambodia policy dialogue on Wednesday, Chien affirmed the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability between the two countries.

The two armies and peoples stood side by side in the past struggles for national liberation, he said, adding Viet Nam always attaches importance and gives the top priority to consolidating and enhancing the relationship.

For his part, Chay Saing Yun said the dialogue demonstrates the close ties between the two armies, contributing to fostering the Viet Nam-Cambodia relations.

The two sides exchanged views on regional and global issues of shared concerns, and held that ASEAN-led mechanisms have maintained their role in promoting dialogues and cooperation within the bloc, as well as between ASEAN and external partners, for peace and stability in the region.

For maritime issues, Chien emphasised Viet Nams advocacy of maintaining peace and stability, and ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea); settling all disputes by peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS); and effectively and fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), towards building a substantive, effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law.

Both said since the sixth dialogue in April 2023, the bilateral defence cooperation has grown intensively, extensively, practical and effectively, with all-level delegation exchanges and meetings, personnel training, information exchange, and coordination in border management as well as in the search and repatriation of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Cambodia during the wartime.

They consented to continue such activities, while educating generations of soldiers and residents, especially youths, about the importance of the friendship between the two armies and peoples.

On this occasion, Chien invited leaders of the Cambodian Defence Ministry and representatives of prestigious businesses in the neighbouring country to attend the Viet Nam International Defence Expo 2024, scheduled for December in Ha Noi.

The two officers then signed the minutes of the dialogue.  VNS
HA NOI  On August 7, US President Joe Biden sent a congratulatory message to President To Lam on his election as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nams 13th Central Committee.

In his message, President Biden emphasised the importance of continued collaboration between Viet Nam and the United States, considering the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as the foundation of their bilateral relationship.

President Biden stated: "Vice President Harris and I look forward to working with General Secretary Lam to continue advancing this historic progress, which supports a strong, independent, prosperous, and resilient Viet Nam.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin expressed his firm belief that, under the skilful guidance and wise leadership of General Secretary and President To Lam, Viet Nam will continue to progress and prosper. He expressed his desire to work closely with To Lam to further advance the Thailand-Viet Nam relationship towards a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the mutual benefit of the peoples of both countries.

The President of the Fatherland for All Party of the Dominican Republic expressed confidence that, under To Lam's leadership, the Communist Party of Viet Nam will continue to achieve new successes in building socialism in Viet Nam.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, on behalf of the government and people of South Korea, sincerely congratulated To Lam on his election as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam. President Yoon affirmed that, under To Lams leadership, Viet Nam will continue to achieve remarkable development and elevate its international standing.

President Yoon expressed his desire to closely cooperate with To Lam to further enhance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between South Korea and Viet Nam across all fields, contributing to the consolidation of peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

In a congratulatory letter, Sergey Mironov, Chairman of the A Just Russia Party, stated that To Lam is known and respected in Russia as a professional, responsible, and reputable leader who prioritises the interests of the country and its people. He affirmed the desire to continue fostering constructive dialogue between the A Just Russia Party and the Communist Party of Viet Nam to support the development of the Russia-Viet Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

In his congratulatory message, Shii Kazuo, Chairman of the Presidium of the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Central Committee, expressed confidence that, under To Lam's leadership, the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the Vietnamese people will continue to achieve even greater success in their glorious Renovation efforts. He expressed his desire for continued cooperation between the two parties to deepen their relationship and strengthen ties between the two countries.

On this occasion, many international and Vietnamese organisations around the world have also sent letters and messages congratulating General Secretary and President To Lam. VNS
HA NOI  The Vietnamese Embassy in Bangladesh has been prioritising citizen protection in the context of the complex developments in the host country, Ambassador Nguyen Manh Cuong has affirmed.

The diplomat noted that there are approximately 200 Vietnamese expatriates in various regions of the country, with the largest concentrations in the capital Dhaka and the city of Chittagong. The community includes those married to locals and long-term residents, experts, engineers, and skilled workers involved in projects, businesspeople, and representatives of Vietnamese companies, a group of about 10 students at the Asian University for Women in Chittagong, and some others exploring local business opportunities.

When protests erupted in July, the embassy coordinated with the communitys liaison unit to disseminate information about the situation on their online platform and the embassy's website, urging vigilance and providing the citizen protection hotline.

As the unrest worsened with the local government imposing curfews, the internet cut off, and international phone lines disrupted, the embassy assigned staff to maintain a daily contact with the community to monitor the situation and keep them updated on the situation. This was crucial as most members do not speak the local language and were nearly isolated from the outside world without the internet.

Furthermore, the embassy has ensured the absolute safety of the lives and property of all its staff. To date, it has recorded no Vietnamese citizens facing unsafe incidents.

Although the situation currently calmed, it remains volatile. With the interim government still forming, the embassy has urged the Vietnamese community to stay vigilant. Vietnamese citizens are advised against travelling to Bangladesh unless absolutely necessary.

For assistance, Vietnamese expatriates in Bangladesh can contact the embassy's citizen protection hotline at +880 171 159 5379.  VNS
HA NOI  On the occasion of the 57th anniversary of ASEAN's founding, Vietnam News Agency is pleased to present an article by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bui Thanh Son, entitled 'ASEAN: A Journey of Regional Cohesion and Resilience'.

Below is the complete translation of the article:

Fifty-seven years ago, the journey of ASEAN began with the Bangkok Declaration on August 8 1967, a document of just two humble pages. Despite its brevity, it embodied the aspirations for lasting peace and prosperity for future generations. The formation of ASEAN, alongside the region's historical transformations, enabled Southeast Asia to overcome past divisions and emerge as a centre of unity and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific, holding significant strategic political and economic importance. The shared mission of peace, stability, cooperation, and development has forged strong bonds among ASEAN member states. In turn, a cohesive and resilient ASEAN has continually sought to reach new heights in fulfilling this mission.

United in Mission and Vision

"Mountains and rivers do not separate us; instead, they unite us in friendship, cooperation, and sharing" (1). Ideas imagined nearly 30 years ago laid the groundwork and impetus for ASEANs cohesion across time, space and strategy.

Building the ASEAN Community is an ongoing process, enriched with each passing year. A politically united, economically integrated and socially responsible community is the overarching goal enshrined in the ASEAN Charter. Amidst the myriad changes of our times, this goal remains constant. However, at different times, with varying priorities, ASEAN adapts its approach in accordance with the trends and dynamics of each era.

In 2015, at the birth of the ASEAN Community, the nations adopted the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 under the theme 'ASEAN: Forging ahead together' with a focus on strengthening integration at various levels, from the regional to the global stage.

Less than a decade later, amid increasingly unpredictable and uncertain circumstances, the 2023 ASEAN Summit resolved to forge a more strategic, long-term vision for ASEAN. Consequently, the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 has charted a course for ASEAN to become "resilient, dynamic, innovative and people-centred." These guiding principles will serve as the guiding principle for ASEANs thinking and actions in the coming decades, ensuring the capacity for proactive and flexible responses to any fluctuations.

Resilience in a changing world

Matured and strengthened through adversity and challenges, ASEAN symbolises the power of unity, persistent effort and resilience. The rapidly evolving global and regional situations, with numerous new trends and multi-dimensional effects, both positive and negative, intertwined, demand greater effort from ASEAN to maintain and enhance the achievements of nearly 60 years of cooperation.

ASEAN remains steadfast in economic integration and continues to be a beacon of growth amid a global economic landscape marked by many uncertainties. With a GDP of US$3.8 trillion in 2023, ASEAN ranks as the worlds fifth-largest economy and is projected to rise to fourth by 2030, given the current growth trajectory. ASEAN is an attractive investment destination, with total FDI reaching $229 billion in 2023, surpassing all other developing economies. (2)

In response to new development trends, ASEAN has invested considerable effort and determination in pursuing breakthrough initiatives. The ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, the first of its kind globally, is set to provide ASEAN with new growth momentum and a greater competitive advantage. Additionally, ASEAN is emerging as a focal point in the trend of supply chain relocation and diversification, with a strong influx of investment in technology and sustainable development fields such as green transition, digital transformation, electric vehicles, renewable energy, electricity networks and sustainable infrastructure.

ASEAN remains strong in political-security cooperation and continues to affirm its central role as the "architect" of the regional structure, particularly in promoting standards of conduct such as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ), and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). Additionally, ASEAN enhances the effectiveness and appeal of its mechanisms, including ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

The Joint Communique of the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and numerous previous Joint Statements, such as the Declaration on Maintaining and Promoting Stability in Southeast Asias Maritime Space on 30th December 2023, reaffirm ASEAN's unity, principled stance, and common voice on international and regional issues. ASEAN is committed to upholding the rule of law, peacefully resolving disputes based on international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and seeking support from partners to transform the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) into a region of peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development.

Confident in its community identity, ASEAN is focused on realising a people-oriented, people-centred community as a continuous thread throughout all its roadmaps and strategies. Recent ASEAN initiatives, such as the Public Health Emergency Coordination System, the Climate Change Centre, and the Cross-Border Haze Pollution Control Centre, demonstrate ASEANs relentless pursuit of solutions to issues impacting peoples lives.

While much work remains, the successes achieved today will undoubtedly spread widely, allowing people to recognise ASEAN's dedicated efforts at all levels of cooperation. This fosters greater affection, attachment, support and positive contributions towards an ever-stronger community. These foundational values are also the building blocks of ASEAN Community identity.

Viet Nam in ASEAN: strong faith and commitment

Viet Nam officially began its journey of cooperation and integration into ASEAN in 1995. Despite starting later and from a modest position, we have made relentless efforts to keep pace and fully participate in all areas of ASEAN cooperation. Beyond that, we have actively and proactively contributed to this process.

Over the past 29 years, these efforts have yielded significant achievements, from fulfilling member responsibilities in the early days to confidently participating in and contributing to ASEAN's strategic direction and now leading many important initiatives. Viet Nam's position and prestige within ASEAN are the results of the combined efforts of ministries, branches, localities, enterprises and citizens. The success of the 2024 ASEAN Future Forum, hosted by Viet Nam with the theme 'Building a Fast-Growing, Sustainable, People-Centred ASEAN Community', clearly demonstrates Viet Nams role and contributions to regional and global affairs.

In early August, as we remember former General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, a leader who left a lasting legacy in our countrys foreign relations, I recall his words on ASEAN: "Viet Nam always considers ASEAN as a common home, places a high priority on relations with member countries and harmoniously aligns Viet Nams national interests with the regions interests". This deep bond and friendship will continue to accompany Viet Nam on its journey with ASEAN, with faith and dedication to contribute to a cohesive and resilient ASEAN. VNS

(1) ASEAN Vision 2020, adopted at the 1997 ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

(2) 2023 Annual Report of the ASEAN Secretary-General.
Employees of Premier Home Improvement remove a tree off of the roof of a home in the Homestead neighborhood of Houston on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Damion Cantu, left, with Iron Workers Union Local 135 and Jerry Bynum, right, with Pipe Fitters Local Union 211 work to remove a fallen pecan tree as they and other union member volunteers work to clear Hurricane Beryl debris from the East Aldine home of Lynn Williams Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Trees that fell during Hurricane Beryl remain perched on a couple of houses in the Homestead neighborhood of Houston on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle) Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Its not like we needed more stress after Hurricane Beryl, but Houston is a screaming example of how bad things happen in threes.

The third is haggling with your insurer over damages and settlements. I know that stress well. During the 2021 winter storm, my then-insurance company offered me $80 after a pipe burst through a kitchen ceiling. I contested, and it took three years to settle.

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This time, I dont have the spark to fight. So when the adjuster determined Beryls damages to my home were a measly $2,000, given multiple leaks, open gaps and missing shingles on the roof, and mold growing on an interior ceiling, I read the email, laughed out loud and binged on a Netflix series.

Wallace Ervin with Pipe Fitters Local Union 211 carries a cut piece of a pecan tree as he and other union member volunteers work to clear Hurricane Beryl debris from the East Aldine home of Lynn Williams Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

My insurance company is also pulling out of Harris County this month. When I called to inquire about the reason, I was told by a customer service rep that there had been too many claims in the area. But experts say most insurance companies appear to be staying put in Houston for now.

Companies are reducing their risk along the coasts, and they have been doing this for decades, said Rich Johnson, a spokesperson with the Insurance Council of Texas. Were not California, where companies are leaving the state. Even though Texas is a challenging market, there are more insurance companies doing business in Texas this year than last year, he said.

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In 2022, Texas had 212 domestic companies, meaning those licensed and operating within the state, which was up from 202 in 2021. Texas has the most domestic companies of any state, followed by Illinois (197) and New York (165).

MORE ON THE SUBJECT: This major home insurance provider is scaling back renewing some policies in Texas

Thats no consolation for homeowners trying to hang on with the rising costs of nearly everything. Last month, my pet insurance premiums nearly doubled. Thats because the cost of veterinarian services has been on the rise, increasing 6.4% nationally in June from the same month in 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

This week, The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association at a meeting voted to seek a rate increase of 10% for 2025 residential and commercial policies. That means higher premiums for some coastal property owners each year.

Lloyd Gite, owner of the Gite Gallery, a Houston gallery specializing in African art, switched insurance companies for his gallery three weeks before Hurricane Beryl struck. He filed for property damages and still has not heard from the company. The insurance policy for his home, which was insured by the same company that carries my home insurance, also was not renewed.

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You pay your premiums for 10 years, never have a claim, and then they drop you, Gite said. How can they do this? Its stressful to find another company to insure you when you live in Houston. You can be fed up with this, but what can you do?

Johnson said weather, the increased cost of rebuilding homes, and lawsuits all figure into the cost of premiums. He also suggested homeowners shop around for the best coverage. The Texas Department of Insurance and the Office of Public Insurance Counsel offer a free service to compare insurance prices at HelpInsure.com.

Hurricane Debby made landfall along Floridas coast. A Category 1 storm with 80 mph winds. Sound familiar?

Hurricane season doesnt end until Nov. 30.

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TOKYO  Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on Wednesday evening met with representatives of the Association of Vietnamese Intellectuals in Japan (AVIJ), and awarded orders and medals to Japanese friends, as part of his official visit to the Asian country.

Foreign minister Son thanked overseas Vietnamese (OV) intellectuals living, studying and working in Japan for their contributions to the nations development, affirming that he will promptly and fully convey ideas and solutions proposed at the meeting to administrations at all levels and sectors in the homeland, towards appropriately reflecting them in the Government's policies.

The Vietnamese community abroad is an inseparable part of the nation and a vital resource for the countrys industrialisation and modernisation, he stated, stressing that the Party, State, and Government have always paid attention to the overseas Vietnamese community in general, and OVs in Japan in particular.

The Government always values and create the maximum favourable conditions for Vietnamese scientists and intellectuals abroad to contribute to the country's development, including facilitating their return to the homeland to live and work.

He also briefed participants on Viet Nams socio-economic situation, and policies towards OVs.

Echoing experts' opinions, Minister Son expressed his desire that the intellectual community will continue to apply their knowledge and experience in areas where Japan excels and Viet Nam needs, such as digital transformation, energy transition, artificial intelligence, and hi-tech agriculture.

He also called on scientists to strengthen connections, consolidate the network of intellectuals both at home and abroad through policy consultation, and engage in forums and seminars with domestic experts, thus expanding cooperation in scientific research.

Son suggested establishing a mechanism for exchange between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' working group on promoting the development of semiconductor industry and a group of Vietnamese experts and scientists in related fields in Japan, to make practical contributions to the common goal.

He expressed his hope that the community will continue to engage in the training of sci-tech personnel in the homeland by promoting cooperation programmes between education-training institutions of the two countries, with the involvement of Japanese businesses.

At a ceremony on the same day, on behalf of President To Lam, FM Son presented the third-class Labour Order to Tsutomu Takebe, Special Advisor to the Japan-Viet Nam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance (JVPFA); and the Friendship Order to former Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, who is also Senior Advisor to the JVPFA; the certificates of merit from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to Governor of Gunma prefecture Yamamoto Ichita and Governor of Tochigi refecture Fukuda Tomikazu; and the Friendship Medal to President of the International Friendship Exchange Council (FEC) Ken Matsuzawa.

Son said the recognitions show appreciation for valuable contributions made by Japanese friends to Viet Nams development, and the Viet Nam-Japan comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Vietnamese official expressed his belief that Japanese friends will continue to support and make more contributions to the sustainable development of the Viet Nam-Japan cooperation and friendship.

Addressing the award ceremony, special advisor Takebe affirmed his commitment to making greater efforts to contribute to the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.  VNS
HA NOI  The foreign ministry has been issuing warnings and providing assistance to citizens relocating away from areas with volatile situations in conflict-affected regions of the Middle East, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs oan Khac Viet made the statement in response to questions related to citizen protection efforts in these areas.

The situation of Vietnamese citizens in the Middle East, especially in Israel, Iran and Lebanon, remains safe and stable, Viet said.

Given the continued complexity of the situation in the Middle East, on August 5, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a warning for Vietnamese citizens to refrain from travelling to Lebanon, Iran and Israel at this time.

If citizens are currently in these areas, especially in Lebanon, they should evacuate themselves and their assets to third countries or return to Viet Nam and comply with the regulations and guidelines on safety and security measures as directed by local authorities, the deputy spokesperson remarked.

Similarly with Bangladesh, due to the complex developments on the protests against the Government, on August 7, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a warning, advising Vietnamese citizens to consider postponing their travel to Bangladesh at this time. Citizens in Bangladesh should be mindful of protecting themselves and their families and avoid crowded areas where protests might occur.

Concerning the protection of citizens in Myanmar, the foreign ministry continues to advise Vietnamese citizens to avoid going to areas with complex developments, such as Shan State and Kayin State in Myanmar, unless absolutely necessary. If citizens are in these areas, they should quickly arrange to evacuate themselves and their assets to safe areas or return to Viet Nam.

Viet also noted that following the directions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnamese Embassies in the Middle East, Bangladesh, and Myanmar have requested local authorities to "ensure maximum safety for Vietnamese citizens."

Additionally, Vietnamese representative offices need to proactively develop and implement plans to protect citizens if necessary.

Vietnamese representative offices should also maintain close communication, strengthen public information campaigns, and advise and assist citizens in moving to safer areas.

We also advise our citizens in the aforementioned countries to regularly follow the information and advisories from local authorities and the warnings from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as from the Vietnamese representative offices in those countries to respond promptly."

In case citizens in these areas need assistance, they are advised to contact the citizen protection hotlines of the Vietnamese representative offices in those countries or the Citizen Protection Hotline of the Consular Department (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), which is available on the Ministrys website: +84 981 84 84 84.  VNS
HA NOI  Party General Secretary and President To Lam on Thursday held a phone conversation with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

President Putin, who had sent a congratulatory letter, expressed his desire to personally congratulate Lam on being elected as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam.

President Putin recalled the pleasant memories from his recent visit to Viet Nam, thanking Comrade Lam for the warm reception and highly appreciated the substantial and fruitful exchanges with Vietnamese leaders during the visit.

The Russian leader wished Lam success in his new role, expressing confidence in his ability to lead the Party, State and people of Viet Nam to more success in Party building and developing into a prosperous nation.

General Secretary, President Lam sincerely thanked President Putin and Russian leaders for sending condolences and dispatching a delegation to the State funeral of the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

This demonstrated the profound and special relationship between the two countries and the special sentiments of President Putin and Russian leaders towards the late Party leader, as well as the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam.

General Secretary, President Lam said that Trong was an outstanding leader, highly respected by the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam. Throughout almost 60 years of revolutionary activities, he made tireless contributions to the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation and devoted much passion and effort to fostering the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Russia.

General Secretary, President Lam thanked President Putin for the congratulations, affirming that Viet Nam remains steadfast in its independent, self-reliant, multi-faceted foreign policy and continues to prioritise strengthening and developing its comprehensive strategic partnership with the Russian Federation.

He expressed confidence that the relationship between the two countries would continue to flourish, bringing tangible benefits to both peoples and contributing to peace and development in the region and the world.

The two leaders agreed that the Viet Nam-Russia cooperation relationship has been growing well and achieved significant results in all fields, especially in defence, security, energy, oil and gas, and trade.

To further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership, the two countries' leaders discussed and agreed on several major directions for future cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks.

President Putin expressed his pleasure and looked forward to welcoming General Secretary, President Lam for a visit to Russia.  VNS
HA NOI  The 45th meeting of the Party Central Committees Inspection Commission took place in Ha Noi on Wednesday and Thursday, chaired by Tran Cam Tu, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the commission.

Examining the outcomes of the inspection of the Party Civil Affairs Committee of the provincial People's Committee of the Central Highlands province of Lam ong, the commission concluded that the provincial Party Committees Standing Board and the Party Civil Affairs Committee violated principles of democratic centralism and working regulations. They exhibited negligence and lax leadership and guidance, leading to serious violations of Party and State laws in land management and usage for certain investment projects within the province. These shortcomings also resulted in many Party organisations and members being disciplined, with several officials and Party members facing criminal charges related to the case of bribery and abuse of power at the ai Ninh urban area project and in related localities and units.

These violations caused severe, difficult-to-remedy consequences, posing a significant risk of substantial loss of state funds and assets, creating public discontent, and damaging the reputation of the Party and local government, calling for disciplinary action.

The commission pinpointed former and incumbent officials of Lam ong who must bear responsibility for these violations and mistakes, including Tran uc Quan, former Party Central Committee member, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the provincial Party Delegation, and Chairman of the provincial Peoples Council, as well as Tran Van Hiep, former Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Civil Affairs Committee, and Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee (expelled from the Party and criminally prosecuted).

The commission said the responsibility for those violations also belongs to the Party Delegation to the Lam ong provincial Peoples Council in the 2021-26 tenure; the Party Civil Affairs Committee of the Government Inspectorate in the 2016-21 tenure; the Standing Board of the Party Committee of the Government Office in the 2020-25 tenure; Le Minh Khai, former Secretary of the Party Central Committee, former Deputy Prime Minister, former Secretary of the Party Civil Affairs Committee and Inspector General of the Government Inspectorate; as well as some other Party organisations and members.

Considering the content, nature, level, consequences, and causes of the violations, and based on Party regulations, the Party Central Committees Inspection Commission decided to give warnings to the Party Civil Affairs Committee of the provincial Peoples Committee of Lam Dong in the 2011-16, 2016-21, and 2021-26 tenures; the Party Delegation to the provincial Peoples Council in the 2021-2026 tenure; the Standing Board of the Party Committee of Da Lat city in the 2020-25 tenure; and a number of officials.

Reprimand was given to the Standing Board of the Party Committee of the Government Office in the 2020-25 tenures, along with a number of officials.

The Inspection Commission requested authorised agencies to consider punishments on the Standing Board of the Party Committee of Lam ong Province in the 2015-2020 and 2020-2025 tenures; the Party Civil Affairs Committee of the Government Inspectorate; and Le Minh Khai.

The commission also asked the Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee, and the Party Delegation to the Peoples Committee of Lam ong to direct the timely fixing of the violations and shortcomings; and discipline related Party organisations and members in accordance with the commissions conclusions.

Reports requesting the imposition of disciplinary measures against a number of Party members in the Party organisations of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the provinces of Lang Son, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Bac Ninh, Binh Thuan, and Ca Mau, were also tabled for examination. The commission found that the officials named in the reports had shown degradation in political ideology, morality and lifestyle; violated Party regulations and State laws in performing assigned duties and tasks; violated regulations on things that Party members are not allowed to do and the responsibility to set an example, causing very serious consequences, angering the public, and posing very bad impacts on the reputation of Party Organisations, agencies and localities, and the unit they worked for, requiring the consideration and application of disciplines.

Pursuant to Party regulations, the Party Central Committees Inspection Commission proposed that competent authorities consider and impose disciplines on those officials.

At the meeting, the commission also discussed the results of supervision over the Standing Board of the Party Committee of Thua Thien-Hue Province and its standing members. It urged the board and the officials continue to build on their strong points and timely address mistakes and shortcomings pointed out in the supervision.

It also handled two complaints regarding Party discipline cases, and discussed some other important issues.  VNS
HA NOI  Party General Secretary and State President To Lam met with a delegation of the liaison board of the veterans of Division 308, also known as Tien Phong (Vanguard) Brigade, in Hanoi on August 8 on the occasion of the division's 75th founding anniversary.

Established on August 28, 1949 in on Du town of Phu Luong District, the northern province of Thai Nguyen, Brigade 308, now Division 308, was the first strategic reserve mobile regular unit of the Viet Nam People's Army (VPA). Its name echoes through history, synonymous with legendary victories such as the Border Campaign (Fall-Winter 1950), the Battle of ien Bien Phu, the Route 9 - Khe Sanh and Route 9 - Southern Laos campaigns, and the defence of Quang Tri Ancient Citadel.

On January 15, 1976, the division was bestowed the title "Hero of the People's Armed Forces", with 12 collectives and 11 individuals receiving or posthumously awarded the same honour. Many officers and soldiers have also earned distinguished accolades. The division's prowess and dedication were personally commended by President Ho Chi Minh on five occasions.

Over its 75-year history, Division 308 has produced many senior military officials, scientists, and artists who have significantly contributed to the national construction and defence.

At the meeting, General Secretary and President Lam lauded the division's impressive achievements and heroic spirit, noting that each era of Viet Nam's struggle for independence has been marked with Division 308's feats of arms and indomitable resolve. Known as the "Steel Fist" of the VPA, the division's legacy continues to inspire.

He called on the division's veterans to uphold the noble qualities of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers", build on the unit's heroic tradition, and lead by example in their families and communities.

They were also encouraged to unite, overcome challenges, and contribute to local socio-economic development.

Meanwhile, officers and soldiers currently serving in the division and the Ministry of National Defences units were asked to carry forward the VPA and the division's glorious traditions, improve their capacity, and maintain combat readiness to fulfil all assigned tasks.

The leader also told the Ministry of National Defence, the Viet Nam Veterans Association, and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs to hold more practical activities to foster patriotism, self-reliance, and collective efforts in national construction and defence, particularly among the youth both within and outside the army.  VNS
PHNOM PENH  Vietnamese Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien paid a courtesy visit to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence General Tea Seiha on August 8 as part of his working trip to the neighbouring country to attend the seventh defence policy dialogue between the two nations.

At the meeting, Chien affirmed that Viet Nam always attaches importance, and gives priority to consolidating and developing the sound neighbourliness, traditional friendship, as well as the comprehensive, long-term and sustainable cooperation with Cambodia. Viet Nam supports an independent, peaceful and developing Cambodia which plays an increasing role in the international and regional arenas, he said.

Briefing the host on the outcomes of the seventh Viet Nam-Cambodia defence policy dialogue, with the two sides reaching consensus on enhancing cooperation and effective implementing several key cooperation areas in the coming time, Chien expressed his hope that the Cambodian Government and Tea Seiha himself will continue supporting the search and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts who laid down their lives during the wartime in the nation.

He also voiced his hope that leaders of the Cambodian Defence Ministry will support events organised by Viet Nam, particularly activities to mark the 80th founding anniversary of the Viet Nam Peoples Army (VPA) (December 22, 1944-2024), and the second Viet Nam International Defence Expo in December. Chien invited General Tea Seiha and leaders of the Cambodian defence ministry to join the exhibition.

Tea Seiha, for his part, expressed his confidence that the fine neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability between the two nations, with defence cooperation being an important pillar, will be bolstered in the coming time.

He took the occasion to thank the Vietnamese Party, State and Defence Ministry for supporting Cambodia during the wartime as well as national construction and development nowadays, adding the VPA has carried out a wide range of cooperation programmes, including those on training Cambodian military officers.

The Cambodia Deputy PM expressed his wish that the Viet Nam  Cambodia ties, and the defence cooperation between the two nations in particular will further develop across various areas, affirming he will continue supporting activities organised by Vietnam.

He also hopes for continued support from the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence in all domains.

Deputy Minister Chien led a working delegation from the defence ministry on a working trip to Cambodia from August 7-8./.
NEW YORK  The cremated ashes of Merle Ratner, a left-wing and anti-war US activist and a friend of Viet Nam, left New York for Viet Nam at a ceremony held by the Permanent Mission of Viet Nam in New York, her relatives and friends on August 7.

At the event, Ambassador ang Hoang Giang, head of the mission, affirmed that Vietnamese leaders and people always bear in their mind Ratners love for the country  her second homeland, and her devotion to the struggle for the nations independence, reunification, development and international integration.

The Vietnamese Party and State are waiting to welcome Ratner home, he said, adding her cremated ashes will be scattered on o Son sea in the northern city of Hai Phong in a ceremony held by the Party Central Committees Commission for External Relations, in coordination with relevant organisations and the authorities of Hai Phong on August 10.

Dr Ngo Thanh Nhan, Ratners husband, and US friends expressed their appreciation of the Party and States concern as well as the meticulous preparation for her journey home by relevant agencies.

Merle Evelyn Ratner was born into a Jewish-American family in New York City in 1956. At the age of 13, she actively took part in the anti-war movement and showed her support for the National Front for the Liberation of South Viet Nam. At that time, the public in the US and the world were impressed by a small girl climbing the Statue of Liberty and waving the red flag with a yellow star and slogans calling for an end to the wrongful war.

She used to say that images of the destructive war in Viet Nam and the stories about napalm bombs and toxic chemicals killing a large number of people had urged her to take to the streets to do something meaningful to help Vietnam.

Inspired by the sympathies and love for the S-shaped country, Ratner sought to read documents and writings about President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap, and the just struggle of the Vietnamese people. The more she learned about Viet Nam, the more strongly she supported the fight for independence, freedom, and national reunification of its people.

After the re-unification of Vietnam in 1975, with her stronger love for Viet Nam, Ratner campaigned for the normalisation of the Viet Nam - US relations and supported many international activities of Viet nam. During 1976 - 1979, she and her husband promoted the establishment of an association of patriotic overseas Vietnamese in the US to call on the US Government to normalise the relations with and lift the embargo on Viet Nam.

She used to visit the Southeast Asian country for many times and work with mass organisations, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, and the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.

Ratner was a co-founder and coordinator of the Viet Nam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign (VAORRC) in the New York region. She worked tirelessly to appeal to organisations and individuals to support Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange and to the US Government to compensate the victims. Over the past years, she collected tens of millions of signatures via the internet to help Agent Orange victims of Viet Nam to launch lawsuits.

Ratner was awarded the Friendship Order, the "For the Development of Vietnamese Women" insignia in 2010 and the For Vietnamese Victims of Agent Orange insignia in 2013 in recognition of her enormous contributions.

She passed away in a traffic accident in New York on February 5 evening.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam looks to build ten reputable artificial intelligence (AI) brands in the region and become an AI bright spot in the world, according to the Governments national strategy on AI research, development and application.

The objective of the strategy, towards 2030, is to establish Viet Nam as a hub for innovation and advancement in AI applications and solutions within the ASEAN region and globally.

The 2008 High Tech Law and the national AI policy have established a legal framework for Viet Nam to support the advancement of AI.

However, according to many experts, the AI application needs to be researched and implemented on the basis of full regulations and specific policies related to human resource development as well as the responsible AI use in digital government, digital economy and digital society.

Viet Nam has produced a number of AI models recently, including PhoGPT, VinBrain, LovinBot and FPT AIMentor.

ang Huu Son, co-founder of LovinBot artificial intelligence, vice chairman of the Vietnam Alliance for the Development of Digital Human Resources (AIID) predicted that by 2030, the AI industry in Viet Nam alone would contribute up to VN14 trillion to the digital economy.

Tran Anh Tu, deputy director of the High Technology Department, Ministry of Science and Technology, said AI is not just a practical instrument, but also a significant factor influencing innovation, competition and corporate survival.

But in order to fully realise AI's promise, a number of obstacles must be overcome, chief among them being the issue of a skilled workforce and ethical AI research, he said.

According to Associate Professor Nguyen Xuan Hoai, director of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence, University of Technology, Hanoi National University, there is still a shortage of AI staff.

Only ten per cent of the sector's annual hiring needs are filled and of the 55,000 information technology graduates, only approximately 30 per cent are employed in the field of AI, he said.

Apart from the scarcity of human resources in the AI sector, Viet Nam also confronts additional difficulties such not having access to top AI specialists and consultants for assessing goods in line with market demands and not having access to business-ready platforms, tools and infrastructure.

In that context, many educational institutions have taken pioneering steps to meet human resource needs in the future of AI.

Director of HCM City National University Vu Hai Quan said the university is oriented to develop into a leading regional university, in which semiconductor technology, biotechnology and AI are three driving forces.

With over 6,000 undergraduates, 1,000 graduate students and 300 faculty members, the HCM City National University hopes to provide the nation with highly qualified human resources in the field of artificial intelligence.

Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh at said following more than two years of executing the national AI policy, Viet Nam has seen some positive initial results. The world and society at large acknowledge the contributions made by Vietnamese scientists and researchers in the field of AI.

Many products based on AI have been applied. A number of Vietnamese corporations and businesses are interested in making investment in AI and gradually improving the ability to access, absorb and master AI technology, he said.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, along with the general trend in the world, AI systems have been assessed to bring great benefits to people, society and the Vietnamese economy through support and problem solving.

Nine criteria for investigating and creating responsible AI systems are outlined by the ministry. They consist of encouraging creativity, openness, controllability, safety standards, privacy principles, upholding human rights and dignity, user assistance, and accountability.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy said ethical and responsible AI is a worldwide agenda item that is grabbing the interest of nations all over the world.

This is not simply an academic issue, nor simply a legal issue, but is related to the development of people, countries and humanity. Ethics and responsibility in AI lie in all stages, from algorithm construction, data collection, to training tools and applications. Therefore, this issue must be addressed right from the system building stage, involving many ministries and sectors, he said.

Associate Professor Nguyen Thi Que Anh, principal of the University of Law at Vietnam National University, Ha Noi, said artificial intelligence is completely different from other technologies before. The ability of robots to fulfill legal obligations is also a real time challenge for lawmakers.

Dr o Giang Nam, of the University of Law, said building AI needs to comply with general principles and adjustment principles for each specific field.

"Trust is the foundation for the AI development. To achieve this, powerful tools are needed to ensure AI is used responsibly.

In addition, it is necessary to focus on core pillars including legality, ethics and technological sustainability, with a people centred approach, which is the guideline for all AI development activities, he said.  VNS
HA NOI  Torrential rains in early August have unleashed devastating landslides and floods across Vietnam's northern mountainous provinces, claiming nine lives and injuring seven others, according to the Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The severe weather has caused extensive damage, with 121 houses damaged or submerged and ten homes needing urgent relocation.

Agricultural losses are significant, with approximately 95 hectares of rice fields and 21 hectares of other crops affected. Nearly 2,330 livestock and poultry have perished.

Infrastructure has also been heavily impacted, with damage to one irrigation facility, two canals, 40 electric poles, and 170 transportation routes, leaving a total of 58,810 cubic metres of debris. Additionally, two hectares of aquaculture have been disrupted.

In ien Bien Province, landslides along National Highway 12 have led to localised blockages and hazardous conditions.

A large crack in Ta Cang village, ien Bien Phu City, forced two households to relocate due to the risk of landslides.

Government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long, have inspected the hardest-hit areas in Son La and ien Bien provinces, offering support to affected families.

To assist with recovery efforts, the government has allocated VN10 billion (US$421,000) to ien Bien and Son La provinces.

The Viet Nam Red Cross Society has provided emergency relief worth over VN440 million ($18,500) to support about 380 people severely affected by floods in the two provinces.

Healthcare efforts include the establishment of a mobile health station in Muong Pon commune, ien Bien province and free medical examinations in Muong Bu commune, Son La province.

Ha Noi City has also provided VN10 billion to Ha Giang, Son La, and ien Bien provinces to assist in flood recovery efforts.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, from August 11 to 17, the northern region is expected to continue experiencing thunderstorms, with heavy rain in some areas.

The Central Highlands and southern regions may experience scattered showers and thunderstorms from around 10 August, potentially accompanied by whirlwinds, lightning, and strong gusts.

The Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention Department urges cities and provinces to implement proactive disaster prevention and recovery measures, ensuring the safety of residents and minimising property damage.

Local authorities are instructed to review and complete disaster response plans, identify high-risk areas and allocate necessary funds for timely disaster recovery efforts.  VNS
HA NOI  Many people in Ha Noi lined up early Thursday morning to eagerly experience their first ride on the 8.5 km elevated section of the Nhon-Ha Noi Station Station urban railway line.

After 14 years of construction and multiple delays, the elevated section of the metro line was officially opened to passengers at 8am today in Ha Noi.

Following the Cat Linh  Ha ong urban railway line, this is the second metro line in the capital to start operating, providing residents with a fast, high-capacity, civilised and modern mode of transport, which it is hoped will help reduce traffic congestion in the city.

Hundreds of people queued at the stations to receive free tickets on the first day of the Nhon  Ha Noi urban railway line's opening. At the ticket counters, staff enthusiastically guided passengers to the correct boarding areas and assisted them with purchasing tickets quickly and conveniently.



Excited and thrilled while admiring the spacious and modern train compartments, Bui Thi Hong from the northern province of Tuyen Quang, who came to the capital with her husband, said she was eager to come early to experience the metro line.

It was very crowded on the train. The train ran very smoothly and was well-ventilated, making it very convenient for commuting or leisure, she said.

The fare of VN200,000 per month for regular travellers is very reasonable. As a teacher with a modest salary, this is quite affordable, Hong added.

Among other passengers enjoying the city views as the train passed various stations, 13-year-old o Hoai Nam from Xuan Dieu Street, Quang An Ward in Tay Ho District humorously remarked: The railway line has been under construction for more than ten years, which is also how long Ive been waiting for it to open, so I had to experience it to see how interesting it is.

The station is very large and impressive, the train is long and can carry many people and it travels at a maximum speed of 80kph. I will invite more friends to experience it and hope that we will have a line like this closer to home, said the youngster who had taken a bus alone to the Nhon  Ha Noi metro line station.

Vu Hong Truong, General Director of Metro Hanoi Co, Ltd, stated that Ha Noi is implementing a plan to integrate tickets for public transportation, including buses and urban railways, with plans to include taxis and ride-hailing services like Grab in the future. Recently, the city has conducted a trial of this plan.

The tickets for the Nhon  Ha Noi urban railway line are designed to be flexible and can be integrated with other urban railway lines and other public transport in the future. However, unlike the Cat Linh  Ha ong metro line, the monthly tickets for this new line are personalised to prevent any misuse, he added.

The NhonHa Noi urban railway line will offer free rides to passengers during its first 15 days of operation. On the first morning, most passengers tried out the new service.

Nguyen Thi Hue, a student at the University of Civil Engineering, said she wanted to try the new railway line to see if it would be suitable for her daily commute.

Currently, I have to take two buses from Thanh Xuan District to reach Cau Giay Station, which is a bit inconvenient. Also, while the train is very cool, the stations are quite hot. I think adding a few fans would improve the service, she said.

Phuong Ha from Hoang Mai District, who works in Hai Ba Trung District, expressed her satisfaction with the Nhon  Ha Noi line.

Ive heard that the citys urban railway system plans to extend to ong Anh District. I hope this line is developed soon so I can move to ong Anh and avoid the daily traffic jams and pollution, she said.

Many passengers praised the line, noting that travelling 8.5 km in just 13 minutes was amazing. However, some people feel that while the VN12,000 fare for a full journey is reasonable, the VN8,000 fare for a single station is a bit high.

The elevated segment, extending from Nhon area to Cau Giay District, consists of eight stations of Nhon (S1), Minh Khai (S2), Phu Dien (S3), Cau Dien (S4), Le uc Tho (S5), ai Hoc Quoc Gia (S6), Chua Ha (S7) and Cau Giay (S8).

In the first three months the line will be operational from 5.30am until 10pm everyday, with trains arriving and departing every ten minutes.

Following that, depending on demand, the operating company will adjust the schedule as needed to best meet the travel needs of passengers.  VNS
US-China space cooperation could help fight climate change

14:13, August 08, 2024 By LIA ZHU in San Francisco ( Chinadaily.com.cn

This image taken from video animation at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on June 4, 2024 shows the ascender of China's Chang'e 6 probe, carrying samples collected from the moon's far side, lifting off from lunar surface. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's recent retrieval of the first-ever samples from the far side of the moon has renewed talks about the possibilities of the United States and China joining in space-based research programs aimed at addressing global challenges, particularly climate change.

"The US and China each have very innovative space programs, and one area, for example, where the US and China could work together today would be space-based solar," Daniel Kammen, a professor of energy at the University of California, Berkeley, and founding director of the university's Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory, told China Daily.

Space-based solar power, a concept involving the collection of solar energy in outer space via satellites and its distribution to Earth, has been gaining traction globally. As countries worldwide invest in research and development for the technology, international organizations are simultaneously pushing for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The decreasing costs associated with launching materials into space have made the idea of deploying large, kilometer-square, mylar solar panels  which beam power back to Earth using microwaves  increasingly feasible.

Kammen, who was a coordinating lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Nobel Peace Prize-winning report in 2007, suggested that the US and China could challenge each other to collaborate on making space-based solar a reality.

He emphasized the continuous nature of this energy source: "Space-based solar is on 24/7. There is no nighttime in space. And so, adding space-based solar could be beaming power to Los Angeles to Beijing, to Guangzhou to Shenzhen to San Francisco."

Both nations already have made significant strides in this field. In the United States, Caltech's space solar power prototype, launched into orbit last year, has successfully demonstrated its ability to wirelessly transmit power in space and beam detectable power to Earth for the first time.

Meanwhile, NASA is developing technologies that will indirectly benefit space-based solar power, including projects focused on autonomous systems, wireless power beaming and in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing, according to a NASA report early this year.

China, for its part, has achieved a milestone in its efforts to build a space solar power station in 2022. The China Academy of Space Technology has plans for a space high-voltage transfer and wireless power transmission experiment to be conducted in low Earth orbit by 2028, as outlined in its 2022 publication in the journal China Space Science and Technology.

Kammen acknowledged the political sensitivities surrounding such collaboration, particularly regarding data transfers and information-sharing. Despite those challenges, he saw opportunities for cooperation in other areas as well, such as fusion power.

He cited the advanced research being conducted at Tsinghua University and China's fusion reactor as potential areas for joint efforts in deployment and new research.

Drawing inspiration from popular culture, Kammen referred to the movie The Martian, in which a stranded American astronaut is rescued through a joint effort between the US and China. He saw the fictional scenario as an example of how the two nations could work together in reality, combining their respective technological strengths to achieve common goals.

"There's an opportunity to work peacefully together in space, to show that no matter who's going to be on the moon next, we have a chance to do clean energy in space as a bridge," said Kammen. Both countries have interests in lunar exploration, with the discovery of significant water ice on the moon opening up new possibilities. Potentially high-value materials on the moon, as well as resources on Mars and asteroids, present further opportunities for joint ventures that could benefit both nations while protecting their individual intellectual property, he said.

"That's an exciting opportunity," said Kammen, and stressed the urgency of doing so. "We're going to need those breakthroughs because both the US and China are behind schedule to meet their climate goals," he said.

The US has aimed to cut emissions in half by 2030, and the Chinese goal is to realize carbon neutrality by 2060.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Liang Jun)
FILE - NASA astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore stand together for a photo enroute to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., for their liftoff on the Boeing Starliner capsule to the international space station. Chris O'Meara/Associated Press This photo provided by NASA shows Boeing's Starliner spacecraft which launched astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station docked to the Harmony module's forward port on July 3, 2024, seen from a window on the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft docked to the adjacent port. Associated Press NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are greeted by the crew of the International Space Station on Thursday, June 6, 2024. (NASA via AP) Associated Press This photo provided by NASA, taken from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour, shows the International Space Station on Nov. 8, 2021. Suni Williams and Bruce Wilmore are currently on the spacecraft after being there for more than 60 days following issues with the Boeing Starliner. Associated Press The Boeing CST-100 Starliner launches at dusk from the United Launch Alliance complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, at 6:54 p.m on May 19, 2022. Joe Burbank/TNS

The crew members of NASAs Boeing Starliner flight test mission may stay at the International Space Station until 2025 as officials consider having the astronauts return to Earth on a SpaceX spacecraft.

Agency officials said Wednesday they're open to using a SpaceX spacecraft to get NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore back to Earth safely, per the Associated Press. Williams and Wilmore have been in space for more than two months after the Boeing spacecraft they used to travel to the ISS experienced complications.

However, a decision has not yet been made.

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TIMELINE: Looking at the numerous delays the Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test mission

Boeing officials said last week they were confident Starliner could bring Williams and Wilmore back with "an abundance of testing conducted by our teams and NASA in space and on the ground."

During a Wednesday news conference, officials discussed updates and next steps for getting the two astronauts home. Williams and Wilmore said last month they believe NASA will find a way for them to return.

What is the Boeing Starliner?

The Boeing Crew Space Transportation Starliner is a spacecraft that could hold seven passengers, or some crew members and cargo, to travel in low-Earth orbit, according to the company's website. The spacecraft was a collaboration with NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

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NASA and Boeing Space partnered to conduct a test flight of the spacecraft with two NASA astronauts, Williams and Wilmore, aboard. The officials wanted to test whether the Starliner system could be ready for a months-long mission to the ISS next year.

When did the Boeing Starliner launch?

The official launch happened in early June after several delays in May.

The Boeing Starliner's launch was scratched after the United Launch Alliance called it off to review an oxygen relief valve on its rocket on May 6. Then a helium leak was discovered on the spacecraft in mid-May causing the launch date to be pushed back to June 1.

However, the June 1 launch was canceled four minutes before due to one of the three computers not being accessible for liftoff. The officials moved the official launch date to June 5.

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When did the Boeing Starliner get to the International Space Station?

The Boeing Starliner spacecraft docked at the ISS at 12:34 p.m. CT on June 6. The mission was initially supposed to last for a week.

NEXT TEAM TO HEAD OUT: NASA Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station preparing for upcoming launch

What has caused delays in the Boeing Starliner crew's return?

The Boeing Starliner spacecraft faced complications while docking such as multiple helium leaks that were discovered during orbit and thruster issues. Steve Stich, manager of NASAs Commercial Crew Program, referred to the spacecraft's docking as "challenging."

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Since then, the crew's return date was pushed back several times in June.

Then on June 28, Stich said the Starliner won't return to Earth until the on-ground testing in New Mexico can be completed to learn more about the thruster issues. The test is expected to take several weeks.

What is the next step for the Boeing Starliner crew?

NASA engineers are working to obtain more data to sort out the issues of the Boeing capsule and see if the astronauts can board safely. NASA will have more experts working to analyze the thruster failures of the Starliner spacecraft before it docked, according to the AP.

During the news conference, NASA officials said they could change the plan for the upcoming SpaceX Crew-9 mission on Aug. 18 by sending only two crew members to the space station and having Williams and Wilmore return on that capsule. The AP reported that their return trip could be delayed until February next year.

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Although these ideas were discussed during the news briefing, plans have not been made yet. A final decision is expected to be announced in mid-August.
The initiative is part of the Accelerating Innovative Startups for Energy Efficiency project, funded by the EU within the framework of EU-Vietnam Sustainable Energy Transition Programme.

It is hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and co-funded and implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute.

Under the project, the accelerator programme is being organised by Touchstone Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm in Vietnam.

Dedicated to fostering innovation in energy efficiency, the accelerator programme focuses on attracting investments in cutting-edge solutions for energy efficiency in the industry, transportation, and green building sectors.

Selected teams will undergo a nine-week training course led by experienced experts, mentors in the startup ecosystem and energy efficiency space.

The programmes total prize pool amounts to $35,000 for the three best startups and $10,000 for the three best youth teams. In addition, teams joining will secure the opportunity to join national and international pitching events to call for investments of up to $1 million from Touchstone Partners, and from strategic venture capital partners.

The initiative consists of two components. The first component is designed for startups (between pre-seed to seed stage) with a minimum viable product centred on energy efficiency solutions for the industry, construction and transportation in Vietnam.

Participants must be startups registered in Vietnam or those registered overseas with plans to operate in Vietnam. This component will equip startups with the essential skills and knowledge for successful entry into Vietnams energy efficiency market.

The second component is tailored for students aged 15-25 with innovative ideas in energy saving and efficient solutions with relevance to Vietnams context.

By promoting investment in energy efficiency projects, the scheme aims to support the National Programme on Energy Efficiency and Conservation for the 2019-2030 period, aiming to achieve 8-10 per cent savings in total national energy consumption by 2030 and contribute to Vietnams net-zero ambitions.

Energy efficiency: a critical priority for Vietnam The importance of energy efficiency is not to be understated. The International Energy Agency estimates that energy efficiency improvements could contribute as much as 47 per cent of reductions in energy-related CO2 emissions achievable by 2030.
Managed by CSIRO, Australias national science agency, the Aus4Innovation programme announced funding for three projects on August 1 that aim to address the complexities of modern agriculture through the use of high-tech solutions.

The impact of these projects will enhance agricultural productivity, include market development for agricultural outputs, and address efforts for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Kim Wimbush, CSIRO counsellor to Vietnam and director of the Aus4Innovation Programme, said, "The projects will use AI for carbon farming, geospatial technology to provide real-time crop data, and digital traceability and certification to enable more sustainable farming. Advancing technological solutions for local farmers in Vietnam by working with farmers, industry, and research institutes will build enduring capacity and skills to help reshape Vietnams agriculture practices."

These projects will not only have an impact on individual smallholder farmers, but shape the sector through adoption of these solutions more broadly," Wimbush said.

Partnering Griffith University and the University of Southern Queensland with the innovation ecosystem in Vietnam means the universities can test products at scale and speed in a unique market and bring the successful techniques back to the Australian agricultural sector.

Recipients of the Aus4Innovation Partnership Grants also benefit from CSIROs support through connections to its network of innovators and industry partners, guidance on gender and disability responsiveness and social inclusivity, and access to partnership brokering experts. This will help to ensure the success of projects and fortify the collaboration between Australian and Vietnamese entities within each project.

Three projects will be funded through this round of partnership grants. First is improving crop monitoring and access to information by smallholder farmers and government decision-makers in Vietnam. As a collaboration between the University of Southern Queensland and the Vietnam National Space Center, this initiative will harness geospatial technologies to provide vital crop information, aiming to boost productivity.

Second is proactive carbon farming with AI and digital twins for sustainable agriculture in Thanh Hoa province. Griffith University and Hanoi University of Science & Technology will develop an AI-driven platform to better quantify greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon farming, ultimately contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and revenue opportunities through carbon credits.

Third is empowering smallholder farmers through AI-powered certification and traceability for sustainable agriculture. Griffith University is partnering Vietnams Commission of Standard, Metrology, and Quality on this project aim to elevate standards in agriculture through an AI and digitalisation system that ensures effective farm monitoring and product traceability.

The Aus4Innovation Programme is a 10-year, $21.8 million flagship initiative lasting to 2028, aimed at strengthening Vietnams innovation system to support inclusive and sustainable socioeconomic development.

The programme is funded by Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, co-funded and managed by CSIRO, and delivered in a strategic partnership with Vietnams Ministry of Science and Technology.

Mavin shakes hands with HSBC on sustainable agriculture deal Mavin Group and HSBC Vietnam have just signed a "Sustainability Linked Loan Agreement" in Hanoi. The financing agreement represents a significant milestone in Mavin Group's sustainable development journey.

Nestle supports farmers to advance regenerative agriculture More than one-third of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from agriculture, and the sector also accounts for 70 per cent of global freshwater withdrawals. Therefore, transitioning from traditional farming methods to low-emission, regenerative agriculture is considered one of the most important solutions to respond to climate change and contribute to the development of sustainable food systems.
Xiaomi, a Beijing-headquartered smartphone giant, is prioritising product innovation and enhancing customer experience to meet the increasing demand for smart features and unique designs.

Brand new 5G-enabled smartphones are entering the market, Source: Shutterstock

A representative from Xiaomi told VIR, In 2024, Xiaomi will continue to introduce new smartphone lines with impressive technological innovations, strong performance, and competitive prices. The company is also improving customer experience through after-sales services, opening more warranty centres, optimising processes, and shortening warranty periods for better customer care.

The company will continue to upgrade Xiaomi HyperOS, an operating system designed for the smart ecosystem People x Car x House. This upgrade aims to provide a smoother experience when using applications and features on devices within the Xiaomi ecosystem, the representative added.

In the first quarter of 2024, Xiaomi reclaimed its position as the second-largest smartphone manufacturer in Vietnam, and the third-largest globally. During this period, the company reported a 56 per cent growth rate in the smartphone segment in Vietnam, with sales increasing by 288 per cent. Its market share grew from 5 per cent in January 2023 to 19 per cent a year later.

Xiaomis impressive achievements in the Vietnamese market have significantly contributed to its global business results in 2023. This success is attributed to the companys effective growth strategy in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Continuous product innovation and competitive pricing have garnered significant consumer trust in Vietnam, the representative said.

The first quarter of 2024 saw the launch of various new smartphones with 5G and AI features, including the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, Honor X9b 5G, and Xiaomi Redmi 12. In early July, Samsung also announced the global launch of both the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6.

OPPO has also introduced new smartphones, such as the Reno11 F 5G, Reno10 Pro+ 5G, and A98 5G. Meanwhile, Chinas Realme, a relatively new entrant to the Vietnamese market in 2018, launched the 11 Pro+ 5G and 11 256GB models, among others.

According to FPT Shop, the Samsung Galaxy S24 series might kickstart a new trend of AI products in the local smartphone market, setting the stage for future developments. A representative said, New 5G smartphones are entering the market, with manufacturers focusing on high-end segments as young local customers are more willing to pay for such devices.

Besides Xiaomi and Samsung, Huawei and Honor are expected to introduce popular products to Vietnam in 2024, further stimulating consumer demand in the high-end phone segment, typically priced from $600 and above.

Vo The Vi, communications director of Honor Vietnam, said, The high-end segment will no longer be dominated by familiar brands. New competitors will enter the market, increasing competition. Users will prioritise products with significant technological and design breakthroughs.

According to Mobile World Co. Ltd., which operates over 1,000 stores nationwide selling electronic products, Samsung, Xiaomi, and OPPO are trending towards 5G-backed products and AI experiences as 2G and 3G phones phase out. The market will demand more 5G and high-tech devices in the future as 5G becomes commercialised.

Market research company Statista projects that the Vietnamese smartphone market would reach $4 billion in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.45 per cent from 2024 to 2028. It is anticipated that smartphone sales in Vietnam will reach 21.4 million units by 2024.

Vietnam is expected to enter the 5G commercialisation phase by late 2024 or early 2025. After securing 5G spectrum licences, mobile network operators in Vietnam are preparing for this significant milestone.

We believe the Vietnamese smartphone market will become increasingly competitive, said the Xiaomi representative. With the continuous development of 5G technology, foldable phones, and AI integration, smartphone manufacturers will focus on bringing the latest innovations to market. Consumers are demanding better product quality, stronger performance, smarter features, unique designs, and more. This will inadvertently create a race among brands.

Xiaomi becomes second-largest smartphone manufacturer in Vietnam Xiaomi has officially surpassed a series of long-standing names in the Vietnamese market to rise to the second position among the biggest smartphone manufacturers in the first quarter of 2022.

Apple's resilient iPhone sales and Samsung's dominance amidst declining market A new report by Counterpoint Research highlights the intricate dynamics of the Vietnamese smartphone market, which has encountered formidable obstacles that have prompted retailers to recalibrate their operational approaches and grapple with diminished in-store traffic. Amidst these challenges, Apple's iPhone sales demonstrated resilience during the first quarter, while Samsung successfully sustained its market lead despite confronting a contraction in sales volume.

Apple ends Samsung's 12-year run as world's top smartphone seller Apple's iPhone for the first time became the world's biggest selling smartphone after rival Samsung's 12-year run as leader, data showed.

Samsung returns to top of the smartphone market: industry tracker Samsung regained its position as the top smartphone seller, wresting back the lead from Apple as Chinese rivals close the gap on both market leaders, industry tracker International Data Corporation (IDC) reported Monday.
On August 2 in Ho Chi Minh City the company (FCV), which produces the Dutch Lady, Friso, Fristi, and Yomost brands, was named at the Top 50 Corporate Sustainability Awards in Vietnam.

At the award ceremony organised by Nhip Cau Dau tu, the company was extolled for two awards: the first for Responsible Consumption and Products and the second for Responsible Marketing.

These two awards are a testament to the sustainable development strategy of FCV

In 1995, as one of the first foreign investors appearing in the country, the company determined its development journey in Vietnam would follow a set mission that maximum nutrition is the most practical sustainable development path.

In that time, such a lofty mission has become a lodestar for all activities involving investment, business, and social responsibility of FCV.

Over the past five years, FrieslandCampina has partnered with leading universities and institutes in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam to conduct nutritional surveys involving over nearly 14,000 children under 12 years of age. The children were recruited from urban and rural schools, community health centres, and sub-district administrative organisations in these four countries.

The survey highlights an important issue known as the triple burden of malnutrition: the coexistence of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight/obesity. These three burdens often coexist in the same country and can even occur in the same family.

The survey also demonstrates the importance of implementing nutritional solutions, in which milk is considered an optimal nutritional source safe and suitable for economic conditions of families, and also contributes to addressing various challenges in developing childrens physical conditions and health.

In order to contribute to improving the nutrition landscape in Vietnam, FCV has made great efforts to ensure that all people can have easy access to the best nutritional products at reasonable prices.

In addition, the company has taken the lead in carrying out continuous research and improvements. For example, Dutch Lady recently made the debut of a fresh milk line with lower sugar content. This improved formula has reduced 45 per cent of sugar to only 2.1 per cent.

This is now the fresh milk line with the lowest sugar content but still maintains an appropriate fat protein content with seven crucial micronutrients that the majority of Vietnamese children are in shortage.

The Dutch Lady brand boasts high-quality products, meeting the nutritional needs of children

FCV has also been developing healthy nutrition in order to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

In addition to implementing the nutritional mission, Dutch Lady has become a pioneering brand name with an improved two in one product, with the fresh milk strengthened with suitable fat protein, contained in a brown paper carton made of bio-PE bioplastic derived from sugarcane bagasse. This is easily biodegradable, renewable, and recycled to protect the environment.

Economically and socially, FrieslandCampina has partnered with the Vietnamese Farmers Association to develop and carry out a programme on milk sector development since the 1990s. This initiative has connected more than 2,000 dairy cow farms throughout the country, trained over 10,000 farmers annually, and helped households improve husbandry and production skills so that milk can be produced naturally, based on a foundation of respecting the nature.

This has also helped improve rural economic conditions, develop the milk sector, and boost the development of sustainable and high-quality material areas.

Not only stopping at the mission of bringing the best nutrition to everyone, the company has also pioneered in the implementation of a responsible marketing strategy. That does not only aim at promoting products and their values to consumers, but also equipping many generations with knowledge so that each individual can choose the right source of nutrition for their health.

Typically, FCV has forged strategic cooperation with Vietnams Ministry of Education and Training to deploy electronic syllabuses in schools nationwide, equipping millions of primary school pupils with nutritional knowledge through useful lessons and flexible two-way interactions on a digital platform.

FrieslandCampina takes the lead in implementing electronic syllabuses, helping millions of primary school pupils improve their nutritional knowledge

The company has reaped many achievements in past years. However, what is the most important is that it has won the confidence of consumers in more than 100 markets around the world, said a FrieslandCampina representative.

In the next journey, we will continue continuously creating fine values for Vietnam to leap forward and reach higher, and also be patient with our sustainable development path for the sake of consumers, society, and the whole planet, he added.

FrieslandCampina announces result of SEANUTS II FrieslandCampina has just launched the result of the SEANUTS II study, showing that malnutrition is still a huge challenge among children in Southeast Asia.

FrieslandCampina Vietnam to cut down environmental impact FrieslandCampina Vietnam is set to reduce CO 2 emissions by 40 per cent by 2030 in all production and supply activities, along with 33 per cent from partnered dairy cow farms.

FrieslandCampina launches FrieslandCampina Professional One of the worlds largest dairy cooperatives, FrieslandCampina, has introduced FrieslandCampina Professional  a high-quality food solution portfolio in Vietnam  within the framework of the international food expo Vietnam Foodtech that is taking place in Ho Chi Minh City from December 7 to 10.

FrieslandCampina steadfast in nourishing a better planet Dutch-backed FrieslandCampina is pursuing sustainable development as one of its key drivers to success in Vietnam, with its own sustainability strategy embracing four key priorities.
The event, hosted by the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei in tandem with the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, PwC in Taiwan, Megabank, and several Vietnamese organisations, garnered particular attention from local and regional businesses.

The investment promotion workshop at the Taipei International Convention Centre in Taiwan

The workshop highlighted the potential and investment opportunities in Vietnam, particularly in economic zones and industrial parks (IPs), with the attendance of leading economic experts, business executives, and government officials.

Amid increasingly robust Vietnam-Taiwan relations, the event created a platform to help Taiwanese investors thoroughly grasp the Vietnamese market as well as associated investment incentive policies in the country.

At the workshop, the FIA, representatives from Vietnams five localities, and 30 Vietnamese businesses gave presentations about ongoing IP projects and special incentives tailored to foreign investors.

Do Nhat Hoang, director general of the FIA, presenting Vietnams investment incentive policies

Attending the workshop, 240 Taiwanese businesses were offered detailed information about Vietnams regulatory system, relevant administrative procedures, and tax policies to give a comprehensive view of the countrys business environment.

Of the projects presented at the event, Hai Long IP, the sole representative for Thai Binh IPs, caught the investors attention thanks to its favourable geographical position, convenient transport, well-conceived planning, and smart development orientation geared towards an eco IP model.

Do Quang Tuan, deputy CEO of Bao Minh IP Infrastructure JSC

Giving remarks at the workshop, Do Quang Tuan, deputy CEO of Bao Minh IP Infrastructure JSC, the developer of Hai Long IP, outlined the advantages of Hai Long IP as well as the policy incentives and support on offer to investors and businesses.

Hai Long IP is poised to offer investors the best possible conditions for success, and we would be happy to welcome you to the park to learn more about investment opportunities, said Tuan.

Hai Long IP was established under Decision No. 1370/QD-TTg dated November 9, 2022 with Bao Minh IP Infrastructure JSC as the developer. The IP is part of Thai Binh Economic Zone, belonging to Dong Long, Dong Tra, and Dong Xuyen communes, Tien Hai district. The IP covers 300ha and has $91.6 million in total investment value. Hai Long IP has expansion plans along Tra Ly River, accessible by a coastal road, and provincial routes 464 and 221D, creating a convenient transport network and effectively serving investment, production, and business activities of IP-based enterprises. In addition, Hai Long IP is only 40km from the airport and Haiphongs deepwater port, providing the ideal condition for businesses to transport goods to meet production requirements as well as import-export activities. Investors at Hai Long IP are entitled to enticing tax incentives, such as a 10 per cent preferential corporate income tax for 15 years. Regarding import and export duties, a tax-free policy applies to machinery, equipment, and specialised vehicles imported to create fixed assets; raw materials for producing exports; and materials not produced domestically. Export processing enterprises are entitled to VAT exemption and a 15-year reduction in land rental fees.

Hai Long IP highlights Thai Binh rise After receiving approval from the prime minister, Thai Binh provincial authorities together with Bao Minh Industrial Park Infrastructure Investment JSC has kicked off construction of Hai Long Industrial Park.

The pros and cons of IP relocations There are many old industrial parks located in or near densely developed and populated urban areas in Vietnam that fail to provide adequate environmental protection. Timothy D. Van Epp, fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners, and Mai Nguyen of the American Planning Associations International Division, explain why new rules or incentives may be needed to implement the governments relocation policy.
VILOG 2024, with the theme "Green Logistics - Foundation for Sustainable Development", was organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade from August 1-3. It featured 400 booths run by over 300 companies from 20 countries and territories, an overall increase of more than 30 per cent compared to last year's event.

Vietnam's logistics industry is continuing to grow in scale and quality. World Bank data showed Vietnam ranked 43rd in the Logistics Performance Index (LPI), among the top five in Southeast Asia and the top 10 emerging logistics markets globally. In the first seven months of 2024, the logistics industry contributed to a 17.1 per cent increase in Vietnam's total trade turnover compared to the same period in 2023, reaching $439.88 billion.

In addition to improving service capacity, the exhibition highlighted the efforts of Vietnam's logistics industry in green and digital transformation to meet sustainable development needs, in line with the National Green Growth Strategy for 2021-2030 issued by the PM, in which logistics is one of 18 key topics.

As a co-sponsor of VILOG 2024, ITL Corporations booth attracted thousands of visitors during the three-day event. A large number of business partners and customers, both domestic and international, expressed their interest in ITL's integrated services in managing and optimising the entire supply chain.

As a co-sponsor of VILOG 2024, ITL Corporations booth attracted thousands of visitors

At its booth and seminars, ITL was the first to bring practical digitalisation and greening solutions to the table, meeting the sustainable transition needs of Vietnam's logistics industry.

To meet the digital transformation needs of businesses, ITL officially launched VELA, with the outstanding advantage of integrating all logistics services (customs procedures, warehousing, international transport, and domestic transport) into a single digital logistics platform.

With VELA, customers can easily declare and manage their needs, receive demand updates, consult, and select suitable logistics solutions. Customers can obtain accurate quotes, draft electronic contracts, make quick bookings, and track the entire progress of their orders.

VELA provides customers with a reliable and valuable integrated logistics service. In addition, its partners can join the 4PL+ (Vietnam Excellence Logistics Alliance), a strong alliance with stable revenue growth. VELA - The digital logistics platform developed by ITL not only ushers in a new era for the logistics industry but also affirms a significant breakthrough in the digital transformation. This demonstrates ITL's strategic vision and ongoing efforts towards sustainable development and prosperity for Vietnam's logistics industry, said Bryan Tuyen, CEO of VELA.

ITL takes lead in making Vietnams logistics globally integrated Participating in the Transport Logistic and Air Cargo Southeast Asia exhibition and conference in Singapore, ITL reaffirmed its role in contributing to making Vietnam a new regional transit hub for goods.

ITL enhances Vietnams logistics capabilities via sharing ecosystem  ITL, listed in 'Top 10 Most Reputable Logistics Companies of 2023,' has actively contributed to elevating the competitiveness of Vietnam's logistics industry through developing a sharing ecosystem, which has proven effective over time.
The visit was part of a continuation of activities of learning and exchanging information about the development orientation of industrial parks and policies to attract investment in the southern province.

NS BlueScope Vietnam was one of two businesses honoured for its outstanding green transformation strategy at the Vietnam Industrial Real Estate Forum 2024 on July 30.

Its factory, located in Phu My town, has also received a ResponsibleSteel certification, becoming the first unit in the steel industry in Vietnam and the first galvanised steel factory in Southeast Asia to do so.

This is also the third factory globally of BlueScope Group to be ResponsibleSteel certified.

The NS BlueScope Vietnam factory in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province

Vo Minh Nhut, general director of NS BlueScope Vietnam, spoke at the site visit meeting

Truong Cong Minh Bao, vice president of GGSC EuroCham, talked about ESG practices for industrial real estate

NS BlueScope Vietnam boasts an outstanding green transformation strategy

Businesses listen to experts sharing ESG practices for the industrial real estate sector

The factory is the first in the industry in Vietnam to achieved ResponsibleSteel certification

Participants learned about and discussed the orientation of developing industrial parks

Tran Thien Long, standing vice president of VIREA, presented gifts to the NS BlueScope Vietnam Trade Union's representative

NS BlueScope Vietnam first steel manufacturer in Southeast Asia to achieve ResponsibleSteel certificate NS BlueScope Vietnams factory in Phu My has been awarded the ResponsibleSteelTM certificate, becoming the first in Vietnams steel industry and the first alloy-coated steel plant in Southeast Asia to achieve this accolade.

Enterprises honoured for green transformation strategies Enterprises with outstanding general green transformation strategies were honoured at the Vietnam Industrial Property Forum on July 30.
In mid-July, Ho Chi Minh City-headquartered Benvitek Co., Ltd. sent a document to Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee proposing a venture on building a waste-to-power plant over 20 hectares, with an estimated construction duration of two years.

The perspective of Tam Sinh Nghia waste-to-power plant in Cu Chi district, with construction kick-off on July 20

The plant will have a capacity to treat 4,000 tonnes of waste per day, generating 100MW per day, and simultaneously selling carbon credits to those in need, contributing to realising the governments commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Also in mid-July, the Tam Sinh Nghia waste-to-power project in Ho Chi Minh Citys Cu Chi district kicked-off construction after years waiting for procedure settlement.

The project has a capacity to treat 2,000-2,600 tonnes of waste per day, with first-phase investment value reaching $266.6 million.

The project is being expedited by BCG Energy, a member of Bamboo Capital, after acquiring the project from Tam Sinh Nghia Investment Development.

Waste-to-power projects in the southern hub have grabbed a great deal of attention from investors.

Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee has also granted investment certificates to a project by Vietstar Co., Ltd. which has a capacity to treat 2,000 tonnes of waste per day, and the project of Tam Sinh Nghia JSC.

Other projects by Tasco JSC and Vietnam Waste Solutions Co., Ltd. are in the investment preparation phase.

A renowned name Refrigeration Electrical Engineering Corporation also expressed desire to venture into this field with a proposal for building one such plant in Cu Chi district with a capacity to treat 2,000 tonnes of waste per day.

The project will have an estimated investment value approximating $194 million, to be implemented under a public-private partnership model. It has been submitted to Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee and is being evaluated by the citys relevant management bodies.

In Dong Nai province, many domestic and foreign investors have made proposals for waste-to-power ventures, in which a consortium of Ecotech Vietnam and Le Delta JSC has proposed building a plant in Vinh Cuu district, costing $95.2 million.

The projects investment policy has been approved, and is in the process of making a feasibility study.

In the first half of this year, Dong Nais leaders received Taiwans Chieu Minh Investment Co., Ltd. and German investor Asia New Generation to learn about investment opportunities for waste incineration projects, of which the latter proposed one venture in the provinces Xuan Loc district.

According to company chairman Willy Andreas Kirsch, if approved, the company would spend $40 million on building a waste-to-power plant with a capacity to treat 400 tonnes of waste per day in the first phase, which will be raised to 1,000 tonnes per day in the following phase.

From the project deployment practice, several investors have expressed desire for the government to amend and complete the legal documents regulating waste-to-power plant investment to support investors.

For instance, Pham Minh Tuan, deputy chairman of Bamboo Capital, wanted that localities where accommodate waste-to-power ventures only need to present requirements related to the quality of emitted gas, waste water, and technology specifications, allowing the investors to be proactive in using technology that meets standards approved by competent state agencies.

Besides that, policies need to be stable to encourage investors to invest in this field because waste incineration is a capital-intensive venture. If policies are short-term, very few businesses will dare to invest, said Tuan.

Searefico ventures into logistics to welcome wave of FDI In anticipation of rising foreign direct investment inflows into Vietnam, Searefico has ventured into the logistics industry to capitalise on new opportunities.

Airport ventures must align with future demands Vietnams ambitions to transform its airport infrastructure will have to deal with lack of interested investors, structural issues, and ongoing overloads.
Vietstock 2024, which will combine innovation and industry expertise, will have a focus on transforming livestock for higher productivity, better nutrition, a greener environment, and improved lives.

It serves as a premier platform where businesses in the sector can showcase advanced technologies, discuss emerging trends, and address challenges facing the livestock and aquaculture industries in Vietnam and the ASEAN region.

Photo: VNA

Organised by the Department of Livestock Production in collaboration with Informa Markets Group (represented by SES Vietnam Exhibition Services Co., Ltd), Vietstock 2024 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in District 7.

The 12th instalment of Vietstock is expected to surpass its predecessors with an exhibition area of 15,000 square metres, featuring over 400 exhibitors and attracting 13,000 visitors from 50 countries and regions.

The event will run concurrently with the International Fisheries and Aquaculture Exhibition Vietnam, creating a comprehensive destination that spans the entire value chain of Vietnam's livestock and aquaculture industries.

Vietstock 2024 will host a diverse range of programmes and activities aimed at promoting sustainable development in the livestock and aquaculture industries. Key highlights include product, service, and technology exhibitions; technical conferences and seminars; a match and meet business networking programme; and a group visitor support programme.

There will also be an egg pavilion, sustainable development pavilion, and a series of specialised livestock seminars. The exhibition will also honour businesses and organisations that have made outstanding efforts to develop and contribute to the industry and society.

Prominent conferences will address critical industry issues, including the International Aquaculture Conference and Asian Biosecurity Conference, and there will be sessions on poultry, beef cattle, dairy cattle, and pig farming; renewable energy from livestock waste; nutrition and animal feed; animal welfare; and greenhouse gas emission control in livestock farming.

Duong Tat Thang, director of the Department of Livestock Production, spoke at the press conference. Photo: VNA

Speaking at a press conference on August 7 in Hanoi to promote the event, Duong Tat Thang, director of the Department of Livestock Production stated, "Through this exhibition, farmers, businesses, scientists, and managers can share domestic and international information to guide more sustainable livestock development in the future, following green economy, green agriculture, and circular agriculture models."

Accounting for over a quarter of the agricultural sector's share, Vietnamese livestock farming has made notable progress amidst technological development and international integration. In 2023, the livestock industry achieved impressive figures, with total livestock production increasing by 6.38 per cent compared to 2022.

Pig farming ranked sixth globally in production, supplying about 4.5 million tonnes of live meat, while poultry farming provided 2.3 million tonnes of live meat and 19.2 billion eggs.

Beyond meeting domestic demand, Vietnamese livestock products were also exported, with total export value in 2023 reaching $515 million, a 26.2 per cent increase from 2022.

Vietstock Expo & Forum 2022 is back in Ho Chi Minh City this October Vietstock Expo & Forum 2022, the country's premier international feed, livestock, and meat fair is expected to be the biggest show in Vietnam and Indochina covering the total latest solutions for the sector. The event will take place from October 12 to 14 at the Saigon Exhibition & Convention Centre in Ho Chi Minh City.

PM orders extra efforts to fight livestock, poultry diseases Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered the concerted, drastic and effective implementation of solutions to prevent and control diseases on livestock and poultry, as a risk of a continuous spread is looming.

Denmark to introduce world's first livestock carbon tax Denmark will introduce the world's first carbon tax on livestock, a unique measure designed to bring the Scandinavian country closer to its goal of carbon neutrality by 2045.
The Thua Thien-Hue Tourism Association held a conference in Hue city on August 6 to review the sectors plastic waste reduction efforts as part of the 'Hue - A City to Reduce Plastics in Central Vietnam' project. Sponsored by WWF-Norway through WWF Vietnam, the project aims to turn Hue into a beacon of reduced plastic waste in the central region.

Dinh Manh Thang, vice president, Vietnam Tourism Association

Speaking at the conference, Dinh Manh Thang, vice president of the Vietnam Tourism Association (VTA) and president of the Hue Travel Association (HTA), said, "Thua Thien-Hue stands as a major destination on Vietnam's tourism map. However, tourism is a major contributor to huge amounts of plastic waste. Without prompt action to reduce this waste, tourism, the environment, and industry sustainability will all be at risk."

Since August last year, the HTA has conducted training sessions to raise awareness about plastic reduction for 120 members, including hotels, travel companies, and community tourism sites. All participants have acknowledged the urgency of adopting plastic reduction measures and have committed to integrating these practices into their operations as part of Thua Thien-Hue tourism industry's comprehensive plan.

Along with that, 22 hotel units have committed to implementing at least one plastic reduction practice, piloting a plastic waste reduction tour, and creating a plastic waste-free destination.

In the year since that commitment, numerous hotels, travel companies, and community households have crafted strategies to cut down on single-use plastics in their operations. Seven pioneering hotels have adopted plastic reduction models based on the 5R principles (Refuse-Reduce-Reuse-Repurpose-Recycle). These trailblazing hotels include Villa Hue Hotel, Azerai La Residence Hue, Melia Vinpearl Hue, EMM Hotel Hue, Muong Thanh Holiday Hue Hotel, Alba Spa Hotel Hue, and Thanh Lich Hue Hotel.

In its leading role, the VTA has connected member businesses and individuals with provincial efforts to promote and market tourism, enhancing Hue's brand as a "green, clean, and bright" heritage destination.

"The VTA is encouraging all hotels to promote the movement to reduce plastic waste among tourists. Currently, the seven pioneering hotels are doing very well at reducing plastic waste, and the next plan is to work with travel agencies, tour guides, the community, and other associations to make Hue a plastic-free city," said Thang.

At the conference, 20 hotels and travel companies signed a commitment to continue participating in the plastic waste reduction drive.

In recognition of the efforts made by tourism service providers, the VTA also awarded certificates of merit to the HTA as well as local hotels and travel companies.

New task force launched for plastic waste reduction in Vietnam A new task force was launched by the Vietnam National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) on May 18 to promote innovation and catalyse investment in effective solutions for reducing plastic waste and pollution in Vietnam.
Vietnamese organisations and professionals are increasingly leaning on online learning to determine and cultivate essential IT and language skills to keep up with rapid globalisation and digital transformation.

Research by Vietnams Edtech highlights the growing e-learning market in Vietnam and the demand for customised learning solutions from domestic companies, particularly in industries such as banking, tourism, manufacturing, and hospitality.

Rich Qiu, president of New Ventures at Udemy

In response to this growing demand, Udemy partnered with online education platform FUNiX to launch a pilot programme for select customers in Vietnam in 2022.

The scheme experienced rapid adoption, with course consumption surpassing one million minutes within the first 12 months.

There is a strong preference for content that is tailored to local regions and addresses specific business needs, making International Collections a powerful tool for enhancing learners' experiences, said Rich Qiu, president of New Ventures at Udemy. Companies in Vietnam are witnessing rapid growth and this has fuelled the demand for educational content on emerging skills related to personal development, IT, leadership, and management.

Udemy transforms lives through learning by ensuring everyone has access to the latest and most relevant skills.

Launched in 2019, International Collections was created to provide organisations and professionals with truly localised and engaging learning experiences for rapid skills' development, including more than 15,000 curated, native-language courses taught in 15 languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, and Korean, and most recently, Vietnamese, with more than 200 courses.

Through the Udemy Intelligent Skills Platformand a global community of diverse and knowledgeable instructors, millions of learners gain expertise in a wide range of technical and professional skills, from generative AI to leadership.

To join more than 16,000 organisations leveraging Udemy Business for flexible skills development,

visit: business.udemy.com/vi/.

The Udemy marketplace provides learners with thousands of up-to-date courses in dozens of languages, offering a variety of solutions to achieve their goals. Udemy Business empowers enterprises by offering on-demand learning for all employees, immersive learning for tech teams through Udemy Business Pro, and cohort learning for leaders through the Udemy Business Leadership Academy. Udemy Business customers include Fender, Glassdoor, On24, The World Bank, and Volkswagen. Udemy is headquartered in San Francisco, with hubs in the US, Turkey, Ireland, Australia, and India.

Language platform Prep raises $7 million in Series A funding Prep, a Vietnam-based language learning and test preparation platform, announced that it has raised $7 million in Series A funding, co-led by Cercano Management Asia and Northstar Ventures, with the participation of Touchstone Partners, East Ventures, and Saison Capital.

FPT IS cooperates with Oxford University Press to pioneer gamification in English language learning FPT IS, a subsidiary of tech giant FPT Corporation, has joined hands with Oxford University Press (OUP)  one of the largest university publishers in the world.
Waco is taking next steps to develop a new clinic building at the citys animal shelter, freeing up space to add kennels.

The expansion efforts coincide with an impending split between the shelter and the Humane Society of Central Texas and the shelters current risk of losing its no-kill status due to overcrowding.

Assistant City Manager Ryan Holt and Kristen Rose, an architect with Waco-based architectural firm RBDR, presented expansion recommendations for the Waco Animal Shelter to city council members Tuesday.

Holt said an increased demand for animal control and a previous outbreak of a viral disease at the shelter prompted discussions of expanding the campus capacity.

You know the landscape around animals in the community and animal services has been in flux really since COVID, Holt said. Weve seen that across the country, and then in the fall of 2022, a lot like some other clinics and shelters around the country, we had an outbreak of distemper, which is an upper respiratory infection of dogs, in the shelter. What we discovered was that the shelter as its built currently doesnt allow adequate space to quarantine an airborne upper respiratory disease  and so we started talking about a facility master plan after that.

The animal shelter campus includes an administrative building where cats are also housed, an adoption center, the RDY Building where dogs are housed and Building D, a facility for surgeries and intake. RBDRs strategic plan recommends a multi-phase approach to increasing efficiency and capacity across the campus.

The first phase would include a new clinic building next to building D. The new facility would include an enlarged clinic area, two surgical suites and additional space for isolating sick animals. The new building would free up space in the RDY Building for additional kennels.

According to Tuesdays presentation, the city is currently responsible for about 800 dogs, with 600 in foster homes and more than 200 at the animal shelter. Wacos animal shelter is an open intake facility for about a dozen cities surrounding Waco, serving as a shelter for the region as well as the city.

Holt said building a new clinic is increasingly important as the city is medically responsible for a growing number of animals.

This clinic, this strategic plan, really is sort of the linchpin to continue forward in the atmosphere that were in post-COVID where you have so many more animals and not as many people wanting to adopt, Holt said.

Subsequent phases of the plan are not ranked by priority and could be adopted in any order. The plans include additional fencing, renovating Building D to add a quarantine space, updating the administrative building and adding a pavilion next to the adoption center, among other improvements.

The city recently bought additional property adjacent to the campus which would allow for each project. Waco purchased 2000 Circle Road for $215,840 earlier this year and previously acquired 2020 Circle Road in 2022 for $334,159. The recommended plan would see the properties transformed into additional parking spaces and an enclosed dog park.

After the presentation, council members approved a $323,000 contract with RBDR to develop architectural plans for the new clinic.

Talks to expand the shelters campus have been ongoing since November, said Ashley Nystrom, chief of staff for the city managers office.

The shelter is currently operating at over 100% capacity and is at risk of losing its no-kill status because of overcrowding. The shelter earned its no-kill status in 2016 when it improved its live exit rate to more than 90%. Melissa Sheldon, Wacos animal services operations manager, said late last month that the shelter had a live exit rate of 92% in June.

The animal shelter will soon undergo additional changes as the Humane Society plans to terminate its contract with the city and vacate the campus.

Nystrom said an agreement to terminate the existing contract with the Humane Society is being negotiated and could be finalized as early as this week.

The agreement began in 2022 and we had an opener clause in that agreement where we could re-negotiate financial matters, Nystrom said. I think some of the issues with the negotiations over the last couple of years were the conversations tended to stray away from strictly financial matters, so the city has been pretty diligently involved in taking on some additional financial expenses for the Humane Society above and beyond what the contract stated. Thats what were trying to finalize in the agreement.

City Manager Brandley Ford said the Humane Society will still be an animal partner in the region despite leaving the animal shelter campus.

If all of it works like both entities intend, the animal community will see, as a whole, an expanded level of service, Ford said.

Humane Society President Patricia Meadows did not return requests for comment on the societys decision to terminate its contract with the city.

Along with efforts to expand the Waco Animal Shelter, the city is also looking to support other organizations that will help with animal services in the region.

For example, city council members approved a new wastewater project during Tuesdays meeting. The $316,000 project would connect multiple properties along Airport Road to the citys existing sewer system, including Fuzzy Friends Rescue, an independent no-kill animal shelter.

Ford said the project is a priority for the city because it will allow Fuzzy Friends to increase its capacity.

The reason were doing it is because, in particular, Fuzzy Friends wants to add more kennels and more space to Fuzzy Friends, but shes limited based on her existing septic tank, Ford said. She cant do much and were going to bring those improvements into that area to try and giver her more room to grow because, again, that relieves pressure off our shelter facility.

Fuzzy Friends Rescue estimates it saved more than 500 animals last year.
WATERLOO  The Cedar Valley Woodworkers will meet 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Waterloo Center for the Arts.

The business meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. then at 7:00 p.m. speaker Bernie Kluesner will display scale model farm implements and construction equipment made from various wood species. Guests, woodworkers and the public are welcome to attend.
WATERLOO  The case of a Waterloo man accused of breaking into a co-workers apartment to plant a sexually charged note is now in the hands of a judge.

Prosecutors said Thomas Robert Connor, 25, used lockpicks to open the deadbolt while the co-worker and her boyfriend were at work July 11, 2024.

He was caught inside the Cobblestone Circle apartment in Waterloo and arrested for burglary and possession of burglary tools. The residents then found a typed letter purporting to be written by the boyfriend confessing to sexual desires for the womans younger sister.

The woman knew the letter was a forgery and Connor eventually admitted to police he authored the letter to drive a wedge in the womans relationship with her boyfriend.

Defense attorney Ray Walton is pursuing a diminished capacity defense, arguing during closing statements Monday that autism caused Connor to perseverate  to fixate  on the woman.

But Walton also argued the facts of the case dont support a burglary charge.

Under Iowa law, a burglary occurs when someone breaks into a structure with the intent to commit a theft, an assault or a felony. Connor didnt take anything or hit anyone, and the burglary statute doesnt address leaving behind a note.

When he was caught, Connor initially said he was looking for money to steal, but Walton said that was to cover up the letter plot. Walton said stealing or attacking would have been at odds with Connors intent to clandestinely place the letter.

But Assistant County Attorney Heather Jackson, who is prosecuting the case, said there is evidence Connor intended to do more.

If he simply wanted to leave the letter, he could have slipped it under the door and be done with it, Jackson said. Instead, Connor entered and re-locked the door so anyone returning home wouldnt know he was inside.

He remained there until being discovered by the boyfriend more than 12 minutes later, Jackson said.

Jackson also noted the womans underwear drawer had been disturbed.

If your only intent was to leave a note, why are you going through her underwear drawer? Jackson asked.

And she pointed out Connor brought multiple plastic grocery sacks with him, suggesting he may have planned to fill them up.

Connor waived his right to a jury trial, so the evidence in the case will be considered by Judge Melissa Anderson-Seeber, who will issue a written verdict at a later date.

States are required to background check child care workers, but many are falling short States are required to background check child care workers, but many are falling short
Senator Ted Cruz speaks to supporters as he hosted a law enforcement and public safety rally with law enforcement leaders at King's Bierhaus on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

Texas Democrats are making abortion rights a major campaign issue after Republicans in the state banned the procedure, and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred is casting Ted Cruz's views as extreme in his bid to oust the senator.

Democrats havent won a statewide race in three decades, but abortion could be a weak spot for Cruz. Public polling shows a majority of Texas voters oppose an outright ban. Cruz, who is staunchly anti-abortion, has expressed support for Texas law, which has an exception only in cases where the patients life is at risk.

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Cruz doesnt have a say in state laws, but members of both parties in Congress have at times floated national abortion legislation before and after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Allred said that, if elected, he would fight for Texas women to get their freedom back." He has supported efforts to codify abortion protections at the federal level.

Cruz has largely avoided talking about abortion rights during this campaign. He declined multiple requests to answer questions about his stances on the procedure or how he would approach the issue if he wins another six-year term in the Senate.

Hearst Newspapers asked Cruz for an interview about abortion in July, which the senator turned down through a spokesperson. He also declined to answer eight written questions on the subject, including whether he would support a federal abortion ban and whether the federal government offers enough resources for low-income pregnant patients.

He also declined to say whether the state or federal government should clarify the emergency medical exception to Texas abortion ban. Dozens of women across Texas have reported that the ban has prevented them from receiving necessary medical care, even when their life was at risk and the pregnancy was unviable, because doctors feared legal repercussions.

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Cruz has, however, addressed some abortion questions in other public forums. After the Supreme Court threw out federal abortion protections in 2022, Cruz said the ruling was nothing short of a massive victory for life.

At a news conference this year in Houston, Cruz said he agreed with the high court that abortion access should be decided by the elected legislatures in each state, and that's the way it operates in Texas.

I believe we should protect human life. I think human life is precious, he said. But I also believe that you should have to persuade your fellow citizens in order to enact rules.

Heres what else Cruz has said on the subject:

On exceptions for rape, incest and fetal abnormality

In 2016, Cruz said at a town hall that states should be allowed to ban abortion without exceptions for rape and incest.

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When it comes to rape, rape is a horrific crime against the humanity of a person and needs to be punished  and punished severely, Cruz said. But at the same time, as horrible as that crime is, I don't believe it's the childs fault. And we weep at the crime, we want to do everything we can to prevent the crime on the front end, and to punish the criminal, but I don't believe it makes sense to blame the child.

Cruz declined to say whether he supports exceptions in cases of severe fetal abnormality, but during his 2016 presidential run, he promised to sign legislation that defends the rights of all persons, without exception, other than the life of the mother.

In 2021, Cruz co-authored federal legislation that sought to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. That bill, however, would have provided exceptions for rape, incest and the mothers life.

Most recently, Cruz has expressed support for Texas abortion laws, which do not provide exemptions in cases of rape, incest or fetal abnormality.

Texas made a perfectly reasonable decision to protect life, Cruz said of the state's first abortion ban, which prohibited the procedure after about six weeks of pregnancy and was enacted before the Supreme Court overturned Roe.

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That legislation allowed everyday citizens to sue anyone suspected of performing an abortion or helping someone else get one. It is still in effect today, as is a more recent abortion ban that outlaws the procedure at any point in pregnancy.

On clarifications to Texas abortion law

Several women have unsuccessfully sued Texas over its abortion ban, saying they were denied lifesaving medical care because doctors feared legal or criminal repercussions for performing abortions.

Last year, Kate Cox of Dallas made national headlines when she was forced to flee the state to obtain an emergency procedure. Coxs fetus was diagnosed with a typically fatal condition, and her physician said carrying the pregnancy to term could put her health and fertility at risk.

In March, five other women filed a lawsuit alleging that they were denied abortions despite having dangerous or unviable pregnancies. The Texas Supreme Court has blocked all the requests for access, instead calling on the state medical board to provide better guidance to doctors.

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Cruz has commented on their cases, telling the Dallas Morning News in April that any time a mom wants to have a child and tragically faces a medical emergency and is not able to, that is heartbreaking. He added that he had confidence that the medical board would lay out the precise contours of the medical definitions of a medical emergency.

The Texas Medical Board in June adopted additional guidance to clarify possible exceptions, but critics and many physicians say it wont be enough to allay doctors fears and avoid similar situations in the future. Cruz has not commented on the updated guidance.

On in vitro fertilization

In February, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos created through in vitro fertilization should be considered children and cannot be destroyed. The decision sent a shock wave through the state and the country, temporarily pausing IVF services in Alabama and prompting widespread fear over future access to the procedure.

Cruz filed a bill in May to protect IVF that would make states ineligible for Medicaid funding if they outlawed the service. Democrats in the Senate blocked the bill in June, saying the legislation had too many loopholes that would still allow states to restrict the procedure.

The reason I believe they objected to the bill is, politically, they want to be able to fearmonger and to tell parents, The mean old Republicans are going to take away IVF, Cruz said in a recent interview with Hearst Newspapers. It's not true, but you can make a really scary political ad making those allegations.
We should talk.

Please go to a quiet corner of the room, away from prying eyes and ears, and then read this column. If you tell anyone what I wrote here, I will deny it and claim an imposter posted under my name. Here is what you need to know: It is not working.

The cold, stark reality of this came to me when two events took place. The first was when I watched the conclusion of the Indianapolis 500 and observed the winning car drive over the black-and-white checkered tile to the winners circle sponsored by Hy-Vee. Hy-Vee, which closed three stores serving middle income Iowans and cut the hours at another, could afford the pretty penny it took to land that advertising spot.

If that wasnt enough, in recent months the darling of Iowa manufacturing started announcing layoffs a few at a time, but the total has now surpassed 2,000. The blame lay on the fact that the price of corn was falling, down under $5 a bushel. Deere & Co. had assets last year of $104 billion, up 15% from the previous year. Even with lower farm income projections for this year, Deere expects profits this year to exceed $7 billion. Then came the kicker, the cold glass of water thrown on you face: John Deere will move further operations to Mexico in 2025-2026.

Which raises the question: What more can we give them and other large companies so they stay in Iowa? That is the challenge when you consider all our state government has done since 2012:

Under Gov. Terry Branstad, we cut taxes on business equipment and commercial property.

We reduced the required contributions employers must make to the unemployment insurance fund and lowered and delayed benefits to those out of work.

We have expanded the labor force by allowing children 14 years old to work in factories, removed any restrictions on those 16 years or 17 years old who are now permitted to work the same hours as an adult. This expanded the labor source in Iowa and reduced costs.

Iowa has given outright $30 million for manufacturers plant modernization.

Most recently, $93 million was made available to any two businesses who will create a mega site for future commercial enterprises to locate.

We crippled labor unions by basically abrogating collective bargaining for public employees. We require unions to certify their right to bargain for their members by mandating annual votes of approval of the membership.

We reduced and will eliminate income taxes on the highest-paid executives while cutting lower wage earners taxes only slightly.

We have lost count of how much cash and land we have given away to the titans of capitalism under the promise it would create good jobs.

No one would say our leaders have not pursued an aggressive and expensive conservative doctrine of economic development. But here is what I want you to know: It is not working.

A few factors jump out in support of this conclusion. First, Iowas population in 2022 grew a reported .01 percent, and a substantial amount of that growth was from immigrants. The average state saw a population increase of .03 percent and some went as high as 5% to 6%. More bad news, the Bureau of Economic Analysis told us recently that among all states, Iowa was 48th for growth in personal income, tied with Mississippi for the second-lowest score nationally. Upon graduation, 46% of our college graduates leave Iowa and seek employment elsewhere. More than 300 teachers plan to depart the state after the recent cuts to Area Education Associations. Nationally, our rank among high school students taking the SATs continues to decline.

Now a cynic would argue this plan represents what our leaders want Iowa to become: A primarily Christian, not public-taught, population poorly educated but trained to work. But I assume the governor and her allies are working in good faith. To be helpful, I would only make one minor suggestion. Iowas motto is A Place to Grow. Keep it, it is good. But add a special and specific slogan for wealthy individuals and international corporations of vast financial resources: Come to Iowa. Get the money and run, like a Deere, to Mexico.

We all have witnessed the governors capacity for retribution for those who draw her wrath. I deny I wrote this article.
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Statement by Russian Defence Ministry: 08/08/2024

Units of the Sever Group of Forces along with units of the Russian Federal Security Service continue to eliminate armed AFU formations in Sudzha and Korenevo districts of Kursk region immediately adjacent to the border between Russia and Ukraine.

Over the 24 hours, active actions of the State Border Covering Force along with border units, reinforcement units and arrived reserves, air and missile strikes, and artillery fire prevented the enemy from advancing. Fire damage is inflicted on the located AFU manpower and hardware clusters. Attempts of separate units to get to the depth of territories in Kursk direction were foiled.

Aviation strikes are delivered at the approaching AFU reserves on the territory of Sumy region.

Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses have amounted to up to 400 Ukrainian troops and 32 units of armoured hardware, including one tank, four armoured personnel carriers, three infantry fighting vehicles, and 24 Kozak armoured fighting vehicles.

Since the beginning of battles in Kursk direction, the AFU losses have amounted to up to 660 Ukrainian troops, 82 units of armoured hardware, including eight tanks, 12 armoured personnel carriers, six infantry fighting vehicles, 55 armoured fighting vehicles, and one counter obstacle vehicle.

The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.

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Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (8 August 2024)

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 22nd, 25th mechanised brigades, 36th Marine Brigade, 88th, 103rd, 123rd territorial defence brigades near Zhuravka, Belovody, Yunakovka (Sumy region), Volchansk (Kharkov region), and Daryino (Kursk region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 415 Ukrainian troops, four tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, 14 armoured personnel carriers, 12 pickup trucks, three 152-mm D-20 howitzers, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and two Bukovel-AD electronic warfare stations.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 14th, 44th, 67th, 116th mechanised brigades, 3rd Assault Brigade, 110th, 241st territorial defence brigades, and 1st National Guard Brigade near Sinkovka, Petropavlovka, Novoyegorovka, Tabayevka (Kharkov region), Stelmakhovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic), and Novosadovoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

One counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 116th Mechanised Brigade was repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to more than 460 Ukrainian troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, one Kozak armoured fighting vehicle, one U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured fighting vehicle, 13 motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, three 122-mm D-30 howitzers, two Czech-made Vampire MLRS combat vehicles, and one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station. Two AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.

Units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of the AFU 23rd, 24th, 67th mechanised brigades, 5th, 10th assault brigades, and 10th Mountain Assault Brigade near Chasov Yar, Grigorovka, Ostroye, Ivano-Daryevka, and Vyemka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Two counter-attacks launched by formations of the AFU 5th Assault Brigade were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 660 Ukrainian troops, two armoured personnel carriers, including one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, nine motor vehicles, two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, one UK-made 155-mm AS-90 self-propelled artillery system, one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, one UK-made 105-mm L-119 howitzer, and two Anklav-N electronic warfare stations.

Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces continued to take active actions and inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 1st Tank Brigade, 31st, 32nd, 117th mechanised brigades, 95th Air Assault Brigade, 109th, and 111th territorial defence brigades near Nikolayevka, Tarasovka, Toretsk, Grodovka, and Panteleymonovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Two counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 25th Airborne Brigade and 142nd Infantry Brigade were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 360 Ukrainian troops, one UK-made Spartan armoured personnel carrier, three armoured fighting vehicles, eight motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one 152-mm Giatsint-B howitzer, and one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade and 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade near Vodyanoye and Ugledar (Donetsk Peoples Republic). One counter-attack launched by an enemy assault detachment was repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 105 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, 10 motor vehicles, one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 towed howitzer, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare station. Two AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, 35th Marine Brigade, and 124th Territorial Defence Brigade near Stepnogorsk (Zaporozhye region), Novotyaginka and Antonovka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 110 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, one 152-mm Giatsint-B howitzer, three 152-mm D-20 howitzers, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one UK-made 105-mm L-119 howitzer, and two Bukovel-AD electronic warfare stations.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces delivered strikes at UAV assembly workshops, as well as engaged AFU manpower and hardware clusters in 164 areas during the day.

Air defence units shot down one MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force, 12 U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, and 80 unmanned aerial vehicles, including 21 outside the special military operation zone.

In total, 636 airplanes and 278 helicopters, 29,402 unmanned aerial vehicles, 563 air defence missile systems, 16,937 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,398 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 12,976 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 24,528 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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A new round of support for digital IDs is coming for Apple Wallet's platform, and this is after it recently announced support for Apple's base of operations, California. It was revealed that the tech giant is planning to add more support for digital IDs in two new states, and Apple has been in talks with the said regions to gain the support and work out the kinks needed in this upcoming addition.

Apple Wallet ID Support Coming to 2 New States

An unnamed source (via 9to5Mac) revealed that the Cupertino giant is now working with two new states that would allow them to store their citizen ID cards as a digital copy of the Apple Wallet app. These states were said to be Iowa and Tennessee, and this is despite both regions having their own form of digital ID implementation.

Iowa already offers digital IDs for smart devices via its app, but is not yet available on the Apple Wallet app. On the other hand, Tennessee is currently working on this development to offer soon to its residents.

With these developments, it was revealed that Iowa has already reached an agreement with Apple to bring digital ID support to the Wallet app, while Tennessee is said to have eventually seen eye-to-eye with the tech giant.

Should this development continue, there will be two new states where Apple Wallet can store digital IDs, but there are no timelines yet as to when it will be available.

Read Also : US Consumer Watchdog Proposes Regulations for Big Tech Payment Companies

California Now Supports Apple Wallet IDs

This latest integration for digital IDs on Apple Wallet saw its most recent deal take place, and it is in the home state of the Cupertino-based company, which is California.

Because of this, users would be able to store their state IDs and driver's licenses in the Apple Wallet and use them for checkpoints, but it was advised to still bring their physical ID cards with them.

Digital IDs Stored on Smartphone Wallets

It was in 2021 when Apple revealed the iOS 15 at its annual WWDC event. The company also announced the first round of support for storing digital IDs in the Apple Wallet app. However, it was revealed by Apple that it was still working with state regulators and terminals to accept this new mode of presenting identification, especially as it is not yet widely adopted.

The initial rollout of this experience was massive, as it announced eight states that have offered support for Apple Wallet's digital IDs, including Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah.

However, it is not only for state IDs as Purdue University previously announced the capability to store school ID badges on Apple Wallet for both the iPhone and Apple Watch.

Despite Apple's previous announcement, its support for Iowa state IDs for Apple Wallet has not yet been finalized to this day, but that is coming soon, according to the latest reports. California will soon get its Apple Wallet support, and it will be followed by two new states that are currently working on this development with Cupertino, soon arriving in Tennessee and Iowa.
1974

Found at the Columbus Country Club last week was Red ORourke with his horse Flicka, and cart. His niece, Kelly Ryan, from Singapore, was treated to a horse drawn tour of Columbus.

The Columbus City Council voted to convert the city hall heating system from coal to natural gas.

1984

Missy Sennhenn was getting ready for her trip to Camp Wawbeek, the Easter Seals camp at Wisconsin Dells. She was born with spina bifida and is unable to walk but gets around quite well with her wheelchair. The Columbus Kiwanis Club supplied a full camp scholarship for her to attend.

Faith Lutheran Church bid farewell to its pastor, the Rev. Jerry Wendt, who accepted a call to First English Lutheran Church in Whitewater. Many young people will remember the yearly canoeing and camping trips to the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota and Canada that he organized and led.

1994

Hundreds of people walked through the CP Rail System Columbus station to admire the antique circus wagons on board the Great Circus Train when it stopped in Columbus on its way to the Milwaukee Great Circus Parade.

A purple Harley Davidson motorcycle was included in the 4th of July Parade promoting organ donor transplants. Its driver, Dennis Strawberry Welch, was on the waiting list for a needed heart transplant.

2004

The Columbus City Council passed a new ordinance that created a curfew for those age 18 and younger during the hours between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Young people could be out in the city during curfew if they were returning from a school, church, or government activity; to or from work; or with written permission from a parent.

The Fall River Parents Support Group attracted 25 volunteers to reconstruct the playground at the Fall River School.

Follow on Facebook at Columbus, WI Historical Society, email columbuswiareahistory.com or visit columbuswiareahistory.com. The Columbus WI Area Historical Society is fundraising for the purchase of a new building. Information on the campaign is available online. Randy Koehn is chairman of the building committee.
August 9 marks the 50th anniversary of Richard Nixons resignation, following a televised address to the American public the night before. The 37th presidents political downfall was hastened by the Watergate break-in and the ensuing scandal, which came to a head after Bob Woodward, 81, and Carl Bernstein, 80, broke the story for The Washington Post. It didnt take long for the events of the era to prove irresistible fodder for Hollywood, and Tricky Dick has been portrayed in movies and TV shows as diverse as All the Presidents Men, Nixon and the teen comedy Dick.

Dig into this watch list of 10 films and shows that will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about the history-changing crime and cover-up that led to the first presidential resignation in American history. (This might be a perfect time to teach your older grandkids a thing or two as well!)

Dont miss this: Harry Benson Remembers Nixons Resignation, in AARP Members Edition

Members only

18 (2021)

The Nixon: Bruce Campbell (voice only)

The premise: American history buffs might recognize the significance of this numerical title: Its the number of minutes that were missing from Nixons White House tapes on June 20, 1972  three days after the Watergate break-in. This subversive (and fictionalized) comedy thriller follows a low-level government stenographer (Willa Fitzgerald) who finds the only copy of the audio tapes and decides to leak it to a reporter (John Magaro). When they realize Connies reel-to-reel player is broken, they head out to find a new one, leading to run-ins with hippies, swingers and a motel owner played by Richard Kind, 67. Voicing Nixon is beloved B-movie star Bruce Campbell, 66, of the Evil Dead franchise.

Watch it: 18 on Apple TV, Prime Video

All the Presidents Men (1976)

The Nixon: Archival footage

The premise: Washington Post reporters Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman, 86) and Bob Woodward (Robert Redford, 87) take center stage in this Oscar-winning political thriller about the race to uncover the presidents crimes, which landed the duo at number 27 on the American Film Institutes list of the greatest heroes in American movie history. Jason Robards won a best supporting actor Oscar for his role as Ben Bradlee; the Post executive editor reportedly told him before filming, Just dont make me look like an a--hole. The film is perhaps best remembered for Deep Throats famous line Follow the money, which has since become a part of the American lexicon.

Watch it: All the Presidents Men on Apple TV, Prime Video

Dick (1999)

The Nixon: Dan Hedaya

The premise: Back in 1999, before we knew the identity of Deep Throat, this witty satire posed the question, What if the famous whistleblower who blew the Watergate scandal wide open was actually  two ditzy D.C. teenagers? Dan Hedaya, 84, the dad from Clueless, steps into the role of Nixon, while a pair of future Oscar nominees, Michelle Williams and Kirsten Dunst, play the daffy duo who set history in motion when they sneak out of one of their Watergate apartments to mail a letter to teen idol Bobby Sherman at the precise moment of the break-in. The hilarious ensemble includes Will Ferrell, 57, and The Kids in the Halls Bruce McCulloch, 63, as Woodward and Bernstein, Harry Shearer, 80, as G. Gordon Liddy and Dave Foley, 61, as H.R. Haldeman.

Watch it: Dick on Apple TV, Prime Video
Disney confirmed plans to roll out a paid sharing plan among its users as the company continues its password-sharing crackdown initiative.

The company first announced that it would no longer tolerate password-sharing on Disney+ accounts earlier this year.

Disney Plus to Introduce Paid Sharing in September

Disney launched its paid-sharing initiative in a few countries last June. The plan aims to capitalize on users who would be kicked out of the streaming platform once the system identified them for password sharing.

The idea would be similar to Netflix's decision to charge an extra $7.99 per month to open another slot on their account. In Disney's case, it is still unclear how much it would cost the subscribers.

"We've had no backlash at all to the [paid sharing] notifications that have gone out and to the work that we've already been doing," said Disney CEO Bob Iger.

The paid sharing would be on top of the company's attempt to strengthen its password-sharing crackdown. Netflix successfully implemented the same agenda and managed to mitigate freeloading on its streaming platform.

Disney Remains Confident Amid Price Hike Move on Streaming Platforms

Earlier this week, Disney announced that it would increase the subscription prices across Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ starting October 17. It would also affect the bundle offerings that include Disney+ and Hulu and Hulu + Live TV.

Amid the price changes, Iger revealed that the company is "not concerned" about losing subscribers due to the increased price. He also emphasized that the addition of ABC News Live and a curated playlist would give the company much-needed leverage against its competitors.

Disney+ with ads will soon cost $9.99 per month, while the ad-free version will be at $15.99 per month. Hulu will also start at $9.99 per month with ads and $18.99 for ad-free version. ESPN+ with ads will soon become $11.99 per month.
Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump are tied among likely voters in the presidential race for the battleground state of Georgia, according to an exclusive AARP poll released today. Forty-eight percent of likely voters favor each candidate in a head-to-head matchup.

When the lens shifts to voters 50-plus, former President Trump takes an eight-point lead, according to the poll. Fifty-three percent of older voters prefer Trump, while 45 percent favor Vice President Harris.

Members only

Among Black voters over 50, however, Harris takes a wide lead. Ninety percent of voters in this demographic prefer Harris, while only 6 percent favor Trump.

Black voters make up such a big part of the Georgia electorate that you have to look at it through those two different lenses to really understand whats going on, says Bob Ward, a partner with Fabrizio Ward, part of a bipartisan polling team that conducted the AARP-commissioned survey.

AARP (Source: Getty Images)

Fabrizio Ward and pollster Impact Research interviewed 1,254 likely Georgia voters from July 24 through July 31 about the presidential race and the issues motivating them to vote. Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee Monday after an online vote by the partys convention delegates. President Joe Biden announced July 21 he was ending his reelection campaign, paving the way for Harris nomination. On Tuesday, she chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Trumps vice presidential pick is U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio.

When pollsters asked voters who they would support in a race between Harris, Trump and several third-party candidates, Trump had a slight edge over Harris. Forty-six percent would cast their ballot for the former president and 44 percent would vote for Harris. Seven percent favor third-party candidates, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who have not yet gained access to the Georgia ballot. Three percent of likely voters remain undecided.

Georgia voters ages 50 and older are the biggest voting bloc and could tip the scale for any candidate in this election, says Vanessa J. Payne, state director of AARP Georgia. With the race so close, candidates would do well to focus on the issues that matter to older voters, such as protecting Social Security and supporting family caregivers.

Georgia is considered a battleground state in the 2024 presidential election.. In 2020, President Joe Biden won the state by just 0.25 percent  12,670 votes. The candidate who prevails in Georgia this November will receive 16 electoral votes toward the 270 needed to win the presidency.


Queensland Acid Supply Shortage: Cobalt Blue Technology Offers Potential Solution

Sydney, Aug 8, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited ( ASX:COB ) ( COH:FRA ) ( CBBHF:OTCMKTS ) offers a potential solution to the looming sulphuric acid supply shortage in Queensland, as included in the Queensland Government's recent 'Acid Supply Study' for the North West Minerals Province.



Our innovative technology offers an alternative solution for producing high-purity elemental sulphur, a key component in sulphuric acid production. This technology aligns perfectly with the Queensland Government's call for alternative acid production methods in the wake of the Mt Isa Copper Smelter closure.



Key Points:



- Cobalt Blue's technology generates elemental sulphur as a valuable by-product during its metal extraction process.



- The Queensland Government's report identifies a hybrid approach combining our sulphur production with a sulphur burning acid plant as a possible solution.



- This method allows for direct production of sulphur prill from pyrite feedstocks, addressing the impending acid shortage.



- Dr. Helen Degeling, who leads our ReMine Plus initiative focused on repurposing mine waste, welcomes the Government's recognition of this technology's potential.



Benefits:



- Our process not only recovers valuable minerals like cobalt but also transforms harmful sulphur into a marketable commodity.



- This presents a win-win for the environment and the economy, promoting resource recovery and a more sustainable critical minerals supply chain.



- Cobalt Blue's technology offers an Australian solution to this critical national challenge.



*To view the full media release, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/GZG55514





About Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited





Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd (ASX:COB) (FRA:COH) (OTCMKTS:CBBHF) has a strategic approach that positions us to be among the first wave of new entrants into the allied battery materials supply chain. We are committed to playing a leading role in securing a stable and sustainable future for critical minerals.

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Alike.io, the leading social travel platform, has announced a collaboration with TVF for the second season of their acclaimed web series "Arranged Couple."

The new season, now available on Girliyapa, TVF's Women Centric YouTube channel, has already garnered over 2 million views in a short span of time. The series follows Rishi and Anu as they navigate the complexities of arranged marriage.

Alike.io is woven into the storyline as Rishi and Anu plan their honeymoon trip to Bali using the platform's simple and online booking system for customized holiday packages.

"We are thrilled to partner with TVF for the second season of Arranged Couple," said Ashish Sidhra, Co-Founder of Alike. "The series accurately portrays the challenges faced by newly married couples, and our platform allows us to showcase how Alike can help them plan a stress-free and memorable honeymoon."

To celebrate the launch, Alike.io has launched the "Hey Alike, Take us to Bali" campaign. Newlyweds can share their stories inspired by the show for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid luxury honeymoon in Bali. The contest runs from August 5th to August 23rd, 2024, and the winner will be announced on September 1st. Details can be found at www.alike.io/free-bali-trip.

"Creating this show has been an incredible journey," said Vijay Koshy, President of TVF. "Partnering with Alike has allowed us to add greater authenticity to the narrative as their travel offerings resonate with the characters. We look forward to fostering this collaboration further."

This partnership highlights Alike.io's ability to build user engagement through impactful collaborations.
Marking a decade-long partnership between Asian Paints and St+art India Foundation, they unveil one of their most unique projects, Dawn of Valour. Over the last 10 years, Asian Paints & St+Art India have brought to life over 450 murals covering nearly 30 cities, thereby making Art Accessible For All. This project pays homage to the Indian Defence Forces stationed at Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh by creating multiple interventions that celebrate them. Dawn of Valour is the first project under their newly launched initiative, Asian Paints St+art Frontier. This initiative features art interventions devoted to honouring the bravery and dedication of the Indian Defence Forces.

The Dawn of Valour mural stands as a powerful tribute to the Indian armed forces in Tawang, located on the Indo-Sino border. The artwork by Reshidev R K, created on the Army Helipad Wall, encapsulates the soldiers' commitment to protecting the land amidst the harsh Himalayan terrain & extreme weather conditions. It depicts the glorious feats of the Indian Army while also capturing the rich culture of Tawang. It paints a vibrant picture of the stories that make up the fabric of this rugged, yet calm region.

At its heart, the mural portrays The Heroes of Tawang: Subedar Joginder Singh, Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, and Major Ralengnao 'Bob' Khathing, whose heroic acts during historic conflicts inspire both the military and the local community. The artwork also celebrates the crucial role of women in the armed forces, portraying them in various roles and highlighting their valuable contributions. The mural also integrates spiritual icons, reflecting the depth of Tawang's cultural heritage. Traditional motifs and symbols such as dragons, elements like yaks that inhabit the frontier region; these artworks further highlight the region's rich cultural legacy and strategic significance.

The strategic location of the mural at the Helipad, close to the Tawang War Memorial, ensures that every visitor can experience the true essence of Tawang on a grand scale. This mural is not just a visual spectacle but a touching narrative of valour, culture, and the enduring spirit of the Indian Defence Forces, resonating with pride and emotion for all who witness it.

The mural highlights the harmonious co-existence of the Army and locals in Tawang. Every aspect of the armys tenacity in this challenging terrain is celebrated in the artwork brought to life by Asian Paints Apex Ultima Protek  an exterior paint that stands strong through harsh conditions. This very spirit is celebrated through this intervention.

In addition to the mural, is a community project at the OR (Other Ranks) Mess for the troops stationed at Tawang. The project aims to create an environment that evokes a sense of home & pride, featuring wall artwork that reflects the rich heritage and traditions of Maharashtra & the valour of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Inside, the artwork celebrates iconic elements such as Dhol Drums, Diyas, Tutari, and Rajmudra, and portrays cultural festivities like Pola Festival and Fugdi, creating a vibrant and comforting space for the soldiers.

Experience the impactful Tawang Project in this video:





Amit Syngle, Managing Director & CEO of Asian Paints, expressed, "Our purpose at Asian Paints is to bring joy to peoples lives. We exist to beautify, preserve, transform all spaces & objects, bringing happiness to the world. Our collaboration with the St+art team has enabled us to create inspiring art landmarks across the nation. Dawn of Valour, our first project dedicated to the Indian defence forces under Asian Paints St+art Frontier, marks a significant milestone in the 10th year of our association. Art has a universal appeal & together we are extending the canvas to create a larger impact. Through this mural and artworks, we honour our soldiers stationed at Tawang, their invaluable contributions to national security and their sacrifice of staying away from their homes. We are also delighted to unveil this project just in time for India's 78th Independence Day. We extend our deepest gratitude to our soldiers, whose courage inspires us and their dedication helps us create a sense of unity and belonging.

Hanif Khureshi, Co-founder & Creative Director, St+art India, highlighted, Through the Asian Paints * St+art Frontier initiative, our goal is to bring together the rich cultural narratives of regions like Tawang with the lived experiences of our defence personnel. In this project, we aimed to curate a visual story that not only honours the bravery of the soldiers but also integrates the unique spiritual and cultural heritage of Tawang. This mural is a testament to the power of art to transcend conventional storytelling, offering a layered narrative that speaks to resilience, duty, and cultural identity. Moving forward, we intend to continue exploring such intersections, using art to highlight the harmony between military service and civilian life. Each project under the Asian Paints * St+art Frontier banner will strive to bring to the forefront the shared histories and values that connect us, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation among diverse communities across India.

Brigadier Vipul Rajput, Commander, 190 Mountain Brigade, noted, The mural in Tawang is a recognition of the Indian Armys diverse personnel who hail from various parts of our country. Each soldier brings a piece of their unique cultural heritage, creating a vibrant mosaic within the local context of Tawang. This project illustrates the synergy between our soldiers and the local community, showcasing how they integrate and contribute to the regions rich cultural fabric. With this vision, St+art India along with Asian Paints have brought this project to life by blending art with local traditions and military narratives. This initiative honours our soldiers and enriches the cultural landscape, demonstrating the power of art to unify and celebrate the unique bond between the Indian Army and the communities they serve.



Also Read: Asian Paints makes the way for budding cricketers with Cricket Scholarship
Authored by Manish Mohta, Founder of Learning Spiral

The rise of e-learning platforms has resulted in a dramatic transformation in India's education system in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this shift, making e-learning not only an option, but a requirement for students nationwide. As the world adapts to new ways of learning and teaching, digital marketing strategies have become increasingly important in raising awareness and engagement with e-learning platforms. This article discusses the importance of e-learning in India, the role of digital marketing in promoting it, and effective strategies for increasing its visibility and adoption.

As physical classrooms became inaccessible, educational institutions and students looked to digital solutions to continue their studies. This shift highlighted the vast potential and necessity of e-learning platforms, establishing them as an essential component of the educational ecosystem.

As traditional classrooms become unreachable, educational institutions and students resorted to digital learning environments to complete their coursework. This change made e-learning platforms essential to the educational ecosystem by revealing their enormous potential.

Numerous advantages come with e-learning systems, such as flexibility, accessibility, and a wide variety of materials. They remove the barriers of traditional classrooms and provide access to high-quality education for students from a variety of geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds. These networks offer chances for career growth and skill improvement to working professionals and lifelong learners.

Importance of E-Learning Platforms Today

E-learning platforms have become crucial for several reasons:

Accessibility : Students in remote locations can now receive a top-notch education thanks to e-learning, which removes geographical boundaries. This democratization of education aids in closing the gap between urban and rural educational attainment.

Flexibility : Learners are free to go at their own speed and go over content again as needed. Those who must balance their studies with a job or other commitments may find this flexibility very helpful. Cost-Effectiveness : The expenses of traditional education, such as travel, textbooks, and infrastructure, are frequently lower with e-learning. This increases the affordability of education and opens it up to more people.

A Wide Range of Learning tools : Virtual laboratories, forums, interactive movies, and quizzes are just a few of the many tools available on e-learning platforms. This range accommodates various learning requirements and styles.

Continuity During Disruptions : E-learning guarantees that education continues even during crises, offering stability to both students and educators, as demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Digital Marketing Strategies for Promoting E-Learning Platforms

Digital marketing strategies must be used in order to effectively promote e-learning platforms and increase their adoption. These are important tactics to think about:

Content marketing : Provide insightful and useful content that accentuates the features and advantages of e-learning systems. Posts on blogs, articles, and infographics that answer frequently asked questions and concerns about online learning can draw in and hold the attention of potential users. Additionally interesting are case studies and success stories from students who have used these platforms.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): is the process of optimizing your website and content for search engines in order to increase visibility. Use relevant e-learning keywords like "online courses," "distance learning," and "virtual classrooms." Implementing SEO best practices ensures that your platform appears in search results when prospective users search for educational resources.

Social Media Marketing : Social media is an effective way to reach a large audience. Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter to share interesting content, such as new course updates, testimonials, and educational tips. Create targeted ads to reach specific demographics and interests.

Email Marketing : Create an email list for potential students and existing users. Send out regular newsletters with information on new courses, special offers, and educational resources. Personalized email campaigns can help nurture leads and keep your audience up to date on the latest developments.

Influencer Partnerships : Work with influencers, educators, and industry experts to promote your e-learning platform. Influencers with a large following can help boost your platform's visibility and credibility, especially among their target audience. Cost-Effectiveness : The expenses of traditional education, such as travel, textbooks, and infrastructure, are frequently lower with e-learning. This increases the affordability of education and opens it up to more people.

A Wide Range of Learning tools : Virtual laboratories, forums, interactive movies, and quizzes are just a few of the many tools available on e-learning platforms. This range accommodates various learning requirements and styles.

Continuity During Disruptions : E-learning guarantees that education continues even during crises, offering stability to both students and educators, as demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

User Testimonials and evaluations : On your website and social media pages, feature encouraging user evaluations and testimonials. Genuine comments from contented pupils can foster trust and sway the choices of possible users.

Collaborations with Academic Institutions : Work with colleges, universities, and schools to incorporate your e-learning platform into their curricula or provide it as an additional resource. Credibility and reach can be increased with institutional endorsements.

The emergence of e-learning platforms in India signifies a noteworthy transformation in the realm of education. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how crucial these platforms are for offering chances for flexible, continuous, and accessible learning. Using digital marketing techniques is crucial for e-learning platform promotion. E-learning providers can increase awareness, engage potential users, and encourage adoption by utilizing various strategies such as influencer relationships, email marketing, social media, SEO, and content marketing. These tactics will be vital in determining the direction of education in India as the need for online learning keeps rising.

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and Adgully.com does not necessarily subscribe to it.








Enormous Brands announced the appointment of Sindhu Sharma as National Creative Director (NCD) for the northern region. Sindhu is bringing brings a vast experience and a demonstrated track record in creative leadership to her new role at Enormous.

The appointment comes as Enormous continues its impressive growth story across key regions in India and its ability to attract numerous brands that are drawn to its creative excellence and ability to drive rapid brand growth.

Sindhu joins Enormous from Lowe Lintas where she served as the Executive Creative Director working on high-profile campaigns for clients such as Google, Whirlpool, India Gate, Pernod Wines, OLX, and Nescafe. Prior to Lowe Lintas, Sindhu held multiple leadership roles at Mullen Lintas, including Executive Creative Director and Group Creative Director. Her portfolio at Mullen Lintas included renowned brands like Havells, Lloyd, Dabur, Honda, and Gionee.

Welcoming Sindhu to the agency, Ashish Khazanchi, Managing Partner of Enormous Brands, stated, "We are thrilled to welcome Sindhu to the Enormous family as our new National Creative Director. Sindhu's impressive portfolio and innovative approach to storytelling have consistently set her apart in the industry. I am sure that Sindhus visionary ideas and leadership will undoubtedly drive our agency to new creative heights, especially in the northern markets. We're excited to embark on this creative journey together."

Commenting on her appointment, Sindhu said, I'm super excited to join Enormous as the National Creative Director. This amazing agency, started by a writer we all look up to, has a knack for creating great campaigns that really stand out. Working with such a talented team will help me push creative boundaries. This new role is unique and challenging because it allows me to blend my passion for storytelling with Enormous's innovative spirit. The opportunity to shape impactful, award-winning campaigns makes this journey both thrilling and demanding.

Sindhus career also features significant stints at Publicis Capital as Senior Creative Director, where she managed the entire Nestle portfolio, including Maggi, A+ Milk, Everyday Dairy Whitener, and Michelin. Prior to that, she has also had successful stints at JWT, Contract Advertising, McCann Erickson and Rediffusion DY&R.

Sindhu has received numerous awards for her work across various brands. Notably, she was featured in ET Brand Equitys Indias Hottest Young Creatives. She has also won multiple accolades at prestigious Indian and international award shows, including Effies, Spikes Asia, London International Awards, Clio, New York Festivals, and IAA Olive Crown Awards.
Globale Media, an AI-driven mobile and web advertising platform, has announced the elevation of Himani Singh to Associate Director of Global Sales. With a career spanning over a decade in media sales and management, Singh has consistently demonstrated a proven track record of driving sales and growth across various geographies.

In her new role, Singh will be at the helm of global sales for Globale Media, responsible for devising and executing sales strategies globally aligned with the company's objectives. Her responsibilities will include identifying new business opportunities, maintaining robust client relationships, overseeing the sales budget, providing accurate sales forecasts, and collaborating with other departments to achieve the companys goals.

Singh joined Globale Media in 2022 as a Senior Business Development Manager and was promoted to Lead-International Gaming in 2023. Throughout her business development and sales career within the adtech industry, she has worked with several esteemed media organizations, including Xapads Media, Way2News, Anymind Group, and SVG Media. Her extensive experience and deep industry insights make her a valuable asset to Globale Media in this rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Bhavesh Talreja, Founder and CEO of Globale Media, said: We are thrilled to have Himani step into her new role. Her promotion as the Associate Director of Global Sales is a significant milestone in our journey to strengthen our global vision. Her extensive experience in optimizing and implementing sales strategies across various industry categories will be invaluable. At Globale Media, we foster innovation and are always eager to explore new ideas and experiment with different strategies.

Himani Singh added: I am looking forward to working closely with Globale Medias dynamic team and playing a significant role in the company's growth story. I have admired Globale Media for years due to their ambitious management team and visionary approach. I am thrilled with this opportunity to assist Globales clients with innovative solutions and inventory that will help them grow their business.

Singh holds a Bachelors degree in Commerce and has completed her MBA in Media Management from Amity University, Noida, India.
The third edition of DATAMATIXX ASIA 2024 Summit and Awards, held on August 6, 2024, brought together industry leaders to explore the frontiers of data, AI, and marketing evolution. A key highlight of the summit was a panel discussion titled Using Automation to Enhance Performance Marketing Efficiency, which was chaired by Udit Verma, Co-Founder and CMO, Trackier. The esteemed panelists included:

Argho Bhattacharya, Head of Marketing, PayU Payments

Fatima Sham Mahimwala, Marketing Director, SMOOR

Himanshu Khandelwal, AVP Digital Business, Axis Mutual Fund

Saugata Bagchi, Global Head - Digital, Experiential & Content Marketing, Tata Communications

Kanchan Shah, Head of Marketing, Brand Concepts Ltd

Suraj Shetty, Head of Customer Experience & Learning Development,

Ring | Kissht

Commencing the panel Udit Verma remarked, In the rapidly growing landscape of digital marketing, staying ahead requires creativity. More than just creativity and strategy, it requires leveraging technology to enhance performance efficiency to maximize the ROI. He then asked the panellists how automation can impact they specific area of performance marketing.

Kanchan Shah said, It helps you in many ways  it brings you good RoI, it controls your ACOS, which are the very core in acquisition or performance marketing. These are the two parameters which are constantly monitored, this helps you to control both. This is a very important part of why we use AI.

Agreeing with Shah, Fatima Sham Mahimwala added, It helps with your RoI and ACOS and it keeps your customers coming back for more. And the longevity of your customers is increased. So, that's where automation comes in.

Argho Bhattacharya emphasized, Automation makes my life easier, thats why I use it. It makes execution of campaigns or measurement of campaigns easier for my team. In todays world, theres no other way than automation. If you have not already automated your marketing processes or your sales processes, the best time was yesterday and the next best time is today.

Himanshu Khandelwal noted, Performance marketing and automation are now at the heart of each other. They cannot stitch the way performance marketing has evolved in the last few years. Google, Facebook, everyone is now pushing towards making things more in control with the business user. With automation, there comes huge value added to the business. They can control personalization at scale. At least the industry where I come from  mutual funds, where we have a user from Rs 100 scheme to Rs 10 lakh rupees  is very diverse. It is very easy, with a little more automation coming in the picture, doing personalization, omnichannel experience and then obviously optimizing the spends that we are going to target and ultimately the acquisition comes. And lastly, it boils down to the CLV (customer lifetime value).

Citing a survey findings, Saugata Bagchi said, On an average, a marketeer spends 16 hours a week basically doing tasks like email lists and marketing lists and so on and so forth. With the right kind of automation coming in, 16 hours a week means two working days. Imagine if you can free up two working days, the amount of work that you can get done additionally with the investment that youre making in automation  that itself pays for the cost of the licenses, cost of the tools and so on and so forth.

Suraj Shetty noted, At present, learning and development are not linked to performance marketing. When it comes to learning and development, we have a vast field or team which is spread across pan-India, around some 8,000 people who are into sales and collections. They do direct sales to customers and also to businesses, mostly small business like a kirana store, etc. The automation that we have done here in learning and development is that whenever you have a big team in the field, a lot of queries come up. Every now and then there would be attrition. Many people are new joinees, they do not know whats happening. They want someone to handhold them. And this handholding is not available 24/7, so what we have done is we have created a GenAI chatbot for this field team, which can answer their queries with respect to the product, with respect to the process, also with respect to HR related matters.

Speaking about customer experience, Shetty said, We have a marketing automation platform. It helps us streamline data and also work which is usually without the platform, you would need at least a team of 20-25 people to do all the data analysis and to take decisions within a day. And this entire work can be done by just one or two people sitting on the platform. So, its necessary to have platforms which can automate tasks with respect to creation of cohorts. it can immediately show you on the dashboard what is working, what is not working, and you can make changes on the fly within a day or within hours, you can make these changes. That helps.

These are edited excerpts. For the complete panel discussion, please watch below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDZZZxiahKk
With the nation preparing to celebrate India's 78th Independence Day, Public App, one of the pioneering hyperlocal content apps in India, has unveiled the teaser for its upcoming Independence Day campaign, sparking a flame of patriotism with #PublicSalutes. The #PublicSalutes campaign is a sincere ode to the unwavering spirit of the freedom fighters of India, probing deep into the lives of unsung heroes who carved their names in the accounts of history.

In a powerful collaboration with a diverse group of content creators, Public App embarked on a mission to uncover the untold stories of living legends who were instrumental in India's freedom struggle. To kick off the campaign, Public extended an invitation to these creators to help find these freedom fighters. Through their efforts, these powerful and inspiring stories of personal experiences, sacrifices, and dedication to Indias independence will find their way to a larger audience. Their stories, echoing with the spirit of a bygone era, aim to inspire a new generation to cherish the legacy of our nations builders. These compelling video interviews will be released daily by these creators on the App from August 9th to August 15th, bringing these remarkable stories to life.

Beyond the moving narratives, Public App will also feature a district-wise collection of Commemorative Cards, available on the App daily till August 15th, to educate about the immortal contributions of our brave national heroes. Each tale, a testament to courage and resilience, will be accessible to users, fostering a deeper understanding of the sacrifices made for our independence. Users will have the opportunity to explore the stories of heroes who fought and contributed to the struggles in their surrounding areas, forging a personal connection to the legacy of those who made a difference nearby. Public App seeks to bridge the gap between historical sacrifices and local appreciation, helping people recognize and honor the contributions made in their own vicinity.

The recently launched teaser video is a captivating prelude to a campaign that promises to be a soulful exploration of Indias freedom struggle. This initiative is not only dedicated to preserving and sharing the extraordinary contributions of these unsung heroes but also to honouring their legacy for generations to come.

Sazal Batra, VP Operations, who oversees Creator Operations for Public app said, We are incredibly grateful to these talented content creators for their passion and dedication in bringing these stories to life. Their collaboration has been instrumental in ensuring that the legacy of our freedom fighters is preserved for generations to come. We believe that #PublicSalutes will not only educate and inspire but also foster a deeper sense of patriotism and unity among our users. By sharing these stories, we hope to create a ripple effect of respect and admiration for our nation's heroes

As India stands tall, celebrating its freedom, Public App invites everyone to join in honouring the sacrifices that shaped our nation. Let us together rekindle the flame of patriotism and ensure that the sacrifices of our heroes are never forgotten.

For more information and to watch the teaser video, please visit :

https://public.app/card/view/cc_a8fe5de8-0550-4ce7-930c-f1f3a10b7b3f
Shoppers Stop, India's premium fashion, beauty and gifting omnichannel destination, always aims to bring a refreshed, enriching, and an unparalleled shopping experience to its customers. With 112 stores across India, and a robust online presence, Shoppers Stop continues to redefine retail excellence by offering 500+ brands 120k+ styles, and plethora of services such as Personal Shopper, beauty makeovers and many more. Whether one is looking for the latest trends in fashion, accessories, beauty products, or home essentials, Shoppers Stop promises a curated trendy selection that caters to every style and occasion.

Single.id, the worlds first cross-reward-programme- identifier, has further cemented its position as Indias most critical rewards infrastructure provider by consolidating its relationship with Shoppers Stop. As part of this new collaboration, Shoppers Stop launches a brand-new app powered by Single.id, aimed at significantly enhancing the consumer reward experience for millions of its customers.

By integrating the Single.id technology on its new app, Shoppers Stop aims to bring unparalleled convenience and value to its 10 million+ First Citizen Club Members. Customers using the new Shoppers Stop First Citizen Club rewards app will seamlessly acquire vINR rewards at Shoppers Stop and an impressive network of partner brands such as McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Mad over donuts, Truefitt & Hill, Himalaya,

Unicorn and many more outside the Shoppers Stop ecosystem, whenever they use a linked credit or debit card to pay. With high security features, users simple can add the card and collect rewards forever. As we approach the festive season, now users can avail unlimited rewards up to vINR 2,00,000 per year. Each vINR provides INR 1 off of any future purchase in Shopper Stop.

Customer centricity and elevation the shopping experience for our shoppers, is a priority for us at Shoppers Stop. We have always strived to serve our customers in the best possible manner and delivering customer delight. With a strong loyalty program that houses 10 Million First Citizen Club members, we consistently look for opportunities to make their shopping more rewarding. This association will help us elevate the rewards system, wherein customers can now see the benefit of the program, outside the Shoppers Stop ecosystem also. This enhances customers real value every time they shop with us. Moreover, this will enhance the overall experience that we provide to our First Citizen Club members. said Mr. Kavindra Mishra, Customer Care Associate, Managing Director, and CEO, Shoppers Stop.

This partnership takes our collaboration with Shoppers Stop to the next level. With the integration of seamless card-linked offers in Shoppers Stop First Citizen Club rewards customers will enjoy the easiest retail savings experience in India. Shoppers Stop has always been synonymous with quality and a superior shopping experience. Their new app, secured by Single.id, will enable millions of loyal Shoppers Stop customers to transform the way they save money every day, said Bish Smeir, Global CEO of Enigmatic Smile.

Single.id offers a streamlined solution for managing multiple reward programs by consolidating customer identities, marketing consents, and reward balances across all connected programs. This integration allows customers to access their reward balances universally, eliminating the risk of expiring points and simplifying the process of tracking accrued value. By linking customer profiles to their existing credit and debit cards, Single.id automates the reward collection process, enabling customers to effortlessly earn rewards simply by making payments with their cards.

"Single.id is thrilled to expand its portfolio of participating reward programmes with a brand like Shoppers Stop. We are excited to see this collaboration benefitting both our entire rewards universe. This initiative underscores our commitment to transforming the shopping landscape through innovative digital solutions," said Chandra Bhushan, India Country Head, Enigmatic Smile.
The third edition of DATAMATIXX ASIA 2024 Summit and Awards, held on August 6, brought together industry leaders to explore the frontiers of data, AI, and marketing evolution. The event witnessed a fireside chat on The Future of Programmatic Advertising, which was chaired by Nabajit Nath, Head of Sales - India, Blis. The other speakers included:

Kewal Lohia , Associate Vice President, IPG Mediabrands

, Associate Vice President, IPG Mediabrands Vishal Sharma, DVP  Media Buying, LS Digital

Nabajit Nath commenced the discussions by asking the panellists what kept them motivated in dynamic and demanding agency life.

Vishal Sharma noted that digital industry is evolving every day, which means that one needs to learn more and keep evolving personally as well. You have to search for that thing that you have inside you which connects with the digital ecosystem and you have to drive that particular thing, he emphasised.

On the other hand, for Kewal Lohia it was doing something one did every week. You work across multiple clients and every week there will be something that will come back to you in terms of a challenge, so how do you solve that? Probably looking at how you can deploy new things for the client, or if you have come across something new in the market or the industry, how do we implement that? Its all about what do we do next, otherwise, its like you are doing something very mundane; there should be something new to do every week.

Nabajit Nath noted, As programmatic advertising continues to revolutionize, with brands reaching their audiences and the industry stands at a crossroads, currently what happening is that with the promise of AI and machine learning, efficiency and effectiveness are there, but then a lot of questions and challenges are about data privacy, ad fraud, transparency. Thus, how can the industry balance the benefit of these advanced technologies, with the need of accountability and trust in the programmatic advertising space?

Vishal Sharma pointed out, The industry is evolving. Before Covid-19, what I feel is that people used to think there is programmatic and display, you can get reach out of it and you are done. Eventually, the videos came into place  short form video, the OTT, and suddenly the display was replaced by a video format. And then the video format is now evolving so much that you have interactive videos, you have partners like Blis, who can give you engagement along with the videos, you can deep dive, do targeting on a real-time basis with interest, etc. So, it is all about trust.

What I have seen is that there are a lot of clients working directly with Google. As an agency when we talk to the client, we take an experience of talking to multiple clients and understanding their pain point and then resonating with what this particular client is asking for. That helps us create a story or probably create a trust factor  it can be through creative innovation, through data privacy. Some clients are tilted more towards BAV, some clients are tilted more towards performance, so at the end of the day it is about what the client is defining. So, that has to be tailor-made and created with a deep understanding of what the client is looking for, rather than giving an option.

Kewal Lohia added here, Its not just a client-agency relationship, we are an extended marketing team for the brand. With ever-evolving programmatic investments, it is all about where my ads are running. As an agency, we follow certain local and global levers that are implemented on our programmatic campaigns, which are related to placements, etc. Most of the clients when they do programmatic, it is either through their seats or client-agency seats. The brands have access to where the ads are running, that is where the trust is built that the ads are running in a very media-safe environment. When it comes to accountability, it is not just the agency being accountable, but the partners are also being equally accountable. What is means is that the ads are running in a brand scalable environment  be it through the levers that are available through the platform, or we implement third party media multipliers, we are very platform agnostic. We are good at implementing all of those and we proactively tell our clients to implement media quality verifiers, so that confidence is there because programmatic is going to evolve and grow.

These are edited excerpts. For the complete discussion, please watch below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDZZZxiahKk
The integrated marketing agency, Hashtag Orange, has partnered with The Man Company (TMC), Indias leading mens grooming brand, to conceptualise and execute a groundbreaking Raksha Bandhan Rap music video. Offering a refreshingly new look into the world of sibling relationships, this rap is a fresh, modern take on a deeply emotional brother-sister bond.

The agencys primary goal with this partnership was to elevate the brand perception of TMC from one that only caters to a mature audience to a dynamic brand that also appeals to younger generations. Hashtag Oranges strategy focused on bringing about this shift by embracing a new-age, daring style. The uniquely fun Rakhi Rap, by the talented rapper Ashwini Hiremath, not only fills the gap in contemporary music that celebrates brother-sister relationships, but also perfectly encapsulates their light-hearted, playful nature.

With a young female voice delivering relatable lyrics, this rap marks a departure from the sentimental content usually associated with this holiday. It also positions TMCs grooming sets as the ideal gift for sisters who are looking to pamper their gentlemen brothers this festive season. By highlighting the witty banter and love-hate antics as well as the genuine love and care that make up a sibling relationship, the lyrics appeal to todays audiences who appreciate a more authentic take on things. The video has generated significant engagement from the target audience, already garnering over 6 million views.

Mukesh Vij, Founder of Hashtag Orange, said, With this collaboration with The Man Company, we have defied industry norms yet again! The Raksha Bandhan Rap is a bold, innovative spin on a traditional festival that departs from the usual tearjerker narrative surrounding it. This first-of-its-kind song is already making waves, and we expect to see it trending on social media soon. This will not only establish The Man Company as a trendsetter but also highlight their grooming sets as top gifts for brothers this Raksha Bandhan.

Sharing his elation at the success of this film, Gaurang Menon, Regional & Creative Head at Hashtag Orange, added, We're stoked to have executed the Raksha Bandhan campaign for The Man Company - A beautifully shot film that captures the complex dynamics of sibling relationships in authentic and playful way. By Challenging the typical tropes of the genre, we've delivered a fresh film that perfectly aligns with The Man Company's brand values, with a music track that's sure to get everyone grooving."

Jatin Luthra, AVP - Marketing at The Man Company, emphasised the brands commitment to challenging and revolutionising traditional narratives. This campaign offers a more dynamic and authentic look at a much-loved festival, showcasing our dedication to blending the best of tradition and innovation. The lyrics provide a beautifully nuanced perspective on the inside jokes and unspoken, yet understood, love that create the delightful chaos of brother-sister relationships. We are thrilled by all the positive responses to the campaign. Not only is this heartfelt tribute resonating deeply with our audience, but it is also driving significant interest in our premium grooming products."



Also Read: The Man Company's 2024 rakhi rap: 'Bhai Mera 10 on 10 Hai'"
Muhammad Yunus Takes Oath as Chief Adviser of Bangladeshs Interim Government

Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus has been sworn in as the chief adviser to Bangladeshs interim government on Thursday, following weeks of intense student protests that led to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas resignation and subsequent flight from the country. Yunus, who arrived in Dhaka from Paris, has urged calm and appealed to Bangladeshis to get ready to build the country. Meanwhile, Hasina, who fled to India, is seeking asylum in Europe. Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, two student leaders in their mid-20s who led the protests, will join the caretaker government, according to local media reports.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to the new government at Bangabhaban. According to the Dhaka Tribune, arrangements were made for 400 people to attend the ceremony. Dr. Yunus was in Paris for medical treatment prior to his return to Dhaka. Regarding the size of the interim government, Zaman said, I believe it might initially consist of around 15 members. However, one or two more individuals may be added.

Meanwhile, ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas son, Sajeed Wazed, has blamed Pakistans ISI for fueling unrest in Bangladesh. The Indian government must build up international pressure for the swift restoration of democracy in Bangladesh, Joy told PTI. The Indian visa application center announced that its offices in the country will remain closed until further notice.
Senior NCP Leader Durrani Joins Sharad Pawar's Faction Ahead of State Polls 2

In a pre-election jolt to the ruling ally Nationalist Congress Partys Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, a senior leader from Parbhani, Abdullah Babajani Khan Durrani, MLC, crossed over to the Nationalist Congress Party (SP), led by Sharad Pawar on Saturday.

Babajani, as he is commonly known, functioned as the NCPs Parbhani district president and was welcomed to the NCP (SP) fold by Sharad Pawar and other senior leaders.

Political circles were agog with speculation over Babajanis moves amid backdoor talks with the NCP (SP) and finally, he cleared the air on Saturday on his decision.

Sharad Pawar said that many people who joined (Ajit Pawar) felt they had gone astray and were in touch with the NCP (SP), but reiterated that the final decision on taking them will be decided by the party leadership.

NCP (SP) circles hinted that Babajani, an ex-MLA and two-time MLC who was always keen to contest the assembly elections, may be considered for a party ticket from Parbhani for the state polls to be held in October.

However, Babajani, who was overlooked for an MLC ticket, denied that he had made any demands from the NCP (SP) or was given any assurance by the party, and claimed that his move was purely on grounds of political ideology.

The Muslim minority community is under stress They are disenchanted with the parties in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Under such circumstances, it is awkward to continue with such a party (NCP) any longer, hence I am joining the NCP (SP), declared Babajani.

Senior NCP (SP) leaders like state President Jayant Patil, national general secretary Jitendra Awhad, Rohit R. Pawar and others have stated in the recent past that around 18-20 legislators from the ruling MahaYuti ally NCP will join NCP (SP), but the NCP leaders have scoffed such suggestions.
As many as 1,800 Alabama third graders will repeat the grade because they arent reading well enough to move on to fourth grade, state superintendent Eric Mackey said Thursday.

Its a pivotal moment for Alabama, which has spent years implementing a high-stakes literacy law, and which now has to make the call it has told parents, teachers and students may be coming: If students cant read well by the end of third grade, they will get retained.

Mackey told state school board members that retaining a child in any grade is a serious decision, but doing it in early grades is better for children.

The later students are retained, the worse the social outcome, he said. Thats why third grade isnt considered the beginning. Its kind of the last effort.

Spring test results showed 4,800 third graders did not reach a benchmark that indicates they were reading well enough to move on to the fourth grade. Those students were given a chance to attend summer camps, boost their skills and test again.

Just over 3,000 third graders took the test again during the summer, and of those students, 1,337 passed the benchmark. Overall, about 1,800 students are expected to repeat third grade. Numbers will be finalized in September.

Students in lower grades have been marked for retention due to deficiencies in reading skills, too:

Kindergarten - 3,448

First grade - 3,760

Second grade - 2,154

Not every third grader who struggles with reading will be retained.

District officials said they expect at least 1,000 third graders will be promoted under the good cause exemption, Mackey said, but the numbers are still preliminary.

A partial breakdown of the district-reported data shows the following number of students are expected to be given good cause exemptions:

Students with significant disabilities that take an alternate test: 59 students,

English learners: 149 students,

Students with IEPs who have been retained previously and now have an intensive reading plan: 431 students,

Students who were previously retained but do not have IEPs: 41 students,

Students who used portfolios of their work to show their reading skills are on grade level: 124 students.

Students promoted for good cause will continue to get help in reading, according to the law . That help includes intensive reading intervention prescribed in the students reading improvement plan until the reading deficiency is improved.

Students who are not promoted will get an intensive level of support, according to the law, including more attention from a teacher and extra reading time each day. They should

The state also is working on support for students and teachers in upper elementary who still need to work on reading skills.

Experts say third grade is a critical year for reading, where children cross the line from learning to read  sounding out words, figuring out sentence structure -- to reading to learn.

By fourth grade, children should be using those foundational pieces learned in the previous grades to gain knowledge of other subjects.

If a child isnt reading on grade level by the end of the third grade theyll struggle to learn subject-level content from the fourth grade forward, likely falling further behind year after year.

Mackey said he expects the board to reconsider the benchmark score used to determine reading skills in October.
With back to school season comes budgeting to ensure a child has what they need to thrive. And some families may want to know if free or reduced-price meals are an option.

Between 2020 and 2022, federal pandemic assistance made school meals free for every student. But most schools now charge for breakfast and lunch again. Students can rack up debt if they dont pay.

In order to get free or reduced-price meals in Alabama, families must go through a few simple steps.

Here is how to apply for free and reduced price meals:

Step 1: List the names of all the students in the household up to and including twelfth grade

Step 2: If any household members currently participate in SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR, provide their case number.

Step 3: List all household members and income for each member including earnings from work, public assistance, child support, alimony, pensions or retirement.

Step 4: Provide your contact information and signature

Print and return the application directly to your childs school.

Who can get free school meals?

All children in households receiving benefits from Alabama SNAP, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Alabama TANF or Alabama Medicaid Free are eligible for free meals.

Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.

Children participating in their schools Head Start program are eligible for free meals.

Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway or migrant are eligible for free meals.

You can also visit the Alabama State Department of Education Alabama Achieves website to learn more about school nutrition programs.

More to know about the school meal application process

For families who do not have access to a computer or printer, school principals and counselors can also provide them with the application.

You only need to submit one application per household, even if your children attend more than one school in their district.

Families can apply for free and reduced price meals any time during the school year by submitting an application directly to their school.

Though the meals are discounted or free, the quality and quantity of food is the same for all children.

In todays economy, any assistance that our families and children can get is beneficial to themWe know that assistance is needed for anyone, regardless of their demographics or financial status, there are some times that assistance is needed, Sonja Anthony, executive director of the Alabama School Nutrition Association, said.

Universal meal programs

Experts say universal meal programs are linked to better attendance rates, test scores and health outcomes among marginalized student groups.

The federal Community Eligibility Provision program allows every student in a school or district to receive free school meals so long as a certain percentage of students qualify for free and reduced price meals or are enrolled in SNAP or Medicaid.

In 2023, the USDA lowered the requirements for districts to offer the program from 40% of students in the district having to qualify for free and reduced price meals, down to 25%.

Last school year, 118 out of 150 Alabama school districts and charter schools participated in the district-wide program, up from just 51 districts that participated in 2022-23, according to recent state data. Just under 480,000 children had access to free meals through their schools.
Bessemer City Schools will operate under state, not local oversight, effective immediately.

The Alabama Board of Education voted unanimously to take over Bessemer City Schools at its Thursday board meeting in Montgomery.

That means the local school board is no longer in charge of decisions about personnel, finance or operations.

Bessemer City, located just west of Birmingham, enrolls about 3,000 students and employs just under 240 staff members. The district, which celebrated its first day of school Thursday, will retain its current superintendent and school board, but will now operate under the guidance of a state intervention team.

Some of these issues are deep, they go back a while, State Superintendent Eric Mackey said before the vote. The board, in my opinion, has gone through periods where it was more responsible and more effective, but they have really not been highly effective in a very long time. And so many things have systemically gotten out of order.

State board members appointed longtime superintendent Daniel Boyd as the chief administrative officer who will oversee the intervention locally.

Mackey told AL.com he may hire a few other staffers to help sort out finances, and will oversee the districts ongoing search for a new chief financial officer. Bessemer City Superintendent Dana Arreola, who was hired last year, will remain in her current role.

The state resolution outlines the sequence of events leading to the intervention.

On July 3, Mackey issued a strong warning to local school officials, telling them the state would intervene if they didnt fix key finance and governance problems.

A special audit later revealed that, over a period of two years, officials had not approved an updated salary schedule and had repeatedly violated state bid law with a number of construction projects and contracted services.

Mackey said the district has been plagued by dysfunctional board meetings, where members have refused to fix key issues because they were unable to reach a quorum.

They have plenty of money to fix their roofs, but theyve got buckets in the hallways because the board cant approve an architect or a contractor  theyve just got all kinds of problems, Mackey said.

After a meeting with Mackey, Bessemer board members voted on July 22 to agree to the intervention.

We are committed to ensuring that our students and staff have what they need to be successful, so if thats working with the state department, we will be working with them cooperatively to make sure that they have what they need to help us be successful, Board Vice President Terry Dawson told reporters after the vote.

Immediate next steps include overseeing outstanding repairs and settling staffing matters, Mackey said.

Eventually, an intervention team will take a deeper look at classroom instruction and curricula. The district received a 61, a D grade, on its latest state report card.

We generally see that a high-functioning board will lead to high-functioning students, Mackey told AL.com. I truly believe, just by having really good governance and oversight and clean buildings that dont have leaks in the hallways -- those kinds of things will raise student achievement without working on student achievement.

According to the resolution, intervention will continue until the school system demonstrates suitable progress towards correcting the deficiencies that led to intervention including, but not limited to, plans addressing board governance, finances, personnel, facilities, and student learning.

Mackey said he expects the takeover to last a least a couple of years.

Trisha Powell Crain contributed reporting.






Tropical Storm Debby has made its second and final landfall.

The National Hurricane Center said Debby made landfall as a tropical storm around 1 a.m. Thursday near Bulls Bay, S.C., with winds estimated around 50 mph.

The hurricane center warned that Debby will continue to bring a major threat of flooding to the Carolinas and Virginia today, then spread rain up the Eastern Seaboard and into the Northeast U.S. by Friday.

Debby made its first landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near Steinhatchee in Floridas Big Bend region on Monday.

It then moved crossed over northern Florida and southern Georgia before moving back into the Atlantic.

Debby continued to crawl inland in South Carolina on Thursday morning, and parts of South and North Carolina were covered in flash flood warnings (in green):

Debby continued to be a big rainmaker on Thursday. Areas in green were under flash flood warnings on Thursday morning.NWS

As of 7 a.m. CDT Thursday, the center of Tropical Storm Debby was located about 90 miles north of Charleston, S.C., and was moving northwest at 7 mph.

Debbys winds were still around 50 mph, according to the hurricane center. Debby should become a tropical depression later today and will merge with a front by Friday.

Forecasters said Debby should pick up speed today and move across eastern South Carolina and into central North Carolina by tonight. It will then head northeast across the mid-Atlantic region and into the Northeast by Friday.

Debby will continue to produce a lot of rain and could cause deadly flash flooding this week. An additional 3 to 6 inches of rainfall be possible in Southeast North Carolina, and some areas could have 15 inches of rain from Debby before its over.

Eastern South Carolina could get 1 to 3 additional inches of rain, bringing Debbys total there as high as 20 to 25 inches.

The hurricane center said considerable flooding is expected across parts of eastern South Carolina and southeast North Carolina through Friday.

Additional rain amounts of 3 to 7 inches will be possible in Virginia, and areas from Maryland northward through Upstate New York could get 2 to 4 inches.

Flash flooding will be possible in all those areas, as well as river flooding.

WATCHING THE CARIBBEAN

Hurricane forecasters will be watching the area in yellow the rest of this week for the next potential storm.NHC

The hurricane center on Thursday highlighted another area that will be watched in the coming days near the Caribbean.

Forecasters think an area of low pressure could form in the central Atlantic early next week and head toward the Lesser Antilles about a week from now.

Forecasters gave it a low chance (30 percent) of becoming a depression in the next week, but it will be in a favorable area for development and will be watched closely over the coming days.

The next name on the 2024 storm list, by the way, is Ernesto.
Supply chains for engines and aircraft components continues to frustrate airlines waiting on Airbus and Boeing to assemble their planes and deliver them to customers.

Airbus had to roll back its production ramp up expectations earlier this summer, despite a global order backlog of its A220 and A320-family of planes that is the equivalent of around 13 years. Boeing, itself, is struggling with a crisis for in-flight blowouts of its 737 Max.

But despite struggles with the global aerospace industry, the European-based companys North American operations were in a celebratory mood on Thursday. During an event in Mobile, officials with the company and with the city and county expressed optimism toward continued growth while embracing a past that has seen the once-forgotten Brookley Aeroplex transformed into Alabamas aerospace manufacturing hub.

You know, 10 years ago we never built an airplane in Mobile, said Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, during a commemoration of Airbus 500th aircraft made at the Mobile manufacturing plant since it opened in 2016. Today, were delivering the 500th airplane out of this facility. That is amazing.

Expansion awaits

Construction continues on the third final assembly plant on the Airbus Mobile campus as pictured on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, on Aerospace Way in Mobile, Ala. The plant is expected to be finished by the second quarter of 2025 and will be manufacturing the Airbus A320-family of commercial aircraft as soon as the second half of next year.John Sharp

The celebration comes as construction work continues on the sprawling Airbus campus. The Mobile facility is the companys largest North American presence and officials anticipate it being the fourth-largest final assembly operation for commercial aircraft assembly in the world.

The biggest on-site activity involves the companys third final assembly plant, expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2025, and rolling out its first completed aircraft sometime later next year.

The third FAL will be the second assembly line for the Airbus A320-series of aircraft. The 500th plane made in Mobile was a Delta Air Lines A321neo. Delta has added more than 130 U.S. produced A320 and A220-family of aircraft to its fleet since the Mobile plant began assembling them.

Related: When will Airbus truly transform Mobile?

Daryl Taylor, senior-vice president of commercial aircraft operations for Airbus in the U.S. and the general manager of the Mobile facility, said the expansion work, when fully completed by mid-2026, will create an approximately 3 million square-foot aerospace campus at Brookley. The company continues to increase the number of its employees at the facility, with close to 2,400 workers right now and expectations that another 500 will be added to work at the new assembly line by next year.

The growth in Mobile was highlighted by Taylor, even if the post-pandemic supply chain challenges continue to grip the industry worldwide. The company, in June, lowered its 2024 total delivery target to around 770 airplanes from around 800. It also pushed back a targeted deadline for reaching production of 75 narrow-body airplanes per month to 2027, from 2025 or 2026.

Earlier this year, we made some decisions as a global (company) to delay the ramp up (of production) slightly due to the supply chain challenges and Mobile is part of that system, Taylor said. We dont see anything specific in Mobile than what we see different across the network. Again, were part of a global program. Our production rate is driven by what the overall system is capable of.

He said that the next 500 planes manufactured in Mobile will come much quicker than the first 500, which took approximately eight years. He said the next 500 planes should be built within a four or five-year time frame.

We will be doubling our capacity to produce the A320 starting in 2025, and that ramp up will continue into 2027 and 2028, Taylor said.

Long-term issues

Daryl Taylor, Senior Vice-President of Commercial Aircraft Operations for Airbus in the U.S., speaks during an event at the Mobile's Airbus manufacturing facility on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Mobile, Ala. The event highlighted the 500th aircraft made in Mobile since Airbus began its operations in Alabama in 2016.John Sharp

He said there was no longer-term plan for future expansion.

I think we have enough expansion going on today to keep ourselves busy, Taylor said. We have a commitment to get this expansion in place, get the facility running at its fully capacity. To do that, were recruiting a lot of people and getting them trained. Its an important step in this process to build the right competence and capability in the organization. Once we stand to deliver on that plan, well see whats next.

Richard Aboulafia, an aviation analyst with AeroDynamic Advisory, said while there isnt much Airbus can do in the short-term in Mobile other than focus on gearing up its new FAL, in the long-term, it needs to be planning to address production challenges.

In the longer run, given likely volumes, Airbus might well decide to increase its manufacturing footprint and create additional capacity, he said.

Taylor said that Mobile will play a role in long-term future growth plans for Airbus, which houses its largest assembly lines in Toulouse, France and Hamburg, Germany. It also builds commercial aircraft in Tianjin, China; and Mirabel, Canada.

As future (growth) strategies are identified and thought about, Mobile is considered, Taylor said. Mobile is a key part of that.

Workforce, education

Taylor said he is confident in the workforce development efforts Airbus USA has established within Mobile and Baldwin counties, which includes a growing apprenticeship program aimed at luring non-aerospace workers into the industry.

FlightWorks Alabama and Airbus are teamed up to provide science, tech, engineering, art, and math programs to elementary school students in Mobile and Baldwin counties. FlightWorks has its buildings located within a short walking distance of the Airbus manufacturing plant.

In Baldwin County, school officials opened the new $100 million Baldwin Preparatory Academy in Loxley on Thursday. According to school spokesperson Chasity Riddick, Airbus is engaged with Baldwin Prep., regarding training high school students.

Incentives approved last year by Mobile city and county officials link approximately $5 million toward hiring Mobile County residents to work at Airbus.

Related: Bishop State presents $30 million, state-of-the-art manufacturing center

Were committed to hiring in this region, Taylor said, adding that programs offered by AIDT, FlightWorks, Bishop State Community College and elsewhere had helped increase the number of apprenticeships throughout the Airbus system.

We have success in hiring in this region, he said.
A south Alabama man has been sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison after authorities found illegal drugs hidden in a microwave dinner box.

A judge on Wednesday sentenced 34-year-old Emmanuel Youngblood, of Troy, to 210 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release, according to a Thursday announcement by Middle District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ross.

Youngblood was convicted in April of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Troy police officers on Nov. 23, 2022, spotted Youngblood driving a vehicle. Knowing he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, officers tried to stop him, but he continued on and a chase ensued.

Youngblood, Ross said, bailed from the vehicle and fled on foot. A woman and four small children were left behind in the car.

A search of Youngbloods vehicle turned up more than a half of kilo of methamphetamine, along with a digital scale and other suspected controlled substances.

Investigators found the methamphetamine stashed in a microwave dinner box.

The Troy Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Andreu and B. Chelsea Wilson prosecuted.
The family of an Alabama man who has been held in Russia for more than two years is still hopeful that he may yet return home, even after he was left out of a large-scale prisoner swap earlier this month.

Last week, the U.S., Russia and several other countries exchanged 26 prisoners, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan.

Both had been convicted of espionage charges that the U.S. government considered baseless. The exchange included prisoners held in the U.S., Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia and Belarus.

But not included was David Barnes, 66, an Alabama native who has been held in Russia for the past two years on charges his family says are baseless, and for which he was exonerated by U.S. law enforcement.

David Barnes, 66, was found guilty in February in Russia by a Russian judge of abusing his two sons in Texas.

His sister Carol, who lives in Huntsville, said she spoke with Barnes early Tuesday morning, and for a few weeks, received regular phone calls from him from Moscows Detention Center No. 5.

She said the family was hopeful last week, once they heard an exchange was in the works, that he would be coming home. However, no one had contacted them ahead of time, so those hopes were slim.

Still, comments by President Joe Biden suggest another exchange may be in the works.

He has not given up hope, Carol Barnes said.

He has a lot of faith. He prays a lot. Hes trying to keep up his outlook on everything. Hes not the kind of person to give up. Hes chased his kids for five years now. Hes going to keep fighting. Hes a fighter.

A native of Gadsden and a former Huntsville resident, Barnes was arrested in January 2022 after he traveled to Russia to meet with his two sons.

He was accused of sexually abusing them several years ago in Montgomery County, Texas.

The charges were brought by his ex-wife, Svetlana Koptyaeva. Because at least one of the children has Russian nationality, according to reports, Russian authorities claimed jurisdiction in the case.

The couple divorced in 2015, followed by a messy child custody case.

Koptyaeva made allegations of sexual abuse against Barnes, which were investigated and found not credible, according to Kelly Blackburn, an assistant district attorney with the Montgomery County D.A.s office in Texas. No charges were ever filed against him in the U.S.

After Barnes was awarded custody of the children, Koptyaeva left the country that same week with the two sons, and David Barnes eventually tracked them to Russia.

Koptyaeva was indicted in Montgomery County, Texas on Dec. 12, 2019, for felony interference with child custody. A warrant was issued for her arrest.

When Barnes entered Russia in 2022 to make contact with his sons, he was arrested by Russian police after a report by Koptyaeva.

Carol Barnes said her brother was devastated to be left behind in the swap.

I know the families of the recently released detainees in Russia were in this same hell, and I am so grateful that their families are now reunited and jointly released from this horrible situation, she said.

Barnes said U.S. officials had told her family that no prisoner trades were likely before the elections because the Russians would wait to see who would win.

Then after news of the exchange leaked, the U.S. State Department branch they had been working with told them it had not even been aware of the trade until it happened.

That fact did not give us confidence.

Complicating matters is that Barnes has not been designated as a wrongful detainee. Gershkovich and Whelan both had that designation.

According to U.S. law, officials can declare a citizen held in prison overseas as wrongfully detained if there are questions about the fairness of the judicial process, the veracity of the charges, and the motivation or other circumstances surrounding the arrest or the detention.

But for Barnes family, the questions about his status seem clearcut.

Why arent they helping David? Carol Barnes asked. Isnt our government here to protect and serve its citizens? The State Department even has an office titled American Citizen Services. But their approach appears to be broken, just like the designation process.

Carol said the family has raised almost $12,000 to cover her brothers expenses. He also receives messages of encouragement through a website.
Tropical Storm Debby spawned damaging tornadoes that killed one person, flooded a town and temporarily shut down part of Interstate 95 early Thursday as it blew into North Carolina after making a second landfall overnight.

The storm was expected to churn up the East Coast, where residents as far north as Vermont could get several inches of flooding rain this weekend.

The National Hurricane Center says Debby came ashore early Thursday near Bulls Bay, South Carolina. Debby first made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane early Monday on the Gulf Coast of Florida. It was still a tropical storm Thursday morning, with maximum sustained winds at 50 mph (80 kph).

Debby wasnt done flooding parts of eastern South Carolina and southeast North Carolina, and an additional 3 to 9 inches (8 to 23 centimeters) of rain is possible as the storm moves north, raising concerns of flash floods in mountainous areas of Virginia and West Virginia.

Debby also could bring more tornadoes Thursday in parts of North Carolina and Virginia, forecasters said. At least three tornadoes were reported overnight in North Carolina, including one around 3 a.m. that damaged at least four houses, a church and a school in Wilson County east of Raleigh, county officials said.

One person died in a home damaged by the tornado in Lucama, North Carolina, Wilson County spokesman Stephen Mann said in an email. No further details on the person were immediately provided.

Theresa Richardson hunkered down with her husband and granddaughter in the closet of their Lucama home as the tornado tore through about a mile away.

Debris struck the house. And they could hear the roof of nearby Springfield Middle School being ripped off. The home of one of her granddaughters friends was destroyed from the tornado.

Richardson said this wasnt the first time the area was struck by a tornado  her neighbors call the road they live on Tornado Alley.

The superintendent of Wilson County Schools confirmed damage at Springfield Middle School, where sections of the walls and roof of the 6th and 7th grade halls are gone or compromised.

It was heartbreaking to see the school right after the event, Superintendent Lane Mills said in a statement.

Meanwhile, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) south of Lucama, deputies in Bladenboro had posted photos of a patrol car damaged by a tree as well as roads that had been washed out. Standing water a few feet deep covered parts of the tiny North Carolina town.

Many of the townspeople helped fill sandbags on Wednesday before up to 3 feet (91 centimeters) of floodwaters backed into the downtown overnight. Working in the dark, the town administrator, commissioners and residents helped businesses save as much merchandise as possible, Police Chief Kevin Rouse said.

When the sun came up, water could still be seen bubbling out of manhole covers in the town of about 1,600. Debby may not have been the worst storm to come through the region, but Rouse said he watches every storm wearily.

Even though it wasnt a severe, major hurricane you still had a lot of water. You start getting 6, 12, 20 inches of rainfall, thats going to cripple you, Rouse said.

In Huger, northeast of Charleston, South Carolina, Gene Taylor waited for the water to drain from his house along French Quarter Creek as high tide passed. He had learned the hard way to begin moving his belongings up or out of his home last week as Debby approached. Taylor figures this is the fourth time he has had floodwater in his home in the past nine years.

We got caught with our pants down in 2015. We waited, didnt think the water was going to come up as quick. But it did, and it caught us. We couldnt even get the vehicles out, Taylor said.

At least four dams were breached northwest of Savannah in Georgias Bulloch County, but no deaths had been reported, authorities said. More than 75 people were rescued from floodwaters in the county, said Corey Kemp, director of emergency management, and about 100 roads were closed.

Weve been faced with a lot of things weve never been faced with before, Bulloch County Commission Chairman Roy Thompson said. Im 78-plus years old and have never seen anything like this before in Bulloch County. Its amazing what has happened, and amazing what is going to continue to happen until all these waters get out of here.

The neighbors on Tappan Zee Drive in suburban Pooler, west of Savannah, took Debbys drenching with a painful dose of deja vu. In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew overflowed a nearby canal and flooded several of the same homes.

Located roughly 30 miles (50 kilometers) inland from the Atlantic Ocean, with no creeks or rivers nearby, the neighborhood doesnt seem like a high-risk location for tropical flooding. But residents say drainage problems have plagued their street for well over a decade, despite local government efforts to fix them.

Debby also dumped rain on communities all the way up to the Great Lakes and New York and New Jersey. Moisture from the tropical storm strengthened another system Tuesday evening, which caused strong thunderstorms, according to weather service meteorologist Scott Kleebauer.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has confirmed that two tornadoes touched down in northeast Ohio when a series of severe thunderstorms roared through the region Tuesday afternoon. The storms caused extensive damage and knocked out power out to hundreds of thousands of residents for several hours. No injuries were reported in either tornado.

As much as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rain fell in parts of New Jersey in less than four hours, and New York City officials warned of potential flash flooding, flying drones with loudspeakers in some neighborhoods to tell people in basement apartments to be ready to flee. Multiple water rescues were reported in and near the city.

All that water has to drain out to sea. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said his state was just entering Act 2 of a three-act play, after more than 60 homes were damaged but roads and water systems were without significant problems.

The final act may come next week if enough rain falls upstream in North Carolina to cause major flooding along rivers as they flow to the Atlantic Ocean.

A state of emergency was in effect for both North Carolina and Virginia. Maryland issued a state of preparedness declaration that coordinates preparations without declaring an emergency.

At least seven people have died due to the storm, five of them in traffic accidents or from fallen trees. The sixth death involved a 48-year-old man in Gulfport whose body was recovered after his anchored sailboat partially sank.
A Blount County couple charged with capital murder in the death of their foster child have been falsely accused and loved the 18-month-old boy, their lawyers say.

Brooklyn Paige Posey Grimes, 31, and Mason John Grimes, 36, are charged with capital murder of a child, murder, felony murder and aggravated child abuse under the age of 6.

The child arrived at a Blount County hospital in November 2023, emaciated and cool to the touch. He was pronounced dead that day, according to investigators and prosecutors.

The couple, who live in Blount County but were license foster parents out of Marshall County, were booked into the Blount County Jail last week following indictments issues by a grand jury on July 24.

Both remain held.

Mason Grimes is represented by attorneys Richard Jaffe, Michael Hanle, Jonathan Brown and Jessie Lowe.

Brooklyn Grimes is represented by attorneys Brian White and Eric Holloway.

Mason Grimes lawyers in a statement to AL.com said their client has been painted totally inaccurately and unfairly- as an uncaring and callous human being.

In fact, he is the complete opposite, the statement reads. He loved this child with all his heart- just like he did the other 15 or more children for which he and his wife served as foster parents.

This unfortunate child, laboring with a genetic defect, required that he be fed through a feeding tube, they said. Rather than give the child up when diagnosed, they made herculean efforts to seek medical treatment and nourish him.

Jaffe said an independent and extensive investigation, along with the medical and DHR records, will clearly show that he has been falsely accused and thrust into an inconceivable nightmare.

The tragic death of this disadvantaged child is literally destroying Mason, according to the statement. We are grateful to so many who know him in his church and community for their unwavering support.

Brooklyn Grimes attorneys said, We support what Mr. Grimes has said through his attorneys.

The Grimes other children - adopted and foster - have been removed from the home following the arrests.

According to court records, the boy was placed in the Grimes care on Aug. 5, 2022, when he was just 3 months old.

The child flourished for about a year, the records state.

But on Sept. 25, 2023, the boy was taken to Childrens of Alabama and diagnosed with multiple congenital disorders and genetic testing was performed.

The child was to return to the Birmingham hospital on Oct. 20, 2023, but the Grimes didnt take the child to the appointment or return follow up telephone calls.

On Nov. 22, 2023, the Grimes took the boy to St. Vincents Blount because he wasnt breathing.

Upon arrival, the child was severely emaciated, asystolic, and cool to the touch, prosecutors wrote.

The boy had lost about half of his body weight, Sheriff Mark Moon said. He was skin and bones, Moon said.

Court records state there is no evidence of the child receiving any medical care subsequent to being diagnosed as having multiple congenital disorders.

I have handled dozens of cases classified as child abuse cases during my career, Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey previously said. But this case is beyond anything I could have ever imagined.

The photos of this child from Nov. 22 are heartbreaking, Casey said.

This child needed food. This child needed medical care, she said.

This child deserved to be loved just like any other child regardless of any congenital anomalies in the childs appearance or development.

The couple is set to be arraigned on Aug. 29.
The death of 4-year-old Birmingham girl who died in June, two years after a shooting that killed her father, has been ruled a homicide.

Madison Grace Davis died June 25, 2024. She was critically injured in the Sept. 2, 2022, shooting on Arkadelphia Road that left her father, 22-year-old Demarkus Etwan Moss, dead.

Her infant brother was also in the vehicle but survived.

Authorities have never said whether Madison was shot or injured in the subsequent crash, but the family said she sustained a traumatic brain injury in the shooting.

Madison never walked or talked again.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald said the police department was notified this week that the Jefferson County Coroners Office ruled Madisons death a homicide.

The shooting happened just before 6 p.m. that Friday in the 800 block of Arkadelphia Road, just in front of Birmingham-Southern College.

Moss was shot multiple times, but continued to drive, almost making it to Interstate 59/20 before he collided with a grey Chevrolet Silverado in the 1000 block of Arkadelphia Road.

Demarkus Etwan Moss Sr., 22, was fatally shot Sept. 2, 2022, while driving in a vehicle with his two young children, both of whom were hurt in a subsequent crash. (Special to AL.com)

Officers from Birminghams North and West precincts arrived to find Moss slumped over and unresponsive and rushed him to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Madison was eventually released from the hospital, but complications from her injuries caused her to be readmitted.

Moss infant son was not seriously injured. Moss also left behind two other children.

Police said Moss was targeted in the deadly shooting.

In the days after the shooting, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin issued a call for information via social media.

No arrests have been made.

A GoFundMe for Madison described the girl as strong and courageous

Despite her incredible strength and courageous battle, she has now left us, according to organizer Tiffany Davis, and our hearts are shattered.

Madison is the 95th homicide this year. Of those, eight have been ruled justifiable and arent deemed criminal.

In all of Jefferson County, there have been 120 homicides 2024, including the 95 in Birmingham.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
During a wide-ranging press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump referenced his 2021 rally in Cullman when comparing his crowd sizes to Kamala Harris, falsely claiming that 68,000 people attended his rally in Alabama.

On crowd size ... nobodys had crowds like I have. ... And when [Harris] gets a thousand people and everybody starts jumping ... you know, if I had a thousand people, people would say, thats the end of his campaign, the former president said Thursday.

I have hundreds of thousands of people, Trump claimed. In Alabama, I had 68,000 people.

Trump: In history, for any country, nobody has had crowds like Ive had pic.twitter.com/FuBrh7MgB9  Acyn (@Acyn) August 8, 2024

He did not, in fact, have 68,000 people at his 2021 rally in Cullman, according to local law enforcement, the U.S. Secret Service and the chairman of the Alabama Republican Party.

The Secret Service estimated the crowd at 45,000 people, a Cullman County sheriffs deputy told AL.com shortly after the rally. The Morgan County sheriffs office also listed that figure.

Wahl, the Alabama GOP chairman, said in a statement right after the event that up to 50,000 people attended the Cullman rally.

Its not the first time Trump inflated the crowd size at Cullman.

During a March campaign appearance in Ohio, Trump mistakenly said he addressed the Alabama crowd at the state fair and claimed he drew more people than Elvis Presley.

Trump appeared to have confused his 2021 rally in Cullman, where he stumped for Mo Brooks campaign for U.S. Senate, with a visit to the fair, which never took place. He told the crowd in Vandalia, Ohio of Brooks asking him to campaign for him in Alabama when he made the attendance claim.

Mo Brooks got up. He said, Sir, Id really appreciate it. And we went to the state fair  68,000 people showed up at the state fair, Trump said.

And an old guy came out, it looked like he was about 103. He said, You know, you did something I never thought would happen in Alabama. He said, Ive been at this place for 60 years, 70 years -- a long time -- and you just broke the attendance record of a man named Elvis Presley. Can you believe that? He said, You just broke it, man, the former president continued.

Trump never made an appearance at the Alabama State Fair, which occurs in Birmingham.

And neither did Presley.

The King of Rock performed at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show in September 1956, but the event did not take place in Cullman. Or Birmingham. Or Alabama.

Presley took the stage in Tupelo, Mississippi.
A search is underway for a handcuffed man who fled from police custody earlier today.

Fultondale police arrested Daniel Kyle Thomas, 37, about 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Officers handcuffed him, but then he took off running into a wooded area off Alabama 75 in the Pinson area.

As of 2:30 p.m., Thomas was not yet back in custody. Fultondale police and Jefferson County sheriffs deputies are searching for him.

Detectives investigating the theft of a trailer out of Fultondale identified Thomas as possibly having a role in the theft. He already had outstanding warrants against him, so police were trying to take him into custody while they continue the theft investigation.

Chief Marcel Walker said Thomas, a white male, was wearing a white t-shirt and khaki shorts.

Court records show Thomas, who has a lengthy criminal history, was charged in December with attempting to elude after he fled law enforcement officers trying to arrest him on multiple warrants.

He now faces new charges receiving stolen property, escape and theft of property  for the handcuffs in which he fled.

Anyone with information on his whereabout is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Kathleen Grimm of Yulee, Fla., remembers that as a child she would listen as her father occasionally pulled out a picture of a priest who was murdered in 1921 in Alabama and talked about him.

My father would take out this card, tell the story and talk about how important faith is, said Grimm, who is a first cousin twice removed of the Rev. James E. Coyle, who was pastor of the Cathedral of St. Paul in Birmingham from 1904-1921.

You stand strong for what you believe in, no matter what, Grimm said.

Grimm was a special guest on Thursday as the Cathedral of St. Paul in Birmingham held its annual memorial Mass to remember its former pastor who was killed 103 years ago near the front of the cathedral.

The memorial service was broadcast internationally by EWTN, the Catholic network based in Irondale.

Coyle was shot to death on the porch of the wood-frame rectory, the priests house next to the cathedral, on Aug. 11, 1921. The congregation raised money and built a new brick rectory on the same site, adjacent to the cathedral.

The current rectory was built in honor of Father Coyle after he died, said the Rev. Bryan Jerabek, pastor of St. Pauls Cathedral. Its a very important part of our history and we want to preserve that.

For the past year, the cathedral has raised money to update the 102-year-old rectory, which had a leaky roof and structural issues. We want to do more work to preserve it, because its such an important part of our history here in downtown, Jerabek said. Its the last free-standing occupied residence in the business district. Were still living in our house here.

Work is nearing completion on the rectory, he said.

The murder trial in the Coyle killing was historic, partly because of the role played by future U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black. Black defended the accused killer, the Rev. Edwin R. Stephenson, a Methodist minister who was a member of the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan paid the legal expenses of Stephenson, who was acquitted by a jury that included several Klan members, including the jury foreman, according to Ohio State University law professor Sharon Davies, author of Rising Road: A True Tale of Love, Race and Religion in America, about the Coyle case.

Stephenson, who conducted weddings at the Jefferson County Courthouse, was accused of gunning down Coyle after becoming irate over Coyles officiating at the marriage of Stephensons daughter, Ruth, to a Puerto Rican, Pedro Gussman.

As defense attorney, Hugo Black had Gussman summoned into the courtroom and questioned him about his curly hair and skin color. Lights were dimmed in the courtroom so the darkness of Gussmans complexion would be accentuated, said an Oct. 20, 1921, newspaper account of the final day of the trial.

Black joined the Klan 18 months after the trial, Davies said. Years later Black renounced his Klan ties and became one of the most liberal members of the U.S. Supreme Court. After the acquittal, Stephenson once again was a regular at the courthouse, conducting marriages.

Jim Pinto, author of Killed in the Line of Duty, has compiled contemporaneous accounts of the killing of Coyle. There were other Klan death threats against Coyle leading up to the killing because of his outspokenness, Pinto said. Anti-Catholicism was a key plank of the Ku Klux Klan at that time.

Coyle, a staunch defender of immigrants arriving in the area, knew there was a chance he would be killed, but sat on the porch the evening after the wedding, reading his prayer book, just as he did every night.

He was the face of Catholicism (in Birmingham), Pinto said. He was a martyr for the faith.

After his acquittal, Stephenson never reconciled with his daughter Ruth, his only child.

Gussman, the Puerto Rican man who married Ruth, was killed on Valentines Day 1934 in a hit-and-run accident steps away from where Coyle was killed, in front of St. Pauls Cathedral.

Anti-Catholic bigotry was rampant in America at the time of Coyles slaying, Davies said.

The state Legislature enacted the Alabama Convent Inspection law in 1919 to authorize officials without a warrant to search convents to see whether any person found inside the convent was being involuntarily confined or unlawfully held, according to Davies.

There was a fear Protestant girls would be kidnapped, forced to become Catholic nuns and held against their will, Davies said.

The Coyle case played into those fears because Ruth, as an independent-minded 18-year-old, had converted to Catholicism against the will of her father. Coyle debated those who spread the Ku Klux Klan attacks against Catholics, and federal officials at one point warned Coyles bishop that Coyle had been the target of death threats, Davies said.

They wanted to kill him, Pinto said.

Although the wooden house where Coyle was shot was torn down and replaced with a brick house, the front porch on the brick rectory has the same planters as the rectory where Coyle was shot.

There are plans to put a historical marker on the spot where Coyle was killed. Its very much part of the history of Birmingham, Jerabek said.
This story is republished with permission from The Birmingham Times.

During an 8:30 a.m. executive team meeting with managers and other employees gathered in a downtown Birmingham boardroom, staff members exude a sense of self pride, of confidence, of assurance. There is small talk across the roomand then excitement. In walks Charlotte Shaw.

Shaw, executive director and CEO of the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA), which oversees the citys Metro Area Express bus system, commonly called MAX Transit, enters the room with coffee in hand, styled in a blue-and-white patterned blazer, navy blue shirt, cream-colored pants, and tan shoes.

She is visibly energized as she greets each team member by name. With Shaw at the helm, everyone seems eager to be at the meeting, and its easy to understand why the workday is met with anticipation.

It doesnt take long for Shaw to show how she has the agency headed in the right direction. She allows each and every member of the executive team, more than a dozen individuals, to give two words that can help contribute to their success as a group.

Among the words that ring out are accountability, respect, endurance, patience, integrity, dedicated, compassionate, diligentall of which can also be used to describe the BJCTA executive director and CEO.

As The Birmingham Times would learn from spending a mid-July day with Shaw, shes focused on helping and partnering with others to drive the city forwardwhether its with employees, riders, citizens, or leaders across Birmingham.

This comes just as the BJCTA prepared to host its MAXimum Movement: MAX Rebranding Parade on Thursday, Aug. 1, to showcase newly branded buses and micro transit services.

Im big on respect and good relationships, she told The Times. Relationships are everything to me. From business relationships to personal relationships, all those things are important to me. At the end of my days, I want to be able to say I was a good daughter, good sister, good leader, good friend, and good mate. At my homegoing, I want people to be able to say, She did what she sought out to do, and thats to be a good person. Thats my goal.

Leader of Leaders

As the leader of Alabamas largest transit agency, Shaw, 64, stays busy, but that doesnt mean she doesnt have time for her staff or for members of the community. From meetings to ride-a-long trips to podcast interviews, Shaw makes time for all, bringing a warm, kind, and caring ambience and an equally friendly smile to everyone she interacts with.

Just ask Amanada Hare, MAX Transits marketing and communications manager, who has been onboard since April. She said her job doesnt feel like work because of the atmosphere Shaw has created.

She pours into her team, said Hare. Coming into this environment where you have this strong support system was really encouraging for me. Shes for the people, not just [employees] but the community, too. She is so passionate about public transit.

Or ask William Will J. Pennell III, manager of facilities, who was with the agency prior to Shaws 2020 arrival and has since moved up the ranks.

She cares for the people, said Pennell. When she first got here, that was her goal: to be accessible. Weve never had a CEO we could have a conversation with. It makes us feel comfortable knowing that she cares for the employees. She doesnt treat this like a job. She will literally call you on your birthday to wish you Happy Birthday. CEOs dont do that.

Shaw said one of the goals is to not only grow the agency but also grow the people, and she pointed to Pennell.

I noticed that he had a lot of leadership skills and the ability to do more, and now he is our facilities manager, Shaw said. Im a big proponent of creating leaders. I think it was what I was sent to do on this Earth:  create opportunities for people to better themselves.

Each [person on this staff] will have a major role when I leave, so they can continue the work. I dont have kids, so I tell [the staff], You all will be my legacy when Im dead and gone. I am committed to making sure everybody grows and gets to where they need to be.

And this applies to more than just her immediate staff. Before the July team meeting, Shaw introduced one of the BJCTAs new employees, Lacretia Perez, affectionately known as Cha Cha.

She was working for the previous janitorial services [company], and I saw her one day with a broken arm, Shaw said. She didnt have any insurance, and she didnt get paid unless she worked. That just tore me up.  I said, You know what? Were going to hire you. Youre going to come and work, get some insurance, get a paycheck, and get your weekends off.

Perez now works Monday through Friday, as part of the custodial staff. [Now], like everybody else, she has insurance and a good salary, so she can finally live like she should be living, said Shaw.

MAXimum Movement

After the morning meeting, The Times, Hare, Shaw, and Shaws chief of staff, Stephanie Walker, hop into a MAX On Demand microtransit service van to visit the BJCTAs CrossPlex Transit Center in Five Points West, where The Times gets an up-close look at one of 10 new passenger buses that will soon hit streets in Magic City.

On August 1, a MAXimum Movement parade was held to introduce the newly rebranded buses.

These buses come equipped with chargers for your devices, as well as Wi-Fi, said Shaw. We are currently working on an integrated mobile app that will allow customers to catch everything, so they will only need to use one app for everything. We are making it a lot more convenient for riders to come in, sit back, relax, and get where they need to go.

The objective is to appeal to the future, Shaw added: That means the younger generation.

They want a good look. At the end of the day, they want to ride nicely without having to drive. They were saying, We would love to ride the bus, but we dont want to look like we are riding the bus, she said, speaking about the findings of research conducted internally by MAX Transit.

Better, Not Bitter

After returning to the BJCTAs administrative offices, The Times observed the team as they received artificial intelligence (AI) training and was provided a tour of the officesled by Shaw, who greeted each employee by name. Its not every day that you meet a CEO who knows every workers name and face. Shaw is very well connected to every aspect of the BJCTA and MAX Transit.

Its my personality to just be involved, she said. The [staff] likes to have me involved, and I want to stay abreast [of things]. If the whole world is using AI, I want to know how to use it, too.

Shaw has always found ways to stay abreast of matters, even when others thought doing so was slowing her career. During our visit she recalled being a young woman in the business world, where she was given menial tasks to demean her, such as making copies. But instead of becoming bitter, she became better. While making copies of those documents, she would also study and memorize them.

When I went through corporate America, there were no examples for me to look at. I didnt see any women, let alone any Black women, in the corporate office. [People in charge] used to have me make copies. While making them, I slowly realized that there was valuable information on those copies, so I would read them. When I got to the meetings, people couldnt answer the questions, but I could. One day the vice president said, Dont bring me anything unless Charlotte approves it. That was my break, Shaw said.

Right Place, Perfect Time

A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Shaw grew up on the Northside of the city in a tight knit family. Of nine siblings, she is the baby, and she credits her family for a lot of her success.

Im family oriented, said Shaw. I have so much love in my life, and I freely give it because thats all I had. Even when people disregarded me, [my brothers and sisters] made sure I went to school and got everything I needed. My parents couldnt afford to do things for them like they could for me. I was driving my brothers car in high school. He knew he didnt get that experience when he was growing up, but they didnt mind extending it to me.

The BJCTA CEO also credits her mother, Clyola Shaw Green, as one of her inspirations, particularly when it comes to attire.

To this day, [my mother] still wears her heels. She dresses to go to church. Shes always been a really nice, clean, elegant dresser. At 92 years old, shes still independent. No matter what happens to that lady, she gets up every morning and puts on her clothes, even when she is hurt. I respect her persistence, Shaw said of her mother, who Shaw visits frequently in St. Louis.

In her youth, Shaw envisioned herself as a Civil Rights leader and an airline pilot.

I was in the fourth grade and my teacher asked me what I wanted to do, and I said, a Civil Rights leader in Birmingham, Alabama, Shaw recalled. I dont think our life is a mistake. I think everything sets up according to plan. I remembered that I said that, and now look at where I am. I might not be where I thought I was going to be in terms of being a Civil Rights leader, but definitely a leader making change and impact in Birmingham, Alabama.

Of her desire to be an airline pilot, Shaw said, Somebody told me there were no women airline pilots. There werent any at the time. Ive always been attracted to fields where there are [no or few] women. Because of my age and the era I grew up in, I didnt think about being an trailblazer and saying, Im going to do it anyway. When I was growing up, a lot of people were dream killers when it came to me.

Shaw attended Central Visual and Performing Arts High School (formerly Central High School), in St. Louis, where she was class president and voted most likely to succeed.

I was a little militant back then, she said. I grew up in the hood. Id tell people all the time, You have to have a tough persona. Even if you are educated or educate yourself, or if you want more for your life, you still have to be able to go to that corner and take care of yourself. Im still from St. Louis. Dont let the CEO role fool you.

Shaw attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a bachelors degree in political science and government in 1983.

She considers a lot of opportunities in her life as blessings that fell upon her including a scholarship to Drake.

A lawsuit was filed against Drake, which led the school to recruit Black students. I was one of the ones selected for that particular scholarship program, Shaw said, adding that situations like this, along with lessons from her father, made her tougher.

My dad was a union president. He took me to my first union meeting when I was 13 years old. I think my dad saw something in me. Some 50 years later, Im at the head of the table at a union meeting. Hes not here to see it, she said of her father, Charles Shaw, who passed away in 2010.

As for her own family Shaw, when shes not busy, she likes to read and travel with her wife, Wanda Shaw, to see family. The couple has been married for two years, together for 12, and they have a lab named Charley.

Remember Who You Are

Shaw has held various transit system leadership roles throughout her career, and she has extensive experience in transit operations, including procurement, construction contracts, capital improvement planning, and program delivery. Prior to moving to Birmingham, she spent 30-plus years in Atlanta, Georgia, where she worked with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), the citys primary public transportation operator.

I fell in love [with someone who lived in Atlanta]. I got there, and it wasnt even six months before [the relationship] was over, she said.

Before taking over at the BJCTA in 2021 under Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Shaw served as deputy director of capital projects for special projects and facilities for the city of Birmingham.

They brought me here from MARTA to work with the mayor to finish the Bus Rapid Transit program, which has increased [MAX Transit] ridership tremendously because now we have a new 70/30 plan, said Shaw.

MAX Transits 70/30 plan is an initiative aimed at enhancing transportation services. Through it, the bus system is adjusting its fixed-route coverage to 70 percent from 100 percent and implementing microtransit in the remaining 30 percent.

Shaw delivered the citys first Bus Rapid Transit system under the name BX, or Birmingham Xpress, and led efforts to support transit needs during the 2022 World Games.

While the system may be running smoothly, Shaw refuses to operate on cruise control.

My career has been tough, she said. Being a Black woman trying to come through corporate America is not easy. I always remember the values my mother taught me. She said, No matter what people do to you, remember who you are.  You dont have to be who they are.

For more on MAX Transit visit maxtransit.org or contact customer service at (205) 521-0101.
A north Alabama man has been charged in the 2015 shooting deaths of a man, a woman and the womans unborn child.

Travis Eric Fallows, 35, is charged with four counts of capital murder, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced Wednesday.

Fallows was served with the indictment Wednesday and is being held without bond.

He is charged in slayings of Gary Baskins, 25, Kayla Glover, 23, and Glovers unborn child.

Gary Gaskins(Contributed)

The deadly shooting happened Jan. 24, 2015, outside Jodys Restaurant on Alabama Highway 20 in Muscle Shoals. The victims were in a vehicle when they were killed.

Shaun Michael Ryan was indicted on the same charges in the case in 2021, court records show. His trial is set for Aug. 19.

The investigation was led by the attorney generals investigations division and the Muscle Shoals police department.

If convicted, Fallows faces the death penalty or a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, Marshall said.
A Center Point teenager was arrested on murder charges in connection with the March homicide of a 25-year-old man in Birmingham, police said Wednesday

Jaiden Davis, 19, of Center Point, had already been arrested in connection with another March homicide in Birmingham when he was charged in the March 16 homicide of Keenetheen Royall, 25, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald.

Royall, a Birmingham resident, was shot and killed in the 1200 block of 4th Avenue West.

The citys gunfire detection system - Shot Spotter - registered 15 to 20 rounds in the 1200 block. Calls started coming of shots being heard, Fitzgerald said at the time of Royalls slaying.

Witnesses reported hearing the gunfire and said it appears a Glock switch was used, which police said is consistent with what they heard.

Fitzgerald said Shot Spotter picked up shots fired along a couple of blocks.

Before his arrest in the Royall case, Davis was charged in the March 11 murder of Jerry Lewis Jr., who was fatally shot in the 10 block of 1st Avenue Southwest, said Fitzgerald.

Davis is being held in the Jefferson County jail without bond on both murder charges.
A 30-year-old Madison man faces arson and attempted murder charges following an incident on Monday in Limestone County.

Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin said first responders were called to a house fire in the 27000 block of Keeton Road in Harvest.

Deputies, investigators and the State Fire Marshal determined that Dominic Edward Germain had set the fire inside the hosue with two people inside, then left the scene.

The two victims were able to escape the fire, McLaughlin said.

During the investigation, probable cause was found to arrest Germain.

Germain has been charged with first degree arson and two counts of attempted murder. Germain is being held in the Limestone County Jail without bond.

McLaughlin said several county fire departments, the Alabama Fire Marshals Office, deputies and investigators quickly responded to this scene.










English News China's opening up brings broad opportunities for multinational corporations

Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 7 Aout 2024



This is the world's first fully automated "testing tunnel," developed by GE HealthCare's Chinese team. It requires only 15 workers to produce over 2,000 sets of products annually, with one surgical system rolling off the line every 50 minutes on average. Both product quality and work efficiency have been greatly improved.

By Li Xinyi, Li Yan, Wang Hailin, People's Daily At the GE HealthCare Beijing Imaging Equipment Manufacturing Base, located at No. 1 Yongchang North Road in Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area, production lines were humming as medical devices were assembled one after another.



Two out of every three CT scanners sold globally by GE HealthCare are produced here, and products manufactured at the base are sold to over 100 countries and regions worldwide.



"When we entered Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area 33 years ago, this place was mostly farmland and livestock farms. From the beginning, we firmly believed that we could achieve long-term growth in the Chinese market. Today, this has become GE HealthCare's largest imaging equipment production base globally. This success came from China's continuously improving business environment, stable and smooth industrial and supply chains, and steadily increasing innovation capabilities," said Zhang Yihao, vice president of GE Healthcare and president and CEO of GE Healthcare China, during an interview with People's Daily.



In 1991, GE HealthCare established GE Hangwei Medical Systems, Co., Ltd. in China. It was GE HealthCare's first joint venture in China and one of the earliest companies to settle in the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area.



Over the past 30-plus years, the company has achieved rapid development there. Currently, the GE HealthCare Beijing Imaging Equipment Manufacturing Base is able to produce CT scanners ranging from 16-slice to 256-slice, molecular imaging equipment, surgical systems, angiography systems, bone densitometers, nuclear medicine PET/CT equipment, as well as components such as detectors and X-ray tubes. Its product design and manufacturing processes for CT equipment components are leading globally.



Now, GE HealthCare has six major production bases and seven factories located in Beijing, Shanghai, Wuxi, Tianjin, Chengdu, and Shenzhen. The continuous improvement in GE HealthCare's localized production in the Chinese market is inseparable from China's stable and smooth industrial and supply chains.



It is learned that GE HealthCare has over 1,000 suppliers in China, including more than 160 core suppliers. Zhang said that China is working to optimize its economic structure, supporting cooperation between Chinese and foreign enterprises, accelerating the implementation of advanced digital technologies, products, and solutions. This contributes to building a global industrial and supply chain system that is secure, stable, smooth, efficient, open, inclusive and mutually beneficial.



In recent years, Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area has built a 100-billion-yuan ($13.8 billion)-scale biological technology and health industry cluster, attracting over 4,200 biotech and health companies. Cooperation between upstream and downstream sectors of the industrial and supply chains has been further strengthened.



On a orthopedic surgical equipment production line at the GE HealthCare Beijing Imaging Equipment Manufacturing Base, automated testing robots responsible for equipment final testing were simultaneously calibrating and testing six CT devices. Human-machine collaborative testing robots and AI-based automatic testing systems for surgical equipment worked closely together to complete position corrections and radiation dose measurements at nine test points.



This is the world's first fully automated "testing tunnel," developed by GE HealthCare's Chinese team. It requires only 15 workers to produce over 2,000 sets of products annually, with one surgical system rolling off the line every 50 minutes on average. Both product quality and work efficiency have been greatly improved.



Currently, GE HealthCare has about 1,800 R&D personnel in China, with over 1,000 R&D staff and more than 160 R&D laboratories in Beijing alone. Over the past decade, the company's Chinese team has developed and launched over 120 products. Among these, the CT scanner equipped with the "Skeye" digital solution based on deep learning and AI technologies has become the "star product" of GE HealthCare. Of the Class III medical device licenses approved for the company in China, 77 percent of the product technologies were developed by the Chinese team and registered in China.



"In recent years, China has implemented an innovation-driven development strategy, rapidly advancing its technological capabilities. The abundant innovative elements have helped us gain a competitive edge in the global market," Zhang stated.



He added that China is accelerating the development of new quality productive forces and actively fostering emerging and future industries. "We look forward to deepening cooperation with our Chinese partners to further promote development in relevant fields."



Zhang emphasized that GE HealthCare has been both a witness to and beneficiary of China's continuous expansion of opening up. "As China's door opens wider, and the level of openness continues to rise, it will undoubtedly bring broader development opportunities for multinational companies and provide stronger momentum for global economic recovery and growth."



Dans la meme rubrique : < > Prospering telemedicine a reflection of China's rapid internet development Immersive cultural, tourism activities on the rise across China Fruit trade between China, ASEAN thrives Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
In this post-truth world of reversed ethics, terrorist organizations like Hamas find ready support.

But a free nation like Israel, fighting for its very existence, finds itself vilified at every international forum.

So it is surprising that a vice president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)  Julia Sebutinde of Uganda  has spoken up courageously and consistently for Israel  in fact, three times this year.

The latest dissension by this righteous Daniel is from the courts July 19 advisory opinion castigating Israel and accusing it of war crimes and crimes against humanity. She states her well-reasoned position in a 36-page document that includes a map, a synoptic history of the Israel-Syria-Jordan region, and references to international customary law.

Sebutinde makes some strong historical points. First, the Jewish claim to the territory dates back to the ancient Kingdom of Israel 3,000 years ago. In support, she cites textual and archaeological evidence dating to 1200 BCE. Second, there was always a persistent Jewish presence in the region despite various rulers taking over the region, so it is crucial to recognize that Jews in Israel are not settler colonists. Third, the name Palestine was imposed on Judea (or ancient Israel) by the Roman Empire to try to erase the Jewish sense of identity with the land. And fourth, there were no more than 250,000 Arabs in the region during the 1880s, when Jews started arriving from Europe in large numbers.

She also draws on the well-established legal principle of uti possidetis juris  that newly formed states should retain the status quo on borders that existed before their independence. The map of the British Mandate  from which Israel was created in 1948  had no provision for a separate Palestine. Therefore, she states, Israel has sovereignty over all the disputed areas of Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza, except to the degree that Israel has voluntarily yielded sovereignty since its independence.

Sebutindes bravery is all the more commendable because Uganda had disowned her pro-Israel position on an earlier ICJ decision  a Jan. 26 ruling that virtually said that Israel was committing genocide. Adonia Ayebare, Ugandas permanent representative to the U.N., tweeted that Sebutindes opinion did not represent the position of the Ugandan government, which has expressed support for the Palestinian people through its vote at the U.N. The Ugandan government separately stated that it stood by the stand on Israel taken by the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at a summit in Kampala the same month.

That was the first time this year Sebutindes support for Israel drew worldwide attention.

In her 11-page dissenting opinion, she highlighted the enormity of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and said Israels defensive actions were not accompanied by genocidal intent. The second time she stood up for Israel was on May 24, after Israeli action in Rafah. In her nine-page opinion, she said: I firmly believe Israel has the right to defend itself against its enemies, including Hamas, and to continue efforts to rescue its missing hostages.

Those two opinions came in a case brought against Israel by South Africa. The most recent, however, was part of the ICJs response to the U.N. General Assemblys request for an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israels policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory. An independent U.N. commission report had concluded that the occupation was illegal and required immediate attention. Based on this, the General Assembly sought the ICJs advisory opinion.

Advisory opinions are neither binding nor have legal consequences. However, they wield considerable political and diplomatic influence. So, this one might have profound implications for Israels legitimate response to the Oct. 7 massacre and its defensive tactics on other war fronts.

In its opinion, the ICJ concludes that the Israeli presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) is unlawful, and it must evacuate the identified areas, ensure the rights of the Palestinian people, and pay reparations for damages. It calls on U.N. member states to recognize the Israeli presence as illegal and withdraw aid from the Jewish state. But the court ignores the obduracy of the Palestinian leadership, its promotion of antisemitism, and its financial and spiritual incentivization of terror attacks on Israeli Jews.

Israel was not a party to the ICJs proceedings. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted that the opinion was absurd. His office rejected the proceedings as illegitimate and designed to harm Israels right to defend itself from existential threats and dictate the results of a diplomatic settlement without any negotiations.

Fortunately for Israel, there is at least one voice at the ICJ that speaks as strongly as the Jewish nation itself  that of Sebutinde. She goes so far as to say the court should have declined to offer an advisory opinion and, guarding its judicial character and integrity, left the resolution of the conflict to a negotiating framework that the disputing parties have already agreed on.

She criticizes the questions raised by the General Assembly, saying they are based on certain presumptions. The court, she says, has accepted the presumptions as sacrosanct. It has also been one-sided by failing to take account of the complexities of the dispute or to examine Israels compliance with international law. She deems the situation a long-standing political matter of historic proportions, not a legal dispute susceptible to judicial settlement.

In tracing the conflict, she begins with the 1917 Balfour Declaration on creating a national home for the Jewish people while ensuring the rights of the Arab population. Two years later, the First Palestinian Arab Congress of 1919 laid the foundations for an Arab national movement. In 1922, the League of Nations, the precursor to the U.N., granted permission for Britain to establish the British Mandate of Palestine, but by 1948, the territory for the Jewish state was reduced to 20% of that originally earmarked for it. Much of the land went into the creation of Jordan. The Jews accepted this.

But the Arabs repeatedly  seven times, as Sebutinde notes  rejected the long-standing U.N. proposal to create two states, one for Jews and the other for Arabs, as a solution to the irreconcilable differences between the two peoples. She notes that since the Arabs refuse to accept the existence of Israel, all land for peace arguments and externally imposed solutions, including legal ones, are in vain.

Besides, she says, given the Palestinian leaderships incitement of violence, funding of terror groups, election of terrorist leaders to government, and indoctrination of children to hate and destroy Israel, it would be impractical for the Jewish nation to refrain from defensive action.

As to charges of Israeli occupation of Arab land, Sebutinde states the obvious: Israel withdrew its troops and citizens from the Gaza Strip in 2005. But even though Gaza has been controlled by a legally elected government of the terrorist group Hamas, the U.N. considers the territory occupied. The reason? For clear security reasons, Israel controls Gazas borders, airspace, maritime access, and movement of goods and people from the territory.

She also questions the assertion that Israeli presence in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem violates international law and that Israel should pay reparations for associated damages and evacuate all settlers. To what extent, she asks, is Israel to share the blame for which it is being asked to pay reparations?

Perhaps Sebutindes strongest charge against the court  which applies to many global forums as well  is that international law is not being consistently invoked. It is applied with prejudice by not taking account of Israels territorial and sovereignty rights and accusing it of occupation. However, Northern Cyprus, Crimea, Western Sahara, and Abkhazia, which could be regarded as occupied under the Fourth Geneva Convention, were treated differently.

Sebutinde, who has her fair share of detractors and critics, is admired for her independence. Her lone voice resounds like a shofar for Eretz Yisrael  at the ICJ and beyond.

Image: Picryl, via Wikimedia Commons // public domain
After rapper Megan Thee Stallions slutty song lyrics entertained the pink pus*y hat brigade in attendance at a recent Kamala Harris rally, the only thing missing from race-faker Kamala Devi Harris pre-victory tour was a guest appearance by Nkechi Amare Diallo, aka Rachel Dolezal.

Remember Rachel? Shes the green-eyed, Caucasian who, with the help of an overprocessed perm, managed to pass herself off as a black person, winning a post as a college instructor. Rachels Black Like Me scam was so convincing that she even managed to work her way up the DEI ladder to the position of chapter president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Spokane, Washington division.

For a time, Rachel Dolezal, a white woman who graduated from Howard University, which is also Kamala Harris's alma mater, was able to pass as black. Then, in 2015, Dolezals true race was exposed, but that didnt stop her from still identifying as an African-American with two black sons and a Nigerian name.

The reason disturbed individuals like Dolezal get away with pretending theyre black is because the Democrat fantasyland is full of males that menstruate, females who wear jock straps, unborn human babies whose mothers dont believe theyre human, and high school students who identify as cats sitting in adult-sized litter boxes. Meanwhile, bewildered bystanders are obligated to nod their heads and pretend whats happening is real when its weird.

Yet, with election day on the horizon, Nkechi Amare Diallos scandalous deception stands to pale in comparison to the Rachel Dolezal of politics, Kamala Harris, and her existing plan to blackface her way into the White House.

Lately, Americans live in a world where the label racist has become a weapon that has power in circles where, based solely on skin color, political correctness has made it advantageous to play the victim. There are some black and brown-skinned people who use the word black as an adjective to segregate almost everything. There is black history month, black museums, and even black colleges where black women study to become black journalists. Then, at functions like the annual gathering of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), if the sole white guy who happened to generously fund historically black colleges dares to use the word black to describe anything, hes immediately labeled a racist.

The current trend to use race as a cudgel to bludgeon political enemies, coincides with convoluted assertions that elevate criminals like George Floyd to the status of cult hero.

And, although black babies are five times more likely to be aborted, the left has even managed to convince Democrats that Trumps pro-life VP pick, who is the father of three bi-racial children, is part of a secret agenda to make sure fewer black children are born in the USA.

Presently, Kamala Harris is all in on blackness being brought to the fore. Kamala is well aware that being perceived as a black woman places her securely behind an impenetrable gender, race, and ethnicity barrier, which shields a do-little politician from being criticized for years of on-the-job failure.

Right now, it is as if the Sentient Joe coverup Harris helped promulgate for four years, never even happened. The left believes that presenting Harris as an iconic black female, sporting invisible dread locks, and a reggae tam, erases the ability for political opponents to point out her history of Marxist-style activism, laziness, lies, character flaws, and a history of verbal faux pas.

Transforming Harris, who may have already proved her allegiance -- to Indian-ness, from a woman in a sari to someone who speaks like shes a chick from the 'hood, is easy for those who insist that what was true, is no longer true, and what you thought you saw, you didnt see.

As for the fakery, even without the media doing her bidding, Kamala is rivaled only by the likes of Dolezals racial flip-flop.

Like a chameleon, Harris has a history of doing whatever is necessary to secure any position of power she sets her sights on. As California attorney general, Kamala strongly embraced her Asian-American roots. During the 2019 presidential primaries, while cooking with actress Mindy Kaling, Kamala identified with her late mother, Shyamala Gopalan, and proudly acknowledged that she comes from a large family of South Asian descent.

Way back in the mid-seventies, Kamalas Jamaican father, Donald Harris, who was described as a combative, socialist, Stanford University economics professor, separated from Shyamala. After the divorce, Kamala remained closer to her Indian mama, than she did to her Marxist scholar professor (emeritus) papa. It wasnt until blackness became politically expedient that Kamala was more than willing to culturally appropriate her image to align with that of the guy who had nothing to do with raising her.

It is now 2024, and sometime between discarding the 14-million preconvention delegate votes for Biden, and Joes disastrous debate with Trump, the team of Svengalis behind Kamala must have thought it was good strategy to tamp down Harriss palak paneer facade and ramp up her love for jerk chicken.

In hopes of placing the illegally appointed 2024 presumptive presidential nominee behind the Resolute Desk, a race baiter (who shall remain nameless) clearly decided it would be advantageous in a general election to refashion the VP into a black Jamaican queen instead of a Ghungroo dancer wearing ankle bells. To support the effort, the corporate media cabal stepped in and committed themselves to swearing to whatever illusion the orchestrators of the coup decided should now be considered true.

In the midst of all this skin color foolishness, its important to remember that most people born in America have mixed blood. For example, take those whose ancestors migrated from Sicily in the early 1900s. Sicily was invaded from the south by the Moors. Therefore, it is highly likely someone from Brooklyn, NY, like myself, has as much African blood as the Son of Kenya and the childless Momala from Oakland, California.

While it is true that a high percentage of the Jamaican population have descendants from sub-Saharan Africa, for some reason, since the start of Kamalas political career, her African-Jamaican heritage has taken second billing to the Indian blood which accounts for the largest portion of her racial background. Kamala also has white Irish-slave-owner blood, but to date, the Democrat presumptive nominee has never suggested that the descendants of Irish/Jamaican slave owners pay reparations to Jamaican blacks.

In the end, this is not a question as to whether or not Kamala is black or not, its a question as to why she has been less willing until now to identify mainly with the smaller sliver of her racial pie? Just like Rachel Dolezal calculated that becoming black would earn her a spot as chapter president of the NAACP, Kamala apparently now feels that emphasizing her black side will somehow protect her from criticism and earn her the votes of black Americans. Meanwhile, as Nov. 5 nears, the question the color blind need to ask themselves is whether or not estrogen and/or melanin are the best standards for choosing the leader of the free world.

Jeannie hosts a blog at www.jeannieology.us

Image: Aaron Robert Kathman, via Wikimedia Commons (extracted) // CC BY-SA 4.0
Hong Kong's business community studies spirit of President Xi's reply letter to Hong Kong entrepreneurs

Xinhua) 16:47, August 08, 2024

HONG KONG, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Seven chambers of commerce in Hong Kong have jointly held a seminar to study the spirit of Chinese President Xi Jinping's reply letter to representatives of Hong Kong entrepreneurs of Ningbo ancestry in East China's Zhejiang Province.

Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said at the seminar that Hong Kong's business community should assume the roles of a stakeholder, trailblazer, contributor and innovator, mindful of Hong Kong's mission and responsibilities in further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese-style modernization.

Financial Secretary of the HKSAR government Paul Chan said the HKSAR government will strive to unite the strengths of patriotic, Hong Kong-loving and hometown-loving communities, and give full play to their respective advantages to integrate into national reform and development.

Ningbo is well-known for its large numbers of overseas Chinese entrepreneurs like Pao Yue-kong and Run Run Shaw. Descendants of the pioneering generation of Ningbo-born Hong Kong entrepreneurs including Pao Pui-hing and Chao Kee-Young recently wrote to Xi to report on their efforts to support national development and express their commitment to the motherland's modernization drive.

"Hong Kong's prosperity and stability rely on the support of the motherland. We must bear in mind President Xi's entrustment and make new contributions to realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation," said Pao Pui-hing.

Representatives of seven chambers of commerce, including the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association and the Hong Kong Chinese Importers' and Exporters' Association, said they will study and implement the spirit of the reply letter, grasp opportunities and play their part in the country's continued reform and opening up.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
The problem with many liberals is they cant live in their own truth. They abandon ship as soon as it becomes inconvenient to maintain their current persona. The most obvious and telling recent examples come from the Democrat Presidential candidate-by-fiat, Kamala Harris. For the last three and a half years, she was The Border Czar. Everyone knew it. Biden announced it with much ballyhoo, and she was referred to as The Border Czar by the television, print, and electronic media repeatedly. As the Vice President, she ran interference for Joe Biden. (He didnt create the huge border fiasco; she did.)

But once the Nancy Pelosi-Barack Obama-Chuckie Schumer coup detat had been executed and Kamala Harris had been installed as the de facto Democrat Presidential nominee, her Border Czar title became a major political liability. She was no longer running interference for Ol Joe. She was the new figurehead for the Democrat presidential campaign. Any stain of failure, especially one tied to the massive disaster of the southern United States border, was a huge threat to her Presidential aspirations. So, the Democrat political machine, together with their legacy media propaganda juggernaut, went full George Orwell on John Q. Public. CNN, MSNBC, the New York Times, the New Yorker, Axios, and a score of other legacy media began trumpeting: Kamala Harris was never the Border Czar!

Unfortunately for the gaslighters, and thanks to the internet, there is an abundance of records of them dubbing her with that title. Take Axios, for instance. In late July, they wrote:

"In the past few days, the Trump campaign and Republicans have tagged Harris repeatedly with the "border czar" title -- which she never actually had." Axios, July 24, 2024.

Except, in their own words:

"The number of unaccompanied minors crossing the border has reached crisis levels. Harris, appointed by Biden as border czar, said she would be looking at the "root causes" that drive migration." Axios, April 14, 2021. (Emphasis added.)

Media organizations believed they could just rewrite history wholesale and get away with it. Even more amazing, the Democrat faithful have accepted their gaslighting as gospel.

And its not just Kamalas record as Border Czar theyre trying to eradicate. Theyre desperate to reverse all her historic policy positions, from defunding the police, to abolishing I.C.E., to initiating a national mandatory gun buy-back program, a total ban on fracking in America, citizenship for illegal immigrants, and more. In my six decades of following politics, Ive never seen such a massive and brazen effort to re-engineer a politicians identity. (CNN calls it recalibrating.) To be sure, Barack Obamas identity was fabricated out of whole cloth, but he was obscure enough beforehand so that they had no trouble creating his fictional persona.

Leaving presidential politics aside, theres another example of major liberal gaslighting going on, this one from the Paris Olympics. By now, everyone in the Western Hemisphere (unless youve been living off the grid under a rock) has heard the uproar over the opening ceremony produced, directed, and starring a bevy of drag queens, gays, lesbians, and other members of the LGBTQ+ community. The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics was an outrageous and blasphemous display of sacrilege against the Christian faith and one of its most sacred events: The Last Supper.

The reaction to this despicable parody was immediate and unequivocal. Christians, Christian Churches, Christian leaders, and political leaders from all over the world condemned the ceremony as disgusting and repugnant. Even corporate sponsors of the Olympics voiced outrage. The furor continued to boil for days.

At first, the perpetrators of this abomination fought back belligerently, claiming artistic freedom and basically telling the Christian world to suck it. But as the outrage continued, the purveyors of this loathsome spectacle took a different tack. Suddenly, the Olympic Committee started claiming that all these Christians and other incensed observers were displaying ignorance and stupidity -- because the tableau wasnt a parody of the Last Supper at all. Why, no. It was an homage to a Greco-Roman Bacchanal -- the Feast of Dionysus. Many of the supporters adopted the smug attitude of intellectual superiority. How could anyone be so ill-educated as to miss the truth of the matter?

So now we have gaslighting on a global scale. Sadly, some of the more timid critics bought this pablum and sheepishly recanted. Even among the Christian community. And truth to tell, the picture of the Feast of Dionysus does have some remarkably similar content. I confess, I started to waver -- until I did some research of my own.

Thats when I discovered the fact that the title of this ceremony in the very documentation of the Paris Olympics is, La Cene Sur La Scene, Sur La Seine. That was the formal title of this travesty. Not being an expert in the French tongue, I had to find a translation. It wasnt hard. Google Translate provided it instantly. La Cene Sur La Scene Sur La Siene means: The Last Supper on the Stage on the Seine.

There it is. The title is The Last Supper on the Stage on the Seine. The operative phrase? The Last Supper. Not The Feast of Dionysus. Not at all. Not even close. And yet, the gaslighters are out in droves trying to tell us all not to believe our lyin eyes.

If that werent enough, the rotund lesbian at the center of the table posted to Instagram shortly after the ceremony and boasted: Oh, yes! Oh, yes! The gay New Testament! Not The gay Feast of Dionysus. Oh, no! Oh, no! The gay New Testament. As the furor boiled over, she surreptitiously removed the post; but the damage had been done. To quote the X-Files, The truth is out there.

So, the next time one of your liberal friends tries to gaslight you with the fabricated story of the Feast of Dionysus, and how ignorant you are, just ask them if know they name of the opening ceremony -- and then put the hammer down.

Sadly, this wont be the last blasphemous attack on the Christian faith. Not by a long shot. These people hate Christianity because it doesnt resonate with, or endorse, their pagan lifestyle. Theyll lie in wait for the next opportunity to pounce. Expect it; be prepared for it. And dont be dismayed by it. As St. Paul wrote to Timothy:

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God... (II Timothy 3:1-5)

If that doesnt perfectly describe the age in which were living, then nothing does.

Eric Dawe is an award-winning writer, chess enthusiast, and the author of two historical fiction novels based on Virgils The Aeneid: Aeneas: Last King of Troy and Aeneas: Landfall of Legend.

Image: AT via Magic Studio
Right now, the United Kingdom is barreling toward totalitarianism. After a second-generation immigrant reportedly murdered several children in a vicious stabbing attack last week, native Brits took to the streets to denounce their countrys criminally dangerous open borders. If these outraged citizens had been members of Antifa, the press would have compassionately framed their actions as mostly peaceful protests deserving of praise. Instead, because the publics fury is directed toward one of globalisms sacred cows  mass migration  angry parents have been condemned for fomenting violent riots. Protecting children from serial killers and sexual predators, it seems, is not politically correct. Of course, anyone familiar with the Rotherham grooming scandal already knew that

The problem, according to the ruling Establishment, is not that open border immigration policies have led to marked increases in violent crime and cultural hostility, but rather that ordinary citizens have begun to express their displeasure. Commie Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced a two-pronged solution for combatting public dissent: (1) increased social media censorship and (2) widespread implementation of facial recognition technology to beef up the U.K.s already robust mass surveillance.

This exercise in raw tyranny follows Big Brothers favorite playbook. First, the government creates a problem that harms ordinary citizens. Next, authorities pretend that no problem actually exists. Eventually, citizens are forced to take matters into their own hands. Finally, the government uses public outrage as an excuse to expand its own powers.

As in America, there is overwhelming public support in the U.K. for secure borders and controlled immigration. Just as in the United States, both sides of the U.K.s political Uniparty have ignored citizens wishes and instead flooded the country with illegal aliens who cannot easily assimilate into Western society. After violent crime and community conflicts predictably rose, U.K. authorities were more willing to ban knives than to admit that they had put the public in serious danger. And now that regular Brits are pushing back against the governments criminal enterprise, the Marxist prime minister has chosen to use the crisis as a pretext for increasing mass surveillance and banning free speech. Somewhere on a whiteboard in a Deep State dungeon, this blueprint for erecting a new world order dystopia has long been planned out. Government officials have the blood of innocents on their hands.

Such ruling-class treachery is nothing new. Similar blueprints for erasing freedoms and expanding government power abound. For instance, there is the classic welfare state gambit: (1) move blue-collar jobs overseas, (2) tax and regulate citizens into poverty, (3) buy the votes of impoverished citizens desperate for handouts, and (4) keep the public dependent upon the governments continued generosity.

There is the central bank funny money gambit: (1) give a small cabal of filthy rich bankers the power to print money as they see fit, (2) fund extravagant government programs with loans from the money-printing bankers, (3) artificially inflate the value of Wall Street assets while devaluing the meager savings of the working poor, (4) prop up unnatural economic bubbles with government interventions, (5) transfer all real property from the poorest to the wealthiest, (6) leave the majority of citizens in the precarious position of borrowing all their lives from rapacious creditors, (7) wait for the economy to crash like a house of cards, and (8) force all the desperate peasants into a system with central bank digital currencies that supervises their transactions in real time.

There is the global apocalypse gambit: (1) indoctrinate citizens with the false message that hydrocarbon energy is killing the planet, (2) heavily regulate all market activity for the publics safety, (3) tax citizens for using unapproved energies, (4) launder windfall profits to green energy cronies, and (5) strictly monitor all citizens carbon footprint from cradle to grave.

There is the WWIII gambit: (1) promise Russia that NATOs military alliance has no intention of expanding toward its borders, (2) spend the next three decades expanding NATOs military alliance right up to Russias borders, (3) blame any Russian response on its secret desire to conquer Europe, (4) provide the European Commission with an excuse to erase national borders and build a pan-European military, and (5) give Western nations an opportunity to send able-bodied young men off to battle before they can turn their attention to matters closer to home.

Finally, there is the global health emergency gambit: (1) invest tax dollars in dangerous biological weapons programs that experiment with deadly pathogens, (2) wait until one of those pathogens escapes and kills millions of people, (3) isolate citizens in their homes while seizing control over markets and communications, (4) mandate the use of experimental vaccines (providing windfall profits to pharmaceutical pirates), and (5) institute medical passports in order to track and trace citizens for life.

Cause a problem, exploit a problem, and leave citizens worse off than they would have otherwise been had the government never gotten involved  lather, rinse, repeat!

At some point, Westerners must accept that their governments are only gentler versions of the one-party dictatorships that rule over citizens in places such as China, North Korea, Venezuela, and Iran. If youre a persecuted member of Germanys conservative AfD political party, an incarcerated J6 protester still awaiting trial in D.C., or an online meme-maker convicted of hate speech in the U.K., the Wests rhetorical cheerleading for democracy over authoritarianism represents a distinction without much difference. Tyranny feels just as oppressive no matter which government places its boot on your neck.

This sometimes comes as a shock to anyone who has been indoctrinated to worship government as a force for good, but heres the unvarnished truth: the State is not your friend! Big Brother does not care about your safety or security. Espionage agencies do not care if their shadowy schemes lead to your untimely death. Central bank gangsters do not care if you lose all your savings in one of their financial bubbles. Pharmaceutical companies making money hand over fist do not care if you get injured from one of their experimental vaccines. (Their government friends gave them legal immunity, after all!) Defense industry executives selling weapons to both sides of every conflict do not care if you end up as collateral damage. Politicians who are eager to replace their own citizens with foreign nationals do not care if you are the next casualty of illegal immigration. Governments care about only two things: (1) what you can give them today, and (2) what you can give them tomorrow. Monarchy, dictatorship, oligarchy, democracy  the form of government does not matter. In every political organization, the unquenchable thirst for wealth and power remains the same.

Once a person frees himself from the delusion that the government is here to help, its much easier to make sense of its otherwise inexplicable behavior. Think of the State as a ruthless conqueror interested only in taking everything you own. From the States perspective, you would ideally keep your mouth shut as it rummages through your things, considers whether your children would make good slaves, and decides whether to let you and your loved ones continue breathing. Should the government spare your life, however, there will be strings attached. You will do as it says. You will keep only what it doesnt take as tax. You will obey its chosen experts. In other words, in exchange for your life, you will worship the State.

Through this lens, the Wests descent into totalitarianism makes perfect sense. Our governments do not care about free speech, free markets, self-government, or world peace. Why would they? Such lofty ideals only detract from their power and authority. On the other hand, censorship, regulation, bureaucracy, and constant war provide the State everything it needs to rule in perpetuity. With friends like that, who needs enemies?

Image: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 (cropped).
The timing of the Hamas October 7, 2023 attack on Israel was meant to disrupt the negotiations between Israel and Saudi Arabia being mediated by Washington. Iran, fearing the success of a powerful pro-American, pro-Western defensive alliance bloc comprising moderate Arab states and Israel, backed by the U.S., ordered Hamas to launch its attack. The Islamic Republic of Iran aimed to pull the Arab states out of such an alliance by fostering a destabilizing war intended to raise Arab solidarity with the Hamas and the Palestinians and break relations with Israel.

The Israeli retaliation against the Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, justified by all measures, and the devastation it brought upon Gaza, was just the excuse Iran needed to activate its proxies, including Hezballah in Lebanon, pro-Iranian Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria, and the Houthis in Yemen. Iran also sought to demonstrate to its Gulf Arab neighbors that should they conclude such an alliance with the Americans and Israel, they might be targeted as well.

In July, U.S. president Joe Biden, in an interview with the Complex magazine in Detroit, expressed optimism about the chances of Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel. If indeed such an agreement is on the table now, it will have far-reaching positive strategic consequences for Israel. According to President Biden, the Saudis are ready to commit to fully recognizing Israel and signing a defense treaty with the U.S.

The Saudis, for their part, demand from the U.S. a commitment to deliver arms and the construction of a civilian nuclear facility. If the U.S. is able to facilitate a regional defense alliance stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian/Arab Gulf, or from Israel to the Arab Gulf states, that would be a strategic and historical game-changer. Although the Abraham Accords were significant and historic, a regional defense alliance would produce major strategic and economic benefits.

Historically, real and lasting triumphs are achieved through a combination of diplomacy and strategic alliances. One way to defeat the axis of evil, led by Iran and its proxies, is to defeat them on the battlefield, as Israel is currently doing in the Gaza Strip by demolishing Hamass military capabilities and, hopefully, its political stranglehold in the Strip. But in order to deter the bad actors such as Iran and its proxies from resurfacing, a regional defensive alliance is crucial, and the inclusion of Saudi Arabia in such an alliance is critical.

Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam, and the Saudis are the guardians of Islams holy sites of Mecca and Medina. Saudi Arabia is the largest state in the region, the biggest exporter of oil in the world, and one of the countries with most cash reserves in the world.

Saudi Arabias actual leader, Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS), along with younger leaders in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Morocco, presents a new model of Islam, one that is more moderate and willing to embrace the rest of the civilized world. Naturally, there remain traditional Islamic governance issues and particular interests that may not be in full harmony with Western ways. These countries are not Western-style democracies; however, in recent years, MBS and Mohammad Bin Zayed (MBZ), leader of the UAE, have changed the school curricula in their countries to reflect openness, including the study of the Holocaust.

The conservative Gulf monarchies are all pragmatic enough to realize that a variety of forces, from the old Arab nationalism to todays Muslim Brotherhood and Shiite alliance, threatens all of them, and they are willing to do what is necessary to defeat common enemies and thus ensure their own survival.

The Saudis insistence on a two-state solution, and the creation of a Palestinian state, has been tempered by Abu Mazens corruption and the failures of the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinians no longer have veto power on the relationship of the Gulf Arab states (except Qatar, which is allied with Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood) with Israel. Moreover, the Saudis have their own interests to pursue.

Israel has always been ready for peace with its Arab neighbors. To make peace with Egypt and Jordan, albeit a cold peace, Israel gave up land. The Saudis are practically neighbors; from the beaches of Eilat one can see Saudi Arabias mountains. The Iranian menace to the region is, therefore, uniting the Arab Gulf states and Israel. In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Saudi officials declared that support for the Palestinians is no longer a foregone conclusion. Young Saudis, in particular, are disillusioned with the Palestinian Authority and resent Hamass close ties with Iran. As Saudi officials put it, if Hamas builds a relationship with Iran to protect themselves, then why dont we have a relationship with Israel against Iran to protect ourselves? Perhaps it is no longer a question of if Saudi Arabia would make peace with Israel, but rather when.

Saudi Arabias recognition of Israel would dispel the view among many Middle Easterners that the presence of a Jewish state in the mostly Muslim region is illegitimate. It would also likely open doors in other large Muslim nations such as Malaysia and Indonesia to diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.

To wage a war against Iran, the snakes head, and its proxies, Israel needs the backing of a regional defense alliance led by Saudi Arabia and strongly supported by the U.S. This would certainly be a game-changer. It would deter Iran, create peace and stability in the region, and be a meaningful victory for Israel.

Image via Pexels.
During her appearance in Detroit yesterday, Kamala got attention because of a weird putdown she threw at some hecklers. However, there was a back story there, and its an interesting one because it highlights a problem that Democrats face: The tightrope theyre walking that has them simultaneously supporting both Israel and Hamas is beginning to go slack, and theyre in danger of falling off.

So, the big story was that pro-Hamas protesters interrupted Kamalas speech, warning her that they will not support her if she supports Israel:

Muslim and anti-Israel protesters heckled Kamala Harris at her large rally Detroit, Mich. She snapped at them for chanting over her speech, saying they should stop or Trump will win. pic.twitter.com/mSnY69PJMr  Andy Ngo  (@MrAndyNgo) August 8, 2024

Kamala, according to the New York Times, shut down the hecklers:

At first, Ms. Harris brushed them off, suggesting the hecklers were evidence of democracy in action. Her supporters tried to drown them out with chants of their own. But the protesters were not ushered out quickly, and the chants continued. Eventually, the exasperated vice president made her feelings clear. If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that, Ms. Harris said. Otherwise, I am speaking.

Notice that Kamala didnt challenge the substance of the heckling. Instead, she simply said the equivalent of please, dont say that out loud because it will keep me out of the White House. Unsaid was the implication that she might indeed abandon Israel if she got into the White House.

Bizarre response or not, Kamala supporters were in heaven. I see that nagging teacher I hated back in junior high school, but others saw presidential power!

Kamala Harris is not fg around. I edited the clip of her shutting down the pro-Palestinian hecklers yesterday, and focused just on her face. Look at that face. Look at that glare. Look at those eyes. This is not someone you want to F around with. This is presidential. pic.twitter.com/rHYYnN4KLJ  John Aravosis  (@aravosis) August 8, 2024

Gaza hecklers tried to disrupt Kamala Harris, but she shut them down cold.



Her clapback? "You know what, if you want Donald Trump to win say that. Otherwise, Im speaking." 



That icy stare, the head tilt, the raised eyebrowKamala Harris just showed who's boss. No games, pic.twitter.com/yULiZWcCYl  Marc Broklawski (@marcbroklawski) August 8, 2024

Whats more interesting than whether Kamala showed presidential power or told protesters to stop forcing her to reveal her real agenda is what a NY Times reporter had to say while covering the event. This report has since been changed, but Ive got the screen grab:

So, a group of uncommitted votersthat is, Muslims angry at the Biden administration for sort of supporting Israel, even as it slow-walks arms and keeps threatening Israel if Israel doesnt surrender to Hamasmanaged to get some face time with Kamala. What I think we can accept as completely accurate is that they told her they want an arms embargo against Israel.

From there, according to Erica L. Green of the New York Times, The leaders asked to meet with her about the embargo request, and she indicated she was open to it, and introduced the two leaders to her staff.

Well, that satisfied the Hamas crowd but obviously got lots of pushback from those in the Democrat party (and presumably, shocked Independents) who dont want Israel vaporized. So, her campaign immediately walked it back. Greens short paragraph is completely rewritten from the original:

Harris listened to stories of people in Michigan who have had dozens of family members killed in Gaza. The leaders asked to meet with her about the embargo request, and said she had indicated that she was open to a meeting, and directed the two leaders to her staff. In a statement, a Harris campaign spokesman said only that in this brief engagement, the vice president reaffirmed that her campaign will continue to engage with those communities. (Correction: An earlier version of this reporter update referred imprecisely to protest leaders' account of their interaction with Harris. They said she had indicated she was open to a meeting; they did not say she had expressed openness to an arms embargo of Israel.)

The only problem with that correction is that, if you accept as true that the co-founders of the Uncommitted National Movement asked for a meeting about an arms embargo, the moment Kamala was open to a meeting, she was impliedly open to an arms embargo. Otherwise, she would have shut them down. She might have said, Yes, Ill meet you, but an embargo is off the table, or The meeting would be pointless because an embargo is a non-starter. However, she didnt say anything like that.

The question is whether Kamala was deliberately ambiguous or just drowned them in a sea of circular Kamala-speak. My bias says the former. This isnt the first time Kamala has opted for deliberate ambiguity.

After the election in Venezuela, Kamala came out with a statement supporting whatever the result was:

The United States stands with the people of Venezuela who expressed their voice in todays historic presidential election. The will of the Venezuelan people must be respected. Despite the many challenges, we will continue to work toward a more democratic, prosperous, and secure  Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) July 28, 2024

(The cut-off portion reads ...future for the people of Venezuela.)

Depending on your viewpoint, shes agreeing with either Maduro or the opposition. It was only two days later, when solid evidence was emerging that Maduro had stolen the election and he was starting to arrest protesters, that Kamala decided that opposing Maduro was the politically stronger position to take:

I echo @POTUS call for the immediate release of detailed polling data of the results of the Venezuelan election. Violence, harassment, and threats against peaceful protestors and political actors are unacceptable. The U.S. stands with the Venezuelan people, and the will of the  Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) July 31, 2024

(The cut-off portion reads ...people must be respected.)

What happened in Michigan reveals a very serious problem for Kamala Harris. The cool thing about the Venezuelan election was that hard evidence emerged, allowing Kamala to take a stand.

In the Middle East, though, aside from the fact that theres strong evidence that the whole genocide accusation is a lie, the main issue is whether the US government should support a truly small-d democratic ally that is fighting an existential battle against fanatic Muslims who are members of a designated terror group and proxies for Iran, an American enemy. (Iran has considered itself at war with the US since 1979, as its terrorist acts since then prove.)

For morally decent people, supporting Israel is a no-brainer. But for the left, which hates Israel, which is a living reminder of the Bibles moral principles and the fact that there is a power greater than the government, Israel must be erased. Kamala is a leftist who has expressed understanding and empathy for the genocidal pro-Hamas protesters feelings, so its likely that theyre her real people, which is why she gave the hecklers that weirdly ambiguous put-down.

Ultimately, America is going to have to take a stand. Biden has managed to avoid it, being senile and all, but the next president must to act. We know that Trump will allow Israel to squash Hamas, which is an enemy of civilization. We suspect Kamala will allow Hamas to squash Israel. For now, though, she must walk that tightrope, and her core pro-Hamas supporters arent making that easy for her.

Image: X screen grab.
It is astonishing what Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Merrick Garland focus on while the world and economy burn.

While terrorists, gang members, child traffickers, and drugs pour across the border, and while the world is embroiled in war, the adults in the room have more important things about which to worry, like Trump supporters and a couple-degree temperature rise based on computer predictions. Conservatives and warm weather are the greatest existential threats, not real violence in real time.

Kamala Harris, that tough prosecutor who helped bail out criminals in 2020, supports letting all illegals off the hook, and supported California measures that permitted thieves to steal $950 every time they went into a storebut you better never be a peaceful pro-life supporter exposing the baby parts trade, or Harris and her cohorts, Joe Biden and Merrick Garland, will target you as if you are a violent criminal, just like they did to parents who dared question school boards. After all, they know who butters their bread. From a report at The Daily Signal:

Kamala Harris Sent Agents to Raid Pro-Life Journalists Home After She Met With Planned Parenthood, Emails Show In March 2016, top Planned Parenthood officials in California eagerly emailed one another about an upcoming meeting with the states then-attorney general, Kamala Harris. The meeting carried so much import that the Planned Parenthood officials met with Harris staff ahead of time to discuss prep, emails reviewed by The Daily Signal show. About two weeks later, on April 5, 2016, California Department of Justice authorities raided the home of a pro-life journalist in his late 20sDavid Daleiden, the head of the Center for Medical Progress, who had recently published videos allegedly showing Planned Parenthood officials gruesomely describing how they extract aborted-baby body parts. Daleiden says the videos prove that Planned Parenthood was selling the aborted baby body parts for profit.

And most of the media cheered about how great Biden was alongside Barack Obama, and then Harris alongside Biden, and they will genuflect to Walz just the same. If people want to see humorous propaganda about how the media bends over backwards to mislead the public on Democrat veeps during candidacy and office, an article out at NewsBusters makes a great case, covering Al Gore, Joe Lieberman, John Edwards, Biden, Tim Kaine, and of course, Harris. Heres this on Biden:

At 65, Joe Biden brings a wealth of experience into the equation. Obama was only 11-years-old when Biden was first elected senator, and hes carved out a long record of accomplishment, especially on foreign policy.  Correspondent Dean Reynolds on CBSs Early Show, August 25, 2008.

On Kamala in 2020, CNN presidential historian said this:

Shes so impressive....She is, in my mind, the finest prosecutor Ive ever seen in my life of watching politics and Washington lawmakers. Shes just unbelievably smart, articulate, and good.

Mika Brzezinski said this:

She cares about womens issues. She cares about equality deep within her soul, from her own experience. Weve had a great time knowing her so far, and its kind of exciting, this pick.

Another CNN reporter said this:

I thought Kamala Harris gave a fantastic speech. She absolutely nailed it. I think this is one of the finest performances Ive seen her deliver in terms of a speech. She has tremendous range as a speaker. There are times when shes incredibly warm and funny and light. Shes talking about spending time with her nieces and her step-kids, being called Mamala, cooking dinner.

From Van Jones:

Both of them [Joe Biden and Kamala Harris], they strengthen each other.Theyre both steadier together. Theyre both stronger together. That was such a beautiful thing to see. I think if youre going to give a headline today it would be Hope Reborn. Thats what I felt. Hope reborn. You just havent heard people talking that way about the country and cutting through and seeming authentic...They blew me away. Both of them were stronger today than Ive seen them in a very long time, if ever.

And lastly, Gayle King:

Its not just women of color who are celebrating Kamala Harris, its women of all colors who are cheering her on. And she seems to check a lot of boxes. I find the Jamaican communitys cheering for her, the Indian communitys cheering for her, the Asian communitys cheering for her, and certainly black America is cheering for her. But Ive had a lot of white women, too, who have reached out to me and said this is just a great look, as they say, for women all over the world.

So, be ready for a load of garbage about Walz. These are a few opinion pieces already from WaPo the first day after he was selected:

Tim Walz made weird happen. What he offers the ticket is much more. Walz has a genuine feel for the concerns of people in conservative corners of the country.

And here:

And here:

I wonder why most of the country thinks we are heading in the wrong direction.

Image generated by AI.
With the Dems selection of Tim Walz for V.P., the teams are set going into the general election for president: Donald Trump and J.D. Vance for the Republicans against Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for the Democrats (assuming the Harris/Walz ticket doesnt get derailed at the convention).

At first glance, the selection of Tim Walz is a relief. Kamala Harris could have selected Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro, but as Van Jones suggested on CNN, anti-Jewish bigots in the Democrat party sank Shapiros V.P. bid. Shapiro would have almost certainly delivered Pennsylvania, with 19 electoral votes, which would have made the path to victory harder for Trump/Vance.

Tim Walz is the gift that keeps on giving. If there were a worse candidate than Kamala Harris, Tim Walz is it.

Take his stolen valor, his ties to China, his signed bill placing tampons in boys bathrooms, his signed bill allowing state custody for transgender hormones and genital mutilation, his signed bill granting drivers licenses to illegal aliens, and his signing of a late-term abortion bill that is possibly the most radical in the nation.

But of all Walzs extreme left background, his allowing (read: promoting) the burning down of Minneapolis and other Minnesota cities during the 2020 Democrat-inspired summer of rage is, in my opinion, the most egregious. People died. Businesses were looted and set ablaze (in mostly black neighborhoods).

The New York Times covered the incident:

Fires and looting destroyed hundreds of businesses, among them a worker-owned bicycle co-op, a historic diner run by a husband and wife, and the new headquarters of a nonprofit organization that works with Native American teens.

The meme mostly peaceful protest originates with an MSNBC spokeshole proclaiming, I want to be clear on how I characterize this. This is mostly a protest. It is not generally speaking unruly.

It is not generally speaking unruly, as the city of Minneapolis is burning to the ground in the background.

Tim Walz is the perfect pairing with Kamala Harris if you want to burn down the country in the same manner that youve burned down your state. This is the most radically leftist Democrat ticket in our nations history.

We must stand against the slobbering media and demand that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz answer for their failings: a failed border czar with a shady background and a communist father, and a failed radical governor who celebrates his wedding anniversary on the date of the Tiananmen Square crackdown against freedom-desiring Chinese.

If we dont prevail, Minneapolis will be a warning of our future.

Image: Tim Walz, public domain.
I'm one of those people who's new to Tim Walz.

But the more I learn, the more he comes off as one thing: Dishonest.

I'm not talking about false or hyperbolic things politicians say to advance their agendas. I'm talking about base, cruddy, lowdown, personal dishonesty, the gross flaw of character that's the kind of thing that would prevent him from being hired as a bank teller. Personal dishonesty seems to be a life pattern for him.

It's things like this:

Pretending to be deaf is apparently a go-to move for this guy: https://t.co/zKtjYkKNig pic.twitter.com/w0JNAZUgd0  Guy Benson (@guypbenson) August 7, 2024

Most of them, when they get arrested for driving drunk, try the 'don't you know who I am,' on the officer. This one pretended to be deaf.

But that's just a sample.

The most obvious instance of his personal dishonesty is topic one in military circles, his incredibly mendacious military record in the National Guard.

Walz claimed he was a war veteran with 24 years of military service, but he wasn't who he said he was when he abandoned his own troops when it actually was time to go to war. Upon learning that his unit would be dispatched to Iraq, back in 2005, he abruptly quit his unit, leaving the men and women who couldn't get out to go fight without him.

According to the Washington Post:

... the circumstances of his departure from the National Guard and his characterization of his service already have come under attack. At least three former Guard colleagues have publicly voiced bitterness at Walzs decision to leave their unit at such a consequential moment. Its not clear how widespread that feeling was, but the Trump campaign has moved quickly to capitalize on the issue. Nobody wants to go to war. I didnt want to go, but I went, Doug Julin, a retired National Guard soldier who worked with Walz, said in an interview. The big frustration was that he let his troops down.

So he wasn't a stand-up guy when push-came-to-shove. He was a time-server and decided to let the other guy die for his country.

That didn't stop him from using his military record as a campaign and political tool, though.

Here's one small instance:

According to the Washington Post, he claimed he used "weapons of war":

On Wednesday, Walz also came under scrutiny for saying during a gubernatorial campaign event in 2018 that we can make sure those weapons of war that I carried in war are not on Americas streets. Walz did not serve in combat, according to the Minnesota Army National Guard, and his Republican counterpart jumped on those comments. He said we shouldnt allow weapons that I used in war to be on Americas streets, JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, said during a campaign event in Michigan. Well, I wonder. Tim Walz, when were you ever in war?

Of course he didn't use weapons of war. Nor did he even go to war. He said he did, claiming he served in Afghanistan, but he didn't. All he did was bug out on his own troops.

As Townhall columnist Kurt Schlichter, who has a significant record as a combat veteran in the Army, wrote:

He wasnt in a war, though he claimed to be - in a Kamala HQ tweet no less. When talking about breaking his oath to support and defend the Constitution, this turd said We can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, are only carried in war. What war was that? Was he helping win the Tet Offensive with his fellow Democrat Da Nang Dick Blumenthal? He wasnt an actual command sergeant major either, only holding the rank temporarily contingent on passing the Sergeant Majors Academy course. But he didnt do that. He quit. He took a coveted slot in a career-crowning military school away from somebody else. Thats not good. And then his unit got activated to go to Iraq and he decided he had to run for Congress and retired. That rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

And even as he claims to have been a command sergeant major, his military records show that he was demoted to a lesser rank for not fulfilling his mission. That is gross.

This is just one lily pad patch of his dishonesty, there are so many more.

According to Twitchy, which shows a string of supporting tweets:

He used a fake name -- Tim Mankato -- and an associated email address to hide what he did during the pandemic, including overseeing $250 million in federal food programs.

Not a drop of honesty there.

A judge even told him to stop lying to the courts, he had no fear of perjury charges, it seems.

According to Breitbart News:

Ramsey County District Court Judge John Guthmann in 2022 admonished Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) for making inaccurate and false statements in claiming he forced the governor to continue making payments to the scandal-ridden Feeding Our Future nonprofit, which is at the center of a scheme to steal $250 million from a coronavirus-era welfare program. Breitbart News reported about how Gov. Walzs lax oversight of a federal food aid program led to dozens of Somali migrants stealing $250 million for a program meant for children in need. In September 2022, the Justice Department charged 47 Somali immigrants in Minnesota with stealing $250 million from a coronavirus relief program meant to feed needy children. Only $50 million has been recovered as of June.

His lies extend and extend and like I said, I am new to this guy, there is obviously a lot more out there.

Corollary to his petty dishonesties is the evidence of his lawlessness.

He vowed to buy ladders for illegals if President Trump dared complete his border wall, and his creepy wife said she opened the windows on her governor's mansion the better to breathe in the smell of burning tires from George Floyd rioters because she liked what they were doing, which was burning the state's largest city down and destroying countless businesses.

Is this the kind of guy that anyone should want in public office? Dishonesty seems to be his actual character based on his countless examples of it. How does someone get that dishonest, lying so reflexively and confidently, and how does he manage to get where he is with a record like that? In the real world, he wouldn't get a job as a cashier with Wal-Mart given a pattern like that. How horrible that he's moving on instead to the vice presidential ticket of a major political party.

Image: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service // public domain
A short video clip has emerged of Kamala Harriss running mate, Tim Walz, giving his understanding of the First Amendment. The correct response to what he says should be a shudder of horror that this man might be part of a winning presidential ticket, for he displays the classic communist understanding of how free speech worksits a one-way ticket for the despotic governments benefit.

As always, lets start with the text:

Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech.

Thats it. Its very clean and simple.

So, what does it mean? It means what it says: The government cannot determine what speech is acceptable and what is not. Government censorship is a bad thing.

Image: X screen grab.

This notion of speech free from government censorship began to be the norm in England, starting with the 1689 English Bill of Rights. Parliament created the Bill of Rights following a revolution to oust King James II, who, like his father Charles I before him, had been imprisoning parliamentarians for speech with which he disagreed. The Bill of Rights stated that the freedom of speech and debate or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament.

Although the English Bill of Rights technically applied only to members of parliament, by the 1760s, English citizens, whether in England or the American colonies, believed that it was their right as Englishmen to express their political opinions without fear.

One of the things that led to the American Revolution was that Parliament essentially invalidated the Bill of Rights, saying that it applied only to the monarch and not to Parliament itself. (Thats why, today, UK PM Keir Starmer is comfortable embracing the Sharia definition of free speech.) Parliament reserved for itself the right to punish any speech out of the colonies with which it disagreed.

When the Founders ratified the Bill of Rights, they didnt make the same mistake twice. Free speech regarding matters of public policy, they said, is an inherent right, not just the right of elected officials.

Of course, there are very narrow exceptions to what constitutes free speech. Threatening to kill someone is a criminal activity as is using speech to incite imminent unlawful action (e.g., Come on, everyone. Lets burn down the Jewish guys house.). Child pornography is criminal speech because of the unique position children occupy in society. In the civil arena, copyrighted speech is not free (e.g., you cant republish the Harry Potter books under your own name), and knowingly spreading false information about someone can render you liable to a civil action.

The most important thing, though, is that the First Amendment prevents government action against viewpoints, especially disfavored viewpoints. It exists not to protect people who spout the party line but to protect those who dont.

Notably, some of the most important advances in free speech law in America came from the ACLU, an essentially socialist organization (every founder was a socialist). In the first half of the 20th century, Americans recognized that communism was a threat to the American system and often sought to stifle it. Meanwhile, Woodrow Wilson, a progressive (i.e., a socialist), once he attained power, also sought to stifle speech, using the excuse of WWI to implement some of the most draconian speech restrictions in American history.

The ACLU fought back against all these restraints. Its members understood that socialism didnt stand a chance in America if speech was restricted. But socialists are like Recep Erdogan, the president of Turkey, who said, Democracy is like a tram. You ride it until you arrive at your destination; then you step off. For the totalitarian mind, free speech is something you fight for only when it advances your policies. Then, it stops.

And with that, heres Tim Walz explaining in very few words that the First Amendment does not apply to speech he dislikes.

HOLY SH!T



Governor Tim Walz: NO RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH if the government decides it is misinformation or hateful



This man is a dangerous commie pic.twitter.com/hE8xGcRx87  End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) August 7, 2024

I think we should push back on this. Theres no guarantee to free speech on misinformation or hate speech, and especially around our democracy.

In fact, free speech is most essential around our democracy. The antidote to speech one dislikes isnt censorship but counter-speech, something the left is currently stifling using social media cut-outs. (Ive argued for a long time that the tech tyrants should be treated as public accommodations under the Civil Rights Act so that they cannot censor speech with which they disagree.)

As we learned during COVID, misinformation doesnt mean inaccurate information (although even that should not be stifled unless its defamatory); it means anything with which the Democrat party disagrees. Likewise, hate speech doesnt mean saying, I hate you, and Im going to kill you. It means anything that offends non-whites. If youre white, of course, nothing said against you can be hateful because, frankly, you deserve it...

Ill end with Queen Elizabeth I of England. Before her reign, England had experienced decades of oppression as her country see-sawed between Henry VIIIs and Edward VIs brutal imposition of Protestantism in place of Englands traditional Catholicism, which was followed by Mary Is even more brutal efforts to reinstate Catholicism. Elizabeth wanted none of it, famously saying, I have no desire to make windows into mens souls.

Tim Walz is no Elizabeth. He desires to make windows into mens souls and then to use the power of the government to punish them for their thoughts.
Since the Vietnam era, the Democrat posture has been to oppose war. Indeed, the only war Democrats have been enthusiastic about since then is the Ukraine War, which is a bloodbath that will have no direct discernable effect on Americas national security (although it is draining our weapons supply). This reality does not mean that Democrats have not served in the military and used that service to advance their political careers. Minnesota governor Tim Walz traded on his service in the National Guard for decades. Now that hes playing in the big leagues, though, weve learned that he lied about his service and ran from his men when battle neared.

John Kerry, Richard Blumenthal, Pete Buttigieg, Tim Walz...these are just a few hard-left Democrats who enlisted and then used that enlistment for political advancement. While Kerry and Buttigieg really did serve in combat zones, Blumenthal lied outright, implying that his time in the Marine Reserves in D.C. was, instead, active duty in Vietnam. Now, it turns out that Tim Walz is a liar in the Blumenthal mode.

The Tim Walz narrative is that he served overseas in combat zones while in the National Guard, retiring as a command sergeant major. The only problem is that this narrative contains a series of lies by omission.

First, Walz implied hed served in Afghanistan when he never got further east than a luxury gig in Italy. That means that his whole shtick about being a gun-toting combat vet to justify his dream of destroying the Second Amendment is farcical.

Second, he only had a conditional promotion to command sergeant major, after which he was demoted to master sergeant because he did not complete his obligation to serve for a minimal amount of time. Its that decision to leave before the promotion became permanent that highlights Walzs real problem.

Third, and most seriously, when Walzs unit was going to be sent to Iraq at the height of the war, he abruptly retired. That not only jettisoned his promotion, but it left his unit high and dry.

Then listen to the unit's Command Sergeant Major that did go to Iraq? pic.twitter.com/kMxM8qYfcT  Tracy Baker (@tracylbaker) August 8, 2024

So, Walz really was a longstanding member of the National Guard, having first enlisted in Nebraska in 1981 before transferring to the Minnesota National Guard. In 2001, when hed accrued his 20 years of service, he reenlisted for another six years after 9/11. All of that is commendable. Its his apparent running away and then lying about his rank and the nature of his service thats a problem. Incidentally, Walz had multiple opportunities to correct any misconceptions about his service but never did.

What really galls veterans is the running away before being deployed part. Thats why they responded enthusiastically when Kurt Schlichter, who served during the Gulf War and retired from the National Guard with the rank of colonel, invited vets to submit photos of them not being Tim Walz:

Me not being Tim Walz. pic.twitter.com/sEKiFw2btZ  Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) August 7, 2024

Vets, post your photo of you not being Tim Walz! pic.twitter.com/OWROmYPlS4  Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) August 7, 2024

The response to Kurts request was overwhelming and, in the case of posts honoring men who served and never made it home or came home terribly injured, deeply moving. Many posts ended up on Kurts timeline, while others can be located by searching for the #NotTimWalsh hashtag or just not being Tim Walz. Heres just a small sampling of the hundreds of posts from and about men and women who served:

This is Sgt Kyle Miller of the Minnesota National Guard



Hometown: Willmar, MN



He was 19 years old and a soldier in Tim Walz' unit



He was killed by an IED on the deployment Tim Walz abandoned pic.twitter.com/kQExlLSc1P  Jack Poso  (@JackPosobiec) August 7, 2024

My Marine son deployed in Iraq. He was driving the vehicle when it ran over an IED.

He survived, one lost his legs, another was killed.#NotTimWalz pic.twitter.com/6kMRstZHDb  Jennyjenny (@JenniferPelti16) August 7, 2024

This is a photo of me not being Tim Waltz.



Some of us answered the call and some of us (Tim Waltz) cowered in the rear. pic.twitter.com/UZTjFGJh0r  Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyan762) August 7, 2024

When my unit in the 4th Infantry Division was notified of deployment to Iraq, I answered the call.



The man Democrats want to be Vice President abandoned his unit because he was and is a coward.



This is a photo of me not being Tim Walz. pic.twitter.com/gilySBwJBD  Rob Smith (@robsmithonline) August 8, 2024

Me not being @Tim_Walz



Real ones WANT to deploy



In Navy EOD, when a chief or OIC getting his platoon ready to deploy gets injured on a training jump or something



Dudes will *run* to the COs and CMCs office to try and take his place.



Many such cases.



Except for Tim.  https://t.co/LmGevdx8Xl pic.twitter.com/nE8Ce4YVgt  Tom Sauer (@thomasbsauer) August 8, 2024

Me not being Tim Walz, 5/2006, mobilized with the USAR, same time as his unit was. Saw many Red Bulls over there but no Walz, as he is a deployment dodging buddy fucking coward. pic.twitter.com/i9nS2xjj14  Viking Ranger (@ranger_viking) August 7, 2024

I served in the Minnesota Army National Guard. Unlike @Tim_Walz I didn't run away when we were deployed to Iraq in 2005. I served with honor and almost died after losing my right arm to an IED in Baghdad. Walz is an absolute coward who abandoned us. https://t.co/8IavkOGNbJ https://t.co/vaR1mN5Rcp  J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) August 7, 2024

Heres a picture of me NOT being Tampon Tim Walz. https://t.co/tlLuCe1Ae0 pic.twitter.com/NLYNyBYz7U  Rob Lee  (@RobLee1776) August 7, 2024

Been there and done that in both Iraq and Afghanistan unlike Tim Walz. #nottimwalz #StolenValor pic.twitter.com/hlNgdfdSkm  Roy Sanchez (@findme23rls) August 7, 2024

Here I am on our Iraq deployment with the Minnesota Army National Guard, the very same deployment @Tim_Walz bailed on. https://t.co/FNEhq3FHFM pic.twitter.com/unfNptN2Oi  J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) August 7, 2024

In 2004, a lie about military service derailed John Kerrys candidacy. The big question is whether, 20 years later, these types of lies still matter.

Image: X screen grab.
Amazon is one of the big names that jumped on the AI-powered services bandwagon. The company offers useful tools for both normal users and brands. Now, Amazon has upgraded its own AI image generator with more capabilities and editing possibilities.

Officially known as Amazon Titan Image Generator, the service is receiving its V2 upgrade. This is one of those tools designed for professional use by other companies. Its main goal is to generate professional-quality marketing images. However, it does not resort to stock images or content available on the web. Instead, the Titan Image Generator relies on the companys own content.

Amazon Titan Image Generator V2 offers more possibilities for creation and editing

So, companies can train the tool with their own logos, images, and products. This helps to obtain usable results more easily, reducing bizarre images. While the V1 was already like this, the V2 upgrade allows the user to be much more specific regarding image generation. For example, it is capable of segmenting a generated image to request edits or modifications only in those specific areas.

Like other AI image generators, the output will be based primarily on a text prompt. However, the tool allows the user to complement the text with images to obtain results as accurately as possible. Theres also a subject consistency tool that allows you to request images around a specific theme. The theme can be an object, a scene, a person, an animal, etc.

Channy Yun, a Principal Developer Advocate for AWS cloud, said that the Amazon upgraded image generator allows you to use reference images, edit existing visuals, remove backgrounds, generate image variations, and securely customize the model to maintain brand style and subject consistency.

Currently, the improved tool has limited availability. Only people in the US East (N. Virginia) and US West (Oregon) AWS Regions can access it through Amazon Bedrock. If youre not aware, Bedrock is a platform that makes AI app development easier by offering access to a set of powerful models. However, the company will provide more details on a broader rollout soon.
Google is bringing back lock screen widgets in Android 15. The feature disappeared nearly a decade ago, but it can be accessed from a hidden settings page in Android 15.

Improved lock screen widgets in Android 15 revealed

The stable version of Android 15 is almost ready. While Google would be the first to release Android 15 for its Pixel series of smartphones, other device makers too are finetuning the mobile OS for general deployment.

One of the most anticipated features in Android 15 is Lock Screen Widgets. As the name implies, this feature allows Android users to place widgets on the screen that request user authentication.

Google scaled back lock screen widgets about 10 years ago, but multiple reports as well as APK teardowns have indicated Google is reviving the feature. The first signs of lock screen widgets appeared a few months ago when Google released the beta version of Android 15.

Android 15 lock screen widgets feature is evolving, offering a glanceable hub for widgets on tablets.#Pixel9 #Android15 #OneUi7 pic.twitter.com/JrriZkcXQV  choqao (@choqao) August 7, 2024

Google has been making several improvements in the feature, reported Android Authority. The search giant is calling the feature Glanceable Hub, which is essentially a page that curates all the widgets that can be placed on a devices lock screen.

Google has tweaked a few settings to ensure the lock screen widgets do not overlap. Additionally, the company seems to be trying to make widgets interactable.

In the latest version of the lock screen widgets in Android 15, users can add up to six widgets per page. Moreover, as the Glanceable Hub is horizontally scrollable, users can theoretically add many more widgets on multiple pages.

How to access the new feature using gestures in Android 15?

As reported earlier, users still cant resize widgets. However, Google has added the ability to interact with them.

As evident from the video, the Glanceable Hub is accessible by swiping inward from the right edge of the lock screen. In other words, swiping left at the edge of a device would reveal the feature.

In the Glanceable Hub, users can add, remove, or rearrange widgets as desired. Once satisfied, users swipe back and forth between the lock screen and the glanceable hub.

Google has added a long, vertical pill on the right edge that serves as a visual indicator. Swiping left on the pill reveals the lock screen and Glanceable Hub. Theres a single button to change the current profile. The option to customize the Glanceable Hub becomes visible by long-pressing on an empty slot.
Right now, publishers have a major bone to pick with Google, as the company is both messing up its search algorithm and launching AI overviews. However, the company is working on a means of monetization that might mean good news for small-time creators and publishers. Google could bake micro-payments into Chrome.

Micro-payments in Google Chrome?

As it stands, many of the websites you see on Google are supported by ad revenue. So, the more people who visit the sites, the more money that they and Google get. This is how things have been going for years, but the company is shaking things up. AI Overviews threaten to put thousands of sites out of business because they allow users to bypass visiting websites and get the answers that they want. The AI-powered search engines like Perplexity dont really help the case that much more, even while posting links to sources.

Well, Google might have another method of distributing the wealth to websites. According to a new report, Google is working on a system that will let people pay sites directly to see their content when on Chrome. Right now, this is still in the very early stages, so theres no telling if the company will actually implement it.

From the way it sounds, there will be a native way for site owners to put their content behind a paywall. It will be a more direct way of supporting the site rather than ad revenue. This method might not be limited to just publications. Websites that host other forms of user-created content might be able to benefit from it as well.

When implemented, the users will use the HTML code rel=monetization. When they do this, they should be able to monetize their content.

This method of monetization could be beneficial to site owners because they will be able to bypass fees. Also, depending on how many people choose to support the site, they might be able to earn more money than with ad revenue.

The technical documentation will show you more information about the inner workings of this feature. We dont know if Google will follow through with this or not. However, if it does, we should expect some changes.

We also expect some opposition. For example, for this to work, what if a person wants to support a site on a different browser? Thats something that the company will need to consider.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 12: Colin Farrell attends the 95th Annual Academy Awards on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images ) (Getty Images)

Colin Farrel has launched a new foundation that will support adult children who have intellectual disabilities, as he opened up about his son James Farrell for the first time.

The Banshees of Inisherin actor, 48, shares James with ex-girlfriend Kim Bordenave. James, 20, has a rare neurogenetic disorder called Angelman syndrome.

Speaking to People magazine, Farrell said that the foundation was born from his desire to "do something in the realm of providing greater opportunities for families who have a child with special needs, to receive the support that they deserve, basically the assistance in all areas of life".

"This is the first time Ive spoken about it, and obviously the only reason Im speaking is I cant ask James if he wants to do this," the Golden Globe Award recipient said.

Farrell went on to explain that he isnt able to "discern a particular answer from [James]" about whether hed be comfortable speaking about his condition and the foundation, adding: "So I have to make a call based on knowing Jamess spirit and what kind of young man he is and the goodness that he has in his heart."

Angelman syndrome is a rare condition that occurs in one in every 20,000 births. Heres everything you need to know about it:

What causes Angelman syndrome?

Angelman syndrome is caused by genes being deleted or inactivated (switched off) on the copy of chromosome 15 that is inherited from the mother. (Getty Images) (Getty Images/Science Photo Libra)

Angelman syndrome is a rare neuro-genetic disorder, caused by several types of disruptions of a region of Chromosome 15, all involving a single gene, UBE3A.

According to the Angelman UK charity, the gene UBE3A is responsible for the basic maintenance of cells. Children usually get two copies of this gene, one from each parent, but in these cases, only the gene from the mother is active.

The condition was first identified in 1965 by British doctor Harry Angelman, who noticed similar traits between three unrelated patients who were previously undiagnosed.

Angelman syndrome affects the nervous system and causes severe physical and learning disabilities. While a person with Angelman syndrome can have a normal life expectancy, they will need support throughout their life.

Signs and symptoms of Angelman syndrome

Characteristics of Angelman syndrome include walking and balance difficulties, seizures, little to no speech, and gastrointestinal issues, as well as a happy and excitable demeanour.

Children with Angelman syndrome usually begin to show signs of delayed development at around six to 12 months of age, according to the NHS. This can include being unable to sit without being supported or make babbling noises.

As they get older, they may not speak at all or may only be able to say a few words. However, most children can communicate through gestures, signs or other systems.

Children with Angelman syndrome start showing symptoms between six to 12 months of age. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

They are also likely to display difficulties with movement, such as being unable to walk due to issues with balance and coordination, and jerky movements.

Distinctive behaviours associated with Angelman include:

Frequent laughter and smiling

Being easily excitable

Being restless

Having a short attention span

Trouble sleeping and needing less sleep than other children

Fascination with water

Other possible features include:

Tendency to stick the tongue out

Crossed eyes

Skin, hair and eyes that are paler than other family members

A wide mouth with widely spaced teeth

Side-to-side curvature of the spine (scoliosis)

Walking with arms in the air

Difficulties sucking and swallowing

Seizures or fits

The NHS adds that by the age of two, a small head that may be flat at the back - known as microbrachycephaly, may be noticeable in some children with Angelman syndrome.

How is Angelman syndrome diagnosed?

A blood test is used to diagnose Angelman syndrome. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

A blood test is used to confirm a diagnosis of Angelman syndrome, on which several genetic tests will be done. The tests look for:

Any chromosomes or pieces of chromosomes that are missing

Changes in the mothers or fathers UBE3A gene that they may have passed on

Changes in the childs UBE3A gene that would stop it from working

Children with Angelman syndrome can benefit from some treatments, such as anti-epileptic medicine to control seizures and physiotherapy to help with their posture, balance and walking ability, as well as to prevent joints from becoming stiff permanently as they get older.

Communication therapy may also help them develop non-verbal language skills, and behavioural therapy may help with behaviours that can be difficult to manage like hyperactivity and a short attention span.

The NHS adds: People with Angelman syndrome usually have good general health and are often able to improve their communication and acquire new skills.

While theres currently no cure for Angelman syndrome, research into treatments is being done in other countries. There are also clinical trials looking at treatment for some of the symptoms associated with Angelman syndrome, such as seizures.

You can get more information, help and support from Angelman UK and The Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST).

Read more about health and wellness:
British honeymooners set to travel to Vienna before Taylor Swifts tour dates were cancelled in the city are feeling apprehensive and shaken by thoughts of attending other concerts.

The couple, Beth and Tom Garrison-Turner from Cambridge, had struggled to get tickets for the US singers Eras Tour in other European cities, before being so lucky to get tickets for a gig in Austria.

But they were left devastated when organisers on Wednesday cancelled all three dates at the Ernst Happel Stadium, after police warned event organiser Barracuda Music that officers had thwarted an alleged terrorist attack.

A fan poses in June in front of a mural of Taylor Swift at Wembley Stadium in London (Charlotte Coney/PA)

Beth, 26, a fundraising manager, told the PA news agency they will not head to the Austrian capital over safety fears, and estimated they had both lost around 900 euros (773.26) in total which was spent on flights and accommodation.

Ive always loved Taylor, we had (her single) Lover as our first dance song, she said.

Beth said they had been due to fly out on Thursday morning from London, were gutted by the announcement and concerned it would be too unsafe to travel so chose not to leave the UK.

She added: So we are out of pocket by around 1,500 euros (1,288.77) in total, but are awaiting a refund for the tickets.

I completely understand why they cancelled, it was the right call, but it doesnt make it any less heartbreaking as weve never seen (Swift) before.

We are devastated that we wont get the opportunity to see her, ticket scalpers are selling tickets for thousands each for Wembley and its just too much for us.

We are very glad everyone is safe and it was ok but its also shaken us up about going to a concert again which is so sad as we love music and seeing concerts.

Beth added that additional money was spent on outfits, and the trip was set to be a really special time for her and her husband, who she tied the knot with five weeks ago.

Beth added: Im so glad its been caught but Im anxious to know what measures concert organisers will put in place in the future to prevent this.

She added that the couple were also planning to spend the trip enjoying the city, and her husband, Tom, 27, who works in real estate, has learned to become a big fan, he now knows most of the lyrics.

She said the pair are now headed to the Norfolk coast instead, where they plan to listen to Swift songs, and perhaps catch the concert film Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour on Disney+.

Police in Vienna arrested a 19-year-old terror suspect over the suspected plot.

Taylor Swift poses for a photo at the MTV Video Music Awards (PA)

Austrian authorities told a press conference on Thursday that they believe he was set to target fans outside the Ernst Happel Stadium with bladed weapons as well as the construction of a bomb.

The situation was serious and remains serious, but we can also state  a tragedy was averted, said interior minister Gerhard Karner.

The 19-year-old Austrian from Ternitz, who was arrested on Wednesday, confessed to the attack, a press release from the federal Ministry of Internal Affairs said.

During yesterdays house search, we secured chemical substances, liquids, explosive and technical devices that could be used to manufacture explosives, Mr Karner said.

A 17-year-old, who was believed to have been employed by a management company working at the Swift concert, was arrested outside the stadium.

Director Omar Haijawi-Pirchner of Intelligence Services said: Our investigations show that there are individuals in the vicinity of the three suspects who may have been supportive; further investigations are necessary here.

A 15-year-old was also detained and questioned by the police.
Idris Elba, Maya Jama and Little Simz have been announced as producers of the West End transfer of romantic stage play Shifters.

The play, billed as an epic and universal love story about the enduring power of memory and first love, will run for a limited nine-week season from opening night on August 21 until October 12 at the Duke of Yorks Theatre in London.

Playwright Benedict Lombe will become the third black British woman to have a production put on in the West End.

The transfer from Londons Bush Theatre will see artist and actress Heather Agyepong and Supacell actor Tosin Cole reprise their roles as Des and Dre.

Playwright Lynette Linton, producer Idris Elba, and playwright Benedict Lombe (Justine Matthew/Shifters)

Luther actor Elba said: This play is so well written by Benedict Lombe and so well performed by Heather Agyepong and Tosin Cole we feel very, very privileged to be a part of its transition into the West End.

Meanwhile Jama, who hosts ITV reality dating show Love Island, spoke of her excitement bringing Lombes beautiful play to the West End.

I fell in love with the play the moment I read it  I feel like I know these characters, I know their story, and its also really wonderful to be able to see yourself represented in art, thats the most important part of it, she said.

I really hope you fall in love with these characters and their journey as much as I have.

Mercury Prize and Brit-winning rapper Little Simz, who also starred in hit Netflix drama Top Boy, said she watched the play on the last night of the run.

I was moved to tears by this play, she said.

Tosin and Heather spoke Benedicts words with such conviction and truth. Their performances were exceptional.

Im so glad its showing again in the West End as this is a really important story that needs to be told.

The play follows young, gifted, black characters Des and Dre who, after years apart, come crashing back into each others lives, carrying new secrets and old scars.

Little Simz, pictured at the Glastonbury Festival, is also one of the producers (Yui Mok/PA)

With the clock counting down until Des has to leave again, memories of their teen years collide with their present and theyre forced to question if destiny has brought them back together for a reason, the plays website said.

Producers Eleanor Lloyd, Chuchu Nwagu and Sonia Friedman said they were thrilled to welcome these three brilliant and unique creatives into the Shifters producing family.

Idris, Maya, and Simz all represent the top tier of British talent from the worlds of acting, music, fashion, broadcasting and so much more, a statement said.

Each of them brings something special to the table, and share our passion and excitement for seeing Benes beautiful play take its rightful place in the West End.
A conservation charity has urged people to defend this special place and write to Scottish ministers objecting to plans for development at the Battle of Bannockburn site.

Stirling Council granted planning permission for a trotting track for harness racing, including buildings and a car park, at a meeting last week.

The site is included in the Inventory of Historic Battlefields, but is not owned by conservation charity National Trust for Scotland (NTS) which has a visitor centre and listed monuments nearby.

NTS had already objected to the plans and has called on its more than 330,000 members and the public to lobby Scottish Government ministers to call in the decision, a move which would give ministers  and not Stirling Council  the final say on the planning application.

Independence activists demonstrating at the Battle of Bannockburn site (Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

During the battle in 1314, King of Scotland Robert the Bruce defeated English troops led by King Edward II, giving the site historic significance.

Plans include parking for more than 200 cars on the site, and NTS said it was shocked and dismayed at the councils decision.

Director of conservation and policy, Stuart Brooks, said: We need as many people as possible to stand with us to defend this special place now and for the future.

The fields in question are on the national Inventory of Historic Battlefields. Although they dont fall within the land owned and cared for by the trust, they are within the boundaries of the 1314 conflict.

They are integral to the experience of visitors who come to learn about this special aspect of Scotlands heritage.

These fields are not just fields, but a living testament to the historical and cultural significance of the Battle of Bannockburn.

If they are developed, we will not just lose a part of our history, but also a connection from the present to the past. The loss will be intolerable and we will be left with a void in our heritage and a stain on our nations reputation.

If you agree that this important site of Scottish history should be protected from this damaging proposal, we are asking you to please write to Scottish Ministers explaining why you think the battlefield is important, why this development is so damaging, its inappropriateness for the location and finally, asking that the decision is called in as a matter of urgency.

A re-enactment at the Bannockburn site on the 700th anniversary of the battle (Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

Time is ticking on this  Scottish Ministers have until August 26 to make their decision. Please help us ensure that they understand how strongly the public feel about protecting this important place.

NTS described the site as in the vicinity of where Bruces army faced off against the vanguard of Edwards army on the first day of the battle, and said that the proposals would destroy one of the last remaining areas of open landscape on which the historic battle took place in 1314.

Plans would fundamentally alter the experience of the site, traffic could result in an elevated risk of collision on the main road, endangering residents and visitors, while crowd noise would greatly detract from the visitor experience at a nationally important historic site, conservationists from NTS warned.

It said the development would be a stain on our nations reputation.

Ministers have until August 26 to make a decision, and the charity urged members to email scottish.ministers@gov.scot with concerns.

A Stirling Council spokesperson said: The panel carefully considered all information relating to the planning application in making its decision.

As the Scottish Government has already issued a direction in respect of this application, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: On Monday August 5, the Scottish Government received notification of the trotting track application from Stirling Council.

Ministers are currently giving full and proper consideration to the proposal and have an initial 28-day period to consider whether to call it in for their own determination or not.
A community leader has described a day of messages of political unity against recent disorder in Northern Ireland as like light at the end of the tunnel.

Representatives from the Belfast Multi Cultural Association as well as a number of other groups and organisations watched on from the public gallery as the Northern Ireland Assembly was recalled to discuss the violence and spate of race hate attacks in the capital.

MLAs went on to back a motion condemning the recent disorder and rejecting all forms of racism in Northern Ireland.

Earlier, following a meeting of the Stormont Executive, First Minister Michelle ONeill earlier said ministers were unequivocally collective in our determination to say no to racism and stand firmly united in terms of what we see unfolding in front of us.

First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle ONeill, PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boucher, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long (Mark Marlow/PA)

Meanwhile, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher warned that those engaging in violence will be pursued with the full force of the law.Muhammad Atif, a trustee of the Belfast Multi-Cultural Association, described the messaging across the day as encouraging.

Were looking for the politicians to work on it and start building those bridges we never had  we cant even say bridges were burned because we never really had those bridges, he told PA.

The third largest community, the immigrants and Muslim community, in Northern Ireland, we never had these types of dialogues before.

Now we see the light at the end of the tunnel and I hope that things will change, and I hope people behind the riots will listen to the politicians and they will act on my appeals as well.

In terms of the police response, Mr Atif welcomed dialogue with Mr Boutcher before and since the recent disorder.

We felt it is needed to reassure our community that the PSNI is doing their job. Yes, there are lessons to be learned, mistakes have happened but I am hopeful that the PSNI have learnt those lessons and they will do better now, he said.

Abdelkader Mohamad Al Alloush, owner of the Sham Supermarket on Donegall Road in Belfast. The shop was burned during disorder in the area (Rebecca Black/PA)

Mr Atif described an ongoing sense of fear.

Were worried about what may happen tonight. Families are staying in their houses, no one is leaving their houses these days, he said.

The kids are asking questions, why are my swimming lessons cancelled, why is my summer camp cancelled, why cant we go anywhere for shopping. Were just taking all the precautions, we dont want to put kids in danger.

Were also trying to avoid as much as we can talking in front of the kids because we dont want to scare them because in a few weeks time, theyll be going back to school and we dont want them to take anything from home which they shouldnt.

Its been heartwarming that people are coming out, checking on our houses and asking if were ok, asking if we need anything. That is the big majority in Northern Ireland.

But the problem is the tiny minority that is behind all this.
The UKs competition watchdog has confirmed it is launching a merger inquiry into Amazons partnership with AI firm Anthropic.

The tech giant has invested four billion US dollars (3.1 billion) into the US AI firm.

On Thursday, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it has sufficient information to begin an initial investigation into the partnership, in order to establish whether a more in-depth review is needed.

The decision is the latest in a string of decisions from the regulator around examining the close partnerships between big technology firms and emerging AI companies.

In recent weeks, the CMA has announced investigations into Microsoft over its hiring of a number of staff from start-up Inflection AI to its new dedicated AI team, while Googles parent firm, Alphabet, is also being examined over a partnership with Anthropic.

In April, the CMA published a report highlighting concerns it had over potential risks to open, fair and effective competition in the AI market.

It specifically highlighted what it called an interconnected web of more than 90 partnerships and strategic investments from the biggest names in tech  including Alphabet, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft  and emerging AI firms, a set-up it warned could be used to consolidate power and resources within the sector among a few companies.

Amazon, as well as Alphabet, has invested heavily in Anthropic, while Microsoft is the largest investor in ChatGPT maker OpenAI.

OpenAI has also formed a partnership with Apple to embed ChatGPT into future generations of the iPhone as part of Apples plans to bring more generative AI tools to its products.

Concerns have been raised that these big investments and partnership deals could see large companies exert some control over the direction of AI firms without attracting the regulatory scrutiny that a full acquisition might.

In a statement, an Amazon spokesperson said: Were disappointed that the UKs Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has not ended its probe yet.

Amazons collaboration with Anthropic does not raise any competition concerns or meet the CMAs own threshold for review.

The early days of generative AI have largely seen one successful option available for customers. Anthropic has worked hard to become an emerging viable alternative.

But, building models is expensive, and companies like Anthropic need access to a substantial amount of capital to train these models. By investing in Anthropic, Amazon, along with other companies, is helping Anthropic expand choice and competition in this important technology.

Amazon holds no board seat nor decision-making power at Anthropic, and Anthropic is free to work with any other provider (and indeed has multiple partners).

Amazon will also continue to make these Anthropic models available to customers via Amazon Bedrock, a service that makes it easier for developers and companies to leverage large language models (LLMs) and build generative AI applications.

An Anthropic spokesperson said: We are an independent company. Our strategic partnerships and investor relationships do not diminish our corporate governance independence or our freedom to partner with others.

Amazon does not have a seat on Anthropics board, nor does it have any board observer rights. We intend to cooperate with the CMA and provide them with a comprehensive understanding of Amazons investment and our commercial collaboration.
Ellie Aldridge is looking forward to a liquid celebration of her historic kitesurfing gold medal after having to pile on the pounds to be able to handle mens equipment.

The discipline, which sees competitors fly above the water at up to 40 knots powered by huge kites, made its Olympic debut at Marseille marina and it was 27-year-old Aldridge who sailed away with the first title.

The Dorset athlete went into Thursdays final sitting second and knowing she could not afford any slip-ups against French rival Lauriane Nolot, with two race wins needed.

Ellie Aldridge with her gold medal (Patrick Aventurier/PA)

And she did not put a foot wrong, winning a straight fight in the opening contest after low winds had again delayed the start and then streaking away to victory in the second race after Nolot briefly fell off her board.

I still cant really believe it, said Aldridge after she was back on dry land. I just feel so overwhelmed, I almost dont feel like anything. That whole thing just feels like a dream. It doesnt feel real.

Aldridge triumphed despite using a smaller kite than her rivals, 15 metres compared with 21m, but a key component in her success was a programme of weight gain.

We have different kites we can use, and we can change kites whenever we want, but we also use the same equipment as the guys use, and theyre all 100 kilos, she said.

Ellie Aldridge out on the waves (Patrick Aventurier/PA)

Its become pretty obvious in recent years that, the heavier you are, the bigger kite you can hold down, and the faster youll go.

Everyones been trying to put on a bit of weight when they can and its become just part of the fleet really. Its definitely been the hardest part of my journey. I cant wait to not have to eat food now.

Aldridge instead was looking forward to having a beer with the family and friends who lined the beachfront to welcome her.

She is hoping the future of the sport will see the development of specialist womens equipment, saying: Its a shame.

The equipment for the next cycle has already been announced, so its a bit late already. When I first started, I didnt think it was going to be important. Its only really in the past two years that its become obvious.

The first EVER Olympic Kiteboarding champion, Eleanor Aldridge.  pic.twitter.com/tgKH5Oy5DU  The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 8, 2024

But hopefully in the future we can change the equipment so that we have different-sized kites or something a little bit fairer.

Aldridges success salvages what had been a hugely disappointing regatta for Britain in one of its traditionally strongest sports, with Emma Wilsons bronze in windsurfing the only other medal.

Light winds have made it a very frustrating fortnight for the sailors, with numerous races delayed and cancelled.

Three wins are needed in the final series in kitesurfing for an athlete to clinch gold, but the leader begins with two wins and second place with one, so it was all or nothing for Aldridge.

The Dorset sailor admitted she only gave herself a small chance of beating the dominant Nolot on home waters, while her victory was also a success for the rest of the British squad back home.

Ellie Aldridge gives a thumbs up (Patrick Aventurier/PA)

A Britains Got Talent of kitesurfing took place among the sailing team when it was first mooted as an Olympic sport, with Aldridge coming out on top.

There was a load of girls that started at the same time, she said. We went through the whole journey together. Weve trained together. We pretty much live together most of the time.

It has been amazing and the British squad is so strong. Even getting selected to go to the Olympics was a massive thing. Im just happy that I can do this for the girls as well.

Earlier, there was major disappointment for John Gimson and Anna Burnet after their medal hopes were ended by disqualification in the final race of the mixed multihull.

They were sitting in third place overall but crossed the start-line fractionally early and, after not crossing back to start again, which would have erased the penalty, they were ejected from the race and slipped to fourth.

John Gimson and Anna Burnet just miss out on the podium after a heartbreaking start to todays medal race#paris2024 #paris2024sailing #mixedmultihull pic.twitter.com/AbdIE6362p  British Sailing Team (@BritishSailing) August 8, 2024

Gimson said: We were over the starting line and we didnt realise we were so we continued with the race. We heard the shout but we thought we were bang on the line. We have to take it on the chin.

The duo won silver in Tokyo and had looked in a strong position to match that here.

Burnet added: Its the worst way to lose the medal I guess because we were totally in control of the race. But thats sport and thats sailing. Its been a tough old week. Weve all given it our best and maybe it just wasnt to be.

Gimson and Burnet cannot afford to dwell on their disappointment, though, with their wedding coming up early next month.

Hopefully the wedding planning will be a good distraction, said Gimson. Were about to find out how far Annas mums got with it. Weve got a couple of weeks now. Im sure you can sort a wedding out in a couple of weeks.
Fears of further disorder quashed as thousands show for counter protests

Thousands of peaceful anti-racism demonstrators appeared to quash fears of further violent disorder on Wednesday night, despite the threat of more than 100 planned protests.

In many towns and cities shops were boarded up over fears of further rioting after a week of violent disorder which started in Southport, Merseyside, on July 30, but in most places, planned anti-immigration protests failed to materialise.

More of those arrested in the unrest of the past week will appear on court on Thursday, including some likely to be jailed on live television.

Three men were jailed on Wednesday for up to three years after admitting violent disorder following riots in Liverpool city centre.

On Wednesday evening, large numbers of counter-protesters gathered in areas including Walthamstow, east London, Bristol, Brighton, Liverpool and Sheffield.

According to Stand Up to Racism, an estimated 25,000 people took to the streets to take a stand  they said  against racism and violence.

This included around 8,000 in Walthamstow, 7,000 in Bristol and 2,000 in Liverpool. Similar numbers were seen in Brighton and Newcastle, the group said.

In Walthamstow the crowd were chanting Whose streets? Our streets and Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here.

Mahmood Faez told the PA news agency: It fills our hearts. Regardless of race, religion, sexuality, this sends a strong message to racists that they are not wanted and they are not needed here.

Officers were understood to be preparing to respond to more than 100 planned protests and potentially around 30 more counter-protests on Wednesday, with gatherings anticipated in 41 of the 43 police force areas in England and Wales.

Demonstrators at an anti-racism protest in Walthamstow, London (PA)

One police source said it was probably going to be the busiest day of the week, into the evening.

Despite the majority of forces facing little trouble, the Metropolitan Police said about 50 people gathered in North End Road, Croydon, south London, and had made clear their intention is to cause disruption and fuel disorder.

The force said those present in Croydon had dragged and thrown objects down the road, and thrown bottles at officers with 10 people arrested, including four for violent disorder and one for assaulting an emergency workers.

The Met said: This is not linked to protest, this appears to be pure antisocial behaviour.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine said more than 1,000 officers were deployed in London, and the anti-racism protests in Walthamstow and Finchley passed without major incident or disruption.

He added: I want to thank our communities for coming together across the capital and for showing community spirit this evening.

Dozens of police officers in Aldershot separated opposing groups after tempers flared on Wednesday evening.

Protesters holding Stand Up To Racism placards had been chanting refugees are welcome here.

Anti-racism protesters during a march in Birmingham (PA)

A group across the road had been chanting back stop the boats and some walked towards the Stand Up To Racism demonstrators, stopping traffic, and angry shouting occurred.

Avon and Somerset Police said officers made an arrest after a brick was thrown at a police vehicle during a largely peaceful protest in Bristol.

Wednesdays counter demonstrations came as those arrested over the past week continue to appear in court later this week.

Four men will be sentenced in Liverpool on Thursday after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

William Nelson Morgan, who admitted to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon, and John OMalley, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, will be sentenced live on television at Liverpool Crown Court.

Adam Wharton, who pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal, and his brother Ellis Wharton, who admitted to the same charge, will both also be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court.

Three men in Plymouth will also be sentenced on Thursday after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

Demonstrators at an anti-racism protest in Walthamstow (PA)

Daniel McGuire, Michael Williams and Lucas Ormond Skeaping have each admitted a charge of violent disorder relating to protests in the Devon city on August 5.

Christopher Douglas will appear in court at Hull Magistrates Court after being charged with violent disorder and possession of class B drugs following unrest in the city on August 3.

On Wednesday, some defendants were reduced to tears as they heard they would be kept in prison before their next hearings.

Liam Ryan, 28, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, cried as he pleaded guilty to violent disorder after disturbances in Manchester city centre on Saturday.

Derek Drummond was jailed for three years at Liverpool Crown Court for violent disorder  alongside Declan Geiran and Liam James Riley who were sentenced to 30 months and 20 months in prison respectively after also admitting violent disorder following riots in Liverpool city centre.

The Stormont Executive is set to meet on Thursday to discuss the response to continuing disorder in Belfast.

Police are investigating race-related hate crimes and disorder across the city on Tuesday, following on from other disorder and violence in the past week.
Britains Ellie Aldridge became the first ever Olympic gold medallist in kitesurfing with a brilliant performance in Marseille.

The discipline, which sees competitors fly above the water at up to 40 knots powered by huge kites, is making its Games debut

And 27-year-old Aldridge, from Dorset, powered her way to gold by winning two races in the final series on Thursday.

Medal in Marseille! And it's GOLD for Ellie Aldridge in the inaugural kite competition!#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/xfCfb5W7do  Team GB (@TeamGB) August 8, 2024

The success salvages what had been a hugely disappointing regatta for Britain in one of its traditionally strongest medal sports, with Emma Wilsons bronze in windsurfing the only previous medal.

Light winds have made it a very frustrating fortnight for the sailors, with numerous races delayed and cancelled.

Aldridge went into the final tied on points with Frances Lauriane Nolot but behind her on count-back after failing to even reach the start-line in the last race.

Three wins are needed in the final series for an athlete to clinch gold, but the leader begins with two wins and second place with one, so it was all or nothing for Aldridge in the opening bout.

She handled it perfectly, leading virtually from start to finish to tie things up, and Aldridge, the world silver medallist, was even more dominant in the second race, with Nolot falling off her board early on and putting herself out of contention.

Aldridge was able to cruise to the finish line before celebrating her moment of history.

Earlier, there was major disappointment for John Gimson and Anna Burnet after their Olympic medal hopes were ended by disqualification in the medal race of the mixed multihull.

They went into the medal race in third position and well placed to match the silver they claimed in Tokyo.

But they crossed the start-line fractionally early and, after not crossing back to start again, which would have erased the penalty, they were ejected from the race and slipped to fourth.

Gimson said: We were over the starting line and we didnt realise we were so we continued with the race. We heard the shout but we thought we were bang on the line. We have to take it on the chin.

We try not to judge ourselves on results. Im unbelievably proud of how we sailed this week.

We chipped away every day and got ourselves in medal contention for the medal race. Weve won a podium at every single regatta this cycle so theres no regrets.

John Gimson and Anna Burnet just miss out on the podium after a heartbreaking start to todays medal race#paris2024 #paris2024sailing #mixedmultihull pic.twitter.com/AbdIE6362p  British Sailing Team (@BritishSailing) August 8, 2024

Gimson and Burnets only hope was for the race to be abandoned until the wind picked up  a scenario that cost their British team-mate Micky Beckett a medal in the mens dinghy on Wednesday  but that did not happen.

Its the worst way to lose the medal I guess because we were totally in control of the race, said Burnet. But thats sport and thats sailing. Its been a tough old week. Weve all given it our best and maybe it just wasnt to be.

Gimson and Burnet can not afford to dwell on their disappointment, though, with their wedding coming up early next month.

Hopefully the wedding planning will be a good distraction, said Gimson. Were about to find out how far Annas mums got with it. Weve got a couple of weeks now. Im sure you can sort a wedding out in a couple of weeks.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson got off to an excellent start in the womens heptathlon at Paris 2024 as she sat in first place after the 100m hurdles and the high jump.

The reigning world champion, who has come to Paris nursing an ongoing tendonitis issue, set a seasons best of 13.40 seconds in the hurdles and then moved up from eighth place overall with a jump of 1.92 metres, also her best this year.

The high jump came down to a tense battle between Johnson-Thompson and the defending Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam, who was perfect until the bar was raised to 1.95 metres but then failed on all three attempts.

Johnson-Thompson after her 100m hurdle heat (Martin Rickett, PA)

Johnson-Thompson, who had needed a couple of attempts to clear the bar at 1.86, 1.89 and 1.92 metres, pulled out of her first attempt before falling short on the next two.

It meant Johnson-Thompson leads with 2197 points after two events, with the Belgian Thiam on 2173.

American Anna Hall, the favourite, had looked off the pace in the hurdles, one of her stronger events, but a seasons best jump of 1.89 metres moved her up to third place overall with 2164.

Johnson-Thompsons team-mate Jade ODowda sits in ninth after maxing out at 1.80 metres in the high jump with 2024 points.

The shot put and the 200m are the remaining events on day one of the womens heptathlon at the Stade de France.

Desiree Henry held off a late charge from France as Team GB won their heat in the womens 4x100m relay (Martin Rickett/PA)

Great Britain advanced to the final of the womens 4x100m as Bianca Williams, Imani Lansiquot, Amy Hunt and Desiree Henry held off a late charge from the French to win their heat.

Even without Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita, expected to come in for the final, Team GBs time of 42.03 seconds was second only to the United States, who won their heat in a time of 41.94 despite a poor handover between Twanisha Terry and Gabrielle Thomas at the mid-point of the race.

The mens team were in a tighter battle as Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake finished third in their heat, running a seasons best 38.04 but beaten to second place by South Africa in a photo finish.

In a shock result in the second heat, Jamaica failed to advance after a series of poor changeovers left them in fourth place behind China, France and Canada.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson got off to a strong start in the womens heptathlon with second place in her heat of the opening 100m hurdles.

The reigning world champion, who has come to Paris nursing an ongoing tendonitis issue, set a seasons best of 13.40 seconds as she finished just behind Polands Adrianna Sulek-Schubert.

Johnson-Thompsons team-mate Jade ODowda was third in the heat with a time of 13.53 seconds, also a seasons best.

Johnson-Thompson after her 100m hurdle heat (Martin Rickett, PA)

Nafissatou Thiam, the defending Olympic champion, was fifth in her heat in a time of 13.56 seconds.

By the end of the heats, Johnson-Thompsons tally of 1065 points put her eighth in the standings, with Switzerlands Annik Kaelin leading the way on 1144 going into the high jump.

American Anna Hall, the favourite, looked off the pace following a recent operation, finishing with the sixth fastest time in one of her best disciplines.

There was heartbreak for Germanys Sophie Weissenberg, ranked ninth in the world, after she injured herself in the warm-up, her competition over before it began.

After the high jump, the shot put and the 200m are the remaining events on day one of the womens heptathlon at the Stade de France.
Lauryn Hill has confirmed her UK shows with the Fugees will go ahead as planned as she said she is disappointed to have to cancel her upcoming North American run.

The US rapper and singer, who rose to fame in the 90s hip-hop band the Fugees, announced the changes to her Miseducation Anniversary tour days before it was due to kick off.

In an Instagram post, she claimed ticket sales for the North America leg had been affected by sensationalism and clickbait headlines written after she had to reschedule shows last year due to vocal strain.

The Grammy-winner wrote: With difficulty the decision was made to pull down our upcoming North American tour dates. The shows in the UK and Europe ARE MOVING FORWARD as planned.

Last year, I faced an injury that necessitated the rescheduling of some of my shows. Regrettably, some media outlets penchant for sensationalism and clickbait headlines have seemingly created a narrative that has affected ticket sales for the North American portion of the tour.

The trust and faith I have in my intentions and my commitment to my art seem to have been overshadowed by this unfortunate portrayal.

The US leg was due to pick back on Friday in Tampa, Florida, after Hill had to postpone shows last year due to a serious case of vocal strain.

Hill and the Fugees will perform their first UK and Ireland date on October 7 in Dublin, followed by Cardiff, Manchester and London, before they move on to Europe.

The US star said she was keen to still do the UK and Europe shows as her fans on this side of the Atlantic had not yet seen the Miseducation Anniversary performance and had not seen the Fugees perform together in more than 25 years.

Lauryn Hill will perform her first UK and Ireland date with the Fugees in Dublin (John Stillwell/PA)

Performing for my fans, is a profound exchange of energy and emotion that excites me every time, she added.

Every show is a piece of my expression and testament to our connection and shared love for music. I can assure you that no one is more disappointed about not being able to perform than I am.

Know that I am not only grateful for those who appreciate and support my art, but that I FIGHT and push through all kinds of resistance to put together experiences that mean something for all of us. I love being able to bring these performances to you!

I appreciate your understanding. Were looking forward to performing at the shows in the UK and Europe in October  and for our fans in North America, when these unforeseen circumstances are resolved, well be back in full force

She signed off the statement by saying: With Love, Respect and Honesty, MLH.

The hip hop group, also including Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel, are reuniting to celebrate the music from Hills 1998 debut album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and the Fugees 1996 second album The Score.
A Metropolitan Police officer has been injured in a collision with a car being pursued by the force in east London.

A motorist, driving a grey Lexus, mounted the pavement where the officer was stationed at a stinger site to try to stop him on Tuesday, the force said.

The suspect drove from the scene following the collision and the car was found abandoned on the Kingsmead estate in Hackney.

The officer remains in hospital receiving treatment but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Before the incident the vehicle had failed to stop for police on the A12 Barley Lane junction in Redbridge around 4.45pm, which led to the pursuit, the Met said.

The Met are now appealing for witnesses to the incident.

Detective Inspector Jonathan Potter said: We need your help to identify the person who was driving this car. Did you see it between the A12 and where it was found in Hackney?

Officers managed to smash one of the cars windows and this would have been visible to anyone who saw it.

Our colleague was injured while trying to keep the public safe from a reckless and dangerous driver. Please help us to find him.

No one should be hurt while simply doing their job.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police on 101, referencing CAD 5594/06Aug, or to get in touch anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
More rioters are facing jail as suspects across the country continue to appear in court  including one man accused of violent disorder at two separate protests.

Christopher Clayton, 66, is accused of participating in violent disorder in both Liverpool and Rotherham as well as possession of an offensive weapon, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

He is due to appear at Leeds District Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Two men were jailed in Liverpool for two years and eight months after admitting violent disorder.

Firefighters tend to a burning police car on the streets of Hartlepool following a violent protest (Owen Humphreys/PA)

John OMalley, 43, was identified from footage in the violence on St Lukes Road in Southport on July 30, with the sentencing judge telling him: Theres very clear footage showing the developing disorder and you were at the front of what was essentially a baying mob.

William Morgan, 69, of Walton, Liverpool, was jailed for his part in unrest in which police were attacked and a library was set on fire.

William Morgan, 69, of Linton Street, Walton, who was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court (Merseyside Police/PA)

He admitted violent disorder and possessing an offensive weapon  a cosh  on County Road in Liverpool on Saturday night, and Judge Andrew Menary KC said: Your advancing years plainly did not prevent you from playing an active part in a disturbance on County Road.

Liverpool Crown Court is also due to host the sentencing of Adam and Ellis Wharton, who face jail for burgling a library in the Walton area of the city after it was set on fire.

A couple who became involved in riots in Hartlepool after going to an afternoon bingo session have each been jailed for two years and two months.

Former postmaster and school governor Steven Mailen, 54, of Arch Court, Hartlepool, was described as one of the main instigators of a large-scale disturbance on Murray Street.

His partner Ryan Sheers, 29, of Powlett Road, Hartlepool, was bitten on the hip by a police dog during the incident.

A judge said Mailen and Sheers were at the very forefront of the mob, and tried to push their way through a police cordon, with Mailen taunting officers and encouraging others to use violence towards them.

In Manchester, a man pleaded guilty to violent disorder after admitting throwing bricks at police during disturbances outside a hotel in the city which was being used to house asylum seekers.

Paul Smith, 21, pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates Court on Thursday morning and was remanded in custody after he was seen throwing what appeared to be a glass beer bottle during disorder outside the Holiday Inn hotel on July 31.

Steven Miller, 38, who is also charged with violent disorder in connection with the same incident, gave no indication of plea.

Three other men are also due to appear at the same court on Thursday.

Police officers walk past a burnt out police vehicle as they are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool following a violent protest (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Three men are also due to be sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court for violent disorder in the Devon city.

One of the trio, Michael Williams, 51, was jailed for 32 months and another, Daniel McGuire, 45, was jailed for 26 months after they admitted the charge.

McGuire was seen to repeatedly spit at the police while Williams was spotted fighting and kicking another male and when was found with a stone in his jogging bottoms when he was arrested.

The CPS said two further suspects had been charged with stirring up racial hatred.

Tyler Kay, 26, of Northampton, has been charged with publishing written material to stir up racial hatred and will appear at Northampton Magistrates Court, and Mark Heath, 45, of Lincolnshire, has been charged with publishing material to stir up racial hatred.

A man has also been charged following an investigation into the alleged posting of content online encouraging violence against police officers and promoting public disorder, Cumbria Police said.

Stuart Burns, 41, of Carlisle, has been charged with two counts of an offence under Section 127 of the Communications Act and is due to appear at North Cumbria Magistrates Court.

Court appearances linked to rioting across the country are also expected in Hull, Stratford, Sheffield, and South Tyneside Magistrates Courts.
Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to cancel any holiday plans after a week of riots across the UK, with new polling showing that 71 per cent of people think the prime minister should not go away.

He was reportedly due to go on holiday last Monday, but No 10 confirmed that he would be spending the week working from Downing Street as violent disorder swept cities across the UK.

While Downing Street did not confirm whether the prime minister had any other holidays booked for the rest of August, there was speculation he may have planned a rescheduled trip for later this month.

New polling, conducted by YouGov, saw 71 per cent of people say he should not go on holiday next week. Just 14 per cent said he should take a break, while a further 14 per cent said they dont know.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has rejected accusations of two-tier policing as a non-issue (James Manning/PA) (PA Wire)

The polling, which surveyed 4,522 people, was conducted on Wednesday amid reports of up to 100 riots being planned for the UK later that day.

But the large-scale violence that was expected failed to materialise after thousands of counter-protesters turned up to stand against them.

Around 6,000 police officers were on standby in major cities on Wednesday evening, after demonstrations had been expected in 41 of the 43 police force areas in England and Wales.

GP surgeries closed early and shops were boarded up over fears of further rioting, but peaceful counter-protesters outnumbered far-right groups in what appeared to be a significant de-escalation of this weeks violence.

The prime minister held two Cobra meetings and an emergency Cabinet meeting this week to co-ordinate a response to the rioting, which began following the killing of three young girls in Southport last week after social media posts falsely claimed the suspect of the Southport stabbing attack was a Muslim immigrant.

Hundreds of people have been arrested after riots linked to the far right rocked major cities including Manchester, Liverpool and Hull, with violent mobs setting fire to hotels housing refugees and clashing with the police.

Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson said Wednesday nights events were just the start of any de-escalation, claiming that swift justice has acted as a deterrent for potential rioters.

Dame Diana Johnson said last nights events were just the start of any de-escalation (PA Wire)

Asked if she believed the levels of disorder had turned a corner overnight, Dame Diana told Sky News: I am cautious about what happened last night.

Its good that we didnt see the level of disorder and criminality on our streets that we have in previous days, but obviously this is just the start. There is now further intelligence of events during the next few days, and we need to see what happens there.

Sir Keir faced criticism from Robert Jenrick last week when reports suggested he had still planned to jet off, with a source close to the Tory leadership frontrunner suggesting the move would be Nero-esque  a reference to the Emperor who was said to have fiddled while Rome burned.

Mr Jenrick told GB News it would be completely wrong for the Prime Minister to holiday while parts of Britain are burning, adding that the situation needs to be handled from the very top.

But at the time, Labour backbencher Chris Webb defended the prime minister, saying he needs to have family time.

The Labour MP for Blackpool South said that deputy prime minister Angela Rayner could step in for Sir Keir, telling LBC: Every Prime Minister has to have that family time and that break but from what I know of Keir he will be continuing to work and monitor the situation wherever he is on holiday.

Downing Street has been contacted for comment.
Elon Musk in Gruenheide, Germany, in March 2022. Photograph: Reuters

A global advertiser alliance has discontinued its corporate responsibility program after a lawsuit from Elon Musks X accused the group of orchestrating a massive advertiser boycott.

The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) told members on Thursday that it would shut down the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (Garm) following legal attacks from X, formerly Twitter, according to Business Insider, which first reported the news. Garm is a not-for-profit initiative within the WFA that helps brands avoid advertising alongside or monetizing harmful content.

Related: Musks X sues Unilever, Mars and CVS over massive advertiser boycott

The social media firm filed an antitrust lawsuit earlier this week claiming advertisers including Unilever, Mars and CVS Health, all members of the WFA, unlawfully conspired to withhold billions of dollars in advertising revenue from X.

X CEO Linda Yaccarino tweeted after the news broke: No small group should be able to monopolize what gets monetized. This is an important acknowledgement and a necessary step in the right direction. I am hopeful that it means ecosystem-wide reform is coming.

The online video platform Rumble, a favorite of the American right, also joined the action, filing its own lawsuit with similar claims against the WFA over Garm.

Advertising revenue at X saw a sharp decline after Musk bought the company in 2022 and quickly gutted the social networks content moderation teams, leading to a sharp rise in antisemitic content on X, including ads running beside posts expressing pro-Nazi sentiments. X sued a watchdog organization over its reports on the proliferation of offensive content on the social network.

Musk claimed advertisers fleeing in light of such policy changes were engaging in blackmail and, in a profanity-laced rant, told them to stay away. X is now seeking unspecified damages and a court order against any continued efforts to conspire to withhold ad dollars.

Related: Elon Musk is being ridiculous. Companies are free to choose where to advertise

The WFA responded to a request for comment by saying that it would issue a statement shortly. Unilever, Mars and CVS Health did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The ad tech watchdog Check My Ads said the suit was likely to make even more advertisers flee the platform.

Everyone can see that advertising on X is a treacherous business relationship for advertisers, said Claire Atkin, co-founder of Check My Ads. The upside to todays news is that advertisers will no longer rely on Garm and will now take more direct responsibility over where their ads appear.

A committee within the US Congress held a hearing in July on collusion in the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, targeting advertising firms for anticompetitive collusion in online advertising.

In response to the news, the X account for Republicans on the House judiciary committee posted: Big win for the First Amendment. Big win for oversight.

Called to speak before Congress, Unilever USAs president, Herrish Patel, defended his companys right to advertise where it chooses.

Unilever, and Unilever alone, controls our advertising spending, Patel said. No platform has a right to our advertising dollar.
Almost one in three GPs polled last autumn have reduced their contracted hours in the past year while 47 per cent said they intended to cut their hours in the next year - IZUSEK/E+

Nearly one in three GPs have cut their working hours in the past year, research shows.

The findings, from a mass survey that took place before family doctors embarked on industrial action, also found almost half now intend to reduce their hours.

The General Medical Council (GMC) said results from a poll of more than 4,000 medics showed that doctors felt overworked and were increasingly taking matters into their own hands.

The findings show 29 per cent of GPs polled last autumn had reduced their contracted hours in the previous 12 months, as had 17 per cent of hospital consultants.

Overall, four in ten medics had refused to take on additional workload in the previous year.

And 47 per cent of GPs and 46 per cent of hospital specialists said they intended to cut their contracted hours in the next year.

Among GPs, 29 per cent were intending to seek locum work, while 38 per cent intended to find a role with less clinical work and 17 per cent wanted to retire.

The General Medical Council (GMC) fears patients could end up at greater risk if doctors feel exhausted and burnt out - SOLSTOCK/E+

The GMC said doctors were cutting their hours because too many felt exhausted and burnt out.

But the regulator said patients could end up at greater risk, if trends continue.

Charlie Massey, chief executive of the GMC, said: We know that when doctors are overworked and under-supported there is a risk not only to doctors themselves, but also to patient care.

These data show that more doctors are now taking matters into their own hands, not just to protect their own health and well-being, but that of their patients as well. For many, this will often be the only responsible course to deliver safe care. But this action comes with risks.

We must be clear that doctors protecting their well-being is essential, but they shouldnt feel their only option is to reduce their working hours. This presents challenges in capacity planning, adding further pressure to services that are already stretched.

The survey did not ask doctors what hours they were currently working.

Click here to view this content.

Separate data shows GPs working an average of 38 hours a week in 2021.

The GMC survey in autumn 2023 asked all doctors whether they had reduced their hours in the previous 12 months.

Overall, 19 per cent had done so  up from 8 per cent when the same question was asked in 2021.

GPs were the most likely to say they were struggling with their workload, with 48 per cent saying so, compared with 33 per cent across all doctors.

One in four of all doctors said they had taken a leave of absence because of stress in the previous year.

GPs have embarked on industrial action across the country, in protest over funding of their contracts.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has told GPs to pick and choose from measures designed to wreak chaos across the health service and bring the NHS to a standstill.

They include a cap on the number of appointments, meaning practices could turn away record numbers of patients, heaping pressures on 111 and Accident & Emergency departments.

The measure caps patient contacts  which includes face-to-face appointments, remote consultations and messages  at 25 per GP. This is a third less than the current workload.

Internal modelling documents drawn up by NHS England suggest the measures could push more than one million extra cases to A&E over four months.

The union says it has embarked on the action because they say the current system is underfunded. But the Department of Health and Social Care said GPs had been balloted at the point when the GP contract was due to rise by 1.9 per cent, saying the pay uplift for 2024-25 would now be rising by 6 per cent.

Prof Kamila Hawthorne, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: Recent polling of our members found over three-quarters of GPs (76 per cent) say that patient safety is being compromised by their excessive workloads. General practice is in crisis, and GPs are under immense pressure  and as a result, many GPs feel as though cutting their hours is the only way to avoid burn out and keep their patients safe.

We also need to be clear that when we talk about GPs working less than full-time it often still means working what would normally be considered by other people as full-time, or longer, and includes many hours of paperwork on top of clinical work, she said.

Dr Alan Stout and Dr Andrew Buist, co-chairmen of the British Medical Associations GP committee for the UK, said: Its unsurprising this report found that GPs are changing their working patterns.

We know that many, overworked and exhausted, are being pushed to do this for the sake of their own health and well-being.

Just this week, a BJGP study found GPs in England alone work 49.2 per cent more hours per session than previously defined.

Changes to work patterns are a symptom of the pressures facing general practice. For too long, practices havent been given the funding they need to keep up with rising running costs, hire the staff they need, or, in some cases, stay open. On top of growing patient demand, many GPs are at breaking point.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: The NHS is broken, and the Secretary of State has been clear that he wants to work with doctors to get it back on its feet so it works for patients and staff.

NHS England is working to address training bottlenecks so the health service has enough staff for the future, and we will recruit over 1,000 newly qualified GPs by the end of the year to reduce the burden on general practice.
Angus McDonalds painting Marcia Langton, which has won the peoples choice category at this years Archibald prize. Photograph: Jenni Carter/Art Gallery of NSW

The artist Angus McDonald has won the 2024 Archibald prize peoples choice category for his portait of Indigenous rights leader and academic Marcia Langton.

McDonald, a seven-time Archibald finalist, is just the fifth artist ever to win the $5,000 peoples choice category more than once, having also won it in 2020 for his portrait of human rights campaigner Behrouz Boochani.

The artist said he was thrilled that his painting was voted the publics favourite.

Its a privilege to be able to share Marcias inspirational story with a wider audience through this painting, he said. Receiving the award is a special honour to me, but, equally, its as much a strong vote of respect and admiration for Marcia Langton and acknowledges the profound part she has played in the struggle for Indigenous recognition and reconciliation in this country for over 50 years, he said.

Related: Archibald prize 2024 finalists: Julian Assange, Tony Armstrong, Chloe Hayden and more  in pictures

McDonald travelled from his home in Lennox Head to meet with Langton at her Melbourne home for a sitting.

Marcia is charismatic, curious, direct and one of our countrys deepest thinkers, he said. She has a well of stories which she relates with razor-sharp detail and humour, and, at the same time, she radiates kindness and warmth. I wanted to portray her as both a pivotal figure in Australian history and someone who has lived an incredible life.

I placed her just right of centre to suggest a sense of stepping away and handing the baton to a younger group of activists after a lifetime of tireless commitment. She gazes up and to the left to reflect that she has persistently followed her own path.

McDonald was an Archibald finalist in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2020 and 2024. A portrait of McDonald by fellow artist and friend Mostafa Azimitabar was also nominated for this years Archibald prize.

Langton, a descendant of the Yiman and Bidjara nations of Queensland, is a academic, writer and activist who has worked to advance Indigenous Australian rights for decades. She was a prominent leader in last years Indigenous voice to parliament referendum and, with Prof Tom Calma, co-wrote the final report presented to the former Coalition government in 2021 that laid out, in detail, how an Indigenous body could work in consultation with government at both national and state levels.

Langton said: I love the picture both as a portrait and as a work of art. Many friends and colleagues have sent me images of themselves in front of the work since the Archibald prize opened and that has been gratifying.

I am so thrilled and excited that the portrait has won the peoples choice award and Im very sorry that I cannot be there to share in the moment.

The Art Gallery of New South Wales director, Michael Brand, said McDonalds work was a clear favourite among the public and said it perfectly captures her strength and determination, and the weight of responsibility she carries as an advocate for the rights of her community.

This year 21,663 votes were cast for the peoples choice category.

The $100,000 Archibald prize was won by Laura Jones for her portrait of novelist Tim Winton. All finalists in Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes 2024 will be exhibited at the Art Gallery until Sunday 8 September 2024, with the Archibald finalists later touring New South Wales and, for the first time, the Northern Territory.
Former prime minister Paul Keating says Australia doesnt need to be hanging out of the Americans backside. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AP

Australias participation in the Aukus defence pact risks handing military control of the country to Washington and becoming the 51st state of the United States, according to former prime minister Paul Keating.

Speaking on ABCs 7.30 on Thursday night, Keating argued that Australia had made itself a target for aggression by joining the military alliance with the US and the UK in implicit opposition to Chinas growing power in the Asia Pacific region.

Australia had no quarrel with China, Keating said, and concerns about Chinas designs on Taiwan were not justified because the island was Chinese real estate.

Related: The latest US presidential twist throws the race wide open  but what could it mean for Australia? | Arthur Sinodinos

Taiwan is not a vital Australian interest, he said, adding that the American attitude to Taiwan was like China deciding that Tasmania needed help to secede from Australia.

What Aukus is about in the American mind is turning [Australia into suckers], locking us up for 40 years with American bases all around  not Australian bases, he said.

So Aukus is really about, in American terms, the military control of Australia. I mean, whats happened  is likely to turn Australia into the 51st state of the United States.

Keating told the shows presenter, Sarah Ferguson: Were now defending the fact that were in Aukus.

If we werent in Aukus, we wouldnt need to defend it. If we didnt have an aggressive ally like the United States  aggressive to others in the region  thered be nobody attacking Australia. We are better left alone than we are being protected by an aggressive power like the United States.

Australia is capable of defending itself.

Theres no way another state can invade a country like Australia with an armada of ships without it all failing. I mean, Australia is quite capable of defending itself. We dont need to be basically a pair of shoes hanging out of the Americans backside.

Keating, a longstanding opponent of Labors support for the pact, said Australia had not been threatened by China, whose expanding military presence, he said, was in line with its position as the worlds second superpower.

What do they expect [the Chinese] to do? he said. To move around in row boats? Canoes, maybe? You know, so they develop their own submarines, their own frigates, their own aircraft carriers. They are the other major state in the world. What the Americans say  No, no. Keep your place. Go back to your canoes.

His comments came as Richard Marles, the defence minister, and Penny Wong, the foreign affairs minister, have been in Washington for talks about the pact and a new agreement to cover the transfer of nuclear material to Australia under the deal.

Marles said the new agreement was a very significant step down the Aukus path and hailed it as another demonstration of the fact that we are making this happen.

The new agreement will allow for the transfer of nuclear material to Australia as part of the process of acquiring nuclear-powered submarines, and it replaces a pre-existing agreement that allowed for the exchange of naval nuclear propulsion information.

Australian government sources have since outlined some of the details of the new agreement, including that it will enable the transfer of Virginia-class submarines from the US from the 2030s. They also said the agreement would pave the way to making Australias future SSN-Aukus submarines in South Australia, by enabling the transfer of material and equipment such as sealed, welded-shut reactors that will not require re-fuelling over the life cycle of the submarine.

Australian sources insisted that the agreement would not see Australia take spent fuel or high-level radioactive waste from the UK or the US, nor did it require Australia to enrich uranium or process spent nuclear fuel.
As well as his children's initials, the British man also scrawled the word 'mylaw' onto the House of the Vestals

A British tourist is expected to be fined thousands of euros after he carved the initials of his name and those of his daughters on the wall of one of Pompeiis most famous attractions.

The 37-year-old from Derby reportedly used a blunt object to carve the letters, JW, LMW and MW and the date August 7 on the frescoed wall of the ancient House of the Vestals, while scrawling the word Mylaw beside the entrance.

Pompeii security staff reported the man to police and the public prosecutors office in the nearby town of Torre Annunziata has opened an investigation.

When asked for an explanation, the man is said to have apologised, saying he wanted to leave a mark of the familys visit to the world-famous Unesco World Heritage site.

After his arrest, he was mortified, a local police source told The Telegraph. He said he wanted to leave something of himself there. He apologised for what he did but he will have to pay.

Located south-east of Naples, Pompeii was buried in the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

It is one of Italys most popular tourist sites and attracts about four million visitors a year. The House of the Vestals was once an imposing luxury villa famous for its water features in the Roman era.

Earlier this year, the Italian parliament approved tough new fines, ranging from 15,000 to 60,000 (13,000 to 51,000) for anyone found guilty of causing damage to a site of historical, cultural or artistic interest.

The prospect of hefty fines appears not to have put off tourists from leaving their mark on ancient sites as the initials on Pompeii's House of the Vestals illustrates

But the risk of a hefty fine does not appear to be deterring tourists from leaving their mark on Italys ancient monuments, especially during peak season.

In June, a tourist from Kazakhstan was caught carving the letters ALI on the plaster of Pompeiis House of Ceii, while a Dutch tourist was cited for drawing graffiti on the walls of an ancient Roman villa in the archeological ruins of Herculaneum near Naples.

Last summer, a young woman was also caught carving a heart into a column of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, which dates back to the 12th century.

Unfortunately, even today we find ourselves commenting on an uncivil and idiotic defacement inflicted on our artistic and cultural heritage, Gennaro Sangiuliano, Italys minister of culture, said at the time.

View of the House of Vestals where the British man carved initials into the wall

A Bulgarian national living in Bristol, last year, provoked outrage after he was filmed carving names into an inner wall at the Colosseum in Rome.

Ivan Dimitrov, who claimed he was unaware of the antiquity of the 2000-year-old amphitheatre, was fined and faces a possible prison sentence of two to five years.
Jermaine Grant has been deported to the UK - Joseph Okanga/Reuters

A British terror suspect and associate of the notorious White Widow has been deported from Kenya to the UK after completing a lengthy prison sentence.

Jermaine Grant flew from Kenya to Britain on Thursday, accompanied by Kenyan officials, and was immediately arrested on his arrival.

Grant, originally from London, had been imprisoned in the East African nation after being convicted of possessing bomb-making materials and using forged documents to obtain Kenyan citizenship. He is believed to have completed his sentence at a jail in Mombasa.

A Government spokesman said: We can confirm that an individual was deported to the UK following the completion of a criminal sentence in Kenya.

Our priority remains to ensure the safety and security of the UK. We will continue to do whatever is necessary to protect the UK, and have one of the most robust counter-terrorism frameworks in the world to ensure this.

Police found chemicals in flat

Grant, a Muslim convert, was considered a close associate of Samantha Lewthwaite, the so-called White Widow terror suspect who has been on the run from police for more than a decade.

Germaine Lindsay, Lewthwaites husband, was one of four suicide bombers who killed 52 people in London in 2005. She is wanted by Interpol and Kenya for possession of bomb-making materials and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Grant was prosecuted in Kenya after police found chemicals, switches and a bomb-making manual in a flat he shared with Lewthwaite. He was accused of being involved in a plot targeting hotels visited by foreign tourists.

In a 2019 trial, he was convicted of possession of bomb-making materials, but the court acquitted him of conspiracy over the alleged plot.

He was given a four-year sentence after already having been given a nine-year sentence at an earlier trial for using forged documents to obtain Kenyan citizenship.

Repatriated to his country of origin

Last year, Kenya made it clear that it wanted to deport him as soon as his sentence was over. A Kenyan high court ruled that he would be repatriated to his country of origin by the cabinet secretary in charge of immigration in accordance with the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act.

However, Kenyan and UK authorities are understood to have disagreed on when his exact release date fell, based on differing calculations of time served. A Mombasa prison source told The Telegraph that Grants sentence ended on Aug 7.

He flew to the UK on a Kenya Airways flight on Thursday morning, flanked by Kenyan officials. The Home Office would not comment on what restrictions would be placed on Grant on his return.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: We can confirm that, on Aug 8, officers from the Met Police arrested 41-year-old man who was wanted on recall to prison in relation to breaching licence conditions linked to a previous conviction.

He was arrested at Heathrow airport as he arrived back into the UK on a flight from Kenya. The mans licence conditions were revoked in August 2005 following the initial breach.

Upon his return to the UK on Aug 8, the man was also arrested for being unlawfully at large and arrested on suspicion of being a member of proscribed organisation Al-Shabaab. He remains in police custody.
People visit the archeological site of Pompeii (AFP via Getty Images)

A British man has sparked outrage after he was caught carving his childrens initials into an ancient wall at Pompeii.

The 37-year-old was reported to Italian authorities for defacing the Domus of the Vestals, a UNESCO World Heritage site that attracts huge numbers of tourists each year.

According to Italian newspaper Secolo d'Italia the tourist had even begun to inscribe the date before he was apprehended.

When questioned, the man, whose identity has not been disclosed, claimed he wanted to "leave a sign of his visit". He has since apologised for his actions.

The tourist has been reported to the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Court of Torre Annunziata for damaging artistic heritage.

Under new Italian regulations, he will be required to pay for the restoration of the damaged site and face a fine.

It comes after another tourist was caught in the act of carving their name into the ruins several months ago.

He was intercepted while engraving the letters 'ALI' on a wall in the House of the Ceii, an ancient villa believed to have belonged to Lucius Ceius Secundus, a Roman magistrate.

Pompeii, located southeast of Naples at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, stands as one of the most significant remnants of Roman civilisation.

Its exceptional preservation has earned it UNESCO World Heritage Site status, making it a major tourist attraction in Italy. The site draws over 2.5 million visitors annually.

Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the park director, strongly condemned the earlier act of vandalism, describing it as"uncivilised". He said at the time: "Thanks to the new law supported by Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano, the perpetrator of the crime will have to pay for the restoration of the wall."
Catalan police have launched an operation to find and arrest Carles Puigdemont and set up roadblocks on routes to the French border after the fugitive former regional president returned to Spain for the first time in seven years to address a crowd of a few thousand in Barcelona before promptly disappearing.

The owner of the car in which he escaped  an officer in the Mossos dEsquadra, the Catalan police  was arrested amid serious questions for the force, which was at the rally in strength, as traffic in Barcelona was brought to a standstill in the search for the former president.

The case could also have political ramifications as the leader of Puigdemonts party, Jordi Turull, is expected to be summoned by police as a witness who, a spokesperson said, were looking into any potential offences committed in relation to the former presidents escape.

Spains Socialist prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, depends on the support of Junts per Catalunyas seven MPs in the Spanish parliament, leaving the separatist party with the power to torpedo key legislation.

Puigdemont, who has been living in self-imposed exile in Belgium after fleeing Spain to avoid arrest for masterminding an illegal independence referendum in Catalonia in 2017, had declared earlier this week he would be at the Catalan parliament in Barcelona on Thursday as it swore in the regions new leader.

Speaking on a stage at the Arc de Triomf, symbolically close to the law courts and the Catalan parliament, he told the crowd of mainly older supporters: Ive come here today to remind you that were still here. We dont have the right to give in, the right to self-determination belongs to the people. Catalonia must be allowed to decide its future.

I dont know when Ill see you again but, whatever happens, when we see each other again we can once again shout out, Long Live Free Catalonia!

Puigdemont was then whisked away, surrounded by members of his Together for Catalonia party, apparently in the direction of the parliament building. However, when the group arrived at parliament, he was not among them.

Details emerged of how Puigdemont managed to get to the stage, and then escape, despite the presence of about 300 uniformed and plainclothes police officers. A crowd of a couple of dozen people was used to shield him from view as he walked from the narrow Passatge de Sant Benet to the Arc de Triomf; once his speech was over, the crowd again shielded him as he reached a hidden screen and entered a waiting car.

Unconfirmed reports on Catalan radio said Puigdemont had made a pact with the police that if officers allowed him to speak at the Arc de Triomf, he would then surrender to them.

Meanwhile, an hour after the ex-presidents dramatic appearance and escape, the investiture of the new Catalan president, Salvador Illa, began. Illa, a socialist and former health minister in the Madrid government, won the most seats in Mays regional election but failed to gain an overall majority.

Related: Catalans once longed for freedom from Spain. Now that doesnt look so appealing | Maria Ramirez

Pro-independence parties have previously been able to put together an alliance to keep the socialists from power but lacked the support this time, however. Their options were to accept a socialist-led government, led by Illa, or go to the polls again, an option that was in no ones interest.

Puigdemonts party, which came second in the election, refused to support Illas candidacy but he won the support of the rival separatist Republican Left party in exchange for offering Catalonia greater fiscal autonomy.

If part of the aim of the Puigdemont escapade was to overshadow Illas investiture, it succeeded. But the latters coming to power meant that for the first time in 20 years, Catalonia will have a regional government for which social issues, rather than sovereignty, are top of the agenda.

At the investiture, Illa praised his predecessor, Pere Aragones, saying he had left Catalonia in better shape than he had found it. Adding that his preferred associates were Aragones Republican Left party and the leftwing Catalunya en Comu, he said: I have come here to construct, not to dismantle, and to make the most of my predecessors achievements.

Puigdemont fled to Belgium in October 2017 in the boot of a car to evade arrest for his part in the failed and illegal declaration of Catalan independence. Nine members of his government received jail sentences of up to 13 years for their part in the independence push and all were pardoned three years later in 2021.

A divisive amnesty law for those involved in the symbolic independence referendum in November 2014 and the illegal unilateral poll that followed three years later was passed by the Spanish parliament in May as Sanchez struck a deal with Catalan separatist MPs to help him return to power. However, Spains supreme court upheld arrest warrants for Puigdemont and others who were charged with misuse of public funds, ruling that the amnesty law did not apply to them. Puigdemont insists the vote was not illegal and that the charges linked to it therefore have no basis.

The Spanish government has not commented on Puigdemonts reappearance and vanishing act, but the conservative Peoples party leader, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, said Thursdays events were an unbearable humiliation.

Its painful to watch this madness live  a madness for which Pedro Sanchez is chiefly responsible. Damaging Spains image like this is unforgivable, he said.

The far-right Vox partys Santiago Abascal described the events as the destruction of the state beamed live on Spanish television.
Cate Blanchett as Galadriel - MOVIESTORE COLLECTIVE/REX FEATURES

Australian actress Cate Blanchett said she got free sandwiches but was not paid well for her role as high elf Galadriel in the Lord Of The Rings franchise.

The two-time Academy Award winner was asked which of her films brought her the biggest paycheck, while playing the Plead The Fifth mini-game on US talk show Watch What Happens Live.

When host Andy Cohen guessed the Lord Of The Rings, a surprised Blanchett said: Are you kidding me? No, no one got paid anything to do that movie.

When Cohen asked if she got a piece in the back end, meaning a percentage of profits a project goes on to make, Blanchett, 55, said: No! That was way before any of that, no, nothing.

I wanted to work with the guy who made Braindead [Sir Peter Jackson]. I mean, I basically got free sandwiches and I got to keep my ears.

No, no one got paid anything.

Blanchett, who was promoting her latest film Borderlands while on the show, added: Women dont get paid as much as you think they do.

Cate Blanchett as Galadriel alongside Elijah Wood as Frodo - PRESS HANDOUT/NEW LINE CINEMA

Her comments come after the actress said she would return as Galadriel for the upcoming Lord Of The Rings spin-off if asked. She said she would do anything with Andy Serkis.

It was announced in May that Serkis would direct a new Lord Of The Rings film about his character Gollum, with Sir Peter Jackson, the director of the original trilogy, set to return as producer with his partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.

After a film screening at Glastonbury Festival, Blanchett was asked if she would return as her character in the film  which is set for release in 2026  to which she agreed.

Blanchett played the role of powerful elven royal Galadriel in Sir Peters trilogy, released between 2001 and 2003, and later reprised the role in 2012s The Hobbit  all based on the fantasy world created by author JRR Tolkien.
Police in front of a mural of Simon Bolivar as supporters of Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro march to defend election results in Caracas, Venezuela, on 30 July 2024. Photograph: Maxwell Briceno/Reuters

Cristina Ramirez was readying her sofa bed in Buenos Aires for the arrival of her friend visiting from Venezuela when she received a text message suggesting Edni Lopez could be delayed. Officials in Caracas airport had stopped her, apparently over an issue with her passport.

Four days later, Lopez remains under the detention of the Venezuelan authorities and her family grows increasingly worried by the minute that the university professor could be caught up in a brutal crackdown on protests over Nicolas Maduros apparent efforts to steal the presidential election.

We know almost nothing. We have not been permitted to get Edni a lawyer and we still do not even know what she has been charged with, said Ramirez, her voice cracking with anxiety. The uncertainty is hard to describe. We just hope she can be freed soon.

After a wave of public unrest following the disputed election, Maduro promised to pulverize the popular movement against him, dispatching security forces to round up opposition activists in the so-called Operation knock-knock.

More than 1,100 people so far have been rounded up since the election, according to Caracas-based rights watchdog, Foro Penal.

Prominent political figures have been seized, including Freddy Superlano, the national coordinator of the opposition Voluntad Popular party, who was dragged from his home by masked men.

Venezuelas attorney general, a Maduro loyalist, announced on Tuesday that opposition leaders Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez would be investigated for incitement to insurrection after they called on security forces to side with the people instead of repressing protests.

Maria Oropeza, a campaign co-ordinator for the opposition Vente party in the state of Portuguesa, livestreamed her own arrest late on Tuesday.

Help me, she pleaded live on Instagram as intelligence officers battered the lock off her front door. I did nothing wrong, I am not a criminal. I am just another citizen who wants a different country.

Oropeza had spoken out against the mass detentions just hours before she herself was detained.

But others with no political affiliation have also been caught up in Maduros dragnet, said Rafael Uzcategui, co-director of rights NGO Laboratorio de Paz, who suggested the operation was intended to terrify Venezuelans into submission.

Related: Venezuela opposition leaders urge army and police to abandon Nicolas Maduro

There were rumours that Maduro was targeting electoral observers but we investigated the arrests and they are too massive to see any real pattern. Many of those detained have no political affiliation and have not even participated in the protests. What we are seeing is simply an effort to sew a climate of terror, he said.

Chiles president, Gabriel Boric, condemned Maduro for committing serious human rights violations on Wednesday and joined the likes of Guatemala, Argentina and Peru in rejecting Maduros self-proclaimed victory.

The US  as well as other governments more sympathetic to Maduro, including Brazil, Mexico and Colombia  have called on the Venezuelan leader to publish a breakdown of the vote count, which he has so far refused.

I have no doubt that the Maduro regime has tried to commit fraud, Boric told reporters.

In his appearance on state television, a defiant Maduro has decried an international fascist conspiracy to overthrow him and accused WhatsApp of spying on Venezuela.

The former bus driver has shown clips of protesters in the mass demonstrations followed by their alleged confessions, promising he is willing to do anything to stay in power.

Many ordinary Venezuelans have deleted messaging apps on their mobile phones for fear that security forces could use their chat history for proof of dissent.

Edni Lopezs family say they have received information that the 33-year-old has been taken to another facility from her detention center three times, possibly for questioning, but they still have no idea what she is accused of.

Lopez teaches management classes at the Central university of Venezuela and consults humanitarian organisations, Ramirez said, adding she has no political affiliation and did not participate in the recent protests.

She is very empathetic, philosophic and competent, which is why she brought all these things together to help people through her work, Ramirez said.

Ednis case is emblematic of whats new about the repression that were seeing in post-election Venezuela, said Adam Isacson, a director at the Washington Office on Latin America. Usually in the past, the regime was hiding its illegitimate detentions under a veneer of legality, going through legal proceedings and allowing access to defense attorneys, for example. Now, even basic habeas corpus rights are being routinely violated.
The UK is in the middle of another summer wave of Covid infections. (Getty Images) (Richard Baker via Getty Images)

The UK is experiencing a "summer COVID wave", a UCL professor has said, warning: "If you have cold or flu symptoms, it's probably COVID."

Figures from the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) show a sharp uptick in COVID hospitalisations in England in late July, and while admissions have since started to dip, they're still the highest they have been for around six months.

While the FLiRT variants of COVID seems to be leading to milder infections and symptoms, Professor Christina Pagel, from UCL's Clinical Operational Research Unit, suggests we should still be wary.

"I think the problem is that kind of in our heads and the way governments are dealing with it," she tells Yahoo News. "They're trying to treat COVID like flu, but it just isn't. It's not a winter virus. It's an all-year-round virus."

The latest data from the UKHSA shows COVID-19 hospital admissions at 4.24 per 100,000 people, which is far lower than during the height of the pandemic.

Read more

So, why should people still be mindful of the virus? Prof Pagel suggests the concern is now less about hospitalisations and more about people becoming unwell more frequently and having to take time off work.

"We're still seeing loads of people getting sick and we do know from the ONS infection survey last week that they're still getting long COVID. Even if it's a 1% chance every time you get an infection, that's still a lot of people that will be getting it."

While we don't have an exact figure, the ONS estimates that two million people in England and Scotland have long COVID, 1.5 million of whom say it has affected their day-to-day activities, and 381,000 saying they have been limited a lot by their symptoms. Middle-aged women are thought to be the most at risk.

"It just feels like we're just really dragging down our health," says Prof Pagel. "Many people used to get one or two cold a year and the flu maybe once every four or five years  now you're adding a COVID infection once a year on top of that.

THREAD: the summer Covid wave in the UK continues.

Basically, there is a LOT of Covid around and not a lot of other respiratory viruses.



If you have cold or flu symptoms, it's probably Covid.



The latest hospital data from England shows steady, quite high levels. 1/8 pic.twitter.com/eggAZB7RZf  Prof. Christina Pagel (@chrischirp) August 1, 2024

"And it still makes a lot of people sick enough to not be at work for several days  potentially longer than that if you have long COVID. That's what I find quite worrying about it, it's just disruptive.

"What worries me more is that we're starting to feel as if being sick is normal, and it's not."

Prof Pagel suggests some "structural changes" may be needed to offset this problem, for example, better statutory sick pay, and reinstating a culture where people don't mix with loads of people if they have an infectious illness  COVID or otherwise.

While the spring COVID-19 booster jab campaign will have put many people in good stead for the summer, Prof Pagel is concerned by a low uptake among immunocompromised people, particularly younger ones, with only 35% of this vulnerable group taking up an offer of a booster.

This, she suggests, could be because there is "much more vaccine hesitancy now" due to "unhelpful" misinformation and disinformation online.

Asked what she thought people should be doing to mitigate the risks of a summer wave, Prof Pagel said it wouldn't be realistic to expect people to go back to wearing face masks at big events such as the Edinburgh Fringe festival, which kicked off this month.

"It's something people could do, but if you're going to a show and you want to have a drink, you're not going to be wearing masks."

Prof Pagel suggests a better approach is for people to be more selective over the events they attend, depending on what else they have coming up in their schedules.

"For me, if I have something really important coming up, like a wedding or a holiday, I'm going to be more careful in the two weeks leading up to it about where I go, because I don't want to be sick just before I go."

Government 'could still be doing more to deal with COVID'

While hospitalisation data give us some indication of what's happening in England, we don't have reliable figures for overall infections.

Prof Pagel says the closest we have, which really isn't that close, is figures produced from wastewater monitoring in Scotland, which England stopped doing in 2022 and Wales in 2023.

"A lot of countries are still doing it  Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Norway, Finland, the US. It's quite cheap and it's a really good way of tracking how much is around.

"You can't obviously tell who's infected, and you can't exactly tell how many people are infected, but you can definitely tell if there's a wave and you can also track variants  that's why it's so incredibly useful.

"And you can check for other diseases. In the US they're using it at the moment for bird flu in cows, they're looking for H5N1 in cows on farms."

But admissions don't tell us how much virus is circulating more generally. The best (but imperfect) measure we have is wasterwater measurements, and only in Scotland and not England.



Scotland's wastewater is showing a huge July peak - highest since Omicron's 1st yr in 2022 2/8 pic.twitter.com/IefPSxqE5N  Prof. Christina Pagel (@chrischirp) August 1, 2024

Prof Pagel says she has "absolutely no idea" why this method is no longer being used in England and Wales, adding that it is "much cheaper" than the ONS infection survey, for example, or testing people.

Yahoo News has asked the UKHSA why it suspended wastewater monitoring.

What else could the government be doing more of? Prof Pagel suggests further investment in newer vaccines and anti-viral drugs.

"There is a lot of research going on outside the UK and things like nasal vaccines and vaccines that use different methods of inducing an immune response that last a lot longer. The vaccines that we have are really good at preventing severe illness but don't last long against infection."

Anti-viral drugs are another area in which the UK is lagging behind, Prof Pagel says, pointing out that Paxlovid, a drug by Pfizer used by Joe Biden after he caught COVID in July, is freely available in the US.

One clinical trial has shown the drug is 89% effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths among patients who were not vaccinated and were at risk of severe disease.

"In the US anyone can get Paxlovid from their doctor. Here it's really restricted. Very few people are eligible, and if they are they might not know they are."

More than 550m worth of Paxlovid, have gone to waste in the UK, the Telegraph reported in January, adding that the figure was on track to rise to 1.1bn by June, as the drugs reached their expiry dates with not enough people using them.

Professor Alex Richter, of the Clinical Immunology Service at the University of Birmingham, told the paper the eligibility criteria had been over-restrictive", and said the scale of the waste was "pretty shocking".
Charlotte Kirk in Duchess

Many years ago now, Neil Marshall made the best British horror film of this century  in fact, arguably the best British genre piece of any description. That was The Descent (2005), a breath-catchingly claustrophobic caving nightmare that could hardly have been better crafted.

Then began the downward slide. Marshall reaches rock bottom in Duchess, a punishing, braindead slice of gangland brutality that suggests what might be spawned if Guy Ritchie and Nick Love (The Firm, The Business) ever got in bed together. No one wants to see that, and no one, believe me, will want to see Duchess.

This is the third Marshall film running that stars his wife Charlotte Kirk, following The Reckoning (2020) and The Lair (2022). A significant chunk of UK arts funding should probably be diverted to subsidising their break-up. Its a grisly contract, creatively speaking: Kirk makes Marshall look like a horrible director, and he fulfils his part of the equation by making her look useless at acting.

Kirk plays, heaven help us, Scarlett, a small-time London pickpocket who manages to embroil herself in the dog-eat-dog world of diamond smuggling. Dubbed Duchess by impressed confederates when she gets the hang of guns, she falls in with a partner called Robert (Philip Winchester) after discovering he has a cool head, and is great in the sack.

Almost everything these two say to one other is so wince-worthy you want to crawl under your seat, scuttle along the whole row if possible, and make for the nearest fire exit.

When theyre targeted by a rival syndicate in Tenerife, headed by a tragically wooden Colin Egglesfield, the script decides the way forward is torture scenes, and lots of them. An iron is used to cook someones trouser equipment. Stephanie Beacham, of all people, is a sadistic bigwig who gives some other goon a Colombian necktie (look it up, or perhaps dont) while acidly swearing.

The sub-sub-Scarface bursts of bullet-ridden action just about keep this thing from grinding to a halt, but its leering, cruddy and retrograde to the bitter end. Even Sean Pertwee, a Marshall regular who can usually be relied upon to inject a certain weary gravitas, seems 100 per cent stumped by his dim role as a middle-management crook.

We have MeToo to thank for this utterly cynical angle of feminist payback, as an excuse to resurrect the sleazy British gangster movie from its death throes. They werent supposed to be making the likes of Duchess any more. We may have prematurely celebrated.

15 cert, 114 min; in cinemas August 9
Musk, amongst others, shared the false story

At the most superficial level, glimpsed in a flash on social media, it looked like a legitimate Telegraph piece.

Keir Starmer considering building emergency detainment camps on the Falkland Islands, said the headline.

Beneath it, the subheading read: The camps would be used to detain prisoners from the ongoing riots as the British prison system is already at capacity.

The byline attributed the story to a real Telegraph employee. The fonts and formatting were accurate. There was even a plausible date stamp.

But the story was utterly false. Keir Starmer has considered no such thing in response to the unrest that has swept Britains streets over the past week and a half. Nor has anyone at The Telegraph written anything of the kind.

The first incidence of the fake image appears to have been on X, formerly known as Twitter, Wednesday afternoon, at the end of the post from a user calling themselves L. Richardson, whose profile claims they are challenging deceit with bold truths. Their post was liked by 28 accounts, retweeted 14 times and attracted 22 comments. By Thursday lunchtime, it had gained 3,100 views.

Just Elon Musk quote tweeting the co-leader of far-right party, Britain First, who is sharing a fake Telegraph headline



Seen by almost 1 million people in 15 minutes



Utterly dystopian pic.twitter.com/4W5ZOssbEY  Josh Self (@Josh_Self_) August 8, 2024

The misinformation was seemingly turbocharged when it was shared in the middle of the night by Ashlea Simon, the co-leader of the far-Right political party Britain First, who added the comment were all being deported to the Falklands, along with two laughing emojis, in a post at 1am.

When she was asked where she had found it, she said Darren Grimes, a presenter at GB News. Grimes had reposted the fake headline, captioned with the comment So well send British protesters to the Falklands, but put up illegals in taxpayer-funded private accommodation and grant them amnesty? This man is a ----ing menace.

Grimes took down his post. A journalist I follow shared it, and I assumed it was genuine given the trusted source, he says. I should have verified it through my Telegraph subscription before sharing. However, doesnt this incident highlight the governments erratic direction, making headlines seem plausible? I acknowledge my mistake and take full responsibility.

Darren Grimes, pictured leaving his court hearing over a fine by the Electoral Commission in 2019, also shared the false article - Jeff Gilbert

But the fake story continued to spread. Elon Musk, the owner of X, reposted it, emphasising the phrase detainment camps. He has 193 million followers, nearly three times the population of the UK. Within 15 minutes, the image had been seen more than a million times. He took down his repost half an hour later, but not before the image had been seen more than two million times in total.

What percentage of those viewers will have bothered to check whether the story was genuine? Legitimised by the Telegraph font and styling, the fake headline appears to speak to a martyr complex among many members of the far-Right, who routinely present themselves as the victims of political persecution.

Its incredibly easy to fake a news article, says James Ball, a fellow at the think-tank Demos and author of books including Post-Truth: How Bulls--t Conquered the World. By using the inspect element function in your browser you can take any article and edit the text. All the fonts look proper. You screen-grab it and it looks like a real article. Its a daily thing.

When readers see something that fits their prejudices, they are more likely to share it unthinkingly, he adds.

When you see anything that hits you emotionally or feels right politically, you react with your gut before you stop and think about it. However much you know about misinformation, if you see a headline thats outrageous, but it looks real, you post it.

If you see a headline that doesnt hit you emotionally or that you disagree with, youre much more likely to [fact]-check it. That jolt of emotion, combined with the ease of acting, means it bypasses our critical thinking. We hit share before we have done anything. This is how normal people spread fake news.

Behaviour that might be forgivable in an innocent browser at home is less easy to understand in Musk, a tech tycoon considered by many, or at least many of his fans, to be highly intelligent.

Its a bit of a mystery, says Prof Charlie Beckett, the founding director of POLIS, the media think-tank at the London School of Economics. Obviously Musk is a genius at things like electric cars, but I suspect either way he is a classic disinformation spreader in the sense that he has a particular worldview, and anything he sees that confirms it, he doesnt even have to think about it. This is how most of us operate, to a degree, its just he is more extreme in his worldview and a lot more powerful in his ability to spread it. I dont think he thinks about it. Anything he puts up will be seen by millions and millions of people.

Other social media sites have made concerted efforts to crack down on false images and information since the furore over the 2016 US presidential election, which saw considerable attention paid to fake news. Facebook now hires thousands of contractors to monitor posts for pornographic, fake or otherwise problematic content. Some believe that since Musk bought Twitter last year and renamed it X, the sites algorithm has changed to give more weight to Right-wing opinions.

Facebook has created a safe environment, Beckett says. It has shown that if you want to get rid of hate speech and pornography, it is possible to do so. Twitter (X) has always been based on controversy and a range of views, but [Musk] clearly has changed the algorithm to favour more extreme views, especially Right-wing views, and suppress moderate views.

For Ball, the fake Falklands headline is proof that while much of the recent concern around social media has focussed on AI, disinformation and misinformation can be spread just as easily via old-fashioned, doctored photographs. Big things about AI and deepfakes arent what you need to worry about, he says. People are more than happy with a screengrab or a video clip out of context.

Although a few million views are a drop in the ocean of the worlds attention, inflammatory posts add to a fraught atmosphere online, even without being amplified by the worlds richest man. It is best to stick to trusted news sources.

Ashlea Simon and X were approached for comment.
Oropouche is more commonly found in the Amazon rainforest - Eraldo Peres/AP

The first cases of Oropouche have been detected in Europe, days after two women died in Brazil after contracting the virus that is spreading rapidly in Latin America.

Two people who had recently travelled to Cuba reported to hospitals with symptoms of Oropouche disease on their return to Italy, the Lancet reported.

The first patient, a 26-year-old woman, suffered fever and diarrhoea after returning to Verona on May 26 from a 2-week trip to Cubas Ciego de Avila province.

The second traveller, believed to be a 45-year-old man, who travelled to Havana and Santiago de Cuba in early June, quickly developed symptoms before seeking medical help in Fori, northern Italy, on June 7.

The Department of Tropical Infectious Diseases and Microbiology of the Scientific Research Hospital Sacred Heart Don Calabria, north of Verona, carried out tests which showed the presence of Oropouche in the patients blood.

Both travellers made a full recovery.

It is the first time an Oropouche infection has been diagnosed outside of Latin America. The virus, which is spread by infected midges and mosquitoes, has already been linked with stillbirths and birth defects, raising fears of a repeat of the Zika virus outbreak that swept the continent beginning in 2015.

We should definitely be worried. Things are changing and may become unstoppable, Dr Danny Altmann, a Professor of Immunology at Imperial College London, told The Telegraph.

Oropouche is part of the arbovirus family that includes the Zika virus and Dengue and is usually recorded in the Amazon rainforest.

Infected individuals typically develop a fever three to eight days after infection. Common symptoms include rashes, headaches, and muscle or joint pain. Some individuals may also experience gastrointestinal symptoms and sensitivity to light.

So far, the majority of cases have been reported in Brazil, but the virus has also been detected in Bolivia, Colombia and Peru.

Cubas Ministry of Public Health of Cuba first reported Oropouche cases on May 27. Since then a total of 74 cases have been confirmed  the majority of them in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Songo La Maya.

The Lancet warned that the true number of infections could be much higher than has so far been reported, particularly as Ciego de Avila province, where one of the travellers had been, was not among Cuban areas where World Health Organisation reported Oropouche virus at the time the diagnosis.

The Lancet also expressed concern about the number of travellers flying between Cuba and Europe during the summer, which could reach up to 50,000 people in August alone.

There are also fears that rising global temperatures could bring more humans into contact with viruses like Oropouche.

Arboviruses such as Oropouche fever, Dengue, Zika, or Chikungunya, constitute one of the public health emergencies we must get used to living alongside, said Dr Concetta Castilletti, head of the Virology and Emerging Pathogens Unit at the hospital outside Verona.

Climate change and the increase in the movement of human populations risk making viruses [that were] once confined to the tropical belt endemic even in our latitudes, she said.

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Late last month, Brazil reported the worlds first deaths from the virus after two women in their twenties succumbed to the illness in the northeastern state of Bahia.

Before the deaths, which came just days after the women reported symptoms, there had been no report in world scientific literature on the occurrence of deaths from the disease, the Brazilian Ministry of Health said.

The two women, aged 21 and 24, suffered severe abdominal pain, bleeding and hypotension, and were reported dead on July 25. A third potential Oropouche death  of a 57-year-old man  is under investigation.

We dont know enough yet about Oropouche to know what surprises it may hold, said Dr Altmann. But two deaths of a relatively small number of infections sounds rather worrying.

Brazil has recorded 7,284 cases of Oropouche this year, up from 832 in 2023.

Brazils health ministry has reported four cases of microcephaly  where a babys head is much smaller than expected  in newborns of mothers infected with the virus, as well as the death of a foetus.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security
Yun Chuan, pictured on August 8, is one of two giant pandas now living in the San Diego Zoo (EPA)

Two giant pandas sent from China earlier this summer made their debut at the San Diego Zoo on Thursday morning as officials welcomed the public into their new habitat.

Four-year-old Yun Chuan and three-year-old Xin Bao, who arrived in the US in June, are the first pandas China has sent to the US in over two decades. The adorable duo will reside at the California zoo for the next ten years.

The debut ceremony featured music, dance performances and speeches before local officials cut a ribbon and welcomed the public into the pandas new home.

Watch the livestream of the giant pandas here

The pair have spent the summer acclimatizing to their 6,000ft private habitat, known as Panda Ridge. Giant Pandas last resided at the San Diego Zoo in 2019.

Yun Chuan is recognizable by his long, pointy nose while Xin Bao is known for her large, round face and big, fluffy ears, the zoo said.

Xie Feng, ambassador to the US from China, was among the speakers.

Two little panda fans from California wrote several letters to me proposing giving China grizzly bears to get pandas, he told the crowd.

Yun Chuan, pictured on August 8, is one of two giant pandas now living at the San Diego Zoo (EPA)

I am most happy to tell them, after eight months of joint efforts, we have finally brought Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to San Diego. Your dreams have come true, even without giving us grizzly bears, he joked.

California Governor Gavin Newsom praised the pandas arrival, calling it a moment of pride and excitement.

In politics, you can't legislate pride, Newsom said. There's no bill you can sign. You can't legislate spirit. It manifests, and it manifests in moments like this. So I hope we can lift that up. I hope we can appreciate and embrace that at a moment like this.

Yun Chuan and Xin Bao were born at the Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base in Sichuan, China. Yun Chuans mother, Zhen Zhen, was born in San Diego in 2007 before returning to China in 2010.

Xin Bao, pictured on August 7, arrived from China alongside Yun Chuan in June. She can be identified by her fluffy face and ears (REUTERS)

His grandmother, Bai Yun, lived in the San Diego Zoo for 23 years. Bai Yun and her partner, Shi Shi, arrived in 1996 and were the first pandas sent to California.

Governor Gavin Newsom declared August 8 California Panda Day to honor the duos debut.

Giant pandas are beloved around the world and their conservation story is an inspiring example of strong partnerships and innovative strategies to protect the worlds natural heritage, Newsom said.

The bears arrival in San Diego came after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi promised the country would send giant pandas before the end of the year, the Associated Press reports. Chinese President Xi Jinping made a similar promise after meeting with President Joe Biden last year in California, calling the pandas envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.

Their arrival marks a return of panda diplomacy, a method used often by Beijing officials to soften Chinas image in the US, the Associated Press reports.

The US received its first-ever pair of giant pandas in 1972 at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC after President Richard Nixon made a diplomatic visit to China.
Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, delivers a televised speech at a memorial ceremony for Fuad Shukr, the Hezbollah commander - Wael Hamzeh/ EPA/Shutterstock

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said in an interview published Thursday that he was sorry that Hamas was able to carry out its October 7 attack, without explicitly taking responsibility.

Mr Netanyahu, who has resisted making an apology for security failures over Israels worst-ever breach, was asked if he would apologize during an interview with Time magazine.

Apologize? he was quoted as replying. Of course, of course. I am sorry, deeply, that something like this happened. And you always look back and you say, Could we have done things that would have prevented it? he said.

Mr Netanyahu is Israels longest-serving prime minister and has long billed himself as a staunch protector of Israels security. Shortly after the October 7 attack, Mr Netanyahu posted on social media that intelligence services had failed to anticipate the Hamas operation and warn him.

He deleted and apologised for that post after numerous Israelis accused him of deflecting blame and jeopardising national unity.

03:39 PM BST

Thats all for today.

Thanks for following the Telegraphs live blog. Well be back tomorrow with the latest updates on the conflict.

03:22 PM BST

Yemens Houthis leader to coordinate attacks on Israel with axis

Yemens Houthis will coordinate with other members of the Axis of Resistance in any joint operation, the groups leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said on Thursday, using the name that Iran and its regional allies use for groups aligned with Tehran.

He said any decision to respond to Israeli attacks would be made by the axis as a whole.

03:03 PM BST

Netanyahu sorry October 7 attack occurred

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said in an interview published Thursday that he was sorry that Hamas was able to carry out its October 7 attack, without explicitly taking responsibility.

Mr Netanyahu, who has resisted making an apology for security failures over Israels worst-ever attack and focused on destroying Hamas, was asked if he would apologize during an interview with Time magazine.

Apologize? he was quoted as replying.

Of course, of course. I am sorry, deeply, that something like this happened. And you always look back and you say, Could we have done things that would have prevented it? he said.

02:56 PM BST

Yemens Houthis say retaliation for Israel port strike inevitable

The leader of Yemens Houthis said on Thursday that retaliation for an Israeli strike on a port under the control of the Iran-backed rebels was inevitable.

The response to the July 20 attack that targeted fuel storage tanks in Hodeida harbour is inevitable and will come, Abdul Malik al-Huthi said in a televised speech, adding that the battle with Israel was at its zenith.

02:37 PM BST

Conflict in Pictures

A man in Tehran flashes the victory sign as he rides a bike past a billboard of Masoud Pezeshkian (R), the Iranian president, and slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh - AFP

Lakenheath, 08/08/2024 F-22 stealth fighter jet Raptors at RAF Lakenheath - Toby Shepheard / Story Picture Agency

Over a dozen aircraft depart to the Middle East amid rising tensions in the region - Toby Shepheard / Story Picture Agency

02:09 PM BST

IDF strikes Hamas command centres embedded near schools

The Israeli military said on Thursday it had struck Hamas command centres embedded in the areas of two schools in the Gaza Strip, which were used to carry out attacks against Israeli troops.

Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, surveillance, and additional intelligence, the military said.

The school compounds were used by Hamas terrorists and commanders as command-and-control centres, from which they planned and carried out attacks against Israel Defence Forces troops and the state of Israel, it said.

It comes as the Hamas-run Palestinian civil defence service said on Thursday that twelve people were killed in Israeli strikes on two schools in eastern Gaza.

01:44 PM BST

There is a price for anti-Israel behaviour, Israel tells Norway

Israel Katz, the Israeli foreign minister, said on Thursday the diplomatic status of Norwegian envoys to the Palestinian Authority would be revoked over Oslos anti-Israel behaviour since the Gaza war began in October.

Norway has long been a facilitator in the Middle East peace process, particularly leading to the 1993 Oslo Accords, and it swifty reacted to Mr Katzs announcement which Oslo said will have consequences.

The Israeli minister said he ordered the termination of any representation on behalf of the Norwegian Embassy in Israel vis-a-vis the Palestinian Authority, which has partial administrative power in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

There is a price for anti-Israel behaviour, Mr Katz added in a statement, citing Norways recent recognition of a Palestinian state and backing of a pending International Criminal Court case implicating Israeli leaders in alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

01:14 PM BST

Israel steps up attacks in central Gaza

Israeli forces stepped up strikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing at least 25 people, Palestinian medics claimed, in further battle with Hamas-led militants as Israel braced for potential wider war in the region.

Israeli airstrikes hit a cluster of houses in central Gazas Al-Bureij camp, killing at least 15 people, and the nearby Al-Nuseirat camp, killed four, medics said. Nuseirat and Bureij are among the densely populated enclaves eight historic camps and seen by Israel as strongholds of armed militants.

Israeli aircraft also bombed a house in the heart of Gaza City in the north, killing five Palestinians, while another airstrike in the southern city of Khan Younis killed one person and wounded others, according to medics.

12:49 PM BST

Tehran: Israel made strategic mistake assassinating Haniyeh

Israel committed a costly strategic mistake with its killing of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas political leader, in Tehran last week, Irans acting foreign minister told AFP in an interview on Thursday.

The act that the Zionists carried out in Tehran was a strategic mistake because it will cost them gravely, Ali Bagheri said, and accused Israel of wanting to expand tension, war and conflict to other countries.

12:19 PM BST

Italy extends suspension of flights to Israel

Italys ITA Airways further extended a suspension of its flights to and from Tel Aviv until August 10 due to the geopolitical developments in the Middle East and to ensure the safety of its passengers and crews, the company said on Thursday.

On Tuesday, the airline had extended the interruption of its connections with the Israeli capital until Aug 8, from a previous date of Aug 6.

12:05 PM BST

Watch: Harris scolds anti-Israel protesters

Kamala Harris warned anti-Israel hecklers at a Democrat rally they risked handing Donald Trump victory in the presidential election.

The vice-president was speaking in Detroit on Wednesday night when the pro-Palestinian activists interrupted her.

Kamala! Kamala! You cant hide! We wont vote for genocide! they chanted.

You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, Im speaking, Ms Harris scolded.

Before shutting down the hecklers, the Democrat presidential nominee said: Im here because we believe in democracy. Everyones voice matters, but I am speaking now.

11:47 AM BST

Oslo: Israel revoking Norwegian diplomat status will have consequences

Israel has given notice it will no longer accredit Norwegian diplomats serving the occupied Palestinian territories, Norways foreign ministry said on Thursday, calling it an extreme act by the Israeli government.

Norway is now considering its response to the situation, Espen Barth Eide, the Norwegian minister of foreign affairs, said in a statement.

This is an extreme act that primarily affects our ability to help the Palestinian population ... Todays decision will have consequences for our relationship with the Netanyahu government, he said.

11:25 AM BST

UK records record level of anti-Semitism in first half of year

Britain saw almost 2,000 anti-Semitic incidents in the first half of 2024, a record figure for the first six months of any year, a Jewish advisory body said on Thursday.

The Community Security Trust (CST), which advises Britains estimated 280,000 Jews on security matters, said more than half of the incidents recorded were related to Israel, Gaza, Hamas or the current conflict in the region.

The disgraceful surge in British anti-Semitism is further evidenced by these latest figures, said Mark Gardner, the CST chief executive . It happens across society, including in schools, campuses, places of work, public transport and on the streets.

11:04 AM BST

Air France extends Beirut flight suspension until Sunday

Air France has extended the suspension of flights between Paris and Beirut until at least Sunday due to the security situation in Lebanon.

The resumption of operations will be subject to a further assessment of the local situation, Air France said in a notice on its website posted late on Wednesday.

10:47 AM BST

Israel to revoke diplomatic status of Norwegian envoys

Israel Katz, Israels foreign minister, said on Thursday the diplomatic status of Norwegian envoys to the Palestinian Authority would be revoked over Oslos anti-Israel behaviour since the Gaza war began in October.

I ordered the termination of any representation on behalf of the Norwegian Embassy in Israel vis-a-vis the Palestinian Authority, Mr Katz said in a statement.

There is a price for anti-Israel behaviour, the top diplomat added, citing Norways recent recognition of a Palestinian state and backing of a pending International Criminal Court case implicating Israeli leaders in alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

A separate statement mentioned serious statements by senior Norwegian officials that the foreign ministry viewed as anti-Israeli.

10:29 AM BST

Conflict in Pictures

Mourners carry the coffin of Amin Badreddine, a Hezbollah fighter - Reuters/Alkis Konstantinidis

Photos of people killed in the Oct 7 attack on the 'Nova Festival' hang at a memorial site - Amir Levy/Getty Images Europe

Israeli soldiers in a tank as it drives along the border with the Gaza Strip - Amir Levy/Getty Images Europe

10:11 AM BST

Pro-Israel groups topple second Democrat Squad member

A second member of the Democrats Left-wing Squad in Congress has been ousted after a $9 million campaign by pro-Israel groups, writes Rozina Sabur, Deputy US Editor.

Cori Bush, a vocal critic of Israels war in Gaza, lost the Democratic primary for her seat in St Louis, Missouri, to Wesley Bell, a local prosecutor, by 46 per cent to 51 per cent.

The district is staunchly Democratic and Mr Bell is expected to hold it in Novembers election.

Read the full piece here.

09:52 AM BST

US strikes Houthi targets in Yemen

US military forces have struck at targets in Houthi-controlled Yemen in the past 24 hours, destroying two drones, a Houthi ground control station, and three anti-ship cruise missiles, the US Central Command (Centcom) said.

Earlier, the Iran-aligned Houthi movement said it had attacked a container ship in the Red Sea and two US destroyers in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday.

Centcom said in a statement on the US strikes: These weapons presented a clear and imminent threat to US and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region.

It said this reckless and dangerous behavior by the Houthis threatened regional stability, but it gave no further details and did not confirm that any US vessels had been attacked.

09:33 AM BST

Israel vows to eliminate Yahya Sinwar

Israel has vowed to eliminate new Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, the alleged mastermind of the October 7 attack, with regional hostilities threatening to boil over as the Gaza war enters its 11th month.

The naming of Sinwar to lead the Palestinian militant group came as Israel steeled itself for potential Iranian retaliation over the killing of his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh last week in Tehran.

Speaking at a military base on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was determined to defend itself.

We are prepared both defensively and offensively, he told new recruits.

09:14 AM BST

World Central Kitchen says Palestinian staff member killed in Gaza

The World Central Kitchen (WCK), a US-based, non-governmental organisation, said on Thursday that a Palestinian staff member had been killed in Gaza.

The WCK identified the person as Nadi Sallout and said it believed he was killed while off duty on Wednesday near Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza. The WCK said it was still seeking further details.

The Israeli military said it did not know of any such incident, adding it had been in contact with WCK.

08:52 AM BST

Watch: Israeli strike wounds dozens in central Gaza

08:33 AM BST

Canada to pull children of diplomats out of Israel

The Canadian government said on Wednesday it has decided to pull the children and guardians of its diplomats out of Israel, amid fears of a widened conflict in the Middle East, the Canadian Press reported.

Israels tensions with Iran and Hezbollah have fanned fears of a broader conflict in a region already on edge amid Israels assault on Gaza which has killed tens of thousands and caused a humanitarian crisis, including widespread hunger.

There has been an increased risk of escalation into a broader Middle East war after the killings of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader, in Iran, and Fuad Shukr, the Hezbollah military commander, in Beirut, drew threats of retaliation against Israel.

08:12 AM BST

Nagasaki mayor defends Israel snub at A-bomb memorial

Nagasakis mayor said on Thursday it was unfortunate that US and British ambassadors have refused to attend a ceremony marking the 1945 atomic bombing of the Japanese city because Israel was snubbed.

But he defended the decision not to invite Israel to Fridays annual event, repeating that it was not political but to avoid possible protests related to the Gaza conflict.

It is unfortunate that they have communicated to us that their ambassadors are not able to attend, Shiro Suzuki told reporters.

We made a comprehensive decision not for political reasons. We want to conduct a smooth ceremony in a peaceful and solemn environment.

On August 9 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, killing 74,000 people including many who survived the explosion but died later from radiation exposure.

07:55 AM BST

British planes told to avoid Iran and Lebanon

Britain and Egypt asked their airlines on Wednesday to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace amid growing fears of a possible broader conflict in the Middle East.

There has been an increased risk of escalation into a broader regional war after the killings last week of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas leader, in Iran and Fuad Shukr, Hezbollahs military commander, in Beirut drew threats of retaliation against Israel.

Britains advisory to its airlines to avoid Lebanons airspace came hours after Egypt instructed all of its airlines to avoid Irans airspace for three hours in the early morning on Thursday.

Many airlines globally are revising their schedules to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace while also calling off flights to Israel and Lebanon.
Balasankar Narayanan (Metropolitan Police)

Police are searching for a violent man who they describe as a threat to women, after he escaped while on escorted leave from a care facility in Ilford.

Balasankar Narayanan, 44 was last seen at 6.40pm on Sunday (August 4) when he ran off from staff at a park.

Police say he can be violent and is considered a risk to women, as they on Thursday released a photo of him and urged members of the public to get in touch if they spot him.

If you see him please dont approach him, but call police immediately, said the Met in a statement.

While our investigation to locate Balasankar continues, we are appealing to the public to help locate him.

Mr Narayanan has links across London - notably to Newham, Greenford, Hammersmith, Highgate and Ilford - as well as the West Midlands. Police say he has also previously been found in Grays and Manchester.

If seen call 999 immediately quoting CAD 6961/04Aug.
Hong Chau, Casey Affleck and Matt Damon in the Instigators - Handout/Handout

The Instigators is little more than a stacked cast list on an Apple budget, waiting for a good script to materialise. The pitch is elementary: its a Boston-set thriller about a bungled heist, with jokes. Imagine The Town (2010), refashioned as a dyspeptic comedy about no-hopers.

Its not only the heist that goes wrong, unfortunately. A large proportion of the jokes come from a trolling Casey Affleck, who co-wrote the screenplay and co-stars as a wise-cracking barfly with a criminal past, who teams up with a depressed ex-Marine (Matt Damon) to get some ready cash by robbing City Hall. The whole scheme predictably unravels; then Bostons finest get trigger-happy.

You think this is funny? asks Hong Chaus shrink, who implausibly agrees to be their hostage out of concern for Damons Rory, during a mid-film car chase thats a triumph of logistics over actual point. Its not not funny? retorts Afflecks Cobby.

What dooms the Instigators is that we beg to differ. Director Doug (The Bourne Identity) Liman has given good car chases in his time, but this one flops, no matter how many drone shots of high-speed collisions it splices in. The tone is off, the editing perfunctory, and the sequence thinks its automatically hilarious to have Petula Clark belting Downtown on the car radio while Damon gets flustered at traffic lights.

Theres the seed of something, maybe, in how little time Rory and Cobby have for one another. Theyre old cohorts, but not exactly friends, and breathe heavy sighs when they realise theyve been paired. Michael Stuhlbarg, in a big fur coat, goes way overboard as the Mr Big of the operation, which has pinpointed the citys election night as the perfect time to raid the coffers of Bostons corrupt mayor (a seething Ron Perlman).

Everyone else is stuck in roles well beneath them. Chaus character is all therapy-speak during moments of high tension, which gets tiring fast. Ving Rhames plays a special-ops veteran in the mayors pocket; Toby Jones is his simpering lawyer. Alfred Molina has so little to do as Stuhlbargs number two, it sometimes feels as though he wandered on set and everyone found it amusing to detain him.

The Instigators needed downtrodden charm and thats exactly what its missing. The fact that Damon and Affleck can probably finish each others sentences doesnt make their wavelength a default delight. Their Oceans director, Steven Soderbergh, might have read it and drowned in notes, or promptly booked himself a long holiday to get out of the running.

On Apple TV+ from Friday August 9
Jack Karlson revisited the China Sea restaurant in 2024 for the documentary The Man Who Ate A Succulent Chinese Meal. Photograph: Jamila Filippone/The Guardian

The man who immortalised the phrase this is democracy manifest while starring in what has been described as the pre-eminent Australian meme, Jack Karlson, has died aged 82.

Karlson  although there are debates as to whether this was his real name or one of many aliases  was a serial prison escaper and small-time crook who shot to fame in 2009 after a news clip of his arrest at a Chinese restaurant in Brisbanes Fortitude Valley in 1991 was uploaded on to the internet.

What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal? Karlson theatrically boomed as his bear-like frame resisted a string of police officers.

Chris Reason, the Channel Seven journalist who reported Karlsons arrest 33 years ago, paid tribute to Karlson on social media site X, tweeting that Mr Democracy Manifest has died.

Karlson died surrounded by family at 6.31pm on Wednesday.

He walked a full and colourful path and, despite the troubles thrown at him, he lived by his motto  to keep on laughing, his family said in statement.

Niece Kim Edwards said Karlson spent the last few weeks of his life in hospital, where he had a few attempts to escape and pulled his cords out a couple of times and asked us many time to sneak in his pipe.

Edwards said her uncle was battling many ailments but what got him in the end was [systemic inflammatory response syndrome].

As a final send off, we gave uncle a last taste of red wine through his drip just before it was removed, she said.

Karlson died the day after his 82nd birthday. Or, at least, it was the most recent of the birthdates he claimed to film-maker Heath Davis, who is making a documentary on Karlsons life.

This is the legit one, Davis said. Or so Im told.

Davis said he also learned the most recent alias Karlson  who he believes was really Cecil George Edwards  was going by in the last years of his life. And though he is not currently at liberty to reveal it, Davis said it was not Jack Karlson.

Lets just say: John, Davis said.

The film-maker is expecting huge amounts of other information about Karlsons life to be revealed, and it wont just be about names and dates. He and authors including Mark Dapin had already uncovered stories of Karlsons prison escapes that are said to include picking the lock cuffing him to a sleeping officer and leaping from a moving train and swimming off a prison island before being rescued by a benevolent fisher.

But Karlsons life was far from just a rollick. His boyhood was spent in institutions rife with sexual predators and bullies, and his varied stints in Australias most notorious jails included time in the Black Peter solitary confinement of Boggo Road jail  the cruelty of which was medieval  when he was still a teenager.

A regular person who experienced his life would have passed away years ago, Davis said.

But Jack just had this zest for life that made you go: this guy is made of mercury  he might just live forever.

Among old friends and foes reunited with Karlson in the making of Davis documentary was Stoll Watt, a senior sergeant in the then Special Weapons and Operations Squad who happened to be driving through the Valley on the now famous day in 1991 when the call came through for support in an arrest.

Watt said there are many different versions of what occurred that day  his own is detailed in a yet-to-be-published book. One thing Watt does not deny, though, is Karlsons charisma.

He was some sort of trained actor, he learned that in prison, but he was also a natural showman, Watt said. He bluffed his way out of a court in Sydney, said he was a detective, and to do that he must have been a very confident showman  and a bit of a conman as well.

Among Karlsons cons, Watt said, was the now infamous line he roared during the arrest when he declared: Get your hands off my penis!.

All it was, was, I was assisting him out of the restaurant and there was a step and he tripped a little bit and, to help him up, my hand grabbed him lower down on the thigh, Watt said. He said I grabbed him by the thing  but I was nowhere near it.

Still, Watt bears Karlson no ill will and enjoyed meeting him once again last year at Karlsons hideout near Esk somewhere in the mountains of south-east Queensland.

He said to me that I was the only copper he never hated, Watt said. He called me comrade and he said come up and spend the night with me and well have a few, he calls it, the juice of the red grapes.

Karlson was a very good wordsmith, Watt said, adding the man he once arrested would have been a millionaire had he been able to trademark the phrases he coined that have now entered the modern Australian lexicon.

Yet it is through these words that Jack Karlson, or Cecil George Edwards, or John X, will live in posterity. Though Davis said the subject of his film  for all his sins, hardly a tech savvy man  was for a long time naive to his online renown and, perhaps, never fully appreciated it.

He is folklore and doesnt even know it, Davis said.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. annual convention during the 71st biennial Boule at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Wednesday, 10 July 2024. Photograph: LM Otero/AP

On 10 July, less than two weeks before Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race, Kamala Harris attended a boule: the annual or biannual gathering of all of the members of a sorority. But this wasnt just any sorority, it was Alpha Kappa Alpha, the historic Black sorority Harris joined in college, and one of the Divine Nine  also known as the Pan-Hellenic Council  the most powerful Black sororities in America.

To my line sisters, the 38 Jewels of Iridescent Splendor: Oh, you are such an incredible part of my journey, she said.

AKA was founded in 1908 at Harriss alma mater, Howard University, as a support network for Black women, who at the time faced increasing racial discrimination. Harriss aunt was a soror in 1950. Among the sororitys alumna were Coretta Scott King, Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou. For her Vogue cover in 2021, Harris was photographed in front of a background of draped fabric in AKAs colours, salmon pink and apple green, and wearing its signature accessory  a pearl necklace.

In the two weeks since Biden stood down, and then became the presumptive nominee, Harris has spoken at two more Black sorority events. Last week, at the Sigma Gamma Rhos 60th International Biennial Boule, that she addressed Trumps comments earlier that day questioning her race.

When I look out at everyone here, I see family, she said.

The political power of Black Greek letter organisations is not lost on Harris. She is in many ways proof of their influence: when Biden endorsed Harris as his choice for vice-president in 2020, AKA members raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through individual donations of $19.08, an amount that refers to AKAs founding year. They helped get out the vote among Black voters  famously organising the Stroll to the Polls campaign, in which sorority members filmed themselves dancing and walking to polling stations  a demographic that was crucial to getting Biden elected.

Earlier this month, when Biden named Harris as his pick for nominee, the pan-Hellenic council released a statement saying it had agreed to meet this critical moment in history with an unprecedented voter registration, education and mobilization coordinated campaign. Together, the nine have four million members and a combined revenue of $150m, according to the New York Times.

What sets historically Black Greek Letter organisations apart from others, says Lawrence Ross, the author of a book on the Divine Nine, and a member of Berkley Universitys Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, is that it isnt an experience limited to college.

We join alumni chapters. We continue to do the work of the fraternity or sorority. And its one of those things that becomes part of your identity.

Black women have a networking ability that is pretty unmatched  What do we do most is voter education, voter registration.

A not-so-secret weapon

AKA members have been vocal about their pride and excitement that one of their members could become the most powerful person on earth. (Officially, the way that AKA members express this emotion is through the trademarked call skee-wee). Because they are registered charity organisations, fraternities and sororities arent allowed to officially endorse specific political candidates, but they can  and do  mobilise among their members to get out the vote.

Trump and the GOP flatten Black people into two dimensions, Ross said. They dont know really much about Black culture  Its too late for them to understand whats about to happen to them.

Black Greek letter organizations voter engagement programs reach millions, according to the New York Times. 93% of Black women who voted in 2020 voted Democrat, according an Associated Press poll.

Black sororities have often been referred to as Harriss secret weapon. But, Ross says, Its not a secret weapon to Black folks, right?

They are a key part of understanding who Harris is. Comparing Harris to Obama is often a mistake, the critic Vinson Cunningham, who worked on Obamas campaign, said recently on a New Yorker podcast. But one thing they do have in common is a Black father who is not from America.

For Obama, forming a Black identity that was distinctly American involved moving to Chicago, joining Trinity Church and sitting under the tutelage of Jeremiah Wright, Cunningham said.

You can think of the parallel motion in Kamala Harriss life as: going to a [Historically Black College or University], joining perhaps the most famous historically Black sorority, the AKAs. By making these choices, Obama and Harris were both, tying themselves to a more distinctly American form of Blackness than the one that is signified by their fathers, he said.

Ross agrees. He compares it to the American chocolate boxes made by Sees Candy. The best thing is the nuts and chews, says Lawrence  and those are the ones Harris chose: as she deepened her Black identity, she chose the best candies in the box of American blackness to do so. She went to Howard, which is the historically Black university. And she became an AKA where AKAs were founded.

Howard is like a four-year immersion in everything. Its like, you decide to go to the Disneyland of blackness. You know, so you got Soul Food Land, and so on, he jokes.

It also means that Harris understands the importance of historically Black Greek letter organisations within the Black community, he says.

Asked what the role they have played in US history, Ross is unequivocal: You would not have the civil rights movement without the Divine Nine members, he says, and rattles off some of the movements most important figures: Dorothy Height, a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Martin Luther King, Alpha Phi Alpha, Jesse Jackson, Omega Psi Phi. Rosa Parks was an AKA member. Ralph Abernathy and Huey Newton were Black fraternity members, too.

So how do Harriss sorors remember her? Last week, Jill Louis, one of Harriss AKA line sisters  women who were initiated in the same ceremony  told NPRs I knew Her Then that Harris carried a briefcase. She would not be alone, and it would not be deemed to be odd because we were about our business, the business of achieving that education and being able to move forward. But she also ate lunch at a spot on campus called the Punchout: a sign that someone was cool.

Back then, Harris was much like what you see today, Lorri L Sadler, another of her line sisters, told NBC Washington in 2021. She was very cool, she was very calm, she was very collected, she was very mature.

Were non-partisan, but we are excited about the fact that she is the head of the ticket. Its historic, and were gonna make sure that it remains historic. And its a very important election. Its only democracy on the line, says Ross.
Katie Price has been remanded in custody - GETTY IMAGES

Katie Price has been arrested at Heathrow airport for failing to attend court.

The former glamour model has been remanded in custody to appear before a judge on Friday.

The Metropolitan Police said: A 46-year-old woman from Surrey was arrested at Heathrow Airport at 7.45pm on Thursday August 8 for failing to appear at court.

She has been remanded in custody at a west London police station to appear at the Royal Courts of Justice tomorrow, Friday August 9.

An arrest warrant was issued for Price on July 30 after she failed to attend a court hearing relating to her bankruptcies.

Price, who was declared bankrupt in November 2019 and again in March this year, was due to face questions about her finances before the court in London.

The court heard it had been reported that Price had travelled to Turkey, with a now-deleted Instagram story showing what appeared to be her on a flight.

In February, Price was ordered to pay 40 per cent of her monthly income from OnlyFans to a trustee for the next three years in relation to her first bankruptcy.

She was declared bankrupt for a second time in March over an unpaid tax bill worth more than 750,000.

Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Catherine Burton said Price had received very clear warnings that she must attend the hearing on July 30.

Price has no real excuse for missing hearing

Price was due to face questions about her finances in the specialist bankruptcy court in London from barristers representing the trustee of her two bankruptcies.

A judge at a previous hearing said the former glamour model risked arrest if she did not attend further court dates, adding that evidence must be provided if she could not appear.

Issuing the arrest warrant, Judge Burton said that Price had failed to attend todays hearing and had provided no explanation for her absence.

She said: It is in my judgment necessary that the court issue a warrant for Ms Prices arrest.

She has no real excuse in failing to attend todays hearing.

The judge continued: The reason for her absence today is irrelevant.

Judge Burton said that an arrest warrant was not issued lightly, but that Price had offered only piecemeal co-operation and failed to provide the most basic information in relation to her bankruptcies.
Kirsty Young suffered from debilitating fibromyalgia for 18 months before it was diagnosed - Shutterstock /Ashley Coombes

Kirsty Young was made to feel like a crazy lady by a doctor who told her that fibromyalgia did not exist.

Young was eventually diagnosed with the neuropathic disorder after suffering 18 months of chronic pain and extreme fatigue. The symptoms were so debilitating that she had to leave her dream job as presenter of Radio 4s Desert Island Discs. But it took appointments with several doctors before she received her diagnosis.

I went to see all sorts of different people, doctors and medics[to one] I said: Ive read about this thing called fibromyalgia, could it be fibromyalgia?

They actually did snort. She snorted  I said: Thats not a thing? She said: Thats not a thing. Thats where we put people when they dont have something, just to say theyve got something.

Now, of course, I realise the depth of that particular medics ignorance on the subject.

Speaking to Radio 4s Today programme, Young added: I went down lots of alleyways before I eventually found somebody who said: Oh, yes, thats a neuropathic pain disorder.

Once it was named I thought: Ok, its not in my head. Im not a crazy lady then. What I feel is real. This thing thats bringing me to tears and decimating me is real.

The symptoms of fibromyalgia were so debilitating that Young had to give up her dream job as presenter of Desert Island Discs - Wireimage/Karwai Tang

Young, now 55, stepped down from her job in 2018. Describing her symptoms of brain fog and extreme fatigue, she said: I have at my worst felt that somebody has drugged my cup of tea  almost swaying with fatigue and having to opt out of doing anything because the fatigue is just like cement in your body.

Young said she coped chaotically and badly with the pain, which included joint-pain migraines.

I coped in the way that many people do with chronic long term pain, which is thinking, Thisll go away, Ill take a couple of paracetamol. Actually, I think I need Nurofen Plus. Actually, I think I probably need to take three or four doses of those a day, they seem not to be working  is it all in my head?

I think I was probably quite horrible to be married to because I was a grump and I was extremely tired and I was sobbing sometimes with pain.

I did the things that required me to show up without compromise, which were children and work, and the other things I just wasnt very good at. I definitely felt, in this Instagrammable age, that I was losing at life.

Young said she remembered breaking down in tears after a days recording at the BBC. I was hollowed out by it. Id just finished recording a Desert Island Discs, and it had gone well. I was walking down Regent Street in central London and standing at the traffic lights and I just missed the crossing.

I had somewhere to be and had to get there on time, and I burst into tears. Thats not who I am. I dont burst into tears. But tiny things would tip me over.

Initially, she hid her condition from friends and colleagues. I didnt talk about it. It was like a little private horror. There are a lot of things that surround it: a sense of failure and shame, a sense of ,There are people far worse off than me, people dealing with a stage 3 diagnosis of cancer. Well, thats true, but if youre in your life and you are dealing with chronic pain day in, day out, night in, night out, thats a hell of a thing to deal with.

Young said she had turned down requests to make a documentary about her condition because she recognised that being able to give up her job was a luxury that many other sufferers could not afford.

She said: I could give up that job. I could still pay my gas bill without doing my job, so for me that was a very privileged decision. It was a big decision but I was able to make it.

If youre working in Aldi on a part-time shift and youve got a cleaning job and youve got three kids and you dont have a car and youve got to catch the bus  nobody in that position is able to give up their job.

Young has since returned to presenting, anchoring coverage of royal events including the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

A survey of more than 4,000 adults, conducted on behalf of the BBC, suggested that more than a quarter of people in the UK are living with chronic pain.
Cllr Ricky Jones (The Labour Party)

A Labour councillor has been arrested after he was allegedly filmed calling for far-right protesters throats to be cut at a rally in Walthamstow, northeast London.

Cllr Ricky Jones, who sits on Dartford Borough Council in Kent, is said to have made the remarks while at an anti-racist demonstration on Wednesday night.

Footage appeared to show the elected representative at the demonstration saying: They are disgusting Nazi fascists and we need to cut all their throats.

The remarks were applauded by some of those at the demonstration.

A man aged in his 50s was arrested at an address in southeast London, Metropolitan Police said.

He was held on suspicion of encouraging murder and for an offence under the Public Order Act, the Met wrote on X, formerly Twitter on Thursday.

He is in custody at a south London police station.

UPDATE: Officers have arrested a man aged in his 50s at an address in South East London.



He was held on suspicion of encouraging murder and for an offence under the Public Order Act.



He is in custody at a south London police station. https://t.co/YVuXRStZzd  Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) August 8, 2024

A Labour Party spokesperson earlier told the Standard: This behaviour is completely unacceptable and it will not be tolerated. The councillor has been suspended from the party.

The removal of his party status means Cllr Jones will also have the whip removed, and will sit on Dartford Borough Council as an independent.

The comments were criticised by Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage, who reposted them on social media and asked: This man is a Labour Councillor. Why has #TwoTierKeir not taken action?

Protesters in Walthamstow, London, on Wednesday (PA Wire)

Two tier is a reference to an accusation that police are dealing with some protesters more harshly than others.

This has been flatly rejected by Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley.

We have commentators from either end of the political spectrum who like to throw accusations of bias at the police because we stand in the middle, we operate independently under the law without fear or favour, he said on Wednesday.

The characterisation has also been rejected by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The Standard has contacted Mr Jones and the Dartford Labour Group for comment.

Dartford Borough Council said it was unable to comment any further due to an ongoing police investigation.
Sarah Sackman, the MP for Finchley, has voiced concerns of constituents over 'anti-Semitic' material spread by activists

A Labour MP has reported an anti-fascist group in north London to the police after a poster from a protest equated Zionists with the far-Right.

Sarah Sackman, the new MP for Finchley and Golders Green, said material shared by groups ahead of a demonstration in North Finchley on Wednesday evening was clearly anti-Semitic.

Around 1,000 activists and dozens of police gathered along North Finchley High Road over concerns that far-Right agitators were planning to target an immigration office.

A poster from the group Finchley Against Fascism, advertising the event, read: Get Fascists, Racists, Nazis, Zionists and Islamophobes out of Finchley.

A small number of demonstrators were said to have later chanted Free Palestine outside a local synagogue.

The poster distributed by the Finchley Against Fascism group

Ms Sackman, who is the Solicitor General, did not directly specify the leaflets but said a number of concerned residents had voiced concerns over posts from so-called anti-fascist groups which are clearly anti-Semitic.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, she wrote: Ive said once and Ill say it again. Whether its the far-Right or far-Left, there can be zero tolerance for anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or racism in any form. There is no place for such hate in our community.

Ms Sackman said she had reported the posts to the Metropolitan Police and the Community Security Trust, a charity that seeks to protect British Jews from harassment and violence.

Sunder Katwala, the director of British Future, a think tank, said the protesters had marred their defence of the immigration office by using the anti-Semitic slogan Zionists out of Finchley.

Around 1,000 anti far-Right protesters gathered along North Finchley High Road on Wednesday evening - PA Wire

Stand Up to Racism, the main organiser of the counter-demonstration in North Finchley, said Finchley Against Fascism was not connected to it and denounced the content of the leaflet.

A spokesman told The Jewish Chronicle: We do not support, and would not share, the messaging in that literature ... Our message was a simple one  refugees welcome, unity against the far-Right.

A spokesman for the Community Security Trust said: To see these posts circulating in relation to a densely populated Jewish area like Finchley is completely wrong and threatening to the Jewish community. There is no place for such hatred, especially at a time where we must all stand united against anti-Semitism and racism of all kinds.

The Met has been approached for comment.
Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House, in 2021. Photograph: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Nancy Pelosi has never been that impressed with Joe Bidens political operation, the former US House speaker said, discussing a judgment that helped her conclude the president could not beat Donald Trump and should step aside.

They won the White House [in 2020]. Bravo. But my concern was: this aint happening, and we have to make a decision for [Bidens withdrawal] to happen, Pelosi told the New Yorker, in an interview published on Thursday.

On 21 July, in a historic moment, the 81-year-old president finally heeded those who said he was too old to beat Trump and serve a full second term.

Stepping aside as the Democratic nominee, Biden endorsed his 59-year-old vice-president, Kamala Harris, a move that transformed the election, placing Trump under pressure.

Related: Doctors told Pelosi of concern for Trumps mental health, ex-speaker says in book

Pelosi was widely reported to have played a key role in the switch.

She told the New Yorker: The president has to make the decision for that to happen. People were calling. I never called one person. I kept true to my word. Any conversation I had, it was just going to be with [Biden]. I never made one call. They said I was burning up the lines, I was talking to Chuck [Schumer, the Democratic Senate majority leader]. I didnt talk to Chuck at all.

I never called one person, but people were calling me saying that there was a challenge there. So there had to be a change in the leadership of the campaign, or what would come next.

Pelosi said her goal was simple: That Donald Trump would never set foot in the White House again.

Now 84, Pelosi is in her 19th term in the House. Having been speaker between 2007 and 2011 and 2019 and 2023, she remains vastly influential.

Pelosi spoke to the New Yorker to promote her new memoir, The Art of Power. Last week, the Guardian first reported Pelosis descriptions of how she grew increasingly concerned about Trumps mental fitness for office, even before his defeat by Biden and incitement of the January 6 attack on Congress.

Pelosi told the New Yorker she hoped her role in ending Bidens presidency would not destroy her relationship with a man three years younger but elected as a senator in 1972, 14 years before Pelosi won her seat in the House.

I hope so, she said. I pray so. I cry so.

She said she had lost sleep over the situation. Asked if she thought Biden was angry with her, she said: I dont know. We havent had a conversation. But  

Pelosi said she thought Biden was in a good state, praising as masterful his handling of a large-scale prisoner swap with Russia which concluded last week.

But Bidens legacy will go right down the drain if whats-his-name ever [returns to] the White House, Pelosi said, adding: One of the reasons I ran again [in 2022] was to make sure that Donald Trump never stepped foot in the White House again.

He is a danger to our democracy  hes a danger to the air our children breathe, the water they drink, their safety in terms of gun-violence prevention. Freedom of choice, the size, the timing of your family  all that.

Asked if she had met Trump since her time as speaker, Pelosi said she had not.

Oh, my God, what a horrible thought, she said. He knows hes an impostor. He knows he shouldnt be president of the United States.
Critics said it might be cheaper for people to buy an illegal butterfly knife in Poland for half the price of a Netflix subscription, as a way of getting free streaming - Aaron Chown/PA

Germans who possess illegal knives should be rewarded with a Netflix subscription if they hand their weapon in to police, the leader of the German police union (GdP) has proposed.

Jochen Kopelke said the country needed an amnesty to fight the scourge of knife crime and that a years free membership to the film streaming service might encourage that.

For this measure to be effective, the federal government must create serious incentives for those who donate, said Mr Kopelke.

Jochen Kopelke, leader of the German police union GdP, said the government 'must create serious incentives for those who donate' illegal knives - Alamy Stock Photo

Knife crime in Berlin soared to a 10-year high in 2023 as knives became the weapon of choice in assaults and robberies, police said. More than 3,500 crimes involving a bladed weapon were recorded that year.

The police union pointed to a 2009 amnesty which brought in a haul of 200,000 guns, knives and other illegal weapons as inspiration for its current proposal.

The amnesty, launched in response to the Winnenden school shooting in which 19 were killed, was considered a success, the union said.

Incentives for amnesty

However, conservative critics were quick to dismiss the idea of offering incentives for amnesty, saying it was another example of misguided, Left-wing policing.

Is colleague Kopelke still in his right mind? A reward for criminals who hand in a prohibited item? Heiko Teggatz, deputy chair of the rival police union, DPolG, told German tabloid Bild. How must knife attack victims and their families feel when they hear something like that?

Hubert Aiwanger, the Bavarian deputy first minister, said: No, unfortunately you cannot fight violent crime with a Netflix subscription.

You can only do it by locking them up properly and deporting them if they dont have a German passport.

Police at a dead end

Others observed that it might be cheaper for people to go to neighbouring Poland and buy an illegal butterfly knife for half the price of the cheapest Netflix subscription, as a way of getting free streaming. An annual standard Netflix subscription amounts to 170 (145).

Mr Kopelke said law enforcement were at a dead end in fighting knife crime and that a broad tightening of Germanys weapons law was necessary. He blamed hunting associations and weapons manufacturers as standing in the way of that.
The Government is urging internet giants to remove misleading content from the far Right more quickly, amid fears that it is fuelling the violence

A secretive government agency used to spy on anti-lockdown campaigners during the Covid pandemic has been deployed to monitor social media amid the riots, The Telegraph has learnt.

The Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU), now rebranded as the National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT), has been given the task just months after MPs called for an independent review of its activities.

Campaigners have expressed concern that NSOIT is playing a central role in the riots response despite outstanding questions over whether it is fit for purpose.

Peter Kyle, the Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary, has asked NSOIT to monitor online activity discussing the deaths of the three children killed in Southport and the rioting, after widespread public disorder followed untrue claims about the suspect on social media.

The unit has trusted flagger status, which effectively gives it privileged access to social media moderators who make decisions on whether posts should be taken down, it is understood.

The CDU was set up in March 2020 to combat what Boris Johnsons government described as false coronavirus information online but, as The Telegraph later revealed, was also used to crack down on dissent from those who disagreed with official policy.

Among those who were monitored by the unit were Carl Heneghan, the epidemiologist who opposed blanket lockdowns, Molly Kingsley, who campaigned to keep schools open during the pandemic, and David Davis, the Conservative MP who called for the CDU to be shut down.

Big Brother Watch, the civil liberties group, described the CDU as one of the most opaque units in Government outside the security services and accused it of spying on free speech.

Silkie Carlo, its director, has now questioned whether it, rather than another agency, should be used in the response to the riots.

She told The Telegraph: There are serious questions as to whether NSOIT is fit for this task, given its chilling track record of monitoring the lawful and accurate speech of journalists, scientists, parliamentarians, human rights advocates and members of the public during the pandemic when they rightly questioned the governments pandemic management.

Its worrying to see NSOIT brought into action shortly after its controversial activities were exposed, and before it has been subject to the important independent review the culture committee called for.

Ms Carlo described NSOIT as a deceptively-named shadowy Whitehall cell, which operates far beyond national security and said that if the Government were to stray into censoring lawful free speech it could inflame tensions and distrust rather than promote social harmony.

A report by the Commons culture, media and sport committee, published in April, questioned the lack of transparency and accountability of [NSOIT] and the appropriateness of its reach, and recommended that the Government commission an independent review of the activities and strategy of the unit to report back within 12 months.

However, Mr Davis said he had no real objection to NSOIT being used to monitor social media during the riots because its perfectly legitimate for the state to monitor things that might incite violence.

The Government is urging internet giants to remove misleading content from the far Right more quickly, amid fears that it is fuelling the violence seen in the last week.

Mr Kyle held one-on-one talks with executives from five social media companies  X, YouTube, Meta, Google and TikTok  on Monday. Afterwards, he released a statement warning about the spread of hateful misinformation and incitement on the riots and insisting action must be taken at pace.

The remit was then said to have widened to include posts being made about the riots more widely as they began to spread across towns and cities in the last week.

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A division of labour is understood broadly to have emerged. Home Office figures are flagging up online content that could break the law, such as incitement of violence. Officials in NSOIT are focusing on material that could breach social media companies rules, but fall short of criminal activity.

It is unclear exactly where the unit is drawing the line when it comes to disinformation, an area likely to be scrutinised in the days and weeks ahead if the violence continues.

Social media executives have been telling the Government that they are willing to act on material that breaches their terms of service.

That is a key part of the Online Safety Act, which was passed last year but will not be implemented until next year when Ofcom, the media regulator, finishes its consultation on how it should be made to work.

A government spokesman said: We have been abundantly clear  what is illegal offline is illegal online, and its right that any thugs stoking violence on the streets meet the full force of the law.

We make no apology for monitoring publicly available content that threatens public safety. The information is flagged up to social media firms when it is likely to have breached their terms of service, and the police when it meets a criminal threshold.

That obviously requires monitoring within the rules of privacy and human rights laws: which is exactly what teams across the Government are doing.

A government source added that the unit monitors trends, rather than individuals.
Dr Margo Adler says we should think of Antarctica as an incredible place to protect and appreciate, but not necessarily as somewhere we need to visit. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

If Antarctica were music, it would be Mozart, the Australian broadcaster Andrew Denton once wrote, after one of his many (at least seven) trips to the continent. Art, and it would be Michelangelo. Literature, and it would be Shakespeare. And yet it is something even greater; the only place on earth that is still as it should be. May we never tame it.

And yet it is not as it should be: last year, Antarctic sea ice cover dropped for six months straight.

Antarctica is understandably a bucket list destination for many, but herein lies the conundrum. The more people visit it, the more people feel a passion to protect it from human impact. And yet every person who goes there inevitably contributes to its destruction: the BBC estimates that the average carbon emissions for an Antarctic tourist are 3.76 tonnes  roughly what a person typically generates in an entire year.

But tourism has boomed in Antarctica since the 1990s. In 2019-20 75,000 tourists went; by 2022-23 that number was 104,897. If each traveller was, in effect, melting 75 tonnes of snow just by visiting, then that adds up to almost 8m tonnes turned to slush.

Related: Red alert in Antarctica: the year rapid, dramatic change hit climate scientists like a punch in the guts

Hobart is Australias gateway to Antarctica, and is home to the vast majority of our Antarctic and Southern Ocean scientists. Many of those scientists are roving the Hobart waterfront this week as part of Hobartica, a new element of the annual science and art festival Beaker Street.

Like many of us, Beaker Street founder Dr Margo Adler has never been to Antarctica  but she has made the deliberate choice not to go.

Ive always been really fascinated, but I dont really have a good justification for going, she says. Through Hobartica, she hopes we can get there vicariously  by immersing in the experiences of those who have been.

For many Antarctic scientists  including Adlers partner  a big part of their work is sharing their experience.

We want people to think of Antarctica as an incredible place that we need to protect and appreciate, but not necessarily as somewhere that we need to visit, she says. I dont think it should be a bucket list place for people. I think it should be something that we feel really proud to be protecting together.

Not everyone needs to go there. The people who do go there can say, This place is pristine. We need to keep it that way. But let me tell you about it. Let me show you.

[Going to Antarctica] was one of the most head-clearing and heart-healing experiences of my life Helen Garner, author

Hobartica features visual and sound art inspired by the continent, talks by artists and scientists, Finnish sauna tents and a unique Antarctic icy plunge experience: participants will enter water that matches the temperature of Antarctic water that day, then move to water matched to the predicted temperature in 2050.

It feels like the sort of thing that you can experience without actually being there, Adler says. Im sure some people who have been there would say, No, you cant. You cant go to space in a planetarium. But I think there are elements of that experience, and what makes it so special, that we can bring here.

Related: Fidlets, fingies and riding a doo: study sheds light on Antarctic English slang

Antarctica has long inspired artists: there are dozens of residencies offered around the world, increasingly aimed at artists willing to go there to raise awareness. Trips to Antarctica have led to novels by Kim Stanley Robinson, Thomas Keneally and Favel Parrett; documentaries by Werner Herzog; art by Sidney Nolan and Ken Done. Lawrence English and David Bridie both composed music there.

And theres Helen Garner, who wrote Regions of Thick-Ribbed Ice about a trip she took to Antarctica on a tourist ship. I can say now, 26 years later, that it was one of the most head-clearing and heart-healing experiences of my life, she told the Guardian. And Ill never stop feeling grateful for it.

The beloved childrens author Alison Lester has been to Antarctica five times, so far, which feels a bit rude! she laughs.

On her first trip, as an Australian Antarctic Arts Fellow in 2005, she sent emails each evening to children and teachers all over the world sharing her daily experiences. Her journeys have continued to feature in her work, with a new book, Into the Ice: Reflections on Antarctica, out in October.

She says Antarctica is like nowhere else: Its so remote. Its almost like going to outer space in that when youre down there, youre so insignificant and part of such a huge, pristine world. And I guess, because its so inaccessible, theres always that thing: if you cant do something, you want to do it more!

Lester believes that the arts have the best chance of getting the message of conservation across to the public: there is value in not going yourself. The more people know about it, the more they will grow to love it and they will want to protect it, and I think thats what the arts can do, in a way that science often cant do. You can fall in love with the place.

Elizabeth Leane holds the unique title of professor of Antarctic studies within the School of Humanities at the University of Tasmania. With a background across science and the arts, shes been to Antarctica six times and is leading Creative Antarctica, an epic survey of Australian art and literature examining the continent with an exhibition planned for 2026.

I got the bug, as people do, she says. Its astonishingly beautiful, and its a real dilemma, in the sense that I want everyone to be able to see what Ive seen, because its spectacular. Its difficult to put into words.

Its one of those ironies that if too many people go it loses what makes it special, but I wouldnt like for no one to be able to see it, or for only scientists to be able to see it, because I think its a part of our world that we all need to know about. Some of us through secondhand sources, and some of us directly.

Philip Samartzis, a sound artist whose work is featured in Hobartica, has been to Antarctica twice to document the industrial sounds of station life and, separately, the famous wind. Hes seen a real shift in the focus of artists over the past decade and a half, away from the historic ideal of humans conquering a wild landscape.

More recently there have been questions around gender equality, the ethics of being there, the impact that we have on essentially the last pristine wilderness environment in the world, he says. Artists are pushing the impact of climate change, which has been part of my focus as the conditions there are becoming much more volatile and less predictable.

Do these accounts and works created by artists truly help us understand Antarctica without going ourselves? Leane thinks so: Ive come to the conclusion that you can write an excellent novel about Antarctica without going there, and you can write a terrible one when you have, she says.

I think we have to get past the idea that only by going there, only by being on the ice, can you be genuinely an Antarctican.
First Minister of Former first minister Mark Drakeford

The first sentence in the last governments transport policy paper, The plan for drivers, seemed specifically aimed at winding up the green lobby: Theres nothing wrong with driving.

Even at the time, this was seen as nothing more than a pretty shallow attempt to divide voters along culture war lines in the hope that voter disillusionment with restrictions on cars could be leveraged for political purposes. Of course there are negative aspects to driving; the trick is to produce a balanced transport policy that acknowledges the importance of both private, individual transport and public mass-transit transport systems.

Meanwhile, in Wales, a similarly polarising approach was pursued, but through the other end of the telescope: captured by the extremes of the environmentalist movement, former climate change minister Lee Waters announced a full ban on new road building in 2021, as well as a national speed limit of 20 mph. To Mr Waters and his over-mighty advisers, there was everything wrong about driving.

The consequences were predictable. The economy of Wales, just like every modern economy, requires good, efficient roads in order to grow, but economic growth has never been a priority for the extreme wing of the environmental movement. In fact, like driving, economic growth, on which new jobs and improved standards of living depend, is seen as A Bad Thing which can only lead to higher carbon emissions.

Mr Waters even opposed the lifting of tolls on the Severn Bridge on the basis that, popular and money-saving though the move would be, it would result in more people using their cars. His 20 mph policy was widely opposed in Wales, not least for the reason that even buses, the most popular form of public transport, were becoming less attractive to passengers as a consequence of the national speed restriction.

When first minister Mark Drakeford returned (briefly, as it turned out) to the back benches of the Welsh Senedd, Waters went with him. The next administration, led by Vaughan Gething, immediately performed a U-turn on Waters 20 mph policy, devolving the decision on local speed limits to local authorities. That decision has now been confirmed by the new first minister (do keep up) Eluned Morgan.

Its a major blow against the climate extremists who have enjoyed undue influence over the Labour administration in Cardiff in recent years. But the Senedd nevertheless is on a collision course, not just with the UK government and its stated commitment to economic growth, but with the people of Wales. The Welsh Government Roads Review set up by Waters when he was still a minister recommended the cancellation, pausing, modification or replacement of most planned road infrastructure projects.

The stated purposes of the review made only a passing reference (purpose number four of four) to supporting prosperity through access to development sites that can support sustainable transport. The other purposes were supporting modal shift, reducing casualties through small changes, and adapting to climate change.

The review also adopted four conditions: minimise construction carbon emissions, no increase in vehicle speeds that increase emissions, no increase in road capacity for cars, and no adverse impact on ecologically valuable sites.

All of this reads like a Green Party activists dream come true, the sort of template that wealthy middle class people with too much time on their hands love to shove down the throats of working people whose challenges in moving around and securing employment are no more than an interesting subject on which to base a university dissertation. When the review was published in February last year there were more than a few eyebrows raised at the revelation that it had not even been subject to public consultation. No matter, insisted the chair, environmental activist and consultant Lynn Sloman; after all, the review members had held 30 meetings with key stakeholders, and engaged with 25 organisations, the third sector, young people, professional institutions, and 14 local authorities. So thats all right then.

One of those who criticised the review was Ken Skates, who remains a member of the Welsh Government and who now has the portfolio of (among other things) transport. If he leads a fightback against this ideologically-driven attack on Waless economy and its frustrated drivers (ie, most of the nation) he will have done the country and his party a favour.

In opposition, Keir Starmer used to say that Wales was a template for his own plans for the UK. With the devolved governments questionable performance, particularly on health and transport, the prime minister has appeared reluctant to repeat that boast. On these two areas of policy at least, Wales has shown the rest of the country how not to do things. The 20 mph debacle has been costly to enforce, will cost even more to remove, and has cost the Welsh government valuable political capital.

Scrapping the roads review will be even more painful. But the cost of not doing so will be measured in Welsh citizens jobs and standard of living. For Labour, that cost could well be counted in terms of votes and, ultimately, in the loss of its grip on power in Cardiff.
Labour ministers may choose to create a new exemption for offences linked to the disorder seen in towns and cities in the last 10 days - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Europe

Far-Right rioters jailed over recent disorder could be released from prison early under the Governments scheme to tackle overcrowding, The Telegraph understands.

Last month, ministers announced that they were changing the law to allow some criminals to leave prison early because of a lack of jail space.

They said scores of criminals serving determinate sentences would be able to leave after serving 40 per cent of their custodial sentence rather than the current 50 per cent.

Some exemptions were announced, including those jailed for sex offences and domestic abuse offences, as well as violent offenders serving four or more years.

However, some of those found guilty of violent offences in connection with the riots have been given sentences lower than the four-year limit. At Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, three were given sentences of three years, 30 months and 20 months.

The early release scheme announced by the new Labour Government is set to run for at least 18 months. A rioter jailed for three years this week will have served 40 per cent of their sentence in around 14 months time.

Tom Tugendhat, a Tory leadership candidate, said: This demonstrates very clearly that Labour say one thing when they are campaigning and do another thing when they are in office.

We have seen a level of criminality across the country that needs addressing, and these are serious crimes.

Greg Smith, the Tory MP for Buckingham, said: Labours revolving door is going to come back to bite them. They cant say theyre tough on rioters and then let them out of jail after only five minutes.

Labour ministers may choose to create a new exemption for offences linked to the disorder seen in towns and cities in the last 10 days.

A Ministry of Justice source said there were some additional exceptions, not announced, to the early release programme, such as those guilty of terror or arson offences, with whicch some rioters could be charged.

Those convicted of the most serious crimes, such as murder, have never been included in the early release scheme.

Earlier this week, Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, said more than 500 prison places would be opened up in the next month to help house rioters who were sentenced, with expansions of the prison estate sped up.

The extra spaces in part come from a new housing block in HMP Stocken in Rutland and new cells in HMP Cookham Wood in Kent.

A Ministry of Justice source blamed the previous Tory government and the lack of prison spaces passed on to Labour for the fact that some rioters could be released early.

The source said: The last government left the prisons on the edge of collapse. It was that disgraceful act of national self-harm that left this Government with no choice but to introduce the early release programme.

And it was only the swift action of this Government that meant the criminal justice system was able to rise to the challenge of recent disorder, ensuring there is a prison cell waiting for every thug who deserves one.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman at the said: The Government has brought in over 500 new prison places early, to ensure there is a cell waiting for everyone involved in the recent disorder and thuggery.
Sir Keir Starmer has said it is vital police do not let up on tackling riots across the country.

Speaking to broadcasters after a visit to a mosque in the West Midlands, the Prime Minister announced that he will hold another Cobra meeting later on Thursday to reflect on last night and plan for the coming days in a bid to keep the disorder under control.

Thousands of officers were deployed across the capital on Wednesday in anticipation of further unrest, with more than 100 far-Right demonstrations expected across the country.

But the large-scale disorder people had feared failed to manifest, with the Metropolitan Police commissioner claiming the major police presence and swathes of counter-demonstrators deterred the rioters.

Sir Keir acknowledged that last night was much better than was expected, but insisted we are not going to give up on our efforts here.

Now its important that we dont let up here and thats why later on today I will have another Cobra meeting with law enforcement, with senior police officers, to make sure that we reflect on last night but also plan for the coming days, he said.

He also credited additional police deployments, as well as the quick sentencing of people involved in disorder, with snuffing out the riots on Wednesday.

Last night, I think the fact we didnt see the disorder that was feared is because we had police deployed in numbers in the right places, giving reassurance to communities, he said.

We were able to demonstrate the criminal justice system working speedily, so yesterday we saw the sentencing of individuals who had been involved in disorder days ago, some of them getting sentences as long as three years.

That sent a very powerful message. But I also think that the work thats been done jointly to reassure our communities is becoming more effective.

Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, speaks to faith and community leaders at Arden Academy in Solihull - Joe Giddens/PA

The Prime Minister dodged a question on whether he should engage with underlying tensions over immigration, insisting his first priority is the safety and security of our communities.

Yes, last night was much better than was expected, but we are not going to give up on our efforts here, he said.

Thats why its very important that I continue my discussions, co-ordinating with law enforcement, with police leaders, to make sure weve got the right officers in the right place, to keep pushing on the criminal justice response.

I was very keen that we were able to demonstrate that if youre involved in disorder, within days you will be in the criminal justice system and some people starting long terms of imprisonment.

That needs to continue, and so that is my sole focus.

Sir Keir also held a roundtable discussion with Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, Richard Parker, West Midlands mayor, and members of the Muslim community during his visit to the region on Thursday.

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An Orthodox jew talks on his mobile phone as he walks past the Ahavas Torah synagogue in the Stamford Hill area of north London. Photograph: Niklas Hallen/AFP/Getty Images

Antisemitic incidents in the UK more than doubled in the first half of 2024 compared with the same period the previous year, attributed to the war in Gaza, according to a leading Jewish charity.

The total number of incidents recorded for the first six months of this year was 1,978. The comparable number for 2023 was 964.

The Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitism and provides security for Jewish communities in Britain, said the figures were unprecedented and shocking.

This is a hatred that, while deeply rooted, adapts to current social, political and cultural contexts. The most common form of political or ideological discourse present in antisemitic incidents reported to CST throughout the first half of 2024 referenced, or was linked to, Israel, Gaza, the Hamas terror attack or the subsequent war, alongside anti-Jewish language or targeting, the CST said.

There was evidence of political or ideological rhetoric or motivations in more than seven out of 10 incidents recorded by the CST.

A record number of antisemitic incidents involved schoolchildren, school staff or school property. The total of 162 incidents was more than double the number of incidents for the same period the previous year.

The CST also logged a sharp rise in anti-Jewish hate incidents on university campuses and other higher education settings  more than five times the previous years tally.

Its report said: One reason why incident levels have remained so high for so long following 7 October is that this war has lasted longer than any previous conflicts in Israel and Gaza, and therefore has held public attention and scrutiny for a greater period of time.

Images of death and destruction have continued to circulate in mainstream and social media, anti-Israel protests have persisted, as have vigils for the hostages kidnapped by Hamas.

This has resulted in heightened feelings of uncertainty and fear among Jewish people, who know that they may become proxy targets for hostility towards Israel, the CST added.

The charity recorded 121 incidents in the category of assault, an increase of 41% from the first half of 2023. Cases of damage and desecration to Jewish property rose by 246%.

There were 142 incidents in the category of threats and 1,618 in the category of abusive behaviour.

The majority of incidents took place in Greater London and Greater Manchester, home to the largest Jewish communities in the UK. But there were also incidents in other places, including Brighton, Cambridge, Oxford and Birmingham.

Mark Gardner, the CSTs chief executive, said: The disgraceful surge in British antisemitism is further evidenced by these latest figures. It happens across society, including in schools, campuses, places of work, public transport and on the streets.

The CST applauds our communitys ever-increasing determination to stand strong and proud, despite the hatred, vilification and blatant double standards that we too often face, including from many who perversely call themselves anti-racists.

Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, said: The soaring levels of antisemitic hate outlined in this report are truly appalling, and we must never relent in our work to root out this hatred in all its forms.

There is no place in Britain for this vile hatred and we are absolutely clear that those who push this poison  on the streets or online  must always face the full force of the law.

British Muslims have also experienced a big increase in hate incidents since last October, according to the charity Tell Mama.

A survey of 550 Muslims found that 60% believed anti-Muslim hate had increased. More than one in four respondents said they had experienced an anti-Muslim hate incident.

Iman Atta, the director of Tell Mama, said: These findings demonstrate that British Muslims feel a sense of trepidation and a growing sense of the toxic nature of anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia. This is even before the recent events and the attacks on mosques like Southport mosque by members of the far right.
"Beautiful Swifties" friendship bracelets sit amongst the thousands of flowers and tributes placed outside the Atkinson Art Centre in Southport. (Getty) (Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)

Taylor Swift fans have provided a huge show of support to victims of the Southport mass stabbings - by giving more than 400 gifts and bracelets to the families of the victims.

Amongst the flowers, teddy bears, and cards are hundreds of friendship bracelets left in tribute for the victims who were killed in the stabbings on 29 July outside the venue holding a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.

Axel Rudakubana, 17, was charged with the murders of Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven. Rudakubana is also charged with the attempted murders of yoga class instructor Leanne Lucas, businessman John Hayes and eight children, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

All the children wounded in the attack are no longer in hospital and were discharged on Tuesday.

Why did people leave friendship bracelets?

At the dance workshop where the attack occurred, the young fans present would have been making friendship bracelets. This is because of a long-held tradition by Swifties, Taylor Swift fans, who exchange bracelets with each other.

In lieu of an actual exchange, Swifties made bracelets for the deceased in tribute; some have the names of the children killed, and other bracelets have short messages of support.

In one photo, a bracelet has the names of the three children, "Alice, Bebe, and Elsie", and another reads "Bigger than the sky".

Handout photos show (L-R) Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, victims of the Southport knife attack. (Merseyside Police/Handout via REUTERS) (Reuters / Reuters)

Friendship bracelets among the tributes. (Getty) (PETER POWELL via Getty Images)

Fans have also made further friendship bracelets to donate to everyone who attended the dance class.

Cristina Jones co-organised this project with Holly Goldring and they are also the duo behind the viral fundraiser on JustGiving that has now exceeded 360k.

Jones told Yahoo News that they have 400 items for the victims and that the gifts will be donated in collaboration with Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Jones said the hospital has urged people not to send gifts directly to the victims.

The two fans have rallied Swifities and organised a project to donate gifts to the surviving victims. Fans made handmade bracelets and have also gathered gifts such as sweets, toys, fidget spinners, Taylor Swift colouring books, and chocolates. People were more than happy to donate and thanked them for organising it all. They have had to halt donations as they were inundated with gifts.

Fans of the musician made and donated friendship bracelets to the Swifties, who were attacked in the mass stabbing in Southport. (Credit: Cristina Jones) (Cristina Jones)

Jones said: "Friendship bracelets are such an important part of Swiftie lore. In the song Youre On Your Own Kid, she sings 'Make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it' and we have been trading them and making them for each other since."

The song was released in 2022, and fast forward to now, in 2024, fans have turned it into a must-do activity at concerts and when Swifties meet up. During her shows, Swift sometimes engages with a lucky fan by giving them her "22" hat. Last year, a Swiftie gave the pop star a friendship bracelet in return. Swift is returning to the UK on August 15 as part of her Era's Tour with 5 nights at Wembley Stadium.

Taylor got a friendship bracelet from the fan who got the 22 hat tonight! This is third time someones give her one  pic.twitter.com/ruoBbMF34l  lindsey  (@thinktswift) May 6, 2023

Read more
19-year-old Austrian suspect, identified as Beran A, has been arrested

Scotland Yard will assess all the intelligence before Taylor Swift returns to the UK for a series of concerts later this month, the policing minister said on Thursday.

The US singers three performances in the Austrian capital Vienna were cancelled on Wednesday night over an apparent plot to launch a terrorist attack at her concert venue in the city.

Swift was set to perform at the Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the international leg of her Eras Tour. Her sold out shows in the Austrian capital were set to attract more than 200,000 fans.

She is next scheduled to perform five dates at Londons Wembley Stadium between August 15 and August 20.

When asked on LBC about the arrests of suspected extremists in Vienna and what this could mean for the final leg of Swifts UK tour, policing minister Diana Johnson said: Clearly, the police will be looking at all the intelligence and making decisions, they risk assess every event that happens in this country, and thats something for the police.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: There is nothing to indicate that the matters being investigated by the Austrian authorities will have an impact on upcoming events here in London.

As always, we will continue to keep any new information under careful review.

The Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna where Taylor Swift had been due to perform three shows - MAX SLOVENCIK/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

It comes as the main suspect arrested on suspicion of plotting the attack has confessed to planning to drive a car into a crowd of ticketless fans outside the arena and attack them with machetes.

The 19-year-old Austrian citizen, identified as Beran A, had recently sworn an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State online and intended to kill as many people as he could, security officials said.

He was clearly radicalised in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels, said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, director of Austrias domestic intelligence agency.

Beran A, who confessed to the plans shortly after being arrested, wanted to kill himself and a large crowd either today or tomorrow, Mr Haijawi-Pirchner added.

A search of his parents home south of Vienna uncovered homemade explosives, detonators, machetes and knives.

Beran A has now been pictured, bearded and posing with knives, as his neighbours revealed he had dramatically changed his appearance recently.

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is the highest grossing concert tour of all time, according to Rolling Stone - Noam Galai/TAS24

A 17 year-old was also arrested on Wednesday accused of being the suspects accomplice. The teen, who has Turkish and Croatian roots, had just started a job at the Ernst Happel stadium days before the event was cancelled over the terror threat, officials said.

Police also questioned a 15 year-old boy, who confirmed many details of the main suspects confession, but is not believed to have taken an active part in the plot.

With all the suspects in custody, Franz Ruf, the head of public safety in Austria, said there was no longer an imminent threat.

Investigators revealed that Beran A, whose parents come from North Macedonia, stole chemicals from his former metalworking company to build a bomb to murder spectators.

Police cordoned off and partially evacuated the area around the suspects house in Ternitz, a small town at the scenic foot of the Alps in Lower Austria. Around 100 people, including residents of a retirement home, had to be evacuated.

Residents of Ternitz told Austrian media that the suspect used to be a harmless boy from next door who wore jeans and trainers.

But his neighbours noted that he had recently changed his appearance, growing a long beard and was often seen wearing a long-sleeved cotton shirt.

Taylor Swift fans gather in Vienna despite the Austrian leg of her tour being postponed - Heinz-Peter Bader/AP

Local authorities are said to have acted after receiving a tip-off from another countrys intelligence services about a suspected terror cell. CBS News reported it came from the US Secret Service.

The suspect had recently declared his allegiance to an Afghanistan-based splinter cell of IS, known as Khorasan Province (ISKP), according to Austrias broadcaster Oe24.

The terrorist outfit is responsible for the massacre at a concert hall in Moscow in March, which killed some 150 people, and for launching threats to attack stadiums in Dortmund, Munich and Berlin during the Euro football championships this summer.

Investigators said they also found extensive material related to the Islamic State group and al-Qaeda at the home of the second suspect.

Fans gather at Corneliusgasse near the stadium where Taylor Swift had been due to perform - Louisa Off/Reuters

Karl Nehammer, the Austrian chancellor, said in a statement on Wednesday, that the cancellation of the Taylor Swift concerts by the organisers is a bitter disappointment for all fans in Austria.

The situation surrounding the apparently planned terror attack in Vienna was very serious, he said. But he added that thanks to intensive co-operation between police and Austrian and foreign intelligence, the threat could be recognised early on, tackled and a tragedy prevented.

Austrias interior minister has criticised the fact the country had to rely on foreign intelligence to foil the terror plot.

We are dependent on foreign intelligence services because we do not have the legal means to monitor messenger services on which potential offenders communicate today, Gerhard Karner said.

We dont want or need mass surveillance, but rather modern tools for the police so that they can do their job for the safety of the population.

Dominik Nepp, the leader of the far-Right Freedom Party in Vienna, seized the moment to criticise the governments immigration policies.

Taylor Swift can play all over the world, but not here! Vienna is really different! My daughters and I have been looking forward to this for a year! he wrote on social media.

Only because we have this IS riff-raff in our country thanks to the uncontrolled welcome culture!
Joel Bevis was dismissed from Eaton Square private school in Mayfair

A teacher attempted to sue a leading private school after he was reported for messaging a 14-year-old girl about a bikini shot after he had been dismissed.

Joel Bevis messaged Hhhhhheeeeelllllooooo to the Eaton Square school pupil on social media after she posted a picture of herself on a beach, an employment tribunal heard.

He had been sacked by the 29,000-a-year Mayfair institution in 2019 and had later contacted the girl and other students to offer private tutoring.

But when the school informed social services about their interaction, Mr Bevis took it to a tribunal, claiming racial harassment and victimisation for acting maliciously by reporting him to the local authority.

He accused them of trying to bring him into disrepute and damage or destroy his professional reputation and career.

However, his claims were dismissed, with the panel ruling Eaton Square had reported him properly. He was ordered to pay 20,000 of the schools legal costs.

The London tribunal was told Mr Bevis joined Eaton Square in January 2018 before being dismissed in August 2019.

The hearing was told he then accused the school of racial discrimination and received a 30,000 settlement  made without admission of liability  to avoid the cost of litigation.

However, after he was sacked, Mr Bevis began messaging some of his former pupils, some aged 14 and 15, on social media to offer them tutoring.

[Eaton Square] policies (in common with those of other schools) prohibit teachers from engaging with their students on social media, for obvious safeguarding reasons, the tribunal said.

We have seen the social media exchanges between [Mr Bevis] and three of these pupils.

On any objective level, they are inappropriate exchanges between a former teacher whose relationship with the children arose only because he had taught them and who had been in a position of trust in relation to them.

There are two issues of particular concern.

First of all, [Mr Bevis] was using this social media contact to try and offer his tutoring services in maths directly to the children, and in the process he made derogatory comments about the teaching of their then current maths teacher at the school and, in the case of one pupil, made derogatory comments about the private tutor whom that pupil already had at that time.

He was clearly doing this in order to persuade them to use his services.

The second is the language which he used and the level of familiarity with the pupils.

There are a number of concerning examples but the worst is his response to one of his former pupils (a 14 year old girl) who sent a picture of herself on the beach in what appears to be a bikini top and to which the claimant replies: Hhhhhheeeeelllllooooo.

Safeguarding concerns

The hearing was told that in November 2020, two of the pupils he messaged complained to their current maths teacher, who informed the then headmistress, Caroline Townshend.

The school reported Mr Bevis to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) responsible for child safety, who informed the police.

The tribunal heard that while the police did not find the messages to be criminal, they were found to raise safeguarding concerns.

Mr Bevis claimed that a white teacher at the school had also been following pupils on social media and accused managers of breaching a confidentiality agreement regarding the initial 30,000 settlement.

However, Mr Bevis case was rejected by the panel.

Employment judge Richard Baty said: [Eaton Square] quite rightly took the matter seriously...the advice was to seek advice from the LADO.

The LADO advised them that they should make a report. The school duly made that report.

Although those at [Eaton Square] were well aware that [Mr Bevis], with his history of litigation, might well go legal if they did so, they decided, quite rightly, to treat the matter as they would with any other teacher and to make the report.

[Eaton Square] did not therefore, as [he] has alleged, make a malicious report or one which was intended to bring him into disrepute and damage or destroy his professional reputation and career. 
The GMC warned that patient safety is at risk due to overworked, stressed doctors. Photograph: Jeff Moore/PA

NHS doctors are at breaking point, with almost a fifth cutting their hours and two in five refusing to take on extra work to avoid becoming burnt out, new research has found.

A third of medics are struggling and unable to cope with heavy workloads that force them to regularly work extra hours to keep up with the demands for care, the General Medical Council (GMC) said.

Its findings paint a grim picture of the working lives, morale and wellbeing of doctors in the UK.

Related: GPs have been forced to take industrial action | Letters

The GMC, which regulates the medical profession, warned that exhausted, overworked doctors could pose a threat to patients safety. UK health services are in a critical state and those who work within them are at breaking point, said Charlie Massey, the GMCs chief executive.

Prof Dame Carrie MacEwen, its chair, also described doctors experiences in the annual report.

Seeking to protect their wellbeing, doctors are taking matters into their own hands. Many are reducing their hours and declining additional work, she said. A concerning proportion are taking time off due to stress.

The report was based on a survey of a representative sample of 4,288 of the UKs 380,000 doctors undertaken last autumn. It showed that 19% of doctors had cut their hours over the previous year  the highest proportion since records began in 2019 and up one point on the year before.

Similarly, intense work pressures had driven 41% to refuse to take on extra duties  slightly down from the record 42% seen the year before.

Worryingly for an NHS already short of doctors, 47% of medics plan to reduce their contracted hours over the next year, the GMC also found. There have also been small rises in the numbers choosing to work as locums or retire and return to work on a less than full-time basis.

Related: Englands GPs are squaring up to the government  but its an unnecessary battle | Polly Toynbee

One GP told the GMC: I used to love my job. Now I absolutely hate it. I feel exhausted and I dread going to work. As soon as I can afford to, Im out of here.

Another doctor said: Although I am unlikely to retire in the next year, I will retire earlier than planned due to disillusionment with my job.

A third medic said that, although they were contracted to work six four-hour sessions a week, they regularly work on my days off and average 10-12 hours a day, three days a week, plus maybe another four to eight hours on my days off.

GPs appear to be the worst affected by the growing need for care and the rundown state of the NHS, which the Labour government has said is broken after 14 years of neglect by the Conservatives.

Family doctors are much more likely (28%) to have reduced their hours compared with the average (19%) in the medical profession  the highest across all its different branches. And 48% of GPs are struggling, again far higher than the 33% average for doctors as a whole.
British universities will be competing for school leavers to fill their places. Photograph: Chris Ison/PA

The UKs leading universities have thousands of undergraduate places unfilled a week before A-level results are published, meaning more school leavers are likely to gain places than in recent years.

A survey by the Press Association found that members of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities were advertising nearly 3,900 vacancies on courses for domestic undergraduates starting in autumn, compared with 2,000 at this point last year.

Last year only 15 of the 24 Russell Group universities had unfilled courses but this year the number has risen to 18, with Manchester, Durham and Liverpool universities joining the pool of vacancies.

Related: UK universities face growing struggle to recruit international students

The courses are advertised through clearing, which allows applicants without the offer of a place, or who want to change courses, to apply, in most cases after they have received their exam results.

The survey of 130 of the UKs biggest universities found 23,000 course vacancies being offered to students through clearing earlier this week. Last year it recorded 22,400 course vacancies.

With sixth-formers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland receiving A-level and BTec results on 15 August, universities are preparing to make rapid decisions about applicants who may have narrowly missed the grades they needed for entry, as well as offering places through clearing.

Some experts are predicting the proportion of top A-level grades awarded in England this year may be lower than in 2023, meaning high tariff universities may have to set more lenient entry requirements.

Mike Nicholson, the University of Cambridges director of recruitment, admissions and participation, said: I think the impetus this year will be to take a student whos narrowly missed [their required grades], and then if you need some more students on top of that, go into clearing.

But if you can fill your places on students whove got the grades and those whove narrowly missed, and then not have to bother with clearing, then for a university thats probably a stronger position to be in.

Cambridge, along with Oxford and a handful of other institutions, have not offered any courses through clearing so far this year.

The acute financial pressures facing universities, caused by the long-term erosion in domestic tuition fees as well as fewer applicants from inside and outside the UK, means there is a strong incentive for institutions to fill places, or risk having to cut costs and make staff redundant.

Nicholson - a former head of admissions at the universities of Bath and Oxford - said universities were becoming fast off the blocks in advertising vacancies online.

I think universities will have a very clear sense of what their numbers are this year, what theyve got to achieve to balance the books. Therefore, I think Thursday and Friday of the week A-level results are out will be very busy, Nicholson told the Press Association.

Related: Next government faces hard choices on English universities, say experts

Some universities were likely to run extra on-campus drop-in sessions after results came out, to encourage students to enrol, he added.

The extra places on offer through clearing could be the result of fewer applications. Just 42.7% of 18-year-olds in England have applied for an undergraduate place this year, compared with 44.9% in 2022.

A spokesperson for the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) said: As is the case each year, clearing is likely to be competitive for the most selective courses and at the most selective universities. Ucass advice to students is to research their options and make a plan ahead of results day.

School leavers in Scotland received their results earlier this week, with a record 20,670 aged 19 and under being accepted on university or college courses.
Mel Stride, one of the six Tory leadership candidates - TAYFUN SALCI/SHUTTERSTOCK

Mel Stride, the Conservative leadership hopeful, has blamed Nigel Farage for fuelling conspiracy theories in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

Mr Stride, the shadow pensions secretary, condemned social media posts by the Reform UK leader after the killings of three young girls on July 29 and the subsequent riots across the country.

Mr Farage speculated in an online video whether the truth is being withheld amid rumours falsely identifying the suspect as an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK in a small boat last year.

During the subsequent unrest, he shared a post by Zia Yusuf, the Reform chairman, claiming that nobody has done more to sow division than race-obsessed Labour.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Stride said: I think one element of this debate [that] has been skated over, and shouldnt have been actually, are the remarks made by Nigel Farage.

For example, when the terrible incident in Southport first occurred, his suggestion that the police might have not been telling the truth about that situation, I think, helped fuel conspiracy theories around what was happening. [That] was deeply unhelpful.

Mr Stride said it was particularly unfortunate for Mr Farage to have perhaps suggested that terrorism might have been involved when the authorities are saying that it hasnt.

I think those things are examples of the kind of language and interventions that, at a moment of crisis, are deeply unhelpful, he added. And I think thats why we need level heads, and moderation as well as very firm action, he added. And we have seen very firm action.

Speaking to The Daily T podcast last week, Mr Stride said the Conservatives must not get into bed with the Reform leader.

He argued the Tories must instead come up with a solution to the concerns of Reform voters after the party picked up more than four million votes at the election last month.

Mr Farage has said he was referring to claims made by Andrew Tate, the controversial influencer, when he asked whether the alleged Southport attacker was known to security services.

Saying he had needed to increase his personal security, he blamed commentators who had held him responsible for inciting disorder in the past week. Some of whats been said is absolutely disgusting, its cowardly, it is unjust, he told TalkTV.

Ive been fighting elections for over 30 years because I believe in the democratic process. Ive never at any point in those 30 years been involved in violence, been involved in street protests, been involved in any of those things.

One of the reasons the Southport riots were as bad as they were, one of the reasons the mosque itself was targeted, is because the authorities didnt tell us quickly enough what the truth was.

Now, we then learnt a few hours later he was born in Cardiff, he wasnt an Islamist extremist at all My question as to whether he was on a watchlist still hasnt been answered. And because I asked a simple question, that suddenly becomes incitement.

Mr Farage said it would have been inappropriate to use a statement in the Commons following the Southport attacks to raise that question, but said he still intended to do so.
Donald Trump speaks to reporters at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday. Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP

Struggling in the polls and charged with running a lackluster presidential campaign, Donald Trump faced reporters on Thursday for an hour-long press conference that swiftly descended into a familiar mess of freewheeling invective, outlandish claims and outright lies.

Related: Trump shared private flight with Project 2025 head despite denying connection

Nobody was killed on January 6, the former president and Republican presidential nominee said, of the day in 2021 when he incited an attack on Congress now linked to nine deaths, including law enforcement suicides and the shooting by a police officer of Ashley Babbitt, who Trump voters widely claim as a martyr.

Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, Trump repeated his praise of rioters convicted and jailed in the hundreds, whom he has said he will pardon. Absurdly, he also said there was a peaceful transfer of power after he lost to Joe Biden.

But he seemed more exercised by the size of his audience.

Ive spoken to the biggest crowds, Trump claimed, in just one complaint about the media supposedly exaggerating crowd sizes for his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, at his expense.

Nobodys spoken to crowds bigger than me, Trump said. If you look at Martin Luther King, when he did his speech, his great speech, and you look at ours, same real estate, same everything, same number of people, if not we had more.

Trump was comparing his speech on the Ellipse on 6 January 2021, when he told supporters to fight like hell in service of his lie about electoral fraud in his 2020 defeat, to Kings imperishable speech at the Lincoln Memorial on 28 August 1963, a landmark of the civil rights era in which King outlined his dream of racial equality.

They said I had 25,000 and he had a million people. And Im OK with it, because I liked Dr Martin Luther King, Trump said. It was an echo of Trumps famous lies about the crowd size for his inauguration in 2017, compared to crowd sizes for Barack Obama. Analyses have found Trumps crowd was not remarkable or comparable.

Trump did make news, saying he wanted to do three debates and had agreed or was close to agreeing terms with Fox, NBC and ABC. After he finished speaking, ABC said Harris and Trump had agreed to debate on 10 September.

But most of Trumps answers trod familiar ground.

He accused Harris of running shy of speaking to the press; attacked her record as vice-president on border policy and immigration; ridiculed her performance in the 2020 Democratic primary; said Democrats were soft on crime; soft-pedaled the removal of the federal right to abortion by supreme court justices he installed; rehashed his hugely controversial questioning of Harriss racial identity; claimed Harris and Biden projected weakness in the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and elsewhere, allowing Russia to invade Ukraine and Hamas to attack Israel and forfeiting the respect of authoritarian leaders; and claimed the US economy was on the brink of a depression, not a recession after Wall Street sell-offs but on a day of notable recovery.

That wasnt the half of it. Trump even claimed to have been very protective of Hillary Clinton, the Democrat he beat in 2016, a campaign in which Trumps supporters regularly chanted  with his encouragement  that Clinton should be locked up.

Clinton was pretty evil, Trump said, accusing her of various unsubstantiated misdoings, but I thought it was a very bad thing take the wife of a president of the United States and put her in jail, and then I see the way they treat me. Thats the way it goes. But I was very protective of her. Nobody would understand that, but I was. I think my people understand it.

Most Americans understand that Trump is the first former president to be criminally convicted, on 34 charges of falsification of business records, with sentencing due in New York on 16 September.

He faces as many as 54 other criminal charges, in cases concerning attempted election subversion and retention of classified information. On Thursday he praised as brilliant the Florida judge, his own appointee, who threw out the classified information case, a decision now on appeal.

Trump has also been ordered to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in civil suits concerning business fraud and defamation arising from a rape claim a judge called substantially true.

Trump has never been afraid to go low. At one point on Thursday, he said Willie Brown, a former mayor of San Francisco whom Harris dated, told me terrible things about her. Given past form, including his recruitment in 2016 of women who accused Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct, Trumps remarks seemed a likely preview of blows to come.

Despite it all, he remains the Republican nominee for president, running with JD Vance, the Ohio senator, against Harris and Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota.

Related: Trump previously praised Walz for response to 2020 protests, audio shows

Amid polls showing Harris leading nationally and gaining or leading in battleground states, doubts about Trumps prospects have spread. Earlier on Thursday, Karl Rove, a Republican operative once known as George W Bushs brain, wrote for the Wall Street Journal under the headline Trump Teeters, but Will He Fall?

This race will be decided by each partys success in two fundamental tasks, Rove wrote. Turning out its base and persuading independent, swing voters. Convincing independents would be decisive.

The past six weeks have shown that the pendulum can swing rapidly and wildly, Rove wrote. The Trump campaign is floundering. Mr Trump seems rattled. Hes making plenty of unforced errors and wasting valuable, irreplaceable time on insults, side issues and trivia.

Roves column was published before Trumps press conference. Among Republicans, Roves message must have rung louder still after Trump was done.

All this undermines his cause, Rove wrote. The Trump-Vance ticket needs to become much more disciplined and settle soon on an effective line of attack against Harris-Walz that wins over swing voters and then stick to it.

If it cant achieve both these goals, a race Mr Trump was on the verge of winning three weeks ago could be lost.
Elon Musk has repeatedly attacked Sir Keir Starmer over the current unrest on X, his social media platform - Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters

X is no longer a platform to be proud of, a former director of the platform has said in the wake of accusations that it has fuelled the riots of the past week.

David Wilding was in charge of planning at Twitter in the UK until November 2022, when he resigned after the social media site was taken over by Elon Musk and rebranded as X.

Musk, its billionaire owner, has repeatedly attacked Sir Keir Starmer over the current unrest, calling him two-tier Keir and claiming civil war is inevitable in Britain.

Downing Street warned this week that the approach taken by some social media companies to tackle misinformation and inflammatory material has not gone far enough.

Wilding criticises Musk

In an interview with the BBCs Today Podcast, Mr Wilding said Musks behaviour and the general response of X to the riots had been really not good.

We used to recognise that Twitter wasnt perfect, but we thought it is a force for good in the world, he said. And were proud of the way certain people used it to get their voice across that might not previously have been heard.

I think its very hard to kind of look at Elon Musks personal conduct on the platform and feel in any way proud of that. So for example, even last week, its one thing to re-platform Tommy Robinson. Its another to personally interact with him as he did last week.

I think Tommy Robinson tweeted something out and he replied with two exclamation marks, which he often does. And knowing when youve got 190-odd million followers, when you choose to do that, and it is a choice, youre amplifying that message on a personal level.

Musk interacts with Robinson tweets

Robinson, a far-Right activist and former leader of the English Defence League (EDL) whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had his account reinstated by Musk in November.

The X owner said at the time: Free speech is allowed, provided laws are not broken.

Musk has interacted with a number of posts by Robinson, meaning they are likely to have been seen by millions more users than had he not replied to them.

Tommy Robinson is the former leader of the English Defence League - Chris J Ratcliffe/REUTERS

Robinson last week issued an appeal for calm after hundreds of rioters, whom Merseyside Police said it believed to be supporters of the EDL, clashed with police in Southport.

He claimed far-Right demonstrations in the wake of the Southport killings showed the British people have had enough, while also wrongly suggesting the suspect was an asylum seeker.

A number of X users and Russian social media were among those who falsely named the Southport suspect as a 17-year-old supposedly Muslim asylum seeker.

Mr Wildings X biography reads on here less and less for obvious reasons and he has been heavily critical of Musks approach to the social network.

Last month, he said that Twitter exists despite Elon Musk, not because of him, while also blaming him for the spread of false information.
Police officers respond to a far-right rally in Middlesbrough at the weekend. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

The Online Safety Act is back in the spotlight after a week of violence driven in part by far-right groups coordinating online, using a mixture of services including Telegram, TikTok and X.

There need to be amendments to the Online Safety Act, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, told the Guardian on Thursday. I think its not fit for purpose.

But the act is a sprawling piece of legislation that runs to 286 pages and 241 sections. Amending it would be no easy feat, and even working out what is actually covered by the law today, almost a year since it was passed by parliament, is tricky.

Here we look at the main areas covered by the new laws, which are expected to come into force in the UK in 2025.

Ofcom

The biggest chunk of the Online Safety Act relates to Ofcom, giving the regulator beefy new powers to tame social networks in particular. The act focuses on category one user-to-user services  the biggest platforms on the internet that host user-generated content  and gives them a host of new duties and responsibilities. They must, for instance, protect news publisher content, giving newspapers and broadcasters special notice before moderating their material, and must similarly protect the free expression of content of democratic importance by including provisions in their terms of service that are designed to take that principle into account.

But those requirements are filtered through Ofcom. The legislation is set up to prevent the regulator having to act on individual pieces of content. Instead, Ofcom is supposed to focus on the rules the platforms themselves set, and monitor whether they are doing what they say they will. In theory, this means a platform that wants to be minimally censorious can be, provided it doesnt give users a false sense of security by claiming otherwise.

For the time being, though, those powers are purely notional. Ofcom still needs to publish its own codes of practice and guidance, later this year, before regulated services can even begin to be held to account for their platforms. Even then, they will have three months to assess the risk of illegal content before being required to act.

Terrorism and child abuse

Ofcom also gets new powers to deal with online content that is already illegal. The regulator can now issue notices requiring companies to proactively respond to terrorist content and child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) content. Those notices can require regulated services to use accredited technology to find and remove such content, or to actively develop or source it themselves.

Those clauses have been controversial, since messaging services such as WhatsApp worry they could require them to effectively disable end-to-end encryption, or to enable so-called client-side scanning, where AI tools running on users phones would monitor their communications.

Again, however, the powers will not come into effect until after Ofcom has published guidance and consulted the information commissioner.

Offensive communications

Not every aspect of the new act involves Ofcom. The act also created new communications offences, giving the police direct powers to take action against speech online. Two were directly intended to replace the old offence of malicious communications, a very broad law that covered almost any use of a communications system to cause distress. The new laws are much narrower, and make it an offence to send false or threatening communications with the intent to cause non-trivial psychological or physical harm to a likely audience.

Other offences are wholly new. The act makes it a crime to encourage or assist serious self-harm. It will also be a crime to deliberately send flashing images with the intent of triggering an epileptic fit, either in a known person or in the community at large.

Sexual offences

The act introduces new clauses into the Sexual Offences Act, to ban so-called revenge porn, or non-consensual explicit imagery, and cyberflashing. Each offence can now lead to a jail sentence of up to two years.

Notably, the nonconsensual explicit imagery ban is forward-looking enough to cover many instances of deepfake pornography  AI-generated explicit imagery. It covers images that merely appear to be a photograph showing another person in an intimate state.
Russian military bloggers have reported that the western part of the town of Sudzha now appears to be under Ukrainian control. Photograph: AP

Ukraine has publicly justified its attack into Russian territory for the first time, amid reports that its forces are advancing towards a village 13 miles (20km) inside the Kursk region on the third day of its incursion.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to the presidents office, said the root cause of any escalation, including into Kursk, was unequivocal aggression on the part of Russia in believing it could invade Ukraine with impunity.

The statement is the first acknowledgment by any leading Ukrainian official of the ongoing offensive amid silence from the countrys military on events in the Russian region. War is war, with its own rules, where the aggressor inevitably reaps corresponding outcomes, Podolyak added.

Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, appeared to allude to the incursion on Thursday, saying everyone can see that the Ukrainian army knows how to surprise in comments at an event to unveil a new military app.

Later on Thursday, Zelenskiy made another apparent allusion to the offensive in his nightly television address, saying: Russia brought the war to our land and should feel what it has done.

Russian military bloggers, currently the most accurate sources of information, reported that fighting was taking place on the highway east of Korenevo, 13 miles north of the border, while the western part of Sudzha, about six miles into Russia, appeared to be under Ukrainian control.

Russia has declared a state of emergency in Kursk and local officials told the Tass news agency that 3,000 civilians had been evacuated following an attack that has clearly caught Moscow off guard.

Ukrainian forces, numbering several hundred according to Russia, burst across the border on the morning of Tuesday, reaching Sudzha on the first day, and since then appear to have pushed up roads to the north-west and north of the town.

Videos have also emerged showing a few dozen Russian troops, including border guards captured at the checkpoint west of Sudzha, being rounded up by Ukrainians on the first day of the raid, demonstrating the initial success.

Russias defence ministry said on Thursday its forces continue to eliminate the Ukrainian attackers in the Sudzha and Korenevo districts, and that it was targeting the invaders with ground forces, artillery, air and missile strikes.

The same day, Gen Apti Alaudinov, commander of Chechnyas Akhmat special forces, became the first Russian-aligned military official to acknowledge losses in the countrys military following Ukraines surprise incursion.

The situation is not irreversible, nothing supernatural has happened  Yes, our men have died, thats a fact. The enemy has entered several settlements, Alaudinov said in a video message on his Telegram channel.

Alaudinov added that the Ukrainian military had advanced well into our territory, around 10km.

A clearly angry Vladimir Putin convened a televised meeting of Russias security council on Wednesday, in which the militarys chief of staff, Valery Gerasimov, told him the advance had been halted and that the Kursk operation would be concluded by reaching the Russian state border.

Previous incursions from Ukraine into Russia, near the city of Belgorod, have been led by anti-Kremlin Russian groups. But this time the incursion was conducted by Ukrainian forces, using a combination of infantry, armour, drones, electronic warfare and air defence in the attack.

Experts have largely been sceptical about the value of a Ukrainian incursion into Russia, although its progress on the ground has been better than many predicted two days ago, and it has come at a time when Kyiv has been under growing frontline pressure in central Donbas.

Jade McGlynn, a Ukraine expert and research fellow at Kings College London, said: As a military strategy, I remain a bit puzzled, but as a political strategy, it has been very successful. It suggests yet again that Putins red lines are only words and that Russia is not as strong as some make out.

Fears that Russia could retaliate against the west have been behind decisions by the US president, Joe Biden, and others to restrict the use of high-value western weapons, such as F-16 fighters, to territory inside Ukraines borders. There has so far been no confirmed reports of their use in the Kursk offensive, although there have been some statements by Russia that Ukraine has been using Stryker and Bradley armoured vehicles.

The US has said it had had no prior knowledge of Ukraines plan to attack. John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, said the administration had contacted Kyiv to get a little better understanding of the Kursk offensive.

Washington also said its restrictions regarding the use of high-value US weapons inside Russias internationally recognised borders had not changed, and the state department said the incursion was not a violation of our policy.

The main operational Russian gas pipeline into Europe runs near Sudzha, where a metering station  reportedly captured by Ukraine  monitors the reduced Russian supplies to countries such as Austria and Hungary. Kyiv has allowed gas to continue flowing through the pipeline as part of a contract that expires at the end of 2024.
Ricky Jones with Angela Rayner at a transport union gala dinner in 2022

A Labour councillor who was filmed saying far-Right rioters are disgusting and should have their throats cut has been arrested.

Ricky Jones, a councillor for Princes, in Dartford, was seen on video footage telling anti-racism protesters in Walthamstow, north-east London: We need to cut all their throats.

The Labour Party said his behaviour was completely unacceptable and he had been suspended. He was also arrested on suspicion of encouraging murder.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed his arrest on Thursday in a post on X, formerly Twitter, which included the original footage of Mr Jones addressing protesters.

The post said that a man aged in his 50s had been arrested at an address in south east London and was held on suspicion of encouraging murder and for an offence under the Public Order Act.

Scotland Yard said Mr Jones, a paid organiser with the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) union, was being held in custody at a south London police station.

Before his arrest, the 57-year-old had been suspended from the Labour Party, meaning he will no longer sit as a Labour councillor.

A Labour spokesman said: This behaviour is completely unacceptable, and it will not be tolerated. The councillor has been suspended from the party.

A TSSA spokesman said: TSSA remains steadfast in supporting communities that peacefully stand against fascist aggression. We unequivocally do not condone any threats or acts of violence, as these actions are contrary to our values.

The union did not say whether any action would be taken against Mr Jones.

Ricky Jones has been suspended by the Labour Party

The union employee was photographed with Angela Rayner at a TSSA gala dinner in Sheffield in May 2022. The event celebrated the unions 125th anniversary and the then deputy leader of the party gave the after-dinner speech.

His arrest came as a Labour MP reported an anti-fascist poster that equated Zionists with the far-Right to the police.

Sarah Sackman, the MP for Finchley and Golders Green, said material shared by groups ahead of a demonstration in North Finchley on Wednesday evening was clearly anti-Semitic.

The poster, from the group Finchley Against Fascism, read: Get Fascists, Racists, Nazis, Zionists and Islamophobes out of Finchley. A small number of demonstrators were said to have later chanted Free Palestine outside a local synagogue.

The poster distributed by the Finchley Against Fascism group

Counter-protests to the fore

After a number of turbulent days, far-Right riots have taken a back seat as overwhelmingly peaceful protests took place around the country, organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR).

The group responded to fears circulating on Tuesday that far-Right thugs were set to target migrant advice solicitors and offices which had been named in a list on the Telegram social media channel by staging counter-protests outside those venues.

SUTR succeeded in mobilising thousands of people at short notice which, together with a strong and rapid police presence, appeared to have succeeded in forcing the far-Right to abandon their plans.

Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said on Thursday that a show of force from the police and the community had scared off far-Right rioters and described it as a very successful night.

SUTR, which has branches across Britain, has drawn widespread support from Labour MPs, members of the Lords, celebrities and writers.

Dozens of public figures signed a statement drawn up by SUTR this week calling for communities to unite against the far-Right, including Lord Hain; Kate Nash, the singer-songwriter; Jerry Dammers, founder of The Specials; and the pop star Paloma Faith.

Also putting their name to SUTRs Unity Statement were the historian Dr Lousie Raw; Gurinder Chadha, the director of Bend It Like Beckham and Blinded By The Light; and the leaders of a dozen major trade unions, including the RMT, ASLEF and the Fire Brigades Union and the teaching unions NASUWT and NEU.

In its statement, SUTR said: Fascist riots have taken place in towns and cities across Britain leading to attacks on mosques and hotels housing migrants.

All those who oppose this must join in a united mass movement powerful enough to drive back the fascists.

We are the majority, they are the few. Britain has a proud history of defeating fascists and racists. We can defeat them again. We must Stand Up to Racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. We must unite and mobilise against the far-Right and fascism.

Other named supporters of SUTR include Zarah Sultana MP; Jon Trickett MP; Richard Burgon MP; Ian Lavery MP; and Clive Lewis MP along with Humza Yousaf MSP, Paul Sweeney MSP and Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader.

More vigils planned

SUTR is organising more protests and vigils this weekend, including in London, Manchester, Southampton, Chorley, Lancaster, Weymouth, Derby and Preston.

However, critics have raised concerns about its links to the Socialist Workers Party, a far-Left organisation.

Giles Udy, a historian and the author of Marxism in British politics 1917-56 & Today, stated above a photograph of Wednesdays protests on X: Posters supplied by Stand up to Racism, a front for the Trotskyite Socialist Workers Party

Just a reminder here - the SWP is a fringe Communist party which is dedicated to the overthrow of parliamentary democracy and the market economy and its replacement by a totalitarian workers republic.

One of SUTRs leading figures is Weyman Bennett, a leading figure in the SWP. The 59-year-old is fellow joint secretary of SUTR alongside Sabby Dhalu, a Labour Party member and former organiser of the National Assembly Against Racism.

Both are former leading figures in Unite Against Facism (UAF), which was founded in 2003 in response to the electoral successes of the BNP and itself grew out of the Anti Nazi League (ANL), which organised a series of large national and local demonstrations against the rise of the far right National Front in the 1970s and 80s.

UAF were prominent in organising a demonstration outside Broadcasting House against BNP leader Nick Griffins appearance on the BBCs Question Time in October 2009.

Mr Bennett was also a leading figure in Love Music Hate Racism, which was born out of the Rock Against Racism (RAR) movement.

RAR organised a series of concerts and carnivals against the National Front which succeeded in drawing music fans and teenagers away from the far right during the late 70s and early 80s.
Liverpool University had no courses listed on Ucas's clearing site eight days before A-level results day last year, but it does have vacancies this year - DAVE ELLISON/ALAMY

It will be easier to get into a Russell Group university this year after the number of clearing places has risen, analysis suggests.

Three-quarters of the 24 elite universities currently have courses available through clearing, which matches applications to degree places that are yet to be filled.

More than 23,000 courses with vacancies for undergraduate students living in England were available on the Ucas clearing site on Wednesday, according to the PA news agency sample of 130 of the UKs largest providers.

It included 18 Russell Group universities, which had a total of 3,892 courses for English residents available through clearing between them.

It marks an increase compared with last year, when a similar analysis showed 15 of the research-heavy universities had vacancies for English residents through the clearing site. Those 15 universities had 2,021 courses available between them in the same period last year.

The Russell Group universities of Liverpool, Manchester and Durham had no courses listed on Ucass clearing site eight days before A-level results day last year, but this year all three have vacancies.

PA analysis also showed the overall number of university places available through clearing has risen to 23,306 across UK universities, up from 22,410 last year.

The latest figures suggest it could be easier for pupils opening their A-level results next Thursday to find places at top universities.

Clearing is open to students who do not meet the conditions of their offer on A-level results day, as well as those who did not receive any offers. Oxford and Cambridge do not offer places through clearing.

Universities do not always choose to fill all courses available through clearing, and often only finalise the number of places available once they have received all exam results.

The rise means many universities could be scrambling to fill places next week, at a time when the sector faces serious financial pressure following a drop in lucrative international students.

Senior education sources said it could mean some universities lowering their entry standards for students who fail to meet their offers and call up to negotiate on A-level results day.

University leaders have warned of significant financial concerns in recent months following a dramatic drop in foreign student numbers. Fees from international students have largely propped up the sector in recent years as domestic tuition fees remain frozen at 9,250.

Home Office figures in April showed Tory restrictions on foreign student visas has slashed the number of dependants they are bringing to the UK by 90 per cent.

The number of overseas students applying for visas also fell by 15 per cent, from 39,900 in the first quarter of 2023 to 35,000 in the same period in 2024.

Experts have also warned that the cost of living crisis may have also prompted a decline in domestic applications to university. Latest Ucas figures showed a slight drop in the proportion of students applying for a university place this year.

By the end of June, 41.9 per cent of 18 year-olds across the UK had applied for a place through Ucas  down from 42.1 per cent last summer and 44.1 per cent in 2022.

Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute think tank, said the drop in overall applications leaves universities with unused resources and empty places.

The end result is a real battle for students with, for example, quite probably more courses at Russell Group institutions in clearing this year and also lots of voluntary redundancy schemes in place for staff at many universities, he said.

Any university that is really strapped for cash and which is on course for empty places needs to have a really good clearing to keep the wolves from the door.

Plenty of options

A Ucas spokesman said: For anyone who doesnt receive the results they were expecting or those who want to reconsider their choice, there will be plenty of options in clearing with just under 30,000 courses available  which is in line with last year.

As is the case each year, clearing is likely to be competitive for the most selective courses and at the most selective universities. Ucass advice to students is to research their options and make a plan ahead of results day.

A Russell Group spokesman said: Each year, the vast majority of students who are placed at Russell Group universities  typically over 90 per cent  come through the main Ucas cycle. However most of our universities usually have places available in clearing for some courses, and the same is true this year.



Admissions decisions can be flexible depending on individual circumstances and the places available each year, but our universities only accept students who have the capability to succeed on their chosen course. This is reflected in the consistently high outcomes for graduates of our universities from all backgrounds.
Winter fuel payments - Neil Bussey/iStockphoto

Scrapping winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners could save a third less than the Chancellor has claimed, a former pensions minister has warned.

The Government has said restricting the extra support to those on means-tested benefits  leaving almost 10 million pensioners worse off  will retain 1.4 billion for Treasury coffers in the first year.

But Sir Steve Webb, a Liberal Democrat pensions minister in the coalition government, estimated that those savings could be cut by 490 million as retirees hit by the change seek extra support from the state.

Currently, all 11.4 million pensioners receive an extra 200 to help heat their homes every winter, with those over 80 receiving a blanket 300 payment.

Under Rachel Reeves plans, announced last week, only those receiving pension credit or other means-tested benefits will be eligible for the additional support.

However many retirees do not claim pension credit despite being eligible, with the latest statistics suggesting that between 720,000 and 880,000 people are missing out.

If one in four of these pensioners were to put in a claim, Sir Steve estimates that a third of the Treasurys expected savings could be wiped out, with the Government forking out an extra 440 million in benefits and no longer able to bank 50 million in axed winter fuel payments.

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The former minister cited the 2019 decision to restrict free TV licences for the over-75s to those who qualified for pension credit  which was followed by a surge in people claiming the benefit  as a possible precedent.

He said the impact of the winter fuel change could be even bigger because it affected all pensioners, not just those over 75, and the amount potentially lost  between 200 and 300  was more than the cost of a TV licence five years ago.

Sir Steve said it was highly likely that the winter fuel announcement would lead to a flurry of new claims for pension credit, adding: This is exactly what happened when entitlement to a free TV licence for the over-75s was restricted to those on benefit.

But a big surge in take-up could slash the savings from this measure. If just one in four of those currently missing out on their entitlement to pension credit now makes a claim, this could cut the Chancellors savings by around one third. One consequence of this is that additional cuts might be required to make up for the shortfall.

Ms Reeves plan is part of a wider drive to fill a black hole in the nations finances, with Labour aiming to save 5.5 billion this year alone.

Pollsters have reported a real depth of anger from pensioners over the spending cut. Luke Tryl, the UK director of More in Common, said feedback from retirees in Leigh, Greater Manchester, had been even more negative than expected.

Some called the change disgusting, claimed to feel like second-class citizens and accused Labour of betraying its principles.

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Pension credit is sometimes referred to as a gateway benefit, with claimants also gaining access to council tax reduction, housing benefit and support for mortgage interest, along with free eye tests.

Separately to Sir Steves calculations, Baroness Ros Altmann, a Tory peer and leading pensions expert, warned that this would amount to an extra cost of thousands of pounds per person.

She argued that trying to balance the books off the back of pensioners is flawed, and that retirees could end up seriously ill if they assumed, like the Government, that if we cant afford it, we cant pay it.

She said: That will mean more cost to NHS, more people in hospital and more calls on GPs. That element of the extra costs also needs to be factored into any potential saving.

Simon Francis, of the End Fuel Poverty charity collective, also argued that the savings made by scrapping the universal winter fuel benefit would be eclipsed by added costs for the NHS.

He said: Its a false economy because they are cutting back on winter fuel payments but will push elderly people living in cold, damp homes into the arms of the NHS.

Illnesses linked to cold, damp and dangerous homes already cost the NHS more than 2.5 billion a year, according to UCLs Institute of Health Equity.

If you add another two million pensioners into fuel poverty, and millions more struggling with their bills, then this cost could soar. So the minister may save on the winter fuel payments only to see the cost of treating the ill-health caused by the move increase.

A Government spokesman said: This Government is committed to pensioners  protecting the triple lock, keeping energy bills low through our Warm Homes Plan, and cutting NHS waiting lists, bringing real stability to peoples lives.

We said we would be honest with the public and, given the dire state of the public finances we have inherited, this Government must take difficult decisions to fix the foundations of the economy.

In these circumstances, it is right that winter fuel payments are targeted at those in most need, and we will work with local authorities to boost the uptake of pension credit, reaching the many pensioners who could still benefit from this years winter fuel payments.
Stormont MLAs are returning from summer recess for an Assembly sitting to discuss recent scenes of violent disorder on the streets of Belfast.

Executive ministers gathered at Stormont Castle on Thursday morning before the Northern Ireland Assembly sitting at noon.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is set to lead a rally outside Parliament Buildings in opposition to the rioting seen in the capital on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday evenings following anti-immigration protests.

Abdelkader Mohamad Al Alloush, owner of the Sham Supermarket on Donegall Road in Belfast, after it was burned on Saturday night and attacked again on Monday (Rebecca Black/PA)

Police and members of the public have been attacked and two businesses owned by people from a minority ethnic background have been destroyed in south Belfast. There have also been incidents in north and west Belfast.

There was further disorder on Wednesday night, with police coming under attack in east Belfast.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said it has asked for support, submitting a request to National Police Co-ordination Centre for additional officers from across the United Kingdom to support the policing operation.

First Minister Michelle ONeill said it is important for political leaders to speak with one voice following scenes of violent disorder.

Speaking on her way in to the Executive meeting at Stormont Castle, Ms ONeill said: Given recent events, its important that we, as political leaders, come together with one voice to say no to racism  ultimately, thats what this is about.

Today, we are going to have a meeting of the Executive. All parties will be represented, we have the (PSNI) Chief Constable (Jon Boutcher) in attendance, we will also do a press conference directly afterwards.

For me, this is about that strongest of political voice to say no to racism, no to violence, no to the intimidation of our local community and yes to an inclusive society.

These people who are involved in violent activity do not speak for us. Never have and never will.

Police said five arrests were made after bins were set alight blocking Connswater Street, and officers came under attack. One police officer was injured.

A cafe on the Donegall Road in south Belfast was destroyed (PA)

There have been 16 arrests in total.

Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said the Mutual Aid officers will provide vital resilience and support and will be given all of the necessary equipment and familiarisation training.

It comes amid widespread disorder across the UK which appears to have been sparked by misinformation spread online following the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport.

A senior Police Service of Northern Ireland officer earlier this week said a paramilitary element is suspected of co-ordinating violence in Belfast.

On Monday, four men linked to disorder on Saturday appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court, while a 15-year-old boy appeared before the same court on Wednesday charged with rioting.

All were remanded.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn and parliamentary under-secretary of state Fleur Anderson speak to media at a community centre in Belfast on Wednesday (Rebecca Black/PA)

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Hilary Benn condemned racist violence in Belfast in recent days and stressed that it does not represent Northern Ireland.

He said it should be a cause of shame that some people currently do not feel safe in their own homes, and urged those behind the disorder to stop.

MLAs will debate a motion condemning criminal damage and targeting of businesses in recent days.

The motion also calls on Ms ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to finalise the draft Refugee Integration Strategy and associated delivery plan, to bring forward the renewed Race Relations Order, and set out the process of replacing the Racial Equality Strategy 2015/25 by the end of 2024.
ONeill: There is no place for racism in Northern Ireland

There is no place for racism in Northern Ireland, Michelle ONeill has said.

Executive ministers on Thursday at Stormont Castle to discuss recent scenes of violent disorder on the streets of Belfast.

The Northern Ireland Assembly was also recalled with MLAs returning from summer recess to debate a motion on the scenes which followed an anti-immigration protest last weekend.

They MLAs backed a motion condemning the recent disorder and rejecting all forms of racism in Northern Ireland.

Outside Parliament Buildings, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions led a rally in opposition to the rioting seen in the capital on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday evenings.

Police and members of the public have been attacked and two businesses owned by people from a minority ethnic background have been destroyed in south Belfast. There have also been incidents in north and west Belfast.

There was further disorder on Wednesday night, with police coming under attack in east Belfast.

Police said five arrests were made after bins were set alight blocking Connswater Street, and officers came under attack. One police officer was injured.

Abdelkader Mohamad Al Alloush, owner of the Sham Supermarket on Donegall Road in Belfast, after it was burned on Saturday night (Rebecca Black/PA)

Five more people were arrested on Thursday, including two juveniles aged 15 and 16, and four men are due to appear in court on Friday charged in relation to recent disorder.

There have been 22 arrests in total, with 15 people charged.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said it has asked for support, submitting a request to National Police Co-ordination Centre for additional officers from across the United Kingdom to support the policing operation.

Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said the Mutual Aid officers will provide vital resilience and support and will be given all of the necessary equipment and familiarisation training.

The PSNI has also released images of six people and asked the community to come forward with information they have that may aid their investigations.

It comes amid widespread disorder across the UK which appears to have been sparked by misinformation spread online following the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly arriving at Stormont Castle, Belfast (Mark Marlow/PA)

Earlier this week, Ms Jones said a paramilitary element is suspected of co-ordinating violence in Belfast.

On Monday, four men linked to disorder on Saturday appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court, while a 15-year-old boy appeared before the same court on Wednesday charged with rioting.

All were remanded.

Following the Executive meeting, Ms ONeill, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, Justice Minister Naomi Long and Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, stood shoulder to shoulder to speak to media.

Ms ONeill said ministers are unequivocally collective in our determination to say no to racism, and stand firmly united in terms of what we see unfolding in front of us.

There is no place in our society for racism in any of its forms, she said.

The racist attacks on people, on businesses and homes are absolutely wrong, and have created such a deep fear. A fear that I think perhaps none of us have ever seen before among many parts of our community.

There are many people feeling extremely vulnerable, feeling fearful, fearful for their families.

First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle ONeill speaking to the media at Stormont Castle (Mark Marlow/PA)

We have mothers who are afraid to walk their children to the park, we have children who are afraid to go to youth clubs and to schemes. We have healthcare workers that are afraid to go to work. We have nurses that are afraid to go home and that is not acceptable.

That is the real, human impact of this type of activity, this type of racist activity in our society. It speaks volumes in terms of hate because that is what it is and it must stop.

Those responsible must and will face the full rigours of the force of the law.

Ms Little-Pengelly said there will be a joint and robust response to any violence and disorder in Northern Ireland.

Today, we are collectively sending a strong and united message against violence, disorder and racism.

Weve been engaging throughout the week with the Chief Constable (Jon Boutcher), with agencies and we will continue to do so.

Make no mistake, there will be a joint and robust response to any continued disorder.

Violence is wrong. Disorder is not acceptable. Concerns must always be addressed through democratic processes. We must do everything we can to de-escalate the current situation, and we urge all to work to achieve that.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn and parliamentary under-secretary of state Fleur Anderson speak to media at a community centre in Belfast (Rebecca Black/PA)

Weve reached out to those who have been affected by the attacks and violence and offering our full support.

She said it was deeply disturbing to hear some healthcare staff are considering leaving Northern Ireland over fears for their safety.

On a visit to Causeway Hospital, I met with overseas staff to reassure them and to show solidarity to them, recognising the importance of those staff to all of us here, she added.

Our health service relies on many of those highly trained and skilled workers who come here and make a huge contribution.

Ms Long said the violence and racist attacks in recent days are not reflective of the vast majority of people living in communities.

Weve seen people intimidated from their homes, where weve seen their businesses attacked, where weve seen their accommodation being set alight, where we have seen them being abused and assaulted in the street, Ms Long added.

That violence is not representative of the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland. It does not reflect the value that we place on the diversity of our community, but it nevertheless is hugely impactful on those who feel vulnerable in the face of those attacks.

We need to call it for what it is. It is racism, it is Islamophobia, it is xenophobia.

First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle ONeill, PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boucher, deputy First Minister Emma little-Pengelly and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long (Mark Marlow/PA)

If were going to deal with it, we need to name it for what it is, and we need to challenge it. Im glad that as an Executive, we are willing to do that collectively today.

The Chief Constable said those involved in crimes will be pursued with the full force of the law.

Mr Boutcher slammed the lies, misinformation and absolute nonsense spread online following the murder of three girls in Southport, saying it led to the scenes across the country.

The PSNI will deal with this disorder. Those people who have come out to commit these hateful crimes will be pursued with the full force of the law, he said.

As we speak, we are going to addresses to arrest people for the disorder on Saturday night. We will be putting out images today of others that we have yet to identify who committed these crimes. There is no place in society for this.

I have met the leadership of the Muslim communities, but all our migrant communities, all our diverse communities feel under threat.

They feel a fear of the like I have not seen in over 40 years of policing. Thats not just here, thats across the country. This has got to stop and we will stop it.

Think of those communities, support those communities. Everyone in Northern Ireland needs to do that. This is one of the safest places to live in the United Kingdom. Its one of the greatest places to live in the United Kingdom.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Hilary Benn condemned racist violence in Belfast in recent days and stressed that it does not represent Northern Ireland.

He said it should be a cause of shame that some people currently do not feel safe in their own homes, and urged those behind the disorder to stop.
Octopus Energy is to extend an energy bills support scheme for pensioners, after the Government removed winter fuel payments for millions of elderly people.

The energy supplier said it will continue its 30 million assistance fund into this winter, and that pensioners who do not meet the new criteria for receiving state support will be eligible.

Labour said in July that it is changing the rules around the Governments winter fuel payments scheme, so that it will no longer be universal for all pensioners in England and Wales.

Now, only pensioners on means-tested benefits will qualify for the help, which is estimated to take the payments away from about 10 million people.

Octopus Energy founder Greg Jackson (Octopus Energy/PA)

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said making the scheme more targeted was a difficult decision. About 11.5 million who previously received them.

The payments are devolved, meaning Scotland and Northern Ireland make their own rules.

Octopus, the UKs largest energy supplier, said it will allow lower-income pension households who dont receive pension credit to claim from its so-called Octo Assist fund.

Discretionary credits of 50, 100 and 200 will be available to those who apply.

Greg Jackson, founder of Octopus Energy, said: At times like this, we cant expect the government to do everything  companies need to work hard on affordability too.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she would narrow the support scheme in July (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Thats why weve expanded our Octo Assist fund to introduce extra support for the pensioners who need it most.

Theres a lot of Government and other support for pensioners but many dont realise it  Government data shows one in three pensioners eligible for pension credits are not claiming, so were training our team to help with this too.

Ms Reeves has said the Government will keep paying winter fuel payments of 200 to households receiving pension credit, or 300 to those who also have someone over 80 years old.

Making the fund more targeted will save the public finances an estimated 1.4 billion this year, Ms Reeves has said.

Critics of the previous system said the money was going to people who did not need it. Some more wealthy people have given theirs to charity or opted out of the scheme.

Octopus assistance fund comes alongside several other support schemes for customers, including free electric blankets, which it has handed out 60,000 of so far.

It also offers customers the chance to borrow thermal imaging cameras to help people find draughts and in-person energy-saving advice visits.
The head of Queens University Belfast has urged young people not to risk jeopardising their future by taking part in violence.

The university has announced its campus will be closed on Friday, with an anti-immigration protest and a counter-protest expected in the Northern Ireland capital.

In a statement, the university said its public facilities will also close as a precautionary measure to ensure staff and students travelling to and from campus are not put at any risk.

At Queen's, we abhor violence and condemn without reservation #Islamophobia, #Racism and #Xenophobia in all forms and the recent violence that has taken place in #Belfast. Our President and @QUBVChancellor, Professor Sir Ian Greer, issued this statement today urging young people pic.twitter.com/XgiYR7M0Fl  Queen's University Belfast  (@QUBelfast) August 8, 2024

Vice Chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer made a direct appeal to young people not to risk jeopardising their future and the future of the city through misguided actions.

At Queens, we abhor violence and condemn without reservation Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia in all forms, he said.

As a university community, we are committed to diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging, and to our campus being a safe, secure environment for all staff and students.

I urge young people who might become involved in violence to understand that the biggest threat to your future prospects does not come from people fleeing persecution in other parts of the world, or from committed international staff who underpin the Health Service, or from families, like yours, who wish to live in peace and contribute to society here.

Sir Ian emphasised in his message to young people that progress comes through cooperation and dialogue.

The biggest threat to your future prospects, and the greatest threat to your safety, comes from those who believe that violence is the answer, and that damage and destruction brings progress, he said.

None of this is true. We all want to see Belfast as a place that offers opportunities for you and your future. Violence will not achieve this. Progress comes through cooperation and dialogue.

Queens is a committed partner for all of the people of Belfast. We work closely with communities to identify and address the challenges exacerbated by social inequalities. We are your university. We hold opportunities for you, as much as anyone else.

Lets work together positively to change peoples lives. Lets harness our energies for the wider good, including your own.

Please do not jeopardise your future and the future of your city through misguided actions, which will damage your chances in life and damage this great city.
ScotRail workers and staff on the Caledonian Sleeper have voted in favour of a walk-out in an ongoing dispute over pay, the RMT union has said.

Union members at the two publicly-owned rail operators were separately balloted for strike action following a pay offer that was described by the union as derisory.

The union said 85% of ballots returned at ScotRail backed strike action, on a 64% turnout.

Meanwhile, members at Caledonian Sleeper, which runs overnight services between various Scottish cities and London, voted 90% in favour of a walk-out, on a turnout of 66%.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: I congratulate RMT members in Scotrail and Caledonian Sleeper for this fantastic ballot result.

Talks with both sets of employers will be convened in a bid to resolve this dispute.

The union will be speaking to both employers in an attempt to come to a negotiated settlement.

Responding to the announcement Phil Campbell, ScotRail customer operations director, said: We recognise the hard work of our colleagues and the cost-of-living challenges faced by families across the country and hope that we can come to an agreement on pay which reflects this, as well as providing value for money for the public finances.

Were disappointed that RMT members have voted in favour of industrial action while negotiations on a pay offer are ongoing. We are keen to resolve this dispute and remain committed to continuing discussions with our trade union colleagues.

It is understood that talks between ScotRail and unions, including RMT, took place on Thursday, and that further talks are planned for August 15.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: This is a disappointing outcome, particularly in light of the fair and affordable offer ScotRail has made and is still under discussion through ongoing pay talks.

For ScotRail staff, the pay offer represents a 9.3% increase in basic pay over three years, plus improvements in other benefits such as maternity and paternity leave.

Any industrial action will undoubtedly have negative impacts on passengers and also employees. It is also likely to mean continued timetable changes and more short-term cancellations disadvantaging everyone.

We want to provide a long term, secure future for Scotlands railway so encouraging more people to travel by rail and ensure. The issues at hand need to be settled but there can be no increase on the current ScotRail pay offer.
One of the most amusing things about having cats for the first time is I get to discover that all those cliches about stereotypical at behavior are one hundred percent true. Yes, my cat will tend over me in bed and paw at my face until I wake her up and give her breakfast. Yes, my cat will unerringly find a route onto the highest shelf in my house. Yes, I absolutely have to check the laundry basket before throwing it into the wash, lest I find that Ive accidentally dumped the feline in with the darks. And yes, if there is a box or container on the floor big enough for my cat to get intoshe will find a way.

After all, for a cat: If I fits, I sits.

View the original article to see embedded media.

In this adorable video, posted by the Humane Society of Miami, a tiny rescue kitten is found curled up inside his equally tiny food dish in his cage.

Related: Adorable Boys Rescue Kitten and Parents' Reaction Is Everything

An Adoptable Kitty

Shelters everywhere are under a lot of pressure due to a huge surge of abandoned animals. If this little guy appeals to you, please go get him, or one of the numberless other homeless animals in shelters all over the country.

In the comments, people cant stop cooing over what catlike behavior this little kitty is just naturally exhibiting. But not everyone seems to understand that smooshing themselves into small spaces is what a cat likes to do.

What about a metal cage and cold bars looks damn cozy? writes one person in the comments. I hate shelters.

Adopt a shelter pet then! the Humane Society of Miami claps back. Our rooms and cages for our pets or as cozy as we can make them. He has blankets and bed in his cagehe just seems to enjoy sleeping in the bowl at times.

And theres a good reason for that.

Why Cats Like Boxes (And Other Small Containers)

Cats, like most small mammals, are den creatures. In the wild, they find small, enclosed places to rest where they can feel safe and secure from predators. Maybe its a cave or a hollow in a tree, Maybe its a nest theyve made itself. Maybe its a space theyve dug out of the earth, or created in the tangle of underbrush. Whatever it is, they like the idea that they are secure on several sides and able to relax without fear of being sneaked up on by a predator.

Additionally, a cat as young as the kitten in this video should naturally be living with its mother and littermates, sleeping in warm piles of its furry brethren. Maybe having the extra support of the water dish is the loosest it can get to feeling like its within the warm embrace of its mom. Its a bit like swaddling a baby.

This phenomenon has been widely studied. Animal researcher Temple Grandin even invented a hugging machine for livestock when it was realized that gently applied lateral side pressure often reduced stress on animals.

But the best way to get this baby into a more hospitable environment is to adopt him and give him a loving home.

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos.

Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
Three teenagers were shot on Wednesday night in south-east London, police have said.

Officers were called at around 10pm to reports that a man had been shot in Otlinge Road, Orpington, the Metropolitan Police said.

Police attended the scene along with the London Ambulance Service who treated an 18-year-old man before taking him to hospital, according to the force.

Two further victims, both boys aged 14, were found with gunshot wounds while officers conducted a search of the area and were taken to hospital.

Following inquiries, police said they established that the shooting had taken place at Yalding Grove nearby.

The three teenagers injuries are non-life changing and non-life threatening, the force added.

On Thursday morning, police said a crime scene remained in place and that inquiries are ongoing.

Detective Inspector Raymond Sekalongo from specialist crime Trident investigation team said: Tackling violent crime in London remains our absolute focus and reducing shootings is key to that.

We understand that this incident will cause concern within the community.

We want to reassure you that we are carrying out fast-time inquiries to ensure that any suspect is apprehended.

I know that this may cause fear within the community, which is why I will ensure that officers are present within the area to listen to any of your concerns.

Please do approach them if you need to, they are there to support you.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police quoting the reference CAD8033/07AUG or via Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 if they wish to remain anonymous.
Whitehall must pump-prime councils if Government chiefs want to tackle homelessness, five housing leaders have warned.

They have told Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner that the UK needs a paradigm shift to break the cycle of homelessness and create lasting change.

There were 151,630 children living in temporary accommodation at the end of March this year, according to data published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on Thursday, which is up 15% year-on-year and a record high since this measure began in 2004.

A total of 117,450 households were in temporary accommodation, the figures showed.

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner (Lucy North/PA)

Ms Rayner, who is also the Housing Secretary, wrote to council chiefs at the end of July and warned they have a moral obligation to see more homes built.

But to do that, the Government should create a substantial capital fund to enable councils to rapidly acquire genuinely affordable housing for people at risk of homelessness, the five housing leaders warned in a letter.

Its signatories are the District Councils Network housing spokesperson Hannah Dalton, Local Government Association chairwoman Louise Gittins, County Councils Network housing spokesperson Richard Clewer and Jacqui Taylor, of the East of England Local Government Association.

Matt Downie, chief executive of the homelessness charity Crisis, also signed the document.

We stand ready to work with you to implement effective solutions to this national emergency, they told Ms Rayner.

The time for half-measures has passed.

A paradigm shift is needed to redirect resources from mitigating homelessness to preventing it entirely.

They also said: The financial impact on councils is unsustainable.

Many district councils now spend between 20% and 50% of their total net budget on temporary accommodation.

Total district council spending on temporary accommodation has skyrocketed by more than 200% in just five years.

Councils across the country, including unitary authorities in county and rural areas, are facing these acute pressures.

They added: Crisis reports that this financial pressure is impacting on local authorities ability to prevent homelessness, as resources are taken up with crisis intervention.

Their five-point plan calls on the Government to annually uprate the Local Housing Allowance rates  the figures used to calculate Housing Benefit for tenants  to keep pace with private rents.

They also urged ministers to fully fund councils to provide decent temporary accommodation, commit to long-term investment to deliver 100,000 homes for social rent per year for the next 15 years, bolster council budgets so they can quickly build or buy housing for people at risk of homelessness, and create a Unit for Ending Homelessness to develop a cross-Government strategy.

Ms Taylor, who signed the letter, chairs the housing committee at St Albans City and District Council, Hertfordshire, where buyers face house prices around 17.3 times annual earnings  the highest outside London, according to the Office for National Statistics.

St Albans in Hertfordshire has the highest ratio of house prices to workplace-based earnings outside of London (Chris Radburn/PA)

The Liberal Democrat councillor told the PA news agency her authoritys accommodation costs are nowhere near covered by the Government.

She said that is just the financial impact  there is a human cost to insecure housing which could be partially alleviated by building more social homes.

Ms Rayner has promised to bring forward details of future Government investment in social and affordable housing in a future spending review, so social housing providers can help deliver the biggest increase in affordable housebuilding in a generation.

The Housing Secretary wrote in her letter to councils: You know how dire the situation has become and the depth of the housing crisis in which we find ourselves in as a nation.

You see it as you place record numbers of homeless children in temporary accommodation, as you grapple with waiting lists for social housing getting longer and longer, and as your younger residents are priced out of home ownership.
A woman has been arrested as part of an investigation into a former funeral directors in the Glasgow and Dumbarton areas.

Operation Koine, launched on May 5, is a police investigation into alleged missing ashes and financial misconduct at A Milne Independent Funeral Directors.

The 37-year-old was released pending further inquiries, police said.

Police Scotland are asking anyone with information that could assist their ongoing investigation to contact them through 101 quoting reference 1289 of May 2, or to use the dedicated email address Operationkoine@scotland.police.uk.
By Abhijith Ganapavaram and Aishwarya Jain

(Reuters) -Archer Aviation on Thursday announced an agreement-in-principle with Stellantis under which the automaker would bear up to $370 million of labor-related costs to support a planned ramp-up of the air-taxi maker's aircraft.

The funding will give Archer access to much-needed capital to fund the production of its flagship 'Midnight' aircraft to 650 units annually. The company had cash and cash equivalents of $360.4 million at the end of June.

Archer has since secured an additional $230 million of equity capital, including from Stellantis and United Airlines.

Stellantis, which is Archer's largest shareholder, will receive shares in the company on a rolling quarterly basis based on the labor costs incurred.

The electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft industry faces battery and infrastructure hurdles and requires funding to ramp up production but is yet to achieve certification to carry passengers in the United States.

Investors have soured on U.S. eVTOL players this year, with shares of Archer down 35% and those of rival Joby Aviation down 21.8%.

Archer shares rose after the news of the agreement but gave up those gains as the company reported another quarterly loss.

Archer also said aviation firm Future Flight Global planned to purchase up to 116 Midnight aircraft worth up to $580 million and has made an initial deposit.

Separately, the eVTOL maker announced plans to launch an air mobility network in Los Angeles, with operations beginning as early as 2026.

The planned network in one of the most congested cities in the United States will allow passengers to go to a nearby vertiport, or vertical take-off and landing location, and then fly 10 to 20 minutes in Archer's Midnight aircraft to their destination of choice within the network.

The San Jose, California-based company did not disclose the size of investment for the planned Los Angeles project.

(Reporting by Aishwarya Jain and Abhijith Ganapavaram in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi and Anil D'Silva)
(Reuters) -Britain's competition watchdog said on Thursday it had started an investigation into whether Amazon's partnership with AI startup Anthropic raised competition, days after it began a similar probe on Alphabet's collaboration with the startup.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it now had until Oct. 4 for its so-called Phase 1 decision to either refer the artificial intelligence (AI)-focussed partnership for a deeper probe or clear it of competition concerns.

"Amazon's collaboration with Anthropic does not raise any competition concerns or meet the CMA's own threshold for review," an Amazon spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

"Amazon holds no board seat nor decision-making power at Anthropic, and Anthropic is free to work with any other provider (and indeed has multiple partners)," the spokesperson said, echoing comments from an Anthropic spokesperson.

"Our strategic partnerships and investor relationships do not diminish our corporate governance independence or our freedom to partner with others," the Anthropic spokesperson said.

"We intend to cooperate with the CMA and provide them with a comprehensive understanding of Amazon's investment and our commercial collaboration."

Late in July, CMA launched a probe into Google parent Alphabet's partnership with Anthropic, which was co-founded by former OpenAI executives and siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei.

Antitrust regulators around the world have been increasingly concerned by multiple deals struck between smaller industry startups and big tech giants.

Regulators in the United States, European Union and Britain signed a joint statement in July promising to work together to safeguard fair competition in the industry.

(Reporting by Prerna Bedi and Yamini Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)
Organizers for the 2024 CrossFit Games released a statement on Thursday confirming the death of one of the competitors during an individual swimming portion of the multi-day event held in Texas.

CrossFit Games said in the statement that it was "fully cooperating with authorities and doing everything we can to support the family at this time."

Scripps News has reached out to the Forth Worth Fire Department, who responded to the scene, but didn't immediately receive further details on the recovery efforts and investigation.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that a 28-year-old competitor from Serbia died, calling them an accomplished athlete in CrossFit, according to posts on social media.

Officials had not identified the athlete who died as of Thursday afternoon.

Users in the comments on one post to Instagram posted various messages of condolences under a video of a cross-training athlete local media identified as the victim.

A video livestreamed from the event reportedly appeared to show a swimmer in the event struggling in the water at Fort Worth's Marine Creek Lake.

In a statement from the fire department obtained by the Telegram, a spokesperson said, "Our hearts and thoughts and prayers go out to the family members that were affected today in this tragic event, the CrossFit community and the community here in Fort Worth, Texas."

This is the first year the CrossFit Games have been held in Texas, the Telegram reported.
One dog was killed and three people were hospitalized in a San Diego suburb after a swarm of bees attacked a backyard gathering Wednesday.

Tiffany Ahmu told FOX affiliate KUSI that the air in the backyard of her Lemon Grove home was "thick with bees" and that one of her dogs, a 12-year-old-boxer named Kona, was on the ground under attack from the swarm.

"Kona is covered. I couldnt even see her coat. I pick her up. Shes already limp. Shes still breathing, but limp. I jump to the pool to dust the bees off and Im covered in bees," Ahmu told the station.

Bees swarm on a section of flooring that was removed from a building where they had built their hive. Once Steve Baldock of Steve's Beez has collected most of the bees and the queen, he will relocate them to one of his apiaries.

Ahmu was stung multiple times while attempting to rescue the dog sending her to the hospital. Two children were sent to the hospital as a result of bee stings but were quickly released, according to KUSI.

It is currently unknown what species of bee the swarm was made of.

Kona died at a nearby animal urgent care. Ahmu described the rescue and emotional support dog as a playful and having, "Peter Pan Syndrome."

"She was so spunky, still super active and hyper," Ahmu told the station.

What to do if you encounter a bee swarm

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report stating that between 2011 and 2021 there were 788 deaths from hornet, wasp, and bee stings, an average of 72 deaths per year. The annual number of deaths ranged from 59 in 2012 to 89 in 2017 with 89% of those deaths occurring in men.

"When dealing with bees that start coming towards you, the first thing they will do is bump you, because if they sting you they die," Duane Combs, president of the Beekeepers Association of Central Arizona and University of Montana master beekeeper told the Arizona Republic  a part of the USA TODAY Network.

Honeybees tend to swarm when they are in the process of stating a new hive, according to Michigan State University Extensions Department of Entomology. Swarming can occur during beekeeping season, which occurs from the spring through the fall

Combs warned that when near bees it is important to remain calm and the MSU site tells people to contact a beekeeper when a swarm is spotted. Other experts recommend reducing the odds of attracting a swarm's attention by:

Avoid wearing dark, loose clothing or shiny objects while hiking

Avoid wearing perfumes, cologne or strong scent

Not making jerky movements near hives

Not swatting at bees

Contributing: Nick Piecoro, Kye Graves; Arizona Republic

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bee attack kills family dog, hospitalizes three in San Diego backyard
California woman who spent over $200K remodeling her home is dropped by insurer over drone-captured images of clutter and debris  what you can do if your insurer threatens to fire you

When Joan Van Kuren of Modesto got a notice from her insurance company stating they would not renew her home insurance policy, she was shocked to learn why. California insurance provider CSAA  part AAAs insurance company  stated they discovered a substantial increase in hazards piling around her home.

They made this discovery not from making a surprise property inspection, but instead from aerial images allegedly taken from a drone.

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She said they [CSAA] flew a drone over the home, Van Kuren told CBS Sacramento of her call with a customer service representative. It almost feels like someones looking in your windows, you know, when they tell you that they flew a drone over your home and looked at it. Its like, whoa.

Van Kuren wasnt the only one to have this treatment. ABC 7 San Francisco reports CJ Sveen received a similar notice due to aerial images taken of his home. In Northern California, The Wall Street Journal says Cindy Picos also got a notice after her insurance company said her roof was in poor condition. The insurance company in both situations? CSAA.

When contacted by CBS Sacramento, CSAA denied they used drones to survey covered homeowners, and instead claimed they use proprietary aerial imagery of homes to make risk decisions. Is digital home inspections the wave of the future? If your home insurance company says they want to cut your insurance over concerns, heres what you need to know.

Are insurance companies spying on your home with drones?

In an increasing number of cases, insurance companies are using eyes in the skies to not only determine the condition of insured homes, but to assess damages once a natural disaster comes through. State Farm Insurance claims to be the first company to use drones in 2015, when they partnered with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership at Virginia Tech to begin inspecting homes.

Since then, drones are becoming increasingly popular for insurance applications. Information technology consultant Cognizant says drones are used for property and casualty insurance applications to capture details of a location or building and obtain useful insights during claims processing or risk assessments. This improves business lines in three different ways: Cognizant says drones can improve efficiency and create additional accuracy, lead to closing claims faster and improved safety for their employees.

Using a drone for an insurance inspection is not illegal in the State of California. ABC 7 San Francisco notes that unless you are using a drone to be a Peeping Tom, its legal to fly over homes and take videos. Other city and state laws may vary depending on the location.

However, an insurance company doesnt necessarily need to fly an unmanned vehicle over your home to make an assessment based on aerial images. Over 40 insurance companies are subscribers to the Geospatial Insurance Consortium (GIC), including Amica, Auto-Owners Insurance, Farmers Insurance, Progressive and USAA. The group offers multiple aerial imagery products with one goal: build the largest, most comprehensive and current library of geospatial data available and ready for the everyday or disaster event need of the insurer. In the case of CSAA, they claim data gained in part from this program led to their decisions to drop the three California homeowners.

Read more: Car insurance rates have spiked in the US to a stunning $2,150/year  but you can be smarter than that. Here's how you can save yourself as much as $820 annually in minutes (it's 100% free)

What can I do if my insurance company drops me over aerial photos?

Insurance non-renewal is different from insurance cancellation. While insurance companies can choose to cancel your service due to not paying premiums or committing insurance fraud, non-renewal is a business decision to simply not renew your policy when it ends.

No matter where you live, your insurance company must provide you with advance notice of their intention to not renew your homeowners insurance policy and provide a reason why. Each state has different rules  for the cases above in California, insurance companies must provide at least 45 days notice before the insurance policy ends.

If you disagree with the insurance companys decision to drop your coverage, you have options to appeal the decision. You can either call the companys consumer affairs division and ask for their evidence and offer to provide your own counter-evidence. If that avenue goes nowhere, you can file a complaint with your states insurance regulator. A guide to every states insurance authority can be found on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website.

In any situation, now is an important time to start shopping and comparing insurance policies. Working directly with insurance providers and insurance agents can help you find new coverage at either a similar price or coverage level, preventing a gap in coverage which could cost even more due to insurance penalties.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
A Florida woman has been charged in the death of a deputy sheriff who was shot responding to what police described as an ambush. Investigators said the woman, Julie Sulpizio, 48, had been attempting to lure neighbors into her home to kill them because she believed they were pedophiles.

Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link, 28, was shot and killed in the incident Aug. 2 when he and other Lake County Sheriff's deputies attempted to enter Sulpizio's home, located in Eustis, Florida, about 40 miles northwest of Orlando. Michael Sulpizio, her husband, was wearing body armor and fatally shot Link in the back. He also shot and wounded two other officers, Sheriff Peyton Grinnell said during a press conference.

When deputies along with the Lake County SWAT team forced their way into the home to rescue Link, they found Michael Sulpizio suffering from a gunshot wound and his two adopted daughters dead from what police say were self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Link was airlifted to a hospital but died from his injuries, Grinnell said.

Julie Sulpizio, who had been detained before the deputies attempted to enter the house, was arrested and charged with 12 counts including murder of a law enforcement officer, a potential death penalty sentence, Grinnell said.

In the home, deputies found more than 20 firearms, ranging from high-caliber rifles to pistols and shotguns  the weapons were gathered, placed and staged throughout the living room area, along with stockpiles of ammunition, he said. Investigators believe the intended victims were Sulpizio's neighbors, whom Julie Sulpizio had targeted with accusations of pedophilia, and sheriff's deputies interrupted the plan when they responded to a trespassing call that ultimately led them to Sulpizio's home.

"This was nothing short of an ambush, and the evidence will show that," said State Attorney Bill Gladson during the news conference.

Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link, 28, was shot and killed in an incident Aug. 2 when he and other officers attempted to enter the woman's home, in rural Florida, about 40 miles northwest of Orlando.

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Florida deputies ambushed: What happened?

When Lake County sheriff's deputies went to that home in Eustis, Florida on Friday afternoon, they were responding to a report of a woman trespassing on a neighbor's property, who turned out to be Julie Sulpizio, Grinnell said.

When deputies talked to the person who called in the complaint, he told them Julie Sulpizio had physically stuck his wife, father and other family members. "The complainant stated (Sulpizio) was 'acting religious,' accusing them of being sinners and she said that she knows what they did," Grinnell said.

Grinnell said the complainant also told officers that Michael Sulpizio had recently told the family's children, "The next time I see you, I'm going to shoot you."

Deputies were then directed to the Sulpizios' house, because "thats where there was a problem happening, Grinnell said.

There, the deputies walked into an ambush themselves with three armed individuals, in a home prepared for a confrontation, he said.

Julie Suplizio was arrested outside of the home before the ambush took place after she approached an officer who was armed with a taser. The officer got the woman onto the ground and Sulpizio was handcuffed.

Inside the home: Gas masks, body armor and camouflage suits

Before attempting to enter the home, Link and others tried calling a phone inside, but got voice mail. So they attempted to enter the living room.

When detectives looked at Link's body camera footage after the incident, they saw a man in black body armor armed with a rifle. Then, multiple gunshots are fired, Link was struck and returned gunfire, Grinnell said. At this point, Master Deputy Sheriff Harold Howell was wounded in the wrist, he said.

A firefight ensued between those in the home and deputies outside as more law enforcement officers arrived.

The suspects refused to negotiate or release Link's body, Grinnell said.

When the body camera footage was reviewed, at this point, a woman's voice could be heard yelling, "My king will kill all of you. You are Lucifer's children." A weapon was heard being loaded.

When officers attempted to use a ballistic shield to break into the home to rescue Link, gunfire through a wall struck Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano. (Gargano is in stable condition and Howell is expected to regain full use of his left arm, Grinnell said.)

Before SWAT could help officers get into the home, they heard some gunshots and upon entering found Michael Sulpizio, who later died from his gunshot wound to the head, and the bodies of Savannah Sulpizio, 23; and Cheyenne Sulpizio, 22. They were Julie Sulpizio's daughters, whom Michael Sulpizio had adopted, Grinnell said.

"A search of the house showed gas masks, body armor, ghillie (camouflage) suits, medical bags, bug-out bags, MREs, and bottled water stockpiles," Grinnell said. "Throughout the residence, anti-government propaganda was observed, along with conspiracy theory-related media."

Among the materials were bumper stickers, handouts and flyers for Infowars and "various podcasts," Gadsen said.

Investigators found no personal writings or evidence the family was a part of any organized anti-government network, Grinnell said. However, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies were called to the scene as part of the ongoing investigation.

The sheriff's office hadn't gotten any previous reports of violence in connection with the home, he said.

When detectives interviewed Julie Sulpizio after her arrest, she told them "she claimed to be God  and (her husband) Michael is the guardian angel Michael, which obeys God's, her, command," Grinnell said, who during the news conference deemed his deputies "absolute heroes."

Sulpizio said her goal was "to lure the neighbors to her residence so that Michael could kill them," Grinnell said. "She was not successful because of our deputies."

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida deputy killed in 'ambush' of police; woman charged with murder
Republican vice presidential candidate and U.S. Senator JD Vance is facing online ridicule after an embarrassing gaffe during a Philadelphia rally on Tuesday.

Vance took the stage at the 2300 Arena to deliver a speech aimed at energizing MAGA supporters. However, the event quickly went south when a stage backdrop meant to read KAMALA CHAOS was partially obscured by rallygoers, leaving only the name KAMALA visible.

Here's why you should hire union stagehands and stage designers:



(They did not) pic.twitter.com/ihEqoopGv8  IATSE // #IASolidarity (@IATSE) August 6, 2024

The stage setup error quickly went viral on social media, with critics seizing the opportunity to mock Vance. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) took a swipe at the gaffe on X (formerly Twitter), writing, Heres why you should hire union stagehands and stage designers, alongside an image of Vance in front of the misinterpreted sign.

Other users were quick to pile on. Those people look extremely unhappy. Based on the sign, I guess they were expecting Kamala, one user commented. Another pointed out, First, he talked in front of Youre fired signs in Atlanta. Now hes speaking in front of a sign advertising his opponent.

Jessica: I saw Vance this morning in front of a huge Kamala sign where you couldnt even read the chaos so everything is going really well pic.twitter.com/wQzIl1BG4v  Acyn (@Acyn) August 6, 2024

Even Fox News weighed in on the blunder. Host Jessica Taylor noted, I saw JD Vance this morning in front of a huge Kamala sign where you couldnt even read the chaos. Everything is going really well for that side of the aisle.

With Trump mainly off the road this week, Vance has been trailing Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, across the country and holding campaign events near their rallies, as Harris surge appears to have rattled the Trump camp.

Harris and Vance postponed planned events for Thursday across Georgia and North Carolina due to Tropical Storm Debby.

Reuters contributed to the reporting of this story.

Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at JYurow@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JD Vance mocked for 'Kamala chaos' stage gaffe in Philadelphia
An athlete participating in a CrossFit competition in Texas drowned in a swimming event at a Fort Worth lake Thursday morning.

While 2024 CrossFit Games organizers and authorities did not immediately release to the athlete's identity, the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office records indicate that Lazar ukic , a 28-year-old CrossFit champion, died at Fort Worth's Marine Creek Lake around 10:24 a.m.

Elite athletes from all over the world, including ukic, flocked to the city for the 2024 CrossFit Games, an annual competition dubbed the "definitive test of fitness" to earn the title of "Fittest on Earth" by participating in a number of physical challenges from Thursday through Sunday, according to the 2024 CrossFit Games website.

The 2024 CrossFit Games officially kicked off around 7 a.m., with ukic and other athletes, tasked with completing three rounds of activities for "Lake Day," the first event of the competition.

We are devastated by the passing of Lazar ukic. Our hearts are with Lazars entire family, friends, and fellow athletes.



Out of respect for the family and in cooperation with the Fort Worth Police Department, we will share updates when possible. pic.twitter.com/KkjY5zuGRT  The CrossFit Games (@CrossFitGames) August 8, 2024

The victim had already completed a 3.5 mile run and was swimming his way across Marine Creek Lake when he began to have difficulty keeping his head above water. The racer drowned moments before crossing the finish line.

The Fort Worth Police Department and the Fort Worth Fire Department did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's requests for comment.

Here's what we know.

Missing athlete reported, recovered from lake

Craig Trojacek, Fort Worth Fire spokesperson, said at a Thursday press conference that firefighters responded to a 911 call to assist the Fort Worth Police Department at Marine Creek Lake around 8 a.m. The nature of the call changed quickly, with authorities asking fire to assist with the search for a missing competitor, who had not been seen for some time.

Crews were able to recover the body of the missing athlete about an hour after the first diver from the search and rescue team went into the water.

"Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the family members that were affected today in this tragic event, the CrossFit community and the community here in Fort Worth, Texas," Trojacek said.

Don Faul, CrossFit Games CEO, also addressed the media at the conference, answering questions about safety protocols.

"For an event like this we have a full planned and documented safety plan. We had safety personnel on site throughout the event. All of the details around the process, the event and what unfolded today, that'll be part of the details that we work through very closely with authorities," Faul said. "That'll be part of the information that's to come as part of the investigation."

2024 CrossFit Games issues statement, announces competition will continue

CrossFit Games issued a statement Thursday morning on social media, writing that they were "deeply saddened" by the loss of a CrossFit Games competitor during the swimming portion of the Individual Event 1. The organization said they were "fully cooperating with authorities" and doing "everything they could to support" the athlete's family.

All of the games scheduled for Thursday were canceled. "The well-being of competitors is our first priority, and we are heartbroken by this tragic event," the post said.

CrossFit Games posted a tribute to ukic on Thursday night, writing that the competition would proceed as scheduled.

"Today is the saddest day in CrossFit history. We are shattered by the loss of Lazar ukic along with the entire CrossFit community," the X post said, noting that the athlete was "fiercely competitive, incurably joyful and uncommonly kind."

"The first instinct is to shut down. To isolate. To mourn. But the only cure for grief is to grieve. And the best way to grieve is together. In our community, coming together to do hard things is how we pay tribute. In this spirit, we have decided to move forward with the 2024 CrossFit Games. This weekend is dedicated to Lazar ukic. We will open tomorrow at 10:00 am."

USA TODAY has reached out to game organizers for additional comment.

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lazar ukic drowns during CrossFit competition in Texas
Russian prosecutors are seeking a 15-year sentence for Russian-American aesthetician Ksenia Karelina, who pleaded guilty to treason after she was arrested for donating $51 to an American-based humanitarian group helping Ukrainians who suffered in the war, according to Russian state media.

Russia accuses Karelina of collecting money used to purchase supplies for the Ukrainian army.

Karelina was detained in January when she traveled from the U.S. to Russia to visit family. Her former mother-in-law, Eleonora Srebroski, said she had been given a plane ticket as a gift by her boyfriend to fly back to see her parents and younger sister in the eastern city of Yekaterinburg.

Srebroski told CBS News that Karelina had assured her boyfriend at the time it was safe for her to visit Russia and he had no reason to worry about her.

Karelina was initially detained by Russia's Federal Security Service on charges of "petty hooliganism," but the charge was later upgraded to treason.

Karelina's trial is being overseen by the judge that saw Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Her lawyer called the prosecutor's request for a 15-year sentence "harsh" and said he would "take all legally significant actions" to try to have his client included in a future prisoner exchange.

"After the verdict, of course, we will work in this direction," Karelina's lawyer said. "This is the client's desire, so I will take all legally significant actions to ensure that this is carried out."

Evan Gershkovich was freed as part of a prisoner swap earlier this month.

Murder victim's girlfriend: "Watch who you're with"

James Rackover brags he'll beat charges in phone calls from jail

Rep. Cori Bush loses congressional primary, 2nd progressive "Squad" member to lose reelection
A leading election handicapper on Wednesday shifted its ratings of three states in the presidential race in favor of Democrats as Vice President Harris surges in the polls against former President Trump.

Sabatos Crystal Ball moved its rating of Minnesota and New Hampshire from Leans Democratic to Likely Democratic and Georgia from Leans Republican to Toss-up on Wednesday, noting Harris has widely performed better than President Biden had before he dropped out of the race last month.

In the few weeks that Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as Democrats standard bearer, she has reset the electoral map to some degree, as she has polled better than President Biden was performing before he ended his campaign, a post explaining the change states.

The post adds that Harris has at least managed to stop the bleeding since Bidens poor debate performance against Trump in late June. It says multiple national polling aggregators place her at least slightly ahead of Trump in a match-up, while Biden was generally trailing the former president before he dropped out.

Sabatos Crystal Ball initially moved Minnesota  the home state of Harriss running mate, Gov. Tim Walz  to only leaning in favor of the Democrats given its analysis that the state was only somewhat more left-leaning than Michigan, which is rated as a toss-up. But a few polls that have recently come out, including a Fox News survey where she led by 6 points and a KSTP/SurveyUSA poll where she led by 10, make the state appear likely to continue to vote bluer than the country overall.

The post states that Walzs inclusion on the ticket only makes it more firmly in the likely Democrat category, even though running mates usually only deliver small homestate advantages.

The Crystal Ball notes that New Hampshire voted most closely to Minnesota in 2020, and polling has shown the state with similar results from four years ago. Polling has shown Harris returning Democrats to more of the leads they have traditionally had in the Granite State after one poll right before Biden dropped out had Trump just ahead.

Regarding the shift on Georgia, the post states that Bidens path to victory while he was in the race seemed to go through the Midwest, as several Sun Belt states were getting away from him. States in that region like Arizona and Nevada stayed toss-ups, but Georgia moved to lean Republican in June.

Since launching her candidacy, Harris has outperformed Bidens numbers, and Trump has brought back old wounds in attacking Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R), both of whom are popular in the state. Sabatos said this makes the state more legitimately competitive than it was with Biden in the race.

In terms of the overall trajectory of the 2024 race, there has been no shortage of whiplash since late June. The fast-breaking developments since the debate have been a lot for those of us who follow politics for a living to process, let alone for voters who are just tuning into the campaign, the post states. Perhaps by Labor Day, when both of the party conventions will have concluded, the nature of the race will be less fluid. But for now, we feel its warranted to move at least a few states back in the Democrats direction.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
From hilltops to harvest: Rise of south China's mango industry

Xinhua) 16:51, August 08, 2024

NANNING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Despite facing the challenges of tall mountains and poor transportation, Baise City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has turned its rolling hills into an advantage, establishing itself as a celebrated mango cultivation hub.

Nestled among the mountains, Baise enjoys a warm subtropical climate that is ideal for growing tropical fruits such as mangoes. With advancements in agricultural technology and improvements in logistics and transportation, the mango industry has become a significant source of wealth for local farmers.

As summer arrives, Huang Baojia, a mango farmer from Dongli Village in Yufeng Township, has been immersed in the daily tasks of harvesting and selling mangoes. With 80 mu (about 5.34 hectares) of mango trees, he anticipates an income of around 500,000 yuan (about 69,969 U.S. dollars) this year.

"I've been cultivating mangoes for nearly two decades, and it has provided me with a stable income. My 20-year-old son, after graduating, has chosen to return home to farm mangoes instead of working in big cities," Huang said.

Liu Chengjun, Party secretary of Yufeng Township, said that the local government has invested over 32 million yuan to improve infrastructure, including irrigation systems, electricity and transportation. Local authorities have also procured facilities such as mango harvesting tracks, solar insect lamps and integrated irrigation and fertilization systems in Dongli Village.

Liu said the improvement of production conditions has led to a remarkable increase in both the yield and quality of mangoes. In 2023, the average household mango sales revenue reached 260,000 yuan.

"During the harvest season, distributors come directly to the fields to pick, sort and pack the mangoes, creating job opportunities for local residents," he added.

"Mangoes delivered to your home with free shipping!" At the Tianyang agricultural products wholesale market, the air is saturated with the fragrance of fruit. A variety of mango types are stacked high and ready to cater to the diverse preferences of consumers.

Cen Zhenge, director of Baise's fruit industry development center, said that efforts have been concentrated on technological research and development to improve the quality of mango varieties. Consequently, over 80 new technologies have been promoted, and numerous new varieties have been introduced to the city.

By the end of 2023, the total mango cultivation area in Baise had reached 1.37 million mu, with an annual output of 1.25 million tonnes. Baise is also actively advancing the deep processing industry of mangoes.

"Previously, about 80 percent of mangoes were sold fresh at standard prices, with the remainder either sold at reduced prices or discarded. Today, there are 14 mango processing enterprises in Baise City capable of processing over 300,000 tonnes of mangoes annually," Cen said.

In a workshop of a mango processing enterprise in Tianzhou Township of Baise, workers are diligently selecting and cutting fruit with the aid of mechanical equipment. Wang Bo, manager of the company, said that their main products include frozen mangoes, mango slices and mango sauce, with the annual processing volume reaching 30,000 tonnes.

Liu Yanli, on behalf of an agricultural technology company in Shenzhen, has recently signed an order with a Baise mango enterprise. Her company has also established an office in Guangxi to optimize the fruit supply chain.

"The logistics for Baise mangoes are very convenient, and many production bases can deliver orders instantly, which is exactly what we need," said Liu.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
By Paul Sandle

LONDON (Reuters) -British police said there was nothing to indicate that a planned attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna would have any impact on her return next week to Wembley Stadium, London, for her five final shows in Europe.

Swift's three concerts in Vienna, expected to draw 195,000 people, were cancelled this week after police there said they had foiled an attack by a 19-year-old Austrian who was intent on attacking fans with a bomb or knife.

Her record-breaking Eras tour came to Britain in June, with shows in Edinburgh, Liverpool and Cardiff, before she visited London for three nights, with the now-prime minister, Keir Starmer, and members of the royal family in the crowd.

She will return to Wembley on August 15 for five nights before heading back to North America for her final dates of Eras, which has become the highest grossing concert tour of all time, according to reports.

"There is nothing to indicate that the matters being investigated by the Austrian authorities will have an impact on upcoming events here in London," a spokesperson for London's Metropolitan Police said.

Austrian police detained two people on Wednesday on suspicion of plotting attacks on concerts. They said one, a 19 year-old suspect, had a particular focus on the Swift concerts in Vienna.

London's Met Police said millions of visitors had a safe and enjoyable experience at high-profile events in London every year, with Bruce Springsteen playing at Wembley in July.

"The Met works closely with venue security teams and other partners to ensure there are appropriate security and policing plans in place," the spokesperson said.

"As always, we will continue to keep any new information under careful review."

FANS' DISMAY

Fans of the singer turned to social media to express their dismay over the Vienna cancellations, their fears that the London nights could also be cancelled, and to ask for tickets.

"If anyone is selling 2 tickets for Taylor Swift for ANY night in London Wembley pls pls message me, from a very desperate and devastated girl in Vienna x x," a user called Haz said on X.

Tickets to see Swift in Britain sold out rapidly as fans battled to see the most high-profile tour in years. A general admission standing ticket for Wembley cost 110.40 pounds ($140).

The same tickets were available on resale websites such as Viagogo and StubHub for more than 1,200 pounds each on Thursday.

Police in Britain are already on high alert after racist riots broke out, targeting immigrants and Muslim communities following the murder of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, northwest England, on July 29.

"These were just little kids at a dance class," Swift said the day after that attack.

Policing in Britain has been stepped up since the violence erupted and large anti-racist counter-demonstrations thwarted further violence on Wednesday.

($1 = 0.7888 pounds)

(Reporting by Paul Sandle, Michael Holden and Sachin Ravikumar, Writing by Paul SandleEditing by Alistair Smout and Gareth Jones)
Texas executed death row inmate Arthur Lee Burton on Wednesday for the murder of a mother of three during an evening jog in Houston, making him the third man put to death in the state this year and the 11th in the nation.

Burton, 54, was executed by lethal injection in the Huntsville Unit north of Houston for the 1998 murder of 48-year-old Nancy Adleman, whose daughter described her as someone who "chose joy" every day of her life. Burton's time of death was 6:47 p.m., according to Amanda Hernandez, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Burton's attorneys filed numerous appeals throughout his time on death row, including two in July that were recently denied by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

Burton confessed to the murder to police and told a prison sociologist it was "something I couldn't help," according to court records.

Here's what to know about Burton's execution, his last words, the case and the victim.

Pictured is death row inmate Arthur Lee Burton. The 54-year-old was convicted in 1998 of murdering a jogger in Houston, Texas.

Arthur Lee Burton's last words: 'Bird is going home'

Before Burton was executed, he spoke his last words in the death chamber.

"I want to say thank you to all the people who support me and pray for me," he said. "For those of you I know and do not know, thank you for your support and prayers ... And a full circle to all the guys at the Polunsky Unit (prison), I love you guy ... Bird is going home."

Burton also addressed those affected by his crimes.

"To all the people I have hurt and caused pain, I wish we didn't have to be here at this moment, but I want you to know that I am sorry for putting y'all through this and my family," he said. "I'm not better than anyone. I hope that I find peace and y'all can, too."

Nancy Adleman's murder

Nancy Adleman was killed on July 29, 1997, while out jogging along Brays Bayou in Houston.

Harris County sheriff's deputies found Adleman's badly beaten body in a 4-foot hole in a heavily wooded area along the bayou the next day.

Burton was arrested by authorities 10 days after the murder, and although he initially denied killing Adleman, he eventually confessed in a written statement after officers found inconsistencies in his alibi.

In Burton's written statement, he admitted to attacking Adleman, dragging her into the woods, choking her unconscious, removing her shorts and underwear and raping her, according to a 2004 court filing. When Adleman regained consciousness and began screaming, Burton choked her unconscious again and dragged her into the hole officials found her in.

When Burton was about to leave, he saw another person walking nearby, so he returned to the hole and strangled Adleman to death with her own shoelace, the court document says.

In his confession to police, Burton said that Adleman's last words before her death were: "God forgives you and I do, too," according to Adleman's daughter, Sarah Adleman, who was 16 at the time and recently talked to USA TODAY about the crime.

"For any woman who has ever exercised alone, or walked to their car alone at night, this case is their worst nightmare," Josh Reiss, chief of the Post-Conviction Writ Division of the Harris County District Attorneys Office, told USA TODAY.

Pictured is Nancy Adleman. She was killed on July 29, 1997 in Houston, Texas after never returning home from a jog near the Brays Bayou.

Nancy Adleman's daughter not attending execution

Sarah Adleman told USA TODAY earlier this week that she would not be attending Burton's execution, and would instead gather by a river with friends and family for an afternoon of "play and laughter."

She was 16 years old when her mother was murdered while out on a jog in Houston. Now Sarah Adleman is 43 and a mother herself.

"I think the greatest way to honor my mothers life is to be present with the joy in mind," Sarah Adleman said. "We will have a gratitude and a forgiveness ceremony, a funeral of sorts. A letting go of the past 27 years."

She recalled how her mother made it a point to choose joy.

"She woke most mornings to pray, meditate (and) write before anyone else was awake," she recalled. "She understood that joy is a choice."

Sarah Adleman said her brother, Geoff, and father, Mark, would be attending the execution. Geoff was 14 when his mother was killed, and Mark had been married to Nancy for 18 years.

Pictured is Nancy Adleman and her daughter, Sarah Adleman.

When is the next execution?

The next execution is scheduled for Thursday, when Utah is expected to execute Taberon Dave Honie for the 1998 murder of 49-year-old Claudia Benn, who was the mother of his girlfriend at the time.

If the execution commences as planned, Honie will become the 12th inmate to be executed in the U.S. this year and the first executed in Utah since a 2010 execution by firing squad.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arthur Lee Burton executed for the 1997 murder of Nancy Adleman
Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appear on stage together during a campaign event at Girard College on August 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Credit - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

For Tim Walz, Vice President Kamala Harris running mate, the fight over in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures is not only about politicsits about his own family.

The Minnesota governor is open about how he and his wife, Gwen Walz, conceived their children Hope, 23, and Gus, 17, through a challenging IVF journey. Now hes sharing his personal experience with voters on the biggest political stage in the country while the future of the procedure is in jeopardy.

The Harris-Walz campaign has made it clear that protecting abortion rights, IVF, and fertility treatment are all policy priorities if they win the White House in November. The issues have taken on new urgency after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 and the Alabama supreme court ruled in February that frozen embryos have the legal rights of children.

After bipartisan pushback, Alabama lawmakers passed laws protecting IVF providers so the services could resume in the state. But with IVFs future uncertain in states that have fetal personhood laws, Democrats and reproductive rights advocates believe Walzs ability to speak from personal experience will be a powerful asset to the ticket.

Read More: IVF Changed America. But Its Future Is Under Threat

Voters respond when politicians are able to demonstrate not just that they understand how much it matters that we restore these rights and these freedoms, but they also understand what voters are going through, and it speaks to their own personal values, says Jessica Mackler, president of EMILYs List, an influential political organization that aims to elect pro-choice women. And so if voters are hearing these stories, they are looking at somebody and saying, This is somebody I can trust to lead on this issue.

Walz talked about IVF in his first appearance with Harris since she chose him as her running mate, at a rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday. He said IVF is personal to him and chronicled the many emotions he felt when going through the fertility treatments. I remember praying every night for a call for good news, the pit in my stomach when the phone rang, and the agony when we heard that the treatments had not worked, Walz told the crowd. So, it wasnt by chance that when we welcomed our daughter into the world, we named her Hope.

Walz then tied his personal experience back to the campaigns commitments to reproductive rights as a whole, saying that when he and Harris talk about freedom, they mean the freedom to make your own health care decisions.

Walzs remarks are already resonating with voters. Brittany Stuart, a Virginia resident whose 5-year-old was conceived through IVF in Alabama, says she sees in Walz not just a politician, but someone who understands how hard it is to make a child. Stuart says she did three years of fertility treatment and still has a frozen embryo in Alabama.

Infertility is hard enough on families, so to have it further demonized is just like, why are we doing this? Stuart says. So to hear Walz talk about his daughter openly it speaks volumes. Stuart says that her job in the news has prevented her from publicly supporting or donating to a candidate previously, but she plans to donate to the Harris-Walz ticket.

Read More: Where Tim Walz Stands on the Issues

Walzs experience with IVF is also clearly top of mind for the Harris campaign; his biography on the campaign website says that his personal connection further cement[s] his commitment to ensuring all Americans have access to this care.

While Walz is being introduced to a wider swath of Americans this week, this isnt the first time he has publicly discussed his familys IVF journey.

After the Alabama supreme court ruling in February, Walz took to Facebook to express his disappointment, pointing again to his children as examples to IVFs success. Dont let these guys get away with this by telling you they support IVF when their handpicked judges oppose it, Walz said in the post. Actions speak louder than words, and their actions are clear. Theyre bringing anti-science government into your exam room, bedroom, and classroom.

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee in 2024, nominated a raft of conservative judges to the judiciary during his first term, including three of the U.S. Supreme Court Justices who decided to overturn the constitutional right to abortion. This year, Trump criticized the Alabama ruling and expressed support for IVF. Trumps running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, previously voted against the Right to IVF Act, which would have expanded nationwide access to fertility treatment, though he supported a separate Republican-led bill that would have stripped Medicaid funding from states that prohibit IVF. Vance recently has come under fire for his resurfaced comments about the Democratic Party as a party of childless cat ladies.

According to a Pew Research Center survey done in April, seven-in-ten adults believe that IVF access is a good thing, while only 8% say that its a bad thing.

With that political backdrop, theres even more pressure on Walzhes in the hot seat now that hes chosen to be a champion for IVF, says Barbara Collura, president of RESOLVE: The National Fertility Association. We love public awareness about this, but I can tell you that it's not enough to say you support IVF, Collura says. Just talking about it doesn't actually get people insurance coverage.

Collura is no stranger to Walzs story. RESOLVE is a non profit patient advocacy organization, which provides support groups, public awareness campaigns, and public policy around insurance coverage for IVF. They also have an annual Advocacy Day in which members of their community come together to speak to members of Congressan event which Walz spoke at back in 2017. Anytime somebody is brave enough to get up and talk about their infertility story, it's going to make a big difference on those of us who've gone through this, Collura says.

Marilyn Gomez, who was seeking fertility treatment in North Carolina, hopes that Walzs openness will bring reproductive rights to the forefront not just nationally, but in the 13 gubernatorial races and the many state elections in 2024. She says its hard to feel excited, but shes cautiously optimistic.

There are a lot of people that dont know that IVF is on the line, Gomez says. Last night when I watched [the rally] live, it was very moving, but also I just couldn't believe that in 2024 were still talking about it.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, fired back at pro-Palestinian protesters of Israel's war in Gaza as they interrupted her speech during a Wednesday night campaign rally in Detroit.

"You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I'm speaking," Harris said with a long stare, drawing loud cheers from supporters in the crowd before chants of, "Not going back!"

The exchange was a reminder of the lingering divisions among Democrats over the war in the Middle East that pose challenges for Harris in her race against former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee.

As Harris spoke, a group of protesters interrupted the vice president about halfway through her remarks: "Kamala, Kamala, you cant hide! We wont vote for genocide, they shouted.

More: Harris, Walz bring historic campaign to Michigan, rallying at Detroit Metro Airport

Harris initially responded: Im here because I believe in democracy. I believe everyones voice matters. But Im speaking now. I am speaking now." But the interruptions continued as Harris tried to discuss the ramifications of a second Trump presidency.

More than 15,000 people attended the Harris rally held at a Detroit airport hangar with Air Force Two in the background  the type of campaign setting Trump has made a staple during his three runs for president.

More: 'I will not be silent': VP Kamala Harris defends Israel but laments 'suffering' in Gaza

U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally with her newly-chosen vice presidential running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (not pictured), at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Michigan, U.S., August 7, 2024. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

It was the largest rally yet for the still-young Harris campaign as she conducts a multi-state blitz with her new running-mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, this week.

Throughout the year, protesters have regularly followed President Joe Biden at his public events but the demonstrations have been less of a reoccurrence for Harris, who launched her campaign after Biden dropped out of the race July 21.

Pro-Gaza group seeks meeting with Harris to push demands

Dearborn, Michigan outside of Detroit is home to a large Arab American and Muslim population that has criticized the Biden administration's support for Israel's war against Hamas following the militant group's Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

In Michigan's Democratic primary in February, a majority of primary voters in Dearborn, 57%, chose "uncommitted" over Biden in a protest over his position on Israel's war in Gaza.

Two members of the Pro-Palestinian group "Uncommitted"  co-founders Layla Elabed and Abbas Alawieh  said they spoke briefly with Harris and Walz as they took photos and shook hands with supporters before the rally started. They asked for a formal meeting with Harris to discuss their demands, which include a U.S. arms embargo in Israel and a permanent Gaza cease-fire, and said Harris "expressed an openness to a meeting."

Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris greets supporters after speaking at a campaign rally at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus, Michigan, August 7, 2024.

Since October 7, the Vice President has prioritized engaging with Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian community members and others regarding the war in Gaza," Harris campaign spokeswoman Lauren Hitt said in a statement. "In this brief engagement, she reaffirmed that her campaign will continue to engage with those communities."

Hitt reiterated Harris' long-held position on the war in Gaza. "The Vice President has been clear: she will always work to ensure Israel is able to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups."

She added that Harris is "focused on securing the ceasefire and hostage deal currently on the table. As she has said, it is time for this war to end in a way where: Israel is secure, hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinian civilians ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, freedom, and self-determination.

More: VP Harris presses Israel on civilian deaths in Gaza. What does international law say?

Michigan, with 15 electoral votes up for grabs, is a critical battleground state that Biden carried in 2020 en route to his election victory over Trump.

Although Harris, like Biden, has remained steadfast in her backing of Israel, she helped take the lead in the administration's criticism of Israel for the number of Palestinian casualties in Gaza. "Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed," Harris said last December. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating."

Harris last month told reporters, "We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering, and I will not be silent."

Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harris to protesters: 'If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that'
The lack of queer visual history compelled me to produce what was missing, says Zanele Muholi of their creative practice. For more than two decades, the 52-year-old South African photographer has turned their camera on the countrys LGBTQ community, bringing the stories of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex lives to major art institutions around the world, raising questions about race and representation, and fostering a spirit of empowerment.

In Europe, a touring Zanele Muholi survey has been presented in museums from Paris and Berlin to Copenhagen and Reykjavik, and recently opened at Londons Tate Modern. It runs concurrently with two US shows: Zanele Muholi: Eye Me at The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, their first major West Coast exhibition (ends August 11), and a showcase of new work at Southern Guild gallery in Los Angeles (until August 31). Between them, the work on display ranges from Muholis best-known photographs to their new bronze sculptures.

Yet Muholi doesnt refer to themself as an artist; instead they prefer the term visual activist, highlighting how they advocate for social change. In 2002, for instance, Muholi started work on their first photographic series, Only Half the Picture (20022006), documenting survivors of hate crimes across South Africas townships. At the same time they co-founded the Forum for the Empowerment of Women  South Africas first black lesbian rights organization. For while South Africas post-apartheid constitution of 1996 outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation  the first country in the world to do so  queerphobic violence remains an ever-present threat.

"Miss Dvine II, 2007." For more than two decades, Zanele Muholi has turned their camera on the countrys LGBTQ community, bringing the stories of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex lives to major art institutions around the world, - Courtesy the artist/Yancey Richardson, New York

A lot of experiences that people face and activities that are taking place need to be documented so that we have a proper archive, which didnt exist before, said Muholi during the opening of the Tate Modern show. You have to think of the future and how the work becomes a reference point for scholars and educators. Walking around the exhibition  their largest solo show to date  I distance myself from the work, they explained. I want to be in the head of the viewer, wondering what they see when they look at this work. Where do they place themselves?

For the exhibitions co-curator Carine Harmand, Muholis work is very much for and by the black queer community. She highlights an image in Only Half the Picture that shows two women laughing while trying on clothes: It shows joy and resilience. Muholi never shows people as victims; they show them as people who live, love and care for each other. Instead of referring to the people in their images as subjects, Muholi sees them as participants.

In Faces and Phases, an ongoing living archive of more than 600 portraits started in 2006, Muholi celebrates Black lesbians, transgender and gender non-conforming people in beautiful and bold, black and white images  150 of which are on display at the Tate Modern. Other series include Being  intimate images of couples  and Brave Beauties, portrayals of trans women and non-binary people, often beauty pageant contestants, photographed in the style of fashion magazine covers.

"Qiniso, The Sails, Durban 2019," is part of the "Somnyama Ngonyama" series. - Courtesy the artist/Yancey Richardson, New York

Muholi is an artist who understood early in their career the power of the photographic image to represent marginalized individuals and identities, writes Tate Modern director Karin Hindsbo in the exhibition catalogue. At the point of their retrospective in 2024, the proliferation of photographic images makes the singular style and activist reach of Muholis body of work all the more recognizable as highly significant, and pioneering.

Images with their own story

Perhaps most iconic is Muholis ongoing series of self-portraits, Somnyama Ngonyama  which translates as Hail The Dark Lioness. When Muholis show first opened at Tate Modern in 2020 (a run that was cut short due to the Covid lockdown), they explained: When we document and photograph other people, we tend to forget about ourselves. I wanted to find an artistic expression to deal with the painful experiences that I was going through but drawing back to historical moments. Im praising my ancestry.

First started in 2012, the images often make use of imaginative props  from beaded necklaces and blankets to blown-up plastic gloves and felt-tip pens  while Muholi directly confronts the viewer with their gaze. For Harmand, the series is an accumulation of experiences of Blackness. Each of the images has its own story  sometimes personal stories, sometimes historical events: colonial histories, apartheid, postcolonial histories of displacement, of violence, but also fetishization of the Black body.

"Mellisa Mbambo, Durban South Beach, 2017." Each of the images has it's own story, said Muholi of their work. - Courtesy the artist/Yancey Richardson, New York

"Ntozakhe II, Parktown 2016." Muholi is passionate about supporting the next generation of South African artists through philanthropy and also hands on experiences. - Courtesy the artist/Yancey Richardson, New York

Muholi was born in 1972 in Umlazi, a South African township south-west of Durban. The youngest of eight children, their father died shortly after they were born. I dont come from a household where youd be encouraged to become an artist, they said. I come from a space where youre told that a professional is a nurse or a teacher, scientists and engineers.

Someone who did encourage Muholi to pursue a creative path, however, was David Goldblatt, the late South African photographer best known for his portrayals of life during the time of Apartheid. In 2003, Muholi took a photography course at the Market Photo Workshop, the training institution founded by Goldblatt in Newtown, Johannesburg in 1989. He was my mentor, they said. I learnt a lot from him.

In turn, Muholi offers support to young South Africans. Somebody rescued me and saved me, so I feel that I need to extend the love to the next generation, they said. Its important. From the sales of Muholis work, 30 percent is used to fund philanthropic projects. To date, this has included supporting nearly 100 people to study at both the Market Photo Workshop and Orms Cape Town School of Photography. Since 2020, the project has been defined as the Muholi Art Institute, a mobile art institute for young and upcoming visual artists from South Africa, offering residencies, studios and exhibition spaces.

"ID Crisis, 2003," from Muholi's "Only Half The Picture" series. A lot of experiences that people face and activities that are taking place need to be documented so that we have a proper archive, which didnt exist before, said Muholi. - Courtesy the artist/Yancey Richardson, New York

"Manzi I, West Coast, Cape Town, 2022." Muholi's work raises questions about race and representation and fosters a sense of empowerment. - Courtesy the artist/Yancey Richardson, New York

At the opening of the Tate show, Muholi referred to their multifaceted work as tiring. Jet-lagged from a Los Angeles-London flight, they said: Theres a lot of work still to be done, while also acknowledging the role that major institutions play in this work. Tate is big business. A lot of education is taking place here. When children have access to art from an early age, they become better artists, they become well-informed adults.

Trevyn McGowan, co-founder of the Cape Town and LA-based Southern Guild gallery, notes: Muholi also sees their participation in their exhibitions as vital. They show up again and again and again.

The LA show itself combines recent additions to the Somnyama Ngonyama series with bronze sculptures that range from the classically figurative to a bronze cast of their clitoris, produced on a monumental scale. Its a new body of work which speaks on visibility, said Muholi. I wanted to expand the practice and also to learn from that expansion. Their new material is laden with art-historical references that are both channeled and subverted by Muholi. Theres something about this massive piece of work they said. Its a way in which you claim the space. People wont easily forget it.

Zanele Muholi is at Tate Modern, London, until January 26 2025, and at Southern Guild Los Angeles until August 31.

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by Melani Manel Perera

Namal, 38, is the eldest son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and nephew of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, also a former president, who was ousted by street protests in 2022. Many in the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna continue to support the current head of government, Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  Sri Lanka's largest party has nominated a young member of the Rajapaksa clan as its candidate to challenge the incumbent president in elections to be held on 21 September.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has picked Namal Rajapaksa, the eldest son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, at a Buddhist ceremony held yesterday at the party's headquarters in the capital, Colombo.

In addition to his father Mahinda Rajapaksa, the event was attended by his uncle Basil Rajapaksa, founder of the SLPP, and several other party members.

Over the past few weeks, scores of SLPP lawmakers offered their support to the current president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has been credited with reviving the country's economy after taking over from Gotabaya Rajapaksa, another of Namal's uncles.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa came to power in 2019 but was ousted three years later due to widespread popular protests, led by the "Aragalaya" movement, which forced him to resign and leave the country.

In July 2022, as the largest party in parliament, the SLPP backed Wickremesinghe as the new president, as did the Rajapaksa brothers, Mahinda, Basil, and Gotabaya, but now, they hope to regain power through a new family surrogate.

My candidature was a last-minute decision but we are ready to work hard to activate grassroot level support," said Namal Rajapaksa, adding that he would meet with the 92 MPs who declared their support for Wickremesinghe, splitting the SLPP when elections were called last month.

With the younger Rajapaksa entering the presidential race, there are now four official candidates representing various parties. One candidate, SLPP MP Dhammika Perera, pulled out for personal reasons.

This leaves President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, head of the People's Liberation Front, a Marxist-Leninist party, and a few independent candidates.

At 38, Namal Rajapaksa is the youngest contender running and, if he wins, he would become the youngest president in Sri Lanka's history.

To deal with the economic crisis, the Sri Lankan government agreed to a US$ 10 billion debt restructuring plan, securing a US$ 2.9 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Namal Rajapaksa said he will strive to create jobs and help small businesses.

We are studying the IMF programme to see how we can work around some of its requirements, such as government revenue increases ... without increasing the burden on the public, he said.
In Shanxi, a court president illegally keeps three Protestant leaders in prison without trial. But the law can also be used to show that religious freedom conforms with the law, this according to Feng Xuewei, a legal expert who worked on Chinas entry in the WTO.

Beijing (AsiaNews)  Li Shanshan, Chen Ying, and Wen Huijuan, wives of Pastor Li Jie, Pastor Han Xiaodong, and Brother Wang Qiang of the Linfen Covenant House Church visited the Yaodu District Court in Shanxi province, northern China, for the fifth time in July. After previous failures, they managed to meet Court president Xie Binghua to plead for the release of their husbands, but the judges response was clear: there are no grounds, according to him, to consider the three mens detention as illegal, ChinaAid reports. Instead, the judge warned the wives not to criticize, comment on, or interfere with the case by posting comments or messages on Weibo, Chinas foremost social media platform.

The three Christian men, who were arrested on 19 August 2022 on charges of "fraud, will remain in preventive detention without a trial date, simply for practicing their religion.

Beijing and religious freedom

This is but the latest case in a long series, a forceful reminder that, in China, religious freedom and worship are subordinate to the ideology and strict control of the ruling Communist party. This applies to Christians as well as others, most notably Muslims who are victims of widespread persecution in different parts of the country, aimed at sinicising" dogmas, rites and functions.

However, someone from within the countrys power structure has come out against this policy, with arguments and attitudes unusual for the country. Former Chinese State Council official Feng Xuewei, a member of the team of experts who negotiated Chinas entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO), wrote a piece calling for religious freedom, stressing that it is important for the development of the country and its citizens.

Drafted in September 2023, her proposal is titled Application to the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress and the Constitution and Law Committee to conduct a constitutional and legal review of the Regulations on the Administration of Religious Affairs that violates the Constitution and the Legislative Law.

Using legal language, and it could not be otherwise given the background of the person who wrote it, the text relies heavily on the law and jurisprudence to underline the importance of the free practice of religion even in the People's Republic of China.

Feng Xuewei, a Christian, served for 12 years as deputy director in the Translation and Review Foreign Affairs Department of the State Council. She also participated in major international negotiations, starting with the WTO. She is currently a member of the Beijing Shepherd Church.

A struggle using the finer points of the law

Feng Xuewei explains that the "Regulations on Religious Affairs" revised on 1 February 2018 contradicts several principles enshrined in the constitution and the legislative law.

To uphold the dignity of the two basic texts of Chinese law, the expert asked the Constitution and Law Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) to review the constitutionality and legality of the "Regulations on Religious Affairs" and take the necessary decisions in accordance with the provisions contained therein.

No state body, social group or person can, she writes, force citizens to believe in religion or not believe in religion, nor discriminate against citizens who believe in religion or do not believe in religion.

The state must protect regular religious activities, while no one can use religion to disturb the social order, harm the health of citizens, or hinder the national education system.

In her lengthy argument, Feng Xuewei notes that from the perspective of the country's legal system as a whole, except for Article 36 of the constitution, China currently has no basic "law" on religious affairs.

The latter fall within the principles laid out by the constitution and formulated by the NPC or its Standing Committee. Since the authority to manage religious affairs is not explicitly listed among the powers of the Council of State established by the constitution, regulating the management of religious affairs" does not ipso facto fall within the statutory powers granted to the Council of State by the constitution.

The third issue raised by the jurist is that the legislative power in matters of religious affairs in the Legislative Law belongs to the National People's Congress, not the Council of State.

Religion and constitution

In the final part of her analysis, the expert concludes that freedom of religious belief falls within the scope of "other matters" provided for in Article 11, paragraph 11, of the Legislative Law.

Since freedom of religious belief, as one of the basic rights of citizens, has an important position in the constitution, it is not appropriate for the State Council, the highest administrative organ that only manages administrative affairs, to formulate regulations on this matter. For this reason, the State Council does not have the responsibility to protect basic citizens rights, including the right to freedom of religious belief, in its scope of duties.

At the end of her reflection, Feng Xuewei draws a four-point conclusion. First, the State Council does not have the power to formulate administrative regulations on issues relating to the fundamental rights of citizens. Second, the NPC did not authorise the Council of State to formulate administrative regulations on religious matters. Three, the NPC has not yet formulated a basic "religious law", so the State Council has no grounds to formulate administrative regulations to implement religious laws. Four, religious affairs do not fall within the scope of the powers of the Council of State provided for in the constitution and the Council of State does not have the legal basis to formulate administrative regulations on its own.

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by Joseph Masilamany

A recent survey found that the rising cost of living is having a major impact on Malaysians. An account on the social media with over 700 subscribers accepts offers to sell kidneys from people who urgently need money. A Christian politician reacts to the issue, calling on the government to act.

Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews)  People on hard times can get money by selling their organs, especially kidneys, through a Facebook page called "Mencari Penderma Buah Pinggang" (Looking for kidney donors), which has 717 members across Malaysia.

A recent survey by the UCSI Poll research centre shows that 61 per cent of Malaysians feel hard hit by the rising cost of living. But there is more.

Due to tight finances, more than half of the 1,381 respondents said they could not eat healthy and nutritious food, 37 per cent said they skipped at least one meal a day, and 12 per cent had to borrow money from friends.

On the Facebook page, an individual wrote that he wanted to sell his kidney and a single cornea for 250-300,000 ringgit (US$ 56-76,000) to redeem family land pawned to meet financial needs.

A woman with the username "Aisy Lelika" detailed her age, health, and blood type and wrote that she wanted to sell her kidney for US$ 500,000. She also posted her phone number so that those in need of a transplant can reach out to her.

Just six days ago, someone posted a message asking about the clinical procedures needed to ascertain whether a kidney is healthy for transplant, adding that they intended to sell a kidney because they were desperate for cash.

Under the fictitious name of "Tiada Nam", another user put their kidney up for sale at a cost of only 10,000 ringgit (US$ 2,200).

In Malaysia, as in many other parts of the world, the sale of organs for transplant surgery is illegal. The Ministry of Health notes that organ donation is voluntary, not for profit, and only among close relatives or spouses.

Michael Kong, a Christian politician from the Democratic Action Party, was shocked when he was told about the issue.

It is deeply troubling that Malaysians are resorting to selling their organs to meet their financial obligations. This situation highlights several critical issues that must be urgently addressed, he told AsiaNews.

"Firstly, the authorities must take immediate action against Facebook pages such as Mencari Penderma Buah Pinggang and similar platforms. Facebook Parent and Meta Platforms should promptly take these pages down, and the government must not turn a blind eye to such alarming activities, Kong added.

The exploitation of vulnerable individuals through such platforms is unacceptable and must be halted. It is high time for politicians to set aside their differences and work together positively and collaboratively to move the nation forward like during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Now, more than ever, we need that spirit of cooperation to address the pressing economic issues and ensure a better future for all Malaysians," he noted.
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8 August 2024 13:04 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

Sometimes the face of life is so harsh and unfair that it is difficult to express it in words. Rich and poor, full and hungry, guilty and innocent, and what else...all these elements are reflected in a tableau called Armenian realities. This is a bitter reality that comes alive with time and the shades of history.

We would not be wrong if we say that bribery and corruption are the main pillars of the Armenian administration system. In 2018, when Nikol Pashinyan, who had a mediocre experience in the field of journalism, got the high seat of politics, many people described the future of the country in a mythical image created by the West  a country free of corruption. Everyone believed that everything from Armenia's administrative system to law, legislation, power structures, and defense system would operate in a transparent and orderly manner. Until the true potential of Armenia is revealed in 2020.

The country's situation dragged it further into the quagmire, and eventually, the puppet state, which was inserted like a wedge into the region, became a victim of corruption that undermined it from the inside.

The kingdom that Nikol Pashinyan won in the Velvet Revolution was actually thanks to former clan leaders who were notorious for corruption before him. The corrupt millionaires like Robert Kocharyan and Serjik Sargsyan, who were particularly involved in bribery, corruption, and embezzlement of state property, made Pashinyan's new image in power popular.

Everyone thought that the state budget was spent on the dreams of Armenia, and the only goal of the officials was to educate the generations by keeping the traditions of invading foreign lands alive. However, the bitterness of the 44-day war created conditions for the increase of deserters in the country and the emergence of corrupt gangs.

Now it becomes crystal clear why a soldier's parent is crying over the death of an Armenian soldier in someone else's land, that is, in Garabagh, which is Azerbaijan.

One is hungry, the other is full, one is usurping other people's land in a trench, and the other is filling his pockets by stealing from the state budget - look, this is the reality of Armenia.

Gurgen Arsenyan, a member of the Armenian parliament from the ruling Civil Contract faction, whose candidacy is being considered for the post of Armenian ambassador to Russia, owns 17 real estate properties, land plots and shares in various companies.

A standard question: Where does the new Armenian ambassador to the Russian Federation get all this?

On May 3, 2024, Arsenyan submitted an annual declaration of his property and income for 2023 to the Corruption Prevention Commission, which shows that the MP has significant wealth. In particular, he declared 17 real estate units, including buildings, structures, and land plots in Yerevan, Gyumri and Kotayk. He also owns 4 cars (Nissan, Bentley, Mercedes Benz, and Range Rover) and shares worth over 1 million rubles and 768 million drams.

Arsenyan is even close to leaving behind Bob Menedez, the US senator who was named the corruption hero of the United States with this move.

In addition, Arsenyan owns 16 expensive items, including a gold bar worth 32 million 55 thousand 700 drams, inventory purchased in 1995 for $370 thousand, a collection of paintings worth about 400 million drams, and collectible coins worth 18 million drams.

Arsenyan's cash amounted to 40 euros, $800,193, and 32,571 drams, which by the end of the year turned into 0 euros, $449,995.1 and 4 drams. Cash amounted to $628 thousand, 5.5 million drams, and 16,500 drams, which by the end of the year increased to $977,600 dollars, 6 million 780 thousand drams, and 58 thousand euros.

The ex-parliamentarian's annual income was 14 million 443 thousand 370 drams, of which 9 million 983 thousand 370 drams was his parliamentary salary. During the reporting period, Arsenyan's income included 2 million 300 thousand drams in dividends from Unicorn Group LLC.

The deputy has a stake in seven companies, including Vkredit24 LLC, Arsoil, Unicorn Service and Unicorn Group.

It is obvious that we have a classic example of a corrupt official abusing his powers for personal gain. Such people use their position to obtain illegal income, enriching themselves at the expense of the Armenian people. Corruption undermines the trust of Armenian citizens in the government and infringes on economic development and social justice. And it is not difficult to guess what Gurgen Arsenyan will do as the new Armenian ambassador to the Russian Federation.

Do you think it is just about one person? Of course, this is still the cover of the book, besides Gurgen, there are still corrupt politicians whose names can be written like a saga.

When you see them, the poor face of Nikol Pashinyan, who really needs India's useless weapons and Europe's 10 million military aid package, comes to mind. Armenia, unable to cope with the officials who loot billions of wealth of its state and people, is trying to protect itself through donations

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Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
8 August 2024 15:53 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

In June, global air passenger travel, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), surged by 9.1% year-on-year, driven by the summer vacation season, leading to increased jet fuel prices, according to the International Air Transport Association, Azernews reports citing S&P Global Commodity Insights that international demand grew by 12.3% year-on-year during the same period, with the Asia-Pacific region leading at 22.6%, followed by Africa and Latin America at 16.9% and 15.3%, respectively.

On August 6, Platts, a division of S&P Global Commodity Insights, reported that the CIF NWE jet cargo price differential stood at a premium of $48.75 per ton over the front-month ICE LSGO futures contract, significantly higher than the year-to-date low of $9.75 per ton recorded on March 3.

Commodity Insights forecasts global jet fuel and kerosene demand to reach 8 million barrels per day this summer, a level not seen since late 2019. The annual average is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2025.

Since 2021, the average global annual jet fuel/kerosene demand growth has been a major driver of oil demand, with projections of around 550,000 barrels per day in 2024, slowing to 300,000 barrels per day in 2025, largely driven by Western Europe and China.

Despite a retreat from the peak caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, jet fuel spreads in Europe and the US Gulf Coast remain robust, exceeding the historical average of approximately $16 per barrel. Jet fuel prices are expected to remain above diesel prices through the end of the year and into next year.

Looking ahead, Commodity Insights anticipates that jet crack spreads may narrow on average but could still exceed the long-term historical range of up to $20 per barrel. S&P Global expects global jet demand to continue growing rapidly, with summer air travel driving jet fuel prices closer to pre-pandemic levels.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
8 August 2024 11:21 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

A conference on COP 29 will be held in Nakhchivan, Azernews reports.

Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP 29 will be held in Nakhchivan.

The participants of the conference, which will be held within the framework of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and the "Year of Solidarity for the Green World", visited the National Leader Heydar Aliyev's monument in the main square of the city of Nakhchivan.

In the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, the authorized representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Fuad Najafli, the President of COP 29, the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mukhtar Babayev, and the participants of the conference laid flowers in front of the monument of Ulu Ondein and paid their respects to his memory.

It should be noted that Mukhtar Babayev, the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, will also get acquainted with the material and technical base of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, and will receive citizens in the ministry.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
8 August 2024 17:58 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The year 2024 marks the 94th anniversary of the birth of People's Artist Togrul Narimanbayov, known for his unique talent and relentless dedication to his art, Azernews reports.

After many years, his masterpieces resonate deeply with art enthusiasts, capturing their hearts.

Togrul Narimanbayov's journey has left an indelible mark on the history of Azerbaijani art.

Born on August 7, 1930, in Shusha, known as Azerbaijan's historical and cultural center, to a notable family, Togrul was the son of Yaqub Farman Bey. Yaqub, chosen to study abroad by the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1919, studied engineering in Toulouse and later married Irma, a young Frenchwoman from Gascony. Upon their return to Azerbaijan, tragedy struck when Yaqub was arrested during Stalin's purges on December 31, 1937, accused of espionage. Irma, along with Togrul and his brother Vidadi, was exiled to Samarkand, Uzbekistan.



They returned to Azerbaijan, but Yaqub was arrested during Stalins terror on 31 December 1937, on charges of espionage. Irma, Togrul, and his brother Vidadi were exiled to the historic city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan.

His father was released after completing his sentence and the family was allowed to move back to Azerbaijan, but not to Baku. They lived in Mingachevir until 1956 when his father was rehabilitated under Khruschev and the family could return to the capital.

Togrul Narimanbayov studied at the Azim Azimzade School of Art in Baku, then at the Lithuanian Higher School of Art in Vilnius where he described education as global in content.

The first picture "Dawn over the Caspian", created in 1957, and presented at the exhibition in Moscow, made him famous. The painting fascinated art lovers with an unconventional approach to the topic of work, a romantic uplift, distinctive individual pictorial language, sincerity, and intimacy of the captured images.

His triumph continued at exhibitions abroad. The "Dawn over the Caspian" followed by other works, including "All the Farther into the Sea," "Overpass," and "Stronger than the Storm".

The master of brush gained worldwide fame for his works in all genres of fine arts. His bright works created in various fields such as landscapes, portraits, monumental paintings, illustrations, and theater painting are characterized by genre diversity, aesthetic perfection, and a unique style.

Togrul Narimanbayov loved to paint very large canvases and murals, some of which can be seen at the State Puppet Theatre and Parliament in Baku. He also designed sets for ballets by Azerbaijani composers and did a magnificent set of illustrations for a 1988 edition of the Turkic epic The Book of Dada Qorqud.

Togrul Narimanbayov synthesized East and West in his works, combining the decorativeness of Eastern miniatures with the intellectuality of Western art.

He always admired French Romanticism, while his favorite artists were Eugene Delacroix and Gustave Courbet. Cezannism also played an important role in his artistic career.

However, the rich traditions of Azerbaijani art played an important role in Narimanbayov`s paintings, which are defined by their vibrant color, bold brushstrokes, and impasto. One can describe his drawings as a fairy tale, inviting one to a faraway wonderland.

Despite the pressures on Soviet artists to conform to Socialist Realism, he remained true to his own expressive, emotional style.

The leitmotif of the works of Togrul Narimanbayov was his great love for his native country. With special tenderness and trembling he drew the Old City, the Maiden Tower, and minarets of ancient mosques.

The rich traditions of Azerbaijani art, samples of antique miniatures, and carpet weaving played a great role in the development of Togrul Narimanbayov, as a great master.

People of creative work, poets, writers, artists, and creators of Azerbaijans culture are subjects of Narimanbayov`s portraits. Externally simple and unpretentious, they are full of inspiration, desire, and ability to create.

The activity of Togrul Narimanbayov has affected the formation of the artistic and aesthetic vision of several artists generations. Being a wonderful school for young artists with a rich heritage, he played an important role in the formation of their professionalism.

One of the biggest achievements of the artist is his contribution to the creation of Azerbaijani classical painting, helping the country to define its cultural identity and originality.

Togrul Narimanbayov received many awards throughout his life. He became a Peoples Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR in 1967 and received the state prizes of the Azerbaijan SSR and USSR. National Leader Heydar Aliyev conferred on him the Azerbaijan Republics Order of Independence (Istiqlal) in 2000, and President Ilham Aliyev the Order of Honour (Sharaf) in 2010.

Togrul Narimanbayov passed away in 2013 at the age of 83 in Paris, yet he left behind an extraordinary legacy in contemporary art. His daughter, Asmar Narimanbayova, has also pursued an art career, with her works exhibited in esteemed galleries and museums across Azerbaijan, America, France, Germany, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Finland, and China.

Characterized by bright colors and creative interpretations, Togrul Narimanbayov's art is notable for its emotional depth.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
8 August 2024 12:46 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Yalchin Rafiyev, Azerbaijans Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in the open-ended extraordinary meeting of the OIC Executive Committee at the level of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Azernews reports.

The parties discussed the latest situation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict zone, its regional threats, and potential solutions. The meeting concluded with the adoption of the Final Communique.

It's important to highlight that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) serves as a significant international body, uniting 57 member states and acting as the collective voice for the Muslim world.

Following Azerbaijan's reestablishment of independence, it promptly pursued OIC membership, successfully joining in 1991.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
8 August 2024 16:57 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

The international community must take necessary measures to ensure the right of Azerbaijanis deported from present-day Armenia to return and create conditions for their safe and dignified return to their homeland, Azernews reports, citing the statement by Azerbaijan's Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva on the 33rd anniversary of the deportation of the last Azerbaijanis from Armenian territory.

"This involves putting serious pressure on that country to rectify this historical injustice.

"During various periods of history, especially in the last century, hundreds of thousands of our compatriots were displaced from present-day Armenia based on their ethnic identity, becoming victims of crimes against humanity and war crimes, being brutally killed, severely injured, taken captive, or missing. The ethnic cleansing and hatred policies implemented by Armenia have grossly violated the fundamental human rights and freedoms of Azerbaijanis."

It was also noted that the Azerbaijani Ombudsman has prepared special reports and video materials on the hate crimes and hate speech perpetrated by Armenia against Azerbaijanis and has submitted these to relevant international organizations.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
8 August 2024 20:00 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

Recent days have seen increasing attention on the special care the US is giving to Armenia. The presence of a US representative in the Armenian army, US-Armenia military exercises, and the arrival of US military aircraft at Armenia's Zvartnots Airport following the departure of Russian border guards raise interest. Russia, however, remains silent about Armenia's growing proximity to the US after defending it for years.

What Awaits the South Caucasus?

Commenting on the issue for Azernews, military journalist Sakhavat Mammad said that Armenia had been operating under Russian directives for many years.

"Previously, the state of Armenia was considered a vassal of Russia. It was dependent on Russia politically, economically, and militarily, and even structured its activities based on instructions from Russia," he said.

Mammad highlighted the political changes in Armenia following Nikol Pashinyan's rise to power.

"Since Pashinyan came to power, there has been a noticeable shift towards the West in Armenia. This was followed by the 44-day war. During this time, Armenia was expecting special support from Russia. When Russian soldiers did not defend the Armenians, Yerevan began to take steps to distance itself from Russia. Politically, Armenia has almost completely severed ties with Russia. It is also nearly separated militarily. Only in economic terms does Armenia still depend on Russia," he stated.

The expert drew attention to Armenia's growing ties with the West. He said that Armenia wants to upgrade its army with France's support. However, according to the journalist, the US seems dominant.

"But I believe this was not just France but specifically the US. France is just more prominent. The modernization and formation of the Armenian army are being carried out almost jointly by the US and France. The issue of removing Russian border guards from Zvartnots Airport has been on the agenda for a long time. Russia had stated that they would leave the area when the contract expired. The departure of Russian forces from this area naturally means that the US is filling the void left by Russia," he said.

Sakhavat Mammad added that Moscow is currently only monitoring the situation given Moscow's lack of reaction to the processes.

"Russia is not actually silent about the actions of the US and Armenia. Moscow is just preoccupied with many directions. The Russia-Ukraine war continues, but processes in the Middle East are also capturing Russia's attention as it is actively involved there. Even if it is not visible, we know that, for example, Russia is reported to be the party supplying missiles to the Houthis. It is clear that Russian intelligence services have played a significant role in initiating and continuing these processes," he noted.

The expert also explained the importance of Azerbaijan's presence in the region.

"Conversely, Azerbaijan's presence in the region compels Russia to behave somewhat cautiously. There is no peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, meaning that problems between the two countries continue. Therefore, Russia is somewhat restrained in this direction. However, this does not mean that Russia will always behave this way and that this process will continue indefinitely," he said.

The military expert stated that Armenia has shifted from Russian patronage to the protection of other countries.

"American troops are being stationed in Zangazur, with exercises and other activities taking place. But it should be noted that a Russian military base still exists in Armenia. It is expected that soon there will be protests and actions demanding the removal of the Russian military base from Armenia. However, nothing has changed. Armenia remains a vassal state, only now it is a vassal of the US and France rather than Russia," he concluded.

The expert also made some predictions about the potential threats posed by external elements in the region.

"The strengthening of the US and France in the region will create serious problems in the South Caucasus. The arming of Armenia and the gathering of foreign elements in the South Caucasus will not go unnoticed by regional states. It seems they want to stir up processes in the region and are doing so through Armenia.

Like the rest of the world, the South Caucasus is in a state of preparation for war. On the one hand, Iran and Israel are preparing for war, on the other hand, Armenia is arming itself, meaning the region is undergoing rapid militarization and is turning into a militarized zone. All of this is leading towards a new war.

If no agreements are reached, the region could fall into turmoil again, and the likelihood of clashes is extremely high."

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
8 August 2024 22:29 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

From mid-August, 175 Chinese language teachers will start working in primary and secondary schools in Saudi Arabia, Azernews reports.

According to the educational program implemented between the two countries, Chinese teachers will represent the first group to serve in Saudi Arabia. The program is part of an agreement between the two countries to expand cooperation in the field of Chinese language teaching in 2023. Accordingly, a group of teachers completed preparatory courses at Tianjin University from July 29 to August 2.

The training was organized jointly with the Center for Language Education and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education of Saudi Arabia and China in Beijing. The website of the newspaper Jankao Xiaoxi, associated with the Xinhua news agency, reports that Chinese language lessons will be taught in primary schools in Saudi Arabia.

According to the data jiaohanyu.com , a website that provides detailed information about Chinese language learning programs and job opportunities, China will send 800 teachers to Saudi Arabia in the coming years. Yakin Talal, Chief representative of the training organization, HR specialist at Tatweer Co of Saudi Arabia, thanked the center and the university for organizing the event.

University representative Gu Kai stated that the main goal is to educate more than 60,000 international students who know Chinese language and culture. According to him, China will implement new educational and cultural projects with Saudi Arabia in the future.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Here are 10 hospitals, physician practices and health facilities that have announced plans to close, according to Becker's reported between July 30 and Aug. 8:

-- On Sept. 29, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta plans to close its Atlanta-based Egleston Hospital and transition patients and services to its new Arthur M. Blank Hospital. Roughly 340 patients are expected to be transported to the new Atlanta-based hospital using 56 ambulances and Children's Healthcare's ground and air transport.

-- MercyOne announced its plans to close a hospital in Primghar, Iowa, by Sept. 30. The hospital, MercyOne Primghar Medical Center, will close as MercyOne works to reorganize care in the area amid economic challenges.

Additionally, MercyOne, owned by Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health, will consolidate MercyOne Paulina Family Medicine and MercyOne Sutherland Family medicine with Primghar Family Medicine.

-- Auburn (N.Y.) Cardiology Associates is closing its doors after nearly four decades following the retirement of owner and head physician Rama Godishala, MD. The practice will permanently close its doors Sept. 30, and until then is only seeing patients for pre-surgery and follow-up appointments. The closure will limit cardiac care options in Auburn, with patients having to travel to Geneva, Ithaca or Syracuse, N.Y., for the closest cardiology practices.

-- Northern Light Health will close its internal medicine facility in Dexter, Maine, on Sept. 30. A spokesperson for the health system told Becker's "the building no longer meets our standards for a patient care facility," and it will consolidate its resources into other health centers. Affected clinicians and staff will be offered positions at nearby Northern Light locations. The system said it operates four practices within 15 miles and seven practices within 25 miles of the Dexter facility.

-- U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez approved the closure of Dallas-based Steward Health Care's two Massachusetts hospitals, Boston-based Carney Hospital and Ayer-based Nashoba Valley Medical Center, by Aug. 31.
An Erie, Pa.-woman accused of embezzling over $100,000 from the eye physician she once worked for has waived her criminal case to court, Erie Times-News reported Aug. 8.

Carol Harrington waived to court on felony counts of forgery, theft, writing bad checks, access device fraud and receiving stolen property. She waived the charges two days before she was scheduled to appear in court for her preliminary hearing on the case.

In May, Ms. Harrington was accused of writing herself checks from the practice and making unauthorized purchases using company funds.

She was arraigned May 14 following a criminal complaint filed by local police. In January 2023, she was investigated by police after a physician at the eye center reported a theft of an estimated $50,000.

A subsequent forensic audit done on Family Eye Care's business accounts revealed the amount to be closer to $100,000. Ms. Harrington is reported to have made unauthorized purchases and created false checks using a stamp containing a physician's signature.

An audit of her own bank account revealed the checks deposited reflected the total of the unauthorized checks taken from the practice. Ms. Harrington worked at the practice from 2015 to 2022. A physician noticed discrepancies between QuickBooks entries and the copies of checks received just before she left the practice.

Ms. Harrington allegedly tried to write the practice's physician a check for $5,000 to make up for the stolen funds and admitted to having a gambling problem.
Thomas Andrew Webster, MD, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for conspiring to accept kickbacks through a fraudulent medical supply scheme.

Between May 2021 and September 2023, Dr. Webster lived in Olympia, Wash., and participated in a telemarketing scheme and conspiracy, according to an Aug. 7 news release from the Justice Department.

Under the scheme, one company obtained Medicare and TriCare information using telemarketers in Eastern Washington, it then created fake medical records that fraudulently reflected visits with Dr. Webster and fraudulent orders for medical equipment signed by Dr. Webster. The company and physician also billed for fictitious visits and exams, according to the DOJ.

Medicare and TriCare paid more than $14.6 million for durable medical equipment fraudulently ordered by Dr. Webster for more than 10,000 beneficiaries. Dr. Webster also admitted to directly receiving at least $839,565 from Medicare and TriCare for visits and exams that never took place.

Dr. Webster's prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised custody. He must also pay $839,566 in restitution and a $50,000 fine.
An Illinois dentist pleaded guilty Aug. 2 to stealing fentanyl from patients for personal use.

Phillip Jensen, DMD, owned and operated a dental practice in Springfield, Ill., and specialized in oral and maxillofacial surgery. From as early as December 2019 until at least August 2020, Dr. Jensen stole fentanyl intended to help patients manage pain by withdrawing part of the substance from single-use vials and refilling the vials with saline. Dr. Jensen obtained a total of more than 40 grams of fentanyl through these actions, according to an Aug. 8 news release from the Department of Justice.

Dr. Jensen pleaded guilty to two counts of drug diversion, two counts of acquiring a controlled substance by fraud, one count of tampering with consumer products resulting in serious bodily injury and two counts of false statements relating to healthcare matters.

Dr. Jensen is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 4. He faces a possible maximum sentence of 78 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,750,000 and up to 21 years of supervised release.
UK King's Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Ky., has been forced to delay and cancel some surgical procedures over the past several months.

The care disruption stems from new surgical equipment installation issues and has affected some elective procedures, according to an Aug. 7 statement released on the hospital's Facebook page.



UK King's Daughters has been able to move some procedures to the health system's medical center in Portsmouth, Ohio, and is also working with Lexington, Ky.-based UK HealthCare to transfer patient care to other area hospitals when necessary.



Most urgent or emergent surgical procedures at the medical center have not been affected, the statement said.



A public relations representative from UK told Becker's the medical center expects to provide an update on the situation next week.

Editor's note: This article was updated Aug. 8 at 2:00 p.m. to included additional comment from UK King's Daughters.
An organization that supplies blood to hundreds of hospitals is back to normal operations following a July 29 ransomware attack.

OneBlood said Aug. 8 that it restored its software system used to manage its blood supply online.

"OneBlood is processing and distributing blood products to the more than 250 hospitals we serve at a normal output," said Susan Forbes, the organization's senior vice president of corporate communications and public relations, in a statement.

The cyberattack disrupted the blood supply for hospitals across the Southeast, with some having to delay surgeries or turn to alternate vendors. OneBlood had advised the hospitals to activate their critical blood shortage protocols. The organization, which has donation centers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and North and South Carolina, instituted backup collection, testing, processing and distribution options following the IT outage.

"We are grateful for the support we have received from the blood community during an unprecedented time for OneBlood," Ms. Forbes stated. "Our operations never stopped. Lives depend on the work that we do and nothing will stand in our way of ensuring blood is available when and where it is needed."
A convicted hospital hacker wasn't involved in the recent U.S.-Russia prisoner swap but could be part of a future exchange, The Wall Street Journal reported Aug. 7.

Russian hacker Vladimir Dunaev, 41, is serving five years in U.S. federal prison for developing the Trickbot malware that infected hospitals' IT networks and shut down emergency departments. He has long been rumored to have been a part of prisoner exchange negotiations between the U.S. and Russia, the latest of which freed three Americans Aug. 1 including Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, according to the story.

The ransomware scheme that Mr. Dunaev was involved with reportedly extorted $100 million from U.S. hospitals and attacked dozens of healthcare institutions in 2020 alone.

Russian diplomats visited Mr. Dunaev last year, while a top spokesperson for the Kremlin previously brought him up related to discussions about a swap for Mr. Gershkovich, according to the Journal.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance Aug. 6 that will require hospitals to inform the county's health department of attempts to collect medical debt from patients, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The ordinance will need a second vote before it is implemented. It will require hospitals to alert the health department within a month or two of initiating debt collection efforts; report up to four times per year on patients' medical debt amounts; and share what financial assistance was offered. Once the ordinance goes into effect, hospitals would have about six months to comply and submit reports. Violations could result in fines or legal action.

Public health officials have said the goal is to prevent medical debt when possible and identify potential missed opportunities for financial assistance.

Initially, the county requirements will apply to about seven hospitals in unincorporated areas, including MLK Community Hospital. Local cities in the county may then adopt the requirements in their own jurisdictions. The Hospital Association of Southern California told the Times that its members are concerned about how cumbersome the data reporting requirements will be. The group is urging the county to ensure the requirements aren't unreasonably burdensome before expanding them beyond the unincorporated areas where they'll take effect.

About 1 in 10 residents were affected by $2.9 billion in medical debt in 2022, according to estimates from Los Angeles County.
Two nonprofit organizations are suing Fresno, Calif.-based Community Health System, alleging it has misused $1 billion in tax dollars intended to serve low-income patients. The health system has called the claim inaccurate and baseless.

In the lawsuit, filed Aug. 7, Cultiva La Salud and Fresno Building Healthy Communities said the health system directed public funding to Clovis (Calif.) Community Medical Center while Fresno (Calif.) Community Regional Medical Center was left with outdated equipment, insufficient operating rooms and chronic understaffing.

The nonprofits said the Hospital Quality Assurance Fee and the Disproportionate Share Hospital programs require hospitals receiving those funds to spend it on Medi-Cal patients. The health system has allegedly spent that funding on Clovis Community Medical Center, "which serves a much wealthier, whiter and healthier population, and far fewer Medi-Cal beneficiaries," according to the complaint.

"Community Health System is deeply committed to serving Central Valley patients, particularly those insured by Medi-Cal, so its safe to say we are extremely disappointed in this baseless lawsuit," Michelle Von Tersch, senior vice president of communications and legislative affairs for the health system, wrote in an Aug. 7 statement. "Addressing inaccurate claims only serves to take time and resources away from our non-profit healthcare mission.
Dallas-based Steward Health Care's landlord, Medical Properties Trust, one of the world's largest hospital real estate owners, saw a $321 million net loss for the second quarter of 2024, ended June 30, a significant increase from the $42 million loss during the same period in 2023.

Steward sought Chapter 11 protection May 6 and has been working to offload its hospitals and physician group, Stewardship Health.

Most recently, the for-profit health system received bankruptcy court approval to close two of its eight Massachusetts hospitals, which MPT owns a 50% interest through "a partnership that has a separate master lease agreement with Steward," according to an Aug. 8 news release.

The court also approved Steward's request to reject "Master Lease II" agreements for its Massachusetts hospitals, allowing buyers to negotiate new leases with each facility's landlord.

"[MPT] expects to relinquish its ownership of those properties to the non-recourse secured lender," the release said. "As a result, MPT has fully impaired its equity investment in the partnership."

MPT CEO Edward Aldag, Jr. said during an Aug. 8 earnings call that Steward's Massachusetts market has received the most publicity, which has caused the sale process in the state and other important markets to slow down. Mr. Aldag said that quality operators, along with some of the largest U.S. private health systems, had shown interest in submitting bids for the hospitals, but backed out after "considerable volume of inaccurate, negative commentary" that scared them away or discouraged them from participating in the bidding process.

"We are obviously disappointed with the outcome in Massachusetts, but subject to court approval, we expect positive results in Steward's remaining markets based on the real estate agreements we have negotiated with new operators, as well as others that are close to being finalized," he said.

Here are seven findings from MPT's second-quarter report:

1. Medical Properties Trust saw $400 million in real estate gains in the second quarter of 2024, which was offset by around $700 million in negative fair value adjustments and impairments. It also has a net debt of $9.37 billion.

2. Steward paid around $19 million in May and June cash rent. It also made July scheduled payments for its leased facilities. Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical Holdings paid MPT $18 million in case rent and $4 million in cash interest in the second quarter of 2024, which fully satisfied its past due payments.

3. MPT closed the $350 million sale in April of five formerly leased hospitals to Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare.

4. In April, MPT also wrapped up the sale of 75% interest in five Utah hospitals leased to Chicago-based CommonSpirit for $1.1 billion in total proceeds to a new joint venture with an institutional investor.

5. MPT closed a $160 million sale of a hospital and seven freestanding emergency department facilities to San Francisco-based Dignity Health, part of Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health.

6. Around $1.5 billion in debt was repaid by MPT in the second quarter of 2024.

7. The company comprises around $16.2 billion in total assets, along with $10 billion in general acute facilities, $2.4 billion in behavioral health facilities and $1.7 billion in post-acute facilities. MPT has 435 properties and around 42,000 licensed beds either mortgaged by or leased to 50 hospital operating companies in the U.S., U.K., Colombia, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Portugal as of June 30.






As the Medicare Advantage landscape evolves, the success of health systems hinges on their ability to adapt and excel in key areas such as star ratings and appropriate coding.

Health systems' greatest opportunity is to enter into full-risk arrangements with health plans, shifting the focus from managing illness to maintaining wellness. However, many systems have not made the necessary investments to thrive in this value-based care model, often missing out on its potential benefits and driving ambivalence toward the MA program, according to SCAN Group CEO Sachin Jain, MD.

"Success in MA is predicated on whether or not health systems are making the requisite changes," Dr. Jain told Becker's. "To be successful in MA, there needs to be an exquisite performance in both stars program as well as appropriate coding. When health systems engage in both, they have the opportunity to perform well."

The other dynamic is whether or not they're entering into full-risk arrangements with health plans or if theyre operating in fee for service, according to Dr. Jain.

"The greatest opportunity that health systems have is to actually enter into full risk arrangements in which they assume full risk for a population of patients and focus on keeping them healthy rather than managing them when they're sick," he said.

Excessive prior authorization denial rates and slow payments from insurers are some of the well-documented challenges providers face with MA, but Dr. Jain argues that many health systems do not invest in the appropriate areas to effectively manage care in a full-risk environment.

"They're getting paid to essentially do the same thing they might do in traditional Medicare. That's a real missed opportunity and why you're seeing so much ambivalence around MA," Dr. Jain said. "MA works when health systems are operating in a full-risk environment and doing their level best to actually manage the care of patients  to invest in chronic disease management and hospital avoidance for ambulatory-sensitive conditions. These are the kinds of things that really make a difference between systems that perform well in MA and those that struggle."

Though health system-owned MA enrollment has grown overall recently, it has underperformed with respect to the largest payers and comprises 13% of the MA market, compared to 17% in 2019.

MA is also a different animal than traditional Medicare  where many systems aim to provide as many services as they can  but creates the right incentives for providers that prioritize the health and wellness of their populations as opposed to sick care of their populations, according to Dr. Jain.

Another factor is that some health systems do not have a clear view of their line of business by contract profitability. Many providers are not profitable in MA, but it is critical to explore why.

"Because MA is relatively new to some systems, there isn't necessarily the contracting sophistication, which some MA plans are taking advantage of," Dr. Jain said. "Rather than fighting to get the right kind of contracts, many systems are walking away from the program altogether, which is unfortunate because MA is the plan of choice for many lower income, older adults."

Dr. Jain argues that it has evolved into a collision of mission versus margin for many providers.

"Health systems need to do the work to be successful in MA," he said. "Some of the most frail and vulnerable populations in their communities are turning to MA because traditional Medicare is actually inadequate in the coverage that it provides for many beneficiaries."

Some health systems push back against this claim, pointing to the fact that most MA carriers have faced allegations of billing fraud from the federal government and are being probed by lawmakers over their high denial rates.

"It's become a game of delay, deny and not pay,'' Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of San Diego-based Scripps Health, told Becker's last year before terminating MA contracts for its integrated medical groups.

SCAN was one of the MA payers that Scripps terminated with this year.

"Providers are going to have to get out of full-risk capitation because it just doesn't work  we're the bottom of the food chain, and the food chain is not being fed," Mr. Van Gorder said. "If other organizations are experiencing what we are, it's going to be a short period of time before they start floundering or they get out of Medicare Advantage. I think we will see this trend continue and accelerate unless something changes."

Ultimately, it's the patients who lose out, as MA provides coverage to 51% of the nation's seniors, almost 33 million people.

To compound this issue, MA plans typically receive positive patient satisfaction scores, with high ratings in areas such as trust, ease of doing business, and meeting product and coverage needs, according to an August 2023 study published by J.D. Power.

"The reason for that is there is a higher degree of predictability in out-of-pocket costs. Every MA plan in the country has an out-of-pocket maximum like commercial insurance has, and that affords people a higher degree of predictability in terms of their healthcare expenses," Dr. Jain said. "When you're on a fixed income, it's really important to have that level of predictability in terms of what your costs are going to be, and traditional Medicare doesn't necessarily offer that level of predictability to people."

A survey of hospital CFOs published by the Healthcare Financial Management Association in January found that 16% of health systems plan to stop accepting one or more MA plans in the next two years, while another 45% said they were considering the same but have not made a final decision.

Dr. Jain argues that health systems need to make a firm decision: "Are you in the sick care business or are you in the healthcare business? If you're in the healthcare business, you should be striving to prevent acute care utilization, not driving more of it. And you want to be in a business model that's aligned with preventing acute care utilization, and MA is that model."

Providers need to update their business models to align with being financially rewarded for keeping populations healthy, and there are certainly some investments that are required to make this pivot.

"But the order of magnitude in terms of the investment necessary and the reserves of some health systems is de minimis," he said. "It's really about getting the type of leadership you need in place and empowering those leaders to really manage the population's health."

Dr. Jain argues that the MA program genuinely makes a difference in the lives of older adults  something he says is missing from some systems' value equations.

"If you're a health system exec that's thinking about terminating a program that's used by 51% of the nation's seniors, you have to ask, 'Who is it that you're actually serving, and who are the people that you're trying to serve through your system?' I think a lot of systems thinking about terminating MA aren't necessarily thinking about their mission through that lens."
As hospitals and health systems work to adapt to a post-pandemic world, the evolution of big tech and retail companies like Amazon and CVS Health, who are navigating pathways deeper into healthcare, can give pause to many healthcare leaders. ButJan Grigsby, CFO of Brunswick-based Southeast Georgia Health System, welcomes the change.

"I see all of this disruption in healthcare as healthy in many ways," Mr. Grigsby told Becker's. "It's forcing all of us to ask hard questions of ourselves. Are we perceiving the landscape of healthcare correctly? Are we listening? How do we become a smarter, sharper contributor of healthcare for the communities we serve?"

Mr. Grigsby, who started with Southeast Georgia Health System in late April, said that competitors such as CVS, Amazon, Walgreens and Walmart will soon realize just how complex healthcare can be. However, for hospitals and health systems, this is a complication that they've dealt with and navigated around for many years.

Essentially, these new disruptors will allow those who have been in the industry for years to take a hard look at their organizations and find new angles that they might not have tried before, or areas that they are running successfully.

"I think they come in and say 'we can do that better' and healthcare systems say, 'come on in, the water's warm, give it a try,'" Mr. Grigsby said. "Then we're not surprised when some of them jump out because the profit margins aren't what they want."

For many hospitals and health systems, margins have seen some improvement, but capital access remains a challenge for some smaller facilities. Mr. Grigsby pointed to two key areas to help organizations improve their margins: quality and technology.

"Quality drives the bottom line and not the other way around," he said. "It drives the bottom line for real and long lasting margin growth. There's tricks of the trade that will get some short-term satisfaction and some short-term positive margins, but if you're not fixated on quality and being a highly reliable organization, then no mission, no margin."

Mr. Grigsby said the system pays close attention to the information technology that is available to ensure the tools are being used to their fullest potential and not being shelved.

"CFOs are now having to dive into that partnership with information technology more so than ever before."

Through strong communication with clinical teams and frontline workers, systems can also ensure that they are producing quality financial initiatives. This can help with both retention and recruitment efforts.

"I think people are your No. 1 asset, treat them that way," he said. "Especially coming off the other side of COVID and the pandemic, it's how precious your culture, your employees and team members are. There's been so much turnover due to the struggles that important clinicians faced during that terrible time. It's important for executives to be cognizant of that and put forth strategies that allow them a culture that is able to come back from all of that."






Jay Quebedeaux was promoted to president of regional hospitals for Little Rock, Ark.-based Baptist Health.

In his new role, Mr. Quebedeaux will be responsible for five Baptist Health regional facilities, according to an Aug. 8 news release shared with Becker's.

He will also remain president of Baptist Health Medical Center-Hot Spring County and Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia, a role he's held since 2022.

Before joining Baptist Health, Mr. Quebedeaux served as CEO of the Mena (Ark.) Regional Health System.
Leonard Hernandez, CEO of Arkansas City, Kan.-based SCK Health, is no longer with the organization, a move which took effect following an Aug. 6 board meeting.

Shannon Gray, CFO, was voted unanimously by the board to become interim CEO, according to an Aug. 7 news release from the hospital. Ms. Gray has over 17 years of healthcare experience and joined the hospital in October, the release said.

Mr. Hernandez became CEO in December, and succeeded Jeff Bowman, who retired. The reason for Mr. Hernandezs exit was not disclosed.
Lexington, Ky.-based Appalachian Regional Healthcare has appointed two new hospital CEOs.

Beau Masterson was named CEO of Barbourville (Ky.) ARH Hospital, according to an Aug. 6 news release from the system. He has been COO of Beckley (W.Va.) ARH Hospital since 2022.

Jonathan Koonce was tapped as CEO of Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center in Prestonsburg, Ky., according to a separate Aug. 6 news release from the system.

Mr. Koonce is new to Appalachian Regional, most recently serving as COO of Merit Health River Oaks in Flowood, Miss.

Appalachian Regional Healthcare is a 14-hospital system with locations in Kentucky and West Virginia.
JW Newman was named CEO of St. David's Round Rock (Texas) Medical Center, a 209-bed facility and level 2 trauma center.

Mr. Newman will transition to his new role on Aug. 12, according to a hospital news release shared with Becker's.

He joins St. David's Round Rock from TriStar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., where he served as COO.

TriStar Centennial Medical Center and St. David's Round Rock are both part of Nashville-based HCA Healthcare.
Leadership, confidence and accountability have been among the most prominent topics of advice from retiring and long-tenured CEOs.

Here is what four healthcare CEOs want to pass down to future leaders.

1. "Have courage to look at what we have to do differently."

Rod Hochman, MD, CEO of Renton, Wash.-based Providence will retire at the end of the year after 45 years in healthcare and nearly 20 years with Providence.

He also encouraged the next generation of leaders to "be bold enough to look at new things, challenge the status quo to change healthcare, and keep focused on the fact that we serve people and communities every day."

2. Find a mentor and believe in yourself.

Christine Schuster, who has served as president and CEO of Concord, Mass.-based Emerson Health for 19 years, is the longest-serving healthcare leader in the state. For women striving to become healthcare CEOs, she told Becker's self-confidence is key.

"You have to believe you can do it," she said. "You're going to hit a lot of obstacles on the way. Regroup, find a mentor and really work toward achieving your goals."

3. Leaders determine culture.

Thomas Priselac, who has served as president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Health System in Los Angeles for 30 years, will retire in October.

"Always remember that the leaders of the organization play a critical role in determining the culture of the institution, and in that regard, it's critically important that the leaders of the organization focus on making sure the values of the institution come to life," he said. "And they do that by virtue of the decisions they make and the messages and messaging that the organization undertakes."

4. In a victim mindset? Do this instead.

Rob Allen, president and CEO of Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Health, wrote in a July LinkedIn post that a victim mindset creates immobility for the leader and those who follow them.

Mr. Allen served as CEO of two other hospitals earlier in his career and has led Intermountain since 2022. He said those who are tempted to feel like a victim should become problem solvers and focus on motivation instead of limitation.

"Leading healthcare can be difficult," he wrote. "We continually face critical decisions. But the challenges don't need to negatively influence our mindset. As leaders, we can choose to rise above, take responsibility for our actions and the actions of others, and choose to lead."
Marc Gorelick, MD, CEO of Minneapolis-based Children's Minnesota, was concerned about gun violence long before the surgeon general declared it a public health crisis in June.

In 1988, when he was a second-year pediatric resident, he wrote a letter to the editor in The Washington Post about the issue.

"This has been a longtime concern of mine," Dr. Gorelick told Becker's. "For me, it's based on my personal experiences of taking care of violence victims. People who have been injured by others. People who've injured themselves. People who've died of gunshot injuries. So it really stems from my clinical experience."

More recently, his concern stems from the fact that when he wrote that letter, gun violence was the second-leading cause of death in American children and adolescents. In 2020, gun violence surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of death in this group.

"The problem has gotten worse, and I, of course, have a different perspective now," Dr. Gorelick said.

"I have my past experience as a front-line clinician taking care of patients, but I also have the perspective of a health system leader who's looking at the big picture and seeing the enormous impact it has on our healthcare system and all the patients we serve, as well as the people who work in the system. The impact it has on all of us. And that desire to have that broader impact, to use my position to maybe try to generate awareness in a different way."

He is doing so through the release of his new book, "Saving Our Kids: An ER Docs Common-Sense Solution to the Gun Crisis." The book is available to buy on Amazon, with all proceeds going toward gun violence prevention efforts at Children's Minnesota.

Dr. Gorelick also joined the CEO Council on Gun Violence Prevention and Safety, a group formed by Michael Dowling, president and CEO of New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health. In June, members of the council met with the White House to review progress that has been made and call attention to areas in need of improvement.

Dr. Gorelick, who has helmed one of the nation's largest pediatric systems since 2017, began the process for the book about a year and a half ago. He drew from blog posts he has written related to gun violence prevention as well as his extensive experience as a pediatric emergency physician and leader of Children's Minnesota.

"We have talked about the fact that gun violence is a public health crisis, and we, as healthcare leaders, [along with the surgeon general], have made statements to that effect," he said. "And to me, the disconnect was we were calling it a public health crisis, but we weren't acting like it.

"And in recent memory, we had a public health crisis, COVID-19, that we mobilized and treated as a public health crisis. I thought, 'What would it look like if we approached [gun violence prevention] from a public health perspective?' Learning lessons we've learned from other health crises we've dealt with in the past. The framing of the book is painting that picture of what it would mean to walk that walk of treating this like a public health crisis."

He views the book as a way to motivate clinicians and other healthcare workers who may not know where to start in treating the issue this way. He said he also hopes readers realize the public health approach recognizes that such problems are multifactorial.

"No one solution is going to address it. One has to look at all those aspects, all the elements of the public health triad, and recognize that it is a combination of, to some extent, education, and policy," Dr. Gorelick said.

For instance, Children's Minnesota is involved with hospital-based violence prevention programs, such as one in the Twin Cities called Next Step. The health system also sponsored a gun buyback program in recent years, in partnership with community organizations, and is involved in research efforts.

"One of the other things I talk about in the book is that public health solutions have to be evidence based," he said. "And historically in this country, we've not adequately funded research into gun injury and the causes and the prevention. So we're funding research efforts. Some of our clinicians are involved with that. And we want to continue to further support that so we can continue to have better information about what will work to reduce this terrible problem for kids."










Damond Boatwright, CEO of Springfield, Ill.-based Hospital Sisters Health System, said a proposed bill regarding hospital closures would require regulation that is not feasible for health systems.

The Hospital Stability and Health Services Act, introduced July 25 by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, aims to protect patients from sudden hospital closures, according to a news release from the senator.

The legislation would require hospitals to notify HHS at least 90 days before closing and to continue providing services during the notification period.

"I am encouraged attention is being paid to the dire situation facing nonprofit rural community hospitals like ours," Mr. Boatwright said in an Aug. 6 statement. "Yet, requiring more onerous regulation or mandating that community hospital systems maintain comprehensive services while sustaining millions of dollars in financial losses is not feasible."

Mr. Boatwright added that in order to protect rural healthcare, it is necessary to find solutions to "regulatory complexities, reimbursement challenges, escalating operating costs and unnecessary competition for patients."

The bill comes after HSHS closed two Wisconsin hospitals this year: St. Joseph's Hospital in Chippewa Falls and Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire.

It was later found that the state Department of Health Services does not have the authority to open an investigation into the health system or Mr. Boatwright, after Eau Claire City Attorney Stephen Nick requested an investigation.

"The time has come to work together to find collaborative and creative solutions to solve the underlying, systemic issues that threaten rural health care, rather than put more pressure on the hospitals and caregivers who are trying to save it," Mr. Boatwright said in the Aug. 6 statement.
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 is accusing Loretto Hospital in Chicago of violating federal labor law by refusing to furnish information that would highlight what nurses deem is a short-staffing crisis that threatens patient care.

The union filed the complaint against Loretto Aug. 6 with the National Labor Relations Board. The agency is investigating the unfair labor practice charge.

The filing comes as AFSCME has been negotiating a new labor agreement for Loretto nurses since January, according to a union news release shared with Becker's.

Union representatives contend that during negotiations for a new deal, Loretto is trying to weaken minimum safe-staffing standards that are in the existing contract.

They also contend that AFSCME has made a series of information requests to respond to hospital management's proposals, but that management has failed to turn over the information in violation of federal labor law.

"We've asked time and again for staffing schedules and plans, nurse rosters, payroll reports, patient census data. Management has failed to provide it," AFSCME Regional Director Anne Irving said in the union release.

Loretto shared the following statement with Becker's: "Loretto Hospital's bargaining team met with AFSCME on Aug. 6, 2024 to discuss the hospital-provided data with AFSCME addressing their information requests including staffing schedules and plans, nurse rosters, patient census data, and payroll reports.

"Loretto Hospital is committed to continuing to work in good faith with AFSCME in the collective bargaining process."






A jury has awarded a $45 million verdict to a teenager who was left with significant brain damage after aspirating food following his discharge from Temple University Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to the neck, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Aug. 7.

Four things to know:

1. Dylan Hernandez, 19, was treated at the Philadelphia-based hospital after he was shot in the neck in 2020. He suffered an injury to his left vertebral artery, a broken jaw, and a fracture of his spine at C2, according to The Duffy Firm, an injury law firm that represented Mr. Hernandez.

2. Attorneys for Temple argued that hospital staff had properly assessed Mr. Hernandez's ability to swallow and that his mother received care instructions when he was discharged. However, less than two days after discharge, Mr. Hernandez breathed in mashed potatoes he was eating, which caused his brain to go without oxygen, according to the report.

3. Temple argued that Mr, Hernandez  who now needs a wheelchair because of his lack of balance  did not follow instructions about what foods were safe to eat. Representatives for Mr. Hernandez argued no one from the medical team observed him eating before he was discharged with instructions that did not include key recommendations from the speech therapist.

4. Temple disagrees with the outcome of the verdict and will ask the court to vacate the verdict, John Ryan, general counsel for Temple Health, said in a statement shared with Becker's. The hospital also voiced its concern about verdicts of this magnitude, which it argues jeopardizes the availability of quality care for patients.

"Our team provided the patient and his mother clear and appropriate care instructions upon discharge, to support a safe and effective healing process," Temple said in a statement. "We contend that he disregarded the care team's instructions on foods that could be safely eaten in his condition. Regrettably, it was that decision that led to his subsequent additional injury several days after discharge."
The Women's Hospital of Texas, part of HCA Houston Healthcare, is ready to hire nurses affected by the layoffs at Texas Children's Hospital, the HCA hospital's chief nursing officer said in an Aug. 7 post on LinkedIn.

"Our hearts go out to all of our Texas Children's colleagues who were affected by the mass layoffs," wrote Michelle Stemley, DNP, RN, CNO of The Women's Hospital of Texas "The good news is that The Women's Hospital of Texas and HCA Houston Healthcare is hiring! We are ready to help the displaced healthcare heroes find their new work home."

The hospital is holding a hiring event and open house Aug. 9, Dr. Stemley wrote.

On Aug. 6, The Houston Chronicle reported that the nation's largest children's hospital is laying off 5% of its workforce, or roughly 1,000 employees. The job cuts hit a wide range of employees, from leadership roles to front-line healthcare workers.

The hospital attributed the layoffs to declining patient volumes, Medicaid enrollment drops and a two-week delay in the opening of a $450 million campus in Austin. These factors contributed to a nearly $200 million operating income loss through the first six months of the current fiscal year, Linda Aldred, the hospital's executive vice president and chief human resources officer, told the Chronicle.

Texas Children's declined to answer Becker's questions concerning when the layoffs are effective and which patient-facing roles are affected. Affected employees who spoke to the Chronicle include a number of patient-facing workers, such as speech pathologists, registered nurses and patient care assistants. A nurse midwife said her six-person team was cut, ending the midwifery program at the hospital's Pavilion for Women.

Ms. Aldred said the hospital took steps to mitigate financial challenges, including reducing the size of its executive team by about 10% by not filling vacant positions over the past six to nine months. through attrition. Executive compensation is also expected to fall this year, she said.
An orthopedic surgeon who was accused of hitting a patient agreed to a five-year probationary period in lieu of a complaint, according to the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure.

In August 2023, a witness said William Martin, MD, struggled with moving an instrument tube from a patient during surgery, according to an Aug. 5 order from the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure. According to the complaint, Dr. Martin became visibly upset and hit the patient on the right side of the face.

Additional witnesses described the incident and Dr. Martin's behavior similarly.

The hospital where Dr. Martin operated, Owensboro (Ky.) Health Regional Hospital, received a report and leaders recommended terminating the surgeon's appointment and privilege. But Dr. Martin resigned, and no formal discipline took place, the order said.

Dr. Martin told the licensure board he "would never intentionally hit a patient" and that he "may have moved a drape" during the incident.

He agreed to a probationary period and will undergo an assessment at a behavioral health program.
UnitedHealthcare will launch a national gold-card program Oct. 1 for providers that consistently adhere to evidence-based guidelines to bypass prior authorizations for some medical services.

Five things for spine and orthopedic surgeons to know:

1. Under the new program, gold card practices will simply complete an advanced notification for the services to confirm member eligibility and trigger coverage. The advanced notification also shares real-time information with UnitedHealthcare to identify applicable care management programs and resources for members.

2. The insurer noted some states may have regulatory requirements that would impact its gold care program and specific codes.

3. UnitedHealthcare plans to release a list of gold card-eligible services Sept. 1 and begin the program Oct. 1. The program applies to commercial, individual exchange, Medicare Advantage and community plans.

4. In March 2023, the insurer said a national gold card would cut 20% of prior authorization requirements.

5. Orthopedic and spine surgeons have welcomed the concept of "gold card" designation to avoid lengthy prior authorizations and denials. But when UnitedHealthcare initially floated the idea for a national gold card last year, some surgeons were less than enthusiastic.

"The codes that were eliminated are some of the least utilized codes," Adam Bruggeman, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Texas Spine Center in San Antonio, told Becker's at the time. "I'm not sure I have billed any of those codes in the last 10 years, or perhaps have only done so a handful of times. It would be interesting to see the frequency with which the eliminated codes were billed across the U.S. and what percentage of cases these codes represent for prior authorization as a percentage of all codes that require prior authorization. We continue to advocate for true reform, including finalizing the proposed rules and gold card-style legislative efforts at the state and federal levels."
The band have also announced a smaller gig in London before they embark on an arena tour in 2025

Snow Patrol have announced an intimate gig at Belfasts Ulster Hall to celebrate their anticipated new album release.

The rock band will be playing in the city on September 13, two days after a show at KOKO London (September 11), before embarking on their arena tour in 2025.

The group, consisting of Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly and Johnny McDaid, are touring to support their new record, their first release in six years.

The Forest is The Path, which is due out on September 13, will also be their first album since the departure of drummer Johnny Quinn and bassist Paul Wilson.

All, the third single from the album, was released on August 8.

Frontman Gary Lightbody, said he was blown away by the reaction it has been getting from crowds hearing it for the first time.

The song was written by Lightbody along with the albums producer Fraser T Smith, who has also worked with Adele and Stormzy.

The album and single artwork features paintings by Lightbody.

He said: The first day of writing with him [Smith], I walked into the studio and he had already got some music going.

It was all very much Hi, how are you? What about this? and, bam, we were off. I love when that happens.

Not really a fan of the small talk. I like big talk. And when youre writing a song with someone, you have to get to the big talk [or whats the point], so why wait?

Snow Patrol kicked off their tour of Europe and the UK in July, while their eight-date UK and Ireland arena tour will commence in February 2025.

Lightbody has said The Forest is The Path is rooted in reflection, introspection and interrogation and that one of its key building blocks was the idea of love from the distance of time.

He said: I havent been in a relationship for a very long time, 10 years or more, so love from a distance to me meant the way a relationship sits in your memory from a distance of, say, 10 years.

Thats not something Id previously thought about as a way to write about love.

So, its like, when youre in love, youre standing in the lobby of the Empire State Building. When youve broken up with that person, youre out in the street.

You can still see the building but youre not in there any more. And when its 10 years later, now youre standing in Brooklyn looking at the Manhattan skyline.

Tickets go on general sale on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at 10am.

For more information about the upcoming gigs and pre-sale information visit the Snow Patrol store.
Supernanny at 20: Is the naughty step out of date or do we still need Jo Frosts help?
...and her family followed suit

In one weeks time, thousands of young people across Northern Ireland will be receiving their A-level results.

One mum of three has spoken of her pride after her return to studies later in life inspired her children to follow her into further education.

At 40, Sandra McMullen returned to education as a mature student with Southern Regional College, and having seen the benefits first-hand the rest of her family followed suit  and never looked back.

Having worked as a playgroup manager and a classroom assistant, and raised her family, Sandra decided she wanted something more out of life.

And the decision inspired her children to explore what alternative paths were on offer through further education.

Teaching had always been Sandras ambition and when her children were ready to leave school she decided to follow that dream  and all three children elected to follow her to the same college.

Having gone through college a route to Liverpool to study for her Postgraduate Certificate in Education opened up.

It has meant time away from her family at home near Markethill.

Daughters Jessica and Jodie have now moved through Southern Regional College and on to university with son James taking an electrical apprenticeship.

At one stage her husband was the odd one out and not studying at the college.

Id flown the nest, she joked. Maybe just a bit later than most people do.

Now self-employed, electrical engineer Colin found himself back on the family farm outside Markethill with only his son James for company as Sandra followed her dream at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Lancashire.

I was married young, and was working as a classroom assistant, then had three children in a short space of time, said Sandra. I can remember being in schools and watching teachers thinking I could do that. There was a ceiling to how far I could go as a classroom assistant, but at that stage family came first.

I always had that thought with me that Id like to go back to education. Working with young children always appealed, and after some time as an assistant manager of a playgroup, then stepping up as manager for maternity cover, I started to explore how I could do it.

Southern Regional College offered me that chance. I enrolled in their foundation degree course in early years care and it was the perfect fit for me.

It fitted in well around the work on the farm. And that worked for the children as well. They were able to help out when needed, carrying on with their studies.

Jessica McMullen achieved exceptional GCSE results, but elected to follow her mum into further education for A-levels before heading on to university

It was then on to the full BA course for Sandra.

I hope what I showed to my children was that there are many different ways to get to where you want to be, she added.

I didnt get a place at Stranmillis, but when Edge Hill did offer me the chance to do the course I did have a decision to make. But Id waited long enough, the children were grown up and making their own way through further and higher education.

But I hope Ive shown them, and others, that there are always opportunities through further education if you want to take them.

Its an opportunity her daughter Jessica, with 10 A* GCSE grades in her back pocket, seized.

The natural progression would have been to carry on at school but she said it was her mother who opened her eyes to the possibilities elsewhere.

When conversations came round to what your parents did for a career, and I said my mum was a student, it wasnt the raised eyebrows I expected, said Jessica, now in her first year studying pharmacy at Queens University. Instead it was, Wow, I couldnt do that. Thing is, my mum has proved you can.

Jessica speaks with pride about what her mum has done.

Id done well in my GCSEs, said Jessica, the eldest of Sandras three children. The obvious thing to do was stay at school and do A-levels, then move on to university if I could.

But my mum had started her foundation degree at Southern Regional College in Newry and she was so enthusiastic about the lecturers, the freedom and the belief that it was giving her that she could succeed that I stopped and thought about it. And the more I thought, the more I wanted to be a part of that.

I decided to do my A-levels at college in Armagh. Biology, chemistry and maths.

A year out working in a pharmacy settled Jessicas mind that it was something she wanted to pursue.

College meant the jump into university wasnt as big a step as it might have been, she said. And it was my mums ambition that showed me the possibilities.
20,000 workers to get significant uplift with 130m boost to salaries over next eight months

Members of Unite the union employed as school support staff by the Education Authority have won their dispute over a pay and grading review.

It means there will be an additional 130 million in salaries over the next eight months for the 20,000 staff, bringing a conclusion to two years of industrial action.

Bus drivers, bus escorts, classroom assistants, caterers, cleaners, administration staff and others involved in the industrial action can expect a significant uplift, the union said.

The dispute had seen the closure of classrooms due to a lack of staff, and was particularly felt by special schools.

Unite entered negotiations with EA management alongside the other three education trade unions seeking the implementation of a pay and grading review.

As part of the deal, entry-level pay rates will be sharply increased.

This should aid recruitment, addressing a crisis in the sector in attracting workers.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: Education workers in Northern Ireland have won a very significant improvement to pay.

Members of Unite have been on picket lines on and off for more than two years to achieve this outcome and have had the full support of the union in doing so.

Without that powerful strike action, these workers would still be waiting for implementation of a pay and grading review first recommended in 2018.

Once again, this result confirms that when Unite members get organised and stand up for themselves, they can win real improvements to their pay and conditions.

Unite regional officer Kieran Ellison added: This is a genuine win for our members and for the education sector as a whole.

Since this offer has already been agreed by two of the three remaining education trade unions, that provides a majority, which means it will now be implemented.

As a result, the total budget for pay of school support staff in Northern Ireland will increase by 130m over the next eight months, with further incremental increases in April 2025, 2026 and 2027.

This outcome ends our ongoing industrial dispute and confirms Unites role at the forefront of the fight to improve pay and conditions for school support workers.

Earlier in the summer Education Minister Paul Givan said he welcomed the decision by unions to consult with members on the pay offer aimed at bringing the dispute to an end.

He said at the time: I am pleased that this significant progress has been achieved in advance of the summer break in schools.

I will continue to work with the unions and Executive colleagues to deliver a resolution before the start of the new school year.
Visitors to Belfast Zoo will be able to meet a host of iconic Australian animals who have arrived at a new habitat at the zoo.

It comes as the zoo launches a new Animals of Australia habitat, which will transform the former elephant enclosure to highlight the threats faced by Australian wildlife from this month onwards.

Belfast Zoo's two remaining Asian elephants Dhunja and Yhetto headed off for retirement in the Netherlands at the start of the summer and its not yet clear whether the zoo will welcome any other elephants in the future. An audit in recent years had raised the need for modernisation in the provision for the housing and care of elephants at the zoo.

The first arrivals to the Australian habitat are of the marsupial variety, with the Eastern Grey Kangaroo and the Red Necked Wallabies on the way to be viewed from today.

The zoo has promised future developments will see visitors get up close and personal with a new encounter area within the habitat.

Education is set to play a role as the new habitat will highlight the valuable conservation role that zoos like Belfast play with several threatened and endangered Australian species through participation in European Endangered Species Breeding Programs.

Zoo manager, Alyn Cairns said: We are thrilled to have this new habitat at Belfast Zoo.

"This is an exciting development for us, and we appreciate the efforts of everyone who has come together to create this new and improved space. The arrival of the new Australian animals is a great way to educate the public about the conservation work that zoos do as part of EAZA breeding programmes and highlight the extinction crisis of many of Australias native species.

Most of Australia's wildlife is endemic, meaning its found nowhere else on the planet. Research shows 87 per cent of its mammal species, 93 per cent of reptiles, 94 per cent of frogs and 45 per cent of bird species are found only in Australia. However, many of its unique wildlife is rapidly disappearing, largely due to human activities and other threats.

Climate change is another threat as Australian animals are especially vulnerable to alterations in temperature and weather patterns. Human activities such as hunting, and pollution contribute to the decline of wildlife populations.

The country is important for biodiversity and is one of only 17 megadiverse nations and is home to more species than any other developed country. Australia is unique because of its isolation from the rest of the world.

Through the new habitat, Belfast Zoo said visitors will be informed of the above threats and others, with conservation work set to continue - while several threatened and endangered Australian species will be added in 2025.
Police tackle another night of race-related hate crime in Belfast. Photo credit: Naomi Long

Four men have been charged in connection to recent disorder and violence in Belfast.

The four men were arrested after disorder broke out in east Belfast on Wednesday evening with police also dealing with reports of criminal damage to homes and cars in the Silverstream Road, Sandy Row and Upper Frank Street areas of Belfast.

Twenty-two people have been arrested in connection to the disorder to date.

A 33-year-old man has been charged with criminal damage, possessing petrol bomb in suspicious circumstances, resisting police, riot and throwing a petrol bomb.

A 32-year-old man has been charged with possessing petrol bomb in suspicious circumstances, riot and throwing a petrol bomb.

A 25-year-old man has been charged with obstructing police, possessing petrol bomb in suspicious circumstances, riot and throwing a petrol bomb  while an 18 year old man was also charged with riot.

All four men are due to appear at Belfast Magistrates Court on Friday, August 9. All charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

A 25-year-old man who was arrested as part of the ongoing investigation, has been released on police bail pending further enquiry.

Earlier today, two men aged 33 and 18 years old, one woman aged 47 years old and two juveniles aged 15 and 16 years old were arrested. All five are currently in police custody at this time.

During the disorder one officer was injured during the course of making one of these arrests and has been receiving medical attention at hospital.

The PSNI has requested additional officers from across the UK for assistance.

The National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) provides support to forces across the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories.

It co-ordinates the deployment of officers and staff from across UK policing to support forces during large-scale events.

ACC Jones added: The Mutual Aid officers will provide vital resilience and support and will be given all of the necessary equipment and familiarisation training.

Any officers who may come to Northern Ireland would specifically assist with the ongoing public disorder and protests and not every day policing.

We will continue to keep this under review.
The leaders of Northern Irelands mosques have expressed profound sadness at anti-immigration disorder in Belfast , as they hit out at false information circulating on social media.

They said families are suffering unjustly at the hands of ignorance and hatred after businesses and homes were attacked in recent days.

They were speaking in a joint statement released by the Northern Ireland Muslim Council, through the Belfast Telegraph, in conjunction with 11 NI Islamic groups.

"The Northern Ireland Muslim Council expresses profound sadness in response to the recent surge of violence and assaults directed at Muslim-owned establishments in Belfast and other urban centres, it said.

"Families who have invested their hard work into their businesses are now suffering unjustly at the hands of ignorance and hatred.

The leaders of the mosques also hit out at extremist factions who are exploiting incidents to propagate hatred and false narratives about the Muslim community.

"The vast majority of the violence has been whipped up and fuelled by deliberate misinformation and disinformation on social media.

We are aware of a false and dangerous narrative circulating at present, alleging that Muslim gangs are on the streets of Belfast. This information is entirely false and a blatant falsehood that people were armed. Muslims constitute a small minority in Northern Ireland, and these false narratives have seen several individuals targeted and their properties vandalised."

They also said security at the Belfast Islamic Centre has been increased following the disorder, which 17 people have been arrested in total in connection with.

On Saturday, an anti-immigration protest which begun at Belfast City Hall attempted to march to the Islamic Centre, which was blocked by police.

There was further disorder on Wednesday night, with police coming under attack in east Belfast.

In light of recent threats, security at the Belfast Islamic Centre has been enhanced, they added.

Recently, individuals from diverse backgrounds within the community peacefully gathered outside the centre in response to provocations; it is important to note that no one from the community was either armed or engaged in any violent behaviour.

"We, as a council, condemn, in the strongest terms, any kind of violence; this is not in our name.

We call upon law enforcement agencies to take a strong stand against the threat of far-right extremism and ensure the safety and protection of all communities. In times like these, it is crucial for us to come together in unity and solidarity.

We must not allow these divisive acts and information to tear us apart; rather, we must strive towards bridge-building and understanding. We urge everyone to embrace diversity and inclusion as the bedrock of a peaceful and harmonious society.

After the Executive was recalled in the wake of the disorder, First Minister Michelle ONeill, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Chief Constable Jon Boutcher stood shoulder to shoulder to speak to media.

Ms O'Neill said ministers are "unequivocally collective in our determination to say no to racism, and stand firmly united in terms of what we see unfolding in front of us".

"There is no place in our society for racism in any of its forms," she said.

"The racist attacks on people, on businesses and homes are absolutely wrong, and have created such a deep fear. A fear that I think perhaps none of us have ever seen before among many parts of our community.
Energetic wee fighter rescued from Serbian pound and now in search of loving owner

A Co Tyrone charity has brought a dog all the way from Serbia to Omagh to find her forever home.

Kolinda is a four-year-old dog who travelled across 10 countries to arrive in Northern Ireland in search of a new home.

Shes a lovely wee thing and a real wee fighter, said Alison Lennon of Animal Support Trust, the charity that helped bring Kolinda to Northern Ireland.

Kolinda started her journey in Ub, in Serbia and then travelled through Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, England, Scotland before finally arriving in Northern Ireland.

We were able to meet her in Scotland and took her over to Northern Ireland, Alison said.

Kolinda with Alison Lennon

Alison and Linda Hill formed their charity in 2015, and since then the friends have tried to visit a dog pound in Serbia twice a year.

Its not that we dont see a need in Northern Ireland  we do. We are very well connected to dog pounds and charities in Northern Ireland but there is so much need over there, said Alison.

We see animal cruelty in Northern Ireland but it is just on a whole other level over there.

The pair normally only bring disabled dogs into Northern Ireland but after visiting Kolinda on several instances over four years they decided to bring her to Northern Ireland in the hopes of finding her a permanent home.

Dogs in those pounds dont live long, just with the conditions and everything.

But Kolinda did, she was always so happy to see us so we thought we should bring her back to Northern Ireland to see if there was a chance she could find her forever home, Alison said.

Kolinda is now settling in with a foster home in Omagh.

We have a brilliant fosterer, Marion Dillon, who has been taking care of Kolinda.

She is settling in well. Marion said it took her a week to get used to the stairs but she is getting on well and we are eager to find her a new forever family, Alison said.

Alison said Kolinda is hoping to find a new home with someone or a family that can match her energetic nature.

Shes a very active dog, she loves to be running about outdoors. She would suit a family with some older children, maybe aged 8-10 because the younger ones she would properly just knock over, she is so energetic.

She would also feel at home with maybe an older person that likes going on walks daily. Marion said she is also very content to sit and watch the TV but she is definitely not a couch potato, Alison said.

Kolinda grew up in a pound with 150 over rescue dogs so Alison believes she would settle well with another dog in the home.

Our advice would be to introduce the dogs outside of the home first to make sure they will get along. Kolinda doesnt need another dog but I could imagine her being very happy in a home with another dog, Alison said.
A police car burns as officers are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool following a violent protest (Owen Humphreys/PA)

More than 400,000 has been raised for rebuilding across the UK in the wake of the riots.

Multiple GoFundMe pages for repairs say the funds could go to relocating the businesses.

Donations have also surpassed 384,000 for the families of the three girls killed in the Southport attack on July 29, as well as the other victims.

Workers repair a window in the roof of Southport Islamic Centre Mosque in Southport, Merseyside (James Speakman/PA)

The money for one GoFundMe will go to rebuilding or relocating the Merseyside towns mosque that was turned into a warzone, the page said.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the violence in Southport on July 30 focused on the place of worship involved about 1,000 people, and the groups chants included This is our f****** country, England til I die and Allah, Allah, who the f*** is Allah.

Southport Islamic Society Mosque said in a press release that the congregation prayed inside hoping the attackers would not reach the front door.

A supporter of Spellow Lane Library Hub in Liverpool asked for 5,000 to replace books after it suffered severe damage when it was torched on Sunday.

As of Thursday more than 215,644 had been donated to the recently opened library, which also operated as a food bank for one of the most deprived communities in the country.

Bash Cafe in Belfast, which sells Arabic coffee and falafel, was also burned in the riots and has received more than its target for repairs, with 27,321 raised.

Scenes around the Bash Cafe on Donegall Road in south Belfast (Rebecca Black/PA)

The GoFundMe organiser said the owner Mohammed did not see himself reopening after the windows were broken and the interior was extensively damaged by smoke and fire.

However, he has been so encouraged by the support he has seen on this page from near and far that he is now looking for options to reopen the cafe in a different location, the supporter said.

A Citizens Advice building in Sunderland was also set alight and has received 14,912 in donations.

Riots swept the UK after Bebe King, six, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were fatally stabbed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at the Hart Space on Monday July 29 in Southport.

Left to right) Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine (Merseyside Police/PA)

Individual GoFundMe pages for each of the girls families have raised nearly 200,000.

One page organised for all of their families raised 112,200 in 2,900 donations.

The Southport Dance Group Emergency Fund said: The dance world is a wonderful community of people who gain such joy from dancing and its impossible to comprehend what has happened at this dance class.

More than 18,561 has been donated to support Leanne Lucas, the yoga class instructor injured while protecting children at the holiday club.

A fire-damaged Citizens Advice Bureau office in Sunderland (Tom Wilkinson/PA)

GoFundMe said in a statement: Nearly a million has been raised on GoFundMe to help those across the UK affected by the riots and political unrest.

During the unrest, people across the country have sprung into action to help those who have been affected.
Rea's Estate agent was closed the day after the attack

The owner of the Middle East Market thanked all those who came down to the shop in the aftermath of the attack to support them

The owner of a west Belfast supermarket that was attacked in a suspected racist incident has thanked local residents for their support.

Ali Moustafa Wartty also said talking to the police was a waste of time as they were unable to protect his businesses and staff.

There was violence across Belfast on Tuesday night, as far-right rioters continued to target businesses either owned by minority ethnic people, or those accused of aiding them.

Reas estate agent on the Woodvale Road was closed on Wednesday morning, after a car was driven into the side of the building.

False information was spread online that the estate agent had been providing homes for asylum seekers.

The morning after the attack, the wall of the business was cracked, and the rubble from it was collected beside the bent street sign.

People on the Woodvale Road were continuing about their day. The shops across and beside Reas were busy with customers.

People were hesitant to talk on the record to the Belfast Telegraph, seeming not quite afraid but certainly reluctant.

Some retail workers expressed shock at what happened, saying it was hard to imagine it was real.

A short while away, on the Falls Road, a teenager had been attacked by a gang of youths outside of the Middle East Market the previous night.

Yesterday lunchtime, the supermarket was busy. Nurses from the nearby Royal Hospital were stopping by for provisions and were talking to the workers behind the counter.

Staff at a food outlet said that the youths who attacked the teenager had been harassing a member of their staff beforehand.

Damage was visible on the outside of the Rea's estate agents

One of the workers said the people of the Falls dont agree with it, and referenced the large crowd that gathered outside to protect the shop following the attack.

Many of the people who came down on Wednesday morning did so specifically to show their support for the business.

Owner of the shop, Mr Wartyy, said I will thank each one who has supported us. Everyone who has come out has supported us, and I would like to thank them.

I appreciate their help.

Public and politicians react to disorder in Belfast

Mr Wartty was not confident in the PSNIs response to the issue, saying that they were unable to protect his staff and his business after repeated complaints about racist attacks.

From the first report we didnt see any good or any protection from the police, and we dont expect anything from them now.

At the end of the day we close the shop. I dont need to waste my time with them.

Mr Wartty added that he felt there was a racial element to how the attack was perceived and responded to.

If this happened with Muslim people, if we change it from white people to black people, you would say there is a group of terrorists.

Rea's Estate agent was closed the day after the attack

When were attacked by white people, things are different.

The PSNIs west Belfast area commander chief inspector Claire Hamilton said: We are aware of ongoing anti-social behaviour in the Falls Road area and are committing to working with the community and partners to find long-lasting solutions.

The race hate-related assault and anti-social behaviour in the area last night will not be tolerated. A 15-year-old boy was assaulted, in what was a terrifying ordeal and a 14-year-old boy was later cautioned. I want to thank members of the local community who attended and prevented the situation from escalating.

Among the visitors to the Middle East supermarket yesterday were the Guidarelli brothers from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The pair are visiting Northern Ireland, motivated by their interest in Irish history.

The Guidarelli brothers were visiting Northern Ireland from Pittsburgh

Andrew Guidarelli (27) a meteorologist who teaches at an Ohio university, said the events of recent days in Belfast brought to mind a tragedy that struck his home city.

Theres a synagogue in Pittsburgh [where] a white supremacist shot and killed 11 people in back in 2018.

So right back in Pittsburgh weve had violent attacks based on religious hatred as well.

He said everyone theyve met in Belfast has been lovely. He also said that events in Belfast bear a lot of similarities to problems theyve faced in the United States.

Andrew Guidarelli shopped in the Middle East Market on Wednesday to show support

Andrew also believes that the events of recent days in Belfast are part of global issues.

About a block over [on the Falls Road] theres graffiti saying Remember George Floyd, so obviously theres a lot of similarities between what happens in America and here.

Unfortunately its nothing new to an American, it seems to be a problem all over the world.

I think its really important for the community to come together. We heard what happened so we wanted to come to the shop and support them.

I think if you just set a good example for everyone else to follow. One person cant change the world but thats the best you can do.

David Rea was visiting home after moving to Canada in 1994

David Rea who was born and raised in Andersonstown was also walking by the shop on Wednesday. He moved to Canada in 1994, and was back visiting west Belfast with his girlfriend and son.

They were making a lot of strides, he said of the city, unfortunately theres a bit of sliding back.

I think theyll get past this. Its just sad to see it, especially with people from the Republic coming up to get involved in that sort of nonsense.

Theres racism everywhere in the world. In Canada theres a right wing too. They have the same issues with immigration but Canadas such a big place you cant see it so much. Its got a much better economy and can maybe handle it a bit better.

The PSNI has been asked for a response.
Stock Image: Disorder has been ongoing on for nights in the Belfast area (Photo by Kevin Scott)

The PSNI has hit out at fake guidance circulating on social media which contains advice to Belfast city centre employers ahead of planned protests on Friday.

In a statement, a police spokesperson said the information was not issued by the PSNI and called it misinformation. They advised their social media channels will instead be updated with official guidance and information.

Several protests are planned tomorrow (Friday) evening, including anti-immigration demonstrations.

The fake guidance encourages those traveling to work in protest areas to contact a non-emergency telephone number.

"Police are aware of misinformation circulating on social media regarding advice to employers in Belfast city centre on Friday 9th August. This has not been issued by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, a spokesperson said.

"Official Police Service social media channels will be kept up to date with the latest advice on planned protests.

"We are aware of planned protest activity throughout Northern Ireland tomorrow. We will have a significant policing operation in place, and are working hard to keep everyone safe, while supporting the right to peaceful protest.

We would remind everyone that when engaging in protest, they should adhere to the following:

"Follow the instructions of Police.

"Respect the rights of others.

Do not endanger your own safety, or that of anyone else.

Do not block a roadway or footpath.

Do not enter any building as a trespasser, or cause damage to property.

If you find yourself in a situation within a large group of people, which feels dangerous, try to leave the area as soon as possible.

If the protest involves a parade then this must be notified to the Parades Commission. Taking part in a procession that is not notified is a criminal offence and you may be liable to prosecution.

"If you participate in disorder, you risk getting arrested. The penalties for being involved in serious disorder can be very high, with rioting carrying a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.

Earlier today, the Northern Ireland Muslim Council also hit out at false information on social media in a joint statement issued by mosque leaders.

"The vast majority of the violence has been whipped up and fuelled by deliberate mis- and disinformation on social media. We are aware of a false and dangerous narrative circulating at present, they said.
SDLP MLA Matthew OToole leads condemnation of recent trouble

Naomi Long has said far right and white supremacists are radicalising people online through disinformation and outright lies in an incredibly dangerous way.

Addressing an Assembly debate on the recent racist violence which has erupted on the streets here, she said there had been 27m impressions of X posts about the suspected Southport attacker being a Muslim, a migrant or a refugee.
Amerjit S Nagra, President of the NI Sikh Association pictured at his home in Derry on 08th August 2024. Picture: Aodhan Roberts/Belfast Telegraph.

The organisers of a so-called protect our children protest in Derry have been told to wise up, as people from ethnic minorities in the city pointed to failures by politicians at Stormont and Westminster.
Labour has suspended one of its elected representatives who allegedly called for far-right protesters throats to be cut.

Ricky Jones, a borough councillor in Dartford, Kent, is thought to have made the call at a demonstration in east London on Wednesday evening.

A Labour spokesperson said the violent imagery was completely unacceptable and it will not be tolerated.

In a video from Hoe Street in Walthamstow, which was filled pavement-to-pavement with anti-racism demonstrators, a man taking part was filmed saying: They are disgusting Nazi fascists and we need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all.

Some of the protesters are holding placards which read: Smash fascism and racism by any means necessary.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted the footage to his X, formerly Twitter, account and asked: Why has #TwoTierKeir not taken action?

A Labour spokesperson said: This behaviour is completely unacceptable and it will not be tolerated.

The councillor has been suspended from the party.

It means Mr Jones will be unable to sit on the Labour benches at Dartford Borough Council meetings.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: We are aware of the significant public concern around this video.

Officers are investigating as a matter of urgency.

Mr Farage is among several online commentators who have alleged police and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer are dealing with some protesters more harshly than others, known as two-tier policing.

Sir Keir said on Wednesday convictions and prison sentences for some of the people involved in the disorder were evidence of the swift action that authorities are taking, and warned: If you provoke violent disorder on our streets or online, you will face the full force of the law.

Sir Mark Rowley, who leads the Met in London, has previously rejected accusations of two-tier policing as complete nonsense.

He said on Wednesday: We have commentators from either end of the political spectrum who like to throw accusations of bias at the police because we stand in the middle, we operate independently under the law without fear or favour.

Speaking after the anti-racism demonstration in Walthamstow, Sir Mark told broadcasters: It went off very peacefully last night  a couple of locations we had some local criminals turn out and try and create a bit of antisocial behaviour and we arrested a few of them.

Demonstrators also gathered in several cities throughout England, including Bristol, Brighton, Liverpool and Sheffield.

The gatherings were held in a bid to counter several days of disorder and rioting, which have led to more than 480 arrests, according to the National Police Chiefs Council.

Participants have damaged buildings including Southport Islamic Society Mosque, Spellow Library in Liverpool, a Citizens Advice office and next-door police station in Sunderland, and Holiday Inn hotels in the Midlands and Yorkshire.

Courts have heard some led chants, including the phrases were taking our country back and Allah, Allah, who the f*** is Allah.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Areas of patchy fog early. Cloudy early, then off and on rain showers for the afternoon. High 57F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Cloudy. Periods of rain early. Low near 40F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
I began covering Tanglewood, the BSO and Ozawa for The Berkshire Eagle and other papers in 1974, a year after Seiji came to the BSO from the San Francisco Symphony. I followed him not just at Tanglewood and in Boston but also with his Saito Kinen Orchestra in Japan.
Those familiar with my writing will know of my great admiration for the 19th-century naturalist John Burroughs.

Born in 1837, Burroughs lived when the steam locomotive was still a new and wondrous thing in America. The telegraph was invented by Morse that same year and Alexander Graham Bells patent for a telephone was still about 40 years away. To say that Burroughs lived during a time that most of us would find difficult to imagine is a bit of an understatement.

However, those who love nature and wild things will find that his words resonate in us. Some truths are so basic that 150 years is but the blink of an eye. My most favorite Burroughs quote, and an idea that has guided me in my search for solace in nature, is as follows: One has only to sit down in the woods or the fields, or by the shore of the river or the lake, and nearly everything of interest will come round to him  the birds, the animals, the insects; and presently, after his eye has got accustomed to the place, and the light and the shade, he will probably see some plant or flower that he has sought in vain, and that is a pleasant surprise to him.

A REGULAR STROLL

This is the spirit that compelled me to install my Thinking Chair at the edge of my meadow and, I believe, it can be applied to a regular stroll along a regular route. Do the same thing day after day and you will eventually see something new and wonderful to behold. This is exactly what happened to me at the end of July. I took a walk Ive taken again and again for 19 years and as I rounded a familiar bend in a trail I saw something brand new.

To the south of my meadow, all the way into a mature forest of beech, maple, pine and hemlock, there is a path through the woods that is maintained by regular passage of ATVs and snowmobiles. As one might imagine, the ATVs can create mud holes here and there along a forest path, but it is just this sort of disturbance that appears to have been an absolute necessity for the growth of a new wildflower that I had never seen before; not just in my back woods, but anywhere ever.

A NEW PLANT

The flower I am speaking of is called the Allegheny monkeyflower (Mimulus ringens). This is a species that thrives in wet and moist habitats, but because it can only grow to a maximum height of 3 feet it would have trouble finding a foothold in my meadow, where the grasses grow to 7 feet tall. So, it was along the edge of a mud hole that was formed due to the disturbance caused by the passage of ATVs, that I found this new plant.

From afar, the appearance of an individual plant would best be described as spindly. The slender stem has slender offshoots that support the leaves and flowers. The pale blue blossoms arent much to look at until you get up close, but then they are difficult to stop looking at. The general trumpet shape of each flower and the irregular face make it very similar to a flower of a snapdragon plant.

This species is a perennial, which means that it will grow in the same place year after year. The herbaceous stem, leaves and flowers may whither and die back in the winter, but the roots are hardy and the plant will reestablish itself the following spring. The fact that I have been walking this route for so long without seeing this species suggests a couple of possible explanations: Either the plant has only just arrived recently, or I have passed by this place at the wrong time of year to see the flowers. Take away the flowers and the plant itself is utterly unremarkable; completely invisible to the passing eye.

Because it prefers wet habitats, the Allegheny monkeyflower has been used to stabilize soils in certain places. The fact that its seeds are commercially available highlights another important fact  just because something is new to me doesnt mean that it is new to science. But I think that the opposite is even more important in our individual lives  just because something is already known to science doesnt diminish the thrill of discovery for me (and you).

MIX THINGS UP

I want you to mix things up this week. Try to establish a regular route, where you take a daily constitutional. Leave the cell phone and the earphones at home and allow yourself to walk directly into nature. Allow your mind to go quiet and encourage your eyes to look up, down and all around you as you walk. Once you stop thinking about this, that or the other, your mind will quiet down and your surroundings will start to come into the sort of clarity that accompanies the quiet mind. This will set the stage for your becoming familiar with the scenery and your ability to see new arrivals and notice the departures of familiar faces. Take the same walk every day and you are bound to notice something new and different each time.
The Dalton Fire District has voted to extend the administrative leave of Dalton Fire Chief Christian Tobin to allow third-party investigators to look into complaints against him, including allegations of sexual harassment and staff mistreatment  which he denies.
Eagle Reels host Dalton Delan spoke with vocalist China Forbes in advance of Pink Martini's show Oct. 12 at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center performance in Great Barrington. The musical group is touring to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks at a July 27 campaign event in Pittsfield, the first fundraiser she attended as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.
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Gardai have criticised misinformation online surrounding the death of a man in Dublin on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, August 7th, gardai were requested by the national ambulance service to assist with a medical emergency near Saggart Luas Terminal, where a man was seriously ill.

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Gardai sealed off Fortunestown Lane to allow ambulance personnel to treat the man.

The man, aged in his 30s, was taken from the scene to Tallaght Hospital where he later died.

Gardai said they were aware of posts and comments online with misinformation and disinformation speculating and linking this personal incident to immigration and international protection.

This speculation and commentary is completely false.

Gardai said this "baseless speculation is not only generally unhelpful, but is upsetting to a family who have in the very immediate lost a loved one."

An Garda Siochana said they are very aware of online misinformation, disinformation and fake news, not just in relation to this incident, but in general, in widespread public circulation.

They are appealing to all members of the public to independently verify any information that you are reading on social media and/ or messaging apps.
The PSNI chief constable has said it is unacceptable that MI5 has provided material about an agent operating within the IRA to an investigation team so late.

The chief of the Operation Kenova probe said it appeared the files contain significant new material which appears to point to new investigative leads not previously known.

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Kenova, a major investigation into the operations of Stakeknife, thought to be the British Armys top agent inside the IRA, published its interim report in April finding that more lives were probably lost than saved by his actions.

Despite the findings, the public prosecutor did not to pursue any cases.

Stakeknife, widely believed to be West Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci, died last year at the age of 77.

It emerged on Wednesday that MI5 handed over previously undisclosed material in April and July, some eight years after the start of the Kenova probe.

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In a statement, PSNI chief constable Jon Boutcher said: It is unacceptable that MI5 continue to provide material to the Operation Kenova Team so long after they undertook to have given full access to Kenova of all the material they held about the agent Stakeknife.

My interim report highlighted a number of issues in obtaining information from MI5 and I reported the similar experiences of Lord Stevens, Judge Cory and others who each called out the unacceptable practices of those not co-operating with and withholding information from legacy investigations.

Operation Kenova chief Sir Iain Livingstone. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA.

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Some 32 people, including former police, ex-military personnel and people linked with the IRA, were considered for prosecution on a range of charges from murder and abduction to misconduct in public office and perjury as a result of the Kenova investigation.

The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in Northern Ireland found there was insufficient evidence to pursue any cases.

Mr Boutcher said: The fact that this information continues to be provided to the Operation Kenova team after the Public Prosecution Service have directed on the files submitted to them will cause further upset to the families who had already waited many years to find out what happened to their loved ones.

The disclosure was made weeks before the introduction of the previous governments Legacy Act, which would result in the discontinuation of court cases pertaining to Northern Irelands troubled past.

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Mr Boutcher said that he is concerned about an unhelpful protectionist approach to disclosure in relation to Northern Ireland legacy issues from intelligence authorities.

He said this can result in wild conspiracy theories and inaccurate reporting about legacy cases.

During the Troubles the security forces acted with immense bravery and endured huge sacrifices and that should never be forgotten but we must challenge practices that prevent information about Troubles related cases from being released where there is no good reason.

He added: I am confident that the officer in charge of Operation Kenova, Sir Iain Livingstone, will ensure all the material is fully assessed and will liaise closely with the Director of the Public Prosecution Service to determine if any further direction is necessary, Mr Boutcher said.

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I very much look forward to his final report that will comment more fully on these most recent disclosures.

I want to personally reassure the families who have put their trust in the Operation Kenova that Sir Iain and his team will do everything necessary to analyse the material for any new evidence.

Sir Iain has written to Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn raising his concern at the late disclosure of material he said may include new investigative leads.

An initial review of the material has been carried out, as well as consultation with Northern Irelands Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Herron.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

Sir Ian said: It is of great concern that further material continues to be given to Operation Kenova by MI5 nearly eight years after Operation Kenova commenced; after all the DPPNI determinations in the prosecution reports have been made; following the publication of the Operation Kenova Interim report; and a matter of weeks before the introduction of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

I have directed that the new information be analysed and checked for evidence and information that could have assisted both Operation Kenova and the DPPNI in their work, as well as for any implications for the accuracy of the Kenova Interim Report. This work continues.

Sir Iain said it appears from initial assessment that the files contain significant new material which appears to point to new investigative leads not previously known.

Importantly the material does not indicate further murders of individuals that involved the agent Stakeknife and as such no further deaths would fall into the Operation Kenova Terms of Reference based on the now disclosed material, he said.

However, the material does appear to cast doubt on some of the documents and witness evidence obtained by Kenova and some statements made in the Interim Report. This includes information provided by the security service around the dates when they became aware of the agent Stakeknife.
A Dublin man charged following a cyber crime investigation into darknet markets and money laundering involving cryptocurrencies has been released on bail.

Detectives with the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) seized around 6.5 million worth of cryptocurrency and arrested three people during a raid at a property in north Co Dublin.

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Kevin Daniel Andrei (23), of Drynam Avenue, Swords, appeared at Dublin District Court on Thursday afternoon charged with three counts of possessing close to 600,000 in crime proceeds under section seven of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act.

He is accused of "concealing and disguising the true nature and source of 65 Wirex transactions" totalling 22,049 between March 3rd, 2021, and September 5th, 2022, at various locations within the state.

According to another charge, between February 26th, 2021, and February 26th, 2024, he engaged in "concealing and disguising the true nature and source of 1,822 Revolut transactions that is the proceeds of criminal conduct," valued 227,429.

The third one claims he disguised the true nature and source of 422 separate Binance transactions worth 341,959 between March 21st, 2021, and December 20th, 2023, at various places in Ireland.

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Dressed in a grey hoody, dark trousers and runner, the accused sat silently during the hearing and has yet to indicate a plea.

GNCCB Detective Ciaran Byrne told Judge Michael Connellan that the accused was charged at Kevin Street Garda station at 1.25pm on Thursday and "made no reply to the charges".

Although the detective initially objected to bail, he added that he had discussed significant conditions with defence solicitor Kate McGhee.

The solicitor confirmed her client agreed to the terms proposed by the GNCCB detective. Judge Connellan imposed them and granted bail.

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He told the accused, who has surrendered his passport, to sign on three days a week at his local Garda station, not to apply for a replacement passport or new travel documents, reside at his current address, provide a mobile phone number to gardai and be contactable at all times.

The judge also warned Mr Andrei that it would be a condition of his bail "not to carry out any cryptocurrency transactions" and make no comments on public forums, including social media, about the case.

Bail was set in his bond of 100, and Mr Andrei was ordered to appear again on October 3 for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to be outlined.

Legal aid was granted after the judge noted from the defence solicitor that her client was not working.

A man and a woman were also arrested on suspicion of alleged offences under money laundering and terrorism financing legislation. However, they have been released from custody pending the submission of a file to the DPP.
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) chief Jon Boutcher has told the Muslim community that police officers will be standing in harms way to ensure they are safe amid several race-related attacks in Belfast.

In a YouTube video message addressed to Muslims in Northern Ireland, the PSNI Chief Constable said that every PSNI officer is here to look after you, were here to protect you.

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He said the community had been targeted by thugs and criminals in recent days who are from a right-wing ideology that makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever.

In response to the disgraceful events of the past few days, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has recorded a video message to directly reach out to our local Muslim communities. https://t.co/xsrnD9X8jP  Office of the Chief Constable (@ChiefConPSNI) August 7, 2024 Advertisement

Mr Boutcher said a meeting was held between all leaders of mosques across Northern Ireland in Belfast on Tuesday night.

He said: Its clear to me you are living in fear and I want to assure you: we will deal with it.

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Mr Boutcher said that the community team would be in touch and officers would visit mosques.

He added: I want to assure you we will be policing those events very much with a focus on the security and the safety of our Muslim communities.

We will be standing in harms way, which is what my officers have done so far on a number of evenings, to make sure youre safe.

Officers who have become injured, and Ive spoken to them, who are doing it because theyre determined to make sure this cannot continue.

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Because we stand with you and we support you.

Police are investigating race-related hate crimes and disorder across Belfast on Tuesday, following on from other disorder and violence in the city in the past week.

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Politicians from across the political spectrum have condemned the violence and hit out at racism and hatred.

The Stormont Assembly is due to reconvene on Thursday to discuss the issue.

Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said that the PSNI will significantly mobilise the organisation due to the disorder across Belfast since the weekend.

Unfortunately this will mean officers and staff working longer shifts and rest days, she said.

Increasing our resources and footprint across Northern Ireland in the coming days will enable us to manage planned events and deal with any sporadic incidents, including disorder.

We have also submitted a request to the National Police Co-ordination Centre for additional officers from across the United Kingdom to support the policing operation.

The Mutual Aid officers will provide vital resilience and support and will be given all of the necessary equipment and familiarisation training.

Any officers who may come to Northern Ireland would specifically assist with the ongoing public disorder and protests and not everyday policing.

We will continue to keep this under review.
The Fleadh Cheoil festival in Wexford have broken the Guinness World Record for the most tin whistles played simultaneously, with 2,516 players coming from all over Ireland and abroad to play The Dawning of the Day and The boys of Wexford.

The record was made at 5pm on Thursday at Chadwicks Wexford Park.

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It was oversaw and approved by Craig Glenday, the Editor in Chief of Guinness World Records.

The previous record was set at 1,015 players.

Catherine Roche, teacher for the ensemble of musicians, said that visitors from America, China, and Australia had registered to take part in the record.

Liam and Eliza Quinn at the record-breaking event in Wexford.

The Wexford Fleadh Cheoil executive committees chairperson, Eddie Taaffe, said they are delighted to partner with the Castlebridge Inspire Group to break the world record.

This event truly embodies what Fleadh Cheoil and Wexford are all about: people coming together, celebrating culture and making great things happen, he said.

The small town of Castlebridge in Co Wexford was the birthplace of Guinness World Records in 1951.

Sir Hugh Beaver, then managing director of Guinness Breweries, was on a shooting party by the River Slaney when a row started over which was the fastest game bird in Europe.

It led to further debate over dinner that night at Castlebridge House and Beaver realised the opportunity to create a book that would settle similar arguments taking place nightly in pubs across Ireland and the UK.

The editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, Craig Glenday was also present to officially adjudicate the attempt.
Israels Western allies have condemned remarks by the countrys far-right finance minister, who suggested that causing the starvation of Gazas population of more than two million Palestinians might be just and moral until hostages captured in Hamass attack on southern Israel are returned home.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in a speech on Monday that Israel has no choice but to send humanitarian aid into Gaza.

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Its not possible in todays global reality to manage a war  no-one will allow us to starve two million people, even though that might be just and moral until they return the hostages, he said at a conference in support of Jewish settlements.

Mr Smotrich, a key partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus governing coalition, supports the reoccupation of Gaza, the rebuilding of Jewish settlements that were removed in 2005, and what he describes as the voluntary migration of large numbers of Palestinians out of the territory.





Deliberate starvation of civilians is a war crime: Minister Smotrich advocating for it is beyond ignominious.



We expect the IL government to distance itself from his words. And provide full account of the reported acts of torture in the Sde Teiman prisonhttps://t.co/khccWg3DVs Advertisement  Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) August 7, 2024

On Wednesday, the European Union condemned his remarks, noting that the deliberate starvation of civilians is a war crime.

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EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the remarks beyond ignominious, saying it demonstrates, once again, his contempt for international law and for basic principles of humanity.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said there can be no justification for Minister Smotrichs remarks.

We expect the wider Israeli government to retract and condemn them, he wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

Germanys ambassador to Israel, Steffen Siebert, called the remarks unacceptable and appalling.

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It is a principle of international law and of humanity to protect civilians in a war and to give them access to water and food, he wrote on X.





International law could not be more clear - the deliberate starvation of civilians is a war crime.



There can be no justification for Minister Smotrichs remarks and we expect the wider Israeli government to retract and condemn them.  David Lammy (@DavidLammy) August 7, 2024 Advertisement

The ongoing war sparked by Hamass attack on October 7 last year has plunged Gaza into a humanitarian catastrophe.

The vast majority of its population has been displaced within the blockaded territory, often multiple times, and hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid tent camps.

The leading international authority on the severity of hunger crises, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, said in June that Gaza was at high risk of famine.

Aid organisations say efforts to deliver food and other assistance have been hindered by Israeli restrictions, ongoing fighting and the breakdown of law and order.

Israel says it allows unlimited humanitarian aid to enter and blames UN agencies for failing to promptly deliver it.

Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people in the surprise attack on Israel that triggered the war and took around 250 hostages.

Some 110 hostages are still being held in Gaza, though Israel believes about a third of them are dead. Most of the rest were released during a week-long ceasefire in November.

Israels ongoing offensive has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, and has caused widespread devastation.
The Arizona grand jury which indicted 18 Republican supporters of Donald Trump who falsely claimed he won the state in the 2020 election wanted to consider also charging the former president, but prosecutors urged them not to, according to court documents.

The court records filed by Democratic attorney general Kris Mayes office contain exchanges between prosecutors and the grand jurors, who heard 18 days of testimony.

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As grand jurors were considering possible charges, a prosecutor asked them not to indict Mr Trump, citing a US Justice Department policy that limits the prosecution of someone for the same crime twice.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The prosecutor, who is not identified in the records, did not know whether authorities had all the evidence they would need to charge Mr Trump at that time.

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I know that may be disappointing to some of you, the prosecutor said. I understand.

Ultimately, the grand jury indicted 18 people on forgery, fraud and conspiracy charges, including 11 Republicans who submitted a document falsely claiming Mr Trump had won Arizona, five lawyers connected to the former president and two former Trump administration aides.

Although Mr Trump was not charged in the Arizona case, the indictment refers to him as an unindicted coconspirator.

The former president is charged in a federal case brought by special counsel Jack Smith with plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

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Jason Lamm, a former prosecutor who now works as a criminal defence attorney in Phoenix, said Ms Mayes office is not bound by US Justice Department policy.

That was a choice, rather than an obligation, said Mr Lamm of prosecutors asking grand jurors not to indict the former president.

Mr Lamm, who does not represent anyone charged in the case, said even if Mr Trump had been indicted and Ms Mayes office did not want to prosecute him, there would have been alternative means to dispose of the case rather than potentially infringe on the autonomy of the grand jury.

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My office has reached a cooperation agreement with Jenna Ellis in the fake electors case. Full release here: https://t.co/SEDalBB7i7 pic.twitter.com/jZBpGmFrKe  AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes (@AZAGMayes) August 5, 2024

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The filing by Arizona prosecutors also revealed they had asked grand jurors not to bring charges against a group of Republican state lawmakers for signing a document that urged then-vice president Mike Pence to accept the Arizona fake electors forged electoral college certificates.

When grand jurors inquired about charging the 22 sitting Republicans and eight others who had won election but had not yet taken office, the prosecutor expressed caution when talking about proving an intent to defraud by all legislators who signed the document.

Earlier this week, attorney Jenna Ellis signed an agreement with Arizona prosecutors who will dismiss charges against her in exchange for her cooperation. She pleaded guilty in Georgia last year to a felony charge over efforts to overturn Mr Trumps 2020 election loss in that state.

Republican activist Loraine Pellegrino, who signed the document falsely claiming Mr Trump had won Arizona, became the first person to be convicted in the states fake elector case.

Prosecutors say she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour charge of filing a false document.

The remaining defendants, including former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and Mr Trumps presidential chief of staff Mark Meadows, have pleaded not guilty.

Eleven people nominated to be Arizonas Republican electors met on December 14 2020 to sign a certificate saying they were duly elected and qualified electors and claimed Mr Trump had carried the state in the 2020 election. President Joe Biden won Arizona by 10,457 votes.

A one-minute video of the signing ceremony was posted on social media by the Arizona Republican Party at the time. The document was later sent to Congress and the National Archives, where it was ignored.

Prosecutors in Michigan, Nevada, Georgia and Wisconsin have also filed criminal charges related to the fake electors scheme. Arizona authorities unveiled the felony charges in late April.
The family of a retired British doctor have issued an urgent appeal after he went missing in the French Pyrenees almost 48 hours ago.

Tom Doherty (67), from St Albans in England, was hiking and camping near Col dEscots when his family lost contact with him on Tuesday.

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A search is underway involving dogs and helicopters.

Tom Doherty with his granddaughter Martha. Photo: Family Handout/PA

His daughter, Rachel Doherty, told the PA news agency the family last heard from Mr Doherty at 19.07 via WhatsApp.

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He sent them messages asking for help and told them he had fallen and could not move.

Ms Doherty said: He was sending us a few pictures of the scenery and then on Tuesday afternoon sent us one of clouds coming over the top of a mountain. He said bugger.

We told him to be careful and urged him to come down.

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One of the last pictures sent by Mr Doherty (Family Handout/PA)

The last time we heard from him was Tuesday. He told us he had fallen and couldnt move. Thats all weve had since. The search party have found his car.

Were obviously very worried and extremely concerned for his welfare.

Mr Doherty, a grandfather-of-one who has three daughters and one son and has been described as an avid and experienced walker, set off in the Pyrenees on Saturday.

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His wife and one of his children have been at his last known location since Wednesday morning.

Mr Doherty with wife Anne, son-in-law Tim Hughes and daughter Rachel Doherty (Family Handout/PA)

Ms Doherty is also now heading to France to join the search party.

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According to his family, the retired doctor was a respected consultant of Tropical medicine who worked around the world and specialised in Malaria.

Since retiring almost a decade ago, he has spent most of his time in France.

A spokesperson for the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: We are supporting the family of a British man missing in France and are in touch with the local authorities.
Australias largest energy producer, Woodside, is locked in a new legal fight over how much tax it must pay from its multibillion-dollar Sangomar oil project off the coast of Senegal.

Perth-based Woodside produced crude oil from the deepwater Sangomar field for the first time in June, ushering in a potentially transformative economic era for the impoverished West African nation by turning it into the worlds newest oil supplier.

Australias Woodside holds an 82 per cent stake in the Sangomar oil project, while Senegals national oil company Petrosen owns 18 per cent.

This is an historic day for Senegal and for Woodside, its chief executive Meg ONeill said.

However, just weeks after oil production began, a clash between Woodside and the Senegalese government over a significant tax adjustment notice is now headed to court. Local media reports suggest the amount of tax in dispute could be as much as 41 billion CFA francs ($104 million).
Spoiled by its geography and a bounty of mineral wealth, Australia has been fortunate enough to bypass the friction and adversity that often forges the creative soul of a nation. His vision of Australia is one of a more ambitious nation thats more empowered, that takes its future by the scruff of the neck, as opposed to sort of just dig it out of the ground. Loading He thinks Australia should strive to become an innovation hub, where creative opportunity is democratised. Creativity isnt just the privilege of those that got the highest HSC or have links to who knows who or whatever, he says. Drogas determined yet laid-back candour is the antithesis of the corporate jargon-obsessed consultants the ad world is renowned for. One of the superpowers I have is ability to dumb things down and simplify things, he says, from the 67th floor of his Manhattan office.

That superpower, his self-assuredness and his view of Australia will be vital in the pitch to the world after his eponymous agency Droga5, Australian-based The Monkeys and Accenture Song won the creative and digital account for Tourism Australia after a 10-month, cross-continental process last month. Its some responsibility, and to an extent shapes how Australia is viewed, with famous ads such as Paul Hogans Shrimp on the Barbie spot of 1984, and Lara Bingles derided Where the bloody hell are you several decades later coming before. The new team has to carry on the Come and Say GDay platform debuted in 2022, fronted by a Rose Byrne-voiced cartoon kangaroo, Ruby. The initial campaign was considered a safe play by some, yet after spending more than $125 million, the Australian government deemed it a success with arrivals boosted. But when it comes to Droga5 or The Monkeys, you dont get safe.

Im not that petty or insecure where Im like oh my goodness, Im inheriting something that I think is going to hold us back. Its early days for that construct, and Im arrogant enough to think that we can do something wonderful with it. There was some good thinking in there, he says. Loading Much of creativity is taking an existing thing and reinterpreting, or misinterpreting it, he says. I am so blatantly biased towards getting it right for Australia. They know that we put the best team, and Australians all over the world on it. I wasnt judging it as this is an account we have to win because of the economics, I was like we have to win this account, so I can show my face in Australia and make sure that Australia gets the stage that it deserves.

He has already had one bite of the apple too, creating a Dundee, a spoofed sequel to Crocodile Dundee starring Chris Hemsworth and Danny McBride for those watching the Superbowl in 2018. Like much of his work, it was considered controversial, but a success. The youngest of five brothers, Droga was appointed executive creative director at the legendary Saatchi & Saatchis Singapore office at 27, soon after moving to London, and he hasnt looked back, eventually quitting the top creative post at French giant Publicis to set up Droga5 in his wifes native New York in 2006. A viral video for edgy clothing brand Ecko, showing a team spray-painting Air Force One put the agency on the map. And he eventually ended up at the top of the advertising ladder when Droga5 was bought by Accenture for almost $US500 million ($763 million) in 2019. Onlookers suggest the price was inflated just to get Droga through the door. In 2021, he was made global chief executive of Accenture Song, armed with some of the worlds hottest independent creative agencies, like his own, and The Monkeys.

There is a massive complexity in a lot of businesses, and a lot of people get paralysed by that, and they make very mediocre decisions, or they dont make decisions, Droga says. Ive always been confident in making a decision because its what moves us forward. It doesnt mean Im right, but Ill stand behind it whether I am right or wrong, and Ill take responsibility if Im not. Im a big believer in sprinting forward or falling forward. But moving forward. The word creativity didnt really mean anything at the sports-oriented boarding school he attended in Sydney, and Droga questions whether Australia has had the systems to place the spotlight on, and give oxygen to, creativity. This is exemplified through the Sydney Opera House, he says, a beacon of creativity lighting its way against the odds. Last year, The Monkeys created a film celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Opera House, delivered through a performance by Tim Minchin. In June, it won the Grand Prix at Cannes, the top gong at the awards show. The Opera House is a homage to that. The [film] is a homage to that. Most people didnt want that to happen. They didnt understand that, they like conformity, they like things to be familiar. Familiarity is safe, and the middle is safe.

Thats the thing about Droga, hes constantly taking a perspective other people cant see, says marketing consultant and industry commentator Darren Woolley. Whether its a brand, cause, or political perspective, he makes you go shit I hadnt thought about that, and hes found a way of doing that on a much bigger stage than just Australia, Woolley says. While Australias public familiarity with advertising may be framed through a Gruen-based lens, people on the street in New York know who Droga5 is, according to Mark Green, co-founder of the Monkeys and Song boss in Australia and New Zealand. Its a famous brand, and hes a, hes the name on the door.

Green says locally we look to find flaws and holes in the stories of people like Droga, such is Australias tall poppy syndrome. Sometimes we should build statues to these people because theyre the kind of people we should all be looking up to and admire as success stories. Loading In his office, Droga keeps just two of the hundreds, or thousands, of awards he has won across his career. The student of the year prize he won, aged 18 from the AWARD Advertising school in Australia, and the lifetime achievement he was presented in Cannes in 2017, the youngest to ever receive it at 49. It will be handy to have feet on the ground in the fruitful American market. Even better those feet belong to a fiercely proud Australian.
Say what you will about John Setka (and you can say plenty: domestic violence perpetrator, bully, enabler of underworld thugs and bikies), at least he had the sense to quit the CFMEU when it became clear the rot infesting his union could no longer be papered over.

The same cant be said of certain other CFMEU construction division bosses who, rather than sacrifice themselves in the interests of their union members, cling on to their well-paid jobs as Rome burns.

CFMEU figures Derek Christopher, Michael Greenfield and his father, Darren Greenfield. Credit: The Age

Yes, things are truly a shambles when its Setka leading by example.

In my 20 years of exposing the corruption and misbehaviour of CEOs, politicians and others who hold power, usually even the most egotistical know when the jig is up.
Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon has been charged with assault and stalking after an alleged domestic violence incident at a home in Byron Bay.

Police said they attended an address at The Pocket, a suburb of the North Coast NSW town, last Thursday and were told a man had allegedly assaulted a woman known to him before fleeing. There were no reports of injuries.

Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon. Credit: Danielle Smith

Lyon was arrested at Tweed Heads police station the next day, and charged with common assault, and stalking or intimidation with intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm (domestic violence).

He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on August 19, when the police will also seek an apprehended violence order against him.
Lawyers for accused killer Patrick Stephenson are yet to see the CCTV evidence in the case against him, telling a court the brief is unprecedented in its size.

The 23-year-old faced Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday, six months after Samantha Murphy  the woman he is accused of killing  vanished during a run.

A court sketch of Patrick Stephenson at Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday. Credit: Paul Tyquin

Defence lawyer Moya OBrien and the prosecution told the court that three further months were needed to analyse the evidence against Stephenson, after his legal team received the brief only late last month.

OBrien noted they had yet to receive the CCTV footage relied on by the prosecution.
I had no expectation of how she would write it, I just provided evidence of corruption, and she could report that as she saw fit. When asked whether she believed leaking the emails would be taken as a breach of the confidentiality requirement, Reynolds told the court she had never consented to the government taking over her defence. They may well have never wanted it to see the light of day, Reynolds said under oath. In publicly challenging the process for the settlement with Higgins, Young told the court Reynolds ought to have known it would cast doubt over whether she should have received it. But Reynolds reiterated she did not take issue with Ms Higgins pursuit of compensation over the ordeal, but rather how she believed the law had been manipulated to muzzle her and government corruption.

You wanted it publicly known as to your truth about the handling of the rape allegation. You wanted Higgins to be publicly questioned about her version of events, Young put to Reynolds. It wasnt my truth, it was the truth. I wanted to do that at the mediation behind closed doors, but I was not afforded that opportunity. I never wanted to be in the position of having to defend things here, Reynolds responded. Brittany Higgins. Credit: Steven Siewert Higgins was paid $2.4 million by the federal government following the settlement for lost earnings, medical expenses, legal fees and the humiliation she had experienced. The court heard Reynolds had kept in contact with Albrechtsen, forwarding information about Higgins now-husband David Sharaz having abruptly resigned from his job and other documents she asked her to delete.

Young suggested they could only have been aimed at further denigrating the pair in the media, but Reynolds rejected the claim. And Young interrogated Reynolds decision to participate in Channel 7s Spotlight interview with Lehrmann, including a clip in which she agreed the former staffer had been paid millions in compensation on the basis of a crime which may not have been committed. The rape allegation was later found to be true to the civil standard by the Federal Court in Lehrmanns defamation trial against Network Ten over The Projects expose, which Lehrmann is now appealing. Reynolds rejected any insinuation she told Spotlight reporter Liam Bartlett she disbelieved Higgins rape allegation, arguing it was simply how the excerpt of her interview had been cut in post-production. But she conceded the remark would have been broadcast to a significant audience, and that her choice of words would likely have offended and undermined Higgins as a rape complainant.

While poring over the media coverage, Young accused Reynolds of seeking to litigate whether she did enough to support her former staffer. Again, Reynolds rejected the claim. Reynolds was also quizzed at length about her decision to volunteer the names and contact details of staff members that may assist Lehrmanns barrister Steven Whybrow, SC, which she defended and insisted had been done in consultation with her lawyer. And the senator conceded texts she sent Whybrow accusing Higgins of having a predilection for expensive clothes and trying to imitate Princess of Wales Kate Middleton were catty. Reynolds told the court the comment stemmed from being shown CCTV footage showing Higgins leaving Parliament House on the morning of her alleged rape in the senators Carla Zampatti jacket.

It shouldnt have, but it annoyed me, Reynolds told the court. It was me being annoyed by her taking my jacket and dressing like Kate Middleton. Did you ever think Higgins may have been trying to cover up when she left? Are you suggesting she wasnt entitled or ought to have been wearing something the Princess of Wales had been wearing? Young asked Reynolds. [Higgins] had made a point of commenting on her wardrobe, wearing white ... she had made it a thing. She was entitled to wear what she wanted. Im not suggesting [my comment] makes rational sense, Reynolds replied. Young used the correspondence to further her argument that Reynolds did not act impartially during the criminal trial and was unfairly aiding the defence, a submission Reynolds rejected.
Her story, which has been captured in the podcast Shes the Boss by Jules Brooke, highlights the tangible impact of the types of support offered by the WRC.
Seasonal variations

The biggest improvement in the rate over the quarter, according to REIQ, was recorded in Noosa (+0.7%), followed by the Scenic Rim, Sunshine Coast, Hinterland, and Maroochy Coast which all eased by +0.4%, and the Caloundra Coast and Gold Coast which each lifted by +0.3%. However, the rises in these markets might be seasonal, and the December Quarter 2024 data will reveal if the trend is holding.
Taylor Swift and her team have changed the logo of her merchandise from "The Folklore" to simply "Folklore." (Photo: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo)

Taylor Swift's highly anticipated concerts in Vienna have been abruptly canceled following the arrest of two suspects accused of plotting a terror attack inspired by ISIS. The three scheduled shows, set to take place at the Ernst Happel Stadium, were called off to ensure the safety of all attendees, according to a statement from Barracuda Music, the concert promoter.

"We have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone's safety," Barracuda Music announced. "All tickets will be automatically refunded."

The cancellation followed the arrest of a 19-year-old Austrian citizen on Wednesday morning and a second suspect later that afternoon. Austrian authorities revealed that the suspects had allegedly radicalized themselves online, and the 19-year-old had pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State earlier in July.

Franz Ruf, director-general for public safety in Austria's Ministry of the Interior, disclosed in a press conference that Vienna was the intended target of the planned attack, with a specific focus on Swift's concerts. The threat to the concerts was identified by U.S. intelligence and shared with Austrian authorities and Europol, according to multiple law enforcement and intelligence sources.

While the suspects were inspired by ISIS, investigators do not believe the plot was directed by ISIS operatives. U.S. intelligence sources found that one of the suspects had pledged allegiance to ISIS-K on the messaging app Telegram in early July. Investigators have not confirmed whether the suspects had produced a functioning bomb but found explosive precursor chemicals, indicating a degree of motivation and planning.

Security had been increased at the concert venue prior to the cancellation, with authorities expecting around 65,000 concertgoers per day and an additional 10,000 to 15,000 fans outside the area. Despite these precautions, the decision to cancel the concerts was made to ensure public safety.

Swift kicked off her "Eras Tour" in Glendale, Arizona, on March 18, 2023, which has been met with massive success. The tour's cancellation in Vienna is a significant disruption, given its popularity and the extensive security measures already in place.

Austrian investigators are currently reviewing surveillance footage to determine if the suspects had conducted reconnaissance at the concert site or other potential targets. This investigation is part of a broader concern about mass gathering attacks, highlighted by the deadly concert hall assault in Moscow earlier this year, for which ISIS-K claimed responsibility.

In October 2023, Swift released a concert film chronicling her record-breaking tour, "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour," which also achieved significant success, earning a Golden Globe nomination. Despite the setback in Vienna, the "Eras Tour" is set to continue, with upcoming concerts scheduled in London from August 15-20 and concluding in Vancouver, Canada, on December 8.
A gas flare on an oil production platform in the Soroush oil fields is seen alongside an Iranian flag in the Gulf (Photo: Reuters / Raheb Homavandi)

Oil prices remained steady on Thursday following two days of gains, with Brent crude futures falling slightly by 8 cents to $78.25 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rising marginally by 2 cents to $75.25 a barrel. This stabilization comes after significant gains on Wednesday, where Brent increased by 2.4% and WTI by 2.8%, recovering from a sharp drop earlier in the week.

The recent rally in oil prices was supported by a substantial 3.7 million barrel drop in U.S. crude inventories, far exceeding analyst expectations of a 700,000 barrel draw, marking a sixth consecutive weekly decline to six-month lows. This data suggested stronger-than-anticipated demand and tighter physical markets, according to Panmure Liberum analyst Ashley Kelty. "However, crude markets still face headwinds from faltering demand in China and the U.S., and the potential addition of supply by the OPEC+ cartel from Q4," Kelty added.

Rising tensions in the Middle East and a force majeure declared on output at Libya's Sharara oilfield further supported prices. The killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah last week raised concerns over potential retaliatory strikes by Iran against Israel, heightening fears over oil supply disruptions from the world's largest producing region. "The market has been on edge as it awaits a response from Iran," noted ANZ Research.

Libya's National Oil Corporation declared force majeure at its Sharara oilfield on Tuesday, citing protests that led to a gradual reduction in production. Analysts at Citi highlighted the possibility of a price bounce to the low to mid-$80s for Brent, driven by still-tight balances, heightened geopolitical risks, potential weather-related disruptions, and light managed money positioning.

On Wednesday, Brent crude futures settled at $78.33 a barrel, up $1.85 or 2.42%, while WTI crude rose to $75.23, gaining $2.03 or 2.77%. This rebound followed a sharp decline on Monday, when Brent reached its lowest level since early January and WTI its lowest since February, amid a global stock market rout fueled by concerns over a potential U.S. recession following weak jobs data.

"There is a possibility of a bounce in prices to the low-to-mid-$80s again for Brent, at which point we would again recommend selling strength," Citi said. The firm also noted that geopolitical risks had not been fully priced into the market, warning that miscalculations could potentially lead to unforeseen escalation and contagion across the region.

The Middle East is bracing for potential attacks by Iran and its allies following the recent killings of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, raising concerns that the conflict in Gaza could escalate into a wider war. Additionally, Libya's National Oil Corp declared force majeure on the Sharara oilfield due to ongoing protests.

Tropical Storm Debby has also contributed to the market's volatility, bringing heavy rain to the U.S. Southeast and threatening the region with dangerous flooding. This adds another layer of uncertainty to the supply outlook, as weather-related disruptions could further tighten the market.

Oil has regained some ground after hitting a seven-month low on Monday, with traders closely watching developments in the Middle East. Israel remains on high alert for a potential Iranian attack, though recent comments from the Iranian president to his French counterpart hinted at a possible diplomatic de-escalation.

Harry Tchilinguirian, group head of research at Onyx Capital Group, commented on the situation, stating, "Right now, the macro picture is still dominant in shaping the path of risky assets like oil, with fundamentals relegated to second fiddle. On the geopolitical front, it is now a waiting game centred on when and how Iran might retaliate against Israel. What shape Iran's eventual response will take will dictate the amount of risk premium that could develop in oil prices."

U.S. crude stockpiles fell for the sixth consecutive week to their lowest since February, according to official data released on Wednesday. This has alleviated some concerns about weakening demand in the world's largest consumer, although there were increases in stockpiles at the key Cushing storage hub and in gasoline supplies.
A royal expert claims Prince Harry may have felt the consequences of leaving the royal family today. (Photo: SCUBATOO/Flickr/CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/))

A royal expert has stated that Prince Harry "misses his old life." In 2020, the Duke of Sussex, who was 39 at the time, left his position as a working royal and relocated to the United States. Thousands of miles away from his royal relatives in the United Kingdom, Harry and his wife Meghan are currently raising their children, Archie, who is five years old, and Lilibet, who is three years old, in the prestigious neighborhood of Montecito, which is located in Los Angeles.

Since then, he has only made a few excursions back to the United Kingdom, during which he has attended the funerals of Prince Philip and the late Queen, as well as paid a visit to his father, King Charles after the latter was diagnosed with cancer. Harry claims that he does not feel comfortable bringing his family to the United Kingdom because he no longer receives the security that was financed by the taxpayers after he left the Royal Family.

Due to the fact that they made the decision to depart and give up access to the royal treasuries, Prince Harry and Meghan had to discover new means to make money. They were able to accomplish this by entering into agreements with Netflix and Spotify and selling their stories. Due to the fact that Harry's inner circle was headquartered in the United Kingdom, and many of them continue to be friends with his rival sibling, Prince William, they have also had to establish a new friendship network in the United States on their own.

To add insult to injury, Prince Harry expressed his elation over the fact that he was enjoying "every single day" of his new life on "Good Morning America" in February, describing it as "amazing."

On the other hand, Tom Quinn, a specialist on royal affairs, claims that Prince Harry is not as content as he appears to be behind the scenes. Even though he and Meghan are looking forward to their upcoming tour to Columbia, he claims that the royal is frequently "bored" and "misses his old life."

"He is trained from birth to do one thing only  to be a Royal and he has thrown that away. His one hundred percent support for his wife and her business ventures has never wavered but he doesn't really have very much to do on a day-to-day basis. After he's taken the dog for a walk and maybe gone for a drive, he has nothing to do other than support Meghan, the royal author said.

Meanwhile, Tom went on to say that Prince Harry's aspirations of reuniting with King Charles and Prince William are proving increasingly fruitless, which is causing him to reevaluate his plan.

"When it comes to his relatives in the UK, he is hugely conflicted. He is upset that he's out in the cold more than ever and is beginning to think that his endless demands for apologies will have to be put on the back burner if some kind of truce is ever to be achieved. He wants a truce partly for selfish reasons  he's finally realised that he needs to continue being some kind of a Royal if the United States is to continue to be interested in him, the royal author claimed.

After receiving an invitation from Colombia's Vice President Francia Marquez, who is also the country's Minister of Equality, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have revealed their intention to visit to Bogota, the capital of Colombia.

The tour will take place in advance of the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, which is scheduled to take place in Colombia in the month of November.

"They will have the exceptional opportunity to engage with leaders, youth, and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians committed to progress. In addition to these meaningful interactions, The Duke and Duchess will experience the rich heritage of Colombia. The Archewell Foundation, founded by The Duke and Duchess, is renowned for its global leadership in fostering a safer online environment. The forthcoming conference will unveil a comprehensive framework for creating safer physical and digital spaces, tackling issues such as cyberbullying, online exploitation, and the mental health impacts of these threats. It will offer actionable solutions and commitments for countries around the world, Vice President Marquez said, as per Town & Country Magazine.

It is expected that the Sussex pair will be protected by a significant amount of security during the trip, which will be covered by a single reporter in addition to official photographers and videographers selected by the couple. The news comes after Prince Harry and Meghan, who are 42 years old, returned from a three-day tour of Nigeria earlier this year, during which they were ecstatic about the reception and publicity they received.

"Harry and Meghan will carry out a series of engagements aligned to the work of their Foundation and lifelong philanthropic endeavours. The visit is part of their ongoing commitment to global philanthropy, building on their previous work in various countries and continuing their efforts to make a positive impact worldwide, an anonymous insider told The Mirror.

Business Times has reached out to Prince Harry for comments.
Panama Dismantles Smuggling Network Amid Surge of Chinese Migrants Through Treacherous Darien Gap (Photo: FranHogan/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY-SA 4.0 )

Panamanian authorities have successfully dismantled a human trafficking ring that specialized in smuggling Chinese migrants through the treacherous Darien Gap, a perilous jungle corridor connecting Panama and Colombia. The ring, responsible for facilitating the journey of Chinese nationals across one of the most dangerous migrant routes in the world, was disrupted following the arrest of 15 individuals.

The crackdown comes amid a broader effort by Panama's newly inaugurated president, Jose Raul Mulino, to curb illegal migration. Since taking office on July 1, Mulino has implemented stringent measures to manage the influx of migrants entering the country. His administration's early efforts have already yielded results, with a significant reduction in the number of migrants crossing the border. In late July, the National Border Service reported that 11,363 migrants had crossed the border since the start of the month, nearly 9,000 fewer than the same period last year.

Jorge Gobea, the director general of the National Border Service, attributed the decline to strategic interventions, including the installation of approximately three miles of barbed wire along five trails. "We closed more than five clandestine routes which were used by organized crime to mobilize migrants from Colombia to Panama," Gobea stated. "The intention was to channel this flow, not to interrupt it, but to send them through one sole route."

The arrests involved the seizure of 11 vehicles, two dozen cell phones, a rifle, and cash. The suspects were allegedly orchestrating the movement of Chinese migrants, who have become the fourth-largest nationality to use the Darien Gap route. This path, which saw over 500,000 crossings in 2023, is notorious for its dangers, including rough terrain, wildlife, and criminal activity.

This crackdown is part of a wider regional effort to manage the rising number of Chinese migrants traveling through Latin America. Ecuador recently suspended its visa waiver agreement with China following a surge in arrivals, noting that a significant number of Chinese nationals were not exiting the country through regular routes within the 90-day period allowed under the agreement. The Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry described the trend as "worrying" and highlighted the disparity between arrivals and departures. In 2023, Ecuador recorded 48,381 arrivals of Chinese nationals but only 24,240 departures.

The United States has also intensified its efforts to manage the influx of Chinese migrants. In early July, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted its first large deportation flight of Chinese nationals since 2018. The flight, which carried 116 individuals, marked a significant step in U.S. immigration enforcement. The DHS has indicated plans for more such flights, aiming to address the increasing number of Chinese citizens attempting to enter the country unlawfully.

In 2023 alone, U.S. authorities apprehended over 37,000 Chinese nationals at the southern border, a dramatic increase from the previous year. This surge is attributed to heightened political repression in various regions of China, including Hong Kong and Xinjiang. The influx reached nearly 6,000 in December alone, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
The first task of Bangladesh's interim government, which will be sworn in on Thursday, will be to restore law and order in the country, Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus, who will head the new administration, told NDTV in an interview on Wednesday.





ALSO READ: Bangladesh: What Muhammad Yunus said The interview, which Yunus gave before his return to Bangladesh on Thursday, came amid reports of continuing unrest and violence in the country and after Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled to India in the wake of weeks of tumultuous student protests.
Mumbai-based Mayank Mehta has been investing in mutual funds (MFs) sporadically over the past 10 years. Though he often signs monthly cheques for systematic investment plans (SIPs), he is more inclined towards derivatives. Most of my MF investments have yielded good returns, but I am more drawn to derivatives trading. It gives the adrenaline rush that the slow-grinding MF investments dont, says the 30-year-old software engineer.

Mehta concedes that derivatives are not easy to crack and one can often end up on the losing side. He also takes cues from random messages on social media, but cautions
Nichi BRITE Beta glucan administration resulted in enhancement of immunity followed by reduction in biomarkers of pancreatic cancer and that of its recurrence in patients undergoing surgical resection of malignant pancreatic tumor, which was presented at the ASCO Breakthrough meeting in Yokohama, Japan. IgA and CD209, markers of immunity enhanced while CA19-9, the marker of pancreatic cancer and CD44, that of cancer recurrence and severity, significantly reduced in patients who had Nichi BRITE, compared to the control group in the study by gastro-enterology surgeons and nutritional support team of Chikamori Hospital, Kochi, Japan. Importantly, the mean survival improved after Nichi BRITE administration.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240807498226/en/

The Nichi BRITE Beta 1,3-1,6 Glucan is produced as an exo-polysaccharide by Aureobasidium Pullulans in a GMP certified facility in Japan and is water soluble. The subjects of Nichi BRITE group in the study were given 250mg Beta glucan as an active ingredient per day for 22 days as an adjuvant, while control group had a placebo instead; both groups were given standard of care treatment. The quantity consumed during the study by each patient is equivalent to four boxes of Nichi BRITE, which comes in a box of 24 sachets, 1.5-gram granule as content with 63 mg active beta glucan as ingredient per sachet. Oral administration was undertaken when possible, and when it was not possible, administration was through feeding gastrostomy or nasogastric tube. No adverse reactions were observed. The efficacy in terms of immune enhancement, cancer biomarker reduction and longer mean survival were reported with Nichi Brite as an adjuvant. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Pancreatic cancer has a very poor prognosis. Earlier data of Nichi BRITE allergen-free food supplement on safety and efficacy in improving the immune system, decreasing tumor size in animal models and improving NK cell cytotoxicity in healthy volunteers, elderly people and cancer patients formed the basis of this clinical study. In the study, Nichi BRITE beta glucans were administered from one-day prior to the surgery, until 21st post-operative day, either orally or through feeding gastrostomy. There were no adverse reactions with Nichi BRITE and the outcome was very encouraging, said Dr Akira Tsukada, Chief Hepato-biliary pancreatic surgeon.

The immune enhancement parameters increased in the Nichi BRITE consumed group compared to the control group. IgA level improved, which is the first line of defense against infections, and CD209 improved significantly, which represents monocyte derived dendritic cells that present foreign antigens for destruction by the immune system. Such immune enhancement, the researchers consider, has led to decline in CD44 cancer stem cells that cause metastases, reduction of pancreatic cancer marker CA19-9 and prolongation of lifespan evident by longer mean survival, confirming the multipronged advantages of Nichi BRITE.

While thanking Dr. Masanori Chikamori, Emeritus chairman for his initiatives, and Prof. Nobunao Ikewaki of Kyushu University of Medical Science who undertook the laboratory investigations, they recommend consideration of Nichi BRITE as a routine onco-nutrition supplement to be included in the clinical nutrition guidelines for patients undergoing surgical procedure for cancer and other conditions.

Nichi BRITE is not a drug or remedy to any illness and doesnt carry any therapeutic claims. Research findings are for the understanding of healthcare professional and not to be construed as medical advice.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240807498226/en/
Ellen O'Donoghue

The number of registered private tenancies has increased by nearly 20,000 in just over a year.

New Residential Tenancies Board figures show the proportion of landlords renting just one property is at its highest level ever.

Almost half of the national market is made up of landlords owning between one and three properties.

Brian Galway, Senior Research Officer with the RTB, told Newstalk the number of renters registered has risen dramatically recently.

It is quite interesting that we are seeing a consistent increase in the number of tenancies. Its gone up from 213,000 at the end of Q2 2023 up to just over 230,000 private tenancies at the end of Q1 2024. Its an interesting trend were seeing, and its one that we will be monitoring into the future, he said.

The data from the RTB has also shown that landlords with over 100 properties only account for 11 per cent of registered tenancies.

The figures show just over 26 percent have one tenancy.

Mr Galway also told Newstalk that things change in the capital.

So large landlords that have 100+ tenancies, they have about 11.17 per cent of the sector at a national level. In Dublin, it is slightly different. You see a large proportion of tenancies associated with large landlords, so about 22.5% of tenancies are associated with these larger landlords, and just over 23% of tenancies are associated with small landlords, he said.
High Court reporters

The operator of the 'X' social media platform has given an undertaking to the High Court to temporarily cease processing the personal data of its European users to train any of its Artificial Intelligence systems.

The undertaking, which relates to the processing of data in public posts on the platform between May 7th to August 1st, was given in proceedings taken against Twitter International Unlimited Company by the Data Protection Commission.

The action over the regulator's concerns about how the personal data of millions of X's European users is being processed to train the respondent's AI systems, including its search tool known as Grok.

The undertaking, which is to remain in place until the matter returns before the court in September, was given before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds in a hearing on Thursday.

The undertakings were given by Shelly Horan BL for Twitter, who said that the processing of the relevant data will cease tomorrow morning at 10 30am.

The court also heard that Twitter says that if granted, the "draconian" orders being sought by DPC would prevent the social media platform from carrying out the essential functions that are required for the provision of the X platform in the European Union and European Economic Area.

It is fully opposing the DPC applications for orders.

The judge welcomed the undertaking, which she said met the requirements of protecting the GDPR rights of 'X' users.

Earlier in the proceedings, the judge said she was reluctant to grant Twitter an adjournment, which it claimed it required to fully respond to the DPC's action, over concerns about when 'X' users were given the option to "opt-out" of having their personal data processed to train the AI systems.

The judge said the processing of the relevant data by Twitter commenced last May.

She noted Twitter's claim that at that point in time users were able to object to their data being processing by setting their account to private or by direct contact with the respondent.

However, it was not until mid-July that Twitter put an additional "bespoke opt-out" in place, to enhance the existing opt out mechanism.

The judge said that Twitter, which claims it is fully compliant with its GDPR obligations, had admitted in recent correspondence to the DPC that due to "a technical mistake" the bespoke function was not rolled out to all X users immediately.

The judge said that after considering this information the court required "a certain form of undertaking" before any adjournment of the DPC's application could be granted.

In its proceedings the DPC, represented by Remy Farrell SC and David Fennelly BL, instructed by Philip Lee Solicitors seek orders against Twitter including one suspending, restricting, or prohibiting the respondent from processing the personal data of X users for the purposes of developing, training, or refining any machine learning, large language or other AI systems used by Twitter.

This data, the DPC claims, would be utilised by users of Twitter's enhanced search tool being provided to Premium and Premium + users of the platform, under the name 'Grok'.

Counsel asked the court to consider its application for order, which he said was now urgent following correspondence from Twitter where it had confirmed when it had commenced processing the data in mid to early May.

It is the first time that an application for such orders, which are being sought under the 2018 Data Protection Act, has been made before the Irish courts.

In addition, and to clarify the lawfulness of Twitter International's processing of users' data, the DPC intends to refer the matter to the European Data Protection Board for consideration.

In reply, Shelly Horan Bl, instructed by A&L Goodbody solicitors for Twitter, said that her side needed time to reply to all of the DPC claims which her client will fully oppose.

The issues raised in the case were factually and legally complex, counsel said.

The nature of the orders sought were wide and far-reaching, she added, and if granted could result in Twitter being unable to provide its X account services to users in the EU/EEA, counsel said.

Counsel said that before the proceedings were launched her side had been in lengthy correspondence with the DPC over its proposals to use personal data from European X users to train its AI systems.

Counsel said her client's position is that it has always been GDPR-compliant and has offered its users the option to opt-out of having their data used to train AI from the start.

The opt-out measures were later further enhanced, counsel added.

In addition, only a small amount of users' data has been used to train the Grok AI. Less than 0.001 per cent of the public posts of European users have been used to train the AI system to date.

In its action, the DPC claims that the way Twitter International is processing data to train Grok is not in compliance with its obligations under the GDPR, the EU regulation that sets guidelines for information privacy and data protection.

The DPC is further concerned about Twitter's intention to launch the next version of Grok, which it is claimed has been trained using the personal data of EU/EEA users, sometime in August.

This, the DPC claims would compound the difficulties arising from the data processing in question.

It is also claimed that Twitter International has refused requests from the DPC to cease processing the personal data in question or to defer the launch of the next edition of 'Grok.'

As a result, the DPC says that the matter is urgent and that it need to act by way of court proceedings to protect data rights and freedoms as guaranteed under GDPR.

The judge adjourned the matter to a date in September.
Sarens completes heavy lifts at Kwinana plant

Peter Bell By 08 August 2024

The expansion of the Cockburn Cement plant in Kwinana aims to reduce CO 2 emissions by 20 per cent through the installation of cutting-edge cement production technologies. The introduction of two new 100tph ball mill grinding circuits will ensure a reliable supply of high-quality cement products to the Western Australian market. Once operational in 2024, cement production will transition from Munster to Kwinana, while lime manufacturing will remain at Munster.

SIMPEC, a subsidiary of WestStar, has been contracted by Cockburn Cement to provide structural, mechanical, piping, electrical, and instrumentation (SMPE&I) support services for the modernisation project. The scope includes new grinding circuits and a raw material storage and reclamation system designed to produce various cement products for the local market. The construction features two 100tph grinding units, a 110,000t raw material storage facility, and a recovery system, along with six new 3200t finished product silos equipped for truck loading.

Sarens played a crucial role in this project by performing heavy lifting operations for the installation of two large filtration units and two highly engineered covers for the ball mill building. These efforts are part of a broader upgrade that is expected to save approximately AUD19m (US$12.36m) in the first year by reducing energy, maintenance, and transport costs.

The crane options were limited due to the available ground bearing capacity at site. By using the LR1350 Sarens relocated the crane to install both roof sections in a single day. Maximum wind speed for these lifts was 9m/s, which meant that the team had to keep a close eye on a suitable weather window.

The LR1350-1/LN crane, with a lifting capacity of 350t, was used to lift the 35.1t filters. For the rigging, Sarens utilised an S17 Spreader beam and two specially designed lifting beams. The filtration units are vital for managing the environmental impacts of the cement process and required meticulous coordination, involving up to 29 lifting points for safe installation. Currently, 12 cranes of various sizes and configurations continue to support ongoing tasks at the plant.

The Kwinana plant modernisation will also eliminate the need for heavy vehicles on local roads by enabling the direct receipt and storage of bulk raw materials via a new raw materials feed conveyor system and a fully enclosed 110,000t storage shed from the Fremantle Port Authority's Kwinana Bulk Terminal.

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The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has announced a new dual-enrollment initiative designed to provide local high school juniors and seniors with the opportunity to earn college credits while completing their high school education. This initiative aims to enhance educational outcomes, prepare students for future academic success and offer significant financial benefits.Beginning with the start of the Universitys 2024-2025 academic year, UTC is offering two on-campus dual-enrollment coursesEnglish 1010 (Rhetoric and Composition 1) and Math 1130 (College Algebra)to eligible students who have completed their sophomore year of high school while maintaining a 3.0 GPA.These courses, which will meet at UTC from 4-5:15 p.m.on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting Aug. 20, will provide an excellent starting point for high school students to engage in college-level academics and earn transferable credits.The Tennessee Dual Enrollment Grant program covers the cost of dual-enrollment courses, making this opportunity accessible to a broader range of students.To begin the application process, prospective students should visit the UTC Dual Enrollment webpage at utc.edu/enrollment-management-and-student-affairs/admissions/dual-enrollment. For further information, email dual-enrollment@utc.edu.As an institution, we have been looking to advance opportunities in this area for some time, UTC Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jerold L. Hale said. Last years successful University High launch proved we have the resources to host dual-enrollment courses on our campus, and were incredibly excited about the opportunity to introduce more Chattanooga-area high school juniors and seniors to the UTC atmosphere.What were hoping for the students and their families is that these dual-enrollment offerings will shorten their time toward a degree once they matriculate full-time to a college or university, Hale continued. There are benefits for the university as well, as UTC really prides itself on being an integral part of the community.Officials said, "The implementation of the dual-enrollment courses at UTC brings numerous advantages. High school students gain early exposure to college-level coursework, which can significantly ease the transition from high school to college. By integrating with college students and faculty, high schoolers experience the academic rigors and expectations of higher education, fostering a smoother and more confident transition to full-time college life."UTC College of Arts and Sciences Dean Pam Riggs-Gelasco said that while many classes on UTCs campus are open to dual enrollment, these two sessions are built at a convenient time for high school students. Seats in the English 1010 and Math 1130 courses are being reserved for high school students until Friday, Aug. 16.We are committed to increasing the number of courses we offer for dual enrollment, both on Hamilton County high school campuses and UTCs campus, Dean Riggs-Gelasco said. We are offering a trial set of courses this fall semester in English and math on UTCs campus open to any high school student with the appropriate prerequisites. This is an opportunity for high school students to receive a (nearly) free college course that can help reduce costs later for the price of a college degree.Officials said, "Learning from college faculty while still in high school provides students with a unique opportunity to engage with advanced curriculum and instructional methods. This experience not only prepares students for the academic demands of college but also cultivates critical thinking, time management and self-discipline."We are strategically positioned to provide more opportunities for high school learners so that they get excited about the college experience and ultimately get excited about coming to UTC, UTC Vice Provost Shewanee Howard-Baptiste said. We have top-notch scholars, researchers and educators who want to provide more opportunities for our high school students, and we want to help our Chattanooga areas young learners get a head start on college right here at UTC."
William N. Twombly was born on October 20, 1933, and died on August 5, 2024.

Bill was born to Eli and Ethel in Trenton, Florida the second of four children. He graduated from Trenton High School, and attended Pacific Union College and Southern Adventist University. He lived in Angwin ,Ca., Tacoma Park, Md., and Collegedale.

He was drafted into the Army during the Korean War and volunteered for Operation Whitecoat, a medical research program at Fort Detrick. The goal was to develop and test the effectiveness of vaccines and treatments for viruses and bacteria anticipated in biological attack. The R&D resulted in treatments for yellow fever, hepatitis, Q fever and others. Later in life he developed Interstitial Lung Disease which the VA determined was a direct result of his participation in the Whitecoats. The Whitecoats offered him the opportunity to serve in a way that was consistent with his deeply held convictions and his status as a conscientious objector.

He was active in his church having worked four years at the General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist and 28 years at Southern Adventist University. He helped establish three churches, served as a deacon, elder, and youth leader.

He was a member of the Ooltewah-Collegedale Kiwanis Club for 14 years serving as president for one term. He was proud to serve three different times as commander of the Desmond T. Doss American Legion Post 257 and as a member for 21 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Clarence, sister, Helen, son, David, and son-in-law, Layton Wilson and is survived by his wife, Sandra, brother, Kenneth, daughter, Kari Wilson, son, Kenneth, stepson, Raymond (Kimmi) Peet, eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 12, in the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home with Pastor Jerry Arnold and Pastor David Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Chattanooga National Cemetery with military rites being conducted.

The family will receive friends from 24 p.m. and 68 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11, at the funeral home.

Please share your thoughts and memories online at www. ChattanoogaValleyViewChapel. com

Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Valley View Chapel, 7414 Old Lee Highway, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.
A South Pittsburg woman has been sentenced to serve 51 months in federal prison for her involvement in a scheme to defraud COVID-19 unemployment programs in several states.

Evelyn Blevins, 48, appeared before Judge Curtis Collier.

Following her incarceration, she will be on five years of supervised release.

As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Ms. Blevins pled guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

She was ordered to pay $109,683 in restitution to the Tennessee and California Departments of Labor, and to forfeit to the United States $109,683 as part of a money judgment.

According to court documents, from June 2020 through August 2021, Ms. Blevins conspired with others to devise a scheme in which she defrauded the United States government and the governments of Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and California to obtain money from the states COVID relief programs in the form of unemployment insurance proceeds funded by the United States government.

Specifically, she acquired personal information from others and used it to fraudulently make mass online applications for money earmarked by the states to provide unemployment insurance relief for those affected by the national pandemic.

She falsely claimed in the applications that the individuals whose personal information was reflected on the applications worked in those states. The states then mailed debit cards to addresses in the Eastern District of Tennessee, and Blevins would receive a percentage of the payout of the fraudulent claim. T

he defendant was personally responsible for the fraudulent distribution of nearly $110,000 of unemployment protection insurance funds.

The scheme itself involved the fraudulent distribution of over $550,000 in unemployment protection insurance funds.

The defendant selfishly sought to take advantage of federal and state efforts to provide relief to those most harmed by the COVID pandemic, said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton, III. We remain committed to partnering with all law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute those who steal from federal relief plan programs, depriving others who are most in need.

The defendants actions cheated a program designed to assist people who were suffering as a result of the COVID pandemic, said FBI Special Agent in Charge, Joseph E. Carrico. Todays sentencing exemplifies the continued commitment of the FBI and our federal and state law enforcement partners to hold those who engage in COVID relief fraud accountable for their actions.

Assistant United States Attorney Steve Neff represented the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the FBI as part of the Smoky Mountains Financial Crimes Task Force.
Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report.

(If your case is dismissed, just email us your name and date we ran it and we will promptly take off. Email to news@chattanoogan.com)

ARNOLD, JOSEPH LEGRANDE

4300 KAYLA CIR CHATTANOOGA, 374061271

Age at Arrest: 62 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

PUBLIC INTOXICATION



BARERRA, RIGOBERTO

423 E 16TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37408

Age at Arrest: 39 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY



BRODEUR, AYIANNA ALEXUS

1420 NEW BRIDGE CIRCLE BUFORD, 30519

Age at Arrest: 21 years old

Arresting Agency: East Ridge

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

VANDALISM

THEFT



BROESCHE, DARLA DENISE

350 BELLFOUNTE RD NE CLEVELAND, 37312

Age at Arrest: 56 years old

Arresting Agency: Tenn Hwy Patrol

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

SPEEDING

DRIVING ON ROADWAYS LANED FOR TRAFFIC, VIOLATION

REGISTRATION, EXPIRED



BROOKS, KAYLA LYNN

469 CLIFT ROAD, LOT 12 SODDY DAISY,

Age at Arrest: 26 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT



CHANDLER, RYLAN C

1304 SCOUT RD HIXSON, 37343

Age at Arrest: 23 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE)



CONWAY, LANCE CHRISTOPHER

26198 CHAMPANGNE CIRCLE HEMET, 92544

Age at Arrest: 26 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

DOMESTIC ASSAULT

AGGRAVATED BURGLARY

PUBLIC INTOXICATION

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF



DANFORTE-THOMPSON, DALVIN DEVANTE

1092 NORTH HAWTHORN ST CHATTANOOGA, 374063516

Age at Arrest: 31 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

VIOLATION OF PROBATION DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE



DUCKETT, KENAN ISAIAH

3410 MYRA AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37412

Age at Arrest: 22 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

CONTEMPT OF COURT



EASTING, CHRISTOPHER D

3519 5TH AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37406

Age at Arrest: 26 years old

Arresting Agency: Chatt Housing Auth

POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE



FRIZZELL, MARTY CHAD

9885 SMITH STREET SODDY DAISY, 37379

Age at Arrest: 35 years old

Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE



GOODWIN, DEREK LEWON

1110 GADD RD APT 315 HIXSON, 37343

Age at Arrest: 35 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE



GRAHAM, KENTREL WINDELL

3925 MELINDA DR CHATTANOOGA, 374162919

Age at Arrest: 18 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

THEFT OF PROPERTY

TINTED WINDOWS VIOLATION



GRAY, MALIK KEEVON

HOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37406

Age at Arrest: 24 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

FAILURE TO APPEAR



HAYCOX, MATTHEW JASON

HOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest: 53 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



HILL, JIMMY LEBRON

2000 E 23RD ST CHATTANOOGA, 374045806

Age at Arrest: 34 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

VIOLATION OF PROBATION VANDALISM

VIOLATION OF PROBATION POSS CONT SUB



HOLT, ALICIA FAYE

571 WALKER ROAD DAYTON, 37321

Age at Arrest: 40 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

FAILURE TO APPEAR



HUBBARD, LATASHA DENISE

1222 WHEELER AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37406

Age at Arrest: 45 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

ASSAULT



HUGHES, GEORGE BERNARD

4723 MIDLAND PIKE Chattanooga, 374112420

Age at Arrest: 52 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

THEFT OF PROPERTY



JERALDS, CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS

2231 LEE PIKE SODDY DAISY, 37379

Age at Arrest: 51 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

STOP SIGN VIOLATION



LOVE, STEVE BENTON

1310 SCOUT ROAD HIXSON, 37343

Age at Arrest: 61 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT



MARROQUIN CHAVEZ, JOSE

905 S WILLOW STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37404

Age at Arrest: 39 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

DOMESTIC ASSAULT



MCDANIEL, KAYLA MECHEILL

5512 HONEYSUCKLE DR HOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 374114002

Age at Arrest: 29 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF



METSCH, ROBERT EUGENE

7718 HARPER ROAD HIXSON, 37343

Age at Arrest: 56 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



MYERS, PATRICK ELLIOTT

235 PEACE STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37415

Age at Arrest: 40 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



ORTENZI, CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY

1208 GADD ROAD APT.

A CHATTANOOGA, 37343Age at Arrest: 41 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDOMESTIC ASSAULTDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEEVADING ARRESTVIOLATION OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICESPEEDING (73/40)PARIS, RODNEY ERIC4008 HOOKER RD Chattanooga, 374101618Age at Arrest: 34 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)PITTMAN, ISAIAH JACOBY7543 LEEMONT DRIVE CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 23 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDTHEFT OF PROPERTYVANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEFTHEFT OF PROPERTYTHEFT OF PROPERTYBURGLARYTHEFT OF PROPERTYVANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEFPOLLARD, DANIELLEHOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37402Age at Arrest: 35 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeDISORDERLY CONDUCTPRICE, BRETT ALLEN3647 THRUSHWOOD DR CHATTANOOGA, 37415Age at Arrest: 35 years oldArresting Agency: CollegedaleBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)REED, CHARLES EDWARDHOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 374111363Age at Arrest: 50 years oldArresting Agency:Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)RICKS, TIMOTHY TYREEHOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 39 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDPUBLIC INTOXICATIONRIDLEY, LACY KAY104 MAPLE DR ROSSVILLE, 307418430Age at Arrest: 38 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffVIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMFAILURE TO APPEARSANBORN, CRAIG ALAN895 DRYVALLEY RD ROSSVILLE, 30741Age at Arrest: 35 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffVIOLATION OF PROBATION EVADING ARRESTSHROPSHIRE, BRADLEY COLTON411 DEE LANE HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 22 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffEVADING ARRESTRECKLESS ENDANGERMENTPASSING OR OVERTAKING ON THE RIGHTSPEEDINGREGISTRATION, IMPROPER DISPLAY OF PLATESSIMS, JAMARION L7639 BONNIE DR CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest: 21 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffCHILD NON-SUPPORTSTAGGS, EDDIE DEAN6931 RAMSEYTOWN RD HARRISON, 37341Age at Arrest: 54 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYSWAFFORD, CRYSTAL LASHELL1926 SPRADLING ROAD SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest: 55 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIATAYLOR, YALEIGH CHENELL2105 MILEE CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffTHEFT OF PROPERTYTHOMAS, LAURA ELIZABETH215 EAST BRIDGE ST WHITWAL, 37380Age at Arrest: 39 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSETROXELL, RICHARD THOMAS3606 COTTONPORT RD DAYTON, 37321Age at Arrest: 40 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSETYSON, CARVELL MILEK7120 DALEFIELD LANE CHATTANOOGA, 374211421Age at Arrest: 21 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffVIOLATION OF PROBATION THEFT OF PROPERTYVIOLATION OF PROBATION FAILURE TO APPEARWALLER, JONATHAN DEVINHOMELESS NASHVILLE, 372034171Age at Arrest: 31 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)WARDELL, JEFFERY WAYNE727 EAST 11TH STRET CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 56 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffVIOLATION OF PROBATION (BURGLARYWATKINS, ANTONIO DEWAYNE3212 DODSON AVE CHATTANOOGA, 374061838Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: Federal MarshallBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

Here are the mug shots:

ARNOLD, JOSEPH LEGRANDE

Age at Arrest: 62

Date of Birth: 09/21/1961

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

PUBLIC INTOXICATION BARERRA, RIGOBERTO

Age at Arrest: 39

Date of Birth: 04/12/1985

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BRODEUR, AYIANNA ALEXUS

Age at Arrest: 21

Date of Birth: 03/09/2003

Arresting Agency: East Ridge



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

VANDALISM

THEFT BROOKS, KAYLA LYNN

Age at Arrest: 26

Date of Birth: 06/08/1998

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT CHANDLER, RYLAN C

Age at Arrest: 23

Date of Birth: 04/30/2001

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE) DANFORTE-THOMPSON, DALVIN DEVANTE

Age at Arrest: 31

Date of Birth: 01/18/1993

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF PROBATION DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE DUCKETT, KENAN ISAIAH

Age at Arrest: 22

Date of Birth: 08/23/2001

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

CONTEMPT OF COURT EASTING, CHRISTOPHER D

Age at Arrest: 26

Date of Birth: 01/30/1998

Arresting Agency: Chatt Housing Auth



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE EBERHARDT, MARLON JASHAWN

Age at Arrest: 23

Date of Birth: 04/10/2001

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

REQUEST FOR OUT OF STATE WITNESS FRIZZELL, MARTY CHAD

Age at Arrest: 35

Date of Birth: 09/27/1988

Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

GOODWIN, DEREK LEWON

Age at Arrest: 35

Date of Birth: 11/24/1988

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE GRAHAM, KENTREL WINDELL

Age at Arrest: 18

Date of Birth: 06/02/2006

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY

TINTED WINDOWS VIOLATION GRAY, MALIK KEEVON

Age at Arrest: 24

Date of Birth: 08/03/2000

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

FAILURE TO APPEAR HILL, JIMMY LEBRON

Age at Arrest: 34

Date of Birth: 02/21/1990

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF PROBATION VANDALISM

VIOLATION OF PROBATION POSS CONT SUB HOLT, ALICIA FAYE

Age at Arrest: 40

Date of Birth: 05/11/1984

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

FAILURE TO APPEAR HUBBARD, LATASHA DENISE

Age at Arrest: 45

Date of Birth: 07/17/1979

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

ASSAULT HUGHES, GEORGE BERNARD

Age at Arrest: 52

Date of Birth: 12/27/1970

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY JERALDS, CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS

Age at Arrest: 51

Date of Birth: 12/08/1971

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

STOP SIGN VIOLATION LOVE, STEVE BENTON

Age at Arrest: 61

Date of Birth: 02/02/1963

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

MCDANIEL, KAYLA MECHEILL

Age at Arrest: 29

Date of Birth: 08/09/1994

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF METSCH, ROBERT EUGENE

Age at Arrest: 56

Date of Birth: 09/25/1967

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

MYERS, PATRICK ELLIOTT

Age at Arrest: 40

Date of Birth: 04/26/1984

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

ORTENZI, CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY

Age at Arrest: 41

Date of Birth: 08/25/1982

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

EVADING ARREST

VIOLATION OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE

SPEEDING (73/40) PITTMAN, ISAIAH JACOBY

Age at Arrest: 23

Date of Birth: 11/24/2000

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF

THEFT OF PROPERTY

THEFT OF PROPERTY

BURGLARY

THEFT OF PROPERTY

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF POLLARD, DANIELLE

Age at Arrest: 35

Date of Birth: 12/26/1988

Arresting Agency: East Ridge



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

DISORDERLY CONDUCT REED, CHARLES EDWARD

Age at Arrest: 50

Date of Birth: 11/08/1972

Arresting Agency:



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

RICKS, TIMOTHY TYREE

Age at Arrest: 39

Date of Birth: 12/15/1984

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

PUBLIC INTOXICATION RIDLEY, LACY KAY

Age at Arrest: 38

Date of Birth: 12/03/1985

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAM

FAILURE TO APPEAR SANBORN, CRAIG ALAN

Age at Arrest: 35

Date of Birth: 11/26/1988

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF PROBATION EVADING ARREST

SHROPSHIRE, BRADLEY COLTON

Age at Arrest: 22

Date of Birth: 05/21/2002

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

EVADING ARREST

RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

PASSING OR OVERTAKING ON THE RIGHT

SPEEDING

REGISTRATION, IMPROPER DISPLAY OF PLATES SIMS, JAMARION L

Age at Arrest: 21

Date of Birth: 07/25/2003

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

CHILD NON-SUPPORT STAGGS, EDDIE DEAN

Age at Arrest: 54

Date of Birth: 10/27/1969

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY SWAFFORD, CRYSTAL LASHELL

Age at Arrest: 55

Date of Birth: 02/22/1969

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA TAYLOR, YALEIGH CHENELL

Age at Arrest: 19

Date of Birth: 11/03/2004

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY THOMAS, LAURA ELIZABETH

Age at Arrest: 39

Date of Birth: 07/17/1985

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE TROXELL, RICHARD THOMAS

Age at Arrest: 40

Date of Birth: 02/16/1984

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE TYSON, CARVELL MILEK

Age at Arrest: 21

Date of Birth: 01/25/2003

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF PROBATION THEFT OF PROPERTY

VIOLATION OF PROBATION FAILURE TO APPEAR WALLER, JONATHAN DEVIN

Age at Arrest: 31

Date of Birth: 04/14/1993

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

WARDELL, JEFFERY WAYNE

Age at Arrest: 56

Date of Birth: 11/19/1967

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (BURGLARY WATKINS, ANTONIO DEWAYNE

Age at Arrest: 30

Date of Birth: 10/23/1993

Arresting Agency: Federal Marshall



Last Date of Arrest: 08/07/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)






Bible in the Schools, a longstanding Chattanooga organization committed to advancing Bible education for students in Hamilton County public schools, announced today the delivery of a significant community contribution of $2,327,921 to Hamilton County Schools."This generous donation serves to reimburse the entire cost of the countywide elective Bible program in Hamilton County," officials said. "The community gift presentation took place on July 30, and marked the 102nd year of the organization's unwavering dedication to providing public school students with optional access to a Bible education."Mrs.Cathy Scott, president of Bible in the Schools, together with Mr. Rob Huffaker, chairman of the board of Bible in the Schools, presented this gift on behalf of the organization. The check was received by Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson during a special ceremony held at the Hamilton County Schools Central Office.Mrs. Scott, who is in her ninth year as president of Bible in the Schools said, It is an honor to give this gift from the community through Bible in the Schools, an organization that has stood true to its mission for 102 years. Thank you to all who have donated to this Bible program that enriches the education of modern day students and provides them with ancient wisdom, knowledge and insights that encourage responsible citizenship.The elective Bible program, made possible through the collaboration between Bible in the Schools and Hamilton County Schools, offers students an opportunity to engage with the Bible's teachings in an academic setting. The program emphasizes critical thinking skills and encourages students to explore the historical, literary and cultural aspects of the Bible, fostering a deeper understanding of its influence on society.Expressing gratitude to the school districts oldest community partner, Dr. Robertson stated, "We are sincerely grateful to Bible in the Schools for their continuing support of Hamilton County Schools and our students. The Bible in the Schools program enhances our curriculum by providing students with an optional course that includes unique educational experiences, encourages intellectual growth and promotes cultural understanding. This generous contribution will allow us to further invest in opportunity by design for our students as part of our work to see all children thrive and experience a future without limits.Officials said, "The $2.3 million gift from Bible in the Schools serves as a testament to the organization's ongoing dedication to investing in the educational experience of students in Hamilton County. The funds will support the continued success and expansion of the elective Bible program, ensuring that future generations have the opportunity to engage with biblical teachings in an academic and intellectually stimulating environment. With the planned addition of a Bible elective at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences this fall, 33 public middle and high schools in Hamilton County will offer elective Bible courses for the 2024-2025 academic year."About Bible in the Schools:Established in 1922, Bible in the Schools is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting biblical literacy among public school students in Hamilton County. Bible classes follow guidelines established by a 1980 federal court ruling, which affirmed that the teaching of for-credit elective Bible classes in Hamilton County's public middle and high schools is constitutionally permissible. All Bible courses align with the Tennessee Department of Education's state academic standards. The Hamilton County-based program also leads the nation with the largest concentration of public school students in any one school district electively studying the Bible at school. Through dedicated community generosity, Bible in the Schools fully funds Bible education in 15 Hamilton County ZIP codes. Approximately 5,300 students in grades sixth-12th completed a Bible course during the 2023-2024 academic year.Bible in the Schools introduces its new website, offering more information at bibleintheschools.com.
In May of 2023, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation alerted TennGreen Land Conservancy that a 60-acre swath of land nestled in the forests of Hamblen County known as Union Grove was for sale in East Tennesseeand that the land contains some of the only populations of a Tennessee-native Trillium wildflower.Union Groves owner first alerted University of Tennessee botanists and researchers to an unusual Trillium in hopes of safeguarding both the wildflowers and the forests containing them.The botanists realized the trillium was nothing they or other botanists had encountered and described it as new to science in 2013. To date, the Tennessee Trillium (Trillium tennesseense) has only been found in the Bays Mountain formation areas in Hamblen and Hawkins Counties.Officials said, "Until this successful collaboration, Trillium tennesseense existed only in private, unprotected areasthe project landowners property among them. As the landowner was moving out of Tennessee, they wished to sell their property to an organization that would value the property and seek to protect its incredible habitat. TennGreen Land Conservancy stepped in to quickly acquire the property."TennGreen then transferred the property to TDEC in June of 2024. Now under TDECs ownership and management, the 60 acres and its population of Tennessee Trillium will be protected for generations of Tennesseans."This acquisition establishes the first protected population of this state endangered Trillium tennesseense, which only lives in woody hillsides above healthy creeks. The Union Grove area provides such woodland hillsides with full, appropriate drainage, allowing the species to thrive in a niche ecosystem. This herbaceous, long-lived, woodland perennial wildflower is impacted by a variety of threats, including loss of habitat due to development, rooting by feral hogs, and invasive species."Flowers of this trillium bloom from early to late spring. Three distinct, bright yellow pedals project upwards as mirroring broad leaves take in sunlight on the forest floor. There is no developed access to this site, but watch for guided hikes led by TDECs ecologists to see this amazing flower in bloom next spring."All of East Tennessees 16 species of Trillium are impacted by these threats. Ongoing land protection efforts by TennGreen Land Conservancy, TDEC, and other partners in the region are critical to their survival."For more information on protecting land and native species across Tennessee, visit tenngreen.org or call 615-329-4441.
Dr. Reginald Franklin "Reggie" Gunnells, age 87, of Chattanooga, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.

Born March 30, 1937, in Elbert County, Georgia, he was the son of the late Roy Frank and Elsie Haynes Gunnells.

Most of his life was devoted to education. The valedictorian of his 1955 graduating class at Bowman High School, Bowman, Ga., he earned his B.A. degree at Carson Newman College, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1959. He later received his master's degree from Memphis State University, and his doctorate from the University of Mississippi at Oxford, where he was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and was the first student at Ole Miss to be granted a Doctor of Arts degree in English.

He taught at North Clayton High School near Atlanta before entering the U.S. Army. He served three years in Army Intelligence and Security, attaining the rank of SP-5. Following his honorable discharge, he worked three years as Head of Receiving Control at the Army Defense Depot in Memphis while he earned his master's degree.

Dr. Gunnells' 35 years of teaching included positions at several colleges and universities, both public and private. His longest tenure, 18 years, was at Tennessee Temple University where he served as chairman of the English department for 14 years, was promoted to professor, and was later named head of the Division of Communications, including English, Modern Languages, Broadcasting and Interdisciplinary Studies. He taught his final eight years at Lee University in Cleveland. He had been a member of a number of professional organizations, including the Tennessee College English Association and the Tennessee Philological Association.

A member of the John Sevier Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, Dr. Gunnells had served as vice-president and as registrar. He was likewise a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and a former member of the Brainerd Kiwanis Club.

An active member of Ridgedale Baptist Church, he had been one of the team teachers of the Genesis Sunday School Class. He had also been a volunteer for the past few years at HaCoBACare Ministries in St. Elmo, a benevolent ministry of the Hamilton County Baptist Association, where he served as a correspondence secretary, acknowledging all gifts and deeds of kindness to the mission.

In addition to his parents, Dr. Gunnells was preceded in death by a sister, Williette Gunnells Hulme, and brothers Roy Eldon Gunnells and Jarrell D. Gunnells.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 61 years, Mary Louise Gross Gunnells; two daughters, Laura (Kerry) Miller, of Soddy Daisy, Tennessee, and Sandra (Chip) Park, of Hixson, Tennessee; grandsons, Andrew Miller, Damon (Emily) Miller, Chad Miller, William Park, and David (Kasia) Park; sister, Evelyn (Bob) Lockhart of Auburn, Alabama; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Visitation will be Sunday, August 11, 2024, from 3-5 p.m. at the East Brainerd Chapel and Monday, August 12, 2024, from 11 a.m.12:00 p.m. at Ridgedale Baptist Church with funeral services to begin at 12:00 p.m. at the church with Dr. Jim Price officiating. Burial will follow at Chattanooga National Cemetery with the grandsons and a son-in-law serving as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Genesis Sunday School Class.

Memorial contributions may be made to HaCoBACare Ministries, 4501 Virginia Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37409; Tennessee Baptist Children's Homes, Inc., P.O. Box 2206, Brentwood, TN 37024-2206; or Good News for India, P.O. Box 7576 La Verne, CA 91750-7576.

Arrangements are by the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 8214 East Brainerd Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37421.
Chattanooga is on a preferred passenger rail route under a new study by the Federal Railroad Administration linking New York and Houston.

The line would come down through Washington, D.C., Lynchburg, Va., Roanoke, Va., Johnson City and Knoxville.

It would also go through Mobile and New Orleans.

The line extends 1,841 miles and would serve more than five million people, the study says.

There would be 42 stations along the way with five in small communities.

The train would depart Houston in early evening and arrive in New York early the next afternoon.

An existing station would be used in Atlanta, but new stations would be needed in Chattanooga, Knoxville and Johnson City, the study says.

It is projected the line would cost $5 billion and take 15 years to complete.
An Ooltewah Middle School student was taken into custody on Thursday after he allegedly made a threat regarding an explosive.

At approximately 11:30 a.m., the School Resource deputy was contacted by a staff member regarding a threat made by a student.

The deputy responded to the classroom, spoke with the teacher, and was advised a student indicated they had some type of explosive in their backpack that would blow up the school. The deputy obtained statements from staff and other witnesses who heard the threat and took the student into custody.

The backpack was checked at the school by the School Resource Deputy and was found to not contain any explosive device. The student was taken to the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center and charged with threat of mass violence (TCA 39-16-517).
Researchers have been studying the industrial production of ammonia for a century. But theyve struggled to find ways to improve the low-yield, low-efficiency process.

Atmospheric nitrogen, with the aid of an iron catalyst, reacts with hydrogen to produce ammonia. That reaction produces lots of ammonia  worldwide production is 160 million tons every year. Most is used in agriculture, especially as nitrogen fertilizer. Its also used in many industries, including refrigeration for food and beverage production. We all know it as a household cleaner.

A research team led by Qi An, an associate professor of materials science and engineering at Iowa State University, has developed artificial intelligence technology that could find ways to improve researchers understanding of the chemical reactions involved in ammonia production and other complex chemical reactions.

Our developed HDRL-FP framework has the potential to contribute significantly to the optimization of this process, potentially reducing production costs and CO emission, and facilitating the establishment of smaller and more widespread plants, the researchers wrote in a paper recently published online by the journal Nature Communications. Therefore, the framework highlights its effectiveness and potential for predicting complex chemical reaction pathways.

HDRL-FP is High-Throughput Deep Reinforcement Learning with First Principles. An and his collaborators and co-authors  Tian Lan and Huan Wang of Salesforce AI Research in California  say the technology is full of potential.

Exploring catalytic reaction mechanisms is crucial for understanding chemical processes, optimizing reaction conditions, and developing more effective catalysts, they wrote.

Of rewards and atoms An said there are two keys to the researchers software technology: a type of machine learning called reinforcement learning and connecting the simulation process with the positions of the atoms involved.

An said reinforcement learning is like training a dog by using rewards to encourage actions. In reinforcement learning, computers learn from their actions while seeking appropriate rewards. In this case, the rewards are all about finding the best, most-efficient, lowest-cost reaction path.

The method, when used with graphics processing units and high-throughput strategies, can quickly and automatically identify the optimal reaction pathway from thousands of potential pathways, An said. That effectively identifies viable reaction mechanisms amidst the extremely noisy data in real chemical reactions.

The researchers also built the technology to be useful for general studies of catalytic reactions. Studies start with the positions of atoms mapped on an energy landscape. Thats enough  researchers dont have to start with a more specific representation of the reaction environment, including the states, actions or rewards for a particular reaction.

An and his collaborators have worked on the project for about two years. It started when An moved to Iowa State and has been supported by his university startup funds.

He said the systems calculations for the reaction producing ammonia is considered a proof-of-concept demonstration.

This allows us to figure out the reaction mechanism, An said. Were able to see important reaction steps in ammonia synthesis.
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) With famine confirmed in the Zamzam displacement camp in Sudans North Darfur, there are growing concerns that similar crises may be unfolding in other nearby camps, an official with the UN emergency food relief agency (WFP) said on Wednesday, in an interview with UN News
Can leeches really jump? We hate to tell you this, but yes, they can. The parasites have been caught on video, leaping from leaf to leaf in the rainforest of Madagascar, Africa.

Leeches are already creepy enough. They lurk in warm, slow-moving waters and drink blood. Now, they can jump? Its the stuff of nightmares.

The discovery was made in 2017. A researcher named Mai Fahmy at the American Museum of Natural History and Fordham University in New York captured footage of a jumping land-dwelling leech while she was in Madagascars Ranomafana National Park. Fahmy had been collecting leeches for bloodmeal analysis at the time when she spotted the leech.

The leech had been stretching out its body in search of a host to latch on to, which is a behavior known as questing. In the video, the leech can be seen inching forward on a leaf. When it reached the edge of the leaf, its body coiled back, resembling the way a cobra prepares to strike at prey.

Then, it sprang off the leaf and landed on the forest floor. The process seemed to help the leech build up energy. The video provided evidence that terrestrial parasites, including the species Chtonobdella fallax, jump to look for blood to feed on.

A second clip shows two leeches side by side on a leaf. One of them plopped down to the ground. The creatures in the videos were a type of Chtonobdella leech.

Jumping behavior in leeches was even documented by the 14th-century explorer Ibn Battuta in Sri Lanka. In the 1880s, a biologist named Ernst Haeckel claimed that leeches jump to reach their victims. However, by the mid-20th century, scientists were skeptical of the idea of jumping leeches.

For hundreds of years, there were anecdotes from really extremely well-trained observers about jumping leeches, Michael Tessler, an invertebrate zoologist at the American Museum of Natural History and Medger Evers College in New York, said.

It wasnt until people started more seriously studying leeches, kind of in the 1800s, early 1900s, that almost every leech biologist who spent time with these things said, no way they cant jump.'

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What started out as a relatively uneventful day ended up turning into a night of tragedy and horror.

On November 28, 1942, the Cocoanut Grove Nightclub in Boston burst into flames. The fire got out of control and became the deadliest disaster in the history of the city. It is the second most catastrophic building fire in American history.

A total of 490 people died in the Cocoanut Grove Fire, including 237 male patrons, 227 female patrons, 17 employees, six entertainers, two rescue workers who happened to be on the scene that night, and a sales girl for war bonds.

More than 1,000 people were hospitalized for their injuries. At the time, it was the worst loss of life the United States had experienced since the attack of Pearl Harbor about a year earlier.

The Cocoanut Grove Nightclub was built in 1927. It was a popular spot located in the downtown area of Boston. Just 15 years later, a fire destroyed the building.

The flames were first spotted in the clubs basement at 10:15 PM. An artificial palm tree and a fake cloth ceiling in one of the lounges were ablaze.

According to witnesses, a 16-year-old boy had just changed a lightbulb and lit a match to see the socket, so that couldve been the source of the fire. But in the end, the boy was exonerated. To this day, its unclear as to what caused the fire.

Two known survivors of the Cocoanut Grove Fire were still alive as of 2022. At the time of the fire, Joyce Spector and Bob Shumway were both 18 years old.

Spector was at the club with her fiance, Justin Morgan. He was killed in the blaze. She emerged from the fire with second-degree burns on her body and blisters on her face.

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Illustration by Elizabeth Kaye / Source Images: Pexels

By now, youve seen the statistics. In the United States, churches are shrinking. Christian belief is waning. Nones comprise a greater share of the population than Protestants or Catholics. And the trendlines dont look good.

By now, youve also seen the explanationsmany of them published in the pages of Christianity Today. Leadership crises, denominational tussles, and sexual-abuse scandals have depleted the trust congregants have in their pastors. Congregations have split over political candidates and masks and vaccines and critical race theory and LGBTQ inclusion and women in leadership.

These explanations are right. But to me at least, they increasingly feel like a set of abstractions. Theyve been repeated so many times over the past several years as to have lost their meaningso rote, by now, as to obscure particularities.

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In her new book Circle of Hope: A Reckoning with Love, Power, and Justice in an American Church, Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist Eliza Griswold offers no such obfuscation. Through painstaking observation of one church over many yearsCircle of Hope, a progressive evangelical community with cells across New Jersey and Pennsylvaniashe reveals how the histories, gifts, and besetting sins of particular Christians in specific circumstances react to monolithic cultural pressures. Through her reportingrigorous, expertly paced, never polemicalshe also reveals whats at stake.

Utter estrangement

Circle of Hope was founded in 1996 by former Jesus Freaks Rod and Gwen White. From the very beginning, the Anabaptist congregation ran counter to the predominant political and cultural conservatism of the Religious Right. Rod wore jeans and used a music stand as a lectern; congregants interrupted and asked him questions. An alternative music scene thrummed. In the years to come, the pacifist Christians at Circle would protest drone strikes and illegal gun sales; the church made reparations to its Black members, raised money for a bail fund, and lobbied for affordable housing.

These activities notwithstanding, Circle wasnt meant to be a political project. Rod considered himself an activist, as Griswold reports, but he also taught the risks of not keeping Jesus at the center of ones life. Circle read Scripture together, marked Easter with a sunrise service and cross-marked cookies, and baptized people in the filthy Delaware River. Battling the forces of evil didnt mean simply backing progressive political causes, writes Griswold. Jesus was calling for a far more radical transformation of societynot just new policies but new creation.

But whats the difference between a stance and a Spirit-led truth? Where can the church agree to disagree, and where must it dig in its heels? Whats wokeand whats the gospel?

Over time, disagreement on the answers to these questions caused Circle of Hope to shut down. (No spoilers there; Griswold makes clear from the introduction where the 2020s are headed.) She documents the dissolution through the stories of four pastors: Ben, Julie, Rachel, and Jonny, as well as Bethany, a prominent Black member of the congregation.

The five of them disagree about plenty. In particular, they fight over race and racism, power and authority. Eventually, factions form. Members start leaving. Members stop giving. The church leaves its denomination over the decision to become LGBTQ affirming. The pastors disentangle themselves. Both sides cast the other as the reason people were fleeing from Circle, writes Griswold. Jonny explained the emptying out as a result of the legacy of whiteness and abuse. Those aligned with the founding family, the Whites, saw people fed up with fighting, and with Jonny.

In the hands of a lesser writer, the breakups bureaucracystatements, Zooms, masked meetings, emails, a consultantwould be tedious. But Griswold sustains a lively narrative. This is a story not of hijacked agendas and out-of-line reply-alls but of utter estrangement. Its riveting, and its painful.

Its also actually inclusive. In Circle of Hope, Griswold manages to enact what her observed church could not, allowing different points of view to coexist in its pages. She brings equal parts scrutiny and grace to her flawed characters, offering their backstories not as an excuse for their often troublesome behavior but as context for understanding them as whole people. Ben, one of the White sons, yells at his colleagues in meetings. Hes also a hospital chaplain, a father taking his sons to look at the stars. Jonny sends bitter tweets and draws hard lines. Hes also a skilled chef, the child of evangelicals who fled persecution in Egypt.

But all the context in the world isnt enough for the pastors and their congregants to find common ground. Whats wrong with church, it seems, is whats wrong with the rest of American life: Were angry. Were stressed out. Were lonely. Our polarization mirrors the divides elsewhere, across politics and geography and socioeconomic class. Were no better, it seems. If this is how Christian brothers and sisters treat each otherwith skepticism and rage and sneeringwell, then  whats the loss when a church closes down?

The work persists

Of course, theres the loss of communal worship, which at Circle is admittedly hard to pin down. In the years since its founding, in ways obvious and subtle, it seems to have strayed from historic orthodoxy. Its often hard to tell where creative ends and woo-woo begins. Griswold doesnt try to make the distinction, merely describing the scriptural exegesis, Creative Play, and meditation practices she observes.

Ultimately, those splintering questions listed above boil down to spiritual ones. Is Jonnys conviction just crass opportunism? Is Julie an ally out of cowardice or conviction? Is Ben really trying his best? Does love your neighbor mean calling them out, flipping the temple tables? Though Griswold can observe the fruit of the Spiritwhos humble, whos kindits impossible for even the sharpest journalist to know the depths of a human heart. She cant assess the sincerity of a prayer or the closeness of an individuals relationship with Christ.

Easier to document is the loss of hands and feet, the absence of the body of Christ working together to make the kingdom come. Even where the Circles theology or polity is flawed, this loss is evident.

For years, members watched each others children and paid down each others debt. They ran community thrift stores and donated the proceeds. They served spaghetti to people on the street, inviting them into the warmth.

There was an absolute kindness in this community, a living example of being in the world but not of it. The depth of their devotion was inspiring, writes Griswold. And then the world banged its fist against the glass door.

Even when Circle ends, its individual Christians persist. As the church comes apart, Rachel picks up a relapsed addict and delivers him to an emergency room. Once hes no longer a pastor, Ben, in his capacity as a hospital chaplain, holds a dying baby and tells him to Go into the arms of the Lord.

The church, after all, isnt a collection of buildings, a sheaf of paperwork, a name. As long as its people persist, its work goes on.

Kate Lucky is senior editor of culture and engagement at Christianity Today.
Illustration by Lincoln Agnew

The director of Trinidad and Tobagos intelligence agency was allegedly planning to take over the country in a Christian coup. Roger Best was placed on leave in March and fired in May after police discovered he had hired multiple members of his church without putting them through the usual vetting process. He hired his pastor, Ian Ezekiel Brown, as a special reserve officer. Brown is reportedly an authoritarian leader who exercises extensive control over the lives of his congregation and preaches that Christians should be armed and control the government. Jerusalem Church has about 100 members, and 25 were in top administrative positions at the intelligence agency.

United States: Bible society museum shuttered

The American Bible Society has closed its $60 million museum. The Philadelphia tourist attraction, which opened in 2021, only got about 2 percent of the visitors the organization originally projected. This adds to the turmoil at the Bible society, which has seen five CEOs since 2022 and more than 50 percent turnover on the board. A director who left last year said there are systemic problems in the Bible society that have to be addressed but magical thinking makes that impossible.

United States: Some conservatives stayed with UMC in split

A study of the United Methodist Church (UMC) in North Carolina after its denominational division found that a notable number of conservatives remain. Nearly a quarter of the clergy who chose to stay oppose same-sex marriage. But most UMC clergy are liberal; about 60 percent say they tend to be to the political left of their congregations.

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Kenya: Pastors planning international security mission for Haiti

Pastors are playing a key role in developing plans for a security mission that Kenyan president William Ruto hopes to send to gang-embattled Haiti. Kenya agreed last October to send 2,500 police officers to Haiti, but the force has been delayed by legal challenges. The pastors, who are part of a group organized by first lady Rachel Ruto, are praying that God will deliver from the generational bondage and powers of witchcraft and flush out gangs and insurgents from their hiding places and deliver them into the hands of the police. They are also leading the governments fact-finding mission to work out the details necessary to restore order in Haiti.

United Kingdom: Street preacher wins free-speech struggle

Police conceded they went too far when they told a street preacher he was not allowed to talk about atheism, Islam, or other religions. Dia Moodley, a South African immigrant who preaches atop a ladder, has been engaging in raucous question-and-answer sessions in a shopping district in Bristol. Law enforcement told him he was prohibited from saying anything that would negatively affect public health and morals. Alliance Defending Freedom took up his case, and the police backed down.

Germany: Long COVID forces WEA leader to resign

The head of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has resigned for health reasons. Thomas Schirrmacher, who took the leadership position in 2020, is suffering from long COVID, a condition that can involve fatigue, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, headaches, and muscle pain. The head of the WEA is required to travel regularly while representing 600 million evangelicals on the world stage. The WEA plans to appoint a replacement by September.

Israel: Voluntourists show solidarity

Roughly 1,500 tourists arrived in Israel every day in March to volunteer in ways that would show support for the war in Gaza, according to the government tourism ministry. Many of the solidarity missions are organized by evangelical groups such as the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. The voluntourists visit sites where the terrorist organization Hamas killed Israelis on October 7, 2023, and help harvest crops, cook meals, and sort donations for Israeli refugees. Before the war, roughly 15,000 tourists arrived daily.

Egypt: Pharaoh head returns home

A statue of the head of Ramses II, often identified as the pharaoh in Exodus who would not let the Israelites go free from slavery, has been returned to Egypt. The 3,400-year-old monument was stolen from the city of Abydos sometime in the 1980s or 90s. The exact date is unknown. It was sold in London in 2013 and ended up in Switzerland. The statue is being restored for display.

Russia: Missionary accused of espionage

A South Korean missionary ministering to North Korean laborers in far eastern Russia has been arrested and charged with espionage. Baek Won-soon is accused of giving classified information to foreign intelligence agencies, according to a Russian state-run news agency, though there is no available evidence to support that charge. South Korea has advised its citizens not to travel to Russia amid increasing tensions over the war in Ukraine and Russias contribution to the North Korean dictatorship. Baek is being held in Moscow in the same prison as other foreignersincluding Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovichwho have been accused without evidence of being spies.

Pakistan: Presbyterians to reunify

Three groups that each claimed to be the real Presbyterian Church of Pakistan have agreed to reunify after six years of conflict. In 2018, a Presbyterian moderator pushed for the extension of a three-year leadership term to five years. Ministers who opposed the move were removed from their congregations, and the church divided into factions, each filing lawsuits and electing its own moderator. In March 2024, however, the groups agreed to come together and formed a committee to work on reunification. They hope to be finished by the end of the year.
Despite his folksy Midwestern dad persona, conservative Christians say the governor has alienated the Right with his policies on abortion, transgender youth, and COVID restrictions.

Stephen Maturen / Getty Images

Some Minnesotans dont recognize Gov. Tim Walz in the vaunted coverage hes received since becoming Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harriss pick for vice president this week.

Walz, 60, is a self-described Minnesota Lutheran, belonging to the mainline Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), according to Religion News Service. Profiles of the former teacher turned politician are punctuated with descriptors like folksy and avuncular.

Hes touting himself as the everyday Midwestern dad, but his administration has been far more polarizing in the state, according to Julie Johnson, a fourth-generation Minnesotan and a member of an Evangelical Free congregation in a Minneapolis suburb. She said that, under his leadership, Walz has swung the state to the left on basically every issue, alienating religious conservatives along the way.

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Walz won the governors mansion in 2018. But rather than sticking to the moderate One Minnesota approach that he promised on the campaign trail and that characterized his time in the House of Representatives, Walzs priority has been more of a war on our culture, Johnson said.

Johnson, an advocate for a Christian nonprofit, pointed to a host of progressive policies his administration enacted: signing a law that makes abortion a right in the state at any point in a pregnancy, legalizing marijuana, giving drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants, and making the state a refuge for those seeking gender transitions.

His COVID-19 era policies also earned chagrin from conservatives as he restricted church gatherings and set up a hotline for people to report those who breached social distancing policies.

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, on behalf of the Minnesota Catholic Conference and the Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod (LCMS, the more conservative Lutheran denomination), negotiated with the Walz administration after it initially prevented houses of worship from having services of more than ten people while allowing retailers to resume operating at 50 percent capacity. There was a lawsuit before the state allowed church services to be less restricted.

Other Christians in Minnesota said that while Walz could shore up Democratic enthusiasm for left-leaning voters, he wasnt the kind of politician who could appeal to conservatives.

Walzs parents were Catholic, according to the Star Tribune, and he has periodically posted about attending worship services, sometimes at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in St. Paul. In Minnesota, 20 percent of the population identifies as mainline Lutheran, compared to just 2.1 percent of Americans overall, according to Pew Research Center polling.

While the denomination is progressive, the politics in the pews of ELCA churches present a more mixed picture. In 2020, a slight majority of ELCA Lutherans voted for Trump, noted researcher Ryan Burge.

Among the ELCA, around 43 percent identified as or leaned Republican, and 47 percent identified as or leaned Democrat, Pew found. Around 24 percent identified as liberal, 41 percent as moderate, and 32 percent as conservative.

The LCMS, meanwhile, identified as or leaned Republican by nearly 60 percent, with 27 percent identifying as or leaning Democrat. A much higher percentage (52%) identified as conservative, compared to only 33 percent as moderate and 10 percent as liberal.

Here's Trump's vote share in the 20 largest majority white Protestant denominations in 2020.



He earned at least 55% of the vote in 12 of them.

He earned at least 47% in 19 of them.



There's only one denomination that was strongly for Biden  the Episcopal Church. pic.twitter.com/wo33GLkA8w  Ryan Burge  (@ryanburge) April 21, 2024

If elected, Walz would be the second vice president to both hail from Minnesota and identify with Lutheranism: Lyndon B. Johnsons vice president, Hubert Humphrey, was raised Lutheran.

His name does not come to mind when I think of a faith leader, Julie Johnson said.

Lutherans who hail from the evangelical LCMS denomination dont see Walzs candidacy as a boon for more representation of their faith.

For the average Missouri Synod member, both pastor and lay member, [Walz] absolutely will not be seen as one of us, Hans Fiene, a Lutheran pastor in Missouri and creator of Lutheran Satire, a multimedia project to teach about the Lutheran faith, told CT. So there wont be any kind of situation like with Biden being a Catholic, where Catholics go, Well, he doesnt really represent us, but hes still a Catholic.

Hes really not representing our worldview, Greg Seltz, director of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty in Washington, DC, an advocacy arm of the LCMS, told CT. Im not judging him by the official teachings of the ELCA, you know, Im judging him by his policies, which is the way I think we should judge a candidate.

Seltz mentioned Walzs positions on abortion as disqualifying. He said that while Walz wasnt a familiar figure to him initially, since the announcement, hes heard numerous concerns from pro-life Lutheran groups and other conservative Christians.

The whole way hes being presented to us is that hes just a moderate country boy from Minnesota, Seltz said. Hes a very, very progressive, very, very left-wing governor.

Its likely, though, that faithand denominational schismswill not be a focus for Walz as he goes about introducing himself to the public.

At a talk earlier this year, Walz hinted at his understated approach to religion: Because were good Minnesota Lutherans, we have a rule: If you do something good and talk about it, it no longer counts.

So what you have to do is to get someone else to talk about you, he added.
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) called for an emergency meeting on mpox following its spread outside the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Home News DUI, tampons in boys' bathrooms: 4 controversies to know involving Tim Walz

Now that Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, public figures on both sides of the aisle have had an opportunity to share their reactions.

Reflecting the political polarization in American politics, Walzs addition to the Democratic ticket has received a warm reception on the political left, while those on the political right have cited the new development in the 2024 presidential election as another reason not to support Harris.

With Walz now under a national microscope, several of the most controversial aspects of his past, both in and out of politics, are resurfacing.

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The following pages highlight Walz's past controversial policies, actions or remarks.
Home News Christian investors ask Costco, Walmart, major retailers not to sell abortion pill

Hundreds of Christian investors have signed onto letters sent to several of the largest retailers in the United States, urging them not to sell the chemical abortion drug mifepristone after the federal government loosened standards to allow the drug to be sold at retail pharmacies nationwide.

More than 400 Christian investors and activists are backing letters to the leaders of Costco, Walmart, Kroger, McKesson and Albertsons Friday urging them to continue their current practice of not dispensing mifepristone.

Mifepristone is a synthetic steroid endocrine disruptor that destroys the environment in the uterus and starves an unborn baby to death. It is the first drug in the chemical abortion pill regimen. In January 2023, the FDA modified restrictions to allow pharmacies to dispense mifepristone, which could only be dispensed by certified doctors for decades.

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While at least three dozen people signed their names to each of the letters, over 400 investors in each of the companies and more than 6,000 Costco members signed on anonymously.

The signatories own a combined $56 million in Costco stock, $88 million in Walmart stock, $23 million in McKesson stock, $4.3 million in Kroger stock, and $1.14 million in Albertsons stock. Led by Inspire Investing CEO Robert Netzly, several additional professionals, including American Family Association Vice President Walter Wildmon and Guidestone Financial Resources Managing Director Will Lofland, signed on to the letters.

"The New York City Comptroller recently urged you to 'immediately take the necessary steps' to begin dispensing mifepristone and warned that failing to do so 'raises significant investor concerns,' including 'the company's responsiveness to a growing market opportunity, its mitigation of reputational risks, and its commitment to maximizing sales and long-term shareholder value,'" the letters explained. The signatories pushed back on this analysis, describing it as "not true."

The letters warned the companies "the 'growing market opportunity' of abortion drugs is legally and politically fraught, raises significant reputational issues, and reduces the company's customer base, both literally and because it would drive away many existing customers." They also suggested that the businesses could face legal consequences for selling the abortion pill in states that have near-total bans on abortion.

"Last year, 20 attorneys general wrote letters advising pharmacies that receiving and dispensing the drug by mail is expressly prohibited by the Comstock Act and many state laws," the letters added. "Violating the Comstock Act alone carries a prison sentence of up to ten years."

The letters outlined the side effects of the abortion pill, saying it has led to "32 deaths, 4,218 adverse events, 1,049 hospitalizations, 604 blood loss incidents requiring transfusions, 418 infections, and 75 severe infections from the drug from 2000 to 2022."

"Mifepristone terminates life and does so in ways that the FDA acknowledges risk serious harm to the mother," the letters concluded, adding that dispensing the drug is unnecessary to their businesses and brings "legal and political risk."

Several pharmacy chains have already begun selling mifepristone.

Earlier this year, CVS and Walgreens announced they would begin offering the drug in select states.

The letters to the five major retailers respond to communications sent to the companies by New York City's Democrat Comptroller Brad Lander two weeks earlier.

Lander indicated that he was writing on behalf of New York City's pension systems, which own stocks exceeding a combined $1.32 billion in all five companies.

"By failing to become certified mifepristone dispensers, these pharmacy giants put both women's reproductive health care and investors money at risk," Lander said in a statement after writing the letters. "The boards of Costco, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, and McKesson should follow CVS and Walgreens and immediately take the necessary steps to receive certification to dispense the medication mifepristone in states where it is legal."

Lander insisted, "Making mifepristone available benefits customers and employees, increases sales, and generates long-term shareholder value."

Nearly five dozen Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives called on the five companies to begin dispensing mifepristone in a letter published at the beginning of July.

The legality of mifepristone has faced legal challenges.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously rejected a challenge to FDA's 2000 approval of mifepristone, allowing pharmacies to continue dispensing mifepristone.

As the Christian investors noted in their letters, "The Court decided the case on procedural grounds and left unresolved whether the current system of dispensing and distributing the drug is legal."
Home News Divine intervention? 'Politics in the Pews' looks at impact of Trump's assassination attempt on Evangelicals

Get your tickets today to Politics in the Pews with speakers Sam Brownback and Ralph Reed, among others, at Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, on Aug. 27. Learn more here: politicsinthepews.com

The groundbreaking podcast Politics in the Pews recently delved into how, in the span of just 30 days, the 2024 race for the White House experienced a seismic shift, triggered by a shocking event that many believe was marked by divine intervention.

In the latest episode of the series, titled Blood on the Campaign Trail, host and Christian Post reporter Ian Giatti recounts how, on July 13, at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt that claimed the life of 50-year-old former fire chief Corey Comperatore and left two others seriously wounded.

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The bullet that hit Trump's right ear came within millimeters of taking his life, prompting the 77-year-old to attribute his survival to divine providence.

"This has been our best campaign, and then I got shot. How does that happen? But I got lucky. God was with me," Trump remarked in his first public comments following the shooting.

Listen to Politics in the Pews here

Days later, during his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Trump dramatically recounted the event, acknowledging that he felt a sense of safety because he believed he had God on his side.

According to Giatti, historically, there have been 17 assassination attempts against U.S. presidents or presidential candidates, five of which resulted in death. While Trump survived this attempt, the incident did not occur in isolation, but followed a tumultuous period in the campaign. It came just days after President Joe Biden's poor debate performance, which spurred calls from within his party for him to step aside in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris.

The political fallout from Biden's debate debacle and the assassination attempt on Trump intensified the already heated campaign atmosphere. Biden faced criticism for using charged language against Trump, with some Republican lawmakers drawing parallels to previous attacks he had made against Trump, including calling him a "threat to democracy" and his supporters "extremists."

Giatti recounted how, in the aftermath of the shooting, Evangelical leaders and conservative commentators flooded the airwaves and social media with declarations of divine intervention.

Pastor Greg Laurie criticized the media's demonization of Trump and his supporters, calling for a de-escalation of political rhetoric. Similarly, Pastor Jentezen Franklin of Free Chapel in Georgia and Calvary Chapel's Pastor Jack Hibbs saw prophetic significance in the fact that Trump was hit in the right ear, likening it to Old Testament priestly rituals involving blood.

Meanwhile, Evangelical leader Johnny Moore described the incident as a "miracle," while conservative commentator Tucker Carlson credited divine intervention with saving Trump's life, suggesting that the event had a profound impact on Trump's personal and political trajectory.

However, not all reactions were supportive. Washington Post editor and MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart expressed concern over the deification of Trump by his supporters, and theologian Justin Peters suggested that while God protected Trump, it did not necessarily involve direct intervention.

So was this an act of God? Giatti asked. And can the sparing of Trump's life still be considered a miracle with the loss of firefighter Corey Comperatore and the wounding of two other people?

Ralph Reed, president of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, expressed gratitude for what he saw as the grace of God in sparing Trump's life: 'Im extremely grateful to the good Lord for sparing his life, and I believe, as President Trump said, that he's alive today by the grace of God, he said.

I don't claim to understand it. I don't claim to understand why he survived and others were hit and seriously injured, and one lost their life, but I certainly believe that he's alive today because the good Lord was looking out for him, he added.

Giatti pointed out that the shooting had a unifying effect on the GOP, similar to the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, bringing together a fractured party in the face of adversity.

The attempted assassination also seemed to spark a change in Trump himself, Giatti added. Trump began to publicly credit God with saving his life. In fact, during his RNC acceptance speech, Trump called for unity and civility in the wake of the shooting  a significant shift from his previous rhetoric and his public caricature.

Giatti closed the podcast with a question: As the 2024 race continues, will Trumps brush with mortality have a lasting impact on his view of eternity and his approach to leadership?

In an election cycle unlike any other one, which is anything but politics as usual  as with most of God's promises, it looks like we'll just have to wait and see, he said.
Home News Muslim mob tries to kill Christian mother accused of blasphemy who could face life in prison

LAHORE, Pakistan  A Muslim mob in Pakistan on Wednesday attacked and tried to kill a Christian mother accused of blasphemy, sources said.

The mob in Kathore village, in Gojra tehsil of Faisalabad District, Punjab province tried to kill Saima Masih, a 32-year-old mother of two children, after Muhammad Haider accused her of hurting Islamic religious sentiments by desecrating pages of the Quran, said attorney Akmal Bhatti, chairman of the Minorities Alliance Pakistan (MAP).

The mob would have lynched Saima if the police had not reached there on time and rescued her, Bhatti told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. The mob also reportedly attacked some other Christian residents of the village, forcing them to flee their homes and hide in the fields to save their lives.

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The attorney and political leader said he and his team tried to reach the village as soon as they received information about the incident. There are 30 to 35 Christian families in the village.

When news of the alleged desecration spread, a crowd of nearly 250-300 Muslims blocked the main highway in protest, refusing to let anyone pass, Bhatti said.

We contacted our sources in the village, and they informed us that the Muslims had beaten up some Christians, raising fears of violence against the community, he said.

Tensions were high due to the involvement of extremist Islamist groups, he said, adding that the Catholic mother has been arrested and charged, and her family has gone into hiding due to security fears.

Our sources in the village have told us that Saima denied desecrating the Quran, Bhatti said. She reportedly said that her neighbor, Haider, had asked her for an empty sack, which she gave him. However, after some time Haider returned with some other Muslims and accused her of placing defiled pages of the Quran in the sack, which she repeatedly denied.

He added that the allegation against the Christian woman could be rooted in a personal vendetta of her Muslim neighbors.

The MAP president said that the Gojra Saddar police registered a First Information Report (FIR No. 924/24) against Masih under Section 295-B for desecrating the Quran, which carries a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

According to the complainant, Masih put defiled pages of the Quran in a sack in front of her home, which he discovered as he worked collecting scrap paper.

The police saved Saimas life but registered a blasphemy case against her under the pressure of the mob, which is very unfair, Bhatti said. The poor woman will now have to suffer in prison for years while her two children will be deprived of her love and care.

He added that he regretted that the government was taking no action against blatant abuse of the blasphemy laws. The MAP chairman said that inaction against perpetrators of violence on the pretext of blasphemy allegations was emboldening Muslim extremists.

Christians in Punjab are increasingly being targeted through blasphemy accusations, yet our state is not bothered at all, he said. If the state had properly prosecuted the accused involved in the Jaranwala incident and the lynching of Nazeer Masih Gill in Sargodha, we could have seen some change in the situation, but unfortunately it seems all of this has some kind of official patronage or our state is too weak to confront these extremist groups.

Multiple churches and homes of Christians were ransacked and burned by Muslim mobs in Jaranwala on Aug. 16 after two Christian brothers were accused of writing blasphemous content and desecrating the Quran. While the brothers have been cleared of charges, most of the Muslim suspects in the attacks have been released on bail due to defective police investigation and weak follow-up by Christian leaders.

In Sargodha, all of the suspects in the lynching of the 74-year-old Gill and the burning of his house and small shoe-manufacturing factory have also been released on bail because of improper police investigation.

Samson Salamat, chairman of Rawadari Tehreek, or Movement for Equality, said the case against Saima Masih and the reported attempt to thwart planned protest gatherings by Christians on Minorities Day on Sunday (Aug. 11) by the Islamist Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) showed that the government lacked the political will to protect Christians from Muslim extremism.

The state claims it is committed to protecting us, but on the other hand, our people continue to be victimized by the draconian blasphemy laws and we are being stopped from expressing our resentment against the misuse of the harsh laws, Salamat said. Our voices are being muzzled by the state through their proxy groups.

The Rawadari Tehreek has given a call for a hunger strike on Aug. 10-11 against religiously motivated violence to draw global attention towards the persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan under the guise of violation of blasphemy laws.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.

This article was originally published by Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News.
Home News Pakistani man arrested for plot to kill Trump, US officials: 'Straight out of the Iranian playbook'

A Pakistani national with close ties to Iran has been arrested for allegedly plotting to assassinate U.S. officials, including former President Donald Trump, as part of a murder-for-hire scheme.

Forty-six-year-old Asif Merchant, also known as "Asif Raza Merchant," was arrested last month after being reported to law enforcement by a confidential informant, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday.

Merchant spent time in Iran before he arrived in the United States from Pakistan in April 2024. Upon his arrival, Merchant allegedly began trying to recruit hitmen to assassinate politicians and government officials on U.S. soil.

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"For years, the Justice Department has been working aggressively to counter Iran's brazen and unrelenting efforts to retaliate against American public officials for the killing of Iranian General Soleimani," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

"The Justice Department will spare no resource to disrupt and hold accountable those who would seek to carry out Iran's lethal plotting against American citizens, and will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to target American public officials and endanger America's national security," he continued.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said that Merchant's "dangerous murder-for-hire plot" is "straight out of the Iranian playbook."

"A foreign-directed plot to kill a public official, or any U.S. citizen, is a threat to our national security and will be met with the full might and resources of the FBI," Wray said.

Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York expressed gratitude to the FBI's field offices in Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago and Albany for their cooperation on the case.

The confidential source, identified in court documents as CS, said he met with Merchant in early June to discuss the assassination plot and explained that the intended victims would be targeted in the U.S.

"Merchant told the CS that the opportunity he had for the CS was not a one-time opportunity and would be ongoing," the DOJ statement explains. "Merchant instructed the CS to arrange meetings with individuals whom Merchant could hire to carry out these actions."

The plots involved multiple criminal schemes, stealing documents or USB drives from targets' homes, planning protests and killing a politician or government official, prosecutors allege. Merchant planned potential assassination scenarios and questioned CS about how he would kill a target in different situations and how the target would die. The plotted assassination would have occurred after Merchant left the U.S.

The Pakistani national requested that CS arrange meetings with others he could hire for his plan. In response to CS's question about whether Merchant had spoken with a "party" he was working with, Merchant replied that the party back home told him to "finalize" the plan and leave the U.S.

The Pakistani national later met with undercover U.S. law enforcement officers in mid-June posing as hitmen. He told the undercover officers that he would provide instructions on who to kill at the end of August or the beginning of September after he had left the U.S.

"Merchant then began arranging means to obtain $5,000 in cash to pay the UCs as an advance payment for the assassination, which he eventually received with assistance from an individual overseas," the DOJ reported.

"On June 21, Merchant met with the UCs in New York and paid them the $5,000 advance. After the Merchant paid the $5,000 to the UCs, one of the UCs stated, 'Now we're bonded,' to which the Merchant responded, 'Yes.' The UC then stated, 'Now we know we're going forward. We're doing this,' to which Merchant responded 'Yes, absolutely,'" the report continued.

Law enforcement agents arrested Merchant on July 12 before he could leave the U.S., as he had made plans to depart from the country.

Sources familiar with the case told CBS News that Trump was one of the intended targets of the murder-for-hire scheme in addition to other politicians from across the political spectrum. Intelligence about the plot was part of the reason the U.S. Secret Service increased security assets for the former president and current GOP presidential nominee, the sources added.

A Pennsylvania law enforcement official informed the outlet that, at the moment, there does not appear to be a connection between Merchant's alleged plans to murder political targets and the near assassination of Trump during a rally last month in Butler.

The news of the charges against Merchant comes not long after a 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate Trump by firing a rifle from an elevated position located near the former president's rally in Pennslyvania.

Crooks's bullet struck Trump in the ear but did not kill him. Two rally attendees were wounded in the shooting, and one attendee was killed.

The FBI and law enforcement agencies are still investigating a possible motive behind the assassination attempt. While reports indicate that the gunman was a registered Republican, federal campaign finance records show he donated $15 to the Progressive Turnout Project.
Home News Texas pays over $358K to end lawsuit over atheist groups Bill of Rights nativity scene

Texas has paid more than $358,000 to end litigation centered on the censorship of a secular nativity display by an atheist group that was placed at the state Capitol building.

An appeals court had ruled in favor of the Freedom From Religion Foundation regarding its Bill of Rights nativity display last year, awarding the atheist legal organization attorneys' fees and other costs.

FFRF announced Tuesday that Texas had finally paid $358,073.67 in attorneys' fees and costs, with $184,727.11 of that reimbursing FFRF for their staff attorney time.

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Were pleased this federal lawsuit can finally be put to rest, said Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president, in the announcement on Tuesday.

But had Abbott only done the right thing from the start, or at least accepted the decision of the federal court back in 2017, Texas taxpayers would have been spared most of these attorneys fees.

In December 2015, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the removal of an FFRF display at the state Capitol that featured a message celebrating the Winter Solstice and had three founding fathers and the Statue of Liberty standing over a copy of the Bill of Rights.

In a letter to the Texas State Preservation Board, Abbott argued that the display was a juvenile parody of the Christmas Nativity scene found elsewhere on Capitol grounds.

"The Constitution does not require Texas to allow displays in its Capitol that violate general standards of decency and intentionally disrespect the beliefs and values of many of our fellow Texans," wrote Abbott. "Far from promoting morals and the general welfare, the exhibit deliberately mocks Christians and Christianity.

FFRF filed suit in 2016, with United States District Judge Sam Sparks issuing an order in October 2017 partly ruling in favor of the secular group, concluding that removing the display constituted viewpoint discrimination.

Government restrictions on speech in a limited forum must be viewpoint neutral, wrote Sparks. Defendants have justified removal of FFRF's exhibit by arguing the exhibit's satirical tone rendered it offensive to some portion of the population. That is viewpoint discrimination.

In January 2023, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit unanimously ruled that Texas did, in fact, violate the First Amendment by excluding the Foundations exhibit from a limited public forum.
Methodist Groups Dispute Over Nigerian Church, Elon Musk Predicts U.K. Civil War, U.S. Runner Wins Gold And Praises God

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Top headlines for Thursday, August 8, 2024

In this episode, we explore U.S. track star Noah Lyles' heartfelt praise to God after becoming the fastest man in the world. We also delve into the plight of a Ukrainian Orthodox priest sentenced to 14 years in a Russian-controlled labor camp, the contentious battle over control of Nigeria's 560,000 Methodists, and Elon Musk's bold prediction of a civil war in the U.K., sparking a public clash with Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government.

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Home Opinion My Christian friend, what do you choose: Prosperity or repentance?

Two different preachers came once to my country of Nigeria to preach two radically different sermons.



The first preacher gave his sermon to a large crowd that gathered for the crusade, many of whom dropped huge amounts of money on the altar. Many who were excited about the sermon removed their expensive gold bracelets, necklaces, and wristwatches and dropped them on the altar. A woman whose husband lives abroad brought the car key that her husband bought for her and gave it to the preacher.

The second preacher preached a sermon to the same people, and all the attendees fell on their knees and cried out to God for mercy. Many of them who had money in their pockets removed them and dropped it on the altar. Even criminals and robbers went back home, collected their ill-gotten money, and got rid of it.

What could be responsible for these different reactions from the same people? It is important to note that both preachers preached from the same Bible, but the spirits behind the messages were not the same, and the goals of the two preachers were completely different. The first preacher wanted to unlock the wallets of his listeners while the second preacher wanted the hearts of his listeners to provoke repentance.

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For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things (Philippians 3:18-19). The first preacher belongs to the category of pastors who focus on earthly things and teach their followers to give so that they can be healed and become rich. Their god is not the God of the Bible but their belly. They do not have a passion for soul-winning, rather they concentrate all their energy on working to get more money from their listeners.

The second preacher sacrificially hazarded his life and worked tirelessly to bring souls to the Kingdom of God. Men like him preach Christ and Him crucified. Men like him want to ensure that sinners come to the saving knowledge of Christ. Every one of their sermons is geared towards provoking repentance. Their messages prick the hearts of the hearers for total surrender to the saving power of Christ. The more people hear the messages of this category of preachers, the more they grow in grace and knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:37-38). The sermon that pricks the heart is biblical and saves and spiritually transforms lives  but the sermon that unlocks the wallet is unbiblical, destructive, and feeds the flesh.

Every Christian should soberly examine the messages which he or she listens to. Do the messages unlock your wallet, or do they prick your heart? Honest answers to this question will help you guard your soul from wolves in sheeps clothing. Sermons that do not edify, correct and rebuke you will inevitably take you far away from God.

God has given to every minister of the Gospel the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). Any contrary ideology is either from man or the devil. All preachers should be focused on preaching Christ not Mammon. We cannot serve two masters at the same time (Mathew 6:24). Remember these truths, friends. There is no repentance in the grave.
Lutherans, Orthodox Church reach agreement on 1,000-year debate over Nicene Creed

(CP) The Lutheran World Federation and the Orthodox Church have announced an agreement on the debate over the "Filioque" clause of the Nicene Creed, which prompted the schism between Western and Eastern churches over 1,000 years ago.

Meaning "and the Son" in Latin, Filioque was added to the Nicene Creed during the Medieval Era to make the statement of faith say that the Holy Spirit proceeded from both God the Father and the Son.

The dispute over whether the Holy Spirit proceeded from both personages of the Trinity helped lead to the Great Schism of 1054, which split Christianity into a Western Church and Eastern Church.

In a joint statement, the LWF and Orthodox leaders explained that they agreed to "suggest that the translation of the Greek original (without the Filioque) be used in the hope that this will contribute to the healing of age-old divisions between our communities and enable us to confess together the faith of the Ecumenical Councils of Nica (325) and Constantinople (381)."

"Renewed focus on the original wording of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed may encourage renewed theological reflection on the Trinity and the role of the Holy Spirit," they continued.

"Moreover, we both affirm that in our Trinitarian doctrine the Father is the cause (i) of the generation of the Son and of the procession of the Spirit."

Also known as the Common Statement of the Joint International Commission on Theological Dialogue between the LWF and the Orthodox Church, the statement is the byproduct of 40 years of dialogue between the two denominational bodies.

LWF and the Orthodox leaders also view the Common Statement as "a sign of reconciliation" in advance of 2025, which will mark the 1,700 anniversary of when the Council of Nicaea took place.

Named after Nicaea, an ancient city located in modern-day Turkey, the Nicene Creed was originally written in 325 and later revised at the Council of Constantinople in 381.

The creed was formulated in response to Arianism, an early church heresy that claimed, among other things, that God the Father created Jesus and thus were not coequal as a part of the Trinity.

The filioque clause was first reportedly added to the Nicene Creed at the Third Council of Toledo in 589, as a way to further emphasize the equality of God the Father and God the Son.

However, many Eastern churches took issue with the phrasing, believing that it did not properly reflect the relationship between the three Persons of the Holy Trinity. This, along with concerns over the power that the bishop of Rome was attempting to exert over other regional bodies, led to the Great Schism of 1054.

In 1999, the LWF signed an agreement with the Roman Catholic Church known as the "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification," which sought to resolve theological differences between the two bodies over the nature of justification by faith.

Later signed by representatives of the World Communion of Reformed Churches in 2017, the Joint Declaration said that Catholics and Protestants "are now able to articulate a common understanding of our justification by God's grace through faith in Christ."

"It does not cover all that either church teaches about justification; it does encompass a consensus on basic truths of the doctrine of justification and shows that the remaining differences in its explication are no longer the occasion for doctrinal condemnations," stated the declaration, in part.

The LWF was founded in 1947 and is based in Geneva, Sweden. It has a reported 150 member churches in nearly 100 countries, representing more than 77 million Lutherans.

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Panel member in Christian teacher case receives formal warning

A panel member in an employment tribunal case involving a Christian teacher has received a formal warning for misconduct over comments he made on social media.

The employment tribunal was hearing a case brought by the teacher, who cannot be named for legal reasons, against a primary school and Nottinghamshire County Council. She was suspended for refusing to affirm the gender identity of a biologically femal pupil and was later sacked for gross misconduct after sharing information about the child with her lawyers.

She was claiming unfair dismissal and discrimination on the grounds of her Christian beliefs when the case collapsed in March over comments discovered to have been made on social media by Jed Purkis, a former GMB union officer.

In one post, he likened Tory supporters to a "tumour". In response to another user's post suggesting that only atheists be in public office, he responded, "Damn right, you won't catch us killing in the name of our non-god." The posts were public at the time of the trial but have since been made private.

After they came to light, the panel members, including the judge, recused themselves from the case.

A ruling this week from the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said that the recusal of the panel had come "at significant cost and inconvenience to the parties and the public purse".

Purkis' online comments had "called into question his impartiality, integrity and propriety as a judicial office holder" while sitting on a "strongly disputed and politically sensitive case".

The ruling said that "judges should be aware of the risk of undermining trust and confidence in the judiciary by expressing, or appearing to endorse, views which could cast doubt on their objectivity".

It reads, "Mr Purkis explained that rather than an attack on organised religion his tweet was intended as a light-hearted comment on the misuse of religion by politicians to fuel conflict.

"He fully accepted that his intention was unclear in the comment and open to misinterpretation and he offered his apologies for the expense and any potential disrepute that his actions caused to the Tribunal Service."

It concludes, "The Senior President of Tribunals and the Lord Chancellor agreed with advice from the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office and decided Mr Purkis's actions amounted to judicial misconduct. In issuing Mr Purkis with a formal warning, they took into consideration his explanation and apology."

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting the teacher in her case, said the incident pointed to "a lack of training and scrutiny of the judges and panel members sitting on these important cases", and was "the tip of the iceberg of anti-Christian bias within the judiciary and trade unions".

"For many years we have experienced bias in the courtroom and in subsequent rulings and this case has revealed and exposed it," she said.

"You cannot have a panel presiding over a serious case involving a Christian who has lost their career because of their beliefs, that includes panel members who appear to hold significant prejudice against Christians and conservative beliefs. They often appear to lack any understanding of what it means to be a person of faith.

"While we are pleased to have exposed this, justice delayed is justice denied, not just for [the teacher] but for vulnerable children who are being harmed by transgender ideology.

"[Her] story exposes the confusion and untruths being embedded in primary schools over human sexuality and identity which are developing into a public health crisis."
Why the Archbishop of Canterbury needs to think again on Israel and the International Court of Justice

In a recent statement issued by Lambeth Palace, the Archbishop of Canterbury has given his unequivocal support to the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) calling for Israel's immediate and unconditional withdrawal from the 'occupied Palestinian territories' and reparation to be paid to the Palestinians for damage caused by the 'occupation.'

It is worth quoting his statement in full:

'The Advisory Opinion by the International Court of Justice (19 July 2024) makes definitively clear that Israel's presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is unlawful and needs to end as rapidly as possible.

At a time when the world is marked by increasing violations of international law  and commitment to a rules-based system is in question  it is imperative that governments around the world reaffirm their unwavering commitment to all decisions by the International Court of Justice, irrespective of the situation. International law protects our shared humanity, and safeguards human dignity and flourishing. To resist a world where actions such as torture, hostage-taking and indiscriminate violence become the norm, we must apply the law without fear or favour in all circumstances. But for too long it has been applied and upheld in a selective manner that threatens our common peace and security. Now is the time to reverse that deeply damaging trend.

'Having visited our Palestinian Christian brothers and sisters many times over recent decades, it is clear to me that the regime imposed by successive Israeli governments in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is one of systemic discrimination. Through annexing Palestinian land for illegal settlements, depriving Palestinians access to their own natural resources, and imposing a system of military rule that denies them safety and justice, the State of Israel has been denying the Palestinian people dignity, freedom and hope. I am particularly aware of how this is impacting Palestinian Christians, threatening their future and viability. It is clear that ending the occupation is a legal and moral necessity.

'I pray that all UN member states respond positively to this Advisory Opinion by ensuring their individual and common actions are consistent with it  and pave the way for the realisation of the Palestinian people's fundamental right to self-determination.'

From a Christian perspective it is unquestionable that the rule of law needs to be upheld (Romans 13:1-7) and that where one group of people is treating another people unjustly then this needs to stop - 'Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream' (Amos 5:24). On these two basic points we can agree with the archbishop. Nevertheless, his statement as a whole is deeply problematic for four reasons.

First, we cannot simply say (as the archbishop's language about 'unwavering commitment to all decisions' implies) that whatever a court has said must be regarded as unquestionably correct. After all, Jesus was crucified on the basis of judgments made against him by both Jewish and Roman legal authorities, but, as I am sure the archbishop would agree, that does not mean that these judgments were right.

Secondly, the ICJ was not unanimous in its opinion. Its own Vice President, the Ugandan Christian Julia Sebutinde, submitted an excoriating dissenting thirty-six page judgment in which she argues that the majority opinion from the ICJ lacked the necessary information and jurisdiction to give an opinion on the matter, misapplied the relevant law, 'circumvents and potentially jeopardizes' the legally binding agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority entered into by both sides in the Oslo Accords of 1993 and 1995, and if applied would have dire practical consequences.

The archbishop completely fails to even acknowledge, let alone engage with, the arguments put forward by Sebutinde, and echoed by other commentators on the ICJ's judgement.

Thirdly, the archbishop simply assumes, rather than argues, that the lands in dispute between Israel and the Palestinians are occupied territories and therefore all Jewish settlement in them is illegal. However, the mandate for Palestine given to Britain by the League of Nations to create a homeland for the Jewish people and the accepted legal principle 'uti possidetis iuris' ('as you possess under law') which holds that newly formed sovereign states should retain the same borders that the preceding political entity possessed prior to their independence, mean that the Jewish state formed in 1948 has legal title to all the territory of the former mandate (including what are now called the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which were illegally annexed by Jordan from 1950-1967). It follows that there is no Israeli occupation, and that Jewish settlement is not illegal.

It should also be noted that under the Oslo Accords the vast majority of Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem live in areas governed by the Palestinian Authority and that under these accords the permanent status of these areas and the territory currently governed by Israel is to be decided by direct, bilateral 'final status' negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, and appeal to external parties (such as the ICJ) is specifically forbidden.

Fourthly, the archbishop ignores the practical results which would flow from the implementation of the ICJ judgment.

It would mean the forced eviction of upwards of 700,000 Jewish people and would cause administrative and economic chaos, particularly in Jerusalem where it would divide the city in two. If it happened immediately, as the ICJ suggests, it is virtually certain, given the present circumstances, that there would be armed conflict between the various Palestinian factions for control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Whoever was victorious, the result would be an impoverished authoritarian kleptocracy allied to Iran that abused human rights, oppressed women and minority groups and depended for its legitimacy on its willingness to continue to wage an Islamic holy war to destroy the rest of Israel by either killing, expelling, or subjugating its Jewish inhabitants.

In addition, as military experts have acknowledged, the ability of Israel to defend itself in such a war would be severely compromised by a complete withdrawal from the West Bank and East Jerusalem and this would be contrary to the principle set out in UN Security Council resolution 242, and affirmed by the Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops in 1988, that Israel should be able to live 'in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force.' To put the matter most starkly, while the archbishop has repeatedly deplored the Jewish Holocaust in Europe during the twentieth century, what he is calling for runs the danger of setting up the conditions for another such Holocaust to take place in this century.

So, is there a better way forward? Arguably there is.

The defeat of the current attack on Israel by Iran and its proxies, with the release of the remaining living hostages from 7 October and the return of the bodies of the dead. Work by the Israeli political and judicial authorities and Israeli human rights groups to prevent and punish abuses of Palestinian human rights and the creation of new settlements illegal under Jewish law. Work by Palestinian civil society groups to lay the groundwork for an eventual Palestinian state alongside Israel that is economically prosperous, democratically governed by a reformed Palestinian Authority, respects the rule of law and human rights, and ceases to seek Israel's destruction. In particular, Palestinian young people must no longer be taught that Jews are the evil enemy who have to be fought. Eventual final status negotiations under the terms of the Oslo Accords that bring about an agreed final settlement of who gets what territory and under what conditions.

It is these kinds of developments for which the archbishop should be calling.

A final point which needs to be noted is that something which the archbishop can address directly as the senior bishop of the Anglican Communion, and which he needs to address, is the rejection of Jewish Christians by Palestinian Anglicans. This is an issue that has been highlighted very powerfully by the Church of England writer Giles Fraser in his recent essay 'The Problem with Palestinian Church'.

Fraser is a Church of England minister married to an Israeli Jewish wife and in his essay, he explains why he goes to the Levanda Street Pentecostal Church when in Israel rather than to an Anglican Church. Fraser writes: 'There are bad eggs in every Church. But there is no doubt that there is a radical anti-Israeli side to Palestinian Christianity, to such an extent that parts of the Church have developed something of a distaste for the Jewish underpinnings of Christianity, including even the very presence of the Hebrew scriptures within the Christian Bible.'

He then goes on to recall his experience of an Anglican eucharist in a church in southern Tel Aviv that had been led by a young priest who 'was so obviously Jewish and Israeli, which is highly unusual':

'So over coffee after church I asked him the story of his conversion, and how he had come to be confirmed as an Anglican. 'Were you ordained in the Diocese of Jerusalem?' I asked him. 'Oh no', he replied. 'They wouldn't ordain me; I'm originally Jewish Israeli.' Now, I have not been able to confirm his story. But I believed him. And if it is true, the Diocese of Jerusalem would be the only Diocese in the world that would discriminate in ordaining people on the basis of their ethnicity. I remain shocked by his story.'

He continues, 'I have no great animus against the Palestinian Church. And were I to try to hold a congregation together in Gaza or the West Bank under present circumstances, I would inevitably want to be alongside my people in their suffering and feel great anger towards those who were harming them. But for so long as this anger is misdirected towards those Jews who want to live free from attack in Israel, I will keep going to the extraordinary Levanda Street. I pray for my Palestinian brothers and sisters in Christ, but I won't be joining them.'

As Fraser notes, this division between Palestinian and Jewish Christians, and the Palestinian rejection of the Jewish roots of Christianity that sometimes accompanies it (including the rejection of the Old Testament and even the claim that Jesus was not Jewish but Palestinian) is shocking. It goes directly against the teaching of Paul in Romans 9-11 and in his letters as a whole and as such is completely heretical. The Jewish people cannot, ever, be rejected by Christians because they are the olive tree into which all other Christians, Palestinians included, have been engrafted (Romans 11:13-24). Fraser's witness to this problem is not alone, others have noted the same phenomenon, and it is one that the archbishop has the authority and the obligation to address. He should do so.
You had to set it up, he says. And the compute needed to run a 70 billion model is significant. We set it up ourselves, provisioned a server, deployed the model, and then there was usage on top of that.

Azure now offers a pay-as-you-go option where customers just pay the token costs, but for enterprises looking to deploy on-prem models, the set-up costs still exist.

In an ideal world, that would be the best scenario because youre no longer constrained by token costs, he says. The only cost you pay is for infrastructure. But you still need to have the compute capacity and other things, like networking.

Oversight costs

When gen AI is moved into production, another unexpected cost might be the required oversight. Many systems require humans in the loop or expensive technical guardrails to check for accuracy, reduce risk, or for compliance reasons.

I dont think we expected the regulations to come so soon, says Sreekanth Menon, global head of AI at Genpact. Once generative AI came in, it became a leadership top topic, and all the governments woke up and said we need regulations.

The EU Act is already in place, and theres US work in progress. Now companies have to accommodate that when developing AI, and thats a cost, he says. But the regulations arent a bad thing, he adds. We need regulations for the AI decisions to be good and fair, he says.

Adding in regulatory compliance after systems are built is expensive, too, but companies can plan ahead by putting good AI governance systems in place. Ensuring the security of gen AI models and associated systems is also a cost that companies might not be prepared for. Running a small-scale production test will not only help enterprises identify compliance and security issues, he says, but will help them better calculate other ancillary costs like those associated with additional infrastructure, search, databases, API, and more. Think big, test small, and scale quick, he says.

AI sprawl

In the past, with traditional AI, it might have taken a year or two of experimenting before an AI model was ready for use, but gen AI projects move quickly.

The foundation models available today are allowing enterprises to quickly think of use cases, says Menon. Now were in a stage where we can think of an experiment and then go into production quickly. He suggests that enterprises restrain themselves from doing all the AI projects all at once, have a cost mechanism in place and clear objectives for each project, then start small, scale wisely, and continuously invest in upskilling.

Upskilling is a cost, but it will help you to save on other costs, he says.

Matthew Mettenheimer, associate director at S-RM Intelligence and Risk Consulting, says he often sees gen AI sprawl within companies.

A CIO or a board of directors wants to enable AI across their business, and before they know it, theres quite a bit of spending and use cases, he says.

For example, S-RM recently worked with a large consumer manufacturer that decided to push AI enablement through their business without first building a governance structure. And every single department went off to the races and started trying to implement generative AI, he says. You had overlapping contracts with different tools for different parts of the organization, which really started to bloat their spend. Their marketing department was using one tool, their IT team was using another. Even within the same department, different teams used different tools.

As a result, the company was paying for similar services over and over again, with each group having its own contracts, and no efficiencies from doing things at scale. And people were getting subscriptions to gen AI products they didnt know how to use.

There were a lot of great intentions and half-baked ideas, he says. As a result, there was a massive uptick in IT spending, he says. Enterprises need to start by understanding where gen AI can really make an impact. Then enterprises should build their projects step by step, in a sustainable way, rather than going out and buying as much as possible. Some areas of particular concern, where companies might want to hold off on spending, are use cases that might hold culpability for the organization.

If youre an insurance provider, using AI to determine if a claim will be paid or not can land you in a bit of liability if the AI mechanism isnt used or calibrated properly, Mettenheimer says. Instead, prioritize use cases where workers can be freed up to handle more complex tasks.

If someone is spending five hours a week updating the same spreadsheet and you can reduce that time to zero hours per week, that really frees up that individual to be more productive, he adds. But if it takes as much time to check the AIs work product as it saves, its not really making the job more efficient.

Generative AI is a really powerful and incredible tool, but its not magic, he says. Theres a misconception that AI will be able to do everything without the need for any manual processes or validation, but were not at that point yet.

He also recommends against doing AI projects where there are already perfectly good solutions in place.

I know of a few cases where people want to use AI so they can feel like theyre getting a competitive edge and can say that theyre using AI for their product, he says. So they lay AI on top of it, but theyre not getting any benefits other than just saying theyre using AI.

Senior executives are eager to get going on gen AI, says Megan Amdahl, SVP of partner alliances and operations at Insight.

But without a firm destination in mind, they can spend a lot of time on cycles that dont achieve the outcomes theyre hoping for, she says. For example, clients often go after small use cases that improve efficiency for a small number of people. It can sound like a great project, but if theres no way for it to be expanded, you can easily wind up with a sea of point solutions, none of which produces real business impact.

Here at Insight, we were selecting which team to go after in order to improve help desk feedback, she says. One strong use case had a team size of 50 who were checking the status of customer orders. But not only was the team small, the people were located in low-cost locations. Improving their efficiency with gen AI would have some impact, but not a significant one. Another team was creating bills of materials for clients, and it was much larger. We went after the team size of 850 instead so it would have a broader impact, she says.

In addition to selecting projects with the widest possible impact, she also recommends looking for those that have a narrower scope, as far as data requirements are concerned. Take for example a gen AI help desk assistant.

Dont go after every type of question that the company can get, she says. Narrow it down, and monitor the responses you get back. Then the amount of data you need to pull in is reduced as well.

Organizing data is a significant challenge for companies deploying AI, and an expensive one, as well. The data should be clean, and in a structured format to reduce inaccuracy. She recommends that companies looking to decide which gen AI projects to do first should look at ones that focus on revenue generation, cost reduction, and improving affinity to their brand.
If you watched DUNE or read the book, then youll get my drift: waste not, want not. This story is about three water utilities that worked together, like the fictional Fremen of the desert-planet Arakkis, to build a synergistic system to manage water usage across their entire water sector sustainably and much more efficiently.

Farys is a water utility that provides cities and municipalities in Belgium with public domain services and infrastructure managementfrom the distribution and transport of drinking water to water sanitation to sports facilities and swimming pools. This is a complex operation, given all the economic, political, social, and environmental systems that consume or use water or have a say in its management or influence its abundance.

In the water sector, utilities are dealing with challenges related to sustainability, along with soaring levels of non-revenue water, unreliable supply, low groundwater flows, supply infrastructure issues, drought, and regulatory pressure for synergy across the sector. This legislative push for smarter meters, high operating costs, lack of market standardization, and the absence of a standard operating model led to the three biggest water utilities in Flanders (De Watergroep, Farys, and Pidpa) to initiate a sector collaboration and co-innovation on the existing platform of Farys.

A water sector topic with so much social relevance deserves an eminent collaboration and state-of-the-art technology platform, said Inge Opreel, CIO of Farys. As a result, the three Belgian water utilities joined forces to define a collaborative, integrated solution to their complex problems.

20% cost reduction potential due to more efficient business operations

First, the three utilities set up a common business model. It would be supported by a cloud-based, future-proof smart meter and energy management system combined with a synergistic, mass roll-out of smart digital water meters. The smart meter program fits into the water utilities broader vision to digitalize water networks to face current sustainability challenges across the water sector.

The utilities then worked with Capgemini and SAP to define a solution that would combine proven technology with an innovative approach. The result of the collaboration was a fully integrated, cloud-based, smart meter and energy management system, that Farys named, The Smart Water Platform, built on the flexible, open architecture of SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) and SAP Cloud for Energy.

With the Smart Water Platform, everything is integrated, explained Opreel. Our data is in one place. It unlocks intelligence, simplifies innovation, and lowers our total cost of ownership compared to our peers.

To illustrate, Farys expects a 20% cost reduction potential due to increased efficiency in administration and business operations as a result of integration between all components, one source of truth, and extensive analytics, with the ability to unlock artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The first AI use cases are implemented in the moment to retrieve further insights from the accumulated data, including clustering based on water usage patterns, forecasting water consumption, and implementing predictive maintenance strategies.

2.7 million digital meters to roll out and maintain on the Smart Water Platform

The collaboration between Farys, De Watergroep, and Pidpa has delivered a common operating model to the water sector in Belgium, supported by a cloud-based, digital meter-independent platform. The Smart Water Platform handles many functional areas for Farysfrom monitoring and validating meter readings to handling events and alerts to data visualization, integration, and provisioning to increased consumer awareness.

More than 2.7 million digital water meters will be rolled out by 2030 and maintained by the Smart Water Platform. The solution allows the company to implement a business data fabric architecture and delivers self-service analytics features, allowing more users to access authoritative data. It is also meter-independent and supports integration with external systems and data providers. For example, the Smart Meter Platformintegrates with everythingincluding different head-end systems that collect measurement data and meter events, SCADA and Lab Information Systems, and with the infrastructure of Data as a Service (DaaS) providers for data generation, transmission, and analytics services.

The water utilities collaboration also created a sector-wide Smart Water Meter Program based on the unified and collaborative IT platform. The program enables joint tendering for market standardization, better terms, knowledge sharing, and collaborative projects to lower TCO. By collaborating and through economics of scale, there is on average a 20% cost reduction achieved. For instance, now there is a sector-wide Meter Operation Center and ICT Service Center, and new and improved customer services enabled by the platform.

For example, meter readings are captured automatically, and billing is based on real-time data. In addition, consumers have near real-time visibility to monitor their water usage and anomalies through a customer portal. In-house leak detection and notification have been increased from once per year to every 24 hours. And yearly invoice lead time has been reduced from weeks to just one day.

Sustaining a precious resource with water sector synergy and smart technology

Smart metering technology has revolutionized water management. It promotes sustainable water usage practices and helps conserve precious resources. By providing accurate, real-time data on water usage with their new smart meter and water management system, Farys, De Watergroup, and Pidpa can promote water conservation, reduce water waste, and improve billing accuracy across the water sector.

Science-fiction writers like Frank Herbert of Dune (published 1965) often imagine the future in terms of solutions that are not so different from what we experience today. Whether an ecosystem for natural resource preservation or personal communicators that each of us carries to stay connectedit is the synergy between science and humanity that makes it work.

Farys received an 2024 SAP Innovation Award as a Transformation Titan for sustainability in the transportation and utilities sector. See the pitch deck to learn about the system architecture and deployment of the Smart Water Platform. For post-implementation details, read the case study.
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Large anti-racist protests were held in several locations last night, with around 1,000 people gathering in Liverpool to protect an asylum charity from rioters.

ITN footage shows a crowd gathered outside Asylum Link Merseyside, which had issued a statement ahead of the riots, saying it had been made aware of threats to its building.

As a charity working in the Liverpool area for decades we are shocked and dismayed by the violent threats towards our staff, volunteers and service users, and the potential damage to our neighbourhood, its statement read.

Counteracting this is the massive upsurge of support our community has offered, both physical and moral: we are not alone and hate will never win.

Like several other charities this week, Asylum Link Merseyside has closed its building due to threats of far-right violence.

It was also one of more than 240 charities that work with refugees and asylum seekers who signed a statement condemning the violent anti-migrant attacks that have been taking place around the country.

Other signatories included Freedom from Torture, Refugee Action, Refugee Council and Safe Passage International.

Services cancelled

Another charity that closed its doors this week was Volunteer Glasgow, which shut down its office and cancelled a drop-in session yesterday.

We will unfortunately be closing our office tomorrow and cancelling this week's Drop-In at @SkillsDevScot. pic.twitter.com/fxsfLjOIJW  Volunteer Glasgow (@volunteerglasgo) August 6, 2024

A charity in the north-east of England reportedly also temporarily closed its doors and cancelled planned events for asylum seekers while images show a Samaritans charity shop boarded up its windows in preparation for yesterdays events.

A Citizens Advice office in Sunderland was also badly damaged following riots in the city and across the country over the weekend, and a fundraiser has since raised around 15,000 to help.

NCVOs chief executive Sarah Elliott said: Charities across the country are experiencing challenges to their everyday operations because of the riots taking place across the country.

We know from speaking to some of our members that many are concerned about the threat of violence against their organisations, staff, volunteers, and service users.

As a result, many charities are considering a range of measures to ensure safety, including reducing services, asking staff to work from home, and in some cases temporarily closing their offices.

Many areas of the sector have been impacted, including faith-based organisations and those who deliver asylum and refugee services. Youth charities have also been affected, with some summer clubs and breakfast clubs forced to close, leaving those who need support the most without vital services.

Some have decided to close as a precaution due to social media threats, while others have shut down out of understandable fear.

The true scale of the impact on charities is yet to be understood, but we do know that when these riots end, they will be more needed than ever.

Its crucial that organisations get the support they need to stay safe during this challenging time, and we, as well as a number of our partners, are doing everything we can to support the sector.

Weve provided help and guidance on our website, and we encourage any charity leaders and trustees to reach out to us, the Charity Commission, or the VCS Emergencies Partnership if they have any questions.

Regulator: Charity leaders face tough choices

Meanwhile, the Charity Commission issued a statement yesterday in which it said many charities had been responding to the riots with courage and optimism.

Despicably, charities in turn are not immune from becoming targets for, or affected by, violence and aggression, it reads.

Mosques and other charitable places of worship have been targeted, and other charities have become victims of mindless vandalism.

Some charity leaders now face tough choices, weighing up the importance of their day-to-day activities against the challenges of keeping beneficiaries, staff, volunteers and premises safe from harm.

The Commission said it recognises that some charities are responding to unfamiliar circumstances and unclear risks.

What matters is that trustees make decisions in good faith, guided by their charitys best interests and act reasonably on the information available, it reads.

David Holdsworth, chief executive of the Commission, said: I want to thank all those trustees, staff and volunteers who over recent days have countered hate with unity and hope, whether in word or action.

This is one of those times in our country when charities demonstrate the difference they make in communities and the ways in which they strengthen our society. You have my thanks, and my support.

As your regulator, we are here to guide and support all charities, and ensure that you know where to turn when you need support. I encourage trustees to use our guidance, reach out to our contact centre or use some of the sectors umbrella bodies and other sources of advice.

The regulators statement notes its safeguarding guidance includes a section on how to handle and report incidents and concerns.

Charities should not hesitate to call emergency services if their staff, volunteers or beneficiaries face abuse, feel threatened, or are in danger, it adds.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
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Micro-volunteering has been growing in popularity over the last few years and is revolutionising the way charities like the British Heart Foundation (BHF) engage with their volunteers.

Increasing numbers of volunteers are opting for ad hoc shifts, which allows the flexibility of volunteering without signing up for anything long-term.

This marks a break away from the traditional weekly volunteer patterns, as people instead choose to drop in for an hour or two whenever they have some free time.

Gen Z and volunteering

BHF recently surveyed 3,068 of our retail volunteers and we found that, across all age groups, volunteers are opting for irregular, flexible hours over formal shift patterns.

But this is particularly true among younger volunteers, with 73% of 16- to 18-year-olds volunteering for up to five hours per week.

The demographic of our volunteers in general is also shifting. The average age of a BHF retail volunteer is now 30, compared to 50 years old before the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, over half (53%) of the volunteers we recruited last year were between the ages of 16 and 24.

With the demographic of volunteers changing, charities need to make sure they are catering for younger audiences who are looking for more flexibility.

Offering flexibility

Volunteering should be simple, fit around other commitments, and be as accessible to all. This is something we are trying to achieve by rolling out taster volunteer sessions this summer, making it easy for volunteers to sign up online and try it out without any formal sign up or commitment.

Our taster sessions give people the opportunity to volunteer for an hour or two over the summer without any ongoing commitment. This can be done in their own home from their sofa, or in a local charity shop.

Nearly half (46%) of our volunteers aged 16 to 24 say that volunteering has improved their mental health.

One of our volunteers in our Bristol shop, Ameena, is studying marketing at university. She told us that she can get quite anxious during exam periods, and it helps her to go out and go somewhere friendly for a couple of hours. If she has some spare time, she simply posts in the team group chat and volunteers.

Making the most of volunteers skills

We encourage our volunteers to bring their own skills to the time they spend in the shop and aim to create a rich tapestry of experience and skills, whether its someone with a passion for preloved helping to sort our stock, an art student helping to design window displays or an engineer helping to function test our electricals.

Anastacia, a college student who volunteers in our Hemel Hempstead shop, loves to use her creative eye to decorate the chalk boards outside the shop for events like Halloween, Christmas and Pride. She even creates sunglasses and jewellery, which are sold in the shop.

For others, volunteering is about meeting people and connecting with others. Seven out of 10 of our volunteers say that meeting people is the most important thing they get out of volunteering.

Another of our volunteers, Joe, drops in to our Bristol vintage shop to volunteer flexibly when he has some free time. As a student, Joe likes to volunteer to break out of the student bubble and engage in the local area. He told us that he chooses to be front of house so that he can chat to the team and customers.

Charities should make space for volunteers to focus on their own skills and passions, whether that involves hunting for vintage items, using artistic skills, or simply connecting with new people.

Our teams benefit from having extra help, even if it is just for half an hour, and more people volunteering means more diversity and fresh ideas. Volunteers are the lifeblood of our charity, and every hour makes a difference to help us fund our lifesaving work.

Civil Society Voices is the place for informed opinion, and debate about the big issues affecting charities today. Were always keen to hear from anyone, working or volunteering at a charity, who has something to say. Find out more about contributing and how to get in touch. is the place for informed opinion, and debate about the big issues affecting charities today. Were always keen to hear from anyone, working or volunteering at a charity, who has something to say.
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A few years ago, when a low-ranking Air National Guardsman on an obscure base in Cape Cod posted top-secret information about the war in Ukraine in an online chat room, newsrooms scrambled to make sense of the story. At the Wall Street Journal, where I worked until earlier this year, a handful of reporters teamed up to explore why this young man, working so far from the war zone, had access to such sensitive data in the first place.

The task was made easier because the team included a longtime national security reporter who had been covering the Pentagon for decades, plus myselfa military veteran with years of real-world experience and sourcing to help decipher lingo and sort through the broader implications of the leak. We soon wrote an article explaining how that remote Air National Guard base had quietly come to play an outsize role in Americas global drone warsa story no one else had.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan brought newsrooms a surge of journalists with time spent in combat zones, and a new generation of military veterans taking up jobs in media. Some of them are still workingThomas Gibbons-Neff, a Marine who served two tours in Afghanistan, covered Ukraine for the New York Times; the Washington Posts Alex Horton was an Army infantryman in Iraqbut many others have moved on to other careers, or been pushed out of their roles through restructuring or layoffs. Earlier this year, several military-oriented publications under the banner of Military Times laid off half their staff, including a number of veterans. According to the advocacy group Military Veterans in Journalism, veterans make up only about 2 percent of media workers today, despite representing 7 percent of the population.

It wont be easy to reverse this trendveterans who transition to journalism are, by definition, embarking on a second career (I was a thirty-three-year-old intern)but the effort is needed. From a purely practical standpoint, veterans in a newsroom bring firsthand familiarity with the terminology and taxonomy of weapons and equipment. They know the complex structure of the military. Its valuable to have reporters who can quickly and reliably check a sources claims of veteran status or experienceparticularly at a moment when both vice presidential nominees, Tim Walz and JD Vance, are veterans, and are facing questions over the specifics of their own service recordsand whom editors can call at the last minute to make sure another reporter has correctly described a gun or a tank.

Having service experience can also make military sources feel more at ease. On more than a few reporting trips, Ive been able to draw on my background to disarm a potential sources stereotypical conception of the detached reporter gallivanting into their world. People want someone they feel is responsive to them and understands their lives, and thats especially true in the armed forces, where people tend to have a sense of proprietary ownership over their military, their bases, their wars, their lives.

The past several years of limited American military operations have lulled some publishers into thinking they dont need as many people with wartime backgrounds in their newsrooms. But the military doesnt just get rid of all its troops when wars end, and the value veterans bring to journalism doesnt wane when conflicts do. Having fewer veterans on hand threatens to leave newsrooms less prepared to intelligently and aggressively push back on official claims when the next conflict breaks out. Veterans know intimately of the effects of war, of what weapons do to the human bodythey arent easily swayed by civilian politicians who might talk about it in abstract, glorified terms.

Veterans also bring a special sensibility to coverage beyond conflict. They know how to listen to people who have experienced physical and moral damagehowever it might come about. During my decade with the Journal, I was often tasked with covering shootings and domestic unrest. I treated sources with empathy, but I didnt condescend to them or waver under the weight of their trauma. That made them more comfortable speaking honestly with me.

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The thing that veterans bring to the table is the ability to really understand and cover things with nuance, said Ron Nixon, a vice president and top editor at the Associated Press and a Marine Corps veteran. The military is such a huge part of our lives in more ways than just folks going off to war. The militarys big on climate change, diplomacy around the world. Then theres military families and the effect on local economies around bases. Having veterans in the newsroom helps folks understand that.

Not long ago I went to Cooper University Health Cares trauma center in Camden, New Jersey, to write about a special program that rotated active-duty military doctors and nurses through the civilian emergency department. The goal was both to keep the trauma-treatment skills of the military medical staff fresh and to help civilians learn from the unique experiences of those whod treated wounds in combat.

I found the story through military sourcing and then was welcomed by Cooper in no small part because of my background. The people I met at the hospital spoke with me as someone who would tell their story fairly. That trust was almost immediate, and it was tangible throughout the reporting process.

The article I ended up writing about Cooper wasnt a war story, it was a medical story. But it was a story suffused with martial themes and characters. I dont know if I would have found it, or had the tools to tell it, if I hadnt had the background of a veteran.

Ben Kesling is a writer who focuses on defense and veterans issues. He is a former Wall Street Journal reporter, where he covered the Pentagon, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and was a combat correspondent in Iraq. His book, Bravo Company, is about an Army unit's deployment to Afghanistan and their hard return home. He served as a U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
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In 2020, a House of Representatives subcommittee released a lengthy report that laid out what it described as the anticompetitive practices of the four major Big Tech companiesGoogle, Amazon, Apple, and Meta (then known as Facebook)and asked the Department of Justice to do something about them. A couple of weeks later, the federal government filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google, alleging that the company had engaged in various anticompetitive practices, including a multibillion-dollar deal that made it the default search engine on Apple phones. Last September, the case arrived in courtand this week, a federal judge in the District of Columbia handed down what many analysts say is the most significant antitrust decision since a landmark 1998 antitrust ruling against Microsoft. Depending on what remedies the court imposes, Google could be forced to alter its business model or even break itself apart. The landscape of the internet, in other words, could change dramatically. (Google has said that it will appeal.)

In a decision that runs to more than two hundred and seventy pages, Judge Amit Mehta found that the payments that Google makes to Apple, Mozilla, and other companies in return for making it the default search engine for their smartphones and Web browserspayments that totaled more than twenty billion dollars last yearamount to an unfair restraint on competition. Mehta stated bluntly that Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly. He found that Google controls almost 90 percent of the search market, a figure that rises to nearly 95 percent for mobile devices, and said that the company has used its monopoly to charge advertisers higher prices than it could have done if the market were more competitive. Mehta concluded that, in a more competitive market, Google simply could not take this approach, and that without its dominant position, it couldnt have achieved the monopoly profits that it does presently in the absence of rivals.

As I wrote when the case went to trial last year, Googles defense, in a nutshell, was that it has such a large share of the market because its search engine is better than those of its competitors, and that internet users are free to choose other search providers whenever they wish. In a pretrial filing last year before the case got underway, Google argued, among other things, that the Justice Department defined the search market too narrowly, that Google doesnt have a monopoly (which the company defined as the ability to raise prices beyond a competitive level), and that its market dominance actually helps consumers because it provides a world-class search service for free. According to Google, its status as the default browser on products like Apples did not result from massive payments, but from Google having successfully competed on the merits.

Traditionally, US courts hearing antitrust cases have defined anticompetitive behavior by assessing whether consumers have been harmed by a monopolistwith an emphasis on economic harm: that is, higher prices. Google argues that, since its search services are free, there can be no such harm. The Justice Department, however, has argued that consumers can be harmed in other ways, telling the court, for example, that a lack of choice could be defined as a harm to consumers, as could lower product quality. In a nutshell, the governments case was that Google has not innovated as it would have with competitive pressurean argument that may have been aided by studies appearing to show that Googles search results have gotten worse over time, throwing up more spam and fewer accurate or helpful links to information.

While Mehta agreed in his decision that Google is the leading search engine in terms of quality, he also stated that most users would likely stick with it even if its quality declineda conclusion that he appeared to base, in part, on Googles own evidence. In response to questioning by the court, the company admitted that it doesnt consider whether users will decide to switch to any of its competitors before it makes a change to its search product. Mehta wrote that just as the power to raise prices is proof of monopoly power, so too is the ability to degrade product quality without concern of losing consumers.

For now, at least, the internet isnt set to change overnight; Mehtas ruling is still an early step in the case. The next step is the remedy phase, during which the court will hear arguments from the company and the Justice Department, as well as industry experts, as to what steps it should take to alter Googles monopoly. And Google plans to appeal, a process that George Hay, a law professor at Cornell University and former chief economist for the Justice Departments antitrust division, told the Associated Press could take as long as five years. That kind of delay might help Google extend its search deals and bring in more revenue, though Hay said that the company could also face class action lawsuits from customers in that time, since Mehta has ruled those deals to be anticompetitive in nature and therefore theoretically illegal.

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Nor would the internet necessarily change dramatically in a world where the ruling, and remedy, sticks. Casey Newton noted in his Platformer newsletter that a similar antitrust ruling in the European Union in 2018 eventually forced Google to allow users to choose a different search engine as their default when setting up a new Android phone, while allowing the company to charge other search engines for the right to be included as an alternative. So far, Newton writes, this ruling has had a negligible effect on Googles market share in Europe. Whether a US court would be able to extend this kind of move to Apples iPhones remains to be seen, since Apple would have to agree. (It is not a party to the Google case.) And if most users were to choose Google anyway, then the companys market share would stay where it is, without Google having to pay billions of dollars for the privilege. That doesnt seem like much of a remedy.

The most extreme option would be to force Google to sell off parts of its search and/or advertising businesses, to prevent the company from using them to maintain or extend its monopoly. Some prominent Google critics have advocated this approach, including Senator Bernie Sanders and the American Economic Liberties Project, a nonprofit funded by Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay. But that kind of nuclear option has only been used in a handful of cases, such as the breakup of AT&T in 1982. In the Microsoft case, which some analysts say is the most similar to Googles, the government ultimately failed to persuade the court to dismantle the company. Although Microsoft was found to have engaged in anticompetitive behavior, the original ruling was partially overturned on appeal, and the company reached a settlement that entailed a fine and an agreement to allow Windows users to install competing Web browsers.

Although the Microsoft decision was not seen as a slam-dunk win for the Justice Department and for US antitrust law, some technology analysts have argued that the lengthy trial and attendant public spotlight helped to blunt the force of Microsofts business as a whole, and in doing so helped smaller competitors to gain groundincluding an up-and-coming search engine called Google. In a similar way, some technology-watchers have argued that the antitrust case against IBM, which was filed by the Justice Department in 1969 and eventually abandoned in 1982, helped slow IBMs business in ways that encouraged the development of more agile competitors including Microsoft and Apple.

These historical examples have convinced some observers that, regardless of the eventual outcome of the Google lawsuit, the fact that one has been filed at all implies that the era of the search engine, and Googles dominance of that era, is likely coming to an end. Not that the existence of the suit is necessary to make such an argument. Many observers believe that artificial intelligence tools will replace or take over search in the near future, by responding with personalized answers to queries that users submit vocally or through dedicated apps, rather than by typing into a textbox on a website. OpenAI, the company behind the popular AI engine ChatGPT, recently launched its own AI-powered search engine. Like the other tech giants, Google is currently trying to catch up in the AI race by offering its own services, including the Gemini platform.

For now, Google continues to face a second antitrust case alleging that it engages in monopolistic practices and anticompetitive behavior in the advertising market. Judge Mehta didnt really help the Justice Department with that case when he stated in this weeks decision that Google lacks monopoly power in that arena, and therefore is not liable for its actions related to Google search ads. But Eric Posner, a law professor at the University of Chicago and antitrust expert, said that the recent decision could make the next case somewhat easier to prosecute, in part because all of the text messages, emails, and other evidence from Google that were admitted in the search case will be available. The advertising case is set to be heard by a Virginia court, starting September 9.



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: California journalists on covering Kamala Harris

Mathew Ingram was CJRs longtime chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg.
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The Tow Center maintains a list of politically backed and partisan news sites here. It includes details of individual networks, copies of physical mailers that have been sent, and existing research about individual networks. If you receive a physical mailer, have examples of similar networks operating in your area, or would like access to more granular data, please get in touch with us here.

A new Tow Center analysis of campaign finance records and nonprofit filings reveals that four political action committees and four nonprofit organizations paid a network of partisan pay-for-play news sites controlled by Metric Media over $14 million in 20212022. The investigation demonstrates millions more flowing to partisan pink slime news sites than previously reported. The payments can be traced to organizations tied to conservative megadonors, including shipping magnate Richard Uihlein, billionaire tech investor Peter Thiel, and oil and gas billionaire Tim Dunn.

The Tow Center has covered pink slime news networks since 2019, using computational methods to reveal the extent of the Metric Media network, which comprised nearly 1,300 websites. Our research has previously traced some of its partnerships as well as its sources of funding. In this report, we look at financial disclosures combined with an analysis of the networks coverage of the Big Lie of election denialism to help illustrate one of the ways in which this influence model is being used by PACs and advocacy organizations.

Local news outlets backed by special interestsincluding political actors in the United States or abroadcontinue to receive attention ahead of the 2024 US general election. Researchers at Clemson University identified a network of local news sites laundering Kremlin-backed narratives largely focused on undercutting the Wests support of Ukraine in 2023. Meanwhile, Semafor reported on Star Spangled Media, a secretive local media network tied to a Democratic lawyer. As independent local news is caught in a downward spiraldeclining revenues, fewer journalists, and smaller audiencesalternative media and politically backed journalism have found more space to operate.

In the run-up to the 2022 midterm elections, the Tow Center identified $1.6 million of the transactions by political action committees with various entities directly related to Metric Media and Pipeline Media, but the $14 million traced in our new analysis dwarfs that figure. This sum includes:

A total of $7.5 million from two PACs and the nonprofit Restoration of America, backed by shipping magnate Richard Uihlein , for research, consulting, and an assortment of campaign-related services (robocalls, SMS messages, websites). The Uihleins were the biggest federal campaign donors to Republican candidates in the run-up to the 2022 midterms, contributing more than $60 million to federal Republican causes. They are also the largest donors to Restoration PAC. According to its website, Restoration PAC engages in elections, provides support to truly conservative candidates, and opposes the woke agenda.

, for research, consulting, and an assortment of campaign-related services (robocalls, SMS messages, websites). The Uihleins were the biggest federal campaign donors to Republican candidates in the run-up to the 2022 midterms, contributing more than $60 million to federal Republican causes. They are also the largest donors to Restoration PAC. According to its website, Restoration PAC engages in elections, provides support to truly conservative candidates, and opposes the woke agenda. $240,000 from the Peter Thiel funded Saving Arizona PAC, which backed Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters, for consulting and printing/postage. (At least two editions of Metric Medias Grand Canyon Times were sent by postal mail to Arizonans during the campaign.)

funded Saving Arizona PAC, which backed Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters, for consulting and printing/postage. (At least two editions of Metric Medias were sent by postal mail to Arizonans during the campaign.) $57,075 from the Defend Texas Liberty PAC, largely funded by West Texas oil and gas billionaire Tim Dunn . Dunn has spent over a decade building a political apparatus in Texas to push the state further to the right by giving tens of millions of dollars to ultraconservative movements and candidates.

. Dunn has spent over a decade building a political apparatus in Texas to push the state further to the right by giving tens of millions of dollars to ultraconservative movements and candidates. $6 million from three other nonprofit organizations for content development, publishing and distributing, and public relations, including nearly $5 million from the Metric Media Foundation. Both LLCs and the foundation are part of the complicated organizational structure that oversees this network.

About a third of the total sum was paid by the Uihlein-backed group Restoration of America, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, to Salvo Page for research & consulting services. The signatory on Salvo Pages certificate of formation is Brian Timpone, who holds an executive role in numerous organizations that are known to operate the extended Metric Media network. These companies largely share leadership, employees, and technology resources. The number of corporate entities, the different states in which they are registered (or reregistered), and their use of various aliases and rebrands make it difficult to track the full scale of the extended networks activity.

Among Restoration of Americas many projects is the Voter Reference Foundation (VoteRef), an effort to address election integrity by publishing every states voter rollsincluding names, addresses, and dates of birthso they can be examined for instances of voter fraud. While FOIA responses are, by definition, public records, privacy experts and many states have raised concerns that making such data public facilitates doxxing. Election officials have also described VoteRefs methodology as flawed. The Tow Center previously reported that one part of this local news network built the Web application that allows users to browse voter rolls. A recently posted bio of Timpone states that he cofounded this initiative.

Dunn also holds a managerial role at Pipeline Media, another organization responsible for the network. As first reported by the Tow Center, Dunn assumed this role in 2021, while retaining his position on the boards of numerous conservative groups whose initiatives are often promoted across the network. Dunn sits on the board of the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit created to craft policy for a second Trump term that is sometimes referred to as a White House in waiting. It is also one of many advocacy organizations that has engaged with election denialism.

Not only does the Metric Media/Pipeline Media network provide a news platform for campaigns and advocacy causes, it also provides a slew of services: creating websites, running Facebook ads, filing FOIA requests, and other campaign-related services, including robocalling, text messaging, and publishing and delivering physical newspapers in support of specific issues or candidates. In 2024, the network has run more than 150 ads linking to the Uihlein-funded Restoration of America website through its Facebook pages.

One way in which the Metric/Pipeline network has furthered the views of its clients and ideological counterparts is by lending credence to the Big Lie. We found more than 2,000 stories relating to election integrity across the networks 1,200 sites. These included false claims that the 2020 general election was stolen from former president Donald Trump; that mail-in voting is rife with fraud; and that grants from a nonprofit backed by Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to aid local election officers led to favorable outcomes for the Democrats. (An APM Reports analysis of three of the five key swing states shows these funds had no clear impact on voter turnout.) Multiple audits of election results, audits of voting machines, and recounts have found no evidence of voter fraud at the massive scale necessary to swing the 2020 election. In Arizona, fewer than 200 cases of potential voter fraud were identified out of the more than 3 million votes cast.

By piecing together Metric Media/Pipeline Medias role in building a campaign against voter integrity, we demonstrate how the networks function extends far beyond publishing.

Local Labs, one of the key companies responsible for the network, committed thousands of hours of research to the task, asking the counties for voter data from the 2020 general election. Local Labs made these FOIA requests for the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and Restoration of Americas Voter Reference Foundation in an attempt to substantiate claims of widespread voter fraud. For AFPI, this data underpinned misleading reports about fraudulent ballots. For Restoration of America, this meant continually updating its VoteRef database with the details as and when it received responses from various counties.

The networks coverage of the Big Lie wasnt isolated to the efforts by AFPI and Restoration of America. It also highlighted the positions of a number of rich and powerful advocacy groups.

Our analysis shows that the Metric/Pipeline network published hundreds of stories around this topic, citing a handful of think tanks promoting election denialism, including the Heritage Foundation, the Thomas More Society, the Capital Research Center, and the Public Interest Legal Foundation. For these cases, we found no public records showing financial transactions between these groups and the larger Metric Media network.

This network plays a role in the bigger conservative media ecosystem that comprises religious media, talk radio, digital platforms, and the national conservative press. Together, these elements can create a surround-sound effect by echoing the same messaging across different platforms. While the direct impact of each component of this network is hard to assess, with margins being as narrow as they have been in the past few election cycles, influencing only a small percentage of the voting public could swing a race or issue.

Numerous corporate entities operate the core network of publishing sites, including Metric Media, Newsinator (alias Franklin Archer), Local Government Information Services (LGIS), Pipeline Media (formerly LocalityLabs and Journatic), Pipeline Advisors, and Advantage Informatics. Other than Timpone and Dunn, the key executives across these entities are the Illinois-based John Tillman and Texas-based Bradley Cameron.

In the run-up to the 2020 election, Cameron and Timpone launched more than a thousand local news websites under the Metric Media banner. The sites were packed with press releases and automated templated stories derived from publicly available data. Interspersed among these data-based stories was political and issue advocacy, along with corporate communications. Cameron, who runs the management consultancy Situation Management Group (SMG), has multiple advocacy groups as clients, many of which have received favorable coverage on this network or have had their positions broadcast.

Cameron, Dunn, and Timpone did not respond to our requests for comment over email.

Key personnel and entities are shown in the network graph below.



The core network of entities operating the Metric Media/Pipeline Media network.

Breaking down the ties and the $14 million

Overall, we identified about 25 transactions from campaign finance records and Form 990 filings that make up this $14 million. Seven entities associated with the network were paid for services including media consulting, content delivery and distribution, and printing and postage.

Campaign finance



202122 campaign finance expenditures on the extended Metric Media/Pipeline Media network.

Uihleins Restoration PAC paid Pipeline Media and Pipeline Advisors a total of $1.78 million in 202122 for production costs, media consulting, and management consulting.

The People Who Play by the Rules PAC, which received $42 million from Uihlein and backed Illinois gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, also paid two companies connected to the network. Pipeline Media and Salvo Page received a total of $1.18 million for services including website, SMS text messages, and consulting. Bailey lost to incumbent J.B. Pritzker.

The Saving Arizona PAC, largely funded by Thiel, backed Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters. It ran advertisements in the Metric Medias Grand Canyon Times, at least two editions of which were sent to Arizonans. The PAC paid Advantage Informatics, another corporate entity that operates the network, just under $250,000, the majority of it earmarked for printing/postage. Masters also lost his race to the Democratic incumbent, Mark Kelly.

In Texas we were unable to establish coverage of any of the candidates supported by Dunns Defend Texas Liberty PAC except Donald Huffines. We found more than fifty stories promoting Huffines, a primary challenger to Texas governor Greg Abbott, which publicized his position on topics including abortion, election fraud, and border security. Huffines, too, lost the race.

None of the candidateseach further to the right of their opponentswon their respective races, despite the millions of dollars going into their campaigns. However, that tide may be turning this election cycle. During the Texas primaries in early 2024, Dunn (along with his family investment vehicle, Hexagon Partners) contributed almost $2.5 million to the Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC, a rebranding of the Defend Texas Liberty PAC after the revelation that groups associated with Dunn had ties to white supremacists. Eleven of the 28 House candidates backed by Dunns political network won their primaries, and another eight races headed to run-offs. (For comparison, as reported by the Texas Tribune, all but one of the nineteen Dunn-backed House candidates lost in 2022.)

Form 990 filings



While campaign finance records are filed in near real time, Form 990s (the tax returns for nonprofits) only become publicly available a year to two years later, which makes it difficult to ascertain and report on financial transactions between parties in or near real time.

In 202122, Uihleins Restoration of America gave a total of $4.6 million to Salvo Page for research & consulting. Salvo Page is a company registered in Delaware with Timpone listed as its authorized person. Its address, per 990 filings, matches that of both Pipeline Media and Advantage Informatics and the return address on the physical editions of Buckeye Reporter (a publication printed under the Metric Media banner) that were mailed in July 2023 during Ohios Issue 1 referendum on abortion rights. These pages highlighted the GOPs support of the measure, labeled the opposition communists, and attributed a fake statement to a grassroots advocacy group, Red Wine and Blue, that had opposed the measure.

Our review of the 990 filings revealed a further combined $1.3 million from two organizationsthe Franklin News Foundation and the Institute for Citizen-Focused Service (ICFS)for marketing and public relations. While the Franklin News Foundation has ties to the Koch network, the ICFS is a nonprofit incorporated in 2021 and staffed by members of the former Trump administration, at least three of whom have worked in energy lobbying or other pro-fossil-fuel endeavors. Its chairman, Doug Domenech, who was the assistant secretary for Insular Affairs in the Trump administrations Interior Department, previously ran the Fueling Freedom Projectaiming to push back on the Environmental Protection Agencys proposed Clean Power Planfor the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a nonprofit on whose board Dunn sits.

In October 2023, the Daily Dot reported on a 2021 payment of $187,500 from ICFS to Pipeline Advisors for public relations. The following years Form 990 shows another payment of $900,000 for content development and distribution.

Most of the sites within this network say that they publish under a licensing agreement with the Metric Media Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and rely on the Metric brand for donations. However, its name has changed to Community News Foundation.

Since its inception, in 2019, the Metric Media/Community News Foundation has seen its revenue climb from less than $500,000 to $3.6 million in 2022. When we first reported on the funding of this network, in 2021, we found that Donors Trust, referred to as the dark-money ATM of the conservative movement by Mother Jones, had given the company $172,500 in its first year of operation and $1.27 million the following year, but no grants have been given to the foundation since then.

Meanwhile, in 2021 and 2022, grants made to the Metric Media Foundation were largely used to purchase services from three of the numerous for-profit venturesFranklin Archer, Pipeline Advisors, and Pipeline Mediaoperating this network. Of the $3.6 million revenue the foundation reported in 2022, $3.4 million was disbursed to Pipeline Advisors and Pipeline Media for publishing and distributing. In 2021, $1.39 million of the $1.8 million revenue was paid to Pipeline Advisors and Franklin Archer for publishing and distributing and publishing, respectively.

Over and above the $14 million spent on Metric Media and its related entities during the 202122 election cycle, we found multiple nonprofits associated with Dunn, Cameron, and Uihlein promoted across this network.

The AFPI, the think tank sometimes known as the White House in waiting, was established by then-President Trumps staffers, including Brooke Rollins (director of the Domestic Policy Council and former chief strategist in the White House) and Larry Kudlow (director of the National Economic Council). Dunn sits on the organizations board.

The AFPI published two reports claiming there were discrepancies between the number of ballots cast and the number of people who voted: National Review of Retaining Election Records from the 2020 Election and Voter Discrepancies Found in the Arizona 2022 General Election. Local Labs (now Pipeline Media) obtained the data used in these reports by making hundreds of public records requests to county offices. According to a fact-check by the Associated Press, election officials and experts voiced concerns that the first study was flawed for having failed to account for fluctuations in local voter registration numbers as people move in and out of state and from county to county or for the fact that different counties responded on different dates, which could explain the discrepancies.

Restoration of Americas VoteRef also operates under the mantle of election integrity. Its efforts to put every states voter rolls online, including personally identifiable information, have largely been successful, despite election officials saying the methodology is flawed and numerous states attempting to restrict republication of these records due to privacy concerns.

VoteRef has sued New Mexico, Maine, and Pennsylvania for the right to publish these rolls, arguing any restriction impinges on its First Amendment rights. As reported by Politico, Maine and New Mexico lost appeals to protect these voter records from republication.

In 2022, we found that Local Labs was responsible for building out the VoteRef website, based on documents acquired by ProPublica. Our new analysis has found that, as with the AFPI, Local Labs conducted many of the public records requests to get the voter rolls on VoteRefs behalf. Additionally, Timpone was a cofounder of VoteRef, according to a bio published on Liberty Justice Centers website in March 2024. (In April 2021, Timpone took on the role of secretary at the Liberty Justice Center, a nonprofit legal center.)

While the extended Metric Media local news network has published hundreds of stories focusing on VoteRefincluding numerous stories about its various lawsuitswe didnt find any that mentioned Timpones role.

This isnt the only lens through which the Metric Media network has covered the Big Lie. There is no simple cohesive narrative, as proponents draw from different parts of the electoral process: dismissing voter suppression concerns, advocating for greater scrutiny of voter rolls to find discrepancies, alleging that mail-in voting enables rampant fraud, pursuing legal actions against offices that dont concede, or championing more restrictive voting laws. Stories published by the network cover the gamut, often citing the handful of influential conservative think tanks backed by big-money donors who perpetuate the Big Lie.

Overall, our analysis found more than 2,000 stories covering various aspects of voter fraud published across 700 of the networks sites.

Mark Zuckerbergs Election Integrity Initiative

Many of the stories published on voter fraud and election integrity mention one or more of these think tanks. For example: in May 2022, the DC Business Daily story Cuccinelli: Crowdsourcing going on to get voter integrity questionnaires to legislative, secretary of state candidates referred to the Election Transparency Initiative and Honest Elections Project, while the 2021 East RGV News story Studies: Zuckerberg-backed nonprofit favored blue counties with election-boosting grants mentioned the Capital Research Center, Public Interest Legal Fund, and Restoration for America.

The Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL), a nonprofit initiative funded by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, provided $350 million in grants to local election offices in the run-up to the 2020 general election. These grants were designed to help ensure elections ran smoothly at a time when there was a tight budget, little help from the federal government, and an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots due to the coronavirus pandemic. Counties requested grants for various priorities including new equipment, PPE, staffing and pay, and vote-by-mail initiatives.

Dark-money groups like the Thomas More Society, Foundation for Government Accountability, and Capital Research Center claimed these Zuckerbucks provided Joe Biden with an advantage, even though the CTCL funded every election jurisdiction that applied for a grant. An independent audit found the CTCL financing didnt skew results, while an FEC analysis found that the nexus between the donations and any purpose to influence the 2020 election is speculative at best. Complaints to the FEC alleging that Zuckerberg and Chan had made excess contributions, violating federal campaign finance law, and that one of their nonprofit organizations had failed to register as a political committee were unanimously rejected by the bipartisan FEC.

Nonetheless, these groups lobbied for new legislation to ensure that private financing to aid the electoral process is banned in every state. In April 2024, voters in Wisconsin approved amendments to block outside funding that helps administer elections, despite there being no evidence that CTCL funding had influenced the electoral outcome in the state in 2020.

The Pipeline Media/Metric Media network published more than 650 stories on 380 of its websites discussing Zuckerbergs initiative, with headlines like the Bridgeport Times Electoral Interference: Democrats in Bridgeport see 4.6 change in votes after private funding given to voting officials and South ABQ Newss After Zuckerberg donations, Democrat support in Torrance rises 4% in 2020 election.

These stories appear to be templated and seem designed to push the narrative that Democrats benefited more than Republicans. For example, in Jasper County, South Carolina, support for Trump increased by 4 percent as Republican turnout increased by 36.5 percent, while Biden saw a drop in support. It appears that the templated story assumed that the Democrats would have an advantage in Jasper, leading to a Hilton Head Reporter headline with a negative number: After Zuckerberg donations, Democrat support in Jasper rises -3% in 2020 election. The first line of the story highlights how Democratic turnout increased by 20.6 percent from 2016 to 2020, while Republican turnout increased by only 36.5%.

Even in the instances where Republican turnout had increased after CTCL funding, we found 47 Metric Media headlines that mentioned electoral interference and coupled it with the change in Democratic voteseven when that change, like the above example, was negative.

That said, we found more than 100 stories published on 90 sites that highlighted Republican candidates who saw their biggest gains after their districts received grants from the Zuckerberg nonprofit.

Foundation for Government Accountability

The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) was added to Camerons management consultancys client roster in late 2021 or early 2022, according to snapshots captured by the Internet Archive. In 2021, the FGA added election integrity to its list of initiatives.

In March 2024, CNN reported that the FGA has played a key role in the push to advance voting restrictions and other legislation pitched as promoting election integrity in Republican statesclaiming more than 70 such policy wins across the country in 2022 alone. The FGA has received $17.6 million from Uihleins foundation since 2014. The organization campaigned to ban private funding in elections; 25 states, all with Republican-controlled state legislatures, have introduced some form of ban or restriction on private financing, even as multiple reports have underscored the towering costs required to modernize and run elections.

We found 250 nearidentical stories about Facebook-funded progressives providing grants to individual counties published on 220 Metric Media websites in June and July 2021, all using the same quote from FGAs data and analytics director.

Meanwhile, after Texas came under criticism for the proposed new laws, multiple stories citing the Heritage Foundation, Election Transparency Initiative, and Texas Public Policy Foundation (whose board includes Dunn) were published on Texas-based sites owned by Metric Media/Pipeline Media.

The Austin Journal ran articles headlined Panelists back Texas voting laws, say states lead way on voter integrity and Heritage Foundation analyst: Media all wrong on new Texas election law. The First State Times ran Atlantic editorial: Bidens criticism of election reform bill smacks of hypocrisy, while the Houston Daily published Anderson: Texas is latest pawn of Democrats goal of fabricating an election integrity crisis that doesnt exist. The Lone Star Standard ran multiple stories, including Conservative analysts defend Texas proposed voting changes, Texas House and Senate pass anti-fraud legislation amid astounding amount of disinformation about proposed laws, and Hughes: Goal of election security legislation is so Texans can feel confident that their elections are fair, honest and open.

While the Texas case focused on rallying support for new legislation, Ohios was also calling out legislators for failing to pass proposed electoral reforms. Fourteen cookie-cutter stories were published with headlines like Ohio legislature does not advance election reform legislation, Plummer declines to comment; Ohio legislature does not advance election reform legislature, Cupp declines to comment; and No response from Creech on election reform prospects this year. All cited the Election Transparency Initiative.

As we approach the 2024 general election, these holistic campaign networks that merge advocacy and political campaigning under the banner of news are likely to continue, on the left and the rightand also possibly by foreign actors. Its impossible to assess the role these networks will play on their own in the election cycle, but with the surround-sound approach of simultaneously hitting voters with the same pieces of information on multiple platforms, perhaps they dont really need to make a national impactjust sway small pockets of voters in strategically important counties.

The Tow Center maintains a list of politically backed and partisan news sites here. It includes details of individual networks, copies of physical mailers that have been sent, and existing research about individual networks. If you receive a physical mailer, have examples of similar networks operating in your area, or would like access to more granular data, please get in touch with us here.

Priyanjana Bengani is a senior research fellow (Tow Computational Fellow) at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University.
Catastrophic workers compensation claims present a complex web of medical, legal and financial challenges.

Professionals need a roadmap for navigating the intricate journey from initial injury through long-term care and potential settlement, with key strategies to improve outcomes in these demanding scenarios. Understanding this lifecycle and implementing best practices at each stage can lead to better medical results, increased worker independence and more efficient claim resolution.

Understanding Catastrophic Claims

Catastrophic claims can arise in any industry, resulting from incidents such as car accidents, falls from heights or even seemingly minor trips and slips. These claims typically involve traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, serious burns affecting more than 25% of the body, amputation of a major extremity, crushing or massive internal injuries, and partial or total loss of vision in one or both eyes.

Early Intervention and Acute Care

When a catastrophic injury occurs, the employers immediate priority is ensuring the injured workers safety and facilitating emergency medical response. This includes calling 911 and keeping the injured worker safe from further harm while also ensuring the safety of other personnel nearby. Emergency responders will transport the injured worker to the nearest appropriate medical facility for stabilization. The initial facility may not have the full capacity to manage the medical needs and may preliminarily stabilize the injured work and transfer to a level I trauma center for more definitive intervention.

Once the claim is reported to the insurance carrier or third-party administrator, an experienced claims professional should be assigned to report the claim to any excess carriers, reinsurers, or other stakeholders. A critical strategic decision at this stage is the assignment of an experienced catastrophic onsite nurse case manager.

The role of the catastrophic nurse case manager cannot be overstated. This professional is vital in establishing relationships with the medical treatment team, the injured worker, and their family, while effectively communicating with the adjuster and claims team. Their experience and pre-existing relationships with trauma centers help ensure timely medical updates and improved care coordination. Moreover, their interpersonal skills are crucial in developing rapport with the family, which is key to influencing the next steps in the rehabilitation process, particularly in educating about the benefits of specialized care at a center of excellence.

Specialized Treatment and Rehabilitation

Once medically stabilized, the injured worker may be transferred to a rehabilitation facility for ongoing recovery. This often involves a center of excellence, but in some cases, a short admission to a long-term acute care hospital may be necessary to prepare the worker for intensive rehabilitation.

Centers of excellence play a crucial role in catastrophic injury treatment. These specialized facilities have extensive experience treating specific types of catastrophic injuries and employ a multidisciplinary approach to care. The injured workers team may include physicians, nurses, various therapists, psychologists, chaplains, and experts in specialized equipment and mobility needs.

During acute rehabilitation, the goals include educating the injured worker about their condition, strengthening their physical and mental capabilities, teaching skills for managing their condition independently, and training family members and caregivers. This phase prepares the injured worker and their family for eventual discharge back into the community.

Strategic considerations at this stage include early involvement of family members in the rehabilitation process and incorporation of mental health professionals into the core treatment team. These approaches can significantly impact outcomes by providing crucial support systems and addressing psychological aspects of recovery from the outset. Additionally, designating a social worker or similar professional to liaise with the family can be invaluable. This liaison can help navigate the complex emotional landscape, provide resources, and ensure clear communication between the medical team and the family, ultimately contributing to a more holistic and effective recovery process.

Transition and Long-Term Care Management

As the injured worker progresses, planning for the transition home or to a long-term care facility begins. This process involves comprehensive home modification assessments, coordination of specialized equipment and supplies, arranging appropriate attendant care, and addressing ongoing psychological and emotional needs.

The ultimate goal is to place the injured worker in the least restrictive environment that meets their medical and care needs. Ensuring the injured worker can access their home environment is crucial for safety, maximizing independence and reducing caregiver burden and medical complications.

Home modifications may range from simple changes such as ramps and grab bars to extensive remodels or even building a new home. The process begins with a home assessment to determine the scope of necessary modifications. For renters, alternative housing options may need to be explored.

Attendant care is also an important variable in the return to home. Care needs can range from unskilled personal care attendants to more skilled nursing care (CNA, LPN, RN) services. Unskilled care is appropriate for injured workers who may require some assistance with activities of daily living or supervision. Other injured workers who may have tracheostomies, feeding tubes or require bowel and bladder programs will require some skilled nursing care at home. When addressing the level of home care needs, it is important to be specific with the level of care and hours of care. This may be provided through home health agencies or family members.

For those unable to return home, finding appropriate long-term care facilities becomes the priority.

Stakeholder Collaboration and Best Practices

Effective management of catastrophic claims requires close collaboration among all parties involved in the injured workers care and recovery. This includes medical professionals, rehabilitation specialists, the employer and insurance representatives. Regular communication ensures everyone is aligned on the injured workers care plan and progress.

Throughout the claim process, its important to stay actively involved and informed. This may include periodic reviews of the treatment plan, discussions with medical providers and keeping the injured worker and their family updated on progress and next steps.

Claim Resolution and Cost Management

As the claim progresses, settlement considerations may arise, involving careful evaluation of opportunities, addressing Medicare Set-Aside requirements, and balancing long-term care needs with cost management. Professional administration of Medicare Set-Asides with consideration for annuity funding with reversionary provisions are options to be explored that can make settlement of these catastrophic and costly claims more viable.

When approaching settlement, consider the following:

Timing: Look for opportunities to settle when the injured worker reaches a stable condition or maximum medical improvement. Medicare Set-Aside: Understand both covered and non-covered expenses. Non-covered items often become key negotiation points. Stakeholder involvement: Include all relevant parties in the settlement process, including the injured worker, to ensure a comprehensive approach. Flexibility: Be open to resolving specific disputes or issues separately if full claim resolution isnt immediately possible.

By implementing this approach, significant improvements in outcomes for injured workers can be achieved while effectively managing long-term costs. The goal is to balance specialized care, stakeholder collaboration, and strategic long-term management throughout the injured workers journey.

Charting a Course for Success

By implementing this comprehensive, stage-based approach to managing catastrophic workers comp claims, significant improvements in outcomes for injured workers can be achieved while effectively managing long-term costs. The key lies in maintaining a balance between specialized care, stakeholder collaboration and strategic long-term management throughout the injured workers journey. This approach not only benefits the injured worker but also helps manage the significant long-term costs associated with catastrophic claims, leading to better medical results, increased worker independence and more efficient claim resolution.

Waltz is a senior national catastrophic claim analyst at Midwest Employers Casualty, a Berkley Company. Waltz has more than 19 years of experience with workers compensation claims management.
Ripple Labs Inc. was ordered by a federal judge to pay a civil penalty of $125 million for selling its XRP token to institutional investors, a fraction of what U.S. regulators had sought in a lawsuit against the company.

The Securities and Exchange Commission sued Ripple Labs in 2020, claiming the firm broke SEC rules when it raised money by selling the digital token without registering it as a security. The case has been closely watched because of its implications for the scope of the SECs regulatory power.

The SEC had sought almost $2 billion in penalties in the case, including more than $876 million in disgorgement and more than $198 million in interest, along with an $876 million civil penalty. Ripple had said it shouldnt have to pay more than $10 million.

XRP rose as much as 25% to 64 cents after the ruling. Still, the token, which is the seventh largest cryptocurrency by market value, is little changed this year. The ruling comes as cryptocurrencies have lost value amid the current bout of risk aversion in global markets.

The SEC and Ripple didnt immediately respond to requests for comment on the decision.

US District Judge Analisa Torres in July 2023 found that XRP was covered by securities law only when sold to sophisticated institutional investors, a ruling hailed as a major victory for the industry. The SEC has several major cases against crypto exchanges and issuers, accusing them of offering unregistered securities.

On Wednesday, Torres granted the SECs request for an injunction barring Ripple from conducting unregistered offerings of XRP to institutional investors. But she denied the agencys bid for Ripple to pay disgorgement of profits from its sales to institutional investors.

In ordering it to pay the civil penalty of $125 million, she said the case does not involve allegations of fraud, misappropriation, or other more culpable conduct and that the SEC hasnt shown that Ripples failure to register the sales with the agency caused investors substantial losses.

The case is SEC v. Ripple Labs Inc., 20-cv-10832, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

Top photo: Ripple Labs Inc. signage during the Singapore FinTech Festival in Singapore, on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. The festival runs through Nov. 17. Photographer: Lionel Ng/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A man wanted on a murder charge in connection with a January shooting death in Warrensville Heights has been taken into custody by federal agents.

Dontae Freeman, 20, was arrested Wednesday by the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at a home on the 100 block of Redbridge Lane in Brunswick, according to a news release from the U.S. Marshals Service. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court records show Freeman is charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, four counts of felonious assault, and one count of discharging of a firearm in the death of 19-year-old Lequan Head.

Warrensville Heights medics found Head at about 6 p.m. on Jan. 3 inside a parked car on Ascot Lane, about a block from the Cleveland Clinics South Pointe Hospital. Head had been shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead about 30 minutes after he arrived at the hospital.

A second suspect, Ulando Mims Jr., 19, also has been charged with murder in connection with Heads death. Mims was arrested earlier this year. Mims also is charged with aggravated murder and other charges in the Jan. 2 death of 17-year-old Tyrone Griffin in Cleveland.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Winemaker Lauren Fiala has started her perfect side gig.

Fiala, winemaker at Baci Winery in Madison, has launched a travel business to guide folks to wineries across the world. Considering she is a world traveler, loves vino and is a teacher at heart, this feeds her passion to experience wine around the globe.
VIENNA  Two men were arrested in connection with alleged planned attacks at major events in Vienna, Austria, on Wednesday including Taylor Swifts concerts.

Swift had been scheduled to perform at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna on Aug 8, 9 and 10. All three shows of the Eras Tour were canceled as of Wednesday, Aug. 7, with the musicians website saying all tickets will be refunded.

The cancellation was announced in an Instagram post from Austrias Barracuda Music. The post was then shared to the @TaylorNation Instagram story. Taylor Nation is a social media account affiliated with the pop stars team.

With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyones safety, the announcement reads.

All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.

One of the men taken into custody was a 19-year-old who allegedly pledged his allegiance to ISIS. They said both men had been radicalized through the internet and allegedly had specific and detailed plans of how they were going to carry out an attack, Vienna State Police Director Franz Ruf and Police Chief Gerhard Purstl told the TODAY Show. The two men who were arrested had been under surveillance for a period of time.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer called the cancellation of the concerts a bitter disappointment for all fans in Austria in a post on social media platform X.

He thanked first responders for their assistance.

Officials in Europe and in the United States told NBC News that the attack was focused on the concert at large and that Swift herself wasnt directly targeted. The investigation is ongoing.
ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- Its amazing how much stuff you use electricity for, said my 11-year-old daughter, when she realized she couldnt use the microwave.

It was our first full day without power, after a tornado ripped through Rocky River. Storms roared through the whole region, leaving hundreds of thousands of us in the dark, for possibly nine full days, according to FirstEnergy.

All my neighbors have power. I do not.

Our church has power, but its gymnasium across its driveway does not.

The traffic light at one end of our block is working; the one at the other is not.

Trees snapped like twigs, littering yards with broken branches. Roads are closed where power lines sag. Grocery stores are shuttered, or running with eerily low lights and empty dairy cases. The outdoor swimming pool is closed, with caution tape tied around leaning poles in the parking lot. The library is closed. Traffic is stymied, as cars inch toward dark lights.

Maybe we all feel a bit stymied without our usual conveniences.

I know how awful and disruptive that is. I know you have food in your refrigerator rotting away. You have kids who are hungry and tired, and may not understand whats going on or why  for that matter, you may be hungry and tired and not understand whats going on or why, University Heights Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan wrote on Facebook. I know if you use a CPAP machine, you arent going to be able to sleep well tonight without it. That, and the lack of air conditioning  though it should drop below 70 degrees overnight.

Thank goodness for pleasant weather, and for friends and family checking on each other.

It took me nearly a half-hour to drive a mile to Giant Eagle Tuesday night, by the time I circumvented traffic jams and closed roads. I wanted to buy marshmallows for my kids to roast in our fire pit. I plucked a bag off the shelf, in the quiet aisle.

Just the essentials, huh? said a fellow shopper.

Exactly.

My next-door neighbor let me wash a load of clothes, cook pasta on their stove and run an extension cord from their deck across my driveway and through my window, so thankfully we have a working refrigerator, wifi and charging station. I watched Olympic artistic swimming on my iPad and when the sun went to bed, so did we.

I woke to texts asking how we were faring, asking if they could pop by to charge something. My Facebook feed was full of photos and information. Out-of-town electric trucks took over the high school parking lot as a staging ground! The community center was open for residents to work! FirstEnergy said power would return by Aug. 14! Aug. 14?!

We reminisced about Superstorm Sandy, the last time we could remember such prolonged power problems, when our childcare centers were down for days.

This time, our kids will remember.

They helped clean up, after we lost about a third of the massive tree in our front yard. Their phones pinged with group chats about the damage their friends homes sustained.

Thankfully they can charge those phones. Thankfully our food hasnt spoiled. And thankfully a friend said I could cook frozen pizzas in her oven.

Every time I see an electric truck, I hope it'll stop at my house. (So far, not yet.)Laura Johnston

Want to share your story with cleveland.com? Send us your experience to ljohnston@cleveland.com .

Meanwhile, here are a few takes from other cleveland.com reporters:

Growing up around the Parmatown area, there is something surreal about seeing power lines blanketing a swath of West Ridgewood Dr. while branches and large limbs are strewn across the area. Those kinds of scenes just dont occur in our suburb. Mother Nature reminded us that no one is immune to her raw power. One image that stuck with me is a what appears to be the top of a power pole hanging over other downed wires, seemingly floating in the air while missing its bottom half. Hard to believe I enjoyed lunch across the street from that exact spot just a few weeks ago.

I visited my family yesterday, who remain without power. The cleanup continues with loads of branches left on tree lawns for trash pickup. The neighborhood is an eerie mix of noisy generators and an empty feeling. But a feeling of escaping what could have been for our community.

Its important to put into perspective that preliminary reports have the tornado that began in Brook Park and reached Bedford as just an EF1, with winds at an estimated peak of 104 mph. Imagine a true monster coming through. The damage would be unspeakable. There are so many layers to what some might call mild carnage: Non-functioning stop lights - which may feel like you are at the mercy of your fellow drivers. No power - which puts some at an inconvenience and others in danger. Then there are the daily inconveniences like the long lines at the only open fast-food establishment. A woman I met said she had to go to four chipotles yesterday for her daughters meal. Thats determination.

It may have been small on the Fujita scale, but this storm left its mark. Hopefully, it helps us come together and find our way through until normalcy returns for everyone.

-Robert Fenbers

As I headed to an appointment after work the other day, I had a sense of deja vu.

Not knowing how many traffic lights were out, I took a circuitous route to my destination that would have me mostly driving on side streets. I was surprised to see many more intersections with working lights than I expected, but then noticed they were all hooked up to portable generators.

As I drove through neighborhoods, it felt very much the way things did the day after the major blackout the region suffered back in 2003. Many people sat on their front porches or steps speaking to neighbors. Some businesses, at least those with generators, were still open while others were dark, their lots empty.

Even as I walked into the office for my appointment, you could tell something was off. The buildings backup generator noisily ran next to the main entrance. Once inside, things seemed almost normal other than only about half the lights were on.

-Mike Rose

As of Thursday at around 10:00 a.m. the traffic lights were out at the busy intersection of Carnegie and E. 105th. Though its a major thoroughfare for drivers using Opportunity Corridor, patients and employees headed to the Cleveland Clinic, shoppers using the newly opened Meijer and is just a few blocks from Case Western Reserve University, nobody was directing traffic. The lack of order led to a chaotic driving scene, in which some would follow the rules of the road  treating a non-functional stoplight like a stop sign  others just blew through the intersection.

The traffic backup, however, was limited because the other traffic lights in the area were working, preventing a further bottleneck.

-Lucas Daprile

Writing is just like mowing a lawn

-Peter Chakerian, who just bought a Craftsman generator

An elderly family member lives at the Educator, a 9-story apartment building with no power. Elevators and lights are out. She told us the fire department did wellness checks on every apartment in the building and the Mayor gave the building a generator. The fire department hooked it up to light the hallways and stairwells. Someone with a grill made hotdogs for the whole building. Most people are pretty much stranded without elevators working.

-John Pana

I am limited to my phone until 1 pm when I can leave home and find internet access. My hotspot worked until 10 am then started crashing. Very frustrating. So, Im sending this from my phone. Thats why its brief.My frustrating first world problem is I cant play music over my Echo devices. Ironically, two weeks ago, I purged 100s of CDs because I didnt need them anymore. I miss them now.

-Paris Wolfe
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The National Weather Service has confirmed that a second tornado was part of Tuesdays vicious storm that caused extensive damage and knocked out power out to hundreds of thousands of residents across Northeast Ohio.

That most recent of the two tornadoes to be identified touched down in Avon Lake at 3:45 p.m. and traveled to Rocky River, National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Mitchell said. The twister lasted for about 11 minutes.

Earlier Wednesday, the National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado had touched down in Valley View, making its way to Bedford. Mitchell said further analysis shows that the tornado actually touched down in Brook Park at 3:59 p.m. before making its way to Valley View and then to Bedford, where it was done at 4:24 p.m.

The wicked wind and torrential rain pummeled Greater Cleveland Tuesday afternoon. A wind gust of 86 miles per hour was measured east of Burke Lakefront Airport.

As a result, FirstEnergy is responding to thousands of damage locations in its service area. The utility was reporting as of 8:18 p.m. Wednesday that about 315,000 of its customers were still without power.
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BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 08: Former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont makes his first public appearance since he fled Spain in 2017, speaking at a public rally in Barcelona, Spain on August 08, 2024. Since leading the failed 2017 independence push for Catalonia to break away from Spain, he has been wanted by the Spanish justice system. Catalan police had the order to arrest him immediately, but Puigdemont managed to speak for several minutes outside of the Catalan parliament. After the rally, he disappeared. (Photo by Adria Puig/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Former Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont returned to Spain after seven years of self-imposed exile, defying a pending arrest warrant and igniting a police manhunt.

Pictures and video footage showed the separatist politician, who fled Spain after embarking on a failed quest for Catalan independence in 2017, addressing a crowd of supporters in Barcelona.

"They were thinking they would celebrate my arrest  But they are wrong," he told his followers according to a CNBC translation, rattling his fist in the air. "It was not, it is not, and it will never be a crime to have a referendum."

He appeared to vanish in the crowd after the speech, despite a heavy police presence.

Barcelona's authorities rapidly launched "Operation Cage," setting up roadblocks within and just outside of Barcelona in an attempt to locate Puigdemont's vehicle.

In a series of CNBC-translated updates on the X social media platform, Puigdemont appeared to taunt his pursuers, asking, "Am I inside the walls of Parliament?" and mocking media reports over the progress of Operation Cage, noting that "the ridiculousness is absolute."

CNBC has contacted Spain's Interior Ministry over whether Puigdemont has been detained.

A Catalan Interior Ministry spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that the separatist politician has yet to be captured.

Widely perceived as a symbol of the Catalonian separatist struggle against Spanish national control, the 61-year-old Puigdemont is sought on charges of embezzlement, which he denies.

Puigdemont's chaotic return on Thursday takes the shine off a debate for the investiture of Spain's former health minister and socialist candidate Salvador Illa as Catalonia's new president. Illa's platform won the largest share of the vote in the Catalan elections of May, dethroning Puigdemont's hardline separatist Junts per Catalunya party.

Parliament was able to begin its Thursday session despite the ongoing manhunt.

Without directly naming Illa, Puigdemont appeared to ridicule him in a CNBC-translated social media update, "Imagine  the day they make you president, a pirate running in a car steals all your limelight."

His reappearance also stoked anger in other parts of Spain's political sphere. "We are living through a real embarrassment and an international shame promoted and allowed by the Government of the nation," said Ignacio Garriga  Secretary-General of the far-right Vox party  of Puidgemont's reappearance, according to a CNBC translation. "We must find those responsible."

Puigdemont is at once a boon and a wild card for the Socialist administration of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, which depends on the votes of the Junts party to achieve parliamentary majority and has sought to revitalize relations with Catalonia. Sanchez only returned to his post late last year after two failed attempts by conservative rival Alberto Nunez Feijoo to rally parliamentary endorsement and form a government.

Puigdemont's support is seen as likely to come with a steep price tag. A contentious amnesty Bill, that was penned by the Socialist government and could pardon participants in the Catalan independence movement, narrowly passed in late May. A Supreme Court decision excluded Puigdemont from receiving amnesty under the law, with a public prosecutor now filing an appeal against the motion, according to local media.
British food delivery firm Deliveroo reported a small profit in the first half of the year, inching into the black for the first time ever after logging growth in consumer demand.

The company, which is backed by e-commerce giant Amazon, said in its first-half earnings release on Thursday that it made a net profit of 1.3 million ($1.65 million) in the six months through June, bouncing from a loss of 82.9 million in the same period last year.

The company's result followed what it called an "positive inflection" in consumer demand, "with frequency returning to growth and retention improving, supported by improvements in our consumer value proposition ('CVP')."

Deliveroo's gross transaction value climbed 6% on constant terms, hitting 3.7 billion in the first half of the year. Its revenue rose 2% to 1,028.2, as the firm posted a 2% increase in orders processed on its platform to 147.4 million over the period.

Shares of Deliveroo climbed 10% to 1.40 apiece by 4:30 p.m. London time on the back of the firm's earnings report. Deliveroo's shares remain well below their IPO price of 3.90. Back in 2021, the company's shares plunged as much as 30% on the day of their float.

"Looking ahead, while there is continued uncertainty in the external environment, I am encouraged by the inflection we are currently seeing in consumer behaviour in most of our markets," Deliveroo CEO and co-founder said in a statement Thursday.
A Delta Airlines Airbus A319-114 aircraft taxis at Los Angeles International Airport after arriving from Las Vegas on May 5, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Delta Air Lines on Thursday said last month's CrowdStrike outage and subsequent mass flight cancellations cost it some $550 million and reiterated that it is pursuing damages against the company as well as Microsoft .

The financial impact includes a $380 million revenue hit in the current quarter "primarily driven by refunding customers for cancelled flights and providing customer compensation in the form of cash and SkyMiles," the Atlanta-based airline said in a securities filing.

The incident, in which it canceled some 7,000 flights, also meant a $170 million expense "associated with the technology-driven outage and subsequent operational recovery," the carrier said, adding that its fuel bill will likely be $50 million lower because of the scrubbed flights.

Delta struggled more than its competitors to recover from the July 19 outage, which took millions of Windows-based machines offline around the world. The disruptions occurred at the height of the summer travel season, stranding thousands of Delta customers, a rare incident for the carrier that markets itself as a premium carrier that gets top marks for reliability.

"An operational disruption of this length and magnitude is unacceptable, and our customers and employees deserve better," CEO Ed Bastian said in the filing. "Since the incident, our people have returned the operation to an industry-leading position that is consistent with the level of performance our customers expect from Delta."

Delta's cancellations in the days after the outage topped its tally for all of 2019. The U.S. Department of Transportation last month said it is investigating Delta's response to the outage and flight cancellations.

CrowdStrike responded in a statement on Thursday that Delta "continues to push a misleading narrative" and said that the company's chief security officer was in "direct contact" with Delta's chief information and security officer "within hours of the incident, providing information and offering support."
Passers-by are reflected on the window of a Dolce & Gabbana luxury fashion house boutique displaying their new perfume for dogs called 'Fefe' in central Rome, on August 8, 2024. Dolce & Gabbana has launched a new alcohol-free dog fragrance certified suitable for animal use called "Fefe" in honor of Domenico Dolce's pet. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Dolce and Gabbana's luxury perfume for dogs  costing over $100  has sparked concerns from some animal welfare organizations.

The Italian fashion house's alcohol-free fragrance mist for dogs, which costs 83 ($105) on its U.K. website, is inspired by Fefe, the pet dog of brand-owner Domenico Dolce.

The scent blends "fresh and delicate notes of Ylang Ylang, Musk, and Sandalwood" and comes in a green lacquered glass bottle with a 24-carat gold-plated paw on it, according to the product page on the company's website.

Fefe can be applied directly to a dog's body  avoiding the nose area  or sprayed onto a pet owner's hands and then brushed or rubbed into a dog's fur.

Dolce and Gabbana said its new product has been certified as suitable for animal use by the Safe Pet Cosmetics program.

However, the fragrance has drawn some concern from animal welfare organizations and experts who warn that perfumes can interfere with a dog's sense of smell.

Britain's RSPCA warned against anthropomorphizing dogs by attributing human characteristics to them, blurring the line between what humans and dogs like.

"Dogs rely on their sense of smell to communicate and interact with their environment as well as the people and other animals within it," said RSPCA Senior Scientific Officer Alice Potter in a statement. "Therefore we advise that strong-scented products such as perfumes or sprays are avoided, especially as some smells can be really unpleasant for dogs."

Donald Maurice Broom, professor of animal welfare at the Cambridge Veterinary School, said a product like Fefe could have a negative effect on dogs if present for more than a few minutes.

"The dog's world is full of subtle odour information about other dogs, humans, food and potential danger. A strong odour would mask much of this so would have negative effects on the dog. It would be like the dog trying to distinguish visually when kept in a blindingly bright light," Broom said via emailed comments.

However, the professor noted that when dogs are exposed to some sweet-smelling oils like lavender for a short period of time, it can be calming for dogs. Oils such as ylang ylang which is included in Fefe, can also have a positive effect, he said.

RSPCA's Potter also noted that some "lightly-scented products," which do not use aversive scents or interfere with a dog's sense of smell, can have a calming effect.

"We know that owners want to show their dogs how much they care about them and treat them to presents for occasions such as their birthdays, but we'd always suggest choosing a gift that is fun and enriching for their pet, such as a new toy or tasty treats," Potter said.

Dolce and Gabbana declined to comment on the concerns raised by animal experts.
Eli Lilly on Thursday reported a home-run quarter fueled by sales of its blockbuster obesity and diabetes drugs, quieting any lingering investor concerns in the stock. Revenue in the second quarter jumped 36% year over year to $11.3 billion, easily topping expectations of $9.92 billion, according to estimates compiled by LSEG. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) in the three months ended June 30 totaled $3.92, far outpacing the $2.60 estimate, LSEG data showed. On an annual basis, adjusted EPS jumped 85.8%. Eli Lilly Why we own it: Eli Lilly's best-in-class drugs should enable growth above the industry average for many years to come. The portfolio is anchored by its GLP-1 franchise, which currently consists of Mounjaro for type-2 diabetes and Zepbound for obesity. The fast-growing class of drugs has the potential to treat other conditions, such as sleep apnea and reduce the risk of stroke. Lilly's pipeline of Alzheimer's treatments, including the recently approved Kisunla, add to the stock's long-term appeal. Competitors: Novo Nordisk , Biogen , Eisai, Merck and Pfizer Weight in portfolio: 2.75% Most recent buy: Feb. 7, 2023 Initiated: Oct. 8, 2021 Bottom line Investors were on edge heading into Eli Lilly's report. The stock was down nearly 20% since closing at a record high of $950.46 on July 15, with its latest leg lower coming Wednesday after a disappointing report from its main competitor in the GLP-1 drug market, Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk , raised concerns about pricing pressures. They will sleep a bit easier now. Eli Lilly not only crushed estimates on all the most important items  profits and sales of diabetes treatment Mounjaro and weight loss drug Zepbound  but the company also hiked its full-year guidance for revenue, earnings and gross margin. It's no wonder shares surged more than 8%. "Eli Lilly was a legitimate blowout on every single line," Jim Cramer said Thursday. The report left little doubt that Eli Lilly's best days are ahead, driven by the growth of GLP-1s. While primarily used for treating obesity, in recent months Lilly released promising data showing the drugs can also improve sleep apnea and reduce the risk of heart failure. Zepbound eclipsed $1 billion in quarterly sales for the first time during the April-to-June period, just seven months after hitting U.S. pharmacy shelves . Even with the eye-popping sales, Lilly CEO David Ricks argued the obesity market is still nascent. "I think we're like in the bottom of the first inning here. It's really early" for Zepbound, Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks said in a CNBC interview Thursday. "We're not really promoting. We're not launching in 40 countries we have approvals in, and we haven't even gotten to most of the medical benefit proof that's happening." A key reason that Eli Lilly hasn't aggressively promoted Zepbound in the U.S. or entered into more international markets: Demand has far outstripped supply. But the good news is Eli Lilly's multibillion dollar investments to expand manufacturing capacity are paying off. Last week, the Food and Drug Administration said all doses of Zepbound were now available after being in short supply. The same is now true for Eli Lilly's other blockbuster GLP-1, Mounjaro, which also has faced supply constraints. Mounjaro, which secured U.S. approval for type-2 diabetes in May 2022, shares an active ingredient with Zepbound called tirzepatide. GLP-1s mimic a hormone in the gut to improve blood sugar control and effectively suppress appetite, contributing to weight loss. Mounjaro and Zepbound are given through injections. LLY YTD mountain Eli Lilly's year-to-date stock performance. Lilly executives offered encouraging thoughts on the company-specific issues hurting the stock lately: emerging competition in GLP-1s, which has been a worry in recent weeks after positive announcements from Roche and smaller biotech firm Viking Therapeutics , and pricing pressures, which came to the forefront in Wednesday's session following Novo Nordisk's report. It's too early to think Lilly will lose its leadership position in the fast-growing market. It has a significant head start over everyone, except co-leader Novo Nordisk  on the call, executives said Lilly first shared Phase 1 data for tirzepatide eight years ago. The Roche news that just spooked Lilly investors ? Both datasets were from early stage Phase 1 trials. While Viking Therapeutics is farther along, preparing to start a late-stage Phase 3 trial for its lead injectable obesity drug , there is still a long way to go before it's on the market. Analysts at Leerink estimate a 2028 launch. And then there's the hurdle that has tripped up even an established, well-capitalized drugmaker like Eli Lilly: manufacturing capacity. Lilly and Novo Nordisk have spent billions to boost manufacturing of injectable GLP-1s, which aren't easy to make and must be compliant with strict standards by regulatory bodies like the FDA. This is a significant advantage for the incumbent players. Eli Lilly also has next-generation GLP-1s in its pipeline being developed that appear to be even more effective than its current lineup. On pricing pressures for GLP-1s, Lilly management said the company is modeling for stable pricing quarter to quarter in 2024. There was "nothing unusual" between the first and second quarters, interim CFO Gordon Brooks said, adding that its guidance assumes that will continue in the second half of the year. We're reiterating our buy-equivalent 1 rating on Eli Lilly, though it's not our style to buy a stock during a single-session surge like Lilly shares are seeing Thursday. Our price target remains $1,000 a share, as well. Guidance Eli Lilly now expects full-year sales in the range of $45.4 billion to $46.6 billion, an increase of $3 billion at both the low and high end. Wall Street had been projecting $43 billion in 2024 revenue, according to FactSet. The Indianapolis-based drugmaker now expects full-year adjusted earnings per share between $16.10 and $16.60, up from a range of $13.50 to $14. The consensus EPS estimate had been $13.69, per FactSet. Meanwhile, its adjusted gross margin range has been raised to between 37% and 39%, up from 33% to 35%. On the supply front, Lilly executives reiterated that production of sellable doses of GLP-1s in the second half of 2024 should be at least 1.5 times year-ago levels. Some analysts had wondered if the hiked revenue guidance could lead to a change in their supply targets, but that was not the case. Ricks told analysts on the conference call that 1.5 times is "the floor" for second-half volume. He said improved supply in the second quarter was due to overall performance across its manufacturing network, rather than a major step up in production from any one facility such as Research Triangle Park in North Carolina. Still, Ricks said the RTP facility is on track. Quarterly commentary As seen in the chart above, there's not much to dislike in the quarter. Sure, cost of sales of $2.17 billion came in ahead of expectations, but that is spending to support drug launches. And based on the EPS and margin performance, clearly it was not an issue for the bottom line. Gross margin of 82.03% and operating margin of 37.95% both exceeded estimates and were up nicely year over year. Unsurprisingly, Eli Lilly's second-quarter sales in the U.S. were up a robust 41.7% year over year, an acceleration from the 28.4% growth rate in the January-to-March period. But the company's performance in Europe is worth highlighting, even though it's much smaller than the U.S. business. Sales were up 19.2% on an annual basis, with Mounjaro serving as the main driver of the growth in markets such as the U.K. and Germany. Outside the U.S., Lilly is rolling out Mounjaro with a delivery method called KwikPen, which is different than the autoinjector pens used domestically. That is helping supply and leading to an increase in volumes. Additional progress on the KwikPen presentation is something to watch in the quarters ahead. Overall, sales of Mounjaro totaled $3.09 billion in the quarter, well ahead of the $2.43 estimate, according to FactSet. Zepbound sales of $1.24 billion also easily surpassed the $927 million estimate. Demand for both drugs remains fervent, though interim finance chief Brooks noted that some of the second-quarter performance was impacted by inventory levels being rebuilt as supply improved. Breast cancer drug Verzenio gets far less attention than the GLP-1s, but it continues to be an underappreciated driver of companywide growth. Sales of $1.33 billion in the quarter were an all-time high, up 44% year over year. Sales of Trulicity  another type-2 diabetes treatment and the company's top-selling drug last year  continued a trend of softness for a variety of factors. Some of it is patients switching to Mounjaro, but supply constraints are an issue for the product, too. One drug that didn't get much attention at all on Thursday's earnings call: Kisunla, its recently approved treatment for Alzheimer's. It's not expected to be a big contributor to revenue this year, though management noted some patients have already began receiving the medicine. While we're upbeat on the long-term benefits of the drug, analysts and investors are understandably more focused on Zepbound and Mounjaro at this point. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long LLY. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.

Eli Lilly & Co. Mounjaro brand tirzepatide medication arranged at a pharmacy in Provo, Utah, US, on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. George Frey | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Eli Lilly shares are surging after it posted impressive second-quarter results, helped by a combination of more supply and better pricing for its blockbuster weight loss drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound, suggesting it might be making headway against Novo Nordisk . "Investors were nervous going in and this print would come as a huge relief," wrote Mohit Bansal, an analyst at Wells Fargo, in a research note after the results. Lilly's shares are up more than 7% on the news. The two brands, which both contain tirzepatide, tallied $4.33 billion in revenue in the second quarter, topping the $3.35 billion consensus estimate. In the wake of the big beat, Lilly raised its 2024 revenue forecast by $3 billion to a range of $45.4 billion to $46.6 billion. Per-share earnings estimates were lifted to $16.10 to $16.60 from a prior forecast of $13.50 to $14. Barclays analyst Carter Gould said the higher forecast "should quell doubts around near-term performance and help start to de-risk expectations around '25 numbers." While Lilly has a large diversified pharmaceutical business, much of the stock action has been driven by the sentiment around its GLP-1 drugs, which treat diabetes and obesity. The drugs, which mimic incretin hormones, help patients lose weight by suppressing appetite and regulating blood sugar. Lilly shares experienced a steep pullback of nearly 16% in the month heading into the results. Some of the pressure has been tied to the broader move in the stock market, where investors were selling mega-cap tech stocks and other strong performers. Lilly fits that mold: shares are up more than 46% this year even after the recent sell-off. LLY YTD mountain Eli Lilly shares year to date. But mixed in to Lilly's headwinds were two big concerns. The first followed positive reports from rivals that showed they were making progress in developing their own weight loss drugs . While some of these therapies seem promising, Lilly is also hard at work on its own next-generation treatments and still has a massive lead on these other players, analysts say. The other concern was pricing , exacerbated by the weakness Novo Nordisk saw in its second-quarter results on Wednesday. Novo's Ozempic diabetes treatment and its Wegovy weight loss drug were priced at a premium to Lilly's competing medications. So that may have caused the pressure on pricing that Novo experienced. Further, there are patients and doctors who might prefer Zepbound for treating obesity and patients who are overweight because clinical trial results showed that Lilly's drug outperformed Novo's Wegovy. Wells Fargo's Bansal said Mounjaro prescriptions rose 14% from the first quarter to the second, while Zepbound prescriptions were up 59%. However, sales rose 59% for Mounjaro quarter over quarter and were up 140% for Zepbound as Lilly saw better pricing. According to Lilly, access to Zepbound for obesity treatment is improving, with 86% of commercial insurance plans covering the drug, and more than 50% of employers opting in. That is up from about 67% commercial plan access as of April 1. "Lilly is pulling ahead in the metabolic duopoly," said Evan David Seigerman, an analyst at BMO Capital Markets, in a research note. Meanwhile, analysts see several events on the horizon that could further boost Lilly's shares in coming months. One key event will be a look at health outcomes data for tirzepatide. This study hopes to show that the drug provides benefits to patients beyond weight loss. If successful, it could open the door to expanded use of Zepbound, including for patients who are insured through Medicare and Medicaid. Already, Lilly has submitted data to the Food and Drug Administration that shows tirzepatide can help treat obstructive sleep apnea in obese adults. If the drug's label is expanded, this also could prompt its use by more patients, analysts say. Also closely watched will be the release of phase 3 results for orforglipron, an oral GLP-1 medication, expected to come out next year. As JPMorgan analyst Chris Schott said in reiterating an overweight rating on Lilly shares, "... while shares trade at a significant premium to peers, we see unprecedented growth for LLY over the next decade led by the company's incretin franchise." Schott expects Lilly's incretin drugs to tally $68 billion or more in sales by 2030, and continue to grow from there. His $1,000 price target suggests shares could rise nearly 30% from Wednesday's close. That target is higher than the average $941.55 on Wall Street.
My top 10 things to watch Thursday, Aug. 8 1. Amazing second quarter for Club name Eli Lilly . The drugmaker easily beat Wall Street estimates for earnings and revenue, driven by the strong performances of blockbuster diabetes treatment Mounjaro and weight-loss drug Zepbound. CEO David Ricks says it's only the bottom of the first inning for Mounjaro. In addition, a pill for obesity is in the works. Club members: Check your inboxes for a full analysis of the quarter later today after management's call with analysts and investors. 2. CVS Health has a tough road ahead, but CEO Karen Lynch has taken charge of health-care benefits. Big deal ... all on her. The retail drugstore chain on Wednesday reported better-than-expected earnings but cut its full-year profit outlook because of higher medical costs. I talked about it all with Lynch on "Mad Money" last night . 3. Is Devon Energy the next major independent oil company (a la ConocoPhillips or Occidental )? I am thinking it is and that CEO Rick Muncrief has put together a winner with a 4% yield. And Devon's stock price is really low. 4. Bumble slashed its annual revenue growth forecast on Wednesday, to between 1% and 2% from prior expectations of 8% to 11%. Annihilation. Shares of the dating app plunged 40%. 5. Dutch Bros CEO Christine Barone on "Mad Money" tonight. It's really hard to figure out what the heck is happening there. An incoherent conference call Wednesday night. Despite better-than-expected quarterly results, shares dropped 22% after the drive-thru coffee chain said new openings would be at the lower end of a range between 150 and 165. 6. Textron investors are worried about incremental demand for business jets at this point in the economic cycle. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of the company to hold from buy. 7. Club holding Disney was downgraded to neutral from buy at Seaport Research. The analysts cited the slowdown in the company's theme parks division, and noted that while streaming is now profitable it is not generating as much as hoped in fiscal 2025 because of increased tech spending. 8. Palantir and Microsoft are combining forces to help the U.S. government with cloud computing and artificial intelligence. 9. Media giant Warner Bros. Discovery announced a $9.1 billion non-cash write down on its TV networks. I don't think the company is in as much trouble as people believe because its bonds aren't down very much. The company reported revenue of $9.7 billion vs. $10.07 billion expected by analysts. It's all about the progress of its streaming business , which added 3.6 million subs during the quarter, bringing its total number to 103.3 million. 10. Celsius Holdings downgraded to a sell from hold at Bank of America. Pretty devastating. CEO John Fieldly was on "Mad Money" last night telling a good story. But something is very wrong here with energy drink category. Sign up for my Top 10 Morning Thoughts on the Market email newsletter for free (See here for a full list of the stocks at Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.

Dave Ricks, chair and chief executive officer of Eli Lilly and Company speaks to the Economic Club of New York in New York City, U.S., March 12, 2024. Mike Segar | Reuters

My top 10 things to watch Thursday, Aug. 8
Riot police officers push back anti-migration protesters outside on Aug. 4, 2024 in Rotherham, U.K. Christopher Furlong | Getty Images

LONDON  Ofcom, the U.K.'s media regulator, was chosen last year by the government as the regulator in charge of policing harmful and illegal content on the internet under strict new online safety regulations. But even as online disinformation related to stabbings in the U.K. has led to real-world violence, Ofcom, Britain's online safety regulator finds itself unable to take effective enforcement actions. Last week, a 17-year-old knifeman attacked several children attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the English town of Southport in Merseyside. Three girls were killed in the attack. Police subsequently identified the suspect as Axel Rudakubana. Shortly after the attack, social media users were quick to falsely identify the perpetrator as an asylum seeker who arrived in the U.K. by boat in 2023. On X, posts sharing the fake name of the perpetrator were actively shared and were viewed by millions. That in turn helped spark far-right, anti-immigration protests, which have since descended into violence, with shops and mosques being attacked and bricks and petrol bombs being hurled.

Why can't Ofcom take action?

U.K. officials subsequently issued warnings to social media firms urging them to get tough on false information online. Peter Kyle, the U.K.'s technology minister, held conversations with social media firms such as TikTok, Facebook parent company Meta , Google and X over their handling of misinformation being spread during the riots.

But Ofcom, the regulator tasked with taking action over failings to tackle misinformation and other harmful material online, is unable at this stage to take effective actions on the tech giants allowing harmful posts inciting the ongoing riots because not all the powers from the act have come into force. New duties on social media platforms under the Online Safety Act requiring firms to actively identify, mitigate and manage the risks of harm from illegal and harmful content on their platforms have not yet taken effect. Once the rules fully take effect, Ofcom would have the power to levy fines of as much as 10% of companies' global annual revenues for breaches, or even jail time for individual senior managers in cases where repeat breaches occur. But until that happens, the watchdog is unable to penalize firms for online safety breaches.

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Under the Online Safety Act, the sending of false information intended to cause non-trivial harm is considered a punishable criminal offense. That would likely include misinformation aiming to incite violence.

How has Ofcom responded?

An Ofcom spokesperson told CNBC Wednesday that it is moving quickly to implement the act so that it can be enforced as soon as possible, but new duties on tech firms requiring them by law to actively police their platforms for harmful content won't fully come into force until 2025. Ofcom is still consulting on risk assessment guidance and codes of practice on illegal harms, which it says it needs to establish before it can effectively implement the measures of the Online Safety Act. "We are speaking to relevant social media, gaming and messaging companies about their responsibilities as a matter of urgency," the Ofcom spokesperson said. "Although platforms' new duties under the Online Safety Act do not come into force until the new year, they can act now  there is no need to wait for new laws to make their sites and apps safer for users." Gill Whitehead, Ofcom's group director for online safety, echoed that statement in an open letter to social media companies Wednesday, which warned of the heightened risk of platforms being used to stir up hatred and violence amid recent acts of violence in the U.K.

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"In a few months, new safety duties under the Online Safety Act will be in place, but you can act now  there is no need to wait to make your sites and apps safer for users," Whitehead said. She added that, even though the regulator is working to ensure firms rid their platforms of illegal content, it still recognizes the "importance of protecting freedom of speech." Ofcom says it plans to publish its final codes of practice and guidance on online harms in December 2024, after which platforms will have three months to conduct risk assessments for illegal content. The codes will be subject to scrutiny from U.K. Parliament, and unless lawmakers object to the draft codes, the online safety duties on platforms will become enforceable shortly after that process concludes. Provisions for protecting children from harmful content will come into force from spring 2025, while duties on the largest services will become enforceable from 2026.
A screen grab from a video released by Russian Ministry of Defense shows Russian forces launching a missile attack, targeting the military equipment of Ukrainian Armed Forces at the border area near Kursk Oblast, Russia on August 08, 2024. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images

Thousands of residents have been evacuated and a state of emergency has been declared in Kursk after Ukraine launched a rare incursion into the Russian border region earlier this week. Russia's defense ministry said Thursday that its forces in Kursk continued to "destroy armed formations" from Ukraine. Posting on Telegram, the ministry claimed that Ukraine's losses since the start of the Kursk operation amounted to 660 troops and 82 armored vehicles including "eight tanks, 12 armored personnel carriers, six infantry fighting vehicles, 55 armored fighting vehicles, and one counter obstacle vehicle." The number of military vehicles mentioned is far higher than the ministry's initial figure that 11 tanks and around 20 armored vehicles were involved in the initial incursion that began Tuesday. CNBC was unable to verify the information in the latest post. Neither Russia nor Ukraine publish fatality figures and both sides have a vested interest in exaggerating each other's losses. After initially downplaying the bold Ukrainian incursion into Kursk, Russia is also seen to be wary of dismissing the apparent new offensive on its territory.

This photo released by the acting Governor of Kursk region Alexei Smirnov telegram channel on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, shows a damaged house after shelling by the Ukrainian side in the city of Sudzha, Kursk region that borders Ukraine. Governor of Kursk region telegram channel via AP

On Wednesday, acting regional Governor Alexei Smirnov said the "operational situation" in the border area remained "complicated." "In order to eliminate the consequences of enemy forces entering the region, I have decided to declare a state of emergency," Smirnov said in a Google-translated update on Telegram, adding that drone and missile attacks had continued overnight. On Thursday, acting Deputy Governor Andrei Belostotsky said around 3,000 people were evacuated from shelled areas of the region, with four people killed, according comments reported by Russian state news agency Tass. He also said Ukrainian units "had not advanced a single meter," in comments published by Russian state news agency Ria Novosti. CNBC was not able to verify the claims.

Russia caught off guard

Russia appeared to be caught off-guard when the incursion started on Tuesday with Russia's Defense Ministry appearing to play down its significance, attributing it to a "sabotage and reconnaissance group." At that point, it said 300 Ukrainian troops had crossed over the border with tanks and armored vehicles, entering the country near the town of Sudzha, around 400 miles southwest of Moscow. Kursk lies across the border from Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday accused Ukraine of carrying out "yet another large-scale provocation" at the Russian border, amid ongoing fighting between Ukrainian units and Russian forces sent to defend the area. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed Wednesday that its forces were "destroying armed formations" using air and missile strikes, along with artillery.

Valery Gerasimov, the chief of Russia's general staff, later told Putin that Russian forces had halted an offensive undertaken by 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers  a troop estimate far higher than the original figure supplied by the country's Defense Ministry. "The enemy's advance deep into territory in the Kursk direction was stopped by the actions of the units covering the state border together with border guards and reinforcement units, with air strikes, missile and artillery fire," Gerasimov said in televised comments reported by Reuters.

In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state owned Sputnik agency, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Valery Gerasimov is seen on a screen as he remotely joins a meeting with heads of law enforcement agencies to address the situation in the Kursk region on August 7, 2024. Gavriil Grigorov | Afp | Getty Images

The Ukrainian authorities have not made any public comment on the incursion. CNBC has requested further information from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak on Thursday suggested that Russia's aggression had prompted the latest operation. "The root cause of any escalation, shelling, military actions, forced evacuations, and destruction of normal life forms, including within (Russia's) own territories like Kursk and Belgorod regions, is solely Russia's unequivocal aggression," Podolyak posted on social media platform X.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters on Wednesday that the U.S. had not been forewarned of a Ukrainian incursion, but did not rule out that an offensive took place. "We did not [know in advance about the Kursk operation]. But it's not unusual for the Ukrainians not to notify us of their exact tactics before they execute them. It's a war that they're conducting. We provide them with equipment. We provide them with advice. But when it comes to the kind of day-by-day tactics that they carry out, the day-by-day strikes that they take ... it's appropriate for them to make those decisions," he said in a press briefing.

In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state owned Sputnik agency, Russia's President, Vladimir Putin attends a remote meeting with Kursk Region Governov via video call in Moscow, on August 8, 2024. Gavriil Grigorov | Afp | Getty Images

Miller said that the U.S. was currently "in communication with the Ukrainians on this particular operation" but that it was inappropriate to comment on "what kind of operations they're conducting and what their goals are. That's appropriate that they speak to that publicly, not us." The U.S. State Department spokesperson further said Putin's description of the incursion as a "provocation" was "a little bit rich ... given Russia violated Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty" when it has illegally occupied Ukrainian territory since 2014, beginning with the annexation of Crimea, ahead of the large-scale invasion of February 2022.

Ukraine's strategy, Russia's response

Ukraine's strategy and reasons for carrying out a border raid remain unclear, although some defense analysts have commented that the operation may be an attempt to force Russia to redeploy forces away from eastern Ukraine, where a Russian summer offensive has been gaining ground. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War estimated Wednesday that Ukrainian forces had made confirmed advances of up to 10 kilometers  or around six miles  into the Kursk region "amid continued mechanized offensive operations on Russian territory." "The current confirmed extent and location of Ukrainian advances in Kursk Oblast [region] indicate that Ukrainian forces have penetrated at least two Russian defensive lines and a stronghold," the ISW said in an analysis. The institute said "geolocated footage published on August 6 and 7 shows that Ukrainian armored vehicles have advanced to positions along the 38K-030 route about 10 kilometers from the international border."

A screen grab from a video released by Russian Ministry of Defense shows Russian forces launching a missile attack, targeting the military equipment of Ukrainian Armed Forces at the border area of the Kursk region, Russia on August 7, 2024. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images

The ISW said that the Kremlin's response to Ukrainian offensive activities in Kursk "has so far been contradictory, as Russian officials are attempting to balance presenting the effort as a notable Ukrainian escalation with avoiding overstating its potential implications and risking domestic discontent." "The Kremlin risks, however, discrediting itself among certain communities by seemingly dismissing the significance of the attack by framing it only as a 'provocation."' The ISW noted that a number of Russian military bloggers, often critical of the war and Russia's tactics and strategy, have heavily blasted Russia's military command for not detecting preparations for Ukrainian offensive operations into Kursk or preventing the initiative.

A screen grab from a video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense shows Russian forces launching a missile attack, targeting the military equipment of Ukrainian forces at the border area in the Kursk region, Russia on August 8, 2024. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Aug. 8, 2024. Joe Raedle | Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have agreed to a debate on Sept. 10 hosted by ABC News, both presidential nominees said Thursday. Trump at a news conference said that he has also signed up for two more debates: one to be hosted by Fox News on Sept. 4, the other to be hosted by NBC News on Sept. 25. Harris, the Democratic nominee, later told reporters, "I am happy to have that conversation about an additional debate, or after Sept. 10 [on ABC News], for sure."

U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks with members of the media before boarding Air Force Two at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Michigan, U.S., August 7, 2024. Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters

"I have always been on record, I am looking forward to debating Donald Trump and we have a date of Sept. 10," Harris told NBC News earlier at a campaign event with the United Auto Workers union in Wayne, Michigan. Republican nominee Trump, at the news conference at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, said, "I think it's very important to have debates." Trump said CBS News will host a vice presidential debate between his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, and Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Fox previously agreed to host a Trump-Harris debate on Sept. 4.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate on August 08, 2024, in Palm Beach, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images

NBC has pitched both campaigns multiple potential dates for a presidential debate, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC. Trump's campaign agreed to Sept. 25 but the Harris campaign has yet to agree to that date, the person said. Trump's announcement of three potential debates with Harris was a reversal of his vow last week that he would not participate in a debate on ABC. Trump at the time claimed his pending defamation lawsuit against the network created a "conflict of interest." Harris since then had taunted Trump for refusing to commit to the ABC debate, whose Sept. 10 date was set originally for Trump to debate President Joe Biden, who dropped out of the election last month. Trump's freewheeling news conference Thursday, which lasted about an hour, came amid a swell of momentum for the Harris-Walz ticket. Trump's campaign in recent days has pressured Harris and Walz to take questions from the media  and pressured media outlets to demand the Democrats do so  as it accused the vice president of dodging reporters. "She hasn't done an interview, she can't do an interview, she's barely competent," Trump said Thursday. Harris has largely sidestepped reporters since Biden dropped his reelection bid and endorsed her as his replacement last month. Harris and Walz on Tuesday embarked on a kickoff campaign swing through battleground states, without holding news conferences.
MILAN, Italy  European policymakers have longed for bigger banks across the continent.

And Italy might be about to give them their wish with a bumper round of M&A, according to analysts.

Years after a sovereign debt crisis in the region and a government rescue for Banca Monte dei Paschi (BMPS) that saved it from collapse, many are looking at Italy's banking sector with fresh eyes.

"If you assess individual banks in Italy, it's difficult not to believe that something will happen, I would say, over the next 12 months or so," Antonio Reale, co-head of European banks at Bank of America, told CNBC.

Reale highlighted that BMPS had been rehabilitated and needed re-privatization, he also said UniCredit is now sitting on a "relatively large stack of excess of capital," and more broadly that the Italian government has a new industrial agenda.

UniCredit , in particular, continues to surprise markets with some stellar quarterly profit beats. It earned 8.6 billion euros last year (up 54% year-on-year), pleasing investors via share buybacks and dividends.

Meanwhile, BMPS  which was saved in 2017  has to eventually be put back into private hands under an agreement with European regulators and the Italian government. Speaking in March, Italy's Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said "there is a specific commitment" with the European Commission on the divestment of the government stake on BMPS.
GUANGZHOU,CHINA - NOVEMBER 24: A ZEEKR X is on display during the 2023 Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition at China Import and Export Fair Complex on November 24, 2023 in Guangzhou, Guangdong province of China. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)

More Chinese electric vehicle brands are launching in Singapore as the government pushes for EV adoption with extended incentives and charging points.

Last week, Geely -owned luxury EV brand Zeekr debuted in the city-state with the Zeekr X, a premium SUV with a starting price of 199,999 Singapore dollars ($150,604).

"As Singapore continues to progress its EV transition, we believe that there is a desire for EVs that go beyond being simply a form of conveyance, to offering a premium driving experience with conveniences that elevate urban living," said Mars Chen, vice president of Zeekr, after the brand's Singapore launch last week.

"We are optimistic that our launch will grow our footprint across Southeast Asia and beyond," Chen said.

Just a week earlier, Xpeng Motors announced its entry into the Singapore market with a pop-up showroom, offering visitors the opportunity to test drive the Xpeng G6 electric SUV. Prices start from SG$209,999 for the standard model and SG$224,999 for the longer range version.

"As one of Asia's key economic and financial centers, Singapore holds immense potential for the growth of the electric car industry. With its affluent customer base and strong purchasing power, Singapore is the ideal market for XPeng's innovative products," an Xpeng Global spokesperson told CNBC.

Chinese EVs are not new to Singapore as the world's largest EV seller BYD , which dethroned Tesla, has been in the city-state since 2014.


Israel likely to target Yahya Sinwar, gathers intelligence Israel intelligence is gathering maximum information from its network in Gaza on Yahya Sinwar, the newly anointed political head of the militant group, Hamas. Sources told IANS that Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, a hawk among the top leadership of the country, has renewed his earlier call to eliminate Sinwar.



According to the information available, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant met Mossad Chief David Barnea and Shin Bet Chief Ronan Bar and apprised them of the urgency to eliminate Sinwar at the earliest.



It may be recalled that Defence Minister Gallant had publicly called for the assassination of Yahya Sinwar and had said that the Israeli establishment would hunt down the dreaded Hamas leader at any cost.



The spokesperson of Israel Defense Forces (IDF ), Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari in a press statement after Sinwar was announced as the political head by Hamas said, "Yahya Sinwar is a terrorist, who is responsible for the most brutal terrorist attack in history -- October 7th. There is only one place for Yahya Sinwar, and it is beside Mohammed Deif and the rest of the October 7th terrorists. That is the only place were preparing and intending for him.



Israel had on August 1 publicly announced that it had killed Mohammed Deif, the military head of Hamas, and the statement of Hagari is a clear message that Israel will not rest till it eliminates Sinwar.



Sinwar, according to Israel is the man behind the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that led to the murder of 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping of 251 people who were taken as hostages into Gaza. Of the kidnapped, 111 hostages are still in Gaza. The mortal remains of 39 hostages have also not been handed over.



Israel intelligence agencies have already reported that Yahya Sinwar was hiding in an underground tunnel network in either the Khan Younis area or the Rafah area and is surrounded by Israeli hostages.



Meanwhile, Israel has stepped up its defence systems for a probable Iranian attack following the killing of Hamas political head Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and that of Hezbollah military head Fuad Shukr in Beirut on August 1.



After the two back-to-back killings of the top leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, Iran has been mulling retaliation against Israel.



However, Iran International has reported that the Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian met their supreme leader Ali Khamenei and apprised him that an attack on Israel would have a retaliation that could cripple the country's economy.




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This week, the San Francisco Chronicle welcomed reporters Molly Burke and Maliya Ellis to the newsroom as part of the Hearst Journalism Fellowship.



The 25-year-old multimedia training program places early-career journalists in top Hearst newspaper newsrooms for two yearlong rotations. During the program, fellows report a variety of stories, participate in projects and receive mentorship from newsroom colleagues.



Burke joined the Chronicle in the second year of her fellowship, having spent her first rotation covering New York state government in Albany, N.Y., for the Times Union. At the Chronicle, Burke will start on the politics team, reporting to politics editor Sara Libby, before moving to the climate team, where shell work with editor Kate Galbraith, then switching to breaking news on the night team with assistant metro editor Suzanne Espinosa.

Ellis is starting her fellowship at the Chronicle, where shell begin covering breaking news on the night shift with Espinosa before moving to the climate team. Ellis will spend a year reporting in San Francisco before continuing her fellowship in another Hearst newspaper newsroom.

The fellows provide a jolt of energy to our newsroom, said Chronicle editor-in-chief Emilio Garcia-Ruiz, and we look forward to seeing the wonderful work they will do.



Burke and Ellis are both recent graduates starting their careers in journalism. Burke, who hails from Davis, received her masters in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in 2023 and previously covered breaking news as a reporting intern at the Sacramento Bee and Denver Post.

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Internet sensation and Chinese food aficionado Jack Karlson passed away yesterday on his 82nd birthday. He is mourned by his family, his country and his arresting officer.

In 1991, Queensland Police attempted to apprehend a diner at a restaurant called China Sea in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Australia who stood accused of simple credit card fraud. But the arrestee would soon protest that those were not the true charges. Outside China Sea, a young reporter and cameraman named Chris Reason stood ready to film the arrest, and as senior sergeant Stoll Watt and his men strained to drag alleged conman and serial prison escaper Karlson into a police vehicle, Reason recorded the preeminent piece of video journalism in all of Australian history.

Much later, in 2009, Reasons footage of police officers struggling to restrain Karlson while he shouted florid phrases such as Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest!, What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal? and Get Your hands off my penis! with the booming panache of a trained thespian became a worldwide sensation after a fan posted the clip on YouTube.

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Today, the colorful life of the man known as Jack Karlson (among many other aliases) is the subject of an upcoming documentary titled The Man Who Ate A Succulent Chinese Meal, but the man himself met his lifes end surrounded by loved ones after an extended fight against many ailments, including systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

Tata and farewell, Jack.

He walked a full and colourful path, and despite the troubles thrown at him, he lived by his motto  to keep on laughing, Karlsons family said of his passing in a statement for The Guardian. Karlsons niece, Kim Edwards, noted that, though his final weeks were spent in hospital, he never lost his prison-breaking spirit, as her uncle had a few attempts to escape and pulled his cords out a couple of times and asked us many time to sneak in his pipe. Edwards added, As a final send off, we gave uncle a last taste of red wine through his drip just before it was removed.

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According to Australian filmmaker Heath Davis, who is in the process of directing a feature-length chronicle of Karlsons life and fame, the name Jack Karlson was just one of many aliases used by the viral sensation during his career as a petty crook. Davis believes Karlsons birth name to be Cecil George Edwards, but Davis continues to call the charismatic conman by his preferred moniker.

Davis says that Karlsons early life was rife with struggle as he bounced around from brutal institution to notorious jail throughout his teen years. A regular person who experienced his life would have passed away years ago, Davis said of his subject. But Jack just had this zest for life that made you go: this guy is made of mercury  he might just live forever.

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Sadly, no man is immortal  even one who once escaped from prison by picking the lock on a cuff connecting him to a sleeping police officer, or who made another break from a separate island institution by jumping out of a moving train and swimming to freedom. However, despite Karlsons continuous clashes with the Australian justice system, even his pursuers couldnt help but find his larger-than-life personality positively charming. During the making of Davis documentary, the director reunited Karlson with Sergeant Watt, who spoke highly of his most high-profile arrest.

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He was some sort of trained actor, he learned that in prison, but he was also a natural showman, Watt said of Karlsons viral theatricality, adding that his arrest hilariously failed to keep Karlson in custody for long. He bluffed his way out of a court in Sydney, said he was a detective, and to do that he must have been a very confident showman  and a bit of a conman as well.

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Still, Watt said that the fuzz deserved to have their side of the story heard after 15 years of Karlsons perspective on the China Sea incident being the definitive account. Said Watt of the infamous Get your hands off my penis!" moment, All it was, was, I was assisting him out of the restaurant and there was a step and he tripped a little bit and, to help him up, my hand grabbed him lower down on the thigh.

He said I grabbed him by the thing, but I was nowhere near it, Watt insisted.

He said to me that I was the only copper he never hated, Watt concluded of his reunion with Karlson. He called me comrade, and he said, Come up and spend the night with me and well have a few, he calls it, the juice of the red grapes.

Right now, I hope Karlson is pairing plenty of that juice with a succulent Chinese meal up (down?) in Australian heaven.
A former Antioch police officer was convicted of fraud after a jury found him guilty of paying another person to earn a college degree for him in order to secure a pay bump at work. Terry Chea/Associated Press

A former Antioch police officer accused of paying another person to take college courses for him in an effort to increase his salary was convicted Thursday of federal charges related to fraud and conspiracy.

Morteza Amiri faces up to 40 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the U.S. attorneys office said. The jury deliberated for less than a day following a brief trial.

Prosecutors alleged Amiri paid a colleagues wife to complete online coursework for a bachelors degree. After he got the degree, the city of Antioch awarded him a 5% pay bump as part of a benefit offered to employees with degrees, prosecutors said during the trial, which began Monday.

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He cheated his way to a pay raise, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alethea Sargent said Thursday during closing arguments. He deceived and cheated his employer.

Amiris attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment after the verdict.

The scheme began when Pittsburg police officer Patrick Bernhans wife obtained a bachelors degree in criminal justice for him on his behalf through California Coast University, according to prosecutors. Amiri then went to the woman for the same purpose  as did other officers, prosecutors said. A total of six officers, including Amiri and Berhan, were charged in the case.

In court Thursday, Sargent showed records of payments Amiri made to the woman, as well as records of completed classwork and text messages in which Amiri instructed her to keep quiet about the scheme.

Attorney Tim Crudo told the jury during opening statements that there was no proof of an agreement to scam, according to the East Bay Times.

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Amiri was one of six former Antioch and Pittsburg police officers who were charged last year in the case. The five other defendants pleaded guilty. Among them is Berhan, who is awaiting sentencing.

The case was one of four that came as a result of a two-year investigation that rocked the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments amid revelations that some officers engaged in racist and homophobic text messages. A total of 10 former Antioch and Pittsburg police officers were charged with various crimes.

In one of the other cases, Amiri and two other Antioch police officers were charged with conspiring to violate the civil rights of several community members through the use of excessive force. The officer pleaded not guilty, and the case is pending.

Amiris sentencing was scheduled for Nov. 12.
An East Bay mans murder conviction and death sentence were overturned due to juror discrimination. His case is among 35 of Alameda Countys death sentence cases being reviewed by the district attorney for such discrimination. Yellow Dog Productions/Getty Images

A man who was sentenced to death for a 1986 murder in a Berkeley park has been granted a new trial after the state admitted discrimination in the selection of his jury.

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced in April that she was putting all 35 of her countys death sentences on hold to review evidence that prosecutors had dismissed prospective jurors who were Black or Jewish in the belief that they would be less likely to vote for the death penalty. On Tuesday, Price told reporters that such bias had occurred in Curtis Lee Ervins trial in 1991.

It is clear that the prosecution of this case was very problematic, Price said. She said Ervins prosecutor, James Anderson, who served in the office for 35 years, used many of his allotted challenges in Ervins case to remove Black jurors.

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Ervin, now 71, was convicted of murder for hire in the fatal stabbing of Carlene McDonald in November 1986. An Alameda County jury found that Ervin, who lived in Richmond, accepted $2,500 from the victims ex-husband, Robert McDonald, to commit the murder. Ervin and another man, Arestes Robinson, kidnapped the woman from her home in El Sobrante and took her to Tilden Park, where Robinson held her down while Ervin stabbed her, according to the jury verdict.

Ervin and McDonald were both sentenced to death, and Robinson was sentenced to life in prison. McDonald and Robinson both died in prison. The state Supreme Court upheld Ervins death sentence in 2000, but he then appealed in federal court, challenging the composition of the jury that convicted him.

That jury had one Black member, while most or all of the others were white, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a 2021 ruling. Each side in a capital case is allowed to remove up to 20 prospective jurors, and the court said Ervins prosecutor had dismissed nine of the 11 Black people on the panel. Ervin is Black.

The court returned the case to a federal judge to determine whether Ervin had been denied a fair trial. Attorney General Rob Bontas office had defended Ervins death sentence before the appeals court. But lawyers from Bontas office said in a filing last week that a thorough re-examination of the record, as ordered by the 9th Circuit, had revealed evidence of discrimination in jury selection that entitled Ervin to a new trial.

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria has now ordered Prices office to decide in 60 days whether to release Ervin or order a retrial. Ervin, meanwhile, according to state records, has been transferred to the California Health Care Facility in Stockton, which provides medical care and mental health treatment to prisoners with serious ailments.

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Price said Tuesday she has not yet decided how to proceed with the case. If Ervin is retried, Price, a former civil rights lawyer who opposes the death penalty, presumably would seek a maximum sentence of life in prison. But Pamala Sayasane, a lawyer for Ervin, said Price should drop the case.

Ervin has been locked up for 38 years and has always maintained his innocence, Sayasane told the Chronicle. We presented evidence of (prosecution) misconduct throughout the case. He should finally be released and enjoy whatever years he has remaining as a free man.

And Brian Pomerantz, another attorney for Ervin, said Price should also take action in five other capital cases prosecuted by Anderson, who led the death penalty unit in the district attorneys office.

Theyve done the right thing in terms of this concession, Pomerantz said. However, that concession should have come years ago.

Anderson could not be reached for comment Tuesday. But after the appeals courts ruling in 2021, he told the Chronicle that the only thing he cared about when questioning prospective jurors in capital cases was how strongly they favored the death penalty.

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The approval rating of San Francisco Mayor London Breed, shown during a Juneteenth parade, improved in the Chronicles latest poll. Benjamin Fanjoy/Special to the Chronicle

San Francisco Mayor London Breed has pulled ahead of her competitors as voters first-choice pick in this years mayoral election, a new poll commissioned by the Chronicle found. Still, the race remains close, with ranked-choice preferences showing two of her challengers in strong contention.

About 28% of likely voters polled from July 31 through Aug. 5 said they would rank Breed as their first choice, or were leaning toward doing so, in the November election, up from the 18% that said the same in the Chronicles February poll. That poll showed Breed in serious danger of losing the election, with former Mayor and Supervisor Mark Farrell and nonprofit founder Daniel Lurie having similar levels of support.

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But since then, the share of voters naming Farrell and Lurie as first-choice picks hasnt changed much. About 20% of likely voters named Farrell as their top choice, which is the same as in February. About 17% backed Lurie, roughly equivalent to the 16% that backed him earlier in the year. Supervisor Ahsha Safais share of support fell from 8% to 5%.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin  who joined the race in April  received 12% of first-choice picks. While Peskin was the top choice among respondents who identified as progressives, his fourth-place overall performance suggests his candidacy has yet to gain significant support.

Fewer voters were undecided, with about 18% saying they werent even leaning toward a single candidate for their top pick, roughly half of the 38% who hadnt made up their minds in February.

The poll surveyed 804 likely voters, and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

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Breeds improved standing comes as likely voters report warmer perceptions of her job performance  and their overall quality of life in San Francisco  than they did in February. About 59% of likely voters said they disapproved of Breeds mayoral track record. While that was still a majority, it had dipped since February, when Breed had a 71% disapproval rating.

For whatever reason  changes in city policies (or) outcomes, the weather, national politics  Breed has gotten herself up off the canvas, said Jonathan Brown, president of Sextant Strategies & Research, which conducted the polls.

But San Franciscos ranked-choice voting system complicates the picture. When the ballots are tallied in November, the second, third and sometimes even fourth choices of voters can matter. In each round of ranked-choice voting, the candidate with the least number of first-place votes will be eliminated and their votes will then be reallocated to the candidates named as their next top pick. This continues until one candidate receives a majority of votes.

That means even if Breed receives the most first-choice votes, one of her competitors might win the election, depending on how voters rank the candidates. She also has to contend with strong opposition from both her opponents and many voters. About a quarter of likely voters said they plan to rank her last on the ballot, while roughly 10% said the same of Farrell, Lurie and Safai each. Another quarter of voters said theyd rank Peskin last.

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Voters know who they dont want and they know who they do want, Brown said. Its a question of whether they fill out the entire ballot and how strategically theyre thinking about things.

Although the results of ranked-choice voting are difficult to predict, the poll data illuminates some of the dynamics of the race. Lurie is the most common second choice of likely voters, with 22% of those who made a first choice picking him second or leaning towards doing so. But because nearly half of Luries second-place votes come from people who have Farrell first, Lurie would need Farrell to be eliminated early in the ranked-choice process to gain those votes.

At 20%, Farrell received the second most second-choice picks. Farrell is the most common second choice of Breed and Lurie voters, but does worst among Peskin voters. Breed received 12% of second-place picks.

The Chronicle poll did not ask respondents to rank their third- and fourth-choice rankings, but if the race remains tight, those choices could come into play.

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As the incumbent, Breeds chances of reelection are influenced by how her constituents feel about living in San Francisco. And the share of likely voters reporting a good or excellent quality of life jumped, from 39% in February to 53% in late July and early August.

Public safety was by far the biggest issue on voters minds, with a third saying it was the most important topic when deciding who to vote for. It was followed by homelessness and housing affordability, with the two issues each receiving top priority from a quarter of polled voters.

When asked about the most important trait voters were looking for in a candidate, voters did not coalesce around a single characteristic. About 22% of likely voters said it was most important for a candidate to have a political outlook similar to their own  an especially vital attribute for voters identifying as progressives or conservatives  while another 21% said they would prioritize a candidate with detail-oriented management. Yet another 20% said they most wanted a mayor who would bring different groups together.

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Breeds momentum was fueled by rising support from voters across ideological lines, with those identifying as progressives, liberals and moderates being more likely to name her as a first pick than they were in February. But Farrell held the strongest share of backing from moderates and conservatives. Peskin, meanwhile, drew much of the progressive support that Safai captured in the February poll.

Asian voters, whom candidates have identified as an especially important voting bloc to court, were generally split between Breed and Lurie. About 27% of Asian voters indicated they would or were leaning toward placing Breed as their first pick, while 25% said the same for Lurie.
CATSKILL - The newest protocol for student cell phone use in the schools was discussed by the Board of Education at its meeting Wednesday.
Briar the mountain lion cub was rescued from a road in El Dorado County by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and brought to the Oakland Zoo on Monday, officials said. Oakland Zoo The Oakland Zoo determined Briar, the mountain lion cub found in El Dorado County that the zoo has taken in, to be 4-5 weeks old. Oakland Zoo

A mountain lion kitten found along a road in El Dorado County was rescued and brought to the Oakland Zoo, officials said Wednesday.

The kitten, named Briar, arrived at the zoo on Monday. The zoo determined him to be 4-5 weeks old after a full exam. The zoo did not specify when the cub was discovered, only saying that he was found by El Dorado County residents walking alone on an unspecified road. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife surveyed the area hoping to reunite the kitten with its mother but could not locate any other mountain lions, so he was brought to the zoo, officials said.

Briar arrived at the zoo well-nourished and hydrated, officials said, adding that he did not need additional fluids. He will remain at the zoo until CDFW finds a home for him, the zoo said. According to the zoo, mountain lions spend about two years with their mother to learn survival skills in the wild, and because Briar is so young, he does not possess those skills and cannot return to the wild.

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Briar the mountain lion cub was rescued from a road in El Dorado County by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and brought to the Oakland Zoo on Monday, officials said. Oakland Zoo

The population of mountain lions faces various conservation challenges in the wild, such as habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, and climate change, the zoo said in a statement. Without information about the cubs mother, CDFW and the Zoo cannot determine how these factors and many other conservation challenges may have contributed to Briar being orphaned.

Briars rescue marks the 27th made through the Bay Area Cougar Action Team alliance, a group established in 2012 composed of the Oakland Zoo, CDFW, mountain lion researchers and other local agencies that focus on mountain lion conservation.
Oakland and Berkeley youths ages 16 and 17 will be able to vote in school district board elections starting in November. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle 2021

Edamevoh Ajayi never imagined she would get to participate in her local election before turning 18. From talking to families in Fruitvale to going to local City Council meetings, the student at Oakland Technical High School was unsure whether her efforts to lower the voting age for November would pay off.

Now, she couldnt be more excited to be one of many 16-year-olds who will get to vote in Oaklands school board election this year. Im really, really happy, Ajayi said. It really shows that we teens, when we come together, our voices matter.

In a historic first in California, 16- and 17-year olds in Berkeley and Oakland will be allowed to vote in their districts school board elections. The process has been years in the making for youth activists in the two cities, with Berkeley first passing a measure in 2016 and Oakland following suit in 2020.

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This is a very exciting and historic day, said Enikia Ford Morthel, superintendent of the Berkeley Unified School District. Who better to be involved in making the decisions about whos on the school board than the students themselves?

The lowered voting age in Berkeley and Oakland is part of a larger movement to lower the voting age in the United States. Opponents have argued that teens are too young to vote, and Californians rejected a measure to allow 17-year-olds to participate in primary and special elections in 2020.

Allyson Chen started campaigning to lower the voting age in Oakland in 2019, when she was a freshman at Oakland High School. From hygiene issues in bathrooms to teacher absences, Chen wanted to make her school a better place. After the work she did handing out flyers and staffing phone banks, she thought she would get the chance to vote by the time she turned 16  but that never happened despite the measure passing.

Chen, now 19, is relieved to finally see the measure she fought so hard for be implemented.

I was like, Oh my gosh, this is finally happening, Chen said. But at the same time, its kind of like, this should have already happened.

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Due to numerous issues, including concerns around updating the Alameda County Registrar of Voters software, teens in Berkeley and Oakland were not able to vote in earlier elections. Now that those issues have been resolved, students can make their way to the voting booth.

This has never been done before in California, and we had to make sure that it was done properly, Alameda County registrar Tim Dupuis said in a statement.

In California, teens as young as 16 can preregister to vote. For those in Berkeley and Oakland to be eligible to vote in their school board election, they must use that preregistration system to register as a youth voter. Any student who is already preregistered in Oakland or Berkeley will automatically be enrolled as a youth voter. Online registration will be open until Oct. 21 for all youth voters for the November election, although youth voters can still register in person after that date.

Eligible teens will be mailed voter information guides on Sept. 26 and ballots the week of Oct. 7. While Ford Morthel is unsure of how many students will show up to vote in Novembers election, she wants to make sure that everyone who is eligible to vote can, which started for her by notifying parents.

Sam Davis, board president of Oakland Unified, said that while he doesnt expect thousands and thousands of students to vote, he believes that 16 and 17 is a great age to become a voter and engaged in the civics process. Unlike 18-year-olds, younger teens are typically not dealing with the stress of moving out and beginning college.



Theyre still in high school. Theyre in civics classes. Theyre learning about government, and its a great time to motivate them to register, Davis said. Even if its a small number, its that many more that will keep their voter registration through that big transition into adulthood.

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For Ashley Tchanyoum, a student at Oakland Technical High School, getting to vote in this election is a major milestone. She said that sometimes there is a disconnect between what her peers want to see change in the school district and what adults want to see change  but the chance to vote is an opportunity for the 16-year-old to make herself heard.

Im actually so excited because Ive been able to meet so many people who will be running for my district, said Tchanyoum, who described it as an eye-opening experience. Its forced me to think more about whats more important to me and what characteristics I want to see in someone who will be representing me on a wider scale.

Davis noted that he doesnt know any other major cities that have youth voters.

Maryland has five municipalities that permit youth voting, with a combined total population of all ages of only around 80,000. Because Berkeley and Oakland both have larger populations, around 100,000 and 400,000, the potential youth vote in each of these two California cities is greater than all the Maryland municipalities combined.

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Tech billionaire Elon Musk says civil war in Britain is inevitable. Hes talking out of the top of his hat.

Its difficult to know whether this spate of riots will fizzle out in a week or so or persist until autumn. Although there is no prospect of imminent civil war, it must be admitted that we are a deeply divided and increasingly polarised society.

People look at the same events and come to diametrically opposite conclusions, having seemingly made up their minds in advance. This is evident in heated discussions about whether there is two-tier policing in Britain.

The Government, police bosses and most progressive people vehemently deny that it exists. The alignment of progressives with the boys in blue is striking since such people are often keen to find fault with the police.

On the other side of the argument, Mr Musk, Nigel Farage and sundry Tory MPs all assert that theres ample proof of two-tier policing. The nub of their allegations is that the police are more indulgent of non-white protesters than of white ones.

A police dog tackles a protester in Rotherham, during riots after the Southport stabbings

Elon Musk has used his X platform to criticise the Government's handling of policing amid the riot crisis

Is this true? It shouldnt be too difficult to examine recent events in a spirit of fairness and calm, and come at least to a tentative conclusion.

Such calmness was regrettably absent on Monday when Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley knocked to the floor the microphone of a Sky News reporter who had asked him: Are we going to end two-tier policing, sir? It was a petulant, unbefitting reaction, for which he has rightly apologised.

I fear many of the concerns about two-tier policing are valid. I dont say that courageous bobbies on the front line are deliberate practitioners. Nor do I believe that among police bosses it is necessarily an instrument of policy. They may simply be softer on non-white protesters out of a terror of being accused of racism.

The danger, of course, is that social cohesion and good race relations will suffer if white people reasonably believe that they are subject to a form of discrimination.

Where to start? A good place is a video taken at the weekend in which a police officer addressed a Muslim crowd outside a mosque in Stoke-on-Trent. He said: If there are any weapons, get rid of them. Were not going to make any arrests.

It may not be conclusive proof of two-tier policing. Perhaps the officer, confronted by a large and potentially violent crowd, was being prudently emollient. Yet I ask  clinging to my precepts of calmness and fairness  whether we can easily imagine a policeman addressing a crowd of possibly armed white people in such mild tones.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has warned rioters we will come after you

Sir Mark grabbed the microphone when asked on Monday by a reporter if he was 'going to end two-tier policing' as he rushed out of a Cobra meeting

Item two is the events in the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham, where large groups of men, some waving Palestinian flags and carrying weapons, gathered on Monday evening. They were reportedly expecting a far-Right demo, which didnt materialise.

This didnt stop the mob attacking passing cars, forcing journalists to withdraw, and smashing up a pub. A white man was punched and kicked, sustaining quite serious injuries. There were no police visible and no arrests were made.

Were they taken by surprise? No. A senior officer in West Midlands Police said they were aware of the planned demonstration, and had met local community leaders, with whom they have really strong relations, to discuss the style of policing we needed to deliver. That amounted to none at all.

In other words, community leaders were allowed to shape the police response, which turned out to be woefully inadequate. A man was assaulted and serious damage done. The police were remarkably laid back, as, subsequently, was Home Office minister and Birmingham MP Jess Phillips, who declined to condemn the miscreants.

Still rooted in a spirit of fairness, I ask whether a riot by far-Right hooligans would have been handled by police in a similar way. I very much doubt it. Sir Mark Rowley has warned rioters that we will come after you. Will the police now come after the Muslim thugs who rampaged through Bordesley Green?

I accept that, if a mosque is threatened by a mob, local Muslims have a right to defend it, as they did with commendable restraint last week in Southport. (At a Liverpool mosque they went one better, handing out food to antagonistic demonstrators.) But the mayhem in Bordesley Green was vigilantism run wild.

Nonetheless, Sir Mark stuck to his guns yesterday, and rejected accusations of two-tier policing as complete nonsense. He even said those making the claims were putting officers at risk.

Some of the accusations against the police are probably misplaced. For example, Nigel Farage and others have suggested that the authorities soft-peddled last month when there were disturbances in Harehills, Leeds, after children from a Roma family had been taken into care. Vehicles were set on fire and a police car overturned.

Young men, some in masks, gathered on a roundabout in Bordesley Green on Monday evening, amid rumours of a far-Right gathering

Riots swept through the Harehills area of Leeds last month after social services removed four children from a family

The police certainly took a softer approach in Harehills than in more recent confrontations with far-Right thugs, but they may have lacked the manpower, or wished to avoid an escalation. They have made 27 arrests and charged four people since the disorder.

The polices intermittent tolerance of anti-Semitic chants during marches in London cant be defended. In June, pro-Gaza activists created chaos on Tower Bridge by blocking traffic and setting off flares. Police restored order without making arrests. There have, though, been numerous arrests since the marches began last autumn, and some police injuries.

Nor is it possible to banish the memory of several police officers taking the knee during a Black Lives Matter protest outside Downing Street in June 2020. That really was a political statement. The officers concerned suffered no disciplinary action.

What makes the police sometimes indulge minority groups? It is a fear of being accused of racism, or of being blamed for exacerbating racial tensions.

This was evident in the polices reluctance to pursue gangs, largely composed of Asian and especially Muslim men, which groomed young girls in several northern towns. A 2013 report by the Commons Home Affairs Committee judged that the fear of being seen as racist may have hindered the authorities in detecting and preventing abuse.

The secretary to a 2022 report by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse told a newspaper: We need to break the culture where people are worried that they might be accused of being racist just because they record factual information.

It goes without saying that the vast majority of Muslims had nothing to do with these vile practices, just as they are overwhelmingly law-abiding. The mob in Bordesley Green is no more representative of Muslims than the thugs who smashed their way into a Rotherham hotel housing asylum seekers are representative of whites.

But the police should beware of the self-righteous defence trotted out by the likes of Sir Mark Rowley. So too must the Government, which shouldnt let its political self-interest in not alienating traditional Labour Muslim voters stand in the way of whats right for the country.

In a spirit of calmness and fairness, let us admit that the police are sometimes guilty of double standards. Unless this ceases, race relations are bound to suffer.
In its election manifesto, Labour claimed to have a practical plan ready and waiting to tackle the small boats crisis. So where is it?

More than 4,000 illegal migrants have crossed the Channel since this Government came to power, bringing the years running total to 17,639, with no sign of abating.

Home Secretary Yvette Coopers much-vaunted new Border Security Command is no nearer becoming a reality, not least because no credible candidate will accept the poisoned chalice of heading an organisation so doomed to failure.

And her solution to ending the backlog of asylum claims appears to be giving up to 90,000 migrants the automatic right to remain here, sending out the message to would-be Channel migrants that if they can reach the UK they are here to stay.

Meanwhile, she has scrapped the Rwanda scheme without having any alternative deterrent. Not so much a practical plan as an abject surrender of our borders.

More than 4,000 migrants have crossed the Channel since this Government came to power (pictured: Migrants arrive in Dover on Tuesday)

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper s much-vaunted new Border Security Command is no nearer becoming a reality, not least no candidate will accept the poisoned chalice

It is this insouciance towards uncontrolled mass migration that has spread the anger and disaffection on which extremism feeds.

Many of the areas experiencing upheaval voted for Brexit in the belief it would enable Britain to take back control. Instead, they have seen legal and illegal migration spiral.

Apart from the severe pressure this places on housing and public services, many feel their communities are changing in character and culture without any consultation.

This cant excuse the appalling disorder we have seen in the past nine days, but it is a contributing factor. Until Ms Cooper and Sir Keir Starmer understand this and seek to get a grip on migration numbers, resentment will continue to simmer.

They were critical enough of Tory failings while in opposition. Its their problem now.

Speak out on all hate

The Prime Minister has rightly given assurances to Muslim communities that he will take every step possible to keep them safe. But they are not the only minority that needs protection.

British Jews suffered record levels of anti-Semitic incidents in the first half of 2024, with offences ranging from verbal abuse to vandalism and assault.

Sir Keir Starmer has rightly given assurances to Muslim communities that he will take 'every step possible' to keep them safe, but he must be similarly vocal about attacks on Jews and synagogues

Shockingly, more than 250 of the nearly 2,000 incidents were directed against schoolchildren, students and university academics, many referencing Hamas and the October 7 massacre.

Sir Keir claims to have purged Labour of the vile anti-Semitism it harboured under Jeremy Corbyn. He must prove it by being as vocal about attacks on Jews and synagogues as on Muslims and mosques.

The best of British

While the rioters bringing fear and chaos to our streets sadly represent the worst of Britain, our lion-hearted Olympians epitomise the very best.

Aged between 16 and 51 and drawn from across the social, economic and ethnic spectrum, their dedication, skill and courage have been truly inspiring.

On the track and the water, in the pool and the gymnastics arena, at the skatepark and the velodrome, on horseback and mountain bike they have excelled themselves.

Our youngest medallist, 16-year-old Sky Brown, showed astonishing grit in winning a skateboarding bronze despite having dislocated her shoulder.

Asked whether she considered pulling out because of the pain, she said it hadnt crossed her mind. When you fall, youve just got to get back up again, she said. A lesson for sport and for life.
They say Kamala Harris chose Tim Walz as her vice presidential running mate after being impressed by his description of her rival, Donald Trump, as weird.

For some reason, the insult had taken off, and had clearly rankled the one person it was meant to rankle: Trump himself.

Interviewed by the radio host Clay Travis, Trump was still smouldering. Nobodys ever called me weird. Weirdly, he then repeated the same sentence: Nobodys ever called me weird. He then added: Im a lot of things, but weird Im not.

Walz, the governor of Midwest state Minnesota, also described the Republican vice presidential nominee, J.D. Vance, as weird, and this also upset Trump. I will tell you. J.D. is not at all. They are. Were not weird people. Were actually just the opposite.

Its strange  weird, even  that everyone seems to have forgotten the first time the word weird was publicly apTplied to Trump.

They say Kamala Harris (pictured on Wednesday) picked Tim Walz as her running mate after being impressed with his description of Trump as 'weird'

Donald Trump (pictured last May) told radio host Clay Travis that 'nobody's ever called me weird'

It was seven years ago, on January 20, 2017, and it happened outside the Capitol Building in Washington DC. President Trump had taken his oath of office, and many imagined he would go on to deliver an inaugural address that was dignified and statesmanlike.

Instead, he launched into a tirade, portraying America as broken, with rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation. He blamed it on previous presidents, before announcing: The American carnage stops right here, right now . . . From this moment on, its going to be America First.

When Trumps rant came to an end, former President George W. Bush turned to the defeated candidate, Hillary Clinton, and said the immortal words: Well, that was some weird s**t.

Appropriately enough, the word weird is itself weird. Just look at the way it is spelt: if it were a conventional word, we would spell it wierd. But no: it is one of those odd-bod words, like beige or heist that refuses to obey the rule every schoolchild knows  i before e except after c.

The word weird has gone in and out of fashion. Around 1400, it was spelt wierd, developed from the Old English wyrd, and meant having the power to control the fate of men, which certainly qualifies Donald Trump as wierd or wyrd, if not weird.

It then fell from favour until 1606, when various characters in Macbeth referred to the three witches as the Weird Sisters. Alas, Shakespeare neglected to pen a speech in which a witch hits back, saying: Nobodys ever called me weird. Im a lot of things, but weird Im not.

Ever since its revival in Macbeth, people have used the adjective weird to mean strange. Is it purely coincidental that Trump was born in 1946, which, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, was just three years before the adjective became the noun weirdie? By 1955, weirdie had become weirdo, which is still popular today.

Until recently, weirdos were easily identifiable as people who talked to themselves in public. If you spotted someone coming towards you talking gibberish at the top of their voice, you would swerve away and avert your eyes.

Walz (pictured on Wednesday in Minnesota) also referred to Trump's running mate, JD Vance, as 'weird'

Donald Trumps speeches have increasingly become unstructured rambles around the interior of his skull

But since the advent of the mobile phone, the weirdos have taken over. These days, every other person in the street is chatting at full volume, even though no one is walking alongside them.

Donald Trumps speeches have increasingly become unstructured rambles around the interior of his skull, addressed to everyone and no one. Ive got to be the cleanest  I think Im the most honest human being, perhaps, that God has ever created, he told a rally in North Carolina in 2022.

Last year, for no discernible reason, he rambled on about sharks to a rally in Iowa: If Im sitting down and that boat is going down and Im on top of a battery and the water starts flooding in, Im getting concerned.

But then I look ten yards to my left and theres a shark over there, so I have a choice of electrocution or a shark. You know what Im going to take? Electrocution. I will take electrocution every single time. Do we agree? Yeah, I will take electrocution.

Perhaps this is why Tim Walzs observation hit its target: because if anyone in your neighbourhood started speaking like that, you would definitely think weirdo, before walking swiftly on.
A woman who spent nearly 40 years longing to find her biological sister has revealed her joy at finally meeting her, adding that it still feels 'surreal'.

Part-time hairdresser and counsellor Liz Allward, 60, from North Somerset, was adopted as a baby and always had a strong 'intuition' that she had a birth sibling, despite never being told so.

Though Liz had a happy childhood, she always felt a sense of 'loneliness', exacerbated by her adoptive family moving around a lot, making it difficult for Liz to maintain friendships.

It was on her wedding day in 1996 at the age of 23 that her adoptive mother informed her that she had an older biological sister, but with few other details, Liz was unable to locate her.

After years of failed attempts to locate her biological sister, Liz contacted ITV's Long Lost Family on a whim, unexpectedly leading her to the information she had longed to know for years and, most importantly, her biological sister, Deborah.

In Monday's episode of Long Lost Family, part-time hairdresser and counsellor Liz Allward (pictured), 60, from North Somerset, finally meets her biological sister after nearly 40 years of searching

Talking to FEMAIL, Liz recalled: 'When I was younger...I didn't know if it was a brother or a sister; I just knew something was missing.

'I was adopted in Leeds at a very young age, and then we moved quickly down to Surrey, then we moved to Bristol.

'I had a lovely family and a lovely mother and father, I can't fault them, [they were] very traditional and very honest.'

She added: 'I had a nice life, I was bit lonely during childhood, the moves were difficult for me.'

It wasn't until Liz's wedding day at the age of 23 that her adoptive mother confirmed the intuition she had always had.

Liz recalled: 'When I got married, I asked my mother, I said: '"Am I one of a twin?" She hesitated and told me that there was a daughter born to my birth mother a couple of years before [me]'.

Her instinct was confirmed, but Liz knew nothing more about her biological sister other than her existence.

'I got and married life went on...I tried for a quite a few years [to find Deborah], always with the support of friends,' she said.

Despite having a happy childhood, Liz always felt a sense of loneliness during her teenage years (she is pictured aged 16)

Growing up, the mother-of-two always have a strong intuition that she had a biological sibling out there

Liz's biological sister Debbie (pictured), from Yorkshire, knew she had a sister since she was eight

The mother-of-two sought information online and applied for her adoption papers from North Somerset Council.

It was in the document that Liz discovered the name of her birth sister. She said: 'There was one line that read "Deborah", it was just...overwhelming, it was frightening as well'.

When Liz turned 60, she decided enough time had gone by without knowing her biological sister, and with encouragement from her daughter, she sent an application to ITV's Long Lost Family.

'I think after turning 60, I thought: "I've got to do something", my daughter told me to go on Long Lost Family, I thought I'd never get on, but I did'.

'Within two weeks someone replied with the process... it was brilliant,' the mother-of-two recalled.

With the encouragement of her daughter, Liz decided to apply to ITV's Long Lost Family in a bid to locate Debbie

Liz is photographed as a baby in her adoptive mother, Janice Harrisons, arms - who Liz praised as a 'lovely' mother

Liz moved around the UK growing up, living in Leeds, Surrey, and Bristol (Liz is pictured during her childhood years)

The Long Lost Family team located Deborah, now known as Debbie, and discovered that, unlike Liz, Debbie was adopted within the family by her maternal aunt and that although she knew her birth mother as a child, she had long since lost contact.

Debbie said: 'I was adopted into the family, so I knew a lot of the relatives. Growing up, we didn't have a lot, but we never went without.

'We'd had a holiday...to the seaside every year and at Christmas, it might have been second-hand things that we got, but we didn't mind, we appreciated everything we got'.

Unlike Liz, Debbie discovered she had a birth sister at the age of eight, explaining: 'I thought about her quite a lot over the years...I had never forgotten.

She explained that while she would have loved to find her biological sister, she 'wouldn't know where to start'.

In October last year, she was surprised to come home to a letter from Long Lost Family. 'Everything was going through my head', she recalled.

'It took me all day and I rang the number on it, and that's when I found out that it was real, and I was thrilled to bits'.

The mother-of-two said it still feels 'surreal' to have met Debbie - and the pair instantly hit it off and found similarities

Liz (pictured with Long Lost Family host, Davina McCall) is planning to visit Debbie in Yorkshire in October

In a whirlwind few months, Liz and Debbie finally met each other for the first time and instantly felt a connection.

Liz explained: 'As soon as we sat down, apart from feeling a bit flustered...we went straight into joking and talking... it was lovely'.

'There were a few similarities in life along the way, but I think we're both quite sensitive underneath but feisty in other ways.' She added: 'I think we're very similar in lots of ways'.

The mother-of-two continued: 'It filled that hole, and it made me feel complete really, I had this urge to do it at 60, and I acted on it, and it was brilliant, and it's just been a bit of a whirlwind since then... it still feels a bit surreal.'

Debbie added: 'It was brilliant, I felt like I had known her all my life'.

The pair are now enjoying getting to know each other and making up for lost time, with the pair chatting weekly on the telephone.

Liz and Debbie are planning on getting to know each other face to face in October, when Liz is planning a visit to Debbie's Yorkshire home.

The new episode of Long Lost Family airs on Monday at 9pm on ITV
What woman in her 60s, or for that matter of any age, does not sometimes gaze in the bathroom mirror while performing her morning ritual of moisturiser, make-up and hair, and think: Im sick to death of the sight of you!

Bored with the same old look, the same old life. Your greatest adventure changing your mascara from black to brown as its more flattering, or breaking loose with a new nude lipstick.

Certainly thats how I felt, going through the same tedious ceremony many women perform every morning, staring bare-faced into their own eyes and thinking, where did it all go? Do I really look like this?

Twice a week I also tamed and straightened my curly hair with a half-hour blow-dry and curlers, shaping it into the same look Ive had for 20 years, which one friend uncharitably calls my helmet hair.

Amanda Platell had the same straightened blowout hairstyle for 20 years before she decided to undergo the chop

And yet I can barely remember the younger woman who chose the look that has defined me for decades. Now 66, I longed for a change. I asked myself, what can I do about it? Get a new boyfriend? Complicated. Move house? I love my battered old cottage. Quit work, a new job? Unthinkable. Go blonde? Not with my complexion.

Then suddenly, looking in the mirror at my same old face and helmet hair, I had an epiphany  I could get a fringe.

Before any males with their receding hairlines smirk, in that faintly condescending way, at the idea of equating cutting a fringe with buying a new house or changing career, let me tell you that theres no doubt whatsoever that for a woman, changing her hair can change her life. OK, its hardly earth-shattering, but it was about taking control, even if in a small way. Its harder to make drastic changes as you get older. Sparkly eyeshadow just emphasises your wrinkles. Coquettish eyeliner looks like desperation.

I am no stranger to Botox and have spent thousands on it in my time, but theres no denying the signs of ageing. Ive also noticed that my forehead has started to looked ginormous in selfies.

I turned to Google for reassurance and discovered that a fringe can work at any age.

Its even good for your hair. Hormonal changes, along with a lifetime of colouring and blow-drying, mean hair gets dryer and more brittle over 50.

Cutting it short at the front can keep it looking healthy and hide telltale signs of damage linked to ageing, such as split ends.

A good fringe counterbalances changes that come with age, such as thinning eyebrows, lifting and softening the face

A bit more Googling and I found literally dozens of different fringes. Glamour magazine says there are at least 15 types of bangs  a word I hate  wispy, curtain, curly, choppy, side, blunt, long and layered to name a few.

Then I viewed pictures of celebrities before and after fringe: Taylor Swift, Anne Hathaway, Cameron Diaz, Keira Knightley, Daisy Edgar-Jones. Maybe my headlong enthusiasm was making me biased, but surely they almost always looked better after.

Next, the acid test. I texted my girlfriends to see if they approved. Somewhat to my surprise, they all came back positively, one adding kindly, for heavens sake get rid of your helmet hair, its so dated. So, emboldened, I called my stylist Kerry, took a deep breath and said: I want a major change in my life.

A massive change. I cant go on like this. I want a fringe!

Having known me for 20 helmet-haired years, Kerry first asked if I was really ready. But quickly he warmed to the subject and said: Im thinking Brigitte Bardot. Shes 89 years old! I cried.

No, he meant a young Brigitte: a deep, longer soft-textured fringe with tapered pieces of hair around my face. Apparently this modern Brigitte is the most demanded fringe of the moment, especially for women in their 50s and up.

It softens the face, he explained, sending me picture after picture. The loose bits around your cheekbones taper along the neckline, slimming your jawline and emphasising your cheekbones. The long fringe rests over your eyebrows, to frame and highlight your eyes.

You can wear it resting on the eyebrows or swept to the side. Its also low maintenance, as it doesnt need blow-drying  or so Kerry claimed.

Call me shallow, but the thought of looking like Brigitte Bardot (even in her 60s) won me over.

Im no stranger to a fringe of course. Surely weve all been there at least once. As a kid my mum cut it with a pudding bowl. I also had one in my 20s and early 30s when my hair was naturally wavy  before decades of colouring and blow-drying wrecked its texture and left it frizzy.

Back then all my hair needed was a bit of mousse and head down with a diffuser hairdryer for a few minutes to make it messily lovely. I look back on those days of carefree hair with great affection.

Anne Hathaway was one of the celebrities, alongside Cameron Diaz, Keira Knightley and Daisy Edgar-Jones, whose look persuaded Amanda to make the change

A modern take on Brigitte Bardot's style, with tapered pieces of hair around the face, is the most demanded fringe of the moment for women in their 50s and up

Still, by the time Kerry arrived for the cut  he does home visits for long-term clients  I was anxious and already regretting my decision.

What if I hated it? My perfectly blow-dried hair was my armour, I protested. He gently suggested maybe it was time to drop the armour. Who needs a shrink when you have a great hairdresser?

Its worth pointing out that if you are going through internal turmoil, you might want to step away from the scissors.

Fringes are infamously a go-to choice in the wake of a break-up, when many women experiment with a dramatic new look, only to regret it later. And a fringe can take ages to grow out.

Los Angeles stylist Sal Salcedo says: Hair is a tool that can mirror societal changes.

A fringe can also serve as a physical representation of change. He adds that fringes saw a huge surge in popularity after the pandemic.

Which all sounds like gobbledygook to me. And yet psychologists claim there is such a thing as stress bangs or trauma bangs and warn that a fringe will not cure underlying feelings of anxiety and depression. As Kerry says: Ive got a pair of scissors and a comb, not a magic wand.

Well, I wasnt having a life crisis or a break-up, I was just utterly bored with myself and wanted a new look.

To allay my anxiety, Kerry first cut a light fringe, a half-Brigitte. He separated out a triangle of hair about four inches wide and three inches deep, then snipped.

He said the fringe would feel better than my hair had before, as we were cutting off six inches of old, brittle, dead hair. I was not reassured. So he explained patiently that as we get older the forehead stretches upwards, our noses grow and our eyebrows get thinner. Who among us past 60 does not lament those years of brow plucking that left our eyebrows thin and needing daily redefining or even dying?

A good fringe counterbalances those changes, lifting and softening the face  and for just 150, including some new colour, as well. Kerry suggested we go lighter as its kinder on a more mature face, so I had the full-foil treatment streaking in honey blonde through my darker hair, focusing around my face to add light and make me look younger.

He blow-dried away and showed me the result: no hard line above my forehead.

I have to admit it was a bit of a shock. I looked so different.

Kerry said to sleep on it  and assured me it wouldnt go crazy and frizzy overnight.

In the morning I combed my fringe out and confronted myself in the mirror. What a difference.

I called Kerry at once and said: Call that a fringe? I want it deeper, thicker, more messy, I want the full Brigitte. He duly arrived, scissors in hand, to cut a deep V going further back towards my crown, with longer tendrils around my face and neck. I love it.

Ive been freed from the tyranny of straightening my helmet hair and Ive gained a flattering fringe that conceals the signs of ageing to a remarkable extent.

But dont just take my word for it. The Waitrose delivery guy, who had to check my date of  birth as the bags contained wine, said: Theres clearly a mistake on the invoice as you cant be 66, you look ten years younger.

A neighbour arriving to hand over a misdirected Amazon parcel said: What have you done to yourself, you look so much younger? A new boyfriend?

Another pal not given to compliments simply asked in astonishment what Id done. Was it more Botox, or fillers perhaps?

I rather proudly replied: No, I just got a fringe.
Black and white photo shows Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie as children

Sarah Ferguson has posted an adorable childhood picture of her daughters to mark Princess Beatrice's 36th birthday today.

The Duchess of York, 64, shared the black and white image of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie as youngsters on Instagram as she wished her eldest daughter 'Happy Birthday'.

The picture, which amassed well over 3,000 likes in less than an hour of it being posted, shows the two sisters with their heads close together, with a grinning Beatrice seemingly whispering something in Eugenie's ear.

While Eugenie's face is obscured, the young Beatrice, whose long hair is tied back, is looking at the camera.

Sarah's post is accompanied by a gushing caption praising her 'amazing daughter'.

It reads: 'Happy birthday my wonderful Beatrice. You are the most amazing daughter, mother, stepmother, sister, wife and woman!

Sarah Ferguson posted a black and white photograph of her daughters as children to mark Princess Beatrice's 36th birthday

Sarah (right) and Beatrice share a close relationship, with Sarah describing her eldest daughter as 'amazing' and praising her inspiring character

'I feel so privileged to be able to learn from you every day. You continue to inspire me and those around you with your warmth, curiosity, and zest for life. I love you. Happy birthday.'

Beatrice is married to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and is stepmother to eight-year-old Christopher 'Woolfie' Woolf.

The couple also share a two-year-old daughter, Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi.

Sarah's post has attracted over 100 comments from royal fans, with people rushing to congratulate Beatrice and praising her as a 'phenomenal woman'.

One person wrote: 'Happy birthday Beatrice. Have a fabulous day'.

Another added: 'Wishing a very happy birthday to Princess Beatrice. What a wonderful photograph'.

A third commented: 'Happiest of birthdays, phenomenal woman!'

While a particularly ardent royal fan wrote: 'I really want to meet you one day. I hope my dream comes true'.

Fans were quick to praised the royal

Celebrity stylist Olivia Buckingham introduced Princess Beatrice to haute couture fashion. Beatrice wore a lavish dress by Lebanese designer Reem Acra to the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa of Jordan last year

Last month, Beatrice was crowned the best-dressed person of 2024 by Tatler in a dramatic turnaround for the Princess, whose earlier sartorial choices failed to hit the mark.

Many will remember, for example, when the Princess donned a Philip Treacy headpiece that looked like a pretzel for the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The turnaround is at least partly down to celebrity stylist Olivia Buckingham, who introduced Beatrice to haute couture fashion.

Olivia is also the brains behind the style of actress Carey Mulligan, model Poppy Delevingne, and socialite Nicky Hilton.

Last year, Beatrice wowed in an exquisite satin gown by Lebanese designer Reem Acra at the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa of Jordan.

Paired with the glittering York Tiara, it was one of the royal's finest looks to date.

Beatrice's current, refined style marks a departure from her earlier, more eclectic choices that comprised colour clashes and quirky headpieces.

Unlike the late Queen Elizabeth and Kate Middleton, renowned for their rainbow wardrobes, Beatrice favours soft, muted tones and delicate floral prints.
Dr Amir Khan has said he feel 'really vulnerable' speaking about far-right riots in the UK as he doesn't want to open himself up for 'racist attacks'.

The television doctor, who was born in Bradford as the child of Pakistani immigrants, said that he's sick of being considered 'the right kind of Asian' for being a GP but praised anti-racism protesters for coming out in force against racist mobs.

Speaking on ITV's Lorraine, the doctor said: 'To see people in those numbers come out against hate and division says more about British values than anything the far-right violent mobs have done in the last few days,'

Last night, thousands of anti-racist protesters outnumbered far-right antagonists on the streets of Britain - as those behind gatherings targeting immigration centres tried to backpedal on the gatherings ever being planned.

When presenter Christine Lampard asked what he made of the previous nights events, which were unexpectedly calm, Dr Amir said: 'That was really positive, we were braced for more violence, tensions were high.'

He added he was pleased to see 'British values' in action.

Pictured: Dr Amir Kahn spoke of his personal fears amid rioting from the far-right, discussing his own experiences as being considered 'the right kind of Asian,' for being a doctor

Last night, thousands of anti-racist protesters outnumbered far-right antagonists on the streets of Britain - as those behind gatherings targeting immigration centres tried to backpedal on the gatherings ever being planned

Christine noted that Dr Amir had been feeling the political tension of the country.

She said: 'I know Dr Amir, that you have been finding it really difficult to even talk about because of that feeling of being unsafe maybe how your family feel just going about their grocery shop, you've been really struggling this week with it.'

He responded: 'It has been hard and it has been hard to talk about it because any person of colour like myself goes out in public against racism or against these far right racially aggravated attacks, puts themselves in a very vulnerable position.

'Not just from physical violence from those people but from online hate, I've had that before.

'I've thought long and hard before we talked about it today because I didn't want to get that level of hate that I've had before when I've talked about these things.

'But I've realised that my feelings aren't as important as feelings of large numbers of black and brown people in Britain right now.

'There is this feeling that because of these riots, people of colour like myself, aren't really truly British. These rioters will say Britishness is whiteness.

'And that people like us are merely tolerated as long as we conform and stay within a certain box.

'The minute we're too Asian or too black or stand up against structural racism or talk about these issues, we're playing the race card or worse, we get told to go back to our own country.

Dr Amir pictured right, speaking to Lorraine presenter Christine Lampard. He decided to speak about the riots, despite having received hate in the past for speaking on topics of race

A man wearing an England flag looks at a huge crowd of anti-racist protesters in Finchley

Hundreds of anti-racism campaigners have gathered in Walthamstow to see off far-right thugs

'I was born here, this is my country and I want to make it better and make it more tolerable but it's incredibly hard to talk about it, more than that, it's exhausting.'

Christine then asked what the impact of the racially aggravated riots have had on the NHS, with nearly a quarter of their workforce being made up of black and minority ethnic groups.

He said: 'People of colour make up a large proportion of the NHS, particularly clinical work.

'If we were to say that we don't feel safe coming into work, the NHS would grind to a halt but we still come into work, despite fears of our own safety.

Particularly in general practice, we are in a room one to one with a patient and we treat everybody exactly the same, no matter their skin colour but a patient may come into see me today that feels empowered by what the far-right do and could quite easily violently assault me.'

'We go out on home visits alone as well so we've had to put certain precautions in place.'

However, he felt the risk would be less for him since being a doctor makes him the 'right kind of Asian' in the minds of the far-right.

'People may say to me, "we're not talking about you Amir, you're the right type of Asian'."

'When people talk to me about being the right type of Asian, it really upsets me because it puts a value on me being here based on my job and what I contribute to society and white British people don't have that same pressure.

'I have to continuously justify my presence in this country.'

He added that if he were to be the victim of a far-right mob, 'they won't stop me and ask what job I have.'

A man draped in an England flag stands in front of police officers in Southampton - as a large group of anti-racism protesters assembles behind him

A huge crowd of anti-racism protesters in Walthamstow - far outnumbering the hateful thugs who planned to protest outside an immigration centre

A large gathering of anti-racist protesters outside St Anne's Centre in Toxteth, Liverpool

Anti-racist campaigners turn out in Birmingham to see off a rumoured far-right gathering

'They'll see the colour of my skin and most likely violently assault me and so that is really hard.'

On Wednesday night, counter-protesters turned out in their thousands in several UK cities - outnumbering 'anti-immigration' protesters in order to send the clear message that Britain does not welcome hate.

Around 100 hate-fuelled protests were planned across the country on Wednesday, many of which were planned in now-deleted far-right groups, with police deployed in their biggest mobilisation of resources since the 2011 riots.

Undeterred, red-faced would-be protesters have taken to social media to row back on their claims - and now claim there was never a plan to target refugee centres in order to waste police time.

But the Telegram group responsible for sharing an alleged hit list of refugee centres for thugs to target was taken down by the typically immovable team behind the encrypted messaging app - who said it breached their rules on inciting violence.

The demos came as scores of arrests and dozens of convictions were sealed in rapid time, following more than a week of unrest after three young girls were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on July 29.

Police have also vowed to go after those sharing hate and inciting unrest online.

Today, police have launched dawn raids targeting 'seriously violent' thugs who took part in riots as the crackdown on the far-right begins following last night's foiled chaos.

Sir Mark Rowley said his force had smashed its way into the homes of the 'most violent' members of last weeks protests in Whitehall and branded them 'criminal thugs'.
Crown Prince Haakon of Norway appeared in calm spirits today as he attended the Paris Olympics, days after his stepson's arrest.

The heir to the Norwegian throne, 51, took to the Vaires-sur-Marne to support his country's team in the women's kayak 500-metre semifinals, appearing without Crown Princess Mette-Merit.

Haakon, who is married to Crown Princess Mette-Merit, seemed to enjoy the sporting event, despite his stepson, Marius Borg Hiby's, arrest on Sunday evening, following a serious incident.

Marius Borg Hiby, 27, has spent more than 30 hours in custody after an incident in an apartment in Frogner, Oslo - where a woman in her 20s called the police.

Despite the ongoing legal procedures, Haakon, who donned a pair of sunglasses and cap, continued business as usual as he supported Norway's kayakers, Kristine Strand Amundsen, Hedda Oritsland, Anna Margrete Sletsjoee.

It comes after he cheered on Norway in the Beach Volleyball semi-finals last night.

Norway's Crown Prince Haakon continued business as usual as he watched the Olympics in Paris today, just days after his stepson's arrest

According to Se og Hr, Mette-Marit's eldest son, whose father is Morten Borgan and step-father is heir to the Norwegian throne Crown Prince Haakon, allegedly attacked the woman 'psychologically and physically'.

The Norwegian publication reported Marius faces preliminary charges of 'bodily violation' and 'damage', after the apartment appeared to have been 'destroyed' when police arrived.

In Norway, preliminary charges are issued at the point of arrest.

The woman was taken to hospital where she was diagnosed with a concussion before being released in the early hours of Monday morning.

The publication reported Borg Hiby was put in solitary confinement and a blood test was taken to find out if he was under the influence of drugs.

Marius Borg Hiby is the eldest child of Mette-Marit, who was a single mother when she met Crown Prince Haakon (who is the son of King Harald and Queen Sonja) through mutual friends in 1999.

Police told Se og Hr: 'A person was arrested and charged with assault and later released from custody.'

The apartment where the incident took place appeared to have been destroyed, according to Norwegian tabloid Dagbladet.

The 51-year-old appeared in calm spirits as he watched the women's kayak 500-meter semifinals

It comes after he cheered on Norway in the Beach Volleyball semi-finals last night

Marius Borg Hiby, 27, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway from a previous relationship, has been charged with assault after a woman was left in hospital with concussion

The 27-year-old is now said to be at the royal Skaugum estate with his 50-year-old mother.

Mette-Marit was supposed to be attending the men's 1500-metre final at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, however Crown Prince Haakon appeared in the stands alone.

Speaking to Norwegian reporters from the tournament, Haakon said: 'It is a serious matter when the police are involved in the way they are, but at the same time it is not right for me to go into the details of the case.'

The Norwegian Palace has confirmed to local media that the Crown Princess has decided to 'temporarily postpone' her trip.

'The Crown Princess has temporarily postponed her departure and hopes to travel down later', the Palace's communications chief wrote in a text message to Se og Hr.

yvind Bratlien, who has expertise in high-profile criminal cases, has been hired by Marius Borg Hiby as his defense lawyer.

In a statement to Se og Hr, Bratlien said: 'The charge concerns assault, which under the law is the least severe form of violence. Neither my client nor I have been informed of the full details of the case, and he has not yet given a statement, on my advice.

The police's security service (PST), which is responsible for the security of the royal family, confirmed to Nettavisen that they are aware of the incident.

Marius Borg Hiby, 27, (left) has spent more than 30 hours in custody after an incident in an apartment in Frogner, Oslo - where a woman in her 20's called the police (pictured with Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Crown Prince Haakon and the Crown Princess in 2022)

Mette-Marit was supposed to be attending the men's 1500-metre final at the Paris Olympics last night, however Crown Prince Haakon (centre) appeared in the stands alone

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway's son Marius Borg Hiby was arrested after a serious incident on Sunday night

Norway's Princess Ingrid Alexandra (front C) poses for a family photo with (front L and R) Norway's King Harald V and Norway's Queen Sonja and (back LtoR) Marit Tjessem, Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Norway's Crown Prince Haakon, Norway's Prince Sverre Magnus and Marius Borg Hoiby on the occasion of a gala dinner for her 18th birthday in Oslo in 2022

Marius previously dated London-based former Playboy model Juliane Snekkstad in 2019

When he turned 20 the royal court announced he was stepping away from public life and his profile was removed from the family's official website

'We can confirm that PST was informed shortly after the incident. But we do not want to comment on the case further and we refer the Oslo police district for statements', said Martin Bernsen, senior adviser in PST, to the newspaper.

According to Lovdata, the Norwegian foundation which publishes judicial information, bodily harm can be punished 'with a fine or imprisonment of up to one year, anyone who commits violence against another person or physically violates him in any other way is punished'.

If the charge is extended to grievous bodily harm the penalty can be up to six years in prison.

Growing up, he made public appearances with his mother, stepfather and half sister Ingrid Alexandra (who is the future queen of Norway) and half brother Prince Sverre Magnus on occasions such as national day.

However, when he turned 20 the royal court announced he was stepping away from public life and his profile was removed from the family's official website.

'Hiby will not conduct any official activities on the Royal Family's behalf,' a statement said, 'on the basis of his wish to live outside the public eye'.

His mother Crown Princess Mette-Marit also published an open letter on the court website, saying: 'Marius is, and will continue to be, a vital member of our family.'

'He has always had a public role that has been very difficult to define.'

'Unlike his siblings, he has no official duties. He won't have a public role and is not a public person.'

'Marius became a symbol for the unusual choice we made when we married.'

Marius was previously linked to heiress Linn Helena Nilsen, but the couple split in July 2017.

Femail has contacted the Norwegian royal palace for comment.

Crown Prince Haakon appeared unfazed as he attended an equestrian event in Paris on Tuesday, after his stepson had been arrested and charged

Despite controversy at home, the Crown Prince smiled as he was pictured watching events with Prince Albert of Monaco

The incident threatens to overshadow what should be a happy time for the Norwegian royal family as Princess Martha Louise, Crown Prince Haakon's older sister, is set to marry her husband, 'Shaman' Durek Verrett, on August 31 at the Union Hotel in Geirangerfjord.

The couple's relationship has not been without controversy itself, as the Norwegian royal, who had been the heir to the throne following stepped down as a working member of the royal family following backlash over her partner's controversial views.

In November 2022, Martha Louise announced she would no longer be a working royal after the American shamanic healer's previous assertions came to light.

Among his deeply controversial and pseudoscientific opinions, published in a book called 'Spirit Hacking', were claims that children 'can get cancer from being unhappy'.

Durek has also claimed he once came back from the dead, recovering from a month-long coma, by letting his soul 'burn' and he has also spoken of having to undergo a kidney transplant from his sister as a child.

The incident comes just weeks before Crown Prince Haakon's sister, Princess Martha Louise, is set to marry American 'shaman' Durek Verrett

Official royal family photograph celebrating Crown Prince Haakon (Up 2nd L) 45th birthday with his family, while he poses beside Princess Martha Louise (Up L), Crown Princess Mette-Marit (Up C), Princess Ingrid Alexandra (2nd R), Maud Angelica Behn (R), (Bottom L-R) Prince Sverre Magnus, Queen Sonja and King Harald V, in July 2018

It is unclear why he needed the kidney or how he became wheelchair bound, as he has described. The illness which sent him into a coma is also undisclosed.

Princess Martha, whose first husband Ari Behn took his own life in December 2019, also claims to hold spiritual powers, and has previously recalled having what she says were 'psychic premonitions' when she was a child.

Speaking to the BBC last year, she said: 'When I was little I would see things in you. If you were sad or if you were happy... if you had a pain in your shoulder I would get a pain in my shoulder.

'And I understood that that's a talent and, you know, I could help other people. And that's when the whole ball started rolling.'

Princess Martha Louise and Ari Behn married in 2002 and have three children together Maud Angelica, Leah Isadora and Emma Tallulah

She also revealed she had decided to step down as a working royal so she could earn her own money; something she has since pursued through a podcast and touring the nation giving spiritual talks and holding workshops.

She added that, in Norway, spiritual beliefs like the ones she holds are 'taboo'.

After giving up her position in the royal family, the Princess revealed she has had to deal with 'lots of scrutiny' - particularly when she takes on new roles.

'Everything you do that's a first, that goes out of the box that you're put in,' she said, adding that press scrutiny has 'continued'.

The approach to the wedding has hardly been smooth sailing thus far as, following outrage in Norway over Verrett's views, the shamanic healer has been embroiled in a furious row with his estranged mother over claims she made in an interview with a Norwegian tabloid.

Last month, the couple confirmed they sent a cease-and-desist letter to Veruschka Urquhart, with Durek explaining on Instagram how they believe their decision is 'the only remaining option for change'.

He said his mother has 'repeatedly slandered our characters through false statements showing a significant lack of care and love towards Martha, myself, and our respective families'.

In interviews with celebrity magazine Se og Hr, Veruschka has labelled her son 'dangerous', alleging that he had 'brainwashed' the princess and that their family was not as wealthy as Durek has tried to make out.

The publication claimed on Thursday to be sharing the 'shock letter, word for word', in which Martha has reportedly threatened her future mother-in-law with a multimillion-dollar lawsuit, if she does not retract what she has said.

The letter from 'Shaman Durek and Princess Martha Louise' allegedly reads: 'We are writing to order you to refrain from defaming, disparaging and making false and provocative statements about Shaman Durek.

'If you do not fully and loyally comply with this order, and choose not to deny your statements, Shaman Durek will use the civil remedies at his disposal against you to the extent possible under the law, including seeking damages of millions of dollars. To put it plainly, Shaman Durek will sue you.'
A United Airlines Boeing 777 bound for Hawaii was forced to return to San Francisco International Airport on Tuesday due to a concern with one of the aircrafts batteries. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle 2020

A United Airlines flight to Hawaii was forced to return to San Francisco International Airport on Tuesday due to a concern with the aircrafts equipment.

The crew of United Flight 1273, a 24-year-old Boeing 777-200, bound for Kahului Airport in Maui terminated its climb at approximately 11,000 feet.

Aviation records show that the flight crew requested a descent to 10,000 feet before circling back to SFO just 75 minutes after its 9:27 a.m. departure. The aircraft remained in a holding pattern for several minutes before landing.

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A United Airlines spokesperson stated that the plane returned to San Francisco to evaluate a maintenance issue without providing additional details.

All 343 passengers and 10 flight crew safely deplaned and continued their journey on a replacement Boeing 777-200 after a delay of approximately 5 hours.
Princess Eugenie has posted a series of sweet snaps of Princess Beatrice to celebrate her older sister's 36th birthday today.

Eugenie, who is two years younger than Beatrice, shared three images of her sister in lighthearted poses on Instagram, and described Beatrice as 'an inspiration' who has 'paved the way' for her.

The first image, taken at trampoline park at Desert X AlUla in Saudi Arabia, shows Beatrice jumping in the air with her arms outstretched.

The beaming Princess is sporting dark sunglasses and a denim jacket, which she's paired with khaki trousers and trainers for a casual look.

The second picture, which was taken in the same location, shows the two smiling sisters holding hands in a similar mid-air pose.

The first image shared by Princess Eugenie was taken in an undisclosed desert location and shows a beaming Princess Beatrice jumping in the air with her arms outstretched

Another image showed a fun-loving Beatrice in her role as auntie to Eugenie's sons and appears to have been taken at her parents' residence, the Royal Lodge in Windsor

This picture, which was taken in the same desert location as the first, shows the two smiling sisters holding hands in a mid-air pose

Meanwhile, the third photo pictures a fun-loving Beatrice in her role as auntie to Eugenie's sons and appears to have been taken at her parents' residence, the Royal Lodge in Windsor.

Wearing a headband featuring rabbit ears, Beatrice is jumping out from behind a patch of daffodils to surprise her one-year-old nephew, Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank, who appears captivated by his auntie's amusing show.

Eugenie added a heartfelt caption to her 'Happy Birthday' post, writing: 'Happy birthday dearest Beabea!! What an inspiration you are. You've paved the way for your little sissy. Love you x.

Enthusiastic Fans of the royal sisters were quick to comment on Eugenie's post, which received over 37,000 likes with an hour.

One person wrote: 'Happy birthday Beatrice!!!! Love the photos! Thanks for sharing!'

A second, international fan added: 'Happy Birthday Princess Beatrice! Greetings from Brazil'.

Others took the opportunity to share their thoughts on the pictures, with Instagram users picking out the picture of Beatrice with her nephew as their favourite.

One person, who noted that Beatrice's was born on the eighth day of the eighth month of the year in 1988, posted: '8-8-88 Happy Birthday Princess Beatrice. May the coming year be wonderful. Love the last pic.'

Princess Eugenie described her older sister as 'an inspiration' who has 'paved the way' for her. Fans of the sisters were quick to share their birthday wishes and praise in the comments section

Another added: 'That last photo - we love an awesome Auntie!'

A fifth royal fan praised the sisters as the 'cutest princesses'.

Earlier today, Sarah Ferguson posted an adorable childhood picture of her daughters to mark Princess Beatrice's 36th birthday.

The Duchess of York, 64, shared the black and white image of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie as youngsters on Instagram as she wished her eldest daughter 'Happy Birthday'.

The picture, which amassed well over 3,000 likes in less than an hour of it being posted, shows the two sisters with their heads close together, with a grinning Beatrice seemingly whispering something in Eugenie's ear.

While Eugenie's face is obscured, the young Beatrice, whose long hair is tied back, is looking at the camera.

Sarah's post is accompanied by a gushing caption praising her 'amazing daughter'.

It reads: 'Happy birthday my wonderful Beatrice. You are the most amazing daughter, mother, stepmother, sister, wife and woman!

Sarah Ferguson posted a black and white photograph of her daughters as children to mark Princess Beatrice's 36th birthday

Sarah (right) and Beatrice share a close relationship, with Sarah describing her eldest daughter as 'amazing' and praising her inspiring character

'I feel so privileged to be able to learn from you every day. You continue to inspire me and those around you with your warmth, curiosity, and zest for life. I love you. Happy birthday.'

Beatrice is married to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and is stepmother to eight-year-old Christopher 'Woolfie' Woolf.

The couple also share a two-year-old daughter, Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi.

Sarah's post has attracted over 100 comments from royal fans, with people rushing to congratulate Beatrice and praising her as a 'phenomenal woman'.

One person wrote: 'Happy birthday Beatrice. Have a fabulous day'.

Another added: 'Wishing a very happy birthday to Princess Beatrice. What a wonderful photograph'.

A third commented: 'Happiest of birthdays, phenomenal woman!'

While a particularly ardent royal fan wrote: 'I really want to meet you one day. I hope my dream comes true'.

Fans were quick to praised the royal

Celebrity stylist Olivia Buckingham introduced Princess Beatrice to haute couture fashion. Beatrice wore a lavish dress by Lebanese designer Reem Acra to the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa of Jordan last year

Last month, Beatrice was crowned the best-dressed person of 2024 by Tatler in a dramatic turnaround for the Princess, whose earlier sartorial choices failed to hit the mark.

Many will remember, for example, when the Princess donned a Philip Treacy headpiece that looked like a pretzel for the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The turnaround is at least partly down to celebrity stylist Olivia Buckingham, who introduced Beatrice to haute couture fashion.

Olivia is also the brains behind the style of actress Carey Mulligan, model Poppy Delevingne, and socialite Nicky Hilton.

Last year, Beatrice wowed in an exquisite satin gown by Lebanese designer Reem Acra at the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa of Jordan.

Paired with the glittering York Tiara, it was one of the royal's finest looks to date.

Beatrice's current, refined style marks a departure from her earlier, more eclectic choices that comprised colour clashes and quirky headpieces.

Unlike the late Queen Elizabeth and Kate Middleton, renowned for their rainbow wardrobes, Beatrice favours soft, muted tones and delicate floral prints.
Princess Imam was born in King Hussein Medical Centre hospital in Amman

Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan has shared a heartfelt message to the Royal Medical Services following the birth of his daughter.

Earlier this month, the heir to the Jordanian throne, 30, and Princess Rajwa, 30, welcomed their daughter, the couple's first child and the first grandchild of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania.

Taking to Instagram, the father-of-one shared a selection of photographs with his newborn daughter, called Princess Imam, and thanked the 'dedicated' medical staff who assisted with the birth.

He wrote: 'Heartfelt thanks to the dedicated personnel of the Royal Medical Services for their exceptional care over Rajwa and Iman during the past few days.'

In the first image, Rajwa's complexion was glowing as she smiled for the camera with Hussein and Imam, as the family prepared to leave King Hussein Medical Centre hospital, in Amman, Jordan.

Princess Rajwa was glowing as she smiled for the camera with Prince Hussein and newborn Princess Imam

The royal sported a flowing blue and white dress for the occasion, with a pair of low-key trainers.

Rajwa, who was born in Riyadh to a prominent and wealthy Saudi Arabian family distantly related to the country's current ruler, King Salman, styled her caramel-toned tresses in loose waves for the occasion.

The second photograph showed Rajwa and Hussein in a moment of awe, staring down at their newborn daughter.

The birth of Princess Iman came about a year after Hussein and Rajwa's extravagant wedding, which drew a star-studded guest list including the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Hussein was named crown prince in 2004, at the age of 15, after Abdullah stripped his own half-brother, Prince Hamzah, of the title.

The prince is the eldest son of Abdallah II, 62, who has ruled Jordan as a reliable western ally and voice of moderation through more than two decades of turmoil in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Syria and Iraq, all of which border the small, resource-poor kingdom.

According to Jordanian law, only males can inherit the Hashemite throne.

'The royal Hashemite court extends its sincere congratulations and best wishes to their royal highnesses and to their majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Al Abdullah on this happy occasion,' the statement announcing Imam's birth read.

In the second photograph shared to Instagram, the proud parents looked at their newborn daughter in awe

King Abdullah II ) holding his their newborn granddaughter Iman next to his wife Queen Rania) in Amman

In June, the Queen of Jordan, 53, shared a gushing post to her 10 million followers to mark her son turning 30, showing Hussein and Rajwa beaming in formal attire.

Rajwa, 30, was glowing in an off-white dress with the fitted silhouette revealing her blossoming baby bump; she added lavish accessories to the outfit - including a diamond bracelet.

The couple - who wed in a prestigious ceremony last year at Zahran Palace - appeared in high spirits as they posed in nature, glancing away from the camera.

Rajwa, 30, was glowing in an off-white dress with the fitted silhouette revealing her blossoming baby bump; she added lavish accessories to the outfit - including a diamond bracelet.

The joyous announcement comes after Rajwa's tragic loss of her father in February - just months after she married into the Jordanian royal family .

Khaled bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif died at the age of 71.

Queen Rania looked thrilled as she held her her first grandchild, Princess Iman, in the hospital

Princess Salma Bint Abdullah (daughter of King Abdullah and Queen Rania) holding her first niece, Princess Iman (Bint Al Hussein), born to her brother Crown Prince Hussein (or Al Hussain), and Princess Rajwa

In a heartfelt post on Instagram , Prince Hussein shared a picture of him embracing Khaled, who became his 'beloved' father-in-law after marrying Princess Rajwa last June.

'With profound sadness and sorrow, we bid farewell to my beloved father-in-law. We will always remember his kindness, generosity, and integrity. May God bestow mercy upon him and grant us patience and strength,' he wrote.

Hussei, and high-flying architect Rajwa, were married in June last year at Zahran Palace in Amman.

Following a short service, Abdullah II and Rania hosted a lavish reception at the Al Husseiniya Palace, which was attended by more than 1,700 guests - including the Prince and Princess of Wales .

Rajwa dazzled in a white gown by Lebanese designer Elie Saab, which featured a lengthy train embroidered with flowers, and a sparkling diamond tiara.

Abdullah II and Rania proudly watched as their son was wed during an Islamic ceremony known as a 'katb ktab' held in a gazebo and conducted by the Royal Hashemite Court Imam Dr Ahmed Al Khalaileh.

Kate Middleton, who lived in Jordan for a short period during her childhood, led the glamorous guests at the event in a blush pink lace dress also by Elie Saab.
A 'fancy' Coles supermarket has wowed shoppers after unveiling a unique in-store feature - and competitors fail to measure up.

The Coles Local in North Sydney has just launched a brand new make-your-own pasta bar complete with over seven different sauces.

Shoppers can choose from four types of ravioli: Portobello and porcini mushroom, spinach and ricotta, beef and vegetable, or roast pumpkin and grana padano.

There are also variations of linguine and fettuccine on offer.

You can add on mascarpone cheese, gourmet feta, fior di latte, or pick another variety of cheese from the selection. There are alsogreen olives, artichokes, fresh and marinated octopus, and more

Shoppers are asked to use the packaging provided to select their fresh pasta, weigh it and then pay at the counter.

'This gourmet pasta range is inspiring our customers in North Sydney and is available in 20 Coles Local stores across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland,' a spokesperson told FEMAIL.

'The pasta is produced in Melbourne by Alligator Brand, a pasta maker that has been manufacturing pasta for over three decades. They use only the best produce such as free-range eggs and durum semolina from Bellata, NSW to create a high quality, delicious pasta with an excellent bite.

The Coles Local in North Sydney has just launched a brand new make-your-own pasta bar

Shoppers can choose from four types of ravioli: portobello and porcini mushroom, spinach and ricotta, beef and vegetable, or roast pumpkin and grana padano

'The filled pasta also utilises local and seasonal ingredients such as Victorian Wagyu, fresh Buffalo Mozzarella and Manjimup Truffles from WA, as well as premium Aged Grana Padano and Pecorino Romano from Italy.'

Coles Local locations are more upmarket than regular grocery stores and function as a 'neighborhood hub' for the community.

Shoppers can help themselves to hot bread from the bread warmer, gorge on single-serve ice creams for summer, self-serve mochi, macarons, and gelato cones for dessert.

Coles Local stores also have pet sections with pet treats for your furry friends.

Products sold at the store are designed to 'match the needs of local shoppers', Coles said.

Another Local store in Rose Bay opened its doors in 2020.

The location also features delicious treats from premium sourdough bread and sweets from Sydney stalwart Sonoma to Southeast Asian delights from Roll'd, and pastries from traditional French bakery Noisette.

Coles Local in Rose Bay features a dedicated station for mochi, macarons and gelato cones

Former Coles CEO Steven Cain previously said the Coles Local format had been designed to appeal to local tastes and preferences.

'Customers want us to make their lives easier, and this store offers our customers the convenience of a supermarket with the range of a specialty store,' Mr Cain said.

The expanded convenience offering includes an extensive vegan and vegetarian range, and more than 350 lunch and dinner options that customers can prepare in 30 minutes or less.
The number of medical tourists visiting the UK for private healthcare including cancer therapies has soared by a whopping 800 per cent in less than a decade, new data shows.

Figures from the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN), a Government-backed body tracking paid-for treatment in the UK, showed non-UK patients accounted for 10,640 hospital admissions last year.

A fifth of these had pricey treatment within a facility run by the NHS  a controversial practice which critics say drains much-needed resources away from health service.

It comes despite the latest NHS data showing almost 6.4million patients are stuck on waiting lists in for elective care in England alone.

Despite booming business on private wards, NHS medics at 'breaking point' are reportedly cutting back their working hours to 'protect their wellbeing'.

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The vast majority of foreign private patients, over 15,000, recorded since 2016 were from wealthy nations on the Arabian Peninsula such as Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. This was followed by Ireland (1,565) and Nigeria (565).

The total 10,000 plus figure for 2023 is a 32 per cent increase from last year, but a colossal 798 per cent increase from the 1,185 such patients recorded in 2016.

Growth specifically within the NHS's so-called Private Patient Units (PPUs) was even greater in 2023 with a 52 per cent increase year on year.

PPUs are a controversial NHS practice, with an estimated one in 100 beds in the health service set-aside for private patients.

Foreign nationals seeking private care in the UK were most likely to undergo chemotherapy for cancer, or an endoscopy, where a small flexible camera is inserted into the digestive system to help diagnose a range of ailments.

Critics have said PPUs exacerbate health inequalities in the UK and makes backlogs faced by NHS patients even worse.

Many of the medics offering such private treatments also work in the NHS, meaning PPU work directly cuts the number of hours they can dedicate to public patients.

And some trusts also lean into their public services in advertising their private business, boasting how if things go wrong during a procedure, taxpayer-funded specialist and emergency care is available directly, unlike some private hospitals.

NHS trusts that have launched PPUs have defended the schemes as allowing them to reinvest the profits made from private treatment into public services.

But NHS trusts don't actually publish data on profits just earnings, of which the latest publicly available data indicates they earned just shy of 600million in one year.

However, this varies. Research by the Centre for Health and Public Interest shows at least one trust's PPU has lost 18million since opening.

And not all patients end up paying, NHS trusts have written off almost 2million in unpaid bills for those treated in its PPU in some years.

Critics also argue that many of the profits made from PPU seem to be reinvested into expanding trust's private care business rather than its public operations.

Another common defence of PPUs is that they free up capacity within the NHS by allowing patients with the means to access an alternative care system, in theory cutting waiting lists.

But critics argue such a defence falls apart when it comes to PPUs importing tens of thousands of patients from abroad who don't rely on the NHS.

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It comes as new NHS data shows the waiting list for routine treatments in the health service in England rose for the third month in a row.

An estimated 7.62million treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of June, relating to 6.39million patients.

This a rise from the 7.60million treatments and 6.37million patients recorded at the end of May.

The figures are still down from a record peak of 7.77million treatments and 6.50million patients recorded in September 2023 but the total has been creeping up since April.

In February 2020, the last full month before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the list stood at 4.57 million.

Since February 2024, treatments by community services are no longer included in the data, meaning the overall number of incidences of people waiting for treatment in England is likely to be higher than the latest figures.

Cancer treatment figures, of which chemotherapy like the type undertaken by foreign nationals in private care in the UK also continue to fail meet targets.

The proportion of patients waiting no longer than 62 days in June from an urgent suspected cancer referral or consultant upgrade to their first definitive treatment for cancer was 67.4 per cent up from 65.8 per cent in May. The target is 85 per cent.

Meanwhile, the UK's medical regulator has warned doctors are at 'breaking point' and many having to cut back working hours to 'protect their wellbeing'.

The General Medical Council (GMC) said doctors are 'taking matters into their own hands' by reducing hours and declining additional work.

This could scupper Labour's plan to ramp up evening and weekend work to try to reduce the backlog of care in the NHS.

The GMC warned 'workloads are high and professional satisfaction is low'.

A survey by the regulator found 41 per cent of medics had refused to take on additional work  up from 23 per cent in 2021.

Of those that refused to take on additional hours almost one in five did so due to 'pressure on workload and capacity'. This is up from 8 per cent of medics who cited this reason in 2021.

The GMC report read: For individual doctors, this is often the only responsible way they can deliver safe care, but such steps further reduce the capacity of the health service.'

In the foreword to the report, GMC chief executive and registrar Charlie Massey and GMC chairwoman Professor Dame Carrie MacEwen wrote: 'UK health services are in a critical state and those who work within them are at breaking point.'

Figures from the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN), a government-backed body tracking private healthcare in the UK, showed 10,640 patient admissions for non-UK patients in 2023. Of these 2,310 went for private care within the NHS itself, a controversial practice which critics say drains much-needed resources away from health service.

The vast majority of foreign private patients, over 15,000, recorded since 2016 were from wealthy nations on the Arabian Peninsula such as Oman, Qatar , Saudi Arabia , and the United Arab Emirates. This was followed by Ireland (1,565) and Nigeria (565).

'These data show that more doctors are now taking matters into their own hands, not just to protect their own health and wellbeing, but that of their patients as well.

'For many, this will often be the only responsible course to deliver safe care. But this action comes with risks.

'We must be clear that doctors protecting their wellbeing is essential, but they shouldnt feel their only option is to reduce their working hours.

'This presents challenges in capacity planning, adding further pressure to services that are already stretched.

An NHS England spokesperson said: 'We have been working to improve the training and working lives of doctors and we know there is more work needed, particularly recognising the risk of burnout.

'As part of the NHS long term workforce plan, we are taking action to further improve working conditions, including increasing choice and flexibility in training and reducing duplicative inductions so clinicians can spend less time on admin and more time treating patients.

'We are also strengthening occupational health services and reviewing our mental health and treatment offer for staff, to ensure everyone working in the NHS has the right support.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'The NHS is broken and the Secretary of State has been clear that he wants to work with doctors to get it back on its feet so it works for patients and staff.

'NHS England is working to address training bottlenecks so the health service has enough staff for the future and we will recruit over 1,000 newly-qualified GPs by the end of the year to reduce the burden on general practice.'

PHIN's chief executive Dr Ian Gargan on the release of its data, said: 'We work with the UKs 650+ private hospitals, including NHS PPUs, and the data they submit to us appears to show that patients  especially those from the Middle East  increasingly value the private healthcare sector in the UK.

'More and more are coming each year, leading to a record-breaking number in 2023.'

'As well as ensuring these patients receive the care they need, the growing number of international patients allows private providers to maximise capacity, and brings a boost to the UK economy.'
An inquest into the death of 13-year-old Hannah Jacobs will begin next week to explore the circumstances of a suspected allergic reaction to a Costa Coffee drink.

Hannah, from Barking in East London, died on February 8 last year after a suspected anaphylactic reaction to a hot chocolate drink.

Her mother ordered Hannah and herself a hot chocolate from their local Costa before heading to a dentist appointment.

Hannah had severe allergies to dairy, egg, fish and wheat, which had been diagnosed as a toddler and the family had managed this well throughout her life.

According to the legal firm Leigh Day Hannah's mother informed the barista of her daughter's dairy allergy.

An inquest into the death of Hannah Jacobs, 13, from London, will begin next week. Image: Leigh Day

Hannah, from Barking in East London , died on February 8 last year after a suspected anaphylactic reaction to a hot chocolate drink sold by Costa Coffee (stock image)

But when Hannah took a sip of the drink in the waiting room of the dental practice, she immediately told her mother the drink hadn't been made with soy milk.

The pair then rushed to nearby pharmacy to ask for help where staff gave Hannah an EpipPen, an emergency treatment designed to combat a life threatening allergic reaction.

But, despite this and an ambulance crew arriving shortly afterward to take her to hospital, resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.

Hannah was declared dead at 1pm that day.

The inquest will be held at East London Coroners Court on Monday.

Nadim Ednan-Laperouse was travelling home with his daughter Natasha (pictured), when she suffered a deadly reaction to nuts during a flight back from a dream trip to Nice on July 17, 2016

It is expected to last a week and will examine how Hannah died through the testimony of 11 witnesses and experts.

Costa Coffee has been approached for comment.

Her devastated family have released a heartbreaking picture of Hannah.

In it, she is seen with a beaming smile, holding huge gold and bronze birthday balloons in the shape of the numbers '1' and '3'.

She is wearing a lilac sash and pinned to her pretty white printed dress is an extra-large badge with the number '13' on it.

Experts estimate that 10 Brits die from an allergic reaction to food each year, with 5,000 people hospitalised for severe reactions.

Latest Government figures suggest around 2.4million adults are living with a food allergy in the UK, with hospital admissions for severe reactions more than tripling within the last 20 years.

Allergies can provoke a variety of symptoms but the most serious is a dangerous inflammation of the airways called anaphylaxis.

This can make it hard and even impossible to breath and can cause the body to go into a cardiac emergency like a cardiac arrest due to a lack of oxygen.

Children with allergies are considered to be especially at risk from severe reactions as, due to their smaller body size, small amounts of allergens provoke bigger reactions.

Allergies are also often discovered in childhood meaning parents may not have an emergency injection to hand if an allergic reaction occurs.

Bereaved families of those who have lost children to allergic reactions have repeatedly called for the Government to appoint an allergy tsar to improve NHS services and awareness of allergies, to prevent avoidable ill health and death.

Recently more than 50 campaigners and experts including ex-Towie star Megan McKenna and Love Island's Jack Fowler, said the country wasn't doing enough to support the millions of Brits living with allergies.

In the open letter, the coalition said the lack of a national leader for allergies has been raised 'time and time again by coroners at the inquests' of those who have died following severe reactions, including from products they thought were safe.

Yet of the 45 such leaders appointed by NHS England, who cover issues ranging from obesity to autism, not one is dedicated to supporting people living with allergies.

The issue of allergies, and the danger they pose to children,have been in the spotlight since the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse.

Her father was forced to watch helplessly as the 15-year-old died after suffering an allergic reaction to a Pret sandwich while on a flight from Nice.

The artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette sandwich was later discovered to have hidden amount of sesame seeds which weren't declared on the packet. Natasha was allergic to nuts.

Speaking to MailOnline, Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE, co-founders of The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, the UK's food allergy charity, said: 'We were devastated to hear of the death of Hannah Jacobs from a suspected anaphylactic reaction to milk, and have been supporting her family over the last year.

'This is a complex case, involving a number of different parties, so it is vital that the circumstances surrounding Hannah's death are fully investigated at the inquest next week.

'The death of yet another child with food allergy underlines the severity of this serious medical condition, and the steps we all need to take  individuals, companies and the Government - to keep people with food allergies safe.'
A mother-of-two is warning young women of the dangers of lip filler, after botched injections left her with a 'beak-like' mouth and caused her lips to disintegrate.

Nicole McManus, 30, admits she was 'addicted' to the procedure, which is designed to add volume and shape to the lips, having undergone it regularly for a decade.

But two weeks after her most recent treatment in June, Ms McManus, from Lancashire, noticed her lips 'blowing up'  leaving the stay-at-home mum embarrassed to leave the house.

Desperate, she found another practitioner who was horrified at the state of her face and told her that her lips had gone into necrosis  the death of body tissue or cells.

Nicole McManus had 1ml of filler inserted into her cheeks and lips ahead of her 30th birthday bash in June

The mum-of-two had been using filler and anti-wrinkle injections for the last ten years without any issues, but these injections caused her cheek to swell and eventually her lips

Ms McManus has since had all the filler in her lips and cheeks dissolved but feels she's been left 'deformed and botched' by her cosmetic procedures.

She said: 'I just wanted to get it done to make myself feel a bit better about myself. Then it became an addiction. I would say I was addicted. You look at yourself and think I'll just get a bit more in.

'I'd used this practitioner for over a year now and there'd been no issues up until June when everything started to go wrong.

'I wanted to have a glow up for my 30th birthday so got my cheeks and lips done but then they both swelled up a few months later.'

Horrified by her swollen appearance on her birthday, she refused to let anyone take photos of her.

She said: 'I didn't want my picture taken. I didn't take any at all that day.'

Desperate, she found another practitioner who was horrified at the state of her face and told her that her lips had gone into necrosis  the death of body tissue or cells

Concerned about a possible infection, she returned to her practitioner who advised her to go to hospital where they warned Ms McManus they had to cut away part of her cheek. But two weeks later her lips also swelled

On noticing the complications, she returned to her practitioner who advised that the filler had been injected into the wrong part of her lips and cheek, and said she should go to hospital.

She said: 'I went to Preston Royal Hospital because I was so concerned and they thought it was an infection.'

Doctors had to cut away part of her cheek to stop the infection spreading further up her face.

She returned home with a course of antibiotics but soon noticed that the swelling in her lips was worsening.

'I could hardly drink,' she said. 'I sent the nurse a message begging her for help. She wasn't apologetic or concerned, she didn't care.

'I was in so much pain. I looked like I'd been battered. My lips were so swollen. I was so embarrassed to walk out the house. My top lip looked like a beak.'

Ms McManus then visited another practitioner who told her that her lips were beginning to 'rot away' due to infection.

'She saved my lips. She told me I could've lost them because of necrosis [tissue death]. My lips were starting to rot away.'

After taking a course of antibiotics Ms McManus visited another practitioner who told her that her lips were beginning to 'rot away' due to infection

Ms McManus says she has been left with 'deformed' lips and regrets ever getting the filler

Necrosis  the death of body tissue or cells  can occur as a result of many aesthetic treatments, but it's most commonly associated with the injection of dermal fillers.

If filler is accidentally injected into a blood vessel, it can cut off supply of blood and oxygen to the tissue, causing it to die and eventually fall away.

A 2019 poll of some 51,000 13-24 year-olds by VICE UK revealed treatment such as lip fillers are increasingly commonplace.

More than half said they viewed procedures like lip fillers as comparable to getting a haircut or manicure.

Ms McManus says she has been left with 'deformed' lips and regrets ever getting the filler.

She said: 'I've been left with deformed lips. They're still bruised weeks later. I've been botched, I hate speaking to people because of how my lips look. They look horrendous.

'Think twice about getting filler done. I should've appreciated my natural looks. I regret what I've had done because I've been left with this.'
Sarah Gold was in her 20s when she first noticed strange white deposits appearing in her mouth.

I thought they were old bits of food, she says. But then theyd start appearing even if I hadnt been eating.

The fragments - although painless - seemed to come from her throat, where she could feel something that often made her gag.

It was annoying and I could sense something there when I talked, says Sarah, 39, an aspiring photographer and photobooth business owner who lives in the New Forest.

Finally, after three months, Sarah Gold saw her GP, who 'looked in my mouth and diagnosed tonsil stones'

Thinking they were bits of food, Sarah would try to swallow them or spit them out. But this was hard to do  I had to cough or make a strange noise to get them out, she says. And after some time, they would be back again  they were tiny, but definitely visible.

Finally, after three months, Sarah saw her GP, who looked in my mouth and diagnosed tonsil stones, she says.

Id only ever heard of kidney stones - I had no idea stones could form in your mouth.

Tonsil stones are small hardened balls of debris and bacteria that accumulate on tonsils. They are harmless and while some people report bad breath, they dont typically lead to long-term health issues.

Costa Repanos, a consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth and Spire Portsmouth Hospital in Havant, explains: Tonsils are made of lymphoid tissue and are part of the immune system - they help to mobilise the bodys defences against infection.

We are born with smooth tonsils, but as we age and if we develop repeated bouts of tonsillitis, little pits form in the tonsil tissue as a result of the scarring from infections.

Then - because tonsils regularly shed their lining, in order to regenerate - the old tissue gets stuck in these pits, trapping bacteria that then flourish, he says.

Eventually this debris builds up and hardens to form stones - and can become quite smelly if its got bacteria in it. Its a normal part of the tonsils function but some peoples stones are more problematic than others.

Sarahs GP said there was no need to take any action as they werent causing her a problem but to come back if they grew larger or changed texture.

But they returned again and again.

Its embarrassing and a bit disgusting - I always brush my teeth and have good mouth hygiene, so I dont understand how I get them, she says.

If they are big enough they make me feel like I may be sick if I try and dislodge with my tongue or a cotton bud, so I have to really strain to cough them out.

But apart from that Im reassured theyre not dangerous or sinister so I just ignore them, she says.

Mr Repanos says: For most people tonsil stones are not problematic - they tend to be small and shed on their own accord.

But in people with bigger tonsil pits they can be an issue - they can cause repeated tonsillitis, a sore throat or bad breath, for instance.

For these patients, the best treatment is a tonsillectomy [surgery to remove the tonsils] - and I see a few dozen a month at my hospital alone who require this treatment for tonsil stones.

But the tonsils arent the only place where stones can accumulate and could be the cause of common symptoms - as experts explain here...

Constantly blocked nose

IT COULD BE: Nasal stones

Nasal stones are hard lumps - ranging from 5mm in diameter to 20mm - caused by the build up of mucosa, the lining inside the nose. Symptoms include recurrent sinusitis, a blocked nose or an unpleasant smell in the nose or mouth. But they can also be symptomless.

Mostly, these stones stay lodged in the nose and cause nasal obstruction and a foul smell due to bacterial infection, says Mr Repanos.

Nasal stone symptoms include recurrent sinusitis, a blocked nose or an unpleasant smell in the nose or mouth

WHAT CAUSES IT? Nasal stones are similar to tonsil stones, in that they are concretions - i.e. a hard mass - that are made from either secretions from the nose that have become hard or, very occasionally, a foreign body.

An example would be a child putting a tiny bead up their nose - perhaps its never found and then 25 years later we find a rock-hard pellet that has become covered with the tissue lining the inside of the nose.

These stones are also common in elderly patients who may not look after themselves or who are not regularly blowing their nose - a bit of dried mucus, a small foreign body or a bit of dried blood can then develop into a stone.

HOW ITS TREATED: Removal of the stones is usually straightforward with an endoscope - a thin probe with a miniature camera on the tip. This doesnt normally require an anaesthetic - though this can be given if the stone is large and might be more difficult to remove.

Abdominal pain

IT COULD BE: Gallstones

One in ten people are thought to have gallstones - caused by a build-up of deposits in the gallbladder - but most only find out when they cause pain, or are found incidentally on a scan.

Many sufferers get no get pain until the gallbladder attempts to pass gallstones - then many women describe it as worse than childbirth. And as the pain is found in the centre of the abdomen, some people mistakenly think they are having a heart attack.

WHAT CAUSES IT? Theyre thought to develop as a result of a chemical imbalance in the bile (which the gallbladder produces to help with digestion) - in many cases it is due to excess cholesterol in the bile, which gradually hardens into fatty lumps or stones.

Middle-aged women are one of the groups most at risk as its known that the female hormone oestrogen can stimulate the release of cholesterol in bile.

If the pain from gallstones mild and infrequent, you may be prescribed painkillers, but if your symptoms are more severe and frequent, surgery to remove the gallbladder is usually recommended

HOW ITS TREATED: If you dont have any symptoms, doctors will usually recommend monitoring the stone and no treatment is required until it starts causing any problems.

If the pain is mild and infrequent, you may be prescribed painkillers, but if your symptoms are more severe and frequent, surgery to remove the gallbladder is usually recommended.

We do not need our gallbladder and this is a very common procedure, usually done via keyhole surgery, says Christian Macutkiewicz, a consultant general and hepato-pancreatico-biliary surgeon at Spire Manchester Hospital and Manchester Royal Infirmary.

Women's pain during sex

IT COULD BE: Vaginal stones

Also known as colpolithiasis, these are hard, rock-like masses that can be felt in the vaginal wall or even - in severe cases - protruding from the vagina itself. The most common signs are pain in the vagina or more generally around the abdomen, as well as during sex.

But theyre very rare; most gynaecologists never see a single case throughout their entire career.

WHAT CAUSES IT? They can form due to hardened tissue that grows around a foreign body, such as tiny pieces of surgical gauze or mesh left behind after an operation, says Dr Shazia Malik, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist and UK medical director at Daye, a virtual womens health clinic.

But in most cases theyre due to urine leaking into the vagina and depositing urinary salts that gradually crystallise into tiny rock-like lumps.

This is normally due to a condition called urethrovaginal fistulas - where an abnormal connection develops between the urethra (the tube which carries urine out of the body) and the vagina. These connections are like tiny tubes and can form as a result of injury, surgery or inflammation due to infection.

HOW ITS TREATED: Surgical removal of the vaginal stones can be performed, usually via a minimally invasive cystolitholapaxy (ultra-sonic waves delivered through a cytoscope).

Dr Malik says: Any fistulas are typically repaired with further surgery a few months after stone removal.

Prostate problems

IT COULD BE: Prostate stones

Ranging from less than 1mm to 5mm in diameter, these are small deposits of calcium in the prostate gland, which usually form from middle age onwards. Often symptomless, they are usually found during other tests for prostate problems.

Tim Dudderidge, a consultant urologist at the Focal Therapy Clinic, Spire Southampton Hospital, says: Men are usually found to have prostatic calculi [i.e. prostate stones] when they have tests for prostate enlargement or prostate cancer.

Prostatic stones dont usually cause problems but can occur because of prostate enlargement and inflammation, otherwise known as chronic prostatitis. Its usually a side issue and nothing to worry about, he adds - often men pass the stones without knowing they had them.

WHAT CAUSES IT? Usually urine leaking into the prostate due to the bladder not emptying properly. Calcium salts in the urine then slowly form hard deposits.

HOW ITS TREATED: Ultrasound is frequently used to measure the prostate size and guide prostate biopsies and prostate treatments, says Mr Dudderidge.

During these scans, stones can be identified in the prostate. However, they usually only require surgical treatment if they interfere with other prostate treatments - such as high-intensity focused ultrasound for prostate cancer - or because they are causing a blockage which prevents ejaculation.

Unexplained diarrhoea and weight loss

IT COULD BE: Pancreatic stones

Pancreatic stones are small at first  less than 5mm in diameter - but grow larger over time and can block the pancreatic ducts which release enzymes and other compounds to help with digestion.

Symptoms can include abdominal pain, diarrhoea and weight loss, caused by the bodys inability to digest food.

WHAT CAUSES IT? Inflammation of the pancreas, or pancreatitis, reduces the pancreass function so there are less of the normal digestive juices it produces and more of the calcium thats usually dissolved in those digestive juices.

This leads to the accumulation or calcium carbonate deposits, explains Mr Macutkiewicz, and its calcium carbonate that makes stones hard and brittle.

If they block the pancreatic duct they can cause a serious infection which normally results in hospital admission for a week or so.

But theyre extremely rare - only 12 in 100,000 adults will get pancreatitis, and half of those will get stones.

The other at-risk group are children with rare pancreatic disorders, or conditions such as cystic fibrosis - where small tubes that transport enzymes out of the pancreas become blocked with mucus.

HOW ITS TREATED: If patients have problems with digestion, then there are pancreatic enzyme supplements that are given, says Mr Macutkiewicz. These help the body process foods and absorb nutrients.

Pancreatic stones can be difficult to remove, but if they block a duct or patients are in a lot of pain, part of the pancreas may have to be surgically removed, he adds.

Urge to pee

IT COULD BE: Bladder stones

These are hard stones that form inside the bladder due to some sort of obstruction in a duct that expels urine from the body. The blockage means urine pools inside the bladder and isnt drained away as it should be - salts in the urine then crystalise and form these deposits. As well as an incredible urge to pee and nothing coming out, they can cause pain, blood in the urine and repeat urinary infections.

WHAT CAUSES IT? Bladder obstruction can be caused by a range of factors - such as an enlarged prostate in men (which presses on the tube that expels urine from the body, causing it to back up into the bladder).

In rarer cases, says Mr Dudderidge, a foreign body  such as a catheter or a stent that has not been removed after a procedure  can trigger stone formation around them.

HOW ITS TREATED: Typically these are treated with fragmentation procedures using lasers, for instance (which break up the stones to pieces so tiny they can be flushed out in urine), says Mr Dudderidge.

But if the underlying cause is, for example, an enlarged prostate, that too will need treating with surgery to shrink it down.

Groin pain

IT COULD BE: Kidney stones

Perhaps the most well known, around one in ten people in the UK will develop kidney stones at some point.

All patients with suspected stones need a CT scan to pinpoint where the stone is and how big it is

They most commonly cause severe pain in loin region that travels into groin and pelvis - and might trigger urinary symptoms and an urge to go to the bathroom if the stone is trying to escape.

If they get a fever alongside that, its concerning, says Mr Dudderidge. Some also have blood in the urine.

WHAT CAUSES IT? Not drinking enough water is the main culprit - but eating too much ultraprocessed foods may also be a factor, says Mr Dudderidge, as excess salt is known to contribute to the formation of calcium, the mineral which makes up kidney stones.

HOW ITS TREATED: All patients with suspected stones need a CT scan to pinpoint where the stone is and how big it is.

A small tube called a stent can be put in to allow the kidneys to drain and shockwave treatment - which smashes the stone into tiny fragments - used to break it up, says Mr Dudderidge, but small stones dont need treatment at all and can be managed with painkillers.
Multiple counties in California have started recommending masks indoors, amid a four-fold spike in some areas.

Health officials in three Bay Area counties are urging residents to wear well-fitting masks, such as N-95s or K-95s, in public indoor spaces like restaurants and grocery stores.

The health department in Contra Costa county, just outside of San Francisco, said the recommendation comes as cases quadrupled from May 9 to July 9.

However, rates have plateaued since then, according to wastewater data, and hospitalizations and deaths have remained at historic lows.

The amount of positive Covid tests in California have increased by one percent in the past week. In some areas, cases quadrupled earlier in the summer

Contra Costa, Marin, and San Francisco counties all recommended wearing masks in public places like grocery stores and restaurants. However, this is just a recommendation and not a mandate

The guidance comes weeks after Violet Affleck, the 18-year-old daughter of actors Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, urged officials in Los Angeles county to reinstate mask mandates and end all 'mask bans.'

And it follows Dr Anthony Fauci's recent admission that strict measures early in the pandemic like closing schools and businesses may have been too harsh and carried 'potential collateral negative effects.'

Nearby San Francisco and Marin counties have also recommended masking in public areas amid a steady rise in cases.

Dr Ori Tzvieli, Contra Costa County health officer, said: 'Face masks are an effective tool to reduce the spread of the virus, particularly for those who are at risk for serious illness when there is evidence of elevated COVID-19 activity in the community.'

'This is one of those times. Our health system is not seriously impacted by COVID currently, and our goal is to keep it that way.'

Most health agencies in the Bay Area lifted their mask mandates by February 2022.

The new recommendation is not required and is up to personal preference.

Evidence about whether masks actually prevented infections during the Covid pandemic are mixed.

A gold standard analysis of 78 studies and 1million people back in 2023 found face coverings made 'little to no difference' to Covid infection or death rates.

Deaths and hospitalizations in California continue declining, according to wastewater data

Meanwhile, in the US overall, Covid have continued to decline since November 2023

Contra Costa county only requires health care workers to mask seasonally, from November 1 to April 30, to reduce the spread of Covid, influenza, and RSV.

As of July 29, the latest data available, 13 percent of nearly 9,000 tests in the area came back positive, a one percent increase from the week before.

Dr Sofe' Mekuria, Contra Costa County deputy health officer, told local news station KRON4 that the area is mainly seeing cases of the 'FLiRT' strains, a variation of Omicron responsible for most infections across the US.

Meanwhile, deaths in California have neared historic lows, with just four deaths reported the week of July 29, half that from this time last year.

Nationwide, 304 deaths from Covid were reported to the CDC during the same week, a 46 percent drop from this time last year. In early 2021, during peak pandemic, over 26,000 deaths were reported to the CDC.

Dr Mekuria noted that while hospitalizations and deaths have remained steady, vaccination rates in the area are declining.

'We do anticipate a new COVID vax that will have newer strains of COVID that should be coming out this summer or early fall. Potentially as soon as this September,' she said.

The recommendations come after recent research has suggested that masks may no longer be as effective as they were earlier in the pandemic.

Researchers at the University of East Anglia, for example, found in a May study that masks' protective effect seemed to disappear in February 2022, around the same time that California lifted its mandates.

The team believed this was due to the Omicron variant, which later mutated into FLiRT, being too infectious for masks to prevent it.

Contra Costa residents told KRON4 that despite the recommendations, few people were actually wearing masks.

'I do sometimes see people wearing masks. It's few and far between. Usually older people,' resident Connie Koplan said.
Parents of a Kentucky baby who died last fall after drinking bacteria-tainted infant formula are the latest to sue Abbott Nutrition, the manufacturer of the formula.

Willow Jade Dellaquila, of Carrollton, Kentucky, was 13 days old when she died on November 5, 2023.

She was infected with cronobacter sakazakii, a dangerous germ traced to a can of Similac Total Comfort powdered formula used in the baby's bottles, records show.

The little girl had a stroke on the right side of her brain, according to Willow's mother Cheyenne Ping, 25.

'Its really heartbreaking. No one should have to go through this,' she said.

Willow Jade Dellaquila, is pictured day after she was born in October 2023. She at the age of 13-days-old in November 2023, after contracting a Cronobacter sakazakii infection traced to baby formula

Cheyenne Ping, Willow's mother holds her newborn daughter. The Pings have two other young sons

Ping and the baby's 26-year-old father, Christian Dellaquila, can move forward with a lawsuit against Abbott, an Illinois judge ruled Wednesday.

The suit accuses Abbott of negligence, fraud and failing to warn parents of potential dangers of powdered formula and demand at least $450,000.

The couple had previously sought to join a lawsuit with two other families who say their children suffered devastating brain damage caused by cronobacter linked to a different type of Abbott powdered formula, Similac Neosure.

Mira White, a Missouri baby who died, was sickened with cronobacter in March 2023 at six weeks old, while Ryker Brown, an Illinois toddler, was infected with the bacteria in July 2021, at age four weeks. Both survived.

The judge said the cases should be tried separately, though they might be consolidated later on.

The original lawsuit in December targeted Abbott, whose Sturgis, Michigan, plant was shuttered for months in 2022 after similar reports of infant illnesses and deaths.

FDA inspectors had previously found what agency chief Dr Robert Califf called 'shocking' conditions at the Sturgis plant, which led to recalls and sparked shortages that rocked American formula supplies for more than a year.

Willow drank formula made at the plant and sold at a local Walmart store more than a year after Abbott was placed under court-mandated oversight by the FDA.

The formula Ryker and Mira consumed was made at the company's plant in Casa Grande, Arizona, which was the target of a separate whistleblower complaint about dangerous conditions, according to federal records.

Documents obtained by the AP show that an April 2023. the FDA's inspection at the Arizona site found shortcomings in the factory's contamination-prevention protocols as well as multiple detections of cronobacter at the plant.

FDA officials also found nearly two dozen complaints of confirmed cronobacter, salmonella or other infections in infants who had been fed formula made at the plant.

Abbott officials have insisted that no link was found between the illnesses and the company's formula, the records show.

They added that there is no proven link between the product and any infections, including the cases outlined in the lawsuit.

Abbott officials argued in a court filing that there was no common connection between the cases, which occurred at different times, in different states and involved two different types of formula.

Christian Dellaquila holds his daughter Willow hours after she was born in October 2023

The Pings are pictured here with their two sons, after their daughter Willow passed away

Every can of Similac says that the product is not sterile and should not be fed to premature infants or infants who might have immune problems, unless directed and supervised by a doctor.

"No sealed, distributed product from our facilities have tested positive for Cronobacter sakazakii and we dont believe these claims have merit," Abbott officials said in an email Wednesday.

'The fact that each infant experienced a Cronobacter infection (months or years apart) is of no moment.'

The illnesses underscore the difficulty for regulators and health officials to keep tabs on bacteria that are everywhere - but also notoriously difficult to detect and track.

Cronobacter bacteria are common in nature, including in water and soil, and are found in home kitchens, including sinks, counters and even the scoops used to measure formula powder.

But the bacteria also be found in large factories, where they lurk on equipment and in the environment.

The bacteria's ubiquity can make it hard to determine exactly when it got into the formula cans.

Evidence of cronobacter was found in open cans of Abbott formula in Willow's and Mira's family homes and confirmed to be the cause of their infections, documents show.

But the same strains of the bacteria were not detected in sealed cans of formula or at the Abbott factories, federal officials said.

It's still not clear how Ryker became infected.

That doesn't prove that the products were free of contamination though, Barbara Kowalcyk, director of the Center for Food Safety and Nutrition Security at George Washington University told the AP.

Willow was fiercely loved by her brothers furing her short time on earth. The Pings said their baby's loss was 'heartbreaking' and something that no parent should deal with

Cronobacter cells tend to clump within dry foods like formula and are not distributed evenly, making detection unreliable, if not impossible.

She said: 'If you get negative test results, it doesnt tell you as much as a positive test result does.

'If you get a positive, you've got a big problem. If you get a negative, you dont know whats going on.'

That stymies efforts to detect and stop cronobacter infections, which are particularly dangerous to newborns and babies born prematurely, who have weaker immune systems.

In those babies, the bacteria can move from the gut to the bloodstream and from there to the brain, where they can have devastating effects.

The CDC typically receives two to four reports per year of infections caused by cronobacter, though officials believe thats an undercount.

Four infections were reported to the agency in 2023, records show.

They included reports of the invasive illness in Mira and Willow experienced, and in an unidentified baby in Maryland who was infected with cronobacter and developed meningitis in December after consuming Similac Advance powdered formula made by Abbott.

The CDC began formally tracking illnesses from the bacteria this year.

Powdered infant formula is the most common cause of cronobacter infections in babies, the agency said.
A record number of Brits are seeking medical help for autism on the NHS, with nearly 200,000 currently awaiting an assesment, according to newly published data.

The figure represents a rise of 22 per cent since this time last year and is nine times higher than the number in 2019, which was 20,509.

The surge in demand has created a backlog that means nine out of 10 are waiting longer than the recommended 13 weeks, the NHS data show.

Two thirds of those waiting for assesments for the developmental disability are children, aged 17 and under.

The delays have been slammed by experts who call the system 'broken' and called for change or risk people missing out on 'early vital support'.

There were 187,567 people in England waiting for an autism assessment for the month, another record high and up 22 per cent from 153,969 in June 2023, according to NHS Digital

Mel Merritt, head of policy and campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said: 'Rocketing waiting lists mean people are waiting years for an autism assessment and missing out on early vital support. This broken system must change.'

The figures come after it was revealed in April that children across the UK are waiting up to four years for a diagnosis of autism.

Ms Merritt added: 'An autism assessment can be the first step to understanding peoples needs and although they shouldnt be, people are often told they cant get support without a diagnosis.

'Getting the NHS back on its feet means fixing the crisis in diagnosis waiting times. People across the country are depending on the Government to end this scandal.'

Having autism means a person's brain works differently to normal.

It's not a disease and people have it from the moment they are born, although it may not be spotted until childhood and sometimes much later.

This chart shows the percentage increase in incidence of autism diagnosis from 1998 to 2018. UK researchers found autism diagnoses had risen by an 'exponential' 787% over 20 years. They said the rise could be due to increased recognition of the condition among experts particularly in diagnosing autism among girls and adults, but added an increase in cases of autism itself cannot be ruled out

Autism exists on a spectrum. Some people will be able to lead fully functioning lives with no additional help. Others may need full-time assistance.

Classic signs of autism include trouble communicating, finding certain situations overwhelming and repetitive behaviours.

Rates have spiralled in recent years, sparking suggestions that the disorder is now being overdiagnosed.

Unprecedented levels of autism referrals risk overwhelming the health services, a report by The Nuffield Trust thinktank warned.

It said the growth in demand has been fuelled by changing social attitudes and better awareness.

NHS Digital also revealed in April that doctors are referring five-times more patients for autism assessments than in 2019.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'The NHS is broken and there are unacceptable delays in autism diagnosis  we are working hard to fix this.

'We are committed to reducing waiting times and ensuring people with autism can access high-quality care and support more quickly.'
Jerry Williams drops cash while boarding a Muni bus on April 16, 2024, Muni surveillance footage shows. Provided by Public Defender's Office

Prosecutors dropped criminal charges against a San Francisco man who was accused of assaulting a passenger on a Muni bus in April, the public defenders office said Tuesday. Jerry Williams, 53, spent two weeks in custody before he was released.

My client is not only innocent, he was the victim, Deputy Public Defender Ilona Yanez, who represented Williams, said in a press release.

On April 16, Williams dropped some cash while boarding a Muni bus and an older man behind him picked it up, prompting Williams to ask for it back, according to the public defenders office. The man denied taking it and scratched Williams face, causing Williams to respond with a punch, the public defenders office said.

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Police then arrested Williams, who was on parole, and prosecutors charged him with elder abuse and assault, the public defenders office said. Charges were dropped on May 24.

San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju cited race as a factor in Williams jail time. Williams is Black.

Mr. Williams would never have gone to jail had he not been a Black man on parole, Raju said. The result was another innocent Black man in jail whose life and livelihood was disrupted because police wrongly deemed him to be the aggressor when he was actually the victim.

DA Brooke Jenkins said race had nothing to do with the prosecutorial decisions.

My office is committed to fair and ethical prosecutions, she said in a statement to the Chronicle. We only file charges in cases that we believe we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury. When circumstances change, as they did in this case, and we believe we are no longer able to meet our burden we move to dismiss the case.

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A third person has died from food poisoning after eating deli meat contaminated with a deadly bacteria.

The deaths were caused by listeria infections linked to Boar's Head meat sold across the country, in places like Target, Walmart and other grocery stores.

The CDC revealed today that the latest victim was from Virginia, with the other deaths occurring in Illinois and New Jersey.

Since the last update at the end of July, nine more cases have been reported bringing the total to 43. All 43 people have been hospitalized.

The multi-state recall for listeria contaminated products

Sue Fleming, 88, and her husband Patrick, 76, are suing deli meats manufacturer Boar's Head and the shop where they purchased the meat after Ms Fleming became 'deathly ill' from listeria. She has survived the illness

Boar's Head expanded its swepping recall on July 30 to now cover around seven million pounds of deli meats, both prepackaged and the kind freshly sliced at the deli counter.

Four days previously, the recall affected around 200,000 pounds of meats.

The items range from beef, bologna, ham, liverwurst and salami, among others.

According to the CDC: 'The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Division of Food Safety and Inspection collected unopened Boars Head liverwurst products from retail stores and the New York State Food Laboratory identified Listeria monocytogenes.'

It was the same strain currently driving a multi-state outbreak of listeria infection, which is especially dangerous for seniors and pregnant people, as well as those with already weakened immune systems.

Most people who get listeriosis do not get severely ill. But approximately 1,600 people in the US develop serious listeria infections, known as listeriosis, every year  and about 260 of those infections are fatal.

Boar's Head has recalled over 7 million pounds of deli meats, up from slightly over 200,000 pounds that were recalled last month

Pregnant women are 10 times more likely to get listeriosis compared to other adults because of changes in the immune system during pregnancy, which makes it easier for infections to take hold and harder for the body to fight them off.

If it spreads to the nervous system, listeria can also lead to severe brain inflammation, blood poisoning, convulsions, and brain swelling. Early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics is crucial to avoiding the worst possible outcome.

In addition to causing flu-like symptoms, listeriosis can cause nausea, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. This was the case for Sue Fleming, 88, who lives with her husband Patrick, 76, in High Ridge, Missouri. She ate a Boar's Head liverwurst late last month after buying it from her local grocery store.

She was rushed to hospital, where tests confirmed a listeria infection  according to a lawsuit she filed against the company.

Mrs Fleming spent nine days in intensive care and 11 in rehab, but claims she still suffers from neurological symptoms and is yet to regain her full strength.

Listeria lives in soil, meaning it comes in contact with anything that touches or is rooted in the soil, such as animals and the vegetables we eat.

Mrs Fleming [right] is yet to recover from, has taken the joy out of their life and damaged their marriage. They are pictured above holding a book the pair wrote on how to heal trauma from past abuse

The CDC began tracking cases of listeriosis in May when officials determined that 16 of 18 people who tested positive for the bacteria had eaten the now-recalled deli meats

It can also survive for a long time on counter tops, because it forms a biofilm that sticks around on hard surfaces, making it tougher to ensure the food we eat is safe.

The CDC has not specified which of the now-43 infections required hospitalization, but when that tally sat at 34 cases, all but one require care in a hospital.

The CDC began sampling deli meats in May in response to a smattering of cases. The meats that have been recalled were distributed across the US and has sickened people in Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The wide-ranging Boar's Head recall is not the first that federal officials have had to contend with this year.

In July, Ohio based Wiers Farm Inc. recalled some of their whole and bagged salad cucumbers that were sold at select Walmarts in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.

Pulled items include green beans, peppers, zucchini, jalapenos, and more - as the recall was expanded to also include green beans and jalapenos sold under the banner of Freshire Farms, an Aldi brand.

Also last month, the USDA recalled 2,000 pounds of chicken kebabs and patties on Friday after a routine inspection found the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes at the producer's Canadian manufacturing facility that then exported products to the US.
Deliveroo has finally achieved profitability thanks to solid growth in the value of customer orders in the first half of the year, as demand stabilised.

The London-listed food delivery firm, which also achieved positive cash flow for the first time, eked out a profit of 1.3million over the six months, swinging from an 83million loss during the same time last year.

Founder and chief executive Will Shu described the result as a 'major milestone' as the group flagged plans for share buybacks for patient investors, who have seen Deliveroo's share price roughly halve since its 2021 initial public offering.

Making a profit: Food delivery order volumes have returned to growth as Deliveroo eyes an improving consumer environment

Deliveroo's gross transaction value - a key performance measure showing the value of customer orders  was up 6 per cent over the period to roughly 3.7billion and beat market consensus by around 0.5 per cent.

Customers spent an average of 25 on each order, up 80p on the same time last year and helping to drive revenues 2 per cent higher on a constant-currency basis to just over 1billion.

Deliveroo order volumes returned to growth as gross transaction value jumped 7 per cent in the UK and Ireland, and 5 per cent internationally, with the latter boosted by strength in France, Italy and the UAE.

The firm partially credited this to an improvement in its consumer value proposition, with Deliveroo investing in its customer loyalty offerings.

Deliveroo, which had seen a significant slowdown from a lockdown-driven boom, said it was now seeing 'encouraging early signs in consumer behaviour'.

It expects GTV growth of 5 to 9 per cent for the full year, with adjusted earnings before nasties coming in at 'the upper half' of a range of 110million to 130million. Free cash flow is forecast to remain positive for the year.

Deliveroo also lined-up a 15 million share buyback, which it said 'reflects financial progress in the last year and confidence in the outlook'.

Boss Will Shu said: We reached two major financial milestones: positive free cash flow and positive profit for the period.

'Looking ahead, while there is continued uncertainty in the external environment, I am encouraged by the inflection we are currently seeing in consumer behaviour in many of our markets.

'The Deliveroo platform is more powerful than ever, and we remain responsive to the external environment while continuing to optimise our proposition for consumers, riders and merchants.

'We operate across attractive verticals, in large, underpenetrated markets, and it's clear that there is a lot of room for growth in our industry.'

Deliveroo shares were up 8.9 per cent to 138.8p, bringing 12-month gains to 14.9 per cent/

Market analyst at eToro Adam Vettese said: 'Investors will hope this positive print is the start of a road to recovery for the shares after a lacklustre IPO and a catastrophic 75 per cent plunge from its high in 2021.

'Consumers quite likely have lasting habits that favour home delivery and now with strain on the budget potentially easing, there could be many more profit making updates from Deliveroo to come.'
In demand: Rheinmetall's largest order in the year to date was for Boxer armoured vehicles (pictured) worth a total of 1.9bn

Germany's largest arms manufacturer has accumulated a record order backlog worth over 41billion as sales and profits continue to surge amid wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

Rheinmetalls sales in the first half of the year increased by a third to 3.3billion with the order backlog expected to swell to as much as 60billion by the end of the year.

Operating profits also rose to 346million, nearly double last years levels.

The group said key projects had included artillery orders for Germany and Ukraine, with the largest order in the year to date being a contract with the Bundeswehr  Germanys armed forces  for Boxer armoured vehicles worth a total of 1.9billion.

Boss Armin Papperger has drawn the ire of the Kremlin by announcing plans to build a string of factories in Ukraine, focused on tank maintenance, munitions and air defence.

The Russian foreign ministry last week labelled the factories a legitimate target.
BP is one step closer to turning Teesside into a green energy powerhouse  despite rowing back on its green agenda elsewhere.

The FTSE 100 oil major has entered the final stages of negotiations with the Government for one of the biggest blue hydrogen production facilities in the UK.

BP has also signed engineering design contracts for its proposed H2 Teesside project.

BP has entered the final stages of negotiations with the Government for one of the biggest blue hydrogen production facilities in the UK

That includes agreements with engineer Costain, which has been selected to design the pipeline infrastructure, as well as with Technip Energies, which will support the engineering for blue hydrogen production.

H2 Teesside aims to capture and store over 2m tonnes of CO2 per year, which is the equivalent to capturing the emissions from the heating of 1m households.

Blue hydrogen is a clean fuel made through natural gas. The resulting product can be used in electric vehicles with hydrogen fuel cells producing power with no harmful emissions.

BP has been ploughing large sums into Teesside as part of a plan to invest 18billion in the UK by 2030.

The project joins BPs two other planned projects in the area, Net Zero Teesside Power and The Northern Endurance Partnership.

But BPs push into Teesside comes against a wider move away from its green agenda.

Last week BP revealed it will drill a new oilfield in the Gulf of Mexico as it prioritises returning cash to shareholders.

BP chief executive Murray Auchincloss has promised to focus on expanding its oil and gas business.

That is a departure from green focus laid out by his predecessor Bernard Looney, who had been pushing for clean energy, with big bets on hydrogen and wind.

H2 Teesside could support around 1300 jobs during the construction phase, and up to 130 jobs once it is up and running.

Andy Lane, vice president for hydrogen at BP UK, said: The project could play a critical role in decarbonising industry on Teesside, helping to transform the region into a leading hydrogen hub and kickstart the UKs low carbon hydrogen economy.
Barclays has become the first British bank to tell staff a bonus cap is being scrapped in a post-Brexit victory.

In a boost for the countrys financial services industry, the City giant has ditched previous rules which were introduced by Brussels in 2014 that limited bonuses to two times an employees annual salary.

The idea was to put a brake on risky behaviour by traders and bankers in the wake of the 2007-09 financial crisis and to avoid a repeat of that meltdown.

Bonus bonanza: Barclays, led by boss Venkat (pictured) has become the first British bank to ditch EU rules that limited bonuses to two times an employees annual salary

But top Barclays bankers have been told their bonuses will be set up to as much as ten times their fixed pay in a major Brexit benefit for the Square Mile.

Around 1,600 employees, mainly based in Britain and the United States, will benefit  including those in Barclays lucrative investment banking division.

Executives at the bank  run by CS Venkatakrishnan (known as Venkat)  which employs around 9,000 in the UK, believe the move will help retain and lure top talent.

The announcement follows similar overhauls by Wall Street banks JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs.

Barclays said this move would allow us greater flexibility to differentiate individual bonuses within a small and defined group of colleagues.

And a spokesman added the bank will be able to continue to compete effectively to retain and attract the best talent globally.

But the update does not apply to bankers in Ireland or Monaco as they are still subject to EU rules.

The Conservatives lifted its long-time cap on bankers bonuses last year as part of a post-Brexit shake-up of City rules.

But until now, only big American banks with significant operations in the UK had said that they were increasing potential bonuses for their top dealmakers and traders in Britain.

Snubbed: Former chancellor George Osborne failed to overturn what he described as badly designed rules

In May, Goldman Sachs revealed its senior staff based in Britain would be able to earn bonuses worth up to 25 times their fixed pay.

The following month JP Morgan raised its limit to ten times.

Critics have argued that the bonus cap made it more difficult to lure top talent into London, with bankers flocking to New York, Singapore or Zurich instead.

Former chancellor George Osborne failed to overturn what he described as badly designed rules at the European court of justice in 2014. Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has previously described the cap as misguided and the wrong policy.

Former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng also proposed scrapping the banker bonus cap during Liz Truss governments mini-Budget in September 2022.
Underpaid state pension: DWP is contacting those affected to pay arrears to them, or their beneficiaries if they have already died

Bereaved families are being told their late relatives could be owed state pension arrears then left in limbo for months by the Department for Work and Pensions.

The amounts involved are not revealed, leaving recipients of letters mystified as to what sums they might eventually receive.

Three cases we investigated recently resulted in separate payouts of 3,800 and 27, and an apology for sending out a letter in error.

But over the past few years, vast errors have led to payouts running into many tens of thousands of pounds, and in some cases awards of more than 100,000.

This was because many elderly married women and widows, and both men and women aged over 80, were underpaid a total of more than a billion pounds in a state pension scandal uncovered by our columnist Steve Webb and This is Money.

In a different HMRC blunder that we highlighted, many mums lost out on large sums in state pension due to holes in their National Insurance records.

As a result, the DWP and HMRC are trying to contact those affected and pay arrears to them - or their beneficiaries, should they have already died - but this has led to frustration over delays and further errors.

Earlier this year Webb assisted a 90-year-old woman's family, who chased up an initial letter for months and were at one point told verbally by the DWP she could be owed 60,000 or more, but her payout ended up being just over 400.

Webb says it is 'simply cruel' to send people letters about state pension underpayments which raise their hopes and then leave them in limbo for months.

He is urging the DWP to put in place a streamlined process so when relatives respond to such letters things progress rapidly to a final decision and a payout.

> Were you or a late relative underpaid state pension? Find out what to do below

DWP staff member said 'don't book that world cruise yet' and laughed

Bereaved daughter Clare Thomas (whose name we have changed) received a letter in January saying her mother, who died aged 87 in spring 2023, might be owed state pension inherited from her late husband.

That was in reference to Ms Thomas's father, who had previously died aged 85.

Have YOU received a letter from the DWP about arrears? Find out how to contact us below

Ms Thomas was an executor for her late mother, a retired cleaner who lived in Scotland, and she says: 'In April 2024 I contacted the DWP bereavement team to be told that this could take up to a year to resolve.

'We were also told that we couldn't speak to anyone in the particular section of the DWP dealing with underpayments as they "didn't take calls".'

During her call, the staff member she spoke to told her 'don't book that world cruise yet' and laughed, which she found astounding and disrespectful.

'Someone from the bereavement team said that. I thought it was appalling. They were so dismissive,' she says.

When This is Money asked the DWP to look into the case, it apologised because it turned out state pension had been paid correctly to Ms Thomas's mother and the letter was sent in error.

A spokesperson said: 'We apologise to Ms [name redacted] for the inconvenience caused by sending a letter stating her mother was underpaid state pension.

'This was due to an administrative error, and we have written to [name redacted] to confirm her late mother's state pension award was in fact correctly paid.'

'It's impossible to contact the team actually dealing with this by phone or email'

John Williams is executor to the estate of a close friend, Mary Evans, a retired postmistress who lived in Wales and died in Yorkshire aged 93 in 2020 (names changed).

He was not a beneficiary of her will, but was in sole charge of winding up her estate.

Mr Williams received a letter from the DWP last October which stated Mrs Evans had been underpaid state pension between 2016 and 2020.

He replied immediately but heard nothing further for the next eight months, despite making around a dozen calls and sending a registered letter.

He says although the amount of arrears involved was not revealed, he was told it was substantial during one call to the DWP.

Yet again there seems no way to penetrate the bureaucracy to speak to someone who can actually tell you what is going on Former Pensions Minister Steve Webb

Mr Williams was also told Mrs Evans's estate was 'high on the list to be paid' but he had to be patient as there were many women in a similar situation and the matter was being discussed in Parliament.

'I have been told on several occasions that it is impossible to contact the team actually dealing with this matter by telephone or email,' says Mr Williams.

'My concern is that I am currently 78 years of age whilst the five residuary beneficiaries who are currently unaware of this matter are all in the 75-95 age group and I am starting to wonder if this matter will be completed during our lifetimes.'

After Mr Williams contacted This is Money, we raised the case with the DWP which paid 3,800 in arrears and apologised to him for the delay.

Bereaved daughter left hanging by DWP for months

Karen Roberts was contacted by the DWP in April about her late mother Anne, a former quality garment inspector for department stores who lived in Scotland (names changed).

It said in a letter her mother had been underpaid state pension for around 12 years before her death aged 80 in 2019, but did not reveal the sum involved.

After hearing nothing more for months, and being told on the phone she could not speak to the relevant department, she and her own daughter contacted This is Money.

Following our intervention, state pension arrears of 27 were paid, with the amount reduced because Anne had received Severe Disablement Allowance.

Why did DWP falsely say my mum, 90, was owed 60k?

Former Pensions Minister Steve Webb has investigated two similar cases on behalf of readers who wrote in to his This is Money column this year.

One person received a letter saying their father who died aged 100 had been underpaid state pension for 20 years, but then heard nothing more from the DWP for six months.

After Webb intervened, our reader inherited their fathers state pension backpayment of just under 8,000. The DWP apologised for the delay.

In a second case, a 90-year-old woman had a letter last December saying she might be owed arrears.

When one of her daughters made numerous calls to chase it up over the following five months, she was given wildly different estimates by DWP staff of the amount involved.

On one occasion she was told 24,000, on another 60,000 and perhaps higher, and on another 400 - causing her elderly mother confusion and distress.

Webb finally confirmed the sum owed was 438, and a DWP spokesperson said: 'We are very sorry for the errors handling this case and for the service received by your reader.'

Webb, who is now a partner at pension consultant LCP, says: 'When the DWP thinks it has found money which is owed in state pension arrears, it has a duty to progress things rapidly.

'Sending people letters which raise their hopes and then leaving them in limbo for months is simply cruel.

'And yet again there seems no way to penetrate the bureaucracy to speak to someone who can actually tell you what is going on.

'When people respond to these letters there needs to be a streamlined process to come to a final decision and pay what is due, not simply put them to the back of a new queue.'
A father who tracked his two teenage daughters' phones to a horror car crash site where he discovered both had been killed has revealed their heartbreaking final moments and how he plans to pay tribute to them.

Brian Trumble, 45, told DailyMail.com he called his daughters Hailey, 19, and Shelby, 17, multiple times after they failed to return home from the Seabreeze Amusement Park in Rochester, New York, on August 1.

After tracking them on the Find My Friends app, Brian drove a few miles to their location and found police already cordoning off the scene.

He described how he collapsed on his car bumper and 'couldn't stand up' when first responders told him one of the girls in the accident had died.

Brian later learned a fireman had stayed by his other daughter's side 'until the end'.

In an interview with DailyMail.com, the devastated father has now revealed he plans to scatter Hailey and Shelby's cremated ashes so they can 'always be together.'

In an interview with DailyMail.com, Hailey and Shelby's dad Brian described how he collapsed on his car bumper and 'couldn't stand up' when first responders told him one of the girls in the accident had died

On Thursday night, Brian Trumble, 45, tragically discovered that his daughter's Hailey, 19, and Shelby, 17, (pictured) died in a horrific car crash in upstate New York after tracking their cell phones

Brian, a farmer, told DailyMail.com that police at the scene had eventually told him to go home to wait for news, which made him believe his girls were already gone.

The sisters were riding in a Chevy Cobalt traveling eastbound on Ira Hill Road when their car 'crested a hill and crossed into the opposite lane, striking a second vehicle,' the sheriff's office announced Monday.

'Both Hailey and Shelby Trumble died as a result of the injuries they sustained at the time of the crash,' he said.

Just before the girls left for the amusement park that day Brian gave them $100, told them he loved him and to 'have fun and behave.'

Brian believes his daughters were unfamiliar with the 'hilly, windy road' when the crash took place.

The other driver, identified as Robin Latham, 59, was transported to Syracuse University Hospital with serious injuries, where she remains in stable condition.

The girls - who have a 21-year old brother and two step-sisters - had recently graduated high school.

Hailey graduated in 2023 and Shelby, who completed a Oswego BOCES Cosmetology program, in 2024.

He recalled his final in-person conversation was earlier that morning when he gave them $100 and told them he loved them and to 'have fun and behave,' People reported.

He and the girls' mother, Tina, described their daughters as 'simple country girls' who loved animals and being outdoors. (pictured: Hailey, Shelby and their mother pictured in 2017)

Brian believes his daughters were unfamiliar with the 'hilly, windy road' when the crash took place

Their father told DailyMail.com Hailey was supposed to start a new job at a daycare on the Monday after the crash and that she 'had a way about her that little kids were just drawn to her.'

Meanwhile, his younger daughter, Shelby, worked at a local farm stand selling vegetables.

'She loved it. She was my quiet kid and prankster,' he said.

He and the girls' mother, Tina, described their daughters as 'simple country girls' who loved animals and being outdoors.

Their love for animals began at a young age when they would spend time on their grandparents' farm, caring for cows and pigs.

The family also had cats and dogs, and once even took in a pet raccoon, Tina said.

As teenagers, the close-knit sisters would also walk to a pasture near their home to see horses - and would always bring a few carrots and apples to feed them, she noted.

The sisters were also volunteers with the CNY Cat Coalition, and had just rescued two kittens named Smokey and Bandit, who were thrown out a car window, in the days before their deaths.

The girls enjoyed fishing growing up, with mom Tina recounting how when Shelby was in elementary school, she would hop off the bus and run straight to the pond

A memorial filled with big white crosses has been set up at the crash scene in honor of the sisters

The girls had recently graduated high school, Hailey in 2023 and Shelby in 2024 - completing an Oswego BOCES Cosmetology program

Hailey's cat needed an amputation, and she was expecting to see it after their trip to Seabreeze on Thursday.

'Our hearts go out to the Trumble family and everyone who loved Hailey and Shelby,' the CNY Cat Coalition said in a Facebook post about the late sisters.

'As one of their last acts of kindness, these incredible sisters rescued a pair of abandoned kitten sisters, Bandit and Smokey, helped foster them through the Cat Coalition, and were planning to adopt them.'

Brian explained that both Shelby and Hailey were 'very protective' of him and would even use the Find My Friends app to track him during his late night shifts on the farm.

Although both Brian and Tina raised their girls, he recalled: 'I raised them myself for quite a few years they always took care of me.'

He added that the girls were both organ donors. 'Hopefully they helped countless people,' Brian said.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist the family in paying for the sister's funerals.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the fundraiser surpassed its goal of $10,000 - reaching more than $43,000.

As teenagers, the close-knit sisters would walk to a pasture near their home to see horses

Brian plans to scatter Hailey and Shelby's cremated ashes so they can 'always be together'

The cause of the fatal collision remains unclear, and an investigation is ongoing.

A memorial was set up on the side of the road for the sisters with two big white crosses and the letters 'H' and 'S' on them.

'It's much too early to say exactly what happened, and what caused this crash and what factors were involved,' Sheriff Brian Schneck told CNY Central.

'But we are looking at every piece of evidence that we can.'

He added that officials have not found any evidence that any of the drivers were intoxicated at the time of the crash.

Brian commended the police and fire department for all of their help and called them 'incredible people' for being there for his daughters.

'I wish I could've helped my daughters,' he said.

'Tell your kids you love them, hug them everyday.'
Stunning footage captured the moment a $140 million megayacht owned by Steve Jobs' widow smashed into another monster vessel owned by a Mexican telecom billionaire.

The high-value crash involved the 78-meter Venus, commissioned by the late Apple founder and now owned by Laurene Powell Jobs, and the 105-meter Lady Moura, owned by Mexican billionaire business titan Ricardo Salinas.

The two liners, that cost a combined $265 million, slammed into each other after a vicious gust of wind off the Italian coast of Naples put them on a collision course.

Dramatic video posted on social media and taken from the Lady Moura reveals the moment the two boats came into contact, as crewmembers were heard screaming over the impending damage.

Stunning footage captured the moment a megayacht owned by Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinis collided with one owned by Steve Jobs' widow

The two liners, that cost a combined $265 million, slammed into each other after a vicious gust of wind off the Italian coast of Naples put them on a collision course

Both crews blamed the other for the major blunder, with Salinas admitting on social media that it is 'going to cost a lot to fix' the mistake

Both vessels were anchored when the incident unfolded, but it did little to stop them careening into each other as high winds were heard over the microphone in the footage.

The two yachts came into contact July 22nd after a sudden burst of wind that hit 55 knots after the breeze suddenly picked up, a source for the crew of the Venus told DailyMail.com.

Powell Jobs wasn't aboard when her crew brought her $140 million ship into port, where it was the last vessel to arrive.

Unbeknownst to the captain and crew, the $125 million Lady Moura had dropped anchor with double the amount of expected anchor chain, according to the Venus crew.

Neither vessel dragged anchor when the wind picked up. But with anchor lines of different lengths, the two vessels collided -- with an impact that Salinas says will cost big bucks.

Job's superyacht, seen off the coast of Capri in late July, cost $140 million and was meticulously designed by the late Apple founder

Salinas' $125 million Lady Moura, seen in Cannes in 2004, was accused of dropping its anchor too deep, causing it to collide with the Venus

Video taken from the Moura that Salinas posted online could suggest that it is the Venus approaching the larger vessel. But according to the Venus crew, it was the Lady Moura with her longer anchor line who swung into the Venus.

A ball on the bow of the Venus  which is visible in the video posted by Salinas indicates she was at anchor at the time of the incident.

The two captains spoke after the incident, concluding it was a minor incident that needed repairs, according to the Venus.

Salinas' take was that the Venus was at fault, and that it would cost more than a few iPhones to get the Lady Moura ship shape.

Writing in Spanish, the billionaire said he'd like to know what was happening with the captain and crew that they weren't able to see 'a yacht the size of [his] right in front of them.'

'The good thing is that it was nothing more than a scratch. But it was a big scratch it's going to cost a lot to fix it,' he wrote, ending with 'ha, ha, ha' that suggests he was putting it behind him.

Emerson Collective founder Laurene Powell Jobs was not on board the ship during the incident

Salinas, one of the richest men in Mexico, posted a video and blamed the crew of the Venus, which was at anchor during the collision

Salinas also took the opportunity to insult those involved, saying he shared the video so people can see there are 'still idiots in the world.'

Then he made a pitch for one of his many companies, elektra.mx, urging people to buy Apple products to help pay for the repairs.

Powell Jobs inherited her yacht, which was meticulously designed by French designer Philippe Starck in collaboration with her late husband - who is famous for devoting himself to minute design details of things he owned and products he sold.

The sleek boat, named after the Roman goddess of beauty, is made of aluminum and features a minimalist design that includes 40-foot ceilings and six identically sized bedrooms.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Salinas for comment.
The BBC will be allowed to retain the Bafta it won for royal coverage fronted by Huw Edwards, but individual gongs to the disgraced newsreader remain under review.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is considering stripping the former BBC anchorman of his accolades after he pleaded guilty to charges of making indecent images of children.

Edwards, 62, admitted before Westminster Magistrates' Court to having 41 indecent images of children on his phone. Seven were category 'A' images, the very worst kind, which had been sent to him on WhatsApp by a convicted paedophile.

Now, Bafta said it is reviewing seven individual presenter prizes handed to him over the years 'given the seriousness of this abhorrent crime'.

A Bafta spokesperson said: 'Like everyone in the industry and country we were shocked by the news - given the seriousness of this abhorrent crime, we are reviewing.'

Edwards will next appear in court on September 16.

Huw Edwards picked up an award at the BAFTA Cymru Awards in 2003

Huw Edwards pictured arriving at Westminster Magistrates Court on July 31

However, the Bafta won by the BBC in 2012 for Edwards' coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011, will remain.

The state funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II also won two Baftas for sound: factual and in the director: multi-camera category last year.

The coverage featured commentary from presenters including Edwards as well as David Dimbleby, who came out of retirement for the event.

Edwards has won the best on-screen presenter prize at the Bafta Cymru awards numerous times over the years, the first being in 2002 for his Election Exchange show and he retained the prize the following year for The Exchange.

He also won it in 2004 for his programme The Story Of Welsh, in 2005 for his docuseries Bread Of Heaven and in 2010 for The Prince And The Plotter.

Huw Edwards poses in the Awards Room with the News Coverage Award for coverage of the London bombings on July 7, 2005

Edwards resigned from the BBC in April 'on the basis of medical advice from his doctors' after unrelated allegations that he paid a young person for sexually explicit photos

Later in 2013, he picked up the best prize prize of his The Story Of Wales programme and he took home the same gong in 2017 for Aberfan - The Fight For Justice.

The Bafta Cymru presenter awards are peer voted for, while the honorary special awards are gifted by the Bafta board of trustees - Edwards has not received a special award in his career.

The veteran broadcaster admitted having indecent images of children last week, with seven of the 41 images being of the most serious type.

BBC director general Tim Davie later defended his decision to employ Edwards until April, five months after he was told of Edwards' arrest in November over the most serious category of indecent images of children.

Edwards resigned from the BBC in April 'on the basis of medical advice from his doctors' after unrelated allegations that he paid a young person for sexually explicit photos.

Police found no evidence of criminal behaviour in the matter.

The BBC confirmed Edwards was paid more than 475,000 in 2023/24 before he resigned and left.

The veteran newsreader was paid between 475,000 and 479,999 for the year 2023/24 for 160 presenting days, BBC One news specials, election specials and other television programming, according to the BBC's annual report.

This marked an increase from 2022/23, when he was paid between 435,000 and 439,999 for 180 days presenting on BBC One, as well as news specials.
The public service union is in open revolt against the NSW Premier's decree that public sector workers no longer work from home, defiantly telling its members 'pre-Covid arrangements' will 'never return'.

Chris Minns announced that work from home was coming to an end for the majority of the state's 430,000 public servants on Monday.

In an email sent to its members on Monday, the Public Service Association (PSA) said it had been flooded with queries about the premier's directive - and declared that they believe the workforce would 'never' go back to previous arrangements.

'Your union believes there will always be flexibility in the workplace and we will never return to pre-Covid work arrangements,' the email stated.

As proof of this, the PSA said it had been in contact with a number of NSW government department secretaries.

'They have informed us that many office locations cannot accommodate all staff working onsite and that present arrangements will not change,' the email said.

The union advised it had also been mobilising delegates to gather the concerns of members.

'The more information we have from our members to take to the Government, the better,' the email read, with the PSA promising to relay any 'further developments' back to the membership.

NSW Premier Chris Minns announced that work from home was coming to an end for 430,000 of the state's public servants

Public Service Association general secretary Stewart Little had earlier confirmed the union would help members affected by the government's new rule.

'While acknowledging many of our members do not have the option to work from home, the PSA has always fought for flexible working arrangements,' the union said in a statement.

'This includes, where possible, working from home for those whose roles do not rely on them attending a specific site.

'The PSA also understands that some worksites cannot physically accommodate all employees working onsite at any one time.

'Any PSA member with issues regarding flexible working arrangements, including working from home, will receive support from their union.'

An email sent by the Public Service Association to its union members struck a defiant tone

Several public servants told Daily Mail Australia that work-from-home culture was deeply embedded in their workplaces, with some workers living far away from their place of employment, even interstate.

'There is a guy in my department who lives in Noosa. He works remotely all week - I am looking forward to his return to the office tomorrow,' one senior government worker sarcastically told Daily Mail Australia.

'Another lives in Sydney and I've never seen her - can't wait to meet her.'

A second anonymous government worker highlighted a lack of physical workspaces available to fit all employees currently working from home.

'Although there should be a requirement to go to the office more, two or three days a week, our offices can't manage the capacity of this amount of people coming in,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'We have to book desks two weeks in advance at the moment because Tuesdays are so busy - and we can't really dictate if teams should go in another day as this is dependent on work flexibility and family.'

The public service union is gathering the concerns of members to take to the government as it fights a blanket decision to end to working from home (stock image)

Some employees were promised a 'hybrid' workplace when they applied for their positions.

'Our jobs were advertised as hybrid roles and we promote a hybrid workplace to help with flexibility and managing work life balance,' the staff member added.

'Going back into the office five days a week is unachievable for those who live two hours from the office.'
A part of the UC Berkeley campus was under lockdown orders for hours Thursday after a report of shots fired. Laure Andrillon/Special to the Chronicle

A report of shots fired near a UC Berkeley dormitory prompted an hourslong lockdown Thursday as police searched for a suspect.

Police responded to the area near Clark Kerr, a complex of Spanish-style dorms and courtyards on the south side of campus, at 7:40 a.m., after reports of gunfire near the outdoor track.

Witnesses described the perpetrator as a man in black pants with a red backpack and bleached hair, possibly highlighted red or orange. Nobody was injured during the incident.

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University officials placed the nearby Hill campus on lockdown while officers from Berkeley and UC police departments scoured the vicinity, assisted by several other law enforcement agencies. They ended the search and lifted the lockdown at 1:42 p.m. Spokespeople for the university and its police department have not announced an arrest.

They ask anyone with information to call UC Police Department at 510-642-6760.

Steve Ravellette, president of SafeBears  a nonprofit formed by parents of Cal students to promote safety on campus  said he was impressed with operation, in which UC police set up a command post and established a perimeter. But he urged the department to provide more detail in its email and text alerts, which initially did not include a description of the suspect.

There could be improvement in the notifications, said Ravellette, whose daughter is a sophomore. The text messages were kind of truncated.

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Social media bosses were yesterday told to 'act now' by removing any online violence or hate which could fuel the riots that have swept Britain.

Regulator Ofcom wrote an open letter to tech chiefs warning them that they have a duty to protect users from 'videos likely to incite violence or hatred'.

It came as Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner hit out at the 'fake news' and 'hate' that has been widely circulated online.

She was speaking during a visit to a hotel in Rotherham formerly used to house asylum seekers that was stormed by far-Right rioters last week.

Asked about comments made online by X boss Elon Musk, who branded the Prime Minister 'two-tier Keir' and has suggested he has been treating Muslims more favourably than white people in the riots, Ms Rayner said: 'Well what I'd say is social media companies have responsibilities as well to deal with fake news.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner hit out at 'fake news' being widely circulated online

Elon Musk was labelled 'deeply irresponsible' for branding the Prime Minister 'two-tier Keir' and has suggested he has been treating Muslims more favourably than white people in the riot

A huge gathering of anti-racism protesters outside the Merseyside Refugee Centre in Liverpool last night

A huge crowd of anti-racism protesters in Walthamstow last night - far outnumbering the hateful thugs who planned to protest outside an immigration centre

Anti-racist campaigners turn out in Birmingham to see off a rumoured far-right gathering last night

'We've seen a lot of fake information being shared on online platforms. We've seen a lot of hate.

'And people have a responsibility not to conduct themselves and to amplify that, but actually to deal with the online misinformation, but also not to spread that hate and we don't want to see that whether it's online or offline.

'And people who are online spreading violence and inciting violence will be met with the law as well as those that try and turn up and try and throw missiles at police.'

Mr Musk's outburst came after one government minister branded him 'deeply irresponsible' for claiming 'civil war is inevitable' amid the riots.

His 'two-tier' jibe at the PM was a reference to a theory pushed by far-Right rioters that they are treated differently to Muslim activists.

The world's richest man, who has almost 193million followers on X, has now made more than 30 comments about immigration, crime, policing and politics in the UK since the Southport stabbings last Monday.

His platform has also been accused of refusing to delete racist comments while allowing controversial activists such as Tommy Robinson and Andrew Tate back on the site.

The false claim that a Muslim asylum seeker was the suspect in the Southport stabbings was first made on X by a British woman before going viral when it was spread by Russia-linked fake news website Channel3 Now.

Ofcom's letter said it has spoken to 'various online services to discuss their actions to prevent their platforms from being used to stir up hatred, provoke violence and commit other offences under UK law'.

Labour MP Andrew Lewin wrote online that Musk was 'fanning the flames of hate' over the riots

A large gathering of anti-racist protesters outside St Anne's Centre in Toxteth, Liverpool last night

A man draped in an England flag stands in front of police officers in Southampton last night - as a large group of anti-racism protesters assembles behind him

A man wearing an England flag looks at a huge crowd of anti-racist protesters in Finchley last night

Gill Whitehead, the regulator's Group Director for Online Safety, wrote: 'In a few months, new safety duties under the Online Safety Act will be in place, but you can act now - there is no need to wait to make your sites and apps safer for users.'

It added: 'Under Ofcom's regulations that pre-date the Online Safety Act, UK-based video-sharing platforms must protect their users from videos likely to incite violence or hatred.

'We therefore expect video-sharing platforms to ensure their systems and processes are effective in anticipating and responding to the potential spread of harmful video material stemming from the recent events.'

The landmark Online Safety Act passed by the previous government will mean tech giants face multi-million-pound fines if they fail to protect users from illegal content such as messages provoking hatred, disorder or violence.

But the duties on the firms will not come into force for several months, as Ofcom is still consulting on its codes of practice and guidance.

Regulations which pre-date the Act mean some online platforms already have a duty to protect users from videos likely to incite violence or hatred and can be fined by Ofcom.

But they don't apply to most of the major platforms like X and Facebook. They only apply to TikTok, which was recently fined 1.9million by Ofcom, Twitch, Snapchat and Vimeo.

Ms Whitehead's letter added: 'We expect continued engagement with companies over this period to understand the specific issues they face and we welcome the proactive approaches that have been deployed by some services in relation to these acts of violence across the UK.'

It came as it emerged that a secretive government agency accused of 'spying' on anti-lockdown campaigners during the Covid-19 pandemic has been deployed to monitor social media amid the riots.

The Telegraph reported that the Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU), now rebranded as the National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT), has been asked to scour social media despite MPs only a few months ago calling for an independent review of its activities.

Campaigners have expressed concern over the agency playing a central role in the riot response despite outstanding questions over whether it is fit for purpose.

The landmark Online Safety Act passed by the previous government will mean tech giants face multi-million-pound fines if they fail to protect users from illegal content

Meanwhile, a newly elected Labour MP accused Elon Musk of fanning the flames of hate over the riots, in the strongest condemnation yet of the maverick Twitter/X owner by a UK politician.

Andrew Lewin, who defeated former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, wrote on the social media network: 'Musk is using his platform to sow division and fan the flames of hate. It is indefensible.

'We are now on a platform run by someone who talks up 'civil war', seemingly with relish.'

But he added: 'It's equally vital that mainstream voices are not drowned out by him, his bots & algorithms. I'm here for now, just less often.'

His comments came after Courts Minister Heidi Alexander called the world's richest man 'deeply irresponsible' for claiming that civil war was inevitable in the UK.

Mr Musk has commented more than 30 times on crime, immigration and the riots in recent days including branding the Prime Minister 'two-tier Keir' over the controversial suggestion that Muslims are given greater protection by police.
An Aussie bloke and his family have relocated to Japan after snagging a house for just $30,000 because property in their Australian city was out-of-reach.

Jaya Thursfield, 48, from Melbourne bought the abandoned home, known as an 'akiya' in Japanese, in his wife Chihiro's hometown of Ibaraki in the countryside.

After hearing about Japan's abandoned houses, Mr Thursfield set about looking for a farmhouse and found one for sale in a newspaper ad, SBS Dateline reported.

There are believed to be at least 10 million akiya in Japan, with many in the countryside abandoned when residents want to move to a city or are left to rot because of the country's high inheritance tax.

'I just don't think we could have afforded to have got a place (in Australia), certainly not near my parents in inner Melbourne,' Mr Thursfield said.

The family bought their 'impressive' 250-metre square house on a 1,800-metre square block of land with three bedrooms, one bathroom and a guestroom.

The dad also said the family discovered the house was 'taller, bigger and more beautiful' than they were expecting when they first saw it in person, about 45 minutes from Tokyo.

Mr Thursfield said Japanese people even give their akiya away for free, but the abandoned homes are not listed on real estate websites.

The house the Melbourne father bought for $30,000 and renovated himself was 'impressive' when he saw it for the first time in person. To date the family have spent A$250,000 on renovations - making it much cheaper than the median house price in Australia which is $997,963

Mr Thursfield bought the three-bedroom traditional Japanese-style home on a 1,800-square metre block of land in February 2019

Mr Thursfield said local municipalities partake in a program that lists all the abandoned homes, called the akiya bank, which make it easy for people to find one of the empty properties.

The now-Japanese resident said even though the abandoned homes are all across the country, the further buyers move away from cities, especially into rural areas, the cheaper the homes become.

Most akiya need renovating and made structurally sound. The Melbourne family had a budget of A$200,000 but have spent $250,000 over the last three years

'It wasn't in liveable condition. It didn't have a functioning kitchen, and the bathroom was really outdated,' the dad said.

Mr Thursfield said it would have been a stretch to have tried to live in the house because the plumbing wasn't functioning well and and electrical wiring needed updating.

Everything was also left in the house - including a huge mess in the kitchen.

Despite the family's outlay, it is still considered cheap when compared with new-build prices in Japan.

Mr Jaya Thursfield, 48, (pictured) has been documenting the renovation of his three-bedroom Japanese house on Youtube

'An empty block of land with no house on it (in their rural region), you're looking at around about $70,000-$80,000 Australian dollars and to build a new house would probably cost around about $200,000 Australian,' Mr Thursfield said.

Despite having no renovation experience, Mr Thursfield decided to do the work himself and set about documenting it on Youtube, which has since gone viral.

Mr Thursfield said doing the work himself has provided him 'satisfaction', especially knowing he has 'saved' the home.

For Aussies interested in buying an akiya, they are warned to look into possible restrictions - such as using them for short-term rentals, according to Cheap Houses Japan.

Other restrictions can include buyers needing to be under the age of 43 and having children in high school.

There are now an increasing amount of abandoned homes in Japan in cities and built-up areas, mainly due to the country's ageing population (pictured, akiya in Hokkaido Province)

Aussies are allowed to buy in Japan, but cannot get a mortgage. Foreign buyers are warned to do their research because there may be restrictions. Older homes are also more susceptible to earthquake damage (pictured, an abandoned home in Ishikawa)

Aussies are also warned that older houses were not built with materials suitable to prevent earthquake damage and they should avoid purchasing houses built on soft soil.

Although there are no restrictions on Aussies buying properties in Japan, they are unable to take out a Japanese mortgage.

Obtaining a visa to live in Japan can also be very complex.

However, the effort may be worth it, with the median house price of Australia's combined capital cities sitting at a whopping $997,963, according to the latest Corelogic data.

And in Mr Thursfield's home city of Melbourne, the median price is now $944,138 - significantly higher than what the family have paid for their big Japanese home.
An extreme distance jockey has been left stranded in Mongolia after falling violently ill just days before she was set to compete in the world's toughest horse race.

Dede Anders, 49, was excited to compete in the nine-day-long 2024 Mongol Derby, but on Monday she started feeling sick - and knew she would not be able to endure the 620-mile trek across the Mongolian Steppe.

But when she expressed her concerns to medical staff at the derby, Anders claimed she was brushed off and told to 'ride it out,' she told Cowboy State Daily.

When she again argued that she was not feeling well enough to ride a 'semi-feral' Mongolian horse for days on end, event organizers booked her a cab back to the capital city of Ulaanbaatar - but did not get her a hotel room or book a flight back to the United States, leaving it up to her to find her way home.

Dede Anders, 49, has been left stranded in Mongolia after she became too ill to compete in the 2024 Mongol Derby

Anders, of Wyoming, said she was looking forward to the derby.

She told the Powell Tribune how she would jump on feral horses as a child, and became a barrel racer and team roper when she became old enough.

'I've been riding my whole life,' she said. 'I grew up on a little ranch in Greybull, and I ride almost every day when I'm home.'

So when she learned of the Mongol Derby - a notoriously treacherous race founded in 2009 - she thought it was a dream come true.

'Every little girl reads books about Mongolian horses, Black Beauty, all those things,' she said.

'I had been looking at horse endurance races, so I threw my hat in.'

She said she had been looking forward to the 620-mile race, and thought she was ready for the endurance contest

She filled out a questionnaire for The Equestrianists, the organization that puts on the Mongol Derby, and submitted videos of her riding.

For several months, she said she did not hear anything back from the group - and started to lose hope.

'In October of last year, I saw an article in another magazine about the derby and was so mad I didn't even want to read it, but that night I got called,' Anders recounted.

Race organizers told her at the time that she was on the waitlist for the 2025 Mongol Derby, but when another rider dropped out of this year's contest a few months ago, Anders was able to take their spot.

'I might be crazy, but I'm ready,' she told Cowboy State Daily last month.

She decided she would ride to collect money for Wyo Hoofbeats Equine Assisted Learning, a nonprofit that offers equine-assisted learning and psychotherapy programs for the elderly, at-risk kids and families and individuals facing mental health struggles.

But she said her first goal would be to finish the dangerous race.

'I have brothers who will heckle me if I don't finish, so that's another motivating factor,' she said.

Anders arrived in Mongolia's capitol city of Ulaanbaatar on August 1, but started to feel sick on Monday

After months of preparation, Anders arrived in Mongolia's capitol city of Ulaanbaatar on August 1, and was brought to the derby's starting point eight hours away with other riders.

She then started feeling sick on Monday.

'It's a lot of gastrointestinal stuff,' Anders said. 'I was throwing up and stuff like that.'

Two medics at the base camp then examined her.

'They told me I needed nothing, but did nothing for me,' Anders said. 'They told me to ride it out.

'One of the medics didn't even touch me or ask me any questions,' she continued.

'The other one took my pulse for a couple of seconds. They didn't take my vitals, didn't ask if I was diabetic or what medications I was taking,' said Anders, who is a former medic in the US Army with a doctorate in medical science and emergency medicine from Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee.

'All they told me was it would pass in 24 hours.'

But Anders realized that even though she was not considered 'critically ill' she was not well enough to endure the trek.

She said she spoke about her concerns with the race director, Katherine.

'Katherine came to my yurt and talked to me at least twice. I told her I was sick both days,' Anders recounted.

Riders trek through the Mongolian Steppe on 'semi-feral' horses in the nine-day race

Eventually, race directors summoned a driver to take her back to Ulaanbaatar - but did not book her a hotel or a flight back to the US.

'They put me in a vehicle for eight hours sick with a GI bug, with a driver who barely spoke English,' Anders lamented.

'I had to use Expedia from base camp to book a hotel, had the driver stop in the city and get my passport so I could finally check into a hotel.'

She now says she wishes the derby organizers had done more.

'I was too ill to get on a horse for 620 miles. But I was also too ill to get in a car for eight hours and be dumped off into a city without a passport or a flight home.'

Anders noted that she has since reached out to event organizers, but has not received a response.

'Now I'm stuck here and they couldn't give a c***,' she said, noting the first flight she could catch does not leave until Sunday - and will only get her as far as Seattle, Washington.

'I just want to get back to the US,' she said.

Anders described the experience as 'kind of a mess' and 'not very organized'

But she is also hoping she could be reimbursed for the travel and entry costs.

'I paid around $30,000 to go over for this thing,' Anders said. 'My entry fee alone was almost $17,000 - and I didn't even get my blood pressure taken when I was sick.'

In all, Anders says the experience she had been looking forward to has been 'kind of a mess' and 'not very organized.'

'I wake up at 1.30 in the morning to throw up in the Mongolian Steppe, and I hear Miley Cyrus's Party in the USA blasting and everybody's drunk,' she recounted to Cowboy State Daily.

'I told the race director that if I wanted to be exposed to Miley Cyrus blasted at 1:30 in the morning, I would have gone to any trailer park in Wyoming.'

A spokesperson for The Equestrianists said: 'We are really sorry that Diana Anders felt the need to withdraw from the race. Our team works really hard to help as many riders as possible reach the finish line.

'We wish Diana the speediest of recoveries as a gastrointestinal bug is certainly unpleasant. Our primary responsibility is to provide emergency medical support to all our competitors, we strive to go above and beyond for the contestants' health and wellbeing. We stand by our teams actions and by our medics assessment of her condition as we supported Diana in her decision to withdraw from the race.

'Our expert medics examined Diana immediately after she alerted us to any symptoms. She was reporting with mild diarrhea and vomiting (D&V) but showed no signs of dehydration.

'Our policy based on medical advice is to observe symptoms of D&V with no dehydration for 12 to 24 hours before administering fluids because invasive procedures such as IV cannulation increases the risk of infection in wilderness environments.

'Our medics advised Diana to rest, stay hydrated, consider electrolytes and remain under their medical care so they could continue to monitor her and treat symptoms if they got worse. When reassessed later, her condition showed no concerning symptoms that required further intervention, and the same advice was given.

'Diana chose to discharge herself from our medics care and did not seek further assessment. She decided to retire from the race and requested a lift back to the capital city, which we arranged, taking her to her hotel of choice.

'In case of a serious injury that requires immediate medical evacuation, we keep hold of all contestant passports in a secure safe. A member of staff then took Diana's passport to her enroute to her hotel for her convenience.

'We arranged for our medics to visit Diana for a third time in her hotel room. Her observations were normal, and she reported an improvement in her condition. Our team then escorted her to the international medical clinic in the capital for further monitoring and onward care, where she was discharged shortly afterwards.

'Once again we wish her a speedy recovery and we will continue to provide support for Diana if she prefers to return home but would also welcome her back into the field to ride on if shes feeling better soon.'
Hard-up defence chiefs have sent a letter to suppliers calling on them to help with money-saving initiatives.

It seems the need to reduce spending is so desperate companies have been given 36 hours to provide suggestions.

The move comes as top brass are in a race to cut costs due to a 16.9billion 'black hole' in defence finances.

That figure, calculated by the National Audit Office, compares projected spending and projected budgets over the next decade.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has ordered all government departments to cut costs by more than 3billion.

Hard-up defence chiefs have sent a letter to suppliers calling on them to help with money-saving initiatives as top brass race to cut costs due to a 16.9billion 'black hole' in finances

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has ordered all government departments to cut costs by more than 3billion

The Ministry of Defence must also find savings of 406million this financial year to pay for a record rise in troops' pay.

Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed to Parliament the 6 per cent rise for all ranks, and 7.5 per cent for recruits, must come from existing budgets.

These factors have contributed to the urgent need for MoD officials to tear up existing spending plans  triggering the SOS to defence contractors.

The letter requested 'high-level, headline ideas' to reduce spending. It expressed regret over the 'hard choices' required and the rapid turnaround.

But Admiral Lord West, former head of the Royal Navy, warned that savings could compromise capability and that additional investment was a necessity.

He added: 'They can make a small cut here and there, we know there is waste, but reducing back-office costs is not going to achieve a lot.

'Contractors tend to delay projects when asked to make savings. That may improve the balance sheet for the next year, but a delayed project usually ends up costing more, not less.

'With the state of the world, and with Russia and China to contend with, there is no substitute for a significant increase in capital investment in defence.'

Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said: 'We urgently need clarity from Labour whether these reports of major defence spending cuts are true.'

Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed to Parliament the 6 per cent pay rise for all ranks, and 7.5 per cent for recruits, must come from existing budgets

Admiral Lord West, former head of the Royal Navy, warned that savings could compromise capability

The Daily Mail's influential Don't Leave Britain Defenceless campaign has called for our armed forces to be adequately funded.

The MoD said: 'As the Chancellor has said, the Government has inherited public finances much worse than expected.

'The NAO has confirmed the largest ever deficit in the defence equipment plan.

'The Government will secure Britain's defences for the future and increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP as soon as possible.'
Outraged ranchers in a Texas rural town are fighting to stop a fellow resident from using fertilizer with an absolutely revolting ingredient.

The owner of more than 200 acres of land in Canton, a town of 4,500 people in Van Zandt County, has filed for a permit with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to toss biosolids all over his property.

Biosolids, also called sewage sludge, is a fertilizer made with human waste from wastewater treatment plants.

Farmers have been using this type of fertilizer alongside animal manure since the 1920s, but scientists have since discovered biosolids can contain poisonous substances called PFAS, otherwise known as 'forever chemicals.'

Exposure to enough of forever chemicals - called that because their ability to exist in the environment and in the human body without breaking down - can cause cancer in humans.

Farmland in Van Zandt County in Texas. The county is near the Dallas-Fort Worth area

Pictured: Biosolids being stored in a warehouse in Kettleman City, California, ready to be mixed with wood chips

These harmful substances can also kill animals.

In Johnson County, 100 miles west of Canton, ranchers there told WFAA that their livestock and fish are dying after a neighbor put biosolids on his property.

Armed with all this knowledge, irate citizens made their voices heard at a July 25 meeting, where representatives from TCEQ and Denali Water Solutions, the firm that makes the biosolid fertilizer, were also in attendance.

'This chemical is toxic,' said Scott Tuley, the elected commissioner of neighboring Henderson County.

'I stand with the ranchers, the farmers, the homeowners and people in this room and ask you to deny this permit on the basis of all forever chemicals are toxic and not needed in rural Texas,' Tuley added.

Wendy Spivey, another commissioner from Henderson County, was also in attendance to show her opposition to the biosolid permit being granted.

'How would you feel if this was in your backyard?' Spivey said.

Scott Tuley, left, and Wendy Spivey, right, both attended the July 25 meeting to show their opposition to the biosolid permit being granted. Both are county commissioners in neighboring Henderson County

Representatives from TCEQ, the permitting agency, and Denali Water Solutions, the firm that makes the biosolid fertilizer sold to the landowner, were also at the meeting to respond to public complaints.

Residents were less than satisfied with their statements.

Ross Morgan, who was the the TCEQ, said the landowner asking for the biosolids has met all obligations under the law.

That's despite the fact TCEQ doesn't currently have the capacity to test for forever chemicals in the controversial fertilizer.

'For the state, they have to have a policy that they can apply to every single permittee on how to do that and right now it's not clear how best to come up with that strategy,' Morgan said.

Citizens argued that since Maine banned biosolids, TCEQ should wait to adjudicate the permit until the EPA releases its guidelines on biosolids, which is expected later this year.

Canton is a city of roughly 4,500 people. Residents descended on the town meeting to share their frustration with the possibility of a landowner using toxic fertilizer

Biosolid fertilizer, pictured, often looks like regular fertilizer. It just has the distinction of being composed with human waste and PFAS, also known as forever chemicals

'Just outside of town, less than 10 miles, there's a big aquifer under the ground where many of these people's wells probably get their water from,' resident Chris Morris told Gabe Timby of Denali Water Solutions.

'You can't guarantee that the aquifer won't be poisoned by this stuff you are going to put on the ground. And as a lifelong Texan, I find that appalling.'

Timby went into defense mode, seeking to distance himself from the process.

'Well, I cant guarantee anything ever because Im not the one doing the applications. We have operations folks that do that. But its always our intent, with the oversight of TCEQ, to follow the regulations,' Timby said.

Thanks to the massive outcry from ranchers from neighboring counties, the landowner told WFAA he plans to withdraw the biosolids permit entirely.

Even though public pressure led to a win for the townspeople of Canton, there are already more than 40 sites in Texas where companies like Denali have been allowed to sell biosolids to landowners.
Former Qantas boss Alan Joyce has had his bonus slashed by over $9million after a scathing review blamed him for damaging the airline's reputation.

The national carrier made the decision after a review found mistakes by the airline's management caused 'significant reputational and customer service issues'.

An update to Qantas' 2023 financial year executive remuneration on Thursday revealed that Mr Joyce had his $8.36m 2021-2023 long-term bonus axed and his short term incentive of $900,000 reduced by a third.

Mr Joyce, who was CEO of Qantas for 15 years before stepping down in September last year, was left with just $1.8million.

The airline's board commissioned a review last year amid intense criticism from customers, investors and politicians.

It found that Qantas' reputational battering was in large part due to 'too much deference to a long-tenured CEO'.

'The group had a "command and control" leadership style with centralised decisions and an experienced and dominant CEO,' the review, authored by former McKinsey partner Tom Saar, concluded.

Former Qantas boss Alan Joyce has had his bonus slashed by over $9million after a scathing review blamed him for damaging the airline's reputation

'This contributed to a top-down culture, which impacted empowerment and a willingness to challenge or "speak up" on issues or decisions of concern.'

However, there were no deliberate findings of wrongdoing.

Qantas has been plagued by a litany of scandals in recent years, including the illegal sacking of almost 2,000 airport staff, cancelled flights, lost luggage and accusations it was ripping off customers with exorbitant prices.

The furore led to Mr Joyce bringing forward his retirement plans. He was replaced by former chief financial officer Vanessa Hudson.

In June last year, Mr Joyce also sold $17 million worth of Qantas shares just days after the airline supplied details of cancelled flights to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission.

Mr Saars review was critical of this move, finding that 'there should be additional scrutiny of share dealings proposed by the CEO and members of the group leadership team'.

Incoming Qantas Chairman John Mullen said Mr Joyce's pay cut and sweeping reforms indicated the airline steering itself in the right direction.

'Its important that the Board understands what went wrong and learns from the mistakes of the past as its clear that we let Australians down,' Mr Mullen said.

'As the national carrier it is our duty to make sure we always act in the best interest of stakeholders and hold ourselves to the highest level of accountability.'

Qantas has been plagued by a litany of scandals in recent years, including the illegal sacking of almost 2,000 airport staff, cancelled flights, lost luggage and accusations it was ripping off customers with exorbitant prices (stock image)

Ms Hudson issued an apology to customers after she took over the reins as Qantas CEO last year.

She acknowledged Qantas had work to do in winning back trust among travellers.

'I know that we have let you down in many ways,' she said.

'We haven't delivered the way we should have and we've often been hard to deal with.

'We understand why you're frustrated, and why some of you have lost trust in us.'

Ms Hudson said the airline was determined to fix the issues, improve the experience of flyers and better support its workers.

'We want to get back to the national carrier that Australians can be proud of,' she said.

'We understand we need to earn your trust back, not with what we say, but what we do and how we behave.'
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has slammed Israel's finance minister for saying it 'may be moral' to starve two million Gazans to free scores of captives held in the Palestinian territory.

Speaking at a conference earlier this week, Bezalel Smotrich said: 'No one in the world will allow us to starve two million people, even though it might be justified and moral in order to free the hostages.'

Smotrich's remarks sparked international outrage, with the UK's Foreign Secretary reiterating that the deliberate starvation of civilians was a 'war crime'.

Taking to 'X', formerly Twitter, David Lammy said: 'International law could not be more clear - the deliberate starvation of civilians is a war crime.

'There can be no justification for Minister Smotrich's remarks and we expect the wider Israeli government to retract and condemn them.'

The European Union also condemned the finance minister's comments, saying it demonstrated his contempt for the 'basic principles of humanity'.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy (pictured) has slammed Israel 's finance minister for saying it 'may be moral' to starve two million Gazans

Bezalel Smotrich (pictured) made the comments at a conference earlier this week

The European Union also condemned the finance minister's comments, saying it demonstrated his contempt for the 'basic principles of humanity'. Pictured: Injured Palestinian children are brought to Al Ahli Baptist Hospital after an Israeli attack

The EU said in a statement: 'We are bringing in humanitarian aid because we have no choice.

'We are in a situation that requires international legitimacy to conduct this war.

'It demonstrates, once again, his contempt for international law and for basic principles of humanity.

'We expect the Israeli government to unequivocally distance itself from the words of Minister Smotrich,' the EU said, as it called for access to cover the humanitarian needs of Gazans, including hundreds of thousands of children.'

The EU reiterated its call for an 'immediate ceasefire' to secure the release of all hostages and also to increase the distribution of aid across the Gaza Strip.

A Palestinian woman cries amid the rubbles of a building destroyed in the Israeli attacks in Deir al-Balah on August 7

A Palestinian woman walks amid the rubbles of a building destroyed in the Israeli attacks on August 7

France also expressed its 'deep dismay at the scandalous remarks'.

Providing humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza is an 'obligation under international humanitarian law' for Israel as it controls all access to the territory, it added.

Since the war in Gaza broke out on October 7, the humanitarian situation in the besieged Palestinian territory remains dire, with almost all of its 2.4 million population displaced and suffering from food shortages.

Palestinian children stand around amidst the rubble as many buildings are destroyed in the Israeli attacks

Palestinians collect usable items from the rubble as many buildings are destroyed and damaged as a result of the Israeli army attacks

The war in Gaza began after Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants also seized 251 people, 111 of whom are still held captive in Gaza, including 39 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 39,677 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, which does not provide details on civilian and militant deaths.
Two dog owners who agreed to mate their pets were forced to go to court to resolve a bitter dispute over the puppy litter.

Linda Webb and Niloofar Dinpanah first met when they took their dogs to Jubilee Park in Glebe, in Sydney's inner-west, in May 2022.

The pair, who were strangers before the park meeting, discussed the possibility of mating Ms Webb's female pooch, Coco, with Ms Dinpanah's male poodle, Brooklyn.

The new acquaintances came to an agreement that Ms Dinpanah and her partner, Alex Darius, would be given one puppy from the litter to keep.

The agreement was struck as part of a 'service fee' because Brooklyn would help Coco conceive the puppies.

The women took turns to arrange for the dogs to mate twice the next day - once at each of their houses.

Coco gave birth to eight puppies a few weeks later and the mother and her litter were looked after by Ms Webb at her house.

The deal fell apart when Ms Dinpanah told Ms Webb that she planned to sell her puppy to her friend, according to NSW Supreme Court documents.

Ms Dinpanah (pictured) came to an agreement to receive a pup in exchange for helping Ms Webb's dog produce a puppy litter

Ms Webb had sent a text on August 7 explaining she would be keeping two puppies and naming them Late and Diamond Dot.

'I would love it you could select fairly soon cause all of a sudden there is a lot of interest,' she wrote.

'I will try to give preference (and discount) to people who live very close so Coco, Brooklyn and pups can continue to interact.'

That is when Ms Dinpanah said she intended to call her puppy Dice and that she would be selling it to her friend.

Ms Webb sent an email to Ms Dinpanah in response, the Daily Telegraph reported.

'Today I spoke with two solicitors who breeds... most enlightening!' she wrote.

'They say you broke the agreement... and reneging your assurances that you would keep [the] puppy in Glebe.'

Ms Webb had also created a WhatsApp group advertising the sale of the puppy litter.

The court was told Ms Webb informed Ms Dinpanah that all of the eight puppies had been sold or given away.

Ms Dinpanah argued Ms Webb had breached the contract and claimed compensation and additional costs in the Local Court Small Claims Division.

The magistrate upheld the claim and ordered Ms Webb to pay Ms Dinpanah $4,700 in compensation and an additional $3,000 to cover her legal costs.

The deal struck by the pair fell apart when Ms Dinpanah told Ms Webb (pictured) that she planned to sell her puppy to her friend according to Supreme Court documents

Ms Dinpanah appealed the legal cost at the NSW Supreme Court and argued the fees to fight for Dice were higher.

She was unsuccessful in her appeal.

'The substance of the contract was that Brooklyn and Coco would mate and the Plaintiffs (Ms Dinpanah) would receive one puppy from the anticipated litter,' court documents read.

'Following the hearing, the Magistrate upheld the Plaintiffs contract claim and awarded damages of $4,500 plus interest.'

Daily Mail Australia contacted Ms Webb and Ms Dinpanah for further comment.
If the lure of retirement isn't quite taking flight, then rest assured. For easyJet could have another opportunity waiting in the wings.

The British airline is hoping to recruit an army of over-50s to join its cabin crew.

The carrier has launched a new 'Returnship' scheme after research showed middle-aged people crave a new challenge.

The initiative will offer free online career information sessions and will lead taster courses at its training centre in Gatwick.

It follows an easyJet survey of 2,000 over-50s, which found that 46 per cent had considered a new career.

British airline easyJet is hoping to recruit an army of over-50s to join its cabin crew (Pictured: a taster session at easyJet's London Gatwick training centre)

The carrier has launched a new 'Returnship' scheme after research showed middle-aged people crave a new challenge. (Pictured: a taster session at easyJet's London Gatwick training centre)

Nearly two in ten said they thought they could not even apply to be a steward if they were over the age of 30 (Pictured: a taster session at easyJet's London Gatwick training centre)

However many said they viewed being a cabin crew member as a job for younger people, with three-quarters saying they believed their age would prevent them from getting the job.

Nearly two in ten said they thought they could not even apply to be a steward if they were over the age of 30.

Michael Brown, director of cabin services, said: 'Being cabin crew can be a job for anyone with the skills, no matter their age.

'Which is why it's important that through our initiatives like our 'Returnship' campaign, we tackle misconceptions about the job and broaden horizons for even more talented people looking for a new opportunity who can bring their wealth of life experience to the industry.

'So, if you're passionate about working with people and want a job that's different every day, then we would absolutely encourage you to apply and can't wait to welcome you on board as part of the team.'

EasyJet has significantly boosted the number of middle-aged employees in recent years.

The airline employs twice the number of over-50s than it did two years ago, and four times the number of over-60s.
A taxi driver who was the last person to see Southport suspect Axel Rudakubana before the teen allegedly stabbed three children to death says he is 'traumatised' to have dropped him off.

Local driver Gary Poland picked up the 18-year-old shortly before he is said to have attacked children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at a community centre in the Merseyside town on July 29.

The incident claimed the lives of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, while ten others were seriously injured.

Rudakubana, a Welsh native who lives in Banks, Lancashire, has been charged with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and one count of possessing an offensive weapon.

It has now emerged the teenager was dropped off by Mr Poland early on the day of the attack - and that the cabbie had been 'very shocked and upset' by what had allegedly been done by the person he had driven around.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, is charged with murdering three little girls and attempting to kill 10 others

Alice Dasilva Aguiar, aged nine, was one of three children killed at a Taylor-Swift themed dance class in Southport

Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven, (left) and Bebe King, aged six, (right) were also fatally wounded in the attack which shocked the nation a week ago on Monday

Police at the scene of the Southport stabbings on July 29. Axel Rudakubana, 18, has been charged with murder

In comments to The Sun, his wife Lynn said: 'Hes unable to talk about it at the moment. He feels terrible. All hes thinking about is what happened to those children.'

Neighbours told the newspaper Mr Poland was a kindly man who had offered to give them lifts during the coronavirus pandemic.

However, his car has been seized by police investigating the attacks at the Hart Space Community Centre last month, leaving him unable to work.

Southport has reacted with kindness - as it has in the days since the heartbreaking events of July 29 unfolded, as the parents of the victims begged for an end to riotous scenes that have since spread across the UK, fuelled by far-right misinformation.

A friend has launched a GoFundMe page that tonight smashed through its 2,000 target in a bid to help Mr Poland get a new car so he can continue his trade.

The fundraiser, launched by friend Liam Rice, reads: 'Gary, like all of us, is very shocked and upset by what happened.

'The police have seized his vehicle for forensics. They cannot give him a release date for the vehicle, but from experience, this process can take anywhere from three weeks to six months or even a year.

'Once the car is released, he will have to pay the impound fees to retrieve it.

'Gary only recently bought the car, so he has car payments to make, along with all the usual bills. He is quite traumatized by what happened and, like everyone involved that day, he thinks he could have done more.

'However, no one could have known what was going to happen, so he couldn't have done anything differently.

'We don't know how long his car will be impounded or how long he will be out of work, so 2,000 is just an estimate of how much he will need. All help is greatly appreciated.'

Rudakubana remains in custody after being charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon. He appeared in court to hear the charges on August 1 and will next appear in court in October.

In the meantime, an inquest has opened into the deaths of young victims Bebe, Elsie and Alice, who a senior coroner said had 'cruelly lost their young lives in such horrific circumstances'.

Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool confirmed on Tuesday all the children who admitted to its site with injuries linked to the attack had now been discharged.

The Southport attacks sparked a wave of angry anti-immigration protests that led to rioting in cities across the UK, fuelled by inaccurate claims about Rudakubana's identity, such as that he is an asylum seeker.

Early posts shared online by far-right figures included a fake name for the alleged attacker and suggestions that he is Muslim - despite neighbours describing him as a 'quiet choir boy' from a devout Christian family.

Despite the false claims being widely disproven, the far-right has continued to engineer protests across Britain - leading to riots.

Matters came to a head on Wednesday when thousands of ordinary people turned out to see off rumoured far-right protests outside immigration centres across the country.

Up to 100 protests had been planned across the UK - but what small 'anti-immigration' protests were there were outnumbered by anti-racist campaigners.
Federal agents raided the Specialty Towing offices on Oakdale Avenue in San Francisco. Google Street View

An embattled San Francisco towing company operator is facing federal charges of money laundering, mail fraud and wire fraud, after prosecutors said he and a co-defendant submitted a fraudulent insurance claim on a wrecked car, officials with the U.S. Attorney's Office of Northern California announced Thursday.

Jose Badillo, who operated the San Francisco companies Joses Towing and Auto Towing, and Jessica Najarro were arrested on Thursday and made their first appearance in federal court later in the day, federal officials said in a statement. They were both released on $50,000 bonds.

Badillos arrest appeared to be related to the FBIs Thursday-morning raid of a site associated with Specialty Towing in San Francisco on Oakdale Avenue. That location is affiliated with several related companies that have come under fire for allegedly towing cars illegally and for an alleged welfare fraud overseen by its operators, including Badillo.

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Federal officials confirmed that agents conducted a court-authorized law enforcement activity on the 2000 block of Oakdale Avenue, the 800 block of Franklin Street and the 1700 block of Lane Street in San Francisco. FBI spokesperson Cameron Polan said the actions were part of a continuing federal investigation but declined to provide further details, citing DOJ policy.

Badillo owns a residential property on the 1700 block of Lane Street, according to court records.

A federal grand jury last month indicted Badillo and Najarro in what prosecutors said was a scheme to defraud an insurance company by filing a claim on a car that was already nonfunctional when Badillo bought it in June 2019.

Prosecutors said Najarro obtained an insurance policy on the car before reporting to the insurance company that she had been in a single-vehicle accident in San Francisco. After the insurance company approved her claim, Najarro was sent a check for $34,000, which was soon deposited into a bank account controlled by Badillo, prosecutors said.

On Thursday morning, photos posted to social media show what appears to be dozens of law enforcement agents at the Oakdale location.

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It was not immediately clear whether the company was the same as the Specialty Towing that was suspended by City Attorney David Chiu in February for allegedly illegally towing cars.

Chiu in February announced that his office had suspended the company Auto Towing and several of its affiliates, including Specialty Towing, from doing business with the city.

The companys operators, Chiu said, had unlawfully towed vehicles from a private commercial parking lot, limited the times vehicles could be retrieved, and pressured vehicle owners to pay in cash.

In addition to its legal troubles, Specialty Towing gained viral notoriety earlier this year after a Reddit user posted a video of one of its trucks apparently attempting to pick up an occupied car that was sitting in traffic.

Badillo, along with Abigail Fuentes, ran the companies, and were separately charged in October by the San Francisco District Attorneys Office for allegedly lying about their income to receive public benefits.

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The Chronicle was not able to reach Fuentes or Badillo for comment, and several of the numbers listed on the Specialty Towing website were routed to a towing dispatching service.
The crowd got wild at the biggest rally thus far of Kamala Harris' campaign and the Democratic nominee snapped when it got out of hand.

In Detroit on Wednesday night, the raucous gathering sang along to Beyonce and screamed to 'lock up' Donald Trump while the speakers dropped obscenities and f-bombs as they spoke in Harris' favor, only pausing to direct medics after multiple people fainted in the heat.

Even vice presidential nominee Tim Walz felt the mood.

'Holy h***, can you throw a party here in Michigan,' he told them.

The mood ramped up another notch when he introduced Harris. She came out to a sustained, minute-long screaming ovation but then struggled to regain control of the unruly rally.

There were 15,000 people spilling out of a hanger at the Detroit airport, the biggest crowd yet of Harris' presidential campaign.

And when a group of Gaza protesters started yelling at her, Harris snapped.

'If you want Donald Trump to win then say that. Otherwise I am speaking,' she told them as her supporters cheered her on.

'If you want Donald Trump to win then say that. Otherwise I am speaking,' Kamala Harris snapped at group of pro-Gaza protesters

Harris experienced the first pro-Gaza protesters of her presidential campaign when a group of them slipped into the event to heckle her from the sidelines.

'Kamala Kamala, you can't hide, we don't want no genocide,' they chanted.

At first Harris downplayed the interruption to her speech. 'All good,' she said.

The crowd yelled 'Ka-ma-la, Ka-ma-la' to drown them out.

But as the anti-Israel protests continued Harris got snappier: 'I'm here because we believe in democracy. Everyone's voice matters but I am speaking now.'

It was the roughest rally yet for Harris and her running mate, who are on a multiple state tour. The war in Israel is a huge issue in Michigan, which as a large Muslim population. Harris, as a member of Joe Biden's administration, has faced criticism for not enough being done to help civilians in Gaza.

But the event was raucous from the start, beginning with Harris' rock star entrance.

She stole a move out of Donald Trump's playbook for the event and pulled up to the campaign rally in her Air Force plane.

She and Walz arrived at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport on Air Force Two, landing as Beyonce's 'Run the World' played.

'Who run the world? Girls,' blared on the loudspeakers as the plane came down the tarmac.

Harris disembarked to Beyonce's 'Freedom,' which has become her signature campaign song, walking from the plane to the airport hanger where a crowd of 15,000 awaited her, a crowd so big it spilled out onto the tarmac.

Trump, during the 2020 election, repeatedly used Air Force One as a backdrop for his campaign speeches. He held his rallies at airports around the country, delighting the crowd when the blue-and-white plane pulled right up to the hanger, allowing the then-president to make a dramatic entrance.

Air Force Two arrives for Kamala Harris' and Tim Walz's rally in Detroit

'Holy h***, can you throw a party here in Michigan,' Tim Walz said

The crowd got more rambunctious from there, amped up by the speakers, who dropped multiple four-letter words.

United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain kicked things off by blasting Trump for his treatment of the industry. The powerful union group endorsed Harris for president two weeks ago.

'Trump talks about he's going to bring back the auto industry. Donald Trump doesn't know s*** about the auto industry,' Fain shouted.

'And he doesn't give a d***about the working class in this country.'

As Fain continued to speak, he let it all out: 'I'm f***ing angry.'

Other speakers kept up the vibe, including Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who's seen as a future presidential contender.

'We need a strong woman in the White House and it's about d*** time,' she said in her remarks.

Walz remarked on the mood.

'Holy h***, can you throw a party here in Michigan,' he said.

He let loose during his remarks. His praised Whitmer for knowing how to 'fix the d*** roads' and told the crowd 'you have got a treasure here in Michigan.'

And he acknowledged how crazy his life has been for the last two days, since Harris called him on Tuesday morning and offered him the slot as her running mate.

We're 91 days out from the election, he told the crowd. 'Ninety,' they yelled back at him.

'90. Christ I haven't slept in 24 hours,' he said rubbing his face.

He was filled with crowd-pleasing lines.

And he had plenty of zingers ready to throw at Republicans.

'The one thing I will not forgive them for is they try to steal the joy from this country. But you know what? Our next president brings the joy. She emanates the joy,' Walz said.

Supporters cheer on Kamala Harris and Tim Walz

Harris and Walz walk on the tarmac from Air Force Two into the rally

The crowd of 15,000 spilled out of the hanger

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz disembark from Air Force Two

It wasn't just the rhetoric that was hot.

All the speakers had to stop their remarks to direct medical personnel to where they were needed in the crowd as multiple people fainted.

At least six people needed medical attention over the course of the rally. There were volunteers on hand with water and Fig Newtons.

Shouts of 'water, water,' and 'medic, medic' could be heard in the crowd as people collapsed.

Walz had to stop, too, to direct medics.

'Thank you for caring for your neighbors,' Walz said as the crowd made room for the medical personnel. 'Look we share a lot things. That's one of them. We're neighbors and we're not weird.'

He introduced Harris, who stuck to her usual stump speech.

Kamala Harris takes photos with the crowd after her remarks

The crowd went wild when Air Force Two arrived; Donald Trump also used his Air Force plane to arrive at rallies when he was president

Kamala Harris speaks with Air Force Two behind her

But Harris also included an addition that she added on Wednesday.

She stopped her supporters who yelled 'lock him up' about Trump, her Republican rival. She did the same earlier in the day at her rally in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

She had been giving her standard stump speech where she outlined her background as a prosecutor, arguing it meant she knew how to deal with men like Trump, when the crowd started yelling 'lock him up.'

Harris jumped to Trump's defense.

'Hold on,' she said. 'The courts are going to handle that. We're going to beat him in November.'
The brief of evidence against the alleged killer of Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy has been described as 'unprecedented' in its size.

Patrick Orren Stephenson, 23, fronted the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Thursday over the alleged murder of Ms Murphy.

Appearing via video link, Stephenson, dressed in white, appeared from the Melbourne Assessment Prison cleanly shaven after previously having a full beard.

The court heard police had compiled a whopping brief of evidence against the alleged killer, which contained an 'extensive amount' of CCTV footage.

Stephenson's lawyer, Moya O'Brien, told the court that both parties were seeking a three-month adjournment due to the sheer amount of evidence in the brief.

'It has been described as unprecedented in size,' she said.

Magistrate Mark Stratmann granted the request but expressed concern over the length of time considering Stephenson would remain behind bars.

'Three months is quite a long time for your client and the community,' he said.

In early March, almost five weeks after Ms Murphy's disappearance, police charged Patrick Orren Stephenson (pictured) with her alleged murder

The alleged killer, who appears to have maintained his physical fitness while behind bars, did not show any emotion during the hearing.

He sat quietly during the 15 minute hearing and only spoke once when Mr Stratmann asked if he could see and hear the court.

'Yes, your honour,' he replied.

Stephenson will not return to court until November 16, when Mr Stratmann said he expected any issues in the case 'to be ventilated'.

The court heard his defence team was working with prosecutors about narrowing down disclosure evidence to move the case along more quickly.

Stephenson will again tune in via video link, sparing him from a potential stare-down with friends and family of Ms Murphy.

No one appeared to tune into the court link to support Stephenson.

Ms Murphy's husband, Mick Murphy, was not spotted on the video link or in court on Thursday.

Instead, he was seen at home tending to household duties. He declined to comment on the court case.

Ms Murphy vanished without a trace on the morning of February 4 after she left her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East, Victoria.

The short hearing failed to produce any information on how police put their case against Stephenson.

Access to documents regarding additional driving charges were denied to the media by the magistrate.

Ms O'Brien refused to comment on the case as she left the court.

While Stephenson's charging over the alleged murder provided some relief to the Ballarat community, it has failed to provide any answers to where Ms Murphy's body may have been dumped.

Ms Murphy's husband, Mick Murphy, was not spotted on the video link or in court on Thursday. Instead, he was seen at home tending to household duties. He declined to comment on the court case

Stephenson's lawyer, Moya O'Brien (centre) refused to answer any questions upon leaving the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Thursday

Homicide Squad detectives leave the court on Thursday

Samantha Murphy, 51, vanished without a trace after she left her home in Ballarat East, Victoria, for her morning run on February 4 (pictured)

Samantha Murphy is believed to have been murdered while out on a jog

Ms Murphy's disappearance sparked a massive community effort over the following days to try and find her.

The 51-year-old set out for her morning run at 7 am through the nearby Woowookrung Regional Parka 14km route she had done countless times before.

In early March, almost five weeks after Ms Murphy's disappearance, police charged Stephenson with her alleged murder despite her body never being found.

On Sunday, Ms Murphy's family, friends, and the wider Ballarat community marked six months since her disappearance.

Many were hoping this week's hearing would begin to answer questions as to why Stephenson allegedly killed her.

Ms Murphy's husband Mick (left) and daughter Jess (right) faced the media to beg for information in the days after she vanished

A breakthrough in the case came after police searched a dam at a property south of Buninyong, approximately 14km from her home, and found Ms Murphy's phone

The case is one of the highest priority criminal investigations for Victoria Police, with the missing persons squad working tirelessly to compile evidence for the expected trial.

A breakthrough in the case came after police searched a dam at a property south of Buninyong, approximately 14km from her home, on May 29.

Officers located a mud-splattered mobile phone in a wallet at the water's edge, believed to have been found by a police tech detector dog.

In a statement issued shortly after the mobile phone was found, police said they had located some 'items of interest' during the search for the missing mum.

The phone, along with other items found in the search, underwent forensic testing with sources confirming the device belonged to Ms Murphy.

Many were hopeful the phone would lead to Ms Murphy's body, however, police have remained tight-lipped on the evidence found on the device.

Police launched a series of 'targeted searches' in bushland and on properties across the area, with hopes of locating the missing mum's body or finding crucial evidence to strengthen the case.

If a preliminary committal hearing goes ahead as expected, a Supreme Court of Victoria murder trial is unlikely to get underway until mid to late next year at best.

The process could be further delayed by fresh evidence being provided by homicide squad detectives, who continue to investigate the case in the hope of finding Ms Murphy's body.

Police allege Stephenson 'deliberately attacked' Ms Murphy in Mount Clear, about 7km into her run.

Stephenson, who has no connection to the Murphy family, was charged with murdering the mother-of-three on March 7.

He is the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, who played 15 games for Geelong and Richmond between 2012 and 2014.

It is understood Stephenson has reserved his right to silence.
Roads have been closed after scaffolding fell from a construction site in Sydney's CBD.

Police have blocked off Pitt Street between Bathurst and Liverpool Street after they were called to a construction site about 9.30am on Thursday.

Part of a crane platform fell on an Australia Post van.

A man in his 50s was assessed by NSW Ambulance but didn't require treatment.

Officers from NSW Police attended the scene and found debris scattered on top of the vehicle.

A NSW Police spokeswoman said road closures are in place.

Photographs from the scene showed the back of the vehicle had been completely crushed with its roof caved in.

A crane had been lifting the scaffolding when the rope snapped.

Local Brayden Tory said he heard crashing noises when he rushed outside to see the cause of the commotion.

Part of a crane platform has reportedly fallen on an Australia Post van in the incident.

'I just heard this 'doof, doof, doof' and then saw half the (crane) frame had dropped off,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

Police have blocked off Pitt Street between Bathurst and Liverpool Street after they were called to a construction site about 9.30am on Thursday

'The rope snapped and it just crash landed on the van.

'An older guy dived out of the way it's really lucky no one was killed.

'Two metres difference and (the bloke) would have been killed.'

One construction worker described it as a scene out of a film.

'It sounded like an explosion,' he said,

'There was massive bang, then crashing and clanging. Then a big cloud of dust came up debris and s**t everywhere.

'It was like something out of a movie.'

Safe Work NSW are investigating.
Sewers were being searched by Spanish police yesterday after exiled separatist leader Carles Puigdemont pledged to sneak back into the country for a vote on a new regional president.

A door linking the Catalan Parliament to Barcelona Zoo was also sealed ahead of todays vote to prevent any elaborate attempts to breach the premises.

Mr Puigdemont has spent seven years in self-imposed exile in Belgium after his arrest was ordered following an illegal independence referendum in 2017.

But he sparked a major alert after boasting of his imminent return in a video posted on X yesterday, in which he warned: I have started the return journey from exile.

The 300-year-old Catalan Parliament building, a former arsenal, is situated in the 76-acre Parc de la Ciutadella, where the authorities have sealed off all but one entrance, with formal identification required to get through.

Barcelona is braced for the return of exiled Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, who is likely to be detained over an outstanding arrest warrant for alleged embezzlement

A journalist holds a mobile phone as he watches self-exiled former Catalan pro-independence leader Carles Puigdemont announcing that he has undertaken the return journey from exile to Spain

A room-by-room sweep is being conducted of the Catalan Parliament building in Parc de la Ciutadella, Barcelona

A room-by-room sweep of the 300-year-old building is being conducted by officers, who are also checking the basement.

The route to the zoo, which surrounds the neoclassical building on three sides, has been shut and guarded to prevent access.

A spokesman for the Mossos dEsquadra, Catalonias autonomous police force, told website Politico: These are standard security procedures that are carried out before any investiture ceremony.

But he added officers would evidently take anyone into custody who was found in the area with an outstanding arrest warrant.

Spains Socialist-led national government in Madrid approved an amnesty in May which cancelled legal proceedings against hundreds of separatists involved in the illegal referendum.

But the countrys Supreme Court last month ruled the law didnt apply to an outstanding embezzlement charge against Mr Puigdemont, the former leader of the hardline Junts party.

Catalan regional police forces Mossos d'Esquadra officers and Parliament officials leave by the main entrance of the Parliament of Catalonia yesterday after a security meeting

The route connecting the parliament building to the city's zoo (pictured) has also been shut and guarded to prevent access

His arrest could spark turmoil in the region and upset the fragile coalition ruling Spain, which relies on Junts votes to pass legislation.

Mr Puigdemont would most likely appear in a street near parliament to be welcomed by supporters and capitalise on the drama of his arrest in front of bystanders and reporters.

But television talk show hosts and radio pundits have spent the last few days speculating about the 61-year-olds return, suggesting he could wear a disguise or use a hot air balloon to land on the buildings roof.

Mr Puigdemont decided against taking part in the European elections in June so that he could stand for the Catalan presidency.

However, he came second to Socialist candidate Salvador Illa, who has made a deal to form a minority government.

He believes his presence in the city could encourage elected members to ditch the deal.

Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, the moderate socialist party currently governing the region, said Mr Puigdemonts return would be an exceptional moment.
A multi-millionaire who retired at 35 revealed why he always tells people to never quit their jobs - and to aim for getting fired instead.

Sam Dogen, 47, a former investment banker, said he failed to take his own advice when he quit his job earlier this year, after he re-entered the workforce for the first time since 2012.

While Dogen was sitting on a hefty retirement fund that means he never has to work again, he offered his thoughts on leaving work for others who aren't so lucky.

'If you get laid off, you get unemployment benefits. You get a severance package, deferred comp, subsidized health care. You get tons of stuff that gives you a huge financial runway for your next endeavor,' he told CNBC.

Sam Dogen, 47, a former investment banker who was able to retire at 35, revealed the most beneficial way to leave your job

Dogen, the millionaire founder of Financial Samurai, said he learned the secrets of responsibly leaving your work through his experience of recently quitting.

Since 2012, he had been living as a stay-at-home dad, and while he didn't work, he made around $380,000-a-year through passive income, mainly through a portfolio of stocks and investments.

But after selling a large portion of his portfolio to fund a new home, he returned to work - only to leave within four months.

Because he quit, Dogen didn't receive any severance pay, the opposite of how he left his workplace back in 2012.

He said his layoff package included three months base salary, and a severance check in the low six-figures.

For those looking to do the same, he said the most important thing is understanding the power you have as an employee leaving a company.

'As a previous boss myself, the worst thing that can happen is when an employee of value quits and gives you two weeks' notice or less,' he said.

Dogen, the millionaire founder of Financial Samurai, said he learned the secrets of responsibly leaving your work through his experience of recently quitting his first job in a decade

To start the process, Dogen said it is vital to communicate to your bosses that you're unhappy, along with a warning that 'ultimately, I'd like to leave if these changes are not met.'

'They might give you a raise. They might give you more flexible hours. Sweet!' he continued. 'No employer wants someone whose heart is not in it anymore.'

Dogen said leaving on bad terms is a big no-no in this scenario, and if it comes to that, then making your departure as easy as possible on your employer is the way to go.

He suggests telling bosses: 'Im willing to stay as long as possible to help make the transition. But in light of that, lets talk about a severance package.'

In 2012, Dogen said he stayed on for two months after having this conversation, during which time he helped train his successor.

'More often than not, your employer will work with you  especially if youre a better than average employee,' he added.

Dogen pointed to the WARN Act, which mandates that large companies must give staff 60 days of warning before conducting a round of layoffs.

If this occurs, it can be the ideal way to leave a company, as firms generally give the equivalent of 60 days of base pay.

Dogen said getting laid off can be a blessing in disguise, and warned disgruntled employees that being fired can have many more perks than quitting

He added that many people can look for further cash severance on top of their base, which can be one to three weeks of pay for every year served, as a 'standard.'

Looking to the future, Dogen said getting laid off can be a blessing in disguise, and offers many more perks than quitting if you are disgruntled.

'If you get laid off, you get unemployment benefits. You get a severance package, deferred comp, subsidized health care,' he concluded.

'You get tons of stuff that gives you a huge financial runway for your next endeavor.'
The principal of an Indigenous school in the Northern Territory has been accused of physically assaulting multiple children.

Yipirinya School principal Gavin Morris has been arrested by NT police and is being held at Alice Springs watch-house, reports The Australian.

It is understood NT Chief Minister Eva Lawler has been informed of the allegations, which are not sexual in nature, by education minister Mark Monaghan.

According to one staff member at the school, police had been inquiring about an incident two years ago in which kids vandalised a building used for childcare.

'The kids got in through an unlocked door and smeared paint all over the place,' the staff member said.

'They didn't smash any windows, the door was unlocked and they helped themselves inside and had a field day.'

The 'shocked' staff member said they had heard the arrest stemmed from that incident and they 'couldn't believe it'.

Mr Morris, who holds a PhD in Aboriginal trauma and lectures at Charles Darwin University, has previously been vocal in the media about the crisis for Aboriginal children in remote communities.

Yipirinya school principal Gavin Morris (pictured) has been accused of assaulting kids over an incident in which they allegedly vandalised a school building

Yipirinya School (pictured) is located in Alice Spring's west in central Australia

Mr Morris said the school is regularly in contact with local magistrates so bail conditions can be varied for children as young as 12 to participate in after-school programs.

He described female students who didn't feel safe to go home because 'they're worried about their uncles' so instead roam the streets of Alice Springs at night unsupervised.

Others had spoken to him saying they would rather be in juvenile detention because it was better than their home life, he said.

He spoke of one incident in which teachers called him during the night and said they were in their cars following a school minibus that had been stolen by a group of students for a joy ride.

Footage from the August 2022 incident shows the Yipirinya school bus smashing through the gates and speeding off into the streets of Alice Springs at 9pm with teachers in pursuit.

Mr Morris previously spoke of an incident in which a Yipirinya School mini-bus was stolen by kids who took it on a joy ride (pictured)

The chase ended with the school kids hopping out of the vehicle and running away and police not making any arrests

There were 10 students on board with the driver aged 12 and the oldest in the vehicle 14.

The bus veered through the streets as teachers flashed their headlights and beeped their horns screaming at them to stop.

'You little sh***  pull over!' one teacher screamed in frustration.

At several points the bus swerved onto the wrong side of the road and ran off the road screeching its tyres.

The chase ended when the kids jumped out as the bus was still moving outside an Indigenous camp.

They then jumped fences and ran in opposite directions to escape being caught.

The children returned to school the following day after the bus was written off and no one was charged.

Mr Morris said some of the $300million Anthony Albanese has promised to help support communities in the region be used to build an accommodation facility to help at-risk kids have a stable home life.

He said many children were dealing with family situations where there was an absence of appropriate supervision, food and financial security along with family violence and entrenched alcohol problems.
Disgraced attorney Tom Girardi still owes $11 million to a client - 11 years after a legal settlement for the terrible injuries he suffered in a gas explosion that also took the life of his girlfriend, a federal court in Los Angeles heard Wednesday.

Joe Ruigomez, 33, and his family hired the once top attorney to sue California utility giant PG&E after the fiery 2010 pipeline explosion destroyed his San Bruno, CA home, putting him in a coma for two months, he told the jury of seven men and five women on the second day of Girardis trial.

Girardi and his family reached a settlement with PG&E three years later in which Ruigomez was to receive $5 million plus an annuity, he said.

And when Ruigomez asked to see the full settlement agreement, Girardi promised to send it to him. But he never did.

Tom Girardi arrives at the Los Angeles Federal Courthouse on August 7, 2024. A former client of Girardi's, Joe Ruigomez, said the disgraced lawyer still owes him $11 million from a 2010 settlement

The sham attorney, who co-founded the now-bankrupt Girardi & Keese, was featured on the Bravo reality show, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, alongside Erika Jayne, his third wife

Girardi, 85 - estranged husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne - is charged with four counts of wire fraud in which he allegedly cheated clients out of $15 million in settlement funds they were owed for injuries they suffered. Hes pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The former super lawyer - who showed up at court Wednesday in a gray jacket, open-neck blue check shirt, black pants and white sneakers built a powerful legal firm after his fight against a utility company inspired the Oscar-winning movie Erin Brockovich.

But Girardis high-flying career collapsed in 2020 when he was accused of stealing millions in settlements hed won for the victims of the 2018 Lion Air plane crash in Indonesia.

Claims from that crash - in which 189 people died - are the basis of separate criminal charges against Girardi that are still pending in Chicago. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges as well.

Federal prosecutors in LA on day one of the trial Tuesday maintain that between 2010 and 2020 the shamed attorney - who is facing 20 years in prison if convicted - lied to clients and used their misappropriated millions to pay for his own lavish lifestyle of private jets, luxury cars, expensive jewelry with his third wife, ex-go-go dancer Jayne, 52, including $20 million to fund her acting career.

Jayne previously said she no longer talks to her estranged husband. They're seen in 2016 above

Girardi faces 20 years in prison if convicted of embezzling millions from his clients

Meanwhile Girardis defense attorneys claim that it was not their client but his law firms chief executive, Christopher Kamon, 49, who plundered the victims settlement funds, embezzling some $50 million.

And they claim that Kamon took advantage of Girardis dementia which prevented him from keeping track of his companys business affairs.

Kamon has been charged with wire fraud charges similar to Girardis, but is being tried separately. He is also accused of embezzling $10 million from Girardis law firm Girardi Keese which is now ion bankruptcy with $100 million in debts. Kamon has pleaded not guilty to all the counts hes facing.

At court in downtown LA Wednesday, Ruigomez - who walks with a limp after more than 30 surgeries following the explosion 14 years ago - told jurors that he hadnt pressed Girardi harder to see a copy of the settlement agreement, because I trusted Tom. I had confidence in him.

Both Ruigomez and his mother, Kathleen Ruigomez - who was also a witness Wednesday - told how they hired Girardi after he dazzled them with his bragging about million - even billion dollar - settlements hed won against major corporations like Exxon, Lockheed, Shell and Ford.

He boasted about Erin Brockovich and how much money he made for his clients and about his wife who was a TV star, said Ruigomez who was also impressed by magazine covers and articles about Girardis soaring legal practice.

Girardis defense attorneys claim that it was not their client but his law firms chief executive, Christopher Kamon, 49, who plundered the victims settlement funds, embezzling some $50 million

His mother, Kathleen added, Tom talked about having lunch with presidents and judges. He was always boasting about his connections.

Ruigomez said that Girardi - whose law firm claimed a 25 per cent contingency fee (meaning they didnt charge legal fees but received 25 per cent of the settlement amount) - settled with PG&E in January 2013.

But a year later, he still had not received any money from the Girardi Keese, which was supposed to have put his settlement cash into a trust fund earning six and a half per cent interest.

When he questioned Girardi about the delay, he said, he got excuses and apologies and claims that the payout had to be signed by a judge who was reluctant to give a large sum of money to a young man who might not know how to handle it.

Tom always buttered me up, called me Babe and told me he was going to take care of me, Ruigomez told the court.

Nearly three years after the settlement, he had only received a $666,000 fraction of the money he was owed and he started losing patience with Girardis excuses which continued until Ruigomez hired a financial adviser and demanded his money.

In 2019, he threatened legal action - which prompted Girardi to make several payments to him totaling $10 million, he said.

But, with interest, he was still owed much more and he hired a lawyer, sued Girardi in civil court and won a judgement for $12 million, the court heard.

Jayne seen with her ex-husband and son Tommy Zizzo when he was still a child

One of the excuses Girardi used for not paying Ruigomez, the court heard, was that his family told the lawyer not to pay up because, after his long spell in hospital following the explosion, he became addicted to pain-killing drugs

Girardi has only paid off $1 million of that amount said Ruigomez, who agreed when prosecutor Ali Moghaddas asked him, To this day, the defendant has not paid the balance of $11 million.

Under cross examination from defense attorney, Sam Cross, Ruigomez conceded that $25 million of the $53 million settlement was used to buy a Berkshire Hathaway annuity for him that pays him $40,000 a month for the next 20 years.

But when Cross suggested that other attorneys at Girardi Keese, not just Girardi, were responsible for his case, he insisted, Tom was the main attorney.

One of the excuses Girardi used for not paying Ruigomez, the court heard, was that his family told the lawyer not to pay up because, after his long spell in hospital following the explosion, he became addicted to pain-killing drugs.

Thats absolutely not true, said Ruigomez.

Another Girardi client, Judy Selberg, hired the once-acclaimed lawyer to bring an unlawful death lawsuit after her husband Paul was killed in a boating accident at Lake Havasu, AZ in April 2018.

In court Wednesday, Selberg told the jury that Girardi won a settlement for her in March 2020 of $500,000, of which Girardi Keese took a contingency fee of 33 percent.

The half million was paid to the law firm in June 2020 but despite it took months of phone calls and email protests to Girardi, she didnt get her money. Finally she resorted to hiring another lawyer and after that, she received $150,000.

But today, more than four years after the settlement, Ive never received a penny of the $185,000 balance shes owed.
A young Florida man has revealed how he caught a humongous 13-foot-long tiger shark and later swam with the predator in the middle of the night.

Mason Carson went fishing with some friends off the coast of Sarasota County when he caught the sharp-toothed shark.

'Typically, we get a lot of bull sharks, a lot of blacktips. During the winter time, well get a lot of sandbar sharks, and occasionally, well get tigers and hammers  but not typically tigers this big,' he said.

'It was definitely a surprise. We had quite a few rods and reels out at that point, and the rod that I actually caught the tiger shark on was kind of (for) smaller fish and smaller sharks.

'I had smaller bait put out and it just so happened that the smallest reel and the smallest bait got picked up,' he told ClickOrlando.

Mason Carson went fishing with some friends off the coast of Sarasota County when he caught a humongous 13-foot-long tiger shark and later swam with the predator in the middle of the night

A video shared by the fisherman showed him daringly standing on the predator's head and repeatedly trying to open his jaw with both of his hands.

Carson later told the publication that after taking some images of the shark, he and his mates released the shark back into the water.

But rather than letting the fish swim away on it own, the young Floridian jumped into the ocean with it and began paddle along.

In another video shared by Carson, the daredevil can be seen holding on to the tiger shark's fin as he wades along.

A video shared by the fisherman showed him daringly standing on the predator's head and repeatedly trying to open his jaw with both of his hands

In another video shared by Carson, the daredevil can be seen holding on to the tiger shark's fin as he wades along

In the past, the fisherman has managed to reel in a roughly 9-foot-long bull shark but this was the first time he caught a tiger shark.

He also told the Florida-based publication that the only reason he was sharing his one-of-a-kind success story was because of a bet he made with a friend.

'I bet in the Wawa parking lot with a buddy. He bet me 100 bucks that I couldnt get on the news with my tiger shark.

'He was scrolling through Instagram and seeing a guy had a saw fish on the news, and he bet me 100 bucks that I couldnt get on the news for my tiger shark.'
Kind-hearted Australians have rallied to raise more than $110,000 for the family of a father who was tragically killed in a horrifying crocodile attack.

Dr David Hogbin, 40, died after being snatched by a crocodile in the Annan River, south of Cooktown in Far North Queensland, just after 2pm on Saturday. He had been holidaying in the region with his wife Jane and their three children.

Now, a GoFundMe set up to help his family has attracted $110,070 in donations within just two days of being launched.

The huge sum is more than five times greater than the $20,000 target that was initially set for the fundraiser.

The heartwarming update comes after Dr Hogbin's devastated loved ones broke their silence on Tuesday to reveal his final act was to heroically save the life of his wife of ten years.

Despite initial reports suggesting that Dr Hogbin had fallen into the water while fishing, a friend said he was actually walking along a path on a 15-metre-high riverbank when a section of the soil suddenly gave way beneath him.

'Jane, who was nearby but not walking with Dave at the time, heard the splash and slid down to desperately try and pull him out,' his friend Alex Ward wrote on the fundraiser page.

'Due to the steepness and slipperiness of the bank, Jane was able to grab his arm but began slipping into the river herself.

David Hogbin, 40, is pictured with his wife Jane and their three sons on their trip of a lifetime to Far North Queensland

Dr Hogbin was attacked by a crocodile in front of his wife at Annan River, south of Cooktown (pictured, baited croc trap is put into the water)

'Dave's final, decisive act was to let go of Jane's arm when he realised she was slipping in, an act that likely saved her life. In a world-shattering instant, Dave was taken by the crocodile.'

Mr Ward said initial reports that Dr Hogbin was attacked in front of his children were incorrect, and that none of his three sons saw him fall - a fact that is 'one small consolation' for his loved ones.

Mr Ward said his family and friends have been left 'completely broken' by the tragedy but feel 'incredibly lucky' to have had him in their lives.

He said Dr Hogbin would be remembered for his 'enthusiasm and cheer' and his love of 4WD camping adventures.

'Dave had achieved something that we will all strive to emulate; he realised before it was too late that he had everything he needed in life in his family, friends, and the time they were able to enjoy together,' Mr Ward said.

'It was a mutual love and discovery of 4WDing that brought me so close to Dave, and I'm not sure if I can do it without him (which he would scoff at and tell me to get back out there and continue the adventurous legacy he has created for his boys).'

Jane Hogbin said her husband touched so many lives and she wanted to speak out to 'put a face to this tragedy'.

'Someone didn't just get killed by a crocodile, we have lost a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, friend and doctor,' she told NewsCorp.

'We were just enjoying a standard day of our holiday and everything just changed within 30 seconds. He wasn't doing anything wrong  in fact, he was doing everything right, and this still happened.

Dr Hogbin's loved ones have revealed his final act was to save the life of his wife Jane, who desperately tried to pull him out of the water

'Things can change so quickly in an instant despite doing everything right.'

Dr Hogbin was a general practitioner who has worked at several medical centres in NSW's Lake Macquarie region. He was currently employed at Jewells Medical Centre.

According to an online profile, his special medical interests included paediatrics and dermatology while in his spare time he enjoyed spending time in the bush, four-wheel-driving and fishing with his children.

After completing his degree at University of Notre Dame in 2014, he worked in real estate and nuclear medicine before taking up a residency at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.

The practice manager of Windale Community Medical Centre, where Dr Hogbin was formerly employed, said the community was shaken by his death.

'We are all still in a lot of shock as we trained him,' she told the Cairns Post.

'I have a lot of staff that are struggling at the moment.'

The crocodile was shot and killed by wildlife rangers at 2pm on Monday before the carcass was handed to police and the contents of its stomach examined.

Dr Hogbin, a doctor in NSW's Lake Macquarie region, had been on a family holiday at the time of the tragedy

Queensland Police released a statement on Tuesday revealing that human remains had been found inside the predator.

The spot, where Dr Hogbin was attacked, is a well-known habitat for the reptiles.

A Cooktown resident claimed the crocodile had associated people with food as some locals were feeding it roadkill further upstream.

'People throw roadkill in for it to eat and he could have been sitting there 15ft under the water waiting for a feed,' they told the Cairns Post.

'We have had a bit of rain so the bank would be soft and even if he wasn't near the edge it could have fallen away beneath him.

'It's just horrendous and everyone is feeling about the family, to watch that happen in front of you is unthinkable.'

Police declined to comment on speculation that members of the public had been feeding crocodiles in the vicinity.
A prime ministerial sledge from New Zealand's leader has not dented relations across the Tasman, Anthony Albanese says.

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon has come under fire for making a joke denigrating the intelligence of Australians during question time in parliament.

Mr Luxon said on Wednesday 'in my dealings with Australians it always pays to be incredibly simple'.

The remark came in response to questioning from NZ opposition leader Chris Hipkins over the government's use of the Maori language, known as te reo Maori.

Despite the quip, Mr Albanese said it had not damaged ties with his Kiwi counterpart.

'Christopher Luxon is a friend of mine, but I often think that whilst we both speak English, sometimes we need interpreters with the Kiwi accent. From time to time, things can be missed between us,' the prime minister told reporters in Sydney on Thursday.

'We're great friends and we're great mates. Sometimes though, we do speak a different language, and that's when we both think we're speaking English.'

The New Zealand prime minister is set to travel to Australia next Thursday for a two-day visit.

Anthony Albanese has brushed off a verbal dig at Australians made by New Zealand PM Chris Luxon.

Anthony Albanese and Chris Luxon

The comments from Mr Luxon came after New Zealand's Culture Minister Paul Goldsmith instructed officials to remove several te reo expressions from an invitation to Matariki, the annual celebrations of the Maori New Year.

The invitation was bound for Tony Burke, Australia's Multicultural Affairs minister.

The Maori words included the greeting 'tena koe' (meaning hello), the sign-off 'naku noa, na' (which became 'yours sincerely'), and the removal of the widely-accepted Maori name for New Zealand: Aotearoa.

Te reo is an official language of New Zealand, along with sign language and the de facto English, and increasingly spoken by Maori after decades of decline - in part due to hostile government policies.

Mr Luxon's right-leaning coalition - of the conservative National party, free-market libertarians ACT and populist NZ First parties - has reduced its use in government since taking office last November.

The government has issued edicts to public servants to stop communicating in te reo, and asked government departments to rebadge with English names, scrapping or de-prioritising Maori names given more prominence during Jacinda Ardern's government.

Mr Goldmsith's instruction to remove the Maori greetings - which are commonplace in New Zealand - drew criticism from Labour, particularly given it was correspondence relating to Matariki, NZ's sole indigenous public holiday.

Mr Goldsmith said he didn't think Mr Burke would know what Aotearoa meant.

'It's hardly the scandal of the century. I just didn't think it needed a lot of te reo in it ... I thought, let's just keep it simple,' he said.

In parliament on Wednesday, Mr Hipkins included Mr Goldsmith's letter in a line of questioning to Mr Luxon around ministerial standards.

'Well, I would just say to that member, we value te reo in this government,' Mr Luxon said.

Mr Luxon is no stranger to Australia, living in Sydney for five years during his corporate career with Unilever.

'I love Australia,' he told AAP in a 2022 interview.

'If I couldn't be a Kiwi I'd be an Aussie. Absolutely. I just love the confidence and optimism of the joint.'
Costco is moving full steam ahead with its plans to automatically scan customer's cards at the door to weed out people who are sharing their membership with others.

The wholesale retailer recently announced that scanning devices will be placed in all warehouses over the coming months.

Card scanning machines have been spotted at a number of California locations, KTLA reported, specifically in Huntington Beach and Inglewood.

Locations in New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania said they will soon begin verifying members this way, but did not specify an exact date. One location in Texas will likely start next month.

Guests who want to shop will now need to be accompanied by a member, ending the ability for parents to send their kids on a Costco run while they stay home.

Pictured is the setup at the entrance of the Costco warehouse in Issaquah, Washington, that enables a store employee to view the photo associated with a membership card

Costco is also requiring customers show a photo ID alongside their membership card.

'Additionally, if your membership card does not have a photo, please be prepared to show your valid photo ID. We encourage you to stop by the membership counter to have a photo taken to have on your card,' according to the statement from Costco.

Previously, customers walking into their local Costco weren't necessarily stopped by an employee to check if they were a member.

But last year, executives at the company told workers that it was time to spot check various shoppers.

'We dont feel its right that non-members receive the same benefits and pricing as our members,' the company told Business Insider in June 2023.

'As we already asked for the membership card at checkout, we are now asking to see their membership card with their photo at our self-service checkout registers.'

With its new gambit to verify whether customers are indeed members, Costco appears to be taking a page out of Netflix's book. The streaming service cracked down on password sharing, which led to huge revenue boosts and subscriber growth

The reason for Costco getting tough on membership verification is simple; restricting access helped boost profits to $1.68 billion in the third quarter ending in May 2024, a 29 percent increase from the year before

Costco first rolled out the card scanning regime in Washington state, near the company's headquarters.

The reason for doing this is simple; restricting access helped boost profits to $1.68 billion in the third quarter ending in May 2024, a 29 percent increase from the year before.

Ron Vachris, who became CEO on January 1, told investors in May that the idea to scan members' cards at the door has made Costco stores even more efficient.

'They're speeding up our registers significantly when we get all the scanning and memberships are verified at the front door,' he said during an earnings call.

Costco parking lots are famously crowded, a phenomenon exacerbated by many stores having their own gas stations. And Vachris said he thinks the new plan will help with that.

Pictured: A jam-packed parking lot at a Costco store in Richmond, California

Long lines for gas sometimes compound the issue of maneuverability in Costco parking lots

Partially automating the process of customer verification also 'turns over parking spaces much quicker' and could allow for 'gas expansions where those are needed as well,' Vachris added.

Hundreds of people took to Reddit last year to complain about the parking lots at their local Costcos, with many describing them as 'a Mad Max situation' even at the best of times.

'Costco does a lot of things right, parking lots arent one of them,' one person wrote.

Despite raking in nearly $58 billion in revenue for the third quarter, Costco announced in July it would increase the membership fee by September.

It is the first increase since June 2017, and will go up by $5 a year for the standard membership - taking it from $60 to $65 annually.
A Trump supporter who was shot twice during the ex-president's assassination attempt last month has spoken for the first time since he left the hospital.

David Dutch, a 57-year-old Marine, issued a statement Wednesday evening through his attorney expressing his gratitude to everyone for their support since he was shot while standing behind the stage where the former president was speaking on July 13.

He had initially been placed in a medically-induced coma for the gunshot wounds to his chest and liver.

'David and his wife, Sheree, and the rest of the Dutch family wish to express their sincerest gratitude for the enormous level of support that they have received from their friends, their fellow Americans and everyone else, whether domestic or abroad, that have kept David and his family in their prayers,' the statement to Fox News said.

The family also thanked 'the brave men and women that saved his life, including, but not limited to, the police officers, the medics, the life flight crew and the medical professionals of Allegheny General Hospital, as well as those who continue to care for him as he navigates the road to recovery.

David Dutch, a 57-year-old Marine, has spoken for the first time since he left the hospital

'Further, David and his family wish to express their thoughts and prayers for the family of Corey Comperatore, who died a hero while shielding his wife and daughters from oncoming gunfire at the rally, for James Copenhaver, who survived two gunshot wounds at the rally while exercising his fundamental right to freely express his support for a political candidate and for President Trump, who did not cower in the face of danger and continues his fight to make America great again and restore America's position as the most powerful and economically sound country in the world.'

Both Dutch and 74-year-old Copenhaver, who was also shot twice and was critically injured, have retained attorneys Nicholas Feldman and Joseph Feldman of the Law Offices of Max C Feldman 'to protect their best interests as they navigate the most challenging time of their lives.'

Copenhaver is still recovering at a rehabilitation center, according to his attorney, who said he was hit in the arm and abdominal area.

'He had almost seen or heard something whiz past him, which we're assuming was a bullet,' attorney Joseph Feldman said.

'He felt it on his arm, and he looked down at his armand felt pain initially, but he hadn't even realized he had been shot a second time at that point. It could have been shock.'

James Copenhaver, 74, was also shot twice and was critically injured

EXCLUSIVE: Haunting new footage from Trump rally shooting victim shows a figure moving across the roof before gunfire erupts: https://t.co/kBhnvoV81b pic.twitter.com/K97v8oi6r7  Fox News (@FoxNews) July 31, 2024

Both Dutch and Copenhaver were at Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire, missing the former president but killing Corey Competore, 50.

The shooter has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks

Copenhaver even caught chilling video taken of the assassination attempt, showing a shadowy figure running across a rooftop moments before the former president was shot.

In the footage, obtained by Fox Digital, the figure appears briefly on a roof overlooking where Trump was being cheered by his rally crowd.

He appears to look towards Trump before running further along the roof. At the same time, Trump turns and is almost looking directly at his would-be assassin before he runs away.

Three minutes after the bombshell video was taken Crooks unleashed a hail of eight bullets, hitting Trump, Copenhaver and Dutch.

Crooks was eventually killed by a Secret Service sniper but major questions remain over the security breaches which allowed him to carry out the attack.

Crooks missed the former president but struck Dutch, Copenhaver and killed Corey Competore, 50

The lone gunman was identified as a suspicious person prior to the shooting, and was seen wandering around the event site in the hours before.

Disturbing video shot by someone in the crowd appears to show Crooks stalking around a building he would climb 60 minutes later in order to get the perfect vantage point from which to target Trump.

He managed to get onto the AGR building roof by climbing HVAC equipment and piping and hopping travelling along several roofs, according to the FBI.

Police were aware of a suspicious individual near the rally site around 90 minutes before the shooting began and snapped photos of Crooks at the scene.

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle was forced to resign amid the backlash over the blunders.

Crooks' motive remains unclear, and the FBI is still investigating

The FBI is still trying to investigate Crooks' motive. A classmate told DailyMail.com he had previously been investigated over threats to 'shoot up' his school when he was aged just 15.

The incident was not taken seriously at the time but is now being probed by the agency.

In his first interview following the assassination attempt, Trump said he survived 'by luck or by God'.
A 'madam' who ran one of New York City's most infamous prostitution rings has found a new role - boosting Robert F. Kennedy Jr's presidential campaign.

Kristin Davis - who was embroiled in a prostitution scandal that took down former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer in 2008 - has been working as a political public relations specialist in a PAC supporting the candidate.

The self-proclaimed 'Manhattan Madam' revealed to Radar Online she is now the 'head advisor' of the political action committee supporting Kennedy.

Her role as a public relations specialist comes to light after Kennedy has been ensnared in a string of allegations and exposes, including his recent bizarre admission that he dumped a bear carcass in Central Park in 2014.

Kristin Davis, a former 'madam' who ran a high-end New York City prostitution ring, says she is 'head advisor' of a political action committee (PAC) supporting RFK Jr.'s campaign

Davis admitted her past still captured attention, but says she is working for the PAC because she is 'driven by my deep belief in (Kennedy's) vision and potential as a candidate'

According to Mediaite, Davis is working for Kennedy's Common Sense PAC, and she said joining the PAC was 'driven by my deep belief in (Kennedy's) vision and potential as a candidate.'

She admitted to Radar that 'decisions' from her past 'still draw media attention today', which includes several stints in prison.

Most famously, she served four months at Riker's Island for promoting prostitution in 2008 after Spitzer was caught red handed with one of the prostitutes in her ring.

She was also sentenced to two years in jail in 2014 for selling prescription pills to a government informant.

But Davis insists that she has put her past behind her, and is now one of the most ardent supporters of Kennedy's presidential bid.

'My admiration for him is rooted in his personal journey, humility, and unwavering commitment to combating Big Pharma and Big Tech and improving children's health,' she said.

'His dedication to these vital issues makes him the right choice for a better future.'

Davis has also worked with legendary political trickster Roger Stone

The 'madam' also landed herself in jail for promoting prostitution in 2008, as she became embroiled in a scandal that took down then-New York Governor Eliot Spitzer (pictured)

It comes as Kennedy's campaign has dealt with a number of exposes and allegations, including his admission he left a dead bear cub in New York's Central Park

Davis said her 'choices should not detract from my intelligence or my current work', which has also reportedly included work for former Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani.

'I have dedicated the last 16 years to political PR and strategy, representing many notable libertarian and right-wing personalities and working on three presidential campaigns,' she added.

Radar claimed that Davis contacted the outlet in response to a recent expose from Vanity Fair, where RFK Jr was accused of sexually assaulting his children's babysitter in 1998.

The article also included allegations that Kennedy ate a barbequed dog during a trip to Korea 14 years ago, which he claimed was actually a goat.

Shortly after Davis' involvement in the PAC was revealed, she took to Instagram to slam the attention on her, where she said she has 'encountered my fair share of grifters and scammers. Bobby Kennedy is the real deal.'

'Today, I'm proud to restate my support for Bobby and call for a unified front,' she said in the post.

'If Trump truly wants to win this election and bring real change, he must join forces with Bobby and make him head of HHS. Imagine the power of a Trump-Kennedy alliance campaigning under the banner of national units and genuine change.

'Picture Bobby Kennedy at the helm, cracking down on Big Pharma, halting the reckless promotion of unsafe vaccines, and overhauling the vaccine schedule to safeguard our children's health.

'Bobby is in it to win it, is Trump?'

Davis called for Kennedy to be pre-emptively named as Donald Trump's head of HHS, asking: 'Bobby is in it to win it, is Trump?'

In a statement to Instagram, Davis batted back the spotlight on her and said she is 'proud to restate my support for Bobby and call for a united front'

After Davis' role in the Common Sense PAC made headlines, the head of the committee, Nate Porter, confirmed the former madam has been 'one of our top political advisors.'

'Kristin's political and public relations acumen has stood out to all of us that worked with her,' he told Mediaite - adding that Davis' past involvement in scandals is helping Kennedy's campaign.

'She has a gift of foresight in this arena,' he continued.

'From the perspective of professionalism and work product, Kristin's past did not hinder us in any way. If anything, her life experience of being in the spotlight of a media scandal gives her a perspective that few others have.'
A major Aussie retailer is seeking re-financing advice from a Big Four accounting firm, sparking fears for its future.

Mosaic Brands, which owns budget clothing brands Millers, Katies, Noni B and Rockmans, announced a temporary pause in trading on the ASX on Wednesday.

It reportedly employs 4000 staff and has approximately 700 stores around Australia.

The company's share price nosedived 13 per cent in the wake of the decision, as it revealed it had appointed Deloitte to advise on 'refinancing considerations'.

Last year, the parent company closed hundreds of stores last year but its troubles appear to be worsening.

It also faces complaints from overseas clothing suppliers, some of whom claim they have not been paid in two years. The claims are subject to an investigation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

The board of directors said in a statement that the company had 'suffered from operational issues in recent months that have adversely impacted trade'.

Mosaic Brands, which owns budget clothing brands Millers, Katies, Noni B and Rockmans, announced a temporary pause in trading on the ASX on Wednesday

It reportedly employs 4000 staff and has approximately 700 stores around Australia

These are being worked through by the directors, management and its advisors, and the Group anticipates a recovery in its trading performance through the course of H1 FY25 once these operational issues are resolved,' it said.

The statement added: 'The Group confirms that during this time, Deloitte has been advising the company on refinancing considerations that have previously been announced to the market.'

Professor Gary Mortimer, Queensland University of Technology Business School retail expert, said Mosaic Brands made the mistake of 'essentially creating multiple brands to market to the exact same audience  middle aged, middle class woman'.

'These women all shop at the same stores so you are cannibalising your own market,' Professor Mortimer told news.com.au.

'If you walk into a shopping centre, you will find at least two, if not three, of those brands all competing for the same customer and that just duplicates and triplicates the cost of doing business.'

Professor Mortimer likened the approach to the problem Kmart and Target faced several years ago when they were competing with two other Wesfarmers-owned discount stores.
A married teacher accused of sexually abusing a student allegedly said, 'I'm going to jail, aren't I?' when detectives arrived at the school to speak to her, a court has heard.

Tayla Lee Brailey, 30, was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly sexually abusing a 17-year-old boy she taught at a school in Sydney's southwest, on several occasions in July.

She has been charged with sexual touching, sexual intercourse with a person under care, and aggravated sexual assault, and has been granted bail under strict conditions, which include residing with her parents in Wollongong.

The allegations, which were outlined in police facts obtained by the Daily Telegraph and referred to in court, claim the situation unfolded when the boy and Brailey began chatting after he added her on Snapchat in early July.

According to the documents, the conversation was initially 'general' chitchat but allegedly turned sexual, with Brailey sending nude photos and videos of her masturbating and receiving pictures and videos from the boy in return.

Police will allege Brailey, who only married 11 months ago, invited the boy to her West Wollongong home in mid-July, where they kissed and she performed a sex act on him.

At one stage, a friend who had accompanied the boy to the house, allegedly walked in on them, according to the documents.

A week later, while working, Brailey allegedly asked the boy to meet and he wagged school to meet her at a secluded location near the school, where they had sex in the back of a car.

Tayla Brailey (pictured) has been charged with allegedly raping a male student

According to the documents, she then allegedly drove to a chemist and bought the morning-after pill.

After that, the pair allegedly stopped communicating until Brailey contacted him, accusing him of telling others about their sexual encounters - which he denied, police will allege.

Almost two weeks later, police arrived at the school on Tuesday to speak to Brailey, who allegedly became 'hysterical' when confronted by detectives about the accusations.

According to the documents, she allegedly said: 'I am going to jail aren't I? I am going to lose my family, my husband, my job.'

When interviewed by police, the boy said he felt he 'had to' send intimate images to Brailey to keep her 'happy', according to the documents.

After her arrest, Brailey spent the night in Amber Laurel Correctional Centre before facing Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday.

The prosecution told the court the case against Brailey was 'strong' as she had made admissions and evidence had been obtained from her and the alleged victim's phones.

The court also heard that Brailey admitted to police that she had spoken to two other students on social media apps.

Brailey's parents are pictured outside Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday, where their daughter was granted bail

Brailey is pictured on her hens in Bali, ahead of her wedding last September

Magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim granted Brailey - who also goes by her married name, Rizza - bail under strict conditions, including she must stay at her parents' house and only leave home if accompanied by one of her parents.

She must also surrender her passport, abide by a curfew, and not go near the school.

Brailey had been working for the NSW Department of Education since October, 2017, after completing a bachelor's degree in physical and health education at the University of Wollongong.

The 30-year-old became engaged to her partner in December, 2021 and tied the knot in September last year.

She celebrated her hens party in Bali with friends and family, enjoying time at the popular Finns Beach Club, with several snaps shared to social media.

She also appeared on Channel Seven's quiz show The 1% Club earlier this year.

The education department confirmed the teacher had been suspended without pay and support is being provided to staff and students at the school.

The matter is next due before court on October 2.
A well-known Sydney barrister has been charged over the alleged assault of his wife in a series of incidents.

Ertunc Ozen, 53, was charged with nine counts of common assault, one of assault causing actual bodily harm and one of contravening an apprehended domestic violence order against his wife Irina Ozen in June, reports the Daily Telegraph.

Ozen was initially refused bail by police for contravening an apprehended domestic violence order and later granted conditional bail by a magistrate.

Police outlined in two court documents multiple allegations of demeaning verbal abuse and physical violence that continued for more than two years.

The allegations include several claims Ozen called his wife a number of offensive names, spat on her and punched and hit her in the face.

Ozen strenuously denies the claims and has pleaded not guilty to all 11 charges, before a local court hearing next year.

He is a high-profile barrister who often appears in prominent trials and bail applications for people accused of serious crimes.

Ms Ozen first made a complaint against her husband after he allegedly assaulted her in his car on June 8, before making further historical allegations of violence.

High-profile criminal barrister Ertunc Ozen, 53, (pictured) was charged with nine counts of common assault, one of assault causing actual bodily harm and one of contravening an apprehended domestic violence order in June

Police state in a document of allegations during an argument about their relationship Ozen called Ms Ozen a 'prostitute' and a 'bad woman'.

'The accused slapped the victim's right thigh two times which caused immediate pain and in self defence, the victim kicked the accused in the head which resulted in a laceration,' police allege in the documents handed up in court on Thursday.

'The accused grabbed the victim's wrist and twisted her left wrist in a manner which caused immediate pain  as a result, the victim sustained red marks, scratches and bruising.'

It will be alleged by police this constituted a breach of an apprehended domestic violence order imposed against Ozen for his wife's protection earlier this year.

Through his solicitor Mahmoud Abbas, Ozen consented to the order without any admissions and no charges were laid.

In a document that outlines the historical accusations before the car incident, on November 19 last year Ozen is alleged to have repeatedly hit his wife in the face after forcing her to go to bed with him.

'The accused forced the victim to retire to bed, (and) had the victim lay down in bed with her head on his chest,' police allege.

'The victim told the accused that he was scaring her and the accused turned to his right, moving the victim off his chest, and swung his arm backwards, hitting her in the left side of her face three times.'

The allegations include several claims Ozen called Ms Ozen (pictured) a number of offensive names, spat on her and punched and hit her in the face

After she fled to another room in the house, Ozen allegedly spat in his wife's face.

Police will also allege that on November 21 last year, Ozen slapped his wife and pushed her out of the apartment's front door because she was not touching him.

'When she asked him why he hit her, the accused stated 'I hit you because you don't touch me.'

As the pair prepared for a trip to Russia on January 4, Ozen allegedly became angry when his wife closed his suitcase without putting his bathroom bag inside.

Police allege, 'The accused called the victim a "selfish c***" and left the bedroom looking for items around the apartment.'

'The accused re-entered the bedroom and slapped the victim across the face with an open palm.'

Ozen is then alleged to have called his wife a 'f****** c***' as she was wearing his jumper.

He allegedly told her to leave and call the police, then slapped and spat on her face.

Ozen is alleged to have pushed his wife into a door frame, as she tried to move away from her husband, where she hit her face.

'The victim turned around and the accused punched her in the nose with a closed fist,' police allege.

'The victim's nose began to bleed and swell, and the victim requested for the accused to take her to the hospital, but he refused.'

It is also alleged by police that at their home in February 2022, Ozen slapped his wife across the face during an argument, then threw a glass toward her which smashed against a wall.

Police state in a document of allegations during an argument about their relationship Ozen called Ms Ozen (pictured) a 'prostitute' and a 'bad woman'

Police allege in May 2022, Ozen pushed his wife twice during an argument, causing her to fall back, hit the back of her head on a wall, and her hip and knee on a stool, causing bruising.

Ozen allegedly told his wife to 'get f***ed', on October 17 last year, slapped her across the face and threw her out of their inner city apartment.

Police will also allege after she observed Ozen needed to 'get his anxiety under control' in another incident on November 5 last year, he threw food at his wife from the fridge and kicked her in the thigh.

Ozen allegedly slapped his wife in the face on November 30 last year, then hit her five or six times in the head until her nose bled on December 8 in separate domestic arguments.

The evening after the June 8 incident in the car, Ms Ozen made the complaints about the incidents between February 2022 and January 2024.

Ozen remains practising without restriction and it is believed the NSW Bar is aware of the allegations.

The allegations can now be reported after Magistrate Robin Denes refused an application by Ozen to have his identity protected by a non-publication order.

The court heard Ozen was concerned any publicity about his charges may negatively impact his ability to appear in other criminal trials.

'These charges of domestic violence do have publicity in the community at the moment,' Ms Denes said at court on Thursday.

'It's important to note that all parts of the community, whether the most disadvantaged to the most advantaged, that the public knows that these allegations can arise in the course of all walks of life.'

The matter will return to court for hearing on March 30, 2025.
The NHS is set to launch its first service aimed at helping transgender patients return to the gender they were born as.

The move was announced by NHS England yesterday as part of its plans to 'transform' its care for gender-questioning children following the publication of the Cass Review.

The organisation said it had accepted the recommendations of the report, written by leading paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, in full after it found that children were being hurried down treatment pathways that saw them given powerful drugs and drastic medical interventions.

While Dr Cass said there was a lack of data to show how many people detransitioned after undergoing gender reassignment surgery, anecdotally it appears to be 'increasing'.

Now the NHS has said there is no 'defined clinical pathway' for people who want to return to their birth gender and it will have to create one as there's no guidance on how to treat them at the moment.

A trans rights activist takes part in a protest against the ban on hormone blockers on April 20, 2024

Retired consultant paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass speaking about the publication of the Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People (The Cass Review)

The organisation said will 'establish a programme of work to explore the issues around a detransition pathway by October 2024', The Telegraph reports.

As part of this it would look into the rates of detransitioning among patients and finding out why they want to do this while understanding they 'may not wish to re-engage with the services they were previously under'.

The plan published by NHS England yesterday will also see six new specialist clinics created by 2026 to support under 18s struggling with their gender identity.

It sparked anger among some critics after it was revealed that puberty blockers, which pause the physical changes of puberty, will also be made available to children who enroll in a new trial from as early as January next year.

The trials have been described as 'ethically unjustifiable' by some, with warnings they 'pose the very real risk of the NHS sacrificing the otherwise good health of vulnerable children and causing them grave physical harm in the name of research'.

They highlighted the potential for permanent damage to fertility and sexual functioning as they called on health chiefs to reconsider.

Lucy Marsh, from the Family Education Trust, said the charity had serious 'concerns' about the NHS' plan, particularly its trial of puberty blockers on teenagers, which she believes is 'unethical' and 'dangerous'.

Ms Marsh also said the money used to roll out the six new specialist clinics would be better spent elsewhere.

'It's a huge waste of taxpayer's money to roll out gender clinics to every area of England,' Ms Marsh told MailOnline.

'We do not need more gender clinics, instead the NHS should be looking at the root causes of gender dysphoria including mental health issues, autism, sexual abuse and issues within the family.

'It is not 'kind' to lead children down a pathway that leads to irreversible harm and destroys families.

'We urge Keir Starmer to rethink his decision and protect children.'

Dr Hilary Cass said the length of the waiting list to access gender services had 'significant implications' for children and their families

Author James Esses shared Ms Marsh's concern about the trialing of puberty blockers and believes a more 'holistic' approach is the way forward.

He said: 'Mental health therapy is exactly how we should treat this, we should be treat this exactly how we treat other mental health issues.'

Mr Esses is the co-founder of Thoughtful Therapists - a group with shared concerns about the impact of gender identity ideology on children and young people.

He told MailOnline: 'If the NHS does end up trialing puberty blockers, we already know the harm they cause because of the Cass Review and the ban implemented on puberty blockers by the previous government - and children have been irreversibly damaged, so I'm concerned about that.'

Dr Hilary Cass said she was 'pleased' the NHS was planning to 'fully implement' her recommendations, but warned that the process ahead is likely to be 'challenging'.

She added: 'I am pleased that NHS England is planning to fully implement the recommendations of my Review and the next important step will be the most challenging - turning it into a reality.

'The vision of the Review - reflected in the implementation plan - is to increase available services for gender-questioning young people which take a holistic approach to care addressing the needs of each individual, and which put in place a full package of care which can be delivered as close to home as possible.

'Setting up a new collaborative of regional providers will also bring in leaders from professional societies, education, and research, to ensure these services continue to develop in line with evidence and best practice to support children and young people.'

In her report Dr Cass made more than 30 recommendations to overhaul NHS services in a bid to improve care offered to trans-children.

Her report, published this April, took almost four years to produce and found children 'caught in the middle' of a toxic row over treatment have been set on a path to irreversible change.

She warned evidence for the use of puberty blockers and hormones relied heavily on 'shaky foundations' and associated guidelines were not supported by science.

It led the then health secretary Victoria Atkins to implement a ban on the prescribing of the drugs to transgender children.

Naomi Cunningham, chair of human rights charity Sex Matters, said: 'The commitment to collecting comprehensive and standardised data marks a radical improvement on the opaque and substandard practices of the past.

'We understand why the NHS and Dr Hilary Cass believe that clinical trials of puberty blockers are necessary, but we would urge them to reconsider.

'Such trials are ethically unjustifiable, given the known risks of permanent damage to fertility, sexual functioning and general health.

'While well-meaning, these trials pose the very real risk of the NHS sacrificing the otherwise good health of vulnerable children and causing them grave physical harm in the name of research.'

Puberty blockers, which pause the physical changes of puberty such as breast development or facial hair, will now only be available to children as part of clinical research trials. Pictured, Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust which has been accused of rushing children onto puberty blocking drugs by former patients who feel they weren't challenged enough

Great Ormond Street Hospital in London is one of two hubs that replaced the scandal-hit Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust

The new regional centres join two existing clinics in Liverpool and London that replace the scandal-hit Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service, which shut its doors in July 2022.

Health chiefs said the new centres will focus on providing a more 'holistic' approach including supporting mental health and kids with conditions such as autism.

NHS bosses will also tighten up the criteria for referrals to specialist clinics, with patients having to see two doctors beforehand.

More than 5,700 under-18s in England and Wales are currently on the national waiting list. There are currently two specialist hubs, which came into service last April.

The clinics - led by London's Great Ormond Street Hospital and Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool - replaced the scandal hit Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.

The health service today said all new referrals to specialist gender services must be made through mental health or paediatric services to ensure every child or young person has had a thorough assessment of need.

The new services will have no minimum age requirement, in order to ensure that parents of very young children, as young as five, are given support through NHS services where necessary.

Alongside children and young people's services, NHS England has also published plans for a review into adult gender services.

Professor James Palmer, NHS medical director for specialised commissioning, said: 'The roll out of new specialist centres in every region across England will be central to improving and expanding NHS gender services for children and young people, to ensure that they receive evidence-based, responsive, holistic care - and the Cass Review is the backbone on which our implementation plan is based.

'It's clear that our services for adults need focus too. The waiting times for care are too long and experiences of care are too variable.

'The review needs to address poor experience but also learn from good experiences of care.

'It's vital we hear from patients and staff, some of whom have raised concerns to Dr Cass, and this review will be a further opportunity for them to be heard.

'There remains considerable work to do, but we are already making progress on a number of Dr Cass' recommendations, and our plans published today set how we will establish services that provide the care that patients and their families need to thrive.'

Previously, the only NHS clinic providing gender services for children was the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust in London.

It was criticised for its approach which relied heavily on medical intervention, using puberty blockers to delay the onset of puberty, despite a lack of evidence the medication had a positive impact.

Its services had previously been rated as inadequate by inspectors in January 2021.

Dr Cass's review also found GPs were 'pressurised to prescribe hormones' by patients who had seen a private clinician.

The report, which ran to nearly 400 pages, issued a stern warning over 'the use of unregulated medications and of providers that are not regulated within the UK'.

And Dr Cass said GPs should resist attempts by private providers to prescribe puberty blockers or hormones, 'particularly if that private provider is acting outside NHS guidance'.
The millionaire former Just Stop Oil donor Dale Vince thinks the group has become too extreme and is 'not a fan' of their attempts to unleash a 'summer of chaos' at UK airports.

The eco-entrepreneur and Forest Green Rovers owner said the eco-zealots blockading airports was 'not valid' and suggested there may no longer be a need for the environmental group.

Vince, the founder of green energy supplier Ecotricity, also poured scorn over the group's 'impractical' demands to end fossil fuel extraction by 2030 saying: 'I don't think that's a sensible thing to ask for.'

It comes as Just Stop Oil announced a pause to its protest action in response to the violent riots that had been sweeping across Britain.

Vince abandoned financial support for the group in October saying any future protests would be 'pointless' and 'counterproductive'.

The millionaire former Just Stop Oil donor Dale Vince thinks the group has become too extreme and is 'not a fan' of their attempts to unleash a 'summer of chaos' at UK airports

HEATHROW: Phoebe Plummer (left), 22, and Jane Touil, 58, after spraying orange paint on passenger information screens, the floor and walls inside Terminal 5 on July 30

HEATHROW: JSO's poster girl Phoebe Plummer was one of those arrested during the protest on July 30

He injected 5million into Labour in the 12 months before the election and says Just Stop Oil's demands had been 'won at the ballot box' when the Tories were ousted, reported The Telegraph.

'I used to say, on the other side of the election  hopefully we just won't need Just Stop Oil, because we'll have stopped [new drilling for] oil through the ballot box by stopping the Tories,' he said.

'That was our campaign, just stop the Tories  there's obviously no point disrupting now for no new licensing because that's happening. We won that argument at the ballot box.'

He said given a date to cut off oil and gas was 'arbitrary' as the UK was not ready and instead said the logical thing to do was to 'build like hell to the point we just stop using it'.

'We've just got a Labour government with a massive majority, and a mandate for a green economy,' he said.

'And I'm surprised that there are protests going on within weeks of that, and that there's a kind of ramping up of demands.

'I'm just surprised by that.'

But also hit out at the long prison sentences given to some campaigners with its 'ringleader' Roger Hallam being handed a five year term for organising protests that blocked the M25.

The eco-entrepreneur and Forest Green Rovers owner said the eco-zealots blockading airports was 'not valid' and suggested there may no longer be a need for the environmental group

Mr Vince pictured during the Restore Nature Now protest march in London on June 22

HEATHROW: A JSO activists sprays orange paint over the passenger information boards

GATWICK: JSO eco-zealots block the departures gateway at Gatwick Airport's South Terminal on July 29

He called on Sir Keir Starmer's government to change the law that allow lengthy terms to be dished out, and said he was still a staunch supporter of having the right to protest.

The eco-group announced on Wednesday it would temporarily halting its protests but warned that it cannot 'afford to pause for more than is immediately necessary'.

And they claimed: 'Just Stop Oil supporters take no pleasure in causing disruption, far from it, we find it deeply uncomfortable. However, we have to face reality, if we want to protect our loved ones, the wider public and generations to come.'

The announcement came 24 hours after five JSO activists were remanded to prison after being arrested near Manchester Airport.

Daniel Knorr, 22, Margaret Reid, 53, Ella Ward, 21, Noah Crane, 19, and Indigo Rumbelow, 30, were arrested on Monday in connection with a plot to disrupt passengers at the airport.

They were found to be in possession of items that Greater Manchester Police believed would have been used to 'cause damage and significant disruption to the airport and its operations', the force said.

They appeared at Manchester Magistrates' Court charged with intentionally or recklessly causing public nuisance yesterday.

The five protesters were all remanded until at least their next appearance on September 10.

Mr Vince joins a JSO march in Westminster on June 8 last year. He has poured scorn over the group's 'impractical' demands to end fossil fuel extraction by 2030

Vince abandoned financial support for the group in October saying any future protests would be 'pointless' and 'counterproductive'

JSO have been targeting airports in recent weeks in the campaign named 'Oil Kills'. Just Stop Oil said 21 groups across 12 countries have taken action at 21 airports so far.

Last week, a group of six demonstrators tried to block the security screening zone at London Heathrow's Terminal Five.

They sat or stood holding signs saying 'oil kills' and 'sign the treaty' in front of the barriers to enter the area for departing passengers - but they were dragged away by police officers.

Another protest in the same Heathrow terminal two days earlier saw two Just Stop Oil activists arrested after they sprayed orange paint on departure boards.

The protest followed another at London Gatwick the day before when eight Just Stop Oil supporters were arrested for blocking departure gates.
Richard Curtis is making his first Christmas film since Love Actually and, of course, it is packed full of A-list celebrities.

The animation, which is set to be released on Netflix later this year, follows a series of entwined tales about love, loneliness, family and friends, all while Santa is trying to solve some big problems of his own.

Succession megastar Brian Cox will be playing Father Christmas, while Love Actually's Bill Nighy, Killing Eve's Fiona Shaw and former Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker will all have starring roles.

It has also been revealed that Ed Sheeran has made a brand new song for the film, which he created with his older brother.

Richard Curtis is making his first Christmas film since Love Actually and, of course, it is packed full of A-list celebrities

The animation, which is set to be released on Netflix later this year, follows a series of entwined tales about love, loneliness, family and friends, all while Santa is trying to solve some big problems of his own

Succession megastar Brian Cox will be playing Father Christmas, while Love Actually's Bill Nighy , Killing Eve 's Fiona Shaw and former Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker will all have starring roles

Succession star Brian Cox will voice Santa is Curtis upcoming animated movie 'That Christmas'

Actress Jodie Whittaker, who has played exceptional roles as the former Doctor Who, will also be in the new film

Fiona Shaw attends Paramount's 'If' New York premiere at SVA Theater on May 13

Speaking about the opportunity the popstar said: 'I got to work with my older brother on this which is such a rarity and a gift to work so closely with my only sibling.

'It felt so good to create something my children would watch, with their uncle, based in the country they live in.

'I find it mad that there isn't more animated Christmas films for kids, but this is going to become a holiday staple, at least in our household.

'Hope everyone loves it, and enjoys the song, we had such a great time creating it.'

The 33-year-old even teased a little bit about the film and the scene the song was written for in particular, describing it as 'heartbreaking' but 'real'.

'[it's] so emotional, yet so heartwarmingly funny, like all Richard Curtis movies. I find since having kids, there's a real lack of great animated children's Christmas movies, so I thought this was such an amazing thing to make and put into the world.

'The scene that we wrote this song for is so heartbreaking, but so real for many people at Christmas, spending it without the ones they love, for so many reasons.'

It has also been revealed that Ed Sheeran has made a brand new song for the film, which he created with his older brother

That Christmas has been directed by Simon Otto, who also animated How To Train Your Dragon, and the score has been composed by John Powell

The animation is based on a series of children's books by Richard Curtis (pictured above)

Curtis was delighted that 'the greatest British songwriter' had agreed to get involved in the movie, claiming the duo 'had been friend for years'

Bill Nighy will star in 'That Christmas', but he has been working with Curtis for a long time after playing an aging rocker in Love Actually in 2002

Hugh Grant as prime minister in love with his secretary in the Christmas classic Love Actually

Liam Neeson, Thomas Sangster in Love Actually. Curtis is renowned for making rom com movies, including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and About Time

Andrew Lincoln and Keira Knightley in Love Actually.

While Curtis was delighted that 'the greatest British songwriter' had agreed to get involved in the movie, claiming the duo 'had been friend for years'.

'I'm so thrilled to have Ed's beautiful song in our movie.

'It's a film set in Suffolk ... Ed lives in and loves Suffolk and completely understood the pitch and tone of what we were trying to do.

'We've been friends for many years and  especially now that he's a husband and a father  it's really lovely to have him play such a key part in this film about love, children and family.

'And, of course, even if he wasn't a friend and didn't love Suffolk, how marvellous to have a wonderful new song by one of the greatest British songwriters ever.'

That Christmas has been directed by Simon Otto, who also animated How To Train Your Dragon, and the score has been composed by John Powell.

Curtis is renowned for making rom com movies, including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and About Time.

But one of his all time fan favourites is Love Actually. For millions of Britons no Christmas would be complete without a screening of the film which stars Hugh Grant as prime minister in love with his secretary and Billy Nighy as an ageing rocker who will do almost anything for one last shot at the big time.
A nine-and-a-half tonne heavily armoured vehicle rocked when a volley of gunshots were fired at the windscreen, a police officer has told an inquest.

The specialist officer had responded to a Wieambilla property where two police colleagues and a civilian had been ambushed and shot dead on December 12, 2022.

The inquest is being held into the deaths of Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow and neighbour Alan Dare who were shot by Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train at the property in the Western Downs area, west of Brisbane.

Officers tried calling mobile phones linked to the Trains before using a loud hailer to call on the shooters to put down their weapons.

Attempts to negotiate were met with no response, other than gunfire, State Coroner Terry Ryan was told.

The three shooters were almost robotic, not gesturing or yelling, a specialist officer who cannot be named said on Thursday.

'They just went about placing themselves in suitable positions to get lethal gunfire towards us.'

The officer was in the front seat of the heavily armoured, 9.5 tonne vehicle about 100metres from a house on the property when a light shone in their direction and a volley of gunfire followed.

A police drone image of the Train's property that was shown at the inquest

Stacey and Gareth Train (pictured) at the Wieambilla property

'How we rocked when a number of those rounds hit the front of the BearCat (armoured vehicle), it was quite surreal,' he said.

'I've never experienced that before - just the magnitude of the calibre we were dealing with.'

The court has been told police had considered whether any of the Trains were being held against their will but it seemed clear all three were there voluntarily when they continued firing at police vehicles and a helicopter.

PolAir officers sent screenshots of vision to police on the ground to show where the Trains were positioned.

Officers in vehicles attempted to negotiate with the Trains for over an hour while trying to avoid coming under heavy fire.

After Gareth fired at Team three, at 10.32pm the return fire by operatives shot Gareth in the hip and head, killing him.

Stacey fired at the BearCat before going inside the house but reappeared and fired a rifle, which the specialist officer said took him by surprise.

'I did feel we could attempt negotiations with person of interest three (Stacey),' he said of police beliefs during the incident.

After Stacey took a second shot, the operative returned fire which hit her in the head at 10.36pm.

After being shot, Stacey fell down the staircase and did not move.

PolAir sent screenshots of vision (pictured) to police on the ground so they knew exactly where the Trains were positioned and firing from

After Gareth and Stacey Train were shot, police tried to talk to Nathaniel who was lying prone firing a rifle before reaching up to a table for a Glock, the officer said.

'SERT (Special Emergency Response Team) Operative 106 is in the turret yelling out to him to put the weapons down, show us your hands, the negotiations continued the whole time for him to surrender.'

He was behind a log before getting up, like 'his last stand' to fire a Glock - taken from one of the dead officers - when he was shot by a police sniper.

High-calibre shots to the light-armoured vehicle in which another specialist officer was travelling 'packed a punch', the inquest was told.

Gareth and Stacey Train (pictured) posted a video on the night of the shootings to their now-deleted Youtube channel

'The vehicle is quite a few tonne in weight (and) those rounds were hitting and were actually moving the vehicle,' that officer, who also cannot be named, told the inquest.

'When they were hitting on the window and windscreen ... inside the vehicle you could feel the percussion or the effects of that round hitting the glass.'

Two constables - Keely Brough and Randall Kirk - escaped the initial ambush when their colleagues were killed.

The inquest is set to continue on Monday.
St. John "Sinjin" Barned-Smith joined The San Francisco Chronicle in 2022 and covers City Hall. He previously worked at The Houston Chronicle, where he covered law enforcement.

Barned-Smith started his career at the Philadelphia Daily News, served in the Peace Corps, in Paraguay, and worked at the Montgomery Gazette, in Maryland, before joining Hearst Newspapers in 2014. His coverage of floods, mass shootings and police misconduct and other topics has been honored with several state and national awards.

Barned-Smith lives in San Francisco, with his newshound, Scoop.
It comes weeks after another British tourist claimed she was raped on the beach

A Swiss tourist has been arrested on suspicion of raping a British teenager at a Magaluf restaurant.

The 17-year-old male holidaymaker told police his alleged aggressor had followed him to the toilets and forced himself on him after they shared drinks together following the end of a dinner show at the eatery.

The British teenager had gone out with friends but ended up partying with the Swiss national after they were put on the same table for the show despite not knowing each other.

He alerted security staff after leaving the toilets and gave them a description of the suspect before they detained him at the restaurant exit and handed him over to police when they arrived.

The British youngster was taken to hospital for a routine examination before making a full statement.

A Swiss tourist has been arrested on suspicion of raping a British teenager at a Magaluf restaurant

The restaurant has not been named. The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday.

The Swiss suspect, whose age is not known, was hauled to court later the same day but released on bail instead of being remanded in custody.

It was not immediately clear today whether he has been allowed to leave Majorca pending an ongoing criminal investigation. He declined to answer questions from a judge.

Yesterday afternoon police in Majorca confirmed they were still hunting a Senegalese man suspected of raping and robbing a British tourist on a Magaluf beach.

He allegedly discovered her lying drunk and alone in the resort's brash Punta Ballena strip after she became separated from friends and carried her to the beach where he forced himself on her before stealing her phone.

The sex attack happened around 4am on July 24 but was only made public yesterday.

He has been described locally as a street seller.

Police sources said he had been identified and they were hopeful of making an arrest in the next few days.

On Sunday it emerged another British tourist has been assisted by police after claiming she was raped and robbed at a different beach in Majorca.

The 30-year-old told detectives she agreed to go to the beach near the island capital Palma with a man she met and ended up agreeing to have sex with before a second man appeared on the scene and forced himself on her in the early hours of last Thursday morning.

They then fled with her belongings according to the holidaymaker.

Local reports said she had accepted an offer of 'free drugs' by the man she met as she strolled around Palma before heading to the beach with him.

She was taken to hospital for a routine medical exploration and was said to have been 'visibly affected' and in a 'state of shock' before flying back to London.

Police are also investigating the alleged rape of a young British tourist on a Magaluf beach

In April last year an Italian man was arrested on suspicion of raping a 38-year-old British woman on a beach near Magaluf after luring her from a nearby bar.

The 20-year-old was held after the victim complained he had forced himself on her after a night out in Palmanova which borders the famous party resort.

A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Majorca said at the time: 'The Civil Guard in Calvia has arrested an Italian man aged 20 as the suspected author of a crime of sexual assault on a woman aged 38.

'Last week, the alleged victim and suspect coincided in a late-night bar in Palmanova.

'When the bar closed, the suspect allegedly took advantage of the woman's state of disorientation because of the amount of alcohol she had drunk, to take her to the beach and rape her.

'Officers began an investigation and managed to identify and locate the alleged offender.'

Court officials could not be reached this morning for comment regarding the investigation a judge launched at the time.

A British 18-year-old was allegedly gang-raped at a hotel in Magaluf in the early hours of August 14 last year.

Five French nationals and a Swiss man were arrested and remanded in jail pending an ongoing judicial investigation and a further two suspects subsequently held in France on European Arrest Warrants.
A crocodile expert who raped and killed dogs has been jailed for more than 10 years over his 'grotesque' depravity.

Adam Robert Corden Britton was sentenced in Darwin Supreme Court on Thursday having previously pleaded guilty to 56 offences related to the torture and sexual exploitation of more than 42 dogs on his rural property.

Britton, who was born in the UK, was sentenced to ten years and five months with a non-parole period of six years, backdated to his April 2022 arrest.

Chief Justice Michael Grant warned the public gallery that he would have to describe Britton's offending that included 'grotesque cruelty toward animals'.

'Your depravity falls outside any ordinary human conception,' Justice Grant told Britton.

Justice Grant also ordered Britton be banned from owning or having on his property mammal-type animals for the term of his natural life.

Britton's barrister, who has asked not to be named because she has been subject to personal abuse and threats for representing him, had argued a lifetime ban on all animal ownership was an 'extreme measure'.

She argued Britton should be allowed to own or live with any creatures other than 'mammals' and the ban should not be lifetime because of the 'reasonable prospects of rehabilitation'.

Adam Britton (pictured) has been jailed for more than ten years over his 'grotesque' depravity and cruelty towards over 42 dogs

Britton (centre) with his wife Erin (left) and David Attenborough (right) during filming for a BBC documentary

Members of the public gallery sobbed and gasped as the details of Britton's extensive and violent offending, resulting in the deaths of 39 dogs, including nine puppies, were read out.

Britton stood in the dock wearing a black suit with grey shirt and did not visibly react to Justice Grant's sentencing remarks.

Britton began offending in 2014 and continued until his arrest in April 2022 after a video of his vile acts, which he had shared online, was anonymously provided to Northern Territory animal welfare authorities.

The agreed facts stated Britton extensively filmed his offending in his so-called 'torture room' and shared videos online under pseudonyms while encouraging others to commit similar offences and offering 'how to' advice.

The vile acts took place within a shipping container on Britton's home as well as at 'secluded' locations throughout Darwin's outer suburbs.

Much of the abuse was filmed by Britton on mobile phones and on cameras placed on tripods, with the video later edited to 'black out' identifying features.

From 2020 until his arrest in 2022, Britton used the encrypted social media service Telegram to connect with 'like-minded' animal abusers.

A second account, known as Cerberus, was used to upload and disseminate videos made by Britton in which he discussed his 'kill count'.

The videos were saved on to Britton's devices under names relating to the location, breed or name of the animal, including 'Mastiff1', 'Pit1' and 'NewBlue1'.

According to the facts, Britton would refer to the cruelty as 'ZooSadism' and posted to Telegram groups such as 'New Wicked Kennel', which had 15 users.

In an online chat, Britton referred to his 'torture room' and what implements he would use, including a bread knife, before adding that: 'I can't stop myself hurting dogs.

'I am going to get another dog to kill tomorrow. I plan to hurt it, a lot. I am ridiculously excited about it,' he said.

In 2016, Britton uploaded a photo of one of his dogs, Bolt, as a puppy (pictured)

The court heard Britton started abusing his dogs, Ursa and Bolt (pictured), in 2014

'Your sheer and unalloyed pleasure is sickeningly evident from the recorded material,' Justice Grant said.

As well as torturing his dogs that he had raised, Britton bought sought canines featured in Gumtree Australia 'free to good home' adverts from unsuspecting owners in the Darwin region.

The once-respected academic, who was born in the UK and has worked for the BBC and National Geographic, sourced about 42 dogs over a two-year period for the sole purpose of torturing the animals to death on camera.

He would contact families who reluctantly gave their dogs up due to work or health issues, and would then send false updates to reassure the former owners their pets were 'happy' and 'doing well'.

According to court documents, the pets were usually dead by the time these updates were sent. Most of the dogs he acquired were horrifically abused and murdered within a few days of him gaining ownership.

Britton's online activity first raised the attention of police following a report by the Northern Territory (NT) Animal Welfare Branch in 2022.

The agency had reported a video made by Britton and posted to a 'gore website' that depicted him sexually abusing, torturing and killing one dog and eight puppies.

The female dog in the video was wearing a Darwin City Council 'great pets start with you' collar, prompting an investigation by NT Police.

In April 2022, NT Police and AFP officers raided Britton's home and seized 44 items, including computers, cameras, hard drives, weapons and sex toys.

Police also located severed dog limbs in a freezer, a decomposing puppy in a filtration pond and a severed dog head in a neighbouring property in the search.

Britton was also sentenced for possessing and transmitting 'the worst category' of child sexual abuse material.

His ex-wife Erin formally dropped his surname just two months after his arrest in 2022.

Britton extensively filmed his offending in his so-called 'torture room' and shared videos online under pseudonyms while encouraging others to commit similar offences and offering 'how to' advice

Britton grew up in England and received his Ph.D. in Zoology at the University of Bristol before moving to Australia after 1996 to pursue his fascination with crocodiles.

He met his future wife and they set up a consultancy company, Big Gecko, which sold footage of crocodiles to television and film directors.

Their saltwater crocodile, Smaug, became something of a celebrity in his field and appeared in two horror films.

Britton and Erin also hosted Sir David Attenborough while he was filming the BBC's Life in Cold Blood docuseries.

She was a biologist and wildlife ranger who has assisted in a range of projects on sea turtles and counting crocodiles.

Adam Britton (pictured with his wife) was married for about 15 years. She formally dropped his surname two months after he was charged

They were married for about 15 years, but she was often away for work and there is no suggestion that she knew about his dark secret.

Britton was a prominent NT crocodile expert and a senior researcher at Charles Darwin University and in that capacity he once hosted world-famous broadcaster and biologist David Attenborough.

None of his offending was against the reptiles.

Earlier Britton's barrister read the court an apology penned by her client.

'I take full responsibility for the demeaning crimes that I perpetrated on dogs,' Britton said.

'I deeply regret the pain and trauma that I caused to innocent animals and consequently to my family, friends and members of the community that I affected, I let you all down and I'm truly sorry.

'I now acknowledge that I've been fighting a rare paraphilic disorder for much of my life and that shame and fear prevented me from seeking the proper help I needed.'

Britton added 'no amount of words can convey how sorry and ashamed I am, nor undo what I did' but he was 'determined to prove I am better than this'.

'That I will seek long-term treatment and that I will find a path towards redemption,' he said.

'Please give my family the space they deserve to heal, they were not aware or involved in any way.'

Adam Britton (pictured) told a stranger on Telegram that he stopped trying to suppress his violent urges

Paraphilia is defined as having persistent and recurrent sexual interests, urges, fantasies, or behaviors of marked intensity involving objects, activities, or even situations that are atypical in nature.

Crown prosecutor Marty Aust argued for a lifetime ban on mammal ownership saying Britton's paraphilia 'appears to be treatable but ever present'.

'We would submit that your honour would be satisfied that really there is an ever present risk in this case for this offender,' he said.

Britton's sentence was met with outrage by animal advocates.

Emma Hurst, an MP for the Animal Justice Party in NSW, slammed the sentence as 'pathetically weak'.

'These were horrific acts of animal cruelty,' Ms Hurst said.

'There is a well-researched link between violence towards animals and violence towards people.

'This man is a danger to other animals and the community. I am relieved to hear his sentence includes time behind bars - that's where a man like this belongs  but it is not long enough.'
Qantas has axed its non-stop mega flight from Perth to London due to soaring tensions in the Middle East.

The 17-hour flight will now stop in Singapore before taking an alternative route that dodges risky airspace, the airline said on Thursday.

'We're making adjustments to some of our flight paths due to the situation in parts of the Middle East as a precaution,' a spokesperson said.

'We'll contact customers directly if there's any change to their booking.'

It's understood return flights from London to Perth will operate direct, due to prevailing winds.

Qantas has axed its non-stop mega flight from Perth to London due to soaring tensions in the Middle East

The flight from Perth to London is a staggering 17-hours, making it the fourth-longest route in the world. Pictured is Perth Airport

The move comes as Israel braces for retaliation from Iran over the deaths of Hamas political leader Ismael Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

Iran backs both militant groups and has vowed revenge on Israel, even though the Israeli government has only taken responsibility for Shukr's death.

Qantas previously paused the route over the Middle East in April after Iran said it would strike Israel for killing a senior Iranian commander in Syria -- a promise it followed through with.

The Albanese government has called on Australians in Lebanon to leave while they can, warning they may be trapped there indefinitely if Beirut's airport closes.
The former academic raped, tortured and killed dozens of dogs over eight years

was sentenced to 10 years and five months in prison today

A crocodile expert and former BBC zoologist who filmed himself raping and torturing dogs has been jailed for more than 10 years in Australia for what a judge condemned as 'inconceivable depravity'.

Adam Robert Corden Britton was sentenced in Darwin Supreme Court on Thursday having pleaded guilty to 56 offences related to the torture and sexual exploitation of more than 42 dogs on his rural property.

The 53-year-old, who was born in West Yorkshire and earned a PhD in zoology from Bristol University before emigrating to Australia, was sentenced to 10 years and five months with a non-parole period of six years, backdated to his April 2022 arrest.

Chief Justice Michael Grant also ordered that the once-respected academic be banned from owning or having on his property mammal-type animals for the term of his natural life.

Before delivering the sentence, Justice Grant warned the public gallery that he would have to describe details of Britton's offences that included 'grotesque cruelty toward animals' and told the British-born academic: 'Your depravity falls outside any ordinary human conception'.

Adam Britton (pictured has been jailed for more than 10 years over his 'grotesque' depravity and cruelty towards dogs

Britton was sentenced in Darwin Supreme Court on Thursday having previously pleaded guilty to 56 offences related to the torture and sexual exploitation of more than 42 dogs on his rural property

Britton (pictured) told a stranger on Telegram that he stopped trying to suppress his violent urges

Members of the public gallery sobbed and gasped as the details of Britton's extensive and violent offending, resulting in the deaths of 39 dogs, including nine puppies, were read out.

Britton stood in the dock wearing a black suit with grey shirt and did not visibly react to Justice Grant's sentencing remarks.

Britton began offending in 2014, sexually abusing his own pet dogs - Swiss Shepherds Ursa and Bolt - in a secret 'torture room' constructed on his rural property in McMinns Lagoon near the city of Darwin.

He continued until his arrest in April 2022 after a video of his vile acts, which he had shared online, was provided to Australia's Northern Territory animal welfare authorities.

An anonymous internet user noticed a female dog in one of his horrific videos was wearing an orange City of Darwin leash with the slogan, 'great pets start with you'.

That tip-off enabled investigators to track down where the dog was adopted from - and by whom.

The agreed facts stated Britton extensively filmed his offending in his so-called 'torture room' and shared videos online under pseudonyms while encouraging others to commit similar offences and offering 'how to' advice.

'Your sheer and unalloyed pleasure is sickeningly evident from the recorded material,' Justice Grant said.

As well as torturing his dogs that he had raised, Britton bought sought canines featured in Gumtree Australia 'free to good home' adverts from unsuspecting owners in the Darwin region.

Britton was also sentenced for possessing and transmitting 'the worst category' of child sexual abuse material.

The British citizen was a prominent crocodile expert and a senior researcher at Charles Darwin University - a post which afforded him the opportunity to host the likes of world-famous broadcaster and biologist David Attenborough while he filmed the BBC's Life in Cold Blood docuseries.

None of his offending is alleged to have been against the reptiles.

The zoologist kept his twisted double life and depraved fantasies from his wife Erin for years.

Erin, a wildlife ranger who once met Prince Harry and helped him catch a crocodile, has reportedly changed her surname since learning of her husband's crimes.

Britton not only tortured and sexually abused his own pets Ursa and Bolt (pictured together), who he created an Instagram page for, but also dogs from pet owners he had lured into his trap through the online marketplace platform Gumtree Australia

In 2016, Britton uploaded a photo of one of his dogs, Bolt, as a puppy (pictured)

The court heard Britton started abusing his dogs, Ursa and Bolt (pictured), in 2014

Adam Britton (centre) with his wife Erin (left) and David Attenborough (right) during filming for a BBC documentary Cold Blood

During Britton's trial, prosecutors told the court he maintained several accounts on the Telegram messaging app - one which he used to engage with 'like-minded people', and another which was used to disseminate images and recordings of the abuse.

'Using these applications, the offender discussed his ''kill count'',' the prosecutor told the court. His account had 114 threads where he described how he acquired the pets and how he abused them.

The court learned how Britton once told a Telegram user of his violent compulsions: 'I had repressed it. In the last few years I let it out again, and now I can't stop. I don't want to.'

Britton sourced other dogs from Gumtree Australia from unsuspecting owners in the Darwin region.

The court previously heard he built rapport with the owners and negotiated taking custody of their pets, many of whom reluctantly gave their pets away due to travel or work commitments.

He would tell pet owners on Gumtree that his old dog had died of cancer and he wanted a 'new family member' in order to make them have pity on him and sell them their dog, the court heard.

If the pet owners reached out and asked Britton how their old dog was doing, he would spin a 'false narrative' to say they were healthy and even send them old photos - when in reality their pet was already dead.

In one scenario, Britton sent a message to the owners of a large brown dog named Wolfe to reassure them the animal was 'settling in well'. The prosecutor told the court that dog Wolfe had already been 'sexually exploited, tortured and killed'.

Following his arrest in 2022, police seized 44 items including computers, mobile telephones, cameras, external hard drives, tools and weapons during a raid of his home. They also found 15 child abuse material files on his laptop.

But Britton's sentence was met with outrage by animal rights activists in Australia.

Emma Hurst, who is an MP for the Animal Justice Party in New South Wales, slammed the sentence as 'pathetically weak'.

'These were horrific acts of animal cruelty,' Ms Hurst said.

'There is a well-researched link between violence towards animals and violence towards people.

'This man is a danger to other animals and the community. I am relieved to hear his sentence includes time behind bars - that's where a man like this belongs  but it is not long enough.'

British-born crocodile expert admitted sexually abusing puppies and torturing dozens of dogs at his animal shelter in Australia

Britton's wife Erin, a wildlife ranger who once met Prince Harry and helped him catch a crocodile, has reportedly changed her surname since learning of her husband's crimes

Prince Harry is seen catching a crocodile as he is aided by Britton's wife Erin

Britton's sprawling rural property was put up for sale but protesters spray painted 'Dog Killer' on the walls

Britton's barrister, who has asked not to be named because she has been subject to personal abuse and threats for representing him, had argued a lifetime ban on all animal ownership was an 'extreme measure'.

She argued Britton should be allowed to own or live with any creatures other than 'mammals' and the ban should not last a lifetime because of the 'reasonable prospects of rehabilitation'.

But she also read the court an apology that she claimed had been penned by her client.

'I take full responsibility for the demeaning crimes that I perpetrated on dogs,' Britton said.

'I deeply regret the pain and trauma that I caused to innocent animals and consequently to my family, friends and members of the community that I affected, I let you all down and I'm truly sorry.

'I now acknowledge that I've been fighting a rare paraphilic disorder for much of my life and that shame and fear prevented me from seeking the proper help I needed.'

Britton said 'no amount of words can convey how sorry and ashamed I am, nor undo what I did' but he was 'determined to prove I am better than this'.

'I will seek long-term treatment and find a path towards redemption,' his letter read.

'Please give my family the space they deserve to heal, they were not aware or involved in any way.'

Paraphilia is defined as having persistent and recurrent sexual interests, urges, fantasies, or behaviours of marked intensity involving objects, activities, or even situations that are atypical in nature.
A primary school is in shock after a male pupil threatened to stab and rape a girl while 'keeping her body in a bag'.

The Nottingham schoolboy also allegedly told the girl he would 'shank her nan' whilst attending a primary-to-secondary transition day at Bluecoat Aspley Academy.

According to The Nottingham Post, the boy is now being kept away from the girl at the school.

But the girl's father has criticised the police for failing to take actions and says the measures do not go far enough.

An incident report said the boy threatened to bring a knife to school and stab the girl after being turned down by her.

The boy said he would carry out the shocking act 'if she carries on doing this to me', having told the girl he had a crush on her.

The Nottingham schoolboy also allegedly told the girl he would 'shank her nan' whilst attending a primary-to-secondary transition day at Bluecoat Aspley Academy (pictured)

He talked about keeping the girl's body in a bag and sexually assaulting her, witnesses told the school.

The boy also allegedly threatened to 'shank her man'.

When the girl was picked up from the Nottingham school by her father that day he said his daughter was 'very upset'. He immediately reported the boy's behaviour and threats to the academy.

The boy agreed to apologise after a member of staff is said to have told him his behaviour would not be tolerated at the academy.

The incident report reportedly said the boy and girl will not share any classes or break times.

The girl's father fears the boy's threatening behaviour could escalate if not challenged, after the police told him the threats were an internal matter for the school to deal with.

He said: 'My daughter's strong but she's still a young girl. It has impacted her.

'She doesn't want to have to look over her shoulder. I suggested we find another school.

'But she's worked very hard to get in and doesn't want to quit. I just want to make sure my daughter's in a safe environment.

'I'm not asking for extra special treatment. This is how it starts when they're young.'

Nottinghamshire Police and the Archway Learning Trust have been contacted for comment.
Secret Service snipers were spotted guarding Kamala Harris and Tim Walz at their Wisconsin rally, in what was the first major outdoor presidential campaign since a gunman opened fire on Donald Trump.

The Vice President and her running mate appeared before a crowd of 12,000 people less than a month after Trump was shot at in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.

Last week, Secret Service director Ronald Rowe confirmed that all political candidates will receive similar 'counter sniper coverage moving forward'.

He also revealed that 'we are going to put all the resources out there to address any challenges that we have'.

It comes after shocking social media posts of Trump's shooter Thomas Crooks were revealed by the CEO of a social networking website.

Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz greet supporters as they arrive to a campaign rally in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Secret Service security watch on during the campaign event less than a month after Donald Trump was shot by a gunman

Secret Service officials will now provide a similar counter sniper coverage to all political candidates moving forward

According to Rowe, Trump's Pennsylvania rally was the first time a Secret Service counter sniper had been assigned to one of his events.

However, other law enforcement agencies have provided similar coverage at other campaign events.

The 20-year-old gunman, who struck Trump's right ear and killed a rally attendee, was killed by a single fatal shot from the counter sniper after he fired eight rounds from an AR-15 rifle.

Despite being urged to stop holding outdoor rallies, Trump reinforced that he will continue to do them on July 27.

Rowe agreed, stating: 'Its on us to figure out what we gotta do to mitigate that', the Independent reports.

Earlier this week, Walz emerged as Harris' Vice President pick after a hotly-watched veepstakes in the two weeks after taking over Biden's campaign.

The 60-year-old father-of-two, who has been married to his teacher wife Gwen since 1994, joins the ticket in a victory for the far left of the party who were concerned about some of the other contenders' support of Israel.

Former President Donald Trump raised his fist moments after being injured in a shooting at the Pennsylvania rally on July 13

Harris announced Minnesota Governor Walz, 60, (left) as her running partner earlier this week

Secret Service director Ronald Rowe confirmed 'we are going to put all the resources out there to address any challenges that we have'

In Minnesota Walz has codified the right to abortion, signed universal free school meals, legalized recreational marijuana and gave voting rights to former prisoners.

The former teacher is also credited with being the Democrat who started calling Republicans 'weird', a craze that has dominated the campaign since Joe Biden dropped out of the race last month.

Walz turned the North Star State into a refuge for LGBTQ Americans and has also backed making Minnesota the 13th 'sanctuary' state for undocumented migrants.

Republicans who feared the popularity of Shapiro celebrated Walz' announcement and slammed his 'woke' policies while Donald Trump's campaign called the governor a 'dangerous west coast wannabe'.
Actress Prunella Scales has reprised her lifelong role as Queen Victoria despite an ongoing battle with dementia.

Performing the role she first stepped into 44 years ago, Scales, 92, will return to the character at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Scales has played the monarch over 500 times in the play in 'An Evening with Queen Victoria', both in London and in performances around the world until 2007.

She also appeared as Queen Victoria in the children's TV 'Station Jim' in 2001 and in BBC drama 'Victoria: An Intimate History in 2003.

In an interactive history project, she featured once recording a monologue for a projection in front of the statue of Queen Victoria on Blackfriars Bridge in London.

Now, the Fawlty Towers star has recorded new voiceovers to play the elderly monarch once again in a reprisal of the 1979 show, now called 'Queen'.

Scales steps back into the role of Queen Victoria while living with vascular dementia.

Looking for Victoria (2003): Performing the role of Queen Victoria 44 years ago, Scales, 92, will return to the character at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

An Evening with Queen Victoria (1980): Scales has played the character over 500 times

Looking for Victoria (2003): Scales steps back into the role of Queen Victoria while living with vascular dementia

The show's writer Julian Machin said the veteran actress 'exceeded all expectations' with her performance.

He told The Telegraph: 'Although Prunella has vascular dementia, which greatly affects her in many ways, she absolutely retains longer-term memory of herself and her working experience.'

After almost 50 years playing Queen Victoria, Machin said that 'her memory of having said the lines so many times over the years made it much easier to direct her than even I'd hoped for.'

Alongside husband and actor Timothy West, Scales revealed her diagnosis in 2014 during their Channel 4 show 'Great Canal Journeys'.

The couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last year and spoke to the BBC about Scales's worsening health.

The touching interview saw Scales who has had symptoms of vascular dementia for more than 20 years, say to her husband, 89: 'Thanks for sticking with me for so long.'

West responded: 'Well, we've done all right' before asking her 'It hasn't really been hard work, has it?'

Scales, best known for playing Sybil Fawlty (pictured) in Fawlty Towers, ended her 67-year acting career in early 2020

The veteran acting couple pictured together in When We Were Married in 1986

Last year, West, who shares a home in Wandsworth with his wife, admitted he misses the 'companionship' of his 'best friend' as her dementia battle continues.

The couple, who 'fell in love over crosswords and packets of Polo mints', first addressed Scale's condition after she began struggling with her lines on stage in the early noughties.

West explained that by 2003, Scales, who was performing in A Woman of No Importance, was relying on 'idiot boards' to get her through the show.

They did not receive a formal diagnosis until 10 years later and he explained that the progression of her illness had 'taken a very long time'.

Scales ended her 67-year acting career in early 2020.

In a foreword to the book of their Channel 4 show, 'Our Great Canal Journeys', the actress wrote: 'How do I feel about being in this situation? Well, angry of course. I hate the idea that the world is going on around me, but that so much of it is closed off. I soon forget my anger, though, as I forget nearly everything else.'

West published a book recently, Pru and Me: The Amazing Marriage of Prunella Scales and Timothy West, discussing the couple's decades of marriage and how they've coped with the progression of Scale's illness.
He also sexually abused one of her grandchildren after he killed her

She was found with deep cuts to her throat, and stab wounds around her genitals

A Utah man who slit his ex-girlfriend's mother's throat in 1998 was put to death in the early hours of Thursday morning, becoming the first person to be executed by the state in 14 years.

Taberon Dave Honie, 48, was convicted of aggravated murder in the July 1998 death of Claudia Benn, after he broke into her house in Cedar City and repeatedly slashed her and stabbed her to death while her grandchildren, including Honie's own then-two-year-old daughter, were home.

Cops, who were called by neighbors in the early hours of the following day, found him in Benn's garage with her blood under his fingertips. He admitted during his arrest: 'I stabbed her. I killed her with a knife.'

Forensic investigators who swarmed Benn's Cedar City home found that Honie had cut the tragic grandmother's throat four time ear to ear to deeply that the knife reached her spine.

They also found he had stabbed her several times in and around her genitals, as well as evidence that he had sexually abused one of her grandchildren immediately after her death.

Despite admitted two days ago that he was 'a monster' to the state's parole board during his final appeal against the death penalty, he spent a quarter of a century trying to fight the sentence, which was handed down in 1999.

Taberon Dave Honie, 48, (pictured, centre) was convicted of aggravated murder in the July 1998 death of Claudia Benn

Claudia Benn (pictured) was slaughtered in her Cedar City, Utah, home in 1998

Tressa Honie, Taberon's daughter, admitted she has a complicated relationship with her father and mother

Claims of racially motivated prosecutors, abuse suffered at the hands of his parents and even long-term brain damage he said he suffered from a 30-ft fall from a ladder all failed to convince appeals judges, including the state's Supreme Court.

His final appeal, based on the claim that he needed to be alive to support his daughter, Tressa Honie, in any way he could given her troubled relationship with her mother, Benn's daughter, was denied.

Her mother's side of the family has staunchly fought to ensure Honie gets executed.

They described Benn as a pillar in their family and southwestern Utah community - a Paiute tribal member, substance abuse counselor and caregiver for her children and grandchildren.

Sarah China Azule, Benn's niece, said she was happy with the board's decision to move forward with Honie's execution.

'He deserves an eye for an eye,' she said.

Honie admitted he was 'a monster' in his final Hail Mary

He was executed by lethal injection on this table in the Utah State Correctional Facility

FILE - This April 18, 2024, photo released by the Utah Department of Corrections shows death row inmate Taberon Dave Honie, who was convicted of aggravated murder in the brutal stabbing of his girlfriend's mother. (Utah Department of Corrections via AP, File)

From left, Deacon Mike Bulson, Michelle Beasley, of Sandy, and Father John Evans pray the Rosary with others during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (Isaac Hale/The Deseret News via AP)

Nicholas Cote, western regional organizer of Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty, prays during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2024. (Isaac Hale/The Deseret News via AP)

But Tressa told the AP that she has always felt out of place from her mother's family.

'My mom's side, they can heal together,' she said in an interview. 'I'm happy you guys are going to get this closure, this justice, but where does that leave me? I feel like I have to heal alone.'

Trevia Wall, Benn's niece, said she's had an 'on-and-off' relationship with Tressa over the years but has tried to offer her extra support leading up to her father's death. Wall was among those who testified in favor of Honie='s execution - an outcome she deemed necessary to get justice for her aunt. The two cousins embraced and cried together after the last hearing.

'It's bittersweet,' Wall said in an interview. 'Now we can finally move forward, we can finally heal, but its bitter because I hurt for my cousin, his daughter. He put her in the middle, and she was torn between her father and her grandmother.'

Honie's last meal before his execution was a cheeseburger, french fries and a milkshake, Utah Department of Corrections said. Honie spent the evening with his family before the execution.

Outside the prison, a group of anti-death penalty protesters held signs that said, 'All life is precious' and prayed and sang 'Amazing Grace.'

Honie's death came just hours after Arthur Lee burton, a man described by his lawyers as intellectually disabled, was executed in Texas for strangling and trying to rape a woman who went jogging near her Houston home more than 27 years ago.

Arthur Lee Burton had been sentenced to death for the July 1997 killing of Nancy Adleman, a 48-year-old mother of three who police found beaten and strangled with her own shoelace in a wooded area off a jogging trail along a bayou.
Kim Jong-un has wiped his hated step-grandmother's mansion off the map, amid speculation that he's too broke to maintain her royal residence.

After the death of the dictator's grandmother, his grandfather and predecessor, Kim Il-sung, remarried and started another family.

But relations between the rival royal lines were fraught, with the new wife, Kim Song-ae, accused of trying to install her own son on the throne.

So Kim Jong-il, the current leader's father, had her placed under house arrest, and her son, Kim Pyong-il, was sent into exile as a career diplomat.

But Kim Jong-il could not harm his stepmother, and after the death of her husband in 1994, she was allowed to live out her days in a mansion.

Now satellite photos have revealed that Kim Jong-un has bulldozed his step-grandmother's home, leaving no visible trace of it after her death.

BEFORE: Photo shows Kim Song-ae's mansion as it was when she died in 2014

AFTER: Photo shows all that remains of the mansion after it was bulldozed by Kim Jong-un

Kim Song-ae (pictured) was the new wife of Kim Jong-un's grandfather after his grandmother died

North Korea expert Jacob Bogle said: 'Her power and authority was all tied to her marriage to the semi-divine Kim Il-sung.

'As stepmother to the eventual heir, Kim Jong-il, her relationship with him would be critical to her future.

'Unfortunately, their relationship was fraught with difficulties.

'Kim Jong-il worried that she would band together with her biological children to try and block his succession.

'This played out in 1994 with Song-ae being placed under house arrest until an agreement was made.'

He added: 'Her public role as 'First Lady of North Korea', meant that her physical safety was basically inviolable.

'But, she could still be sidelined and sent to what was effectively exile in a gilded cage.'

Mr Bogle  who has built a comprehensive map of North Korea from satellite images  said the Hapjang mansion was near to Pyongyang, but not too close.

He said: 'The location of the villa is semi-remote, in a mountainous area between Pyongyang and Pyongsong.

'It would be a prime setting for one's retirement  close enough to be watched, but out of the way and in a quiet spot without other elite neighbors.'

Kim Jong Un speaks during a ceremony to mark the delivery of 250 nuclear-capable missile launchers to frontline military units on August 4

 Slide me  Sliding picture shows the villa site before and after it was demolished by the North Korean dictator

Kim Song-ae (right) at Pyongyang International Airport in 1980 during a state visit

In terms of space, its ground-floor footprint was 1,400 sq metres  about a third of what Kim Jong-un enjoys, but vastly above the national average, which is less than 100 sq metres.

Jacob continued: 'It sat on a small hill next to an artificial lake on the Hapjang River, surrounded by 11 hectares of woodland.

'It was also protected by a security fence and had its own on-site facilities for guards and other workers.'

In satellite photos, the security perimeter at the site appears to have grown, but all traces of the mansion have gone.

Mr Bogle said: 'The only signs that something was there is an open field where the villa sat, the driveway, and the enlarged perimeter fence.'

Kim Song-ae died in 2014, so the timing of the demolition is curious.

But Jacob believes the answer could be simple: that money is tight.

'There's no directly obvious answer to why the villa was demolished,' he said.

'There is a history of villas belonging to purged officials being torn down, and even the villa where Kim Il-sung died was demolished back in 2010-11.

'Recently, Kim Jong-un also tore down the much larger Ryokpo Winter Residence complex.

'So there is certainly precedent to raze villas for a range of reasons.

'There doesn't seem to be any obvious reason, like using the land for something else, but it could be a sign that money is tight.'

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un pictured holding an emergency meeting to discuss flood restoration measures in North Korea

Kim Jong Un attends a ceremonial event to mark the delivery of new tactical ballistic missiles on August 4

Kim Jong Un during the ceremony to mark the delivery of new tactical ballistic missiles at an undisclosed location on August 4

He noted that buildings directly across from Kim Jong-un's main home, the Ryongsong Residence, had rusted roofs.

While the Tongpy'ongyang Residence  former home of the dictator's half brother, Kim Jong-nam, who was assassinated in 2017  is visibly deteriorating.

Mr Bogle said: 'My personal opinion is that Kim Jong-un is focusing on getting rid of redundant and outdated villas.

'Or that funds are being redirected to furnish Kim's own palaces, leaving those lesser elites and family members to fund maintenance with their own resources.'

But the analyst is in no doubt that the Kim Jong-un will continue to live like a king, however tight money gets.

He said: 'Kim Jong-un continues to spend lavishly on himself and on those closest to him.

'From illegally importing luxury cars to renovating his favorite residences, Kim spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year on extravagance.

'He does this while 150,000 of his citizens languish in prison camps and millions of others struggle to feed themselves.'
Police have visited the home of Amanda Abbington as an investigation into a chilling death threat sent to the actress continues.

Met detectives were alerted on Friday afternoon to a threatening email sent to the north London theatre where Amanda is performing.

The 50-year-old actress is starring in new play When It Happens To You at the Park Theatre in Finsbury.

The frightening email warned 'she should be prepared to die onstage' unless she withdrew her complaint about former Strictly partner Giovanni Pernice - who is now at the centre of a BBC probe.

Park Theatre quickly alerted the force who are taking the threat 'very seriously' and are working to 'unmask' the person who sent it. The Sherlock actress has now been interviewed by officers twice and her home she shares with fiance Jonathan Goodwin was visited by police yesterday.

Amanda Abbington arriving to the Park Theatre in Finsbury ahead of her show on Wednesday evening

Police officers enter their vehicle after visiting the actress' home

Although the Met Police have not formally identified anyone involved in the investigation, a spokesman confirmed that officers were called to a theatre in Finsbury Park 'following receipt of an alleged malicious communication.'

The spokesman continued: 'There have been no arrests, enquiries are ongoing.'

A source close to the investigation told MailOnline: 'Specialist officers have been looking at the email closely over the last 72 hours, and now believe they are close to identifying where it was sent from.

'They are liaising with another force on this now. This, in turn, they hope will go on to lead them to the person behind the threat.

'Officers have told Amanda they will do all they can to find out who the person is behind the email.

'They are treating it as a very serious and very credible threat and want to unmask the person behind it.'

Despite receiving the chilling death threat, the director behind the new play Amanda is starring in has told how she has no plans of walking away.

Jez Bond told the Mirror: 'Amanda is determined to continue. Obviously she was shocked and upset, but she will not be intimidated into standing down from the show. She's incredibly brave and will not be beaten.'

Amanda Abbington commanded the stage as she made her debut performance in her new play When It Happens To You at the Park Theatre in London on Wednesday

It marks the Sherlock star's first acting role since she dramatically quit Strictly Come Dancing last year after accusing Giovanni Pernice of bullying behaviour

After her performance, Amanda posed for photos with the play's director Jez Bond

The death threat comes after Amanda expressed her concerns around taking public transport in the wake of the Strictly drama.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour on Friday, she said she had withdrawn from social media after getting 'incredibly toxic and relentless' online abuse from Strictly fans.

She claimed previously this included death and rape threats against her and her family.

She said: 'When I'm on the train and things, I do sometimes feel exposed and vulnerable, I do, because of the nature of the threats I was getting.

'You do feel like you're public enemy number one for saying "I do not feel entirely happy with this".'

A spokesperson for Amanda said: 'We can confirm she's assisting police with their investigations. Amanda is very grateful to the Park Theatre for dealing with this so quickly and professionally.'

Amanda quit Strictly Come Dancing unexpectedly last October.

The BBC show has since been engulfed by drama since professional dancer Giovanni was suspended after bullying allegations made my Amanda came to light.

Amanda (right) was paired with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice (left) but unexpectedly left the show in October last year

Amanda has been targeted by Strictly fans after making a series of complaints about dancing partner Giovanni Pernice (pictured together on the show)

Although Giovanni denies the claims, Amanda accused him of abusive behaviour, saying he was 'cruel and mean'.

Speaking to Christine Lampard on Lorraine, she said: 'It was inappropriate, it was mean, it was nasty, it was bullying and I put up with it for five, six weeks.

'It started very early on and when it started to happen I would shut down because I recognised those red flags.

'And so I would shut down and it would be difficult to get in, and that would be a self-fulfilling prophecy.'

Talking about her schedule on the show, she said: 'I was going into the rehearsal room every day. I've been in rehearsal rooms for 32 years.

'I know what rehearsal rooms are supposed to be like.

'I don't care what background you're from  whether it's dancing, acting, singing  you have a duty of care to bring into that rehearsal room compassion, understanding, sensitivity and kindness.

'And that wasn't extended to me (at Strictly). And so I just said I don't think this is right.'

After the show, Amanda changed into a black T-shirt with 'Quiet No More' written on the back

In her first acting role since she dramatically quit Strictly, Amanda made her debut in the new play When It Happens To You and reportedly broke down in tears during the performance.

After the emotional show, she changed into a black t-shirt with 'Quiet No More' written on the back - seemingly a reference to the ongoing Strictly scandal.
Shira Stein is the San Francisco Chronicle's Washington correspondent, covering California's role in national politics and policy from the nation's capital. She writes about issues that matter to California residents  like housing, abortion and LGBTQ rights  and California's influence on Congress and the White House. She was the primary chronicler of the last year of Sen. Dianne Feinstein's life, including her health, familial financial feud, and death.

Shira was born and raised in the Bay Area and now lives in Washington, D.C. She joined the Chronicle in 2022 after spending four years as an award-winning health care reporter for Bloomberg Law, where she was key in its coverage of the Covid-19, the fall of Roe v. Wade and health costs. She is a graduate of American University and interned at the Washington Post, Bloomberg Law and the Colorado-based Durango Herald.
A Labour minister today swiped at 'posturing' Tory leadership rivals as Robert Jenrick faced a backlash for saying people who shout 'Allahu Akbar' should be arrested.

Dame Diana Johnson, the policing minister, urged MPs to be 'moderate in their language' following the widespread riots in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

She issued the call after being quizzed about comments by Mr Jenrick, the former immigration minister who is bidding to replace Rishi Sunak as Conservative leader.

In criticism of the policing of pro-Palestinian protests in the UK, Mr Jenrick said it was 'quite wrong' that somebody could shout 'Allahu Akbar' and not be 'immediately arrested'.

His comments prompted outrage from both Labour MPs and fellow Tories as they pointed out that 'Allahu Akbar' translates as 'God is Great'.

Dame Diana Johnson, the policing minister, urged MPs to be 'moderate in their language' following the widespread riots in the wake of the Southport stabbings

Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick said it was 'quite wrong' that somebody could shout 'Allahu Akbar' and not be 'immediately arrested'

Asked about Mr Jenrick's remarks this morning, Dame Diana said: 'I think all politicians at this stage need to be very careful about the language that they use.

'The country over the last few days, the terrible events in Southport, I think the country has been very shocked by that tragic event and then the public disorder that we've seen.

'So I think all politicians have a role in being moderate in their language, supporting the police and speaking on behalf of the law-abiding majority in this country.

'That's what I would say all politicians should be doing at this stage.'

Asked if she felt most MPs had been backing the Government over the past 10 days amid the outbreak of far-right riots, she added: 'The vast majority of MPs that I've been speaking to have been supportive of the action taken to clamp down on that criminality on our streets.

'Obviously we're in the middle of a Conservative leadership election, and clearly there's positioning and posturing going on there.

'But I think my overall view is that members of parliament are supporting the action of the police and of the Government.'

Mr Jenrick stirred up the row during an interview with Sky News yesterday morning as he addressed Britain's ongoing riots crisis.

Challenged about his past claims of 'two-tier policing', he said: 'I have been very critical of the police in the past, particularly around the attitude of some police forces to the protests we saw since October 7.

'I thought it was quite wrong that somebody could shout Allahu Akbar on the streets of London and not be immediately arrested, or project genocidal chants onto Big Ben and that person not be immediately arrested.

'That attitude is wrong and I will always call out the police for it.'

Following a backlash at his comments, Mr Jenrick attempted to clarify his comments in a social media post.

He wrote: ''Allahu Akbar' is spoken peacefully and spiritually by millions of British Muslims in their daily lives.

'But the aggressive chanting... is intimidatory and threatening. And it's an offence under Section 4 and 5 of the Public Order Act.

'Extremists routinely abuse common expressions for their own shameful ends. All violence must end. All violence must be called out.'

Labour MP Naz Shah who is vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for British Muslims, slammed Mr Jenrick for 'complete ignorance' and 'textbook Islamophobia'.

Tory peer Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, a former Conservative Party chair and the first female Muslim Cabinet minister, branded Mr Jenrick 'a tool'.

Mel Stride, one of Mr Jenrick's rivals for the Tory leadership said the 'suggestion of wholesale criminalisation of the words Allahu Akbar is unwise and insensitive'.

'Any threat in the use of these words can only ever be implied in the very rarest of circumstances. Context clearly matters hugely here,' he added.

But former Brexit chief negotiator Lord David Frost came out in defence of Mr Jenrick.

He wrote on X: 'Today Robert Jenrick has been trying to say something important that needs to be said.

'I'm a free speech absolutist. I believe in the widest possible bounds for free speech.

'But context does matter. It is illegal to threaten or incite violence in this country.

'As I wrote back in November, words which are entirely acceptable in one context can mean something entirely different, and should be treated accordingly, when chanted by an aggressive mob on the streets. Our policing needs to recognise that.'
A convoy of Ukrainian armoured vehicles carrying jubilant troops was captured trundling through Russia's Kursk region in a fresh humiliation for Vladimir Putin after Volodymyr Zelensky's forces launched a surprise assault earlier this week.

Tanks, armoured personnel carriers, a UR-77 mine-clearing vehicle and other army equipment were seen surging through a rural area in footage taken by a Ukrainian mortar position and shared to Telegram this morning.

Kyiv's forces stormed across the border on Tuesday morning, deploying around 1,000 troops and more than two dozen armoured vehicles and tanks in an unexpected assault on Russian soil, according to the Russian army.

Thousands of Russians are evacuating the region amid complaints that Putin's armed and security forces have failed to protect them.

The key gas transit town of Sudzha is under partial Ukrainian control and almost ringed by its forces as Kyiv's troops advanced up to six miles into Russian territory - the most serious border incursion of the conflict so far, the Institute for the Study of War said today.

Ukraine's objectives have not been spelled out, though Russian commentators but fear an aim could be to reach Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, a major strategic asset.

The power plant is located some 40 miles from Sudzha, which itself is roughly five miles across the border from Ukraine.

A convoy of Ukrainian military equipment including tanks, armoured personnel carriers, a UR-77 mine-clearing vehicle, and other army machinery enters Russia

A mine-clearing vehicle drives past a Ukrainian mortar position on Russian soil

A tank adorned with an anti-drone net is seen trundling into Russia

There have been scant updates on the conflict from officials in Moscow.

But Russian military bloggers, who have links to the army, also reported Kyiv had made significant advances and lamented deteriorating circumstances.

'The situation is complicated and continues to worsen,' blogger Yury Podolyaka said in a post on Telegram.

He said the town of Sudzha was 'full of Ukrainian soldiers'.

'Sudzha has been completely lost,' he said.

'The enemy is entrenching, indicating that the fighting is likely to be long-term,' the Dva Mayora Telegram channel said.

This contradicts Russian military chief Valery Gerasimov who said that the incursion by 1,000 Ukrainian troops had been halted.

About 42 million cubic metres of Russian gas passes through Sudzha and onward into Ukraine every day, with the town home to a key gas metering hub.

There were also reports that Ukrainian troops had taken hundreds of Russian soldiers and border guards prisoner during this week's surprise incursion.

Some reports said Ukraine had detained as many as 300 Russian servicemen in total, and that Kyiv's forces have penetrated almost 20 miles inside Putin's country, with fighting around the town of Korenevo.

Among those held are Russia's 225th Assault Brigade, shown in footage with their hands bound.

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting with members of the government at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, Russia, 07 August 2024

Russian military bloggers, who have links to the army, also reported Kyiv had made significant advances and lamented deteriorating circumstances

Russian officials said Wednesday they were fighting off Ukrainian cross-border raids in a southwestern border province for a second day, as Kyiv officials remained quiet about the scope of the operation

Ukraine's objectives have not been spelled out but the Russians fear an aim could be to reach Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, a major strategic asset.

This photo released by the acting Governor of Kursk region Alexei Smirnov telegram channel on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, shows a damaged house after shelled by the Ukrainian side in the city of Sudzha

Close Putin ally Dmitry Medvedev today lashed out at Ukraine for the incursion - which shocked and wrong footed Moscow - and demanded Russia respond by crushing Ukraine.

It was now 'necessary' to 'mercilessly defeat and destroy the enemy', and stage a total invasion, the former Russian president said.

'From now on, the [war] must acquire an openly extraterritorial character. This is no longer just an operation to return our official territories and punish the [Ukrainian] Nazis.

'We can and must go to the lands of the still existing Ukraine. To Odesa, to Kharkiv, to Dnipro, to Mykolaiv [all cities now held by Ukraine].

'There should be no restrictions in the sense of some borders of the Ukrainian Reich recognised by anyone. Now we can and must talk about this openly, without embarrassment and diplomatic curtseys.'

The invasion of a border area of Kursk region 'must remove any taboos

'Let everyone, including the English b*******, realise this: we will stop only when we consider it acceptable and beneficial for ourselves.'

Russia has now sent a general to the new war zone in Kursk region - Major-General Apty Alaudinov, commander of the Akhmat [Chechen] special forces, who vowed to fight back and defeat the Ukrainians.

'The enemy has entered the border territories,' he said. 'Several settlements are occupied by the enemy. He is trying to advance as much as possible, building up all his forces, which he has moved from the Belarusian border.

'God willing, this issue will be resolved, these forces will be destroyed,' he said.

'The [war] this year will end with Russia's victory. Those who believe in God do not doubt it, as I do not doubt it. The enemy who will be watching us now: Hello to him, because I think these days are his last in his life.'

A view shows a damaged house following what local authorities called a Ukrainian military strike, in the course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in the town of Sudzha in the Kursk Region, Russia, in this handout image released August 6, 2024

This handout photograph released by the Kursk Region Governor Alexei Smirnov in his Telegram channel shows damages in the town of Sudzha on August 6, 2024, caused by shelling from Ukranian forces in Russia's Kursk Region

About 42 million cubic metres of Russian gas passes through Sudzha and onward into Ukraine every day, with the town home to a key gas metering hub

A pregnant Russian woman Nina Kuznetsova, 28, was killed as she and her husband, their young child and her mother sought to flee Sudzha in two cars.

'I heard shots, bangs... It turned out that they were shooting at me,' he said.

'I managed to drive past, but my wife didn't.

'I stopped, she crashed into me. I opened the door, and Nina was already wheezing.

'We went to the hospital. They tried to revive her, but it didn't work. The bullet entered the lung and exited through the heart.'

Meanwhile, widespread reports of the death of well-known Russian state-controlled propaganda TV war reporter Yevgeny Poddubny in Kursk region proved false after a drone strike by the Ukrainians.

He is in a 'serious condition' after a Ukrainian drone strike in Kursk with head wounds and burns.

Footage showed the reporter being stretchered to hospital before being transported to Moscow for treatment.
The ex-husband of an air stewardess who faced jail in Dubai for attempted suicide after he allegedly abused her says he is now trapped in the UAE and could be arrested imminently.

Irishwoman Tori Towey, 28, was charged with alcohol abuse and attempted suicide on June 28 after she was allegedly attacked by her South African partner in their Dubai home.

Her case sparked international outrage, and help from charities and diplomatic intervention by the Irish government secured her release and return home around two weeks later.

Now her husband has said he is stuck in the country after being handed a travel ban and losing his house and job - with homelessness and failure to pay debts also a crime in the UAE.

Emmerich Basson, 23, who was an Emirates worker like his former partner, has said he is in a 'dire situation' and has pleaded for diplomatic intervention from the South African government, but has so far received 'no help'.

South African national Emmerich Basson, 23, who was an Emirates worker like his former partner, has said he is 'stuck' in Dubai

Tori Towey, 28, (pictured) was charged with attempting suicide and had a travel ban imposed on her by Dubai authorities

Towey has since been allowed to return home following an international outcry

Towey was pictured with severe bruising across her body after the alleged abuse by her husband

He said he was handed the travel ban after he 'walked across the road in front of a Chinese lady's car' after going for dinner with his friends in May last year.

At the time, he said, 'I didn't think much of it. I got in the taxi and I went home.'

But after going overseas with work for several days, he was unable to re-enter the country, and was detained by immigration officers.

Basson claims they put him in a room for ten hours with 'no food, no water' and was not allowed to sleep.

He says he was then asked to remove his uniform and put in handcuffs before being marched to an 'unlocked van in the middle of the night', where he was kept alongside 'hardened criminals'.

He said that Dubai authorities are refusing to drop the case involving the driver and have told him they are still investigating it a year on.

'I have no passport,' he said. 'I have a travel ban on my name. I've lost my home. I had to give my dog up for adoption and I am currently staying in a hotel room.

'I can only stay here for the next two days, after which I will be homeless, which is a crime in the UAE.'

He went on: 'Since may last year, following this incident I have been under an extreme amount of stress, emotionally and physically and financially. I have lost my job, I cannot pay my debts.

Basson said he was handed the travel ban after he 'walked across the road in front of a Chinese lady's car' after going for dinner with his friends in May last year

'In the next two days, I will be arrested for not paying my debt.' He said his family has 'begged and reached out' to the South African government to no avail, and that he sees 'no light at the end of the tunnel'.

Radha Stirling of Detained in Dubai, the organisation which campaigned on Towey's behalf, has claimed that Basson was charged for swearing at a driver - with 'obscene acts' a crime in Dubai.

'It is a shame he wasn't prosecuted for the devastating abuse inflicted upon Tori Towey but instead, gets a swearing charge levied against him,' Stirling said.

'Better than nothing but also indicative of law enforcement changes that are desperately needed in Dubai.'

Basson has denied all the allegations of domestic abuse. Towey and Basson got married in March of this year, according to South African media.

Towey spoke out this week about her alleged abuse, telling the BBC that it started with 'a lot of control issues'.

Her husband allegedly abused her in their home in Dubai

'Obviously in the beginning I didn't see anything like that. It was when we moved in together,' she said.

'I was cut off from my friends, my family. I wasn't allowed to be on my phone. I was cut of from the rest of the world.'

She said that arguments with her new husband soon turned into emotional, mental and physical abuse.

'I just couldn't see a way out, nothing was getting better, it wasn't ending.,' she said. 'At one point, I just thought there is no way out, I can't leave, I can't do anything, I'm stuck.'

Towey tried to take her own life, but woke up to several police officers and paramedics surrounding her.

Tori flew into Dublin Airport evening with her mother Caroline , and expressed her gratitude to those who helped her get home

'Without you guys, I wouldn't be here right now', she told journalists.

'I woke up and they had given me oxygen. I was in my pyjamas, so they got one of my dresses and told me to put it on,' she said.

They then put her in a police car and took her straight to the station. There, cops 'strip searched me, they took all my jewellery off,' she said.

'I had a belly button piercing and they were struggling to take it out. They were pulling at it and ripping at it, and hurting me. I was saying 'Look it's okay, I'll take it out myself'.

After she was finally freed and able to return home, Towey spoke out about her ordeal in Dubai.

'Obviously when my mother came out to me it was a massive help, but it was just the unknown and just not knowing anything, not knowing what's going to happen,' she said.

'It's only kind of between yesterday and today that I kind of got clarity. I wasn't getting any answers, but I'm just glad to be back.'
To the outsider, Lynne Leyson oozed respectability.

Motorists winding down the tight lanes around the tiny village of Capel Dewi in Carmarthenshire, south Wales, will have first spotted the pristine Range Rover - or the silver Audi, or the VW Beetle, or even the family motorhome - and noticed a well-turned-out if otherwise unremarkable woman in the driver's seat.

With her 'fancy hairstyles' and 'impeccable' dress sense, the mother-of-three fitted well into the stereotype of middle class farmer's wife, confidently handling the A40, the A48 and windy B-roads around her rural community 'as if she owned them', neighbours would remark.

But arriving at the family home - Pibwr Farm - would tell an altogether different story.

The state of the place would apparently give Katie Price's famed 'Mucky Mansion' a run for its money.

Inside it was said - by one of the few outsiders to have crossed the threshold - to be 'filthy'.

Farmer's wife Lynne Leyson operated a hidden double life as the godmother of a family crime gang

Lynne's husband Stephen Leyson (left) and his son Samson (right) were jailed for a total of 17 years after the farm was raided by police

The Leysons' farm near the village of Capel Dewi is nothing more than a collection of ramshackle wooden buildings and Portacabins

One of the bags of cocaine seized from the Leyson's farm

Ramshackle small holdings were guarded by a pack of more than a dozen semi-feral large dogs.

Why? The lines of polytunnels were a clue.

The pungent, unmistakable sweet whiff of cannabis in the air was another.

Locals brave enough to put two and two together were soon able to work out how the Leysons could afford such an extravagant lifestyle.

And last year, Leyson's secret double-life was unveiled when her husband Stephen and son Samson were jailed for a combined 17 years for drug offences.

But Lynne - the 'Godmother' of the criminal operation - avoided jail.

The police investigation  codenamed Operation Hilston  led officers to two dealers living in Pembrokeshire who had been selling drugs for the family, including one who goes by the nickname Mr Pickles, who were also jailed.

But Lynne skipped bail after the trial and disappeared before she could be sentenced.

The judge, Catherine Richards, said Lynne was a 'dominant force' who played a 'leading role' in the drugs enterprise by 'directing events from the farm'.

She was handed a nine-year sentence in her absence.

And she is now on an Interpol wanted list, with Crimestoppers offering 1,000 for information to snare her.

Mystery surrounds her whereabouts - although her father previously living in southeast Asia has provided a scintilla of a clue.

The Leysons were running a large-scale drugs empire using quad bikes to run drugs through forestry to meet up with couriers at a designated spot on the A48 near Carmarthen

Railay Beach in Krabi province, Ao Nang, Thailand - a country where Leyson could be in hiding

Expert Peter Bleksley said it was 'entirely credible' that Leyson could have gone to Thailand, where her father used to live

Peter Bleksley, a former Met detective and star of Channel 4 show Hunted, said it was 'entirely credible' Leyson could have gone to Thailand or Spain.

He told MailOnline: 'The most important thing you need if you want to stay on the run for a long time is having a support network.

'By that I mean someone who is going to feed you, clothe you, put a roof over your head, give you access to cash, transport you and provide you with fake documents.

'It's virtually impossible to go on the run on your own.

'It's entirely credible to expect her to go somewhere like Thailand, particularly if she has contacts that her father might have had.

'That could provide her with some kind of network that could hide her from the prying eyes of authority.

'That's why when you're hunting for a fugitive you look at where they have been in the past or where they have friends or family.

'Spain is also a popular destination for fugitives, with countless people going on the run there since the 1960s and 70s.

'It has lovely weather, vast mountainous regions and nowhere near the amount of CCTV Britain has.'

Mr Bleksley said Leyson's ability to project the image of being an apparently normal woman would help her fit in.

'Unfortunately, she sounds like the ideal kind of fugitive to hide away in a remote part of Thailand or Spain,' he said.

'Unless she causes trouble she is unlikely to stand out or attract the attention of the local police.

Police recovered a 9mm semi-automatic handgun which was found stashed at the farm

Police also recovered thousands of pounds of cannabis

And officers also discovered bundles of cash

'Plus, she will be well equipped as she's used to living in a rural area, so is unlikely to be showing up in the city to buy a Gucci handbag.'

Her half-brother Patrick Brooke, 56, said he had not seen her in an age, but offered the same theory.

'Nobody has had anything to do with her,' he told The Telegraph.

'No one even knew anything about the court case. I didn't even know she was married. My dad had a place in Thailand. It is in a village.

'Not one of the main towns, I could not tell you where it was. She may be heading to Thailand. She won't be coming to us, that is for sure.'

Lynne was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply cannabis, and possessing criminal property.

After the case, one near-neighbour said: 'We just couldn't believe it.

'They seemed like a normal farming family, well a bit rough around the edges like a lot of country people.

'Lynne seemed very normal really - not a cocaine dealer like she was. It is all very odd.'

Others were more guarded, however.

A neighbour, too frightened to be named, said: 'It was like the Wild West living close to that lot - people were scared stiff.

'One family complained to the police and were visited by one of the Leysons carrying a shotgun.

'They were told they would all be killed if they complained again.

'Two of them may have been locked up but people are still frightened of them.'

The Leysons moved in in the late 2010s and at first just annoyed neighbours by driving their Range Rover around country lanes 'as if they owned them'.

Locals were suspicious of how the family made its money and there were rumours that they were growing cannabis on their land.

They were nicknamed 'the druggies' by worried villagers who installed CCTV cameras to protect their rural properties.

But the Leysons were running a large-scale drugs empire from Capel Dewi using quad bikes to run drugs through forestry to meet up with couriers at a designated spot on the A48 near Carmarthen.

The family knew that if the police were on to them they could escape on their quad bikes through forestry tracks back to their headquarters, Pibwr Farm.

Another neighbour said: 'That's how they were running drugs - they would turn up at an arranged lay-by on the A48, hand the cocaine over and be gone.

'It was all over in a few seconds so it was very hard for the police to detect what was going on.'

Local builder Mark Jones, 42, said: 'The first we knew was when police started flying a drone over the farm - after that there was a lot of police activity in the area.

'I didn't know the people but they weren't very popular, they would drive around the lanes as if they owned them.'

The Range Rover was seized by police along with the family's pack of dogs.

The family's farm and its yard is now deserted.

But a family member calls around every day to feed other pet dogs belonging to the three convicted dealers.

Locals in Capel Dewi said the Leysons lived two miles out of the village and everyone stayed 'well clear' of them.

Retired forestry manager Tom Emerson said: 'Most people here avoided them, I met the older fellow once and didn't make much of them.

'There were second-hand BMW and Mercedes going back and forth and there was talk of drugs.

'But I didn't even know they were in jail until I saw it in the local paper.'
A middle class college student has become the first woman in the UK to be locked up under new online safety laws after she threatened to kill her estranged mother during an angry phone call.

Jorja Cockram-Smyth, 20, who has severe autism, was arrested under the Government's new Online Safety Act after a furious call with her social worker.

During the conversation, she warned Dawn Clarke that she would stab her mother Louise McElroy to death adding: 'I will be in prison this time next week, I will get her.'

Cockram-Smyth served three weeks in Styal women's prison over the phone call before being eligible for automatic release this week. She was previously sentenced to six weeks imprisonment by magistrates at Warrington.

The 20-year-old is believed to be the first female in the UK to be jailed under Section 181 of the Online Safety Act.

Jorja Cockram-Smyth, 20, (pictured) who has severe autism, was arrested under the Government's new Online Safety Act after a furious call with her social worker

During the conversation, the student threatened to stab her mother Louise McElroy (pictured) to death

The new law makes it a criminal offence to send messages 'conveying a threat of death, serious injury, rape, assault by penetration, or serious financial loss.'

According to social media Jorja Cockram-Smyth, who was originally known as Georgia, had taken on a voluntary role with the RSPCA during her time at Reaseheath agricultural college.

In 2021, she and her mother appeared to have a loving relationship based off Ms McElroy's social media posts, where she would regularly gush over how proud she was of her daughter.

In a series of posts on Facebook, the mother called her daughter 'my little princess' and 'my amazing warrior' whilst Cockram-Smyth posted: 'Love you millions - the best mum I could ever have' on her Instagram page.

But in 2022 they pair fell out after Cockram-Smyth attacked her stepfather Christopher McElroy - armed with a kitchen knife- during a row at the family's 300,000 detached home on a cul-de-sac in Padgate, Warrington.

She was later convicted of common assault and possessing an offensive weapon although she insisted Mr McElroy who suffered two puncture wounds was not stabbed.

She received further battery convictions including assault on emergency workers and criminal damage.

Police at one stage applied for a stalking protection order against Cockram-Smyth after she kept turning up at a Primark store where Mrs McElroy works as a manager.

Officers said she would go to the store at the Golden Square shopping mall three times a day, trying to enter a restricted area to seek out her mother.

Based off their social media posts, Ms McElroy and her daughter had a close relationship where she would regularly gush with pride about Ms Cockram-Smyth

She would also wander the aisles for 'hours at a time' whilst placing her mother under surveillance, according to police.

Although the protection order was withdrawn, another was subsequently taken out against Cockram-Smyth banning her from contacting Ms McElroy.

In the latest incident on July 11, Cockram-Smyth who has autism spectrum disorder, learning difficulties, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, a chromosomal disorder unique to her, PTSD, and a visual impairment. was arrested after she called her social worker Dawn Clarke at 4.30pm with claims she was carrying a knife.

Robert Earl, prosecuting, said: 'She was heard shouting and screaming and as the conversation has continued, there were further threats.

'She shouted that she would kill her mother and stab her saying. "I will be in prison this time next week. I will get her".

'The victim feared and believed the threats to be credible. She was very concerned. She contacted the police believing that the threats were credible.'

'She made reference to a previous offence whereby this defendant stabbed her father and there is an order which prevents the defendant from contacting her mother and that has been breached previously.

He added: 'This is a relatively new offence and something which this court can deal with. The range goes up to six months which is within the court's sentencing powers.

'Given the offence is on family and the previous offending this is something that has passed the custody threshold.'

But in 2022 they pair fell out after Cockram-Smyth attacked her stepfather Christopher (pictured) McElroy - armed with a kitchen knife- during a row at the family home

A probation officer told the court Cockram-Smyth failed to co-operate with a background report, adding: 'She does suffer multiple complex needs.

'She has autism spectrum disorder, learning difficulties, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, a chromosomal disorder unique to her, PTSD, and visual impairment.

'She clearly has large issues that are causing problems. The difficulties we have is that she does not engage with the probation service.

'She clearly has got difficult problems that are causing her to offend and realistically probation are there to support her and help her but she has not taken that on board unfortunately.

They continued: 'Quite simply, the probation service is at a loss to know what we can do with her.'

Defending, Jonathan Condor, said: 'She has multiple difficulties and to compound that her relationship with her family has completely broken down.

'There were a number of incidents in 2022 which resulted in an estrangement which is going to take some time to repair.

'She is currently subject to a restraining order in relation to her mother and at the tender age of 18, 19, and 20 become very isolated.

'She does have the support of social services and mental health services locally but it is a difficult situation, not one where there is an easy answer to propose.

'She accepts making these remarks about her mother but they were not directly to her - they were about her mother. She made them to her social worker who knows her very well.

'I am not suggesting that the social worker was not alarmed but it is significant that the threats were not made directly to the person on the receiving end.

Ms Cockram-Smyth is now subject to a restraining order in relation to her mother (pictured)

'From the speech and language report, it was very clear that the defendant has difficulties expressing herself and has difficulty interpreting how people may be thinking and feeling.

'This impacts on her ability to form and maintain relationships with others and impacts on her ability to understand the motives of other people in social situations. She has, to put it mildly, a short temper at times. That is what happened.

'She lost her temper. She made all sorts of unfortunate comments about her mother which I expect she did not mean.

'The isolation has caused her deep frustration compounding all other problems resulting in this outburst.

'She is already subject to a restraining order in relation to her mother. That is going to continue.'

Cockram-Smyth who is now subject to probation supervision was also made to pay 239 in costs and victim surcharge.
A mathematics teacher attempted to sue a top private school for racial harassment after he was reported to the authorities for 'deeply concerning' messages with a 14-year-old female pupil.

Joel Bevis was sacked from his teaching role at Eaton Square Senior School in Mayfair after it was found a teenage girl sent him a bikini shot to which he responded 'Hhhhhheeeeelllllooooo'.

He accused the co-educational day school of racial harassment and for trying to 'bring him into disrepute and damage or destroy his personal reputation and career'.

But the tribunal held in central London dismissed Bevis' claims and ruled that the 29,000 per year private school had reported him properly.

Bevis was ordered to pay 20,000 to cover the school's legal costs.

Joel Bevis accused Eaton Square Senior School (pictured) of racial harassment and for trying to 'bring him into disrepute and damage or destroy his personal reputation and career'

Bevis joined Eaton Square Senior School in January 2018 before being dismissed in August 2019.

An employment tribunal was told he then accused the private school of racial discrimination and received a 30,000 settlement from the school - made without admission of liability - to avoid the cost of litigation.

However, after he was sacked Mr Bevis began messaging some of his former pupils, some aged 14 and 15, on social media to offer them maths tutoring.

'[Eaton Square] policies (in common with those of other schools) prohibit teachers from engaging with their students on social media, for obvious safeguarding reasons,' the tribunal said.

'We have seen the social media exchanges between [Mr Bevis] and three of these pupils.

'On any objective level, they are inappropriate exchanges between a former teacher whose relationship with the children arose only because he had taught them and who had been in a position of trust in relation to them.'

The tribunal heard that Bevis 'made derogatory comments about the teaching of their then current maths teacher' as well as 'derogatory comments about the private tutor' whom one pupil had at the time.

The tribunal said: 'He was clearly doing this in order to persuade them to use his services.

In addition, there were a number of 'concerning examples' of the language used by Mr Bevis and the students and his 'level of familiarity with the pupils.

A 14-year-old girl sent a picture of herself on the beach in a bikini top to which the claimaint replied: 'Hhhhhheeeeelllllooooo'.

The hearing was told that in November 2020 two of the pupils he messaged complained to their current maths teacher, who informed the then Head, Caroline Townshend.

The school reported Bevis to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) responsible for child safety who informed the police.

Eaton Square Upper School pupils pose with Camilla in 2010 at a reception for the Poetry Together initiiative (file image)

The tribunal heard that while the police didn't find the messages to be criminal they were found to raise safeguarding concerns.

Bevis - who claimed the messages were not initiated by him and denied they were inappropriate - took Eaton Square Senior School to the tribunal claiming harassment and victimisation for reporting him.

He claimed that a white teacher at the school had also been following pupils on social media.

He also accused the school of breaching a confidentiality agreement regarding the initial 30,000 settlement.

However, his case was rejected by the panel.

Employment judge Richard Baty said: '[Eaton Square] quite rightly took the matter seriously...the advice was to seek advice from the LADO.

'The LADO advised them that they should make a report. The School duly made that report.

'Although those at [Eaton Square] were well aware that [Bevis], with his history of litigation, might well 'go legal' if they did so, they decided, quite rightly, to treat the matter as they would with any other teacher and to make the report.

'[Eaton Square] did not therefore, as [he] has alleged, make a 'malicious' report or one which 'was intended to bring him into disrepute and damage or destroy his professional reputation and career'. '

The employment tribunal decided to order him to pay 20,000 towards the school's legal costs.
Rachel Reeves has admitted Britain's 306billion benefits bill is 'out of control' as she promised a fresh drive to get people into work.

The Chancellor vowed to oversee a 'change in mindset' at Jobcentres and ensure welfare spending was 'sustainable' as part of efforts to 'rebuild Britain'.

The Government is forecast to spend 305.6billion on the social security system in Britain this year, representing 11 per cent of GDP and a quarter of all Whitehall spending.

Around 55 per cent of social security spending is on pensioners, while 138billion is set to be spent on working age and child benefits.

At the beginning of this year, the number of Brits who were inactive because of long-term sickness reached a record high of 7 per cent of the working-age population.

This followed a surge in inactivity after the start of the Covid crisis in 2020.

Rachel Reeves has admitted Britain's 306billion benefits bill is 'out of control' as she promised a fresh drive to get people into work

Around a quarter of all Whitehall spending goes on Britain's social security system

The Government is forecast to spend 305.6billion on welfare in Britain this year, representing 11 per cent of GDP

Speaking to The Sun on a trip to North America, Ms Reeves said: 'For too long millions of people have been told they can't work and have been forgotten about.

'It's been 14 years of shameful failure and mismanagement by the previous government that has let welfare costs spiral out of control.

'We need a new approach to get Britain working again and make sure welfare spending is sustainable.'

The Chancellor pledged that Labour would give local leaders 'more powers and responsibilities to get people into work'.

'We need to get this right, because helping people get into work and stay in work will help fix the foundations of our economy to rebuild Britain and make every part of the country better off,' she added.

'We need a change of mindset in Jobcentres from the one driven by the previous government  it isn't just about monitoring benefits, ticking a box, and offering whatever job is available.

'When people can work, they should but we need to look at the issues that are stopping people getting into work  their health, childcare, transport  all the things that make a huge impact on someone's success in a job.'

The newspaper reported that Treasury officials will be tasked with looking at key issues such as health and childcare which are stopping people working.

Ms Reeves has admitted she is set to hike taxes in her Autumn Budget in order to fill a 22billion 'black hole' in the public finances.

The Chancellor previously pledged not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT, which has prompted speculation she could look to hike other levies.

This could include hiking capital gains tax, inheritance tax, fuel duty or reducing tax relief on pensions.
Linda Reynolds has vented her fury over how Brittany Higgins took a black and white Carla Zampatti jacket - worth about $1,000 - from her office the morning after her rape, and never returned it.

Ms Higgins was raped by her former colleague Bruce Lehrmann on a couch in Senator Reynolds' Parliament House office in the early hours of March 23, 2019.

Security footage showed her arriving at Capital Hill that evening wearing only a white pencil dress and heels, but footage captured the following day showed her leaving the building in the designer coat.

The former Liberal staffer previously told a court that she had wanted to cover herself up after her assault, so she found the coat in a charity box in Ms Reynolds office and put it on.

Ms Reynolds - who is now suing Ms Higgins for defamation over a separate issue in the WA Supreme Court - has maintained there was no charity box in her office and claimed the jacket was taken from her personal wardrobe.

Under cross-examination this week, Ms Reynolds revealed she thought she had lost the jacket until Lehrmann's lawyer Steven Whybrow SC told her three years later that Ms Higgins took it.

She became enraged and texted Mr Whybrow late at night about Ms Higgins' wardrobe choices - admitting in court that it was 'catty', but the frustration was not something she could control at the time.

Daily Mail Australia has now obtained a photo of Ms Reynolds wearing the designer jacket at an event in Rockingham, Western Australia, in 2017 - about two years before Ms Higgins swiped it from her office.

Linda Reynolds is pictured wearing her Carla Zampatti jacket in 2017, two years before Brittany Higgins swiped it

Brittany Higgins is pictured leaving Parliament House in Ms Reynolds' designer jacket

Ms Reynolds could also be seen addressing a room full of local business leaders at the same event.

The jacket was mentioned twice in court on Thursday - once when Ms Reynolds was being asked about an interview she did with Liam Bartlett on Channel Seven's Spotlight program last August.

Ms Higgins' lawyer Rachael Young SC suggested to Ms Reynolds that she brought the jacket up to Mr Bartlett because 'you had wanted to tell him that she stole your jacket'.

Ms Reynolds replied: 'Well that's correct because I didn't get it back.'

After that, the situation was referred to as the 'stolen' jacket.

The issue came up again later that afternoon when Ms Reynolds was cross-examined about WhatsApp messages she sent Mr Whybrow at 11.12pm on October 6, 2022 - the day Ms Higgins gave evidence in Lehrmann's criminal trial.

Ms Higgins had worn a beige, embroidered skirt suit worth about $750 - the same colour and design that Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, wore during a visit to the College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London earlier that year.

The senator told the court she felt frustrated that Ms Higgins would 'imitate' the Duchess at the rape trial because she was 'still annoyed' about her Carla Zampatti jacket.

Brittany Higgins is pictured in an embroidered beige skirt suit outside ACT Supreme Court in October 2022

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is pictured in the same skirt suit in April 2022

Ms Young asked: ''When you saw her wearing a 400 suit, you felt annoyed?'

Ms Reynolds agreed.

Ms Young asked: 'You didn't think she was entitled to wear such a lovely suit?'

Ms Reynolds said that wasn't the case, she partly felt annoyed because Ms Higgins had 'made a thing' about the clothes she wore, often wearing white as a symbol to events.

'It annoyed me because it was the connection with my coat and the image of her coming...she can wear whatever she wants...but what annoyed me was that I perceived her as imitating Kate Middleton,' she said.

'It doesn't make a great deal of sense, but it did annoy me.'

Ms Young pointed out that people who attend court normally wear a suit.

Ms Reynolds agreed, but said she was only thinking about her own coat when she sent the messages.

'I was upset about my jacket being stolen and I was sensitive to her outfits,' she said.

Ms Reynolds said she wouldn't have minded if Ms Higgins had explained afterwards that she took the jacket because she felt uncomfortable, or because she was cold.

She said the issue was the jacket disappeared without her knowledge, and was never returned.

In April, Federal Court Justice Michael Lee found on a balance of probabilities that Lehrmann raped Ms Higgins in Parliament House in 2019.

He maintains his innocence and has appealed the findings.
A police officer told a court he only flirted with a burglary victim because she winked at him from her doorstep but insisted they never had sex.

PC Matthew Peall, 47, is accused of misconduct in a public office after he allegedly tried to initiate a sexual relationship with the female carer of an elderly woman whose home was raided on October 8, 2019.

He proceeded to pursue a 'sexual or improper emotional relationship' with the female carer - referred to as 'LS' - between October 9 and December 17, 2019, after attending her house to take a statement, jurors have been told.

The officer previously handled complex adult and child sexual abuse cases for three and a half years as part of Kent Police's Vulnerability Investigations Team.

Giving evidence at Southwark Crown Court, the police officer conceded that he 'should have reported' the relationship to the appropriate authorities.

PC Matthew Peall (pictured leaving Southwark Crown Court) is accused of misconduct in a public office after he allegedly tried to initiate a sexual relationship with the female carer of an elderly woman whose home was raided

Peall (pictured outside court) proceeded to pursue a 'sexual or improper emotional relationship' with the female carer - referred to as 'LS' - between October 9 and December 17, 2019

But he added that self-reporting relationships with witnesses was 'never discussed openly' by police officers.

Peall said he 'did not remember' completing online training about preventing police abuse of position of trust for sexual purposes.

The officer initially attended the witness's house to take a statement in relation to the burglary on October 22, 2019.

He said he initially built a 'rapport' with the complainant during the taking of her first statement and said that messages between them 'became flirty' soon after their first meeting.

Whilst taking a second statement from 'LS', Peall said he was 'absolutely convinced that she winked at me' in the doorway of her house.

He sent her a message saying: 'I'm never sure what your winks mean' and she responded: 'I'm sure you'll figure them out.'

'I understood that to mean she was flirting with me - although I may have been thinking it possible she wasn't, she was actually doing so,' he said.

In a sequence of messages sent on November 20, one read: 'We could be wicked together', followed by a winking face emoji.

The court was told the woman replied: 'I'm sure we could'.

Peall said that this was an 'escalation in flirtation', adding: 'I believe, I still do, that is exactly what she intended, to continue to flirt with me.'

Peall (pictured leaving Southwark Crown Court) previously handled complex adult and child sexual abuse cases for three and a half years as part of Kent Police's Vulnerability Investigations Team

The police constable then admitted to asking the complainant via message if she had a 'high sex drive'.

During some of the pair's highly charged phone calls, many involved 'some kind of sexualised conversation,' the officer confessed.

Peall said he 'stopped communicating' with the complainant on December 16 and was 'quite glad it had stopped.'

'Afterwards, when there was no further contact, I was relieved', he said.

Asked if he ever met the woman for sex, Peall replied: 'No, not at all.'

Asked why he engaged in the conversations, he told the court, 'I wasn't in a good place - she had winked at me and she flirted with me, and I flirted back.'

The policeman said that he 'should' have self-reported the relationship, telling the court: 'I don't know why I didn't - I should have done, I should have reported it.'

'I never reported anything and I wasn't ever aware of anyone reporting anything of any kind.

'I can't recall how much emphasis there was on that at the time, it wasn't something that was discussed openly that I ever remember.

'Certain colleagues had developed relationships over that time, the reporting of things, I don't ever remember that being discussed.'

Peall said he could not recall ever receiving online training about preventing police abuse of position of trust for sexual purposes.

Peall told the court he could not recall ever receiving online training about preventing police abuse of position of trust for sexual purposes

Peall said: 'Online training covers many topics over a long period of time, I couldn't remember whether I would have done or not.

'I think it was put on you to look at these things if you saw them, certainly not to go actively looking for these documents.

During cross-examination by prosecutor Zarah Dickinson, Peall denied organising the taking of a third statement for the purposes of arranging a sexual meet-up.

'She was providing information as a witness, there was no vulnerability - she was flirting with me as much as I was flirting with her', he said.

Peall, of Dover, Kent, denies one count of wilfully misconducting himself in public office.

The trial continues.
Young musicians help strengthen Sino-US people-to-people exchanges

08:55, August 08, 2024 By Minlu Zhang in New York ( China Daily

Young musicians perform on Tuesday at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, the United States. More than 100 musicians from the Beijing Youth Orchestra jointly performed with members of the National Youth Orchestra of the USA during the event. MINLU ZHANG/CHINA DAILY

The Chinese consulate general in New York has rarely seen so many young faces from China and the United States gather under the same roof, and those who did on Tuesday were accompanied by the shared cheers of youths from both countries for a joint music performance.

The China-US joint performance gathered about 300 young musicians from the Beijing Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America for the last musical event on the final day of New York's World Orchestra Week.

What the young musicians demonstrated "is not just in the profession of music but also in the desire of human beings for peace, unity, solidarity and prosperity. It is with this spirit that I'm here to host you today", said Huang Ping, Chinese consul general in New York.

The performance began with the NYO-USA playing A Western Fanfare, followed by the BYO performing the Chinese folk song A Moonlit Night on the Spring River with Western instruments. Musicians from both countries then played Going Home, adapted from Dvorak's Symphony No 9, which was also later adapted in China. The concert concluded with You and Me, the theme song of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"The China-US relationship is now the most important relationship in the world. Needless to say, we have had ups and downs over the past 45 years since normalizing our relationship, but our people remain the same, and the friendship remains unchanged," Huang said.

"Music and art are universal languages that transcend boundaries and bridge gaps. By watching young musicians from around the world work together, I am confident we can build a better future. I believe that if we can play together, we can work together," he said.

Clive Gillinson, executive and artistic director of Carnegie Hall, said: "One of the most important things about music is that if you don't listen, you can't make music. One of the challenges in the world we're living in at the moment is that so many people are not listening. Everybody wants to talk. They don't agree with others."

This year, Carnegie Hall brought five youth orchestras from Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America to New York for World Orchestra Week from Aug 1 to 7. Over 100 musicians from the BYO performed at Carnegie Hall on Sunday. The young Chinese musicians also attended peer exchange workshops at the Iris Cantor Theater at New York University.

On Monday, all festival participants, about 700 musicians from more than 40 countries, joined a "play-in" event at New York's Jacob Javits Convention Center.

'Friends for life'

These young people "will remain connected and friends for life because this is an experience you never forget. It will be one of the greatest experiences of their lives. This will inform their relationships and their ability to communicate in meaningful ways throughout the future, bringing countries together in a way that maybe not all of us are very good at in today's world", Gillinson said.

The BYO is a new ensemble jointly curated by China's National Centre for the Performing Arts and the Beijing Municipal Education Commission in June. NCPA President Wang Ning said that it was Gillinson who suggested that he should establish the BYO.

"We greatly value the friendship between the Chinese and American arts communities, which has led to many artist exchanges and collaborations," Wang said in a video speech.

The youth music exchange took place after President Xi Jinping met with US President Joe Biden in San Francisco in November. Xi said that the hope of China-US relations lies in the people, and its future lies in the youth. Since then, China has been working to establish communication channels with young people in the US to promote bilateral people-to-people exchanges.

The NYO-USA will visit China next year, with a return performance at the NCPA as a key part of its tour.

"It was very interesting to see how the diplomacy factored into the playing," Diogo Feldman, a NYOUSA member who played trumpet on A Western Fanfare, told China Daily, adding that it was really interesting to hear the musicians from China and the US play together.

Many young musicians from both countries, who have become friends over the past few days, have exchanged gifts and contact information and plan to reunite in Beijing.

Members of the NYO-USA "were very enthusiastic", said An Yixuan, a member of the BYO. "After we finished performing, they cheered for us. They would even come to the airport to see us off."

Lyu Zening, who was one of the Chinese musicians on Going Home, said she was delighted because "I had never had such an experience".

Ana Isabella Espana, a violinist with the NYO-USA, said: "To get to know these people all of the way from Beijing was such a positive experience and they are all so sweet. And to be able to collaborate together with music, it's just so special and it's great."

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Liang Jun)
by Xinhua writers Zheng Xin and Rong Jiaojiao BEIJING, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- This summer, a new book featuring articles by senior Chinese officials and over 100 Q&As has become a go-to guide for anyone seeking to better understand the latest blueprint of China's reforms. This book with 310,000 Chinese characters provides an in-depth look at the strategies shaping the future of the nation, explaining the initiatives laid out in a resolution adopted in July on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. This comprehensive guide has an appendix explaining official terminology, from which this article selects six terms to illustrate China's reform agenda: debut economy, industries of the future, patient capital, new forms of employment, childbirth-friendly society and silver economy. DEBUT ECONOMY Amid efforts to develop a complete domestic demand system, China plans to actively promote the debut economy. It is about the buzz and excitement that comes with the launch of something new. Just recall the thrill when a brand-new smartphone is unveiled, or when a cutting-edge electric car hits the market. That's the debut economy in action. It covers everything from the first reveal of a product, the opening of flagship stores, and the launch of new services, to the creation of new business models and technologies. The significance of the debut economy, however, is not only a new product launch event or a brand display and runway show, but more importantly, the creation of a new business model, that is, the forming of a network comprised of research, development, release, display, promotion and sales of a new product, said Prof. Zhang Yina from Shanghai-based Fudan University. Think about it this way -- every time a new product is launched, like the latest smartphone, smartwatch, or even a new app, there's a whole chain of economic activity that kicks off. Companies are showcasing their latest innovations, opening new stores, setting up research centers, and even establishing new headquarters to support these launches. So why does it matter? Well, the debut economy is a sign of how trendy, high-quality, and innovative a place is. It shows how strong and vibrant the local economy is, how powerful the consumers are, and how capable the region is in terms of innovation. It's also a measure of how competitive a place is on the international stage, how strong its brand image is, and how open it is to new ideas. China's retail shopping hubs like Shanghai and Guangzhou have unveiled a slew of measures to boost the debut economy, including supporting high-quality international brands in opening their first Chinese stores, streamlining the procedures for approving new product launches and facilitating customs clearance of imported debut products. INDUSTRIES OF THE FUTURE According to the new reform master plan, China will establish a mechanism for ensuring funding increases for industries of the future. These are areas powered by the latest technologies that are just starting to take off but have huge potential. Think of them as the new kids on the block who are set to become the big stars. They can be super important, game-changing, and a bit unpredictable. But that's what makes them so thrilling. These industries are set to drive the next wave of tech and industrial transformation, becoming key players in economic growth. They're expected to become the main sources of new quality productive forces. China is zeroing in on several key areas, namely future manufacturing, information tech, materials, energy, space and health. The country is investing a lot of resources and brainpower in some really cool tech, like artificial intelligence (AI), brain-like intelligence, quantum tech, atomic-scale manufacturing (working at dimensions even smaller than nanotechnology), bio-manufacturing, humanoid robots, low-altitude economy (think drones and other low-flying tech) and hydrogen energy. These future industries aren't just about cool new gadgets. They're about fundamentally changing how we live, work and play. They're the strategic choices that will determine the landscape of the next wave of global innovation. In addition, cultivating and expanding emerging and future industries will help build new advantages in China's industrial development and improve the international competitiveness of the domestic industry, said Deng Zhou, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. PATIENT CAPITAL China will encourage and regulate the development of angel investment, venture capital, and private equity investment, better leverage the role of government investment funds, and work to promote the development of patient capital. Unlike other investments that aim for quick profits, patient capital is all about long-term gains. It's not swayed by short-term market swings but is willing to ride out the ups and downs to achieve bigger, more sustainable returns over time. Li Sanxi, a researcher at Renmin University of China, believes the concept of patient capital has played a positive role in enhancing the vitality and confidence of various types of capital investment. Capital that is not disturbed by short-term market fluctuations and can provide stable financial support for investment projects in the long term is an important engine to accelerate the cultivation and expansion of new quality productive forces, Li said. Imagine you're planting something. Regular investments are like planting fast-growing vegetables. Patient capital, on the other hand, is like planting an oak tree. It takes longer to grow, but once it's established, it's strong, stable and provides benefits for generations. Why does this matter? Well, patient capital is essential for big, innovative projects that can transform our world. It's the kind of funding that supports cutting-edge technology and industrial innovation. Think about the development of new medical technologies, renewable energy projects, or groundbreaking AI advancements. These are not quick wins --they need time, money, and the ability to weather risks. China's State Council released a raft of measures in June to develop patient capital. The country will revise the regulations on the administration of foreign-invested venture capital (VC) enterprises to facilitate foreign investors in engaging in VC within the territory. NEW FORMS OF EMPLOYMENT China aims to support and regulate the development of new forms of employment. A recent survey on the status of the national workforce revealed that 84 million people are now employed in new forms of work across China. These are job types that have emerged with the rise of the internet and the digital economy. They include roles like food delivery drivers, ride-share drivers and online marketers who rely on internet platforms for their work. The flexibility of these new employment forms is great for expanding job opportunities and balancing the labor market. For instance, if someone needs to find work quickly, they can often secure one of these platform-based jobs much faster than finding a traditional job. Plus, it opens up options for people who might need non-traditional work hours, such as parents or students. New forms of employment have improved the efficiency of the allocation of labor resources and expanded the scale of employment. It will help change the structure of the job market and stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship, Yu Shaoxiang, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, explained. But with these new job types also come new challenges. One major issue is ensuring the quality of these jobs and protecting the rights of workers. To this end, China will build a sound social security system to serve people in flexible employment, rural migrant workers, and those in new forms of employment, and expand the coverage of unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, and childbirth insurance programs, according to the reform plan. CHILDBIRTH-FRIENDLY SOCIETY China will improve its population development strategy in response to population aging and the declining birth rate. It will strive to build a childbirth-friendly society. In practical terms, the government will play a huge role by providing services that cover everyone, throughout their entire lives. This means robust healthcare, accessible education, and comprehensive support for families at every stage. They're also rolling out policies that make it easier and more affordable to have kids. Such policies include tax breaks, housing incentives and improved parental leave. An important factor in deciding whether a region can achieve sustainable development is whether it adopts strategic and long-term childbirth support policies, said Prof. Yang Chenggang at Southwest University of Finance and Economics. A childbirth-friendly society also depends on the culture and attitudes of the people. This means promoting positive views on marriage and family, encouraging shared parenting responsibilities, and creating a public dialogue that supports and celebrates having children. It's about making sure that society as a whole sees raising the next generation as a shared responsibility. With a pro-childbirth environment, China aims to maintain a stable population size and ensure there are enough young people to support the economy and care for older generations. Raising the birth rate to more sustainable levels is neither a mission impossible nor an easily achievable goal. Striving for a more harmonious relationship between the population, resources and the environment, China aims to further solidify its advantage in boasting a vast market and steadily enhance its overall national strength. SILVER ECONOMY China aims to develop the silver economy, which involves all economic activities geared toward providing products and services to older adults. This includes everything from healthcare, dining and care-giving services to more niche areas like anti-aging products, elder-friendly travel and financial products tailored for retirement. Statistics show that the value of China's silver economy now stands at around 7 trillion yuan (about 980.58 billion U.S. dollars), and it is expected to reach around 30 trillion yuan by 2035. Imagine your grandparents needing more convenient ways to access healthcare, more enjoyable travel options, or even just better-designed everyday products that make life easier for them. The silver economy is about creating and enhancing these services and products to meet their needs. China is putting a spotlight on the silver economy because it's facing a demographic shift with an aging population -- just like many other economies in the world. By the end of 2023, China's population aged 60 or above had reached 297 million, accounting for 21.1 percent of the total population. Among them, 217 million were aged 65 or above, making up 15.4 percent of the population. According to international standards, China now is a moderately aging society. With this reality firmly in mind, China is working to ensure that its aging population can live comfortably and with dignity, while also tapping into new economic potentials. Together, these six terms outline a comprehensive reform strategy that highlights China's commitment to innovation, sustainability and inclusiveness.
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz arrive for a campaign rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Joe Lamberti/Associated Press

Republicans are trying to define Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz as hes being introduced to a country where most voters dont know much about the Minnesota governor and six-term House member.

Their approach is to throw a lot of attacks into the ether and see what sticks. Their early salvos are a mixed bag: Walz is a San Francisco liberal. He allowed rioters to burn down the streets of Minneapolis, in 2020 after the citys police killed George Floyd. He ducked out early on his military service. And he is Tampon Tim.

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Some of the attacks are exaggerated, erroneous or reincarnated from previous campaigns against Walz, 60. But Walz will have to provide more in-depth answers to others in which the record is foggier.

Here are a few of the early attacks:

Claim: Republicans call Walz Tampon Tim over his support of a law requiring pads and tampons to be placed in all school bathrooms, including mens. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trumps presidential campaign, called the law a threat to womens health on Fox News on Tuesday morning.

Context: The law was celebrated by many organizations in Minnesota as a step to ending period poverty and supporting transgender students, at a cost of about $2 per student.

California enacted a similar law in 2021 requiring that schools that serve grades 6-12 provide free menstrual products in all womens and gender-neutral bathrooms, as well as in at least one mens bathroom. The act also requires schools to notify students of their right to complimentary menstrual products.

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Leavitt was trying to tap into the conservative belief that measures supportive of transgender rights are dangerous or harmful to women.

The Trump-Vance ticket has leaned into anti-trans rhetoric, often highlighting its support of limiting trans childrens abilities to transition or use preferred pronouns without parental input.

Fact check: Walz signed the law, which went into effect at the start of the year, mandating schools provide free menstrual products for all menstruating students in grades 4-12. Republican state lawmakers fought to amend the language to call for the tampons and pads to be provided only in womens restrooms but failed to get support to add the language to the act.

***

Claim: Walz abandoned his enlistment early from the Army National Guard. Republican vice presidential nominee, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, called Walz stolen valor garbage Wednesday in Michigan.

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Vance is amplifying a charge made by former Minnesota state Sen. Scott Jensen, who lost the gubernatorial race to Walz in 2022. In that race, Jensen accused Walz of leaving his battalion just before it was deployed to Iraq, saying Walz failed to lead and ran from his duty.

Context: The claims were fueled by an open letter posted on Facebook in 2018 by Thomas Behrends, another retired command sergeant major in the National Guard. Behrends claimed that Walz quit early after reenlisting and misled his battalion on whether he would be joining on a mission to Iraq.

We all do what we can. Im proud I did 24 years, Walz said to the Star Tribune at the time. I have an honorable record.

The Star Tribune reported that Joseph Eustice, a veteran who led the same battalion as Walz, said that the politician fulfilled his duty to the Minnesota National Guard before he left in 2005. He was a great soldier, Eustice told the newspaper. When he chose to leave, he had every right to leave.

Fact check: Walz, who served in the Minnesota National Guard since 1981, was honorably discharged in 2005 after retiring to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. Walzs 24 years in the National Guard included a deployment to Italy in 2003 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Walz had served as a command sergeant major before retirement, but reverted to a master sergeant after not completing required coursework before his exit. Walz is the highest-ranking enlisted man to ever serve in Congress.

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Claim: Walz is the Bernie Sanders of Congress.

Former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield made that claim, perhaps overlooking that independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Democratic socialist, is still in Congress. Vance piled on, saying, Kamala Harris is running as a San Francisco liberal. She has governed as a San Francisco liberal, and shes chosen a running mate who will be a San Francisco-style liberal.

Context: Republicans try to portray every Democratic opponent as an uber-lefty. Theyve spent tens of millions of dollars trying to tie various Democrats to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, of San Francisco, over the years. Republicans and their allies spent $50 million on anti-Pelosi ads in the 2022 cycle and $45 million in 2020, according to Ad Impact, a media analysis firm. It wasnt that effective. Democrats held the House in 2020 and outperformed expectations in 2022 when Republicans narrowly took back the House.

Fact check: Walzs record in Congress was close to the center of the people he served with, according to an analysis by GovTrack. He mainly focused on veterans issues, agriculture and employment issues. He was never a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, according to a spokesperson for the group.

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He took more of a turn to the left after being elected governor in 2018. He signed legislation codifying abortion rights into the state constitution and bills that would ban conversion practices and that would block out-of-state subpoenas aimed at forcing transgender kids seeking gender-affirming therapy back to anti-trans rights states.

But even Pelosi doesnt think hes that far left. To characterize him as left is so unreal, Pelosi told MSNBC this week. Hes right down the middle. Hes a heartland-of-America Democrat.

***

Claim: Vance said Walz allowed rioters to burn down the streets of Minneapolis, during 2020 protests after Minneapolis police murdered George Floyd.

Context: Vance was referring to how critics have said Walzs response was too slow to civil unrest following Floyds murder. A state report found that 500 businesses and buildings  including Minneapolis Third Precinct police station  burned, as part of $500 million in property damage done statewide.

However, civil rights advocates praised Walz, in particular for appointing Attorney General Keith Ellison to prosecute Floyds killer, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Ben Crump, the attorney for Floyds family, praised Walz saying he gained personal respect for him in the aftermath of George Floyds death, and admired how he used his position to advocate for passage of police reform legislation.

When asked this month about his response to the riots, Walz said, Decisions were made in a situation that is what it is. And I simply believe that we tried to do the best we can in each of those.

Fact check: The primary responsibility for protecting the city belonged to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. But when the initial protests intensified quickly, Frey and the citys police department asked for help from the state National Guard, which Walz controls. Frey said that Walz hesitated and did not take his requests seriously until it was too late. Walz countered that the citys response was an abject failure, and its requests for help were too vague. Walz eventually sent 7,000 National Guard members to the Twin Cities, but that was 18 hours after Freys request.

A report reviewing the response, written by Republican state senators, found that Frey and Walz identified with the causes promoted by the demonstrators, causing them to lose sight of their responsibility to protect the public from criminal acts committed during the riots. The report said, if Walz had acted in a decisive manner by activating the Minnesota National Guard when requested, the riots would have been brought under control much faster.
The US government has been urged to warn staff in the UK of 'wrong-way' driving following the death of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn in a crash with diplomat Anne Sacoolas.

A senior coroner for Northamptonshire concluded the fatal collision 'may not have occurred' had Sacoolas been familiarised with the Highway Code and driving rules in the UK.

Sacoolas, an American intelligence worker, was driving on the wrong side of the road when she hit Mr Dunn, 19, head-on outside RAF Croughton in August 2019 and caused his death.

However, 19 days after the incident she successfully managed to leave the UK under diplomatic immunity laws, as she is married to a CIA operative.

Writing to The Americas Section of the Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office and the MOD, Anne Pember called for for better training of US staff.

The US government has been urged to warn staff in the UK of 'wrong-way' driving following the death of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn (pictured) in a crash with diplomat Anne Sacoolas

Sacoolas (pictured in 2021), an American intelligence worker, was driving on the wrong side of the road when she hit Mr Dunn, 19, head-on outside RAF Croughton in August 2019 and caused his death

Ms Pember pointed out Sacoolas had received 'no familiarisation or any other form of training' between her arrival and the crash. Pictured: The arrows showing drivers outside RAF Croughton which side of the road to drive on

At Mr Dunn's inquest, it was heard Sacoolas 'inadvertently moved' onto the wrong side of the road, where she drove for 350m before the impact as the motorcyclist travelled out of Croughton.

Ms Pember concluded Mr Dunn had died as a result of a road traffic collision, from which he suffered 'catastrophic' injuries which included fractures to all four of his limbs. He died when being taken to hospital.

In a Prevention of Future Death report, she has revealed 'matters giving rise to concern' heard at the inquest about driving instructions to Americans arriving in Britain.

She said of the two categories of US workforce at the base - the Military personnel and Diplomatic personnel - only the former received briefing of driving in the UK.

'Nothing was provided to the diplomatic personnel,' she wrote, of which Sacoolas belonged.

Ms Pember pointed out Sacoolas had received 'no familiarisation or any other form of training' between her arrival and the crash.

'Prior to the accident she had passed a "throwback" arrow signalling to a driver if they happened to be overtaking to get back to the left hand side,' she continued.

'However, [she] had not yet familiarised herself with the UK Highway Code and neither had she been trained in the differences in and significance of road signs in the UK.

'Had she received appropriate training reminding her to keep to the left and to help her to understand and interpret the UK road signs and markings it is possible the collision with Mr Dunn may not have occurred.'

The US State Department asserted diplomatic immunity on behalf of Sacoolas and she was able to leave the UK 19 days after the fatal collision which killed Harry Dunn (pictured)

It follows Mr Dunn's family (mother Charlotte Charles seen) expressing their bitter disappointment at Sacoolas failing to turn up for any of the 19-year-old's four-day inquest

Ms Charles is seen with Mr Dunn's twin brother Niall at his second funeral, held after human tissue was found on clothing which had been returned to the family

It follows Mr Dunn's family expressing their bitter disappointment at Sacoolas failing to turn up for any of the 19-year-old's four-day inquest.

Speaking at court in June, Mr Dunn's mother, Charlotte Charles, reiterated her 'disgust' at Sacoolas and the US Embassy's decision not to attend - labelling it 'disrespectful' to her son and adding that it would 'forever leave us feeling bitterly disappointed in her'.

Ms Charles said: 'We have come to the end of our huge fight. Does it bring closure to our loss? I don't think that ever happens.

'It further bolsters my opinion that they [the US government] have no regard for myself or my family, our wider family - they just don't care.'

The family of Harry Dunn were told Anne Sacoolas was willing to attend the inquest remotely provided their lawyer did not ask questions.

Sacoolas' evidence was delayed twice during the inquest in Northampton, after eleventh hour talks were held to further invite her to attend.

The Dunn family were told that the 45-year-old could have potentially agreed to give live evidence, but only on the condition that questions came only from the coroner and not the family's lawyer Patrick Gibbs KC.

Family spokesman Radd Seiger said the parents rejected the proposal.

Mr Dunn's father Tim Dunn alongside his wife Tracey Dunn holding tissues the second funeral in March 2024

Pictured: Artist's impression of Sacoolas appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court via video-link from the United States in 2022, where she pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving

'What on earth were they thinking of?' He said.

'Who would seek to restrict a grieving family's opportunity to understand how their son died in that way.

'This appeared to us to be yet another attempt to have Ms Sacoolas do things in our justice system that suited her.

'As much as the family wanted to hear from her, they are principled people and believe in doing things according to the rules.'

Sacoolas appeared before a High Court judge at the Old Bailey via video-link in December 2022, where she pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.

She was advised against attending her sentencing hearing by her employer, which prompted the family to say they were 'horrified' that the US government was 'actively interfering in our criminal justice system'.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb handed her an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
Do you know the Nans against Nazis?

A group of defiant pensioners who brand themselves 'Nans against Nazis' joined anti-racism campaigners in their battle against the far-right.

Pat, 71, turned out at a gathering outside the offices of a charity which helps asylum seekers in Liverpool yesterday after suggestions it could be targeted by anti-immigrant protesters.

She was joined by other elderly demonstrators who were seen holding signs that read 'Nans against Nazis', 'Merseyside Pensioners Fight Back' and 'When the poor blame the poor only the rich win'.

Hundreds of people took to the streets prepared to face down the far-right, with a heavy police presence for good measure, although in the end not a single member of the opposition turned up.

The offices of Asylum Link in the city had been boarded up in preparation for potential violence following a week of disorder across Britain following misinformation in the wake of the killing of three young girls in Southport.

Do you know the Nans against Nazis? Email lettice.bromovsky@mailonline.co.uk

At the Liverpool anti-far right counter protest with @pollysmythe, who is live reporting. This is Pat and her comrade who say they've been "fighting Nazis since the 70s" & can't believe we've "got to a point again where racists are notifying people about when they will turn up". pic.twitter.com/lceesjZXWK  Moya Lothian-McLean (@mlothianmclean) August 7, 2024

Pat, 71, was part of the counter-protest that gathered on West Derby Road on Friday evening to oppose a planned demonstration outside the Abdullah Quilliam Mosque on August 2

The pensioner, pictured on August 2, says she has been fighting against Nazis since the 1970s and is not stopping soon

A woman holds a sign which reads 'Refugees Welcome Here' during a counter-demonstration outside Merseyside Immigration Centre on August 7

An elderly man with a zimmer frame holds a sign which reads 'Give Peace A Chance' at a counter-demonstration in Liverpool on August 7

Pat pictured at a previous counter-demonstration outside a mosque on Friday, August 2

Pat, who is a grandmother from Toxteth, has been active over the last week after taking part in counter-demonstrations organised to combat the far-right in the city.

Speaking at an earlier demonstration outside the Abdullah Quilliam Mosque last Friday, she said: 'I've been doing this for years. It started with coming out against the National Front in the 1970s. We've got to show them we're not afraid.

'I've been told to stop coming to things like this but I won't stop now. These people are just vicious thugs; there's nothing political in what they're doing.'

It comes as people in the city continue to rally around each other following the violence brought by far-right thugs over the last week.

Thousands have donated to restore Spellow Lane library in Liverpool which was destroyed on Saturday by far-right rioters.

Thugs torched the building which is used as both a library hub and a food bank.

Shocking pictures revealed the extent of damage inside the library, with bookshelves toppled over, books burnt and shards of glass smashed across the floor.

The fundraiser, which has now reached 213,334, aims to replenish the burnt books and fix the damaged space inside.

Meanwhile, a fundraiser for a carer whose car was torched during a riot in Middlesbrough in Saturday night has reached 62,265.

Brendan Nwabichie had returned from a 12-hour shift at a local care home to discover that his car had been flipped over and torched by far-right thugs.

Spellow Lane library in Liverpool was set on fire by rioters over the weekend, sparking outrage

A fundraising page set up to replace the books and equipment which was lost inside has since raised more than 213,000

Brendan Nwabichie had his car overturned and set on fire while he was working a 12-hour shift as a care worker in Middlesbrough on Saturday

A GoFundMe to replace his vehicle, pictured burning above, has since raised more than 60,000

The 33-year-old, who is from Nigeria, had made the decision to leave his car at home after hearing of a potential riot in Middlesbrough town centre.

A GoFundMe set up by his boss to raise money to replace his car has since surged past its 3,000 target to more than 62,000.

Since the violence began more than 400 people have been arrested and over 100 charged, with the first prison sentences handed out this week.

Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson said there will be more arrests today and warned that the law will 'come for' those involved in inciting the riots online.

She told the BBC: 'Over 400 people have been arrested - I'm hoping and I know that number will increase today.

'We've got over 140 people charged, that number will go up as well, and we will start to see again today, more people going into court and receiving sentences.

'And very importantly as well, I just want to make this point, it's not just those physical acts on the street that we're going to make sure people are brought to account for, but it's also what's happening online and that's really important.

'This week, we saw the first person being charged and convicted of what he'd done online, inciting violence, racial violence, and that is important.

'If you do stuff online we will come for you, just as much as we will come for you for what you do on the streets of our country if you're carrying out criminal disorder and violence.'

However, she added that intelligence has suggested more riots could take place in the next few days and she was 'cautious' about declaring victory.

She told Sky News: 'It's good that we didn't see the level of disorder and criminality on our streets that we have in previous days, but obviously this is just the start.

'There is now further intelligence of events during the next few days, and we need to see what happens there.'
Once a respected zoologist who worked alongside David Attenborough, today Adam Britton was sentenced to ten years in jail for what the judge deemed 'inconceivable depravity'.

The disgraced crocodile expert, who grew up in West Yorkshire, pled guilty to 56 offences related to the torture and sexual exploitation of more than 42 dogs on his rural Australian property.

He also admitted to four counts of accessing 'the worst category' of child abuse material.

Britton's crimes were so 'grotesque' that the judge at the Northern Territory Supreme Court warned the public gallery they might go into 'nervous shock'.

As the details were read aloud, members of the public rushed outside while others sobbed, gasped and mouthed insults at the disgraced zoologist.

Adam Robert Corden Britton (pictured) pled guilty to 56 offences related to the torture and sexual exploitation of more than 42 dogs

Britton was sentenced to ten years in jail and five months with a non-parole period of six years, backdated to his April 2022 arrest

His extensive and violent offending resulted in the deaths of 39 dogs, including nine puppies.

Chief Justice Michael Grant told the British-born academic: 'Your depravity falls outside any ordinary human conception'.

But how was a once respected zoologist who featured in documentaries for the likes of the BBC and National Geographic finally exposed as a serial animal abuser? MailOnline takes a deep dive into the life and crimes of Adam Britton.

What was Britton's childhood like?

Britton was born in the UK and grew up in West Yorkshire.

Although not much is known of his childhood, 'like-minded' people on secret online forums told the BBC he started molesting horses at the age of 13.

Messages from Britton revealed in court said: 'I was sadistic as a child to animals, but I had repressed it. In the last few years I let it out again, and now I can't stop. I don't want to :)'

What did Britton do for a living?

After earning a PhD in Zoology from Bristol University, Britton moved to Australia to work with crocodiles.

Britton built up a global reputation for his expertise and appeared in several BBC and National Geographic productions.

Britton was a renowned crocodile expert and senior researcher at Charles Darwin University

Adam Britton (pictured centre) hosted Sir David Attenborough (right) on his property while filming the BBC docuseries Life in Cold Blood. His wife Erin is pictured left

The crocodile expert even hosted Sir David Attenborough when the Bafta-winning BBC docuseries Life in Cold Blood was filmed on his property.

While leading a double life, Britton took up a post as a senior researcher at Charles Darwin University.

During his time down under, he met his wife Erin - a biologist and wildlife ranger who once helped Prince Harry to catch a crocodile.

The couple were co-founders of consultancy company Big Gecko, which sold footage of crocodiles to TV and film directors.

Indeed their saltwater crocodile Smaug has featured in the horror film Black Water.

About six months prior to his arrest, the couple were interviewed about their research on ABC News and Triple J's news programme, Hack.

The couple filmed themselves during a Covid lockdown in 2020, feeding a freshwater crocodile on their property and posted the footage to Facebook.

In the clip, Britton said: 'Hello everyone, Adam here. Well, we're at home at the moment and we've got to feed the crocodiles.

'So what I'm going to do is, I'm going to hand this camera to Erin - say 'hi', Erin.'

Erin smiled while her husband filmed her feeding chicken legs to Njall the crocodile.

None of his offending was against the reptiles.

Adam is pictured here with his wife Erin. They were married for at least 15 years, but reports say Erin had no knowledge of his crimes

Erin (left) and Adam Britton (right) were co-founders of consultancy company Big Gecko, which sold footage of crocodiles to TV and film directors

Britton's wife Erin, a wildlife ranger who once met Prince Harry and helped him catch a crocodile, has reportedly changed her surname since learning of her husband's crimes

Prince Harry is seen catching a crocodile as he is aided by Britton's wife Erin

Locals told media the pair seemed like quiet but passionate defenders of animals.

But Britton was hiding his 'sadistic sexual interest' in them from everyone including his own wife, court documents say.

It is reported that Erin was unaware of her husband's crime and has since dropped her last name.

What are Britton's crimes?

In 2014, Britton began sexually abusing his own pet Swiss Shepherds - Ursa and Bolt.

He constructed a secret 'torture room' using a shipping container on his rural property in McMinns Lagoon near Darwin.

Britton also scoured the internet for dogs he could abuse and kill at his home.

He often found canines using online marketplace Gumtree Australia where unsuspecting owners with travel or work commitments gave their pets away using 'free to good home' adverts.

The zoologist built a rapport with the owners he took the pets from, sending them updates filled with 'false narratives' and old photos.

The married zoologist sexually abused his own Swiss Shepherd dogs, Ursa and Bolt for almost a decade

Britton not only tortured and sexually abused his own pets Ursa and Bolt (pictured together), who he created an Instagram page for, but also dogs from pet owners he had lured into his trap through the online marketplace platform Gumtree Australia

In 2016, Britton uploaded a photo of one of his dogs, Bolt, as a puppy (pictured)

One of Adam Britton's dogs pictured on his property outside Darwin

'My own dogs are family and I have limits,' he explained in a Telegram chat entered into evidence.

'I only badly mistreat other dogs... I have no emotional bond to them, they are toys pure and simple. And [there are] plenty more where they came from.'

Britton extensively filmed his violent offending in the so-called 'torture room' which was fitted with recording equipment.

He shared videos online under pseudonyms and handed out 'how to' advice in an attempt to encourage others to commit similar offences and get rid of the evidence.

With a sprawling property on the outskirts of Darwin, Britton said he disposed of the dogs' remains by feeding their bodies to animals - including the eight crocodiles on his land.

The horrific animal abuse continued until Britton's arrest in April 2022.

He was only caught when a video of his vile acts, which he had shared online, was provided to Australia's Northern Territory animal welfare authorities.

The clip showed the torture of eight dogs - all except one were puppies.

But an anonymous internet user noticed the female dog in the video was wearing an orange City of Darwin leash with the slogan, 'great pets start with you'.

That tip-off enabled investigators to track down where the dog was adopted from - and by whom.

Britton's sprawling rural property was put up for sale but protesters spray painted 'Dog Killer' on the walls

Britton filmed his offending in his so-called 'torture room' (pictured) and shared videos online under pseudonyms

Within weeks, officers stormed Britton's property and arrested him. He has been remanded in custody since.

Police officers seized recording devices, animal remains and a laptop on which they located 15 files containing child abuse material.

Today Britton was sentenced to ten years in jail and five months with a non-parole period of six years, backdated to his April 2022 arrest.

He stood in the dock wearing a black suit with grey shirt and did not visibly react to Justice Grant's sentencing remarks.

The once-respected academic was also banned from owning or having mammal-type animals on his property for the rest of his life.

Britton's sentence was met with outrage by animal advocates.

Emma Hurst, an MP for the Animal Justice Party in NSW, slammed the sentence as 'pathetically weak'.

Animal advocates demonstrate ahead of Britton's sentencing at the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in Darwin

'These were horrific acts of animal cruelty,' Ms Hurst said.

'There is a well-researched link between violence towards animals and violence towards people.

'This man is a danger to other animals and the community. I am relieved to hear his sentence includes time behind bars - that's where a man like this belongs  but it is not long enough.'
Bruce Lehrmann and his former media minder John Macgowan have been raided by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) over an 'insane conspiracy theory' concerning the alleged leak of top secret documents.

Daily Mail Australia understands that the former Liberal staffer's temporary interstate residence was raided in June.

The NACC have been investigating rumours that Lehrmann stole documents relating to Australia's now defunct submarine deal with France between March and April 2019, around the same time he is accused of raping Brittany Higgins.

He's accused of then passing on the top-secret documents to Mr Macgowan for him to sell.

Lehrmann's lawyer Zali Burrow said: 'The submarine spy games theory appears to be another character assassination attempt against Bruce.

'The raid ended up simply being just a cosy night out with the officers and Bruce.

'The NACC bought a round of pizzas while they sat by the fireplace watching the State of Origin.'

The news comes after Mr Macgowan claimed up to 20 NACC officers raided his girlfriend's Earlwood home in Sydney's inner-west in June.

The homes of Bruce Lehrmann (right) and his former media minder John Macgowan (left) have been raided by the National Anti-Corruption Commission

The NACC is investigating claims Mr Lehrmann (pictured) stole documents about Australia's defunct submarine deal with France

The squad reportedly included a sniffer dog, two uniformed NSW Police officers to secure the house and an Australian Federal Police officer.

Mr Macgowan believes the 'conspiracy' about Mr Lehrmann stealing the documents stemmed from a joke he made during an interview, which he didn't realise was being recorded.

He said 'documents, phones, anything they could get their hands on' was seized during the raid.

'The only thing they didn't raid was my snake tank,' Mr Macgowan told news.com.au.

Mr Macgowan said officers used 'paper' sniffer dogs in an attempt to find the documents and went as far as to raid his girlfriend's underwear drawer.

Mr Macgowan believes the 'conspiracy' about Mr Lehrmann stealing the submarine documents stemmed from a joke he made during an interview

Mr Macgowan (pictured with Mr Lehrmann) said officers used 'paper' sniffer dogs in an attempt to find the documents

He now wants the NACC to return his three mobile phones and laptop which were seized after completing a voluntary interview.

'You've got to communicate with people about when the investigation is over. I am just sitting here thinking, 'when is the next raid coming?',' he said.

'I volunteered to do an interview. There's zero truth to it. It was a made up story promoted by the conspiracy theorists on Twitter.'

The search warrant for Mr Macgowan's home stated it was based on 'reasonable grounds for suspecting that they will afford evidence of that alleged offence.'

The National Anti-Corruption Watchdog has also seized communications between Mr Macgowan and News.com.au in January 2023 when he provided the outlet with a copy of the Moller report.

The Moller report is a document related to the investigation into Ms Higgins' alleged rape.

It was originally prepared for internal police purposes to decide whether the charges should be pursued.
The horrified crew of the Alaska Airlines flight that saw a door fly off the Boeing aircraft in mid-air in January were almost certain that passengers had been sucked out of the plane.

'I said "there is a hole in the plane... and I'm sure we've lost passengers",' said one unnamed flight attendant with about 20 years of experience, after spotting the hole in the plane and five empty seats, according to testimony released today by safety experts.

The attendant added they they were particularly scared for an unaccompanied child toward the plane's rear. 'All I could think of was that he was sitting there and he was too small to reach the mask and was probably really scared.'

Footage from the Alaska Airlines blowout in January saw passengers sat in dead silence as they watched the ground rush past them through the hole where the door used to be.

A panel holding one of the doors to the Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet broke off '20 minutes' into the flight from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, Canada, failed mid-flight.

Footage from the Alaska Airlines blowout in January saw passengers sat in dead silence as they watched the ground rush past them through the hole where the door used to be

A panel holding one of the doors to the Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet broke off '20 minutes' into the flight

The horrified crew of the Alaska Airlines flight that saw a door fly off the Boeing aircraft in mid-air in January were almost certain that passengers had been sucked out of the plane

An initial assessment from National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators finding that there were no retention bolts when there should've been four.

Flight attendants who were not authorized to speak publicly immediately after the accident described a loud bang, whooshing air and for one, tangled oxygen masks.

'I think I was able to (blurt) out, "I think we have a hole and we might've lost passengers."

'And then it seemed like I just lost contact, I tried calling back, tried speaking loudly into the phone, I couldn't hear anything,' said a second flight attendant, with almost a decade of experience.

'Probably the scariest thing was I didn't have exact communication with my flight deck and at first I didn't know if the decompression was in the front, if we have pilots, and not being able to fully communicate with the back,' the flight attendant said.

The flight attendants both described damage to the plane and injured passengers, including one teen without a shirt on who had a red face and neck.

One chair was completely stripped of the leather cover, fabric stuffing, upholstery and head rest tray table with the force of the decompression.

California resident Cuong Tran and six other passengers have filed a lawsuit against Boeing and the airline after the near-tragedy 16,000ft above Portland

The second flight attendant said eventually pilots informed them that they were going to land, 'so I knew that we were going to be okay.'

The comments released by investigators were among thousands of pages of evidence made public ahead of a two-day hearing that began earlier on Tuesday by the NTSB about the incident.

The NTSB is reviewing 737 manufacturing and inspections and oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration with a goal of making recommendations to prevent a repeat in the future.

The incident has morphed into a full-blown financial and reputational crisis for manufacturer Boeing.

Just yesterday NASA astronauts stranded due to Boeing's faulty Starliner received horrifying news about their return mission to Earth.

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have already been trapped on the International Space Station (ISS) for more than two months, may not come back to Earth until February 2025.

The US space agency revealed a contingency plan that would launch a two-person crew on SpaceX's Crew-9 mission in September, but still wouldn't bring the crew home until months later.
The petty crook and one-time actor behind the iconic 'succulent Chinese meal' video always maintained that all was not as it seemed in the footage.

Jack Karlson - the man behind the iconic 'democracy manifest' clip - died a week after his 82nd birthday, with his family saying he lived 'a full and colourful' life.

Karlson's path to becoming an Australian legend came on October 11, 1991, when a television news crew filmed him shouting at police outside the China Sea Restaurant in Brisbane.

The outburst first went viral when it was uploaded to YouTube in 2009, awakening a new generation to the legendary larrikin encounter.

But Karlson never diverted from his claim that it was all a mix-up and case of mistaken identity that led to him being arrested and escorted out of the Chinese restaurant, where he'd been having lunch with a friend.

However, it was not his guilt or innocence in the matter that made him famous, though, it was his theatrical response to his arrest, which he hammed up for the TV crew who were there because they had been tipped off by the police - a tip off the police were soon to regret.

'Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest,' he said in a deep, mellifluous, Shakespearean actor's voice, during the arrest.

'Have a look at the headlock here. See that chap over there? Get your hand off my penis! Get your hand off my penis,' he roared with gusto.

Though he is famous for getting arrested in 1991 - video of which has been going viral for years - the late Jack Karlson (pictured) always maintained that all was not as it seemed

Jack Karlson, who died on Wednesday surrounded by family, is pictured with his niece Kim Edwards

'This is the bloke who got me on the penis before. Why did you do this to me? For what reason? What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?'

In his later years, Mr Karlson suffered from many health conditions, including systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and cancer.

Karlson died on Wednesday surrounded by loved ones.

'He walked a full and colourful path and despite the troubles thrown at him, he lived by his motto  to keep on laughing,' a family statement read.

'Jack leaves daughter Heidi, his son Erik, his nieces Kim, Kelly and Kerry, and nephew Karl, grandchildren Terri-Lace and Nec and many grand nieces and nephews behind, along with countless others whose lives he touched. He will be sorely missed.'

His niece Kim Edwards revealed that Karlson had spent the last few weeks of his life in hospital.

And just as he had done while in custody decades ago, he tried to free himself from the hospital too.

'He had a few attempts to escape and pulled his cords out a couple of times and asked us many time to sneak in his pipe,' Ms Edwards said.

'He was battling many ailments but what got him in the end was SIRS.'

A fundraiser was set up for Karlson after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and needed surgery for cataracts, and has so far generated more than $8,500 in funds.

'He was very thankful for the positive response to his GoFundMe and everyone who donated,' Ms Edwards said.

'This money will now go towards his funeral.

'As a final send off we gave uncle a last taste of red wine through his drip just before it was removed.

'We are still deciding what we want to do in regards to the funeral. We will post updates on the GoFundMe page.'

Ms Edwards previously said she hoped people could 'dig deep' to support her uncle.

'I know Jack's video has given a lot of people joy and he has inspired many memes, t-shirts and other things over the years but Jack himself is doing it quite tough,' she wrote.

'He has never had much money but has always been generous to family and friends. He lives week to week in regional QLD with the help of a voluntary carer.

'Hoping people can dig deep  I think he's worth at least a beer, maybe even a 6-pack.'

Last week his niece said Karlson wasn't doing well in an update to the fundraiser.

'He has been in hospital for two weeks now,' she wrote. 'He has had multiple procedures but things are not looking good.

'One thing that did lift his spirits was that the GoFundMe was taking off. He has been really appreciative of the donations and the comments.'

A documentary about Karlson, The Man who Ate a Succulent Chinese Meal, is set for release next year.

Director Heath Davis said the crew is 'heartbroken' with the news of Karlson's death, calling him an 'icon'.

'Jack lived a life unlike any other. In fact, he's such a larger than life figure who's survived such adversity, it's hard to believe he's left us,' he said.

'Jack's inherent ability to always see the bright side of life despite the insurmountable hardship is something I'll carry forward with me in my own life.

'There really is only one Jack Karlson and he truly was Australia's last larrikin.'

Karlson (pictured centre) always claimed his 1991 arrest was a case of mistaken identity

Mr Davis said Australia has 'lost an icon'.

'Our thoughts and prayers go out to his beloved family today especially his daughter Heidi, niece Kim and nephew Karl,' he said.

'Jack's spark will forever live on much like his infamous viral video.

'I'll be having a beer and a succulent Chinese meal in his honour tonight. You can finally rest in peace, mate.'

He said telling Karlson's story was an 'honour and privilege' and confirmed the team remains committed to bringing the documentary to the big screen.

'Collaborating with Jack has been one of the most rewarding and fascinating creative journeys to date.'

Outside of the famous arrest, Karlson was known for several prison escapes throughout his life.

Karlson told ABC's Earshot how he had escaped from Boggo Road Gaol in 1996 by jumping off a train on the way to a court hearing for breaking, entering and stealing.

He added on a separate occasion he had walked out of his court cell and impersonated a detective after he was arrested in a stolen car in the western Sydney suburb of Parramatta.
A suspected serial killer has been charged with the murders of three prostitutes who were all strangled to death with their own underwear nearly 50 years ago.

Warren Luther Alexander, 73, of Diamondhead, Mississippi, faces allegations of multiple first-degree murders in southern California, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

He was extradited on Tuesday from Surry County, North Carolina, where he was awaiting prosecution in connection with a 1992 homicide, according to a press release.

The cold case unit of the Ventura County Sheriffs Department started re-examining the killings of Kimberly Carol Fritz, 18, Velvet Ann Sanchez, 31, and Lorraine Ann Rodriguez, 21.

All of their deaths took place over the span of seven months in three different jurisdictions of Ventura County, including Port Hueneme, Oxnard and Ventura.

Warren Luther Alexander, of Diamondhead, Mississippi, is extradited from North Carolina

The 73-year-old has been charged with the murders of three prostitutes who were all strangled to death with their own underwear in 1977

While the exact circumstances surrounding their deaths were not disclosed, an article published in 1978 in the Utah publication stated they were strangled with their own underwear.

The DA's office revealed that 'DNA evidence was collected from the crime scenes and the victims'.

Authorities did not reveal what led them to identify Alexander as a suspect, but a news conference will be held on Thursday.

In all three cases an autopsy revealed that the cause of death was strangulation.

Alexander made his first appearance in Ventura County Superior Court Wednesday, but his arraignment was continued to August 21. He is being held without bail.

In 2022, the 73-year-old was taken into custody for the 1992 murder of Nona Stamey Cobb, who was found on the side of Interstate 77 in Surry County, N.C.

All of the deaths took place over the span of seven months in three different jurisdictions of Ventura County in California. Pictured: Los Angeles in 1968
Sir Keir Starmer will today chair another emergency Cobra meeting as he vowed to not 'let up' on the Government's crackdown on far-right rioters.

The Prime Minister will hold fresh crisis talks with senior police officers this afternoon despite last night's planned gatherings fizzling out.

Police were braced for further violence yesterday evening with more than 100 planned protests and around 30 more counter protests.

Shops were boarded up in many towns and cities amid fears of fresh mayhem in the wake of the Southport stabbing attack last Monday.

But, by 8pm, many protests did not materialise and those that did were dwarfed in size by counter-demonstrations.

An estimated 25,000 anti-racism activists turned out in force in cities across the UK.

After visiting a mosque in Solihull this morning, Sir Keir told broadcasters: 'Now it's important that we don't let up here.

'And that's why later on today I will have another Cobra meeting with law enforcement, with senior police officers, to make sure that we reflect on last night but also plan for the coming days.'

The PM said last night was 'much better than was expected' after many of the planned anti-immigration protests failed to materialise.

But he added that the Government was 'not going to give up on our efforts here'.

Sir Keir said the deployment of extra police officers and the swift sentencing of those involved in rioting had sent a 'very powerful message' and helped prevent further disorder.

Sir Keir Starmer will today chair another emergency Cobra meeting as he vowed to not 'let up' on the Government's crackdown on far-right rioters

After visiting a mosque in Solihull this morning, Sir Keir told broadcasters: 'Now it's important that we don't let up here'

The PM said last night was 'much better than was expected' after many of planned protests failed to materialise. But he added the Government was 'not going to give up on our efforts'

Sir Keir spoke to faith and community leaders at the Arden Academy in Solihull

Sir Keir said the deployment of extra police officers and the swift sentencing of those involved in rioting had sent a 'very powerful message' and helped prevent further disorder

A huge crowd of counter protesters gathered outside Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau in London last night

The PM pointed to how hundreds of people had now been arrested following the violent disorder of the past 10 days, with some already sent to jail.

Asked about lessons learned from the riots crisis, Sir Keir replied: 'The most important lesson is for those involving themselves in disorder.

'Because what we've seen is that those who've been arrested  now numbered in their hundreds, many have been charged, some already in court, and now a number of individuals sentenced to terms of imprisonment, that is a very important message to those involved in disorder.

'And I say it again, anybody involving themselves in disorder, whatever they claim as their motive, will feel the full force of the law.

'It's important I repeat that because we need to make sure that in the coming days, we can give the necessary reassurance to our communities, many of whom  I've been talking to some this morning  are very anxious about the situation.'

During his visit to the West Midlands, Sir Keir also held a roundtable discussion with Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, West Midlands mayor Richard Parker, members of the Muslim community and police officers who attended recent disorder.

Asked whether he should engage with underlying tensions over the issue of immigration, Sir Keir said: 'The first priority is safety and security of our communities.

'And. yes, last night was much better than was expected, but we are not going to give up on our efforts here.

'That's why it's very important that I continue my discussions, co-ordinating with law enforcement, with police leaders, to make sure we've got the right officers in the right place, to keep pushing on the criminal justice response.

'I was very keen that we were able to demonstrate that if you're involved in disorder, within days you will be in the criminal justice system and some people starting long terms of imprisonment.

'That needs to continue, and so that is my sole focus.'
Shamima Begum faces decades stuck inside a grim Syrian detention camp after losing her final UK court bid to retrieve her British citizenship.

The jihadi bride's legal team are now preparing to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, but if this fails she faces a deeply uncertain fate in one of the world's most dangerous and conflict-riven regions.

The 24-year-old is currently being held in Al Roj, a filthy, brutal temporary tent city teeming with dangerous ISIS loyalists who use threats and beatings to enforce their extremist ideology.

Assuming she is unable to return to the UK, Ms Begum will be held indefinitely inside the camp, which could remain open for as long as 20 years at the current rates of repatriation, according to UN special rapporteur Fionnuala Ni Aolain.

But Katherine Cornett, from Reprieve, believes the volatile security situation could soon cause the camp to collapse, meaning she faces being transferred to the jurisdiction of Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad, 'disappeared' or killed.

The jihadi bride's legal team are now preparing to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, but she looks set to remain in Syria

The 24-year-old is currently being held in Al Roj, a filthy, brutal temporary tent city teeming with dangerous ISIS loyalists who use threats and beatings to enforce their extremist ideology

Living conditions in the camp are poor, with people living in tents and only simple medical facilities available

Ms Begum lost an appeal last year against the decision to revoke her citizenship on national security grounds at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC).

Yesterday, Supreme Court judges ruled that Ms Begum could not appeal again after she lost a Court of Appeal bid in February. While her lawyers have vowed to petition the European Court of Human Rights, she looks set to remain in Syria.

Al Roj in northeastern Syria, where Ms Begum was moved to in 2019 after being found in nearby Al Hol, is home to around 2,600 detainees from 55 countries, many of them ISIS brides and their children.

The camp is guarded by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), but with the region still riven by armed conflict there are fears that 'the status quo won't hold'.

Katherine Cornett, head of unlawful detentions at Reprieve - which is campaigning for Ms Begum's return - told MailOnline: 'The conditions these British families are held in are horrific, but unless the UK Government brings them home, all the alternatives are worse.

'Both the US and the Kurdish authorities have frequently warned that the prison camps are vulnerable and unstable. ISIS cells have attacked detention facilities in the region before and could do so again.

'If the camps collapse, British women and children would likely be killed or captured and re-trafficked. And transfer to Assad's Syria or Iraq likely means torture, disappearance or death.

'Security experts are unanimous that the only safe solution is for countries including the UK to repatriate their nationals.

'The US has said this time and again, most recently Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in May, when US personnel brought 11 Americans home. It is long past time for the UK Government to follow their example.'

British judges have previously ruled that Ms Begum had not been left stateless by the decision to strip her of her British citizenship because she retained the right to Bangladeshi citizenship through her mother.

But there is no prospect of her moving to the country, with Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously saying Ms Begum is not a Bangladeshi citizen and has never applied to be one.

And in May 2019, Bangladesh's foreign minister said the jihadi bride could face the death penalty for involvement in terrorism if she ever tried to.

Turkish air strikes targeting Kurdish fighters mean conditions inside Al Roj are 'extremely volatile', with power and water supplies cut, according to the Red Cross.

Al Roj in northeastern Syria, where Ms Begum was moved to in 2019 after being found in nearby Al Hol (where she is pictured)

Ms Begum pictured in BBC programme The Shamima Begum Story in February 2023

Revealed: The OTHER British jihadi brides

There are believed to be 'dozens' more British ISIS brides like Shamima Begum in camps in the Middle East. UK charities looking to repatriate the women say this also includes around 40 children. After Islamic State was uprooted in Syria by Kurdish forces with American support in 2019, male fighters  including British men  were sent to prisons in the north of the country. But women and children were detained in two refugee camps called Al Roj and Al Hol, also in northern Syria. Testimony of some of the jihadi brides detained with Ms Begum in Al Roj camp has been revealed in WhatsApp messages seen by The Guardian. In one message, sent last September, a British mother in her 20s says she feels that UK authorities have ignored her. 'I'm going to die here if they don't get me out soon,' the message sent to UK family members said. 'I really, really want to go back and be with you guys. I really need hospital care.' Others, sent by a small number of British mothers to the UK throughout last year, depict abysmal conditions within the camp. Advertisement

Al Roj's director, Rashid Omar, revealed in March that ISIS supporters control much of the camp's interior, with Ms Begum considered 'courageous' because she was 'one of few' women in the camp who have refused to wear niqab - a veil which covers the entire entire body and face, excluding the eyes.

Mr Omar, 39, told the Times that in Al Roj, 'women get beaten for disobeying orders, and then are threatened with death to stop them reporting these assaults'.

But this hasn't stopped Ms Begum from walking around the camp in Primark clothes, Nike trainers, and wearing makeup that was allegedly smuggled in by some of the SDF soldiers guarding the gates of the facility.

During his interview earlier this year, Mr Omar said a 14-year-old boy had emerged as the senior ISIS enforcer inside the camp, imposing strict religious rules and preaching extremist doctrine.

The teenager is said to have gathered other youth around him to reestablish the terrorist group in the camp after the last IS-held village in Baghouz was overrun by Kurdish-led forces when he was nine years old.

'He is like the Islamic State emir in this camp,' Mr Omar said.

The boys are described as leading a gang of male youths who enforce their rules by threatening adult women with brutal beatings if the boys believe the women did something wrong.

They have made improvised weapons to arm themselves and indoctrinate the next generation in weekly khutbah sermons where they share their extremist ideology.

'Whenever we try looking for him, the other kids start rising against us. There are a lot of teenagers with him in this camp,' he said.

In their decision yesterday denying Ms Begum permission to appeal to the Supreme Court, Lords Reed, Hodge and Lloyd-Jones found her proposed grounds for appeal 'do not raise an arguable point of law'.

International observers say people living at the al-Roj camp are effectively detained by Syrian forces - unable to leave without a guarantee of repatriation to their home countries

How Shamima Begum's dream of joining ISIS saw her exiled 2015 February 17 - Kadiza Sultana, Amira Abase and Shamima Begum leave their East London homes to travel to Istanbul from Gatwick. Begum and Abase are reported missing by their families later the same day.

- Kadiza Sultana, Amira Abase and Shamima Begum leave their East London homes to travel to Istanbul from Gatwick. Begum and Abase are reported missing by their families later the same day. February 18 - Sultana is reported missing to the police.

- Sultana is reported missing to the police. February 20 - The Metropolitan Police launch a public appeal for information on the missing girls who are feared to have gone on to Syria. The Met fears they have joined ISIS.

- The Metropolitan Police launch a public appeal for information on the missing girls who are feared to have gone on to Syria. The Met fears they have joined ISIS. February 21 - Four days after the girls went missing, police believe they may still be in Turkey. 2016 August 2016 - Sultana, then 17, is reported to have been killed in Raqqa in May when a suspected Russian air strike obliterates her house. 2019 February 13 - Begum, then 19, says she wants to return to the UK to give birth to her third child.

- Begum, then 19, says she wants to return to the UK to give birth to her third child. February 15 - Home Secretary Sajid Javid says he 'will not hesitate' to prevent the return of Britons who travelled to join ISIS.

- Home Secretary Sajid Javid says he 'will not hesitate' to prevent the return of Britons who travelled to join ISIS. February 17 - Begum gives birth to her third child - a baby boy, Jarrah - in Al-Hawl. Her two other children, a daughter called Sarayah and a son called Jerah, both previously died.

- Begum gives birth to her third child - a baby boy, Jarrah - in Al-Hawl. Her two other children, a daughter called Sarayah and a son called Jerah, both previously died. February 19 - The Home Office sends Begum's family a letter stating that it intends to revoke her British citizenship.

- The Home Office sends Begum's family a letter stating that it intends to revoke her British citizenship. February 20 - Begum, having been shown a copy of the Home Office's letter by ITV News, describes the decision as 'unjust'.

- Begum, having been shown a copy of the Home Office's letter by ITV News, describes the decision as 'unjust'. February 22 - Begum's family write to Mr Javid asking for his help to bring her newborn son to Britain

- Begum's family write to Mr Javid asking for his help to bring her newborn son to Britain Late February - Begum is moved to the Al-Roj camp in north-eastern Syria, reportedly because of threats to her life made at Al-Hawl following the publication of media interviews.

- Begum is moved to the Al-Roj camp in north-eastern Syria, reportedly because of threats to her life made at Al-Hawl following the publication of media interviews. March 7 - Jarrah dies around three weeks after he was born.

- Jarrah dies around three weeks after he was born. March 19 - Begum's lawyers file a legal action challenging the decision to revoke her citizenship.

- Begum's lawyers file a legal action challenging the decision to revoke her citizenship. April 1 - Begum says she was 'brainwashed' and that she wants to 'go back to the UK for a second chance to start my life over again'.

- Begum says she was 'brainwashed' and that she wants to 'go back to the UK for a second chance to start my life over again'. May 4 - Bangladesh says Begum could face the death penalty if she goes to the country

- Bangladesh says Begum could face the death penalty if she goes to the country September 29 - Home Secretary Priti Patel says there is 'no way' she will let Begum return to the UK

- Home Secretary Priti Patel says there is 'no way' she will let Begum return to the UK October 22-25 - Begum's appeal against the revocation of her British citizenship begins in London. 2020 February 7 - Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) rules on Begum's legal challenge,

- Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) rules on Begum's legal challenge, July 16 - Court of Appeal rules on the case and finds in Begum's favour.

- Court of Appeal rules on the case and finds in Begum's favour. November 23 - Supreme Court hears case. 2021 February 26 - Supreme Court denies her right to enter UK to fight for British citizenship. 2022 November - At a five-day hearing at the SIAC, Begum's lawyers argue she was a child trafficking victim. 2023 February 22 - Begum loses her appeal to the SIAC against the bid to strip her of her British citizenship. 2024 February 23 - Court of Appeal judges dismiss Begum's appeal.

March 25 : Begum loses her initial bid to appeal at the Supreme Court.

August 8 : Justices rule she cannot appeal at the Supreme Court. Advertisement

The three justices said that there was no arguable challenge to the Court of Appeal's decision, including whether Ms Begum should have been able to make representations to the then-Home Secretary before the removal of her citizenship.

After the decision was announced, a statement from her legal practice Birnberg Peirce sent to MailOnline said: 'It is a matter of the gravest concern that British women and children have been arbitrarily imprisoned in a Syrian camp for five years, all detained indefinitely without any prospect of a trial.

'All other countries in the UK's position have intervened and achieved the return of their citizens and their children.

'Two weeks ago the US State Department once again addressed the responsibility of countries to repatriate their nationals from the camps in north east Syria. The UK is now alone in its position.

'The UK courts have for five years offered no exit route despite the critical humanitarian crisis in the camps. Instead the Supreme Court has today left resolution to another court, this time in Strasbourg.

'Whilst on behalf of Ms Begum we, her lawyers, will take every possible legal step including to petition the European Court of Human Rights, this is an issue that can and should as the US urges, be resolved for all nationals by their own countries.'

Ms Begum left London in February 2015, aged 15, and travelled with two school friends - Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase - to Syria.

While there, she married an ISIS fighter and gave birth to three children, all of whom died as infants.

The British government took away her citizenship on national security grounds in 2019, shortly after she was found in a detention camp in Syria.

She said the decision left her stateless  and it meant she was not able to return to Britain.

Ms Begum argued the decision was unlawful, in part because British officials failed to properly consider whether she was a victim of trafficking.

But this argument was rejected by the SIAC specialist tribunal in February 2023.

She then went to the Court of Appeal, where her legal team argued that the government had failed to consider its legal duties to Ms Begum as a potential victim of trafficking.

But the court ruled that the risk to national security took precedence.

The court also ruled that Ms Begum had not been left stateless because she retained Bangladeshi citizenship through her mother.

Her lawyer told the SIAC hearing that her client had been 'influenced' along with her friends by a 'determined and effective' ISIS 'propaganda machine'.

The appeal court accepted that Ms Begum 'may well have been influenced and manipulated by others', but added she could 'still have made a calculated decision to travel to Syria'.

Dismissing her Court of Appeal challenge in February, the Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, said: 'It could be argued the decision in Ms Begum's case was harsh.

'It could also be argued that Ms Begum is the author of her own misfortune, but it is not for this court to agree or disagree with either point of view.

'The only task of the court was to assess whether the deprivation decision was unlawful. Since it was not, Ms Begum's appeal is dismissed.'

In March, Court of Appeal judges rejected Begum's initial bid to take her case to the Supreme Court.

Around 900 people are estimated to have travelled from Britain to Syria and Iraq to join ISIS.

Of those, around 150 are believed to have been stripped of their citizenship, according to government figures.

In 2021, Ms Begum was interviewed by Good Morning Britain and begged for forgiveness and insisted she was a victim - not a terrorist or a criminal.

'No one can hate me more than I hate myself for what I've done, and all I can say is I'm sorry and just give me a second chance', she said, before adding she was 'groomed and taken advantage of and manipulated'.
A terrifying photograph shows the moment two Oklahoma college students were potentially drugged at a swim-up bar in Cancun - with one of the young vacationers fearing she ingested fentanyl.

Zara Hull, her boyfriend, Jake Sinder, and her friend, Kaylie Pitze, were with a group of friends in Cancun for a dream vacation when their trip turned into a nightmare on August 2.

'We both got water and within two minutes, Jake had turned around and we both hit the bar, heads down at the same time,' Hull, 20, told CBS News.

Hull said she experienced convulsions before passing out and becoming 'basically paralyzed.'

Snider rushed her to the hospital and remained by her side as staff reportedly demanded thousands of dollars for treatment.

A terrifying photograph shows the moment two Oklahoma college students were potentially drugged at a swim-up bar in Cancun

Zara Hull and Kaylie Pitze became dangerously sick on their dream vacation to Cancun

'They had increased the money they wanted. The baseline was $10,000 for them to even look at me,' Hull said.

'They were holding me captive. We're college students; we don't have the money they're asking for.'

Meanwhile, she suffered from seizures throughout the night, and the doctors intubated her.

'The hospital was NOT treating her, they were pumping her full of so many drugs to keep her sedated,' Jake's mother, Stephanie Snider, wrote on Facebook.

'They intubated her and told Jake it was "sedation for the MRI," she continued. 'There was no reason to sedate her, let alone intubate her.'

'We knew we needed to get her back and to the US.'

But hospital staff demanded even more money to release her, and the air ambulance to bring Hull back to the United States cost $26,000.

Zara Hull's boyfriend, Jake Snider, rushed her to the hospital and remained by her side as staff reportedly demanded thousands of dollars

Hull initially could not breathe on her own and was put on a ventilator

A day after ingesting the suspicious beverage, the group secured a private plane to fly them to Dallas, where Hull remains in the hospital as doctors continue to work to determine what may have happened to her.

She initially could not breathe on her own and was put on a ventilator.

Doctors say they have not found anything wrong with Hull, even though she has experienced at least 18 convulsions.

They say it is possible that the she was drugged.

'We think it was possibly synthetic fentanyl,' Hull told KFOR.

She will require physical therapy to learn how to walk again.

Kaylie did not end up in the hospital, but had a tough 24 hours after she was possibly drugged.

'It's been three days now and she still doesn't feel back to herself,' Stephanie Snider said.

Hull says she now worries that she will never get better

Pitze had a tough 24 hours after she was possibly drugged in Cancun

'Neither of the girls have any memory of what happened after they took that last drink, which happened to have been a glass of WATER.'

The college students have declined to reveal the names of their hotel or hospital, fearing for their safety.

The families have started several GoFundMe pages to ask for help covering the students' medical costs.

Since returning to the U.S., Hull has made some progress, her family said.

On Sunday, she was able to start breathing on her own and was taken off a ventilator, a family friend wrote in the online fundraiser for her medical expenses.

The two Oklahoma college students were on a trip with their boyfriends

'She is awake and able to communicate with family and her health care team,' the update said.

Then on Monday night, her family friend said she was able to get out of bed, and with help she was able to walk to the bathroom.

Hull has since been moved out of the intensive care unit and is now in a neurology unit out of precaution.

Still, she says she is struggling - even as her friends came to visit her in the hospital.

'It's so scary because there's times I am like, 'Am I going to make it out of this?' she said.
Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown disputed Donald Trumps statement Thursday that the two had been together on a helicopter that almost crashed. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Donald Trump said Thursday that he once had to make an emergency landing while riding in a helicopter with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.

In a rambling news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump also said without elaborating that Brown told him terrible things about the former presidents opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

I went down in a helicopter with him. We thought maybe this was the end, Trump said in response to a question about Brown. We were in a helicopter going to a certain location together, and there was an emergency landing. This was not a pleasant landing.

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Brown  who did have a close call on a helicopter that Trump wasnt on 20 years ago  told me Thursday he had no idea what the former president was talking about. On either count.

You would have known if I had gone down on a helicopter with Trump, Brown said Thursday. Ive never been on a helicopter with Trump.

The New York Times reported Thursday night that Trump was on a helicopter flight not with Willie Brown but with former California Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The 2018 flight with Trump was confirmed by both men, who said there was no emergency landing. A spokesperson for Jerry Brown said they did not discuss Kamala Harris on the flight. The Times reported that the flight was to survey damage from the Camp Fire in Paradise.

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Willie Brown told the Chronicle he did not say anything disparaging to Trump about Harris, whom he dated for about a year in the mid-1990s and appointed to two state commissions years before Harris was elected San Francisco district attorney in 2003.

Its just as accurate as all of the other components of what youre asking me about, Brown said. No, not accurate at all.

So Brown has never said anything bad about Harris to Trump?

Nooooooo, Brown said Thursday. Hell, no.

I wouldnt say anything bad about any woman to him, Brown said. I would know better. It might encourage him to take a (verbal) shot.

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Brown told me that he and Harris havent spoken in about three or four years.

Brown, the powerful longtime former Assembly speaker, said he cant understand what Trump has been doing since President Joe Biden withdrew from the race and outmaneuvered everybody and put Kamala Harris in a position to make history.

Brown said it is absolutely fabulous that somebody we mutually know is about to make history at the highest level that you can in America.

As for Trump: Hes wasting his time, Brown said.

It isnt the first time that Trump and conservatives have attacked one of Browns allies in recent days. Last month, Trump told the National Association of Black Journalists that Harris only recently turned Black. Harris has always identified as half-Black and half-Indian American. The attack was racist and inaccurate.

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Conservative media, led by Fox News host Sean Hannity, have tried to link Harris to controversial comments made years ago by the Rev. Amos Brown, who Brown appointed to the Board of Supervisors in 1996, in a series of racialized attacks.

I would hate to conclude that it is purely motivated by race, Brown said. I think that he just thinks that he needs to win, and he will do anything he can, including, by the way, trying his best to abolish the (vote) count.

Former President Donald Trump said Willie Brown told him terrible things about Kamala Harris, a claim Brown denies. Alex Brandon/Associated Press

As for Trumps random helicopter reference Thursday, it is not totally out of the blue. Brown has been on Trumps plane before, but Trump wasnt on it, Brown said Thursday.

Brown, a former Chronicle columnist, wrote in 2013 that Trump, whos a friend of mine, once sent a plane to Boston, where he had a speaking engagement, to fly him down to have lunch with him. Brown wrote that the plane was filled with the kind of art youd see in a museum.

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How in the hell can you keep your great art in an airplane? Brown asked Trump.

Why not? Trump replied. How often do you hear of somebody stealing a plane?

Nor was Trump on the helicopter that Brown was on in 2004 flying from Malibu to Los Angeles International Airport that had to make an emergency landing. No one was injured.

Helicopters, Brown wrote in 2017, are not my favorite mode of transportation, and I have to admit I was a bit nervous, he wrote before recounting how he had just flown in one to a fundraiser in the Central Valley. He wrote that the pilot told him, Dont worry, Mayor Brown. I fly the most important person in the world in my helicopter.

Whos that? Brown asked, looking around.

Me. The pilot.
A 79-year-old pensioner was battered to death in his own home after confronting a man who was trying door handles in his building, a court has heard.

Philip Fracezek, 20, allegedly attacked 79-year-old Franklin Agbotui at his home in Soprano Court in Plaistow, east London, on the afternoon of May 15.

A number of neighbours had become concerned that a man had entered the block of flats and was trying door handles, the Old Bailey heard.

Soprano Court was said to be occupied by a number of elderly residents who became worried about the incident.

The court was told the victim went out and told the male, described as Eastern European and wearing a blue T-shirt, to leave the block.

Franklin Agbotui, 79, confronted the stranger after reports of a man walking around the building and trying door handles

Mr Agbotui was attacked at his home in Soprano Court in Plaistow, east London, on the afternoon of May 15

Neighbours heard loud banging and screaming and were concerned a serious incident was taking place, the court heard.

The defendant was detained at the scene and officers found Mr Agbotui facedown on the floor and surrounded by broken furniture, prosecutor David Dainty said.

Mr Dainty said there was 'significant trauma to the head and face' which was described as 'indented and swollen'.

The victim was taken to the Royal London Hospital for treatment, with a eye being removed to relieve pressure on the brain.

But he sadly died days later on May 20 and a post-mortem examination found he died from blunt force trauma.

Fracezek, a Polish national, was originally charged with Mr Agbotui's attempted murder but that was later changed to murder on July 25.

On Thursday, the defendant appeared at the Old Bailey for a hearing before Judge Richard Marks KC.

Speaking by video link from Pentonville prison, the defendant confirmed his identity.

Judge Marks set a plea hearing for October 24 and a provisional trial from April 7 next year.

Fracezek, of Tower Hamlets Road, in Forest Gate, east London, was remanded into custody.
A former High Sheriff of Devon has been found dead at home with a shotgun wound.

An inquest has been opened into the death of 64-year- old Richard Youngman at his home in East Village near Crediton, Devon.

The senior Devon coroner Philip Spinney said the married corporate financier was found by a friend with a gunshot wound to the head last month.

Mr Spinney told the Exeter inquest that police were called to his home in July 10th and found him dead with a gunshot wound to his head.

Mr Youngman, who was High Sheriff between 2022 and 2023, stated at the time he was sworn in that he was a former corporate adviser and a Red Ruby Devon cattle breeder.

An inquest has been opened into the death of 64-year- old Richard Youngman at his home in East Village near Crediton, Devon

At the time of his appointment in 2022, Mr Youngman said: 'I am honoured to be taking on this ancient role and looking forward to thanking and supporting Devon's agencies of law and order, emergency services and associated voluntary bodies, all of whom do such important work in our communities, as they recover from a couple of tough years.'

A High Sheriff is a ceremonial position appointed by the monarch every year.

The monarch appoints one High Sheriff for each county in England and Wales and it is an unpaid and non-political role.

Mr Youngman was a qualified solicitor and had worked as an investment banker in London, before moving to Devon in 1990 to work for a West Country based investment group.

He worked most recently in an advisory role with Anvil Partners, aiding entrepreneurs grow businesses before he retired in 2020.

He lived with his wife, a retired vet, in Crediton, a town in Devon, where they farmed cattle and sheep.

The couple had two Devon County Show Breed Champion Ruby Red Devon Bulls and Mr Youngman was a council member for the Devon Cattle Breeder's Society.

There were no suspicious circumstances and the inquest was adjourned for a full hearing to be held on a yet to be confirmed date.
A radio journalist has told how he regrets having his baby daughter and often gets 'bored and frustrated' when he has to play with her.

Miguel Macias, 48, wrote an essay for the New York Times in which he explored the complexity of his feelings around fatherhood.

While he acknowledged a 'deep love' for his daughter, Olivia, he was brutally honest about some of the more challenging emotions he has felt since her arrival.

'Its a feeling thats so difficult to talk about, so universally taboo, that I feel nervous expressing it even to the people closest to me: regret,' Macias wrote.

The new dad explained how he had never previously wanted children, preferring to focus on his career.

Radio journalist Migual Macias (pictured with partner) said that he regrets having his baby daughter and often gets 'bored and frustrated' when he has to play with her

But as the years passed, his ambitions of making Oscar-winning documentaries faded and his life did not look like he imagined.

This, combined with a desire to please his partner, lead to them taking the leap and eventually welcoming the child.

Amid all the typical emotions felt by first-time parents, Macias said he was a little ashamed to find regret bubbling to the surface.

He attributed this partly to small things like frustration when his daughter is acting out and boredom with the monotony of parenthood.

'[D]espite my love for Olivia I dont really enjoy playing with her,' Macias admitted.

'I can play for 10, 15, 20 minutes, but after that I get bored and frustrated that I am wasting time.'

He also said he regrets the loss of his previous life and goals, and questioned whether it was the most moral decision to bring a child into a rapidly heating world riven with conflicts.

The journalist explained how he tried to suppress his feelings of regret as he has struggled with depression.

While Macias acknowledged a 'deep love' for his daughter, he was brutally honest about some of the more challenging emotions he has felt since her arrival

Macias detailed his experiences in an essay for the New York Times

Over time, Macias wrote, he has come to appreciate sitting with the emotion as a way of dealing with it.

Crucially, Macias has come to the realization that regret can coexist with his immense love for Olivia.

'If we don't allow ourselves to feel regret  feel it and come to some sort of peace with it  we risk being haunted by it,' he wrote.
Donald Trump's attack dog has two goals for the election campaign: Take the policy fight to Kamala Harris and to keep off the weight he lost since becoming a senator.

On Tuesday, J.D. Vance managed the first with aplomb, crisscrossing two battleground states ahead of Harris (aides call it 'bracketing'), generating headlines and made-for-social media memes as he tried to confront the vice president at a tiny regional airport in Wisconsin.

But the latter may be harder as DailyMail.com discovered aboard Vance's campaign plane, nicknamed Trump Force Two. Lunch was sandwiches and fries from Chick-Fil-A.

In a wide-ranging interview, with wife Usha sitting beside him, Vance discussed everything from his role in the campaign, the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, adjusting to having a Secret Service detail and how much weight he lost after becoming a senator.

A croissant sat untouched on the conference table, part of a breakfast-skipping regimen of frequent exercise and healthier eating.

Sen. J.D. Vance talks to reporters traveling with him on 'Trump Force Two' after landing in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on Wednesday. He is charged with taking the policy fight to Kamala Harris

'I haven't taken any drugs. Obviously, you eat a little bit less, but it's also just eating better,' he said.

'I tend to skip breakfast, whereas before I would have, like, you know, three waffles and scrambled eggs and bacon.'

The catalyst was completing his successful Senate campaign two years ago and realizing that he was out of breath just horsing around with his three children.

He started running and making sure he could fit the gym into his routine.

The result was dropping 30lb, he said. The new svelte figure was noticed by Donald Trump. He told aides he was impressed by the way Vance's suits were fitting better.

'Time will tell man,' said Vance. 'In three months, maybe I'll be a lot fatter.'

The first stop of the day is Shelby Township, in Michigan, giving Vance the chance to demonstrate his role.

This is not a rally but a question-and-answer session with regional journalists. And Trump's attack dog is like a canine with a bone.

A question from a local Michigan reporter about terrorists from the Middle East, simply 'highlights the weakness of the Kamala Harris administration,' according to Vance.

Vance was joined by wife Usha for the day trip to events in Michigan and Wisconsin, two key battlegrounds that could decide the outcome of the 2024 presidential election

Vance took questions from local reporters at an event in Shelby Township, where he was briefed by law enforcement officers on the problems they faced

A question about why Donald Trump picked him as running mate brings a pivot to attack Harris for selecting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as hers, 'bending the knee to the far left of the Democrat Party.'

And a question about whether Trump made a racist attack on Harris last week quickly becomes an attack on the vice president for 'faking who she is depending on her audience.'

Some Trump insiders were unsure about the choice of Vance. Could the MAGA darling complement the former president's hold on the base?

His campaign team has come up with plan, devising events that contrast with Trump, generating headlines without hogging the limelight (the worst possible crime in Trump world).

On Friday, Trump will address a very different audience in Montana: Thousands of supporters at one of his typically barnstorming rallies.

So while the top of the ticket is riling up fans in arenas, Vance is leaning into his obsession with detail, honed at an Ivy League law school, to dissect the polices of Kamala Harris.

'I think that one, I grew up in a town that was affected by very stupid policies,' he told DailyMail.com, referring to his difficult upbringing in southern Ohio and Kentucky.

Vance's plane arrived minutes after Air Force Two in Wisconsin allowing him the chance to try to confront Harris over why she is avoiding questions

Afterwards he said: 'I just wanted to check out my future plane'

'But two, just because because I like this stuff, and I like to get into the details, we can just highlight for the American people how bad she is on public policy, and how good Donald Trump is on public policy.'

He said it was important not to underestimate Harris but to unpick the meaning underneath her frequent waffling.

'I actually don't think she's dumb,' he said. 'I think the word salad comes from she's clearly hiding what she actually believes from the American people.

'She's a far left liberal who wants to take San Francisco liberalism nationwide.'

The former Marine seemed happy to be on the attack after two weeks of weathering incoming. News organizations had busied themselves sifting through old interviews and social media posts to attack him for comments about 'childless cat ladies' or inventing smears about couches.

He expected that, he said, and has gone out of his way to engage with what he called the 'hostile press.' But other aspects of becoming Trump's running mate meant more difficult adjustments.

'The Secret Service thing is just weird. I don't think we'll ever get used to it,' he said of the 24-hour protection given to presidential candidates and their VP picks.

'I hate not driving. Our kids have finally kind of gotten used to it. They call them their police friends.'

The couple have three children all under the age of seven.

Usha was engaged in a book as her husband chatted, but smiled occasionally at the questions and at his responses.

Security was tight at the first stop of the day in Shelby Township, Michigan

Vance and his wife were briefing by law enforcement officials on local crime

Vance's events are set up to offer a contrast with Trump. While Trump holds big raucous rallies, Vance spends time at smaller venues taking questions from local journalists

Much has been made of Vance's love of books by English author J.R.R. Tolkien. His venture capital firm is named Narya, after one of the rings featured in the "Lord of the Rings".

And he said there was no doubt it had inspired some of his thinking.

'The fundamental implication, or the moral lesson, of "The Lord of the Rings" is that, compared to something like "Game of Thrones" or more modern novels, is that we often know the right from the wrong,' he said.

'The really important thing is whether you have the courage and the will to see the right through. I think that's a very important moral lesson.'

Plus Tolkien was a thoughtful Catholic, added Vance, who officially converted to Catholicism in 2019.

'There are, I'm sure, all these subtle ways in which has influenced me,' he said.

His current reading may surprise people: "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" by Joan Didion. Her 1968 collection of essays chronicles California counterculture of the time.

Usha introduced him to her work when they were dating, he said, and he sees parallels between her takedown of Sixties hippy culture and today's liberals.

'There's an essay where she's basically criticizing a think tank. Like these people sit around and they used to be important, and now they just write s***ty articles. And I'm like, Oh, God ... everything old is new again.'

Vance and his wife arrive hand in hand at the second event at NMC-Wollard International, which manufactures ground support gear for airports in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Vance's audience was made up of workers and local media

There was time for an ice cream stop afterwards at Olson's. Vance ordered Mocha Mud Pie and Usha had a scoop of Mackinac Island Fudge

The seatbelt signs come on as the plane, a chartered 737 decorated with campaign slogans (think 'Drain the Swamp of Washington Corruption'), approaches Detroit airport about an hour after leaving Vance's home base of Cincinnati.

With Trump staying home for the early part of the week, it is up to Vance to lead the campaign attack.

He knows that his boss will be watching and scoring his performance. But Vance played down the idea that Trump is a demanding or temperamental person to work for, playing up their rapport and his sense of humor.

Only one other person knows what it is like to be Trump's running mate.

Mike Pence played a near perfect hand as the straight man to the president's antics until falling out in spectacular style over Trump's attempts to upend the Constitution and hold on to power after the 2020 election.

'I do want to talk to Mike Pence, because obviously he was vice president for four years, said Vance, before adding: 'but I haven't spoken to him since I was asked to be the VP nominee.'
An autistic Arizona mom was left without an eye after she was shot by a burglar late last year - and now she says her insurance company will not cover the cost of a prosthetic due to the injury being 'cosmetic.'

Anne, 40, almost died during the December attack at her parents home in Snowflake, she told DailyMail.com Thursday - a week before her assailant is set to be to be sentenced.

Joel Hernandez, 19, broke into the home as she was trying to sleep, she said - describing how his gun was drawn and how he urged her to stay quiet.

He then tried to rape her, she revealed - before detailing how she still suffers from PTSD and panic attacks to this day.

When she fought back, the then-18-year-old shot her in the head and ran off, she said. The bullet went through her head, past her brain, out her eye, down her cheek, and into her shoulder, but somehow, she survived.

Hernandez was later arrested, pleading guilty to the offense some five months later. His sentencing is slated for August 15, as the victim's battle over coverage continues.

Scroll down for video:

Anne, 40, almost died during the December attack at her parents home in Snowflake, she told DailyMail.com Thursday - a week before her assailant is set to be to be sentenced

Joel Hernandez, 19, broke into the home as she was trying to sleep, she said - describing how his gun was drawn and how he urged her to stay quiet

'The guy came in my room drunk tried to rape me,' Anne, said, asking that her last name not be published. She also said she is on the autism spectrum.

'When I told him no he shot me in my face,' she recalled further, taking great pains to do so.

'And then he ran,' she added, still on the mend more than seven months later.

Her statements came on the heels of other interviews given to Arizona's Family 3TV & CBS 5, as well as Fox 10 Phoenix.

She told all how she wants Hernandez to face the full consequences of his actions - a stance she reiterated Thursday.

'I have PTSD now with anxiety and panic attacks,' she said of her mental state since the attack.

'I want him to be charged to the fullest.'

She further revealed how the teen 'had alcohol on his breath' when he attempted to get in close to her as she laid in bed - before bravely fighting back as he tried to take off her clothes.

'The guy came in my room drunk tried to rape me,' Anne said, asking that her last name not be published. 'When I told him no he shot me in my face'

Anne is seen here before her injury. She is a stay-at-home mom

That's when he got frustrated and shot her in the face, she said - before explaining the saga that's ensued since after her insurance carrier refused to cover the costs of surgeries and a new, more advance prosthetic eye to give her back some sense of normalcy.

'I just want all this court stuff to be done and over with,' she told DailyMail.com, after staffers at the Arizona-based firm deemed the surgeries and prosthetic not necessary.

'I want my life to go back to normal but I know it wont,' she continued, days before the case is poised to close in the legal sense.

At that point, sentencing will be left up to the court, after Hernandez pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder and burglary, as well as the unlawful use of transportation, criminal damage and threatening or intimidation.

The litany of offenses could see him imprisoned for 30 years at the most, if the Navajo County Attorneys Office decides to hit him with the maximum punishment in the wake of his plea deal this past May.

As for Anne, despite being left without her right eye, she says her insurance will not cover the cost of any surgeries on her eye after branding them elective procedures.

Despite being left without her right eye, she says her insurance will not cover the cost of any surgeries because they branded them 'elective' procedures

'I have AHCCCS Health Insurance here in Arizona,' she revealed, referring to the state's Medicaid 'complete care' program. 'My doctor is trying to help me get it covered'

'I have AHCCCS Health Insurance here in Arizona,' she revealed, referring to the state's Medicaid program.

'My doctor is trying to help me get it covered,' she added, showing how the issue is not yet resolved.

Anne, a stay-at-home mom, still resides in Snowflake. Her family has started a fundraiser to help with her medical costs.

DailyMail.com has reached out to AHCCCS for comment.
A no-nonsense husband has been forced to take drastic action against his neighbor's 'vile' pit bull dogs after they launched a brutal attack against his wife's livestock.

Michelle Gomez, from the town of Lockhart, said she 'feared for her life' after numerous attacks from her neighbor's many pit bull dogs.

Over the past two and a half years, the pack of dogs killed the couple's three chickens and one miniature horse.

On Friday, the dogs were back at it again. They snuck onto their property and began mauling one of the couple's pigs - but this time, Gomez's husband was left with no choice but to shoot and kill three of the pit bulls.

'Enough is enough' A shaken Gomez told FOX 7 Austin after the incident.

Michelle Gomez, from the town of Lockhart, said she 'feared for her life' after numerous attacks from her neighbor's many pit bull dogs

Over the past two and a half years, the pack of dogs killed the couple's three chickens and one miniature horse - and injured others.

Gomez described the horrifying moment she watched the savage attack unfold from her window.

'I'm trying to see through the window what is actually going on, I call 911 at the same time, and then I hear three blasts,' Gomez told the outlet.

Gomez said the pit bulls had either climbed over her fence or dug under it to get to the pig.

'They were trying to get his ears, but he fought,' Gomez said.

Gomez said the police have repeatedly told her that she is within her rights to 'shoot and kill the dogs' in order to defend her property. 'The cops have always given me and told me you have a right to shoot and kill the dogs,' Gomez said.

'I don't like to kill dogs. I mean I love animals. They should not have to die by a bullet.'

On Friday, the dogs were back at it again. They snuck onto their property and began mauling one of the couple's pigs - but this time, Gomez's husband was left with no choice but to shoot and kill three of the pit bulls

Gomez described the horrifying moment she watched the savage attack unfold from her window

Gomez said the police have repeatedly told her that she is within her rights to 'shoot and kill the dogs' in order to defend her property

Gomez said her pig and donkey have been attacked, while three of her chickens, a foal, and a miniature horse have all been killed.

Gomez said the pit bulls had either climbed over her fence or dug under it to get to the pig

'He's protecting me and my animals,' Gomez said.

It's not the first time the Gomez family has been forced to deal with the vicious dogs, with records showing a long history of attacks on their livestock and disputes over the past two years.

'I think that she's going to be more careful about letting them loose or letting them loose at night, like the way she has been,' Gomez said.

'I live in fear for my life,' she said, adding that she now plans to sue both Caldwell County and her neighbor over the ongoing nightmare.

'A citation is not enough. To remedy this, they need to pick up the dogs,' Gomez said.
A Canadian airline has been humiliated in court by two passengers who exposed their lies about the reason for a cancelled flight.

Flair Airlines, in a bid to wriggle out of paying compensation when its 3:10 p.m. flight from Calgary to Vancouver was canceled on August 29 last year, blamed first a bird strike and then the weather.

Suspicious passengers turned internet sleuths Olivia Donner and James Broadhurst did their own research and found no record of a bird strike on the Canadian Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS).

The budget airline then emailed Donner to blame the weather for the cancellation, insisting it did not have to pay compensation for factors outside its control.

'There is no evidence before me, other than Flair's bare assertion, showing that a bird strike cancelled the flight,' a tribunal judge ruled on Wednesday, 'Flair had the opportunity to provide evidence and submissions but did not do so.'

Olivia Donner turned internet sleuth after the airline blamed first a bird strike and then bad weather in a bid to avoid compensating her for a canceled flight

The Alberta-based airline was Canada's most complained about in 2022, averaging 15.3 complaints per 100 flights

The couple were told that their flight was canceled in an email less than six hours before it was due to take off.

The airline blamed a bird strike and later told the tribunal that the crew of the aircraft reported several bird strikes to the tower at the Vancouver airport as the plane touched down on its previous flight.

But the airline could not explain why it was not reported as required, and could not supply the message it claimed one of its maintenance experts had sent to his bosses.

The couple were booked on a 5 a.m. flight the following morning, eventually landing 14 hours after they were originally scheduled to.

Donner began digging when the company refused her application for compensation through the Air Passenger Protection Regulations, turning for help to the Facebook group Air Passenger Rights Canada.

'I waited a couple weeks and checked the CADORS report, which had no matching record of a bird incident,' she wrote on its page.

'I emailed Flair for compensation with all the details of the situation, requesting $500 as I arrived hours late and they had not proven it was due to a situation out of their control.

'They replied, now telling me that the flight was cancelled due to "weather." Now it seems clear they are lying.'

Members of the Facebook group were not surprised to hear about her experience with an airline that was Canada's most complained about in 2022, averaging 15.3 complaints per 100 flights.

The Alberta-based airline promotes itself as the country's leading independent ultra low-cost carrier under the slogan 'plane and simple'.

The airline is hunting for a new chief executive after Stephen Jones retired in June

Tribunal member Jeffrey Drozdiak said his decision was simple, ordering the airline to pay Donner and Broadhurst $500 each in compensation within 15 days.

'When a party does not provide relevant evidence with no explanation, the tribunal may make an adverse inference,' he wrote in his judgment.

'An adverse inference is when the CRT assumes the party did not provide the relevant evidence because it would have damaged their case. I find an adverse inference is appropriate here.

'Based on this adverse inference, I find the flight cancellation was likely within Flair's control.'

The decision was greeted as a victory by some of the Facebook group's 200,000 members, but many suspected it would make little difference to other passengers.

'Odds are very high that airlines will roll the dice and deny compensation as default,' one person wrote.

'Slap on wrist,' wrote another. 'Is this how our courts ensure that Flair will follow rules next time around??'

Some warned that carriers are facing an era of greater scrutiny.

'Bravo. At some point the airlines will realize that passengers are getting smarter and better at representing themselves and just maybe they'll wake up and treat us correctly.

'Until then the fight goes on, they keep losing, and passengers win!'
A Crumbl Cookies employee urged TikTok users to stop calling the bakery demanding free leftover treats at closing time.

The TikToker (@illness.mental3) revealed the truth about Crumbl Cookies in a video after claiming she answered phone calls for half of her shift.

'Please stop calling. We donate all our leftover cookies and do not give them out for free at the end of the night,' she wrote in her TikTok.

@illness.mental3 did not mention how many leftovers they usually have every night, but at least three boxes in her video were full of cookies.

The employee is one of multiple social media users who claimed the free Crumbl Cookies hack is a lie, despite some TikTokers claiming otherwise.

TikTok user and Crumble Cookies employee @illness.mental3 revealed the bakery does not give away free cookies at night despite foodies claiming they do

@illness.mental3's used her July 17 video as a response to the untrue growing TikTok trend that's been happening this summer.

One customer, Amin Shaykho, gave step-by-step directions on how to complete this alleged cookie 'hack' in a June 27 TikTok.

Shaykho claimed the bakery gives free leftovers to customers before they close, as long as they call first.

He called a Crumbl Cookies bakery in Lynnwood, Washington, and an employee told him they give cookies out for free rather than throw them away at the end of the night.

Once Shaykho walked into the store, a worker handed him a 12-pack and 4-pack of cookies, and another employee gave him more once he got in his car.

Various commenters claimed that Crumbl Cookies doesn't do that, and a customer who allegedly called five stores wrote: 'They don't do that.'

One TikToker who claimed to be the store's owner wrote: 'Owner of Crumbl Lynnwood here! That is not our store, those are not my employees and we do not give the cookies out for free. We donate to the food bank. This is false.'

@illness.mental3's used her July 17 video as a response to the untrue growing TikTok trend that's been happening this summer

Crumbl Cookies was founded by Jason McGowan and Sawyer Hemsley, cousins who created the 'perfect combination of flour, sugar, and chocolate chips.'

The duo and their family opened the first store in 2017 while Hemsley was a student at Utah State University, according to its website.

The bakeries are known for their weekly rotating menus and pink boxes, both of which were developed in 2018.

Crumbl Cookies currently has over 800 bakeries in the US, and stores outside the nation began opening in 2023.

@illness.mental3 has posted multiple videos of what Crumbl Cookies work life is like, and her June 11 TikTok about what to do before opening a location reached nearly 10 million views.

She baked, filled up frosting bags, and placed cookies in the oven before decorating them and putting the treats near the register.

Crumbl Cookies are known for their weekly rotating menus and pink boxes, both of which were developed in 2018

More than one TikTok user who watched @illness.mental3's July 17 video claimed to be former or current Crumbl Cookies employees

More than one TikTok user who watched @illness.mental3's July 17 video claimed to be former Crumbl Cookies employees.

'At the Crumbl Cookies I used to work at, the cookies that were left would go to whoever closed and if there were still cookies left over, we would donate them to the fire stations, police stations, hospitals,' wrote a TikToker.

Another alleged employee wrote: 'I used to work at Crumbl Cookies. We were always told to throw them away, even if they had just sat in the warmer for 2+ hrs.'

Multiple TikTok users thanked the employee for donating the cookies, but one person was frustrated over what she wrote were 'lies.'

'Lies. My friend and I came in late at night, ordered a couple cookies, and ended up getting three boxes full of cookies all for free,' wrote the commenter.

'From one Crumbl Cookies worker to another, thank you for saying this,' wrote an alleged employee.

Daily Mail has reached out to Crumbl Cookies for comment.
A Royal Navy sailor has been cleared of raping a female colleague after being accused of ignoring pleas to stop by his alleged victim.

Engineering Technician Richard Kirk was accused of attempting to rape the female sailor as she slept and ignoring her requests to stop sex on two occasions.

The 23-year-old faced trial at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, but was today cleared of all charges after he told the court they had consensual sex.

A female colleague of ET Kirk said in 2021 she had woken in the morning to find the sailor half-dressed and on top of her after spending the night together.

She also told that on two other occasions, she had withdrawn her consent during consensual sexual intercourse - and was allegedly ignored by ET Kirk.

But the defendant, who is based at the HMS Drake naval base in Plymouth, Devon, pleaded not guilty to all the offences and said at no time was he ever asked to stop during their intercourse.

He also said he was never aware of the woman being in pain whilst they had sex.

Engineering Technician Richard Kirk (pictured outside Bulford Military Court was accused of attempting to rape the female sailor as she slept and ignoring her requests to stop sex on two occasions

ET Kirk, who is based at the HMS Drake naval base in Plymouth, Devon, pleaded not guilty to all the offences and said that all their sex was consensual and at no time was he ever asked to stop

During the three-day trial, the court was told one of the alleged incidents took place in a London hotel room, where the pair were 'cuddling' in bed before both falling asleep.

The female sailor claimed she had woken in the morning to find the sailor half-dressed and 'on top' of her after spending the night together.

The court was told of another occasion, which happened later that year, where the pair stayed together and started to have sex.

It was heard ET Kirk 'enjoyed rough sex' and when the female sailor started to feel pain she asked him to 'slow down'.

It was heard that he had refused to stop 'because we were having fun'.

On another occasion, during the same trip, the pair started having 'consensual sex'.

The court heard that the alleged victim asked ET Kirk to 'stop' to which he said, 'We'll stop when I want to stop'.

The victim reported the incidents several months after they took place.

Today, ET Kirk was cleared of two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape.
She has struggled so much with the chronic pain condition fibromyalgia that it forced her to step away from her broadcasting job.

But now Kirsty Young has revealed when she first suggested she might have the debilitating condition, a medic snorted and suggested it was not a real illness.

The 55-year-old former Desert Island Discs host left her Radio 4 show in 2018 as she underwent treatment for the syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis.

Kirsty Young's concerns that she was suffering from fibromyalgia were initially dismissed by doctors

She told Radio 4s Today programme that she is doing okay at the moment but finds it very uncomfortable to talk about her health.

The BBC broadcaster, originally from East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, said with fibromyalgia your pain centre is overinterpreting things that would happen normally in your body, and also explained symptoms also include brain fog and chronic fatigue.

She added: I have at my worst felt as though someone has drugged my cup of tea, almost sort of swaying with fatigue, and (I feel like) just having to just opt out of doing anything because the fatigue is almost like cement in your body.

Young recalled that she spent a long time in pain, which started in her elbow joints, before being diagnosed.

I wasnt managing, she added. I had it for probably about a year to a year and a half, increasing, it increased over time and the migraines became more, the pain became more, the fatigue became more, so it kind of increased over time before I successfully managed (to get medical advice).

Young said that when she asked a medical professional about it being fibromyalgia, she memorably dismissed her concerns.

She added: I said Ive read about this thing called fibromyalgia, could it be fibromyalgia? They actually did snort... She snorted... I said Is that not a thing?.

She said Thats not a thing, thats where we put people when they dont have something, just to say theyve got something.

I now, of course, realise the depths of that particular medics ignorance on the subject.

Young says when she was finally diagnosed, she no longer felt like a crazy lady, and could explain how she was feeling, and also recalled difficulties managing her pain.

I think I coped chaotically and badly, she said.

Young said she was quite horrible to be married to, and prioritised work and her children over the rest of her life as she could not manage with anything else.

WHAT IS FIBROMYALGIA? Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition defined by widespread pain and fatigue. It affects up to 2.7 per cent of people worldwide, with three women suffering for every one man, studies suggest. Fibromyalgia is often triggered by a trauma, such as a car accident or childbirth, as well as infections. Why this occurs is unclear. The discomfort tends to be felt as aches and burning from head-to-toe. And the fatigue ranges from feeling sleepy to the exhaustion of having the flu. Severe sufferers are often unable to work or socialise. The pain can be worse at some times than others and may change location, such as becoming more severe in parts of the body that are used the most. Other symptoms can include headaches; IBS; diarrhoea or constipation; poor concentration; dizziness; allergies and stimuli sensitivity, such as to light or heat. Studies suggest the average patient waits five years to be diagnosed, which is thought to be due to X-rays and other medical tests not picking the condition up. It is generally defined as pain that lasts for more than three months and affects 11 or more out of 18 tender points when pressed. Treatment aims to relieve pain and aid sleep. Source: Fibromyalgia Action UK Advertisement

The married mother-of-two added: I was hollowed out by it. I remember I just finished recording (an edition) of Desert Island Discs, and it had gone well. I was walking down Regents Street in central London and I was standing at the traffic lights. I just had missed the crossing and I had somewhere to be and I had to get there in time. I just burst into tears.

Young said this was an example of something that tipped her emotions over, and a doctor explained that she would get to the end of the tunnel.

She said she does not want to make a documentary, despite offers, as she feels privileged that she has the kind of comfortable lifestyle where she can give up her job at the helm of Desert Island Discs.

Young also described her condition as a little private horror, and said that she feels a lot of shame when there are people going through worse conditions.

Ms Young says that chronic pain is 'a hell of a thing to deal with' for thousands of people

She added: If you are in your life, and you are dealing with chronic pain, day in day out, night in night out, then that is a hell of a thing to deal with, but I am self-conscious talking to you today about it.

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body, according to the NHS.

Rheumatoid arthritis is described as a long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints.

Young has fronted various big events since leaving her radio show including the BBCs Platinum Jubilee and D-Day programme, and has a Radio 4 podcast with famous guests called Young Again.
San Francisco Mayor London Breeds job approval rating shot up 13 percentage points over the past six months as likely voters report feeling much better about the citys quality of life, according to a new poll commissioned by the Chronicle. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

The incumbent mayor is currently the top choice among 28% of the electorate, an eight-point lead over her closest competitor, former interim Mayor Mark Farrell. Its also a 10-point improvement from Breeds standing in the last Chronicle poll in February.

Suddenly, an election that Breed looked poised to lose half a year ago seems winnable for her, even as about 18% of likely voters say they are not yet leaning toward any of the five main candidates.

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Breeds reelection campaign is being boosted by a convergence of favorable developments, some within her control and some not.

Meanwhile, she has been trying to secure the backing of various advocacy groups. While some have turned to her competitors, last month Breed won the San Francisco Democratic Partys sole mayoral endorsement, which will allow her name and likeness to be plastered on party election materials alongside other prominent Democrats.

Breeds reelection campaign is being boosted by a convergence of favorable developments, some within her control and some not. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle

Its possible that voters are feeling better about the direction of San Francisco in part because theyre encountering fewer viral stories about the citys supposedly dystopian collapse, said political consultant Jim Ross. Or they, like Breed, have simply grown tired of the doom loop narrative portending the citys self-reinforcing downward spiral.

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You dont have the billionaire class beating up on the quality of life in San Francisco like they were a couple years ago, Ross said. I think theres a real benefit that shes getting from people being done with the San Francisco is descending into chaos stories.

Breeds poll performance could also be getting a bump because Democratic Party voters, who constitute the vast majority of San Franciscos electorate, are feeling more optimistic overall after President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign and paved the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place at the top of the ticket.

Related: Mayor Breed surges in new Chronicle poll, while Peskin struggles to gain support

The Chronicle poll was in the field from July 31 through Aug. 5, just as Harris, a former San Francisco district attorney, was starting to rally the Democratic base behind her nascent bid to defeat former President Donald Trump.

Im not saying this is inauthentic, but I do think it is possible that were seeing Democratic voter enthusiasm, said San Francisco State University political scientist Jason McDaniel. Democrats are just feeling more positive about things right now since Biden stepped down. I would not be surprised if some of that reflective glory is having a positive impact on London Breeds poll numbers.

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Breed campaign spokesperson Joe Arellano heralded the poll results as a sign that Breeds hard work over the past several years is coming to fruition and being recognized by voters.

Breed is currently the top choice among 28% of the electorate, an eight-point lead over her closest competitor, former interim Mayor Mark Farrell. Its also a 10-point improvement from Breeds standing in the last Chronicle poll in February. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

San Francisco was hit hard by the pandemic, and the public recognizes that it takes time to implement meaningful changes to move the city forward, Arellano said in a statement. While the other candidates embrace the Fox News/MAGA portrait of our city, Mayor Breed continues to serve as San Franciscos biggest champion.

The Chronicle poll also identified some key vulnerabilities for Breed under San Franciscos ranked-choice voting system. Just 12% of likely voters said they would rank her second on their ballots, with Farrell and the nonprofit founder Daniel Lurie getting far more second-choice support. Nearly a quarter of poll respondents said they would rank Breed last, suggesting that Breed has a more limited ability to expand her support compared with her top opponents.

Under ranked choice, voters can choose up to 10 candidates in order of preference. If no candidate gets a majority on the first round, the candidates with the fewest votes are eliminated, one by one, and their ballots are redistributed to voters next-highest choices until one person gets a majority.

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The Chronicles poll didnt game out exactly how Breed might fare in the ranked-choice process, so if the election were held now, she could still be overtaken by another candidate who gets more second- and third-place votes.

Farrell campaign manager Jade Tu said in a statement that polling had consistently shown its a two-person race between Farrell and Breed.

Mayoral candidate Daniel Lurie speaks during a June debate at UC College of the Law San Francisco. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Well take that head-to-head matchup every day of the week as we enter the homestretch, Tu said. No poll has had Mark or Breed outside of the top two since we launched. We know it will be a tight race until Election Day and we are well positioned as the change candidate voters are looking for in this election.

With less than three months to go until the election, the shape of the mayors race can shift further, to Breeds benefit or detriment, as voters begin to pay closer attention and candidates ramp up their messaging.

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Of particular relevance could be the spending to come from Lurie, an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune, and his allies. Lurie, who received 17% of first-choice votes in the latest poll, has eschewed the citys public financing program and is instead pouring some of his own money into his campaign. As of the end of June, a political action committee backing Lurie had $2.6 million in the bank  money that it could use to attack Breed and Farrell in the months ahead.

Breed and her benefactors also have plenty of money to defend her or go after the other candidates. Breeds campaign had nearly $950,000 in cash available at the end of June, and a political action committee in favor of her had a war chest of about $455,000.



Until somebody goes negative, until somebody throws a punch, until somebody really draws a hard line between themselves and the other candidates, all these numbers are still soft, Ross said. I would anticipate, with as much (independent expenditure committee) money is floating around, youre going to see people start throwing some punches here soon.

San Francisco mayoral candidate Mark Farrell speaks with Jeffrey Kwong during a May town hall hosted by the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in San Francisco. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

Luries campaign still sees him as best positioned to defeat Breed. His campaign consultant, Tyler Law, said in a statement that San Francisco residents are unhappy with the status quo and ranked-choice voting makes it very likely voters will get the change they desire.



Law said Lurie continues to prove popular with voters and polling shows hes poised to receive a large share of lower-ranking votes that could lift him over the top as results are tallied. The Chronicle poll found that 22% of voters would rank Lurie second, the most of any candidate. Lurie also has a significant resource advantage that will be pressed in the final three months of this campaign, Law said.



Our campaign is the only one built to go the distance, he said.

Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, whos trying to position himself as the leading progressive candidate, performed poorly in the Chronicles poll, getting only 12% of first-choice votes with 23% of likely voters saying theyd rank him last. But Peskin was the last major candidate to enter the race, so he had the shortest amount of time to raise money and connect with voters. Some of his supporters are expected to soon launch their own political action committee to make the case for his candidacy.

Peskin campaign spokesperson Adrian Plaisance called the Chronicles poll severely flawed in a statement and said it hadnt received enough input from key groups the campaign is targeting, including Cantonese speakers. Among the more than 800 likely voters who participated in the survey, 14% identified as Chinese and 36 respondents took the poll in Cantonese. The results were adjusted for differences in response rates among Asians and other groups.



We remain confident that our tremendous grassroots strength and tireless outreach are building momentum, and the results on November 5th will be far different than what we see here today, Plaisance said.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin, the last major candidate to enter the race, received only 12% of first-choice votes in the poll, with 23% of likely voters ranking him last. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Despite Breeds lead in first-choice votes, because of the time remaining and the realities of ranked-choice voting, Ross said the poll results indicate that its still anybodys race. With a compelling and widely delivered message, any of the major candidates can still theoretically win, Ross said  even Supervisor Ahsha Safai, who trailed the field with just 5% of first-choice votes in the Chronicle poll.

Ahsha Safai has been an underdog and fought for the underdog his whole life. He fights because the fight is worth it, and hes never given up, Derek Jansen, an adviser to Safais campaign, said in a statement. Theres going to be a new mayor next year, and were confident that when the hardworking people who will decide this election go to the polls, they will see in Ahsha someone who, like them, just never quits. Someone who fights for the underdog and delivers. A champion for all San Franciscans.
A US ballerina who is facing up to 15 years in a hell-hole Russian penal colony after donating money to a Ukraine charity is desperate for a prisoner exchange that will allow her to go home to California.

Ksenia Karelina, 33, who also has Russian citizenship, has reportedly instructed her lawyer to apply for a swap.

She is on trial in the city of Yekaterinburg over a donation she made in 2022 to a charity supporting Ukraine.

Karelina's lawyer Mikhail Mushailov said today that an exchange 'is impossible until the verdict comes into force

'After the verdict, of course, we will work in this direction

A US ballerina who is facing up to 15 years in a hell-hole Russian penal colony after donating money to a Ukraine charity is desperate for a prisoner exchange

US citizen Ksenia Karelina was arrested in the case of treason in Russia

Ksenia Karelina is on trial in the city of Yekaterinburg over a donation she made in 2022 to a charity supporting Ukraine

'This is the desire of the client [Ksenia Karelina], so I will take all legally significant actions to ensure that this is implemented.'

The Los Angeles spa employee, who is also a ballerina, pleaded guilty and today made a closing plea to the judge in a closed-door hearing, after she was left out of last week's high profile east-west prisoner swap which included Gershkovich and Russian FSB assassin Vadim Kostikov.

Karelina appeared drained when she was last seen in court after months in Putin's penal system.

Acquittals in Russian treason cases are almost non-existent.

Russian state news agency RIA quoted her lawyer saying she has pleaded guilty to the treason charges on Wednesday and a verdict will be announced today, according to Reuters.

The judge imposing her sentence is Kremlin-obedient Andrey Mineev, 56, in Sverdlovsk Regional Court, Yekaterinburg.

He seldom veers more than slightly from the demands of state prosecutors.

Karelina was not included in the major prisoner swap between Russia and the West last week

Recently he condemned Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, 32, an American citizen, to a long jail term, before he was last week exchanged.

The suspicion is that Vladimir Putin is ensuring he has a number of US and other Western prisoners who he can later trade for Russian criminals jailed in America and Europe.

The ballerina is a Los Angeles resident who became a US citizen in 2021 and was detained earlier this year by Vladimir Putin's Federal Security Service, the FSB, while visiting her grandparents.

She was accused of 'funding the Ukrainian armed forces' and taking part in 'public actions to support the Kyiv regime', after she allegedly donated a $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity in the US.

Russian prosecutors argued the money was used to finance the Ukrainian army, and purchase ammunition, which could send her to jail for between 12 and 20 years under Putin's laws.

Her phone was examined on arrival and subsequently she was charged with 'petty hooliganism' before this was changed to treason.

An aesthetician at a Los Angeles spa and an amateur ballet dancer, a photo shows her at an anti-Putin and anti-war protest in Los Angeles.

She holds a sign with a Ukrainian flag declaring 'We want peace' next to a friend with a 'Stop Putin' poster'.

It is unclear where the pictures were obtained by the Russian authorities, but it is known Karelina's cell phone was closely examined by Putin's secret service agents after she arrived back to Russia in early January.

The dictator does not tolerate any opposition to him or his bloody war.

A pro-Putin media report alleged she was a 'spy', claiming: 'And she understood where and what she was sending [namely, $51.80].'

A judge for 20 years, Mineev is trusted by the Russian authorities and has a reputation as a hardliner.

He once said: 'If there are many acquittals, it means that [criminal] investigators and the prosecutor's office are not working well.

Karelina's lawyer Mikhail Mushailov said today that an exchange 'is impossible until the verdict comes into force' but will star

Kremlin-obedient Russian judge Andrey Mineev, 56, who convicted earlier US reporter Evan Gershkovich, 32, will issue a sentence on Ksenia Karelina, 32, on August 15, 2024, with state prosecutors demanding 15 years in a penal colony

Her former mother-in-law, Eleonora Srebroski, told Reuters in February that Karelina, who worked at a spa in Beverley Hills, had traveled home around New Years after her boyfriend surprised her with a plane ticket.

She had assured her boyfriend that Russia was 'safe' and that he had no reason to fear her traveling there, according to Srebroski.

There have been a growing number of treason and espionage cases in today's Russia under Putin - especially since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former marine Paul Whelan and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmashevas were all released from Russian prisons as part of the recent major inmate swap with Moscow.

Gershkovich, 32, was detained in March 2023 on espionage charges that the United States says are illegitimate. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison in July.

The Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former marine Paul Whelan were released

Whelan, 54, has been imprisoned in Russia since 2018 and was sentenced to 16 years in jail in 2020 on spying charges. The US has denied he was ever involved in espionage operations.

Radio journalist Kurmasheva was arrested in October last year and charged with failing to register as a foreign agent.

Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian-British dissident journalist also jailed in Russia, was also reported to have disappeared from view.

He was arrested in April 2022 just hours after a CNN interview was broadcast in which he stated Russia was run by a 'regime of murderers'.

Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in a Siberian jail in a tiny punishment cell just ten feet long and five feet wide.
Brittany Higgins is mourning the death of her maternal grandmother.

Ms Higgins, who now lives in France, took to Instagram on Thursday night to announce the heartbreaking news.

'Processing the loss of the strongest woman I have ever known. I love and already miss you grandma x,' she captioned a series of photos.

The heartfelt post was quickly inundated with messages from well-wishers expressing their condolences, including journalist Tracey Spicer and former Aussie swimmer turned Channel Nine sports presenter Giann Rooney.

It also sparked a touching message from Ms Higgins' mother Kelly.

'She loved you, and was so proud of you,' Kelly told her daughter.

'It was so special she got to celebrate your wedding and be excited about the news of great-grandchild. She was a remarkable woman who taught us truth strength. I love you beautiful.'

Ms Higgins and her new husband David Sharaz broke cover in France earlier this week as her defamation trial against her old boss Senator Linda Reynolds got underway in Perth.

Brittany Higgins (centre) took to Instagram on Thursday night to pay tribute to her late grandmother (left)

Brittany Higgins (pictured with husband David Sharaz) described her late grandmother as the strongest woman she has ever known

The couple were spotted in Paris as they made their way to the Australian embassy after making a three hours train trip to sign an affidavit.

Ms Higgins, who announced her pregnancy last month, was seen clutching her baby bump as the pair strolled into the Australian embassy.

She paired a flowing white-and-black-striped maternity dress with Chanel shoes, while her new husband sported an open-necked navy Ralph Lauren shirt.

The couple posted about their trip into the city on Instagram.

'POV (point of view): when your town's notaire takes a month off and you have to train to the embassy to sign affidavits,' Ms Higgins captioned a video of her husband running to scare a flock of pigeons.

'Who was more scared: you or the pigeons?', Ms Higgins asked.

'Probably me - they are coming back!', replied Mr Sharaz, as he made his way along the pavement.

Brittany Higgins (left) paid a heartfelt tribute to her grandmother (right)

The couple returned to Australian in June for their wedding, held at one of Australia's most exclusive and elegant wedding venues, The Valley Estate on the Gold Coast.

They announced they were expecting their first child a month later.

'Beyond excited to welcome a new member to our little family,' Ms Higgins wrote.

'Your parents are already obsessed with you and you aren't even here yet.'

The couple have set up a new life in for the sprawling countryside in Lunas, near Bordeaux in southern France, which they've called home since last December.

Her late grandmother was excited about Brittany's recent wedding and the news about her newest great-grandchild

'Processing the loss of the strongest woman I have ever known. I love and already miss you grandma x,' Brittany Higgins wrote on Thursday night

Their move came five years after Ms Higgins claimed she was raped by former parliamentary staffer Bruce Lehrmann at Parliament House in 2019.

Lehrmann has always denied the allegations and had pleaded not guilty to a single charge of engaging in sexual intercourse without consent before the trial was aborted due to juror misconduct.

In the Federal Court earlier this year, Justice Michael Lee ruled that on the balance of probabilities Ms Higgins was raped.

The finding came following legal action Lehrmann brought against Network 10 and journalist Lisa Wilkinson over a report about the alleged rape on The Project program in 2021.

Lehrmann is appealing the decision.
Northern Ireland's top police officer today blamed 'lies, misinformation and absolute nonsense spread online' about the Southport attack for the UK's riots crisis.

Jon Boutcher, chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), vowed those causing chaos on the streets would be 'pursued with the full force of the law'.

Some 16 people have been arrested so far in Northern Ireland amid violent disorder in the wake of the killing of three girls in the Southport stabbings.

Mr Boutcher revealed that 11 people have been charged and are in custody, while he said more arrests would come.

He spoke following a meeting of top politicians at Stormont, ahead of the emergency recall of the Northern Ireland Assembly from its summer break.

MLAs returned from their summer recess to take part in a special sitting at noon.

Jon Boutcher, chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), vowed those causing chaos on the streets would be 'pursued with the full force of the law'

Mr Boutcher spoke following a meeting of top politicians at Stormont, ahead of the emergency recall of the Northern Ireland Assembly from its summer break

Alana Johnston, five, holds a banner during a protest at Stormont as MLAs return from their summer recess for an emergency sitting

First Minister Michelle O'Neill said Stormont's Executiver were 'unequivocally collective in our determination to say no to racism, and stand firmly united'

Stormont's executive ministers met prior to the Assembly's special sitting to discuss the recent violent disorder on the streets of Belfast.

Police and members of the public have been attacked and two businesses owned by people from a minority ethnic background have been destroyed in south Belfast.

There have also been incidents in north and west Belfast and there was further disorder on Wednesday night, with police coming under attack in east Belfast.

Following the Executive meeting, First Minister Michelle O'Neill, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, and Mr Boutcher, stood shoulder to shoulder to speak to media.

Mr Boutcher said: 'The PSNI will deal with this disorder. Those people who have come out to commit these hateful crimes will be pursued with the full force of the law.

'We have arrested 16 people thus far, 11 have been charged and in custody.

'As we speak, we are going to addresses to arrest people for the disorder on Saturday night.

'We will be putting out images today of others that we have yet to identify who committed these crimes. There is no place in society for this.

'I have met the leadership of the Muslim communities, but all our migrant communities, all our diverse communities feel under threat.

'They feel a fear of the like I have not seen in over 40 years of policing. That's not just here, that's across the country. This has got to stop and we will stop it.

'Think of those communities, support those communities. Everyone in Northern Ireland needs to do that.

'This is one of the safest places to live in the United Kingdom. It's one of the greatest places to live in the United Kingdom.'

Ms O'Neill said ministers are 'unequivocally collective in our determination to say no to racism, and stand firmly united in terms of what we see unfolding in front of us'.

'There is no place in our society for racism in any of its forms,' she added.

'The racist attacks on people, on businesses and homes are absolutely wrong, and have created such a deep fear.

'A fear that I think perhaps none of us have ever seen before among many parts of our community.

'There are many people feeling extremely vulnerable, feeling fearful, fearful for their families.'

As the Northern Ireland Assembly met, MLAs debated a motion condemning 'criminal damage and targeting of businesses in recent days'.

The motion also calls on Ms O'Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly to finalise the draft refugee integration strategy and associated delivery plan, to bring forward the renewed Race Relations Order, and set out the process of replacing the racial equality strategy 2015-25 by the end of 2024.
When NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore waved goodbye to their families as they set off to the International Space Station (ISS) in June, the pair expected to be back home just eight days later.

However, the astronauts are now stranded on the ISS due to Boeing's faulty Starliner - and have received the horrifying news that they might not come back to Earth until February 2025.

This means that Wilmore, 61, won't be able to hug his daughters, Daryn and Logan, nor his wife Deanna for what is believed to be around eight months, while Sunita's, 58, husband Michael and her mother Bonnie anxiously await for her return.

About 10 miles from the Johnson Space Center, Providence Baptist Church in the Houston-area takes a moment during Wednesday Bible studies and Sunday evening services to pray for Butch, who cannot be there, as he remains stuck in space, orbiting the planet.

Butch and his fellow NASA test pilot, Sunita, are staying onboard the ISS longer than expected following thruster failures and helium leaks on Boeing's inaugural crew flight for its Starliner capsule.

In this image from video provided by NASA, astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore give a news conference aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Commander and NASA astronaut, Barry "Butch" E. Wilmore (R) and his family attend the New York premiere of "A Beautiful Planet" at AMC Loews Lincoln Square on April 16, 2016 in New York City

Sunita Williams (R) with her family

Butch and Sunita have said they are confident the capsule will return them home safely, but there's no return date yet, which means the congregation's worries have subsided for now since they are safe aboard the space station, said Tommy Dahn. He is a pastor for the Pasadena, Texas, church where Wilmore is a longtime elder.

It's the launch and return days that ratchet up their anxieties  and prayers.

'We will definitely be on vigil as we find out when that's going to happen,' said Dahn, who is in close contact with Wilmore and his wife, Deanna.

Butch had paused before boarding the Starliner on each launch attempt, huddling in prayer with technicians and Sunita. He acknowledged the risks of spaceflight  especially on a test flight like his.

'Our families have been a part of this from the beginning. ... As far as preparing them, they're prepared. We trust in sovereign God. Whatever the plan is, we're ready for it, whatever that might be,' he had told reporters ahead of the flight.

Sunita Williams (R) with her Slovenian-American mother Bonnie

Sunita Williams with her father, Dr Deepak Pandya, a well-known Indian-American neuroanatomist. He died in 2020

Wilmore's faith that God is in control gives his family great peace, his wife, Deanna Wilmore, said via text message. He is content on the space station, neither worrying nor fretting, she said.

'We're not saying this means that nothing bad will happen or the Starliner will bring Barry home safely, but whatever the Lord does, will be for our good and for His glory,' even if they don't fully understand it, she said.

Butch was born in Tennessee and began his career as a Navy test pilot before joining NASA in 2000.

A devout Christian, he has credited his wife and God for keeping him grounded and guiding him through the challenges of being an astronaut.

In an interview with the podcast Family Life in 2016 he said: 'You launch into space; you go 17,500 miles per hour; and all this other stuffshe's the one that has helped put that in perspective. She's the one bringing me back to what really, truly matters. Always the reminder: 'God's Word, God's will, family worshiptimes that we can get our girls together.' She's the one who encourages and keeps that going.'

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams inside the vestibule between the forward port on the International Space Station's Harmony module and Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. The first astronauts to fly Boeing's troubled Starliner are definitely not "stranded" at the International Space Station

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams walk at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, ahead of Boeing's Starliner-1 Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to the International Space Station, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S. May 6, 2024

n this photo provided by NASA, Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, center, pose with Expedition 71 Flight Engineers Mike Barratt, left, and Tracy Dyson, aboard the International Space Station's Quest airlock on June 24, 2024

ASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams pose ahead of the launch of Boeing's Starliner-1 Crew Flight Test (CFT), in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., April 25, 2024

This photo provided by NASA shows Boeing's Starliner spacecraft which launched astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station docked to the Harmony module's forward port on July 3, 2024

Sunita's husband, Michael J. Williams, a police officer in Oregon, and her mother Bonnie have not commented on the stranded astronaut.

But in a 2007 interview, when asked about what it was like having a daughter in space, Bonnie said her family was used to it by now, and declared that 'it's no worse than when she was flying helicopters during the Gulf War or working as Navy test pilot'.

She also spoke about how her living room would become a makeshift conference room every Sunday so that the family could speak to Sunita over video call.

It is unclear how often the astronauts have been communicating with their loved ones, but according to NASA's website, while communication from space to Earth isn't always easy, astronauts can keep in touch with friends and family either through email or video call.

Sunita was born in Ohio to an Indian-American neuroanatomist father, Dr Deepak Pandya, and mother Bonnie, who is Slovenian-American. She has an older brother and sister, who have also not commented on the uncertainty of her return back to Earth.

The veteran pilots yesterday said in an update with NASA that they were 'comfortable' remaining in space for a few more weeks, and said they are 'not complaining' about spending more time away from Earth.

Sunita Williams poses inside a spacecraft

NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore gestures as he talks to family members after leaving the operations and checkout building for a trip to launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Wednesday, June 5

The pair also said they are confident in Starliner, its team and their ability to get back home safely. 'We're absolutely confident (it'll get us back safe)', Butch said.

Butch and Sunita flew to the ISS at the beginning of June on board a Boeing Starliner spacecraft.

However, problems including helium leaks and thruster failures began to emerge as the spacecraft approached the ISS.

Thankfully, the pair managed to dock to the ISS safely, but the problems have scuppered their plans to return to Earth on board the same Boeing Starliner.

Tuesday marked the pair's 60the day in space - instead of the intended eight-day mission.

Last week, Boeing said that it 'remains confident in the Starliner spacecraft and its ability to return safely with crew.'

That flight had been planned to take four astronauts to the ISS but two of the seats could be left empty if NASA decides that Starliner is not safe enough for a crewed return.

On social media, concerned fans back on Earth have been horrified at Williams and Wilmore's predicament.

One commenter wrote: 'Stuck in space for 60 days with no known solution is inhumane and torture.

'Why did y'all teams send those astronauts in the first place? Where is the Change.Org petition to bring back the astronauts?'.
Boeing bosses forced workers into 'a jail' after an investigation into a door plug that later blew off an Alaska Airlines jet was launched, whistleblowers have claimed.

Seattle-area employees told the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) about being regularly pushed to continue production despite a 'garbage safety culture'.

Federal investigators probing Boeing were told that employees were reassigned after the investigation started to what was described as 'literally in a jail, in a cage'.

While an employee that specializes in removing and reinstalling door plugs described the safety culture as 'garbage, nobody's accountable'.

Citing persistent debris and tools strewn across the factory, the anonymous worker said: 'Here, it's just push-push-push, push-push-push, you know.'

The revelations came as part of a two-day hearing led by the NTSB into concerns around the embattled aviation firm.

The claims came during a federal hearing earlier this week which is probing the company after a door plug flew out of a Boeing 737 Max midair in January, seen here

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy speaks during an investigative hearing on the Alaska Airlines Flight

A door installer also told the hearing that he was never told to take shortcuts but everyone faced pressure to keep assembly going.

He told investigators: 'That's how mistakes are made. People try to work too fast', like other workers involved he was not named in probe documents.

The claims came during a federal hearing earlier this week which is probing the company after a door plug flew out of a Boeing 737 Max midair in January.

Investigators said the jet left the company's factory in Renton, Washington, without critical bolts that hold the fuselage in place.

It had been installed by a supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, before being removed at a Boeing factory so that workers could repair damaged rivets.

However, the bolt to help secure door plug were never replaced before it left the factory. It is not clear who removed the panel.

Workers also told investigators that they were 'put in uncharted waters to do everybody's dirty work because no want to touch it'.

The workers' accounts were among more than 3,000 pages of documents released by the NTSB as it began the two-day hearing.

Boeing has been the subject of multiple investigations from federal authorities regarding the safety and quality of its planes in recent years

The door blew out while the plane was cruising at 16,00 feet, forcing a quick response from the pilots to get the craft grounded to protect passengers

The Alaska Airlines co-pilot told investigators in the documents that: 'It was chaos', while the Captain said it was so loud he could hardly hear the flight attendants.

On an intercom, he heard them talking about a hole in the plane. He decided to land the plane as quickly as possible.

The accident on flight 1282 occurred minutes after takeoff from Portland, Oregon, as the plane flew at 16,000 feet (4,800 meters).

Oxygen masks dropped during the rapid decompression, a few cell phones and other objects were were swept out the door, there were no major injuries.

It was also revealed that Boeing conducted a safety risk assessment on how workers remove parts like door during manufacturing, without documentation.

The FAA said they asked the company to address the problem, issuing a quality alert on it in July 2023, just two months before the jet involved in the incident left its Renton factory.

Boeing workers told investigators they were left confused about requirements for conducting 'removals' of critical parts of the aircrafts.

One crew lead said a manager involved with removing and reinstalling door plugs was new and didn't 'really understand doors'.

This photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board shows the door plug that fell from Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on Jan. 8

The FAA said they asked the company to address the problem, issuing a quality alert on it in July 2023, just two months before the jet involved in the incident left its Renton factory, seen here

Elizabeth Lund, senior vice president of quality for Boeing , speaks during an investigative hearing at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) headquarters on August 6

The FAA also admitted that getting the company to improve their standards was difficult.

Jim Phoenix, who managed to FAA office overseeing their manufacturing, said: 'You need a lot of leverage to get Boeing to change and then when Boeing changes, it's very slow and it took a long time for them to really understand that their quality system needed to improve.'

While the Alaska unfolded, it was also revealed that there was an issue onboard the company's 737 jets with their oxygen generators.

The FAA had to order airlines to inspect oxygen canisters on over 2,600 737s, noting the hazard they face should passengers need assistance breathing in-flight.

Boeing and Spirit executives said turnover since the coronavirus pandemic has left the companies with less-experienced workforces.

Elizabeth Lund, who has served as Boeings senior vice president of quality - a new position - since February, said before the pandemic most new hires at Boeing factories had aerospace experience, often in the military.

Now, she said, 'considerably more of our employees did not have that aerospace experience.'

A representative of the machinists' union said Boeing cut back on inspections and training over the last several years.

Lund said the company has significantly increased training since the Alaska Airlines blowout, and that the company is trying to improve quality.

Boeing production of Max jets dropped below 10 per month after the blowout and remains under 30 per month, Lund said.

The Federal Aviation Administration has set a limit of 38 per month until it is satisfied that Boeing's manufacturing process is producing safe planes.

Robert 'Kelly' Ortberg takes over the beleaguered company as of today, and plans to walk the floor of the Washington factory that has become the heart of its troubles

The accident involving the plug led to several investigations of Boeing, most of which are still underway.

The FBI has told passengers on the Alaska Airlines flight that they might be victims of a crime.

The Justice Department pushed Boeing to plead guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit fraud after finding that it failed to live up to a previous settlement related to regulatory approval of the Max.

Boeing, which has yet to recover financially from two deadly crashes of Max jets in 2018 and 2019, has lost more than $25 billion since the start of 2019.

The door-plug incident has spawned a change of CEO at the company and more federal oversight on their manufacturing.

Robert 'Kelly' Ortberg takes over the beleaguered company as of today, and plans to walk the floor of the Washington factory that has become the heart of its troubles.

In a memo to employees on Thursday, Ortberg said: 'While we clearly have a lot of work to do in restoring trust, I'm confident that working together, we will return the company to be the industry leader we all expect.'

Boeing is a century-old aviation innovator with roots in Seattle, although the headquarters moved to Chicago and then to the Washington, D.C., area.

The new CEO is planting a symbolic flag in the ground back in the Pacific Northwest.

Boeing announced Ortberg's selection just over a week ago, on the same day that it posted another huge loss, more than $1.4 billion in the second quarter, which was marked by a steep drop in deliveries of new airline planes, including the 737 Max.
A Texas man has been fired from a board advising women- and minority-owned businesses after colleagues claimed they overheard him call a female co-worker a 'c**t'.

Christopher Forbrich was removed from the Bexar County Small, Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise board on Tuesday, KSAT reported.

Two of his colleagues claimed that he used the misogynistic slur about county commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores on July 10.

'My initial reaction is that I have experienced sexism and racism as the only woman on this court and as the first woman of color,' Clay-Flores told KSAT.

The slur was allegedly uttered by Forbrich the day after a heated meeting at which Clay-Flores had proposed reducing the size of the advisory board by scrapping Forbrich's position.

Chris Forbrich has been fired from his job on a board advising women- and minority-owned businesses after colleagues claimed they overheard him call a female co-worker a 'c**t'

Forbrich said he is unsure whether used the term, stating he could not remember what was said.

'I don't remember that I used that word,' Forbrich said. 'I remember being upset, and I think when you're upset you make sudden utterances. I don't remember my exact language.

'I had a private discussion with a friend that I think was overheard and mischaracterized in public in a political attempt to squash my resistance to her reelection.'

A written complaint was submitted to Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai by one of the alleged witnesses, Edward Pape, who said the slur was also heard by fellow board member Marinella Murillo.

'After passing through the security portal Mr. Forbrich immediately approached us and without any introduction began directing his comments to Ms. Murillo and stated the following (with my apologies for the language),' the letter states.

' "Did you hear what that crusading c**t tried to do to me last night?" This was obviously in reference to the subject we had been discussing regarding the effort by Commissioner Clay-Flores.'

Two colleagues claimed that he used the misogynistic slur about county commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores (pictured) on July 10

Forbrich said he is unsure whether used the term, stating he could not remember what was said

Pape explained that after 'recovering from the shock and behavior' witnessed, he took Murillo aside to ascertain if he had heard correctly.

'She responded in the affirmative and stated this was not the first time she had been subjected to such behavior and language,' the letter states.

Pape went on to say that a third colleague also confirmed she had heard the remarks and that it was not the first time Forbrich had conducted himself in that manner.

'As a professional and as a gentleman and at the very most basic premise as a man I cannot in good conscience stand by and be a participant in a forum where such behavior is tolerated,' Pape added.

The third colleague, Renee Watson, also submitted her own letter confirming the details of the incident and flagging the 'crude and slanderous' remarks.

Forbrich was removed from the board following a review of the complaints.
Elon Musk has fallen victim to the rampant misinformation on his own platform after he tweeted far-Right fake news that Sir Keir Starmer is considering building detainment camps.

The world's richest man shared a doctored headline that falsely stated the British Prime Minister is considering building 'emergency' prisons on the Falkland Islands for arrested rioters.

It was made out to be an article in the Telegraph by a senior news reporter at the newspaper but a cursory search of Google reveals no such piece exists.

Musk later deleted his post  a rare backward step for the billionaire whose posts have become increasingly unhinged on his social media site.

He had written 'Detainment Camps'' at 10am as he shared the post by Ashlea Simon, co-leader of far-Right group Britain First.

Elon Musk shared a doctored headline that falsely stated Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is considering building 'emergency' prisons on the Falkland Islands for arrested rioters

Mr Musk shared the post on X made by Ashlea Simon, co-leader of far-Right group Britain First

While it was removed within 35 minutes it had already accumulated 1.8million views as the Tesla and SpaceX owner has over 190million followers.

Simon's original tweet contained the fake headline: 'Keir Starmer considering building 'emergency detainment camps' on the Falkland Islands.'

The subdeck said: 'The camps would be used to detain prisoners from the ongoing riots as the British prison system is already at capacity.'

She wrote: 'We're all being deported to the Falklands'. But her post also disappeared.

Simon first joined Britain First in 2019 and wrote in October that year that white Europeans are being 'replaced' by an influx of immigrants.

She said that 'the great replacement is real and deadly for the white Brit'.

Elon Musk has fallen victim to the rampant misinformation on his own platform

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks with West Midlands Police officers in Solihull today

Mr Musk has repeatedly clashed with Sir Keir over the riots sweeping through the UK, accusing his administration of 'two tier policing'.

He has suggested officers are going softer on Muslim thugs than far-Right rioters and even claimed 'civil war is inevitable' in Britain.

The latter saw Sir Keir hit back, saying: 'There's no justification for comments like that.'

Former chief inspector of constabulary Sir Thomas Winsor went further, telling Mr Musk to 'stick to batteries, cars and rockets'.

The social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, has been accused of spreading hate and whipping up racial tensions in the UK as minisformation has gone unchecked.

Riots started after agitators including Andrew Tate shared fake news that the Southport attacker who stabbed children attending a Taylor Swift dance class was a Muslim immigrant.

The fake story was about claims relating to 'emergency' prisons on the Falkland Islands (above)

The Telegraph tweeted that 'no such article has ever been published' by the newspaper

They were able to disseminate the lie that the suspect was called 'Ali Al-Shakati', and had arrived in the UK illegally on a boat last year.

It continued despite police stating this was false and a judge then taking the extraordinary move to reveal the identity of the 17-year-old suspect as Cardiff born Axel Rudakubana.

As the riots exploded, tensions were whipped up further on X by far-Right influencers including English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson.

He falsely claimed protesters 'have been stabbed by Muslims in Stoke'.

A spokesman for TMG, which owns The Telegraph, said: 'This is a fabricated headline for an article that does not exist.

'We notified relevant platforms and requested that the post be taken down.'
The family of a retired British doctor have issued an urgent appeal for help after he went missing in the French Pyrenees nearly two days ago.

Tom Doherty, 67, from St Albans, was hiking and camping near Col d'Escots when his family lost contact with him on Tuesday.

A desperate search is now underway involving dogs and helicopters, but has been hampered by poor visibility.

Mr Doherty was last in contact with his family at 19.07pm, telling them he had fallen and could not move via WhatsApp.

Daughter Rachel Doherty said he had sent pictures of the local scenery before going missing, with clouds coming over a mountain and the caption 'bugger'.

They implored him to stay safe and come down, but soon after lost contact.

Mr Doherty (right, with his wife) was last heard from on Tuesday evening while hiking in France

Mr Doherty told his family he had fallen and could not move before disappearing

Tom (right) and his wife (left). The family are appealing for any information that could help

'The last time we heard from him was Tuesday,' Rachel told PA.

'He told us he had fallen and couldn't move. That's all we've had since.

'The search party have found a tent and his car.

'We're obviously very worried and extremely concerned for his welfare.'

Mr Doherty, a grandfather of one who has been described as an avid and experienced walker, set off in the Pyrenees on Saturday.

His wife and one of his four daughters have been at his last known location since Wednesday morning.

Ms Doherty is also now heading to France to join the search party.

The retired doctor was a respected consultant of Tropical medicine who worked around the world and specialised in Malaria, his family said.

Since retiring almost a decade ago, he has spent most of his time in France.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been approached for comment.

His daughter said he had sent pictures of the local scenery before going missing, with clouds coming over a mountain and the caption 'bugger'.

The family shared a photo taken by Mr Doherty that he took on Saturday, before vanishing

Search operations in the region have been hampered by poor visibility

Clare Carlile, a family friend, posted on the UKClimbing mountaineering website late Tuesday, asking for help in identifying a spot in the mountains Mr Doherty photographed on Saturday before going missing on Tuesday.

She said he was likely to be in Ariege, in the Occitanie region of France.

'The image shared is from Saturday - we are trying to work out his direction of travel in case it gives some idea of where he may be now,' she said.

'He sent a message during the day saying he was "somewhere near Ax-Les-Thermes".'

One user suggested it might be a hiking trail called Pic de Seron et Valle de Turguilla.
A stunning poll shows Vice President Kamala Harris seizing a four-point national polling lead over Donald Trump, just the latest survey to show her rise compared to President Joe Biden over the last few weeks.

The poll, by Marquette University Law School, gives Harris a bigger lede when third party candidates like Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. are included.

It has her leading the Republican Trump 52 to 48. When Kennedy is included, along with Jill Stein and Cornel West, her lead grows to 47 for Harris, and 41 for Trump. Kennedy gets 9 percent.

Her lead also jumps to 6 percent when pollsters screened for 'likely voters.' Here, she gets an outright majority, leading Trump 53 to 47. Trump and President Joe Biden were tied in the same poll in May, with Trump seizing a narrow 51-49 lead among likely voters.

Some of Harris' momentum has transferred to the battleground states, although a series of polls there show the race as a virtual tossup. She leads Trump by just 50-49 in Wisconsin among likely voters, according to the Marquette poll.

(She holds a similar 46-45 lead when Kennedy, Jr. is included). The national poll, released Wednesday, has a 4 percent margin of error in a race that by all accounts is tight.

Harris now leads Trump by less than a point in the Cook Political Report's poll tracker, a three point improvement from three weeks ago, in what the politics watchers call a campaign 'reset.'

Vice President Kamala Harris leads Donald Trump 52 to 48 in a new Marquette University Law School poll, with her lead inching upward among likely voters

Trump's leads have shrunk in Arizona and Georgia, but Harris has now seized a 'margin of error' lead in the so-called Blue Wall battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. And the publication's forecasters have moved Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada from 'lead Republican' to tossup.

'For the first time in a long time, Democrats are united and energized, while Republicans are on their heels,' wrote analyst Amy Walter.

It comes after Trump's pollsters predicted Harris would get a polling 'honeymoon' after Biden stepped back from the race. The intervening period has featured a troubled rollout for Trump's running mate J.D. Vance, and movement towards party unity among Harris' coalition.

Kamala Harris has been rising in the polls against Donald Trump since President Joe Biden stepped back

Trump presided over a unified GOP convention only to see his numbers drop when Joe Biden announced he wouldn't run for reelection

The period has featured consolidation for Harris among younger voters, African American voters, and Hispanic voters.

Democrats rallied around her own VP pick Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, although Republicans are only beginning to try to pick apart his record, with attacks on his retirement from the Army National Guard, where he served 24 years, before his unit deployed to Iraq.

Harris is traveling the battlegrounds this week with Walz, and is hoping to rollout an array of Democratic firepower at her Chicago convention. Trump and Vance have been hammering Harris for failing to hold a press conference since supplanting Biden, and Trump plans to take questions at Mar-a-Lago after drawing controversy during his last Q&A with a black journalists' association.
The family of a man who man who died in a horrific car fire have been left devastated after an inquest was unable to determine if he died from suicide or spontaneous combustion.

The heartbroken family of Peter Howard, 59, said that they 'had hoped to get some level of justice' from the inquest into his death.

The beloved father-of-three was working at Orora's packaging facility in Adelaide's north-west when his vehicle exploded on August 28, 2018.

He had purchased three 20L cans of fuel and parked in full view of staff shortly before his car set alight.

South Australian Deputy State Coroner Ian White handed down his inquest findings on Thursday, almost six years after Mr Howard's death.

However, he was unable to conclude whether the 59-year-old died from suicide or spontaneous combustion.

The coroner heard that Mr Howard had spent 27 years working for Orora but was relentlessly bullied by a group of co-workers, the Adelaide Advertiser reported.

In gut-wrenching entries in his work diary, which he kept for 20 years, Mr Howard detailed his colleagues abusing, teasing and pranking him.

Peter Howard (pictured with his wife Sharo in 2017) died in a car fire on August 28, 2018

He filed his first report of workplace bullying in 2014.

'It had been assumed by many people for many years in the lead up to this inquest that Mr Howard's death was an intentional suicide in direct response to bullying that he had been subject to at his workplace,' Mr White said.

Mr White recalled an incident on April 16, 2014, when a co-worker played a prank on Mr Howard.

'A coworker, acting alone, decided to put chilli flakes in Mr Howard's drink bottle without his knowledge. Mr Howard was extremely upset by this prank,' he said.

'There was an incident on Thursday, March 18, 2015, where Mr Howard's forklift seat was tampered with by someone.'

An inquest on Thursday ruled it couldn't determine if Mr Howard (pictured) died from suicide or spontaneous combustion

The father-of-three died after his car exploded outside Orora's packaging facility in Adelaide 's north-west

Mr Howard's GP, Dr Barry Nicholson, said the father had referenced 'workplace issues' when discussing his mental health 21 times across 105 visits in 28 years.

Orora's HR manager claimed she had 'not identified a pattern of bullying and harassment of Mr Howard' prior to his death.

Mr White said he could not conclude why the vehicle had combusted.

'Ultimately, the evidence does not leave me comfortably satisfied to find that he died from suicide or spontaneous ignition,' he said.

Members of Mr Howard's grieving family were in court for the findings and left disappointed.

'I think Peter has totally been failed. Failed at the workplace,' his sister Carmel Schwartz told reporters.

'No one's being held to account.

'He did everything humanly possible and none of it worked.

'I had hoped [Mr White] would find Peter suicided and acknowledge that bullying was the cause.'

Mr Howard's family was left devastated by the coroner's findings on Thursday. He's pictured with his wife Sharon

Mr Howard's wife Sharon couldn't bring herself to attend court throughout the inquest.

'I think she's been worn down by this process. I still had hope we would get some level of justice but it wasn't meant to be,' Ms Schwartz said.

'He filled in incident reports, he spoke to his HR manager, to management, to co-workers. He did everything possible. He spoke to his GP, he did everything humanly possible and none of it worked.

'He could have lodged a stop-bullying order. You can go to the Fair Work Commission and lodge a stop bullying order and then they will be held accountable.'

Mr Howard's workplace has since implemented a number of changes in the wake of the tragedy.

'Orora takes its responsibilities for the health, safety and wellbeing of our people extremely seriously,' a spokeswoman told the ABC.

'The company continues to invest in safety training including comprehensive programs for identifying and responding to bullying and supporting the mental and physical health of our people.'

'We hope the finalisation of this process helps to bring some closure to all involved,' she said.

For confidential 24-hour support call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
The Climate Prediction Centers forecast for December through February calls for drier-than-normal conditions across much of the southern United States, including Southern California. Climate Prediction Center

La Nina is expected to develop this fall, with a 66% chance of emerging from September to November, according to an update Thursday by the Climate Prediction Center.

La Nina is a global climate pattern defined by unusually cool waters in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, typically leading to drier weather in Southern California. While sea surface temperatures in the region have been dropping in recent months, they are still near normal. When conditions are not in La Nina or El Nino, they are referred to as being in the neutral phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

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The Climate Prediction Center announced a 74% chance that La Nina conditions will continue into the winter.

The latest forecast calls for La Nina emerging slightly later than announced in July. This is because ocean temperatures cooled more slowly than anticipated.

Ocean surface and subsurface temperatures rapidly dropped in April and May, but the rate has decreased since then, said Azhar Ehsan, a climate scientist with Columbia Climate Schools Center for Climate Systems Research. The rate began recovering in July.

The atmosphere remained neutral, Ehsan added, meaning there werent signs of La Nina in atmospheric circulation patterns.

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Some areas in the eastern equatorial Pacific have seen sea surface temperatures below normal, shown in blue. The data is from the National Centers for Environmental Information OISSTv2.1 dataset. Michelle L'Heureux / Climate Prediction Center

While there is cooler-than-average water along the equator off the coast of South America, shown in blue in the graphic above, theres also warm water nearby, shown in orange.

Its a little bit of a battle going on, said Michelle LHeureux, a climate scientist at the Climate Prediction Center. The mixing of water on the oceans surface could be putting a brake a little bit on the development of La Nina, LHeureux hypothesized.

Model projections still call for the development of La Nina in the coming months, but the event is likely going to be weak: Theres a 34% chance of a weak La Nina developing from November to January. The probability for a moderate or strong event are 28% and 12%, respectively.

Weaker La Nina events tend to lead to weaker confidence in expected La Nina impacts, LHeureux said. The latest seasonal forecast from the Climate Prediction Center still calls for drier-than-average conditions across the southern United States and wetter-than-average weather in the Pacific Northwest this winter.

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A respected think tank study has underscored America's massive demographic shift since the start of the pandemic, with millions more Spanish-speaking residents as the white population tumbled.

The Hispanic population grew by 3.2 million from April 2020 to July 2023, as the number of white people fell by 2.1 million  the result of immigration and birth and death rates, says a Brookings Institution study.

That means Hispanics accounted for 91 percent of US population growth in those three years.

At the same time, the black, Asian, and mixed-race populations grew by hundreds of thousands of people each, while the number of Native Americans expanded by a smaller 23,000.

William Frey, the demographer who wrote the report, says a 'diversity explosion' is reshaping the nation.

The crowds at a rail station in Atlanta, Georgia, offer a snapshot of America's shifting demographics

America's white population fell by 2.1 million from 2020-2023 as all other groups grew, Brookings says

Frey urged policymakers to ensure schools, colleges and businesses were ready for these shifts.

While he welcomed the changes, they are a concern for some white and other Americans, who worry that the country is losing its character and becoming too diverse.

Demographer William Frey calls it a 'diversity explosion'

In social media responses to the study, critics said the US was 'quietly becoming a third-world country' and that the changes were due to 'mass illegal immigration' across the loose southern border.

Some, including tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, say Democrats want people flows from South America to outnumber whites and secure election victories over the coming decades.

Illegal immigration is among the top concerns of voters in the 2024 election contest between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and anti-immigrant Republican former president Donald Trump.

Trump has railed against criminal Hispanic migrants and vowed to deport millions of 'illegals' if elected in November.

Harris, as President Joe Biden's 'border czar,' famously urged Central American migrants to 'not come' to the US.

But the administration seeks to expand the number of people who can apply for citizenship and is frequently accused of failing to secure the border with Mexico.

While America's demographic shift towards non-Hispanic white people becoming a minority has been projected for decades, the new Brookings research shows how the population has been reshaped in just a few years.

Overall, the US population grew by 3.4 million over the period, says Frey's analysis of US Census Bureau data.

At the same time, the white population dropped by 2.1 million, and the shrinking group of white youth drove a 1.6 million drop in the number of Americans under the age of 18.

America's youth population is already minority white, and will be 60 percent Hispanic, black and other minorities by 2050.

The falling white population is mostly the result of more deaths than births.

Thanks to an aging population, there are proportionately fewer white women of childbearing age and fertility rates are lower than in other groups.

The white population is shrinking across nearly all parts of the country, researchers say

Illegal immigration across the US-Mexico border accounts for some the growth of America's Spanish-speaking population

Democratic politicians, including Jamaal Bowman (pictured), have tried to combat fears that white people are being 'replaced'

The declining white population has been especially pronounced in California, New York and other states that have lost people overall

The shrinking New York City area has lost 431,175 white people but only 41,318 Hispanics, says the report

Conservatives, including former Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson, promote the idea that America's changing demographics have affected elections

The fast-growing number of Hispanics and other minorities is down to natural increase  measured as births minus deaths  and immigration, the study found.

Looking ahead, Hispanic and other nonwhite groups are projected to make up 44 percent of the population in 2030, with Hispanic residents comprising one fifth of the total.

By 2050, one-quarter of the population will be Hispanic residents and more than half will be nonwhite groups.

Frey said the data reinforce his 'view that the nation's diversity explosion' represents an important part of its future.'

'The nation's labor force productivity and economic well-being will rely heavily on the success and integration of today's and tomorrow's increasingly multiracial younger population,' he said.

Overall, 15 states saw a decline in population, led by California and New York, which lost a combined 1.2 million residents over the three-year period.

Most states saw their youth population decline. In California there are close to 500,000 fewer children than pre-pandemic, and New York has 272,000 fewer.

Meanwhile, Florida and Texas each gained about 100,000 young people.

The population shrank in six of the 15 largest metro areas. The New York City metro area had the biggest overall drop, with fewer White, Black and Hispanic people, while the population of Asians and people of two or more races increased.

The shifting demographics will have an impact on several aspects of society, Frey said.

The changes will likely play a key role in local politics as various racial coalitions gain or lose strength, as people often vote along racial lines.

Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla, is among those to warn that Democratic politicians are permitting illegal immigration to build and consolidate political power and create a 'permanent one-party deep socialist state.'

With agencies.
A rioter bitten on the backside by a police dog after yelling 'I pay your wages' at embattled officers wept in court today as he was sent to jail alongside his partner.

Ryan Sheers, 28, and his boyfriend Steven Mailen, 54, had spent the day at the bingo together before walking into the middle of the disorder in Hartlepool last week.

Today they were each jailed for two years and two months by a judge who told them the public were 'rightly outraged by the behaviour seen on the streets' of Britain.

The pair, both from the County Durham town, had pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder and had been warned to expect jail. But Sheers burst into tears when the length of the term was announced at Teesside Crown Court today.

Prosecutor Rachel Masters told the court that Sheers and Mailen were at the front of a crowd of people on July 31 goading a line of police officers with shields and batons as they were being pelted with bottles, bricks and cans of beer.

She said that over ten minutes, Mailen goaded officers and used gestures and language police felt were inciting the crowd to use violence against officers. Sheers was said to have continued shouting abuse and refused to step back when asked.

Steven Mailen (left), 54, and his boyfriend Ryan Sheers (right), 28, were each jailed for two years and two months at Teesside Crown Court today for their part in the Hartlepool riots

Ryan Sheers (left) is bitten by the police dog while Steven Mailen (right) watches on July 31

At that point he saw a 'red mist' and stepped in to defend Mailen. He was captured on video waving a finger at police officers and shouting at them: 'I pay your wages.'

He also refused to step back and a police dog was deployed which latched itself onto his buttock, almost dragging off his shorts, which Ms Masters said 'had the effect of dispersing the crowd'.

However in the melee as the dog had hold of Sheers, Mailen ran forward again and kicked a police constable repeatedly on the shins. It eventually took three officers to overpower and arrest him.

Explaining the course of events, Ms Masters said: 'On the morning of July 31, Cleveland Police were alerted to a number of social media posts which were being circulated giving details of exact addresses which were address asylum seekers in the Hartlepool area.

Sheers (left) and Mailen (right) are seen dancing and shouting at police during the disorder

'The tenor was to encourage members of the public to attend a pre organised protest. As a result therefore the police set up a dedicated operation in an attempt to deal with the unrest which may ensue as a result.

'At 6pm, CCTV operators in Hartlepool town centre identified that a group was gathering in the area of the Cenotaph. The group quickly grew in size and members of it were thought to be carrying England flags.'

Ms Masters told the court that the gathering, which had grown to 200 people by 8pm, started to attract trouble and officers were at the scene by this point.

She said: 'CCTV footage and mobile phone evidence recovered showed these defendants as having being present and participating in the violence which occurred.'

Referring to Mailen's involvement, Ms Masters said: 'At approximately 8.20pm, police officer Morrison had been called to the Murray Street area of Hartlepool to deal with the escalating situation. By that stage, a large scale disturbance was underway.

A video shows a police dog biting Sheers on the buttocks during the altercation in Hartlepool

'Over the course of a period of ten minutes this defendant taunted and used gestures and language which the officer perceived to be enticing the crowd to use violence towards officers.

'Mailen approached the officer gesticulating towards him shouting abuse. The officer warned the defendant a number of times to stop but it was clear he was refusing to do so.

'The defendant was in the company of the defendant Sheers. The officer feared for his own safety but also that of his colleagues. As a result therefore he struck the defendant to the leg with an extendable baton. This caused the defendant to back away.'

The court heard the officer's police dog then bit Sheers and afterwards Mailen attempted to grab the animal. He then also grabbed a radio which had become detached from the officer and tucked it under his arm.

The police dog is seen with Sheers's shorts in its mouth as it bit him during the chaos

PC Morrison then struck him again to the leg with the baton but Mailen kicked out 'numerous times' to the officer's shins. The court heard it took three officers to restrain him.

Following his arrest, Mailen said he had been to the bingo with partner Sheers and on their home they went to a shop to buy more alcohol, when they came across the disorder.

Referring to Sheers's role, Ms Masters told the court: 'He was first spotted at the scene by police who had been deployed at the junction of Murray Street.

'Both Mailen and Sheers tried to push through the cordon. Sheers shouted at officers and refused to move back. Sheers did not move back and as a result the police dog bit him on the right hip buttock area.'

Nigel Soppitt, defending, said that both men rejected far-Right ideology and as a same-sex couple in Hartlepool had been the subject of prejudice.

The video showed the pair shouting at police in Hartlepool and then Sheers being bitten

The pair got involved in the rioting, he said, after their post-bingo lager ran out and they left home to go to the local shop, discovering there were some 200 to 300 people out on the streets.

Speaking about Mailen, a care worker who is a former school governor and postmaster, Mr Soppitt said: 'He has no time at all for far-Right ideology.

'He is in a same sex relationship with Mr Sheers and has grown up in Hartlepool where they have suffered themselves a great deal of prejudice.'

Mr Soppitt added: 'He realises prison must be imposed for the way he behaved on that night. It was lesser in severity than many of the incidents that took place around that time.

'He's a man who is in a gay relationship with Mr Sheers. They've grown up in Hartlepool and they've suffered a great deal of prejudice over the years.

'He despises those on the far-Right. This is the last place he expected to find himself.'

Steven Mailen was described as a care worker who is a former school governor and postmaster

He said that on his arrest Sheers immediately admitted to officers his behaviour had been 'aggressive and disgusting' and that he felt genuine remorse for his actions.

Cleveland Police Chief Constable Mark Webster sat in court throughout the proceedings flanked by some of his officers.

He issued a statement read by Ms Masters which said the damage caused in the rioting across the region had amounted to an estimated 300,000 with 16 officers reporting injuries in a list that was still growing.

He said: 'As the Chief Constable of Cleveland I can attest the level of aggression and violence officers faced and the damage to the community and property is unprecedented.'

Some officers have had to cancel rest days and holidays, the court heard.

Judge Francis Laird KC said that Sheers and Mailen had been 'at the very forefront of the mob'. He added: 'You chose to take part in what was organised and large scale public disorder.

Sheers immediately admitted to officers his behaviour had been 'aggressive and disgusting'

'In that disorder police officers were attacked and there was large scale damage to property. Members of the public were forced to endure the devastation and chaos caused in their communities.

'The public are rightly outraged by this behaviour on the streets of this country. For this scale of aggressive offending only a custodial sentence can be justified.'

In a statement after the sentencing, Christopher Atkinson, Senior District Crown Prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) North East, said: 'The tough sentences handed out today should serve as a lesson for anyone considering taking part in this type of disorder across the North East.

'This show of violence on the streets of Hartlepool has done nothing but instil fear in local residents and cause damage to local businesses.

'I would like to praise the excellent work of Cleveland Police in dealing with this disorder. In addition to their brave response to a particularly difficult situation, they have also secured key evidence against multiple offenders which has assisted us greatly in building such robust cases against those involved.

'We will continue to work closely with our police partners, responding swiftly and robustly to any activity which threatens the safety of the communities we serve.

'Our message is clear: we stand ready to secure convictions and push for the strongest possible sentences against anyone involved in violent unrest.

'The appalling scenes of violence like those seen in Hartlepool last week will not be tolerated. The CPS will continue to work swiftly alongside partners in the criminal justice system to haul anyone involved before the court to face the full consequences of their actions.'

The CPS added that hundreds of prosecutors have been working around the clock amid the UK-wide riots, 'making rapid charging decisions so that suspects can be brought before the courts without delay'.

And Cleveland Police Assistant Chief Constable David Felton said: 'Over the last week officers have been faced with extremely challenging situations involving individuals who had nothing else in mind but the intent to cause violence.

'Within seven days of the Hartlepool disorder those set on committing serious violence have been arrested, charged and now sentenced by the court. This sends a very firm message to anyone continuing to think of committing sheer violence.

'Our investigation remains on going and I want to encourage members of the public to keep reporting information  no matter how small you think it might be.'
The Los Angeles Metro is reviewing proposals to build a subway line down the 405 to alleviate car traffic and get commuters from the Valley to West Los Angeles in just 20 minutes - but the city's richest aren't happy about it.

The Sepulveda Corridor transit project proposed adding eight new stops - including Ventura Boulevard, UCLA, and Santa Monica, among others - to get some of the 300,000 daily drivers off the nightmarish bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-405 and onto public transit.

The newly proposed line - which would be one of the most advanced transit lines in the world - would connect riders to several other subway lines, as well as, bus routes and Amtrak, according to Sepulveda Transit Corridor Partners.

'It's going to be clean, it's going to be fast, it's going to be autonomous. It is going to literally change the way we travel to the Valley to the Westside and downtown,' Felicia Bell, with the Corridor Partners, said. 'Twenty minutes, you can't beat.'

The company has also help developed London's Elizabeth line, the Paris Metro, and other parts of LA's public transit system.

However, not everyone is overjoyed by the proposal, especially Ticketmaster's former CEO, Fred Rosen, who has made it his mission to stop the transit line running underneath his expensive Bel-Air mansion.

The Los Angeles Metro is reviewing proposals to build a subway line down the 405 to alleviate car traffic and get commuters from the Valley to West Los Angeles in just 20 minutes

The Sepulveda Corridor transit project proposed adding eight new stops - including Ventura Boulevard, UCLA, and Santa Monica, among others - to get some of the 300,000 daily drivers off the bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-405 (pictured)

'They dont understand who theyre dealing with, okay?' the 80-year-old told The Hollywood Reporter. 'I will not go gently into that good night.'

He invited Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins to the Hotel Bel-Air for a meeting, to which he claimed she thought the venue was 'beautiful.'

'And your morons want to dig a tunnel under it,' he recalled saying.

Rosen claimed he and his wealthy neighbors don't want construction workers digging underneath their homes to build the rail line. Instead, they prefer the monorail proposals out of the six available that would offer great views, but avoid digging under their homes.

'A modern, spacious monorail with a view along the 405 Freeway makes more sense than a dark, underground subway tunnel through an earthquake and flood zone,' Bel-Air resident and Lionsgate CEO, Jon Feltheimer, told The Hollywood Reporter.

 Slide me  The newly proposed line - which would be one of the most advanced transit lines in the world - would connect riders to several other subway lines, as well as, bus routes and Amtrak (pictured: L-R: current transit system and proposed line in pink right)

'It will be cheaper, easier to build and more forward-looking.'

Ticketmaster's former CEO, Fred Rosen, has made it his mission to stop the transit line running underneath his expensive Bel-Air mansion

The monorail system, which is being proposed by BYD, would get commuters end-to-end in just over 30 minutes and would largely run on the surface of the 405 and would be able to extend to LAX quicker than the underground version, according to Benjamin Schneider.

However, the underground system has a much higher projection for ridership levels with an estimated 120,000 versus only 86,000 daily commuters on the monorail, according to Schneider.

Despite their wealthy wishes, the Metro is largely ignoring the millionaires in favor of an underground system that would cut commute times in half.

For example, the commute from Ventura Boulevard to UCLA's campus could be cut in half by the rail line, going from roughly a 15-to-30-minute drive to a 6.5-minute commute by train, according to Benjamin Schneider.

The entire 15-mile route takes anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes to drive by car, meaning on a good day, commuters would save 10 minutes. On a bad day, their commute would be cut by two-thirds just by taking the train.

The commute from Ventura Boulevard to UCLA's campus could be cut in half by the rail line, going from roughly a 15-to-30-minute drive to a 6.5-minute commute by train (pictured: UCLA Station concept)

The automated trains would accomplish this by going 70mph underground and trains would be around 2.5 minutes apart, but could be reduced to every 90 seconds 'when needed' (pictured: Wilshire Station concept)

The automated trains would accomplish this by going 70mph underground and trains would be around 2.5 minutes apart, but could be reduced to every 90 seconds 'when needed,' according to Yusef Robb, who works for Sepulveda Transit Corridor Partners.

It would run faster than other LA Metro lines that come between every eight and 12 minutes during peak hours.

It would also be faster than rival New York City's transit system that has trains running roughly every two to five minutes during rush hours and every five to 10 minutes for most of the day.

The forecasted opening for the new line is between 2033 and 2035.
Nearly three-quarters of Brits think Sir Keir Starmer should not go on holiday next week as the country continues to reel from far-right riots.

A YouGov poll found 71 per cent thought the Prime Minister should not take a break in the wake of the widespread street violence following the Southport stabbings.

This compared to just 14 per cent who said Sir Keir should take some time off, and the same proportion (14 per cent) who said they didn't know.

The PM is due to chair a third emergency Cobra meeting this afternoon in response to the mayhem in towns and cities over the past 10 days.

His plans for a summer break, following a gruelling general election campaign and then being installed as Britain's 58th premier, have been thrown into confusion by the crisis.

No10 on Monday dismissed claims Sir Keir was planning to go on holiday this week.

The PM has instead been working from Downing Street all week as he faces the first national crisis of his premiership since winning power on 5 July.

Nearly three-quarters of Brits think Sir Keir Starmer should not go on holiday next week as the country continues to reel from far-right riots

A YouGov poll found 71 per cent thought the Prime Minister should not take a break in the wake of the widespread street violence following the Southport stabbings

Police officers with dogs intervene during clashes at Guildhall Square in Plymouth on Monday

Sir Keir today visited a mosque in Solihull, West Midlands, as he vowed to not 'let up' on the Government's crackdown on far-right rioters.

The PM will hold fresh Cobra talks with top ministers and senior police officers this afternoon despite further planned gatherings by yobs fizzling out last night.

Police were braced for further violence yesterday evening with more than 100 planned anti-immigration protests and around 30 more counter protests.

Shops were boarded up in many towns and cities amid fears of fresh mayhem in the wake of the Southport stabbing attack last Monday.

But, by 8pm, many protests did not materialise and those that did were dwarfed in size by counter-demonstrations.

An estimated 25,000 anti-racism activists turned out in force in cities across the UK.

On his visit to Solihull this morning, Sir Keir told broadcasters: 'Now it's important that we don't let up here.

'And that's why later on today I will have another Cobra meeting with law enforcement, with senior police officers, to make sure that we reflect on last night but also plan for the coming days.'

The PM said last night was 'much better than was expected' after many of the planned anti-immigration protests failed to materialise.

But he added that the Government was 'not going to give up on our efforts here'.

Sir Keir said the deployment of extra police officers and the swift sentencing of those involved in rioting had sent a 'very powerful message' and helped prevent further disorder.
The British tourist believed to have been killed in a martial arts chokehold at a Gran Canaria nightclub has been named as 47-year-old Scott Lacey.

Tributes flooded in for the 'absolute gent' holidaymaker who died after allegedly being assaulted by a nightclub bouncer in the Canary Islands.

Scott Lacey's devastated 'partner and friends' were said to have been partying with him when the doorman put him in a chokehold known as the 'Lion Killer' during a night out in the resort of Playa del Ingles.

Today stunned pals and well-wishers were rallying round heartbroken Charli Wilkins, from Chichester, West Sussex, after she said she was 'devastated' in an emotional social media message.

Confirming 47-year-old Scott's life had tragically been cut short, she said: 'It is with the greatest sorrow that I'm having to share that while on holiday in Gran Canaria, Scott sadly passed away.'

Scott Lacey was described as 'wonderful' and an 'absolute gent' in touching tributes

Scott's friends said he was a 'beautiful man inside and out' as Charli confirmed the sad news

'This is understandably still very raw and myself and our families are trying to process this devastating news,' she continued.

'Details will be shared regarding the funeral as soon as we can and I know Scott would want as many people as possible to celebrate his life.'

Martin Atkinson, from Redditch, Worcestershire, reacted by saying: 'God, can't believe this. He was a fantastic bloke, one of the best.'

Emily Jupp, from Fareham, Hampshire, told Charli: 'We are utterly devastated.

'My heart aches for you during this unimaginable time. I can't begin to understand the pain you're going through.

'Please know that we are here for you, whatever you need. Scott was a wonderful man, and his memory will live on in all of us who knew him.'

Friend Joey Edwards described Scott as an 'absolute gent' and another said he was a 'beautiful man inside and out.'

Matt Holland, added: 'Scott was such a lovely, funny and likable guy he will be sorely missed by everyone who ever shared any time with him.'

Painter and decorator Lee Russon, from Redditch, Worcestershire, who has successfully battled cancer this year, said in a separate Facebook post after learning about Scott's death: 'What sad news!

'He was messaging me and donated to my page when I was ill. He really was a good man. RIP my friend Scott Lacey.'

The incident that resulted in Scott's death occurred at a nightclub called Chic in Playa del Ingles in the early hours of July 24.

Police revealed yesterday a 32-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of homicide and remanded in prison pending an ongoing investigation by a judge.

A spokesman for National Police in San Bartolome de Tirajana, the force that covers the Playa del Ingles area, said: 'Officers have arrested a 32-year-old man who has no police record as the suspected author of a crime of homicide.

'In the early hours of July 24 an emergency call was received saying a person was lying lifeless on the ground near a nightspot in Playa del Ingles.

'Several police units responded along with other emergency services.

'Once they were there, they confirmed the death of the man, an English tourist, and cordoned off the area.'

Police said that investigators spoke to witnesses, staff, friends and Scott's partner.

They said it initially seemed he had suffered a heart attack.

'However marks were observed on his neck and his body was transported to the island's Institute of Forensic Medicine for further analysis.

'Several witnesses told police they had seen how one of the members of staff had carried out a chokehold known as a Mata Leao [Lion Killer] choke because the British man he performed it on was very agitated.

'When he was immobilised he collapsed on the ground.

Friends remembered Scott's acts of kindness, writing that he was a 'good man'

General view of Playa de Ingles in Gran Canaria, where Scott and friends were partying

Police looked at CCTV footage, which showed an employee of the nightspot grabbing the victim by the neck before he fell to the floor.

'The forensic report corroborated the cause of death as asphyxia.

'Given the risk the suspected killer could abscond, a search operation was put in place and once he was located the suspect was immediately arrested.

'He was subsequently remanded to a local jail on the orders of an investigating magistrate.'

The arrest occurred on July 29, although police only went public with it yesterday after the suspect appeared in court in a closed hearing and was remanded in custody.'

The nightclub is not due to reopen until Saturday and no-one there could be reached today.
A seagull is 'wanted' by the police after it stole a Massachusetts man's wallet at a grocery store and flew away with it.

Nantucket Memorial Airport manager Noah Karberg was at a Stop & Shop on August 4 when a seagull committed the shocking crime.

A camera taker caught footage of the seagull walking and flying away with the wallet while the wind blew Karberg's cash away.

'A seagull stole my wallet from the cart in a Stop & Shop parking lot. It was last seen in the airport, gas, and Stop & Shop area,' Karberg wrote on a Nantucket Year Round Community Facebook post.

'If you find it, you can keep the cash, and I'll offer a $100 cash reward for the return of my cards and license.'

A seagull is 'wanted' by the police after it stole and flew away with Noah Karberg's wallet at a Nantucket Stop & Shop

Karberg had spent the day fishing in Nantucket before he went grocery shopping at Stop & Shop.

Wearing a 'fishing shirt and board shorts,' Karberg placed his wallet and phone on the shopping cart tray before purchasing groceries.

'I do my shopping, and buy my groceries, come out to my truck, load most of my groceries onto the tailgate,' Karberg told NBC Boston on Tuesday.

'I take a last couple of bags around to the backseat, come back around to the shopping cart, and there is a gull sitting on the cart, and right in front of me, grabs my wallet, and flies off.'

The airport manager kept an eye on the seagull after it stole his wallet and claimed that it appeared to have an 'agenda.'

According to Karberg, the seagull removed the money from his wallet and kept his American Express card while on the roof of a carwash.

'I was thinking, "Oh my gosh, this is unreal, I gotta get my wallet back,"' Karberg said.

'I started chasing the gull across the parking lot like a crazy person, knowing I looked like an idiot, but I really wanted my wallet back.'

The seagull flew onto the roof of a nearby car wash after it snatched Karlberg's wallet. The Massachusetts man claimed it kept his American Express card, and took out his money

Unfortunately, the criminal seagull flew away with Karberg's wallet in his mouth, and the Massachusetts man has not seen it since.

'I have had a lot of people reach out to me, say they were sorry for me, but it was really funny,' Karberg said to NBC Boston.

'It has all been in good fun. The island has a pace in the summer. It can be frantic, people can get burned out, and I think this was a little bit of good fun that everyone had.'

A 'Wanted' for grand larceny image of the seagull was featured in the video obtained by Nantucket Current.

Anyone who spots the seagull with Karberg's wallet is advised to 'report to Nantucket Police Department (NPD) immediately.'

Karlberg told NBC Boston that a 'lot of people' reached out to him to apologize for what happened, and tell him it was 'hilarious'

The seagull is currently wanted for grand larceny after the August 4 incident at the Stop & Shop. Anyone who spots it should contact NPD immediately

This seagull is one of many that have stolen unusual items from individuals over the years.

Shoppers and stores in the UK have had items stolen by seagulls this summer, some being last month in Weymouth, Dorset.

A frequented seagull named Steve stole multiple snacks off the shelves of a convenience store in the English town.

'At the start, we thought it was quite funny, but now he has taken so many that it has become a bit of a problem,' shop supervisor Sally Toogood said.

'He took a few bags in one day, so our manager decided to put the sign up to try and make people shut the door and bring down the amount he takes.'
A mother-of-three who was stabbed to death in a town centre street has been described as 'the brightest light of any room'.

Friends of Courtney Mitchell, 26, paid tribute to her as a GoFundMe appeal was launched for funeral costs to help her 'get the best send off'.

Ms Mitchell was found fighting for her life with serious stab wounds at 7.10pm on Wednesday in Burrell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk.

The mother of three children - aged eight, four and two - was taken to hospital where she died of her injuries a short time later.

Police launched a manhunt for her cold-hearted killer and arrested a 27-year-old man in Ipswich yesterday on suspicion of her murder.

Courtney Mitchell (pictured) was found fighting for her life with serious stab wounds at 7.10pm on Wednesday in Burrell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk.

Mitchell (pictured) was the mother of three children - aged eight, four and two

The man is still being quizzed at the Police Investigation Centre at Martlesham near Ipswich.

Officers have also reportedly found two knives close to the scene and they are undergoing forensic tests.

The GoFundMe appeal, organised by Brandon Black who claims to be the father of one of her sons, has a 7,000 target and has so far raised nearly 3,000.

Brandon said in a message accompanying the appeal: 'Hello everyone. I'm fundraising for my son's mother Courtney who was brutally murdered on the 6th of August.

'She was a mother to 3 before a horrible human took her life. I just want her to have the best send of for her and the family, and to support our children. I love you Courtney Jaye Mitchell. Help my sons mother get the best send off.'

A moving tribute posted on Facebook by a friend of Courtney said: 'The brightest light of any room, a mother, daughter, sister and an aunty to the most precious souls just as herself.

'I hope you find your peace you were too good for this world and the monsters that lurk amongst us. You were so loved and by so many.

'Please find in your hearts to try dig deep and give a donation. She didn't deserve her ending and her family either.

'The least we can all do is help to provide a beautiful send off. One deserving of her and her children. Forever in my heart.'

The scene where Ms Mitchell was found was cordoned off by police, along with a nearby skate park and paths along the banks of the River Orwell at the rear of Burrell Road.

A 27-year-old man (pictured left) was arrested on suspicion of the murder of Courtney Mitchell. He is still being quizzed at the Police Investigation Centre at Martlesham near Ipswich

The scene where Ms Mitchell was found was cordoned off by police, along with a nearby skate park and paths along the banks of the River Orwell at the rear of Burrell Road

Flight tracker records also show that a National Police Air Service fixed wing P68R aircraft spent nearly three hours circling over central Ipswich on Wednesday night after being scrambled from its base at East Midlands Airport.

A friend of Ms Mitchell said that she had suffered injuries in an earlier incident and had recently split up from her partner.

In another incident in recent days, her home is said to have been damaged after water pipes were deliberately broken.

Ipswich's newly elected Labour MP Jack Abbott urged anyone with information to contact police.

He said: 'My thoughts are with the young woman, her loved ones and our wider Ipswich community following this appalling tragedy.

'I want to thank the police and emergency services for their response, and I know they are working around the clock to ensure the person responsible faces the full force of the law.

'I urge anyone with information that may help the police progress this murder investigation to contact the police, but to refrain from online speculation while the investigation is still ongoing.'

Phil Smart, an Ipswich borough councillor for the area, said: 'This is a truly horrific incident, and our thoughts go out to the victim and those close to her.

'Ipswich Borough Council are helping the police search through CCTV footage to identify the person or persons responsible.'

Superintendent Andy Martin of Suffolk Police said: 'Residents will continue to see an increased police presence in the area as our investigation continues.

'While we remain in the early stages of our enquiries, we believe the victim and the suspect are known to each other.

'We would continue to urge anyone with any information, no matter how insignificant you may feel it may be, to contact us.'

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to contact police.

Ms Mitchell (pictured) was taken to hospital where she died of her injuries a short time later

A force spokesman confirmed residents will 'continue to see an increased police presence in the area' as the investigation continues

Drivers with dash cameras, or anyone with CCTV or doorbell cameras in the area, are asked to review any footage between 6.30pm and 7.30pm for anything that may be relevant.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Suffolk Police, quoting CAD 330 of 6 August 2024.

Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or via their online form.
A former bank employee's life has been 'destroyed' by 'completely false' allegations she defrauded multiple banks out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, a court has heard.

Sara Daizli allegedly opened accounts in fictitious names in order to swindle hundreds of thousands of dollars from St George Bank customers between February 2016 and December 2018.

Prosecutors allege she siphoned money into the fake accounts and used the ill-gotten gains to fund a lavish lifestyle.

The 32-year-old is also accused of making fraudulent loan applications to St George and ANZ banks.

She has pleaded not guilty to a staggering 120 charges, including dealing with the proceeds of a crime and 108 counts of dishonestly gaining a financial advantage by deception.

On Thursday, Daizli's lawyer Abigail Bannister told the court that her client's life 'has been destroyed over the past four years' due to the 'completely false' allegations of fraud.

Daizli is due to face a trial in the NSW District Court next month but she fronted court this week for an argument about subpoenas issued to Westpac Bank.

The court was told Westpac, which is now the parent company of Daizli's former employer St George Bank, has spent countless hours and tens of thousands of dollars tracking down documents sought by the defence.

Sara Daizli' life has been 'destroyed' by 'completely false' allegations she defrauded multiple banks out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, a court has heard. She's pictured leaving court on Thursday

Westpac's lawyer Andrew Byrne asked the court to set aside portions of the subpoenas that he argued were oppressive and constituted an illegitimate application of the legal process.

He said the bank has been 'bending over backwards' to provide the requested documents, but emphasised the time and cost involved in searching through the 'hundreds of millions of pieces of evidence'.

One of the records sought by Daizli's lawyer is a record of the staff login details for 19 days when her client is accused of conducting fraudulent transfers.

Ms Bannister said it was a 'very critical document' because prosecutors allege Daizli had obtained the login details of several colleagues and used them to appropriate funds on 19 occasions.

She told the court the bank's policy dictated that employees could be immediately dismissed for sharing login details and they weren't even allowed to write them down.

Daizli would have had to obtain her colleague's sensitive login details and then monitor the employee from a different room to ensure they weren't logged in when she made the fraudulent transactions, Ms Bannister told the court.

She suggested it was possible the St George staffers had innocently conducted the transfers themselves after someone came into the bank and misrepresented themselves.

Sara Daizli allegedly opened accounts in fictitious names in order to swindle hundreds of thousands of dollars from St George Bank customers between February 2016 and December 2018

Ms Bannister said the scenario 'leaves the door open' for the possibility that Daizli was also an innocent victim of an unknown fraudster who conned her into opening fake accounts.

'For us to see the logins is absolutely crucial,' she said.

But Mr Byrne argued it would take an 'extraordinary amount of time' to conduct the necessary searches of Westpac's extensive records because they aren't 'a straightforward process'.

Judge Nanette Williams ordered Westpac to 'take all reasonable steps' to produce the login records.

However she set aside a request for a chronological log of the transactions conducted by the bank staffers on the same days, dismissing it as 'way too wide'.

Ms Bannister also requested a record of the high achieving employees at St George Bank during Daizli's three year tenure as a customer service specialist.

Judge Williams ordered Westpac to produce the documents by August 19, waving off Ms Bannister's argument that eight weeks had elapsed since Westpac first said it would take 10 days to produce the documents.

'I don't care, Ms Bannister. I care about getting the material ... to you as soon as possible,' the judge said.

The 32-year-old (pictured on Thursday) is also accused of making fraudulent loan applications to St George and ANZ banks

Other defence requests, such as for copies investigator's interviews with staff members in relation to the fraud, were dismissed by Judge Williams for being too broad.

She ordered the parties to return to court on August 19 so Westpac could report on its progress with producing the approved documents.

'This trial is not going to be derailed by the subpoena matters,' the judge declared.

'It's going to go ahead in September.'

Daizli is on bail under strict conditions, which include a $1,050,000 surety to guarantee she appears in court when required.

She is also facing civil proceedings brought by Westpac Bank in relation to her alleged fraud.
A Florida couple are facing child abuse charges after allegedly leaving their two-year-old son locked inside a hot car while they shopped at a Target store in Aventura over the weekend.

Paola Palencia-Rodriguez, 24, and Melvin Alejandro Jaimes, 25, were arrested on Saturday and charged with one count each of child abuse without great bodily harm and leaving a child under six unattended in a vehicle.

According to an arrest report, a bystander spotted the young boy sleeping in the car, which was parked in the Target parking lot with the windows rolled up and the ignition turned off.

The witness said the child was 'sweaty, warm to the touch, and awake and crying,' and sitting in his own vomit. The parents had left him for 30 minutes.

Now, the parents have spoken out - saying that they 'didn't see it as bad' as they thought they could quickly get groceries while the child was inside the car.

Paola Palencia-Rodriguez, 24 (left), and Melvin Alejandro Jaimes, 25 (right), were arrested on Saturday and charged with one count each of child abuse without great bodily harm and leaving a child under 6 unattended in a vehicle

According to an arrest report, a bystander spotted the young boy sleeping in the car, which was parked in the Target parking lot with the windows rolled up and the ignition turned off

The good Samaritan was able to convince the toddler to unlock the car door, and police were promptly called to the scene around 11:15am.

The temperature at the time was in the low 90s, with an active tropical storm and tornado watch in the area.

Surveillance footage showed the child had been left alone in the vehicle for 30 minutes before being discovered.

During their first court appearance, Judge Mindy Glazer scolded the couple, telling them they were 'lucky' to be standing before her and not 'planning a child's funeral.'

Both Palencia-Rodriguez and Jaimes have been released on $2,500 bond, and are due back in court next month to face the disturbing charges

During their first court appearance, Judge Mindy Glazer scolded the couple, telling them they were 'lucky' to be standing before her and not 'planning a child's funeral'

The distraught parents said that it was simply 'a mistake' and that they were in a rush to get groceries, but didn't want to wake their sleeping son

'It was 90 degrees out. And you are lucky you are here today in court rather than a child's funeral,' Glazer said.

The distraught parents told NBC6 that it was simply 'a mistake' and that they were in a rush to get groceries, but didn't want to wake their sleeping son.

'I just thought since he was sleeping, I didn't see it as bad  but I recognize it was a mistake,' Palencia-Rodriguez told the outlet in Spanish.

Both Palencia-Rodriguez and Jaimes have been released on $2,500 bond, and are due back in court next month to face the disturbing charges.
Storm Debby has hit landfall for a second time in South Carolina as it makes its way up the East Coast, spawning damaging tornadoes as well as fresh floods.

More than 130,000 people have been left without power due to tornado activity, as widespread structure damage has been caused.

The National Hurrican Center revealed Debby came ashore early Thursday near Bulls Bay, South Carolina, and first made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, temporarily shutting down part of Interstate 95.

The tropical storm is expected to now keep moving inland, spreading heavy rain and possible flooding up through the mid-Atlantic and Northeast by the weekend.

Early Thursday morning, the storm had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph in Miami with its center about 90 miles north of Charleston, South Carolina.

Surface observations, satellite images, and radar data indicate that the center of Debby made landfall near Bulls Bay, South Carolina.



This does not mean the flood threat has ended! A high risk of flash flooding continues for portions of South Carolina, North Carolina, and pic.twitter.com/2guia2h7K3  National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 8, 2024

#UPDATE : Tropical Storm Debby made a second landfall near Bulls Bay, South Carolina, early this morning.



A major flood threat continues for portions of the Carolina and western Virginia, and Flood Watches stretch from North Carolina to New York today.#Carolina #NorthCarolina pic.twitter.com/0hZZvcLnTN  upuknews (@upuknews1) August 8, 2024

Just received video of the tornado near the Pender/Sampson County line near US Hwy 421 in NC. This event occurred around 2:08 PM. The video is courtesy of Noah Huffer, Pender County EMS & Fire. pic.twitter.com/KL7HR6I3h2  NWS Wilmington, NC (@NWSWilmingtonNC) August 7, 2024

Charles Grainger cleans up around his house on Wedensday in the historic district of French Quarter Creek as flood waters recede from Tropical Storm Debby

Keon Johnson and his wife Zyla Johnson, left, talk about how to get to work since his house on Tappan Zee Drive that was flooded (Aug. 7)

As it made its way to North Carolina, there there were even reports of emergency responders in Wilson County searching for a man possibly trapped inside, according to local news outlet ABC11.

Meanwhile, three tornado warnings have been issued east of Raleigh, NC, as well as in Dortches and Rocky Mount.

Debby wasn't done flooding parts of eastern South Carolina and southeast North Carolina, and an additional 3 to 9 inches (8 to 23 centimeters) of rain is possible as the storm moves north, raising concerns of flash floods in mountainous areas of West Virginia.

At least three tornadoes were reported overnight in North Carolina, including one around 3 a.m. that damaged at least four houses, a church and a school in Wilson County east of Raleigh, county officials said. No injuries were immediately reported.

Standing water a few feet deep covered parts of the tiny town of Bladenboro, where deputies posted photos of a patrol car damaged by a tree and washed out roads.

In Huger, northeast of Charleston, South Carolina, Gene Taylor waited for the water to drain from his house along French Quarter Creek as high tide passed.

He had learned the hard way to begin moving his belongings up or out of his home last week as Debby approached. Taylor figures this is the fourth time he has had floodwater in his home in the past nine years.

"We got caught with our pants down in 2015. We waited, didnt think the water was going to come up as quick. But it did, and it caught us. We couldnt even get the vehicles out," Taylor said.

At least four dams were breached northwest of Savannah in Georgia's Bulloch County, but no deaths had been reported, authorities said. More than 75 people were rescued from floodwaters in the county, said Corey Kemp, director of emergency management, and about 100 roads were closed.

"Weve been faced with a lot of things weve never been faced with before," Bulloch County Commission Chairman Roy Thompson said.

"Im 78-plus years old and have never seen anything like this before in Bulloch County. Its amazing what has happened, and amazing what is going to continue to happen until all these waters get out of here."

Flooding on Cypress Lake in Statesboro, Georgia #Debby



Video from Brian Powell pic.twitter.com/xJIn6QEZvr  Andrew Gorton WTOC (@AndrewGortonWx) August 7, 2024

We are a mile up the road out of Horseshoe Beach, FL and the surge is STILL pushing in. Search and rescue vehicles with boats are not able to get into town, the water is too deep #flwx @SevereStudios pic.twitter.com/9bcVuXoScl  Sierra Lindsey (@Sierra_Lindsey3) August 5, 2024

A resident walks through flood waters in French Quarter Creek as flood waters recede from Tropical Storm Debby (Aug. 7)

People stand in front of a house damaged after a tree fell on top of it in Avon Lake, Ohio (Aug. 6)

James Bartley sits on a folding chair in his garage as he waits for storm water from Tropical Storm Debby to recede (Aug. 7)

Storm Debby has now hit landfall for a second time as it blew into North Carolina

Keon Johnson leaves his house on his way to work down a street that flooded in Pooler, Georgia (Aug. 7)

Rebecca Fanning, right, who works for the town of Sullivan's Island, inspects flood waters (Aug. 7)

The neighbors on Tappan Zee Drive in suburban Pooler, west of Savannah, took Debby's drenching with a painful dose of deja vu. In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew overflowed a nearby canal and flooded several of the same homes.

Located roughly 30 miles (50 kilometers) inland from the Atlantic Ocean, with no creeks or rivers nearby, the neighborhood doesnt seem like a high-risk location for tropical flooding. But residents say drainage problems have plagued their street for well over a decade, despite local government efforts to fix them.

Debby also dumped rain on communities all the way up to the Great Lakes and New York and New Jersey. Moisture from the tropical storm strengthened another system Tuesday evening, which caused strong thunderstorms, according to weather service meteorologist Scott Kleebauer.

"We had a multi-round period of showers and thunderstorms that kind of scooted from Michigan eastward," Kleebauer said.

As much as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rain fell in parts of New Jersey in less than four hours, and New York City officials warned of potential flash flooding, flying drones with loudspeakers in some neighborhoods to tell people in basement apartments to be ready to flee. Multiple water rescues were reported in and near the city.

About 270,000 customers remained without power in Ohio as of Thursday morning, according to PowerOutage.us, following severe storms including two confirmed tornadoes.

A tree gets cut up in Bay Village, Ohio as storm cleanup begins after damaging winds blasted Northeast Ohio (Aug. 6)

Keon Johnson steps out of his stalled car on the street near his house that has been flooded for three days due to heavy rains (Aug. 7)

Gene Taylor watches the flood waters around his house in French Quarter Creek (Aug. 7)

A resident measures the depth of the flooded street in Pooler, Georgia (Aug. 7)

Nelma Taylor cleans up flood waters around her house in French Quarter Creek (Aug. 7)

A surfer takes advantage of the large surf as Tropical Storm Debby approaches (Aug. 7)

All that water has to drain out to sea. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said his state was just entering Act 2 of a three-act play, after more than 60 homes were damaged but roads and water systems were without significant problems.

The final act may come next week if enough rain falls upstream in North Carolina to cause major flooding along rivers as they flow to the Atlantic Ocean.

A state of emergency was in effect for both North Carolina and Virginia. Maryland issued a state of preparedness declaration that coordinates preparations without declaring an emergency.

At least six people have died due to the storm, five of them in traffic accidents or from fallen trees. The sixth death involved a 48-year-old man in Gulfport, Florida, whose body was recovered after his anchored sailboat partially sank.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made another bizarre confession just days after revealing he left a dead bear cub in New York's Central Park in 2014.

On Sunday, Kennedy released a video where he's seen telling comedian Roseanne Barr that he put the dead bear in his car, with plans to 'put the meat in my refrigerator.'

Kennedy was in court in Albany this week for a trial over whether he falsely claimed to be a resident of New York state, which he used on his nominating petition to get on the presidential ballot.

As he departed court on Wednesday, Kennedy was asked by reporters whether he picked up other roadkill or if the bear was a one-time thing.

'I've been picking up roadkill my whole life,' the presidential candidate said. 'I have a freezer full of it.'

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made another bizarre confession while spending time in court this week in Albany as his residency is being disputed

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. waves to supporters as he arrived in court Wendesday. As he departed court he told reporters that he had an entire 'freezer' full of roadkill, as journalists continued to question the dead bear cub story

The remark elicited laughter, according to the Associated Press.

Kennedy's inclusion in the 2024 presidential cycle has made a wild campaign season even wilder.

In May, The New York Times published a story recounting how Kennedy was plagued by brain fog and memory lapses in 2010, which doctors ended up attributing to a brain worm.

Kennedy revealed that information in a 2012 divorce deposition claiming the brain worm had decreased his earning power.

Since then, Kennedy has turned the brain worm saga into a joke.

It came up when a reporter for The New Yorker asked Kennedy about depositing the dead bear in Central Park.

'Maybe that's where I got my brain worm,' the candidate said.

The New Yorker published a picture of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., then 60, and the bear cub that he later deposited in Central Park in 2014. 'Maybe that's where I got my brain worm,' the candidate joked to a New Yorker reporter

Vanity Fair published a story that claimed independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sent out a picture to a friend that showed him pretending to gobble down a barbecued dog in Korea. Kennedy said it was a goat in Patagonia

The New Yorker released its profile on Kennedy on Monday, which included a picture of him with his hand in the mouth of the dead cub.

Kennedy went public with the dead bear cub story Sunday to get ahead of whatever The New Yorker would say about him.

'Looking forward to seeing how you spin this one, New Yorker,' he wrote on X, posting the video of his conversation with Barr.

Kennedy pushed back even more vehemently when Vanity Fair alleged last month that he had eaten dog in South Korea.

The article contained a picture of Kennedy smiling and holding up a charred corpse of a dead animal.

The magazine said a veterinarian identified the animal as a dog, as the animal had a telltale 'floating rib' found in canines.

RFK Jr. posted to X saying that the grizzled animal wasn't a dog but a goat and the photograph wasn't from Korea but Patagonia.

'Hey @VanityFair, you know when your veterinary experts call a goat a dog, and your forensic experts say a photo taken in Patagonia was taken in Korea, that you've joined the ranks of supermarket tabloids,' Kennedy wrote.
A second officer is now under criminal investigation for assault after a brawl at Manchester Airport, the police watchdog has said.

It comes after a video which went viral online showed 19-year-old Fahir Amaaz allegedly being kicked and stamped on by police during a disturbance near the arrivals hall on July 23.

Mr Amaaz and his brother Muhammad Amaad, 25, were restrained by officers, which led to protests in Rochdale and Manchester city centre amid claims of police brutality.

More footage emerged days later which showed the immediate lead-up to the disturbance, when two female police officers were hit to the ground before Mr Amaaz was Tasered.

Solictor Mr Anwar, brothers Mr Amaad (left) and Mr Amaaz, and their mother Mrs Akhtar face the media

Footage of a police officer kicking Fahir Amaaz, 19, while he was arrested alongside his brother Muhammad Amaad

In a press conference earlier this week, the family's lawyer claimed the men's mother, Shameem Akhtar, 56, was hit in the face with a Taser by an officer.

In the days after the incident, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) constable was under criminal investigation for assault in connection with the arrests of the brothers.

In an update on Thursday, the watchdog said a second officer had been advised they were also under criminal investigation for assault. The identities of the officers involved have not been made public by the force.

The officer is also being investigated for potential gross misconduct for alleged breaches of police professional standards including their use of force.

An IOPC spokesman said it had received a further referral from GMP of a complaint, detailing several allegations, from one of the people involved.

The officers could face criminal charges or misconduct proceedings once the investigation has concluded.

IOPC regional director Catherine Bates said: 'It is clear the situation at Manchester Airport was complex and escalated rapidly.

Mrs Akhtar said she was racially abused on her flight to Manchester from Pakistan

Mrs Akhtar, demonstrating her injuries after allegedly being struck at Manchester Airport

Mrs Akhtar, 56, appeared tearful as she faced the media this week

'The incident, which resulted in injuries to police officers and members of the public, has caused understandable concern and we are working hard to piece together all of the relevant events on that day.

'In parallel, Greater Manchester Police is investigating whether any criminal offences were committed by members of the public during the initial altercation and the subsequent arrests.

'These investigations are separate, and we are liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service to establish how they can progress in parallel.'

The IOPC spokesman said its investigation will consider whether discriminatory behaviour may have influenced the treatment received.

It will look at the force used against six members of the public in two incidents, the first involving the arrests shown in footage and the second, shortly afterwards, when two other men were arrested and one was Pava sprayed.

It will also consider allegations about the level of care provided to a woman - believed to be Mrs Akhtar - who reported she received an injury during the arrests and a young child present at the time, the language and level of force used by police towards two of the men who were arrested, and the men's subsequent detention in custody.

Four men were arrested on suspicion of affray and assault following the incident. They remain on police bail.

The brothers' solicitor Aamer Anwar this week accused police of leaking information in an attempt to discredit the pair and influence an investigation by the police watchdog into what happened.

Mrs Akhtar was left with a cut and bruising to her face after allegedly being struck by an officer

As Mr Amaad appears to throw a barrage of punches at a male police officer, his brother Fahir smashes a female officer in the face

Mr Amaaz now rounds on the male officer, who has a Taser trained on his brother Mr Amaad, and jumps on his back

In a press conferencae, Mr Anwar said: 'The deliberate attempt by some within Greater Manchester Police or so-called police sources to present a version of events to the media in the immediate aftermath and then to claim publicly that they have cooperated with the IOPC investigation is deeply unhelpful and can be seen as nothing more than a deliberate and cynical attempt to manipulate and mould a narrative of events and untruths.'

He said the family, including the brothers' mother Ms Akhtar, who had arrived at the airport on a flight from Pakistan in which she was allegedly racially abused by a passenger, were 'left devastated and traumatised by the incident'.

Neither the brothers nor their mother spoke to the press.

In a statement, GMP said: 'We understand that there is continued public interest and concern about the criminal investigations being led by Greater Manchester Police into a series of incidents at Manchester Airport in July.

'Four men remain on police bail.

'Our Major Incident Team - led by an experienced senior investigating officer - is making good progress in investigating alleged criminal offences against both the public, and police officers, and we are committed to reaching a conclusion to the investigation as soon as possible in the interests of justice.

'This is a complex case, so we ask for public support in bearing with us while we make sure that inquiries are completed thoroughly.

'We also remain fully committed to supporting the IOPC-led investigation into our officers' actions.'




Erie County in the northwest corner of Pennsylvania has been through a lot.

Vacant factories dot its shoreline along Lake Erie. Buildings lie half-derelict, their paint flaking. Homes stand empty.

It is typical Rust Belt America.

When the last remnants of the once-bustling steel industry died away here in the 2000s, so did most of the jobs.

The median household income is $43,135, that's $15,000 below the state average.

No doubt, the county has seen better days, but that's turning around.

There's a new energy  health care, tech and tourism jobs are springing up, along with outdoor concerts and a national park buzzing with visitors.

Erie County in the northwest corner of Pennsylvania has been through a lot. Vacant factories dot its shoreline along Lake Erie. Buildings lie half-derelict, their paint flaking. Homes stand empty.

What's more, the tough, optimistic folks here may now hold the key to the White House.

Only six of 67 counties in Pennsylvania flipped from voting Republican for president in 2016 to Democrat in 2020.

Erie is one of them  and it's something of a bellwether.

'Erie County has voted with the winner in 25 of the last 28 statewide elections, making it one of the "swingiest" swing counties in the United States,' said Dr. Joe Morris, chair of the political science department at Mercyhurst University, which is based in Erie.

As for the general election, voters here have successfully backed the presidential winners in the last four cycles.

So, on behalf of DailyMail.com, I came to Erie to speak to undecided voters who may make the difference this November.

Eighty percent of the county's voters are white, most are working-class.

I sat down with a dozen of them for one-to-one, hour-long interviews to understand where they stand 88 days out from the election.

Here's what Iearned...

ERIE COUNTY MAY 'SWING' AGAIN

I met Michael in a Tim Hortons restaurant.

The delivery truck he drives for a vending company was parked outside.

Fifty years old, white and sporting a long salt-and-pepper beard, he voted for Barack Obama twice, then Trump in 2016, and then Biden in 2020.

He is emblematic of this swing county.

After Biden's disastrous CNN debate in June, Michael was troubled by reports of Biden's 'memory issues.'

His mother recently passed away after being diagnosed with dementia and he doesn't believe that someone suffering from age-related issues should serve as president.

Fifty years old, white and sporting a long salt-and-pepper beard, he voted for President Barack Obama twice, then Trump in 2016, and Biden in 2020. Michael (above) is emblematic of this swing county.

Now that Biden has stepped aside, he's leaning toward Kamala Harris.

'She seems to carry herself well [and look] presidential,' he told me.

Though his mind is far from made up.

Michael has been bothered by the Democrats' handling of the war in Ukraine  and he appears open to Trump's rhetoric suggesting a stingier approach to doling out American aid and support.

Dakota, a 32-year-old mental health nurse, who I interviewed in a busy public library, was also worried about foreign wars.

He thinks America is 'over-exposed, extended' in the Middle East, and too involved in the Russia/Ukraine war.

Both of them also think Harris is lacking something.

'I don't get Michelle Obama-style vibes from her, who I think was probably one of the classiest first ladies we've ever had,' Michael said.

It's a theme that I heard over and over again, as I spoke to Erie County's undecided voters.

Many seem open to a Harris presidency, but they're not yet sold.

It's a blinking red warning sign for Trump, as well as an opportunity.

'KAMALA'S NO OBAMA'

Tina and Gordon are husband and wife  and motorcycle enthusiasts.

We sat down together at a gas station cafe.

Tina is white, 42 years old and a former bartender who assures me that her 'crazy days' are over.

She is still a character. Her email address begins with the phrase 'SaltyAsFack.'

Today, she manages construction sites.

Her husband Gordon, 54 and white, worked in Pennsylvania steelworks in the '90s, served in the 82nd airborne and spent some time in prison.

Now, he's out of work.

He is also a mountain of a man who once weighed more than Arnold Schwarzenegger.

While Biden was still in the presidential race, they were thinking of voting for Trump or the independent candidate RFK Jr.

Tina (left) and Gordon (right) are husband and wife  and motorcycle enthusiasts.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Erie, Pennsylvania on July 29, 2023

To them, Biden was simply too old to serve another four years.

Now, they're considering Harris, but not enthusiastic about it.

'Look, Kamala is no [Barack] Obama,' Tina told me. 'But she's probably a good fit. I'm not super excited about her.'

Gordon paused. 'Yeah. She's alright.'

For them, Harris's record is the problem.

Tina said she's 'heard bad things' especially 'about the border.'

'[The illegal immigration crisis] was her major task We need someone who can get stuff done,' she told me.

Her concerns about Trump are nearly the exact opposite.

She likes what he has to say about fixing immigration and feels that he's striking a moderate position on abortion. But for these two bikers, Trump's behavior is just too much.

For example, at last week's National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago, Trump bizarrely questioned Harris's racial identity.

'I didn't know [Harris] was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black,' Trump said. 'I don't know, is she Indian or is she Black?'

Tina and Gordon don't call Trump a racist  but the moment reminded them of his divisiveness.

For them, Harris' record is the problem. Tina said she's 'heard bad things' especially 'about the border.'

'I think it's childish... Why aren't you talking about her agenda?' said Tina. 'I don't like the bashing.'

Michael, the delivery truck driver from the Tim Horton's, shared that perspective.

'That's not presidential. It's schoolyard bullying. I think he came across tactless just tasteless.'

On the issues, Trump seems to have an edge with undecideds in Erie Country.

On personality, they lean toward Harris.

That became even more clear when I spoke to Francis, 73, and Chris, 53.

CULTURE WARS

Chris lives in a trailer park, drives a delivery truck and spends his downtime on the front porch with his wife and dog.

He backed Obama in 2012, Trump in 2016, went for the third-party candidate in 2020  and he's leaning for RFK Jr in November.

Why? Again, it's Trump's manner.

'Trump's not racist but he's a mobster. He's always running his mouth. He just says whatever's at the top of his head.'

RFK Jr is the only option for Chris because Harris's embrace of 'woke' issues has ruled her out for him.

'She cares about black rights, women's rights, every kind of right except mine,' he said.

Air Force veteran Francis welcomed me into his basement flat - sparsely decorated with a cross on his wall.

Chris backed Obama in 2012, Trump in 2016, went for the third-party candidate in 2020  and he's leaning for RFK Jr in November.

He's also put off by the former president's behavior, but he's voting for him anyway.

Francis backed Trump in 2016 and 2020 and is outraged over the Democrat's 'extreme' positions on abortion and gender issues.

'I'm a Catholic. I do believe abortion is murder,' he said.

Francis is also worried by the left's embrace of policies that appear to encourage gender transitions.

Conrad, 32, is an insurance underwriter who used to be a nurse.

He voted for Mitt Romney in 2012, didn't vote in 2016 (but was open to giving Trump a hearing) and opted for Biden in 2020.

Conrad worries Harris may jack up his taxes, which is a considerable concerns snce he hops to soon start a family with his wife.

On the issue of abortion, he's angry and a bit confused.

Even though the issue is not on the ballot in Pennsylvania, where abortion laws are fairly lenient, he's outraged over restrictions in states governed by Republicans: 'My wife can get raped, and she will be forced to carry a child? What the f***?'

Then he paused. He also worries about what he sees as Harris's lack of clarity on how late she would allow women to terminate pregnancies.

I closed each interview with a question: Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future of America?

Francis backed Trump in 2016 and 2020 and is outraged over the Democrat's 'extreme' positions on abortion and gender issues.

Conrad, 32, is an insurance underwriter who used to be a nurse. He voted for Mitt Romney in 2012, didn't vote in 2016 (but was open to giving Trump a hearing) and opted for Biden in 2020.

Everyone said optimistic, then qualified their answers.

The country, like the city, feels 'on the cusp' and all were concerned about the prospect of political violence.

There is palpable hope and anxiety in Erie County  and there's no doubt that Biden's defenestration as Democratic nominee has blown the race here wide open.

But Harris needs to do more to win people over... and Trump needs to tone things down.

I leave the last word to Conrad.

'Harris just has to be, for lack of a better word, normal. And then I think she wins.'

If recent history is our guide, where Erie goes, so goes the country.
A teenager who was part of a crowd which hurled objects at police while chanting the name of Tommy Robinson has been jailed for 16 months.

Kieron Gatenby, 19, was at the front of a far right mob which pelted riot police with stones, bottles and cans in Hartlepool on July 31st in the wake of the Southport killings.

He was part of a crowd which gathered and were chanting racial slurs and 'Tommy, Tommy,' Teesside Crown Court was told.

Gatenby later claimed on arrest that he had no right wing tendencies and pointed out he had three mixed race half brothers.

He looked stunned as he was sent to prison and relatives in the public gallery burst into tears.

It comes as:

Teenager Kieron Gatenby, 19, (pictured) has been sentenced to 16 months in a young offender's institution after he joined in with the Hartlepool riots last Wednesday

Gatenby was at the front of a far right mob which pelted riot police with stones, bottles and cans in Hartlepool on July 31st

A video was played to the court which showed Gatenby, from Hartlepool, to be hurling an object  thought to be an egg  at police lines

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said: 'The defendant was observed to be part of the group throwing missiles towards police officers'

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said: 'The defendant was observed to be part of the group throwing missiles towards police officers.

'In the group an officer observed wooden planks, glass bottles and bricks to be thrown.

'The defendant was seen to be smashing windows at a residential address and causing damage to vehicles and shops.'

A video was played to the court which showed Gatenby, from Hartlepool, to be hurling an object  thought to be an egg  at police lines.

In a statement to the court Cleveland Police Chief Constable Mark Webster said 14 police vehicles had been damaged beyond repair in the violence leaving a bill for the taxpayer of 300,000.

He said his officers had faced 'hatred, bile and violence on an unprecedented scale.'

Calum McNicholas, for Gatenby, said: 'It is common knowledge that the genesis of this was political but Mt Gatenby is at pains for me to stress that his actions were not motivated by a subscription to far right ideology.

'I could not find any evidence of racist attitudes. He has three mixed race brothers and he is disgusted at himself to be associated with people who were chanting racial slurs.'

Police officers on the streets of Hartlepool following a violent protest last Wednesday

A car is engulfed in flames as officers are deployed to the streets of Hartlepool following a violent protest last Wednesday

Judge Francis Laird, KC, told Gatenby: 'In interview you denied any racial motive for your behaviour, however you did acknowledge that some of the group of which you were a part were shouting racial insults.

'I watched footage of the incident, including what you did, and your behaviour and that of others around you was truly disgraceful.'

After the case Christopher Atkinson, Senior District Crown Prosecutor at CPS North East, said: 'The tough sentences handed out today should serve as a lesson for anyone considering taking part in this type of disorder across the North East.

'This show of violence on the streets of Hartlepool has done nothing but instill fear in local residents and cause damage to local businesses.

Police officers on the streets of Hartlepool following a violent protest

'I would like to praise the excellent work of Cleveland Police in dealing with this disorder. In addition to their brave response to a particularly difficult situation, they have also secured key evidence against multiple offenders which has assisted us greatly in building such robust cases against those involved.

'We will continue to work closely with our police partners, responding swiftly and robustly to any activity which threatens the safety of the communities we serve.

'Our message is clear: we stand ready to secure convictions and push for the strongest possible sentences against anyone involved in violent unrest.

Police Officers walk past a burnt out police vehicle as they are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool

'The appalling scenes of violence like those seen in Hartlepool last week will not be tolerated. The CPS will continue to work swiftly alongside partners in the criminal justice system to haul anyone involved before the court to face the full consequences of their actions.'

And Assistant Chief Constable David Felton, of Cleveland Police, said: 'Over the last week officers have been faced with extremely challenging situations involving individuals who had nothing else in mind but the intent to cause violence.

'Within seven days of the Hartlepool disorder those set on committing serious violence have been arrested, charged and now sentenced by the court.

'This sends a very firm message to anyone continuing to think of committing sheer violence.

'Our investigation remains on going and I want to encourage members of the public to keep reporting information no matter how small you think it might be.'
Andrew Pierce has said that foreign nationals who commit crimes should be immediately deported in the wake of riots that have sparked across the UK.

The Daily Mail columnist said that deporting people who are not from Britain and are in the prison system could free up space for thugs who have sparked violence in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

Fake claims fueled by Russian-linked fake news that the suspect, now named as Axel Rudakubanu, was an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK on a boat sparked violent riots in cities and towns including Southport, London, Manchester and Sunderland last week.

Britain's crackdown on rioters has continued today - as dozens more far-right thugs have been humbled as they face charges and sentencing.

Speaking with Sarah Vine on the Mail's talk show, The Reaction, he questioned whether Sir Keir Starmer would be able to jail all of the yobs charged for offences over the last week, and suggested this as a credible solution.

The veteran political commentator replied: 'I am surprised that they are not already having courts at night. They're not sitting at weekends.

The Daily Mail columnist said that deporting people who are not from Britain and are in the prison system could free up space for thugs who have sparked violence in the wake of the Southport stabbings

A car blazes after being set on fire in Sunderland as Britain was gripped by riots on Friday

A man is detained by police during an anti-immigrant protest in Blackpool last night

'And he says they're going to be banged up in a week, well where are they going to go? We've only got 500 prison spaces.'

Responding, co-host Ms Vine said: 'I think it was you who said if they want to free up some spaces in prisons they can send back all the foreign nationals that we have we have in our prisons and they haven't suggested doing that at all.

Pierce added: 'And I still think they should and when I put that again on social media it was seen by about two million people. I think a lot of people agree.

'It is a good idea - we don't want them here. They broke the rules in this country. That is inhospitable. That's 10,500 spaces.'

The pair further discussed the methods by which the Labour government is going about sentencing thugs who have been involved with the violence.

They said that they must be made to serve their full sentence, rather than being released on parole.

Mr Pierce continued: 'Rather than banging on about terror charges, which sounds very complicated to me, and would probably then mean the public prosecutors will screw up in court, it's much more simple to charge them with riot and affray and bang them up.'

Responding Ms Vine said: 'I mean, one of these guys in Southport, the 58 year old Derek Drummond has just been given a three year sentence for beating up a police officer, which I think is probably fair enough.'

And Mr Pierce added: 'Perhaps the judge could say, by the way, it's three years.

'You're not coming out after half of your sentence - or as Labor are now saying you're going to only observe 40 per cent of your sentence and we'll let you out.

'No. Three years means three years'
British Airways has axed its flights to Beijing for at least the next year, the airline announced today.

BA said it will suspend flights between the Chinese capital and London's Heathrow airport from October 26 this year until November 2025. The carrier, owned by IAG, said it would continue flying daily to Shanghai and Hong Kong.

The airline only resumed operations to Beijing in June 2023, following a three-year pause due to the coronavirus pandemic.

At the time, it described London-Beijing as 'one of our most important routes'. The airline did not provide a reason for the suspension.

BA is one of many Western airlines avoiding Russian airspace, which is adding to their flight times, fuel costs and complexity over how they deploy crew and aircraft.

British Airways, owned by IAG, said it would continue flying daily to Shanghai and Hong Kong

Business travel website Head for Points, which first reported British Airways' decision, stated: 'Why bother when you can send the same plane to the US instead, where demand for premium cabins remains sky-high?

'It is also well publicised that Chinese tourism has not yet returned en masse post-pandemic.'

A British Airways spokesperson said: 'We will be pausing our route to Beijing from October 26, and we're contacting any affected customers with rebooking options or to offer them a full refund.

'We continue to operate daily flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong.'

BA did not say whether it would introduce a new route to replace the Beijing one.

Virgin Atlantic also recently announced it would end its route to Shanghai in October.

Jesse Neugarten, CEO and founder of subscription travel service Dollar Flight Club, told MailOnline that with both BA and Virgin suspending routes to China, flight prices will likely rise.

British Airways will suspend flights between the Chinese capital of Beijing (pictured) and London's Heathrow airport from October 26 until November 2025

'We predict that airfare prices for flights to China and other major Asian destinations could increase by 10 to 20 per cent over the next few months from the UK,' he warned, citing 'reduce competition' and 'limited capacity'.

'Other airlines might take advantage of this situation, potentially raising their prices as well. So, if you're planning a trip to Asia, booking sooner rather than later might save you some cash.'

European and British carriers are unable to fly over Russian airspace, which means flying to Asia takes a few hours longer than it used to. That also makes it more expensive and less appealing to customers.

Traffic from China to Europe has been very slow to recover since the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, with many flights on the route now dominated by Chinese carriers.

Groups such as Lufthansa have said competition from Chinese carriers, which are allowed to fly over Russian airspace, has cut into their earnings, with Lufthansa's yields falling on routes on which it competes with the carriers.

IAG has said that it is not strongly affected as much of its core business is focused on North and South America, where bookings and demand remain strong.
A landmark skyscraper ruined by Hurricane Laura in 2020 is being torn down after four years of languishing as an eyesore.

The Capital One tower in Lake Charles, Louisiana, was once a celebrated office building and the town's tallest when it was built in 1982.

Standing 374ft with 22 floors, the tower was an integral part of downtown until the hurricane ripped through in August 2020.

Much of the tower's south side was destroyed and most of the building's thousands of glass windows were blown out.

The Capital One tower in Lake Charles, Louisiana, was once a celebrated office building and the town's tallest when it was built in 1982. Now it is a ruined eyesore

Abandoned and covered in wooden sheets where the shattered windows once were, it sat empty and slowly falling apart ever since.

The city tried to negotiate a sale from its owner Hertz Investment Group to a company that could repair it, but all efforts failed.

Mayor Nic Hunter eventually gave up and announced the building would be spectacularly imploded on September 7.

'We've been looking at this tower for almost four years. I know that there's a lot of us that wanted to see it saved, but four years is long enough for us to stare at this eyesore in our community,' he said.

Much of the tower's south side was destroyed and most of the building's thousands of glass windows were blown out

Abandoned and covered in wooden sheets where the shattered windows once were, it sat empty and slowly falling apart ever since

Hundreds of destroyed windows in the aftermath of the 2020 hurricane

Blowing up the tower would take about seven seconds - and three months to clean up the debris, he said.

The skybridge and atrium were torn down earlier this week and hazardous materials would be removed before the implosion.

The public will be able to watch the tower come down from outside an exclusion zone around the site.

All that would remain is the parking garage, which fit up to 600 cars and could be used for whatever was built in the tower's place.

Massive damage to the interior of the tower that was too expensive to repair

Blowing up the tower will take about seven seconds - and three months to clean up the debris

Laura made landfall at 1am with the strongest winds Louisiana saw since 1856 and warnings that the storm could rip apart buildings and penetrate up to 200 miles inland.

Residents in Lake Charles had to stay inside with their windows closed and air conditioners turned off after a massive chemical fire broke out at a nearby manufacturing plant.

Billowing clouds of smoke could be seen near Interstate 10.
A litter of young puppies are in good health after their cruel owner hurled them out of his car and into California bushes.

A volunteer dog walker with the Mission Viejo Animal Services (MVAS) Center discovered six male and four female puppies on July 24.

The dog walker found the puppies in a vinyl pool and immediately brought them to the center, according to an August 7 news release.

The person committed the heinous act at 2:30 in the morning, just hours before the dog walker found the puppies.

Police officers located the puppies' mother Molly, and they quickly reunited her with the babies

A volunteer dog walker with the Mission Viejo Animal Services (MVAS) Center discovered six male and four female puppies in a bush on July 24

The dog walker found the puppies in a vinyl pool. They immediately brought them to MVAS, and its employees called the police

The person responsible dumped the puppies out in a California area that's been dubbed 'coyote country.'

Once the dog walker brought the puppies to the center, employees called the police to open an investigation.

Officers looked over surveillance footage taken that morning, which showed the culprit's vehicle, leading to their identification.

They requested an interview with the then-suspect and concluded that they were responsible for the puppy abandonment.

MVAS has filed animal cruelty charges against the criminal with the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

However, it is unclear how many charges the person responsible is facing, if any have been filed, and if they've obtained a lawyer.

The person committed the heinous act at 2:30 in the morning. Police officers located the puppies' mother Molly, and they quickly reunited her with the babies

Like her puppies, Molly is healthy, and she has been spending plenty of time with her babies at the center.

Employees have also named all the puppies: Chip, Caramel, Mint, Maple, Chocolate, Cookie Dough, Butterscotch, Cookies N Cream, Ripple, and Coffee.

The Dedicated Animal Welfare Group (DAWG) is paying for all the canines' medical needs, including spaying and neutering.

Molly and her puppies have bonded with one another every day for nearly six weeks, which, according to the MVAS, is the length of time dogs and cats should spend with their offspring.

Once the canines are strong and healthy, they will all be available for adoption.

Multiple Instagram users who commented on a video post claiming to be California residents have shown interest in adopting one or more of the dogs.

The Dedicated Animal Welfare Group (DAWG) is paying for all the canines' medical needs, including spaying and neutering

Employees have named all of the puppies: Chip, Caramel, Mint, Maple, Chocolate, Cookie Dough, Butterscotch, Cookies N Cream, Ripple, and Coffee

'This disturbing incident serves as a reminder that when residents are faced with the decision of whether or not to,' the City of Mission Viejo wrote in its release.

'Even if MVAS doesnt have available room to accept the relinquished animal(s), the center has relationships with many organizations that can assist with placing pets.'
In a year when Democrats swept all statewide offices, Vice President Kamala Harris barely eked out victory in her campaign for California attorney general in 2010, and the moderate prosecutor who challenged her is now speaking out forcefully against her candidacy for president.

I think shes wholly unqualified and that her election could be the worst thing that happens in my lifetime to our nation, Steven Cooley, 77, told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview Wednesday.

She has extreme positions that are not good for this country, he said. On immigration, on the economy, on law and order, crime and punishment, I can go on and on and on. I think shes wrong about almost everything, and dangerously wrong.

In his campaign, Cooley, then Los Angeles district attorney, ran a TV ad blasting his counterpart in San Francisco for her controversial handling of a case involving the 2004 shooting death of San Francisco police officer Isaac Espinoza.

The ad featured the officers mother, tearful and angry over Harris decision not to pursue the death penalty against gang member David Hill, who shot the cop with an AK-47 during a traffic stop.

Steven Cooley, 77, (pictured) who challenged Kamala Harris in 2010 for California attorney general, spoke out about what he thinks about her running for presidency in 2024

During their election for district attorney, Cooley revealed that Harris 'was disliked by a lot of people that knew her.' (pictured: Harris board Air Force Two on August 7)

Holding firm to a campaign pledge, the district attorney went on camera just three days after the killing to announce her decision, without seeking input from the victims family or given them advance notice.

The late Democratic Sen. Diane Feinstein drew a standing ovation from police when she criticized the decision at the funeral. Cooley said this may also help explain why every law enforcement agency in the state endorsed him when he ran for attorney general six years later.

Cooley said 'law enforcement specifically didnt like her' during their election because she decided not to pursue the death penalty for the gang member who killed San Francisco Police Officer Isaac Espinoza (pictured)

Law enforcement specifically didnt like her because she refused to pursue the death penalty in the machine gun murder of a police officer, Cooley said.

'That just really turned off law enforcement, especially when it was widely known that she made the announcement even before Espinoza was buried.

But it wasnt just law enforcement giving support, he pointed out. Nearly every newspaper in the state endorsed him.

Cooley said he even got the vote of Jerry Brown, the Democratic candidate for governor that year.

Governor Brown, who won the governorship that year, told me he was voting for me, Cooley told DailyMail.com. I replied "What, why?" and he replied, "I dont like Kamala Harris." I said "okay, thanks Jerry".'

Its kind of strange, but its also pretty said, he continued. She was disliked by a lot of people that knew her.

Cooley (pictured) said nearly every newspaper in the state endorsed him and that he even got the vote of Jerry Brown, the Democratic candidate for governor that year

Cooley was actually leading on election night, but conceded three weeks later after provisional and mail-in ballots gave Harris an edge. (pictured: Harris poses for a portrait in San Francisco on June 18, 2004)

Brown did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

In the deep blue state that year, most Democrats coasted to victory by 10 to 20 percentage points. Cooley was actually leading on election night, but conceded three weeks later after provisional and mail-in ballots gave Harris an edge.

She won all 58 counties on provisional votes, even in conservative counties where I won handily, he said.

Cooley would later watch with disgust several years later as Attorney General Harris advocated Proposition 47, a ballot measure that enacted sweeping sentencing reforms, downgrading a list of felonies such as retail and property theft and narcotics possession to misdemeanors in an effort to ease overcrowding in the states prisons.

A November ballot initiative seeks to roll back the 2014 law, which critics on both side of the aisle say contributed to lawlessness.

Kamala Harris was one of the major reasons it passed overwhelmingly, Cooley said. She wrongly and intentionally mistitled Prop 47 the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act when it had nothing to do with schools or neighborhoods or being safe.

Kamala Harris is just so unqualified and weak on the issues that Trump doesnt need to engage in any argumentative ad hominem, Cooley said. (pictured: Donal Trump at a campaign rally on July 31)

Cooley said Trump should focus on Harris' 'screwball' Vice President pick, Tim Walz. (pictured: Walz and Harris hand-in-hand at a campaign rally in Wisconsin on August 7)

'The public was misled into voting for something that ended up being detrimental to public safety, and now the public is trying to fix it.

The real authors (of Prop 47) were acolytes of George Soros, he added of the progressive mega-donor who has advanced soft-on-crime reforms to the criminal justice system.

Theyre the ones who wrote it. Kamala Harris is very close to Soros, as it turns out, and went right along with the program. And they deceived the public.

Cooleys now offering unsolicited advice to Donald Trump in his campaign to return to the White House.

Kamala Harris is just so unqualified and weak on the issues that Trump doesnt need to engage in any argumentative ad hominem, Cooley said.

The personal attacks, nobodys interested in that. And talking about the 2020 election, thats old news. Just focus on her extraordinarily radical positions. And Id say that right now, he should also focus on her choice of a vice president because he looks like a screwball too.
A teen who celebrated his 18th birthday by joining a far right hate mob and attacking police has been jailed for a year and eight months.

On his arrest, after being involved in two consecutive nights of violence, Bobby Shirbon told police: 'It's OK, everybody else is doing it.'

In jailing Shirbon, Judge Francis Laird, KC, told him: 'What is particularly troubling is that July 31st was your 18th birthday, a day that should have been joyous and cause for celebration.

'But it ended up with you confronting police officers as part of an ugly, aggressive and violent mob.'

Shirbon, of Hartlepool, was part of major disturbances in the town on July 31st in the wake of the killing of three young girls in Southport.

It comes as:

Bobby Shirbon has been jailed after spending his 18th birthday hurling objects at police during disorder in Hartlepool

Police were sent out in force to keep the peace in Hartlepool after up to 300 people turned out on the streets causing disorder

A riot officer with a dog stands in front of a burning police car in Hartlepool after the protest turned violent

Teesside Crown Court heard the violence involved up to 300 people whipped up by social media posts giving the addresses of asylum seekers living in the centre of the town.

Rachel Master, prosecuting, said: 'It was observed that Shirbon was present at the scene with another man.

'He was part of a group throwing bottles, wooden planks, plastic bottles and housebricks and the defendant was seen to smash windows and cause damage.'

Shirbon, who admitted two counts of violent disorder, evaded arrest on July 31st and was out again the next night, hurling beer bottles at a police van while dressed in a balaclava.

Police officers on the streets of Hartlepool following a violent protest last Wednesday

Police Officers walk past a burnt out police vehicle as they are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool following a violent protest last Wednesday

Ms Masters said: 'He was arrested and found to be in possession of a balaclava and told he was being arrested because witnesses had seen him throw a beer bottle at the police van.

'He replied to police 'it's OK everybody else is doing it.'

Michael Cahill, mitigating, said that Shirbon  like two other rioters jailed over the Hartlepool violence  had spent the earlier part of the evening at the bingo.

He said: 'He is a very young man, a care leaver, who has been able to get this far in life without troubling the court system.

'He had been to the bingo with his family earlier and saw on social media there was a disturbance in town and very foolishly he went to see what was going on.'

Firefighters tend to a burning police car burns as officers are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool last Wednesday

Riot police on the streets of Hartlepool last Wednesday

Shirbon now joins the growing number of people who have been convicted after rioting broke out across Britain in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

Ryan Sheers, who yelled 'I pay your wages' at embattled officers before a police dog nipped him, wept in court as he was jailed for more than two years today.

The 28-year-old and his boyfriend Steven Mailen, 54, had spent the day at the bingo together before walking into the middle of the disorder that rocked Hartlepool on July 31.

Each received sentences of two years and two months in prison by a judge who told them the public were 'rightly outraged by the behaviour seen on the streets of this country.'

Elsewhere, two rioters who were both 'at the forefront' of violent disorder across Britain last week were jailed for a total of more than five years.

A crowd gathers on the street of Hartlepool as riot police hold shields

A police car burns on the streets of Hartlepool during the violence

Britain's oldest rioter William Nelson Morgan, 69, and gas fitter John O'Malley, 43, were jailed for two years and eight months each in the first televised sentencing of the riots.

Morgan, a semi-retired welder, was armed with a wooden cosh as he took to the streets with a group of about 100 thugs who damaged businesses and buildings and threw missiles at police on County Road, Liverpool, on Saturday night. They also set fire to a library.

He was sentenced alongside O'Malley who rioted outside a mosque in Southport last Tuesday in a crowd of 1,000 people, was told that he was 'at the front of what was essentially a baying mob'.

Three men who took part in the riots in Plymouth, including one who was floored by police after 'spitting on officers and shields', were also jailed today for a total of more than six years.

Police officers on the streets of Hartlepool on Wednesday

A line of police officers stand their ground during a violent protest in Hartlepool

Some cases have been fast-tracked through the courts as the government looks to send a message to anyone involved in the civil unrest. As the rioters were being jailed, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called another emergency COBRA meeting.

Far-right thugs are thought to have engineered riots across the country after false information about the suspect in the case was spread on social media - including a claim that he was an asylum seeker and a Muslim.

Axel Rudakubana, an 18-year-old born in Cardiff and living in Banks, Lancashire, has been charged with murdering Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine.

He has also been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.
Tragic new details have emerged in the suicide of a New York City influencer's husband, who took his life amid mounting financial troubles.

Real estate mogul Brandon Miller, 43, died in the garage of the couple's $8 million Hamptons home after waiting for his wife and children to leave for a vacation.

It has since been revealed that his socialite wife, Candice, 42, had been made aware of his growing debts before jetting off to Italy and Spain, where her credit card was declined, the New York Times reports.

Sources also told the outlet that prior to his death, Brandon Miller had wept openly in business meetings and scrambled to secure a $1,000 loan as he struggled to cope with the pressure.

Meanwhile, financial records reportedly show that the couple had been renting a $47,000-a-month Upper East Side apartment after being forced to sell one of their homes.

Tragic new details have emerged in the suicide of a New York City influencer Candice Miller's husband Brandon Miller, who took his life amid mounting financial troubles

The scene is a far cry from the picture-perfect life Candice Miller carefully crafted on her since-deleted Instagram account.

The 'Mama and Tata' page, which was also a lifestyle brand, frequently featured lavish displays of wealth including extravagant parties, designer clothing and luxury getaways.

In reality, Brandon Miller is thought to have owed an estimated $17 million at the time of his death and was being sued for $221,000.

His attempts to steady the ship saw him take out a series of loans against the family's Hamptons home, according to financial records analyzed by the New York Times.

This included a $6.1 million loan from a traditional bank, as well as a $2 million loan from a company advertising same-day loans.

The records show the couple had been shelling out $47,000 a month for a 4,382-square-foot, five-bedroom Upper East Side apartment, after being forced to sell their $9 million TriBeCa home to cover debts.

The couple also spent $180,000 on a year's worth rented furniture, plus $12,000 per month after that, according to a lawsuit claiming Brandon Miller owed the rental company $100,000.

The apartment 'downsizing' still could not cover costs, and Brandon Miller defaulted on several bills, including docking fees for a $1 million speedboat.

Miller waited until his family had left town for a weekslong luxury vacation before getting into his car and running the engine until it filled their garage with toxic gas

He was later found unconscious at the $8 million mansion in Water Mill, an exclusive Hamptons enclave, after the build-up triggered a carbon monoxide alarm

Miller is thought to have owed an estimated $17 million at the time of his death

By last fall, Brandon Miller's precarious financial position had reportedly become common knowledge among friends.

They arranged an intervention-style meeting to discuss a project in Brooklyn that he was ostensibly developing and which one friend had sunk $1 million into.

However, a quick internet search revealed the property had been sold to a developer with no connection to Brandon Miller, who broke down in tears when confronted about the situation.

All the while, Candice Miller was continuing to enjoy her luxurious lifestyle of $800 facials and celebrity workout classes, apparently unaware of the trouble her husband was in.

In his desperation, Brandon Miller borrowed $2 million against his Hamptons home, with a family friend supplying cash for the loan in an agreement that would eventually turn sour when he could not repay him.

It was the family friend who ultimately called Candice Miller and alerted her to her husband's financial strain, friends said.

Brandon Miller reportedly reassured his wife that things were under control and encouraged her to proceed with a trip to Italy's Amalfi Coast while he would stay behind and close on a business deal that could alleviate their financial woes.

He told his wife that the vacation was paid for, but Candice's card was declined and her travel agent had to assure the hotel her bill could be paid.

Meanwhile, Miller lied again to his wife, claiming he had managed to secure the deal - all while trying to get a $1,000 loan.

Prior to his death, Miller had run up huge debts and taken out several loans against his Hamptons home

Candice and her sister Jenna Crespi created the lifestyle brand Mama and Tata, which has vanished since news of Brandon Miller's death

While the family was away on vacation, Brandon Miller got into his car and left it running until the garage filled with toxic gas.

The build-up triggered a carbon monoxide alarm that alerted the fire department in Southampton, New York, and sent a notification to Candice Miller, DailyMail.com previously reported.

But she missed the July 1 warning because she was asleep at her $2,000-per-night hotel on the Amalfi coast, a friend told DailyMail.com.

Since her husband's death, Candice Miller has been saddled with lawsuits for missed payments, the family's boat was repossessed and her lifestyle brand has vanished.

'Candice is devastated by the loss of her soul mate, and her two young daughters' lives are forever impacted by the loss of their beloved daddy,' a family spokesman told the New York Times.
A Virginia business owner has issued a bounty to track down a 'dine-and-dasher' who has used four separate aliases to walk out of his restaurant without paying.

Alex Kang, owner of the Okonomi Asian Grill in Fairfax, Virginia, has lost out on $150 in food orders after the same man scammed him over delivery service DoorDash.

According to Kang, the man places the orders before then canceling the orders after they are picked up by him personally, as opposed to a delivery driver.

The man has used different names including Simbarashe, Walter and Courtney to place the orders for himself and others, before making the cancellations.

On Tuesday, Kang issued a $150 bounty for information relating to help identify the perpetrator, telling News4 he was inspired after seeing missing cat poster.

Alex Kang, owner of the Okonomi Asian Grill in Fairfax, Virginia, has lost out on $150 in food orders after the same man, seen here smirking, scammed him over delivery service DoorDash

According to Kang, the man places the orders before then canceling the orders after they are picked up by him personally, as opposed to a delivery driver

He told the outlet: 'I saw a cat poster in my neighborhood and thought I'd try something similar.'

The most recent incident happened on August 5 when the alleged dine-and-dasher picked up an order worth $26.50, and then canceled it after collecting the food.

Kang said that his workers thwarted one of the attempts to steal from him, and refused to hand over the food until it was reordered.

Due to the incessant stealing, he has taken each incident to the City of Fairfax who have so far been unable to make an arrest in the case.

According to Kang, he manages to cancel the orders on the app before his employees have a chance to confirm it has been picked up.

He continued: 'If my workers don't press that button before handing over the food, then they have a 10-second gap where they can cancel the order.'

'We've changed the protocol now where we see the person coming to pick it up, we just immediately press it's been picked up.'

Kang, seen here, issued a $150 bounty for information relating to help identify the perpetrator, telling News4 he was inspired after seeing missing cat poster.

The man places the orders before then canceling the orders after they are picked up by him personally, as opposed to a delivery driver

Kang said that his workers thwarted one of the attempts to steal from him, and refused to hand over the food until it was reordered

Despite that, Kang said the new method to dealing with the man hasn't worked for them.

He added: 'What he's doing now is he's actually calling DoorDash immediately after the transaction saying the restaurant is closed or the restaurant couldn't fulfill the order. What that triggers is DoorDash shuts down the store.'

According to Kang, the first responding officer laughed at how bizarre the whole situation was.

Kang added: 'I get why she was so confused and laughed about it. The amount is so little it's not really worth their time.'

A spokesperson for the City of Fairfax Police said: 'There were three in April and one on August 5th.

'From what Ive seen the restaurant has been targeted 4 times this year. We want restaurants to verify the DoorDash transaction before they hand the order over to the person picking it up.'

Kang said what had been annoying him most was the response from DoorDash who have not reimbursed him for the stolen food or handed over the suspect's account information.

Due to the incessant stealing, he has taken each incident to the City of Fairfax who have so far been unable to make an arrest in the case

According to Kang, he manages to cancel the orders on the app before his employees have a chance to confirm it has been picked up

He added: 'You're actually taking the side of the customer and believing we're closed over me, your partner - contractual partner - saying, 'Hey, this guy has stolen from us multiple times with multiple accounts.'

'We have police reports. Monday's incident, I spent two hours Monday night dealing with DoorDash, trying to get everything written down, trying to get my money back.

'At 6 a.m. the next day, they give me a call and I'm on the phone for three hours.

'Two of those hours, they adamantly argue they won't pay me my money because the customer said so.'

He continued: 'I have surveillance footage. How do you not believe the surveillance footage?'

A DoorDash spokesperson said: 'At DoorDash, we have no tolerance for fraud and we will not allow anyone to target or abuse merchants on our platform.

'Weve reimbursed the restaurant for the orders and will deactivate the customer accounts involved.

'We're reaching out to the restaurant owner to provide additional support and stand ready to support police with any investigation into this incident.

'Importantly, weve put in place robust anti-fraud measures and are always working to strengthen them to better protect merchants.'
A British terror suspect linked to the notorious White Widow Samantha Lewthwaite has been returned to the UK from Kenya after serving a lengthy jail term in the African nation for possessing bomb-making materials and forgery.

Jermaine Grant was flown back to Britain on Thursday accompanied by Kenyan officials and immediately arrested after touching down at Heathrow Airport.

A Kenyan court last year ordered Grant to be deported once his prison sentence had elapsed following a case made by prosecutors for him to be kicked out.

Investigators believe the 41-year-old has links to Samantha Lewthwaite, the wife of 7/7 terrorist bomber Germaine Lindsay, and the terror group Al-Shabaab.

Grant was apprehended by Kenyan authorities in 2011 after they found bomb-making materials in his flat in Mombasa.

Jermaine Grant (centre, in a plaid shirt) is led away to begin his sentence on bomb-making charges in 2019

Grant is believed to have shared a Mombasa flat with the so-called White Widow, Samantha Lewthwaite

Lewthwaite is the widow of 7/7 bomber Germaine Lindsay, who killed himself and 25 other detonating a bomb on an Underground train in London (pictured: walking wounded following the attack)

Samantha Lewthwaite pictured with her husband, 7/7 bomber Germaine Lindsay

Security sources warn Samantha Lewthwaite may be hiding alongside jihadist-sympathisers in Yemen following her split from her partner of seven years

He was then sentenced to four years in prison in 2019, to be served alongside a separate nine-year sentence for forgery.

Prosecutors then lodged a case with Kenya's High Court to have him deported to Britain once he had served his sentence.

A government spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We can confirm that an individual was deported to the UK following the completion of a criminal sentence in Kenya.

'Our priority remains to ensure the safety and security of the UK.

'We will continue to do whatever is necessary to protect the UK and have one of the most robust counter-terrorism frameworks in the world to ensure this.'

A Met Police spokesperson added: 'We can confirm that on 8 August, officers from the Met Police arrested a 41-year-old man who was wanted on recall to prison in relation to breaching licence conditions linked to a previous conviction.

'He was arrested at Heathrow Airport as he arrived back into the UK on a flight from Kenya. The mans licence conditions were revoked in August 2005 following the initial breach.

'Upon his return to the UK on 8 August, the man was also arrested for being unlawfully at large and arrested on suspicion of being a member of proscribed organisation Al-Shabaab. He remains in police custody.'

Jermaine Grant sits in the dock in court in Mombasa, Kenya in 2019 as he hears charges against him

Grant (left) was reportedly radicalised in the same British prison as 'shoe bomber' Richard Reid (right)

The Telegraph reports he arrived into a British airport on a Kenyan Airways flight.

Grant, a Muslim convert, was arrested by Kenyan police in a flat in Mombasa in December 2011. They believed he had been planning a bombing campaign against hotels popular with foreign tourists.

He had previously been apprehended in 2008 over a plot to attack a police base on a bus trying to enter Somalia while dressed in a burka.

Investigators found chemicals, switches and a manual on explosives in the apartment, which he is believed to have shared with Lewthwaite, known as the White Widow. He was also carrying a forged Canadian passport.

When police swooped on Grant's flat Lewthwaite had fled, escaping just minutes earlier after Grant allegedly warned her with a text message.

It read: 'The lions are inside. One of them is very watchful, like a bird watches a stone.'

He is thought to have become radicalised as a teenager in the same British prison where 'shoe bomber' Richard Reid first turned to Islam. Reid is serving a life sentence in the US for plotting to blow up a transatlantic flight.

Investigators also believe he had links with the east African militant group Al-Shabaab, of which Lewthwaite - originally from County Down in Northern Ireland - is also believed to be a member.

Lewthwaite remains at large as one of the world's most wanted people and has not been seen since - though security sources believe she fled Somalia after leaving her fourth husband two years ago.

She is suspected of orchestrating a string of terror attacks in Africa that have killed more than 400 people including the deadly 2013 shopping centre attack at the Westgate in Nairobi that killed more than 60 civilians and several soldiers.

Lewthwaite remains on Interpol's red notice list - the de facto 'most wanted' list of international terrorists and criminals.
Japan has issued its first ever megaquake warning following tremors earlier today in the same area 'one of the world's deadliest earthquakes' hit almost 80 years ago.

The 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan's southern island of Kyushu, close to the city of Nichinan, at 4.43pm local time.

Japan's Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning following the powerful quake. They also took the unprecedented decision to issue a formal warning about a potential 'megaquake.'

The agency said that submarines in the Nankai Trough, where part of the Eurasian tectonic plate meets with the Philippine tectonic plate, found that the chances of a major earthquake in the region was 'relatively higher than usual for the next week.'

Earthquakes in the Nankai Trough typically occur every 100 to 150 years. The most recent quake to hit the area was 78 years ago in December 1946.

The 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan's southern island of Kyushu, close to the city of Nichinan, at 4.43pm local time

People take shelter outside following the earthquake. Japan's Meteorological Agency has issued a tsunami warning following the powerful quake

Visitors to the Peace Park crouch as an earthquake alert was issued in Nagasaki. Submarines n the Nankai Trough found that the chances of a major earthquake in the region was 'relatively higher than usual for the next week'

That earthquake measured a magnitude of 8.1 and killed 1,300 people.

The Washington Post reported that the tsunami wave is expected to reach a height of just one metre but this could grow exponentially very quickly. Following the violent quake bullet trains have been halted in the area while the Japanese government assess the casualties and damage.

'First time in my life I've felt shaking like this,' one resident of Kyushu said as homes and power lines began to shake.

'Normally I barely feel it when I'm outside or in a car, but it shook to the point that even when I'm standing, there was a fluttering feeling.'

The quake most strongly shook Nichinan city and nearby areas in Miyazaki prefecture on Kyushu island.

Footage from Japan showed light fixtures and wall decorations swinging as the earthquakes hit today.

Broadcaster NHK showed footage of traffic lights shaking violently in Miyazaki on Kyushu's southeast coast.

'The surface of the sea is wavering. I felt an intense jolt when the quake happened which lasted for between 30 seconds and a minute,' one local official told NHK.

Video showed power lines and buildings shaking as the earthquakes reached land, on Kyushu

People evacuate trains in Japan amid the earthquakes today and widespread cancellations

Others brace inside a shopping centre as tremors disrupt daily activities

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wrote on Twitter/X that he had issued instructions in response, and that authorities were collecting information on damage. 'Please continue to be on the lookout for strong shaking and take action to protect your lives,' he wrote

The broadcaster also reported that three people were hurt in Miyazaki but gave no indication of the extent of their injuries.

Japan's meteorological society predicted waves of up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) along the southern coast of Kyushu and Shikoku.

The United States Geological Survey initially reported that the first quake was followed by another 7.1 magnitude tremor.

However this was later deemed an error, the agency confirming there had only been one tremor.

'This error has been fixed. There was one event,' the USGS said.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) also reported a single quake.

NHK reported that there were no abnormalities detected at Japan's Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima, harking back to the devastating Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011 as power supplies were knocked offline by an earthquake.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority said all 12 nuclear reactors, including three which are currently operating, on Kyushu and Shikoku remained safe.

The Japanese government has set up a special task force in response to the quakes, the USGS reported.

Seismologists were also holding an emergency meeting to analyse whether the quake had affected the nearby Nankai Trough, the source of past devastating earthquakes.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said officials were assessing possible injuries or serious damage, though none were immediately reported.

He urged residents of the affected region to stay away from the coastline.

Light fixtures started to shake as authorities told residents to get to higher ground

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wrote on Twitter/X that he had issued instructions in response, and that authorities were collecting information on damage.

'Please continue to be on the lookout for strong shaking and take action to protect your lives,' he wrote.

On New Year's Day, at least 260 people died after a massive earthquake hit the peninsula, including 30 'quake-linked' deaths as well as those killed directly in the disaster.

The January 1 quake and its aftershocks toppled buildings, caused fires and knocked out infrastructure at a time when families were celebrating the new year.

Sitting along along the western edge of the Pacific 'Ring of Fire',Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries.

More than 15,000 people were killed in a magnitude 9 quake in 2011 that triggered a devastating tsunami and triple reactor meltdowns at a nuclear power plant in Fukushima.
A woman pleaded for her boyfriend to be taken into hospital the day before he stabbed her 57 times, an inquiry heard.

Joanne Gallacher, 33, was so concerned for James Kennedy, 37, that she contacted an NHS mental health unit to ask for help.

But no action was taken after senior charge nurse Paul Thomson said he could not discuss Kennedys treatment without his permission.

Kennedy knifed Ms Gallacher to death the next day in a frenzied attack at his home in Biggar, Lanarkshire, in December 2018.

A fatal accident inquiry at Hamilton Sheriff Court heard Mr Thomson, 49, had assessed Kennedy in June that year and deemed he was not psychotic or suicidal.

Joanne Gallacher, right, was killed in her home by James Kennedy, left, in a frenzied knife attack.

The probe heard medical staff were later banned from attending Kennedys home after a visit found blood on his front door and an array of weapons including two knives, a claw hammer and an axe inside.

Giving evidence to the inquiry, NHS Lanarkshire employee Mr Thomson, said: There was a phone call from Joanne Gallacher who said she had concerns about James Kennedy and she demanded that he be sectioned.

That wouldnt be a decision that could be taken by us but the last time we had seen him it wasnt felt there was a need to do that and get a consultant to do it because he wasnt psychotic or suicidal so there wasnt that requirement.

He added: I had no consent to share any information from James Kennedy. If he had been there I could have spoken to him and if he had given consent then I could have shared information.

Describing the decision to ban NHS staff from visiting Kennedy at home, Mr Thomson added: We would see him in the health centre, just not in the home environment due to the risk of violence and weapons inside the home.

Mr Thomson told the probe he was shocked on hearing Kennedy had killed Ms Gallacher.

He said: I was surprised by that because the interaction I had with him previously, I thought he was more of a risk to himself or staff because he was very derogatory about health staff.

He was OK in June with us but there were other notes that he had been a bit derogatory to staff which was highlighted in the phone call I had with Joanne in December. I had not seen him for six months by this point.

Carstairs State Hospital in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, where James Kennedy is being held

The inquiry heard social workers had made home visits to Kennedy unaware that NHS staff had been banned from seeing him. A meeting between social workers, the NHS and police to discuss Kennedy had also taken place just days before he killed Ms Gallacher.

When asked if he had disclosed a risk of violence from Kennedy to Ms Gallacher in the phone call they had, Mr Thomson replied: No. I was not aware of any risk to Joanne.

The inquiry had earlier heard Kennedy believed Ms Gallacher was planning to harm him and that he was sleeping rough in woods in East Kilbride.

Ms Gallachers mother Louise, 62, told the probe they had made plans to go Christmas shopping but the next time she saw her daughter was in a morgue.

Kennedy is being held in the State Hospital at Carstairs after admitting culpable homicide due to diminished responsibility at the High Court in Glasgow in 2019.

The hearing before Sheriff Michael Higgins continues.
The mysterious removal of a Banksy artwork today came just months after a different piece was swiped within hours of being spotted.

Now, a new Banksy artwork, the fourth in his cryptic animal-themed collection, has seemingly been swiped today just an hour after it was revealed in London.

The painting of a howling lone wolf appeared on a satellite dish in Rye Lane, Peckham, but was quickly dismantled and carried away by a group of masked and hooded men.

It's supposed theft echoed a similar incident last year when another piece by Banksy - a traffic stop sign with three military drones - was taken.

The stop sign, which appeared at the junction of Commercial Way in Peckham in December last year, was chopped off with bolt cutters quickly after it was unveiled.

A painting depicting a howling lone wolf appeared on a satellite dish in Rye Lane, Peckham today but was quickly dismantled and carried away by a group of masked and hooded men

The alleged theft rings echoes of a similar incident last year where another piece by Banksy - a traffic stop sign with three military drones - was taken in Peckham

Banksy had only unveiled his latest artwork on Instagram at 1pm today, but the piece was removed within minutes.

The striking image of the wolf howling into the night was the latest addition to the Bristol-based street artist's growing animal-themed collection across London.

The satellite dish had been placed atop what used to be a Betfred betting shop.

It is believed the satellite dish used by Banksy was a fake one that wasn't installed at the site, as a Google street view from 2023 shows it was not previously there.

Members of the hooded group were pictured scoping out the scene before returning five minutes later with a ladder which was placed against the boarded up shop.

Photos from the incident also shows the gang round up a man and launch his phone into the air after he tried to stop them.

The Banksy press team told the BBC they 'believed' the artwork had been stolen, but followers have questioned whether the theft just another stunt by the artist.

The man scrambling up the side of the building to get the Banksy's piece of art within minutes of it being posted

A hooded man with a mask holding the satellite dish while stood on top of the building

The artwork of the howling wolf being carried along the street by one of the individuals involved as a co-conspirator follows with a ladder

Two of those involved in the removal of the Banksy, five minutes before coming back with a ladder

The pair are seen scoping out the area before returning several minutes later

A witness to the removal of the Banksy artwork described his encounter with those taking it.

Tom Kellow, who lives in Peckham, said he had decided to walk down to Rye Road to see the artwork on his lunch break.

He said: 'I was walking down around 1pm and saw three guys nicking it.

'They had a ladder. There was one guy on the roof and the other two were watching the ladder.

'They saw me filming and it got a bit tetchy. One gave me a kick in the side and another tried to throw my phone on the roof. Luckily it hit a tree and came back down again.

'I told a police officer in the area about it.

'It's a great shame we can't have nice things and it's a shame it couldn't have lasted more than an hour.'

Painted in black against a greyish white satellite dish, the artwork seemed to depict the lone wolf in the background of a full moon.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'We were called to reports of a stolen satellite dish containing artwork at 1.52pm on Thursday, 8 August in Rye Lane, Peckham.

'There have been no arrests. Inquiries continue.'

Four elusive murals painted by Banksy have popped up around London this week. Followers are questioning whether the location has any relevance to what they mean

A man wearing light blue shorts at the end of the high street in Peckham with the stolen piece of art

The gang rounded a man who tried to stop them removing the artwork

One of the men launching another man's phone into the air after he tried to stop them

The artwork showing the silhouette of a wolf howling appeared on a rooftop in Peckham. It is the latest piece in a series of murals that have been unveiled this week

A new Banksy artwork worth an estimated 250,000 was stolen in Peckham last year less than an hour after it was revealed to be genuine.

The artist confirmed the artwork - a traffic stop sign covered with three military drones - was his in an Instagram post shortly after midday on December 22.

The artwork was widely interpreted by followers as calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and drew a large crowd of admirers to the intersection of Southampton Way and Commercial Way.

But at around 12.30pm that day, the peaceful scene was shattered by the arrival of two men, one of whom balanced precariously on an Lime e-bike while hurriedly hacking the sign down with bolt cutters.

The rider of the e-bike, who asked to be referred to only as Alex, told MailOnline at the time that he 'watched in awe' as the man 'bashed' the sign with his hands while balancing on the saddle.

The man removing the sign, who was wearing a red jacket, fled with it after just 60 seconds after onlookers shouted at him to stop. He left the bolt cutters behind.

Two men were arrested and re-bailed earlier this year pending further inquiries.

The 'Banksy bandit' suspects were re-bailed after the 250,000 stop sign piece of art was allegedly 'stolen' from a Peckham street in broad daylight last year

A man in a red jacket fled with the sign in front of stunned crowds last December

The man, pictured on December 22, is seen running away with the traffic sign

He left the pair of bolt cutters behind at the scene

Pieces by the artist have previously been sold for millions of pounds.

Banksy, whose career began in the 90s, is known by millions of people thanks to the appearance of dozens of iconic artworks in unexpected locations around the world.

For years his identity has been a hot topic, with names such as Massive Attack's Robert Del Naja and Gorillaz founder Jamie Hewlett being floated around.

Also suggested is public schoolboy Robin Gunningham, who was 'unmasked' as Banksy by the Mail On Sunday in 2008 after an investigation into his past.

In 2021, his 'Love is in the Bin' work was bought for more than 18million, with its value having been boosted after a shredder hidden in its frame cut it to pieces moments after it was sold for the first time in 2018.

The work, previously known as 'Girl with Balloon', was just one of more than a dozen of Banksy's creations that have sold for over 2million.
An 'obsessive' headteacher who bombarded a trainee teacher with messages as he tried to start a relationship with her was jailed for 20 weeks today.

Gregory Hill, 49, harassed Chloe Regester, 25, for nearly a year, contacting her through Facebook and WhatsApp and even ordering her to go with him and pupils to Sandringham after the late Queen died.

When he discovered the object of his attention was gay, he made withering remarks about her partner and belittled her dress sense, saying she had 'lesbian shoes'.

When Hill was arrested in the car park of his school he spent 30 minutes lying on the ground and wrestling with officers, who caught the 'bizarre' scene on bodyworn cameras.

Sentencing the disgraced educator, District Judge Christopher Williams said he had a 'chilling ignorance' of the power he held over staff at Howard Junior School in King's Lynn, Norfolk, which had led to his 'spectacular fall from grace'.

Gregory Hill, 49, (pictured outside Norwich Magistrates Court)harassed Chloe Regester, 25, for nearly a year, contacting her through Facebook and WhatsApp and even ordering her to go with him and pupils to Sandringham after the late Queen died

When Hill found out Ms Regester was a lesbian, he made withering remarks about her partner and belittled her dress sense, saying she had 'lesbian shoes'

When Hill was arrested in the car park of his school he spent 30 minutes lying on the ground and wrestling with officers, who caught the 'bizarre' scene on bodyworn cameras

He added: 'Even now, you fail to realise how wrong your behaviour was.

'You abused the power you held, especially over young members of staff at the school. You are an obsessive individual.'

Hill  who won a local award for Inspirational Teacher of the Year in 2022  had denied harassment and resisting arrest but was convicted following a trial at Norwich Magistrates Court last month.

The unwanted romantic campaign began in March that year, just a few months after Ms Regester had left Durham University with a first-class degree in primary education.

Messages she received included one that said: 'This is confidential but I have fallen in love with you. It's hard for me but I will always be fun, kind and supportive.'

When he told her he loved her on another occasion, desperate Ms Regester wrote back: 'I'm sorry Greg. I have never said that I have feelings for you. This has to stop.'

There were 13 occasions when Hill, who was suspended after his arrest and has since lost his job at the school, should have known his behaviour towards a junior member amounted to harassment, prosecutor Monali Raleraskar told the trial.

Ms Regester, who quit her job as the school's leader for art and design and technology following her ordeal, struggled to control her emotions as she gave evidence via videolink.

Ms Regester said Hill requested her personal attendance to accompany him to Sandringham last September following the death of the Queen

who quit her job as the school's leader for art and design and technology following her ordeal, struggled to control her emotions as she gave evidence via videolink

She said: 'I was scared. I didn't know what he was capable of or what he might do.'

She added he made it clear her ongoing training  which had to be signed off by him  was used as leverage against her. 'He held it over me,' she said.

The defendant, of Fakenham, claimed Ms Regester had 'blown hot and cold with him and said she and another teacher who gave evidence against him had 'colluded to manipulate the situation to make money'.

In a victim impact statement read out at today's sentencing, Ms Regester described the messages she received as a 'constant drain' on her mentally and physically.

'He was always hounding me with messages and emails late at night,' she said.

'I started to struggle with sleeping and would have nightmares.

'I had concerns that Hill was aware of my movements and this led to a fear of seeing him when I was out and about.

'These last few years have completely changed me as a person and I do not know if I will ever return to the person I once was.'

Hill was also given a four-year stalking protection order, which prevents him from contacting Ms Regester or entering her place of work

Former special constable Hill yelled he was being assaulted by officers when he was arrested just before 9am on March 13 last year.

He also compared himself to George Floyd, who died in Minnesota in the US after a policeman put his knee on his neck for nearly ten minutes, shouting: 'I cannot breathe.'

But Judge Williams said his behaviour had been 'bizarre' and the officers had been 'incredibly patient', adding any injuries he sustained were 'caused by himself'.

Hill was also given a four-year stalking protection order, which prevents him from contacting Ms Regester or entering her place of work.
Tommy Robinson has been tracked down to a restaurant in Athens after taunting police in Cyprus by revealing he had already fled from his five-star hotel on the island.

The far-right activist, who has been accused of fuelling riots in the UK with a stream of inflammatory and inaccurate social media posts, had claimed his life was at risk in Cyprus after his holiday location was revealed.

He fled to Greece after police in Cyprus released a statement saying they were 'ready to help' British authorities get him extradited back to the UK to potentially face justice for inciting riots.

Responding to an online news report about the statement yesterday, Robinson retorted on X, formerly Twitter, that he was no longer on the island, telling his 900,000 followers: 'Lucky I'm not in Cyprus then ain't it.'

He later released yet another video rant, filmed as he tucked into a lamb dish which he described as 'beautiful' at an outside table in an unidentified restaurant in what appeared to be a city or town centre under clear blue skies.

Tommy Robinson shot a video at a restaurant in Athens after leaving a five-star hotel in Cyprus

Tommy Robinson has been fanning the flames of tension in riot-hit Britain with a constant stream of inflammatory social media posts while, earlier this month, on holiday in Cyprus

The 41-year-old, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is also facing legal difficulties after failing to attend a court hearing last Monday on a separate issue

The founder and former leader of the English Defence League appeared red faced and angry as he moaned about how the Mail had wrecked his family holiday by revealing that he had been in a luxury hotel on the outskirts of party resort Ayia Napa.

But while emphasising the importance of his family's personal security, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, made no effort to try and disguise the restaurant location where he was filming from.

A left-wing orientated X account called GB News Spin Room which boasts that it is 'debunking propaganda' and 'exposing far-right misinformation', posted that they could see Robinson was in Athens.

The account was able to track Robinson down to Greece's capital by examining the size and positioning of a road sign in the background of his video, along with blue marking on a passing taxi with a yellow number plate, and a traffic calming zone sign.

It added: 'Meanwhile, Yaxley is eating lamb (a popular Greek food) opposite a barber shop positioned on the corner of a one way street. Can't be too many of those'

After carrying out more detective work, the account posted an update, saying: 'Tommy Robinson filmed his latest video at Mavro Provato, a Mediterranean restaurant in central Athens.'

It is believed that the account came to the conclusion after studying the apartment buildings and road in the background of the video, and comparing it to Google Street View images.

Robinson did not dispute the finding and re-tweeted, the post to his followers, adding nonchalantly: '& my lamb dish is was bloody fabulous. I recommend anyone visiting Athens to try this place'.

It is not known if Robinson is still in Athens or if he was in the city during a brief stop over before getting a connecting flight back to his home in Spain.

However, he has since claimed he is no longer in Athens in a tweet in which he shared screenshots of an exchange with a journalist, lampooning them for flying out 'to meet me when Im not even there'.

The restaurant he was at is rated an impressive 4.6 out on 5 on Google reviews with one recent diner complimenting staff on their 'magnificent' service, dishes which were 'very fair for the price' and a 'spectacular' moussaka.

Another praised the eaterie for its 'very friendly atmosphere and staff and 'big portions for really good prices', saying: 'No tourists and obviously it was full of locals. Staff was super helpful and nice!'

Tommy Robinson pictured sunbathing on holiday in Ayia Napa in Cyprus. The 41-year-old, who had a UK arrest warrant issued against him last Monday after he missed a court appearance had tried to keep his holiday location a secret

Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, fled the country ahead of a court date after allegedly breaching a court order

Robinson has posted a stream of inflammatory social media posts from his foreign boltholes while on holiday with family and friends

Britain's director of public prosecutions warned yesterday that social media influencers allegedly fuelling violent disorder would be extradited, but did not mention Robinson by name.

Stephen Parkinson told the BBC that offenders 'must know that they are not safe and there is nowhere to hide'.

He added: 'We would certainly consider extradition if we are satisfied that an offence has been committed.'

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said 'there will be a reckoning' for perpetrators, adding that social media put a 'rocket booster' under the violence which erupted more than a week ago after three children were murdered in Southport.

Last weekend a reporter from the Mail watched on as Robinson, armed only with his phone, seamlessly merged enjoying the luxury of a 400-a-night all-inclusive hotel with rabble-rousing.

He was seen spending time on a cabana day bed, relaxing in the pool, working out at the hotel gym and visiting its pizza restaurant and bar - all while keeping up a constant stream of inflammatory social media posts.

There were messages attacking the police for going soft on Muslim protests, on the media for labelling protesters as 'far-Right' and on Home Secretary Yvette Cooper for calling them 'thugs'.

He also shared a series of fake stories over the weekend, including claims that Muslims had stabbed protesters in Staffordshire and attacked three women in Scotland as well as false posts blaming two Somali migrants for the murder of a grandmother walking her dog in Suffolk.

Robinson expressed outrage when he was accused of having a hand in whipping up the on-going disorder.

He posted a series of videos blaming the Government for tension, saying in one: 'It's not on me, it's on you,.. This mess is your doing not mine. Your policy failures gave birth to these tensions, your failure to listen & to lie & label everyone far right has caused this.

'Your cowardice to enforce the law equally has caused this. Two-tier policing has caused this not me.'

With nearly 900,000 followers on X, formerly Twitter, Robinson, a violent, convicted criminal, has transformed himself from street fighter to social media influencer.

He was banned from the platform in 2018, but allowed back on last year by its new owner, Elon Musk. Analytics published by Robinson last week showed that his posts had been viewed 1.2 billion times in the three months to August.
Strolling casually towards his victim, a young man pulls out a huge knife and plunges it deep into the man's chest.

This was the scene at Great Yarmouth's famous Golden Mile when a feud between two men exploded into a brutal murder in broad daylight.

Killer Junior Suleimane, 22, had just come out of a shop in the Norfolk seaside town when he spotted rival Felizardo Jose Vieira-Balde walking past.

There was bad blood between them after Suleimane previously threw Mr Vieira-Balde and a friend out of a party because they were having a row, allegedly leading to the 23-year-old to stab him in the leg when they bumped into each other on another occasion.

Weeks later, in the latest example of the lawlessness on Britain's streets, hooded Suleimane saw his nemesis on the other side of the road, pulled the blade out of his rucksack, and delivered the single, fatal blow.

Strolling casually towards his victim, a young man pulls out a huge knife and plunges it deep into the man's chest. This was the scene at Great Yarmouth's famous Golden Mile when a feud between two men exploded into a brutal murder in broad daylight

Killer Junior Suleimane, 22, had just come out of a shop in the Norfolk seaside town when he spotted rival Felizardo Jose Vieira-Balde walking past

He has now been convicted of murder after a two-week trial in which prosecutor Will Carter told the jury to ignore the defendant's claims that he acted to protect himself.

'This is not about self-defence. It's about loss of face, about perceived respect, and it's about revenge,' he said.

The fateful crossing of paths took place at lunchtime on February 8 last year, when Suleimane bought cigarettes at a Londis store and emerged to find Mr Vieira-Balde on the other side of the road.

Despite the presence of passers-by and bustling businesses, he went straight over to stab him, as seen in CCTV footage presented to the court.

His victim, who was living in a nearby hotel, is seen staggering away before collapsing and dying in a nearby alleyway.

Suleimane and his uncle, Jaimes Santos, 45, fled the scene afterwards and changed their clothes to avoid being spotted by police as they left a complex of flats in Yarmouth barely an hour later.

They tried to avoid arrest by travelling to Loddon in Norfolk, where a friend, Vitor Silva, helped them travel to an address in Cambridge.

They later went to London and were finally arrested as they tried to leave on a bus at Leeds City Bus Station.

Despite the presence of passers-by and bustling businesses, he went straight over to stab him, as seen in CCTV footage presented to the court

The feud began in October 2022, when Suleimane organised a party in Yarmouth where he threw Mr Vieira-Balde and another man out when he caught them 'having conflict' with each other.

The defendant said factory worker Mr Vieira-Balde 'didn't like it' and was angry, claiming Suleimane thought he was 'better than everyone else'.

A few months later the defendant, who lives in the town, claimed he was visiting his mother when a man concealing his identity with a bandana 'charged' at him.

During the ensuing altercation, the man managed to stab him in the leg.

Suleimane claimed in court that he later realised his attacker was Mr Vieira-Balde who had 'wanted to teach me some respect' after he had been 'disrespected' at the party.

The incident left Suleimane frightened for himself, his girlfriend and his two children, his barrister told jurors.

But Mr Carter pointed out it was clear he was not 'terrified to go out on the streets of Yarmouth' and that he had not contacted police or any other authorities to seek justice.

Instead, he was carrying the 'horrible' weapon not for his own protection but because he was 'prepared, ready and armed to do it himself'.

Suleimane, who previously admitted possession of a bladed article, didn't 'need to do any of this', Mr Carter added, as his victim had been 'simply walking past' on the other side of the road.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently said he would make it his 'moral mission' to tackle knife crime

The Prime Minister discussed knife crime during a meeting with victims' families attended by actor and anti-crime campaigner Idris Elba

The defendant, who wore a waistcoat and crisp white shirt in court, showed no emotion as the jury delivered its majority verdict.

Family members of Mr Vieira-Balde remained silent and didn't comment as they left court on Tuesday.

Suleimane will be sentenced at a later date alongside Santos, also of Yarmouth, who previously admitted assisting an offender between February 7 and 11 last year.

Silva, 22, of Loddon, will be sentenced for the same offence.

Speaking afterwards, Detective Inspector Dave McCormack said, who led the murder investigation, said: 'Suleimane arrived at the scene of the crime prepared to commit the most serious act of violence.

'Suleimane and his uncle, aided by a friend, moved across the country, intent on evading capture in full knowledge of the crime they had committed.

'Fast-paced police enquiries identified their location at several points in several counties.

'Investigators worked with specialist officers in several police authorities, providing extremely short notice to respond, until they were eventually apprehended on a bus, intent on travelling to the north of the country.'

Britain's knife crime epidemic saw 50,510 offences recorded in in the year to March 2024, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics last month. This was up four per cent on the previous 12 months.

Attacks disproportionately affected young people, with teenagers twice as likely to be fatally stabbed as they were a decade ago.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently said he would make it his 'moral mission' to tackle the problem during a meeting with victims' families attended by actor and anti-crime campaigner Idris Elba.
Wine snobs are being urged to look past their prejudices against 'critter wines' - bottles featuring cute animal images on the label.

A deep dive into the world of wine with animal mascots by the Wall Street Journal has uncovered a trove of high-quality, affordable bottles that 'oenophiles' may be dismissing as cheap.

The rise of the infamous 'Yellow Tail' wine, with its cheerful wallaby logo, two decades ago sparked a surge in so-called 'critter wines' - budget bottles aimed at casual drinkers rather than serious wine enthusiasts.

'Animals give consumers vibes of cheapness,' owner of Wolfe's Wine Shoppe in Coral Gables, Florida, Jeffrey Wolfe, told the Wall Street Journal.

Last summer, a British wine expert was slammed for criticizing the iconic' Australian wine, with many calling him a 'snob' for his high-brow taste.

A deep dive into the world of wine with animal mascots by the Wall Street Journal has uncovered a trove of high-quality, affordable bottles that 'oenophiles' may be dismissing as cheap

The rise of the infamous 'Yellow Tail' wine, with its cheerful wallaby logo, two decades ago sparked a surge in so-called 'critter wines' - budget bottles aimed at casual drinkers rather than serious wine enthusiasts

Luke Flunder, who has been in the wine industry for over a decade and is an independent wine merchant, tasted the Australian Yellow Tail Shiraz ($8) - which claims to be the 'world's most loved wine brand' and has won 'over 550 wine awards' according to its label.

'It tastes like it has been grown in a laboratory - it's like when you've left a packet of Skittles in your car on a hot day and it's a warm, sticky mess,' he said about the popular wine last year.

The wine connoisseur also boldly stated that it 'wasn't a representation of the Shiraz grape' - but it was nevertheless drinkable.

Luke settled on a low 3.8 out of ten for the Yellow Tail Shiraz.

But an investigation by wine columnist Lettie Teague has found many impressive wines with animal-themed labels - from a $10 Malbec featuring a black goat to a $20 Chilean Pais with wild pumas.

But an investigation by one wine lover has found many impressive wines with animal-themed labels - from a $10 Malbec featuring a black goat to a $20 Chilean Pais with wild pumas

Other 'quality' bottles also feature images of horses, sheep, and even a leaping frog - many of which reflect strong ties to the land and heritage of the winemakers as well as the landscapes where the wine was produced.

Other 'quality' bottles also feature images of horses, sheep, and even a leaping frog - many of which reflect strong ties to the land and heritage of the winemakers as well as the landscapes where the wine was produced.

The 2022 Black Cabra Malbec, a $10 red that pays homage to the black goats that roam the Argentine Andes where it's produced, the article explained.

According to the author, Winemaker Fabian Valenzuela has crafted a delicious, soft-tannin red that gives some bang for the buck.

And the author found several excellent horse-themed roses and reds, including bottles from Long Island vineyards and a Malbec from Argentina that pays tribute to the 'Padrillo' - a 'strong yet playful' creature.

Surprisingly, the one animal the author struggled to find was man's best friend - with just a single, underwhelming dog-labeled bottle that came up in their search.
A shocking video showed the moment an armed motorcyclist fatally slammed into a car after blowing through a red light.

The unidentified motorcyclist, 19, was pronounced dead at the scene after he fatally crashed into a red car on West Irving Park Road in the Portage Park suburb of Chicago.

Police said the driver ran a red light and was speeding westbound around 2am on March 26.

Traffic camera footage shows the sickening moment the pair collided in the intersection with the motorcyclist violently bouncing off the passenger side of the car and his bike smashing into pieces, a video posted to X shows.

The motorcyclist's body can be seen flying several feet down the slick road before he and his bike stop in the middle.

He suffered from 'major trauma to the head and body,' according to ABC 7 Chicago.

An unidentified motorcyclist, 19, was pronounced dead at the scene after he fatally crashed into a red car on West Irving Park Road in the Portage Park suburb of Chicago

Traffic camera footage shows the sickening moment the pair collided in the intersection with the motorcyclist violently bouncing off the passenger side of the car and his bike smashing into pieces

The 21-year-old driver of the red car suffered from cuts to his face and leg and was sent to the hospital, the outlet reported.

Later on, a single police officer could be seen tentatively approaching the biker with a flashlight and removing what appears to be a firearm from the man's body, placing it several feet away from the deceased man.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Chicago Police Department for comment.

A New York father recently discovered his daughters died in a car crash after tracking their phones to the scene.

He suffered from major trauma to the head and body. The 21-year-old driver of the red car suffered from cuts to his face and leg and was sent to the hospital

Later on, a single police officer could be seen tentatively approaching the biker with a flashlight and removing what appears to be a firearm from the man's body, placing it several feet away from the deceased man

Brian Trumble, 45, exclusively told DailyMail.com he called his daughters Hailey, 19, and Shelby, 17, multiple times after they failed to return home from the Seabreeze Amusement Park in Rochester, New York, on August 1.

After tracking them on the Find My Friends app, Brian drove a few miles to their location and found police already cordoning off the scene.

He described how he collapsed on his car bumper and 'couldn't stand up' when first responders told him one of the girls in the accident had died.

Brian later learned a fireman had stayed by his other daughter's side 'until the end.'
Cambridge University has issued rules on protecting freedom of speech after the Government shelved a new law aimed at tackling cancel culture.

The prestigious university said it was introducing its new code of practice despite the Governments decision to halt legislation put in place by the previous Conservative government.

Cambridge said it was fully committed to the principle and to the promotion of freedom of speech for its staff and students.

It said the code applies with effect from 1 August 2024 despite UK Government plans to stop further commencement of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced last month that she would halt the introduction of the legislation while the Government considered its future.

Student protesters at Cambridge University in May. The prestigious university said it was introducing its new code of practice despite the Governments decision to halt legislation put in place by the previous Conservative government

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (pictured) announced last month that she would halt the introduction of the legislation

Labour has claimed the law is not fit for purpose and argues that Jewish students will potentially be left at risk.

Under the legislation, universities, colleges and student unions in England would have a legal duty to promote free speech and academic freedom.

Critics say the Governments decision to halt the law, just days before it was due to come into effect, means academics and guest speakers will continue to be vulnerable to so-called cancel culture on campuses.

Universities UK, which represents more than 140 British universities, said the legislation would have strengthened the current law, which requires institutions to protect free speech and academic freedom, but not to actively promote them. The new law would also have meant more robust protections for visiting speakers.

Cambridges new code of conduct will mean visiting speakers are allowed to express controversial or unpopular views within the law and that protest must not shut down debate.

The university said it would consider covering security costs for any controversial speakers. It insisted events would still need to be within the law, and that Cambridge would not provide a platform for hate speech.

It follows concerns that visiting speakers at several universities around the country have been no-platformed for controversial views, including on transgender issues.

Last year, hundreds of people gathered outside the Oxford Union to protest against a talk by the gender-critical academic, Kathleen Stock.

Cambridges new code of conduct will mean visiting speakers are allowed to express controversial or unpopular views within the law and that protest must not shut down debate

The Government has faced criticism over its decision to drop a law designed to protect freedom of speech on campuses. Pictured: A trans protest at the Oxford Union where Kathleen Stock was speaking

Oxford University students hold a banner reading 'trans women are real women' at a trans protest against Britain's feminist, philosopher and writer Kathleen Stock

The philosophy professor resigned from Sussex University in 2021 after what she described as a witch-hunt over her views Other universities have also committed to strengthen free speech protections while the Government reviews the Act, a flagship policy of the previous Conservative government, which said it would allow speakers to express views as long as they did not cross a threshold into hate speech or incitement of violence.

Almost 450 academics have now signed a letter calling on Ms Phillipson to reinstate the free speech legislation, which they described as vitally important.

When she announced the Act was to be shelved, the Education Secretary said it could expose students to harm and appalling hate speech on campuses.

She also said the legislation would be burdensome on providers and on the Office for Students.
The final girl injured in the fatal Southport stabbings attack more than a week ago has been discharged from hospital, police said.

The youngster was being treated at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital after being attacked during a Taylor Swift-themed holiday camp at a community hall on July 29.

Merseyside Police said today that she had been released and would continue recovering at home - as her parents expressed 'deep' sorrow at the riots and attacks on police that have taken place since the tragedy, stoked by far-right thugs online.

Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar were killed in the attack. Axel Rudakubana, 18, has been charged with their murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

The attacks unleashed a torrent of fury and hate in Southport which spread to other cities across the UK - culminating in a thousands-strong show of anti-racist solidarity in cities all over the country.

The scene of the attack at a community hall in Southport on July 29 in which three young girls died

The last girl to be treated in hospital for non-fatal injuries has now been discharged, Merseyside Police said (pictured: police and forensic officers at the scene)

The girl was transported to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital by air ambulance (pictured: an air ambulance on the scene)

(Left to right) Southport victims Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six and Alice Dasila Aguiar, nine

Axel Rudakubana, 18, pictured as a child, has been charged with their murders and the attempted murders of 10 others, as well as possession of an offensive weapon

The tragedy sparked riots fuelled by misinformation on social media and thought to have been engineered by far-right hate mobs

Residents of Southport expressed their grief and love with a vigil earlier this week, with bubbles blown and gifts and teddies left in the town centre

The young girl who was discharged from hospital had been airlifted to Manchester from Southport due to the severity of her injuries.

In a statement released by Merseyside Police on their behalf, the youngster's family said: 'We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for their unwavering support and the extraordinary care they provided to our beloved daughter during this challenging time.

'We also extend our deepest thanks to the air ambulance team, whose swift response and expertise were crucial in airlifting her from the scene to the hospital. We know that their intervention saved her life.

'We were deeply saddened by the recent disorder and the attacks on our police force.

'It is important to highlight that when the horrific events unfolded, our police officers were the first on the scene.

'We are immensely grateful to the officers who stood by our daughter's side, providing assistance and support until she was safely transported to the hospital.

'This has been an incredibly difficult time for our nation, especially for the families affected by these tragic events.

'We appreciate the continued support and compassion from everyone during this challenging period.

'While we are relieved that our daughter is on the path to recovery, our hearts go out to the families of Bebe, Alice, and Elsie during this immensely painful time. Thank you.'

The final children who had been treated at Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital following the horrific attack were discharged earlier this week.

False information about the suspect in the killings circulated online in the hours after it took place - claiming the alleged stabber was a Muslim asylum seeker who had entered the country illegally.

This was circulated within far-right groups on social media and messaging apps such as Telegram, which took action this week to shut down a group thought to have engineered the first riots that hit Southport a week ago.

Other disorder then unfolded in cities all across the UK, and hundreds of people have been arrested while scores have been charged and more than a dozen sentenced in rapid fire summary court proceedings.

A Taylor Swift-inspired friendship bracelet reading 'love' is left at a gathering of gifts for the Southport stabbings earlier this week

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited a mosque in Solihull that had been

Rumours of far-right plots to attack immigration centres and law firms saw thousands turn out on the streets in protest on Wednesday (pictured: Bristol)

The protests saw far-right thugs vastly outnumbered by anti-fascists - or simply not turn up at all (pictured: Walthamstow)

The disturbances then culminated in widespread anti-fascist protests in cities including Bristol, London, Brighton, Portsmouth, Liverpool and Sheffield.

Brits turned out in their thousands to protect the offices of immigration bureaus and lawyers who had been named in a far-right Telegram group's so-called hit list for thugs to target on Wednesday night.

Red-faced hatemongers then tried to backpedal on the claims they would be out in force - claiming they had been a ruse in order to waste police time.

In the meantime, Southport residents held a vigil for the young victims - blowing bubbles and leaving flowers and teddies in the town centre.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer told an emergency Cobra meeting that police need to remain on 'high alert' earlier tonight despite a seeming pause in the disorder.

Earlier today the Prime Minister visited a mosque in Solihull that was targeted by far-right protesters at the weekend, and told reporters Wednesday night had gone 'much better than was expected'.

He added: 'We were able to demonstrate the criminal justice system working speedily, so yesterday we saw the sentencing of individuals who had been involved in disorder days ago, some of them getting sentences as long as three years.

'That sent a very powerful message.'

True patriots, motivated by love over hate, have been donating thousands of pounds towards rebuilding efforts after a library in Liverpool was torched, a mosque in Southport was targeted by rioters and a cafe in Belfast was set alight.

Individual GoFundMe pages for each of the families of those killed in the attacks have raised nearly 200,000, while a 'Swifties for Southport' fundraiser for Alder Hey has raised over 370,000.

In all, GoFundMe says nearly 1million has been donated by kindly Brits to support those affected by the Southport attacks and related unrest.
The campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris has been forced to update its online bio for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz after a glaring error about his military history.

They removed reference to Walz as a 'retired command sergeant major' and now say he only served at the command sergeant rank.

Walz retired from 24 years in the National Guard in 2005 to run for Congress. He did serve as a command sergeant major, but was reverted back to master sergeant as he left the military because he had not completed the coursework for the higher rank.

'The son of an Army veteran and a retired Command Sergeant Major in the Army National Guard himself, Walz was the ranking member on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, where he passed legislation to help stem veterans' suicides,' the campaign website read as of Wednesday.

Now, that line begins with: 'The son of an Army veteran who served as a command sergeant major....'

Walz retired from the Guard just two months before his unit deployed to Iraq - a fact his Republican detractors have seized on saying he deserted his men when they needed him most.

The current Walz biography on Harris' website

The original bio, as of Wednesday

They've also accused him of inflating his credentials by calling himself a 'retired command sergeant major.'

It's not the first time the matter has come up. During his 2018 race for governor, two retired command sergeant majors wrote a paid letter to the editor accusing Walz of misrepresenting his rank on the campaign trail.

'Walz attained the rank of command sergeant major and served in that role but retired as a master sergeant in 2005 for benefit purposes due to not completing additional coursework,' Army public affairs officer Lt. Col. Kristen Auge said in a past statement to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The Harris campaign also released a statement saying that Walz 'chaired' the Veterans' Affairs Committee. He did not - he served as the ranking member. The campaign later said the statement had been made in error.

In 2003, Walz deployed to Italy in a support position of active military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan but not to a combat zone himself.

Harris picked Walz to be her running mate on Wednesday

Tim Walz from his younger years in the National Guard

Amid his congressional bid in March 2005, the Walz campaign put out a statement signaling he still planned to stay in the race despite a possible mobilization of Minnesota National Guard soldiers to Iraq. According to the Guard, Walz retired from service in May of that year.

In August 2005, the Department of the Army issued a mobilization order for Walzs unit. The unit mobilized in October of that year before it deployed to Iraq in March 2006.

Shortly after Harris announced Walz as her VP pick, a 2018 clip of Walz advocating for gun control resurfaced.

'We can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, are only carried in war,' Walz said at the time. Donald Trump's running mate J.D. Vance said he felt Walz's implication that he had served in combat was 'stolen valor garbage.'

Reports quickly resurfaced of anger among his former brothers in arms who accused him of 'betraying' his country just as they were preparing for deployment.

Retired Command Sergeant Major Thomas Behrends of the Minnesota National Guard accused Walz of having 'embellished' his record and of having abandoned his unit when he left the Guard to run for Congress.

'In early 2005, a warning order was issued to the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion, which included the position he was serving in, to prepare to be mobilized for active duty for a deployment to Iraq,' he wrote on Facebook in 2018.

'On May 16th, 2005, he quit, betraying his country, leaving the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion and its Soldiers hanging; without its senior Non-Commissioned Officer, as the battalion prepared for war.'

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 as a Naval intelligence officer, said the criticism was 'strategic' because the Trump campaign 'needs us tied up in debates over pre-retirement conditional rank promotions because they are desperate NOT to discuss their (unpopular) policies, like tax cuts for the rich and banning access to abortion.'

Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., a former Marine Corps infantry officer who deployed to Afghanistan, told NBC News: 'If I were Donald Trump, with five deferments from Vietnam  I would be very cautious about opening the door to attacks on those who served honorably.'

Neither Trump nor Harris served in the military. Trump received a series of deferments in the Vietnam War, including one with a physician's letter stating that he suffered bone spurs in his feet.
Anyone caught taking part in copycat rioting and looting in Scotland will be hammered by very swift justice, John Swinney has warned.

The First Minister vowed the police and courts would crack down on troublemakers amid fears civil unrest in England could spread north of the Border this weekend.

Emergency plans drawn up to tackle mass disorder at Cop26 are being dusted off to deal with the threat of rioting by far-Right thugs. Mr Swinney said police intelligence had identified the possibility of some gatherings in Scotland over the coming days.

It comes after hundreds of people were arrested in England following a wave of disorder that broke out last weekend in the wake of the Southport stabbings on July 29, in which three girls were murdered.

The courts in England have started handing out hefty sentences, with 17 defendants being jailed for a total of nearly 32 years yesterday.

Trouble spread across England and Northern Ireland after first erupting in Southport last Tuesday

Mr Swinney said the speed of justice meted out to those involved in the mayhem had sent a signal to thugs in England.

He added: I think the Crown Office will be looking very carefully at exactly what has been done there. Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Mr Swinney added: The police are undertaking a comprehensive intelligence-gathering exercise and that has identified the possibility of some gatherings in Scotland.

That is based on information circulating on social media. Thankfully, so far, none of that intelligence has turned into reality.

But we must remain vigilant because of the unacceptable conduct that has taken place in other parts of the UK, violent conduct that has been about hatred.

The Cop26 gathering in Glasgow in 2021 saw auxiliary weekend courts set up and the Crown Office given extra resources to process offenders. Similar contingency plans are now being prepared.

There are fears of trouble in Paisley, Greenock and Glasgow in the coming days. The far-Right Scottish Defence Group has said it will stage a peaceful protest in Paisley linked to asylum seekers tonight, with Stand up to Racism activists planning a counter-demo.

John Swinney said any trouble north of the Border would be swiftly dealt with

On Wednesday, Mr Swinney met faith leaders to reassure them their communities would be protected.

He also held a briefing with Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell and the leaders of the other Holyrood parties about preparedness in case of trouble.

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed that far-Right thugs involved in the recent rioting, looting and fire-raising will face swift justice. The Prime Minister made it clear anybody involving themselves in disorder will feel the full force of the law.

Confirming he would follow this lead, the First Minister said: The Crown Office has established plans in place for very swift justice if it is required to be undertaken.

Those plans were developed for Cop26. Those plans are obviously being revisited in light of events in the rest of the UK.

As the largest force outside London, he said Police Scotland had formidable resources and officers could be deployed flexibly around Scotland.

He added: I will work with other political parties to make it clear this country has absolutely no tolerance of bigotry and violence and hatred and Islamophobia and anti-Semitism.

We just wont have it in Scotland. Its a prize that our communities are as cohesive as they are. Thats been a product of a lot of hard work over many years.

Police Scotland is ready and prepared to deal with the situation should it have to be handled in Scotland. I hope that is not the case, but the police are well positioned to handle this should it arise.

It comes as it emerged Police Scotland has been asked for help from other forces as violent clashes with protesters look set to continue.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has asked for 120 officers to be sent.

Police Scotland are looking at reviving plans drawn up for disorder during Cop 26 when there were several large climate change protests in Glasgow

A Police Scotland spokesman said: We have received a number of requests for aid and these are being considered, balanced against the needs of policing in Scotland.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher confirmed his force had asked for help after almost a week of nightly disorder across Belfast left his workforce exhausted. It is thought Scots officers will arrive in Northern Ireland by Tuesday.

Last night, Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie moved to reassure Scots.

He said: We will continue to monitor the situation to ensure any potential for violence or disorder in Scotland is identified quickly and responded to immediately.

We are aware of a number of planned protests, and counter-protests, over the coming weeks, which will be policed appropriately. We would also encourage the media and public not to share speculation or inaccurate information on social media.

The Crown Office said it was working closely with the courts and other justice partners on contingency plans for any widespread criminal disorder.

The Scottish Courts Service said it was well prepared to manage the impact of any additional offending as a result of disorder.

A spokesman added: We have reviewed our plans in view of recent events in England. Those held in custody will appear before the court on the next lawful day.
A recruitment consultant who lost an employment tribunal that heard how she boasted of her 'gold-star' sex life also forged prescriptions for Botox-like medication, it emerged yesterday.

Before going into recruitment, Charlotte Tilley, 29, trained as a dental therapist and ran an aesthetics business.

Last week, the General Dental Council (GDC) ruled that she should be 'erased' from its register for misconduct.

After hearing how she faked seven private prescriptions for botulinum toxin and dermal fillers over the 14 months up to January 2022, it said her 'sophisticated' dishonesty was 'premeditated and sustained'.

Miss Tilley later joined Gravitas Recruitment Group, an international firm, where she showed off a sex tape she had made, edited photos of naked male torsos on her laptop at work and kissed a woman at the office Christmas party, an employment tribunal heard.

On Wednesday, the Mail told how she was also said to have told colleagues that gold stars on her computer represented the number of times her 'Johnny Depp' lover and then colleague Kieron Mattinson, 31, had triggered a particular sexual response in her during intercourse.

Before going into recruitment, Charlotte Tilley, 29, trained as a dental therapist and ran an aesthetics business

On Wednesday, the Mail told how Miss Tilley (left) was said to have told colleagues that gold stars on her computer represented the number of times her 'Johnny Depp ' lover and then colleague Kieron Mattinson, 31, (right) had triggered a particular sexual response in her during intercourse

She quit after bosses began a disciplinary investigation. She sued for sex discrimination and victimisation, but the Manchester tribunal dismissed her claim on the grounds that she had 'a high tolerance of matters of a sexual nature'.

It now transpires that a three-day GDC hearing was told last month how Miss Tilley forged the signature of a dentist she had worked with and used the logo of the dental practice where she had worked for four months from September 2020.

She also used the details of a former client to write two of the prescriptions. She admitted her actions in an email to the GDC in February 2022, stating: 'I used friends' names and details for the prescriptions, but the prescription items were only ever used on myself, family members, and my partner.

'I would place an order and email over a copy of the prescriptions to the pharmacy for them to dispense.'

The email was sent a week after a suspicious pharmacist quizzed Miss Tilley over a bogus prescription. The tribunal was told that Miss Tilley, who lives near Oldham, then 'came clean' to the pharmacist.

Charlotte Tilley, (pictured) joined Gravitas Recruitment Group, an international firm, where she showed off a sex tape she had made, edited photos of naked male torsos on her laptop at work and kissed a woman at the office Christmas party, an employment tribunal heard

Miss Tilley later joined Gravitas Recruitment Group (Manchester office pictured)  an international firm specialising in technology and insurance recruitment

The GDC said Miss Tilley was 'prescribing medications she was not qualified to prescribe, for use on herself and others', and 'was providing aesthetic treatments in the absence of indemnity insurance'.

It said her behaviour amounted to misconduct and that her fitness to practise was impaired  and the only appropriate sanction was erasure because Miss Tilley had breached professional standards and represented 'a continuing risk of serious harm to patients or other persons'.

Botox is a brand of botulinum toxin injections used to reduce signs of ageing. The GCD heard that Miss Tilley wrote prescriptions for similar medications, including Azzalure and Bocouture, as well as dermal fillers.

Miss Tilley, who is expecting Mr Mattinson's child, admitted wrongdoing last night, saying: 'Young people make mistakes. Botox was prescription-only. It was a case of using it on friends and family and not wanting to pay the prescription.'
Former President Donald Trump revisited his attacks on Kamala Harris' racial identity, saying in a Thursday press conference, saying the burden was on her to explain it and claiming she was being 'disrespectful' to Blacks and people of Indian descent.

Trump got asked in his hour long presser Thursday how he could have said the Demoratic presidential nominee 'happened to turn Black'  a comment he made during a contentious interview at a Black journalists association event.

A reporter noted that Harris' father is Jamaican-American and that she went to a historically black college  Howard University  wondering why it was accurate to say she recently decided to be Black. (Her mother is an immigrant to the U.S. from India.)

'Well, well, you'll have to ask her that question because she's the one that said it. I didn't say it,' Trump began. 'So you will have to ask her. And I very much appreciate that question. But you'll have to ask her.'

Then he continued to press the issue, while mentioning his own $6,000 in campaign donations he personally made to her when she was California's attorney general.

'But I've known her for a long time. I actually contributed to her campaign a long time ago, because I was a developer. I contributed to lots of campaigns of Democrats, Republicans and some were liberal and some were conservative,' Trump said, before doubling down on his criticism of his opponent.

Former President Donald Trump doubled down on his claim last month that Kamala Harris 'happened to turn Black'

'But you'll have to ask her about that. But to me, it doesn't matter. But to her from her standpoint, I think it's very disrespectful to both really, whether it's Indian or Black. I think it's very disrespectful to both. To me, it doesn't matter,' he said.

Trump's running mate J.D. Vance has called Harris a 'chameleon' and defended Trump's earlier comments. 'I think he was observing the basic foundational reality that Kamala Harris pretends to be something different depending on what audience shes speaking to,' Vance said after Trump's explosive comments.

VP Kamala Harris called out 'perversion' of 'making people feel small'

Trump first made the attack in an interview at a black journalists' association. 'She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didnt know she was Black until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black. So I dont know, is she Indian or is she Black?' Trump said.

Minutes after Trump's lengthy presser ended, Harris called out 'perversion' at an event with UAW leaders and members in Detroit.

'You know, there's some perversion that's happened in our country in the last several years, where there's a suggestion that somehow strength is about making people feel small  making people feel alone,' she said.

She made the remark after pointing out similarities in her upbringing in Oakland, California with running mate Tim Walz, who hails from Nebraska.

'We're not falling for these folks who are trying to divide us,' she said.

Trump's attacks come as polls have shown Harris gaining among black and younger voters after stepping in for President Joe Biden in the race for the White House.
One of my less impressive claims to fame is I went to the same secondary school as Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth. It is even more banal than it sounds. Our paths never crossed.

When I left Madras College in St Andrews in 1985 she was a baby. But, in the years which separated our attendance there, I dont imagine much changed in the way of classroom discipline.

We were largely compliant learners at Madras. I dont recall many teachers lips quivering as they faced us.

The worst instance of insubordination I witnessed was in music class when our mild-mannered master suddenly lost the rag and shouted at a boy chatting to a pal behind him to turn around.

The japester pupil rose to his feet, rotated through 360 degrees like a music box marionette, then sat back down again as his classmates applauded. Music class then continued.

Education Minister Jenny Gilruth has failed to tackle rising school violence

Compare and contrast with the experience of the music teacher I interviewed last month. He quit his job after twice being physically attacked by pupils, after being spat on regularly, after having his classroom vandalised and his car keyed  and after watching a pupil fling instruments at walls, overturn desks, escape meaningful punishment and, a fortnight later, break the jaw of a female pupil in the year below him.

The teacher was prepared to endure just a year of this bedlam in a Dundee secondary before handing in his notice and getting a job at a local Halfords.

He spoke movingly of his regrets for the blameless pupils he left behind  the ones who rolled their eyes as if to say here we go again when the usual suspects began kicking off in class. Even the first years knew the score, he said.

Mayhem

They knew that their teachers hands were tied and that the restorative practice ethos  which holds that disruptive pupils must be reasoned with by way of an informal chat  would see to it that not just this class but future ones too would be subject to mayhem.

They were bright enough to understand that this was affecting their education, that constant ill-discipline in the classroom could impact on their exam grades. Unlike their teacher, they were stuck there, like it or not.

The results for Scotlands latest batch of unfortunates sitting National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher exams are now in and, if you are a Scottish education secretary, they make dismal reading.

The attainment gap which some SNP First Minister in the dim and distant past pledged to make her top priority to close has become an attainment chasm, widening for the fourth year in a row. Markedly, pupils from more deprived areas have less chance of academic success.

Across the board, fewer pupils are achieving passes in all three exam categories than in previous years. Schools are failing pupils because Scottish Government policy is failing schools.

Though I am not privy to her report cards, Ive every reason to suppose Ms Gilruth shone at Madras College. She progressed from there to Glasgow University, after all. And yet I suspect there is something the average 12-year-old is grasping that she is not.

It is hardly surprising that schools serving more affluent locales such as the one we both attended experience fewer discipline issues than inner city ones with catchment areas rooted in social deprivation.

And while I dont doubt that many dedicated teachers nobly battle on in these troubled areas, determined to make all the difference they can, nor do I doubt that many others gravitate to more tranquil school environments for the sake of their safety if nothing else. If teachers are essentially toothless in dealing with violence and disruption in the classroom, who can blame any of them for avoiding the schools facing the worst of it?

Exhaustion

Which types of schools do you suppose would have most staff absent with stress, or ground down with mental exhaustion, or desperate to leave the profession altogether?

And does anyone suppose that, in these schools, childrens education benefits from the deleterious effect that indiscipline has on their teachers?

Restorative practice  the philosophy that actual consequences for appalling behaviour is so last century and a chinwag will do the trick  is central to this failure.

And its pernicious influence goes further than that. According to the Scottish Governments own figures, 37 per cent of pupils in Scotland were labelled as having additional support needs in 2023  a rise of more than 10 per cent since 2017.

The percentage is shooting up so quickly educationalists fear that, by 2030, Scotland may be explaining to the rest of the world why half of its pupils need special attention in learning.

In a report this year, Julie Sandilands of the Scottish Union of Education suggested a key reason for the steady increase was the growing trend to see [poor behaviour] as a condition  a vulnerability requiring a therapeutic, analytical approach.

She added: In some instances this may be the case, but it should not be the go-to, easiest-to-reach one on the shelf. Sometimes it is what it is and should be managed as such.

Do almost 40 per cent of our pupils really have additional support needs? The figure in England is 17 per cent, by the way.

Or has the education system under the SNP completely lost the plot? Teachers must be allowed to take back control  for their sakes and our childrens.

I know the skies are beyond my limit

Budget airline easyJet is reaching out to my age group and assuring us it is not too late to take on a new challenge.

Join us, it urges. Being cabin crew can be a job for anyone with the skills, no matter their age, says spokesman Michael Brown.

I am a veteran of so many easyJet flights I believe I have a head start. Armrests down, tray tables up; Sir, this is an emergency exit  bag in the overhead compartment, please; Madam, either wear that coat or stow it. Not on your lap during take-off

Cheap perfume for sale; Overpriced booze; Scratch-cards, anyone? The captain has switched the fasten seatbelt sign on, so either its turbulence or he wants the loo clear to go himself See? I have all the patter.

But my veteran flier status also tells me the job is ideally suited for younger people with minimal experience of air crews lot in life. Drunk passengers, obnoxious ones, screaming babies, oversized and over-fragrant folk squeezing past them in the aisles  and thats before the plane even moves.

I count the seconds until its over. They stay on board and make the return journey with another lot with even more drink in them.

Mr Brown describes the job as different every day. Not from where Im sitting, mate.
Katie Price has been arrested after landing in the UK as she returned from undergoing a 10,000 facelift in Turkey.

The former glamour model was seen being bundled out a police van at Heathrow police station shortly after she was arrested on Thursday evening.

Price, whose head was covered in bandages and black tape, was seen applying lipstick and taking several puffs of a vape as she sat in the back of a police van.

The Met Police confirmed the reality TV star's arrest, which took place at 7.45pm before she was remanded into custody. She is set to appear at court tomorrow.

Price failed to appear in front of a judge last Tuesday as a part her 760,000 bankruptcy court proceedings and instead flew to Turkey on holiday for her sixth facelift while staying at a 133 per-night five-star hotel.

The 46-year-old's arrest meant her boyfriend JJ Slater, who also flew with Price to Turkey along with her son Harvey, 22, was left to pick up her bags.

Price was aware she would be detained at the airport but had asked police that they 'allow some dignity and protection' for Harvey claiming it would be 'extremely disturbing for him to see'.

Katie Price has been arrested after landing in the UK as she returned from undergoing a 10,000 facelift in Turkey

She was seen stepping out of a police van in Nike trainers, black trousers and a white top

The former glamour model was seen being bundled out of a police van shortly after her plane landed at Heathrow airport on Thursday evening

Price's head was covered in bandages and black tape after she flew to Turkey on holiday for her sixth facelift

A glum looking JJ Slater seen arriving at Heathrow Airport this evening after girlfriend Katie Price was detained by police

Katie Price pictured for the first time with a heavily bandaged and bruised face after having her sixth facelift in Turkey on Sunday

In a statement posted to Instagram earlier this week, the mother-of-five claimed she had been in Turkey filming a documentary.

She said on return from work, she would be 'detained at the airport' which is what the 'courts feel is necessary.'

Discussing her son Harvey, Price asked that authorities 'allow some dignity and protection for at least his sake as this will be extremely disturbing for him to see'.

While acknowledging the 'severity' of the matter, Price said she was being treated 'like a criminal' and declared the 'unfortunate financial circumstance' did not make her a 'criminal or bad person'.

Defiantly, Price said she was 'not embarrassed or ashamed' regarding the arrest.

Price appears to take a puff of her vape as she exits the back of the police van

Price was aware she would be detained at the airport but had asked police that they 'allow some dignity and protection' for her son Harvey, 22

Price is seen being escorted out of the police van by a lone police officer

The Met Police confirmed the star's arrest, which took place at 7.45pm

The 46-year-old's arrest meant her boyfriend JJ Slater was left to pick up her bags

Price sits with a vape and lipstick in hand shortly after her arrest

She explained that her bankruptcy was due to 'serious mental health issues and breakdowns from PTSD'.

She added that she would be paying back debtors and hoped for 'Harvey's sake it's handled with care and compassion'.

Her statement came after she was ordered to pay 25,000 after being declared bankrupt twice.

A judge at a previous hearing said Price risked arrest if she did not attend further court dates, adding evidence must be provided if she could not appear.

Issuing the arrest warrant, Judge Burton said she had 'failed to attend today's hearing' and had provided no explanation for her absence.

She said: 'It is in my judgment necessary that the court issue a warrant for Ms Price's arrest.

The former glamour model was seen being bundled out a police van at Heathrow police station shortly after she was arrested on just before 8pm on Thursday

Price is seen stepping out of the police van at Heathrow police station with a vape in hand

Price appears to speak to a police officer as she steps out of the police van

Price sits on her own on the back of a police van shortly after being arrested

Price applies some lip stick shortly after her arrest on Thursday evening

Pictures from inside Heathrow airport show a glum looking JJ Slater as he was left to pick up Katie's bags

Slater is seen walking through the corridors of Heathrow airport with another woman after his girlfriend Katie Price was detained by police

JJ was seen carrying several pinks suitcases, thought to be Katie's, on a trolley through Heathrow earlier this evening

Married at First Sight star and boyfriend JJ Slater, 31, was also returning from Turkey along with Price before she was arrested

Katie Price's statement in full

'I would just like to thank everyone that has been showing support and compassion to my situation this week with my pending arrest. Despite what has been misreported I am now in route back from filming my documentary. I was never just abroad being ignorant to what's going on and I stand by the facts, which is that there has been miscommunications here between a number of people here to do with my bankcruptcy. 'However now I am returning home from work, and I am aware that I am about to be detained at the airport which is obviously what the courts feel is necessary. 'I do hope of course for my sons sake who is with me that they will allow some dignity and protection for at least his sake as this will be extremely disturbing for him to see. 'Whilst I understand the importance and severity of the matter I do feel like I am being treated like a criminal. 'I would like to point out once again that this is to do with a very unfortunate financial circumstance which as hard as it has been does not make a criminal or a bad person. 'Millions of people suffer losses and go through bankruptcies, through many different reasons and mine was due to serious mental health issues and breakdowns from PTSD. 'Whilst it's been hard, I repeatedly will stand by the fact I am not embarrassed or ashamed that this has happened to me. 'People lose their lives every day over the embarrassment and fear of these situations and the public bullying l've endured on this matter is simply just not ok. I will continue to speak out on this and not be ashamed. 'I have and am continuing to pay back debtors as ordered by the court. 'I will address this with the police and courts when I land and I ask for my son Harvey's sake it's handled with care and compassion. 'I am after all only a human being I appreciate all of you that continue to show me love it means a lot.' Advertisement

She continued: 'The reason for her absence today is irrelevant.'

Judge Burton said that an arrest warrant was not issued 'lightly' but that Price had offered only 'piecemeal co-operation' and failed to provide the 'most basic information' in relation to her bankruptcies.

Confirming Price's arrest earlier today, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson told MailOnline: 'A 46-year-old woman from Surrey was arrested at Heathrow Airport at 7.45hrs on Thursday, 8 August for failing to appear at court.

'She has been remanded in custody at a west London police station to appear at the Royal Courts of Justice tomorrow, Friday, 9 August.'

Previously, shewas served an eviction notice that ordered her to leave her Mucky Mansion by the end of May and has since moved into a 5,000 per month new Tudor-style property.

Price was declared bankrupt for a second time in March over an unpaid tax bill of 761,994.05 after first being declared bankrupt in 2019.

However, at the end of July she claimed 'everything is sorted' with her second bankruptcy after being evicted from her Sussex bolthole.

Price flew to Turkey on 29 July, sharing a snap of her on a plane just hours before her court hearing the day after.

It's believed Price - whose 2million 'mucky mansion' was recently repossessed - was joined on the jaunt by pal Lou Anderson

Price also jetted away with Married at First Sight star and boyfriend JJ Slater, 31.

In Turkey, Price had her sixth facelift, which cost 10,000.

Price is understood to have had the facelift at the Trio Clinic in Istanbul, with work being carried out on her eyes and under her chin.

Price is also underwent another dental procedure, sharing pictures of her new veneers on Wednesday.

On Instagram, she posted snaps of her new dental work, wearing sunglasses with the name of the dental surgery 'Dentica' on.

Price was also seen in Istanbul with son Harvey, revealing her latest surgically enhanced looks in a pair of oversized sunglasses, which did little to hide the bandages, staples and surgical tape around her face.

Taking on Instagram last Wednesday, Price dismissed recent claims that she has travelled to Turkey after being turned down by other cosmetic surgeons.

She said: 'I'm filming my new documentary. The reason I've chose the Trio Clinic is because I've had friends who have had surgery there and in my opinion they are the best for what I want doing.

'I can't wait, they're amazing, and they're thorough here.'

Last Tuesday, Katie shared a statement on her Instagram account saying she is 'aware of the severity' of her financial situation.

Model and Reality TV Star Katie Price pictured with her son Harvey as she's seen for the first time after having her sixth facelift

Revealing her latest surgically enhanced looks, Price walked down the street with son Harvey, 22, in Istanbul

The former glamour model, 46, earlier this week broke her silence after failing to appear in front of judge last Tuesday as a part her 760,000 bankruptcy court proceedings

Price showed off a new set of 'Turkey teeth' after undergoing another dental procedure

Price underwent further surgery in Turkey amidst her bankruptcy saga

Last Tuesday, she shared a statement on her Instagram account saying she was 'aware of the severity' of her financial situation

She wrote: 'Whilst I'm currently aware of the severity of my current personal financial situation with my ongoing bankruptcy, I am today shocked that whilst away working for a documentary on corrective surgeries that I should find myself yet again headline news.

'The media in my opinion once again are trying to cause continued humiliation to myself and family. There are far greater and more pressing issues going on around the world that are more important and I'm sure most people are bored reading stories that are constantly misrepresented.

'I have I am continuing to to cooperate with the relevant people on matters to the best of my ability which will be addressed after my return from work.

'Despite consistent stories trying to humiliate me on my personal misfortunes, I am neither embarrassed or ashamed. I own my situation and I am trying my best to work my out of it and put matters right.'

Price added that she was going through 'challenging times' and was doing 'the best I can' for the sake of her family.

She wrote: 'I have to continue in my work in order to satisfy these bankruptcy orders which is all I am trying to do right now. I am however not running from matters and will continue to take matters with great seriousness.

'I am doing the best I cam to rectify things during extremely challenging times. Once again I would like to highlight there are far greater and more news worthy stories.

'I will continue to work on my mental health disorders for the sake of my self and my family and do the best I can.'
Sir Keir Starmer was yesterday accused of having 'no plan' for reducing migration as he dodged questions about it in the wake of the riots. The Prime Minister was asked whether now was the time to acknowledge 'underlying tensions' in communities over record migration levels in recent years.

But during a visit to a mosque in Solihull, Birmingham, he failed to answer the question, simply saying: 'The first priority is safety and security of our communities.

'I was very keen that we were able to demonstrate that if you're involved in disorder, within days you'll be in the criminal justice system and with some people starting long terms of imprisonment.'

But Sir John Hayes, a former Tory security minister, said the PM needed to tackle the issue head on by setting out how he intends to stop small boat Channel crossings while also reducing net legal migration from the 685,000 it hit last year.

He said: 'There's been too much immigration in this country for too long and a huge proportion of the population knows that. So there are underlying tensions, fears and problems. And now that the thuggery and crime seems to have abated, we need to have a measured national conversation about that and I'm amazed that that's not recognised by the Government.'

Sir Keir Starmer was yesterday accused of having 'no plan' for reducing migration as he dodged questions about it in the wake of the riots

An inflatable dinghy carries migrants towards England in the Channel on Tuesday

Sir Keir speaks to faith leaders in Solihull. It was during a visit to a mosque in Solihull, Birmingham , that he failed to answer questions about migration, simply saying: 'The first priority is safety and security of our communities

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper praised a 'really strong' response to the riots from police and the criminal justice system, saying: 'We said from the start that criminals, thugs, would pay the price for the kind of violence and disorder we have seen on the streets'

Sir John Hayes, a former Tory security minister, said the PM needed to tackle the issue head on by setting out how he intends to stop small boat Channel crossings

It emerged this week that 4,000 small boat migrants have reached Britain since Labour came to power and scrapped the Rwanda deportation scheme. The figures appear to show that former PM Rishi Sunak was right when he claimed that migrants were 'queueing up' in Calais waiting for a Labour government to scrap the Tories' flagship immigration policy.

Sir Keir also came under fresh pressure yesterday to cancel his summer holiday plans as a poll showed that a majority of the public think he should.

The YouGov survey found seven in ten think the PM shouldn't go on holiday in the coming days amid the continued fallout from the far-Right riots. Sir Keir said that 'we don't want to let up here' during yesterday's visit when asked about ongoing efforts to ensure the unrest doesn't flare up again, suggesting he may cancel his break.

Last night Sir Keir chaired his third COBRA meeting of the week, where he reportedly told officials the country needs to remain on 'high alert'.

The Prime Minister told reporters: 'Anybody involving themselves in disorder, whatever they claim [is] their motive, will feel the full force of the law.' Saying that the sentences yesterday 'sent a very powerful message', he added: 'It is important that we don't let up here.'

After Scotland Yard launched a series of dawn raids yesterday morning, chief Sir Mark Rowley said: 'What I want to make really clear is those we've arrested aren't protesters, patriots or decent citizens. They're thugs and criminals.'

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper praised a 'really strong' response to the riots from police and the criminal justice system, saying: 'We said from the start that criminals, thugs, would pay the price for the kind of violence and disorder we have seen on the streets.'

She also pledged to crack down on those inciting violence and spreading misinformation online, adding: 'We have police officers across the country who are continuing to pursue those online cases, as well as the cases [on] the streets.'

Migrants disembark a Border Force vessel after being rescued in the Channel on Tuesday

A man is detained by police during an anti-immigrant protest in Blackpool on Tuesday

A police car is set on fire as Far-right activists hold an Enough is Enough protest in Sunderland on August 2

A man is walked to a police van as the Metropolitan Police arrests 10 people this morning following the riots in Whitehall last week

Sentencing some of the thugs in Liverpool yesterday, Judge Andrew Menary hit out at the 'baying mob' who rioted in Southport within hours of a peaceful vigil for the victims last Wednesday.

Saying they had 'disgraced and damaged' the town's reputation, he added: 'It is estimated that there were about 1,000 so called 'protesters', though quite what they were 'protesting' about remains a mystery to many. This was large scale and very violent criminal activity made much worse by the fact that it was happening only a day after entirely different, utterly tragic events.'

Merseyside Police said the last of eight children seriously injured in the holiday club stabbing had been discharged from hospital yesterday.

The family of the unnamed girl condemned the violence, saying: 'We were deeply saddened by the recent disorder and the attacks on our police force.

'It is important to highlight that, when the horrific events unfolded, our police officers were the first on the scene. We are immensely grateful to the officers who stood by our daughter's side, providing assistance and support.'

The grandfather of six-year-old victim Bebe King also called for calm. Michael Weston King, 62, wrote on social media: 'I won't comment on what has happened around the country in the aftermath, other than to say peace, love and understanding is what we need, and it is all we need. Nothing else.'
Russia has accused Britain of being behind Ukraine's remarkable 'mini-invasion' that has stunned Vladimir Putin.

Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers charged across the Russian border this week for the first time since the conflict began. Since then, these troops have reinforced their positions, suggesting Ukraine intends to hold the territory it has seized.

The move  described last night by a former UK intelligence officer as a 'masterstroke'  could prove a game-changer in future peace talks.

On state television Putin described the Ukrainian incursion into Russian territory, some 320 miles from Moscow, as a 'large scale provocation'.

In an apparent bid to deflect blame, a senior Russian politician last night accused Britain of instigating and taking part in the operation.

Adalbi Shkhagoshev, a member of the State Duma Committee told Russian media outlets: 'Britain participated in all such sorties. English was heard.'

The Kursk region, where the incursion took place, is critical for Russian gas supplies  so Moscow's highly lucrative exports of natural resources could be compromised.

Russia has accused Britain of being behind Ukraine's remarkable 'mini-invasion' that has stunned Vladimir Putin (pictured)

A graphic detailing Ukraine's 'mini-invasion' of Russia. Unverified images on social media suggested Russian conscripts surrendered near the town of Sudzha

A convoy of Ukrainian military equipment including tanks, armoured personnel carriers, a UR-77 mine-clearing vehicle, and other army machinery enters Russia

If Ukraine can hold the ground, it could be used as a bargaining chip to get back Russian-occupied areas of eastern Ukraine.

Last night, Putin faced a dilemma  accept such a strategically damaging and embarrassing loss of territory, or pull together a force capable of dislodging the Ukrainian forces.

The second option would require thousands of Russian soldiers to be withdrawn from the 700-mile frontline in eastern Ukraine, which would inevitably weaken these positions.

Last night, former British military intelligence officer Philip Ingram said: 'The mini-invasion targeted an area where Russian defences are weak. Ukraine has embarrassed Putin and the Russian military.

'They've brought the war to ordinary Russians and set the conditions for negotiations.

'It is too early to tell Ukraine's ultimate objectives, but on the surface it could be a masterstroke if they can continue the advance and hold off Russian counterattacks.'

Russia's losses include at least two Ka-52 helicopters, several tanks, and other military vehicles

Ukraine's objectives have not been spelled out but the Russians fear an aim could be to reach Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, a major strategic asset.

Kremlin chiefs were last night holding crisis meetings with officials in Kursk about how to respond.

Unverified images on social media suggested Russian conscripts surrendered near the town of Sudzha. Meanwhile, thousands of civilians have also been evacuated.

The advance began on Tuesday and late yesterday, reports suggested Ukrainian forces were up to 12 miles inside Russia. Heavy fighting was continuing.

A senior adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, said: 'Russia has consistently believed legal norms do not apply to it, thus it can attack neighbouring countries with impunity.

'But war is war, with its own rules, where the aggressor inevitably reaps corresponding outcomes.

'The root cause of any escalation, including with Russia's own territory, like Kursk, is solely Russia's unequivocal aggression.'

Previous Ukrainian incursions into Russian territory have been 'hit and run' missions, but this operation involves regular troops with support from artillery, engineers and drones.
Foreign student and worker arrivals have dropped by more than a third this year as a result of a crackdown on legal migration instigated by the Conservatives.

New figures show a 35 per cent decrease in visa applications for health and care staff, skilled workers and students between January and July compared with the same period last year.

The biggest fall has been among overseas healthcare staff wanting to work in the NHS or care homes, after the former Tory administration stopped them bringing their families with them.

Applications for Health and Care Worker visas plunged by a massive 81 per cent between April and July this year, following the introduction of the restrictions in March, compared with the same period in 2023.

There were only 2,900 main applicants in July, down from 16,200 a year earlier.

Sponsored study visa applications fell by 16 per cent from January to July last year to the same period this year, from 187,100 to 156,800 (stock)

Foreign student and worker arrivals have dropped by more than a third this year as a result of a crackdown on legal migration instigated by the Conservatives (Heathrow Airport border control)

The Home Office statistics published yesterday also revealed a drop in international students since January when new rules came into force meaning they could not bring dependents except on postgraduate research courses.

Sponsored study visa applications fell by 16 per cent from January to July last year to the same period this year, from 187,100 to 156,800.

Applications for dependents dropped by a massive 81 per cent over the same period.

However Skilled Worker visa applications rose by 26 per cent between April and July this year compared to the year before, with a peak of 10,100 in April.

Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly hailed the figures as proof that his tougher rules - announced last December amid alarm among Tories that voters would punish them for overseeing record levels of immigration - were working, even if it will be Labour who feel the benefit.

He said: 'We know net migration is too high, which is why when I became Home Secretary I introduced a record migration cut within weeks of being appointed. Today's data continues to show my stricter approach is working, with student and health care dependents banned and skilled workers and family visas requiring much higher earnings.'

Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly hailed the figures as proof that his tougher rules announced last December were working

Cleverly's successor Yvette Cooper (pictured) has paused his plan to increase the income needed to bring a foreign partner to the UK from 29,000 to 38,700 and asked the Migration Advisory Committee to review the level

But he warned that the new Labour government risks jeopardising his attempts to cut net migration - the number of people moving to the UK minus those leaving - after it reached a record 764,000 in 2022.

His successor Yvette Cooper has paused his plan to increase the income needed to bring a foreign partner to the UK from 29,000 to 38,700 and asked the Migration Advisory Committee to review the level. New Science Minister Lord Vallance has suggested relaxing visa rules for scientists.

Tory leadership candidate Mr Cleverly said: 'Visa applications are down by more than a third where we took action, but Labour want to put this all at risk. They have already binned our Conservative plans to raise the earnings threshold for family dependents, while their Ministers openly advocate for lowering EU visa restrictions.

'They never cared about controlling our borders and they will leave the British people to pick up the bill.'

During the election campaign, Sir Keir Starmer said he wanted to reduce 'sky-high' migration but would not put a figure on it while Rishi Sunak vowed to halve the number of arrivals.
The wife of a retired British doctor lost in the French Pyrenees has said he 'did not have the complete and necessary equipment' for hiking alone in the perilous mountain range.

Tom Doherty, 67, from St Albans, was hiking and camping near Col d'Escots when his family lost contact with him on Tuesday after he sent a message reading: 'Help, I've fallen and cannot move.'

A desperate search is now underway involving dogs and helicopters, but has been hampered by poor visibility - causing great concern for his family including wife Anne, who has admitted that he 'doesn't know the mountain well'.

The couple, from St Albans, Herts, own a home in south-west France where the esteemed tropical medicine consultant has spent a large part of his retirement over the last decade.

He was last in contact with his family at 7.07pm, telling them he had fallen and could not move via a WhatsApp group chat.

Have you heard anything? Contact lettice.bromovsky@mailonline.co.uk

Mr Doherty (right, with his wife) was last heard from on Tuesday evening while hiking in France

Search operations in the region have been hampered by poor visibility (pictured: gendarmes with a dog in the area)

One of the last pictures sent by Mr Doherty of his walk in the Pyrenees before he went missing on Tuesday

Mr Doherty told his family he had fallen and could not move before disappearing

Speaking to the FranceInfo outlet on Thursday, Ms Doherty said he regularly hiked alone, but only for 'two to three-hour walks', and 'he doesn't know the mountain well.'

She said: 'He toured the Pyrenees 15 years ago,' adding that he 'did not have the complete and necessary equipment' for long solo hikes.

Ms Doherty, who is now in France and involved in the search for her husband, said they had found his abandoned car.

Describing the moment the family received his message, she said: 'We panicked. When I arrived in France, I hoped that they had found him and that we would be in the hospital.

'But, in the afternoon with the fog, we lost confidence, especially for a 67-year-old man spending a second night alone in these conditions.

'We have a lot of worries, but we have not lost hope. This is why we are appealing for witnesses. If anyone has seen him, if anyone knows in which campsite he has pitched his tent, please alert the police.'

Ms Doherty said she knows her husband was in Ax-les-Thermes, a ski resort in the Ariege department, close to Andorra, earlier in the week.

'We know this because he went hiking and camping,' she said.. 'Every day we received photos and messages.

'And then on Tuesday, around 8pm, while we were in England, everyone received messages saying: 'Help, I've fallen and cannot move.' And then nothing more.'

Ms Doherty arrived in France from the UK on Wednesday, along with her daughter, Rachel.

Ms Doherty said: 'Since Tuesday, we have had no contact with him. He doesn't receive any messages. He does not answer. We therefore launched the alert from England.

'Since Wednesday, searches have been carried out in the mountains with dogs and helicopters, but fog appeared, which made the operation difficult.

'My daughter and I took a flight to arrive very early on Wednesday morning. We went up to the Col d'Escots in Ustou and found his car.

'We know he's camping somewhere in the area, but not exactly where. During the day, someone saw him near the Aube pond car park, near the Gerarc circle.

'He was tired, but he wanted to continue. Later, he was probably injured in an accident. Now we don't know where he is.'

Tom (right) and his wife Anne (left). The family are appealing for any information that could help find him

His daughter said he had sent pictures of the local scenery before going missing, with clouds coming over a mountain and the caption 'bugger'.

The family shared a photo taken by Mr Doherty that he took on Saturday, before vanishing

Mr Doherty, a grandfather of one who has been described as an avid and experienced walker, set off in the Pyrenees on Saturday. He has three daughters and one son.

'The last time we heard from him was Tuesday,' Rachel told the PA news agency. She plans to head to France.

'He told us he had fallen and couldn't move. That's all we've had since.

'The search party have found a tent and his car. We're obviously very worried and extremely concerned for his welfare.'

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man missing in France and are in touch with the local authorities.'

Clare Carlile, a family friend, posted on the UKClimbing mountaineering website late Tuesday, asking for help in identifying a spot in the mountains Mr Doherty photographed on Saturday before going missing on Tuesday.

She said he was likely to be in Ariege, in the Occitanie region of France.

'The image shared is from Saturday - we are trying to work out his direction of travel in case it gives some idea of where he may be now,' she said.

'He sent a message during the day saying he was 'somewhere near Ax-Les-Thermes'.'

One user suggested it might be a hiking trail called Pic de Seron et Valle de Turguilla.

His disappearance comes after a series of high profile disappearances in mountain ranges.

Teenager Jay Slater fell to his death in a ravine on Tenerife in June after trying to walk home from a night out on holiday, while TV presenter Michael Mosley died after taking a wrong turn on the Greek island of Symi earlier in the same month.
It's fair to say that Princess Beatrice's fashion low point was the hat that was compared to a toilet seat, a pretzel and even a Turkey Twizzler.

To make things worse, the royal wore the Philip Treacy headpiece to the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, so millions were watching on TV.

But last month, more than 13 years on from that sartorial faux pas, Beatrice was crowned the best-dressed person of 2024 by Tatler.

The dramatic turnaround for the Princess, who turns 36 today, is at least partly down to celebrity stylist Olivia Buckingham, who introduced Beatrice to haute couture fashion.

Olivia is also the brains behind the style of actress Carey Mulligan, model Poppy Delevingne, and socialite Nicky Hilton.

Celebrity stylist Olivia Buckingham introduced Princess Beatrice to haute couture fashion. Beatrice wore a lavish dress by Lebanese designer Reem Acra to the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa of Jordan last year

The royal's style has evolved significantly since the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, where she famously wore a Philip Treacy hat that was compared to a toilet seat, a pretzel and even a Turkey Twizzler

Last year, Beatrice wowed in an exquisite satin gown by Lebanese designer Reem Acra at the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa of Jordan.

Paired with the glittering York Tiara, it was one of the royal's finest looks to date.

Beatrice's current, refined style marks a departure from her earlier, more eclectic choices that comprised colour clashes and quirky headpieces.

Unlike the late Queen Elizabeth and Kate Middleton, renowned for their rainbow wardrobes, Beatrice favours soft, muted tones and delicate floral prints.

Dr Carolyn Mair, cognitive psychologist and fashion business consultant, and author of The Psychology of Fashion, told Mail Online of the importance of colour choices.

'Colour plays a significant role in how we perceive and express ourselves.

'Different colours evoke different emotions and moods, allowing us to communicate our individuality and preferences.

'For example, vibrant and warm colours like red and yellow are often associated with energy, positivity and stimulation, while cooler tones like blue and green are linked, mainly through sociocultural associations, to calmness, tranquility and relaxation.'

Indeed, Beatrice has donned blue, sage, cream, powder pink and beige on a number of occasions - and appears particularly comfortable in these subtle hues.

Beatrice has donned blue on a number of occasions - and appears particularly comfortable in the toned-down hue. Above: Beatrice in a dazzling Needle & Thread gown (left) while in Jordan for the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa last year; in an ice blue Self-Portrait dress at the Art of Wishes gala dinner at Raffles London last October

Princess Beatrice chose a striking Roksanda dress for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in 2018

Beatrice is a fan of sage green, which is linked to calmness, tranquillity and relaxation, according to Dr Carolyn Mair. Above: Beatrice almost experienced a wardrobe malfunction at Swarovski Fashion Rocks 2007 (left). In 2022 though, her style had improved. She wore Markarian's 'Dana' sequin gown with a Tyler Ellis 'Lee' pouchet at the Alchemist's Feast in London

An ice blue Self-Portrait dress, worn to the Art of Wishes Gala Dinner at Raffles London last October, was a standout look.

Crafted from guipure lace, the demure mid-length design boasted a flattering peplum hem and ribbon belt.

The muted hue complemented the royal's sun-kissed complexion, while promoting a calm and confident visual.

'Biologically, there is evidence to suggest that certain colours can elicit physiological responses,' Dr Mair explained.

'For instance, exposure to the colour red has been shown to increase heart rate and stimulate appetite and has been found to be associated with the perception of danger, sexiness and power.

'Meanwhile, blue has been found to have a calming effect and lower blood pressure and is associated with confidence and competence.

'These biological responses to colour can influence our mood and well-being.'

When Beatrice does opt for bold colours, they are teamed with ditsy patterns and structured silhouettes.

However, this has not always been the case.

Beatrice raised eyebrows when she wore an emerald green mini dress, complete with an elasticated belt, gold clutch and patent black heels, to Royal Ascot in 2009 (left). The royal sported almost identical colours at this year's races, yet the outfit had a remarkably different feel

The princess has now mastered the art of selecting flattering shapes for her figure, favouring fit-and-flare or belted dresses that accentuate her slender waist. Above: At Royal Ascot in 2012, Beatrice wore an ill-fitting Erdem dress (left). This year, she stunned in a floral dress by Zimmermann

Beatrice raised eyebrows when she wore an emerald green mini dress, complete with an elasticated belt, gold clutch and patent black heels, to Royal Ascot in 2009.

The royal sported almost identical colours at this year's races, yet the outfit had a remarkably different feel.

Beatrice's Emilia Wickstead floral dress featured a corsetry-inspired waist and flared skirt that fell to the shin, perfectly encapsulating her newfound elegant style.

Keeping focus on her frock, she chose coordinating cream-coloured accessories.

Olivia Buckingham has introduced the princess to sought-after labels, such as The Vampire's Wife (which recently went into liquidation), Saloni, Beulah and Monique Lhuillier, complemented by luxurious accessories from Manolo Blahnik and Roger Vivier.

Beatrice has mastered the art of selecting flattering shapes for her figure, favouring fit-and-flare or belted dresses that accentuate her slender waist.

She has also focused more on styling her tresses, transforming her previously unstyled hairdos into glossy Hollywood-style waves and sleek ponytails.

Princess Beatrice was immaculately clad in a Sandro dress and Pretty Ballerina shoes for a discussion about emotional intelligence in the age of artificial intelligence with Spotify in June

Olivia Buckingham has introduced the princess to sought-after labels, such as Gucci (left) and The Vampire's Wife (right)

The royal appeared resplendent at Vogue World: London 2023 in a floral cape dress by Richard Quinn, elevated by Paris Texas slingback shoes

Since 2014, Beatrice has steadily adopted longer and more streamlined silhouettes for a suitably sophisticated look.

She appeared resplendent at Vogue World: London 2023 in a floral cape dress by Richard Quinn, elevated by Paris Texas slingback shoes.

Hot off the catwalk, the striking pleated dress was completed with full length gloves.

The radical evolution of the Princess's style might all be part of a plan to shift the public perception of her.

'Famous people understand the significant impact of their public image and so they use clothing to shape perceptions, create narratives, and reinforce their personal brand or the image associated with their profession or projects. This is known as impression management,' Dr Mair explained.

'Done correctly, it can ensure that they leave a lasting and impactful impression on their audience.'
It was a tragedy that made national newspaper headlines. At 3pm on April 17, in the year 1900, a 19-year-old holidaymaker was swept from the rocks off the coast of Filey, a North Yorkshire seaside town popular for its sandy beaches and rugged cliffs. Despite the frantic efforts of friends, the teenager, Margaret Middleton, drowned in the roiling sea and her body was never found.

What did wash up on the shore a few days later was her camera. A keen photographer, Margaret had been standing on the edge of the long narrow peninsula known as Filey Brigg taking a snap of the breakers when she was hit by a sudden groundswell of water. It was an early equivalent of taking a selfie on a cliff edge. The make of camera wasnt reported at the time, but Eastman Kodak had only unveiled the Box Brownie earlier that year.

Margarets death devastated her family, but it did not deter them from the art of photography. Her brothers, Noel and William, and her nephew, Peter, were all keen amateurs. Today, so too is her great-nephew Michael Middleton ... and Michaels daughter Kate, the Princess of Wales.

For Margaret is Kates great-great aunt, whose own photographic skills are regularly on display today in the official pictures of her children, Princes George and Louis, and Princess Charlotte.

Until now, the manner of Margarets death has been lost to the mists of time. No one remembered the quirk of fate that led to her tragically young loss, nor the link with her great-great niece that so resonates today.

Her story can now be revealed thanks to the work of historian Michael Reed, a high school teacher in Melbourne, Australia, who began researching Kates family tree with his students after she married Prince William in 2011. Over the years his interest has grown, and he has carried on digging through the archives remotely.

It is extraordinary that so many generations of the Middleton family were keen photographers, he says now. It is obviously in their blood. But it is tragic to discover that her great-great aunt paid for her love of photography with her life. Her family must have been devastated. She was so young and had such a promising future in front of her.

The Duchess of Cambridge, a keen photographer, holds a camera as she takes part in a workshop with the charity Action for Children in Kingston, South-West London

Indeed Margaret was clearly an unusual and determined young woman, devoted to her artistic hobby and bright enough to be on her way to Oxford University  until that fateful day on the Yorkshire rocks.

The holiday had been a happy one until then. It was the Easter break and Filey was a favourite destination of the Middleton family. On this occasion, Margaret had assembled a group of young friends to accompany her, including her cousin Henry Middleton and friend Rachel Dodgson, daughter of the renowned Egyptologist Aquila Dodgson.

Two days after Easter Day, on the afternoon of April 17, the friends decided to stroll along the coast to the Brigg  a long headland about a mile north of the town, with fossil-rich cliffs of limestone and sandstone up to 20 metres high on either side, sandy beaches below, and at the end a ledge of flatter rock.

Miss Middleton proceeded with her friends to the Brigg for the purpose of taking some photographs of the waves breaking over the rocks, stated a news report in the Yorkshire Evening Post.

It was about an hour from high water at the time. In order to get a better view of the waves breaking on the furthest point of the Brigg, Miss Middleton advanced on to the ledge of the rock, and the next moment a tremendous wave broke in her vicinity. The sea was rough and now Margaret was in trouble. Her sister called to her to come back, but the water surged over the surface of rock and surrounded Miss Middleton up to the knees. The next second she was swept off into about ten feet of water.

You can only imagine the chaos and fear in that instant, as Margaret struggled to the surface, only to be pulled back down again and again. Three times she was seen battling in the sea but there was no means of effecting a rescue, there being an entire absence of life-saving appliances on the Brigg, continued the news report.

Her cousin Mr Henry D Middleton broke open a refreshment hut on the Brigg near the spot but found nothing inside with which to make an effort at rescue. After she was seen the third time, she disappeared and was not seen again. Her friends were only a few yards from her at the time of the accident.

The friends must have then rushed back to Filey bay to get help  but in vain. It was impossible for a coble [a flat-bottomed fishing boat] to have reached the spot where Miss Middleton disappeared owing to the heavy ground swell and the rocks, said the Yorkshire Evening Post. Had they made an attempt, the fishermen declare that their craft would have been dashed to pieces.

Later, several cobles searched the sea at low tide  but her body was never recovered.

Kates great-great aunt Margaret Middleton, centre back, was swept from rocks off the coast of Filey, North Yorkshire. Her camera washed up on the shore but her body was never found

The princess's grandfather Peter was an RAF pilot, and when Kate was a child, he showed her his slides and taught her how to use a camera

It seems the Middleton familys love of photography goes back even further than Margaret, for though she was just six when her father died, its highly likely she inherited her hobby from him.

Born in 1839  the year that Louis Daguerre developed the daguerreotype, the earliest form of publicly available camera  John was a solicitor by profession and worked at the law firm Messrs Middleton & Sons, founded five years before his birth by his father William. He and his wife Mary, the daughter of a cloth finisher, married in 1863 and had eight children from 1865 to 1880  Gilbert, Olive, Ellen, William, twins Caroline and Gertrude, Noel on Christmas Day 1878 and, finally, Margaret.

The family split their time between their four-storey bow-fronted townhouse in Hyde Terrace, Leeds, near the family firm, and their country home, Fairfield, in Far Headingley. Both houses were crammed full of antiques, oil paintings, silver and crystal, and contained at least one camera, for we know John dabbled in photography in his spare time.

John handled all the legal work for Leeds Permanent Benefit Building Society, was president of the Leeds Law Society, and also founded the Leeds and County Conservative Club, acting as an election agent for Tory parliamentary candidate Richard Dawson in 1885 and 1886.

Perhaps it was overwork that caused his heart disease. By 1887, he was suffering from angina, and after returning to Yorkshire on a Friday after acting for a Leeds businessman in a case at Londons Chancery Court, he suffered a heart attack. John died at the age of 48, at home in Far Headingley on July 16 1887, a month after Queen Victorias Golden Jubilee.

It is in his obituary in the Leeds Times, published a week after his death, that we learn of his artistic hobby. A brief line records: He was an adept in photography, and an active member of the Leeds Philosophical Society.

After Johns death, his widow and children lived in Hyde Terrace, but there was more heartache to come. Just two years later, Mary died of typhoid fever and a pulmonary embolism while on holiday in that same favourite seaside town, Filey.

Fortunately, she left 13,627 in her will  worth more than 2 million today  meaning the children would still live a privileged lifestyle, with those of school age remaining at private school. The girls all went to Leeds Girls High School while Margaret and Gertrude would later board at St Leonards School, in St Andrews, Fife, an exclusive ladies school modelled on Eton.

Kate has taken several photos of the family that have been released by Kensington Palace, including this one in Norfolk, which was published on William's 42nd birthday

The family had three servants, a nurse, cook and housemaid, to help care for the children. But that was no compensation for the loss of both their parents at such a desperately young age  or the tragedy which was yet to come.

By the time of Margarets death in 1900, the oldest child Gilbert, then 34, had qualified as a solicitor and was married with two children while younger brother William, 25, was an engineer, recently married to Agnes.

Kates great-grandfather Noel was 22, and after graduating from Leeds University, followed in the family tradition by becoming an articled clerk. He lived at Hyde Terrace with his five unmarried sisters, though both Margaret and Gertrude were due to join their cousin Henry at Oxford later that year  a rare privilege for women at the time. Of course Margaret never made it; Gertrude went up alone.

After her death, her siblings donated a beautifully carved prayer desk to Leeds Girls, bought with the remains of her pocket money. It bore a brass plaque with the inscription The sea is His and He made it.

All of the sisters were deeply religious and philanthropic, volunteering for girls and womens charities, including the Womens University Settlement, which was co-founded by social reformer Helen Gladstone, daughter of the late Liberal Prime Minister, to live among the poor, visit them, and get to know them in order to help them help themselves.

In a sermon shortly after Margarets death, Reverend A H Pete, senior curate at St Georges Church in Leeds, recognised one of the brightest and youngest of those worshipping among them had in a moment passed into the immediate presence of her Lord.

While she is the only one of the girls known to have inherited their fathers photographic ambitions, the boys took up the hobby too.

Her older brother William moved to Lymington in Hampshire and in his spare time photographed churches for the Photographic Section of the Hampshire Field Club.

Kates great-grandfather Noel was another keen amateur, perhaps even by way of tribute to the sister he was so close to. In turn, he passed that interest to the youngest of his three sons Peter, the Princess of Wales grandfather and the man she credits with teaching her how to use a camera.

Peter was an RAF pilot, who flew in peace time for British European Airways and was First Officer to the late Duke of Edinburgh when he piloted himself on a flying tour of South America in 1962. When Kate was a child, he showed her his slides, perhaps of his travels, to pique her interest.

And it certainly worked. Both Peters son Michael Middleton, who took the first official photograph of his grandson Prince George after he was born, and of course Kate, are keen photographers.

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When Kate went to St Andrews University to read history of art, she also studied photography and wrote her final dissertation on the photographs of Lewis Carroll.

Kate is also rumoured to have flown to New York for a couple of lessons with Mario Testino, a favourite of Princess Diana, who memorably photographed the princess shortly before her death.

She took the cover photograph of Queen Camilla for her profile in Country Life magazine to celebrate her landmark 75th birthday two years ago. Country Lifes managing editor Paula Lester described her as incredibly professional about the job, taking it very seriously and creating a set of beautifully shot images. Today Kate is also a patron of the Royal Photographic Society.

Of course, Kates pictures have not always earned praise. On Mothers Day this year, she suffered a backlash when the photograph she posted of her three children, reportedly taken by Prince William, was digitally altered and multiple picture agencies issued kill notices on the image.

Kate, who was recovering from abdominal surgery at the time  and had yet to reveal her cancer diagnosis  immediately apologised, although she had actually done nothing wrong.

Kate has also contributed two images to the Imperial War Museums 2023 exhibition Generations: Portraits of Holocaust Survivors.

In 2007 she put on an exhibition of work by the celebrity portrait photographer Alistair Morrison, whom she met as a history of art student at St Andrews, to raise money for the United Nations childrens fund Unicef.

She is very, very good, and it shows, said Morrison. She takes very beautiful, detailed photographs. She has a huge talent and a great eye.

Its a talent, and a passion, that clearly runs in the family. Tragic Margaret Middleton did not live to enjoy her art, but you feel shed be very proud to know how successful and renowned her great-great niece turned out to be.
After a month of rain and dreary days over the UK, it might come as a surprise for many Brits to learn that last month was the second hottest July on record.

According to data gathered by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the average surface temperature in July hit 16.91C (62.4F) - only 0.04C (0.07F) cooler than the previous high in July 2023.

This marks the first time in over a year that a month has not been the hottest on record.

However, despite not breaking the monthly record, last month still saw the hottest day ever as average temperatures reached 17.16C (62.89F) on 22 July.

And with the average temperature of the last six months already 0.27C (0.49F) higher than 2023, it is almost certain that this year will prove to be the hottest ever.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service has revealed that last month was the second hottest July on record, with temperatures just 0.04C (0.07F) below the record temperatures set in 2023

C3S uses data gathered from millions of aircraft, ships, weather stations, and satellites to calculate the average temperatures around the world.

This data collection revealed that last month's global average surface temperature was 0.68C (1.22F) above the 1991-2020 average for July.

Over the last six months, the average global temperature has been 0.27C higher than the same period for 2023, which makes it extremely likely that 2024 will go on to be the hottest year on record.

However, this also brings a streak of 13 consecutive months of record breaking temperatures to a close.

As the 2024 Paris Olympic Games opened in July, extreme temperatures across the continent raised fears that fans might be exposed to dangerous extreme heat. Organisers responded by installing water misters to help visitors cool off (pictured)

July 2024 included the two hottest days in history as global average temperatures hit 17.16C on July 22

Hottest months on record July 2023 - 62.51F (16.95C)

- 62.51F (16.95C) June 2024 - 61.98F (16.66C)

- 61.98F (16.66C) May 2024 - 60.6F (15.91C)

- 60.6F (15.91C) April 2024 - 59.05F (15.03C)

- 59.05F (15.03C) March 2024 - 57.4F (14.14C)

- 57.4F (14.14C) February 2024 - 56.3F (13.54C)

- 56.3F (13.54C) January 2024 - 55.6F (13.14C) (Figures refer to global average air temperature for the month) Advertisement

Last month's data also shows that the average global surface air temperature for the month were 1.48C (2.66F) above the estimated July average for 1850-1900 - the period defined as 'pre-industrial'.

This is the first time in a year that monthly average temperatures have not exceeded the 1.5C (2.7F) limit which nations committed to avoiding in as part of the Paris Agreement.

However, monthly measurements more than 1.5C above average do not mean that the world has already passed this threshold.

Due to monthly and yearly variations, the measurements targeted by the Paris Agreement look at the average temperature over decades rather than months or years.

However, long runs of record-breaking months are a sign of ongoing changes in our atmosphere.

Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the C3S, says: 'The streak of record-breaking months has come to an end, but only by a whisker.

Despite high global temperatures, the UK saw a July that was wetter and colder than average

'The overall context hasnt changed, our climate continues to warm.

'The devastating effects of climate change started well before 2023 and will continue until global greenhouse gas emissions reach net-zero.'

Within Europe, areas in the south and east saw the most severe heat conditions as a deadly heat wave struck the Mediterranean.

Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and Morocco all experienced extreme heat in July which caused at least 23 fatalities.

Dr Friederike Otto, co-founder of World Weather Attribution, says: 'The end of record-breaking monthly temperatures is not cause for celebration.

'The planet has heated by about 1.3C since humans first started burning oil, gas, and coal. However, some places are heating faster than the global average, including Europe.'

Met Office data shows that England was wetter than average in July as the country saw average temperatures slightly below the 1991-2020 average

In France, where the Paris 2024 Olympic Games began in late July, this led to concerns that the athletes and fans could be put at risk by extreme heat.

Outside of Europe, the most severe temperatures were experienced over the Western United States, Africa, and the Middle East.

A recent study conducted by World Weather Attribution found that the persistent heat experienced by some countries in July would not have happened without climate change.

Dr Otto says: 'To stop climate change, we need to stop burning fossil fuels, stop deforestation and replace them with renewable energy.

Despite lower average temperatures, the UK still experienced extreme heat as the Met Office issued a yellow health warning in late July as temperatures hit 30C in London (pictured)

'We have all the technology and know-how to do that, it will also increase the quality of life for the vast majority of people. We just lack the political will.'

The UK meanwhile, saw a July that was both cooler and wetter than average.

Data from the Met Office shows that most of England and the East coast of the UK saw more rainfall than expected for this time of year.

However, towards the end of the month the Met Office was forced to issue a yellow heat health warning as temperatures rose to 30C (86F) in London.

C3S also revealed that global sea surface temperatures were also at their second-highest value for the month and only 0.01C (0.018F) below July 2023.

However, C3S data also shows that temperatures above the Equatorial Pacific had below average temperatures, indicating that a La Nina year could be beginning to form.

Global sea surface temperatures were also at their second-highest value for the month and only 0.01C (0.018F) below July 2023

With global temperatures remaining high, it is likely that 2024 will be the hottest year on record. So far, temperatures have been so hot that volunteers at the Paris Olympic Games have resorted to carrying fans around the grounds

La Nina is a global weather event which brings cold waters to the surface of the Pacific, pushing the jet stream northwards.

This usually causes a decrease in global average temperatures as well as drought over the southern United States and flooding in the Pacific Northwest.

However, while global events like La Nina or El Nino shift the average global temperature they do not alter the total amount of heat trapped on the planet.

This means that their fluctuations are only temporary and cannot alter the average shift towards a warmer climate caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases.

Dr Otto adds: 'Even without El Nino, the world continues to experience incredibly dangerous levels of heat.'
It's one of the most instantly recognisable maps in the world.

But the London Underground map has been given a makeover - and its creator claims the new version is more geographically accurate than Transport for London's (TfL's) original.

Dr Max Roberts, a cartographer based in Essex, has created a 'concentric-circles-and-spokes' map, charting the stations across all 11 lines of the London Underground, as well as the Elizabeth Line, Croydon Tramlink, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), Overground, Great Northern City Line, and Thameslink Services.

Speaking to MailOnline, Dr Roberts explained: 'I think that my map shows just how bad things are getting with the official design.

'My version uses unusual Avant-garde design rules, and yet is more orderly and spatially correct than a map that uses tried-and-tested standard design rules.'

The London Underground map has been given a makeover - and its creator claims the new version is more geographically accurate than Transport for London's (TfL's) original

The original London Underground map is one of the most instantly recognisable maps in the world

The original London Underground map was drawn up almost 90 years ago by Harry Beck, an electrical draughtsman who based his map on the circuit drawings used in his day job, rather than focusing on geography.

TfL explained: 'Beck's map was initially rejected by the publicity department because it was considered too radical but a successful trial print-run showed that it was just what the public wanted.

'The result was an instantly clear and comprehensible chart that would become an essential guide to London - and a template for transport maps the world over.'

To this day, millions of passengers use Beck's map to navigate the city.

TfL has added several modifications and additions here and there, but Dr Roberts claims that the map is still not up to scratch.

Dr Max Roberts, a cartographer based in Essex, has created a 'concentric-circles-and-spokes' map, charting the stations across all 11 lines of the London Underground, as well as the Elizabeth Line, Croydon Tramlink, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), Overground, Great Northern City Line, and Thameslink Services

Today's tube map: Used by millions everyday to navigate the 402km-long network of London tube stops

'The current Underground map is in a very poor state indeed, especially the pocket version,' he told MailOnline.

'The lines twist and turn all over the place, ruining the simplicity of the design, and many parts of London are warped, with stations in completely the wrong places.

'Part of the problem is that too much is squeezed into the map: the pocket version is almost exactly the same size as the Henry Beck 1933 original but has over 100 extra stations.'

Dr Roberts first set out to tackle this issue back in 2013, when he created 'Version 1' of his concentric-circles-and-spokes map.

'The Overground loop from Highbury to Clapham Junction and back to Highbury had just been completed,' he explained.

'Several people suggested that a good way to publicise this would be a new Tube map with circles on it, but I thought that the designs that tried this were a bit untidy: the straight lines and the curves weren't mixing together well.

'So, I tried a map based on concentric circles and spokes radiating from a central point, which is much more organised.

The cartographer was inspired to recreate his original map after spotting a similar map, which was jointly released by TfL and Samsung to advertise the Galaxy S24 Ultra

'This new map made a big impact and went viral.'

Now, Dr Roberts has released Version 2 of the map, which has been 'completely updated and revised'.

The cartographer was inspired to recreate his original map after spotting a similar map, which was jointly released by TfL and Samsung in January to advertise the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

'[Samsung and TfL's map] uses exactly the same design principles as my map, but it wasn't intended for real use,' he explained.

'It left out the Overground and the Elizabeth Line and twisted up the Underground lines in all sorts of crazy ways.'

'So I wanted to show that the design principles that I tried back in 2013 were not just for fun and could still be applied today on a serious map that could be used for journey planning.

The original London Underground map (pictured) was drawn up almost 90 years ago by Harry Beck, an electrical draughtsman who based his map on the circuit drawings used in his day job, rather than focusing on geography

'I worked hard to show clearly the routes taken by the lines, and to minimise geographical distortion where it matters most: how nearby stations relate to each other.'

Dr Roberts posted the new map on X (Twitter) earlier this week, and it has already been viewed over one million times.

'This looks great - understand why the real TfL map evolved but this does seem more relevant,' one delighted viewer replied.

Another added: 'I'm coming around to the idea that this might now be better than the actual tube map. Something that I thought I wouldn't say in my lifetime.'

And one joked: 'THIS is what I need when trying to figure out where stuff is!'

While Dr Roberts claims his new map is more accurate than TfL's, he doesn't expect it to be implemented by the local government body any time soon.

'I'm not sure what they would make of this design, trying out something this new would be a major step for them,' he added.
Scientists have sounded the alarm about the Great Barrier Reef's demise after making a starling discovery.

They found that ocean temperatures around the natural wonder are now the hottest in at least 400 years, reaching 0.34 degrees Fahrenheit above the previous record high.

Researchers warned that if the warming continues, the iconic ecosystem could disappear in the next 30 years.

The findings were made by drilling the cores of coral to identify geochemical changes and reconstruct past sea-surface temperatures.

Aerial photo shows bleached and dead coral around Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef, April 4, 2024. Researchers warned that if the warming continues , the iconic ecosystem could disappear in the next 30 years

'If humanity does not divert from its current course, our generation will likely witness the demise of one of Earths great natural wonders,' Benjamin Henley, the study's lead author at the University of Melbourne, wrote for The Conversation.

The research team, which spanned several Australian universities, analyzed long-lived corals in and around the reef.

These corals keep a record of ocean temperatures in their skeletons, which the researchers used to reconstruct sea surface temperatures from 1618 to 1995, alongside modern sea surface temperature measurements spanning 1900 to 2024.

Co-author Helen McGregor said it was like counting the rings of a tree to determine its age.

Their research concluded sea-surface temperatures in the Coral Sea were relatively stable and cool for centuries before rapid increases to unprecedented levels recorded between January and March, posing a danger to the reef.

The analysis revealed that ocean temperatures around the reef have climbed significantly since 1960, and five of the six hottest years on record occurred in the last decade.

'From 1960 to 2024, we observed annual average summer warming of 0.216F per decade,' researchers share in The Conversation.

They found that ocean temperatures around the natural wonder are now the hottest in at least 400 years, reaching 0.34 degrees Fahrenheit above the previous record high

The research team drilled coral skeletal cores on the Great Barrier Reef to create a record of climate data.

The researchers linked this temperature rise to human-driven climate change.

'Right now the great barrier reef is in danger,' Henley told DailyMail.com.

'Severe mass bleaching events are likely to occur in the coming years.'

Scientists have long said additional loss of coral is likely to be a casualty of future warming as the world approaches the 2.7F threshold that countries agreed to try and keep warming under in the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

Even if global warming is kept under the Paris Agreements goal, which scientists say Earth is almost guaranteed to cross, 70 percent to 90 percent of corals across the globe could be threatened, the study's authors said.

Australia's Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, covering 133,000 square miles- an areal larger than the size of Italy - off the coast of Queensland. It's so big that it's visible from space.

The Great Barrier Reef draws more than two million tourists each year.

Rising ocean temperatures are driving mass coral bleaching events in the Great Barrier Reef

This biodiversity hotspot is home to more than 9,000 known species, including 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusks.

It also supports tourism, fishing and other commercial industries. The total economic value of the reef is estimated at $56 billion, and it supports roughly 64,000 jobs.

But that could soon change, scientists warn.

When ocean temperatures get too hot, it causes corals to expel the algae that lives in their tissues.

This process, known as coral bleaching, turns corals completely white, deprives them of their main food source and makes them more vulnerable to disease.

Corals can survive bleaching, but they need time to recover, Henley said. He's concerned that the frequency of mass bleaching events could increase as ocean temperatures continue to rise.

Having even one mass bleaching event per year would make it extremely difficult for corals to recover, he said, putting them at greater risk of death.

This summer, the Great Barrier Reef suffered its most extensive and extreme mass bleaching event on record, scientists at the Australian Institute of Marine Science said in a separate report published this week.

It was the reef's fifth mass bleaching event in just eight years.

This study offers a new perspective on how rising ocean temperatures have impacted the Great Barrier Reef over the long term, and how they will continue to impact the reef into the future, Henley said.

As climate change progresses, its affect on the Great Barrier Reef will be felt on both local and international scales, and in terms of both environmental and economic impacts

'It's a place of spectacular beauty, and it's ecologically unique,' Henley said, adding, 'It's a very special place, and we are losing it.'
When NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore set off to the International Space Station (ISS) in June, the pair expected to be back home just eight days later.

However, the astronauts are now stranded on the ISS due to Boeing's faulty Starliner - and have received the horrifying news that they might not come back to Earth until February 2025.

NASA has revealed a contingency plan that could launch a SpaceX's Crew-9 mission in September, but still wouldn't bring the crew home until months later.

On social media, concerned fans have reacted with horror at the situation, calling the delay 'torture'.

And for many, the thought of being trapped on the ISS is a terrifying idea, with one commenter simply writing: 'New nightmare unlocked'.

When NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore set off to the International Space Station (ISS) in June, the pair expected to be back home just eight days later. However, the astronauts are now stranded on the ISS due to Boeing's faulty Starliner - and have received the horrifying news that they might not come back to Earth until February 2025

On X, formerly Twitter, many commenters wrote that being trapped in space like Williams and Wilmore was a 'nightmare'

Mr Wilmore, 61, and Ms Williams, 58, flew to the ISS at the beginning of June on board a Boeing Starliner spacecraft.

However, problems including helium leaks and thruster failures began to emerge as the spacecraft approached the ISS.

Thankfully, the pair managed to dock to the ISS safely, but the problems have scuppered their plans to return to Earth on board the same Boeing Starliner.

Tuesday marked the pair's 60the day in space - instead of the intended eight-day mission.

Last week, Boeing said that it 'remains confident in the Starliner spacecraft and its ability to return safely with crew.'

It now seems more likely that the Williams and Wilmore will need to wait for the arrival of a SpaceX mission in September.

Tuesday marked 60 days the Starliner crew has been in space when the initial plan was just eight days

One concerned commenter said that the situation faced by the NASA astronauts was 'inhumane and torture'

That flight had been planned to take four astronauts to the ISS but two of the seats could be left empty if NASA decides that Starliner is not safe enough for a crewed return.

On social media, concerned fans back on Earth have been horrified at Williams and Wilmore's predicament.

One commenter wrote: 'Stuck in space for 60 days with no known solution is inhumane and torture.

'Why did y'all teams send those astronauts in the first place? Where is the Change.Org petition to bring back the astronauts?'

Another commenter said that the situation was 'nightmarish' and expressed their hope that Buch and Suni return safely to Earth

One commenter likened the situation to that of the Ocean Gate submersible which collapsed while attempting to visit the wreck of the Titanic

Another worried commenter wrote: 'Hope they come back alive and tell us about it. Nightmarish. Only happens in movies.'

Another commenter likened the situation to that of the Ocean Gate submarine which collapsed while attempting to reach the Titanic.

On X, formerly Twitter, the commenter wrote 'It's giving' before attaching a picture of the doomed submersible.

While many on social media focussed on the terrifying aspects of the astronaut's ordeal, others pointed out the cinematic qualities of the situation.

'Netflix movie inbound', one commenter wrote.

Another added: 'I'd have busted out the window by now... There would be a Netflix special documenting my spiral into madness in Space. At least 6 parts.'

Others compared the situation to the plot of Gilligan's Island, a 1960s sitcom in which a group of travellers are shipwrecked after embarking on a 3-hour tour.

Some commenters pointed out the cinematic qualities of the scenario and joked that a Netflix movie would be soon to follow

One commenter said that if they were on the ISS there would be a 'Netflix special documenting my spiral into madness'

Others compared the situation to the plot of the 1960s sitcom Gilligan's Island in which a group of travellers are shipwrecked after setting out on a three-hour cruise

One commenter wrote: 'Hear me out... I got a really cool new space age twist on Gilligan's Island.'

'It's Gilligan's Island in space', another commenter simply added.

As social media watched the drama unfold, many commenters' thoughts naturally turned to possible escape plans.

A number of commenters fixated on the rivalry between Boeing and rival company SpaceX founded by Elon Musk.

Both companies are part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP) but while Boeing's Starliner has been mired in failures SpaceX capsules and rockets are used routinely.

One commenter labelled the situation faced by Butch and Suni as 'Gilligan's Island in Space'

Many commenters have pointed out the similarities between the situations faced by Williams and Wilmore (left) and the cast of Gilligan's Island (right). In both scenarios, the crews were trapped in an isolated location after setting out on a seemingly short trip

On X, which is also owned by Mr Musk, one commenter wrote: 'Space X needs to go rescue them.'

Another added: 'Elon is going to have to get them isn't he...'

'How much is Elon going to charge for the uber lift home?', another asked jokingly.

Meanwhile one pessimistic commenter joked that it 'might be quicker if the Boeing astronauts just started walking home.'

NASA has so far remained uncommitted on whether a SpaceX rescue mission will be necessary.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Steve Stich, manager of the NASA CCP, told reporters: 'Our prime option is to return Butch and Suni on Starliner.

'However, we have done the requisite planning to make sure we have other options open.'

On X, commenters' thoughts naturally turned to how the crew could get back to Earth with many echoing a NASA proposal that Williams and Wilmore may need to be rescued by a SpaceX capsule

SpaceX, which is owned by Elon Musk, is a fierce rival of Boeing which would make relying on the company to rescue the trapped astronauts a particularly embarrassing moment for Boeing

One pessimistic commenter joked that it would be quicker if the trapped astronauts 'just started walking home' rather than awaiting rescue

However, experts told MailOnline in June that NASA could be forced to launch a rescue mission, suggesting Elon Musk's SpaceX would be tapped to get it done.

Mike Gruntman, professor of astronautics at the University of Southern California, told MailOnline that 'it is more likely that SpaceX would be able to provide an additional launch in the foreseeable future to bring the astronauts back.'

Professor Gruntman continued: 'It is highly unfortunate that Boeing's Starliner, after so much delay with its flight, continues to face problems.

'For decades, Boeing was one of the most admired aerospace and defence companies. It is a true national tragedy.'

Problems with Boeing's commercial jets, including turbulence, mechanical issues and tail strikes, have cost the company at least $3 billion.

Boeing's Starliner (pictured in this post) was only meant to dock with the ISS for eight days, but there are now concerns it may not be safe to return with a crew

And NASA awarded Boeing a $4.2 billion contract to build Starliner as a taxi for astronauts to the ISS.

A meeting this week of NASA's CCP, which oversees Starliner, ended with some officials disagreeing on a plan to accept Boeing's testing data and use Starliner to bring the astronauts home.

'We didn't poll in a way that led to a conclusion,' Mr Stich said.

Ken Bowersox, NASA's space operations chief, added: 'We heard from a lot of folks that had concerns, and the decision was not clear.'

While no decision has been made on using Starliner or SpaceX's Crew Dragon, NASA has been buying Boeing more time to do more testing and gather more data to build a better case to trust Starliner.

Sometime next week is when NASA expects to decide, officials said.

Starliner has faced numerous technical issues since its launch, including thruster failures and helium leaks. A situation which one commenter compared to a broken down car
New York City's subways have a reputation for being dangerous - but a new study has found the air is also deadly.

Commuters face deadly pollution levels in the subway that are up to 10 times higher than what is deemed a safe limit, a new study has revealed.

Researchers investigated levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) - tiny particles released through combustion - that can get deep into lungs and the bloodstream, where they cause damage linked to cancer, cardiovascular disease and premature death.

The team found that the average pollution concentration on platforms was 139 micrograms per meter cubed and 99 micrograms per meter cubed on trains, compared to the World Health Organization's limit of 15 micrograms.

Researchers investigated the particulate matter (PM2.5) on platforms and train cars, finding commuters are exposed to excessive levels of iron stemming from the trains

The World Health Organization's limits, however, are based on 24-hour exposure, while many commuters are breathing in the amount while spending 30 minutes on their commute or 10 to 20 minutes standing on the platform waiting for a train.

Studies have shown that even just breathing in PM2.5 for a few hours can cause breathing issues, especially for those with asthma and other respiratory problems.

Researchers at New York University (NYU) looked at end-to-end round trips across 19 subway lines and 368 stations, using data from 3.1 million residents.

Measurements were taken in each subway car and at every stop as they stood on the platform.

Levels peaked when the train arrived at the station. The found that its abrupt stop would churn up existing pollutants that collected in the tunnel over the years.

The rubbing of metal wheels and brakes released metal particles that made up a large amount of the particle concentrations.

Masoud Ghandehari, a professor in NYU and lead author, told Bloomberg: 'We noticed that when a train arrives at the station, the concentration in the air shoots up, and about 15-20 seconds after it leaves, the concentration slowly comes down.

'This implies that it is the stuff thats at the bottom of the tunnel that gets churned up and deteriorates the air.'

PM2.5 comes from cars, coal powerplants, trains and burning waste - common activities all around the world, no matter where you live.

The pollution does not directly kill people, it instead degrades their overall health and leaves them vulnerable to developing a variety of conditions - like lung, brain and heart issues that may eventually lead to death.

The researchers also found that when the pollution was combined with poor ventilation at some stations, primarily in lower-income areas, like the Bronx, it led to higher particulate matter concentrations.

The team found that the average pollution concentration on platforms was 139 micrograms per meter cubed and 99 micrograms per meter cubed on trains, compared to the World Health Organization's limit of 15 micrograms

According to the study, published in PLOS One, Black and Hispanic workers faced exposure levels that were 23 percent higher than White commuters which stemmed from the length of time they spent traveling to work and the varying pollution levels at station lines.

Most jobs are in financial districts in New York City, [such as] midtown and downtown Manhattan, Ghandehari told The Guardian.

Those with lower income often times live further away from these job centers. So their commute time ends up being longer, which means their exposure is going to be higher.

Residents living in upper Manhattan neighborhoods including Washington Heights and Inwood had the highest levels of subway pollutant exposure because of the length of their commute, the study said.

This was compared to those who live in Midtown Manhattan where people may live closer to their workplaces.
August 7, 2024: Imagine living in a land that you consider your home, but where you have no rights, no security, and no future. Imagine being forced to leave your home, or to live under a foreign occupation that controls your every move. Imagine being denied your history, your culture, and your identity. This is the reality for millions of Palestinians, who have been struggling for decades to achieve recognition and sovereignty in their historic homeland. They have tried to build a state of their own but have faced many obstacles and setbacks, both from outside forces, such as Israel and its allies plus unwelcoming Arab neighbors, and from within, such as their own leaders, factions and culture. As a result, the Palestinian national institutions that were supposed to lay the foundations for a viable and democratic state never formed, while support, goals and even ideas for those have vanished. This also eroded the sense of Palestinian identity and solidarity among the people, who have become increasingly disillusioned and divided by their political and social realities.

The idea of Palestine as a political entity is not a new one. It dates back to the aftermath of the 1948 Arab Israeli war, which resulted in the creation of the state of Israel and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Arabs who came to be known as Palestinians. In 1948, the first Palestinian National Congress was held in Gaza, where the Palestinian National Charter was adopted and the All-Palestine Government was declared. But this government had little authority or influence, as Gaza was under Egyptian control, the West Bank was annexed by Jordan and Palestinians in Lebanon were confined to camps there. The Palestinian cause was largely ignored by the Arab states, who sought to resolve the conflict with Israel through diplomacy or war.

The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was founded in 1964 as an umbrella group for various factions that aimed to liberate Palestine through armed struggle. The PLO gained prominence and support after the 1967 Six-Day War, which resulted in Israel's occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. Under the leadership of Yasser Arafat, the PLO launched guerrilla attacks against Israel from its bases in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, and also engaged in diplomatic efforts to gain international recognition and support. In 1974, the PLO was designated by the Arab League as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, and Arafat addressed the United Nations General Assembly, calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state on the basis of the 1949 armistice lines. Eventually the Palestinians in Lebanon formed their own militias and were taken over by the PLO, which forced a war with Israel and lost. Lebanese Christian militias and the Israelis then drove the Palestinians from Lebanon.

In 1987, the first intifada uprising broke out in the occupied territories, as Palestinians protested against Israeli repression and demanded an end to the occupation. The intifada was largely a popular and spontaneous movement, involving mass demonstrations, civil disobedience, and stone-throwing, as well as some armed attacks by militant groups. The intifada challenged the status quo and put pressure on both Israel and the PLO to find a political solution to the conflict. In 1988, the PLO declared the second Palestinian declaration of independence, which was recognized by many countries and implied the acceptance of the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders. The declaration also renounced terrorism and recognized the right of all states in the region to exist in peace and security.

In 1991, the Madrid Conference was convened by the United States and the Soviet Union, with the participation of Israel, the Arab states, and a joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation. The conference aimed to launch a comprehensive peace process based on the principle of land for peace, and to address the issues of security, borders, refugees, and Jerusalem. The conference was followed by bilateral and multilateral negotiations, which led to the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993. The Oslo Accords were a set of interim agreements between Israel and the PLO, which established the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a self-governing body in parts of the West Bank and Gaza and outlined a framework for the final status negotiations on the core issues of the conflict. The Oslo Accords were hailed as a historic breakthrough and a milestone for the two-state solution, and Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994. Rabin was promptly murdered by Israeli extremists.

However, the Oslo Accords also had many flaws and limitations which became apparent in the following years. The agreements were vague and ambiguous on the key issues of the final status, such as the borders, the settlements, the refugees, and the status of Jerusalem. The agreements also left Israel in control of most of the land, water, and resources in the occupied territories, and allowed it to continue its settlement expansion and military operations. The agreements also failed to address the basic rights and alleged democratic aspirations of the Palestinian people, and instead created a complex and fragmented system of governance, security, and administration dependent on Israel and international donors. The PA, which was supposed to be a transitional and preparatory institution for statehood, became an overt end in itself and was plagued by corruption, nepotism, authoritarianism, and inefficiency, all of which were and are traditional for Arab governments. The PA also faced a legitimacy crisis, as it was seen by many Palestinians as a collaborator with the occupation and a violator of their rights and interests.

The failure of the peace process and the deterioration of the Palestinian situation also had a negative impact on Palestinian identity and solidarity. The Palestinian identity, which was forged by the common experience of displacement, resistance, and struggle, was based on the shared vision of a Palestinian state and the right of return for the refugees. This vision was gradually eroded by the realities of the occupation, the fragmentation of the territories, the isolation of the diaspora, the lack of a clear and coherent political strategy, and despair created by an unaccountable and rapacious PLO. The Palestinian identity was also challenged by the emergence of competing and conflicting identities, such as the religious, the tribal, the regional, and the personal. These identities were exploited and manipulated by various actors, both internal and external, to serve their own agendas and interests.

The most visible and violent manifestation of the Palestinian identity crisis was the split between Fatah and Hamas, the two main political factions in the Palestinian arena. Fatah, which dominated the PLO and the PA, was the main negotiator and signatory of the Oslo Accords, and advocated for a pragmatic and moderate approach to the conflict. Hamas, which emerged from the Muslim Brotherhood movement, rejected the Oslo Accords and the recognition of Israel, and advocated for an armed and Islamic resistance to the occupation. The rivalry between Fatah and Hamas escalated after the 2006 legislative elections, which resulted in a surprise victory for Hamas. The elections were followed by a series of clashes and confrontations between the two factions, which culminated in the 2007 Hamas takeover of Gaza and establishment of two separate and hostile governments in the West Bank and Gaza. The split between Fatah and Hamas not only deepened the political and geographic division of the Palestinian people, but also undermined their national and democratic institutions, and weakened their bargaining power and international standing.

The Palestinian national project, which aimed to achieve statehood and self-determination for the Palestinian people, has collapsed in the past decades. This decline of Palestinian statehood and identity has also posed serious challenges and problems for the Israelis, who have to deal with the consequences of the occupation, violence, and instability in the region.

All this came to a head in October 2023 when a massive Hamas offensive came out of Gaza and sought to defeat Israeli forces and establish a new Palestinian state. This failed as the Israelis counterattacked and as of mid-2024 the fighting continues in Gaza where Israeli forces seek to capture or kill the remaining Hamas members. Two million Palestinian civilians are caught in the middle of this and thousands of those civilians have already been killed. Hamas considers these dead civilians as involuntary martyrs to the cause and continues to show a callous disregard for the many Palestinian civilians killed as Hamas pursues its own goals.
Two NASA astronauts have been stranded in space for months due to a fault with Boeing's spacecraft - but their return to Earth could be even more terrifying.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were only supposed to be on the International Space Station for eight days when they launched on Boeing's Starliner on June 5.

But a fault with the capsule's thrusters - critical to propel the craft through space - means they've been stuck there for over two months, and NASA says they might not return until February next year.

The space agency is now deciding whether to persist with the faulty Starliner or launch a a rescue mission using SpaceX's rival ship, which would be hugely embarrassing for Boeing.

Rudy Ridolfi, former Space System Commander in the US military, explained three frightening scenarios that could play out if they choose to go with the former, including a worst-case scenario that would see the crew burning up inside the capsule upon reentry.

If NASA does choose to use Starliner, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore could vaporize upon reentry of Earth's orbit or be stuck floating in space

Starliner's problems are located in the service module, which is like the control center for the entire ship, containing systems that control the thrusters, power, as well as water and oxygen for the occupants.

The module, located at the bottom of the capsule, is also critical for aligning the the craft for reentry before it jettison away before reentry.

The service module must put the capsule at an angled altitude in order for it to reenter Earth.

If the angle is off, the craft would bounce off the atmosphere leaving NASA to scramble to locate it in orbit.

If the angle is too steep, theres more friction and a greater chance of burning up in the atmosphere, vaporizing the occupants.

Too shallow, and the spacecraft could bounce off the atmosphere and be catapulted back into space like a stone across a pond.

So long as the capsule is lined up correctly for reentry, everything's fine, Ridolfi said.

[If the capsule is not lined up] they either burn up or bounce back into space.'

'If the Starliner Service Module places the capsule in too steep of a reentry window then the capsule ablative heat shield would probably fail,' Ridolfi added.

Five thrusters failed during the 24-hour journey that took the two astronauts to the ISS back in June.

One of the main concerns is that more thrusters could fail on the return leg, leaving them floating in limbo, somewhere between the ISS and Earth.

Based on the amount of oxygen and power capabilities that Starliner has, the crew would have about 96 hours to revive the thrusters and land back on Earth.

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were only supposed to be on the International Space Station for eight days when they launched on Boeing's Starliner on June 5

The space agency is now deciding whether to persist with the faulty Starliner or launch a a rescue mission using SpaceX 's rival ship

They would need to determine which thrusters have malfunctioned with hopes of sealing them and still have enough resources to spend a few hours traveling home.

It could be possible that the craft does make it to Earth even in this scenario, Ridolfi explained, if the thrusters and helium leaks do not persist, but then the service module needs to work perfectly.

But in a worst-case scenario, NASA could be forced to send a rescue craft to the Starliner ship to retrieve the astronauts.

The space docking mission, although possible, has only been performed once in human history and to rescue an unmanned craft.

In 1966, Gemini VIII launched with astronauts Neil Armstrong and David Scott to conduct the first docking of with an Agena target vehicle.

NASA knows how to do this, but it just takes time, Ridolfi said.

If Starliner bounces off the atmosphere they have to locate it. You can get a general guess of where it is, but you have to start taking radar, optical observations and calculate the orbit that it's now in.

So that could probably take about 180 minutes, call it three hours.

The feat would be accomplished by attaching a tunnel-like structure that would latch onto Starliner's hatch, allowing it to be opened without harming the astronauts.

However, Ridolfi said that once Starliner is located, NASA would have to train another team of astronauts to perform the space docking mission.

NASA has discussed the idea of programming Starliner to return to Earth unnamed, using autonomous technology, which Ridolfi said is more likely to happen

While the scenarios are possible, Ridolfi noted that he believes NASA will choose SpaceX to conduct the rescue mission.

A Crew Dragon capsule would likely launch with two astronauts in September, allowing two seats for Williams and Willmore.

However, that means two Russian astronauts are to be booted.

NASA has for months claimed Starliner was safe and that the astronauts were not stranded, which was repeated by several media outlets.

The space agency changed its tune on Wednesday, admitting that Boeing's malfunctioned craft may not be able to survive the journey back to Earth.

The announcement is another highly embarrassing blow for the embattled Boeing, which is dealing with a spate of issues plaguing its commercial jets.

Problems with Boeing's commercial jets, including turbulence, mechanical issues and tail strikes, have cost the company at least $3 billion.

And NASA awarded Boeing a $4.2 billion contract to build Starliner as a taxi for astronauts to the ISS.

A meeting this week of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which oversees Starliner, ended with some officials disagreeing on a plan to accept Boeing's testing data and use Starliner to bring the astronauts home.

'We didn't poll in a way that led to a conclusion,' Commercial Crew Program chief Steve Stich said.

'We heard from a lot of folks that had concerns, and the decision was not clear,' Ken Bowersox, NASA's space operations chief, added.

Tuesday marked 60 days the Starliner crew has been in space, much longer that the intended eight-day mission.

NASA and Boeing have been tirelessly working to test the issues on the ground to determine the safety of Starliner, which sprung at least five helium leaks and lost five of its 28 thrusters.

Last week Boeing said it 'remains confident in the Starliner spacecraft and its ability to return safely with crew.'

Boeing's testing so far has shown that four of Starliner's jets had failed in June because they overheated and automatically turned off, while other thrusters re-fired during tests appeared weaker than normal because of some restriction to their fuel.

Ground tests in late July at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico have helped reveal that the thrusters' overheating causes a Teflon seal to warp, choking propellant tubes for the thrusters and thereby weakening their thrust.

'That, I would say, upped the level of discomfort, and not having a total understanding of the physics of what's happening,' Stich said, describing why NASA now appears more willing to discuss a Crew Dragon contingency after previously downplaying such a prospect to reporters.

Starliner took off on June 5 at 10:52am ET from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida with a leak that forced a scrub in May.

Teams detected a valve leaking helium and scrubbed the mission.

NASA and Boeing have been tirelessly working to test the issues on the ground to determine the safety of Starliner, which sprung at least five helium leaks and lost five of its 28 thrusters. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been in space for more than 60 days

Engineers suspected that the issue came from a defective rubber seal the size of a shirt button, and said that even if the leak worsens, it could be managed in flight - and set the next launch for June 1.

However, Starliner was again plagued with misfortunes when the capsule was automatically halted with minutes to go before liftoff by a computer-abort system. out.'

Starliner has encountered five failures of its 28 maneuvering thrusters, five leaks of helium gas meant to pressurize those thrusters, and a slow-moving propellant valve that signaled unfixed past issues since launching.

When Starliner arrived in the space station's vicinity to dock on June 6, the five thruster failures prevented a close approach by the spacecraft until Boeing made a fix.

Over the past several weeks, Boeing has conducted thruster test firings on the ground and in space to understand why five thrusters failed ahead of Starliner's arrival at the space station.

All but one came back online. Helium leaks in the capsule's propulsion system also cropped up.
A tick species native to Asia is spreading across the US, with Oklahoma reporting its first sighting this week.

The Sooner State is the 20th to confirm the presence of the Asian longhorned tick that can transmit deadly human and livestock diseases with its bites.

The species carries a virus that kills 15 percent of its victims in Asia, but only cow deaths have been reported in the US since the tick arrived in 2017.

The US Department of Environmental Protection has found that the parasitic arachnids in America carry Lyme disease, a life-threatening bacteria and a virus that causes inflammation in the brain.

A tick species native to Asia is spreading across the US, with Oklahoma reporting its first sighting this week

Oklahoma officials announced the first Asian longhorned tick sighting in Mayes County on Monday.

Though this is the very first Asian longhorned tick reported in Oklahoma, it's likely that more are coming, officials with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture said.

This species can reproduce parthenogenetically, meaning that one female can produce thousands of offspring without a male.

So, only one tick is needed to establish a booming population in a new area.

The first longhorned tick in the US was found seven years ago in New Jersey, but has since invaded parts of New York, Arkansas, North Carolina, Virginia and other states..

The Asian longhorned tick is native to eastern China, Japan, the Russian Far East and Korea.

Experts aren't exactly sure how it made its way to the US, but possible routes of entry include the import of domestic pets, horses or livestock, or people unknowingly carrying the tick back to the US after traveling abroad.

Dina M. Fonseca, a professor and director of the Center for Vector Biology in the Department of Entomology in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, said: 'One thing we uncovered is the ease with which pets, especially dogs, can accidentally help ticks cross international borders and state lines.'

The Sooner State is the 20th to confirm the presence of the Asian longhorned tick that can transmit deadly human diseases with its bites

So far, no humans have died from an Asian longhorned tick bite in the US.

But these tiny vectors of disease did kill several cattle in Ohio in 2023.

Now that the ticks have spread to Oklahoma, state officials are urging livestock owners to closely monitor their animals.

But even through they primarily effect livestock, Asian longhorned ticks do have the potential to amplify tick-borne diseases by spreading pathogens to other ticks that more commonly pose threats to humans, according to Cornell University.

In Oklahoma and other eastern states where the Asian longhorned is present, officials encourage people to report bites or sightings of these ticks.

Their preferred habitats are pastures and meadows. Be sure to check yourself for ticks after walking through these areas, especially during the warm summer months.

Experts also recommend protecting pets and livestock from tick bites by treating them regularly with anti-tick medication, which should be effective against the Asian longhorned.

Adult female longhorned tick climbing a blade of grass.

If you find an Asian longhorned tick attached to yourself or your pet, remove it immediately.

You can do so by grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible with fine-tipped tweezers or your fingers. If you're using your fingers, use a tissue, a foil-covered gum wrapper or a plastic sandwich bag as a protective barrier.

Once you grasp the tick, pull upwards with steady even pressure. Do not twist the tick as you pull.

After you remove it, wash the affected area with soap and water and disinfect the bite with a topical antiseptic.

Whatever you do, don't throw away the tick! Put it in a plastic ziplock back and seal it closed. That way you can take it to you doctor or veterinarian for identification.
Amanda Bynes debuted a dramatic new look on her latest outing as she took a walk down Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.

On Tuesday, the Nickelodeon alum, 38, showed off a new black hair color as she stepped out for some sunshine amid the heat wave across Southern California.

She styled her long locks straight and had her bangs pulled back as she enjoyed some fresh air.

For her laid-back outing, the Sydney White star kept it casual in an oversized grey t-shirt, which she paired with some khaki shorts.

The All That alum, who declined to appear in Investigation Discovery's explosive docu-series Quiet on Set, completed her casual ensemble with a pair of black and white Vans and a floral crossbody purse.

Amanda Bynes debuted a new black hair color as she stepped out Wednesday for a walk down Hollywood Blvd in Los Angeles

She sported a long straight do with her bangs pulled back while squinting under the sun during the SoCal heatwave

Her latest outing comes after she announced in March that she is 'going to start wearing wigs now.'

Bynes explained, at the time, that her hair had been 'growing out so awkwardly' after getting a buzzcut.

A month later, the Amanda Show alum announced that she was returning to manicurist school after failing to obtain her license during her previous attempt.

'Since I haven't passed the board exam yet to get my manicurist license, I started back at school to study manicurist theory to practice doing acrylics before I take the test again so I'll be good to go when I get a job at a nail salon,' Bynes revealed.

She announced her new career path in December as she cancelled her podcast with Paul Sieminski, despite the first episode doing 'really well.'

'I was actually surprised and of course was going to keep going after friends encouraged me to,' Bynes said after going back and forth on the decision.

'After thinking about it, though, I would rather get my manicurist license and have a consistent job,' she announced. 'I'm going to follow that path instead.'

Meanwhile, Bynes declined to participate in the docuseries, Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, which exposed predatory behavior at Nickelodeon.

A source told TMZ that Bynes was grateful for her time at Nickelodeon and did not feel she had anything to contribute.

Bynes kept it casual for the outing in an oversized grey t-shirt, which she paired with some khaki shorts

The All That alum finished the look with a pair of black and white Vans over black socks, as well as a floral crossbody purse. Her latest outing comes after she announced in March that she is 'going to start wearing wigs now'

In one episode, former Amanda Show actress Raquel Lee Bolleau accused Bynes of spitting in her face multiple times.

'I was infuriated,' said Bolleau, 37, who recalled the director had to pull her aside to calm her down.

Meanwhile, Amanda Show creator Dan Schneider has defended his close relationship with the actress after he was accused of toxic behavior by others.

'Watching over the past two nights was very difficult,' he said of seeing the docuseries.

The Amanda Show star announced in April that she's returning to manicurist school after failing to obtain her license during her previous attempt

Meanwhile, Bynes declined to participate in the explosive docuseries Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, which exposed predatory behavior at Nickelodeon

'Me facing my past behaviors - some of which are embarrassing and that I regret,' added Schneider. 'I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology.'

Schneider, 58, has also sued the Quiet On Set producers for defamation.
Riley Keough was surrounded by family during a rare public outing in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old actress  who recently announced book tour dates for mother Lisa Marie Presley's posthumous memoir  rocked a chic summer ensemble while enjoying brunch with husband Ben Smith-Petersen, their two-year-old daughter Tupelo, and Riley's 15-year-old twin sisters, Finley and Harper Lockwood.

The granddaughter of Elvis Presley showed off her legs in daisy dukes and a simple white T-shirt as she carried Tupelo in her arms, cradling the blonde toddler on her hip.

She maintained a low profile behind dark designer sunglasses, completing her casual look with olive green flip-flops.

Finley and Harper  Lisa Marie's youngest children and Michael Lockwood's sole offspring  were strikingly similar as they sat near Ben at the outdoor eatery.

Riley Keough was surrounded by family during a rare public outing in Los Angeles on Wednesday

The 35-year-old Mad Max: Fury Road alum rocked a chic summer ensemble while enjoying brunch with husband Ben Smith-Petersen, their two-year-old daughter Tupelo, and Riley's 15-year-old twin sisters, Finley and Harper Lockwood

Dressed in matching black hoodies with their dark hair peeking out, they seemed to twin effortlessly.

Riley and her husband of nine years, SAG Award-winning stuntman Ben, welcomed little Tupelo via surrogate.

The actress first met the 32-year-old Australian in 2012 on the set of Mad Max: Fury Road.

He recently reprised his role as Ace Warboy in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

At the end of July, Riley revealed plans to hit the road for a book tour in support of Lisa Marie's memoir, From Here to the Great Unknown.

Riley played a key role in completing the book following her mother's passing in January 2023, at the age of 54.

'Sometimes the most famous among us are the least known. Join @RileyKeough for a one-of-a-kind conversation as she pays tribute to her mother Lisa Marie Presley's incredible memory with the release of their memoir, From Here to the Great Unknown' publisher Random House said in a statement.

The company also revealed that Riley will be accompanied by a special guest in six cities.

Riley will tell the 'legendary tale of American royalty, family ties, the highs and lows of fame, love, grief, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and daughter,' added Random House.

The Daisy Jones and The Six star will kick off the book tour on October 9 in New York City, with subsequent stops in St. Louis, Nashville, and London.

The Nashville event will be held at Graceland, and the tour will wrap up in Los Angeles on October 20.

Lisa Marie's memoir delves into her lifes challenging moments, including the loss of her father, Elvis Presley, in 1977, her move to Los Angeles with her mother, Priscilla Presley, and her struggles with addiction.

Finley and Harper are Lisa Marie's youngest children and Michael Lockwood's sole offspring; (pictured in 2021)

Riley and her husband of nine years, SAG Award-winning stuntman Ben, welcomed little Tupelo via surrogate; (posted May 29)

At the end of July, Riley revealed plans to hit the road for a book tour in support of Lisa Marie's memoir, From Here to the Great Unknown; (pictured January 8, 2023)

Riley completed the book with the aid of recordings her mother made before she passed away.

These tapes featured stories about her childhood at Graceland, her relationship with Rileys father, Danny Keough, and her marriage to Michael Jackson.

'Few people had the opportunity to know who my mom really was, other than being Elvis's daughter,' Riley said in an earlier statement.

She added, 'I'm so excited to share my mom now, at her most vulnerable and most honest, and in doing so, I do hope that readers come to love my mom as much as I did.'
Hunter Schafer has opened up about the future of the hit HBO drama Euphoria.

The 25-year-old actress  who starred as Jules Vaughn in the first two seasons alongside Zendaya, 27  discussed the show's fate on the latest episode of the podcast Call Her Daddy.

Schafer acknowledged the series' delays and revealed that she is unaware of what the next steps are.

'The real tea is I have no f***ing idea what's going on, and you can ask literally all of the cast,' she confessed.

Referring to the sudden deaths of actor Angus Cloud and producer Kevin Turen, she admitted: 'Obviously I'm still coming to qualms about what's happened and losing people that we really loved and were a part of this family and everything.'

Hunter Schafer has opened up about the future of the hit HBO drama Euphoria during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast

Hunter starred as Jules Vaughn in the first two seasons

She continued, 'If we do go back, that's going to be tough.'

Hunter also said: 'I think everyone feels a certain sense of anticipation for if we are supposed to do Season 3.'

Despite the heaviness surrounding the Sam Levinson-created show, the star has hope.

'I think there's a world in which we can channel that into making it a beautiful season three if it is supposed to happen, but I think that s**t really threw everyone for a loop,' she noted.

Finally, she stated, 'And then there's all these industry whatever  political things that go into whether or not this is happening, but that's emotionally a big part of what's happening, too.'

Turen passed away after suffering a medical emergency behind the wheel of his Tesla in November 2023. He was 44-years-old.

Cloud died from an 'accidental overdose' of cocaine, meth and fentanyl in July 2023 at age 25.

Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO programming and head of HBO drama series and films, confirmed in July that season three will start shooting in January 2025.

The actress admitted that she has 'no idea' what's happening with the show following the sudden deaths of her co-star Angus Cloud (pictured) and producer Kevin Turen

Despite the heaviness surrounding the Sam Levinson-created show, the star has hope: 'I think there's a world in which we can channel that into making it a beautiful season three if it is supposed to happen, but I think that s**t really threw everyone for a loop'

Finally, she stated, 'And then there's all these industry whatever  political things that go into whether or not this is happening, but that's emotionally a big part of what's happening, too'

It follows reports that lead star Zendaya (pictured) and creator Sam Levinson, 39, have an allegedly 'strained relationship' after he 'turned his attention to controversial show The Idol' instead of Euphoria's next installment

'I am thrilled that we are ready to begin production on Euphoria in January. We could not be happier with our creative partnership with Sam and this incredible cast,' she said.

Orsi added: 'We look forward to bringing this new season of Euphoria to life for the fans.'

It follows reports that Zendaya and Levinson, 39, have an allegedly 'strained relationship' after he 'turned his attention to controversial show The Idol' instead of Euphoria's next installment.

An investigation by The Hollywood Reporter claims Zendaya's 'frustration grew' after Levinson failed to deliver scripts for Euphoria's third season.
Angelina Jolie was reportedly 'shocked and worried' after learning that her son Pax had crashed his e-bike in Los Angeles.

The 20-year-old  whom Angelina shares with her ex-husband Brad Pitt  is 'still recovering' in the wake of the devastating crash, a source told People on Wednesday.

They added that he was currently 'uncomfortable' and would 'need further treatments' down the line.

The update comes just days after Pax was released from the ICU, when a source previously said he would face a 'long road of recovery.'

Angelina's son crashed his e-bike into the back of a stopped car at an intersection on the crowded Los Feliz Boulevard on July 30.

Angelina Jolie was reportedly 'shocked and worried' after learning that her son Pax had crashed his e-bike in Los Angeles, a source told People on Wednesday; pictured June 16 in NYC

The 20-year-old  whom Angelina shares with her ex-husband Brad Pitt  is 'still recovering' in the wake of the devastating crash. They added that he was currently 'uncomfortable' and would 'need further treatments'; seen in LA on July 11

Complicated the matter was the fact that Pax appears to have hit his head when he collided with the car, and he was not wearing a helmet at the time.

The source added that he was 'very lucky' to not have more significant injuries.

'It could have been much worse since he didn't wear a helmet,' they said.

Although the crash was devastating for his mother Angelina to hear about, she and his sibling had come together to support him in the aftermath.

'Angie was shocked and worried when she got the call about the accident,' the source said, adding that her five other children  Maddox, 22; Zahara, 19; Shiloh, 18; and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16  'are supporting Pax as best as they can.'

A source previously told People that Angelina's son had 'suffered complex trauma' from the crash, and he will reportedly require physical therapy to aid his recovery.

Pax's medical emergency happened amid his ongoing estrangement from his father Brad Pitt.

An insider exclusively told DailyMail.com on Tuesday that Brad has been distressed over getting 'radio silence' from his family regarding Pax's condition.

'Don't expect Pax's accident to bring the family dynamic back in any way as Pax is 100 percent on Angie's side and doesn't want any well wishes or remorse from Brad,' the source continued.

Although Brad was 'upset' that his son was injured and hoped to 'help out in any way possible,' the insider said that prospect 'doesn't seem to be something that will ever happen since there is a forever disconnect and divide between them all.'

'It is gutting Brad that it has got to this point that he can't even be a worried dad, as all he is getting is radio silence from finding out exactly what is going down with his son,' they added. 'It is just another distressed circumstance that is part of Brad's normal life.'

'He wishes that everyone could be above it all since this situation involves people's lives, but emotions as they are between Pax, Angie and Brad are so bad that there will never be a time where it gets to a place where things are OK,' the insider said.

However, another source close to Angelina claimed that Brad had made 'no effort' to try to see Pax since his crash.

'All Angelina wants is peace, but he is determined to continue fighting her and blaming everyone but himself for the situation he's now in,' they said.

The source added that he was 'very lucky' to not have more significant injuries. 'It could have been much worse since he didn't wear a helmet,' they said; pictured in Los Angeles in November 2021

Pax was adopted by Angelina in Vietnam in 2007 at age three. Brad later joined her in adopting him in 2006; pictured in 2014 in Hollywood

Angelina and Brad are legally divorced but are still fighting over the sale of Miraval, the vineyard in France; seen in 2006

Pax was adopted by Angelina in Vietnam in 2007 at age three. Brad later joined her in adopting him in 2006.

Angelina and Brad are legally divorced but are still fighting over the sale of Miraval, the vineyard in France.

Last week, the Eternals star accused Brad of trying to have her sign a $8.5 million non-disclosure agreement related to her allegations of abuse, according to People.

She had previously accused him of assaulting her on a private jet while they were traveling with their children.
Journey fans took to social media to express their disappointment after the iconic rock band cancelled their UK and Ireland tour at the last minute.

The members of the band gave no explanation to fans why they had pulled out of their 50th anniversary tour and put the decision down to 'circumstances beyond their control'.

The rock band, formed in 1973, issued a statement to their fans on Wednesday claiming that 'refunds will be made'.

The band's statement said: 'Due to circumstances beyond the band's control, Journey's UK and Ireland tour is unfortunately cancelled.

'Refunds will be made from your point of purchase.'

Journey fans took to social media to express their disappointment after the iconic rock band cancelled their UK tour at the last minute (pictured in 1980)

The members of the band gave no explanation to fans and put the decision down to 'circumstances beyond their control' (pictured in November 2023)

The tour, which has previously travelled across the United States, was set to begin in Cardiff in October before heading to Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, and London.

It would have marked the band's first UK and Ireland tour in more than 10 years, and they were also set to be joined by special guests Cheap Trick.

Fans who had already purchased tickets were also left feeling incredibly devastated after they received an email from Ticketmaster claiming the dates had been cancelled.

Taking to social media to express their dissatisfaction, one fan commented: 'Tour cancelled without a statement?!?!'; 'Why have you just cancelled your UK tour!'; 'Dublin cancelled... flights, hotel, and tickets have already been booked for 3 fans... Thank you Journey.'; 'Why is your UK tour cancelled? I'm shocked and very sadful'.

According to Coast Reporter, the band is in a series of legal disputes including longtime keyboardist Jonathan Cain, 74, asking a judge to resolve a deadlock involving Freedom 2020, a company formed three years ago to oversee tour-related finances.

The seventies rock band issued a statement to their fans on Wednesday claiming that 'refunds will be made' (pictured in 1986)

However, fans were left feeling less than impressed as they took to social media to complain about the lack of explanation

According to court filings, lead guitarist Neal Schon, 70, and Jonathan each hold a 50% stake in the company.

However, in a petition filed last week, Jonathan said he and Neal 'fundamentally disagree' on the management and operation of the company.

He also wants the court to appoint a custodian to act as an independent, deadlock-breaking director.

Jonathan's attorneys also asked the judge to fast-track the case amid the band's 50th Anniversary Freedom Tour, which was due to end on November 17 in London.

In a court filing Monday, Schons attorneys said many of Cain's allegations have no basis. They specifically rejected allegations that the tours production company and vendors werent being paid on time.

'Petitioners allegations that the company faces imminent irreparable harm from a purported inability of the company to meet its financial obligations has no basis in fact,' according to Schons attorneys, who will file a more complete response to Cains petition on Monday.

'Our client denies that theres been any mismanagement,' Schon's attorney Jack Yoskowitz told Laster, adding that any dysfunction has been caused by Cain acting in his own self-interest, including making allegations to the press that harm the band.

Laster scheduled a final hearing in the case to begin on Sept. 3, timed with Labor Day weekend, as sought by Cains attorneys. Schons attorneys sought a hearing in late September or early October, after the North American leg of the tour ends.

It comes after original guitarist and co-founder of Journey, George Tickner died aged 76 last year.

His passing was confirmed by co-founding member Neal - although no cause of death was given.

'Journey Junkies, I have some very sad news. George Tickner, Journey's original rhythm guitarist and songwriting contributor on their first three albums, has passed away. He was 76 years old,' Neal wrote on Facebook.

George left the band before Journey became a household name so he could become a doctor.

He remained connected to the band, and music, for most of his life. He even appeared with the band for a 2005 Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.

The Grammy-nominated rock band has sold more than 100million albums since its founding, and the generational hit 'Don't Stop Believin' has surpassed 1billion streams on Spotify.

Twenty-five of Journey's songs have charted on the Billboard Hot 100.

George, Neal and bassist Ross Valory came together in San Francisco in 1973 to form the band.

It comes after original guitarist and co-founder of Journey, George Tickner died aged 76 last year (pictured in 1981)

His passing was confirmed by co-founding member Neal Schon - although no cause of death was given

Prior to co-founding Journey, George was a member of psychedelic rock band Fruminous Bandersnatch, along with Ross. He was born in 1946 in Syracuse, New York.

He left the band in 1975, following the release of its eponymous debut album. He pursued a career in medicine after receiving a full ride to Stanford Medical School.

The guitarist co-wrote several Journey songs on their debut album, including 'Topaz' and 'Of a Lifetime,' according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Even after leaving the band, he received credits for the songs 'I'm Gonna Leave You' and 'Nickel and Dime' in the 1970s.

Though he left the band, he stayed connected to music and opened a recording studio called 'The Hive' before forming another band that included keyboardists Stevie 'Keys' Roseman.

The two released an album in 2005 - the same year George and Journey received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.
A 42-year-old man named Freddie Trone was convicted Wednesday in the robbery and shooting death of rapper PnB Rock at a South Los Angeles restaurant two years ago.

After less than three hours of deliberations, the Compton, California jury found Trone guilty of one count each of felony murder and conspiracy to commit robbery, along with two counts of second-degree robbery involving the 30-year-old rapper and his fiance.

Also convicted Wednesday was co-defendant Tremont Jones, 46, who was found guilty of two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.

Jones was not charged with murder. The defendants were charged along with Trone's then-17-year-old son.

Trone's son's case is currently in juvenile court while he undergoes treatment to determine if he can be found mentally competent to stand trial.

A 42-year-old man named Freddie Trone was convicted Wednesday in the robbery and shooting death of rapper PnB Rock (pictured in 2019 in Anaheim, California) at a South Los Angeles restaurant two years ago

A jury found Trone (pictured in a mug shot) guilty of one count each of felony murder and conspiracy to commit robbery, along with two counts of second-degree robbery involving the 30-year-old rapper and his fiance

PnB Rock, whose real name is Rakim Allen, was shot once in the chest and two times in the back by an assailant in a ski mask who demanded his jewelry and threatened to kill the rapper's girlfriend while the two were eating lunch on September 12, 2022, at Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles, on West Manchester Avenue.

Following the announcement of the verdicts, PnB Rocks mother Deannea Allen told Rolling Stone she was 'feeling elated,' adding that 'justice has been served quickly.'

Deputy District Attorney Timothy Richardson told the jury that Trone 'sent his son out on a coordinated act to rob watches, rings and chains off of a person,' while defense attorney Winston McKesson countered that Trone's teenage son acted independently from his dad and that the 'only conclusion that is consistent with justice is that Freddie Trone is not guilty of these charges.'

The prosecutor told jurors that the motive for the crime was 'about a half a million dollars worth of jewelry,' arguing that Trone drove his son to and from the restaurant but never set foot inside the business himself while the rapper was there.

The prosecution stated that Jones fist-bumped the rapper at the restaurant and then passed information on to Trone about what jewelry the entertainer was wearing.

Richardson noted 'how difficult it is to accept that a father would put his son up to this.'

The prosecutor told jurors that Trone, his son and Jones had 'coordinated actions' that were 'not a coincidence;' Trone vigorously proclaimed his innocence from the witness stand, telling jurors, 'I wasn't there. I didn't tell nobody to do nothing.'

Trone testified that his son and his own vehicle went missing, and that he subsequently found his son in the vehicle with three other 'youngsters.'

PnB Rocks mom Deannea Allen reacting to guilty verdicts against 2 men charged in connection with her sons murder:



Im feeling elated, she tells RS. Justice has been served pic.twitter.com/EcGQYGyEoK  Nancy Dillon (@Nancy__Dillon) August 7, 2024

The Philadelphia-born rapper, whose real name was Rakim Allen, was pictured in 2019 in LA

PnB Rock gained initial recognition for his 2016 single Selfish, which sold more than two million copies. Pictured in 2018 in Delaware

Trone's attorney said there was 'no evidence of a conspiracy' to rob the rapper and accused investigators of making up their minds about 'who they thought was guilty' and 'looking only for evidence that pointed to guilt' while ignoring anything that pointed to his client's innocence.

'You have no evidence that my client planned anything,' McKesson said, telling jurors that the prosecution's goal was to get them to 'dislike' Trone.

The defense attorney told reporters outside court that he believes his client wouldn't have been charged with murder had he not lived in the area and been African-American, saying that he would have been charged with being an accessory after the fact if it had happened in Beverly Hills.

On Wednesday after the verdict, McKesson told City News Service that he was 'disappointed' with the trial's outcome.

'I think the problem is whenever you have a Black man charged in a violent crime and no African Americans on the jury, it is a major problem,' he said. 'Because all non-Black people - no matter what their race - view Black men as dangerous.'

The attorney said he would appeal on behalf of Trone: 'I believe we challenged every aspect of the case. I do not think this jury cared. I think they ignored all the evidence that pointed toward innocence and rolled with all the evidence that pointed towards guilt. I believe they decided early how they would vote.'

The defense attorney said that when the panel returned with a verdict after deliberating for just 90 minutes Wednesday, 'I knew they didn't even listen to my argument or my client's testimony.'

The late performer was pictured in Beverly Hills, California in June of 2018

Before the verdict, Jones' attorney called the case 'so thin,' saying that the idea that his client was aiding and abetting the crime 'doesn't hold.'

Sentencing for both defendants was set for August 27 in the Compton courthouse.

Trone's son was arrested in September 2022, and his father was subsequently arrested in Las Vegas and returned to Los Angeles County in October 2022, while Jones was taken into custody in May 2023, according to jail records.

PnB Rock, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, gained initial recognition for his 2016 single Selfish, which sold more than two million copies.
General Hospital star Steve Burton's new romance with Long Island foodie Michelle Lundstrom is still going strong three months after he publicly confirmed their romance on his Daily Drama website.

At 54, the two-time Daytime Emmy winner is 11 years older than the content creator - but they've traveled together, attended red carpet events, and she's bonded with his children.

'Happiest birthday my love @1steveburton. It's a better place with you in this world,' Michelle - who has 94K social media followers - gushed on June 28.

'Anyone that has you in their life in any capacity is truly blessed. I think I'll forever be in awe of what an incredible man and human you are. Thank you for wearing the largest fanny pack in Disney & sharing your beautiful life alongside mine. Wishing you a million more special memories & smiles, you deserve it all!'

And on June 9, Steve gushed about his new chapter with Lundstrom by his side: 'It just all feels like home. So grateful. "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but about learning to dance in the rain."  Vivian Greene. I've learned to dance.'

General Hospital star Steve Burton's new romance with Long Island foodie Michelle Lundstrom is still going strong three months after he publicly confirmed their romance on his Daily Drama website (pictured June 7)

At 54, the two-time Daytime Emmy winner is 11 years older than the content creator - but they've traveled together, attended red carpet events, and she's bonded with his children (pictured July 3)

Last year, the brunette beauty was the fifth contestant eliminated off the second season of Netflix competition Barbecue Showdown, which was won by Iowa pitmaster Thyron Mathews.

Michelle - who commands $29 on Cameo - is a full-blown influencer, frequently sharing recipes and doing paid partnerships for brands like Vermont Smoke & Cure, Meater, and Traeger Grills.

Lundstrom marks Indiana-born Burton's first relationship since finalizing his divorce from Sheree Gustin Burton last December after 23 years of marriage.

Back in 2022, the Days of Our Lives star announced via Instastory that he had separated from the 47-year-old Fit Club founder, who was pregnant with her fourth child by another man, and she's since welcomed daughters Izabella, 18 months; and Addy, five months.

An Orange County Superior Court judge ordered Steve to pay Sheree $10K/month in child support for co-parenting their three children - daughter Makena, nearly 21; son Jack, 18; and daughter Brooklyn, 10 - according to People.

On Wednesday, Burton - who boasts 758K social media followers - shared a video from the Prospect Studios set of General Hospital in Los Angeles where he's portrayed Jason Morgan on/off between 1991-2012 and 2017-2021 and 2024.

The M3 fitness trainer will next bring his 'Life With Steve Burton' show to Bricktown Comedy Club in Oklahoma City, OK on August 24 at 3pm where tickets range $49-$99.

Steve - who commands $199 on Cameo - will also appear at the 2024 General Hospital Fan Celebration at Graceland in Memphis, TN happening October 25-27.

Michelle gushed on June 28: 'Happiest birthday my love @1steveburton. It's a better place with you in this world. Anyone that has you in their life in any capacity is truly blessed. I think I'll forever be in awe of what an incredible man and human you are. Thank you for wearing the largest fanny pack in Disney & sharing your beautiful life alongside mine'

And on June 9, Steve gushed about his new chapter with Lundstrom by his side: 'It just all feels like home. So grateful. "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but about learning to dance in the rain."  Vivian Greene. I've learned to dance' (pictured in July)

Last year, the brunette beauty (M) was the fifth contestant eliminated off the second season of Netflix competition Barbecue Showdown, which was won by Iowa pitmaster Thyron Mathews (L)

Michelle - who commands $29 on Cameo - is a full-blown influencer, frequently sharing recipes and doing paid partnerships for brands like Vermont Smoke & Cure, Meater, and Traeger Grills (pictured May 22)

Lundstrom marks Indiana-born Burton's first relationship since finalizing his divorce from Sheree Gustin Burton (L, pictured in 2019) last December after 23 years of marriage

Back in 2022, the Days of Our Lives star announced via Instastory that he had separated from the 47-year-old Fit Club founder, who was pregnant with her fourth child by another man, and she's since welcomed daughters Izabella, 18 months; and Addy, five months

An Orange County Superior Court judge ordered Steve to pay Sheree $10K/month in child support for co-parenting their three children - daughter Makena, nearly 21; son Jack, 18; and daughter Brooklyn, 10
Tyrone and Fiz Dobbs could face their toughest challenge in marriage yet as his ex arrives on the scene with some bombshell news.

Alina Pop has made her first appearance on the the cobbles since 2021 and reveals the mechanic is the father to her son Dobin.

Tyrone's cheating ex (played by Ruxandra Porojnicu) bumped into Fiz (Jennie Alpine) at the supermarket Freshco's car park.

And now Alan Halsall said Tyrone's discovery he has a son with Alina 'puts a spanner in the works' with his relationship with Fiz.

'With Jennie being off on maternity leave, we haven't really seen the domestic bliss of Ty and Fiz's marriage, two kids and a nana,' Alan told The Mirror.

Tyrone and Fiz Dobbs could face their toughest challenge in marriage yet as his ex arrives on the scene with some bombshell news

Alina Pop has made her first appearance on the the cobbles since 2021 and reveals the mechanic is the father to her son Dobin

'For it to be turned upside down so quickly and Alina to come back with a child on board  it's going to divide a lot of people and that's just within the house.

'Pardon the pun, but it's a spanner in the works for Tyrone. He's living this domestic bliss so the last thing he really wants is anything interrupting that.'

Alan said Tyrone will want to 'dismiss' Alina's arrival and threats but ultimately wants to do the right thing as he is a family man at heart.

During her initial stint on the cobbles, Alina was at the centre of a storyline about modern slavery that had seen her move to the UK through a human trafficking ring.

When she fell pregnant, Tyrone told her he was staying by Fiz.

A devastated Alina then told the mechanic she was returning to Romania to raise their child alone.

She's now back in Weatherfield because she's a witness in a trial against traffickers.

Speaking about how her character feels, she said in a recent interview with the publication: 'It's too much. She needed time away to heal and she did some healing for sure in those two years, but she needs more time to be away from the Street.

Tyrone's cheating ex (played by Ruxandra Porojnicu) bumped into Fiz (Jennie Alpine) at the supermarket Freshco's car park

During her initial stint on the cobbles, Alina was at the centre of a storyline about modern slavery that had seen her move to the UK through a human trafficking ring

Tyrone and Fiz had their first onscreen kiss back in 2001 and married on Christmas Day in 2022

'But we'll see where this takes her.'

Tyrone and Fiz had their first onscreen kiss back in 2001 and they had a relationship twenty years later.

However they split up when after he had an affair with Alina.

After the two characters kissed, Tyrone dumped Fiz and declared his love for Alina.

He finally married Fiz on Christmas Day in 2022.

Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
August 8, 2024: A problem Russia suffers from is their inability to develop and produce weapons and equipment that match or surpass what the West has. From 2015 to early 2022 Russian defense production has been crippled by detailed and regularly updated sanctions based on continuing searches for smuggled Western parts. An example of this was Orlan-10 UAV, whose production should have been shut down by 2016 sanctions but wasnt. Introduced in 2011, Orlan-10 is one of few UAVs that Russia developed locally, and that included a special version for functioning in Arctic environments. Orlan-10 is propeller-driven, weighs about 15 kilograms and can carry a payload of up to 6 kilograms of various kinds of recon equipment, including infrared cameras, or an array of multiple cameras used for creating 3-dimensional maps. Its 95-octane gasoline-powered engine provides a cruise speed of 90 to 150 kilometers an hour, a service ceiling of about 5,000 meters, and a flight endurance of 18 hours. Together with control and launch equipment, the Orlan-10 costs about half a million dollars. The aircraft is launched by a portable folding catapult and lands by shutting down the engine and deploying a parachute. Russia has produced over a thousand Orlans so far and they continue to be produced despite the difficulty in obtaining some electronic components.

Oran-10s required several Western electronic boards and chips that were not manufactured in Russia and had to be imported. By 2017 it was clear that Russia was not simply using existing stockpiles of now banned components to build new Oran-10s. This was a major problem because Orlan-10 was a key observation asset as it could spot targets for Russian artillery or rocket fire. Oran-10 can operate high enough to be safe from rifle or machine-gun fire and it is difficult for a lightweight anti-aircraft missile like Stinger to hit. At night it is even less vulnerable to ground fire.

In Ukraine some Orlan-10s continued to be shot down or crash because of equipment failure. Their wreckage was examined for the presence of banned components and these items were still there. The banned items were common, not custom-manufactured for Orlan-10s. There were dozens of distributors you could order from. Government efforts to sort out which distributors were selling the Oran parts to a firm with a link to Russia had come up empty.

Russian forces have lost over a hundred Orlans in Ukraine so far and have replaced these losses because Orlan-10 is their principal means of spotting targets for Russian artillery. Orlan-10s entered service in 2012 and were used in Ukraine and Syria before 2022. Russia uses all this combat experience to help export sales of Orlan-10s and its new electronic warfare features.

In 2016 Russia introduced a new accessory for Orlan-10s which turns them into the equivalent of a cell phone tower, or a cell phone tower detector and jammer. Troops with the proper equipment and software can use an Orlan-10 to send and receive text, voice and images, including video) This system works with another Orlan-10 accessory, the RB-341V, that will precisely locate cell phone towers and can also jam those within six kilometers. Locating the towers is important because troops on the ground can then go destroy or capture the equipment. Artillery or airstrikes can, with an accurate location, destroy the cell phone gear remotely.

In 2020 Russia introduced a larger version of Orlan-10, the Orlan-30, which will eventually replace existing Orlan-10s. Orlan-30 weighs 40 kg and can stay in the air for eight hours per sortie by using an internal combustion engine similar to the one used in the Orlan-10. Operating ceiling is 4,000 meters and speed varies between 90 and 150 kilometers an hour.

Max payload is six kg and basic equipment includes a video camera for navigation, a digital imager to find targets in day or night or in bad weather, and a fire control video camera with a laser designation to pinpoint the location of a target. An Orlan-30 system comes in four cargo containers and consists of two Orlan-30s, a launching catapult, and a ground control station where the operator sits and flies the Orlan-30 remotely. The operator also distributes target information obtained by his Orlan-30 to other army units that can require it, like artillery batteries or battalions needing target locations and descriptions of the targets.
Coronation Street fans believe they have worked out that two characters are set to die in upcoming episodes of the ITV soap.

Those who are keeping up with the drama on the cobbles will know that actress Ruxandra Porojnicu made her return to the programme on Wednesday as Alina Pop.

Her character is best remembered for her previous involvement with Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall), who is currently married to Fiz Stape (Jennie McAlpine).

And now it seems she is back to cause trouble for the couple once again, as Alina bumped into Fiz outside of Freshco in the show's most recent episode.

It was her first appearance on the the cobbles since 2021, she made the shock revelation that mechanic Tyrone is the father to her son Dobin.

Coronation Street fans believe they have worked out that two characters are 'confirmed' to die in upcoming episodes of the ITV soap

Those who are keeping up with the drama on the Cobbles will know that actress Ruxandra Porojnicu made her return to the programme on Wednesday as Alina Pop

Elsewhere on the programme Betsy Swain ( Sydney Martin) is blackmailing soap opera villain Joel Deering (Calum Lill)

Elsewhere on the programme Betsy Swain (Sydney Martin) is blackmailing soap opera villain Joel Deering (Calum Lill).

The latter recently found out that Betsy was actually DS Lisa Swain's daughter, who has been after him following Lauren's disappearance.

So, because of the dangerous paths both of their storylines are heading down, viewers are convinced that Alina and Betty will be killed off from the soap in future episodes.

Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their concerns and theorize what they think is in store, writing:

'#corrie #coronationstreet Is anyone else wanting Betsy to be killed off by Joel?'

'So that's Alina probably dead by xmas and Tyrone and fizz raising the kiddo #Corrie.'

'Now that Alina is back with a kid, she's got a 90% chance of being dead by the end of the year #corrie.'

'I'm both overjoyed to see the lovely Alina again and terrified for her (Remembering what #Corrie did to Natasha. And Kirsty. And Katy Armstrong. And how it treats young single mothers in general) #corrie.'

Ruxandra's character is best remembered for her previous involvement with Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall), who is currently married to Fiz Stape (Jennie McAlpine); pictured together on the show

Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their concerns and theorize what they think is in store

'I can see a future storyline of Joel Killing Betsy #Corrie.'

'So in what way will they kill off Alina so Fiz and Tyrone have to bring up the baby? #sameoldstory #Corrie.'

'Betsy's gonna be dead #corrie.'

The growing speculation comes just after Alan Halsall opened up about his current dramatic storyline on the soap.

He said Tyrone's discovery he has a son with Alina 'puts a spanner in the works' with his relationship with Fiz.

'With Jennie being off on maternity leave, we haven't really seen the domestic bliss of Ty and Fiz's marriage, two kids and a nana,' Alan told The Mirror.

'For it to be turned upside down so quickly and Alina to come back with a child on board  it's going to divide a lot of people and that's just within the house.

'Pardon the pun, but it's a spanner in the works for Tyrone. He's living this domestic bliss so the last thing he really wants is anything interrupting that.'

During her initial stint on the cobbles, Alina was at the centre of a storyline about modern slavery that had seen her move to the UK through a human trafficking ring

Tyrone and Fiz had their first onscreen kiss back in 2001 and married on Christmas Day in 2022

Alan said Tyrone will want to 'dismiss' Alina's arrival and threats but ultimately wants to do the right thing as he is a family man at heart.

During her initial stint on the cobbles, Alina was at the centre of a storyline about modern slavery that had seen her move to the UK through a human trafficking ring.

When she fell pregnant, Tyrone told her he was staying by Fiz.

A devastated Alina then told the mechanic she was returning to Romania to raise their child alone.

She's now back in Weatherfield because she's a witness in a trial against traffickers.

Speaking about how her character feels, she said in a recent interview with the publication: 'It's too much. She needed time away to heal and she did some healing for sure in those two years, but she needs more time to be away from the Street.

'But we'll see where this takes her.'

Tyrone and Fiz had their first onscreen kiss back in 2001 and they had a relationship twenty years later.

However they split up when after he had an affair with Alina.

After the two characters kissed, Tyrone dumped Fiz and declared his love for Alina.

He finally married Fiz on Christmas Day in 2022.

Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX
Listeners were shocked and saddened, following news the Hughesy, Ed & Erin breakfast show was axed after 2Day FM spent huge money on the gamble.

Millions of dollars were reportedly shelled out to salvage the long-running radio program, but nothing was able to be done to keep the show on the airwaves.

The announcement came on Wednesday evening with the embattled hosts given one more show on Thursday to finish up - but they decided against going back on air.

According to radio insiders, the departure was a 'long time coming' for the trio and their plummeting ratings was the 'final nail in the coffin'.

'SCA (Southern Cross Austereo) have spent millions trying to make this show a success, including having Hughesy relocate from Melbourne to try "connect" with Sydney listeners more by actually living there, but it's still always struggled to find an audience,' one radio source told Yahoo Lifestyle.

'They brought in a new executive producer at the start of the year who they poached from KIIS, but even that wasnt enough and no one is surprised it's now been scrapped.'

The Hughesy, Ed & Erin breakfast show sensationally came to an end amid spiralling ratings and 'commitment issues'.

The program, hosted by Dave Hughes, Ed Kavalee and Erin Molan managed a mere 3.6 market share in the last ratings survey.

Millions of dollars were reportedly spent to salvage the Hughesy, Ed & Erin breakfast show, but nothing was able to be done to keep the show on the airwaves. Pictured: Ed Kavalee, Erin Molan and Dave Hughes

2Day FM announced the news on Wednesday evening, informing listeners that they've opted to pull the plug on the show, and replace it with loveable night shift larrikins Jimmy Smith and Nath Roye, who currently host The Jimmy and Nath Show.

'We've loved our time together on 2DayFM Breakfast, however, due to some of our families living in different cities we are unable to commit to 2025, so with a heavy heart we are moving aside so 2DayFM can find the team to take them forward in Breakfast,' Hughsey, Ed and Erin said in a statement.

'We are so grateful to Sydney for their support, and to double the number of listeners in three years is something we are immensely proud of, and we will miss each and every one of them.'

Southern Cross Austereo went on to thank the radio hosts for their 'passion and commitment' following the announcement.

'We are incredibly thankful to Hughesy, Ed and Erin for their unwavering dedication in making the 2DayFM Breakfast show a fun way to wake up Sydney each morning since 2020, and we wish them the very best with the continuation of their outstanding careers,' said SCA Chief Content Officer, Dave Cameron.

'As we look to 2025, we are preparing for a change for the 2DayFM Sydney Breakfast show and will make further announcements in due course.'

The program hosted by Dave Hughes, Ed Kavalee and Erin Molan managed a mere 3.6 audience share in the latest ratings survey

The Jimmy & Nath Show - currently on the Hit national night shift - will temporarily move into the Breakfast timeslot.

The GfK Radio 360 Survey 4 saw Hughesy, Ed and Erin drop 1.4 points to a 3.6 market share earlier in the year.

The announcement follows rumours Hughes is getting set to reunite with Kate Langbroek, 58, to reboot their popular Hughesy and Kate show.

The pair last hosted Hit FM's popular show in 2019, before Langbroek took a step back from the program to move to Italy.

In July, the Herald Sun reported that Melbourne is abuzz with rumours that Langbroek and Hughes, 53, are getting ready to bring back the program.

Meanwhile, Hughes recently did a guest spot on Triple M's The Rush Hour in Melbourne which was a big hit with listeners.

Hughes and Langbroek first teamed together in 2001 for Nova 100's Melbourne breakfast show.

Langbroek currently co-hosts the popular podcast The Buck Up with Nath Valvo after leaving her last commercial radio gig on KIIS FM The Pick Up two years ago.

She teased a potential radio reunion with Hughes last year.

'We're full of love for each other and nothing is off the table for us,' she told the Herald Sun last August.

'I love Hughesy. I'm not doing radio at the moment but I will always love radio because it's such a natural medium for me.'

In March 2023, Langbroek issued a lengthy apology after publicly exposing a gender pay gay dispute between herself and Hughes on The Project.

She claimed she earned 40 per cent less than Hughesy during their time hosting Hughesy & Kate on the Hit Network for almost two decades.

The announcement follows rumours Hughes is getting set to reunite with Kate Langbroek, 58, to reboot their popular Hughesy and Kate show. Both pictured

Langbroek currently hosts the popular podcast The Buck Up alongside co-host Nath Valvo after leaving her last commercial radio gig on KIIS FM, the Pick Up, two years ago. She is also a regular panelist on Channel 10's The Project. (Pictured)

Clarifying her shock admission on Instagram, Langbroek said she hadn't explained the full context of the situation due to the 'time constraints' of the Channel 10 show.

'Nor did I explain that when he found out, Hughesy was mortified - properly shocked - and immediately sought to rectify the situation,' she admitted.

'I had already procured parity for myself, by the way, but his instincts were so honourable he offered instantly to take a pay cut,' she added.

'He also vowed that from that point on, we would always negotiate together on the show we had built together, and we did, the following year, when we moved to SCA. Knowing that we could speak freely about our negotiations, and that we were treated as true equals at our new radio network was the best.'

She confessed Hughes had been 'hurt' by her comments on The Project, which is why she felt the need to clarify them.

She also said that she and Hughes weren't 'estranged' and that she was 'mortified' she had led people to believe that.
The Hughesy, Ed and Erin radio show is the latest in a long line of breakfast shows for 2Day FM to be axed.

The network announced that the breakfast show had sensationally come to an end on Wednesday.

'We've loved our time together on 2DayFM Breakfast, however, due to some of our families living in different cities we are unable to commit to 2025,' Hughsey, Ed and Erin said in a statement.

'So with a heavy heart we are moving aside so 2DayFM can find the team to take them forward in Breakfast.'

The program will be replaced with loveable night shift larrikins Jimmy Smith and Nath Roye, who currently host The Jimmy and Nath Show.

The news came after the GfK Radio 360 Survey 4 saw Hughesy, Ed and Erin drop 1.4 points to a 3.6 market share earlier in the year.

The network has gone through seven line-ups in an effort to claw back some ratings from Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson, who defected from the network to KIIS FM in 2013.

Daily Mail Australia look at 2Day FM's failed breakfast line-up's over the past decade.

The Hughesy, Ed and Erin radio show is the latest in a long line of breakfast shows for 2Day FM to be axed

Merrick Watts, Jules Lund, and Sophie Monk with Mel Brown - 2014

Merrick Watts, Jules Lund, and Sophie Monk with Mel Brown took over breakfast radio following Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson's move to KIIS FM in 2014.

However, the group didn't last long, with their radio show ending by January 2015.

Former Spice Girl Mel B was the first to go after her six-month contract expired, followed by Sophie Monk, who cited early starts as the reason for her departure.

Merrick and Jules were eventually removed from the timeslot to make way for Dan Debuf and Maz Compton.

'I know it looks like a nightmare on paper but for me personally I learnt a lot,' Merrick told Confidential at the time.

'I learnt a lot about radio, about myself as a broadcaster.'

Merrick Watts, Jules Lund, and Sophie Monk with Mel Brown took over 2Day FM's breakfast radio following Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson's move to KIIS FM in 2014

However, the group didn't last long, with their radio show ending by January 2015

Dan Debuf and Maz Compton - 2015

After presenting both national night and drive-time slots, Dan and Maz were offered the illustrious Sydney breakfast program in 2015.

Dan and Maz lasted only eight months in the breakfast position before they were bumped to weekends in favour of a new show starring Rove McManus and Sam Frost.

At the time of their axing, Dan and Maz had failed to gain traction in the Sydney radio market, sitting on a 3.6 per cent audience share.

After presenting both national night and drive-time slots, Dan and Maz were offered the illustrious Sydney breakfast program in 2015 but lasted only eight months in the slot

Rove McManus and Sam Frost - 2016

Another high-profile duo that failed to capture audiences' ears were Rove McManus and Sam Frost.

Taking over the slot in November 2015, the pair struggled to gain traction.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported at the time that they began 2016 with just a 3 per cent share of the Sydney radio market.

In January 2017, Rove and Sam moved from the breakfast slot, to a national nightly program.

Another high-profile duo that failed to capture audiences' ears were Rove McManus and Sam Frost

Taking over the slot in November 2015, the pair struggled to gain traction

Em Rusciano and Harley Breen - 2017

Em Rusciano and Harley Breen took over the slot in 2017.

However after just 12 months, Harley announced in November that he was leaving the station to focus on his stand-up comedy career.

Following his announcement, Em broke down live on air, admitting she was 'really sad' about Harley's departure.

Six months after leaving the 2DayFM breakfast show, Harley revealed to news.com.au that he no longer speaks to Em.

'Ah, no, we haven't been hanging out for spritz's in the afternoon,' he said.

Taking the slot in January 2017, Em Rusciano and Harley Breen lasted only 12 months on air

Em Rusciano, Ed Kavalee and Grant Denyer - 2018

In December 2017, it was announced that Grant Denyer would join Em Rusciano and Ed Kavalee to host 2Day FM's breakfast show.

However, just eight months after they took over the ill-fated slot, Em announced in early September, that she would be leaving to focus on her comedy career and the birth of her third child.

'Casual bombshell alert. This Friday will be my last day on air for 2Day FM breakfast, and I want to make it crystal clear that this is entirely my decision and not one I made lightly,' she said on air at the time.

'The truth is when I found out I was pregnant, I made my mind up on the spot that this year would be my last year of breakfast radio.'

Ash London was brought in as a replacement before joining the show permanently in January 2019.

In December 2017, it was announced that Grant Denyer would join Em Rusciano and Ed Kavalee

Grant Denyer, Ed Kavalee and Ash London - 2019

Grant, Ed and Ash continued to flounder in the breakfast slot.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported at the time that the trio saw the show crash for its 'worst ratings in almost two years'.

In the July 2019 Sydney radio survey, they had just 3.1 per cent of the total breakfast audience.

Speaking to the I've Got News for You podcast in 2023, Denyer revealed his exit from 2Day FM's Sydney breakfast show was probably his most painful dismissal.

'One what hurt probably I think more than many [was] breakfast radio,' he said.

'That one really hurt because I'd had lunch with a head executive a week earlier, who promised me they were going to sign me for, like, another five years,' he continued.

'And then a week later I finish a show and at 9.05am I walk into a meeting and they say, "Well, that was your last show! I hope you enjoyed being in radio!"'
The Hughesy, Ed & Erin breakfast show has sensationally come to an end amid spiralling ratings.

But there is growing speculation that one of the deciding factors for its axing was host Dave Hughes' unwillingness to move interstate permanently.

The comedian, 53, was commuting from his home in Melbourne to host the 2Day FM breakfast show, which is recorded in Sydney.

According to News.com.au, 2Day FM bosses had been pressuring the radio star to relocate to the Harbour City but his wife Holly had become frustrated with his commute and wanted him to spend more time in Melbourne.

Insiders have suggested Hughes told executives at Southern Cross Austereo (the network that owns 2Day FM) that he would not be moving and therefore couldn't agree to another year on the breakfast show.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Hughes for comment.

The program hosted by Hughes, Ed Kavalee and Erin Molan, also suffered a mere 3.6 per cent market share in the last ratings survey.

2Day FM announced the axing on Wednesday evening, informing listeners that they've opted to pull the plug on the show and replace it with night shift larrikins Jimmy Smith and Nath Roye, who currently host The Jimmy and Nath Show.

The Hughesy, Ed & Erin breakfast show has sensationally come to an end but there is growing speculation that one of the deciding factors for its axing was host Dave Hughes ' (pictured) unwillingness to move interstate permanently

'We've loved our time together on 2DayFM Breakfast, however, due to some of our families living in different cities we are unable to commit to 2025, so with a heavy heart we are moving aside so 2DayFM can find the team to take them forward in Breakfast,' Hughsey, Ed and Erin said in a statement.

'We are so grateful to Sydney for their support, and to double the number of listeners in three years is something we are immensely proud of, and we will miss each and every one of them.'

Southern Cross Austereo went on to thank the radio hosts for their 'passion and commitment' following the announcement.

'We are incredibly thankful to Hughesy, Ed and Erin for their unwavering dedication in making the 2DayFM Breakfast show a fun way to wake up Sydney each morning since 2020, and we wish them the very best with the continuation of their outstanding careers,' said SCA Chief Content Officer, Dave Cameron.

Insiders have suggested Hughes told executives at Southern Cross Austereo (the network that owns 2Day FM) that he would not be moving from Melbourne to Sydney and therefore couldn't agree to another year on the breakfast show. Pictured Dave and wife Holly

The announcement follows rumours Hughes is getting set to reunite with Kate Langbroek, 58, to reboot their popular Hughesy and Kate show.

The pair last hosted Hit FM's popular show in 2019, before Langbroek took a step back from the program to move to Italy.

Meanwhile, Hughes recently did a guest spot on Triple M's The Rush Hour in Melbourne which was a big hit with listeners.

Hughes and Langbroek first teamed together in 2001 for Nova 100's Melbourne breakfast show.

Langbroek currently co-hosts the popular podcast The Buck Up with Nath Valvo after leaving her last commercial radio gig on KIIS FM The Pick Up two years ago.

She teased a potential radio reunion with Hughes last year.

'We're full of love for each other and nothing is off the table for us,' she told the Herald Sun last August.
Lupita Nyong'o treated her beloved cat Yoyo with a party to celebrate his third birthday on Wednesday, while also taking a swipe at Sen. J.D. Vance.

The Black Panther star, 41, shared a number of snaps with her adorable feline companion as they posed in front of a golden 'Happy Birthday' banner.

The actress  who overcame her lifelong fear of cats while filming A Quiet Place: Day One  also had a special blue birthday hat for the orange tabby cat, as well as a number of crinkle toys.

'Go Yoyo! It's yo birthday!' Please join me in wishing him a very happy 3rd birthday!' the Kenyan-Mexican beauty wrote in the caption.

Lupita then took a dig at former President Trump's running mate with the hashtag '#ChildlessCatLady', after he went viral for making the remark in a resurfaced interview from 2021.

Lupita Nyong'o, 41, treated her beloved cat Yoyo with a party to celebrate his third birthday on Wednesday, while also taking a swipe at Sen. J.D. Vance

Lupita took a dig at former President Trump's running mate with the hashtag '#ChildlessCatLady', after he went viral for making the remark in an interview from 2021

The star sported a chic yellow dress in the snaps, as well as a floral crown atop her head.

She accessorized with gold earrings and flashed a bright smile while celebrating her furry friend.

Last month the Oscar winner paid tribute to Yoyo on National Kitten Day, sharing a sweet video montage of him.

'It's #NationalKittenDay which means it's time to celebrate one of the sweetest loves of my life, Yoyo! Even though he's not a kitten anymore, he will always be my baby boy! #YOYOYYO #CatMom,' she wrote in the caption.

Lupita adopted her four-legged friend last year from Best Friends Adoption Center, but she wasn't always a fan of cats.

In fact, she had to undergo a form of cat therapy before starring in the horror/sci-fi film A Quiet Place: Day One  released in June  where she had a feline co-star named Frodo.

'They hired someone to bring cats to my home, and on the first day, they just released the cats in my presence. I stood on the other side of the room and asked questions about why they were doing what they were doing,' she told CBS News.

'I had been afraid of cats,' Nyong'o told People. 'I just hadn't spent much time with them. This film forced me to learn about cats, and I had to look like I owned a cat, and look like I cared, and look like I loved the cat. In the process of playing that pretend, I actually fell in love with the cats, Nico and Schnitzel. They're so sweet and cute.'

The Black Panther star shared a number of snaps with her adorable feline companion as they posed in front of a golden 'Happy Birthday' banner

The actress also had a special blue birthday hat for her four-legged friend, as well as a number of crinkle toys

'Go Yoyo! Its yo birthday!' Please join me in wishing him a very happy 3rd birthday!' she wrote in the caption

Yoyo posed with his birthday hat and banner and looked engrossed in the festivities

'There's something that melts your heart when they hold onto you. It was a bond that I had with them,' she added.

The star said that when she returned to her 'real life' and was 'going through a hard time, I just had a little voice saying, "Get a cat," and I got a cat. I have not regretted it.'

'I'm way less lonely with my cat, and he pried my heart open,' she shared.

She went on to state that what she loved about cats is their independence.''

'They take care of themselves... And they're also very opinionated, and they just have their personality, and you have to take them or leave them. I love that about them. They remind me of me.'

Lupita is not the only A-lister one who's been critical of Vance's 'childless cat lady' comments.

Jennifer Aniston, 55, also took issue with the statement, after Vance make remarks about 'childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives' while speaking about Vice President Kamala Harris in 2021.

She took to her Instagram Stories in July with sharp words for Vance, atop a clip of him speaking with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson.

Last month the Oscar winner paid tribute to Yoyo on National Kitten Day, sharing a sweet video montage of him

'It's time to celebrate one of the sweetest loves of my life, Yoyo! Even though he's not a kitten anymore, he will always be my baby boy! #YOYOYYO #CatMom,' she wrote in the caption

Lupita adopted her four-legged friend last year from Best Friends Adoption Center, but she wasn't always a fan of cats

The star overcame her lifelong fear of cats while filming horror/sci-fi film A Quiet Place: Day One, where she had a feline co-star named Frodo; seen in a still from the movie

'I truly can't believe that this is coming from a potential VP of the United States,' the Friends star said on the social media platform. 'All I can say is... Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day.'

'I hope she will not need to turn to IVF as a second option. Because you are trying to take that away from her, too.'

The comments Vance made in 2021 questioning Vice President Harris leadership because she did not have biological children resurfaced in recent days, testing the young conservative senator in his early days campaigning as part of the Republicans' presidential ticket.

During Vance's bid for the Senate in Ohio, he said in a Fox News interview that 'we are effectively run in this country via the Democrats,' and referred to them as 'a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too.'

He said that included Harris, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat.

Vance said to Carlson in the interview, 'It's just a basic fact - you look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, AOC - the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children. And how does it make any sense that we've turned our country over to people who don't really have a direct stake in it?'

Vance, 39, and wife Usha Vance, 38, have three kids - sons Ewan, six, and Vivek, four, and daughter Mirabel, two.

Aniston, who can currently be seen on Apple TV+'s The Morning Show, has been candid about her issues with fertility and trying to have a child over the years.

Lupita is not the only one who's been critical of Vance's comments. Jennifer Aniston, 55 (seen in June) also took issue with the statement

She had sharp words for Vance in July, after he make remarks about 'childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives' while speaking about Vice President Kamala Harris in 2021

Former President and current Republican nominee Donald Trump selected Vance as his vice presidential candidate on July 15. Pictured at a Michigan rally July 20

The 2021 clip of Vance has spread online, with former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton sharing it in a post on X and adding sarcastically, 'what a normal, relatable guy who certainly doesn't hate women having freedoms.'

The recirculated comment may be a sign of the GOP ticket's troubles appealing to women voters, and on the issue of reproductive rights.

It follows the explosive entrance in the race of Harris, who secured the support of enough delegates to become the official nominee in less than 32 hours after President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid.

It also lays out some of the fears expressed by strategists that Trump took a political risk in picking a running mate who has been in Congress less than two years and is largely untested on a bigger stage. Trump liked Vance's telegenic qualities and said he reminded him of 'a young Abraham Lincoln.'
Rihanna donned an expensive-looking diamond necklace and an open black silk robe to film a tutorial on how to apply her brand new $40 Fenty Beauty medium-coverage foundation, which aims to be 'luminous without looking greasy.'

'Today, we are going to be applying Soft'Lit Naturally Luminous Longwear Foundation,' the 36-year-old Bajan billionaire - who boasts 310.3M social media followers - said on Wednesday.

'Tools are 145 brush. You can already see the luminosity. It is giving glow. It's giving lum!'

The video montage truly showcased how flawless Riri's (born Robyn Fenty) complexion is without having much make-up on aside from Soft'Lit shade No. 315.

'I'm not saying you're dumb if you don't try this foundation, I'm just saying it wouldn't be smart,' the nine-time Grammy winner wisecracked in the caption.

Rihanna donned an expensive-looking diamond necklace and an open black silk robe to film a tutorial on how to apply her brand new $40 Fenty Beauty medium-coverage foundation, which aims to be 'luminous without looking greasy'

Instagram user @jeff_92 commented: 'I'm not saying I'm dumb for asking for an album, but now wouldn't be smart I guess...'

Instagram user @bisa_nzuzo agreed: 'Rih, remember when you used to sing songs and stuff?'

Rihanna is next producing and voicing Smurfette in Paramount Animation's The Smurfs Movie - hitting UK/US theaters February 14, 2025 - along with writing and recording original songs.

Chris Miller and Matt Landon's animated film also features Nick Offerman, Natasha Lyonne, JP Karliak, Dan Levy, Amy Sedaris, Nick Kroll, James Corden, Octavia Spencer, Hannah Waddingham, Sandra Oh, Alex Winter, Billie Lourd, Xolo Mariduena, Kurt Russell, and John Goodman.

On August 1, the Fenty Hair founder and her babydaddy A$AP Rocky celebrated the first birthday of their son Riot Rose Mayers, and they're also parents of two-year-old son RZA Athelston Mayers.

Rihanna previously revealed they were 'trying to figure out who's gonna use what' when it comes to sampling the voices of their children on her long-delayed ninth studio album and his fourth studio album Don't Be Dumb, which drops August 30.

The Savage X Fenty founder - whose last single Lift Me Up dropped in 2022 - told ET in April: 'I already got stuff that I feel like I could make hits out of.'

Rihanna and the 35-year-old New York rapper originally confirmed their romance in 2020 - nine years after she first enlisted him to rap on her song Cockiness (Love It).

The 36-year-old Bajan billionaire - who boasts 310.3M social media followers - said on Wednesday: 'Today, we are going to be applying Soft'Lit Naturally Luminous Longwear Foundation'

She continued: 'Tools are 145 brush. You can already see the luminosity. It is giving glow. It's giving lum!'

The video montage truly showcased how flawless Riri's (born Robyn Fenty) complexion is without having much make-up on aside from Soft'Lit shade No. 315

The nine-time Grammy winner wisecracked in the caption: 'I'm not saying you're dumb if you don't try this foundation, I'm just saying it wouldn't be smart'

Instagram user @jeff_92 commented: 'I'm not saying I'm dumb for asking for an album, but now wouldn't be smart I guess...' Instagram user @bisa_nzuzo agreed: 'Rih, remember when you used to sing songs and stuff?'

Rihanna is next producing and voicing Smurfette in Paramount Animation's The Smurfs Movie - hitting UK/US theaters February 14, 2025 - along with writing and recording original songs (pictured in 2023)

On August 1, the Fenty Hair founder and her babydaddy A$AP Rocky celebrated the first birthday of their son Riot Rose Mayers, and they're also parents of two-year-old son RZA Athelston Mayers

Rihanna previously revealed they were 'trying to figure out who's gonna use what' when it comes to sampling the voices of their children on her long-delayed ninth studio album and his fourth studio album Don't Be Dumb, which drops August 30 (pictured May 13)

The Savage X Fenty founder - whose last single Lift Me Up dropped in 2022 - told ET in April: 'I already got stuff that I feel like I could make hits out of'

A$AP - who hired attorney Joe Tacopina - is currently free on bond ahead of his criminal assault trial, which is scheduled to begin October 21.

On January 8, Rocky (born Rakim Athelaston Mayers) plead not guilty to two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm stemming from a 2021 shooting of his longtime friend A$AP Relli (born Terell Ephron).

Prosecutors obtained video of the two-time Grammy nominee allegedly holding a gun, but there's no video of Ephron being shot through the hand.

A$AP's late Bajan father reportedly went to prison when he was only 12, and he spent his teen years moving around homeless shelters with his mother and sister.
Megan Gale was spotted out and about in Melbourne, showcasing a casual and sporty look while running errands.

On Tuesday, the 49-year-old beauty confidently embraced a makeup-free appearance, proving once again that she can effortlessly pull off any look.

The model donned a vibrant orange Nike long-sleeve top, emblazoned with the brand's signature swoosh and a stylish white shoulder detail, perfect for the chilly Melbourne weather.

She paired this with sleek black leggings, accentuating her slender legs, and opted for comfort with white trainers.

Her dark hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail, keeping it off her face and showcasing her natural features.

She accessorised with a pair of black-rimmed glasses, which added a touch of sophistication to her casual outfit.

In one hand, Gale carried a black tote bag adorned with metallic studs, adding a hint of edge to her otherwise laid-back look.

Megan is one of Australia's most successful models.

Megan Gale was spotted out and about in Melbourne, showcasing a casual and sporty look while running errands. Pictured

On Tuesday, the 49-year-old beauty confidently embraced a makeup-free appearance

The Perth-born star rose to fame in 1999 after starring in advertisements for an Italian telecommunication company.

She then went on to become 'the face of Australia in Italy' in 2023 for the Australian Tourist Commission in 2003.

Megan has also appeared in several Hollywood films, including Mad Max: Fury Road and The Water Diviner.

Last year, the model revealed she is open to return to modelling, 16 years after she retired from the industry.

Speaking to Stellar magazine, the Australian supermodel said she thoroughly enjoyed her one-off return to the catwalk for David Jones' 185th anniversary back in March, 2023.

The model donned a vibrant orange Nike long-sleeve top, emblazoned with the brand's signature swoosh

'Walking down that runway and having people happy to see me felt like a homecoming. Would I do it again? Never say never,' she began.

'I always loved catwalk modelling, I miss it but I wouldn't just start rolling myself out for the sake of it. It's got to make sense.'

Megan's appearance on the David Jones runway came 22 years after she became their brand ambassador in 2001.

The star also revealed she felt grateful to have worked in such a cut-throat industry for as long as she did.

'I wanted to work as much as I could, have kids later, and maybe semi-retire. This industry is fickle and you don't know when it's going to fade away.'

She added that meeting her partner Shaun Hampson and having a family helped keep her grounded throughout her career.

'[Sean is] very grounded and always keeps things very real. He makes me laugh a lot. We're still having fun, all these years later.'

It comes after Megan previously told Body and Soul magazine she now wears minimal makeup and doesn't 'put too much pressure on my body' when exercising.

'Beauty doesn't have to be that overwhelming - less is well and truly more in my book,' she told the publication.

The supermodel opened and closed the show for David Jones' Autumn/Winter collection at its flagship Melbourne store in March.

Megan was the face of the luxury department store from 2001 to 2014.

Since stepping out of the spotlight, she has been focusing on her family life with her partner Shaun Hampson.

Megan and Shaun, who live together in Melbourne, met in 2011 and became engaged in 2017 and they share daughter Rosie and son River.
Ella Rae Wise and Dani Imbert turned heads as they joined their Only Way Is Essex castmates to film for the upcoming series.

Rocking stylish ensembles, they arrived at Lokkum Bar & Grill in London on Thursday with Freddie Bentley and joe Blackman for the scenes.

Ella, 25, opted for a pair of pale blue thigh-skimming lace shorts that she teamed with a matching ruffled blouse and silver heels.

Meanwhile, Dani, 25, wowed in a fitted mesh bodysuit, embellished with rhinestones and sequins.

She styled her hair into beachy waves, added a pair of strappy heels and accessorised with a quirky handbag.

Ella Rae Wise (pictured) and Dani Imbert turned heads as they joined their Only Way Is Essex castmates to film for the upcoming series

Rocking stylish ensembles, they arrived at Lokkum Bar & Grill in London on Thursday

It's the first time Joe has been seen on set since his split from fellow castmate Harry Derbidge.

The TV personality has now reportedly 'moved on' with another co-star, just weeks after their breakup.

MailOnline reported last week how Harry, 30, and Joe, 26, had sadly split after discussing having children and vowing to get married in Vegas.

However, The Sun revealed on Tuesday that the father-of-one is reportedly dating his fellow cast member Junaid Ahmed, 30.

A source revealed to The Sun that Harry was left 'furious' after he 'discovered text messages between Joe and Junaid'.

According to The Sun, the discovery of the text messages led to a blazing row before the couple ended things for good.

A source told The Sun: 'Harry found messages between Joe and Junaid and it led to a huge argument and them splitting.'

Joe and Junaid have also been 'spotted enjoying a string of dates' since they returned to Essex and have reportedly 'grown closer' following the Cyprus trip.

Ella, 25, opted for a pair of pale blue thigh-skimming lace shorts that she teamed with a matching ruffled blouse and silver heels

Meanwhile, Dani, 25, wowed in a fitted mesh bodysuit, embellished with rhinestones and sequins

They were joined by Freddie Bentley (pictured) and Joe Blackman for the scenes

Freddie kissed Ella on the cheek for a sweet photo

It's the first time Joe has been seen on set since his split from fellow castmate Harry Derbidge

The source continued: 'Since then Joe and Junaid have been spending lots of time together.'

'They been spotted on dates around Essex and staying at each others, so its only a matter of time before things erupt with Harry.'

According to The Sun, the storyline will play out for viewers later this year, and cast members will be forced to take sides.

The source also added that it's likely to be a 'huge storyline on the show' and everyone will be 'divided' over it.

MailOnline has contacted Harry's representative for comment.

It comes after Harry and Joe reportedly split last week after vowing to get married in Las Vegas and discussing having children.

Harry and Joe got together last year and previously insisted that their relationship was going from strength to strength.

However, a TV insider revealed to The Sun that the couple had broken up and their shocking split will air on the upcoming series of the ITVBe reality show.

The source revealed: 'Harry and Joe split up and everyone's so upset for him.'

'They really hoped Harry had found love but things crumbled and it was all caught on camera for the next series.'

'Everyone is hoping they can get back together and work it out but it's not looking good.'

Harry's representative declined to comment.

The TV personality has now reportedly 'moved on' with another co-star, just weeks after their breakup

MailOnline reported last week how Harry, 30, and Joe, 26, had sadly split after discussing having children and vowing to get married in Vegas

However, The Sun revealed on Tuesday that he is reportedly dating his fellow cast member Junaid Ahmed, 30 (Junaid pictured at the National Reality TV Awards last month)

Harry previously revealed that he and Joe - who has a son from a previous relationship - had started planning their wedding and even discussed having children.

Speaking to Closer at the time he said: 'He has moved in and we live together now... its going really good. We talk about loads of things. We have planned our futures and I know that will be me forever.'

'We want to have kids one day and get married.'

He added: 'We will just run away to Vegas. We will see Elvis Presley and do it. Me and Joe always talk about a Vegas wedding and about surrogacy. If we never worked out, I would be so sad.'
Alessandra Ambrosio showed off her toned figure as she frolicked in the sea during a family holiday to Hawaii.

The supermodel, 43, looked incredible in a bright coloured triangle top and matching string bottoms.

Sharing an insight into her getaway to Instagram on Thursday, Alessandra uploaded a slew of sun-drenched photos.

The former Victoria's Secret Angel - who was seen enjoying a romantic getaway in Ibiza with Alexander Smurfit earlier this month - was joined by her daughter Anja, 15, for a snorkelling trip.

She later changed into a ruched swimsuit with a floral pattern while posing for a photo in a mirror.

Alessandra Ambrosio showed off her toned figure as she frolicked in the sea during a family holiday to Hawaii

The supermodel, 43, looked incredible in a bright coloured triangle top and matching string bottoms

'Hawaiian days,' Alessandra captioned the update.

She shares her daughter Anja and her 11-year-old son Noah with her ex, Jamie Mazur.

Ambrosio was previously involved in a 10-year romance with the entrepreneur before they called it quits in 2018.

She was also romantically linked to Nicol Oddi from 2018 until 2020.

In 2021, Ambrosio started dating Richard Lee before they reportedly broke up in September 2023.

At the time, a source revealed to DailyMail.com that they were on a 'break' and were 'not likely' to get back together.

'She has been with pals and kids, and he has been working so they have drifted apart and have not been dating for a while,' they explained.

The following month, the pair were seen putting on a public display of affection while enjoying a New York City stroll, briefly sparking speculation that they reignited their romance.

Sharing an insight into her getaway to Instagram on Thursday, Alessandra uploaded a slew of sun-drenched photos with her daughter Anja, 15

The former Victoria's Secret Angel - who was seen enjoying a romantic getaway in Ibiza with Alexander Smurfit earlier this month - relaxed on the beach

'Hawaiian days,' Alessandra captioned the update

In 2021, Ambrosio started dating Richard Lee before they reportedly broke up in September 2023 (pictured)

The status of their relationship is currently unknown, however, as they have not been seen together since then.

Recently, Ambrosio appears to have been enjoying a romance with the 39-year-old son of multi-millionaire Irish businessman Sir Michael Smurfit, Alexander Smurfit.

In early July, the pair were seen enjoying a romantic getaway in Ibiza, both showing off their chiseled frames.

Alexander is an Irish businessman from Monaco.

His father Michael is a leading figure in the global packaging industry, with a reported net worth of $400 million.
Daniel Craig put on a suave appearance as he made a special visit to the Olympic Games in Paris this week.

The James Bond star continued to rock his new long-haired look and a greying beard as he arrived in the city as part of his role as OMEGA's global brand ambassador.

The actor, 56, has taken fans by surprise in recent months with his new do which appears to be for his upcoming film Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.

Getting stuck in to the Olympic fever, Daniel enjoyed both the Showjumping events at the Chateau de Versailles and the Skateboarding events at La Concorde.

He later dropped into OMEGA House, to see how the brand is celebrating its role as Official Timekeeper.

Daniel Craig looked suave as he rocked his new long-haired look and a greying beard for a special visit to the Olympics in Paris on Thursday

The actor, 56, has taken fans by surprise in recent months with his new do which appears to be for his upcoming film Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Daniel pictured in 2012 prior to his new look)

Daniel has been an OMEGA ambassador ever since he took the role of James Bond for Casino Royale in 2006 and he made sure to share a sneak peek of his work with the brand as he wore a new model of the timepiece on his wrist.

Last month Daniel sent fans wild as he proved he can pull off more than just a classic black tuxedo, as he debuted a very different look for LOEWE's FW24 campaign.

The star was almost unrecognisable as he sported a long hair do and yellow tinted glasses, while modelling a slew of fashion forward ensembles.

For some of the snaps, shot by David Sims, Daniel donned several multicoloured knitted jumpers, a far cry from his 007 looks.

He also posed in a pair of intricately beaded trousers, before showing off his chiselled good looks in a black vest and leather jacket.

And fans went wild for the photoshoot, with many praising the The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo star for showing off his fashion chops.

Meanwhile Daniel was seen with his fellow Knives Out cast members Mila Kunis and Josh O'Connor back in June as they were snapped on set for the first time.

Daniel has reprised his role as Detective Benoit Blanc for the third instalment with the film set for a release date next year.

Last month Daniel sent fans wild as he proved he can pull off more than just a classic black tuxedo, as he debuted a very different look for LOEWE's FW24 campaign

Daniel has reprised his role as Detective Benoit Blanc for the third instalment with the film set for a release date next year (pictured in the sequel of Knives Out in 2022)

Details are being kept tight under wraps but it promises to see Detective Benoit's 'most dangerous case yet.'

It is unknown who Mila, 40, will be playing, but she was seen wearing a grey sheriff's hat while walking alongside Josh, 34.

Both stars were confirmed to be joining the cast last month, with Jeremy Renner returning to the screen after the horrific 2023 snow plowing accident that nearly killed him.

He was severely injured in the January 1, 2023, accident that left him with more than 30 broken bones, a collapsed lung and pierced liver from a shattered rib.

The Netflix production started principal photography on Monday and director Rian Johnson gushed about the cast he has assembled for the film.

'Weve been very lucky with each of these movies to have gathered some of my favourite actors on the planet, and thats absolutely the case here,' he said.

'Theyre also all lovely folks who get along, which is the dinner party aspect of it. When youre making an ensemble movie like this I think thats key.'

The cast also includes Adam Scott, Glenn Close and Kerry Washington.
The "Great Yellow Mountain" encompasses 28 counties (cities, districts) across four cities: Huangshan, Chizhou, Anqing, and Xuancheng. Anhui creatively proposed the construction of "Great Yellow Mountain," incorporating these four cities to comprehensively upgrade and transform the cultural and tourism industry. The aim is to create an innovative area that drives the deep transformation of the tourism industry and develops new quality productive forces, thereby elevating the overall economic and social development level of this region. In the first half of this year, the major economic indicators of the Great Yellow Mountain region grew faster than the provincial average, showing a positive and upward development trend. According to statistics, the fixed asset investment in the Great Yellow Mountain region increased by 6.5% in the first half of the year, which is 2.5 percentage points higher than the provincial growth rate. Currently, at the provincial, city, and county (city, district) levels in Anhui, a key project database for the Great Yellow Mountain region and a key investment attraction project database for Great Yellow Mountain region have been established. Out of the 50 projects included in the provincial Great Yellow Mountain construction key project database, 35 have commenced construction, with a start-up rate of 70%, which is 20 percentage points ahead of schedule. The acceleration of investment attraction projects has led to a number of significant deals being signed. The four cities have collectively signed 24 projects with a total contract value of 36.63 billion yuan. Among these, Huangshan City has signed 12 projects with a total value of 26.39 billion yuan, Anqing City has signed 7 projects worth 4.71 billion yuan, Chizhou City has secured 4 projects amounting to 2.64 billion yuan, and Xuancheng City has finalized 1 project valued at 2.89 billion yuan. Not long ago, the "Three-Year Action Plan for Integrated Development of the Yangtze River Delta Region (20242026)" was released. For the first time, it proposed the "coordinated promotion of the construction of the Great Yellow Mountain world-class leisure and wellness tourism destination." Today, Huangshan has become a brilliant brand in Chinese tourism and a profound symbol of Chinese culture. Anhui is leveraging the top-tier IPs of Huangshan and Huizhou, linking with Xuancheng, Chizhou, Anqing, and Huangshan to create a world-class leisure and wellness tourism destination in Great Yellow Mountain. This not only expands market and investment opportunities for the development of the "tourism + industry" sector in the Yangtze River Delta but also serves as an exploration and practice to enhance the quality of modern services in the Yangtze River Delta and to build a world-class city cluster.

Source: Anhui Daily


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August 8, 2024: This is one of many patrol boat designs developed for the Iranian IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) Navy, although some were exported to IRGC allies in Syria. These boats were built in the 1990s for coastal patrol duties. Only a few dozen Ghaem Class boats were built and all are still in service. These boats displace 61 tons and are 18.7 meters long. They are powered by two diesel engines and have a top speed of 32 kilometers an hour. There is a search radar and GPS navigation installed. The crew of ten operates two 7.62mm machine-guns and one 20mm autocannon.

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Oscar winner Kate Winslet is gearing up for an exciting visit to Australia this October to promote her latest film, Lee.

The highly anticipated biopic sees Winslet portraying the remarkable model-turned-WWII-photographer Lee Miller, a role that promises to showcase the English actress's exceptional talent and versatility.

Winslet, 47, will not be making the journey alone.

She will be accompanied by her producing partner Kate Solomon and Anthony Penrose, the son of the legendary American war correspondent Lee Miller.

Their presence is expected to add a personal and poignant touch to the promotional tour, as the film is based on Antony Penrose's 1985 biography, The Lives of Lee Miller.

Winslet's visit to Australia is expected to include a series of promotional events, press conferences, and possibly a few surprises for her fans.

This visit marks Winslet's return to Australia after nearly a decade.

She was last in the country in 2014, filming The Dressmaker alongside an all-star cast including Liam Hemsworth, Judy Davis, and Hugo Weaving.

Oscar winner Kate Winslet is gearing up for an exciting visit to Australia in October to promote her latest film, Lee

The 47-year-old actress plays model-turned-WWII-photographer Lee Miller in the biopic, adapted from 1985 biography The Lives of Lee Miller by Antony Penrose

Fans are eagerly anticipating her return, excited to see one of Hollywood's finest gracing Australian shores once more.

Lee boasts an impressive ensemble cast featuring the likes of Andy Samberg, Alexander Skarsgard, Marion Cotillard, Josh O'Connor, Andrea Riseborough, and Noemie Merlant.

The biopic delves into the extraordinary life of Lee Miller, a trailblazing figure who transitioned from a glamorous model to a fearless WWII photographer.

Miller's story is one of courage, resilience, and transformation, themes that resonate deeply in today's world.

Winslet's portrayal of Miller is anticipated to be a powerful and moving depiction, capturing the essence of a woman who defied conventions and made her mark in history.

The news follows reports the star went above and beyond to make sure she could finish her new film Lee, including paying crew salaries herself.

Winslet and producer Solomon opened up about the film to Vogue (the outlet the real Miller photographed for during the war), where it was revealed that Winslet - who hit the red carpet for Vogue World last week - not only paid for crew salaries but even fought through injuries.

Winslet went above and beyond to make sure she could finish her new film Lee, including paying crew salaries herself

The first day on set, Winslet was rehearsing a sequence where Lee was running down the streets of the French city Saint-Malo while it was under bombardment in 1944, when she slipped and injured her back.

'I had three massive hematomas on my spine, huge. I could barely stand up,' Winslet revealed, with the actress somehow still sticking to the grueling schedule while working through the pain.

As for the actress paying crew salaries, it was revealed that the film's financing was 'precarious,' and at one point during pre-production, she, 'personally covered two weeks of wages to keep things going.'

Producer Kate Solomon described Winslet as, 'indefatigable,' adding, 'Kate held the film in her.'

'If you spoke to her about any aspect of it, she knew what her opinion was. And when you have that, you can galvanize everyone behind that person,' Solomon added.

'It looks effortless, but having lived with her, you can say: My God, it is a lot of work to get to that point.'

Antony Penrose, the real Lee Miller's son and biographer, revealed that he thought Winslet would have made a great Lee Miller when he saw Titanic.

Producer Kate Solomon described Winslet as, 'indefatigable,' adding, 'Kate held the film in her'

'When I saw Kate all those years ago in Titanic, what I loved was that she wasn't afraid to get wet, to get dirty, to fall in the water, to get roughed up. I thought she would make a fantastic Lee Miller,' Penrose said.

Winslet was said to be involved in every stage of the production, even in bringing on female writers in Liz Hannah (The Post) and Marion Hume, a former editor-in-chief of Vogue Australia and an expert on Miller.

She even worked closely on casting, bringing on comedian Andy Samberg to play Life photographer David Scherman, Miller's close friend, in Samberg's first dramatic role.

Antony Penrose, the real Lee Miller's son and biographer, revealed that he thought Winslet would have made a great Lee Miller when he saw Titanic

'I couldn't say no to acting opposite Kate Winslet,' Samberg admitted, adding, 'She's incredible. I knew this [movie] would be of a certain quality, no matter what, because of her.

She even helped coordinate Samberg's flights so he could minimize his time away from his children in Los Angeles.

'She said: 'We're going to make it happen for you, don't worry.' She was just thorough somehow able to sway the creative flow of things in a positive way,' Samberg added.

Lee debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month, before premiering at the Sydney Film Festival in June.

Lee hits Australian cinemas on October 24.
Kelly Brook looked incredible as she returned to work in London on Thursday after her holiday in Greece.

The Heart Radio presenter, 44, put on a very leggy display in a purple patterned summery mini dress.

She completed the look with chic brown block heels and carried her belongings in a matching shoulder bag.

The model accessorised with cat eye sunglasses and flashed a smile to the cameras upon her departure from Global studios.

Kelly was no doubt refreshed after her romantic trip to Greece with her husband Jeremy Parisi, 39.

Kelly Brook looked incredible as she returned to work in London on Thursday after her holiday in Greece

The Heart Radio presenter, 44, put on a very leggy display in a purple patterned summery mini dress

The presenter shared an insight into her trip on Instagram.

Kelly looked incredible as she showed off her amazing curves in a pink patterned bikini as she wrapped her arm around her Italian hunk husband Jeremy.

Meanwhile a shirtless Jeremy displayed his muscular physique in a pair of grey swimming shorts and sunglasses.

In a second snap during the holiday, Kelly looked sensational in a white and black striped bikini as she relaxed on a beach.

Kelly revealed she had previously been to the Greek Island Paros with her 'mother and late father' and she is happy to return with husband Jeremy.

She penned: '20 Years ago I came to Paros and it changed my life forever. That Summer changed what I wanted from life and slowed everything down and I reconnected with nature the sea and myself.

'I love this Island and it was so amazing to finally return with my now husband. Its still as beautiful as I remember and my life now is even more beautiful!

'I am grateful to have spent time here with my mother and late father. It holds so many precious memories and it was so nice to return with Jeremy and show him my favourite place in the world.

'Also nice that it finally has hotels as we always stayed in the homes of locals. 20 years has seen many changes and I think for the better. Paros is always a good idea'.

Kelly looked incredible as she showed off her amazing curves in a black and white striped bikini as she relaxed at a beach

Kelly was no doubt refreshed after her romantic trip to Greece with her husband Jeremy Parisi , 39

It comes after Kelly and Jeremy signed up to BBC One's Celebrity Race Across The World along with the likes of Kola Bokinni, Scott Mills and Jeff Brazier.

Jeremy commented on the post with a number of red heart emojis.

It comes after Kelly and Jeremy signed up to BBC One's Celebrity Race Across The World along with the likes of Kola Bokinni, Scott Mills and Jeff Brazier.

Their journey begins in Belem, Northern Brazil - the gateway to the Amazon - and will pass through five checkpoints across the length of South America.

They will do all they can to reach the finish line in the Andes, Frutillar in Southern Chile.

The famous faces will say goodbye to lavish transport, smartphones and bank cards and instead must rely on their skills, cunning and ingenuity as well as the kindness of strangers.

The BAFTA award-winning show, from producers Studio Lambert, will return at 9pm on Wednesday 14th August on BBC One and iPlayer.
Charlotte Dawson rang in her son Jude's first birthday without her fiance Matthew Sarsfield over the weekend.

The reality star, 31, has been with the rugby league player, 32, for eight years but was reportedly left 'hurt and humiliated' after finding out he allegedly 'sent intimate texts to another woman.'

Brushing off the drama to put her children first, Charlotte, gave an insight into their weekend celebrations and said: 'Sons are the anchors of a mothers life.'

As well as one-year-old Jude, she also shares Noah, three, with Matthew.

Posing for a photo ahead of the bash, the TV personality wore an off-the-shoulder lace mini dress.

Charlotte Dawson rang in her son Jude's first birthday without her fiance Matthew Sarsfield over the weekend

The reality star, 31, has been with the rugby league player, 32, for eight years but was reportedly left 'hurt' after finding out he allegedly 'sent intimate texts to another woman'

Sharing some professional photos, she captioned the update: 'Sons are the anchors of a mothers life how cute are these professional pics from Judes 1st birthday party had to share them thank you so much @gabriellephotographyart you're amazing.'

A source told The Sun: 'It was really important for Charlotte to give her son Jude a wonderful first birthday, despite what she had discovered that day.

'She is an incredible mother, who has always put her two sons before anything else.

'Jude's party was a prime example of her doing this and showing everyone how brave she is.'

MailOnline have contacted Charlotte's representatives for comment.

Charlotte and Matthew started dating in 2016 with the couple recently returning from a family holiday in Mallorca.

But last week Emily Louise Hodgkinson, 34, told the The Mirror that she was left 'shocked' when the former Swinton Lions player sent an intimate picture to her.

The pair met through Emily's ex, who played rugby with Matthew, and followed each other on Instagram.

She said: 'I feel so sorry for Charlotte. How could he do that to her? I'd be mortified if a partner did that to me behind my back.'

Sharing some professional photos, she captioned the update: 'Sons are the anchors of a mothers life'

Emily said she took a screenshot of the image and added that Matthew appeared to be 'worried' as he asked her what she planned to do with the photograph.

According to sources, the Celebs Go Dating star was 'completely blindsided' when she learned Matthew had sent an explicit image to somebody he knew and it is 'unclear' whether their relationship will survive.

They told The Mirror: 'Shes been completely blindsided by these revelations. To say she is hurt is an understatement, and its unclear where the relationship lies at the moment. Right now, Charlotte is trying to get her head around his actions.

'Shes always stood by Matt, despite some ups and downs in their relationship, and Matt is not just her fiance, hes her best mate so this news has been a very hard pill to swallow.'

The shocking revelations comes after Charlotte recently got very candid about her dwindling sex life with fiance Matt last week and joked her kids are 'c***blocking' her.

Just mere weeks ago, the mother-of-two launched her brand-new podcast Charlotte Dawson's Naughty Corner , as a place for mothers to share parenting mistakes they have made that would land them in the naughty corner.

According to reports, the Celebs Go Dating star was 'completely blindsided' when she learned Matthew had sent an explicit image to somebody he knew and it is 'unclear' whether their relationship will survive

The woman he sent the image to is thought to have taken a screenshot of the intimate picture which left Matthew 'worried'

Charlotte Dawson celebrates 'less jelly on belly' in Majorca

In the first episode, Charlotte told her co-host Janine Marsh how both Noah and Jude have negatively impacted her and Matt's sex life.

She recalled a specific incident with Matt in an infinity pool, during a family holiday to the Maldives in April.

Charlotte began: 'So, I was recently in the Maldives, which was fabulous. And me and Matthew felt - I think it was the heat - Matthew's like, "Come on, we need to".

'It's like we have to book sex in now. It used to be a couple of times a week, now it's like once every two months.

'So, Matthew's like, "Come on, it's been a while, now." And I'm like, I know, but I just can't be arsed."

The woman he sent the image to is thought to have taken a screenshot of the intimate picture which left Matthew 'worried'

'But, we had this lovely infinity pool, it was amazing. And we kept getting in the pool with Noah and Jude, obviously, but Jude was having a little sleep.'

Despite not being in the mood previously, something about the pool changed Charlotte's mind.

She continued: 'Me and Matt and Noah were in the pool and we were just looking at each other. And for some reason we were both just like two animals, saying: "I wanna eat ya!"

'We were looking at Noah and he was playing with his little Avengers and I was like, "What should we do? Noah's just there."

'We were obviously kissing and stuff, just having a cuddle and a kiss, I think that's nice to do that in front of your kids. Not sexual kissing like not a proper snog.

'Sometimes it's nice when he sees us and says, "Ah, Mummy and Daddy!" And comes and joins us and has a cuddle and really c***blocks us.'

'So, we obviously had a kiss and a cuddle and we were looking at him, like, "What should we do, here? Do you reckon we'll get away with it, or what?"

'We actually voted against it. We had to vote against it which we were absolutely devastated about because we were ready and raring. It would have been a bloody belting sexual thing happening there.'
Colin Farrell has described watching his son take his first steps just before his fourth birthday after opening up about his Angelman Syndrome in depth for the first time.

Colin's son James, now 20, was born with the neurogenetic disorder, which causes developmental delays, impaired balance and other issues.

Detailing the 'profound' moment to PEOPLE magazine, Colin, 48, said: 'I knew they [James's carers] were working on walking. And I stood over there, and she let him go, and he just came to [me].

'It was so profound. It was magic.

'Ill never forget just the face of determination on him as he walked toward me. He took, like, six steps, and I burst into tears.'

Colin Farrell revealed he 'burst into tears' when his son took his first steps ahead of his fourth birthday as actor discusses James' Angelman Syndrome in depth for the first time

James, 20, was born with the neurogenetic disorder, which causes developmental delays, impaired balance and other issues

But the actor has now given a glimpse into life with his son after launching a foundation for other adults with intellectual disabilities (pictured with James in 2007)

James' condition is severe enough that he is nonverbal and requires the help of a live-in caregiver to accomplish his day-to-day tasks.

The actor shares James with his ex, Canadian model Kim Bordenave, and has another son called Henry, 14, with Alicja Bachleda-Curus, his co-star in the 2009 film Ondine.

When James was four, Colin went public with his Angelman Syndrome, saying his son had demonstrated 'amazing courage' in the face of his condition.

In later went on to reveal that he and James' mother make sure to share in the smallest victories' and enjoy the milestones whatever age they happen - including James' the first words at age six , being able to feed himself at 19, and getting his seizures under control.

Colin has maintained a very private life and has not spoken about his son in great detail until recently although he told InStyle he first decided 'talk publicly about the pride and joy I had in our son' while attending the 2007 Special Olympics'

He said: 'He has enriched my life, but I don't want to minimize the trials that so many families go through; the fear, consternation, frustration, and pain... When you're the parent of a child with special needs, it's important to feel that you're not alone.'

Discussing being a parent to a child with disabilities the Hollywood star said that James was the main reason he was able to get sober.

The actor shares James with his ex, Canadian model Kim Bordenave, and has another son called Henry, 14 (pictured) with Alicja Bachleda-Curus, his co-star in the 2009 film Ondine

When James was four, Colin went public with his Angelman Syndrome, saying his son had demonstrated 'amazing courage' in the face of his condition

He explained that it was important for him to be fully sober in order to care for his son's specific needs.

'So James was about two when I got clean, when I got sober and he was a big big part of me putting the bottle down, a big part of it.' he said.

'Because I was in no condition to be a friend never mind the father of a child which such exacting needs. So if it wasn't for my sobriety, I wouldn't be able to be there for James and enjoy in the marvels of his life and support him in the way that I feel that can ... '

Colin added: 'I don't want to make out like I'm the perfect dad, I f**k up left, right and centre but at least you have to be present to f**k up so I'm around, but yeah they're very conjoined - my sobriety and my children ...'.

The actor also revealed that his son, who lives full time at his home with a carer, is like a regular 20-year-old and the pair go swimming, go out for meals and watch films but added that the help of a live in carer has allowed him to be flexible and work.

He added: 'He has a good life, he's a happy young man... I'm proud of him every day.'

The Banshees of Inisherin actor has recently revealed his desire to speak more publicly about his son's condition.

In an interview with People, he said he wanted the world to be kind to his son who has worked extremely hard to develop as best he can including learning repetition and balance.

Colin has previously said that he and James' mother Kim make sure to share in the smallest victories' and enjoy the milestones whatever age they happen

The actor also revealed that his son was the main driving force behind him being sober and explained that it was important for him to be able to care for his son's specific needs

The star also revealed that his son, who lives full time at his home with a carer, is like a regular 20-year-old and the pair go swimming, go out for meals and watch films together

He recalled the first time his son was able to feed himself and described the scene as like a Jackson Pollack painting but added that he's proud of him every day 'because I think he's magic'.

Part of the reason he started the is that when people with special needs turn 21, they become ineligible for certain aid that was previously available to them.

But the actor also explained that there are fewer supports for those with disabilities after they turn 21 and that has pushed him on to create his charitable foundation.

He explained: 'Once your child turns 21, they're kind of on their own. All the safeguards that are put in place, special ed classes, that all goes away, so you're left with a young adult who should be an integrated part of our modern society and more often than not is left behind.'
Nikki Glaser had an emotional reaction to finding out that Taylor Swift was forced to cancel the Vienna leg of her Eras tour in response to a terror threat.

Following news that police narrowly thwarted an ISIS plot to attack one of the 34-year-old superstar's three sold-out concerts at Ernst Happel Stadium, the comedian, 40, shared her devastation in a series of posts on Instagram and TikTok.

Glaser, a self-proclaimed Swiftie, who has attended the Eras Tour show 17 times over the past 15 months, confirmed she was on route to see her favorite performer when she got the news.

The stand-up appeared distraught in one image, uploaded to her Instagram Story, in which she shared Austrian promoter Barracuda Music and Taylor Nation's statement confirming the cancellations, as she covered her face with her hands.

In a follow-up post, she explained that she endured a '32 hour layover in DC before' finally heading over to Vienna for the show.

Nikki Glaser had an emotional reaction to finding out that Taylor Swift was forced to cancel the Vienna leg of her Eras tour in response to a terror threat (seen in 2020)

After getting the bad news, she and her sister, Lauren Green, recorded a video of themselves singing a song they made up inspired by the past few hours, to the tune of Swift's 2019 hit track, Cruel Summer.

'We are stuck at an airport gate on our way to Vienna on a flight that was late. Oh. Planning outfits and singing songs. We had no idea how things could go wrong,' the siblings sang.

They continued: 'Then we get a text from our mom. That the shows have been canceled because a threat from a bomb. And we screamed in a Hudson News. What the hell do I do with these godd*** sparkly shoes? I dyed my hair pink for nothing. We're f*****.'

On Wednesday, news broke that Swift cancelled her three shows in Austria after two suspects were arrested for allegedly plotting a terror attack on the shows.

It has seen been revealed that two radicalized teens aged 17 and 19 took 'preparatory actions' for an attack at Vienna's Ernst-Happel-Stadion, where Swift was was due to perform in front of an estimated 170,000 fans on August 8, 9, and 10.

According to director-general for public safety Franz Ruf, the suspects' plans included driving a car into groups of Swifties expected to gather outside the venue before attacking with machetes and knives.

The 19-year-old fully confessed to his plans to 'kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue', Austrian security officials said.

Ruf confirmed today that 'explosives were manufactured' at the suspect's home after local media reported that the 19-year-old had stolen chemicals from his former workplace, a metal processing company in Ternitz, to build a bomb.

Following news that police narrowly thwarted an ISIS plot to attack one of the 34-year-old superstar's three sold-out concerts at Ernst Happel Stadium, the comedian, 40, shared her devastation in a series of posts on Instagram and TikTok

Glaser, a self-proclaimed Swiftie, who has attended the Eras Tour show 17 times over the past 15 months, confirmed she was on route to see her favorite performer when she got the news

The 19-year-old man - who was living in his parents' house along with another man - was arrested on Wednesday after police raided the home, according to Kronen Zeitung.

A bomb squad found chemical substances, fluids as well as 'explosive and technical devices', according to Ruf, after raiding the home and it is believed that the 19-year-old stole these from his workplace.

Ruf confirmed at a press conference today that the 'preparatory action' in the home in Ternitz focused on the manufacturing of explosives.

Among the substances was hydrogen peroxide, which Ruf said is used to create explosives and he confirmed that 'explosives were manufactured.'

On Wednesday, news broke that Swift cancelled her three shows in Austria after two suspects were arrested for allegedly plotting a terror attack on the shows (seen in May 2024)

It has seen been revealed that two radicalized teens aged 17 and 19 took 'preparatory actions' for an attack at Vienna's Ernst-Happel-Stadion, where Swift was was due to perform in front of an estimated 170,000 fans on August 8, 9, and 10; seen last month

The suspects reportedly planned to ram a car into fans outside the stadium as it is well known that those who missed out on tickets will still come to the venue of Swift's shows to listen from outside, like a week ago in Munich when 40,000 ticketless fans gathered on hills outside the Olympic Stadium.

The 19-year-old reportedly did not have a ticket and planned to focus the attack on fans standing outside the stadium.

Kurier also cited several sources who claimed one of the suspects had gotten jobs as security guards at the concert, suggesting this could have facilitated the attack.

He intensely prepared for and 'focused on his planned terror attack' since quitting his job on July 25, according to Ruf.

He also had blank ammunition, 21,000 in counterfeit money and a blue police flashing light and siren he wanted to use to get to and from the venue, German tabloid Bild reports.

According to director-general for public safety Franz Ruf, the suspects' plans included driving a car into groups of Swifties expected to gather outside the venue before attacking with machetes and knives (a crowd of Swifties outside her show at the Veltins Arena last month)

According to director-general for public safety Franz Ruf, the suspects' plans included driving a car into groups of Swifties expected to gather outside the venue before attacking with machetes and knives

The names of the suspects have not yet been released. The 19-year-old, who has North Macedonian roots, is said to have made a full confession.

The other suspect has Austrian nationality but Turkish and Croatian roots.

A 15-year-old Austrian with Turkish heritage has also been questioned after police found that he had communicated with both suspects.

The 19-year-old suspect had uploaded an oath of allegiance to the current leader of the Islamic State group (ISIS) to an internet account in early July, police said.

The head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, said he was 'clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels'.

The stand-up appeared distraught in one image, uploaded to her Instagram Story, in which she shared Austrian promoter Barracuda Music and Taylor Nation's statement confirming the cancellations, as she covered her hands over her face

In a follow-up post, she explained that she endured a '32 hour layover in DC before' finally heading over to Vienna for the show

Last month, while on a break from her comedy tour, Glaser traveled to Europe to see a number of Swift's shows with her parents.

'On break from my own tour, I went and followed Taylors in Europe and brought my mom and dad with me. I dont have kids and so this is what I like to do with my free time and money because there's nothing like a mad woman,' Glaser captioned a slideshow of herself enjoying Eras tour dates in Dublin and Amsterdam.

In 2023, the performer revealed she made the decision to go to the Eras Tour nine times instead of freezing her eggs.

'When Im not on tour, I just go to her tour. It just fills my life up with so much joy,' Glaser said on the Kelly Clarkson Show in October.

During the interview, she noted that being child-free has given her the financial freedom to purchase the concert tickets versus paying for 'dance camp and swim lessons.'

The star previously told US Weekly that she also owns 'upward of 25 Taylor Swift shirts.'

After getting the bad news, she and her sister, Lauren Green, recorded a video of themselves singing a song they made up inspired by the past few hours, to the tune of Swift's 2019 hit track, Cruel Summer

'We are stuck at an airport gate on our way to Vienna on a flight that was late. Oh. Planning outfits and singing songs. We had no idea how things could go wrong,' the siblings sang

Last month, while on a break from her comedy tour, Glaser traveled to Europe to see a number of shows with her parents

Back in 2020, Glaser shared a public apology to Swift after watching her Netflix documentary, Taylor Swift: Miss Americana.

'Unfortunately, I am featured in her new documentary as part of a montage of a**hats saying mean things about her, which is used to explain why she felt the need to escape from the spotlight for a year,' Glaser wrote. 'Its insanely ironic because anyone who knows me knows Im obnoxiously obsessed with her and her music.'

The comedian confessed she was 'horrified' to see that an interview she did, five years prior, featured in the documentary, in which she criticized Swift for being 'too skinny' and only having 'model friends.'

'This quote should be used as an example of projection in PSYCH101 textbooks. If youre familiar with my work at all, you know I talk openly about battling some kind of eating disorder for the past 17 years. I was probably feeling fat that day and was jealous,' Glaser explained.

She continued: 'I really have no need to post this other than to apologize to someone who seriously means SO much to me. I only got a couple death threats from die-hard Swift fans, which as one myself, I totally get.'

At the time, Swift saw the post and accepted her apology.

'Wow. I appreciate this so much and one of the major themes of the doc is that we have the ability to change our opinions over time, to grow, to learn about ourselves,' commented. 'Im so sorry to hear that you've struggled with some of the same things I've struggled with. Sending a massive hug.'
Hulk Hogan will not think twice about taking legal action if Ben Affleck and Matt Damon go too far in the making of a new movie about his sex tape scandal, according to a new report.

Earlier this week it emerged that Affleck, 51, and Damon, 53, had acquired a screenplay about Hogan's infamous legal battle against Gawker, a movie entitled Killing Gawker. Affleck is rumored to be play Hogan in the film.

TMZ reports that Hulk - real name Terry Bollea - has no involvement in the film, has not been in contact with Affleck and Damon about the project, and as of now feels 'indifferent' about the project.

But all that could change if Hulk, 70, perceives that his court-approved privacy is violated in the film, with the site saying he will 'not hesitate' to look into his legal options should the film overstep his boundaries.

Insiders say Hulk 'is in a really good place in his life right now.'

Hulk Hogan will not think twice about taking legal action if Ben Affleck and Matt Damon go too far in the making of a new movie about his sex tape scandal, according to a new report; Hogan pictured testifying during the Gawker trial back in 2016

Affleck and Damon's production company, Artists Equity, has reportedly acquired a screenplay about Hogan's infamous legal battle with Gawker

Hogan is enjoying the newlywed life, having married his wife Sky Daily last year.

Insiders also point out that Hogan - who recently became baptized - has become spiritual.

Hogan's other interests involve a new business venture with his beer, in addition to his charitable pursuits with a Tampa based homeless shelter.

The latest update comes several days after Variety reported that Affleck and Damon's production company, Artists Equity, had acquired a screenplay about Hogan's infamous legal battle against Gawker.

The publication also reports that Affleck is rumored to portray the pro-wrestling megastar Hogan.

The screenplay was written by Charles Randolph and was based on Ryan Holidays 2018 book Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker And The Anatomy Of Intrigue.

No doubt Affleck and Damon are shooting for another Oscar as Gus Van Sant - who directed Good Will Hunting - is set to direct.

In March 2016, a Pinellas County, Florida jury ordered Gawker to pay $141million in damages for publishing a video of Hulk having sex with Bubba Clem's wife Heather.

Hogan 'is in a really good place in his life', with the star enjoying the newlywed life with his wife Sky Daily

The WWE star recently became baptized

Gawker argued that its footage was newsworthy and protected by the First Amendment.

Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel bankrolled Hogan's lawsuit against Gawker, raising concerns about the power of the wealthy against the media. Only after Hogan won the jury verdict did Thiel's role come to light.

Gawker settled with Hulk for $31 million, ending a years-long fight that led to the media company's bankruptcy, the shutdown of Gawker.com and the sale of Gawker's other sites to Spanish-language broadcaster Univision.
Danni Menzies has given an insight into her family holiday in Crete.

The former A Place In The Sun presenter, 36, took to Instagram on Thursday to share a selection of photographs in celebration of her mum's 60th birthday.

Photos included several selfies of Danni with her lookalike mother with many fans telling the TV host: 'I can see where you get your beautiful looks from'.

In another Danni's mum posed with a Happy Birthday banner while in others the presenter posed with her family who jetted out to Greece for the milestone.

In one snap, Danni showed off her toned figure in a pink bikini as the Menzies enjoyed a refreshing drink on the beach.

Danni Menzies has given an insight into her family holiday in Crete

The former A Place In The Sun presenter, 36, took to Instagram on Thursday to share a selection of photographs in celebration of her mum's 60th birthday

She wrote: '60 years of my little Mamma Mum really would do anything to help anyone, she is so full of kindness and love, I believe we should all be a little more like her.

'Her birthday wish was that her babies would be here in Crete to celebrate so here we are!

'Granny & Grandpa discovered this spot a long time ago and my parents have been coming here for 35 years, so it feels a little like coming home, many memories and lots of good chilled vibes.

'HB Mamma youre the best, love you so much xx'.

Fans took to the comment section to gush over Danni's mum's age-defying looks.

'Mummy looks so young' and 'I can see where you get your beautiful looks from Danni'.

'Wow what a gorgeous looking mumma. Happy Birthday to her.'

Danni as been a fan favourite presenter for viewers of A Place In The Sun since she began co-hosting it back in 2016.

She wrote: '60 years of my little Mamma Mum really would do anything to help anyone, she is so full of kindness and love, I believe we should all be a little more like her'

In one snap, Danni showed off her toned figure in a pink bikini as the Menzies enjoyed a refreshing drink on the beach

Photos included several selfies of Danni with her lookalike mother with many fans telling the TV host: 'I can see where you get your beautiful looks from'

Danni and her lookalike mum made the most of the rocky landscape as they enjoyed a hike

Danni looked bronzed in a co-ord as she posed for a photo with her family as they headed out to explore

Fans took to the comment section to gush over Danni's mum's age-defying looks

However, Danni announced her departure from the programme earlier this year and has opted for a surprising career move.

In conjunction with The Health Lottery, she will spearhead an 'inspirational' podcast where she will speak to personalities such as Loose Women's Kaye Adams.

Reflecting on her time on the show, the presenter spoke to the Daily Star about what it was like behind the scenes on A Place In The Sun, including the 'dodgy things' that sometimes happened in the background of her takes.

She said: 'I was doing a piece to camera in Lanzarote and had a nudist running in the background.

'I was filming and they said, "One minute guys, there's something dodgy behind you".

'We had it in Spain too, we were filming and this guy cycled past on his bike totally naked. There's lots of it, I've seen a few flashers.'

Danni added that 'living out of a suitcase' took its toll and she found it 'hard to date and do normal things'.

The star's new podcast show will be available on all platforms including Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music from May 23.

Also appearing on the pod will be award-winning filmmaker and photographer Doug Allan, Michelin star chef Andy Beynon, and bestselling author Chris Brookmyre.
Ekin-Su Culculoglu turned heads on Thursday as she attended the UK Gala screening of It Ends With Us in London's Leicester Square.

The former Love Island star, 29, looked nothing short of sensational as she flashed her toned legs in a stylish thigh-slit green dress.

The chic ensemble boasted a high neckline, a daring split at the leg, and a criss-cross backless design.

The TV personality added inches to her frame with a pair of white stiletto heels and toted her essentials around in a mini Chanel handbag to match.

Ekin-Su styled her dark tresses in loose waves for the carpet event and wore a flawless palette of makeup.

Ekin-Su Culculoglu turned heads in a daring thigh-slit green dress on Thursday as she attended the UK Gala screening of It Ends With Us in London's Leicester Square

It Ends With Us follows a florist, Lily Bloom (Blake Lively) who moves to Boston to pursue her dream of opening her own business and there she meets a charming neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni)

The former Love Island star, 29, looked nothing short of sensational as she flashed a glimpse of her toned legs in the stylish ensemble which boasted a high neckline and a daring split

It Ends With Us follows a florist, Lily Bloom (Blake Lively) who moves to Boston to pursue her dream of opening her own business.

It is there when she meets a charming neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid  who is portrayed by actor as well as director of the movie, Justin Baldoni.

When their fairytale romance turns tumultuous, her first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), fatefully reenters her life.

She must navigate being entangled in a very complicated love triangle.

The movie also stars Jenny Slate, Hassan Minhaj, Kevin McKidd, Amy Morton and Alex Neustaedter and premieres in UK cinemas on August 9.

Ekin-Su's appearance at the premiere comes after she vowed to expose all in her bombshell memoir, including what really happened in her relationship with Davide Sanclimenti before their split.

The Love Island winner, who met Davide on the ITV2 dating show, confirmed she had parted ways with the Italian businessman, 29, in February, for a second time as she blamed a 'rollercoaster of ups and downs' in their romance.

Now, Ekin-Su's new tell-all book will see her open up on childhood trauma and bullying, as well as looking back on her experiences taking part in reality shows such as Love Island, The Traitors US and Celebrity Big Brother.

The TV personality added inches to her frame with a pair of white stiletto heels and toted her essentials around in a mini Chanel handbag to match

Ekin-Su styled her dark tresses in loose waves for the carpet event and wore a flawless palette of makeup

She told The Sun: 'It's everything, my experience with Davide, there's a lot in there. I'm done hiding.'

'I'm done lying and protecting other people, this is my truth.'

She added that writing the book felt 'like therapy' and said she 'wants people to know me for me, not the work Ive done or the wronguns Ive dated.'

Cracks appeared in her relationship with Davide less than a month after they won Love Island as a couple in the summer of 2022.

Hunky Davide was seen leaving a party with two blondes in August of that year.

Ekin-Su said she was left in floods of tears after learning of the incident, insisting she did not want to believe Davide would treat her badly.

When she asked him 'how could you do this to me', she claims he simply replied: 'Excuse me?'

While filming their ITV2 show Homecomings, Ekin-Su said she saw pictures of Davide with females on his phone.

She claimed she saw images of two blonde girls in his Manchester flat wearing his clothes.

Her appearance at the premiere comes after she vowed to expose all in her bombshell memoir, including what really happened in her relationship with Davide Sanclimenti before their split

Ekin-Su did not want to make anything of the situation at the time because they were being filmed.

The television personality went on to claim Davide cheated on her with a girl called Harriet Wilson, with Harriet contacting Ekin-Su to tell her.

Ekin-Su said that at another time Davide left his laptop open and she saw sexually explicit messages between him and a girl she had met on New Year's Eve.

She said seeing those messages 'broke something in me'.

Actress Ekin-Su said she did not want to be embarrassed amid the cheating allegations so did her best not to react publicly but also wanted to protect Davide.
A disgruntled tourist has taken aim at Katie Price, saying the star ruined their stay at a five star hotel in Turkey.

The former glamour model, 46, took residence at the 133 per-night Sheraton Atakoy Hotel in Istanbul to recover from her sixth face lift.

Holiday goers said they were unable to relax when Katie arrived because they were so shocked by her appearance.

One tourist slammed the television personality for using the pool with 'staples holding their scalp on and incisions weeping with pus' in a review on Trip Advisor.

Katie returned to the UK on Thursday evening where she was arrested at Heathrow after failing to attend a court bankruptcy hearing.

A disgruntled tourist has taken aim at Katie Price, saying the star ruined their stay at a five star hotel in Turkey after she arrived with a bloodied and bruised face after facial surgery

The former glamour model, 46, took residence at the 133 per-night Sheraton Atakoy Hotel in Istanbul to recover from her sixth face lift

Katie returned to the UK on Thursday evening where she was arrested at Heathrow after failing to attend a court bankruptcy hearing

Earlier this week, Katie was pictured at the hotel looking bruised and bloodied with surgical tape held taut on the side of her face with wounds by her ears visible.

The two star review read: 'We're here at the moment and couldn't fault this wonderful hotel until an infamous British celebrity and her entourage arrived and our opinion changed dramatically.

'Who wants to relax and dine at a hotel looking at someone with blood all over their face, staples holding their scalp on and incisions weeping with pus.

'Oh and she used the swimming pool as well... I'm not sure this hotel should be used as a recovery facility for plastic surgery.

'It's certainly put me off both visiting again and recommending it to anyone.'

MailOnline has contacted Katie's representatives for comment.

Katie was arrested upon her arrival in the UK at Heathrow Airport.

Pictures showed her being taken away in a police van with her head covered in bandages and black tape after the surgery.

One tourist slammed the television personality for using the fool with 'staples holding their scalp on and incisions weeping with pus' in a review on Trip Advisor

Katie was arrested upon her arrival in the UK at Heathrow Airport. Pictures showed her being taken away in a police van with her head covered in bandages and black tape after the surgery

Holiday goers said they were unable to relax when Katie arrived because they were so shocked by her appearance

She will be remanded in custody and appear in court on Friday.

Katie's arrest meant her boyfriend JJ Slater, who also flew with her to Turkey along with her son Harvey, 22, was left to pick up her bags.

Confirming her arrest, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson told MailOnline: 'A 46-year-old woman from Surrey was arrested at Heathrow Airport at 7.45hrs on Thursday, 8 August for failing to appear at court.

'She has been remanded in custody at a west London police station to appear at the Royal Courts of Justice tomorrow, Friday, 9 August.'

The TV star was aware she would be detained at the airport but had asked police that they 'allow some dignity and protection' for Harvey claiming it would be 'extremely disturbing for him to see'.

Earlier in the day, Katie acknowledged she will be arrested after failing to appear in front of a judge last Tuesday as a part her 760,000 bankruptcy court proceedings.

In a statement posted to Instagram, the mum-of-five claimed she had been in Turkey filming a documentary.

On Thursday, Katie acknowledged she will be arrested when she returns to the UK after skipping a bankruptcy court hearing to undergo the 10,000 face lift

Katie Price's statement in full

'I would just like to thank everyone that has been showing support and compassion to my situation this week with my pending arrest. Despite what has been misreported I am now in route back from filming my documentary. I was never just abroad being ignorant to what's going on and I stand by the facts, which is that there has been miscommunications here between a number of people here to do with my bankcrupcy. 'However now I am returning home from work, and I am aware that I am about to be detained at the airport which is obviously what the courts feel is necessary. 'I do hope of course for my sons sake who is with me that they will allow some dignity and protection for at least his sake as this will be extremely disturbing for him to see. 'Whilst I understand the importance and severity of the matter I do feel like I am being treated like a criminal. 'I would like to point out once again that this is to do with a very unfortunate financial circumstance which as hard as it has been does not make a criminal or a bad person. 'Millions of people suffer losses and go through bankruptcy's, through many different reasons and mine was due to serious mental health issues and breakdowns from PTSD. 'Whilst it's been hard, I repeatedly will stand by the fact I am not embarrassed or ashamed that this has happened to me. 'People loose their lives every day over the embarrassment and fear of these situations and the public bullying l've endured on this matter is simply just not ok. I will continue to speak out on this and not be ashamed. 'I have and am continuing to pay back debtors as ordered by the court. 'I will address this with the police and courts when I land and I ask for my son Harvey's sake it's handled with care and compassion. 'I am after all only a human being I appreciate all of you that continue to show me love it means a lot.' Advertisement

She said on return from work, she would be 'detained at the airport' which is what the 'courts feel is necessary.'

Discussing her son Harvey, 22, who is with her in Turkey, Katie asked they 'allow some dignity and protection for at least his sake as this will be extremely disturbing for him to see'.

While acknowledging the 'severity' of the matter, Katie said she was being treated 'like a criminal' and declared the 'unfortunate financial circumstance' did not make her a 'criminal or bad person'.

Defiantly, the former model said she was 'not embarrassed or ashamed' regarding the arrest.

She explained her bankruptcy was due to 'serious mental health issues and breakdowns from PTSD'.

She added she would be paying back debtors and hoped for 'Harvey's sake it's handled with care and compassion'.

Her statement comes after she was ordered to pay 25,000 after being declared bankrupt twice.

A judge at a previous hearing said Price risked arrest if she did not attend further court dates, adding evidence must be provided if she could not appear.

Issuing the arrest warrant, Judge Burton said she had 'failed to attend today's hearing' and had provided no explanation for her absence.

She said: 'It is in my judgment necessary that the court issue a warrant for Ms Price's arrest.

'She has no real excuse in failing to attend today's hearing.'

She continued: 'The reason for her absence today is irrelevant.'

Judge Burton said that an arrest warrant was not issued 'lightly' but that Price had offered only 'piecemeal co-operation' and failed to provide the 'most basic information' in relation to her bankruptcies.

Previously, Katie was served an eviction notice that ordered her to leave her Mucky Mansion by the end of May and has since moved into a 5,000 per month new Tudor-style property.

Katie was declared bankrupt for a second time in March over an unpaid tax bill of 761,994.05 after first being declared bankrupt in 2019.

However, at the end of July she claimed 'everything is sorted' with her second bankruptcy after being evicted from her Sussex bolthole.

Katie flew to Turkey on 29 July, sharing a snap of her on a plane just hours before her court hearing the day after.

Katie - whose 2million 'mucky mansion' was recently repossessed - was joined on the jaunt by pal Lou Anderson.

Katie showed off a new set of 'Turkey teeth' after undergoing another dental procedure

She also jetted away with Married at First Sight star and boyfriend JJ, 31.

Katie is understood to have had the face lift at the Trio Clinic in Istanbul, with work being carried out on her eyes and under her chin.

She also underwent another dental procedure, sharing pictures of her new veneers on Wednesday.

On Instagram, she posted snaps of her new dental work, wearing sunglasses with the name of the dental surgery 'Dentica' on.

Katie was also seen in Istanbul with son Harvey, revealing her latest surgically enhanced looks in a pair of oversized sunglasses, which did little to hide the bandages, staples and surgical tape around her face.

Taking on Instagram last Wednesday, Katie dismissed recent claims that she has travelled to Turkey after being turned down by other cosmetic surgeons.

She said: 'I'm filming my new documentary. The reason I've chose the Trio Clinic is because I've had friends who have had surgery there and in my opinion they are the best for what I want doing.

'I can't wait, they're amazing, and they're thorough here.'

Last Tuesday, Katie shared a statement on her Instagram account saying she is 'aware of the severity' of her financial situation.
Leicester Square was transformed into a landmark fit for a Hollywood queen on Thursday evening as Blake Lively celebrated the release of new film It Ends With Us in central London.

The American actress has taken on a whirlwind promotional missive on behalf of the movie, a romantic-drama based on the 2016 novel by Colleen Hoover.

And with London her latest pitstop, Lively, 36, pulled out all the stops ahead of the film's UK premiere at Odeon Luxe after a day of back-to-back interviews - and an ever-revolving wardrobe of couture outfits.

The actress looked stunning in another elegant floral gown - a recurring theme during her current promotional tour and her fifth outfit of the day - while greeting onlookers at the event.

The tasteful fitted floor-length Tamara Ralph dress, worth 30,000, featured distinctive Bardot detailing and a plunging front that partially exposed her cleavage.

Leicester Square was transformed into a landmark fit for a Hollywood queen on Thursday evening as Blake Lively celebrated the release of new film It Ends With Us in central London

The American actress has taken on a whirlwind promotional missive on behalf of the movie, a romantic-drama based on the 2016 novel by Colleen Hoover

The actress looked stunning in another elegant floral gown - a recurring theme during her current promotional tour - while greeting onlookers at the event

The dress was adorned with crystal mesh petals, featuring a crystal orchid and cherry blossom neckline. She finished off her look with floral-themed pieces from Lorraine Schwartz Jewelry.

The look featured is from the designer's latest Autumn-Winter 2024/2025 couture collection, presented earlier this summer in Paris during Haute Couture fashion week.

The actress completed her look with a striking scarlet feather shawl, while glittering silver heels were visible beneath her floor-length hemline as she made her way across the white carpet.

This Ends With Us centres on Lively's Lily, a flower shop owner who finds herself in the middle of a complicated love triangle between hunky neurosurgeon Ryle - Justin Baldoni, who also directs - and her hunky high school sweetheart, Atlas, played with hangdog cuteness by Brandon Sklenar.

But when Ryle's violent outburst leads her to fear he may be an abusive partner, she turns to Atlas for help after they reconnect when she runs into him at a restaurant he works at.

The film is based on the best-selling romance novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover, which was a hit with readers after it was published in 2016.

After being pushed back multiple times, the film's release date was set for August 9 of this year.

The dress was adorned with crystal mesh petals, featuring a crystal orchid and cherry blossom neckline

Lively turned heads as she exited her hotel ahead of the premiere on Thursday evening

Her tasteful fitted floor-length dress featured distinctive Bardot detailing and a plunging front that partially exposed her cleavage.

Glittering silver heels were visible beneath her floor-length hemline as she made her way across the white carpet

Blake posed for a photo with Isabela at the screening. The actress, 24, plays a younger version of Blake's Lily in the film

Blake's show-stopping dress dazzled as she hit the red carpet

Flowers have been a key theme in Blake's wardrobe during her promotional tour. Here she is pictured in three different floral outfits

Hollywood star Lively wore five floral outfits on Thursday and started the day in an oversized white suit at a London photocall for her new film

Just over an hour later, she changed into a 14,000 floral jacket, 2,000 skirt and 400 lace tights from Chanel as she arrived at the BBC studios (left). From there it was on to the Capital FM studio in a Burberry trench coat, thought to be priced at more than 3,000, featuring cut-out flowers (right)

Ninety minutes later, she suited up again  this time in a 5,370 rose-printed blazer and check trousers from Thom Browne

Lively posed for a photo with Isabela Ferrer at the screening.

The actress, 24, who plays a younger version of Lily in the film, commanded attention in a backless halterneck dress which had a floral corsage.

The Hollywood starlet also showed off her generous side as she gifted one 14-year-old fan the red coat she had been wearing.

The fan, named Paola, was overcome with emotion as she was handed the gift before her family joined them for a photo.

A host of reality stars also attended the screening.

Former Made In Chelsea star Kimberley Garner, 33, put on a daring display in a cut out gown which showed off her toned abs for the event.

The swimwear designer appeared in her element as she posed up a storm for the camera.

The Hollywood star, who wore silver sparkly Louboutins, gave her plush red coat to one young fan

The fan, named Paola, was overcome with emotion as she was handed the gift

Blake posed with the 14-year-old and the teen's family

The teenager couldn't believe her luck as Blake took off her coat to give to her

It Ends With Us stars Blake as a woman named Lily who finds herself in a marriage that goes from passionate to abusive (pictured with co-star Justin Baldoni as Ryle Kincaid)

Isabela Ferrer commanded attention in a backless halterneck dress which had a floral corsage

Isabella added a boost to her height with black strappy sandals

Ekin-Su Culculoglu, 29, flashed her toned legs in a stylish thigh-slit green dress.

The chic ensemble boasted a high neckline, a daring split at the leg, and a criss-cross backless design.

The TV personality added inches to her frame with a pair of white stiletto heels and toted her essentials around in a mini Chanel handbag to match.

Ekin-Su styled her dark tresses in loose waves for the carpet event and wore a flawless palette of makeup.

Fellow Love Island alumni Gabby Allen and Arabella Chi, meanwhile showed off plenty of cleavage in their outfits.

Gabby, 32, went braless in a plunging red gown which also had a daring thigh-high slit.

Arabella, 33, also opted to go braless in a white dress with sheer panelling on the waist and bust.

Strictly professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova took time away from rehearsals to attend the premiere. The newly-single television personality, 34, looked stunning in a pale pink silk halterneck gown.

Abbie Quinnen opted for a champagne gold gown for the occasion and complemented her premiere look with gold jewellery.

Former Love Islanders Alex and Olivia Bowen were also at the event. Olivia, 30, looked sensational in a coral maxi dress, paired with eccentric green heels.

Andrea McLean, 54, got into Lively's floral theme with her maxi dress as did Dancing On Ice skater Vanessa Bauer.

Strictly professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova took time away from rehearsals to attend the premiere

The newly-single television personality, 34, looked stunning in a pale pink silk halterneck gown

Love Island couple Molly Smith and Tom Clare put on a loved-up display at the premiere

Molly looked stunning in a strapless pink velvet dress which was adorned with roses

Ekin-Su Culculoglu turned heads in a daring thigh-slit green dress

The former Love Island star, 29, looked nothing short of sensational as she flashed a glimpse of her toned legs in the stylish ensemble which boasted a high neckline and a daring split

Ekin-Su styled her dark tresses in loose waves for the carpet event and wore a flawless palette of makeup

Hollywood star Lively wore five floral outfits yesterday during the press tour for her new film, It Ends With Us, a romance drama in which she plays florist Lily Bloom.

She started the day in an oversized white suit at the London photocall. The Stella McCartney outfit, worn without a top, was embroidered with green vines. But she quickly nipped that in the bud after nearly suffering an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction.

Just over an hour later, she changed into a 14,000 floral jacket, 2,000 skirt and 400 lace tights from Chanel as she arrived at the BBC studios.

From there it was on to the Capital FM studio in a Burberry trench coat, thought to be priced at more than 3,000, featuring cut-out flowers.

Ninety minutes later, she suited up again  this time in a 5,370 rose-printed blazer and check trousers from Thom Browne.

At last, for the grand finale in Leicester Square, Lively chose an equally grand design. Arriving at the premiere, she wore a 30,000 jewelled floral gown from designer Tamara Ralph with a scarlet feather shawl and matching lipstick.

The mother of four was not joined by her actor husband Ryan Reynolds, 47, for the latest leg of her press tour.

But the actress, who starred in hit TV series Gossip Girl, did reveal the romantic gesture he used to woo her.

She told People magazine When we first got together, he would send me a bouquet of flowers every week but he would always send a card and it would just be a sentence of something that had happened that week. Something funny or emotional that one of us said. It was such a romantic thing.

It Ends With Us, is in cinemas from August 9.

Kimberley Garner put on a daring display in a cut out gown which showed off her toned abs

The swimwear designer appeared in her element as she posed up a storm for the camera

Abbie Quinnen opted for a champagne gold gown for the occasion

Abbie complemented her premiere look with gold jewellery

Faye Winter put on a busty display in a cut out pink sequin number with a thigh-high slit

Dancing On Ice's Vanessa Bauer turned heads with her floral black dress

Love Island stars Gabby Allen (L) and Arabella Chi (R) showed off plenty of cleavage in their outfits

Gabby went braless in a plunging red gown which also had a daring thigh-high slit

The fitness guru struggled to contain her cleavage in the racy dress

Arabella also opted to go braless in a white dress with sheer panelling on the waist and bust

Former Love Islanders Olivia and Alex Bowen were also in attendance at the premiere

Olivia, 30, looked sensational in a coral maxi dress, paired with eccentric green heels

Married At First Sight UK stars Whitney Hughes (left) and April Banbury (right) also embraced what proved to be a recurring theme on the night by wearing floral evening dresses

Andrea McLean got into the floral theme with her striking maxi dress on Thursday evening

Chris Kowalski cut a suave figure in a three-piece linen suit
by Austin Bay August 7, 2024

The think piece has this compelling title: "America Isn't Ready for the Wars of the Future." Foreign Affairs published it on Aug. 5.

The noted authors: former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

Give the article this big plus: The messengers' notoriety means major media will notice. Pray the chatter is useful.

The essay addresses what the authors perceive as immediate U.S. defense weaknesses. However, its major theme, that cheap unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and various microchip gadgetry (guidance, sensors, communication and munitions) have changed contemporary warfare, isn't new. The authors focus on wars in the last decade. Yet over two decades ago, the U.S. started using General Atomics' Predator to hunt and then kill terrorists with missiles. Terrorists in the world's hardest corners learned they couldn't hide.

Milley and Schmidt make the case that drones, microchips and advanced software (artificial intelligence software) have produced what I'll call a near-ubiquitous battlefield transparency. In Ukraine, "Russian units find themselves under constant observation, and their communications lines are prone to enemy disruption -- as are Ukraine's. Both states are racing to develop even more advanced technologies ..."

The authors argue AI is a key tool for analyzing an immediate situation and projecting likely enemy reactions -- which tells a drone operator where and when he might find another enemy target to ambush. That's how I interpret this line: "AI systems could, for instance, simulate different tactical and operational approaches thousands of times, drastically shortening the period between preparation and execution." The authors speculate that AI may ultimately control fully autonomous weapons.

To their credit, the authors acknowledge an AI issue that war games have revealed: "AI models tend to suddenly escalate to kinetic war, including nuclear war, compared with games conducted by humans. It doesn't take much imagination to see how matters could go horribly wrong if these AI systems were actually used ..."

Milley and Schmidt also concede the nature of war doesn't change -- they invoke Clausewitz's clash of wills. "The nature of war is, arguably, immutable. In almost any armed conflict, one side seeks to impose its political will on another through organized violence." However, "the character of war -- how armies fight, where and when the fighting occurs, and with what weapons and leadership techniques -- can evolve. It can change in response to politics, demographics, and economics. Yet few forces bring more change than technological development."

Hence this definite warning: "Future wars will no longer be about who can mass the most people or field the best jets, ships, and tanks. Instead, they will be dominated by increasingly autonomous weapons systems and powerful algorithms."

That is a supposition.

Technology -- airframes with advanced guidance and sensors -- that takes money. Ultimately, Milley and Schmidt believe they can answer this problem: How can America best spend its billions of tax dollars to field a war-winning, economically viable and therefore credibly war-deterring 21st-century defense system?

I think the authors will agree that's their goal. It should be. But remember, Schmidt's company is very involved in AI -- expensive AI projects.

System is a critical word. Unfortunately, it's one that gets lost in the techno-discussion of drones and ships and munitions. Defense System means the entire shebang has to work and be synchronized -- strategic combined arms. The tech, the tanks, the jets, the computer chips, the doctrine, the training, the intelligence (spy stuff) gathering and assessment, the AI and the gray ware -- human intelligence and leadership.

And, yes, the leadership. Leadership from the White House commander in chief to the Pentagon four-stars down to the infantry squad leaders. And, per Milley and Schmidt, the private first-class drone operators.

Without leadership in the White House and Pentagon, the savviest PFC drone operator is merely playing a deadly video game, and one that may cost him his life.

Milley and Schmidt focus on the weapons systems, not the entire diplomacy-war prevention-warfighting system.

Yes, drones and relatively inexpensive smart munitions have created vulnerabilities. But counter-drone weapons are appearing, to include microwave emitters. Neither Russia nor Ukraine has the ability to suppress and eliminate enemy air defenses. The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy do. New U.S. Army long-range strike missiles are another enemy air defense suppression option.

The biggest vulnerability remains poor leadership. Mark Milley has a number of leadership actions and inactions to explain, beginning with the Biden administration's Afghanistan withdrawal debacle. That was on his watch. If he opposed Biden's decision, he should have resigned. Accountability and character matter in all human endeavors, but especially in the military. There's nothing artificial about it. It's essential to victory.
Travis Scott is off the hook for a disorderly intoxication charge after getting into a fight on a yacht in Miami back in June.

The 33-year-old Sicko Mode hitmaker - born Jacques Bermon Webster - has had one of his major charges dropped after a hearing on Thursday according to TMZ.

The ex of Kylie Jenner had been arrested and booked by cops for causing a drunken disturbance on a Miami Beach yacht, before writing 'lol' on social media at the time.

Travis was not in attendance at the most recent legal proceeding.

However, it is not all positive news for the father-of-two as the state of Florida intends on moving forward with the misdemeanor trespassing charge against him.

Travis Scott is off the hook for a disorderly intoxication charge after getting into a fight on a yacht in Miami back in June; he is seen in a mugshot after the alleged incident

He is scheduled to go to trial for the misdemeanor charge on September 10.

Back in June, the rapper was arrested overnight for disorderly intoxication and trespassing at the marina, according to the affidavit seen by DailyMail.com.

Scott was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center for the two misdemeanors around 4.35am Thursday, per court records.

The Houston-born rapper - who has two young children, Stormi and Aire, with Kylie Jenner - was arrested by police at the Miami Beach Marina at 1:17 am.

The rapper was involved in 'a disturbance on a yacht' which involved people 'fighting', according to police. Scott's lawyer Bradford Cohen told DailyMail.com the fight was verbal in nature and 'there was absolutely no physical altercation involved'.

Ten officers approached the boat and found Scott 'standing by the dock and yelling at the vessel occupants', according to the affidavit.

They tried to defuse the situation by asking Scott to sit down, but he repeatedly stood back up and disregarded their orders, per the record.

The 33-year-old Sicko Mode hitmaker - born Jacques Bermon Webster - has had one of his major charges dropped after a hearing on Thursday according to TMZ; he is seen in Paris on Thursday

However, it is not all positive news for the father-of-two as the state of Florida intends on moving forward with the misdemeanor trespassing charge against him; he is seen performing in Houston back in November 2021

Police said Scott had 'a strong smell of alcohol' on his breath, and Sergeant Lemus warned him to leave the dock or face arrest.

'Throughout the long walk from the vessel to the boardwalk, the defendant walked backwards yelling obscenities to the occupants of the vessel,' the affidavit reads.

Scott eventually returned back to his vehicle, and ordered one of his security guards to get out of the SUV so that they couldn't leave the scene.

He then appeared to threaten his own security guard, telling officers 'if he gets in the vehicle he's gonna catch a fade,' meaning get into a fight.

The rapper eventually complied with officer's requests to leave. But just five minutes later he turned around and came back to cause more chaos.

Scott 'began yelling once again, becoming erratic, disturbing the peace of the occupants of the marina and nearby residential buildings causing a public disturbance' according to police.

He was detained and taken to Miami-Dade corrections facility.

When probed about whether he had been drinking alcohol, Scott said 'it's Miami' and admitted that he had.

Scott appeared to respond to his brush with the law on social media with a tweet at the time simply reading 'lol' at 8.45am Thursday, June 20

The Sicko Mode rapper was arrested overnight for disorderly intoxication and trespassing at the marina (pictured) - and when pressed about whether he had been drinking he said 'it's Miami' according to the affidavit seen by DailyMail.com

The Houston-born rapper - who has two young children, Stormi and Aire, with Kylie Jenner - was arrested by police at the Miami Beach Marina (pictured from above)

Kylie and Travis have dated on/off since 2017 and they share two children: Stormi, six, and Aire, two; seen in 2021

The 33-year-old submitted a $650 bond - which includes $500 for the trespass charge, and $150 for disorderly intoxication.

Scott's lawyer Bradford Cohen told DailyMail.com the rapper was 'briefly detained due to a misunderstanding'.

'There was absolutely no physical altercation involved, and we thank the authorities for working with us towards a swift and amicable resolution,' Cohen said.

The Astroworld rapper appeared bleary-eyed and expressionless in his mugshot, which has been shared by Miami Dade Corrections facility.

He appeared to respond on social media with a tweet simply reading 'lol' at 8.45am Thursday.

The booking comes just days before his international Circus Maximus stadium tour, which kicks off June 28 in the Netherlands.

Scott was recently spotted enjoying a family vacation in St Tropez.

He was pictured on a boat with his daughter Stormi and son Aire late May - kids he shares with his ex-girlfriend Kylie Jenner.

The previous week, Scott was involved in a skirmish with Jenner's previous ex Tyga, 34, in Cannes.

Travis and the Kylie Cosmetics founder, 26, have had an on-off relationship since 2017, but are currently not together.

Travis Scott is seen performing in Chicago on 14 June 2024 - days before his arrest

Pictured: Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott attends Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City

This is not the first time that Scott has had run-ins with the law. The rapper is facing a civil lawsuit after 10 people died during a crowd surge at his concert in 2021

Kylie and Travis first broke up in October 2019 after sparking a romance in 2017. In February 2018, the two welcomed their first child to the world.

In August 2021, it was confirmed that the duo were expecting baby number two together after rumors had circulated that Kylie and Travis had reportedly reconciled.

It was confirmed in January 2023 that Kylie and Travis had decided to breakup for a second time after rekindling their romance in 2020.

This is not the first time that Scott has had run-ins with the law. The rapper is facing a civil lawsuit after 10 people died during a crowd surge at his concert in 2021.

Scott previously revealed he was 'devastated' by the Astroworld disaster, which occurred on November 5, 2021 concert in Houston, Texas.

The musician told GQ he thinks about the disaster 'all the time' and has had 'rough moments' in the two years since as he worked on comeback album, Utopia.

Those killed, who ranged in age from 9 to 27, died from compression asphyxia, which an expert likened to being crushed by a car.

The star revealed his heartbreak at his attempt at putting Houston on the map as a city to rival New York and Los Angeles and inspire children had been 'ruined' - after previously saying he wanted to be a 'hometown hero' and not a 'villain.'

In December 2021, speaking out about the November 5 tragedy Scott sat down with podcaster Charlemagne Tha God for an interview.

Kylie and Travis first broke up in October 2019 after sparking a romance in 2017. In February 2018, the two welcomed their first child, daughter Stormi, to the world

In the interview, Scott blamed his 'in-ear' person for not urging him to stop the show sooner, and claimed that he wasn't aware of or responsible for the fatal stampede and crowd crush

Scott said that he is '1000 percent' certain he did everything he could have to prevent the tragedy, and claims he didn't hear the screams and cries for help as the crowd went out of control.

'Things happen, you know, and it's just been such a time, and I'm just trying to just really figure things out,' he said when asked why he was breaking his silence.

'My heart wasn't there to be the villainI was there to be a hometown hero.'
The BBC has confirmed that EastEnders legend Patsy Palmer will be making a shock comeback as Bianca Jackson - and she won't be returning to Albert Square alone.

Speculation had been mounting in recent weeks that the 52-year-old soap star could be returning, after she was spotted near the London set in July.

Now, the broadcaster has revealed that the actress will be gracing our screens once again, as new storylines are set to unfold.

But, unbeknownst to Bianca, her father David Wicks, played by Michael French who is also making a comeback to the show, is set to be 'hot on her tail'.

Bianca and David last saw each other ten years ago before he left to live in America following the breakdown of his relationship with Biancas mother, Carol Jackson.

The BBC has confirmed that EastEnders legend Patsy Palmer will be making a shock comeback as Bianca Jackson

Speculation had been mounting in recent weeks that the 52-year-old soap star could be returning, after she was spotted near the London set in July

Now, the broadcaster has revealed that the actress will be gracing our screens once again, as new storylines are set to unfold

While the father daughter duo undoubtedly love each other, their relationship has always been complicated.

David shares Bianca with teen sweetheart Carol Jackson, although he wasn't aware of her existence until March 1994.

Bianca left Walford back in June after she ceremoniously outed her sister, Sonia Jackson, and boyfriend, Reiss Colwell, for stealing money from his comatose wife in front of horrified onlookers in The Vic.

Sonia has since forgiven Bianca after Kat Slater intervened to make her aware of Biancas recent struggles, but the pair havent seen or spoke to each other since.

With a whole heap of unfinished business to resolve, and having previously implored Sonia to steer clear of brother-in-law turned murderer, Reiss, Bianca is returning to Albert Square as a woman on a mission.

It was revealed in July that Michael French, 61, - who plays the iconic character of David Wicks - is making a shock comeback for a short stint of episodes later this year, 10 years after quitting the soap.

The father and daughter both returning comes as the BBC show is approaching its landmark 40th anniversary next year when plenty of famous faces will be returning to the soap.

Michael said: 'I feel honoured to be asked to reprise the role of David Wicks once again.

But, unbeknownst to Bianca, her father David Wicks, played by Michael French who is also making a comeback to the show, is set to be 'hot on her tail'

Sonia has since forgiven Bianca after Kat Slater intervened to make her aware of Biancas recent struggles, but the pair havent seen or spoke to each other since

The father and daughter both returning comes as the BBC show is approaching its landmark 40th anniversary next year when plenty of famous faces will be returning to the soap (David seen on show in 2013)

Over his four collective years in Albert Square, David was never far away from drama having been involved in some of the show's most iconic storylines (seen with Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins))

'It may only be a brief visit, but we know from his past that David never fails to create a lot of drama in a very short time.'

Chris Clenshaw, EastEnders Executive Producer added: 'David Wicks is undoubtedly one of EastEnders' most beloved rogues, and we are thrilled to welcome the talented Michael French back to the legendary role as we lead up to the show's 40th anniversary.

'David's character was never shy of drama during his previous stints, and I can assure you this return will be no different.'

Whilst Albert Square has changed immensely since David last stepped foot in it, his character remains cemented in its history as the smooth-talking womaniser, and son of Walford's infamous matriarch, Pat Butcher (Pam St Clement), and Pete Beale (Peter Dean).

David briefly returned to Walford in December 2012 to visit his mum, Pat Butcher, before her death.

He last appeared on screen 30 May 2014 after his relationship with Carol Jackson broke down following their failed wedding attempt.

Other stars set to return for the 40th anniversary include David Wicks [Michael French[] and Chrissie Watts [Tracy-Ann Oberman].

Boss Chris Clenshaw told The Sun: 'As we head towards our 40th year, I think the nostalgic element means a lot.

'Into the autumn and the end of the year, we've got quite a few treats coming up.'

Asked if that meant a return for some favourite characters, Chris replied: 'Maybe. It all depends on the story and where the characters are.

'But it has to come from character, it has to come from story.'
Kimberley Garner sent temperatures soaring on Thursday as she attended the UK Gala screening of It Ends With Us in London's Leicester Square.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 33, looked nothing short of sensational as she flashed a glimpse of her toned abs in a chic black cut-out dress.

The stylish ensemble boasted a ring cut-out design at the front, a flared skirt, and a low cut-out at the back.

The blonde beauty further accessorised her look with a cluster of rings and styled her tresses in a flicky blowout for the evening.

To complete her carpet look, Kimberley elevated her natural beauty with a flawless palette of makeup.

Kimberley Garner sent temperatures soaring wearing a black cut-out dress on Thursday as she attended the UK Gala screening of It Ends With Us in London's Leicester Square

It Ends With Us follows a florist, Lily Bloom (Blake Lively) who moves to Boston to pursue her dream of opening her own business and there she meets a charming neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni)

The former Made In Chelsea star, 33, looked nothing short of sensational as she flashed a glimpse of her toned abs in the chic ensemble which boasted a ring cut-out design at the front

It Ends With Us follows a florist, Lily Bloom (Blake Lively) who moves to Boston to pursue her dream of opening her own business.

It is there when she meets a charming neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid  who is portrayed by actor as well as director of the movie, Justin Baldoni.

When their fairytale romance turns tumultuous, her first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), fatefully reenters her life.

She must navigate being entangled in a very complicated love triangle.

The movie also stars Jenny Slate, Hassan Minhaj, Kevin McKidd, Amy Morton and Alex Neustaedter and premieres in UK cinemas on August 9.

Kimberley's appearance comes after she recently revealed that she had 'just broken up with someone'.

The star confirmed her relationship status at the screening of The Idea Of You at the Ham Yard Hotel in Soho, London.

She told Eden Confidential: 'I've just broken up with someone. Right decision  and I am in a really good place.'

The blonde beauty further accessorised her look with a cluster of rings and styled her tresses in a flicky blowout for the evening

To complete her carpet look, Kimberley elevated her natural beauty with a flawless palette of makeup

Kimberley's last known romance began in summer 2023, when it was revealed that she was going out with financier Andreas Anthis.

Kimberley was spotted for the first time with Andreas last July, as they packed on the PDA while walking her dog Sasha in London.

The reality star previously dated her MIC co-star Richard Dinan.

Since finding fame on the show in 2012, Kimberley has made a name for herself as a successful swimsuit brand entrepreneur.

She recently spoke about the lengths she had to go to for her business to be taken seriously.

The designer told MailOnline: 'I think people sometimes think that Im only the face, but I am responsible for every bit of the business.'

Since finding fame on the show in 2012, Kimberley has made a name for herself as a successful swimsuit brand entrepreneur (seen in May at Cannes Film Festival)

'I was 18 when I started my first company - I came up with an idea, stayed up for days learning how to register the company and teaching myself. It became very successful overnight.'

Kimberley went on: 'However, as I was only 18, no one ever imagined it was mine. I was a young blonde girl with a soft voice.'

'So, I pretended to be the Intern! I handled all the meetings, phone calls, and emails for the company.'

She finished: 'When it became a success, I put all the revenues into starting Kimberley London.'
Danny Cipriani's estranged wife Victoria Rose hit out at him on social media.

In a now deleted post, Victoria accused the rugby player, 36, of 'not having a heart' and for 'carrying on with other women'.

Danny confirmed his relationship with American actress AnnaLynne McCord, both 36, in April, after his marriage to Victoria broke down in November last year.

Victoria claimed Danny reached out to her last week to apologise to her granddaughter Rosie 'for his prolonged absence'.

The 42-year-old is a grandmother after welcoming her daughter Jade, 28, when she was 14. Jade went on to have Rosie. Victoria also has a 17-year-old son named Kameron.

Danny Cipriani's estranged wife Victoria Rose hit out at him on social media

Danny confirmed his relationship with American actress AnnaLynne McCord, both 36, in April, after his marriage to Victoria broke down in November last year

In a post obtained by The Sun, she wrote: 'It pains me deeply that Danny would upload photos of other people's children, causing my granddaughter to suffer once again.

'Last week, he reached out to me, asking me to apologise to Rosie for his prolonged absence.

'I have watched firsthand the pain she had felt losing her 'pops' and being left without any contact, while he carries on with other women.

'Despite our efforts as a family to being Rosie to a place of peace, he then contacted my daughter, and me, expressing remorse and longing for Rosie.

'Although I harboured doubts about his intentions, we decided to allow Rosie to make her own choice.

'Despite her eagerness to reconnect after being ignored for months, she reached out to him, and only to have him hang up on her and ignore her voice messages.

'It is heartbreaking to witness her hopes shattered in this way.I am ashamed of myself for allowing myself to think he has a heart.'

MailOnline has contacted Danny's representatives for comment.

Danny and Victoria, who were married for over two years, called time on their marriage in November 2023 following a series of 'difficult' rows over text messages she saw on his phone

In May, Danny called his new girlfriend AnnaLynne a 'miracle' as she documented their whirlwind romance on Instagram.

The 90210 star had gone public with their relationship on the platform as she uploaded a video montage of highlights. She revealed in the comments that the two had met on celebrity dating app Raya.

Victoria hit out at her estranged husband's declaration he has found new love.

She sarcastically told her fans 'nice to see my husband moved on' alongside an emoji displaying her surprise before adding: 'But his belongings and clothes in our house, in our drawers still haven't moved on.'

Victoria, who was in Egypt at the same time as the new couple, added: 'Can you send me a miracle, please? Can you answer the lawyer's letter so I can keep my car? All the best. Lots of love your ever patient wife.'

The 90210 star had gone public with their relationship on the platform as she uploaded a video montage of highlight, while Danny gushed over the actress

At the time of the split, Danny released a statement to announce the news, telling his Instagram followers that he 'only wished the best' for his ex.

Victoria then announced that shockingly, she was 'made aware of the situation at the same time as the public' in a now deleted post.

The media personality opened up about the difficult time and apologised for her 'emotionally charge response.'

She wrote: 'Danny publicly announced our split without any prior notice or discussion with me. I was made aware of the situation at the same time as the public, and this has caused me a great deal of pain.

'I apologise if my reactions and responses have seemed reactive or emotionally charged.

'The truth is, I am still going through a difficult time, and it is challenging for me to see Danny speaking about our separation publicly while I have not yet found the strength to process it, adjust or heal.

Victoria concluded: 'I really don't want to be caught up in the fanfare. Sorry for any hurt I have caused.'

The couple started dating in June 2020 and Danny proposed to the mother-of-two weeks after they first met.

Victoria last shared a picture with Danny in October as she penned a cryptic caption about life 'having its ups and downs.'
Katie Price has revealed how her ADHD impacts her in court after failing to turn up to her bankruptcy hearing last month.

The mum-of-five, 45, was absent at a scheduled 760,000 bankruptcy court hearing, having flown overseas for her latest cosmetic procedure.

A warrant has since been issued, with Katie, admitting she's 'doing the best she can' to rectify her financial issues after receiving 'very clear warnings' that she needed to attend court.

And now, Katie has lifted the lid on why her ADHD has been affecting her attending court on Olivia Attwood's So Wrong It's Right podcast.

She said: 'If you look at my school reports, it so makes sense - like, "she's capable, but easily distracted", they all says the same. If I knew about ADHD back then, I wouldn't have been in situations or reacted to things how I did.

Katie Price has revealed how her ADHD impacts her in court after failing to turn up to her bankruptcy hearing last month

A warrant has since been issued, with Katie, admitting she's 'doing the best she can' to rectify her financial issues after receiving 'very clear warnings' that she needed to attend court

'Now I know that if someone texts me something, I would "breathe, breathe, breathe", and then probably not reply or respond differently.

'It's just, you know, times I've been in court, I didn't know how to react to things or situations, but now I understand it.'

Katie revealed she had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in 2023 and is receiving therapy to manage the condition.

The TV personality previously said she is learning to understand how the disorder has affected her past behaviour and said it explains why she has never felt that there will be 'consequences' for her actions.

The symptoms of ADHD include restlessness and difficulty concentrating, as well as excessive physical moving, talking and acting without thinking.

In May, Katie claimed on her own podcast that she has been signed off from appearing in court for her mental health, after receiving backlash for missing her last bankruptcy hearing to go on holiday to Cyprus.

She had been due to give evidence about her finances at the High Court in May, but at the start of the hearing, lawyers said that she had told them at the last minute she couldn't attend due to health issues. A judge described this excuse as 'scanty'.

Katie then jetted off on holiday to Ayia Napa with her MAFS star boyfriend JJ Slater , facing public backlash after being spotted sunbathing together by the pool.

Katie has lifted the lid on why her ADHD has been affecting her attending court on Olivia Attwood's So Wrong It's Right podcast

She said: 'It's just, you know, times I've been in court, I didn't know how to react to things or situations, but now I understand it'

The TV personality previously said she is learning to understand how the disorder has affected her past behaviour and said it explains why she has never felt that there will be 'consequences' for her actions

Taking to her podcast, The Katie Price Show , Katie hit back and claimed she had been signed off from court because she was 'mentally not strong enough'.

She said: 'Everyone is like "oh she's missed bankruptcy and she's gone on holiday!" No, let me address it.

'The court knew that I wasn't going to my bankruptcy, because mentally - my consultant at The Priory - I've been signed off for any kind of activity for court.

'I'm mentally not strong enough at the moment to stand in court, be cross examined in front of the media and public.'

She went on: 'I am taking my bankruptcy so serious, like I do everything else. It's a very serious situation I'm in and it does look like "oh she's just gone on holiday".

'No, my head at the moment needs a break. I had four days in my diary where I was able to go away.

'When I say I'm not mentally able and stable to stand in court at the moment because I have a lot of things going on behind the scenes I'm dealing with.

'Hence, I haven't been on TikTok for months, since December, I'm only doing what my body and brain will let me do at the moment.'

She continued: 'I am taking the bankruptcy seriously. It's not like I've jetted off on a bloody five star holiday. I'm not in a 760 a night hotel.

'It's not my fault that my friend came to this hotel a week before me and told them that I was coming and to look after me. So when I came here they upgraded me for nothing, this holiday was actually a very cheap holiday.'

She had been due to give evidence about her finances at the High Court in May, but at the start of the hearing, lawyers said that she had told them at the last minute she couldn't attend due to health issues. A judge described this excuse as 'scanty'

The former glamour model recently went under the knife in Istanbul for her sixth face lift, which cost 10,000

Katie then added that she wouldn't be going to her next hearing and that she was getting a signed letter to allow her not to appear.

She said: 'There is another court hearing and I won't be going to that either. I want everyone to know I've had a letter from my trustees.

'Before I went away on holiday I had an hours conversation with my trustees who handle both of my bankruptcies and explained fully my situation. Since then I've had a letter from them and a letter from court.

'[My consultant] has now given a list of things I need to do to discharge me and suspend me from this which has to be signed off by a lawyer.

'I'm back today, I have the appointments with my consultant, my therapist and everyone around me who will be signing me off legally.'

Olivia Attwood's So Wrong It's Right is available wherever you get your podcast. Listen here
One family has been particularly hard hit by the recent layoffs at John Deere.

Mathew Shiltz and his wife both lost their jobs at a plant in Davenport, Iowa, in July.

Now they are worried about how they will keep up with their household bills, and fear how they will be able to make rent and car payments once their severance packages run out.

The agricultural giant has laid off around 1,830 workers so far this year across several sites in Iowa and Illinois, while moving more of its tractor and farming gear manufacturing to Mexico.

The 187-year-old company has blamed a 20 percent fall in sales for cuts across the globe.

Mathew Shiltz and his wife both lost their jobs at a plant in Davenport, Iowa, in July

Shiltz told local station KWQC that he was 'proud' when he got a job at John Deere, but now he feels betrayed by the company.

Although he said he was already aware that layoffs were on the cards, it was still 'tough' to take the news.

'The orders were definitely down. The numbers in the plant - we were not pumping out what we were. They're cutting lines dramatically,' he told the outlet.

He added that the community in the Quad Cities - Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline in Illinois - will acutely feel the effects of the layoffs.

'This community is heavily Deere-based with four plants in the area. So when they take these kinds of hits, it doesn't just affect the Deere, it affects a lot of people.'

Shiltz said he is already picking up odd jobs but he fears for the future.

'It's going to be really hard. Now we're just trying to figure out how we're going to pay the bills,' he said.

At the start of the year, John Deere employed about 22,600 salaried and production workers across the two states.

Costs for farmers remain high while crop prices are low.

In many instances, the production that US workers were responsible for has been shifted to new locations in Mexico.

Last month DailyMail.com asked John Deere how many new jobs had been created in Mexico in recent years - as the US workforce has been cut. It did not answer.

In a statement, it said the reason for the layoffs is to 'position John Deere strongly for the future.'

John Deere manufactures everything from tractors, construction vehicles and mowers to snowmobiles

Shiltz told local Iowa station KWQC that he was 'proud' when he got a job at John Deere, but now he feels betrayed by the company

Other employees have expressed their frustration and fury at the cuts.

A longtime worker at the Harvester Works plant in East Moline, Illinois, said it comes down to one thing: Greed.

'We get wind of more layoffs daily, it seems, and it's causing uncertainty all over,' said the worker, who stayed anonymous for fear of retaliation.

'The only reason for Deere to do this is greed.'

Laid-off workers get up to 12 months of severance pay - based on years of service - payment for unused time off, and access to health benefits.

'While the decision to reduce roles across the company was a challenging one, the company is confident that these adjustments, coupled with our ongoing efforts to reduce costs and align production and inventory levels, will position John Deere strongly for the future,' a statement from the company said.

John Deere said it is still committed to US manufacturing. Bosses pointed to a $2 billion investment in US factories since 2019.
Amid dissent by the Congess-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) which opposed the proposed law in its present form, terming the Bill divisive, anti-Muslim, and unconstitutional, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was introduced in Lok Sabha on Thursday and referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further scrutiny.

After introducing the Bill in the Lok Sabha, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said the government is ready for further scrutiny of the legislation. Defending the Bill, Rijiju said the Central Governments intention is clear and it has nothing to hide from the legislation saying the Waqf (Amendment) Bill does not intend to interfere with the freedom of any religious body and that no provision of the Constitution has been violated.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said he will talk with leaders of all parties for constituting the JPC. Earlier, moving the Bill, the Minister clarified that this Bill is not intended to interfere with the functioning of religious bodies and is to provide justice to the disadvantaged and poor sections of the Muslim community.

Soon after Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sought leave to introduce the Bill in the Lok Sabha, many Opposition MPs, who had given notices to oppose the Bill, alleged that the proposed legislation was an attack on the Constitution and federalism. Calling it an attack on the Constitution and aimed at targeting Muslims, several INDIA Bloc MPs urged the Government to withdraw the Bill. Parties such as Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party (SP), and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) have criticised the proposed amendments including for inclusion of non-Muslims in waqf governance saying they will encroach on the religious rights.

The Bill proposes significant changes to the 1995 law, such as the inclusion of Muslim women on Waqf boards and ensuring verification of land before a board announces it as a Waqf property. The Government also introduced The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024.

Responding to the concerns flagged by Opposition members, Rijiju said Waqf Act 1995 did not serve its purpose, hence the amendment was planned. I want to tell Congress these amendments are being brought to achieve what you (Congress) couldnt, he said.

Because you couldnt do it, we had to bring these amendments...Some people have captured Waqf boards and this Bill has been brought to give justice to ordinary Muslims, he said. He claimed that many leaders in the opposition had privately told him that state Waqf boards had turned into a mafia. I wont take their names and destroy their political careers, Rijiju said.

Defending the amendments, Rijiju said a joint parliamentary committee had recommended that Waqf Act 1995 should be re-looked. He said the opposition was opposing for the sake of politics. Rijiju said Opposition is trying to mislead people about intention of Waqf bill. No law can be above Constitution but 1995 Waqf law has such provisions. He said in the earlier law, there was no provision to challenge or review the order or judgement of the tribunal. Now, provision was being made for verdicts to be challenged at higher courts, the minister said.

In our country, no law can be a super law and that cant be above the Constitution. However, in the 1995 Wakf Act, there are provisions that are above the provisions in the Constitution. Shouldnt that be changed? he asked.

Rijiju said, With this bill, there is no interference in the freedom of any religious body.Forget about taking anyones rights, this bill has been brought to give rights to those who never got them.He also asserted that no provision of the Constitution has been violated in the draft law.

The wrongs which you have done, now, we are correcting those, Rijiju said, hitting out at the Congress. He asserted the government had conducted thorough consultations at all levels, and also cited cases such as an entire village in Tamil Nadu being declared Waqf land to underline the need for reforms in the law. The opposition shouldnt see such issues through the prism of religion, he said and accused it of misleading Muslims. Similarly, the Surat municipal corporation headquarters was declared Waqf property, he said and asked how is this possible.

He claimed that many MPs have privately told him that Waqf boards have been captured by mafia.He underlined that extensive consultations have taken place before the bill was drafted.Rijiju claimed such MPS were opposing the bill due to party pressure.

Home Minister Amit Shah said since the Waqf Act of 1995 came into being, there was a need to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923 which had lost its relevance.He accused the opposition of misleading Muslims and saying that amendments had to be brought in as the present act had many mistakes and could not serve its purpose.

From giving the government a big say in regulating waqf properties, redefining how a property is deemed to be in the possession of waqf to changing the composition of waqf boards in states, the Centre on Thursday introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024 to overhaul the regulatory framework of Muslim charitable endowments.

The bill seeks to omit Section 40 of the current law relating to the powers of the board to decide if a property is Waqf property. It provides for a broad-based composition of the Central Waqf Council and the state Waqf boards and ensures the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in such bodies.

The bill also proposes the establishment of a separate board for the Boharas and Aghakhanis. The draft law provides for the representation of Shias, Sunnis, Bohras, Agakhanis and other backward classes among Muslim communities. The bill also aims to clearly define Waqf as Waqf by any person practising Islam for at least five years and having ownership of such property.

One of its objectives is streamlining the manner of registration of Waqfs through a central portal and database. A detailed procedure is established for mutation as per revenue laws with due notice to all concerned before recording any property as a Waqf property. The Wakf Act, 1995, was brought to regulate Auqaf (assets donated and notified as Waqf) by a wakif (the person who dedicates a property for any purpose recognised by Muslim law as religious or charitable).

The Bill states that any government property identified or declared as waqf property, before or after the commencement of this Act, shall not be deemed to be a waqf property. However, the amendment states that the Collector will make this determination in case of a dispute and not the Waqf Tribunal.

Currently, under the 1995 Act, this decision is made exclusively by the Waqf Tribunal and as per Section 6 of the Act, the decision of the Tribunal in respect of such matter shall be final. The Bill, by omitting the provisions relating to the waqf by user, makes a waqf property suspect in the absence of a valid waqfnama.
A two-day National Consultation Meeting on "Strategies to Combat Overcrowding at Emergency Departments across India" was inaugurated today at AIIMS Bhopal. Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Shri Apurva Chandra, who joined the conference virtually, commended the efforts of AIIMS Bhopal, stating, "AIIMS Bhopal, with its limited resources, is managing its Trauma and Emergency Medicine Department efficiently. Emergency medicine is a specialized area, and I invite Prof. Dr. Ajai Singh for a presentation in the Ministry and NITI Aayog."

Joint Secretary Ms. Ankita Sharma Bundela congratulated the organizers through virtual mode, emphasizing the challenges faced in handling trauma and emergency cases. "Handling trauma and emergency cases is very challenging. We need dedicated and trained manpower in this field," she said.

Prof (Dr) Ajai Singh, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhopal, highlighted the critical issue of overcrowding, stating, "Overcrowding is a serious concern, and we need to handle it efficiently. We have developed SOPs for 'One State, One Health, One Emergency,' and suitable work is being carried out in UP and MP for implementation. The establishment of a dedicated Pediatric Emergency Unit at AIIMS Bhopal is a significant step forward, addressing the unique needs of children and ensuring they receive the specialized care they deserve.

INDUSEM CEO Dr. Sagar C. Galwankar emphasized the importance of innovative approaches and dedicated efforts in the field of emergency medicine. Dr. Sagar said "Overcrowding in emergency departments is a critical issue that demands immediate and innovative solutions. For the past 20 years, we at INDUSEM have been committed to advancing the field of emergency medicine, establishing specialized units, and fostering a culture of excellence and innovation. Our efforts must extend beyond conventional approaches; we need to think outside the box to develop comprehensive strategies that can effectively manage the increasing patient load in emergency departments.

Dr. Sanjeev Bhoi from AIIMS New Delhi and Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center, said that it is also essential to acknowledge the role of trained manpower in this field. We must invest in training programs for paramedics and other healthcare professionals, ensuring they are equipped to handle emergency cases effectively. The golden hour, the critical time from the accident site to the hospital, is crucial for saving lives, and our focus should be on optimizing this period through swift and skilled intervention.

The meeting included various sessions focusing on different aspects of emergency medicine, such as overcrowding challenges, simulation and education, telemedicine, and capacity management. The participants engaged in in-depth discussions, sharing their insights and proposing innovative solutions to improve emergency care services across India. The event saw participation from over 150 specialists from across the country, aiming to address the pressing issue of overcrowding in emergency departments.
After the successful investment sessions held in Mumbai and Coimbatore regarding investment in Madhya Pradesh, the third interactive session is going to be organized on August 7 and 8, 2024 in Bengaluru, a major industrial center of Karnataka, famous as the Silicon Valley of India.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will interact with prominent industrialists working in the Information Technology (IT), Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES), Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM), Textile and Garment, Aerospace and Defence, Automobile and OEM, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and medical device sectors. He will also meet industrialists highlighting the governments vision and innovations to promote investment, innovation, and sustainable development in Madhya Pradesh. There will also be MoUs in various sectors with industrialists willing to invest in the state.

Prominent industrialists will share their experiences

In the interactive session to be held on August 8 in the presence of Chief Minister Yadav, a video film Advantage Madhya Pradesh will be screened, which will give detailed information to the industrialists about the benefits and investment opportunities in the state. Experiences related to investment in Madhya Pradesh will be shared by leading industrialists.

Information about other states industrial scenario and future development prospects will be shared. In a one-to-one meeting and a round table meeting over global capacity centres, IT and apparel sectors with industrialists Chief Minister Dr.Yadav will discuss innovations, investment and development.

Presentation on investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh

The interactive session will start on August 8 at 11:30 am. Siddharth Sethi, Managing Director of Infobeans Limited will deliver the welcome address. This will be followed by video films on GIS-2025 and Advantage MP. Principal Secretary, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion, Madhya Pradesh Raghavendra Kumar Singh will give a presentation on investment opportunities in the state. Management Director MPSEDC will give a presentation on opportunities in IT, ITES, ESDM sectors in Madhya Pradesh. A presentation will be given by Principal Secretary Tourism Sheo shekhar Shukla on opportunities in the tourism sector in Madhya Pradesh and a presentation will be given by Secretary MSME Dr. Navneet Mohan Kothari on opportunities in the MSME sector in Madhya Pradesh. MoU will be signed between MPSEDC and IESA in the interactive session.

One-to-one meeting

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav will hold a one-to-one meeting with industrialists. Besides, there will be a round table meeting with industrialists from the IT and ITES sector and industrialists from the textile sector. It May be noted that Chief Minister Yadav reached Bengaluru in the evening on Wednesday and will also talk to industrialists regarding investment at a round table meeting and networking dinner.
Chhattisgarh Mineral Resources Department Secretary P. Dayanand said on Wednesday that the state has generated Rs 13,000 crore revenue from minerals in 202324.

He was addressing the 24th meeting of the Chhattisgarh Geological Programme Board in Raipur.

This is a growth of 30 times since Chhattisgarh's formation, he said.

Minerals play a key role in the development of any country or state. They must be explored to establish new industries, he said.

He emphasised using modern equipment to explore mineral resources. The meeting finalised the plans to explore mineral reserves for 202425.

Director of Geology Sunil Kumar Jain said that this year, a total of 1,050 million metric tonnes of limestone and 179 million metric tonnes of iron ore were extracted.

Officials from both the Central and state governments delivered presentations on the progress of exploration work in Chhattisgarh. The Directorate of Geology and Mining in Chhattisgarh has approved 12 projects for survey-prospecting in 202425. Also, approval was granted for survey-prospecting on 44 projects to various institutions.
The Hemant Soren government has decided to waive loans up to Rs 2 lakh of the farmers in State. In the cabinet meeting held at Project Bhawan on Wednesday, the proposal to waive loans up to Rs 2 lakh of the farmers of the state was approved. For this the government will spend an amount of Rs 750 crore. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

In todays cabinet meeting, 37 proposals were approved. Under this, the cabinet will now look into the matters of central agencies. Cabinet approved an increase in the amount of Manki Munda Gram Pradhan. Approval was given to give 6 thousand to Manki, 4 thousand to Munda Gram Pradhan, 2000 to Padha Raja. The employees of Bihar Transport Corporation will join Jharkhand, approval was given for adjustment of 619 employees in Jharkhand. 8 candidates will be appointed to the post of district judge. The guidelines of the Hospital Rejuvenation Scheme were approved.

Meanwhile, the implementation of farmers loan waiver will be through direct benefit transfer. Only one member of a family will get the benefit in the scheme, which can be verified with any type of ration card. One rupee will be charged from the applicant as a service charge for the application.

From time to time, the government has been announcing the waiver of agricultural loans up to Rs 2,00,000 for farmers. In this regard, the meeting of the State Level Committee set up for this scheme was held on 14.06.2024. In the light of the decision and recommendation taken in the meeting, there is an effort to increase the scope of the scheme and to extend its benefits to more and more indebted farmers of the state.

In the financial year 2024-25, the limit of Jharkhand Agriculture Loan Waiver Scheme was increased from Rs 50,000/- to Rs 2,00,000/- (two lakhs). The cut-off date will be 31.03.2020. The government will spend about Rs. 750.0 crores in this item. Pay banks in Jharkhand which issue short term crop loan / KCC as per the guidelines of the Government of India / Reserve Bank of India. Those banks will be included in this scheme.

In another cabinet decision while establishing sub-divisional prosecution office at Nagar Untari in Garhwa district and Chandil in Seraikela-Kharsawan in Jharkhand state, approval was given for creation of posts of Additional/Assistant Public Prosecutors and non-gazetted employees for conducting the prosecution work.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to the proposal to accommodate 619 employees of Bihar State Transport Corporation and give them retirement benefits. These employees will be considered accommodated from July 1, 2004. This will incur an additional burden of Rs 50 crore.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday carried out raids at 16 locations including Raipur, Bhilai, Durg, Bilaspur and Kurud in connection with the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) recruitment scam.

The raids were carried out at the residences and offices of several high-ranking officials, including police officers and politicians.

A CBI FIR filed last month named 16 people who were appointed as deputy collectors, deputy superintendents of police and other lucrative positions, alleging that CGPSC officials favoured them for the appointments.

The agency alleged that there were manipulations in the examination held in 2022, the results of which were declared on May 11, 2023.

The CBI in its FIR had named former Chhattisgarh governor Biswabhusan Harichanans secretary Amrit Kumar Xalxos son Nikhil and daughter Neha, who became deputy collectors; Chhattisgarh police Deputy Inspector General KL Dhruvs daughter Sakshi (deputy collector); Congress leader Sudhir Katiyars daughter Bhumika and son-in-law Sashank Goyal (deputy collectors); and Congress leader Rajendra Shuklas daughter Swarnim (deputy collector).

The FIR also named five more candidates linked to Congress leaders without naming the politicians.

The Chhattisgarh government handed over the matter to CBI in the month of February after coming back to power.
The State government is making efforts at its own level for TB elimination. If the corporate sector actively participates in this campaign, we can get success soon. Therefore, cooperation is expected from the corporate sector, said Health Minister Banna Gupta at the inauguration of the state level adult BCG vaccination and the felicitation ceremony of TB free Panchayat organized under the National Tuberculosis Eradication Program in the auditorium of IPH located in Namkom.

Gupta said that there are big corporate sectors in the state, which have industries, they are cooperating in the vaccination campaign and other schemes by adopting panchayats and blocks at the institutional level. If these corporate houses adopt one district each and work, then we can achieve the pride of being TB free, Kala Azar and Filaria free like polio free India before the target. He said that America had made itself TB free 100 years ago.

The Health Minister said that Jharkhand is a poor and backward state. Here, mostly poor people suffer from diseases like Kala Azar, Filaria, TB. We have progressed a lot towards the elimination of Kala Azar. Very few tribal areas have diseases like Kala Azar left and they will be controlled soon. Incidents of snake bites happen in Jharkhand, due to which many times the poor people die due to lack of information. We have to be aware about this.

Principal Secretary of the Health Department Ajoy Kumar Singh said that the Tuberculosis Eradication Program is being run in all the 24 districts of the state. The corporate sector and the Panchayat Mukhiya and Sarpanch have done a good job. He asked the Civil Surgeon of the district associated with the campaign to work to make this campaign successful in all the proposed districts.

Singh said that the cooperation of the private sector has always been received and more cooperation is expected. He said that the Central Government has also given instructions to increase the expenditure in CSR activities. In this regard, you should also increase the expenditure. If the state government and the corporate sector work together, then the path will become easier.

In the program, the youngest girl Ushasi Hansda was honoured for making people aware about tuberculosis. Let us tell you that Ushasi Hansda is a school going girl, who is making people aware about tuberculosis along with studies.

In the program, such people were honoured who have played an important role in the direction of TB eradication by adopting tuberculosis patients in this campaign. The main recipients of the honour included representatives of SAIL Bokaro, ECL Vedanta, Lions Club Garhwa, BCCL Garhwa, Adani Power Godda, NTPC, CCL, Tata Steel.

A total of 38 panchayats of the state were declared TB free by the Health Department. On this occasion, the Mukhiya and Sarpanch of the respective Panchayats were honored in the program.

Adult BCG vaccination campaign will be conducted in 12 districts including Khunti, Ranchi, Giridih, Latehar, Lohardaga, Dumka, East Singhbhum, Deoghar and Ramgarh.
Two-week monsoon session of HP Assembly to start August 27, will have 10 sittings



Shimla: The Monsoon Session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly would start on August 27 and continue till September 9, according to a notification issued by House Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Tuesday.

An official statement said the two-week-long session would have 10 sittings. There would be no sittings on Saturdays and MLAs can send their questions to the Assembly Secretariat both online and offline. The session, being held for the first time after the Lok Sabha polls and the bypolls, would see the 40 Congress MLAs and the BJP 28 in the 68-member House. There are no Independent MLAs. Also, for the first time, the House would see a husband-wife duo as MLAs. Chief Mister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's wife Kamlesh Thakur recently won the bypolls from the Dehra assembly seat.



Bypoll to one Rajya Sabha seat in Hry on Sept 3



Chandigarh: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday announced that the election for one vacant seat of Rajya Sabha in Haryana will be held on September 3. The last date for filing nominations is August 21, with the scrutiny of nominations scheduled for August 22. Polling will take place on September 3 from 9 AM to 4 PM, with the counting of votes commencing at 5 PM on the same day. The Seat fell vacant in Haryana after Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda won the Lok Sabha Election from Rohtak. Notably, Deepender was elected Rajya Sabha MP from Haryana on a Congress party ticket for 6 years from March 2020.



ECI team to visit Hry on Aug 12 & 13: CEO



Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal on Wednesday said that the Election Commission of India team will visit Haryana on August 12 and 13. He said this in a meeting with all Deputy Commissioners cum District Election Officers of the state through video conferencing in Chandigarh. In a statement, Agarwal said that ECI team members will review the preparations for the upcoming assembly elections. Agarwal further said that engineers from Bharat Electronics Limited are conducting the first-level checking of EVMs in all 22 districts of the State. All district election officers must ensure that representatives of recognised political parties in the state are present during the checking. Agarwal directed all district election officers to direct BLOs and registration officers to ensure no forms are pending with them. The Chief Electoral Officer also stated that 817 new polling booths have been set up for this year's assembly elections, bringing the total number of polling booths in the state to 20,629. He urged district election officers to personally inspect the polling booths as well.



Delegation of Alvi Community meets Hry CM



Chandigarh: A delegation of the Alvi community met Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini at Haryana Bhawan, New Delhi on Wednesday and expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for approving the construction of Alvi Bhawan in Pinangwan. It is noteworthy that during the Raja Hasan Khan Mewati 'Shaheedi Diwas' the former Chief Minister had announced the construction of Alvi Bhawan. The Gram Panchayat of Pinangwan has already sent a proposal for the land required for Alvi Bhawan to the government. An amount of Rs 50 lakh has been sanctioned and the foundation stone of the building will be laid in the last week of August for the same.




With the efforts of Chief Minister (CM) Hemant Soren, the boys and girls who are victims of human trafficking are being freed and rehabilitated in their homes. In the same sequence, the Integrated Rehabilitation cum Resource Center, New Delhi, operated by the Department of Women and Child Development, rescued a 10-year-old boy who was missing from human trafficking.



The 23-year-old boy who was missing for the last 10 years was rescued by Jharkhand Bhawan, New Delhi, by conducting an intensive rescue operation in New Delhi and Haryana and conducting raids at various places.



It is known that when the boy was brought to Delhi by human traffickers 10 years ago, he was about 13 years old. The boy had no contact with the family for 10 years. Even after the father searched for the last several years, no information about the boy was found. In this regard, a complaint was registered at Barhet police station in Sahebganj district of Jharkhand. Jharkhand Police also searched for the boy for many years, but could not find any clue.



After this, Jharkhand Bhawan, New Delhi was informed about this 5 days ago. Taking immediate action, a team was formed by Nodal Officer Nachiketa of Jharkhand Bhawan, New Delhi. The boy's father had given the mobile number of a placement agency. On extracting the information of that mobile, it was found that the number belonged to a travel agency.



Running a secret mission by Jharkhand Bhawan, Jharkhand Bhawan employees Rahul Singh and Nirmala Khalkho and Mission Mukti Foundation Director Virendra Singh contacted the travel agency owner over the phone by posing as passengers and went to his office and caught him.



The owner of the agency said that he was the one who had employed the child. Tracking the mobile number of the owner of the house where the child was employed, when the rescue team went to his office, it was found that the owner had shifted the office to another place 2 to 3 years ago.



Jharkhand Bhawan, New Delhi conducted a joint raid at the residence of the said owner in Panipat, Haryana and New Delhi with the help of local police and local NGO. The child was not found there, but another 17-year-old boy from Jharkhand was found at the Delhi residence, who was being made to do household and office work.



Jharkhand Bhawan rescued the child and counselled him and handed him over to the concerned local police and requested them to take further action and the family was strictly instructed to hand over the child who was missing for 10 years. The boy who was missing for 10 years was sent safely to his family in Jharkhand the next day. Virendra Singh, Director of Mission Mukti Foundation, a local NGO in New Delhi and Akshay from Rescue Foundation played an important role in this rescue operation.



It is known that Integrated Rehabilitation cum Resource Center, New Delhi is an integral part of Jharkhand Bhawan, which is run by the Department of Women and Child Development. All this action was taken on the instructions of the Resident Commissioner of Jharkhand Bhawan.



The Women and Child Development Department is very sensitive in the matter of human trafficking. As a result, hundreds of children who were victims of human trafficking in Jharkhand have been rehabilitated in their homes so far and they are also given the benefit of many schemes of the Jharkhand Government.
The Yogi Adityanath government is set to introduce a 360-degree virtual tour of the State Museum in Lucknow. This innovative Museum at Fingertips project will enable people to explore all the artifacts, building floors, and highlights of the State Museum from their gadgets.

The Uttar Pradesh Museum Directorate under Culture Department has entrusted the Uttar Pradesh System Development Corporation (UPDESCO) with this ambitious task. UPDESCO will execute the project on a short-term notice basis through pre-empanelled companies. The selection and allocation of the service provider agency, which will handle software development and other processes, has already begun. The goal is to complete this project within 90 days after the determination and allocation of the agency.

It is worth mentioning that the 360-degree virtual museum tours are designed to offer an immersive experience, allowing users to navigate through the museums halls and galleries using panoramic images. This initiative is expected to enhance accessibility and provide a unique way to explore the rich cultural heritage of Uttar Pradesh from the comfort of ones own place.

The upcoming virtual tour of the State Museum in Lucknow will feature cutting-edge panoramic and 360-degree capture technology, playing a crucial role in delivering an engaging visitor experience. This initiative will allow users to click or tap on any historical artifact to access detailed information, zoom in for a closer view, and sometimes even enjoy additional multimedia content such as description boxes.

The 360-degree virtual museum tour is designed to offer an interactive and visually captivating way for visitors to explore the State Museum from the convenience of their computer or mobile device. This technology will enable seamless navigation through various exhibits, providing an immersive experience akin to a physical visit to the museum.

The project aims to provide a dynamic and engaging virtual experience, allowing people from around the world to explore the museums galleries, exhibitions and historical artifacts from the comfort of their homes.

Notably, this project will provide an accessible and educational platform for diverse audiences to connect with art, history and culture. It will also promote the museums online presence and global reach through a user-friendly interface that caters to a wide range of visitors.

Moreover, the virtual tour software will utilise panoramic images and videos, incorporating features such as floor plans, hotspots, and multimedia integration. High-resolution 360-degree photography and videography will ensure users can explore the museum from various angles, providing an immersive experience.

Key aspects of the user-friendly interface will include click-and-drag navigation and artifact information points, offering detailed descriptions, historical context, and multimedia content such as video or audio clips. The virtual tour will be accessible across multiple devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, allowing users to virtually roam and view the museum with ease.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on, Wednesday, said that a troubling global scenario was being witnessed today, where Indias neighborhood was in turmoil, temples were being destroyed, and Hindus were being selectively targeted

He called for unity to fight the threat against Sanatan Dharma.

Today, all the neighbours of India are burning. Temples are being demolished. Hindus are being selectively targeted and even then, we are not trying to find those layers of history as to why such an unfortunate situation has arisen there, the chief minister said.

Referring to the violence in Bangladesh following Sheikh Hasinas resignation after a month-long anti-government protest, Yogi Adityanath said, We should remember that if a society does not learn from the mistakes of history, its bright future is also eclipsed. There is a need to work together again to deal with the threat to Sanatan Dharma. There is a need to fight together for this,

Referring to the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya after 500 years of wait, he said it was not just a destination but a milestone.

This milestone has to be continued further because the strength of Sanatan Dharma gives a new momentum to all these campaigns, he said.

We have to establish a society free from casteism, untouchability and discrimination for which Lord Shri Ram dedicated his entire life, the chief minister added.

On the second day of his Ayodhya visit, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid tribute to the first Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra president Brahmalin Paramhans Ramchandra Das on his 21st death anniversary. He also unveiled a statue of Paramhans Ramchandra Das.

Earlier, Adityanath paid floral tribute at the memorial 0f Paramhans Ramchandra Das. Several devotees also joined him in paying homage to Brahmalin Paramhans Ramchandra Das, who was a prominent leader of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Yogi Adityanath reached the memorial at Saryu Ghat/Ramkatha Park and paid his respects.

The chief minister said that since the 1940s, Gorakshapeeth Gorakhpur and Digambar Akhara Ayodhya had worked in harmony. From a young age, Ramchandra Das Maharaj had a deep connection with Gorakshapeeth. The Ram Janmabhoomi movement progressed under the guidance of the then Gorakshapeethadhiswar, Mahant Digvijaynath, he pointed out.

Following the manifestation of Ram Lalla in 1949, Gorakshapeeth and revered saint Paramhans Ramchandra Das Ji Maharaj jointly fought against the then governments attempts to remove the statue, taking their battle to the streets and the courts. This tireless effort culminated in a 500-year wait, with Ram Lalla being enthroned in Ayodhya, he stated.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the significant efforts made in Ayodhya, which have elevated the pride of its saints and enhanced the citys recognition. He emphasised the need to uphold this respect and ensure that these efforts continue to be fruitful, securing long-term respect for Ayodhya.

The double-engine government is playing a crucial role in this process. On the one hand, the construction of the Ram temple in the Ram Janmabhoomi complex is progressing, with the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust turning public sentiment into reality through public support.

On the other hand, Ayodhya is being transformed externally, with notable improvements such as establishment of an international airport, enhanced connectivity, and upgraded railway facilities. The city also sees beautification efforts around Ram Ki Paudi and various temples.

The chief minister stated that the goal is to create a society free from casteism and untouchability, a vision that Lord Shri Ram dedicated his life to. New traveller rest houses in Ayodhya are named after Nishad Raj, and an international airport is named after Maharishi Valmiki, The kitchen set up for passengers at the bhandara is named after Mata Shabari..

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Uttar Pradesh minister Surya Pratap Shahi, and Mahant Suresh Das.

Yogi Adityanath also visited Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra chief Nritya Gopal Das Maharaj and enquired about his well-being.
Representatives of the Nishad community met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Ayodhya on Wednesday morning and expressed their satisfaction with the actions taken by his government in the gang-rape case of Bhadarsa town.

During the 15-minute meeting, the chief minister assured the community that the perpetrators of the heinous crime against the girl would receive the strictest possible punishment, with no leniency.

The Nishad community representatives expressed their support for the measures being taken against the accused Samajwadi Party leader.

In the Bhadarsa town gang-rape case involving a minor, SP leader Moid Khan, a close aide of Faizabad MP Awadhesh Prasad, and his servant Raju have been arrested by the police.

It is worth noting that during the recent monsoon session of the UP assembly, Yogi Adityanath had condemned the incident and promised that the perpetrators would face justice. He also criticised the Samajwadi Party for being lenient towards the accused. The chief minister met the victims mother and assured her of stringent action against those responsible.

Following the chief ministers instructions, a member of the State Child Protection Commission visited the victim and her family to offer support. Additionally, a financial aid of Rs 5 lakh was provided by the chief minister to assist the victims family. The Bharatiya Janata Partys representative board also met the victims family and assured them of firm action against the culprits by the Yogi government.

In light of the seriousness of the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the suspension of Purakalandar police station in-charge Ratan Sharma and Bhadarsa outpost in-charge Akhilesh Gupta. An investigation into the properties of the main accused, SP leader Moid Khan, was also initiated. The Revenue Department has since identified about half a dozen illegal properties belonging to Khan.

Additionally, the Yogi government has taken action against illegal construction at Khans bakery, with a bulldozer demolishing the unauthorised structures. It is anticipated that further demolition of Khans other properties may follow. Moreover, a case has been registered against three individuals, including the chairman of Bhadarsha Nagar Panchayat, for threatening the victim and her family.

The representatives of the Nishad community who came to thank the chief minister for the assistance provided to the gang-rape victim and her family included Mahant Ramsevak Das Nishad, Anju Nishad, Durga Prasad Nishad, Sandeep Nishad, Manjeet Nishad, Asharam Nishad and Vishnu Nishad.

Safety of victim, her family top priority: CM

Ayodhya (PNS): Following the meeting with the Nishad community delegation in Ayodhya, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasised that the safety of the victim and her family is the governments top priority.

On social media platform X, Yogi stated, Today, a social delegation met with us in Shri Ayodhya Dham regarding the minor victim from the Bhadarsa area. Rest assured, we are committed to ensuring justice for the victim in every circumstance. The safety of the victim and her family remains our highest priority. Our government stands with the victims family with utmost dedication and sensitivity. The strictest action will be taken against the culprits of this incident, which has brought shame to humanity.
Making several announcements for the benefit of women and daughters of the State, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday said that under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, beneficiary families in the State will now receive gas cylinders for Rs 500. This initiative will benefit approximately 46 lakh families with an annual income of less than Rs 1.80 lakh. Additionally, as part of the Mukhyamantri Dugdh Uphaar Yojana, fortified milk will be provided to schoolgirls aged 14 to 18 for 150 days to combat malnutrition. This program is expected to support around 2.65 lakh adolescent girls, he added.



Addressing the women at a state-level event on Hariyali Teej in Jind, the Chief Minister also announced an increase in the loan amount for self-employment under the Haryana Matrishakti Udyamita Yojana from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Furthermore, the revolving fund provided to self-help groups (SHGs) for daily needs will be raised from Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000. In addition, the monthly honorarium for Group Sakhi will be increased from Rs 150 to Rs 500.



While highlighting the special significance of the day, Saini said that it is the holy month of Sawan, Jind is the historic city of Mata Jayanti Devi, and today is Teeja festival celebrating women, daughters, and sisters. He extended warm greetings and best wishes to everyone in the state for Teej, a festival symbolizing greenery and prosperity.



Saini said that it is a centuries-old tradition for brothers to give a Kothli to their sisters during the Teej festival. Sisters eagerly await their brothers' visits to their homes, expressing joy at their arrival and wishing for their continued prosperity. Today, your brother has come to present Kothli and seek your blessings. The Chief Minister also distributed Kothli to approximately 30,000 women.



He also provided interest-free loans totaling Rs 100 crore during the ceremony to empower women in self-help groups. He outlined a goal of providing Rs 490 crore in loans to these groups within the financial year. Additionally, the Chief Minister recognized 66 womens self-help groups from the state, highlighting their growing role as a source of pride and strength for Haryana. He also awarded Rs 38.5 lakh to the top three self-help groups in each district, aiming to inspire greater dedication and hard work among other groups.



The Chief Minister said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the launch of the Lakhpati Didi Yojana during the Independence Day 2023 celebrations. He praised the remarkable enthusiasm shown by women eager to step out of traditional roles and become Lakhpati Didis. The Haryana government aims to make 2 lakh sisters and daughters Lakhpati Didis through various training programs, with an initial target of 62,000 in the first phase.



He also highlighted that on January 22, 2015, the Prime Minister launched the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign from Panipat. With these efforts, the sex ratio in Haryana has improved from 871 to 941. As part of the second phase of this campaign, the Chief Minister flagged off a mobile van today. The Chief Minister urged women to take part in the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, which was launched by Prime Minister Modi on World Environment Day, June 5. He encouraged everyone to make a pledge on Hariyali Teej to plant at least one sapling.



Referring to the various welfare schemes being implemented by both Central and State Governments for the benefit of women and daughters, Saini said that the present government is fully committed to their upliftment. He said that Prime Minister Modi is deeply concerned about women and daughters and that the double engine government is dedicated to their empowerment. He called on the female population, which has significantly contributed to the nations development, to support the governments efforts.



During the event, the Chief Minister awarded the Best Self-Help Group (SHG) and honoured high-achieving girl students from the 10th and 12th grades. He also distributed cheques to the beneficiaries of Haryana Mahila Vikas Nigam. The Chief Minister highlighted that this Teej festival would serve as a symbol of womens empowerment. Additionally, he released a book titled Safalta Ki Kahani and visited an exhibition organized by the self-help groups
In a significant move to bolster support for Punjabis and NRIs traveling through New Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced the establishment of a special facilitation centre at Terminal-III. This initiative aimed to streamline the airport experience for the Punjabi community and provide a range of essential services to assist travelers with their various needs.



The facilitation centre, which will operate 24X7, is a product of a recent agreement between the Punjab Government and GMR, the company managing the airports facilities. This strategic partnership is designed to enhance the travel experience for NRIs and other passengers by addressing issues such as connecting flights, taxi services, and lost luggage.



The centre will also be equipped with two Innova cars to help with local transportation, ensuring that travelers can easily move between the airport and locations such as Punjab Bhawan and other nearby sites.



In addition to these services, the centre will provide emergency accommodation at Punjab Bhawan in Delhi, depending on room availability. This aspect of the service underscores the governments commitment to addressing unforeseen challenges that travelers might face. A dedicated helpline number (011-61232182) has also been set up to offer round-the-clock assistance, further ensuring that support is readily available.



The Punjabi diaspora is notably vibrant and well-represented internationally, particularly in Canada, where Punjabis make up about 2.6 percent of the population. The largest communities are found in Ontario  with 3,97,867 Punjabis as of 2021 (making up 2.84 per cent of the overall population); and British Columbia  home to 6.41 per cent of the overall population, reflecting the strong global presence and significant contribution of Punjabis to international communities.



Around 85 per cent of South Asians in British Columbia are Punjabi Sikhs, including former premier of British Columbia, Ujjal Dosanjh and leader of the federal New Democratic Party (NDP), MP for Burnaby South, Jagmeet Singh.


Muhammad Yunus on Thursday promised to deliver a government which assures safety to its citizens and urged them to assist him in rebuilding Bangladesh, as the Nobel laureate returned to the protest-torn country from Paris to head an interim government following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.

Yunus, 84, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work on microlending, was designated head of the interim government after President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved parliament on Tuesday after Hasina resigned as Prime Minister and fled to India following widespread protests against her regime.

Yunus was in Paris for the Olympic Games. He returned to the country via Dubai. An Emirates flight (EK-582) carrying Yunus landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2:10 pm local time.

Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, senior officials, student leaders and civil society members welcomed him at the airport.

At an emotional press conference at the airport, Yunus expressed gratitude to the youth who made the protest movement against Hasina successful.

Today is a day of our pride, he said.

Yunus called the change of regime the country's second independence.

"We have got independence for the second time. We have to protect this independence," he said.

Yunus, who is scheduled to be sworn in as the chief adviser who is equivalent to prime minister, said his first task would be to bring back law and order controlling the anarchic activities and attacks on minority communities, calling the incidents part of a conspiracy.

He urged people from all walks of life to listen to him and he agreed to take charge of the interim administration responding to the call of the students and youths.

"We have to form a government which assures safety to its citizens," he said.

He asked the citizens to save the country from chaos created during the protests.

If you have faith in me, you ensure that there will be no attack on anybody, anywhere in the country. This is our first responsibility, Yunus said.

If I can't do it and you do not listen to me, I don't have any utility here, he said.

Yunus said the country was now in the hands of the young people.

"The nation is in your hands now. Now you have to rebuild it as per your aspirations. You have to use your creativity to build the country. You have earned independence for the country," he said.

We need to change our state structure and remove all elements of fear from it, so that people look at it and think that the state has been formed to safeguard them," Yunus added.

He also paid tribute to Abu Sayed, a student activist, who was among the first killed in police firing during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

The interim government will lead the country for a certain period and oversee the election to transition power to an elected government.

President Shahabuddin will administer the oath of office to the new government on Thursday evening.

The Army chief on Wednesday said the oath-taking ceremony will likely be held in the evening in the presence of some 400 dignitaries.

He hinted that the interim government may have 15 members for now. He, however, did not disclose their names and the possible tenure of the government.

The Army chief hoped that normalcy would return within three to four days as the situation across the country is improving significantly.

Yunus, whose name was first proposed for the top job by the coordinators of the student movement that led to Hasina's ouster, on Wednesday congratulated the "brave students" who took the lead in making, what he said, "our Second Victory Day possible", and appealed to all students, political parties and non-political people to stay calm.

"Let us not miss the chance by going into any senseless violence. Violence is our enemy. Please don't create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country," he said in a statement. "If we take the path of violence everything will be destroyed. Please stay calm. Help those around you to stay calm."

His successful anti-poverty campaign through the Grameen Bank became a model which was replicated across continents.

He had been in a protracted row with Hasina's government due to obscure reasons while authorities initiated a series of investigations against him after she came to power in 2008. Bangladesh authorities launched a review of the statutory Grameen Bank's activities in 2011 and fired Yunus as its founding managing director on charges of violating the government retirement regulation.

Yunus was charged under dozens of cases during Hasina's regime. In January, a court sentenced Yunus to six months in jail on charges of labour law violation. Many people believe Hasina became enraged when Yunus announced that he would form a political party in 2007 when a military-backed government ran the country and Hasina was in prison.
Amrit Lal Meena, the BJP MLA from Salumbar in Rajasthan's Udaipur division, has died of a cardiac arrest. He was 65.

Meena was taken to MB Government Hospital in Udaipur after complaining of chest pain on Wednesday. He died during the night, party sources said on Thursday.

Floral tributes will be paid to the lawmaker in Salumbar district headquarters before a funeral in his ancestral village.

Meena was a tribal leader and a three-time MLA. He was first elected to the House in 2013.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and other party leaders expressed their condolences on Meena's passing.

"The death of Amrit Lal Meena is an irreparable loss for the BJP family," Sharma said.

Raje said Meena raised the voice of the tribal community and his death was an irreparable loss for the party.
American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (NYSE:AHR  Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the eight brokerages that are covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $16.25.

AHR has been the topic of several research reports. Truist Financial reissued a buy rating and issued a $17.00 price objective (up from $16.00) on shares of American Healthcare REIT in a research report on Monday, July 1st. JMP Securities raised their target price on American Healthcare REIT from $16.00 to $18.00 and gave the company a market outperform rating in a report on Wednesday.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on AHR

American Healthcare REIT Stock Performance

NYSE AHR opened at $16.43 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.33. American Healthcare REIT has a one year low of $12.63 and a one year high of $17.05. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $15.46.

American Healthcare REIT (NYSE:AHR  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 5th. The company reported $0.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.29 by ($0.28). The business had revenue of $504.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $506.55 million. American Healthcare REIT had a negative return on equity of 3.26% and a negative net margin of 2.77%. American Healthcare REITs quarterly revenue was up 7.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that American Healthcare REIT will post 1.2 earnings per share for the current year.

American Healthcare REIT Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 19th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 27th were given a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.09%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 27th.

Insider Transactions at American Healthcare REIT

In other news, CEO Danny Prosky acquired 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 22nd. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $14.20 per share, with a total value of $355,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 108,333 shares in the company, valued at $1,538,328.60. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Healthcare REIT

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Peak Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of American Healthcare REIT in the 1st quarter worth about $416,000. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. acquired a new position in American Healthcare REIT in the first quarter valued at approximately $7,694,000. Seven Grand Managers LLC acquired a new position in American Healthcare REIT in the first quarter valued at approximately $1,032,000. Peregrine Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of American Healthcare REIT during the first quarter valued at approximately $7,763,000. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of American Healthcare REIT during the 1st quarter worth approximately $88,504,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.68% of the companys stock.

About American Healthcare REIT

(Get Free Report

Formed by the successful merger of Griffin-American Healthcare REIT III and Griffin-American Healthcare REIT IV, as well as the acquisition of the business and operations of American Healthcare Investors, American Healthcare REIT is one of the larger healthcare-focused real estate investment trusts globally with assets totaling approximately $4.2 billion in gross investment value.

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American Healthcare REIT (NYSE:AHR  Get Free Report) had its price target increased by analysts at Bank of America from $16.00 to $19.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the stock. Bank of Americas price target suggests a potential upside of 15.50% from the companys previous close.

Other analysts have also issued reports about the company. JMP Securities boosted their price objective on American Healthcare REIT from $16.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a report on Wednesday. Truist Financial reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $17.00 target price (up from $16.00) on shares of American Healthcare REIT in a report on Monday, July 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $16.75.

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American Healthcare REIT Stock Performance

AHR traded up $0.02 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $16.45. 849,501 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,058,972. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.33. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $15.46. American Healthcare REIT has a one year low of $12.63 and a one year high of $17.05.

American Healthcare REIT (NYSE:AHR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 5th. The company reported $0.01 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.29 by ($0.28). The company had revenue of $504.60 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $506.55 million. American Healthcare REIT had a negative return on equity of 3.26% and a negative net margin of 2.77%. American Healthcare REITs quarterly revenue was up 7.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that American Healthcare REIT will post 1.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at American Healthcare REIT

In other American Healthcare REIT news, CEO Danny Prosky acquired 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 22nd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $14.20 per share, with a total value of $355,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 108,333 shares in the company, valued at $1,538,328.60. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D bought a new position in American Healthcare REIT in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,227,000. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. boosted its holdings in American Healthcare REIT by 12.9% in the 2nd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 272,513 shares of the companys stock worth $3,981,000 after buying an additional 31,052 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System bought a new position in American Healthcare REIT in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $267,000. Rhumbline Advisers bought a new position in American Healthcare REIT in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,503,000. Finally, Chilton Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in American Healthcare REIT by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC now owns 519,321 shares of the companys stock worth $7,698,000 after buying an additional 3,840 shares during the period. 16.68% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

American Healthcare REIT Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Formed by the successful merger of Griffin-American Healthcare REIT III and Griffin-American Healthcare REIT IV, as well as the acquisition of the business and operations of American Healthcare Investors, American Healthcare REIT is one of the larger healthcare-focused real estate investment trusts globally with assets totaling approximately $4.2 billion in gross investment value.

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BellRing Brands, Inc. (NYSE:BRBR  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the fourteen ratings firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $62.64.

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on BellRing Brands from $63.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 8th. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on BellRing Brands from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, May 8th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and issued a $66.00 price objective on shares of BellRing Brands in a report on Tuesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on BellRing Brands from $67.00 to $65.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on BellRing Brands from $62.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, May 9th.

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Insider Buying and Selling at BellRing Brands

Institutional Trading of BellRing Brands

In other BellRing Brands news, Chairman Robert V. Vitale sold 15,000 shares of BellRing Brands stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.15, for a total transaction of $902,250.00. Following the sale, the chairman now directly owns 215,054 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,935,498.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Insiders own 0.80% of the companys stock.

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of BellRing Brands during the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Rise Advisors LLC purchased a new position in BellRing Brands in the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Parallel Advisors LLC raised its holdings in BellRing Brands by 153.6% in the 4th quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 596 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 361 shares during the last quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in BellRing Brands in the 1st quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Global Wealth Management Investment Advisory Inc. purchased a new position in BellRing Brands in the 4th quarter worth approximately $44,000. 94.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

BellRing Brands Stock Performance

Shares of BRBR stock opened at $53.88 on Thursday. BellRing Brands has a 52-week low of $36.14 and a 52-week high of $62.76. The company has a market capitalization of $7.03 billion, a PE ratio of 37.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.84. The businesss fifty day moving average is $55.11 and its 200 day moving average is $56.72.

BellRing Brands (NYSE:BRBR  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 5th. The company reported $0.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.44 by $0.10. BellRing Brands had a negative return on equity of 70.95% and a net margin of 10.39%. The business had revenue of $515.40 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $504.73 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.34 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 15.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that BellRing Brands will post 1.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

BellRing Brands Company Profile

(Get Free Report

BellRing Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides various nutrition products in the United States. The company offers ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes, other RTD beverages, powders, nutrition bars, and other products primarily under the Premier Protein and Dymatize brands. It distributes its products through club, food, drug, mass, eCommerce, specialty, and convenience channels.

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CGN Advisors LLC lessened its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 74.9% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 10,200 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 30,495 shares during the quarter. CGN Advisors LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $424,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Foundation Resource Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the second quarter valued at $6,528,000. First Affirmative Financial Network increased its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 17.6% during the second quarter. First Affirmative Financial Network now owns 5,548 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $230,000 after purchasing an additional 830 shares in the last quarter. Keystone Financial Planning Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. Keystone Financial Planning Inc. now owns 135,826 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $5,641,000 after purchasing an additional 1,899 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC boosted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 4.5% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 542,687 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $22,538,000 after purchasing an additional 23,224 shares during the period. Finally, CVA Family Office LLC grew its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 18.2% during the 2nd quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 7,993 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $332,000 after buying an additional 1,229 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.41% of the companys stock.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BMY traded up $0.35 during trading on Thursday, hitting $46.85. 15,212,928 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 15,980,182. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.86, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 0.99. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1 year low of $39.35 and a 1 year high of $63.41. The company has a market cap of $94.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -15.09, a PEG ratio of 12.51 and a beta of 0.44. The firms fifty day moving average price is $42.78 and its 200 day moving average price is $46.67.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement

Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 26th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.07 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.64 by $0.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a negative net margin of 14.06% and a positive return on equity of 12.51%. The firm had revenue of $12.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.54 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.75 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 0.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 1st. Investors of record on Friday, July 5th were issued a dividend of $0.60 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 5th. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.12%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is presently -77.42%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on BMY. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a neutral rating and issued a $45.00 price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Monday, July 22nd. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $55.00 to $48.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Barclays cut shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $41.00 target price for the company. in a report on Monday, July 29th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $51.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, April 18th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $55.79.

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About Bristol-Myers Squibb

(Free Report)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

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Cwm LLC lifted its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 13.2% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 265,130 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 30,923 shares during the quarter. Cwm LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $12,077,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Albion Financial Group UT raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 49.1% in the 1st quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 2,767 shares of the companys stock worth $121,000 after buying an additional 911 shares in the last quarter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 15.6% in the 4th quarter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 40,074 shares of the companys stock worth $1,617,000 after buying an additional 5,418 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB increased its holdings in Altria Group by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 1,027,886 shares of the companys stock valued at $44,960,000 after purchasing an additional 16,541 shares in the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Altria Group by 24.2% during the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 57,111 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,304,000 after purchasing an additional 11,111 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atomi Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in Altria Group by 7.2% during the 1st quarter. Atomi Financial Group Inc. now owns 5,953 shares of the companys stock valued at $260,000 after purchasing an additional 399 shares in the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently weighed in on MO. Bank of America raised their price target on Altria Group from $47.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. StockNews.com raised Altria Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, June 28th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on Altria Group from $50.00 to $54.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Finally, Argus raised Altria Group to a hold rating in a report on Friday, May 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $47.90.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of MO traded up $0.51 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $50.54. The stock had a trading volume of 1,933,088 shares, compared to its average volume of 10,690,271. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $47.33 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $44.19. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $39.06 and a twelve month high of $51.40. The firm has a market cap of $86.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.66.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The company reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.35 by ($0.04). Altria Group had a net margin of 42.25% and a negative return on equity of 232.55%. The firm had revenue of $6.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.39 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.31 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.11 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 10th. Investors of record on Friday, June 14th were given a $0.98 dividend. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.76%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 14th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 82.01%.

Altria Group Profile

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand.

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Cwm LLC raised its position in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Free Report) by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 27,909 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 288 shares during the period. Cwm LLCs holdings in Aflac were worth $2,493,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of AFL. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Aflac during the 4th quarter worth approximately $197,820,000. Swedbank AB purchased a new stake in shares of Aflac during the 1st quarter worth approximately $27,588,000. Schroder Investment Management Group raised its holdings in shares of Aflac by 196.5% during the 4th quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 484,176 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $39,945,000 after acquiring an additional 320,867 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its holdings in shares of Aflac by 161.0% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 311,239 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $26,723,000 after acquiring an additional 191,975 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Richard C. Young & CO. LTD. purchased a new stake in shares of Aflac during the 4th quarter worth approximately $12,546,000. 67.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Aflac Stock Up 1.0 %

Aflac stock traded up $0.95 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $100.24. The companys stock had a trading volume of 344,550 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,235,010. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $91.44 and its 200-day simple moving average is $86.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.10 and a quick ratio of 0.08. Aflac Incorporated has a 52-week low of $72.78 and a 52-week high of $104.90. The stock has a market capitalization of $56.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.06, a PEG ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.95.

Aflac Announces Dividend

Aflac ( NYSE:AFL Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 31st. The financial services provider reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.60 by $0.23. The business had revenue of $5.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.10 billion. Aflac had a return on equity of 16.22% and a net margin of 28.35%. The companys revenue was down .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.58 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.48 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 2nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 21st. Aflacs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.08%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Charles D. Lake II sold 22,378 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.47, for a total transaction of $1,957,403.66. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 61,522 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,381,329.34. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.90% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on AFL shares. Bank of America boosted their target price on Aflac from $105.00 to $108.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Aflac from $80.00 to $84.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, April 15th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Aflac from $81.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, May 10th. StockNews.com upgraded Aflac from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, May 3rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Aflac from $84.00 to $83.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Friday, June 28th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $88.08.

View Our Latest Research Report on Aflac

Aflac Company Profile

(Free Report)

Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides supplemental health and life insurance products. The company operates through Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. segments. The Aflac Japan segment offers cancer, medical, nursing care, work leave, GIFT, and whole and term life insurance products, as well as WAYS and child endowment plans under saving type insurance products in Japan.

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ECN Capital (TSE:ECN  Get Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by investment analysts at National Bankshares from C$2.25 to C$2.50 in a report released on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports. National Bankshares price target suggests a potential upside of 13.64% from the companys previous close.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. TD Securities cut their price target on shares of ECN Capital from C$2.75 to C$2.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 3rd. CIBC upped their target price on ECN Capital from C$1.90 to C$2.00 in a report on Friday, May 10th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$2.42.

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ECN Capital Stock Up 6.3 %

Insider Buying and Selling

TSE:ECN traded up C$0.13 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting C$2.20. 258,730 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 372,707. ECN Capital has a one year low of C$1.60 and a one year high of C$3.10. The company has a quick ratio of 3.81, a current ratio of 11.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 447.65. The company has a market cap of C$618.46 million, a PE ratio of -3.67, a PEG ratio of 0.24 and a beta of 1.25. The firms 50-day simple moving average is C$1.83 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$2.09.

In other ECN Capital news, Director Karen Lynne Martin bought 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 17th. The shares were acquired at an average price of C$1.88 per share, with a total value of C$46,887.50. 18.43% of the stock is owned by insiders.

ECN Capital Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

ECN Capital Corp. originates, manages, and advises on credit assets on behalf of its partners in North America. It operates in two segments, Manufactured Housing Finance; and Recreational Vehicle and Marine Finance. The company offers consumer loans, including manufactured housing, recreational vehicle, and marine loans; and commercial loans, such as inventory finance or floorplan loans.

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EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG  Get Free Report) had its price objective dropped by investment analysts at UBS Group from $169.00 to $166.00 in a report issued on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the energy exploration companys stock. UBS Groups price objective would suggest a potential upside of 32.01% from the stocks current price.

EOG has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $147.00 price objective on shares of EOG Resources in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $132.00 to $133.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, April 15th. KeyCorp began coverage on shares of EOG Resources in a research note on Thursday, June 27th. They set an overweight rating and a $157.00 price objective for the company. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $124.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, May 24th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on EOG Resources from $153.00 to $150.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 23rd. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, EOG Resources presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $144.45.

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Read Our Latest Report on EOG Resources

EOG Resources Stock Up 2.1 %

Shares of EOG stock traded up $2.63 on Thursday, hitting $125.75. The stock had a trading volume of 471,728 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,194,569. EOG Resources has a one year low of $108.94 and a one year high of $139.67. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $124.52 and a 200 day moving average price of $123.95. The company has a market cap of $72.27 billion, a PE ratio of 9.93, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a quick ratio of 2.05, a current ratio of 2.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13.

EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 1st. The energy exploration company reported $3.16 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.98 by $0.18. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.07 billion. EOG Resources had a net margin of 30.33% and a return on equity of 25.65%. EOG Resourcess revenue for the quarter was up 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.49 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that EOG Resources will post 12.13 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at EOG Resources

In related news, EVP Michael P. Donaldson sold 2,685 shares of EOG Resources stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.29, for a total transaction of $349,828.65. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 109,040 shares in the company, valued at $14,206,821.60. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Michael P. Donaldson sold 2,685 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.29, for a total transaction of $349,828.65. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 109,040 shares in the company, valued at $14,206,821.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Ezra Y. Yacob sold 4,729 shares of EOG Resources stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.31, for a total transaction of $611,506.99. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 150,474 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,457,792.94. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 15,216 shares of company stock worth $1,976,142 over the last three months. Company insiders own 0.30% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of EOG Resources

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Wright Investors Service Inc. boosted its stake in EOG Resources by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. Wright Investors Service Inc. now owns 10,163 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,299,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. CVA Family Office LLC raised its holdings in EOG Resources by 11.0% in the 2nd quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 820 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $103,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Bailard Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 19,899 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $2,505,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Field & Main Bank grew its position in shares of EOG Resources by 1.4% in the first quarter. Field & Main Bank now owns 6,163 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $788,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Finally, PDS Planning Inc lifted its holdings in EOG Resources by 4.1% in the first quarter. PDS Planning Inc now owns 2,152 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $275,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.91% of the companys stock.

About EOG Resources

(Get Free Report)

EOG Resources, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, explores for, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas primarily in producing basins in the United States, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and internationally. The company was formerly known as Enron Oil & Gas Company.

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New Gold Inc. (NYSE:NGD  Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the seven analysts that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, two have assigned a buy recommendation and two have assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $2.18.

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. National Bank Financial raised shares of New Gold from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 17th. Scotiabank upgraded New Gold from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and raised their price target for the stock from $2.00 to $2.25 in a research report on Tuesday, May 21st. TD Securities upgraded New Gold from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, May 21st. CIBC increased their target price on New Gold from $3.00 to $3.40 and gave the stock an outperformer rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 10th. Finally, Cibc World Mkts raised New Gold to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th.

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New Gold Trading Down 4.7 %

NYSE NGD opened at $2.05 on Thursday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $2.11. The company has a current ratio of 1.50, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The stock has a market cap of $1.62 billion, a PE ratio of -20.50 and a beta of 1.32. New Gold has a twelve month low of $0.86 and a twelve month high of $2.46.

New Gold (NYSE:NGD  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The company reported $0.02 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.01 by $0.01. New Gold had a negative net margin of 2.53% and a positive return on equity of 5.22%. The company had revenue of $218.20 million for the quarter. Research analysts predict that New Gold will post 0.14 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On New Gold

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. acquired a new position in shares of New Gold during the first quarter worth about $30,000. Moloney Securities Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in New Gold during the 1st quarter worth approximately $42,000. Morton Capital Management LLC CA increased its position in shares of New Gold by 23.3% in the 2nd quarter. Morton Capital Management LLC CA now owns 26,494 shares of the companys stock valued at $52,000 after purchasing an additional 5,000 shares during the last quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise purchased a new stake in shares of New Gold in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $87,000. Finally, Independent Family Office LLC acquired a new stake in shares of New Gold in the 4th quarter valued at $123,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 42.82% of the companys stock.

About New Gold

(Get Free Report

New Gold Inc, an intermediate gold mining company, develops and operates of mineral properties in Canada. It primarily explores for gold, silver, and copper deposits. The company's principal operating properties include 100% interest in the Rainy River mine located in Northwestern Ontario, Canada; and New Afton project situated in South-Central British Columbia.

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Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (NYSE:OHI  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the twelve brokerages that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $33.67.

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on OHI shares. Mizuho downgraded Omega Healthcare Investors from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and upped their price target for the stock from $34.00 to $35.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. Scotiabank upped their price target on Omega Healthcare Investors from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 9th. Truist Financial upped their target price on Omega Healthcare Investors from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 26th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Omega Healthcare Investors to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, June 14th. Finally, JMP Securities reissued a market perform rating on shares of Omega Healthcare Investors in a research report on Monday, May 6th.

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Institutional Trading of Omega Healthcare Investors

Omega Healthcare Investors Stock Performance

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Omega Healthcare Investors by 8.6% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 91,362 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,129,000 after buying an additional 7,239 shares during the last quarter. AGF Management Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Omega Healthcare Investors by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter. AGF Management Ltd. now owns 75,150 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,574,000 after buying an additional 2,331 shares during the last quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in Omega Healthcare Investors by 3.0% in the 2nd quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 61,255 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,098,000 after purchasing an additional 1,793 shares during the last quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its holdings in Omega Healthcare Investors by 1,030.8% in the 2nd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 945,523 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $32,384,000 after purchasing an additional 861,907 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Texas Permanent School Fund Corp increased its holdings in Omega Healthcare Investors by 14.1% in the 2nd quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 245,029 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $8,392,000 after purchasing an additional 30,361 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.25% of the companys stock.

Shares of NYSE:OHI opened at $37.28 on Thursday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $34.14 and a 200 day moving average of $31.90. The company has a quick ratio of 6.68, a current ratio of 6.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36. Omega Healthcare Investors has a 52 week low of $27.53 and a 52 week high of $38.85. The company has a market capitalization of $9.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 0.97.

Omega Healthcare Investors (NYSE:OHI  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The real estate investment trust reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.65 by ($0.20). The business had revenue of $252.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $205.92 million. Omega Healthcare Investors had a return on equity of 8.68% and a net margin of 33.52%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 17.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.74 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Omega Healthcare Investors will post 2.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Omega Healthcare Investors Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.67 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 5th. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.19%. Omega Healthcare Investorss dividend payout ratio is currently 241.44%.

Omega Healthcare Investors Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Omega is a REIT that invests in the long-term healthcare industry, primarily in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. Its portfolio of assets is operated by a diverse group of healthcare companies, predominantly in a triple-net lease structure. The assets span all regions within the U.S., as well as in the U.K.

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Shares of Polaris Inc. (NYSE:PII  Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of Hold from the eleven research firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $89.18.

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on PII shares. KeyCorp lowered their price objective on Polaris from $105.00 to $90.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on shares of Polaris from $90.00 to $75.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 24th. StockNews.com cut shares of Polaris from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Tuesday. Roth Mkm lowered their target price on shares of Polaris from $92.00 to $79.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. Finally, Truist Financial cut their price target on Polaris from $92.00 to $82.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 8th.

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Polaris Stock Down 1.0 %

PII opened at $78.66 on Thursday. Polaris has a 1-year low of $71.90 and a 1-year high of $127.50. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $79.12 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $86.28. The company has a current ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.56. The company has a market capitalization of $4.45 billion, a PE ratio of 11.53, a PEG ratio of 7.01 and a beta of 1.53.

Polaris (NYSE:PII  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd. The company reported $1.38 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.27 by ($0.89). Polaris had a return on equity of 26.38% and a net margin of 3.98%. The company had revenue of $1.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.18 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.42 earnings per share. Polariss revenue for the quarter was down 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Polaris will post 3.79 EPS for the current year.

Polaris Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.66 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 3rd. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.36%. Polariss payout ratio is 38.71%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Polaris

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of PII. Capital World Investors lifted its holdings in shares of Polaris by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 6,757,911 shares of the companys stock valued at $640,447,000 after acquiring an additional 160,918 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Polaris by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 5,902,162 shares of the companys stock worth $590,924,000 after purchasing an additional 94,680 shares during the period. Confluence Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Polaris during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $108,890,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in shares of Polaris by 10.8% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 851,098 shares of the companys stock valued at $80,663,000 after purchasing an additional 82,779 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James & Associates raised its holdings in Polaris by 6.8% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 405,105 shares of the companys stock valued at $40,559,000 after buying an additional 25,685 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 88.06% of the companys stock.

About Polaris

(Get Free Report

Polaris Inc designs, engineers, manufactures, and markets powersports vehicles in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Off-Road, On-Road, and Marine. The company offers off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles and side-by-side vehicles; military and commercial ORVs; snowmobiles; motorcycles; and moto-roadsters, quadricycles, and boats.

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Louisiana-Pacific (NYSE:LPX  Get Free Report) had its price target raised by equities research analysts at Royal Bank of Canada from $101.00 to $112.00 in a report issued on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the building manufacturing companys stock. Royal Bank of Canadas price target points to a potential upside of 16.91% from the companys previous close.

Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Truist Financial reissued a buy rating and issued a $105.00 price objective (up previously from $101.00) on shares of Louisiana-Pacific in a research note on Thursday. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Louisiana-Pacific from $78.00 to $86.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a report on Thursday. Loop Capital initiated coverage on shares of Louisiana-Pacific in a research note on Friday, May 3rd. They issued a hold rating and a $82.00 price objective on the stock. BMO Capital Markets lowered Louisiana-Pacific from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $99.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Thursday. Finally, TD Securities upped their price objective on shares of Louisiana-Pacific from $87.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, May 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $94.88.

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Louisiana-Pacific Stock Performance

LPX traded up $0.89 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $95.80. The companys stock had a trading volume of 782,613 shares, compared to its average volume of 938,768. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $89.13 and a 200 day simple moving average of $81.03. The company has a current ratio of 3.32, a quick ratio of 1.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.87 billion, a PE ratio of 26.22, a PEG ratio of 13.92 and a beta of 1.89. Louisiana-Pacific has a fifty-two week low of $49.47 and a fifty-two week high of $101.89.

Louisiana-Pacific (NYSE:LPX  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The building manufacturing company reported $2.09 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.86 by $0.23. Louisiana-Pacific had a net margin of 9.74% and a return on equity of 20.87%. The company had revenue of $814.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $797.26 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.55 EPS. Louisiana-Pacifics revenue was up 33.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Louisiana-Pacific will post 5.23 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Louisiana-Pacific

In other news, Director Lizanne C. Gottung sold 3,591 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, June 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.18, for a total transaction of $320,245.38. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 23,501 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,095,819.18. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 1.26% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Louisiana-Pacific

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Qsemble Capital Management LP bought a new stake in Louisiana-Pacific in the 2nd quarter valued at $1,629,000. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in Louisiana-Pacific during the second quarter valued at about $81,000. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. bought a new position in Louisiana-Pacific during the second quarter valued at about $66,000. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp lifted its position in shares of Louisiana-Pacific by 65.6% in the 2nd quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 93,035 shares of the building manufacturing companys stock worth $7,660,000 after acquiring an additional 36,863 shares during the period. Finally, Choreo LLC boosted its stake in Louisiana-Pacific by 15.1% during the second quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 4,030 shares of the building manufacturing companys stock worth $332,000 after buying an additional 530 shares in the last quarter. 94.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Louisiana-Pacific

(Get Free Report)

Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides building solutions primarily for use in new home construction, repair and remodeling, and outdoor structure markets. It operates through Siding, Oriented Strand Board, LP South America, and Other segments. The Siding segment offers LP SmartSide trim and siding products, LP SmartSide ExpertFinish trim and siding products, LP BuilderSeries lap siding products, and LP Outdoor Building Solutions; and engineered wood siding, trim, soffit, and fascia products.

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Shares of Shift4 Payments, Inc. (NYSE:FOUR  Get Free Report) saw an uptick in trading volume on Thursday . 1,116,941 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 18% from the previous sessions volume of 1,359,333 shares.The stock last traded at $69.75 and had previously closed at $63.53.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently weighed in on FOUR. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of Shift4 Payments from $70.00 to $66.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 10th. Benchmark reissued a buy rating and set a $99.00 price target on shares of Shift4 Payments in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. DA Davidson reissued a buy rating and set a $96.00 price target on shares of Shift4 Payments in a research note on Wednesday, May 15th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Shift4 Payments from $100.00 to $75.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 10th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Shift4 Payments from a sell rating to a neutral rating and set a $53.00 target price for the company in a research note on Friday, April 19th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Shift4 Payments has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $84.47.

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Shift4 Payments Price Performance

The companys 50-day moving average price is $69.81 and its 200-day moving average price is $70.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96, a current ratio of 1.70 and a quick ratio of 1.70. The company has a market cap of $6.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.92, a P/E/G ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.63.

Shift4 Payments (NYSE:FOUR  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 9th. The company reported $0.40 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.41 by ($0.01). Shift4 Payments had a return on equity of 25.21% and a net margin of 3.38%. The business had revenue of $263.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $268.55 million. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Shift4 Payments, Inc. will post 3.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Shift4 Payments

In related news, CEO Jared Isaacman bought 85,916 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 14th. The stock was bought at an average price of $67.09 per share, for a total transaction of $5,764,104.44. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 582,827 shares in the company, valued at approximately $39,101,863.43. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Jared Isaacman bought 85,916 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 14th. The stock was bought at an average price of $67.09 per share, for a total transaction of $5,764,104.44. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 582,827 shares in the company, valued at approximately $39,101,863.43. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Nancy Disman sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.34, for a total transaction of $723,400.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 274,954 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,890,172.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 30.57% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Shift4 Payments

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. HMS Capital Management LLC increased its position in Shift4 Payments by 5.4% during the first quarter. HMS Capital Management LLC now owns 3,410 shares of the companys stock worth $225,000 after acquiring an additional 175 shares during the period. Lewis Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Shift4 Payments by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. Lewis Asset Management LLC now owns 5,585 shares of the companys stock valued at $369,000 after buying an additional 175 shares during the period. First Dallas Securities Inc. increased its holdings in Shift4 Payments by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. First Dallas Securities Inc. now owns 11,500 shares of the companys stock valued at $844,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. J.Safra Asset Management Corp increased its holdings in Shift4 Payments by 25.7% in the 2nd quarter. J.Safra Asset Management Corp now owns 988 shares of the companys stock valued at $72,000 after buying an additional 202 shares during the period. Finally, Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in Shift4 Payments by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 6,495 shares of the companys stock valued at $477,000 after buying an additional 210 shares during the period. 98.87% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Shift4 Payments

(Get Free Report)

Shift4 Payments, Inc (NYSE FOUR) provides integrated payment processing and technology solutions in the United States. Its payments platform provides omni-channel card acceptance and processing solutions, including end-to-end payment processing for various payment types; merchant acquiring; proprietary omni-channel gateway; complementary software integrations; integrated and mobile point-of-sale (POS) solutions; security and risk management solutions; and reporting and analytical tools, as well as tokenization, risk management/underwriting, payment device and chargeback management, fraud prevention, and gift card solutions.

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Shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM  Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the nine brokerages that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $61.44.

Several analysts have recently issued reports on UNM shares. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on Unum Group from $63.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 10th. Evercore ISI increased their price target on Unum Group from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a report on Wednesday, June 26th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $50.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, April 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Unum Group from $64.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, Piper Sandler initiated coverage on shares of Unum Group in a report on Thursday, July 11th. They issued an overweight rating and a $57.00 target price on the stock.

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Unum Group Price Performance

Shares of UNM opened at $52.83 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.28. The firm has a market cap of $10.01 billion, a PE ratio of 7.85, a PEG ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 0.81. The firms 50 day moving average price is $52.00 and its 200 day moving average price is $51.21. Unum Group has a twelve month low of $41.75 and a twelve month high of $58.17.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The financial services provider reported $2.16 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.02 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $3.23 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.23 billion. Unum Group had a net margin of 10.40% and a return on equity of 15.55%. Unum Groups revenue for the quarter was up 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.06 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Unum Group will post 8.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group declared that its board has approved a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, July 30th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the financial services provider to buy up to 10% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Unum Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 16th. Investors of record on Friday, July 26th will be paid a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 26th. This is a boost from Unum Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. Unum Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 24.96%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of UNM. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its holdings in Unum Group by 5.2% in the 2nd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 6,100 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $312,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the period. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp boosted its position in shares of Unum Group by 3.6% during the 2nd quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 164,793 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $8,423,000 after acquiring an additional 5,687 shares in the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association increased its stake in Unum Group by 3.9% in the second quarter. United Services Automobile Association now owns 14,257 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $729,000 after acquiring an additional 531 shares during the period. Choreo LLC acquired a new position in Unum Group in the second quarter worth about $346,000. Finally, Quest Partners LLC lifted its stake in Unum Group by 44.9% during the second quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 54,720 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,797,000 after purchasing an additional 16,945 shares during the period. 86.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Unum Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Unum Group, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial protection benefit solutions primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, and internationally. It operates through Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, and Closed Block segment. The company offers group long-term and short-term disability, group life, and accidental death and dismemberment products; supplemental and voluntary products, such as individual disability, voluntary benefits, and dental and vision products; and accident, sickness, disability, life, and cancer and critical illness products.

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NBC Securities Inc. increased its position in shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST  Free Report) by 983.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 14,626 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 13,276 shares during the quarter. NBC Securities Inc.s holdings in Vistra were worth $1,257,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Lindbrook Capital LLC boosted its position in shares of Vistra by 16.8% during the 1st quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 981 shares of the companys stock valued at $68,000 after acquiring an additional 141 shares during the last quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its position in Vistra by 38.6% in the second quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 557 shares of the companys stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 155 shares during the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue lifted its position in Vistra by 0.5% in the first quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 36,465 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,539,000 after buying an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Vistra by 1.1% in the first quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 23,720 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,652,000 after buying an additional 261 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in Vistra by 17.4% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,108 shares of the companys stock valued at $147,000 after buying an additional 312 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.88% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have commented on VST. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Vistra from $79.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, May 10th. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Vistra from $85.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, May 9th. Janney Montgomery Scott started coverage on shares of Vistra in a research note on Thursday, April 18th. They set a buy rating and a $82.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Vistra from $86.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 28th. Finally, Guggenheim upgraded shares of Vistra to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 7th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $87.83.

Insider Buying and Selling at Vistra

In related news, Director Lisa Crutchfield purchased 335 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, June 10th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $89.46 per share, for a total transaction of $29,969.10. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 32,186 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,879,359.56. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.42% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Vistra Stock Up 6.7 %

Shares of VST stock traded up $4.96 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $78.91. 8,163,742 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,796,032. The businesss fifty day moving average is $84.72 and its two-hundred day moving average is $72.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.06, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.96. Vistra Corp. has a 12-month low of $29.19 and a 12-month high of $107.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 48.91 and a beta of 1.05.

Vistra (NYSE:VST  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 9th. The company reported $0.23 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.62 by ($0.39). Vistra had a return on equity of 24.72% and a net margin of 5.66%. The firm had revenue of $3.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.81 billion. As a group, research analysts expect that Vistra Corp. will post 4.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 20th will be paid a $0.2195 dividend. This is a positive change from Vistras previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.11%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 20th. Vistras dividend payout ratio is currently 53.37%.

Vistra Company Profile

(Free Report)

Vistra Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated retail electricity and power generation company. The company operates through six segments: Retail, Texas, East, West, Sunset, and Asset Closure. It retails electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across states in the United States and the District of Columbia.

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Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS  Get Free Report)s stock had its outperform rating reissued by equities research analysts at Wedbush in a report issued on Thursday, Benzinga reports. They presently have a $45.00 price objective on the stock. Wedbushs price target points to a potential upside of 60.66% from the stocks current price.

BROS has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on shares of Dutch Bros from $42.00 to $37.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday. Guggenheim lifted their price objective on shares of Dutch Bros from $30.00 to $36.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, July 11th. TD Cowen reduced their price target on shares of Dutch Bros from $50.00 to $47.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Dutch Bros from $44.00 to $49.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, June 10th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Dutch Bros from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, May 8th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Dutch Bros presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $39.36.

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Dutch Bros Trading Down 25.7 %

Shares of Dutch Bros stock traded down $9.69 during trading on Thursday, hitting $28.01. The stock had a trading volume of 8,787,052 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,530,533. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $39.24 and its 200-day simple moving average is $33.76. The stock has a market cap of $4.96 billion, a PE ratio of 156.06, a PEG ratio of 4.71 and a beta of 2.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 2.29 and a quick ratio of 1.98. Dutch Bros has a 12 month low of $22.67 and a 12 month high of $43.49.

Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 7th. The company reported $0.06 earnings per share for the quarter. Dutch Bros had a net margin of 1.21% and a return on equity of 1.99%. The company had revenue of $275.10 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $255.71 million. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Dutch Bros will post 0.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, major shareholder Dm Trust Aggregator, Llc sold 27,135 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.02, for a total transaction of $977,402.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 2,116,783 shares in the company, valued at approximately $76,246,523.66. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Dutch Bros news, Chairman Travis Boersma sold 54,359 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.02, for a total transaction of $1,958,011.18. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 1,281,743 shares in the company, valued at approximately $46,168,382.86. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Dm Trust Aggregator, Llc sold 27,135 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.02, for a total transaction of $977,402.70. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 2,116,783 shares in the company, valued at approximately $76,246,523.66. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 1,228,068 shares of company stock worth $44,765,154 in the last 90 days. 46.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Dutch Bros

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Wasatch Advisors LP purchased a new stake in shares of Dutch Bros in the 1st quarter valued at $41,988,000. Neuberger Berman Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Dutch Bros by 17.7% in the 4th quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 27,759 shares of the companys stock valued at $879,000 after acquiring an additional 4,170 shares during the last quarter. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Dutch Bros in the 1st quarter valued at $4,430,000. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Dutch Bros by 96.4% in the 1st quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 27,295 shares of the companys stock valued at $901,000 after acquiring an additional 13,395 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Dutch Bros in the 1st quarter valued at $200,000. 85.54% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Dutch Bros Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Dutch Bros Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates and franchises drive-thru shops in the United States. The company operates through Company-Operated Shops and Franchising and Other segments. It serves through company-operated shops and online channels under Dutch Bros; Dutch Bros Coffee; Dutch Bros Rebel; Dutch Bros; and Blue Rebel brands.

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Feile, Derrys biggest community arts festival returns this weekend for the 32nd year. Over the next eight days, over 120 events at Feile 2024 will take place across the Bogside, Brandywell, Creggan, Bishop Street, Fountain neighbourhoods and Derry City centre.

The festival begins on Saturday 10th August with a family fun event, Party in The Park at Pilots Row. Patrick Magee will be at Museum of Free Derry to discuss his memoir 'Where grieving begins?' with Martina Anderson at Museum of Free Derry while Feile's latest film production 'Tony Doc', following legendary Creggan sportsman and community worker, Tony O'Doherty, will premiere at St Mary's Youth Club in Creggan.

On Sunday, The Colm Quigley Jog In The Bog, will see hundreds of runners of all ages take to the streets of the Bogside in one of the key events in the summer road race calendar. The team at Hive Cancer Support will bring 'FestHIVEal' to The Gasyard Park on Sunday afternoon. This free festival for children, young people and families will give you the opportunity to learn about the connection between the environment, exercise, nutrition, physical/mental wellbeing and health. The Gathering, a one day festival at Sandinos on Sunday celebrating the best contemporary trad and folk music in Ireland with performances from John Francis Flynn, Ronan O'Snodaigh and Myles O'Reilly and Lemoncello. On Sunday evening, The Nerve Centre will screen acclaimed film-maker Alan Gilsenan's films 'The Irish Question' and 'Days of Trees' before Brunswick Moviebowl welcomes proud Creggan man, DJ Provai from hip-hop act, Kneecap, for a special sold out homecoming screening of Oscar tipped movie Kneecap.

The festival continues across the neighbourhoods and Derry City centre until Saturday August 17th. Musical highlights include the Ulster Orchestra performing at local care home residencies on Tuesday August 13th while The Whistlin' Donkeys will play a massive outdoor concert at The Gasyard Park on Thursday August 15th. Electronic music and hip-hop/grime fans are spoilt for choice at Feile 2024 with Dublin artist, Sello, playing Sandinos on Tuesday night and Erol Alkan and Ivan Smagghe at 57 Waterloo St on Friday August 16th.

Feile 2024 has a packed programme of activities for children, young people and families with summer schemes, family fun days and bus trips throughout the week. The Greatest Show and The Big Family Night Out will bring some of the countrys finest magicians, musicians, acrobats and comedy acts to parks and green spaces across the neighbourhood. Wan Big Street Party on Central Drive and the Lunasa celebrations in Creggan on Thursday 15th August are unmissable events for all the family.

Older peoples organisations across the area have come together to produce an extensive programme for our older residents including days out, bingo, social events and musical performances at local older peoples residences.

Each year, Feile delivers a strong programme of political debates, talks and difficult conversations and 2024 is no exception. Themes this year include climate change, racism, reconciliation, the ongoing debate around what a new Ireland will look like, the worsening drugs crisis in our communities and the continuing demand for increased student numbers at Magee. Panellists at Feile 2024 include human rights lawyer Michael Mansfield KC, journalist and author Brian Rowan, Professor of Human Rights law at Queens, Colin Harvey and Professor Anne Campbell, Member of the UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Feile 2024's extensive programme of films and documentaries continues nightly at The Nerve Centre Cinema. The ongoing genocide in Palestine will be highlighted with screenings of 'No Other Land' and 'Where Olive Trees Weep'. On Tuesday 13th August, Feile will screen 'The Building & Burning of A Refugee Camp' and 'I Must Away', two important films from Dennis Harvey that tackle issues of violence & intimidation against refugees and minorities. The screenings will be followed by a panel discussion afterwards with three activists working in Dublin, Shane O'Curry, Niamh McDonald and Olivia Headon. The work of emerging and established Derry film-makers will be screened throughout the festival including works by award winning film-makers Sean Mullan, Diana Cheung and Sean Coyle.

There will be several outdoor exhibitions at Feile 2024 including Camerawork  When Things Were Black & White, an exhibition by Creggan Artists and 'Out & Out', a photographic exhibition celebrating the local LGBTQIA+ community.

Feile 2024 would not be possible without the support of funders including The Executive Office, Derry City & Strabane District Council, Department of Foreign Affairs and the collaboration of the many groups, initiatives, volunteers and residents from throughout the Bogside, Brandywell, Creggan, Bishop Street and Fountain areas who have come together to shape and manage this programme of events.

Check out the full Feile 2024 programme: bit.ly/3Wr5QOl.
A Limerick man convicted of the manslaughter of a Derry PSNI officer who was apprehended by gardai earlier this year has consented to his extradition to Northern Ireland.

Christopher Shane Frane (36) was sentenced to a minimum of six years for the manslaughter of a police officer in 2013 after a car crash.

The sentencing judge also gave Frane, who is originally from west Limerick, an Indefinite Custodial Sentence that requires him to remain in prison until he can prove he is no longer a danger to the public.



Frane absconded from Northern Ireland on January 24 this year when on day-release and was arrested by gardai in February on foot of an extradition warrant.

The killer, who had argued that he was facing an "extreme and draconian" sentencing regime if he was sent back to prison in Northern Ireland, has now consented to his surrender, the High Court was told this Wednesday..



Frane had pleaded guilty to the 2013 manslaughter of Constable Philippa Reynolds. Ms Reynolds (27) was the back seat passenger in a police patrol car that was struck by a stolen Toyota Landcruiser driven by Frane in February 2013 in Derry. She was killed instantly.

At the High Court this Wednesday, Frane took the stand to tell Mr Justice Paul Burns that he was now consenting to his surrender to Northern Ireland.



His barrister, Karen Quinlivan KC had previously argued, before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath in June, that to surrender her client would be a breach of his rights under the Constitution and Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

She said it had been accepted that Frane has shown genuine remorse and regret and has embraced opportunities for rehabilitation in prison.



However, before allowing Frane's release, the parole board in Northern Ireland must be satisfied that he no longer poses a risk to the community. This requirement, counsel said, sets an "almost impossible standard" for him to meet and despite his efforts he has not been cleared for release.

Ms Quinlivan pointed out that a judge of the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland has described Indefinite Custodial Sentences as "extreme and draconian" and urged lawmakers to reconsider them. She submitted it is a well-established principle that preventing risk to the public cannot be the only objective of sentencing.



A sentence requiring a person to prove they are no longer a risk to society would be unconstitutional in this jurisdiction, she said, and such a regime represents an egregious and fundamental defect in the sentencing regime in Northern Ireland.



A judgement had been due to be delivered in October but Frane will now be surrendered to authorities in Northern Ireland within 20 days.
Trade unions led a rally of people standing united demanding action from Northern Ireland Assembly, Executive, Westminster and PSNI after nights of disorder and race hate attacks.

The Stand Against Racism Unite in Hope rally saw banners reading refugees welcome and hate is never the answer held aloft in front of Parliament Buildings.

Paddy Mackel, chairman of NIC-ICTU, commended those who have literally and metaphorically put their arms around those attacked in the last week.

It has been a magnificent response from the community and community organisations  that is the best face of Belfast in action, he told those gathered.

We also stand united in demanding action from the Assembly, the Executive, the UK government and the police. All workers deserve their support, deserve their protection and they deserve respect.

In our society, we welcome all workers, all people regardless of your skin colour, your religion, your ethnicity, your gender, your country of orientation, political beliefs or country of origin.

Patricia McKeown, regional secretary of Unison, said society has the capability of standing together.

Those in this society that try to keep our people divided have found a new target, and that new target is our black and migrant workers, our asylum seekers, our refugees who need our protection as they flee from war, famine, and poverty.

I will not accept as an excuse from any politician or anyone else in society that because our own people are becoming more impoverished because of their neglect, that somehow that is an excuse for racism or hate.

Susan Magutkuona, a nurse who is originally from Africa, described the last week as a dramatic change.Most of my colleagues live close to where those violent attacks have been happening. Theyre really scared to come to work, and scared for their children, she said.

We dont know when this is going to end, and you dont want to be scared when youre really far away from your family because its so hard for them to know what is really happening.

We dont know who is organising it, because my colleagues are really supportive and the government has been supportive of us at work.
A community leader has described a day of messages of political unity against recent disorder in Northern Ireland as like light at the end of the tunnel.

Representatives from the Belfast Multi Cultural Association as well as a number of other groups and organisations watched on from the public gallery as the Northern Ireland Assembly was recalled to discuss the violence and spate of race hate attacks in the capital.

MLAs went on to back a motion condemning the recent disorder and rejecting all forms of racism in Northern Ireland.

Earlier, following a meeting of the Stormont Executive, First Minister Michelle ONeill earlier said ministers were unequivocally collective in our determination to say no to racism and stand firmly united in terms of what we see unfolding in front of us.

Meanwhile, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher warned that those engaging in violence will be pursued with the full force of the law.Muhammad Atif, a trustee of the Belfast Multi-Cultural Association, described the messaging across the day as encouraging.

Were looking for the politicians to work on it and start building those bridges we never had  we cant even say bridges were burned because we never really had those bridges, he told PA.

The third largest community, the immigrants and Muslim community, in Northern Ireland, we never had these types of dialogues before.

Now we see the light at the end of the tunnel and I hope that things will change, and I hope people behind the riots will listen to the politicians and they will act on my appeals as well.

In terms of the police response, Mr Atif welcomed dialogue with Mr Boutcher before and since the recent disorder.

We felt it is needed to reassure our community that the PSNI is doing their job. Yes, there are lessons to be learned, mistakes have happened but I am hopeful that the PSNI have learnt those lessons and they will do better now, he said.

Mr Atif described an ongoing sense of fear.

Were worried about what may happen tonight. Families are staying in their houses, no one is leaving their houses these days, he said.

The kids are asking questions, why are my swimming lessons cancelled, why is my summer camp cancelled, why cant we go anywhere for shopping. Were just taking all the precautions, we dont want to put kids in danger.

Were also trying to avoid as much as we can talking in front of the kids because we dont want to scare them because in a few weeks time, theyll be going back to school and we dont want them to take anything from home which they shouldnt.

Its been heartwarming that people are coming out, checking on our houses and asking if were ok, asking if we need anything. That is the big majority in Northern Ireland.

But the problem is the tiny minority that is behind all this.
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An MLA has hit out at those who conflate issues around public resources with immigration, describing it as negligent and dangerous.

Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl criticised politicians who qualify their condemnation of racist attacks with references to legitimate concerns, saying it prioritises perpetrators over victims.

The South Belfast MLA, who grew up in Zimbabwe, told the Northern Ireland Assembly that legitimate concerns do not validate illegitimate protest.

She made the comments as the Assembly was recalled, with MLAs returning from summer recess to take part in a special sitting on Thursday.

MLAs backed a motion condemning recent disorder and rioting in Belfast following anti-immigration protests.

Ms Nicholl, who was the last MLA to address the Assembly on the matter, said: I feel very uncomfortable with the insistence of some to begin remarks by stating there are legitimate concerns.

I would like to read what the Victims Commissioner said  So-called legitimate concerns are never acknowledged when we have condemned examples of sectarian hate crime, sexual assault or street violence in the past, it should therefore play no part in our messaging when we condemn violence against victims who are non-white.

The statement drew responses of Hear, hear from some members of the Assembly.

There is a right to peaceful protest, and there are people who have concerns. These are, of course, true. However, there is no right to incitement, and while it may not be their intention, the result in qualifying your condemnation is to make those targeted feel that politicians are prioritising the perpetrators over the victim, she added.

Legitimate concerns do not validate illegitimate protest.

I acknowledge that while the intent of the riots was rooted in racism, not all who attended were racist, and there are too many in our society from every walk of life who are struggling.

This is the issue. Not immigration, not housing, and it is shameful, it is shameful to focus on that when there are victims sitting in this (public) gallery who are living in fear right now, and we make it about housing policy.

Housing policy is a failure of politicians, not of people who have a different religion or skin colour.

Decades of deliberate misinformation will be hard to untangle.

Across the world, there is a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment, those with nothing pitted against each other by those with everything.

Here is where our leadership really matters. Here is where we have to be saying this is misinformation. We have a moral duty to address the lies that people are being told, the manipulation, to stress that only 0.6% of the UK population are asylum seekers.

We need to be clear that Northern Ireland needs newcomers to grow and please can we stay away from the good versus bad migrant narrative.

Just because you work in a hospital does not make you better than an asylum seeker. We are all human beings. We all have worth. We all have value.

We will have another conversation about housing. Please do not conflate them. It is negligent to do so. Its dangerous to do so.

Ms Nicholl made the comments following an address by DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley, who claimed that the UKs uncontrolled immigration policy has contributed to the considerable strain on public resources.

Large-scale, uncontrolled immigration over a prolonged period of time is causing serious issues for local constituents, and I would be failing them as an elected representative if I was not prepared to speak about them in this very place, he added.

The additional strain on public services such as housing, school places and council services cannot be ignored.

One of the most dangerous aspects of the current debate is the tendency for commentators and politicians to brand anyone who questions uncontrolled immigration and its contributing impact on society as far right and racist members.

The elderly citizen who is angered that their winter fuel payment has been taken from them whilst 80 million a day is being spent to house asylum seekers inside hotels is not racist.
SEMI Japan urges unified advanced chips packaging standards to ease capacity crunch

SEMI Japan president Masayuki Hamajima recently called for the semiconductor industry to unify packaging technology standards as soon as possible, particularly in the advanced packaging sector.

A recent Nikkei report cited Hamajima's remarks, emphasizing that establishing international standards for backend processes of major semiconductor manufacturers such as Intel, Samsung Electronics, and TSMC would effectively increase production capacity and address the current crunch of advanced packaging capabilities.

Yole Group projected in its recent research report that indicates that the advanced packaging market, driven by high-performance computing (HPC) and generative AI, is poised to achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.9% over six years. Total revenue is estimated to increase from US$39.2 billion in 2023 to US$81.1 billion in 2029.

Yole's data showed that first-quarter 2024 revenue for advanced packaging reached US$10.2 billion, higher than the same period in 2023. The revenue for the second quarter is expected to climb further to US$10.7 billion, with the momentum of generative AI staying unabated.

Currently, the hottest application of advanced packaging is undoubtedly high bandwidth memory (HBM). By stacking multiple layers of DRAM on top of a logic chip, HBM achieves high-speed data transmission. The connection between each chip layer is made through through-silicon vias (TSV) and micro bumps, breaking the bandwidth bottleneck and becoming the preferred choice for AI training chips.

HBM adopts CoWoS packaging tech

The internal DRAM stacking within HBM is a form of 3D packaging, while the integration of HBM with AI GPUs and other accelerators on a silicon interposer is categorized as 2.5D packaging. Currently, HBM, steered by Nvidia and SK Hynix, primarily uses TSMC's CoWoS (chip-on-wafer-on-substrate) packaging technology.

TSMC developed the 2.5D packaging technology, CoWoS, as early as 2012. CoWoS can be divided into two steps: CoW (chip-on-wafer) and oS (on-substrate). The former is entirely completed by TSMC via its own production lines, while the latter has been partially outsourced to semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) partners.

Under capacity constraints, TSMC and its customers can confidently entrust the oS portion to OSAT partners. However, the critical CoW portion differs from traditional packaging and testing processes, and "must" be completed on the front-end wafer manufacturing platform, essentially an extension of the front-end wafer manufacturing process.

This is evidently an inherent advantage for major foundry players like TSMC, Samsung, and Intel. Therefore, when Samsung and Intel saw TSMC thriving in the advanced packaging market and realized its tremendous growth potential, they naturally intensified the development of their new-generation advanced packaging technologies.

Currently, Samsung's self-developed advanced packaging technologies and services include I-Cube (2.5D) and X-Cube (3D). Intel is promoting its EMIB 2.5D packaging technology, which boasts a simple structure and low signal interference as EMIB's main advantages.

However, Samsung and Intel still lag behind TSMC in terms of yield, capacity, and commercialization levels for advanced processes below 5nm. For advanced packaging technologies that heavily rely on front-end wafer manufacturing technology and advanced process platforms, most HPC and AI chip customers prioritize TSMC for their wafer fabrication needs.

The current capacity crunch is partly due to most customers competing for TSMC's capacity. Meanwhile, the lack of international standards is not the primary reason why Samsung and Intel have not been able to secure more orders.
Mid-Louth Youth Service successfully hosted its fourth annual Pride event over the August Bank Holiday.

Organised and run by the staff and young people of Mid-Louth Youth Service, and hosted at the Dee Hub in Ardee , more than 150 people attended throughout a fun-filled day of live music and workshops.

Over 150 people in attendance on the day shows the massive community spirit and support, said Beth Carragher, a youth worker with Mid-Louth Youth Service.

We could never have imagined the event to be as successful in Mid-Louth as it has proved to be.

Every year when we sit back and reflect on Pride, we are always taken aback as to how many people showed up, not just members of the LGBT+ community, but also the wider communities of supporters.

Live music at the event was provided by David Joyce and Jonathan Fahy, while Maria Treanor of The Mystic Fox and Laura Metcalfe of Moo Movement both hosted hugely successful workshops on the day.

Wed like to thank our wonderful facilitators who go beyond our wildest dreams and deliver amazing workshops on the day of Pride, added Beth.

Maria from The Mystic Fox has supported our Pride event from day one. She has donated countless items for gift bags over the years, raffle prizes and her own expertise for hosting self-love and mindfulness workshops.

This year we also welcomed a new facilitator for Pride, Laura from Moo Movement. Laura very kindly offered her services to us this year and it was an overwhelming success with dancing, meditation and yoga.

We cant thank enough David and Jonathan for their music, and the energy, atmosphere and welcoming nature they bring to Pride every year in Mid-Louth.

Thanks also to Dee Hub for allowing us the space to host Pride year after year. The unwavering support Dee Hub offers the youth service has played a massive role in the success of Pride.

Beth also placed on record her gratitude towards Dundalk Outcomers and Cllr John Sheridan for their ongoing support, as well as Ged Nash TD, plus all of the local businesses that donated food, refreshments and prizes for the yearly raffle.

Read Next: Movie filmed in Dundalk and north Louth to have Dublin premiere tonight

Donations were made from the following: OBriens, who provided a selfie board plus face paints, Spar Ardee, John C. Kieran & Son Solicitors, Bliss Tea Rooms, Ufonez, Brew 22, ONeills Menswear, Life Pharmacy Ardee, Marks Pharmacy, McGoeys Pharmacy, OFlynns Allcare Pharmacy and Clear Cut Marketing.

Every year we are met with such kindness and generosity from local businesses and without them we couldnt host this event year after year.

Outcomers Dundalk were at the other end of the phone every day when we needed support. Thanks to them for the marquees, donations and gift bags.

Our final thanks is to Cllr John Sheridan. Pride in Mid-Louth would never be possible without your ongoing support.
Showcasing a wonderful array of films both local, national and international films, the Boyne Valley International Film Festival (BVIFF) returns this August 9-11. Presented by Droichead Arts Centre in partnership with LOVE Drogheda BIDS, BVIFF creates an environment for filmmakers and audiences to connect and celebrate film in the historical medieval town of Drogheda, located in the heart of the Boyne Valley.

Curated by acclaimed filmmaker and Boyne Valley native Frank W. Kelly and Director of Droichead Arts Centre Collette Farrell, the festival features an extended programme of screenings, workshops and events, as well as showcasing work developed as part of their important filmmaker funding programmes.

Featuring the Irish premiere of Ethan Hawks Wildcat, the festival will also present a series of shorts by award winning cinematographer and director Alba Fernandez as part of the Filmmaker in Focus programme, sponsored by Osborne Recruitment. Speaking about the initiative, Frank W. Kelly and Collette Farrell said:

"With our Filmmaker in Focus award we look for skilled filmmakers with a unique vision, who have a true understanding of the short film form. Their work is vibrant, energetic and pushes the medium forward with a collaborative spirit. Alba Fernandez is one of these filmmakers and this year we are honoured to recognise and celebrate her work as a writer, director and cinematographer."

The BVIFF Closing Film will this year be The Island by Fionnuala Gygax. Winner of the BVIFF 2023 Short Film Bursary, the festival further supported the production of the short, and are delighted to see the work on screen.

The festival is also delighted to present more workshops and discussions throughout the weekend. Highlights include a comedy writing workshop with Jonathan Hughes (The Office US); a documentary workshop with Alex Fegan (The Irish Pub) and Laura O'Shea (Wednesdays Child), a TV panel discussion with Rob and Ronan Burke (Harry Wild), Audrey O'Reilly and Oonagh Kearney (Obituary) and a discussion on mental health in the film industry including Baz Black (Kin/Dublin Crust).

Other exceptional talent on screen includes Peter Coonan starring in two short films: Sentinel and Come Inside, which also stars Seana Kerslake; Ticker starring Paul Copley (Downton Abbey) and Ian Gelder (Game of Thrones); Making Up (UK) starring Dave Johns (I, Daniel Blake and Fisherman's Friends); Worry World (Animated) written by Hugh O'Connor voiced by Domhnall Gleeson; I Found A Place stars Brian Gleeson; With Compliments from the Gentleman Across the Bar in Oman (documentary) features Jack Gleeson (Game of Thrones); A Twist in the Wind was fully animated using AI; Next stars Darren Conway; Ready? stars Simone Delaney and Niamh Branigan; Sicar stars John Connors; and the Netflix short documentary fund winner Two Mothers by Anna Rodgers is about a woman who rescues her surrogate from Ukraine. Kiki starring Derek Ugochukwu is directed by Academy Award Nominee Naomi Sheridan.

BVIFF 2024 would like to thank their main sponsor Love Drogheda BIDS, and additional sponsors Osborne Recruitment, Globe Travel, Gleesons Bar, Drogheda and the Clinch family. Funding from the Arts Council, Louth & Meath County Councils. Supported by Boann Distillery, Anglo printers, The Marcy Hotel and Scholars Townhouse Hotel, Drogheda.
Bus ticket machines not having the functionality to take card payments at Parnell Place bus station and Cork Airport makes the city look like Ballygobackwards to tourists, a TD has claimed.

Bus Eireann has confirmed that their ticket machines at the bus station are accepting cash again after all three were out of order over the bank holiday weekend.

The machines at Cork citys Parnell Place bus station have not been accepting card payments for around four months, and there is no ATM machine in the station, meaning anyone who does not have the right cash or a Leap card must leave the station and cross the road to get cash out.

The card function has also been broken at Cork Airport for months, with airport officials reporting the issue to Bus Eireann multiple times. Tickets can be purchased onboard buses but drivers accept only cash or Leap cards, meaning tourists arriving into Cork can often be inconvenienced.

Cork North Central TD Thomas Gould said the issue with card payments needs to be "fixed now" and described the situation as "not good enough".

A spokesperson for Bus Eireann told The Echo, Ticket Vending Machines in Parnell Place Bus Station are working as normal, processing cash payments following a brief period of unavailability over the weekend.

However, working as normal does not include the ability to pay with card, as the spokesperson added, An upgrade is also planned over the coming weeks to deliver card payment functionality on these Ticket Vending Machines.

When asked about the machine at the airport, the Bus Eireann spokesperson said, The local operations team in each region manage the Ticket Vending Machines in those areas, including at Cork Airport.

Presently the machines at the airport are operating with card payment facilities offline, however this option will be restored as soon as possible. Bus Eireann apologies for any inconvenience caused to passengers.

Mr Gould, who has raised issues around the cleanliness and general upkeep of the bus station before told The Echo, this has been ongoing, and its really amateurish of Bus Eireann.

When tourists come, a lot of people dont even use cash anymore its all card, and it makes us look like were Ballygobackwards with horse and carts.

Considering there was legislation just brought in saying taxi drivers have to accept card, at the same time as taxi drivers are getting fined for not having a card machine, the public transport isnt doing it.

Its not good enough in 2024, and it just goes to show the level of neglect by Bus Eireann and the National Transport Authority in Cork.

He added, having things out of order for days or weeks or months is not acceptable  they need to have it fixed now, its just simply not good enough.
A voyage to Corks only Gaeltacht island and one of Irelands most iconic landmarks is in store for the West Cork branch of Network Irelands members who sign up for the groups summer trip, it has been announced.

The invitation to members of the network as well as non-members has been extended after details of the proposed trip to Cape Clear/Oilean Cleire as well as the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse which is scheduled to take place on Friday, August 23, were finalised.

The Fastnet Lighthouse is one of Irelands best-known and most iconic lighthouses situated on Fastnet Rock. Located 7 km south (almost 4 nautical miles) of Cape Clear, the lighthouse turned 120 years old earlier this year and has played a crucial role since its inception in June 1904.

Participants will depart from the picturesque harbour in Baltimore, cruising towards Cape Clear Island, the southernmost inhabited part of Ireland. The journey will continue around Fastnet Rock, known as the Teardrop of Ireland, which is a true engineering marvel and stands as a beacon of maritime history.

Network Ireland West Cork president Sarah Maybury said the proposed outing offered an unparalleled opportunity to experience the breathtaking beauty of West Corks coastline while meeting and networking with fellow members and guests.

The trip promises stunning ocean views, historical insights, and the chance to connect with like-minded individuals in a relaxed and scenic setting, she said, expressing gratitude to the event sponsors, Cork County Council and Tracie Nolan Solicitors.

Network Ireland West Cork Branch is a non-profit, voluntary organisation which supports the professional and personal development of women in business and was established in 2018.

Those intending to travel should meet at Baltimore Pier at 4.30pm in advance of a 5pm departure.

The trip will take four hours, and tickets for Network members are priced at 20 and 40 for non-members.
The future is uncertain for an Aperee Living nursing home in Bantry, less than a year after one of the companys nursing homes in Belgooly was shut.

Cork South West TD and Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins told The Echo that a receiver was appointed early last week to the Bantry nursing home.

He said: I met with the reciever on Thursday in Bantry, my concerns and the concerns of Councillor Danny Collins and Councillor Patrick Gerard Murphy are the workers, the residents, and the building staff completing works on the centre.

He assured me that the residents are not to be moved for the time being, it is still a nursing home, so staff and the building contractors will continue to be paid also.

The receiver is to appoint an auctioneer and a PPIM (person participating in management) to carry out the function of running a nursing home, but Mr Collins said at the end of the day, this will be sold to the highest bidder.

It is a 50-bed nursing home with 35 residents currently living there, as the builders undertake works to bring the building up to Hiqa standards and allow its full capacity to be utilised.

Public meeting

Dozens of people attended a public meeting organised by Mr Collins last Monday.

We had a fine gathering, he said.

Families of residents and some staff attended  the staff and the families are both angry that they were not properly consulted on this.

Mr Collins is to meet the receiver again this morning and bring forward the issues raised at the meeting, including that if it closes, will residents be moved far away from family, as the nursing home currently caters to people in the most remote parts of Cork.

He said: Theres people from Beara peninsula, Mizen peninsula, and Sheeps Head peninsula  its the only nursing home covering all that area.

Theres a nursing home in Drimoleague, but it is well full and cant take 35 new residents, so the worry is that if this is closed, similar to Belgooly, patients will be sent here there and everywhere.

Theyll be given no choice, its either go home or take the bed youre given, whether its five miles away or 55 miles away, so were really hoping that the building will be sold to nursing home buyers, he said.

Aperee Living was contacted for comment.
August is a busy month for music and it got under way with one of Irelands best festivals, All Together Now, which enjoyed its fifth instalment down in Waterford.

This week Ill look back at some of the highlights, plus Ill also speak about some tasty gigs down at Lee Rowing Club.

As mentioned last time out, the festival circuit has changed a lot post-covid. Many bigger festivals are now no longer with us, but All Together Now looks like its going to be around for a while yet. The fifth All Together Now was blessed with much better weather than last year, when a freak storm helped ruin things on Friday evening. This year there were predictable showers on Friday and Sunday, but Saturday was largely filled with sunshine and the festival itself was much better at coping when it did rain.

It was a very spacious festival with lots of great options stage-wise in what remained a relatively contained area, with everything being fairly walkable. That said, if you are not able-bodied, All Together Now, like most Irish festivals, could still prove to be a fairly intimidating ordeal. The festival relies on a fairly decent mid-range level of acts rather than huge headliners, and with Roisin Murphy pulling out at the last minute, the bigger names such as the Prodigy, Jorja Smith, and the National took over.

The whole big-name thing does help sell festivals, but Ive long been of the view that the best stuff at festivals happens off the beaten track, and All Together Nows line-up was full of potential new music discoveries.

The DJ, electronic, and live line-up was fairly decent, and though I found some of the late-night progressive house stuff fairly pedestrian in the Arcadia, for the most part I felt there was a good balance of top quality Irish and international acts playing. A few personal highlights included Cork house and disco legend John Daly, Saoirse, Carlows Eddie Reynolds, aka TR-One, and SkyRager (Psychemagik), but there were many many more throughout the weekend.

My favourite stage was the Ping Pong Disco, which ran to about 4am each day, and which combined cabaret, comedy, music, and some of the most flamboyant outfits that youll find anywhere. The sound and lighting were great too, and this was echoed on most stages throughout the weekend.

Away from these music stages, there was a decent spread of alternative areas offering everything from wellness and yoga and other alternatives that are now at most festivals post-Electric Picnic era.

At ATN, there is a genuine feeling that these arent just an afterthought and the area down by the main house on the estate is a lively option for those who want to engage in these other options. The festival itself remains unique and less commercial than Electric Picnic, with very few stages leaking sounds elsewhere and fewer brands competing for attention. Obviously, such brands are present and essential for any music event on this scale, but at ATN the commercialisation is more subtle and less in-your-face.

One of the most noticeable things about the last few years has been how Irish acts are now drawing many of the best crowds at such festivals. A whole host of Irish artists are now attracting big followings and at ATN it was very apparent that they are standing side by side and often outshining acts from elsewhere. This is great for the scene here, and many will capitalise on this festival buzz when releasing new music or promoting their own shows throughout the rest of the year. ATN24 was a big success, and next up on the national calendar its time for the Electric Picnic next week. But if you fancy something closer to home, Magic Nights by the Lee could be the answer.

The brainchild of local promoters the Good Room, Magic Nights by the Lee has been running for the last few years in various different locations. Fitzgeralds Park, Ballincollig, Ballinlough, The Glen, and other parks have hosted some big shows, but this August the Magic Nights by the Lee take place in the Lee Rowing Club, right on the riverside by The Marina. Its a spectacular location for a series of gigs which range from live shows to clubbier ones, and the line-up is a strong representation of domestic Irish talent that includes Shane Johnson, The 4 of Us, Smithereens, Donal Dineen, and many more.
By Rebecca Black and Cate McCurry, PA

There is no place for racism in Northern Ireland, Michelle ONeill has said.

Executive ministers met earlier at Stormont Castle to discuss recent scenes of violent disorder on the streets of Belfast.

The Northern Ireland Assembly has been recalled with MLAs returning from summer recess to take part in a special sitting at noon.

Outside Parliament Buildings, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions led a rally in opposition to the rioting seen in the capital on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday evenings following anti-immigration protests.

Abdelkader Mohamad Al Alloush, owner of the Sham Supermarket on Donegall Road in Belfast, after it was burned on Saturday night and attacked again on Monday. Photo: Rebecca Black/PA.

Police and members of the public have been attacked and two businesses owned by people from a minority ethnic background have been destroyed in south Belfast. There have also been incidents in north and west Belfast.

There was further disorder on Wednesday night, with police coming under attack in east Belfast.

Police said five arrests were made after bins were set alight blocking Connswater Street, and officers came under attack. One police officer was injured.

There have been 17 arrests in total.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said it has asked for support, submitting a request to National Police Co-ordination Centre for additional officers from across the United Kingdom to support the policing operation.

Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said the Mutual Aid officers will provide vital resilience and support and will be given all of the necessary equipment and familiarisation training.

It comes amid widespread disorder across the UK which appears to have been sparked by misinformation spread online following the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly arriving at Stormont Castle, Belfast (Mark Marlow/PA)

Earlier this week, Ms Jones said a paramilitary element is suspected of co-ordinating violence in Belfast.

On Monday, four men linked to disorder on Saturday appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court, while a 15-year-old boy appeared before the same court on Wednesday charged with rioting.

All were remanded.

Following the Executive meeting, Ms ONeill, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, and Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, stood shoulder to shoulder to speak to media.

Ms ONeill said ministers are unequivocally collective in our determination to say no to racism, and stand firmly united in terms of what we see unfolding in front of us.

There is no place in our society for racism in any of its forms, she said.

The racist attacks on people, on businesses and homes are absolutely wrong, and have created such a deep fear. A fear that I think perhaps none of us have ever seen before among many parts of our community.

There are many people feeling extremely vulnerable, feeling fearful, fearful for their families.

We have mothers who are afraid to walk their children to the park, we have children who are afraid to go to youth clubs and to schemes. We have healthcare workers that are afraid to go to work. We have nurses that are afraid to go home and that is not acceptable.

That is the real, human impact of this type of activity, this type of racist activity in our society. It speaks volumes in terms of hate because that is what it is and it must stop.

Those responsible must and will face the full rigours of the force of the law.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn and parliamentary under-secretary of state Fleur Anderson speak to media at a community centre in Belfast. Photo: Rebecca Black/PA.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Hilary Benn condemned racist violence in Belfast in recent days and stressed that it does not represent Northern Ireland.

He said it should be a cause of shame that some people currently do not feel safe in their own homes, and urged those behind the disorder to stop.

MLAs debated a motion condemning criminal damage and targeting of businesses in recent days.

The motion also calls on Ms ONeill and Ms Little-Pengelly to finalise the draft refugee integration strategy and associated delivery plan, to bring forward the renewed Race Relations Order, and set out the process of replacing the racial equality strategy 2015-25 by the end of 2024.
We can carve out our own destiny.

Those are the words of Leika Hartjes, 32, a goldsmith from Germany with a passion for travelling and self-empowerment.

Currently based in Clonakilty, she runs her own jewellery business called The Wandering Goldsmith.

Every piece is made of 14 carat gold, and each collection of handmade jewellery is inspired by her own personal experiences.

I want to be able to tell the stories of my travels, about the adventurers spirit in general. I want to spark curiosity and interest, Leika said.

Currently, there are two collections, the Pacific Crest Trail collection, and the Be Your Own Daddy collection. Both are based on Leikas experiences.

Leika at work.

The Pacific Crest Trail collection was inspired by her journey of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. With this collection, Leika hopes to inspire others to go after what they want.

If I can go on the Pacific Crest Trail, then anyone can. It doesnt matter what level you start, if you go after something, theres no reason you cant achieve it.

The Be Your Own Daddy collection was inspired by Leikas passion for female empowerment and taking back this term and owning it. Leika aimed to create sassy jewellery that is high quality.

For me, the term Daddy was very belittling towards women. I want to take this term, own it, and show that I am my own Daddy! says Leika about this collection.

Its all about power, and stepping into your own power, meeting your own needs. Be your own sugar daddy! You dont need for others to treat you, you can treat yourself!

Leikas passion for this collection and the message it sends is inspiring.

She attended college for a time but dropped out to pursue something more practical.

In her studio.

The academic sides of things didnt really suit me. I think there is a lot of pressure on young people that you have to go to college if you want to be anything, said Leika.

Upon realising that it wasnt for her, Leika took her love of homemade, traditional crafts and began the steps to make that passion into a career.

I want to work in a traditional craft that will stay a traditional craft, that doesnt involve much machinery. I never wanted something that gets industrialised quickly, she said.

Leika applied for goldsmith and watchmaker apprenticeships in Germany before being accepted into a goldsmith apprenticeship.

During this apprenticeship, Leika was given a chance to do a four-week internship abroad. In 2017, she moved to Dungarvan, Waterford, to start an internship with Alan Dalton, a goldsmith based there.

In 2018, once her apprenticeship was complete, Leika returned to Ireland to work with Alan permanently. She remained in Dungarvan for four years before moving to West Cork.

I basically bullied him into giving me a job, but I am so very grateful for the opportunity. I have had the time of my life here, she said.

Ireland is wild compared to Germany, the people here are so welcoming.

Leika also worked in Keanes jewellers in Cork city until October, 2023, repairing jewellery.

Ten per cent of her profits from each purchase from The Wandering Goldsmith,will be donated to a cause close to the inspiration for each collection.

I think to make giving back be a part of the business is a way to bring the business into the current days, she said.

If we just try, and always give back a little of what we receive, then things will be better for us all eventually.

At work.

Ten per cent of the profits made from the Pacific Crest Trail collection will be donated to the Pacific Crest Trail Association, which is the main organisation that maintains the trail, ensuring it stays wild and beautiful. They also provide information for the hikers to help them on their travels.

Ten per cent of the profits made from the Be Your Own Daddy collection will be donated to Lisheens House, a community-based mental health charity that provides free counselling, training, and support for those in a mental health crisis.

Our mental health is so powerful, Leika said.

She has seen previous experience of self-employment from her father, who ran his own landscaping business.

Having grown up watching him work extremely hard to provide for the family, she saw the toll self-employment can take.

I didnt really want my own business at first because I have seen how much work it is, said Leika.

When she decided to start her own business, she had a different approach, leaning into her desire to live a slower and more simple life.

I want to carve something that suits my needs and the life I want to be living.

The Wandering Goldsmith can be found at thewanderinggoldsmith.com
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Water pours out of a pipe beside one of the sites in the San Bernardino Mountains where the company BlueTriton Brands has been collecting water for bottling, near Rimforest, California on Dec. 4, 2021. Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has ordered BlueTriton Brands, the company formerly known as Nestle that bottles and sells bottled water brand Arrowhead Water, to stop drawing water from the San Bernardino Mountains in California.

The decision by USFS supports a cease and desist made last year by the California Water Resources Control Board that stated the company did not have water rights for diverting and bottling water in the San Bernardino National Forest. According to the decision fact sheet, the company was ordered to stop operations at 10 of its 13 diversion points and was required to submit monthly reports for the remaining water being taken and bottled.

Now, USFS has denied BlueTritons application for a new permit and is requiring the company to stop its bottling operations in the San Bernardino Mountains. The company has been ordered to remove its diversion infrastructure, including a pipeline, from the area, the Los Angeles Times reported. BlueTriton Brands has sued to challenge the decision, according to a court document filed on August 6.

The decision comes following years of complaints against the company for diverting water and harming wildlife, KTLA reported. The California Water Resources Control Board noted that it had received many complaints about BlueTrition Brands unreasonable use of water and the impacts it could have in a drought-stricken state.

Its a huge victory after 10 years, Amanda Frye, an activist from Redlands, California, told the Los Angeles Times. Im hoping that we can restore Strawberry Creek, have its springs flowing again, and get the habitat back.

As District Ranger Michael Nobles explained in a letter to BlueTriton Brands about the permit denial, the company stated its operations were for bottled water, but up to 98% of the diverted water per month was going to the old Arrowhead Springs hotel, which the company sold in 2016 to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The amount of water taken in recent months has also increased, Nobles said.

This increase represents significantly more water than has ever been delivered previously, Nobles wrote in a letter about the decision. The hotel and conference facility on the property is not operating, and there is no explanation of where the millions of gallons of water per month are going.

The areas Strawberry Creek watershed has been approved for water diversions since 1929, the Los Angeles Times reported. BlueTriton Brands, formerly operating as Nestle, had long operated in the area under an expired permit that was finally renewed in 2018 with a 5-year timeline.

Despite environmentalists complaints against its operations and the reasons outlined for permit rejection in a letter from the U.S. Forest Service, BlueTriton Brands said it has not negatively affected the Strawberry Canyon environment and that the permit denial had no legal merit, as the Los Angeles Times reported.

Activists are hopeful the decision will help improve the Strawberry Creek watershed and local environment.

Our goal was to get that water back in the creek and protect the forest, Frye said. The proof will be when the pipes and all that infrastructure is taken out and its restored. But I think were nearing the end.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

The August 2023 Maui wildfires were devastating for the Hawaiian islands people, wildlife and flora, including a century-and-a-half-old banyan tree in the beach community of Lahaina.

The historic town is celebrating the landmarks recovery, as parts of the 151-year-old banyan tree have begun to regrow and are even thriving in Lahainas decimated waterfront district.

You see a lot of long, long branches with hundreds of leaves back on the tree, said Duane Sparkman, Maui county arborist committee chair, as The Associated Press reported. Sparkman added that some of the great banyans branches have begun to produce fruit. Its pretty amazing to see that much of the tree come back.

A team of volunteers and arborists has helped the banyan recover and rejuvenate after being scorched by the blaze. The ancient tree has been a gathering place for generations, reaching 60 feet into the sky, with multiple trunks covering almost an acre of land. Its leaves provide shade from the intense Maui sun, while its branches offer a nesting place for the islands tropical birds.

The rest of the block (mauka of the tree and Front Street) was one-story (buildings), and it had these two giant monkeypod trees between the banyan and the buildings across the street, said Maui County Arborist Tim Griffith, as reported by Maui Now. So that section didnt burn as hot. The fire hit the monkeypods, went up the monkeypods, and kind of just flashed over the top. The monkeypods went up, died almost instantly. The bark started falling off within weeks. So they definitely took the brunt (of the fire) and acted as blockers for the banyan.

Griffith explained that, though the trees leaves were affected, nothing down below was really burned. Theres no char on the trunks.

He added that even most of the wooden benches beneath the tree survived, as well as the lamps, also made of wood.

So, it was more of a flash over the top, as opposed to just the fire coming in at ground level, Griffith said.

On the corner of Lahainas Front and Hotel Streets, the majestic tree has been visited by millions of tourists, The Associated Press reported.

It is listed as an Exceptional Tree by the County of Maui which gives it protections similar to an historic designated building, Kimberly Flook, Lahaina Restoration Foundations deputy executive director, told Newsweek after the fire. As a 150-year-old tree in the center of the historic town, it has been a natural gathering place through the years. It has hosted luaus, festivals, hula demonstrations, picnics, war memorials, etc. over its lifespan. On a less formal level, locals and visitors alike have enjoyed its shade and benches as well as the sound of the mynah birds in its branches every evening.

For some, the historic tree is a reminder of colonial rule, which stripped the land from Native Hawaiians while suppressing their culture and language, reported The Associated Press.

A beacon of hope for the now abandoned town, the tree was planted in 1873, 25 years before Hawaii became an official United States territory. Mauis oldest living banyan tree is not an indigenous species, but was shipped to the island from India to mark the 50th anniversary of Protestant missionaries arriving in Lahaina for the first time.

The fire that killed over 100 people caused the tree to lose so much moisture that roughly half of its branches died, according to Sparkman. The volunteers working to restore the resilient banyan removed its lost branches so all its energy could flow toward those that were still alive.

To monitor the trees energy, those working with it screwed in 14 sensors to keep track of cambium  sap  moving through its branches.

Its basically a heart monitor, Sparkman said, as The Associated Press reported. As weve been treating the tree, the heartbeats getting stronger and stronger and stronger.

There are plans to install tubes containing compost to help the enormous trees vertical roots establish themselves in the soil, as well as an irrigation system to feed small amounts of water through the tubes and irrigate the trees canopy and surrounding land.

Sparkman said approximately 25,000 trees were lost to the fire in Lahaina, including fruit trees in residents yards, like native ulu, or breadfruit.

Before colonists arrived, bringing tourism and commercial agriculture, thousands of ulu peppered the landscape. After the fire, only two out of about a dozen were left.

Sparkman founded nonprofit Treecovery in an effort to help restore trees in Lahaina. The organization has been growing 3,500 trees in micro-nurseries throughout the island, until residents can move back.

We have grow hubs all over the island of Maui to grow these trees out for as long as they need. So when the people are ready, we can have them come pick these trees up and they can plant them in their yards, Sparkman said, as reported by The Associated Press. Its important that we do this for the families.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Australias Great Barrier Reef  the worlds largest coral reef system  has been under critical pressure in recent years, with warming sea surface temperatures leading to mass coral bleaching that threatens its unique biodiversity, ecology and stunning beauty.

Temperatures in the Great Barrier Reef have reached the hottest in more than 400 years, new research has found, presenting an existential threat to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in Australia between 2016 and 2024 was driven by high sea surface temperatures, the authors of the study wrote. Without urgent intervention, the iconic GBR is at risk of experiencing temperatures conducive to near-annual coral bleaching, with negative consequences for biodiversity and ecosystems services. A continuation on the current trajectory would further threaten the ecological function and outstanding universal value of one of Earths greatest natural wonders.

The researchers reconstructed 400 years of Coral Sea summer surface temperatures and found that recent extreme ocean heat has resulted in mass coral bleaching of the GBR, a press release from University of Wollongong (UOW) said.

A field of bleached coral on the Great Barrier Reef. Ove Hoegh-Guldberg

The research team, led by Dr. Benjamin Henley  a professor and honorary fellow at University of Melbourne  used geochemical data from previously collected coral cores in the region for the temperature reconstructions. They also looked at sea surface temperature simulations with and without the effects of climate change using climate models and found that the rising temperatures were the result of the human-caused climate crisis.

When I plotted the 2024 data point, I had to triple check my calculations  it was off the charts  far above the previous record high in 2017. I could almost not believe it. Tragically, mass coral bleaching has occurred yet again this year, Henley said in the press release.

Five of the six warmest years on record coincide with the recent Coral Sea mass bleaching events. The sea experienced the highest temperatures in 400 years in 2017, 2020 and 2024, with this year being the warmest by a wide margin. The next warmest three years were in 2004, 2016 and 2022.

Climate model analysis confirms that human influence on the climate system is responsible for the rapid warming in recent decades. This attribution, together with the recent ocean temperature extremes, post-1900 warming trend and observed mass coral bleaching, shows that the existential threat to the GBR ecosystem from anthropogenic climate change is now realized, the authors of the study wrote.

Last week, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee decided not to list the Great Barrier Reef as in danger, but scientists have said that, based on the new evidence, the reef is definitely at risk.

In the absence of rapid, coordinated and ambitious global action to combat climate change, we will likely witness the demise of one of Earths most spectacular natural wonders, Henley said. When you compile all of the evidence we have, its the inevitability of the impacts on the reef in the coming years that really gets to me.

Professor Helen McGregor, co-author of the study and a geologist and climate change researcher with UOWs Environmental Futures, said urgent action is necessary to prevent the devastation of one of Earths most important ecosystems.

There is no if, but or maybethe ocean temperatures during these bleaching events are unprecedented in the past four centuries, McGregor said in the press release. The Great Barrier Reef is facing catastrophe if anthropogenic climate change is not immediately addressed. The very corals that have lived for hundreds of years and that gave us the data for our study are themselves under serious threat.

UOW co-authors Ariella Arzey and professor Helen McGregor. Michael Gray

Henley said tackling the climate crisis is the best way to help protect the GBR.

We have many of the key solutions to stop climate change; what we need is a step change in the level of coordinated national and international action to transition to net zero, Henley said. We can never lose hope. Every fraction of a degree of warming we avoid will lead to a better future for the human and natural systems of our planet. We hope that our study equips policymakers with more evidence to pursue deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions internationally.

The study, Highest ocean heat in four centuries places Great Barrier Reef in danger, was published in the journal Nature.




Moy Park tops Northern Ireland, UK, business rankings amid profit challenges



Moy Park, a leading poultry producer, was identified as the largest business by turnover last year in Northern Ireland, UK, according to an analysis for Ulster Business magazine, BBC News reported.

The company, ultimately owned by the Brazilian JBS group, reported a turnover of GBP 1.88 billion (US$2.3 billion) and a pre-tax profit of GBP 18.7 million (US$23.7 million).

Northern Ireland now boasts six companies with an annual turnover exceeding GBP 1 billion (US$1.27 billion), a significant increase from just one company a decade ago.

The analysis indicates that although the 100 largest businesses in Northern Ireland experienced an increase in sales last year, their profit margins were under pressure. Combined turnover across these firms rose by 17% to GBP 35.2 billion (US$44.6 billion), but total pre-tax profits decreased by 8% to GBP 1.32 billion (US$1.65 billion).

John Mulgrew, editor of Ulster Business, commented that the data suggests rising costs, higher borrowing, and skills shortages are impacting the bottom line for some firms.

- BBC News
An ad industry group named in Xs antitrust lawsuit is discontinuing, two days after the social media company filed a lawsuit accusing major advertisers of an illegal boycott against the company. The Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) is discontinuing activities, according to an email reported by Business Insider.

GARM was created in 2019 to help set brand safety guidelines for major advertisers, and is part of the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), which was also named in Xs lawsuit . According to Business Insider, WFA CEO Stephan Loerke told members that GARM is a nonprofit with limited resources, but that the groups planned on fighting the lawsuit.

X CEO Linda Yaccarino said the news was an important acknowledgement and a necessary step in the right direction in a statement on X . The companys lawsuit, which was filed in Texas, claims that the WFA, GARM and a handful of major advertisers conspired  to collectively withhold billions of dollars in advertising revenue from Twitter. X faced steep declines in its ad revenue over the last two years as advertisers have pulled back following multiple reports about hate speech and antisemitic content on the platform.
Google worked with Meta to roll out ads that targeted young teens even if it's against the former's rules, according to the Financial Times. Based on the documents seen by the publication, Google worked on a marketing project designed to advertise Instagram to YouTube users within the 13- to 17-year-old age range. Google had blocked age-based ad targeting for users under 18 years ago, but the company reportedly found and used a loophole.

Since they couldn't go for the demographic they wanted to reach, they instead targeted a group of users Google had labeled as "unknown." Google's staff proposed the group to Meta, The Times said, because the company had data points to prove that a large number of users under the label are below 18 years in age. The company even reportedly told Meta that the daily engagement it gets from 13- to 17-year-old users exceeds TikTok's and Instagram's. The Information says using this loophole is against Google's rules, as well, since it has policies against proxy targeting.

Meta and Google worked with media agency Spark Foundry to launch the marketing program in Canada between February and April, according to the report. When it did well, they kicked off a trial in the US in May and had made plans to expand it to other regions, as well as to include other Meta apps in the campaign.

However, Google had investigated and ultimately cancelled the project after being contacted by the Times. "We prohibit ads being personalized to people under-18, period," the company told the publication. It said that its safeguards worked properly in this case because it didn't directly target registered YouTube users know to be 18. That said, it didn't outright deny using the loophole and only said that it will take "additional action to reinforce with sales representatives that they must not help advertisers or agencies run campaigns" that attempt to work around its policies.
It's about to be a very different world!

The spin-off series from 'The Cosby Show,' 'A Different World,' is coming back  in a different way.

Three decades later, the sequel series will premiere on Netflix, according to 'Deadline,' who was the first to break the news.

In the fifth season of 'A Different World' in an episode titled "When One Door Closes," characters Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison) discovered that they are pregnant. After Dwayne is offered a job in Japan, the two go to raise their family there.

The daughter born of this union is set to be the star of the next show. Audiences will see a return to Hillman College, a fictional historically black college in Virginia, as the couple's oldest daughter navigate the twists and turns of college life.

The sequel has been in discussion and development for sometime. However, regarding the conviction and legal issues surrounding Bill Cosby, the series had been put on hold. Cosby, 87, the creator of the original 'A Different World,' was found guilty of aggravated indecent assault against Andrea Constand in 2018.

While Cosby does not have a hand in the sequel, much of the original cast of 'A Different World' will reportedly reprise their roles. Casting has not yet been announced for the Felicia Prince executive produced series.

Although the series will be set in a more modern life, it will stylistically remain similar to the original spin-off with the classic single-cam, sitcom set up.

'A Different World' aired for six seasons on NBC from September 1987 to July 1993. The series originally centered on Denise Huxtable, played by Lisa Bonet, and her Hillman College friends. It was inspired by student life at HBCUs.

After Bonet exited the series in the first season, the remainder of the series primarily focused on Southern belle Whitley Gilbert-Wayne and math whiz Dwayne Cleophus Wayne, the only characters to have appeared in all 144 episodes.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD and Failte Ireland have today announced a 1 million investment through the Platforms for Growth Gala Dinner Venues Investment Scheme.

The investment has been allocated to five projects to facilitate the development of gala dinner venues of scale in four of Irelands business events hubs - Dublin, Kerry, the Shannon Region and Galway.

This investment will go towards the development and enhancement of the venues, to enable them to compete to win international business events for Ireland. It is estimated that 67million worth of incremental business events could be delivered for the country over a 5-year period on the back of this investment.

Gala dinners are a key component of international conferences, incentive trips, and large corporate meetings and Irelands current gala dinner venue offering is not sufficient to deal with demand. The Gala Dinner Venues Investment Scheme was established to accommodate demand in the market, and to ensure the sustainable growth of business events revenue, which is central to Failte Irelands sustainable tourism agenda.

The venues receiving capital investment funding from Failte Ireland under the Gala Dinner Venues Investment Scheme are:

Claregalway Castle, Galway

Custom House Quarter Ltd., Dublin

Killarney Brewing & Distilling Visitors Experience Limited, Kerry

Saint Marys Cathedral, Limerick

St Nicholas Collegiate Church, Galway

Todays announcement is the culmination of a competitive application process which began in 2022. The projects receiving investment were strategically selected under strict eligibility criteria, including an ability to deliver not only on capacity (350 diners for Dublin venues and 250 diners for venues in regional Ireland) but also on accessibility, in terms of their proximity to one of Irelands business events hubs.

The venues were also required to deliver on the wow factor, which means they had to offer an exceptional venue, in a spectacular location, which would instantly appeal to an international audience. The selected venues will be required to adhere to and promote sustainability best practice in the operation of the venue and should support the business events industry to deliver events complying with best practice environmental sustainability measures.

Minister Catherine Martin said: The business events industry is a key component of Irelands tourism offering and driver of economic benefit for Ireland, with an estimated contribution of almost 800 million to our economy and supporting 20,000 jobs. Todays investment announcement will ensure world-class venues are developed that will attract international business events to our key business events hubs. This is critical to strengthening Irelands reputation internationally as a leading business events destination and will have far reaching impact on Irelands tourism sector and the wider Irish economy.

Paul Kelly, CEO of Failte Ireland added: Business event delegates inject approximately three times more revenue into local economies than leisure travellers. Business events also benefit the wider tourism ecosystem by driving high-yield business often during mid-week and off-season periods, complementing leisure tourism patterns. The overall objective of this focused capital investment scheme is to facilitate the development of wow gala dinner venues of scale in Irelands premier business events hubs. We were encouraged to see the calibre of applicants and we are pleased that the five awarded projects will add truly best-in-class venues to the Irish venue portfolio.

The Gala Dinner Venues Investment Scheme is a part of Failte Irelands 150 million Platforms for Growth Programme, which falls under the Government's Project Ireland 2040 strategy. The Platforms for Growth Programme targets projects that have the greatest potential to grow tourism throughout the year.

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Hello, Northeast Ohio! A few years ago, I heard a great speech by Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau President, at an event here in Ohio. One of his points which resonated with me was the need for farmers to get outside of their fence rows to stretch their management skills and to advocate.

This past month, I had the opportunity to take Zippys advice and attend the 24th Congress of the International Farm Management Association held in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. This conference brought farmers, farm management consultants and university professionals together from across the globe to sharpen their farm management skills.

The theme of the congress was Resiliency through Innovation. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines resiliency as an ability to recover from or adjust easily to adversity or change and innovation as the introduction of something new.

The conference planning committee did a wonderful job in designing this conference to showcase how farm businesses, families, institutions and ecosystems in Canada are adapting to todays world through innovation.

During the conference, two days were spent listening to presentations at the University of Saskatchewan and two days out on farm tours throughout Saskatchewan. There were attendees from 20 countries stretching from New Zealand to Wales to Israel and beyond.

On the first tour day, I learned more about advancements in Canadas barley production and craft brewery industry with stops at the University of Saskatchewans barley research plots, Makers Crafted Malts, IntelliYeast and 9 Mile Legacy Brewery.

On the second tour day, I was able to visit the heart of the Saskatchewan dairy industry with visits to the Raynor Dairy Farm at the University of Saskatchewan, Twin Peaks Creamery, Hyljon Holsteins and Prairie West Dairies.

Each of these operations showcased a variety of management approaches which used scale, efficiency, innovation and value-added opportunities to create viable business models. With my dairy background, I really enjoyed learning more about the Canadian milk quota system which is completely different from our milk pricing system.

As I reflected on the conference, I tried to define the attributes which make these farmers more resilient, innovative and profitable than their counterparts. Following are a few common themes among them:

Strategic planning

If you fail to plan, plan to fail. Each farmer and presenter stressed the need to make strategic planning a normal part of business management. Emphasis was placed on not being afraid to pivot away from what has always been done. The key is knowing when to change and when to stay the course.

Holistic management

Farmers are on a treadmill which is hyper-focused on increasing output through the increasing use of commercial inputs. Many cited the need to look at our production systems more holistically. Our global counterparts are very in tune with the Paris Climate Accords and seem to be more aggressive in reducing their carbon footprint.

Some of the questions and statements posed in this area included: Why are we planting the below average ground? Would this land be better positioned to capture carbon or be used to increase biodiversity? Have higher crop profits hurt sustainability efforts? Many stressed the need to shepherd the use of fertilizer and treat it as precious and powerful. The paradigm must shift to farm the best land and farm it better.

Financial management

Small gains matter and farmers can go broke even if they work hard. Each farm we visited had strong accounting practices and cited the adage that you cant manage what you dont measure. Take time to review your financial ratios and benchmark yourself against others. The key is to have standardized and accurate data.

Relationships matter

Iron sharpens iron. Who are your closest advisors? Each of the farms we visited have utilized mentors, consultants and advisory boards to sharpen their management skills and to help them stay resilient. Who is on your team and how are they helping to sharpen your management skills?

Nuggets of wisdom

There were so many great nuggets of wisdom shared at this conference. Here are just a few that resonated with me:

 Is your legacy driven by profit or by heritage?

 I would worry a lot less, if I thought you were worrying enough.

 Maybe farmers need to just stew in their predicament.

 Dont bounce back, bounce forward.

 No is a complete sentence.

 Resentment is a cancer on a family farm.

 If you are not around the table  you are probably on the menu.

I encourage each of you to get out of your fence row to grow, survive and thrive in the face of todays obstacles.

And remember a quote from Mark Nepo who stated, We are stronger, gentler, more resilient and more beautiful than any of us imagine.

Have a good and safe day!
Editors note: This story was updated on 8/9/24

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio  The co-owners of New Slate Land Management were delighted when they signed a contract to manage vegetation at a proposed utility-scale solar farm in Knox County, Ohio.

Instead of mowers, theyd use sheep to keep the grass and weeds down under the solar panels at Frasier Solar, a 120-megawatt, 840-acre project being developed by Open Road Renewables in Clinton and Miller townships.

The contract was announced in March with fanfare by a public relations firm representing the developer. This dual-use of the land  creating renewable energy for the grid while maintaining the lands agricultural use  seemed like a win in an industry that sometimes stirs controversy in the rural communities where its proposed.

For their part, with the agreement signed, New Slate co-owners Brad and Katie Carothers, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, could begin increasing their small sheep flock to be ready to graze in 2028, when the Frasier Solar project is scheduled for completion.

This is an opportunity for us to farm, Katie said. Brad and I own 6 and  acres, but we can farm thousands by providing this vegetation management service. Thats what were getting paid to do. To keep the grass down and keep the solar working efficiently.

But, two groups formed to try to stop the Frasier Solar Project: Knox Smart Development and Preserve Knox County Ohio. At the first local public hearing for the project in April, more than 140 people registered to give testimony before the Ohio Power Siting Board. Not all of them were in support of the project or the local entrepreneurial sheep farmers.

Residents opposed to the project wore matching yellow T-shirts featuring the message, No Industrial Solar. They heckled the Carothers, making baaing animal sounds when the couple offered testimony to the board.

The public comment went on so long that first night that the board had to schedule two additional hearings to accommodate all the speakers, something thats never happened before.

The situation in Knox County underscores the complex and, at times uneasy, relationship between farmers, the land and the communities around them.

Who gets a say in how farmland can be used? For farmers with an asset of acreage but no family ready to take over, solar may be a viable economic option.

Central Ohio is primed for development, said Camren Maierle, Carotherss partner in New Slate. You can land bank your acreage for 30 years, get paid, have a sustainable grassland ecosystem  ideally have sheep on it  and in 30 years the next generation may come along and use the acreage for agriculture.

City people try farming

The Carothers grew up in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio and attended Miami University of Ohio. When they decided to try a rural lifestyle, they had several ideas about crops and farming.

I started raising cut flowers, mostly for weddings, Katie Carothers said. A botany major, she shipped flowers as far as New York and Chicago and supplied local wedding venues.

They had horses but needed to control vegetation near a septic leach field. Cows and horses were too heavy for the area.

Theres a lovely grove of locust trees that was hard to mow, so we got three sheep, Katie Carothers said. We immediately got hooked.

They learned more about sheep, got involved with the National Sheep Improvement Program, which focuses on improving genetics based on various data points, and began raising Katahdin breeding stock. They had enough space on their small farm for about 80 ewes.

New connections

As they learned more and got to know other sheep farmers, they formed a partnership with a farmer in the Newark area. Camren Maierle raised his first lamb as a 4-H project when he was 10 years old.

My grandmother called it an I owe ewe, he said. His interest in farming grew throughout his childhood and he attended college with the idea of farming on the side.

I know many individuals who do that, Maierle said. While pursuing a degree at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster, Ohio, he discovered opportunities in animal research, and pursued an advanced degree with West Virginia University in the Parasite Immunology Lab. After completing his doctorate, he worked for Penn State University Extension, specializing in sheep.

He now serves as sustainability director for the American Lamb Board. According to Maierle, about 70% of lamb purchased by consumers in the US is imported from New Zealand, Australia and other international locations. There is vast room for growth in the domestic lamb market.

Maierle and his wife Megan swapped rams with the Carothers and discovered they had much in common. While traveling together from Ohio to a conference in North Carolina, Maierle and Brad Carothers discussed forming a partnership to provide grazing sheep for vegetation management.

They created New Slate Land Management and currently manage a vegetation-control contract with Oberlin College, tailoring their sheep to the property when needed. They discussed ways to build their flock.

Land is so expensive, Brad Carothers said.

Then, the Carothers received a postcard from an opposition group in Mt. Vernon warning about a proposed solar farm. Katie saw the solar farm as an opportunity for them.

Providing vegetation management around the array of solar panels, known in the industry as solar grazing, seemed like a perfect chance for them to expand grazing to raise more sheep.

Solar grazing

Utility-scale solar farms use vegetation to protect soil from erosion, and the grass must be cut to prevent it from growing over the solar panels.

According to the American Solar Grazing Association, a group formed several years ago to promote the practice, sheep are the best grazing animals for maintaining vegetation. Sheep are small enough to go under and around panels, but not mischievous like goats, so they dont chew on wires or jump on panels. Theyre also ideal for clearing the areas around the posts that hold up the solar panels.

Solar grazing is also a way to keep farmland in agricultural use while producing renewable energy, which provides income for the farmers who own the property. This dual purpose use of the land is beneficial for farms and good for the environment.

After getting the postcard and discussing ideas, New Slate Land Management connected with Open Road Renewables about the Frasier Solar project.

Maierle said the developer was immediately interested in solar grazing. While Open Road Renewables knows energy and development, they had little experience with agriculture. Maierle was delighted when they asked how to make the Frasier Solar project a grazing-friendly site.

Its so encouraging to work with a company with a commitment to doing the right thing, Maierle said. He sees the project as a symbiotic relationship with two industries that can benefit multiple markets.

Young farmers benefit from accessing land they can use for their livestock; consumers will benefit with a locally-grown protein source and generation of electricity.

Demand for electricity, particularly that which comes from renewable sources, is only increasing in central Ohio.

Development has exploded in the area, with construction underway for companies such as Intel, Amazon and Microsoft, all of which also have pledged to reduce carbon emissions and increase use of renewable energy.

According to Scott Blake, spokesman for local electricity utility American Electric Power, current peak demand for electricity in central Ohio is about 4,500 megawatts.

We currently have requests for an additional 30,000 megawatts by 2030, Blake said.

Solar and wind will be part of the future, Blake said but it will take all forms of energy to meet the coming demand, including natural gas, coal and even nuclear.

Opposition groups

None of this has assuaged the concerns of some local residents in Knox County who dread living near the solar panels after living for decades beside their neighbors farm fields.

Photos on Knox Smart Developments website show flooded solar fields in Ohio, along with pictures of damaged solar panels from Texas. The group emphasizes the need to protect farmland from this potential damage. Preserve Knox County Ohio points to potential toxic chemicals in the panels themselves, along with declining property values seen around other solar fields.

Residents who spoke at the hearing against the Frasier Solar project expressed similar concerns, including worries about potential flooding risks. In addition, those who live near the area were concerned about the noise of construction and noise from the solar inverters that convert the sunlight to electricity. Solar inverters do make noise: about 65 decibels, which is about the level of an air conditioner or refrigerator. A gas-powered car traveling down the road at 60 miles per hour is about 73 decibels.

Others opposed to the project worried about potential harm to wildlife. Another concern was the loss of prime farmland.

None of the landowners who had leased land for Frasier Solar spoke during public hearings for the project, but they did submit written testimony in support of the project to the Ohio Power Siting Board.

Others spoke out in support of their rights as property owners. The lease for this project is 40 years, giving owners steady income for generations.

People who say, Were losing farmland are missing the point that farmers are choosing what to do with their land, Katie Carothers said.

One resident mentioned the possibility of the land being sold to developers for new houses instead of being leased for the solar project.

Other supporters spoke about the positive environmental impact of expanding the use of renewable energy like reduced air pollution compared with burning fossil fuels.

I talk to a lot of people who are against these projects. They seem to think these projects arent regulated, but thats not true, Katie said. We have all these conditions that we have to comply with, and we keep learning how to do this better.

In Ohio, the OPSB established state laws that require soil testing along with other requirements to assure compliance with the most recent safety research.

Whats next?

The Frasier Solar project is pending, still working its way through the OPSBs approval process. The next step is an Aug. 19 evidentiary hearing, held at the boards office in Columbus.

The public is welcome to attend, but only interveners will give testimony. They will also be required to respond to cross-examination by lawyers representing Frasier Solar, Knox Smart Development and Preserve Knox County Ohio.

While that goes on, New Slate Land Management is leasing farmland in Kentucky to build their flock. The Carothers had to move south to get access to enough farmland to expand their operation.

We hope the Frasier project goes through, said Katie. It would help the sheep industry to have a developer who is so keen to use agrivoltaics and its good opportunity for us too.
Farming groups have expressed 'serious concerns' over the current state of the UKs border controls, as a new letter is sent to Defra demanding action is taken.

It highlights the industrys anxieties over border control failings and the import of legal and illegal products of animal origin (POAO).

The letter was sent to Defra on behalf of the Livestock Chain Advisory Group (LCAG), which consists of 26 industry groups, including the UK farming unions.

It says the UK governments record on introducing effective post-Brexit border controls that protect farmers from damaging plant and animal diseases 'continues to be woeful'.

As a result of 'lax and ineffective' border controls on both legal and illegal imports, farmers remain exposed to 'hugely destructive' diseases such as African swine fever.

This virus has a growing presence in parts of Europe, with the letter warning that it has the potential to wipe out the British pig industry.

It comes as the second phase of the UK governments Border Target Operating Model commenced in April.

Since then, physical and identity checks were meant to apply to medium and high-risk animal products, plants and plant products entering the UK from the EU on a risk-based approach.

But NFU Scotland vice president Andrew Connon said it was clear that the system "continues to fail".

"Scant regard is being paid to the level of checks required, leaving our producers exposed to unacceptable levels of risk, he said.

The new government must step up to the plate immediately to address border control failings and deliver an acceptable level of implementation and inspection.

It must make safeguarding the nations food safety a priority and give the health of our plants and animals the protection needed.

As well as ensuring border checks on legitimate imports from the EU, through control points, are appropriate, additional resource to target illegal imports through other ports must be found.

The National Pig Association (NPA), which is a member of the LCAG, told Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner in a recent meeting that border controls, including at Dover, was the industry's number one priority. The minister responded by saying it was also his main priority.

A Defra spokesperson said preventing an outbreak of ASF in the UK remains one of our key biosecurity priorities.

He said Port Health Authority (PHA) officers are supporting enforcement of the ASF safeguards, alongside Border Force at ports and airports in England.
The Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group (TSDG) has announced it will reduce the number of dairy farmers directly supplying the retailer for its own label fresh milk.

The TSDG, which was established in 2007 and now has roughly 400 farmers, explained that the decision will affect 'a small number' of dairy farms.

Those affected will be given 12 months notice, it said, with further details expected to be announced next month.

The TSDG is the first supermarket aligned contract and is the largest group of dairy farmers working directly with a retailer in the UK.

NFU Scotland Milk committee chair, Bruce Mackie said the news would "likely see some Scottish dairy farmers lose that contract even after those who opt to voluntarily retire from production are taken into account."

"We will use our network of members to assess how the decision will affect them and how we can assist," he said.

Given the current fluctuation and uncertainty around milk prices and contracts, it is imperative that the affected farms are not disadvantaged during the 12 months notice period.

A Tesco spokesperson said these changes will allow the retailer to buy a higher proportion of each farms milk, while also encouraging farmers to continue to adopt sustainable farming practices.

These improvements will result in a more sustainable dairy group for the future," they added.
Aliens are too lazy to explore Earth.

Aliens don't feel the need to come to Earth

A NASA expert has suggested that humans are yet to encounter extraterrestrial life as the little green men have already achieved a "sustainable population" on their own planet.

Scientists reached the conclusion after tests searching for alien solar panels on a nearby exoplanet with a next-generation space telescope failed to find any evidence.

The US space agency added that the aliens could have used "relatively modest" amounts of energy to enjoy a "very high standard of living".

Ravi Kopparapu, of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, said: "The implication is that civilisations may not feel compelled to expand energy all over the galaxy because they may achieve sustainable population and energy-usage levels even if they choose a very high standard of living.

"They may expand within their own solar system, or even within nearby star systems, but galaxy-spanning civilisations may not exist."
Lonely people are more likely to have nightmares.

Lonely people are more likely to have nightmares

A new theory has linked social isolation to an increased possibility of having bad dreams and adds to previous research warning of the dangerous health consequences of loneliness.

Boffins at four universities in the US propose that loneliness - which has also been linked to heart disease and stroke - evolved to warn humans that their social connections are lacking.

Dr. Colin Hesse, an expert at Oregon State University, said: "When people's need for strong relationships goes unmet, they suffer physically, mentally and socially.

"Just like hunger or fatigue means you haven't gotten enough calories or sleep, loneliness has evolved to alert individuals when their needs for interpersonal connection are going unfulfilled."

He added: "It's too early to talk about specific interventions in a concrete sort of way, but our findings are certainly consistent with the possibility that treating loneliness would help lessen someone's nightmare experiences.

"That's a possibility to address in controlled, clinical studies."
Josh Hartnett and Tamsin Egerton met in the "most Hollywood way imaginable".

Josh Hartnett married Tamsin Egerton in 2021

The 46-year-old actor has been married to the 35-year-old actress since 2021, and Josh has now revealed the details of how their love story unfolded.

The actor - who starred alongside his wife in the 2013 adventure film 'The Lovers' - told Interview magazine: "[We met in] the most Hollywood way imaginable.

"We played husband and wife in the worst movie either of us have ever made. No offence to the director, itll remain nameless.

"It just got lost in post-production."

Josh and Tamsin were both dating different people at the time. But the celebrity duo fell in love during the shoot and they subsequently embarked "on a long road trip" together in the US.

The actor - who now lives in the UK with his family - shared: "We were shooting here in London and both had significant others, and both realised that wasnt going to work because we really liked each other.

"So I broke up with my girlfriend, she broke up with her boyfriend, and then after we stopped filming, we started to date. But I was living in New York and she was living in London, so we went on a few vacations together.

"Then she came out to the States and we went on a long road trip where she met my parents and it kept going. And then she kept staying with me and I kept staying with her. We were living a lot of the time between houses together, and then she got pregnant and then we got married."
Blake Lively is a "very shy person".

Blake Lively admits to being shy

The 36-year-old actress enjoys her day job because she's "playing a character" - but Blake admits she doesn't enjoy doing photo shoots and other promotional work.

The blonde beauty - who is married to actor Ryan Reynolds - told Vogue magazine: "Im a very shy person, so I dont like doing photo shoots, really. Because when Im acting, Im playing a character. And I dont  I dont feel super comfortable in front of a camera. Its part of why I dont want to be in magazines."

Despite this, Hugh Jackman - Blake's showbiz pal - considers the actress and Ryan to be "megawatt stars".

The 55-year-old actor - who stars alongside Ryan in 'Deadpool and Wolverine' - explained: "These are like old-school megawatt stars  and of course Ive spent many hours with them, like in pyjamas just hanging out in their house with their nine hundred children and dogs and it is just as normal as can be, and Blake will be baking and cooking and saying, Lets make pizza, and then the next thing you turn around and there she is, this incredible star.

"Its  its astonishing to me."

Earlier this week, Blake revealed that Ryan sent her a bouquet of flowers once a week while they were dating.

The Hollywood star told PEOPLE: "When my husband and I first got together, he would send me a bouquet of flowers every week, but he would always send a card and it would just be a sentence of something that had happened that week. Something funny or emotional that one of us said.

"It was just a little quote of the week. It was such a beautiful, romantic thing."
Despite the recent political unrest in Bangladesh, the countrys vital readymade garment (RMG) industry is gradually resuming operations, with factory owners expressing cautious optimism about the future. Key stakeholders in the industry have shared their perspectives on the current situation and its potential impact on garment production and international trade.

Ahammed Ali Babu, director of marketing & merchandising at Blue Planet Group, confirmed that garment factories under their management have resumed operations as of today. "All is now under control and hope will continue smoothly," Babu told Fibre2Fashion, signalling confidence in the stability of the situation.

Similarly, SiATEX (BD) Limited, another significant player in the industry, has reported a return to normalcy. "Please note here, everything is under control, and all garment factories are open and working!" said Anupam Dutta.

Bangladesh's RMG industry is resuming operations, with factory owners expressing cautious optimism. Key industry players have reported a return to normalcy, but concerns remain about potential long-term impacts. Raihan Mahmud noted that while buyers are understanding, there is a risk of orders shifting to other countries if stability isn't ensured soon.

However, the political scenario's impact on the industry cannot be ignored. Raihan Mahmud, owner of Tex Garment Zone, a major player in the apparel sector of Bangladesh, highlighted concerns despite resuming operations. "Yesterday we found worker attendance at 80 per cent after remaining closed from August 5 to 6," Mahmud told F2F. He expressed concerns about the long-term implications if the unrest continues, noting that buyers are currently understanding but have requested extra efforts to ensure timely deliveries.

Mahmud further stated, If the situation continues, long term order placements might be uncertain, and they may shift orders to Pakistan, India and China. We hope interim government will be established today and they will make sure enough security for all factories and restructure the administration.

As the political situation evolves, the resilience of Bangladeshs garment industry will be put to the test, with its ability to maintain production and meet international demands hanging in the balance.

The RMG industry is vital for the country as it accounts for 80-85 per cent of its foreign exchange earnings.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)
Turkiye recently hiked the tax imposed on goods purchased abroad and ordered via mail and cargo by 66-100 per cent, according to the official gazette.

Tax on goods arriving from the European Union (EU) with a value not exceeding 30 has been raised from 18 per cent to 30 per cent, while that on goods bought from other countries was increased from 30 per cent to 60 per cent.

The international fast shipping shopping limit was reduced from 150 to 30, according to Turkish media outlets.

Turkiye has hiked the tax on goods purchased abroad and ordered via mail and cargo by 66-100 per cent. Tax on goods arriving from the EU with a value not exceeding 30 has been raised from 18 per cent to 30 per cent, while that on goods bought from other countries was raised from 30 per cent to 60 per cent. The decision will enter into force this month.

The decision will enter into force this month.

Trade minister Omer Bolat recently said the government is monitoring cheap shopping sites abroad.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Garment exports from Sri Lanka were valued at $2,206.3 million during the first six months of 2024, marking a decline of 1.4 per cent compared to the $2,236.7 million exported during the same period in the previous year, according to statistics released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

During January-June 2024, textile exports from the island nation dropped by 15.0 per cent year-on-year, totalling $146.6 million. The exports of other made-up textile articles were valued at $55.2 million during the same period, an increase of 7.3 per cent, as detailed in the bank's report titled 'External Sector Performance  June 2024'.

Sri Lanka's garment exports declined by 1.4 per cent to $2.2 billion in the first half of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. Textile exports fell by 15 per cent, while exports of other made-up textile articles rose by 7.3 per cent. Overall, textiles and garments accounted for nearly 50 per cent of the country's industrial exports.

Exports of textiles, garments, and other manufactured textile articles collectively accounted for 49.78 per cent of all industrial exports from Sri Lanka during the reviewed period, the report indicated. All textile product exports amounted to $2,408.1 million in January-June 2024, while Sri Lanka's total industrial exports were valued at $4,837.2 million in the same period.

In June 2024, all textile product exports from the country increased by 4.0 per cent year-on-year, totalling $447.2 million. Category-wise, garment exports increased by 4.0 per cent to $409.1 million, while textile exports rose by 4.3 per cent to $29.0 million. Exports of other manufactured textile articles edged up by 3.2 per cent, amounting to $9.1 million.

On the other hand, imports of textiles and textile articles increased by 11.2 per cent to $1,327.5 million, while imports of clothing and accessories edged up by 16.0 per cent, amounting to $99.0 million in January-June 2024. In June 2024, imports of textiles and textile articles increased by 20.2 per cent to $233.3 million, while imports of clothing and accessories rose by 4.2 per cent to $14.7 million.

In 2023, garment exports from Sri Lanka were valued at $4,440.6 million, which was 19 per cent lower than the exports of $5,483.1 million in 2022. The imports of textiles and textile articles had declined by 22.6 per cent to $2,371.2 million, and Sri Lanka's imports of clothing and accessories were down by 21.1 per cent, amounting to $170 million in 2023.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
TSX: MPVD

TORONTO, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. ("Mountain Province", the "Company") (TSX: MPVD) today announces financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024 ("the Quarter" or "Q2 2024") from the Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine ("GK Mine"). All figures are expressed in Canadian Dollars unless otherwise noted.

Q2 2024 Key Takeaways

557,361 carats were sold for total proceeds of $56.8 million (US$41.5 million) at an average price of $102 per carat (US$74).

Adjusted EBITDA 1 of $24.0 million.

of $24.0 million. Earnings from mine operations of $12.0 million.

Net loss of $6.5 million or $0.03 basic and diluted loss per share.

1Cash costs of production, including capitalized stripping costs, and adjusted EBITDA are non-IFRS measures with no standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS. See "Reconciliation of non-IFRS measures" at the end of the news release for explanation and reconciliation.

Mark Wall, the Company's President, and Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"The first half (H1) of 2024 has produced adjusted EBITDA of $74.0 million, which was supported by the Q2 adjusted EBITDA of $24.0 million. These results came in the context of a softer diamond market and the grade challenges in Q2, as previously reported.

The processing facility at Gahcho Kue continued to operate well. For H1 2024 the main metric of the processing plant 'OPU' (utilisation), was 81.5%, versus 72.6% for H1 of 2023. These results continue to come from the work undertaken through 2023 and into 2024 to improve the performance of the processing plant.

On costs, we have finished H1 2024 with $105 per tonne treated, against our 2024 guidance of $124-$136 on a full year basis, and $72 per carat recovered, against our full year guidance of $96-$107 per carat. At all levels of the business, we will continue to focus on operational efficiency and cost control as we move into the second half of the year."

Financial Highlights for Q2 2024

Revenue from 557,361 carats sold at $56.8 million (US$41.5 million) at an average realised value of $102 per carat (US$74) compared to $59.9 million from 360,308 carats sold in Q2 2023 (US$44.6 million) at an average realized value of $166 per carat (US$124).

Adjusted EBITDA 1 of $24.0 million compared to $31.5 million in Q2 2023.

of $24.0 million compared to $31.5 million in Q2 2023. Earnings from mine operations of $12.0 million compared to $26.9 million in Q2 2023.

Cash costs of production, including capitalized stripping costs 1 of $119 per tonne treated (2023: $156 per tonne) and $87 per carat recovered (2023: $87 per carat).

of $119 per tonne treated (2023: $156 per tonne) and $87 per carat recovered (2023: $87 per carat). Net loss of $6.5 million or $0.03 loss per share (2023: $17.3 million or $0.08 earnings per share). Included in the determination of net income are foreign exchange losses of $3.0 million, the majority of which is an unrealized loss arising on the translation of the Company's US Dollar denominated long term debt, because of the weakening of the Canadian Dollar versus US Dollar.

1Cash costs of production, including capitalized stripping costs, and Adjusted EBITDA are non-IFRS measures with no standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS. See the Non-IFRS Measures section of the Company's June 30, 2024 MD&A for explanation and reconciliation.

Operational Highlights for Q2 2024

(all figures reported on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated)

965,984 ore tonnes treated, 29% higher than Q2 2023 (750,241 tonnes treated)

1,318,680 carats recovered, 2% lower than Q2 2023 (1,339,196 carats recovered)

Average grade of 1.37 carats per tonne treated, 24% lower than Q2 2023 (1.79 carats per tonne)

971,311 ore tonnes mined, 63% higher than Q2 2023 (595,990 ore tonnes mined)

Sales Highlights for Q2 2024

As previously released, during the second quarter, 557,361 carats were sold for total proceeds of $56.8 million (US$41.5 million), resulting in an average price of $102 per carat (US$74 per carat). These results compare to Q2 2023 where 360,308 carats were sold for total proceeds of $59.9 million (US$44.6 million) at an average price per carat of $166 per carat (US$124 per carat).

Financial Highlights for H1 2024

Total sales revenue of $146.3 million (US$107.7 million) at an average realised value of $98 per carat (US$72) compared to $188.6 million in 2023 (US$139.6 million) at an average realized value of $143 per carat (US$106).

Adjusted EBITDA 2 of $74.0 million (H1 2023: $99.7).

of $74.0 million (H1 2023: $99.7). Earnings from mine operations of $42.4 million (H1 2023: $74.1 million).

Cash costs of production, including capitalized stripping costs 2 , of $105 per tonne treated (H1 2023: $155 per tonne) and $72 per carat recovered (H1 2023: $89 per carat).

, of $105 per tonne treated (H1 2023: $155 per tonne) and $72 per carat recovered (H1 2023: $89 per carat). Net income of $0.3 million or $0.00 basic and diluted earnings per share (H1 2023 $45.5 million or $0.22 basic earnings per share and $0.21 diluted earnings per share). Included in the determination of the net income for H1 2024, are foreign exchange losses of $9.2 million, the majority of which is an unrealized loss on the translation of the Company's US Dollar denominated long term debt arising because of the weakening of the Canadian Dollar versus US Dollar.

Capital expenditures $35.9 million, $30.9 million of which were deferred stripping costs, with the remaining $5 million for sustaining capital expenditures related to mine operations.

2Cash costs of production, including capitalized stripping costs, and Adjusted EBITDA are non-IFRS measures with no standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS. See the Non-IFRS Measures section of the Company's June 30, 2024 MD&A for explanation and reconciliation.

Operational Highlights for H1 2024

(all figures reported on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated)

15,800,000 total tonnes mined, 13% lower than 18,200,000 total tonnes mined in H1 2023.

1,772,000 tonnes of ore treated 17% higher than 1,517,000 tonnes treated in H1 2023.

2,584,000 carats recovered at an average grade of 1.46 carats per tonne, 3% lower than 2,659,000 carats, (1.75 carats per tonne) recovered in H1 2023.

Gahcho Kue Mine Operations

The following table summarizes key operating statistics for the Gahcho Kue Mine in the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, and 2023.





Three months ended Three months ended Six months ended Six months ended





June 30, 2024 June 30, 2023 June 30, 2024 June 30, 2023















GK operating data











Mining











*Ore tonnes mined kilo tonnes 971 596 2,918 1,024

*Waste tonnes mined kilo tonnes 6,941 8,639 12,879 17,146

*Total tonnes mined kilo tonnes 7,912 9,235 15,797 18,170

*Ore in stockpile kilo tonnes 3,464 1,266 3,464 1,266















Processing











*Ore tonnes processed kilo tonnes 966 750 1,772 1,517

*Average plant throughput tonnes per day 10,615 8,333 9,736 8,290

*Average diamond recovery carats per tonne 1.37 1.79 1.46 1.75

*Diamonds recovered 000's carats 1,319 1,339 2,584 2,659

Approximate diamonds recovered - Mountain Province 000's carats 646 656 1,266 1,303

Cash costs of production per tonne of ore, net of capitalized stripping ** $ 84 100 69 100

Cash costs of production per tonne of ore, including capitalized stripping** $ 119 156 105 155

Cash costs of production per carat recovered, net of capitalized stripping** $ 62 56 48 57

Cash costs of production per carat recovered, including capitalized stripping** $ 87 87 72 89















Sales











Approximate diamonds sold - Mountain Province*** 000's carats 557 360 1,495 1,321

Average diamond sales price per carat US $ 74 $ 124 $ 72 $ 106



* at 100% interest in the Gahcho Kue Mine **See Non-IFRS Measures section of the Company's June 30, 2024 MD&A for explanation and reconciliation ***Includes the sales directly to De Beers for fancies and specials acquired by De Beers through the production split bidding process

Financial Performance





Three months ended Three months ended Six months ended Six months ended (in thousands of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise noted)

June 30, 2024 June 30, 2023 June 30, 2024 June 30, 2023











Sales $ 56,818 59,918 146,256 188,575 Carats sold 000's carats 557 360 1,495 1,321 Average price per carat sold $/carat 102 166 98 143 Cost of sales per carat* $/carat 80 92 69 87 Earnings from mine operations per carat $ 22 74 29 56 Earnings from mine operations % 22 % 45 % 29 % 39 % Selling, general and administrative expenses $ 2,768 3,223 6,310 7,230 Operating income $ 9,071 20,351 35,831 61,442 Net (loss) income for the period $ (6,524) 17,318 340 45,542 Basic(loss) earnings per share $ (0.03) 0.08 0.00 0.22 Diluted (loss) earnings per share $ (0.03) 0.08 0.00 0.21

* This cost of sales per carat includes the cost of acquiring 51% of the fancies and specials which have been sold, after having been won in a tendering process with De Beers Canada.

Conference Call

The Company will host its quarterly conference call on Thursday, August 8th, 2024, at 11:00AM Eastern Time.

Title: Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. Q2 2024 Earnings Conference Call

Date of call: 08/08/2024

Time of call: 11:00AM Eastern Time

Expected Duration: 60 minutes

Webcast Link:

https://app.webinar.net/94JwoV1MRDG

Participant Toll-Free Dial-In Number: (+1) 800-836-8184

Participant International Dial-In Number: (+1) 289-819-1350

A replay of the webcast and audio call will be available on the Company's website following the call.

Reconciliation of Non-IFRS measures

This news release refers to the terms "Cash costs of production per tonne of ore processed" and "Cash costs of production per carat recovered," both including and net of capitalized stripping costs and "Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes Depreciation and Amortization (Adjusted EBITDA)" and "Adjusted EBITDA Margin." Each of these is a non-IFRS performance measure and is referenced to provide investors with information about the measures used by management to monitor performance. These measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. They do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

Cash costs of production per tonne of ore processed and cash costs of production per carat recovered are used by management to analyze the actual cash costs associated with processing the ore, and for each recovered carat. Differences from production costs reported within cost of sales are attributed to the amount of production cost included in ore stockpile and rough diamond inventories.

Adjusted EBITDA is used by management to analyze the operational cash flows of the Company, as compared to the net income for accounting purposes. It is also a measure which is defined in the Notes documents. Adjusted EBITDA margin is used by management to analyze the operational margin % on cash flows of the Company.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin with the net (loss) income on the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income:





Three months ended Three months ended Six months ended Six months ended



June 30, 2024 June 30, 2023 June 30, 2024 June 30, 2023











Net (loss) income for the period

$ (6,524) $ 17,318 $ 340 $ 45,542 Add/deduct:









Non-cash depreciation and depletion

14,270 10,640 36,374 35,958 Loss on sale of equipment

527 - 527 - Share-based payment expense

128 366 370 706 Fair value gain of warrants

(1,315) (563) (1,856) (709) Loss (gain) on lease

9 - (46) - Finance expenses

10,711 9,578 21,048 19,739 Derivative losses (gains)

2,462 (1,936) 4,802 (871) Deferred income taxes

760 2,080 3,085 3,900 Current income taxes

150 150 300 900 Unrealized foreign exchange losses (gains)

2,863 (6,154) 9,050 (5,509) Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and depletion (Adjusted EBITDA)

$ 24,041 $ 31,479 $ 73,994 $ 99,656 Sales

56,818 59,918 146,256 188,575 Adjusted EBITDA margin

42 % 53 % 51 % 53 %

The following table provides a reconciliation of the cash costs of production per tonne of ore processed and per carat recovered and the production costs reported within cost of sales on the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income:





Three months ended Three months ended Six months ended Six months ended (in thousands of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise noted)

June 30, 2024 June 30, 2023 June 30, 2024 June 30, 2023











Cost of sales production costs $ 27,008 18,619 59,736 67,735 Timing differences due to inventory and other non-cash adjustments $ 12,822 18,284 429 6,449 Cash cost of production of ore processed, net of capitalized stripping $ 39,830 36,903 60,165 74,184 Cash costs of production of ore processed, including capitalized stripping $ 56,126 57,223 91,053 115,464











Tonnes processed kilo tonnes 473 367 868 743 Carats recovered 000's carats 646 656 1,266 1,303











Cash costs of production per tonne of ore, net of capitalized stripping $ 84 100 69 100 Cash costs of production per tonne of ore, including capitalized stripping $ 119 156 105 155 Cash costs of production per carat recovered, net of capitalized stripping $ 62 56 48 57 Cash costs of production per carat recovered, including capitalized stripping $ 87 87 72 89

About Mountain Province Diamonds Inc.

Mountain Province Diamonds is a 49% participant with De Beers Canada in the Gahcho Kue diamond mine located in Canada's Northwest Territories. The Gahcho Kue Joint Venture property consists of several kimberlites that are actively being mined, developed, and explored for future development. The Company also controls more than 113,000 hectares of highly prospective mineral claims and leases surrounding the Gahcho Kue Mine that include an Indicated mineral resource for the Kelvin kimberlite and Inferred mineral resources for the Faraday kimberlites. Kelvin is estimated to contain 13.62 million carats (Mct) in 8.50 million tonnes (Mt) at a grade of 1.60 carats/tonne and value of US$63/carat, at February 2019. Faraday 2 is estimated to contain 5.45Mct in 2.07Mt at a grade of 2.63 carats/tonne and value of US$140/ct, at February 2019. Faraday 1-3 is estimated to contain 1.90Mct in 1.87Mt at a grade of 1.04 carats/tonne and value of US$75/carat, at February 2019. All resource estimations are based on a 1mm diamond size bottom cut-off.

Qualified Person

The disclosure in this news release of scientific and technical information regarding Mountain Province's mineral properties has been reviewed and approved by Dan Johnson, P.Eng., a director of Mountain Province Diamonds and Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian and United States securities laws concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to operational hazards, including possible disruption due to pandemic such as COVID-19, its impact on travel, self-isolation protocols and business and operations, estimated production and mine life of the project of Mountain Province; the realization of mineral reserve estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production; costs of production; the future price of diamonds; the estimation of mineral reserves and resources; the ability to manage debt; capital expenditures; the ability to obtain permits for operations; liquidity; tax rates; and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Except for statements of historical fact relating to Mountain Province, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates," "may," "can," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "targets," "intends," "likely," "will," "should," "to be", "potential" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "should" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are based on several assumptions and 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. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Mountain Province and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.

Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include the development of operation hazards which could arise in relation to COVID-19, including, but not limited to protocols which may be adopted to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and any impact of such protocols on Mountain Province's business and operations, variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in market conditions, changes in project parameters, mine sequencing; production rates; cash flow; risks relating to the availability and timeliness of permitting and governmental approvals; supply of, and demand for, diamonds; fluctuating commodity prices and currency exchange rates, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated.

These factors are discussed in greater detail in Mountain Province's most recent Annual Information Form and in the most recent MD&A filed on SEDAR, which also provide additional general assumptions in connection with these statements. Mountain Province cautions that the foregoing list of crucial factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Mountain Province believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.

Although Mountain Province has attempted to identify crucial 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 anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Mountain Province 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. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered as the property is developed.

Further, Mountain Province may make changes to its business plans that could affect its results. The principal assets of Mountain Province are administered pursuant to a joint venture under which Mountain Province is not the operator. Mountain Province is exposed to actions taken or omissions made by the operator within its prerogative and/or determinations made by the joint venture under its terms. Such actions or omissions may impact the future performance of Mountain Province. Under its current note and revolving credit facilities Mountain Province is subject to certain limitations on its ability to pay dividends on common stock. The declaration of dividends is at the discretion of Mountain Province's Board of Directors, subject to the limitations under the Company's debt facilities, and will depend on Mountain Province's financial results, cash requirements, prospects, and other factors deemed relevant by the Board

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Mark Wall, President, and CEO, 161 Bay Street, Suite 1410, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2S1, Phone: (416) 361-3562, E-mail: info@mountainprovince.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mountain-province-diamonds-announces-second-quarter-financial-results-for-2024-302217293.html
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - August 7, 2024) - LithiumBank Resources Corp. (TSXV: LBNK) (OTCQX: LBNKF) ("LithiumBank" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the filing of the National Instrument ("NI") 43-101 Technical Report for the Park Place Lithium-Brine Project located in West- Central Alberta, Canada (Figure 1) entitled "LithiumBank Resources Corp. Park Place NI 43-101 Technical Report" effectively dated June 24, 2024. The Park Place resource estimate highlights was originally announced by the Company on June 24, 2024. The Park Place Technical Report can be found on the Company's website and on SEDAR+.

Park Place Resource Estimate Highlights include:

Park Place is the largest known NI 43-101 inferred lithium brine resource estimate in North America.

Highest known reported lithium-in-brine grades used in a NI 43-101 inferred lithium resource estimate in Alberta.

10,076,000 tonnes inferred LCE within the Leduc Fm aquifer at an average of 79.4 mg/L lithium.

11,620,000 tonnes inferred LCE within the Swan Hills Fm aquifer, which underlies the Leduc Formation, at an average of 80.9 mg/L lithium.

Multiple high porosity areas occur that have a combined Leduc & Swan Hills Fm thickness of over 350 metres, and as high as 511 m, to be studied for potential selection of future PEA.

Subsurface reservoir modelling conducted by SLB and Matrix included data from 420 wells, 104 km 2 of 3D seismic data and 262 km of two-dimensional seismic data.

The subsurface reservoir model will assist in planning well networks and locations in future economic and engineering studies such as a PEA; and

Park Place bulk brine sample collection to occur in H2 2024 to be included in the 10,000 L/day direct lithium extraction ("DLE") pilot plant test work located in the Company's DLE facility in Calgary, Alberta.

Reporting Parameters Leduc Fm Domain Swan Hills Fm Domain Combined Total Total Volume (km3)1 501.2 660.5 1,161.70 Pore Volume (km3)2 25.1 28.4 53.5 Average Li Concentration (mg/L) 79.4 80.9 80.23 Average Effective Porosity (%) 5 4.3 4.64 Average Brine Pore Space (%) 95 95 95 Total Elemental Li Resource (tonnes) 1,893,000 2,183,000 4,076,000 Total LCE (tonnes) 10,076,000 11,620,000 21,697,000

1. Total volume of rock and pore space

2. Total volume of effective porosity

3. Calculated using a weighted average (by pore volume) from the average grade of the Leduc and Swan Hills formations

4. Calculated using a weighted average porosity by total formation volume for both Leduc and Swan Hills formations

Note 1: Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no guarantee that all or any part of the mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by geology, environment, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.

Note 2: The weights are reported in metric tonnes (1,000 kg or 2,204.6 lbs).

Note 3: Tonnage numbers are rounded to the nearest 1,000 unit.

Note 4: In a 'confined' aquifer (as reported herein), effective porosity is an appropriate parameter to use for the resource estimate.

Note 5: The resource estimation was completed and reported using a cut-off of 50 mg/L Li.

Note 6: To describe the resource in terms of industry standard, a conversion factor of 5.323 is used to convert elemental Li to Li2CO3, or Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE).

The consolidated Park Place project consists of 1,404,558 acres of contiguous Brine Hosted Mineral Licenses ("BHML"). The project is situated between Edson, Fox Creek, and Hinton, approximately 180 km west of Edmonton, and is approximately 50 km to the south of the Company's Boardwalk lithium brine project ("Boardwalk"). This area has seen over 70 years of hydrocarbon extraction resulting in a well-established and well-trained labour force, networks of all-weather gravel roads, drill sites that can be easily accessed from Provincial highways, and electrical transmission lines that run through and adjacent to the project (see Figure 1).

The mineral resource estimate work was prepared within a portion of the Park Place Property (81%) that is defined as the area of interest and totals 1,140,115 acres (Figure 1). The Swan Hills Fm directly underlies the Leduc Fm and appear to be in hydraulic communication based on regionally available pressure data. While they may represent a regionally connected aquifer system, the two formations are evaluated separately due to an identifiable difference in lithology and porosity. The Swan Hills Fm is mapped to from 24 to 264 m in thickness within the claims area and the Leduc Fm immediately overlies the Swan Hills Fm, where present, with a maximum thickness of 366 m within the claims area. The maximum observed combined thickness where the two units overlap within the property is 511 m of highly porous reservoir rock occur that would potentially present ideal locations for consideration within a PEA.

Figure 1: Map of the Park Place project showing Area of Interest and lithium brine samples used in the Park Place NI 43-101 resource estimate along with surface infrastructure.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10140/219209_3991e50f54510a35_001full.jpg

The scientific and technical information relating to the Park Place mineral resources presented in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Alex Haluszka P. Geol. of Matrix Solutions Inc. Mr. Alex Haluszka is independent of LithiumBank and the Park Place property, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

The scientific and technical information relating to the Park Place mineral resources, related to the potential of lithium extraction, presented in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Maurice Shevalier, P.Chem, of Matrix Solutions Inc. Mr. Maurice Shevalier, P.Chem, is independent of LithiumBank and the Park Place property, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

The scientific and technical information relating to the brine sampling and lithium grade validation for the Park Place mineral resources presented in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Roy Eccles P. Geol. of APEX Geoscience Ltd. Mr. Eccles is independent of LithiumBank and the Park Place Property, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

About LithiumBank Resources Corp.

LithiumBank Resources Corp. (TSXV: LBNK) (OTCQX: LBNKF), is a publicly traded lithium company that is focused on developing and de-risking the largest portfolio of lithium brine assets in North America. The Company has completed a NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") at Boardwalk (Jan. 16, 2024), an initial NI 43-101 Resource Estimate at Park Place (June 24, 2024) which are both located in west central Alberta. The Company is currently conducting large scale pilot testing of a licensed DLE technology at the Company's facility in Calgary (July 10, 2024). The DLE technology process being piloted is currently being used at a commercial scale for use in other metals. The Company owns 100% of the 2,130,470 acres of brown-field brine hosted mineral licenses within Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding future estimates, plans, objectives, timing, assumptions or expectations of future performance, including without limitation, the Company's expectations regarding the anticipated Park Place bulk brine sample collection and timing thereof and the Company's expectation that its sampling and analysis method has produced conservative results that avoid over-estimation of the mineral resources at Park Place are forward-looking statements and contain forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates," or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, or results "may," "could," "should" or "would" or occur.

Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by the Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this press release, including that the Company will be able to complete Park Place bulk brine sample collection and on the timelines anticipated and the Company's sampling and analysis method produced conservative results that avoid over-estimation of the mineral resources at Park Place.

These forward-looking statements are 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 statements or forward-looking information. Important risks that may cause actual results to vary, include, without limitation, the risk that the Company will be unable to complete Park Place bulk brine sample collection or will be unable to do so on the anticipated timelines and the risk that the Company's sampling and analysis method did not produce conservative results and over-estimated the mineral resources at Park Place.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or 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 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 and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial outlook that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219209

SOURCE: LithiumBank Resources Corp.
Paris Baguette Headquarters and Franchise Representatives Convene in the U.S.

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Paris Baguette, a global bakery brand, announced that it has held the '2024 Paris Baguette Franchise Convention' from August 5 to 7 (local time) at Resorts World Las Vegas, U.S., specifically for its local franchisees.

As many as 250 individuals, including Paris Baguette executives and staff in the U.S., franchisees, and prospective franchisees managing Paris Baguette stores across the Americas, convened for a significant event.

The event marks the first large-scale strategic briefing for international franchisees organized by Paris Baguette. It was designed to improve communication and networking among franchisees. To this end, the U.S. Paris Baguette franchise headquarters presented its operational policies, detailed plans, and strategic vision, while franchisees shared their successful operational experiences, expertise, and suggestions.

Paris Baguette currently operates about 180 stores in North America, with over 90% of these being franchise-operated. In the first half of this year alone, 22 new franchises were inaugurated, and 83 new contracts were signed, demonstrating the rapid expansion of the local franchise business. Paris Baguette intends to leverage this event to further systematize and advance its franchise operations in the U.S.

Under the theme 'Layers of Success,' Darren Tipton, Head of Paris Baguette America, along with other key executives, outlined the vision for the U.S. market and presented detailed strategies and operational plans encompassing marketing, supply chain management, and personnel training. Additionally, various essential training programs for franchise operations were conducted. These sessions provided franchise owners with an in-depth understanding of the franchise headquarters' policies and plans.

In his opening remarks, Jin-soo Hur, CEO of the Paris Baguette HQ, said "Paris Baguette's successful integration into the U.S. market is a testament to the dedication and efforts of our franchisees, supported by Paris Baguette's global franchise system. I extend my gratitude to all franchisees and related parties. Paris Baguette remains committed to supporting franchisee success and aims to achieve further growth through mutual advances."

A representative of Paris Baguette commented, "This convention was a significant opportunity to reaffirm Paris Baguette's growth potential in the global market including the U.S. We will continue to create opportunities for close cooperation and communication with global partners."

Paris Baguette is a global bakery brand with approximately 4,000 stores across 12 countries in North America, Europe, Asia.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2477111/Paris_Baguette.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/spc-groups-paris-baguette-hosts-a-convention-for-us-franchisees-302217313.html
The AI English language learning company's app will now become accessible to the 3.9 billion Android users around the world

TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Loora, the AI English language learning company, today announced the Android launch of its virtual AI English tutor app. Previously only available on iOS, Loora's Android launch will make the app available to a much larger audience of non-native English speakers across the globe, marking a significant milestone on Loora's continued journey to democratize access to English education through AI.

Loora's AI is built, trained, and optimized specifically for personalized English learning to the point of fluency. The virtual tutor simulates the experience of naturally conversing with a native English speaker, without the availability and discussion topic limitations of a human. Loora is available 24/7 and provides real-time pronunciation and grammar feedback, all at an affordable cost. The app's conversational AI allows learners to hone their English skills using the subjects and situations that matter to them, whether that be real-life scenarios like job interviews, technical conversations around a career-related subject or other topic of interest, or social interactions. In doing so, Loora uniquely empowers learners to gain the English fluency needed to advance in both professional and social environments.

Android accounts for over 70% of the global mobile operating system market share, making it the most popular operating system in the world. With 3.9 billion Android users in the world - the vast majority of whom live in non-English speaking countries where there is high demand for English learning solutions - Loora is primed to significantly expand its consumer reach. Existing means of learning English remain costly or largely ineffective; tutors are expensive and have limited availability, and most language apps - including those utilizing AI - are geared only towards beginners or casual learners. This leaves serious learners looking to become fluent in English for professional and personal development at a loss for effective and accessible solutions.

"We are thrilled to now be available on Android and make Loora increasingly accessible to learners around the world," said Roy Mor, CEO and Co-Founder of Loora. "Launching Loora on Android is a significant milestone on our mission to make English fluency accessible to anyone in the world, empowering them to thrive professionally and personally. We look forward to continuing to grow and expand Loora among more users and audiences to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people."

In 2023, Loora achieved over 8X increase in ARR and 2X improvement in user retention, fueled by the company's bespoke AI training methodology and proprietary data. The company also plans to expand its offering to include an enterprise solution later this year. The Loora app, which already has thousands of paying subscribers across the US, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, is now available for download in the Google Play Store as well as the App Store.

About Loora

Loora is an AI English language learning company that leverages purpose-built AI to make English fluency accessible. Loora's advanced conversational AI tutor offers users the experience of naturally conversing with a native English speaker, providing real-time feedback on any topic. Unlike human tutors, Loora is designed specifically for English learners, eliminating common barriers such as high costs, limited availability, inconvenient scheduling, and the embarrassment of practicing with an audience. It tailors the learning experience to individual needs and goals, allowing users to express themselves freely, discuss their interests, perfect their accents, learn new words daily, and build confidence.

Founded in November 2020 by tech industry veterans Roy Mor and Yonti Levin, Loora was born from their shared vision of using AI to democratize access to quality English education. With a mission to unlock socioeconomic opportunities through English proficiency, Loora is pioneering the use of AI in language learning, creating an unparalleled, next-gen solution for virtual English education.

For more information visit, https://loora.ai/.

To download Loora, click here.

Media Contact:

Allison Grey

allison@headline.media

US: +1 323 283 8176

UK: +44 203 807 4482

IL: +972 53 820 2606

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Lighthouse Point, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - August 7, 2024) - Addressing the critical demand for specialized tech skills in US, Hire Odesa, a recruitment platform that connects US businesses with the top-tier tech talent from Ukraine, announces its launch under Florida entrepreneur Val Narodetsky's leadership. Hire Odesa specializes in helping companies hire full-stack developers, UX/UI designers, IT specialists, AI engineers, and other remote tech teams efficiently and effectively.

Hire Odesa, a recruiting platform for remote tech teams

Hire Odesa: A Gateway to Resilient and Determined Tech Talent

Despite the ongoing conflict, the tech industry in Ukraine has shown remarkable resilience. According to an article published by Sequoia Atlas, approximately 85% of Ukrainian

developers have continued to work full-time, whether from within Ukraine or relocated abroad. This demonstrates not only the dedication and determination of these professionals, but also the robustness and longevity of the Ukrainian tech workforce. Hire Odesa leverages this resilient talent pool to offer US companies access to a stable and dependable source of top-tier tech expertise.

Hire Odesa leverages a deep network and rigorous vetting processes to ensure that only the most qualified candidates are matched with US companies. This service comes at a time when the demand for specialized tech skills is at an all-time high, and the supply in local markets is struggling to keep up.

Strategic Talent Acquisition for Competitive Edge

"Hire Odesa empowers US businesses to gain a competitive edge by providing access to a network of highly skilled professionals who are known not just for their technical abilities, but also for their resilience and innovative thinking," says Val Narodetsky. "Our platform ensures that companies can quickly and efficiently hire remote tech teams, which are more crucial than ever in today's digital marketplace."

Key Features of Hire Odesa:

Access to Elite Talent: Hire Odesa connects US businesses with the top 1% of tech talent from Ukraine, including full-stack, web, and mobile app developers, IT specialists, AI engineers, UX/UI designers, network administrators, and data scientists. These professionals are renowned for their strong technical skills and innovative approach.

Streamlined Recruitment Process: The platform simplifies the hiring process, making it faster and more efficient for US companies to find and integrate high-caliber tech professionals.

Flexible Hiring Options: Companies can hire talent for full-time positions directly or on a per-project basis via staff augmentation, providing flexibility to meet varying project demands and business cycles.

Cost-Effective Solutions: Hire Odesa provides opportunities to hire top-tier talent for up to 70% less than traditional recruitment costs, offering significant savings without compromising quality.

90-Day Replacement Guarantee: Hire Odesa stands behind the quality of its placements with a 90-day replacement guarantee, ensuring client satisfaction and risk mitigation.

Human-Vetted Candidates: Each candidate is thoroughly vetted by human recruiters to ensure a match not only in skills but also in company culture and project needs, enhancing the reliability of hires.

White Label Reseller Program: Hire Odesa offers a white label reseller program that allows agencies to offer specialized tech services to their clients with no ramp-up or training period, enabling rapid service expansion and revenue growth.

Resilient Workforce: Leveraging a workforce that has demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination, Hire Odesa ensures businesses have access to professionals who are adaptable and reliable.

Enhancing US Tech Capabilities with Global Talent

As businesses increasingly depend on sophisticated digital platforms and user experience design, Hire Odesa provides an essential service by connecting them with skilled developers and administrators ready to address complex challenges. This international collaboration not only supports US businesses, but also fosters a globalized approach to technological development and innovation.

About the Founder

Val Narodetsky, originally from Odesa, Ukraine, immigrated to the US in 1998 at the age of 12 and now resides in South Florida. As the founder of Hire Odesa, a pioneering recruitment platform, he connects US businesses with Ukraine's top tech talent. With his extensive experience in the tech and e-commerce industries, Val identified a crucial gap in accessing skilled technical talent globally. His vision for Hire Odesa is to make it an essential tool for US companies looking to enhance their digital capabilities. Committed to ethical practices, Val actively supports the professional development of tech professionals in Ukraine, offering stability amid regional challenges. He aims to establish Hire Odesa platform as a key player in the global tech recruitment space, frequently contributing to industry discussions and shaping employment trends.

For More Information

For more details about Hire Odesa and how it can transform your company's tech recruitment strategy, visit https://hireodesa.com

About Hire Odesa

Hire Odesa is an innovative recruiting platform that connects US businesses with a highly skilled pool of exceptional tech talent in Ukraine. By offering top-tier talent at a fraction of the cost of equivalent US-based workforce, Odesa ensures significant savings without compromising quality.

Press Inquiries

Hire Odesa

https://hireodesa.com

Ashley Romero

hello@hireodesa.com

754-444-6673

2436 N Federal Hwy Suite 444

Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219086

SOURCE: Hire Odesa
Company Expands the High-Efficiency Small-to-Medium Capacity Lineup to Provide Stable Heating Performance to More European Households

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics (LG) is unveiling its all-new Therma V R290 Monobloc 7- and 9-kilowatt (kW) air-to-water heat pumps (AWHP) at IFA 2024 in Berlin, Germany, from September 6-10. Following the successful launch of the large capacity models (12, 14, 16kW) at last year's IFA, the new Therma V models come with an advanced compressor that unlocks greater efficiency and a more sophisticated design that blends seamlessly into the surroundings.

With the mandatory implementation of Nearly-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) standards across Europe,1 AWHPs are gaining popularity for their ability to reduce carbon emissions and handle energy supply uncertainties. For new constructions, medium- and small-capacity models are more suitable, making LG's new 7- and 9 kW models ideal for the European market. Additionally, LG is establishing an Air Solution Research and Development (R&D) Lab in Frankfurt, Germany, to develop high-efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) solutions tailored to Europe's diverse local climates.

Highly Efficient Operation

Proactively responding to tighter F-gas regulations2 and Europe's preference shifting from traditional boilers to AWHPs, LG has adopted the R290 refrigerant for its Therma V R290 Monobloc. This natural refrigerant boasts a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 3, far lower than the refrigerants commonly used in heating solutions. With an energy rating of A+++,3 this advanced solution reduces carbon emissions by up to 79 percent compared to conventional boilers by sourcing its energy from heat in the air.4 Customers upgrading to the Therma V can expect to increase their household energy efficiency significantly.5

The latest Therma V AWHP leverages LG's advanced compressor to unlock new levels of energy efficiency and performance in colder climates. The lower positioning of the compression process helps ensure a more stable operation and smaller energy bills, while the system enables a water output of up to 75 degrees Celsius, even when it is minus 15 degrees Celsius outside.

Courtesy of the all-new compressor, both AWHP models operate at a quiet 49 dB(A) at 7kW and 50 dB(A) at 9kW.6,7 LG's Shaft Through structure enhances stability and reduces friction, thereby minimizing noise and vibration, particularly during low-load operation. What's more, the upgraded biomimetic innovations all contribute to the fan's quiet operation.

A More Sophisticated Design

Therma V R290 Monobloc features a sleek one-fan design that effortlessly harmonizes with various home designs and building exteriors. The outer casing of LG's latest AWHP solution uses a sophisticated black tone that complements any color, while the unit's grille features a distinctive wave pattern and understated dark grey finish. Its compact design allows it to fit under most windows without obstructing the view, making it a practical, aesthetically pleasing addition to any property.

Smart and Simple Integration

LG's new AWHPs are designed to seamlessly integrate with various indoor units through simplified installations, enhanced flexibility and customized options - control, hydro and combi units - that cater to different installation environments. The streamlined design guarantees a more efficient, hassle-free set up, while the company's Building Energy Control (BECON) cloud lets the installer or service partner update its firmware remotely, saving time and effort.8 Additionally, the new models offer easy and convenient control and energy monitoring through LG's ThinQ, creating an integrated Home Energy Platform with Energy Storage System (ESS).

"LG's latest Therma V R290 Monobloc offers Europeans a broader range of capacity options while delivering enhanced performance and user comfort," said Lyu Jae-cheol, president of LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company. "LG will continue leveraging its differentiated competitiveness in high-efficiency energy technologies and key component solutions to offer a product lineup tailored to regional needs."

Attendees can visit LG's booth (Hall 18, Messe Berlin) between September 6 and 10, where they can explore the company's latest energy-efficient innovations for a better life.

1 According to the European Commission, all new buildings in the EU are required to be 'nearly-zero energy buildings' since 2020 (https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-efficient-buildings/nearly-zero-energy-and-zero-emission-buildings_en). 2 The R290 refrigerant aligns with the revised F-gas regulations, which ban the use of HFC refrigerants with a GWP of 150 or more starting from 2027. 3 Seasonal space heating efficiency rating of A+++ at 35 degrees Celsius LWT and A+++ at 55 degrees Celsius LWT, in accordance with EN 14825 in the European Commission Regulation (EU). 4 This simulation result is based on conditions under average climate & Low temperature (35?) and may differ from actual values since various assumptions have been used. Carbon emission rates are calculated for space heating only of LG THERMA V R290 Monobloc 9kW. Compared boiler is general condensing boiler irrelevant specific brand and Annual Energy Consumption is assumed to cover same annual heating demand with LG THERMA V R290 Monobloc 9 kW. Annual CO2 emission is simulated based on Annual Energy consumption and the Carbon intensity of the power sector in the EU in 2023 and 56.1 t-CO2/TJ is considered for calculation of CO2 emission of gas boiler. 5 The new Therma V Monobloc boasts a Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) up to 5.2. based on conditions under average climate & low temperature (35?). SCOP is based on EN14825 and actual efficiency may vary depending on specific installation and operating conditions. 6 A noise level of 49-50 dB(A) is generally considered quiet. For reference, a whisper is around 25 dB(A), a normal conversation is about 60 dB(A) and a household refrigerator typically operates at approximately 50 dB(A) (https://noiseawareness.org/info-center/common-noise-levels/). 7 Actual noise levels may vary depending on the usage environment. 8 Products that form the Home Energy Platform, such as the Energy Storage System, solar panels, and Building Energy Control (BECON) clouds, are sold separately. Product availability may differ by region.

About LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company

The LG Home Appliance & Air Solution Company is a global leader in home appliances, air solutions as well as smart home solutions featuring LG ThinQ. The company is creating various solutions with its industry leading core technologies and is committed to making life better and sustainable for consumers and the planet by developing thoughtfully designed kitchen appliances, living appliances, HVAC and air purification solutions. Together, these products deliver enhanced convenience, superb performance, efficient operation and sustainable lifestyle solutions. For more news on LG, visit www.LGnewsroom.com.

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The UL Solutions North America Advanced Battery Laboratory in Auburn Hills, Michigan, provides testing and certification services addressing automotive and stationary battery safety and performance.

UL Solutions Inc. (NYSE: ULS), a global leader in applied safety science, officially opened its North America Advanced Battery Laboratory in Auburn Hills, Michigan, one of the most extensive electric and hybrid vehicle and industrial battery testing laboratories in the U.S.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240805082873/en/

Pictured left to right, Dr. Robert Slone, SVP and chief scientist, UL Solutions; Angela Williams, CISO, UL Solutions; Garlin Gilchrist II, lieutenant governor, Michigan; Donni Steele, state representative, Michigan House of Representatives; Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO, UL Solutions; Haley Stevens, congresswoman, U.S. House of Representatives; Weifang Zhou, EVP and president of Testing, Inspection and Certification, UL Solutions; Eugene Hawkins III, mayor pro-tem, City of Auburn Hills; Milan Dotlich, VP and general manager, Energy and Industrial Automation, UL Solutions; Jeff Smidt, SVP, Testing, Inspection and Certification, Industrial, UL Solutions; Brendan Johnson, commissioner, Oakland County. (Photo: Business Wire)

The new facility is UL Solutions' largest laboratory investment in our history and part of our commitment to help battery manufacturers increase the safety and reliability of their energy storage products. It expands the UL Solutions global network of facilities addressing evolving battery technologies. The global trend toward electrification and clean energy is a strategic priority for UL Solutions as it impacts many industries including but not limited to the automotive sector.

"The electrification of everything relies on battery innovation, impacts many industries and elevates the need for safety and performance across the energy transition spectrum," said Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO of UL Solutions. "This is where we step in. Our North America Advanced Battery Laboratory demonstrates our commitment to supporting the safer commercialization of new battery innovations that play a vital role in the world's energy transition."

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said, "Today's grand opening of UL Solutions' North America Advanced Battery Laboratory in Michigan is a testament to our growing leadership in the future of mobility and electrification. With this cutting-edge testing facility in Auburn Hills, we can test the technology we will need for electric vehicles close by to the manufacturing plants where the batteries, cars, and trucks themselves are getting built by hardworking Michiganders. Our ecosystem of advanced manufacturing is strong, and we will continue to lead the nation in this space. Together, with partners like UL Solutions, we can build a brighter future for Michigan industry and create and support thousands of good-paying jobs. Let's keep getting it done."

The new laboratory is in the Auburn Hills Oakland Technology Park complex near Detroit, the world's automotive capital. The facility houses state-of-the-art battery test equipment so UL Solutions can deliver safety and performance testing for automotive and industrial original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers.

Experts from UL Solutions staff the North America Advanced Battery Laboratory, performing a wide variety of safety and performance tests. The facility's portfolio of tests is one of the most extensive in the industry, including thermal fire propagation, electrical, mechanical abuse and environmental testing based on various UL and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards, United Nations (UN) goals and initiatives, and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and OEM specifications.

The UL Solutions North America Advanced Battery Laboratory adds to our global network of testing facilities focused on this technology. These include:

Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Testing Laboratory in Northbrook, Illinois

EV Charging Test Laboratories in Fremont, California; Northbrook, Illinois; and Frankfurt, Germany

UL Solutions E-Mobility and Energy Laboratory in Changzhou, China

EV Battery Laboratory in Pyeongtaek, South Korea

CHAdeMO EV-Quick Charger Matching Center in Ise, Mie, Japan

EV and Micromobility Laboratory in Luzhu, Taiwan

BatterieIngenieure by UL Solutions Battery Testing Laboratory in Aachen, Germany

CERE by UL Solutions Energy Resource Laboratory in Madrid, Spain

About UL Solutions

A global leader in applied safety science, UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS) transforms safety, security and sustainability challenges into opportunities for customers in more than 110 countries. UL Solutions delivers testing, inspection and certification services, together with software products and advisory offerings, that support our customers' product innovation and business growth. The UL Mark serves as a recognized symbol of trust in our customers' products and reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing our safety mission. We help our customers innovate, launch new products and services, navigate global markets and complex supply chains, and grow sustainably and responsibly into the future. Our science is your advantage.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240805082873/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Kathy Fieweger

Senior Vice President, Communications

Kathy.Fieweger@UL.com

Susan Nadeau

Director, External Communications

Susan.Nadeau@UL.com

Investors:

IR@UL.com
The 2024 China-France Tour, led by the premier brand HONGQI, reached its final destination in Paris. The new HONGQI H9 and EH7 models took the lead in capturing the attention of Parisians with their stunning oriental beauty.

Europe, the birthplace of the automobile, boasts a mature automotive industry and a rich automotive culture. The China-France Tour convoy, spearheaded by HONGQI, traversed 11,700 kilometers across six countries, allowing European citizens to experience the outstanding performance of Chinese cars. The convoy made its mark in cities like Brussels, Innsbruck, and Lausanne.

HONGQI was born in an era of fervent passion, evolving from initial handcrafted models to today's fully self-developed vehicles, showcasing the technological prowess of Chinese manufacturing. The new H9, which represents the perfect combination of artistic heritage and industrial dreams, and ideal car EH7, which seamlessly integrates luxury and technology, have thoroughly impressed the European people.

Only by boldly venturing out can one reach great distances. By daring to conquer the Nurburgring and the Alps, HONGQI invited the world to witness the transformation of Chinese automobiles from mere bystanders to active participants in areas where they had never ventured a century ago. The Grand Show that attracted countless people and the China-France high-end Business Exchange Salon that gathered elites from all walks of life jointly drew a blueprint for the future of Chinese automobile brands.

With the conclusion of the Paris Grand Show and the high-end Business Exchange Salon, the 2024 China-France Tour officially came to an end. However, HONGQI remains on the move, with more beautiful destinations ahead, beyond the exotic scenery of the Mercedes-Benz Museum, Lake Zurich, and the Eiffel Tower.

Promoting the exchange and mutual learning of automotive cultures between China and other countries is a key objective of HONGQI's journey. Bringing Chinese design aesthetics, manufacturing engineering, and intelligent science represented by HONGQI to Europe unlocks limitless possibilities for Chinese cars.

Name: Wang Ying

Email: hq-callcenter@faw.com.cn

Phone: +86 18810777578

SOURCE: HONGQI

View the original press release on accesswire.com
The heritage mountaineering equipment brand partners with the Swiss operator and investor to support the development and expansion of its business.

AOSTA, Italy, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Grivel, the renowned Italian mountaineering equipment brand with a 200-year legacy, proudly announces that it has entered a strategic partnership with Midi Management, an operating and investment firm specializing in category-defining consumer?products. The partnership is designed to accelerate growth through selective international expansion, product development and innovation. Grivel will continue to serve the mountaineering and climbing market with a focus on improving the practitioner's experience while preserving the brand's over 200 years of heritage. This strategy will be supported by an improved operational backbone and additional talents led by Oliviero Gobbi, who is retaining all his shares and will continue as CEO of the Company. The investment sees Midi Management take a majority stake in the business.?

Oliviero Gobbi, CEO of Grivel, said: "We are very excited to strategically partner with Midi Management, with whom we share the same passion and ambition. We have developed together a growth and product expansion plan that will hit the ground in the next few months."?

Midi Management was advised by Gianni & Origoni and KPMG.

Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

About Grivel

Grivel, founded in 1818 at the foot of Mont Blanc, is a world leader in manufacturing technical mountain and climbing equipment. Rooted in a rich heritage and driven by innovation, Grivel is headquartered in the Aosta Valley, Italy with a strong global presence and representation. For more information on Grivel, please visit the website:?www.grivel.com

About Midi Management

Midi Management is a Switzerland based investment company established in 2017. The company invests in category-defining, high growth consumer brands with a focus on outdoor and modern luxury brands highly connected to their consumers. Midi Management provides growth capital, strategic guidance and operational expertise to empower founders and management teams to reach their full potential.?For more information on Midi Management, please visit the website: www.midimanagement.com

Media Contact

info@grivel.com

info@midimanagement.com

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Fast-acting grant delivered by the Norwegian Refugee Council will expand access to their ongoing Better Learning Programme, including urgently needed mental health services, for children in Gaza.

NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The human suffering in Gaza has taken an unprecedented toll on children and adolescents living amidst this soul-shattering experience that no child should have to endure. In support of global efforts to provide girls and boys with access to quality educational opportunities and mental health services, Education Cannot Wait ( ECW ) announced today a US$2 million First Emergency Response grant in Gaza. Total ECW funding in the State of Palestine is approximately US$36 million.

The fast-acting 12-month grant will be delivered by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) through its ongoing Better Learning Programme in Palestine , which aims to improve learning conditions for children and adolescents in Gaza.

Since early October 2023, 625,000 children enrolled in schools across Gaza have had no access to education, and more than 370 schools have sustained damage from attacks, according to the United Nations.

Even before the start of the recent unprecedented hostilities, an estimated 800,000 children in Gaza - three-quarters of its entire child population - had already been identified as needing mental health and psychosocial support.

"2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza are in the midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe, facing inhumane conditions. There is unprecedented violence in modern times, starvation, famine and disease. Desperation and scarcity have led to a total breakdown of the lives of children and adolescents. Today, we are calling on world leaders to support diplomatic efforts to ensure the unconditional release of all hostages now, create a lasting humanitarian ceasefire, provide safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid, ensure full adherence to international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict, and a realization of a political and peaceful solution. Meanwhile, by investing in a minimum continuation of learning, and mental health and psychosocial support for the children and adolescents of Gaza, we are trying to do what we possibly can to mitigate their suffering and bring whatever hope we can to these young people," said Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait, the Global Fund for Education in Emergencies and Protracted Crises within the United Nations.

United Nations reports indicate that grave human rights and humanitarian law violations against children are rampant in Gaza. Hundreds of girls and boys are reportedly being killed or injured every day. "Right now, the Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child," according to UNICEF.

"The children of Gaza continue to face unimaginable horrors. It has taken an appalling toll on young people, many of whom have lived through numerous previous conflicts, many thousands dead, injured and orphaned. This grant from ECW will enable the first steps in restoring mental health and learning services. But it represents a drop in an ocean of needs in Gaza. The children and young people who have suffered during this unprecedented conflict must not be forgotten - they will need sustained support for years to come, and NRC will do all it can to provide this. We call on funders to prioritise children in Gaza in order to protect their futures," said Jan Egeland, NRC's Secretary General.

ECW has provided continuous funding for education in the State of Palestine since 2019, including a US$10 First Emergency Response announced in November 2023.

ECW joined United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in calling on donors to scale up funding to meet the critical needs of 3.1 million people across the State of Palestine. We must bridge the funding gap to secure the needed US$3.42 billion.

About Education Cannot Wait (ECW):

Education Cannot Wait ( ECW ) is the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises within the United Nations. We support quality education outcomes for refugee, internally displaced and other crisis-affected girls and boys, so no one is left behind. ECW works through the multilateral system to both increase the speed of responses in crises and connect immediate relief and longer-term interventions through multi-year programming. ECW works in close partnership with governments, public and private donors, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and other humanitarian and development aid actors to increase efficiencies and end siloed responses. ECW urgently appeals to public and private sector donors for expanded support to reach even more vulnerable children and youth.

On X (formerly Twitter), please follow: @EduCannotWait , @YasmineSherif1 , @KentPage

Additional information available at: www.educationcannotwait.org

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Kuros Biosciences AG / Key word(s): Half Year Results

Kuros Biosciences Reports First Half of 2024 Results



08-Aug-2024 / 07:00 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Financial Highlights Direct MagnetOs sales increased by 159% to CHF 31.6 million from CHF 12.2 million in H1 2023; this corresponds to a sequential increase of 62% or CHF 12.1 million over H2 2023

Total Kuros Medical Devices segment sales increased 148% to CHF 31.8 million from CHF 12.9 million

Kuros Medical Devices segment EBITDA increased 287% to CHF 8.6 million in H1 2024 compared to CHF 2.2 million in H1 2023, representing an EBITDA margin of 27%

Kuros Group achieved EBITDA of CHF 0.7 million in H1 2024, increased from EBITDA loss of CHF (3.0) million in H1 2023; adjusted EBITDA excluding the Fibrin-PTH costs, recurring and one-time share-based compensation totaled at CHF 4.0 million, representing an adjusted EBITDA margin of 12.5%

Cash and cash equivalents amounted to CHF 14.3 million, compared to CHF 14.2 million as of December 31, 2023; funds available (including trade and other receivables) totaled CHF 25.3 million as of June 30, 2024 Regulatory, Clinical & Commercial Highlights Peer-reviewed publication of MAXA Level 1 human clinical study outcomes in Spine demonstrates effectiveness of MagnetOs as a standalone alternative to autograft in challenging posterolateral fusions. Noninferiority of Magnetos versus autograft confirmed, with primary analysis even indicating MagnetOs superiority 1

FDA clearances for interbody use of MagnetOs Granules, MagnetOs Putty and MagnetOs Easypack Putty (following MagnetOs Flex Matrix interbody clearance late 2023)

Recent FDA clearance for standalone use of MagnetOs Easypack Putty in PLF and use in pelvis and extremities, supporting the product family expansion outside of spine

Launch of MagnetOs Granules and MagnetOs Putty in New Zealand Outlook For the second half of 2024, Kuros expects a similar seasonal sales pattern as in previous years, which corresponds to around 60% of total annual sales. Furthermore, it can be confirmed that the organic growth path is securely financed and that the Group expects to continue generating a positive EBITDA, both unadjusted and adjusted for non-recurring and non-cash items, in the single-digit, and around break even in terms of operating cash flow for the first time. Schlieren (Zurich), Switzerland, August 8, 2024 - Kuros Biosciences ("Kuros" or the "Company") a leader in next generation bone healing technologies, today announced financial results for the first half of 2024. Revenue from direct MagnetOs product sales were CHF 31.6 million compared to CHF 12.2 million in H1 2023. Total revenue from medical devices product sales reached CHF 31.8 million compared to CHF 12.9 million in H1 2023. Chris Fair, Chief Executive Officer of Kuros Biosciences, said: "We are pleased to report first half 2024 results that continue to demonstrate our strong execution and commercialization, with direct MagnetOs revenue growth of 159% fueling the MagnetOs EBITDA margin of 27% and total Kuros Group EBITDA margin of 2%, adjusted at 12.5%. Our growing body of clinical evidence, including our recently published MAXA Level 1 clinical study in the peer-reviewed journal Spine, demonstrates how our differentiated technology continues to surpass expectations in providing compared to autograft a superior bone healing solution to surgeons and patients. With additional clearances from the FDA and other regulatory bodies currently applied for, we look forward to driving steady penetration of MagnetOs in the musculoskeletal biologics market." Key developments in H1 2024

Kuros announced the peer-reviewed publication in Spine of the MAXA Level 1 prospective, multi-center, randomized, intra-patient controlled clinical study results. The data indicated superiority of MagnetOs as a standalone alternative to autograft in challenging posterolateral fusions, showing a fusion rate of 79% in the MagnetOs group versus 47% in the autograft group. Financial position

Cash and cash equivalents (including trade and other receivables) amounted to CHF 25.3 million as of June 30, 2024, compared to CHF 21.8 million as of December 31, 2023. Revenue from product sales of CHF 31.8 million in H1 2024 increased 148% as reported, compared to CHF 12.9 million revenue in H1 2023. The cost of goods sold amounted to CHF 3.5 million for the first half of 2024 compared to CHF 2.1 million in H1 2023. Sales and marketing costs increased to CHF 18.5 million in H1 2024 from CHF 9.3 million in the prior year. Research and development which included costs of the Phase 2a study in spinal fusion of Fibrin-PTH amounted to CHF 3.6 million (H1 2023: CHF 2.3 million). General and administrative costs increased to CHF 7.0 million (H1 2023: CHF 3.8 million). Net operating costs amounted to CHF 28.9 million (H1 2023: CHF 15.3 million). The net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2024, amounted to CHF 0.2 million (H1 2023: CHF 5.1 million). Key figures H1 2024 H1 2023 In TCHF, IFRS Revenue from product sales 31,844 12,866 Cost of goods sold (3,477) (2,142) Gross profit 28,367 10,724 Sales and marketing costs (18,493) (9,332) Research and development costs (3,563) (2,291) General and administrative costs (6,984) (3,759) Other income 114 129 Net operating costs (28,926) (15,253) Operating loss (559) (4,529) Net finance result 1,655 (352) Net loss (211) (5,052) Net loss per share (in CHF) (0.01) (0.14) Cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables Jun-30, 2024 25,257 Dec-31, 2023 21,825

Events after the reporting period

The group has no significant events after the reporting period up to the date of this announcement. Outlook

Kuros' products are advancing according to plan with MagnetOs continuing to generate strong sales growth in the U.S., Europe, and the rest of the world following a similar seasonal pattern as in previous years. The company is adequately funded along the planned organic growth path and expects to generate positive single-digit unadjusted and adjusted EBITDA and reach around operating cash flow break even for the first time in 2024. The half year report is available via the following link:

Kuros Biosciences 2024 Interim Report We will discuss the results of the first half of 2024 and give an update on business and financial strategy in a virtual call on August 15, 2024, at 3pm CET. If you wish to participate, please register in advance for this webinar. Kuros Biosciences H1 2024 Financial Report Investor Webcast After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Upcoming Events

October 10, 2024, Trading Update Q3 2024 For further information, please contact: Kuros Biosciences AG

Daniel Geiger

Chief Financial Officer

t: +41 44 733 47 47

e: daniel.geiger@kurosbio.com Investors

Gilmartin Group

Vivian Cervantes

t: + 332.895.3220

e: vivian.cervantes@gilmartinir.com

About MagnetOs

MagnetOs is a bone graft like no other: thanks to its NeedleGripTM surface technology, it enables bone formation without added cells or growth factors. This surface technology provides traction for our body's vitally important 'pro-healing' immune cells (M2 macrophages). This in turn, unlocks previously untapped potential to stimulate stem cells - and form new bone throughout the graft. The growing body of science behind NeedleGrip is called osteoimmunology. But for surgeons and their patients it means one thing: a more predictable fusion. 2-6 Indications statement

Please refer to the instructions for use for your local region for a full list of indications, contraindications, warnings, and precautions. About Kuros Biosciences

Kuros Biosciences is on a mission to discover, develop and deliver innovative biologic fusion technologies. With locations in the United States, Switzerland and the Netherlands, the company is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The company's first commercial product, MagnetOs, is a unique advanced bone graft that has already been used across three continents in 25,000 fusion surgeries. For more information on the company and its products, visit kurosbio.com . Forward Looking Statements

This media release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You are urged to consider statements that include the words "will" or "expect" or the negative of those words or other similar words to be uncertain and forward-looking. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements include scientific, business, economic and financial factors. Against the background of these uncertainties, readers should not rely on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no responsibility for updating forward-looking statements or adapting them to future events or developments. 1. Stempels, H. et al., "Efficacy of biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic with a needle-shaped surface topography versus autograft in instrumented posterolateral spinal fusion: A randomized trial." Spine. June 17, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0000000000005075

2. Van Dijk, et al. eCM. 2021; 41:756-73.

3. Duan, et al. eCM. 2019; 37:60-73.

4. Van Dijk, et al. Clin Spine Surg. 2020;33(6): E276-E287.

5. Van Dijk, et al. JOR Spine. 2018; e1039

6. Van Dijk, et al. J Biomed Mater Res. Part B: Appl Biomater.

*MagnetOs was mixed with venous blood.

Results from in vivo laboratory testing may not be predictive of clinical experience in humans. For important safety and intended use information please visit kurosbio.com.

MagnetOs is not cleared by the FDA or TGA as an osteoinductive bone graft.

MagnetOs has been proven to generate more predictable fusions than two commercially available alternatives in an ovine model of posterolateral fusion.

End of Inside Information
Prosus N.V. (Prosus) (AEX and JSE: PRX): The Naspers and Prosus boards announce that after 29 years of exemplary leadership and service, Basil Sgourdos will retire from his position as Group Chief Financial Officer and financial director of both companies effective 30 November 2024.

Basil has had a broad and varied career at Naspers and Prosus having joined the Company in 1994, initially as the finance manager of the South African operations division in MultiChoice before taking on a number of other global leadership positions within the Group. He was appointed Group Chief Financial Director of Naspers in July 2014 and of Prosus since its listing in 2019.

Koos Bekker, Chairman of Naspers and Prosus said, "While Basil will remain active in his role for another few months, I would like to take this opportunity to recognise and thank Basil for his dedicated service to the Company over the last 29 years. During this time, Basil has contributed to the establishment of the Group as a leading global e-commerce company, creating significant value for shareholders. The boards sincerely thank Basil for his committed leadership and superb contribution".

The human resources and remuneration committees and nomination committees will begin the process to secure a suitably qualified successor to assume the role of Group Chief Financial Officer. The market will be advised of this decision in due course.

JSE sponsor to Prosus

Investec Bank Limited

About Prosus

Prosus is a global consumer internet group and one of the largest technology investors in the world. Each month, over two billion customers across the globe use the products and services of companies that Prosus has invested in, acquired or built. Prosus builds leading consumer internet companies that empower people and enrich communities. The group is focused on online classifieds, food delivery, payments and fintech. The team actively backs exceptional entrepreneurs using technology to improve people's everyday lives.

Prosus has a primary listing on Euronext Amsterdam (AEX:PRX) and secondary listings on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (XJSE:PRX) and A2X Markets (PRX.AJ). Prosus is majority-owned by Naspers.

For more information, please visit www.prosus.com

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Contacts:

Enquiries

Investor Enquiries

Eoin Ryan, Head of Investor Relations

+1 347-210-4305

Media Enquiries

Charlie Pemberton, Communications Director

+31 6 15494359
Infleqtion UK is delighted to announce the successful completion of the first phase of its Quantum Enhanced Inertial Navigation Systems (Q-NAV) project awarded by Innovate UK, culminating in its Quantum Navigation Industry Day on 27 June.

Held at the Institute of Physics (IOP) in London, the Industry Day provided a valuable opportunity for Infleqtion, its project partners, government officials, and industry stakeholders from 20 organisations to assess the latest advancements in quantum technologies for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). Attendees explored the progress made by the Q-NAV team and engaged in critical discussions about the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of this sector.

A Visionary Commitment to Navigation Excellence

Dr Tim Ballance, President of Infleqtion UK, articulated our vision: "At Infleqtion, we are resolute in addressing the vulnerabilities of current navigation systems, particularly in environments where GNSS is compromised. Our collaboration with QinetiQ and the Royal Navy epitomises our mission to deploy cutting-edge quantum solutions to enhance both military and civilian navigation."

Building on the recent world-first flight demonstration of our ultra-cold matter platform for quantum Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT), Q-NAV will develop a Quantum-Enhanced Inertial Navigation System (Q-INS) to address the limitations of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). While GNSS is widely used globally, its vulnerability to spoofing and jamming attacks, as seen in recent conflicts, poses a significant risk.

Lieutenant Colonel Scott Wallace RM, of the Royal Navy Office of the Chief Technology Officer, said: "Partnerships and collaboration between industry and end-users are key to accelerating Quantum Technologies into mature and useable capabilities. While there is still a lot of hard work to be done, the early successes OCTO and Infleqtion are enjoying are indicative of the art of the possible when stakeholders share a common vision for innovation."

Our Commitment to Advanced Navigation Technology

At Infleqtion, we are dedicated to pioneering advancements in navigation systems, addressing current technologies' vulnerabilities, particularly in critical operational environments where GNSS is frequently compromised. Historically, inertial navigation systems (INS) were the accuracy benchmark before the advent of GNSS. While the accuracy of INS depends on its sensors' sensitivity, drift and noise performance, these systems currently serve as a backup to GNSS significant limitations on positioning and navigation during long-duration GNSS holdovers.

Over the past decade, atomic interferometers have revolutionised the boundaries of inertial sensor noise and stability in laboratory settings by exploiting quantum superposition. However, these groundbreaking technologies have yet to be fully demonstrated in practical applications and still lack the necessary performance for a standalone INS solution. Infleqtion is committed to overcoming this challenge. We aim to develop the world's first Quantum-Enhanced INS (Q-INS) that sets new navigation accuracy and reliability standards by integrating both quantum and classical inertial sensors. Combining this with our world-class expertise in low-latency machine learning, we will deliver a step change in capability for advanced navigation technology.

The Vision Behind Q-NAV: A Quantum Leap in Navigation

The Q-NAV project embodies our vision of revolutionising navigation technology by tackling the core challenges associated with current INS limitations. Our mission is to deliver a robust, continuous beam atom inertial sensor that leverages our industry leadership in cold atom quantum technology. The continuous measurement approach we are developing offers significant advantages over existing quantum inertial sensors by eliminating the dead time between samples, thereby unlocking substantial gains in bandwidth and dynamic range.

Infleqtion's commitment to the Q-NAV project is a testament to our unwavering dedication to advancing the sector. We believe that by pushing the boundaries of what is possible with quantum technology, we can create navigation solutions that meet and exceed the demands of military and civilian applications. Our collaboration with leading partners and stakeholders underscores our resolve to lead the way in quantum-enhanced navigation systems, setting a new benchmark for the industry and securing a future where navigation technology is more accurate, reliable, and resilient than ever.

Innovative Collaborations for Superior Performance

Working in close partnership with QinetiQ, leveraging their expertise in contested domain navigation solutions, the Q-NAV project will develop sensor fusion architectures and approaches that blend the strengths of classical and quantum sensors, into a Q-INS. The continuous quantum sensor output will enable novel approaches that rely on uninterrupted correction of classical inertial sensor drift to deliver superior navigation performance and holdover.

Infleqtion is set to conduct a sea trial of the hybrid navigation systems on the Navy's XV Patrick Blackett experimental vessel in early 2025, in collaboration with the Royal Navy Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO).

Setting New Standards in Navigation

Jamie Vovrosh, Quantum Sensing, PNT and Communications Lead at QinetiQ, added: "Our partnership with Infleqtion in testing this advanced technology reflects our ability to quickly and effectively work together within the defence community. The Q-NAV project showcases our commitment to blending quantum and classical systems to achieve superior accuracy and reliability for multiple applications."

Infleqtion UK remains at the forefront of innovation, steadfast in our mission to enhance navigation technology. We are dedicated to pioneering solutions that secure and advance the capabilities of both military and civilian navigation systems, setting new standards for the industry. Learn more about the project: Q-NAV: Quantum Enhanced Inertial Navigation Systems.

About Infleqtion

Infleqtion, with offices in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, delivers high-value quantum information precisely where it is needed. By operating at the Edge, our software-configured, quantum-enabled products deliver unmatched levels of precision and power, generating streams of high-value information for commercial organisations, the United States, and allied governments. With 17 years of ColdQuanta's pioneering quantum research as our foundation, our hardware products and AI-powered solutions address critical market needs in positioning, navigating, and timing, global communication security and efficiency, resilient energy distribution, and accelerated quantum computing. Learn how Infleqtion is revolutionising how we communicate, navigate, and discover at www.Infleqtion.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240807323338/en/

Contacts:

Contact for Infleqtion

Cassidy Tamburro

ctamburro@voxuspr.com

Voxus PR
ABU DHABI, UAE, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The most unique summer vacation recently took place, with Experience Abu Dhabi inviting 20 people named 'Summer' from around the world for the trip of a lifetime in the UAE capital.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/9283951-experience-abu-dhabis-new-campaign-20-summers-one-abu-dhabi/

Visiting the destination for the first time, the 20 Summers discovered that 'One Summer Isn't Enough' in Abu Dhabi - with something for everyone to see, do and enjoy.

Inspire your next summer adventure and watch their journey unfold: 20 Summers, One Abu Dhabi

The 20 Summers and their special guests enjoyed a fun-filled three-day journey, blending cultural immersion, exhilarating activities and relaxation, guided by the 101 Abu Dhabi Do's-a curated selection of enriching moments that highlight opportunities for adventure and discovery at every turn.

From conquering the world's tallest indoor flight chamber at CLYMB Abu Dhabi to having breakfast with giraffes at Emirates Park Zoo, all the Summers had an epic adventure. The Summers kayaked through meandering mangroves at sunrise, lounged beachside at Cafe del Mar and enjoyed a traditional Emirati breakfast at Abdulrahman Al Zaabi's home.

Adrenaline-Fueled Adventures and Cultural Explorations

With so many ways to experience Abu Dhabi, the Summers' summer itineraries were packed with memorable moments - with snowball fights at Snow Abu Dhabi and meeting the capybaras at The National Aquarium.

The Summers sparked their creative side with a visit to the iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi before attending a crafts workshop at Manarat Al Saadiyat, using traditional Arabic techniques to create a bespoke souvenir. Meanwhile, the adrenaline seekers visited Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi to bond over thrilling rides and meet their favourite superheroes.

Each Summer also visited some of Abu Dhabi's iconic and architecturally renowned landmarks, including the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Hosn and the House of Artisans.

One City, Many Flavours

The Summers were treated to a delightful culinary experience during their time in Abu Dhabi. At Bab Al Qasr, they dined in darkness, relying on their sense of taste and smell. They savoured local Emirati delights - delicious dough balls with date syrup and Emirati pancakes - at Luqaimat and Chebab. For a taste of the region, they dined at Li Beirut, a Lebanese culinary gem renowned in Abu Dhabi for its innovative fusion of traditional and contemporary flavours.

The Summers also explored international flavours with Mediterranean cuisine at Mika, Argentinian delicacies at Mate, Peruvian dishes at COYA, and delicious Italian recipes at Antonia.

To explore the full list of 101 Abu Dhabi Do's, visit: www.visitabudhabi.ae

About the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi:

The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi's culture and tourism sectors and its creative industries, fuelling economic progress and helping to achieve Abu Dhabi's wider global ambitions.

By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate's position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate's potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.

DCT Abu Dhabi's vision is defined by the emirate's people, heritage and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi's status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought.

For more information about the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi and the destination, please visit: dct.gov.ae and visitabudhabi.ae

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XIAMEN, China, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from Hong Kong Commercial Daily:

Recently, a salon with the theme of "Embracing the Age of BRICS" - Development and Opportunities under a Community of Shared Destiny was held in Xiamen Airlines Ancient Stone Fund Town, Fujian.

Einar Tangen, Senior Researcher at Taihe Think Tank and Chief Vice President of Structural Financing at Milwaukee Investment Bank, shared his views: He believes that the BRICS payment system is in sharp contrast to the SWIFT system, which is multipolar and open.

Qian Feng, a senior researcher at Taihe Think Tank and a researcher at the National Strategic Research Institute of Tsinghua University, shared his views online. He suggested making good use of the New Development Bank of BRICS countries to provide financing support for infrastructure construction and green development in BRICS countries. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen consultations, promote quota reforms including the IMF and the World Bank, and form greater synergy

Professor He Junming, an expert in "BRICS Observation", believes that the model of "two countries, two parks" between Fujian and "Belt and Road" countries can be followed, and a "two countries, two parks" with BRICS countries can also be built in Xiamen to reduce the risk of foreign investment.

Professor Lai Yongxuan, an expert in artificial intelligence, said that the BRICS Innovation Base provides a possibility to promote technology transfer and achievement transformation through the establishment of cooperation platforms, and to promote balanced development in the development and utilization of information and intelligent technologies among countries.

It is reported that Huli District in Xiamen City is currently building the BRICS Digital Block. At the same time, the BRICS Innovation Base Headquarters Project officially started construction at the beginning of this year, creating an industrial complex that integrates various functional formats such as industrial offices, research and development offices, conference centers, hotels, and supporting apartments.

One of the organizers, Hu Wei, the head of the Xiamen reporter station of Hong Kong Commercial Daily, stated that the purpose of this event is to discuss the development direction and path of the BRICS New Industrial Revolution Partnership Innovation Base in today's changing international situation, promote local economic development and urban civilization upgrading, and achieve technological innovation to assist the construction and upgrading of southern countries around the world.

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August 8, 2024

SBM Offshore is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract with Woodside Petroleo Operaciones de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. ("Woodside"), operator of the Trion deepwater oil field development located in the Perdido Belt of the western Gulf of Mexico. Under this contract, SBM Offshore will construct and thereafter lease to Woodside a Floating Storage and Offloading ("FSO") unit for a period of 20 years. This award complements the Transportation & Installation contract for the FSO and the FPU awarded to SBM Offshore in 2023.

The new build FSO, based on a Suezmax-type hull, will be equipped with a Disconnectable Turret Mooring ("DTM") system designed by SBM Offshore. The FSO will be moored in water depth of about 2,500 meters and will be able to store around 950,000 barrels of crude oil.

The Trion field is located 180 km off the Mexican coastline and 30 km south of the US/Mexico maritime border. The Trion project is an alliance between Woodside (60%, Operator) and PEMEX Exploracion y Produccion (40%, non-Operator).







Corporate Profile

SBM Offshore designs, builds, installs and operates offshore floating facilities for the offshore energy industry. As a leading technology provider, we put our marine expertise at the service of a responsible energy transition by reducing emissions from fossil fuel production, while developing cleaner solutions for alternative energy sources.

More than 7,400 SBMers worldwide are committed to sharing their experience to deliver safe, sustainable and affordable energy from the oceans for generations to come.

For further information, please visit our website at www.sbmoffshore.com.

Financial Calendar Date Year Third Quarter 2024 Trading Update November 14 2024 Full Year 2024 Earnings February 20 2025 Annual General Meeting April 9 2025 First Quarter 2025 Trading Update May 15 2025 Half Year 2025 Earnings August 7 2025

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations

Wouter Holties

Corporate Finance & Investor Relations Manager

Mobile: +31 (0)20 236 32 36 E-mail: wouter.holties@sbmoffshore.com (mailto:wouter.holties@sbmoffshore.com) Website: www.sbmoffshore.com (http://www.sbmoffshore.com)

Media Relations

Evelyn Tachau Brown

Group Communications & Change Director

Mobile: +377 (0) 6 40 62 30 34 E-mail: evelyn.tachau-brown@sbmoffshore.com (mailto:evelyn.tachau-brown@sbmoffshore.com) Website: www.sbmoffshore.com (http://www.sbmoffshore.com)

Market Abuse Regulation

This press release may contain inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

Disclaimer

Some of the statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or events to differ materially from those in such statements. These statements may be identified by words such as 'expect', 'should', 'could', 'shall' and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The principal risks which could affect the future operations of SBM Offshore N.V. are described in the 'Impact, Risk and Opportunity Management' section of the 2023 Annual Report.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and performance of the Company's business may vary materially and adversely from the forward-looking statements described in this release. SBM Offshore does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update any industry information or forward-looking statements set forth in this release to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

This release contains certain alternative performance measures.

Nothing in this release shall be deemed an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. The companies in which SBM Offshore N.V. directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this release "SBM Offshore" and "SBM" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to SBM Offshore N.V. and its subsidiaries in general. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

"SBM Offshore", the SBM logomark, "Fast4Ward", "emissionZERO" and "F4W" are proprietary marks owned by SBM Offshore.

Attachment
The global AI in agriculture market is growing due to several factors such as advancements in AI and data analytics, government support and initiatives, and increase in adoption of digital farming solutions.

NEW CASTLE, Del., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "AI in Agriculture Market by Component (Solution, and Services), Technology (Machine Learning, Computer Vision, and Predictive Analysis), and Application (Soil Monitoring, Livestock Health Monitoring, Intelligent Spraying, Drone Analytics, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2032". According to the report, the artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture market was valued at $2.3 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $14.6 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 23.2% from 2024 to 2032.

Prime determinants of growth

The global AI in agriculture market is growing due to several factors such as advancements in AI and data analytics, government support and initiatives, and increase in adoption of digital farming solutions. However, high cost of initial development restrains the development of the market. In addition, surge in demand for precision farming solutions is expected to provide ample opportunities for the market growth during the forecast period.

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Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2024-2032 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2023 $2.3 Billion Market Size in 2032 $14.6 Billion CAGR 23.2 % No. of Pages in Report 488 Segments Covered Component, Technology, Application, and Region Drivers Advancements in AI and data analytics

Government support and initiatives

Increase in adoption of digital farming solutions Opportunities Surge in demand for precision farming solutions Restraint High cost of initial development

Buy this Complete Report (399 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) at:

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/artificial-intelligence-ai-in-agriculture-market/purchase-options

The solution segment is expected to grow faster during the forecast period.

By component, the solution segment held the highest market share in 2023, owing to rise in demand for smart agricultural solutions and platforms powered by AI, IoT, and big data analytics. These solutions integrate data from various sources such as sensors, drones, and satellite imagery to provide farmers with insights and recommendations for crop management, pest control, and resource optimization.

However, the services segment is projected to attain the fastest growing segment from 2023 to 2032. This is attributed to the fact that service providers offer expertise in tailoring AI solutions to meet specific requirements, integrating them seamlessly into farm operations, and providing ongoing support and maintenance.

The predictive analysis segment is expected to grow faster during the forecast period.

By technology, the predictive analysis segment held the highest market share in 2023. This is attributed to the fact that predictive analysis enables farmers to anticipate future outcomes based on historical data, current conditions, and predictive modeling.

However, the machine learning segment is projected to attain the fastest growing segment from 2023 to 2032. Machine learning algorithms excel at processing and analyzing large volumes of agricultural data collected from various sources, including sensors, drones, satellites, and farm equipment

The drone analytics segment is expected to lead during the forecast period.

By application, drone analytics segment held the highest market share in 2023. Integrating drone analytics and AI in agriculture offers tremendous potential for optimizing agricultural operations, reducing costs, and enhancing sustainability. By leveraging the power of AI to analyze drone-captured data, farmers can make data-driven decisions, improve resource allocation, and achieve higher productivity. Therefore, drone analytics is expected to be a significant driver of the AI in agriculture market.

However, the precision farming segment is projected to attain the fastest growing segment from 2023 to 2032. Precision farming techniques, enabled by advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, and data analytics, offer farmers the ability to optimize resource usage, reduce waste, and increase productivity.

North America to maintain its dominance by 2032

Region-wise, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2023 and is expected to dominate in terms of revenue during the forecast period. With rise in adoption of AI technologies in the agricultural sector, the market is expected to expand significantly in the coming years. Factors such as the need for increased productivity, rise in demand for precision farming techniques, and the availability of advanced infrastructure contribute to the market growth.

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Major Industry Players: -

Microsoft Corporation

IBM Corporation

Gamaya

Taranis

PrecisionHawk

Corteva

ec2ce

Valmont Industries

Climate LLC.

Prospera Technologies, Ltd.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global AI in agriculture market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

Recent Industry Development:

In April 2024, AGRIST launched a farm robot namely L, to address the issue of a labor shortage in agricultural harvesting. It is able to run continuously for four hours on a single battery charge. L travels along a wire that is put inside the greenhouse, in contrast to the majority of other robots and AI solutions in the industry that operate on the ground.

In February 2024, Heifer International and FruitPunch AI launched the AI for Women Farmers Challenge, which is a project to develop AI tools to help rural women farmers in Nepal leverage data to improve their livelihoods. The project aims to help women-run agricultural cooperatives extract and translate their own data on financial, business, and other activities, which the co-op members can then use to improve their access to markets, financing, product traceability platforms and more.

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Get an access to the library of reports at any time from any device and anywhere. For more details, follow the link: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access

About Us:

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We are in professional corporate relations with various companies, and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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Delaware 19801 USA.

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The global biomass briquette fuel market is propelled by climate change mitigation. One of the most significant drivers of the biomass briquette fuel market is the global effort to mitigate climate change. Biomass briquettes are considered a renewable and carbon-neutral energy source. When biomass is burned, the carbon dioxide released is roughly equal to the amount absorbed by the plants during their growth, making the net carbon emissions much lower than those from fossil fuels.

Wilmington, Del., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Biomass Briquette Fuel Market by Raw Material (Saw Dust, Wood, Rice Husk, Groundnut Shells, Bagasse and Others), Application (Brick Kilns, Dyeing Plants, Oil Extraction Units, Cooking and Baking and Others), and End-Use Industry (FMCG and Beverage, Pharmaceuticals, Cement Manufacturing, Power Generation, Leather, Rubber and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033". According to the report, the biomass briquette fuel market was valued at $0.9 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $1.8 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2024 to 2033.

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Prime determinants of growth

The global biomass briquette fuel market is driven by rise in technological advancements, which have significantly improved the efficiency and quality of biomass briquettes. Modern briquetting machines can process a wide variety of biomass types and produce briquettes with high calorific value and low moisture content. Innovations in pre-treatment processes, such as torrefaction and palletization, enhance the energy density and combustion efficiency of briquettes, making them more competitive with conventional fuels. This factor is expected to act as one of the key drivers responsible for the growth of the biomass briquette fuel market during the forecast period. However, high initial investments in setting up biomass briquette manufacturing units is anticipated to restrain the investors with less investment potential to enter in the biomass briquette fuel market.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2024-2033 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2023 $0.9 billion Market Size in 2033 $1.8 billion CAGR 7.1 % No. of Pages in Report 550 Segments covered Raw Material, Application, End-Use Industry, and Region. Drivers Public policies and regulatory support

Growing preference for sustainable activities

Rapid shift towards renewable energy sources

Climate Change Mitigation Opportunities Government incentives and subsidies

Technological Advancements in Briquetting Techniques Restraints High initial costs

The rice husk segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period.

Rice is one of the most widely cultivated crops worldwide, especially in Asia-Pacific countries like China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. The large-scale production of rice results in a significant quantity of rice husks as a by-product. Furthermore, the continuous cultivation and harvesting of rice ensure a steady and reliable supply of rice husks, making them a dependable raw material for briquette production.

Also, rice husks are a by-product of rice milling. Traditionally, they have little economic value and are often considered waste. This makes them a low-cost raw material for briquette manufacturers. Utilizing rice husks for briquette production can reduce waste disposal costs for rice mills, further contributing to cost savings.

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The oil extraction units segment is expected to be the most lucrative segment during the forecast period.

Biomass briquette fuel is predominantly used in oil extraction units due to its cost-effectiveness, high calorific value, and environmental benefits. These briquettes provide a steady, reliable, and sustainable source of heat required for the oil extraction process, ensuring efficient and consistent operation. Unlike fossil fuels, biomass briquettes produce lower emissions, helping oil extraction units comply with environmental regulations and reduce their carbon footprint. Additionally, using locally sourced biomass briquettes can reduce dependency on imported fuels, enhance energy security, and support local economies. This combination of economic, operational, and environmental advantages makes biomass briquettes an attractive fuel option for oil extraction units.

The power generation segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period.

Biomass briquette fuel is predominantly used in power generation due to its suitability for large-scale energy production, high energy density, and environmental benefits. Biomass briquettes offer a renewable and carbon-neutral alternative to fossil fuels, aligning with global efforts to mitigate climate change. Power generation plants can easily integrate biomass briquettes into existing infrastructure, such as boilers and turbines, enabling efficient conversion of biomass energy into electricity. Additionally, biomass briquettes provide a reliable and stable energy supply, reducing dependency on volatile fossil fuel markets. The environmental advantages, coupled with the scalability and compatibility with power generation systems, make biomass briquettes an attractive choice for meeting electricity demand sustainably.

Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2033

The biomass briquette fuel market in the Asia-Pacific region continues to expand due to a combination of environmental concerns, economic factors, and policy initiatives. With the region facing severe air pollution and striving to reduce carbon emissions, biomass briquettes offer a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuels, aligning with sustainability goals and climate targets. Additionally, the abundance of agricultural and forestry residues in the region provides a readily available and cost-effective raw material for briquette production. Supportive government policies, including subsidies and incentives for renewable energy, further drive the adoption of biomass briquettes, promoting energy security and rural development. These factors collectively contribute to the rising demand for biomass briquette fuel in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Leading Market Players: -

KKR Bio Fuels

Yashhraj Group of Companies

Ecostan

Gattuwala.

Energy Plus India

Sree Amman Briquettes

NIRMALA & SIDDAGANGA BIOFUEL INDUSTRIES

Neerpati Biofuels Private Limited

NARSIHMA AGRO INDUSTRIES

Buyo India Pvt Ltd

Vidhyut Power & Systems

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global biomass briquette fuel market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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Wood Pellets Biomass Boilers Market Size, Share, Competitive Landscape and Trend Analysis Report, by Type, by Application: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032

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About us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. 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.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

Contact us:

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Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2024) - AI Army, a early stage startup in innovative AI Digital Workforce Solutions, today announced the launch of its inagural Global State of Artificial Intelligence in eCommerce Survey 2024. This comprehensive study aims to revolutionize the understanding of AI's impact on the rapidly evolving eCommerce landscape.

The survey, set to be one of the most extensive of its kind, will delve into crucial aspects of AI adoption, including current usage trends, operational impacts, and stakeholder perceptions. By gathering data from a diverse range of eCommerce businesses worldwide, AI Army seeks to provide unparalleled insights into the transformative power of AI in online retail.

"Our goal is to equip eCommerce leaders with the knowledge they need to harness AI's full potential," said Joshua Haines, Co-Founder at AI Army. "This survey will be an invaluable tool for businesses looking to gain a competitive edge in an increasingly AI-driven marketplace."

Key objectives of the research include:

Benchmarking current AI adoption rates across different eCommerce segments





Evaluating AI's impact on operational efficiency and business performance





Identifying barriers to AI implementation and areas for future innovation





Assessing market readiness for advanced AI solutions

The survey's findings are expected to have far-reaching implications for various stakeholders, including eCommerce businesses, AI solution providers, and investors. Results will inform strategic decision-making, guide product development, and highlight emerging opportunities in the AI-eCommerce nexus.

AI Army plans to release the survey results in a comprehensive report, providing actionable insights that will shape the future of AI in eCommerce. This initiative underscores the startup's commitment to driving innovation and fostering growth in the digital retail space.

Those interested in participating in this groundbreaking study are encouraged to visit https://globalsurvey.aiarmy.ai/PR to complete the survey and contribute to this pivotal research.

About AI Army: AI Army is a pioneering company dedicated to creating a digital workforce platform that integrates seamlessly with eCommerce operations. Founded by industry experts with extensive experience in AI, eCommerce, Technology and Marketing, our team is passionate about innovation and excellence. We understand the unique challenges faced by eCommerce businesses and are committed to providing solutions that address these needs effectively.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219088

SOURCE: Pressmaster DMCC
An increase in the use of chitosan in water treatment is driving the market growth due to its effectiveness in removing contaminants and heavy metals. Chitosan's biodegradable and non-toxic nature makes it an attractive choice for sustainable water purification, addressing the rise in environmental concerns and regulatory demands for cleaner water solutions.

WILMINGTON, Del., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Chitosan Market by Source (Shrimp, Squid, Crab, Krill and Others), and Application (Water treatment, Biomedical and Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics, Food and Beverage and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033". According to the report, the chitosan market was valued at $7.8 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $42.8 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 18.7% from 2024 to 2033.

Prime determinants of growth

The global chitosan market is experiencing growth due to several factors such as the rise in demand for natural and biodegradable materials in various industries and the increasing health consciousness among consumers. However, high market costs associated with chitosan hinder market growth. Moreover, the rise in emphasis on sustainable and green chemistry presents a favorable environment present additional opportunity for the chitosan market.

Download Sample Pages of Research Overview: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/1737

Report coverage and details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2024-2033 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2023 $7.8billion Market Size in 2033 $42.8billion CAGR 18.7 % No. of Pages in Report 300 Segments Covered Source, Application, and Region. Drivers Increase in use in water treatment Expanding applications in medical and pharmaceutical industries Opportunity Expanding applications in food and beverage industry Restraint High production costs

Shrimp segment to maintain its dominance by 2033

By source, the shrimp segment held the highest market share in 2023 and is likely to retain its dominance during the forecast period. The growth of the shrimp-based chitosan market is driven by factors such as increasing global demand for seafood, which has led to higher shrimp production, resulting in abundant shrimp shell waste, a primary source of chitosan. Advances in extraction technologies have made chitosan production more efficient and cost-effective. In addition, rise in awareness of the benefits of chitosan in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and water treatment is boosting its demand. The sustainable and eco-friendly nature of chitosan production from shrimp waste also aligns with the growing emphasis on green and sustainable products.

Water treatment segment is expected to lead the trail by 2033

Based on application, the water treatment segment held the highest market share in 2023 and is estimated to dominate the market during the forecast period. The growth of chitosan in water treatment applications is driven by its eco-friendly and biodegradable nature, making it an attractive alternative to synthetic chemicals. Chitosan's effectiveness in removing heavy metals, dyes, and other contaminants enhances its demand in the water treatment sector. Increasing environmental regulations and the need for sustainable water management solutions further propel its adoption. In addition, growing awareness about water pollution and the benefits of using natural coagulants contribute to the rising use of chitosan in both industrial and municipal water treatment processes.

Procure Complete Report (300 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/chitosan-market

Asia-Pacific is expected to experience the fastest growth during the forecast period

Based on region, Asia-Pacific was the fastest-growing region in terms of revenue in 2023. The increasing demand for chitosan in the Asia-Pacific region is driven by several growth factors. The region's booming agriculture sector benefits from chitosan's applications in enhancing crop yield and protection. In addition, rise in demand for natural and biodegradable materials in the food and beverage industry supports its use as a food additive and preservative. In healthcare, chitosan's biocompatibility and biodegradability drive its adoption in wound care, drug delivery, and medical devices. Furthermore, the region's growing focus on environmental sustainability boosts the demand for chitosan in water treatment and bioplastics.

Want to Access the Statistical Data and Graphs, Key Players' Strategies: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/chitosan-market/purchase-options

Leading Market Players: -

PRIMEX EHF

ADVANCED BIOPOLYMERS AS

Panvo Organics Pvt. Ltd.

Heppe Medical Chitosan GmbH

G.T.C. Bio Corporation

Kitozyme S.A.

Novamatrix

Agratech International, Inc.

Golden-Shell Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

Qingdao Yunzhou Biochemistry Co. Ltd.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global chitosan market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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AMSTERDAM, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TBAuctions, Europe's leading multi-brand online B2B marketplace for used industrial goods, acquires Surplex. The transaction closed on 7th August 2024. This strategic move accelerates TBAuctions growth into new countries including Spain, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Serbia. It also bolsters TBAuctions' presence in Germany, France, and Italy, adding deep industry vertical expertise in metal and woodworking. The combination with Surplex enables TBAuctions to achieve new milestones. The combined brands of TBAuctions reach nearly 200 million annual site visits, source sellers from 20+ countries across Europe, sell over 1.6 million assets receiving bids from 750K bidders in 175 countries, generating hammersales of over 1.6 billion, and employing nearly 1,200 team members.?

The European market for used business equipment sales exceeds 250 billion per year, and digital auctioning is a fast-growing channel for trading these assets. Driven by tech advancements, digital adoption, and sustainability shifts. With a proprietary intelligent auctioning platform, TBAuctions makes auctioning more transparent and efficient through a connected bidder base, automation, AI, and scale; taking advantage of these trends. Every year, manufacturing of new vehicles, farm and construction equipment generates over a billion tons of CO2e. By extending the life of existing equipment, and buying second hand machinery, companies can reduce their carbon footprint, and global emissions.

Founded in 1999 in Dusseldorf, Germany, Surplex has built a strong reputation across Continental Europe, specializing in installed industrial machinery for metal and woodworking for international commercial buyers. This complements well with TBAuctions position in the Nordics and Benelux focused more on mobile equipment.

Tom Christenson, CEO of TBAuctions, shared: "Surplex has a great team of people, excellent customers, and a strong brand across Europe. Together with TBAuctions' best in class tech platform and leading brands, we see great opportunities through our complementary services, values, and people to drive exponential growth. This marks a major milestone for us to serve customers in all countries of Europe on our journey to revolutionize digital auctioning and promote sustainable trade."?

Michael Werker, Managing Owner of Surplex, said: "It makes a lot of sense for Surplex to come together with TBAuctions. We share similar values, commitment to excellent customer service, and a passion to drive the circular economy." Uli Stalter, Managing Owner of Surplex, summarizes saying: "The combination of skills and geographic footprint between Surplex and the family of TBAuctions brands creates a comprehensive digital auction experience across Europe."

About Surplex

Surplex has been one of Europe's leading industrial auction houses for 25 years and trades worldwide in used machines and factory equipment. The 18-language auction platform Surplex.com has over 125,000 registered customers. Around 1,000 online auctions are held annually, with more than 400,000 industrial products sold to date. The company is based in Dusseldorf and has offices in 16 European countries.

About TBAuctions

TBAuctions is Europe's leading multi-brand (Troostwijk Auctions, Klaravik, Auksjonen, PS Auction, British Medical Auctions, Vavato, and Auktionshuset dab), digital auction platform for B2B used goods with 1,000+ team members across the Nordics, Benelux+UK, and Continental Europe. We believe that "Everything Has Value" and we make auctioning more effective and efficient by using technology, automation, and economies of scale. TBAuctions' proprietary platform hosts intelligent online auctions, connecting bidders from various storefronts into a single, unified auction experience. TBAuctions brings sustainable trade to a higher level. Sourcing locally and selling globally, millions of products are auctioned every year.?Funds managed by Castik Capital are the majority owners of TBAuctions, with Summa Equity as the minority shareholder.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2475481/TBAuctions_Surplex.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tbauctions-and-surplex-join-forces-to-expand-across-europe-302216819.html
Integration of Newsquawk's AI-powered news feeds will be made available to retail traders for the first time

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Capital.com , the global trading platform whose trading client volumes surpassed $1trn in 2023, today announced a strategic partnership with leading market real-time news platform, Newsquawk. With this partnership, Capital.com clients will have access to instant, market-moving news typically reserved for institutional and professional traders.

Through an API integration, Newsquawk feeds will be delivered directly via the Capital.com app and web platforms, enabling more than 500,000 retail clients to receive up-to-the-minute news feeds. This partnership marks an industry-first in the retail brokerage space, affirming Capital.com's commitment to help clients make informed trading decisions.

Dana Massey, Chief Product Officer, Capital.com, said:

"This partnership with Newsquawk reflects our ongoing commitment to support our traders with market-moving news and analysis to help inform their next move. This is the first time Newsquawk's institutional-grade service is being offered to retail traders and we are proud to be their partner in this journey. This is a massive step towards levelling the playing field, empowering traders to act with confidence and without delay."

Mehul Patel, Founder, Newsquawk, said:

"We are thrilled to work with Capital.com and extend our real-time news services to a broader audience. Powered by our proprietary news filtering technology and analysts, Newsquawk aggregates thousands of headlines and data releases across newswires, social media and live tv broadcasts to find the news that will move the market. Testament to the strength of our groundbreaking technology, Newsquawk has recently been awarded the prestigious 2024 UK Innovate Grant. We are excited to support Capital.com's retail clients and enhance their trading experience with rapid, reliable, and actionable news."

Niamh Byrne, Head of UK & Ireland, Capital.com, said:

"We have a long-standing partnership with Newsquawk in the UK, and our clients have always valued the service they provide. Recognising its importance, we decided to integrate Newsquawk into our web & mobile apps, ensuring all our clients can access the same reliable breaking news and alerts that institutional and professional traders depend on daily."

Key features of the partnership include:

Immediate Access to Market-Moving News: Capital.com traders will receive up-to-the-minute information that can impact market movements, incorporating both scheduled announcements and unscheduled news that could affect the markets.

Global Coverage: Traders will receive sector specific market coverage, including equities, currencies, commodities, and bonds, appealing to traders with diverse interests.

Expert Analysis: Access to expert commentary, produced by a team of qualified analysts, to help traders understand the implications of news events to support more informed trading decisions.

Headlines and Reports: Breaking news headlines and reports delivered directly to clients' mobile devices in multiple languages, helping them to trade the news without delay.

The integration will be rolled out in phases. The first phase, which includes access to Newsquawk's breaking news feeds, is currently available to all Capital.com clients actively trading on the platform. Further features of the product integration will be progressively rolled out over the coming months.

ENDS/

Media Contact

PR for Capital.com

Shamillia.sivathambu@capital.com

+44 7900 016 469

Notes to Editors

About Newsquawk

Newsquawk is a breaking financial news provider for institutional and professional traders. The company was recently awarded the prestigious 2024 Innovate UK Grant to develop its groundbreaking Large Language Model (LLM) project leveraging its proprietary data sets and market knowledge. LLMs, a subset of Artificial Intelligence(AI), are very large deep learning models that are pre-trained on vast amounts of data. Newsquawk's LLM(s) will leverage a decade of proprietary news data to provide traders with unparalleled and instantaneous context around market impacting events.

About Capital.com

Capital.com is a high-growth fintech company empowering people to participate in financial markets through simple and innovative online trading platforms. Launched in 2016, its intuitive award-winning platform -available on web and app -enables investors to trade thousands of world-renowned markets. To help investors trade with confidence, the platform is fitted with robust risk management controls, transparent pricing and extensive educational content to support clients in their trading journeys.

Capital.com has a global network with offices located in leading business and financial centres including London, Dubai, Warsaw, Vilnius, Sofia, Limassol, and Melbourne. Capital Com (UK) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under registration number 793714. Capital Com SV Investments Limited is Authorised and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), under licence number 319/17. Capital Com Australia Pty Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) under AFSL Number 513393. Capital Com Online Investments Ltd is a Company registered in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and authorised to carry out Securities Business by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas with licence number SIA-F245. Capital Com Mena Securities Trading LLC is authorised and regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), under license number 20200000176.

To find out more, please visit: www.capital.com

This press release is for media use only. It's not intended for individual investors, and doesn't include personal advice or recommendations.

DISCLAIMER CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 83.51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Professional clients can lose more than they deposit. All trading involves risk. Crypto Derivatives are not available to Retail clients registered with Capital Com (UK) Ltd. Spread bets are available only to UK clients. The value of shares and ETFs bought through a share dealing account can fall as well as rise, which could mean getting back less than you originally put in. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Capital Com (UK) Limited ("CCUK") is registered in England and Wales with company registration number 10506220. CCUK is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA"), under registration number 793714. Capital Com SV Investments Limited ("CCSV") is registered in Cyprus with company registration number 354252. CCSV is regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) under licence number 319/17. Capital Com Online Investments Ltd is a limited liability company (company number 209236B) registered in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and authorised to carry on Securities Business by the Securities by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas ("SCB") with licence number SIA-F245. Capital Com Mena Securities Trading LLC is authorised and regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), under license number 20200000176. Capital.com is an execution-only brokerage platform and the content provided on the Capital.com website is intended for informational purposes only and should not be regarded as an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the products or securities to which it applies. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. The information provided does not constitute investment advice nor take into account the individual financial circumstances or objectives of any investor. Any information that may be provided relating to past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results or performance. To the extent permitted by law, in no event shall Capital.com (or any affiliate or employee) have any liability for any loss arising from the use of the information provided. Any person acting on the information does so entirely at their own risk. Any information which could be construed as "investment research" has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. SOURCE: Capital Com SV Investments Limited

















View the original press release on accesswire.com
Automakers lured by government policies tilt the global balance towards electric vehicles

BANGKOK, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BYD and BMW are two very different auto companies.

BYD is the Chinese upstart that is tussling with Tesla for the title of world's leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles. BMW is the venerable 108-year-old German company that ranks as the global top selling luxury car brand.

Yet despite their dissimilar pedigrees and target markets, BYD and BMW have made one identical business decision: To make Thailand a base to manufacture electric vehicles and the increasingly sophisticated batteries that power them.

They are far from alone. Thai government tax breaks, subsidies and other incentives are transforming Southeast Asia's second largest economy into a global hub not only for the production of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) but also the hybrid technologies that are supporting the zero-emission transition.

And even as BYD staged the grand opening on July 4, 2024 of its 32 billion baht (about $900 million) state-of-the-art factory at Rayong in Thailand's high-tech Eastern Economic Corridor, six other major Chinese BEV manufacturers -- Great Wall Motor, Hozon New Energy Automobile, SAIC Motor, Chongqing Changan Automobile, GAC Aion and Chery Automobile -- were already either operating or building their own factories nearby.

In addition to this Chinese investment surge, Japan's Isuzu Motors in March used the Bangkok International Motor Show in March 2024 to unveil the company's first BEV - a version of the best-selling D-Max one-ton pickup truck - which it said would be built in Thailand and exported to select European markets, such as Norway, starting in 2025. Isuzu, which boasts 50 percent of the Thai pickup market, has filed last year with the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) a plan to increase its investment in Thailand by 32 billion baht.

Isuzu's compatriots, Toyota and Honda, are also embracing the Kingdom as a place to advance their own clean energy ambitions by initially focusing on hybrids while taking tentative steps towards EV production.

So, too, is Korea's Hyundai Motor Company. Its unit, Hyundai Mobility Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. received approval from the BOI in August 2024 to invest 1 billion baht to start in 2026 the local assembly of BEVs and the batteries that power them.

Of the major European investors, Mercedes-Benz has been assembling electric cars and batteries in Thailand since 2022. BMW, which leads the premium market segment and has been building cars in Thailand since 2000, will launch its first locally made EVs in the second half of 2025. In March 2024, it broke ground on a 42 million euro fifth generation high voltage battery plant in Rayong.

That same month, Chinese battery maker SVOLT Energy Technology, in partnership with Thai energy company Banpu Next, began producing EV battery packs in Thailand - further evidence that the kingdom is not only building vehicles, but also creating a localized supply chain to support the sector's growth.

Then in May, Changan announced partnerships with Thailand parts manufacturers including AAPICO Hitech PCL and Thai Summit Group as part of a total procurement plan worth 20 million baht (about $540 million) to produce Changan EVs locally from the start of 2025.

In total, 18 clean energy automakers have invested $2.2 billion in the Kingdom, a figure the BOI believes could soar by 10-fold by 2027.

"I follow these topics very deeply, but even I was surprised at how the market has developed here in the past year," Eric Ruge, Managing Director of BMW Manufacturing (Thailand) Co. Ltd., said in an interview. "Customers are marching in the direction of battery electric vehicles."

Thailand has long been a successful player in the conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) auto industry, ranking 10th in the world and number one in Southeast Asia as a manufacturer in 2023.

Now government policies offering subsidies, tax breaks and other incentives to manufacturers and consumers have catapulted it towards the top of the EV rankings, ahead of the U.S. and chasing market leader China.

Even when enthusiasm for BEV began to falter in other countries, Thailand this year offered "an unwavering commitment" to maintain its consistent support.

That consistency has not only led to a surge in BEV sales locally but also contributed towards what analysts at Bloomberg Green, a unit of the New York-based financial news service that focuses on the business, science and technology of climate change, say will be a tipping point for mass adoption of zero-emission vehicles.

The tipping point, the analysts estimate, is a 5% market share - the level at which new technologies such as smart watches typically start to take the world by storm. So far 31 countries have met that figure for EV sales with Thailand being one that surpassed it "in blazing fashion," they noted.

In 2023, EV sales in Thailand soared by almost eight-fold to 76,000 - accounting for 12 percent of all vehicles sold. In the first quarter of 2024, the EV market share rose to 14 percent. "Thailand emerged as Southeast Asia's EV pioneer," Bloomberg Green reported.

And that is just the start. Before this year, almost all EVs sold in Thailand were imported - mostly from China. Now with the opening of so many local production facilities, the annual sales figure for 2024 is set to double again to 150,000 - a 20 percent market share of all vehicles produced, the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand has forecast.

The country's next big target is a so-called "30@30" strategy that aims for 30% of vehicles manufactured by 2030 to be EVs. These include not only private cars, but also trucks and buses.

Given that more than half of Thailand's 2.5 million vehicle manufacturing capacity will be exported, that would make the Kingdom an even more important global contributor to clean energy vehicle production.

"Thailand aims to become a major EV manufacturing hub for domestic and export markets," the International Energy Agency, a Paris-based intergovernmental organization comprising countries that account for 80% of global energy consumption, said in its 2024 Global EV Outlook. "New subsidies, including for domestic battery manufacturing, and lower import and excise taxes, combined with the growing presence of Chinese carmakers have contributed to rapidly increasing sales."

The most visible of those Chinese carmakers is BYD, which has chosen Thailand as its first production base outside China.

When it entered the local market in 2022 with an imported model, the Atto 3, Thais queued outside showrooms to buy it. Last year, following the introduction of imported Dolphin and Seal models, BYD sold 30,000 cars locally - a 40% share of the Thai EV market.

It also struck a deal for Bangkok-based Rever Automotive to assemble its battery-powered buses and trucks in the kingdom.

Now the opening of its new Rayong factory, with a production capacity of 150,000 vehicles a year, seems destined to play a key role in the company's lightning-swift international expansion - especially across the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a market of more than 670 million people.

"We already have plans to export into ASEAN countries, the Australian market and even Europe," Benson Ke Yubin, General Manager of BYD Thailand said in an interview.

With so many other potential locations to choose from, what persuaded the Chinese BEV giant to invest in Thailand? Like other manufacturers interviewed for this article, Ke singled out Thailand's supportive policies and the role of the BOI in assisting investors. "We feel confident investing here," he said.

If the speed of Thailand's transition to BEVs sounds ambitious, it is based on a proven strategy. To get where it is today as a global leader in conventional ICE vehicle production, it not only attracted foreign car manufacturers, but also developed a sophisticated onshore supply chain of parts makers.

Now a prime objective is to attract investment in the manufacturing of battery cells to complete the localization of the most important parts of the EV supply chain.

But how did Thailand persuade car and battery makers to move so swiftly? Several years ago, the government identified "the car of the future" as one of five key strategic new technology industries it aimed to develop.

Then in 2022 the incentives it offered foreign EV producers included allowing them to import vehicles for the first two years on condition they agreed to build factories soon after.

Those companies that begin local production by the end of 2024 get the most privileges, although automakers opening factories between 2025 and 2027 will continue to be incentivized.

The result has been the surge of investment followed by a jump in EV production as the new local factories come online.

First off the blocks was Great Wall Motor, which in 2020 acquired a conventional auto factory from U.S. giant General Motors, then announced it would spend 22.6 billion baht (about $615 million) converting it to manufacture hybrids and EVs. (NB: source is Reuters July 10, 2023 and Nikkei Feb 11, 2023). The first hybrids rolled off the production line in June 2021 followed by EVs in January 2024.

Capable of producing 80,000 vehicles a year, including the Ora Good Cat, Haval and Tank models, the company describes the Rayong factory as its key production base for right hand drive vehicles in Southeast Asia.

Then in March, Hozon fully opened what it termed "the first 100 percent EV factory in Thailand", producing the Neta V small car which in Thailand competes in price with similar ICE models.

Even before local manufacturing began, the Neta V had become an established favorite in Thailand following Hozon's launch of the imported model in 2022. Within a year, 14,000 Netas had been sold - catapulting it to number two EV brand and into the top 10 best selling car models of all types in that year. "We took just one year and one model to gain consumer acceptance in Thailand," Neta Auto (Thailand) General Manager Shu Gangzhi said in an interview. "This gave us confidence to invest more in this market and that's why we decided to start production here."

Now, with a production capacity of 30,000 annually, the company is looking beyond Thailand's borders. "We are also preparing the basis for exports to other Asian markets and maybe other markets such as South Africa, for both left and right hand drive vehicles," Shu said.

Why did Hozon choose Thailand? "It has the most attractive, stable EV policy - very realistic - with incentives for both consumers and manufacturers," Shu added. "It is also a large and sophisticated market."

Both Great Wall and Hozon use batteries supplied by the new SVOLT JV factory. While SVOLT was originally the battery unit of Great Wall Motor Holdings, it now gets 70 percent of its business from other manufacturers, SVOLT's Senior Vice President, Feng Zhang, says.

Zhang says part of SVOLT's decision to choose Thailand for its first factory in Southeast Asia stemmed from its earlier experience. "Progress has been fast and smooth and this gave us very high confidence," he says.

The bottom line, however, was commercial. "We are doing our business independently," Zhang adds. "We expect a very high EV transformation in Thailand. In China, the EV market share is close to 50%. I think the same will happen in Thailand. This is going to be a huge market for us."

Back at BMW's factory in Rayong, Managing Director Ruge doesn't attribute Thailand's success at winning investment entirely to its incentives or market opportunities. He also gives high praise to the Thai workforce.

Of BMW Group's global production network comprising 30 manufacturing plants in 15 countries, Rayong is unique in that it builds both cars and motorcycles under the same roof.

"It's a small plant, but it's extremely complex," Ruge says. "And it's absolutely impressive how they can build these cars and motorcycles without any compromise in quality. I have worked all over the world, but what I have experienced here is really exceptional."

For more information, please contact:

Thailand Board of Investment

Tel. +66 (0) 2553 8111

Website: www.boi.go.th

YouTube: Think Asia, Invest Thailand

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/thailands-supercharged-ev-sales-poised-for-a-new-surge-302217647.html
Omega Pacific Resources Inc. (CSE:OMGA)(OTCQB:OMGPF)(FSE:Q0F) ("Omega Pacific" or the "Company") is pleased to announce additional drill results from its 2024 drill program at the Williams Property in British Columbia's Golden Horseshoe. Assay results from Phase One's second drill hole (WM24-02) continue to demonstrate high-grade and bulk tonnage mineralization (Figure 1).

Highlights

Gold mineralization has been extended east of the previous results in WM24-01 and WM22-02

Discovery of two new gold mineralization zones located deeper and north of historical results

Results including 1.09 g/t Gold over 57.98 metres (principal zone), 0.57 g/t Au over 26.3 m (central zone), and 2.18 g/t over 8.41 m within 1.33 g/t Au over 28.24 m (north zone) These zones are separated by 30 m and 50 m respectively.



Omega Pacific's CEO Jason Leikam commented, "Omega Pacific management is very pleased with the results of our drill program to date. We continue to deliver robust mineralization at our Williams Property. The results of drill hole WM24-02 indicate two new gold zones, giving us a new understanding of our project and presenting significant exploration upside. Overall, we are starting to realize a broad, bulk tonnage gold bearing system with localized high grade, and we are eager to report on the pending results of the final two holes from our initial drill program at GIC. The complete dataset will provide us with clear direction on our next steps for Williams and will help guide our strategy for a Phase 2 drill program."

Drill Results at GIC

WM24-02 was drilled east of holes WM24-01 and WM22-02 (Omega Press Release July 24, 2024) and intersected the principal zone from 230-295 m downhole (Figure 2). As noted in previous drilling, this mineralization is centred on a black basaltic unit with several phases of quartz veining and pyrite mineralization. Individual assays in the principal zone returned values up to 107 g/t Au in neighbouring drill holes. A bulk-tonnage intersection from this zone in WM24-02 included 1.09 g/t Au over 57.98 m.

Figure 1. Plan map of the GIC Prospect showing 2022 and 2024 drill holes on bedrock geology. Drill hole WM22-03 intersected 4.64 g/t Au over 8 m and lies 600 metres east of WM24-01 and 24-02.

Altered volcanic rocks were noted below the basaltic unit in previous drilling - the two new zones revealed in WM24-02 are part of these same altered volcanic rocks. These volcanic rocks have been extensively altered and silicified with variable amounts of pyrite ranging up to 15-20% over several multi-metre sections. Local shear zones and brecciated intervals have also been noted highlighting potential structural controls on mineralization at the GIC prospect. The central zone returned 0.57 g/t Au over 26.3 m while the northern, deeper zone returned 2.18 g/t Au over 8.41 m within a broader, bulk-tonnage interval of 1.33 g/t Au over 28.24 m (Figure 2).

GIC Expansion

Omega Pacific anticipates that pending assays for drill holes WM24-03 and WM22-02 (extension) will expand the central and north zones further west. Some aspects of the core logging observations coupled with XRF analysis in the field suggest this is possible - notably, correlations between gold assays and arsenic, potassium, and zinc in analytical results so far and increased abundances in the latter three elements from WM24-03 and WM22-02 (extension).

With the encouraging follow-up results from the 2024 drill program and the historical 2022 results, Omega has >600 lateral metres of gold mineralization between the holes of this news release and WM22-03 (Figure 1). This envelope of gold mineralization is still wide open to the east and west representing several kilometres of potential strike length to explore. Further to the potential expansion east and west of the three zones, it is important to note that they are also open to expansion closer to surface and to depth. The principal and north zones have been intersected at ~250 and 390 vertical metres from surface, respectively. This leaves an abundance of room to grow these zones towards surface with shallow drilling.

Figure 2. Cross-section of drill holes WM24-01 and WM24-02 with current gold results on IP chargeability. WM24-02 intersected three distinct zones of gold mineralization (principal, central, and north).

Select Assay Results WM24-02 Hole From (m) To (m) Width (m) Au (g/t) WM24-02 232.02 290.0 57.98 1.09 and 320.0 346.3 26.3 0.57 and 397.62 425.86 28.24 1.33

Table 1. Select assay intervals from drill hole WM24-02. True thicknesses of mineralization are not known given the early stage of exploration. A complete list of all drill results to date will be posted to the Company's website at OmegaPacific.ca.

Drill Collar Locations HoleID Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (m) Azimuth Dip Depth (m) WM24-01 572769 6408008 1655 0 -57 503 WM22-02(ext) 572769 6408010 1655 0 -50 From 300-502 WM24-02 572770 6408008 1655 13.66 -48.95 509

Table 2. Current drill hole information.

Omega Pacific's summer 2024 drill program is designed to drill up to 2,000 m at the GIC Prospect of the Williams Property. The GIC Prospect represents a >4 km long target with overlapping gold-copper rock and soil anomalism and chargeability/resistivity anomalies from induced-polarization (IP) geophysical surveys. This area is marked by the "Park Gossan" and occurs proximal to the contact between volcanic and intrusive rocks and large-scale faults all of which are critical to mineralization elsewhere in the Golden Horseshoe. It has seen limited historical exploration drilling of ~2,300 m.The company will report on additional program results over the summer season as it receives assays.

Corporate Update

Additionally, the Company announces that Grant Carlson has resigned as a Director of the Company. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Carlson for his service as a Director.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Measures and Analytical Procedures

Omega Pacific adheres to a strict QA/QC monitoring program that includes the insertion of blanks, standards and duplicates into the sample stream, as well as the re-submission of select samples for check assays by an independent third party laboratory. Drill core is cut in-half with a diamond saw, with one-half placed in sealed bags and shipped to the laboratory and the other half retained on site. Third party laboratory checks on 5% of the samples are carried out as well. Chain of custody is maintained from the drill to the submittal into the laboratory preparation facility.

Core samples were prepared and analyzed by ALS Labs in Kamloops and Vancouver, BC using Fire Assay methods on a 30g split with an atomic absorption finish. Gold assays exceeding 10 g/t were re-assayed with a gravimetric finish. Samples were also analyzed for a 48-element suite via mass-spectrometry with a four acid digestion.

The Company adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines for exploration related activities conducted on its property. Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) procedures are overseen by the Qualified Person.

Qualified Person

Robert L'Heureux (P.Geol.), Director of Omega Pacific Resources, is the "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and has reviewed, validated and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. Mr. L'Heureux oversees exploration planning and execution at the Williams Property.

About Omega Pacific

Omega Pacific is a mineral exploration company focused on the development of mineral projects containing base and precious metals. The Company is actively exploring its British Columbia located properties and continues to evaluate assets globally for further acquisitions.

For more information, please contact:

Omega Pacific Resources Inc.

Jason Leikam, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Tel: +1 (778) 650 4255

Email: jason@omegapacific.ca

Cautionary Statement

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information under the provisions of Canadian securities laws including statements about the Company's plans. Such statements are necessarily based upon a number of beliefs, assumptions, and opinions of management on the date the statements are made and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. 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, except as required by law.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Omega Pacific Resources Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NEW DELHI, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hygenco Green Energies has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mitsubishi Power to explore the possibility of delivering green hydrogen/ammonia-fired gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power plants. This MoU aims to provide these integrated solutions in India and internationally.

Indo-Japan cooperation on energy security and green ammonia exemplifies strategic partnership aimed at fostering sustainable development and reducing emissions through technology exchange and collaborative investments.

Speaking of this occasion, Mr. SAITO Mitsunori, Chief Representative, JICA India, stated, "JICA is committed to supporting the development of green hydrogen technologies. This collaboration between Hygenco and MHI exemplifies the international cooperation needed to address climate change and promote sustainable growth. JICA will continuously support this partnership and looking forward to delivering the impact brought JICA - Neev Fund co-creation platform"

Hygenco will supply green fuel for MPW's GTCC technology to the potential Customers. The company will develop and deploy scaled-up, commercially viable green hydrogen and green ammonia production assets on a build-own-operate or gas-as-a-service basis.

"The collaboration will synergize Hygenco's green fuel supply with Mitsubishi Power's technology in India and globally, embodying the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam-the world is one family" stated Mr. Amit Bansal, CEO, Hygenco."We are excited to leverage our expertise in green hydrogen and ammonia to support the decarbonization of power generation and contribute to a sustainable energy future."

"We believe this partnership will pave the way for innovative and sustainable energy solutions," said Mr. Prem Prabhakar, MD&CEO, SBI Ventures Limited - that manages Neev II Fund which is an investor in Hygenco. "Investing in green hydrogen and ammonia production is crucial for India's energy security, energy transition, and environmental goals."

Mitsubishi Power is developing hydrogen and ammonia firing technologies to decarbonize existing GTCC plants by converting their fuel from natural gas to hydrogen/ammonia. The company has been involved in multiple projects worldwide.

About Hygenco Green Energies

Hygenco is a leading developer of green hydrogen and green ammonia projects. The company focuses on providing sustainable and commercially viable green fuel solutions to various industries, contributing to the global energy transition.

About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. is a global leader in engineering and manufacturing. MHI provides innovative solutions across various sectors, including energy, aerospace, and machinery etc. Mitsubishi Power, a subsidiary of MHI, specializes in power generation technologies and is at the forefront of hydrogen-firing technology development.

About JICA

Established, by a specific law, as an incorporated administrative institution under the Government of Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency aims to contribute to the promotion of international cooperation, as a sole Japanese governmental agency in charge of ODA implementation. JICA is the world's largest bilateral donor agency. JICA works as a bridge between Japan and emerging countries, and provides assistance in forms of loan, grant and technical cooperation so that the emerging countries can strengthen their capabilities.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2478092/Hygenco_JICA.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2406450/Hygenco_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hygenco-green-energies-with-jica-support-has-finalised-mou-with-mitsubishi-power-for-green-hydrogenammonia-fired-gtcc-power-plants-302217684.html
Issuer: SphingoTec GmbH / Key word(s): Financing/Investment

SphingoTec Closes 5M Series C to Accelerate Market Development and Financial Growth with Innovative Biomarkers



08.08.2024 / 10:00 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



SphingoTec GmbH has successfully secured funding to drive its global expansion, including the US market, through strategic collaborations.

The investment round is led by Think.Health Ventures, with support from existing investors. Think.Health Ventures will add significant value to SphingoTec through its expertise in diagnostics and its extensive network in clinics and laboratories.

The raised capital will be pivotal in advancing the out-licensing and commercialization of SphingoTec's innovative biomarkers for critical care, aiming to significantly improve patient management and outcomes.

The funding underscores SphingoTec's dedication to pioneering advancements in critical care patient management.

Hennigsdorf/Berlin, Germany, August 8, 2024 - Diagnostics company SphingoTec GmbH ("SphingoTec") announces the successful closing of a Series C financing round. The raised capital will allow the company to reach profitability through sustained and strategic commercialization of its products. This includes supporting market development, out-licensing activities, and close collaboration with licensees. SphingoTec aims for global expansion, including entry into the US market.



The lead investor, Think.Health Ventures, specializes in healthcare ventures that focus on innovations and business models in digital healthcare, medical technologies, and health service providers. Think.Health Ventures will provide support to the SphingoTec management team through its extensive network in clinics and laboratories. Additionally, SphingoTec has secured support from existing investors, which include Brandenburg Kapital, HBM Healthcare Investments, NRW.BANK, and Wellington Partners.



Dr. Florian Kainzinger, Managing Partner and Founder of Think.Health Ventures, commented, "We are pleased to support SphingoTec at this exciting stage of the company's development. With its developed and commercialized lead product penKid, SphingoTec is well-positioned for global expansion through out-licensing to key players in the diagnostic industry."



SphingoTec develops and markets in vitro diagnostic (IVD) solutions for novel and proprietary blood-based protein biomarkers. The company focuses on translational medicine, bringing innovations to frontline healthcare by discovering biomarkers, developing IVD assays, and making them available on different diagnostic platforms. The biomarker portfolio includes Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid), a biomarker for the assessment of kidney function, and bioactive Adrenomedullin 1-52 (bio-ADM), a biomarker for the assessment of endothelial function. PenKid has been out-licensed and commercialized and is currently used in routine measurements in university hospitals to improve patient management. To achieve broad market adoption of its first-in-class biomarkers, SphingoTec partners with global IVD companies. The portfolio is available for licensing to companies seeking to enhance their immunoassay portfolios and develop biomarker-based diagnostics for clinical use on high-throughput and near-patient testing platforms.



Deborah Bergmann, Managing Director and CEO, stated, "There is a substantial demand for more advancements in critical care diagnostics. Our scientifically and clinically validated innovations have the potential to improve the management of critically ill patients. With this investment, we will focus on further out-licensing our biomarkers to translate scientific advancements into routine clinical practice, ultimately supporting clinicians in improving patient outcomes."





###



About SphingoTec

SphingoTec GmbH ("SphingoTec"; Hennigsdorf near Berlin, Germany) is a commercial-stage diagnostic company focusing on innovative critical care biomarkers for diagnosing, predicting, and monitoring acute medical conditions. SphingoTec's innovative markers are made available on different IVD platforms. SphingoTec's proprietary biomarker portfolio includes Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid), a biomarker for the assessment of kidney function in critical diseases, and bioactive Adrenomedullin 1-52 (bio-ADM), a biomarker for the assessment of endothelial function in conditions like sepsis. www.sphingotec.com



About penKid

Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid) is a blood-based biomarker for assessing kidney function in acute and critical conditions. The biomarker offers a blood-based alternative for the complex and time-consuming in vivo measurement of true glomerular filtration rate (GFR). PenKid is independent of common comorbidities (e.g., hypertension and diabetes) and the frequently occurring inflammation in critically ill patients. Rising penKid blood levels predict acute kidney injury earlier than today's standard of care, and decreasing penKid blood levels indicate the improvement of kidney function, even under dialysis.



About bio-ADM

Bioactive Adrenomedullin 1-52 (bio-ADM) is a dynamic blood biomarker for the real-time assessment of endothelial function. The endothelium contributes to blood pressure and separates blood from the surrounding tissue. Elevated bio-ADM blood levels predict both blood pressure drop, resulting in shock and leaky blood vessels, leading to edema formation. Early identification of an imbalance in endothelial function allows for the prediction of vasopressor demand in critically ill patients and aids in the identification of residual congestion in acute heart failure patients.



Media contact:

Ruxandra Lenz

Head of Marketing and Communication

SphingoTec GmbH

Neuendorfstr. 15 A

16761 Hennigsdorf

Tel. +49-3302-20565-0





Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


Luxembourg, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This announcement is not an offer, whether directly or indirectly, in Australia, Belarus, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa or Russia or in any other jurisdiction where such offer would be prohibited by applicable law pursuant to legislation, restrictions and regulations in the relevant jurisdiction. Shareholders not resident in Sweden or the United States who wish to accept the Offers (as defined below) must make inquiries concerning applicable legislation and possible tax consequences. Shareholders should refer to the offer restrictions included in the section titled "Important notice" at the end of this announcement and in the Offer to Purchase (as defined below) which has been published on the website for the Offers (www.atlas-investissement.com/en/offers). United States shareholders should refer to the section titled "Important Information" and "Special Notice to Shareholders in the United States" at the end of this announcement.







Atlas Luxco S.a r.l. publishes a supplement to the offer document pursuant to the Swedish Offer regarding its public offers to the shareholders of Millicom International Cellular S.A.





On July 1, 2024, Atlas Luxco S.a r.l.1 ("Atlas" or the "Purchaser"), a subsidiary of Atlas Investissement S.A.S.1, announced separate but concurrent public offers in Sweden (the "Swedish Offer") and the United States (the "US Offer", and together with the Swedish Offer, the "Offers") to the shareholders in Millicom International Cellular S.A.2 ("Millicom" or the "Company") to tender all of their common shares, with nominal value USD 1.50 per share (each, a "Common Share," and collectively, the "Common Shares"), including Swedish Depositary Receipts representing Common Shares (each Swedish Depositary Receipt represents one Common Share) (each, an "SDR" and collectively, the "SDRs," and together with the Common Shares, the "Shares") in Millicom3 to Atlas. Holders of Common Shares and SDRs will collectively be referred to herein as "Shareholders." An offer document regarding the Offers was made public on July 1, 2024 (the "Offer to Purchase")4 and a supplement to the Offer to Purchase in connection with the Swedish Offer was made public on July 23 and on August 2, 2024, respectively.

On August 2, 2024, Atlas issued a press release regarding the increase of the price in the Offers from USD 24.00 per Common Share and USD 24.00 per SDR to USD 25.75 per Common Share and USD 25.75 per SDR. On account thereof, Atlas has prepared a supplement to the Offer to Purchase in connection with the Swedish Offer (the "Supplement"), which includes the press release from Atlas. The Supplement has been approved and registered by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Sw. Finansinspektionen) today. The Supplement has been made public and is, together with the Offer to Purchase and the previously prepared supplements, available on Atlas' website (www.atlas-investissement.com/en/offers).

The Supplement, exclusively in connection with the Swedish Offer, shall at all times be read together with, and as an integrated part of, the Offer to Purchase which was approved and published on July 1, 2024.

About Atlas Investissement

Atlas Investissement is a majority owned subsidiary of NJJ Holding, an investment vehicle wholly owned by Xavier Niel, a recognised entrepreneur and major long-term investor in the telecoms sector across several European and African markets. Xavier Niel is also the owner of the Iliad Group. NJJ Holding is an investor in telecom assets with presence in Switzerland, Ireland, Monaco, Cyprus, Malta, Sweden and the Baltics, while Iliad Group is one of the leading telecom providers present in France, Italy, Poland, Sweden and the Baltics.

Information about the Offers:

Information about the Offers is made available at:



www.atlas-investissement.com/en/offers

For additional information, please contact:

Cornelia Schnepf, FinElk

Cornelia.Schnepf@finelk.eu

+44 7387 108 998

Louise Tingstrom, FinElk

Louise.tingstrom@finelk.eu

+44 7899 066 995

For administrative questions regarding the Swedish Offer, please contact your bank or the nominee registered as holder of your SDRs.

The information was submitted for publication on August 8, 2024 at 10.15 a.m. (CEST).

Important information:

In the US Offer, this communication is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell securities of Millicom. It is also not a substitute for the Tender Offer Statement and Rule 13e-3 Transaction Statement under cover of Schedule TO that Atlas filed with the SEC on July 1, 2024, and the subsequent amendments thereto filed on July 18 and on August 5, 2024. Millicom has also filed a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the SEC with respect to the US Offer on July 15, 2024 and a subsequent amendment thereto on August 6, 2024. THE TENDER OFFER MATERIALS (INCLUDING AN OFFER TO PURCHASE, A RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CERTAIN OTHER TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY AND BE CONSIDERED BY MILLICOM'S SECURITYHOLDERS BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFERS. The Tender Offer Statement, Rule 13e-3 Transaction Statement and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement have been made available to Millicom's investors and security holders free of charge. A free copy of the Tender Offer Statement, Rule 13e-3 Transaction Statement and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement are available to all of Millicom's investors and security holders by visiting Atlas' website at www.atlas-investissement.com/en/offers. In addition, the Tender Offer Statement, Rule 13e-3 Transaction Statement and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement (and all other documents filed by Millicom with the SEC) are available at no charge on the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). MILLICOM'S INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE TENDER OFFER STATEMENT, RULE 13E-3 TRANSACTION STATEMENT AND THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT, AS EACH MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED BY ATLAS OR MILLICOM WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BEFORE THEY MAKE ANY DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFERS. THESE MATERIALS CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN, AS APPLICABLE, IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE OFFERS, ATLAS AND MILLICOM.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement and other related documents delivered to you and/or incorporated by reference herein include "forward-looking statements," including statements regarding the Purchaser Group, any member of the Purchaser Group's future prospects, developments and business strategies, timing and completion of the Offers, compelling value of the Offers and the Offer Price, purpose of the Offers, future performance, plans, growth and other trend projections and other benefits of the Offers, certainty of the Offers and the potential to satisfy the conditions for completion of the Offers, regulatory approvals required for completion of the Offers, the possibility that competing offers will be made, potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships as a result of the Offers and costs, charges or expenses relating to the Offers. These statements may generally, but not always, be identified by the use of words such as "anticipates," "intends," "expects," "believes," or similar expressions.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on assumptions and circumstances that may occur in the future. Actual results could differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, many of which are outside the control of Atlas, the Purchaser Group and Millicom, including changes in domestic and foreign economic and market conditions; the effect of changes in governmental regulations; any natural disaster, public health crisis or other catastrophic event; and the effect of laws and regulations governing government contracts, as well as the possibility that expected benefits related to recent or pending acquisitions, including the Offers, may not materialize as expected; the Offers not being timely completed, if completed at all; regulatory approvals required for the transaction not being timely obtained, if obtained at all, or being obtained subject to conditions; prior to the completion of the transaction, Millicom's business experiencing disruptions due to transaction-related uncertainty or other factors making it more difficult to maintain relationships with employees, customers, licensees, other business partners or governmental entities; difficulty retaining key employees; the outcome of any legal proceedings related to the Offers; the parties being unable to successfully implement integration strategies or to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies within the expected time frames or at all and other risk factors listed in Millicom's most recent annual report on Form 20-F. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Any forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date on which they are announced, and you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing Atlas' or the Purchaser Group's views as of any date after today. Except as required by the Swedish Takeover Rules or applicable law or regulation, Atlas and the Purchaser Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publicly announce updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement to reflect any change in expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. The reader should, however, consult any additional disclosures that Atlas, the Purchaser Group or Millicom have made or may make.

Important notice





The Offers are not being made, directly or indirectly, in Australia, Belarus, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa or Russia or in any other jurisdiction where such offer would be prohibited by applicable law pursuant to legislation, restrictions and regulations in the relevant jurisdiction, by use of mail or any other communication means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile transmission, electronic mail, telex, telephone and the internet) of interstate or foreign commerce, or of any facility of national securities exchange or other trading venue, of Australia, Belarus, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa or Russia or in any other jurisdiction where such offer would be prohibited by applicable law pursuant to legislation, restrictions and regulations in the relevant jurisdiction, and the Offers cannot be accepted by any such use or by such means, instrumentality or facility of, in or from, Australia, Belarus, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa or Russia or in any other jurisdiction where such offer would be prohibited by applicable law pursuant to legislation, restrictions and regulations in the relevant jurisdiction. Accordingly, this press release or any documentation relating to the Offers are not being and should not be sent, mailed or otherwise distributed or forwarded in or into Australia, Belarus, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa or Russia or in any other jurisdiction where such offer would be prohibited by applicable law pursuant to legislation, restrictions and regulations in the relevant jurisdiction.

This press release is not being, and must not be, sent to shareholders with registered addresses in Australia, Belarus, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa or Russia. Banks, brokers, dealers and other nominees holding shares for persons in Australia, Belarus, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa or Russia must not forward this press release or any other document received in connection with the Offers to such persons.

The Offers, the information and documents contained in this press release are not being made and has not been produced by, and has not been approved by, an "authorised person" for the purposes of section 21 of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended, the "FSMA"). The communication of the information and documents or materials contained in this press release to persons in the United Kingdom is exempt from the restrictions on financial promotions in section 21 of the FSMA on the basis that it is a communication by or on behalf of a body corporate which relates to a transaction to acquire shares in a body corporate and the object of the transaction may reasonably be regarded as being the acquisition of day-to-day control of the affairs of that body corporate, or to acquire fifty (50) per cent or more of the voting shares in that body corporate, within Article 62 (Sale of a body corporate) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005.

BNP Paribas S.A., authorized and lead-supervised by the European Central Bank in Frankfurt-am-Main (Germany) and the Autorite de Controle Prudentiel et de Resolution in Paris (France), Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, authorized and lead-supervised regulated by the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt-am-Main (Germany) and the Autorite de Controle Prudentiel et de Resolution (ACPR) in Paris (France), J.P. Morgan Securities plc, authorized by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority the United Kingdom, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, subject to regulatory supervision by a variety of US regulators including the Federal Reserve Bank, the SEC, FINRA, NYSE, CBOE and other exchanges and state regulatory organizations in the United States, Lazard Freres S.A.S., and Societe Generale, authorized and supervised by the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Autorite de Controle Prudentiel et de Resolution (the French Prudential Control and Resolution Authority) (ACPR) and regulated by the Autorite des Marches Financiers (the French financial markets regulator) (AMF) (each a "Parent Financial Advisor", and together the "Parent Financial Advisors"). The Parent Financial Advisors are the financial advisors to Parent and to no one else in connection with the Offers and will not regard any other person as their client in relation to the Offers. The Parent Financial Advisors are not responsible to anyone other than Parent for providing the protections afforded to their clients, nor for providing advice in connection with the Offers. The Parent Financial Advisors were not requested to, and did not, render an opinion with respect to the fairness of the Offers or any consideration to be paid in the Offers, including the Offer Price, or as to valuation or otherwise. The Parent Financial Advisors have not recommended any specific Offer Price to Parent or Purchaser or their respective directors, shareholders, creditors or other relevant parties.

Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) which is authorized and regulated by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority in Sweden (the "Atlas Financial Advisor"), is the financial advisor to Atlas and to no one else in connection with the Offers and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the Offers. The Atlas Financial Advisor is not responsible to anyone other than Atlas for providing the protections afforded to its clients, nor for providing advice in connection with the Offers. The Atlas Financial Advisor was not requested to, and did not, render an opinion with respect to the fairness of the Offers or any consideration to be paid in the Offers, including the Offer Price, or as to valuation or otherwise. The Atlas Financial Advisor has not recommended any specific Offer Price to Parent or Purchaser or their respective directors, shareholders, creditors or other relevant parties.

Special notice to Shareholders in the United States





US Holders, as defined in Rule 14d-1 of the Exchange Act ("US Holders"), of SDRs are advised that the SDRs are not registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Offers are being made in the United States in accordance with US federal securities laws, including Regulation 14D and Regulation 14E promulgated under the Exchange Act, subject to the exemptions provided by Rule 14d-1(d) (the "Tier II Exemptions") under the Exchange Act, and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of Swedish law. Accordingly, the Offers are subject to disclosure and other procedural requirements, including with respect to notice of extensions, withdrawal rights, settlement procedures and timing of payments, that are different from those applicable under US domestic tender offer procedures and law, and certain rules applicable to US tender offers made in the United States do not apply. Accordingly, US Holders of SDRs are advised of the risk that they may not be afforded the same rights under US federal securities laws by participating in the Swedish Offer. US Holders are encouraged to consult with their own advisors regarding the Offers.

As permitted under the Tier II Exemptions, notices of extensions of the Offers and the settlement of the Offers are based on the applicable Swedish and Luxembourg law provisions which differ from the extension and settlement procedures customary in the United States, particularly with regards to the time when notice must be given and payment of the consideration is rendered, respectively. The Offers, which are subject to Swedish law and Luxembourg law, are being made to holders of Common Shares and holders of SDRs in accordance with the applicable United States securities laws, and the exemptions applicable thereunder, in particular the Tier II Exemptions.

It may be difficult for US Holders or other Shareholders participating in the Swedish Offer to enforce their rights and any claims they may have arising under the US federal or state securities laws in connection with the Swedish Offer, since the Company and Atlas are located in countries other than the United States, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of countries other than the United States. US Holders may not be able to sue the Company or Atlas or their respective officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel the Company or Atlas and/or their respective affiliates to subject themselves to the jurisdiction or judgment of a US court.

To the extent permissible under applicable law and regulations, including Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, Atlas and its affiliates or brokers (acting as agents for Atlas or its affiliates, as applicable) may from time to time after the date hereof directly or indirectly purchase or arrange to purchase SDRs outside the United States, or any securities that are convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for such Shares, other than pursuant to the Offers, during the period in which the Offers remain open for acceptance. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. In addition, the financial advisors to Parent and/or the Atlas Financial Advisor may also engage in ordinary course trading activities in securities of the Company, which may include purchases or arrangements to purchase such securities as long as such purchases or arrangements are in compliance with the applicable law, including Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act. Any information about such purchases will be announced to US Holders through relevant electronic media if, and to the extent, such announcement is required under applicable Swedish or US law, rules or regulations.

THE OFFERS HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY US STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SEC OR ANY US STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE FAIRNESS OR MERITS OF THE OFFERS OR UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE OR WHETHER THE CONTENT IN THIS PRESS RELEASE IS CORRECT OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL AND A CRIMINAL OFFENSE IN THE UNITED STATES.

1 Atlas Luxco S.a r.l., a private limited liability company (societe a responsabilitelimitee) existing under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg ("Luxembourg"), having its registered office at 53, boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg, Luxembourg with corporate registration number B274990 with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Registry (R.C.S. Luxembourg), is a subsidiary of Atlas Investissement S.A.S., a simplified joint-stock company (societe par actions simplifiee), having its registered office at 16 Rue de la Ville-l'Eveque, FR-75008 Paris, France, with corporate registration number 908 070 188 with the Paris Trade and Companies Registry (R.C.S Paris) (the "Parent"). The Parent is a majority owned subsidiary of NJJ Holding S.A.S., a simplified joint-stock company (societe par actions simplifiee) domiciled in Paris, France, wholly owned by Xavier Niel (Atlas Luxco S.a r.l., Atlas Investissement S.A.S., NJJ Holding S.A.S. and Xavier Niel are together referred to as the "Purchaser Group").

2 Millicom International S.A., a public limited liability company (societe anonyme) existing under the laws of Luxembourg, having its registered office at 2, rue du Fort Bourbon, L-1249 Luxembourg, with corporate registration number B40630 with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Registry (R.C.S. Luxembourg).

3 Excluding Common Shares and/or SDRs held in treasury by Millicom.

4 The Offer to Purchase is prepared in English only in accordance with a language exemption granted by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority in respect of the requirement to prepare the Offer to Purchase in the Swedish language. As an effect, this press release, the Supplement and any subsequent press releases and other communication concerning the Offers will be prepared only in the English language.


EQS Newswire / 08/08/2024 / 10:30 CET/CEST

Chen Zhi Scholarship Recognized as Best CSR Program PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 8 August 2024 - Neak Oknha Chen Zhi , Chairman of Prince Holding Group, has been honored with the 'Leading Personality of the Year' award at The Global Economics Awards 2024. This recognition highlights his visionary leadership and the significant positive impact Prince Group continues to have on Cambodia's economic and social landscape.



Neak Oknha Chen Zhi, Chairman of Prince Holding Group, has been honored with the 'Leading Personality of the Year' award. Under his leadership, Prince Group has become a major contributor to Cambodia's economic landscape.

Furthermore, the Chen Zhi Scholarship , has been acclaimed as the 'Best CSR Program,' reflecting the Group's steadfast commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainable development.



Under Chen Zhi 's guidance, Prince Holding Group has become a pivotal player in Cambodia's economy. The Group's diverse portfolio, which includes real estate development, financial services, and consumer products, contributes significantly to the nation's economic growth and job creation.



Gabriel Tan, Chief Communications Officer at Prince Holding Group , remarked on the accolades: "This recognition is a testament to our Chairman Chen Zhi's visionary leadership and the Group's dedication to being a socially responsible corporate citizen. It underscores our dedication to making a positive impact on Cambodian society. The Chen Zhi Scholarship, named in honor of our chairman, is particularly dear to us as it embodies our mission to empower the next generation of leaders through education."



Chen Zhi's leadership is distinguished not only by his business acumen but also by his deep commitment to philanthropy. His vision for a prosperous Cambodia is realized through numerous community initiatives under the Prince Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Prince Group.



The Chen Zhi Scholarship Program, a cornerstone of Prince Group's comprehensive CSR strategy, commits $2 million over seven years to support 400 university students in Cambodia. The program offers scholarships, internships, and professional development opportunities in fields such as civil engineering, media and communication, and hospitality.



The Global Economics Awards celebrate excellence across various sectors, recognizing the achievements of outstanding leaders and organizations worldwide.



Hashtag: ChenZhi PrinceHoldingGroup ChenZhiScholarship CSR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Prince Holding Group Prince Holding Group is one of Cambodia's largest business groups, spanning across real estate development, financial services, and consumer services.



Prince Holding Group's key business units in Cambodia include Prince Real Estate Group, Prince Huan Yu Real Estate Group, Prince Bank, and Awesome Global Investment Group. Via its subsidiaries, Prince Holding Group has over 100 businesses in Cambodia operating in real estate development, banking, finance, tourism, logistics, technology, food and beverages, lifestyle sectors, etc.



Leveraging a network of industrial, business, and financial professionals across Asia, Prince Holding Group is firmly committed to the long-term development of Cambodia.



Moving forward, Prince Holding Group will continue to seek out opportunities to play an important role in Cambodia through partnerships or direct investments into key industries for the betterment of Cambodians and the local economy.





News Source: Prince Holding Group

08/08/2024 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com


Birla Corps June qr capacity utilisation at 91 pc in contracting market

Kolkata, Aug 08 (UNI) Unusually weak cement prices and sluggishness in demand, coupled with an unprecedented downturn in the jute industry, weighed down Birla Corporation Limiteds June quarter profitability.



In the face of contracting demand, the Companys sales by volume fell less than 1 per cent, thanks to improved capacity utilization at its Mukutban unit, according to a media statement here on Thursday.

Alongside, its Jute Division suffered a setback in the June quarter as the Government scaled back orders for jute bags and export of shopping bags was hobbled by logistical constraints.



Consolidated revenue for the June quarter at Rs 2,207 crore was down 9 per cent, while EBITDA at Rs 275 crore was 12 per cent lower than last year. Cement sales by volume during the quarter were at 4.38 million tons (mt) compared with 4.41 mt in the same period last year.

This translates into a capacity utilization of 91 per cent, which is well ahead of rating agency ICRAs estimated full-year average capacity utilization of 71 per cent.



Cement sales during the quarter were impacted by the general elections and extreme weather conditions in some of the Companys key markets. Still, the Company ramped up sales of its premium products, the share of which was at 59 per cent of total sales by volume through the trade channel.

Premium product sales at 1.85 mt during the June quarter represent a 2 per cent growth year-on-year. Sales by volume of Perfect Plus, the Companys flagship brand, grew 8 per cent over the same period last year.

Realization per ton in the Cement division for the June quarter at Rs 4,820 was 7 per cent lower than last year, and resulted in EBITDA per ton falling 9 per cent to Rs 603. It is estimated that overall cement prices in the June quarter were down 3-5 per cent from the end of March as manufacturers pushed for market share despite tepid demand.



Cement prices fell sharply in Northern, Central and Eastern India. Even in Western India, prices were under pressure. Demand remains subdued even in the current quarter, whereas supply-side expansion is expected in the central and eastern Indian markets due to commissioning of new units. As a result, cement prices are expected to remain under pressure until the third quarter of the current fiscal year.



Amid unfavourable market conditions, Birla Corporation Limited benefited from further decline in power and fuel costs, which fell 20 per cent year-on-year and 8 per cent sequentially. Alongside optimizing fuel mix, the Company increased the share of renewables in total power consumption to 27 per cent versus 23 per cent in the same period last year and 25 per cent in the March quarter. The Company also reduced its raw material costs for the Cement Division by 4 per cent from last year.



The Mukutban unit of the Companys subsidiary, RCCPL Private Limited, continued to consolidate sales in its core markets and extend footprint into secondary markets. The Company continued to optimize the variable cost of production at Mukutban, which has been making positive contributions to EBITDA since the past three quarters.



Faced with challenging market conditions, the Company focused on optimizing costs and has had significant success in reducing variable cost in cement production across all units.



The Companys net debt at the end of June was Rs 3,152 crore. The Company reduced its interest cost for the June quarter to 7.90 per cent, down 12 basis points from a year earlier.



Birla Jute Mills, or the Jute Division of the Company, registered a cash loss of Rs 3.9 crore in the June quarter against a cash profit of Rs 6.4 crore last year. The jute goods industry is faced with multiple challenges, which forced major mills to scale back production. Government orders have fallen sharply, leading to an inventory pile-up. Most mills are currently running at partial capacity.



Besides reduction in Government orders, several cottage-size mills have sprung up in jute-growing areas. These have a substantial cost advantage over organized sector mills and they are fast eating into Government orders.



The Companys Jute Division has, since the past few years, been trying to raise the share of exports of value-added fabric and jute goods in total sales. Despite improving production of value-added products, revenue from export of shopping bags dropped 26 per cent from last year to Rs 11.9 crore owing to non-availability of containers and increase in freight.

UNI SJC KK
Standard Chartered joins a suite of other institutional investors in the Digital Transformation platform

LONDON , Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard Chartered has confirmed its investment in United Fintech Group Limited (United Fintech), a London headquartered neutral Digital Transformation platform which acquires and forms partnerships with fintech companies in the capital markets space, creating a fintech one-stop-shop to innovate with businesses through collaboration with other cutting edge technology providers for the benefit of banks, hedge funds and asset managers.

The investment supports Standard Chartered's ambitions to contribute to the advancement of digital transformation solutions across capital markets, wholesale banking and wealth management, and the broader financial services arena.

As part of the investment Standard Chartered has been granted Board observer rights and subject fulfilment of certain pre-conditions, will be offered a rotational Board seat, enabling it to share existing expertise and contribute to decisions around the platform's strategic direction.

Geoff Kot, Global Head, CIB Business Platforms & PartnershipsatStandard Chartered, said: "We have been impressed by the growth in United Fintech's portfolio of innovative, engineering-led technology companies and share their vision for how technology can transform and disrupt market structure and infrastructure. We look forward to partnering with them as we continue on our journey of digital transformation."

Christian Frahm, CEO and Founder of United Fintech, said: "The investment underscores Standard Chartered's commitment to accelerate digital transformation and highlights their forward-thinking approach to collaborative innovation. As an Asia-focused multinational bank with an expansive footprint in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe and Americas, we are thrilled to have them complete our circle of global investors, joining Citi and BNP Paribas, who initially invested in February 2024, as well as Danske Bank, who followed in May."

For further information please contact:



Nicolai Rossen

Head of Group Comms & Press

United Fintech

+45 20729972

rossen@unitedfintech.com

Kate Matthews

Communications Director, Europe

Standard Chartered

+44 20 7885 7899

kate.matthews@sc.com

Note to editors

United Fintech

Founded in 2020, United Fintech is an industry-neutral Digital Transformation Platform where global financial institutions and cutting-edge technology providers come together to unleash their full potential and enable the future of finance. United Fintech remains on the frontier of innovation by acquiring engineering-led fintechs within Capital Markets, Wholesale Banking, and Wealth Management under a central umbrella. United Fintech has acquired several fintech companies and continues to seek strategic acquisitions that drive digital innovation and offer transformative solutions to enhance the capabilities of financial institutions worldwide. For further information, visit www.unitedfintech.com - follow United Fintech on LinkedIn.

Standard Chartered

We are a leading international banking group, with a presence in 53 of the world's most dynamic markets, and serving clients in a further 64. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, here for good. Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges.

For more stories and expert opinions please visit Insights at sc.com. Follow Standard Chartered on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

- United Fintech Group Limited, 8/8/24

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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EQS Newswire / 08/08/2024 / 11:00 CET/CEST

300 Chen Zhi Scholars Gain Access to Nearly 50 Exclusive Internship Opportunities PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 8 August 2024 - Prince Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Prince Holding Group, led by its visionary chairman Neak Oknha Chen Zhi , proudly announced the successful conclusion of the "Prince Group Career Fair," an exclusive event for its distinguished Chen Zhi Scholarship students. This highly anticipated occasion provided a vital platform for scholars to explore diverse career paths, engage with industry professionals, and acquire essential insights to guide their future endeavors.



Mr. Gabriel Tan, Head of Prince Foundation (center), stands with representatives from various Prince Group business units, alongside Chen Zhi Scholars, at the Prince Group's Career Fair.

Under Chen Zhi 's guidance, Prince Foundation reaffirms its commitment to fostering educational excellence and professional growth through the Career Fair. By bridging the gap between academia and industry, the Foundation aims to equip its scholars with the necessary tools and experiences to excel in their chosen careers.



Three hundred Chen Zhi Scholars from Batches 1-3 gained access to nearly 50 exclusive internship opportunities, underscoring the Foundation's dedication to providing real-world experience and professional growth.



The Career Fair, organized by Prince Foundation, aimed to empower its talented Chen Zhi Scholars by granting them direct access to industry leaders and experts. The event showcased the extensive range of career opportunities available within the Prince Group ecosystem, highlighting the dynamic and multifaceted nature of the company's business operations.



Mr. Gabriel Tan, Head of Prince Foundation, delivered the welcome remarks during the Career Fair, telling the students, "As Seneca wisely said, 'Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.' At Prince Foundation, we believe in turning potential into success. Today, we invite our Chen Zhi Scholars to seize this opportunity, actively engage with industry leaders, and transform opportunities into achievements with Prince Group."



Chen Zhi Scholarship aligns with the Royal Government of Cambodia's Pentagonal Strategy on human development by investing in higher education and equipping students with essential skills for future challenges. This initiative supports the strategy's focus on enhancing human capital to drive Cambodia's socio-economic growth and achieve high-income status by 2050.



The Foundation extended its sincere gratitude to the participating business units: Prince Holding Group, Prince Real Estate Group, and Prince Bank. Their enthusiastic involvement and unwavering support were instrumental in creating an engaging and informative environment for the scholars.



Through interactive booths, insightful presentations, and one-on-one interactions, the business units demonstrated their commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders and innovators. Notable speakers included Mr. Jonel Guittap, Public Relations Manager of Prince Holding Group; Mr. Chan T. Chem, Executive Director of Prince Foundation; Mr. Justin Lee, Campus Recruitment of Prince Real Estate Group; and Mrs. Vat Sreyvoat, Head of the Center of Human Capital Management at Prince Bank. Their contributions were invaluable in providing an overview of their respective companies and inspiring the scholars.



Hashtag: PrinceHoldingGroup PrinceFoundation PrinceRealEstateGroup PrinceBank ChenZhiScholarship CareerFair FutureLeaders

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Prince Foundation Prince Foundation, founded in 2015, is one of Cambodia's leading philanthropic foundations. A member of Prince Holding Group, which is one of the largest business groups in Cambodia, the Foundation aims to work with local communities to build thriving living and working environments that elevate people's well-being and livelihoods, following the vision: "Together, Building a Better Future for Cambodia."



Focusing on education and youth development, healthcare, and community engagement and sports, and healthcare initiatives, Prince Foundation works with partners to deliver sustainable programs that enhance opportunities for Cambodia's youths, build resilience in communities, and contribute to sustainable infrastructure.



The Foundation's flagship projects are the Chen Zhi Scholarship, offering full scholarships, stipends, internships, and work opportunities to 400 Cambodian university students over a period of seven years, and Prince Horology, where aspiring Cambodian watchmakers learn the art of Swiss-style watchmaking in a state-of-the-art facility. Prince Foundation has launched more than 250 philanthropic initiatives, benefiting over 1.3 million people, with donations exceeding US$16 million.





News Source: Prince Foundation

08/08/2024 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com


Checkout.com is the first payment provider to integrate Google Pay's secure payment authentication service into its payment processing service for merchants

This new service streamlines the online checkout process by incorporating biometric checks, reducing the number of steps required, and boosting conversion rates

In an initial roll-out, the technology has already proved successful, speeding up the checkout process of a Checkout.com merchant by 30%, increasing the authentication rate by 5 percentage points, and increasing the authorization success rate by 3 percentage points

With Checkout.com's AI-based dynamic routing to select the best authentication option for the merchant, the checkout process is reduced to as little as three steps

LONDON, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Checkout.com, a leading global digital payments provider, today announced it is the first payment provider to partner with Google Pay to bring its biometric-based secure payment authentication service to merchants.

Checkout.com, which offers authentication to merchants such as Remitly, will offer Google Pay's biometric authentication to brands that seek to increase their digital payments performance and speed up their authentication for customers. This offers a streamlined alternative to other authentication methods, where a customer verifies their identity with a one-time passcode and, in the process, is often redirected to multiple different pages.

By integrating with the secure payment authentication service from Google Pay, Checkout.com will offer device biometric checks like a PIN, password and facial recognition to speed up the checkout process for merchants, increase acceptance and authentication performance, and drive higher conversion rates at the checkout.

In its initial roll-out, the integration with the secure payment authentication service has already proven successful. eSky, a B2B travel booking company on Checkout.com's platform, reported a 14 second reduction in checkout time, as well as a 5 percentage point uplift in authentication rate and 3 percentage point uplift in the authorization success rate, compared to the 3DS alternative.

To complement this new service from Google Pay, merchants can also incorporate Checkout.com's AI-based dynamic routing ('Intelligent Acceptance'), a system built on billions of transactions that selects the optimal authentication option for each merchant and transaction. This means that shoppers can complete transactions in three simple steps, enjoying a faster checkout experience.

Guillaume Pousaz, Founder and CEO at Checkout.com said: "This marks a significant leap forward in authentication, directly tackling the primary performance challenges faced by merchants with the existing 3DS solutions. Through this innovation, we're the first PSP to pioneer a digital wallet-like experience driven by biometric authentication."

Ben Volk, Vice President and General Manager, Google Pay, said: "We're always looking for ways to improve the checkout experience for shoppers while reducing cart abandonment rates for merchants. With our secure payment authentication service, we are able to reduce friction at checkout by speeding up the process, all-the-while ensuring a secure payment experience and further reducing fraud."

Nick Moiseff, Executive Vice President, FinTech Platform at Remitly, said: "At Remitly, we are always looking for new and innovative ways to deliver seamless, secure, and delightful payment experiences for our customers. We're excited to partner with Checkout.com to explore how Google Pay's secure payment authentication can support our commitment to excellence in digital payments. This collaboration is part of our ongoing effort to continuously improve the customer experience and enhance access to financial services."

About Checkout.com

Checkout.com processes payments for thousands of companies that shape the digital economy. Our global digital payments network supports over 145 currencies and delivers high-performance payment solutions across the world, processing billions of transactions annually.

With flexible and scalable technology, we help enterprise merchants boost acceptance rates, reduce processing costs, combat fraud, and turn payments into a major revenue driver. Headquartered in London and with 16 offices worldwide, Checkout.com is trusted by leading brands such as Sony, Shein, Sainsbury's, Wise, GE Healthcare, and The Financial Times.

Checkout.com. Where the world checks out.

Product Demo to accompany press release

Link to the Demo Here

Data from Checkout.com merchant eSky using Google's SPA showed the below changes between 18/03/2024 - 11/07/2024:



3DS2 SPA (*Based on eSky performance) Checkout Speed

(50th percentile) 48 secs 34 secs (+30% faster) Authentication Success Rate 91 % 96% (+5 pp uplift) Authorization Success Rate 92 % 95% (+3 pp uplift)

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In the news release, C2N Diagnostics and Unilabs Announce Global Partnership, Bringing Together Innovation Leaders in Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine to Advance Brain Health, issued 07-Aug-2024 by Unilabs over PR Newswire, the cities of origin should read "ST. LOUIS and GENEVA" rather than "ST. LOUIS, Miss. and GENEVA, SWITZERLAND" as incorrectly transmitted by PR Newswire. The complete, corrected release follows:

C2N Diagnostics and Unilabs Announce Global Partnership, Bringing Together Innovation Leaders in Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine to Advance Brain Health

Partnership Expands Reach of C2N's Precivity Blood Tests in Over 75 Countries to Transform Alzheimer's Disease Early Diagnosis and Research

Agreement Plans to Facilitate a Technology Transfer of C2N's Proprietary Portfolio of Alzheimer's Blood Biomarkers to Deliver a Unilabs Testing Network Across Europe

ST. LOUIS and GENEVA, Aug. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Unilabs ("Unilabs"), a leading international provider of diagnostic services, and C2N Diagnostics, LLC ("C2N"), a pioneer in advanced diagnostic solutions in the field of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related neurological disorders, today announced a major milestone in brain health diagnostics and research across Europe and beyond.

Unilabs and C2N have signed a multi-year partnership agreement that will increase access to C2N's Precivity portfolio of blood tests on an exclusive basis in Europe, including Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The agreement will also provide access in Peru, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

"Alzheimer's disease is on the rise, making it essential to innovate by offering less invasive and more accessible diagnostic procedures for patients," said Unilabs' Head of Innovation Dr. Rahul Chaudhary. "All too often, diagnosing Alzheimer's has been painful, invasive and expensive. This partnership will transform the diagnostic experience for patients with cognitive concerns while revolutionizing early diagnosis, and research efforts, and positively impacting long-term outcomes."

He continued, "C2N's Precivity portfolio of blood tests and its innovative biomarker pipeline offer the highest performance precision tools in the industry1. We expect these innovations to appeal to healthcare providers in Europe, the Gulf Region and Latin America who rely on us, and to our biopharma collaborators who are developing new therapies. Patients worldwide deserve access to an early diagnosis, leveraging personalized medicine tools that can enable better treatment decisions and activate long-term disease prevention strategies. We are confident these tests can help in achieving better outcomes for patients, as we continue in our mission to power health and maximize life."

C2N's Precivity portfolio of blood tests aid healthcare providers and researchers in the detection of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary "tau" tangles in the brain, which are pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. These tests also help to inform medical management and treatment decisions based on the underlying causes of dementia.

This strategic partnership also plans to facilitate a technology transfer of C2N's proprietary portfolio of Alzheimer's blood biomarkers to deliver a Unilabs testing network across Europe, ensuring Precivity testing can be performed at qualified healthcare institutions with the same quality, consistency and accuracy currently delivered at C2N's central CAP/CLIA lab in St. Louis, Mo.

Both companies believe this partnership will transform global Alzheimer's disease diagnosis for patients with cognitive concerns or at high risk of future AD or AD-related dementias.

Healthcare Sector Eager for Easy-to-Access, Less Invasive Tests

C2N previously announced in 2020 that the PrecivityAD blood test achieved the CE Mark from the European Union (EU) and also has In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation legacy device status under Regulation (EU) 2017/746, which allows for commercial availability in the EU as an in vitro diagnostic to aid in the evaluation of patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. In addition, the United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency approved the PrecivityAD blood test as an in vitro diagnostic to aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

C2N CEO Dr. Joel Braunstein said, "The sobering impact of Alzheimer's disease reaches beyond any one country's borders and that's why it's vital we respond to the global interest in our Precivity blood tests. We believe this collaboration allows for the acceleration of equitable access to the highest quality blood biomarkers that can aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. To date, we've secured other international arrangements and now, we're very proud to enter this multi-faceted strategic affiliation with Unilabs, an organization that places a premium on quality in testing and in personalized diagnostics for Alzheimer's disease."

The PrecivityAD2 and PrecivityAD blood tests use highly sensitive and specialized laboratory technologies to identify and measure certain proteins that are found in the blood and that are known to be associated with the presence of brain amyloid plaques, one of the brain pathology findings of Alzheimer's disease. The main test result is a clinically validated score that determines a patient's likelihood category for the presence of brain amyloid plaques. Like other tests that evaluate for brain amyloid pathology in clinical patients, such as amyloid PET scan or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing, the Precivity blood tests can be used by healthcare providers to interpret the test results, along with other medical information.

The tests are intended for use in patients 55 years and older with signs or symptoms of mild cognitive impairment or dementia. These tests are only available for order by qualified healthcare providers.

C2N and Unilabs expect the Precivity portfolio of blood tests will become available to Unilabs customers over the coming months, depending on geographic region.

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PR Newswire

BOTOSANI, Romania, Aug. 8, 2024

BOTOSANI, Romania, Aug. 8, 2024 A former state residence of the late communist dictator Nicolae Ceaucescu, long left to decay, has been repurposed as a shelter for the homeless, young and elderly, which apparently have no future to hope for. This unique project is the brainchild of former journalist Ionela Ivan. Her story begins 9 years ago.

"I was distributing hot soup to the homeless, on the streets. Year after year, in the winter season, I saw people freezing to death or dying because of their conditions which got worse because of the cold weather. The worst situation I can remember involves an old man whom I fed in the evening and the next morning he was found frozen to death.

I felt completely helpless, I regretted not being able to do more. The idea of setting up a shelter came somehow as a saving solution for those forced to live on the streets. It was very important to buy a house. Later we found out the history of the building and we were surprised, but also impressed. The former house of Ceaucescu became a shelter for the completely helpless - a beautiful transformation!" Ionela recounts.

Hot soup for 90 homeless people, served in Ceaucescu's villa

The building, located 50 kilometers from Botocani, was in ruins, and Ionela didn't have the necessary funds for either purchase or renovation.

"When we started the Casa Nicolae project, we had a preliminary sales contract but didn't have the money to actually buy it. I had known Vlad Placinta from the internet for many years, being aware of all the humanitarian cases and actions he was involved in, but I hadn't had the chance to meet him in person. I thought about it for two weeks before I worked up the courage to write to him. I told him about what we wanted to do, we met at Casa Nicolae, and the next day we started work," Ionela Ivan added.

"We also helped in any way we could. Asociacia Salveaza o inima (The Save a Heart Association) invested 200,000 into the renovation of the residence. Today, 90 needy people are provided with accommodation and meals in Nicolae Ceaucescu's former state guesthouse," Vlad Placinta, President of Asociacia "Salveaza o inima" said.

A charitable project supported by Asociacia "Salveaza o Inima"

Most of those who have found shelter in the former dictator's residence face medical issues, some of the most severe requiring frequent hospitalization.

"We have to call an ambulance once every few days for those we can't transport to the hospital ourselves. Nurse Eleonora, our colleague, takes care of their daily medication, bandages those with varicose ulcers or diabetes-related wounds, exercises with patients who need medical rehabilitation, takes them to regular check-ups and to physiotherapy. Florentina, the social worker, makes sure they don't lack anything: a warm and clean bed, a tasty meal, a kind word and a hug. Everything that happens here is done with love, respect, and empathy," Cristian Ivan, Ionela's husband assured us.

A medical rehabilitation center in Botocani has joined in support of the Happy initiative, offering free physiotherapy sessions to the residents of Casa Nicolae. And because where there are many, the strength grows, a clinic in the city performs all the necessary blood tests free of charge.

The story of Costica - from the streets to Ceaucescu's villa

A key helper at Casa Nicolae is Costica. For 12 years, he has lived on the streets with his brother. After their parents died, the two were unable to pay their apartment expenses and were evicted. They've slept in train stations, shopping centers or simply on the street until the day Casa Nicolae opened its doors to the homeless.

"Costica has become one of the key people at Casa Nicolae. He takes care of everyone who comes here. He prepares meals, feeds those who can't manage on their own, walks them around the yard, washes those who are unable. His dedication has impressed us. He knows this is his home from now on. He knows, feels, and behaves accordingly. He is a valuable person, who has been through difficult times, a man who has learned to receive but also to give," says Ionela.

"Casa Nicolae is a magical place, surrounded by fields, greenery, an apple orchard, and cherry trees. 90 people receive three hot meals a day, medication, clothing, and footwear, but also a lot of love. That selfless love, without material goals, self-promotion or other hidden agenda. It is pure love, born from kindness and compassion. This is the true magic of Casa Nicolae, a place where miracles happen daily through the generosity and dedication of extraordinary people. Those who live in Casa Nicolae are a big family, they help and support each other when needed," Vlad Placinta, president of Asociacia "Salveaza o inima".

Asociacia "Salveaza o inima" (https://salveazaoinima.ro/en ) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting children with serious medical conditions through fundraising campaigns. Its mission is to offer children and their families the chance at life-saving medical treatments and to raise awareness of these critical illnesses. Throughout its activities, the association has raised 20 million euros in donations.

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Eagle Royalties Ltd. ("ER":CSE, or "Eagle Royalties") is pleased to announce the purchase of a 1% net smelter royalty ("NSR") on the East Goldfield property (the "Property") from Silver Range Resources Ltd. (SNG) ("Silver Range") for consideration of CDN $25,000. The royalty interest has no buy-down provision.

The East Goldfield Property lies 8km kilometres east of the town of Goldfield in Esmeralda County, Nevada and 6 kilometres east of the historic Goldfield Mining District (Goldfield Main Deposit). To date approximately 4.2M oz gold has been produced from this deposit. The East Goldfield property is adjacent to claims comprising the Goldfield Project currently being explored by Centerra Gold, which acquired the project from Waterton Global in February, 2022 for US$206.5M. The Goldfield project contains published Measured and Indicated resources of 1,574,000 ounces gold in 47.3 M t grading 1.03 g/t Au at the Gemfield, McMahon Ridge, and Goldfield Main Deposits (Source: 43-101 Technical Report-Goldfield Bonanza Project). Management cautions that past results or discoveries on proximate land are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved on the subject properties.

See East Goldfield information here

East Goldfield Property Summary (Source: SNG website-July, 2024)

The East Goldfield Property covers the eastern portion of a fault-defined structural corridor localizing gold mineralization in the Goldfield district. The Property is underlain by intensely faulted and hydrothermally altered rhyodacite breccia. Pervasive quartz-alunite alteration occurs throughout the Property and is most intense in the area of numerous resistant, vuggy silica ledges developed along faults and fracture zones. Arroyo sediment and soil geochemical surveys by Silver Range defined anomalies for key high sulphidation pathfinder elements including copper, arsenic, silver and gold associated with the west-northwest striking breccias and faults within the structural corridor. Silver Range interprets the geochemical anomalies and known gold showings as leakage features and believes the East Goldfield Property has the potential to host significant blind high-sulphidation epithermal gold mineralization.

Silver Range acquired the initial property area by staking in 2018 and has since mapped over 75 workings on the Property. The most significant mineralized occurrence is the Tom Keane Mine, located on the southern margin of the structural corridor. Historical reports document development on four levels with approximately 871 m of drifting and cross-cuts and 213 m of shaft, winze and raise development. Small lease production is mentioned but not specified in these reports. A 1935 evaluation report cited assays of 6.1 m @ 4.11 g/t Au (20' grading .12 oz/t) from the 319 foot level and 11.6 m @ 2.88 g/t Au (38' grading .084 oz/t) from the 219 foot level. In 2003, Metallic Gold Ventures Inc. drilled ten holes in the immediate area of the Tom Keane Mine, reporting gold-enriched intersections in 9 holes, with the best intersections being 4.57 m @ 8.23 g/t Au and 44.20 m @ 1.03 g/t Au.

In 2020, Silver Range expanded the claim block from 4 to 69 claims and optioned the property to ATAC Resources. ATAC prospected, sampled and drilled the property in 2021, with best reported surface chip samples returning 4.16 g/t Au over 8 m, including 7.87 g/t Au over 3 m. In a subsequent drill program, ATAC reported a "broad, mineralized system" with gold values in 8 of 13 holes drilled, with best reported intersections of 82.30 m @ 0.31g/t Au including 9.15 m @ 1.03g/t Au. ATAC terminated the option in February 2022, prior to the Goldfield District acquisition by Centerra.

Tim Termuende is a director of both Eagle Royalties and Silver Range and accordingly has abstained from voting on resolutions relating to the transaction.

Incentive Options Issued

Eagle Royalties has issued incentive stock options to directors, employees and key consultants of the Company for the purchase of a total of 3,700,000 shares at an exercise price of $.30 per share, expiring August 8th 2029, pursuant to the Company's current option plan (subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals).

Qualified Person

Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by C.C. Downie, P.Geo., a director and officer of Eagle Royalties, hereby identified as a "Qualified Person" under N.I. 43-101.

About Eagle Royalties Ltd.

Eagle Royalties was previously a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. ("EPL":TSX-V), incorporated in late 2022 to manage the diverse royalty holdings of EPL. In May 2023, ER was spun out to Eagle Plains' shareholders on a 1:3 basis by means of a plan of arrangement. Concurrent with the spin-out transaction, Eagle Royalties amalgamated with 1386884 B.C. Ltd., which effectively provided ER with CDN $2.7M in initial funding. Eagle Royalties was listed for trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") on May 19th, 2023.

Eagle Royalties benefits from holding a diverse portfolio of royalty interests in western Canada covering a broad spectrum of commodities including critical metals, precious metals, industrial minerals and diamonds. Projects subject to royalties in favour of Eagle Royalties are controlled by companies including Banyan Gold Corp. and Skeena Resources Ltd. among many others.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Tim J. Termuende"

President and CEO

For further information on ER, please contact Mike Labach at

1 866 HUNT ORE (486 8673)

Email: info@eagleroyalties.com or visit our website at https://www.eagleroyalties.com/

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the CSE nor any other regulatory body has reviewed or approved the contents of this news release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming financings, work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

SOURCE: Eagle Royalties Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc. (NYSE American:IDR) ("IDR", "Idaho Strategic" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its joint application with Shoshone County and the support of Avista Utilities to Idaho's Rural Community Investment Fund (RCIF) was awarded the maximum $430,000 allowable toward upgrades to public power infrastructure for the benefit of the unincorporated town of Murray, Idaho and Idaho Strategic's Golden Chest Mine, among others.

The power infrastructure upgrade is expected to provide enough power to the Golden Chest Mine to service the planned addition of a paste backfill system and increased mine development efforts. Additionally, the power infrastructure upgrades are expected to benefit the surrounding communities of Murray and Prichard, as well as the rural residents who live along the nearly 23 line-miles of planned upgrades between Wallace and Murray. Site preparations for construction of the paste backfill plant are complete, and construction activities are expected to begin later this summer and continue through the fall. The paste backfill plant and power upgrade are two key steps along the way to potentially building out a new mill in the Murray Gold Belt to facilitate future exploration and expansion activities on a district scale.

Idaho Strategic's President and CEO, John Swallow stated, "It is nice to receive this level of support from the State of Idaho and Shoshone County. This is not only a testament to Idaho's reputation as a mining and business friendly jurisdiction, but also IDR's track record of production and goodwill built over the past decade. Our guys are proud of where we live and work and we are happy to help the local economies of Murray, Prichard, and the broader Shoshone County in a meaningful way. This is one of the rare examples where I truly believe it is a win for all of the stakeholders involved. I would also like to thank Avista Utilities for their continued support of our community. Our strong working-relationship with the Avista folks was a major benefit throughout the grant application and approval process, and we look forward to continuing to work together."

Shoshone County Board of Commissioners commented, "Shoshone County is excited to participate in this partnership process with the Golden Chest Mine, the State of Idaho, and Avista for the benefit of everyone living and working in this county, and especially for the residents of Prichard and Murray, and Idaho Strategic Resources. We're excited to see mining making a comeback and appreciative of the quality jobs it creates and helps sustain for our citizens now and in the future."

As a part of the RCIF grant, Idaho Strategic entered into a job creation and retention agreement with the State of Idaho and Shoshone County. IDR has committed to create a minimum of six new jobs, while retaining ten current jobs by April 2027, as its expansion activities in the Murray Gold Belt and at the Golden Chest Mine are realized. The State of Idaho is entitled to a potential reimbursement of funds from the Company if the job creation agreement is not satisfied. The amount of potential reimbursement to the State of Idaho will be determined on a pro rata rate per job included in the job creation agreement that is not created within the expected timeframe.

About Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc.

Idaho Strategic Resources (IDR) is an Idaho-based gold producer which also owns the largest rare earth elements land package in the United States. The Company's business plan was established in anticipation of today's volatile geopolitical and macroeconomic environment. IDR finds itself in a unique position as the only publicly traded company with growing gold production and significant blue-sky potential for rare earth elements exploration and development in one Company.

For more information on Idaho Strategic Resources, visit https://idahostrategic.com/presentation/, go to www.idahostrategic.com or call:

Travis Swallow, Investor Relations & Corporate Development

Email: tswallow@idahostrategic.com

Phone: (208) 625-9001

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains "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 are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by forward-looking words such as "intends", "potential", "believe", "plans", "expects", "may", "goal', "assume", "estimate", "anticipate", and "will" or similar words suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, assumptions, intentions, or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information includes, but are not limited to, Idaho Strategic Resources' plans and timeline to build the paste backfill system as well as complete the power upgrades, the Company's plans to increase its mine development activities, the potential for mine expansion at the Golden Chest, the potential for increased exploration activities in the Murray Gold Belt, the potential for the paste backfill system and power upgrades to lead to the construction of a new mill, the potential for a new mill to have a material benefit to the Company's existing operations, the potential for a new mill to unlock the Murray Gold Belt on a district scale, the potential for the Company to meet its job creation goals outlined in the RCIF Grant, the potential for Idaho Strategic Resources to repay the RCIF Grant, and the potential for Avista Utilities to help fund the power upgrades. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of Idaho Strategic Resources as of the date such information is provided and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of IDR to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Investors should note that IDR's claim as the largest rare earth elements landholder in the U.S. is based on the Company's internal review of publicly available information regarding the rare earth landholdings of select companies within the U.S., which IDR is aware of. Investors are encouraged not to rely on IDR's claim as the largest rare earth elements landholder in the U.S. while making investment decisions. The forward-looking statement information above, and those following are applicable to both this press release, as well as the links contained within this press release. With respect to the business of Idaho Strategic Resources, these risks and uncertainties include risks relating to widespread epidemics or pandemic outbreaks, if they occur, including our ability to access goods and supplies, the ability to transport our products and impacts on employee productivity; interpretations or reinterpretations of geologic information; the accuracy of historic estimates; unfavorable exploration results; inability to obtain permits required for future exploration, development or production; general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; fluctuating mineral and commodity prices; the ability to obtain necessary future financing on acceptable terms; the ability to operate the Company's projects; and risks associated with the mining industry such as economic factors (including future commodity prices, and energy prices), ground conditions, failure of plant, equipment, processes and transportation services to operate as anticipated, environmental risks, government regulation, actual results of current exploration and production activities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, permitting timelines, capital and construction expenditures, reclamation activities. 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 not to place undue reliance on such information. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from this forward-looking information is available in Idaho Strategic Resources filings with the SEC on EDGAR. IDR does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
ISTANBUL, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Odine, a global telecom partner specializing in sustainable network transformation, has emerged as the leader in the Virtualization category in the 2023 Top 500 ICT Companies Turkiye Research. The research, which ranks Turkiye's largest 500 IT companies, culminated in a prestigious awards ceremony held on 2024 August 7th in Istanbul.

Odine's Vice Chairman of the Board, Firat Kerim Ersoy, accepted the award on behalf of the company. In his remarks following the ceremony, Ersoy stated, "This award is a testament to Odine's innovative approach to virtualization and its global success. I would like to thank all our colleagues and business partners who have contributed to this achievement. As Odine, we will continue to offer innovative solutions and lead the future of the telecom industry. Adopting and developing new technologies not only enhances our company's competitiveness but also allows us to provide more efficient and flexible solutions to our customers. Through our dedicated efforts, we are not only meeting today's needs but also shaping the technologies of the future. Our R&D investments continuously increase Odine's operational capacity while making significant contributions to our country's technology ecosystem."

Since 2019, Odine has been ranked in the top 15 in multiple categories in the Top 500 ICT Companies Turkiye Research and was the runner-up in the Virtualization category in 2022 research. This year's first-place finish is seen as an important step toward the company's forward-looking goals.

Odine, known for Turkiye's first commercial cloud infrastructure solution for one of the country's largest telecom operators, continues to expand its global footprint with various strategic agreements and innovative projects. With more than 20 projects and 5 R&D projects conducted at its ITU Teknopark R&D center, Odine continues its innovative efforts in the industry. Having over 20 years in business, and operations in 17 countries, Odine's success further highlights its competitiveness and proficiency in the global market.

About Odine

Odine (BIST: ODINE) is a global telecom partner empowering sustainable network transformation, building resilient and software-defined networks of the future. We are a leading communication solutions company that enables global telecom companies to evolve with a sustainable approach. With market-leading technology, holistic solutions, and collaborative partnerships, we will support you in reinventing your value creation formula fully dedicated to your success. Our resources are available for organizations to tap into whenever they need them. We work collaboratively to equip you with the power to evolve your business models, build new propositions, differentiate yourselves, and accelerate into new territories.

Odine is publicly listed on the Borsa Istanbul (BIST: ODINE), demonstrating our commitment to transparency, accountability, and delivering long-term value to our shareholders.

www.odine.com

Media Contact:

Harika Nihan Gundem

Head of Marketing

harika.gundem@odine.com

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Two presentations include data from a Phase 2 study of collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) in patients with plantar fibromatosis

Endo is currently enrolling patients in a Phase 3 study

A third presentation reports on a retrospective data analysis of transcription notes describing the clinical characteristics of patients with plantar fibromatosis

MALVERN, Pa., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Endo, Inc. ("Endo") (OTCQX: NDOI) announced today that new data related to collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) and plantar fibromatosis will be presented during the American Podiatric Medical Association's (APMA) annual scientific meeting, The National, taking place August 8-11, 2024 in Washington, DC.

Two presentations cover data from the Phase 2 clinical study of CCH in patients with plantar fibromatosis, and a third presentation shares a retrospective analysis of plantar fibromatosis patients' medical records.

"We're pleased to share new data about plantar fibromatosis with healthcare providers who care for and treat patients with the condition, which can be painful and burdensome," said James P. Tursi, M.D., Executive Vice President, Global Research & Development at Endo. "Encouraged by the clinical study data being presented at APMA, we are advancing our Phase 3 clinical study to explore a potential nonsurgical option in the future."

The results of the Phase 2 plantar fibromatosis study demonstrated a trend in CCH treatment effect over placebo for reducing pain associated with the condition as measured by the Foot Function Index Total Pain subscale score, as well as nominally significant improvements of CCH versus placebo in the investigator assessment of improvement, nodular hardness (durometer), and nodule consistency (firmness by investigator palpation) scales. In addition, the CCH safety profile was consistent with the known CCH safety profile from other clinical studies and indications. Most adverse events were rated as mild to moderate, and there were no reported treatment-related serious adverse events.

The retrospective analysis of 2,273 patient charts demonstrated that patients with plantar fibromatosis appear to suffer from both direct and indirect symptom burdens. Almost two-thirds of patients in the overall cohort reported PFI-specific foot pain with nearly 90% of these describing the pain as moderate or severe. The analysis also reported on current treatment approaches for plantar fibromatosis.

The three new poster presentations are below:

A Phase 2, Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum vs Placebo in Patients With Plantar Fibromatosis Authors: Joseph Caporusso, DPM; Ira Gottlieb, DPM; Jason Levy, DPM, FACFAS; Saadiq El-Amin, MD; Sara E. Suttle, DPM, FACFAS; James Tursi, MD; Nigel Jones, PharmD; Luis Ortega, MD; Gongfu Zhou, PhD; C. James Anderson, DPM

Characterization of Patients With Plantar Fibromatosis: Examining Baseline Characteristics From a Phase 2 Study of Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum Authors: Joseph Caporusso, DPM; Ira Gottlieb, DPM; Jason Levy, DPM, FACFAS; Saadiq El-Amin, MD; Sara E. Suttle, DPM, FACFAS; James Tursi, MD; Nigel Jones, PharmD; Luis Ortega, MD; Gongfu Zhou, PhD; C. James Anderson, DPM

Clinical Characteristics of Plantar Fibromatosis Derived from Transcription Notes Authors: Jill Davis, David Hurley, Jennifer Black-Shinn, Fernando Otalora, Esteban Masuelli, Eddie Davis



CCH is not approved for use in treating patients with plantar fibromatosis. Endo is currently enrolling patients in the pivotal Phase 3 program.

About Plantar Fibromatosis

Plantar fibromatosis (PFI) or Ledderhose disease is a hyperproliferative fibrous tissue disorder resulting in the formation of nodules along the plantar fascia, the thick connective tissue that supports the arch of the foot, which is often painful. There is no cure for PFI. Symptom management options include custom insoles, topical treatments, over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications, radiation therapy and steroid injections, and ultimately, surgery may be required to remove the nodules.

About Endo

Endo is a diversified specialty pharmaceutical company boldly transforming insights into life-enhancing therapies. Our passionate team members collaborate to develop and deliver these essential medicines. Together, we are committed to helping everyone we serve live their best life. Learn more at www.endo.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, the statements by Dr. Tursi and any statements relating to product efficacy, clinical trials or studies, patient enrollment, presentation of data, potential treatments or indications, therapeutic outcomes or treatment responses, safety or adverse events, and any statements that refer to expected, estimated or anticipated future results or that do not relate solely to historical facts. Statements including words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "plan," "will," "may," "look forward," "intends," "guidance," "future," "potential" or similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Because these statements reflect our current views, expectations and beliefs concerning future events, they involve risks and uncertainties, some of which we may not currently be able to predict. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements and other information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, readers should not place undue reliance on these or any other forward-looking statements and information. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from current expectations based on a number of factors, including, among other things, our ability to successfully implement and execute on our strategies and initiatives, and changes in competitive, market or regulatory conditions. Endo assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Additional information concerning risk factors, including those referenced above, can be found in Endo's press releases and in its public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion under the heading "Risk Factors" in Endo's recently filed final prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with Endo's Form S-1/A.

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Bold Ventures Inc. (TSXV:BOL) (the "Company" or "Bold") is pleased to announce the appointment of Bruce MacLachlan, P.Geo., as a Director, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and Coleman Robertson, P.Geo. as Vice President of Exploration. David Graham will remain the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

With over 40 years of experience in the exploration industry, Mr. MacLachlan is a proven exploration manager and has been a key member of a number of mineral discovery teams. His experience includes management of a wide range of exploration projects from grass roots through to the post discovery stage. Bruce has been responsible for project presentation, marketing and coordination within the investment space. His extensive experience working with multiple exploration companies has included Noranda Exploration, Battle Mountain Gold Co., Canalaska Uranium Ltd., and he was the Exploration Manager with Noront Resources Ltd. and Rare Earth Metals Inc. Bruce is a co-founder and President of Emerald Geological Services (EGS), a consulting company which was created in 2001.

Coleman Robertson graduated from McGill University's Geology program in 2014. Since that time, Mr. Robertson has worked exploring for gold, base metals and rare earth elements. His experience includes a wide range of exploration activities from grass roots to discovery stage projects. Employed by EGS since 2017, Coleman is Vice President of Exploration for EGS and has experience with multiple projects in multiple jurisdictions that have included the Company's Gold and Copper Projects in Northwestern Ontario.

Bold CEO David Graham commented that "We are very excited to have Bruce and Coleman join the team in an official capacity. We have worked closely together for a number of years which makes these appointments a natural fit for Bold."

"I am excited and looking forward to making a positive impact in my new role as President and Chief Operating Officer of Bold Ventures Inc. and contributing to the Company's success through advancing Bold's properties and making new discoveries." said Mr. MacLachlan. "Having worked together frequently over the years, my familiarity with David and the Bold team made this an easy decision."

Coleman Robertson indicated that "I am grateful and eager to take on this significant role in the Company as part of a proven management team. I have worked on the majority of Bold's Ontario gold and critical metals projects and am looking forward to unlocking their mineral potential through systematic exploration. As an employee of Emerald Geological Services since 2017, I have worked with Mr. Bruce MacLachlan extensively and together we have advanced numerous gold, base metal and rare earth element properties in multiple jurisdictions across Canada."

As announced on August 1, 2024, the Company completed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement offering with the placement of 1,755,000 WC Units (as defined below). The private placement offering is for up to 8,000,000 working capital units (the "WC Units") of the Company at a price of $0.04 per WC Unit for up to $320,000 and up to 12,000,000 Flow Through units (the "FT Units") at a price of $0.05 per FT Unit for up to $600,000 both of which constitute the "Offering". The Offering will remain open until August 16, 2024.

Each WC Unit consists of one (1) Common Share and one (1) Common Share purchase warrant (a "WC Warrant"). Each WC Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) Common Share (a "WC Warrant Share") at a price of $0.06 per WC Warrant Share until the date that is three (3) years after the date of the Initial Closing.

Each FT Unit consists of one (1) flow-through common share, priced at $0.05, and one-half (0.5) of a common share purchase warrant. Each full warrant (a "Warrant") entitles the holder to purchase one (1) common share (a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.10 per Warrant Share until the date that is two (2) years after the date of the Initial Closing.

Proceeds from the Offering will be used for working capital, for exploration as qualified Canadian Exploration Expense (in the case of the FT Offering), and for property maintenance and acquisitions.

The appointments of Bruce MacLachlan and Coleman Robertson are subject to regulatory approval.

Bold Ventures management believes our suite of Battery, Critical and Precious Metals exploration projects are an ideal combination of exploration potential meeting future demand Our target commodities are comprised of: Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Gold (Au), Silver (Ag), Platinum (Pt), Palladium (Pd) and Chromium (Cr). The Critical Metals list and a description of the Provincial and Federal electrification plans are posted on the Bold website here.

About Bold Ventures Inc.

The Company explores for Precious, Battery and Critical Metals in Canada.

Bold is exploring properties located in active gold and battery metals camps in the Thunder Bay and Wawa regions of Ontario. Bold also holds significant assets located within and around the emerging multi-metals district dubbed the Ring of Fire region, located in the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario.

For additional information about Bold Ventures and our projects please visit boldventuresinc.com or contact us at 416-864-1456 or email us at info@boldventuresinc.com.

"David B Graham"

David Graham

C.E.O.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This Press Release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. When used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to such risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including those factors discussed in filings made by us with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties, such actual results of current exploration programs, the general risks associated with the mining industry, the price of gold and other metals, currency and interest rate fluctuations, increased competition and general economic and market factors, occur or should assumptions underlying the forward looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, or expected. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Bold Ventures

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Chinese killed in Karachi were in talks with govt on power contracts: FM 09 Oct 2024 | 4:55 PM Islamabad, Oct 9 (UNI) Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the two Chinese citizens who lost their lives in a terrorist attack near the Karachi airport on Sunday night were in talks with senior government ministers regarding the renegotiation of terms for Independent Power Producers (IPPs), the Dawn reported on Wednesday. see more..

Nepali 18-year-old becomes youngest to scale 14 peaks 09 Oct 2024 | 4:20 PM Kathmandu, Oct 9 (UNI) A Nepali teenaged climber has scripted history by becoming the world's youngest to join the coveted club of those who have summited all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres, media reports said. see more..

US promises to maintain engagement with Bangladesh 09 Oct 2024 | 3:08 PM Washington, Oct 9 (UNI) The United States (US) has expressed its commitment to maintain ongoing dialogue with Bangladesh to enhance economic stability, democracy, security, and address the Rohingya refugee crisis, media reports said on Wednesday. see more..

Japan: PM dissolves lower house of parliament for general election 09 Oct 2024 | 1:43 PM Tokyo, Oct 9 (UNI) The lower house of Japan's parliament was officially dissolved on Wednesday, setting the stage for the general election as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba seeks to secure his party's lower house majority. see more..
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE U.S. NEWSWIRE OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

ROK Resources Inc. ("ROK" or the "Company") (TSXV:ROK)(OTCQB:ROKRF) is pleased to announce it has entered into a Share Exchange Agreement with EMP Metals Corp. ("EMP Metals"), effective August 1st, 2024 (the "Share Exchange Agreement") wherein ROK will exchange its common shares of Hub City Lithium Corp. ("Hub City Lithium"), a private entity, in return for 17,085,000 common shares (each a "Common Share") of EMP Metals, a public entity which trades on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the trading symbol "EMPS".

At Closing, ROK's ownership in EMP Metals will be approximately 17.11%. This ownership is inclusive of the Common Shares issued in the Share Exchange Agreement, plus shares issued through the Management Agreement, outlined below. The exchange of Hub City Lithium common shares for EMP Metals common shares is expected to have no tax implications to the Company due to 85(1) rollover provisions. Post-closing, EMP Metals will appoint Mr. Bryden Wright, President and Chief Operating Officer of ROK, to the Board of Directors of EMP Metals.

"The share exchange of ROK's interest from privately held Hub City Lithium to publicly traded EMP Metals marks another significant step in enhancing value for ROK and its shareholders. As the manager of operations and a significant shareholder in EMP Metals, ROK is eager to build on our early successes and advance one of the best-in-class lithium brine projects in North America," commented Bryden Wright, President and Chief Operating Officer.

Closing is scheduled for four days following regulatory and exchange approval, however no later than September 30th, 2024. The common shares of EMP Metals to be received by the Company will be subject to the following escrow provisions:

Common Shares Released Restricted Period (from Closing) 50% 24-months 50% 36-months

Management Agreement

Further, the Company has entered into a Management Agreement with Hub City Lithium, a private entity which will be owned solely by EMP Metals after effect of the Share Exchange Agreement, effective August 1st, 2024 (the "Management Agreement") wherein the Company will continue to manage and administer the operational objectives, outlined below, in return for 1,840,000 common shares of EMP Metals, in renumeration for the initial one (1) year period. The Management Agreement is for a period of one (1) year with an option to renew for an additional six (6) months. The previous Management Agreement, made effective January 1st, 2024, will terminate.

Objectives include: (i) investigate the lithium potential of existing core areas, (ii) recommend and target additional lithium property acquisitions, (iii) make recommendations with respect to the exploration, drilling, and testing of wells or wellbores and (iv) if recommendations are accepted by Hub City Lithium, ROK will conduct, manage and administer such exploration, drilling, testing and development activities.

Lithium Operational Update

The Company, as manager of operations of Hub City Lithium, is pleased to announce the commencement of its two well lithium drilling and testing program, aimed at delineating the original discovery in the Viewfield area of Saskatchewan. The wells will provide critical pressure, flow rate and fluid composition data, which will be used for future engineering studies and reservoir modeling, including a Front End Engineering Design ("FEED") study that is currently underway.

Availability of Documents

Copies of related documents, such as the Share Exchange Agreement will be made available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About EMP Metals

EMP Metals is a Canadian-based lithium exploration and development company focused on large scale resources using direct lithium extraction. EMP Metals, as the future sole shareholder of Hub City Lithium after the effect of the Share Exchange Agreement, currently holds approximately 200,000 net acres of Subsurface Dispositions and strategic wellbores in Southern Saskatchewan. For more information, please go to the Company's website at www.empmetals.com

About ROK

ROK is primarily engaged in exploring for petroleum and natural gas development activities in Alberta and Saskatchewan. It has offices located in both Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada and Calgary, Alberta, Canada. ROK's common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol "ROK".

For further information, please contact:

Cameron Taylor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Bryden Wright, President and Chief Operating Officer

Jared Lukomski, Senior Vice President, Land & Business Development

Phone: (306) 522-0011

Email: investor@rokresources.ca

Website: www.rokresources.ca

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. 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. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's objectives, goals, or future plans and the expected results thereof. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on several estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to general business, economic and social uncertainties; litigation, legislative, environmental, and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; those additional risks set out in ROK's public documents filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca; and other matters discussed in this news release. 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 where required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility of the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: ROK Resources Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
St. Albert, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2024) - Enterprise Group, Inc. (TSX: E) (OTCQB: ETOLF) (the "Company" or "Enterprise"). Enterprise, a consolidator of energy services (including specialized equipment rental to the energy/resource sector), emphasizing technologies that mitigate, reduce, or eliminate CO2 and Greenhouse Gas emissions for small to Tier One resource clients, is pleased to announce its Q2 2024 results.



Three months

June 30,

2024

Three ended

June 30,

2023

Six months

June 30,

2024

Six months

June 30,

2023

Revenue $7,707,282

$5,549,855

$20,033,570

$15,468,187

Gross margin $3,318,336 43% $1,679,552 31% $10,214,681 51% $6,778,847 44% Adjusted EBITDA(1) $2,651,694 34% $1,115,876 20% $8,989,547 45% $5,508,558 36% Net income and comprehensive income $76,423

$(525,736)

$4,067,937

$2,275,599

Income per share - Basic $0.00

$(0.01)

$0.07

$0.05

Income per share - Diluted $0.00

$(0.01)

$0.07

$0.05



(1) Identified and defined under "Non-IFRS Measures".

During the half of the year, the Company was able to build upon the momentum from 2023. Market conditions were favourable for the energy sector, resulting in additional drilling, completion, and infrastructure projects. Also, the increasing demand for natural gas power generation systems indicates a shift towards lower emission alternatives. Overall, these factors contributed to the Company's strong results in the first half of 2024. Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2024, was $7,707,282 compared to $5,549,855 in the prior period, an increase of $2,157,427 or 41%. Gross margin for the three months ended June 30, 2024, was $3,318,336 compared to $1,679,552 in the prior period, an increase of $1,638,784 or 98%. Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended June 30, 2024, was $2,651,694 compared to $1,115,876 in the prior period, an increase of $1,535,818 or 138%. Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2024, was $20,033,570 compared to $15,468,187 in the prior period, an increase of $4,565,383 or 30%. Gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 2024, was $10,214,681 compared to $6,778,847 in the prior period, an increase of $3,465,834 or 51%. Adjusted EBITDA for the six months ended June 30, 2024, was $8,989,547 compared to $5,508,558 in the prior period, an increase of $3,480,989 or 63%. Increases in revenue, gross margin and EBITDA for the year, are reflective of increased customer activity in 2024 while maintaining the operating efficiencies of the Company.

For the six months ended June 30, 2024, the company generated cash flow from operations of $10,635,184 compared to $8,517,478 in the prior year. This change is consistent with the higher activity levels during the year and the growing demand for the natural gas power generation. The Company continues to utilize a combination of cash flow and debt to right-size and modernize its equipment fleet to meet customer demands. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company acquired $9,685,061 of capital assets, primarily for natural gas power generation equipment and facilities, upgrading existing equipment, and meeting specific requests from customers. The Company continues to see its customers switching to natural gas as a cleaner and more efficient alternative to diesel, increasing the demand for natural gas generators and micro-grid packages. Also, the Company purchased land to expand operations and is in the process of constructing a new facility in Fort St. John, BC. The total cost of the project is an estimated $5 million, and the construction work commenced in February 2024. The Company is in the process of obtaining a mortgage on the building. The facility is estimated to be completed by the end of 2024.

On March 12, 2024, the Company closed a brokered private placement of 8,234,350 units issued at a price of $0.85 per unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $6,999,197. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half common share purchase warrant. Each warrant is exercisable to acquire an additional common share at an exercise price of $0.95 per share for a period of 24 months. The exercise of all warrants will provide the company an additional $4,585,000. This private placement underscores the Company's commitment to efficiently manage capital while continuing to grow and meet customer demands. As of June 30, 2024, 1,014,425 warrants were exercised at $0.95 per warrant, providing $963,704 in cash proceeds.

During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company did not repurchase or cancel shares. Since the initiation of the share buyback program, the Company has purchased and cancelled 11,336,000 shares at a cost of $2,903,646 or $0.26 per share. These shares have a carrying value of $1.41 per share for a total of $15,970,630 which has been removed from the share capital account over the entire share buyback program. The Company renewed its bid on August 24, 2023, with a termination date of August 29, 2024, or such earlier time as the bid is completed or terminated at the option of the Company. The Company has available tax losses of $0.12 per share and has developed a consolidated tax plan to utilize those losses against operating income.

Enterprise Group is pleased to announce that Desmond O'Kell, previously the Senior Vice President and Director, will now serve as the President and Director of the Company. Leonard D. Jaroszuk will continue in his roles as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.

About Enterprise Group, Inc.

Enterprise Group, Inc is a consolidator of services-including specialized equipment rental to the energy/resource sector. The Company works with particular emphasis on systems and technologies that mitigate, reduce, or eliminate CO2 and Greenhouse Gas emissions for itself and its clients. The Company is well known to local Tier One and international resource companies with operations in Western Canada. More information is available at the Company's website www.enterprisegrp.ca. Corporate filings can be found on www.sedarplus.ca.

Forward Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. The Company's Annual Information Form and other documents filed with securities regulatory authorities (accessible through the SEDAR website www.sedarplus.ca) describe the risks, material assumptions and other factors that could influence actual results and which are incorporated herein by reference. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.

Non-IFRS Measures

The Company uses International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). EBITDA is not a measure that has any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and is therefore referred to as a non-IFRS measure. This news release contains references to EBITDA. This non-IFRS measure used by the Company may not be comparable to a similar measure used by other companies. Management believes that in addition to net income, EBITDA is a useful supplemental measure as it provides an indication of the results generated by the Company's principal business activities prior to consideration of how those activities are financed or how the results are taxed. EBITDA is calculated as net income excluding depreciation, amortization, interest, taxes and stock based compensation.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219208

SOURCE: Enterprise Group Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2024) - Thesis Gold Inc. (TSXV: TAU) (WKN: A3EP87) (OTCQX: THSGF) ("Thesis" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the receipt of an amended Mines Act permit (the "Permit") at its 100% owned Lawyers-Ranch Project in the prolific Toodoggone Mining District of northern British Columbia.

Highlights

5-year Multi-Year-Area-Based (MYAB) Exploration & Mine Permit : A property wide MYAB permit has been authorized by the Ministry of Energy and Mines of British Columbia for the ongoing drilling and exploration activities to be conducted on the Lawyers-Ranch Project

: A property wide MYAB permit has been authorized by the Ministry of Energy and Mines of British Columbia for the ongoing drilling and exploration activities to be conducted on the Lawyers-Ranch Project Approved Activities: Permitted drilling sites : 3900 Geotechnical drilling sites: 46 Exploration trails/access : 260 kilometres Additional 20 km of access modifications Fuel storage : 225,000 litres Test Pits : 100



With these approvals in place, Thesis is well-positioned to continue advancing geotechnical and exploration activities. The permitted drill site allowances and exploration access are crucial for ongoing project exploration, while the permitted geotechnical sites and test pits will lay the groundwork for engineering studies at Ranch.

"Our receipt of the amended 5-year exploration permit marks a significant milestone for Thesis Gold," said Dr. Ewan Webster, President and CEO of Thesis Gold Inc. "This permit enables us to systematically advance our exploration and engineering efforts. With the ability to conduct extensive drilling, expand our access, and continue our comprehensive geological and environmental studies, we are well-positioned to unlock the full potential of this prolific mining district. Additionally, the upcoming release of our Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) will be a major catalyst, providing valuable perspective into the project's economic potential. We remain committed to responsible and sustainable exploration as we drive towards our goal of advancing a world-class gold project."

Ongoing Geological, Engineering, and Environmental Work: Over 10,000 metres of drilling focused on resource upgrading and expansion at both project areas, including undrilled prospects at Ranch; field mapping and prospecting at new claims; ongoing geochemical sampling and geotechnical drilling to support potential mine design; additional metallurgical studies; and continued environmental baseline data collection and monitoring at Lawyers and Ranch.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Thesis Gold Inc.

"Ewan Webster"

Ewan Webster Ph.D., P.Geo.

President, CEO, and Director

About Thesis Gold Inc.

Thesis Gold is unlocking the combined potential of the Lawyers-Ranch Gold-Silver Project in the Toodoggone mining district of north central British Columbia, Canada. A 2022 Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Lawyers project alone projected an open-pit mining operation yielding an average of 163,000 gold equivalent ounces annually over a 12-year span1. By integrating the Ranch Project, the Company aims to enhance the economics and bolster the overall project's potential. Central to this ambition was the expansive 2023 drill program, which continues to define a high-grade out-of-pit Mineral Resource at Lawyers and augment the near-surface high-grade deposits at Ranch. The project now boasts a combined Measured & Indicated Mineral Resource of 4.0 Moz and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 727 koz, at respective grades of 1.51 and 1.82 g/t AuEq2. The Company roadmap includes, new metallurgical work (now delivered), a robust 2024 exploration and drill program, and a combined updated Preliminary Economic Assessment slated for Q3 2024. Through these strategic moves, Thesis Gold intends to elevate the Ranch-Lawyers Project to the forefront of global precious metals ventures.

1Please refer to the Company's Preliminary Economic Assessment entitled, "Preliminary Economic Assessment, Lawyers Gold-Silver Project" with an effective date of September 9, 2022 filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

2Details of the mineral resource estimate are provided in a technical report with an effective date of May 1, 2024, prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101-Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc, P.Geol., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101.

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 press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-Looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings and the future plans or prospects of the Company. 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 statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, 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. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis, which is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219228

SOURCE: Thesis Gold Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2024) - Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. (CSE: API) (OTCQX: APAAF) (FSE: A0I0) (MUN: A0I0) (BER: A0I0) (the "Company" or "Appia") wishes to announce that it is extending its non-brokered private placement, announced on July 12, 2024, of up to 10,000,000 working capital units (the "WC Units") of the Company at a price of $0.10 per WC Unit for up to $1,000,000 (the "Offering") to provide the Company with working capital and funding for exploration of the Corporation's PCH Project in Brazil. The Offering is being extended until the earlier of the completion of the Offering and September 20, 2024.

Each WC Unit consists of one (1) common share of the Company priced at $0.10 per common share and one (1) common share purchase warrant (a "WC Warrant"). Each WC Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) common share (a "WC Warrant Share") at a price of $0.20 per WC Warrant Share until the earlier of (i) twelve (12) months from Closing; and (ii) in the event that the closing price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange is at least $0.30 for ten (10) consecutive trading days, and the 10th trading day (the "Final Trading Day") is at least four (4) months from the Closing, the date which is thirty (30) days from the Final Trading Day (the "Trigger Date").

Eligible Finders may receive up to 6% of the value of proceeds on the sale of the WC Units in cash and up to 6% of the number of WC Units sold in the form of broker warrants. Each broker warrant issued in relation to the sale of WC Units ("Broker Warrants"), entitles the holder to acquire one (1) common share of the Corporation a price of $0.10 for twelve (12) months from the Closing.

Insiders of the Company may subscribe for up to 25% of the Offering. The insider private placements are exempt from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101") by virtue of the exemptions contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1) (a) of MI 61-101 in that the fair market value of the consideration for the securities of the Company which will be issued to the insiders will not exceed 25% of its market capitalization.

The securities described herein 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 accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

About Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. (Appia)

Appia is a publicly traded Canadian company in the rare earth element and uranium sectors. The Company holds the right to acquire up to a 70% interest in the PCH Ionic Adsorption Clay Project (See June 9th, 2023 Press Release - Click HERE) which is 40,963.18 ha. in size and located within the Goias State of Brazil. (See January 11th, 2024 Press Release - Click HERE) The Company is also focusing on delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements and gallium on the Alces Lake property, and exploring for high-grade uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin on its Otherside, Loranger, North Wollaston, and Eastside properties. The Company holds the surface rights to exploration for 94,982.39 hectares (234,706.59 acres) in Saskatchewan. The Company also has a 100% interest in 13,008 hectares (32,143 acres), with rare earth elements and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones in the Elliot Lake Camp, Ontario.

Appia has 136.8 million common shares outstanding, 145.5 million shares fully diluted.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-Looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information, visit www.appiareu.com.

As part of our ongoing effort to keep investors, interested parties and stakeholders updated, we have several communication portals. If you have any questions online (X, Facebook, LinkedIn) please feel free to send direct messages.

To book a one-on-one 30-minute Zoom video call, please click here.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219232

SOURCE: Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp.
MUNICH, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- REC Group, an international pioneering solar energy company, is proud to celebrate the top 'REC Alpha Pure-RX First-Movers' who are embracing highly innovative solar PV technology. As climate change risks continue to rise and governments worldwide tighten sustainability regulations, homeowners and businesses are increasingly cautious about choosing more sustainable solutions. REC Group recognizes that innovative and high-efficiency solar PV technology is key to cutting emissions and accelerating power independence.

Innovative REC certified solar professionals worldwide have been embracing REC's highest power rooftop solar panel ever, the REC Alpha Pure-RX. With up to 470 watt-peak in a compact format, REC continues to enable customers to maximize the output of rooftop installations. Based on REC's advanced Alpha heterojunction cell technology (HJT), REC's Alpha panels combine the benefits of monocrystalline and thin-film technologies. By harnessing the power of sunlight more efficiently, these solar panels maximize energy production. At the same time, due to its low temperature manufacturing process, REC has been able to further reduce its own energy consumption. By choosing REC, customers are not only reducing their carbon footprint but also investing in a brighter and more sustainable future.

Championing Sustainable Innovations Together

Christopher Beck, CEO at Hamacher GmbH in Germany, summarized: "We have been building PV systems for over a decade and have relied on the quality of REC for just as long. The modules impress with their appearance, excellent performance data and all this at a fair price. This is rounded off by an excellent after-sales service."

Andre Santos from the Energy Department at ERI Engenharia S.A. in Portugal, emphasized on the company's commitment for a more sustainable future: "We are delighted to announce that we are the first company in the country of Portugal to use REC Alpha Pure-RX solar panels. This milestone reflects our commitment to innovation and sustainability. The REC Alpha Pure-RX panels are renowned for their superior quality, exceptional efficiency, and outstanding durability, making them the ideal choice for installation on the nation's most iconic buildings. We are proud to lead this initiative, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future."

Luc Royackers, Sales Manager at Rensol BV in Belgium, reiterated the company's commitment to quality: "At Rensol, we are always committed to quality and peace of mind. With the introduction of the new REC Alpha Pure-RX panels, we are confident that we can deliver on this promise."

For media inquiries please contact:

Agnieszka Schulze

Head of Global PR, REC Group

Tel.: +49 89 4 42 38 59 39

E-mail: agnieszka.schulze@recgroup.com

REC Solar EMEA GmbH

Balanstr. 71a

81541 Munich, Germany

Managing Director: Cemil Seber

Court of Registration: Munich HRB 180306

VAT ID-No: DE266243545

About REC Group:

REC Group is an international pioneering solar energy company dedicated to empowering consumers with clean, affordable solar power through high-quality solar panels with a leading power density. As Solar's Most Trusted, REC is known for its patented innovations and multiple award-winning products with reliable long-term performance. The cornerstone for REC's strong reliability is advanced and highly efficient manufacturing using Industry 4.0 practices. Founded in 1996 in Norway, REC has always been committed to a low carbon footprint in its solar materials and panels. REC is headquartered in Norway with operational headquarters in Singapore and regional hubs in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. As of December 2021, REC is part of Reliance Industries Limited, India's largest private sector company with revenues of USD 118.6 billion.

Find out more at recgroup.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2478211/REC_Alpha_Pure_RX.jpg

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View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/rec-group-celebrates-true-first-movers-for-highly-innovative-solar-pv-technology-302217863.html
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2024) - US Copper Corp (TSXV: USCU) (OTCQB: USCUF) (FSE: C730) ("US Copper" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has retained Global Resource Engineering of Denver, Colorado ("GRE") to complete a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on its entire 100% controlled Moonlight-Superior Copper Project in Northeast California.

Results of the PEA are anticipated by the end of this year.

The Moonlight-Superior Copper Project in Northeast California includes four known copper deposits (the "Project"), three of which host National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") resources, as referenced in the data section below. US Copper had a PEA prepared on the Moonlight deposit on a stand-alone basis in 2018, which demonstrated positive economics at US$3.15 per pound of copper. The 2018 PEA recommended that incorporating higher grade ore from our Superior and/or Engels deposits into the Moonlight mine plan, could substantially enhance the Project's economics by increasing cash flows in the initial years of production. The Company's recently completed drill programs at Superior in 2021 and at Engels and Moonlight in 2023 were designed to both convert inferred resources to the indicated category, and to better define any higher-grade ore at these deposits for potential starter pits for the Moonlight plant. These soon to be updated Engels and Superior NI-43-101 resources will provide the data for a revised PEA which will also include a newly defined oxide resource at both the Moonlight and Engels deposits.

Management Commentary

"Encouraged by the recent addition of copper to the U.S. critical minerals list, we look forward to conducting a preliminary economic assessment to evaluate the viability of a mining operation that includes our three deposits with NI 43-101 resources as well as the oxide caps at both our Moonlight and Engels deposits," commented Stephen Dunn, President and CEO of US Copper.

"Results from our exploration drill programs at Moonlight and Engels last year confirmed a near-surface copper oxide cap sits above the larger copper sulfide deposits below. These types of copper oxide deposits are found in the major copper mining districts of the world and can typically be economically extracted, usually through low-impact surface mining, and processed at lower cost than copper sulfide ores. Furthermore, acid leaching of oxide copper produces high grade copper cathodes, with grade A cathode typically selling for a premium," added Mr. Dunn.

Stephen Dunn also commented: "The Company is working hard to advance its Project back into production and is excited about the opportunity to be an integral supplier of the copper metal required by the U.S. domestic market for its energy transition. We are looking forward to working with GRE, and drawing upon the extensive knowledge of their team."

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by George Cole, M.Sc., Director of US Copper who is a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. George Cole is a Registered Professional Geologist through AIPG (CPG-11687).

About US Copper Corp

US Copper controls approximately 10 square miles of patented and unpatented federal mining claims in the Light's Creek Copper District in Plumas County, NE California; essentially, the entire District. The District contains substantial copper (silver) sulfide and copper oxide resources in three deposits - Moonlight, Superior and Engels, as well as several partially tested and untested exploration targets.

The Superior and Engels Mines operated from about 1915 to 1930 producing over 161 million pounds of copper from over 4 million tons of rock containing 2.2% copper with silver and gold credits.

The Moonlight deposit was discovered and drilled by Placer Amex during the 1960s. Details of the resources on US Copper's property and the parameters used to calculate them can be found in the "Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Moonlight Deposit, Moonlight-Superior Copper Project, California, USA" dated April 12, 2018 (the "2018 PEA") on both the Company's website at www.uscoppercorp.com and SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca under the US Copper Corp profile.

The 2018 PEA, prepared by Tetra Tech Inc., had the following highlights:

After-tax NPV: US$179M at an 8% discount rate and a US$3.15 copper price

After-tax IRR: 14.6%

Initial Capital Cost: US$513M, including a contingency provision in the amount of US$71M

Plant Processing Rate: 60,000 tons per day (STPD)

Average Copper Recovery: 86.0%

Mine Life: 17 years, based on the existing Mineral Resource estimate at Moonlight

Life of Mine Copper Production: 1.5 billion pounds

The Moonlight sulfide deposit hosts a current NI 43-101 indicated resource of approximately 252 million tons (154 million tonnes) averaging 0.25% copper and 0.07 oz/silver per ton, and an inferred resource of 109 million tons (62 million tonnes) averaging 0.24% copper and 0.08 oz/silver per ton, both above a US$6.25 net smelter return cut-off. Contained indicated resources are 1.272 billion pounds of copper and 18 million ounces of silver, and inferred resources of 534 million pounds of copper and 9 million ounces of silver. The Moonlight sulfide deposit remains open to the south and at depth. This resource estimate is contained in the 2018 PEA.

The Superior deposit is not included in the 2018 PEA and it hosts a current NI 43-101 inferred mineral resource of 57 million metric tonnes at an average copper grade of 0.41%. Note no silver or gold were included as part of this resource.

A PEA, as defined under the terms of NI 43-101, is an economic analysis intended to comment on the potential viability of a mineral project. A PEA analyzes and assesses geological, engineering, and economic factors to reach its conclusions. Please note the 2018 PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. Furthermore, there is no certainty that the 2018 PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Readers are encouraged to read the technical report of the 2018 PEA.

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 press release.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws and regulations, including statements regarding the future activities of the Company. Forward-looking statements reflect the current beliefs and expectations of management and are identified by the use of words including "will", "hopes", "anticipates", "expected to", "plans", "planned", "intends" and other similar words. Actual results may differ significantly. The achievement of the results expressed in forward-looking statements is subject to a number of risks, including those described in the Company's management discussion and analysis as filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219244

SOURCE: US Copper Corp.
By Charu Adesnik

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Nearly 40 years ago, Cisco set out to connect the world through technology - to deliver innovation to our customers - and to shape the future through a deeply held commitment to the greater good.

Over the decades, we've continued to explore the role emerging technologies can play in breaking through longstanding social challenges - from food insecurity and extreme poverty to lack of access to educational and employment opportunities.

Now - in an age defined by AI and constant change, we continue to believe the most important connections we can make are the human connections.

Cisco invests in organizations around the world who are creating and delivering tech-enabled solutions that we believe can be scaled to drive significant social impact, and that can be sustained over the long-term. Our partners are proximate, embedded in and working hand-in-hand with the communities they are supporting. Cisco brings strategic guidance, catalytic funding, technology donations, and the support of the broader Cisco community.

Together, we work to promote a healthy planet and create a world where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential and thrive.

The Human Component

BBC StoryWorks is shining a light on the power of our global non-profit partnerships and the social impact we've created together in a series of videos aptly named, The Human Component.

Take a few minutes and see how each of these compelling stories will move and inspire you, spark new ideas, and leave you connected.

Discover how Replate is solving the challenge of global food waste through a tech-enabled platform that facilitates food donations by connecting organizations with surplus food to communities facing food insecurity.

Travel to Uganda to experience the incredible impact of our partner Bridges to Prosperity. Together, we're leveraging new mapping technology to build bridges to end rural isolation and poverty.

Immerse yourself in Code.org's powerful programs for giving every student an opportunity to learn the language of code-and the ethical use of technology.

Tech-enabled solutions for a better world

These beautifully crafted stories help us transcend distance and difference - understand longstanding challenges from a new perspective - and witness what's possible through tech-enabled solutions designed to break down barriers to opportunity, forge human connections, and create communities that thrive.

For Cisco, these are the stories that must be told as we continue to explore new ways to go further, faster - accelerating solutions by partnering with organizations whose strengths and commitment to a better world complement our own.

Together - we can continue to connect the world - to make it better - and to power an inclusive future for all. Let's also continue to share our stories of connection and impact - and share our ideas for leveraging technology to solve the world's greatest challenges.

For more information:

Read more about Cisco's partnerships to positively impact One Billion Lives

View original content here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cisco Systems Inc. on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Cisco Systems Inc.

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cisco-systems-inc

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Cisco Systems Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / MetLife, Inc.

MetLife Sustainability Report

Part of building a more confident future is supporting our customers during difficult times, particularly when the health and wellness of their family is at stake. We strive to improve and evolve our products and services based on local market and customer needs. Many of MetLife's insurance products and services support wellness. These include dental, vision and health insurance, and products and services tailored to mental health, family care, accidents, disability and absence management, cancer and critical illness. The following examples highlight some of our most innovative product offerings. See our Sustainability Products and Services table for more information.

MetLife 360Health and 360Future

Created to help customers increase their healthspan, MetLife 360Health offers solutions that address mental, physical, financial and social health through a focus on the five key aspects of managing critical illnesses: prevention, early diagnosis, access to treatment, ongoing care and financial protection. Users can access services through the mobile app and online portals, including artificial intelligence (AI)-backed health assessments, diabetes risk monitoring, exercise and nutrition tips, online doctor consultations and prescription deliveries.

We launched MetLife 360Health in Nepal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2023, joining existing markets Australia, Bangladesh, China and Korea. Across Asia, more than 1 million digital users have downloaded the MetLife 360Health app, and it has won more than 30 awards since its launch. The UAE launch focused on mindfulness, health risk assessment, nutrition/calorie tracking, a symptom checker, guided meditations and physical and mental health articles.

360Future helps customers prepare early for retirement and supports them as they age, with retirement savings, insurance, health and wealth services. MetLife began offering 360Future in Korea in 2023 with more than 30 services to help customers enhance quality of life in retirement while providing healthcare support during illness. In China, we expanded our existing 360Future services to include a personal pension insurance product, women's menopausal healthcare consultations and ophthalmic screenings, in addition to support for medical appointments, home healthcare guidance and retirement planning.

U.S. Benefits Employee Care Enhancements

According to research from MetLife's 2023 U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study (EBTS), both employees and employers could benefit from clarity and understanding around benefits packages.1 The study found:

45% of U.S. employees say there are elements of their benefits package they do not fully understand;

62% of U.S. employees say understanding how to use their benefits would give them a greater sense of overall stability; and

50% of U.S. employees say understanding how to use their benefits would make them more loyal to their employer.

To help with this problem, MetLife has teamed with Nayya, a leading digital provider of benefits decision support and engagement. Nayya's capabilities are offered by MetLife for education purposes through Upwise, MetLife's benefits engagement platform, which makes recommendations to employees on their benefits.2 This strategic collaboration will empower millions of employees to make the most of employer offerings by choosing and using benefits that support their individual and evolving needs.

We have expanded access to workforce mental health solutions, supporting employers to offer employee assistance programs, including the following new collaborations:

Lyra Health , a provider of global workforce mental health solutions. When a customer contracts directly with Lyra Health, MetLife can integrate our claims process so that, at time of claim, employees get access to more comprehensive well-being services.

Empathy, a third-party provider helping families navigate the experiences associated with loss. As part of MetLife's Beneficiary Claims Concierge Services, when employees enroll in MetLife's group life insurance, their beneficiaries have access to Empathy's bereavement care platform, providing support to millions following the loss of a loved one.3

MetLife Pet Insurance Supports Pup's Long-Term Shelter Stay

Ginny, a five-year-old pit bull mix was at the Lexington Humane Society's (LHS) shelter in Lexington, Kentucky, for 1,000 days, as LHS struggled to find someone to adopt her. She was harder to place than other shelter dogs, requiring a family without children or other animals. But fortunately, Ginny was finally adopted.

Ginny's long stay at the shelter was made possible by MetLife Pet Insurance's collaboration with shelters, through which we provide support, including sponsoring walks, adoption events and long-stay residents. LHS was one of the first shelters we teamed up with, and we've been working together for 11 years. Ginny's successful adoption is one of many happy stories from our shelter partners.

1. See the latest EBTS report.

2. We are the exclusive insurance carrier to offer Nayya's capabilities to employers with more than 1,000 U.S. employees.

3. Empathy is not available for customers situated in New York, or principally located in New York.

Download the full MetLife 2023 Sustainability Report

MetLife 360Health offers access to services through the mobile app and online portals.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from MetLife, Inc. on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: MetLife, Inc.

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/metlife-inc

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: MetLife, Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund - Results of Annual General Meeting

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, August 08

TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Limited

(a closed-ended investment company incorporated in Guernsey with registration number 57985)

(The "Company")

LEI Number: 549300P9Q5O2B3RDNF78

8 August 2024

RESULT OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

At the Annual General Meeting of the Company held today, all Resolutions set out in the Annual General Meeting Notice sent to Shareholders dated 18 July 2024 were duly passed.

Details of the proxy voting results which should be read along side the Notice are noted below:

Ordinary Resolution For Discretion (voted in favour) Against Abstain 1 30,755,114 5,261 117,061 230,380 2 30,755,959 5,261 117,061 229,535 3 30,380,889 5,261 446,766 274,900 4 30,531,675 5,261 338,371 232,509 5 30,720,782 5,261 142,217 239,556 6 29,506,463 5,261 1,356,536 239,556 7 29,512,054 5,261 1,350,945 239,556 8 29,393,224 5,261 1,469,775 239,556 9 30,463,008 5,261 341,748 297,799 10 30,546,543 5,261 298,930 257,082 11 30,555,719 5,261 301,904 244,932 12 30,616,937 5,261 237,712 247,906 Special Resolution For Discretion(voted in favour) Against Abstain 13 30,709,000 5,261 162,805 230,750 14 30,686,214 5,261 185,961 230,380 ExtraordinaryResolution For Discretion(voted in favour) Against Abstain 15 30,603,225 5,261 265,976 233,354 16 30,591,131 5,261 278,070 233,354

Note - A vote withheld is not a vote in law and has not been counted in the votes for and against a resolution.

The Special Resolutions were as follows:

Special Resolution 13

THAT, the terms of the proposed quarterly tender facility that, among other things, permits the Company to acquire its issued share capital from tendering shareholders, subject to certain restrictions (the "Facility"), the terms and conditions of which constituting the contract of such Facility (the "Agreement") are set out in the Notice of Quarterly Tenders reproduced in the circular in respect of the Company dated 12 July 2024 (the "Circular"), are hereby approved and authorised pursuant to section 314(2) of the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008, as amended (the "Law") and the Company's authority to effect the Facility on the terms of the Agreement pursuant to this resolution shall expire on the earlier of the date falling 12 months from the date of this resolution or the date of the Company's next annual general meeting, save that the Company may, prior to such expiry, enter into a contract to acquire Ordinary Shares under such authority and may make an acquisition of Ordinary Shares pursuant to any such contract.

Special Resolution 14

TO authorise the Company, in accordance with section 315 of the Law to make market acquisitions (as defined in the Law) of its own shares of 1 pence each (either for retention as treasury shares for future re-issue, resale or transfer or cancellation) provided that:

the maximum number of Ordinary Shares authorised to be purchased is 14.99 per cent. of the aggregate Ordinary Shares (excluding treasury shares in issue) on the date on which this resolution is passed; the minimum price (exclusive of expenses) which may be paid for an Ordinary Share shall be 0.01 per Ordinary Share; the maximum price (exclusive of expenses) which may be paid for an Ordinary Share shall be the higher of (i) 105 per cent. of the average of the middle market quotations (as derived from the Daily Official List) for the Ordinary Shares for the five business days immediately preceding the date of acquisition and (ii) the higher of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the trading venue on which the purchase is carried out; and unless previously varied, revoked or renewed, the authority hereby conferred shall expire on 31 December 2025 or, if earlier, at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2025, save that the Company may, prior to such expiry, enter into a contract to acquire Ordinary Shares under such authority and may make an acquisition of Ordinary Shares pursuant to any such contract.

Extraordinary Resolution 15

THAT the Directors of the Company be and they are hereby generally empowered, to allot and issue, to grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert and make offers or agreements to allot and issue equity securities (as defined in Article 6.1 of the Articles) for cash as if the pre-emption rights contained in the Articles in respect of such equity securities did not apply to any such allotment and issuance, provided that this power shall be limited so that it:

expires at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company after the passing of this resolution or on the expiry of 15 months from the passing of this resolution, whichever is the earlier, save that the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted and issued after such expiry and the Directors may allot and issue equity securities in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby had not expired; and shall be limited to the allotment and issuance of equity securities up to an aggregate nominal value of 251,574 being approximately 10 per cent of the nominal value of the issued share capital of the Company, as at 9 July 2024, and representing 25,157,433 Ordinary Shares.

Extraordinary Resolution 16

THAT conditional on extraordinary resolution 14 above having been passed, the Directors of the Company be and they are hereby generally empowered, in addition to and without prejudice to the power granted by extraordinary resolution 14 above, to allot and issue, to grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert and make offers or agreements to allot and issue equity securities (as detailed in Article 6.1 of the Articles) for cash as if the pre-emption rights contained in the Articles in respect of such equity securities did not apply to any such allotment and issuance, provided that this power shall be limited so that it:

expires at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company after the passing of this resolution or on the expiry of 15 months from the passing of this resolution, whichever is the earlier, save that the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted and issued after such expiry and the Directors may allot and issue equity securities in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby had not expired; and shall be limited to the allotment and issuance of additional equity securities up to an aggregate nominal value of 251,574 being approximately 10 per cent of the nominal value of the issued share capital of the Company, as at 9 July 2024, and representing 25,157,433 Ordinary Shares.

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

END
New Delhi, Aug 8 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of former West Bengal Chief Minister and senior CPI (M) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in Kolkata on Thursday.

In a post on X, he said "Saddened by the passing of Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, former CM of West Bengal. He was a political stalwart who served the state with commitment. My heartfelt condolences to his family and supporters'. Om Shanti.

Bhattacharjee passed away this morning at the age of 80.

The former CM had been suffering from age-related illnesses and breathing problems for a long time.

He was the second and last Chief Minister during the Left Front's 34-year rule in Bengal.

Bhattacharjee was the Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011.

UNI GNK CS1713
Erinnern Sie sich, als Moderna und BioNTech von unbekannten Unternehmen zu globalen Marktfuhrern wurden und fruhzeitige Investoren reich belohnt haben?



Die Branche steht vor einem erneuten Innovationsschub  von bahnbrechenden Medikamenten bis hin zu revolutionaren Therapien.



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Die nachste Erfolgsgeschichte im Biotechbereich warten nur darauf, entdeckt zu werden. Wer jetzt investiert, hat die Chance, von gigantischen Durchbruchen und enormen Renditen zu profitieren. Warten Sie nicht, bis es zu spat ist - der nachste Biotech-Superstar konnte morgen schon durchstarten!



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NEW CANAAN, CT / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Draycott Place Partners announced today that its client, ProfitKey International LLC (ProfitKey), has been acquired by ECI Software Solutions (ECI).



Draycott Place Partners Logo

Firm logo

Draycott Place Partners, an affiliate of Weild & Co., served as the exclusive financial advisor to ProfitKey.

Founded in 1979, ProfitKey is a leading Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) software provider for small and mid-sized made-to-order manufacturers across the U.S.

"I am very excited about this news and the great value it will provide to all the ProfitKey stakeholders," said Kevin O'Keefe, CEO of ProfitKey. "Our investors are receiving a fair return on their capital while our customers are benefiting from the additional resources that ECI brings to their long-term success. ProfitKey's employees will realize greater opportunities for career and personal growth by joining a larger, global organization like ECI."

Steven Palmer, President of Draycott Place Partners, said, "It's been an honor to work with Kevin and his team to help facilitate this great outcome for the shareholders, management team, employees, and clients of ProfitKey."

Regarding Draycott Place Partners, Kevin O'Keefe added: "Steven and Jerrod have been fantastic partners and did a great job casting a wide net in reaching out to prospective partners and then rolling up their sleeves and performing the blocking and tackling required to help us get the transaction closed with ECI. In short, they added significant value throughout the course of our engagement with them."

About ECI

ECI provides cloud-based business software for running small and mid-sized businesses end to end. Built by experts in manufacturing, residential construction, field service, building supply, office technology, and wholesale/retail distribution industries, ECI's industry-specific software connects businesses and customers, improving visibility, operational efficiency, and profitability. With ECI, businesses seamlessly integrate sales and marketing, business intelligence, CRM, data and analytics, e-commerce, mobile apps, and payment processing. With more than 30 years of industry leadership, ECI is trusted by 24,000 customers in more than 80 countries globally. Headquartered in Westlake, Texas, it has offices in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Australia. For more information, visit www.ECIsolutions.com.

About Draycott Place Partners

Draycott Place Partners provides M&A and Capital Raising services primarily to settlement services companies, proptech enterprises, and other fintech services businesses like ProfitKey. Draycott Place Partners is an affiliate of Weild & Co., a licensed broker dealer. All securities transactions executed through Weild & Co., Member FINRA | SIPC.

www.draycottplace.biz

steven.palmer@draycottplace.biz

203-952-2632

Contact Information:

Steven Palmer

President, Draycott Place Partners

steven.palmer@draycottplace.biz

2039522632

SOURCE: Draycott Place Partners LLC

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Kupfer wird oft als das Gold der Energiewende bezeichnet, weil es aufgrund seiner hervorragenden elektrischen Leitfahigkeit eine zentrale Rolle in vielen Technologien spielt, die fur nachhaltige Energiesysteme entscheidend sind. Experten gehen aufgrund der Angebotsknappheit von einem Superzyklus aus.

Korrektur als Einstiegschance

Nach Hochststanden im Mai korrigierte das rote Metall stark. Die Abwartsspirale verstarkte sich in den vergangenen Tagen aufgrund schwacher Konjunkturdaten aus den USA und China. Langfristig konnte sich die aktuell laufende Korrektur als exzellente Einstiegsmoglichkeit herausstellen.

3 Kupferaktien mit hohem Potential

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Top Four Conveyor Car Wash Opens Nineteenth Location in the Lone Star State

THOMASTON, GA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Tidal Wave Auto Spa, one of the nation's fastest-growing express car wash companies, is pleased to announce the grand opening of their newest location in El Campo, TX at 2209 N Mechanic Street.









To celebrate the Grand Opening, the El Campo location is offering eight days of free car washes from August 7 - August 14. This limited-time promotion provides an opportunity for car owners to experience Tidal Wave's premium wash option, Graph-X4, at no cost. Additionally, any new customer that joins a Clean Club unlimited wash membership plan during Grand Opening week will enjoy their first month of unlimited washes for only $9.97 - saving up to $40.

"We opened our first Texas location five years ago," said Tidal Wave Auto Spa founder and CEO Scott Blackstock. "Since then, we've been strategically expanding throughout the state to serve more communities with our industry-leading car wash. We're thrilled to open our brand-new El Campo location this week and look forward to providing folks in this community with an enjoyable, efficient, and exceptional car wash experience for years to come."

El Campo, TX Location: 2209 N Mechanic Street, El Campo, TX 77437

Nearby Locations: Victoria, Katy

Tidal Wave currently operates nineteen locations in Texas with plans to open additional brand-new locations in Alice, Early, and Fort Worth in the coming months.

Tidal Wave Auto Spa is committed to providing every customer with an exceptional car wash experience through industry-leading car care technology, clean and attractive locations, and friendly customer service at every location. Stop by for a single wash or join Tidal Wave's Clean Club for the ultimate experience. Members can wash every day of the month for one convenient monthly payment and save time with exclusive club member wash lanes - plus, memberships can be used at any Tidal Wave location. For those needing to wash multiple cars, Tidal Wave offers discounted monthly family plans and fleet plans for businesses with five or more vehicles.

Tidal Wave proudly serves customers at 277 express wash locations in twenty-eight states across the South, Midwest and Northern United States. For additional information, including upcoming locations, fundraising, fleet plans, and more, please visit: https://www.tidalwaveautospa.com.

About Tidal Wave Auto Spa

Tidal Wave Auto Spa is an industry-leading conveyor car wash company founded in 1999 by Scott and Hope Blackstock in Thomaston, GA. Tidal Wave is committed to providing cutting-edge car care technology and exceptional customer service at each of their 277 locations sprawling 28 states across the South, Midwest, and Northern United States. In 2020, Tidal Wave partnered with Golden Gate Capital to facilitate their accelerated growth across the country. Tidal Wave is one of the top five conveyor car wash companies in the country and has been included in the Inc. 5000 list for America's Fastest Growing Companies since 2020. The company was recognized as a 2023 Champion of Charity Honoree by Professional Carwashing & Detailing and has raised over $3 million dollars for organizations in their communities.

Contact Information

Heather Coleman

Marketing Manager

media@tidalwaveautospa.com

Andrea Traylor

Senior Director of Digital Marketing

andrea.traylor@tidalwaveautospa.com

2058212220

SOURCE: Tidal Wave Auto Spa

View the original press release on newswire.com.
MUNICH, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Trinasolar, a global leader in smart PV and energy storage solutions has entered into a research collaboration with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) with the aim to advance the optimization and upgrading of industrial battery manufacturing technologies, contributing to the green and low-carbon energy transition in China, Singapore, and globally.

The three-year partnership will focus on the collaborative research and development of advanced energy storage battery technologies and the industrialization of energy solutions. Leveraging on A*STAR's strengths in energy, materials, and intelligent manufacturing, both parties aim to address core technical challenges in the commercialized energy storage batteries.

A*STAR's Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (A*STAR's IMRE) will leverage its expertise in material science and engineering to develop innovative energy storage solutions, focusing on pioneering new materials and enhancing battery performance through advanced research methodologies.

As one of the most advanced photovoltaics (PV) research centers for solar and energy storage technology, Trinasolar's lab has always welcomed research collaboration and partnerships with other leading technology and science centers to create cutting-edge solar solutions and products.

Helena Li, Executive President of Trinasolar, expressed her gratitude for the proactive role of the Singapore government in building a platform for new energy and green transition. Li highlighted A*STAR IMRE's strong capabilities in new materials and electronics and expressed excitement about collaborating with this forward-looking team. The partnership will adopt an open, inclusive, and collaborative innovation mechanism to jointly develop next-generation energy storage battery technologies, continuously enhancing manufacturing technologies in the energy storage industry and contributing to the high-quality development of the global energy storage sector, ultimately building a net- zero future.

"This collaboration combines IMRE's research strengths with Trinasolar's expertise in energy storage. By working together, we aim to make valuable progress in energy storage technology, apply scientific research to practical applications in Singapore, and contribute to technological and economic growth that benefits everyone," said Professor Xian Jun Loh, Executive Director of A*STAR IMRE.

Innovation has always been Trinasolar's primary development strategy and core driving force. The company has established four R&D platforms in energy storage: Advanced energy storage technology research institute, energy storage engineering center, digital power research institute and power electronic research and development center. Committed to becoming a global leader in smart PV and energy storage solutions, Trinasolar adheres to the mission of "Solar Energy for All." In the future, the company will continue to uphold independent and collaborative innovation, driving the research and application of energy storage technologies, leading the high-quality development of the new energy industry, and contributing to the realization of a net-zero future.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2478228/Battery_energy_storage_solution_research_collaboration.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/trinasolar-partners-with-astar-on-innovation-in-advanced-energy-storage-battery-technologies-302217941.html
CLEARWATER, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Cleartronic, Inc. (OTC PINK:CLRI) ($CLRI) ("Company") is pleased to announce the strategic acquisition of Alastar, a technology platform previously co-owned by Advanced Technology International and the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA). This acquisition includes Alastar's trademarks, software, platform, clients, and employees.

Alastar, established approximately ten years ago, has been a key player in developing, marketing, selling, and implementing an online situational awareness software program designed to enhance public safety and mission effectiveness. The Alastar program is used by clients in South Carolina and across the United States.

Marc Moore, CEO of Cleartronic, Inc., stated, "Alastar represents a great opportunity for us to enhance our ReadyOp platform and add valuable talent to our employee group. Our two companies are very similar and offer complementary capabilities to clients. We anticipate a very smooth transition and the integration of the Alastar capabilities into our ReadyOp platform during the coming months. We also have a few clients in common who have expressed their enthusiasm for our companies becoming one and for our platforms to integrate. Adding these new capabilities to our ReadyOp platform will allow us to increase revenue from our current clients and offer an enhanced package of capabilities and services to new clients."

CLRI believes the acquisition is accretive to Cleartronic Inc.'s operations and will provide greater programming capabilities from the new employees in addition to other acquired assets.

About Cleartronic, Inc. (OTC PINK:CLRI) ($CLRI):

Cleartronic, Inc. (OTCPINK:CLRI), through its primary operating subsidiary, ReadyOp Communications, offers ReadyOp as a Software as a Solution (SAAS) that integrates planning, operations, communications, visual displays, reporting forms, and more in a single web-based platform now in use nationwide and internationally. ReadyOp is used by government agencies, hospitals, ports, airports, first responders, schools and universities, companies, and unified commands for daily operations, alert and response actions, special event planning, incident management, and emergency response and recovery. ReadyOp is simple to use and designed for fast, efficient access to information and the ability to plan, coordinate, direct, and communicate with multiple persons, groups, agencies, and locations. www.cleartronic.com & www.readyop.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This new release contains statements that involve expectations, plans, or intentions (such as those relating to future business or financial results) and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These statements are forward-looking and subject to risks and uncertainties, so actual results may vary materially. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words such as "may," should," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan," and other similar expressions. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements because of certain factors not within the control of the Company. The Company cautions readers not to rely on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company disclaims any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Contact and Inquiries for Investor Relations:

Larry Reid

(954) 826-2508

lreid@cleartronic.com

www.cleartronic.com

www.readyop.com

SOURCE: Cleartronic, Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Leidos:



Minga Lee VP, CTO, National Security Sector

The female engineers we talked to for Women in Engineering Day 2024 all have different career paths, but they share a common passion for tackling complex problems and finding innovative solutions.

Allison Badgett, Signal Processing Engineer

Having always enjoyed mathematics, an engineering degree was a natural fit for signal processing engineer Alison Badgett. Then, at university, she discovered the joy of programming.

"To me, mathematics and computer programming are necessary tools for tackling modern engineering problems," she says, "but it also helps to have an appreciation for these fields in themselves."

Now, at Leidos, Badgett works on algorithm development for radar digital signal processing, where she finds it continuously exciting to see her work transition from the lab to the real world.

Minga Lee, Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, National Security Sector

With 23 years of experience in aerospace and information technology bringing her to the role of vice president (VP) and chief technology officer (CTO) for the Leidos National Security Sector, Minga Lee knows first-hand the importance of staying diligent and focused.

When it comes to the experience of often being the only woman in a room, her advice for aspiring female engineers is, "Don't get discouraged and own your career."

Don't get discouraged and own your career.

Minga Lee

VP, CTO, National Security Sector

Katea Murray, Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, Mission Solutions

As VP and CTO for Leidos' mission solutions business area, Katea Murray is responsible for shaping cyber operations strategy for clients in the military and intelligence communities - and it all began with a passion for gaming.

"I was always curious to understand how things were working behind the scenes," she says. "Most importantly, I wanted to understand why a game worked one way verses another."

When it comes to advice for others looking to turn their enthusiasm into a career, she points out, "There is no path to success without failures along the way, so remember to give yourself grace and stay resilient. A parked car goes nowhere. Keep driving."

Kathy Villani, Senior Manager, Engineering

Developing an interest in early-stage technologies can bring unexpected rewards, as Kathy Villani discovered when she received a $17 prize in the early '90s for proposing that IBM should start a website. That interest in exploring new technologies has continued throughout her career where she "gravitates toward work involving new technology, innovation, and transformation."

This informed her work as a solutions architect on Leidos' bid for the contract to maintain the U.S. Department of Defense's (DOD's) worldwide data network, where the novel capabilities Villani developed were cited as key factors in Leidos' selection.

There is no path to success without failures along the way, so remember to give yourself grace and stay resilient. A parked car goes nowhere. Keep driving.

Katea Murray

VP, CTO, Mission Solutions

Mei Schieder, Data-Driven Operations Tenet Lead & Solutions Architect

When Mei Schieder was growing up, she and her brother would hover around creating engineering challenges for her father, who they called "Mr. Fix-it," to solve. Now, Schieder is following in her father's footsteps.

Through her work in data-driven operations at Leidos, she not only "fixes it" but also "builds it," having been involved in the creation of the DOD's worldwide data network from the early days of Leidos bid development.

"Watching this program mature as we broke new ground in terms of both technology and partnerships has been incredibly rewarding," she says. "There is something uniquely bonding about facing seemingly impossible feats together, and the sense of achievement we share as a team when overcoming these obstacles makes all the hard work worth it."

Christina Hill, Vice President, Digital Modernization Sector

With a passion for understanding the entire lifecycle of engineering processes and systems, Christina Hill always has the end users in mind. In her current role, that means the over 600,000 sailors and civilians served by Navy Marine Corps Internet. With that kind of person-centered perspective, it's no surprise that the highlights of Hill's career have been the opportunities to build teams and guide the next generation of technology leaders.

She advises future female engineers to take advantage of these sort of mentoring relationships.

"Identify someone who does a job that you aspire to," she says. "Then connect with them and emulate their behavior."

LEARN MORE ABOUT DIGITAL MODERNIZATION AT LEIDOS

Gouthrekka Mahalingam, Engineering Manager

Having excelled in mathematics and physics at a school where girls were encouraged into STEM careers, Gouthrekka Mahalingam was drawn to an engineering career from an early age. From working on Navy programs to becoming an engineering manager at Leidos, what's helped Mahalingam succeed throughout her career is strong conviction in her own ability, alongside a habit of seeking out companies that value a diversity of perspectives.

"There will be numerous times in your career where you will have the most expertise in an area, far greater than anyone else, male or female," she advises aspiring female engineers. "You owe it to yourself to showcase that to the best of your ability and to rise above any adversity you face along the way."

There will be numerous times in your career where you will have the most expertise in an area....You owe it to yourself to showcase that to the best of your ability and to rise above any adversity you face along the way.

Gouthrekka Mahalingam

Engineering Manager

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Leidos on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Leidos

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/leidos

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Leidos

View the original press release on accesswire.com
CHICAGO, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Label-Free Detection Market is expected to grow from USD 515 million in 2024 to USD 747 million by 2029, at a CAGR of 7.7%. The label-free detection market is expanding due to advances in technology, increased academic-industrial collaborations for drug discovery, high sensitivity of these methods, and rising R&D investments in biotech and pharmaceuticals. Label-free technologies, which analyze biological and chemical interactions without labels, are particularly valuable for preserving sample integrity and enabling real-time, high-throughput analysis. However, challenges such as sample complexity, technical complexity, and stringent regulatory approval processes hinder growth. Despite these obstacles, the market sees opportunities in biomarker discovery and increased use in applied chemistry and biological sciences. Notable players like Agilent Technologies are driving innovation in this sector. North America leads the market due to its strong research infrastructure and substantial funding for biomedical research.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Label-Free Detection Market"

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Danaher Corporation: Leading Innovator in Label-Free Detection

Danaher Corporation, headquartered in the US, is a top player in the global label-free detection market for 2023. Through its biotechnology division, including subsidiaries Cytiva and Pall, Danaher provides a range of label-free detection products. Although the growth in infectious disease testing revenue showed a rise in 2022, it is anticipated that this trend may not continue into 2023. Nevertheless, Danaher remains committed to advancing its product offerings through substantial investments in R&D. The company also focuses on inorganic growth strategies, such as partnerships and acquisitions, to enhance its competitive edge in the label-free detection industry.

Sartorius AG: Prominent Force in Label-Free Detection

Sartorius AG, based in Germany, is a major player in the label-free detection sector. The company is dedicated to expanding its product range through robust R&D investments and strategic inorganic growth. Sartorius emphasizes product integration and user-friendly solutions to strengthen its market position. Notably, in April 2022, Sartorius launched the Octet SF3, an advanced surface plasmon resonance (SPR) system under its Octet brand. By introducing new products and focusing on comprehensive solutions, Sartorius aims to enhance its global presence in the label-free detection market.

Agilent Technologies, Inc.: Key Contributor in Label-Free Detection

Agilent Technologies, Inc., based in the US, held the third-largest market share in 2023. The company offers a diverse portfolio across life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets. Agilent's subsidiary, ACEA Biosciences, provides label-free detection products. Agilent is focused on product development and market expansion, highlighted by the February 2024 announcement of an integration between the XCELLigence RTCA HT platform and the BioTek BioSpa 8 Automated Incubator. This integration enhances throughput and reduces sample sizes by offering a label-free, non-invasive analysis of cell growth and cytotoxicity. Through such innovations, Agilent aims to capture a larger market share and compete effectively in the label-free detection industry.

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Label-Free Detection Market Segmentation: Instruments at the Forefront

In 2023, the global label-free detection market was segmented into instruments, consumables, software, and services. The instruments segment led the market, attributed to the growing use of advanced label-free detection instruments in drug discovery and clinical research studies. Technological advancements and the introduction of new, high-performance instruments by leading market players have further boosted this segment.

Technology Segmentation: Surface Plasmon Resonance Dominates

The market is segmented by technology into surface plasmon resonance (SPR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), bio-layer interferometry (BLI), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and other label-free detection (LFD) technologies. In 2023, SPR technology held the largest market share due to the frequent introduction of advanced SPR instruments. These advancements have driven increased adoption and application across various research fields.

Application Segmentation: Binding Kinetics Leads

Applications are segmented into binding kinetics, binding thermodynamics, hit confirmation, lead generation, endogenous receptor detection, and others. Binding kinetics commanded the largest market share in 2023, reflecting its significant role in drug discovery and molecular research. The increasing use of label-free detection instruments for these applications has driven the growth of this segment.

End User Segmentation: Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies Lead

The end-user segments include pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, academic & research institutes, contract research organizations (CROs), and other users. In 2023, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies led the market share, driven by their extensive use of label-free detection instruments, reagents, and consumables in R&D. This is coupled with rising research activities, development of new therapeutics, and expanding healthcare infrastructure in emerging markets.

Regional Insights: North America in the Lead

Geographically, the market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. North America dominated the market in 2023, supported by major players, advanced biopharmaceutical infrastructure, and favorable regulatory conditions. Europe held the second-largest share, with Asia Pacific expected to exhibit the highest growth rate during the forecast period due to increasing pharmaceutical R&D, rising demand for novel detection products, significant investments by biopharmaceutical companies, and growing support for research activities.

For more information, inquire now! Inquire Now

Related Reports:

Cell Analysis Market

Proteomics Market

Cell Isolation Market

Oxidative Stress Assay Market

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Get access to the latest updates on Label Free Detection Companies and Label Free Detection Market Share

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4basebio Plc - Strategic Advisory Board & Appointment of Director

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, August 08

8 August 2024

4basebio PLC

("4basebio" or the "Company")

Strategic Advisory Board Formation

Appointment of Director

Cambridge, UK, 8th August 2024 - 4basebio PLC (AIM: 4BB), an innovation-led provider of novel synthetic DNA products and a non-viral, thermostable nucleic acid delivery platform announces the formation of a Strategic Advisory Board and the appointment of Dr Amy Walker, the Vice President of Research and Business Development to the Board of Directors of the Company as Chief Operating Officer.

Strategic Advisory Board

Effective from 1 July 2024, the Company formed a Strategic Advisory Board ("SAB"), with the purpose of offering the Company's leadership team valuable advice and industry insight spanning technical, operational, commercial and strategic matters as well as supporting the Company in the realisation of its growth goals and objectives.

The SAB advisers are engaged for an initial period of 12 months from its formation and will meet with the leadership team periodically. The SAB comprises the following experts:

Bertrand Coissac, CEO at Twogene: Mr. Coissac has extensive experience in the life science industry with a focus on cell and gene therapy manufacturing. Before co-founding and leading Twogene, Mr. Coissac was Vice President of Corporate Development at Polyplus which was successfully acquired by Sartorius in July 2023.

Lawrence Pitcher, VP at Catalent Pharma Solutions: Mr. Pitcher is currently the Vice President and General Manager, Maryland Gene Therapy Sites at Catalent Pharma Solutions. He brings significant operational and business experience from his current Catalent role and previous roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific where he was most recently the General Manager of the Advance Therapies business.

Deborah Barbara, Former Vice President at Maravai Life Sciences: Ms. Barbara has over 30 years of life science industry experience in a variety of strategic business and corporate development roles, most recently as Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development for Maravai Life Sciences. Prior to joining Maravai, Ms. Barbara was General Manager of Nucleic Acid Therapeutics business for Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Appointment of Director

In addition to the above, the Company announces the appointment of Dr Amy Walker as Chief Operating Officer of the Company.

Dr Walker joined 4basebio in November 2020 and has served as the Vice President of Research and Business Development at the Company. Dr Walker has a background in molecular biology and gene editing technologies, along with associated nucleic acid nanoparticle delivery platforms. She holds a PhD from UCL Institute of Child Health and was awarded the prestigious Bogue Fellowship, conducting part of her doctoral studies at both University of British Colombia and McGill University, Montreal. Dr Walker has many years scientific and commercial experience in life sciences, has published scientific papers and is named inventor on numerous multidisciplinary patents. She currently holds non-executive director Board positions on two other high growth healthcare companies.

Pursuant to Rule 17 and Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules for Companies, the following information is disclosed in respect of Dr Amy Jo Walker (aged 31):

Current Directorships Heqet Therapeutics S.r.l. Neomatrix Biotechnologies S.r.l

Previous Directorships held in the past five years None

Dr Walker holds 51,506 ordinary shares equating to approximately 0.4 per cent. in the Company, and 42,128 options over new ordinary shares in the Company.

There is no further information regarding Dr Walker required to be disclosed under the AIM Rules.

Dr Heikki Lanckriet, CEO at of 4basebio, commented: "The adoption of synthetic DNA is rapidly increasing among cell and gene therapy innovators, with our technology now being utilized in several clinical programs. As we advance our commercial development, the combined expertise of Bertrand, Larry, and Deb in the life sciences and advanced therapies markets will be invaluable to 4basebio. We look forward to collaborating with this team to drive our company's success.

"Alongside the formation of the SAB, the Company has reached a new milestone in appointing Amy as its first Chief Operating Officer underlining its rapid growth.Amy has been instrumental in that growth and I am delighted to welcome her to the Board of Directors."

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014 as amended by regulation 11 of the market abuse (amendment) (EU Exit) regulations 2019/310.

For further enquiries, please contact:

4basebio PLC Heikki Lanckriet +44 (0)12 2396 7943 Nominated Adviser Cairn Financial Advisers LLP Jo Tuner / Sandy Jamieson +44 (0)20 7213 0880 Broker Cavendish Capital Markets Limited Geoff Nash / Charlie Beeson / Nigel Birks +44 (0)20 7220 0500 Lionsgate Communications (Media Enquiries) Jonathan Charles +44 (0)77 91892509



Notes to Editors

About 4basebio

4basebio (AIM: 4BB) is an innovation driven life biotechnology company focused on accelerating the development of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) through its high-performance synthetic DNA products and non-viral, cell targeting nucleic acid delivery platform. The Company's objective is to become a market leader in the manufacture and supply of high-quality synthetic DNA products for research, therapeutic and pharmacological use as well as development of target specific non-viral vectors for the efficient delivery of payloads in patients.

Forward-looking statements

This announcement may contain certain statements about the future outlook for 4basebio. Although the directors believe their expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, any statements about future outlook may be influenced by factors that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different.
Xtra Energy Corp. (OTC Pink:XTPT) is pleased to announce the initiation of field activities on its flagship "American Antimony" Project ("AAP"), located about 57 miles northeast of Fallon, Nevada.

The company has contracted consulting geologist, Robert Johansing, MSc, QP, to carry out a program of focused geological mapping and sampling at the AAP, with the objective of determining the controls on mineralization so that a three-dimensional geological model can be developed. Mr. Johansing retains several decades of experience across the Southwestern USA and Central America and is intimately familiar with epithermal and intrusive-related mineral systems.

The Mapping and Sampling Work will cover the Full 4400 Acres owned by Xtra Energy Corporation. Upon completion of this program, Phase Two will comprise testing this model by drilling, pursuant to completion of target delineation and securing the necessary drilling permit from the Bureau of Land Management.

The AAP area hosts numerous historical antimony mines and prospects, most spatially associated with at least two Miocene felsic dikes and sills that intrude Triassic sedimentary rocks. The NI 43-101 technical report prepared by Avrom Howard, A., (2024 ) contains a detailed description of these historical locations and their associated antimony mineralization, along with recommendations that are now being implemented starting with this mapping and sampling.

Figure 1: Historical Antimony Mines and Workings within the American Antimony Project

Mac J. Shahsavar P. Eng., the Chairman and CEO of Xtra Energy Corporation, stated, "As we embark on the Phase One Mapping and Sampling Program, we are laying the foundational groundwork to develop a comprehensive geologic and exploration model. This phase is crucial, as it provides us with detailed insights into the mineralization and structural controls of the deposits including Potentially other metals such as Silver and Gold in this area along with Antimony. The data we gather will guide our exploration efforts and strategic decisions to best ensure the success of our project."





Contact & Learn More:

Xtra Energy Corporation

Phone: 512-412-3636

Corporate Website: https://americanantimony.com/

Corporate Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtra-energy-corp/

Corporate Twitter: https://twitter.com/xtra_corp

Corporate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtraenergycorp/

Corporate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093057374695

About Xtra Energy Corporation

Xtra Energy Corp. is an antimony exploration company focused on developing its flagship project "American Antimony", approximately 31 miles northeast of Eastgate, Nevada. Xtra Energy Corp. holds a 100% ownership in 214 lode claims or 4,421 acre antimony project including the historically documented Antimony King Mine and covering all other documented antimony producers of the Bernice Mining District. The Company is seeking to develop this expanding portfolio of potential antimony-rich assets to become a major supplier of antimony-based products.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements relate to future events, including our ability to raise capital, or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause materially different results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please see our filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc. Our public filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc are available from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the OTC Markets at https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/XTPT/disclosure.

SOURCE: Xtra Energy Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
US based Comcast to establish Global Capability Center in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Aug 8 (UNI) US based Comcast which is now part of Universal Studios, will establish a Global Capability Center (GCC) in Hyderabad.

This center will focus on cutting-edge product development and solutions in the unified communications domain, significantly enhancing Comcasts Managed Solutions and Connectivity portfolio and capabilities, a release said here on Thursday.

Telangana IT and Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu, during his US visit, met with Comcasts senior leadership team, including Mel Penna (Executive Vice President), Rick Riobolli (Chief Technology Officer), and Mike Crisafulli (Chief Information Officer), Comcast.

Comcast's presence in Hyderabad strategically positions the city to attract Universal Studios, its parent company, which will likely boost Tollywoods global prominence by capitalizing on its current status as the worlds most prolific film industry in terms of annual movie production.

Sridhar Babu said, The establishment of Comcasts Global Capability Center in Hyderabad will mark a transformative milestone for our City, the Telecom and Media industries.

UNI KNR CS1514
Transforming Surplus Property Into Thriving Communities and Addressing the Housing Shortage

OAKLAND, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Brookwood Partners, a leading real estate development advisory firm, is re-envisioning the way school districts approach land use and funding. With a focus on school districts throughout California, Brookwood Partners leverages its private sector experience to bring innovative solutions to the public sector.

Serramonte Del Rey





Most recently, Brookwood Partners, working with Jefferson Union High School District ("JUHSD"), received project approvals to provide 1,113 new multifamily residential units, including 150 affordable units, 14,000 square feet of neighborhood-serving retail, and community parks and trails on 22 acres of surplus school property. The urban infill redevelopment project located in Daly City known as the Serramonte Del Rey Neighborhood also includes a 122-unit JUHSD faculty and staff housing project that Brookwood Partners completed in 2022.

Brookwood Partners brings a fresh approach and decades of experience to lead the way in transforming underutilized and surplus property into thriving communities. The firm specializes in urban design, development, and finance, enabling it to efficiently analyze project issues, communicate key considerations to district leaders, and maximize the potential of surplus property and underutilized real estate assets for educational institutions.

The chronic housing shortage throughout California has put immense pressure on school districts to maximize the value held in their real estate assets. As trusted advisors, Brookwood Partners guides school districts through the process of design, entitlements, and redevelopment to unlock the full potential of surplus and underutilized real estate assets.

Chris White, principal of Brookwood Partners, emphasizes the importance of its solutions stating, "Districts throughout the state are realizing the necessity of this type of solution and demand is growing. Our expertise in this area sets us apart as one of the few companies with a proven track record of success."

Brookwood Partners' collaboration with Jefferson Union High School District has been fully supported by both the certificated and classified staff, and highlights Brookwood's commitment to creating sustainable communities that support education.

Alan Katz, principal of Brookwood Partners, emphasizes the specific obstacles that school districts encounter and the importance of partnering with an experienced and knowledgeable firm. He states, "Many school districts face challenges when it comes to addressing how best to utilize their non-academic real estate assets. They may not be fully aware of the available resources, current state housing legislation or specialized experts at Brookwood Partners that can provide professional support. However, our experienced team and innovative solutions can empower these districts to navigate their challenges and find effective strategies to overcome them."

About Brookwood Partners

Led by Alan Katz and Chris White, Brookwood Partners specializes in providing real estate strategic advisory and development management services to school districts in California. Visit us on the web at www.brookwood.partners.

Contact Information

Andrea Sobel

Director of PR

info@brookwood.partners

650-922-6000

Chris White

Principal

chriswhite@brookwood.partners

760-473-2233

Alan Katz

Principal

alankatz@brookwood.partners

510-499-5674

SOURCE: Brookwood Partners

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, August 08

For immediate release

8 August 2024

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announce that it has today purchased 149,024 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 8.2281 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company.

The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 23 January 2024.

Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 51,770,621; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 173,220,682.

The figure of 173,220,682 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

For and on behalf of

Frostrow Capital LLP

Company Secretary

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Hale

Frostrow Capital LLP

Tel: 020 3 170 8732
On Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2024, Lenovo is proud to announce a new global policy supporting its Product Diversity Office (PDO) and its mission to ensure usability of Lenovo technology for a diverse customer base, minimizing any inherent bias in the technology or product. The new Product Diversity Policy codifies this mission into the planning and review process for all of Lenovo's global technologies and encourages strategic accessibility decisions earlier in the product development process of all the enterprise's products. The PDO is currently on-track to scale its 'Diversity by Design' product review process across 75% of Lenovo's products and technologies by FY2025/26, as reported in Lenovo's annual ESG Report.

This policy milestone comes on the five-year anniversary of the formation of the PDO, which grew from the development of Lenovo's diversity and inclusion programs. While Lenovo's diversity and inclusion programs help to encourage and build a diverse, global workforce connected through an inclusive workplace, the PDO extends those values to Lenovo's products, with an effort to provide an inclusive user experience for Lenovo's technologies. "We had a desire to ensure that technology was being used to enhance people's lives and not be a barrier," shared Brian Hardbarger, Agile Program Manager at Lenovo, when reflecting on the origin of the PDO.

"As a global technology company, we were already meeting compliance standards for accessibility in many markets around the world," shared Ada Lopez, Senior Manager of the Product Diversity Office. "By integrating inclusive considerations and bias mitigation into the product development process, the PDO has grown our efforts from a strong compliance base to integrating diversity as a strategic piece of our innovations. It's a critical proof point in our vision to provide smarter technology for all."

In the last five years, the PDO has evolved from a small team of volunteers to a fully funded department within Lenovo. Bridgett Rogers, Director of Software Engineering, and early volunteer for the formation of the PDO shared, "One of the main milestones in the PDO is that it was funded to have full-time resources dedicated to the mission." As the investment in the PDO was formalized and its processes expanded across the business, early leaders of the initiative also became part of the Diversity by Design Review Board, a committee of leaders from across Lenovo who provide governance and oversight for the Diversity by Design product review process.

Now, the PDO development teams rigorously review products for inclusive design at every stage of the product development process. This model has also led to the formation of a Responsible AI Committee to vet products and solutions leveraging artificial intelligence.

Looking ahead, the PDO aims to continue its momentum, focusing on achieving milestones set for 2025. "The PDO is making great progress toward achieving its official goals for the number of products reviewed as part of its Diversity by Design review process. However, I'm equally excited about the innovation projects that have been initiated. These projects explore ideas in the areas of vision impairment and women in gaming," shares Christopher Osborne, Executive Director of Lenovo's User Experience Design, and leader on Lenovo's Diversity by Design Review Board.

In addition to collaboration with Lenovo's user experience and product teams the PDO has extended collaborative efforts to the community. By partnering with North Carolina's Governor Morehead School for the Blind, the PDO team has been able to provide Lenovo's technology to a local school while also gathering valuable insights from students with a range of vision impairments as they navigate Lenovo's products.

Ensuring accessibility within Lenovo's products is paramount. Bridgett Rogers emphasizes, "It is important for Lenovo to ensure our products are accessible because we truly believe that technology can be used to enhance human lives."

Christopher Osborne adds, "We are responsible for the design and usability of millions of tech products Part of this responsibility is to make sure that we do all that we can to make sure those products are designed with the most inclusive mindset."

The evolution of Lenovo's Product Diversity Office reflects the company's dedication to creating technology that serves everyone. From its beginnings to its current initiatives, the PDO continues to drive innovation and inclusivity within Lenovo's products.





View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Lenovo on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Lenovo

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/lenovo

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Lenovo

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vienna, Austria--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2024) - Simplit e.U., a leading provider of IT solutions, today announced the launch of its comprehensive IT Services and Consulting offerings. This new suite of services is designed to help businesses optimize their operations, enhance productivity, and ensure robust system performance in an increasingly digital landscape.

The newly launched services encompass a wide range of IT solutions, including advanced monitoring services, proactive maintenance, and expert consulting. These offerings are tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses across various industries, regardless of their size or complexity.

"In today's rapidly evolving technological environment, businesses need reliable and effective IT solutions to stay competitive," said Huseijn Dzhaubatyrov, CEO of Simplit e.U. "Our new IT Services and Consulting offerings are designed to provide businesses with the tools and expertise they need to thrive in the digital age."

The cornerstone of Simplit's new services is its advanced monitoring capabilities. Using state-of-the-art technology, Simplit provides real-time monitoring of networks, servers, and applications. This proactive approach allows for the early detection and resolution of potential issues, minimizing downtime and ensuring optimal system performance.

Complementing the monitoring services is Simplit's comprehensive maintenance offering. This service aims to ensure that clients' IT infrastructure remains up-to-date and secure, reducing the risk of security breaches and system failures. Regular maintenance also helps to extend the lifespan of IT assets.

The consulting arm of Simplit's new services focuses on strategic IT planning and implementation. Expert consultants work closely with clients to understand their business objectives and develop customized IT strategies. These strategies are designed to drive efficiency, support digital transformation initiatives, and optimize IT infrastructure.

Simplit's new services are particularly timely given the increasing reliance on technology across all business sectors. According to a recent study by Gartner, global IT spending is projected to reach $4.7 trillion in 2024, an increase of 4.3% from 2023. This growth underscores the critical importance of robust IT services and consulting for businesses of all sizes.

The launch of these services positions Simplit e.U. at the forefront of the IT services industry in Austria. By offering a comprehensive suite of IT solutions, Simplit aims to be a one-stop-shop for businesses looking to leverage technology for growth and innovation.

"We understand that every business is unique," added Dzhaubatyrov. "That's why we've designed our services to be highly customizable. Our goal is to provide each client with a solution that perfectly fits their needs and helps them achieve their business objectives."

Simplit's commitment to quality is evident in its team of highly skilled IT professionals. Each member of the Simplit team undergoes rigorous training and stays abreast of the latest technological developments. This aims to provide clients with cutting-edge solutions and expert advice.

Businesses interested in learning more about Simplit's new IT Services and Consulting offerings can visit the company's website at www.simplit.at. The website provides detailed information about each service, as well as case studies demonstrating the positive impact of Simplit's solutions on businesses across various sectors.

As businesses continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the digital age, Simplit e.U. stands ready to provide the IT services and consulting they need to succeed. With its comprehensive offerings, commitment to quality, and customer-centric approach, Simplit is poised to become a key player in shaping the future of IT services in Austria and beyond.

About Simplit e.U.:

Simplit e.U. is a leading provider of IT Consulting and Services, specializing in Monitoring Services and Maintenance for businesses. Based in Austria, Simplit offers tailored IT solutions to optimize operations, enhance productivity, and ensure robust system performance. With a team of expert consultants, Simplit works closely with clients to understand their unique business needs and objectives, providing customized strategies to drive efficiency, support digital transformation, and optimize IT infrastructure.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219257

SOURCE: Pressmaster DMCC
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2024) - Heliostar Metals Ltd. (TSXV: HSTR) (OTCQX: HSTXF) (FSE: RGG1) ("Heliostar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the final tranche (the "Final Tranche") of its non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering").

Timing for closing of the Final Tranche was driven by the need to obtain TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") approval for a new insider position.

Pursuant to the Final Tranche, the Company issued an aggregate of 1,886,000 Shares at a price of $0.265 per Share for gross proceeds of $499,790. Further to the Company's news releases dated June 5, 2024 and June 21, 2024, the Company has raised aggregate gross proceeds of $4,979,505 in the Offering.

The Shares issued in the Final Tranche were offered to purchasers pursuant to the accredited investor exemption under Section 2.3 of NI 45-106 and will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for the commencement of drilling at Ana Paula and general working capital.

Closing of the Offering is subject to final approval of the TSX-V.

The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the "United States" or "U.S. persons" (as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or compliance with an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Statement of Qualified Person

Stewart Harris, P.Geo., a Qualified Person, as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein.

About Heliostar Metals Ltd.

Heliostar aims to grow to become a mid-tier gold producer. The Company is focused on developing the 100% owned Ana Paula Project in Guerrero, Mexico and has recently entered into an agreement to acquire a portfolio of production and development assets in Mexico.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things, the intended use of proceeds of the Offering and the expected closing date for a second tranche of the Offering.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information relating to the terms and completion of the Facility, any future mineral production, liquidity, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the receipt of necessary approvals, price of metals; no escalation in the severity of public health crises or ongoing military conflicts; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; and the Company's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect the Company's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in foreign jurisdictions; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding exploration and mining activities; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of public health crises; the economic and financial implications of public health crises, ongoing military conflicts and general economic factors to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's public disclosure documents. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219284

SOURCE: Heliostar Metals Ltd.
The revolutionary service cuts down application processing time from weeks to just hours whilst setting a gold standard benchmark for compliance, efficiency and quality assurance

INTO University Partnerships, an international education services provider has launched its groundbreaking AI-powered admissions processing system that aims to revolutionize university admissions for international student recruitment.

Through seamless integration of artificial intelligence, INTO has streamlined the application process for talented students seeking entry into leading universities across the US, UK, and Australia.

The revolutionary service cuts down application processing time from weeks to just hours whilst meeting the highest standards for compliance, efficiency and quality assurance.

"Our strategy is to create a differentiated market-leading admissions service that is valued, trusted and delivers for our partners," said Andy Fawcett, INTO's Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Global Admissions.

"With our new AI-enabled admissions processing system, we are setting a gold standard for compliance, efficiency, and quality assurance, ultimately enhancing the enrollment prospects for both students and our university partners."

The process is hugely beneficial for students as it delivers a faster turnaround of applications and queries and also helps them secure an offer by preparing the best application for submission.

Key features of INTO's AI-powered admissions processing system include:

Seamless admissions for universities: INTO ensures a seamless application process by leveraging global scale and local expertise, delivering excellence in admissions services tailored to university requirements.

Automated AI-enabled admissions operation: The system provides fast-track, comprehensive, and automated application validation, offering an application validated or an offer delivered in minutes 247.

Full-service agent admissions portal: INTO offers an online admissions portal that provides full visibility of application status and the ability to transact, making it the best and easiest partner to work with.

Data and information for insights: Through insights derived from admissions information, INTO drives student engagement and improves enrollment yield.

INTO's Application Processing Centre in New Delhi

The AI-enabled admissions process has been successfully launched for applications to university partners in the US and UK. The system utilizes AI to read and extract data from application documents, running 60+ rules tailored to individual university requirements.

Compliance, consistency, and quality are built into the system, enhancing service by immediately notifying agents of missing documents or data. With a remarkable response time of 30% within 1 hour, the system ensures efficient processing and enhances user experience.

"Working with INTO's AI-powered admissions processing has significantly improved our application turnaround time and efficiency. This innovative system enhances our ability to attract and enrol talented international students while ensuring a smooth and compliant admissions process. We are excited about the positive impact it has had on our university's recruitment efforts and look forward to continued success with INTO's cutting-edge technology," said Kristin Brymer, Director of International Admissions at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

"Our AI-powered admissions processing system represents a significant milestone in our mission to provide innovative solutions that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the admissions process," said Sharon Sundue, INTO's Executive Vice President for North America.

"By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, we are not only streamlining operations but also providing our university partners with invaluable insights to drive student engagement and improve enrollment yield. This system reaffirms our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver exceptional value to our partners."

Early results of the AI-enabled admissions processing system have been overwhelmingly positive, with over 25000 applications processed so far. More than 30% of applications are processed in an hour. In some cases, such as conditional offers for the UK, the process allows to send offers out in minutes.

"We are thrilled with the early success of our new admissions operation," added Mr Fawcett. "The positive feedback from our partners underscores the transformative impact of our AI-powered system on the application process, reducing turnaround times and instilling confidence in all stakeholders."

INTO University Partnerships connects talented international students with US, UK, and Australia's leading universities. Since its inception in 2005, INTO has helped over 150,000 students from more than 180 countries achieve their dream of obtaining a degree from a world-class institution.

Media contact:

Davinder Kumar

VP, Corporate & Public Relations

davinder.kumar@intoglobal.com

SOURCE: INTO University

View the original press release on accesswire.com
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Angiex, a developer of Nuclear-Delivered Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ND-ADC) therapies for solid cancers, announced that patient dosing has begun for their Phase 1 clinical trial of AGX101, a first-in-class TM4SF1-directed Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC). Angiex partnered with Abzena, the leading end-to-end integrated CDMO for complex biologics and bioconjugates, to support the development, manufacture and supply of clinical trial material for the study.

AGX101 is a TM4SF1-directed ADC that targets two compartments of the tumor, cancer cells and the tumor vasculature. AGX101 has three mechanisms of action: eliminating tumor blood vessels, killing tumor cells capable of invasion and metastasis, and directing the immune system to attack the cancer. Abzena has supported the development of AGX101 with an integrated program that included linker-payload design and synthesis, bioconjugation, process development, and cGMP manufacturing for Angiex's Phase 1 trial.

Paul Jaminet, co-founder and CEO of Angiex, said: "We are very excited to have dosed our first patient in our first-in-human study of our novel TM4SF1 ADC, AGX101. Throughout the development of AGX101, Abzena has worked closely with us to achieve successful GMP manufacturing and quality control. We could not have reached this milestone without Abzena's expertise, cooperation, and support. Both companies have extensive expertise in their respective fields and an aligned mission, and we look forward to continuing our partnership to ensure that AGX101 is available to meet the needs of clinical cancer patients. We are delighted that Abzena shares our vision that no one should die of cancer."

Matt Stober, CEO of Abzena, said: "The Abzena team is incredibly proud to have helped Angiex achieve this significant milestone. Our unique ability to support Angiex with a fully integrated approach allowed us to de-risk and rapidly progress AGX101 into the clinic for patient dosing. We will continue supporting Angiex with our extensive ADC expertise and integrated capabilities to accelerate the development timeline of AGX101, and ultimately get this life-changing treatment to cancer patients faster."

The Phase 1 study for AGX101 is an open-label, dose-escalation, and expansion study designed to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and preliminary anti-tumor activity of AGX101 monotherapy. The dose escalation portion of the study is designed to assess doses up 10 mg/kg in an all-comers, solid tumor patient population. The dose expansion portion of the study is designed to evaluate treatment at the Recommended Phase 2 Dose in multiple indications.

About Abzena

Abzena is the leading end-to-end bioconjugate and complex biologics CDMO + CRO. From discovery through commercial launch, we support customers with fully integrated programs or individual services designed to de-risk and streamline the development of new treatments for patients in need. With the ability to tailor its strategy and customer experience to each project, Abzena develops and implements innovative solutions that enable biotech and biopharma companies to realize the full potential of their molecule and move medicines forward faster. The company has research, development, and cGMP facilities across locations in San Diego, CA, Bristol, PA, and Cambridge, UK. Abzena is owned by Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, one of the world's leading private equity investors. Learn more at abzena.com.

About Angiex

Angiex, Inc. is a privately held biotech startup whose mission is to exploit newly discovered biological transport mechanisms to make drugs with revolutionary power over cancer. Based in Cambridge, Mass., Angiex was founded by leading scientific experts in angiogenesis, vascular biology, and oncology. The company is developing a portfolio of Nuclear-Delivered Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ND-ADCs) that release therapeutic payloads directly into the nucleus or cytosol, where the site of payload action is located. This direct delivery holds the promise of enhancing the efficacy and therapeutic margin of conventional ADCs. Angiex's lead product, AGX101, has advanced through pre-clinical development and is now in Phase 1 clinical trials.

Angiex, Inc.

www.angiex.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/abzena-supplies-clinical-trial-material-for-angiexs-phase-i-study-of-agx101-a-first-in-class-tm4sf1-directed-adc-302218385.html
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / World-class equipment, technology and services company, CNH, was once again recognized as one of the best companies to work for in Latin America.

The Great Place to Work (GPTW) seal is conferred by the consultancy, which is the global authority on organizational culture. The achievement consolidates the positive feedback from employees in the day-to-day work at CNH's factories and offices in Brazil and Argentina. For certification, management, belonging, compensation, benefits, career, among others, are considered.

"Renewing the certification reaffirms that promoting diversity, team integration, respect and good governance practices are priorities for us. That's why our employees see value in the workplace. Being part of CNH, in each of our brands, means being in a company that values and prioritizes people," said Rafael Miotto, president of CNH for Latin America.

For Miotto, the GPTW award was a testament to the ongoing commitment to fostering a work environment where collaboration and transparency are key pillars. "This achievement is the result of our commitment to valuing and developing our employees. By prioritizing a safe work environment and well-defined processes, we are able to create a space where everyone feels valued and motivated to achieve exceptional results. It is this dedication to caring for people that drives us to be better and better, both for our employees and for our customers," he said.

Darilene Raftopulos, CNH's Vice President of Human Resources for Latin America, also celebrated the company's achievement and commitment to promote an inclusive and innovative work environment, aligned with the best sustainability practices, always putting people and customers first.

"Our company is committed to continuing to be the best company to work for and this is reflected in every action. We are also proud to consolidate our inclusion and diversity journey. We believe that an inclusive team, made up of diverse ideas, feelings and opinions, is key to achieving excellence. We cultivate our belief of being the best, providing spaces where everyone can express their choices with freedom and respect, getting to know each person better and always strengthening the practice of structured feedback. A set of actions to grow together", she concluded.

Translated to English: 'A journey of success is built by the dedication of a united and future-focused team.'

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: CNH

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: CNH

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Discover fresh and innovative merchandise to diversify store offerings and drive consumer engagement.

In a continued commitment to support the retail industry amid evolving economic landscapes, OFFPRICE Las Vegas is set to offer unparalleled wholesale opportunities that promise to boost profit margins and strengthen industry resilience during Las Vegas Fashion Week from August 18-21, 2024.

"We recognize the ongoing challenges faced by the retail sector and are dedicated to providing solutions that address these concerns head-on. OFFPRICE Las Vegas unites retailers, suppliers, and industry experts, presenting unique buying opportunities from overstock inventory and high-margin goods," stated Tricia Barglof, Executive Director, OFFPRICE Division.

This year's show will feature an impressive array of products from over 250 vendors, with more than 20% being first-time exhibitors. Retail buyers will have the chance to discover fresh and innovative merchandise to diversify their store offerings and drive consumer engagement. The curated selection will ensure that retailers can find products that not only attract end consumers but also significantly enhance their profitability.

OFFPRICE Las Vegas has seen a growing trend in international attendance, with retailers from over 40 countries expected to participate, particularly from the burgeoning Latin American market. This international presence highlights the global appeal and importance of the show in the retail industry.

In an exciting addition, the OFFPRICE team is promoting two exclusive networking events that are set to elevate the experience for attendees. These private, invitation-only gatherings are specifically designed to connect resort wear buyers and international retailers with carefully matched vendors, fostering meaningful business relationships and facilitating strategic partnerships. The curated events will offer an intimate setting where attendees can engage in focused discussions and explore product selections.

"One-on-one networking in fashion sourcing is key; it builds personal connections and opens doors to unique opportunities, making the entire sourcing process more effective and tailored to specific needs. It's like finding the perfect accessory - it just makes everything come together seamlessly and adds that extra sparkle to your business connections." Noted Audrey Taylor, head of Community Engagement for the show.

This initiative underscores OFFPRICE's commitment to creating targeted, high-impact networking opportunities that drive growth and innovation within the retail industry.

Join us at OFFPRICE Las Vegas August 2024 and experience below wholesale pricing, in-season inventory, and quick hit merch. And see for yourself why OFFPRICE is Fashion's Favorite Money-Making Show! For more information and to register, visit www.offpriceshow.com/lasvegas

For media inquiries, interviews, or more information about OFFPRICE, please contact:

Laurel Hansen

Marketing Director

lhansen@offpriceshow.com

262-754-6902

About the OFFPRICE Show

OFFPRICE Las Vegas offers a wholesale marketplace to those needing to source products, make valuable connections, and write orders. Today, retailers need product more than ever. With an increase of quality goods manufacturers (brands) along with distributors of in-season closeouts and overproduced, budget goods, today's retailers find high margins that maximize open-to-buy dollars and increase their bottom line.

SOURCE: OFFPRICE Show

View the original press release on accesswire.com
AmorSui, a NYC-based modern personal protective equipment (PPE) brand dedicated to protecting people and the planet, raised $3.5M in Seed funding.

Investors included Gold House Ventures, The MBA Fund, and The Rev Up Fund to name a few.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate product innovation, expand market presence, and develop an AI-integrated net-zero medical supply marketplace.

Led by CEO Beau Wangtrakuldee, AmorSui is a modern personal protective equipment (PPE) brand developing safer, longer-lasting textiles for the medical supply industry.

The company now plans to increase brand awareness through community initiatives and retail partnerships. Additionally, AmorSui will expand its enterprise sales team to meet the rising demand for sustainable medical supplies in the corporate sector.

FinSMEs

08/08/2024
by Ed Simon

Demonstrating the utility of a critical practice thats sometimes obscured more than its venerable history would warrant, my 3 Quarks Daily column will be partially devoted to the practice of traditional close readings of poems, passages, dialogue, and even art. If youre interested in seeing close readings on particular works of literature or pop culture, please email me at [email protected]

Russian Formalist theorist Victor Shklovsky argued in his 1917 Art as Technique that verse makes the familiar strange so that it can be freshly perceived. To do this it presents its material in unexpected, even outlandish ways: the shock of the new. Central to the interpretive vision of Shklovsky and his compatriots was that poetic language, which is figurative and consciously literary language, in opposition to prose and the literal, must engage in some form of defamiliarization. That is to say that poetry transforms the prosaic into the profound, but in the process, it draws attention to itself as artifice, as language itself. Prose, intended to convey information, whether its factual or fictional, largely eschews being about itself, but in some sense the Russian Formalists claimed that all poetry is about poetry. Verse toggles between the abstract and the concrete, gesturing towards the strange function of poetry itself, making clear that whats being communicated is somehow both more and less than what it seems.

Such defamiliarization need not only be transforming clouds and trees into things which are strange, for as dramatic an event as a presidential assassination is converted into uncanniness by the Vietnamese-American poet Ocean Vuong in his poem Of Thee I Sing in his 2016 collection Night Sky with Exit Wounds. Written in an ekphrastic idiom, the poem depicts one of the most totemistic moments of the twentieth-century, President John F. Kennedys assassination at Dallas Dealey Plaza while traveling by motorcade while campaigning in 1963, so that Vuong makes this horrific and already deeply analyzed event into something even more ethereal, otherworldly, strange, even while in that poem the narrator, Jacqueline Kennedy, disturbingly pretend[s] nothing is wrong in the seconds after her husband has been shot in the head (whether because she wont or cant is left unsaid).

Common sense would dictate that the social, cultural, and political ruptures of an assassination are anything but normal; while the sheer violence of Kennedeys assassination, as emblazoned into the collective consciousness of Americans through the wide-spread viewing of the infamous Zapruder Film, means that the murder is already an event that is defamiliarized. The opposite is actually the case, for regardless of the (thankfully) relative rareness of presidential assassinations, Kennedys death has been so parsed, examined, interpreted, and analyzed that Of Thee I Sing reminds us of the singularity of the event and of its broader metaphysical implications (which are not necessarily limited to the event itself).

Read in the context of Night Sky with Exit Wounds, as well as the broader poetic interests of Vuong which often focus on American military involvement in the nation of his birth, a lyrical intimation of JFKs death makes innate sense. The 35th president has often been configured as either the executive who made the escalation of the United States war in southeast Asia inevitable or the martyred figure killed precisely because he was planning on ending the conflict, a difference of interpretation which depends on your affinity for him and your predilection for conspiratorial reasoning. That Vuong is darkly commenting, perhaps satirically, on the violence of his adopted nation which wrought such violence on the country where he was born is clear regardless of the particulars of Kennedy himself.

The title, with its reference to the schoolyard patriotic song My Country Tis of Thee, which is itself strongly associated with Kennedys home state of Massachusetts (Land of the Pilgrims Pride as it says in the song), announces Vuongs poem as a kind of cracked anthem. Throughout the poem, Jaqueline conflates her husbands murder with the complexities of America, utterances meant not to be ambivalent, hypocritical, or even contradictory so much as genuine paradoxes. In the last six sentences of the poem, the narrator says I love/this country. The twisted faces. /My country. The adjective twisted, evoking either rage or horror, exists in tandem with her love of the nation, which should be interpreted unironically, though that sentiment need not be confused with that of the author.

Notably, the line is end-stopped at the second enjambment, there is no preposition connecting faces to My country, so that there is a structural association but not a grammatical one, a seeming inability to fully connect what has occurred to the The twisted face/[of] My country, a demonstration of Jaquelines feelings for America. As is matter-of-factly stated in lines 7 and 8, I love my country./I pretend nothing is wrong, for as she has said prior to this They have a good citizen/in me, the pronoun indicating the ways in which the first lady has been made a patriotic commodity for the citizenry, one now suffering in unimaginable ways, the connotations of good less a moral than an aesthetic judgement, the presidents wife the collective property of the very people who killed her husband. I love my country, she says, but who am I kidding? Im holding/your brains in, darling.

Whats most arresting about Of Thee I Sing is the violence, for Vuongs poem depicts how such violence is capable of turning a thinking person into raw material (the opposite process from poetry which endows dead words with multitudinous vitality). Across 34 radically enjambed lines, each separated by a caesura and arranged so that the poem itself almost appears as if a jagged zipper whose teeth face off akimbo, the narrators disjointed thoughts are made to unspool in the immediacy of the assassination. Part of what is conveyed is obvious shock (for both the narrator and the audience), such as with the earlier reference to her being made to hold her husbands brains in, but the simultaneous incongruity, intimacy, and terror of the moment is made clear by the affectionate nickname following the comma.

Throughout the poem, there are several instances of vivid descriptions of the assassination itself that are made to defamiliarize the actual moment of a bullet shattering a skull. In the moments before the shooting, as the couple are riding in the back of the black/limousine, were told how the spectators along the parade route have faith in your golden hair/& pressed blue suit, the disjunct between the handsome young president and his fate to quickly be made clear, the juxtaposition of golden hair and faith transforming Kennedy into not just a president in a blue suit, but something almost Apollonian. Jacqueline doesnt hear the bullet herself; everything has happened so quickly that shes only aware that something is wrong which she sees in the audience a man/& his blonde daughter diving/for cover, though immediately before this shes made clear that she pretend[s] not to see the pair, the disposition of either a survivor or a denialist, the same sentiment we see in the first ladys attitudes towards America itself.

Though the moment of the bullet piercing Kennedys head is only depicted obliquely, a second that is as if an apophasis, a null, a void, the narrator repeatedly describes the aftereffects, but in a manner that is nonclinical. An autopsy report, or the Zapruder film, might offer a perspective which is like a slaughterhouse, but Jacqueline is first truly aware of whats happened when she reports the heartbreaking observation that youre not saying/my name. Describing the moment of wounding itself, she calls it a brief/rainbow through a mist/of rust, a self-consciously beautiful description of something awful.

The stigmata of November 22, 1963, is gestured towards within the poem, the narrator addressing her husband by saying Youre all over/the seat now, deepening/my fuchsia dress (though there is no pink pillbox hat in Vuongs poem). Whats notable is how even here Jacqueline isnt saying that Kennedys blood is all over her, but rather that Youre  as in his personhood itself  is whats been spilled. There is a refusal in the poem to reduce a body to a corpse, so that the moment in which the first lady climbed only the trunk of the convertible to retrieve a section of her husbands skull is explained as Im reaching across the trunk/for a shard of your memory,/the one where we kiss & the nation/glitters. There is a rejection of the base anatomical, of the merely material, for the bit of bone from the body of this thing which used to be the president remains a shard of your memory, albeit now shorn from the greater whole. That this bit of expelled bone and flesh contains the memory where the couple does kiss & the nation/glitters expresses an intangible and crucial truth about the implications of the assassination in a manner that either the didactic or the sentimental wouldnt have been able to. An evocation of a transformative moment wherein the spiritual reality of a nation is altered by the violent rearrangement of the simply material which nonetheless used to be a man.

***

Ed Simon is the editor of Belt Magazine, an emeritus staff-writer for The Millions, a columnist at 3 Quarks Daily, and Public Humanities Special Faculty in the English Department of Carnegie Mellon University. The author of over a dozen books, his upcoming title Relic will be released by Bloomsbury Academic in January as part of their Object Lessons series, while Devils Contract: The History of the Faustian Bargain will be released by Melville House in July of 2024.

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DemoSquare, a Lausanne, Switzerland-based provider of AI-powered software designed to help companies anticipate and manage political and regulatory changes, raised CHF1.2 M in funding.

The round was led by QBIT Capital with participation from High-Tech Grunderfonds.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its expansion into the European markets.

Led by Dr. Victor Kristof (CEO) and Dr. Jeremie Rappaz (CTO), DemoSquare offers an AI-powered SaaS platform designed to help companies navigate the complexities of regulations efficiently and stay ahead of legislation. They collect and aggregate political and regulatory data coming multiple sources, such as the Swiss parliament, federal courts, news media, and more. The machine learning algorithms, they are developing then extract patterns and information from these data to make public-affairs teams more effective. For example, its monitoring pipeline tracks changes and sends email alerts when a regulation thats important to a company moves forward. It is also developing predictive models to estimate the chances of law proposals becoming actual legislation.

FinSMEs

08/08/2024
IDRx, a Plymouth, MA-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, raised $120M in Series B funding.

The round was led by RA Capital Management, Commodore Capital, and Blackstone Multi-Asset Investing with additional new investors, including Rock Springs Capital and a U.S.-based healthcare-focused fund. Existing investors, including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) Bio + Health, Casdin Capital, Nextech Invest Ltd. (on behalf of one or more funds managed by it), Forge Life Science Partners, co-founder Nick Lydon, Ph.D., and strategic partner Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany also participated.

Led by CEO Tim Clackson, IDRx is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming cancer care with intelligently designed precision therapies. Its lead program is IDRX-42, designed to inhibit key genetic drivers and drug-resistant mutations of KIT in GIST.

The company intends to use the funds to support the ongoing Phase 1/1b StrateGIST 1 study of its lead product candidate IDRX-42, a potent, oral, highly selective KIT inhibitor targeting all major categories of activating and resistance mutations in patients with KIT-mutant GIST. Additionally, proceeds will be used to fund the expected initiation of the first pivotal study for IDRX-42 in patients with second-line GIST.

FinSMEs

08/08/2024
SurgNet Health Partners, Inc., a Nashville, TN-based ambulatory surgery center (ASC) development and management company, has acquired Tuscaloosa Endoscopy Center, a Tuscaloosa, AL-based provider of gastrointestinal diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures.

The amount of the deal, closed on July 3, 2024, was not disclosed.

Led by board-certified gastroenterologists Dr. AB Reddy, Dr. Rekha Khurana and Dr. Kartika Reddy, Tuscaloosa Endoscopy Center provides gastrointestinal diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures.

With its first partnership in Alabama, SurgNet is now positioned to grow its footprint in Southeast U.S. following Ohio and Michigan. Dr. Reddy will continue to remain actively involved providing care and shaping the future of the center.

Led by CEO Chase Neal, and Co-Founder, President and COO John D. Brock, SurgNet Health Partners is an Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) development and management company. Composed of industry experts specializing in clinical management, ASC operations and growth, and physician investor partnerships, the company was founded with funding from partners Fulcrum Equity Partners, Leavitt Equity Partners, and Harpeth Capital.

FinSMEs

08/08/2024
The UK gambling sector is on the cusp of a transformative era, marked by a renewed commitment to collaboration between industry leaders and the newly formed government.

As the sector evolves, online casinos in the UK are setting a new standard for excellence, offering players a trio of benefits: fair games, mobile-friendly platforms, and substantial bonuses.

According to iGaming analyst Joe Hernandez, these online casinos are revolutionizing the gaming experience, prioritizing player satisfaction and convenience. As the industry continues to shift, one thing is clear: the future of UK gambling will be shaped by this synergy between government and industry leaders, with online casinos at the forefront of innovation.

The advent of a new government heralds a fresh start for the gambling industry to revamp its ties with policymakers and regulators. Industry leaders recognize the need for a more collaborative approach to address the complex challenges facing the sector.

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has pledged to work closely with the new government, seeking a regulatory balance that prioritizes consumer protection while promoting a thriving and competitive market. This newfound cooperation marks the beginning of a promising era for the industry, where joint efforts can drive positive change and sustainable growth. With a renewed focus on collaboration, the gambling sector is poised to thrive under the new governments leadership.

The UK gambling sector has highlighted key areas where collaboration with the government can drive meaningful reform. Many operators are calling for a review of the current regulatory framework to ensure it is equipped to tackle the challenges of the digital age. A fair and competitive tax regime is also sought, recognizing the significant economic contribution of gambling operators. Additionally, the sector is compelled to sponsor addiction care, which underscores the need for a balanced approach to regulation. By working together, the sector aims to create a safer, more responsible gambling environment that benefits all stakeholders.

UK online gambling operators and government can reap numerous benefits by working together in tandem. One of the primary advantages is a more streamlined regulatory framework can increase efficiency and decrease administrative burdens and costs for operators. A fair and competitive tax regime can also stimulate economic growth, encouraging investment and job creation within the sector.

Furthermore, joint research and education initiatives can inform evidence-based policy decisions, ensuring a safer, more prosperous industry for all stakeholders involved. By collaborating, the sector can thrive while prioritizing the well-being of its patrons.

As the UK gambling sector looks to collaborate with the new government, several challenges lie ahead. Balancing competing interests is crucial, as the government must weigh the needs of operators and consumers. The sectors regulatory complexity poses a significant hurdle, creating uncertainty and compliance challenges.

To move forward, the sector must navigate these challenges and find a harmonious balance between protection, regulation, and public perception. By doing so, it can ensure a sustainable future for the industry, fostering innovation and growth while maintaining public trust and confidence. Effective collaboration and adaptability will be key to overcoming these challenges and unlocking the sectors full potential.
MTAR Technologies shares are likely to be in focus due to a big offer received by the company. Sula Vineyards, Godrej Consumer, and Hindalco stocks are expected to be abuzz due to financial results. Marico made a key announcement regarding business in Bangladesh read more

The SGX Nifty index, around 8:45 am on Thursday (August 8) was down 160 points, 0r 0.66 per cent, at 24,225. It hinted at gap-down start for Dalal Street.

The India VIX, an indicator of volatility in the market, was down 13.73 per cent at 16.17.

Ahead of the opening bell in India, heres a list of stocks to watch today:

MTAR Technologies: The defence company has received export orders worth Rs 140 crore in its Clean Energy  Fuel Cells vertical for the execution of power units and associated components. The company anticipates additional orders in this segment, which are expected to be executed in the fiscal year 2024-25.

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Godrej Consumer Products: Godrej Consumer reported a 41.4 per cent increase in profit to Rs 450.7 crore, up from Rs 318.8 crore year-on-year, despite a 3.4 per cent decline in revenue to Rs 3,331.6 crore from Rs 3,448.9 crore. The company has also approved entry into the pet care business through its subsidiary, with plans to invest 5 billion rupees over the next five years.

Marico: The company announced improved operating conditions in Bangladesh, with most of its retail sales force and distributors resuming operations after a brief interruption. The company expects manufacturing operations to resume shortly.

Sula Vineyards: Sula Vineyards reported a rise in quarterly profit as consumers purchased more of its affordable wine offerings. The countrys largest wine makers consolidated net profit increased 7 per cent year-on-year to Rs 14.63 crore ($1.7 million) for the quarter ended June 30.

Hindalco: Hindalco reported a slight 3 per cent decline in net income to $151 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025. However, net income excluding special items surged 32 per cent to $204 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 19 per cent to $500 million, with rolled product shipments rising 8 per cent to 951 kilotonnes.
In an exclusive interaction with Firstpost, Vijay Yelakanti & Raima Sen spoke at length about Maa Kaali and its journey from research to execution read more

Filmmaker Vijay Yelakanti of Wife of Ram fame has collaborated with actress Raima Sen to deliver a hard-hitting real story in the form of Maa Kaali, which delves into the backdrop of August 16, 1946s communal violence, known in history as the Direct Action Day or 1946 Calcutta Killings. While the teaser has garnered tremendous response, it has also been accused of being a propaganda movie by a certain section.

In an exclusive interaction with Firstpost, Vijay Yelakanti & Raima Sen spoke at length about Maa Kaali and its journey from research to execution.

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Edited excerpts from the interview

Congratulations on the powerful teaser, the glimpse has created humongous curiosity on social media with netizens already calling it a historical movie, praising the guts of the makers for narrating the untold story. What do you have to say about that?

Raima: When I was offered this film, I didnt think much, other than feeling obligated to tell this story as this is the story of Bengalis and their sufferings. I heard these stories from my family and relatives, their survival stories was filled with courage, me acting in this film is nothing in front of it.

Vijay: I am very happy about the praise and attention the teaser is getting. What saddens me is that people thinking that you need guts to tell a real historic event which happened in recent times.

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The film has a hard-hitting subject. So, how mentally it was exhausting or taxing for you to play this intense and serious character?

Raima: It was extremely traumatic experience from the script level itself. I had to relieve all the stories which I heard as a child. I know that everything is safe on the sets, still it was chilling for me to enact those horrific scenes. There were many days when I couldnt sleep, and even we forced a schedule break to prepare for character transition.

Since this a sensitive subject, what kind of research went for this film to keep the authenticity and credibility intact

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Vijay: As this is a historical event, I wanted to make sure we get all facts right. We had a dedicated Research wing whose job was to gather data and cross-check everything which we put in the film. We also hired Cultural Consultants to ensure the authenticity of Bengali culture is maintained. The Censor Board has pointed out several scenes and asked for references, which we documented in detail, then the censor was cleared.

Was it a concern for you after you were threatened over the phone for this film?

Raima: Not exactly. I was prepared for this as I was sure that there will be a sect of people who may go against us. As a public figure, you have to go through these things, but the sad part is people threatening even before watching the film. At least, let the movie release and then you can judge.

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Does it hurt when a certain section accuses it of being a propaganda movie?

Raima: This is all subjective. As I told earlier, this story of Bengalis needs to be told, and I am doing that.

Vijay: Propaganda by definition is pushing a specific point of view. In this film, I am telling a story of a real incident which led to Indias partition. Thousands died during the incident, and its effects are still felt. How can brigning a real-life historic incident on to screen becomes propaganda?

Why do you think none of the filmmakers brought this story to the screen?

Vijay: Honestly, I dont know, but we used the tagline #erasedhistory for this specific reason. Forget about filmmakers, why nobody knows about this incident? I wonder is it because it was strategically erased?

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The Bangladesh crisis has turned out to be global news, do you think it will affect Indias relationship with the country?

Raima: I am not much into politics, but yes incident of this scale will definitely have an effect on India, and definitely on Bengalis. I wish safety for Bengali Hindus in Bangladesh and wish peace for both the countries.

Vijay: I am not a political expert, but every incident will change the course of history. Just like Direct Action Day shifted the entire dynamics of pre-partition India, which led to the formation of Pakistan, and eventually Bangladesh forming out of East Pakistan, this will have an effect too. I just cant predict in which direction, but I wish and pray for the safety of Hindu minorities stuck in Bangladesh at the moment.
As tensions soar with Iran, Israels extensive preparations, including fortified blood centres and advanced bomb shelters, are being put to the test. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu urges calm while citizens rely on a defence system that has protected them for decades. With modernised air-defence systems and a robust network of shelters, will Israel withstand potential missile attacks? read more

Israeli mothers and children spend the morning in a local bomb shelter after a barrage of Hezbollah-fired Katyusha rockets exploded in the area August 19, 1997. File Image/Reuters

Israel has been preparing for a potential attack from Iran and its proxies with a series of extensive measures aimed at fortifying the home front. This includes stocking blood supplies in fortified underground centres, relocating hazardous materials from factories, and conducting thorough checks of bomb shelters and water supplies.

These preparations, which intensified since the war in Gaza last October, have become more urgent with the recent escalation involving the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in southern Lebanon. The situation has the potential to spiral into a broader regional conflict.

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I know that the citizens of Israel are on alert, and I ask of you one thing - keep patient and cool, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday while meeting new army recruits. We are prepared for both defence and attack, we are striking our enemies and are also determined to defend ourselves.

Watch:

What comprises Israels bomb shelter infrastructure?

Israels system of bomb shelters, dating back five decades, is a cornerstone of the countrys defence strategy. This network of shelters was developed to protect civilians from aerial bombings and has been continuously improved over the years.

The importance of these shelters was highlighted in 1991 when Iraq fired Scud missiles at Israel, prompting the country to pass a law requiring bomb shelters in every new building.

Today, about 65 per cent of Israelis have access to a bomb shelter in their homes or nearby. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, these shelters are constructed from reinforced concrete with heavy metal doors and are designed to withstand blasts and shrapnel from missile attacks.

The interior of a bomb shelter in which people were killed while they sought refuge during the October 7 killing and kidnapping spree by Palestinian Hamas gunmen from Gaza, in Kibbutz Mefalsim in southern Israel, December 22, 2023. File Image/Reuters

The shelters in apartment buildings are constructed to remain standing even if the rest of the building collapses.

In Tel Aviv, there are 168 underground public bomb shelters and a total of 356 shelters when including those in educational institutions and other municipal buildings. These shelters are equipped with basic amenities such as bathrooms, kitchens, showers, and air-filtration systems. Some even have Wi-Fi.

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How does the current readiness of Israel look like?

Israels defence against potential missile attacks primarily relies on its advanced multitiered air-defence system, which has a stellar track record. During Irans direct attack in April, this system, with support from the US and other allies, intercepted 99 per cent of over 300 missiles and drones.

In Haifa, a city well within the range of Hezbollahs rockets, public bomb shelters have been equipped with digital systems for remote unlocking during an attack and generators to ensure continued operation. The citys Rambam Hospital has also readied its three-floor underground facility to treat patients in the event of an attack.

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Israelis wake up in a bomb shelter on February 8, 2000. Metal bunk beds three high line the walls of this shelter. File Image/Reuters

The military said the Home Front Command keeps in constant contact with factories and local authorities to maintain a complete picture of the inventory levels of hazardous materials.

In anticipation of potential chaos, Israels national ambulance service, Magen David Adom (MDA), has fortified its blood donation centre with extra-thick concrete walls, blast doors, and airlocks, reported Reuters.

Aryeh Myers of MDA stated the importance of readiness, saying, Weve got the threats from Iran, weve got threats from Hezbollah. Massive rocket attacks, massive threats to the state of Israel and we want to make sure that we are ready for anything.

Will the bomb shelters be affective?

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Despite the looming threat, daily life in many Israeli cities continues with a semblance of normalcy. Summer activities for children are ongoing, and grocery stores remain fully stocked, reported the Wall Street Journal.

An elderly resident of Kiryat Shmona enters a bomb shelter during heavy rocket attacks over northern Israel, August 2, 2006. File Image/Reuters

The military has not imposed limits on public gatherings, and many bomb shelters are not yet open, reflecting a general atmosphere of cautious vigilance rather than panic.

According to an Israeli security official, the current infrastructure should protect Israelis from long-range missile attacks, as they were designed to withstand the effects of Scud missiles. However, around a third of Israelis, particularly those in poorer areas or older buildings, do not have immediate access to shelters.

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How is are Israelis preparing?

The public is advised to have a few days worth of food, water, and medical supplies in their private or shared shelters. The public shelters are equipped with emergency water sources but no food. In light of the imminent threat, many Israelis have been stocking up on essentials.

A man films a roadside bomb shelter in which people were attacked while they sought refuge during the October 7 killing and kidnapping spree by Palestinian Hamas gunmen from Gaza, in Reim, in southern Israel, February 24, 2024. File Image/Reuters

The stock of banknotes and coins in the Bank of Israel and the banking system will, according to every visible forecast, be sufficient, assured the Bank of Israel in preparation for potential mass cash withdrawals.

As the situation continues to evolve, Israels multifaceted approach to civil defence, encompassing both advanced technology and a robust network of bomb shelters, remains a critical component of its strategy to protect its citizens from the threat of missile attacks.

Also Watch:

With inputs from agencies
August 8 is known in astrology as the day when the Lions Gate Portal opens. It is an astrological event when the Sun aligns with Sirius, the bright star in the sky, the Orion constellation, and the Earth. The mythic portal supposedly opens a gateway of heightened cosmic energy, that many believe to be an auspicious time for manifestation and spiritual growth read more

Every year, as the summer sun blazes across the sky, an astrological event known as the Lions Gate portal captures the attention of spiritual and astronomy enthusiasts around the globe.

The mythic Lions Gate portal supposedly opens a gateway of heightened cosmic energy, that many believe to be an auspicious time for manifestation and spiritual growth.

Today, the Lions Gate Portal has captured the imagination of many, especially with the rise of astrology and spirituality in popular culture. Social media is abuzz with discussions, meditations, and tips on harnessing the energies of this celestial event.

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But what exactly is the Lions Gate Portal, and why has it become such a hot topic? Lets take a closer look

What is Lions Gate portal?

In a physical sense, the Lions Gate Portal is an astrological event that occurs when the Sun aligns with Sirius, the bright star in the sky, the Orion constellation, and the Earth.

Astrologically, as the Sun aligns with Sirius and the Earth, there is a powerful surge of high-frequency energy that makes it an extremely lucky time to make dreams come true, Lisa Stardust, an astrologer, told People magazine. It is also associated with manifestation and spiritual awakening.

In a physical sense, the Lions Gate Portal is an astrological event that occurs when the Sun aligns with Sirius, the bright star in the sky, the Orion constellation, and the Earth. Image for Representation. Pixabay

This portal is rooted in ancient Egyptian mythology, Stardust explained. Ancient Egyptians honored Sirius because they could see the star and all its glory. The star represented a connection to the goddess Sopdet who was said to bring the harvest, new year, and also warn people of the annual flood of the Nile river, Stardust said.

The stars appearance in the sky also symbolised the integration of light and dark, beginnings and endingsthe flood before the flourish.

When is the Lions Gate portal?

The cosmic portal opens its feline jaws from July 28th  August 12th, however, its powers are thought to peak on August 8th.

Falling on the 8th day of the 8th month, this years Lions Gate Portal is particularly noteworthy thanks to the numerological significancewhich also adds up to 8 (2+0+2+4). With its two eights (8/8), the date is widely believed to be a powerful one for manifestation and setting intentions.

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The number eight represents strength and power, as does the Lion, the symbol of the Leo season. Image for Representation. Pixabay

In numerology, eight is a powerhouse number, representing luck, wealth, and good energy. When turned on its side, it represents infinityan endless flow of power and energy. Therefore, it possesses extreme power because it never ends, Stardust told the People magazine.

With input from agencies
Kerala has witnessed multiple cases of rare amoebic meningoencephalitis, or amoebic brain fever, which has a mortality rate of 97 per cent. The brain infection is caused by the free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri that is present in warm freshwater and soil read more

Kerala has reported at least 10 cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis in the past three months. Representational Image/Pixabay

Kerala is battling a rise in cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis, or amoebic brain fever, with seven incidents reported in the Thiruvananthapuram district itself. A man died of the rare disease in the capital caused by a brain-eating amoeba in July.

The southern state has witnessed multiple cases in the past few months. Besides Thiruvananthapuram, the infection was reported in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Thrissur.

Kerala has decided to carry out a scientific study to find out the reasons for the recent surge in cases.

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What is amoebic meningoencephalitis? How dangerous is it? What is Kerala doing to arrest the increase in cases? Lets take a closer look.

What is amoebic brain fever?

Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare brain infection which causes inflammation of the brain.

Naegleria fowleri or brain-eating amoeba is behind this disease. This free-living amoeba or a single-celled living organism lives in warm freshwater and soil.

It can be found in lakes, rivers, swimming pools, splash pads, or other water-based recreational venues. People do not get infected from drinking water infested with the amoeba. It cannot be contracted from another person either.

The amoeba enters the body through the nose, usually while swimming, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It travels up the nose to the brain where it destroys the brain tissue and causes swelling of the brain, noted CDC.

The initial symptoms of PAM include headache, high fever, nausea and vomiting. These are usually seen about five days after infection.

Later, the patient could develop a stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, seizures and hallucinations. The infected person may also slip into a coma.

How dangerous is it?

Amoebic brain fever has a mortality rate of 97 per cent.

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As per the CDC, Most people with PAM die within one to 18 days after symptoms begin. It usually leads to coma and death after five days.

Healthdirect Australia says that early diagnosis and treatment of the brain infection may increase the chance of survival. However, most people who get PAM usually die.

There are no standard treatments for the rare disease. Currently, doctors tackle it with a combination of drugs, including amphotericin B, rifampin, miltefosine, azithromycin, fluconazole and dexamethasone, reported Indian Express.

ALSO READ: 1 state, multiple outbreaks: Why Kerala is often the first to record diseases

How is Kerala handling the surge?

The rising cases of amoebic brain fever in Kerala have triggered concerns. Earlier, the infection was reported mostly in children but now it is being seen in adults.

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Kerala has recorded at least 10 cases of PAM in the past three months, as per The Hindu report.

On July 23, a 27-year-old man named Akhil died of amoebic brain fever in Thiruvananthapuram. Four other youths, admitted with fever, headache and delirium to the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), who were from the same locality as the deceased were found positive for PAM, as per the newspaper. They are undergoing treatment.

All these young people had bathed in the same pond with stagnant water, as per The Hindu. Kerala Health Department has put up a notice at the location, warning people against entering the pond.

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The department has also issued an advisory, asking people to be cautious when using water from ponds where animals are bathed or where there are water hyacinths. People have been told not to bathe or wash their faces in contaminated water, reported PTI.

The Kerala government will conduct a study to ascertain the reasons for the increasing cases of the rare infection. According to the states health minister Veena George, several departments, including health and environment, will come together to examine the causes of the rising infections.

The study will also look to identify whether climate change has played any role.

A meeting of the State Rapid Response Team of the health department was held on August 5, with the officials issuing a health warning, urging people to avoid entering any water bodies that contain stagnant water.

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The department has ordered that swimming pools and pools in water theme parks should be cleaned and chlorinated regularly, reported The Hindu.

The government is also planning public awareness campaigns to inform people about the disease.

With inputs from agencies
After many nights of far-right violence, which was triggered by the Southport stabbing, thousands of counter-protesters took to the streets in the UK. Slogans such as refugees are welcome here and reject racism could be heard loud and clear. These scenes are the polar opposite of what the country has witnessed for the past 10 days  protesters fuelled by anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant hate on a rampage, attacking stores, hotels and police officials read more

People hold anti-racism placards during a counter demonstration against an anti-immigration protest called by far-right activists, near an Immigration Solicitors' office in Westcliff, near Southend-on-Sea, eastern England. AFP

Britain is on fire. Residents and authorities expected the worst on Wednesday (August 7) as warnings emerged of at least 100 far-right marches being planned across the country.

The police had staged their biggest mobilisation to counter the likely disorder. Lawyers offices were shut down, high street shops were boarded up, GP practices closed early and MPs were told to consider working from home.

However, what unfolded across several parts of the country was unexpected. Instead of far-right protesters taking to the streets of Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton and London, counter-protesters carrying signs such as no place for hate, refugees welcome and reject racism, try therapy took to the streets in towns.

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But this doesnt seem to be the end. For the past 10 days, the country has seen noisy protests, many of which turned violent and targeted mosques and hostels housing asylum seekers, resulting in United Kingdoms Prime Minister Keir Starmer finding himself firefighting riots linked to the far right and with Tesla CEO and billionaire Elon Musk.

Heres what you need to know about what has happened, how the violence has spread across the nation and how it is being countered.

How did the riots begin?

On July 29, three young girls  Bebe King (6), Elsie Dot Stancombe (7), and Alice da Silva Aguiar (9)  were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga event. Eight more children and two adults were injured.

Shortly after the attack, police said they had arrested a 17-year-old and that they were not treating the incident as terror-related. While authorities initially didnt reveal the identity or any details about the attacker, social media posts falsely began to speculate that the suspect was an asylum seeker, with one media channel  Channel3Now  reporting that the suspect was Muslim and even provided a false name.

The following evening, more than a thousand people attended a vigil for the victims in Southport. It was then that violence broke out near a local mosque. People threw bricks, bottles and other missiles at the mosque and police, a police van was set alight and 27 officers were taken to the hospital.

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In the days following the attack, the suspect was named as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, a British-born teenager who is neither a Muslim nor a migrant.

Tributes are seen outside the Town Hall during a vigil to remember the victims of the stabbing attack last Monday in Southport, England. AP

How did the violence spread?

Despite authorities naming the suspect behind the stabbings to be Rudakubana, anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant posts started to multiply on social media networks.

Well-known far-right figures such as EDL founder Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and the influencer Andrew Tate began posting speedily, stirring up hatred online.

Tate said in a video on X that an undocumented migrant who had arrived on a boat had attacked the girls in Southport. Robinson told his 800,000 followers on X that there was more evidence to suggest Islam is a mental health issue rather than a religion of peace.

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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is said to have fuelled tensions by questioning whether police were being truthful about Southports attack not being terror-related.

Elon Musk, the owner of X, also jumped into the discussion later in the week. Responding to a video posted on X by the Libs of TikTok, an account known to be associated with the far right, the billionaire wrote that civil war is inevitable. He later also termed Starmer as #TwoTierKier  an apparent reference to a debunked claim spread by conspiracy theorists and populist politicians such as Nigel Farage that two-tier policing means right-wing protests are dealt with more forcefully than those organised by the left. He also likened Britain to the Soviet Union for attempting to restrict offensive speech on social media.

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Police officers detain a person during an anti-immigration protest in Blackpool, England. AP

Where have the riots taken place?

Following the riots in Southport, the violence has engulfed the UK  from Plymouth on the south coast to Sunderland in the North East. There have also been riots in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Just a day after the Southport riots, violent protesters gathered in London outside Starmers residence, 10 Downing, and were in scuffles with the police. Since then violent far-right demonstrations have taken place in more than a dozen towns and cities.

In Middlesbrough, cars were set on fire and protesters threw rocks at police personnel. Last Sunday (August 4), hotels housing asylum seekers were targeted by rioters in Rotherham and Tamworth. In Rotherham, rioters broke into the hotel, attempted to set it on fire and blocked the exits while asylum seekers were inside. The hotel in Tamworth was also set alight.

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Police officers stand near the broken windows of the hotel during an anti-immigration protest, in Rotherham, Britain. AP

There were also reports of rioters hurling Molotov cocktails and smashing windows and other properties in the area.

Across the country, a number of racist attacks connected to the riots were also perpetrated. For instance, in Hull, a group of rioters attacked an Asian man in his car, reported The Guardian. In Belfast, a man in his 50s was taken to hospital on Monday after he was seriously assaulted.

Other places such as Sunderland, Stoke-on-Trent and several more cities, mostly across the Midlands and north of England also witnessed violence in the past few days.

On Wednesday, the British police reportedly prepared itself for another night of violence amid concerns that anti-immigration groups plan to target as many as 30 locations around the United Kingdom.

The head of Londons Metropolitan Police Service said officers were focused on protecting immigration lawyers and services. In addition to thousands of officers already deployed, about 1,300 specialist forces were on standby in case of serious trouble in London.

The violence has seen over 400 people being arrested, 100 of whom have already been charged. However, the police continue to search for those involved in the violence by searching through hours of footage that has been uploaded to social media, especially the video platform TikTok.

Demonstrators toss a trash bin during an anti-immigration protest, in Rotherham, Britain. Reuters

Meanwhile, UK PM Keir Starmer has described the riots as far-right thuggery and vowed to punish all involved. In a speech from Downing Street, he said: People in this country have a right to be safe and yet, weve seen Muslim communities targeted, attacks on mosques, other minority communities singled out, Nazi salutes in the street, attacks on the police, wanton violence alongside racist rhetoric.

So no, I wont shy away from calling it what it is: Far-right thuggery.

He also stated that a  standing army of specialist public duty officers was being introduced to ensure police could deal with the disorder where needed.

What about these anti-racist protests?

In an attempt to denounce whats happening in the country, thousands of anti-racism protesters gathered across England on Wednesday. Chants of There are many, many more of us than you rang out loud across the country.

At 7 pm in Liverpool, hundreds of people formed a human shield outside a targeted church that hosts an immigration advice centre while women held banners saying: Nans against Nazis, reported The Guardian.

People gather against an an anti-immigration protest, in London, Britain. Reuters

Similar scenes were witnessed in Hackney and Walthamstow, both in east London, and Finchley in the north of the capital, as thousands of local people and anti-fascist activists came together and held placards saying we are one human race and unite against hate.

However, in Aldershot in Hampshire, tensions flared when a group chanting stop the boats clashed with protesters holding stand up to racism placards. Dozens of police officers rushed onto the road to stop the groups from getting too close to each other. There were also reported skirmishes in Blackpool.

It remains unclear if the counter-protests signify an end to the violence in the UK, but fears have abated across the country. Police also expect the next couple of days to be relatively quiet.

However, it remains to be seen if people will give peace a chance or will violence erupt once again in the country.

With inputs from agencies
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, recently chosen by Kamala Harris as her vice-presidential running mate, has been nicknamed Tampon Tim by Republican critics. The moniker refers to a law Walz signed requiring public schools to provide free menstrual products to students. While some conservatives deride the policy, many on the left have embraced the nickname, highlighting Walzs commitment to menstrual equity and progressive values read more

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris' running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz gestures during a campaign event in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, US, August 7, 2024. Reuters

The recent decision by United States Vice President Kamala Harris to select Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate has sparked a wave of controversy, primarily driven by Republican critics who have taken to calling Walz Tampon Tim.

This nickname, coined by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller, emerged shortly after the announcement. Miller tweeted, She actually chose Tampon Tim," while Chaya Raichik, the individual behind the far-right social media account Libs of TikTok, escalated the rhetoric by photoshopping Walzs face onto a Tampax box.

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She actually chose Tampon Tim.  Stephen Miller (@StephenM) August 6, 2024

How did Tampon Tim come about?

The moniker stems from a law that Walz signed in 2024, requiring all public schools in Minnesota to provide free menstrual products  pads and tampons  to students from 4th through 12th grade.

The law, which took effect on January 1, 2024, mandates that the state allocate approximately $2 per student to ensure these products are stocked throughout the school year.

US Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, vice presidential running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his wife Gwen Walz attend a campaign rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, August 6, 2024. Reuters

The legislation was the result of years of advocacy by students and their allies, making Minnesota one of 28 states, along with Washington DC, to pass laws aimed at providing access to menstrual products in schools.

Why are politicians divided on the policy?

The law, while popular among many, has become a lightning rod for conservative criticism, particularly due to its inclusive language, which specifies that menstrual products should be available to all menstruating students in restrooms regularly used by students.

This phrasing reflects the understanding that not all individuals who menstruate identify as female, and not all women menstruate. Republican lawmakers in Minnesota initially attempted to amend the bill to restrict the availability of these products to female and gender-neutral restrooms, but this effort was ultimately unsuccessful.

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Even the author of the proposed amendment voted in favour of the final version, citing that his family members considered it an important issue, reported NPR.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks during a news conference for the Biden-Harris campaign discussing the Project 2025 plan during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention near the Fiserv Forum, July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. File Image/AP

Despite the backlash, LGBTQ+ rights groups have praised Walz for his inclusive approach. Walz, who has been a long-time advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, issued an executive order in 2023 making Minnesota one of the first states to protect access to gender-affirming healthcare, countering efforts in other states to ban such care.

His track record, including his time as a teacher when he sponsored his schools first gay-straight alliance group, has solidified his reputation as a progressive leader.

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How have Trump supporters monopolised on the issue?

Conservative commentators have seized upon this aspect of the legislation to attack Walz. MAGA War Room, an account aligned with former President Donald Trump, criticised the bill, tweeting, Tim Walz is a weird radical liberal. What could be weirder than signing a bill requiring schools to stock tampons in boys bathrooms?

Tim Walz is a weird radical liberal.



What could be weirder than signing a bill requiring schools to stock tampons in boys' bathrooms?



Or weirder than signing legislation allowing minors to receive sex change operations? pic.twitter.com/2kqTQ9CzfT  MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) August 6, 2024

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Similarly, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt took aim at the policy, arguing on Fox News that it exemplified the kind of radical policies Walz supports, equating it with gender-transition surgeries for minors.

How are Democrats tackling this move?

Interestingly, many Democrats and progressive voices have embraced the Tampon Tim nickname, viewing it as a badge of honour rather than an insult.

Democratic Minnesota State Representative Sandra Feist, the chief sponsor of the menstrual equity bill, defended the policy as a wise investment during legislative discussions, noting that one out of every 10 menstruating youth miss school due to a lack of access to menstrual products.

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Feist later tweeted, This law exemplifies what we can accomplish when we listen to students to address their needs. Excited to see MN representation at the top of the ticket! #TamponTim.

Grateful to have partnered as lead House author with @Tim_Walz on this legislation to address period poverty in MN. This law exemplifies what we can accomplish when we listen to students to address their needs. Excited to see MN representation at the top of the ticket! #TamponTim https://t.co/nasFKAVxFB  Sandra Feist (@SandraFeistMN) August 7, 2024

Former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also chimed in, turning the attempted smear into a point of pride. After Raichik posted the photoshopped image of Walz on a Tampax box, Clinton responded, How nice of the Trump camp to help publicise Gov. Tim Walzs compassionate and common-sense policy of providing free menstrual products to students in Minnesota public schools! Lets do this everywhere.

How nice of the Trump camp to help publicize Gov. Tim Walz's compassionate and common-sense policy of providing free menstrual products to students in Minnesota public schools! Let's do this everywhere. pic.twitter.com/hk6v8cs8p4  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 7, 2024

The nickname has even been embraced by figures like former Georgia State Representative Bee Nguyen, who praised Walzs understanding of the issue as a former teacher, saying, This makes me an even bigger fan of Tampon Tim.

Period poverty is a real thing - students miss school because of lack of access to menstrual products. As a former teacher, Walz understands how his impacts educational outcomes, just like he knows how hunger impacts learning. This makes me an even bigger fan of Tampon Tim.  Bee Nguyen  (@BeeForGeorgia) August 6, 2024

For many on the left, the attempt to demonise Walz has backfired, turning what was intended as a derogatory label into a rallying cry for menstrual equity and broader progressive values.

Is there menstrual equity in America?

The debate surrounding the Tampon Tim nickname is set against a backdrop of broader discussions on menstrual equity, an issue that has gained significant traction in recent years.

According to a 2023 study commissioned by Thinx and PERIOD, nearly 1 in 4 students in the United States have struggled to afford menstrual products, highlighting the ongoing problem of period poverty. Advocates argue that providing free access to these products is not just a matter of convenience but one of public health, dignity, and educational equity.

Also Watch:

The law that Walz signed aligns with a growing trend across the country, where 30 states have already eliminated state sales tax on menstrual products, also known as the tampon tax.

Even Republican-led states like Texas have joined the movement, with Governor Greg Abbott signing a law to eliminate the tax in 2023.

Hasnt Trump also signed a similar law?

On the federal level, then US President Donald Trump signed the First Step Act in 2018, which, among other reforms, included a provision requiring federal prisons to provide menstrual products to inmates.

Tonight at the White House, President Trump celebrated the passage of the First Step Act: It was time to fix this broken system . . . and to improve the lives of so many people. pic.twitter.com/yATiHIir1o  The White House 45 Archived (@WhiteHouse45) April 1, 2019

The CARES Act of 2020 further expanded access by allowing employees to use their Flexible Spending Account (FSA) allowances to purchase menstrual products with pre-tax dollars.

The controversy surrounding Walzs nickname is reminiscent of the backlash faced by then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2015 when he made a crude remark about Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, implying that her tough questioning during a debate was allegedly due to menstruation.

Re Megyn Kelly quote: "you could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever" (NOSE). Just got on w/thought  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2015

At the time, the comment sparked widespread outrage, highlighting how discussions about menstruation, even in a derogatory context, can touch a nerve in the public consciousness.

Has Walz responded?

In his response to the Tampon Tim moniker, Walz has largely remained silent on the specific insult, choosing instead to focus on his broader message of inclusivity and progressivism.

Trump idolizes Hannibal Lecter.



JD Vance is on a crusade against women who own cats.



MAGA Republicans cant stop talking about DEI.



These guys are weird.  The Democrats (@TheDemocrats) July 29, 2024

However, his recent tweet directed at Trump and Senator JD Vance  Donald Trump and JD Vance are creepy and, yes, weird  is aimed to echo the sentiment of many who see the focus on menstruation as a bizarre and out-of-touch line of attack.

Also Watch:

With inputs from agencies
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. It suggests over three dozen changes to the Waqf Act, 1995  the law governing Waqf boards in India  including the abolition of Section 40 of the Act which gives Waqf boards the power to designate a property as Waqf property. Some Waqf officials have complained that they have not been consulted and that the Centre is taking power away from the hands of the boards read more

Section 40 of the Waqf Act, 1995, gives Waqf boards the power to designate a property as Waqf property. Delhi Waqf Board.

Controversy has exploded over the Waqf bill introduced in the Lok Sabha.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, introduced by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, suggests over three dozen changes to the Waqf Act, 1995  the law governing Waqf boards in India.

Rijiju has proposed sending the Bill to a joint parliamentary committee after objections from opposition parties.

But what are the changes in the Bill? Why has it triggered such a debate?

Lets take a closer look:

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What are the changes?

As per The Print, the Bill suggests making 44 changes to the Waqf, Act 1995.

The Wakf Act, 1995, was introduced to regulate Auqaf  that is assets donated and notified as Waqf by a wakif, who is the person who dedicates a property for any purpose recognised by Muslim law as religious or charitable.

The Act was previously amended in 2013.

The Bill proposes a slew of changes including

Representation for Muslim women and non-Muslims in Waqf bodies such as the Central Waqf Council and the state Waqf boards

Establishing a separate board for the Boharas and Aghakhanis

Allowing for representation of Shias, Sunnis, Bohras, Agakhanis and other backward classes among

Muslim communities

Defining Waqf as any person practising Islam for at least five years and having ownership of such property.

Streamlining the manner of registration of Waqfs through a central portal and database.

Establishing a detailed procedure is for mutation as per revenue laws with due notice to all concerned before recording any property as a Waqf property.

It proposes including two women on the Central Waqf Council and state Waqf Boards

That money received by the Waqf Board must be used for the welfare of widows, divorcees, and orphans in the manner suggested by the government

That womens inheritances must be protected.

Renaming the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.

However, the most eye-catching proposal and which has arguably caused the most uproar, is the abolition of Section 40 of the Waqf Act.

As per The Print, this gives Waqf boards the power to designate a property as Waqf property.

The bill empowers district collectors to resolve disagreements between the Waqf Board and the Centre. In case of a dispute, a Collector will examine the case and send the reports to respective state governments.

In case the Collector determines the property to be a Government property, he shall make necessary corrections in revenue records and submit a report in this regard to the State Government, the Bill states as per Indian Express.

The Collector will also name a survey commissioner, or another officer not below the rank of deputy collector, to inspect the Waqf property.

Any government property identified or declared as waqf property, before or after the commencement of this Act, shall not be deemed to be a waqf property, the Bill adds.

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As per Indian Express, this decision is currently in the hands of the Waqf Tribunal under Section 6 of the Waqf Act, 1995.

The decision of the Tribunal in respect of such matter shall be final, the Act states.

The Bill seeks to delete these words from the Act.

The bill also seeks to give the Centre power to change the make-up of the Central Waqf Council.

The council, established in 1964, advises the Centre, state governments and Waqf boards.

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The Boll proposes that the three MPs  two from the Lok Sabha and one from the Rajya Sabha  be added to the council.

Crucially, the Bill does not mandate that these MPs be Muslim.

The Waqf Act, 1995, states that the three MPs on the council must be Muslim.

Why the outrage?

Because the Bills amendments aim to take power out of the hands of the Waqf Tribunal and hand it to district collectors.

As per Indian Express, the amendments also aim to do away with Waqf by use.

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This is when a property is designated as a Waqf property upon using it  even though the original declaration might be dubious.

Under Islamic law, a property was designated as Waqf verbally before documentation became the rule.

Even when a waqfnama is lacking, property like a masjid can be deemed to be Waqf if it is used continuously.

The Print quoted the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) spokesperson Qasim Rasool Ilyas as saying, They are transferring all power to the collector. The Waqf will become powerless.

Any change in the Waqf Act, which alters the nature of waqf properties, or makes it easier for the government or any individual to usurp them, will not be acceptable.

Waqf is property dedicated for religious or charitable purposes in the name of Allah. PTI

The bill has also triggered outrage from Waqf officials who complain that they have not been consulted.

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We got this information from social media. They (government) didnt contact the state waqf boards or council. They should discuss with us, a senior official of the Haryana Waqf Board told The Print.

Board members and officials are very upset and angry.

Some even described the bill as a malicious act of the government.

However, other Waqf officials have welcomed the proposal, as per The Print.

K Rahman Khan, former Minority Affairs Minister at the Centre in the UPA-II regime, told Indian Express, All of a sudden, the government has floated this Bill without consultations with the stakeholders, including the Muslim community. This Bill in total has undone whatever reforms the government had brought in 2013 through an amendment to the Waqf Act They are abolishing the Tribunals and survey of waqf properties. No waqf will be registered without a deed. They have made the Collector the authority on issues related to waqf properties who is a government servant and not an individual authority.

Opposition misleading Muslims

Home Minister Amit Shah has accused the opposition of misleading Muslims and saying that amendments had to be brought in as the present act had many mistakes and could not serve its purpose.

Soon after Rijiju sought leave to introduce the bill, many opposition MPs, who had given notices to oppose the bill, alleged that the proposed legislation was an attack on the Constitution and federalism.

Responding to the concerns flagged by opposition members, Rijiju said there will be no interference with freedom of any religious body in the Waqf bill.

Forget about snatching anybodys right. We in this bill are trying to bring justice for those who never got justice, and we will fight for their rights. The amendment to the Bill has not happened for the first time ever since independence multiple times have been amended, Rijiju was quoted as saying by News18.

He also asserted that no provision of the Constitution has been violated in the draft law.

He said that the Waqf Act 1995 did not serve its purpose and told Congress members that the proposed amendments seek to achieve what the Congress government couldnt.

Kiren Rijiju claimed Opposition MPS were opposing the bill due to party pressure.

The minister told the House that a joint parliamentary committee had recommended that Waqf Act 1995 should be re-looked and said the opposition was opposing the measure for the sake of politics.

Rijiju said the opposition was trying to mislead people about intention of the Waqf bill. He said no law can be above Constitution but 1995 Waqf law has such provisions.

He claimed that many MPs have privately told him that Waqf boards have been captured by mafia. He said that extensive consultations have taken place before the bill was drafted.

Rijiju claimed such MPS were opposing the bill due to party pressure.

Opposition resolute

However, the opposition remained unmoved.

News18 quoted AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi said, This Bill violates the principles of Articles 14, 15 and 25 of the Constitution. This Bill is both discriminatory and arbitraryBy bringing this bill, you (the Central govt) are doing the work of dividing the nation not uniting it. This bill is evidence of the fact that you are an enemy of the Muslims, he said.

Congress MP KC Venugopal described the Bill as an attack on the federal system.

We are Hindus but at the same time, we respect the faith of other religions. This bill is specialised for the Maharashtra, Haryana elections. You do not understand that last time the people of India clearly taught you a lesson. This is an attack on the federal system

Congress MP Manish Tewari added, The Bill is also violative of the legislative competence of the government to even bring this Bill to Parliament because there is no entry in the union list which pertains to religious endowments. So under those circumstances, the Bill suffers from the malady of excessive delegation of powers, which is an assault on the federal structureThe bill needs to be withdrawn.

NDTV quoted Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav as saying, This Bill has been introduced as part of well-thought-out politics. When there is a democratic process for election, why nominate people. No person from outside the community is part of other religious bodies. What is the point of including non-Muslims in Waqf bodies?

Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah added, This is injustice to Muslims. We are going to commit a huge mistake, we will suffer because of this Bill for centuries. This is interference with religion.
Shia Islamist parties are pushing an amendment to Iraqs personal law in Parliament that would allow girls as young as nine to be married off. Though 117 nations including the United States allow children to marry, the issue remains a major problem in Africa with Niger having the highest rate of child marriage among girls followed by the Central African Republic, Chad, and Mali read more

Protesters take part in a demonstration against the draft of the "Al-Jafaari" Personal Status Law during International Women's Day in Baghdad. Reuters

Is Iraq going to legalise child marriage?

Shia Islamist parties are pushing an amendment to Iraqs personal law in Parliament that would allow children as young as nine to be married off.

The proposed amendment, which had its first reading on Sunday, has caused outrage from women and childs rights activists.

But what do we know about it? And where else is child marriage allowed?

Lets take a closer look:

What do we know?

First, lets take a brief look at the law that Islamists are proposing changing.

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According to Middle East Eye, amendments to Law 188 of the Personal Status Law of 1959 are being considered.

The law was passed by the Abdul-Karim Qasim government.

Qasim was a leftist nationalist who introduced a slew of progressive reforms including womens rights.

As per The National News, the law is thought to be the most comprehensive in West Asia when it comes to protecting the rights of women.

Passed by specialists, lawyers, all religious heads, and experts in 1959, it is considered one of the best laws in the Middle East, according to womens rights activist Suhalia Al Assam.

It sets 18 as the legal age for marriage for both men and women. It also sets curbs on men being allowed to take a second wife. The law lets a Muslim man marry a non-Muslim woman without any pre-conditions.

However, it allows men and women to be married at age 15 with the permission of a judge and their legal guardian, as per Rudaw.net.

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A woman is also allowed to defy her husband if he does not provide a home for her or take care of her if she is sick, as per The National News.

As per Middle East Eye, the changes to the law are being pushed by the Coordination Framework  an alliance of conservative Shia Islamist parties which comprise the biggest bloc in Iraqs Parliament.

The draft bill

The draft bill states that a couple are required to choose between the Sunni or Shia sect all matters of personal status.

When a dispute occurs between the spouses regarding the doctrine according to whose provisions the marriage contract was concluded, the contract is deemed to have been concluded in accordance with the husbands doctrine unless evidence exists to the contrary, the draft bill states.

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The draft bill requires Shia and Sunni endowments to submit a code of legal rulings to Iraqs Parliament six months after ratifying the amendments. Representational image

The change would let the offices of the Shiite and Sunni endowments to sanctify marriages instead of the courts.

The draft bill requires Shia and Sunni endowments to submit a code of legal rulings to Iraqs Parliament six months after ratifying the amendments.

It states that the Shia code would be grounded on Jaafari jurisprudence.

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Jafaari law, named after the sixth Shiite Imam Jaafar Al Sadiq, governs marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption.

It allows girls as young as nine and boys as young as fifteen to be married.

The draft bill was introduced by Independent MP Raed al-Maliki, as per Rudaw.net.

Raed previously proposed amendments to the anti-prostitution law which criminalised homosexuality and sex-reassignment surgeries.

Previous versions of the draft bill have proposed barring Muslim men from marrying non-Muslim women, legalising marital rape, and stopping women from leaving the home without permission from their husbands.

The proposed changes have raised the hackles of activists.

These proposed changes to the Personal Status law would have a profoundly negative impact on the rights and wellbeing of women and children in Iraq, Tamara Amir, CEO of the Iraqi Womens Rights Platform told Middle East Eye.

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Would politicians let their nine-year-old daughter get married? Im sure not but they would allow the oppressed Iraqi population to do so, Al Assam told The National.

The Iraqi community categorically rejects these proposals, it is a degrading step for both Iraqi men and women alike. This is what we have been fighting against for years, she added.

Yanar Mohammed, president of Organization of Womens Freedom in Iraq (OWFI), told Middle East Eye the coalition was attempting to draw attention away from their own shortcomings including massive corruption.

Their most efficient tool for this distraction is to terrorise Iraqi women and civil society with a legislation that strips away all the rights that Iraqi women gained in modern times, and force archaic Islamic sharia on them that regards women as bodies for pleasure and breeding, and not as human being[s] with human rights, she said.

Iraqi women lawmakers putting their own coalition together in opposition to the amendment.

The group wants to make it clear to everyone that the rejection is not based on emotions or external motives, but on legal, religious, professional, and social considerations and people who are concerned about protecting the order of the Iraqi family, Iraqi MP Noor Nafea al-Julihawi was quoted as saying by the news site Kurdistan24.

The Coordination Framework insists the law does not contradict foundations of democracy, as per Rudaw.net.

The intended amendment to the Personal Status Law is in harmony with the constitution, which stipulates that Iraqis are free to make their choices in a manner that does not contradict the constants of Sharia and the foundations of democracy, the Shiite bloc said in a statement

Where else is child marriage allowed?

Around 117 nations including the United States allow children to marry, according to a 2016 US Pew Research Center analysis.

According to the United Nations Population Fund, child marriage remains a major problem.

It says that globally, one in five girls is either married or in an informal union before the age of 18.

The problem is particularly dire in the least developed countries where 36 per cent of girls are married before age 18, and 10 per cent of girls are married before age 15.

According to Statista, while the issue is widespread it African countries are particularly afflicted.

Niger has the highest rate of child marriage among girls. Over 75 per cent of girls under 18 are married, with around 30 percent of them being younger than 15 years.

Niger is trailed by the Central African Republic, Chad, and Mali. In all these countries, the legal age to get married is lower for girls than boys.

In Niger and Chad the legal age is 15 years for girls and 18 for boys. In Guinea, the legal age is 17 for girls and 18 for boys.

The UNFPA in 2019 in a joint study with the Johns Hopkins University, Victoria University, the University of Washington and Avenir Health said child marriage in 68 countries  which account for 90 per cent of these marriages  could be ended for around $35 billion or $600 per child bride by 2030.

With inputs from agencies
Bangladesh is grappling with severe political turmoil, marked by the ousting of PM Sheikh Hasina and violent protests. Central to this unrest is Jamaat-e-Islami, a major Islamist party with historical ties to militant groups and a mission to establish an Islamic state. It is believed to have the backing of Pakistans intelligence agency, the ISI read more

Supporters of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami occupy street of Matijheel to hold a rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh, October 28, 2023. File Image/Reuters

Bangladesh is facing a political crisis of unprecedented proportions, resulting in the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This turmoil, marked by weeks-long protests, has been significantly influenced by Jamaat-e-Islami, a prominent Islamist organisation with deep historical and political roots in the region.

Jamaat-e-Islami was founded in 1975, evolving from an orthodox Islamic movement in erstwhile East Pakistan. Its mission, as articulated by its founder Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, a figure associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, is to establish an Islamic state.

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The name Jamaat-e-Islami translates to congregation of Islam, and the organisation has consistently promoted the idea of Islamic rule globally.

Watch:

Over the years, Jamaat-e-Islami became the largest Islamic political party in Bangladesh, known for its alliance with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Khaleda Zia.

However, its political participation was curtailed in 2013 when the Bangladesh government banned it from contesting elections, citing its constitutions opposition to secularism, a key tenet of the national constitution.

A controversial history

Jamaat-e-Islami has a controversial history dating back to Bangladeshs liberation war in 1971. The organisations members formed auxiliary forces like Razakars, Al-Badr, Al-Shams, and the Peace Committee, which were implicated in atrocities against Bengali freedom fighters and members of the Hindu community.

These actions led to the organisations initial ban by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the countrys founding father.

Then Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina, with a poster of her assassinated father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman overlooking her, explains her plans to leaders of her Awami League, December 27, 1994. File Image/Reuters

Despite this, Jamaat-e-Islami maintained a significant presence in Bangladeshs political landscape. After the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the subsequent military coup in 1975, the ban was lifted, and the organisation re-emerged as Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh.

It aimed to create an Islamic state governed by Sharia law, interpreting its central political concept Iqamat-e-Deen as the establishment of an Islamic state through state power.

The brief fall of Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh

The fall of Jamaat-e-Islami began with the War Crimes Tribunal initiated by the Awami League government in 2008. Many top leaders of Jamaat, who were involved with the Pakistani Army during the 1971 liberation war, were convicted of war crimes.

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This led to major strikes and protests by Jamaat, resulting in more than 60 deaths and widespread destruction of public property.

Members of Jamaat-e-Islami are seen during street clashes with police in Dhaka, September 19, 2011. Street marches by members of Bangladeshs biggest Islamic party seeking the release of its leaders from jail turned violent across the country on Monday, with at least 70 people wounded in clashes, witnesses said. File Image/Reuters

The International Crimes Tribunal charged several Jamaat leaders with crimes against humanity. Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, a deputy leader of Jamaat, was sentenced to death for genocide, rape, and religious persecution.

Muhammad Kamaruzzaman was convicted of mass killings, rape, torture, and kidnapping. Ghulam Azam, former ameer of Jamaat, was sentenced to 90 years imprisonment for incitement, conspiracy, and failure to prevent murder. Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed was sentenced to death for his crimes during the war.

What is the political influence of Jamaat-e-Islami?

In the 1980s, Jamaat joined the multi-party alliance for democracy restoration and later allied with BNP. Jamaat leaders held ministerial positions in BNP-led governments from 1991 to 1996 and from 2001 to 2006.

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Interestingly, the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, also formed an alliance with Jamaat in 1996 to secure power. In 2008, Jamaat won two out of 300 seats in the Parliament.

Main opposition leaders Begum Khaleda Zia (R) of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, ex-army general and military ruler Hossain Mohammd Ershad (C) of Jatiya Party and Moulana Matiur Rahman Nizami (L) of Jamaat-e-Islami Party meet in Dhaka May 9, 2000. File Image/Reuters

The organisations influence extends beyond Bangladesh. In Pakistan, Jamaat-e-Islami remains a significant political force despite its militant activities through its student wing, Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba.

It has connections with various militant groups, including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Muslim Brotherhood. In Europe and the US, Jamaat has established networks through South Asian immigrant communities, particularly active in the UK.

What was Jamaat-e-Islamis role in the recent unrest?

The recent political upheaval in Bangladesh began with anti-quota protests, which escalated into anti-Hasina demonstrations. These protests, initially focused on the controversial government job quota system, turned violent and widespread, leading to over 400 deaths and thousands of injuries.

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Reports suggest that Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Chhatra Shibir, played a significant role in instigating these protests.

People shake hands with army personnel as they celebrate the resignation of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 5, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Islami Chatra Shibir cadres were admitted to many universities in Bangladesh from where they instigated students against the government, according to an India Today report.

The main centres of Islami Chhatra Shibir include Dhaka University, Chittagong University, Jahangir University, Sylhet University, and Rajshahi University.

How has the government responded to Jamaat-e-Islami?

In response to the escalating violence, Sheikh Hasinas government declared Jamaat-e-Islami and Chhatra Shibir as terrorist organisations under Section 18/1 of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009.

Law enforcement agencies launched a crackdown on Jamaat and its affiliates, targeting offices and publication houses associated with the group. Despite these efforts, reports indicate that Jamaat activists continue to mobilise and stage protests in various regions.

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Members of the army clear an entrance of the Ganabhaban, the Bangladeshi prime ministers residence, a day after the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka on August 6, 2024. File Image/Reuters

The government has taken decisive actions to curb Jamaats influence. Sheikh Hasinas government accused the party of instigating violent protests over the last couple of months over the government job quota system, an official statement read.

This crackdown has intensified following the court ruling in 2013, which cancelled Jamaats registration, a decision upheld by the Supreme Courts Appellate Division in 2023.

It was fully banned by Dhaka on August 1, 2024.

Does Jamaat-e-Islami have any global influence?

Jamaat-e-Islamis influence is not confined to Bangladesh. In Pakistan, it remains a major political force, despite its involvement in militant activities.

The organisation has established connections with militant groups such as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Muslim Brotherhood. These connections have facilitated Jamaats activities and ideological propagation across borders.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed, chief of the religious Jamaat-e-Islami party, waves to his supporters while he leads a public rally in Peshawar, September 25, 1998. More than 30,000 people took part in the rally demanding Islamic Sharia code to be Pakistans supreme law. File Image/Reuters

In Europe and the US, Jamaat has leveraged South Asian immigrant communities to establish a network of influence. The organisation is particularly active in the UK, where it has a significant impact on Islamic organisations and community politics.

Washington has also been a strong advocate for Jamaats political participation, often urging Bangladesh to lift restrictions on the group.

What was Hasinas stance on Jamaat-e-Islami?

Sheikh Hasina has been regarded as a progressive and secular leader who prioritised economic upliftment and secular governance. Her stance is what reportedly made her a target for radical Islamists, including Jamaat-e-Islami.

Despite the challenges, Hasina had remained steadfast in her efforts to curb the influence of extremist groups and promote secularism in Bangladesh.

Also Watch:

With inputs from agencies
Carles Puigdemont, the leader of the Catalonia independence movement, returned in triumph to Barcelona on Thursday after spending seven years in exile. He fled Spain after spearheading a secession vote in 2017 and is wanted on charges of embezzlement read more

Carles Puigdemont on Thursday made a sensational return to Spain and an equally sensational getaway from a speech in the city with the alleged help of a local police officer.

Carles Puigdemont is back in Spain.

Puigdemont, the Catalonia leader and leader of the hardline Junts party, returned to Barcelona on Thursday after spending seven years in exile.

The 61-year-old fled Spain after a failed bid for Catalonias independence.

A manhunt for Puigdemont, who has an outstanding arrest warrant against him, is underway.

But who is Puigdemont? Why is his return so controversial?

Lets take a closer look:

Early years

Puigdemont was born on December 29, 1962 in the tiny village of Amer.

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As per France 24, the village, with its population of just 2,200, is not far from Girona  which itself is around 100 kilometres northeast of Barcelona.

Puigdemont, nicknamed Pugi by his friends, descended from a long line of bakers. Puigdemont, like his forbearers, was an ardent nationalist.

Puigdemont studied for a degree in Catalan philology at the University College of Girona.

However, in 1983, he decided to become a journalist after he had a serious car accident. He began his journalistic career as a copy editor at El Punt Avui.

He became editor next  and ascended to editor-in-chief.

His colleagues recall his separatist leanings.

When we played pinball and he lost the ball, hed call the machine a Spanish whore, one of his former colleagues said.

Politics

Puigdemont in 1991 began lobbying to change the Geronas name to its Catalan counterpart Girona.

He also founded the youth group JNC.

The outfit had links to the nationalist party of the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia.

It would later be reestablished as Catalan European Democratic Party (PDECAT) in 2016, according to France24.

Puigdemonts political career began in earnest in 2007 when he stood for Girona mayor.

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In 2011, Puigdemont was elected Mayor of Girona.

This made him the first non-socialist mayor in the history of Spanish democracy.

On January 12, 2016, Puigdemont was officially sworn in as the 130th President of the Government of Catalonia.

He made history by becoming the first president of Catalonia not to swear fealty to Spains Constitution and King Felipe VI.

Puigdemont dedicated his career to the goal of carving out a new country in northeast Spain  a struggle which is decades-old. His largely uncompromising approach has brought political conflict with other separatist parties as well as with Spains central government.

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Secession and exile

In 2017, Puigdemont, as regional president and separatist party leader, tried to get Catalonia to secede from Spain.

Spains Catalonia has been home to a long-running separatist movement (Photo: Reuters)

As per Al Jazeera, millions of Catalans took the polls with a huge majority of voters backing independence.

Meanwhile, violence unfolded as the central government attempted to halt the vote.

Four weeks later, the region declared independence.

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Spains central government and the Constitutional Court declared at the time that the referendum was illegal.

Madrid then activated Article 155  letting the national government take full control of the region.

Spain also dismissed Puigdemont and his cabinet and called fresh elections.

Puigdemont and his minister then left for Belgium

As per Al Jazeera, Puigdemont said he went to the capital of Europe so that he could speak from a position of freedom and safety.

He said he would not return unless he was guaranteed a free and fair trial.

In December 2017, Puigdemont contested Catalans regional elections and was re-elected to Parliament.

The secessionists also kept a narrow majority in the Catalan Parliament.

Though Puigdemont called for new unconditional talks with the Spanish government and even proposed meeting the prime minister, his proposal was rejected.

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Though the 61-year-old initially lived in Belgium, his latest place of residence remained known.

Puigdemont faces charges of embezzlement for his part in the attempted secession.

In 2018, Puigdemont was stopped by German police while travelling from Finland to Brussels by car.

This, after the Spanish Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant against him.

Puigdemont was later released.

What happened today?

Puigdemont on Thursday made a sensational return to Spain and an equally sensational getaway from a speech in the city with the alleged help of a local police officer.

Puigdemont kept his travel plans secret before setting out to the wealthy Catalan region in northeastern Spain. He gave a speech in front of a large crowd of supporters in central Barcelona under the noses of police officers, who made no attempt to detain him.

Local police were deployed in a security ring around a section of the park where Catalonias parliament building is located behind walls. Meanwhile, Puigdemont, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and tie, walked with supporters to the nearby stage where he gave his speech.

Addressing the crowd in the park and at times pumping his fist, Puigdemont accused Spanish authorities of a crackdown on the Catalan separatist movement.

For the last seven years we have been persecuted because we wanted to hear the voice of the Catalan people, Puigdemont said. They have made being Catalan into something suspicious.

He added: All people have the right to self-determination.

After his speech, in a cloak-and-dagger moment, Puigdemont went into an adjacent marquee tent. There, he hurried out of an exit and jumped into a waiting car that sped away, according to an Associated Press photographer who witnessed his departure.

Catalan police arrested one of their own officers on charges of aiding Puigdemonts getaway, the forces press office told The Associated Press.

No further details were available.

About three hours after Puigdemont vanished, Catalan police called off the manhunt without saying why.

The Catalan police force is called Mossos dEsquadra and operates separately from Spains Policia Nacional. At the time of the 2017 ballot, the Spanish government suspended the Mossos chief and placed the force under investigation for failing to stop the vote. The chief and his staff were eventually exonerated.

Authorities, who may have wanted to avoid confrontation with the crowd of several thousand separatist supporters, had set up a police cordon at the nearby regional parliament where Puigdemont was expected to go afterward.

Once Puigdemont had slipped away, roadside police units checked vehicles across the city of around 1.6 million people in an effort to nab him. The checks snarled city traffic. Police also checked vehicles heading on highways to neighboring France.

Why is his return controversial?

Because Puigdemonts return comes on the very day when a new socialist government was being sworn in at Catalonias Parliament.

Spains government encouraged a deal brokered after months of deadlock between Salvador Illas Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) and the other main Catalan separatist party and left-wing Esquerra Republicana (ERC).

Socialist candidate Salvador Illa makes a toast with members of his team and party colleagues after the announcement of the results of elections to the Catalan parliament in Barcelona on 12 May, 2024. AP

As per Al Jazeera, though the socialists won the recent polls they failed to nab a majority.

The support of the ERC proved crucial to forming the regional government.

The new government had to be sworn by August 26 or fresh elections would be held in October.

That deal had ensured just enough support in Catalonias parliament for Illa to become the next regional president Thursday.

Puigdemont could also hurt Spains Socialist-led coalition government at the Centre.

The Centrals government has a shaky alliance with Puigdemonts Junts  on whom it depends to pass legislation, as per Al Jazeera.

Complicating matters is the fact that a contentious amnesty bill, crafted by the Centre, could potentially clear Puigdemont and hundreds of other supporters of Catalan independence of any wrongdoing in the 2017 ballot.

However, the bill, approved by Spains parliament earlier this year, is being challenged by the Supreme Court which has argued that the pardon doesnt apply to embezzlement, unlike other crimes that Puigdemont had previously been charged with.

Puigdemont could be placed in pretrial detention if he is arrested.

What do experts say?

According to BBC, Puigdemont by returning wants to pressure authorities into including him under the ambit of the amnesty bill.

The amnesty law has created the conditions for him to return, Pablo Simon, a political scientist at Carlos III University in Madrid told The New York Times. Returning is the only thing he can do in order to continue to play the victim.

Puigdemont also wants to make sure his Junts party is viewed by the public as the main party fighting for Catalonias independence.

At the same time, he wants to make sure the rival ERC is seen as hand-in-glove with those fighting for Catalonia to remain in Spain.

But others think its too late.

Its Puigdemonts last dance, Ignacio Lago, a professor of political science at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, told The New York Times.

Lola Garcia, the deputy editor of the Catalan daily La Vanguardia, a paper which has been close to the Junts, told The Guardian, The possibility of Puigdemont being jailed might complicate things for the Spanish government, although a change of government wouldnt be in his interest at this juncture.

But it wont resuscitate the unity of the independence movement nor the independence process.

Things are complicated in the sense that theres this interest in stopping him. But at the end of the day, hes a member of parliament. Hes a former president. So if he is arrested, this would be against the immunity of the members of parliament, Mar Aquilera Varques, a constitutional law professor at Barcelona University, told Al Jazeera.

There are some people who are tired of this political crisis. But many people in Catalonia still want independence, she added.

With inputs from agencies
The Telegu Desam Party-led Andhra government has scrapped the two-child policy intending to improve the demographic management of the state amid a population decline read more

After denying the opportunity to contest local polls, the Andhra Pradesh government has finally scrapped the two-child policy keeping leaders away from running for elections.

The newly-formed Andhra government under Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday approved a resolution to amend the AP Municipal Corporations Act and Panchayat Raj Act that barred people with more than two children from contesting local and civic body polls.

The two-child policy was adopted by the southern state in 1994.

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Why was the policy scrapped?

The Telegu Desam Party-led Andhra government has scrapped the two-child policy intending to improve the demographic management of the state amid a population decline.

The decision comes at a time when the freeze on delimitation is expected to end in 2026. Southern states such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Telangana are increasingly concerned that their effective population control measures could lead to a reduction in their Lok Sabha seats.

They worry that delimitation might penalize them for their successful population management compared to other regions. Additionally, states that have enforced strict two-child policies are also expressing dissatisfaction with receiving a smaller share of central funds, as financial allocations are often based on population figures.

Which other states have the two-child policy?

Maharashtra: The states Zilla Parishads And Panchayat Samitis Act mentions that individuals with more than two children will be disqualified from contesting local polls. Apart from this, the Maharashtra Civil Services (Declaration of Small Family) Rules, 2005 bars people with more than two offspring from holding state government jobs.

Odisha: Under the Odisha Zilla Parishad Act, people with more than two children cannot contest elections.

Karnataka: In this southern state, the Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj of 1993 allows people to run for polls but makes a person ineligible if he does not have a sanitary latrine for the use of the members of his family.

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Gujarat: In 2005, the government amended the Gujarat Local Authorities Act to prevent individuals with more than two children from running for elections to local self-governance bodies, including panchayats, municipalities, and municipal corporations.
ED assistant director Sandeep Singh Yadav was arrested by the CBI from Delhis Lajpat Nagar area read more

An assistant director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was arrested in Delhi by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 20 lakh from a Mumbai-based jeweller.

The ED officer was identified as Sandeep Singh Yadav and was caught red-handed accepting the bribe.

According to the CBI, Yadav, who previously worked with the Central Board Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), was appointed assistant director in the ED in May last year.

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Who did the ED assistant directors take bribes from?

The CBI said that on August 3 and 4, the ED had conducted searches at the jewellers premises after which Yadav allegedly threatened to arrest the jewellers son if he did not pay him Rs 25 lakh.

Following the negotiations, the amount was reduced to Rs 20 lakhs, PTI reported CBI officials as stating.

Yadav was arrested from Delhis Lajpat Nagar area on Thursday, ANI quoted a senior CBI official as confirming.

As per officials, the CBI received a complaint and acting on the same, a trap was laid to nab the ED official red-handed while accepting the bribe.

The officials further informed that the CBI is in the process of getting an FIR in the case.

Yadavs arrest comes eight months after another ED officer posted in the agencys Madurai sub-zonal office was nabbed. In December 2023, the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) booked ED officer Ankit Tiwari after he allegedly received a tranche of Rs 20 lakh out of a total bribe amount of Rs 51 lakh.

Based on the Tamil Nadu DVACs case, the ED, later that month, had filed a complaint against Tiwari.

In November last year, Rajasthans Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had arrested ED officer Naval Kishore Meena after allegedly catching red-handed a middleman working on his behalf.

Meena, who was probing a complaint against a businessman in a chit fund case in Manipur, had allegedly sought money from the latter to avoid arrest or seizure of his properties.
Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar will be on a visit to the Maldives for three days read more

Jaishankar also held a "good meeting" with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith and thanked him for the warm hospitality. Image/X/ @DrSJaishankar

Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar will visit the Maldives on Friday.

Jaishankars visit will follow the visit of the Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu in June when he came to New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said the Ministry of External Affairs.

The MEA further said that Jaishankar will be in the Maldives for three days till Sunday.

The statement further said that Jaishankars visit is aimed at strengthening the bilateral partnership between India and the Maldives and stressed on the nations centrality for Indias vision for the neighbourhood.

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Maldives is Indias key maritime neighbour and an important partner in Indias Neighbourhood First Policy and our Vision SAGAR i.e. Security and Growth for All in the Region. The visit is aimed at strengthening the close partnership between the two countries and to explore avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship further, said the MEA in a statement.

Since Muizzu took over as the President of the Maldives, the bilateral relations have been tense as he has been the leader of the India Out movement in the nation and has been close to China  Indias principal adversary. He had also led a vitriolic campaign against the deployment of Indian helicopters and military personnel in the country for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) purposes.

As Muizzu pressed on with his anti-India politics, the relations between the two country nosedived. Lately, however, there have been signs that Muizzu is seeking a stable working relationship with India by ditching overt animosity.

Jaishankar had last visited the Maldives in January 2023.
The NDA-led central government tabled the bill in Lok Sabha on August 8, the first significant legislation introduced by Modi 3.0 cabinet since its formation in June. The bill quickly drew strong criticism from the INDIA bloc for it being draconian in nature read more

The Waqf Amendment Bill, which has stirred controversy in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha with the Opposition labelling it anti-Muslim, was sent to the parliamentary committee on Thursday.

The NDA-led central government tabled the bill in Lok Sabha on August 8, the first significant legislation introduced by Modi 3.0 cabinet since its formation in June. The bill quickly drew strong criticism from the INDIA bloc for it being draconian in nature.

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The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, if passed, will see important changes in how the Waqf Board functions. The bill to amend the law governing Waqf boards proposes far-reaching changes in the Wakf Act, of 1995, including ensuring the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in such bodies.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill also aims at renaming the act to the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.

Oppn slams bill

The Opposition has strongly protested against the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, with several INDIA bloc MPs calling it an attack on the Constitution and aimed at targeting Muslims.

They also urged the government to withdraw the bill.

Congress MP KC Venugopal  who had submitted notice to oppose its introduction  accused the government of violating freedom of religion and attacking the federal system through it.

This is a draconian law and a fundamental attack on the Constitution, Venugopal said.

He said people taught the BJP a lesson for its divisive politics but it was continuing with the same, keeping in mind the upcoming assembly elections in states such as Haryana and Maharashtra.

It is a direct attack on freedom of religion  Next you will go for Christians, then Jains, he said.

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Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the bill was being introduced to appease the BJPs hardcore supporters.

What is the point of including non-Muslims in Waqf boards when this is not done in other religious bodies? Yadav asked.

#WATCH | Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav speaks in Lok Sabha on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024



"Yeh bill jo introduce ho raha hai woh bahut sochi samjhi rajneeti ke tehat ho raha hai...Speaker sir, I heard in the lobby that some of your rights are also going to be taken away and pic.twitter.com/sy7PRW6I04  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2024

Centre backs bill

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance has backed the bill saying that it is aimed at bringing transparency into the system.

Ally partners JD(U) and TDP supported the bill and rejected the Oppositions claims.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha as the government moved to introduce the Bill, Janata Dal (United) leader and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lalan asserted that the bill was not anti-Muslim.

Defending the bill, he said, Several members are making it sound as if the amendment in Waqf Board law is anti-Muslim. How is it anti-Muslim? Here example of Ayodhya is being given Can you not differentiate between a temple and an institution? This is not an attempt to interfere with mosques. This law is for the institution, to make it transparent he claimed.

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Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, defending the bill in the Lok Sabha said, I want to tell Congress these amendments are being brought to achieve what you (Congress) couldnt.

With inputs from PTI
Amid reports of attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, the MEA on Thursday said that even as various initiatives have been taken to ensure the protection and well-being of minorities, India naturally remains deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored in the neighboring country read more

Amid reports of attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that even as various initiatives have been taken by groups and organisations to ensure the protection and well-being of minorities, India naturally remains deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored in the neighboring country.

#WATCH | Delhi: On attack on minorities in Bangladesh, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "... This issue was addressed by the EAM in his suo moto statement. We are also monitoring the situation, about the status of the minorities. There are also reports that various pic.twitter.com/RQdJyLaMVJ  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2024

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 This issue was addressed by the EAM in his suo moto statement. We are also monitoring the situation, about the status of the minorities. There are also reports that various initiatives have been taken by groups and organisations to ensure the protection and well-being of minorities, said MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

Reiterating what EAM Jaishankar had said in the Parliament, Jaiswal said India welcomes steps taken to ensure well-being of minorities in Bangladesh.

We welcome these steps, but will naturally remain deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored We also want to make it clear that it is the responsibility of every government to ensure the well-being of all its citizens. We hope for an early restoration of law and order in Bangladesh. This is both in the interest of the country and for the larger region as a whole, added Jaiswal.

On Monday, businesses and homes owned by Hindus  who are perceived by some as supporters of the ousted leader Sheikh Hasina  were targeted in attacks, According to AFP, citing witnesses. Police said mobs conducted revenge attacks on Hasinas allies, burning and looting Awami League party offices nationwide.

According to Rana Dasgupta, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, at least 97 minority-owned properties were vandalised and looted on Monday and Tuesday. Additionally, 10 Hindu temples were attacked, and a Hindu man was beaten to death in Bagerhat district, according to the report, citing hospital official.

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When asked about the Indians stranded in Bangladesh, Jaiswal said EAM Jaishankar had informed in Parliament that there are 19,000 people in Bangladesh including 9,000 students, majority of whom have come back.

#WATCH | Delhi: On Indians in Bangladesh, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "The External Affairs Minister informed in a statement that there are 19,000 people in Bangladesh including 9000 students. The majority of them have come back. There are Indians who want to come pic.twitter.com/TzZDTS9IeO  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2024

There are Indians who want to come back. Our High Commission is assisting them The airlines are operating. Several people have reached out to our commission and high commission As far as the staff working in the Indian High Commissions is concerned, our non-essential staff and their family members have come back Other embassies have also pulled back their non-essential people. We hope normalcy returns soon, said Jaiswal.

Jaiswal said the situation in Bangladesh is evolving and emphasised for the government and the people of India, the interest of the people of Bangladesh is foremost in our minds.

#WATCH | Delhi: On Bangladesh situation, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "... The situation is evolving. It has been reported that this evening there will be a swearing-in of the interim government. Once, those things take place, I would like to emphasise one thing, for pic.twitter.com/64mvS3NQRm  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2024

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It has been reported that this evening there will be a swearing-in of the interim government. Diplomatic community members have been invited. It is likely that our High Commissioner will participate Once, those things take place, I would like to emphasise one thing, for the government and the people of India, the interest of the people of Bangladesh is foremost in our minds, said Jaiswal.

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When asked about the situation of investments made in Bangladesh by India, Jaiswal said, We are engaged with authorities in Dhaka As a close friend of the people of Bangladesh, it is our understanding that we want the restoration of peace and stability in the country as soon as possible so that normal life can begin and we can take the interest of the people of Bangladesh forward

Talking about reports of protests in Britain, Jaiswal said, A lot of incidents are happening there. We have issued an advisory because a lot of our people go to the UK. We asked the people to keep themselves in safer places

Jaiswal said India has also been following on the developments in Venezuela since the recent presidential elections.

We hope there is a peaceful resolution of the issue, he added.

With inputs from agencies
Within 24 hours of the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, there were reports of Hindus being attacked, their houses and temples ransacked, and their valuables looted in as many as 27 districts of Bangladesh read more

(File) Firefighters douse a fire engulfing a shopping center which was set on fire by protesters during a rally against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government demanding justice for the victims killed in the recent countrywide deadly clashes, in Dhaka, Bangladesh on August 4, 2024. AP

Being a Hindu in Bangladesh is a difficult situation. Till the other day, he aroused anger, especially among the people of jihadi kind, for being seen as a collaborator who schemed enough to become a Sheikh Hasina supporter. He indeed was a loyal Hasina supporter. Still, that doesnt guarantee him safety. As per a 2021 human rights report, Bangladesh saw more than 3,600 attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh since 2013. Hasina had been in power since 2009.

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Minorities in Bangladesh had been ardent Hasina supporters not because the killing of Hindus, the destruction and looting of their property, including temples, and the wanton discrimination regularly meted out to them had stopped completely. Every now and then, on one pretext or the other, there would be violence where only one particular community would be targeted. The last great killing took place in 2021 when a copy of the Quran was found at a Durga Puja pandal. It later turned out to be the handiwork of a Muslim man, but the damage was done. As a result, if The Daily Star, the largest-circulating daily English-language newspaper in Bangladesh, is to be believed, 117 Hindu temples or puja pandals and 301 shops/homes were also damaged.

The Hindu-Muslim violence in Bangladesh is starkly different from that in Bharat. One tends to loosely use the term riot to describe it. But then they are not riots. There can never be a riot in a Muslim-majority state. Remember that line from Taslima Nasrins Lajja, where Suronjon is caught in an argument with his father, Sudhamoy Datta: When the father defends his stay in violence-prone Bangladesh, saying there are riots in all countries. Arent there riots in India?, the son responds: Riots are good, Baba. But here we dont have riots. Here Muslims are killing Hindus!

Still Hindus supported Hasina. Because she ensured there was a semblance of order, a sense of normalcy in their lives. They had seen much worse, so much violence that Hasinas controlled chaos was something they grasped with both hands.

But as the saying goes, good things dont last long. And they ended this Tuesday, August 6, when Sheikh Hasina was given the 45-minute ultimatum to pack her bags and leave the country. The chaos soon descended on the streets of Bangladesh and even the statue of Bangbandhu  the man who got the countrys freedom in 1971  was not left alone.

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For Hindus in Bangladesh, the era of a jhatka-type of execution was back in action. One can grasp the seriousness of the situation from the fact that the head of Bharats Ministry of External Affairs, which is instinctively prone to take a less alarmist position, informed Parliament that properties of individuals associated with the (Hasina) regime were torched across the country. What was particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses and temples also came under attack at multiple locations.

Within 24 hours, there were reports of Hindus being attacked, their houses and temples ransacked, and their valuables looted in as many as 27 districts of Bangladesh. Even an ISKCON temple wasnt spared. Orchestrated by Jamaat-led Islamist outfits, one saw the resumption of ethnic cleansing that Sheikh Hasina had put a lid on 15 years ago. One can gauge the scale and nature of violence from a harrowing video in circulation these days when Islamist fundamentalists are seen inspecting the genitals of a lynched man, and expressing happiness that he is a Hindu!

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The othering of Hindus was always normal in Bangladesh. But now, the genie of jihad, which Hasina had kept inside the bottle for 15 years, is out in the open. Unfortunately, at a time when the minorities of Bangladesh deserved care, empathy and support, there is a tendency, especially among Hindu liberals, to look the other way, if not completely discount their sufferings. One editor of a New Delhi-based website who carries an American passport, in an interview recently, dismissed the possibility of Hindus being attacked in Bangladesh. Ironically, the same gentleman is never tired of raising the spectre of Hindu fundamentalism and Muslim victimhood in Bharat.

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The said editor is merely the grotesque manifestation of a so-called liberals innate tendency to submit to the Islamist violence in the name of secularism. These people have chosen to be blind to the deliberate othering of minorities in Islamic states, and Bangladesh is no exception. They dont care to see that Hindu population in Bangladesh has dwindled to a third from 22 per cent in 1952 to less than 8 per cent today. Such is the scale of Hindu decimation in Bangladesh that 30 years from now, no Hindus will be left in Bangladesh should the current rate of exodus continue, Dr Abul Barkat, a Dhaka University professor, was quoted as saying by Deep Halder and Avishek Biswas in their 2023 book, Being Hindu in Bangladesh.

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If the current situation in Bangladesh is alarmingly grim, the Hindu reaction in Bharat is hardly reassuring. As in the past, there has been a sense of disconnect, if not disinterest, for what is happening to minorities on the other side of the border. What most of these people fail to comprehend is that while they see no connection with their coreligionists in Bangladesh, the Islamists never fail to miss this civilisational/religious link.

But then, why just blame the Left-librals when, in the deeper analysis, this has long been a failing of Hindu society, whether in Bharat or outside? Nasrin explains this Hindu psyche well in Lajja. In the scene, Suronjon is caught in an argument with a boy named Khaled, who calls him names like son of a pig and bastard. Suronjoy gives him back in equal measure. Nasrin writes further:

Khaled: Offspring of a dog!

Suronjon: You are the son of the dog.

Khaled: Hindu!

Suronjon: You are a Hindu!

Suronjon thought that Hindu too was a swear word. For quite a few years, he had thought that Hindu was a pejorative, mocking term. It was only when he grew up a bit that he understood that there was a community of people called Hindus and he belonged to that community. After some time, he began to believe that he belonged to the human race and a community called Bengali. The Bengali community had not been created by any religion. He wanted to believe that it was non-communal and inclusive.

Towards the end of the novel, Suronjons make-believe world shatters as he pleads to his father to migrate to Bharat because here (in Bangladesh) Muslims are killing Hindus. Narsin enacts the drama poignantly:

You are calling yourself a Hindu? asked Sudhamoy excitedly. He wanted to jump out of bed.

We might be atheists and humanists, said Suronjon, restraining his father, but people call us Hindus. They call us infidels.

In the end, Sudhamoy relents and the Datta family prepares to go away to Bharat.

This is the story of Hindus in Bangladesh. Their tragedy is three-fold. First, they were convinced to stay put in Pakistan and Bangladesh by their own leaders led by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. As for the Hindus of Bangladesh, they faced double jeopardy: Most Hindus who stayed back in Bangladesh after Partition belonged to the outcaste community of Namasudras. Before Independence, these people were politically very active and had a charismatic leader in Jogendranath Mandal who believed in the facade of Dalit-Muslim unity. Mandal convinced his people not to migrate to Bharat. But when most of the upper caste Hindus migrated from Bangladesh (then East Pakistan), these Dalits came in direct confrontation with Islamists. With their departure, the very raison detre of Dalit-Muslim alliance was gone. Things became so bad that Mandal, who was Pakistans first law minister, had to migrate to Bharat in 1950. His followers, being too poor and downtrodden, were not that lucky.

Second, Hindus left behind  like the fictional Sudhmoy of Lajja  convinced themselves that they were not Hindus: They were Bengalis, humanists, atheists, et al. What they failed to realise was that in the eyes of Islamists, they remained Hindus, kafirs!

Third, to their misfortune, their coreligionists in Bharat, especially the dominant Left-liberal brigade, give two hoots to their plight in Bangladesh. They look for explanations, often mischievously inventing them, to explain how alls well with minorities in Bangladesh  and in Pakistan. Such has been the dubious character of this class of people that they swear by Ambedkar, but work overtime to deny any relief to the children of Ambedkar desperately stuck in Bangladesh and Pakistan. These Left-liberals have been in the forefront to agitate against the CAA introduced by the current government to help the persecuted Hindus of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh get the citizenship of Bharat.

Postscript: The level of Hindu indifference to the plight of minorities can be gauged from the fact that it needed an American activist, Richard L Benkin, to bring out the sufferings of minorities in Bangladesh and Pakistan. In his sentinel book, A Quiet Case of Ethnic Cleansing: The Murder of Bangladeshs Hindus, Benkin recalls an interaction with his mother. He writes:

When I was a youngster and began understanding what was done to my people (Jews) by the Nazis, I once asked my mother, Mom, why didnt American Jews do something about this? She responded that we really had no idea what was happening.

Later when I started making these trips to South Asia to stop the murder of Pakistani and Bangladeshi Hindus, she and other loved ones often were concerned for my safety. She asked me if the things happening were really that bad, why we never read about it in our papers or hear about it in the media.

Good question, I responded. You remember what you said when I asked you why American Jews never did anything to help stop the Holocaust? You said that you just had no idea that it was happening.

Thats right, she said. We didnt.

But that didnt mean the murders werent happening. Just because the papers never reported, it didnt mean that our families werent killed, did it? Same thing now.

The Jews learnt their lessons during World War II. They never forgot the Holocaust. And they ensured the world never forgets that either. The same can hardly be said about the Hindus  of Bharat, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The views expressed in the above article are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
With Iran vowing revenge, the Axis of Resistance  Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthis  poses a multi-front threat. Its combined arsenal, from missiles to guerilla tactics, threatens to spiral the Gaza conflict into a region-wide war read more

The night of July 30 may have changed the West Asian region forever. On this fateful night, three strikes across three capitals in the region led to two key assassinations. Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was in Tehran for the inauguration of Irans newly elected president Masoud Pezeshkian, was assassinated in a targeted strike at his residence in a closely guarded area of Tehran. In Beirut, a precision airstrike took out senior Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr, who Israel had blamed for the missile attack in the occupied Golan Heights on July 27, which led to the death of 12 Israeli citizens.

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Elsewhere, in Baghdad, a missile attack by US forces targeted a base south of the city used by Iran-backed Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), killing four members of the group.

A day later, on 1 August, Israel claimed it had also eliminated Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif in an airstrike carried out in Khan Younis city in Gaza on July 13. Earlier, on July 20, Israeli fighter aircraft had targeted the port city of Hodeidah in Yemen, which is controlled by the Houthis, setting a major oil storage dump on fire and killing six people.

With Israel being blamed for all the strikes, the Gaza war, which has been oscillating between hopes of a ceasefire and continuing death and destruction, may have just crossed a critical threshold. It may no longer be possible to keep the conflict isolated to Gaza. This is especially relevant in view of Irans announcement, after a brief military spat with Israel in April this year, that the era of strategic patience is over and that any Israeli assaults will be met with a direct response.

Following the assassinations, the response was led by none other than Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was firm and clear about seeking revenge. The leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, also vowed severe retaliation against Israel.

A strike by Iran and its allies thus seems inevitable; it is only a question of when and how. As the region awaits the inevitable, it may be relevant to examine the military capabilities of each side to better understand how such strikes could unfold.

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Military capabilities

Iran is the main protagonist in the anticipated strike. For years, it has relied on its proxies in the region to wage war on its behalf, but this time, it is likely to undertake a direct strike. As Iran and Israel are separated by almost 1,800 km, a ground war or boots on the ground is unlikely. Therefore, military power projection will be through standoff weapon systems like drones and missiles.

Regarding airpower, Iran has a poorly equipped and ageing fleet. Its air force comprises an array of aircraft, ranging from US-made F-14s to Chinese F-4s, F-5s, and F-7s, along with Russian Sukhois and MiG-29s. Most estimates suggest a total of 330350 aircraft. Although Iran has been asking Russia to supply Sukhoi-35 fighter jets, this is unlikely to materialise soon.

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It is Irans missile technology, however, that is potent and lethal. Irans array of missiles is the largest and most diverse in the region. Many are reported to be inherently capable of carrying nuclear payloads. Iran has an arsenal of medium- and long-range ballistic missiles that can be launched from Iran itself, while shorter-range missiles can be fired from Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. Iran possesses the Khorramshahr-1, 2, and 3, which are MRBMs with ranges of 2,000 to 3,000 km, the Fatah-1 with ranges of 1,400 to 1,700 km, and many others, such as the Sejjil (2,000 km) and Paveh (1,650 km). It is estimated that Iran has also developed the Khyber Shikan missile, a more advanced version from the Fatah-1 family of missiles.

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In addition, Iran has developed hypersonic missiles, which fly at speeds of Mach 5 and are beyond the interception capability of most anti-missile systems. Russia has used these missiles in Ukraine with great success. Iran also has cruise missiles, such as the Kh-55, with a range of up to 3,000 km.

Iran possesses a large variety of drones as well, having mastered the art and science of developing low-cost, low-technology drones. Prominent among these is the Shahed category of drones, which are suicide or kamikaze drones meant to explode on their targets. Shahed-131s were used when the Houthis targeted Saudi oil fields and airfields in 2019. The improved version, the Shahed-136 drone, has a longer range of over 1,500 miles and can carry 2040 kg of explosives. The Shahed-238 drone has jet propulsion, making it faster and capable of carrying heavier payloads. There are also the Samad-1, 2, and 3 categories of drones, which have effective ranges of 1,800 km and can carry substantial payloads.

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Hezbollah

Hezbollah, or The Party of God, is the worlds most heavily armed non-state group and has been described as a militia trained like an army and equipped like a state. This Iran-backed group possesses more than 150,000 missiles and rockets, according to the World Factbook of the US Central Intelligence Agency, which can hit almost all of Israel. Many of its weapons are Iranian, with some also drawn from Russian or Chinese models. Although Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah claims to have 100,000 fighters, most estimates suggest it has up to 45,000.

Unguided rockets, such as Katyusha missiles with a range of 30 km, comprise the bulk of Hezbollahs missile arsenal. It also possesses Iranian models, such as Raad (Arabic for thunder), Fajr (dawn) and Zilzal (earthquake) rockets, which have a more powerful payload and longer range than Katyushas. In the ongoing war in Gaza, Hezbollah has fired Katyushas and Burkan (volcano) missiles, with an explosive payload of 300500 kg, at Israel. It has also used Iranian-made Falaq-2 rockets, which were used for the first time in June this year and which carry a larger warhead than the previously used Falaq-1.

Hezbollah uses anti-tank missiles, including the Russian-made Kornet, which have proved very effective against tanks and armoured personnel carriers. It has also reportedly used an Iranian-made guided missile known as al-Mas, which can hit targets beyond the line of sight, enabling it to strike from above. Hezbollah successfully used anti-tank missiles during its 2006 war with Israel, when it struck nearly 50 Israeli Merkava tanks.

Although Hezbollah is known to possess Soviet-era anti-aircraft gun systems, such as the ZU-23, OSA, Strella, Igla, and Pantsyr S-1, it is only during the current Gaza war that it has downed Israeli drones  including the Hermes 450 and Hermes 900  using surface-to-air missiles.

Hezbollah also utilises one-way explosive drones, as well as drones that drop bombs and return to Lebanon. These are mostly short-range drones supplied by Iran, along with locally assembled Ayoub and Mersad models, which analysts say are cheap and relatively easy to produce.

In addition to its stand-off weapons, Hezbollah has a well-trained and highly motivated Special Forces too who are well trained in guerilla warfare. Having fought Israel in 2006 and in constant state of conflict since then, these are battle hardened and capable of inflicting damage through raids.

Houthis

The military capability of the Houthis is basically centered on two types of weapon platforms  UAVs and ballistic and cruise missiles. Most of the acquisitions and developments in its arsenal are through Iran. Their initial inventory comprised Russian P-21 and P-22 missiles and Chinese C-801 missiles, both taken over from the Yemeni armed forces.

The Houthis have the Typhoon missile, a rebranded version of the Iranian Qadr missile, with a range of 1,600 to 1,900 km. It was unveiled in a military parade weeks before the onset of the Gaza war. They also possess the Quds-2 cruise missile, with a range of 1,200 km. They may also possess a version of the Chinese C-802 (YJ-82/CH-SS-N-6 Saccade) anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM). According to the Military Balance 2024 report, the Houthis have developed more ASCMs, which were unveiled during military parades in 2023, including two anti-ship versions of the Iranian Quds/351 LACM. Both systems have a range of at least 800 km.

The Houthis have also unveiled a variety of anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) and guided rockets employing Iranian infrared or imaging infrared seeker technology. These include the 450 km-range Asef, a rebranded ASBM version of Irans Fateh-313 missile, and the Tankil missile, a rebranded anti-ship version of the IRGC-developed 500 km-range Zohayr. There are reportedly three smaller ASBMs as well: the 140 km-range Faleq, the Mayun, and the Bahr al-Ahmar.

Regarding drones, the Houthi drone inventory includes the Iranian Shahed-136 drone, which has a range of about 2,000 kilometres. The Houthis also possess Iranian-made Samad-2 and Samad-3 drones, which have a range of around 1,500 km and carry a payload of about 20 kg. The drone used by the Houthis in their recent attack on Tel Aviv in July is called the Yafa. This seems to be an upgraded and locally modified version of the Samad-3, designed to increase its range and help it avoid detection.

Hamas

Hamas is the third component of the 3Hs, supported by Iran. It does not have any conventional forces or weapons. Its fighters are estimated to number around 25,000 to 30,000 and are primarily trained in guerrilla warfare and terrorist tactics. Hamas has been fighting the Gaza war with Israel since October 2023 and has suffered major damage and casualties, but it remains resilient and effective.

Apart from basic hand-held weapons, Hamas is known to possess an array of short-range rockets, including the Russian-made Kornet platform and the Iranian Fajr family of anti-tank weapons. It is also known to have Iranian-made Fateh-110 ballistic missiles, which have a range of up to 185 miles. It uses fast-moving light vehicles, such as jeeps, pickup trucks, and motorbikes. Its general modus operandi involves the use of tunnels deep under the Gaza fence, the placement of IEDs, and the carrying out of spectacular attacks in Israel.

Other Militias in Iraq and Syria

Iran also has support from various militia groups in Iraq and Syria. Most prominent among these are the Iraqi Shiite militias known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF). These groups have repeatedly attacked US troops in Iraq  over 60 times  since the start of the Gaza war. Apart from the drone strike on January 28 on a facility known as Tower 22 in Jordan, on the Syrian border, which killed three US troops, a rocket attack on the Al-Asad US airbase in western Iraq injured five US soldiers as recently as August 6.

The wait for the retaliation

The military capability of the Axis of Resistance is thus very effective, and it has been demonstrated more than once that its weapon systems can penetrate the formidable Israeli defences. Even on high alert, anticipating a retaliatory strike, three out of four drones from south Lebanon were able to penetrate Israeli defences on August 6 and explode in northern Israel.

Israel will clearly be banking on its early warning systems and anti-missile defence systems, including the long-range MIM-104 Patriot PAC-2, with a range of 160 km, and the short-range Iron Dome (anti-rocket system), Davids Sling, and the famous Arrow air defence systems.

The US has already moved an aircraft carrier battle group into the region. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan have declared that they will not permit Iran or its proxies to use their airspace to carry out an attack, thereby giving proxy support to Israel.

Iran, on the other hand, is determined to retaliate. It has already informed the UN that it will carry out a retaliatory attack on Israel in self-defence against violations of its national security and territorial integrity, citing Article 51 of the UN Charter. The world waits as Israel braces for an unprecedented and coordinated attack, while the region faces the prospect of an escalated conflict spreading far beyond Gaza  one that promises to alter the security landscape of the region forever.

Col Rajeev Agarwal is a military veteran and West Asia expert. During his service, he has been Director in Military Intelligence as well as Director in the Ministry of External Affairs. His X handle is @rajeevidsa. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Bangladeshs Parliament has been dissolved and though the Army Chief had earlier announced consultations with academics, retired judges, civil servants and ex-armed forces officers to form an interim government, self-appointed student leaders prevailed and got their choice, 84-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead that dispensation. They thus signalled their veto, but as these leaders are unelected, what legitimacy does their choice or veto have?

All the heroes of this students protest are cited as area coordinators of an outfit called Baisamyabirodhi Chhatra Andolan (BCA) or Anti-Discrimination Students Movement that spearheaded the agitation against the reimposition of quotas for freedom fighters kin in government jobs. However, the students ire was not directed at the High Court for resurrecting that quota but against Sheikh Hasinas government, which had junked that very rule in 2018.

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Odd but not inexplicable as it soon became clear their real target and single-point agenda was removing Sheikh Hasina and her government, with the quota issue merely a convenient flash point to galvanise mostly male, mostly older looking students to swarm out across Bangladesh to confront the police. With no visible organisation or clear leadership, being arrested made many of these coordinators into de facto leaders and those killed into martyrs for democracy.

The police and Armywhether deliberately or due to incompetenceescalated tensions by firing on the protesters, killing hundreds and effectively making the Prime Ministers position untenable. Despite the heavy cost in terms of lives, the protesters prevailed, with Sheikh Hasina fleeing to India on Monday. So now they have given themselves veto powers and got whom they want as the countrys interim leader, with voluble promises of restarting a democratic process.

Last time round, it took two years for the interim government to get round to elections but geopolitics are rather different in 2024 than in 2007. The inexorable rise of Islamist groups especially among students, and reports that Chinese funding (via Pakistan) have fuelled the agitation cannot be dismissed given the overt anti-India tenor of the protesters, not to mention the attacks on Indian assets there including burning the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka.

Though Sheikh Hasina reportedly likening the students to razakars (locals who collaborated with West Pakistani forces in 1971 to murder lakhs of East Pakistani Bengalis) was promptly posited as a vicious and uncalled-for attack on the protesters, she may not have been entirely off the mark. That at least some of the protesters real agenda wasand probably remainsdifferent from what they had been claiming, and foreign involvement is now becoming clear.

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On August 1, 2024, the Bangladesh government had banned the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its students wing, Islamic Chhatra Shibir (ICS). The JeI had earlier been barred from contesting elections by the High Court in 2013 as its constitution violated the national Constitution by opposing secularism. Not barred from other political activities, ICS pivoted to meetings, rallies and statements. The parallel rise of the well-coordinated BCA now seems too much of a coincidence.

More so as its anti-quota protest dovetailed neatly with JeIs agenda. Is that pure coincidence? Was it also a coincidence that winners of students union elections in the past three years in major universities like Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Rajshahi all had ICS support? Or that ICS cadres were active in these protests? As Goldfinger famously told James Bond, They have a saying in Chicago: Once is happenstance; twice is coincidence. The third time its enemy action.

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It has been pointed out that Yunus is friendly with the Clintons and other powerful people in the US political system. His first wife was American and his elder daughter holds dual citizenship. However, it is unlikely that the students who have propelled him into running the interim government are pro-American, though a social media post by one of them said In Dr Yunus, we trust which sounds curiously close to the US motto, In God We Trust.

That Grameen Bank has long a China unit should also not be forgotten even as Indian and Bangladeshi intellectuals rejoice over Yunus elevation. Though he founded the world famous micro-finance institution, tellingly, with the help of the Ford Foundation (whose links to the US government are well known), the subsequent insidious role of China in all of south Asias economiesincluding wooing Bangladeshfor the past 25 years cannot be ignored either.

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His popularity among those protesting students in Bangladesh notwithstanding, it may be recalled that soon after winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, Yunus visited China at the invitation of the Chinese government. Top Chinese leaders and the deputy governor of the Peoples Bank of China met him in Beijing and he also visited the university. Then in December 2014, he founded Grameen China. But curiously, it functions just as a consultation service.

Yunus was particularly close to India during the Congress years; he was even awarded the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development in 1998 by Sonia Gandhi. When Rahul Gandhi visited Bangladesh for five days in 2008 at the invitation of Grameen Bank, Yunus received him at the airport. And in 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic was spreading, Yunus too part in a video interaction with Rahul Gandhi discussing challenges and the way ahead.

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Though Yunus was reportedly miffed by Indias stance that the protests (before Sheikh Hasinas ouster) were Bangladeshs internal matter, about Prime Minister Narendra Modi he said yesterday, I have met him many times. We had good discussions. He admires the work that I do. He invited me to speak to his officials and his ministers many times. Personally, we share a very warm relationship. Will his new colleagues and coordinators be pleased with this?

Some may recall that the previous time the army stepped in to install an interim governmentalso in 2006there were widespread student protests then too. One solution was an interim government, but without both begumsSheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia of Bangladesh Nationalist Party. And who was deemed suitable to lead after the ladies were shoved aside? Yunus. But back then he did not want to accept what the Army rulers had in mind: chief adviser.

Now Yunus accepted the same title, offered by students. But he surely cannot forget that the last time he was asked to restore democracy, Begum Khaleda had been PM but was removed before the elections as she and the BNP were seen as the corrupt arch-villains, much like Sheikh Hasina is today. Ironically, Begum Zia has been released from imprisonment and is mulling a comeback along with her controversial son Tarique Rahman, who currently lives in the UK.

Can Yunus work with them and other tainted prominent political leaders, forgetting their past but not Sheikh Hasinas? Will his student backers allow him to do so? Will they decide whose sins he should overlook and whose he cannot? Will Begum Zia trust someone who was called to be part of a solution in 2006 that included her permanent sidelining? Will the students have veto powers in the running of the interim government as they have had in its formation?

It all boils down to the tricky question of who will actually run Bangladesh in the coming days. A Nobel laureate economist and renowned banker to the poor leading a motley bunch of civil society notables? Or the students who put him there but have not been elected to take decisions? Or those lurking behind them, who provided the money and support to mobilise and coordinate the movement that toppled a PM? Probably Yunus himself does not really know.

The author is a freelance writer. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
In his first press conference since Kamala Harris became the Democratic Partys presidential nominee, Donald Trump proposed to have three debates with her on ABC News, NBC News, and Fox News read more

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

In an hourlong press conference laced with falsehoods, Donald Trump insulted Vice President Kamala Harris and railed about his own purported achievements.

Trump spoke about Harris intelligence, piled up false accusations on the Joe Biden administration, spread falsehoods about his own record, and even went on to compare himself with civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King Jr.

As he railed about how charismatic he was, Trump said he pulled bigger crowds than King Jr on January 6, 2021  the crowd that went on to attack the Capitol Hill after his provocation and sought to kill the then-Vice President Mike Pence in a bid to hijack the certification of 2020 presidential election result and illegally overturn it in his favour.

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Trump said, Ill tell you, its very hard to find a picture of that crowdIf you look at Martin Luther King, when he did his speech, his great speech, and you look at ours. Same real estate. Same everything. Same number of people, if not, we had more.

Shes not smart enough

In addition to appearing to be mocking Harris by intentionally mispronouncing her first name, Trump said she was not smart enough.

Criticising her for not holding press conferences, even as he himself was holding one after several weeks, Trump said she cant do a press conference as she was not smart enough. Berating Harris further, Trump said his 2016 rival Hillary Clinton whom he insulted as Crooked Hillary was much smarter than her.

Later in the conference, Trump returned to the topic and said it was not about Harris intelligence but its really, ultimately, not about her as much as about her policies.

Trump proposes 3 debates with Harris

After he walked out of a pre-scheduled presidential debate on September 10, Trump said he has agreed to holding three debates with Harris.

Trump said he has agreed to debate Harris on ABC News, NBC News, and Fox News.

Even as he said he has agreed to the debates, Trump mocked her by saying she was barely competent to debate.

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Shes barely competent, and she cant do an interview, but I look forward to the debates, said Trump.

Even as the press conference was going on, ABC confirmed that the Sept. 10 debate was on track and The New York Times reported that NBC was also finalising the terms. As for the Fox debate, while Trump has pledged to do it, the Harris campaign has so far not agreed to it.

Trump downplays abortions, accuses Democrats of infanticide

Trump said that abortion was a minor issue in the election.

This does not appear to be in line with the polls. A Gallup poll said that around a third of all voters 32 per cent said they will only vote for a person who shared their views on abortion. Nationally, the poll found that 54 per cent of Americans were pro-choice.

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Trump, however, said that abortion has become much less of an issue now. He added that abortion was actually going to be a very small issue.

Trump went on to repeat that he supported abortion in case of rape, incest, and in situations the mothers life was in danger.

Trump, however, politicised abortion as he levelled false infanticide allegation on Democrats. He said the Democrats were the radical ones who were allowing abortions even after a child was born  a false claim.

Once a child is born, there cannot be any abortion and any intentional killing of a child will amount to murder.

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The New York Times noted in a fact-check that no US state has passed a law allowing for the killing of an infant right after birth.

Trumps pile of falsehoods

While whitewashing the insurrectionist mobs actions on January 6, 2021, Trump said no one was killed that day. Thats blatantly false as one protester was killed that day as law enforcement personnel sought to stop the mob from taking over the US Capitol and harming the Congresspersons and Vice President Pence. Overall, a total of seven people died in connection to the Jan. 6 attack.

A Trump supporter had died of a heart attack while attending the rally and another rioter was crushed by fellow rioters in a stampede and another died from a stroke, according to The Times.

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Moreover, one policeman was killed by the rioters and two more personnel part of the outnumbered force that defended the Capitol died by suicide, according to the newspaper.

Trump also said that Harris wanted to take away your guns. Harris has only been supportive of a buyback programme in the past of assault weapons  not all guns.

Trump also said that in the 18 months that his administration held talks with the Taliban, no US soldier was killed. The Times in a fact-check noted that 13 soldiers were killed in that period.

Trump went on to say that Harris would take away social security  a falsehood. Harris, and Biden before him, has pledged to not make any cuts to social security.

Trump boasted of his tax cuts as being the largest. The Times fact-checked the claim and said there were at least half a dozen cuts bigger than his, including one by the then-President Barak Obama in 2012.
Donald Trump and his far-right Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement have falsely maintained that Joe Biden stole the 2020 election result read more

US President Joe Biden has warned that Donald Trump could resort to political violence if he loses election (Photo: Reuters)

US President Joe Biden has warned that Donald Trump, the Republican Partys presidential nominee, may not allow a peaceful transition of power if he loses.

In his first interview since dropping out of the presidential contest, Biden has warned that Trump may resort to the violence that he has long promised.

In 2020, Trump and his far-right Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement false claimed that Trump had won the election and Biden stole it. Even after four years, they have maintained that claim.

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On January 6, 2021, when the election result was being certified in the Senate, Trump egged on a mob of far-right supporters who attacked the Capitol housing the Senate in a bid to take over the certification proceedings and illegally overturn the result. Many of the attackers were armed with weapons and they had openly sought to kill prominent persons including Vice President Mike Pence.

There are fears that Trump may again provoke violence if he loses the 2024 presidential election. He has already openly threatened violence.

We should take his threats seriously, says Biden

In the interview with CBS News, Biden said that people should take Trump seriously when he threatens violence and invokes election denialism.

When asked if he was confident about a peaceful transfer of power, Biden said if Trump loses, I am not confident at all.

Biden further said, He [Trump] means what he says. We dont take him seriously. He means it  all the stuff about if we lose, thered be bloodbath.

Biden then went on to say about how Republicans have been appointing partisan election officials as part of their efforts to turn the result in their favour.

Biden said, Look what they are trying to do now in local election districts where people count the votes  putting people who count the votes.

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In his first TV interview since exiting the 2024 race, President Biden tells CBS News' @costareports he's "not confident at all" that a peaceful transfer of power will happen in January 2025 if former President Donald Trump loses.



"He means what he says. We don't take him pic.twitter.com/uE4dj5Vzrs  CBS Sunday Morning  (@CBSSunday) August 7, 2024

The CBS has released a clip of the interview conducted by Robert Costa. The full interview will be broadcast on Sunday.

Trump has warned of bloodbath if he loses

Trump had warned of bloodbath in March  which Biden referred to in the interview.

There would be nationwide bloodbath if he loses, said Trump at a rally when he was warning of job losses.

Were going to put a 100 per cent tariff on every single car that comes across the line, and youre not going to be able to sell those guys if I get elected. Now, if I dont get elected, its going to be a bloodbath for the whole  thats gonna be the least of it. Its going to be a bloodbath for the country. Thatll be the least of it, said Trump, as per CNN.

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Moreover, Trump has resorted to racist and hateful rhetoric throughout the campaign. Last year, he called his political and ideological opponents vermin and, on another occasion, said immigrants to the United States were poisoning the blood of the nation.
US forces fired over 135 Tomahawk missiles, costing upwards of $2 million each, and 155 various standard missiles, priced between $2 million and $4 million each read more

The US' operation to ward off Houthi attacks in the Red Sea has been called a "money-guzzler'

The United States has so far launched approximately 800 missiles and seven rounds of airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

Despite this long-drawn military campaign- the most prolonged and intense since the anti-ISIS operations- the results are not great.

The operation continues to be a heavy weight on the treasury, with no foreseeable end in sight.

The US Navys efforts to protect commercial shipping have led to extended deployments of warships in the Red Sea, Politico reported.

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Defence officials argue that the Navys role in protecting commercial shipping is vital. The intensity of Houthi attacks, using drones, missiles, and explosive-laden boats, necessitated an international response.

Money-guzzler

Representative Mike Waltz, chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, criticised the missions costs, describing it as a money-guzzler primarily fueled by Irans support for the Houthis.

Although British, French, Dutch, and Japanese ships have participated, American warships have borne the brunt of the action. The US Navy has been continuously engaged in intercepting waves of drones launched by the Houthis, using hundreds of multi-million-dollar missiles.

US forces fired over 135 Tomahawk missiles, costing upwards of $2 million each, and 155 various standard missiles, priced between $2 million and $4 million each, Politico reportrd

During the USS Eisenhower carrier strike groups extended deployment,. The F-18 aircraft aboard the Eisenhower also launched 60 air-to-air and 420 air-to-surface weapons. The Eisenhower has since been replaced by the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier group, which continues to defend against Houthi drones daily.

In spite of this, it doesnt seem like the Houthis capacities are being neutralised or their attacks blunted.

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The Iran-backed group has a steady supply chain when it comes to their weapons. Iranian, as well as Chinese companies continue to supply the components for Houthi missiles and drones.

US-imposed sanctions seem to have not deterred this trade.

Politics over Pentagons budget

And thus, despite the extensive efforts, freedom of navigation in the Red Sea remains precarious, with the Houthis escalating their campaign, including a drone attack targeting Tel Aviv, Politico reported.

Meanwhile, the strain on resources continues. It has already prompted discussions in Congress about increasing the Pentagons budget beyond what the Biden administration proposed.

Representativee Joe Courtney, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Seapower panel, acknowledged the financial and operational pressures on the Navy. He suggested that lawmakers might need to consider a supplemental budget to sustain these extended operations.

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Global deployments to be affected

In addition to the costs and efficacy, the campaign has now also raised concerns about depleting munitions that the Pentagon would prefer to reserve for potential conflicts with China.

At an event, Vice Admiral George Wikoff, commander of Naval Forces Central Command, warned that these prolonged operations would impact global deployment decisions for years.

Former Pentagon official Jonathan Lord stressed the strategic cost of the Red Sea mission, highlighting its impact on US military readiness and global power projection.

As the US continues to slam headfirst into the financial and strategic repercussions of its actions in the Red Sea, the debate over the missions necessity and effectiveness continues, with some Republicans advocating for increased pressure on Iran as a solution to the Houthi threat.
Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he will stay in office as long as he can, amid growing calls for his resignation and criticisms over how he is handling the ongoing Israel-Hamas war read more

Amid growing calls for resignation, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to stay in office for as long as he can to help Israel navigate through the ongoing war against Hamas. The proclamation from the Israeli premier came during his interview with the Time Magazine.

When asked about the ongoing calls for his resignation, Netanyahu made it clear that he is happy to have bad press than a good obituary. I will stay in office as long as I believe I can help lead Israel to a future of security, enduring security and prosperity," the Israeli Prime Minister averred.

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When asked about what he would have said to the leader leading Israel if he had been in the opposition during the October 7 attack. It depends what they do, Netanyahu responded. What do they do? Are they capable of leading the country in war? Can they lead it to victory? Can they ensure that the postwar situation will be one of peace and security? If the answer is yes, they should stay in power, he averred.

Netanyahu says he is deeply sorry for the Oct 7 attack

During the interview, the Israeli premier said that he was deeply sorry that the October 7 massacre occurred. The comments from the prime minister came when he was asked if he would apologise for the tragic incident that triggered the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Of course, of course. I am sorry, deeply, that something like this happened. And you always look back and you say, Could we have done things that would have prevented it?" he said. It is pertinent to note that Netanyahu has not formally taken responsibility for the failure to anticipate the October 7 attacks.

Ive said that following the end of the war, therell be an independent commission that will examine everything that happened before, and everybody will have to answer some tough questions, including me, he told Time.

When asked why he could not take out Hamas before, Netanyahu mentioned that he did not have a consensus at that time. No, I couldnt there wasnt a consensus. There was, in fact, a consensus among the military that we shouldnt do it. But more importantly, you can overrule the military, but you cant, you cant act in a vacuum. There was no public, no domestic support for such, for such an action," he said.

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There was certainly no international support for such an action, and you need both in order to  or at least one of them in order to take such an action. I think that became evident right after the October 7th massacre, he added.

Time also asked the Israeli premier if it was a mistake to allow the Qataris to transfer money into Gaza? To this Netanyahu made it clear that it did not make a big difference. I dont think it made that big a difference, because the main issue was the transfer of weapons and ammunition from the Sinai into Gaza. Thats what made themit wasnt so much a question of money, the Israeli premier averred.

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It was a question of availability, and thats why I insist now on cutting off this supply route for the, uh, in the post-Hamas period, so you dont have to resupply the resurgence of terror, he added.
The Ukrainian embassy in Mexico has urged the Mexican government to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he attends president-elect Claudia Sheinbaums inauguration. This request from Ukraine follows an ICC arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine read more

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have hurled several attacks against each other. Source: Agencies

The Ukrainian embassy in Mexico has called on the Mexican government to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin should he attend the inauguration of president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, slated for October 1.

This request follows an official invitation extended to Putin for the ceremony, a move that has sparked controversy given the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Ukraines stand

In a strongly worded statement, Ukraines delegation labelled Putin a war criminal and expressed confidence in Mexicos adherence to international law.

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We are confident that the Mexican government would comply in any case with the international arrest warrant by handing over the aforementioned (Putin) to the United Nations judicial body in The Hague, the embassy stated.

Arrest warrant for Putin

This comes after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin on March 17, 2023, over alleged war crimes, including the illegal deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.

Initially, the ICC kept these warrants under seal to protect victims and witnesses and maintain the investigations integrity. However, the court later decided to publicize the warrants to raise global awareness and potentially deter further crimes.

Mexicos diplomatic balancing act?

Juan Ramon de la Fuente, poised to become Sheinbaums foreign minister, defended the decision to invite Putin, describing it as standard protocol to invite leaders from all countries with which Mexico maintains diplomatic relations.

This protocol also included an invitation to Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been a vocal critical of Russias actions since the invasion began.

Sheinbaum, who will become Mexicos first female president following her historic victory in the June 2 general election, received congratulations from both Putin and Zelensky, among other global leaders. As Sheinbaum prepares to begin her six-year term, her administration is already navigating complex international diplomatic waters.

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The ICCs arrest warrant for Putin is based on accusations of war crimes that allegedly began on February 24, 2022, coinciding with Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The situation places Mexico in a challenging position. The country has to honour diplomatic protocols, while also addressing international legal and ethical standards.

With inputs from AFP
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council said that 45 out of 64 districts in the country had seen the targeting of mostly Hindu homes, businesses or temples this week read more

Activists clash with the police during a march to remember victims of recent countrywide clashes, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. AP

Hundreds of Bangladeshi Hindus have tried unsuccessfully to flee to India this week after many homes and businesses of the minority community were vandalised following the overthrow of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council said that 45 out of 64 districts in the country had seen the targeting of mostly Hindu homes, businesses or temples this week. A school teacher had been killed and 45 other people hurt, it said.

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Hindus make up about 8% of Muslim-majority Bangladeshs 170 million people and have traditionally largely supported Hasinas Awami League party, which identifies as largely secular, instead of the opposition bloc that includes a hardline Islamist party.

Hasina has taken refuge in India after fleeing the country on Monday in the face of mass protests against what critics called her authoritarian rule - provoking anger among some Bangladeshis towards their neighbour.

Many living close to India are trying to flee but facing resistance from both sides, local people said. Both countries have said they have stepped up border patrolling since the violence.

Mohammad Rakibul Hasan, a local government official in Thakurgaon district in northwestern Bangladesh, said around 700-800 Hindus tried to flee to India around Wednesday evening after some of their houses were attacked and looted.

They returned home after we provided protection, Hasan told Reuters. Border guard troops are patrolling the area. Everything is fine now with no further reports of violence.

Early on Thursday, about 300 Bangladeshis had assembled at a border point near Indias Jalpaiguri district but dispersed later. Indian media showed Indian border troops around a group of people there.

A Hindu goldsmith in the Narsingdi area, about an hour from Dhaka, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said two youths demanded protection money of 1 million Bangladesh taka ($8,550) and relented only after they agreed to pay 100,000 taka.

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Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, who returned to Bangladesh on Thursday to head an interim government following Hasinas departure, said attacks on minorities could have been part of a conspiracy. He did not say who was behind the conspiracy.

Our job is to protect all of them, he said on arrival in Dhaka from Paris.

If you have faith in me and trust me, please ensure no one is attacked in the country. If you cannot listen to me on this, I have no use being here.

The two countries have longstanding cultural and business ties and India played a key role in the 1971 war with Pakistan which led to the creation of Bangladesh.

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India, which has a Hindu majority, has said it was worrying that minorities, their businesses and temples had been attacked in many places.

It is the responsibility of every government to ensure the wellbeing of all its citizens, Indias foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, told a press conference.

We hope for the early restoration of law and order in Bangladesh. This is both in the interest of the country itself and the larger region.

Bangladeshs Hindu community leaders urged other communities to look after the religious minorities.

I call upon the conscientious people of the country to forget all differences and stand unitedly by the side of the affected people and build social resistance, said Moyna Talukdar of the Bangladesh Hindu Law Reform Council.
Hasina, who is believed to be living in Delhi at the moment, fled from Dhaka on Monday after widespread protests against her prime ministership forced her to resign. Meanwhile, Wazed also lives in the national capital read more

She is perhaps so close to her mother yet so far. Saima Wazed, the daughter of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, on Thursday, made a heartfelt post on X, saying that she is heartbroken for not being able to meet her mother.

Hasina, who is believed to be living in Delhi at the moment, fled from Dhaka on Monday after widespread protests against her prime ministership forced her to resign. Meanwhile, Wazed also lives in the national capital.

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Heartbroken with the loss of life in my country that I love. So heartbroken that I cannot see and hug my mother during this difficult time, Saima said.

While the location of where Hasina has been lodged in Delhi is unknown, the former prime minister, who came with her sister Sheikh Rehana, has reportedly not yet met her daughter Saima.

Meanwhile, back at home in Bangladesh, the new interim government is all set to form the new government with Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus at its helm.

Who is Saima Wazed?

Saima Wazed is the Regional Director (South East Asia) of the World Health Organisation (WHO). She is based out of Delhi.

She was nominated for her current position at WHO during the 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee following her extensive work in the field of neurodevelopment disorders. She took charge in February 2024.

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A psychologist by training, Wazed has spent a considerable part of her childhood as a refugee in India.

Yunus to lead new govt

Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus was flying back to Bangladesh on Thursday to lead a caretaker government after a student-led uprising ended the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina.

Yunus, 84, could be sworn in as the countrys new leader as soon as Thursday evening to begin what the army chief has vowed will be a beautiful democratic process.

The prospect of Yunus standing alongside military leaders was almost unimaginable a week ago when security forces were shooting dead protesters who had taken to the streets demanding that Hasina resign.

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Im looking forward to going back home, see whats happening and how we can organise ourselves to get out of the trouble we are in, Yunus told reporters in Paris airport on Wednesday.

With inputs from agencies
Saudi Arabias deputy foreign minister Waleed al-Khereiji said his country rejects any violation of the sovereignty of states or interference in the internal affairs of any country. read more

Saudi Arabia has described Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyehs killing as a blatant violation of Irans sovereignty, Al Jazeera reported.

Saudi Arabias deputy foreign minister Waleed al-Khereiji said his country rejects any violation of the sovereignty of states or interference in the internal affairs of any country.

He made the statement during an extraordinary meeting of members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

Hamas and Iran have blamed Israel for Haniyehs killing in Tehran on July 31. However, the Israeli government has not made any statement on Haniyehs killing.

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The OIC has blamed Israel for the attack that killed Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Following this, Iran has vowed to retaliate, according to the Al Jazeera report.

In a statement after the meeting, the OIC said it holds Israel, the illegal occupying power, fully responsible for this heinous attack, which it termed a serious infringement of Irans sovereignty.

Gambias Foreign Minister, Mamadou Tangara, said Haniyehs heinous killing and the ongoing war in Gaza could cause a regional conflict. He termed the killing a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran.

Tangara said, The aggression and violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the assassination of a political leader on its soil is an act that cannot be viewed in isolation.

This heinous act serves only to escalate the existing tensions potentially leading to a wider conflict that could involve the entire region, he added.

In his remarks at the OIC meeting, Tangara called for durable peace that addresses the root causes of the [Israeli-Palestinian] conflict, Al Jazeera reported.

He called it crucial for the international community to come together to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need and to work towards a sustainable political solution that promotes peace and security for all people in the region.

Iran and Palestine had called for the OIC meeting in Jeddah. Iran has vowed to retaliate, threatening a harsh punishment for Israel. However, the US and other Western nations have called for de-escalation, Al Jazeera reported. Haniyeh has been replaced by Hamass Gaza chief, Yahya Sinwar.

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Tensions in West Asia have escalated after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on July 31 that Ismail Haniyeh had been killed in an attack in Irans capital, Tehran.

In a statement, the IRGC said that Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed when their house was hit in Tehran. A projectile hit a residence allocated to war veterans in Tehran at 2 am (local time) on Wednesday, according to a Press TV report.

In a statement to Mehr News Agency, the IRGC said, With condolences to the heroic nation of Palestine and the Islamic nation and the combatants of the Resistance Front and the noble nation of Iran, this morning (Wednesday) the residence of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political office of the Islamic Resistance of Hamas, was hit in Tehran, and following this incident, he and one of his bodyguards were martyred.

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The IDF has also announced that top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed in the Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on July 30, which came in retaliation to the rocket attack at Golan Heights that killed 12 children, The Times of Israel reported.

Fuad Shukr, the most senior Hezbollah military commander, was killed in the Israeli strike, the IDF said in a statement. Shukr sat on the Jihad Council, Hezbollahs top military body, and was considered to be the head of its strategic division.

Since the October 7 attack by Hamas, he has been managing Hezbollahs attacks against Israel, including the deadly strike in Majdal Shams over the weekend that killed 12 children, according to the military.

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Eliminated: Fuad Shukr Sayyid Muhsan, Hezbollahs Most Senior Military Commander and Hassan Nasrallahs Right-Hand Man, the IDF said in a post on X.

Shukr has directed Hezbollahs attacks on the State of Israel since October 8th, and he was the commander responsible for the murder of the 12 children in Majdal Shams in northern Israel on Saturday evening, as well as the killing of numerous Israelis and foreign nationals over the years. He was also responsible for the majority of Hezbollahs most advanced weaponry, including precise-guided missiles, cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, long-range rockets and UAVs, it added.
Chinese investments in Cambodia mostly in the garment sector cost over $396 million in capital and created approximately 25,000 jobs read more

Of these projects, the garment sector attracted the most financiers with 10 projects, followed by the electricity sector with five and the plastics industry with four. File Photo- Reuters

Chinese investors led Cambodias leading financers in July this year as it participated in 44 new and expanded investment projects, predominantly in the garment sector.

These projects cost over $396 million in capital and created approximately 25,000 jobs, according to the report of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC).

Among these projects, 41 are new ventures and three are expansions of existing ones. Thirty-one projects are outside special economic zones (SEZs), while 13 are within SEZs.

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The garment sector attracted the most financiers with 10 projects, followed by the electricity sector with five and the plastics industry with four.

A notable project outside an SEZ includes the expansion of a laundry, dyeing, and printing facility in Kraing Tea village, Preah Nipean commune, Kampong Speu provinces Kong Pisei district, with an additional investment of over $21 million.

The high-profile project is the establishment of the Koh Kong Zhejiang SEZ in Chroy Svay commune, Koh Kongs Sre Ambel district, with a $100 million investment, creating 331 jobs.

Another significant undertaking is the construction of a Gallatin food processing plant within the new Koh Kong Zhejiang SEZ, with an investment exceeding $26 million, expected to generate 194 jobs.

For decades, China has significantly influenced global supply chains and shaped the economic landscape of Asia. Due to its strategic geographic position and expanding economy, Cambodia has attracted substantial interest from China, facilitating Cambodias integration into global supply chains. Of these projects, the garment and power sectors attracted the most investors with several projects.

According to the reports, Chinas infrastructure projects have provided Cambodia with better connectivity, closer economic ties with the world and the region and increased foreign direct investment. However, experts believe Cambodia should consider diversifying its investment portfolio rather than relying solely on funding from China.

On Monday, Cambodia started China-backed construction on a $1.7 billion canal designed to link the Mekong River to the sea. The project has sparked concerns about Beijings growing influence in the region. The Cambodian government strongly denies the reports that the Chinese navy might use the canal to threaten neighbouring countries, including Vietnam.
This Instagram campaign deliberately targeted a user group labelled as unknown in Googles advertising system, which was known to include a high proportion of under-18s. Documents indicate that efforts were made to conceal the true intent of the campaign. read more

Google and Meta secretly collaborated to target advertisements for Instagram to teenagers on YouTube, bypassing Googles own rules for treating minors online, according to reports.

Google developed a marketing project for Meta to promote Instagram to 13- to 17-year-old YouTube users with adverts that promoted its rivals photo and video app, according to the report in the Financial Times.

This Instagram campaign deliberately targeted a user group labelled as unknown in Googles advertising system, which was known to include a high proportion of under-18s. Documents, as per the FT report, indicate that efforts were made to conceal the true intent of the campaign.

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The project violated Googles rules against personalising and targeting ads to under-18s and circumventing its guidelines. Metas YouTube campaign to attract younger users to Instagram was already underway when Mark Zuckerberg appeared before the US Congress in January, apologising to the families of children who had been exploited on his platforms.

The two companies, typically fierce competitors began this effort late last year as Google aimed to boost advertising revenue and Meta sought to retain younger users amid competition from TikTok.

The companies partnered with Spark Foundry, a US subsidiary of Publicis to launch the pilot marketing program in Canada between February and April, and then trialled it in the US in May. They had plans to expand it internationally and promote to promote other Meta apps such as Facebook, FT cited people familiar with the matter as saying.

According to the report, despite being small pilot programs, Google saw them as an opportunity to develop a more lucrative relationship with Meta involving high-profile brand advertisements on YouTube and other platforms.

Last year, Meta announced new updates to its advertising system, including the removal of gender as a targeting option for users under 18 on Facebook and Instagram. The company had said that these changes were meant to ensure that teens see ads relevant to their age and the products and services available in their location.
While there is no formal announcement about who will be part of Bangladeshs chief advisor Muhammad Yunus council, multiple reports have listed names of scholars and activists who are likely to be part of the team read more

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus waves to the media at Charles de Gaulle's airport in Roissy, north of Paris, before making his way to Bangladesh where he was sworn in as interim chief. AP

As Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus gears up to take oath as Bangladeshs chief advisor, all eyes are now on who will be part of his interim government. The country was left without a leader after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from her post and fled Dhaka. The resignation came amid nationwide anti-government protests which jolted the country like never before.

Multiple Bangladeshi news outlets have cited anonymous sources and released the names of some of the members who are likely to be part of Yunus interim government.

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Earlier today, a source close to the matter confirmed to The Dhaka Tribune that no politician will be part of the advisory council members. The names started swirling around as Yunus is scheduled to take the oath as the head of the interim government today.

List of members who are likely to be part of the Council of Advisers

According to The Daily Star, seven members are confirmed to be part of the advisory board. The names are as follows:

Professor Muhammad Yunus - Bangladeshs Nobel Prize winner will be heading the government.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan - Chief Executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA)

Farida Akhtar - Womens rights activist

Adilur Rahman Khan - Human rights activist and founder of Odhikar

AFM Khalid Hossain - Hefazat-e-Islam nayeb-e-ameer and Islami Andolan Bangladesh adviser

Nurjahan Begum - Grameen Telecom trustee

Sharmeen Murshid - Freedom fighter

Supradip Chakma - Chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board (CHTDB)

However, it is pertinent to note that no formal announcement has been made in this regard. In Bangladesh, the position of chief advisor is equivalent to the post of the Prime Minister and the other advisors are equivalent to ministers.

Other notable names who are reported to be part of the cabinet include; two key conveners of the Students Against Discrimination movement Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed and minority community leader and former chairman of Rangamati district council Gautam Dewan.

However, the names of the 15-member cabinet are yet to be confirmed.

Yunus expresses hope for Bangladeshs progress

While addressing a gathering at the Dhaka airport, the Nobel laureate who is set to take charge as the head of the interim government said that his team will ensure that the newly reborn Bangladesh advances rapidly.

Today is a day of pride for us. The revolution that has given birth to a new Victory Day for Bangladesh must be carried forward and strengthened. I extend my deepest appreciation and gratitude to the youth who made this possible. They stood by me, they have protected this country, and they have given it a rebirth, he said on Thursday.

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The proclamation from Yunus came during a press briefing at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after his arrival from the 2024 Paris Olympics in France. During the presser, the Bangladeshi Nobel Prize winner made it clear that restoring law and order is a priority. I urge the people of the country to trust in me, to have faith in me, and that no harm will come to anyone in the country.

He even became emotional during his address. Today, I am reminded of Abu Sayed (a student from Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur who was killed in a shooting). He was an unbelievingly brave young man. Abu Sayeds name is etched in the hearts of every person in this country. Through this incident, a second independence has come to the nation, he recalled.

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Bangabhaban is ready to hold the oath-taking ceremony for Bangladeshs interim government, which will take place around 8:00 PM (local time) President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath of office to the new government.
The directive by Egypt and Britain to all its airlines were given soon after Tehran sent a cautionary notice warning of avoiding its airspace for three hours on Thursday read more

The instruction to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace was first given by Egypt following the notice from Tehran.

Britain and Egypt have asked all of their airlines to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace for three hours in the early morning on Thursday.

The warning comes after Tehran has sent a cautionary notice asking Egypt to avoid Iranian airspace from 4:30 am to 7:30 am (local time) on Thursday.

Why have flights been asked to avoid Iranian & Lebanese airspace?

All of the flights of Britain and Egypt have been asked to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace amid mounting fears of a possible broader conflict in the region after the July 31 assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and killing of top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

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The instruction to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace was first given by Egypt following the notice from Tehran. Britain too later asked all its airlines not to travel on the routes for safety.

Following the directive, several airlines have revised their schedules categorically avoiding Iranian and Lebanese airspace and most have called off flights to Israel and Lebanon.

As per Flightradar24, a flight tracking website, there were no scheduled flights operated by UK airlines to Lebanon.

Egyptian airlines have already been avoiding the Iranian airspace, Reuters quoted Mark Zee, founder of OPSGROUP - a membership-based organisation that shares flight-risk information, as saying.

Zee further informed that Thursdays directive would apply to all Egyptian carriers, including charter operators, other smaller airlines.

Meanwhile, Egypts civil aviation ministry said that the notice to avoid Iran and Lebanese airspace was intended to reduce flight-safety risks in light of a notification it received from Iranian authorities.

Military exercises will be conducted over Iranian airspace on August 7 from 11:30 to 14:30 and from 4:30 to 7:30 on August 8 Tehran time, the statement further said.

The press statement by the Egyptian civil aviation ministry mentioned an unnamed source quoted by the state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV as saying that Iranian authorities had said to avoid flying in Iranian airspace because of military exercises."

With inputs from agencies
One source familiar with the latest intelligence as saying that Hezbollah could potentially act within days. Iran has not yet completed all the preparations that the US would expect prior to a significant attack on Israel. read more

Lebanon-based Hezbollah appears to be advancing its plans to strike Israel independently of Iran. Tehran is still deciding on what its response strategy should be. Hezbollah, however, is moving much more rapidly.

CNN cited one source familiar with the latest intelligence as saying that Hezbollah could potentially act within days. The same person said Iran has not yet completed all the preparations that the US would expect prior to a significant attack on Israel.

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The news outlet quoted another source as saying that due to Lebanons proximity to Israel, Hezbollah could launch an attack with minimal notice, unlike Iran, which would require more substantial preparations.

There is uncertainty regarding the level of coordination between Iran and Hezbollah, Irans most influential proxy. The second source suggested that some officials believe the two entities may not be fully aligned on their strategies moving forward.

The urgency in Hezbollahs actions follows the killing of its top military commander, Fuad Shukr, by Israel in Lebanon last week. Additionally, Israel is widely believed to have assassinated Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, although Israel has not confirmed or denied involvement.

In response to these developments, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held an extraordinary meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to address the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The resulting draft communique condemned Israels actions and reaffirmed solidarity with the Palestinian cause, specifically denouncing the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader and former Palestinian Prime Minister, in Tehran. The OIC labeled the act as a heinous crime and a violation of international law, warning that such actions undermine regional security and stability.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have been actively engaging with Middle Eastern leaders, including those from Jordan, Qatar, and Egypt, emphasizing the need for de-escalation amid the rising tensions.This unfolding situation is being closely monitored by countries around the world, as the potential for conflict in the region grows.
Before Sheikh Hasinas ouster in Bangladesh, South Asia witnessed the coming of leaders unfriendly to India in Maldives and Nepal. Does this mean India is losing the plot in the neighbourhood? read more

Till last week, Sheikh Hasina was synonymous with Bangladesh and the country had the friendliest regime for India in the subcontinent.

Now, Hasina is out of power and radical mobs are running amok in Bangladesh. The pro-Pakistan and pro-China Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami have emerged as the main players.

The great turnaround in Bangladesh, say many, is part of the trend in South Asia where leaders friendly to India are being replaced by not-so-friendly regimes. The new leaders are much friendlier to China and Pakistan and that has been seen as a sign of Indias falling clout in the region. The rise of Mohamed Muizzu in the Maldives and KP Sharma Oli in Nepal are cited as examples as part of the trend.

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The change of guard in Bangladesh, Maldives, and Nepal have come at a time when Afghanistan continues to be ruled by the Taliban and Myanmar remains embroiled in a civil war. Bhutan appears to be the only oases in the unfriendly desert but there have been winds of change there as well. But is this really that simple?

India Out across South Asia  is it new?

India is the largest country in South Asia in terms of size, economy, and hard power  and that comes with a cost.

For everything that goes wrong anywhere in the region, fingers are pointed at New Delhi and leaders friendly to India are labelled as Indian stooges. It happened with Hasina, who had long been dubbed by her critics as a prop for New Delhi, and it has previously happened with Ibrahim Solih in the Maldives.

Labelling India as a hegemon that has eyes on their nations sovereignty becomes critical to stoking nationalism in their country. The leaders have used the playbook across the region from Nepal to the Maldives and it is not new. Nepal was the first to pioneer this anti-India nationalism which successive monarchs and later the prime ministers used to bolster their domestic standing.

Before Muizzu or Khaleda Zias BNP, King Mahendra of Nepal played the China Card in as early as 1960. How Mahendra antagonised India for internal politics explains why anti-India brand of politics has remained popular in the region.

In 1960, after ousting Prime Minister BP Koirala, Mahendra turned to China to balance India that was sympathetic to the Koirala-led democrats of the Nepali Congress. He not only moved Nepal closer to China but also to Pakistan and even visited the country  a well-known Indian adversary. The opposition to India was part of the broader strategy of stoking anti-India sentiments to weave the one nation, one language, one dress brand of nationalism.

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In his book Battle of the New Republic: A Contemporary History of Nepal, Prashant Jha notes that Mahendra subtly told India that he could align with China which could leave Indias whole approach of having a buffer state between the two Asian giants in tatters. He further highlighted that Mahendra made the most of the brewing India-China enmity at the time  which continues to this day and has only got worse over time.

As relations between Nepals neighbours to the north and south deteriorated, he played what has come to be known as the China card, subtly threatening the Indian establishment with the prospect of Nepal developing closer ties with Beijing, both politically and in terms of greater infrastructural connectivity. This would have left India vulnerable on another front. The policy of using the Himalayas as Indias security frontier as articulated by Nehru would be in tatters, and Nepal would no longer remain a buffer state under the Indian arc of influence, wrote Jha in the book.

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Even though India Out campaigns have picked up pace in recent years in the Maldives and Bangladesh, the movements have been ongoing in one form or the other for over 60 years (Photo: Reuters)

Since then, Nepali leaders have repeatedly followed the Mahendras playbook. King Birendra followed suit and later, when it became a republic, numerous prime ministers did the same  KP Sharma Oli being the latest in the long line of leaders who relied on anti-India sentiments to stoke nationalism for domestic political compulsions. Other leaders in South Asia, whether Muizzu or Zia, have followed the same playbook.

Just like Mahendra utilised the India-China tensions to bolster his position in 1960, now the likes of Muizzu have done the same  if only at a greater scale as the geopolitical stakes have risen.

In the case of Bangladesh, the case of religious fanaticism of Jamaat and inherent pro-Pakistan bent of the BNP have worked to create a new brand of nationalism that brings Islam and anti-India sentiment together. This goes against the original Bangladeshi nationalism of Awami League rooted in Bangla culture and anti-Pakistan movement. But, like Awami League itself, that brand of cultural and ethnic nationalism is now perhaps done and dusted.

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Is South Asia really witnessing anti-India wave?

While it is a fact that South Asian nations have witnessed change of guards in a way that have brought leaders not-so-friendly to power, the processes that led to these changes are too diverse to suggest an outright and systematic setback.

In Afghanistan, the takeover of the nation by the Taliban was a result of two decades of war and failure of the Afghan government and its international partners. The deep divisions in the society and the prevalence of Islamic fundamentalism endemic to Afghanistan drove the regime change and India was nowhere in the picture  even if the change of guard was a setback in a sense that India lost a friendly government and the nation became a haven for extremism.

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Even though parallels have been drawn between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in terms of mass movements and expulsion of long-time rulers, the conditions driving the movements in the two countries were starkly different, says Dhananjay Tripathi, who teaches Indian subcontinents politics at the South Asia University (SAU), Delhi.

The Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan movements against their leaders were completely different. In Sri Lanka, the movement was primarily rooted in economic crises as food, fuel, medicines, and other basic necessities were short as a result of the governments policies. The country was going through a recession and was stuck in a debt trap. The tourism sector had also collapsed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In Bangladesh, on the other hand, the crisis was sociopolitical in nature. There was great anger against Hasina, says Tripathi, an Associate Professor at the Department of International Relations at SAU.

In Myanmar, the ongoing civil war is a deeply internal issue where India is not a factor. India has strategic interests there and has to deal with the fallout but, unlike Nepal, Bangladesh, or the Maldives, neither side waged war on the other by invoking India.

In the cases of the Maldives and Nepal, where Muizzu and Oli have come to power on the back of anti-India movements, there are signs that they have already moderated their stance. While Oli had declared to deploy the military against India in border dispute in 2020 and had gone on to claim that Hindu deity Ram was born in Ram and had turned to China full-throttle, he has been cordial in the current term.

While Nepali PM KP Sharma Oli had been very aggressive in 2020, he has been cordial in his current term (Photo: Facebook/Oli)

There are signs that Muizzu has also moderated his anti-India position to an extent as the fact remains that you cannot run a government in South Asia with overt animosity in India, says Tripathi.

India is the principal South Asian power in terms of geography, economy, and military. You cannot run a government in the region by sidelining India. India is too important and central for trade and security. There are also diasporas on both sides so you cannot disturb that as well beyond occasional ripples in bilateral ties. Even if you come to power by bashing India, you have to figure out a way to cooperate with India even if out of sheer compulsions. We are already seeing signs of that in cases of the Maldives and Nepal, says Tripathi.

The case of Bhutan is a bit different. While there is neither a widespread anti-India sentiment among the public nor among the political leaders, there is a China angle there. For years, China has been encroaching on the remote hilly regions of Bhutan and the two countries are eager to strike a deal to settle the disputed boundaries but Bhutan does not wish to do it lest it angers India  the closest economic partner of Bhutan and its security guarantor.

In lieu of a boundary settlement, Bhutan wants investments and an economic revival as the Covid-19 pandemic has battered the countrys finances. The people are increasingly going abroad to settle and work and the domestic economy is suffering. In such a time, the prospects of a deal with China bringing investments in lieu of ceded territory is something that may be appealing to the leadership.

Ever since its formation through the Partition of India, Pakistan has been an adversary to its parent nation. It has launched multiple incursions into India, with at least four turning into wars  in 1947, 1965, 1971, and 1999. Pakistan has long been considered as a nation permanently hostile to India. Besides direct military attacks, it has engaged in an ongoing proxy war through export of terror from its land to India. Even in Bangladeshs current turmoil, Pakistans disruptive role is being suspected. It has been an ambition of Pakistan to keep India unsettled on security front.

Pakistan has got an iron brother in China to further its India policy. China, on its part, has long considered India an adversary. Even during the years of Hindi-Chini Bhai-Bhai, it launched a unilateral invasion of India despite having signed a five-point non-aggression treaty  the Panchsheel. In the era of economic and technological cooperation that deepens globalisation, China has used its production capacity to dump goods in India and needle the country at regular intervals at borders and the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

China launched an ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) programme through Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), the territory that is legally claimed by India. In recent years, military skirmishes have taken serious turn, including the Galwan incident in which 20 Indian soldiers and an undeclared number of Chinese personnel lost their lives. China has also tried to create obstacles for India at platforms such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) or BRICS.

China and Pakistan are believed to be fostering anti-India sentiments across South Asia. Events in Nepal, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and now Bangladesh have been testimonies to such efforts. Even in Bhutan, China forced a military deadlock over Doklam, the plateau that belongs to Bhutan, which has a security pact India for its defence.

How should India deal with these changes?

While India has been dealing with changing landscapes in the neighbourhood for decades, broadly securing its interests, the approach has come under criticism in recent years. It has been criticised for being reactive as well as partisan  which requires an urgent course-correction now.

In Afghanistan, India did not engage with the Taliban even as everyone was engaging with it. In Nepal, India was accused of having a partisan approach in the early years of the Narendra Modi government, which was corrected shortly but some say considerable damage was still done. In Bangladesh, not just Hasina but India also failed to read the situation.

People run past a shopping center which was set on fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo: AP)

The solution lies in having a proactive and multi-pronged approach, says Tripathi, the scholar of South Asia at SAU.

India needs to engage with parties across the aisle proactively. In Afghanistan, when even the United States was engaging with the Taliban, India stayed out of the picture. In Bangladesh too, India had little outreach to anyone other than Sheikh Hasina. This should not be the case. India needs to be flexible in its dealings. Since 2021, India has had to deal with the Taliban and now India will be dealing with the BNP in Bangladesh. Instead of a renewed engagement after regime changes, India should have sustained, proactive engagements with all players, says Tripathi.

As for China, Tripathi says China is not going anywhere.

China will stay in the region and will make efforts to get more entrenched. The countries will also turn to China to widen their options and counter-balance India. Thats the reality Indian foreign policy has to manage, says Tripathi.
Israel has vowed to punish Israel for the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and the attack is considered imminent read more

As fellow Islamic nations have not offered direct support for an attack on Israel, Iran may rethink the scope of its widely-expected attack, according to a report.

Following the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week, which Iran blamed on Israel, Iran vowed to punish Israel. For more than a week, the United States and Israel have said that the attack may come anytime. There are fears that the anticipated Iranian attack and subsequent Israeli response could plunge the Middle East in an all-out war.

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Now, The Guardian has reported that owing to lack of support for the attack from fellow Islamic nations, Iran may rethink the scope of its attack.

The newspaper, however, said that Iran is not going to cancel the plan to attack but may scale it down. It may now attack those responsible for the attack, specifically the Mossad and other Iranian agencies, instead of civilians.

Lack of Muslim countries support may affect Irans plan: Report

At a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Saudi Arabia this week, the member-states condemned the Haniyehs assassination in Tehran in unison, but they did not explicitly support the widely-anticipated attack on Israel.

At the meeting, Pakistans Deputy Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that the assassination must be avenged but they must not fall into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus trap of design for a wider war.

Moreover, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi has met Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri twice since Haniyehs assassination. He has told Iran that Jordan will not allow its airspace to be used by Iran and would shoot down missiles, drones, or rockets if the pass through Jordanian airspace.

Safadi told CNN that Jordan has conveyed to both Israel and Iran that no one should use the Jordanian airspace. He said the first commitment of the country is to its own people and it would not allow Iran or Israel to make Jordan a party of their conflict.

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Our message has been clear to the Iranians, to the Israelis, that we will not be a battleground for anybody. We will not allow anybody, to the extent that we can, to violate our airspace. Our first responsibility is towards our people, protecting the sovereignty of our country and the safety of our people. So our position is that nobody should use our airspace, nobody should subject our people to the threat of any projectile falling over any of our territory and harming our people, and that is a position that weve communicated to both the Iranians and the Israelis in very unequivocal terms, said Safadi.

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The Guardian has reported that as so many days have passed since Haniyehs assassination, officials are increasingly saying that Iran has no intention of starting a regional war or causing mass civilian casualties inside Israel.

The Wall Street Journal has, however, reported that Iran has told Arab leaders that it no longer cares if its attack triggers an all-out war in the Middle East.
Following the assassination of former Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Israel has vowed to punish Israel and an attack is expected any time read more

As Israel braces for the Iranian attack that may come anytime, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of pre-emptive strikes.

Netanyahus warning comes a day after Iranian army chief Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi promised the destruction of Israel and said there is no way Israel can prevent its annihilation.

Pre-emptive strikes refer to attacking the enemy while it is still planning to attack you in order to neutralise its capacity to carry out an attack. Netanyahu warned that Israel is prepared for pre-emptive actions against Iran and Hezbollah  both of whom have vowed to attack Israel.

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Last week, Israel assassinated Lebanon-based Hezbollahs military chief Faud Shukr in an airstrike in Beirut. Hours later, Iran and Hamas said that former Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh had been assassinated in Tehran. They blamed Israel for the assassination. Following the two assassinations, Iran and Hezbollah vowed to extract revenge. For the past week, the United States and Israel have assessed that the attack on Israel is imminent.

There are fears that the widely-expected Iranian-Hezbollahs attack and subsequent Israeli response may plunge the Middle East into an escalatory cycle that may lead to an all-out war that may envelop the entire region. Even as Western and Arab leaders have been pressing Iran and Israel to not escalate the conflict such that it leads to a full-scale war, Iran no longer appears to care. The Wall Street Journal has reported that Iran has conveyed to Arab leaders that it no longer cares if its attack on Israel leads to a full-scale war in the Middle East.

We are prepared for defence & offense

As Israel braces for an attack from Iran and Hezbollah, Netanyahu has said that the Jewish state is ready for defensive as well offensive operations.

We are prepared both defensively and offensively, said Netanyahu, as per The Jerusalem Post.

Netanyahu further said that even as Israel prepares to defend against the Iranian attack, its attacking its enemies.

I know that the citizens of Israel are concerned, and I ask one thing of you: Be patient and level-headed. We are striking our enemies and are determined to defend ourselves, said Netanyahu.

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Hezbollah may attack Israel before Iran: Report

As Israel and its partners, primarily the United States, brace for an attack from Iran, a report has said that Iran and Hezbollah may launch separate attacks.

The New York Times has cited Israeli and Western officials as saying that the assessment is that Hezbollah and Iran may attack Iran separately and Hezbollah may be the first to launch the attack.

Previously, it has been reported that Iran may involve its supported groups like Hezbollah and Houthis in the attack. Iran is widely believe to attack Israel like it did in April when it launched hundreds of missiles, drones, and rockets at Israel in response to the assassination of top Iranian commanders in an airstrike on the Iranian diplomatic mission in the Syrian capital Damascus. The only difference is that the attack is expected to much bigger in scope this time and it would be much harder to deescalate.

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Israeli outlet Ynet has reported that Israel has assessed that the attack may take place such that it opens war on as many as five fronts.

The United States is looking forward to reviving the Western and Arab coalition that help Israel defend itself in April. The US and Israeli militaries were joined by British, French, Jordanian, and Saudi militaries in taking down Iranian drones, missiles, and rockets in April. However, the revival of the coalition is proving to be much more difficult this time as anti-Israel sentiment has soared in the region following Haniyehs assassination.
Israel Army chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi vowed to find him (Sinwar), attack him and force Hamas to find someone to replace him read more

Yahya Sinwar is believed to be the architect of the October 7 attack on Israel, the deadliest attack in Israel's history. Source: AFP.

Israel has vowed to eliminate new Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, the alleged mastermind of the October 7 attack, with regional hostilities threatening to boil over as the Gaza war enters its 11th month.

The naming of Sinwar to lead the Palestinian militant group came as Israel steeled itself for potential Iranian retaliation over the killing of his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh last week in Tehran.

Speaking at a military base on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was determined to defend itself.

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We are prepared both defensively and offensively, he told new recruits.

Army chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi vowed to find him (Sinwar), attack him and force Hamas to find someone to replace him.

Sinwar  Hamass leader in Gaza since 2017  has not been seen since the October 7 attack, the deadliest in Israels history.

A senior Hamas official told AFP Sinwars selection sent a message that the organisation continues its path of resistance.

Analysts believe Sinwar has been both more reluctant to agree to a Gaza ceasefire and closer to Tehran than Haniyeh, who lived in Qatar.

If a ceasefire deal seemed unlikely upon Haniyehs death, it is even less likely under Sinwar, said Rita Katz, executive director of the SITE Intelligence Group, adding Hamas would only lean further into its hardline militant strategy.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said it is up to Sinwar to help achieve a ceasefire, saying he has been and remains the primary decider.

Civilians in both Israel and Gaza met Sinwars appointment with unease.

Mohammad al-Sharif, a displaced Gazan, told AFP: He is a fighter. How will negotiations take place?

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In Tel Aviv, logistics company manager Hanan, who did not want to give his second name, said Sinwars appointment meant Hamas did not see fit to look for someone less militant, someone with a less murderous approach.

Hezbollah vows response

Hamass Lebanon-based ally Hezbollah has also pledged to avenge the deaths of Haniyeh and its own military commander Fuad Shukr in an Israeli strike in Beirut.

In a televised address to mark one week since Shukrs death, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said Tuesday his group would retaliate alone or in the context of a unified response from all the axis of Iran-backed groups in the region.

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The United States, which has sent extra warships and jets to the region, has urged both Iran and Israel to avoid an escalation.

President Joe Biden this week spoke with regional leaders, while Blinken told reporters the message of restraint had also been communicated directly to both Israel and Iran.

French President Emmanuel Macron told Netanyahu on Wednesday to avoid a cycle of reprisals, after earlier delivering the same message to his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian, the French presidency said.

Pezeshkian told Macron in a separate telephone call that the West should immediately stop selling arms and supporting Israel if it wanted to prevent war, his office said.

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Israel has not commented on Haniyehs killing in Iran, but it has confirmed it carried out the strike on Shukr in Beirut.

Flights cancelled

Hezbollah has traded near-daily cross-border fire with Israeli troops throughout the Gaza war.

On Wednesday, a Lebanese security source said that a Hezbollah fighter and a civilian were killed in an Israeli strike near Jouaiyya close to the border. The Israeli military said it had eliminated a Hamas commander in the area.

The Israeli military later said its jets had destroyed a launcher on Wednesday night that had been used by Hezbollah to send drones towards the Golan Heights earlier in the evening.

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Numerous airlines have suspended flights to Lebanon or limited them to daylight hours due to security fears, while Egypt said Iran had warned civilian airlines to steer clear of its airspace as it will be conducting military exercises overnight.

The United Nations said it was temporarily reducing the presence of UN staff family members in Lebanon, although it was not moving its staff.

The Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, triggered by the Palestinian groups unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, has already drawn in Iran-backed militants in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.

The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Palestinian militants seized 251 hostages, 111 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 39 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israels retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 39,677 people, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry, which does not give details of civilian and militant deaths.

Israels army said early Thursday that a strike in Gaza late last month had killed senior Hamas member Nael Sakhl, whom it said was involved in directing terror activities in the occupied West Bank.

The war has created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with almost all of its 2.4 million people displaced and suffering from food shortages.

Israels far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich drew sharp condemnation from some allies on Wednesday for suggesting that it might be justified to starve the besieged territory.

No one in the world will allow us to starve two million people, even though it might be justified and moral in order to free the hostages, he said at a conference earlier this week.

The EU said Smotrichs remarks showed contempt for international law and for basic principles of humanity.

France expressed its deep dismay at the comments, while UK Foreign Minister David Lammy called on the wider Israeli government to retract and condemn them.
The envoys of the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United States and the European Union had sent a letter to Nagasaki saying it would become difficult for us to have high-level participation in the event if Israel was excluded read more

Doves flying at an annual peace ceremony in Nagasaki, Japan, in 2022, on the anniversary of the American atomic bombing of the city. File Image: AP

The mayor of the Japanese city of Nagasaki said the lack of an invitation to Israel for the annual ceremony commemorating the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city, was not politically motivated. The defence from the Japanese mayor came after the US and other Western ambassadors to Japan announced that they were skipping the memorial scheduled to take place on Friday since Israel was not invited.

The envoys of the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United States and the European Union had sent a letter to Nagasaki in mid-July saying it would become difficult for us to have high-level participation in the event if Israel was excluded.

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In response to the letter, Suzuki stated that the decision to not invite Israel to the ceremony was taken due to security reasons, including potential demonstrations against Israels attendance, Kyodo News reported. He told the reporters that the city authorities are hoping that the ceremony would be conducted smoothly under a solemn atmosphere, as aging atomic bomb survivors make great efforts to attend the ceremony.

I will continue to persevere and ask for understanding of the decision as often as necessary, he explained.

The envoys remain adamant

In the July joint letter, the ambassadors stated that not inviting the Jewish nation would result in placing Israel on the same level as countries such as Russia and Belarus, which have not been invited to the ceremony for a third consecutive year over the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

In light of this, the Nagasaki mayor has initially postponed a decision on Israels participation, before announcing on July 31 that the country would not be invited.

Following the announcement, multiple envoys formally announced they were pulling out of the event. US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said that Nagasakis lack of an invite left me no choice but to skip the event. The American envoy wrote this in a letter sent to Suzuki after attending the Hiroshima peace ceremony on Tuesday.

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I believe your decision is a political one and has nothing to do with the security and safety of the event, especially in light of the calibre of attendees, wrote Emanuel. I am also confident you are aware that I will not be the only ambassador not attending this years ceremony in Nagasaki for similar reasons and concerns, he added.

Meanwhile, the Canadian embassy on Thursday said that its ambassador Ian McKay would abstain from the ceremony as the lack of an invitation equated Israel with Russia and Belarus, although it said it understood the importance of the event. The French embassy also confirmed that the ambassador Philippe Seton will also not be attending the event, on the same date.

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Earlier this week, British Ambassador to Japan Julia Longbottom also expressed her intention to skip the annual peace ceremony. According to Japanese news outlet Kyodo News, the ambassadors that have pulled out are slated to be represented instead by respective ministers and consul generals.

Israel thanks the envoys

Shortly after the news broke out, Israels envoy to Japan Gilad Cohen expressed gratitude on X, formerly known as Twitter, to the representatives that pulled out of the ceremony. I would like to extend my gratitude to all the countries that have chosen to stand with Israel and oppose its exclusion from the Nagasaki Peace Ceremony. Thank you for standing with us on the right side of history, he said.

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I would like to extend my gratitude to all the countries that have chosen to stand with Israel and oppose its exclusion from the Nagasaki Peace Ceremony. Thank you for standing with us on the right side of history.  Gilad Cohen  (@GiladCohen_) August 8, 2024

Suzuki said that the decision of some ambassadors to pull out of the ceremony was unfortunate, adding that he hoped that they would participate again from the following year onward.

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Meanwhile, in the city of Tokyo, many staged demonstrations near the US and British embassies on Thursday evening, protesting their respective ambassadors decision to pull out of the Nagasaki peace ceremony. Chants of Shame on you in English and Stop blackmailing Nagasaki, were heard in the area as the protesters held Palestinian flags and banners, Kyodo News reported.
Muhammad Yunus, who will take oath as Bangladesh interim government chief on August 8, said there will be many opportunities to resume bilateral ties and close friendships with India soon read more

Its a new day and a new ray of hope for Bangladesh. The country that has been witnessing violent clashes over the past few days will see an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus taking oath on Thursday. The 84-year-old will replace Bangladeshs long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who resigned and fled to India on Monday amid widespread protests.

Yunus will arrive in Dhaka from Paris on Thursday. The caretaker government in Bangladesh will take oath at 8 pm on August 8.

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Before leaving for Dhaka, Yunus told reporters at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport that he has been looking forward to returning home and see whats happening there and how we can organise ourselves to get out of the trouble that we are in."

Many opportunities to heal rifts with India

Yunus, in an article he wrote in The Economist, said that there will be many opportunities to resume bilateral ties and close friendships with India soon.

Although some countries, such as India, backed the ousted prime minister (Sheikh Hasina) and earned the enmity of Bangladeshi people as a result, there will be many opportunities to heal these kinds of rifts and to resume bilateral alliances and close friendships soon, Yunus said.

The Nobel laureate, who is all set to lead the interim government, further hopes that the liberation of Bangladesh can revive the suspended South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation and make it a powerful force for integration in our region and beyond."

What will be Yunus next step?

Yunus said that the next step of the interim government will be to release all political prisoners and ensure that free and fair election is held within a few months.

I am willing to help support this process, and I hope other people will join me, he said.

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Overjoyed & mourned the day Sheikh Hasina resigned

Yunus said on August 5, the demand of the protesters in Bangladesh was met when Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled from the country.

Like virtually all of my fellow citizens, I was overjoyed, even as I mourned the loss of more than 300 lives to state-sponsored violence against peaceful protesters and bystanders, he said.

Bangladesh needs young people

We urgently need new politicians, and new leaders to step forward. Above all, we need young people who are not obsessed with settling scores, as too many of our previous governments were, but are instead intent on becoming a new generation of leaders focused on the future of our great nation, Yunus said.

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The student leaders who were at the forefront of our second liberationafter the war of independence from Pakistan in 1971should continue to provide leadership in all respects, he added.
After weeks of student-led protests forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee to India, Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday returned to Bangladesh to head an interim government read more

Bangladeshi Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will lead the interim government in the country. AP

After weeks of student-led protests forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee to India, Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus on Thursday returned to Bangladesh to head an interim government.

According to Al Jazeera, Yunus touched down at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on a flight from Paris via Dubai.

Yunus is set to take oath as the head of Bangladeshs interim government today. Earlier, he had made a fervent appeal to everyone to stay calm and refrain from all kinds of violence to make the best use of our new victory.

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Its good to be back home, Al Jazeera quoted the 84-year-old as saying.

Yunus was picked by President Mohammed Shahabuddin to lead an interim government, fulfilling a key demand of the student protest leaders.

According to Al Jazeera, Yunus was expected to head first to a meeting with the army chief and the president before being sworn in at 8 pm (14:00 GMT).

Today is a glorious day for us, Al Jazeera quoted Yunus telling reporters at the airport.

Bangladesh has created a new victory day. Bangladesh has got a second independence, said the Nobel Laureate.

Yunus said his main objective is to hold elections as soon as possible, likely 90 days from the dissolving of the countrys Parliament which took place on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, according to a Prothom Alo report, as many as 21 cars are kept in the parking zone of the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat, of which a BMW car is reserved for the Chief Advisor.

The secretariat said that these 21 vehicles will be sent this afternoon to the residence of the Chief Adviser and other advisers of the new interim government. They will go to Bangabhaban to take oath in these cars, added the report.

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Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman had on Wednesday announced that the interim government will take oath around 8 pm on Thursday. He said the advisory council may have 15 members.

Students had taken to the streets last month over a controversial government job quota system, their protests escalating into a nationwide crisis following a harsh crackdown by authorities.

Nearly 300 people were killed within weeks in one of the most violent phases of Hasinas 15-year rule.

With inputs from agencies
Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as Bangladeshs chief advisor for the interim government which came to power after the countrys PM Shiekh Hasina resigned from the prime ministerial post read more

Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as Bangladeshs chief adviser to the interim government at the oath-taking ceremony held in Bangabhaban. Bangladeshs President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to the new government which came after the countrys Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from her post and left Dhaka.

The resignation came amid nationwide anti-government protests that took Bangladesh by storm. Earlier today, Yunus said that there is a lot of work to be done as he arrived in the country. The decision to name Yunus as the head of the interim government was followed by a meeting between President Mohammed Shahabuddin, military leaders and student leaders.

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No one from the Awami League attended the ceremony

According to Bangladeshi news outlet The Daily Star, no one from Awam League, i.e. Sheikh Hasinas party was seen at the ceremony. After Hasinas exit, the students who have been protesting in the country made it clear that they would not accept a military-led government, but wanted Prof Yunus to lead.

While addressing a gathering at the Dhaka airport, the Nobel laureate who is set to take charge as the head of the interim government said that his team will ensure that the newly reborn Bangladesh advances rapidly.

Today is a day of pride for us. The revolution that has given birth to a new Victory Day for Bangladesh must be carried forward and strengthened. I extend my deepest appreciation and gratitude to the youth who made this possible. They stood by me, they have protected this country, and they have given it a rebirth, he said on Thursday.

The proclamation from Yunus came during a press briefing at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after his arrival from the 2024 Paris Olympics in France. During the presser, the Bangladeshi Nobel Prize winner made it clear that restoring law and order is a priority. I urge the people of the country to trust in me, to have faith in me, and that no harm will come to anyone in the country.

He even became emotional during his address. Today, I am reminded of Abu Sayed (a student from Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur who was killed in a shooting). He was an unbelievingly brave young man. Abu Sayeds name is etched in the hearts of every person in this country. Through this incident, a second independence has come to the nation, he recalled.

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While Yunuss interim administration will govern the country until the next government takes over the parliament, it is not clear how long he will stay in power. However, the current constitution of Bangladesh mandates an interim government to be dissolved within three months and be replaced with an elected government. However, reports are emerging that the deadline will be extended.

PM Modi congratulates Yunus

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took to X, formerly known as Twitter to congratulate Yunus. My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities, the prime minister wrote on X.

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My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2024

India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfil the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development, he added. Meanwhile, Bangladeshs ousted PM Sheikh Hasina is in India as he seeks asylum from countries like the US and the UK.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk shared and then deleted fake news that claimed that the UK PM Keir Starmer is considering sending rioters to detainment camps in the Falkland Islands read more

Tesla CEO Elon Musk stirred a major storm after he shared and then deleted fake news that claimed that the United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer is considering sending far-right rioters to emergency detainment camps in the Falklands. The billionaire shared a fake headline, purporting to be from the Telegraph newspaper, on his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

While Musk deleted the controversial post 30 minutes later, the screenshot of the post circulated online. One of the screenshots also indicated that the post reached almost one million people in a short span of time.

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The SpaceX CEO shared the image posted by the co-leader of the far-right group Britain First, Ashlea Simon, which was captioned Were all being deported to the Falklands.

The story behind the fake post

The fake news article was purportedly written by a senior news reporter for the Telegraph and mocked up in the newspapers style. The article said that the camps in the Falklands would be used to detain prisoners from the ongoing riots as the British prison system is already at capacity.

On Thursday, the Telegraph released a statement in which it maintained that it never published the article in question. This is a fabricated headline for an article that does not exist. We notified relevant platforms and requested that the post be taken down, the spokesperson for the British news outlet said in a statement.

In a separate post on X, the newspaper maintained that it was aware of an image circulating on X which purports to be a Telegraph article about emergency detainment camps. No such article has ever been published by the Telegraph. Musk is yet to apologise for sharing the fake news.

However, in the past, the billionaire has constantly shared material criticising the UK government and law enforcement authorities responses to the riots that have taken over the country. While sharing a clip from Sky News interview with Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions in England, who said that police officers were scouring social media for material inciting racial hatred, Musk referred to the British official as The Woke Stasi.

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Musk has been embroiled in a public row with Keir Starmer and British enforcement authorities since he referred to the anti-immigration protests in England and Northern Ireland as civil war, which he claimed was inevitable. In response to this, Starmers spokesperson maintained that there was no justification for those comments.

With inputs from agencies.
Bangladeshs Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus is all set to lead the countrys interim government, which is not likely to have a politician, a source close to the matter has said read more

As Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus arrives in Bangladesh to lead the countrys interim government, reports are emerging that no politician will be part of his team. A source familiar with the matter told The Dhaka Tribune, that after arriving in Dhaka, Yunus met with the chief of the armed forces, civil society members and student leaders at the airport.

The source stated that during the meeting, the names of other advisors were decided, who would join Yunus in the interim government. However, the source made it clear that no politician will be part of the caretaker government. The news dismissed the concerns and speculations that politicians from BNP and other rival parties of Awami League will take over the new government after the countrys Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post and fled Bangladesh.

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Scholars and professionals to be part of Yunuss team

The source told The Dhaka Tribune that advisers of the interim government would be chosen from civil society and various professional fields. Earlier, when asked about the size of the interim government, Bangladeshs Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said he believed the Yunus government might initially consist of around 15 members.

However, one or two more individuals may be added," he averred. It is pertinent to note that in Bangladesh, the position of chief advisor is equivalent to the post of the Prime Minister and the other advisors are equivalent to ministers.

Yunus pledges to rapidly advance Bangladeshs progress

While addressing a gathering at the Dhaka airport, the Nobel laureate who is set to take charge as the head of the interim government said that his team will ensure that the newly reborn Bangladesh advances rapidly.

Today is a day of pride for us. The revolution that has given birth to a new Victory Day for Bangladesh must be carried forward and strengthened. I extend my deepest appreciation and gratitude to the youth who made this possible. They stood by me, they have protected this country, and they have given it a rebirth, he said on Thursday.

The proclamation from Yunus came during a press briefing at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after his arrival from the 2024 Paris Olympics in France. During the presser, the Bangladeshi Nobel Prize winner made it clear that restoring law and order is a priority. I urge the people of the country to trust in me, to have faith in me, and that no harm will come to anyone in the country.

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He even became emotional during his address. Today, I am reminded of Abu Sayed (a student from Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur who was killed in a shooting). He was an unbelievingly brave young man. Abu Sayeds name is etched in the hearts of every person in this country. Through this incident, a second independence has come to the nation, he recalled.

Bangabhaban is ready to hold the oath-taking ceremony for Bangladeshs interim government, which will take place around 8:00 PM (local time) President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath of office to the new government.
Former president of the Dhaka Bar Advocate Mohsin Mia, former president Khorhshed Alam, former general secretary Omar Faruq Faruqi, former general secretary Khorhshed Mia Alam and hundreds of other lawyers took part in the protests, according to a report by Dhaka Tribune read more

People wave Bangladeshi flags on top of the Ganabhaban, the Prime Minister's residence, as they celebrate the resignation of PM Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on August 5, 2024. Reuters

The Chief Justice of Bangladesh and all Appellate Division judges have 24 hours to resign from their posts on their own accord after a group of lawyers issued an ultimatum on Thursday amid the political turmoil that the southeast Asian country has been witnessing since former prime minister Sheikh Hasinas resignation earlier this week.

Lawyers aligned with Khaleda Zias Bangladesh National Party (BNP) even led a protest march under the banner of Lawyers Against Discrimination Coordination Council." During the demonstrations, the lawyers demanded the resignation of Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan and all justices of the Appellate Division.

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Former president of the Dhaka Bar Advocate Mohsin Mia, former president Khorhshed Alam, former general secretary Omar Faruq Faruqi, former general secretary Khorhshed Mia Alam and hundreds of other lawyers took part in the protests, according to a report by Dhaka Tribune.

The chief justice, justices of the Appellate Division, and any other judges who have violated their oath of impartial justice to implement the agenda of the Awami League government must resign within 24 hours. Otherwise, we will initiate a strong movement against them, Mia said.

Meanwhile, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, who will take oath as the chief advisory of Bangladeshs interim government, on Thursday paid tribute to those killed in Bangladeshs deadly protests that toppled Sheikh Hasinas government, saying their sacrifices had brought the nation a second independence.

Today is a glorious day for us, he told reporters at the airport in Dhaka shortly after returning to the country to lead a caretaker government.

Bangladesh has created a new victory day. Bangladesh has got a second independence.

The prospect of Yunus, 84, standing alongside military leaders was almost unimaginable a week ago when security forces fired deadly rounds at protesters who took to the streets demanding that Hasina resign.

With inputs from AFP
As Bangladesh prepares for an interim government that is likely to supervise the national election in some time from now, the question on everyones mind is: Who can be Bangladeshs next leader? Heres a closer look at seven prominent figures who could potentially steer the nation forward read more

Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has resigned. Interim government head Muhammad Yunus has supported fresh elections. The question for Bangladesh is who will be the next PM now. File Photo/Reuters

The political landscape of Bangladesh has dramatically changed thanks to the youth agitation that toppled the long-standing government of Sheikh Hasina. The protests were driven by widespread discontent triggered by a quota regime that called for reserving 56 per cent of government jobs for stipulated sections of the population.

But there was a deeper link to economic issues of stagnating income, growing unemployment, and allegations of corruption that became existential threats to Hasina. She ultimately fled the country barely seven months after recording fifth national election victory in 28 years.

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The turmoil has resulted in over 300 deaths, including protesters and police personnel, highlighting the urgent need for stable leadership. The country is in the process to form an interim government that will function under the guidance of Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, who has been categorical in emphasising the need for a fresh national election.

Without an election, there will be no change, he said. This is a clear hint that his government will be a caretaker one to bring immediate order to an agitated Bangladesh society and to ensure that a parliamentary election is held in a free and fair manner.

Incidentally, Bangladesh had a legal provision saying that parliamentary elections would be conducted by a caretaker government until the Sheikh Hasina government scrapped it in 2011.

Now, as the interim government prepares to supervise the national election, the question on everyones mind is: Who can be Bangladeshs next leader? Heres a closer look at seven prominent figures who could potentially steer the nation forward.

Muhammad Yunus: The Nobel laureate

The protest leaders of the Students Against Discrimination  the group that led the anti-quota protests and upped their ante to topple the Sheikh Hasina government  didnt name Muhammad Yunus for nothing. He has had political ambition much before the Nobel committee chose him for the Peace Prize for his small loan work in rural Bangladesh for about three decades.

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Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is globally respected for his work in microfinance and poverty alleviation. Yunuss contributions have empowered millions of poor and marginalised individuals, particularly women, through small loans and entrepreneurship opportunities.

In the 2000s, Yunus debuted Bangladesh politics with the aim to bring political reform and began to consider a more active role in politics, toying with the idea of forming a pan-Bangladesh party.

He publicly discussed the possibility of forming a new political party that would focus on issues like poverty alleviation, governance reform, and anti-corruption. His intention was to bring his expertise in social entrepreneurship and microfinance into the political sphere to address systemic issues in Bangladesh.

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His most active political years were 2006-08, particularly when the Army took over a caretaker government installed to oversee elections and address corruption. But this also set the grounds for political hostility between Yunus and Sheikh Hasina, who won the next national election.

Yunuss support to the military-backed government was largely seen as controversial. Many believe this adversarial equation led to his ouster from the Grameen Bank in 2011 five years after he was awarded the Nobel Prize. The Bangladesh central bank accused him of financial irregularities.

The microfinance pioneer has been one of the vocal and most renowned global critics of Hasina, who has just been toppled by the angry masses of Bangladesh.

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Yunus has consistently advocated for economic justice, transparency, and social equity. He has a clean image and is seen as a reformist who can address the systemic economic issues plaguing Bangladesh. Given his international acclaim and grassroots support, Yunus is a strong contender to lead the country towards economic stability and social justice. But before he is chosen through an electoral process to lead the country, his main challenge would be navigating the political landscape and building alliances with key political factions.

Khaleda Zia: The former prime minister

The Begum of Bangladesh was set free soon after Hasina was forced out of power and the country. Khaleda Zia is a two-time prime minister and the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Despite facing numerous legal battles and periods of political exile, she remains a significant figure in Bangladesh politics.

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The wife of a former military ruler who effected one of the coups in Bangladesh and founded the BNP, Zias outfit has often talked about restoring democratic norms, economic revitalisation, and addressing corruption. Her experience and established political base could appeal to those seeking stability and a return to familiar governance.

However, her contentious political stint and past controversies including a corruption conviction, leading to an ongoing 17-year jail term, may hinder her ability to unify the country. If she can leverage her experience and address past grievances, Zia could play a pivotal role in the nations recovery.

The fact that she was set free by President Mohammed Shahabuddin and that she has a strong ally in Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the parties that gave support to the youth agitation and sent its cadre to month-long protests, make her a strong contender to fill the leadership vacuum that Bangladesh faces today.

Nahid Islam: The rising star

If the youth agitation throws up a leader of its own to decide Bangladeshs future, Nahid Islam seems to be that figure from the crowds of the thousands who unseated the countrys so-called Iron Lady Hasina. A relatively new face in Bangladeshi politics, if at all, Islam is known for his activism and human rights advocacy. He has gained popularity among the youth and progressive circles for his fresh perspective and reformist agenda.

Currently a student in the Sociology Department at Dhaka University, Islam is one of the national coordinators for the Students Against Discrimination Movement. He rose through the ranks during the agitation that began after a Bangladesh high court reinstated a 30 per cent quota for descendants of war veterans and freedom fighters in June 2024.

The agitation leaders argued the quota was a discriminatory and politically manipulated system to access government jobs. Islam became its voice. Having survived two abductions, allegedly at the behest of Hasina, during the agitation, Islam challenged the Awami League government on every front and refused to call off the campaign against Hasina despite the judicial stamp on the withdrawal of the existing quota system.

On July 19, some 25 men in plain clothes abducted Islam from a house in Dhaka. He was reportedly blindfolded, handcuffed and tortured. He was found unconscious and battered under a bridge two days later. Again on July 26, he was abducted from a hospital allegedly by intelligence and police personnel but was released soon.

In days leading up to the exit of Hasina from Bangladeshs political scene, in one of his addresses to protesters at Dhakas Shahbagh, Islam declared that students had picked up sticks today and were ready to take up arms if sticks didnt work.

The challenge for Islam is that he does not have the organisational support that is required to win a national election in one of the most populous countries in the world  with a population of over 170 million.

Islams platform emphasises transparency, social justice, and digital innovation. His appeal to younger voters and progressive elements may position him as a transformative leader who can bring new ideas and reforms to the political arena. However, his lack of political experience and the challenge of building a broad coalition may pose obstacles. If he can mobilise the youth and effectively communicate his vision, supposing he has one, Islam could be a catalyst for significant change in Bangladesh.

General Waker-uz-Zaman: The catalyst

We will form an interim government, announced General Waker-Uz-Zaman, donning his military fatigues and cap, as he informed the nation that Hasina had resigned on Monday.

Later, reports emerged that it was the general, who tipped the balance against Hasina, who in an online meeting with the Bangladesh Army chief sought his help to quell the protests. Waker refused to comply with the orders of the civilian boss. He sided with the protesters.

And the Army chief reportedly gave Hasina a 45-minute-ultimatum to resign beyond which there was no guarantee of her personal safety. In a hurried call with the family, Hasina was pressured to quit, not only the government but also the country.

Bangladesh is not unknown to military governance. One of the two main political parties of Bangladesh was founded by a military ruler, following a coup. There is no clear indication from Waker but the exit of Hasina has seen him make a flurry of changes in the military leadership structure, removing some top commanders to install ones he has greater confidence in.

In his national address, the Army chief also spoke like a politician who senses a turn in the tide. He said, The country has suffered a lot, the economy has been hit, many people have been killed  it is time to stop the violence. I hope after my speech, the situation will improve.

Shafiqur Rahman: The Islamist leader

Shafiqur Rahman is the leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist political party in Bangladesh. He has been vocal about implementing Islamic principles in governance and promoting social justice.

Banned and shunted out from politics by the Hasina government, the Jamaat has made a comeback during the youth agitation. In fact, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party opened its party office in Dhaka on Tuesday after more than a decade. It was shut down in 2011.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman entered the partys head office in Dhaka late Monday after Haina fled the country. The head office of the Jamaats student wing, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, was also reopened.

Jamaat leaders were among those Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin called for discussions at the all-party meet that excluded the Awami League. Shahabuddin also announced that political workers, leaders and activists arrested since July would be freed. Hundreds of them were granted bail on Tuesday.

However, Rahmans potential candidacy may polarise voters, given Jamaat-e-Islamis controversial past. But the Jamaat is known to have the ability to mobilise its cadres and work in coordination with its Pakistani counterpart in presenting a common idea of an Islamic rule in Bangladesh. If he can effectively communicate his agenda and build bridges with other political groups, Rahman could become a significant player in the election  as kingmaker if not the king.

Who else?

Jatiya Party leader Anisul Islam Mahmud, 76, is an experienced politician in Bangladesh and may have an outside chance to emerge as a front-row leader in the country. Mahmud has some experience in governance. He has served in various governmental roles and is known for his pragmatic approach to politics.

Mahmuds focus on economic development, infrastructure, and education aligns with the immediate needs of the country. His ability to work across party lines and his experience in governance make him a unifying figure in Bangladeshs fragmented political landscape.

His party had 13 members in the dissolved Parliament. Mahmuds prospects depend on his ability to leverage his experience and build a broad coalition. If he can effectively address economic issues and promote inclusive growth, Mahmud could be a stabilising force in the countrys political transition. Given advanced age is not a problem in the subcontinental politics, less so in Bangladesh, Mahmud can at best be a compromise candidate as his party lacks organisational strength to win a national election in Bangladesh.

The other possible candidate could be Obaidul Quader, the second-in-command in Hasinas Awami League. If Bangladesh goes for a free and fair election, the Awami League may look at using its organisational strength to its advantage in the national election that may take a few months to happen. By then the anger against Hasina may have died down a bit.

The statements by Hasinas son Sajeeb Wajed Joy, if an indication, have put a full stop to the toppled prime ministers return to Bangladesh politics. This means Quader may have a chance, may be a remote one, to spring a surprise when Bangladesh votes next.
Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country following violent protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs. She flew to the Hindon air base, near Delhi, in a Bangladesh military aircraft on Monday. read more

Sheikh Hasina, who quit as prime minister and fled Bangladesh, will be back in the country as soon as democracy is restored, his son Sajeeb Wazed Joy said on Thursday and blamed Pakistans intelligence agency, ISI, for fuelling the ongoing unrest in the country.

In an exclusive interview with PTI, Joy said although 76-year-old Hasina would definitely return to Bangladesh, it is not yet decided whether she will be back as a retired or active politician.

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He also asserted that the members of the Sheikh Mujib (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) family will neither abandon its people nor leave the beleaguered Awami League in the lurch.

He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for protecting his mother and appealed to India to help build international opinion and exert pressure for the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh.

Yes, it is true that I had said she wouldnt return to Bangladesh. But a lot has changed in the last two days following continuous attacks on our leaders and party workers across the country. Now we are going to do whatever it takes to keep our people safe; we are not going to leave them alone. Awami League is the largest and oldest political party in Bangladesh, so we cannot just walk away from our people. She will definitely return to Bangladesh once democracy is restored, he told PTI over the phone.

Terming Awami League as an all-weather ally of India, he said India must ensure the security of Awami League leaders in Bangladesh by building international pressure.

With Bangladesh set to get an interim government, Joy also urged it to restore law and order, noting that the country is turning into a state of anarchy and becoming a second Afghanistan in the region. He said he also expects the interim government to create a level playing field whenever democracy is restored and fresh elections are held.

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You cannot exclude the Awami League and have a representative democracy in Bangladesh ever. Whatever his (Mohammed Yunus) personal views are, he has said that he wants a government of unity and wants to move forward and not let the mistakes of the past cloud over the future. I hope he stays true to his word,he asserted.

Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus is set to take oath as the head of Bangladeshs interim government on Thursday.

Joy mentioned that once democracy is restored, either the Awami League or BNP will come to power, and the Mujib family and Sheikh Hasina will be around. She has been in touch with all our party leaders for the last two days. My mother was going to retire anytime soon, so we thought now that she is gone, they (rioters) would leave our party people alone, but that did not happen. Instead, they started attacking, he said.

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Declining to comment directly on whether he and his sister Saima Wazed, who is currently the South East Asian regional director for the World Health Organization, would enter politics, Joy said he would do whatever it takes to protect Bangladesh from total anarchy.

I cant give a definite reply to this question. But I will do whatever it takes to save Bangladesh and protect the Awami League. The Mujib family would not leave them in a lurch, said Joy, the former Information and Communication Technology Advisor to Hasina.

Blaming Pakistan for fueling the unrest in Bangladesh, Joy said there is circumstantial evidence suggesting foreign interference and alleged involvement of Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence agency.

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I am quite certain given the circumstantial evidence; I suspect Pakistan ISIs involvement. The attacks and protests were very coordinated, meticulously planned, and intentional efforts to keep inflaming the situation through social media. No matter what the government did to control the situation, they kept trying to worsen it, he said.

He also pointed out that the rioters attacked police with guns which could only be provided by terror outfits and foreign powers.

On reports of involvement of a US intelligence agency like the CIA, Joy said he had no evidence but added, maybe, they are. He dismissed any Chinese involvement when asked about it.

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Dismissing reports of Hasina seeking asylum in the UK or any other country as rumours, Joy said the reports of her US Visa being revoked are also untrue.

Nothing of this sort has been planned (seeking asylum). Sooner or later, there has to be a restoration of democracy in Bangladesh and hopefully, that will be between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Awami League. Then Sheikh Hasina will be back. At this point, she wants to go back to Bangladesh. Its a question of when rather than if, he said, hinting that the ousted Bangladesh PM will be staying at an undisclosed location in India for now.

Joy, who spent much of his childhood studying in India, appealed to the Indian government to ensure the quick restoration of democracy for stability in the region.

I want to thank the Indian government for protecting my mother. I owe my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Modi. If India wants stability in its eastern backyard, then they have to pressure the international community and take the lead to ensure the quick restoration of democracy, he said.

Speaking on the INDIA-out campaign in Bangladesh, he said, the anti-India forces are already very active, and with Awami League out of power, the ISI is now free to supply as many weapons as it wants to the anti-India forces. Joy said India must act fast before anti-India forces gain more ground.

Refuting claims that Hasina ran away to save her own life, he said the family insisted on stopping the bloodshed.

She was not willing to leave the country. The Prime Ministers security was ready to protect her till the end. But that would have led to hundreds of deaths of protestors who were marching towards the PMs residence. We convinced her for the sake of Bangladesh, we cannot let her get killed, he said.

Our government was not weak, but my mother did not want to harm the students. Even after her leaving the country, the bloodshed has not stopped. The people will now understand the difference with and without Sheikh Hasina, he said.

The death toll in the anti-government protests in Bangladesh climbed to 440 on Wednesday, with the recovery of 29 more bodies of Hasinas Awami League party members across the country through Tuesday, taking the overall death toll to 469 in nearly three weeks since the protests began in July.
A bombshell report claimed that Trump took a private jet with the Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts. The right-wing think tank is knowns as the mastermind of the controversial Project 2025 read more

While former US President Donald Trump continues to distance himself from Project 2025, a bombshell report stated that the GOP Presidential nominee shared a private flight with the head of the right-wing think tank which is behind the controversial project. On Wednesday, The Washington Post reported on Trumps long association with the project, publishing evidence including a picture of the two men in aeroplane seats, grinning.

As per the report, the flight carrying Trump and the Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts was on its way to a conference organised by the think tank. While addressing the group at the event, the former president reportedly said that they would lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will do.

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Spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation, Project 2025 is a 900-page plan intended to present the outline for Trumps comeback to the White House. The project became controversial since it posits aggressive right-wing reform to every corner of the federal government.

The controversial plane ride

To support their claims, The Washington Post shared plane-tracking data and the picture of Trump with Roberts in a private jet. The outlet claimed that the picture was taken back in April 2022. As per the report, the two men were flying from Trumps home in Palm Beach, Florida, to Amelia Island in the same state for the annual Heritage conference.

With Kevin and the staff, and I met so many of them now, I took pictures with among the most handsome, beautiful people Ive ever seen," the former president reportedly said at the conference.

The American newspaper also mentioned that in April this year, Roberts told the paper that he spoke to Trump about the project. I personally have talked to President Trump about Project 2025 because my role in the project has been to make sure that all of the candidates who have responded to our offer for a briefing on Project 2025 get one from me," the Think Tank head told The Washington Post.

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We are in the process of the second American revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be," Roberts was quoted telling Steve Bannon in July.

JD Vances association with Project 2025

Things became more controversial after it was found that the introduction of Roberts forthcoming book titled, Dawns Early Light: Taking Back Washington to Save America, was written by Trumps VP pick JD Vance.

In his introduction, obtained by the New Republic, the Ohio Senator calls the Heritage Foundation the most influential engine of ideas for Republicans from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump. The group has indeed produced policy plans for Republican administrations since 1980. But none have proved remotely as controversial as Project 2025.

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Democrats call out the project as Trump tries to distance himself

In the past, the Democrats slammed the project and particularly focused on how the plan poses threats to reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights and other progressive concerns. Amid all the attacks, Trump and allies have been trying to distance themselves from the project.

The former reality TV star claimed last month that he had no idea who is in charge of Project 2025. On Thursday, a spokesperson for Trump told The Washington Post that Project 2025 has never and will never be an accurate reflection of President Trumps policies.

Despite all this, earlier this week, two House Democrats asked Roberts to publish plans of what the first 180 days of Trumps presidency would look like if he came back to power.

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It is time to stop hiding the ball on what we are concerned could very well be the most radical, extreme, and dangerous parts of Project 2025, Jared Huffman of California and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts said in an open letter.
On July 29, the day of the stabbing in Southport, northern England, Telegram saw a significant spike in active users, reaching 3.1 million, up from the average of about 2.7 million since early 2024 read more

Two men pose with smartphones in front of a screen showing the Telegram logo in this picture illustration. Source: REUTERS.

The UK is experiencing a moment of intense social upheaval reminiscent of the January 6 events in the US, with far-right protesters creating chaos across the nation in response to the murder of three young girls in Southport last month.

Riots & hate crimes

The violence has manifested as race-based riots, with acts of vandalism targeting people of color, destruction of properties, and fires set at hotels housing asylum seekers. Hundreds of individuals have been arrested in connection with these disturbances.

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Telegrams dark side

While much of the footage from the riots has circulated on X, the platform Telegram has been identified as a key space for organising and inciting these actions.

Telegram is often used for purposes like these, coordinating hate campaigns, said Carolina Are, a Center for Digital Citizens innovation fellow at Northumbria University.

Basically what seems to be happening is that harassment starts on apps like Telegram, and then it bleeds onto other platforms, or in this case, even offline.

Fast Company has observed Telegram groups with tens of thousands of members sharing information on far-right rallies and providing guides on how to maximise damage through arson. Telegram has not responded to Fast Companys request for comment.

The appeal of Telegram

Telegram occupies a somewhat fringe position in the social media landscape, making it an attractive venue for extremist activities. It is distant enough from mainstream platforms to allow for the discussion of controversial and hateful topics while gathering like-minded individuals. Founded by Pavel Durov and based in Dubai, Telegram boasts around 700 million active users.

Although Telegram offers a robust privacy-focused messaging tool, it also offers a darker side and is often utilised by cybercriminals, said Jake Moore, a global cybersecurity advisor at ESET, a European cybersecurity firm.

Moore described Telegram as effectively the dark web app of the open web, highlighting its appeal to those seeking secrecy and anonymity. Therefore, Telegram could potentially be used by those wanting to inflame the already high tensions and remain anonymous, he added.

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On July 29, the day of the stabbing in Southport, northern England, Telegram saw a significant spike in active users, reaching 3.1 million, up from the average of about 2.7 million since early 2024, according to Similarweb, an online analytics firm. The following day, as a night of violence in Southportfocusing on attacks against a local mosqueleft at least 50 police officers injured, Telegram usage surged to 3.7 million. Merseyside Police indicated that some of the violence was linked to the far-right English Defence League, founded by activist Tommy Robinson.

By the weekend, Telegram usage had returned to its average levels, as reported by Similarweb.

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The unrest in Southport triggered a wave of violence across the U.K., which authorities, including UK ministers and police, as well as analysts, say was both fueled by and organized through various online platforms, including Telegram, TikTok, and Elon Musks X.

UN-backed counterterrorism organisation Tech Against Terrorism issued an urgent alert concerning the use of Telegram by far-right extremists to organise riots in the UK. The alert highlighted the growth of a Telegram group with 15,000 members, which has since been removed. This group had circulated a list of protest targets, including sites related to immigration.

Telegrams inadequate moderation of extremist channels is contributing to violence and unrest across the UK, Tech Against Terrorism stated.

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Calls for proactive measures

As several UK towns prepared for potential further violence, media watchdog Ofcom called on tech platforms to be proactive in removing content that incites racial hatred or promotes violence.

We welcome the proactive approaches that have been deployed by some services in relation to these acts of violence across the UK, Ofcom said. In a few months, new safety duties under the Online Safety Act will be in place, but you can act now  there is no need to wait to make your sites and apps safer for users.

Regulatory reactions

Telegrams involvement in the UK unrest could have long-term repercussions for the platform. In response to the riots, there have been calls from politicians, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, for more stringent social media regulations.

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With inputs from agencies
Former President Donald Trump has said he will hold a news conference at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday, making his first public appearance since Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee and selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate read more

Former President Donald Trump says he will hold a news conference Thursday at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida beachside compound, making his first public appearance since Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee and selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.

Trump announced the 2 pm EDT event on his Truth Social network and posted that he was eager to debate Harris.

He had teased an announcement about the presidential debate earlier this week after pulling out of an ABC News debate scheduled for September 10. Trump had said he would prefer that Fox News sponsor the debate, but on Wednesday was showing willingness to reconsider ABC.

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I will expose Kamala during the Debate the same way I exposed Crooked Joe, Hillary, and everyone else during Debates, he said on Truth Social, referring to Democrats Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton. Only I think Kamala will be easier.

Trumps running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, has criticised Harris for not holding a news conference or sitting down for interviews since Biden stepped aside from his presidential reelection campaign and she launched her White House campaign. Harris sometimes answers shouted questions while boarding or leaving her plane for campaign stops.
In a phone call to state governors back in 2020, Trump lauded Walzs response to the civil justice protests which errupted following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis read more

As the Republicans continue to launch a barrage of attacks against Democrats newly minted vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, the GOPs presidential nominee Donald Trump has praised the Minnesota Governor back in 2020. The former US President praised Walzs response to protests triggered after George Floyds death in 2020.

The 60-year-old former teacher received major backlash from the Republicans after Vice President Kamala Harris chose him to be her running mate for the 2024 US Presidential Elections. According to a recording obtained by ABC News on Wednesday, Trump told governors of different states in a conference call that Walz is handling the situation well.

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In the call, which reportedly took place on June 1, 2020, Trump wanted state authorities to take tough measures against the civil unrest which erupted across the United States following the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.

I know Gov. Walz is on the phone, and we spoke, and I fully agree with the way he handled it the last couple of days, he said in the phone call. Trumps past comments have managed to undercut his campaigns line of attack as they were trying to slam the Minnesota governor over his lack of response to the protests.

Trumps comments contradict Vances criticism

The recording resurfaced at a time when Trumps running mate JD Vance had been accusing Walz of allowing rioters to burn down the streets of Minneapolis. In the 2020 phone call, Trump gave an upbeat appraisal of the Minnesota governors work.

I was very happy with the last couple of days, Tim, Trump said. You called up big numbers and the big numbers knocked them out so fast it was like bowling pins, he added. The comments contradicted the attack launched by far-right Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who claimed in a post that Walz did nothing while Minneapolis burned.

Tim Walz did nothing while Minneapolis burned.



He sat back while the rioters that Kamala would bail out burned down a city.



Even the liberal mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, criticized Tim Walzs response to the riots.



President Trump is the law & order candidate America pic.twitter.com/cmJDFYhBYO  Marjorie Taylor Greene  (@mtgreenee) August 6, 2024

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Even Trumps campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt repeated the criticism when she said that Walz allowed Minneapolis to burn for days. While speaking to POLITICO, she described Trumps comments on the call as grudging.

In this daily briefing phone call with Governors on June 1, days after the riots began, President Trump acknowledged Governor Walz for FINALLY taking action to deploy the National Guard to end the violence in the city, Leavitt said.

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What happened in 2020?

To deal with the violent protests following the death of George Floyd, Walz, who was a retired guardsman, deployed the National Guard via executive order. Interestingly, the decision came more than seven hours before Trump posted on social media threatening to do the same.

In the past, the former president falsely took credit for sending the National Guard to respond to the civil unrest after Walz failed to do so in the region.

Despite Walzs response to the matter, the Minnesota governor faced criticism from Republicans for taking 18 hours to send the National Guard after Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey requested assistance. The Harris-Walz campaign has yet to comment on the matter.

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With inputs from agencies.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Thursday dialed External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and discussed the unfolding situation in Bangladesh and West Asia read more

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Thursday dialed External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and discussed the unfolding situation in Bangladesh and West Asia.

Taking to X, Jaishankar posted, Received a call from UK Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy today. Discussed the situation in Bangladesh and West Asia.

Received a call from UK Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy today.



Discussed the situation in Bangladesh and West Asia.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 8, 2024

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The discussion between Jaishankar and the British Foreign Secretary came against the backdrop of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas failed UK asylum plan after she resigned and fled to India.

Hasina, who resigned on Monday amid massive protests demanding her ouster, initially planned to seek refuge in the UK. However, the UKs reluctance to grant her asylum due to potential legal issues related to the protests has thwarted her plans.

Following her resignation, the 76-year-old Hasina arrived at Hindon airbase near Delhi with intentions to travel to London. The UK indicated it could not offer legal protection for her against potential investigations into the violence in Bangladesh.

Lammy said that Bangladesh has experienced unprecedented violence and loss of life in recent weeks, and called for a full, independent UN-led investigation.

Under UK immigration rules, asylum applications cannot be made from outside the UK.

Asylum claims are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and applicants must seek asylum in the first safe country they reach.

With inputs from agencies
The protesters were made up of a diverse collection of Muslims, anti-racist and anti-fascist groups, trade unionists, left-wing organisations, and locals appalled at the riots that had hit the country read more

Thousands of police officers and anti-racism protesters gathered across Britain on Wednesday (August 7) to counter anticipated far-right groups, which ultimately did not appear, following over a week of violent racist attacks targeting Muslims and migrants.

The unrest began early last week after three young girls were killed in a knife attack in Southport, northwest England. False online messages mistakenly identified the suspected killer as an Islamist migrant, triggering riots.

Online posts suggested that far-right, anti-Muslim protesters would target various immigration centers, migrant support centers, and specialist law firms on Wednesday. This led to many businesses closing early and some shops boarding up windows.

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In response, thousands of police officers were deployed, and large crowds of protesters assembled in cities including London, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Hastings. They held banners with messages such as Fight racism, Stop the far right, and Will trade racists for refugees.

The protesters comprised a diverse mix of Muslims, anti-racist and anti-fascist groups, trade unionists, left-wing organizations, and local residents appalled by the recent riots.

By 8 pm GMT, no reports of serious disorder had surfaced. Police noted that around 50 people in Croydon, south London, had thrown bottles and attempted to cause disruption.

Stetson Matthew, a 64-year-old waste collector, joined thousands of demonstrators in Walthamstow, northeast London. Reuters quoted him as saying. Everybody has the right to do what they need to do, but they must put their voices across peacefully, amicably, without any stress or violence.

Lucy, a 37-year-old flower grower who joined a counter-protest in Hastings, southeast England, expressed relief at the large turnout. I felt I absolutely had to be here tonight to take a stand, and it is much easier for me to come as a white woman than for some of my non-white friends, so Im here in solidarity, she said.

The riots last week saw groups of a few hundred, mostly men, clashing with police and smashing windows of hotels housing asylum-seekers from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The rioters chanted get them out and stop the boats, referring to migrants arriving in Britain in small dinghies without permission.

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They also pelted mosques with rocks, prompting Muslim organizations to issue community safety advice.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, facing his first major crisis since winning the July 4 election, has warned rioters they would face lengthy jail terms. He is determined to quell the worst outbreak of violence in Britain in 13 years.

With inputs from Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin has slammed the Ukrainian incursion in Russias Kursk province as a major provocation read more

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy answers media questions standing against the background of Ukraine's Air Force's F-16 fighter jets in an undisclosed location in Ukraine, on August. 4, 2024. AP

As Russian President Vladimir Putin fumes over the Ukrainian incursion in Russia, Ukraine has said its the consequence of Russian actions.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Ukrainian military has crossed the border and is fighting in Russias Kursk province. A Ukrainian commander claimed that the military had captured the town of Sudhza.

It was not until Thursday that Ukraine acknowledged the cross-border fighting. Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that the root cause for any escalation on part of Ukraine, including the incursion into Kursk, was unequivocal aggression on the part of Russia in believing it could invade Ukraine with impunity, according to The Guardian.

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Podolyak further said that Russia is now reaping the consequences of its actions.

War is war, with its own rules, where the aggressor inevitably reaps corresponding outcomes, said Podolyak, as per the newspaper.

In an apparent reference to the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk, Zelenskyy on Thursday that the world was seeing that Ukraine could still surprise.

Zelenskyy said that everyone can see that the Ukrainian army knows how to surprise, as per the newspaper.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the incursion is a major escalation and that Ukrainian forces were indiscriminately attacking Russian civilians.

What we know of Kursk incursion?

While it is now confirmed that Ukrainian forces are battling the Russians in the town of Sudhza in Kursk province, the nature of fighting and control of territories is not yet clear.

While a Ukranian commander claimed earlier this week that the army had captured Sudhza, the Guardian has now reported Russian military bloggers as saying that fighting is still ongoing in Sudhza and only the western part of the town appears to be under Ukrainian control.

The Russian state-run TASS news agency has reported that 3,000 Russians have been evacuated from Kursk since the beginning of the attack.

While there have previously been attacks inside Russia, The Guardians noted those were from anti-Putin Russian groups. This is the first time Ukraine has attacked inside Russia and that too involving everything: infantry, armoured vehicles, drones, air defence systems, electronic warfare systems, etc.

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A Ukrainian commander told British newspaper i that taking the war inside Russia was the only way to ease the pressure on Ukrainian forces elsewhere.

We have no wish to be on Russian territory but there is no other way to take the pressure off of the front line in Donbas, in Zaporizhzhia. We know we cant go toe-to-toe with them in the east using the tactics they use because they dont care about their guys and for us our soldiers are our best resource. So for us this is the best way to draw their forces from the east and reinforce our border, said the commander.
The Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) Bangladesh said, All IVACs will remain closed till further notice, due to the unstable situation read more

Protesters shield themselves with a metal sheet during a clash with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the police. Source: REUTERS.

The unrest in Bangladesh has forced all Indian visa application centres in the country to shut down till further notice. Meanwhile, normalcy is expected to return in Bangladesh as the interim government will take oath on Thursday evening and will be headed by Muhammad Yunus whose name has been suggested by student leaders who were demanding for abolishment of quotas in civil services jobs.

The Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) Bangladesh on its website said: All IVACs will remain closed till further notice, due to the unstable situation (in Bangladesh)."

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Next application date will be informed through SMS and it is requested to pick up the passport on the next working day, IVAC further said.

The clashes and protests in Bangladesh turned violent on August 5 forcing Sheikh Hasina to resign as Prime Minister and flee the country.

The shutting down of Indian visa centres in Bangladesh comes a day after New Delhi evacuated non-essential staff and their families from its High Commission and consulates in Dhaka amid the volatile situation in the neighbouring country.

NDTV quoted sources in the government as saying that Indian diplomats, however, remain in Bangladesh and the missions are functional.

In Bangladesh, India has a high commission in capital Dhaka and consulates in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet.

Briefing the parliament on the situation in Bangladesh, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar informed that there are nearly 19,000 Indian nationals in the neighbouring country of which 9,000 are students.

Also Read: Request received at short notice: Jaishankar on Hasinas landing in India amid Bangladesh turmoil

He further said that many of the students have returned to India after the protests broke out in Bangladesh.

Jaishankar had further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is in close contact with the Indian community in Bangladesh and also is monitoring the situation regarding minorities living in the country.

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With inputs from agencies
The companies were added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List, which restricts imports tied to what the US government characterizes as an ongoing genocide of minorities in Chinas western Xinjiang region read more

US bans five more Chinese companies over plight of the Uyghur forced labours. Reuters

The United States on Thursday banned imports from five more Chinese companies over alleged human rights abuses involving the Uyghurs, according to a government posting, as part of its effort to eliminate goods made with forced labour from the US supply chain.

The companies include Hong Kong-based Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group Holdings (0601. HK), which opens a new tab and its parent, Century Sunshine Group Holdings (0509. HK), opens a new tab, which manufactures magnesium fertilizer and magnesium alloy products. Also included is Zijin Mining Group Co (601899. SS), opens a new tab subsidiary Xinjiang Habahe Ashele Copper Co, which mines nonferrous metals.

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The targeted companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The companies were added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List, which restricts imports tied to what the US government characterizes as an ongoing genocide of minorities in Chinas western Xinjiang region.

The list now includes over 70 entities tied to products including cotton apparel, automotive parts, vinyl flooring and solar panels.

The list identifies those who work with the government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to recruit and transport Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz or members of other persecuted groups out of the region and those who source material from the region or from people who work with the government of Xinjiang.

US officials say Chinese authorities have established labour camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang. Beijing denies any abuses.

The so-called forced labour in Xinjiang is nothing but an egregious lie propagated by anti-China forces and a tool for US politicians to destabilize Xinjiang and contain Chinas development, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said on Thursday in a statement. China will continue to firmly safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies.
Puigdemont, 61, fled to Belgium seven years ago after a failed secession bid and has been living in exile ever since. He is now likely to be detained over an outstanding arrest warrant for alleged embezzlement, which he denies. read more

The operation to arrest Puigdemont has since expanded across Catalonia, with checkpoints on major highways, including those connecting Catalonia to France. Despite the extensive police efforts, Puigdemont remains at large. Image- Reuters

Former Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont defied an arrest warrant and appeared at a rally in Barcelona on Thursday after seven years of self-imposed exile.

Speaking to thousands of supporters from a platform near the Catalan parliament, Puigdemont vowed to reignite the independence movement that threw Spain into a political crisis seven years ago. Following his speech, he vanished before police could arrest him.

Catalan police, under a heavy presence in the city, launched Operatiu Gabia (Operation Cage) to capture Puigdemont. Officers set up checkpoints at exits from Barcelona, searching for a vehicle that the former Catalan president, who has been wanted by Spanish authorities since 2017, was believed to be traveling in.

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The operation to arrest Puigdemont has since expanded across Catalonia, with checkpoints on major highways, including those connecting Catalonia to France. Despite the extensive police efforts, Puigdemont remains at large.

Today, many thought theyd be celebrating my arrest, and thought that this punishment would dissuade us - and you, he said. Today I came to remind them that we are still here! We are still here because we have no right to quit.

Senior officials of his Junts party, including parliament speaker Josep Rull, and members of the moderate separatist Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya which currently runs the regional government led a march to the Catalan parliament after the rally as journalists tried to spot whether Puigdemont was among them.

A debate to swear in Socialist Salvador Illa as Catalonias new president, ending a decade of separatist rule, began amid confusion and speculation about Puigdemonts whereabouts and how he could have vanished in plain sight.

We had to see how the state allowed this criminal to hold a rally, said Ignacio Garriga, secretary general of the far-right Vox party, told reporters outside the Catalan parliament. We dont understand why he hasnt been arrested yet.

A Catalan Interior Ministry spokesperson confirmed Puigdemont had evaded capture. I can confirm Puigdemont has not been detained yet, she said. I can confirm roadblocks have been set up to find him.
Ukraine has brought the battle in the over-two-year-long war to Russia. What does Volodymyr Zelenskyy aim to achieve against Vladimir Putin with his new battle strategy? read more

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy answers media questions standing against the background of Ukraine's Air Force's F-16 fighter jets in an undisclosed location in Ukraine, on August. 4, 2024. AP

In a striking development, Ukraine has launched a rare cross-border incursion into Russia, targeting the western Kursk region. Ukraine has not confirmed the attack that has taken the fight to Russian territory, at least 10 kilometres inside the country, reports have said. Russia has said that at least 31 people died in the initial incursion by Ukraine.

This bold move has prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to convene his Security Council, labelling the action a major provocation. The attack represents one of the most significant Ukrainian military operations on Russian soil since the conflict began in February 2022. Uptil now, some Russian rebel groups were taking on the Russian forces on its side of the border. Ukraine was engaged mainly in fighting off the Russian forces on its own land.

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The Ukrainian move follows a nod from the US and other Nato members for using their weapons to strike inside Russia. Recently, Ukrainian ministers visiting the UK tried to impress upon the Biden administration about the necessity of an incursion into Russian territories.

The motivation behind this audacious manoeuvre appears to be multifaceted, aimed at overstretching Russian forces, sending a message to the United States, and rallying the Ukrainian populace.

A diversion tactic: Overstretching Russian forces

One primary factor driving Ukraines incursion into Russia could be the strategic objective of overstretching Russian military capabilities. By opening a new front in the Kursk region, Ukrainian forces may aim to divert Russian attention and resources away from embattled areas in Ukraine.

The conflict has seen Ukrainian troops struggling to maintain ground amidst relentless Russian offensives. Media reports have cited General Valery Gerasimov, commander of Russias forces in Ukraine, as saying that up to 1,000 Ukrainian troops were involved in the Kursk assault, though this figure remains unverified. Some other reports from the Ukrainian side said the number of soldiers invading Russia was at least 300.

Military experts suggest that this tactic could relieve pressure on Ukrainian defenders elsewhere. By forcing Russia to defend its own territory, Ukraine might gain a respite on its front lines. This strategy aligns with historical military principles where spreading an opponents forces thin can lead to operational advantages. However, the potential success of such a tactic hinges on Ukraines ability to sustain and escalate these incursions, challenging Russias defensive posture.

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From Zelenskyy to Biden: A message to America

Another critical dimension of this incursion is the geopolitical message directed at the United States. Ukraines actions could be seen as a deliberate effort to influence American policy on the use of US-supplied weapons.

In May, the US permitted Ukraine to use American arms against Russian military targets near Ukraines Kharkiv region. Recently, a Ukrainian delegation in Washington advocated for broader permissions, specifically targeting Russian territories with US-provided Army Tactical Missile Systems.

In his media interactions, influential Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Goncharenko has posited that this aggressive stance demonstrates Ukraines capability and resolve. The idea is to show that really, we can attack, [and] nothing has happened, Goncharenko has remarked, referring to Russias previous threats of nuclear retaliation that got the West concerned about such an escalation.

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This message is seemingly intended to pressure American policymakers that supporting Ukraines offensive operations will help bring the war to an end and not necessarily provoke an uncontrollable Russian response. Whether this move translates into bigger military aids to Ukraine is a matter of speculation.

Another message to the Ukrainian people

Domestically, this incursion serves as a morale-boosting endeavour for the Ukrainian public, who have faced prolonged hardships and a stalemate on the battlefield. The Ukrainian military has struggled to replicate the successes of its 2022 offensives around Kharkiv and Kherson, with Russian forces recently making gains.

In a series of reversals, the Ukrainian forces have lost ground in several areas, particularly in the Donetsk region. The Institute for the Study of War, Russian troops have captured approximately 112 square miles of Ukrainian territory since mid-June.

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Ukrainian politician Goncharenko too has acknowledged the war-weariness among Ukrainians, noting the psychological impact of a prolonged and grinding conflict. People are tired, exhausted. There have been no successes for Ukraine for quite a long time, reports have quoted him as saying.

By launching a high-profile attack within Russia, Ukrainian leadership aims to invigorate national spirit and demonstrate their continuing capability to challenge Russian forces. This move is designed to bolster public confidence and reinforce the narrative that Ukraine can still achieve significant victories.

How it may impact the future of Russia-Ukraine war

The Kremlins response to the incursion has been swift and robust. Putin has indicated a fiercer response in days to come. Russian troops and fighter jets have been deployed to the Kursk region, and local authorities reported ongoing combat and evacuations.

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Kursks acting governor Alexei Smirnov has said President Putin is keeping the situation under personal control. However, as the situation remains volatile, with reports of casualties and significant destruction, the Ukrainian attack has challenged the might of Putin inside his territories and poses a risk of fall in his approval ratings if the Russian citizens start becoming victims of enemy fire.

This incursion into Russian territory, at the same time, underscores Ukraines willingness to take the fight to Russian soil, challenging the narrative of an invincible Russian defence. For the international community, especially the United States, it presents a crucial test of the limits of military support for Ukraine and the potential risks of broader escalation.

With the world watching closely, gauging the strategic, political, and humanitarian impacts of Ukraines bold move, the over-two-year-long war may not only have entered Russian territory but also a new and unpredictable phase, with both immediate and long-term consequences for all involved parties.
The Amazon Great Freedom Festival 2024 sale, powered by POCO, began on August 6th, 2024, and is currently active.

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Explore the rich history and architectural beauty of Trinity Episcopal Church in this captivating tour given by Reverend Jimmy Abbott. Join J.R., Lisa, Erika, and Reverend Jimmy in uncovering the layers of history, from its founding in 1841 to its role in wartime and natural disasters.
Issue Date: 8th August 2024

As part of an ongoing investigation being conducted at the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) into sale of illegal material on Darknet Markets and Money Laundering involving extensive use of cryptocurrencies, Detectives attached to the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB), supported by the Armed Support Unit, conducted a search of a residence in North County Dublin on the morning of 5th August 2024.

Two males (aged 23 and 49) were arrested on suspicion of alleged offences of Enhancing the Capability of a Criminal Organisation to Commit a Serious Offence contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 and were detained under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at Garda Stations in South Dublin.

A 32 year old female was also arrested on suspicion of alleged offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 and detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, as amended.

The 49 year old male and 32 year old female have since been released from custody pending the submission of a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The 23 year old male remains in garda custody.

During the course of this search, GNCCB investigators seized substantial assets, most notably Crypto Currency, namely Bitcoin and Monero, with a current market value of approximately 6.5 million euros, along with luxury brand watches worth in excess of 120,000 and two high powered vehicles valued in the region of 220,000.

D / Superintendent Michael Mullen of the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau stated 

"The arrests of the three individuals and the assets seized are the result of a highly complex investigation into criminal Darknet Marketplace activities by specialist investigators attached to the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau. These Law Enforcement actions demonstrate Irelands continued determination that this jurisdiction is not a safe place for persons involved in any form of criminality and the determination of An Garda Siochana to prevent those involved in criminality of benefitting financially from same, irrespective of what form such profits takes. I would also like to reassure the public that this Darknet market, where illegal good and services were for sale, is no longer in operation
As Mesa County Valley School District 51 Superintendent Brian Hill was strolling along the Market on Main last Thursday, he was asked by several people how the district was proposing a bond and mill levy override extension without increasing taxes.

Were paying off old bond debt from 2004, Hill told the D51 Board of Education on Tuesday night at its first work session of the new school year. It was a 20-year mortgage almost, so were paying that off this year, which gives us an opportunity to go out and borrow at the same rate, and we can borrow $190 million. Remember, we have over $600 million worth of deferred maintenance, so this will allow us to do $190 million worth of work.

Hill went over the current proposed language of both the bond and the mill levy override with the board. The board is set to vote on approving the language at its next meeting on Aug. 20. If approved, the measures would go before Mesa County voters in November.

The language of these measures can still be edited and adjusted before then.

Hill noted that this is a window of opportunity for a bond, as the next opportunity for such an undertaking without imposing any new or raised taxes would be in 2041.

CURRENT PROPOSED BOND LANGUAGE

The bond language as it stands now reads:

Without imposing any new tax, shall Mesa County Valley School District 51 debt be increased $190 million with a maximum total repayment cost of not more than $410 million for the purposes of:

Additions and renovations for Fruita Monument High School, such as adding and renovating classrooms to replace portable trailers and connecting the campus facilities as one secure building;

Additions and renovations for Central High School, including adding a secure entry vestibule, replacing older classrooms and connecting the campus structures as one secure building;

Address high-priority repairs and maintenance at elementary, middle and high schools, such as roof replacements, ADA upgrades, and fire sprinklers;

Provide safety and security enhancements at all schools such as fencing, traffic control, and added door security;

Special education renovations at elementary schools to create adequate spaces for special needs and intervention instruction;

Learning environment enhancements at middle schools such as new furniture and upgraded classroom instructional technology.

And to the extent that funds are remaining after the completion of the above, for acquiring, constructing and improving capital assets contemplated in the districts long range capital plan;

And shall the taxes authorized at the districts bond elections in 2004-2017 and 2021 be extended and authorized to be used to pay the debt authorized at this election in addition to the debt authorized at such prior elections;

Such debt to be evidenced by the issuance and payment of general obligation bonds, which shall bear interest, mature, be subject to redemption, with or without premium of not to exceed 3% and be issued, dated and sold at such time or times, at such prices (at, above or below par), and in such manner and containing such terms, not inconsistent herewith, as the district may determine, and shall ad valorem property taxes be imposed in any year, without limitation as to rate, to pay the principal of premium, if any, and interest on such bonds and any bonds issued to refinance such bonds and to fund any reserves for the payment thereof;

And shall the district be subject to an annual independent audit published on the districts website.

BOARD MEMBERS COMMENT

Weve got $600 million-plus of needs. This will take a nice little chunk out of that, said Board Secretary Angela Lema. I think it would get us a long way with those really high necessities that really need to be taken care of.

Hill elaborated on why this bond would improve existing school buildings instead of building a new school such as the new Grand Junction High School.

That assessment was done through the master plan process. Central High School, even though its almost the same age as Junction High School, its foundation is a completely different story. Its not wise to put more millions of dollars into the north section of the building anymore, so thats the part we would take offline and do a building addition, but the rest of the building still has a great foundation, so we really would do upgrades within that building to extend the life of it, and that new section thats added on, you want 50-plus years out of that new section, as well, Hill said.

We dont need to replace every single school building, and it also keeps the cost down so we can spread these dollars out to benefit more schools throughout the district. Junction actually needed a new building.

Hill then discussed the mill levy override (MLO), passed in 2017. The MLO is for a set $6.5 million each year, paying for five additional days of school, nearly half of the districts capital improvement budget every year (roughly $1 million) covering 40 facilities, updated instructional materials and professional development days.

Its paying for a lot of things out of that $6.5 million. That dollar amount doesnt change; its a set dollar amount, Hill said. Without imposing any new tax, its going to sunset soon, so being able to remove that sunset because those dollars are still necessary. ... We actually need more, but were trying to focus on securing what we already have.

CURRENT PROPOSED MLO LANGUAGE

The mill levy override language as it stands now reads:

Without imposing any new tax, shall Mesa County Valley School District 51 be authorized to extend the annual tax of not to exceed $6.5 million, which is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2027, and which was previously approved by the voters in November 2017, to be utilized for general fund purposes of the district, including but not limited to:

Provide additional student instruction days;

Updating instructional materials and educator training;

Extending the life of buildings with funding for priority maintenance;

Additional positions in technology support for schools;

And shall such mill levy be an additional property tax mill levy pursuant to, and in accordance with section 22-54-108, C.R.S., in excess of the levy authorized for the districts general fund;

And shall the district be subject to an annual independent audit published on the districts website;

And shall the district be authorized to collect, retain and spend all revenues as voter-approved revenue change under Article X, section 20 of the Colorado Constitution;

And without exceeding the above amounts, for timely bond repayment shall the district be allowed to retain and spent property tax revenue above other annual limits which might otherwise apply and be proposed, from the date of issuance of any bonds authorized by this question until the final maturity of same.
Scott Crabtree/The Daily Sentinel

Grand Junction Fire Station 8, located 441 31 Road, is the most recent Grand Junction station to open, officially opened in late January 2023. The groundbreaking ceremony for Fires Station 7  at 2351 H Road, at the corner of 23 Road  will be at 10 a.m. on Aug. 29
Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's answer to a media question regarding the situation with Estonian journalist Svetlana Burtseva

7 August 2024 11:40

1487-07-08-2024

Question: Estonian journalist Svetlana Burtseva is being prosecuted in Tallinn, on charges of treason and violation of international sanctions. How would you comment on this?

Maria Zakharova: Estonia, as well as other "advanced democracies" in the Baltic region, continues to systematically resort to reprisals as a routine method of dealing with dissent. They have in fact honed this practice of eliminating any sources of alternative thinking to perfection. This new fabricated criminal case against Estonian journalist Svetlana Burtseva has flagrantly exposed the flawed and irreconcilable policy pursued by Tallinn, which is ready to commit any crime to settle scores with its opponents and intimidate all doubters.

The serious charges brought against Svetlana Burtseva pursue only one goal - to severely punish her for her professional activities, for not wanting to obediently integrate into the local mainstream and expressing a different view, which the authorities find objectionable. Being an independent journalist, or just a sensible person is associated with very real risks to life in Estonia.

This kind of reprisals against dissenters, reminiscent of the medieval Inquisition, have taken root in Estonia and other Baltic countries largely due to the lack of reaction from the relevant international organisations. For many years, they have been deliberately looking right past the egregious violations of human rights in those states, including the right to free access to information and pluralistic media, becoming de facto complicit in these atrocities. In this case, however, this isn't about some abstract categories; their inaction endangers a person's life, which the Estonian authorities are ready to cripple for the sake of their purely opportunistic interests. And again, there have been no outcry from the relevant human rights groups, since it is normal for them to overlook violations of the rights of Russian and Russian-language media and journalists.

The situation involving Svetlana Burtseva and the fabricated case against her are clear manifestations of the deep crisis and decline of Western-style democracy, which has morphed into a neoliberal dictatorship.

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The United States of America and Australia Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Countering Foreign State Information Manipulation

US Department of State

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

August 7, 2024

On August 5, 2024, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation between the United States and Australia on countering foreign state information manipulation. The signing ceremony took place in Washington, D.C., on the sidelines of a bilateral meeting between Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Wong in advance of the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN).

The MOU is the result of increased cooperation between the U.S. and Australian governments to identify and counter foreign state information manipulation. The Memorandum will set the direction for future collaboration to reduce the threat by building resiliency within civil society institutions and information ecosystems against disinformation. By signing the MOU, the United States and Australia advance our common determination to preserve regional and global stability, prosperity, and peace through international cooperation.

For additional information and UCG media inquiries, please contact the Global Engagement Center at GECMediaContacts@state.gov.

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Statement following resignation of Bangladesh's Prime Minister

Global Affairs Canada

Statement

August 5, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement:

"Canada strongly condemns the human rights violations, deaths, torture, arbitrary arrests and lethal force used against the people of Bangladesh in recent weeks. We reiterate our deep condolences to all those impacted.

"During this transition, we urge all parties to respect and uphold democratic institutions and processes and the rule of law. It is vital that all those arrested in recent weeks be accorded due process in the justice system and that a full and impartial investigation be pursued to ensure accountability for crimes committed.

"Assuring the maintenance of a full Internet access is critical to allow people to access information and connect with their loved ones in Canada and worldwide.

"As a country committed to democracy, inclusive governance and the rule of law, Canada calls for a quick and peaceful return to a democratic and inclusive civilian-led government in Bangladesh. We urge the people of Bangladesh to unite around the principles of freedom and democracy upon which their country was founded.

"Respect for fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly, are critical for democratic governance and to build peaceful and prosperous societies.

"Canada stands with the people of Bangladesh during these challenging times."

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on the Situation in Bangladesh

People's Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs

August 06, 2024 20:45

Q: What is China's comment on Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation?

A: China is following closely the developments in Bangladesh. As a friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic cooperative partner of Bangladesh, China sincerely hopes that social stability will be restored soon in the country.



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Adopting Resolution 2746 (2024), Security Council Authorizes UN Operation in Democratic Republic of Congo to Support Southern African Development Community Mission in Country

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9699th Meeting (PM)

SC/15785

6 August 2024

The Security Council today authorized the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) to provide operational, technical and logistical assistance to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the country.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2746 (2024) (to be issued as document S/RES/2746(2024)), the Council authorized MONUSCO to support the SADC Mission through enhanced coordination, information-sharing, technical assistance and use of MONUSCO's logistical assets and military capabilities, within the area of the Mission's deployment and existing resource, to further its mandate, with due consideration for the safety and security of UN personnel.

This support includes providing technical assistance for the protection of civilians, the prevention of conflict-related sexual violence and disarmament; coordination with the SADC Mission for the utilization of MONUSCO's air and other logistical assets for medical and casualty evacuation of SADC troops; utilization of MONUSCO's air assets and armoured vehicles, excluding the Mission's involvement in combat operations; and sharing of information and peacekeeping intelligence.

By other terms of the text, the 15-member organ stressed that MONUSCO's provision of such support to the SADC Mission is determined by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the country and Head of MONUSCO in close consultation with the MONUSCO and the SADC Mission Force Commanders, and without affecting MONUSCO's capacity to implement its mandate and strategic priorities.

Further, it asked the Secretary-General to report to the Council by 15 November 2024 on progress in operationalizing the SADC Mission and the Mission to report by 15 November 2024 on its activities, including coordination with MONUSCO.

Before the vote, the representative of Sierra Leone, Council President for August, spoke in his national capacity to commend the unity demonstrated by Council members during the draft's negotiations. "This indicates that the Council has not turned a blind eye to the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo," he stressed. The draft seeks to create a conducive environment for implementing ongoing regional peace efforts, including the recent ceasefire agreement  brokered by Angola  between the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. Noting that dialogue is "extremely critical" for resolving the conflict between the warring parties, he urged all Council members to vote in favour of the text.

His counterpart from France said the adoption of the text would mark a significant step in consolidating international assistance to counter the violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Also welcoming the ceasefire agreement between that country and Rwanda, she called on all actors to respect the accord.

After the vote, Guyana's delegate, who spoke also for Algeria, Sierra Leone and Mozambique, said that today's draft was adopted against the backdrop of a challenging security situation in the country, owing to the activities of armed groups operating there. She observed that a permanent solution to this issue requires strong support and political will at the national, regional and international levels. There are already mechanisms in place to counter the threat, she pointed out, adding: "They just need to be consistently and strategically implemented." To sustainably address the problem of local armed groups, it is critical to expedite implementation of the Nairobi process. Simultaneously, Kinshasa must continue its efforts towards achieving a strong State presence throughout the eastern part of the country. She further expressed hope that the ceasefire agreement brokered by Angola under the Luanda process will permanently de-escalate tensions.

The draft will contribute to pan-regional efforts to stabilize the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, stated the Russian Federation's representative, welcoming the recent ceasefire agreement. However, numerous components of the resolution could have been finessed, she said, rejecting efforts to fill Council documents with "excessive and intrusive language about the kinds of rules and standards that African organizations should be guided by when conducting their operations".

Highlighting Angola's mediation efforts to bring about the ceasefire agreement, China's delegate said all parties must take this opportunity to de-escalate the situation. He reaffirmed support for enhancing Africa's capacity in peace stabilization and counter-terrorism operations, expressing the hope that the SADC Mission  with MONUSCO's support  will play an active role in maintaining stability in the eastern part of the country. Emphasizing that only a political solution is sustainable, he expressed support for the efforts of regional countries and resolving African problems with an African approach. MONUSCO must continue to support the Democratic Republic of the Congo Government in strengthening security, he said.

Nevertheless, emphasized the speaker for the United Kingdom, the support provided by MONUSCO must not impede the Mission's ability to deliver its mandate within its existing resources. Noting the importance of a comprehensive due-diligence framework, he stressed that operations should be conducted in full compliance with international law, without compromising the safety of the Mission's personnel and its impartiality. Welcoming the ceasefire agreement, he called on all parties to honour their commitments.

The representative of the United States, while voting in favour of the draft, voiced concern that the provision of air assets and armoured vehicles to facilitate the movement of the SADC troops "could inflame regional tensions at a fragile moment in the conflict". Rather than expanding military operations in the eastern part of the country, parties should focus on ending the violence, engaging through the Luanda process and promoting accountability for human rights abuses by all actors, he asserted. Further, Washington, D.C., is disturbed by reports immediately following the ceasefire announcement of continued actions by M23 to expand their control of Congolese territory, in blatant disregard of the humanitarian truce. He urged Rwanda to immediately end its support for M23 and withdraw its troops from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.



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US, Botswana Defence Forces kick off exercise Southern Accord 2024

By Maj. Joe Legros , U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa Gaborone, Botswana Aug 07, 2024

GABORONE, Botswana -- Exercise Southern Accord 2024 officially began on August 5, 2025, launching a two-week joint military exercise between U.S. and Botswana forces. The opening ceremony in Gaborone marked the start of a comprehensive training operation aimed at enhancing bilateral military cooperation and readiness.

Sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and led by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), Southern Accord is a joint bi-annual exercise that unites U.S. Army and Air Force personnel with their Botswana Defence Force (BDF) counterparts. The exercise focuses on conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, peacekeeping missions and aeromedical evacuations, all while enhancing multinational military capabilities and interoperability.

At the opening ceremony, U.S. Army Col. Mark Whiteman, senior defense official and defense attache with U.S. Embassy Gaborone, underscored the importance of the exercise and the enduring partnership between the two nations.

"We're very excited to join together with our partners here in Botswana," said Whiteman. "From academics courses to the field training exercise, to real-world humanitarian aid, this year's exercise provides an unparalleled opportunity to increase our joint readiness."

The North Carolina National Guard, which has maintained a State Partnership Program with the BDF since 2008, plays a key role in the exercise. This long-standing relationship has facilitated numerous exchanges of military best practices, deepening the collaboration between the two forces. Their involvement in Southern Accord demonstrates the shared commitment of the U.S. and Botswana to collective defense efforts.

BDF Maj. Gen. Joseph Eno Seelo, deputy commander of the BDF, highlighted the exercise's role in reinforcing the U.S.-Botswana military relationship.

"It is my fervent belief that this exercise will serve as a platform where, as partners, we will have the opportunity to engage on issues of common interest in the theater of operations and throughout the broader national security environment," Seelo stated. "We also have a view to explore other potential areas of cooperation that will further enhance our mutual relationship."

Southern Accord is being conducted across three locations in Botswana, providing participants with varied training environments and scenarios. The exercise includes operations designed to test and improve the interoperability of U.S. and BDF forces, with a focus on humanitarian assistance, disaster response and peacekeeping missionsall critical to regional stability and security.

Additionally, the exercise serves as a platform for advancing gender integration and supporting women, peace and security (WPS) initiatives. The BDF, in collaboration with SETAF-AF, has implemented a 5-year WPS strategy led by its Gender Integration Office, established in September 2023. This initiative highlights the commitment of both nations to fostering inclusivity and empowering women in the military.

"I encourage each one of the participants to engage in an open, mature and truly candid way," said Seelo during his opening ceremony address. "For you to be a better soldier tomorrow, ready to deploy around the world to defend peace and security, including violent acts against humanity."

To this end, U.S. and Botswana forces will engage in rigorous training, exchanging knowledge and expertise to enhance their operational effectiveness. The exercise is set to conclude on August 15, 2025, with a closing ceremony celebrating the accomplishments and the strengthened partnership between the two nations.

"The world in which we live, with problems and security challenges that cross borders and continents, requires us to be prepared," concluded Whiteman. "Working with our partners is how we will succeed in tackling these challenges, while safeguarding the people we serve."

About SETAF-AF SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis response options in Africa and Europe.

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Illinois Guard Security Battalion Deploys Team to Africa

By Lt. Col. Bradford Leighton, Joint Force Headquarters - Illinois National Guard Public Affairs August 7, 2024

OCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- The Illinois Army National Guard's 6th Battalion, 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade, will deploy Logistics Advisor Team 6620 and its seven Soldiers to Djibouti, Africa, for about six months after welcoming home Battalion Advisor Team 660 from Romania and Logistics Advisor Team 6622 from the Philippines.

A combined mobilization and welcome home ceremony for the three teams was held Aug. 4 at Heritage Hall on Rock Island Arsenal, where the battalion is based.

"The mission of the SFAB teams is invaluable to our allies and partner nations," said Col. Beth Roxworthy, the commander of the 34th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade.

Roxworthy said the teams are mobile, modular, and interoperable and they build the defensive capacity of our friends and allies in the world.

"The strategic impact of your work is often overlooked because we tend to focus on adversaries when the balloon goes up, "she said. "Your soft power strengthens our partners and allies now. You have a lasting and dynamic impact that is vital to our national security."

Battalion Advisor Team 660, led by 6th Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Matthew Kreiter, deployed about 20 Soldiers to Romania for six months; they returned in April. The team conducted security cooperation activities with Romania's 2nd Infantry Division, strengthening NATO alliances, increasing interoperability and improving logistics.

The team conducted more than 350 military engagements, provided 26 recommendations to improve the Romanian Traumatic Combat Casualty Care course, supported a two-week intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance academy, taught a noncommissioned officer leadership course, facilitated decision-making planning to develop and execute a logistics command post exercise, and presented at the War and Disaster Medicine Conference in Estonia on how physical therapy could expedite Soldiers' return to the battlefield.

The five Soldiers of Logistics Advisor Team 6622, led by Maj. Thomas Brooks, returned earlier this year from the Philippines. They worked with the Philippine Army to increase their capacity to fight and deter foreign aggression. The team conducted more than 60 engagements. They trained with 200 Filipino Soldiers on interoperability sustainment, advised Filipino officers on planning and executing their first brigade-level combined arms training exercise, and advised and assisted the Filipino chief surgeon on planning and executing the first medical subject matter expert exchange between the United States and the Philippine Army.

Before the two teams deployed, Kreiter asked that they train hard and "tell the story of how we are building up nations improving our military" to defend freedom and democracy.

"Both these teams, 660 and 6622, did just that. We told our stories to multinational partners across Europe and Asia, the highest levels of both Romanian Land Forces Command and Philippine Strategic Command, U.S. and foreign embassy staffs and security force operators throughout theater," Kreiter said. "Everyone knew and wanted to join the SFAB's cause on improving foreign militaries and interoperability and helping advance U.S. interests abroad."

Those Soldiers who have returned and the rest of 6th Battalion, 54th SFAB, have "to pick right back up and support our team going to Djibouti, Africa, Team 6620," Kreiter said. "These seven individuals are ready. I can already see the success they will have. I've seen the trust, professionalism and team comradery they have already built and will carry on to their partner force."

Kreiter encouraged Team 6620 to get to know their Djibouti counterparts.

"Understand their life, use phrases from their language, and honor their customs and laws," he said.

Team 6620 is led by Maj. Walter Brown, who told the families that the deploying Soldiers "underwent a rigorous selection and were chosen not only based on their expertise in their field and ability to build relationships, but also for their character and integrity."

Brig. Gen. Justin Osberg, the Illinois National Guard joint staff director, thanked the Soldiers' families and employers for their support.

The general presented the team with a State of Illinois Flag to carry to Africa, symbolizing the state's support of the deploying Soldiers.

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387 AES QRT - A Force Multiplier for Theater Sustainment

U.S. Central Command

News | Aug. 7, 2024

By Staff Sgt. Danielle McBride United States Air Forces Central

U.S. Air Forces Central -- In the heart of challenging and dynamic operational environments, where resources are scarce, an elite team of aerial porters from the 387th Air Expeditionary Squadron Quick Reaction Team (QRT) are the unsung heroes of mission success in the U.S. Central Command, where they rapidly deploy to austere locations at a moment's notice.

For example, in early June, aerial porters from the 387th AES QRT forward deployed to an undisclosed location to enable humanitarian aid delivery to displaced persons in the region. This is one of many examples of the QRT's ability to rapidly deploy and it highlights their unique mission setone that is vital to multiple movement, maneuver, and sustainment objectives across CENTCOM.

Aerial porters from the QRT are highly specialized and dedicated, uniquely positioned to respond rapidly to emergent taskings to support deployment, redeployment, and sustainment missions for joint partners across 11 countries in the CENTCOM theater. As the only dedicated QRT of aerial porters in the U.S. Air Force, they support dynamic logistical movements to provide air transportation expertise and capabilities essential for ensuring the safe and efficient movement of cargo and personnel.

The primary mission of aerial porters is to oversee the loading and transport of passengers and cargo including the joint inspection of hazardous cargo and equipment, such as weapons and ammunition. QRT aerial porters specialize in deploying on very short notice to locations where immediate specialist transportation support is required, acting as a crucial link between various entities involved in mission operations and serving as a conduit for communication and coordination.

The 387 AES QRT is made up of 25 expert aerial porters from multiple installations, spanning five bases across the U.S. and deployed to the CENTCOM area of responsibility for six-month increments. Their skills are in high-demand, and they must be ready to deploy and work as small teams in challenging and austere environments from the moment they arrive in theater. Their ability to navigate complex logistical processes is instrumental in streamlining mission operations and overcoming potential deployment challenges with joint partners.

"It is like track and field when you're passing the baton," said a Senior Airman 387 AES aerial port joint inspector. "People work with what they can on their end and we take the baton and run it to the next place. It is essential because nobody else has the capabilities to do this but us."

During this rotation, the QRT aerial porters have participated in 33 theater missions, three exercises, and two named operations, moving 4.9K personnel and 27 million pounds of cargo. The QRT also impacts allies and partners, sustaining port operations for Exercise EAGER LION in Jordan, enabling Jordanian Allies to build their humanitarian aid operations, and Exercise FALCON TALON in Pakistan, where they project Agile Combat Employment capabilities with a critical partner bridging two Combatant Commands.

The impact of the QRT extends far beyond the confines of traditional port operations. Through their involvement in humanitarian efforts by hand delivering aid to refugees, joint exercises, and high-visibility movements, the QRT plays a critical role in strengthening relationships between Air Force Central Command, and other components within CENTCOM requiring aerial transportation expertise, such as Army Central Command, Marine Forces Europe, Naval Forces Europe, and Special Operations Command Central. Additionally, the QRT enables global U.S. Transportation Command missions into and out of theater. The QRT enables this type of joint interoperability, which is vital to CENTCOM's multinational lines of effort.

"When our personnel aren't on forward missions, they are augmenting the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing's aerial port every day," said Lt. Col. Darshan Subramanian, commander of the 387th AES. "This is important because we are the logistics gateway to CENTCOM. The base port must surge rapidly and often. Our QRT enables these surges and complements the already fantastic aerial port team we have here."

In the current theater, where forward austere locations lack permanent aerial port capabilities, the 387 AES QRT ensures the dynamic nature of logistics movement and sustainment can be executed short notice for any joint partner in CENTCOM. These movements and sustainment efforts are critical to the consistent projection of forces in support of the U.S., allies, and partners in the region.



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August 7, 2024

By Jim Garamone, DOD News

Defense Community Increasing Pace of Innovation, Hicks Says

The effects of changes made in Defense Department acquisition processes are finally being felt, and the pace of change and innovation within the department is speeding up, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks told the National Defense Industrial Association today.

What's more, Hicks said the effects show every sign of being sustained and growing.

Change and innovation has been at the heart of efforts under the direction of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Hicks. Since they took their current jobs, both said the geopolitical environment requires DOD to innovate. The U.S. military cannot take years to get new capabilities to service members.

Hicks spoke of the efforts needed to put processes in place to speed experimentation, innovation, development and acquisition.

"Now, nothing goes from zero-to-60 overnight," she said. "Change is a progression."

Hicks said DOD was able to build on earlier efforts in this regard. "We saw what was done, what needed doing, and what could be done, and we took the next logical steps," she said.

Accelerating the Rate of Change

"Once we had foundational building blocks in place, our rate of change skyrocketed, enabling the kinds of faster, go-big innovations that we've pursued since 2021," the deputy secretary said. These building blocks allowed the department to work better with commercial and nontraditional defense companies, Hicks said, and they also sped up software acquisition while looking at ways to speed research and development and prototyping.

"Today over 200 programs have used middle-tier and software-acquisition pathways, with $57 billion flowing through them since inception  nearly 40% just in fiscal 2024," she said. "In some cases, they're shaving up to six years off delivery timelines."

The deputy defense secretary said working with nontraditional defense companies has also helped with innovation and change, with a big part of that being DOD becoming a better customer and collaborator. "Four years ago, some [companies] were still reticent about working with DOD. Some founders weren't even thinking about us. Interested founders had no clear way to align with us."

Hicks said DOD elevated the status of the Defense Innovation Unit to help eliminate the barriers and also created the Office of Strategic Capital to catalyze investment in key technologies for national security. This is helping DOD work with interested parties and helping spur innovation in private industry and the government.

DOD will continue the work "to debug DOD's innovation ecosystem," Hicks said, and it will continue to build "more bridges and express lanes over the [acquisition] valleys of death."

The department will also continue to invest in big data and artificial intelligence, she said. "We've driven those investments forward with real-world operational applications, like Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control," she said.

Replicator Initiative

The Replicator Initiative is the poster child for the changes, the deputy secretary said. The initiative identifies key military capabilities and delivers them to the warfighter at speed and scale.

"Like so many game-changing innovations, Replicator was born because the right ingredients came together: an operational demand; technology ripe enough to scale in time to matter for the warfighter; an atmosphere where you can take a chance on something big; and leaders at all levels relentlessly focused on results," she said.

Hicks pushed this common vision and identified and validated key operational requirements from combatant commands. "We selected initial capabilities to meet those needs, from a field of nominees across multiple domains, harnessing the very latest in technology. We developed acquisition strategies for each capability to determine which systems to field."

The department worked with Congress to get the funding in its fiscal 2024 Appropriation Act.

"We also announced some scalable, all-domain, attritable, autonomy capabilities selected for accelerated fielding in the first tranche of Replicator  including Switchblade 600, a loitering munition that can be launched not just from land, but also from ships and aircraft," she said. "And we continue to incorporate lessons learned from Ukraine and elsewhere."

DOD has also obligated billions in research and development money and procurement dollars to the full range of industrial partners, the deputy secretary said. "We've used both new and preexisting contract award vehicles. In some cases, we made competitive awards just three - to four months after funds were appropriated, [and] that's about 66% less than the typical DOD contracting time."

DOD has already taken delivery of Replicator's first all-domain attritable autonomy capabilities, with more on the way,' Hicks noted.

"[Replicator] also includes building interoperability with broader command-and-control architectures, like the ones we're iteratively developing and using for [Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control]," she said. "It's one small piece of how DOD is developing operational design for employment of next-generation systems, including AI, uncrewed vehicles and counter-uncrewed-vehicle systems. We're going beyond swapping out crewed systems with uncrewed systems  in fact, we're discovering new ways of warfare that extend America's edge as a result of these capabilities."

"Although we have lots more work to do, we are on track to meet Replicator's original goal of 'multiple thousands in multiple domains in 18-24 months'  that is, by end of August 2025," Hicks said. "In so doing, Replicator is demonstrating from the top and across the enterprise how to deliver all kinds of capability at speed and scale."

Developing these capabilities in the past could "easily take five to ten years for most capabilities to field at scale," the deputy secretary said. "To go from start to fielding inside our two-year budget cycle is not normal. It's disruptive. But by leveraging Replicator and our other key initiatives, we are making it more normal, because delivery at speed is essential.

Processes are Meant to Evolve

"In this generational era of strategic competition with the [People's Republic of China], we cannot tolerate the same old mindsets," she continued.

"The Pentagon may be made of Indiana limestone, but our processes were not meant to be calcified for all eternity, nor stuck in concrete blocks."

"I started working at DOD over 30 years ago, and I've heard plenty of salty language, but to this day, the most profane and damaging seven words I hear in the Pentagon are: 'This is how we've always done it.' That's simply unacceptable today."

This is a culture change for the department, the deputy secretary said. "We've seen Replicator change behavior throughout the defense community."

The services, private sector officials and allies and partners are seeing the advantages of these technologies and processes and jumping on board, she said.

"When we launched Replicator, a common refrain I heard was: 'Can it work?' These days I'm more likely to hear: 'Will it stick?'" Hicks said.

"At the end of the day, all our efforts are conditioning DOD  and Congress, and increasingly the private sector  for the battlespace of the future, and the pace of change necessary to succeed."

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Finland, USEUCOM further bilateral cooperation during military staff talks

Finland and the U.S. signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement in December 2023 to enhance opportunities for the two militaries to collaborate and train side by side, enhancing the nations' ability to operate as one in support of NATO.

By U.S. European Command Public Affairs , United States European Command Helsinki, Finland Aug 07, 2024

On the heels of NATO's historic 75th anniversary summit last month, Finnish and American military officials met in Finland's capital city Aug. 6-7, 2024, to further the bonds between the two nations.

The two military delegations - hosted and co-led by Defence Command Finland's Brig. Gen. Tero Ylitalo alongside U.S. European Command's Brig. Gen. Quaid Quadri, Jr. - discussed a full spectrum of topics, ranging from operational plans and theater strategy to NATO integration and implementation of the Defense Cooperation Agreement between the two nations.

"While we leverage technology to maintain close communication and coordination between our two commands, nothing replaces the power of face-to-face gatherings to strengthen the professional relationships that we've forged through the years," said Ylitalo, a Finnish Army general and the Defence Command Finland's chief of plans. "Continuation of close bilateral military cooperation with the U.S. is an important part of being a full-fledged NATO Ally and contributes to NATO's collective defense. This also underscores that Finland and NATO are truly stronger together."

Finland and the U.S. signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement in December 2023 to enhance opportunities for the two militaries to collaborate and train side by side, enhancing the nations' ability to operate as one in support of NATO. Unanimously approved by the Finnish parliament July 1, 2024, this agreement grants American forces access to 15 of Finland's military bases for potential use by these forces and will also allow the U.S. to bring defense equipment, supplies, materials and military members to Finland.

On April 4, 2023, Finland officially became the 31st member of NATO, marking a major shift in the security landscape on NATO's eastern flank by nearly doubling the Alliance's existing border with Russia.

"Finland and the U.S. have long cooperated on regional and global security, promoting rules-based order and fair trade, countering hybrid threats and exploring ways to further Arctic cooperation," said Quadri, a U.S. Air Force general and USEUCOM's deputy director of strategy, plans and capabilities. "Our shared goal of strengthening transatlantic relationships to address the full range of threats facing America and Europe alike only deepens the bonds between our militaries. Together we are ready, postured and well prepared to deter threats and defend the Alliance."

The Finnish Defence Forces and USEUCOM have long been mutual members of the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable (ASFR), a flag-and-general-officer level, military-to-military forum designed to promote regional understanding and enhance multilateral security cooperation in the High North. ASFR is the longest running military forum focused on the Arctic's uniquely challenging security dynamics.

Finnish and American forces also are two of the most active militaries training and exercising in the High North to maintain security and stability in the critically-important Arctic region. The importance of U.S. and its NATO Ally forces "building readiness for operations at high latitudes" was highlighted in the U.S. Defense Department's July 22, 2024, release of its newest Arctic Strategy.

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PLA holds combat patrol in South China Sea

Global Times

Move to defend China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights: expert

By Liu Xuanzun and Guo Yuandan Published: Aug 07, 2024 11:55 PM

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command on Wednesday held a combat patrol in the South China Sea in an apparent response to a joint exercise by the Philippines, the US, Australia and Canada in the region. The combat patrol is a move to defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights while sending a warning to relevant parties not to fan the flames in the region, experts said.

With the aim of testing troops' reconnaissance, early warning, fast maneuvering and joint strike capabilities, the PLA Southern Theater Command on Wednesday organized a joint combat patrol in waters and airspace near Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island) in the South China Sea, the theater command said in a press release on Wednesday.

All military activities that stir up the situation in the South China Sea, create hotspot events and sabotage regional peace and stability are in complete control, the PLA Southern Theater Command said.

The PLA Southern Theater Command did not elaborate, but the Philippines, the US, Australia and Canada kicked off their first joint military exercise in the South China Sea on Wednesday to enhance interoperability among their forces, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

The two-day exercise involves naval and air force units, and follows the first Philippines-Japan joint exercise in the South China Sea last week, Reuters said.

PLA warplanes and warships routinely conduct exercise trainings in the South China Sea, so the PLA can immediately respond to any provocative moves or threats, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Zhang Junshe, another Chinese military expert, said that the Philippines-US-Australia-Canada joint drill is of symbolic significance only, attempting to show that countries such as the US are supporting the Philippines in its provocative moves.

Manila's approach of "inviting wolves into the house" not only attracts many external military forces in the South China Sea, but also negatively impacts the centrality of the ASEAN in regional security affairs, Ding Duo, a deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at China's National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times.

Calling the US the biggest external factor that escalates tensions in the region, Ding said that the US' pushing of small multilateral mechanisms and bloc confrontation stems from its entrenched Cold War mentality and wrong perception toward China.

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Chinese FM holds phone talks with FMs of Egypt, Jordan, condemns assassination of Hamas leader

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Aug 07, 2024 11:26 AM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday had phone conversations with Egyptian and Jordan's foreign ministers, exchanging views on the situation in the Middle East, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry.

While talking with Badr Abdelatty, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran has pushed the regional situation into a more dangerous area.

China resolutely opposes and strongly condemns such assassination acts that violate the basic principles of the UN Charter, infringe on Iran's sovereignty and dignity, severely undermine efforts to promote peace, and make a ceasefire in Gaza increasingly unattainable, Wang said.

Wang pointed out that retaliatory action leads to a vicious cycle, and violence begets more violence, exacerbating conflict. There should be no double standards when it comes to the Gaza conflict.

China's position on the Palestinian issue is consistent and clear. In response to the Gaza conflict, China has proposed a three-step initiative - achieving a comprehensive ceasefire; advancing Gaza's post-war governance under the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine; and effectively implementing a two-state solution, according to Wang.

Wang noted that China will strengthen solidarity with Arab countries, and work with all parties to avoid further escalation and deterioration of the situation.

Abdelatty expressed Egypt's deep concern over the escalating situation in Gaza and said that the assassination of Haniyeh has made reaching a ceasefire agreement more difficult and could potentially lead to a full-scale regional war.

The region cannot endure more conflict and turmoil. The international community should work together to prevent the situation from escalating, said Abdelatty.

Abdelatty also noted that Egypt highly appreciates China's important role in promoting peace in the Middle East, and is grateful for China's efforts in promoting internal reconciliation in Palestine. The Egyptian side hopes to maintain close cooperation with China to prevent further escalation of the situation.

Also on Tuesday, Wang held a phone call with Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi at the latter's request.

Safadi said that the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has further escalated tensions in the Middle East and the situation is very dangerous. Jordan believes that the escalation of the conflict will not benefit any side, but only result in widespread suffering and loss.

Safadi said that the international community should take immediate action to avoid the escalation of the conflict, stop violations of international law, achieve a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible, and ultimately achieve the independence of Palestine as a sovereign state through the two-state solution.

China has always maintained an objective and fair position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict issue. Jordan is willing to maintain communication with China and expects and believes that China will play a more important role in promoting a ceasefire and stopping the war, Safadi said.

Wang said that China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the assassination, which has violated the basic norms of international relations, infringed on Iran's sovereignty, undermined the ceasefire negotiation process in Gaza, and led to further escalation of the regional situation.

Wang said that the key to avoiding the deterioration and escalation of the situation is to achieve a full and permanent ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible and the international community should make a more consistent voice on this issue and form a joint force.

Wang spoke highly of Jordan's important role in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and achieving peace in the Middle East, and said that China is willing to maintain communication and coordination with Jordan to jointly bring relevant parties together to proceed from the overall peace situation, refrain from taking actions that escalate the situation, and resume ceasefire negotiations as soon as possible.

China will continue to stand firm with Arab countries, support all efforts that are conducive to achieving a permanent and full ceasefire in Gaza, avoid further escalation of conflicts and confrontations, and promote the easing of the situation in the Middle East as soon as possible, Wang said.

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OIC: Haniyeh assassination 'serious infringement' of Iran's sovereignty

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 7, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly condemned Israel's assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, calling it a "crime of aggression" and a "serious infringement of Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Foreign ministers of OIC member states met in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday for an open-ended extraordinary meeting on Israel's crimes against Palestinians and its assassination of Haniyeh, a week after he was martyred in an Israeli attack on his accommodation in the Iranian capital.

The OIC said in a final communique that it "strongly condemns the assassination of Mr. Ismail Haniyeh, former Palestinian Prime Minister, while he was in Tehran, capital city of Iran, and holds Israel, the illegal occupying power, fully responsible for this heinous attack, which constitutes a crime of aggression, a flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter and a serious infringement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

The organization warned that the ongoing Israeli crimes undermine security and stability in the region, demanding immediate and effective intervention by the UN Security Council to maintain international peace and security.

The OIC reiterated "unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and their leadership in their just struggle to realize their legitimate national rights, including the right of return, self-determination and the realization of the sovereign and independent State of Palestine with Al-Quds as its capital."

It also strongly condemned continued war crimes, aggression and genocide committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including the City of Al-Quds.

The organization said that the Israeli actions have over the course of more than 300 days led to the martyrdom and injury of more than 140,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and the destruction of vital facilities and infrastructure, and the displacement of more than two million Palestinians from their homes.

The OIC demanded an immediate end to the Israeli aggression and the policy of torture, starvation and collective punishment against the Palestinian people.

The organization held its meeting on Wednesday in response to a request by Iran and Palestine.

4194



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Yemen says US destroyers targeted in Red Sea

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 7, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Yemeni Army has announced new maritime operations in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza, which it said targeted two US destroyers and a ship.

Constship On Vessel was accurately targeted by several ballistic missiles and drones on Wednesday, Army Spokesman Yahya Saree said, adding that the ship was moving in the Red Sea towards ports in the occupied Palestine.

American destroyers Laboon and Cole were also successfully hit with ballistic missiles and drones respectively, the spokesman noted, adding that they were moving in the Red Sea with the aim of assisting the Israeli regime.

Saree also said that Yemen considers as hostile and will respond to any maritime movement by US military, which is aimed at supporting the Israeli regime.

He stressed that Yemen will continue its operations in support of Gaza until the Israeli regime stops its war on the besieged Palestinian territory and lifts its blockade of the enclave.

Yemen began its pro-Gaza operations in mid-November, saying that any Israel-linked vessel is the target of its attacks. The country has continued its operations despite ongoing joint airstrikes that the US and the UK launched on Yemeni soil in mid-January.

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Hamas releases appalling figures on Israeli war on Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 7, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Hamas-led government in the Gaza Strip has released some appalling figures about Israel's genocidal war on Gaza.

The data, released by Hamas' media office on Wednesday, showed that the number of confirmed deaths in 305 days of Israeli war on Gaza had reached 39,653 while some 10,000 more people remained unaccounted for.

The figures showed that more than 16,000 children and over 11,000 women had been killed in Gaza by Israel since the start of the invasion in early October.

The breakdown of the figures is as following:

 305 days of genocidal war

 3,471 cases of massacre committed by the Zionist army

 49,653 people martyred or missing

 10,000 people missing

 39,653 martyred from those who made to the hospitals

 16,365 martyred children

 36 martyred due to hunger

 11,012 martyred women

 885 martyred medical staff

 79 martyred civil defense workers

 165 martyred journalists

 7 mass graves created by the Zionist regime inside hospitals

 520 martyrs who were buried inside seven mass graves inside hospitals

 91,535 wounded

 69% of victims are children and women

 172 shelters were targeted by the Zionist regime

 17,000 children lost both parents or just one

 3,500 children at risk of death due to malnutrition and lack of food

 12,000 people wounded who need medical treatment outside of Gaza

 10,000 cancer patients at risk of death and in urgent need of treatment

 3,000 patients suffering from various diseases who need treatment outside of Gaza

 1,737,524 cases of stomach diseases due to displacement

 71,338 cases of hepatitis due to displacement

 60,000 pregnant women almost at risk because of lack of health care

 350,000 cases of chronic diseases due to the ban on medicine imports

 5,000 taken captives by Israel from Gaza during the genocidal war

 310 arrested from the medical staff

 36 journalists arrested whose identities were previously known

 2 million people displaced inside the Gaza Strip

 198 government buildings destroyed by the occupiers

 120 schools and universities completely destroyed

 332 schools and universities partially destroyed

 107 scientists, university professors and researchers killed by the occupiers

 610 mosques completely destroyed

 211 mosques partially destroyed

 3 churches targeted and destroyed

 150,000 residential units completely destroyed

 80,000 residential units uninhabitable because of destruction

 200,000 residential units partially destroyed residential units

 82,000 tons of explosives dropped on the Gaza Strip

 34 hospitals closed by the occupiers

 68 health centers closed by the occupiers

 162 health institutions targeted by the occupiers

 131 ambulance targeted by the occupiers

 206 archaeological and heritage sites destroyed by the occupiers

 3,030 kilometers of electricity networks destroyed by the occupiers

 34 facilities, playground and gymnasiums destroyed

 700 water wells rendered unusable because of destruction

 (33) billion dollars of initial direct damages in the genocidal war

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Nobel laureate to head Bangladesh interim gov't

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 7, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Presidency of Bangladesh has announced that Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will head the country's interim government after weeks of deadly protests in the South Asian country forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to tender her resignation and flee the country.

The decision followed a five-hour meeting of Bangladesh President Muhammad Shahabuddin with protesting student leaders, some business elites, civil society members and army chiefs late on Tuesday.

They agreed to appoint Yunus as the head of the caretaker government until the next general elections, IRNA reported citing AFP.

84-year-old Yunus and his bank named "Grameen" won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts to lift millions of people out of poverty and grant loans to impoverished rural people.

The unrest gripped the South Asian nation early last month after a High court ruling that allowed the government to go ahead with its plan for the job quota system.

The protesters, mostly students took to the streets to denounced the plan that would give more than 50% well-paid civil services jobs to a specific section, including the descendants of those who fought for the country's freedom from Pakistan in the 1970s.

Some 200 people lost their lives during violent encounters between police and pro-, anti-job quota protesters in Dhaka and other major cities.

76-year-old Sheikh Hasina came to power as prime minister in 2009 and won the elections for the fourth time in the elections last January resigned on Monday and fled the country. She had described the demonstrators as "terrorists". She is currently in India and likely to leave for the United Kingdom.

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China hopes Bangladesh to restore order

People's Daily Online

By ZHAO JIA (Chinadaily.com.cn) 13:51, August 07, 2024

China expressed on Tuesday its sincere hope for Bangladesh to restore its social stability at an early date.

Bangladesh's President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved parliament on Tuesday, paving the way for the formation of an interim government following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid protests in the South Asian country.

China is closely following the developments in Bangladesh, a foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement.

"As a friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic cooperative partner of Bangladesh, China sincerely hopes that social stability will be restored soon in the country," the statement said.

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Chinese, Egyptian FMs held phone talks on bilateral ties, Mideast situation

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:23, August 07, 2024

BEIJING, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday held a phone conversation with Badr Abdelatty, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Egypt has achieved significant development and is at its best period in history.

Noting that Egypt has an important position in China's overall diplomatic strategy, Wang said President el-Sisi's state visit to China in May was successful, during which the two heads of state laid out a blueprint for the development of bilateral ties.

China and Egypt should seize this opportunity to fully implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders, and work towards building a China-Egypt community with a shared future in the new era, said Wang.

Abdelatty noted that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership, and cooperation between the two sides in various fields is showing positive momentum.

Egypt is willing to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and strengthen high-level exchanges, in a bid to elevate bilateral relations, display broader prospects, and bring more benefits to the people of both countries, he said.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East.

The Gaza conflict, which has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis, is a focal point of concern for the international community, said Wang, adding that despite the United Nations Security Council's adoption of a ceasefire resolution, hostilities have yet to subside.

Wang said the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran has pushed the regional situation into a more dangerous height, adding that China resolutely opposes and strongly condemns such assassination acts that violate the basic principles of the UN Charter, infringe on Iran's sovereignty and dignity, severely undermine efforts to promote peace, and make a ceasefire in Gaza increasingly unattainable.

Retaliatory violence leads to a vicious cycle, and responding to violence with violence only exacerbates tensions, said Wang, noting that double standards should not be applied to the crisis in Gaza, and China's position on the Palestinian issue has always been consistent and clear.

In response to the Gaza conflict, China has proposed a three-step initiative: achieving a comprehensive ceasefire, promoting post-war governance in Gaza under the principle of "the Palestinians governing Palestine," and effectively implementing the two-state solution, Wang noted.

He also pointed out that China will continue to stand on the side of international justice, strengthen solidarity with Arab countries, and work with all parties to avoid further escalation and deterioration of the situation.

Abdelatty expressed deep concern over the escalating situation in Gaza, emphasizing that the assassination of Haniyeh further complicates efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement and may even lead to a full-scale regional war.

The Middle East can no longer bear more conflict and instability, and the international community must work together to prevent further escalation of the situation in the region, he said.

Abdelatty noted that Egypt highly appreciates China's important role in promoting peace in the Middle East, and is grateful for China's efforts to promote internal reconciliation in Palestine.

The Egyptian side hopes to maintain close cooperation with China to prevent further escalation of the situation, he added.

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China refutes accusations by Philippines, Germany over South China Sea

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:38, August 07, 2024

BEIJING, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Individuals in the Philippines should stop making groundless accusations against China over the South China Sea issue, and countries outside the region are hoped to do things that are conducive to regional peace and stability, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday.

Mao's remarks came after the Philippines and Germany on Sunday pledged to sign a defence cooperation arrangement this year, vowing to "uphold international rules-based order" over disputed areas of the South China Sea.

Noting China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are consistent with relevant international law and practice, Mao said it is the Philippines, not China, that is stirring up trouble in the South China Sea.

"Individuals in the Philippines should correct their wrong understanding and stop making groundless accusations," Mao said.

Freedom of navigation in the South China Sea has never been an issue, the spokesperson said, adding it is meaningless to fabricate a narrative based on this false proposition.

"Countries outside the region are hoped to do things that are conducive to regional peace and stability," she said.

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PH, Australia, Canada, US hold multilateral maritime drill in WPS

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

August 7, 2024, 1:02 pm

MANILA -- Philippine military units and their counterparts from Australia, Canada and the United States held a "multilateral maritime cooperative activity" (MMCA) on Wednesday within Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which includes the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

A joint statement signed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.; Australian Chief of Defense Force, Adm. David Johnston; Canadian Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Jennie Carignan; and US Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. Samuel Paparo said the drill would run until Thursday.

It said the MMCA aims to demonstrate the four nations' "collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific".

It added naval and air force units of participating nations will operate together, enhancing cooperation and interoperability between their respective Armed Forces.

"The activity will be conducted in a manner that is consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other States," the joint statement read.

It added the four participating countries uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace.

Aside from this, the MMCA participants respect maritime rights under international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

"We stand together to address common maritime challenges and underscore our shared dedication to upholding international law and the rules-based order. Our four nations reaffirm the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award as a final and legally binding decision on the parties to the dispute," it added.

Meanwhile, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the MMCA is being conducted in the WPS, when asked for clarification on the exercise's location.

Trinidad also declined to give details on the participating ships or aircraft as the MMCA is still ongoing.

First time for 4 nations

Meanwhile, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said this is the first MMCA of the four countries.

"The activity is the first involving all four countries, was conducted in our EEZ and w/in the bounds of international law. It supports the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling of a free and a free and open Indo-Pacific," he added.

Trinidad also said the MMCA is not aimed against any particular country but a collective expression of support for a rules-based international order.

The AFP, meanwhile, said the exercise features a variety of naval and air assets from the participating nations.

It added that the Philippine contingent included the missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) with a AW-159 "Wildcat" anti-submarine helicopter and the offshore patrol vessel, BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16).

Australia, meanwhile, deployed a Poseidon Aircraft (P-8A) while Canada sent the HMCS Montreal (FFH-336) and a Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone helicopter.

Representing the US are the USS Lake Erie (CG-70) and a Sikorsky MH-60R "Seahawk" helicopter.

The MMCA is a series of events designed to enhance interoperability and cooperation among the participating forces.

Among them are the pre-sail briefing, communication exercise, division tactics/officer of the watch maneuver, photographic exercise, cross deck landing operations, anti-submarine warfare exercise, replenishment at sea, contact reporting/maritime domain awareness, and a final exercise.

Brawner lauded the exercise, emphasizing its importance in strengthening regional security and fostering cooperation with allies and international partners.

"This multilateral exercise underscores the commitment of our nations to ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. By working together, we enhance our collective capabilities and demonstrate our shared dedication to maintaining a secure maritime environment," he added.

No Chinese military activity

As this developed, the AFP said that initial reports indicated no trace of China's military activity in the Bajo de Masinloc (BDM) as of Wednesday.

"This is aside from the usual illegal encroachment and presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels, we have not monitored any purported exercise or combat patrols," Trinidad said.

The AFP issued this statement after some reports claimed that Chinese military units held exercises in the vicinity of BDM.

"We can, however, confirm the presence of three PLA Navy vessels, namely PLA-Navy Wuzhou (FSG-626) Jiangdao II class corvette, PLA-Navy Huangshan (FFG-570) Jiankai II class corvette, and PLA-Navy Quijing (FSG-668) Jiangdao II Class Corvette, that tailed the ongoing MMCA," he added.

Trinidad also said that the most recent Chinese exercise in the northern part of the South China Sea took place from July 31 to Aug. 2.

However, this exercise occurred outside the Philippines' EEZ.

"The AFP, in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard and other relevant agencies, will continue to monitor the situation as part of our mandate to protect our territory, sovereignty, and sovereign rights based on international law," Trinidad said. (PNA)

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Hamas leader's assassination 'heinous' crime, infringement on Iran sovereignty: OIC

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 9:36 PM

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly condemned the Israeli regime's recent assassination of senior Hamas' leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in the Iranian capital Tehran, underlining the criminal aspects of the atrocity.

The 57-member body issued the remarks in a statement on Wednesday at the end of an extraordinary meeting that was held in the Saudi port city of Jeddah at the Islamic Republic and Palestine's request.

It said "the illegal occupying power" was "fully responsible for this heinous attack" that claimed the lives of the Palestinian resistance movement's Political Bureau chief and one of his bodyguards late last month.

The atrocity, the body added, "constitutes a crime of aggression, a flagrant violation of the international law and the United Nations Charter, and a serious infringement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security of the Islamic Republic."

It, meanwhile, warned that the regime's ongoing crimes undermined security and stability in the region, urging immediate and effective intervention on the part of the UN Security Council.

The comments were echoed by Saudi Arabia, whose Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed al-Khereiji said Haniyeh's assassination amounted to a "blatant violation" of Iran's sovereignty.

Riyadh, he added, rejected "any violation of the sovereignty of states or interference in the internal affairs of any country."

Addressing the OIC summit earlier, Iran's acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani said the country had no option but to retaliate against the Israeli regime over the assassination, saying this was necessary to deter further aggression against the Islamic Republic amid inaction by the Security Council.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has warned of a "harsh response" to the atrocity, and reaffirmed the Islamic Republic's duty to avenge the blood of the resistance leader.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has also said the assassination warranted a harsh and stinging response from the forces of the Axis of Resistance, particularly the Islamic Republic.

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Lack of Gaza ceasefire hurting polio vaccination campaign: WHO

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 6:48 PM

The World Health Organization (WHO) says the absence of a ceasefire is hurting the fight against polio in the Gaza Strip.

Hanan Balkhy, the regional WHO director, warned on Wednesday that the global health body was working on a campaign against polio in Gaza, but Israel's relentless campaign of genocide presents multiple hurdles to the effort.

Balkhy underscored the risk of the development of antimicrobial resistance within Gaza, and the possibility of such strains spreading into other countries.

"We need a ceasefire, even a temporary ceasefire to successfully undertake these campaigns. Otherwise, we risk the virus spreading further, including across borders."

Hamid Jafari, a WHO polio specialist, said during a news conference that while no clinical cases have been found so far, polio was detected in sewage in Gaza's Deir el-Balah and Khan Yunis.

Separately, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference the health agency will send polio vaccines to Gaza. "WHO is sending more than 1 million polio vaccines which will be administered in the coming weeks."

Ghebreyesus said health workers need freedom of movement in Gaza to administer the vaccines, and that a ceasefire or at least a few days of calm was essential to protect Gaza's children.

Children under five are most at risk from the viral disease, most notably infants under two, since normal vaccination campaigns have been disrupted by the conflict.

On July 30, the Health Ministry in Gaza declared the Palestinian territory to be a "polio epidemic zone".

The ministry blamed the reappearance of the virus on Israel's campaign of death, destruction and genocide and the resulting destruction of health facilities.

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Aug 6: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 4:14 PM

By Press TV Website Staff

Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed nearly 39,700 Palestinians so far, the majority of them children, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers.

Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on August 6:

Executed a well-planned ambush targeting a convoy of Israeli military vehicles on "George" Street, east of Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip.

Sniped an Israeli soldier with a Qassam Ghoul rifle near the Swedish village west of Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip.

Targeted the Israeli military headquarters in the "Netzarim" axis the 114 mm short-range Rajoom rocket system.

Targeted the command and control headquarters of the Israeli military in the "Netzarim" axis the 114 mm short-range Rajoom rocket system.

Engaged in intense clashes with Israeli forces storming the city of Tubas in the occupied West Bank.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on August 6:

Launched a barrage of 107mm rockets at Israeli forces stationed in the "Netzarim" axis.

Shot down an Israeli military drone of the type "EVO MAX 4T" while it was carrying out spying missions in the airspace of the eastern Gaza Strip.

Targeted Israeli military gatherings and vehicles near the Rafah crossing with two 107mm rockets.

Targeted Israeli military positions with regular-caliber mortar shells in the combat axis east of "George" Street in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.

Al-Quds Brigades' operations on August 6

Targeted Asqalan, "Sderot," "Nir Am," and the settlements of the Gaza envelope with appropriate weapons.

Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces' operations on August 6:

In a joint operation with Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, target Israeli military gatherings in the "Netzarim" axis with mortar shells.

Al-Asifah Forces' operations on August 6:

Targeted with mortar shells a gathering of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles on the supply line in the "Netzarim" axis.

Hezbollah's operations on August 6:

Military building in the Avivim settlement was targeted with appropriate weapons.

Israeli soldiers near the Birkat Risha site were targeted with Burkan missiles.

The headquarters of the Golani Brigade and the headquarters of the Egoz Unit 621 in the "Shraga" site north of occupied Acre were targeted with drones.

An Israeli tank in the vicinity of the Ruwaysat al-Alam site was targeted with guided missiles.

Al-Marj site was targeted with artillery shells.

The Ruwaysat al-Alam site in Lebanon's Kfar Shouba was targeted with rockets.

Israeli soldiers near the Zar'it barracks were targeted with artillery shells.

Israeli soldiers near the Karantina Hill were targeted with artillery shells.

The air defense headquarters in the Kila barracks was targeted with dozens of Katyusha rockets.

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Washington protects Israel by sending ship-based jets to West Asia base: US Official

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 3:51 PM

The United States tries to protect Israel against Iran's potential retaliatory strikes by dispatching several ship-based navy fighter jets to a base in West Asia, a US official says.

The Islamic Republic has vowed to avenge the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Roughly a dozen F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier flew to the base, an unnamed US official told the Associated Press on Wednesday.

The official also said the move was aimed at safeguarding US troops deployed in the region against such possible attacks.

"The F/A-18s and an E-2D Hawkeye surveillance aircraft took off from the carrier in the Gulf of Oman and arrived at the undisclosed base on Monday," the official said.

When Haniyeh was assassinated at his residence in the early hours of July 31, Iran declared three days of national mourning, and vowed to launch a massive retaliatory attack on the occupying entity.

In a statement, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) warned Israel of a harsh and stinging response in coordination with the forces of the Axis of Resistance.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has already ordered the increased military presence in the region as officials express worries about escalating regional tensions in the wake of the assassination.

According to the official, the navy jets' land-based deployment is expected to be temporary, because a squadron of Air Force F-22 fighter jets is heading toward the same base from their home station in Alaska.

The dispatched F-22s are expected to arrive in the region in the coming days, the official added.

On Tuesday, Secretary General of Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said that Western countries' aid to Israel indicates that the occupying regime is incapable of defending itself and is fearful of Iran and the Resistance's response to recent string of assassinations.

He made the comments to commemorate top-ranking Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr, who was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike in the suburbs of southern Beirut last week.

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Israeli military issues new evacuation order in northern Gaza

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 3:25 PM

The Israeli military has issued new evacuation orders in areas of the northern Gaza Strip that were among the first to be hit in October 2023.

The areas included in the order are the Manshiyya and Sheikh Zayed neighborhoods as well as the town of Beit Hanoun.

The regime issued the evacuation order on Wednesday in preparation for a military operation under the pretext of rocket fire from the areas.

Witnesses said Palestinians were fleeing on foot while carrying their belongings.

Beit Hanoun and Gaza City have been largely decimated after repeated Israeli ground incursions and relentless airstrikes since October.

The evacuation order is the latest in a series that has forced tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians to relocate yet again.

The United Nations says 86 percent of the besieged Gaza Strip is now under Israeli evacuation orders.

More Palestinians are falling victim to the US-Israeli campaign of genocide in Gaza as the occupation forces continue to attack the territory.

Schools and other public places are not exempted from the attacks.

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Ain al-Assad attack marks new phase of 'escalation' against American bases: Iraqi resistance

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 11:24 AM

Iraq's Islamic Resistance, an umbrella group of anti-terror forces, says this week's attack on the US-occupied Ain al-Assad Airbase in western Iraq marks a "new phase of escalation against American bases."

Lebanon's al-Akhbar newspaper carried the report on Wednesday, citing sources within the resistance's Coordination Committee as making the remarks in connection with the rocket attack that had targeted the outpost two days earlier, injuring several American troopers.

The attack, the sources added, had come in response to the atrocities that have been perpetrated by the Israeli regime and its supporters, including the United States.

Enumerating some of the crimes, they cited the regime's underway war of genocide against the Gaza Strip. More than 39,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in the brutal military onslaught that is being carried out with complete political, military, and intelligence support on the part of the US.

They also pointed to Tel Aviv's recent assassination of senior resistance figures in Lebanon and Iran, which experts assert, was carried out with certain American approval and possible intelligence assistance.

The promise of escalation by the Iraqi resistance came a day after the country's Federal Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit that had been filed to facilitate the American forces' withdrawal.

The lawsuit had been filed by two Iraqi lawyers, who had demanded that the court annul an agreement that has been made by Sudani and President Abdul Latif Rashid to enable prolongation of the forces' presence on the Iraqi soil.

Monday's attack took place as a response to a recent threat conveyed by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, through which the US top diplomat warned Baghdad against the "consequences" of escalation against the American interests in the region, the Iraqi sources noted.

"The resistance in Iraq believes that the Americans' presence in the country poses a greater danger in light of the current regional changes, and, therefore, they (the forces) should be pressured and confronted with to permanently evacuate the Iraqi soil," they stated.

Meanwhile, a leader of Harakat Hezbollah Nujaba, one of the components of the Islamic Resistance, said that "targeting American bases and interests has become an urgent matter."

The official put the urgency down to the procrastination and delay that had afflicted withdrawal of the American forces from the Iraqi territory. He also cited information confirming involvement of the Iraq-based American bases in the Israeli atrocities against Palestinians and resistance leaders.

"The coming period will witness continuous strikes against American forces, whether in Iraq or outside it, especially since all resistance factions agree that the occupation will not leave through government negotiations, but rather through military operations that may make it submissive and acquiescent to our demand," he noted.

The Iraqi groups have been pressing for an end to the presence of foreign forces in Iraq more than a decade after a US-led coalition invaded the country in blatant violation of the international law based on false claims of it being in possession of weapons of mass destruction.

There are nearly 2,500 American troops in Iraq and some 900 in Syria as part of, what Washington claims to be, a fighting force against Daesh.

The US has maintained its presence, although the Arab countries and their allies defeated the Takfiri terrorist group in late 2017.

In 2020, the Iraqi parliament voted in favor of expulsion of the foreign forces after a US drone strike assassinated Iran's top anti-terror commander, General Qassem Soleimani, and deputy commander of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) counter-terrorism force, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, outside Baghdad International Airport.

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UN requests assistance from Security Council to address famine crisis in Sudan

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 10:54 AM

High-ranking officials from the United Nations have made a formal appeal to the Security Council to seek assistance in facilitating humanitarian aid access in Sudan, emphasizing the need for aid to reach the affected areas in order to combat the famine that has emerged in at least one location in North Darfur.

Senior UN aid official Edem Wosornu told the Security Council on Tuesday that the occurrence of a famine signifies that "we did not do enough. It means that we, the international community, have failed."

It also indicates in sufficient efforts, and a failure on the part of the international community to address the issue.

She also said that a UN Sudan aid appeal for $2.7 billion was only 32% funded.

Stephen Omollo, a senior official from the UN World Food Programme, stated that in the absence of a ceasefire, the council's assistance is urgently needed to facilitate operations effectively and without disruption.

A Chinese deputy permanent representative to the UN, Dai Bing, urged the global community Tuesday to enhance its efforts in tackling the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and to seek a political resolution to the persistent armed conflict.

Dai urged the international community to enhance their attention and contributions, fulfill their aid commitments without delay, and implement significant actions to mitigate the humanitarian crisis.

He further added that China urges all relevant parties to adhere to their responsibilities under international humanitarian law, to reduce civilian casualties, to make every effort to safeguard agricultural land, water resources, and other farming infrastructure, and to facilitate the recovery of agricultural production.

Meanwhile, Sudan's UN Ambassador Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed told the council that in order to address the dire situation in the country, "if there is a famine ... we are ready to cooperate with you, and we will open the crossings for any humanitarian assistance."

"It is not the government - that I am proud to present here - that is blocking humanitarian aid," the envoy added.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been fighting the army, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, for control of the North African country since April 15 last year in a war that has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced nearly eight million.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a global hunger monitoring organization, reported last week that over 15 months of conflict in Sudan, coupled with limitations on aid distribution, have resulted in famine conditions within the Zamzam camp for internally displaced individuals in North Darfur.

Zamzam is situated in a region that remains the final major stronghold of the RSF throughout Darfur. The RSF has been encircling this area, and for several months, no assistance has been delivered to the extensive camp.

In February, the Sudan government prohibited the delivery of aid via the Adre border crossing, which is among the most direct routes to the region suffering from hunger. Officials from the government have asserted that this crossing is utilized by the RSF for the transportation of weapons.

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'Big blow': Resistance says Sinwar shows Hamas 'stands strong' despite Israel extermination

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 9:00 AM

The appointment of Yahya Sinwar as the new political leader of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas after the Israeli assassination of Ismail Haniyeh has drawn in applause from various regional resistance groups, who described his selection as "the best successor to the best predecessor."

The Gaza-based Islamic Jihad movement said in a statement, "We congratulate our brothers in Hamas for selecting commander Yahya Sinwar as the head of its political bureau."

"The success of our brothers in Hamas in conducting internal consultations and filling the vacancy in the political bureau leadership after the assassination of the martyr leader Ismail Haniyeh ... with such a speed, despite ... the war against them is a strong message to the Zionist enemy that Hamas remains strong and cohesive, and that the enemy has not affected its structure despite the war of extermination."

The Islamic Jihad wished Sinwar and Hamas "success in proceeding towards achieving the goals of the Palestinian people in liberation [of their land], return [of Palestinians to their homeland], and the expulsion of the occupation [entity]."

Haniyeh was killed in an attack on his accommodation in the Iranian capital of Tehran on July 31, a day after he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Sinwar, a high-ranking Hamas military commander, took the helm as the leader of Hamas in the besieged Gaza Strip in February 2017.

The 61-year-old was a key architect of the surprise Operation al-Aqsa Storm that Hamas-led resistance groups launched against the Tel Aviv regime last October in response to its decades-long campaign of oppression and devastation against Palestinians.

'Most eloquent response to Zionist barbarism'

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) also congratulated Hamas on electing Sinwar as its political bureau head, affirming its confidence in the ability of the resistance movement "to overcome the great ordeal represented by the martyrdom of brother Ismail Haniyeh, and to continue his path and the path of all the martyred leaders."

The PFLP wished the new chief and his fellow leaders in Hamas "success in bearing this great responsibility as the successor to the martyred Ismail Haniyeh, and to continue leading the movement in a manner that serves to defend our people and their rights in this critical phase."

The PFLP also stressed that Hamas's decision to choose Sinwar as the head of its political bureau is a message of strength that reflects the movement's cohesion, unity of stance, and the resilience of its institutions.

"It is a scorching message to the Zionist enemy, with connotations affirming that the choice of resistance is the most eloquent response to the Zionist enemy's barbarism, Nazism, and genocidal war against our people," it added.

'The best successor to best predecessor'

The Popular Resistance Committees, which is a coalition of a number of Palestinian resistance groups, also praised the appointment of Sinwar and wished Hamas success in the fight against the Israeli regime under the new leadership.

"The fighter leader Yahya al-Sinwar is the best successor to the best predecessor. We wish him success and hope that God will grant victory to our people and our resistance through him, and [we will] defeat the Nazi Zionist entity," the coalition said.

"The selection of the leader Abu Ibrahim al-Sinwar...is a significant blow to the malicious plans of the Zionist enemy and is part of the punishment and response to the assassination of the leader Abu al-Abd Haniyeh."

The coalition underlined that the Palestinian resistance, led by Hamas and spearheaded by Sinwar, "will remain committed to the blood of all martyrs, to the sacrifices of our people, and, as a symbol of adherence, to our rights, principles, and sacred sites until the liberation of our land from the sea to the river."

'Achieve all goals, no matter high costs'

Palestine's Ahrar Movement also felicitated Hamas on the appointment of its new commander and said the selection of Sinwar is a message from Hamas that Operation al-Aqsa Storm is a "strategic and sovereign decision for the resistance factions and that we are moving forward to achieve all its goals and objectives, no matter the high costs."

Ahrar Movement underscored, "The policy of assassinations adopted by the Zionist enemy will not make the resistance compromise on the freedom of the Gaza Strip in negotiations ... and it will not include in the decision-making circle the individuals [who are] willing to accept the Israeli presence in the Gaza Strip. On the contrary, it will bring to the decision-making circle the individuals who may be tougher, more determined, and steadfast."

'Message of strength and defiance'

The media office of the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement condemned the targeted killing of Haniyeh as a "cowardly Zionist assassination."

"The speed and success of the process in selecting the leader of Hamas is a message of strength defying the Zionist enemy, which attempted to create a vacuum and internal confusion," the movement said.

"However, the movement has demonstrated its cohesion and ability to overcome hardships, particularly the great loss of the martyr leader Ismail Haniyeh, during these critical times facing our entire Palestinian people and the genocide being perpetrated by the Zionist enemy against the steadfast Gaza Strip."

It prayed for Hamas and its fighters in continuing their path until achieving the goals and aspirations of Palestinian people to liberate their land, end the occupation, reclaim all rights, and recover their entire land.

'Sinwar knows language of resistance'

Ziad al-Saghir, secretary general of Fatah al-Intifada Movement, commended the election of Sinwar as an "important step."

"He represents the Palestinian fighting face against the Zionist project, and he is a revolutionary in the trenches and tunnels who knows only the language of resistance, which will restore the land and rights to our heroic Palestinian people," Saghir said about the new Hamas chief.

"We congratulate the leadership, cadres, and fighters of Hamas on this election, considering it to be an advanced step to enhance the resistant role of our national Palestinian movement [we will be] together until victory and the complete liberation of all the usurped Palestinian land."

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Sinwar's appointment proves Israel's goal of assassinating resistance leaders fails: Hezbollah

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 6:22 AM

Lebanon's resistance movement Hezbollah has hailed the election of Yahya Sinwar as the new political leader of Hamas, saying the appointment once again proves Israel's goals of assassinating the resistance group's leaders have failed.

Hezbollah made the remarks in a statement on Wednesday after Sinwar succeeded his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran, in an attack blamed on Israel.

It also noted that Sinwar's election is sending "a strong message to Israel, the United States and allies that Hamas is united in its decision, solid in its principles, firm in its important choices, and determined" to continue its path of resistance.

Hezbollah further stated that choosing Sinwar as Hamas chief "at this important time" and in the midst of war boosts the determination of Palestinians as well as the regional countries to unify efforts and press ahead with resistance until the complete liberation of Palestine.

In a statement on Tuesday, Hamas announced the selection of Sinwar as head of the movement's political bureau to succeed Haniyeh.

Haniyeh was assassinated in an attack on his residence in the early hours of July 31, in the Iranian capital Tehran, where he had attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's newly-elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, a day earlier.

He was the second high-profile Hamas leader to be assassinated by Israel since Operation Al-Aqsa Storm on October 7, 2023, after Salah al-Arouri, who was assassinated in southern Beirut on January 2.

Sinwar, a high-ranking Hamas military commander, previously became the leader of Hamas in the besieged Gaza Strip in February 2017, taking over from Haniyeh.

He was a key architect of the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm that Hamas launched against the occupying regime in response to its decades-long campaign of oppression and devastation against Palestinians.

Sinwar, 61, is also among the top Hamas targets sought by the Israeli regime, which has reportedly put a $400,000 bounty on his head following the October 7 operation

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Israel killed 10,000 Palestinian students, 500 teachers since October

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 1:57 AM

The Palestinian Ministry of Education says over 10,000 students in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank have been killed by Israel since the beginning of the regime's genocidal war in Gaza last October.

The Palestinian ministry said on Tuesday another 16,000 students have been injured since then.

According to the ministry, over 500 teachers and administrators were also killed, and 3,000 others were injured.

The ministry said during the time, 62 schools were destroyed in the Gaza Strip and another 119 were severely damaged.

More than 107 scientists, university professors, and researchers were also killed.

Even schools affiliated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) were not spared the Israeli attacks.

Over 6,000 students have been deprived of attending their schools in Gaza, with many of them suffering psychological trauma.

The Government Media Office in Gaza said that Israel has killed at least 16,000 children in the besieged territory since October. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under the rubble.

The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has strongly condemned the Israeli regime's targeting of schools sheltering internally displaced people in the Gaza Strip, describing the "policy" as a continuation of the occupying entity's "Nazi-like genocide."

"The occupying regime's goals behind these massacres, of terrorism, intimidation, and displacement, will be shattered by the steadfastness of this brave people and their resistance," Hamas said in a statement on Monday.

An Israeli airstrike hit two schools in Gaza City on Sunday, killing at least 30 people, Palestinian officials said.

Footage circulated on Palestinian media outlets showed bodies scattered inside the yard of one of the two schools as residents rushed to carry casualties, including children, and loaded them into ambulance vehicles that took them to at least two nearby hospitals.

Israel's war on Gaza, which has been raging for more than ten months, has destroyed large swaths of the besieged territory. Israeli occupation forces have, particularly targeted schools, colleges, universities and hospitals.

Nearly 40,000 people have been killed, the great majority of them women and children. Thousands more are missing or presumed to be dead under the rubble.

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Philippines joins US-led allies in multilateral maneuvers in South China Sea

The drills with the United States, Australia and Canada come amid a series of defense engagements.

By Jason Gutierrez for BenarNews 2024.08.07 -- The Philippines joined the United States, Australia and Canada in a two-day "maritime cooperative activity" from Wednesday to press for freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea amid maritime tensions with China.

The navies and air force units of the four nations will operate alongside each other to enhance "cooperation and interoperability" in the disputed waterway, a joint statement said.

"We stand together to address common maritime challenges and underscore our shared dedication to upholding international law and the rules-based order," it said.

"The activity will be conducted in a manner that is consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other States."

The statement was signed by Gen. Romeo Brawner, the military chief of the Philippines, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. Samuel Paparo, Australian Defence Force chief Admiral David Johnston and Gen. M. A. Jennie Cargian, the chief of Canada's Defence Staff.

"Australia, Canada, the Philippines, and the United States uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect for maritime rights under international law, as reflected in the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)," they said.

The aim of the multilateral sail was to demonstrate a "collective commitment" to boosting international cooperation. The statement did not specifically say where the drills would be held, only that the maneuvers would take place "within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone" in the South China Sea.

The Philippines last week carried out similar joint sails with Japan and with the U.S. separately in Philippine areas of the South China Sea. Coast guards from the Philippines and Vietnam meanwhile are scheduled to hold their own joint drills on Friday.

In related news, China on Wednesday conducted air and sea patrols near Scarborough Shoal, a flashpoint in territorial tensions between Beijing and Manila, according to a report by Agence France-Presse.

Analysts praise multinational maneuvers

Chester Cabalza, president of International Development and Security Cooperation, a Philippine think-tank, hailed the defense deals with various allies.

He noted that prior to this, Manila had also signed a groundbreaking Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Japan, another country with a territorial dispute with China. That deal would allow the exchange of troops for joint training with each other.

He said the multilateral sails this week show the "global recognition" of Manila's international arbitration award in 2016 in its territorial dispute with China over Scarborough Shoal.

"It shows the legitimacy of its sovereignty rights in the disputed maritime domains of the South China Sea," Cabalza told BenarNews.

"It reaffirms the bone of contention that China alone is not the sole owner of these important sea lanes of communications and trade," he said.

He said the joint sails should work to "solidify" the belief that countries should follow the rules-based order in the disputed sea region, a key shipping route where experts say more than 60% of global maritime trade passes.

Geopolitical analyst, Don McClain Gill at the De La Salle University in Manila, said the joint sails affirm the 2016 ruling but he emphasized that such activities need to be done on a regular basis.

"Patrols and exercises are very important in ensuring the freeness and openness of the maritime domain, but it must be supplemented by other activities as well, such as capacity building and more robust and permanent deterrence posture in our area in the West Philippine Sea," Gill told BenarNews, referring to South China Sea waters within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

"This is a very good indication that like-minded countries, three of which are part of the exercise, recognize that the Philippines is legitimately entitled to its sovereign rights and sovereignty based on UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral ruling," Gill said, alluding to the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.

"This is significant in that regard and must be continued," he said. "As we can see, the Philippines has become a fulcrum for maritime cooperation."

Countries such as Canada, which are far removed from the conflict, are also concerned because they are worried it may affect global trade and affect the stability in a "very critical maritime space," he said.

While global partnerships like the joint sail are important, he said this had not deterred Beijing from continuing with its activities in the South China Sea. But this should not be taken negatively by the Philippines, but rather as an "opportunity to explore what else could be done."

Last week, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken met their Filipino counterparts in Manila and announced a U.S. $500 million infusion to help Manila defend its shores from threats posed by China.

The funds would go towards strengthening Manila's defenses in the South China Sea, and the monies came shortly after tensions and confrontations surrounding Ayungin Shoal or Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. Manila maintains a rusting World War II-era ship in Ayungin, and a violent confrontation there in June saw a Filipino serviceman lose a thumb.

Both sides have subsequently worked towards de-escalating the tensions, but it remains unclear how China would react to the joint sails this week.

Jeoffrey Maitem contributed to this report from Manila.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Interim Bangladesh govt to be sworn in Thursday, army chief says

Its announced leader, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is en route home from Paris.

By Kamran Reza Chowdhury for BenarNews 2024.08.07 -- Bangladesh's interim government will be formed and sworn in on Thursday evening, and its leader Muhammad Yunus will guide citizens through a "democratic process," the country's Army chief announced.

There was a flurry of activity on Wednesday, two days after the resignation of Sheikh Hasina as prime minister amid a mass movement blaming her for the more than 300 lives lost during protests since mid-July.

The home ministry announced a new chief of the controversial elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), a day after the chief of police was replaced. The country's attorney general resigned. Central bank employees agitated against its allegedly corrupt governors. An appeals court made a significant acquittal.

And Yunus spoke publicly for the first time since he was named a day earlier to head the interim government, mainly calling for an end to fresh violence since Hasina fled to India.

"I congratulate the brave students who took the lead in making our Second Victory Day possible and to the people for giving your total support to them," he said in a statement.

Citizens consider Dec. 16, 1971, Victory Day to mark the official surrender by the Pakistani army during Bangladesh's war for independence.

"Let us not let this slip away because of our mistakes. I fervently appeal to everybody to stay calm. Please refrain from all kinds of violence. ... This is our beautiful country with lots of exciting possibilities," Yunus appealed.

"Violence is our enemy. Please don't create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country."

Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman, the Army chief, said on Wednesday that Yunus would return from Paris in time for the interim government's members to take the oath.

"The swearing-in ceremony is expected to be held at Bangabhaban at 8 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday," Waker told reporters. Bangabhaban is the president's official residence.

He added that Yunus was "very eager" to begin work in the interim government.

"I am certain that he will be able to take us through a beautiful democratic process and that we will benefit from this," Gen. Waker said.

Yunus won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for helping lift millions out of poverty by lending them small sums to start businesses and increase earnings.

University students who spearheaded a protest movement demanding more access to government jobs had proposed that Yunus head the interim government.

An appellate tribunal, meanwhile, cleared the decks for Yunus to assume leadership of the new administration by acquitting him in a labor laws violation case a day before the swearing-in ceremony.

He had been convicted and sentenced to six months in prison in the case, a ruling he had appealed. He was out on bail pending the verdict on the appeal, delivered Wednesday.

Yunus is stepping into the shoes of Hasina, who seemed to loathe him.

She believed he had blocked a global lending institution from financing a mega project in Bangladesh. He was subsequently barraged with a slew of legal cases that his supporters claimed were politically motivated.

'Leadership failure'

Meanwhile, members of the police force abandoned their posts for the second consecutive day, fearing for their lives. Mobs attacked police stations after Hasina quit and decamped on Monday, when a fresh round of violence claimed at least 108 lives.

Protesters say that police and supporters of Hasina's Awami League party were directly responsible for earlier deadly violence.

One of the first officials to be fired after Hasina fled was the country's police chief, who was replaced on Tuesday.

Newly appointed Inspector General of Police Moinul Islam on Wednesday apologized for the police actions in recent weeks.

He said at a press conference that the "ambition" of some unprofessional members of the force led to the violent clashes.

Police officers violated human rights, "and leadership failure caused the death, injury and assault of many," he said.

The new police chief promised an investigation and justice.

"We are committed to conducting a fair and impartial investigation into every recent killing of students, common people, and the police," he said.

Moinul said he had instructed all members of the police force to rejoin their respective posts across the country by Thursday evening.

His predecessor, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, was said to be partisan and a supporter of Hasina's Awami League, observers said. He used to serve in the elite police unit Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and was one of six current or former officers the United States sanctioned in December 2021 for gross human rights violations.

The U.S. had imposed financial sanctions on RAB as well, for "undermining the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the economic prosperity of the people of Bangladesh."

Critics said that Hasina politicized state institutions and security forces, making them agents of her ambition to stay in power and crush dissent.

Others who resigned or were fired on Wednesday included the PM's chief secretary, the attorney general, and, according to media reports, four deputy governors of Bangladesh's central bank.

Around 200 employees of the bank, which is called Bangladesh Bank, stormed its premises, demanding the resignation of the central bank governor, four deputy governors, advisers and the head of the financial intelligence unit, alleging they were responsible for corruption in the banking sector.

The road ahead

Analysts told BenarNews that the interim government has to depoliticize the security forces, judiciary and all state institutions, because only then can a free, fair and credible election be held.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on Tuesday that this new administration needs to listen to the Bangladeshi people.

"[A]ny decisions that the interim government makes need to respect democratic principles, need to uphold the rule of law, need to reflect the will of the people," he said.

The International Crisis Group, an independent organization that is committed to preventing war and conflict, on Wednesday said Bangladesh's interim government will have the tasks of maintaining order and running the country until new national elections can be held.

"The [Bangladesh] constitution states that a general election should take place within 90 days of parliament being dissolved," the group said in a statement on Wednesday.

"So far at least, neither Waker nor any other army officer seems eager to hold power for longer than necessary."

The makeup of the interim government is still unknown, and may only be revealed during the oath-taking Thursday evening.

For ICG, this issue is vital to Bangladesh's immediate future.

"The key will be to ensure that the protest movement is capably represented," ICG's statement said.

"If calm is to be restored, those who risked and sacrificed the most to compel Hasina to resign - namely, the students who initiated the protest movement - should have a meaningful voice in the government's counsels, rather than find themselves sidelined by conservative generals and opportunistic politicians."

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Prospect Of Iran-Israel War Brings Region To 'Most Dangerous Moment' In Years

By Kian Sharifi August 07, 2024

The Middle East faces its biggest crisis in years as it braces for a potential full-blown war between Iran and Israel that could drag in the entire region.

Israel's suspected killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of the EU- and U.S.-designated Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, in Tehran on July 31 has pushed the region to the brink.

A major military response by Iran against Israel, which Tehran has promised, could spark an all-out war that would pit Iran and its regional proxies against Israel and the United States, experts say.

"I think this is the first time we're really heading toward a potential full-scale regional confrontation," said Raz Zimmt, a senior researcher at the Israeli-based Institute for National Security Studies.

'Only A Matter Of Time'

The region has been bracing for an Iranian response since the assassination of Haniyeh, who was killed in an affluent neighborhood of Tehran hours after attending the inauguration of President Masud Pezeshkian.

Iran has directly blamed Israel, which has not claimed responsibility for the killing. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed, and reportedly approved, a military response.

Haniyeh's killing came just hours after Israel killed a top commander of Hizballah, the Iran-backed Lebanese extremist group, in Beirut. A member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps was also killed in the July 30 Israeli air strike.

In April, Iran and Israel appeared to be on the verge of war after Tehran launched an unprecedented direct air attack against its archfoe.

Days later, suspected Israeli strikes hit a military base outside Iran's central city of Isfahan.

Iran's attack was in retaliation for a suspected Israeli air strike on the Iranian Embassy's compound in Damascus on April 1 that killed seven Iranian commanders.

Tehran's barrage against Israel was highly telegraphed and aimed at deterring future Israeli attacks, experts said. But its response to the killing of Haniyeh on Iranian soil could provoke a harsher response.

"It's much more likely that we will see a combined, orchestrated attack against Israel" from Iran and the so-called axis of resistance, Tehran's loose network of militant groups and proxies that aid it in opposing Israel and the United States, said Zimmt.

"This makes the situation much more complicated because the consequences of an Iranian and Hizballah attack would probably be worse than what happened in April," he added. "That certainly brings us closer to the possibility of a regional campaign."

Hizballah and Iran-backed militant groups in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen have carried out attacks against Israel after it launched its devastating war in Gaza, which came shortly after Hamas's October 7 attack in Israel that killed around 1,200 people.

Even as Iran's hostilities with Israel decreased after April, it was "only a matter of time before the next phase of direct confrontation" between the archfoes, said Hamidreza Azizi, a fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

"This might be the most dangerous moment in the region in the past few years," he added.

Hard To Rein In

There has been a flurry of diplomacy in the region aimed at easing the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel.

Jordan's foreign minister made a rare visit to Tehran on August 4, during which he pleaded for peace.

Iran has insisted that it is not looking to escalate tensions but that it has a "legitimate right" to hit Israel.

"As far as the violation of our territorial integrity is concerned, we will not make any compromises," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said on August 5.

A direct Iran-Israel war would likely drag in the entire region, including Tehran's proxy allies, including Hizballah in Lebanon, the Huthi rebels in Yemen, Hamas in the Palestinian territories, and pro-Iranian militias in Iraq.

Any conflict would also likely draw in the United States, Israel's key ally, which has sent additional warships and fighter jets to the region.

On August 5, a U.S. spokesperson confirmed that "several" American personnel were injured in a rocket attack claimed by pro-Iran fighters on a military base in Iraq.

Ali Vaez, the director of Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, said that signals from Tehran suggest that "they are intent on a larger response" with more drastic consequences.

If Iran's potential attack causes significant damage and casualties, "containing the escalatory cycle becomes far more difficult," Vaez warned.

"This is without doubt the closest we've been to" a direct face-off between Iran, Israel, and their allies, he said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-israel-conflict-region- war-hamas/33067986.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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A Constitutional Amendment That Could Lead To Peace Between Armenia And Azerbaijan

By Joshua Kucera August 07, 2024

Armenia and Azerbaijan are nearly finished hammering out a peace agreement that would finally end their decades-old conflict. But in recent months one issue has emerged that is threatening to scuttle the entire process.

The Armenian Constitution contains language that Baku says amounts to official Armenian claims against its territory: a reference to "reunification" with Nagorno-Karabakh, the territory at the heart of the two countries' conflict.

That clause "clearly poses a territorial threat to Azerbaijan," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at a July 20 press conference."So, [while] this paragraph is there, a peace agreement is not possible."

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has signaled that he is willing to alter the document in the way that Aliyev wants and has tasked a council of politicians and activists to draw up a new document to be put to the Armenian people in a referendum.

But as the issue has risen to the top of the agenda between the two foes, the perception that their main enemy is dictating the content of their country's constitution has rankled Armenians upset at the concessions they have already made. And since a referendum may be required to change the constitution, the Azerbaijani pressure could prove fatal.

Problematic Preamble

Voters in Yerevan recently surveyed by RFE/RL's Armenian Service were largely opposed to changing the constitution. Pashinian "doesn't have the right" to change the constitution, "especially since it is Aliyev who is demanding it be changed," one man said. "Who is Aliyev to order us to change our constitution?"

Azerbaijani leaders, though, remain confident that they will get their way.

"It's not about doing it under pressure from Azerbaijan, but it's about you answering one question: Do you want peace or do you want a possibility for a new confrontation with Azerbaijan?" Elcin Amirbayov, Aliyev's senior envoy for special assignments who has been closely involved in the negotiations, told RFE/RL.

"If they put it that way, I think a majority of Armenian people who would participate in that plebiscite or referendum, I'm sure that they would support peace."

At issue is a reference in the preamble of the current Armenian Constitution to a 1990 declaration of independence -- when Armenia was still part of the Soviet Union -- that calls for the reunification of Armenia and what was then the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, part of Soviet Azerbaijan.

Nagorno-Karabakh was populated largely by ethnic Armenians, and as the Soviet Union collapsed, war over the territory broke out and Armenian-backed separatists managed to seize control. They also took control of seven adjacent Azerbaijani districts, forcing the entire population of more than 600,000 ethnic Azerbaijanis to flee.

Diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict brought little progress. The two sides fought another war in 2020 that lasted six weeks before a Russian-brokered cease-fire, resulting in Armenia losing control over parts of the region and the seven adjacent districts. In 2022 the two sides started negotiations over a full resolution over the conflict. But the following year, Azerbaijan, impatient with the progress of those talks, launched a one-day offensive that resulted in the Karabakh leadership's full surrender and the exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians.

In the course of the post-2020 negotiations, Pashinian has said he is willing to formally recognize Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. But Azerbaijan argues that, as long as the claim to Karabakh remains enshrined in Armenian law, there will be a danger of post-Pashinian governments going back on that declaration and relitigating its claims to Karabakh.

"We want to be reassured that the peace agreement is a kind of a solemn treaty that would render impossible any return to revanchism or to any territorial claims to Azerbaijan in the future as it had done in the past," Amirbayov said. "Territorial claims against Azerbaijan that are embedded in the current Armenian Constitution continue to remain the main, and I would say pretty much the only, obstacle to further progress in the peace process."

Armenia, for its part, argues that Azerbaijan's demand amounts to meddling in its internal affairs -- and moreover, is designed to sabotage the entire process. Azerbaijan's public demand to change the constitution "torpedoes the peace process and casts doubts on the sincerity of the leadership of Azerbaijan to achieve peace," the Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a June 7 statement.

Amirbayov rejected that argument: "How can we in Azerbaijan consider this to be an internal issue when it deals with our sovereign territories?"

'Real Armenia Vs. Historical Armenia'

Pashinian's own agenda with respect to the constitution has been ambiguous.

"He began changing the constitution soon after coming to power in 2018, but his focus was initially on internal governance issues. In 2022, he formed a new Constitutional Reform Council to work on amendments to the current document. This year, though, he asked the council to instead draft an entirely new constitution, apparently blindsiding the participants.

"There are lots of issues that are not clear to us," Artur Sakunts, a human rights advocate and member of the council, told RFE/RL's Armenian Service in June.

In the meantime, Pashinian had begun talking about the need to remove the contentious language from the constitution. In one interview in January, he said that keeping the controversial reference "means that we'll never have peace."

In July, on the occasion of Armenia's Constitution Day, the Armenian president said that the current document is "[immersed] in deep socio-psychological conflict" and should reflect the interests of "real people living in Real Armenia," a trope that Pashinian has developed to contrast to what he calls "Historical Armenia," the maximalist dream of recovering lost lands. The new constitution, he continued, should "create a just environment in its internationally recognized territory."

It remains unclear, though, how these ambitions will be implemented by the Constitutional Council.

Members of the council told reporters in June that they did not discuss the declaration of independence issue in their first meeting since being instructed to draft a new constitution. And several members of the council appear to be at odds with Pashinian on the issue.

Sakunts said he opposed removing the reference to the declaration of independence. Another member, Daniel Ioanissian, wrote on Facebook: "Ilham Aliyev is not a citizen of Armenia. Many things can be discussed with him but not the future constitution of Armenia."

Pashinian's council is supposed to produce a document by the end of 2026, which would then be put to voters in a 2027 referendum. Even if Armenians did ratify the constitution, that would present a significant delay to a process that all parties agree is otherwise very close to being finished.

The June statement from the Armenian Foreign Ministry said an agreement could be reached "within the next month." Aliyev said that "80 to 90 percent of the text is agreed on." U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, ahead of a July 10 meeting with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts, said the two sides were "very close to being able to reach a final agreement, one that the United States would strongly, strongly support."

The Other Sticking Point

One factor that is easing the negotiations, according to Amirbayov, is that the two sides have agreed to put off the most contentious remaining issue: how to arrange the transportation routes that have become known as the "Zangezur Corridor." The proposed Zangezur Corridor would connect mainland Azerbaijan to its Naxcivan exclave by traversing the Syunik Province (known by Azerbaijanis as Zangezur) in southern Armenia.

Sakunts said he opposed removing the reference to the declaration of independence. Another member, Daniel Ioanissian, wrote on Facebook: "Ilham Aliyev is not a citizen of Armenia. Many things can be discussed with him but not the future constitution of Armenia."

Pashinian's council is supposed to produce a document by the end of 2026, which would then be put to voters in a 2027 referendum. Even if Armenians did ratify the constitution, that would present a significant delay to a process that all parties agree is otherwise very close to being finished.

The June statement from the Armenian Foreign Ministry said an agreement could be reached "within the next month." Aliyev said that "80 to 90 percent of the text is agreed on." U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, ahead of a July 10 meeting with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts, said the two sides were "very close to being able to reach a final agreement, one that the United States would strongly, strongly support."

The Other Sticking Point

One factor that is easing the negotiations, according to Amirbayov, is that the two sides have agreed to put off the most contentious remaining issue: how to arrange the transportation routes that have become known as the "Zangezur Corridor." The proposed Zangezur Corridor would connect mainland Azerbaijan to its Naxcivan exclave by traversing the Syunik Province (known by Azerbaijanis as Zangezur) in southern Armenia.

It is characteristic of Baku's "coercive diplomacy" since 2020, de Waal said. "They think this tactic works, [and] they don't seem to have another tactic," he said. Rather than publicly emphasizing cooperation with Armenia's government, "it's all about what the Pashinian government needs to do to meet our demands."

The only other explanation "for the constitutional demands" is that Azerbaijan "isn't desperate for a peace agreement," de Waal said. Even if Azerbaijan holds firm on the demand to change the constitution before a full agreement could be reached, Armenia likely would accede to a "basic principles" document, said Richard Giragosian, the head of the Yerevan-based Regional Studies Center think tank.

"We're not going to refuse an opportunity to reach some kind of agreement," he said. "In an ideal world, let's keep moving [toward] a full bilateral peace treaty and close the issue, turn the page. But we are, in Armenia, I think, willing to settle for whatever the hell we can get, to be quite honest."

Hard Bargaining

As the negotiations have progressed, Armenia has already agreed to other unilateral concessions. This spring, Pashinian agreed to return four slices of land along Armenia and Azerbaijan's northern border, which Armenia had occupied since the 1990s, to Azerbaijan. He did so without getting Azerbaijan to reciprocate -- as many Armenians had hoped -- by withdrawing its troops that have occupied small slices of Armenian territory after a series of incursions after the 2020 war.

Pashinian has repeatedly justified the concessions as being the cost of avoiding an attack from Azerbaijan. Not returning the land along the northern border, he said in March, would "mean a war will break out at the end of the week."

While Azerbaijan's hardball tactics have worked as long as it is Pashinian making the decisions, it will be more complicated when Armenian voters have to weigh in to ratify what they perceive as Aliyev's demands.

If Azerbaijan's demands were reflected in the new constitution, Armenians would vote it down in the referendum, said another member of Pashinian's constitutional council, Edmon Marukian. This, he told RFE/RL's Armenian Service, would give Baku a "pretext for a new war."

"That is why I believe we must not touch the preamble to the constitution or get into any discussion of this," he said."This is a trap."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-constitution- azerbaijan-nagorno-karabakh/33068045.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Baku Said To Have Withdrawn Troops From Section Of Demarcated Border With Armenia

By Susan Badalian August 07, 2024

Azerbaijan has withdrawn its military from one section of the recently demarcated border with Armenia, according to the mayor of a local Armenian village who spoke to RFE/RL on August 7.

Tigran Harutiunian, the administrative leader of Berkaber, a village in Armenia's northeastern Tavush Province, said the withdrawal of the Azerbaijani military from the vicinity of Qizilhacili -- one of four former Azerbaijani villages that Armenia ceded control of as part of the border demarcation earlier this year -- occurred about a month ago.

"They left quite a while ago. I believe it was in early July. They vacated their position, and now our border guards are stationed there," Harutiunian said.

For over 30 years, the Azerbaijani side has controlled about 900 hectares of land belonging to Berkaber. It was decided that this area would not be demarcated during the process that took place in April and May.

The government released a map in April highlighting the sections where adjustments would be made, and the Azerbaijani military remained at one such section after the completion of the demarcation.

It had been agreed that "within a short but reasonable period of time," Armenia and Azerbaijan would withdraw their forces and allow the deployment of border guards.

Residents of Berkaber have reported hearing explosions near their village and assumed they were caused by Armenian sappers working in the area.

The Armenian Defense Ministry said earlier that controlled explosions would take place on August 7 near Berkaber and Kirants, another village where the border demarcation took place, and advised local residents not to panic. It said there would be a total of 10 explosions to the northeast of the villages but did not specify their purpose.

Harutiunian told RFE/RL that the area from which the Azerbaijani military had been withdrawn might be undergoing demining.

"They left one post, but that gap is quite extensive and is currently being cleared," Harutiunian said.

Residents of Kirants, however, informed RFE/RL that the explosions near their village appeared to be part of some engineering work.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian faced intense criticism earlier this year for agreeing to the first-ever border demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which involved a limited section. This demarcation resulted in Armenia ceding control of the four villages as well as certain territories of Armenian villages based on 1970s maps used in the process.

The move sparked large-scale protests in Yerevan, with opposition groups also arguing that Armenia would be more vulnerable in the Tavush region if another war with Azerbaijan occurred, given that Armenian armed forces had to withdraw from strategically important areas.

Pashinian has dismissed this criticism, contending that the alternative to the border demarcation would have been another war for which Azerbaijan would have had a legitimate pretext. He has also maintained that local Armenian communities are now better protected from a legal standpoint than they were before the demarcation.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-azerbaijan- border-military-demarcation-berkaber/33069475.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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16 Years After War With Russia, West Reiterates Support For Georgia's Territorial Integrity

By RFE/RL's Georgian Service August 07, 2024

The United States, the European Union, and other Western states have reiterated their support for Georgia's sovereign and territorial integrity as the country marks the 16th anniversary of a brief war with Russia even as its ruling party appears to be turning back toward Moscow.

Late on August 7, 2008, Georgian troops rolled into the Russian-backed breakaway region of South Ossetia in an attempt to reclaim the territory from what Tbilisi said was growing Russian militarization.

The conflict erupted into a five-day war in which Russian forces drove deep into Georgia before pulling back in the wake of a European Union-brokered peace agreement.

The conflict, which Tbilisi and Moscow accuse one another of starting, left hundreds dead and drove thousands from their homes.

After the war, Russia left thousands of troops in South Ossetia and another breakaway region in Georgia, Abkhazia, and recognized both as independent countries.

Marking the anniversary of the conflict, the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi issued a statement on Facebook saying that the August 2008 events "continue to have an impact on Georgians."

"Russia's ongoing violations of the 2008 ceasefire agreement highlight the continued struggle for peace and stability in the region. The United States continues to advocate for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity in its internationally recognized borders," the U.S. Embassy's statement said.

The British Embassy in the Georgian capital also expressed London's support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, adding that the U.K. remembered "those killed, injured and displaced by Russia's brutal and illegal actions."

Pursuit of EU and NATO membership remains embedded in the post-Soviet Caucasus nation's constitution, but the current Georgian government's passage of a perceived Russian-style law to curb media and NGOs has dealt a blow to both efforts.

The ruling party Georgian Dream is perceived by many in the West of a recent turn toward anti-Western rhetoric and authoritarian practices since the passing of a controversial "foreign agent" law, which imposes tight controls on foreign-funded media and NGOs that get more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad. Russia has used that same designation to clamp down on opposition and independent media.

The EU ambassador to Georgia said that Georgia's accession has been halted as a result of the Georgian Dream government's actions and that he hoped Georgians would make "the right choice" in the upcoming elections.

In noting the August 7 anniversary, the 27-nation bloc voiced its "condemnation of Russia's continued military presence in the occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in violation of both international law and of Russia's commitments under the 12 August 2008 six-point agreement."

"The human rights of conflict-affected communities in Georgia continue to be violated, including through 'borderization' policies, closures of crossing points and illegal detentions by the Russian military and de facto authorities," the EU said in a statement.

"Restrictions on freedom of movement must end, violations of human rights must be investigated, and justice must be ensured for all victims," it added while expressing its "unwavering support to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders."

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, the Foreign Ministry of Norway, foreign ministers of Estonia and Lithuania -- Margus Tsahkna and Ingrida Simonyte, were among other foreign entities and politicians who expressed their support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity on August 7.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-georgia-2008- war-anniversary-abkhazia-south-ossetia/33069097.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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US Carrier Fleets Cannot End Houthi Threat to Shipping in Red Sea - Commanding Admiral

Sputnik News

20240807

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Navy's giant nuclear aircraft carrier task forces operating in the Red Sea and surrounding region are incapable of fully stopping Houthi rebel forces in Yemen from threatening international shipping, US Fifth Fleet Commander Vice Admiral George Wikoff said on Wednesday.

"The operations we are doing will be a shock absorber," Wikoff, who also heads the Central Command (US CENTCOM) Naval Forces and Combined Maritime Forces in the region, told a meeting at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in a video presentation.

"We are trying to preserve where we are right now. ...[However] It is an unacceptable solution [and an] unacceptable stabilization."

The United States needs other members of the international community to pressure the Houthis to stop what they were doing because "right now, quite frankly, they are not under tremendous pressure to come through," Wikoff stated.

"Trying to apply classic deterrent policy in this particular scenario is a bit challenging," he said. "We have to be careful about leading with the helmet. We have to be careful about going in with a really specific policy that will allow us to achieve effects that are beyond the military sphere."

"The solution is not going to come at the end of a weapon system - we need a solution beyond taking care of triage and current situations," Wikoff said, underscoring that only a diplomatic solution involving the international community can solve the problem.

US and Allied naval forces operating to protect shipping in the Red Sea region were trying to preserve some decision space for the US and Allied leadership, Wikoff explained.

 Sputnik

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Israel Targets Gaza Humanitarian Facility Claiming Hidden Arms Factory - Statement

Sputnik News

20240807

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday that it had attacked a facility inside a humanitarian area in the town of Deir al Balah in the Gaza Strip, where weapons for Palestinian movements Hamas and Islamic Jihad were supposedly produced.

The IDF also stated that it had allegedely used precise munitions to mitigate the risk of harming civilians.

"Yesterday (Tuesday), following precise IDF and ISA intelligence, a Hamas and Islamic Jihad weapons production facility embedded inside the Humanitarian Area in Deir al Balah was struck by the IAF [Israeli Air Force]", the IDF said on Telegram.

On October 7, 2023, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. In addition, Hamas fighters infiltrated the border areas, opened fire on the military and civilians and took more than 200 hostages. The authorities say that about 1,200 people were killed during the raid. The IDF launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip and announced a complete blockade of the enclave: supplies of water, electricity, fuel, food, and medicine were stopped.

 Sputnik

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Israel Informs Washington of Its Involvement in Killing of Hamas Political Chief - Reports

Sputnik News

20240807

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Israel immediately informed US officials that it was behind the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, The Washington Post reported, citing sources.

White House officials reacted to the death of Haniyeh with surprise and outrage, seeing it as a serious setback in their attempts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, the report said on Tuesday.

Last Wednesday, Hamas confirmed the death of Haniyeh in an Israeli strike on his residence in Tehran, where he had arrived after attending the inauguration of Iran's new president. The movement blamed Israel and the US for Haniyeh's death and said the attack would not go unanswered.

 Sputnik

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IDF Sharpening Offensive Capabilities as Attack from Iran Looms - Report

Sputnik News

20240807

Iran is reportedly preparing to attack Israel soon after Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed by an Israeli attack in Tehran last week.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Israeli military is seeking to sharpen its offensive capabilities and improve its defensive readiness amid a potential attack by Iran and its allied forces in the region, The Times of Israel reported citing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

"Every day you're improving your readiness on defense and sharpening your offensive capabilities," Gallant said at the Tel Hanof air base as quoted by the newspaper Tuesday.

The minister added that he had been working on "coordination" against an Iranian attack in recent days. He also noted his meeting with US Central Command chief Gen. Michael Kurilla and frequent talks with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

"They have a lot of desire to help. This collaboration is a critical component," Gallant said.

Iran is reportedly preparing to attack Israel soon after Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed by an Israeli attack in Tehran last week. Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the inauguration of Iran's new president. The group blamed Israel and the United States for Haniyeh's death and said the attack would not go unanswered.

 Sputnik

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Marking 16 Years Since Russia's Invasion of Georgia

US Department of State

Press Statement

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

August 7, 2024

Today we mark sixteen years since Russia invaded the sovereign nation of Georgia and remember those killed, injured, or displaced by Russia's military campaign and illegal occupation. To this day, Russia continues to occupy 20 percent of Georgia's territory and impose its will on the people there, including by claiming the transfer of strategically important lands in Abkhazia to Russia and taking steps to establish a permanent naval base in Ochamchire.

The United States remains steadfast in support of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. We call on Russia to fulfill its commitments and obligations under the 2008 ceasefire agreement to withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions and allow unimpeded access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. We also call on Russia to reverse its recognition of the so-called independence of Georgia's Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions. These actions would allow tens of thousands of internally displaced people to return to their homes safely.

The United States' support for the people of Georgia in their pursuit of a Euro-Atlantic future and a peaceful solution to the conflict is enduring.

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On the Dissolution of Move Forward Party in Thailand

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

August 7, 2024

The United States is deeply concerned by Thailand's Constitutional Court ruling today ordering the dissolution of the Move Forward Party and the banning of 11 of its leaders from politics.

This decision disenfranchises the more than 14 million Thais who voted for the Move Forward Party in the May 2023 election and raises questions about their representation within Thailand's electoral system. The Constitutional Court's decision also jeopardizes Thailand's democratic progress and runs counter to the aspirations of the Thai people for a strong, democratic future.

Inclusive political participation strengthens social cohesion and is a critical component of resilient national institutions. The United States does not take a position in support of any political party, but as a close ally and friend with deep and enduring ties, we urge Thailand to take actions to ensure fully inclusive political participation, and to protect democracy and the freedoms of association and expression.

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Development Minister calls for peace and security in Middle East, announcing new aid for Gaza on first trip to region

International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds will pledge new UK aid and meet key Jordanian Ministers in her first official visit to the Middle East.

7 August 2024

Anneliese Dodds calls for peace and security in the Middle East amid escalating tensions, on her first visit to the region in her role

the International Development Minister also pledges new UK package of food, water, health, education and wellbeing support for Gazans on visit to Jordan

she will meet key Jordanian Ministers to discuss how their 2 countries can work even more closely together in future

As tensions rise between Israel and Lebanon, the minister will call for calm in the wider Middle East, and continue diplomatic efforts made by the Foreign and Defence Secretaries in Qatar, Lebanon and Israel last week to lead a renewed push for peace.

She will also repeat calls for British nationals to leave Lebanon now, due to rising risks associated with the ongoing conflict between Israel, Lebanese Hizballah and other non-state actors in Lebanon.

Amid the threat of growing instability in the wider region, Gazans continue to face a devastating humanitarian crisis.

During her visit to Jordan, the minister will announce 6 million in funding for UNICEF's work to support vulnerable families in Gaza.

The 6 million package will help tens of thousands of Gazans access food and water, as well as health, education and wellbeing services.

She will also visit a World Food Programme depot, which plays a key role in the delivery of aid to Gaza.

Development Minister Anneliese Dodds said:

Now is the time for calm, if we are to achieve lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. It is in no-one's interests for tensions to escalate and spread across the wider region. We are seeing the humanitarian impact of conflict on Gazans. This new UK support will provide a lifeline for vulnerable families, giving them access to basic food and water during a desperate time. I am grateful to the Jordanian Government for supporting UK efforts to get aid to those in such desperate need. But this appalling situation cannot continue. We must see an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and unfettered access to lifesaving aid for those in Gaza.

UK funding will support the vaccination and immunisation of over 20,000 children, provide over 8,000 school-aged children with recreational activities to boost their wellbeing and help over 55,000 people in Gaza access clean water and sanitation.

During her visit, the minister will also meet key charity partners, including the World Food Programme to hear about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and Jordan.

Separately, the UK is also announcing today it is allocating 14 million to support Syrian refugees currently living in the Zaatari refugee camp on the Jordan-Syria border. The funding will be delivered in September this year, with 7 million going to UNHCR - the UN Refugee Agency - and the same amount to the World Food Programme. Jordan is currently home to over 3 million refugees, many of them from neighbouring Syria.

During her visit the minister will meet Jordanian Minister of Finance, Mohamad Al Ississ, and the foreign ministry's Secretary General, Majid Al-Qatarneh to discuss Jordan's successful economic performance in a challenging geopolitical environment. The ministers will agree steps for the UK and Jordan to accelerate efforts to boost their economic prosperity, as well as find ways of building resilience to the climate crisis.

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Sudan: Over a dozen more areas at risk of famine as fighting impedes aid

By Vibhu Mishra, Abdelmonem Makki

7 August 2024 - With famine confirmed in the Zamzam displacement camp in Sudan's North Darfur, there are growing concerns that similar crises may be unfolding in other nearby camps, an official with the UN emergency food relief agency (WFP) said on Wednesday, in an interview with UN News.

The Zamzam camp houses about 500,000 displaced persons and is located near North Dufur's besieged capital, El Fasher, which has witnessed some of the fiercest fighting since the start of the war between rival militaries Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) last April.

An estimated 10.7 million people have been displaced within Sudan, and a further 2.1 million have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. The fighting has also precipitated an acute hunger crisis, with almost 26 million struggling to secure daily meals.

Access very difficult

In an exclusive interview with UN News, Leni Kinzli, Head of Communications at the World Food Programme (WFP) in Sudan, told Abdelmonem Makki that as many as 13 other areas across the war-ravaged country are also at risk of famine.

These are areas with active conflicts such as in Darfur, Kordofan and Khartoum, which are worsening by the day and making assessments very difficult, she said.

"Access to the camps that are inside El Fasher, where fighting continues to intensify day by day between the paramilitary RSF and the SAF, make it extremely difficult to access," she added.

Catastrophic hunger in Khartoum

She said that some 90,000 are facing catastrophic levels of hunger in the capital Khartoum, which just 18 months ago was bustling city without concerns over food security.

"Now there are areas in Khartoum where we are hearing that people are just surviving on mixing whatever kind of cereals they have with water and drinking that once per day to survive."

Ramping up assistance

WFP is ramping up emergency assistance efforts, focusing on those suffering from severe hunger across the country. The agency aims to reach and support up to 8.4 million people by the end of the year.

"We are now aiming to provide around 100,000 hot meals per month and continuing to build off of that to increase the assistance. We have also registered a longer list of financial service providers through which we can provide cash-based assistance," Ms. Kinzli said.

"[However,] one of the challenges with cash-based assistance since the onset of this crisis has been the liquidity and banking crisis that has also struck Sudan," she added.

The agency is also helping set up community kitchens and working with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

"We are looking at every means to get assistance to people who need it in both in-kind emergency food rations as well as through cash and also working through community kitchens," she said.

We cannot give up hope

Ms. Kinzli emphasized the world cannot give up hope when it comes to the Sudan crisis, stressing that "we certainly can deliver at the scale required".

"If we can get assistance to these areas, especially to people who are trapped by conflict and especially to the areas that are at risk of famine, we can prevent many deaths and we can prevent mass starvation and widespread malnutrition," she said.

At the same time, the warring parties should keep the interests of Sudanese people at heart, she urged.

"No matter what, WFP will continue to do whatever we can, no matter the circumstances, to support and provide assistance to people where they need it the most."

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Air Force activates 13th CABS at Luke AFB

Published Aug. 7, 2024

By Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson

56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFNS) -- As part of the Air Force's major moves to reoptimize the service for Great Power Competition, the 13th Combat Air Base Squadron was activated during an assumption of command ceremony, Aug. 5, at Luke Air Force Base.

The 13th CABS is the first of its kind in the Air Force and will set the stage for the future of the Air Force's Force Generation deployment model in an effort for the service to adapt and innovate in response to growing global challenges.

During the activation ceremony, Col. Peter Abercrombie, 56th Mission Support Group commander, presented Lt. Col. Chris Bahrij with the ceremonial guidon, representing the first assignment of authority and acceptance of the reins and leadership for the squadron.

"As I look out into the crowd, I can see the potential for greatness in our leadership and Airmen," Bahrij said, following his assumption of command. "That greatness comes from the unique set of backgrounds, experiences and talents brought to the table that will form the first ever CABS."

The 13th CABS is assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke AFB and attached to the 13th Air Task Force, and with the assumption of command, Bahrij became the first commander of the 13th CABS.

"The Air Force is innovating past crowd sourcing for deployment and testing the landscape to train together to be able to hit the ground running," Abercrombie said. "Finding leadership that is able and adaptable to these changes is imperative, and Lt. Col. Bahrij is the right officer for the job."

The 13th CABS will be the 13th ATF's primary base operation support element as well as the sustainment layer of the deployment model postured to support Air Force personnel who will be prepared for combat operations anywhere around the globe.

"This U.S. Air Force deployment model is the first of its kind," said Capt. Justin Rees, 13th CABS director of operations. "It's going to lead to more cohesive, better trained, and more capable Units of Action, ready to employ and posture forces in preparation for any high-end fight, anywhere around the world."

The 13th CABS consists of 340 personnel across three locations at Luke AFB, Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota, and McConnell AFB in Kansas. These Airmen, from different career fields, will form Combat Service Support Teams at each location that will encompass the ATF's sustainment layer postured to support up to 2,500 personnel at a deployed location.

In the 10 months following the Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall's announcement of the ATFs as the next iteration of the AFFORGEN model in September 2023, planners across strategic, operational and tactical levels have activated these nation-wide ATFs. They are now well-prepared to identify, train, equip and execute their planned deployment cycles over the next two years.

"Although there is no playbook for this type of transformational change," Rees said, "these ATFs and CABSs will rely on Airmen, across all AFSCs, at every rank, and every skill level, to ensure maximum unit effectiveness when the time comes to answer our nation's call."

According to Senior Master Sgt. Olufemi A. Owolabi, 13th CABS first sergeant, the creation of this new squadron marks a monumental event in the history of our service because it is going to change the way we prepare and train for deployments to support the joint force.

"This 13th CABS will help our servicemembers tasked for deployment under the AFFORGEN model to come together to train alongside one another as a single unit," Owolabi said. "And when the time for deployment comes around, we are already familiar with the various Airmen from other Air Force specialties attached to the squadron from different bases because we have been preparing together and taking care of each other from the beginning of the deployment cycle."

In addition, Owolabi said this is a game changer because, it will also help build trust among deploying Airmen and their newly attached CABS leadership.

"This concept, apart from contributing to more predictable deployment schedules, could also help build better professional relationships among the team," he said. "When we deploy alongside the same members that we have already trained with, we've already developed the connection needed to cohesively work together. Because of our preparation and exercises for training operations, we can operate with more effectiveness on day one of our deployment."

As the 13th CABS commences operations, the Air Force stands strategically poised to deliver combat agility and mission readiness, prepared to address worldwide threats with an unparalleled ability to fly, fight and win.

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USS Hershel "Woody" Williams arrives in Luanda, Angola, for Port Visit

US Navy

07 August 2024

From Mass Communication Specialist First Class Ridge Leoni

LUANDA, Angola -- The Gold military crew (MILCREW) of the Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary sea base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4), embarked Marines (MARDET), and the ship's Military Sealift Command Civilian Mariners (CIVMARs) arrived in Luanda, Angola, for a regularly scheduled port visit, August 6, 2024.

The Hershel "Woody" Williams last visited Luanda in November 2022. During this port visit, the ESB-class ship will build on the U.S.-Angolan partnership by collaborating on maritime security and domain awareness. Meanwhile, the MARDET will work and train with Angolan partners ashore.

The USS Hershel "Woody" Williams will host a reception for senior Angolan government and military leaders. During this time, the crew will engage in community relations events alongside local partners. This experience will allow the Sailors and Civilian Mariners to immerse themselves in the rich culture, historic landmarks, and warm hospitality of this important regional partner.

"We are honored to bring the USS Hershel 'Woody' Williams to Luanda, Angola, in support of maritime domain awareness" said Capt. Michael Concannon, commanding officer of the Hershel "Woody" Williams Gold MILCREW. "Our crew is eager to collaborate with our Angolan partners, sharing knowledge and strengthening our mutual commitment to security and stability in the region. This visit not only enhances our operational readiness but also fosters lasting relationships built on trust and cooperation."

Hershel "Woody" Williams will continue its deployment to the African continent, leveraging opportunities to work alongside regional Allies and partners in a variety of exercises and operations. A credible, capable naval presence increases maritime security, and highlights our shared commitment to fostering regional security and stability among partnered and allied nation naval militaries.

Hershel "Woody" Williams is forward deployed to Souda Bay, Greece, and serves as the first U.S. Navy ship assigned to the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) area of responsibility. The ship is capable of conducting expeditionary missions, counter piracy, maritime security, and humanitarian and disaster relief operations. Hershel "Woody" Williams' unique capabilities are part of the critical access infrastructure that supports the deployment of forces and supplies to support global missions. The ship operates with blue and gold crews, allowing it to remain continually deployed throughout AFRICOM.

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

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US insists Gaza cease-fire talks in final stage as region braces for wider war

By Patsy Widakuswara August 07, 2024

The Biden administration is emphasizing the nearness of a Gaza cease-fire amid fears that an expected attack by Iran and its proxies on Israel will push the Middle East into a wider war.

U.S. officials have echoed President Joe Biden's message Tuesday to leaders of key mediators Qatar that talks "have now reached a final stage" and must be brought "to closure as soon as possible."

"We really do think we are in the final stage of agreement on a framework," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters Wednesday.

Analysts say the administration's optimism stands in contrast to increased tensions in the region, where Iran has vowed to retaliate for last week's killing of Ismail Haniyeh. The Hamas leader's assassination in Tehran is widely assumed to have been carried out by Israel.

"We're on the cusp of a major regional war," warned Aaron David Miller, a former U.S. negotiator for the Middle East who is now a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Israel also faces retaliation from Hezbollah in southern Lebanon for its airstrike in the suburbs of Beirut last week. The attack killed Fuad Shukr, a commander of the Iranian-backed group.

"Hezbollah is about to unload  probably in the wee hours of today, tomorrow or the next day  a serious effort to inflict real pain on the Israelis," Miller told VOA.

Other Iran-backed militias have launched attacks on U.S. military positions in Iraq and Syria in recent weeks, U.S. officials said, ending months of relative calm.

Deal or no deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes the assassinations will pressure Hamas to agree to favorable terms for a cease-fire deal, even if it brings the region to the brink, said Mairav Zonszein, the International Crisis Group's senior analyst on Israel.

Biden has publicly and privately rebuked Netanyahu, saying Haniyeh's killing and Israel's new demands at the negotiating table were not conducive to reaching a truce.

Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated Biden's message that all parties "must stop taking escalatory actions and find reasons to come to an agreement, not to look for reasons to delay or say no to the agreement."

Despite U.S. pressure on Israel, "Netanyahu's entire defense establishment has said they don't think he wants the deal that is on the table," Zonszein told VOA.

U.S. officials have engaged in intense diplomacy with allies and partners, in addition to speaking directly to Iran and to Israel, Blinken said.

Biden also spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan on Monday to discuss de-escalation efforts and deployed additional U.S. military assets to the region to moderate Tehran's response.

"The F-22A Raptors jetting to the Middle East are high-tech messenger pigeons carrying a one-word note: 'Don't,'" said Laura Blumenfeld, a senior fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

New Hamas leader

As for Hamas, by naming Yahya Sinwar as Haniyeh's successor, the militant group may be hardening its position.

The appointment of the mastermind of the October 7 attack on Israel solidifies the group's move toward strengthening relations with Iran over other benefactors, said Devorah Margolin, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

It also indicates an "entrenchment towards its original goal: violent struggle against Israel by any means necessary," she told VOA.

White House national security communications adviser John Kirby downplayed concerns that Sinwar's ascension would further complicate cease-fire talks.

"He has always been the chief decision-maker when it comes to negotiations over the course of these now nine months," Kirby told VOA during a briefing with reporters Wednesday. "And as the chief decision-maker, he needs to decide now to take this deal."

Reality, or wishful thinking?

With the Biden administration for months saying that cease-fire negotiations are in the final stages, outside observers are finding it difficult to judge whether the assessment is realistic or wishful thinking, said Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute.

Trying to get the world to believe a deal is at hand "could be the foreign policy equivalent of a Jedi mind trick," Katulis told VOA, referring to the ability of some "Star Wars" movie characters to influence behavior through mental manipulation.

It could also be strategic messaging to incentivize parties, particularly Iran, to act with restraint.

"The U.S. administration is saying, 'We are in the endgame, and if you drop the ball, we will hold you responsible in the blame game,'" John Hopkins' Blumenfeld told VOA.

With U.S. and regional pressure for a cease-fire, overwhelming demand from the Israeli public for a deal to return the hostages, and the Israeli Knesset on a three-month recess, Netanyahu could create political room to maneuver while keeping his coalition intact and make a breakthrough.

"It could go either way, in the coming days  cease-fire or regional wildfire," said Blumenfeld.

Nike Ching and Jeff Seldin contributed to this report.

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Israeli foreign minister calls for death of new Hamas leader

By VOA News August 07, 2024

Israel's foreign minister has called for the death of Yahya Sinwar, the newly appointed leader of Hamas, as Israel braces for expected retaliation from Iran following its killing of a commander of Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and the killing of Sinwar's predecessor in Tehran last week.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on X that the appointment of Sinwar, who he called an arch-terrorist, "is yet another compelling reason to swiftly eliminate him and wipe this vile organization off the face of the earth."

Israel has not claimed responsibility for the assassination of Hamas' previous leader, Ismail Haniyeh, but his July 31 death prompted Iranian leaders to blame Israel and pledge a response.

On Wednesday, Hamas named Sinwar, one of the architects of the October 7 terror attack on Israel, as its new leader, a move that Katz said sends "a clear message to the world that the Palestinian issue is now completely controlled by Iran and Hamas."

Katz also said Israel must maintain security control over the Israel-occupied West Bank in order to prevent Iran from establishing another "extremist stronghold."

"Anything else will lead to the creation of another Iranian outpost in the region, which will explode in the face of the world and all regional countries," Katz said.

The Israeli military has conducted repeated raids in the West Bank that it says are aimed at disrupting militant activity and potential attacks against Israel. About 600 people have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since the war in Gaza began in October.

With Hezbollah's leader also vowing to respond to Israel's killing of one of its commanders, Fouad Shukur, last week in Beirut, international fears have grown for the possibility of an expanded regional conflict.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that everyone in the region needs to "make decisions that will calm tensions, not exacerbate them."

"We will continue to defend Israel against attacks from terrorist groups or their sponsors, just as we'll continue to defend our troops," Blinken said. "But everyone in the region should understand that further attacks only perpetuate conflict, instability, insecurity for everyone. And further attacks only raise the risk of dangerous outcomes that no one can predict and no one can fully control."

Blinken said the only path to ending the conflict in Gaza and bringing calm to the region is securing a long-sought cease-fire in Gaza.

The White House said Tuesday that President Joe Biden spoke Tuesday with both President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt and Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar to renew the Gaza cease-fire effort. The leaders "agreed on the urgency of bringing the process to closure as soon as possible," according to a White House statement.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in retaliation for the October 7 terror attack that killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of 250 hostages. Israel's counteroffensive has killed at nearly 40,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the territory's Health Ministry, while Israel says the death toll includes thousands of Hamas fighters it has killed.

Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Explainer: Tim Walz's long track record in China

By William Yang August 07, 2024

From teaching at a high school in China to his experience serving on a key congressional committee that focuses on relations between Beijing and Washington, Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz has a decades-long connection with China dating back to the pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989.

As an educator, Walz taught American History, culture, and English to Chinese students at the Foshan No.1 High School in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong in 1989, the year that saw hundreds of thousands of Chinese students protesting against the ruling Chinese Communist Party in Tiananmen Square.

"China was coming, and that's the reason that I went," Walz said in a 2007 interview with The Hill, a Washington D.C.-based news website. During his one-year teaching stint in China, Walz was nicknamed "Fields of China" by his students due to his kindness.

His time in China had an impact on his perspectives of Chinese people's lives under the ruling Communist Party.

"If they had the proper leadership, there are no limits on what they could accomplish," he said in an interview with the Star Herald in 1990, describing teaching in China as "one of the best things" he has ever done.

His interest in China didn't stop there. Upon returning to the United States, Walz and his wife set up a company named "Educational Travel Adventures" to coordinate summer trips to China for American high school students.

Five years after the Tiananmen Square protests and the Chinese government's violent crackdown, Walz returned to China with his wife for their honeymoon and they brought along two American high school tour groups. Walz continued running the summer exchange program to China for American students with his wife until 2003.

Advocating human rights in China

After becoming a member of Congress in 2007, Walz continued to focus on issues related to China. During his time in Congress, Walz served on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, which focuses exclusively on human rights issues in the country.

Walz quickly established himself as a vocal critic of the Chinese government, holding regular meetings with high-profile activists from China and Hong Kong, including prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong and Tibet's spiritual leader Dalai Lama.

In an interview with VOA in 2014, Walz recounted his impression of witnessing the student-led protest in Tiananmen Square unfold. "I remembered waking up and seeing the news on June Fourth that the unthinkable had happened," he said.

While most Americans at the time decided to leave China due to security concerns following the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, Walz said he felt it was "more important than ever to go" to China because he wanted to ensure that "the story was told" and let the Chinese people know that the outside world was with them.

In addition to engaging with activists from China and Hong Kong, Walz also co-sponsored several resolutions on key human rights issues in China, including demanding the release of Chinese Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo and Chinese activist Huang Qi, as well as co-signing the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act in 2017.

In one of his congressional remarks in 2016, Walz highlighted the importance of having "constructive dialogues" with Beijing to ensure "the preservation of traditional Tibetan culture and Tibet's fragile ecology."

"The U.S. was founded on the ideas of universal freedom, and I believe that we must continue to urge the Chinese government to provide less regulated religious freedom to the Tibetans," he said at the time.

Foreign policy boost

In addition to being a vocal critique of China's human rights record, Walz also expressed concerns about China's attempt to expand its presence in the South China Sea in 2016, citing Beijing's efforts to build artificial islands in the disputed water as the reason to oppose Washington's attempt to reduce military spending.

Despite his strong stance on China's human rights record and military posture, Walz continued to stress the importance of maintaining cooperation with China. "I don't fall into the category that China necessarily needs to be an adversarial relationship," he said in a video interview with Agri-Pulse Communications.

"I think we need to stand firm on what they are doing in the South China Sea, but there [are] many areas of cooperation that we can work on," Walz added.

Some analysts say Walz's deep connections to China and track record in U.S.-China diplomacy could potentially help the Democratic presidential pair make more informed decisions on foreign policy, especially on issues related to China.

"I think [his emergence as Democratic vice-presidential nominee] is going to put a lot of people who care a lot about American foreign policy in this part of the world at ease, knowing that there is someone on the ticket who is informed, has spent time in the region, and is not starting from square one when it comes to learning about American foreign policy in East Asia," said Lev Nachman, a political scientist at National Taiwan University.

He said since Walz has expressed many humanistic views of the Chinese people, Tibetan people, and Hong Kongers, the Minnesota governor could add more nuance to the policy debate related to China in the United States.

"He may be able to articulate the need to push back against China's authoritarianism and human rights violations in different parts of the world in a way that doesn't vilify Chinese citizens or doesn't lean antagonistically in this overtly scare tactic rhetoric that I think a lot of U.S.-China discourse has turned into in the U.S.," Nachman told VOA by phone.

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Venezuela's opposition candidate ignores Supreme Court summons

By VOA News August 07, 2024

Venezuela opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who insists he is the rightful winner of the July 28 presidential election, failed to comply Wednesday with a Supreme Court summons ordering his appearance for an audit of the disputed July 28 vote.

The government-aligned National Electoral Council certified the vote for President Nicolas Maduro, securing him a third six-year term in office. The decision was rejected by the opposition and resulted in deadly protests.

The opposition also considers the Supreme Court in alignment with Maduro's government.

The United States and several Latin American countries are among the nations that have recognized Gonzalez as the winner of the presidential vote and have called for Venezuela's election officials to publish their data. Election officials say they have handed over their tallies to the court.

The opposition says its own counts show that Gonzalez, a retired diplomat, was the resounding winner of the election.

The country's highest court summoned all the presidential candidates and representatives of the parties that nominated them  including Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado  to appear before the court Wednesday for a certification of the election results.

In a Wednesday post on X, Gonzalez explained why he failed to appear: "If I go to the electoral chamber [of the Supreme Court] in these conditions, I will be totally vulnerable due to powerlessness and violation of due process and I will put at risk not only my freedom but, more importantly, the will of the Venezuelan people as they expressed on July 28.

"Citizen Nicolas Maduro ... has publicly stated ... that if I do not appear, I will incur legal responsibilities, and that if I appear and file copies" of voting records, "there will also be serious criminal responsibilities," he added.

"Is this an impartial procedure that respects the law? Am I condemned in advance?"

Like Gonzalez, Machado also did not appear in court. She remains in hiding and has said that she fears for her life.

Many of the country's opposition leaders have chosen exile rather than face arrest and imprisonment in Venezuela.

Reuters reported that three groups who supported Gonzalez's campaign did, however, appear before the court Wednesday.

John Kirby, White House national security spokesperson, called Wednesday for Maduro to release his voting data immediately. Kirby said Gonzalez won the most votes based on evidence from the opposition, civil society and other observers.

Support for the opposition has grown, following years of economic mismanagement that has impoverished many Venezuelans, driving many to leave the country. Many poor and working-class Venezuelans who previously backed Maduro's left-wing populist political ideology now support the opposition.

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Thai court dissolves election-winning political party

By Vijitra Duangdee August 07, 2024

Thailand's Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday to dissolve the opposition Move Forward Party and ban its executives -- including up-and-coming lawmaker Pita Limjaroenrat - from politics for a decade.

The court's decision is the latest dilution of democracy by the conservative Thai establishment which refuses to cede power to pro-democracy movements, reform advocates say.

The nine judges decided that Thailand's largest parliamentary party should be dissolved and its executives banned from politics for 10 years for breaching constitutional protections of the monarchy with a 2023 election campaign call to reform the royal defamation law, which criminalizes criticism of the monarchy, Thailand's top institution.

"'The party' intended to weaken the monarchy ...making it the enemy of the people," the court's ruling said.

"The court considers their actions antagonizing towards the [royal] institution," it added.

Move Forward's predecessor party, Future Forward, was disbanded by the same court in 2020.

Even with Future Forward barred, the Move Forward Party in recent years sustained efforts to amend the law which protects the monarchy from criticism and allows long jail terms and has seen dozens of democracy advocates charged and convicted in recent years for insulting or disparaging the Thai monarchy.

By now legally sidelining the Move Forward Party, the ruling on Wednesday effectively nullifies the votes of 14 million Thai citizens - in a country with a population of some 71 million.

Speaking to reporters later, a grim-faced Pita denied the party had set out to antagonize the monarchy.

"You may be disappointed and angry, I understand you, let it all out today ... tomorrow we will pass through it ... we're not going to let it eat us up," he said.

"We have to express our anger at the polling station instead of every election from here on out."

Many Thai observers expressed dismay.

"This lost decade of Thai democracy continues," Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang, a constitutional scholar at Chulalongkorn University, told VOA.

"This is now our new normal," he said.

International observers waded in on the dissolution of a party - which, with Pita in the lead - carried hopes of a democratic reset for a country worn down by a decade of government run by former generals - turned civilian politicians.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the U.S. was "deeply concerned" by a ruling which "disenfranchises the more than 14 million Thais" who voted for Move Forward.

Last year's poll victory generally humiliated the older, better-funded conservative parties and spread anxiety among the establishment.

The voters' ballots made clear in 2023 that dominant, establishment interests in Thailand could be at risk when younger Thai citizens got behind progressive policies proposed to reform the kingdom's monopolistic economy and top-down politics and dilute the power of the royalist army in the country's politics.

Move Forward gradually, during the second half of 2023 and early 2024, was nudged into an opposition role by a conservative coalition and by senators appointed by the previous military-stacked government.

Then the party and its 43-year-old dynamic leader, Pita, a Harvard graduate, was besieged by legal cases. Wednesday's ruling obstructs and stalls the promising political career of Pita.

'This is not justice'

Many of the party's 144 lawmakers are expected to migrate within 60 days to a new party, which has been prepared in the event of dissolution.

Some in Move Forward, instead, may defect to the governing coalition, headed by Pheu Thai, the political vehicle of billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, who at 75 remains at the center of the kingdom's politics.

The government, though, also faces potential upheaval in the weeks ahead.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, a real estate tycoon who entered top-level politics at age 62, faces a court decision, scheduled next week, which could lead to his removal as government leader after barely a year.

The Constitutional Court is planning to rule on the consequences of Srettha appointing a key cabinet member with a checkered past. The cabinet member, in a chief of staff type role, resigned in May after a previous conviction re-emerged in public, disqualifying him from office.

The Constitutional Court has a history of banning Thai political parties, especially those that advocate for better, stronger democratic institutions in Thailand and which have rattled the conservative order for two decades with election wins.

"This case is another example of blurring the line between legality and political preference," said Verapat Pariyawong, who teaches Thai law and politics at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies, and advises The Parliamentary committees.

"But I am not at all surprised given that such lines have been crossed so many times before, at the heavy price of weakening democracy," he told VOA.

Move Forward Party leaders have said ideas of reform are likely to remain relevant in Thailand and especially if political and economic stagnation settles in, likely alienating and frustrating another rising generation of young Thais.

Thailand, which has endured a coup d'etat, roughly every seven years since it dropped in 1932 absolute rule by kings, was led by Prayuth Chan-ocha from 2014 to 2024.

He seized power as army chief in a 2014 coup from the elected government, sparking a "lost decade" of slow growth, flat wages, delayed entry to the digital economy and slumping standards in education as well as a general smothering of free speech and dissent.

As the court's ruling condemned the party, Move Forward released a social media video with the tagline "Unbreakable."

But some young Thais say they are now disillusioned by the chances of change.

"I've been prepared for this, but we just have to keep fighting," said Nannapas Chanphasit, 20, who said she voted in her first election last year and now feels her ballot has been "voided.'"

"But this is not justice. Many of my friends say they want to leave Thailand because in two, three years' time, we will graduate and prospects for our lives here are bleak ... High cost of living. Low pay. Just no future."

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On-the-Record Press Gaggle by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby

August 07, 2024

10:33 A.M. EDT

MODERATOR: Hey, everyone. Thanks for joining. We don't have anything for the top here, so we'll just go straight into questions. That being said, our first question will go to Patsy with VOA.

Q Hi, Sam. Thank you so much. I have two questions. The first one on Venezuela. We asked this to Karine yesterday, but wondered if you can clarify a little bit more the U.S. position on Venezuelan leader Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. It seems that it went from Secretary Blinken last week recognizing his victory to, kind of, now just supporting diplomatic efforts to return democracy to Venezuela.

If you can just clarify: Is the U.S. still calling him "president-elect"? Or have you ever called him "president-elect"? Just your latest position on that.

And then I have another question on Sinwar.

MR. KIRBY: We have not changed our formal recognition of the government of Venezuela since 2015, Patsy, and that is that we recognize the 2015 National Assembly.

Again, as has been said time and time again, based on all the evidence presented by the opposition but also civil society, other observers, polling, Mr. Gonzalez won the most votes, and now Mr. Maduro needs to release the full, detailed voting data without delay to represent the aspirations of the, what, 12 million Venezuelans who turned out to vote.

But no change in our policy on recognizing the 2015 National Assembly.

Q Are you calling him "president-elect"?

MR. KIRBY: I have nothing more to add.

Q Okay. And just on Sinwar. Can you give your assessment on his selection as the new leader and what you think that might do in terms of ceasefire prospects?

MR. KIRBY: The man is a terrorist. He has an awful lot of blood on his hands. This guy was the architect of the 7th of October attacks in Israel. And some of that blood on his hands is American blood. He has always been the chief decision-maker when it comes to negotiations over the course of these now nine months. So, in effect, nothing really changes in that regard.

And as the chief decision-maker, he needs to decide now to take this deal, to get a ceasefire in place, to get some of those hostages home, and to get us all an opportunity to get more humanitarian assistance in. He needs to accept the deal.

Q Can you just comment: If Israel continues their strategy, it appears, of just targeting Hamas leaders, is that helpful or not helpful to ceasefire prospects? I mean, is the goal here to just not have anybody to negotiate with?

MR. KIRBY: The goal here needs to be getting a ceasefire. The goal needs to be getting hostages out. The goal needs to be getting more humanitarian assistance in. And obviously, throughout this entire campaign, Israel has been putting pressure on Hamas, and specifically their leadership, at various levels  low, medium, and high. And they continue to do that.

I'll let the Israelis speak to their operations.

But what we're focused on, what we want to see, the progress we want to make is towards a ceasefire deal tied to hostages being released.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to  sorry, my computer just blacked out for a second. Our next question will go to Morgan with Semafor.

Q Hey, John. Thanks so much for doing this. Just two questions. One, I'm wondering if you can give the latest assessment on when an attack by Iran will happen or, you know, what it might look like, kind of what's the latest thinking there.

And then also, the White House and Secretary Blinken described the ceasefire negotiations as in a "final stage" yesterday. I'm just wondering if you can elaborate on that. Has something changed in the last few days that has caused you to start describing them as such? Or do you have a timeline on when they might be  you know, there might be a breakthrough there?

MR. KIRBY: We've always been talking about these ceasefire negotiations as "as close as we've ever been"; the gaps are narrow enough that they can be closed.

What we're talking about here is recognizing the fact that we've come an awful long way. There is a good proposal before both sides, and they need to both accept that proposal so we can get this in place. We are as close as we think we have ever been, and that's why  that's why we talk about it in these terms.

And again, absolutely zero has changed about the sense of urgency with which we're trying to get it in place.

On your first question, I'll just say a couple of things. We don't want to see this conflict escalate. We certainly don't want to see any sort of all-out regional war. And there's not a whole lot of indications that other parties here want to see the same thing, which is why we're working really, really hard, with intense diplomacy, to try to avoid an escalation.

Can't predict that we're going to be 100 percent successful in that, which is why the President ordered additional military resources to the region to make sure that, should Israel be attacked, that the United States can ably come to her defense. I'll leave it at that.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Liz with Scripps.

Q Hi. Thank you, Admiral Kirby. I just had a question about the attack on U.S. personnel at that Al Asad base. I was just wondering if there's any more update and information. Yesterday, Karine had said that nobody had been killed. I was just wondering if there's any update on their status.

And also, has President Biden spoken with them or their families since the attack happened?

MR. KIRBY: My understanding is that some of the individuals who were wounded have returned to duty and that some

are undergoing additional medical care outside of the region. But I would refer you to DOD to get any more detail on that.

There's been no communication from the President or the White House to these members or their families. I think we can all understand that, right now, particularly those that are still seeking medical care, that that needs to be the focus  is getting better. And we want to, of course, give them the time and space to do that.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Alex Ward with the Wall Street Journal.

Q Yeah, thanks. Just wondering, John: Have you seen any movement by Iran or its proxies in preparations for attacks on Israel or U.S. troops in the region?

MR. KIRBY: We're watching things real closely, Alex. And as we said, we're engaged in some pretty intense diplomacy here to prevent an escalation in the region. At the same time, as we do that, we also have to make preps of our own to be able to help Israel defend itself should it come under attack.

I'm not going to talk about intelligence assessments one way or the other. We're obviously watching events extremely closely, as you would expect that we would. And for us, it's really about trying to forestall any escalation, and, short of that, making sure that we're ready to meet our national security commitments there in the Middle East, and that includes, I would add, protecting and defending our own people and our own facilities.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Seung Min with AP.

Q Hey, guys. Thanks for holding this call. I wanted to ask about Russia and Ukraine. Putin earlier today said there was a Ukrainian incursion of the country's southwestern region and called it a, quote, "large-scale provocation." Ukraine hasn't commented about the scope of the operation. What does the White House know about what happened there? Can you comment on that?

MR. KIRBY: I'll let the Ukrainians speak to their operations one way or the other. That's most appropriate. So I would refer you to the Ukrainian Armed Forces to speak to what they're doing.

We're going to stay focused on making sure they have what they need to defend themselves, of course. And I would also just add that nothing has changed about our policy with respect to enabling or encouraging strikes or attacks inside Russia, outside the bounds, of course, of what we have permitted them to do with U.S.-supplied weapons in the past, which is to

target imminent threats just across the border.

The last thing I would add is that we are, as you would expect we would be, reaching out to our Ukrainian counterparts to get a little bit better understanding.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Nadia. Nadia, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Yes. Hi, Sam. Thanks. A couple of questions. Just to follow up of the previous question to John: So you're saying that Hamas has to accept the deal or Sinwar has to accept the deal. So is this your understanding that the deal has not concluded until now is because of Hamas refusal, and it's had nothing to do with Prime Minister Netanyahu?

And second 

MR. KIRBY: The deal hasn't been accepted because neither side has signed up to it. We believe that both sides need to do

the final bit of work here to come to a conclusion on this thing.

Q Okay. So, Prime Minister Netanyahu also is  you'd consider him an obstacle to signing this deal? It's not just Hamas?

MR. KIRBY: I'm sorry, can you repeat that?

Q Yeah, I said: Equally, you're saying that it's both sides. It's not just Hamas who refusal; also Prime Minister Netanyahu refused to sign this deal?

MR. KIRBY: I'll say it again: There's a proposal that is on the table. It's a good proposal. It'll get us a six-week ceasefire, or get us the most at  the most vulnerable hostages out.

We believe the gaps are narrow enough that they can be closed. There's some implementation details that need to be hashed out. We want both sides to hash them out and get this deal in place.

We have a sense of urgency about this, and we believe all parties ought to have the same sense of urgency.

Q Okay. Regarding the Iranian attack, do you believe that the U.S. allies will come to your help this time like they did in April? There's some kind of talks in certain capitals that Israel has provoked this attack by assassinating Haniyeh, and, therefore, they're not willing every time to come up and bail Israel on acts like this.

So do you have any assurance that the U.S. allies will do exactly what they did before?

MR. KIRBY: Well, first of all, we don't want to see an attack, and we're going to keep working through diplomatic channels to see what we can do to deescalate the tensions there.

If there is an attack, what I can tell you for sure is the United States is and will remain postured to help defend Israel with a wide range of military capabilities. What other nations decide to do or don't do is up to them to speak to.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Barak with Axios.

Q Hi, John. Thank you. Thank you, Sam. You just said to Nadia that both sides, Israel and Hamas, need to accept the

deal. And I'm a bit confused because I'm pretty sure I heard both President Biden and National Security Advisor Sullivan, and you, say that the proposal is an Israeli proposal. So if it is an Israeli proposal, there's one of two things: Either Israel accepted and it's only Hamas, or Prime Minister Netanyahu withdrew the proposal and now does not accept his own proposal. Which one is it?

MR. KIRBY: Barak, I'm going to leave my answer the way I gave it to Nadia, and I'm going to just leave it right there.

Q You didn't answer.

MR. KIRBY: I did answer your question by telling you I'm referring back to my answer to Nadia.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Patrick with Defense One.

Q Hey, thanks for doing this. Can you speak a little bit to why a squadron of F-22s is in the region, if that reporting is accurate? That's not generally thought of as a defensive platform. It's really for going in through, as you know, advanced air defenses. So what is the value of deploying that platform at this time?

MR. KIRBY: The great thing about the F-22 and, well, a lot of advanced fighter aircraft that we put in the air is that they can do a whole heck of a lot of things, and that includes defensive missions.

As we made clear last week, the military posture changes that Secretary Austin directed at the President's order are meant for defensive purposes only, to help defend Israel and to help defend our troops and our facilities and our own interests in the region.

But make no mistake: The F-22 is a superior aircraft at a whole heck of a lot of things. The purpose of putting it there, putting that squadron  adding that squadron in the region is for those larger defensive purposes that I talked about.

Q Is there any concern that that might be viewed as provocative or escalatory, given how it's particularly useful for, again, like, breaching air defenses that normally guard capitals or pieces of critical strategic infrastructure?

MR. KIRBY: No.

Q (Laughs.) Okay, thanks.

MODERATOR: Thank you. I think we have time for a couple more questions. Our next question will go to Sam with CNN.

Q Hey, thanks for doing this. So, is there any sense that Iran's calculus in retaliating for the killing of Haniyeh has changed? What's your view on that and why?

And then a quick other question: What is the current U.S. understanding of the nature of the coordination between Hezbollah and Tehran right now?

MR. KIRBY: I'm not going to talk about intelligence assessments, as I said earlier. And I'm sure as hell not capable of getting inside the Supreme Leader's thinking.

I would just tell you that we don't want to see an escalation, as I said before. And if there is one, my goodness, we're going to be ready to defend Israel and defend ourselves as appropriate.

Iran supports Hezbollah; has for many years. They support the Houthis. They support Hamas. Back in April, when Iran decided to throw a bunch of metal into the air, they also  there were also concurrent attempts by the Houthis and by Hezbollah to assist.

We can't assume that, should there be another attack by Israel, that Iran's proxy forces won't be involved. It would be foolhardy for us to assume that they wouldn't be. We got to prepare for all contingencies, and we are.

But I don't think anybody should fool themselves about the strong connections, the muscle and sinew that exists between Hezbollah and Tehran.

MODERATOR: Thank you. We have time for one more question. We'll go to Ryan with Fox. Ryan, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Okay, seems like that's not working, so we will go to Tom O'Connor.

Q Hey, can you hear me?

MODERATOR: We can hear you now. Yep.

Q Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

First of all, you mentioned before that the U.S. is engaged in diplomacy to avoid an escalation in the region, of course amid these looming threats from Iran. I'm wondering that besides, of course, the U.S. warning Iran not to retaliate, if there's been any sort of proposals or, sort of, agreements that the U.S. has put forth that could perhaps address the grievances of both sides to avoid this escalation.

Secondly, on defending Israel from such an attack, if it does occur, does this include supporting Israel's potential retaliation for that attack? Thank you very much.

MR. KIRBY: As I said earlier, we're involved in some pretty intense diplomacy here across the region, and it's not just us. Many of our allies and partners are likewise involved. Let's see where that takes us.

And I think the less said about the diplomacy and the efforts, the better. But let's see where it takes us.

And as I said earlier: If Iran moves forward, as they have repeatedly said that they're going to, we're going to make sure we're ready to defend Israel on our own interests. And we believe that the force posture adjustments ordered by the President and directed by the Secretary of Defense put us in a good position to do that.

Q Thank you very much.

MR. KIRBY: I can't begin to speculate about what might happen in the wake of an Iranian attack, because we haven't seen it. We don't know if it's going to happen, and we don't know exactly what that would look like. And I certainly wouldn't speak today inside Israeli decision-making. That would be up to Israeli leaders to weigh the impact of any strikes by Iran and what that might require from them. Those are sovereign decisions that they alone can make and they alone should have to answer for.

President Biden has been extraordinarily consistent with Prime Minister Netanyahu in reaffirming our support for the defense of Israel. We throw around that word "ironclad," but we mean it. And we will continue to do what we have to do to help Israel defend itself. I'll leave it at that.

Q Appreciate it. Thank you very much.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Kirby has a few words he'd like to 

MR. KIRBY: The only thing that I wanted to come back to do  I got a question about the injured troops. And again, I would refer you to DOD for more detail. But it's our understanding that those that are still receiving medical care are in stable condition, which is good. But for any more context, you'd have to go to DOD.

I just wanted to reiterate that the reports are that they're in stable condition. That's it.

MODERATOR: Thank you. And a quick housekeeping flag from us. It appears when we started the gaggle, we learned that there was a cap on attendees, which we apologize about. We have worked this out for future gaggles. But for today, if your colleagues reach out, they can contact DL NSC Press, and we will share the gaggle Otter with them and then get our transcript out as soon as possible.

So, apologize for any inconvenience to your colleagues. But if we weren't able to get to you, you know how to reach us. Thanks.

10:55 A.M. EDT

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Chinese FM calls for intl community to unite behind cease-fire in Gaza

Global Times

By Liu Xin Published: Aug 08, 2024 12:24 AM

Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi has held phone conversations with the foreign ministers of Egypt and Jordan, condemning the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, calling for efforts by different parties to prevent further escalation of conflicts and urging countries to form a joint force to help achieve a cease-fire in Gaza.

Hamas named Yahya Sinwar, who is seen as representing Hamas' hard-liners, as successor to Haniyeh. Arab countries, in a dilemma and feeling more anxious, hope that China can play a positive role in deescalating the situation as they recognize China's efforts and capacity in regional reconciliation, analysts said.

But the complexity of the situation requires joint efforts from all parties to address the current crisis, especially the US and Israel, to avoid escalation, they said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday released information on Wang's phone conversations with Badr Abdelatty, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates and with Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi, which took place on Tuesday. During both conversations, Wang said that China resolutely opposes and strongly condemns the assassination of Haniyeh.

While talking with Abdelatty, Wang said that retaliatory action leads to a vicious cycle, and violence begets more violence, exacerbating conflict. China will strengthen solidarity with Arab countries, and work with all parties to avoid further escalation and deterioration of the situation.

In talking with Safadi, Wang said that the key to avoiding the deterioration and escalation of the situation is to achieve a full and permanent cease-fire in Gaza as soon as possible and the international community should make a more consistent voice on this issue and form a joint force.

Liu Zhongmin, a professor from the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that Egypt and Jordan are neighbors of the parties in conflict. Both countries established diplomatic relations with Israel early and have upheld a cautious approach to the situation involving Iran.

At this complex and critical juncture, they seek to engage with China given China's previous role in brokering reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia and among various Palestinian factions, Liu said.

Fourteen Palestinian factions signed the Beijing Declaration on July 23, seen as a positive move toward ending division and strengthening Palestinian national unity.

The conflicts in the Middle East not only relate to the Palestinian-Israeli issue, but also result from the US' long-term partial policies toward Israel and Iran's diplomatic inclinations, Liu said, therefore joint efforts from all involved parties are needed to address the crisis.

Simmering escalation of tension

With Iran's retaliation against Israel looming after Haniyeh's assassination, regional countries and major players have been actively engaged in diplomacy to avoid an all-out regional war. Jordan's Foreign Minister Safadi made a rare visit to Iran on Sunday and Russian media reported that Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu also visited Iran on Monday.

US President Joe Biden called Jordan's King Abdullah II on Monday and spoke with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt on Tuesday to discuss efforts to deescalate regional tensions, the White House said.

The US is indeed the instigator of the situation which has been spiraling out of control in the Middle East, Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times.

"If the US had managed to restrain Israel and allow a cease-fire in Gaza earlier, the situation would not have escalated to this extent. Also it is the US' repeated obstruction at the UN Security Council on cease-fire proposals that has led to the current situation," said Sun.

Unlike Haniyeh, Sinwar represents hard-liners in Hamas, Sun said, adding that Hamas' past approach of "fighting while seeking negotiations at the same time" may likely shift to "survival through combat."

Sun said that Hamas would also seek to form an alliance with Iran, the Houthis and Hezbollah, while trying to gain international support.

Iran did not immediately retaliate after the assassination but tried to tell the world that it is Israel that has infringed international norms and violated Iran's sovereignty, which has forced Iran to respond. The appointment of Sinwar could be a critical moment when Iran might take action, Sun said.

Liu said Iran is likely to continue missile attacks on Israel and mobilize other militia groups in skirmishes with Israel. However, given Iran's current domestic and international situation, it is unlikely to engage in a large-scale conflict with Israel at the expense of the nation's interests.

No matter how the crisis unfolds, the hatred between Iran and Israel will accumulate, and the escalating cycle of retaliation and counter-retaliation between them will worsen regional diplomatic relations, said Liu.

In past decades, the vicious cycle in the Middle East has repeated with no country emerging as a true winner, and if the cycle continues, none of regional countries can have substantial security, analysts said, adding that as China and many other countries have advocated, negotiation and political settlement is the only way out.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 07 August 2024 - Day 896

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that on 03 August 2024, a Ukrainian attack on Crimea highly likely resulted in the sinking of the Russian Black Sea Fleet KILO-Class submarine ROSTOV ON DON. Whilst the attack came in conjunction with a series of drone strikes, the attack in Sevastopol highly likely used the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).

Contrary to some reporting, the submarine had highly likely not been fully repaired from a previous attack on Crimea in September 2023. This latest attack is almost certainly the final chapter for the submarine with it highly likely being more economically viable to build a replacement submarine than recover and repair it.

Although this is a significant morale boost to the Ukrainian forces, this is highly unlikely to have any major impact on Russian long range maritime strikes into Ukraine from the Black Sea Fleet. The strike does highlight the increasing risks to Russian forces in Crimea and will highly likely force Russia to reconsider any plans to relocate any significant maritime force back to the peninsula.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, 68 combat clashes have taken place since the beginning of this day.

The intensity of combat in the Sumy direction has increased. Russia is actively applying aviation, helicopters, heavy weapons. However, there is no success. Suffering a significant loss. Ukrainian soldiers do everything possible to protect the civilian population.

Russian zagarbniki launched a missile strike on the territory of Ukraine, using one rocket, 50 air strikes, dropping 55 cabiv. In addition, the Russians used 674 kamikaze drones to impress and carried out 3,682 shells on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

In the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces twice attacked the positions of Ukrainian warriors near vovcans ka and tihogo. One fight is going on.

In the Kupians komu direction, Russian forces carried out assaults three times in the areas of Petropavlivka and towards Novoosinovoye.

In the Lyman direction during the day Russian zagarbniki 11 times attacked the positions of Ukrainians near Torsky, Novosergiyivka, Makiyivka, Nevsky, as well as in the Serebryansky Forest. All attacks are called off.

In the Siversky direction during combat clashes, defenders of the Ukrainian land successfully repelled five Russian attacks in the areas of Verkhnyokamiansky and Pereyznogo.

In the Kramators komu direction, Russian forces became active, carrying out five assault actions near the Time Jar. The fights continue.

In the Toretsky direction, the Russian occupiers attacked eight times Ukrainian troops near Toretsk, Zalizny, New York and Northern. Seven - ticked off, another battle is ongoing. Russian forces actively bombs the city of Toretsk - caused almost twenty airstrikes of kabama.

In the Pokrovsky direction since the beginning of this day, Russians 21 times tried to break through Ukrainian defense near eight different settlements. Most attacked in the areas of Vozdvizhenko, Novooleksandrivka, Hrodivka and Yasnobrodivka. Ten of these attacks are still ongoing.

According to preliminary information, today in this direction 154 Russian occupants were defecated. In addition, three cannons, a Tiger armored vehicle and four units of other vehicles were destroyed. Also, a tank, six cars and the artsystem were damaged.

In the Kurakhiv direction, Russian forces four times attacked Ukrainian positions near konstantinivka and paraskoviivka. All the assaults are repelled.

In the Vremivs komu direction Ukrainian warriors repel two attacks of Ukrainian positions towards Vodanogo. With this, Russian forces were quite actively using unkekorovani air missiles - hit the regions of Urozhynogo and Novodonetskogo.

In the orihivs komu direction, the Russian zagarbniki carried out one offensive action near robotiny, where they suffered defeats.

In the pridniprovsk direction, all efforts of the Russian occupiers to drain Ukrainian units from the occupied positions have also been unsuccessful. Four attacks have been made.

In other directions, the situation has not changed significantly.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 22nd Mechanised Brigade, 36th Marine Brigade, 103th, and 113th territorial defence brigades near Yunakovka, Basovka (Sumy region), Tikhoye, and Volchanskiye Khutora (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 220 Ukrainian troops, six tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, four armoured personnel carriers, six armoured fighting vehicles, six pick-up trucks, two Buk SAM self-propelled launchers, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, and two 122-mm D-30 howitzers.

The Zapad Group of Forces improved tactical situation in its area of responsibility.

The Group hit 14th, 66th, and 116th mechanised brigades of the AFU and 1st National Guard Brigade near Sinkovka (Kharkov region), Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic), and Novosadovoye (Donetsk People's Republic). One counter-attack launched by an assault group of the 1st National Guards Brigade was repelled.

The enemy suffered losses of more than 530 Ukrainian troops, one U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, 18 motor vehicles, one UK-made 155-mm AS-90 self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, two UK-made 105-mm L-119 guns, and one Anklav-N electronic warfare station.

Four AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.

The Yug Group of Forces continue to take more advantageous lines and positions.

They inflicted fire damage on manpower and military hardware of the 24th, 61st mechanised brigades, 5th and 10th assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Chasov Yar, Predtechino, and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic). One counter-attack launched by an assault group of the 5th Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 620 Ukrainian troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, nine motor vehicles, two UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzers, two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, two 152-mm D-20 howitzers, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun, and two Anklav-N electronic warfare stations.

The Tsentr Group of Forces continued active actions and inflicted fire damage on the 32nd, 117th mechanised brigades, 1st Tank Brigade, 95th Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and 109th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Toretsk, Grodovka, Nikolayevka, and Druzhba (Donetsk People's Republic). Two counter-attacks launched by the enemy's assault detachments were repelled.

The enemy lost up to 345 Ukrainian troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

The Vostok Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line. They also delivered strikes at manpower and hardware of the 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 108th Territorial Defence Brigade, and the 21st National Guards Brigade near Zolotaya Niva, Oktyabr (Donetsk People's Republic) and Zaliznichnoye (Zaporozhye region). In addition, one counter-attack launched by an enemy assault group was repelled.

The enemy suffered losses of up to 110 troops, eight motor vehicles, one 155-mm Bogdana self-propelled artillery system, and one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system. One ammunition depot was wiped out.

The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on the AFU 128th Mountain Assault Brigade and 119th Territorial Defence Brigade near Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region) and Nikolayevka (Kherson region).

The enemy's losses included up to 60 Ukrainian troops, seven motor vehicles, and one Anklav-N electronic warfare station.

?Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have hit one oil refinery that supplied AFU vehicles with fuel, one temporary deployment area of foreign mercenaries, and clusters of enemy manpower and military hardware in 153 areas.

Air defence systems have shot down 11 U.S.-made HIMARS projectiles, one U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft guided missile, and 87 unmanned aerial vehicles, with 41 of them outside the special military operation zone.

In total, 635 airplanes and 278 helicopters, 29,322 unmanned aerial vehicles, 563 air defence missile systems, 16,798 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,396 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 12,926 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 24,469 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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Secretary Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong at a Joint Press Availability

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Jack C. Taylor Conference Center

Annapolis, Maryland

August 6, 2024



SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good afternoon, everyone. In March, the USS Annapolis submarine visited Australia. Today, we're very pleased to welcome our Aussie friends to Annapolis.

To our colleagues, to our partners, to our friends - Foreign Minister Wong, Deputy Prime Minister Marles - Penny, Richard - thank you for an incredibly productive day. We're so grateful not only to have you here, but to have had a really terrific session - the 34th AUSMIN that's been held between our countries.

And of course, I'm particularly grateful to my friend and partner Secretary Austin, also to our hosts here, including Vice Admiral Davids and the Naval Academy for the incredible hospitality today.

If you'll forgive me, before getting into what we discussed in AUSMIN, I do want to say a few words about the Middle East. We continue to work intensely to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and to prevent the spread of conflict. Over the past few days, we've been in constant contact with partners in the region and well beyond. In those conversations, we've heard a clear consensus: no one should escalate this conflict.

We've been engaged in intense diplomacy with allies and partners, communicating that message directly to Iran. We communicated that message directly to Israel. Our commitment to Israel's security is ironclad. We will continue to defend Israel against attacks from terrorist groups or their sponsors, just as we'll continue to defend our troops. But everyone in the region should understand that further attacks only perpetuate conflict, instability, insecurity for everyone. And further attacks only raise the risk of dangerous outcomes that no one can predict and no one can fully control. It's urgent that everyone in the region take stock of the situation, understand the risk of miscalculation, and make decisions that will calm tensions, not exacerbate them.

That's particularly true given the decisive moment that we're at in the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza. President Biden spoke today to President El-Sisi of Egypt and to Amir Tamim of Qatar. These are the two countries that along with the United States are mediating negotiations to reach a ceasefire, to get the release of hostages. As the leaders discussed, the negotiations have now reached a final stage, and they agreed on the urgency of bringing this process to closure. Concluding that agreement and avoiding any action that could somehow disrupt it is the only path to ending the conflict in Gaza and bringing calm to the region. It's critical that all parties work to finalize an agreement as soon as possible.

Now, from day one of this administration, we have been laser-focused on realizing a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. I just got back from my 18th trip to the region in this job, and a big part of that trip was with Secretary Austin. We did 2+2s with the Philippines and with Japan. I was at ASEAN with Foreign Minister Wong. We were together also for the Quad meetings in Japan.

At the heart of our work in the Indo-Pacific is our alliance with Australia. Today, yet another step forward in deepening, strengthening that alliance. President Biden has called it "an anchor for peace and prosperity" in the Indo-Pacific and around the world. It's enduring - more than 70 years. And our countries working together have made our people a little bit more free, more secure, more prosperous.

But just over the past three and a half years, I believe we've made the relationship stronger than it's ever been. We've enhanced our defense cooperation, including expanded Marine rotations through Darwin. We created AUKUS with the UK to bolster regional and global security, to turbocharge our defense industrial bases. We had the first cohort of Australian workers who just arrived in Pearl Harbor for training and maintenance on nuclear-powered submarines. And we continue to broaden the scope of our partnership, from collaboration on advanced AI and quantum to combatting disinformation.

When Prime Minister Albanese and President Biden were last together, they talked about and agreed on plans to really advance what we call an "Innovation Alliance." They inaugurated this during the state visit in October, and they continue and we continue to elevate science, technology, and clean energy collaboration as a fundamental part of the work that we're doing together.

Through our Critical Minerals Task Force, we're strengthening supply chains for components that are essential to electrical vehicles, to batteries, to solar panels - many of the things that will be at the heart of the 21st century economy and that are also critical to combatting climate change. Over the past just two and a half years, the U.S. has invested more than $5 billion in Australia for critical minerals. Yesterday, we also announced a partnership using satellite imagery to better manage natural resources and to help us tackle climate change.

Throughout AUSMIN, we also discussed threats to our shared vision of a free and open IndoaPacific, a region that's stable, that's peaceful, that's prosperous, where sovereignty and international law are respected, where human rights are promoted and protected. We agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the South China Seas, the East China Seas, and countering any attempts at coercion. We're united on the need to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and to resist any actions that escalate tensions or undermine the status quo.

We're also committed to deepening, strengthening the architecture that upholds the shared vision for the region, and working more and more with other allies, with other partners, to advance the shared vision that we have. We've been enhancing our cooperation with Pacific Island countries. We're taking, of course, the next steps on AUKUS. We're advancing an affirmative agenda for the Quad, where Penny and I were just engaged a few days ago.

We reaffirmed the importance, also, of bridging the Indo-Pacific and the transatlantic theaters. We're very grateful that Australia is the largest non-NATO military contributor to Ukraine, providing air-defense capabilities, to helping train Ukrainian personnel in the United Kingdom.

Fundamentally, we agree with Prime Minister Albanese that, as he put it, "ours is an alliance with a bright future, because it's an alliance for a better future." Lloyd and I are both incredibly grateful to Penny and Richard for their partnership and for their friendship.

Penny.

FOREIGN MINISTER WONG: Thank you very much. Can I first thank Secretary Blinken, Tony, and Secretary Austin, Lloyd, for hosting Richard and I at this remarkable facility on these beautiful grounds? And we really appreciate the opportunity to be here.

If I may first start with a - just a - to reiterate and articulate our sterling support for what Secretary Blinken just said in relation to the Middle East. We again endorse what he has said, urging all to de-escalate. And like him, Australia also underlines the risks to all in the region of escalation and of miscalculation. Secretary Blinken said this is a decisive moment in terms of ceasefire, and we continue to add our voice to the support for the ceasefire outlined by President Biden and endorsed by the Security Council.

This is our third AUSMIN together, and they have all been really warm, open, trusting engagements, and this one particularly so. It's been an opportunity in this meeting to continue strengthening our alliance, deepening our alliance, because what we want is an alliance that is always fit for the strategic circumstances that we face, which, as you all know, are increasingly complex and increasingly challenging.

So I thank all of my colleagues for the transparent, constructive discussion we have had on so many substantial issues and the quality of that discussion. As Secretary Blinken's comments demonstrate and as the joint statement makes clear, we have covered a lot of ground. Foremost in our discussion is how we work together to assure the character of the Indo-Pacific, an Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, open, and prosperous; and working together on what that requires from all of us - to step up our delivery in the region, to step up our collaboration with others in the region; to work across shared priorities, as we have been over these last years on everything from infrastructure to sustainable development to cyber space and connectivity to health, and of course on security and conflict prevention.

Each of us is combining all our elements of national power towards maintaining peace and deterring conflict, and together we work to ensure that no state ever concludes that the benefits of conflict in our region outweighs the costs.

You would also have seen, as Secretary Blinken has said, we have made a range of other announcements which demonstrate the continuing broadening of our partnership. Yesterday he and I endorsed the U.S. Framework to Counter Foreign State Information Manipulation. This is about an investment in the protection of democracy, one of the many things we share, and of course, the establishment of the Australia-U.S. Landsat Next Partnership, which enhances cooperation on satellite imaging data connection, and of course, our entry into the Global - U.S. Global Entry Program from next year.

Really the primary point I wanted to emphasize in this conference was this: American leadership matters. American leadership has always mattered. And it remains vital today. It's vital for peace, for prosperity, in a free and open world. So we acknowledge and thank the United States of America for that leadership. We acknowledge and thank the U.S. for the priority you place on allies and partners. Together we can do more, so much more, in the world.

And in today's discussions we have seen what we share. We have seen the depth of our alignment. We have seen the depth of our strategic trust. And we have also seen the sincerity of our friendship, and I thank you for that. So thank you, Tony, and thank you, Lloyd. It's a privilege to work with you.

SECRETARY AUSTIN: Deputy Prime Minister Marles, Foreign Minster Wong, it's great to have you here with us in Annapolis. But before I talk about our progress today, I wanted to say just a few words about the tensions in the Middle East. The Department of Defense continues to take steps to lower temperatures in the region and to ward off regional escalation by Iran and its partners and proxies.

Several U.S. service members were wounded yesterday in a rocket attack on Al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq. So make no mistake: The United States will not tolerate attacks on our personnel in the region. We've adjusted our military posture to strengthen our force protection and to reinforce our ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel and to remain prepared to respond to any contingency.

To maintain our carrier strike group presence in the Middle East, I have ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt later this month. I've also ordered more cruisers and destroyers capable of ballistic missile defense to the region, and I've ordered the deployment of another fighter squadron to the Middle East to reinforce our defensive air support capabilities there.

These posture adjustments add to our already broad range of capabilities in the region, and we remain ready to deploy on short notice to meet evolving threats to our security, our partners, or our interests.

The United States remains intensely focused on de-escalating tensions in the region, and we're also focused on securing a ceasefire as a part of a hostage deal to bring all of the hostages home and to end the war in Gaza.

Now, let me turn to our 2+2. Today's meetings have once again demonstrated the extraordinary strength of our unbreakable alliance with Australia. The United States and Australia share a common vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, and that guided today's discussions.

Let me mention three key items.

First, we agreed to continue deepening our force posture cooperation. Our countries are upgrading critical air bases in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. We're operating from new locations such as RAAF Learmonth and we're establishing an enduring logistics location at Bandiana. We're also increasing the presence of rotational U.S. forces in Australia, and all this will mean more maritime patrol aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft operating from bases across northern Australia. It will also mean more frequent rotational bomber deployments.

Second, we're doubling down on our defense industrial base cooperation, and this includes supporting Australia's guided weapons and explosive ordnance enterprise. By the end of the year, we're aiming to sign two memorandums of understanding on critical munitions. The first supports manufacturing Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, or GMLRS, in Australia by 2025. The second advances the co-production, co-sustainment, and co-development of a Precision Strike Missile, or PrSM. And as we accelerate our work together on PrSM, we agreed to stand up a joint program office in early 2025. Together, these efforts will help ensure that we have the capability and the capacity that we'll need for decades to come.

And finally, we'll continue to advance our defense ties with regional allies and partners, especially India, Japan, and the Philippines. And along with our UK allies, we continue to make outstanding progress through the AUKUS partnership. The United States is pursuing different initiatives with each of our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific. And all of that work - all of that vital work builds greater peace, stability, and deterrence across the region.

Secretary Blinken and I returned from the Indo-Pacific just last week. We participated in 2+2 meetings with our counterparts in Japan and the Philippines, in both Tokyo and Manila. We spoke at length about Australia's vital role in our network of alliances. And the United States, Australia, and our other friends in the region are operating together more closely and more capably than ever before.

So, Richard and Penny, thanks for your leadership and for your commitment to our alliance and to the security in the region. So we got a lot done today; we'll keep building on our joint achievements over the past three and a half years, and we'll keep charting an ambitious course forward. Thanks again, and now, Richard, over to you.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MARLES: Well, can I thank Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin for hosting Penny and I at this year's AUSMIN? I know that it's been a real treat to be able to conduct AUSMIN this year at the U.S. Naval Academy here at Annapolis.

This is the 34th AUSMIN, and it's the third that we've undertaken as a group of four. And when we reflect over the last two years, there have been huge achievements across three AUSMINs in advancing our alliance. We have seen today groundbreaking discussions in respect of a much greater collaboration between our defense industry bases, particularly in respect of the manufacture of guided weapons in Australia. As Lloyd said, we have committed to having an MOU by the end of this year for the co-assembly of GMLRS, guided land-based rockets, in Australia, with the intent of the beginnings of that manufacturing occurring next year. We've also agreed to pursue a memorandum of understanding in relation to the co-production of the Precision Strike Missile in Australia, with the standing up of a joint program office next year.

Now, what this has seen is a much closer working of our defense industry bases, and the legislation that was passed through the Congress last year, with the complementary legislation that was passed through the Australian parliament in March of this year, has given rise to a generational dream in establishing a seamless defense industrial base between Australia and America. And we continued in our discussions today to develop this. This is going to give enormous opportunities for Australian companies to participate and contribute to the supply chain here in the United States. And as part of this, we're seeing a much greater cooperation between our two defense innovation systems, and again, we have undertaken to establish an MOU of cooperation between the Defense Innovation Unit here in the United States and the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator in Australia.

In relation to force posture, this year's AUSMIN has built on the last two in seeing a deepening of American force posture in Australia. Now, the heart of that is the Marine rotation in Darwin, which is occurring as we speak. And in the next couple of years, we look forward to the establishment of the Submarine Rotational Force - West in Perth.

But American force posture now in Australia involves every domain: land, sea, air, cyber, and space. And so we are seeing U.S. Army watercraft, for example, engaging in Australia. And as Lloyd said, we've now seen a logistics base be established by the United States at Bandiana near Albury, and this is greatly going to enhance the United States ability to operate in Australia.

The presence of American force posture in our nation provides an enormous opportunity to work with our neighbors in the region, and as Penny and I move throughout the region and speak to our neighbors, there is genuine appreciation for the contribution that America is making to the stability and the peace of the Indo-Pacific region by its presence in Australia. But what this is doing is allowing us to do a much greater range of activities and operations and exercises with our partners, and we spoke about that today - with Japan, for example, where we've committed to doing a much greater amount of trilateral exercises between our three countries, but also doing more maritime domain awareness work, not only with Japan but with the Philippines and with India.

Finally, can I just add my thanks to Lloyd and Tony for their cooperation with Penny and I in advancing our alliance? We deeply appreciate it. We deeply appreciate the personal role that Lloyd and Tony have played in giving expression to American leadership in the world, which, as Penny said, deeply matters - deeply matters in terms of promoting democratic values and human rights throughout the world; deeply matters in terms of maintaining a global rules-based order, which is so important for Australia, which engages Australia's national interest deeply. And so I really want to say thank you for the partnership that we have been able to express on behalf of our nations, but at a personal level, I really want to say on behalf of Penny and I thank you for the deep friendship that we have now built across this stage. Thank you.

MODERATOR: Thank you all. Our first question will go to Shaun Tendon, Agence France-Presse.

QUESTION: Thank you. Good evening. Mr. Secretary, Secretary Blinken, if I could start to follow up on some of your comments on the Middle East. You mentioned it's a decisive moment right now for the ceasefire talks. Today Hamas has appointed Sinwar as their new political head, somebody who masterminded the October 7th attacks, somebody who by most accounts is hiding in tunnels. How does this bode for ceasefire talks?

You also mentioned the consensus about how Iran should or should not respond. You spoke with the Jordanian foreign minister today. Do you think Jordan and other countries in the region are on board in potentially repelling or striking down any Iranian projectiles that may come?

And if I could ask all of - all of you, including our Australian - the Australian ministers, in the Indo-Pacific, a very different appointment today: Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh. I just wanted to see if you had any thoughts about where Bangladesh is going, stability, whether - how you see that.

And just very briefly, Secretary Austin, if I could ask in particular on - but an important topic, a domestic one, but the 9/11 trial, the plea agreement which you have canceled. Wanted to see if you could explain that a bit to us. There of course - of course been concerns about the plea agreement voiced by some of the families, but also there've been longstanding concerns about a trial, not only because of the death penalty but because of the use of waterboarding, of torture in the evidence. Do you believe a trial can go forward? Thanks very much.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you, Shaun, and I know your colleagues appreciate you asking their questions for them as well. (Laughter.) So on the questions addressed to me first, with regard to Mr. Sinwar, he has been and remains the primary decider when it comes to concluding a ceasefire. And so I think this only underscores the fact that it is really on him to decide whether to move forward with a ceasefire that manifestly will help so many Palestinians in desperate need - women, children, men who are caught in a crossfire of Hamas's making in Gaza - whether we can put Gaza and the region more broadly onto a more peaceful and secure path. So it only emphasizes the fact that, as has been the case for some time, it really is on him.

And as the President said today following his conversations with President El-Sisi and with Emir Tamim, this is the moment. This is the decisive moment. The negotiations have reached their final stage, and we believe strongly that they should come across the finish line very, very soon. And that, besides changing everything for people in Gaza, bringing the hostages home, giving us an opportunity to build a more enduring peace for Gaza, also opens up other possibilities, other prospects more broadly in terms of de-escalating tensions and bringing real security and stability. That's what we're focused on.

And so when it comes to defending Israel, we are resolute. We'll remain resolute in making sure that we do everything possible to defend it against any attacks. I'm not going to speculate on how that might go forward. I can tell you that the intense focus that we have and that all our partners in the region have, including our Jordanian partners, with whom I spoke today - that focus is on de-escalation, is on making sure that no one takes any steps that could actually add fuel to the fire and broaden the conflict. And they're also intensely focused on getting the ceasefire over the finish line.

With regard to Bangladesh, we're monitoring the situation very closely. I would just say that any decisions that the interim government makes need to respect democratic principles, need to uphold the rule of law, need to reflect the will of the people. We for our part take very seriously the safety and security and well-being of American citizens, of our personnel. We went, as I think you know, to ordered departure of our non-essential personnel, and of course we'll be watching this day in, day out.

FOREIGN MINISTER WONG: You asked me a question on Bangladesh, and I think the Secretary's outlined really a similar position to the one I would have articulated. I was in Bangladesh not long ago, so obviously have watched with particular personal concern as well as our nation's concern about the violence and tragic loss of life in Bangladesh, and I want to offer our deepest condolences to families and friends of all those who have died.

In relation to the interim government, what we will do - say is we call on all parties to cease violence, we call on all parties to de-escalate and respect universal rights, and we urge a full and independent and impartial investigation into the events of recent weeks. We continue to support the calls from the people of Bangladesh for an orderly and peaceful return to a democratic and inclusive government.

QUESTION: The 9/11 a

SECRETARY AUSTIN: Yeah. Okay, I thought Richard was going to a

FOREIGN MINISTER WONG: He thinks he probably heard you (inaudible).

SECRETARY AUSTIN: Well, thanks for the question. I would just say that there's not a day that goes by when I don't think of 9/11 and the Americans that were murdered that day; also those who died trying to save lives and the troops and their families who gave so much for this country in the years following that. I'm deeply mindful of my duty to all those whose lives were lost or changed forever on 9/11, and I fully understand that no measure of justice can ever make up for their loss. So this wasn't a decision that I took lightly, but I have long believed that the families of the victims, our servicemembers, and the American public deserve the opportunity to see military commissions - commission trials carried out in this case, and I'll leave it at that.

MODERATOR: Okay. Our next question will go to Jade Macmillan, Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

QUESTION: Thank you very much. Secretary Blinken, Julian Assange's lawyers say that they'll be seeking a pardon for his criminal conviction in the U.S. Would you consider that to be appropriate?

And secondly, were there any concerns raised on the U.S. side about how the Australian Government responded to his release? There was some criticism domestically, for example, that the welcome he received risked damaging the relationship between Australia and the U.S.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. Look, we've had a legal process go forward and conclude. We didn't talk about this at all today; it didn't come up in our conversations. And in terms of what follows, I would refer you to our own Department of Justice, but as far as I'm concerned, there's a legal process. It's been concluded, and I'll leave it at that.

MODERATOR: Okay, our next question will go to Reuters, Idrees.

QUESTION: I've got a few questions as well, so strap in.

Could I just ask Minister Wong and Deputy Prime Minister Marles: What role would Australia play in a Taiwan contingency beyond basing support? Would you commit troops to helping defend Taiwan?

For Secretary Austin, who was behind the attack at Al Asad yesterday, and do you believe an Iranian or Hizballah attack against Israel is imminent?

Secretary Blinken, why do you believe Prime Minister Netanyahu will heed your calls to de-escalate given that for the past nine months or so he's either ignored or gone directly against your requests, whether it's on civilian casualties or negotiations on the ceasefire? And more broadly, you mentioned the ceasefire talks are in their final stages. We've heard similar optimism before. Why - or do you believe that Israel has set back that effort given that they allegedly killed the leader of the group that they are supposed to be negotiating with?

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MARLES: Do you want to - we'll let - perhaps if I start, and I'll hand over to Penny. I mean, the first point to make in respect of your first question is obviously we're not going to speculate about hypotheticals in the future. Our alliance is one where we are working closely together with the United States to deter conflict in the future, and that is where our focus and energy is at. And in that respect, our position remains one of supporting the status quo across the Taiwan Straits and not wanting to see any unilateral change to that status quo.

SECRETARY AUSTIN: Thanks, Idrees. In terms of who was behind the attack on Al Asad, we're sure that it was an Iranian-backed Shia militia group. Specifically which group, we're still investigating to determine that.

In terms of whether or not or when Iran would choose to attack Israel, I'm not going to speculate on any Iranian actions going forward. Idrees, as you know, what I've been focused on is making sure that we're doing everything we can to put measures in place to protect our troops and also make sure that we're in a good position to aid in the defense of Israel if called upon to do that. So you've seen us do a number of things to strengthen our force posture, and again, I'm in constant communications with my commanders in the region and also with our allies as well. So we'll see how this evolves, but I won't speculate on any specific action by Iran or any other Iranian-backed group going forward.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: And Idrees, with regard to the Middle East, it is manifestly in the interests of everyone involved to avoid escalation, to avoid the conflict spreading, and I believe that actually no one wants escalation, no one wants to see the conflict spread. But it's very important that no one take steps that could lead to that even if it's unintended. And that's why we've been engaged in this intense effort across the region and beyond to press everyone involved, including Israel, to avoid anything that could actually escalate the conflict. And again, it comes down to the fact that people - that's not where people want to go. We want to make sure to the best of our ability that they don't go there even inadvertently.

When it comes to the ceasefire, let's understand where we are, how we got there, and why we believe this is something that should close and should close very soon. Some weeks ago now, President Biden put before the world a proposal for the ceasefire, the release of hostages, a pathway to an enduring peace in Gaza. And the entire world rallied behind it. Country after country stood up in support of the proposal, culminated in a vote at the United Nations Security Council 14 to nothing endorsing the proposal, indeed incorporating it into a resolution. We don't see the Security Council agreeing on much these days, but I think that reflects the fact that quite literally the entire world came out in support of it. And then it took some time, but Hamas after a couple of weeks agreed to support the proposal. So there's agreement on the framework.

What we've been working on for the last few weeks are important details of how that is actually implemented, and there were some things that had to be negotiated in that process. That work has continued even with the recent events in the region. And we believe based on the work that's been done, based on the very practical issues that are at stake, that there is no reason that this should not be concluded and concluded quickly. So this is really a time for all of the parties involved to close this out - no delays, no excuses, no reasons why we can't do something; focus on getting to yes.

The reason among other things that we very much want to avoid any escalation is because, yes, that has the potential to disrupt concluding the ceasefire agreement. So in and of itself, escalation would be a bad thing, but it also has the potential to upend bringing the ceasefire over the line and bringing it to conclusion.

Again, this ceasefire is profoundly in the interests of everyone. It's in the interest of Israelis. It's in the interest, of course, of the hostages, their families around the world, including in the United States. It's manifestly in the interest of the Palestinian children, women, and men who are suffering every day. It's in the interest of virtually every country in the region. Because not only is what's happening in Gaza at stake, but many of these other points of conflict will also be profoundly affected by getting a ceasefire. It opens up the prospect of calming things down everywhere in the region.

So that's our focus. We're doing everything we can both to avoid the escalation, bring the ceasefire agreement to conclusion, and we won't stop until we get there.

MODERATOR: Our final question will go to Adam Creighton, The Australian.

QUESTION: Thank you very much for taking our questions. This one is for Secretary Austin. So recently, the influential media magnet Rupert Murdoch said that, in his view, he did not think the U.S. would come to the aid of Taiwan if China tried to encroach on the island. So what do you make of that sort of assessment? And if Mr. Murdoch was wrong, is it the expectation of the U.S. that Australia would come to the assistance of the U.S. militarily in any such confrontation?

SECRETARY AUSTIN: Well, I certainly won't comment on Mr. Murdoch's analysis or his statement, and I won't speculate on whether or not there will be a conflict. As I've said a number of times, I don't think conflict with China is either imminent or inevitable. We continue to work with likeminded partners in the region to ensure that we're doing things to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. And so the things that - the types of things that you've seen us do over the last three and a half years I think have been quite remarkable. Above and beyond the things that we discussed today in this 2+2 which - I mean, that - there are substantial accomplishments our two countries have accomplished together.

But if you look at the things that we've done in terms of strengthening our relationship with India, developing - helping the Philippines to modernize their military, bringing Japan and the ROK closer together, and you've seen us do a recent ministerial in Japan with the Japanese minister of defense and the minister of defense from ROK. That's the first time that that's ever happened.

And so there's just so many things like that that we have done in the region to work with others, to ensure that we do in fact move things towards greater stability and security, and promote that vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. So again, I won't speculate on anyone's comments or whether or not there will be a conflict. I will just tell you that we'll continue to do what - to work with our allies and partners to make sure that we're moving things in the right direction, and that direction is towards greater stability and security.

MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes our press briefing. Thank you very much for joining us today.

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Letter to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate on the Agreement Among the Government of the United States of America, the Government of Australia, and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for Cooperation Related to Naval Nuclear Propulsion

August 07, 2024

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Madam President:)

I am pleased to transmit to the Congress, pursuant to section 123 d. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2153(d)) (the "Act"), the text of the Agreement Among the Government of the United States of America, the Government of Australia, and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the "United Kingdom") for Cooperation Related to Naval Nuclear Propulsion (the "Agreement"). I am also pleased to transmit my written approval, authorization, and determination concerning the Agreement. The joint memorandum submitted to me by the Secretaries of Defense and Energy providing their summary position on the Agreement is also enclosed.

Pursuant to the enhanced trilateral security partnership called "AUKUS" announced in September 2021, our three governments engaged in an 18-month consultation period to seek an Optimal Pathway for Australia to acquire a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability at the earliest achievable date. On November 22, 2021, the AUKUS partners signed the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America, the Government of Australia, and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the Exchange of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information (ENNPIA) to permit the three Parties to communicate and exchange Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information (NNPI), including certain Restricted Data (RD), as needed for purposes of consultations on the Optimal Pathway. The ENNPIA entered into force on February 8, 2022, and remains in force until December 31, 2025, unless superseded by a subsequent agreement.

The Agreement, which would supersede the ENNPIA, would permit the continued communication and exchange of NNPI, including certain RD, and would also expand on the cooperation between the governments by enabling the transfer of naval nuclear propulsion plants of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, including component parts and spare parts thereof, and other related equipment. The Agreement also enables the sale of special nuclear material contained in complete, welded power units, and other material as needed for such naval nuclear propulsion plants. Equipment transferred in accordance with the Agreement could include equipment needed for the research, development, or design of naval nuclear propulsion plants, including their manufacture, operation, maintenance, regulation, and disposal, and could also include training, services, and program support associated with such equipment.

The Agreement includes conditions and guarantees required by the Act; promotes the AUKUS partners' goal of setting the highest nonproliferation standard; protects controlled and classified United States information; prevents further dissemination of information, material, or equipment beyond the jurisdiction of the Parties without United States agreement; and protects United States intellectual property. The Agreement also ensures that the United States and the United Kingdom have sufficient ability to ensure that relevant agreements and arrangements between Australia and the International Atomic Energy Agency set the highest nonproliferation standard, properly protect sensitive information, and are consistent with the Agreement.

The trilateral partners also concluded a non-legally binding Understanding Among the Government of the United States of America, the Government of Australia, and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Understanding), which reflects the governments' intended approach to certain articles of the Agreement and provides additional related political commitments. The Understanding would become operative on the date on which the Agreement enters into force.

In my judgment, the Agreement meets all statutory requirements.

I have determined that Australia and the United Kingdom, by participating with the United States pursuant to international arrangements, are making substantial and material contributions to our mutual defense and security. Australia is party to the Australia, New Zealand, and United States Security Treaty (ANZUS), and the United Kingdom is party to the North Atlantic Treaty and participates in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Australia and the United Kingdom continue to be committed to the mutual defense and security provided through ANZUS and NATO, respectively.

I have considered the views and recommendations of the interested departments and agencies and have determined that the performance of the Agreement will promote, and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to, the common defense and security. Further, I have approved the program outlined in the Agreement and have determined that such program will promote, and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to, the common defense and security. Accordingly, I have approved the Agreement, authorized its execution, and urge that the Congress give it favorable consideration.

Sincerely,

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Iran, Belarus share common threats, interests: Iran Army chief

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 3:34 PM

Iran and Belarus face shared threats and interests under oppressive sanctions imposed by the West, not least the United States, the Iranian Army chief says.

Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi was meeting with Commander of the Belarusian Air Force Major General Andrey Lukyanovich at the General Staff Headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces in Tehran on Wednesday.

"Belarus holds a strategic position as a strong barrier against NATO," the Iranian commander said. "We, along with regional countries, oppose the expansion of NATO."

General Mousavi also expressed gratitude for Belarus's principled stance on the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh by the Israeli regime.

Haniyeh was assassinated on July 31 at his residence in Tehran. He had been in the city for the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The Iranian army chief pointed to the sanctions imposed on the country since the 1979 victory of the Islamic Revolution.

"We have tried to turn this threat into an opportunity, ensuring that the defense of our country is not dependent on external powers."

He said Belarus faces a similar situation, commending Minsk for finding its own way to counter NATO's influence and US unilateralism.

The Iranian Army chief also highlighted the strong political, military, and defense relations between Iran and Belarus. He cited the March 2023 visit of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to Tehran and his meeting with the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi as evidence of the deepening ties between the two countries.

The Belarusian commander echoed the desire to expand and deepen military relations, expressing interest in sharing valuable experiences with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Belarusian commander invited General Mousavi to visit Minsk to observe its capabilities firsthand.

Air Force commanders of Iran, Belarus discuss military cooperation

General Andrey Lukyanovich also met with his Iranian counterpart, Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi, to discuss regional security and military cooperation.

During the meeting, General Vahedi blamed the United States and the Israeli regime for being the root cause of "calamities" in the region and the world.

He described the Zionist regime as the "root of malice" in the region. "We will not see any peace until its (malice) root [the Zionist regime] is eradicated."

General Vahedi also said the "child-killing regime is close to its end."

"History has shown that anyone who rules with oppression will not remain in power."

In his remarks, the Iranian general emphasized the importance of maintaining defense readiness and developing military equipment. "We have no other choice to defend our country and territorial integrity except keeping defense readiness and developing military equipment."

The Iranian commander said Tehran was ready to expand mutual defense and military relations, offering to share Iran's expertise in producing military equipment with its allies.

The Belarusian commander, in response, appreciated the invitation from his Iranian counterpart and placed a premium on expanding defense and military relations between the two nations.

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Canada's P-8A Poseidon aircraft procurement bringing investment and economic growth to British Columbia

National Defence

News release

August 7, 2024 -- Richmond, British Columbia - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, welcomed Boeing's $61 million investment in the British Columbian aerospace sector. This investment is part of the Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITBs) included in Canada's decision to procure up to 16 P-8A Poseidon aircraft from the United States Government and Boeing through the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA) project.

Canada's investment to procure up to 16 P-8A aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), as announced by Minister Blair in November 2023, will support over 3,000 jobs and add approximately $358 million to Canada's economy, every year for the next 10 years.

As part of its requirements to invest in Canada as the supplier of the P-8A fleet, today, Boeing announced $61 million in investments in British Columbia's aerospace sector.

Boeing will invest $48 million to build research and development capacity within Boeing's Vancouver facility. This investment will help ensure Canada's aerospace industry remains at the forefront of technological advancements. In particular, Boeing's investment is geared towards data analytics technologies to enhance program management, aircraft sustainability and performance. Through the usage of complex modelling and machine learning techniques, Boeing Vancouver will develop program management tools for the sustainment of aircraft fleets, enabling its Vancouver workforce to contribute to delivering higher aircraft performance and lower sustainment costs.

Boeing will also invest $13 million into Indigenous-owned COTA Aviation, based in Parksville, B.C. This investment will establish a hands-on aerospace manufacturing training facility geared towards increasing the representation and participation of Indigenous peoples in aerospace and defence. The program will train 10 workers per year and will help develop a workforce that is capable of filling needed manufacturing positions. Workers will be trained to operate modern and advanced manufacturing equipment, including robotic automation. COTA will also assist Indigenous learners in work placement at the end of the program. These initiatives will contribute to job creation and skills development in British Columbia.

Minister Blair noted that these investments are yet another demonstration of how investment in the Canadian Armed Forces supports economic growth and skill development in Canada's defence and aerospace sectors.

Through the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA) project, Canada is acquiring a new fleet of aircraft that is ready to meet Canada's security needs, and interoperable with allies and key partners. The P-8A will replace Canada's current maritime patrol aircraft, the CP-140 Aurora, which has been in service for more than 40 years.

The P-8A will provide Canada an advanced multi-mission platform to conduct maritime and overland surveillance in defence of Canada and to support our allies. This procurement will allow Canada to seamlessly transition to a replacement capability, thereby ensuring that Canada can continue to meet its domestic needs and international obligations.

Quotes

"Our incoming fleet of up to 16 P-8A Poseidon aircraft will provide our aviators with the tools that they need to protect our sovereignty - and at the same time, it is creating economic growth and good jobs for Canadians. As our government invests more in defence, we are ensuring that these investments deliver real value for the Canadian Armed Forces, the Canadian economy, and Canadian workers. I thank Boeing for its work to deliver this new fleet of aircraft to Canada - and I welcome its major investments in British Columbia's aerospace sector." The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence

"The aerospace sector is a cornerstone of our economy and supports well-paid jobs for Canadian workers. Major defence procurement projects allow us to not only strengthen the operational capabilities of our armed forces, but also ensure that companies in the Canadian supply chain can get significant economic benefits. This multi-million dollar investment further consolidates our aerospace industry's position as a global leader of innovation and technology, and supports Canadian businesses, including Indigenous-owned businesses." The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement

"Boeing's significant investments in British Columbia under the Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy underscore our government's commitment to advancing Canadian innovation and economic prosperity. By supporting COTA Aviation's Indigenous skills training and bolstering Boeing Vancouver's capabilities in data analytics, Boeing is enhancing aerospace capabilities while fostering sustainable growth and creating high-value career opportunities. Through our ITB Policy, we are dedicated to ensuring Canada remains a global leader in aerospace excellence" The Honourable FranAois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

"Headquartered in Richmond's technology and innovation hub, Boeing Vancouver has greatly contributed to our economy and provided well-paying jobs to workers and families in British Columbia. The investments announced today by Boeing will further grow our regional economy and support generational work across our community. I am encouraged by Boeing's continued commitment to tech advancements in ensuring that Richmond remains a hub of innovation." Parm Bains, Member of Parliament for StevestonaRichmond East

"This collaboration is a testament to Canada's strength in the aviation industry and reflects Boeing's unwavering commitment to the country where we have consistently driven innovation for over a century. It's wonderful to forge greater partnerships and growth in the province of British Columbia where our journey began back in 1919 symbolizing our enduring dedication to shaping the future of aerospace in Canada." Al Meinzinger, President of Boeing Canada.

Quick facts

Canada has finalized a government-to-government agreement with the United States (US) Government under the Foreign Military Sales program for the acquisition of up to 16 P-8A Poseidon aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Fourteen multi-mission aircraft are being procured, with options for up to an additional two.

The P-8A will replace Canada's current maritime patrol aircraft, the CP-140 Aurora. The CP-140 Aurora fleet was originally procured in 1980 and is currently scheduled to retire from service in 2030. At that point, it will have been in service for almost 50 years and is already facing significant obsolescence challenges. Procuring a new fleet is required to continue protecting Canadian sovereignty along our three coastlines.

After significant engagement and thorough analysis, the Government of Canada is confident that the P-8A delivers the best anti-submarine and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities for our country. The aircraft will operate seamlessly with allies. This platform is a proven capability that is operated by all our Five Eyes alliesathe United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealandaas well as other defence partners.

The estimated investment for this project is $10.4 billion CAD; it includes up to $5.9 billion USD for the P-8A, associated equipment, simulators, training devices and sustainment set-up. The balance will cover additional investments in infrastructure and weapons.

The first P-8A is expected to be delivered in 2026, and with an average of two aircraft delivered every three months, all of the aircraft could be delivered as early as fall 2028. We anticipate full operational capability by 2033.

The P-8A aircraft will be based at 14 Wing Greenwood, N.S. and 19 Wing Comox, B.C.

Canada's Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, including the Value Proposition, applies to the CMMA project. This requires that Boeing provide business activities and make investments to the Canadian economy equal to the value of its activities related to the Foreign Military Sale.

As part of this project, Boeing will provide meaningful business activities and make targeted investments in Canadian industry to support the growth of our aerospace and defence sector. To that end, Boeing has plans to integrate Canadian companies in global supply chains, develop clean technologies and support the development of skills and training in Canada.

This year, Canadians are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. As we mark this anniversary, the Government is making the largest investment in the Royal Canadian Air Force since the Second World War. In the past two years, the Government has signed deals to acquire approximately 200 new aircraft for the RCAF - including new fleets of F-35 fighter jets, P-8A Poseidon multi-mission aircraft, Remotely Piloted Aircraft, Strategic Tanker and Transport Aircraft, training aircraft and more.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Remarks on August 6, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: August 06, 2024 23:23

Reuters: A US Navy construction tender published in June for various base infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific lists remote Australian island, the Cocos Islands, as a possible project location, an indication the US military is also seeking access to the Indian Ocean territory. US Navy said the locations "may or may not" support US Marines forces. Cocos Islands is closer to the Strait of Malacca, a chokepoint for half of China's oil shipments. What is the Ministry's response to this, if the Cocos Islands was selected by the US Navy for a project?a

Mao Ning: Defense and security cooperation between nations should contribute to regional peace and stability, rather than target a third party or harm a third party's interests. Relevant countries should do things that are conducive to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific.

Reuters: It was reported that the Philippines and Germany pledged on Sunday to sign a defense cooperation agreement by the end of the year to uphold international rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro claimed that "The Philippines is not provoking China. We do not seek war." But he reiterated Manila's position, saying that "There is only one cause of conflict in the South China Sea. ... It is China's illegal and unilateral attempt to appropriate most, if not all, of the South China Sea as their internal waters." German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Germany's commitments and engagements in the region "are not directed against anybody. Instead, we are focusing on maintaining rules-based order, securing freedom of navigation and protecting trade routes." What is China's comment?a

Mao Ning: China's claims regarding territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are consistent with international law and universal practice. It is the Philippines, not China, that is creating problems in the South China Sea. Certain individuals in the Philippines should stop seeing things in the wrong way and stop making the baseless accusations.

There has been no problem with regard to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Any narrative that claims otherwise is simply false. We hope countries outside the region will do things that are conducive to peace and stability in the region.

Reuters: A Chinese unmanned military aircraft was seen flying over Vietnam's EEZ on Friday, one researcher who monitors the South China Sea via flights and vessels tracking systems told Reuters, noting it was the first time such an aircraft flew over Vietnam's EEZ with its transponder on, making it visible. Could the Ministry comment on this issue, and we would also like to seek clarity on whether the Vietnamese were notified of the flight?a

Mao Ning: We do not have the information you are seeking at this point. Let me refer you to the competent authorities.

Financial Times: What's China's comment on readjusting Pakistan's energy debt? The Pakistani Finance Minister requested that last week in Beijing and said that China attaches high importance to it. What's your comment?

Mao Ning: I would like to refer you to competent authorities. China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners who always support each other and share weal and woe together. China has supported Pakistan in growing the economy, improving people's livelihood and maintaining financial stability. China-Pakistan energy cooperation is carried out under the principles of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, and follows the law of market and commercial rules. Energy projects completed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor greatly eased Pakistan's energy supply shortages, lowered electricity cost and boosted Pakistan's socioeconomic development. We believe that with the joint effort of both sides, China-Pakistan energy cooperation will continue to be a success, and deliver more to our two peoples.

Financial Times: If the Chinese government would readjust key debts of the projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, what does China hope to get in return? How will this impact future investment in infrastructure, such as the Main Line-1 project?

Mao Ning: That is a hypothetical question. We will not get into this.

Financial Times: Is the Chinese government concerned about the conflict in Balochistan and its impact on the China-invested Gwadar Port?

Mao Ning: Both China and Pakistan attach great importanceato the the safety and security of the Chinese people, projects and institutions in Pakistan. We believe Pakistan will continue to provide strong security in this regard.

Financial Times: Would the Chinese government expect Pakistan to allow the operation of Chinese private security companies in Pakistan to protect the security of Chinese workers there?

Mao Ning: China and Pakistan attach great importance to the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in Pakistan. Pakistan has made tremendous efforts in this regard, which is appreciated by the Chinese side. We stand ready to work with Pakistan to deepen security cooperation and better protect the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in Pakistan.



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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Remarks on August 7, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: August 07, 2024 19:27

Global Times: It is reported that TEPCO started to dump the 8th batch of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean on August 7. The discharge is expected to last through August 25 and reach about 7,800 tonnes. What is China's comment?a

Mao Ning: China opposes Japan's unilateral discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean. This position remains unchanged. The ocean discharge of Japan's Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water has an impact on the health of all humanity, the global marine environment and the global common good. This is by no means Japan's private business. Japan still has not addressed international concerns about the discharge, including its safety, the long-term reliability of the treatment facility and the effectiveness of monitoring arrangements and so on, yet it continues dumping the water into the ocean and transferring the risk of nuclear pollution to the world. This is seriously irresponsible. China has expressed concern to Japan and engaged in in-depth communication with Japan multiple times.a

China urges Japan to cooperate fully in putting in place a long-term, independent and effective international monitoring scheme with substantive participation of Japan's neighboring countries and other stakeholders.a

AFP: Kamala Harris has chosen Tim Walz as her White House running mate. Walz has a lot of connections to Chinaahe taught English here. But he also met with the Dalai Lama as a Congressman as well as Hong Kong "pro-democracy activists." Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on how the choice might impact China-US relations?

Mao Ning: The US presidential election is the domestic affair of the US. We have no comment on it. We hope the US will work with China in the same direction under the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation and work for the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-US relations for the benefit of both countries and the wider world.

AFP: The US said Tuesday China will begin imposing controls on chemicals used to make the drug fentanyl. Can you share any more details?

Mao Ning: I'd refer you to competent authorities for the specifics. China takes a firm stance on counternarcotics. As early as in 2019, China announced that it will officially schedule fentanyl-related substances as a classathe first country in the world to do so, and China has always put precursor chemicals under strict control.

AFP: A Chinese-born academic who feigned being a pro-democracy activist was convicted of acting as a covert Chinese agent, the Justice Department said. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment?

Mao Ning: I am not familiar with what you mentioned.a

RIA Novosti: It was reported that UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy is considering making a visit to China, according to people familiar with the matter, to recalibrate the UK's relationship with Beijing. Can you confirm the visit? What is your view on the "recalibration" of China-UK relations?

Mao Ning: Our foreign minister recently met with him in Vientiane, Laos. We are positive and open towards enhancing bilateral exchanges and cooperation. Both China and the UK are permanent members of the UN Security Council and major economies in the world. A stable and mutually-beneficial China-UK relationship serves the fundamental interests of both peoples, helps the two sides come together to respond to global challenges, and contributes to world peace and development. We hope to work with the UK on the basis of mutual respect and win-win cooperation for new progress in bilateral relations, so as to bring more benefit to both countries and the wider world.a

As for the visit you mentioned, I have no information to share at the moment.





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China flies drone along Vietnam's coast

A Chinese military drone made a loop inside Vietnam's exclusive economic zone on Wednesday.

By RFA Staff 2024.08.07 -- A Chinese military drone flew close to Vietnam's coast early on Wednesday, the second known such incident this month, according to publicly available tracking data.

Data provided by Flightradar24, a Swedish flight tracker, shows that a Wing Loong-10 unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV, flew from China's Hainan island into space over Vietnam's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). It followed a path along the coastline for about 800 kilometers (500 miles) before turning around near Phan Rang province.

Using the call sign 00CA6181 and HEX code 783132, the drone is likely the WZ-10 unmanned aircraft that was reportedly spotted on Aug. 2, also close to Vietnam's coast.

A HEX code, also called a ICAO 24-bit address, is a unique identification number given by the International Civil Aviation Organization, and is different for every aircraft.

At some point, the WZ-10 was 160 km-170 km (100-106 miles) from Cam Ranh, a strategic deep-water seaport and an important Vietnam's naval base.

An EEZ is a maritime area measured 200 nautical miles (370 km) from a country's coast. The space above it is international space but part of it falls within Ho Chi Minh City's flight information region where Vietnam provides flight information service.

The Vietnamese government has not made any comment on the recent Chinese drone sightings.

Radio Free Asia was not immediately able to contact relevant Chinese authorities for comment. It was also not able to determine if China had flown such UAVs near Vietnam before this month.

A Vietnamese coast guard ship is in Manila this week and is expected to conduct the first-ever joint drills with the Philippine coast guard on Friday. Both countries have territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea, the vast majority of which Beijing claims.

Reconnaissance drone

The WZ-10 is a high-altitude, long-endurance UAV developed by Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute for reconnaissance purposes. It's said to have a wingspan of about 20 meters (65 feet), a length of about 9 meters (30 feet), and a height of approximately 4 meters (13 feet).

The WZ-10 is believed to be able to operate at altitudes up to 49,000 feet (14,900 meters) - much higher than commercial aircraft - with a flight time of 20 hours at a cruising speed of 330 knots.

On May 27, the Japanese defense ministry said that the Japan Air Self-Defence Force intercepted a WZ-10 UAV from China flying near Okinawa for the first time amid rising tension between the neighbors in the East China Sea.

"The WZ-10 is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle, so potentially it can carry missiles," said Jyh-Shyang Sheu, a military expert at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research.

"The deployment of such a drone can be for both reconnaissance and political purposes, perhaps to give some warnings or coercion signals," Sheu said, "China always shows its muscles to neighbors and UAVs can be used as a tool for gray zone tactics."

Gray zone warfare is not an act of war but a means to coerce that is harmful to the security of the target country.

The Chinese military has flown reconnaissance and strike drones near Taiwan in the past. In September 2022, China sent UAVs almost every day to Kinmen island in the Taiwan Strait.

Sheu said the drones sent to Taiwan were of different types and China, one of the largest drone manufacturers in the world, is increasingly using them.

Editing by Taejun Kang.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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China In Eurasia Briefing: Russian And Chinese Banks Feel The Bite Of New U.S. Sanctions

By Reid Standish August 07, 2024

An Evolving Fight On Sanctions

Chinese banks have tightened their restrictions on payments from Russia out of fear of triggering U.S. secondary sanctions.

Will this make an impact in choking off Russia's war machine?

Finding Perspective: The latest batch of information on this comes from the Russian newspaper Kommersant, which reported at the end of July that trade between Russia and China is getting ever more difficult, with some payments between partners taking up to six months to be processed.

About 80 percent of bank transfers made in the Chinese yuan are also getting bounced back with no explanation after being stalled for weeks while banks decide whether they can go ahead, the newspaper reported, citing anonymous sources.

This follows a report from July 17 by Bloomberg in which several major Russian commodity exporters said that trade with China had become increasingly difficult due to direct payments made in the Chinese yuan getting stuck indefinitely or delayed.

In June, the Russian division of the Bank of China stopped processing yuan payments with Russian banks that had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), China CITIC Bank, and most other large Chinese lenders have made similar moves.

How Did We Get Here? Beijing has emerged as a top partner for Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with analyses of Chinese customs data showing that in 2023 90 percent of dual-use goods deemed "high priority" and used to make Russian weapons came from China.

The United States and its allies have been intensifying restrictions in recent months after multiple senior U.S. officials said that the supply of dual-use goods by China has had a substantial impact for Russian forces on the battlefield.

This latest round of pressure originated back in December 2023 when the United States authorized secondary sanctions targeting financial institutions involved in trade linked to Russia's military industry.

This prompted global banks from China to the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Austria to reduce transactions with Russia to avoid getting in the crosshairs.

The payment issues were also exacerbated in June when the U.S. Treasury rolled out a new package of expansive sanctions against Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, forcing the Moscow Exchange to halt dollar and euro trade.

Why It Matters: Sanctions and finding ways around them is a constant game of cat and mouse.

In early July, a top Russian banker said the sanctions-evading methods should be made a "state secret" because they kept getting shut down so fast.

Andrei Kostin, the head of Russia's second largest lender VTB and the banker who made those comments, called for a greater use of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets to facilitate payments, something that Bloomberg reportedis increasingly being done in Hong Kong via Central Asia-based intermediaries at a growing frequency.

Worried about being targeted by U.S. secondary sanctions, China's big banks have limited their cross-border transactions involving Russia and Russian firms of late, with Chinese companies that trade with Russia instead moving to smaller banks or underground financing channels that are difficult to track and have less exposure to the international financial system.

Tom Keatinge, director of the Center for Financial Crime and Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute, told me that this makes up a "burner bank strategy."

This is where China's trade with Russia becomes concentrated increasingly into institutions that are unlikely to have a contagion effect on the country's economy and that also are set up with no need for access to the international banking system and thereby limit the reach of U.S. sanctions.

Three More Stories From Eurasia

1. Brazil, China, And The Ukraine War

Beijing announced that a joint Brazilian-Chinese plan to end Russia's war against Ukraine has received a "positive response" from more than 110 countries.

The Details: The August 1 statement came following a visit to Brazil by Li Hui, China's special envoy for Eurasian affairs, where he met with multiple high-ranking Brazilian officials.

China and Brazil jointly published a "six-point consensus" meant to bring about a lasting political solution to the war.

At the beginning of May, Li made a series of visits to countries across the Global South, as did Brazilian officials, as they crafted this new set of proposals.

China's previous attempt to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, with a 12-point plan it put forward in February 2023, was quickly dismissed by European leaders.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has strong working ties with China and looked for his country to play a role in pushing for a peace process to end the war in Ukraine.

The six-point plan is a fairly bland diplomatic outline that calls for cooling down fighting on the battlefield and a recognition that dialogue and negotiations are the only way to end the war.

During a July visit to China by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, he praised China "as a global force for peace" and said that Kyiv was open to peace talks.

But Kuleba also made clear that Ukraine attached conditions to such negotiations, saying it would only engage Russia when Moscow was "ready to negotiate in good faith," and added that "no such readiness is currently observed on the Russian side."

2. Boots On The Ground?

As China's investments in Central Asia have grown over the last two decades, Chinese companies have also faced a growing list of new security challenges.

Odil Gafarov, writing for the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, looks at the rise of Chinese private security companies (PSCs) in the region.

What You Need To Know: This phenomenon is not unique to Central Asia and has already grown in unison with China's expanding economic footprint in places like Africa and Southeast Asia.

The expansion of PSCs operating in Central Asia have gone hand-in-hand with incidents like clashes between Chinese and local personnel at oil refineries and gold mines in Kyrgyzstan in 2014 and 2019, the 2016 suicide bombing at the Chinese embassy in Bishkek, and numerous anti-China protests in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan over the years.

As Gafarov notes, these companies offer "both armed and unarmed site protection, security consulting, safety training, insurance provision, and logistical support."

The report notes that most of the companies do not fit the connotation of private security personnel operating in tactical gear and instead says that many of the Chinese PSCs prefer to keep their presence less visible.

The number of PSCs operating is also set to grow in the coming years and line up with other aspects of Chinese foreign policy in Central Asia.

"It aligns with China's modern security diplomacy, police/paramilitary cooperation, and recently adopted Global Security Initiative. From this perspective, these entities potentially present an attractive instrument for advancing Beijing's geopolitical agenda," the report stated.

3. Drone Clampdown

The Chinese Commerce Ministry announced that it will ban the export of all drones that can be used for military purposes starting September 1, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reported.

What It Means: Small and affordable consumer drones, many of which can even be bought online or off the shelf, have become a staple of the war in Ukraine for both Kyiv and Moscow for reconnaissance and targeted attacks.

This has led to both sides burning through the products at a high rate and constantly needing to replenish their stocks. China is the largest manufacturer of consumer unmanned aerial vehicles.

While the latest announcement points to the added scrutiny from the West against Chinese companies over the flow of dual-use equipment to the battlefield in Ukraine, it's unclear if this move will make a significant impact.

DJI -- the preeminent Chinese drone maker -- first said it would stop doing business in Russia and Ukraine nearly two years ago, yet the flow of its products continues. The Chinese Commerce Ministry has also enacted multiple measures to limit the flow of drones, but both Kyiv and Moscow have managed to secure a continued flow to their forces.

Across The Supercontinent

Previewing Kallas: Former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas will be taking over as the European Union's new foreign policy chief, but what does her past record tell us about how she'd deal with China?

The South China Morning Post's Finbarr Bermingham takes a look here.

Scooting Forward: With a $10 million investment, the Uzbek-Chinese company Ecomoto is scheduled to begin manufacturing electric scooters in Uzbekistan.

Beijing's New Man In Berlin: Deng Hongbo, a seasoned Chinese diplomat with decades of experience in the United States, is slated to be Beijing's next ambassador to Germany, the South China Morning Post reports.

One Trillion Dollars?: Chinese authorities have rejected a $ 1 trillion proposal made by the International Monetary Fund to use central government funds to complete unfinished housing in China, Bloomberg reports.

One Thing To Watch

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate on the Democratic ticket.

Walz doesn't bring a great deal of foreign policy experience, but he did live and work in China as an English teacher in 1989. Since then, he says he has visited the country at least 30 times and even speaks some Mandarin. Walz also honeymooned in China with his wife and organized summer educational trips to China for U.S. students.

The Minnesota governor also became an outspoken advocate for human rights in the country, meeting with the Dalai Lama. While teaching, he also visited the Tiananmen Square protests under way in 1989 before the massacre that year.

Walz and his wife also got married on June 4, the anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre of student protesters. When asked why that date was chosen, his wife said it was because Walz "wanted to have a date he'll always remember."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-russia-sanctions- drones-ukraine-eurasia/33068735.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russia, North Korea sign deal to fight infectious diseases

The North's vaccination rate was below 50% for most of last year, researchers say.

By Taejun Kang for RFA 2024.08.06 -- Russia and North Korea have agreed to cooperate on healthcare, medical education and science, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

Under the agreement, Russia and North Korea will work together in areas such as child health, healthy lifestyles and the fight against infectious diseases.

In particular, they will focus on the fight against tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus infection, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and hepatitis; prevention and treatment of cardiovascular, endocrine, oncological, among other diseases, the news agency reported on Tuesday.

They will also cooperate in training and retraining of medical professionals and regulation of the distribution of medicines and medical devices.

TASS cited a document published on the Russian legal information portal as saying that the cooperation "takes into account the principle of equality and mutual benefit, and implements measures to ensure the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the people in accordance with the laws of the parties."

Russia and North Korea have been stepping up cooperation on all fronts since summits between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Russia in September last year and in North Korea in June this year.

Low vaccination rates

Choi Kyu-bin, a research fellow at Seoul-based Institute for Human Rights Studies at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said in a report that North Korea's vaccination rate was less than 50% for most of last year.

Citing data from the World Health Organisation and the U.N. Children's Fund, Cho said North Korea had maintained vaccination coverage rates of more than 90% for many vaccines prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but since it closed its borders in 2020, there has been a clear downward trend in vaccination rates.

In 2023, coverage was below 50% for many vaccines, except for the TB vaccine, and none of the 11 vaccines required for children under one year of age had coverage of more than 90%.

For example, coverage of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis primary, or DTP1, vaccine, which children should receive, halved from 98% in 2019 to 41% in 2023.

"Low vaccination rates put children's health at risk," Choi said, urging North Korea to step up access to international organizations to ensure smooth vaccine procurement and immunization.

Edited by RFA Staff.

Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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INDIAN NAVAL SHIP TABAR CONDUCTS MPX WITH SEA LYNX OF GERMAN NAVY

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 07 AUG 2024 5:03PM by PIB Delhi

Indian Navy's frontline frigate, INS Tabar during her return leg from St Petersburg, Russia conducted Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with German Navy off Kiel Canal on 05 Aug 24. INS Tabar had earlier visited Hamburg, Germany from 17 - 20 July 24. These engagements are aimed at strengthening the maritime relations between both the nations.

The conduct of MPX between Indian Navy and German Navy off Kiel Canal signifies Indian Navy's outreach and sustenance efforts also marking a significant milestone in the maritime cooperation between the two countries.

The MPX with the Sea Lynx of 3rd Squadron Naval Air Wing 5 (MFG5) of the German Navy involved a series of advanced maritime operations such as Ship Controlled Approaches, Winching exercises and VERTREP serials. Units from both the navies demonstrated high levels of professionalism and commitment to enhance collaborative efforts.

India and Germany share a relationship built on a foundation of shared values, democratic principles and a commitment to global peace and security.

The Indian Navy remains committed to fostering partnerships with navies across the world. The MPX with the German navy reinforces the strong bilateral naval ties and our ability to work together in maritime security operations.

****

VM/SPS



(Release ID: 2042688)

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'Legitimate defense only option for Iran to prevent more Israeli aggression'

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 7, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani has said that inaction by the UN Security Council (UNSC) on Israeli violations has left Iran with no choice but to use its inherent right to legitimate defense against the regime's acts of aggression.

Bagheri Kani made the remark as he addressed an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that was held in its headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday.

The meeting was held upon a request by Iran and Palestine, a week after Israel assassinated Hamas Political Leader Ismail Haniyeh in his accommodation in the Iranian capital Tehran.

The top Iranian diplomat said that the martyrdom of Haniyeh, who was in Tehran at an official invitation of the Islamic Republic to attend the inaugural of President Masoud Pezeshkian, was just one of the examples of "terrorist crimes" by the Israeli regime in the region.

The assassination coupled with brutal crimes, which have been ongoing against Palestinians in Gaza over the past ten months, once again proves that "the foundation and life of the Israeli regime is based on assassination, crime, aggression, violation of peace, instigating insecurity and instability in the region, as well as war-mongering and genocide", he said.

"This heinous act of terrorism is a clear violation of national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a serious threat to regional and international peace and security, and a serious violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter."

Therefore, the UN Security Council (UNSC), whose prime responsibility is to protect international peace and security, should assume its responsibility on such a serious violation and horrific crime, the Iranian diplomat noted, adding that the UNSC must hold the Israeli regime responsible and pave the way for the perpetrators of this crime to stand trial and get punished.

He added that the responsibility the US bears in this regard should not be neglected, arguing that Washington is the main supporter of the Israeli regime in the assassination that was impossible to take place without US agreement and intelligence support.

Bagheri Kani further said that the Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly warned against negative consequences of the Israeli regime's actions against regional and global peace. Despite Israel's repeated hostile acts against Iranian citizens, interests and sovereignty, Iran has made outmost efforts to prevent spillover of conflict in the region.

However, in the absence of any appropriate UNSC action on Israel's aggression and violations, "the Islamic Republic of Iran has no choice but to use its inherent right to legitimate defense against the aggression by the regime", the Iranian diplomat said.

"The measure to prevent more acts of aggression by the Israeli regime against Iranian sovereignty, territory and citizens is essential, which will be taken at the appropriate time and in a proportionate manner."

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Iran reserves right to respond to Israeli aggression: President

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 7, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the Islamic Republic is committed to peace and security in the region but reserves the right to respond to the Israeli assassination of Ismail Haniyeh on Iranian soil.

The president made the remarks as he took a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron, who expressed concerns about an increase in regional tensions following the killing of the Hamas political leader and urged Iran to exercise restraint.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the avoidance of war and the effort to establish global peace and security as its fundamental principles. However, within the framework of treaties and international laws, it will never remain silent in the face of violations against its interests and security," he told Macron.

Pezeshkian said the assassination of Haniyehawho was in Iran as an official guestawas an attempt by the Zionist regime of Israel to further fan the flames of conflict in the region.

He criticized the United States and its Western allies for supporting Israel's crimes, genocide and assassinations instead of condemning them.

Pezeshkian said Iran had consistently played a crucial role in promoting "peace, stability, and security" in the region and the world, but underscored the Islamic Republic's right to give a proper response to the act of aggression by Israel.

"The United States and Western countries support a regime that adheres to none of the international laws and regulations, and has not refrained from any criminal actions in the region, with a contradictory and dual approach," he said.

Instead, the president added, "they invite the countries that have been targeted by such actions to refrain from responding and to practice restraint."

He warned that as long as the Zionist regime, backed politically, financially, and militarily by the West, continues its acts of genocide and terror in Gaza and elsewhere, the region and the world will not see stability, security, or peace.

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Belarus' Air Force chief meets Iranian commanders to discuss defense ties

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 7, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Commander of the Belarusian Air Force, Major General Andrei Yulianovich Lukyanovich, has met with senior Iranian military officials in Tehran to discuss defense cooperation as well as threats facing both countries.

Gen. Lukyanovich, who is also the commander of Belarus' Air Defense Force, met with Major General Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi, the chief commander of the Iranian Army, on Wednesday.

The meeting focused on the shared threats and common interests faced by both Iran and Belarus, including American unilateralism and sanctions imposed by the United States and its European allies.

Gen. Mousavi highlighted Belarus's strategic position as a barrier against NATO's expansion, saying that the Islamic Republic is also opposed to the enlargement of the US-led military alliance.

Lukyanovich, in response, reiterated his country's opposition to American unilateralism and NATO's expansion. He also said that Belarus is committed to deepening military ties with Iran.

Additionally, the Belarusian commander visited the Iranian Air Force Headquarters, where he met with Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi, the commander of the Iranian Air Force.

General Vahedi said Iran and Belarus have the same views on regional and global challenges, which he attributed to the actions of the US and the Zionist regime.

Lukyanovich also expressed Belarus's desire to expand military and defense cooperation with Iran's Armed Forces.

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No doubt Zionists will soon receive strong, definite response: Iran Army chief

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 7, 2024

Bandar Abbas, IRNA -- The Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army has said that the Zionist regime will soon receive a strong and definite response and there is no doubt about it.

Major General Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi made the remarks in a ceremony commemorating the Journalist's Day.

"The Zionist regime will soon receive a strong and definite response and there is no doubt about it, all of this shows that when a criminal gang that does not abide by any law recklessly commits such absurd acts that are contrary to all laws, differences, beliefs and customs, it is clear that they themselves have realized the speed of their own downfall, and by doing so, they want to save themselves from the quagmire, which will certainly not happen," he said.

He expressed condolences over the martyrdom of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and congratulated the election of Yahya al-Sinwar as the new head of the Palestinian resistance movement's political bureau.

The Army chief also appreciated journalists' commitment, noting that journalists are accompanying soldiers on dangerous battlefields, which is the manifestation of their responsibility to convey the truth.

As to the martyrdom of journalists in the Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip, he said that it is estimated more than 170 journalists have lost their lives in Gaza since the beginning of the genocidal war last October.

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Iran's east air defense gets new radars, missile interceptors

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 7, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's air defense system in the eastern part of the country has received new radars and missile interceptors, in a ceremony attended by the chief commander of Iran's Army Air Defense Force.

Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard visited the different parts, sites and radar positions of an air defense unit in the east of the country, and evaluated the level of combat readiness and operational capability of these units.

During his visit, Sabahifard told a group of commanders and employees that the Air Defense Force, as Iran's main defense system, is playing an effective role in improving the country's armed forces combat power.

He said that Iran is stronger than ever in the defense sector, adding that "we ensure that we respond decisively to any kind of threat."

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IRGC denies it is entering Iran's automotive sector

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 6:30 PM

Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has denied reports it is entering into the car manufacturing business in Iran.

Major General Hossein Salami said on Wednesday that the IRGC has developed technologies that could assist the Iranian industries, including the country's automotive sector, but it is fundamentally opposed to having a direct role in those businesses.

"The car sector in the country has its custodian and we will never try to replace other institutions," said Salami in an interview with the state TV's news agency.

Responding to a question about reports that an IRGC subsidiary is manufacturing automatic transmissions, he said that IRGC's policy is to transfer technologies that could play an effective role in manufacturing parts and components needed in various industries in Iran.

The commander said, however, that technology advancements accomplished in the IRGC are mainly intended to boost the military and defensive capabilities of the force.

"We have to create our military and defense power so that the (Iranian) car manufacturer can produce modern and advanced cars for the people that could replace the foreign-made cars," he said.

Since the end of the Iraqi-imposed war on Iran in the late 1980s, the IRGC has set up companies to help with reconstruction efforts in the county and to provide resources for its economic development.

The force now controls powerful technology companies that have played a key role in Iran's efforts to reduce or end reliance on foreign suppliers, especially in the past years as the country has been grappling with a raft of unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States.

The elite military force has denied reports published in the foreign media in recent years which have accused it of having a direct involvement in major economic projects in Iran.

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Iran says must retaliate against Haniyeh assassination amid UNSC inaction

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 5:19 PM

Iran's acting foreign minister says the country has no option but to retaliate against the Israeli assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, saying this is necessary to deter further aggression against the Islamic Republic amid inaction of the UN Security Council.

Addressing an emergency ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Ali Baqeri Kani said Iran has always made maximum efforts to prevent further escalation of tension and conflict in the region, and that now it has no option but to respond to the aggression to deter future attacks.

"Currently, in the absence of any appropriate action by the Security Council against the aggressions and violations of the Israeli regime, the Islamic Republic of Iran has no option but to use its inherent right to legitimate defense against the aggressions of this regime."

"Such action is necessary to prevent further aggression by this regime against the sovereignty, citizens, and territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran and it will be carried out at the appropriate time and in a proportionate manner."

'World must take action'

The Iranian minister said the months-long genocide in Gaza and the assassination of Haniyeh are examples of the terrorist crimes of the Zionist regime in the region and beyond.

"These crimes once again proved that the foundation and life of the occupying regime of al-Quds are based on terror, crime, aggression, violation of peace, creating insecurity and instability in the region, warmongering, and genocide," he said.

The minister described the Haniyeh assassination as "a blatant violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a serious threat to regional and international peace and security, and a severe violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations

Charter."

The Iranian minister called on the United Nations Security Council to fulfill its responsibility regarding such a horrific crime and provide the grounds for the prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators and instigators of these crimes.

Baqeri Kani said the responsibility of the US as the main supporter of the Israeli regime in committing this horrific crime should not be overlooked, as the regime could not have carried out it without the consent and intelligence support of the US.

'OIC faces a test'

Elsewhere in his remarks, Baqeri Kani said the Organization of Islamic Cooperation faces a serious test in the face of the widespread and horrific crimes of the Israeli regime against the Palestinian nation and its aggressive attacks on other countries in the region, including Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria.

The minister said the organization's actions in response to this situation must be comprehensive and decisive to protect the Palestinian nation and land and the collective interests of the Islamic Ummah.

"The organization must once again declare its firm support for the Palestinian cause and firmly emphasize that the only solution to the current crisis in the region is to address its root causes, namely the illegal occupation of Palestine and decades of oppression and crimes against the people of this land," he said.

"Without ending the occupation and realizing all their rights, especially in determining their destiny and establishing an independent Palestinian state in all of this land with Al-Quds as its capital, it will not be possible."

The minister said the OIC must also reiterate that resistance against occupation using all means, including armed struggle - which has been affirmed and emphasized in dozens of United Nations General Assembly resolutions - is the inherent right of every nation under foreign occupation, and therefore the Palestinian nation, including Palestinian resistance groups, fully enjoys such a right.

The minister concluded his remarks by emphasizing that at a time when Zionist leaders openly try to justify the deliberate killing of millions of Palestinians in Gaza by starving them, the serious solidarity and practical support for the Palestinian nation is of utmost importance and urgency.

"Undoubtedly, this is a human, Islamic, and moral duty. Today, the Islamic Ummah, especially the women and children of Palestine under occupation and bombardment in Gaza, and the pure souls of about 40,000 Palestinian martyrs in Gaza are watching us. We must act responsibly and decisively in fulfilling this crucial duty."

The minister arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to attend the meeting, which was held at the request of Iran and Palestine.

Before the summit, the minister held talks with OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha on the plight of Palestinians and the challenges facing the organization.



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Pezeshkian: Iran won't renounce right to retaliate Haniyeh assassination

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 3:39 PM

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has underscored Iran's right to retaliation in the wake of Israel's recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

The Iraian president made the remarks in a phone conversation with French President Emanuel Macron, who had requested for Iran to show restraint in the face of the terrorist attack that killed Haniyeh last week.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always played a pivotal role in creating peace, stability, and security in the region and the world and in preventing tension, insecurity, and war," Pezeshkian said.

"However, the Zionist regime, with its criminal and terrorist actions against the oppressed and defenseless people of Gaza and the assassination of martyr Haniyeh as an official guest of Iran, seeks to ignite the region."

He said the West should immediately stop supporting the Zionist regime if it really wants to prevent the spread of insecurity in the region.

The Iranian president said the US and its allies in the West have failed to condemn the Israeli attack on Iran's embassy in Damascus in April and the assassination of Haniyeh, describing their behavior as a clear example of double standard.

Pezeshkian lamented that the West supports a regime that does not adhere to any international laws and regulations and does not refrain from any criminal actions in the region, and at the same time invites the countries targeted by such actions to refrain from responding and to exercise restraint.

Pezeshkian said as long as the Zionist regime, with the political, financial, military, and media support of the US and Western countries, engages in genocide, crimes, and terrorism, the region and the world will not see stability, security, and peace.

"If the United States and Western countries truly seek to prevent war and insecurity in the region, they must immediately stop selling weapons and supporting the Zionist regime and force it to stop the genocide and attacks on Gaza and accept a ceasefire."

The Iranian president said Tehran does not seek war and strives to promote global peace, but it will never remain silent in the face of aggression against its interests and security.





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Israel to soon receive 'strong, definitive' response for Haniyeh assassination: Iran Army chief

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 11:15 AM

The chief commander of the Iranian Army has praised the appointment of Yahya Sinwar as the new political leader of Hamas, warning that the Israeli regime will soon be met with a "strong response" over the assassination of the Palestinian resistance movement's chief Ismail Haniyeh.

Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi made the statement on Wednesday, a day after Hamas selected 61-year-old Sinwar as the head of the Gaza-based resistance group following the targeted killing of Haniyeh in the Iranian capital of Tehran last week.

Lauding Sinwar as a "great combatant in the contemporary era," Mousavi said, "This appointment shows the path that the Palestinian fighters and Hamas intend to continue treading on, so that the Zionist regime will have no hope for its own future in this way, and God willing, we will see the collapse of the regime."

Stressing that success cannot be achieved without struggle and sacrifice, the Iranian Army chief said, "The Zionist regime will soon receive a strong and definitive response, and there is no doubt about it."

Mousavi pointed to the Israeli assassination of Haniyeh and said, "All this shows that when a criminal gang that does not adhere to any law, brazenly and shamelessly carry out such trivial acts that are against all laws, contradictions, beliefs and customs; It is clear and self-evident that they themselves have realized the speed of their fall very well and with such actions they want to save themselves from the mire, which will definitely not happen."

Haniyeh was killed in an attack on his accommodation in the Iranian capital on July 31, a day after he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Sinwar was a key architect of the surprise Operation al-Aqsa Storm that Hamas-led resistance groups launched against the Tel Aviv regime last October in response to its decades-long campaign of oppression and devastation against Palestinians.

Iran, Belarus against expansion of NATO

Mousavi also met with Commander of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense Andrei Lukyanovich on Wednesday.

Mousavi appreciated Minsk's "courageous and independent" stance on the assassination of Haniyeh, saying, "Belarus has a special, strategic position and a strong barrier against the expansion of NATO. We and the countries of the region are also against the expansion of NATO."

The Iranian Army commander referred to the unilateral sanctions imposed by the West against the country since the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, saying, "We tried to make the most of such threats and not make the defense of our country dependent on external powers."

Lukyanovich, for his part, called for the expansion and deepening of military relations between Minsk and Tehran, and benefiting from the "valuable experiences of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Lukyanovich also stressed that Belarus is against the US unilateralism and the expansion of NATO.





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Iran Army boosts air defense power in east in line with 'perceived, emerging' threats

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 9:47 AM

The Iranian Army has significantly enhanced air defense capabilities in the country's eastern region as means of optimizing its potential to face off the existing and evolving threats against the Islamic Republic.

The enhancements were inaugurated at the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Defense Force (IRIADF)'s Eastern Command on Wednesday, with Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard, the force's commander, in attendance.

They featured equipment of the Eastern Command with indigenous missile, radar, and drone systems as well as an electronic warfare center.

The commander hailed the advanced technology that has been incorporated in the air defense force's domestically-manufactured equipment and military hardware.

The technology, he said, had been obtained thanks to "round-the-clock endeavor by the IRIADF's scientific, educational, and research centers and exchange of [related] knowhow with other relevant centers."

Sabahifard credited the technology with "increasing the force's new and unique operational capabilities and enhancing the combat capability of its strategic units."

The Eastern Command was being boosted "in proportion to perceived and emerging threats," he said, adding that improvement of the power of confrontation against various sources of threat was a serious part of the IRIADF's agenda.

Back in June, Sabahifard commended the air defense force's strong stewardship of the country's airspace.

"The slightest of movements [around the Islamic Republic's airspace] do not escape the [surveilling] eyes of the air defense force," he said at the time.

He also noted that the IRIADF had a variety of systems at its disposal that enabled it to react to any possible threats on time, adding that the force had made great strides in specialized areas, especially in the field of developing different types of drones and radars.

The country has been relying on domestic endeavors and know-how to make significant advances in the direction of enhancing the self-sufficiency of its Armed Forces.

Heeding the directives of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country would not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, which are entirely meant for defensive purposes and are, therefore, never subject to negotiation.





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Iran says won't let 'Tel Aviv terrorist gang' undermine security of region

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 7:34 AM

Iran's interim foreign minister has stressed that the Islamic Republic will not allow Israel to treat stability and security in the West Asia region as "playthings" in order to serve the illegitimate interests and goals of the terrorist ruling gang in Tel Aviv.

Ali Bagheri Kani made the remarks in a telephone conversation with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad on Tuesday evening, as the two sides condemned Israel's recent assassination of the head of the political bureau of the Hamas resistance movement, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran, as well as top-ranking Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in an airstrike in the suburbs of southern Beirut.

"The Zionist regime has turned into an instigator of instability and insecurity in West Asia by means of its criminal actions in Yemen, Tehran and Beirut. The United States and certain European countries have also fostered instability in the region by supporting the terrorist acts of the Zionist regime," the top Iranian diplomat said.

Pointing to Iran's decision to take a legitimate, decisive and deterrent action against Israel, Bagheri Kani said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran will not allow the Zionist regime to treat regional stability and security as playthings for the sake of the illegitimate goals and interests of the terrorist ruling gang in Tel Aviv."

For his part, Mekdad vehemently denounced Israel's terrorist acts and underscored Syria's all-out and unflinching support for Iran.

He censured Israel's escalatory measures and its expansion of aggression across West Asia, and condemned the Tel Aviv regime for the ongoing war crimes and genocide against Palestinians in the occupied territories.

The Syrian foreign minister stressed that such actions must not go unpunished.

Mekdad also condemned the West's complicity in Israeli violations, stating that Washington and its European allies have been complicit in acts of aggression against Iran, Lebanon, Yemen and Syria.

Iran tells UK: Silence against Israeli crimes emboldens criminals

Separately, the interim Iranian foreign minister held a telephone conversation with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, during which he said that silence vis-A -vis Israeli atrocities only encourages the criminal Tel Aviv regime, and emboldens the Zionist entity to forge ahead with its destabilizing moves.

Bagheri Kani clarified that after Israel's crimes of assassinating Haniyeh and violating Iran's national security and regional stability, European countries missed the first diplomatic opportunity by being passive and failing to condemn the act of aggression that blatantly violated international peace and security.

"Europeans' obstruction of the diplomatic path will yield no result other than encourage the Zionist regime to keep on its terrorist activities, and create instability and insecurity in the region," the top Iranian diplomat said.

He emphasized that no country, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, will compromise on its national sovereignty and security or its territorial integrity.

Bagheri Kani also took a swipe at the US and European members of the UN Security Council for preventing the world body from addressing the root cause of instability and insecurity in West Asia, stressing they are totally responsible for the evil acts of the sole scourge in the region, namely Israel.

Lammy, for his part, called on Iran to exercise utmost self-restraint in the aftermath of Haniyeh's assassination, describing the killing as a setback in the course of Gaza ceasefire talks.

Israel and Lebanon are on the brink of a war, he said, warning about potential disastrous repercussions that won't be in the interest of anyone in case self-restraint is not exercised.

Bagheri Kani leaves for OIC extraordinary meeting on Haniyeh assassination

Meanwhile, Baqeri Kani left Tehran for the Saudi port city of Jeddah on Wednesday to take part in an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Executive Committee that will discuss the Israeli assassination of the Hamas chief on Iranian soil.

The OIC ministers have gathered in Saudi Arabia following intensive diplomatic efforts by Iran and the interim foreign minister's multiple contacts with OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha and member states.

Haniyeh, who was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's newly-elected President Masoud Pezeshkian, alongside other Axis of Resistance leaders, was martyred along with his bodyguard, in an attack early on July 31.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has warned the Israeli regime of a "harsh response" for Haniyeh's assassination, calling it the Islamic Republic's duty to avenge the Palestinian resistance leader's blood.

"The criminal and terrorist Zionist regime martyred our dear guest in our homeland and left us bereaved, but it also set the ground for a harsh punishment for itself," the Leader said.





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Iran's UN mission rejects links with 'assassination plot' against US politicians

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 07 August 2024 6:13 AM

Iran has roundly rejected having any connection with a Pakistani individual, who has reportedly been arrested in the United States and charged with being behind a foiled plot to assassinate US politicians.

The Islamic Republic's permanent mission to the United Nations made the remarks in a statement on Tuesday after American news outlets broke stories about an "arrest" of the person in question, who has been named as Asif Merchant.

Merchant, the stories have claimed, was arrested last month, and charged with having paid purported hitmen to carry out the plot. The outlets have also cited an alleged affidavit by an FBI agent as suggesting that he had "current or former high-level officials like [former President Donald] Trump in mind."

Reacting to the stories, however, the Iranian mission said, "We have not received any reports in connection with this issue from the US government."

The mission also commented on allegations about the likelihood that the so-called plot was aimed at Trump, who ordered the assassination of Iran's top anti-terror commander, General Qassem Soleimani, in Iraq in 2020.

"It is clear that this method contradicts the policy that is being led by the Iranian government towards legal prosecution of Martyr Soleimani's murderer," it said.

On July 13, Trump survived an assassination attempt while campaigning in Butler, Pennsylvania, suffering only minor injury to his ear.

Various US officials and media reports subsequently accused the Islamic Republic of having devised a plot to assassinate Trump.

Reacting to the accusations on July 17, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani called them a product of malicious political goals and intents, while the Iranian mission asserted that "Iran has chosen the legal pathway to hold Trump accountable" for General Soleimani's assassination.

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Executions In Iran Show No Sign Of Letting Up As 36 Hanged In 2 Days

By RFE/RL August 07, 2024

Iran executed 36 people on August 6-7, including 26 in a group execution in one prison, a rights group said on August 7, a day after Tehran faced international condemnation for executing an Iranian activist arrested during the Women, Life, Freedom protests.

The Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) group said 26 men, including two Afghan nationals, were executed in a group hanging in Ghezelhesar prison in Karaj outside Tehran.

IHR said that a group execution on this scale in Iran was unprecedented, with the last comparable example dating back to 2009.

Those executed had been convicted of murder as well as drug-related and rape charges, according to both IHR and the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI).

Human rights groups have repeatedly accused Iran of making use of the death penalty to instill fear in society in the wake of the 2022 protests that swept the country after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.

"Without an immediate response from the international community, hundreds of individuals could become victims of the Islamic republic's killing machine in the coming months," said IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam.

In addition to the 26 men executed at Ghezelhesar prison, three other men were executed in Karaj's city prison, one man was executed in Sabsevar in Khorasan Razavi Province, three were executed in Shiraz in Fars Province, and three were executed in Badar Abbas in Hormozgan Province, according to the CHRI.

"These are only the known executions; there are often additional executions that take place without public knowledge," the organization said in a news release.

Reza Rasaei, 34, was the 10th man executed by Iran in connection with the Women, Life, Freedom protests that erupted in September 2022 after the death of Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd who was arrested for an alleged breach of the country's strict dress code for women.

Rasaei, a member of the Kurdish ethnic minority and follower of the Yarsan faith, was convicted in connection with the death of an officer for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) during unrest in the Kurdish city of Sahneh. He denied the charges.

Amnesty International said he was executed in secret with neither his family nor his lawyer being given prior notice. It said his family was then forced to bury his body in a remote area far from his home.

"Iranian authorities have carried out the abhorrent arbitrary execution in secret of a young man who was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment in detention...and then sentenced to death after a sham trial," said Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa.

She said the execution was another instance of Iran using the death penalty as a "tool of political repression to instill fear among the population."

France's Foreign Ministry on August 7 condemned Rasaei's execution and reiterated its "unchanging opposition to the death penalty in all places and circumstances," calling it an "unfair and inhumane punishment."

IHR said Iran has now executed at least 345 people this year and there has been no let-up in the use of the death penalty since reformist President Masud Pezeshkian was sworn in last week.

With reporting by AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-execution- human-rights/33069654.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Violence against the Rohingya explained

The stateless Muslim minority has faced particular threats amid fighting in Rakhine state.

By Abby Seiff for RFA 2024.08.07 -- On Monday, scores of Rohingya were killed by a missile as they tried to flee Myanmar into neighboring Bangladesh, witnesses told Radio Free Asia. The victims were just the latest civilian casualties as fighting between the junta and several factions has worsened across Rakhine state in recent months. But amid a mounting death toll, no groups have suffered quite as much as the Rohingya, whose vulnerable position within Myanmar has placed them in particular danger.

Who are the Rohingya?

The Rohingya are a Muslim minority in Buddhist-majority Myanmar. About 600,000 Rohingya live in northern Myanmar's Rakhine state, some with roots dating back to the 15th century.

Despite having lived in Myanmar for generations, they are not recognized as citizens and are widely regarded as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Denied citizenship in Myanmar by subsequent governments, they are among the world's most persecuted minorities.

What persecution have they faced?

Simmering ethnic tension between Rohingya and their Hindu and Buddhist neighbors has repeatedly erupted into violence over the years. That reached an apex in August 2017, when a Rohingya insurgent group called the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, or ARSA, attacked dozens of police and military posts. The military responded with a sweeping campaign targeting civilians, which involved razing villages, systemic rape and large-scale massacres. The genocide, as it has been characterized by the U.S., among others, sent more than 700,000 refugees fleeing for safety. Those who remained in Rakhine state are primarily confined to squalid camps for internally displaced people, and villages where their movements are curtailed.

How has the coup impacted Rohingya?

In February 2021, Myanmar's military overthrew the civilian government, imprisoning its top leaders and launching a violent crackdown against protesters. In the years since, a slew of ethnic armed organizations a many of them already locked in decades-old civil wars with the military a have joined forces with one another and with the armed wing of the government-in-exile to fight the junta. The National Unity Government has vowed to give full citizenship to Rohingya and aid in voluntary repatriation from Bangladesh, where nearly 1 million Rohingya live in tightly packed, dangerous refugee camps. At least one official has apologized for failing to prevent the atrocities that took place under the former civilian government.

But with the military still firmly in control, ordinary Rohingya have once more found themselves at the center of extraordinary hardship and violence. They have been killed in clashes, but have also been actively targeted by both the junta and its opposing Arakan Army, or AA. Unlike the military, the powerful ethnic armed group, comprised mainly of Rakhine Buddhists, has claimed it respects the rights of Rohingya. But there has been ample evidence of the AA attacking Rohingya villages. Victims and witnesses attributed Monday's attack to the AA, a charge the group denied. The AA said it was the junta and armed Rohingya groups that blocked civilians from fleeing, leaving them in the line of fire.

Abby Seiff is RFA's Southeast Asia investigative editor.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Weapons fire kills many Rohingya as they attempt to reach Bangladesh

Citizen video shows dozens of bodies on a Myanmar riverbank where they had been waiting to be ferried across.

By Wai Mar Tun for RFA Burmese 2024.08.07 -- Minority Rohingya Muslims were targeted by heavy weapons as they waited on a Myanmar riverbank for motorboats to carry them to Bangladesh, several survivors of the attack told Radio Free Asia. The witnesses said that dozens of people were killed.

The attacks on Monday were described variously as caused by homemade rockets, artillery and drones that destroyed a motorboat and hit crowds of people who gathered on the Naf River. The victims were fleeing recent intense fighting between the ethnic insurgent Arakan Army and Myanmar junta forces.

Video seen by RFA and circulated on social media showed dozens of bodies on a riverbank, some of them mutilated, amid suitcases and scattered possessions. RFA could not immediately verify the date or location of the citizen-shot video.

Hasan, a 25-year-old Rohingya man who was unharmed in the attack, told RFA that it was carried out by the Arakan Army, or AA, which has made gains in its fight for control of Maungdaw township in western Myanmar's Rakhine state - part of a wider civil conflict that has consumed much of the country since a 2021 military coup.

"The junta did not attack us with rockets. It was carried out by the AA. We tried to flee to Bangladesh for our survival," he said. "The victims are our villagers."

Rohingya have recently been expelled from Maungdaw city's downtown area, where many had fled because of fighting in rural areas, according to Wai Wai Nu, a Burmese activist and visiting senior research fellow at University of California, Berkeley.

The situation in Maungdaw is a "deadly catastrophe" as Rohingya civilians are being targeted for "escalating atrocities," she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"I'm being informed of mass killings of 50+ #Rohingya civilians by the #Arakan Army, among many other brutalities," she wrote, citing community sources. "Rohingya are also being killed in crossfires of armed conflict between #Myanmar junta & #AA by drones & heavy weaponry."

Witnesses who spoke to RFA put the death toll as high as 200. RFA was unable to verify those estimates.

AA's denial

Maungdaw is a key trade hub for goods flowing in and out of Myanmar via Bangladesh. The city of Maungdaw is the township's administrative center and has served as an important base for junta forces in Rakhine state.

In a statement on Wednesday, the AA expressed its condolences for the victims at the Naf River but said it wasn't responsible for the deaths, which it noted took place in an area of Maungdaw township that isn't under its control.

The AA also noted that it began warning civilians in Maungdaw township to leave their homes on June 16, just before fighting intensified for Maungdaw city.

RFA attempted to contact AA spokesperson Khaing Thu Kha via Telegram to ask about the attacks but he didn't immediately respond.

The AA, which has long fought against central rule in Myanmar, claims to represent everyone living in Rakhine state but is predominantly Buddhist and has previously been accused of atrocities against Rohingya.

Rohingya activist Ro San Lwin, who is based in Europe, said he was also told that the AA targeted Rohingya civilians with rocket attacks, which he said should be designated as crimes against humanity and war crimes.

"We have informed this attack to foreign governments, relevant governments, Western governments and ASEAN countries," he said. "They have reportedly contacted the AA to persuade the AA not to do so."

Trapped in Maungdaw

About 1 million stateless Rohingya refugees live in tightly packed border camps in Bangladesh. Most fled there in 2017 to escape violent crackdowns in Rakhine state that were blamed on the Myanmar military.

The flow of people seeking refuge in Bangladesh has picked up as security has deteriorated due to the latest fighting in Rakhine state. Over the last two days, about 1,000 Rohingya have entered Bangladesh, a person who has lived in one of the Bangladesh camps since 2017 told RFA.

That's despite the recent domestic political turmoil that has gripped Bangladesh. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country following weeks of protests and deadly clashes in the capital, Dhaka.

People are being charged 800,000 kyat (US$150) to be carried across from Maungdaw to Bangladesh, Hasan said. Those who cannot afford the fee - likely thousands of people - are still trapped in Maungdaw, he said.

On Tuesday, a boat carrying Rohingya capsized in the Naf River, killing at least 10 people, including children.

Authorities in Teknaf in Bangladesh told Agence France-Presse that 29 Rohingya were on board and just 10 bodies have been recovered. Some of those on the boat were able to swim to shore, according to the report.

Elsewhere in Rakhine state, about 100 civilians were arrested in Sittwe on Monday night as junta troops conducted security checks out of concern that AA members had infiltrated the state capital, residents said.

A battle between the AA and the junta for control of Sittwe has been anticipated for months. Junta troops prepared for the defense of the city by deploying heavy weapons, warships and ground forces in surrounding villages.

RFA was unable to reach junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment on the situation in Maungdaw and Sittwe.

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Matt Reed.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Myanmar junta jets bomb town under rebel control, six killed

An insurgent alliance has called on China to press the junta to stop attacks on civilians.

By RFA Burmese 2024.08.07 -- Myanmar junta jets bombed a northeastern town under rebel control, killing six people and severely damaging a market, residents told Radio Free Asia on Wednesday, the latest civilian casualties inflicted by the army as it loses territory to insurgents battling to end military rule.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance of insurgent forces opposing the junta has seized significant parts of Shan state and the neighboring Mandalay region since late last year, despite efforts by neighboring China to broker ceasefires.

On Monday, a junta jet dropped seven bombs on Kutkai, a northern Shan town that a member of the rebel alliance, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, seized in January.

Residents had noticed a junta spotter plane over Kutkai in the morning and suspected an airstrike was imminent, said one resident of the town, about 270 kilometers (165 miles) northeast of the city of Mandalay, adding that soon enough, jets roared in on a bombing run.

"One jet dropped seven bombs at the same time," said the resident, who declined to be identified for security reasons.

Two blasts destroyed about 400 stalls in the town's market, said the resident, who declined to be identified for safety reasons, adding that bombs damaged more than a dozen other buildings including lodgings for construction department staff and a temple.

"The market was closed and everyone was warned to be careful, otherwise there might have been a lot more casualties."

Five of the six people killed were men between the ages of 20 and 30 and the sixth was a young girl, he said, adding that 13 people were wounded.

Bombing continued until Wednesday afternoon but no more people were killed, he said.

RFA tried to telephone Shan state's junta spokesperson, Khun Thein Maung, for comment on the attack but he did not respond.

Myanmar has been embroiled in conflict since the junta ousted an elected government in early 2021.

While autonomy-seeking ethnic minority insurgents have battled the army in remote border regions for decades, pro-democracy activists from towns and cities across the country have taken up arms since the coup, and the military is struggling to hold territory in several areas, including northern Shan state.

Human rights investigators have said indiscriminate air attacks by junta forces are taking a heavy toll on civilians.

The Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar think tank said in a report on Monday that the number of junta airstrikes had nearly doubled since insurgents launched an offensive last October and now totalled at least 3,800 air attacks throughout the country.

Rebels look to China

The Three Brotherhood Alliance called on China to intervene with the junta to press it to stop attacking civilians, the insurgent groups said in a statement on Tuesday.

As the junta forces face defeat, they are targeting markets, schools, hospitals, religious buildings, bridges, towns and villages in rebel-controlled territory, that now includes northern Shan state's Laukkaing, Hsenwi, Kutkai and Namhsan townships and eight townships of Rakhine state in the west, the alliance said.

Junta spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun did not respond to requests for comment from RFA on the accusations junta forces were attacking civilians. China's embassy in Myanmar also did not respond to requests for comment on the alliance's request for intervention.

The Chinese embassy issued a warning this week on its Wechat social media page to its citizens to leave Lashio, the main city in northern Shan state. Another insurgent force in the alliance, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, has been battling junta forces in Lashio for weeks and recently captured the main military headquarters for northeastern Myanmar there.

China, which has extensive investments in natural resources and energy pipelines in Myanmar, has declined to take sides in the fighting and called on the warring rivals to negotiate peace.

But China's good relations with the junta appear to be coming under strain because of junta suspicions of Chinese links with insurgent groups operating out of Shan state regions along the border.

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, in speech on Monday, warned that "some foreign nations" were prolonging the conflict "in their own interests". He did not identify China but spoke of insurgent groups "along the China-Myanmar border" acquiring the means to make their own weapons and other military equipment, adding that the source of such material should be investigated.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Meeting with Government members

The President held a meeting with Government members.

August 7, 2024

15:30

Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

Participants included First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, deputy prime ministers Alexei Overchuk and Marat Khusnullin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov and Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. Among other invited participants were Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov, Minister of Transport Roman Starovoit and Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, Acting Governor of the Samara Region and Chair of the State Council Commission on Industry.

At the beginning of the meeting, social facilities were launched in a number of Russian regions via video link. Those included a regional infectious diseases clinical hospital that has started receiving patients in Perm, a new kindergarten building in Simferopol, and School No. 131 for 1,500 students that opened in Nizhny Novgorod.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues.

We have an extensive agenda today covering the main areas of work for the Government, but I would like to begin with the developments in the Kursk Region.

As you know, the Kiev regime attempted another major provocation, launching an indiscriminate attack with a variety of weapons, including missiles, against civilian facilities, residential buildings and ambulance vehicles.

Immediately after this meeting, I will convene heads of security agencies, the Defence Ministry, the General Staff and the Federal Security Service, considering the fact that it is in charge of border control. Our colleagues will report on what is currently happening in the Kursk Region.

But I would like to say that, following my conversation with the Acting Governor of the Kursk Region [Alexei Smirnov], I instructed several civilian agencies to provide the necessary assistance to people living in this region. I am also asking the Government to take up this matter immediately.

I am assigning First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov the coordinate these efforts at the initial stage.

As I have already said, we have a packed agenda dealing with essential matters. This includes the construction sector, and we will discuss it separately. We will also discuss the processing industry and several other matters.

Regarding the construction industry, I cannot fail to mention that its workers - millions of people across Russia - will be celebrating their professional holiday soon.

This sector is following an upward trajectory, and relies on cutting-edge technology, materials, skills and competences. Taken together, all these assets enable it to deliver on the most formidable challenges, while effectively catering to the needs of the Russian society and its people.

People working in the construction sector build housing and roads, they also do road maintenance, as well as build advanced manufacturing facilities and social infrastructure. In fact, this effort is changing the face of our cities, villages and of the entire country. And this sector has been setting one record after another.

In 2023, housing construction increased once again to over 110 million square metres. This enabled almost 4.4 million families to improve their housing conditions, including through the subsidised mortgage programme.

This year, over 50,000 people moved from sub-standard housing into new apartments, for a total of over 720,000 over the past five years. As of today, 41 regions enabled people to move out of sub-standard housing. We will carry on with this effort regarding housing, which was designated as sub-standard before 2017.

The programme to develop and improve public spaces and courtyards near residential blocks is also underway. We wanted to make it a participatory initiative. This year, over 17 million people expressed their views as part of voting procedures to select projects for creating a people-friendly urban environment.

We are now working on a comprehensive upgrade programme for the utilities sector in order to enable it to raise a substantial amount of funding.

Let me note the courage of our construction and utilities workers who are rebuilding Donbass and Novorossiya despite all the challenges and the fact that combat action is raging there. Over the past two years, they have built or opened 20,000 facilities, including housing, roads, and major infrastructure sites people need to live normal lives.

It is important to note that continuous work is underway on a national scale to develop every Russian region. One of our priorities is to create much-needed social facilities such as hospitals, schools, and kindergartens.

I will give you a few examples: a new specialised hospital in the Perm Territory has started receiving patients - a highly beneficial and important event for the region, which now has an additional resource to fight infectious diseases, to counter any potential outbreaks.

It is an autonomous up-to-high-standards medical complex complete with a hospital, intensive care, an outpatient diagnostic clinic and a specialised medical research department. I would like to thank everyone who participated in the implementation of such a significant project for the region.

As I said, we continue to build new schools, kindergartens and other social facilities. The new kindergarten in Simferopol will be a great contribution to the development of the social infrastructure in the Republic of Crimea, to support families with children. It is a modern building, which meets the highest safety and quality standards in place for such facilities.

A school has been built in Nizhny Novgorod. It is big enough to serve 1,500 students and has capabilities for regular classes, additional courses and extracurricular activities. It also has a gym, a conference room, a canteen, and a reference and information centre. I hope that it will become operational and admit first students by the beginning of this school year.

I know that the building teams have done their best to meet their deadlines and complete these important projects, and more.

Naturally, the projects I mentioned are far from the only ones. These are just a few specific examples of the colossal effort they are making across the country. Other schools, kindergartens, clinics, and rural health centres are opening in various regions, enhancing local social infrastructure, utilities and amenities.

We will certainly continue these efforts in the future. Plans are in place to build about 370 schools and kindergartens and about 340 health care centres in Russia in 2024 alone, as part of the national projects.

I would like to thank the builders for their professionalism, for their conscientious work. I would like to wish them all the best and every success on the upcoming professional holiday.

<...>

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Meeting with heads of law enforcement agencies

Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting with heads of law enforcement agencies in connection with the developments in the Kursk Region.

August 7, 2024

16:45

Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Secretary of the Security Council Sergei Shoigu, and Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov. Chief of the General Staff of Russia's Armed Forces and First Deputy Defence Minister Valery Gerasimov reported on the developments in the Kursk Region in connection with the provocation by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues.

Please report on the latest developments in the Kursk Region regarding your agencies.

The Chief of the General Staff [Valery Gerasimov] is at an operational control centre right now. He will report via videoconference.

Next, Mr Shoigu will report on the results of his trip to Iran and Azerbaijan.

Mr Gerasimov, go ahead.

Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Defence Minister Valery Gerasimov: Comrade Commander-in-Chief,

At 5.30 am on August 6, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine numbering up to 1,000 people went on the offensive with the aim of capturing a section of the territory of the Sudzha District in the Kursk Region.

The joint actions by the state border covering units together with border guards and reinforcement units, air strikes, missile forces, and artillery fire stopped the enemy's advance into the territory in the Kursk direction.

At present, units of the North group together with the border authorities of the Russian Federal Security Service continue to destroy the enemy in areas just along Russia-Ukraine border.

The enemy's losses amounted to 315 people, including at least 100 killed and 215 injured, with 54 armoured vehicles destroyed, including seven tanks.

We will complete the operation by defeating the enemy and reaching the state border.

The report is over.

<...>

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Detained U.S.-Russian Citizen Pleads Guilty To Treason, Says Russian Media

By RFE/RL August 07, 2024

Ksenia Karelina, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen who has been held in Russia since January, has pleaded guilty to a charge of treason, according to Russian state media.

Karelina, 33, was not included in the major prisoner swap between Russia and the West on August 1 that saw three Americans released from Russian custody.

She is currently on trial in the city of Yekaterinburg over a 2022 donation to a charity supporting Ukraine.

"[She] has pleaded guilty," her lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, told reporters after a court hearing, according to TASS.

Karelina was detained by Russia's Federal Security Service in January in Yekaterinburg, where she had traveled to meet relatives.

A resident of Los Angeles and U.S. citizen since 2021, Karelina was initially charged with hooliganism, reportedly for cursing at police officers.

Security agents, however, searched her phone and said they discovered that prior to traveling to Russia she had made a $51 donation to a U.S-based organization that provides aid and assistance to Ukraine.

The Sverdlovsk regional court is expected to announce a verdict at its next hearing on August 8.

Karelina faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted.

The August 1 prisoner swap involving the United States, Russia, and several European countries included three high-profile U.S. citizens, as well as five German citizens jailed in Russia and Belarus and eight Russian political activists held in Russia in connection with their opposition to President Vladimir Putin.

But Karelina and several other Americans whom Washington has designated as unjustly imprisoned and hundreds of Russian citizens seen as political prisoners remain behind bars in Russia, prompting calls for Western governments to vigorously pursue their release as well.

"They remain in torturous conditions. They are in grave danger. We simply must not forget about them, even against the euphoric backdrop that it was possible to pull someone out," Russian opposition politician in exile Dmitry Gudkov told Current Time after the prisoner swap, which saw eight Russians -- including a convicted assassin and spies -- returned to Moscow from Western custody.

With reporting by RIA Novosti and TASS

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-american-karelina- treason/33069357.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russia's Stifling Of Civic Freedoms Dramatically Up Since Ukraine Invasion, Rights Watchdog Says

By RFE/RL August 07, 2024

Russia's sustained assault on domestic civic freedoms has seen a massive escalation since the start of Moscow's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with hundreds of dissenters, journalists, and political activists being prosecuted and imprisoned under new draconian laws, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report published on August 7.

The government of President Vladimir Putin's more-than-a-decade-old, systematic break-up of Russians' fundamental rights went into overdrive over the past two years, making not only dissent, but even openly critical discussion in Russian society a punishable offense and forcing many people to leave the country while hundreds others have been thrown behind bars for long prison terms after arbitrary sentences, the report said.

"The Russian government is forcing civic activists and journalists to tread dangerously on a legislative minefield, and their resilience is being tested like never before," said Rachel Denber, the deputy director of HRW's Europe and Central Asia Division, at the launching of the report titled "Russia's Legislative Minefield: Tripwires for Civil Society since 2020."

"Yet independent groups and media are persisting, and they provide hope for the eventual transformation of Russia into a country committed to protecting and promoting fundamental rights," Denber said.

The 205-page report touches upon the numerous pieces of repressive legislation and policies that Putin's government has adopted over the past four years and how the Kremlin has employed them to stifle any trace of dissent and emasculate Russia's civil society.

The paper looks at the repressive measures adopted by Moscow in 8 areas: "foreign agents," public assembly, electoral rights, freedom of expression, sexual orientation and gender identity, treason and similar concepts, historical truth, and education.

HRW looks at how these laws severely restrict the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, while forcing state-approved historical, social, and political narratives on public life.

The report says all Russian and foreign activists and journalists freed by the Kremlin in a prisoner swap with the West on August 1 -- including RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and activists Vladimir Kara-Murza, Andrei Pivovarov, and Ilya Yashin -- were charged under laws described in the report.

At the same time, the report notes that hundreds more activists and journalists remain jailed or imprisoned under these laws.

HRW singles out the "foreign agents" legislation, first adopted in 2012, as the most draconian tool in the Kremlin's legal arsenal used to crack down on civic freedoms, and describes how it gradually evolved from first targeting NGOs, then unregistered groups, media organizations, reporters and, by 2022, anyone the state considered to be "under foreign influence."

"The law seeks to smear any person or entity that is independently critical of the government as 'foreign,' and therefore suspicious or even traitorous," HRW said, noting that penalties have also been increased over the years and now include fines, imprisonment, and revocation of citizenship for naturalized citizens.

Those branded as "foreign agents" have also been barred from holding jobs in the public sector, including the civil service and teaching, with authorities effectively seeking to create "a caste of untouchables," it said.

"The Kremlin keeps turning the clock back toward past tyranny," Denber said. "Russia's laws should be expanding respect for rights, not destroying them.

"Russia's government should repeal its draconian provisions, bring laws into line with its international obligations, and foster an environment in which civil society can thrive," Denber said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/human-rights-watch-foreign-agent- report/33069230.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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U.S., Australia reaffirm opposition to changing cross-strait status quo

ROC Central News Agency

08/07/2024 06:13 PM

Washington, Aug. 6 (CNA) The United States and Australian governments issued a joint statement on Tuesday reaffirming the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and their opposition to unilateral changes to the region's status quo.

They also expressed concern over China's military and Coast Guard activity near Taiwan, according to the statement.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin hosted the 34th Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) on Tuesday in Annapolis, Maryland.

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles were also in attendance.

The meeting aimed to strengthen the U.S.-Australia alliance and the cooperation between the two countries on matters regarding the Indo-Pacific region and globally.

After the consultations, the four U.S. and Australian officials issued a joint statement in which the word "concern" appeared 14 times.

They called for the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues through dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion.

In the statement, they highlighted Taiwan's important role as a critical partner to both countries and as a leading economy and democracy in the Indo-Pacific.

They also reiterated their commitment to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations.

The secretaries and ministers committed to boosting economic, trade, and people-to-people ties with Taiwan and enhancing development coordination in the Pacific.

The four officials also stressed the need for all countries to manage strategic competition responsibly and to work to reduce the risk of conflict.

They emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication channels with China to avoid miscommunication or a miscalculation that could lead to unintended escalation or conflict.

Meanwhile, the four encouraged China to engage constructively and take steps to promote stability and transparency.

They emphasized the importance of all states being free to exercise rights and freedoms consistent with international law, including freedom of navigation and overflight.

They also reaffirmed their opposition to any destabilizing or coercive unilateral actions in the South China Sea and East China Sea, which increase tensions and undermine peace and stability, according to the statement.

Moreover, they expressed concern about China's excessive maritime claims in the South China Sea, which are inconsistent with international law and condemned any unilateral actions to change the status quo in the region by force or coercion.

They also criticized China's unsafe and unprofessional encounters with naval vessels and aircraft exercising their right to freedom of navigation and overflight, according to the statement.

(By Chung Yu-chen and Evelyn Kao)

Enditem/kb

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Ex-Army officer held by China over fishing trip released

ROC Central News Agency

08/07/2024 05:44 PM

Taipei, Aug. 7 (CNA) A former Taiwanese Army officer, who was rescued by the Chinese Coast Guard in mid-March during a fishing trip and detained in China since then, returned to Kinmen County Wednesday.

The man surnamed Hu (), who was discharged from the military while in Chinese detention on May 8, arrived in Kinmen on a cross-strait ferry from the Chinese city of Xiamen around 11:00 a.m.

Hu was accompanied by his family and Chen Yu-jen (), an opposition Kuomintang (KMT) legislator representing Kinmen County.

Asked about his time in China, Hu said he lived well as the Chinese Coast Guard provided him with substantial care, including a health check-up.

Hu said that, for now, he has no plans to re-enlist and will focus on spending time with his family.

However, Hu said he would still like to go fishing under safe conditions, as the incident was an accident.

Hu and another man, surnamed Wu (), were detained by Chinese authorities after they lost their way during a fishing trip on March 17 and were rescued by the Chinese coast guard the next day.

Wu and the fishing boat were handed over to Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) by Chinese officials on March 23.

But Hu remained in detention due to "doubts about his identity," according to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency.

A Xinhua report on Wednesday disclosed the full names of Hu and Wu and noted that Hu returned to Kinmen after "the relevant authorities concluded their investigation procedures on him."

Chiu Chui-cheng (), head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, expressed relief regarding the release of Hu at a seminar on Tuesday, saying that the council had always hoped for Hu's prompt return to Taiwan without any conditions.

Chen told reporters Wednesday that Hu's detention in China was mainly due to the tense cross-strait relations following the Kinmen speedboat incident, which left two Chinese nationals dead on Feb. 14, coupled with Hu's sensitive status as an active-duty soldier at the time.

After a successful resolution of the Kinmen speedboat incident on July 30, the "goodwill" accumulated between Kinmen and Xiamen authorities led to Hu's return, the KMT lawmaker said, expressing thanks to the Chinese authorities, including China's Taiwan Affairs Office.

Chen noted that the short distance between Kinmen and Xiamen, which lie less than 10 kilometers from each other at certain points, often leads to similar maritime rescues.

Therefore, the two regions should establish closer contacts to ensure such emergencies are easily resolved, Chen said.

(By Hung Hsueh-kuang and Sunny Lai)

Enditem/ASG

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Plans announced to redevelop Cawdor Barracks for landmark radar initiative

Plans to redevelop Cawdor Barracks in Pembrokeshire, Wales to host a landmark radar initiative have been announced by the Ministry of Defence.

8 August 2024

Known as the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC), the initiative will secure long-term jobs and help protect essential satellite communication and navigation networks.

DARC will see a network of ground-based radars in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States provide global space monitoring, increasing AUKUS nations' ability to detect, track and identify objects in deep space, up to around 36,000km away from earth.

This capability will benefit these nations' land, air, and maritime forces, as well as protecting critical infrastructure and benefitting domestic construction and space industries. DARC will play a crucial role in AUKUS nations' ability to support safety and security in the Indo-Pacific and the rest of the world.

Defence Secretary, John Healey said:

The proposed redevelopment of Cawdor Barracks secures jobs at home and defence capabilities for the future. Space plays a crucial role in our daily lives - used by everything from our mobile phones to banking services. It is also used by UK Defence to conduct vital tasks such as supporting military operations, navigating forces and gathering intelligence. This new radar programme will not only enhance our awareness of deep space, but also help protect our space assets alongside our closest partners.

Cawdor Barracks has a long history of supporting the UK's military. The site has been both a Royal Air Force flying station and a Royal Navy base. Currently home to 14 Signal Regiment, the Ministry of Defence announced in 2016 that the barracks would close no earlier than 2028. The redevelopment of the site for DARC would keep the site open, with a permanent presence of up to 100 personnel to operate and maintain the radar capability.

Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens said:

I welcome the proposed redevelopment of Cawdor Barracks to host the UK's Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) site, which would secure jobs and help protect our national security. This is an important project for Wales and this government is committed to working with the local community to ensure its success. By enhancing our awareness and understanding of what is happening in space, we can continue to ensure it remains safe, sustainable and accessible to all.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to undertaking all necessary planning and environmental processes required to gain consent for the proposed redevelopment of the site and its safe operation. A comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment, including a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, is underway in support of a planning application to Pembrokeshire County Council. The Council's granting of planning permission is conditional on DARC meeting all the required safety standards.

In particular, the safety processes will ensure that DARC meets international environmental and health standards as set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the World Health Organisation, and this is standard practice for all MOD installations.

Engagement will also take place with the local community in developing proposals for DARC and there will be two local public information events prior to the statutory consultation period that is required by Pembrokeshire County Council. Members of the MOD DARC programme team will attend these events to discuss the proposals, answer any questions and hear local community views.

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Niger Becomes Second African State To Cut Ties With Ukraine

By RFE/RL's Russian Service August 07, 2024

Niger's ruling military junta has announced it is breaking off diplomatic relations with Ukraine, becoming the second African state to sever ties with Kyiv following comments by a Ukrainian official perceived as lending support to rebels in neighboring Mali.

The move comes as Russia continues to expand its influence in the Sahel region by supporting military regimes confronted with separatist and Islamist rebellions.

Ukraine has yet to comment on Niger's move, which comes after Mali's military rulers on August 4 also cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine over its alleged involvement -- which Kyiv denies -- in an attack by rebels that resulted in the killing of dozens of Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries.

"The Government of the Republic of Niger, in full solidarity with the Government and people of Mali, has decided, relying on its sovereignty, to sever diplomatic relations between the Republic of Niger and Ukraine. This decision comes into force immediately," government spokesman Abdourahamane Amadou said late on August 6 in a televised address.

Armed groups in Mali's predominantly Tuareg north said they killed at least 47 government soldiers and 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries in fighting last month near the West African country's border with Algeria.

The losses incurred by Wagner fighters arguably amounted to the heaviest defeat the Russian mercenary group has suffered in the two years since it began to give military assistance to the Bamako regime.

Without directly confirming Kyiv's involvement, Andrey Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine's Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), told Ukrainian public television that the rebels "received all the necessary information they needed" to defeat the Russian mercenaries fighting alongside Malian troops.

Yusov's comments prompted Mali's military government to sever ties with Ukraine and accuse Kyiv of supporting terrorism and violating Mali's sovereignty.

Kyiv, whose troops fought fierce battles against Wagner mercenaries in eastern Ukraine, strongly rejected Mali's move, calling it "short-sighted and hasty given that Ukraine is a victim of unprovoked full-scale armed aggression by the Russian Federation."

"Ukraine unconditionally adheres to the norms of international law, the inviolability of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries, and resolutely rejects the accusations of the Transitional Government of Mali of alleged support of international terrorism," the ministry said in a statement on August 5.

Russia has been offering regime protection and other services to authoritarian governments in Africa and has recently expanded into Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger as military coups sweep through the Sahel.

On August 6, some 40 people were arrested in Nigeria's north, which borders Niger, for waving Russian flags during protests against the high cost of living and government policies.

On August 5, the United States handed over Airbase 201 in Agadez, its last military base in Niger, to local authorities, the U.S. Department of Defense and Niger's Ministry of Defense announced in a joint statement.

The handing over of Airbase 201 came after U.S. troops withdrew earlier this month from Airbase 101, in Niger's capital of Niamey.

The closing of the two bases, which played a major role in U.S. counterterrorism operations in the region, came after Washington and Nigerien authorities agreed that U.S. troops will leave the country by September 15.

Wagner was previously involved in some of the fiercest fighting of Russia's war in Ukraine, but its fate was put into question when founder Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash in August 2023, two months after leading a brief mutiny against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Wagner mercenaries who did not sign contracts with Russia's Defense Ministry after the mutiny are believed to have moved to Africa.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/niger-mali-ukraine-rebels- wagner/33068786.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's comment on the Ukraine crisis

7 August 2024 15:51

1491-07-08-2024

The criminal Kiev regime continues to deliver strikes at innocent civilians in Russian cities and villages. While suffering setbacks in the zone of combat operations, Ukrainian neo-Nazis carry out deadly terrorist attacks against the civilian population.

On July 31, a Ukrainian drone attacked a municipal tram in Gorlovka as it followed its regular route. The driver was killed and another three people were wounded.

On August 1, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) launched a drone attack at a passenger bus in Shebekino, Belgorod Region, wounding three people.

On August 2, the AFU fired at Volnovakha from multiple rocket launchers, killing a civilian and wounding another one. On the same day, a Ukrainian drone attacked a bread delivery lorry in Gorlovka, wounding the driver.

On August 4, the AFU fired a salvo of NATO's long-range ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles at Lugansk. A concerted response from the Russian air defence forces made it possible to avoid casualties and much devastation on the ground.

On the same day, Ukrainian neo-Nazis sent a drone into a window of a five-storey residential building in Shebekino, killing an elderly woman. Posted in the internet, a video of this cynical crime shows that the drone operator deliberately directed the vehicle towards a room with an open window, seeing that there were civilians.

On August 5, the Armed Forces of Ukraine used a drone to attack a civilian bus of an agricultural enterprise in the village of Vyazovoye, Krasnoyaruzhsky District, Belgorod Region. The driver died before the ambulance arrived, three people were wounded. On the same day, Ukrainian criminals fired on Gorlovka with 155 mm shells, killing a woman at a local bus stop.

On the night of August 6, Ukrainian militants attacked the town of Sudzha in the Kursk Region. Five people, including three children, were wounded and several residential buildings damaged.

On August 6, Ukrainian armed units used a drone to attack a moving vehicle in the Graivoron urban district in the Belgorod Region, killing one civilian.

On August 6-7, Ukrainian neo-Nazis launched a mass terrorist attack in the Kursk Region using considerable infantry forces and heavy armoured vehicles. Vladimir Zelensky sent Ukrainian citizens into this meat grinder in order to quietly extend the deadly Ukrainian mobilisation for another three months. Today he signed the relevant law.

Russian armed forces fought back strongly against the enemy that sustained substantial losses. Meanwhile, according to the available information, 24 civilians, including six children, were wounded and injured in the Kursk Region as a result of the shelling by Ukrainian militants. A drone strike on an ambulance killed a paramedic and the driver.

By their barbarous attack in the Kursk Region Ukrainian Banderites attempted to spread panic among local population and show at least some activity amidst permanent drawbacks of the Ukrainian armed forces in the conflict area. Obviously, the neo-Nazis' plans failed here as well.

All these bloody crimes are taking place against a background of cynical silence on the part of the West, which continues to cover up for its puppets in Kiev. All this only strengthens the feeling of impunity of the Ukrainian neo-Nazis, who are confident that they can get away with any atrocity. We call on the international community not to stand aside and resolutely denounce the criminal actions committed by the Kiev regime.

Russian courts continue to pass judgments on Ukrainian neo-Nazis who committed grave crimes against civilians, based on the evidence produced by the Russian Investigative Committee.

Ukrainian militant Alexander Mandzak was sentenced to 27 years in prison for shelling civilian infrastructure in Sakhanka, Novoazovsky District of the DPR, in late February 2022. His criminal actions resulted in one civilian sustaining mine-blast trauma and damage to three residential buildings and a vehicle.

The Supreme Court of the LPR sentenced Ukrainian Armed Forces militant Andrey Zamlinsky to 20 years in prison in absentia for his criminal order to open mortar fire at houses in Tryokhizbyonka in the LPR, damaging five houses.

Finnish mercenary Topi Huhtala was sentenced to 14 years in absentia for fighting on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine between March 2022 and May 2024. He is on the international wanted list.

On July 31, Moscow's Basmanny District Court sentenced Ukrainian television presenter Natalya Moseichuk to five years in prison for encouraging violence against Russian officers and their families. She has been on the wanted list since 2023.

None of the criminals will evade punishment. They will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

On August 4, a grandiose handover ceremony took place in Ukraine for the F-16 fighter aircraft from NATO. Attending Zelensky was falling over himself saying thank you to his NATO sponsors. According to The Economist, the first ten fighter jets out of possible 79 arrived in Ukraine in late July and their number will reach 20 by the end of the year. The rest are expected to arrive in 2025.

This step is part of the Western course for escalation of the Ukrainian crisis and does not create conditions for political and diplomatic settlement. By injecting more lethal weapons into the Kiev regime, the United States and its satellites are staking on continuing the hostilities at all costs. Obviously, Washington and London have been carried away by the dream of inflicting a "strategic defeat" on Russia, ignoring the consequences of their irresponsible actions.

The F-16 supplies for the Ukrainian Army will not become the magic pill that Kiev is betting on and will fail to have an effect on the situation in the combat zone. The Russian Armed Forces will consistently destroy them.

Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry Kirill Budanov once again declared plans to strike the Crimean Bridge. He claims that preparations are underway for more terrorist attacks. Meanwhile, on June 17, Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmitry Pletenchuk admitted that the Crimean Bridge no longer plays the same role for military logistics and, therefore, does not constitute a military target. Apparently, Kiev terrorists are maniacally seeking to destroy this civilian facility mainly to create panic among the population of the peninsula and tourists. Millions of Russians, including families with children, are using the Crimean Bridge for tourist purposes.

The Kiev junta continues to demonstrate fervency in destroying Soviet and Russian memorial heritage. The country carries on with its large-scale campaign to demolish monuments and rename landmarks and locations related to the Great Patriotic War, Russia, and Russian culture. At times, functionaries of the Zelensky regime show particularly strong cynicism and excessive creativity. In a recent example from the Zhitomir Region, the statue of Vladimir Lenin was transformed into the monument to 'Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko' by replacing its head. A monument to Soviet soldiers who died for the Ukrainian land was destroyed, with ostentation, in Luka, Kalushsky District of the Ivano-Frankovsk Region. The region plans to get rid of 78 monuments to the liberators.

The Dnepropetrovsk Region government said that it would change the names of some 300 streets and other locations, including 135 in Krivoy Rog. Odessa's City Council adopted a decision along similar lines. Having dismantled monuments to Alexander Suvorov and Empress Catherine II, it went on to rename several streets, including those named after Pushkin, Ilf and Petrov, and Zhvanetsky. This campaign is just another attempt by the radicals, who seized power in Kiev, to condemn to oblivion the feats accomplished by those who fought Nazism, as well as prominent cultural figures, including their fellow countrymen whenever discovering a Russian trail in their lives.

On August 3, a memorial plaque was torn down in Kharkov. It contained an inscription in Ukrainian on the fighters against fascism and was installed in 2005 to mark 60 years of Victory over Nazi Germany.

Against the backdrop of all these destructive efforts by the Kiev regime, the media reported on a symbolic fact. Just one year after a Ukrainian trident replaced the USSR's emblem on Kiev's Motherland statue in what amounted to a barbaric outrage, the trident started showing signs of corrosion on its welding. It is also noteworthy that this barbaric act brought about a corruption scandal last year. It turned out that Ukraine lacked the high-quality steel it needed, so it had to import it which almost tripled the project costs.

It is not surprising that the new symbols of Ukraine's would-be statehood are showing signs of corrosion, while its government is plundering the country and selling it to the West.

We are convinced that these primitive methods will never succeed in erasing the true historical memory. The Kiev regime will not be able to escape accountability for its sacrilegious crimes of vandalising monuments, which have no statute of limitations.

These facts prove yet again that the special military operation pursues timely objectives dealing with de-Nazifying and demilitarising Ukraine and removing threats coming from its territory. Make no mistake, we will deliver on all these objectives.

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Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's answer to a question from Rossiya Segodnya regarding Mali severing diplomatic ties with Ukraine due to the Kiev regime's support for terrorism

7 August 2024 11:45

1488-07-08-2024

Question: Recently, it has become known that Mali has severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine because the Vladimir Zelensky regime supports terrorism in this country. Would you comment on this?

Maria Zakharova: On August 4, an official statement was made by the transitional government of the Republic of Mali that the country was to immediately cut diplomatic relations with Ukraine. The reason were the statements made by Ukrainian officials - namely, the spokesperson for the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defence Ministry Andrei Yusov and Ambassador to Senegal Yury Pivovarov - regarding Kiev's assistance to terrorist forces that carried out an attack on a column of Malian military personnel in northern Mali in late July.

The government's statement strongly condemns the aggressive actions and hostility of the Ukrainian authorities that ignore Mali's position of constantly calling for a peaceful settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Attention is drawn to the accuracy of the assessment made by Moscow, which has repeatedly warned about the neo-Nazi and vile nature of the Zelensky regime's policy, which entered into an alliance with international terrorism.

The Malian authorities have warned the international community and countries supporting Kiev that this support would be regarded as assistance for international terrorism, and called the Africans to condemn Ukraine's subversive actions that pose a threat to the stability on the continent. Mali expressed its gratitude to the friendly countries that showed solidarity following the attacks carried out with support from foreign sponsors.

Ukraine's abovementioned actions were condemned by many African countries. Ukraine Ambassador in Dakar Yury Pivovarov was summoned to the Senegalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Burkina Faso authorities also expressed their negative stance on this matter.

We understand the motives that prompted the Malian authorities to cut diplomatic relations with the Kiev regime. Kiev's cooperation with terrorists comes as no surprise. It continues using terrorist methods on the territory of Russia, committing sabotage and political assassinations and regularly shelling civilian infrastructure facilities.

Unable to defeat Russia on the battlefield, the Zelensky criminal regime decided to open a second front in Africa, indulging terrorist groups in Russia-friendly states on the continent.

We will further draw the international community's attention to Kiev's barbarous behaviour, including at multilateral platforms. As latest events have shown, the terrorist nature of the Kiev regime is becoming increasingly obvious to the whole world.

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US Comments on Kursk 'Outrageous,' No Criticism of Ukraine or Condolences - Russian Ambassador

Sputnik News

20240807

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US officials' public statements on Ukraine's attempted offensive in Russia's Kursk region lack both criticism of Kiev and condolences to the victims, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said in a statement.

"The public statements of the American authorities in response to the provocative act of the Kiev thugs on Russian territory are truly outrageous," Antonov said on Wednesday.

"Once again, the officials did not voice any words of criticism towards their clients or express condolences to the victims of the tragedy."

Antonov stressed that Ukrainian actions are an obvious terrorist act.

"No one hides the fact that American weapons became the weapon used to kill ordinary Russians," he said. "Attacks on schools, hospitals, ambulances and residential buildings in Russia cannot be recognized as a right to self-defense."

Antonov went on to say that It is obvious that the provocations in the Kursk region are directly related to the deplorable situation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the front.

"No matter how hard they try to stop our troops in Kiev, they will systematically and progressively move forward, liberating Russian lands," he said.

"I would like to stress that Russian borders are sacred. None of the terrorists will escape retribution. Washington must stop supplying weapons to Kiev and "punish" the neo-Nazis from the Armed Forces of Ukraine."

On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that up to 300 Ukrainian fighters, supported by 11 tanks and more than 20 armored vehicles, attacked Russian state border protection units in the region. As of Wednesday, up to 260 Ukrainian troops and 50 armored vehicles have been destroyed, the ministry said.

The National Guard, the Border Guard and the Defense Ministry stepped up their military presence in the Kursk and Belgorod regions to repel potential Ukrainian attacks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Kiev of launching a large-scale provocation. He said Ukrainian troops were shelling the Russian regions indiscriminately, firing at civilian infrastructure and ambulances.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Ukraine shelling Russia's Kursk Region is yet another terrorist attack aimed against civilians.

A Sputnik

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Russia Understands Motives Prompting Mali to Sever Diplomatic Ties With Ukraine - Diplomat

Sputnik News

20240807

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik on Wednesday that Moscow understands the motives that prompted the Malian authorities to sever diplomatic relations with Kiev.

She specified that Kiev cooperates with terrorists.

"We understand the motives that prompted the Malian authorities to sever diplomatic ties with the Kiev regime. The fact that Kiev is cooperating with terrorists is not at all surprising," the spokeswoman said.

She recalled that "the Transition Government of the Republic of Mali issued on August 4 an official statement on the 'immediate' severance of diplomatic relations with Ukraine." She added that "it was prompted by statements by Ukrainian officials about Kiev's assistance for terrorist forces that attacked a convoy of Malian servicepeople in northern Mali in late July."

"The said statement strongly condemns aggressive actions and hostility of Ukrainian authorities, who ignore the position of Mali that consistently calls for a peaceful settlement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict," Zakharova said.

"Malian authorities warned the international community and countries assisting Kiev that this support will be seen as aiding international terrorism and called on Africans to condemn Ukraine's 'undermining actions' that 'threaten' the stability of the continent,'" she said, adding that Mali drew attention "to the accuracy of the 'diagnosis' made by Moscow, which has repeatedly warned of the 'neo-Nazi and despicable' nature of the policy of [Ukrainian President] Volodymyr Zelenskyy's regime, which has made an 'alliance' with international terrorism."

"Appreciation was expressed to Mali's friendly states who 'showed solidarity' amid attacks 'carried out with the support of foreign sponsors,'" she said.

Kiev, while being unable to defeat Russia on the battlefield, decided to open a "second front" in Africa, supporting terrorist groups in African states friendly to Moscow, the spokeswoman added.

"It [Kiev] continues to use terrorist methods in the territory of our country - commits sabotage and political assassinations, shells civilian infrastructure regularly," Zakharova said.

"Unable to defeat Russia on the battlefield, V. Zelensky's criminal regime decided to open a 'second front' in Africa and is pandering to terrorist groups in states on the continent friendly to Moscow," she said.

"[We] will continue to draw the attention of the international community, including within multilateral platforms, to such frankly barbaric behavior on the part of Kiev," she said.

She added that "as events show, the terrorist nature of the Kiev regime is becoming more and more evident to the entire world."

A Sputnik

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Russian Air Defense Shoots Down 2 More Ukrainian Missiles Over Kursk Region

Sputnik News

20240807

Earlier in the day Smirnov said the air defense destroyed two Ukrainian missiles in the region.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Two more Ukrainian missiles were shot down by Russian air defense forces in the Kursk Region, acting Governor Alexei Smirnov said.

Earlier in the day Smirnov said the air defense destroyed two Ukrainian missiles in the region.

"Two more Ukrainian missiles were shot down by air defense forces in the Kursk Region," Smirnov said on Telegram, adding that the attack took place at 20:18 GMT.

On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said up to 300 Ukrainian fighters, supported by 11 tanks and more than 20 armored vehicles, attacked Russian state border protection units near Nikolaevo-Darino and Oleshnya in the Kursk Region. The ministry said that the sabotage group was defeated and retreated to Ukraine.

A Sputnik

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Niger Severs Diplomatic Relations with Ukraine Over Kiev-Backed Terrorism in Mali

Sputnik News

20240807

On Monday the Malian interim government said that it had cut diplomatic ties with the Ukraine regime.

MOSCOW, August 7 (Sputnik) - Niger will immediately sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine due to Kiev's aggression against Mali, spokesman for Niger's transitional military government Amadou Abdramane said.

"Considering the seriousness of the situation and Ukraine's recognized and alleged involvement in the aggression against Mali, the government of the Republic of Niger, in full solidarity with the government and people of Mali, is taking ... the following measures," Abdramane said in a televised address.

"First, the immediate severance of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Niger and Ukraine, and second, an appeal to the UN Security Council to make a decision regarding the aggression by Ukraine and its sponsors,"

He also called on the international community to "resist Ukraine's decision to defend terrorism in a global context."

On Monday the Malian interim government said that it had cut diplomatic ties with the Ukraine regime, which has been significantly penetrated by Nazi and extremist elements since the Euromaidan coup in 2014.

A Sputnik

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Ukrainian Military Attacks Ambulance in Russia's Kursk Region - Governor

Sputnik News

20240807

The Ukraine regime frequently launches attacks on civilian targets across the border in Russia.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian military struck an ambulance with a drone near the border town of Sudzha in Russia's Kursk Region, killing the driver and paramedic, acting Kursk Governor Alexei Smirnov said.

"Ukrainian Nazis struck an ambulance using a drone near Sudzha," Smirnov said on Telegram. "The driver and paramedic were killed, and the doctor was wounded. Our doctors are real heroes, and the terrorists who attack ambulances will definitely receive retribution."

On the morning of August 6, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attempted to break through the territory of Kursk Region. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Ukrainian troops, with up to 300 personnel supported by 11 tanks and more than 20 armored vehicles, attacked the positions of border protection units of the Russian Federation in the areas of the settlements of Nikolaev-Darino and Oleshnya.

According to Acting Governor of Kursk Region Alexey Smirnov, border guards and the Russian Armed Forces destroyed 16 units of Ukrainian military equipment at the border.

Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation Alexander Bastrykin instructed to open a criminal case regarding the attack on settlements in Kursk Region.

During the attack, residential and administrative buildings, as well as civilian infrastructure facilities, were shelled. There are wounded and killed among the civilians, noted the Investigative Committee.

A Sputnik

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It Is Important to Continue Destroying Our Enemy - as Precisely as Our Warriors Can - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

7 August 2024 - 19:40

I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!

Briefly about today.

First - our gratitude goes to all our warriors, to each combat unit, for their bravery. To those who are truly strong, to all who truly serve Ukraine. This also includes the front line - the Pokrovsk direction, the Toretsk and Lyman directions, the Kharkiv region. And all the places where our defense against the occupier's offensive operations continues. It is important to continue destroying our enemy - as precisely as our warriors can, and as resiliently as it contributes to the overall defense of our country, and as effectively as it produces results. And the more pressure is exerted on Russia - on the aggressor that brought the war to Ukraine, the closer peace will be. Just peace through just force. I thank everyone who makes this possible.

Second. Today I spoke with Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi about our actions, our steps. The details will follow later. I also held a meeting with Minister of Defense Umerov on our missile program - its practical implementation. This is something in which we are gaining strength.

Third. Today, there were also several important meetings with our government officials. First of all, we are preparing to launch Army+, our new digital achievement, which will certainly simplify the daily tasks for most commanders of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. And later for every warrior as well. We will present everything soon. Today, we also discussed with government officials several areas of new social support for our people. The kind of support that will provide opportunities for new business in Ukraine, new jobs, and also family support. We must remember that right now while defending our country, we are determining what life in Ukraine will be like after this war. Maximum protection and security for our people and as many opportunities as possible. Opportunities to live and work in Ukraine. We are already preparing all this.

I thank everyone who helps! I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Governor of Russia's Kursk region declares state of emergency

By VOA News August 07, 2024

The acting governor of Russia's Kursk region declared a state of emergency Wednesday for an area bordering Ukraine where Russia said it was battling Ukrainian fighters on Russian territory.

Alexei Smirnov's emergency declaration came a day after what he said was a movement of Ukrainian troops and tanks into the Russian region.

It was not immediately clear what measures the emergency status would release, but several thousand people were reported to have been evacuated from the area.

A military blogger reported that fighting had reached the town of Sudzha, near where a Russian pipeline that supplies gas to Europe, via Ukraine, is located. Ukraine has agreed to keep the pipeline in Ukraine operational, as part of a contract that expires at the end of the year, The Guardian reported.

Ukraine hasn't commented on the reports.

In his daily evening address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not mention Kursk directly. Instead, he said, "It is important to continue destroying our enemy - as precisely as our warriors can, and as resiliently as it contributes to the overall defense of our country, and as effectively as it produces results."

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Ukraine had launched a "large-scale provocation" into Russia's Kursk region, but the extent of the fighting was unclear.

The Russian leader met with his defense and security officials and said that Kyiv's forces had carried out "indiscriminate shelling of civilian" targets in a second day of fighting in the region along the southwestern border with Ukraine.

News outlets have not been able to verify Russia's claims.

At the White House, John Kirby, the national security spokesman, said the administration had contacted Ukraine about what was happening.

The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War said it could not verify whether geolocated footage of damaged and abandoned armored vehicles 7 kilometers north of the border, west of Lyubimovka in the Kursk region, were Ukrainian.

The think tank also cast doubt on footage shared by Russian military bloggers claiming to show the aftermath of the Ukrainian raids. Most of the damage shown "appears to be the result of routine Ukrainian shelling and does not indicate that there was ground activity in the area," it said in its daily report.

Smirnov, the acting governor, urged residents to donate blood because of injuries in the fighting. He said Moscow's forces have "been heroically resisting attacks" by Ukrainian fighters.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday that up to 300 Ukrainian troops, supported by 11 tanks and more than 20 armored combat vehicles, had crossed into Russia but suffered heavy losses.

It said Russian forces backed by artillery and warplanes "didn't allow the enemy to advance deeper into the territory of the Russian Federation." Ukrainian officials declined to comment, and open-source monitors have not been able to verify the Russian claims.

The Kursk region's border with Ukraine is 245 kilometers long, making it possible for saboteur groups to launch swift incursions and capture some ground before Russia deploys reinforcements.

Russia's defense ministry said Wednesday it shot down four Ukrainian aerial drones over Kursk, a day after Russia said it repelled an attempt by hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers to breach the border region.

The defense ministry also said it destroyed three Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod region, two drones over Voronezh and two others over Rostov.

Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram that several apartment buildings were damaged, but there were no reported casualties.

The Ukrainian attacks also damaged apartment buildings in Voronezh, officials in the region said.

In Ukraine's Mykolaiv region, Governor Vitaliy Kim said Ukrainian air defenses shot down 14 Russian aerial drones, with falling debris sparking several fires.

Serhiy Lysak, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, said on Telegram that Russian forces attacked with kamikaze drones and heavy artillery, damaging homes and several farm buildings.

Officials in the Khmelnytskyi and Vinnytsia regions also reported Wednesday that Ukrainian air defenses destroyed several Russian aerial drones.

Some information for this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press.

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Secretary Blinken's Call with UN Secretary General Guterres

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

August 7, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The Secretary and the Secretary-General expressed their readiness to support an inclusive, Venezuelan-led process toward the re-establishment of democratic norms, in coordination with our international partners. The Secretary noted that Edmundo GonzAlez Urrutia received the most votes on July 28, adding that the actas provided overwhelming evidence Gonzalez defeated Maduro. The Secretary and Secretary-General expressed concerns for the safety and well-being of opposition leaders following the election, and condemned the political violence and repression, indiscriminate arrests, and violation of due process. The Secretary thanked the Secretary-General for his efforts in urging the Venezuelan parties to begin discussions on a peaceful transition to democratic norms.

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Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Aug. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BloFin Exchange, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, proudly announces its role as a Diamond Sponsor for the European Blockchain Convention (EBC) 2024. Set to take place in Barcelona, EBC is one of Europe's premier blockchain events, gathering industry professionals, innovators, and thought leaders from around the globe for meaningful dialogue and collaboration.





As the home of whales, BloFin has experienced extraordinary growth over the past year, with trading volumes increasing by 100 times and a significant rise in its user base. This rapid expansion showcases BloFin's commitment to providing an optimal trading environment for beginners and experienced traders. The company's integration of Chainalysis and Fireblocks has enhanced its security infrastructure, highlighting its focus on user safety and compliance.

"Our goal is to drive innovation in the blockchain space by enhancing our platform and ensuring top-notch security and user experience," said Matt Hu, CEO of BloFin. "At BloFin, we are driven by efficiency, integrity, safety, user-first, and reliability. The European Blockchain Convention 2024 is a prime opportunity to showcase our achievements and connect with industry leaders and our community in Barcelona."

BloFin Whales Bash in Barcelona 2024: A Grand Whale Celebration

In conjunction with the European Blockchain Convention, BloFin will host the BloFin Whales Bash in Barcelona , an exclusive afterparty event scheduled for September 25, 2024.



Following the success of the April 2024 afterparty at TOKEN2049 in Dubai , this invitation-only event will gather 300 VIPs, Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), and top industry leaders. The BloFin Whales Bash promises to be a vibrant and dynamic affair, offering attendees the chance to engage in meaningful discussions, hear exciting news, and network with key figures from the blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors.



About BloFin Exchange

BloFin is a secure cryptocurrency centralized exchange (CEX) specializing in perpetual and futures trading. The platform offers an extensive selection of over 340 USDT-M perpetual contracts and 130 spot markets . BloFin provides a range of high-quality services, including spot trading, copy trading, earning programs, and API access, ensuring seamless trading experiences across both its mobile app and web platform. Driven by efficiency, integrity, safety, user-first, and reliability values, BloFin continues to lead the way in the fast-evolving cryptocurrency industry.



For more information, visit BloFin's official website at https://www.blofin.com .

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.
Washington, D.C., Aug. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed a decision by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims that dismissed the Darby Development Company v. U.S. lawsuit against the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions nationwide eviction moratorium. The New Civil Liberties Alliance had filed an amicus curiae brief with the Federal Circuit in the case calling for this result. Unlike the Court of Federal Claims, the Federal Circuit correctly found dozens of rental property owners made a valid legal claim when they argued the moratorium was a physical taking of property for public use that required just compensation under the Fifth Amendments Taking Clause. NCLA celebrates todays ruling, which remands the case to the Court of Claims for further proceedings, an important step in vindicating constitutional rights during emergencies.

The rental property owners argue CDCs eviction moratorium constituted either a compensable taking or an illegal exaction under the Fifth Amendment. NCLA agreed, pointing out that dismissing the owners takings claim would encourage the government to take private property, worth billions of dollars, for public use.

Though the Supreme Court ultimately held the eviction moratorium to be an illegal exercise of executive power, at no point was it merely an action by a few rogue agents. Rather, the moratorium was begun and continued by affirmative steps taken by each of the three branches of government. The Executive Branch created the eviction moratorium and extended it numerous times via executive orders. Congress also extended the policy, and members of the Congressional majority used their position to exert political pressure on the Executive Branch to continue it even after the legislatively authorized period expired. The Judiciary, when asked to adjudicate the legality of these moratoria, denied injunctive relief in part because they said there would be future opportunities for people to seek compensation.

In short, Congress and the Executive Branch worked hand-in-glove to create and extend the eviction moratoria, and the Judiciary allowed them to continue. Therefore, as NCLA argued, the rationale for protecting public funds from rogue actors ceased to apply when each branch of government knowingly and purposefully contributed to, and endorsed, the taking of private property. On remand, the Court of Federal Claims must award compensation.

NCLA released the following statements:

The Federal Circuit correctly rejected the Governments outlandish position that the fact that actions were later found to be illegal should serve as a shield against liability. If that argument doesnt make sense to a regular American, thats because it is nonsensical. NCLA is gratified that the Federal Circuit allowed the lawsuit seeking compensation for the governments actions to proceed.

 Greg Dolin, Senior Litigation Counsel, NCLA

It should not have taken the Federal Circuit more than two years to reach this just and logical result. But NCLA is delighted the Court recognizes that the government cannot illegally take someones property and then refuse compensation once that taking is found to be illegal. On remand, the Court of Federal Claims should act quickly to provide compensation to these claimantsand any others whose cases were awaiting the outcome here.

 Mark Chenoweth, President, NCLA

For more information visit the amicus page here.

ABOUT NCLA

NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights.

###
NEWARK, Del, Aug. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A comprehensive evaluation of the food and beverage industry implies that the organic food and beverage market is poised to develop at a robust CAGR of 13.00% from 2024 to 2034. Previous assessments by FMI estimated the organic food and beverage market's worth at USD 122.30 million in 2019, with current valuation indicating an uptick to achieve USD 278.00 million in 2024. Thematic analysis of organic food and beverages aim at a valuation of USD 639.40 million by 2034.



The demand for organic foods and drinks accelerates swiftly as the worker class sector gets less meal preparation time and becomes aware of the significant amount of inorganic chemicals put in fruits and vegetables. The upsurge in the sales of organic food and beverages is demonstrated by the evolving eating habits among consumers and the adoption of greener shifts in cultivation practices by farmers.

The high production cost and shorter shelf life constrain the organic food and beverage market growth. The premium pricing inhibits the broad adoption, due to limited alternatives to choose from, hamper the market expansion of organic food and beverages. Significant packaging, logistics, and distribution costs to prolong shelf life impede organic food and beverage market growth.

Click to Purchase the Full Research Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/15960

Major Factors Driving the Global Organic Food and Beverages Market Over These Years

Throughout the forecast years, the organic superfood market is anticipated to rise strongly as the goods for sale in such markets contain no chemicals and leave no residue. Moreover, in comparison to typical fruits and vegetables available in farmers' markets, they are exceptionally healthful and environmentally beneficial. Those same reasons are also expected to spur the demand for organic food and beverages as consumers understanding of the advantages of natural products that are not genetically engineered or modified rises.

Sales of organic vegetables have increased during the past two-three years, as have subscription packages over shopping sites specifically dedicated to organic food and beverages. Furthermore, the sales of organic foods and beverages from online retailers have significantly increased as a result of the widespread use of online delivery services usage following the epidemic in 2020 to 2021.

Regional Outlook

The Asia Pacific's organic food and beverage market is developing at a rapid CAGR. This is due to diverse factors, such as escalating consumer knowledge of the health advantages of eating organic food, transitioning eating choices, and better economic probability.

Asia Pacific countries are adopting organic food policies at a swift pace, and this trend continues. There is a substantial demand for organic food and drink production in China and India.

The organic food and beverage market garners a considerable global growth horizon. The market is in the growth stage and its support to the global organic food market to amplified significantly. The escalating price is an essential restraining factor in buying organic food and beverages. says Nandini Roy Choudhury, Client Partner at Future Market Insights

Key Takeaways

The fruits and vegetables segment in the product type category to grab a share of 43.6% in 2024.

In the distribution channel category, the hypermarket/supermarket segment to acquire a share of 37.40% in 2024.

India sales of organic food and beverages indicate a CAGR of 10.30% through 2034.

Japan organic food and beverage market reflects expansion between 2024 and 2034 at a CAGR of 9.60%.

Through 2034, China organic beverage market show escalation at a CAGR of 8.70%.

Between 2024 and 2034, Germany organic food and beverage industry imply growth at a CAGR of 8.30%.

The United States organic food and beverage market implies expansion at a CAGR of 7.50% through 2034.





Competitive Landscape

The global market is significantly competitive and fragmented due to the participation of several domestic and international organic food and beverage manufacturers. The prominent organic food and beverage vendors pay a lot of attention to purchasing these smaller producers to stay competitive. In contrast, new organic food and beverage producers primarily focus on product innovation to address customer choices and needs.

Eminent Developments

GO Organic!' was launched as a consumer brand at Fruit Attraction 2023 in Madrid in October 2023 by Dole Food Company, Inc. The creation of Dole Organics was set up as a specialized subsidiary. Dole Organics is committed to strengthening the organic fresh produce market, facilitating cross-sector cooperation, optimizing supply chains, and guaranteeing continuous availability and standardization of organic products.

Organic Oatmilk was the first product released by So Delicious Dairy Free when it entered the oat milk market in April 2023. Made with organic oats and various ingredients, the product comes in two flavors: Original and Extra Creamy.

Get Full Report Now: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/organic-food-and-beverages-market

Key Segments

By Product Type:

Fruits and Vegetables

Meat, Fish, and Poultry

Dairy Products

Frozen and Processed Foods

Non-dairy Beverages

Coffee and Tea

Beer and Wine

Other Food and Beverages

By Process:

Processed

Unprocessed

By Distribution channel:

Supermarket/Hypermarket

Specialty Stores

Convenience Stores

Online Sales Channel

Others



By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia and the Pacific

Middle East and Africa

Authored by:

Nandini Roy Choudhury (Client Partner for Food & Beverages at Future Market Insights, Inc.) has 7+ years of management consulting experience. She advises industry leaders and explores off-the-eye opportunities and challenges. She puts processes and operating models in place to support their business objectives.

She has exceptional analytical skills and often brings thought leadership to the table.

Nandini has vast functional expertise in key niches, including but not limited to food ingredients, nutrition & health solutions, animal nutrition, and marine nutrients. She is also well-versed in the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, retail, and chemical sectors, where she advises market participants to develop methodologies and strategies that deliver results.

Her core expertise lies in corporate growth strategy, sales and marketing effectiveness, acquisitions and post-merger integration and cost reduction. Nandini has an MBA in Finance from MIT School of Business. She also holds a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering from Nagpur University, India.

Nandini has authored several publications, and quoted in journals including Beverage Industry, Bloomberg, and Wine Industry Advisor.

Explore FMIs related ongoing Coverage in the Food and Beverage Domain:

The BRIC organic baby food market is anticipated to be worth US$ 5.5 billion in terms of revenue in 2023. The market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 16.1% to reach a market size of US$ 24.5 billion by 2033.

The organic foods market is likely to record a 12.1% CAGR during the forecast period. The market is likely to reach US$ 176.51 billion in 2023 and is expected to be worth US$ 553.13 billion in 2033.

According to the research of Future Market Insights, over the projected period, the Organic Snack Food Market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.1%. The industry's estimated value will increase from US$ 9.1 billion in 2023 to US$ 13.5 billion in 2033.

The organic pet food market is expected to total US$ 2.0 Billion in 2022. As per the report, sales of organic pet food are projected to increase at a healthy CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period, reaching US$ 4.0 Billion by 2032.

The functional beverage market size is projected to surpass a valuation of US$ 277,744 million by 2033. Our food and beverage analysts opine that functional beverage manufacturers can expect a CAGR of 5.4% through 2033.

The global organic acid market is expected to total US$ 11.3 Billion in 2022. Demand for organic acid is forecast to increase at a steady CAGR of 5.3%.

GCC Functional Food Market: The revenue generated from the sales of functional foods in GCC countries is estimated to be around US$ 30.9 Bn by 2032, and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 11% during the forecast period 2022-2032.

The global demand for convenience food is anticipated to rise at a CAGR of 7.2%. The market revenue is likely to be valued at US$ 591.5 million in 2022 and exhibit a revenue growth of US$ 1,138.8 million by 2033.

The global food preservatives market is estimated to attain a market valuation of US$ 2,965.62 million in the year 2023. The market is expected to register a CAGR of 6.8% to reach US$ 5,725.70 million by 2033.

The global halal food market size is projected to attain a valuation of USD 3,229,805.32 million by 2033.

About Future Market Insights (FMI)

Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, recipient of the Stevie Award, and a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) offers profound insights into the driving factors that are boosting demand in the market. FMI stands as the leading global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, consulting, and events for the Packaging, Food and Beverage, Consumer Technology, Healthcare, Industrial, and Chemicals markets. With a vast team of over 400 analysts worldwide, FMI provides global, regional, and local expertise on diverse domains and industry trends across more than 110 countries.

Contact FMI:

Future Market Insights Inc.

Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive,

Suite 401, Newark, Delaware  19713, USA

T: +1-845-579-5705

For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com

Website: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com

LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs | YouTube
NEW YORK, Aug. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Paragon 28, Inc. (NYSE: FNA) resulting from allegations that Paragon 28 may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.



So what: If you purchased Paragon 28 securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

What to do next: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=27557 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

What is this about: On July 30, 2024, after the market closed, Paragon 28 filed a current report on Form 8-K with the SEC. It stated that On July 30, 2024, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the Audit Committee) of Paragon 28, Inc. (the Company), in consultation with management, concluded that the Companys previously issued audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, contained within the Annual Report on Form 10-K for that year (and the associated audit report of the Companys independent registered accounting firm) and the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained within the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023, September 30, 2023, and March 31, 2024 should no longer be relied upon due to errors in such financial statements, and therefore a restatement of these prior financial statements is required. Accordingly, the Company intends to restate the aforementioned financial statements by amending its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 (the Restated Filings) as soon as reasonably practicable.

On this news, Paragon 28s stock fell $1.24 per share, or 13.7%, to close at $7.79 per share on July 31, 2024.

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

case@rosenlegal.com

www.rosenlegal.com
SINGAPORE, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OKX, a leading Web3 technology company, has issued updates for August 8, 2024.

OKX Wallet Team to Host 'Meme Hour' X Spaces

OKX Wallet has announced an upcoming 'Meme Hour' X Spaces event. The discussion will focus on the current state of the crypto market and its impact on the crypto ecosystem.



Event Details:

Topic: Markets are in chaos, can the devs do something??

Date: Thursday, August 8, 2024

Time: 2:00 AM UTC

Platform: X Spaces

Featured Participants:

Join the conversation and gain insights from these prominent voices in the crypto community as they discuss market trends, potential solutions, and the role of developers in addressing market challenges.



How to Join: Click here to join the X Spaces event: https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1DXGydBrDYeKM

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a lively discussion on the current state of crypto markets and potential paths forward.

To learn more, visit OKX's Support Center.

For further information, please contact:

Media@okx.com



About OKX

OKX is a leading global crypto exchange and innovative Web3 company. Trusted by more than 50 million global users, OKX offers a secure and trustworthy platform that provides responsible crypto traders with innovative tools to access the world of crypto.



As a global brand and top partner of Manchester City FC and McLaren Racing, OKX uses Web3 technology to redefine how fans connect with their favorite teams. Recent examples include its Unseen City Shirts and Race Rewind digital collectible campaigns, which offer fans real-world benefits like exclusive match-day and trackside experiences. As the Presenting Partner of Tribeca Festival, OKX also empowers artists and creators through Web3.

In line with its "on-chain, any chain" philosophy, OKX contributes to the growth of the Web3 ecosystem via its secure, interoperable and self-custody enabled OKX Wallet. OKX Wallet is a user-friendly gateway to the on-chain world, connecting to over 100 blockchains, 10,000 dApps, 170+ DeFi protocols, 300,000 tokens and 490+ decentralized exchanges (DEXs).

OKX is committed to transparency and security, and publishes its Proof of Reserves monthly to build trust. It is also dedicated to expanding its educational resources through OKX Learn, making digital assets accessible and understandable for a broader audience.

To learn more about OKX, download our app or visit: okx.com



Disclaimer

This announcement is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide any investment, tax, or legal advice, nor should it be considered an offer to purchase, sell, hold or offer any services relating to digital assets. Digital assets, including stablecoins, involve a high degree of risk, can fluctuate greatly, and can even become worthless.
Wilmington, Delaware , Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Agricultural Films Market by Material Type (Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), and Others), Application (Greenhouse Films, Mulch Films, and Silage Films), and End-Use (Horticulture, Grain Farming, Animal Husbandry, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2031". According to the report, the agricultural films market was valued at $12.8 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $21.1 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2024 to 2031.



Prime determinants of growth

The global agricultural films market is experiencing growth due to shift towards sustainable farming practices. Farmers are increasingly adopting sustainable farming practices to minimize environmental impact and optimize resource use. Agricultural films contribute to sustainability by reducing water consumption, minimizing chemical inputs, improving soil health, and enhancing crop resilience, aligning with the goals of sustainable agriculture initiatives. Moreover, integration of bio-based and biodegradable films offers remunerative opportunities for the expansion of the global agricultural films market.

Download Sample Pages of Research Overview: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/373

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20242031 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2023 $12.8 billion Market Size in 2031 $21.1 billion CAGR 6.5% No. of Pages in Report 300 Segments Covered Material Type, Application, End-Use, and Region Region Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, LAMEA Drivers Surge in food production Increase in demand for pest and disease managemen Opportunities Advancements for specialized agricultural films Restraint Environmental concerns from agricultural films





The high-density polyethylene (HDPE) segment is expected to remain the largest type throughout the forecast period

The primary usage of HDPE agricultural films is in mulching. Mulch films made from HDPE help in conserving soil moisture by reducing evaporation, thus ensuring adequate water availability for plant growth. In addition, they contribute to weed control by suppressing weed growth, thereby minimizing competition for nutrients and sunlight. This not only improves crop yield but also reduces the need for herbicides, promoting environmentally friendly farming practices.

The greenhouse films segment is expected to lead throughout the forecast period

Agricultural films play a crucial role in modern greenhouse farming, where they are primarily used as greenhouse films. These films are typically made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and are designed to cover greenhouse structures. One of the primary purposes of greenhouse films is to create a controlled environment for plant growth by trapping heat and maintaining optimal temperature and humidity levels within the greenhouse.

Procure Complete Report (300 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/agricultural-films-market

Horticulture dominated the agricultural films market throughout the forecast period

Horticulture involves the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants, which often requires specific environmental conditions to optimize growth and yield. Agricultural films, such as greenhouse films and mulching films, play a crucial role in horticulture by protecting from adverse weather, pests, and diseases, as well as by helping to regulate temperature and moisture levels. Mulching films are laid on the soil surface to conserve moisture, suppress weed growth, and regulate soil temperature. In horticultural practices such as fruit and vegetable cultivation, mulching films help maintain optimal soil conditions, which can significantly enhance crop yields and quality.

Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2031

Agricultural films play a vital role in modern farming practices across the Asia-Pacific region, where agriculture is a significant economic sector. These films are used for various purposes, including crop protection, soil moisture retention, weed control, and temperature regulation.

China, being the world's largest agricultural producer, relies heavily on agricultural films to enhance crop yields and protect crops from pests and adverse weather conditions. The use of plastic mulch films for soil moisture conservation and weed suppression is common in China, especially in regions with water scarcity and high weed pressure. In addition, greenhouse films are extensively used for protected cultivation, allowing farmers to extend the growing season and cultivate high-value crops throughout the year.

Want to Access the Statistical Data and Graphs, Key Players' Strategies: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/agricultural-films-market/purchase-options

Players: -

Exxon Mobil Corporation

BASF SE

Berry Global Inc.

Dow

RKW Group

Trioworld

Coveris

Plastika Kritis S.A.

Armando Alvarez Group

Novamont S.p.A.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global agricultural films market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

Contact:

David Correa

United States

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Corporation Trust Center,

Wilmington, New Castle,

Delaware 19801 USA.

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Dublin, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Radiation Detection, Monitoring & Safety Market by Product (Dosimeters, Monitors), Composition (Gas-Filled Detectors, Scintillators), Material (Lead, Lead Composites) Application (Healthcare, Industrial, Nuclear), & Region - Forecast to 2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global radiation detection, monitoring, and safety market, valued at an estimated USD 2.9 billion in 2024, is projected to reach USD 4.4 billion by 2029, growing at (CAGR) of 8.3% during this forecast period.

This expansion is fueled by a confluence of factors such as the growing defense budgets, the rising global cancer burden, radiation safety consciousness, increased utilization of PET and CT imaging, and the prevalence of nuclear medicine and radiation therapy in medical diagnostics and treatment. However, the industry's growth faces significant challenges, primarily due to stringent regulatory requirements and the high costs associated with developing and implementing new radiation detection technologies. The need regulatory approvals for new devices can lead to prolonged development cycles and increased expenses. Additionally, the constant need for innovation and investment can strain resources, particularly for smaller companies in the sector.







The radiation detection and monitoring products segment accounted for the highest growth rate in the radiation detection, monitoring and safety market, by product, during the forecast period



The radiation detection, monitoring, and safety market is divided into two main product categories that are radiation detection and monitoring products, and radiation safety products. In 2023, the radiation detection and monitoring products segment dominated the market, capturing the largest share. This segment is expected to have significant growth potential in the coming years. Its market dominance can be attributed to the persistent demand for these products across various sectors, particularly in nuclear power plants and the defense industry. The continuous need for reliable radiation detection and monitoring in these critical areas has been a key driver of this segment's larger market share and projected growth.



Gas-Filled Detectors segment reported for the fastest growth



Based on composition the global radiation detection and monitoring market is categorized into three main category gas-filled detectors, scintillators, and solid-state detectors. In 2023, gas-filled detectors emerged as the market leader, securing the largest share. This dominance can be attributed to several key factors. Primarily, these detectors have found widespread application across various fields, particularly in radiation detection and medical imaging. A new growth factor contributing to the gas-filled detectors' market dominance is the increasing adoption of these devices in environmental monitoring and homeland security applications.



Asia Pacific: The fastest-growing region radiation detection, monitoring and safety market



The global radiation detection, monitoring and safety market is segmented into North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. The Asia Pacific region is set to become the fastest-growing market for radiation detection, monitoring, and safety equipment, with forecasts indicating it will achieve the highest growth in the coming years. This remarkable growth is fueled by a combination of factors unique to the region. There's a rising awareness about the importance of radiation protection, coupled with a significant expansion in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in the number of hospitals.



The region is also experiencing an increase in cancer prevalence, which has led to a greater adoption of radiation-based diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. Furthermore, many countries in Asia Pacific are increasing their military expenditures, creating additional demand for radiation detection technologies. The energy sector is contributing to this growth as well, with a rising number of nuclear power plants being established. These diverse drivers are collectively propelling the radiation detection, monitoring, and safety market in Asia Pacific, positioning it as the most dynamic and rapidly expanding region in this sector.

Research Coverage



This report provides a detailed picture of the global radiation detection, monitoring and safety market. It aims at estimating the size and future growth potential of the market across different segments, such as product, composition, material, application and regions. The report also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key market players, along with their company profiles, recent developments, and key market strategies.

Lists of Companies Profiled in the Report

Fortive (US)

Mirion Technologies Inc. (US)

AMETEK Inc. (US)

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US)

Fuji Electric Co. Ltd. Co., Ltd. (Japan)

Ludlum Measurements Inc. (US)

Arktis Radiation Detectors Ltd. (Switzerland)

Polimaster Europe UAB (Belarus)

Amray Group (Ireland)

Infab LLC (US)

IBA Worldwide (Belgium)

Bertin Technologies (France)

RDC (US)

Arrow-Tech Inc. Inc. (US)

Centronic Ltd. (UK)

S.E. International Inc. (US)

ATOMTEX (Belarus)

Nucleonix Systems (India)

Alpha Spectra Inc. (US)

LND INC. (US)

Bar-Ray Products (US)

Trivitron Healthcare (India)

Micron Technology Inc. (UK)

Scionix Holland B.V. (Netherlands)

Radcomm Systems (Canada)

Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 308 Forecast Period 2024-2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $2.9 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $4.4 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 8.3% Regions Covered Global

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/j1o2gc

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
TIANJIN, China, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On August 3, 2024, TIENS Group held its annual celebration in grand style. Political elites, outstanding entrepreneurs, celebrities, supplier representatives and partners were in attendance to celebrate this momentous occasion and acknowledge TIENS Groups impressive three-decade-long journey, as well as its distinctive the Three-New Strategies and the Three-Globalization Strategies.





At the 2024 anniversary celebration, Mr. Li Jinyuan, Chairman of the Board, reviewed the development journey of TIENS Group. As one of the world's leading direct selling enterprises, TIENS Group has consistently achieved new milestones. The upcoming TIENS New Marketing Project is scheduled to launch and will set a new standard for the entire industry. It will provide a model for transformation and upgrading and will lead the health industry towards a more standardized, professional and branded direction. Mr. Li Jinyuan personally presented flags to various regions, inspiring everyone to take the initiative and succeed. This flag-granting ceremony marks the full launch of the New Marketing Strategy, laying a solid foundation for expanding into broader markets. The CEO of TIENS Group delivered a keynote speech, outlining the Group's achievements, the Three-New Strategies and the Three-Globalization Strategies, product launches, along with a series of other important content.

His Excellency Ivo Josipovic, the third President of Croatia and Mr. Yves Camille Desire Leterme, the 65th and 67th Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium, delivered speeches in which they unequivocally affirmed and praised TIENS Group. TIENS Health Ambassador appointments were presented by TIENS Group to these two international dignitaries, joining hands with TIENS to contribute to the global health cause for all mankind.

The subsequent award ceremony saw a series of prestigious awards presented, including the TIENS Luxury Car Award, the TIENS Elite Special Award and the TIENS Loyalty Award. These affirmations and accolades celebrate the outstanding achievements of TIENS members worldwide. The New Marketing Excellent Lecturer Award, the New Marketing Best Rookie Award, the New Marketing Outstanding Management Award, the New Marketing Exceptional Leadership Award and many other awards are clear affirmations and encouragements for the future development of the New Marketing model.

The TIENS Group's 2024 Annual Celebration was a resounding success. TIENS Group will continue to uphold its mission of serving society by helping people live healthy successful lives by innovating and persevering, with the goal of becoming the global leader in the industry and making a greater contribution to social progress.

Company: TIENS GROUP

Contact Person: MS.Liang

Email: liangyi1@tiens.com

Website: www.tiens.com

Telephone:18222122205



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6edbf489-b838-4d3b-a6dd-7842225c2858
Dublin, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Cockpit AI Agent Research Report, 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Foundation models spawn Agent customized scenarios

Since AI foundation models were installed in cars, they have been widely used in multimodal interaction scenarios. OEMs have started from voice assistants to further improve intelligent processing of user commands:



Before foundation models got on cars, the wake-up rate and effective instructions of voice assistants in cockpits are at a low level



After foundation models were available in cars, not only has voice recognition become more intelligent, but the application of expression monitoring and gesture control have also been improved, with effective commands and daily active rates increasing significantly.

For example, IM L6 has built Carlog and City Drive scenarios to enable the AI foundation models to proactively recommend food and attractions and allow users to post them on social media:

Carlog: Actively perceive the scenario during driving through AI vision foundation model, mobilize four cameras to take photos, automatically save and edit them, and support one-click share in Moments.



City Drive: Cooperate with Volcengine to model nearby food, scenic spots and landmarks in real time in the digital screen, and push them according to users' habits and preferences. The applicability of foundation models in various scenarios has stimulated users' demand for intelligent agents that can uniformly manage cockpit functions. In 2024, OEMs such as NIO, Li Auto, and Hozon successively launched Agent frameworks, using voice assistants as the starting point to manage functions and applications in cockpits.



Agent service frameworks can not only manage cockpit functions in a unified way, but also provide more abundant scenario modes according to customers' needs and preferences, especially supporting customized scenarios for users, which accelerates the advent of the cockpit personalization era.

For example, NIO's NOMI GPT allows users to set an AI scenario with just one sentence:



Core competence of cockpit Agents

AI Agents in the era of foundation models are based on LLMs, whose powerful reasoning expands the applicable scenarios of AI Agents that can improve the thinking capability of foundation models through feedback obtained during operation. In the cockpit, the Agent capability paradigm can be roughly divided into 'Understanding' + 'Planning' + 'Tool Use' + 'Reflection'.



When Agents first get on cars, cognitive and planning abilities are more important. The understanding of task goals and the choice of implementation paths directly determine the accuracy of performance results, which in turn affect the scenario utilization rate of Agents. For example, in Xiaomi's voice interaction process, semantic understanding is the difficulty of the entire automotive voice processing process. XiaoAi handles semantic parsing through a semantic parsing model.



After the mass production of Agents, the personalized cockpits that support users to customize scenario modes become the highlight, and Reflection becomes the most important core competence at this stage, so it is necessary to build an Agentic Workflow that is constantly learning and optimizing.



For example, Lixiang Tongxue offered by Li Auto supports the creation of one-sentence scenarios. It is backed by Mind GPT's built-in memory network and online reinforcement learning capabilities. Mind GPT can remember personalized preferences and habits based on historical conversations. When similar scenarios recur, it can automatically set scenario parameters through historical data to fit the user's original intentions.



At the AI OS architecture setting level, we take SAIC Z-One as an example



Z-One accesses the LLM kernel (LLM OS) at the kernel layer, which controls the interfaces of AI OS SDK and ASF with the original microkernel respectively, in which AI OS SDK receives the scheduling of the LLM to promote the Agent service framework of the application layer. The Z-One AI OS architecture highly integrates AI with CPU. Through SOA atomic services, AI is then connected to the vehicle's sensors, actuators and controllers. This architecture, based on a terminal-cloud foundation model, can enhance the computing power of the terminal-side foundation model and reduce operational latency.

Application Difficulty of Cockpit AI Agents

Agents connect to users and execute commands. In the application process, in addition to the technical difficulties of putting foundation models on cars, they also face scenario difficulties. In the process of command reception-semantic analysis-intention reasoning-task execution, the accuracy of the performance results and the delay in human-computer interaction directly affect the user's riding experience.

Humanization of interaction

For example, in the 'emotional consultant' scenario, Agents should resonate emotionally with car owners and perform anthropomorphism. Generally, there are three forms of anthropomorphism of AI Agents: physical anthropomorphism, personality anthropomorphism, and emotional anthropomorphism.

Foundation model performance

In the 'encyclopedia question and answer' scenario, Agents may be unable to answer the user's questions, especially open questions, accurately because of LLM illusion after semantic analysis, database search, answer generation and the like.



Current solutions include advanced prompting, RAG+knowledge graph, ReAct, CoT/ToT, etc., which cannot completely eliminate "LLM illusion". In the cockpit, external databases, RAG, self-consistency and other methods are more often used to reduce the frequency of "LLM illusion".



Some foundation model manufacturers have improved the above solutions. For example, Meta has proposed to reduce "LLM illusion" through Chain-of-Verification (CoVe). This method breaks down fact-checking into more detailed sub-questions to improve response accuracy and is consistent with the human-driven fact-checking process. It can effectively improve the FACTSCORE indicator in long-form generation tasks.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Introduction to Cockpit AI Agent

1.1 Status Quo of AI Agent

1.2 Cockpit AI Agent

1.3 Application Scenario of Cockpit Agent

1.4 Application Status of Cockpit Agent



2 AI Agent Technology Implementation Path

2.1 AI OS Architecture

2.2 Technology related to AI Vision Large Model

2.3 Application Technology of Cockpit Large Model

2.4 Application Trends of AI in Cockpit

2.5 Cockpit Agent Solution



3 Application Analysis of Cockpit AI Agent of Suppliers

3.1 ThunderSoft

3.2 Huawei

3.3 Alibaba Cloud

3.4 Tencent

3.5 Baidu

3.6 iFLYTEK

3.7 AISpeech

3.8 Lenovo

3.9 SAIC Z-ONE

3.10 Zhipu AI

3.11 Microsoft

3.12 TINNOVE

3.14 Rockchip Uses AI Sound Field Technology in Cockpit

3.15 NNG Applies AI to Navigation Technology



4 Application Analysis of Cockpit AI Agent of OEMs

4.1 Application Status of Cockpit Agent in OEMs

4.2 NIO

4.3 Xpeng

4.4 Li Auto

4.5 Xiaomi

4.6 BAIC

4.7 Hozon

4.8 Dongfeng

4.9 JAC

4.10 Chang'an

4.11 Volkswagen: Evolving to Agents through GPTs

4.12 Mercedes-Benz: Personalized Service with MBUX Virtual Assistant

4.13 Cockpit Application of GAC AI Large Model

4.14 Cockpit Application of Great Wall Large Model

4.15 Chery self-developed LION AI + iFLYTEK Spark Model

4.16 Geely

4.17 IM AI Large Model Builds Active Perception Scenario



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bn4k9u

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Dublin, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "U.S. Smart Locks Market - Focused Insights 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The U.S. Smart Locks Market was valued at USD 999.12 million in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 2.33 billion by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 15.16%.



The emergence of new technologies plays a crucial role in the U.S. smart locks market due to the presence of various emerging technologies such as Machine Learning (ML), Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT). A.I. can potentially increase the importance of smart locks by offering features like enhanced convenience and adaptive security.

The U.S. smart locks market report contains exclusive data on 28 vendors. The companies constantly add new features like voice control, remote access functionalities, and biometric authentication to differentiate themselves. The manufacturer offers smart locks more compatible with smart home platforms like Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, etc., which is a major selling point.

They are focusing on more advanced products that can operate through voice control. Companies are selling their products through various distribution channels, including home improvement stores, online retailers, and directly through their websites. The companies are focusing on acquisitions and mergers. Leading companies are Allegion plc, Carrier Global, Chamberlain Group, Fortune Brands Innovations, Hampton Products International Corp., HONEYWELL, LATCH, Lockly, SimpliSafe, Inc., and Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.



The western region accounted for a major U.S. smart locks market share. The Western segment dominates the U.S. smart locks market due to high disposable income, high acceptance of technologically advanced products, increasing smart homes, growth potential in various end-user industries, and rising security concerns. This region comprises fast-growing and developed states like Washington, Colorado, Utah, California, etc. The rising adoption of various technologies, such as AI, machine learning, and IoT, increases demand for smart products. This region is known for its higher concentration of tech-savvy residents. Thus, they are more familiar with smart home ecosystems, helping the market grow.

Around every 15-20 seconds, burglaries in homes occur in the U.S. AI-powered locks could unlock doors automatically and anticipate the user's needs, integrating with smart home systems and giving a better experience. It can analyze user patterns and adjust parameters. It helps to detect the fraudulent activities. The U.S. people spend a lot of time doing various data transmission activities in the backend, such as instructions, user I.D.s, usernames, patterns, time tracking, etc. Advancements in biometric technology are improving reliability and accuracy, making it a more attractive option for consumers.

The IoT architecture includes a sensor, edge, and application layer. The demand for IoT-based systems for home automation is growing significantly in the U.S. With IoT's help, the lock can be used through voice commands or by just pushing a button. The increasing demand for smart home technologies and products creates an opportunity for smart lock companies to offer advanced technology-based smart locks in the U.S. market. The demand for smart locks with new technologies is rising in hospitals, educational institutions, government offices, etc. Around 3 in 5 U.S. people is expected to adopt smart home solutions in coming years. The demand for smart locks in the U.S. market will increase during the forecast period.



Growing Popularity of Bluetooth-enabled & Wi-Fi-enabled Smart Locks



The growing popularity of Bluetooth-enabled & Wi-Fi-enabled smart locks is a major trend in the U.S. market due to their convenience, lower cost, battery efficiency, smart home integration, and remote access. The U.S. has a diverse range of consumers with various budgets and needs. Wi-Fi locks cater to remote control capabilities & advanced features, and Bluetooth locks cater to the requirement of affordability & convenience. Bluetooth offers an unlocking experience without the usage of a key. The Bluetooth locks do not require complex wiring and are known for easy installation to existing doors.

In smart locks, Bluetooth Low Energy technology saves battery life. Wi-Fi connectivity helps to unlock or lock doors from anywhere with the help of an internet connection. Some Wi-Fi locks integrate with smart home systems like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa for automation and voice control. It offers various features to the user, such as lock history, remote guest access, and access logs management. The advancement in Bluetooth & Wi-Fi will help to increase the battery life and improve reliability and performance. As per the Federal Communications Commission, over 99% of the U.S. people use at least one internet connection. It will drive the demand for smart locks in the U.S. market during the forecast period.



Increasing Demand for Safety and Convenience



The demand for safety and convenience is increasing significantly in the U.S. due to various factors, including peace of mind, enhanced protection, real-time monitoring, remote access, keyless entry, and smart home integration. Safety is one of the major concerns in the U.S. market. Smart locks can be easily programmed to lock doors automatically when a homeowner leaves. It can integrate with smart home devices to trigger measures when triggered by alarms. Smart locks offer a wider sense of security than traditional locks.

The features like temporary access and remote access logs eliminate the need to care about copied or lost keys. Keyless entry eliminates the potential loss and hassle of carrying physical keys. Some smart locks integrate with the latest security cameras, allowing homeowners to keep track of their property & receive alerts remotely for suspicious activity. The smart locks can be integrated with other smart home devices, allowing users to create automated routines. It offers remote access to service providers, family, or friends, which gives them more convenience, especially for vacation homeowners or individuals. It will drive the demand for smart locks in the U.S. market during the forecast period.

Privacy and Hacking Challenges



Technological advancement drives the demand for smart home ecosystems in the U.S. Though smart products have many advantages, there are several limitations, including data security, potential for misuse, and vulnerability to hacking. The vulnerabilities of smart locks include remote attacks, smart door attacks, local attacks, etc. In this market, various hacking challenges have increased, including weak encryption, Wi-Fi vulnerability, zero-day exploits, and weak encryption.

As smart locks collect and store data of users, such as lock activity time and access logs, the security breach in data may expose the information publicly or to unauthorized individuals. Some smart locks might use weak encryption protocols, making them more vulnerable to attack from hackers by various combinations of access. The hackers can also target wireless protocols. During the forecast period, it may hinder the market growth for smart locks in the U.S.



SEGMENT INSIGHTS

INSIGHT BY PRODUCT



The U.S. smart locks market by product type is segmented into deadbolts, lever handles, and padlocks. The deadbolt segment dominates and has the largest U.S. market share. The segmental growth is due to its low installation costs, high durability, and adequate protection against intrusion. It is a more convenient lock type in the U.S. market and can be installed on existing deadbolt-prepped doors to reduce modifications. Using smart devices transforms them into smart locks.

Deadbolts are generally known for being more robust as compared to traditional locks. The demand for smart home ecosystems is growing significantly in the U.S. market. The lower installation cost appeals to adopt for budget-conscious people in the U.S. market. Deadbolt locks have various features, including one-touch unlocking and customizable user codes.

INSIGHT BY COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY



The U.S. smart locks market by communication technology type is categorized into Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee & Z-wave, and others. The Bluetooth segment holds the most prominent share of the U.S. market in 2023. The segment advantages include widespread adoption, ease of use, security, and energy efficiency. Bluetooth connectivity is already present in almost all smartphones, which helps to eliminate the need for a separate internet connection, thereby making Bluetooth-based locks more convenient.

Many companies offer a wide variety of Bluetooth-based smart locks in the US, including Allegion plc, Carrier Global, Fortune Brands Innovations, HONEYWELL, Lockly, Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., Igloohome, Level, etc. During the forecast period, such factors drive the demand for Bluetooth-based smart locks in the US market.

INSIGHT BY AUTHENTICATION METHOD



Based on the authentication method, the PIN/code segment holds the largest share in the U.S. smart locks market. PIN code-based smart locks are less expensive than biometric locks, thus helping segmental growth. PIN/code-based smart locks have a keypad installed on the smart lock device to type the PIN to unlock the door. It allows users to share the PIN to give access to their families, friends, or workers.

PIN codes are easy to use and familiar to everyone. It is more convenient for all people, including tech-savvy people who are less comfortable with technology. Also, PIN codes can be complex, giving more secure options for offices, hospitals, government institutions, etc. Demand for PIN code-based smart is rising from homeowners as they give temporary access to dog walkers, house cleaners, etc.

INSIGHT BY END-USER



Based on end-user type, the institution & government segment shows significant growth, with the fastest-growing CAGR during the forecast period. The segment includes schools, colleges, public sector undertakings, government buildings & offices, etc. In the U.S., expanding existing school and college buildings and rising educational institutions contribute to the market's growth.

Government funding, increased security needs, and the focus on efficiency are the growth factors for smart locks in this segment. These are the prime targets for security breaches so that smart locks can control access. In schools & universities, smart locks secure restricted areas such as dorms, labs, or administrative offices. As smart locks can reduce the need for physical keys and offer streamlined access management, their demand is growing significantly in the U.S. market.



Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 94 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $999.12 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $2330.27 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 15.1% Regions Covered United States



Key Vendors

Allegion plc

Carrier Global

Chamberlain Group

Fortune Brands Innovations

Hampton Products International Corp.

HONEYWELL

LATCH

Lockly

SimpliSafe, Inc.

Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.

Other Prominent Vendors

Anker Innovations

Avent Security

dormakaba Holding AG

LumiUnited Technology Co., Ltd.

MIWA Lock Co.

SALTO Systems, S.L.

SentriLock LLC

U-Tec

ALTRO SMART

Bosma

Cansec Systems Ltd.

Entegrity Smart Property Systems

Gate Labs Inc.

HavenLock, Inc.

Igloohome Inc.

Level

LockState

Thornton Westminster Locksmith

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/alylo4

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Medical Aesthetics Market - Focused Insights 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Medical Aesthetics Market was valued at USD 21.03 billion in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 39.87 billion by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 11.25%.

The global medical aesthetics market report contains exclusive data on 48 vendors. The market is highly competitive and dynamic, with numerous global, regional, and local vendors. These vendors offer end-users diverse medical aesthetic procedure products, treatments, and devices. The competition is intensified by prominent international players such as AbbVie, Bausch Health Companies, Candela, Cutera, Cynosure, El.En. S.p.A., Galderma, Johnson & Johnson, Lumenis, Merz Pharma, Sientra, Sinclair, and Sisram Medical.

Consistently influences market dynamics with its innovative solutions and advanced technologies. Leading market players continually introduce new aesthetic solutions with superior quality and technological features, contributing to the market's competitiveness. These companies also employ strategic business moves such as collaborations, mergers, and acquisitions of smaller and medium-sized market players.

The APAC region is projected to witness the highest CAGR in the global medical aesthetics market during the projection period. The growth is primarily driven by its substantial patient population and the rising number of elderly individuals seeking cosmetic enhancements. The favorable demographic trends and the increasing prevalence of conditions that can be addressed through aesthetic treatments propel market growth. Enhanced access to medical aesthetic care and the ongoing expansion of such services across the region further fuel this upward trajectory.

The increasing expenditure on cosmetic procedures and the swift acceptance of these treatments. This growth is particularly pronounced among the higher and middle-income patient segments, who are increasingly adopting aesthetic procedures as part of their lifestyle changes. The market's dynamic nature is evident in the varying access levels to aesthetic treatments across different APAC countries. In emerging markets such as India and South Korea, the affordability of medical aesthetic procedures drives high treatment rates.

MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Increasing Demand for Neurotoxins



Adopting neurotoxins, particularly Botulinum toxin (known as Botox), has seen a significant rise globally, transforming the landscape of medical aesthetics. This surge is driven by the increasing demand for non-surgical, minimally invasive cosmetic procedures that offer effective and quick results with minimal downtime. Neurotoxins are primarily used to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing the underlying muscles, leading to smoother and more youthful-looking skin. The popularity of these treatments has expanded beyond traditional cosmetic applications to include therapeutic uses, further broadening their appeal and market growth.

One of the major factors contributing to the rise in neurotoxin adoption is the growing awareness and acceptance of aesthetic procedures. Social media platforms, celebrity endorsements, and the proliferation of beauty influencers have played a crucial role in normalizing cosmetic enhancements. This has increased consumer interest and willingness to undergo such treatments, particularly among younger demographics seeking preventive measures against aging. The accessibility and affordability of neurotoxin treatments have also improved, making them more attainable for a broader audience. The therapeutic applications of neurotoxins have also contributed to their widespread adoption.



Growing Advancements in Medical Aesthetic Procedures



Advancements in medical aesthetic procedures have revolutionized the field, offering enhanced effectiveness, safety, and patient satisfaction. The industry has seen significant innovation in surgical and non-surgical treatments, driven by technological developments, increased research, and evolving patient expectations. These advancements have broadened the scope of aesthetic procedures, making them more accessible and appealing to a wider range of individuals.

One of the most notable advancements is in the realm of non-surgical treatments. Minimally invasive procedures, such as injectable neurotoxins (like Botox) and dermal fillers, have become incredibly popular due to their ability to provide quick, noticeable results with minimal downtime. The formulations of these injectables have improved significantly, offering longer-lasting effects and more natural-looking outcomes. Additionally, advanced techniques in administering these treatments have enhanced precision and safety, reducing the risk of side effects and complications. Laser and light-based therapies have also seen tremendous advancements. Fractional lasers, intense pulsed light (IPL), and radiofrequency devices have become standard in treating various skin conditions, including pigmentation, scars, and wrinkles.



Increasing Consumer Base for aesthetics



The increasing consumer base for aesthetics is a testament to the growing demand for cosmetic procedures and treatments across diverse demographics. This expansion is driven by several factors, including societal acceptance, technological advancements, improved accessibility, and shifting cultural perceptions about beauty and self-care. One of the significant factors contributing to the increasing consumer base is the broadening societal acceptance of aesthetic procedures.

Once considered a luxury for the wealthy or a taboo subject, cosmetic enhancements have become mainstream. Influencers, celebrities, and social media platforms have played a crucial role in normalizing these procedures, openly discussing their experiences and sharing results. This visibility has reduced the stigma associated with aesthetic treatments, encouraging more people to consider and undergo such procedures. Technological advancements in medical aesthetics have also significantly contributed to the growing consumer base. Innovations in non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures, such as laser treatments, injectables, and body contouring technologies, offer effective results with minimal downtime and reduced risk compared to traditional surgical methods.



INDUSTRY RESTRAINTS

Side Effects Associated With Medical Aesthetic Treatment



After-procedure complications and customer complaints are significant considerations in aesthetic treatments despite technological advancements and practices aimed at reducing risks. Complications can range from minor issues such as swelling, bruising, or temporary discomfort to more serious complications like infection, scarring, or adverse treatment reactions.

While aesthetic treatments can enhance one's appearance and confidence, they are not without risks. Practitioners and patients alike must approach these procedures with caution, transparency, and a commitment to safety to minimize complications and address any customer complaints effectively. This ongoing diligence and responsiveness are essential for maintaining trust and credibility in aesthetic medicine. To minimize complications and customer complaints, practitioners must undergo comprehensive training and stay updated on the latest techniques and safety protocols.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 180 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $21.03 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $39.87 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 11.2% Regions Covered Global



Key Vendors

AbbVie

Bausch Health Companies

Candela

Cutera

Cynosure

El.En. S.p.A.

Galderma

Johnson & Johnson

Lumenis

Merz Pharma

Sientra

Sinclair

Sisram medical

Other Prominent Vendors

Aerolase

Aesthetics Biomedical

Asclepion Laser Technologies

Astanza

Beijing Sanhe Beauty S & T Co

Beijing ADSS Development

Biolitec

Biotec Italia

BISON Medical

Bluecore

Brera Medical Technologies

BTL Aesthetics

Cartessa

Dominion Aesthetic Technologies

Erchonia

ENDYMED

F Care Systems

Gigaalaser

GSD

InMode Aesthetic Solutions

Leaflife Technology

LINLINE Medical Systems

Lutronic

Lynton Lasers

MedArt ApS

Microaire Surgical Instruments

Medytox

Meyer-Haake

PhotoMedex

Revance Aesthetics

Sciton

ThermiGen

Venus Concept

Wavemed

Zimmer MedizinSysteme

SEGMENT INSIGHTS



By Product

Injectables

Energy-based Devices

Cosmetic Implants

Cosmeceuticals/Skin Care

By Procedure

Non-Invasive

Minimally Invasive

By Gender

Women

Men

By Application

Skin Rejuvenation

Body Contouring & Skin Tightening

Breast Augmentation

Hair Removal

Others

By End-User

Hospitals & Skin Clinics

Medical Spas & Beauty Centers

Homecare

By Age Group

Between 34-50 Years

Above 50 Years

Below 34 Years

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ur9706

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Internet Data Center Market in China - Investment Analysis & Growth Opportunities 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The China Internet Data Center Market was valued at USD 38.85 billion in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 77.37 billion by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 12.17%

This report analyses the Internet data center market in China share. It elaboratively analyses the existing and upcoming facilities and investments in IT, electrical, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standards. It discusses market sizing and investment estimation for different segments.

China's government has approved around ten national data center clusters. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and other Chinese authorities have also announced plans to build computing centers in several provinces and develop data center clusters. As part of its East-to-West plan, the Chinese government aims to transfer data from the eastern part of the country to the western part to develop the data center market in the western region.

China is a relatively inexpensive market for developing a data center facility compared to other countries. As of 2023, the cost of building a data center ranges between USD 7 million and USD 9 million per MW, projecting a YoY growth of between 3% and 5%. China has over 20 operational submarine cables. Five upcoming ones are expected to be deployed during 2024-2025. The Southeast Asia-Japan Cable 2 (SJC2) is the longest cable coming up, spanning about 6,524 miles, connecting China with Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

China Unicom, China Telecom, and China Mobile, among others, are among the top and the largest colocation data center operators in China's Internet data center market and are developing data centers across the country with over 1,500 MW power capacity. Key big data and IoT players in China include- Alibaba Group, Tencent, Huawei Technologies, HCL Technologies, Fugumobile, ThunderSoft, Xiaomi Group, Lenovo Group, iSoftStone Smart Technology, ZTE Corporation, and many others.

VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Some of the key colocation investors in the Internet data center market in China in 2023 are China Telecom, China Mobile, China Unicom, Chayora, GDS Services, Chindata Group, Dr. Peng's Telecom and Media Group, Shanghai Atrium (athub), China International Capital Corporation (CICC), VNET Group, Kehua Data, Sinnet, among others.

In 2023, Chindata Group declared its desire to transform into a privately held firm via a revamped and enhanced arrangement worth USD 3.16 billion. This game-changing decision is the result of coordinated talks with Bain Capital. China Merchants Group also expressed interest in the Chinese data center operator.

In 2023, Tencent Holdings is steadily progressing toward constructing China's largest data center. According to Wang Zhixin, deputy director of the Yangtze River Delta Artificial Intelligence Advanced Computing Centre, a collaborative endeavor between Tencent Holdings and Shanghai's Songjiang district, four buildings have already been completed.

Amazon Web Services, Alibaba Cloud, Microsoft, Tencent Cloud, and Huawei Cloud are the cloud operators with their own dedicated cloud regions in China, with multiple availability zones in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, and others.

WHY SHOULD YOU BUY THIS RESEARCH?

Market size is available regarding investment, area, power capacity, and China's colocation market revenue.

An assessment of the data center investment in China by colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise operators.

Investments in the area (square feet) and power capacity (MW) across regions in the country.

This report details a detailed study of the existing China Internet data center market landscape, an in-depth industry analysis, and insightful predictions about the Internet data center market in China's size during the forecast period.

The Internet data center market in China's landscape investments are classified into IT, power, cooling, and general construction services with sizing and forecast.

This comprehensively analyzes the latest trends, growth rates, potential opportunities, growth restraints, and market prospects.

Provide a business overview and product offerings of prominent IT infrastructure providers, construction contractors, support infrastructure providers, and investors operating in the market.

A transparent research methodology and the analysis of the demand and supply aspects of the market.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 153 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $38.85 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $77.37 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 12.1% Regions Covered China



IT Infrastructure Providers

Cisco Systems

Dell Technologies

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Huawei Technologies

IBM

Inspur

Lenovo

Pure Storage

Quanta Cloud Technology

Wistron Corporation

Data Center Construction Contractors & Sub-Contractors

AECOM

ATS Global

Aurecon

China State Construction

China Electronics Engineering Design Institute

China Railway Construction

Jiangxi Construction Engineering

MCC Group

Tianjin Construction Engineering Group

Zhejiang Cloud Valley

Support Infrastructure Providers

ABB

AIRSYS

Caterpillar

Cummins

Delta Electronics

Eaton

Fuji Electric

Hangzhou Kencool Intelligent Technology

HITEC Power Protection

Legrand

Mitsubishi Electric

Pillar Power Systems

Rittal

Rolls-Royce

Schneider Electric

Shenzhen KSTAR Science and Technology

STULZ

Vertiv

Data Center Investors

Alibaba Group

Chayora

China Mobile

China International Capital Corporation (CICC)

China Telecom

China Unicom

Chindata Group

Dr. Peng's Telecom & Media Group

EdgeConneX

GDS Services

Haoyun Changsheng (Hotwon)

KEHUA Data

Keppel Data Centres

Shanghai Atrium (athub)

Sinnet

Tencent

VNET Group

REPORT COVERAGE:

IT Infrastructure

Servers

Storage Systems

Network Infrastructure

Electrical Infrastructure

UPS Systems

Generators

Switches & Switchgears

PDUs

Other Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

Rack Cabinets

Other Mechanical Infrastructure

CRAC and CRAH

Chillers

Cooling Tower and Dry Coolers

Economizers & Evaporative Coolers

Other Cooling Units

General Construction

Core & Shell Development

Installation & commissioning Services

Building & Engineering Design

Fire Detection & Suppression Systems

Physical Security

DCIM

Tier Standard

Tier I & Tier II

Tier III

Tier IV

Geography

East

West

North

South

TARGET AUDIENCE

Real Estate Investment Trusts

Construction Contractors

Infrastructure Providers

New Entrants

Consultants/Consultancies/Advisory Firms

Corporate and Government Agencies

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ikoj53

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "U.S. Luxury Pens Market - Focused Insights 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The U.S. Luxury Pens Market was valued at USD 311.82 million in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 340.28 million by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 1.47%

The U.S. luxury pen market report contains exclusive data on 26 vendors. The market is a dynamic landscape with a strong presence of established brands and some new entrants. The established brands are renowned for heritage and exquisite craftsmanship. They are getting benefit from strong brand recognition & loyalty of customers.

The established brand is leveraging its rich craftsmanship and history to sell products at premium prices. The new entrants offer innovative luxury pens to gain traction in this market. They use targeted marketing campaigns and social media platforms to promote their products. Companies in this market sell their products through their distribution network. They have strong relations with retailers.

The companies in this market are focusing on offering luxury pens on their website along with other online platforms. They target consumers through the D2C distribution channel. Major companies include A.T. Cross, Aurora Penne, Cartier, Faber-Castell, Lamy, Montblanc, Newell Brands, Pilot, Sheaffer, and S.T. Dupont.



MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Growing Demand for Luxury Pens with Innovative Features



The demand for luxury pens with innovative features is growing significantly in the U.S. market due to various factors, including increasing luxury pen enthusiasts, usage of advanced materials, rising demand for ergonomic design, and customization trends. In the U.S., luxury pen enthusiasts appreciate the heritage, timeless quality, and craftmanship associated with luxury pens. Around 2.00 billion pens are manufactured in the U.S. each year. The innovative features increase the excitement without sacrificing these main elements.

The demand for luxury pens is also rising significantly in the digital era as they enhance the writing experience. Tech-savvy consumers are looking for luxury pens that can give a tactile experience for writing, as they value both progress and tradition in the U.S. New materials like exotic resins or space-grade metals can offer increased durability, lighter weight, or unique experience - pens with new features that reduce hand fatigue during writing by improving comfort.

The demand for personalized luxury pens increases the demand for unique finishes, interchangeable nibs, or pens with engraving for a tailored writing experience. The manufacturers focus on incorporating manufacturing processes and eco-friendly materials to cater to environmentally conscious consumers. Luxury pens with innovative features offer various benefits for the pen companies, including attracting new consumers, increasing value proposition, and standing out. Thus, the manufacturers are focusing on offering innovative features-based luxury pens. It will drive the demand for luxury pens in the U.S. market during the forecast period.



Rising Demand for Personalization



The demand for personalization is a major trend in the U.S. luxury pens market. It creates an immense opportunity for the pen companies. The personalization in luxury pens includes engraving services, limited-edition collection, material & color choices, and partnerships. Personalization impacts the luxury pens market through increased gifting, status symbols, collectible appeal, and brand differentiation. Personalized pens are popular choices for adding a sentimental touch and for gifting purposes. A desire for meaningful and unique gifts drives this trend.

A personalized pen can be seen as a symbol of status, reflecting refined taste and individuality. Owning a luxury pen with custom features adds self-expression and a layer of exclusivity. Personalized pens can be more collectible, which is more valuable for pen enthusiasts. The manufacturing companies offer engraving options, special finishes, and unique materials to cater to the demand for personalized luxury pens. Personalization in luxury pens allows manufacturers to differentiate them in the U.S. market. Personalization can create a stronger bond with the customers, as they appreciate the ability to customize pens.



Growing Consumer Interest in Luxury Writing Products



The consumer interest in luxury writing products is rising in the U.S. market due to shifting priorities, the gift factor, niche markets, symbols of status, and experience over materialism. The manufacturers cater to this trend with innovative designs, personalized touches, high-quality materials, and marketing & storytelling. In the U.S., people appreciate the craftsmanship and tactile experience of quality writing instruments. Luxury pens give a unique option to connect with the personal style and written word.

For professional and personal occasions, luxury pens can be a perfect gift. They appreciate the recipient by conveying thoughtfulness. Owing a luxury pen can signify success, a status symbol, discerning taste, and sophistication. These pens are seen as collectible items or heirlooms. In the U.S., people are looking for new products and gaining experience that offer quality and lasting value. Luxury pens are ideally suited to this criteria, so their popularity is rising in the U.S. market. To increase the interest in and sale of luxury pens, manufacturers create elegant and unique designs that appeal to discerning clientele. As per the Writing Instrument Manufacturers



INDUSTRY RESTRAINTS

Rise of E-communication



The rise of e-communication is a major challenge in this market. The dominance of texting, digital documents, and email has reduced the practical need for people to use luxury pens in day-to-day life. It may decrease the sale of overall pens and affect the luxury pens market. Manufacturers use luxury pens that provide a premium writing experience to overcome this challenge.

They highlight beautiful ink flow, the satisfaction of putting pen to paper, and a smooth feel. They must market their pens as status symbols, thoughtful presence on special occasions, and heirloom pieces to overcome this challenge. Though the demand for luxury pens is higher among senior business people and working professionals, the companies face challenges in attracting younger tech-savvy people to the U.S. It may hinder the growth of the U.S. luxury pen market during the forecast period.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 81 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $311.82 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $340.28 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 1.4% Regions Covered United States

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE



Key Vendors

A.T. Cross

Aurora Penne

Cartier

Faber-Castell

Lamy

Montblanc

Newell Brands

Pilot

Sheaffer

S.T. Dupont

Other Prominent Vendors

Caran d'Ache

Conklin Pens

Edison Pen Co

Esterbrook Pens

Fisher Space Pen

Montegrappa

THE SAILOR PEN CO., LTD.

Visconti

Bentley Motors

Franklin-Christoph

Kaweco

OMAS

Pelikan

PENSbury Manor

Tiffany & Co.

Yard O Led

SEGMENT INSIGHTS

By Product

Fountain Pens

Ballpoint Pens

Rollerball Pens

Others

By Application

Document Marking

Calligraphy

Screenwriting

By Usage

Personal Use

Gifting Use

By Distribution Channel

Offline Stores

Online Stores

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1m2plf

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Sweden Data Center Colocation Market - Supply & Demand Analysis 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Sweden Data Center Colocation Market was valued at USD 210 million in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 525 million by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 16.50%.



The country boasts strong global connectivity, with 23 operational undersea cables and plans for four additional cables. Stockholm, in particular, handles over 55% of the Nordic region's internet traffic, underscoring Sweden's strategic position as a key data hub in the region.

Also, from 2025 onward, new data centers in Sweden will be required to integrate their excess heat into district heating systems. This initiative aligns with sustainability goals and provides a valuable heating source for local communities, enhancing environmental and social benefits.



The Swedish government substantially supports the data center industry, which is characterized by low corporate tax rates, exemption from withholding tax on dividends, and favorable regulatory conditions. These incentives create an attractive environment for major operators, including Google and Microsoft, to establish and expand their presence in Sweden. Several prominent Sweden data center colocation market operators, including EcoDataCenter, Conapto, atNorth, and STACK Infrastructure, are actively expanding their facilities in Sweden.



WHATS INCLUDED?

A transparent research methodology and insights on the market's colocation of demand and supply.

The market size is available for utilized white floor area, IT power capacity, and racks.

The market size is available in terms of Core & Shell vs. Installed vs. Utilized IT Power Capacity and the occupancy percentage.

An assessment and snapshot of the colocation investment regarding core & shell area, power, and rack in Swedish and a comparison between Nordic countries.

The study of the existing Sweden data center market landscape and insightful predictions about industry size during the forecast period.

An analysis of the current and future colocation demand in Sweden by several industries.

Study on sustainability status in the region

Analysis of current and future cloud operations in the region.

Snapshot of upcoming submarine cables and existing cloud-on-ramps services in the region.

Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party data center facilities in Sweden

Facilities Covered (Existing): 38

Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 08

Coverage: 9+ locations

Existing vs. Upcoming (White Floor Area)

Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity)

Data Center Colocation Market in Sweden

Colocation Market Revenue & Forecast (2023-2029)

Retail Colocation Revenue (2023-2029)

Wholesale Colocation Revenue (2023-2029)

Retail Colocation Pricing along with Addons

Wholesale Colocation Pricing along with the pricing trends.

This report analyzes the latest trends, potential opportunities, growth restraints, and prospects for the Swedish data center colocation market.

Competitive landscape, including industry share analysis by the colocation operators based on IT power capacity and revenue.

The vendor landscape of each existing and upcoming colocation operator is based on the existing/ upcoming count of data centers, white floor area, IT power capacity, and data center location.

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 56 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $210 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $525 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 16.5% Regions Covered Sweden



Key Topics Covered:

Market Snapshot

Colocation Market Snapshot

Nordic Colocation Market Comparison

Supply & Demand Analysis

Existing vs. Upcoming Data Center Facilities

Market by Utilized Area

Market by Utilized Racks

Market by IT Power Capacity

Colocation Demand by Industry

Market Growth Factors

Factors Attracting Colocation Investment in Sweden

Sustainability Status in Sweden

Cloud Connectivity

Cloud On-Ramps & Investment in Sweden

Colocation Revenue & Pricing Analysis

Colocation Market by Revenue

Retail vs. Wholesale Colocation

Retail Colocation Pricing and Addons

Wholesale Colocation Pricing & Key Pricing Trends

VENDOR LANDSCAPE

EcoDataCenter

Digital Realty

Equinix

atNorth

STACK Infrastructure (DigiPlex)

GleSYS

Bahnhof

Borderlight (GoGreenHost)

Multigrid

Conapto

Ember

GlobalConnect

Binero Group

Northern Data-Hydro66

Splitvision

Telia

GTT Communications (Interoute)

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lrdaxh

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "U.S. Tele-Intensive Care Unit Market - Focused Insights 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The U.S. Tele-Intensive Care Unit Market was valued at USD 1.31 billion in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 3.51 billion by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 17.85%

The U.S. Tele-Intensive Care Unit market report includes exclusive data on 24 vendors. The market is characterized by rapid technological changes, changing end-user requirements, shorter product lifecycles, and increasing industry standards. Vendors focus on enhancing their solutions with next-generation technologies and developing or acquiring new services to access new consumers in the market.

The U.S. Tele-Intensive Care Unit market is consolidated as prominent players are covered under the larger share of the market. For instance, Eagle Telemedicine, G.E. HealthCare, Hicuity Health, Intercept Telehealth, Koninklijke Philips, and Access TeleCare have vast product and service offerings required by the tele-ICU system.

Integration of AI & ML In Virtual ICU Systems



Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies holds tremendous promise for enhancing the capabilities of virtual ICU systems. These advanced technologies have the potential to revolutionize patient care by enabling virtual ICU systems to predict patient outcomes and identify at-risk individuals with unprecedented accuracy and efficiency.

By leveraging A.I. and machine learning algorithms, virtual ICU systems can analyze vast patient data in real-time, including physiological measurements, laboratory results, and medical imaging findings. These algorithms can detect subtle patterns and correlations within the data that may not be readily apparent to human clinicians, allowing for early identification of deteriorating patients or those at risk of adverse events.

One of the key applications of AI and machine learning in virtual ICU systems is predictive analytics. These systems can use historical patient data to forecast future outcomes, such as the likelihood of complications, readmissions, or mortality. By providing clinicians with actionable insights in advance, virtual ICU systems empowered by AI can facilitate proactive interventions and personalized care plans, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.



Collaborations And Partnerships Between Virtual ICU Providers & Healthcare Organizations



Partnerships between virtual ICU providers and healthcare organizations have emerged as a strategic approach to improving patient outcomes and mitigating healthcare costs. These collaborative ventures leverage the expertise and resources of both parties to enhance critical care delivery and optimize clinical outcomes. Healthcare organizations gain access to advanced telemedicine technology and expertise in critical care management by forging partnerships with virtual ICU providers.

Virtual ICU platforms offer real-time monitoring, remote consultation, and predictive analytics capabilities, enabling healthcare organizations to extend their critical care capabilities beyond traditional boundaries. This enhanced capability to monitor and intervene in critical care patients remotely can lead to early detection of clinical deterioration, timely interventions, and improved patient outcomes.

Furthermore, virtual ICU partnerships can help healthcare organizations achieve cost efficiencies by optimizing resource utilization and reducing the need for expensive interventions, such as transfers to tertiary care centers or prolonged ICU stays. By leveraging virtual ICU technology, healthcare organizations can streamline clinical workflows, minimize unnecessary admissions or readmissions, and enhance the efficiency of critical care delivery.



Growing Demand For Remote Patient Monitoring



The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and the aging population have underscored the importance of remote patient monitoring in healthcare. Virtual ICU systems have emerged as a valuable solution for addressing this need by enabling healthcare providers to monitor patients remotely and deliver timely interventions.

As chronic diseases become more prevalent and the population ages, patients often require ongoing monitoring and management of their conditions. Virtual ICU systems leverage telemedicine technology and advanced monitoring capabilities to remotely track patients' vital signs, physiological parameters, and clinical trends in real time. This continuous monitoring allows healthcare providers to detect changes in patient status early and intervene promptly to prevent complications or adverse events.

Moreover, virtual ICU systems enable healthcare providers to deliver personalized patient care tailored to their unique clinical needs and circumstances. By remotely monitoring patients' health status, healthcare teams can develop customized care plans and interventions that address individual patient needs, preferences, and goals.



Access Management Challenges Of Tele-ICUs



Operating a tele-ICU presents challenges, particularly because remote ICUs may encounter unique issues requiring careful navigation. Despite the promising benefits and growing interest in tele-ICU programs, certain concerns persist. For instance, the limitations of conducting physical examinations remotely can be a barrier, as can resistance to acceptance of this novel model of care among healthcare professionals and patients alike.

Additionally, the lack of uniformity in tele-ICU deployments across different institutions poses challenges in making direct comparisons and implementing standardized practices. These factors collectively contribute to the complexity of operating tele-ICU systems and highlight the need for ongoing efforts to address and overcome these obstacles to realize the full potential of tele-ICU in improving patient care and outcomes.



SEGMENT ANALYSIS

INSIGHT BY DEPLOYMENT TYPE



The U.S. Tele-Intensive Care Unit market by deployment type is segmented into centralized tele-ICU, decentralized tele-ICU, and hybrid tele-ICU. The centralized tele-ICU segment held the largest market share in 2023. The segment's growth is due to the wider adoption of centralized tele-ICU, which offers improved patient monitoring, expert consultation, cost savings, and many other benefits. Centralized tele-ICUs have been increasingly adopted in the U.S. to improve patient outcomes, enhance resource utilization, and address staffing shortages in critical care settings.

INSIGHT BY COMPONENT TYPE



The U.S. Tele-Intensive Care Unit market by component type is categorized into tele-ICU hardware, tele-ICU services, and tele-ICU software. The tele-ICU hardware segment shows the highest growth during the forecast period. These hardware components encompass computer systems, communication networks, high-resolution cameras, video display panels, physiological monitors, medical records systems, and other essential elements. The rising incidence of chronic illnesses, the aging demographic, a surge in surgical interventions, escalating injury rates, and the progression of telemedicine services have collectively spurred heightened demand for hardware systems in remote ICU environments.

INSIGHT BY PATIENT GROUP TYPE



By patient group, the adult patients market segment dominates with the largest share of the U.S. Tele-Intensive Care Unit market in 2023. According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), six out of every ten adults in the U.S. are currently affected by chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. This segment is growing due to increased heart, respiratory, and neuropathy, which are common in adult ICU patients.

INSIGHT BY HOSPITAL TYPE



The system-affiliated hospital segment showcases significant growth, with the fastest-growing CAGR in the U.S. Tele-Intensive Care Unit market during the forecast period. The segment's growth is due to a notable trend of increasing affiliations among hospitals, driven primarily by ongoing consolidation within the healthcare sector in the U.S.

This consolidation is characterized by mid-sized and small hospitals merging either with larger hospital systems or with each other to form extensive hospital chains. As the number of system-affiliated hospitals continues to rise in the United States, there is a corresponding increase in demand for tele-ICUs. Large hospital networks prioritize establishing tele-ICUs to serve a broad patient population, including urban, semi-urban, and rural areas.

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 82 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $1.31 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $3.51 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 17.8% Regions Covered United States



Key Vendors

Eagle Telemedicine

G.E. HealthCare

Hicuity Health

Intercept Telehealth

Koninklijke Philips

Access TeleCare

Other Prominent Vendors

Atrium Health

Avel eCare

Banner Health

AMD Global Telemedicine

CLEW

Ceiba Health

Envision Physician Services

iMDsoft

Inova

RemoteICU

Teladoc Health

VeeOne

Alina Telehealth

Aetonix

SCP Health

Equum Medical

TELE-ICU

vTitan

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7zg967

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Significant copper intersections include:



HM25: 44m @ 0.32% CuEq (from surface) including 8m @ 0.51% CuEq

HM40: 28m @ 0.31% (from surface) and 10m @ 0.80% CuEq from 104m

HM41: 24m @ 0.34% CuEq including 6m @ 0.53%.

HM44: 76m @ 0.33% CuEq and 48m from surface @ 0.31% CuEq

HM45: 72m @ 0.38% CuEq including 10m @ 0.68% CuEq

HM46: 80m @ 0.34% CuEq (from near surface) including 4m @ 0.58% CuEq

HM47: 28m @ 0.39% CuEq (from near surface) and 40m @ 0.39% CuEq



VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Koryx Copper Inc. ("Koryx" or the Company") (TSX-V: KRY) announces the sixth and final batch of assay results from the H1-2024 drill program at its Haib Copper project in southern Namibia.

The seven holes for which assay results are reported here, cover 1,430 metres and 716 sample assays. One of the holes reported was drilled on Target1, two were drilled from Target1 towards Target2 and the remaining four were drilled in the Target2 area. The primary purpose of this drill program was to close the sample spacing in Target1, define the mineralisation between Target1 and Target2 and to delineate the grade limit above 0.3% Cu in the Target2 area.

Pierre Leveille, President & CEO of Koryx stated that: The final results from our 2024 drill program demonstrate that the deposit can deliver grades over 0.3% Cu for substantial widths within the project area. They also indicate the potential to significantly improve the average grade of the deposit compared to previous mineral resource estimates. These results are also important in that they also indicate above average grades in the outer limits of the deposit. This bodes well for the imminent, updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate and follow up drill program due to start in August 2024.

Assay results of significant intersections are tabulated below:

Significant Intersections

Hole# Zone From (m) To (m) Width (m)1 CuEq (%)2 Cu (%) Mo (%) HM25















Target1 0.00 44.00 44.00 0.32 0.30 0.003 Including 20.00 28.00 8.00 0.51 0.50 0.005 Target1 76.00 80.00 4.00 0.38 0.37 0.002 Target1 84.00 88.00 4.00 0.33 0.31 0.004 Target1 114.00 118.00 4.00 0.39 0.39 0.002 HM40































Target1 10.00 38.00 28.00 0.31 0.31 0.001 Target1 74.00 78.00 4.00 0.48 0.46 0.004 Target1 86.00 88.00 2.00 0.77 0.76 0.002 Target1 92.00 94.00 2.00 0.79 0.79 0.001 Target1 104.00 114.00 10.00 0.80 0.79 0.003 Including 104.00 106.00 2.00 0.80 0.80 0.001 Including 110.00 112.00 2.00 1.78 1.77 0.004 Target1 198.00 220.00 22.00 0.35 0.35 0.001 Including 216.00 218.00 2.00 1.01 1.01 0.001 HM41















Target1 0.00 6.00 6.00 0.37 0.37 0.001 Target1 22.00 46.00 24.00 0.34 0.33 0.001 Including 34.00 38.00 4.00 0.50 0.50 0.001 Including 42.00 44.00 2.00 0.69 0.68 0.001 Target1 108.00 114.00 6.00 0.53 0.53 0.001 HM44











Target1-2 2.00 50.00 48.00 0.31 0.30 0.002 Including 2.00 6.00 4.00 0.48 0.48 0.002 Target1-2 102.00 178.00 76.00 0.33 0.31 0.004 Including 124.00 128.00 4.00 0.44 0.43 0.004 HM45











Target2 36.00 50.00 14.00 0.36 0.33 0.009 Target2 88.00 160.00 72.00 0.38 0.34 0.012 Including 140.00 150.00 10.00 0.68 0.55 0.036 Target2 170.00 182.00 12.00 0.34 0.31 0.010 HM46







Target2 26.00 106.00 80.00 0.34 0.33 0.004 Including 28.00 32.00 4.00 0.58 0.50 0.023 Including 76.00 80.00 4.00 0.55 0.55 0.001 HM47







Target2 0.00 28.00 28.00 0.39 0.38 0.003 Target2 84.00 124.00 40.00 0.39 0.35 0.015 Target2 170.00 182.00 12.00 0.39 0.37 0.006





1. Widths are constrained to where the average assay grade 0.3% Cu. Within the interval width where grades are between 0.2% and 0.3% Cu these intervals make up <40% of interval; where sample grades are between 0.2% and 0.3% Cu these intervals are 10m; where grades are below 0.2% Cu these intervals are <20% of the interval; no consecutive grades <0.2% Cu are  4m. 2. CuEq (copper equivalent) has been used to express the combined value of copper and molybdenum and is provided for illustrative purposes only. No allowances have been made for recovery losses that may occur should mining eventually result. Calculations use metal prices of US$3.00/lb copper, US$10/lb molybdenum using the formula: CuEq% = Cu% + (Mo% [$10/$3]). Small differences may exist due to rounding when converting assays reported in ppm to % values.

Drillhole Locations



All of the reported drillholes were completed in the vicinity of the Target1 and Target2 potential starter mining areas which have historically shown better grade. The locations of the drillholes are show on the plan view (Figure 1) and associated long section (Figure 2) below:





Figure 1: Plan view indicating recent drill hole locations and main mineralization outlines

Discussion of Pertinent Results

Drill holes HM25, HM40 and HM41 in the Target1 area demonstrate near surface mineralization at good grades, while HM25 also extends known mineralisation approximately 50m to the east of the limit defined by historical drilling (Rio Tinto drillhole HB082). This encouraging mineralisation close to surface supports the Target1 area as a good target for early mining.

Drillhole HM44 is positioned between Target1 and Target2 and assays show that the shallow Target1 mineralisation extends across this area into Target2. Grades are lower than seen in Target1 but are less variable and consistently above 0.3% Cu. A previously unknown mineralization zone was intersected from 102m to 178m. This represents a significant extension of the >0.3% mineralisation in the area between Target1 and Target2.





Figure 2. Long section looking northeast showing the drillhole intersection depths relative to the updated model for Cu

Mineralization

Moving to the northwest along the section, results from drill hole HM45 show a well-developed mineralized zone from ~90m in the southwestern portion of Target2, extending the limit of >0.3% Cu mineralisation in this area. Similarly, drill hole HM46 shows the presence of a well-developed >0.3% Cu mineralized zone in an area considered low grade by historical drilling. The net result of this is a ~100m horizontal westward extension of the Target2 mineralisation in the vicinity of drill hole HM46.

The final result to the northwest, drill hole HM47, again confirms the presence of a wide, high-grade mineralized zone from surface. An additional lower grade zone was found that was not intersected by nearby historical drilling, which was in turn followed by a second deeper high-grade intersection which has widened the overall >0.3% Cu zone at depth.

Drill Program Update

It was reported in the previous press release that assay results for 8 drillholes were still outstanding, however only 7 drillholes had outstanding assays, all of which are now reported above. The 2024 drilling campaign was completed comprising 26 drillholes (including 1 redrill and deepening of the 2021 drillhole, HM23) totaling 2,861m of drilling. Altogether, 2,426 samples were assayed.

A new drill program is currently being planned with the aim of identifying all remaining mineralized zones and their controls within the main Haib area while also reducing the drill spacing to convert resources to Indicated level in the Target1, Target2 and Target3 area. Drill planning is far advanced, and the fieldwork program is expected to start in August 2024.

Mineral Resouce Update

All of the drill results received from the recently completed program have now been modelled to create an updated wireframe for Cu mineralisation. All results have been validated and compiled and handed over to the MSA Group (MSA) for resource modelling and reporting. MSA is an independent technical consultancy providing high quality geology, exploration, mineral resource, mining and environmental solutions to the international mining industry. MSA is the companys independent technical consultant who has been appointed to model, estimate and report an updated 43.101 compliant mineral resource estimate (MRE). The updated MRE is currently underway and is planned to be reported before the end of September 2024.

Project Location





Figure 3. Plan view of EPL 3140 showing the position of the Haib project in the central part of the permit, and its location in southern Namibia (insert)

Project Development Planning at Haib

The Haib project team is in the process of critically reviewing the historical technical studies with the aim of assessing the potential viability of a conventional milling & flotation circuit to compare with the currently envisaged flotation of fine material and bacterial leaching of the coarse material.

In preparation for this, a follow-on metallurgical test work program has been designed which will include crushing, milling and flotation testwork for higher-grade material as well as coarse particle flotation and bacterial heap leaching of lower grade samples.

In conjunction with the new metallurgical program, the team is defining additional scopes of work needing to be completed before further feasibility studies can commence. Trade off studies will focus on value chain optimisation and mine planning of the updated mineral resource estimate (MRE) when it becomes available, geotechnical, hydrological studies, provision of water and power supply to the proposed future mine site and logistics studies of routes to transport flotation concentrate to market.

Environmental and social impact assessments have begun and certain of the baseline studies are underway with preliminary investigations of the project sites. The ongoing specialist baseline studies will function as a screening study to identify aspects of the project that will be targeted during the detailed ESIA as the project details become more defined.

The lead time for the metallurgical test work is expected to be approximately six months and the results will provide the basis for follow-on economic assessments and feasibility studies. It is intended to use the results of all of these programs to update the PEA design with options that improve the process route.

The inclusion of milling and flotation into the process route is expected to improve the technical robustness of the overall process flowsheet and in conjunction with the expected higher processing grades it may have a positive effect on overall project economics in the updated PEA. Following this, further metallurgical trade-off studies are then planned to be incorporated into a bankable feasibility study process in due course.

Quality Control

All drill core was logged, photographed, and cut in half with a diamond saw. Half of the core was bagged and sent to ALS Laboratories Ltd. in Johannesburg, South Africa for analysis (SANAS Accredited Testing Laboratory, No. T0387), while the other half was quartered with one quarter archived and stored on site for verification and reference purposes while the other quarter will be used for metallurgical test work. 33 elements are analyzed by Induced Coupled Plasma (ICP) utilizing a 4-acid digestion and gold is assayed for using a 30g fire assay method. Duplicate samples, blanks, and certified standards are included with every batch and are actively used to ensure proper quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) The QA/QC frequency is 1 in 20 for each of blanks, duplicates and standards.

Qualified Person

Mr. Dean Richards Pr.Sci.Nat., MGSSA  BSc. (Hons) Geology is the Qualified Person for the Haib Copper Project as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release.

Other matters

The Company has granted a total of 250,000 incentive stock options (the "Options") to purchase common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") to certain Directors, Officers, Consultants and Employees of the Company pursuant to the Company's long-term incentive plan (the "LTIP"). Each Option is exercisable into one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.70 per Common Share for a period of three (3) years from the date of grant. One half (1/2) of the Options shall vest after twelve(12) months of the grant date and 1/4 every 6 months thereafter. All of the Options expire on August 8, 2027.

Additionally, the Company has issued a total of 2,395,000 restricted share units (the "RSUs") to certain Directors and Officers, Consultants and Employees of the Company in accordance with the LTIP. Each RSU entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share on vesting. One half (1/2) of the RSUs shall vest after twelve (12) months of the grant date and 1/4 every 6 months thereafter.

The Company has also extended 100,000 options issued to a consultant in 2021. The options will now expire on June 2, 2025 at an exercise price of $1.00 per Common Share.

The grant of the Options and RSUs is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange

About Koryx Copper Inc.

Koryx Copper Inc. is a Canadian copper development Company focused on advancing the 100% owned, PEA-stage Haib Copper Project in Namibia whilst also building a portfolio of copper exploration licenses in Zambia.

Haib is a large and advanced copper/molybdenum porphyry deposit in southern Namibia with a history of exploration and project development by multiple operators. Mineralization at Haib is typical of a porphyry copper deposit and the deposit remains intact. Porphyry copper deposits are a major global source of copper with the best-known examples being concentrated around the Pacific Rim, North America and South America. Haib is one of the few examples of a Paleoproterozoic porphyry copper deposit in the world and one of only two in southern Africa (both in Namibia). Due to its age, the deposit has been subjected to multiple metamorphic and deformation events, but still retains many of the classic mineralization and alteration features typical of these deposits. The mineralization is dominantly chalcopyrite with minor bornite and chalcocite present and only minor secondary copper minerals at surface due to the arid environment.

More than 70,000m of drilling has been conducted at Haib since the 1970s with significant exploration programs led by companies including Falconbridge (1964), Rio Tinto (1975) and Teck (2014). Teck remains a strategic and supportive shareholder. In addition to extensive drilling, metallurgical testing, geophysics and geological mapping, various mine modeling and technical studies have been completed to date.

More information is available by contacting Pierre Leveille, President & CEO at

+1-819-340-0140 or at: info@koryxcopper.com

Forward Looking Statement and Disclaimer

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 press release contains certain "forward-looking statements," as identified in Koryxs periodic filings with Canadian Securities Regulators that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. This News Release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "will", "may", "should", "expects", "plans", or "anticipates" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward looking statements, including but not limited to the Companys plans regarding the Haib Copper project. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Companys actual results, level 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. Such uncertainties and risks may include, among others, actual results of the Company's exploration activities being different than those expected by management, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required government or other regulatory approvals or financing, inability to procure equipment and supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis, equipment breakdown and bad weather. While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect the Company's current judgment regarding the direction of its business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggestions herein. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not intend to update any forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results.

Note: Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral Resource Estimates do not account for mineability, selectivity, mining loss and dilution. These mineral resource estimates are based on Indicated Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. However, there is no certainty that these Indicated Mineral Resources will be converted to Measured categories through further drilling, or into Mineral Reserves, once economic considerations are applied. There is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized.



Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/58d71179-fd6a-468b-8d57-323200ce250d

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3240adaa-0112-4736-a947-1ed2435729c1

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3bbeff5a-2c28-4e11-b189-ec16a211ae28
WILMINGTON, Del., Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acorn Energy, Inc. (OTCQB: ACFN) (Acorn), a provider of remote monitoring and control solutions for backup power generators, gas pipelines, air compressors and other mission critical assets, announced results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2024 (Q224) and will hold an investor call today at 11am ET (see call details below).

Summary Financial Results ($ in thousands) Q224 Q2'23 Change 6M24 6M'23 Change Monitoring revenue $ 1,110 $ 1,065 +4.2 % $ 2,212 $ 2,089 +5.9 % Hardware revenue $ 1,165 $ 908 +28.3 % $ 2,195 $ 1,633 +34.4 % Total revenue (1) $ 2,275 $ 1,973 +15.3 % $ 4,407 $ 3,722 +18.4 % Gross margin 73.2 % 75.5 % 73.9 % 75.4 % Net income to stockholders $ 271 $ 96 +182.3 % $ 336 $ 11 nm (2) Net income per diluted share $ 0.11 $ 0.04 +175.0 % $ 0.13 $ 0.00 nm (2) (1) All of Acorns revenue is derived from its 99%-owned operating subsidiary, OmniMetrix. (2) The percentage change is not meaningful because net income for the first six months of 2023 was near zero.

CEO Commentary

Jan Loeb, Acorns CEO, commented, Our Q2 and first half results reflect increases in hardware revenue, which supports future growth in recurring, high-margin, monitoring revenue. Building on this trend in June, we secured a contract valued at approximately $5M with a leading wireless telecom provider to provide remote monitoring and control services for between 5-10 thousand cell tower backup generators in the U.S. We expect to deploy the monitoring units and services over a two-year period. We have already received purchase orders for approximately $2 million and expect to commence hardware shipments in August and to book related revenue upon customer acceptance late in Q324 and continuing in subsequent periods.

This contract, the largest in OmniMetrix history, puts us on a solid path to achieve or exceed our annual revenue growth target of 20% this year and next. The contract was secured through a competitive selection process which we believe confirms the value and compelling characteristics of OmniMetrixs industry-leading solutions, technology and customer service. We are working to ensure that the projects successful completion serves as powerful case study for other large commercial and industrial deployment opportunities.

Importantly, demand for backup generators and 24/7 monitoring and control continues to increase as a result of various tragic weather events and wildfires that have disrupted the electric grid. After hurricane Beryl hit Houston on July 8th, 2.6 million Texas households and businesses were left in the dark, some reportedly for up to 2 weeks. Significant, prolonged events such as this boost demand for backup generators, and we are already experiencing increased demand in Texas for OmniMetrix solutions as a result of the storm.

We also expect increased demand for generators and monitoring in the wake of wildfires in the U.S. as well as Canada, where we are working to expand our sales and marketing reach. In addition to causing power outages, wildfires also negatively impact air quality. Our new user interface, OmniView 2, provides a range of new features, including Air Quality Index (AQI) data to support customer compliance with air quality regulations that vary by location and regulator. Under these regulations, businesses can be fined for operating generators on bad air quality days; OmniMetrix solutions provide customers with the data they need to assure regulatory compliance.

Overall, we have made significant progress to date in 2024 and expect our positive momentum to build in the second half of the year as we work to advance a range of growth opportunities.

Financial Review

Q224 revenue rose 15.3% to $2,275,000 over Q223 revenue of $1,973,000, including a 28.3% increase in hardware revenue and a 4.2% increase in monitoring revenue. As in recent quarters, the Q224 hardware revenue increase is primarily attributable to the recognition of revenue from new hardware product versions that are capable of being distinct and separable from the companys monitoring services. Revenue increases were attributable to increased revenue recognized from TrueGuard (TG) Pro and TG2 products in the companys generator monitoring segment, partially offset by a decline in Hero2 revenue recognized in its cathodic pipeline segment. Sales of new hardware are generally recognized as revenue upon the shipment of product, whereas monitoring revenue is deferred and amortized over the term of the monitoring contract, typically one year. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2024, revenue grew 18.4% compared to the prior-year period, primarily attributable to the increase in revenue recognized in the generator monitoring segment.

Driven by revenue increases, gross profit grew 11.7% to $1,665,000 in Q224, reflecting a gross margin of 73.2%, as compared to gross profit of $1,490,000 and gross margin of 75.5% in Q223. The decrease in gross margin was primarily attributable to a higher proportion of hardware in the revenue mix, as hardware carries a lower gross margin than monitoring. Gross profit grew 16.0% in the first six months of 2024 compared to the prior-year period, and gross margin was 73.9% vs. 75.4%, also reflecting a higher concentration of hardware in the revenue mix.

Total operating expenses were flat at $1,407,000 in Q224 and Q223, as lower SG&A costs offset increased R&D expense. Lower SG&A primarily reflects a structural change in our sales organization in Q224 and decreases in various other operating expense categories including business taxes, depreciation expense, and travel expenses. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2024, total operating expenses increased by $102,000 or 3.6%, including R&D increasing $62,000 (15.4%) and SG&A increasing $40,000 (1.7%). The increase in R&D expense is primarily related to increased salaries of engineering staff and continued investment in innovation of the OmniMetrix product line.

Net income attributable to Acorn stockholders improved to $271,000, or $0.11 per diluted share, in Q224 from $96,000, or $0.04 per diluted share, in Q223. Revenue and gross profit increases, and level operating expenses, drove the improved profitability. For the six-months ended June 30, 2024, net income increased to $336,000, or $0.13 per diluted share, as compared to $11,000, or $0.00 per diluted share, in the year-ago period.

Per-share amounts have been adjusted to reflect stock options and the 1-for-16 reverse stock split executed in September 2023.

Liquidity and Cash Flow

Excluding deferred revenue of $3,590,000 and deferred cost of goods sold of $608,000, which have no impact on future cash flow, net working capital was $2,559,000 at June 30, 2024, as compared to $2,654,000 at December 31, 2023. Net working capital included cash and cash equivalents of $1,463,000 at June 30, 2024, and $1,449,000 at year-end 2023, with no debt outstanding in either period.

In the first six months of 2024, Acorn generated $41,000 from operating activities; $40,000 was used in investing activities, and $13,000 was received from the exercise of stock options.

Investor Call Details

Date/Time: Thursday, August 8th at 11:00 AM ET Dial-in Number: 1-844-834-0644 or 1-412-317-5190 (Intl) Online Replay/Transcript: Audio file and call transcript will be posted to the Investor section of Acorn's website when available. Submit Questions via Email: acfn@catalyst-ir.com  before or after the call.

About Acorn ( www.acornenergy.com ) and OmniMetrix( www.omnimetrix.net )

Acorn Energy, Inc. owns a 99% equity stake in OmniMetrix, a pioneer and leader in Internet of Things (IoT) wireless remote monitoring and control solutions for stand-by power generators, gas pipelines, air compressors and other industrial equipment. OmniMetrix serves tens of thousands of commercial and residential customers, including over 25 Fortune/Global 500 companies, supporting cell towers, manufacturing plants, medical facilities, data centers, retail stores, public transportation systems, energy distribution and federal, state and municipal government facilities and residential backup generators.

OmniMetrixs proven, cost-effective solutions make critical systems more reliable and also enable automated demand response electric grid support via enrolled backup generators.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. There are no assurances that Acorn will be successful in growing its business, increasing its revenue, increasing profitability, or maximizing the value of its operating company and other assets. A complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties that may affect Acorn Energys business, including the business of its subsidiary, is included in Risk Factors in the Companys most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Follow us X (formerly Twitter): @Acorn_IR and @OmniMetrix StockTwits: @Acorn_Energy

Investor Relations Contacts

Catalyst IR

William Jones, 267-987-2082

David Collins, 212-924-9800

acfn@catalyst-ir.com





ACORN ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) Six months ended

June 30, Three months ended

June 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Revenue $ 4,407 $ 3,722 $ 2,275 $ 1,973 COGS 1,151 916 610 483 Gross profit 3,256 2,806 1,665 1,490 Operating expenses: Research and development expenses (R&D) 464 402 226 188 Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses 2,456 2,416 1,181 1,219 Total operating expenses 2,920 2,818 1,407 1,407 Operating income (loss) 336 (12 ) 258 83 Interest income, net 33 27 18 16 Income before income taxes 369 15 276 99 Income tax expense 25    Net income 344 15 276 99 Non-controlling interest share of income (8 ) (4 ) (5 ) (3 ) Net income attributable to Acorn Energy, Inc. stockholders $ 336 $ 11 $ 271 $ 96 Basic and diluted net income per share attributable to

Acorn Energy, Inc stockholders  basic and diluted Basic* $ 0.14 $ 0.00 $ 0.11 $ 0.04 Diluted* $ 0.13 $ 0.00 $ 0.11 $ 0.04 Weighted average number of shares outstanding attributable to

Acorn Energy, Inc. stockholders  basic and diluted Basic* 2,487 2,484 2,487 2,485 Diluted* 2,501 2,486 2,507 2,487 * As adjusted to reflect the September 2023 1-for16 reverse stock split.





ACORN ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) As of

June 30, 2024 As of

December 31, 2023 (Unaudited) ASSETS Current assets: Cash $ 1,463 $ 1,449 Accounts receivable, net 540 536 Inventory, net 731 962 Deferred cost of goods sold (COGS) 608 809 Other current assets 392 280 Total current assets 3,734 4,036 Property and equipment, net 552 570 Right-of-use assets, net 139 193 Deferred COGS 226 476 Other assets 118 174 Total assets $ 4,769 $ 5,449 LIABILITIES AND DEFICIT Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 288 $ 288 Accrued expenses 123 132 Deferred revenue 3,590 4,034 Current operating lease liabilities 127 123 Other current liabilities 29 30 Total current liabilities 4,157 4,607 Long-term liabilities: Deferred revenue 990 1,550 Noncurrent operating lease liabilities 33 98 Other long-term liabilities 22 20 Total liabilities 5,202 6,275 Commitments and contingencies Deficit: Acorn Energy, Inc. stockholders Common stock - $0.01 par value per share: 42,000,000 shares

authorized, 2,537,485 and 2,534,969 shares issued at June 30, 2024 and

December 31, 2023, respectively, and 2,487,307 and 2,484,791 shares

outstanding at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively 25 25 Additional paid-in capital 103,372 103,321 Accumulated stockholders deficit (100,812 ) (101,148 ) Treasury stock, at cost  50,178 shares at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (3,036 ) (3,036 ) Total Acorn Energy, Inc. stockholders deficit (451 ) (838 ) Non-controlling interest 18 12 Total deficit (433 ) (826 ) Total liabilities and deficit $ 4,769 $ 5,449




HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Erdene Resource Development Corp. (TSX:ERD | MSE:ERDN) (Erdene or the Company) is pleased to announce operating and financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2024, and to provide an update on progress at its Bayan Khundii Gold Project (BK or Project), being developed with Mongolian Mining Corporation (MMC). This release should be read in conjunction with the Companys Q2-2024 Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements and MD&A, available on the Companys website and SEDAR+.

Peter Akerley, Erdenes President and CEO stated, The second quarter of 2024 was another productive period for Erdene as we made significant progress on both the exploration and development of our Khundii Minerals District projects in Southwestern Mongolia.

He continued, At the end of June, construction of the Bayan Khundii Gold Project stood at approximately 30% completion, with the process plant, the critical path facility, almost 40% constructed. All major mechanical equipment is now on site and construction has commenced on non-process infrastructure including the overhead transmission line. Though we have seen modest logistical and weather related delays the Project remains largely on schedule with first gold production projected in mid-2025.

Mr. Akerley concluded, Exploration over the past few months identified several new gold targets on both the Khundii and Zuun Mod licenses. Drilling is underway at Bayan Khundii to test targets west of the economic pit for expansion opportunities and to increase confidence of high-grade ore scheduled to be mined in the first year of production. Results of this work are expected in late Q3 2024.

Q2-2024 Highlights and Significant Subsequent Events:



Images: Bayan Khundii Construction Site  August 2024



Bayan Khundii Gold Project

Reached approximately 30% construction progress at Bayan Khundii at June 30, 2024 Approximately US$60 million of total Project expenditures to the end of Q2 2024 Proceeding largely to schedule  construction expected to be substantially complete by the end of 2024 and first gold production in mid-2025 Process plant, the critical path facility, was ~40% complete at quarter end with critical mechanical equipment installation underway, focused on the SAG and ball mills Almost 500 personnel on-site at quarter end achieving ~1,500,000 construction hours to date without a lost-time or environmental incident

Advanced community development and local employment stakeholder programs Local Cooperation Agreement in place to support 2024 community development programs Recruitment and training of Bayan Khundii mine workforce well advanced with 120 local residents completing mining equipment operator training at MMCs UHG mine Environmental Management Plan and the Gobi Bear conservation programs well progressed



Khundii Minerals District Exploration

Conducted surface sampling program at the Greater Dark Horse area and at Zuun Mod Multiple samples from Greater Dark Horse returned high grade gold (up to 37.7 g/t Au) and silver (over 100 g/t Ag), providing targets for follow-up drilling Discovered new gold prospect 4.5km west of the Zuun Mod molybdenum-copper deposit

Launched 2,400 metre infill and exploration drill program at Bayan Khundii on July 21 Program will increase confidence in high-grade, near-surface zones and confirm near-pit resources, especially in the Khundii West area, and potentially expand known gold mineralization

Added Kelly Cluer as Technical Advisor to assist exploration team Brings more than 30 years experience including over a decade in Mongolia where he led the discovery and definition of two of the Countrys largest gold deposits Most recently held senior leadership positions with Kinross a leading gold producer



Corporate

Recorded a net loss of $1,868,814 for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to a net loss of $2,507,581 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 Exploration and evaluation expenses totaled $596,590 for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $478,599 for the same quarter in 2023, with the increase due to higher staffing and office costs, as these expenditures were expensed in the current period, but capitalized to the Zuun Mod license in the comparative period, partially offset by the timing of annual performance stock option grants, which were incurred in Q1 2024 versus Q2 2023 Corporate and administrative expenses totaled $667,030 for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $1,391,454 for three months ended June 30, 2023, with the decrease from the prior year comparative quarter primarily due to the timing of annual staff performance bonuses and stock option grants, which were incurred in the Q1 2024 compared to Q2 2023 Loss from investment in associate of $644,607 for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $696,325 for the three months ended June 30, 2023, with the period over period change primarily due to an increase in interest following the February 2024 financing by EM more than offsetting Erdenes change in ownership following the close of the Strategic Alliance



Qualified Person

Peter Dalton, P.Geo. (Nova Scotia), Senior Geologist for Erdene, is the Qualified Person as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

About Erdene

Erdene Resource Development Corp. is a Canada-based resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious and base metals in underexplored and highly prospective Mongolia. The Company has interests in three mining licenses and an exploration license in Southwest Mongolia, where exploration success has led to the discovery and definition of the Khundii Minerals District. Erdene Resource Development Corp. is listed on the Toronto and the Mongolian stock exchanges. Further information is available at www.erdene.com. Important information may be disseminated exclusively via the website; investors should consult the site to access this information.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information regarding Erdene contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance, or other statements that are not statements of fact. Although Erdene believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Erdene cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, most of which are beyond its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what Erdene currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the ability to obtain required third party approvals, market prices, exploitation, and exploration results, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. The forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The information contained herein is stated as of the current date and is subject to change after that date. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS RELEASE

Erdene Contact Information

Peter C. Akerley, President and CEO, or

Robert Jenkins, CFO

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6d74250f-022f-49d9-9494-250d8472a7f7
US & Canada, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



Global Explosion-Proof Lighting Market -





Source: The Insight Partners Analysis, Primary Interviews, Magazines and Journals, and Secondary Sources

Explosion-Proof Lighting Market Introduction:

Lighting fixtures that are capable of containing sparks that could possibly ignite the combustible and explosive gasses in the atmosphere are referred to as explosion resistant lighting. Thus, the term "explosion proof lighting" refers to the ability of lighting equipment to stop external explosions from happening in a dangerous area rather than lighting that is explosion-resistant.

A robust frame composed of a durable material such as steel or aluminum commonly encloses an explosion-proof lighting fixture. Additionally, ex-proof lighting fixtures have incredibly strong lenses that can resist hard use and keep them from cracking, which could let in leaks.

Industries across the globe are extensively focusing on adopting stringent standards and practices for equipment to be used in hazardous locations.





Download Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00038987/







Explosion-Proof Lighting Market Overview :

Hazardous events across diverse industries can be easily tackled by implementing the best practices. Several agencies are responsible for certifying the types of equipment for use in a hazardous area. For instance, in North America, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and Factory Mutual (FM) usually provide standards, testing, and certification, whereas in Canada, the Canadian Standard Association (CSA) provides these approvals.

Similarly, in Europe, Equipment for Potentially Explosive Atmospheres (i.e., ATEX) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) offer standards that are acknowledged worldwide. These organizations do not implement their testing, such as UL, FM and CSA. However, they notify bodies to perform the testing so as to meet the standards set by them. Several North American players also certify their products to IEC/or ATEX standards in order to sell them internationally. However, the certifications offered by these organizations are quite different from each other.









Key Factors Impacting the Market:

Source: The Insight Partners Analysis, Primary Interviews, Magazines and Journals, and Secondary Sources





Expansion of Oil & gas Industry: The oil & gas industry plays an important role in the economic transformation of various countries. The industry accounts for the largest share of global consumption of energy resources. Natural gas is likely to be one of the fastest-growing fossil fuels in the coming years. Many countries are scaling up their oil production capacities to fulfill their domestic energy demands. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global oil demand is expected to rise by 6% during 20222028, with significant requirements from the chemicals, energy, power, aviation, and petrochemical industries. The global demand is ultimately expected to reach 105.7 million barrels per day by 2028. A rapidly increasing need for oil among various industries encourages oil & gas industry players to scale up their capacities through plant expansion strategies, which creates the need for explosion-proof equipment, such as lighting, for efficiently monitoring and controlling plant operations by enhancing workers' safety. According to the Urwald eV report published in November 2023, 384 businesses across the world reported an average capital expenditure of more than US$ 10 million in oil & gas exploration activities during 20212023. The top seven companies that invested in oil & gas exploration were China National Petroleum Corporation (US$ 5.9 billion), China National Offshore Oil Corporation (US$ 3.2 billion), Saudi Aramco (US$ 2.8 billion), Pemex (US$ 2.6 billion), Sinopec Group (US$ 2.4 billion), Pioneer Natural Resources (US$ 2.1 billion), and Shell plc (US$ 2.0 billion).









Need to Ensure Workforce Safety: With the growing number of accidents in industries such as oil & gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, energy, and mining, the focus on industrial safety measures has also increased worldwide. For instance, according to the Mine Safety and Health Administration, seven miners died in the first six weeks of 2023 due to an electrocution incident. Similarly, in September 2023, a gas leak at Aarey Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd in Maharashtra's Palghar district killed a contract worker and seriously injured four others. This increases the demand for explosion-proof lighting in oil & gas industry to prevent accidents. Good lighting conditions are critical for spotting possible hazards and detecting warning signs of equipment malfunctioning in hazardous areas. Thus, optimal lighting installations may help reduce the number of accidents in factories worldwide, which propels the demand for explosion-proof lighting in accident-prone industries. A properly lit workplace with stable illumination reinforces a company's commitment to safety and allows employees to accomplish their tasks with confidence. According to data from the European Union (EU), the Seveso-III Directive (Directive 2012/18/EU) on the control of major accident dangers establishes the necessary framework for risk management procedures to prevent major accidents and mitigate their consequences. This framework applies to nearly 12,000 industrial facilities throughout the EU. Industries are deploying lighting fixtures with consent ratings of Class 1 Division 1 (C1D1) and Class 1 Division 2 (C1D2) within their facilities to reduce fire or other explosive risks. Explosion proof lighting in hazardous areas is crucial to prevent accidents and promote a safe work culture.





IoT-Based Intelligent Lighting Systems: IoT-enabled, intelligent explosion-proof lighting solutions with advanced features benefit industries through predictive maintenance, automated control, and connection with other systems. R. STAHL AG, ABB Ltd, Cortem S.p.A., and Hubbell are a few of the major market players engaged in developing and adding advanced features to explosion-proof lights to assist their customers in improving workplace safety. For instance, in June 2024, Golden Future Enterprise HK LTD developed intelligent explosion-proof lights by adding numerous features and benefits such as remote monitoring, fault diagnosis, and automated brightness adjustment. These lights are integrated with sensors and communication modules that can facilitate monitoring of the surrounding environment in real time. The intelligent explosion-proof lights automatically modify their operating modes using sophisticated algorithms and adapt to diverse working conditions, therefore boosting safety.





Order a Copy of this Report at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00038987/







Evolving Industry Standards: Explosion proof lighting certification is a difficult procedure that involves formal certification, testing, and adherence to strict requirements to guarantee that lighting fixtures are safe for locations that are vulnerable to unintentional fires and explosions. Regions across the globe have adopted various standards and certifications.





Source: The Insight Partners Analysis, Primary Interviews, Magazines and Journals, and Secondary Sources





Regional Overview:

The geographic scope of the explosion-proof lighting market entails five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and South America. In 2023, Asia Pacific led the market, followed by North America and Europe.





Source: The Insight Partners Analysis, Primary Interviews, Magazines and Journals, and Secondary Sources





The APAC explosion-proof lighting market is segmented into China, India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and the Rest of APAC. The region is expected to record the highest CAGR in the market during 20232031, and the projected market growth can be ascribed to the expanding mining industry and government support toward the development of smart manufacturing facilities. According to a 2023 report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), India, China, and Indonesia contribute massive shares to global coal production. Chinas coal production increased by 3.3% and reached 4,631 metric tons in 2023, surpassing the production levels recorded in 2022 by 417 metric tons. Similarly, Indias coal production rose by 7% and reached 989 metric tons in 2023. Governments of these countries focus on encouraging technological advancements in the mining sector and supporting the development of smart manufacturing facilities, which indicates potential demand for explosion-proof lighting in these industries.

As per an article published in NS Energy, the Government of India has plans to start 647 oil & gas projects during 20212025 to transform India into a gas-based economy. Further, according to Sinopec, a national oil company, the natural gas demand in China reached 395 bcm in 2022, recording a 7% increase from the 370 bcm demand generated in 2021. Workers in the oil & gas industry often operate in hazardous locations and explosive environments. Thus, the surging number of oil & gas projects fuels the demand for explosion-proof lighting in Asia Pacific to safeguard employees from hazardous gas vapors, flammable liquids, or combustible dust.









Competitive Landscape:

The explosion-proof lighting market is highly fragmented owing to the presence of several local and international players. The manufacturers either offer their products directly or through different agencies, suppliers, distributors, and dealers. Also, these products are offered through online channels. A few key players operating in the explosion-proof lighting market are ABB Ltd; Hubbell Inc; Eaton Corp Plc; Cortem S.p.A.; Pepperl+Fuchs SE; Emerson Electric Co; Rockwell Automation Inc; Adolf Schuch GmbH; Airfal International; LDPI, Inc; ABTECH; Signify Holding (Philips); R. STAHL AG; NORKA; Glamox; TREVOS, a.s.; and TEP Ex d.o.o.





Source: The Insight Partners Analysis, Primary Interviews, Magazines and Journals, and Secondary Sources





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Electra, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New Asia Holdings Inc./Olenox Corp. (NAHD or the Company) (OTCQB: NAHD), announces Olenoxs wholly-owned subsidiary, Olenox Kansas has been selected to operate 181 natural gas wells in the Bradshaw portion of the Giant Hugoton Field. Discovered in 1926, The Hugoton Complex has produced over 26 trillion cubic feet of gas since its discovery in 1926 and is the largest natural gas field in North America. The operations will be conducted on 61,945 acres that extend nearly 80 miles through Greeley and Hamilton Counties in Kansas.

We are honored to be able to work within such a historical Field, says Olenox CEO Michael McLaren. We have completed the necessary agreements with the Kansas Corporation Commission and have begun our field operations at the start of this month.

The company will introduce modern pumping and monitoring technologies to increase field efficiencies, reduce costs, and better protect the environment during the operation of these stripper wells.

About Olenox Corp..

Olenox Corp. is a diversified energy company based in the state of Texas that currently operates three vertically integrated business units  Oil and Gas, Energy Services, and Energy Technologies.

Oil and Gas : focuses on acquiring and optimizing underdeveloped oil and gas assets in Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. It employs both internally developed and third-party-licensed technologies to increase production, optimize performance and reduce costs. Olenox currently operates 16 leases on approximately 2,000 acres with 125 wells on lease to reactivate. Since acquiring the leases in July 2022, Olenoxs Oil and Gas division has intermittently increased production from an average of 7 barrels/day to over 40 barrels per day. After reviewing well control data in the area, Olenox believes that there is more recoverable oil available on these leases.

: focuses on acquiring and optimizing underdeveloped oil and gas assets in Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. It employs both internally developed and third-party-licensed technologies to increase production, optimize performance and reduce costs. Olenox currently operates 16 leases on approximately 2,000 acres with 125 wells on lease to reactivate. Since acquiring the leases in July 2022, Olenoxs Oil and Gas division has intermittently increased production from an average of 7 barrels/day to over 40 barrels per day. After reviewing well control data in the area, Olenox believes that there is more recoverable oil available on these leases. Energy Services: This business unit supports Olenoxs overall exploration and production efforts with well services and end-of-life reclamation. Olenox Energy Services owns and operates a combination of customized service-wireline rigs and HydroVac units. This specialized equipment allows for faster rig in and rig out times. Overall, Olenox Energy Services equipment and experience combination seeks to reduce the amount of time and fuel burned to complete an abandonment or workover thus reducing costs.

This business unit supports Olenoxs overall exploration and production efforts with well services and end-of-life reclamation. Olenox Energy Services owns and operates a combination of customized service-wireline rigs and HydroVac units. This specialized equipment allows for faster rig in and rig out times. Overall, Olenox Energy Services equipment and experience combination seeks to reduce the amount of time and fuel burned to complete an abandonment or workover thus reducing costs. Energy Technologies: This business provides both R&D and existing technology to enable increased production in the field. Olenox's flagship intellectual property is its downhole-enhanced recovery plasma pulse tooling and ultrasonic cleaning tools.

Each of Olenoxs three vertically integrated business units operates in tandem to help Olenox capture unique opportunities that often go untapped by the Company's competitors.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OlenoxCorp



Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olenoxcorp/

Twitter: https://x.com/OlenoxCorp

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OlenoxCorp

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olenoxcorp/

Safe Harbor Statement: Certain statements and information included in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which 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 in such statements. Additional discussion of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's projections, estimates, and expectations is contained in the Company's SEC filings. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, or developments, except as required by federal securities laws.

Attachments
LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MetAlert, Inc. (OTC: MLRT), a pioneer in the field of wearable GPS human and high value asset tracking, announced it has selected TEAL for its advanced connectivity solutions and secure communication protocol for the GunAlert platform. GunAlert is an all-in-one gun safety combination lock with integrated motion sensor and GPS theft recovery technology, and the award-winning GPS SmartSole, a wearable medical monitoring device that is integrated into an orthotic insole allowing discreet and unobtrusive tracking and remote monitoring of Alzheimers, Dementia, and Autism sufferers.



TEALs patented, GSMA certified eSIM technology connects any compatible device onto any data network worldwide. With more network operator agreements than any other connectivity provider, TEAL provides the flexibility and control to remotely switch between networks, ensuring the highest level of reliability and performance for any internet of things (IoT) deployment.

"We're thrilled to support MetAlert in their mission to promote safety globally. With this collaboration, MetAlert customers will benefit from uninterrupted, always-on operation, ensuring their tracking devices stay connected to the best networks, wherever they are located. At TEAL, we pride ourselves on overcoming complexities and enabling rapid, hassle-free access to global data networks. Were proud to support MetAlert in delivering reliable and secure connections across top-tier networks, bolstering their efforts to safeguard communities worldwide," said Robby Hamblet, TEAL CEO.

Created with gun safety as a priority, GunAlert is a motion sensitive combination cable lock with GPS and cellular theft alert and recovery technology. The patented technology is sensitive enough to alert you as soon as your gun is moved, and through the GunAlert app (Android and iOS) you can securely view your guns exact location and monitor all unauthorized movements. Every two minutes a gun is stolen in the U.S. and approximately 132 people die every day from a firearm-related injury, so when seconds count, GunAlert can mean the difference between life and tragedy.

MetAlerts GPS SmartSole plus is the worlds first invisible tracking and monitoring device used to monitor cognitively impaired individuals. It is now available in more than 35 countries and uses cellular networks to communicate with the cloud and send alerts to either a mobile app or online portal, enabling the location of the wearer to be tracked for successful recovery in the event of an elopement.

The TEAL partnership is a critical component for the launch of our GunAlert and global rollout of our SmartSole plus. This level of 4G and NB-IoT connectivity is very valuable to MetAlert. Not only do we need to have our devices operate seamlessly across the globe but, due to the critical lifesaving aspect of our solutions, we also require the highest level of security and priority on local networks and Teal provides that enhanced level of service for our customers, commented Patrick Bertagna, MetAlert CEO.

Simplified global deployment is crucial to MetAlert, which ships its SmartSoles across the world and expects to do the same with its GunAlert solution. The TEAL connectivity management platform provides native connectivity onto AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon with access to connect onto thousands of networks in 196 countries, which means MetAlert no longer has to worry about dealing with different providers in different geographies; instead, connectivity is managed via one contract.

About TEAL

TEALs patented, GSMA certified technology connects any compatible device onto any data network worldwide. With more network operator agreements than any other connectivity provider, TEAL gives businesses everywhere the flexibility and control to remotely switch between networks, ensuring the highest level of reliability and performance for any internet of things (IoT) deployment. TEAL supports customers across many industries including, agriculture, fleet management, robotics, drones, industrial IoT, healthcare, railways, smart city infrastructure, and oil & gas. Learn more at: www.teal.io

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/teal-communications

X: https://x.com/tealcomio

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@tealcommunications

For more information, please contact: info@tealcommunications.com

About MetAlert

MetAlert, Inc. (OTC: MLRT) is a pioneer in smart, mobile, and wearable tracking and recovery location-based solutions, supported through a proprietary IoT enterprise monitoring platform and intellectual property portfolio. The Company offers a global end-to-end solution of hardware, software and connectivity and develops two-way GPS tracking technologies, which seamlessly integrate with consumer products and enterprise applications. Utilizing the latest in miniaturized, low power consumption GPS, Cellular, RF, NFC and BLE technology, enabling subscribers to track in real time the whereabouts of people or high value assets. Known for its game-changing and award-winning patented GPS SmartSole -- think Dr. Scholls meets LoJack, the worlds first invisible wearable technology tracking device created for those at risk of wandering due to Alzheimers, dementia, autism, and traumatic brain injury. MetAlerts business model is built around technology innovation and holds dozens of patents, with many issued patents in the area of GPS tracking. The company has international distributors servicing customers across the globe with subscribers in over 40 countries and is a U.S. Military Government contractor. Other customers include public health authorities and municipalities, emergency and law enforcement, private schools, assisted living facilities, NGOs, small business enterprises, senior care homes, and consumers. www.MetAlert.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/metalertinc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metalertinc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metalertinc/

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. The terms and phrases expects, would, will, believes, and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by MetAlert considering its experience and its perception of current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that MetAlert believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause MetAlerts actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Certain risk factors that may cause actual results to differ are set forth in MetAlerts Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (which may be obtained on the SEC Website). These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on MetAlerts forward-looking statements. MetAlert has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required.

Disclaimer: MetAlert does not warrant or represent that the unauthorized use of materials drawn from the content of this document will not infringe rights of third parties who are not owned or affiliated by MetAlert. Further MetAlert cannot be held responsible or liable for the unauthorized use of this documents content by third parties unknown to the company.

General information, investor relations, wholesale licensing, consumer purchase:

MetAlert, Inc.

Tel: 213.489.3019

Email: ir@metalert.com

MetAlert
CHALK RIVER, Ontario, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canadas premier nuclear science and technology organization, and the Business Development Bank of Canadas investment arm, BDC Capital, Canadas bank for entrepreneurs, are pleased to announce a lead investment of CA$10 million each in General Fusion, a Canadian-based, international leader in the development of commercial fusion energy. The financing will enable General Fusion to continue advancing its innovative technology  Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF)  to provide clean fusion energy to the grid by the early to mid-2030s.



To fast track its progress towards commercialization, General Fusion is advancing its Lawson Machine 26 (LM26) demonstration program in Richmond, B.C. This ground-breaking machine is designed to achieve two transformational milestones for fusion energy, temperatures of over 100 million degrees Celsius (10 keV) and scientific breakeven equivalent, using the companys uniquely practical MTF technology.

As a new lead investor in the financing, CNL will be represented on General Fusions board of directors by Doug McIntyre, Vice-President, Legal and Insurance. BDC has been a major investor in General Fusion since 2019, and is represented on General Fusions board by Zoltan Tompa, Senior Partner at BDC Capitals Climate Tech Fund.

In addition to the lead investments, the first closing of this financing also includes investment from Hatch, a Canadian headquartered world-leading consultancy firm specializing in the mining, energy, and infrastructure sectors, and other company shareholders. This financing brings the total public and private investment into General Fusions LM26 program to over CA$71 million since its launch in 2023.

This announcement comes shortly after Fusion Day 2024, a forum hosted by CNL and AECL that welcomed Canadian and international leaders to the nations capital in June to discuss and explore the path to fusion deployment in Canada. During the event, CNL released its new Fusion Energy for Canada report, which outlines the significant future opportunity for Canadian technology, and the advantages of being an early-mover in the development of this sector.

The report indicates that fusion development can drive new jobs, economic growth, intellectual property, and innovation in Canada. Building and operating domestic fusion power plants and exporting products and services for international experiments and plants, could create over 63,000 Canadian jobs and establish valuable supply chains by 2050. Overall, it is estimated that fusion could offer CA$520 billion in cumulative economic benefits by 2100, and as a clean source of heat and electrical energy, help to reduce cumulative emissions by up to 192 Mt CO2-eq by 2050.*

CNLs investment is being facilitated through the New Nuclear and Emerging Technologies (N2ET) program, an active portfolio of work underway at Canadas national nuclear laboratories to advance fusion and advanced energy technology research and commercialization domestically. Through a series of joint projects conducted as part of CNLs highly successful Canadian Nuclear Research Initiative (CNRI) program, CNL and General Fusion have already been working together to advance the design of General Fusions power plant. That work has included analysis by CNL of tritium breeding technologies and tritium management facilities. Tritium is a primary component of fusion fuel. More recently, the teams collaborated on research related to the fusion machine, balance of plant, and power conversion system for General Fusions MTF machine design.

Quotes:

Canada is a global leader in nuclear energy and this investment in General Fusion reinforces our status as a powerful innovator in nuclear science and technology. Backed by almost 80 years of experience and contributions, Canadas nuclear industry is poised to seize the global economic opportunities before us. This investment aligns with the Government of Canadas economic plan to foster energy innovation, increase productivity, and ensure Canada continues to lead in the economy of the future.

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

CNL and General Fusion share the same vision  to unlock fusions tremendous potential as a transformative, clean energy future in Canada in order to fight climate change and maintain our energy security. We are proud to invest in such an innovative Canadian company, applying our unique capabilities and expertise within Canadas national nuclear laboratory to help bring their technology to life, and secure these environmental and economic benefits to Canada.

Jack Craig, CNL President and CEO

AECLs vision is to realize value to Canadians by driving nuclear innovation and to leverage nuclear science, technology and expertise to deliver real-world solutions. There is no better way to demonstrate this commitment than to support and enable technology development that will clearly advance domestic opportunities for fusion in Canada. Congratulations to CNL and GF for strengthening their ongoing collaboration.

Fred Dermarkar, AECL President and CEO

This investment in General Fusion will advance the LM26 program to demonstrate fusion conditions and scientific energy breakeven, which in turn will accelerate and derisk the companys pathway to commercial fusion energy. As a long-term investor in General Fusion, were pleased to partner with CNL, a globally preeminent nuclear science laboratory and a strategically important addition to General Fusions global investor base.

Zoltan Tompa, Partner & Team Lead, Climate Tech Fund, BDC Capital

This new investment from CNL and BDC represents a major vote of confidence in General Fusion and strengthens Canadas position to lead in the deployment of commercial fusion power  a technology that will play a transformational role in the future of clean energy. Through this financing, General Fusion continues to not only advance our LM26 program but build the strategic partnerships we need to make this clean, baseload energy source a reality. With long-standing and continued support from BDC, and a new opportunity to leverage the capabilities of CNL and AECL through the N2NET program, this investment is an exciting and momentous step forward for fusion energy development in Canada. Were proud to lead the way with a uniquely practical approach to clean fusion power  Magnetized Target Fusion.

Greg Twinney, General Fusion CEO

About CNL

As Canadas premier nuclear science and technology laboratory and working under the direction of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL is a world leader in the development of innovative nuclear science and technology products and services. Guided by an ambitious corporate strategy known as Vision 2030, CNL fulfills three strategic priorities of national importance  restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of Canadians.

The Chalk River Laboratories serves as national laboratory for all fusion developers and is home to some of the most advanced laboratories, facilities and testing equipment in the world.

For more information on CNL, including its fusion program, please visit www.cnl.ca

About AECL

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) is a federal Crown corporation with a mandate to drive nuclear opportunities for Canada. Working through a government-owned/contractor-operated (GoCo) model that is executed by its contractor, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, AECL enables nuclear science and technology through its Chalk River Laboratories, Canadas largest research complex, and by engaging with academia and private industry to advance nuclear innovation. It is committed to advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. It also manages the Government of Canadas radioactive waste responsibilities. AECL continues to own the intellectual property for the CANDU reactor technology and is accountable for deriving optimal benefit from this technology for Canada. Read more on AECL at www.aecl.ca .

About BDC Capital

BDC Capital is the investment arm of BDC, Canadas bank for entrepreneurs. With over $6 billion under management, BDC Capital serves as a strategic partner to the countrys most innovative firms. It offers businesses a full spectrum of capital, from seed investments to growth equity, as well as fund investments, supporting Canadian entrepreneurs who have the ambition to stand out on the world stage. Visit bdc.ca/capital.

About General Fusion

General Fusion is pursuing a fast and practical approach to commercial fusion energy and is headquartered in Richmond, B.C., Canada. The company was established in 2002 and is funded by a global syndicate of leading energy venture capital firms, industry leaders and technology pioneers. Learn more at www.generalfusion.com.

CNL Contact:

Philip Kompass

Director, Corporate Communications

1-866-886-2325

media@cnl.ca

BDC contact:

Media Relations

mediainfo@bdc.ca

1-844-625-8321

General Fusion Media Relations:

Grace Peach

Director, External Relations

1-866-904-0995

media@generalfusion.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d6ed83bd-6c5b-4a55-b62f-1707db09ede9
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nationally recognized law firm Berger Montague PC informs investors that a lawsuit was filed against Roblox Corp. (Roblox or the Company) (NYSE: RBLX) on behalf of purchasers of Roblox securities between November 15, 2023 and May 8, 2024, inclusive (the Class Period).



Investors that suffered losses from Roblox (NYSE: RBLX) investments can follow the link below for more information regarding the lawsuit:

CLICK HERE to learn more about the lawsuit.

Investors who purchased or acquired Roblox securities during the Class Period may, no later than August 12, 2024, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class.

According to the complaint, throughout the Class Period, Defendants created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to Robloxs projected revenue outlook and anticipated bookings growth, due largely to expansion in Robloxs available platforms, changes in Robloxs digital technology (such as avatars), Robloxs shared economy with content creators, and advertising revenue. The lawsuit alleges that, contrary to Defendants public statements, Roblox faced difficulty converting daily active users into bookings and eventually blamed the very technology and platform growth that they had touted.

On May 8, 2024, Roblox revised downward its fiscal year 2024 bookings guidance to between $4.0 billion and $4.14 billion and likewise revised downward its total revenue to between $3.30 billion and $3.40 billion.

On this news, the price of Roblox stock fell $8.67, more than 22%, from a closing price of $39.09 per share on May 8, 2024 to a closing price of $30.42 per share on May 9, 2024.

For additional information or to learn how to participate in this litigation, please contact Berger Montague: Andrew Abramowitz at aabramowitz@bm.net or (215) 875-3015, or Peter Hamner at phamner@bm.net or (215) 875-3048, or CLICK HERE .

A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. Communicating with any counsel is not necessary to participate or share in any recovery achieved in this case. Any member of the purported class may move the Court to serve as a lead plaintiff through counsel of his/her choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an inactive class member.

Berger Montague , with offices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Delaware, Washington, D.C., San Diego, San Francisco and Chicago, has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for over five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States.

Contacts:

Andrew Abramowitz, Senior Counsel

Berger Montague

(215) 875-3015

aabramowitz@bm.net
Washington, D.C., Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New Civil Liberties Alliance has requested summary judgment in Flint Avenue v. Department of Labor, urging the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas to vacate a new rule that exceeds DOLs statutory authority. The Final Rule sets a $58,656 minimum-salary requirement for determining whether white collar employees are exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Acts (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime requirements. In so doing, the Rule would unlawfully prevent employers, including countless small businesses, from claiming the exemption for 7.7 million white-collar employees nationwide who are paid less than the new salary requirement.

The new salary requirement would require employers to either raise salaries or reclassify these employees as hourly, thus preventing them from offering flexible work arrangements. NCLAs client, Flint Avenue, LLC, is a small software company that competes with large corporations to recruit high-skilled workers by offering its seven employees flexible arrangements, like unlimited vacation. The Rule would force it to reclassify several of those employees as hourly, making such mutually beneficial arrangements no longer feasible.

The FLSAs white collar exemption statutorily exempts anyone employed in an executive, administrative, or professional capacity from its minimum wage and overtime requirements, a definition based on a jobs function, not its salary level. The Rule defies the statute by denying employees the exemption unless they are paid a fixed weekly salary of at least $1,128 (equivalent to $58,656 annually), regardless of the capacity in which they are employed. The FLSA does not authorize DOL to impose a minimum weekly salary requirement on over 45 million white-collar employees nationwide in the guise of an exemption. Indeed, Congress could not delegate such lawmaking power to DOL without violating the Vesting Clause in Article I,  1 of the Constitution.

DOLs attempt to set minimum salaries for white-collar employees is also prohibited by the Major Questions Doctrine, which requires courts to reject agencies claims that Congress conferred regulatory authority on subjects of vast economic and political significance in the absence of a clear statement. To make matters worse, the Rule allows DOL to automatically ratchet up the minimum salary level every three years, ignoring the notice-and-comment requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act and the statutes requirement to define the exemption from time to time by regulation[.]



NCLA released the following statements:

The Fair Labor Standards Act very clearly requires DOL to define the white-collar exemption based on the capacity in which workers are employed, not their amount of pay. Nothing in the Act gives DOL the authority to set minimum wages for the nations 45 million white-collar workers. Only Congress can exercise that power.

 Sheng Li, Litigation Counsel, NCLA

DOLs power grab will not survive scrutiny in a post-Chevron world. The Court should stop this arrogation of power by DOL, prevent it from setting minimum wages, and enforce the FLSA the way Congress wrote it.

 Mark Chenoweth, President, NCLA

For more information visit the case page here.

ABOUT NCLA

NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights.

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SAN DIEGO, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scientists and engineers at General Atomics (GA) in San Diego are celebrating this week after members of their inertial fusion technologies team received some remarkable news about their work in creating technology that helped achieve the first controlled fusion ignitions in history.

R&D World, a prestigious technology and innovation magazine, announced that GA's Metrology Research and Development Team has won the 2024 "Team of the Year" R&D 100 Professional Award for creating a groundbreaking system that uses several advanced instruments to examine inertial confinement fusion (ICF) capsules.

The device, known as the 4Pi (pronounced four pie) Integrated Metrology System, is an unprecedented technology that has been pivotal in helping to achieve and repeat fusion ignition at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Hailed as one of the most impressive scientific breakthroughs of the 21st century, researchers have achieved fusion ignition at least five times. Scientists said the 4Pi system has been transformative for experiments at NIF.

We are overjoyed with the news of this recognition and are proud that our team has played a significant role in supporting successful ignition experiments at NIF, said Haibo Huang, project lead for 4Pi and director of Center of Excellence in Advanced Diagnostics at General Atomics. Our goal is to create cutting-edge technologies that help overcome the most complex obstacles that ICF scientists face to support national security missions and bring the world closer to achieving clean and limitless fusion energy.

In ICF, high-powered lasers are used to rapidly compress target capsules filled with hydrogen fuel, causing the atoms to fuse together and release significant amounts of energy. The targets achieve ignition when the amount of energy released in the reaction is greater than what was delivered to them.

The quality of target capsules is extremely important to achieving fusion ignition, and fabricating these capsules is a highly challenging process. Each capsule is approximately 2mm in diameterthe size of a BBand is fabricated at sub-micron tolerances. The fuel capsules need to be as perfect as possible because the tiniest defects could affect the behavior of the fuel when the target is compressedmeaning abnormalities smaller than 1/100th the diameter of a human hair could stifle ignition.

The 4Pi system uses robotics, automation, and machine learning to automate the examination process of each fuel capsule. The system measures and screens each one to map their unique properties, identify imperfections, and make continuous improvements throughout the fabrication process.

With so many moving parts in one station, the technical expertise of each person on the team, from physics and software to engineering, was essential in successfully developing the 4Pi system.

This award is a testament to the teams hard work and commitment to developing game-changing technologies and capabilities for our field, said Mike Farrell, vice president of Inertial Fusion Technologies at General Atomics. I am confident the 4Pi system will continue to play a significant role in assisting scientists to understand the fundamental principles to routinely and robustly produce fusion-ignition conditions.

R&D World received several hundred submissions from 16 different countries and regions, and entries were judged by 56 respected industry professionals from around the world. The R&D 100 Awards competition, often referred to as The Oscars of Innovation and the Nobel Prize of Engineering, is the only science and technology awards competition that recognizes new commercial products, technologies, and materials (that are available for sale or license) for their technological significance. Check out R&D Worlds official announcement: https://www.rdworldonline.com/rd-100-professional-awards-2024-winners/

To learn more about GAs work in ICF, visit: https://www.ga.com/inertial-fusion/

About General Atomics: Since the dawn of the atomic age, General Atomics innovations have advanced the state of the art across the full spectrum of science and technology  from nuclear energy and defense to medicine and high-performance computing. Behind a talented global team of scientists, engineers, and professionals, GAs unique experience and capabilities continue to deliver safe, sustainable, economical, and innovative solutions to meet growing global demands.

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PHOENIX, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TILT Holdings Inc. (TILT or the Company) (NEO: TILT ) (OTCQB: TLLTF ), a global provider of cannabis business solutions that include inhalation technologies, cultivation, manufacturing, processing, brand development and retail, today announced the Pennsylvania launch of its partnership with Flower by Edie Parker. The Flower by Edie Parker brand is now being distributed and sold throughout the state of Pennsylvania through a production and distribution partnership with TILT subsidiary, Standard Farms, LLC. Edie Parker is nationally recognized as the leading female founded, female operated lifestyle brand merging the worlds of fashion and cannabis. Earlier this summer, Flower by Edie Parker launched its colorful product suite with cannabis flower; its first product in the state and is now launching its line of vapes in the coming weeks.



Products in the vape launch include a variety of custom strains blended collaboratively with TILT Holdings and Flower by Edie Parker. Flavors include Morning Bloom, Lemon Cowgirl, and Pink Mirage, and are available in one (1) gram vape cartridges and as half gram (0.5) all-in-one devices, featuring custom designs. The flower launch includes a full line of unique hybrid, indica, and sativa strains sold in 1/8 ounce jars.

TILT Holdings is proud to support the launch of Flower by Edie Parkers iconic brand in the Pennsylvania market, said Tim Conder, Chief Executive Officer of TILT Holdings. The initial sell through leading up to launch has been impressive and we look forward to continuing to expand the presence of Flower by Edie Parker statewide as we work toward our shared missions of increasing safe access to cannabis.

Working with a company as experienced as TILT Holdings has made our entry to the Pennsylvania market a great experience, said Brett Heyman, Founder and Creative Director of Flower by Edie Parker. Im confident that together we will continue to make our mark on the incredible communities and industry in the state.

Pennsylvania retailers interested in carrying Flower by Edie Parker may contact TILTs wholesale team to order at info@standardfarms.com .

About TILT

TILT helps cannabis businesses build brands. Through a portfolio of companies providing technology, hardware, cultivation and production, TILT services brands and cannabis retailers in regulated markets across 40 states in the U.S., as well as Canada, Israel, South America and the European Union. TILTs core businesses include Jupiter Research LLC , a wholly-owned subsidiary and leader in the vaporization segment focused on hardware design, research, development and manufacturing; and cannabis operations, Commonwealth Alternative Care, Inc. in Massachusetts, Standard Farms LLC in Pennsylvania and Standard Farms Ohio, LLC in Ohio. TILT is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit www.tiltholdings.com .

About Flower by Edie Parker

Flower by Edie Parker, the leading female-founded and female-operated cannabis lifestyle brand, ushers in a new generation of cannabis consumers with an irreverent and bold collection of design-forward accessories and cannabis accouterments. Merging the worlds of fashion and cannabis, Flower by Edie Parker continues to break barriers and de-stigmatize the use of the plant. Priced from $8 to $800, Flower by Edie Parker's accessory collection features gorgeous acrylic, ceramic and hand blown glass accessories and a distinctly canna-friendly take on their signature acrylic bags. Since launching in 2019, Flower by Edie Parker & The Edie Parker Foundation aim to help those, primarily women and children, whose lives have been affected by low level drug offenses. Partner organizations include and have included the Women's Prison Association, The Bail Project, The Last Prisoner Project, Feeding America, City Meals on Wheels & more. Visit edie-parker.com or @EdieParkerFlower for more information.

Company Contact:

Lynn Ricci, VP of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

TILT Holdings Inc.

lricci@tiltholdings.com

Investor Relations Contact:

Sean Mansouri, CFA

Elevate IR

TILT@elevate-ir.com

720.330.2829
MOUNDVILLE, Ala., Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fastwyre Broadband, a premier provider of affordable, reliable high-speed internet delivered through a state-of-the-art, fiber-optic network in communities across America, is proud to announce the completion of its extensive network upgrades in Central Alabama. This historically underserved region can now access one of the fastest internet experiences available, on par with larger metropolitan cities.







Fastwyre Broadbands new retail outlet in Moundville, Ala. Fastwyres extensive network upgrades in

Central Alabama provide the fastest internet experiences to this historically underserved region.

Fastwyre has successfully completed the construction of its advanced fiber-to-the-premises infrastructure, ensuring unparalleled connectivity across Moundville. The Companys commitment to this area, which previously operated under the name Moundville Telephone Company, is strengthened by its deep-rooted history here. The upgrade to Fastwyre Broadbands network marks a significant milestone in revolutionizing internet accessibility for the local community. Residents and businesses alike can now enjoy internet speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second with future plans for up to 10 gigabits per second.

We are thrilled to announce that our high-speed internet services are now live in Moundville, along with phone, TV, and business services. This launch symbolizes our dedication to bringing cutting-edge fiber networks to this region, said Chris Eldredge, CEO of Fastwyre Broadband. Our longstanding connection to Moundville and Central Alabama underpins our commitment to deliver reliable internet services that empower residents and foster the growth of local businesses. Enhanced internet accessibility is crucial for everyday tasks, whether for work or leisure, and we are excited to bring these advancements to the community.

The newly deployed network allows residents and businesses to benefit from symmetrical upload and download speeds, enhancing the streaming, multimedia sharing, virtual learning, and telehealth experience. Reflecting on the successful completion of the upgrades, Corey Hodge, Market Manager for Fastwyres Central Alabama region, stated, The completion of this project means that Moundville residents now have access to exceptional internet speeds at affordable rates, starting as low as $34.99 per month. This will significantly improve the quality of life and business operations in the region."

Delivering next-generation broadband services to rural, underserved communities is central to Fastwyre's mission. The Companys presence in Moundville is a testament to its ongoing commitment to advance connectivity in areas that have long been overlooked. The team, many of whom are long-time residents of Moundville, embodies the commitment to excellence and community involvement. We strive to be more than just a service provider. We are an integral part of the community, participating in local activities and sponsorships to ensure the continuous development and prosperity of the areas we serve, added Hodge. Our goal is to make a tangible, positive impact on the communities of Moundville and beyond.

Fastwyre customers enjoy the following benefits:

Symmetrical speeds which enable equally fast uploads and downloads of rich content.

Reliable, high-speed, high-quality connections that allow streaming on multiple devices.

No data caps, overages or installation fees.

Business services that include hosted VoIP phone, video and data circuit offerings with low latency to ensure high-speed performance.

In celebration of this milestone, Fastwyre is delighted to invite all residents to a spectacular event on Saturday, August 10th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at 371 Corr Ave, Moundville, AL. This event marks the introduction of fiber internet to Moundville, a transformative step towards enhanced connectivity for the community. Enjoy a day of fun activities for all ages, including cotton candy, a petting zoo, a dunking booth, a bouncy house, ring toss, games, and more. Come celebrate this milestone with us and immerse yourself in festive activities, delicious treats, and community camaraderie!

To check service availability in your neighborhood, visit www.fastwyre.com/moundville.

For more information about Fastwyre Broadband services, residents and business owners may call Fastwyres customer service line at 833-463-FAST or visit the website at www.fastwyre.com.

Fastwyre remains at the industry forefront in innovation, continuously investing in a rapidly growing, state-of-the-art fiber network. Fastwyre entered the Alabama market with its purchase of Moundville Telephone Company in early 2023 and has plans to expand its best-in-class fiber optic network within Alabama. Beyond Alabama, Fastwyre operates in Alaska, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, and Texas.

About Fastwyre Broadband

American Broadband Holding Company dba Fastwyre Broadband is a premier provider of broadband services, delivering affordable, reliable, high-speed internet services to communities across America. The Company provides internet, phone, and video to customers in Alabama, Alaska, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, and Texas. Fastwyre partners in the growth and economic vitality of its communities by providing broadband and other advanced services to support new business activity and job growth.

Fastwyre Broadband is a portfolio company of Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC, a leading private equity firm based in Chicago, and Catania ABC Partners.

More information about Fastwyre Broadband can be found at www.fastwyre.com.

Media Contact:

Kristen Crawford

kcrawford@lukaspartners.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ccb18fd5-0db2-46ac-9592-71418d45d612
Dublin, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Industrial Packaging - Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global market for Industrial Packaging is estimated at US$69.4 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$95.8 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2023 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions.

The Corrugated Boxes segment is projected to experience significant growth, reaching US$33.1 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 5.3%. Similarly, the Drums segment is set to grow at a 4.8% CAGR over the next seven years. In the U.S., the market is estimated at $18.3 billion in 2023, while China is forecasted to grow at an impressive 7.4% CAGR, reaching $21.2 billion by 2030. Other key regions, including Japan, Canada, Germany, and the Asia-Pacific, are also experiencing notable growth trends.

The report provides a thorough analysis of the Global Industrial Packaging Market, covering all major geographic regions and market segments. It offers insights into the competitive landscape, highlighting the market presence of major players across different geographies. Additionally, the report identifies key trends and drivers shaping the future of the Global Industrial Packaging Market, offering actionable insights that can help businesses identify new revenue opportunities and make strategic decisions.

Comprehensive market data includes independent analysis of annual sales and market forecasts in US$ million from 2023 to 2030. The report also provides in-depth regional analysis with detailed insights into key markets such as the U.S., China, Japan, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. Major players covered in the report include Amcor Ltd., Bemis Co., Inc., BWAY Corporation, and more. Additionally, complimentary updates are provided for one year to keep readers informed of the latest market developments.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 283 Forecast Period 2023 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $69.4 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $95.8 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.7% Regions Covered Global



MARKET OVERVIEW

Influencer Market Insights

Global Economic Update

Industrial Packaging - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share in 2024 (E)

Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for Players Worldwide in 2024 (E)

FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS(Total 62 Featured)

Amcor Ltd.

Bemis Co., Inc.

BWAY Corporation

Grief, Inc.

International Paper Company

Mondi PLC

Orora Ltd.

Sigma Plastics Group

WestRock Company

Wuxi Sifang drums Limited company

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/s7xqhh

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Minneapolis, MN, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Sept. 1, a new federal rule will apply a four-month limit on the duration of short-term health insurance plans  including renewals  unless a state has stricter rules in place. Healthinsurance.org is urging consumers to take note of the new rule  which is significantly stricter than current duration limits in most states  and to plan for replacement coverage.

The point of the new rule is to ensure short-term health plans are only being used to cover short coverage gaps between other health plans, said Louise Norris, a health policy analyst for healthinsurance.org. But since thats not how some consumers are currently using these plans, its important to let people know things are changing, and soon.

As many as 1.5 million people were estimated by the Congressional Budget Office to be enrolled annually in short-term limited duration insurance plans as of 2019.

Here are three things for consumers to consider in light of the new limits:

The limits affect initial plan terms and renewals. The new federal rule, which will apply to plans sold or issued on or after Sept. 1, 2024, will limit initial terms to three months, and total duration  including renewals  to no more than four months. After a four-month policy has expired, a consumer will not be able to buy another short-term policy from the same insurer within 12 months of the effective date of the first policy. Since 2018, federal rules have allowed short-term health plans to have initial terms of up to 364 days and a total duration of up to 36 months with renewals, except where states adopted tighter restrictions.

This is going to be a big shift for a lot of people in states across the country, said Norris. While these plans were never intended to be long-term plans, some people have been relying on them for extended periods of time in recent years. That wont be an option moving forward.

The rules impact will vary by state. The new federal rule is more restrictive than what is currently allowed in most states. However, there are 17 states, and the District of Columbia, where short-term health plans are either not allowed or not offered by insurers, or where duration limits are stricter than the new limits, so the rule doesnt change anything for those states. In Washington, D.C. and 14 of those states, there are no short-term plans currently available for purchase. Three states  Delaware, Maryland, and Oregon  already limit short-term plans to three months in duration.

Its in the states where this will be a big shift  like in Florida, Texas and Pennsylvania  where consumers need to be made aware of the pending rule change, Norris said. But anyone enrolled in a short-term health plan, or planning to take advantage of this insurance option, should make sure they understand how the rules are changing.

Consumers have options, if they plan ahead. The timeline for the new short-term health plan rule allows consumers to buy a short-term plan on or after Sept. 1 and potentially keep it through the end of the year. They will then have an opportunity to enroll in an Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plan through the Marketplace for 2025.

Open enrollment for ACA-compliant individual health plans has a limited enrollment window that starts Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 15 in most states. Consumers may be able to enroll in a Marketplace plan immediately if they are eligible for a special enrollment period.

Whether you are enrolled in a short-term health plan before or after the new rule comes into play in September, its important to have a plan for enrolling in major medical coverage during the open enrollment window, explained Norris. If you dont time things just right, you could end up with a gap in coverage until the next open enrollment period rolls around the following year.

Healthinsurance.org provides online resources for consumers about individual and family health insurance. Healthinsurance.org, owned by HealthInsurance.org, LLC, has been providing consumer information about health insurance and health reform for over 25 years.

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Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $100,000 In Toyota To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options



If you purchased or acquired securities in Toyota between June 25, 2022 and June 2, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). You may also click here for additional information: www.faruqilaw.com/TM.

NEW YORK, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota or the Company) (NYSE: TM) and reminds investors of the August 23, 2024 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, this Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts, about the Companys business and operations. Specifically, Defendants misrepresented and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Toyota understated its malfeasance relating to certification of its cars and issues relating to overall legal compliance; and (2) as a result, defendants statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

On June 3, 2024, The New York Times published an article entitled Toyota and Other Japanese Carmakers Say They Mishandled Safety Tests. This article stated, in pertinent part, that Toyota [. . .] and other top Japanese automakers said on Monday that internal investigations found they had mishandled vehicle testing on dozens of models over the past decade. Further, Toyota said it had failed to gather proper data when doing pedestrian and occupant safety tests for three models, including its popular Yaris Cross sport utility vehicle.

On this news, Toyotas American Depositary Shares (ADSs) fell $5.34 per ADS, or 2.45%, to close at $212.17 per ADS on June 3, 2024.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Toyotas conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Toyota class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/TM or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5e848124-9c14-4bab-ba13-256ecec0c433




Meet Rosalie Candelario: Dedicated Attorney at Melmed Law Group

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Melmed Law Group is proud to welcome Rosalie Candelario , an esteemed attorney with a strong commitment to advocating for employee and women's rights. Rosalie's impressive academic background and diverse legal experience make her a valuable addition to the firm.

About Rosalie Candelario

Rosalie Candelario graduated cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law. She is a member of the Florida Bar, Palm Beach County Bar Association, and the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, reflecting her dedication to professional excellence and advocacy.

Professional Achievements

Rosalie has received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Employment Law and Legal Research & Writing. She has also served as a Professor of Law at Keiser University and the University of Phoenix, where she shared her expertise and passion for the law.

Areas of Expertise

Before joining Melmed Law Group , Rosalie gained extensive experience in:

Real Estate Law

Business Law

Medical Malpractice (Plaintiff Side)

Her current focus at Melmed Law Group is on employment law, where she is dedicated to protecting the rights of employees and ensuring they receive fair treatment.



Areas of Interest

Rosalie is particularly passionate about:

Women's Rights

Employee Rights

Plaintiff-Focused Claims

Connect with Rosalie Candelario



For more information or to connect with Rosalie Candelario, visit her LinkedIn profile .

Founded in 2015, Melmed Law Group has become a beacon of hope for employees facing workplace harassment , discrimination , and wage theft. Under the leadership of Jonathan Melmed , the firm has successfully litigated and settled over 100 class actions, earning recognition as a top law firm for employee rights.

Media Contact:

Paniz Rad

Marketing Director

Melmed Law Group

Email: paniz@melmedlaw.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fe913305-20fb-40f6-b971-fdd0cdae4e19
Arlington, Virginia, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robert K. Ross, a recognized leader in health philanthropy and public administration, has joined the board of directors for the American Institutes for Research (AIR). Ross currently serves as the president and CEO for The California Endowment, a health foundation that addresses the needs of the nations most populous state.

Bob Ross brings a wealth of knowledge to the AIR Board and a passion for helping people and communities thrive, said Lawrence D. Bobo, chair of the AIR Board of Directors. I am excited to welcome him to the Board and look forward to working with him to guide and inform AIRs work to increase access to high-quality health care and improve public health systems.

Ross was elected to the Board in the spring of 2024 and attended the Boards June meeting in Chicago. The AIR Board of Directors works with the institutions leadership to set its strategic focus and ensure its work is making a difference in peoples lives.

The disparities in health care access and quality have been laid bare in the past few years, both in the United States and around the world, said Jessica Heppen, AIR president and CEO. We are grateful to have Bob Ross as a partner and leader in seeking solutions that will reduce inequities and improve the well-being of all people.

During Rosss tenure, The California Endowment has funded efforts across the state, such as expanding health coverage for undocumented residents, farmworkers, and Dreamers; strengthening diversity in the health workforce; improving wellness-driven school climate reforms; increasing health advocacy for young men and women of color; and providing leadership for health-oriented criminal justice reform. Ross has served as a founding board member of Covered California, the entity responsible for the states implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act, and as chair of the Los Angeles County Task Force on Alternatives to Incarceration.

Prior to joining The California Endowment in 2000, Ross served as director of the Health and Human Services Agency in San Diego County; the commissioner of the City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health; medical director for LINK School-Based Clinic Program in Camden, New Jersey; an instructor of clinical medicine at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia; and a faculty member at San Diego State Universitys School of Public Health. He was the 2023 Mimi and Peter E. Haas Distinguished Visitor at Stanford University.

Ross received his undergraduate, masters, and medical degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.

AIR has a long history of using evidence to address some of the biggest challenges facing our communities, Ross said. I am grateful to join the AIR Board of Directors and be a part of this mission-driven institution in its efforts to improve lives around the world.

About AIR

Established in 1946, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance both domestically and internationally in the areas of education, health, and the workforce. AIRs work is driven by its mission to generate and use rigorous evidence that contributes to a better, more equitable world. With headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, AIR has offices across the U.S. and abroad. For more information, visit www.air.org.

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SALISBURY, N.C., Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Food Lion Feeds is responding to the needs of neighbors impacted by Tropical Storm Debby and providing bottled water and snacks. The donation will benefit neighbors in North Carolina who may experience flooding or power outages. Providing support to American Red Cross and several county- and state-operated shelters, Food Lion Feeds delivered a truckload of 19 pallets of water and more than 12,000 units of Food Lion sandwich crackers and breakfast bars. The Food Lion brand bottle water equals more than 40,000 pounds or nearly 4,000 gallons. Food Lion Feeds was founded in 2014 by Food Lion to address food insecurity in the towns and cities it serves.

At Food Lion, we care for the towns and cities we serve because we know our neighbors and associates count on us every day, said Kevin Durkee, Manager, Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion. Giving back to our communities during times of need is an important part of demonstrating care. We are grateful to partner with the American Red Cross to nourish our North Carolina neighbors impacted by Tropical Storm Debby.

Video: An ADUSA Distribution associate* supports Food Lion Feeds emergency-relief efforts by loading water, sandwich crackers and breakfast bars onto a semi-trailer for delivery to American Red Cross to support North Carolina neighbors.

Photo: A semi-trailer of water* provided by Food Lion Feeds arrives at the American Red Cross warehouse located in Roxboro, NC. The water will be distributed to shelters across North Carolina to nourish neighbors impacted by Tropical Storm Debby.

*Editors Note: The delivery of the truckload of water is supported by the ADUSA Distribution Center in Dunn, NC. The ADUSA Distribution Center, Ahold Delhaize USAs distribution and transportation company, supports Food Lion. Both Food Lion and ADUSA Distribution and Transportation companies are part of Ahold Delhaize USA, the U.S. division of Zaandam-based Ahold Delhaize.

About Food Lion

Food Lion is an omnichannel grocery retailer committed to nourishing its neighbors. More than 82,000 associates across 1,100+ stores deliver an easy, fresh and affordable shopping experience throughout 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. With a focus on hunger relief, Food Lion is a pioneer in food rescue. In 2014, Food Lion Feeds was created and has since donated more than 1.2 billion meals to those who are food insecure. The retailer has committed to donate 1.5 billion meals by 2025. Founded and based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, Food Lion is a company of Ahold Delhaize USA, the U.S. division of Zaandam-based Ahold Delhaize. For more information, visit foodlion.com .

CONTACT: Food Lion Media Relations 704-245-3317 publicrelationsteam@foodlion.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9a94848d-0a17-4980-a3ef-ea50a98c5398

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2211e94c-a692-40a7-9e3c-28c4da9ac8e8
HOUSTON, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fogo de Chao, the internationally renowned restaurant from Brazil is expanding its presence in the greater Houston metropolitan area with the signing of two new lease agreements in Cypress, Texas, and Katy, Texas. The new Cypress restaurant spans 7,345 square feet and is set to open in 2024 at 19820 Northwest Freeway, located in the Crossroads neighborhood, home to premier residences, shops, offices and dining options. The new Katy restaurant, covering 7,456 square feet, is scheduled to open in 2025 at 222 West Grand Parkway South. Located in the growing city of Katy, Fogo's newest location will be near the thriving Lakes at Grand Harbor and Milestone neighborhoods.



Our growth in Houston is a strategic step to introduce our approachable and authentic dining experience from Brazil to new and existing markets, said Barry McGowan, Chief Executive Officer of Fogo de Chao. "After being a part of the local community for nearly 25 years, we excited to open our 4th and 5th Houston area locations and look forward to introducing guests to the Culinary Art of Churrasco in Katy and Cypress soon.

Designed in partnership with global design agency Harrison, both new restaurants will feature an expansive dining room centered around an open churrasco grill, offering guests a 360-degree view of gaucho chefs demonstrating the Culinary Art of Churrasco by butchering, hand carving, and grilling high-quality cuts of protein over an open flame, creating a craveable salty bark. The Market Table will anchor the restaurant and feature seasonal salads, fresh superfoods, cured meats, antipasti, and more.

Each Fogo location provides its guests with a warm, timeless, and approachable setting that complements the specific restaurant and its local community while honoring Fogos authentic Southern Brazilian heritage. In the new restaurants, engaging social gathering spaces will be layered throughout Bar Fogo for guests to linger and enjoy All-Day Happy Hour for any occasion. Dry-aged meat lockers for in-house aging will display indulgent cuts such as a 32 oz. Long-Bone Tomahawk Ribeye, aged for a minimum of 42 days for rich flavor. The Cypress and Katy locations will bring the total number of Fogo restaurants in the Greater Houston area to five and will join existing locations in Friendswood, The Woodlands and Houston on Westheimer.

For more information about Fogo, visit https://fogo.com/

About Fogo de Chao

Fogo de Chao (fogo-dee-shown) is an internationally renowned restaurant from Brazil that elevates the culinary art of churrasco  the art of roasting high-quality cuts of meat over an open flame  into a cultural dining experience. Fogo is famed for its prix fixe Full Churrasco Experience that offers a continuous selection of premium cuts butchered daily by gaucho chefs, simply seasoned and grilled to create a craveable salty bark, then carved tableside. The naturally gluten-free Market Table offers a selection of seasonal salads, charcuterie, exotic fruit, superfoods and more. From celebratory to everyday occasions, Fogo provides selections for every daypart, including All-Day Happy Hour at Bar Fogo, Weekday Lunch, Dinner, and Weekend Brazilian Brunch. Guests can enhance their experience with offerings ranging from a shareable Wagyu New York Strip, South American wines, and more. For locations and to book a reservation to experience the fire of Fogo, visit fogo.com

MEDIA CONTACT:

Konnect Agency

fogocorp@konnectagency.com





Fogo de Chaos new Katy, Texas location is set to open in 2025 near the thriving Lakes at Grand Harbor and Milestone neighborhoods. Fogo.com





Fogo de Chaos new Katy, Texas restaurant will feature an expansive dining room and an open churrasco grill. Fogo.com









Fogo de Chaos new Cypress, Texas location is set to open in 2024 located in the Crossroads neighborhood. Fogo.com









Fogo de Chaos new Cypress, Texas restaurant will feature an expansive dining room and an open churrasco grill. Fogo.com









The Bar Fogo and dining room areas will feature multiple social gathering spaces, carefully integrated to elevate the guest experience at the new Cypress, Texas location. Fogo.com









Fogos Gaucho Chefs practice the culinary art of Churrasco - butchering, preparing and fire-roasting different cuts of protein over an open flame. Fogo.com





Guests can enhance their experience with a 20 oz. Wagyu New York Strip, renowned for intense marbling and buttery texture at the new Cypress and Katy Texas locations. Fogo.com





Guests will be able to enjoy All-Day Happy Hour at the newest Katy, Texas location in the dining room, patio, and Bar Fogo areas which include $5 Brazilian Beers, $8 South American Wines, and $10 Brazilian-inspired cocktails. Fogo.com





Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

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Vancouver, August 08, 2024 - Bathurst Metals Corp. ("Bathurst" or the "Company") (TSX-V: BMV OTC: BMVVF ) is pleased to announce the start of their summer fieldwork on the Peerless Gold Project. The summer fieldwork aims to develop additional drill targets on other inferred, east-west trending structures with gold in soil geochemistry close to ultramafic contact. These structural intersections are one of the most characteristic features in gold deposition within the Goldbridge Mining Camp and occur in several areas on the Peerless Property. Our discovery in February 2024 from diamond drill hole PR24-004 returned grades up to 0.202 oz/tonne gold over 16.73 feet including 0.628 oz/tonne gold over 3.61 feet.

KEY POINTS - Peerless Project

Discovery of near-surface, gold-bearing east-west trending structures.

Significant gold mineralization occurs within ultramafics, away from a crosscutting thrust fault. Ultramafics are typically a poor host for gold deposits, yet the company encountered potentially economic gold grades.

The structural intersections near, but not just within the ultramafics, are key to the formation of the gold deposits in the Bralorne Mining Camp. The potential of the volcanoclastic/ultramafic contacts, where the east-west structure crosses, remains untested by drilling, highlighting the need for further exploration.

Company geologists have outlined several areas within the extensive, anomalous gold and base metal in soil geochemistry where other east-west structures occur and crosscut the thrust fault.

Lorne Warner P.Geo, President of Bathurst Metals Corp., States, " We were very successful in our first drilling program in February of this year to consistently locate and encounter significant concentrations of mesothermal, sulphide mineralization with visible gold noted in one hole in the primary east-west trending structure we believe is responsible for the main gold mineralization event. This summer's fieldwork will enable the company to develop additional drill targets with similar potential."

The Peerless Property is in the historic Bralorne-Gold Bridge Mining Camp area in southwest British Columbia (Figure # 1). It has excellent all-season access to its center. Access can be had by following Highway 40 east from the hamlet of Gold Bridge 10.5 km to the Tyaughton Lake turn-off and following the Tyaughton Lake access road to within 200m of the Peerless showings at the center of the property.

Figure #1- Regional Location Map



Click Image To View Full Size

The company's size and location of the Peerless Claims, as indicated in Figure # 2, are close to operating and historical mines and new discoveries, including being in the same lithological and structural geological settings. Anomalous gold in soil geochemistry, as displayed in Figure # 2, infers a strong special relationship to the thrusts related to the ultramafics with a northeast trend.

Figure # 2 - Goldbridge Area Compilation Map



Click Image To View Full Size

Fieldwork started on the Gamma Zone, where broader-spaced soil sampling returned several highly gold anomalous values of up to 4600 ppb. Additional detailed soil sampling has been undertaken, with samples already submitted for analysis. In addition, field staff observed that the location sampled was situated along the footwall contact of the ultramafics, a classic location within this mining camp for gold deposits.

Figure # 3 - Geological/Structural Compilation of Peerless Zone Area.



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure # 4 is a cross-section from our recent diamond drilling program early this spring and illustrates the importance of the structural intersections along the ultramafic/volcanoclastic contact.

Figure # 4



Click Image To View Full Size

Qualified Person

Mr. Greg Bronson, P.Geo., is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101. The work program was supervised by Mr. Bronson, and he has approved the scientific and technical information included in this news release for dissemination.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Harold Forzley"

CEO

Bathurst Metals Corp.

For more information contact Harold Forzley, Chief Executive Officer

info@Bathurstmetalscorp.com

604-783-4273

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.

About Bathurst Metals Corp.

Bathurst Metals Corp. is an exploration-stage company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Nunavut and British Columbia, Canada. The Company holds a 100% interest in the Turner Lake, TED, McGregor Lake, Speers Lake, Gela Lake and McAvoy Lake Projects in Nunavut and the Peerless Property a gold /silver prospect in the historic Bralorne Camp in British Columbia.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
TORONTO, Aug. 08, 2024 - PTX Metals Inc. (CSE: PTX) (OTCQB: PANXF, Frankfurt: 9PX) ("PTX" or the "Company"), a minerals exploration Company with two flagship projects situated in northern Ontario, is pleased to provide an update on recent project activities at its South Timmins Joint Venture Gold Projects ("South Timmins JV").



The current program follows the results from Phase 1 work completed during 2023 and early 2024, which confirmed high-grade gold mineralization through stripping and channel sampling at the Shining Tree Gold Project including 9.04 g/t Au over 16.15 m at surface at Ronda (see press release dated February 7th, 2024). The current program also included follow up on the drilling of a new gold discovery at the Heenan Property in the Swayze Greenstone belt (see press release dated February 21st, 2024). The program was for preparation of drilling and other exploration activities.

Highlights include:

During June and early July, the South Timmins Joint Venture completed mechanized stripping and channel sampling programs on the Shining Tree Gold Project covering an area of 2,971 m 2 , bringing the total area stripped in Phase 1 to 4,883 m 2 . This had led to several new quartz-carbonate vein systems being uncovered, with channel sample results ranging from 0.01 g/t to 5.18 g/t Au.

, bringing the total area stripped in Phase 1 to 4,883 m . This had led to several new quartz-carbonate vein systems being uncovered, with channel sample results ranging from 0.01 g/t to 5.18 g/t Au. A 20 m wide north-northeast orientated altered shear zone was uncovered approximately 500 m south of Ronda containing anomalous gold mineralization and discovery of a 3-4 m wide northwest orientated quartz-carbonate vein system that was uncovered 700 m northeast of Ronda, and immediately south of Caswell Lake.

At Heenan, a total of 9 select channel samples were collected over 25 cm lengths from Stripped Area #2, with 4 of the 9 samples returning > 2.00 g/t Au, with a high of 5.77 g/t Au.

Successfully completed the exploration activities for Phase 1 of the Joint Venture agreement and planning is underway for the earn-in and Phase 2 exploration program.

PTX has appointed Erika Dohring as a technical committee member of the South Timmins JV.



Shining Tree:

Stripping targeted anomalous grab and geochemical (B-Horizon) samples, as well as exposed bedrock geology in select areas. A total of five areas totaling 2,971 m2 were mechanically stripped, washed, channel sampled, and geologically mapped. In total, 117 channel samples were collected and submitted for analysis and results range from 0.01 g/t to 5.18 g/t Au.

This recent program has allowed for a better understanding of the geological controls on mineralization at surface at Ronda and leading to the discovery of new gold-bearing structures in the surrounding area.

Highlights from the recent stripping program include the discovery of a 3-4 m wide northwest orientated quartz-carbonate vein system that was uncovered 700 m northeast of Ronda, and immediately south of Caswell Lake. This structure contained abundant pyrite associated with carbonate and quartz veinlets and may represent a northwest continuation of the Saville Vein or a Saville-type vein system onto the Shining Tree Property. Anomalous gold mineralization was reported with results ranging from 0.01 g/t over 1.00 m to 1.16 g/t Au over 1.00 m.

Approximately 150 m southeast of Ronda, discrete quartz-carbonate veins hosted within mafic volcanics were uncovered. Samples returned 0.01 g/t Au over 1.00 m to 5.18 g/t Au over 0.70 m.

Stripping 500 m south of Ronda has also identified an approximate 20 m wide north-northeast orientated shear zone that contains anomalous gold mineralization ranging from 0.01 to 1.46 g/t Au over 1.00 m sample lengths, with a highlight of 1.29 g/t Au over 2.00 m. This structure has been interpreted as the southern extension of the nearby Ribble Structure at Ronda, and likely connects with the Foisey Vein located 1.3 km south of the Ribble Vein/Ronda Mine.

Approximately 250 m northeast of Ronda, a northeast orientated shear zone containing quartz-carbonate veining exposed over an approximate width of 20 m was uncovered. Anomalous gold values were also returned that ranged from 0.01 to 0.34 g/t Au over 0.50 m channel sample lengths.

Heenan Mallard:

At Heenan, a total of 9 channel samples were collected from Stripped Area #2, with results ranging from 0.51 g/t to 5.77 g/t Au over 0.25 m sample lengths. The detailed sampling was collected proximal to a channel sample intercept from the fall of 2023 that returned 2.08 g/t Au over 8.00 m and several consistent wide zones of gold mineralization intersected from surface to 177m including:

77.44 m of 0.40 g/tonne Gold in hole HE23-02

27.15 m of 0.55 g/tonne Gold in hole HE23-03

An additional zone of mineralization, outside the iron formation, was encountered in hole 2 grading 5.53 g/tonne over one meter at 177 m.



At Mallard, an area of approximately 1,022 m2 was mechanically stripped in two areas. On the main stripped area, totaling 928 m2, a quartz-carbonate altered mafic volcanic rock was uncovered in contact with a quartz-feldspar porphyry, a similar geological setting as what has been reported at the Camp and River Zones located approximately 600 m to the northwest. A total of 51 channel samples were completed with anomalous gold values obtained in the samples that ranged from <0.005 to 0.98 g/t Au over 0.75 to 1.00 m sample lengths, with a composite of 0.67 g/t Au over 4.00 m being sampled at the edge of the outcrop where it is in contact with an interpreted overburden-filled structure.

New Technical Committee Member:

The Company is also pleased to bring in a new technical committee member to assist in the next phase of exploration activities at the South Timmins Gold Projects. Erika Dohring is replacing Blaine Webster as exploration activities have advanced. Blaine will continue to assist the Company as a technical advisor.

Mrs. Dohring holds a M.Sc. in geology and mining engineering from LaSalle Beauvais (France) and grew into a career with exposure from field to capital market, and most recently as an entrepreneur. Over the years, Mrs. Dohring has built her expertise across three continents working for junior and major companies with primary focus on precious and base metals. Holding management roles in the previous years, she successfully negotiated, launched, and managed multiple programs in Mexico and Canada. She also led significant funding into copper exploration programs to discovery as financial manager for BHP alliance in Mexico. Mrs. Dohring has constantly been proactive in developing new ideas for growth, mergers, ventures, which recently brought her to work closely with the Fiore Group. Lately, Erika has launched her private Mexican ventures for small scale production of Gold, Silver and Coal, where she added valuable experience in economic evaluation for investment decisions from exploration to production, negotiation and fund raising for public and private entities

Marketing Contract:

The Company engaged Spark Capital on July 23, 2024, to provide investor relations services, marketing, or other related services including the promotion of the Company. Spark Capital terms are as follows C$4,166 per month for 12 months.

Qualified Person

The technical information presented in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Joerg Kleinboeck, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About PTX Metals Inc.

PTX Metals is a minerals exploration Company with two flagship projects situated in northern Ontario, renowned as a world-class mining jurisdiction for its abundance of mineral resources and investment opportunities. The corporate objective is to advance the exploration programs towards proving the potential of each asset, which includes the W2 Copper Nickel PGE Project and South Timmins Joint Venture Gold Projects.

The portfolio of assets offers investors exposure to some of the world's most valuable metals including gold, as well as essential metals critical for the clean energy transition: copper, nickel, uranium and rare metals. The projects were acquired for their geologically favorable attributes, and proximity to established mining producers. PTX work programs are designed by a team of expert geologists with extensive career knowledge gained from their tenure working for global mining companies in northern Ontario.

PTX Metals is based in Toronto, Canada, with a primary listing on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol PTX. The company is also listed in Frankfurt under the symbol 9PF and on the OTCQB in the United States as PANXF.

For additional information on PTX Metals, please visit the Company's website at https://ptxmetals.com/.

For further information, please contact:

Greg Ferron, President and Chief Executive Officer

Phone: 416-270-5042

Email: gferron@ptxmetals.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is 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 information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and includes those risks set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis as filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward- looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither 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 release.
VANCOUVER, Aug. 8, 2024 - Callinex Mines Inc. (the "Company" or "Callinex") (TSXV: CNX) (OTCQX: CLLXF) is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced option agreement (the "Option Agreement") with Voyageur Mineral Explorers Corp. ("Voyageur") whereby the Company has optioned a 100% interest in the Alberts Lake Project, Manitoba (see news release dated May 20, 2024).

Under the terms of the option agreement, Callinex will acquire a 100% interest in the Alberts Lake Project by making the following share issuances to Voyageur:

$75,000 of common shares on the date of TSX Venture Exchange acceptance;

$125,000 of common shares on the first anniversary;

$150,000 of common shares on the second anniversary;

$150,000 of common shares on the third anniversary; and

$150,000 of common shares on the fourth anniversary.

The amount of shares to be issued on each applicable date will be based upon the greater of (i) the 5-day volume weighted average trading price of the common shares calculated 2 days prior to the applicable date; and (ii) $1.07. The Company can, at is sole discretion, elect to (i) pay the cash value of an anniversary payment indicated above, in lieu of issuing common shares; and/or (ii) accelerate the payment or issuance of any common shares prior to the particular anniversary payment date. In addition, the shares issued under the option agreement will be subject to restrictions on resale for a period of four months and a date from the date of issue.

Upon Callinex acquiring a 100% interest in the Alberts Lake Project, Voyageur will be granted a 1.5% net smelter return royalty, of which 0.5% may be repurchased with a one time payment of $500,000.

A portion of the claims are subject to a historical back-in right as well as an underlying net profit royalty.

(a) Pursuant to an agreement between Aur Resources Inc. ("Aur") and Foran Mining Corporation ("Foran"), Foran granted Aur a back-in right to 63 of the mineral claims of the Property. Under the terms of the back-in right, Aur may acquire: (i) an initial 60% interest after the preparation of a resource of 225,000 contained copper equivalent and, within 48 months thereafter, the delivery of a feasibility study by Aur on the property, (ii) an additional 10% interest (for a total interest of 70%) by Aur arranging debt financing for the other joint venture partner, (iii) an additional 20% interest (for a total interest of 90%) by Aur upon Foran selling its interest to a major company. (b) (c) Cameco Corp. holds a 15% net profit interest in one mineral claim on the Project. Ray-Dor Resources Ltd. Holds a 0.2% net smelter return on one mineral claim of the property, of which one-half of the royalty may be repurchased for $20,000.

In connection with closing of the Option Agreement, a previous 6% net profit royalty to Thundermin Resources Inc. and a previously 2% net smelter return royalty to Vista Gold Corp. were confirmed terminated.

About Callinex Mines Inc.

Callinex Mines Inc. (TSXV: CNX) (OTCQX: CLLXF) is advancing its portfolio of base and precious metals rich deposits located in established Canadian mining jurisdictions. The focus of the portfolio is highlighted by the rapidly expanding Rainbow deposit at its rich VMS Pine Bay Project located near existing infrastructure in the Flin Flon Mining District. Callinex prepared an indicated mineral resource on the Rainbow deposit of 3.44 Mt grading 3.59% CuEq for 272.4 Mlb CuEq (238.3 Mlb Cu, 56.9 Mlb Zn, 37.6 koz Au, 692.8 koz Ag, 2.3 Mlb Pb), an inferred mineral resource on the Rainbow deposit of 1.28 Mt grading 2.95% CuEq containing 83.4 Mlb CuEq (72.1 Mlb Cu, 19.5 Mlb Zn, 11.1 koz Au, 222.2 Koz Ag, 0.8 Mlb Pb) and an inferred mineral resource at the Pine Bay deposit of 1.0 Mt grading 2.62% Cu containing 58.1 Mlb Cu (see news release dated July 10, 2023). The second asset in the portfolio is the Nash Creek Project located in the VMS rich Bathurst Mining District of New Brunswick. A 2018 PEA generates a strong economic return with a pre-tax IRR of 34.1% (25.2% post-tax) and NPV8% of $230 million ($128 million post-tax) at $1.25 Zinc (see news release dated May 14, 2018). The third asset, 100% owned Point Leamington Deposit in Newfoundland, is located in one of the richest VMS and Gold Districts in Canada. Callinex prepared a pit constrained Indicated Mineral Resource of 5.0 Mt grading 2.5 g/t AuEq for 402 koz AuEq (145.7 koz gold, 60.0 Mlb copper, 153.5 Mlb zinc, 2.0 Moz silver, 1.5 Mlb lead), a pit constrained Inferred Mineral Resource of 13.7 Mt grading 2.24 g/t AuEq for 986.5 koz AuEq (354.8 koz gold, 110.2 Mlb copper, 527.3 Mlb zinc, 6.2 Moz silver, 7.0 Mlb lead) and an out-of-pit Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.7 Mt grading 3.06 g/t AuEq for 168.5 koz AuEq (65.4 koz gold, 13.3 Mlb copper, 102.9 Mlb zinc, 1.4 Moz Ag, 2.6 Mlb lead) (see news release dated October 25, 2021).

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.

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future expenditures. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, among others, completing the private placement financing, the ability to complete the proposed drill program and the timing and amount of expenditures. Except as required under applicable securities laws, Callinex does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/callinex-mines-closes-option-agreement-on-alberts-lake-project-302217733.html

SOURCE Callinex Mines Inc.
August 8th, 2024 - Western Star Resources (CSE: WSR) ("Western Star" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to CAD$130,000 (the "Offering"). The Company intends to issue up to 1,444,444 million units of the Company, at a purchase price of $0.09 per unit. Each unit will comprise of one common share (each a "Common Share") in the capital of Western Star and one full purchase warrant. Full warrants are exercisable into one Common Share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.125 per share at any time up to 24 months following the closing date.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds for general working capital.

Completion of the Offering is subject to the approval of the CSE. Any participation by insiders in the Offering will constitute a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") but is expected to be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101.

None of the securities sold in connection with the Offering will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no such securities may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer.

Additional Information

Additional information about the Company and the Transaction is available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca under the Company's profile. The summary of the Transaction set out above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the description of the Transaction in the Company's filing statement posted on SEDAR.

About Western Star Resources

Western Star Resources is a mineral exploration and development company. The company's objective is to increase shareholder value through the development of exploration properties using cost-effective exploration practices, acquiring further exploration properties and seeking partnerships by either joint venture or sale with industry leaders. The company currently owns nine non-surveyed contiguous mineral claims totaling 2,797 hectares, which are located within the Revelstoke mining division of British Columbia. The Western Star property group is located approximately 50 kilometers southeast of Revelstoke, B.C., and roughly 10 kilometers north of the abandoned community of Camborne.

Contact Information:

Blake Morgan,

CEO and Director

blake@acvc.vc

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 press release.

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information". In particular references to the private placement and future work programs or expectations on the quality or results of such work programs are subject to risks associated with operations on the property, exploration activity generally, equipment limitations and availability, as well as other risks that we may not be currently aware of. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Toronto, August 8, 2024 - Maura Kolb, P. Geo., President of Dryden Gold Corp. (TSXV: DRY) ("Dryden Gold" or "The Company") and her team joined Dean McPherson, Head, Global Mining, Toronto Stock Exchange & TSX Venture Exchange to celebrate the Company's new listing on TSX Venture Exchange and open the market.





Cannot view this video? Visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbqRQ9vqTkE

Dryden Gold Corp. is an exploration company focused on the discovery of high-grade gold mineralization listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("DRY") and on the OTCQB marketplace ("DRYGF"). The Company has a strong management team and Board of Directors comprised of experienced individuals with a track record of building shareholder value through property acquisition and consolidation, exploration success, and mergers and acquisitions. Dryden Gold controls a 100% interest in a dominant strategic land position in the Dryden District of Northwestern Ontario. Dryden Gold's property package includes historic gold mines but has seen limited modern exploration. The property hosts high-grade gold mineralization over 50km of potential strike length along the Manitou-Dinorwic deformation zone. The property has excellent infrastructure, enjoys First Nations support and proximity to an experienced mining workforce.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219253
The Campanian tourist board must be at it again. After years of the region losing ground among well-heeled vacationers to Sicily and Puglia, suddenly a new iteration of Patricia Highsmiths Tom Ripley, the scammer toast of Amalfi, barrels onto Netflix, and now here comes Massara, a little slice of Campania in Manhattan, which makes its boundaries clear; its the rare ristorante that doesnt stock a single bottle of Barolo. Thats northern stuff. Food in 2024 has to be regional, Stefano Secchi, Massaras ponytailed chef, declaimed to the New York Times as the restaurant opened in June. Campania, in the southwest of the boot  it includes Naples, Amalfi, Capri, and Ischia  favors fish, fire, and Fiano.

In a tall, narrow, two-story space in the Flatiron District, Secchi and partner David Switzer, who also run the pasta-forward Rezdora around the corner, have built themselves an ad hoc Italian farmhouse and run it like an inn in the uncanny valley. Ciao! the non-Italian host greeted me at the door; Ciao! the non-Italian bartender followed up at the bar. The bathroom plays its own soundtrack of introductory Italian lessons. Dobbiamo andare  weve got to go! This is, how you say, laying it on a little thick. It put me in mind, for a fleeting second, of Matt Damon, Ripley 99, an American gone so pazzo for the charms of bella Italia that he soon hes scolding his would-be countrymen for not knowing how good they have it, belting out the Neapolitan classic Tu Vuo Fa lAmericano: Why you wanna act American? (To translate loosely.) I had wondered to our waiter whether Secchi, with his Campanian zeal, was Campanian himself, which he first affirmed before coming back sheepishly with a correction: Campanian extraction but Dallas cultivation.

Whatever! Secchi has already proved himself an able interpreter of Italys pastas at Rezdora, which has a similar regional bent, dedicated to the cuisine of Emilia-Romagna, in particular Modena. Massara brings that focus farther south with often excellent results. Secchis seafood-rich cavatelli allo scoglio (scogli are coastal rocks) is as good a pasta as Ive had this year, studded with earring-size clams, fraying skeins of crabmeat, and, apparently, mussels and octopus, whose presence was less visible than palpable: just a breath of the sea. The pizzette, cooked in a roaring Acunto oven shipped over from Naples, is excellent too  the dough salty, charred, bubbled up two knuckles high, outshining its toppings (asparagus and black truffle, prosciutto and stracciatella). We made short work of three; so cautious is Secchi of turning Massara into a pizza restaurant, it seems, that his pies are almost punishingly small. Likewise the pastas, dished out in what a server euphemistically called European portions as he encouraged us to order more.

If the pastas all lived up to the standard of the cavatelli  or of a candele with a two-day braise of beef and onions  Id happily take the paucity as proof of preciousness. But not all of them do. The patter is good at Massara  just wait for the epic tale of the 35-year-old sourdough starter, nurtured on ambient Campanian yeasts and passed down generationally  but the flavors can be spotty. A spaghettini with clams and Campanian olives sounds like an intriguing pairing and is one of only two pastas not made in-house but imported from Gragnano, where Italys best noodles are painstakingly dried. But it was almost inedibly salty. The restaurants signature dish, If Pasta Fredda Was Eaten in Amalfi, served cold in an oversweet tomato-and-almond sauce with raw shrimp and sea urchin, is a bold stroke but not one that found many fans at my table.

For abbondanza, there are more offerings among the main courses, though be prepared to pay for them. A grill-marked butterflied branzino of moderate size with a trio of sauces (dessertish zabaglione, herby salmoriglio, and irrelevant puttanesca) was $78. Slices of rare Wagyu are ominously MP  but at least theyll go well with Aglianico, Campanias native grape, which makes rich, earthy wines too brawny for almost anything else. I was intrigued on one visit by the promise of goat four ways for the table  roasted, cannellonied, etc.  but on my second visit, it had disappeared from the menu. Sourcing issues, our server apologized. Unlike in the Old Country, they were finding it hard to track down a goat.

The smallness  back in force by dessert, when a housemade sfogliatella showed up roughly the size of a mussel  inclines against the nonnas-kitchen spirit of Massara and Rezdora, names that refer to maternal figures in their respective local dialects. Fine-dining establishments have channeled matriarchs for ages; just look at the heyday of Lidia Bastianich or Pino Luongos 80s hot spot Le Madri (The Mothers) before then. Some of these places took liberties too  not all of the chefs at Le Madri were actually Italian mothers. But youd have to wonder what Nonna would say about these prices, these portions, to her wayward inheritors. One guess: Tu vuo fa lamericano?
Samsungs first foldable, the Galaxy Fold, was introduced in early 2019. It was the result of a very long development process, explains Jason Noh, a developer in the Display Group under Samsung MX.

Work on foldable technology started as far back as 2008. To put that in context, the Samsung Galaxy, the companys very first Android phone, came out in 2009. 2008 was the year of the Pixon and Omnia, early touchscreen-based smartphones.



Jason Noh  Samsungs very first foldable, the Galaxy Fold

Our team had to create a high-quality display that could be folded but resistant to debris  which meant we had to change the plate supporting the display, explains Noh. One of the early advancements was the development of Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) that helps the display when folding in various conditions and environments.

Another major material advancement was the Ultra Thin Glass (UTG), which was introduced with the first Galaxy Z Flip in 2020. UTG has become a standard component of folding displays. With the adoption of UTG, we were able to deliver a clearer display  complete with a premium look and feel that had yet to be seen on a foldable smartphone. UTG has been used ever since, says Noh.

Fast forward to 2024 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6, which introduce a so-called Protect Layer structure. A key component of that is yet another innovative material, Shear Thickening Fluid (STF). STF adapts to different amounts of pressure so that it resists deformation from impacts. This has made the 6-series foldable displays the most durable yet.



The latest Galaxy foldables  Carbon fiber and metal plates

Jumping back in time to 2021, the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 were the first foldables to feature water resistance with a high IPX8 rating. This was done using a rubber band that runs around the perimeter of the display and seals it against liquids. And back to 2024 with the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6, which are the first foldables with particle ingress protection, IP48.

This was achieved with improved sweeper technology  small brushes that keep debris from entering the gaps between the front of the device and the hinge.

The S Pen stylus is another piece of iconic Samsung tech and it made sense to marry the Fold and the S Pen with the Galaxy Z Fold3. Easier said than done since the metal plate used as screen backing in earlier models created interference that messed up the S Pen digitizer.

Instead, Samsung had to switch to a carbon fiber plate. That still wasnt enough  the digitizers are on the left and right side of the display and they had trouble detecting the S Pen in the folded part of the display. Developers created a solution to this using sophisticated calculations.

As a pioneer of the foldable smartphone, our team has accumulated knowledge and experience on what users expect from this form factor. To meet those expectations, we will not stop our journey toward the perfect display experience. The Galaxy Z series will constantly undergo improvements to prove Samsungs title as a trailblazer in foldable smartphones, said Noh.

Source
Apple's iPhone 16 line has already been rumored to arrive on time in September, despite the fact that the Apple Intelligence suite has allegedly been delayed to October.

Ahead of the release of the handsets, Samsung and LG have started mass production of the display panels for the upcoming iPhone 16 models.

According to sources in Korea, Apple has ordered 80 million panels from Samsung and 43 million from LG. Apple's iPhone 16 shipments this year are apparently estimated to be around 90 million, so it looks like the company has ordered around 30% more panels than that.

The supply chain in Korea has "confirmed" that both Samsung and LG are currently carrying out the panel production normally in line with this order volume. Both companies will benefit from Apple's orders, with improved performance in the second half of this year.

The Korean supply chain reportedly believes that the iPhone 16 series being the first ones shipping with Apple Intelligence will convince a lot of people to upgrade to these models, thus creating "a massive demand" for them.

LG will benefit most from this, with its supply of display panels increasing by about 10 million compared to last year, and taking more than 30% of the pie it shares with Samsung. It's also said that this year is the first time LG is carrying out its production schedule without delays, which should also contribute to improving performance.

In 2022 and 2023, LG's delays in starting mass production for iPhone OLED panels led to Samsung being the sole supplier of the initial volume upon launch.

On the other hand, Samsung's numbers haven't risen substantially (when talking about Apple orders for the iPhones) compared to previous years, but it has a bigger share of panels for the Pro and Pro Max, which are more expensive, so its revenue is expected to grow. Out of all panels Samsung is supplying, those for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max represent about 60%.

As for China's BOE, it's apparently having issues being approved for supplying the iPhone 16 family, so it may just sit this generation out.

Source (in Korean)
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Alongside the introduction of the V40 to the Indian market and the unveiling of the brand new V40 Pro, today vivo has also launched a new pair of TWS earbuds: the vivo TWS 3e.

These are low-cost earbuds that come with 30dB of ANC (for reference, higher-end models often go above 40dB). Each bud has one 11mm dynamic driver, AI Call Noise Reduction, a cross-through air duct to minimize resonance, and Wind Noise Reduction.

The earbuds can go up to 8.5 hours on one charge with ANC on, and 10.5 hours with ANC off. When factoring in the case as well, the total battery life is 36 hours with ANC on and 42 hours with ANC off. A ten-minute charge will deliver three hours of playback.

The vivo TWS 3e support 88ms low-latency for gaming, dual device connections, Google Fast Pair, Bluetooth 5.3, they have wear detection, and smart touch controls. They're IP54 rated for dust and splash resistance.

They're priced at INR 1,899 and will become available from vivo's online store in India, as well as Flipkart.
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Guam Community College has been selected as one of 18 nationwide recipients this year to join the Metallica Scholars Initiative, which will support the colleges ship repair boot camps.

The college will be supported with a $75,000 grant aimed at enhancing its work-ready ship repair boot camps for marine construction trades that are in high demand in Guams ship repair industry, GCC said in a press release.

GCC is the first college in a U.S. territory to be awarded the scholarship, the college said.

Guam Community College is excited to be part of the Metallica Scholars Initiative which will support our growing ship repair program, one of the most in demand trades in our region, GCC President Mary Okada said in a statement. Strong partnerships have always been the hallmark of GCCs success, and we are excited to be working with MSI to advance our training capacity.

Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands, in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges, MSI began with 10 colleges and primarily manufacturing programs.

With steady development by creative and dedicated leadership, MSI offers diverse workforce opportunities for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to find meaningful and well-paying careers.

Additional curricula will include construction, health care, and engineering, contributing to 30 fields of study offered within the initiative. To date, AWMH has invested over $10.5M in the American workforce, reaffirming a commitment to career and technical education at the local level, the release states.

James Papa Het Hetfield, Metallicas lead vocalist and guitarist, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiatives growth.

When we launched the Metallica Scholars Initiative, it really spoke to me. A collective goal of breaking the stigma of trade skills. Trade skills are vital to society, and whats even more important is to support the many folks who are trying to create a career by learning and using these skills, Hetfield said in a statement.

He said everyone is proud to see how the program is changing lives by providing much-needed resources to empower students, and its great that they are able to make their biggest grant yet to support students and the future workforce.

We are reaching even further for year six of the Metallica Scholars Initiative. This year, our program will be in 60 schools in all 50 states. All thanks to your support, Hetfield said.

Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of American Association of Community Colleges, congratulated the newest Metallica Scholarship Initiative colleges.

The sustained investment in workforce education by the All Within My Hands Foundation has benefited thousands of community college students, he said. This work helps to advance skills education and the nations workforce pipeline. We are honored to continue this partnership to provide critical resources that eliminate barriers for students to participate in skills education programs that lead to family-sustaining wage careers.

By the end of year six, MSI estimates that it will have helped more than 8,000 students with a wide range of backgrounds and ages gain skills to assist in finding meaningful jobs and careers.

Metallica Scholars are often considered non-traditional students, as many have families they support or are the first in their families to pursue a college education.

AWMH and AACC aim to connect students to skill-building opportunities and bridge the talent needs of the American workforce, all while utilizing the community college system, which is the most affordable, flexible, and industry-relevant applied-learning training provider in the country, the release states.

Metallica, through their foundation, is changing how people view and engage with the trades in this country, and it is working, said Peter Delgrosso, executive director of All Within My Hands in a statement. Metallica Scholars are diverse, motivated, and ambitious, and we are here to help them reach their goals. I am so proud and honored to be able to announce entrance into all 50 states as this is a significant milestone for not only our foundation but the incredible community we have helped foster and connect.

For a complete list of all 60 colleges currently supported by AWMH, visit allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero on Thursday night sent Speaker Therese Terlaje a bill that would grant her authority over the Guam Department of Education effectively immediately until Jan. 4, 2027, and senators will go into a special session at 10 a.m. Friday to consider the governors proposal.

This came hours after the governor released a special video address announcing the formation of a government team to help public schools pass health inspections, and also asking senators for authority over GDOE.

The Guam Education Board on Wednesday declared a state of emergency for GDOE, and schools opening has been delayed by a week  from Aug. 8 to Aug. 15  in part to give schools more time to prepare for and pass Department of Public Health and Social Services inspections.

But for more than a dozen schools that wont be inspected or fail inspection before Aug. 15, the opening is expected to be further delayed.

Grant me statutory authority over DOE and I will be responsible for it throughout the remainder of my term. Give me the legal authority to fix it--and then you can have the right to hold me accountable, the governor said in her special video address on education. Her second term as governor ends early January 2027.

In the same video message to the general public, she said while she might be the governor of Guam, I do not govern DOE.

Prior to 1986, the Organic Act of Guam vested the governor with the authority and responsibility over the public school system.

In her letter to the speaker on Thursday night, the governor said the report for the 1986 amendment observes that the structure did not preclude the Legislature from delegating authority over public schools back to the governor.

She called for a special legislative session for senators to consider her bill that would give her the authority over GDOE.

The speaker on Thursday night sent out a notice to all senators about the Friday morning special session, two days after senators last went into an emergency session to consider a bill seeking to waive sanitation inspections for yet-to-be-inspected schools so they could open for the new school year.

While I recognize that the task ahead is immense, it is not insurmountable. These problems are solvable, the governor said in her letter to the speaker.

Leon Guerrero said its in the best interest of public schools and the larger island community that the person holding responsibility for public schools be clearly established.

...and great as I know the challenge will be, I am willing to accept such responsibility for the benefit of our island, the governor wrote.

SORT, whats being done for now

In her prepared video statement released Thursday afternoon, the governor said she met with Education Board Chairperson Mary Okada and Education Superintendent Erik Swanson, who pledged to provide her with detailed information on all pending repair and maintenance work needed.

The governor announced that she created the School Opening Readiness Team, or SORT, and has asked all GovGuam agencies, including autonomous ones, to commit resources, maintenance workers, engineers, plumbers, welders and anyone else who can help.

Education committee chairman Sen. Chris Barnett thanked the governor and said it was good news and exactly what our public school families had hoped for when Lt. Gov. Tenorio announced the whole of GovGuam to fix the schools last year.

Barnett said Public Law 37-4 authorized the governor to use her authority over executive branch agencies to help fix the schools.

Instead, Adelup stood on the sidelines criticizing the effort to give our kids clean and safe schools. They said it couldnt be done, but we are halfway there, Barnett said.

School opening

The governor also said she wanted to make clear that the 23 schools that have passed inspection will open on Aug. 15, and that the remaining schools will open when they pass inspection.

In apparent reference to lawmakers failure to pass Sen. Dwayne San Nicolas Bill 317-37 that would have granted waivers to allow uninspected schools to open pending inspection, the governor said she wont spend weeks in deliberation only to leave the job undone.

I will not bicker and point fingers while children and parents wait, Leon Guerrero said.

Senators went into emergency session on San Nicolas bill, but a majority of lawmakers led by Barnett opposed the measure, citing safety concerns over uninspected schools.

Officials from GDOE, Public Health, and even at one point, Attorney General Douglas Moylan were called in to answer lawmakers questions and concerns.

Swanson told lawmakers he would not accept the legal liability of opening uninspected schools.
Viking, a cruise line providing river, ocean and expedition cruises, is hosting a three-day job fair on Guam starting on Friday for dozens of positions.

Terri Lechtenberg, recruitment senior manager for Viking, whos leading the Guam job fair for the second time in years, said the company is looking to hire 40 hospitality professionals from Guam to work on board the Viking Mississippi River ship.

This is turning out to be a bigger event and were building a great momentum, said Lechtenberg, adding that they have partnered with the Guam Department of Labor for the job fair.

Viking, formerly Viking Cruises, will hold the job fair on Friday and Saturday in Hagatna. Those who missed the first two days could still go to the third and final day in Tumon.

Among the 40 positions for the Viking Mississippi River that the company is looking to hire are assistant stateroom stewards/stewardess or assistant housekeepers; stateroom stewards/stewardess; assistant waiters; utility attendants; and assistant chef de partie or experienced cooks.

Well make job offers at the job fair, Lechtenberg said.

Viking, she said, always has an ongoing need for employees so while these are currently the positions theyre looking to fill, others could be recruited at a later time. The job fair will also help Viking get peoples resumes and contact numbers for future job openings such as for public area attendants.

Heres the full schedule:

Day 1

Friday, Aug. 9, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

At Guam Department of Labors American Job Center

414 West Soledad Avenue, 3rd Floor, GCIC Building, Hagatna

Telephone: (671) 475-7093

Day 2

Saturday, Aug. 10, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

At Guam Department of Labors American Job Center

414 West Soledad Avenue, 3rd Floor, GCIC Building, Hagatna

Telephone: (671) 475-7093

Day 3

Monday, Aug. 12, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Guam Reef Hotels Rica & Rico

1317 Pale San Vitores Road, Tumon

Considerations

Lechtenberg said people need to bring a copy of their resume, and should be ready for a job interview on the spot.

Some other considerations for the jobs available, according to Lechtenberg:
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Postal Code




Haiti - Politic : Return of Guy Philippe at the head of a new political organization





Since his failure to conquer power and the National Palace by force despite impressive demonstrations of popular mobilization, the former elected senator and former rebel leader Guy Philippe with a controversial past had kept a low profile and remained silent in terms of inflammatory speeches.



On Tuesday, August 6, a new political platform "The Revolutionary Force of National Accord" (FREN) of which Guy Philippe is the national coordinator was announced at a press conference by Nader Joiselus, former Minister of Public Works and deputy national coordinator in the absence of leader Guy Philippe...



Nader Joiseus, presented Guy Philippe as a liberator, a charismatic leader capable of leading the country on the path to emergence.



Joiseus explained that the main objective of the FREN was to fight for Haiti and to make the "real revolution".



According to Nader Joiselu, the FREN's mission is to instill love of the Fatherland in all Haitians, to instill in each citizen a love of work. According to the FREN, the right to work and a fair salary will lead to social peace. Regarding Justice, the FREN considers it fundamental for balance and social stability and is committed to strengthening the Haitian judicial system. Finally, the FREN considers that only good governance can lead to love of the Fatherland, work and reliable justice.



Let's recall that since his return from the USA at the end of 2023 after serving a 7-year prison sentence in the United States https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41106-haiti-flash-former-senator-elect-guy-philippe-returns-to-the-country.html Guy Philippe has been advocating a revolution against the system that he considers ineffective. His intention to propose an amnesty to the armed men had provoked strong hostile reactions.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41821-haiti-flash-guy-philippe-already-sees-himself-as-president-of-haiti-video.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41874-haiti-flash-barbecue-and-guy-philippe-reject-the-caricom-agreement-videos.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41595-haiti-flash-guy-philippe-calls-to-take-to-the-streets-to-overthrow-the-henry-government-video.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41549-haiti-economy-road-blockade-against-guy-philippe.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41511-haiti-flash-exchange-of-fire-between-bsap-agents-and-pnh-units.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41449-haiti-flash-guy-philippe-asks-the-fad-h-and-the-pnh-to-support-the-revolution.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41443-haiti-politic-guy-philippe-s-activism-supported-by-an-outside-hand.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-41442-icihaiti-security-all-police-officers-in-the-country-mobilized.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41367-haiti-insecurity-guy-philippe-promises-to-solve-the-gang-problem-in-90-days.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-41349-icihaiti-ouanaminthe-we-can-build-as-many-channels-as-needed-dixit-guy-philippe.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41326-haiti-petit-goaveguy-philippe-on-the-place-d-armes-dalivered-a-revolutionary-speech.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41106-haiti-flash-former-senator-elect-guy-philippe-returns-to-the-country.html



SL/ HaitiLibre


















Im not a constitutional law expert, but I find it hard to understand the premise that property protections could be an obstacle. Theres all sorts of property. What states that [mobile phones] specifically are property items that belong in the classroom? he asked in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat on Monday.

MINISTER of Education Anders Adlercreutz (SFP) doubts that the constitution could become an obstacle to prohibiting mobile phone use in schools in Finland.

Itd feel like an unusual interpretation to me, but of course were listening to experts in this regard.

Adlercreutz has promised to present his bill for restricting mobile phone use in schools by the year-end, in line with the government programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP).

He stated to the newspaper that although the nature of the bill remains unknown, the bill will seek to clarify the current, somewhat confusing situation. Teachers are presently able to confiscate a mobile phone form a pupil only if the pupil has used it in a way that causes disturbance. Schools are also able to prohibit mobile phone use in class but not at recess in their codes of conduct.

The Chancellor of Justice, however, has ruled that the practice of confiscating mobile phones from pupils for the school day due to disturbance is unlawful, as is pre-emptively collecting mobile phones for the duration of the schoolday against the will of pupils.

Adlercreutz on Monday ruled out the possibility of proposing that pupils would be entirely prohibited from bringing mobile phones to schools.

But could the ban mean that mobile phones are left somewhere for the schoolday and picked up when pupils go home from school. Its obvious that [uses for] health-related special needs such as monitoring insulin levels have to be allowed, he said.

Another option, he added, is to address the issue by increasing the authority of teachers  to enable them to define whether mobile phones are allowed in class.

Unesco last year published an exhaustive report that encouraged national governments to critically evaluate the use of technology in schools, warning that insufficient regulation is endangering the privacy, safety and well-being of children. The report also pointed to evidence that pupils who use their phone for leisure in class may require as long as 20 minutes to refocus on the class theme.

Adlercreutz admitted to Helsingin Sanomat that Finland may not have taken seriously enough the negative effects of mobile phone use in schools.

Constant use of smart devices, he added, can also be a detriment to development on a broader basis.

Schools are also for learning social skills. International trials have that restricting phone use leads to an increase in play at recess. Play leads to creative activity, lets your imagination run free. I struggle to see that as anything else but a positive, he said.

Earlier this summer he expressed his support for trialling complete mobile phone bans in randomly selected schools, an idea that was floated in an interview with YLE in July by Ramin Izadi, a special researcher at VATT Institute for Economic Research.

I think thats an interesting proposal, he commented to YLE. Ive previously said that I consider this question important. Ive received a lot of concerned messages from both parents and teachers.

He outlined that the objective of the upcoming bill is to enable pupils to refocus on what is important  on learning and developing their social skills.

[The objective is] that schools can be what they were devised to be: places for learning, for developing yourself, for developing your social skills, for a good childhood and adolescence, he emphasised to the public broadcasting company. Its clear that the device in your pocket is what seems to be coming between these goals and young people, and that we have to address.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) has been monitoring substance use among European students since 1995.

The latest findings from a European survey reveal a significant shift in substance use among Finnish ninth graders. While traditional alcohol and tobacco use continues to decline, the use of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches is on the rise.

The survey, conducted every four years, includes 16-year-olds across 23 to 39 European countries. The 2024 results from Finland provide a mixed picture of youth behavior regarding substance use.

Alcohol Use Declines, but Binge Drinking Stagnates

The proportion of ninth graders who have never consumed alcohol has increased dramatically from 10% in 1995 to 35% in 2024. Despite this positive trend, the reduction in binge drinking, which had been declining until 2015, appears to have stalled. As of 2024, 9% of boys and 6% of girls reported drinking at least six units of alcohol weekly.

There is also a worrying trend in perceptions of binge drinking. More teens now believe that heavy episodic drinking poses few health risks, contrary to established medical advice.

Traditional Tobacco Use Drops, E-Cigarettes and Nicotine Pouches Surge

Daily smoking among ninth graders has decreased significantly, with only 6% of boys and 4% of girls smoking daily in 2024, down from around 20% at the beginning of the decade. However, the use of e-cigarettes, or vapes, is rising, with 40% of teens having tried them, up from 34% in 2019. Daily use is reported by 9% of boys and 13% of girls.

The use of snus, a form of smokeless tobacco, has also seen a decline. In 2024, 26% of boys and 13% of girls had tried snus, with daily use at 7% for boys and 3% for girls.

A new challenge has emerged with the increased use of nicotine pouches following the lifting of sales restrictions in 2023. By 2024, 31% of boys and 17% of girls had tried nicotine pouches, with 11% of boys and 3% of girls using them daily. Kirsimarja Raitasalo, a senior researcher at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), highlighted the addictive nature of nicotine pouches and their harmful effects on young brains.

Gambling and Cannabis Use

Since the legal age for gambling machines was raised from 15 to 18 in 2011, youth gambling has plummeted. Weekly gambling among boys dropped from 45% in 2011 to just 4% in 2024. Girls participation fell to near zero from a previous range of 5% to 8%.

Cannabis experimentation has slightly decreased, particularly among boys, with 11% of boys and 9% of girls having tried it in 2024. This is a reduction from 13% and 9%, respectively, in 2019. Despite this, there is an increasing perception that cannabis is easy to obtain.

Increasing Stimulant Drug Use

Experimentation with stimulant drugs such as amphetamines, cocaine, and ecstasy has seen a slight increase. In 2024, 4% of students reported trying these drugs, up from 3% in 2019. Alarmingly, attitudes towards these substances have become more lenient, with more teens viewing their use as low-risk.

Preventive Measures

Raitasalo emphasizes the importance of factual education about substances and their risks, suggesting that schools, youth organizations, and community groups play a crucial role. Supporting families and parenting from early childhood is also vital to prevent substance abuse and other risky behaviors among teens.

The full international report from ESPAD will be published in 2025, providing a broader context on how Finland compares to other European nations. Early indications suggest that countries like Sweden and Norway, which report lower alcohol and cannabis use among teens, continue to see declines in alcohol consumption with stable cannabis use rates.

HT
Trail coalition reaches deal to buy Saluda Grade rail line

The Saluda Grade Trails Conservancy is officially under contract to purchase a 31-mile rail corridor for a proposed rail trail running from Upstate South Carolina to Western North Carolina, the nonprofit announced.

The conservancy entered into a contract with Norfolk Southern to purchase the Saluda Grade rail line and corridor and now has one year to complete due diligence and secure remaining funds needed for the purchase.

The planned Saluda Grade Trail will travel through Inman, Campobello, Landrum, Tryon, Saluda, and Zirconia, passing through vibrant small towns, rolling countryside and spectacular mountain scenery. The trail will be open for walking, running, biking, birding, and other forms of outdoor recreation.

The trail is spearheaded by a coalition of three nonprofits that formed the Saluda Grade Trails Conservancy: Conserving Carolina; PAL: Play. Advocate. Live Well.; and Upstate Forever.

Working with the talented professionals at Norfolk Southern and with the equally talented and committed teams at Conserving Carolina, PAL, and Upstate Forever has been incredible," said Glenn Hilliard, founder and chair of the Saluda Grade Trails Conservancy. "Without each and every one of these leaders this agreement would not have been possible. Please reach out and show your appreciation and support to these partners who will continue to work together to assure that the Saluda Grade Trail provides an incredible and iconic resource for the people of North and South Carolina.

Kieran Roe, the executive director of Conserving Carolina, said: We see this trail as a huge asset for our local communitiesa place where kids can play safely, where its easy to get outside and exercise, where people of all abilities can enjoy the outdoors. Its an amenity that will strengthen local businesses so they can offer more opportunities for the people who live here.

Upstate Forever executive director Aldon Knight, says, The pandemic taught us that we need more natural spaces for recreation and refuge. The Saluda Grade Trail will provide just that, encouraging safe outdoor recreation and stronger connections to nature, improving quality of life for residents. Its a visionary project with a return that will far exceed any initial investment.

Laura Ringo, the executive director of PAL, says, "The Saluda Grade Trail offers a unique chance to boost public health by providing safe, accessible spaces for physical activity. Regular use for walking, running, and biking can improve cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles, and prevent chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Additionally, spending time in nature reduces stress, enhances mental well-being, and fosters community. This scenic trail will inspire active lifestyles, promoting wellness and a higher quality of life for all."

Cliff Garner, of Norfolk Southern AVP Real Estate & Facility Services, says, At Norfolk Southern, were committed to helping the communities our rail network touches thrive. We appreciate the partnership from Saluda Grade Trails Conservancy and we look forward to seeing the conservancys plans come to fruition.
HPD holds Awards and Promotions ceremony

Jeff Smith, a retired lieutenant with the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office, pins badge on his son, newly promoted Sgt. Jacob Smith.

On Wednesday, July 31, the Hendersonville Police Department hosted its 2024 Awards and Promotional Ceremony to recognize the achievements of officers and staff. Chief Blair Myhand was joined by command staff members to present training certificates, awards and promotions to a deserving group of honorees.

Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate  Matt Capps: To be eligible for an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate an officer must accumulate the required combination of training, degrees and experience outlined by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission. Lieutenant Capps was recognized for obtaining this advanced level of certification.

Police Achievement  Landon McCraw: A Police Achievement Medal is awarded to an employee who displays credible public service in a single operation, incident, or investigation above normal requirements and performed in a manner that contributes to the achievement of department goals. Officer McCraw investigated a breaking and entering of a storage unit for the daughter of a recently deceased man. After reviewing the video, Landon identified the license plates of two suspect vehicles. He interviewed the registered owners of both vehicles and obtained confessions of the crimes. Officer McCraw was able to recover a considerable amount of stolen property totaling thousands of dollars. Officer McCraw went far above and beyond investigating this crime. The rightful owners are undoubtably grateful for his determination in locating and arresting the suspects.

Police Commendation  Andrew Gunnin, Haley Thompson, Marianna Tinoco: A Police Commendation Ribbon is awarded to an employee who displays highly credible public service in a single operation, incident, or investigation substantially above normal requirements and performed in an exemplary manner which contributes significantly to the achievement of department goals.

Officer Gunnin was recognized for his determination and diligence in assisting a Police Recruit during the last BLET program. Andrew volunteered much of his own time helping the recruit, for whom English is their second language, study while attending class. Andrew accomplished this task while remaining one of the most productive officers in the department. Andrews selfless service and his dedication to his role as a police officer reflect the mission of the department. He deserves this award for spending so much of his personal time helping someone else succeed.

Officer Thompson responded when callers informed the police that a young child was walking alone on the Oklawaha Trail. Shortly after Haley arrived, the child jumped into the creek trying to get away from her. Officer Thompson engaged the child and tried to convince him to get out of the creek. With temperatures below 60 degrees, and water temperatures even colder, Officer Thompson became concerned for the child. After several unsuccessful attempts to get the child to follow instructions, Officer Thompson jumped into the creek to remove the child from the cold water. She determined that the child was autistic and two miles from home. Her swift actions prevented the child from becoming hypothermic. She was able to return him home before he had even been reported missing.

Officer Tinoco earned this award because of her overall work performance. She is a dedicated member of the department who works hard to lead by example. For several months, Marianna has made more felony, misdemeanor, and DWI arrests than any other officer. Besides her productivity on patrol, Marianna volunteers for several department committees like the uniform committee, the recruitment committee, and special event planning committee. She also commits her time to National Night Out and she constantly engages the community by interacting with children. Over the past two years, Marianna has proven herself a vital part of the department. She works to improve herself every day. Her continuous record of being one of the most productive officers in the department reflects her drive and passion for police work.

Meritorious Service - Alexis Barker, Kristen Narron: Animal Services Officer Alexis Barker has made significant contributions to the department. She consistently demonstrates commitment and dedication to excellence in her role. Her positive attitude and problem-solving approach are evident in her daily performance. Despite being involved in challenging situations that often involve verbal abuse, she maintains calmness, composure, and professionalism. Alexis has been instrumental in writing standard operating procedures to support officers when responding to calls for service involving animals. She is passionate about helping animals and educating their owners. Alexis has been instrumental in the departments response to an outbreak of distemper and rabies in the county. She ensures that the department adheres to the county health department recommendations protecting her co-workers and mitigating additional infections of these viruses. Alexis overall dedication, professionalism, and compassion underscore her invaluable contribution to the department and the community. Her efforts positively impact her co-workers, citizens, and the animals she serves.

Parking Services Supervisor Kristen Narron was recognized for always going above and beyond the call of duty. She is wholly committed to the city of Hendersonville and is often volunteering her time for various department and community events. In her full-time job, Kristen has been instrumental in making the transition to paid parking a success. She addresses citizen concerns daily and expertly deals with angry citizens. Arguably, Kristen deals with more angry people than any other department employee. She does so with poise and expertise. She spends numerous hours helping the agency plan special events. She recently recommended and now chairs the special events planning committee for the department, pulling together other volunteers to ensure the agency is well prepared when these events occur. She wants to ensure that people have a good time at our events and that the agency always puts its best foot forward. Kristen has been solely responsible for ordering items for the Apple Festival, National Night Out, and other events. She gives her time without the expectation of reward.

Lifesaving Commendations - Lance LeDoux, Brandon Haman, Eric LaRowe: Officers LeDoux and Haman prevented a man intending to commit suicide from jumping from an elevated surface. The officers engaged the person in dialog trying to establish trust. Despite numerous threats to jump, the officer persuaded the person to step back from the edge of the structure. Once on safe footing, the officers intervened and prevented the person from harming himself and potentially ending his life.

Eric LaRowe was working off-duty at a local church. While working this assignment, a church member approached Eric signaling that he was choking and could not breathe. Eric immediately reacted and performed the Heimlich maneuver, trying to clear the object that was preventing the person from breathing. After several attempts, Detective LaRowe was able to dislodge the obstruction and restore breathing to the individual. Once the obstruction was removed, Eric immediately called EMS to ensure no other obstructions existed. Because of Erics training and decisive action, he prevented a life-threatening situation from resulting in a persons death. There is no doubt that without his efforts, the person would have almost certainly died.

Promotions

Haley Thompson and Colby Torbett  Investigator

Sam Capps  Sergeant: Sam Capps was sworn in as a police officer for the Hendersonville Police Department in December 2019 after completing Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET). Sergeant Capps has over 500 hours of training including classes such as Police Law Institute, Field Training Officer, Drug Interdiction Techniques, and basic SWAT operator. He is a member of the Henderson County SWAT Team.

Zeff Childress  Sergeant: Zeffrey Childress has been a sworn law enforcement officer with the Hendersonville Police Department since June 2014 after receiving his BLET certificate in late 2013. In August 2020, he was assigned as a Detective to the Criminal Investigations Bureau. Zeff holds an Advanced Lw Enforcement Certificate. He is a specialized instructor for firearms and rapid deployment. Sergeant Childress has a Bachelor of Art Degree from UNC Asheville. He is a member of the HPD Motor Team and is a Field Training Officer.

Jacob Smith  Sergeant: Smith completed his associate degree in criminal justice from Blue Ridge Community College in December 2020. He began working as a police officer for the Hendersonville Police Department in January 2021. In October 2022 he was reassigned to the newly formed traffic safety team. Since then, Jacob has been certified as a traffic crash reconstructionist and completed the North Carolina Justice Academy Traffic Crash Certificate program. Sergeant Smith is a recent addition to the multi-agency Henderson County SWAT Team.

Jon Wing  Lieutenant: Lieutenant Wing earned a bachelors degree in criminal justice from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2011. He started his law enforcement career with the Hendersonville Police Department in 2013. Throughout his time here, Jon has held various roles including K9 Handler, Field Training Officer, RAD Instructor, and Background Investigator. Lieutenant Wing has earned the following awards: Rookie of the Year, Officer of the Year Award, the Morris Kaplan Award, and two Life Saving Awards. In 2019, he was promoted to Sergeant of Team 3. During his time as Sergeant, he earned his Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate and completed the Western North Carolina Law Enforcement Leadership Academy. Since January 2024, Lieutenant Wing has been serving as Acting Lieutenant on Team 1.

Trae Laws  Captain: Trae Laws graduated from Western Carolina University with a bachelors degree in criminal justice in 2004. After college he went on to complete BLET from Western Piedmont Community College in 2005. He was hired by the Hendersonville Police Department as a police officer in 2006. In his time here, he has served in several capacities including patrol, investigations, and vice-narcotics. He served with the Henderson County SWAT team for 10 years, 6 years with the Henderson County Narcotics Task Force, and 6 years as the Homeland Security Investigations Task Force Officer. Trae was promoted to Sergeant in 2019 and to Lieutenant in 2020. His notable training accomplishments include FBI LEEDA Trilogy award, WNC Law Enforcement Leadership Academy, and the 96th Session of the Administrative Officers Management Program. He is slated to attend the 293rd session of the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA., in January 2025.
Federal health care personnel, resources at-the-ready to support affected states

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has declared Public Health Emergencies (PHEs) for the states of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to address the health impacts of Hurricane Debby, now Tropical Storm Debby. The declarations follow President Bidens emergency declarations for Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina and give the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), health care providers, and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

HHS stands ready to assist residents across the Southeast impacted by Tropical Storm Debby, said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. With todays declarations and waivers, HHS is helping ensure that residents in the Southeast have continuous access to the care they need during and after this storm.

To further assist South Carolina hospitals and other health care facilities in addressing the potential health impacts of the storm, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) has approximately 50 medical providers and disaster management professionals from the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) staged in the state for rapid response in affected areas.

These personnel include regional emergency coordinators who integrate with state health authorities and emergency response officials and with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to anticipate and help the state meet public health and medical needs in the wake of the storm. The deployed personnel also include medical providers and logistics experts who are equipped with medical supplies and equipment.

NDMS personnel come from around the country to provide rapid assistance with health care facility assessments, care for patients in local communities when health care facilities are overwhelmed, evacuate patients to non-affected areas, and provide other support as requested. In coordinating the federal public health and medical response, ASPR is prepared to deploy additional personnel from NDMS and officers from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps if needed.

The dangerous storm surge, strong winds, and rain that Tropical Storm Debby is bringing to the southeast U.S. can have serious impacts on health care delivery, said Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn OConnell. ASPRs highly trained personnel are prepared to help ease the burden on local health systems during this difficult time.

HHS also has made information available from the HHS emPOWER program, a partnership between ASPR and CMS, to support public health emergency planning and response activities. The program provides valuable information on the number of Medicare beneficiaries who rely on electricity-dependent durable medical equipment and certain health care services, such as dialysis, oxygen tanks, or home health care, to help anticipate, plan for, and respond to the needs of at-risk residents in areas that impacted by the storm.

The Disaster Distress Helpline is available to provide disaster crisis counseling. Managed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), this toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. To connect with a trained counselor, call or text 1-800-985-5990. Spanish speakers can press 2 for bilingual support. Callers also can connect with counselors in more than 100 other languages via third-party interpretation services by indicating their preferred language to the responding counselor.

To support state and local health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is providing public health information in English and Spanish on topics such as flooding, mold, and worker safety.

HHS has also waived sanctions and penalties for violations of certain provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule against hospitals in the emergency areas. The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a bulletin explaining how this limited waiver applies and its duration.

In declaring the public health emergency and authorizing flexibilities for CMS providers, suppliers, and beneficiaries, Secretary Becerra acted within his authority under the Public Health Service Act and Social Security Act. These actions and flexibilities are retroactive to August 1, 2024, for Florida and August 4, 2024, for Georgia and South Carolina.
In November 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) joined agencies across the federal government in prioritizing communication in its services to the public by releasing its department-wide Language Access Plan. With the release of its plan, HHS took a giant step towards ensuring people with limited English proficiency (LEP) and people with disabilities have greater access to the life-saving services that it provides.

Today, as a culmination of this effort, and in advance of the 24th anniversary of Executive Order 13166, Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency, the Department has released division-specific language access plans. This effort by nearly all HHS operating and staff divisions exemplifies the Departments commitment to providing accessible, culturally and linguistically competent, and comprehensive health care and human services.

Removing the barriers that prevent people from accessing health care and human services support is one of our highest priorities, said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. HHS continues to expand access, including language access, so that everyone can receive the help they need and deserve. In addition to our department-wide plan, which we released last year, each individual division within HHS has established their own goals and plans aimed at further expanding access. The Biden-Harris Administrations commitment to equity and inclusivity remains steadfast and extends to every part of the work that HHS does every day on behalf of the American people.

Today, we celebrate a significant milestone as we proudly unveil the updated Language Access Plans for all of HHS. These plans reflect our unwavering commitment to equality in access to health and human services, making sure care is available and accessible for individuals in their native languages, and effective communications for persons with disabilities, said Melanie Fontes Rainer, Director of the HHS Office for Civil Rights and Chair of the HHS Language Access Steering Committee. This is a testament to our ongoing dedication to ensuring that all individuals across the nation, regardless of language or ability, can access the vital services and information they need in health care.

Led by the Department-wide Language Access Steering Committee, run by the HHS Office for Civil Rights, the following components of the Department have developed comprehensive language access plans:

The updated 2023 HHS Language Access Plan in various languages, the HHS division-specific Language Access Plans, and additional resources may be found at www.hhs.gov/lep.

Statements from HHS Principals on the HHS Division-Specific Language Access Plans

Xavier Becerra, HHS Secretary

Removing the barriers that prevent people from accessing health care and human services support is one of our highest priorities. HHS continues to expand access, including language access, so that everyone can receive the help they need and deserve. In addition to our department-wide plan, which we released last year, each individual division within HHS has established their own goals and plans aimed at further expanding access. The Biden-Harris Administrations commitment to equity and inclusivity remains steadfast and extends to every part of the work that HHS does every day on behalf of the American people.

Jeff Hild, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Children and Families (ACF) and Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) continues to take action to increase access to our programs and we are proud to be effectuating HHS critical updated Language Access Plan. Implementation of this essential plan demonstrates our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility throughout over 60 ACF programs and services to children, youth, families, communities and grantees nationwide.

Alison Barkoff, Senior official performing the duties of the Administration for Community Living Administrator and the Assistant Secretary for Aging (ACL)

ACL is committed to ensuring that all older adults and people with disabilities can access the programs and services we fund. Making information available in a variety of languages and formats - including sign language and Easy Read formats that are more accessible to both people with intellectual disabilities and people with limited English reading skills - is an important part of that commitment.

Dawn OConnell, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR)

Disasters can happen anywhere in the United States and impact anyone. Language should never be a barrier to seeking and receiving the support needed to respond to and recover from an emergency. Providing language access services and meaningful communication to all, including persons with limited English proficiency, will strengthen our nations ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. ASPRs Language Access Plan marks 24 years of progress since Executive Order 13166 was signed, and it will guide ASPR in ensuring that we are providing meaningful access to all our programs and services.

Dr. Bob O. Valdez, Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

As patient populations become increasingly diverse, it is essential that health care organizations of all types and sizes commit to developing language access plans to communicate effectively across our nations diversity and health literacy levels to ensure delivery of high-quality patient-centered care. AHRQ is a proud partner in the HHS Language Access Plan and the 24th anniversary of Executive Order 13166. AHRQs focus on creating tools and resources that foster the inclusion of individuals with limited English proficiency in research helps advance the study of health literacy and the vanquishing of care disparities. More importantly, it promotes providing health care services responsive to our nations diverse consumers cultural and linguistic preferences, leading to better care outcomes.

Cheryl R. Campbell, Assistant Secretary for Administration (ASA)

I am proud of our continued commitment to Executive Order 13166 and to ensuring any American in need of HHS services can access them, no matter their primary language. Our Language Access Plan is a crucial component to empowering individuals to fully engage in their health care and demonstrates HHS dedication to serving our communities equitably.

Lisa Molyneux, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources (ASFR), performing the delegable duties of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources

Providing meaningful language access to information is critical to advancing HHSs equity efforts. The HHS Language Access Plan creates a roadmap to effectively communicating with the diverse communities that rely on our programs, and ensures we are continuously learning from and considering data and resources to address identified barriers.

Melanie Egorin, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary for Legislation (ASL)

Greater language access means more effective communication of HHS life-saving priorities for the constituents served by each member of Congress. It is also the law. This is why our plan takes important steps to increase access for persons with limited English proficiency to our work, including information about important HHS programs and public health resources.

Rebecca Haffajee, JD, Ph.D., MPH, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)

On the 24th anniversary of Executive Order 13166, 'Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency,' the Office of the Assistance Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) is proud to present our Language Access Plan. ASPEs Plan reaffirms the Departments goal of ensuring that every individual has meaningful access to HHSs programs and services, by committing ASPE to make our publications and public meetings accessible to persons with limited English proficiency (LEP) and hearing, vision, speech and other disabilities. ASPEs primary contribution to language services centers around conducting studies to identify and outline strategies to overcome language access barriers.

Jeff Nesbit, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA)

ASPA is taking steps to help support the Department in its work to expand access to HHS services. This is part of HHS's overall commitment to protect the rights of individuals to access quality health care and essential human services. Our Language Action Plan is tailored to our unique responsibilities within the Office of the Secretary  namely to help all the other divisions to promote their policies and programs. As we continue to evolve as a division, we will keep our plans updated to ensure that we are doing our best to serve the American people.

Dr. Mandy Cohen, Director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

I am pleased to announce the new CDC 2024 Language Access Plan as part of the larger 2024 HHS Language Access initiative. Ensuring our life-saving information is available to everyone in their preferred language is critical to our mission of protecting health and improving lives. CDC is committed to making sure that each of our programs has a plan to provide services and resources in ways that the public can understand.

Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

CMS remains committed to ensuring people served by our programs have access to the critical health care coverage and information our agency provides. We are especially sensitive to the needs of those with limited English proficiency and people with disabilities. We will continue to work to expand our efforts so that more people are able to understand their options and can access high quality, affordable health care coverage.

The Honorable Constance B. Tobias, Chair, Departmental Appeals Board

The DAB's commitment to fair and impartial dispute resolution includes removing barriers to language access, in order to afford a party the right to meaningfully participate in the process.

Robert M. Califf, M.D., Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Providing language access resources and services is particularly significant for the work we do at the FDA. Reducing language barriers can help improve public health outcomes and increase trust and transparency. The FDA is committed to providing consumer information in multiple languages, and helping consumers, including people with limited English proficiency and people with disabilities, make informed decisions about their health and safety.

Carole Johnson, Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

HRSA supports equitable access to health care for the highest need communities, and it is vital for us to reach the millions of the people we serve who speak a language other than English. Thats why we recently launched a new grant program to train doctors and physician assistants on providing culturally and linguistically appropriate care for individuals with limited English proficiency and began offering an additional $5,000 in loan repayment to all National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program participants who can demonstrate fluency in Spanish and who commit to practice in a high need area serving patients with limited English proficiency. Today, I am proud to unveil HRSAs updated Language Access Plan to build on this work and ensure access to high-quality health care by removing language barriers so that every patient in every community can be heard and understood.

Roselyn Tso, Director, Indian Health Service (IHS)

Providing greater language access to information about the Indian Health Services health care programs and public health services to members of Tribal communities can contribute to better health care experiences, and improved health outcomes for the American Indian and Alaska Native people across the Nation.

Bertha Alisia Guerrero, Director, Intergovernmental External Affairs (IEA)

As a first-generation daughter of non-English speaking immigrant parents, I understand firsthand how important language access is to our health and well-being. This updated Language Access Plan reflects IEAs commitment to removing language barriers that limit equitable access to health and human services programs and resources.

Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH)

When patients with limited English proficiency have access to clear and understandable health information, they are empowered to make informed decisions about their health, leading to better outcomes and improved well-being. NIH is committed to providing clear and accessible health and science information so that everyone can benefit from it.

Admiral Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH)

Language access is vital for improving health and well-being for all. At HHS, we are dedicated to implementing policies, practices, and programs that prioritize science, innovation, and education to advance social justice and equity.

Melanie Fontes Rainer, Director, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and Chair, HHS Language Access Steering Committee

Today, we celebrate a significant milestone as we proudly unveil the updated Language Access Plans for all of HHS. These plans reflect our unwavering commitment to equality in access to health and human services, making sure care is available and accessible for individuals in their native languages, and effective communications for persons with disabilities. This is a testament to our ongoing dedication to ensuring that all individuals across the nation, regardless of language or ability, can access the vital services and information they need in health care.

Loyce Pace, Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs (OGA)

As we mark the 24th anniversary of Executive Order 13166, which mandates improved access to services for individuals with limited English proficiency, the Office of Global Affairs reaffirms its commitment to this important cause. In our increasingly interconnected world, effective communication is vital for global health and human services. Our OpDiv/StaffDiv Language Access Plans play a crucial role in breaking down language barriers, ensuring that everyone, regardless of language, can access the essential services they need. By promoting language inclusivity, we strengthen our global partnerships and advance our shared goal of a healthier, more equitable world for all.

Rear Admiral Felicia Collins, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health and Director, Office of Minority Health (OMH)

Eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities across our nation requires us to identify and remove barriers to health care access, and one such barrier is language. The new OMH Language Access Plan demonstrates our commitment to actionable strategies for providing meaningful language access within our programs and resources. OMH will continue to champion meaningful language access as a critical component for improving health outcomes for individuals with limited English proficiency.

McArthur Allen, Chief Administrative Law Judge, Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA)

We are proud to introduce OMHAs Language Access Plan in furtherance of the Departments and OMHAs common mission to improve access for persons with limited English proficiency. Today, we are taking another important step in shaping American health care by ensuring that OMHAs standards for fair, credible, and timely adjudication apply equally to all those we serve.

Micky Tripathi, Ph.D., M.P.P., Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (Acting) (ASTP/ONC)

Language access is a key factor in health equity - language barriers limit a persons access and understanding of critical health information and care services, and limit a persons ability to make health care decisions for themself and their family. By updating our Language Access Plan (LAP), we hope to strengthen our health IT programs and policy initiatives by ensuring that they are available to and understood by all, including persons with limited English proficiency (LEP) and persons with disabilities.

Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use (SAMHSA)

Language access is a cornerstone of equity, empowering us to meet the needs of our nations diverse communities. This plan will further our focus on increasing access for underserved populations in their preferred languages to programs that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery.

If you believe that you or another party has been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or conscience, visit the OCR complaint portal to file a complaint online.

People using assistive technology may not be able to fully access information in this file. For assistance, contact the HHS Office for Civil Rights at (800) 368-1019, TDD toll-free: (800) 537-7697, or by emailing OCRMail@hhs.gov.


Thursday August 8, 2024



Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty (R) and Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya (L)



Badr Abdelatty, Egypts Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a phone conversation on Wednesday with Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya.



According to Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Migration and Director of Public Diplomacy, the discussion was marked by mutual praise for the longstanding and robust ties between Egypt and Kenya. Both leaders highlighted the ongoing communication and mutual respect between their countries leaderships, reiterating their commitment to enhancing and developing bilateral relations to benefit both nations.





The spokesperson noted that the call also addressed recent developments in the Horn of Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and South Sudan. Both parties reviewed their countries efforts to achieve peace and stability and defuse crises across the continent. Abdelatty outlined Egypts commitment to addressing various aspects of the Sudanese crisis, maintaining the integrity of the state and its institutions, and providing urgent humanitarian and medical aid to meet the needs of the Sudanese people.Prime Minister Mudavadi discussed Kenyas mediation role in South Sudan, and the conversation also touched on developments concerning the Nile waters and relations among the Nile Basin countries. Both leaders agreed to continue coordination and consultation in the coming period to monitor issues of mutual interest.
The upcoming week is filled with important events in the Hindu calendar. At the outset, we will observe Sawan Shivaratri, a significant fasting day devoted to Lord Shiva, followed by Hariyali Teej, a vibrant festival celebrated by women. Talking of zodiac movements, this week, Mercury will turn retrograde, potentially impacting communication and travel. Additionally, the Sun will move into Ashlesha Nakshatra, influencing various aspects of life. This week also presents auspicious timings (muhurats) for significant purchases like property and vehicles. Let's explore this weeks Panchanga in detail for New Delhi, NCT, India. Get weekly Panchang to determine auspicious and inauspicious time for performing day-to-day tasks based on the prevailing planetary position.

Shubh Muhurat This Week

According to Vedic Astrology, the odds of accomplishing a task successfully are significantly enhanced if they are carried out during an auspicious muhurta. An auspicious muhurta provides us with the best outcome possible according to our destiny if we execute the work in harmony with the cosmic timeline. That is why it is essential to take muhurta into account while commencing any auspicious work. This weeks Shubh Muhurat for various activities is as follows:

Vivah Muhurat : No auspicious Marriage Muhurat is available this week.

: No auspicious Marriage Muhurat is available this week. Griha Pravesh Muhurat : No auspicious Griha Pravesh Muhurat is available this week.

: No auspicious Griha Pravesh Muhurat is available this week. Property Purchase Muhurat : Auspicious property purchase Muhurat is available this week on August 15, Thursday (12:53 PM to 05:51 AM, Aug 16).

: Auspicious property purchase Muhurat is available this week on August 15, Thursday (12:53 PM to 05:51 AM, Aug 16). Vehicle Purchase Muhurat: Auspicious muhurta is available this week on August 9, Friday (05:47 AM to 05:48 AM, Aug 10), August 12, Monday (07:55 AM to 08:33 AM) and August 14, Wednesday (10:23 AM to 12:13 PM).

Upcoming Planetary Transits This Week

In Vedic astrology, planetary transits are particularly crucial since they are the principal way of anticipating changes and advances in life. Planets move on a daily basis and go through several nakshatras and Rashis in the process. It assists in comprehending the nature and characteristics of events as they occur. Here are the upcoming transits this week:

Sun and Saturn at a deep 150-degree angle on August 10 (Saturday) at 10:53 AM

Venus enters in Poorva Phalguni Nakshatra on August 11 (Sunday) at 11:15 AM

Mars and Jupiter planetary war (graha yuddha) on August 12 (Monday) at 10:24 PM

Mars and Jupiters close conjunction at zero-degree on August 14 (Wednesday) at 08:47 PM

Upcoming Festivals This Week

Nag Panchami (August 9, Friday): Nag Panchami is a Hindu festival dedicated to serpent gods. People bow to snakes or to snake statues, pour milk and ask for protection and blessings. The festival is centred on the worship of nature and the magical forces of serpents, their blessings for wealth and protection.

Kalki Jayanti (August 10, Saturday): It is the day when the tenth avatar of Lord Vishnu, Kalki, is believed to arrive on earth. Devotees celebrate this day by offering prayers and performing various religious activities with the expectation of Kalki, who will help remove the current age of degeneration and bring back order to society.

Skanda Sashti (August 10, Saturday): It is a festival dedicated to Lord Murugan, also known as the warrior God. People fast, pray, offer puja, and perform rituals in temples in his honour, as he had killed the demon Surapadman. This festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, and people pray to Lord Murugan for strength, wealth, and protection from evil.

Bhanu Saptami (August 11, Sunday): This day is dedicated to Lord Surya, the Sun God. People offer special prayers, do puja, and take a holy bath in rivers to please Surya for good health, wealth, and wisdom. This day is associated with the Sun and its energy, promoting vigour and achievement.

Tulsidas Jayanti (August 11, Sunday): Tulsidas Jayanti is celebrated as the birth anniversary of the great poet-saint Tulsidas. People pay their respects to him for the Ramcharitmanas, an epic of immense value in Hindu literature and spirituality. The day consists of reading, prayers, and meditations on his sayings, emphasising love for Rama and the path of Dharma.

Fourth Shravan Somwar Vrat (August 12, Monday): The Fourth Shravan Somwar Vrat is devoted to Lord Shiva. Devotees abstain from food, go to temples, and perform certain ceremonies to pray to the lord for wealth, good health, and spiritual enlightenment.

Inauspicious Rahu Kalam This Week

According to Vedic astrology, Rahu is an inauspicious planet. During the transition of planets, the time under the influence of Rahu should be avoided to do any auspicious work. Doing Puja, Hawan or Yagya to propitiate auspicious planets during this time is interfered with by Rahu due to its malefic nature. It is important to consider Rahu Kaal before starting any new work. By doing so, the possibility of achieving desired results is increased. Following are the timings of Rahu Kalam for this week:

August 09: 10:47 AM to 12:26 PM

10:47 AM to 12:26 PM August 10: 09:07 AM to 10:47 AM

09:07 AM to 10:47 AM August 11: 05:24 PM to 07:04 PM

05:24 PM to 07:04 PM August 12: 07:28 AM to 09:07 AM

07:28 AM to 09:07 AM August 13: 03:44 PM to 05:23 PM

03:44 PM to 05:23 PM August 14: 12:25 PM to 02:04 PM

12:25 PM to 02:04 PM August 15: 02:04 PM to 03:43 PM

Panchanga is a calendar used in Vedic astrology to determine the auspicious and inauspicious time for performing day-to-day tasks based on the prevailing planetary position. It comprises five elements - Vaara, Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana. The essence of the Panchanga is the inter-relationship between the Sun (our soul) and the Moon (mind) on a daily basis. Panchanga is used for different branches of Vedic astrology such as natal, election, prashna (horary), religious calendars, and to understand the energy of the day. The day of our birth pachanga depicts our emotions, temperament, and nature. It can provide more insight into who we are and how we feel. It can amplify the effect of the planets and endow us with additional characteristics that we may not understand only based on our natal chart. Panchanga is the life force energy that nourishes the birth chart.

----------------------

Neeraj Dhankher

(Vedic Astrologer, Founder - Astro Zindagi)

Email: info@astrozindagi.in, neeraj@astrozindagi.in

Url: www.astrozindagi.in

Contact: Noida: +919910094779
Vedanta Ltd has put plans to sell its steel business on hold because a $1 billion share sale gave the company increased breathing room for managing its debt, the Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources. HT couldn't independently verify the information. The company may look to sell the steel business later, the report added. A man walks past the logo of Vedanta outside its headquarters in Mumbai, India, January 31, 2018. (Reuters)

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Why did Vedanta plan to sell its steel business?

The Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta had been working with advisors to sell its steel business, which includes iron-ore and manganese mines, to raise around $2.5 billion for reducing the company's debt load, according to the report.

However, Vedanta's fundraise through a share placement last month ended up cooling some debt pressure and thus, reduced the need to sell the steel business, according to the report.

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A Vedanta spokesperson denied that the steel business sale is on hold. Electro Steel Limited (ESL) is a trophy asset for both Vedanta Limited and for India. There are no other brownfield sites in the country that have the opportunity to grow to a 20MTPA manufacturing plant. ESL has the land, railways, infrastructure, mines  both iron ore and coal  and a gas pipeline running beside the plant that helps us to produce high quality green steel. Additionally, we are on track to complete our proposed capacity expansion to 3.5MPTA by the end of the year. If Vedanta receives the right price, we will consider selling ESL, the spokesperson said in an email to HT.

"Vedanta is strongly committed and is already ahead of its deleveraging targets through operating free cashflows and the recent successful equity raise of $1bn through the QIP process," the spokesperson added.

Vedanta entered the steel business by purchasing a 90% stake in ESL Steel Ltd in 2018. The company had operations in Bokaro, Jharkhand. The plan to sell it came after Vedantas board approved a plan last year to split the conglomerate into six different companies.

How much debt does Vedanta have?

Vedanta's net debt was 61,320 crore at the end of the first quarter of the financial year 2024-25, which was up by 8.8% from the previous quarter, according to the report.

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Environmental and regulatory concerns acted as a deterrent to potential buyers of the steel business, the report added. The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project published an investigation report last year, claiming that Vedanta lobbied the government for weakening important environmental regulations during the Covid pandemic.
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Thursday met Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru. Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM and actor Pawan Kalyan meets Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

According to the officials, Pawan Kalyan on Thursday arrived in Bengaluru on the invitation of Karnataka Forest Minister Ishwar Khandre to attend the International Human Elephant Conflict Management Conference.

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They will discuss the taming of elephants in Karnataka and the training of mahouts and Senior IFS of both states (Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh).

The meeting will be held in Vidhana Soudha of Karnataka.

Earlier on Monday, Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan attended the District Collectors Conference at the Secretariat along with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Naidu said a vision document related to the state will be released on October 2 and will be committed to the super six guarantees.

The super six guarantees include the complete loan waiver for farmers and women under the Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) scheme, an unemployment allowance of 2,000 per month, 2 lakh financial assistance for housing, free electricity for farmers, a 15,000 annual grant for poor families and 2,000 assistance for every SC, ST, OBC, and minority families.

Speaking at the conference, Kalyan said, "People have blessed the NDA coalition with 164 Assembly seats, 21 Lok Sabha seats, and a striking rate of 93%. We must do justice to the trust they have placed in us...The previous government turned many strong systems into toys and emphasised that they withstood many insults and stood firm to revive these systems...We entered politics to strengthen systems. Even if we had not come to power this time, we would have stood firm in democracy and worked to strengthen the system. By God's grace, we have come to power. Ours is a good government, a responsible government."

He further lamented that the state, once a model of excellent governance, had deteriorated drastically in the past five years, becoming an example of how governance should not be conducted.

He also stated that the IAS and IPS officers used to compete to work in the state and urged for a return to those conditions.

He called on the experience and governance skills of Chandrababu Naidu to restore the state's former glory.
Bengaluru police arrested a man who was a police informer for allegedly extorting money from the cops. The accused is believed to have extorted money from at least 20 policemen in Bengaluru, according to a report in the Deccan Herald. Bengaluru man arrested for allegedly extorting money from 20 policemen: Report

According to the report, the man was identified as Syed Sarfraz Ahmed, an informant for police in DJ Halli, RT Nagar, and Shivajinagar police stations. Due to his profession, Ahmed made good connections with several police officers in the city.

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Recently, Shivajinagar police arrested a man named Irshad for allegedly creating a ruckus at a restaurant in the city. Ahmed then approached the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and filed a formal complaint, alleging that cops had illegally detained Irshad without any formal complaint. Ahmed then contacted Shivajinagar police and tried to strike a deal to withdraw his complaint with SHRC.

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However, the police decided to catch Ahmed red-handed and planned to set a trap. The cops agreed to pay him the money he demanded and asked him to arrive at a location. When Ahmed came to collect money, the entire scene was recorded on camera. Meanwhile, police also collected CCTV footage of Irshad creating a ruckus at a restaurant for proof.

Ahmed was arrested by the police with all the evidence and remanded in judicial custody by the court. It was found that he extorted money from more than 20 police officers.
The long-standing demand to grant Bengaluru metro status in Income Tax rules is likely to remain a dream. The central government clarified that it cannot add Bengaluru to the list of other metro cities in the country, reported Bangalore Mirror. Bengaluru unlikely to be considered as metro city in income tax rules, centre not to grant status for new cities(pinterest)

According to the report, Union minister of state in the ministry of finance, Pankaj Chaudhary said that there is no plan to change the current policy of the government and adding new cities to the metro list. According to the rule 2A of income tax rules, 1962, a distinction exists between the cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata regarding the special allowance for residential accommodation under section 10(13A) of Income tax act.

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If included in metro cities, Bengaluru income taxpayers would be able to claim a 50% exemption on salary equivalent to HRA, just like other cities.

Earlier in the Parliament, Karnataka BJP MP Tejasvi Surya urged finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to include Bengaluru in the list of metro cities. He then said, Salaried middle-class people of this country have a major concern. Under the current income tax rules, only four cities fall under metro cities and those are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. My city - Bengaluru - has a high number of salaried employees and I request you bring the city under metro cities.

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He also said that the move would help the middle-class people living in the city. Residents of big cities like Bengaluru... can claim HRA deduction upto 40 per cent only under existing rules. Including Bengaluru and new growing cities as metros will greatly benefit crores of middle-class taxpayers across the country, he added.
Chairman of Mahindra group, Anand Mahindra shared the visuals of Karnatakas popular jog falls and called them staggeringly beautiful waterfalls. As monsoon hit the state, the Jog falls near Shivamogga are in full flow, drawing thousands of tourists every day. World needs to know about: Anand Mahindra about stunning Jog falls in Karnataka(Unsplash)

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In an X post, Anand Mahindra wrote, Staggeringly beautiful. The sheer force & majesty of these falls. The world needs to know more about Jog Falls,

A few people also complained that the facilities at Jog Falls are very poor. One user wrote, Sadly, the tourism department doesn't consider it at all. It is stunning during the rainy season, but the facilities available at Jog Falls are just opposite. It is pathetic.

Another user wrote, The more the world doesn't know about it, the better its natural beauty will be preserved. Many a places have been ruined in name of eco-tourism, for instance, Wayanad.

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Meanwhile, Karnataka Tourism thanked Anand Mahindra for letting the world know about the breathtaking spot. From an X handle, Karnataka Tourism wrote, Thank you, sir @anandmahindra. We couldnt agree more. #JogFalls is a true marvel of nature, and were thrilled to share its beauty with the world. Your appreciation means a lot.

This plunge waterfall is the third-highest waterfall in the country and draws thousands of tourists every week. Jog Falls is one of the best Instagrammable locations in Karnataka as the lush green western ghats will be at their best during the monsoons. Jog Falls is 400 kilometres away from Bengaluru.
Designated as J&K director general of Police till September 30, Rashmi Ranjan Swain has his task cut out: creating a stable security environment for the upcoming assembly elections in the Union Territory in the backdrop of Jammu emerging as a theatre of terrorism. In an interaction with Hindustan Times Executive Editor in Srinagar, 1991-batch officer, with a rich experience in intelligence and operational roles, dwelt on Pakistans new terror tactics, security forces counter-strategy, and the challenge of holding on to the gains in Kashmir. Edited excerpts: Kashmir has seen an 80% drop in locals joining militant ranks since 2022, says J&K director general of police RR Swain. (HT photo)

What is the current security scenario in J&K in the run-up to the likely assembly polls by October?

Broadly, there are two ways to describe the security matrix. The first is the activity level of society free from fear, such as record level of tourism, normal functioning of educational institutions and business and high turnout in the Lok Sabha polls. The second index, conventional but linked to the first, is the number of terrorist initiated actions, fatalities of civilians and security personnel and rate of infiltration. On both counts, Kashmir is surely witnessing a much improved security situation. Jammu, however, is a cause of concern because of an incremental uptick in terror incidents in the last one-and-a-half years.

How about the level of local recruitment to terror outfits?

I reckon that as a paramount index of security situation. The Valley has seen an 80% drop in locals joining militant ranks since 2022. This year, so far, only four Kashmir natives have taken up the gun. Prior to 2019, the number used to be 120 plus annually. Now, 15-odd Kashmiri youth are active as militants. In Jammu region, local recruitments are practically nil. Only four natives of Kishtwar are part of militant groups. This is a very promising and hope-raising feature. For the first time in the history of militancy in J & K, number of foreign militants is much more than the locals.

How many foreign militants are operating in J&K?

Roughly, there are 50 to 60 of them in the Valley and an equal number in Jammu region. They are well-trained for jungle warfare, well-equipped and battle-hardened combatants. They are a special breed, not the usual madrassa-minted recruits. Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad continue to be the main tanzeems but now there is a great amount of coordination between them.

Are they all from Pakistan?

Apparently yes. But we have also come across foreign fighters conversing in Pushto. Like two terrorists who were killed outside Jammu a day before Prime Ministers public event last year. We dont know whether they from the Pushto-speaking areas on Pakistan side of the Durrand Line or from Afghanistan side. A new trend is that they are openly flaunting their identity. Those killed were found carrying Pakistans National Identity Card  equivalent of Aadhaar. Before 2022, their identities were off the radar. A terrorist who was killed while trying to attack an Indian army post on Line of Control recently was quickly owned on social media by his Pakistan-based group.

When and why did the shift to foreign militants outnumbering the locals come about?

It happened between late 2021 and early 2022. Post- August 2019 ( abrogation of Article 2019), when a very different security strategy was adopted, the militant grid was hit hard. In next two years, violence level rapidly declined in Kashmir, many local militants surrendered and recruitments saw a major dip. Such drop had happened in 2013, too. But, then the eco-system that sustained local terrorism was intact. Since 2019, this eco-system has been dismantled, making the re-growth of home-grown militancy much harder. That made the Pakistani handlers change tack by pushing foreign fighters and shifting the focus to Jammu.

What is the trend on infiltration?

We have 20 to 25 foreign militants in the tri-junction hills of Doda, Udhampur and Doda whose ingress happened in May during the Lok Sabha polls. Whether they have come through LoC or international border is anybodys guess. But the bottomline is that adversary has managed to find gaps in our anti-intrusion systems.

Why there is a surge in terror strikes in Jammu where the arc of militancy has spread to even to areas that were peaceful in last three decades?

Kashmir has long been an epicentre of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism because the separatist politics provided it the bedrock. That changed after 2019 under intense pressure of our security grid. For the last one-and-a-half years, Pakistan has been trying to deflect the pressure by targeting Jammu through the instrument of foreign terrorists. About 50-60 of them are operating from thickly-forested heights with no road access and mobile connectivity. As some of the heights were long vacated by security forces due to normalcy, terrorists took advantage of that. Also, an insidious objective is to flare up communal tension because of regions mixed demography.

But Jammu has not seen a major breakthrough against terror groups, suggesting gaps in security agencies intelligence network?

Local intelligence is definitely flowing. In 2022, one of our major breakthrough came when villagers overpowered a key terror operator Talib Hussain and handed him over to police. Terrorists are now avoiding inhabitations. In high-terrain wilderness with no road and mobile network, operational environment is a different ballgame. There is a time gap between conversion of intelligence into kinetic action against 20-30 foreign terrorists who are trained in jungle tactics and equipped with GPS to navigate themselves. Our strategy is to reduce that gap.

How has counter-terror response shaped up since Prime Ministers high-level meeting last month?

Its a two-pronged action: making the border impregnable to the extent possible and neutralising the terrorists who have come in. Also, our focus is to ensure that they are not in position to develop an ecosystem by a cocktail of fear and inducement. Terrorists are flush with money. Two Pakistani ultras killed in Kathua in June were carrying R 1.25 lakh each. The international border deployment has been reconfigured with induction of two additional BSF battalions. Tunnel-prone areas are on our radar. Also, we have put extra 900 personnel in border police stations.

How challenging is the task of holding the upcoming assembly elections in J&K?

A random terror strike or suicidal mission is always a difficult thing to prevent anywhere. But election-specific drills are fairly well-designed as evident from a peaceful Lok Sabha polls. We are up against a proxy war involving guns, state actors and foreign fighters. We may be losing a match or two, but will surely win the tournament.
The Haryana Council of Ministers on Thursday approved an ordinance to provide job security to the contractual employees till they superannuate. Haryana chief minister Nayab Saini chairs a cabinet meeting in Chandigarh on Thursday.

An official spokesperson said that Haryana Contractual Employees (Security of Tenure) Ordinance, 2024 will enhance facilities for contractual employees and guarantee job security.

The spokesperson said that the move will benefit about 1.2 lakh contractual employees. The decision will apply to employees working under Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam (HKRN) including those engaged under outsourcing policy (part-1 and 2).

According to the ordinance, the state government has established provisions to ensure job security for all contractual employees working across state departments, including HKRN until their age of superannuation. Contractual employees who complete five years of service by August 15, 2024, will be eligible. They will receive a basic salary equivalent to the pay scale of posts. Additionally, their consolidated monthly remuneration will be increased with effect from first day of January and first day of July every year corresponding to the increase in dearness allowance.

The ordinance also included provisions for an annual increment on the consolidated monthly remuneration for contractual employees after one year of service. These employees will be entitled to death-cum-retirement gratuity benefits. In addition, contractual employees will also be eligible for all the benefits under the Maternity Act. Under the PM-Jan Arogya Yojana-Chirayu Extension Scheme, the families of contractual employees will also be provided the benefit of health facilities, the spokesperson said.

However, employees earning more than 50,000 per month will not be covered by the new stipulations. Those working under centrally sponsored schemes will also be excluded.

The spokesperson said those who have worked for five years or more will get 5% more pay than the minimum pay level of the same post in addition to the consolidated remuneration. Similarly, those who have worked for 8 years or more will get 10 % more than the minimum pay level of the same post in addition to the remuneration. Employees who have worked for 10 years or more will get 15 % more than the minimum pay level of the same post in addition to the remuneration. The cabinet also decided that guest teachers will also receive these benefits.
New Delhi, The Delhi Police has procured 700 facial recognition CCTV cameras to ensure robust security arrangements for the Independence Day celebrations in the city, officials on Thursday said. HT Image

These cameras will be installed in and around the north and central districts particularly the Red Fort from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver his Independence Day speech to monitor VVIP movements and keep a close eye on any suspicious activities, they said.

While the north district will get 346 Closed Circuit Television cameras, the central district will be allotted 354 cameras, officials said.

"These cameras will have pan-tilt-zoom features with high resolutions which will allow police to identify anyone from a distance. These cameras will be installed in and around the fort," a senior police officer said.

The cameras with facial recognition and video analytic systems will ensure foolproof security, the officer said, adding that more than 10,000 security personnel will be deployed at the Mughal-era fort when Modi addresses the nation.

The areas surrounding the Red Fort will be demarcated as a "no kite flying zone" until the programme is over. Personnel will be deployed with necessary equipment on strategic locations to intercept kites, police said.

"Of the 700 cameras, 40 will be used for facial recognition, 15 for detecting intrusions, 10 each for reading registration plates of vehicles and counting people and five for detecting abandoned objects," the officer said.

According to police, anti-drone systems will be installed at the Red Fort as is the convention while several anti-terror measures, including installation of air defence guns, are being initiated.

In addition, snipers, elite SWAT commandos, kite catchers and sharpshooters will be positioned at strategic locations for the security of the prime minister and other VVIP guests, they said.

"The Delhi Police has also intensified patrolling and anti-sabotage checks. Hotels, guest houses, parking lots and restaurants are being checked, and the verification of tenants and servants is being carried out. Meetings are also being held with resident and market welfare associations," Deputy Commissioner of Police Manoj Kumar Meena said.

The Delhi Police has prohibited flying sub-conventional aerial platforms like paragliders, hang-gliders and hot air balloons in the national capital from August 2-16 for security reasons.

An order to this effect was issued by Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora.

It has been reported that certain criminal, anti-social elements or terrorists inimical to India may pose a threat to the safety of the general public, dignitaries and vital installations by the use of "sub-conventional aerial platforms" like paragliders, paramotors, hang-gliders, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles , remotely piloted aircraft, hot air balloons, small sized powered aircraft, or by para-jumping from aircraft, the order stated.

Therefore, the Delhi Police commissioner has prohibited flying of such aerial platforms over the jurisdiction of the national capital on the occasion of Independence Day and doing so shall be punishable under section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita , it said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
AYODHYA: The Ayodhya police started legal proceedings to conduct DNA tests in connection with the gang-rape of the 15-year-old girl even as she underwent an abortion in Lucknow after she and her family gave a written consent to the child welfare committee for the termination of pregnancy. Ayodhya: A bulldozer being used to demolish the bakery of Moid Khan who is accused of allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl, in Ayodhya, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024.(PTI)

The DNA test of the accused, the victim, and the foetus will be done to solve the case.

The minor, who became pregnant, has been under treatment at Queen Mary Hospital, a part of King Georges Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow, since Monday for better care. She may be discharged later this week, said doctors.

The UP Police on July 30 arrested Moid Khan, who ran a bakery in Ayodhya districts Bhadarsa Nagar, and his employee Raju Khan, in connection with the minors rape. The duo allegedly raped the girl two months ago and recorded the act. The incident came to light after the girl was found to be pregnant during a medical check-up, said police.

According to the cops, if there is a DNA match with any one of the two accused, both will be subject to action. After investigation, charge sheet will be filed and the final decision will be taken by court, they said.

Sarvesh Awasthi, president of Ayodhya child welfare committee, said: We received the consent for abortion from the victims family.
A group of men, who came as customers to a cafe in Gomti Nagar, hurled expletives and beat up the staff on Wednesday. After the CCTV footage of the incident went viral on social media, the Lucknow police arrested one of the accused on Thursday. A screen grab from CCTV footage shows men thrashing a cafe worker (HT Photo)

A case has been registered under relevant sections at Gomti Nagar Police Station. One accused has been taken into police custody. Other accused will be arrested soon, wrote Lucknow police on its X handle.

According to the complainant, Nityanand Diwan, a waiter at the cafe, the miscreants first abused him and when they were asked to speak to the cashier, they also beat up the cashier.

 On July 7, 6-7 people came to the cafe and ordered food. When they were done, I went to them with the bill to which they asked my name. When I told them my name, they abused me using casteist words and assaulted me, he told the police.
Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Ajit Pawar embarked on his inaugural statewide tour, dubbed the 'Jan Samman Yatra', from Dindori, Nashik on Wednesday. The month-long first leg of the journey will span 39 assembly constituencies, marking the commencement of the party's election campaign. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar. (ANI Photo) (Deepak Salvi)

Pawar aims to engage with diverse societal groups, highlighting schemes outlined in the state budget, particularly the 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana'. Party leaders assert that the tour will not only raise awareness but also dispel "confusion" propagated by opposition parties.

"Jan Sanman Yatra begins... A new chapter of public service, respect and empowerment begins," Pawar declared in a social media post.

Clad in an onion-pink half-jacket over a white kurta-pyjama, the NCP president initiated the tour with a public meeting, focusing on women attendees. He elucidated the benefits of various schemes introduced by the Mahayuti government. His itinerary includes interactions with grape growers, a visit to Kalaram Temple, discussions with women in Devlali, and a session with health workers.

The tour aims to craft a new image for Ajit Pawar, portraying him as a people's leader beyond his reputation as an adept administrator. The campaign slogan, "Dadacha Wada, Laabh Aani Bal" (Benefit and power are the promises of Ajit Pawar), encapsulates this vision.

A custom-designed, pink-hued busa colour often associated with womenwill transport Pawar and senior party members throughout the tour. The journey, commencing in North Maharashtra, will traverse Western Maharashtra, Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Vidarbha, before concluding in Marathwada.

The tour's strategic importance lies in its potential to reshape public perception and galvanise support ahead of the crucial state assembly elections. By directly engaging with constituents and showcasing government initiatives, Pawar seeks to strengthen his party's position in the competitive political landscape of Maharashtra.
A trainee sub inspector (SI) of the Gautam Budh Nagar police was arrested on charges of extorting 7,000 from a cab driver and verbally abusing him earlier this month, senior officers said on Thursday, adding that the SI has been dismissed from service. Cab driver Rupesh Tomar approached police commissioner Laxmi Singh (above) directly with a complaint that trainee SI Amit Mishra, who was posted under Bisrakh police station area, allegedly abused him and extorted money from him. An internal probe found these allegations to be true. (HT Archive)

Gautam Budh Nagar police commissioner Laxmi Singh said Central Noidas deputy commissioner of police Suniti has been relieved of her charge for not acting against the trainee SI, despite knowing about the matter for two days.

DCP Central Noida Suniti has been relieved from her post on Wednesday evening for not taking any action for two days and also for hiding the incident from her senior officers. Shakti Mohan Avasthy has been appointed as the new DCP of Central Noida, said the police chief.

Three other officers -- Bisrakh police station house officer Arvind Kumar, Gaur City-1 outpost in-charge Ramesh Kumar and sub inspector Mohit -- were suspended for not acting on a complaint by the cab driver, Singh said.

Under training sub-inspector Amit Mishra has been dismissed from service under Rule 8(2)(b) of UP Subordinate Police Officers Punishment and Appeal Rules, 1991, added the commissioner.

According to senior officials, the matter came to fore when cab driver Rupesh Tomar approached the police commissioner directly with a complaint that Mishra, who was posted under Bisrakh police station area, allegedly abused him and extorted money from him, following which she instructed assistant commissioner of police (city-2) Rajeev Kumar Gupta to investigate the matter.

The subsequent probe found the allegations to be true, said police.

Mishra is accused of abusing and robbing 7,000 from cab driver Rupesh Tomar, who resides in Baghpat. Two of Mishras associates, Ashish Awasthi and Abhinav Singh, have also been named by the complainant, said Gupta.

According to Tomar, around 1am on August 2, he had taken a woman passenger from Delhi to Gaur City in Greater Noida West in his cab. As he reached the destination, Mishra and his associates approached him.

They misbehaved with me and abused me verbally. They let the woman passenger go after she explained that she had just hailed the cab from Delhi. The SI and his associates intimidated me by and forcibly took 7,000 from my pocket. I pleaded with them that I had no money left, so they returned 500 and sent me away, said Tomar.

Tomar claimed that he went straight to the Gaur City-1 police outpost to complain against Mishra, but officials there did not listen to him and sent him to the Bisrakh police station. There too, his complaints went unheard, he alleged.

Finally, on August 5, Tomar submitted a written complaint to police commissioner Laxmi Singh. On her orders, the ACP investigated the matter and found Tomars complaints to be genuine.

In a subsequent FIR filed on August 7 by ACP Gupta at the Bisrakh police station, it is stated that Mishra and his associates Ashish Awasthi and Abhinav Singh abused and robbed Tomar. Two others, Jerry and Prince, conducted a recce from afar and alerted Mishra about Tomars cab approaching. Based on this, Mishra was apprehended by the police on Wednesday and two vehicles used in the incident -- a Mahindra Scorpio and a Hyundai Venue --have been impounded by the police, said the ACP.

The FIR has been filed under charges of 309 (4) [Robbery], 352 [intentional insult] and 61 (2) [criminal conspiracy] of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The other four accomplices are yet to be traced by the police. Efforts are underway to arrest Awasthi, Singh, Jerry and Prince who have also been booked in the case, he said.

Manoj Kumar Singh, till now serving as the SHO of the Surajpur station, was posted as the new Bisrakh police station SHO, while Vinod Kumar of Ecotech-3 police station has been transferred to Surajpur police station and Anil Pande from Police Lines to Ecotech-3 police station, stated a police statement on Thursday.
Admissions are open at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) for interested candidates who would like to enroll in Undergraduate (UG) and Certificate of Proficiency (COP) programmes for the academic year 2024-25. To apply online candidates need to furnish their NTA application number and date of birth as their user ID and password respectively. (HT file)

As per the official notification regarding the admissions, JNU informed that eligible candidates who have appeared for CUET (UG) 2024 can come forward to seek admissions to the Undergraduate and Certificate of Proficiency (COP) programmes in the university.

Candidates who are interested in applying for the UG and COP courses can submit their online application forms by 11.50 pm on August 12, 2024. To apply online candidates need to furnish their NTA application number and date of birth as their user ID and password respectively.

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Interested candidates can visit the official website at jnuee.jnu.ac.in and continue with their submission of application forms using their user ID and password. Candidates also need to make sure that they satisfy the eligibility criteria as mentioned in the official website before applying for the courses.

As per the e-Prospectus available on the official website of JNU, admission in B.A. (Hons.) in Foreign Languages, B.Sc. Programme in Ayurveda Biology and Certificate of Proficiency Programmes of Jawaharlal Nehru University for the Academic Year 2024-25 will be through CUET (UG) 2024.

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Admissions in these programmes shall be based on the performance of the candidates in CUET (UG)-2024 and deprivation points earned by the eligible candidates taken together, mentioned the official website.

No viva voce examination will be held for admission to B.A., B.Sc. and COP programmes. The candidates are admitted on merit on the basis of their performance in the Computer Based Test (CBT) and the deprivation points added to their score in accordance with the approved Admission Policy and Procedures of the University, informed JNU.

Also Read: Puja Khedkar Case: Misuse of beacon lights that opened a pandoras box of alleged forgery & series of court proceedings

For more information regarding the admission procedure and syllabus, visit the official website.
Founded in 1796 as 'A Place of Useful Learning', the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow) is an international technological University with around 30,000 students from more than 140 nations. A highly ranked university, with 12 UK top 10 subjects in the Complete University Guide 2024, and in the Guardian University Guide, Strathclyde remains in joint 16th position overall in the UK for the second year in a row. University of Strathclyde has a long history of welcoming students from India, and has the highest intake of Indian students in Scotland.

The University has a long history of welcoming students from India, and has the highest intake of Indian students in Scotland. The University has also collaborated with IIM-Calcutta, IIT-Bombay, IIT-Delhi and IIT-Madras, to name a few.

In an exclusive interview, Chris Mackay, Deputy Head (External Engagement) Recruitment and International Office, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow (UK) talks about the unusual programs offered by the University of Strathclyde as well as tips to find jobs while studying.

What are the most uncommon programs offered by the University?

LLM Law, Technology, and Innovation: The first of its kind in the world. A blend of legal and technological skills taught by subject experts and visiting international scholars, in this course, students have the opportunity to apply for an internship or consultancy as their summer project in preference to a dissertation.

Eligibility: Applicants from India will generally require a bachelors degree with 60-65% in Law or any other discipline. Does not require prior knowledge of coding or law.

Course duration & fee: 12 months full time. The international fee for 2024/25 is 21,700. Applicants can apply for competitive scholarships up to 5,000 as a reduction in the tuition fees.

MSc Financial Technology: First Fintech program in the UK & one of the first in the world.

Combining the study of theory with intensive practice and industrial engagement, the course provides students the financial, programming, and analytical skills needed to help companies accelerate transactions and enhance security.

Eligibility: Applicants from India will generally require a bachelors degree of 60-65% in accounting, economics, business studies or a subject area with a strong quantitative component. No prior knowledge of finance is required.

Course duration & fee: 12 months full time. The international fee for 2024/25 is 31,900. Applicants can apply for competitive scholarships up to 12,000 as a reduction in the tuition fees.

MSc Sustainability and Environmental Studies: One of the oldest sustainability degrees in the UK.

Running since 1992, the course offers a cross-disciplinary approach to the study of environmental management and policy, circular economy, sustainability, and Environmental Impact Assessment in both developed and developing countries.

Eligibility: Applicants from India will generally require a bachelors degree with 60-65% in any discipline.

Course duration & fee: 12 months full time. The international fee for 2024/25 is 27,500. Applicants can apply for competitive scholarships up to 8,000 as a reduction in the tuition fees.

MChem Chemistry with Drug Discovery: The only course of its kind in Scotland.

The course offers foundation classes in Chemistry and Mathematics, and Physics or Biology at an introductory or advanced level. Later courses include subjects like Fundamental Inorganic, Organic and Biological and Physical Chemistry. Final year students will complete a research project in one of the Universitys research laboratories working with full-time researchers on real chemistry challenges.

Eligibility: Applicants from India will require a minimum of 75-80% in their Class 12 Board examination with chemistry, mathematics and biology required. Year 2 entry may be possible for those gaining 85% and above.

Course duration & fee: 5 years in total for the MChem. The international fee for 2024/25 is 25,250. Tuition fees are revised annually and may increase in subsequent years of study. Applicants can apply for competitive scholarships up to 7,000 per annum as a reduction in the tuition fees.

All scholarship opportunities can be searched on the Universitys scholarship database.

How easy is it to get part-time employment/internship while studying?

Glasgow's busy city centre, where the University of Strathclyde is located, means that the hospitality and retail sectors tend to have lots of part-time vacancies, and there are some opportunities to work on campus, as a student ambassador, for example. Our excellent Careers and Employability Service offers support and resources to assist students in their part-time job search and with making applications. The Strathclyde Students Union also hold sessions on searching for part-time work at the start of term in September and January.

Are there government resources to help students find jobs?

This is not generally a government function, but there are government resources that provide comprehensive information on visas and immigration, such as Scotlands Migration Service and the UK Visas and Immigration. Scottish Development International (SDI) also provide detailed information on Scotlands main job sectors. However, it is the Careers Services within universities, and academic connections to industry, that provide the greatest source of career support for international students. At Strathclyde, students can access support from our Careers Services for 5-years after graduation. Strathclyde recently partnered with Student Circus, a job search platform specifically tailored for international students in the UK. Along with the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, Strathclyde organises the annual Scottish Graduate Career fair which will be held in Glasgow in September this year.

Is Glasgow an expensive city? Whats the monthly cost of living?

Glasgow is not considered an expensive city by UK standards. University owned postgraduate accommodation at Strathclyde, starts from 124 per week, inclusive of utilities. The University of Strathclyde has detailed cost of living information on its webpages. On campus, university catering outlets are offering meal deals, such as a 1.50 lunch pot. Strathclyde Students Union are also offering a not-for-profit-dish sold at 2.25, and in our coffee shop, Roasters, 'Too Good to Go' surplus food is sold at a reduced price to ensure nothing is wasted.

Are there specific support systems for international students?

All UK universities have support and welfare services that can provide everything from general advice and acclimatisation to a new culture, to advice on visas, finance to more comprehensive counselling and health support to those students who may be struggling with mental health issues. In the UK, we also have external organisations such as the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) and, specifically for students from India, the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU).
The Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) commenced the final phase of registration for TS EAMCET 2024 counselling on August 8, 2024. Candidates who would like to participate in the final phase registration can visit the official website at tgeapcet.nic.in. Certificate Verification for already Slot Booked candidates in the Final Phase will take place on August 9, 2024.(HT file)

As per the official schedule on the website, Online filing of Basic Information, Payment of Processing Fee & Slot Booking for selection of Help Line Centre, Date & Time to attend for Certificate Verification for not attended candidates in First Phase and Second Phase is scheduled to take place on August 8, 2024.

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Schedule:

Certificate Verification for already Slot Booked candidates in the Final Phase will take place on August 9, 2024, and Exercising Options after Certificate Verification will take place between August 9-10, 2024. Candidates can continue to the freezing of options on August 10, 2024.

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As per the official website, the provisional allotment of seats will be announced on or before August 13, 2024. Candidates can complete with the payment of Tuition Fee & Self Reporting through the website between August 13-15, 2024.

Candidates are expected to report at the allotted college between August 16-17, 2024. It is also to be noted that physical reporting of the candidate at the allotted college after the Final Phase allotment is mandatory. Candidates also need to handover a set of xerox copies of the Certificates and Original Transfer Certificate (T.C) at the allotted college. Dropouts / Cancellations are not permitted after the Final Phase, informed the official website.

Also Read: NEET UG: Delhi HC dismisses candidate's plea alleging out-of-syllabus question

For more information regarding the registration, visit the official website at tgeapcet.nic.in.
At a time when the country had just come to terms with a series of paper leak cases concerning crucial entrance examinations, little did the citizens anticipate that another issue concerning the Union Public Service Commission, or the UPSC, would soon be grabbing headlines. Puja Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, landed in soup ever since she was allegedly found to be using a red and blue beacon on her personal Audi car. The series of events that followed shocked the entire nation. (HT file image)

The day was July 31 when the UPSC cancelled the candidature of Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, and debarred her from all future exams held by the commission. But why?

The spark of the Khedkar controversy ignited after she was allegedly found to be using a red and blue beacon on her personal car.

Not just this, she also occupied the chamber of additional collector Ajay More without permission. She reportedly removed office furniture without the officer's consent.

Also read: NBEMS rubbishes claims of NEET-PG question leak by 'unscrupulous agents', files police complaint

Khedkar was later transferred after Pune collector Suhas Divase wrote a letter to the chief secretary of Maharashtra, wherein, reports suggest, she sought special privileges, which were not allowed to an IAS probationary officer.

Moreover, the Pune Police had reportedly said action would be taken against Khedkar for the misuse of beacon lights on her private vehicle.

RTI Activists claimed Khedkars appointment was questionable

RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar had claimed amid the controversy that Puja Khedkar's appointment was questionable, as she did not fall under the OBC non-creamy layer category as opposed to her appearing in the civil services exam under the OBC and visually impaired categories. Kumbhar said Khedkars father had assets worth 40 crore.

In fact, as per news agency reports, an official had told the media that Khedkar had allegedly submitted fake disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates to clear the civil services exam.

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The reports added that she was asked to report at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi for verification of her disability certificate in April 2022, but she did not do so, citing Covid infection.

Puja Khedkars alleged disability:

Khedkar had in 2022 reportedly obtained a 7 per cent locomotor disability certificate from Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) Hospital, despite the physiotherapy department reporting there was no disability as such. She allegedly used the certificate to take the civil service exam more than the prescribed number of times.

Candidates must have at least a 40 percent disability to qualify for reservation benefits, states the UPSC.

UPSC issued official notice:

On July 19, the UPSC issued an official notice wherein the commission said it had conducted a detailed and thorough investigation in the misdemeanour of Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar, a provisionally recommended candidate of the Civil Services Examination-2022.

Further informing about the investigation, the UPSC wrote, It has been revealed that she fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limit under the Examination Rules by faking her identity by way of changing her name, her fathers & mothers name, her photograph/ signature, her email ID, mobile number and address.

Subsequently, on July 31, the UPSC issued another press statement wherein it informed that it had decided to cancel the provisional candidature of Khedkar. In the statement, the commission stated that it has carefully considered the request of Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar and in order to meet the ends of justice, she was granted time till 3:30 pm on 30th July 2024 so as to enable her to submit the response to the Show Cause Notice.

The notice further added, It was also categorically made clear to Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar that it was the last and final opportunity for her and no further extension in time would be allowed. It was also conveyed to her in unequivocal terms that if no response was received by the aforesaid date/time, the UPSC would take further action without entertaining any further reference from her. Despite an extension in time allowed to her, she failed to submit her explanation within the prescribed time.

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The UPSC has thoroughly examined the available data of more than 15,000 finally recommended candidates of the CSEs from the year 2009 to 2023 i.e. for 15 years with respect to the number of attempts availed by them. After this detailed exercise, barring the case of Ms. Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar, no other candidate has been found to have availed more number of attempts than permitted under the CSE Rules, the commission said.

Puja Khedkars mother was apprehended on July 18:

It was during the same time when Manorama Khedkar, mother of Puja Khedkar, was apprehended on July 18 from a lodge in Hirkaniwadi village near Mahad in Raigad district, where she had been hiding.

An FIR was registered by the Pune Police after a video showing Manorama Khedkar threatening a group of men with a gun had gone viral, adding to the woes of Puja Khedkar. The Pune Rural Police on later Friday evening said a probe would begin to ascertain facts, including if she possessed a license for the firearm.

The Pune Rural Police has registered the FIR against Manorama, her husband Dilip Khedkar, and five others based on a complaint by a farmer who alleged that he was threatened by Manorama. The FIR under sections 323, 504, and 506 of IPC was registered at the Paud police station. Charges under the Arms Act were also been included.

After a brief judicial custody, Manorama was granted bail and released on August 3, 2024.

Delhi Court denies anticipatory bail to Puja Khedkar on August 1

On August 1, Delhi's Patiala House court had denied Puja Khedkar's anticipatory bail plea. The court had noted that the Delhi Police needed to broaden its investigation and instructed the police to determine if any UPSC insiders were involved in helping her achieve her goal.

Puja Khedkar moves Delhi High Court, says didnt receive cancellation order

On August 7, Puja Khedkar moved the Delhi High Court challenging the UPSCs decision to cancel her candidature. She said she was yet to receive the UPSC order cancelling her candidature and only got to know the development through the media.

The UPSC, in its response, stated that it would provide Puja Khedkar with the order cancelling her candidature within two days. The high court has granted Khedkar the liberty to approach the appropriate forum to challenge the cancellation of her candidature.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday said that Google Cloud has proposed to set up a startup hub and centre of excellence in his State. Google Takeout is a tool intended to make it simple for people to download copies of their data from cloud-hosted services such as email or storage of photos and videos.(AP File Photo)

He said proposals with an investment potential of around 3,200 crore were received during his two-day visit to Bengaluru. "To increase skilled workforce, Google Cloud has proposed setting up a startup hub and centre of excellence in Madhya Pradesh," Yadav told reporters after an interactive session on investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh.

The Chief Minister visited Hindustan Aeronautics Limited here on Wednesday. Discussions were held with HAL on setting up its centre in Madhya Pradesh, which are likely to yield positive results, Yadav said.

Nvidia has suggested preparing a blueprint for establishing Madhya Pradesh as the 'Intelligence Capital of India,' he said. "Under 'Invest Madhya Pradesh' session in Bengaluru, investment proposals worth around 3200 crore have been received in the state, which will create around 7,000 employment opportunities," the Chief Minister said.

"This visit was positive from the point of view of investment. Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka are like brothers, both the states have a similar atmosphere. The purpose of organising the 'Invest Madhya Pradesh' programme here was... so that more business and industry operators in Karnataka get more space to expand their activities," he said.

Yadav said a roundtable discussion was held with representatives of the space technology sector and NASSCOM and other major companies like Infosys Ltd, Cognizant, and TCS. "Discussions were held with these companies regarding the development of IT in Madhya Pradesh and their future plans, and I am hopeful that with the kind of positive response that we have got, we will witness many IT companies setting up their campuses in Madhya Pradesh," the Chief Minister said.

More than 500 participants attended the interactive session in which investors from Karnataka and other nearby states attended, officials said. The Chief Minister said one-to-one meetings were held with more than 30 leading industrialists. Representatives of several industry bodies as well as those from Britain, Poland, Italy, France, Australia and Switzerland, among others, also participated in the session.

MoUs have been signed with India Electronics and Semiconductor Association, Electronic Industries Association of India and Association of Geospatial Industries, the Chief Minister added.
VIENNA  The Austrian chancellor on Thursday defended organizers decision to cancel three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna this week, saying it was justified because the arrests of two suspects who were believed to be planning terror attacks occurred too close to the shows, which were scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. London moving ahead with Taylor Swift concerts despite cancellation in Austria

Tens of thousands of fans were left devastated by the news.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. s earlier story follows below.

VIENNA  Both suspects in a foiled plot to attack Taylor Swift shows in Vienna appeared to be inspired by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida, Austrian authorities said Thursday, and investigators found bomb-making materials at one of their homes. Officials said one of the two confessed to planning to kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue.

Three sold-out concerts were canceled a day earlier because of the plot, devastating Swifties from across the globe. Many of them had dropped thousands of euros on travel and lodging in Austrias expensive capital city to attend the Eras Tour shows at the Ernst Happel Stadium, which sat empty Thursday morning as media filmed outside.

Concert organizers said they stood behind their decision, saying they expected up to 65,000 fans inside the stadium at each concert and as many as 30,000 onlookers outside, where authorities said the suspects planned to strike.

Officials told reporters that the main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian, began working on his attack plans in July, and just a few weeks ago uploaded to the internet an oath of allegiance to the current leader of the Islamic State group. He planned to use knives or homemade explosives.

He wanted to carry out an attack in the area outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using the knives or even using the explosive devices he had made, said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, the head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, citing the 19-year-old's confession.

He was clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels, Haijawi-Pirchner added.

The 19-year-old quit his job on July 25 and made the statement that he still had big plans.

The foiled attack was planned for Thursday or Friday, according to Austrias interior minister, Gerhard Karner.

Neither suspect appeared to have a ticket to any of the shows, he said.

During a raid of the main suspect's home in Ternitz, south of Vienna, investigators found chemical substances and technical devices that indicated concrete preparatory acts, said Franz Ruf, director general for public security at the Ministry of the Interior.

Authorities said they also found Islamic State group and al-Qaida material at the home of the second suspect, a 17-year-old Austrian. He was employed a few days ago by a company providing services at the venue for the concerts, and was arrested by special police forces near the stadium.

The 17-year-old, who has Turkish and Croatian roots and has so far refused to comment on the allegations, had broken up with his girlfriend recently, officials said, adding that both suspects had undergone clear social changes recently.

Both teens were arrested Tuesday. Neither's name was released in line with Austrian privacy rules.

Karner, the interior minister, said that Austria's intelligence service had worked closely together with foreign intelligence services to capture the two teens. He did not identify the services, but added that the help was needed because Austrian investigators, unlike some foreign services, can't legally monitor text messages.

No other suspects are being sought, though a 15-year-old who had been in contact with both suspects was also interrogated by police, Karner said.

The situation is serious. But we can also say: A tragedy was prevented, he said.

Concert organizer Barracuda Music said in an Instagram post late Wednesday that it had "no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyones safety.

Barracuda said all tickets would be refunded. The same message was posted under the Vienna dates on Swifts official website. Austrian rail operator OeBB in the meantime said that it would reimburse fans for train tickets that had been bought, but not yet used, to get to the concerts.

Swift has not spoken publicly about the plot or canceled shows. Taylor Nation, a verified Instagram page widely believed to be run by her team, reposted the announcement from Barracuda Music in a story, which is only visible for 24 hours. Her main account has not posted anything.

Last month, an attacker in England killed three girls and wounded 10 people in a knife attack during a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class. Swift at the time said she was completely in shock over the attack.

Europe is enamored with the American superstar, with the German town of Gelsenkirchen renaming itself Swiftkirchen before its mid-July concerts.

Austrian Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler wrote on social platform X: For many, a dream has been shattered today. On three evenings in Vienna, tens of thousands of #Swifties should have celebrated life together.

I am very sorry that you were denied this. Swifties stick together, hate and terror cant destroy that, Kogler added.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer posted on X that the cancellation of the Taylor Swift concerts by the organizers is a bitter disappointment for all fans in Austria.

The situation surrounding the apparently planned terror attack in Vienna was very serious, he wrote. But he added that, thanks to cooperation between police and Austrian and foreign intelligence, the threat could be recognized early on, tackled and a tragedy prevented.

The Vienna stadium had been sold out for the planned concerts, Austrian news agency A reported, with an estimated 170,000 fans expected for the concerts in Austria. Some who posted on X lamented months of now-wasted efforts to make friendship bracelets and pick out fashionable outfits for the performance.

Swift is expected to perform at Londons Wembley stadium in five concerts between Aug. 15 and 20 to close the European leg of her record-setting Eras Tour.

In 2017, an attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, killed 22 people. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi set up a knapsack bomb in Manchester Arena at the end of Grandes concert as thousands of young fans were leaving. More than 100 people were injured. Abedi died in the explosion.

Swifts biggest fear has always been that such large-scale violence could take place at her concerts, the superstar told Elle magazine in 2019 ahead of her Lover Tour, which was ultimately canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The attack at Grandes concert, as well as a 2017 mass shooting at an outdoor country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip where 58 people were killed and 850 wounded, worried Swift as she prepared to circle the globe.

I was completely terrified to go on this time because I didnt know how we were going to keep 3 million fans safe over seven months, she told the magazine. There was a tremendous amount of planning, expense, and effort put into keeping my fans safe.

An official inquiry reported in 2023 that Britains domestic intelligence agency, MI5, didnt act swiftly enough on key information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the bombing, the deadliest extremist attack in the United Kingdom in recent years.

Terrorism expert Magnus Ranstorp, based at the Swedish Defense University in Stockholm, told The Associated Press by phone that any mass public event constitutes a potential threat now, and noted that concerts, like that of Ariana Grande, have been targeted.

So we shouldnt be surprised that these extremely popular iconic popstars that attract a massive audience will also attract terrorists that want to create fear and destruction and mayhem, and they target these concerts symbolically, culturally. In some ways Taylor Swift  and all these Swifties  is culturally and symbolically representative of the United States. Shes an American artist and has a massive, massive following.

Dazio and Grieshaber reported from Berlin. Associated Press writers Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark; and Vanessa Gera in Warsaw, Poland, contributed to this report.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
BERLIN, - A 19-year-old has been detained in Austria for allegedly plotting to kill people outside a stadium at a Taylor Swift concert, prompting the cancellation of the pop superstar's three shows in Vienna this week. What we know about the Taylor Swift concert plot suspects

Two other teenagers have been identified as suspects.

Here is what security officials have said about the three.

THE 19-YEAR-OLD

The Austrian national with North Macedonian roots was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday during a police operation at his home in Ternitz, a town near the Hungarian border.

The teen, who had posted a video online confessing to the plot, quit his job on July 25, telling people that he "had big plans", public security chief Franz Ruf told reporters on Thursday.

The suspect had recently changed his appearance and had been consuming and sharing Islamist propaganda online, security officials said, adding that he had pledged allegiance to Islamic State but also held sympathies for Al Qaeda.

A neighbour told Austrian broadcaster Puls24 that the young man kept himself to himself and that he had grown a "Taliban beard".

During a search of his home, law enforcement authorities secured various substances and tools used for building bombs, as well as Islamic State propaganda, 21,000 euros in counterfeit money, machetes, knives and blank ammunition.

The Kurier newspaper, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported that the suspect had stolen the chemicals from his former workplace, a metal processing company also in Ternitz. Officials did not comment on where he got the chemicals from, adding that this was a focus of their investigation.

THE 17-YEAR-OLD

After initially being tipped off to a single suspect, Austrian investigators came across the other two, including a 17-year-old Austrian national with Turkish-Croatian roots who was arrested in Vienna on Wednesday afternoon.

He had been acting conspicuously in the area of the Ernst Happel Stadium, where Swift's stadium shows had been due to take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The 17-year-old had been given a job with a company a few days ago that was providing services at the stadium.

The boy, who also appears to have been radicalised and was already known to authorities, had recently broken up with his girlfriend, Ruf said.

He is still to make a statement to police so his exact role in the plot is unclear, but he had extensive contact with the main suspect, officials said.

THE 15-YEAR-OLD

The third and final suspect is an Austrian national with Turkish heritage.

During questioning, the youngster said the main suspect had changed considerably in recent months and had also regularly enquired about devices to ignite explosives, officials said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
After much speculation, actor Yash has finally embarked on a new journey with his next film, Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups, in which he will be seen in a new avatar. Also read: Exclusive | Yash goes short crop for Toxic, confirms hairstylist The film marks Yashs first outing since K.G.F: Chapter 2.

The film marks his first outing since his mega hit KGF: Chapter 2. The actor started shooting for the project in Bengaluru today (Thursday), where he was seen in his rugged look for the first time.

Yash on the set.

Film gets rolling

The actor took to social media to share a picture from the first day of shoot on his social media handles. The journey begins #Toxic, he wrote with the image.

Yash was spotted on the sets of the film along with producer Venkat K Narayana from KVN productions taking part in a puja that was specially held to mark the beginning of the project.

In the picture shared on social media, one can see Yash with Venkat. Yash is seen wearing a white shirt and sporting a bearded look in the photo.

As soon as the picture went up on his profile, fans started commenting on it and sending good wishes. Some dropped heart emojis, while some called him the real hero, and some wished the actor the very best for his new project.

Before the first day, Yash was photographed with his wife Radhika Pandit and children as he visited the Shri Sadashiva Rudra Surya Temple, Shri Manjunatheshwara Temple and Kukke Subramanya Temple in Karnataka.

Yash cheering for the whole team.

What we know about the film

The film will be directed by Geetu Mohandas, and jointly produced by KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations. Other details about the plot and cast is yet to be announced.

Yash after the puja.

There have been several reports hinting that Nayanthara, Shruti Haasan, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria and Sai Pallavi are also associated with the action-thriller. However, there is no confirmation on the same. Recently, Tara took to her Instagram Stories and clarified, The articles released over the last few days about a project and I are false and not shared by me.

The film begins rolling in Bengaluru today.

Yash announced the film just few days before his birthday on January 8. He released a note that read, Its been nearly a month since we announced Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups, and the love and appreciation you have showered means the world to me. Your excitement, reactions, theories, and analysis encourage me to do more.

The pan-India film is scheduled to hit the big screen on April 10, 2025. Yash was last seen in KGF: Chapter 2. Toxic will be released after a gap of three years from his last film.
Daniel Caltagirone heaps praise on Pa Ranjith

On being asked what was the most unique aspect about the script of Thangalaan that he decided to be a part of the film, Daniel says, I accepted a role without even reading the script because I had a long meeting with Pa Ranjith, the director. After meeting him, I watched his work and also Vikram's work. The problem was that the original script was in Tamil, so I knew with English, I would lose all sense of the richness of the story.

However, I decided for the first time in my career to jump into a project solely based on faith in the director who was unique and talented. I went on this journey by improvising based on the scene outlines provided by Pa Ranjith. He convinced me to do this film with his vision. Since there's often a loss in translation when adapting from one language to another, I felt that the English version wouldn't do justice to the richness of Tamil, one of the oldest and most beautiful languages in the world. Therefore, I put my faith in Ranjith, trusting that he would deliver on everything he promised. That's how I became involved in the project.

Daniel Caltagirone on cliche English characters

When questioned about his initial research for Thangalaan, since it is set in the backdrop of colonial era, the actor points out, The story is set in the late 1800s-1890s, during the declining years of the colonial period. The character of Clement is based on a real person, but I won't reveal their identity to avoid detracting from the film. The approach to the character was unique, aiming for a mystical and mythical portrayal grounded in reality but featuring fantastical elements. This required me to suspend my belief system and deliver a performance that might seem unnatural in a naturalistic context but better served the world of the film.

Daniel Caltagirone says Pa Ranjith did not want him to play a cliche English character.

He also states, In terms of research, I consulted with Ranjith. However, he advised me to let it all go and focus on the true essence of the story. Both of us did not want to create a cliche English character. It was a parallel lead to Vikram, and we wanted to bring depth and emotional complexity rather than a one-dimensional English character portrayed typically in Indian cinema. Joining this process was exciting, as Ranjith's vision was unique and groundbreaking. His approach to portraying English characters in Indian films diverged from the norm, aiming to create multi-layered and impactful roles.

Daniel Caltagirone on intense action scenes in Thangalaan

While speaking about his working experience in Tamil film industry compared to Hollywood, Daniel shares, My experience was that it was one of the toughest jobs I've ever done, but also one of the most special because it was for an extraordinary film. India is often associated with Bollywood, but it's so much more than that. The Tamil film industry is gaining recognition in India, and I feel privileged to be a part of that. The emerging scene is incredible, and visceral, especially coming from a completely Western perspective. The experience was very different from anything I've done before, and we had to work hard. Fortunately, all my co-actors, including Vikram, Parvathy, and Malavika, were hard-working and supportive.

He further says, I believe the film will be extraordinary, and I hope the audience loves it because we put our blood and sweat into it. I don't see much difference between Western filmmaking and the Tamil industry. In Tamil cinema, you are part of something bigger than your performance, and the crew felt like a family, which was a new experience for me. The working methods were also different, and I got to do things, like stunts, that I might not have been allowed to do in the West. The physical and mental demands of the shoot were intense, but we were well taken care of and treated respectfully. There were times when we were asked to give everything, and we did. I think you will see that in the film.

Daniel Caltagirone on his love for India

Since, Daniel shot for Thangalaan in India the actor gives his views on the culture and film industry. He opines, I feel fortunate to have shot a movie in Rajasthan many years ago. It was an American production and it was also an Indian director. So I spent six months in India and instantly fell in love with the country. I returned because my first visit left me wanting more. To me, India is vibrant, energetic, visceral and deeply submerged in its rich history, and its people reflect that. In India, there are no in-betweens, you either love India or you don't understand it. I love working here, and everyone made me feel welcome. India is emerging in various ways and becoming a powerhouse in technology, politics, the military, and the film industry. It is on the verge of becoming the largest film industry in the world, if not already by the numbers.

Daniel Caltagirone feels Pa Ranjith's Thangalaan is a film meant for the big-screens.

The actor further says, The only thing missing is that, unlike Hollywood, which is more international, the Indian film industry is more India-centric. However, by casting me as a parallel lead, Pa Ranjith has changed the dynamic a bit. The theme of colonialism is still present, but my role and its significance hopefully means more Western actors will feature in Indian films. If that happens, Indian cinema will be unstoppable. My only fear is that you may make the same mistake we did and relinquish our cinema to streaming services. It might affect the quality of your films. One thing I love about India is that everyone enjoys going to the cinema and they are still packed. However, filmmakers must create films for the big screen, not for television. Television should be for shows. Thangalaan is a film meant for the big screen, and you'll understand what I mean when you see it.

Daniel Caltagirone lauds SS Rajamouli and RRR

Daniel, when asked about his working experience with Vikram and his favourite Indian actor and movie, says, I've been interacting with Vikram every day, and I still am. He has become a friend of mine, and I have a lot of love for him. He's an amazing guy and an amazing actor. I might be biased, but I have to say that my favorite Indian actor is Vikram, as well as Pasupathy in a different way, and of course Parvathy (Thiruvothu) and Malavika (Mohanan). I have watched Indian films, although I'm not an expert. I've seen RRR, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. I think SS Rajamouli is a very different director from Ranjith, but I still enjoy his movies immensely. Ranjith is more of a social commentator. The fact that RRR made a jump into the West says a lot about Indian films. Every time I watch an Indian film, it's always the same incredible energy; it's just infectious.
Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala are engaged. Nagarjuna took to X (formerly Twitter) to share inside pictures from the intimate ceremony and express his happiness at welcoming the latter to this family. The actors, who began dating in 2022, kept things mum about their relationship. Looking back at five times, fans decoded their relationship. (Also Read: Naga Chaitanya, Sobhita Dhulipala are engaged, first pics out; Nagarjuna blesses couple) Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala are engaged after dating for a few years.

Dining in London

A screengrab of Chef Surender Mohan's deleted post.

The first time news of Chaitanya and Sobhita possibly dating broke was in 2023 when Chef Surender Mohan let the cat out of the bag. He shared a picture with Chaitanya on his Instagram, and eagle-eyed fans could spot Sobhita sitting behind them. He deleted the photo after the snafu, but it was too late. The couple had been dating for 6 months by then and finally the world knew.

Taking a stroll

Sobhita Dhulipala and Naga Chaitanya in London.

The same year, another picture of the couple emerged. Dressed in winter wear, the couple smiled as they posed for pictures separately with a fan. The internet soon cropped out the fan and morphed a photo of them both together as soon as they realised that the background in both the pictures was similar.

Bonding over books

The same year, Sobhita dropped another picture that just seemed to confirm to fans that these two were dating. In 2021, Chaitanya took a break from social media after announcing his separation from Samantha Ruth Prabhu. His first post after returning online was a picture of Matthew McConaugheys book, Greenlights. Sobhita shared a picture of the same book, calling it the finest.

A laidback Safari

In April this year, Sobhita and Chaitanya shared pictures of themselves at a safari where they were barely trying to hide that they were together. Despite posting solo pictures, fans could easily make out together and left comments on how the couple was surely vacationing together in Tipeshwar.

Wine tasting in Europe

The most recent picture of the couple was taken in June when a Redditor spotted them together. They shared a photo taken from afar of the couple together at a wine tasting in Europe. Given all the times theyve been spotted together or have dropped hints since 2023, fans werent surprised to see them on another luxe vacation.
Actor Rana Daggubati celebrates four years of marriage with Miheeka Bajaj on August 8. Miheeka took to Instagram to share a sweet picture with Rana, writing in a heartfelt post about just how much she loves him. (Also Read: Rana Daggubati spills the beans on Vettaiyan: It amazed me Rajinikanth was doing this film) Rana Daggubati and Miheeka Bajaj got married in 2020.

Miheeka Bajaj on her love for Rana Daggubati

Miheeka shared a picture of her and Rana walking hand-in-hand, looking at each other with wide smiles on their faces. Skipping along the road of life has never been more fun! Through the chaos and madness youre my stillness and happiness. Amongst a sea of change Im so glad to be able to call you my constant, she wrote, adding, There isnt a love I have that is deeper than the one I have for you. @ranadaggubati #ToInfinityAndBeyond #Love #MiheekaBajaj.

Rana, Miheekas relationship

In May 2020, Rana made his relationship with Miheeka Instagram official, sharing a picture with her and writing, And she said yes! A week later, they had a roka ceremony at home in the presence of their family. And its official!! he wrote, sharing a picture with her. They got married in August the same year, in the thick of the Covid-19 pandemic. The wedding took place in Hyderabad with only their closest friends and family members present.

Rana Daggubati on how he fell for Miheeka Bajaj

Talking to his friend Lakshmi Manchu about Miheeka, Rana revealed that she was Venkatesh Daggubatis daughter Aashrithas friend. Be it her smile, the way she speaks or anything, everything just fits perfectly for me. Out of all the people in my life, for Miheeka Bajaj to be the one, there had to be something special right? It just felt right. It took me all of six minutes to know shes the one for me. Its that simple!

Rana will soon be seen in the Netflix web-series Rana Naidu season 2 with Venkatesh. He also stars in the Tamil film Vettaiyan with Rajinikanth.
Big Brother 26 game-changer is here! America's Veto is back, and your vote holds the power to determine who stays and who goes. After a dramatic turn of events on Wednesday, August 7, the show is now inviting viewers to vote for this weeks replacement nominee. Makensy, the lucky recipient of the upgraded America's Veto, has removed herself from the chopping block and handed the power to America. Get ready to vote for the houseguest you want to see compete against Tucker and Kenney in the live eviction ceremony tonight. Here is how to vote. Big Brother 26 Americas veto nominee: How to vote for replacement(CBS)

How to vote for Big Brother 26 veto nominee

Head over to https://www.cbs.com/shows/big_brother/vote/ between tonight's episode and tomorrow morning to cast your vote for America's Veto replacement nominee. Voting closes soon.

The houseguest with the most votes by Thursday, August 8th at noon Eastern/9 AM Pacific will replace the current nominee. The results will be revealed during Thursday's live show. Each person can cast up to 10 votes.

Also read: French pole vaulter jokes about his viral package at Olympics in now deleted TikTok amid porn offer

Which BB 26 members are eligible for nominations

This week, the Big Brother house has undergone a flurry of transformations, yet finding a new nominee is proving to be challenging due to the America's Veto game. As a result, only four houseguests are now off the nomination list. Tucker and Kenney are still in the nomination block and thus ineligible for vote. Cedric is the current Head of Household, and Angela, who was initially put up for nomination, was spared by the Veto.

Also read: Brad Pitt is grateful as he is finally receiving Pax's health updates through

Who can be nominated?

Most Big Brother fans want either Quinn or Cam evicted as per recent trends. Quinn seems like the easier target as his secret power caused major drama. The chaotic week saw Tucker, who won the Power of Veto, try to backdoor Quinn by saving Angela instead of himself. This move was intended to set up a showdown between Quinn and the replacement nominee. However, Makensy Manbeck, who was initially nominated, successfully used her America's Veto to save herself, leaving the fate of the next nominee in the hands of the fans.
Telugu heartthrob Naga Chaitanya and actor Sobhita Dhulipala have been linked to each other several times in the last few years. Unseen pictures of the two which surfaced on social media further convinced fans that the rumoured love birds are very much together. Well, the happy couple got engaged today! Chaitanyas superstar father Nagarjuna shared first pictures from the engagement ceremony on social media. Newly engaged couple Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala

But when did their love story begin to blossom? Take a look at their relationship timeline here:

Rumours begin

After 4 years of marriage, Chaitanya and his actor wife Samantha separated in October 2021. A few months later in 2022, Chaitanya was spotted with Made in Heaven star Sobhita at his Hyderabad house. According to reports, the two looked quite comfortable in each others company while Chaitanya gave Sobhita a tour of his new home. A few hours later, they reportedly left together in one car. Thus began the rumours

London holiday

In March 2023, the rumour mill began churning even faster after Sobhita was spotted in the background of Chaitanyas picture. We are talking about a snap shared by Michelin Star Chef Surender Mohan at his restaurant in London. While he posed with Chaitanya, Sobhita was spotted by eagle-eyed netizens in the background, sitting at a table. This picture was later deleted by the chef. The same month, a source close to the couple revealed that they initially bonded over their love for fast cars and Formula 1, but it was the London holiday where they realized their love for each other

Sobhita in the background of Chaitanya's picture with chef Surender Mohan

Jungle safari

Earlier this year in April, Sobhita shared pictures from a jungle safari. This photo dump included a selfie, pictures clicked by someone sitting by her side on the jeep and glimpses of her surroundings. One day later, Chaitanya posted a picture of himself enjoying the sunset on a safari jeep. Fans were quick to join the dots in the comment section below. Many internet users guessed that Sobhita and Chaitanya were soft launching their relationship on social media with these pictures from their recent holiday

Sobhita and Chaitanya on a jungle safari

Vacay in Europe

Almost a month after their jungle safari, Sobhita and Chaitanya jetted off for a vacation in Europe. While the two continued to stay mum about their relationship, a picture of them enjoying a wine tasting on this exotic holiday soon surfaced on the internet.

There was also a clip of the lovebirds walking on the streets with shopping bags in hand which went viral on social media

Engagement

This morning, news about Sobhita and Chaitanyas engagement took over the internet. Nagarjuna has now shared pictures from their ring ceremony with a sweet note which read: We are delighted to announce the engagement of our son, Naga Chaitanya, to Sobhita Dhulipala, which took place this morning at 9:42 a.m.!! We are overjoyed to welcome her into our family. Congratulations to the happy couple! Wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness. God bless!8.8.8 A beginning of infinite love.

Well, we wish Sobhita and Chaitanya all the love and happiness as they embark on this exciting journey together.
Actors Sobhita Dhulipala and Naga Chaitanya are now engaged. On Thursday, Chaitanya's dad, actor Nagarjuna took to X to make the announcement, sharing glimpses of the couple from the private engagement ceremony, which took place at their residence in Hyderabad. Sobhita Dhulipala (L), Nagarjuna (Centre), Naga Chaitanya (R)

Alongside the photos, Nagarjuna wrote: "We are delighted to announce the engagement of our son, Naga Chaitanya, to Sobhita Dhulipala, which took place this morning at 9:42 a.m.!! We are overjoyed to welcome her into our family. Congratulations to the happy couple! Wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness. God bless!" 8.8.8 A beginning of infinite love Sobhitad chayakkineni @chay_akkineni (sic)."

The photos featured the newly engaged couple dressed in traditional attires. While Chaitanya was seen in an off-white kurta-pyjama, Dhulipala looked elegant in a soft pink saree. Check out Nagarjuna's post on X below:

Relationship rumours and public speculation

Speculation about Dhulipala and Chaitanya's relationship began circulating soon after Chaitanyas separation from actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu in 2021. It gained traction in 2023, following viral photos of the duo dining at a London restaurant. Their European holiday in June further intensified the speculation. Despite the rumours, the couple never publicly confirmed their relationship. However, fans noted similarities in their social media posts, suggesting the two were dating.

Secret vacations and public sightings

Over the past few years, Dhulipala and Chaitanya have been spotted together on several occasions, fuelling ongoing rumours. In June, a Reddit user shared a photo of the pair at a wine-tasting session in Europe. Earlier in May, both actors posted pictures from a jungle safari, with fans observing similar backdrops despite the duo not refraining from sharing any photos together.

In March, another viral image captured the couple at an Indian restaurant in London. Michelin-starred chef Surender Mohan posted a picture with Chaitanya, where eagle-eyed fans noticed Dhulipala seated behind him.

Naga Chaitanya was previously married to actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu. The couple, who starred together in films such as Manam, Majili, Ye Maaya Chesav, and Autonagar Surya, tied the knot in 2017. They announced their separation in a joint statement on social media in October 2021.
Yashoda Super Speciality Hospital Kaushambi proudly announced the inauguration of its new Yashoda Fertility and IVF Centre in Karkardooma, Delhi, expanding their specialized care to the community. The MediCentre ensures comprehensive care for all patients including Physiotherapy.

The inauguration ceremony was witnessed by Chief Guest Harsh Malhotra, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways and Corporate Affairs, with the Guest of Honour Om Prakash Sharma, MLA from Vishwas Nagar, Delhi. A distinguished assembly of gynaecologists, medical professionals, and medical experts attended the event.

The Yashoda Fertility and IVF Centre is the first venture of Yashoda Super Speciality Hospital, Kaushambi in the field of IVF and Fertility with a state-of-the-art equipped facility and latest technologies. This centre is a collaborative effort between team Yashoda's and renowned IVF specialist Dr Rishikesh Pai from Mumbai, whose impressive 40-year career includes thousands of successful cases in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Infertility.

The MediCentres comprehensive Super Speciality services include Medical Genetics, IVF treatments, Fetal Medicine, Nephrology, Medical Oncology reflecting Yashodas dedication to holistic and patient-centred care. Yashoda Super Speciality MediCentre is proud to announce its extensive range of medical services to provide the best patient care and treatment with regular OPDs dedicated to various specialties. The MediCentre ensures comprehensive care for all patients including Physiotherapy. The facility offers Super Speciality OPD services, advanced diagnostic capabilities including Lab tests, X-rays, and Ultrasound, as well as specialized treatments such as IVF, Dialysis, and Chemotherapy.

Harsh Malhotra, said, It is truly inspiring to witness the launch of Fertility and IVF Centre, which is a significant step forward in advancing the accessibility and quality of fertility treatments for the people.

Dr. P.N. Arora, Chairman of Yashoda Super Speciality Hospital Kaushambi, shared his heartfelt views: As we open the doors to the Yashoda Fertility and IVF Centre, we are not just launching a new facility but we are also giving hope to countless families. Each step we take here is driven by a passionate commitment to bringing the gift of life to those who have longed for it. Our hearts swell with pride and emotion as we begin this journey to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients, with the best doctors in our country who will serve our patients, and provide them with the care and compassion they so richly deserve.

Dr. Upasana Arora, Managing Director of Yashoda Super speciality Hospital Kaushambi, expressed her emotions: Today marks an extraordinary milestone for us and our heart is brimming with both pride and gratitude. The inauguration of the Yashoda Fertility and IVF Centre is not just a celebration of a new facility but a profound commitment to the countless families yearning for the joy of parenthood."

*Partnered content
The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Enforcement Directorate to focus on the quality of its prosecution and evidence, pointing out the probe agency's low conviction rate in money laundering cases. The Supreme Court of India. (PTI Photo)

You need to concentrate on the quality of prosecution and evidence. In all the cases where you are satisfied that a prima facie case is made out, you need to establish those cases in the courtOut of 5,000 cases registered in 10 years, there have been 40 convictions. Imagine now, a three-judge bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Ujjal Bhuyan told the ED - referring to a statement made in Parliament by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on the data of ED cases.

The top court's remarks came while hearing a bail plea filed by a Chhattisgarh-based businessman, Sunil Kumar Agrawal, who was arrested in connection with a money laundering case involving illegal levy on coal transportation.

In this case, you are harping on the statements given by some witnesses and affidavits. This kind of oral evidencethis type of oral evidence, tomorrow, God knows that person will stand by it or not. You should do some scientific investigation, the bench told Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the ED.

What was the case?

The ED investigation in the money laundering case stems from an Income Tax department complaint that was registered following raids made by the department in June 2022. The case relates to an alleged scam in which an illegal levy of 25 was being extorted for every tonne of coal transported in Chhattisgarh by a cartel involving senior bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians and middlemen.

The probe agency, in its second supplementary chargesheet, alleged that IAS officer Ranu Sahu, who served as the collector of Korba district during the scam, facilitated the collection of illegal levy amounts from the coal transporters and District Mineral Fund (DMF) contracts by Suryakant Tiwari and his associates, and received huge bribes from them.

Agarwal, the Chhattisgarh-based businessman, was arrested in the case last year.

On April 8, the Chhattisgarh high court rejected his interim bail plea, following which he moved the Supreme Court to challenge the court's order. On May 19, the top court directed Agarwal's release on interim bail subject to his furnishing bail bonds.

On Wednesday, the top court made its earlier order absolute, granting the businessman interim bail.

According to Justice Datta, section 19 of PMLA requires the arresting officer to give reasons to believe to the accused and asked ASG Raju whether he thought the arresting order was sustainable in the present case.

(With inputs from PTI)
Pune city has recorded 73 confirmed cases of Zika virus since June, civic officials said on Thursday. 73 cases of Zika virus have been reported in Pune in the monsoon period, find out more about its symptoms and how to prevent it. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne disease, which spreads especially fast during the monsoon season, when mosquitoes breed in stagnant water.

Also Read: Rising flu cases and global warming: How are they connected?

The first case of Zika infection was reported in Pune on June 20. While four patients who tested positive for the Zika virus have died, they had pre-existing conditions or age-related problems. The virus, however, severely hampers the immunity of the individual affected.

Of those infected in Pune, 26 are pregnant women, which opens them up to the risk of a birth defect associated with the infection, known as microcephaly - where a child's head is smaller than usual for their body at their age.

Also Read: Frequent blackouts? Here's what it says about your heart health

As cases continue to rise, here's a look at what the virus is, symptoms to look out for, preventive measures and treatments.

What is Zika virus

The Zika virus is transmitted primarily through mosquito bites in tropical and subtropical regions. The type of mosquito which spreads the virus, Aedes aegypti, usually bites during the day or afternoon.

The virus shares many symptoms with other infections like dengue fever, as the same mosquito also spreads dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

Also Read: Doctor shares common vision problems in children and tips to combat them

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it can also be transferred from a pregnant mother to a child, through sexual contact, blood transfusions and organ transplants.

Zika in pregnancy, apart from birth defects, can also cause stillbirth, pre-term birth or loss of the fetus. Other long-term effects of the virus on adults are still being studied.

Symptoms

According to the John Hopkins medical organisation, symptoms of the Zika virus are mostly mild, with 1 in 5 people even exhibiting symptoms in the first place.

Some common symptoms are:

High fever

Zika rash: flat or raised red spots on the body

Conjunctivitis

Headache

Muscle and joint pain

These symptoms usually last for 3-14 days and then subside. Most cases of Zika virus do not need severe hospitalisation and symptoms, if any, go away in days.

The Zika virus can usually be diagnosed with a blood test.

Prevention

One of the key ways to prevent the Zika virus is to ensure that one does not get bitten by mosquitos, especially during the day. Wearing light coloured clothes, closing windows and doors, preventing stagnation of water in nearby areas, and using mosquito-repellent products can help.

Mosquito nets can also be used while sleeping, particularly for those who are most vulnerable - children, pregnant women, immunocompromised and elderly people.

Cleaning up trash and removing any standing and uncovered water nearby is also a must to maintain hygiene and prevent mosquito breeding.

Treatment

There is no vaccine or anti-viral treatment for the Zika virus. However, there are a few steps one can take if infected
Muhammad Yunus will be sworn in on Thursday as the leader of Bangladesh's interim government, days after Sheikh Hasina's unceremonious exit from power and the country amid violent protests against quotas in government jobs. Yunus, a Nobel peace laureate, who was in Paris for the Olympics when he was named interim leader, has appealed to the people of the beleaguered country to maintain peace. "Violence is our enemy. Please dont create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country, he said.

People gather in front of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) headquarters during a rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (AP)
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy held discussions on Thursday regarding the evolving situation in Bangladesh. The conversation, which Jaishankar mentioned in a post on X (formerly Twitter), also touched upon developments in West Asia. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, in New Delhi. (ANI/File)

Received a call from UK Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy today. Discussed the situation in Bangladesh and West Asia, Jaishankar posted on X.

The discussions came against the backdrop of uncertainty surrounding former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India following her recent resignation amid widespread protests in her home country.

'Sheikh Hasina will be back in Bangladesh once...': Son Sajeeb Wazed's U-turn

Initially, it was reported that she might seek asylum in the UK, but these plans appear to have stalled due to the UK's reluctance to offer her refuge. Under British immigration law, asylum cannot be applied for from outside the country, and each case is scrutinised individually. The UK has a history of providing protection to those in need, but no provisions exist for allowing someone to travel to the UK solely to seek asylum, reported PTI quoting an expert.

Sheikh Hasina's son denies UK asylum plan

However, Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who acts as an adviser to his mother, dismissed reports of the former premier seeking asylum in the UK or any other country as rumours and said the reports of her US Visa being revoked are also untrue.

"Nothing of this sort has been planned (seeking asylum). Sooner or later, there has to be a restoration of democracy in Bangladesh and hopefully, that will be between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Awami League. Then Sheikh Hasina will be back."

Read: Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's next move? India has no updates, says MEA

Sheikh Hasina, who had served as Bangladesh Prime Minister for 15 years, resigned on Monday following weeks of intense protests, initially sparked by opposition to a job quota scheme but which soon escalated into demand for her ouster. She landed at Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad, close to the national capital.

Read: Indian visa centres in Bangladesh shut due to unstable situation

The external affairs ministry said on Thursday that it is up to Sheikh Hasina to "take things forward" regarding her future plans, adding that it had no update on the matter.

"It is not appropriate to talk about her plans," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
New Delhi, More than 7,200 Indian students have returned to India in the past couple of weeks ending August 1 in view of the situation in Bangladesh, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. B'desh unrest: Over 7,200 Indian students have returned to India, says govt

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written response, also said that as per available records, there are about 19,000 Indian citizens, including over 9,000 students, living in Bangladesh.

He was asked the total number of Indians living in Bangladesh for the purpose of education or business, the number of people of Gujarat living in Bangladesh, and whether any special campaign has been started to evacuate Indian citizens from the violence-hit neighbouring country.

The minister was also asked about the number of citizens brought back to India so far.

Indian students in Bangladesh are from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and states of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam, among others. State-wise list is not maintained by our Mission and Posts in Bangladesh, the Union minister said.

The High Commission of India in Dhaka and the Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Khulna have been assisting in the voluntary return of Indian nationals, he said.

They are also coordinating with the authorities concerned of Bangladesh for their safety and security during stay as well as movement to the airports and to land ports along India-Bangladesh border.

"Ministry of External Affairs has also been coordinating with relevant Indian authorities to ensure a smooth passage for our citizens arriving at land ports and airports. Over 7,200 Indian students have returned to India till 01 August 2024, starting from 18 July 2024," Singh said.

State-wise list of Indian nationals who have "voluntarily departed from Bangladesh is not maintained by our Mission and Posts in Bangladesh," the minister added.

In a separate query, he was also asked whether it is a fact that Indian students intake in Canadian universities has dipped in recent years due to strained relations with Canada, and if so, the details of students enrolled there during the last three years, year-wise.

The minister of state for external affairs shared data and said as per information obtained from the website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada , the Indian student intake at Canadian universities has "increased over the last three years".

As per the shared data, the corresponding figures were 2,16,360 3,18,380 and 4,27,085 .

In a separate question, he was asked whether the government is aware about the "growing Chinese influence" on India's neighbouring countries.

Singh, in his written response, said the "government keeps abreast of all activities in India's neighbourhood that impinge on its interests".

"Neighbourhood First Policy continues to guide our approach to our neighbouring countries. It has resulted in outcome-oriented engagements, strong development partnerships, physical, digital and economic connectivity as well as vibrant people-to-people and cultural exchanges. India is an active partner of its neighbours, with extensive education, culture, trade and investment linkages.

"Our relations with neighbours stand on their own footing and are independent of the relations of these countries with third countries. Government keeps a vigilant watch on all developments which have a bearing on India's national security, and takes all necessary measures to safeguard it," he added.

In response to a separate query, he shared data on the number of pilgrims from India who visited Gurudwara Shri Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan in the last three years 10,025 ; 86,097 ; and 96,555 .

He was also asked whether India has taken "any diplomatic initiative to stop ongoing war between Palestine and Israel".

"India has strongly condemned the terror attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023 and also the loss of civilian lives in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. India has called for ceasefire and sustained humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza," the Union minister said.

"During the ongoing conflict, India has provided 70 tonnes of humanitarian aid including 16.5 tonnes of medicines and medical supplies. We have also called for release of remaining hostages. We remain concerned at the deteriorating security situation and have called for restraint and deescalation and emphasized a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy," he added.

Around 26,000 Indian nationals, who have arrived in Israel over the past several years, are currently working in different sectors of the Israeli economy. In 2022, India and Israel commenced discussions on a framework agreement to facilitate temporary employment of Indian workers, which was concluded in November 2023, under which 4,825 Indian workers have so far been placed in Israel, the minister said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The bill to amend the 1995 Waqf Act for more centralised control of Islamic charitable endowments was on Thursday referred to a joint parliamentary panel for further scrutiny after the Congess-led Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance opposed the proposed law in its present form. The proposed law was referred to a joint parliamentary panel for further scrutiny. (ANI)

Parties such as Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party (SP), and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) have criticised the proposed amendments including for inclusion of non-Muslims in waqf governance saying they will encroach on the religious rights.

The government has maintained the draft legislation seeks to improve the administration of waqf properties that Muslims dedicate for religious or philanthropic purposes as part of piety to perpetuate charitable activities beyond their lifetime.

SP leader Akhilesh Yadav claimed the bill was a part of well-planned politics. When other religious boards do not have non-believers, why non-Muslims should be included in waqf boards? The reality is BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] has brought this bill for its few hardline supporters who are frustrated.

Congress leader K C Venugopal slammed the bill saying it amounted to an attack on the Constitution. Waqf properties come from donations. It [bill] violates Article 26 of the Constitution [guaranteeing the right to form and maintain institutions for religious and charitable intents]. In this bill, they [the government] are putting a provision that non-Muslims can also be members of the governing council, Venugopal said.

He called the provision an attack on faith and freedom of religion. Now you are going after Muslims. Next, you will go after Christians and Jains. We believe in the culture and traditions of India. We are believers as Hindus but we also respect other religions, Venugopal said. He linked the bill to the polls in Maharashtra, Bihar, and Haryana. This bill is also an attack on the federal system.

Venugopal maintained that the bill would trigger disputes over each mosque that does not have any deed. You want a communal clash between communities. In every bill, there has to be a motive for well-being. Now, you are ill motivated to divide people. This bill cannot be introduced, let alone be passed, said Venugopal.

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi maintained that Parliament does not have the competence to make the proposed amendments. Waqf management is an essential religious practise of Muslims. The government is trying to severely restrict it. Hindus can give their properties but Muslims cannot give them to Allah. Who is going to decide if one is practising Islam for five years before he can donate his property [for waqf]? he asked, referring to one of the bill provisions.

Owaisi said waqf properties are not public properties. This government wants to take over mosques, I am sure you want to make Bilkis Bano and Zakia Jafri Waqf members, he said, referring to the survivors of the 2002 Gujarat riots. Bano was three months pregnant when she was gang-raped during the riots while her three-year-old daughter was among seven of her relatives killed. Jafris husband, Ehsan Jafri, a former Congress member of Parliament, was hacked to death and later burnt during the riots.

SP leader Mobibbullah said Hindus manage their temples but the government wants people of other religions to be a part of waqf management. They are interfering in the religion. This will not help the nation. Minorities will not feel safe in the country.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) floor leader Sudip Bandopadhyay maintained the bill violates Article 14 of the Constitution related to equality before the law. His party colleague, Kalyan Banerjee, said the bill is beyond the legislative competence of the central government and it is also against Constitutional morality. This bill is targeting the Muslims. Before [2024 national] election, there was an attempt to make the country a Hindu Rashtra, which has been rejected by the people.

Indian Union Muslim League leader Md Bashir said if this bill is passed, the entire waqf system will collapse. ...[the bill gives] all powers to the district collectors, who become superior to the Waqf Board chairman. This bill encourages encroachment of waqf land. Your [government] intention is to spoil communal amity.

Communist Party of India (Marxist)s K Radhakrishnan said the government did not consult any state before bringing the bill. Revolutionary Socialist Party leader NK Premachandran said the bill will be rejected in legislative scrutiny. You should either withdraw the bill or send it to some committee.

Harish Balayogi of Telugu Desam Party, a key BJP ally, supported the bill but maintained the purpose of the donors needs to be protected. He said the bill regulates and streamlines the purpose. The new law will help poor Muslims and Muslim women of the country. We have no problem if the bill is sent to a select committee
The Kodibag bridge across the Kali river, connecting the states of Karnataka and Goa in the Karwar region of Uttara Kannada district, collapsed at about 2 am on Wednesday, Uttara Kannada superintendent of police Narayan M said adding that the driver of a Tamil Nadu-based truck that fell into the river while it was crossing the bridge, was rescued. The bridge across the Kali River collpases near Karwar in Uttara Kannada district on Wednesday. (PTI)

The bridge, constructed 41 years ago, collapsed in three phases. The truck falling into the river marked the first phase, and the other two phases followed within next 10 minutes, Narayan said.

He said that the driver, 37-year-old Balu Murugan from Yashapatti town in Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu, was rushed to the hospital. The truck, bearing number TN 36-B 9997, is owned by the Tamil Nadu-based SSM Transport Company and was returning after delivering goods in Goa.

Narayan said: The river was flowing about 10 feet below the bridge. Driver Murugan broke open the windshield of the vehicle, climbed onto the engine, and attracted the attention of the beat police by shouting for help. Police, with the help of coast guard personnel, managed to extract him from the truck and admitted him to the government hospital in Karwar.

Following the incident, traffic on another newly constructed low-level bridge over the same river, linking Karwar and Sadashivagad in Uttara Kannada district, was halted from Wednesday morning. The incident has not significantly affected traffic within the district or with Goa, as there are alternative routes available, the SP said.

He added that police personnel have been deployed to monitor traffic on all the bridges across the district to prevent heavy congestion that might cause another disaster due to excessive load on the bridges. Traffic on the bridges is being controlled by limiting the number of vehicles allowed at a time, he stated.

The truck drivers informed the officials that there were no other vehicles on the bridge at the time of the collapse. However, the police and coast guard teams conducted a thorough search of about 10 kilometres downstream and found no evidence of additional vehicles or people in the river. We checked thoroughly and found no other vehicles or individuals in the river, SP Narayan confirmed.

Uttara Kannada deputy commissioner Lakshmi Priya, who visited the site, ordered the cessation of vehicle movement on the newly constructed bridge as well and requested a report on its stability. I have instructed the regional officer of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in Bengaluru and the project director of NHAI in Honnavar to inspect and report on the current condition and stability of the newly constructed bridge over the Kali River, she said

She also informed that driver Murugan has recovered and will be sent home whenever he is ready. She added that although rainfall has decreased compared to the previous week, the Kali river remains swollen, and the district administration is prepared for potential floods.

The Karwar town police have suo motu registered cases against IRB Infrastructure and NHAI. Lakshmi Priya said that the IRB, despite instructions, failed to halt traffic on the bridge. The Karwar police have filed suo motu cases against IRB due to negligence, the deputy commissioner remarked.

Uttara Kannada MP Vishveshwar Hegde Kageri said, I am somewhat comforted that the bridge collapsed at night; otherwise, a significant disaster could have occurred.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and the former chief minister of West Bengal, passed away on Thursday at his home in Kolkata. He was 80 years old. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the former chief minister of West Bengal, passed away on Thursday

March 1, 1944: Bhattacharjee is born into a Bengali Brahmin family in north Kolkata. His grandfather, a Sanskrit scholar, wrote the manual for priests, which is still popular. His father published religious books.

Bhattacharjee studies Bengali literature at Presidency College and becomes a school teacher after graduation.

1966: Joins the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

1968: Elected West Bengal state secretary of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of CPI(M).

1972: Elected to the state committee of CPI(M).

1977: Elected MLA for the first time from north Kolkatas Kashipur-Belgachhia constituency. Becomes minister of information and public relations in chief minister Jyoti Basus cabinet.

1982: Elected to the state secretariat of CPI(M) but loses the assembly election.

1984: Becomes member of CPI(M) central committee.

1987: Wins assembly election from Jadavpur seat in south Kolkata. Re-inducted into the state cabinet as minister of cultural affairs, urban development, and municipal affairs.

1993: Resigns from cabinet following differences with Basu over functioning of government. Returns to the cabinet a year later because of Basus initiative.

1996: Becomes minister of home affairs.

1999: Becomes deputy chief minister as Basu plans to retire.

2000: Becomes chief minister as Basu retires after a 23-year tenure.

2001: Bhattacharyas government faces major controversy as 11 Trinamool Congress supporters are massacred, allegedly by CPI (M) cadres, at Chhota Angaria in West Midnapore. CBI takes up probe.

2002: Becomes a politburo member of the CPI (M).

2003: Gangrape of several women at Dhantala in Nadia district causes embarrassment for the government as CPI(M) cadres are arrested.

2006: Bengal Left Front wins 235 of 294 seats in state polls under Bhattacharjees leadership.

2006: Known for multi-crop farming, Singur in Hooghly district makes headlines as the government acquires 997.11 acres along NH-2 and hands it over to Tata Motors for building its cheapest car, the Nano. Bhattacharjee offers several incentives to the company while opposition leader Mamata Banerjee starts an agitation demanding the return of 347 acres acquired against the wishes of farmers.

2007: Bhattacharjees initiative to acquire farmland for a chemical hub at Nandigram in East Midnapore witnesses unprecedented political violence and a farmers movement led by TMC. The violence, which continued for more than two years, erupts after 14 villagers die in a police firing in September 2007. Bhattacharjee later withdraws the project.

2008: The Tatas scrap the Singur project and move the plant to Sanand in Gujarat.

2008: The Maoist movement in the western districts of Bengal intensifies. A convoy of cars carrying Bhattacharjee and Union ministers Ram Vilas Paswan and Jitin Prasada comes under landmine attack at Lalgarh. They escape unhurt, but six policemen are injured.

2011: Nine villagers are killed, allegedly by CPI (M) activists, at Netai village in Jhargram district in January. CBI starts an investigation.

2011: The TMC-Congress coalition ousts the Left Front governments 34-year-old regime in a landmark election held in April-May. Bhattacharjee loses to Jadavpur.

2022: Bhattacharjee refuses the Padma Bhusan award after the BJP government releases the list of awardees. I do not know anything about the Padma Bhusan award. Nobody said anything to me about this. If I have been given the award, I refuse it, Bhattacharjee says in a statement.

2023: Bhattacharjee, a patient of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Doctors advise round-the-clock monitoring at home.
Kolkata: With the death of 80-year-old Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at his frugal two-room government apartment in south Kolkatas Palm Avenue on Thursday morning, West Bengal lost its last communist chief minister. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and the former chief minister of West Bengal, passed away on Thursday at his home in Kolkata (File Photo)

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI (M) bade farewell to the apparatchik who repeatedly strayed from convention to emerge as a leader with an independent mind in a regimented party.

Condolence messages poured in from all over, cutting across political divides, as millions of citizens mourned the death of Bhattacharjee, who is survived by his wife Mira and only child, Suchetana.

Saddened by the passing of Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, former CM of West Bengal. He was a political stalwart who served the state with commitment. My heartfelt condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti, wrote Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of whom the departed communist was a bitter critic.

This is an extremely sad moment for us. I have known him for several decades. We met on many occasions. I offer my condolences to members of the CPI(M) party and all his followers, said chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who is acknowledged as the sole architect of the downfall of the Left Fronts 34-year-long regime in Bengal.

In the September of 2000, when the maverick Jyoti Basu took the bow from his cabinet colleagues and retired as independent Indias longest serving chief ministerSikkims Pawan Chamling later broke that recordBhattacharjee, her successor, was widely seen as the CPI (M)s poster boy yearning to change the face of archaic bureaucracy in the corridors of the British-era secretariat, the Writers Buildings, and alter the image of party cadres.

Easier said than done, many of Bhattacharjees critics said in hushed tones at the transition took place. Eleven years later, when Bhattacharjee lost by 16,770 votes to Manish Guptahis first home secretary who joined the Trinamool Congress after retirementthe veteran communist was virtually reduced to a tragic hero.

But that is not why Buddha Babu, a thoroughbred Bengali gentleman identified by spotless white dhoti-kurta and Kolhapuri chappals and love for Latin American literature and Tagores works, will possibly be remembered for.

Often criticised by his fellow comrades for trying to play apostle of the industry, the man who always stood his ground embraced a rough ride no Left leader experienced during Bengals Left Front regime. Critics may argue that he failed to live up to the expectations of the masses, but Bhattacharjee did not hesitate to set up acid tests for himself.

Sounding the slogan Krishi amader bhitti, shilpo amader bhobishyot (agriculture is our foundation, industry is our future) at back-to-back Left rallies during his 10-year tenure, Bhattacharjee showed his determination to revive industries in a state where strikes and militant trade unionism were seen by investors as the order of the day.

In 2005, he signed a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), including one with the Salim Group of Indonesia for a multi-crore special economic zone, which was later to become part of the Petroleum Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR). The second project was Ratan Tatas long-cherished dreamthe rupees one lakh car for the common man.

Bhattacharjee even sounded prophetic at times. Perform, reform or perish, he said at a public meeting in 2005. To CPI(M) Mandarins, it perhaps came as a shock. Bhattacharjee was misquoted by the media; some of them said what he meant was perform or perish.

To counter public perception that the juggernaut did not move in the corridors of power, Bhattacharjee raised another sloganDo it now.

It still took his government about two years to draw up blueprints for the projects. But politics at the grassroots and simmering anger over the acquisition of farmland emerged as Bhattacharjees main challengers.

The government chose Nandigram in East Midnapore for the proposed PCPIR. The Assembly standing committee on commerce and industries, headed by then Congress MLA Sudip Bandopadhyay, gave its nod after a spot visit. With the CPI(M) in complete control of the three community blocks, the party thought acquiring land would be easy.

That the CPI(M) had given wrong feedback to Writers Buildings became apparent when a notice issued by the Haldia Development Authority turned thousands of people against the party. Before the government could get a grip on the situation, Nandigram turned into a war zone.

A police force sent to Nandigram on March 14, 2007 was supposed to restore the rule of law, but the local party thought it would be wise to send some armed cadres to counter the agitators. Fourteen deaths later, Bhattacharjee had no option but to accept moral responsibility before fuming Left Front partners.

The civil society also got divided. The majority of the intellectuals passed the verdict against the person they pampered all these years.

At Singur, the government managed to acquire the land promised to Ratan Tata, but the boundary wall built around the factory site was targeted with bombs and shovels by angry farmers. Tata Motors employees had to be provided with round-the-clock police cover. Tata Motors moved out of Singur in 2008.

Kolkata added to the chief ministers agony. The government had nothing to do with the death of Rizwanur Rahaman, a youth, on September 21, 2007. But he had to face the consequences because of three IPS officers, the then police commissioner Prasun Mukherjee being one. Reeling under pressure from the media, intellectuals, and Left Front allies, Bhattacharjee paid a visit to Rizwanurs mother and removed all the officers from the Lalbazar police headquarters in Kolkata. Never during Bhattacharjees successive tenures as home (police) minister had the administration faced such a situation.

On November 10, 2007, the focus shifted to Nandigram again. While the chief minister was waiting for Central Reserve Police Force contingents to arrive, armed CPI (M) cadres stormed into Nandigram, leaving a trail of blood. They were paid back in their own coin, Bhattacharjee said, trying to defend his party only to admit a few days later in Delhi that he should not have sounded like the partys chief minister. His compulsion was exposed.

Bhattacharjees tenure witnessed another incident that rocked Kolkata in November 2007. Army had to be deployed and curfew imposed in parts of the city after Muslims demanded the ouster of Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen for some alleged sacrilegious remarks in Dwikhondito. Nasreen left for Gujarat. Later, she dropped those pages and alleged that the Bengal government pressured her to leave. The civil society received another jolt.

Knowing the way Bhattacharjee lived his political career, the way he kept his feet firmly on the ground even at the cost of being tagged impractical and arrogant by his critics, his defeat in the 2011 assembly polls was almost a catastrophe for his image and career.

From being a leader of the Students Federation in 1963 to heading an industry-savvy government, the protege of legendary Marxist Pramod Dasgupta survived many crises, including a year-long exile from politics following strong differences with Jyoti Basu in August 1993. But Bhattacharjee could not survive Singur or Nandigram, and the fallout of his very own judgments.

The worst criticism came from his old cabinet colleague Abdur Rezzak Molla, who emerged victorious in 2011. One who cant even handle a non-venomous water snake should not have touched a cobra, Molla told the media in a non-discreet reference to Bhattacharjees land acquisition methods. He was not alone. There were people with him. Nobody thought about the poor people. The result of all that is here for everybody to see, Molla told the media.

Clearly, a veteran like Molla bracketed Bhattacharjee as one who ignored the agenda of a Marxist regime. Nothing more could have hurt the image of a fallen chief minister.

In 1977, Bhattacharjee was picked to head the information and public relations department when the first Left Front government came to power in Bengal. The reason, argue Bhattacharjees fellow comrades, was his intellectual image, something that no other Left leader in Bengal has carried so firmly. The department was renamed as Information and Cultural Affairs probably to suit Bhattacharjees agendato project Kolkata, if not Bengal, as the cultural capital of India with book fairs, film festivals, and cultural events.

It was perhaps a political satire that the anti-incumbency factor and growing popularity of the Trinamool Congress took a toll not only on his party but also on his two main agendasindustry and culture. Sponsors for the Kolkata Film Festival 2010 dwindled, keeping pace with the drop in popularity of the annual event.

He was the only CPI (M) leader who advocated the need for nuclear energy in the country. Bhattacharjee stood firmly behind former Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs stand on Nuclear Renaissance and urged environmentalists to stop being fundamentalists.

Bhattacharjees comments in front of a galaxy of industry stalwarts in 2008 assumed significance as the general secretary of his own party, Prakash Karat, vehemently opposed the India-US nuclear deal.

For a man who made his spotless white dhoti-kurta symbols of his honesty, Bhattacharjee took more criticisms than many of his colleagues.
Former Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat was one of many political leaders who were close to late West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. Heres what the Left leader had to say about the ex-CM: Former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. (PTI File Photo)

Just before the Emergency, in 1974, I had gone to Kolkata because our Student Federation of Indias head office was there at that time. In the Youth Federation Office, I found a young man in his kurta-pajama sitting at a desk and writing away furiously.

It was my first sight of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

Years later, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee epitomised an era of communist politics in West Bengal, which has now ended with this passing away. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was as a person and a leader someone who touched various aspects of life and society in West Bengal. He was no ordinary communist cadre. He was also a person with literary accomplishments. And he had made a distinctive contribution to the development of cultural institutions and cultural life in West Bengal as well. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee the administrator the chief minister and long time minister of the left Front government-- that is of course the most well known and most public aspect of his political life.

But for us, we were more or less on the same generation. We both came into the Central Committee of the party in 1985 so we saw him as the party cadre, a party organizer and a party leader who started this work in the student movement and then the youth movement, and then he came into the leadership of the party in West Bengal as a state committee and state secretariat member.

So what was so distinctive about him was his capacity to be totally devoted to his work. He was dedicated to what he has to do and the responsibilities assigned to him. But the same time, he had a certain detachment to see the larger picture. And as you know, he developed not just as a party functionary, but had active interest and passion for literature.

He carried this tradition in West Bengal of being a Renaissance man. Personality, he represented everything that was progressive, democratic, secular in West Bengal and its cultural traditions. Within that framework, he was also a loyal party worker and a leader. He also tried to implement the partys understanding of how the Left front government should function with all the limitations of a state government.

He was also groomed by the first generation of party leaders . Lets not forget he became a minister at that time when Jyoti Basu was the chief minister and Pramod Dasgupta was the party state secretary. And thats a period when the CPIM also had to work out how to function in the state government after getting a majority in the assembly within a set up where the real powers were with the Center. Of course, it was something that leaders of an earlier generation such as Harkishen Singh Surjeet or EMS Namboodiripad had worked it out. Buddhadeb was able to carry that forward later as the minister and as Chief Minister. So thats one of the unique aspects of his career as a minister and Chief Minister.

I think that its a misnomer to think that Buddhadeb was the one who brought the industrialization policy in West Bengal. Industrial policy decision was made under the Jyoti Basu government, which was also discussed in our party Central Committee to adopt new things such as. the role of private sector. But he took it forward.

What he planned to do or aim to do was not something that was not within the partys policy framework. Problems cropped up in its implementation but the fact is that he was carrying on what had already been worked out in the party.

All through my long association, I remember the snippets we shared. Im not that literate in the field of literature. I have read classics but he would be up to date with modern literature. Once he told me, You should read (Jose) Saramago. He said hes a Portuguese writer who had won the Nobel Prize at that time and told me to read the novel Blindness. He was the one who would tell us about new books, new literary works. As a person, he had much wider interest than many of us.

(As told to Saubhadra Chatterji)
The Waqf Act (Amendment) Bill will likely become the latest bone of contention between the Centre and the Opposition as a host of INDIA bloc parties have expressed their disagreement with the legislation ahead of its introduction in the Parliament. The Congress, TMC, NCP (SCP), Samajwadi Party and the DMK are reportedly opposed to the proposed amendments to the law which governs Waqf boards that control vast swathes of Islam-linked lands. Members in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament.(PTI)

Congress leader K Suresh said on Thursday that the proposed changes to the law were being brought without any discussion with Muslim outfits and stakeholders. He claimed the BJP wants to achieve "polarisation" ahead of the upcoming elections.

The Congress demanded that the bill should be sent to the Standing Committee for a thorough review.

"Yesterday in the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told us that the government will introduce the Waqf Act Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha today after the Question Hour. Opposition parties including Congress, TMC, NCP (SCP), Samajwadi Party and DMK opposed the bill. We said in the meeting that this is a hasty decision. Without any discussion with the concerned Muslim organizations and the concerned stakeholders, you are bringing this bill for some political gain or polarization in the upcoming elections," the Congress veteran said.

He said the entire Opposition was against the proposed changes.

"The government is not ready to withdraw its proposal. We demanded that this bill should be sent to the Standing Committee for evaluation or thorough verification... The entire opposition is strongly opposing this bill...Let the bill be introduced, our party will take a call after that," he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi asked if BJP's allies, JDU and TDP, were consulted over the bill.

"The way this bill is being brought, I would ask if it has been discussed within their alliance (NDA). Have JDU and TDP seen this Waqf bill and have given their consent? If it has not been done, then it is only important that whenever such a bill comes, all the stakeholders, parliamentarians must be heard and amendments to be made if needed," she added.

Meanwhile, BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan said the bill brings much-needed reform to the archaic system.

"It is a very commendable initiative by the government of PM Narendra Modi, who in response to the various demands and representations made by the affected members of the Muslim community have decided to introduce these amendments. The Waqf Act was enacted by an Act of Parliament in 1954, but the intended objective has not been achieved, which is why there have been so many representations from the affected community. It is very well within the purview of parliament and the deserving, and disadvantaged Muslim members of the community have been denied their rights... In many instances, misappropriation and misuse in the management of properties have happened. Now that this bill, which has the rightful amendments to redress the lacunae is being introduced, we are very sure that the disadvantaged, deserving and poor sections of the Muslim community will be empowered. This bill will usher in transparency, will usher in accountability and also inclusivity in the management of Waqf properties henceforth," he said.

The bill seeks to "effectively address issues" related to the powers of the state Waqf boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
The Union government's proposed amendment to the Waqf Boards Act 1995 has sparked a political slugfest. Opposition parties allege that the proposals aim to deprive the Muslim community of their land, assets and the freedom to manage religious affairs guaranteed under Article 26 of the Indian Constitution. The ruling NDA has in turn argued that the demand to regulate Waqf boards comes from the Muslim community itself. Syed Naseeruddin Chishti, Chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanshin Council and successor of the spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah, speaks during a press conference over amendments in the Waqf Act, in New Delhi, (PTI)

In case you are wondering what the controversy is all about, here is a brief explainer on what is a Waqf property and what are the proposed amendments.

What is a Waqf property?

It refers to a moveable or immovable property dedicated in the name of god for charitable purposes by a deed or an instrument. The practice has been in existence even before the practice of documentation began. Hence, properties, which have been in use for a long time can also be considered, as Waqf properties.

A Waqf property can either be for public charitable purposes or held private to benefit an individual's descendants. A Waqf property is non-transferable and held perpetually in the name of God. The proceeds from a Waqf typically fund educational institutions, graveyards, mosques, and shelter homes, benefitting a large number of Muslims.

What is a Waqf board?

A Waqf board is a legal entity with nominated members to manage Waqf properties. The board appoints a custodian to each property to ensure its proceeds are used for intended purposes.

Central Waqf Council (CWC), established in 1964, oversees and advises state-level Waqf Boards across India. According to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, it also advises the central government, state government and Waqf boards on the management of their properties.

It can also direct them to furnish information to the Council on the performance of the board, particularly on their financial performance, survey, revenue records, encroachment of Waqf properties, Annual and Audit reports etc under section 9 (4) of the Waqf Act 1954.

A new act was passed in 1995 and was amended in 2013 to give far-reaching powers to the Waqf Board to designate a property as 'Waqf Property'. In case of dispute whether a property can be considered a Waqf, Section 6 of the 1995 Act reads the decision of the Tribunal in respect of such matter shall be final.

Also read | BJP to push hardline Hindutva agenda ahead of Maharashtra polls

What are the proposed amendments in Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024?

In short, the bill aims to restrict the power of Waqf boards to manage its properties and provides for more government regulation.

The bill proposes to make registration with the District Collector's Office mandatory for any Waqf property, so that the property can be evaluated.

It also states that any government property identified or declared as Waqf property, before or after the commencement of this Act, shall not be deemed to be a waqf property. The district collector will be the arbiter to decide whether a property is waqf property or government land and the decision shall be final.

Once decided, the collector can make necessary changes to the revenue record and submit a report to the state government. The bill also states that such property shall not be treated as Waqf property till the collector submits his report to the state govt.

In case of dispute with the decision of the Waqf board, appeals can now be made in the respective high courts.

Currently, a property can be considered as a Waqf, even if its original declaration is suspect or disputed. The provision was provided as under Islamic law, the dedication of a property as waqf was largely oral, until documentation (waqfnama) became the standard norm.

The bill seeks to omit such provisions, thus a Waqf property can be considered suspect or disputed in the absence of a valid waqfnama. The property can no longer be used till the final decision is made by the District Collector.

Amendments also give the Central government the power to direct the audit of any Waqf at any time by an auditor appointed by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, or by any officer designated by the Central Government for that purpose.

It also aims to ensure women's representation on the Central Waqf Council and state boards.

(With ANI inputs)
Chandigarh, The Haryana Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval to bring an ordinance for ensuring job security for contractual employees until the age of superannuation, a move which will benefit 1.20 lakh such employees. Eye on assembly polls, Haryana govt to ensure job security for contractual employees

A decision to this effect, which comes barely a few months before the assembly polls, was taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

Saini said a decision has been taken to ensure security to jobs of contractual employees till the age of their retirement.

The decision will apply to contractual employees working under the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam including those engaged under outsourcing policy, according to an official statement.

The state cabinet gave approval to bring the Haryana Contractual Employees Ordinance, 2024. The ordinance will enhance facilities for contractual employees and guarantee their job security until the age of superannuation, it said.

According to the ordinance, the state government has established provisions to ensure job security for all contractual employees working across various state departments, including Haryana Kaushal Rojgar Nigam, until their age of superannuation.

Contractual employees, who complete five years of service by August 15, 2024, will be eligible under this decision, the statement said.

Such workers will receive a basic salary equivalent to the pay scale of posts. Additionally, their consolidated monthly remuneration will be increased with effect from the first day of January and first day of July every year corresponding to the increase in dearness allowance, it said.

The ordinance also includes provisions for an annual increment on the consolidated monthly remuneration for contractual employees after one year of service.

"These employees will be entitled to death-cum-retirement gratuity benefits. In addition, contractual employees will also be eligible for all the benefits under the Maternity Act. Under the PM-Jan Arogya Yojana-Chirayu Extension Scheme, the families of contractual employees will also be provided the benefit of health facilities," it said.

However, employees earning more than 50,000 per month will not be covered under it. Those working under centrally sponsored schemes will also be excluded, it added.

Those who have worked for five years or more will get five per cent more pay than the minimum pay level of the same post in addition to the consolidated remuneration.

Similarly, those who have worked for eight years or more will get 10 per cent more than the minimum pay level of the same post in addition to the remuneration, the statement said.

Employees, who have worked for 10 years or more, will get 15 per cent more than the minimum pay level of the same post in addition to the remuneration, it added.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Manipur government said on Thursday that the police are probing the origins of an audio clip, allegedly containing offensive remarks against certain communities by Chief Minister Biren Singh, news agency PTI reported. Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh (File Photo)

The government labelled the clip as fake and said it had been released on social media in an attempt to disrupt the ongoing peace process in the ethnic violence-torn state.

"It has come to notice of the government that an audio recording, falsely claiming to be that of the Chief Minister, Manipur, is being circulated on social media platforms. This doctored audio is a malicious attempt by certain sections to incite communal violence or derail the process of peace that has been initiated at multiple levels," the state government said in a statement.

Also read | Fresh violence in Manipur's Jiribam within 24 hours of normalcy agreement

Terming the release as a 'conspiracy' to disrupt peace initiatives, the statement said, the Manipur Police are actively investigating the matter and are committed to uncovering the origins of this defamatory campaign. The government emphasised that therestoration of peace is of utmost importance to it.

The audio clip has been circulating across social media platforms since Wednesday, The Hindu reported. A man's voice, speaking in Meitei, can be heard interacting with a couple of persons.

Also read | Kuki lawmakers continue to boycott House proceedings despite safety assurances

Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) in a statement claimed that the audio clip contains Biren Singh's remarks boasting in a closed-door meeting with his cliques that he initiated the war against the Kuki-Zo people to save Meitei Civilization.

Responding to the allegations, the Manipur government shared screenshots of several users claiming that it had similar captions and said that a "coordinated and targeted campaign was underway".

The KSO has said it is willing to share the full 45-minute audio clip with "any media organisation or government agency interested in analyzing authenticity".
New Delhi, An FIR has to be mandatorily registered whenever a person is killed in an allegedly fake encounter by police, the Delhi High Court has held. FIR mandatory in cases of alleged fake encounters by police: Delhi HC

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna rejected a petition by the State against a sessions court order refusing to interfere with a magistrate's direction on registration of an FIR against a Delhi Police raiding team following the death of a person who suffered a gunshot injury during a chase.

The court noted that since the deceased, Rakesh, had five other "blunt force" injuries besides the firearm injury on his lower back, it had to be established whether he was mercilessly beaten up.

"The investigations are required to ascertain whether it was a case of murder or of an encounter.. Pertinently, no police official was injured despite the claim that the persons had fired at them too. The circumstances leading to the death of Rakesh need to be explained," the court said in a recent order.

The court took into account several judgements passed by the Supreme Court on the issue of deaths in police encounters and said in a society governed by law, it is imperative that extrajudicial killings are properly and independently investigated so that justice may be done.

"In the light of aforesaid judgments, it is held that the law mandates that whenever a person dies in an encounter which is alleged to be fake, the FIR has to be mandatorily registered," the court said.

Maintaining that the sessions court rightly concluded that there was enough material to direct the registration of an FIR, the court ordered, "Additional Sessions Judge has given cogent reasons for upholding the directions to register the FIR, as also given by learned Chief Metropolitan Magistrate under Section 156 Cr.P.C. 57. There is no merit in the present petition which is hereby rejected."

The court also said the requirement of sanction under section 197 of Criminal Procedure Code is necessary for probe when acts are done by an official in discharge of duty but it would not scuttle the registration of FIR, as it can be obtained subsequently, if the circumstances warrant.

It added that registration of FIR is only to facilitate the investigation and it may end in a closure report.

In the present case, in March 2013, a police team had gone after a "dreaded, hardcore and desperate criminal" Manoj who was present in a car with the deceased and another occupants.

It was alleged that on being chased by police, its occupants opened fire in self-defence. Police also claimed they fired at the rear wheels of the vehicle to prevent the alleged criminal from escaping.

The deceased was allegedly found injured on the rear seat of the car with a loaded sophisticated pistol.

The father of the deceased alleged police murdered his son.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday asked Members of Parliament to take the lead in exempting medical and life insurance from the Goods and Services Tax by asking their respective state finance ministers to take up the matter in the GST Council, and also hinted at more income-tax reforms aimed at benefiting the middle class by the next budget. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (PTI)

Replying to a debate on appropriation and finance bills in Rajya Sabha, she said, prior to the launch of the GST regime in 2017 the tax was levied by every state levied on insurance premia. Highlighting the decision-making process of the apex federal body on indirect taxes, Sitharaman said the Council is represented by finance ministers of states, who have two-third say in any matters while the Centre has one-third votes. Her reference was to the service tax on insurance premia that used to be levied pre-GST.

Parliament cannot bypass the GST Council, she said asking MPs to mobilise finance ministers of their respective states to take up the matter at the Council if they genuinely want to exempt GST on insurance premium and help the middle class. Honble Members, who protested with placards here, I want to ask [them] -- did they write letters to their own finance ministers, she said asking members to raise the issue in the right forum rather than politicising the issue. Make sure, the next GST Council meeting takes this up, she said asking MPs to persuade FMs of their respective states to act in the Council.

Participating in the dabate, TMC MP Derek OBrien suggested that in the GST Council, if the majority vote was with NDA, then why not the levy has been reduced. To this, the minister said her endeavour was to take all decisions in the Council with consensus. Barring one issue (related to lottery), all decisions of GST Council were taken on the basis of consensus. Health and life insurance premiums attract 18% GST.

Read Here: INDIA bloc leaders protest at Parliament gate against GST on insurance services

HT learns that the GST rate rationalisation committee, which meets later in August could consider lowering this rate.

After her feisty hour-long reply in the Upper House, the process of parliamentary approval for the Budget 2024-25 was completed and Rajya Sabha returned the relevant finance bills to Lok Sabha. The House also returned the Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bill to the Lower House. During her reply, Sitharaman said the budget was aimed at improving the lives of people, facilitating growth and creating employment.

She refuted the Oppositions charge that the budget was anti-middle class. Addressing the chair, she said: Sir, compared with very many developed economies, which have actually increased tax rates Despite pressure from Covid times, we have actually reduced the burden on middle class substantially. In support of her argument she cited several examples such as revision of tax slab for the new regime, raising standard deduction from 50,000 to 75,000 under this, and enhancing deduction on family pension for pensioners from 15,000 to 30,000.

The finance minister recalled her budget announcement regarding a comprehensive review of the Income-Tax Act, in continuation of the governments efforts of make tax regime simpler, equitable and easy to comply. She said tax officials have been given a timeframe of six months for the same. We should have a simplified version which, after due consideration, will obviously be brought to this House and Members will be. briefed on it and the approval will be sought, she added. Incidentally, the six-month time coincides with the next budget in February 2025, the eighth of Sitharaman .

Sitharaman said the current Budget mark the continuity of governments economic policies. The Union Budget this year balances several overriding imperatives, growth, employment generation, capital investment, and fiscal consolidation. We have tried to balance all these without compromising on any one sector.
The Madras high court on Wednesday granted 10 days time for the counsel of Union minister Shobha Karandlaje to get instructions from her if she was willing to hold a press meet to apologise for her remarks on the Rameshwaram cafe blast. In a video that had gone viral, the Union minister of state for labour and employment, could be seen blaming people from Tamil Nadu for the March 1 blast at the Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru. (HT Photo)

In a video that had gone viral, the Union minister of state for labour and employment, could be seen blaming people from Tamil Nadu for the March 1 blast at the Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru.

Justice G Jayachandran observed that the press conference must make it clear that she has the highest regard for the people of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadus advocate general PS Raman had said that the case booked against Karandlaje, a BJP MP, can be quashed if she calls for a press conference and apologises for her remarks.

Karandlajes petition to quash the first information report (FIR) against her registered by Tamil Nadus Madurai cyber crime police on March 20. It was based on the complaint of a resident against her for promoting enmity between different groups.

The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of Tamil Nadu had complained to the election commission of India (ECI) while the model code of conduct was in effect given the Lok Sabha elections concluded in June. Karandlaje later, on March 19 apologised for her remark.

People from Tamil Nadu come here, get trained there, and plant bombs here. They placed a bomb in the cafe, she had said in March, alleging that the bomber was trained in Tamil Nadus Krishnagiri forests under Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalins nose. During the previous hearing, the court had asked her how she made such a claim even before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) began its searches in the case.
The Indian authorities in Bangladesh have closed all their visa application centres in the strife-torn country until further notice. People gather in front of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) headquarters during a rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (AP)

"All IVACs will remain closed till further notice, due to an unstable situation. The next application date will be informed through SMS & It is requested to pick up the passport on the next working day," reads a message in the online portal to apply for apply Indian visa.

The development comes as India had tightened security measures across its borders and reduced staff strength at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

On Wednesday, India evacuated non-essential staff and their family members from its diplomatic missions across Bangladesh. However, diplomats remain, and the missions continue to remain functional to provide essential services.

India had not commented on the situation in Bangladesh until Sheikh Hasina's shock exit from the country. Addressing the Indian Parliament on Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the government is in close contact with the Indian community and continues to monitor the developments. He also expressed concern for the safety of religious minorities amid reports of targeted violence and vandalism.

India's Border Security Force had increased vigilance across the Bangladesh border to prevent any possible infiltration attempt. On Wednesday, the BSF apprehended a large number of people along the West Bengal border for attempting to sneak into India. Odisha has also increased vigilance across its 400 km plus long coastline to prevent any attempts at illegal immigration.

Jaishankar also informed Parliament that nearly 19,000 Indian nationals, 9000 among them being students continue to remain in Bangladesh. Almost a thousand plus students from India, Nepal and Bhutan have crossed into India as universities were shut after violent anti-quota protests.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar will embark on a three-day visit to the Maldives signalling a renewed effort to bolster the partnership between the two nations. External affairs minister S Jaishankar. (PTI/X/DrSJaishankar)

Jaishankars visit to the island nation is his first since January 2023 and follows the recent visit of Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu to India for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modis third term.

Read: Maldives President Muizzu thanks India, China for support to strengthen his countrys fragile economy

The Maldives, a key maritime neighbour to India, holds a strategic position in the Indian Ocean and has long been considered an essential partner in Indias 'Neighbourhood First' policy and its 'SAGAR' visionSecurity and Growth for All in the Region. Jaishankars trip is expected to focus on enhancing this partnership, exploring new avenues for cooperation, and addressing concerns that have surfaced in the past year.

The External Affairs Minister (EAM) of India, Dr. S Jaishankar will pay an official visit to Maldives from 09-11 August 2024. The visit follows the recent visit of the President of the Republic of Maldives, H. E. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, to India for the swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet and Council of Ministers, the MEA said in a statement.

The visit is aimed at strengthening the close partnership between the two countries and to explore avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship further, it added.

Read: Maldives minister arrested for performing black magic on President Muizzu: Report

The visit comes on the heels of a significant shift in Maldives foreign policy under President Muizzu, who has sought to recalibrate the country's relations with India.

The ties between the two nations were strained after Muizzu, who won the presidency on an "India Out" campaign, took steps to distance the Maldives from India and foster closer ties with China.

Read: Maldivian parliamentary panel to probe 3 agreements signed with India

One of Muizzus early actions in office was the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from Maldivian territory, fulfilling a key campaign promise.

However, Muizu's presence at Modi's inauguration ceremony was seen as a positive step towards mending relations.
Kochi: The Keezhvaipur police have filed a first information report (FIR) against alleged cyber fraudsters based on the complaint of a Kerala bishop who was cheated of Rs.15 lakh. Bishop Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, a former metropolitan of the Niranam diocese of the Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church (HT Photo/Sourced)

Bishop Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, a former metropolitan of the Niranam diocese of the Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church, said he received a call on August 2 in which the caller-ID showed Mumbai Cyber.

The bishop said he picked up the call and spoke to someone who identified himself as the cyber police and told him that his account was linked to a money laundering case.

The caller said my bank account was likely being misused by the accused in the money laundering case and that the case was being handled by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Coorilos said after he registered a complaint with the Keezhvaipur police station.

According to the bishop, he also got a video call after an hour later and described what he saw on the call as an office with a CBI emblem and some officers.

During the call, he was asked a series of questions about the bank accounts he owns and the deposits in them.

The bishop said he was told by the people over the call that he was being put in digital custody and that he would be presented online in court the next day in front of a judge.

The bishop said that the next day he attended a digital court hearing and heard the voice of a judge who asked him about his involvement in the case.

I denied the allegations and said that I have no connection to the money laundering case. The fake judge then said that it was a serious case and that all my accounts would be frozen. I was told to declare my accounts and transfer the money in them into a secret service account, which is monitored by the Supreme Court. If I am found innocent, the case will be closed and the money sent back to my accounts. I thought if it helps my case, I should do as I am told and transfer Rs.13 lakh, the priest said.

He was then tricked by the alleged fraudsters to send another Rs.1.2 lakh as he had recently withdrawn the amount from the account.

The bishop said he also received documents of the supposed court verdict with the seal of the judge as well as receipts for the money transferred to the so-called secret service accounts.

The documents, along with the seals even of the Supreme Court of India, seemed genuine to me. But my suspicion arose when another person messaged me on WhatsApp pretending to be a CBI officer and asked for Rs.2 lakh as a gift for helping me out.Thats when I suspected foul play and called a lawyer friend of mine who informed him about a similar kind of scam, Coorilos said.

The bishop, realising that he had been cheated, filed complaints with the police and the cyber cell and said he was coming out publicly as he did not want anyone else to be defrauded in this manner.

Speaking to HT, Satheesh Sekhar, sub-inspector at the Keezhvaipur police station, said, We received the complaint from Geevarghese Mar Coorilos on Wednesday through the cybercrime portal. After taking his statement, we have registered a case under sections 66B and 66C of the IT Act and section 318 in the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita (BNS). The probe has begun.

On May 1 this year, HT reported how a chartered accountant from Vile Parle-East in Mumbai had been cheated of Rs.34.7 lakh allegedly by fraudsters who used the same modus operandi and impersonated the CBI and Mumbai police officers to threaten the victim.
In a major setback to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu, the Madras high court on Wednesday set aside trial court orders discharging states revenue minister KKSSR Ramachandran and finance minister Thangam Thenarasu in disproportionate assets cases and directed the lower court to frame charges against the senior DMK leaders. Justice N Anand Venkatesh, while passing an order in the criminal revision petition initiated by him, set aside the July 20, 2023 and December 12, 2022 orders, respectively, of the special MP/MLA court in Virudhunagar, discharging revenue minister Ramachandran and finance minister Thennarasu in separate disproportionate assets cases. (HT Archive)

Justice N Anand Venkatesh, while passing an order in the criminal revision petition initiated by him, set aside the July 20, 2023 and December 12, 2022 orders, respectively, of the special MP/MLA court in Virudhunagar, discharging revenue minister Ramachandran and finance minister Thennarasu in separate disproportionate assets cases.

If the rule of law is to mean anything, it must mean that politicians and the common man of this state will be equal before the courts and that the butcher, the baker and the candlelight maker will be treated just the same as a revenue, housing or finance minister of this state, justice Venkatesh remarked in his order.

The judge directed Ramachandran to appear before the special court in Virudhunagar on September 9 and Thennarasu on September 11. The ministers, both senior leaders of the ruling DMK, have to face trial in the cases registered against them by the states anti-graft probe agency, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC).

As prima facie materials were available to frame charges, the special court shall proceed to frame charges and thereafter proceed in accordance with law, the judge ordered.

There is a clear nexus between the DVAC and politicians to ensure criminal prosecutions are short circuited against the ministers after they come to power, the judge observed, describing it as one of the worst forms of abuse of process.

In 2012, when the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) was in power in the state, the DVAC field a case against Thennarasu and his wife Manimegalai for amassing disproportionate wealth during the 2006-2010 DMK regime when he was the education minister. After the DMK returned to power in 2021, the couple was discharged by the special court on December 12, 2022.

Similarly, a disproportionate assets case was registered against Ramachandran and his wife Aadhilakshmi in 2011. The same special court discharged them on July 20, 2023 after the DMK led by MK Stalin formed the government in the southern state.

In August last year, justice Venkatesh had suo motu (on his own) initiated criminal revision petition against six Tamil Nadu politicians, including Thennarasu and Ramachandran, who were discharged or acquitted by lower courts in corruption cases.

It cannot but be observed that the eagerness of the DVAC to resort to further investigation to find material to support the discharge petitions of the accused raises a serious doubt in the mind of this court as to whether the entire investigation had been compromised and derailed with the intent of getting the accused off the hook, the judge said.

In this case, the DVAC contested tooth and nail till there was a change of power in the State in 2021, justice Venkatesh remarked. The accused were aware that till such time, they could not use the police to ferret defense material in their favour.

The court questioned the DVAC on whether the process of investigating defence material at the stage of discharge through a further investigation is a facility which they have ever resorted to in cases other than those involving politicians. The question drew a blank, as the DVAC was not able to point out a single case not involving a politician where such investigative techniques were deployed, the judge said.

The judge said the special court had committed a manifest jurisdictional error in discharging the accused. Additionally, the very fact that the special court has not assigned a shred of independent reasoning is another reason warranting interference in exercise of revisional powers, the judge added.

One of the most striking aspects of the two cases, the court remarked, is the meticulous manner, in which, the DVAC officials have also colluded with each other to ensure that criminal trials against two sitting ministers are quietly and indecently buried within the precincts of the special court. Once the two ministers were back to power, the DVAC officials decided or were told by their higher ups to find ways and means to ensure that the prosecutions were torpedoed, the court said.

The perfect plan was thus drawn up, the judge said, adding the DVAC hunted for material to back up the defence of the accused, culminating with the final closure report. What is striking is that the so-called written argument (by the accused), the intimation for further investigation and the final closure report were filed on the same day in both cases, the judge noted. Unfortunately, the very same special court did not notice this and fell into or was willing to fall into an error in discharging the accused.

Earlier in February, justice Venkatesh had set aside the lower courts order discharging rural development minister I Periyasamy in a graft case and ordered for him to face a fresh trial. The judge had also initiated revision petitions against higher education minister K Ponmudi, former chief minister and expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam, and former minister B Valarmathi of the AIADMK.

NEEDS DMK COMMENTS

OPPN QUOTES
A newlywed bride was allegedly murdered by her husband just hours after their wedding on Wednesday, with him later trying to die by suicide in Kolar district, a police officer said. The police have registered a case under BNS Section 103 (murder) at Andersonpet police station and have initiated an investigation into the incident. (HT Archive)

KGF police superintendent KM Shantharaju said the incident occurred in Chambarasanahalli village, KGF taluk, Kolar district. After the wedding in the morning, the couple went to a relatives house for tea in the evening. When the relative stepped out, a heated argument ensued between Likhita and Naveen that escalated into violence. Naveen attacked Likhita with a sickle, leading to her death. Naveen then attempted to tried to kill self, he said.

The couple, 19-year-old Likhita Sri and 27-year-old Naveen had celebrated their marriage with a grand ceremony on Wednesday. The altercation allegedly began at around 5.30 pm, Shantharaju said.

He further said that Likhita Sri, who suffered severe injuries, was rushed to KGF Government Hospital but died despite medical efforts. Meanwhile, Naveen, who was critically injured due to his alleged suicide attempt, was initially treated at KGF Hospital before being transferred to a medical facility in Kolar for further care.

The police have registered a case under BNS Section 103 (murder) at Andersonpet police station and have initiated an investigation into the incident. It appears Naveen assaulted himself after attacking Likhita. We are still investigating the exact circumstances, Shantharaju added.

The couple had been engaged for four months prior to their marriage. A relative of the accused, Venkatesh, said: The families had no prior rifts, and this incident has shocked everyone.
The central government is considering making amendments to the Waqf Act which could restrict the power of the Waqf Board said sources. According to the sources, 32-40 amendments are being considered in the Waqf Board Act. The Central Waqf Council (CWC) is a statutory body operating under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, established in 1964 as per the Waqf Act, 1954. (Anushree Fadnavis/HT Archive)

Waqf Act was first passed by Parliament in 1954. Subsequently, it was repealed, and a new Waqf Act was passed in 1995 which gave more powers to Waqf Boards. In 2013, this Act was further amended to give far-reaching powers to the Waqf Board to designate property as 'Waqf Property'.

According to sources the proposed amendments are likely to make it mandatory for the Waqf Board to register its property in the District Collector's office so that the property can be evaluated.

Also read | Proposed changes to Waqf Act spark political slugfest

"Muslims were asking why the government wasn't making amendments to the Waqf Board law. Only powerful people are involved in Waqf, not ordinary Muslims. There are questions about revenue, no one is allowed to measure how much revenue is generated, and there are allegations of corruption. Neither the state government nor the central government can intervene in Waqf properties. But after the amendment, the Waqf Board will have to register their property with the District Collector's office so that the property can be evaluated", the sources said.

"There should be a committee to investigate revenue and ensure transparency in Waqf. Waqf properties should only be for the benefit of Muslims. In 2013, when the amendment was made, Waqf members could claim ownership of properties," the source added.

The amendments also aim to enhance inclusivity by ensuring women's representation on the Central Waqf Council and state boards.

"Women will also be included in Waqf and counselling, which wasn't the case earlier. Now, appeals can be made in the high court against Waqf Board decisions, which was not possible earlier," said the source.

Meanwhile, the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board said that they will never accept any changes in the Waqf Act.

"All India Muslim Personal Law Board considers it necessary to clarify that any such change in Waqf Act 2013, which changes the status and nature of Waqf properties or makes it easier for the government or any individual to usurp them, will never be accepted," an official statement from the AIPLMB said.

"Similarly, any reduction or limitation of the rights of Waqf Boards will also not be tolerated at all," the AIMPLB added.

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi alleged that the Government wanted to take away the autonomy of the Waqf Board.

"Firstly, when Parliament is in session, the central government is acting against parliamentary supremacy and privileges and informing the media and not informing Parliament. I can say that whatever has been written in the media about this proposed amendment shows that the Modi government wants to take away the autonomy of the Waqf Board and it wants to interfere. This itself is against the freedom of religion," he said.

Also read | Sufi shrines body backs Waqf amendment bill, wants more powers for Dargah

BJP spokesperson Shazia Ilmi however backed the government's plan to bring amendments to the act claiming that there was a need to curb corruption in the board.

"There is a great need for improvement in this. In our country, after Defence and Railways, the Waqf Board holds the most land. An Act was made in 1954 and amended in 1995, granting it unlimited powers. There are 8,50,000 properties registered under the board's name. Islamic countries like Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon do not have the concept of Waqf," she said.

"There is so much corruption in it. The common Muslims are not benefiting from it; rather, only those who have usurped the land are. 77 per cent of Delhi's land is under the Waqf Board. Some people are operating like a mafia in this. There is an urgent need to curb corruption. There are 32 state Waqf boards and one central body under the government, but the way their selection is done leaves a lot of scope for corruption," Shazia added.

The Government is likely to bring these amendments to the Waqf Act during this budget session which is scheduled to conclude on August 12.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday excused himself from presiding over the House for a brief interval, after expressing anguish over the Oppositions conduct towards the chair. While Dhankhar has accused the Opposition of being indecorous toward the Chair and tarnishing the dignity of the post, as many as 14 opposition parties wrote to him complaining that his decisions have been unilateral and unprecedented. Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. (PTI)

After the Opposition walked out of the House in protest over not being allowed to discuss the issue of wrestler Vinesh Phogats disqualification from the Olympics, the Chairman alleged he was not given "the support he ought to have received.

With a heavy heart, I am not running away from my oath, but given what I witnessed today, the behavior exhibited by members, both physically and otherwise, I find myself incapable of continuing to sit here for some time, he said before excusing himself. He returned to preside over the House after recess and after meeting leaders of several opposition parties including the Congress, the TMC, BJD, CPI, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and the DMK.

The stand-off between the Chairman and the opposition began when opposition leaders wanted to discuss the issue of Phogats disqualification, under Rule 267 that permits the House to suspend business and take up an issue of importance.

The opposition leaders protested when the Chairman did not mention that notices have been filed by them. The leaders pointed out that on an earlier occasion (July 29), the Chairman had permitted notices under Rule 267 given by 5 BJP leaders to discuss the flooding in a coaching centre in Delhi that led to the death of three IAS aspirants, to be taken up under Rule 176 as a short duration discussion. The Opposition citing the precedent, wanted Phogats issue to be discussed in the House.

Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, said the House should have a discussion on the issue and know "who is behind" it (the disqualification).

When the Chairman did not relent, Derek O'Brien of the TMC urged the Chairman to allow the members to speak. He rose from his seat to demand a discussion on the notice given by his party, but was reprimanded by Dhankhar for raising his voice and being indecorous. "You are shouting at the Chair. Your conduct is ugliest in the House. I condemn your actions. Next time I will show you the door," Dhankhar told O'brien, even as the opposition staged a walk out.

Dhankhar then went on to say that the conduct of the opposition has violated norms and parliaments dignity.

Turning this august house into a center of chaos is an affront to Indian democracy. Tarnishing the dignity of the Chair, creating a physically challenging environment, this is not just indecorous conduct, but behavior that transgresses all boundaries," he said.

He further said, What I have been seeing in recent days and the way the challenge is being given through words, letters, through newspapers, how many wrong comments have been made (against him).

Asserting that the oppositions challenge is not for him but the "post of the Chairman, Dhankhar said, ... These challenges are not directed at me; they are aimed at the Chair, implying that the person occupying it is unworthy. I have not received the support from the house that I ought to have. Despite my best efforts, I am disheartened." He said the House cannot be used as a platform to monetise and politicise Phogats disqualification. He also referred to Emergency and said, ...Ee know how it starts. It starts with a challenge to the Parliaments democracy.

Leader of the House, JP Nadda, criticised the Oppositions behaviour and called it "condemnable" and said the issue of Phogat's disqualification cannot be seen as political issue of government versus opposition.

Speaking outside Parliament, several opposition leaders said at the meeting with the Chairman they flagged the issue of not being allowed discussions on subjects they give notices for.

On August 5, as many as 14 opposition parties including the BJD and the BSP wrote to the chairman, complaining that his decision about allowing a discussion on the working of the ministry of cooperation was against letter and spirit of what was decided in the business advisory committee. The letter said his decision was completely unilateral and unprecedented, an opposition leader privy to the details said.

The opposition parties wrote that it was decided in the BAC that the house would have discussions on the working of ministries of housing and urban affairs, agriculture and farmers welfare and defence and the choice of the fourth ministry for discussion would be between home affairs and new and renewable sources of energy. The decision to pick the fourth ministry was to be made by the chairman after consultations with political parties.

The chairman on his own decided and announced that the fourth ministry would be ministry of cooperation, a second opposition leader said.

Opposition parties are miffed that their demand for discussion on ministries of home and cooperation has not been met.
The Hindu Jagran Manch, an RSS-affiliated activist group, protested outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Kolkata in the wake of attacks on the Hindu communities in Bangladesh, amid political unrest. Hindu Jagran Manch, has been protesting outside the Bangladesh high commission office in Kolkata, in response to attacks on minorities, including Hindus, in Bangladesh after the resignation of Sheikh Hasina(PTI)

The Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council (BHCUC) told Reuters, that 200-300 mostly Hindu homes had been vandalised after Sheikh Hasina's resignation on Monday.

Hindus form 8 per cent of Bangladesh's 170 million population and have historically been loyalists of the Awami League party, which is seen as largely secular.

The ouster of Sheikh Hasina and the absence of a government for the past week has opened up the potential for atrocities against vulnerable populations such as Hindus, Christians and Buddhists.

Homes of the Muslim minority sect of Ahmadis had also been torched on Monday, following the fall of Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League's government.

Students who led the protests have urged people not to target minority communities, even offering to guard temples from vandals. However, Reuters reported that several Hindu community leaders feel unsafe due to a lack of a functioning government.

External affairs minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday siad the Centre was "monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities". He also said that until law and order is restored they will have to keep an eye on the situation in the neighbouring country.

Taking a dig at the central government, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop atrocities against Hindus the same way he claimed to have briefly stopped the war between Russia and Ukraine to rescue stranded students.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh is all set to form its first interim government after 15 years of governance by Sheikh Hasina. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will be sworn in at 8 pm on Thursday, after being awarded the position with the consensus of civic groups, student protestors and the military.
The Supreme Court will hear on Friday a plea filed by a group of college students against a Bombay high court judgment that upheld a ban on wearing hijab, niqab, burqa, caps and similar attire at a private college in Mumbai. The petitioners contended that the dress code, which mandates that students attire be formal, decent, and not indicative of any religion, is arbitrary and discriminatory. (File)

A bench comprising justices Sanjiv Khanna and PV Sanjay Kumar will take up the plea following a frequent request by the petitioners lawyer, advocate Abiha Zaidi, for an expedited hearing due to the term examination that began on Thursday.

On Thursday morning, Zaidi mentioned the matter before Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, expressing the predicament of students who would not be able to sit for their tests due to the instructions on the dress code. The CJI informed the lawyer that the matter was already assigned to a bench that would hear it on Friday.

The case involves NG Acharya & DK Marathe College in Mumbai, which prescribed a dress code prohibiting students from wearing hijab, niqab, burqa, stoles, caps and similar items on campus. Nine female students challenged this dress code before the Bombay high court but to no avail.

On June 26, a Bombay high court bench of justices AS Chandurkar and Rajesh S Patil refused to entertain the students plea, stating that the dress codes enforcement was limited to the college premises and did not otherwise affect the petitioners freedom of choice and expression.

Hijab row: Why empowerment through education is the only right approach

Following the high courts decision, the students appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the dress code and restrictions on wearing hijab, niqab, burqa and other religious attire on campus violate their fundamental rights.

The petitioners contended that the dress code, which mandates that students attire be formal, decent, and not indicative of any religion, is arbitrary and discriminatory. They argued that the colleges order infringes on their right to choose their attire, their right to privacy, and their freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a), as well as their right to freedom of religion under Article 25 of the Constitution.

At the core of the dispute is the clash between the state-mandated restriction on religious attire in educational institutions on the ground of maintaining public order and uniformity, and the constitutional rights of individuals to freely exercise their religious beliefs and free speech and expression  a larger issue still to be decisively determined by the Supreme Court.

In October 2022, the top court delivered a split verdict on the ban of wearing of the hijab in educational institutions in Karnataka  with one judge affirming that the state government is authorised to enforce a uniform in schools and the other calling the hijab a matter of choice that cannot be stifled by the state.

Justice Hemant Gupta (since retired), in his judgment, dismissed all the appeals filed against the Karnataka high court judgment, which held in March that wearing of the hijab by Muslim women is not mandatory in Islam and that the Karnataka government was empowered to enforce the uniform mandate.

However, justice Sudhanshu Dhulia at that time differed from the senior judge on the bench and allowed all the appeals. Reading out the operative part of his judgment, justice Dhulia said that wearing of the hijab is a matter of choice for a Muslim girl and there cannot be any restriction against it. Quashing the state governments prohibitory notification, justice Dhulia added that concerns regarding the education of a girl child weighed the most on his mind and the ban on the hijab would certainly come in the way of making her life better.

In view of the dissenting views, the matter was referred to the CJI for constituting an appropriate bench. The larger bench, however, has not been notified even as the matter remains pending.

The extensive hearing in the Karnataka case witnessed almost two dozen senior lawyers arguing over a spectrum of issues on behalf of girl students, Islamic bodies, rights groups, lawyers and activists. The petitioners, challenging the Karnataka high court order of affirming the ban, covered in their arguments the right to practice religion, freedom to dress as a matter of expression and identity, right to access education and alleged unreasonableness of the states mandate. On the other hand, the Karnataka government countered the petitioners, maintaining throughout the proceedings that their circular to enforce the uniform was religion-neutral and aimed only at promoting uniformity and discipline in educational institutions of the state.
Nine women have been found murdered over 14 months in a rural patch of Bareilly district, prompting the police to suspect that the crimes could be linked to a serial killer. The police have not ruled out the possibility of a serial killer. (Representational)

The victims were murdered in a radius of 25 kilometres in villages that fall under two police stations. The profiles of the victims are similar  all aged between 45 and 55.

The victims were killed similarly. They were found strangled in fields around noon. Their clothes were dishevelled but were not sexually assaulted, reported TOI.

UP DGP Prashant Kumar told the newspaper that the police have been investigating these cases for six months. They haven't ruled out the possibility of a serial killer because of a similar modus operandi.

"Our teams have been investigating this case for six months and have not ruled out the possibility of a serial killer due to the nearly identical modus operandi of the murders," he said.

Who is a serial killer?

A serial killer is a criminal who murders two or more people over a significant period without a motive. The main motivation for the killings of a serial killer is psychological gratification. Most of these serial killers display patterns in the type of victims and the way they commit murders.

Also read: Delhi serial killers accurate description of crimes left police stumped

Serial killer in Delhi

India has had a lot of serial killers since independence. The most recent was Ravinder Kumar, who was arrested for raping and murdering a six-year-old girl in July 2015.

Ravinder Kumar later admitted to raping and killing at least 30 more children across Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh over eight years. However, what astounded investigators the most was the vivid and accurate descriptions of these crimes that he remembered.

Also read: MP serial killer who killed watchmen sleeping on duty convicted, gets life term

Among crimes he confessed to was the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl in Hathras in 2013. In that case, Ravinder described the exact location and date on which he had committed the crime. When I called the Hathras police, they confirmed the details, and said the girls father was currently under trial for the rape-murder, an officer told HT last year.
Saima Wazed, the daughter of Bangladesh's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, expressed her sadness at not being able to see her mother amid political turmoil in her country. Saima Wazed, the daughter of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, expressed sadness at being unable to meet her mother as the ex-Bangladesh PM deals with her ouster from government (Twitter/@WHOSEARO)

Wazed wrote in a post on X, Heartbroken with the loss of life in my country that I love. So heartbroken that I cannot see and hug my mother during this difficult time.

Also Read: Bangladesh's constitutional dilemma: Interim government under Yunus explained

Saima Wazed also reaffirmed her commitment to her role as the regional director for the World Health Organisation's Southeast Asia division.

Aftermath of resignation

On Monday, Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of prime minister, after widespread student protests called for her to step down. Clashes between the government and the protestors led to the deaths of 300 people, including security forces.

Fearing for her safety, she fled Dhaka and took refuge in New Delhi.

Also Read: Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh because: What son Sajeeb Wazed said

Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka in a military aircraft and, according to her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, plans to stay in Delhi until she chooses a place of asylum.

Also Read: Bangladesh crisis: Muhammad Yunus to be sworn in today; BSF thwarts infiltration bids | 10 points

In an interview with NDTV, Hasina's son said, It was her dream to turn Bangladesh into a developed country and she worked so hard for it over the last 15 years, keeping it safe from militants and as well as from terrorism, and in spite of all of that, this vocal minority, the opposition, the militants have now seized power.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is expected to be sworn in as head of the interim government on Thursday, days after the dissolution of parliament and consensus between the military, opposition and student movement leaders.

"Violence is our enemy. Please dont create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country, Yunus stated.
A constable's speech and hearing-impaired son used sign language to communicate with an accused who shares the same disability, helping the Mumbai Police in a murder investigation. Picture for representation (Photo by Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo)

Police said the investigation began after a 30-year-old man, Arshad Ali Sadique Ali Shaikh was found dead, with his body stuffed in a trolley bag at Dadar railway station on August 5.

The Dadar railway police faced a challenge because the accused, Jay Chawda is speech and hearing impaired, making it difficult to question him about the crime.

We were seeking the address of Sadhna Vidyalaya, which is a school for speech and hearing impaired children. We needed someone to talk to the accused using sign language as part of the probe, PTI quoted a police official as saying.

The police while trying to locate the school came across their colleagues from the RAK Marg police station, who were on patrol duty in Wadala including constable Rajesh Satpute.

Police said it was Satpute who informed them that the school was in Dadar and that his 23-year-old son Gaurav, who is speech and hearing impaired, was also an alumnus of the institution.

Read: Girl dies after dog falls on her from 5th floor in Maharashtra's Thane

The railway police team went to Satpute's residence at 2 am and brought Gaurav to the Dadar railway police station.

The police team gave a questionnaire to Gaurav and asked him to communicate with Chawda, who was apprehended at Dadar railway station with the bag.

Gaurav's interaction with Chawda provided details of the crime, the co-accused and the motive behind the crime

Police also said that three persons including deceased Arshad Ali's wife, who is allegedly in an extramarital relationship with Chawda.

Constable Rajesh Satpute said he was proud that his son managed to help police in a murder case.

He studied in Sadhna Vidyalaya till Class X. He has also done a pipe fitter course from Mazagon Dock Limited. It was Gaurav's efforts due to which the police could understand the entire chain of events, Satupte told PTI.




New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against four terrorists, including a Pakistan-based handler of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) for the killing of two labourers from Punjab in Jammu and Kashmirs Srinagar in February this year, officials said. Terrorists had carried out targeted killing in Jammu and Kashmirs Srinagar n February this year

The attack, the agency said, was carried out by LeT and its offshootThe Resistance Front (TRF).

According to the charge sheet, Adil Manzoor Langoo, a terrorist belonging to the outfit, had allegedly opened fire on two workersAmritpal Singh and Rohit Masihon February 7 at Shalla Kadal area of Srinagar, killing Singh on the spot and critically injuring Rohit Masi, who succumbed to his injuries the next day.

They duo were residents of Chamyari in Punjabs Amritsar.

Apart from Langoo, NIA has named Ahran Rasool Dar alias Tota, Dawood, and their Pakistan-based handler Jahangeer alias Peer Sahab in the charge sheet filed before a court in Jammu, said officials.

All four accused were involved in the brutal killing of two civilians on the evening of February 2024 at Karfali Mohalla, Shala Kadal, Srinagar, the agency said in a statement.

The probe, the NIA said, revealed that Langoo, who had joined LeT in 2023, had been motivated by Pakistani handlers to boost the terror outfits activities in Srinagar.

He had also been involved in previous terror attacks in the Kashmir Valley. He, along with his close associates Ahran Rasool Dar and Dawood, was working under the directions of Jahangeer, who had motivated them to unleash jehad in the Srinagar area to spread fear and terror among the non-locals with an intention to wage war against the Government of India, the NIA statement said.

The trio had conspired with Peer Sahab to kill the innocents. On the directions of the handler, they had received the arms and ammunition, which were used subsequently by Adil to commit the crime. Dawood had helped Adil destroy the evidence of the crime, it added.

The federal agency said it has been cracking down on terrorist organisations active in Kashmir.

LeT, the largest terrorist group in the region, has been working through various offshoots to carry out its operations after it was banned by the government of India. LeT/TRF has been luring unemployed youth into terrorist activities by using the social media extensively to propagate its dangerous agenda and promote its activities, the agency added.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday postponed the hearing on a series of petitions seeking a review of its 2022 judgment in the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary case, which upheld several contentious provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). These provisions include those related to arrest, search, seizure, bail and other related procedures. This was the first time the review petitions were heard after notice was issued in the matter on August 25, 2022. (HT Photo)

The hearing, which will now take place on August 28, witnessed a divergence in views between the petitioners and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the scope of the review proceedings.

During the hearing, the petitioners contended that they seek a comprehensive review of several aspects of the 2022 judgment. In contrast, the ED maintained that the review was confined to only two specific issues  the non-provision of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) to the accused and the principle of reverse burden of proof. The ED argued that the court had previously clarified that only these two aspects were under reconsideration.

The bench, comprising justices Surya Kant, CT Ravikumar and Ujjal Bhuyan, acknowledged the disagreement but pointed out that a review petition should not transform into an appeal. The court, however, deferred its decision on whether the review could extend beyond the two specified issues, stating that it would consider the matter during the next hearing, after considering further arguments from both sides.

The agency was represented through solicitor general Tushar Mehta and additional solicitor general SV Raju while senior counsel Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Vikram Chaudhary appeared for the petitioners.

The lead review petition has been filed by Congress MP Karti Chidambaram. This was the first time the review petitions were heard after notice was issued in the matter on August 25, 2022.

The 2022 judgment has been a focal point of legal and political debate. The Supreme Courts ruling in the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary case affirmed the extensive powers granted to the ED under the PMLA. These powers include the authority to summon individuals, conduct arrests, carry out raids and attach properties of suspects. The court justified these provisions by emphasising the need for robust tools to combat money laundering and protect the nations financial integrity.

The judgment had dismissed over 200 petitions challenging the PMLA, with petitioners arguing that the law granted unchecked and arbitrary powers to the ED, infringing on fundamental constitutional rights such as liberty, property, and protection against self-incrimination. Despite these concerns, the court upheld the stringent measures, noting the necessity for the state to categorise PMLA offenders as a distinct class requiring specialised legal provisions.

One of the most controversial aspects of the 2022 judgment was its ruling that the ECIR, an internal document of the ED, need not be provided to the accused. The Supreme Court maintained that it was sufficient for the ED to inform the accused of the grounds for their arrest. Additionally, the judgment supported the PMLAs provisions that impose a reverse burden of proof, requiring courts to presume the accuseds involvement in money laundering unless proven otherwise, even during bail proceedings.

On August 25, 2022, the Supreme Court issued notice to the Union government in response to Chidambarams review petition against the July 27, 2022 judgment. The court had at the time indicated that only the two issues related to the supply of ECIR and the reverse onus of guilt would be reconsidered, with the rest of the judgment not up for review. Since then, the review petition has not progressed to an effective hearing, while a separate three-judge bench continues to evaluate whether the 2022 judgment requires re-examination.

Notably, a separate bench, including justices Sanjiv Khanna, MM Sundresh and Bela M Trivedi, is also hearing petitions challenging the validity of sections 50 and 63 of the PMLA. These sections relate to the Enforcement Directorates (ED) powers to summon witnesses, extract confessions and prosecute for providing false information. In these proceedings, there has been a persistent demand for the reconsideration of the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary judgment.

The 2022 PMLA judgment has faced criticism for eroding safeguards related to the rights to life, liberty, property, and protection against self-incrimination, particularly in the context of a surge in ED raids and actions against opposition leaders, raising concerns about the politicisation of the federal financial crime agency.

The Supreme Courts eventual decision on the review petitions, whether to expand the scope or limit it to the two issues initially identified, will have far-reaching implications for the interpretation and application of the PMLA, as well as for the ongoing discourse on judicial oversight of executive and policing powers in Indias financial regulatory framework.
New Delhi: Union minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday introduced the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the Lok Sabha. With 40 proposed changes, the bill seeks to repeal several provisions of the current Waqf Act, which governs Waqf boards. The legislation also aims to address issues related to the powers of the Waqf Boards, registration and survey of Waqf properties, and removal of encroachment. Union minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju (Twitter Photo)

After a heated debate in Parliament with several opposition leaders opposing the bill and calling it draconian and anti-Muslim, Rijiju gave an hour-long speech giving a point-by-point reply to the opposition and agreed to send the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.

Rijiju called the proposed act the United Wakf Act Management Empowerment Efficiency and Development Act, or UMEED (Hope).

Defending the bill, the minister said the opposition is trying to mislead the Muslims of this country. With this bill, there is no interference in the freedom of any religious body....Forget about taking anyones rights; this bill has been brought to give rights to those who never got them, he said.

Also Read: Explained: What is the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024?

The Congress had described the bill as an attack on the constitution.

Attacking Congress, Rijuju said, Because you couldnt do it, we had to bring these amendments. We are elected representatives; support this bill, and you will get the blessings of crores of people. Some people have captured Waqf Boards, and this bill has been brought to give justice to ordinary Muslims.

Rijiju also said that the bill is not taking away rights from anyone but is rather giving rights to those so far who were supressed and backward, like women and backward castes among Muslims.

He continued that under the existing rules, many children are not able to inherit property as those lands are given and declared as waqf. He cited an incidence where a village was declared waqf property. Dont link this [incident] to religionhow can municipal land be declared as waqf! he said, adding that the new bill addresses such issues.

Countering the oppositions allegation that there was no consultation before introducing the bill, Rijiju said consultations took place at an official and political level with state government representations, and consultation happened across the nation. He said, Active consultation took place after 2015, even with Waqf board chairman, CEOs, and other representatives.

Rijuju said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also believes that the bill should be passed but cannot say it out loud. They (the opposition) are misleading MuslimsMany MPs have told me that the mafia has taken over Waqf boards. Some have said that they personally support the bill but cant say it due to their political partiesWe have held multi-layered country-wide consultations on this bill, the minister said.

Referring to the Supreme Court ruling of Brahmachari vs State of West Bengal, wherein the Court held that Waqf board does not fall within Articles 25 and 26, Rijuju said that the bill is not violative of the Constitution and added that the bill has been brought under Concurrent List Entry 10 and 28.

In response to why an amendment is needed despite the amendments made in 2013 under the United Progressive Alliance government, Rijiju said the first act came in 1954, and since then, many amendments have been done. The amendment that we are bringing is to the 1995 Act, which was amended in 2013 by the then UPA government.

He said, the Sachar Committee and the Joint Parliamentary Committee have analysed the functioning of the 1995 Act and found out that it does not serve the purpose and many flaws exist.

Rijiju mentioned the 1976 Waqf inquiry report, which mentioned that the Waqf Boards in control of Mutawali need disciplining as there are many litigations and cases that need a tribunal and the auditing of the accounts needs to be done properly.

He said that the Sachar Committee report also found out that the annual income of Waqf property from many properties is very low and not justified; hence, it should be managed as per market rates.

Attacking the Congress again, Rijiju said, The Sachar Committee also recommended that the Waqf Board needs women representation in it, secretary at joint secretary level, and that a Class I officer should be in it. We are following the committee recommendations. You should be happy.

In 2005, a seven-member high-level panel headed by former Delhi high court chief justice Rajinder Sachar was formed by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to study the social, economic, and educational condition of Muslims in India.

Also Read: Govt proposes to send Waqf (Amendment) Bill to joint parliamentary panel

Rijiju told the parliament that in the past one year, the government has received 194 complaints related to encroachment and illegal transfer of Waqf properties, 93 complaints against Waqf Board officials, and 279 general complaints alleging that the Waqf has been captured by the mafia.

Ahead of Rijijus speech, the Janata Dal (United) and Telegu Desam Party, the two most important allies of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), supported the bill. The TDP said that it would not mind the bill being sent to JPC.

I appreciate the concern with which the government has brought this bill. The purpose of the donors needs to be protected. When purpose and power get misused, it is the responsibility of the government to bring reforms and introduce transparency in the system, TDP MP GM Harish Balayogi said.

We believe that the registration is going to help poor Muslims and women and bring transparency, he said.

Defending the legislation, Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh said that the bill has been brought to make the functioning of Waqf boards transparent.

Countering the oppositions charge that the bill is against the minorities, Singh said that Congress must not talk about the minoritys interest as it was involved in the killing of thousands of Punjabi Sikhs.

Who killed Indira Gandhi? Was a taxi driver responsible? Why was he killed? We witnessed the anti-Sikh riots. He also asked, How is the bill anti-muslim?

He further criticised opposition MPs for drawing parallels between the Waqf Board and temples, questioning their understanding of the differences between these institutions.

Here, an example of Ayodhya is being given Can you not differentiate between a temple and an institution? This is not an attempt to interfere with mosques. This law is for the institution, to make it transparent
The Telecom Security Operations Centre (TSOC), under the Department of Telecommunications, has identified more than 3.15 million vulnerabilities across Indian telecommunications since 1 January 2023, and shared the information with relevant stakeholders for remedial actions, Union minister of state for communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani informed the Lok Sabha in a written response on Wednesday. Union minister of state for communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani in the Parliament. (PTI Photo)

To safeguard the telecommunication network from potential cyber threats, the Department of Telecom has set up a Telecom Security Operations Centre (TSOC) for detecting potential cyber threats to Indian telecommunication network and providing alerts to relevant stakeholders for necessary actions, Sekhar said in response to a question by YSRCP MP PV Midhun Reddy.

According to the Press Information Bureau, the TSOC predicts and identifies cyberattacks on national telecommunications infrastructure, and identifies the machines which are initiating such attacks or under attack. It is also used to identify the presence of blocked applications, malicious communications provided by some applications, etc. and is the main source for providing inputs to Telecom Computer Security Incident Response Team (Telecom-CSIRT).

According to the 36th report of the parliamentary standing committee on communications and information technology, presented in March 2022, the DoT said that the TSOC can analyse internet traffic of telecom service providers and internet service providers for vulnerabilities, threats and cyber intrusions in near real time and regular inputs are generated and disseminated to TSPs and ISPs.

Since 5G is Packet and Internet Protocol based technologies, TSOC shall play a crucial role in monitoring and analysis of the traffic generated thereupon and in securing the 5G network infrastructure, the DoTs response to the committee read.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the expungement of contentious remarks made by justice Rajbir Sehrawat of the Punjab and Haryana high court against the top court, underscoring the importance of judicial discipline and the hierarchical structure of Indias judicial system. The Supreme Court of India (Arvind Yadav/HT Photo)

These remarks, which critiqued a stay order previously issued by the Supreme Court, had prompted the apex court to initiate suo motu proceedings amid concerns over the perceived breach of judicial decorum and respect for the constitutional courts authority.

Justice Sehrawats order on July 17 stated that the Supreme Court tends to consider itself as more Supreme than it actually is and views high courts as being less high than they are constitutionally.

The five-judge bench, consisting of Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant and Hrishikesh Roy, expressed its dismay over the observations made by the high court judge, saying it is pained at the completely unwarranted and unnecessary remarks.

The Supreme Court is not supreme nor is the high court or a munsif court supreme. The supremacy is of the Constitution. We are all under the Constitution, commented the bench, adding its role as custodian of the judicial system in the country requires the Supreme Court to order deletion of the judges gratuitous remarks that bring not only the top court but also the high court into disrepute.

Even as it observed that justice Sehrawats comments border on contempt, the bench refrained from initiating contempt proceedings against the judge, saying it would not want the majesty of the high court to be undermined or put the judge of a constitutional court in the dock as a litigant to defend himself.

Thus, we will expunge the remarks of the judge and express that observations in the order are scandalous. The Supreme Court must also use its powers with great caution and remedy by us should not cause greater judicial harm... at the same time, this tendency of making observations on the orders of the Supreme Court must be eschewed. Every judge has to maintain the discipline of the system, said the bench.

In its order, the bench stated: Justice Rajbir Sehrawat has made observations in regard to the Supreme Court of India, which are a matter of grave concern... Judicial discipline in the context of the hierarchical nature of the judicial system is intended to preserve the dignity of all institutions whether at the level of district court, or high court or the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court emphasised that compliance with its orders is not optional but a bounden constitutional obligation. It added that the remarks made by justice Sehrawat were unnecessary for the outcome of the case and were gratuitous in nature, noting that such comments could potentially undermine the dignity of the judicial system as a whole.

The bench also made it clear that while parties may be aggrieved by an order, judges should not take issue with decisions made by higher constitutional fora. Judges are never aggrieved by an order passed by a higher constitutional forum, the court pointed out, underlining the expectation that judicial officers maintain decorum and respect the judicial hierarchy.

During the proceedings, attorney general R Venkataramani and solicitor general Tushar Mehta expressed their concerns regarding the remarks made by justice Sehrawat. SG Mehta pointed out that a video clip from the high court proceedings was circulating, wherein justice Sehrawat allegedly declared an order of the Supreme Court non-est and expressed his unwillingness to adhere to a stay order passed by the division bench. Mehta argued that this conduct not only breached judicial propriety but also bordered on contempt.

While the Supreme Court acknowledged the merit in the arguments that the remarks bordered on contempt, it chose to exercise restraint in pursuing further action, opting instead to expunge the contentious observations and issuing a word of caution for the high court judge, whose conduct, it said seemed an attempt to dislocate the sanctity of judicial hierarchy and maintenance of judicial discipline.

The bench said it expects more caution on the part of justice Sehrawat with respect to judicial orders issued by the Supreme Court or a larger bench in the high court. Whether an individual judge is aggrieved by an order is beside the point. Every judge is bound by the discipline that hierarchical discipline envisaged under the judicial system of the country, it held.

The bench further refrained from directing any judicial inquiry into the incident at this stage but noted its constitutional duty to intervene when such remarks threaten to compromise the integrity of the judiciary.

We desist from directing any judicial enquiry at this stage but as per our constitutional duty, we were bound to intervene. Thus, the remarks from the order stand expunged. We hope the court would not have to interfere in a similar matter in the future in relation to the same judge or any other judge of this country, said the bench while noting that a bench led by high court chief justice Sheel Nagu stayed justice Sehrawats order on its own.

In addition to addressing the remarks made in the order, the Supreme Court also highlighted the implications of livestreaming on judicial conduct. Referring to the video clip that was widely shared, the bench underscored the necessity for judges to exercise greater restraint during court proceedings, particularly in an age where public scrutiny is intensified by digital media.

A video of the judge is doing the rounds where the judge is using gratuitous and unwarranted remarks during the hearing. In the age of live streaming, it is necessary that judges exercise greater restraint during proceedings and the observations made can cause impalpable harm to the judicial process, the bench maintained.

A suo motu case, titled In Re: Order of Punjab and Haryana High Court Dated 17.07.2024 and Ancillary Issues, was registered by the Supreme Court following justice Sehrawats order on July 17 in which the judge made several critical remarks about the top courts decision to stay contempt proceedings initiated by the high court in a case.

According to justice Sehrawat, the Supreme Court thinks of itself as more Supreme than it really is, and it thinks of the high courts as less high than they truly are in terms of the Constitution. His judgment also sounded a note of caution for the Supreme Court, asking it to be more explicit about the potential legal ramifications of any decisions it makes.

He observed: Seen at a psychological plane this type of order is actuated, primarily, by two factors, firstly a tendency to avoid owning responsibility of the consequence which such an order, in all likelihood, is bound to produce, under a pretense that an order of stay of contempt proceedings does not adversely affect anybody. Secondly, a tendency to presume the Supreme Court to be more Supreme than it actually is and to presume a High Court to be lesser High than it constitutionally.

Justice Sehrawat acknowledged that while high courts may follow directions from the Supreme Court, whether out of perceived coercion, due regard, or institutional majesty, the Supreme Court may not always consider the drastic and damaging consequences its stay orders on contempt proceedings can produce.
Minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday proposed sending the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, to a joint parliamentary committee following intense criticism from opposition parties. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.(PTI)

Several opposition members expressed concerns about the bills potential impact on the federal structure and its perceived encroachment on religious autonomy.

While Congress MP KC Venugopal described it as an attack on the federal system, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that the bill violates Articles 14, 15, and 25 of the Constitution.

NCP (SCP) MP Supriya Sule called for the bill to be either withdrawn or sent to a standing committee for further review. Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MP NK Premachandran warned that the bill could be struck down if subjected to judicial scrutiny.

Defending the bill in Lok Sabha, Rijiju said that it has been renamed the United Waqf Act Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, or UMEED for short.

He argued that the bill does not infringe upon religious freedoms, as enshrined in Articles 25 to 30 of the Indian Constitution, saying the Supreme Court has ruled that Waqf Boards do not fall under the purview of these articles, which safeguard religious practices.

I want to inform the House, provisions in the Bill... from Article 25 to 30, there is no hindrance being caused to the freedom of any religious body, neither any provision of the Constitution has been violated. Rijiju said in the lower house.

According to a Supreme Court ruling, Waqf Board doesn't fall within the purview of Article 25 and Article 26 of the Constitution of India. Leave snatching away someone's rights, those who have been deprived of their rights, this Bill has been brought to give them those rights, he added.

What is the bill about?

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to address several issues related to the powers of State Waqf Boards, the registration and survey of Waqf properties, and the removal of encroachments. It also proposes the repeal of the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923, and seeks to rename the existing Waqf Act, 1995, to the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 1995.

One of the most controversial aspects of the bill is the inclusion of non-Muslims in the central Waqf council, state Waqf boards, and Waqf tribunals. The bill proposes a more broad-based composition of these bodies, with representation from various Muslim communities, as well as non-Muslims.

The bill also seeks to redefine "Waqf" to ensure that only lawful property owners who have practised Islam for at least five years can create Waqf through formal deeds. This change is intended to prevent the creation of Waqf by individuals without legal ownership and to curb the practice of Waqf by user, where properties are declared Waqf based on long-standing community use rather than formal dedication.

The bill mandates the registration of all Waqf properties through a central portal, aiming to create a comprehensive national database to improve transparency and control over Waqf assets.

Other significant changes include the transfer of the responsibility for surveying Waqf properties from survey commissioners to district collectors or officers of equivalent rank. The bill also introduces stricter provisions for the audit and governance of Waqf accounts, including the power for the central government to order audits by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
The two most important allies of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supported the Waqf Board (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha on Thursday, with the Janata Dal (United) openly backing the proposed amendments, and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) saying it 'won't mind' if the bill was sent to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC). New Delhi: Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh speaks in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (PTI Photo)

While Union minister and senior JD(U) member Rajiv Ranjan Lalan Singh spoke for the party, GM Harish Balayogi represented the TDP.

Defending the bill against the opposition's charge that it was anti-Muslim, Singh sought to know how that was the case.

Here, the example of Ayodhya is being given, the JD(U) leader stated, referring to the Ram Temple, which opened in January; he asked opposition parties if they were incapable of differentiating between a temple and an institution.

This (bill) is not an attempt to interfere with mosquesthis law is to make the institution (Waqf Board) transparent. How was the board formed? It was through a lawif any institution established through law becomes autocratic, the government has the right to bring a law to ensure transparency, he remarked.

The amendments should come and transparency should be brought, the Lok Sabha member from Bihar's Munger, added.

Telugu Desam's Balayogi, meanwhile, appreciated the concern that made the Centre propose changes to the original legislation.

When the purpose and power are misused, the government is responsible to bring reforms and introduce transparency in the system. There is a need to regulate and streamline, and, therefore, we support the bill, he said.

Assuring that the amendments will 'help' the Muslims, particularly the community's women, he added that the TDP will have no issue if the bill goes to a JPC.

The legislation was introduced by Kiren Rijiu, the minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, on Thursday.

(With PTI inputs)
Former chief minister of West Bengal and prominent Communist Party (Marxist) leader, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, passed away on Thursday at the age of 80. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passed away Thursday morning, Aug. 8, 2024, in Kolkata after a long illness. (PTI Photo) (PTI)

Bhattacharjee was admitted to a private hospital in Alipor, Calcutta on July 29 2023. He was being treated for pneumonia and had to be put on ventilation.

Also Read: Visva-Bharati shifts venue of Tagore death anniversary event from Bangladesh Bhawan

In a political career spanning over five decades, he led his state as the seventh chief minister from 2000 to 2011, before Mamata Banerjee came to power. His resignation saw the end of a 34-year-old Left Front rule in the state.

Also Read: In OBC reservation case, Supreme Court seeks data from Mamata-led West Bengal govt

Here is everything you need to know about the veteran communist leader

From literature to politics

Born on March 1, 1944, to a family of priests and writers, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was introduced to literature early in his life. His grandfather, Krishnachandra Smrititirtha had written a priestly manual and his father ran a publication called Saraswat Library.

He studied Bengali literature at Presidency College in Kolkata and became a government teacher after graduation.

Also Read: Bangladesh unrest: BSF asks villagers in WB to stay clear of border areas

In 1966, he joined the CPM, and by 1977 he became an MLA for the first time from Cossipore in North Kolkata, just as the CPM rose to power in Bengal under the leadership of Jyoti Basu.

Jyoti Basu, five-time chief minister, took Bhattacharjee under his wing, often touting him as his successor in the CPM.

From 1987 to 1986, Bhattacharjee served as the minister of information and culture and from 1996-99 as minister of home affairs. On November 6, 2000, he became the chief minister of Bengal.

Achievements and controversies

Chief minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee enacted several policies to boost industrial development and IT services in the state. From 2001 to 2005 the state witnessed a 70 per cent growth in the IT industry.

However, his industrial policies soon ran into trouble, with allegations of labour violations in 2006. Inhabitants of a village called Nandigram protested against his government's plans to set up a chemical processing hub. On March 14, 2007, 14 protestors were killed in a police firing.

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee also made headlines for refusing the Padma Bhushan being awarded to him in 2022, stating that his consent had not been asked and he did not want the award.

Personal life

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is survived by his wife Meera and his son Suchetan.

Post his role as chief minister, he had asked to be relieved as a member of his party but was retained. He has also published books in Bengali such as The Rise and Fall of Nazi Germany (2018), Chaos under Heaven (2019) and more.
Kolkata: A woman constable of the Border Security Force (BSF) foiled an alleged cattle-smuggling attempt near the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal on Wednesday, officials said. (Representative Photo)

The incident took place near Kedaripara in Malda district. Acting on a tip-off from the intelligence wing, a team of BSF personnel were kept on high alert, said officials.

Officials said that the woman constable spotted a gang of six to seven suspected smugglers walking towards the border, following which she informed the patrol team and tried to catch them.

As she caught a few of them, they tried to attack her with sharp weapons, after which she fired at them, said officials, adding that the smugglers fled the spot, leaving behind the cattle.

A BSF team later searched the area along the border and rescued six buffaloes.

...She fired at them in self-defense and tried to catch them. Upon hearing the gunfire, the smugglers fled while taking advantage of the darkness and uneven terrain. By then, the patrol team had reached the spot. During the search, six buffaloes were recovered, said a BSF officer of the South Bengal Frontier.

Similar infiltration and smuggling attempts were also foiled in Nadia and Malda, where the BSF had to fire stun grenades and other firearms, said officials. Three cattle and around 150 bottles of phenol syrup were seized.

Meetings were held with Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB), and a strong protest was lodged against such attacks by Bangladeshi smugglers, said a statement issued by the BSFs South Bengal Frontier.

Ever since the political turmoil erupted in Bangladesh, the BSF has been holding meetings with villagers and panchayat members of bordering villages.

Villagers living along the Indo-Bangla border in West Bengal have been asked to stay clear of the Indo-Bangladesh international border, and shops have been ordered to close down by 9pm.

In north Bengal, a few hundred Bangladeshi nationals had gathered on the other side of the international border on Wednesday, pleading for help and demanding that they be allowed to enter India. They were later dispersed by the BGB.

The BSF and BGB are holding joint patrolling along the border, said a BSF official from the North Bengal Frontier.

The Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal is the longest and one of the most porous international borders in the country. Of the 4096.7 km long border, West Bengal alone shares 2,216 km with Bangladesh. In south Bengal, the border is more than 900 km long, out of which nearly 60% is riverine.
Preity Zinta is an absolute fashionista. The actor keeps setting fashion goals like a pro with snippets from her fashion diaries on her Instagram profile. From rocking a lehenga to decking up in casuals to keeping it chic in a gown, Preity can do it all. The actor knows how to keep it minimal, sassy and stunning. Preitys white salwar suit for the event has the perfect desi vibe to it.(Instagram/@realpz )

The actor recently attended an event in Toronto and shared a few glimpses of it on her Instagram profile. Taste of India--a food festival--took place over the weekend and Preity attended the event as one of the guests. What an amazing weekend in Toronto for another event for Taste of India, the largest food festival in North America. So humbled and so happy to see all those smiling faces. Nothing compares to our desi food and our desi vibe, read her post.

ALSO READ: It's Preity Zinta's fashion renaissance era: 3 times she stole our hearts with her latest looks

Preity Zinta's white salwar suit is just perfect

Preitys white salwar suit for the event has the perfect desi vibe to it. The actor kept it minimal and ethnic in a white suit with golden embellished floral patterns adorning the attire. The salwar featured a round neckline and short sleeves. With a matching organza dupatta with golden zari borders, Preity looked stunning as ever. I loved every part of being in Toronto. A big shout out to everyone in Toronto for showering me with so much of love, read an excerpt of her post.

ALSO READ: Preity Zinta continues her fashion domination in Paris at couture week in gorgeous black toga dress. Watch

Glimpses of Taste of India Festival

Preity accessorised her look with a matching white bag with golden patterns adorning it. The actor wore her tresses loose with curls and a side part. The reel shared by Preity on her Instagram profile featured multiple snippets of the actor taking part in the ceremony. From lighting the diya to waving to the fans, the actor can be seen doing it all. The reel also gave us a glimpse of the plethora of food items that the festival offered.

ALSO READ: Preity Zinta exudes effortless glamour in sequin-embellished black dress, fans say queen is slaying. See pics, video
Nag Panchami is a traditional festival dedicated to the worship of nagas or snakes, celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists across India, Nepal, and other regions with these religious communities. Observed on the fifth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Shravana according to the Hindu calendar, this day honours these revered creatures believed to offer protection and bring prosperity. The festival also highlights the connection to Lord Shiva, who is often depicted with snakes around his neck, symbolizing his mastery over these sacred beings. From date to history, heres everything you need to know about this auspicious occasion. (Also read: Lion's Gate Portal 2024: Meditation to journaling, best manifestation options to harness this energetic gateway ) Know all about Nag Panchami 2024 date, timings, puja muhurat, history and significance.(HT PHOTO)

Nag Panchami 2024 Date and Timings

The year the significant Hindu festival of Nag Panchami will be observed on Friday, August 9. According to Drik Panchang, the auspicious timings are as follows:

Nag Panchami Puja Muhurat - 06:15 AM to 08:44 AM, August 9

Duration - 02 Hours 29 Minutes

Panchami Tithi Begins - 12:36 AM on August 8, 2024

Panchami Tithi Ends - 03:14 AM on August 9, 2024

Nag Panchami 2024 History

According to Hindu mythology, when Krishna was a young boy, he was playing by the river Yamuna when his ball got stuck in the branches of a tree. While trying to retrieve it, Krishna fell into the river and was attacked by Kaliya, a fearsome snake. After a fierce battle, Kaliya realised Krishna was no ordinary child and begged for mercy. Krishna spared the snake on the condition that it would no longer trouble people. Nag Panchami is celebrated to commemorate Krishnas victory and his act of saving people from the menace of Kaliya, the dangerous serpent.

Nag Panchami 2024 Significance

In Hindu tradition, all aspects of naturebe it creatures, plants, or even inanimate objectsare revered as manifestations of the divine. Ancient sages have infused various prayers and festivals with deep spiritual meaning, enhancing the bond between humanity and the natural world. Nag Panchami, celebrated on the fifth day after the new moon in Shravan or, in some regions, after the full moon in Ashadh, holds special significance. Also known as Manasa Devi Ashtanga Puja, it involves worshipping Manasa Devi, the serpent goddess, along with the eight nagas (serpents).

In Punjab, the festival is called Gugu-Navami, where devotees make a large serpent effigy from flour and offer their worship. This festival underscores the role of serpents in Hindu mythology and their importance in maintaining the balance of nature. By honouring these serpents, devotees show gratitude for their ecological role and seek harmony with the natural world.
Are you having symptoms such as heartburn, stomach cramping and pain or vomiting? Well, this could be due to acid reflux but sweat not as we will help you understand the symptoms and treatment options of acid reflux along with expert-recommended vital tips to prevent acid reflux. Acid reflux management guide: Causes, symptoms, effective treatment options and prevention tips (Image by Freepik)

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Meghraj Ingle, Director and Senior Consultant - Gastroenterology at Gleneagles Hospitals in Parel Mumbai, explained, Acid reflux is seen when the stomach acid moves up into ones esophagus, leading to symptoms such as heartburn. So, the backward flow of acid is known as acid reflux. It is a common problem seen in a large number of people. A lot of people tend to have these issues owing to factors such as stress, unhealthy eating habits, sedentary lifestyle, lying down after eating, eating spicy food, smoking and alcohol, obesity, higher caffeine consumption, or pregnancy.

Symptoms:

According to Dr Meghraj Ingle, the symptoms of acid reflux are nausea, chest pain, sore throat, burning sensation, headache, sour taste of the acid in the mouth, stomach cramping and pain, chronic coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing.

The treatment:

Encouraging to embrace lifestyle modifications, such as mindful eating practice into daily routines, Dr Meghraj Ingle advised, One has to savour each bite, chew the food properly and also recognise the hunger cues. Doing so can help to keep an eye on food consumption, allowing for better digestion, and even fostering a deeper connection with food that can reduce overeating. Remember, overeating causes acid reflux. Even probiotics help manage acid reflux. Probiotics and fermented foods restore digestive balance and improve the gut microbiome.

He suggested, Opt for yogurt, kimchi, or kombucha to be able to ensure smooth gastrointestinal function. Stress is also a cause of acid reflux. Hence, stress reduction through yoga or meditation can help you to prevent acid reflux. Exercise daily, avoid acidic foods such as onions, tomatoes, and spicy food, eat smaller meals, refrain from wearing tight clothes, quit smoking and alcohol, and do not sleep immediately after eating. Follow these vital tips and you will surely be able to manage acid reflux.

Dr Meghraj Ingle asserted that those struggling with acid reflux should take medication prescribed by the doctor only. He recommended, Antacids and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) will be advised to the patient. It is not at all a good idea to self-medicate. Histamine 2 (H2) blockers will also be recommended for the patients. Surgical treatment for acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is fundoplication,. Here, the top of the stomach is wrapped around the lower esophagus to prevent acid from escaping. It is a promising solution that addresses the root cause of acid reflux.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Blackouts refer to the sudden loss of consciousness  it is often accompanied by the sense of fainting with a potential collapse of the body. Blackouts can happen due to many reasons. One of the most common reasons for blackouts is sudden drop in blood pressure. However, sometimes, blackouts can be a sign of severe heart diseases. There are various causes of blackout, with the most common being arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats)," said Dr Ranjan Shetty.(Unsplash)

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr. Ranjan Shetty, HOD and consultant - Interventional Cardiology, Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, said, While blackouts can be harmless or benign, they can also be a dangerous underlying symptom of a heart issue. Interestingly, blackouts can affect both younger and older populations.

Blackouts: The age factor

Explaining when to get concerned about frequent blackouts, Dr Ranjan Shetty explained - Usually, blackouts occur in people who march or children who are slightly dehydrated. In these occurrences, it is considered very, very benign where you need not be concerned about health implications. However, if blackouts occur unusually in the elderly population, individuals over 50-60 years of age while resting or with minimal exertion, then it can be a cause for concern. These blackouts are considered significant and need to be taken seriously with immediate medical attention by a cardiologist.

ALSO READ: Heart diseases are on a rise in India: 5 daily habits that can help keep your cardiovascular health in check

Blackouts: Causes

There are various causes of blackout, with the most common being arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). Other potential causes may include blockages in the heart arteries, valve problems (like aortic stenosis), and heart muscle issues. Severe heart attacks can also manifest as blackouts in their early onset, Dr Ranjan Shetty added.

The cardiologist further said that in most cases, people do not have any concerning underlying disease that they need to be worried about, but sometimes blackouts can be the indicator of something serious. It is crucial to take any blackout seriously and seek evaluation. Dont neglect the signs, advised Dr Ranjan Shetty. Blackouts can often indicate potential heart issues that should be thoroughly investigated and diagnosed by an expert.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

ALSO READ: 5 things to do to keep heart diseases away!
If inhaled, silica dust from cut or drilled stone, can cause a fatal lung disease. Experts want better protections for workers exposed to it every day. Daily exposure to silica dust, released from cement and stone, can lead to silicosis, which is a scarring and hardening of the lungs (Md Rafayat Haque Khan/ZUMAPRESS/picture alliance )

New limits to a person's daily exposure to silica dust in the construction, mining, dentistry and other industries could save about 13,000 lives worldwide.

That's what researchers in the UK recommend, having found that a worker's lifetime exposure to current, "acceptable" limits can result in serious risk of developing silicosis, a potentially fatal lung disease.

They warn that silicosis could become as big a health problem as exposure to asbestos.

"Our research supports the reduction of exposure to silica dust from 0.1 mg/m3 to 0.05 mg/m3 over a working day," said study author Patrick Howlett from London's Imperial College.

The study was published in the British Medical Journal title Thorax on August 8, 2024. It highlights a need for more data on silicosis risks because the total burden of the disease is unclear, especially in developing countries where data about silicosis is scarce.

ALSO READ: What causes black mucus? Is it a sign of lung cancer?

What exactly is silicosis?

Silicosis is a respiratory disease which causes a hardening of the lungs. It is caused by silica dust or silica crystals, which are found in soil, sand, concrete, mortar, granite and artificial stone.

It is common in construction, mining, oil and gas extraction, kitchen engineering, dentistry, pottery and sculpting.

People working in these industries are often exposed to silica every day, and are at higher risk of developing silicosis as a result. The illness has, for instance, wreaked havoc in small mining communities in India.

Silicosis is a progressive disease and has no cure.

ALSO READ: Alarming rise of lung cancer in non-smoking Indians more than Westerners: Understanding the disparity

Why are workers inhaling silica?

When the materials are cut or drilled, crystalline silica is released into the air as a very fine dust. Workers breathe it in as they work, especially where industrial health and saftey standards are poor.

It can take a long time for silicosis to develop  typically 10 to 20 years of occupational exposure to silica dust.

"It's estimated that millions [of people] worldwide have silicosis, but data is very scarce. In the UK and Europe, we see hundreds of cases per year," Howlett told DW in an interview.

Silicosis can lead to other serious diseases, including lung cancer, but scientists aren't sure exactly how this happens. Some speculate that the silica dust forms deposits in the lungs and that those deposits cause persistent inflammation.

Call for silica dust exposure levels to be reduced

This new study, or meta-analysis, assessed eight existing studies that looked at the cumulative risk of silicosis.

The studies involved 8,792 cases of silicosis among 65,977 participants, and included evidence from x-ray analysis of lungs, postmortem examination results, and death certificates.

"We calculated the accumulated risk of silicosis over 40 years of work with exposure to silica dust. Most studies involved miners, and only two studies had non-miners," said Howlet.

The researchers found that if average exposure over a 40-year working lifetime in mining was halved, from 0.1 mg/m3 to 0.05 mg/m3, there would be a reduction of silicosis cases by 77%.

"It would also lower risk among non-miners, but the caveat was that [there were] only two studies included non-miners, so the data was less clear," said Howlett.

Reducing silica dust exposure 'is achievable'

The UK's occupational limit for silica dust exposure is 0.1 mg/m3. That is in line with most European countries , including France, Austria, and Switzerland. Other countries, such as China, have much higher limits of around 1 mg/m3.

Lowering silica dust exposure limits to 0.05 mg/m3 would be in-line with US standards.

Howlett said it was an achievable goal to reduce silica dust exposure in the workplace. He cited experience from the US and Australia, where such health and safey meaures had proved effective.

Australia has banned the use of engineered stone due to its propensity to release high levels of silica dust when cut or drilled.

"There are established methods to follow, including using water suppression methods of foams and mists to precipitate dust out of air effectively, better ventilation, and personal protective equipment," said Howlett.

But he said the issue of silicosis was likely to be much worse in developing countries, where there are few or no safety measures for silica dust.

"Miners in developing countries are exposed to a lifetime's worth of dust in a year's work," he said.
Germany, nestled in the heart of Central Europe, offers a stunning array of experiences for travellers. From the charming mediaeval towns to the majestic Alps and picturesque coastlines along the North and Baltic Seas, Germany is a top destination for tourists from around the globe. Whether you're drawn by its rich history, vibrant art scene, or cutting-edge architecture, it's a country that promises something for everyone. Travel insurance for Germany for Indians: Check out the essential cover for Indian travellers abroad.

However, as you plan your German getaway, its crucial to consider travel insurance. A comprehensive travel insurance policy can provide the peace of mind you need, safeguarding your journey against unexpected disruptions and financial setbacks.

Why travel insurance is crucial for a trip to Germany

Travelling internationally requires meticulous preparation, and Germany is no exception. While meticulous planning can significantly reduce potential issues, it cannot eliminate them. Unexpected events such as medical emergencies, travel delays, or lost baggage can turn a dream trip into a stressful experience. This is where travel insurance comes in.

When travelling from India to Germany, purchasing travel insurance becomes even more critical. With evolving travel restrictions and ongoing global health concerns, having a robust insurance policy can help you navigate unforeseen complications with ease.

Benefits of buying Germany travel insurance

Travelling to Germany, like any international trip, involves a degree of risk and uncertainty. Securing travel insurance is a proactive step to safeguard yourself against unexpected events. Heres why investing in a comprehensive Germany travel insurance policy is highly beneficial:

Health coverage: One of the foremost advantages of travel insurance is its medical coverage. Should you or a member of your party fall ill or get injured while travelling, having insurance ensures that youre protected against the high costs of medical treatments. This is especially crucial in the context of ongoing health concerns like COVID-19, as many policies now include coverage for related expenses.

Baggage protection: Lost or delayed baggage can significantly impact your trip. Travel insurance provides essential coverage for lost luggage and reimbursement for necessary items if your baggage is delayed. This helps mitigate the inconvenience and financial strain caused by such disruptions.

Also read: Best travel insurance in India

Trip cancellation and interruption: Unpredictable events such as flight cancellations, hotel booking issues, or even the loss of essential documents like your passport can derail your travel plans. Travel insurance protects you from the financial repercussions of these issues, ensuring youre not burdened by unexpected expenses.

Personal Liability Coverage: Accidents or incidents involving third parties, though rare, can lead to serious legal and financial complications. Travel insurance includes personal liability coverage, which shields you from potential legal troubles and financial liabilities if youre found responsible for damages or injuries.

Travel assistance services: Navigating a foreign country can be challenging, particularly when encountering problems. Travel insurance offers 24/7 assistance services, including legal help and emergency support. This is invaluable for resolving issues such as replacing a lost passport or dealing with other urgent matters.

Comprehensive benefits: Opting for a comprehensive travel insurance policy ensures a wide range of protections. Look for policies that cover journey disruptions, baggage issues, medical emergencies (including COVID-19-related expenses), personal liability, and provide robust travel assistance services.

Easy claim process: Travel insurance policies often come with streamlined claim processes, making it easier to file and resolve claims quickly. This reduces stress and ensures you can get the assistance you need without unnecessary delays.

Affordable options: Travel insurance is available at various price points. This affordability makes it accessible for different budgets, allowing you to find a plan that offers peace of mind without breaking the bank.

Also read: 7 key factors to consider while choosing the best travel insurance

How to purchase travel insurance for Germany

Buying travel insurance has never been easier. With online options, you can compare various policies, select the one that meets your needs, and complete the purchase without hassle. Theres no need for extensive paperwork or medical check-upsjust choose the coverage you want, make the payment, and youre all set.

Essential tips for your trip to Germany

First and foremost, learning a few basic German phrases can greatly enhance your experience. While many Germans are friendly and accommodating to tourists, making an effort to speak their language is always appreciated. Simple greetings like "Guten Tag" (good day), "Danke" (thank you), and "Bitte" (please) can go a long way in fostering positive interactions.

Germany is renowned for its delectable cuisine, so be sure to savour some traditional dishes during your visit. Dont miss out on classics such as schnitzel, bratwurst, and sauerkraut. And if youre a beer enthusiast, Germanys world-famous brews are a must-trythey are considered a national treasure!

Adhering to local customs is important, especially when it comes to traffic rules. Germans are known for their strict observance of laws, so always use crosswalks and wait for the pedestrian signal before crossing streets. Ignoring these rules might attract some disapproving looks from locals.

Its also wise to carry some cash with you, even though many places accept credit cards. Having cash on hand is useful for small purchases or if you encounter a cash-only establishment.

Germany offers stunning natural landscapes, so take advantage of the opportunity to explore the great outdoors. Whether its hiking, biking, or swimming, the countrys picturesque scenery provides ample opportunities for adventure.

Also read: Travel insurance for Europe: Your ultimate guide from India

Lastly, remember to bring a travel adapter. Germany uses the standard European two-prong plug, so if your devices are from a country with a different electrical system, a travel adapter will be essential.

Germanys reputation for efficiency and punctuality means that things often run like clockwork. Trains, for example, are renowned for their precision, and you can expect a high level of organisation in various aspects of daily life. Being prepared for this can help you navigate your trip smoothly and with ease.

Tips for buying affordable travel insurance for Germany from India

Understand the claim process: Before purchasing travel insurance online, ensure you understand the claim process. A straightforward claim procedure will make it easier to handle any issues during your trip. Familiarising yourself with this process can help you avoid complications and ensure smoother claims if needed.

Choose essential coverage: Travel insurance often offers additional coverage options. Instead of opting for all add-ons, select only those that are essential for your trip. This approach will help you manage costs and avoid unnecessary expenses.

Set an appropriate sum insured: The sum insured represents the maximum amount you can claim. When selecting a travel policy for Germany, choose a sum insured that reflects potential financial losses you might face. This will ensure adequate coverage without overpaying.

By following these tips, you can find cost-effective travel insurance that meets your needs while travelling from India to Germany.

Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passed away in Kolkata on August 8 at the age of 80. Though he had been unwell and mostly inactive for about a decade, he remained an influential voice in his party  the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M), both in Bengal and in Delhi.

Bhattacharjee reached the pinnacle of the party by endeavour, and his creative adherence to the principles of his party as he saw them. But before we try to assess his political work, it would be wise to look back on his political career.

Like many of his colleagues in the undivided Communist Party of India (CPI), which split in 1964 to form the CPI and CPI(M), who rose to positions of eminence within the party, Bhattacharjee started out as a student activist and then became a youth activist before joining the CPI(M) in 1966, just after the party split. His trajectory was mimicked by countless others, proving many years down the line to be a cause of serious weakness for the party. But we shall return to that point later.

Bhattacharjee made fast progress through the party ranks, given his appetite for work, his grasp of the political theory that characterised and his loyalty both to people and principles. Becoming close to then-state general secretary Promode Dasgupta, an uncompromising strategist and a close to the omnipotent presence in the Bengal wing of the party, Bhattacharya made good progress. He became a member of the state committee of the party in 1972 and the state secretariat, a higher body, in 1982; by Left standards the rise was meteoric.

It didnt take long for Bhattacharjee to be elevated to the central bodies of the party. In 1982, he became a permanent invitee to the central committee of the party and in 1985 he became a member of the central committee of the party and in 2000 a member of the Politburo. He resigned from all his positions in 2015 on account of poor health, though, as a loyal soldier, he continued to go to Alimuddin Street, the office of the Bengal CPI(M) for a few hours a day as long as he could.

He first contested for the Kashipur assembly seat in 1977 and won but lost five years later. He switched to the South Kolkata constituency of Jadavpur, in 1987, from where he won five times, before losing to Manish Deb, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate in 2011, when the Left Front government was swept out of power. It wasnt just Bhattacharjee, a host of leading lights, lost as the Left Front managed to scrape together only 40 seats in the 294-member House, less even than a debilitated Congress party. Since then, it has been downhill for the Left Front.

Bhattacharjee's path in governance and rise to chief ministership

Bhattacharjee entered the government as soon as the Left Front came to power in 1977, with the portfolio of Information & Culture (I&C). But after losing his seat he was out in the cold for a spell. He made it back in 1987, again as I&C minister, with additional charges.

Even though Bhattacharjee always had the aura of the Number Two, his position in the Council of Ministers was cemented in 1996, when he took over the Home portfolio and the final confirmation of his position of presumptive chief minister came in 1999, when he became deputy chief minister. Chief Minister Jyoti Basu was already ailing and before the elections of 2001, Bhattacharya became chief minister in November 2000, remaining in the hot seat for over a decade.

It is said about Bhattacharjee -- along with men like Benoy Chowdhury, the land reforms minister of the Left Front government who quietly walked away into the sunset when his job was done and when he sensed the changes in the party -- that he was incorruptible. Bhattacharjee had abruptly resigned from his position in Basus cabinet in 1993, saying he did not want to be in a ministry of thieves. But he was persuaded to return. Bhattacharjee will remain in the history of an age marked by corruption and dishonesty as an honest man in public life.

As chief minister

Nevertheless, Bhattacharjees stint as chief minister of Bengal was not an unmixed blessing. In fact, as a chief minister, he was more of a failure than a success. His failure to push through the projects at Singur and Nandigram are the glaring examples but underlying them were deeper problems of style and substance. By the time Bhattacharjee became chief minister at the turn of the last century, to some extent at least the party had already been hollowed out, though spectacular electoral victories delivered by an invincible machine tended to hide this fact from everyones eyes.

The death in 2006 of Anil Biswas, state secretary of the Bengal CPI(M), who had a huge talent for keeping the organisational side ticking was a huge blow. His successors, forget repairing the damage, and couldnt even keep the organisational side of things going.

One reason for the bad state of CPI(M) was its constant reliance on the urban middle and lower-middle classes to provide the cadres and the sinews of the party. The ticket to success in the party became membership of the Students Federation of India or Democratic Youth Federation of India  in other words, urban people who had no natural affinity either with the urban poor or the rural people.

Only a negligible number of people from the peasant and worker wings made it to the high table. Even now, there does not seem to be any serious attempt to resurrect the kisan sabhas or the Centre of Indian Trade Unions.

Thus, when Bhattacharjee became chief minister from November 2000 to May 2011, he was presiding over a system that had been eroded from within. Thus, the bold moves he undertook in the arena of economic liberalisation not only lacked the support of the people at large, it also lacked enough support within the party for it to push these new ideas.

In the middle of the 1990s, the Left government took on the job of acquiring close to 4,000 hectares of land to build the New Town. A decade on, Bhattacharjees government was dislodged because he wanted to acquire 1,000 acres of land in Singur  thats around 400 hectares.

It was an ignominious end for Bhattacharjee. The man who stormed out of a cabinet meeting because he couldnt work with thieves had to return and become chief minister; and, as chief minister, the man who wanted to industrialise his state, found himself without the human resources and organisational strength to make his plans materialise, but perhaps, history will remember him more kindly than his peers have done.

Suhit K Sen is an author and political commentator based in Kolkata. The views expressed are personal
Google Pixel 9 series, which may feature the vanilla Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, is set to launch during the Made by Google event on 14 August. While a lot has been speculated about the Pixel 9 series phones, the other devices launching during the event have mostly flown under the radar. Google isnt just launching smartphones; it will also introduce the third-generation Pixel Watch, the Pixel Watch 3, Pixel Buds Pro 2, and perhaps even Android 15. Here, lets explore what you can expect from Google beyond the latest Pixel 9 series devices. Google Pixel Watch 3 and the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are expected to launch on August 14.(Google)

Pixel Watch 3 to Launch on 14 August

Google will debut its third-generation smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 3, at the event. Recent leaks suggest that the watch may not differ significantly from the Pixel Watch 2. According to Android Headlines, the Pixel Watch 3 will feature the Snapdragon Wear 5100 chipset, coupled with a Cortex M33 co-processor. This is the same SoC that powered the outgoing Pixel Watch 2. The report further states that it will come with 2GB RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage. Additionally, the battery capacity is expected to remain largely the same.

However, users can expect an improved screen this time, with a 60Hz display and a peak brightness of up to 2000 nits. There are also reports that suggest that the Pixel Watch 3 will be available in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm, with the smaller model starting at $349 and the larger one at $399.

Also Read: Dog tries to eat power bank, burns down house- Here's why you need to battery-proof your home

Pixel Buds Pro 2 Also Expected to Launch

There is little known about the next-gen Pixel Buds Pro, but in July, reliable tipster OnLeaks, in partnership with Android Headlines, leaked images that allegedly reveal the design of the Pixel Buds Pro 2, including the colourways it may come in. Based on the leaks, the earbuds will feature a slight redesign and offer a wingtip to better fit in the ear canal. Addition ally, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 could be available in four colourways: Pink, Black, Green, and a Greyish White.

Furthermore, the leaked case images suggest that it will largely remain the same compared to the first-generation model, except for a size increase. This could enable the case to store more battery juice for longer usage.

Also Read: Google Magic Eraser: Effortlessly remove unwanted objects from photos with these simple steps

What More Could Google Bring

Aside from the hardware, Google is also expected to release Android 15, as the Pixel 9 devices make their debut. Android 15 will be supported by the Pixel 8 series, Pixel 7 series, and Pixel 6 series, including the A series models. Android 15 will also introduce new features such as Private Space, which allows users to lock apps in the app tray using biometrics, a revised volume panel, adaptive vibration, and improved battery life thanks to the better Doze mode.

Also Read: Vivo V40 vs OnePlus Nord 4: Price, camera, performance, and key specs compared
Bangladesh is facing political turmoil and unrest, which led to Sheikh Hasina resigning as prime minister and fleeing the country. Visuals of protesters storming the residence of the former PM, looting and destroying things, made their way onto social media. Also, a video of a group destroying a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh and Sheikh Hasinas father, went viral. This act of defiance shocked many as they criticised the protestors for vandalising the statue. Among them is entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. She condemned the act and called it a Sad day for Bangladesh. The image shows protesters vandalising Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's statue in Bangladesh. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw reacted to it. (Screengrab)

Destroying the statue of the father of the nation? Do they even know their history? Sad day for Bangladesh, the billionaire wrote as she posted a video that shows the statue being desecrated.

The video shows two people perched on the statue, destroying it with hammers. Towards the end, other protestors are shown celebrating the act.

Take a look at the video here:

Who was Sheikh Mujibur Rahman?

Known as 'Bangabandhu', Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is credited with being the architect of Bangladesh. He was also the first President of independent Bangladesh. In his political career, he was either President or prime minister of Bangladesh until he was killed. He, along with most of his family members, was assassinated in 1975 by a group of Bangladesh Army personnel. Sheikh Hasina is his eldest daughter.

During the assassination, Sheikh Hasina was not in Bangladesh but abroad. After the incident, she spent nearly six years in exile. Later, she became the elected leader of the Awami League, a party founded by her father. It won the 1970 Undivided Pakistan general election in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The political party later became independent Bangladesh's largest party.
A brand name as iconic as Mercedes-Benz doesn't need an introduction. However, did you know that before this commercial vehicle, the automotive brand was first named Daimler? Recently, a video of Mercedes-Benz CEO Sten Ola Kallenius went viral on social media after he revealed how the company got its name. Mercedes-Benz CEO Sten Ola Kallenius revealed about the brand's name.

In the video, Kallenius explained that the company was founded in 1886 and was named after the founder, Gottlieb Daimler. After fifteen years, Austrian businessman Emil Jelinek asked Daimler and Maybach to create an engine specifically for racing. Jellinek desired to compete in a race in Nice, France. Upon his request, Daimler and Maybach provided him with a car with a potent engine. After winning the race, Jellinek asked that the car be named Mercedes in honour of his daughter, and that's how the company got its iconic name. (Also Read: Ahmedabad CEO seeks 'exceptional humans' with zero salary, weekends or vacations? Satire LinkedIn post is viral)

Watch the video here:

This post was shared a while ago on social media. Since being posted, it has gained close to two million views. The video also has numerous likes and comments.

Here's how people reacted to it:

An individual wrote, "First time hearing this, so fascinating."

Another X user, Chris Da Glorias, said, "The meaning of the name is born from Latin merces, meaning 'wage' or 'reward.' Mercedes encompasses benevolence, kindness, and compassion."

"Well I think that Mercedes ended up being a much better name in the long run!" posted X user Kyle Klus.

Someone else added, "It's actually a really nice story. Just wish Mercedes would get the quality back to 'German Standards'".

"Kallenius says the name "Mercedes" comes from Gottlieb Daimler's daughter, Mercedes Jellinek. She was a fan of his work, and he named the car after her as a tribute. Guess that's one way to get a good review," shared user Benjamin Lockheart.
There is an ongoing debate in the Indian real estate marketis renting a house better than buying? An X post by an investor and a CEOs reply to it has again sparked a discussion on that topic on social media. While the investor spoke about the benefits of renting a house, the CEO slammed him by saying that buying is always a better option. A CEOs reply to an investors middle class post in the buying vs renting debate has sparked chatter on X. (Unsplash/brianbabb)

It all started with an X post by Kiran Rajput, whose bio says he is an individual investor. He often shares his journey regarding personal finance and wealth creation.

50 years ago, the aspiration of the middle class was to have their own house. Even today, the aspiration of the middle class is to have a house first. One of the reasons why many middle classes remain middle class, Rajput wrote.

Reposting Rajputs post, X user Aman Goel, whose bio says he is co-founder and CEO of GreyLabs AI, slammed the investor. Nothing is worse than being kicked out by your landlord just because someone else paid them 10% higher rent. Don't listen to Finfluencers. Being able to live under your roof is a privilege. If you can afford a house, buy one. Just ensure that you don't get into a debt trap, Goel wrote.

Later, Rajput defended his opinion in another X post, adding, Not having your own house is a social stigma, a taboo. Few courageous middle class break those boundaries & elevate their family from middle-class struggle. I get abused when I say: I don't have a house. Btw I am not an influencer, I am here to share my failures & learnings.

Take a look at the X posts here:

With over 1.5 lakh views, the share has accumulated nearly 4,000 likes and tons of comments.

What did X users say about this post?

I wonder how financial influencers get this basic thing wrong. Buying a house is more about reserving a place where your self-esteem is high. In India, where life feels so helpless at times, I think having a home is claiming some of that sanity back. It gives you the feeling of being meditative for a middle-class guy, posted an X user.

Isn't that an outlier event? I have lived in rented houses all my life, and I have never had to experience anything like that. Buying a house only makes sense if you plan to live in it for at least ten years. My career requires me to switch cities, so renting makes more sense for me, argued another.

A third person added, One thing that I have learned bitterly and luckily very early - never to believe what the financial advisers and so-called wealth managers and relationship managers recommend - it's all about their commission and not your interest. Pay a little attention to your own finances.

A fourth wrote, Exactly, influencers say stay in a rented place. But what about the year-on-year rental increase plus the number of restrictions by landlords? One fine day, when they decide to sell it, tenants need to look for new accommodation. There will be no my feeling in a rented house.

What are your thoughts on this X exchange about houses?
Ricky Kej, Indian-American musical composer and environmentalist, hailed an Instagram content creator as a "hero". But why? After creator Sarthak Sachdeva posted how he took unlimited popcorn at a PVR multiplex eight times and distributed it among people, Kej couldn't help but drop a comment on his post. Sarthak Sachdevva visited a PVR multiplex for his popcorn challenge. (Instagram/ sarthaksachdevva)

The video posted by Sachdeva shows how they bought an unlimited popcorn tub and finished the first one in just 15 minutes. Till the interval of the film, Sarthak and his friend had already refilled the tub three times. (Also Read: Air India lies on social media: Ricky Kej slams airline, says No resolution provided)

As the video goes on, they show how they started filling the PVR popcorn in a bag and managed to grab three kg worth of it. Later, the two, distributed the popcorn among people.

Watch the video here:

This post was shared a few days ago on social media. Since being posted, it has gained more than 1.3 million views. The share also has numerous likes and comments. (Also Read: Ratan Tata 'never interrupted, was listening the entire time': Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej on meeting business icon)

After Kej took notice of the video, he took to the comments section and wrote, "You are a hero, who has avenged all the overpriced popcorn that us millions have paid for, across many years."

Here's how others reacted to the video:

An individual wrote, "I felt good after watching this. They sell it for such a high cost and we buy it because it is tasty. But watching this, makes me feel like you ate for all of us."

Another Instagram user, Aalok Borkar, commented, "It's cause of a cheapskate like you that our offers get either revoked or subject to 100's of T&C!"

"Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear a cap," posted user Anshumann.

A fourth added, "Not every hero does bhandara; some heroes donate popcorn after stealing it."
Toronto: The four Indian nationals arrested in connection with the murder of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar, made a brief appearance in a court in British Columbia, on Wednesday. Amandeep Singh, 22, the fourth individual charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in relation to the murder in Canada of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. (REUTERS)

There was little progress in the trial as the Crown, the prosecutor, continues to deal with procedural matters relating to sharing of material related to the case with the lawyers for the four defendants. The case has been adjourned till October 1.

All four appeared virtually from holding facilities: Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28, from BC, and 22-year-old Amandeep Singh from Ontario.

According to the outlet Surrey Now Leader, Crown prosecutor Louise Kenworthy told Surrey provincial court Judge Mark Jette the defence has received about 10,000 pages of disclosure and will get a similar number in a week, while the entire process could take some months more.

Amandeep Singh made his first court appearance on May 15, while the other three appeared before a judge on May 7. May 21 was the first time all four appeared together in a court. All four are facing charges related to first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Amandeep Singh was already in custody of the Peel Regional Police or PRP when he was named in the Nijjar case. He was arrested in November 2023 on nine charges including those related to unauthorised possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance.

The others were arrested from in and around Edmonton on May 3 and brought to BC for the trial.

Canadian investigators are yet to announce any link to the Indian Government in relation to the murder. However, on May 3, Assistant Commissioner David Teboul, Commander of the Federal Policing Program in the Pacific Region, said there were separate and distinct investigations ongoing including investigating connections to the Government of India.

The killing of Nijjar on June 18, in Surrey, caused India-Canada relations to crater after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus statement in the House of Commons three months later that there were credible allegations of a potential link between Indian agents and the murder. India reacted by saying those charges were absurd and motivated.
Members of the army clear an entrance of the Ganabhaban, the Bangladeshi prime minister's residence, a day after the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (File Photo)

Bangladesh news Highlights: A new interim government of Bangladesh, headed by Nobel laureate and economist Muhammad Yunus, will be sworn in on Thursday. The Bangladesh Army chief announced the interim government on Monday, hours after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country to India in the wake of violent student anti-quota protests. Student protesters demanded that Yunus be the head of the new interim government....Read More

The new interim cabinet members will be finalised, and fresh general elections are expected to be held soon.

Bangladesh news: Here are some latest developments

-Muhammad Yunus reached Dhaka from Paris after completing a medical procedure. While praising students for their bravery, he has urged a nonviolent approach to prevent further destruction.

-After her release from prison, former Prime minister and head of Bangladesh National Party Khaleda Zia called for a democratic Bangladesh where all religions are respected. Her statement assumes significance amid reports of attacks allegedly targeting the country's Hindu minorities and Awami League members.

-The Indian High Commission in Dhaka said its mission will continue to remain functional. While all diplomats remain, New Delhi has recalled all non-essential staff and their family members voluntarily.

-Indian carriers Air India and IndiGo resumed services to Dhaka and operated special flights to repatriate over 400 people.

-Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina will continue to stay in India for some time. According to her son, she hasn't decided to seek asylum in a third country.

-India's Border Security Force prevented a large group of around 120-140 Bangladeshis from entering India via the West Bengal border. The agency clarified that these were due to fears of local unrest and that there was no large-scale infiltration attempt.
Popular Bangladeshi actor Shanto Khan and his father, Selim Khan, were lynched by a mob in Chandpur on Monday night, amid unrest in the country after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned. Shanto Khan, a bangladeshi actor, and his father Selim Khan, were both beaten to death in Chandpur, amid unrest in their country(Shanto Khan Facebook )

Reports claim that Selim Khan, the renowned owner of a Bangladeshi production house, was a Sheikh Hasina loyalist. As an expelled member of the Awami League, Sheikh Hasina's party, he faced violence, after she fled the country.

His production house produced many hits in the country such as Tungi Parar Miya Bhai, Commando and others.

Selim's son Shanto, who also died in the attack, was a budding actor, who debuted in the film 'Prem Chor' in 2019, followed by Piya Re in 2021, Bubujaan in 2023, and Anto Nagar in 2024.

Actor-director Parambrata Chatterjee was appalled at the killings, after having worked on several projects in Bangladesh. Others from the Bengali film fraternity also condemned the lynching of Shanto and his father, though few wished to comment on the situation in Bangladesh.

Actor Rajatabha Dutta, who worked with Shanto in the Bangladeshi film Bikkhov told PTI, During our shoot in Chandpur for the movie, he personally took care of my needs. He was attentive to my needs even at the hotel. I do not know how or why he had to die at such a young age when his career was looking up.

However, the actor did not comment on the current situation in Bangladesh as it was an internal matter of the country.

Condolences poured in from the community, with actress Kaushani Mukhopadhyay remembering Shanto Khan for his warm treatment of her while they were shooting Piya Re in Bangladesh. I believe in the triumph of humanity and hope the situation will soon turn normal there, she said.
Toronto: Canadian police have arrested a 33-year-old male from Ontario in connection with making violent threats against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau online. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to Black History Month Manitoba members at a community club in Winnipeg, Tuesday,on Tuesday. (AP)

In a statement on Wednesday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or RCMP said, This individual had allegedly posted an on-line video making violent threats towards the Prime Minister, the Police and any security personnel who might attempt to interfere with his plans.

RCMP Federal Police arrested Dawid Zalewski, of no fixed address, and charged him with two counts of Uttering Threats.

RCMP Federal Policings Integrated National Security Enforcement Team or INSET in the Greater Toronto Area or GTA opened an investigation to identify and locate the person responsible and defuse the risk as quickly as possible, after receiving the information about the threats.

The RCMP said, Threats to our national security can come in many forms and Canada is not immune. We are aware of the heightened security environment for public officials and the danger this presents for all Canadians.

RCMP was assisted by York Regional Police in making the arrest.

The RCMP GTA INSET and York Regional Police were able to swiftly locate and arrest this individual, resulting in the reduced risk to the Prime Minister, other police officers, and to the public, Superintendent James Parr, Officer-in-Charge of GTA/SW INSET, said.

On July 22, RCMP announced that two persons had been arrested in connection with online death threats targeting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

On June 6, 2024, 23-year-old Mason John Baker, 23, a resident of Calgary in Alberta, was charged with uttering threats. On May 10, 2024, INSET had received information that a user of the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, had allegedly posted threats to kill Trudeau, the release stated.

On June 13, 67-year-old Garry Belzevick, 67, a resident of Edmonton, was arrested for allegedly uttering similar threats against Trudeau. Those alleged threats, in a YouTube post that INSET learnt about on June 7, were directed not just at Trudeau but also Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh.

In the digital age, where so many interactions occur online and are perceived to be anonymous, there is a belief that virtual actions and words do not have consequences. When these virtual actions or words cross the boundaries of Charter-protected speech and constitute criminal activity, police will investigate thoroughly to hold those responsible accountable, Inspector Matthew Johnson, Acting Officer in Charge of RCMP Federal Policing INSET, Northwest Region, said at the time.
New Delhi: Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is traumatized by the turn of events since August 5, when she had to flee to India as both the Bangladesh Army and Police stood down on rampaging protests all over the country. Soldiers stand guard in Bangladesh amid violence.

Three days later, Sheikh Hasina is at Hindon Air Force base near Delhi and has no immediate plans to go to any third country as the former PM is safe and secure in India. She apparently still has to come to terms with what happened on August 5 and how come the people of Bangladesh threw her out despite her making Bangladesh the second largest economy in the Indian sub-continent, leaving Pakistan way behind way back in 2016.

While India has reached out to the military leadership of Bangladesh to ensure that normalcy returns to the strife-torn country, it is also monitoring violence against Hindu minorities and Awami League workers in the neighbouring country. For the present, India will assess Bangladesh on the basis of the Interim government and whether the Bangladesh Army will keep the Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh Islamists under control. Both are rabidly fundamentalist groups with close links with Pakistan and pan-Islamic jihadists.

Although the Modi government is under full control of its borders with Bangladesh with BSF and Assam Rifles on high alert, the fall of democratic Bangladesh due to Sheikh Hasina misreading her popularity amongst the masses and due to machinations of regime change players in the West has sparked concern within India. With Pakistan, Maldives, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and even Nepal under political turmoil, India has to ensure that the fires of instability do not reach its shores.  There is global turmoil. We are down but definitely not out in Bangladesh. But if Indian people think that they will remain safe while the world goes down in Iran, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, the UK and France, then they are mistaken. PM Modi is doing his best to hold things together despite the divisive agenda of the Opposition INDI alliance. There is a storm ahead and Indians need to hold together, said a senior Cabinet Minister.

That India is holding firm is quite evident from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars visit to Maldives for two days starting tomorrow. It is quite clear that Maldives leader Mohamed Muizzu has realized the significance of India in its sub-continent with EAM Jaishankar all set to launch multiple projects in Male.

Even though India has no qualms in dealing with Bangladesh Army Chief Gen Waker-us-Zaman, it is monitoring the state of play in Dhaka as any tilt towards China or Islamists will spark off alarms in Raisina Hill. Political Islam to seize power has been a tool used by Islamists in the Middle East and this has led to radicalization sweeping into the Indian sub-continent with Pakistan using it as a convenient tool for its power project much above its body weight.

Also read: Sudden escalation, losing grip caught Sheikh Hasina off-guard

While India knew that both the US and the UK were out to uproot Sheikh Hasina for the past decade, it is willing to work with the interim government as long as the interests of minorities and India are protected. The Modi government has been fearing the Bangladesh nightmare for years now and has various plans to deal with the fallout.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended his best wishes to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities as the head of an interim government in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting regarding the situation in Bangladesh, at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI)

We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities, Prime Minister Modi said on X in his first reaction to the evolving situation in Bangladesh since Sheikh Hasina's ouster.

India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development, he added.

Read: Who is Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel laureate set to head Bangladesh's interim govt?

Yunus, 84, was administered the oath of office by President Mohammed Shahabuddin at a ceremony at the presidential palace 'Bangabhaban' in Dhaka. The event was attended by foreign diplomats, civil society representatives, top businessmen, and former opposition members, although no representatives from the party of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were present.

Hasina's resignation came on Monday after widespread protests erupted against her administration's controversial job quota system. The protests, which initially targeted the quota policy, escalated into a challenge to Hasina's 15-year rule, marked by allegations of corruption, autocracy, and human rights abuses.

Read: UK foreign secretary dials Jaishankar amid buzz over Sheikh Hasina's next move

Yunus, who was in Paris for the 2024 Olympics when his appointment was confirmed, returned to Dhaka under tight security. Upon arrival, Yunus pledged to focus on restoring order and uniting the nation, saying, "Bangladesh is a family. We have to unite it."

The interim cabinet, which includes 16 members primarily drawn from civil society and student protest leaders, was established following discussions among student leaders, civil society figures, and the military. This new administration faces the critical task of preparing for new elections and addressing the country's mounting challenges.
Israel said Thursday it was revoking the diplomatic status of Norway's envoys to the Palestinian Authority, accusing Oslo of "anti-Israel behaviour" during the Gaza war and drawing a formal protest. Smoke billows after an Israeli strike in al-Zawayda in the central Gaza Strip. (AFP)

The European Union condemned the Israeli move, and the United States said it was unhelpful, given Norway's history as the facilitator of the secret negotiations with the Palestinians which led to the Oslo Accords of the 1990s.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said he "ordered the termination of any representation on behalf of the Norwegian embassy in Israel vis-a-vis the Palestinian Authority", which has limited powers in urban areas of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

"There is a price for anti-Israel behaviour," Katz added in a statement, citing Norway's recent recognition of a Palestinian state and backing of a pending International Criminal Court case implicating Israeli leaders in alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Norway accused the hard-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of adopting an "extreme" response.

"This is an extreme action that first and foremost affects our ability to help the Palestinian population", Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in a statement.

"Today's decision will have consequences for our relationship with the Netanyahu government," he added.

Barth Eide later called in Israeli charge d'affaires Yana Kotlyar-Gal to hear a formal protest.

"A short while ago, I summoned Israel's representative to Norway and met her at the foreign ministry to protest against this decision," the minister told journalists.

- 'Baseless pretexts' -

The Palestinian Authority accused Israel of resorting to "baseless pretexts" to put pressure on any government that tries to halt "violations against our people".

A statement from its foreign ministry expressed "condemnation and strong disapproval of the decision by the (Israeli) occupation authorities to restrict the work of Norwegian diplomats operating in the occupied State of Palestine, including Jerusalem".

It also expressed "rejection and disapproval of Israel's attempts to create baseless pretexts to pressure countries and international institutions that support our people and contribute to diplomatic and legal pressure on the occupying power to halt its crimes and violations against our people".

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell "strongly" condemned the decision in a statement, describing it as "unwarranted".

He added that it "contradicts the spirit of Oslo Accords and disproportionately disrupts the normal relations and cooperation with the Palestinian Authority".

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller also criticised the Israeli move.

"Norway has a long history of playing a productive role when it comes to engaging with the government of Israel engaging with the Palestinian Authority," he told reporters.

"We don't think steps to prevent them from playing that role are particularly helpful," he added.

The Israeli foreign ministry accused Norway of "one-sided policies and statements" since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas that sparked the war in Gaza.

In May, Israel ordered Spain's consulate in Jerusalem to stop offering consular services to Palestinians from the occupied West Bank from June 1, a "punitive" measure for Madrid's recognition of a Palestinian state, Katz said at the time.

Spain, Ireland and Norway had earlier announced their decision to recognise a Palestinian state, which Israel's government opposes.

The move by the three countries brought to 146 the number of UN member states recognising a Palestinian state.

Norway hosted secret Israeli-Palestinian talks in the Norwegian capital that led to the first Oslo Accord signed in Washington in 1993.

The agreements established a limited degree of Palestinian self-rule, and were intended as an interim measure that would lead to Palestinian statehood, but talks tapered off.

Foreign leaders have warned that the expansion of Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law, threatens the viability of a Palestinian state.
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, a complaint was unsealed charging Asif Merchant, also known as Asif Raza Merchant, 46, with murder-for-hire as part of a scheme to assassinate a politician or U.S. government officials on U.S. soil. Law enforcement foiled the charged plot before any attack could be carried out. Merchant is in federal custody in New York. The man has been identified as Asif Merchant, also known as Asif Raza Merchant.

One of the targets was former US president and Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump.

Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General, Department of Justice, Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Christopher Wray, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Departments National Security Division, and Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, FBI, New York Field Office, announced the arrest and charges.

For years, the Justice Department has been working aggressively to counter Irans brazen and unrelenting efforts to retaliate against American public officials for the killing of Iranian General Soleimani, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. The Justice Department will spare no resource to disrupt and hold accountable those who would seek to carry out Irans lethal plotting against American citizens, and will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to target American public officials and endanger Americas national security.

Working on behalf of others overseas, Merchant planned the murder of U.S. government officials on American soil, said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. This prosecution demonstrates that this Office and the entire Department of Justice will take swift and decisive action to protect our nations security, our government officials and our citizens from foreign threats.
Russian forces were battling Ukrainian troops for a third day on Thursday after they smashed through the Russian border in the Kursk region, an audacious attack on the world's biggest nuclear power that has forced Moscow to call in reserves. Heavy fighting was reported near the town of Sudzha, where Russian natural gas flows into Ukraine, raising concerns about a possible sudden stop to transit flows to Europe. (AFP)

In one of the biggest Ukrainian attacks on Russia of the two-year-old war, around 1,000 Ukrainian troops rammed through the Russian border in the early hours of Aug. 6 with tanks and armoured vehicles, covered in the air by swarms of drones and pounding artillery, according to Russian officials.

Heavy fighting was reported near the town of Sudzha, where Russian natural gas flows into Ukraine, raising concerns about a possible sudden stop to transit flows to Europe.

The incursion has come as a shock to Russia, nearly two-and-a-half years since President Vladimir Putin sent his army into Ukraine in February 2022.

Putin has cast the Ukrainian offensive as a "major provocation". Sergei Mironov, leader of a Kremlin-loyal political party, called it a "terrorist attack" and "the invasion of an internationally recognised foreign territory".

Kursk's regional acting governor, Alexei Smirnov, said that thousands of residents had been evacuated.

The White House said the United States - Ukraine's biggest backer - had no prior knowledge of the attack. Washington has asked Ukraine for details on their military objectives, said a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, on Thursday.

"They are operating within the area north of the border where we have told them they can use U.S.-provided weapons to defend themselves against Russian attacks," the official noted.

Russia's defence ministry said on Thursday that the army and the Federal Security Service (FSB) had halted the Ukrainian advance and were battling Ukrainian units in the Kursk region.

"Units of the Northern group of forces, together with the FSB of Russia, continue to destroy armed formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Sudzhensky and Korenevsky districts of the Kursk region, directly adjacent to the Russian-Ukrainian border," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian military has remained silent on the Kursk offensive, though President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised the Ukrainian army on Thursday for its ability "to surprise" and achieve results. He did not explicitly reference Kursk.

Some Russian bloggers said Ukraine's forces were pushing towards the Kursk nuclear power station, which lies about 60 km (37 miles) northeast of Sudzha.

Yuri Podolyaka, a popular Ukrainian-born, pro-Russian military blogger, said that there were intense battles about 30 km (20 miles) from the Soviet-era nuclear plant, which supplies a large swathe of southern Russia with power.

CRITICAL JUNCTURE

Ukraine's energy minister said gas transit via Sudzha was still functioning, despite reports of hostilities there. Most EU nations have reduced their dependence on Russian gas, but Austria is one country that still receives most of its gas via Ukraine.

The Center for Information Resilience, a non-profit open-source analysis organisation, said it was unable to visually confirm any damage to the gas metering station as a result of the incursion, but had verified significant damage to the border checkpoint about 500 metres (550 yards) to the south.

"This, combined with footage verified by CIR of several Russian soldiers surrendering to Ukrainian soldiers near the entrance of the gas metering plant, makes it likely that the plant has been affected by the Ukrainian incursion, however, the level of damage cannot be verified at this time," it said.

The battles come at a crucial juncture in the conflict, the biggest land war in Europe since World War Two. Kyiv is concerned that U.S. support could weaken if Republican Donald Trump wins the November presidential election.

Trump has said he would end the war, and both Russia and Ukraine are keen to gain the strongest possible bargaining position on the battlefield.

Ukraine wants to pin down Russian forces, which control 18% of its territory, though the strategic significance of the border offensive was not immediately clear.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the Ukrainian attack was an attempt to force Russia to divert resources from the front and to show the West that Ukraine could still fight.

As a result of the Kursk attack, Medvedev said, Russia should expand its war aims to include taking all of Ukraine.

"From this moment on, the SVO (Special Military Operation) should acquire an openly extraterritorial character," Medvedev said, adding that Russian forces should go to Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolayiv, Kyiv "and beyond".
MYKOLAIV, Ukraine, - The transit route for Russian gas deliveries to Europe via Ukraine is still functioning, Ukrainian energy minister German Galushchenko said on Thursday after reports of hostilities at the Sudzha gas transit station. Russian gas transit route to Europe via Ukraine is functioning, minister says

He said Ukraine had not been contacted by Russia about the situation with gas transit.

Russia said on Wednesday it was fighting intense battles against Ukrainian forces that had penetrated its border near the major natural gas transmission hub at Sudzha, in one of the largest incursions into Russian territory since the war began.

The Sudzha gas transfer and measuring stations in the Kursk region of Russia is the only entry point for Russian natural gas into the Ukrainian gas transmission system for onward transport to Europe.

Ukraine's gas transmission operator told Reuters earlier on Thursday that Russian natural gas continued to transit to Europe via Ukraine normally.

Later, the operator said Russia's Gazprom planned to ship about 41.7 million cubic meters of gas via Ukraine on Friday, against 37.25 mcm planned on Thursday.

In May 2022, at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian transit operator stopped transporting gas on an alternative branch line through the transit point of Sokhranivka close to the Luhansk region in the east.

Ukraine said Russian forces had started taking gas transiting through Ukraine and sending it to two Russia-backed separatist regions in the country's east.

After the closure of Sokhranivka, transit volumes fell by a quarter as Gazprom said it was unable to divert volumes to Sudzha.

The agreement on Russian gas transit to Europe through Ukraine expires in 2024, and Kyiv has said it has no intention of extending it or concluding a new deal.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Amid the uncertainty over former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina's travel plans, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy on Thursday said that the 76-year-old leader will be back in the country as soon as democracy is restored. Joy also said it has not yet decided whether Sheikh Hasina will return to Bangladesh as a "retired or active" politician, according to PTI. A view shows a mural of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina vandalised by protesters, a day after her resignation, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 6, 2024.(REUTERS)

Joy's remarks come days after he, speaking to a TV news channel, asserted that Hasina wouldn't return to Bangladesh.

Yes, it is true that I had said she wouldnt return to Bangladesh. But a lot has changed in the last two days following continuous attacks on our leaders and party workers across the country. Now we are going to do whatever it takes to keep our people safe; we are not going to leave them alone, PTI quoted him as saying.

"Awami League is the largest and oldest political party in Bangladesh, so we cannot just walk away from our people. She will definitely return to Bangladesh once democracy is restored," he added.

Read: Indian visa centres in Bangladesh shut due to unstable situation

The ousted Bangladesh premier fled to India in a military aircraft following her resignation and landed at Hindon airbase near the national capital on Monday. She has been moved from the airbase to an unspecified safe location, people familiar with the developments told HT.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, a harsh critic of Hasina who landed in Dhaka on Thursday to lead an interim government, has appealed for calm against the backdrop of continuing violence in parts of the country. Joy expressed hope that Yunus would adhere to his commitment to moving forward without "letting past mistakes overshadow the future."

"I hope he stays true to his word," Joy said.

Read: Sheikh Hasina's daughter Saima Wazed: 'Can't see, hug my mother'

On his political future

Regarding his own political future and that of his sister, Saima Wazed, Joy remained non-committal.

"I cant give a definite reply to this question. But I will do whatever it takes to save Bangladesh and protect the Awami League. The Mujib family would not leave them in a lurch," he said.

He also blamed Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, for fuelling the ongoing unrest in the country.

"I am quite certain given the circumstantial evidence; I suspect Pakistan ISIs involvement. The attacks and protests were very coordinated, meticulously planned, and intentional efforts to keep inflaming the situation through social media. No matter what the government did to control the situation, they kept trying to worsen it," he said.
Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said in an interview on Wednesday that his mother didn't want to leave the country. He said their family had to convince her to flee Dhaka. He said he told his mother that the mob would kill her. A view shows a mural of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina vandalised by protesters, a day after her resignation, in Dhaka. (Reuters file photo)

"I was worried not because she was leaving Bangladesh, but because she didn't want to leave Bangladesh. We had to convince her. I said this is not a political movement anymore, this is a mob ... they are going to kill you," Joy told Deutsche Well.

Sajeeb Wazed Joy dismissed reports that she had sought asylum in the United States or the United Kingdom. He said Sheikh Hasina would stay in Delhi for a while.

Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka in a military aircraft on Monday and reached Ghaziabad's Hindon airport. She was whisked away to a safe location.

Hours after she left her country, a mob of students protesting against quotas in government jobs, ransacked her house.

He said the decision to resign had been taken a day before. However, she was forced to resign because thousands of protestors began marching towards her house.

"She had made the decision a day earlier. Only a few of us knew that she would announce she was resigning and that she planned to ensure a transition of power according to the Constitution. But when they (protesters) began marching towards Ganabhaban, we said out of fear, there was no more time. You have to leave now," he said.

He said his mother has not decided to move from India to another place. He said she was very upset.

"Sheikh Hasina is well and now in Delhi. My sister is with her. My sister lives in Delhi... She is well, but very upset," he added.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday told an all-party meeting that Sheikh Hasina was in a state of shock and the government had given her time before discussing her plans.

With inputs from ANI
Donald Trump's two supporters sustained injuries following an assassination attempt on the former President during his campaign rally in Philadelphia. One of these supporters, David Dutch, has now spoken out for the first time since his discharge from the hospital. David Dutch, a 57-year-old Marine, issued a statement through his lawyer on Wednesday night, thanking everyone for their support during his hospitalisation.(Facebook)

Dutch, a 57-year-old Marine, issued a statement through his lawyer on Wednesday night, thanking everyone for their support during his hospitalisation.

He received gunshot wounds to his chest and liver while he was standing behind the stage where Trump was speaking. He was initially placed in a medically-induced coma.

David Dutch and his family extend condolences to Comperatore's family

In a statement to Fox News, David and his wife, Sheree, expressed their profound gratitude for the tremendous amount of support they have received from friends and fellow Americans.

In addition, the Dutch family thanked the courageous men and women who saved his life, the medical staff at Allegheny General Hospital, the cops, the life flight crew, and those who are looking after him on his road to recovery.

They further extended condolences and prayers for the family of Corey Comperatore, who lost his life defending his wife and daughters from approaching gunfire during the rally and James Copenhaver, who was wounded by a bullet while exercising his fundamental right to freely express his support for a political candidate at the rally.

Also Read: Donald Trump hailed Kamala Harris' VP pick Tim Walz in 202p, 'excellent guy'

David Dutch hails Donald Trump

He then went to thank Trump, who did not back down in the face of danger from his fight to rebuild the United States and reestablish its status as the world's most powerful and economically sound country.

Dutch and Copenhaver, who suffered grave injuries, hired lawyers to protect their best interests as they navigate the most challenging time of their lives.

Copenhaver was struck in the arm and abdomen, according to his attorney, who stated that the man continues to recuperate at a rehabilitation facility.

A 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire at Trump's rally, killing 50-year-old Corey Competore, the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department. The FBI is still looking into Crooks' motivation.
Just hours after Vice President Kamala Harris's announcement of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, supporters of former President Donald Trump took no time to criticize the Minnesota Gov., especially pointing out his handling of the riots that erupted after George Floyd's murder in May 2020. Donald Trump says Tim Walz as Kamala Harris' running mate is a shocking pick (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File, Photographer: Hannah Beier/Bloomberg)

He allowed rioters to burn down the streets of Minneapolis, stated Ohio Senator JD Vance, the Republican candidate for vice president, on Tuesday.

Trump had expressed support for Walz's approach

According to a recording of a phone confirmed by ABC News, CNN and Politico, Trump praised Walz's leadership during a conversation with a group of governors, calling Walz's response dominant and using it as a positive example for other states.

I know Gov. Walz is on the phone, and we spoke, and I fully agree with the way he handled it the last couple of days, Trump said on June 1, 2020.

ALSO READ| Will a desi President boost Indian quotient in US? Indian American weighs in on Kamala Harris as POTUS

He then called Walz an excellent guy and added, I was very happy with the last couple of days, Tim. You called up big numbers and the big numbers knocked them out so fast it was like bowling pins.

I said, you got to use the National Guard in big numbers.

Walz was accused of delaying National Guard mobilization

Over time, several critics have accused Walz of delaying the National Guard's mobilization, which they argue allowed rioters to cause extensive damage, setting fire to 1,500 buildings, inflicting approximately $500 million in property damage, and being linked to at least three deaths.

Governor Walz, a 24-year veteran of the National Guard, eventually mobilized over 7,000 guardsmen to the Twin Cities. However, this decision came 18 hours after Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey initially requested military assistance.

Recently, Walz has downplayed the scrutiny over his handling of the protests. It is what it is, he told reporters, adding, And I simply believe that we try to do the best we can.

On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Harris-Walz campaign refuted Trump's claim, stating that the former president's assertion was untrue.

ALSO READ| JD Vance tries to confront Kamala Harris on tarmac, quips why she refuses

Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, told ABC News, Governor Walz allowed Minneapolis to burn for days, despite President Trump's offer to deploy soldiers and cries for help from the liberal Mayor of Minneapolis.

In this daily briefing phone call with Governors on June 1, days after the riots began, President Trump acknowledged Governor Walz for FINALLY taking action to deploy the National Guard to end the violence in the city.
Indian YouTuber Ishan Sharma recently gave his millions of followers a virtual tour of Google's lavish San Francisco office. The 22-year-old from Bengaluru showcased the tech giant's employee-friendly workspace, complete with an impressive game room featuring billiards, arcade games, and foosball. Sharma claimed the tour was nothing short of spectacular, highlighting the perks that have made Google a dream workplace for many. Indian YouTuber raves about Googles San Francisco office interior; billiards, arcade, poker and more (Pic- Ishan Sharma's X )

YouTuber raves about Googles San Francisco office

Known for his engaging content about career, freelancing, and business, Ishan recently documented his exciting journey to Silicon Valley for his followers. Through a series of pictures, selfies, and a comprehensive walkthrough of the Google office, he shared an experience filled with learning, inspiration, and a glimpse into the future of tech and entrepreneurship.

Also read: Sunita Williams went to space for 8 days stuck until February 2025? NASA eyes Elon Musks SpaceX for rescue

Describing the office, Ishan said, "It's like a mini town. All Google buildings as far as you can see!" Hailing the founders, he remarked, Crazy how two guys from Stanford working on a research project to rank websites turned into THIS.

With a massive following and a portfolio featuring collaborations with industry leaders like Amazon, Google, and Unacademy, Mr. Sharma's tour garnered massive attention, leaving viewers astonished by the intricate details of the Google office.

Also read: Kamala Harris-Tim Walz under fire for stealing MAGA style with new plan: Dont tell Donald

More about Googles SF office

Google is planning to vacate its entire 300,000-square-foot office space in San Francisco's One Market Plaza's Spear Tower within the next year as per San Francisco Chronicle. This is a big change for the tech giant, as it's the first time they've given up a whole building in the city. Even though Google still has a big footprint in San Francisco with offices in other places including Hills Plaza complex near Rincon Park, 188 Embarcadero, and 215 Fremont Street, losing the Spear Tower space is a big step down in terms of office space.

A meet-up with Notion's founders

The adventure didnt stop there. Ishan had the chance to meet the founders of Notion, Ivan Zhao and Akshay Kothari, at their office. This encounter was described as "UNREAL" by the young content creator, who also managed to shoot a fun podcast with Akshay. During their conversation, they discussed various topics, including building Pulse and selling it to LinkedIn, joining Notion, and how the platform grew to 100 million users.

Last but not least, the journey also led him to meet Dhravya, an inspiring 18-year-old from Mumbai living in San Francisco. Dhravya has already achieved remarkable success by building and launching products, selling his first two tools, and making major profits.
A Texas man who claimed an intellectual disability in a late attempt at a reprieve was executed Wednesday evening for the killing of a woman who was jogging near her Houston home more than 27 years ago. This photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows death row inmate Arthur Lee Burton, who was condemned for the July 1997 killing of Nancy Adleman and was executed Wednesday evening, Aug. 7, 2024, at the state penitentiary in Huntsville. (Texas Department of Criminal Justice via AP)(AP)

Arthur Lee Burton, 54, received a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville and was pronounced dead at 6:47 p.m. local time. He was condemned for the July 1997 killing and attempted rape of Nancy Adleman, a 48-year-old mother of three.

Burton appeared nervous as he lay strapped to the death chamber gurney and a spiritual adviser prayed briefly over him, the inmates right leg twitching under a white sheet that covered him from his chest to his feet.

I want to say thank you to all the people who support me and pray for me, Burton said when asked by the warden if he had a final statement, his voice repeatedly cracking with a sharp breath after saying several words.

To all the people I have hurt and caused pain, I wish we didnt have to be here at this moment, but I want you to know that I am sorry for putting yall through this and my family. Im not better than anyone. I hope that I find peace and yall can too.

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He nodded to his brother, Michael, watching through a window nearby, took four gasps as the lethal dose of the sedative pentobarbital began taking effect, then appeared to yawn before all movement stopped. He was pronounced dead 24 minutes later.

Adleman had been brutally beaten and strangled with her own shoelace in a heavily wooded area off a jogging trail along a bayou, police said. According to authorities, Burton confessed to killing her, saying she asked me why was I doing it and that I didnt have to do it. He recanted this confession at trial.

Hours before the scheduled execution time, the U.S. Supreme Court declined a defense request to intervene after lower courts had previously rejected Burtons request for a stay.

Burtons lawyers had argued that reports by two experts and the records showed Burton exhibited low scores on tests of learning, reasoning, comprehending complex ideas, problem solving, and suggestibility, all of which are examples of significant limitations in intellectual functioning. They had argued the evidence was a strong indication of an intellectual disability that made him categorically exempt from the death penalty.

Prosecutors, however, argued that Burton had not previously raised claims of an intellectual disability and that he had waited until eight days before his scheduled execution to do so.

Texas executes man despite claims of intellectual disability

An expert for the Harris County District Attorneys Office, which prosecuted Burton, said in an Aug. 1 report that he had not seen any evidence Burton suffered from a significant deficit in intellectual or mental capabilities.

I have not seen any mental health or other notations that Mr. Burton suffers from a significant deficit in intellectual or mental capabilities, said the report by Thomas Guilmette, a psychology professor at Providence College in Rhode Island.

The Supreme Court in 2002 had barred the execution of intellectually disabled people. But it has given states some discretion to decide how to determine such disabilities.

Burton was convicted in 1998 but his death sentence was overturned by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in 2000. He received another death sentence at a new punishment trial in 2002.

In their petition to the Supreme Court, Burtons lawyers accused the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals of rejecting their claims of intellectual disability because of hostility toward prior Supreme Court rulings that criticized the states rules on determining intellectual disability.

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In its filing to the Supreme Court, the Texas Attorney Generals Office denied that the state appeals court was refusing to adhere to current criteria for determining intellectual disability.

Burton was the third inmate put to death this year in Texas, the nations busiest capital punishment state, and the 11th in the U.S.

On Thursday, Taberon Dave Honie is scheduled to be the first inmate executed in Utah since 2010. He was condemned for the 1998 killing of his girlfriends mother.
US President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the White House, but he has not stopped himself from launching scathing attack on Donald Trump amid the White House race. Biden predicted that the GOP presidential candidate will reject a peaceful handover of power if he fails to reach the White House.(AP Photo)

In his first interview with CBS host Robert Costa following his surprising exit from the contest, Biden predicted that the GOP presidential candidate will reject a peaceful handover of power if he fails to reach the White House.

If Trump wins - no I'm not confident at all - I mean if Trump loses I'm not confident at all, the mumbling Commander-in-Chief responded on being asked if there would be swift transition of power in case the former president doesn't get elected.

Following Biden's victory in the 2020 election, Trump urged his followers to demonstrate outside the Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. This led to a brutal attack on Capitol, claiming lives of five people.

Trump made a bogus claim that he was denied a second term due to rampant fraud.

Also Read: Donald Trump rally shooting victim David Dutch breaks silence over tragic assassination attempt

Biden weighs in on Trump's bloodbath remark

He means what he says, we don't take him seriously, the 81-year-old President said. He means it -all the stuff about, if we lose there'll be a bloodbath.

Trump's contentious remark about a bloodbath came while discussing the destruction he believes Biden has caused to the American auto sector by advocating for the production of electric vehicles.

Addressing a rally at Dayton, Ohio, Trump earlier this year declared that "it's going to be a bloodbath for the country" if he is not elected.

In addition, Biden brought up some of the local machinations being made by pro-MAGA authorities in the run-up to the November elections.

Look at what they're trying to do now in the local election districts where people count the votes. They're putting people in place in states where they are going to count the votes, right? Biden quipped.

You can't love your country only when you win, he added.

Biden's interview with Costa will be broadcast on CBS Sunday Morning.
During a campaign speech in Michigan on Wednesday, VP Kamala Harris faced down anti-Israel protesters bout midway through her speech who interrupted her address with opposition to Israel's conflict with Hamas. U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris waves at the stage during a campaign rally with her newly-chosen vice presidential running mate, REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz(REUTERS)

Harris attempted to acknowledge the protesters while maintaining her composure. I am here because I believe in democracy and everybody's voice matters, but I am speaking now, she asserted, trying to restore order.

As the protesters persisted in their disruption, Harris's tone shifted to a more combative stance. You know what, if you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I'm speaking, she stated.

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The supporters then raised their voices and chanted, We're not going back.

The protesters, who were demonstrating against US support for Israel in its ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, were eventually escorted away. This led to a heated confrontation between Harris's supporters and the protesters, with both sides shouting at each other before the situation was diffused.

Harris and Walz rally support in Michigan

Harris's visit to Michigan, along with her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, was part of a broader effort to rally support among younger, diverse, and labor-friendly voters in key battleground states like Wisconsin and Michigan. The Biden administration's stance on Israel has been a contentious issue, particularly among certain voter demographics.

Earlier in the day, at a rally in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Harris echoed the campaign's positive outlook despite the controversies. As Tim Walz likes to point out, we are joyful warriors, she said.

ALSO READ| Nancy Pelosi says it's her life goal to ensure that man Trump never steps in the White House again

Contrasting her vision with that of former President Donald Trump, Harris accused Trump of being stuck in the past and favouring a divisive style of politics. Someone who suggests we should terminate the Constitution of the United States should never again have the chance to sit behind the seal of the United States, Harris asserted passionately.

Harris-Walz is recently facing netizens' wrath for allegedly copying MAGA cap style to promote the Democratic campaign.
Nancy Pelosi's influence can be seen all across the Democratic Party shakeup that in a few short, agonizing weeks has reengineered the 2024 presidential ticket and the race for the White House. Donald Trump on Saturday hit out at former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi while addressing a first rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan.(AP)

It was Pelosi who publicly encouraged President Joe Biden to make a decision about his reelection campaign when he had already insisted he had no plans to step aside. Once he exited and endorsed Kamala Harris atop the ticket, it was Pelosi who was a big fan of her future running mate, Tim Walz.

For the House speaker emerita the upheaval is less about Biden, a friend of 40 years, and more about Republican Donald Trump, the former president she refers to as Bozo, a snake-oil salesman, what's his name and the creature from the Black Lagoon.

How can I say this in the nicest possible way: My goal in life was that man would never step in the White House again, Pelosi said, slapping the table with every word.

Pelosi spoke Wednesday with reporters and columnists about her new book, The Art of Power, My Story as America's First Woman Speaker of the House, which calls for an end to political violence in the U.S. But its this final unwritten chapter of Pelosi's career that shows the soft power she still wields that can change the course of history.

Over and again, Pelosi declined to detail her conversations with Biden during this tumultuous period, or if the conversations happened at all. The two have not spoken since he bowed out of the race.

At some point, I will come to terms with my, to peace, with my own role in this, she said.

I think that part of all of our goals in this was to preserve his legacy, a fabulous legacy, that would go right down the drain if Bozo got elected to the White House.

Some details, though, have come into view as Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries all had private talks with Biden as he made his historic decision to end his campaign.

Pelosi said it was not her intention to put Biden on the spot when she showed up on his favorite morning news program in early July, after his dismal debate with Trump, and suggested he make a decision about his reelection bid.

Biden had just written a letter to Congress, insisting he was pressing on after a number of rank-and-file Democrats started saying publicly he should bow out of the race. It was not well received, she said.

Not only the White House but control of Congress is at stake this November. Pelosi had been hearing from worried lawmakers and she herself did not see a path to victory for Biden.

I was really asking for a better campaign, she said.

But, she acknowledged about his options ahead, it was open, in my view.

Pelosi had told Biden early on she didn't want him on the debate stage with Trump. She thought it was beneath him to stand alongside Trump, who had declined to debate his own Republican colleagues during his primary sweep to the GOP nomination. And she knew Trump would use the venue to be telling all his lies unchecked.

I just thought itd be like doggy-doo and you're going to get it on your shoe and you're all going to smell like him, she said.

But she said Biden was very confident and assured her he could handle Trump on stage. I know you can handle it, she told him. But why?

On debate night, Pelosi settled in at her apartment in Washington to watch and as soon as Biden walked onstage it was disconcerting, she said.

I was shocked.

Pelosi said she had never seen Biden like that

Pelosi explained her longstanding advice for debating: Clear your mind. Don't bog yourself down with details. Rest up. Be yourself.

Whatever the question is, you respond whatever way you want. You own it."

It was clear none of that happened with Biden.

Hes the president of the United States, a person who for decades has understood a vision of our country based on values, knowledge, issues, therefore judgment about all of it, with more empathy in his heart than anyone, she said. "Who needs to prep him?

Pelosi said publicly at the time that she wanted to know if this was an episode with Biden, or a condition?

She made it clear she wanted a more aggressive campaign so people could see his strength.

Simply rehashing past accomplishments as Biden was doing is important, she said, to show voters you know how to accomplish goals. But elections are really about what you're doing next.

Elections are about the future, she said. Finish the job.

None of this rematch with Trump would have been possible if the Senate had voted to convict, rather than acquit, him on the impeachment charge of inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, because it would have made him ineligible to seek the White House again. Pelosi blames that outcome on Senate Republican leadership and calls it shameful.

As crowds surge to rallies this week for the new Harris-Walz ticket in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan, Pelosi marvels at the energy and enthusiasm flowing to Democrats, particularly from young people.

Pelosi said she thought any of the potential vice presidential contenders would have been great choices. But she has made no secret of her enthusiasm for former House members  which Walz is  to counter the way she believes White House administrations tend to be more deferential to the Senate.

While some were calculating which vice presidential hopeful would best help Democrats in the swing states, Pelosi said the question for Harris was: Who will help you govern? She said she did not put in a good word for Walz, but put in a good word for all the contenders.

Asked if Democrats would win control of the House, she said, That's the plan.

Asked if her book title was an intended nod at Trumps "The Art of the Deal, she said, Nothing that I do has anything to do with him, except his downfall.
A 42-year-old California man was found guilty Wednesday in the robbery and fatal shooting of rapper PnB Rock, born Rakim Allen, at a South Los Angeles restaurant in 2022. FILE - Philadelphia rapper PnB Rock performs at the 2018 Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del., June 16, 2018. (Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP)

The conviction comes after a deliberation of a two-week trial and four hours. A Los Angeles County found Freddie Trone guilty of one count of murder, two counts of robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery. According to the Associated Press' report, Allen's murder trial also recognised that the 42-year-old father had told his then-17-year-old son to commit the crime in 2022 as he was having lunch with his girlfriend Stephanie Sibounheuang at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles on West Manchester Avenue.

His son, though not named publicly due to his age at the time of the fatal shooting, was also seen as an accessory to the Philadelphia rapper's murder. The no-19-year-old boy has been charged with murder. A judge argued that he is not competent to be put on trial and is, therefore, still in a juvenile detention centre. The LA District Attorney's Office has confirmed that he will undergo mental competency proceedings on August 29.

The Los Angeles County jury also convicted co-defendant Tremont Jones. The 46-year-old man, who was seen fist-bumping Trone in a parking lot surveillance footage a half hour before Allen's murder, has been found guilty of two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery. Though not charged with murder, he was accused of informing Trone about the rapper's presence at the restaurant and that he was wearing luxury items on the day of the tragedy. His attorney, David Hass, will reportedly appeal the decision.

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Freddie Trone (Los Angeles Police Department)

A third defendant, Shauntel Trone - Trone's wife, is scheduled to be sentenced on January 16, 2025. She pleaded no contest to accessory after the fact in July.

Contextual history of PnB Rock's September 2022 killing

Deputy District Attorney Timothy Richardson told the Jury that the 42-year-old suspect had sent his son out on a coordinated act to rob watches, rings and chains off of a person. Conversely, defence attorney Winston McKesson argued that Trone's son acted independently and that the only conclusion that is consistent with justice is that Freddie Trone is not guilty of these charges.

Aligning with McKesson's claims, Trone confessed to being in the parking lot to find customers for his nearby beauty shop. Denying any connection to the murder, he called the crime heinous and labelled his son as dangerous.

The harrowing incident took place on September 12, 2022, when an individual approached Allen and his girlfriend and demanded the rapper to hand over his jewellery. Allen was eventually shot several times, and his belongings were stolen. The late Philadelphia rapper and his girlfriend Stephanie Sibounheuang share a 4-year-old daughter.

The prosecutor listed the motive for the crime as about a half a million dollars worth of jewellery. He added that while Trone drove his son to and from the restaurant, he never stepped inside himself in PnB Rock's presence.

Also read | US president's son faces new charges, Hunter Biden was hired by Romanian businessman to 'influence' US agencies

Convicted suspect's attorney reacts

Despite Trone's vigorous denials, the prosecutor asserted that Trone, his teenage son and Jones had coordinated actions that were not a coincidence.

According to Fox LA, Trone's attorney expressed his disappointment with the outcome. I think the problem is whenever you have a Black man charged in a violent crime and no African Americans on the jury, it is a major problem, he told City News Service on Wednesday. Because all non-Black people  no matter what their race  view Black men as dangerous."

Freddie Trone and Tremont Jones will be sentenced on August 27, 2024.
It is an unhappy family picture that has come out after Prince Harry hit the disconnect button as far as his relationship with his father, King Charles III is concerned; however, before withdrawing from the Royal Family and planning to begin a new life in America, both Harry and William had a very close relationship with his father. Report reveals rift between Prince Harry-Meghan Markle and King Charles over security and funding(AP)

King Charles also had a good relationship with his daughter-in-law Meghan Markle. Initially, the monarch and Meghan found common ground, fostering a budding friendship. This closeness was evident during a memorable trip to the Castle of Mey in the summer of 2018, shortly after Harry and Meghan's wedding.

In his memoir 2023, Spare, Harry recounts this trip and describes a particular evening that seemed to deepen the bond between his father and his wife. One night, over pre-dinner cocktails, Fred Astaire playing in the background, it emerged that Meg shared a birthdate with Pa's favorite person: Gan-Gan [the Queen Mother]. August 4. 'Amazing,' Pa said with a smile, Harry recalled.

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The revelation that Meghan shared a birthday with the Queen Mother, a person dear to Charles, lifted his spirits. At the memory of Gan-Gan, and the link between her and my bride, he suddenly became buoyant, telling stories I'd never heard, essentially performing, showing off for Meg.

Prince Harry's desperate attempts to reach out to King Charles go unanswered

Despite these warm memories, Prince Harry's relationship with his father has deteriorated, particularly after the Sussexes' explosive Netflix docuseries Harry and Meghan and the publication of Spare, in which Harry levelled criticisms at both his father and his brother, Prince William.

According to one of the duke's friends, communication between Harry and Charles has completely broken down. The source told People, He gets 'unavailable right now.' His calls go unanswered. He has tried to reach out about the King's health, but those calls go unanswered too.

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There was a glimmer of hope for reconciliation when Prince Harry returned to the UK following Charles' cancer diagnosis. However, after that, the monarch completely snubbed the Duke of Sussex, and when Harry returned for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games at St. Paul's Cathedral in May, Charles didn't meet him due to full schedule.
NASA is facing a mounting crisis and pressure as astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore find themselves stranded on the International Space Station. Initially slated for just an 8-day trip, the duo's return has been indefinitely postponed due to critical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Boeing Crew Flight Test crew members Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore work in the Boeing Starliner simulator (AP)

NASA said on Wednesday that it is looking into every way to get its astronauts back home. One idea is to have astronauts come back in 2025, and they're thinking about using Elon Musk-owned SpaceX, which is a rival to Boeing.

NASA looking into alternatives to bring back Sunita William-Butch Wilmore

At a press conference, Kenneth Bowersox, NASAs Associate Administrator for Space Operations, discussed the challenges of returning the astronauts and highlighted alternative solutions. He stressed that relying solely on the Starliner for their return may not be feasible. We have the option to bring them back on another vehicle, he stated. The astronauts, who were launched aboard Boeings Starliner, have been in space for over two months.

Also read: Kamala Harris-Tim Walz under fire for stealing MAGA style with new plan: Dont tell Donald

While their presence offers extra support to the Expedition 71 crew, their prolonged stay is rapidly depleting the ISS's resources as per the spokesperson. Initially hesitant to consider other return options, NASA officials are now openly discussing the possibility of utilizing a different spacecraft to bring the astronauts back home. However, a consensus on the best course of action has yet to be reached.

NASA to work with Space X?

Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich highlighted that NASA is collaborating with SpaceX to prepare for the return of astronauts on Crew 9. "We have been working with SpaceX to ensure that they are ready to respond on Crew 9... returning Butch and Suni on Crew 9 if we need that, he said.

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This plan would entail selecting just two out of the four astronauts initially assigned to the mission, while also adding additional spacesuits for Wilmore and Williams. NASA announced the postponement of the SpaceX Crew 9 mission on Tuesday, moving its launch from mid-August to September 25th, this year.

Sunita William- Butch Wilmore stuck till February 2025?

"We have set up the Dragon for Crew 9 to have flexibility, to have only two passengers fly up on that flight and then we can return four crew members in February 2025 time frame, and Butch and Suni would remain on station as part of that increment and return home with them on Crew 9, the NASA official explained their plans of bringing the crew back.

However, the decision has not been made yet, and officials have indicated that it will take a week or more to reach a conclusion. Returning the astronauts using a SpaceX craft would be a significant setback for Boeing, which has been trying for years to compete with its rival and was hopeful for its latest mission.

Upon its arrival at the ISS, the Starliner encountered several technical issues, including leaks in its propulsion system and thrusters shutting down. "Our prime option is to return Butch and Suni on Starliner, Stich said. However, we have done the requisite planning to make sure we have other options open, he added.
Kamala Harris running mate Tim Walz once claimed that he carried weapons in war, and a video of him making the remarks has resurfaced. The Minnesota governor made the comment in 2018 while counselling a crowded room about gun violence. Tim Walz said he carried weapons in war' in resurfaced clip (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP)(AFP)

What did Tim Walz say?

We can research the impacts of gun violence. We can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, are only carried in war, Walz said in the clip.

However, critics quickly found out that Walz never really served in a combat zone. He retired from the National Guard in 2005.

Walz did make a comment speaking to a group, hes done it a couple of times, where he has used language that has suggested that he carried weapons in a fighting situation, CNNs Jake Foreman said.

I know from coming from a military family there is a difference between being in a combat area, being involved at a time of war, and actually being in a position where people are shooting at you, he added. There is no evidence that at any time Governor Walz was in a position of being shot at, and some of his language could easily be seen to suggest he was, so that is absolutely false.

Recently, JD Vance during a recent campaign in Michigan accused Walz of using stolen valor. He said we shouldnt allow weapons that I used in war to be on Americas streets, Vance said. Well, I wonder. Tim Walz, when were you ever in war?

What bothers me about Tim Walz is the stolen valor garbage. Do not pretend to be something that youre not, he added.

Meanwhile, insiders claimed that Harris chose Walz as her running mate after he reassured the vice president that he was not angling for the top job. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was widely considered the favourite for the ticket. However, Walzs loyalty reportedly gave him an edge over Shapiro.
While both Democrats and Republicans are escalating their efforts to woo American voters to secure the White House seat, Donald Trump is said to have been complaining about the unfair move of fielding Kamala Harris against him rather than Joe Biden. According to Trump insiders, the Republican leader is allegedly snapping at his campaign staff over Harris' funding total and the huge and rowdy audiences she has been gathering to her rallies in comparison to his.(AP )

With the addition of Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) as the vice presidential candidate, the Harris campaign is beginning to annoy Trump in a different way, the Washington Post reported.

According to Trump insiders, the Republican leader is allegedly snapping at his campaign staff over Harris' funding total and the huge and rowdy audiences she has been gathering to her rallies in comparison to his.

The photos of boisterous and enthusiastic fans of Harris and Walz in Philadelphia, Wisconsin, and Michigan over the past several days have driven Trump's ire, which may result in a campaign shake-up, the report stated.

Trump planning to change campaign staff?

Trump now finds himself back in a dead-even race, according to five people close to the campaign. In the face of new Democratic momentum, he has grown increasingly upset about Harriss surging poll numbers and media coverage since replacing Biden on the ticket.

Not just this, he has reportedly started asking friends and allies about his campaign staff performance and there are chances that it may lead to staff changes. However, Trump has not confirmed if he planning such move and has rather extended support for campaign staff in recent days, the Post's Josh Dawsey and Michael Scherer reported, citing a person close to the GOP leader.

Moreover, Trump has questioned his staff why Harris is raising so much more money than him. According to the insiders, the GOP presidential candidate's Tuesday afternoon post on Truth Social, which included some nicknames, falsehoods and baseless accusations against Harris, suggested he was still steaming.

Also Read: Joe Biden predicts what will happen if Trump loses 2024 White House race: 'You can't love your country'

A look at Harris' massive fundraising haul

Harris, the presumed Democratic Party nominee, has raised a record $310 million in July, according to a statement released by her team on Friday. She is running against Trump In the US presidential race.

In contrast, the Trump campaign raised $138.7 million in July and currently has $327 million in cash on hand.

Harris, 59, is the sole contender who has submitted documents to represent the Democratic Party as the nominee for the presidential election scheduled for November 5. Her nomination came after Joe Biden's exit from the race.
Former US President Donald Trump has repeatedly distanced himself from Project 2025, a playbook crafted by conservative group the Heritage Foundation, which seeks to radically transform the federal government and American life as we know it. However, contradictory developments, including the emergence of an old plane photograph of Trump and the Foundation's leader, and the presence of many of his trusted former White House officials on the advisory panel of the plan, paint a questionable image. FILE - Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, speaks at a campaign rally, June 6, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP)

In a July TruthSocial post, Trump claimed he knew nothing about Project 2025. I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things theyre saying and some of the things theyre saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them, he added.

In another social media post, he wrote: I know nothing about Project 2025. I have not seen it, have no idea who is in charge of it, and, unlike our very well received Republican Platform, had nothing to do with it. The Radical Left Democrats are having a field day, however, trying to hook me into whatever policies are stated or said. It is pure disinformation on their part. By now, after all of these years, everyone knows where I stand on EVERYTHING!

Coincidentally, his post emerged online a day after Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said in an interview that the country was in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be.

Also read | Trump's news conference announcement ridiculed as show of desperation, Kamala Harris team declares 'he's panicking'

What do we know about Donald Trump and Kevin Roberts' plane photo?

The controversial conservative blueprint has especially attracted considerable backlash since early 2024 as the pro-Trump agenda hopes for the former president's return with a second term. But as Trump himself consistently insists that he had nothing to do with the far-right Project 2025 policy, while maintaining that he's not privy to the blueprint's architect, an old picture has made it to the internet that says otherwise.

The previously unreported picture (see it here) snapped Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts in the same frame. They once shared a private flight from the presidential hopeful's Palm Beach residence to the annual conference on Amelia Island in April 2022.

The unlikely duo reportedly flew to a Heritage Foundation conference together, where Trump said, Theyre going to lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will do. The Washington Post shed light on remarks by people privy to the trip details, plane-tracking data and the old plane photograph, highlighting that the former president has been in touch with Roberts.

Did Trump and Roberts talk Project 2025 on the plane ride?

In a separate interview with the outlet, Roberts seemed to have confirmed that he had personally talked to President Trump about Project 2025, citing his role in the project, which has been to make sure that all of the candidates who have responded to our offer for a briefing on Project 2025 get one from me.

The report further quotes a Heritage official, claiming that Roberts, who was in the early stages of crafting Project 2025, lightly touched upon the issue on the flight. However, a disinterested Trump switched topics. Subsequently, a Trump spokesperson said that the former president and Roberts never brought up Project 2025 on the plane ride.

The Heritage Foundation has published a book of policy recommendations for the next Republican administration since 1980. As for Roberts' active role in the project, he recently took over the day-to-day management following director Paul Dans' exit amid pressure from Trump campaign leadership, the Daily Beast reported.

Reddit goes up in flames as the 2022 plane ride pic emerges online

Trump and Roberts' plane ride snap particularly blew up on Reddit, where the Republican presidential candidate's old remarks about disavowing Project 2025 invited major blowback. A flurry of comments on the post made a stand about the pair possibly working in collusion with each other.

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Redditors couldn't look away from one of the most eye-grabbing aspects of the photo  Robert's cufflink, which appears to bear the iconic American symbol of the Liberty Bell. As one of the most significantly unforgettable symbols of American independence, the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, despite its crack, harks back to the vision of several movements that cemented the nation's history, including women's suffrage and the rise of abolitionism. History.Com notes that the bell sounded the celebratory alarm of Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette's arrival.

The cracked piece of American history was also linked to the abolition movement in the 1830s. Abolitionist newspaper William Llyod Garrison also published a poem called The Liberty Bell, which highlighted how the mighty bell would herald well Fair Freedom's form.

The 1839 publication also reads: "Ring it Southward, till its voice

For slavery toll, for slavery toll;

And Freedoms wakening touch rejoice

Both limb and soul."

Netizens were outraged to note the uncanny similarities between the Liberty Bell and the Heritage Foundation's logo. Also, the gall on this guy for wearing (what appear to be) Liberty Bell cufflinks after writing a manifesto about killing or enslaving those who are not of your political party or religion. Scum, a comment read.

Others also drew focus back to Roberts' direct quote about Project 2025 as he said publically, on camera, proudly, that there would be no bloodshed as long as Democrats didn't resist... And here he is smiling for a pic with a former President of the United States, and candidate for POTUS. It's fu**ing sickening.

Project 2025 controversy

Controversy over Roberts' second American Revolution especially blew out of proportion as focus drifted away to the Heritage Foundation leader's upcoming book, Dawn's Early Light: Taking Back Washington to Save America, which featured an introduction penned by Trump's vice-presidential pick JD Vance. The Ohio senator's piece, obtained by the New Republic, extolls the Foundation as the most influential engine of ideas for Republicans from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump. Roberts' book release has been postponed until after the November presidential election.

Although the Foundation's plans for the first 180 days of the presumed second Trump administration remain under wraps, they are already expected to be the most radical, extreme and dangerous parts of Project 2025, House Democrats Jared Huffman of California and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts said in an open letter.

Also read | Joe Biden predicts what will happen if Trump loses 2024 White House race: 'You can't love your country'

The Post also cited an anonymous Project 2025 source who said contributors had seen Trump's attempts to repudiate it as a disaster, a catastrophe the wishful-thinking school is that this will all blow over.

What is Project 2025?

Spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation, the proposal brings together an advisory board of over 100 conservative groups who have overseen the initiative, which is founded on four pillars. The first pillar of Project 2025 has been the most prominent focus of blaring criticism, as it included a nearly 900-page policy book, which involves completely shattering the existing federal government.

In addition, many chapters are written by names from the Trump administration, including Russ Vought from the Office of Management and Budget, former acting Defence Secretary Chris Miller, ex-director of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services, and others.

Some policies of the agenda highlight less federal intervention in education, support for school choice, increased enforcement of immigration laws, mass deportations and a border wall construction.

Other recommendations for the Department of Health and Human Services call for the reversal of the 24-year-old approval of abortion pill mifepristone. Some proposals target reinstating stringent rules for its use, permitting it to be taken up to seven weeks into a pregnancy, instead of 10 weeks. Furthermore, it would call off it being dispensed through the mail.

The Family Agenda section recommends the Health and Human Services chief proudly state that men and women are biological realities and that married men and women are the ideal, natural family structure because all children have a right to be raised by the men and women who conceived them.

Harris for President spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said, Trump, Vance and their Project 2025 allies can try and hide the ball from the American people, but voters know where they stand  and that theyre trying desperately to drag us backward.
Former President Donald Trump says he will hold a new conference Thursday at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida beachside compound, making his first public appearance since Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee and selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Donald Trump announced the 2 p.m. EDT event on his Truth Social network and posted that he was eager to debate Kamala Harris.(AFP)

Trump announced the 2 p.m. EDT event on his Truth Social network and posted that he was eager to debate Harris.

He had teased an announcement about the presidential debate earlier this week after pulling out of an ABC News debate scheduled for Sept. 10. Trump had said he would prefer that Fox News sponsor the debate, but on Wednesday was showing willingness to reconsider ABC.

I will expose Kamala during the Debate the same way I exposed Crooked Joe, Hillary, and everyone else during Debates, he said on Truth Social, referring to Democrats Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton. Only I think Kamala will be easier.

Trumps running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, has criticized Harris for not holding a news conference or sitting down for interviews since Biden stepped aside from his presidential reelection campaign and she launched her White House campaign. Harris sometimes answers shouted questions while boarding or leaving her plane for campaign stops.
Donald Trump has come under fire following his announcement to host a general news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Trump's announcement to hold press conference comes after he levelled unfounded allegations that the media was exaggerating the number of attendees at Harris rallies at the crucial swing states.(AP)

In a Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump stated, I will be doing a General News Conference at 2:00 P.M. at Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, without providing any other information.

This announcement came after Trump's unfounded allegations that the media was exaggerating the number of attendees at Harris rallies at the crucial swing states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin this week, drawing over 10,000 supporters.

If Kamala has 1,000 people at a Rally, the Press goes 'crazy,' and talks about how 'big' it was - And she pays for her 'Crowd,' he wrote on Truth Social .

When I have a Rally, and 100,000 people show up, the Fake News doesnt talk about it, THEY REFUSE TO MENTION CROWD SIZE. The Fake News is the Enemy of the People!

Also Read: Trump back in dead-even race? Ex-President reportedly 'upset' about Harris surging poll numbers, fundraising record

Trump has always placed a high value on crowd sizes. In the past, he gave former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer instructions to fabricate a story that his inauguration drew more attendees than that of former President Barack Obama in 2008.

Reacting to Trump's post, Editor-in-chief of Meidas Touch Ron Filipkowski said that the former President was "really losing it after the latest poll results," adding that his large-scale tirade was "his 7th post in the last hour."

Gun rights activist David Hogg quipped, "I f------ love how triggered Trump is by Kamala's crowd size."

Issuing a challenge to Trump supporters, former Republican strategist Rick Wilson wrote he has a legitimate, serious question, asking Can you show me a Trump *rally* where 100,000 people attended?

Trump faces mockery over press conference announcement

Trump is scheduled to addressed a news conference later today. Commenting on it, George Conway, the outspoken opponent of Trump who established the Lincoln Project, mocked the former President, writing: NARCISSISTIC SOCIOPATH RAGE ALERT.

So Trump is campaigning today at . . . Mar-a-Lago? I guess he's even lost the support of the voters at Mar-a-Lago. Not a surprise, MSNBC Legal Analyst Glenn Kirschner remarked.

Stephanie Grisham, a former spokeswoman for the Trump administration, declared, Trump is panicking. Ive seen this play many times. He thinks his team is failing him & no one can speak better/'save' his campaign/defend him but him. He hates the coverage Harris is getting & thinks only he can fix it.

Republicans for Harris, the newly launched campaign group of Vice President Kamala Harris, called his upcoming press conference a desperate attempt. He is panicking, Harris' campaign stated.

Trump campaign has been criticising Harris' lack of recent face-to-face encounters with the media.

Activist List Amy Siskind questioned Trump's political endurance.

Does he not have the energy to go out and hit the campaign trail? he asked, adding that It's like he disappeared from action.

Several X users ridiculed Trump by asking: Where's Trump?

Despite all the backlash that Trump has been facing, a new survey suggests he leads by a narrow margin of 2 points over Harris in the fight for the White House. According to the CNBC All-America Economic Survey, Trump has a commanding edge among voters on important economic concerns.
As election season gathers momentum in US Hunter Biden's business dealings are back in the spotlight. Prosecutors have revealed that during Joe Biden's tenure as vice president, Hunter was hired by Romanian businessman Gabriel Popoviciu, who was under investigation for corruption. The special counsel, David Weiss, has stated that Hunter's business associate will testify about this arrangement in the upcoming federal tax trial. Prosecutors claim Hunter Biden had dealings with Romanian businessman when Joe Biden was vice president.(AP)

Hunter Biden's foreign business activities have been a recurring point of contention, especially among Republicans investigating the Biden family. Hunter has consistently denied any wrongdoing and insists his father was never involved in his business affairs.

Hunter Biden faces fresh charges

Prosecutors plan to present evidence showing that Hunter and his associate received payments from Popoviciu, who was looking to influence U.S. policy and public opinion to mitigate his legal troubles in Romania. Though Popoviciu is referred to as G.P. in court documents, the details align with previous reports about Hunter's work in Romania.

Who is Gabriel Popoviciu?

Popoviciu was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2017 for real estate fraud, which he denied. Prosecutors allege that Hunter and his associate agreed to help Popoviciu in a way that concealed their true intentto influence U.S. agencies to investigate the Romanian probe against him. The payments were disguised as fees for managing real estate properties in Romania, but prosecutors assert this was a cover for their actual lobbying efforts.

Hunter Biden's legal team has requested that the trial exclude references to these allegations, arguing they are politically motivated and irrelevant to the tax charges at hand. They emphasize that Hunter has never been charged with any crime related to these accusations.

The trial, set to begin next month in Los Angeles, will focus on charges that Hunter failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes over four years, a period during which he has acknowledged struggling with drug addiction. Prosecutors maintain that while they won't introduce evidence of direct payments from a foreign government, Hunter's agreement to lobby on Popoviciu's behalf is relevant to demonstrating his state of mind and intent.

This trial follows Hunter Biden's recent conviction on charges related to a 2018 gun purchase, where he was accused of lying about his drug use. Although he faces up to 25 years in prison, as a first-time offender, he is expected to receive a much lighter sentence.
The Indian community in the United States is facing a significant dilemma, particularly concerning the estimated 250,000 children of Indian immigrants who are compelled to self-deport due to the green card backlog. These children, often referred to as "Documented Dreamers," grow up in the U.S., attend American schools, and imbibe American values, yet face uncertain futures due to the prolonged and arduous immigration process. U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris waves at the stage during a campaign rally with her newly-chosen vice presidential running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Michigan, U.S.,(REUTERS)

Green Card backlog: Indian Community's biggest nightmare in US

The green card backlog for Indian nationals is notoriously long, often stretching into decades. This delay is primarily due to the per-country cap that limits the number of green cards issued to any one country, irrespective of the demand. Given that Indian nationals, particularly those in the tech sector, are high-skilled and highly sought after, the demand far outstrips the supply. Consequently, many children of these immigrants, who have legally lived in the U.S. for most of their lives, find themselves at a crossroads when they turn 21. At this age, they "age out" of their dependent visa status and are forced to self-deport if they cannot secure an independent visa, a process fraught with difficulties and uncertainties.

Indian Communities' expectations from Kamala Harris

This situation is exacerbated by the lack of substantial policy changes despite the presence of high-ranking officials of Indian origin in the U.S. administration. As Kamala Harris, the current Vice President, and now the Democratic Party nominee for President, the expectations from the Indian community are even higher. Harris, whose mother was an Indian immigrant, symbolizes a bridge between the immigrant experience and American political power. However, her tenure has seen minimal progress in addressing the green card backlog and its dire consequences for the Indian community.

For instance, the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act, which aims to eliminate the per-country cap for employment-based green cards, has seen little progress. Despite bipartisan support, the bill has stalled in Congress, leaving the affected children and their families in a continued state of limbo. Furthermore, advocacy for Documented Dreamers has not translated into concrete policy, reflecting a gap between representation and action.

As Harris campaigns for the presidency, the Indian community looks to her with hopes of substantial reform. Her unique position as a child of immigrants and a prominent political figure places her in an ideal spot to champion immigration reform. Comprehensive changes are needed to address the systemic issues of the current system, ensuring that young, bright individuals are not forced to leave the only country they have ever called home. The future of thousands of potential contributors to American society hinges on such reforms, making it a critical issue for the upcoming election.

Atal Agarwal is the Founder of OpenSphere.ai and Legalbridge.ai that supports high skilled talent with US immigration and global mobility.
New Delhi, Philipp Ackermann, Germany's envoy to India, on Thursday said his country has followed "very closely" the situation in Bangladesh and that he was really keeping his fingers crossed that the military will guarantee a "peaceful transition" to a civilian government in Dhaka as quickly as possible. We have followed very closely what has happened in Bangladesh: German envoy Ackermann

In an interview to PTI at the German embassy here, he also said it is a "really good development" that Muhammad Yunus will be sworn in as the head of the interim government.

Yunus, 84, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work on microlending, was appointed by President Mohammed Shahabuddin as the head of the interim government after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India following widespread protests against her regime over a controversial quota system in jobs.

Following the fall of the Hasina government, several police stations were attacked and set on fire, leading to many officers evacuating their stations due to the threat of more attacks. Over 500 people, including police personnel, have been killed in the violence centring the students' movement.

"Let me say at the outset, we have followed very closely what has happened in Bangladesh. We have seen the recent developments. We have followed with concern the ....casualties. But, I must say today is a day... Muhammad Yunus will be sworn in as the interim head of the government and I think that's a really good development, and I really keep my fingers crossed that the military will guarantee a peaceful transition to a civilian government as quickly as possible," Ackermann told PTI on the sidelines of an event at the embassy.

Asked what could be immediate fallout of this political crisis on the neighbourhood, he said, "any development like this has an impact on the region. But, as quick as... the better we go quickly back to civilian government there, and I see some hope for that."

Yunus Thursday promised to deliver a government which assures safety to its citizens and urged them to assist him in rebuilding the protest-torn Bangladesh, as he described the ouster of Hasina as the country's "second independence".

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
A California dad on the way to pick his daughter up from the airport credits his Apple Watch with saving his life.

Peter Moore, a former tech executive living in Montecito, California, was driving to the Santa Barbara Airport in July when he fell ill.

"I felt a little lightheaded and a little faint, and like a typical male, I thought, 'I'll go to Starbucks. That'll fix it,'" Moore recalled to KTLA-TV Monday.

But a latte didn't "fix it," and Moore's symptoms worsened.

"My phone started to ping and said 'low heart rate,' which I'd never seen before," he explained. "And so I looked at it... my heart rate had dropped to 32. And it was insistent in its notifications that something wasn't right."

Moore called his wife, who met him at the airport, and rushed him to the hospital.

"The doctor kind of theatrically ran in and said, 'This is not good. This is not good. You need a pacemaker right now,'" he said, according to the station.

Within hours, Moore woke up from a successful pacemaker surgery and with a newfound gratitude for his smartwatch.

"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for this little device," he confessed, adding he feels "great" three weeks after the procedure.

"I can absolutely say that if my Apple Watch, bless it, hadn't been politely insistent that I stopped being a stubborn man and get my rear end to the hospital, I'm not 100% sure that I would be here today," Moore wrote in an update on Linkedin. "Technology rightly needs to be controlled and monitored, but in this case, it was a literal lifesaver."
An American woman found tied to a tree and screaming in a forest in India actually shackled herself to the tree, authorities say.

Law enforcement officials and the woman's doctor in the western Indian state of Maharashtra told the BBC that Lalita Kayi, 50, had tied herself to the tree, contradicting the written statement she gave the police.

Kayi told police in a written statement that her husband "chained her and left her in the forest to die without food or water."

claiShemed she was without food or water for 40 days; however, police questioned her statement, noting that it was highly unlikely that someone would survive for that long.

The new update shocked officials, as several teams were tasked with investigating how she came to be in the forest in the first place.

On Tuesday, Saurabh Agarwal, superintendent of police for Sindhudurg, said that Kayi is now saying she is not married and that she was probably suffering from hallucinations when she gave her first statement.

The allegedly told police she was distressed because her visa had run out and her money was low, so she bought the locks and chains and tied herself to the tree.

Kayi is currently receiving treatment at a psychiatric facility.

Dr. Sanghamitra Phule, superintendent of the psychiatric hospital where Kayi is being treated, said her "condition is improving."

"She eats, walks, and also exercises. She is under treatment, and we are also giving her some nutrients that her body was lacking."

Kayi was rescued on July 27 from the dense forests of Sindhudurg district by a cow herder who heard her screams.

The police had to cut off the chain to free her and noted how emaciated she appeared. She was quickly transported to a hospital.

Kayi was found with a copy of her passport that stated she was a US citizen from Massachusetts, along with other documents and her address in Tamil Nadu.

She also had a cell phone, a tablet, and 31,000 rupees ($370) with her.
Russia's army was fighting a major Ukrainian border incursion for the third day running, Moscow said Thursday, with independent analysts saying Kyiv's troops had advanced up to 10 kilometres (six miles) into Russia.

Pro-Kyiv forces stormed into Russia's southwestern Kursk region on Tuesday morning, deploying around 1,000 troops and more than two dozen armoured vehicles and tanks, according to the Russian army.

It appears to be the most significant of several cross-border attacks mounted by Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale military offensive in February 2022.

Russia's defence ministry said Thursday its troops were "continuing to destroy" armed Ukrainian units and were using air strikes, rocket and artillery fire to try to push them back.

It said it had rushed in reserves and was "thwarting attempts to break through" deeper into the Kursk region.

The independent US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Ukraine had made significant territorial gains in the first two days of the incursion.

"Ukrainian forces have made confirmed advances up to 10 kilometres (six miles) into Russia's Kursk Oblast amid continued mechanised offensive operations on Russian territory," it said in its latest update.

"The current confirmed extent and location of Ukrainian advances in Kursk Oblast indicate that Ukrainian forces have penetrated at least two Russian defensive lines and a stronghold," it added.

Kyiv has not officially taken responsibility for the operation, but an aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow was to blame for the incursion.

"The root cause of any escalation, shelling, military actions, forced evacuations and destruction of normal life forms -- including within the Russian Federation's own territories like Kursk and Belgorod regions -- is solely Russia's unequivocal aggression," presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said Thursday on social media.

Without mentioning the Kursk attacks, Zelensky himself said Wednesday: "The more pressure we put on Russia ... the closer we will get to peace. A just peace through just force."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called it a "large-scale provocation" by Kyiv and Russia's top general vowed on Wednesday to crush the incursion.

There have been few detailed updates from Russian officials on the situation on the ground.

The surprise attack appeared to catch Russia's army off guard, triggering criticism of its top brass by the country's influential military bloggers.

The Ukrainian advance has centred on the logistical hub of Sudzha, a town of around 5,000 inhabitants located eight kilometres (five miles) from the Ukrainian border.

Russian military bloggers, who have links to the army, also reported Thursday that Kyiv had made significant advances.

"The situation is complicated and continues to worsen," blogger Yury Podolyaka said in a post on Telegram.

"Sudzha has been completely lost," he said.

The Dva Mayora Telegram channel said Ukraine was "entrenching, indicating that the fighting is likely to be long-term."

Many reported Ukrainian troops had advanced towards the town of Korenevo, more than 25 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.

AFP could not verify those reports.

Russian energy giant Gazprom said on Thursday it would continue shipping gas through the Sudzha metering station, the last transit point for Russian gas heading to Europe via Ukraine.

Moscow also said its forces had destroyed a US-made Bradley Fighting Vehicle that Ukraine was using in the incursion.

The defence ministry had initially blamed a pro-Ukrainian "sabotage group" for carrying out the raid, but it has since said Ukraine's army is carrying out the raid.

Pro-Kyiv militia, including those made up of Russian citizens fighting against Moscow, have staged several previous cross-border raids.

But the latest incursion into the Kursk region appears to be the most successful and organised attempt by Ukraine to penetrate Russian territory.

Kyiv's objectives remain unclear, with some analysts suggesting it is an attempt to stretch Russia's army, forcing them to move units away from the eastern Donetsk region where they have been advancing.

The White House said Wednesday it was contacting Ukraine to learn more about the "objectives" of the incursion.

The governor of the Kursk region introduced an "emergency situation" in the region on Wednesday evening, a move that gives authorities the power to restrict movement in a bid to bring the situation under control.

Several thousand have been evacuated on both sides of the border.
Tropical Storm Debby made a second landfall on Thursday in South Carolina where it is expected to drop as much as 9 inches of rain amid fears of severe flooding as the slow-moving storm system lumbers up the East Coast, according to reports.

Debby came ashore near Bulls Bay, S.C. As of 8 a.m. on Thursday it was about 65 miles west-northwest of Myrtle Beach with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and higher gusts.

Some portions of eastern South Carolina will see rainfall amounts as high as 25 inches, forecasters warned. Considerable flooding is expected across portions of eastern South Carolina and southeast North Carolina through Friday.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the area north of South Santee River, South Carolina to Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina.

Debby is moving toward the northwest near 7 mph and is expected to accelerate across South Carolina and central North Carolina through Thursday night the National Hurricane Center said in an update.

Debby is then expected to move faster toward the northeast across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Friday and Atlantic Canada on Saturday.

The storm is expected to weaken and become a tropical depression later Thursday,

At least six people have died in Florida and Georgia because of the storm, which hit the Gold Coast of Florida on Monday as a Category 1 hurricane, the Associated Press reported.

The governors of North and South Carolina, Florida and Georgia have declared states of emergency.

In Georgia, officials in Bulloch County reviewed the damage in the wake of Debby where four dams were breached, more than 75 people rescued and about 100 roads closed.

"We've been faced with a lot of things we've never been faced with before," Bulloch County Commission Chairman Roy Thompson said, the AP reported.

"I'm 78-plus years old and have never seen anything like this before in Bulloch County. It's amazing what has happened, and amazing what is going to continue to happen until all these waters get out of here," he said.

The storm could dump up to 7 inches of rain from central North Carolna northward across portions of Virginia through Friday with some pockets seeing 10 inches, the National Weather Service reported.

Marying through upstate New York and Vermont could measure up to 4 inches of rain through Friday night.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. admitted to keeping roadkill in his freezer his "whole life," days after he confirmed that he dumped the carcass of a bear cub in New York City's Central Park in 2014, according to the Associated Press,

The independent presidential candidate made the admission when he was talking to reporters outside a courtroom in Albany, N.Y., Wednesday as part of a lawsuit seeking to keep him off the November ballot in the Empire State because of residency.

"I've been picking up roadkill my whole life," he said, the Associated Press reported. "I have a freezer full of it."

Stefanie Spear, a Kennedy campaign spokesperson, told the Associated Press that Kennedy feeds birds with the roadkill meat.

She said he is a falconer who trains ravens.

But he no longer has the refrigerator at a property in Westchester County that he claims as a residence.

RFK Jr. revealed he ditched the dead animal in Central Park in a video posted on social media on Sunday after the New Yorker reached out for comment for a story published on Monday.

He said he was driving in upstate New York when the car in front of him struck the bear.

He said he planned to take the cub home, skin it and save the meat for later.

"I was going to skin the bear, and it was in very good condition. And I was going to put the meat in my refrigerator. You can do that in New York - you can get a bear tag for a roadkill bear," he said.

He said he plan went awry when ended up spending too much time with friends and was in a hurry to catch a flight.

So he said he concocted the scheme to dump the bear cub's body in Central Park along with an old bike he had in his car to make it look like it was fatally struck.

Kennedy testified that he moved to California to be with his actress wife, Cheryl Hines, but it was only supposed to be temporary and he planned to return to New York.
BETHESDA, Md. - Stayntouch, a global leader in cloud hotel property management systems (PMS) and guest-centric technology, continues to elevate the hospitality industry with advanced self-service technology. Stayntouch has seen a 72% increase in hotel customers adopting its kiosk solution, comparing the last 12 months to the previous 12 months. This reflects a growing traveler preference for self-service check-in options, helping hoteliers redefine the guest welcome experience and front-office operations.

A 2022 survey found three-quarters of travelers would be more likely to stay at a hotel offering self-service technology to minimize contact with staff. These trends have only accelerated, with the interactive kiosk market expected to exceed $45 billion by 2028.

Stayntouch was the first hotel PMS provider to develop and embed kiosk functionality directly into its platform in 2015. Since then, hotel customers using Stayntouch Kiosk have benefited from:

Reduced Costs: A staff-light guest welcome, enhanced efficiency, and lower labor costs by operating with minimal or no front desk staff;

A staff-light guest welcome, enhanced efficiency, and lower labor costs by operating with minimal or no front desk staff; Incremental Revenue: Increased revenue and ROI driven by targeted, automated amenity and upgrade offers;

Increased revenue and ROI driven by targeted, automated amenity and upgrade offers; Personalization: A seamless and personalized guest welcome, with check-in times under 30 seconds; and

A seamless and personalized guest welcome, with check-in times under 30 seconds; and Guest Satisfaction: A more creative and guest-centric lobby design, helping drive up to a 20% increase in guest satisfaction.

Leading innovators in the hotel and accommodation industry have partnered with Stayntouch to stay at the cusp of cutting-edge kiosk technology:

At PUBLIC, our goal is to continually innovate and utilize innovative technology to provide outstanding experiences to a wide range of guests. Through our partnership with Stayntouch, we've optimized our check-in process using kiosk and mobile solutions to assist our PUBLIC advisors in delivering an enhanced guest experience. Ian Schrager, Owner and Creator of New Yorks PUBLIC Hotel

Chicagos Sentral Michigan Avenue achieved a 253% ROI from their Stayntouch kiosk subscription, skyrocketing revenue and providing a more personalized guest experience.

Stayntouch PMS and Kiosk have streamlined and enhanced our check-in process. Guests now have the option of a rapid, staff-less welcome experience, presented in a way that avoids any sense of pressure, so the upsell decision rests entirely with the guest. The revenue generated from ancillary upsells and offers is significant, surpassing our subscription costs and tech investment with Stayntouch. Todd Butler, Chief Technology Officer at Sentral

Stayntouch Kiosk was designed with both guests and operators in mind, delivering equal benefits to each. Travelers appreciate having flexible check-in options, allowing them to engage with the hotel on their own terms. Simultaneously, kiosks alleviate hoteliers from handling routine requests, enabling them to maintain operational efficiency. Through our robust partnerships with hoteliers across the industry, we continuously innovate to meet their needs, enhance profitability and enrich the guest experience. Dan Hogan, Chief Product Officer at Stayntouch

For more information, visit www.stayntouch.com.

About Stayntouch

Stayntouch provides a cloud-native, full-featured hotel property management system (PMS) with over 1,200 best-in-class integrations. Its intuitive design and flexible capabilities help hoteliers streamline operations, drive revenue, increase profits, and captivate guests. The innovative UpsellPRO feature, powered by Attribute-Based Selling (ABS) and dynamic pricing, enables hotels to unbundle reservations and market individual room features during the booking process, creating expanded revenue opportunities. Additionally, Stayntouch offers a comprehensive tech suite for seamless booking, payments, channel management, and digital guest check-in. Backed by a team of professionals with deep hospitality industry experience, Stayntouch is a trusted partner to leading management companies, innovative independent brands, and iconic independent properties. For more information, visit www.stayntouch.com.

Elliott Mest

MFC PR
An offshoot of the well-established Potter Handy firm, The Reddy Law Firm is quickly becoming known for its aggressive pursuit of claims under the California Unruh Civil Rights Act and the California Disabled Persons Act. These lawsuits, often referencing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), are primarily filed by serial plaintiffs who challenge businesses on a variety of accessibility issues, from parking and entrances to sales counters. With a growing number of cases being filed, especially in California state courts, its crucial for businesses to understand how to effectively respond to and navigate these legal challenges. In the article below, JMBM partner Stuart Tubis explores the key aspects of these lawsuits, provides guidance on how to handle them, and offers insights into the best practices for addressing such claims.

The Reddy Law Firm LLC is a relatively new law firm that started filing accessibility lawsuits on behalf of various plaintiffs alleging violations of the California Unruh Civil Rights Act and California Disabled Persons Act. Though a relatively new ADA plaintiffs lawyers, the firm is an offshoot of Potter Handy, from San Diego. The lawsuits generally reference the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well.

Generally, each of these lawsuits are filed on behalf of one of several serial plaintiffs, who file many similar cases each year. Some serial ADA plaintiffs in California have been known to file hundreds, sometimes thousands of lawsuits each against various businesses.

The Reddy Law Firm has filed Unruh litigation on behalf of these plaintiffs:

Meryl Pomponio

Orlando Garcia

Brian Whitaker

These lawsuits show no signs of stopping. Each lawsuit includes a summons as a cover page informing you that you have been sued and must respond. It also contains the complaint itself, which generally looks something like this:

 Source: JMBM

The complaints have generally stated in the first paragraph Plaintiff is a California resident with physical disabilities and a member of a protected class of persons under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

It goes on to allege that the Plaintiff is disabled, tried to access the goods and services of the defendants business, and was unable to because the facilities were in violation of the ADA and California law. Common issues identified in the lawsuits include parking, paths of travel, entrances, and sales counters.

There are specific accessibility requirements applicable to most businesses and places open to the public as outlined in the ADA and California law. For example, accessible parking should not have a slope greater than 2.1% and should have proper dimensions, striping and signage as well as a striped access aisle next to it.

 Source: JMBM

Located in Alameda California, The Reddy Law Firm is owned by Prathima Reddy, Esq. according to its website. Its possible that the lawsuit could focus on website accessibility issues for a blind plaintiff, although this does not seem to be the focus of litigation filed by The Reddy Firm at this time.

The first thing youll need to do is respond to the complaint within 30 days of service of the lawsuit if filed in the Superior Court of the State of California.

Otherwise, the plaintiff can request a default judgment be entered against you by the court for failure to respond.

Many similar lawsuits used to be filed in federal court. In recent years, however, plaintiffs filing such cases have preferred California State Court likely seeking a more friendly and anonymous forum. If filed in federal court the case is assigned to one judge who is responsible for everything in the case. State court cases are harder to track compared to federal cases. Also, unlike cases filed in state court, federal judges become intimately familiar with and scrutinize the cases, the parties and the lawyers. Many of the lawsuits are filed in Superior Court for the County of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange or Contra Costa but could be filed in other counties depending on the location of the business and facts involved. Generally, responding to the complaint involves filing an answer that either admits or denies the various allegations and asserts relevant affirmative defenses helpful to the case, such as lack of standing or statute of limitations issues.

It might be more prudent, however, to file a motion to dismiss if there are strong defenses. It is important to hire experienced ADA/Unruh counsel to represent you and advise you on the viable defenses for your specific case, such as JMBMs ADA Compliance and Defense attorneys.

You and your counsel should determine if the claims alleged in the complaint are valid. In other words  is there liability? Some lawsuits lack merit and can be defended or dismissed by the court. See my articles on these topics:

How To Defend An ADA Or Unruh Lawsuit For Lack Of Standing by Stuart Tubis

California Unruh Civil Rights Act Law Basics by Stuart Tubis

Full Article Archive

If there is liability, the next step is to explore a possible settlement of the case. The goal of this approach is to negotiate the best terms possible given the facts and circumstances of the case. We always seek to lower the settlement amount for our clients as much as possible, provide plenty of time to update the property, and obtain a full release of liability with complete dismissal of the lawsuit. In settlement negotiations, resolving the lawsuit in the most efficient way possible is the objective.

See how JMBMs Global Hospitality Group can help you. Click here for the latest articles on ADA Compliance and Defense.

Jim Butler

+1 310 201 3526

JMBM

View source
Courtyard Boston Downtown - Image Credit JLL

JLLs Hotels & Hospitality Group, as sole and exclusive advisor, presents for sale the fee simple interest in the 315-room Courtyard Boston Downtown. The Property also includes 12,684 square feet of meeting space and approximately 46,000 square feet of leased retail space. The Hotel benefits from a core location in Downtown Bostons Theater District, steps from the Boston Common and all of the citys diverse leisure, corporate, and convention demand generators. The historic Hotel currently operates subject to a brand management agreement expiring January 2, 2026. As such, the Hotel presents investors with extremely rare optionality in the high-barrier Boston lodging market.

Investment highlights

Core Downtown Boston Location

One-of-a-Kind, Historic Hotel Asset

In-Place Retail Income

Strong Boston Lodging Fundamentals, High Barriers to Entry with No New Supply

Business Plan Optionality

In-Place Cash Flow with Significant Upside

Attractive Basis, Discount to Replacement Cost

For details visit here.
The Retired Investor: Labor Unions Could Be Key to Elections

Over the past few years, labor unions have experienced a renaissance in interest and activity. As a result, unions have begun to flex their muscles, and their influence may extend beyond economics into this year's turbulent election politics.

In several columns over the past two years, I have explained how unions have made headway in various U.S. economic sectors from autos to Amazon. The UAW's strikes against the Big Three auto companies are what most readers may remember. It ended in victory for the workers and sparked further union outreach to manufacturers in the notoriously anti-union South.

In addition, unions in other areas have begun to organize at Amazon Starbucks, and a host of different companies with some success. And yet, all union membership in the United States is still just about 10 percent, which is half the rate in 1983. If you add in workers who have no union affiliation, but whose jobs are covered by a union contract, that percentage jumps to 11.2 percent.

In total, we are talking about no more than 16.2 million workers in a total American labor force of 167.58 million people. How could such a paltry number of voters impact who wins the presidency?

My father was a machinist, working two jobs in Philadelphia when I grew up. His union job was with SKF, a Swedish ball-bearing company, while his side job was at a non-union shop with higher pay but no benefits. He voted in every election his union bosses dictated and he also worked in his spare time to get out the vote.

Back in the day, Democrats took his participation, and the union vote for granted. This Democrat voting bloc carried on through the decades until at least 2012. During the Barack Obama election, 66 percent of union voters backed him, while only 53 percent of nonunion workers voted Democratic. And then came Donald Trump four years later.

In 2016, only 53 percent of union members voted for Hilary Clinton, as an increasing number of working-class Americans, dissatisfied with both their political and economic share of the American pie voted for Trump and populism. That precipitated a great deal of soul-searching among the Democrats. As a result, Democrats over the last two national election cycles are no longer taking the union vote for granted.

They have made some headway in regaining their marginal edge with union voters. Joe Biden captured 60 percent of union votes in 2020, which was an improvement over the Clinton numbers, but still below Obama's turnout by 6 points. In the 2022 midterm elections, 63 percent of union members voted for Democrat members of Congress.

However, in this age of gathering populism, the union vote can go either way this time around. In the past, union members are more likely to vote than nonunion workers. And while they are only 10 percent of the workforce, in three swing states  Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania  union membership is much higher than the country overall. More than 12 percent of workers in each state belong to a union.

Given this backdrop, it is not surprising that for the first time in history, an American president walked the UAW picket line, while Donald Trump countered that move by addressing striking workers as well. It was also no accident that the Teamsters President Sean O'Brien addressed the Republican National Convention, which was an unprecedented action by a union representative.

It is no accident that Vice President Kamala Harris and her pick for vice president, Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota, as well as Donald Trump's running mate, J.D. Vance, made sure to visit Michigan (both a swing as well as a labor state) on Wednesday. Against heavy odds, Vice President Harris selected Governor Walz over Pennsylvania's Gov. Josh Shapiro. Pundits believe that one reason Shapiro did not make the grade was his support for private-school vouchers, which put him at odds with teachers' unions.

Both the Democrat and the Republican teams have floated several pro-unions, pro-worker, policy initiatives. Workers have been receptive to this kind of populist rhetoric but countering that has been the nation's weak labor laws.

In addition, several red states' recent legislative attempts to stop further union organizing in the southern part of the country are not playing well among the membership. The conservative Supreme Court rulings in favor of business over unions are another stumbling block for many workers as well.

All indications are that if the election is as tight as the polls indicate, a handful of swing states could make a big difference in who wins. In three of those five states, unions may end up holding the key to who wins. Both sides know this, so expect a lot more attention to be paid to this crucial voting bloc.
Elder Services Relocates Administrative Offices

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. (Elder Services) relocated its administrative offices to a central location in the heart of Pittsfield.

The new space, previously occupied by Wayfair's open-concept call center, underwent significant renovations on the first and second floors to construct offices and other spaces for Elder Services' growing workforce. It offers ground level access, an enhancement for clients and visitors with health and mobility issues as the Agency's former space required a journey to the fourth floor to access services. Elder Services is now housed in its new location at 73 South Church Street in Pittsfield.

Christopher McLaughlin, Executive Director, expressed the significance of this move for Elder Services' staff and the people they support.

"Our staff are excited to have moved into bright, contemporary space in the heart of Pittsfield. Our new offices enable easier access for our clients and enough space for our workforce, which continues to grow in response to unprecedented demand for the services we provide."

The Agency is also celebrating its Golden Anniversary. Elder Services was incorporated in 1974 as a private, non-profit home care corporation with three staff. What was once an Agency focused solely on home care support has grown to offer an extensive list of services including home care, information and referral, caregiver support, SHINE counseling, housing options, long-term care ombudsman advocacy, money management and the senior nutrition program

(Meals on Wheels).

"Berkshire County is a much different community in 2024 than it was in 1974. With one of the oldest and poorest populations in Massachusetts, living in Berkshire County poses considerable challenges for seniors, individuals with disabilities and caregivers. Elder Services is proud of our legacy of supporting individuals for more than half a century and look forward to serving even more people in the future," McLaughlin said.
Chelsea Gai To Speak At Ventfort Hall

LENOX, Mass.  Chelsea Gaia, Director of Programming & Events for Ventfort Hall, will share her botanical and historical insights on the art of Floriography, the Victorian language of flowers, at Ventfort Hall on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 4 pm.

A tea will be served after the presentation.

During Victorian times women would send bouquets to one another, sharing secrets, desires, and even threats in the floral combinations.

Chelsea Gaia is an avid researcher and student of life. Gaia is openly neuro-divergent and finds joy and fulfillment executing in-depth study and research in many disciplines, as well as the history of each particular study. Among her skills, she is a native plant expert for flora of the Pacific Northwest region of North America, a stained glass restoration specialist, a visual artist, a 20-year photojournalist, a seasoned graphic designer, and a multi-disciplined application scientist.
Dalton Climate Panel Stresses Funding Needs, Collaboration

DALTON, Mass.  The town's Climate Action Plan needs to consider funding sources and collaboration with large businesses, said Steering Committee members at their first meeting last week.

Over the course of about 10 months, volunteers will be working with the consultant Blue Strike Environmental to develop a plan in an attempt to achieve net zero by 2050, in line with the state's goal.

The plan will consider the town's needs and capabilities and seek strategies to decrease its dependence on fossil fuels for homes, businesses, municipal facilities, and vehicles.

The Steering Committee consists of individuals ranging in age and expertise. At key points throughout the project, it will meet with Blue Strike.

Committee members present at last week's meeting were School Committee member Richard Lacatell, Dalton Community Recreation Association Executive Director Alison Peters, Planning Board member Robert Collins, Wahconah Regional High School student Jackson Crow, and a number of Green Committee members.

The town's Green Committee will be serving as the plan's project team which will work in developing the plan.

The role of the Steering Committee is to review this work, provide additional input that may not have been considered, and act as a bridge to town leadership.

It is also meant to help ensure the climate action plan reflects the needs and interests of the full Dalton community, not just the Green Committee.

During the meeting, the Blue Strike consultants introduced themselves and demonstrated their expertise ranging in economics, corporate sustainability, climate science, geology, data analytics, and community outreach.

The plan's development is divided into three main phases, each taking approximately three months to complete. The specific timeline may vary based on scheduling and data availability.

"Sometimes, for example, data collection, we're a little bit at the at the whims of either the utility or people who are gathering the data and stuff, and so sometimes there's a little bit of push and pull," Senior Project Manager Rich Swanson said.

"... With the engagement stuff, we want to make sure that we are using the calendar with as much shrewdness as possible. So, we're not trying to do big outreach pushes, for example, in December when nobody's available, or during vacation weeks in the summer, or things like that."

Phase one involves gathering data and establishing a baseline greenhouse gas inventory and forecast. Phase two entails conducting stakeholder engagement and gathering community input. In contrast, phase three involves co-creating emission reduction strategies and developing an actionable implementation plan.

In phase one, they will create a baseline emissions profile for the town, which measures its current greenhouse gas emissions and attempts to predict any future emissions.

The two main sources of emission in the United States are energy and transportation, Blue Strike technical lead Daianne Starr said.

"So, this is what we would expect in the town, to be the biggest emission sources, but it can be different depending on the composition of the city, if there's industries or heavy reliance, for example, in natural gas and so forth," Starr said.

The data is usually classified as residential, commercial, and industrial.

"Then we have, for example, megawatts, and we use the U.S. community protocols, and the EPA standards to convert this usage into emissions, and we do the same for natural gas," she said.

Town Planner Janko Tomasic has already started working with Blue Strike Environmental on the initial work of the data collection and greenhouse gas inventory for the plan.

"The utilities have to keep track of that information. In Massachusetts, as I mentioned, it's quite straightforward. In other places, the utility is very resistant to sharing that information, but here, through various legislative acts and policies and stuff, it's become quite transparent," Swanson said.

During the project's development, it is important to collaborate with the largest businesses in town, including Crane Currency and Ashuelot Park tenants, because their energy usage and emissions could significantly impact the town's overall greenhouse gas profile, Collins said.

During Phase 2, they will engage with stakeholders through Steering Committee meetings, virtual community meetings, and surveys to gather input on the community's concerns, interests, and priorities related to climate action.

They will create channels for two-way communication to encourage conversations and foster a sense of community ownership over the climate action plan, Starr said.

Crow asked what amount of youth involvement Blue Strike intends to incorporate during this process.

"We want, actually, ideally, all different sectors of the Dalton population would be involved, and our plan would represent the collective voices of different demographics that include age, but it is paramount to have the input of younger people," Starr said.

One thing they can do is work with Crow to develop engagement strategies that specifically target younger community members, such as through high school programs and social media outreach.

"There's a lot of different tools we can use to try to bring attention to the issue, but ideally, we want to have as much as possible participation in a very simplistic answer," she said.

"And if you, as a representative of this part of the population, have thoughts [and] opinions, especially being part of listening to this presentation, our emails are always open, and we are very eager to get feedback and suggestions. Feel free to reach out to us at any time."

During the third and final phase, they will combine the community input with the data to develop emission reduction strategies, implement a plan, and create ways to measure progress.

They will also find funding sources and produce a clear roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next 10 to 12 years.

Funding was a big concern raised by a number of members. Dalton is a small town of about 6,330 residents, and funding is limited for climate action initiatives.

"We understand Dalton is a, you know, it's a small community, and we feel very privileged to be able to work with you because I know that just per capita the CAP itself is a big undertaking for the town," Swanson said.

In Massachusetts, several programs are available for communities to participate in to receive additional funding. These programs have specific participation criteria, and some offer benefits such as tax credits, he said.

He said that although some challenges may arise, alternative strategies exist to secure funding for various action steps.

"It's not so much the size of the town that we've found [that are left in the wayside for funding]. It's really kind of the engagement with the funders that matters, and sometimes, there are small towns where the capacity or the enthusiasm just isn't quite there to kind of go after funds," Swanson said
Fire Chief Christian Tobin is sworn in January after a nine-month search for Fire Department leader. The chief was suspended on Thursday.

Dalton Fire Chief Suspended, Under Investigation

DALTON, Mass.  The fire chief has been suspended for a month over allegations of sexual harassment, grant overspending and "employee concerns."

Chief Christian Tobin countered with a thick packet of documents alleging "unlawful departmental practices."

The claims came during a contentious Board of Water Commissioners meeting on Thursday morning that lasted about 20 minutes.

The board voted unanimously to place Tobin on four weeks of paid administrative leave.

Tobin, hired in January, had sent an email to the board saying he'd be gone by the end of the year several weeks prior to the meeting, according to board Chair James Driscoll This would make him the fourth fire chief to depart in just over year.

Driscoll said the board will make a decision about the chief following a four-week investigation into Tobin's conduct.

During the meeting, Select Board member Marc Strout recommended that the investigation be done by an outside firm.

Driscoll said this recommendation was noted but no further action was taken on this recommendation during the meeting.

At the start of the meeting, the district's attorney, Elisabeth Goodman, from Cain Hibbard and Meyers, asked the chief if he would be willing to reach an accord with the board about when he would be willing to leave and what it would take for him to leave voluntarily sooner.

In response, Tobin said he was just at the meeting to listen as this is the first he is hearing of these allegations and did not have anything to comment on.

Tobin, who did not speak otherwise, accuses the district of illegal wages and hour practices, unlawful public meetings, improper safety practices and employee medical and respiratory protection, the misuse of district credit card funds, falsification of records for personal or others' benefit, and among other allegations.

"I suspect that the true purpose of this meeting is to create an atmosphere of intimidation and hostility and to damage my reputation through libelous and slanderous accusations. This has had a profound personal and professional impact to me," Tobin provided in a statement.

He claims that over the past few months he has worked "tirelessly to rectify unlawful departmental practices" that pose "serious legal, liability, and public concerns that could significantly impact" the district's operations.

Whenever Tobin would raise these concerns through various, he claimed that he faced "increasing intimidation" that culminated in this public meeting.

According to Tobin's statement, he has contacted the Office of the Inspector General, the Attorney General, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and other agencies "to address and correct these wrongdoings."

The board says it is investigating claims of harassment from three women who say they have been yelled at and sexually harassed, the hiring of ambulance personnel who are not qualified emergency medical technicians, employee complaints about conduct toward them and grant overspending.

In addition, Driscoll claims that Tobin has some unfulfilled employment agreements.

"I interviewed several employees of the department and I know three women who have been harassed, intimidated, yelled at and have raised issues with the commissioners," Goodman said.

"And furthermore, there are women who have said you talk in a sexual manner about your body parts and this is sexual harassment and the board is required to address those issues."

There is a letter dated July 23 signed by many members of the department raising concerns about Tobin's conduct towards them, she said.

Commissioner Michael Kubicki said when he asked the chief whether he was aware of any morale issues, Tobin told him that he was not going to talk anymore, had things to do, "slammed his door" and left for the day.

"I'm also aware that you made the choice to hire people who were working on the ambulance who were not certified as [emergency medical technicians] and they are riding on the ambulance without certification at cost to the taxpayers of the district and also putting at risk the license for the ambulance services," Goodman said.

More than 20 attendees including officers, firefighters, and town officials, showed up to the meeting, some of whom expressed their support for the chief.

Resident Donald Davis said he has spoken to staff here and everybody he has spoken to said positive things about Tobin.

"I've only been involved for a very, very short time with you guys and the Fire Department and chief. Since I've lived here for 25 years, the Dalton Fire District has been a very great group of people and moving forward with it. The fire chief, I've known him for a very short time but he seems very, very knowledgeable and I believe he's got a lot of integrity," Davis said.

"And I think that there is probably a lot of other issues that probably will be brought up moving forward but I've never heard anybody speak irrational or harsh about this fire chief. Maybe he's is little aggressive moving forward, type of a personality some people have, but I had no problems with the former chief or the chief before him."

Thomas Irwin, who has been working with the chief investigating future options for the fire station said he has not had any negative interactions with the chief.

Resident Todd Logan said he was confused with the long list of accusations against Tobin because there is a clear process in how to address these issues but it seems odd that these allegations are being consolidated into one meeting.

"They weren't brought up as they came in because a lot of the people that had made those accusations feel that there will be will be retaliation against anybody that speaks out. And this is not the first time this district is having to deal with this chemistry," Driscoll

"So there have been no really good inner communications between the Board of Water Commissioners and fire chief's office. So at that point, we decided that because everything was being done through email now that we need to have this sit down, and we needed to mediate the issue."

After the meeting, he said the accusations from Tobin were more comments and information, some of which predated Tobin and most of which fell under his purview. "The commissioners do not run day-to-day operations or personnel information," he said.

The meeting had been posted this week with an unusual agenda item: to discuss complaints against the chief.

Ordinarily, meetings to discuss "complaints" against an individual are held during executive sessions, and the individual's name is not included in the agenda.

By the request of Tobin, however, the meeting was held as an open session. Tobin said in his document that this request was initially denied by Driscoll but that he insisted. Driscoll said the accusations have come in over the past couple months and that complainants were told to bring them "up the chain of command" but that didn't happen.

"Reading through this, it seems like just prior to me being terminated from that same position as the current chief, it seems like an awful lot of the same things that happened under the cover of darkness from the commissioners and the department," said James Peltier, who was fired last year. "You come up with certain things or people come to you with nameless accusations and then it's actually thrown upon you and you have no time to react."

The Fire District welcomed Tobin to the department in January following an approximately nine-month search. The search stemmed from the firing of one chief, the retirement of another, and the departure of a third. More information here.

Tobin has nearly 25 years experience in the field and had recently retired as a deputy chief of operations for the Greater Naples Fire Rescue District in the state of Florida. He is also a veteran of the Marine Corps. He received his Massachusetts accreditation in July through the state Fire Service Commission.

During his short time in Dalton, he's championed transparency in the department's workings, started monthly community meetings and pushed for upgrading or expanding the Fire Department's facilities.
MassDOT Alerts Customers of EZDriveMA Scam

BOSTON  The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is once again reminding customers to be mindful of text message-based scams, also known as smishing. The scammers are claiming to represent the tolling agency and requesting payment for unpaid tolls.

Customers receiving the scam text messages seem to be chosen at random as the targeted phone numbers are not uniquely associated with an account or usage of toll roads. Customers who receive an unsolicited text, email, or similar message suggesting it is from EZDriveMA or another toll agency should not click on the link.

MassDOT is underscoring that:

EZDriveMA will never request payment by text.

All links associated with EZDriveMA will include www.EZDriveMA.com

The EZDrive "smishing" scam is part of a?series of smishing scams?which the FBI is aware of. Smishing is when unscrupulous actors send deceptive text messages to get someone to reveal confidential or financial information.

The FBI recommends individuals that receive the fraudulent messages do the following:

File a complaint with the IC3,?www.ic3.gov and be sure to include: The phone number from where the text originated.

The website listed within the text. Check your account using the toll service's legitimate website. Contact the toll service's customer service phone number at (877) 627-7745. Delete any smishing texts received. If you clicked any link or provided your information, take efforts to secure your personal information and financial accounts. Dispute any unfamiliar charges.
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Actor Josh Hartnett has shared the story of how he met his wife Tamsin Egerton while filming the worst movie theyve ever starred in.

The Oppenheimer star, 46, first encountered the St Trinians actor, 35, when they co-starred in The Lovers, playing a couple in the time-travelling adventure film.

Speaking to actor Julia Stiles in Interview magazine, Hartnett admitted that the pair met each other in the most Hollywood way imaginable.

We played husband and wife in the worst movie either of us have ever made, he said. No offence to the director, itll remain nameless. It just got lost in post-production.

Both stars were already in relationships when they first met, but they quickly split up with their significant others, Hartnett said.

We were shooting here in London and both had significant others, and both realised that wasnt going to work because we really liked each other, he explained. So I broke up with my girlfriend, she broke up with her boyfriend, and then after we stopped filming, we started to date.

The couple were first linked in 2012, and initially had a long distance relationship with Harnett based in the United States and Egerton living in Britain.

open image in gallery The couple met on set more than a decade ago ( Getty Images )

I was living in New York, and she was living in London, so we went on a few vacations together, the actor said. Then she came out to the States and we went on a long road trip where she met my parents and it kept going.

And then she kept staying with me and I kept staying with her. We were living a lot of the time between houses together, and then she got pregnant and then we got married.

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Hartnett and Egerton welcomed their first child, a daughter, in 2015, and are now parents to four children. They eventually got married in November 2021 and are based in the English countryside.

The actor, who is currently starring in M Night Shyamalans thriller Trap, also told Stiles that he and his family currently have a nice outdoorsy life in the middle of nowhere, living not that far from London.

Speaking to The Independent in 2023, Harnett revealed that 90 per cent of his life now revolves around his family rather than his acting work.
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Today marks 20 years since the infamous incident when a Dave Matthews Band tour bus dumped an estimated 800 pounds of human waste onto an open-top passenger boat sailing down the Chicago River.

The unpleasant anniversary has been marked with an oral history by local publication Chicago Magazine. Last year on this date, a plaque was attached to the Kinzie Street Bridge, which reads: This solemn spot reminds us of a day a simple tour turned into a flood of something memorable.

Matthews has repeatedly expressed his regret for the disgusting ordeal, telling a WTMX radio podcast in 2009: Ill apologize for that as long as I have to.

He added: The bus driver lost his job, and I didnt have my finger on the button, but it was one of our buses  wasnt mine  but it was one of the buses in my employment and so I feel bad about it. It would be funnier if it was anyone else but me.

The unpleasant incident occurred in between two shows the band were playing at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin. The group were staying at Chicagos Peninsula Hotel, and booked a total of five buses to transport band members back and forth.

On August 8, 2004, bus driver Stefan Wohl was driving alone over the Kinzie Street Bridge when he decided to empty the buss blackwater tank.

The Kinzie Street bridge in downtown Chicago, where Poopgate occurred in 2004. ( Getty Images )

At that moment, the sightseeing passenger boat Chicagos Little Lady was passing under the bridge while hosting a Chicago Architecture Foundation tour of the Chicago River.

The full contents of the blackwater tank landed on the boats open-roof terrace. Around two-thirds of the 120 passengers aboard the tour boat were soaked with liquid excrement. According to a later filing by the Illinois Attorney General: The liquid waste was brownish yellow in color, and had a foul, offensive odor. The liquid human waste went into passengers eyes, mouths, hair, and onto clothing and personal belongings, many of which were soaked. Some of the passengers suffered nausea and vomiting as a result of exposure to the human waste.

Newspaper reporter Brett McNeil, who was onboard, told Chicago Magazine: The bus was moving from northeast to southwest across the bridge, and as it hit the bridge, it opened the toilets, which then began cascading down. So its like the bus was towing a rooster tail of toilet waste. We basically hit it like the Maid of the Mist. It was a waterfall of toilet water that we passed under.

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The boat immediately returned to dock, and passengers were issued refunds. Five were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for testing. A physician working that day recalled: I dont believe anybody suffered any acute injury or illness, but rather, it was the exposure. Ill say that it raised interesting, fascinating questions about post-exposure prophylaxis to various potentially transmittable diseases, and it led us to have conversations with other specialists to discuss what, if anything, should be done.

After examining security camera footage, police identified Wohl as being responsible. In March 2005, the driver pleaded guilty to reckless conduct and discharging contaminants to cause water pollution. He was sentenced to 150 hours of community service, fined $10,000 (paid to environmental group Friends of the Chicago River) and received 18 months probation.

The Dave Matthews Band additionally donated $50,000 to the Chicago Park District, $50,000 to Friends of the Chicago River and paid the State of Illinois $200,000 in a settlement.

Lisa Madigan, who was at the time Illinoiss Attorney General, told Chicago Magazine: It was one of those horrible incidents where youre reminded that truth is always stranger than fiction. I mean, who could make this up, right? For the passengers on the boat, it was definitely the worst possible case of right place, wrong time.
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Kanye West has admitted to being under the influence of alcohol while sending anti-semitic tweets in 2022.

The rapper faced controversy after writing on Twitter (now named X) that he was going death con 3 on Jewish people. Wests account was temporarily locked as a result and the tweet was deleted by the platform.

I was drinking when I put up the DEFCON tweet, West said in a newly-shared 2022 interview with Candace Owens on her podcast Candace. DEFCON is an acronym that refers to the state of alert of Americas militaries.

West continued: You wanna know what alcohol I had inside me? Hennessy. It turns us gray. The demons [come out].

When asked why he didnt explain that he was intoxicated earlier, West said he didnt want to be discredited because he still considered the comments his truth.

His sentiments led Adidas to sever ties with West and end its lucrative Yeezy footwear partnership, calling the comments unacceptable, hateful, and dangerous. Clothing brand Gap, which had also collaborated with the rapper on a clothing line, stopped stocking products affiliated with West.

Kanye West has faced intense backlash over anti-semitic comments dating back to 2022 ( Getty Images )

Wests anti-Jewish rhetoric intensified in December 2022, when he said there were good things about Hitler in an interview with right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Following the interview, West also posted an image of a swastika blended with a Star of David.

West later apologized to the Jewish community in December 2023.

In a statement written in Hebrew and posted on his Instagram account, he said (as translated by Google): I sincerely apologise to the Jewish community for any unintended outburst caused by my words or actions. It was not my intention to hurt or demean, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused. I am committed to starting with myself and learning from this experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding in the future.

Your forgiveness is important to me, and I am committed to making amends and promoting unity, he added.

West is currently facing a series of lawsuits linked to his anti-semitic behavior. Earlier this year, former Yeezy employee Trevor Phillips sued the star, claiming discrimination, a hostile work environment, whistleblower retaliation and unsafe working conditions, among other allegations.

In February, West claimed that Adidas was suing him for a further $250m.
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Taylor Swifts Eras Tour concerts in Vienna have been canceled after Austrian law enforcement officers arrested two people suspected of planning a major attack on one of the performances.

Federal and local officers worked to arrest the two men on Wednesday. Police said one of the men, 19, had pledged allegiance to ISIS last month. The teen was arrested in Ternitz, an hour south of the capital, on Wednesday morning while the other man was taken into custody in Vienna hours later.

Both suspects had become radicalized on the internet and had specific plans to carry out an attack, officials said. The 19-year-old Austrian citizen was arrested with chemicals found by a bomb squad, and investigators are now determining if they could have been used to make an explosive.

The performances, which were originally scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna, are now canceled. This move comes after officials initially said the concerts were set to move forward with heightened security.

open image in gallery Taylor Swift, pictured performing in Amsterdam on July 5, will move forward with her Vienna, Austria concerts this week, police said ( Getty Images for TAS Rights Mana )

We have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyones safety, management company Barracuda Music said in a statement. All tickets will be automatically refunded.

The A-lister has not commented on the potential attack.

The Independent has contacted Swifts representative for comment.

open image in gallery People gather at a vigil to mourn the three children killed in a stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, UK ( Getty Images )

The arrests come just days after a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed childrens dance class in Southport, England. The attacker killed three children: six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar. Five other kids and two adults were also seriously injured in the July 29 attack.

Swift paid tribute to the children the next day.

The horror of yesterdays attack is washing over me continuously and Im just completely in shock, she said in a statement. The loss of life and innocence and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families and first responders.

These were just little kids at a dance class, she continued. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.
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How does one describe Piers Morgans interview with Andrew Tate? The former News of the World editor welcomed the popular right-wing influencer and alleged sex trafficker onto his Uncensored interview web series last night, amid a week of violent, racist rioting across the UK. Tate was one of the most prominent voices to share the false claim that the man who murdered three young children in Southport was an illegal migrant; as racially motivated riots and hate crimes broke out across the UK, Tate continued to share incendiary anti-migrant posts to his audience of millions. Youve been spewing stuff that is blatantly racist, Morgan told Tate, in an interview that had the feel of a discourse lurching into a gutter.

Seldom has the chasm been so wide and obvious between the stated intentions of Morgans show and its manifest agenda. Ostensibly, the ex-Good Morning Britain presenter was staking his claim as journalistic truth-teller. Its along this tack that Morgan has recently conducted similarly provocative interviews with figures such as Armie Hammer, Kevin Spacey (both big-name actors accused of sexual assault) and Fiona Harvey, the woman who supposedly inspired the stalker character on Netflixs hit miniseries Baby Reindeer. His aim here, he said, was holding Tate to proper account for spreading misinformation. Tate, per the shows premise, was given a full uncensored hour to do what he enjoys most  posture and prevaricate around the subjects of race, immigration and politics  while Morgan, ever the prolapsed Paxman, attempted to call out his subjects hypocrisies, lies and incitements.

What resulted was a kind of repetitive, insistent quiz that devolved again and again into the two men simply talk-yelling over the other. The sheer brass neck of you Andrew, Morgan snaps at one point, lecturing me about the truth, when youve spent the last week spewing complete fake news bulls***, is breathtaking. Nothing was achieved; no ground ceded. Attempts to solicit from Tate an apology, or even an admission of the bare facts of the matter  that he had spread racist lies that led to violence  were met with slippery and self-righteous deflections. Even so, this was  so we were told  explosive television.

Explosive is the word Morgan used, at least, while plugging the episode online. This was one of the most explosive interviews Ive ever done, he wrote. But one of Morgans qualities is that hes a salesman: there was nothing in the interview that merited that word. Tate was loud and combative, but at no point capitulated to the interrogation. Morgan asked him about the online misinformation, about his own views on immigration, about his support of far-right agitator Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (also known as Tommy Robinson), about being thrown under the bus by Nigel Farage, about the anti-Tate backlash from within the Muslim community, and about the riots themselves. On all fronts, he held the line, refused to admit fault, and stated and re-stated his troublesome beliefs. Perhaps I was wrong that he was an illegal migrant, and he was only a migrant, he eventually admits. Perhaps I was wrong about that detail. However, I was right about most of the things Ive said. All attempts at gotcha journalism were stonewalled by a man who, unbound by the rigours of truth or integrity, simply refused to be got. Tate, whose mass following among young people has freaked out parents on both sides of the Atlantic, has always evaded accountability. And sure enough, the full video clocked up a million YouTube views within a few hours  and more in snippets on Twitter/X. If that was the mission, then consider it achieved.

It would be wrong to view Morgans interview as any sort of aberration; it was simply a natural continuation of a career that has always trafficked in bad-faith sensationalism. The nature of Morgans series  produced for YouTube, and therefore unbeholden to the sort of regulation and standards that shape traditional broadcast TV  only serves to facilitate this. (When the BBC did its own interview with Tate last year, which drew no small amount of controversy, it was notably more rigorous, scrutinising Tate on his myriad scandals in a manner that didnt give him so much room to spout off.) But on the Wild West of the internet, the governing force is only what will get clicks. And in this regard, Morgans tactic clearly pays off: his most popular videos garner in excess of 20 million views, and he sometimes draws bigger audiences than BBC or Skys news coverage.

Piers Morgan challenges Andrew Tate on 'spewing fake news' during clash

Amid this changing landscape, Morgan, a relic of both the British tabloid press and conventional television, finds himself in somewhat uncertain territory. The scenes of racist violence across the UK are bleak, and distressing, and made all the more complicated by the intervention of social media. Over the past week, Morgan has also exchanged words with Twitter/X CEO Elon Musk, whose dismal premonitions of civil war in the UK needlessly inflamed things. Its no surprise, perhaps, that the most positive action can be found offline, in the mass counterprotest, in the coming together of people in opposition to hatred. At the same time Morgans interview dropped, thousands of people gathered in cities across the UK to deter the racist outbreaks. Theyre the ones holding hateful people to proper account. Morgan, as usual, is nothing more than a carnival sideshow.
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The first trailer for the new Peacock documentary Gary, about the life of actor Gary Coleman, suggests: His death was suspicious.

According to the films official logline, the 90-minute documentary will explore the fascinating life and mysterious death of beloved child actor, Gary Coleman.

The film presents interviews with a range of talking heads, including former Diffrent Strokes costar Todd Bridges who played Willis Jackson.

Coleman shot to international fame on the beloved sitcom that ran from 1978 to 1986. It is particularly remembered for Colemans oft-repeated catchphrase: Whatchoo talkin bout, Willis?

Bridges describes Coleman as a true star.

Others interviewed in the new film include Colemans estranged parents, his former managers and his ex-wife Shannon Price.

open image in gallery Gary Coleman attending the premiere of Midgets vs Mascots in 2009 ( Getty )

Offscreen, Colemans life was beset with health and financial difficulties. Coleman grew up with a kidney disease, and the medications he used to treat it limited his growth to 4ft 8in.

In archive news footage included in the trailer, he says: If someone had told me that my life would have been like this early enough where I could have got out, I would have got out.

His former manager Dion Mial recalls a heartbreaking conversation with Coleman: He said, I just wanted to say goodbye. I cannot take this anymore, and we cried. His life was fraught with disappointments. From 1985 until his death, he lived with not a single kidney.

Coleman died in 2010 at the age of 42, a year after undergoing heart surgery. His official cause of death was a brain bleed known as an epidural hematoma.

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The documentary includes his ex-wife Prices 911 call and includes speculation about his death. Price tells the camera: People think that I did this. Because Im the ex-wife, Im the evil person, right?

In 2022, former Saturday Night Live actor Molly Shannon accused Coleman of sexual assault.

She said that in 1987 she had signed with Colemans manager Mark Randall and went to meet the actor for tea at the Plaza Hotel in New York.

After the meeting, Coleman invited her to check out the penthouse suite he was staying in.

Shannon alleges that as soon as Randall left the suite, Colemans behavior turned relentless.

He was like trying to kiss me and get on top and I was like, No, Gary. Stop, she said. So, I push him off. Then, I would get off the bed. Then, he would bounce on the bed.

Shannon said she eventually sprinted out of the room and told Randall to watch Coleman better.

I wish I could have stood up for myself more, she added.
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Netflix has left some readers of Holly Jacksons 2019 book, A Good Girls Guide to Murder, disappointed with its newly released adaptation.

The six-part series stars Emma Myers (Wednesday) as young sleuth Pip Fitz-Amobi, who seeks to prove her older classmate, Andie Bell (India Lillie Davies), wasnt murdered by her boyfriend five years prior as the police had concluded.

While the show  in association with the BBC  was released in the UK in July, it finally made its way to the US last week, where its currently topping the streamers Most Watched list.

Since its US release, a number of viewers have noted on social media that the show deviates substantially from the book.

I am so disappointed in the A Good Girls Guide to Murder series on Netflix. They changed so much from the book? one person tweeted. I am so passionate about AGGGTMM so this makes me sad. They did, however, add that the casting was perfect.

I watched all the series in one sitting and my favorite phrase to use was: THIS DIDNT HAPPEN IN THE BOOKS, or, THIS IS NOT HOW IT HAPPENED, a second agreed, while a third argued: It just seemed so silent and like everything was happening for no reason and apart from the music it seemed so boring. The casting was so on point but it was bad with all the change they made!

A fourth found that the show is good for people who havent read the books and just wanted to see the show.

open image in gallery Emma Myers as Pip Fitz-Mob in A Good Girls Guide to Murder ( COURTESY OF NETFLIX )

But as a book reader, I noticed some scenes from the book that were missing, they added. But overall it was great!

*Warning potential spoilers to follow*

Its worth noting that there is a US and a UK version of Jacksons book trilogy. The biggest difference between the two is in the storys setting with the US edition set in Connecticut and the UK edition set in the fictional English town of Little Kilton.

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While Netflixs version follows the UK edition, there are still some major (and minor) differences in the story. The more significant changes include timeline shifts and character developments.

Here are some of the more relevant and surprising differences.

Set in different decades

Instead of taking place in 2012 and 2017 as the UK book did, the show takes place in 2019 and 2024. Along with this decade shift comes Pips social media platform of choice. In the books, she uses Facebook to search for clues, whereas in the show, she uses Instagram.

open image in gallery A Good Girls Guide to Murder book fans have been left disappointed by Netflixs adaptation ( Sally Mais/Netflix )

Andie and Nat Da Silvas friendship

As for character relationships, the book pits Andie and Nat Da Silva against each other, and after feeling threatened by Nat, Andie humiliates her by releasing her nudes. However, in the series, theyre portrayed as best friends and when Pip suggests that Andie mightve been the one to release the photos, Nat brushes off the theory.

Pips confrontation with Becca Bell

After Pip confronts Andies sister Becca about her role in her sisters death, Becca becomes enraged and spikes Pips drink. In the book, once Pip is drugged, she runs outside to try and escape Becca, whos trying to kill her. However, at the conclusion of the series, Becca brings Pip to where she dumped Andies body before trying to kill her. Pip was never shown the dumping site in the book.

Andies personality

In the book, Andie is portrayed as a ruthless girl who treats her friends poorly and threatens anybody who tries to do her wrong. The series completely swaps this and makes her a kind and warm soul who only ends up selling drugs out of desperation to escape her abusive father.

Max Hastings crimes are handled differently

Once Max Hastings is found out for his crimes of drugging and raping Becca and other girls in the book, hes arrested and charged for the assaults. However, in the series, the authorities are never alerted about his crimes, and he appears to walk free. The shows decision to change this seems appropriate as it perfectly sets up the potential for more seasons, as Pip promises Max that she will never stop until every single person [hes] ever hurt gets justice.

A Good Girls Guide to Murder is available to stream on Netflix.
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Lost fans are preparing to go back.

It has been announced that, 20 years after the show premiered, and soon after the show was added to Netflix, a new documentary detailing Losts groundbreaking success is set to premiere in September.

The film, titled Getting LOST, will tell the entire story of how Lost became the biggest cult show on the planet, generating intense fan discussion and theories on the internet throughout its six seasons on air.

Lost fever will also see the shows very first episode, released on 22 September 2004, receive an anniversary screening in London for the first time ever.

Getting LOST is set to address  and hopefully put to bed  the furore surrounding the shows finale, which has gone down in history as one of the most misunderstood endings of all time.

Cast members featured in the documentary include Evangeline Lilly (Kate), Daniel Dae Kim (Jin), Henry Ian Cusick (Desmond), Emilie De Ravin (Claire), Nestor Carbonell (Richard), Josh Holloway (Sawyer), Terry OQuinn (Locke), Maggie Grace (Shannon), Jorge Garcia (Hurley), Michael Emerson (Ben), Malcolm David Kelley (Walt), Elizabeth Mitchell (Juliet) and Sonya Walger (Penny).

Showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse will also appear alongside director Jack Bender and composer Michael Giacchino.

The film has been overseen by filmmaker Taylor Morden, who directed The Last Blockbuster.

open image in gallery Henry Ian Cusick as Desmond David Hume in LOST ( ABC )

In a statement, he said: We are thrilled to be able to tell the story of one of the greatest television shows of all time! This project has truly been a labour of love.

Its hard to believe that it has been 20 years since we first saw that plane crash on the beach and wondered what was shaking the trees and why there was a polar bear on a tropical island.

The documentary will be produced by Ralph d Apel.

Lost fans have expressed happiness that the show is getting the documentary treatment, with many calling the news exciting.

The documentary will premiere in Los Angeles on 22 September  but for those based in the UK, a rare cinema screening of Losts Pilot episode will take place on 19 September at the Rio Cinema in Dalston.
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The TV industry must bear some responsibility for the race riots that erupted across the UK, the chair of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) has said.

Violent disorder and unrest spread across the UK this week with thousands of police officers deployed and hundreds of thugs arrested in scenes reminicent of far-right movements of the 1970s and 80s.

While many commentators have pointed the finger at far-right figures such as Tommy Robinson, or the divisive remarks made by anti-immigration politicians such as Nigel Farage and Priti Patel, RADA chief Marcus Ryder OBE has pointed to a cause even closer to home  the popular culture we consume in our everyday lives.

Mr Ryder, Chair RADA and CEO of the Film and TV charity said problematic representations of minority communities devoid of any depth and nuance are at least partially to blame for the dehumanisation that has led to the divisions that are playing out.

open image in gallery Firefighters tend to a burning police car in Hartlepool (Owen Humphreys/PA) ( PA Wire )

UK TV must bear some responsibility in how it has portrayed these communities, he wrote in a viral thread on X/Twitter. Instead for too long we have measured diversity and success by counting the racial identities of the individuals on-screen and not realised that communities are just as important if not more so.

The industry veteran who works for the Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity told The Independent, If you want to walk a mile in somebody elses shoes and truly understand their reality, you understand through drama, you dont understand it through news and current affairs.

Its why the Mr Bates v the Post Office was so important, because people finally emotionally understood and engaged with the issue despite it being covered in news and current affairs programmes previously. It was only until the drama that they could connect.

Unpacking the difference between the ways in which individuals are portrayed versus communities, Mr Ryder wrote, The rioters are not protesting or rioting against individuals, I am sure if you ask them many will say they are not racist and I have Muslim/Black friends. THEY ARE RIOTING/PROTESTING AGAINST COMMUNITIES.

open image in gallery ( Owen Humphreys/PA Wire )

Giving the example of Netflix dramas about Muslims he explained, The only time you see the Muslim community is when it was riddled with would-be terrorists. You see a glimpse into the community but its somehow akin to terrorism.

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The positive Muslim characters are not in their communities, the ones who are in their communities are negative and potential terrorists. The positive characters are normally outside of their communities and normally working with a white saviour. So, its problematic.

The Desmonds, he explained, is an example of a positive representation of a community, that allows communities to be humanised rather than othered.

It was groundbreaking because it was just black people in the barber shop. The community itself is not problematic, there might be problems but the problems are not borne out of the community. They werent systemic. No guns, no violence, no drugs.

Mr Ryder believes the solution lies in a diversity of decision-makers including executives, scriptwriters and senior commissioners and commended the BBC for commissioning a report on representations of Muslims in the media.

I dont know what its like to be an old person in Wales, so can I commission an accurate representation of Welsh people? Its not because Im a bad person. Its not because theyre bad people but we need more Muslims and more diversity.
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A Riz Ahmed documentary released earlier this year, may have shed light on the hidden history of British-Asian resistance to the violence of the 1970s and 1980s  Britains era of P***-bashing, skinheads and the National Front.

As anti-racist protesters took to the streets of the UK in a display of defiance against the far-right on Wednesday (7 August), many were eager to point out that such movements have a long, but too often unknown, legacy.

What is happening now has been happening time and again here, wrote one social media user.

Defiance: Fighting the Far Right, produced by the Bafta and Emmy award-winning Rogan productions followed the acclaimed series, Uprising, which documented events relating to the black community during the same period.

Created in conjunction with Oscar-winning filmmaker and producer Riz Ahmeds Left Handed Films, responsible for his Academy Award winning short film The Long Goodbye, it was released to much acclaim.

Defiance follows the protests sparked by three key mobilising events: the murder of 19-year-old Sikh youth Gurdeep Chaggar in Southall by neo-Nazi skinheads in 1976, the killing of Muslim father Aftab Ali near Brick Lane in 1978, and Parveen Khan and her three children including a baby, who perished during an arson attack on their home in Walthamstow in 1981.

The attacks led to a wave of resistance and protests by British Asians, during which period a series of landmark arrests, judgments, and laws were made.

I was too young when a lot of this was going on but Id hear stories from my uncles about really having to fight to survive, Ahmed, 41, told BBC Radio 4.

Sometimes that fight would be against the far right, sometimes it would be police officers who wanted to trouble some lads who were fresh to the country.

Sadly, its a history that not many people are aware of, Ahmed continued. One of the aims of this is to take people on this ride and open their eyes to this rich history of defiance in the face of the rising far right.

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open image in gallery Oscar winner Riz Ahmed said he was proud of the series which he has co-produced ( Getty Images )

Its a sentiment that director Satiyesh Manoharajah, echoes. Manoharajah produced and directed Emmy award-winning TV series Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy and Vishal an acclaimed BBC podcast on the kidnap and murder of a young Asian boy on the day of Charles and Dianas wedding.

One of the things thats so interesting is that these look like unassuming uncles and aunties, but they were beating up fascists on the street, he told The Independent.

I dont know where this idea of Asian people being meek comes from. People think we came here, worked hard and kept our heads down- and then Rishi Sunak became prime minister.

open image in gallery Suresh Grover played an instrumental part in the uprisings against fascist violence ( Channel 4 )

But in the middle there was a lot of pain, and people had to fight for their lives. They did fight and they won. We know all about Martin Luther King and the movements in America - but this was our civil rights movement here in Britain.

Someone who knows about fighting for their life is Suresh Grover who arrived on a beautiful ship in Folkestone aged 10, to a mob of right-wing protestors shouting at him to go back home.

Grover recalls being asked, Are you Tarzans son? by teachers while at a school in Lancashire. He remembers the popularity of far-right politician Enoch Powell, with Enoch! often shouted out in class as a rallying cry to intimidate others.

It was the era of p***-bashing. One Asian boy brought a penknife into school because the teachers did nothing. It soon stopped, he said.

open image in gallery The documentary follows a series of British Asian protests in the 1970s and 1980s ( Bill Cross/ANL/Shutterstock )

He has since gone on to coordinate campaigns for Stephen Lawrence and Victoria Climbie and is working on supporting the victims of a number of racially charged murders, including the death of 13-year-old Christopher Kapessa in 2019.

But he says that the scars from that time, both physical and emotional, remain.

I still have marks from where I was stabbed in my temple and legs, he told The Independent. Im still conscious of it. Even though things have changed, it was not long ago that I was called a p*** on the street.

Anoop Pandhal, series producer for Defiance, believes there is a message in the series that is pertinent to this day, although countless stories, deaths and events were left out due to time constraints.

open image in gallery The protests were often referred to as riots in the media ( Paul Fievez/ANL/Shutterstock )

She told The Independent, It kind of shows how far it can go when you ignore what people are telling you, you know its like the death of Gurdeep Chaggar, which is bad enough in itself, but they get very lenient sentences.

Parveen Khan shows that racism escalated and escalated to such an extent that people were dying in their own homes while they were asleep at night with their family. Imagine being killed along with your family?

Pandhal continued: When I was doing that story I thought a lot about Parveen Khan and her three children, and I felt like Im doing this for her and for them.

Although it has taken over 40 years to tell the story, Ahmed believes, For a whole swathe of the country, I think this is going to give them chills.

Rajesh Thind, also a director on the series, said Things are changing when it comes to media representations of diverse communities.

I think its a lot of things, it goes all the way to the beginning of Channel 4 which was set up to be a space for marginalised and minority voices.

Also, at this point there are Black, Asian, East Asian, professionals working in the industry. People like me and Satiyesh and many other people who have been doing this for a long time. Even thats not telling the whole story because there have always been those people but there have been glass ceilings, and careers cut short because they havent got the next promotion.

So, I think these things are a long time coming.

Meanwhile, the Nightcrawler and Four Lions actor took to social media to add, Proud to tell this story. Proud of our history. Our future depends on knowing it. We stand on the shoulders of these giants.

Defiance: Fighting the Far Right is available on Channel 4 On Demand.

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Chinas constantly improving business environment is boosting its attractiveness among multinational corporations, which is reflected by the increasing number of MNCs planning to expand their presence in the worlds second-largest economy, trade promotion officials say.

According to a recent report issued by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, among 400 foreign companies it polled in the second quarter operating in China, the number that plan to increase investment by 20 per cent rose 6.73 percentage points over the first quarter. Meanwhile, 15 per cent of them said they plan to increase their investment in China this year.

Nearly half of the companies expect their profit margins to increase in the next five years, with businesses from the United States being the most optimistic ones about future operations in China.

Over 40 per cent of the polled US companies believe the potential for the Chinese markets growth this year is good and its attractiveness is on the rise, according to the report.

Among the surveyed companies, 43 per cent were from developed economies, such as the US and Europe.

Despite the constantly changing international situation, the worlds second-largest economy remains a widely acknowledged investment hot spot, CCPIT said.

Foreign enterprises were overall satisfied with Chinas business environment during the survey period. They said they remain bullish on the Chinese market and their confidence in expanding investment in the country has been growing, Wang Linjie, a spokeswoman for the CCPIT, said during a news conference in Beijing.

Facing downward pressure in the global economy, Chinas economy showed its resilience and the countrys 1.4 billion population constitutes a super large-scale market, which is attractive to foreign companies, said Fu Yifu, a researcher at the Star Atlas Institute of Finance.

China has been ramping up efforts to promote high-standard opening-up to the world and optimising its business environment to attract more MNCs in the past few years, Fu said.

For foreign companies, investing in China can help them share the dividends of Chinas economic growth and achieve better business growth.

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus said it is bullish on the business environment in China  its largest single-country market  and it is committed to investing in this thriving market for the long term.

The company delivered its 700th A320 family aircraft assembled at its final assembly line in Tianjin in July. The Tianjin facility serves as its first assembly line outside Europe and has been in operation for more than 15 years.

The aircraft delivered from Tianjin is a microcosm of the cooperation between Airbus and the Chinese aviation industry. Airbus remains dedicated to strengthening its collaboration with China, said George Xu, Airbus executive vice-president and Airbus China CEO.

Meanwhile, US aircraft maker Boeing Co said that driven by economic growth well above the global average and increasing demand for domestic air travel, China will need 8,560 new aircraft in the next 20 years, accounting for one-fifth of the worlds airplane deliveries. Chinas domestic aviation market will also become the largest globally by the end of the forecast period.

French luxury jewellery brand Van Cleef & Arpels also said that China, as one of its three largest markets, is a key one for the company and it will continue to open more boutiques in the country.

In China, there are well-off and sophisticated consumers in every part of the country, and they are younger than consumers in some developed markets, said Laura Lai, managing director of Van Cleef & Arpels China.
Ethnic costumes in China combine rich colours and patterns with style, and their distinctive beauty and grace dazzle people entering a village inhabited by the Dong ethnic group. If they do, they may be fortunate enough to see women making monochromatic dark blue fabric with a metallic sheen that they themselves wear.

It is known as liangbu (bright cloth), a special textile that takes a dozen steps to make, and which is a glittering example of handmade Dong cloth.

Located primarily in Guizhou, Hunan and Hubei provinces, and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, the Dong people have developed a trove of arts and crafts over the centuries, among them Grand Song (dage), and wooden architectural structures, such as drum towers and covered wind and rain bridges.

Their traditional dress-making craftsmanship is recognised as a form of national-level intangible cultural heritage, and apparent upon entering a Dong village.

The costumes are mostly made of the Dong cloth, which is a gift of nature, dyed a dark, rich blue, using wild plants to make indigo. Both finished cloth and cotton threads are dyed. The former becomes liangbu, while the dyed threads are often woven with white threads to create a variety of patterns.

For the Dong people, liangbu has a range of meanings. It is an embodiment of life experience, as well as of wisdom derived from nature, and it helps them cope with cool, moist weather. It continues a time-honoured tradition of handicrafting. And it is also a bond connecting family members across generations.

Designer Jenny Chou (middle) working with women at a cooperative she founded in the village ( WANG QIQI / CHINA DAILY )

As a child, I often heard my mother saying that girls needed to learn to make Dong cloth, and that anyone who didnt know how was considered incapable, says Yang Shenghua, a resident of Dali Dong village in Rongjiang county, Guizhous Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture.

The 55-year-old began to learn the craft when she was about 12, under the guidance of her mother Yang Xiuying. She remembers that the process, which begins with spinning thread, was rather difficult for a young girl to learn.

I learned to weave a metre, and another metre, until I was able to produce a piece as long as my mother could make. I also went to the mountains to pick banlangen (indigo woad root, Isatis indigotica), an essential ingredient in preparing the dye for the cloth, she says.

The finished dye is made using water from boiled cowhide, and egg whites. The cloth is wrung, scrubbed and pounded, before it is turned into traditional Dong garments  dark indigo outfits with a colourful flower trim for the women, plain for the men.

In Dong villages, a mother traditionally gives liangbu as a wedding gift to her daughter, and when the daughter later gives birth, the grandmother usually gifts her a woven patterned baby carrier.

After Yang Shenghua married, she had less and less time for weaving. Then, one day, an architect changed everything.

Jenny Chou visited Dali Dong village for the first time in the autumn of 2015 on a business trip. She happened to see villagers harvesting indigo and soaking it in vats to make dye.

Inspired, she went on to found the Dousa Womens Cooperative, which allows the women of Dali Dong village to not only continue the traditional craft, but also to experiment.

Ive never felt that the traditional and the modern are opposed. What is modern today will someday become a part of tradition, Chou says.

Yang Shenghua was among those who signed up for the courses at the cooperative, which she says allowed her to once again experience the joy of making cloth.

The craft was passed on from my grandmother to my mother, and then to me. It used to be something that I was told to do.... Now it is something I like doing, because it is part of our tradition and culture.
Beijings public transportation system is set to become more foreigner-friendly, with the Chinese capital testing the feasibility of introducing an all-in-one city travel pass.

For starters, the Beijing Pass will enhance the convenience of subway travel for foreign visitors, who will be able to use their international bank cards to purchase the pass at the citys seven railway stations and two airports that have integrated subway lines.

To facilitate the smooth launch of the Beijing Pass, subway stations are currently undergoing on-site testing, the city authorities said.

Wu Lihong, a professor at the China Academy of Culture and Tourism of Beijing International Studies University, said the Beijing Pass will allow foreign visitors to explore the city at their convenience, without having to worry about payment hurdles while using public transportation.

If the pass can be integrated with Alipay, a widely used Chinese digital payment platform, it will also save time and make it easier for foreigners to use public transportation, Wu said.

Beijings new foreigner-friendly move comes at a time when the city is witnessing a rapid increase in the number of overseas visitors. The capital has already introduced several facilities to serve them better.

For example, all 335 stations across the 17 lines managed by Beijing Subway have been equipped with point-of-sale machines as of June 1. These machines allow foreign passengers to purchase tickets using international bank cards. The authorities plan to introduce additional services, such as allowing foreigners to use their international bank cards directly at the platform gates.

Ronan, a French international student in Beijing, said the plan to introduce an all-in-one public transportation card is a welcome move.

My friends who visited Beijing couldnt use Alipay for public transportation because they didnt have Chinese phone numbers. Alipay is quite convenient for foreigners who have lived in big cities for a while, but for foreign tourists, the new option (Beijing Pass) will be better, he said.

In addition to taking steps to streamline payment services, Beijing Subway has piloted the installation of multilingual translation devices at eight stations that foreign travellers frequently visit, such as Tiananmen West on Line 1, to offer them more accurate and detailed information about subway schedules.

Furthermore, bilingual announcements in Chinese and English have been started at major railway stations, the two airports, and subway stations near tourist attractions.

According to data from the Beijing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection, as of 29 July, the number of entries and exits at Beijings ports exceeded 10 million this year, surpassing the total number for the whole of last year.

Among these people, more than 1.2 million were inbound foreign visitors, a year-on-year increase of 210 per cent.

Apart from Beijing, other major cities in China such as Shanghai and Guangzhou, Guangdong province, are also making public transportation more accessible for international visitors by introducing similar passes and allowing taxi fares to be paid with international credit cards.
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A Chinese company has banned anyone born in the year of the dog from applying for a job fearing it would bring bad luck to the boss.

Sanxing Transportation, based in the southern province of Guangdong, posted a job description for a clerks role with a monthly salary of 3,000-4,000 yuan (329-439) but emphasised that no one born in the year of the dog need apply, theSouth China Morning Post reported.

The Chinese zodiac system is a repeating cycle of 12 years, with each year assigned an animal. Based on the year of birth, each person is assigned yin or yang energy and one of five Chinese zodiac elements  earth, metal, water, wood, fire. It is believed that the zodiac under which one is born influences their personality, career, relationships, and fortunes.

After Sanxings job post started gaining attention, an employee told Hubei Television on 2 August that they wouldnt consider any applicant born in the year of the dog, no matter how qualified, because the company head was a dragon and dragons and dogs do not get along well.

The employee added that applicants who didnt meet all the requirements would be considered as long as their zodiac sign is not the dog.

The most recent year of the dog was 2018. Before then it was 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946 and 1934.

According to the rules of the Chinese zodiac, people born in the year of the dog are positioned opposite those born in the year of the dragon and are likely to have a relationship full of conflict.

Sanxings job post brought it severe criticism on social media for being too superstitious.

My boss asked for my birthday and horoscope, and after learning that Im a rooster zodiac person who was born early in the morning, they believed I would be a hard worker and hired me, a Weibo user said.

I always thought it was difficult to find a job after age 35 but I didnt expect my zodiac sign to be the problem, said another.

Hiring people on the basis of their zodiac sign is not unheard of. In fact it even works the other way, with some potential employees turning down jobs because of the lack of zodiac compatibility.

A Hong Kong travel agency previously advertised a job and specifically said they wanted to hire people born under the Gemini, Libra, or Aquarius signs.

A woman in Chongqing, China, turned down a job because she was a Leo while her reporting manager was a Pisces.

According to The New Republic, virgos, born between 23 August and 22 September, had the most difficulty getting hired because their personalities are meant to be picky, theyre spoiled, theyre fussy to the point of being obsessive-compulsive.
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China has found a major gas field in the South China Sea, a discovery that could significantly influence the regions complex geopolitical landscape.

This new find, described as the worlds first ultra-shallow gas field in ultra-deep waters, is estimated to contain more than 100 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas, according to Chinas state media.

The announcement was made by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) in June, and the discovery has now been officially reviewed and registered by state authorities.

While the exact location of Lingshui 36-1 has not been disclosed, it is reportedly situated in waters southeast of Hainan, Chinas southernmost island province, according to CNOOC. It has an average water depth of around 1,500m.

The main gas-bearing play is the Ledong Formation of Quaternary, with an average burial depth of 210m, CNOOC said in June. The field has been tested to produce over 10mcm/day of open flow natural gas.

The discovery adds to Chinas already substantial reserves of gas in the South China Sea, which, together with other offshore fields, have now surpassed the trillion-cubic-metres mark.

However, the South China Sea, known for its rich deposits of hydrocarbons, has also been a focal point of intense territorial disputes involving several countries.

Chinas claim to almost the entirety of the South China Sea, demarcated by the so-called nine-dash line, overlaps those of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.

open image in gallery Map shows exploration and development blocks in the South China Sea by different countries. Hainan province is seen here as the large island off China surrounded by its yellow blocks ( World Bank/EIA )

Disputes and tensions often rise over each others oil and gas exploration and development attempts in the contested waters. The discovery of such a large gas field could potentially exacerbate existing tensions and complicate diplomatic relations among these nations.

The South China Sea is still underexplored because of these territorial disputes. Most discovered oil and gas fields are in uncontested areas, close to the shorelines. Approximately 3.6 billion barrels of petroleum and other liquids and 40.3 trillion cubic feet of gas in proved and probable reserves are in the South China Sea, according to Rystad, an independent research and business intelligence company.

The South China Sea is a crucial maritime region, not only for its economic resources but also for its strategic significance. The area is a major shipping route, with a significant portion of global trade passing through its waters. The new discovery by China could further assert its dominance in the region, potentially heightening friction with neighbouring countries who also have competing claims.

Vietnam and the Philippines, in particular, have been vocal in their opposition to Chinas expansive claims and have engaged in their own exploratory activities in the disputed waters.

The presence of such a substantial gas field could lead to increased scrutiny and confrontations over resource exploitation and maritime boundaries.

Aside from the geopolitical ramifications, the discovery of Lingshui 36-1 also raises questions about environmental management and economic impact. The extraction of gas from ultra-deep waters presents significant technical challenges and environmental risks.

While shallow gas is abundant in the seabed, its precarious position makes it highly susceptible to dispersion caused by ocean currents. The formation of a commercially viable oil and gas field under such conditions was previously deemed impossible by experts.

How China plans to manage these challenges while ensuring environmental protection will be closely watched by the international community.
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Watch as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, who has been selected to lead Bangladeshs interim government, arrives back in Dhaka from Paris on Thursday 8 August.

He is set to lead the government after weeks of tumultuous student protests forced prime minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee to India.

Mr Yunus, 84, Bangladeshs only Nobel laureate and a harsh critic of Ms Hasina, was recommended for the job by the student protesters.

He is expected to be sworn in as chief adviser along with a team of advisers later on Thursday in an interim government which the army chief said may include 15 members, although discussions on the names continued till late on Wednesday.

Mr Yunus is known as the banker to the poor and was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for founding a bank that pioneered fighting poverty with small loans to needy borrowers.

He is due to arrive in the capital Dhaka on Thursday, having been receiving medical treatment in Paris.
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Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus appeared emotional as he arrived in Bangladesh to lead the interim government, days after mass protests against a jobs quota forced prime minister Sheikh Hasina to flee, plunging the country into a political crisis.

His arrival marks a fresh beginning for the South Asian country which has been riven by violence since unprecedented street protests broke up in late June.

He is expected to be sworn in as the head of a team of advisers at the residence of president Mohammed Shahabuddin this afternoon.

Mr Yunus, 84, an economist credited with pioneering microlending, arrived in the capital Dhaka from an overseas trip on Thursday and was received by a jubilant crowd of supporters amid tight security.

He was met at the airport by army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman and heads of the navy and the air force.

Some of the student leaders who spearheaded the protests against Ms Hasina were also present. They had insisted they would only accept Mr Yunus as the interim leader until fresh elections were held.

Addressing supporters after arriving, Mr Yunus said a lot of work needs to be done in Bangladesh and his priority would be to restore order.

open image in gallery Muhammad Yunus greets journalists as he arrives for a press conference at the Dhaka airport ( AFP via Getty )

Bangladesh is a family. We have to unite it, Mr Yunus, flanked by the student leaders, said. It has immense possibility.

Whatever path our students show us, we will move ahead with that, he said at the airport.

We had ended those possibilities, now again we have to rise up. To the government officials here and defence chiefs - we are a family, we should move ahead together.

He urged people to end the cycle of violence but promised not to resort to any repressive measures against anyone.

open image in gallery Muhammad Yunus speaks to reporters after arriving in Bangladesh ( Reuters )

At least 440 people have been killed during the protests that started as a demand to rollback a jobs quota for relatives of the 1971 war of independence veterans, but spiralled into a movement against the rule of Ms Hasina, who had won a fourth straight term as prime minister earlier this year in an election boycotted by opposition parties.

Mr Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, has spent most of the recent years defending himself in more than 100 cases filed by the Hasina administration. His supporters denounced the cases as politically motivated vendetta meant to undermine him as a potential rival.

Mr Yunus is credited with helping lift millions out of poverty by providing small loans of less than 80 to rural Bangladeshis through his Grameen Bank, founded in 1983. His success led to similar microfinancing efforts in other countries.

Ms Hasina, however, called him a bloodsucker for allegedly using force to get the rural poor, mainly women, to repay the loans. Mr Yunus denied such allegations.

open image in gallery Muhammad Yunus at the Dubai airport before boarding a flight to Bangladesh ( AFP via Getty )

A Dhaka court on Wednesday acquitted Mr Yunus in a labour law violation case in which he had been convicted in January this year and sentenced to six months in jail. He was out on bail.

Mr Yunus faces a Herculean task restoring normalcy in the country and fixing its economy. Dhaka is seeking financial help from countries like India and China as well as lenders like the International Monetary Fund to tide over a decline in its foreign reserves, which fell to $20.5bn in July from $21.8bn the previous month as curfews, shutdowns and internet restrictions took a heavy toll.

The country is also grappling with growing unemployment as nearly 32 million young people are out of work or education. The lack of employment opportunities is reported to have been one of the key drivers of the unrest.
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Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took the oath of office as head of an interim government in Bangladesh after large-scale protests led to the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

The prominent economist, 84, was sworn in as chief adviser of the government at the presidential palace in Dhaka.

Sixteen other members are part of the new cabinet, including two student leaders who spearheaded the protests that ended the 15-year-long rule of Ms Hasina.

Mr Yunus arrived in the country on Thursday and made an emotional appeal to the people of Bangladesh to immediately stop retaliatory attacks against figures from the former Hasina administration.

Violence is our enemy. Please dont create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country, Mr Yunus said as he greeted supporters with a smile.

He was out of the country on Monday when Ms Hasina dramatically resigned and fled to India, after tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding her resignation following a deadly police crackdown on protesters.

At least 440 people, including minors, have been killed in the violence that ensued in July during protests against job reservations for families of 1971 war heroes, according to local reports.

open image in gallery People celebrate the resignation of prime minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka ( REUTERS )

Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar said she had been given approval to remain for the moment. The prime minister escaped from Dhaka on a military transport minutes before thousands of people stormed into her official residence and ransacked it.

Her resignation triggered jubilation across the country along with incidents of violence against the ruling party members and the minority Hindus. Fresh protests broke out in a Dhaka neighbourhood on Wednesday when hundreds of officials from the central bank forced four of its deputy governors to resign over alleged corruption.

The protest leaders said members of the interim government would be finalised soon as Mr Yunus called for new elections to bring stability to the country grappling with unemployment and economic crisis.

It is critical that trust in government be restored quickly, he told the Financial Times in a statement. We need calm, we need a road map to new elections and we need to get to work to prepare for new leadership, Mr Yunus said.

open image in gallery A man carries a looted item from the prime minister's residence ( REUTERS )

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has demanded a fresh election in the next three months to form a government.

Bangladesh, the fourth largest country in the world by population, has been on edge for weeks amid protests that began over a controversial quota system for government jobs. The system guaranteed a set proportion of roles to the descendants of fighters in Bangladeshs war of independence  seen as a measure to appease Ms Hasinas political base.

A fresh spell of protests began over the weekend with people demanding Ms Hasinas resignation, and over 100 people died across the country on Monday in the deadliest day of violence since the crisis began, with hundreds of people injured as both police and protesters used live ammunition.

Why were students protesting?

At the heart of the student protests that began in late June was the demand to scrap a quota system that reserved up to 30 per cent of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladeshs war of independence in 1971 against Pakistan.

The protests began late last month but tensions escalated when students at Dhaka University, the countrys largest, clashed with police and a counter-protest inflamed the situation.

The students alleged the protests were peaceful until the student wing of Ms Hasinas ruling Awami League party attacked them.

We were protesting peacefully until we were attacked by the goons. It is our right to continue protesting, it is embedded in the history of this country and we shall continue to do so for our right, a Dhaka university student who did not want to be named for fear of persecution told The Independent.

open image in gallery Supporters of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) gather to attend a mass rally ( EPA )

Protesters have argued that the quota system was discriminatory and benefitted supporters of Ms Hasina, whose political party led the independence movement. They demanded it be replaced with a merit-based system.

Ms Hasinas government had halted the job quotas following mass student protests in 2018, but last month a high court ruling nullified that decision and reinstated the quotas after relatives of the 1971 veterans filed petitions.

On 21 July, the Supreme Court ordered that 93 per cent of government jobs would be allocated on merit and five per cent would be for veterans who served in the war. The remaining two per cent would be reserved for members of ethnic minorities and transgender and disabled people.

The decision was a partial win for the students after representatives from both sides met late on 19 July to discuss a resolution.

Why did Hasina resign?

The student protests have shone a spotlight on the cracks in Bangladeshs governance and economy as well as the frustrations of the countrys youth at rising unemployment where some 32 million young people are not in work or education.

Anger soon turned from demands over jobs to outrage at the way the protests were treated, with Ms Hasina referring to the protesters as terrorists and ordering police to shoot at them on sight.

We have to look out for ourselves and our future generations. We need jobs in this country, we are already suffering from the lack of it, said Alam Rashid, a student from Dhaka. We have invited the government to have a conversation with us multiple times, instead she [Sheikh Hasina] just unleashed her police force on us, he told The Independent.

During the weekend, there were reports of attacks across the country, including incidents of vandalism and arson targeting government buildings, offices of the ruling Awami League party, police stations and houses of public representatives. Clashes were reported in as many as 39 of the countrys 64 districts.

open image in gallery A vandalised portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, founding father of Bangladesh ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Sunday ended up being one the deadliest days of clashes yet, with at least 95 killed including both protesters and police officers.

Student coordinators of Dhaka University called for Monday to be marked by a March to Dhaka, calling it the final answer after the military said students defying a government curfew would face the full force of the law.

On Monday, 135 more people were killed as hundreds of thousands of people defied curfew to take over the capital. The military reportedly asked Ms Hasina to resign after top brass refused to order soldiers to open fire on more demonstrators.

Where will Hasina go?

Ms Hasina is currently at a safe house in Indias capital region after she landed at the Hindon Indian Air Force base outside Delhi. Multiple Indian media cited official sources as saying she is keen on going to the UK, and has submitted a request for political asylum.

She is going to stay in Delhi for some more time, her son, Sajeeb Wazad, told Detusche Welle. He added that his mother had not made a decision on where she would seek asylum yet.

He said that her mother will return to her country when its new caretaker government decides to hold elections and vowed that his family and the Awami League party would remain engaged in Bangladeshs politics.

British officials have reportedly downplayed the chances of Ms Hasina being accepted in the UK, stating that the countrys immigration rules do not permit anyone, including a fleeing prime minister, to seek asylum or temporary refuge.

Ms Hasina was accompanied when she left Dhaka by her sister Sheikh Rehana Siddiq, who is the mother of Labour MP Tulip Siddiq.

open image in gallery File: Indian prime minister Narendra Modi shakes hand with Sheikh Hasina ( Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The UK government has hardly been sympathetic towards Ms Hasina and on Monday British foreign secretary David Lammy called for a UN-led investigation into the way her government cracked down on the protests and the tragic loss of lives in Bangladesh.

CNN News18 said Ms Hasina is in the process of applying for asylum in other European countries, given the UK appears to be hesitant.

Whats next for Bangladesh?

After Ms Hasinas resignation, army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced in a televised address to the nation that an interim government would be formed.

He said he was assuming control at a critical time for our country and urged people to trust him.

I am taking responsibility now and we will go to the president and ask to form an interim government to lead the country in the meantime.

It was not clear if the army would play a role, but General Zaman said: We will now go to the president of the country, where we will discuss about the formation of the interim government, form the interim government, and manage the nation.

On Tuesday, Bangladeshs parliament was dissolved, the presidents office said in a statement.

It was after student leaders spearheading the protest issued a strict deadline and asked revolutionary students to be ready if their demand was not met. They have said they will not accept any government unless it is made up of candidates recommended by them.

We wouldnt accept any army-supported or army-led government, they said.

Main opposition leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said Bangladesh must hold a general election within three months to form a new government. Mr Alamgirs BNP was among the opposition parties to have boycotted the January elections citing a crackdown on political dissent that secured a fourth term for Ms Hasina.

Bangladeshs borders have effectively been closed while the political uncertainty is being resolved, with major airlines suspending flights to Dhaka and long distance bus services suspended. Train services to neighbouring India, which were first paused in mid-July as the protests turned violent, have now been suspended indefinitely.

Amid fears of violence on the India-Bangladesh border, the Bangladeshi security forces said they have received strict instruction from the government to not allow anyone into the country without valid documents.

Bangladeshs biggest police union, the Bangladesh Police Service Association (BPSA), defended the conduct of its officers during the protests and declared a national strike on Tuesday in view of the security situation in the country.

Until the security of every member of the police is secured, we are declaring a strike, BPSA said in a statement.

Who is Muhammad Yunus, the new interim leader?

The student protest leaders proposed the name of the 84-year-old microlending champion to become the head of the interim government in Bangladesh, which the president accepted after deliberation with stakeholders.

Given the sacrifices of the students, especially those who have lost their lives for our nations liberation, I am not in a position to say no to them, Mr Yunus said.

In the coming days, I will talk with all of the relevant parties about how we can work together to rebuild Bangladesh and how they can help, he added.

I have no intention to seek any elected or appointed office beyond this role during this interim period.

Mr Yunus, one of Ms Hasinas staunchest critics, was charged in more than 200 cases, including forgery, money laundering, and embezzlement during the ruling years of Ms Hasina.

Mr Yunus has been credited for helping lift millions out of poverty by providing small loans of less than 80 to rural people through his Grameen Bank, which was founded in 1983. The banks success in lifting people out of poverty led to similar microfinancing efforts in other countries.
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The Great Barrier Reef, the largest living ecosystem on Earth, is facing an existential threat, scientists warn, as ocean temperatures reach their highest levels in 400 years.

A new study by researchers from Australia says that unless global heating is stopped, this natural wonder may not survive for future generations.

Sea surface temperatures in waters surrounding the Great Barrier Reef this year reached their hottest levels in more than 400 years, the study published in Nature on Thursday found.

The reef is in danger, and if we dont divert from our current course, our generation will likely witness the demise of one of Earths great natural wonders, the Great Barrier Reef, Benjamin Henley, lead author of the research, said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

The world is losing one of its icons, Mr Henley, who is also a lecturer at the University of Melbourne and an honorary fellow at the University of Wollongong, said. I find that to be an absolute tragedy. Its hard to understand how that can happen on our watch in our lifetime. So its very, very sad.

The temperatures in the sees around the GBR have been rising consistently since the 1900s,due to human activities like burning coal, oil and gas that increased dangerous greenhouse gases, after centuries of a stable environment.

From 1960 to 2024, the studys authors observed an average annual warming for January to March of 0.12C (0.22F) per decade.

The study says the unprecedented heat on the sea surface around the natural wonder is driving increasingly frequent mass bleaching events that are putting it in danger.

In fact, since 2016, the reef has experienced five summers of mass coral bleaching when temperatures turned so high that the corals started losing their colour as the algae that gives them nutrients and colour is expelled by corals under heat stress.

These bleaching events happened during five of the six warmest years in the last four centuries, the study showed.

A coral reef is seen affected by coral bleaching due to warm water temperature on May 08, 2024 in Trat, Thailand ( Getty Images )

Co-author Helen McGregor said she was extremely concerned about the reef, describing the temperature increases as unprecedented.

These are corals that have lived for 400 years and this is the warmest temperatures theyre experiencing. These are the Redwood trees of the reef, she told AFP news agency.

The findings show the Great Barrier Reef is being pushed closer to a tipping point from which it may not recover, and that urgent action is needed to limit the global temperature rise to a maximum of 1.5C.

To analyse the past temperature records for which data wasnt available, the group of scientists drilled into coral and analysed the samples, similar to counting tree rings, to measure summer ocean temperatures dating back to 1618.

Chart shows summer sea surface temperatures in the Coral Sea rising with the hottest temperatures recorded in recent years ( Nature )

The reef is home to a wide variety of natural life, with 600 types of coral and 1,625 fish species alone. It is also a significant tourism boon for Australia, contributing about $4.2bn to the countrys economy each year.

But new findings are adding fuel to the debate that the reef should be classified as an endangered site. Australia has been trying to keep it off the list so it doesnt harm the tourism that contributes A$6.4b (3.32b) to the economy annually.

The world is on track to see a 2-3 degrees rise in temperatures by the end of the century. In fact, the last 12 months have already seen global temperatures 1.5C above the pre-industrial levels, as well as the hottest on record.

According to the Paris Agreement, the world is trying to prevent the temperature rise from going above 1.5C or 2C maximum. But for corals, even a 2C rise can be enough to wipe out 99 per cent of the reefs.
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A mum of twins has described how she survived a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer which was initially dismissed as a verruca.

Beatrice Buckley, known as Bea, developed a mole on her foot while pregnant with her twin sons Alfred and Thomas.

At first she noticed a small dark spot bigger than a freckle on the side of her right foot.

In a matter of months the skin lesion grew to the size of a 10 pence piece.

Even dermatologists did not think the mole was anything sinister until tests revealed that it was a rare and potentially fatal form of skin cancer.

Tests revealed that Ms Buckley had stage three acral melanoma, a rare type of skin cancer which is usually found on the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet, or under the nails.

She told the PA news agency: I fell pregnant in 2020, and in the really early stages of my pregnancy, I noticed a little dark spot, so bigger than a freckle.

I thought it was probably a verruca but Id never had a verruca before, so I went (to the pharmacy), to ask how I could safely treat it in pregnancy.

They just said they didnt think it was a verruca, but not to worry about it if it wasnt painful and that it would probably just go away on its own.

So I suppose I put it to the back of my mind.

open image in gallery Beatrice Buckley, who has described how she survived a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer ( Beatrice Buckley/PA Wire )

The 39-year-old added: When the twins were about eight months old it had grown in size.

It started doing all of the things that you are supposed to look out for, it had doubled in size, it was bleeding, when I went running it was irritated.

So I went to the GP thinking this could be nasty but even the GP thought is was a verruca which had probably just rubbed in my running shoes.

They only referred me to dermatology because of my skin type.

Even at that stage when I saw a dermatologist they thought it was probably nothing but they took a biopsy and to everyones surprise it came back as malignant melanoma.

It was a real shock.

The freelance communications manager, who stopped work during treatment, told PA: Its terrifying. The word cancer is incredibly scary.

When you hear the word cancer, your mind immediately goes to the worst place.

You do have thoughts in the middle of the night of your children growing up without a mum, and its awful.

Doctors found that the cancer had spread to a number of lymph nodes.

But after three surgeries and targeted therapy Ms Buckley is now disease-free.

According to Cancer Research UK, only 1% to 3% of melanoma cases are acral melanoma, the disease which led to the death of Reggae artist Bob Marley in 1981 aged just 36.

This type of cancer is more common among people with brown or black skin.

This type of cancer is also more commonly diagnosed in middle aged and older adults.

During her ordeal she signed up to a research match making service  which she described as a one stop shop to help people get involved in studies to further understanding about cancer and other diseases.

I feel so passionately about research, because I feel like Im one of the patients who has directly benefited from research because years ago, melanoma patients were only treated with surgery, huge clusters of lymph nodes would be removed, and that would sort of carry risks of life changing side effects.

For me, I was able to take two tablets twice a day from home, it wasnt a picnic, I was quite unwell last year, but nevertheless, now six months on from finishing my treatment, Im here.

I dont have any residual side effects, I am well and I am cancer free.

I feel so grateful to research for having brought these drugs to the market.

She added: Be Part of Research is a really good way of doing it. Its a really good way for anyone to sign up. Its really easy.

Its like a one stop shop for people wanting to get involved in research.

open image in gallery In a matter of months, the skin lesion grew to the size of a 10 pence piece ( Beatrice Buckley/PA Wire )

Ms Buckley, from Reading, signed up to the National Institute for Health and Care Researchs (NIHR) Be Part of Research project which can be joined through the NHS App.

She was matched her with a research project called MyMelanoma and signed up to the study, which aims to build the worlds biggest melanoma database.

More than half a million people have registered with Be Part of Research, and around 50,000 have taken part in research through the service.

NIHR said that people can sign up to the project with a few simple clicks through the NHS App in England.

It is also available in partnership with the NHS in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It is aiming to get one million people signed up to the project by April 2025.

Professor Lucy Chappell, chief scientific adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care and NIHR chief executive, said: Be Part of Research simplifies the process of taking part in research, by matching users to suitable studies based on their interests and where they live.

To ensure that UK research can continue to unlock advances in treatment and care and improve NHS services, social care and public health, we need everyone, from all backgrounds and communities, to sign up to this important service.

Dr Vin Diwakar, national director of transformation at NHS England, added: Whether youre in good health or have an existing health condition, Id encourage everyone interested in getting involved in health research to tap Be Part of Research in the NHS App to help develop new treatments that could improve peoples lives now and in the future.
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Civil Rights icon Andrew Young  a former ambassador, congressman, Atlanta mayor and member of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s inner circle, is coming home to the south Georgia city where he first became a pastor in 1955.

Young was billed as the star guest at Thursday evening's opening of a traveling exhibit, the aptly called The Many Lives of Andrew Young, in Thomasville. The event will be held at an arts center not far from Bethany Congregational Church, the historic church where he became pastor before joining King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

The exhibit, created by the National Monuments Foundation, chronicles Youngs life through photographs, memorabilia and his own words. It's based on a book of the same name by Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Ernie Suggs.

Young also served as a pastor in neighboring Grady County before joining the SCLC. While working with King, Young helped organize civil rights marches in Selma and Birmingham, Alabama, and in St. Augustine, Florida. He was with King when King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968.

In 1972, Young was elected to the U.S. House from Georgias 5th District, becoming the first black Georgian sent to Congress since Reconstruction. He served as the United Nations ambassador under President Jimmy Carter and was the Atlanta mayor from 1982 to 1990.
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The former police chief of the Uvalde school district said he thinks he's been scapegoated as the one to blame for the botched law enforcement response to the Robb Elementary School shooting, when hundreds of officers waited more than an hour to confront the gunman even as children were lying dead and wounded inside adjoining classrooms.

Pete Arredondo and another former district police officer are the only two people to have been charged over their actions that day, even though nearly 400 local, state and federal officers responded to the scene and waited as children called 911 and parents begged the officers to go in.

I've been scapegoated from the very beginning, Arredondo told CNN during an interview that aired Wednesday. The sit-down marked his first public statements in two years about the May 24, 2022, attack that killed 19 students and two teachers, making it one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.

Within days after shooting, Col. Steve McCraw, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, identified Arredondo as the incident commander of a law enforcement response that included nearly 100 state troopers and officers from the Border Patrol. Even with the massive law enforcement presence, officers waited more than 70 minutes to breach the classroom door and kill the shooter.

Scathing state and federal investigative reports about the police response catalogued cascading failures in training, communication, leadership and technology problems.

A grand jury indicted Arredondo and former Uvalde schools police Officer Adrian Gonzales last month on multiple charges of child endangerment and abandonment. They pleaded not guilty.

The indictment against Arredondo contends that he didn't follow his active shooter training and made critical decisions that slowed the police response while the gunman was "hunting victims.

Arredondo told CNN that the narrative that he is responsible for the police response that day and ignored his training is based on lies and deception.

If you look at the bodycam footage, there was no hesitation  there was no hesitation in myself and the first handful of officers that went in there and went straight into the hot zone, as you may call it, and took fire, Arredondo said, noting that footage also shows he wasn't wearing a protective vest as officers inside the school pondered what to do.

Despite being cast as the incident commander, Arredondo said state police should have set up a command post outside and taken control.

The guidebook tells you the incident commander does not stand in the hallway and get shot at, Arredondo. The incident commander is someone who is not in the hot zone.

The Texas Department of Public Safety, which oversees the state police and other statewide law enforcement agencies, and Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell did not respond to requests for comment.

Javier Cazares, whose daughter Jacklyn Cazares was one of the students killed, criticized Arredondo's comments.

I dont understand his feeling that there was no wrongdoing. He heard the shots. Theres no excuse for not going in, Cazares told The Associated Press on Thursday. There were children. Shots were fired. Kids were calling, and he didnt do anything.

Arredondo refused to watch video clips of the police response.

I've kept myself from that. Its difficult for me to see that. These are my children, too, he told CNN. He also said it wasn't until several days after the attack that he heard there were children who were still alive in the classroom and calling 911 for help while officers waited outside.

When asked if he thought he made mistakes that day, Arredondo said, Its a hindsight statement. You can think all day and second guess yourself. ... I know we did the best we could with what he had."

___

Lathan 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.
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U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel will skip this year's atomic bombing memorial service in Nagasaki because Israel was not invited, the embassy said Wednesday.

Emanuel - who is Jewish - will not attend the event on Friday because it was politicized by Nagasaki's decision not to invite Israel, the embassy said.

He will instead honor the victims of the Nagasaki atomic bombing at a ceremony at a Buddhist temple in Tokyo, it said.

An atomic bomb dropped by the United States on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, destroyed the city, killing 140,000 people. A second bomb dropped three days later on Nagasaki killed 70,000 more. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, 1945, ending World War II and the country's nearly half-century of aggression in Asia.

Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki had indicated his reluctance in June to invite Israel, noting the escalating conflict in the Middle East. He announced last week that Israel was not invited because of concern over possible unforeseen situations" such as protests, sabotage or attacks on attendants. Nagasaki hoped to honor the atomic bomb victims in a peaceful and solemn atmosphere, he said.

Suzuki said he made the decision based on "various developments in the international community in response to the ongoing situation in the Middle East" that suggested a possible risk that the ceremony would be disturbed.

In contrast, Hiroshima invited the Israeli ambassador to Japan to its memorial ceremony on Tuesday among 50,000 attendees who included Emanuel and other envoys, though Palestinian representatives were not invited.

Nagasaki officials said they were told that an official of the U.S. Consulate in Fukuoka will represent the United States at Friday's ceremony. Five other Group of Seven nations  Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the U.K.  and the European Union are also expected to send lower-ranking envoys to Nagasaki.

Envoys from those nations signed a joint letter expressing their shared concern about Israel's exclusion, saying treating the country on the same level as Russia and Belarus  the only other countries not invited  would be misleading.

The envoys urged Nagasaki to reverse the decision and invite Israel to preserve the universal message of the city's ceremony. The exclusion of Israel would make their high-level participation difficult, they said.

British Ambassador to Japan Julia Longbottom, who attended the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Tuesday, told Japanese media that she planned to skip the Nagasaki ceremony because the city's decision to exclude Israel could send a wrong message.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. didn't violate New Jersey's sore loser law, a judge ruled on Tuesday, potentially clearing the way for Kennedy to appear on the presidential ballot as an independent.

Administrative Law Judge Ernest Bongiovanni rejected the petition by Scott Salmon, an election law attorney in the state, who challenged Kennedy's independent bid for the White House.

Respondent did not attempt to seek the democratic primary nomination in New Jersey and thus cannot be considered a loser under (the law), the judge wrote.

New Jersey, like a number of other states, has a sore loser law that bars candidates who ran in a primary from running as independents in a general election. Bongiovanni's ruling follows another judge's similar opinion.

The matter now goes to the secretary of state, New Jersey's top elections official, who can accept or reject the judge's order under state law. A message seeking comment was left with Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, who serves simultaneously as the secretary of state, on Wednesday.

Salmon brought a suit in 2020 saying that then-potential presidential candidate Kanye West gathered an inadequate number of signatures. At the time, Salmon said he was a registered Democrat. West eventually withdrew his petition to be on the ballot.

Kennedys famous name and a loyal base have buoyed his bid for the White House. Strategists from both major parties had voiced concerns that he might negatively affect their candidates chances.

A similar challenge in New York questioning his claim that he lives in New York is unfolding in court there. He testified this week that his address is in the New York City suburb of Katonah.

Salmon sought to keep Kennedy from the ballot as an independent under a state law that bars candidates who run for a major party nomination in a primary from seeking the same office in the general election as an independent. Salmon sought to use the statute, known as a sore loser law, because Kennedy had filed with the Federal Election Commission in April 2023 to run as a Democrat; he amended the filing in October to begin an independent bid.

Kennedy argued that Salmon didnt have standing to sue because he isnt a candidate for president himself, among other arguments. A message seeking comment was left with the Kennedy campaign.
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A woman has been arrested over the posting of inaccurate information on social media about the identity of the suspect in the Southport stabbings.

The 55-year-old, from near Chester, was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of publishing written material to stir up racial hatred and false communications.

In the wake of three young girls being stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class last week, police across the UK issued warnings over the spreading online of an incorrect name for the suspect and a false story about his background.

Six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, were killed in the attack ( PA Media )

The woman is being held in custody by Cheshire Police where she is assisting officers with their inquiries.

Chief superintendent Alison Ross said: We have all seen the violent disorder that has taken place across the UK over the past week, much of which has been fuelled by malicious and inaccurate communications online.

Its a stark reminder of the dangers of posting information on social media platforms without checking the accuracy.

It also acts as a warning that we are all accountable for our actions, whether that be online or in person.

A number of experts said this misinformation had been used by a vocal minority to sow division and fuel their own agenda and trigger a summer of thrill-seeking impulsive insurrection following violent disorder in the days since the attack.

Since the killings, far-right riots have broken out across the UK with 483 people arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, with a mosque targeted in Southport.
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Riots have spread across England and Northern Ireland in recent days following the killings of three young girls in Southport on 29 July.

Authorities are working to curb the serious civil disorder, with over 400 arrests made and dozens of police officers injured.

The scenes began with one far-right riot on July 30. This then led to dozens of similar events taking place across the UK over the weekend. More violence has been planned for Wednesday, with migrant centres all over the country thought to be the targets for violence.

More suspects are due in court following riots across the country (Owen Humphreys/PA) ( PA Wire )

For the latest updates, follow The Independents live coverage

Prime minister Keir Starmer has held two emergency meetings as he deliberates a response to the disorder. Speaking on Tuesday, he said communities will be safe.

Were doing everything we can to ensure that where a police response is needed, its in place, where support is needed for particular places, that that is in place, he said.

Politicians on the right such as Nigel Farage have accused the PM of not dealing with the escalating violence quickly enough, and of overseeing two-tier policing. This far-right talking point has also been parroted by Twitter / X owner Elon Musk, who publicly mocked and criticised Sir Keir on Tuesday.

As the far-right riots continue to take place across the UK, heres everything you need to know:

What started the riots?

The first riot took place in Southport on 30July. It was sparked by the deaths of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine. They were attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the town the day before when they were killed in a multiple stabbing which left eight other children injured.

Axel Rudakubana, now 18, has been charged with their murders alongside 10 counts of attempted murder. His identity was initially not revealed by police due to him being 17 when he was arrested. This was because criminal law in the UK grants children appearing in court automatic anonymity.

People gather to mourn victims of the Southport knife attack by holding a vigil in town, August 5 ( Getty )

Before Rudakubanas identity was revealed, false claims that he was a Muslim and asylum seeker proliferated online. Posts and videos sharing misinformation accrued millions of views, provoking anger amongst the far-right. Reports show that messaging platforms with anonymity features, such as Telegram, were then used to mobilise the large group.

One channel on the Russian-owned platform  named Southport Rise Up  had over 13,000 members at one point, as it continued to post locations for rioters to target even over the weekend. The channel has since been removed, with a spokesperson saying the platforms rules explicitly forbid calls to violence.

Mr Rudakubanas anonymity was lifted the day after the Southport riot, on 1 August. At Liverpool Crown Court, the presiding judge said this was because he would turn 18 in just six days, and adding: Continuing to prevent full reporting at this stage has the disadvantage of allowing others who are up to mischief to continue to spread misinformation.

Rioting in Southport, July 30 ( Getty )

Despite this, far-right rioting still took place over the weekend, on August 3 and 4. Those involved could be seen shouting Islamophobic and anti-immigrant chants, fighting with police, looting, and attacking people of colour. One incident in Rotherham saw rioters set alight a hotel thought to be housing asylum seekers, and then barricading the exit. No injuries were reported.

Riots broke out dozens of towns and cities. Manchester, Liverpool, Hull, and Belfast all saw violent scenes as rioters fought police or clashed with counter-protesters.

And more are planned. Far-right organisers have attempted to mobilise people to riot in nearly 40 locations on Wednesday, making migrant centres the target.
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The BBC has pulled an advert for a pacifist organisation that was due to appear in the programme for the Proms performance of Benjamin Brittens War Requiem.

The choral work, which is a meditation on the cycle of war, will be performed at this years Proms concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.

The piece was written in the 1960s for the reconsecration of Coventry Cathedral, which was partially destroyed during the Second World War and gave voice to Brittens strongly held pacifist beliefs.

The Peace Pledge Union (PPU), of which Britten was a member, is an organisation that has been campaigning for pacificism since 1934. It had paid for an advert to appear in the Proms programme on the night of the War Requiem performance.

The advert explained that Brittens choral piece is a profound expression of his personal renunciation of war and told the reader that the composer was an active member of the Peace Pledge Union during his lifetime.

British composer Benjamin Edward Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh ( Getty )

The text overlaid a picture of the commemoration stone to the conscientious objectors and continued: The belief that warfare is never the answer  and that better ways of dealing with conflict can and must be found, are not just part of our political and musical history. The ideals that inspired Britten continue to inspire people today  including the thousands of current members of the Peace Pledge Union and its sister organisations around the world.

The pacifist organisation was told last week that its advert had been pulled from the programme and it would get a refund from the publishers, who said the BBC objected to its inclusion in the Proms programme.

It is understood this was because the BBC decided the advert was of a campaigning nature.

The advert that the Peace Pledge Union had hoped to include in the Proms programme ( Peace Pledge Union )

Albert Beale from the PPU told The Independent: I can understand where they are coming from but it is ironic and rather sad. We are promoting pacificism and I can understand the caution, but I thought we were pitching it in such a way that wouldnt be a problem.

The piece of music is a massively powerful statement but it is in an artistic form. The BBC are happy for that to be broadcast but they seem to not be happy with a similar sentiment written in the programme.

He added: Im aware that you wouldnt put in a party political broadcast. But we werent putting in a polemical advert. It was just trying to reflect the emotions and sentiment in Brittens music and to remind people who are listening to the music that there are still people in the UK trying to live by his standards.

It wasnt taking a stance against any particular war. It was deliberately intended to follow the spirit of the music.

The BBC Proms will dedicate a night of its concert series at the Royal Albert Hall (pictured) to a performance of Benjamin Brittens War Requiem ( Getty )

Britten became a member of the PPU in the 1930s and composed a marching song, Pacifist March, for the organisation. The PPU was formed in 1934 by the Anglican priest Dick Sheppard in response to the growing threat of war in Europe and is one of the UKs primary pacifist organisations.

Brittens War Requiem uses the text of the Latin mass of the dead interspersed with the poetry of Wilfred Owen. It will be performed on Saturday 17 August at the Royal Albert Hall by the London Symphony Orchestra, three choirs and three vocal soloists, with Sir Antonio Pappano conducting.

In its summary of the performance, the BBC Proms said: Never has this tense, angry and cautiously optimistic work seemed more relevant since its first performance 62 years ago.

A spokesperson for the BBC said: We consider each ad individually and apply the principles of the BBC guidelines on a case-by-case basis.
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A third of parents say their children are eating less fruit than they were last year, a new survey suggests.

Research from food waste charity FareShare found a quarter of parents said their children would eat less fresh fruit during the summer holidays - with poorer families unable to afford the type of meals that their children would usually get in school.

Of those surveyed by YouGov for the charity, 34 per cent of parents were buying less fruit now than a year ago as the cost-of-living crisis continues to put pressure on household finances.

The survey comes after data from The Food Foundation earlier this year found that poorer families were forgoing vegetables and fruit in their weekly shops.

Of food insecure households surveyed in January, 60 per cent said they were buying less fruit than they do usually, and 44 per cent said the same for vegetables.

Lower income families say they are having to cut back on fresh fruit and veg ( Getty Images )

The charity estimated that 15 per cent of UK households are living in food insecurity - the equivalent of eight million adults and three million children.

One food charity, Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance, has issued an urgent plea for help after seeing a big increase in families asking for help.

Are you having to cut back on fresh fruit and veg due to high costs? Share your experience with holly.bancroft@independent.co.uk

With food costs rising, it said it has spent 110,000 on additional food to meet demand in the last year.

The food bank added: We just dont have the funds to keep spending 8,000 to 10,000 a month on food, including fresh fruit and veg that are so vital to help balance the nutrition of a food package.

Debbie Fixter, manager of Sprouts Community Food Charity in Teeside, said: We often have people telling us that they would love to be able to buy the fruits the children like but just cant afford it.

She added that the charity tries to provide fruit snacks to children and teach them about good eating habits.

George Wright, CEO of Fareshare, said it was really worrying that so many children were losing access to fresh fruit. The charity is calling on the government to partner with food redistrubtion initiatives to try and deliver the fruit and vegetables that is wasted on farms to families in need.

He added: We need their support to help get more nutritious food to children and help give them the best possible start in life.

The survey was carried out for Fareshare by YouGov. It surveyed 4,452 UK adults, of which 1,088 were parents with children aged 18 or younger. The figures were then weighted and are representative of all UK adults.
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Elon Musk has been criticised for his handling of disinformation on Twitter / X as he clashes with Keir Starmer over far-right riots which have gripped parts of the UK.

The US businessman, who bought the social media platform in 2022, launched a tirade of posts in which he mocked and criticised the UK prime minister. Following a statement from the Labour leader criticising the attacks on Muslim communities, Musk questioned why all communities should not be protected.

He later reposted this comment, alongside several memes which depict the UKs criminal justice system as racially biased, as well as calling the Labour leader #twotierkeir. This echoes a far-right talking point which alleges that policing in the UK is more severe towards right-wing people.

Violence has erupted across England and in Northern Ireland (Owen Humphreys/PA) ( PA Wire )

It comes as critics say Musk has allowed disinformation to spread on Twitter since his takeover of the platform. During his tenure, he has let go of around 6,000 staff, or 80 per cent of the workforce, including the entire moderation team. He has also allowed previously banned users like Donald Trump, Andrew Tate, and Tommy Robinson.

On Sunday, Musk replied to a video of rioting in the UK originally posted by Robinson. Analysts say this boosted the right-wing organisers reach, with Musks reply now reaching 9.2 million views.

Addressing the role of social media during the riots, technology secretary Peter Kyle said: I have been clear it is unacceptable that people are using social media to cause damage, distress and destruction in our communities.

Today I had useful meetings with TikTok, Meta, Google and X, to make clear their responsibility to continue to work with us to stop the spread of hateful misinformation and incitement. There is a significant amount of content circulating that platforms need to be dealing with at pace.

Former PM Rishi Sunak chats to Elon Musk in 2023 ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Encrypted messaging service Telegram has moved to remove channels organising far-right riots after it was thought many people organised anonymously on the platform for events last week.

A spokesperson for the Russian-owned tech firm said: Telegrams terms of service explicitly forbid calls to violence. Moderators use a combination of proactive monitoring of public parts of the platform and user reports in order to remove content that breaches our terms of service.

Musks social media activity shows that he is less willing to engage with calls for moderation. With tensions rising between the billionaire and the prime minister, many are wondering what the future of Twitter / X could be in Britain.

Could Twitter / X be banned in the UK?

There is currently limited legislation to tackle online disinformation in the UK, but Ofcom says this is changing. Following the riots, the telecoms watchdog has confirmed that new laws are set to come into force later this year.

They follow the passing of the Online Safety Act (OSA) in 2023, which changes the way social media is regulated in the UK. It will soon put new duties on tech firms to protect their users from illegal content, ranging from inciting violence to some instances of disinformation.

Certain acts that are illegal in real-life remain so online. It is a crime to harass or threaten someone on social media, for instance. But the onus here is on the user, not the platform on which they are operating. Furthermore, the law only covers misinformation that is defamatory, offensive or intended to cause distress. If it doesnt fall into these categories, it is likely to go unpunished and often unchallenged.

When the new duties come into force, tech firms operating in the UK will be given three months to assess illegal content on their platforms. After this, they will be required to take steps to stop it from appearing.

Let that sink in, Musk tweeted after announcing his takeover of Twitter in 2022 ( Getty Images )

Ofcom says they will have a number of powers to enforce this. Firstly, they can impose fines on tech firms of up to 18 million or 10 percent of their qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater.

Criminal action could even be taken against senior managers who fail to follow information requests from Ofcom. And, in extreme cases, Ofcom can require internet service providers to stop working with companies, effectively banning them from operating in the UK.

The new duties on tech firms were subject to a consultation from February this year, and are expected to be in effect from around the end of this year, Ofcom says.

The OSA also compelled the watchdog to launch a misinformation committee, which it is yet to do. Experts have also raised concerns that the scope to challenge disinformation included in the act could prove too limited.

Azzurra Moores, Policy Manager at Full Fact said: Unrest across the UK shows that the internet companies must react faster and more comprehensively to stop the spread of misinformation on their platforms before it can cause devastating, real-world harm.

"But the Government must also examine how it can support the sector to build better defences to bad information. Ten months on from becoming law, we urgently need to see Ofcom's advisory committee on misinformation established and empowered to reflect the reality that misinformation is a frontline threat to community safety that can ruin lives.

"In its current form with just two explicit mentions of misinformation, the Online Safety Act barely scratches the surface of online misinformation and should be amended to properly tackle the threats posed to our society."

Musk has made clear he wants X to become an everything platform ( Getty Images )

Which countries have banned X?

While it would be an unprecedented step in the West for the UK to ban Twitter, it has been in other places across the world. It is currently blocked in China, Russia, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Myanmar, Iran, and Pakistan.

Of these, only in Pakistan has the service been blocked since Musk took over in 2022. This came shortly before the countrys election in February 2024, in a move widely criticised by democracy campaigners.

Closer to the UK, the site has run into trouble with French authorities more than once. This first happened in 2013, when Twitter bosses were ordered by a judge to reveal the identity of a user who had been posting anti-semitic tweets, threatening the company with hefty fines for not doing so.

Last year, trouble came again as French ministers criticised the platforms lax approach to misinformation following its withdrawal from a voluntary EU code of practice on the issue.

Speaking in March 2023, former French digital minister Jean-Noel Barrot said: Disinformation is one of the gravest threats weighing on our democracies.

Twitter, if it repeatedly doesnt follow our rules, will be banned from the EU, he added.

This threat has yet to materialise, but the app was banned from French government employees phones alongside TikTok in the same month.

The app is also partially blocked in India, South Korea, and Tanzania.
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Four anti-immigration protestors were surrounded by anti-racism activists at a demonstration in Brighton, as thousands took to the streets across the UK to march against far-right violence.

Police were prepared for hundreds of far-right rioters and anti-immigration protests in dozens of towns and cities on Wednesday night, but were met largely by peaceful anti-fascist counter-protesters who turned up to protect local immigration centres and solicitors offices.

Demonstrations had been planned on Telegram channels linked with last weeks far-right riots, with a list of 39 immigration and law centres which had circulated as potential targets.

The police human barrier was surrounded by thousands of anti-racist protestors ( @AlecLuhn/X )

But in Brighton, thousands of counter-demonstrators crowded out the handful of anti-immigration protesters who turned out.

Police had to form a barrier around the protestors as they were surrounded by crowds of people chanting refugees are welcome here.

Dozens of extra police arrived to strengthen the ring of officers protecting the protestors, before they were moved away from the crowd and driven in a police van towards the railway station.

The anti-racist demonstration, which remained peaceful throughout, took on a carnival-style atmosphere as the evening progressed.

A celebratory atmosphere prevailed in Brighton ( @Bairdian/X )

Samba bands and loud singing took over the streets as demonstrators celebrated a successful and uplifting evening.

The celebratory mood was mirrored in other counter-protests which took place around the country, including in London (North Finchley and Walthamstow), Liverpool, Bristol and Newcastle.

This morning, the Metropolitan Police thanked Londoners for "coming together" and "showing community spirit" last night.

Mike Barton, the former chief constable of Durham Police, told BBC Breakfast this morning that the public response was inspirational, and that the evening was a raging success because the police and the public worked together.
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Laurence Fox is facing further legal action after he called drag performers taking part in the Olympic opening ceremony in Paris paedophiles.

French drag queen Nicky Doll launched legal action against the former actor turned right-wing activist over his widely-condemned social media posts.

Fox made the comments in response to one sketch in the ceremony which featured drag performers and was widely interpreted to be a parody of Leonardo Da Vincis famous The Last Supper painting  a detail denied behind the event organiser.

In response the former GB News presenter posted on X/Twitter: No point in getting wound up when the child f****** want to wind you up. Just laugh at the deviant little pedos [sic]. Eternity is a b***h.

Fox made the comments in response to one sketch in the ceremony which featured drag queens and was widely interpreted to be a parody of Leonardo Da Vincis famous The Last Supper painting  a detail denied behind the event organiser. ( BBC )

Nicky Doll, whose real name is Karl Sanchez, vowed to sue Fox in the immediate aftermath of the abuse and has now confirmed legal action against him.

Nicky Doll shared a statement from law firm Anne-Siogue Laguens X/Twitter, which read: Stop Homophobias lawyers have received numerous reports of incitement to hatred, insults, online harassment, threats and defamation.

The firm was notified by Mr. Karl Sanchez, known as Nicky Doll, of a defamation complaint filed against Mr. Laurence Fox and other users of the social network X (Twitter).

Nicky Doll, whose real name is Karl Sanchez, has launched a defamation complaint against Fox ( PA Wire )

It added that Nicky Doll suffered an unprecedented wave of animosity and ill will since her performance on the Festivity table of the ceremony, going as far as death threats.

These messages go far beyond artistic criticism, and for some convey odious and defamatory amalgams, equating drag performances and pedophilia, the statement said.

These comparisons are serious and unacceptable. It is in this sense that justice has been taken, and that any publication or message equating Nicky Dolls performance with encouragement of pedophile practices will be reported.

In sharing the legal letter, the RuPauls Drag Race contestant wrote: I will never again allow myself and other queer people to be defamed and demonized. If responding with love doesnt work for some, then responding with justice should work.

See you in court.

The case is not dissimilar to one Fox lost earlier this year against British drag artist Crystal. The 46-year-old was ordered to pay 90,000 in damages to Crystal and former Stonewall trustee Simon Blake after referring to them as paedophiles in an exchange on X/Twitter.

In a ruling at the High Court on 29 January, Justice Collins Rice described Foxs labelling of the pair as paedophiles in a social media row as seriously harmful, defamatory and baseless.

Nicky Doll referenced the legal defeat as she vowed to launch legal action, quoting Foxs original post writing: Since you didnt learn the first time around when you called my friend @crystalwillseeu a pedo, Im going to show you that you dont get to write things like that about queer people for the fun and the misinformation of it and go away with it. See you in court, again, @LozzaFox!

The Independent has contacted Laurence Fox for a comment.
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Far-right riots across England have been fuelled by online disinformation ever since a group sprang up on an app owned by Russian exiles to exploit a tragedy in which three children were killed.

Police are working to prevent more disorder, with over 400 people arrested and dozens of officers injured in cities all over the country.

More far-right action was planned for Wednesday, with immigration law firms targeted, but mobs failed to appear and instead tens of thousands of anti-racist counter-protesters took to the streets.

The first riot took place in Southport on 30 July in response to the deaths of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine. They were attending a dance class in the town the day before when they were killed in a multiple stabbing which left eight other children injured.

Axel Rudakubana, who has been charged with their murders, was not initially named due to being 17 when he was arrested. This is when misinformation about the suspect became rife online, with many claiming that he was a Muslim and asylum seeker  both untrue.

Following the killings, a broadcast channel on messaging app Telegram was set up, titled Southport Wake Up. It would remain open for nearly a week, amassing over 13,000 members.

Police officers push back anti-immigration protesters outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotheram, August 4, 2024 ( Getty )

The earliest messages in the channel were used to organise and mobilise the far-right rioters in Southport on 30 July who attacked a mosque. It remained open, sharing locations for rioters to mobilise over the weekend, with some of the plans resulting in widespread disorder and destruction of property.

Founded in 2013 by Russian -born brothers Pavel and Nikolai Durov, Telegram is an instant messaging service that has a range of social media features. It allows users to set up channels  large public groups which can broadcast messages to up to 200,000 people. Many of these can be searched for on the platform, others require a link.

After more plans were shared for Wednesday, The Independent approached Telegram to ask if it planned to remove the channel. The following day, spokesperson Remi Vaughn said: The channels publishing calls to violence have been removed.

He added: Telegrams terms of service explicitly forbid calls to violence. Moderators use a combination of proactive monitoring of public parts of the platform and user reports in order to remove content that breaches our terms of service.

Each day, millions of pieces of dangerous content are removed before they can cause harm.

Despite this, dozens of large channels which routinely share far-right content on the app remain open. Many of these have continued to share details of plans for Wednesday.

At 9am that day, four separate channels reshared the full list of locations for far-right action. They had a collective membership of just under 200,000 users, with the message receiving a shared 13,000 views.

The list of targets continues to be shared on far-right Telegram channels ( Telegram screenshot )

In a disclaimer to the message, the original poster cites freedom of the press, adding: This list does not constitute an endorsement of any protest action that may lead to violence.

Replies to the message would suggest it was interpreted otherwise, with users sharing rioting tactics, discussing how to start a revolution, and mocking police for preventing them from [stopping] children getting stabbed. In these comment sections and across all the channels, anti-Muslim rhetoric, racist memes and racial slurs are used casually.

Telegram is the transnational far-right extremist platform of choice, says Professor Matthew Feldman, a specialist on right-wing extremism who teaches at the University of York.

Fascists, neo-nazis and the broader far-right have truly found a home there because theyre not being deplatformed or removed. Their content is safe, secure and they can continue to, more or less, say what they like.

Prof Feldman points out that the apps moderation team is less than a dozen, compared to Facebooks tens of thousands of moderators.

Telegrams privacy policy says it would provide information about anonymous posters to authorities if asked to do so, but claims it never has been. Telegram currently operates out of Dubai.

When joining a far-right channel on the app, users are presented with a box making them aware of similar channels. This makes it very easy for someone exposed to one source of far-right misinformation to quickly gain access to many more. Users are limited to seeing nine recommendations but can see an unlimited amount if they pay 34.99 for a year of Telegram Premium.

The Telegram app operates out of Dubai ( Telegram screenshot )

Cross-posting between channels is common, allowing users to trace some messages back to their origins. Even if a message has been deleted or has disappeared from its source channel, it will remain live in channels to which it has been forwarded.

Some of these are run by well-known individuals such as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, or former BNP leader Nick Griffin.

But most operate under pseudonyms, sharing conspiracy theories, fascist or nazi rhetoric, and racist content. It seems they operate with near-impunity on the platform as they share cherry-picked news stories to their large audience, often alongside quotes from figures like Adolf Hitler or Oswald Mosley, and Islamophobic misinformation.

Telegrams approach to anonymity, privacy and verification makes the platform very attractive for far-right users. The app offers end-to-end encryption, making it near-impossible for anyone but the sender and the recipient to see messages. Regular users can decide their own screen name and change it regularly, without needing to prove their identity.

Prof Feldman, who has worked with the CPS on far-right terrorism, said: You have to look really hard for fascist and neo-nazi extremists who are minded to engage in political violence and not on Telegram.

He says there is a network of far-right groups on the platform who go by the collective name Terrorgram. The group was listed as a proscribed terrorist organisation by the government in April 2024.

A police van is seen parked near Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau, which has been boarded up as a protective measure against damage from riots, August 7, 2024 ( Reuters )

Although moderation is lacking on Telegram, this does not mean illegal activity is permitted on the app. Director of public prosecutions Stephen Parkinson has said he is absolutely seeking to prosecute people for online offences related to the rioting.

He added: If youre engaged in that activity, then you can be prosecuted for the substantive offence that you have caused [due] to what youve been doing using the internet.

On 6 August, Jordan Parlour became the first person to be convicted of stirring up racial hatred online in connection to the riots. In that case the 28-year-old had made online comments advocating an attack on a hotel in Leeds.

It remains to be seen whether the government will call on Telegram to release information about users, which the companys policy indicates it would comply with.

A government spokesperson said: We expect social media companies to take their responsibilities seriously and that includes countering the misleading and inflammatory material hosted on their platforms.

People already being charged for illegal online activity should serve as a warning to anyone who intends to use any platform to incite hatred.

Ofcom has released an open letter to online service providers, requesting they take steps to prevent the spread of harmful video material stemming from the recent events.

Group director for online safety Gill Whitehead said: We expect continued engagement with companies over this period to understand the specific issues they face, and we welcome the proactive approaches that have been deployed by some services in relation to these acts of violence across the UK.

Under the Online Safety Act, passed last year, the telecoms watchdog will be given greater powers to enforce the systematic removal of illegal content from social media platforms operating in the UK. Ofcom says this will happen by the end of the year, while experts including Prof Feldman predict that early 2026 is more realistic.

A Telegram spokesperson claimed moderators had removed any calls to violence in its channels.

They added: Telegram is used by people on both sides of the political spectrum, including Black Lives Matter protestors, pro-democracy movements in Belarus and Hong Kong and normal people living under authoritarian regimes.
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A website accused of helping to fuel racist riots in the UK by publishing false information about the identity of the Southport knife attack suspect has denied being affiliated with Russia.

Anger over the attack on a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, in which three young girls were killed last week, quickly boiled over into mob violence after false claims that the 17-year-old suspect was a newly arrived asylum-seeker on an MI6 watchlist were seen widely on social media.

Despite Merseyside Police warning that claims about the suspects identity being rapidly proliferated by far-right accounts with large followings were false, and that the suspect had been born in Britain, riots later broke out in Southport on Tuesday before spreading to other towns and cities in subsequent days.

Riots broke out in Southport last week ( Getty Images )

According to Marc Owen Jones, a disinformation researcher associate professor at Dohas Hamid bin Khalifa University, there were at least 27 million impressions on social media posts as of last Tuesday stating or speculating that Mondays attacker was Muslim, a migrant, refugee or foreigner.

One such website which falsely named the suspect and claimed he was an asylum-seeker who arrived across the Channel in 2023 and was known to MI6 and local mental health services, was an outlet named Channel3 Now.

The channels post at 5:51pm on Monday featured an article on the attack racked up close to two million views on social media site X before being deleted.

Journalist Katharine Denkinson reported that the website purported to be based in the United States but appeared to have started out 12 years ago sharing Russian-language videos of men in cars before pivoting to US news five years ago.

An individual now claiming to be management at the website, and who replied to its official email address, has now told BBC News that the publication of the false name shouldnt have happened, but it was an error, not intentional.

The channel has since deleted its initial post about the Southport suspect ( X screengrab )

The individual, who gave their name as Kevin and said they were based in Texas at the sites main office in the United States, reportedly refused give a surname or to reveal the identity of the sites owner, who they claimed was worried not only about himself but also about everyone working for him.

Kevin claimed to BBC Verify that there were more than 30 people in the US, UK, Pakistan and India who work for the site, and blamed our UK-based team for the article which has since been deleted.

They confirmed that the site previously purchased a Russian-language YouTube channel which focused on car rallies many years ago and later changed its name.

Just because we purchased a YouTube channel from a Russian seller doesnt mean we have any affiliations, Kevin told the BBC. We are an independent digital news media website covering news from around the world.

It is not uncommon for YouTube accounts to be purchased by others seeking to quickly capitalise upon their existing following and then repurposed.

The Independent has approached Channel3 Now for additional comment.

Warning against diverting the focus from key players in this disinformation campaign, strategic communications consultant, Stephanie Lamy, warned last week that there really is no solid evidence to date that Russia is behind Channel 3 Now.

Suggesting the website appeared to be an automated traffic farm, Ms Lamy added: Blaming Russia, without any solid evidence is counterproductive. It shields local players from scrutiny and accountability. It discredits expertise and credits a foreign power with an OP it [at the moment] seems to not have instigated.

Meanwhile, the violent disorder which erupted in Southport  believed by police to have been driven by non-residents  continued to spread to other towns and cities last weekend, with mobs chanting racist slogans and attempting to set fire to hotels housing asylum-seekers in Rotherham and Tamworth.

However, reports that far-right mobs were planning to target dozens of locations on Wednesday evening largely failed to materialise as anti-fascist demonstrators turned out in their thousands to oppose them.
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Tommy Robinson has complained his family holiday to a luxury Cypriot resort has been ruined by journalists who revealed his location after he was accused of stoking far-right riots in the UK.

The English Defence League (EDL) founder, 41, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, said he had left Cyprus and moved his children to Athens, Greece, but denied being on the run ahead of a High Court appearance in October.

Robinson said he had booked the Mediterranean break to spend time with his family and friends. He is thought to have left Britain last week ahead of a scheduled hearing in a contempt of court case. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Tommy Robinsons gym selfies may have given away his location at a five-star resort in Cyprus ( X )

But he claimed he feared his family had been put in danger after his location was revealed as he was accused of stoking riots in England and Northern Ireland over the weekend.

In a social media video filmed while he ate at a Greek meze restaurant, the anti-Islam activist accused reporters of giving away his location after pictures emerged of him sunbathing poolside at a five-star resort.

He told his 940,000 followers on X that journalists: Have destroyed a family holiday when I was with my children.

He added: Lets get the record straight I didnt flee the country because of the riots I left the country before any riots.

I held a 100,000 strong peaceful protest then riots kicked off in Liverpool that had nothing to do with me. In all my videos I have called for peace and calm.

Tommy Robinson addresses reporters who followed him on a holiday to Cyprus ( Tommy Robinson )

To the journalists, Im not on the run stop lying. Im due in the High Court in London on October 28 and 29 stick the date in your diary, people.

From Greece, Robinson continued to share videos of disorder despite anti-racist protesters being widely praised by police chiefs for their display of unity and lack of violence in responding to a list of 30 immigration office targets for far-right dotted across the country.

He accused armed Muslims of running through Croydon looking for the ghost of the EDL and attacking emergency workers.

Thousands of counter-protesters demonstrated peacefully on Wednesday night ahead of expected anti-immigration action ( PA Wire )

It came after Cypriot police said they stood ready to assist their British counterparts take action against Robinson if needed.

Under a court order imposed in 2021, Robinson was barred from repeating allegations he made against a Syrian refugee, Jamal Hijazi, who sued him for libel after the then-schoolboy was assaulted at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in October 2018.

Tommy Robinson has faced criticism for stoking tensions online from abroad ( PA Wire )

After a clip of the incident went viral, Robinson made false claims, including about Mr Hijazi attacking girls in his school, leading to the libel case.

Mr Justice Nicklin ordered Robinson to pay Mr Hijazi 100,000 in damages and his legal costs, as well as making the injunction preventing Robinson from repeating the allegations he made against the then-teenager.

The High Court heard last month that Robinson had been part of a demonstration in central London, which featured the screening of a film that was a flagrant and admitted breach of the injunction.

Robinson was banned from Twitter in 2018, but allowed to return by Elon Musk. Analytics published by Robinson last week showed that his posts had been viewed 1.2 billion times in the three months to August.
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Billionaire social media boss Elon Musk has launched another attack on the British authorities attempting to tackle far-right hate riots in the UK.

The owner of Twitter/X posted woke stasi this morning in response to the director of public prosecutions Stephen Parkinson promising to prosecute people who post or report material that incites racial hatred on social media platforms.

Mr Musk also retweeted a post by the co-leader of the far-right Britain First party Ashlea Simon with the comments detainment camps. Ms Simon had tweeted an image of a fake story about Sir Keir Starmer considering building emergency detainment camps in the Falkland Islands with the claim were all being deported to the Falklands.

The image had been made to look as though the story was published by the Telegraph, but that publication issued a statement saying: No such article has ever been published by the Telegraph.

Politics UK editor Josh Self claimed that Mr Musks tweet, since deleted, was seen by almost 1 million people in 15 minutes. He called it utterly dystopian.

Elon Musk had previously branded the prime minister two-tier Keir in a series of tweets on Tuesday ( PA )

The latest furore comes as former Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak, who rolled out the red carpet for Mr Musk last year, has been photographed on holiday with his wife Akshata Murty outside an expensive restaurant in California, where the cost of a mushroom pizza is $32.

The leader of the opposition has been almost completely quiet during the riots leaving the responses to shadow home secretary and leadership contender James Cleverly.

But in November last year Sunak rolled out the red carpet for Musk as the star turn at his international conference on artificial intelligence.

Requests for comments from Mr Sunak on Musks recent attacks on the UK suggesting civil war is inevitable and criticising prime minister Sir Keir Starmer have been ignored by his spokesman.

Mr Musks latest blast was in response to policing of his site and other social media platforms.

Mr Parkinson explained: The offence for incitement of racial hatred involves publishing or distributing material which is insulting or abusive, which is intended to or likely to stir up racial hatred.

Later in the morning Musk, tweeted the article again with the message: This is actually happening.

He had already retweeted the post of the co-leader of the far-right Britain First group.

Musk also went after The Guardian over an article on how the myth of two tier became widespread.

The Guardian tweet had community notes attached arguing that The Guardian had been complaining about two-tier policing based on race and sex for decades, even though this referred to historic racism and homophobia within the police. Musk messaged: Chefs kiss.

Earlier this week, Mr Musk had launched a barrage of attacks on Sir Keir and the UK government.

Rishi Sunak is on holiday in California and hasnt responded to requests for a reaction to Musks attacks on the UK ( PA )

In one he asked why communities were not being protected, with an image of Muslim protesters.

In another he used the term two-tier Keir, a phrase used by far-right activists to suggest that the prime minister is treating different groups differently in terms of law and order. Its based on false claims that Muslim groups were allowed to be violent while white working class ones were not.

Government justice minister Heidi Alexander branded Mr Musk irresponsible. However, Sir Keir has refused to comment on the social media boss or even mention his name when pressed about his tweets.
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Elon Musk has been tricked by fake news on his own platform after reposting an image of a fake news headline about the UKs response to riots.

It comes as the billionaire faces ongoing criticism about his engagement with, and handling of, misinformation.

The owner of social media giant X reshared an image posted by Britain First co-leader Ashlea Simon; a screenshot which purported to show a headline from the Daily Telegraph website, claiming the Government was considering creating temporary detainment camps on the Falkland Islands for those arrested during the recent riots.

However, the Telegraph quickly debunked the image, posting to its official account on the platform: The Telegraph is aware of an image circulating on X which purports to be a Telegraph article about emergency detainment camps.

No such article has ever been published by the Telegraph.

Mr Musk and Ms Simon have since both deleted their posts, but not before Mr Musks post was seen by hundreds of thousands of his followers  of which he has 193 million  and other users.

The SpaceX and Tesla owner has been heavily criticised in recent days for a number of posts about the disorder in the wake of the Southport stabbings and was called deeply irresponsible by Justice Secretary Heidi Alexander for posting that civil war is inevitable in the UK.

Both X and Mr Musk have come under increased scrutiny since the businessman took over the site in late 2022, with the billionaire himself engaging with misleading content and accounts known for spreading misinformation on a number of occasions.

In recent days he has posted a number of images and memes stoking division around the anti-immigration protests and disorder in Britain, recently reposted a misleading video of US vice president Kamala Harris that had been manipulated by AI, and has previously engaged with accounts known to have spread misinformation on a number of topics, including Covid-19 and vaccine safety.

His approach to running the platform has been heavily criticised after he substantially cut staff numbers and changed the sites verification and content moderation systems, saying he wanted to allow absolute free speech.

Under his leadership, the company has also restored the accounts of many figures previously banned for breaking site rules around hate speech, including in some from the UK such as Tommy Robinson  real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon  and Katie Hopkins.

Elon Musk branded the Prime Minister two-tier Keir in a series of tweets on Tuesday (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA) ( PA Archive )

Since then, many users claim to have seen an increase in misinformation and hateful content, as well as pornography and spam posts and accounts, despite Mr Musk claiming he would defeat the bots after taking over the company.

Earlier this week, one social media expert accused Mr Musk of being an attention seeker and the PR manager for the far right who is courting controversy to try and drive more engagement on X to help the sites advertising revenue.

Matt Navarra said: I think, to be honest, right now, Elon Musk is acting like the PR manager for the far right and can reasonably be put in the same class as Andrew Tate and Tommy Robinson.

The thing that speaks volumes to Elon is money, and also things that power his ego.

He speaks of standing up for free speech, but his actions and words are almost always self-serving and do nothing but drive attention to him and to his businesses, growing an ego that, to be honest, is already out of control.

Mr Musks actions have led to calls for harsher punishments to be levelled at social media platforms and their managers for allowing harmful content to spread.

The UKs Online Safety Act, which passed into law last year but is yet to be enacted fully, could see the biggest platforms facing billions of pounds in fines if they do not comply with the new rules, with criminal liability for named managers a possibility in some instances, as is the potential for sites to have their access limited in the most severe cases.
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A councillor suspended by Labour has been arrested over a speech calling for the throats of fascists to be cut.

Dartford councillor Ricky Jones has been suspended by the party over a video which shows him in the middle of a cheering crowd at a protest in Walthamstow, east London, organised to stop the far-right from targeting asylum centres and the offices of lawyers helping asylum seekers.

In the speech on Wednesday evening, he said: We need to cut all their throats and get rid of them.

He followed his speech with leading a chant of free, free Palestine.

The Metropolitan Police posted a statement on X, formerly Twitter, to which the original video was linked, and said: Officers have arrested a man aged in his 50s at an address in south-east London.

He was held on suspicion of encouraging murder and for an offence under the Public Order Act. He is in custody at a south London police station.

A Labour spokesperson said: This behaviour is completely unacceptable and it will not be tolerated. The councillor has been suspended from the party.

After the video emerged, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage took to Twitter claiming Mr Jones should be arrested.

Tagging in the Metropolitan Police, he said: This man should be arrested. If not, we know there is two-tier policing.

In a rare moment of unity across the Brexit divide, Mike Galsworthy, chair of the pro-EU European Movement, also called for the councillor to be arrested.

Also tagging in the Met, he tweeted: This horrific man needs arresting, and all those visibly clapping here should have this video sent to their bosses and families.

Theres no place for this murderous talk anywhere in our society.

It also emerged that Jones is also an organiser for the union the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA).

A TSSA spokesperson said: TSSA remains steadfast in supporting communities that peacefully stand against fascist aggression. We unequivocally do not condone any threats or acts of violence, as these actions are contrary to our values.
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A new Labour MP has been accused of racism over a series of recently unearthed offensive tweets.

Lauren Edwards, the MP for Rochester and Strood, made comments about Estonians, Parliaments cleaners and a halal restaurant, in the now-deleted posts.

She has since apologised and said she deeply regrets the tweets.

In one, Ms Edwards wrote: I want these f****** Estonian r****** out of my flat now!

Lauren Edwards has apologised after old Tweets resurfaced ( PA )

The posts date from more than a decade ago, between 2009-2011.

Ms Edwards, who worked as a parliamentary researcher for Labour MPs including Barbara Keeley, Teresa Pearce and Lisa Nandy until 2013, also tweeted: Are the cleaners on recess too? My desk has so many coffee rings it looks like Saturn.

Another tweet, which appeared to respond to an account called Baroness Wrenthorpe, said: Baroness Wrenthorpe text me from Walthamstow to say hes seen a halal Pakistani Chinese Grill place. Hope hes not suggesting we go there.

On Thursday, she said she had been recently made aware of a small number of tweets she posted over a decade ago which I now deeply regret. They were a significant error of judgement on my part, and I apologise wholeheartedly.

She added that: Since becoming a local councillor and more recently an MP, I have seen first hand the importance of bringing communities together and working with tolerance and respect for all in our society.

Former Tory MP Kelly Tolhurst called the comments divisive and unpleasant ( PA )

Former SNP MP Martin Docherty-Hughes said: As the former chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Estonia, I am deeply troubled by the racism and ableism vocalised by the Labour MP in question and would encourage them to reach out to the Estonian ambassador as well as disability groups to apologise and educate themselves on the benefits of a diverse society. On the issue of parliamentary cleaners, the new MP should walk a week in their shoes to see what its like to clean up after a political class, though I doubt they would last a day never mind a week.

Ms Edwards predecessor, the former Tory MP Kelly Tolhurst, said she was shocked and concerned by the views held by Ms Edwards.

In a post on X, she added: She had no concern airing them publicly when working for a Labour MP, only deleting them after public pressure. Holding these divisive and unpleasant views she now represents our towns and community.

Mish Rahman, a member of Labours powerful ruling National Executive Committee, also criticised the tweets.

He questioned the scrutiny Ms Edwards had come under before she was selected, saying: We missed these tweets on due diligence  I recall r***** as a key search word.

He added: On face value, it seems a bit racist.

Ms Edwards was elected last month with 15,403 votes.
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Nigel Farage has reached out to billionaire X owner Elon Musk alleging a conspiracy between the government and media to support open borders as he doubles down on a key claim about the Southport stabbings.

The Reform UK leader posted a video directed at Musk, who has himself been behind a tirade of tweets attacking the UK, its government and prime minister Sir Keir Starmer over the handling of the far-right riots.

Musk has been supporting claims that there is a two-tier approach to Muslims and the white working class as well as calling the UK authorities the woke stasi over attempts to control incitement to hate and misinformation on social media.

In a new tirade, Mr Farage said: Elon Musk asks a very important question. Why do the UK media with a few exceptions just parrot the government line.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been criticised for his response to the riots ( PA Wire )

Well I tell you why Elon, its dead simple. Its called consensus. Its called when everyone gets together with groupthink and says open borders are fantastic! Come in everybody. We dont care if you speak our language or share our values. We dont care about the population explosion meaning our kids cant get houses.

For them to ever admit all of them the Conservative Labour and mainstream media would be to go against the worldview they have held for decades. They believe they are kind, lovely people and anyone who believes in borders, believes in culture, believes in community, believes in country, somehow we are the bad guys.

There are a few of us who think differently. I have done my best. But they are the exceptions. There is a group think and they have got this horribly wrong as we have seen on the streets of our country this week.

Earlier Mr Farage doubled down on his much-criticised claims about the Southport stabbings, as new polling shows the Reform UK leaders popularity has plummeted.

Following the killings of three girls last week, Mr Farage claimed the truth was being withheld about the suspect and has gone on to allege the riots that followed were due to a lack of information provided to the public by authorities.

It was false claims shared about the suspects name and faith on social media that whipped up anger that contributed to the racist riots that have blighted England in the last week, with nearly 500 people now arrested.

However, despite the trouble, Mr Farage stuck by his line of questioning on Talk TV on Thursday: What I did sense... was we werent being told anything.

Elon Musk has been described as one of the most dangerous men on the planet ( PA Archive )

We had a lot of, I saw it as you did, He arrived on a boat across the Channel last October, he was a Muslim activist, etc. And I said, can you tell us, was this man on a watch list? Yes or no. Remember the London Bridge attacks, within an hour of the attack we knew the man had been on a watch list.

One of the reasons the Southport riots were as bad as they were, one of the reasons the mosque itself was targeted was because the authorities didnt tell us quickly enough what the truth was. We then learnt a few hours later he was born in Cardiff and actually he wasnt a radical Islamist at all. But my question about whether he was on a watch list still hasnt been answered.

Mr Farage has seen his approval ratings fall over the last week, with the Reform UK leader experiencing a seven-point decline in his net favourability score.

The riots, which began after three young girls were killed in Southport, have continued throughout the week and resulted in more than 400 people being arrested across the UK ( Getty Images )

Some 67 per cent of Britons have an unfavourable view of the MP for Clacton, polling from YouGov shows, while just 25 per cent think favourably of him. Previous YouGov polling conducted on July 31 put the Reform UK leaders net favourability on -35, dropping by seven points over the course of less than a week to -42.

While he holds an overwhelmingly positive net score among Reform voters, he holds a negative rating among every other group of the British public. For the first time this now includes Leave voters, with Mr Farage now scoring -4 among those who voted for Brexit, down from 7 points last week.

A protest has been planned for Saturday afternoon to take place outside the Reform UK headquarters, with the organisers accusing Mr Farage of inciting and making excuses for racist and fascist rioters.

A pogrom has been unfolding across the UK involving surging racist attacks of extreme and vicious violence, they said. Join the protest at Reform UK on Saturday 10 August at 2.30pm as part of the National Day of Protest against the far right.

Thousands of counter-protesters demonstrated peacefully on Wednesday night ahead of expected further unrest ( PA Wire )

But, speaking to The Independent, Mr Farage dubbed the planned demonstration absolutely disgusting, inciteful behaviour.

The Reform UK leader has been offered extra security by the Home Office as a result of growing threats against his person. During the general election campaign, a cup and another object were thrown at the politician while he was on top of a party battle bus in South Yorkshire. A week earlier he had a milkshake thrown over him in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex.

Asked about accusations that he incited violence and riots, Mr Farage told Talk TV: Some of whats been said is absolutely disgusting. Its cowardly, its unjust. Ive been fighting elections for 30 years because I believe in the democratic process. Ive never at any point in those 30 years been involved in violence, been involved in street protest. Been involved in any of those things.

Last week, the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox accused the Reform leader of inciting a riot by peddling conspiracy theories.

Brendan Cox added: This is why Farage deserves the label far-right. Everyone who is associated with him, has normalised him or promoted him should be ashamed. This is vile.
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Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to cancel any holiday plans after a week of riots across the UK, with new polling showing that 71 per cent of people think the prime minister should not go away.

He was reportedly due to go on holiday last Monday, but No 10 confirmed that he would be spending the week working from Downing Street as violent disorder swept cities across the UK.

While Downing Street did not confirm whether the prime minister had any other holidays booked for the rest of August, there was speculation he may have planned a rescheduled trip for later this month.

New polling, conducted by YouGov, saw 71 per cent of people say he should not go on holiday next week. Just 14 per cent said he should take a break, while a further 14 per cent said they dont know.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has rejected accusations of two-tier policing as a non-issue (James Manning/PA) ( PA Wire )

The polling, which surveyed 4,522 people, was conducted on Wednesday amid reports of up to 100 riots being planned for the UK later that day.

But the large-scale violence that was expected failed to materialise after thousands of counter-protesters turned up to stand against them.

Around 6,000 police officers were on standby in major cities on Wednesday evening, after demonstrations had been expected in 41 of the 43 police force areas in England and Wales.

GP surgeries closed early and shops were boarded up over fears of further rioting, but peaceful counter-protesters outnumbered far-right groups in what appeared to be a significant de-escalation of this weeks violence.

The prime minister held two Cobra meetings and an emergency Cabinet meeting this week to co-ordinate a response to the rioting, which began following the killing of three young girls in Southport last week after social media posts falsely claimed the suspect of the Southport stabbing attack was a Muslim immigrant.

Hundreds of people have been arrested after riots linked to the far right rocked major cities including Manchester, Liverpool and Hull, with violent mobs setting fire to hotels housing refugees and clashing with the police.

Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson said Wednesday nights events were just the start of any de-escalation, claiming that swift justice has acted as a deterrent for potential rioters.

Dame Diana Johnson said last nights events were just the start of any de-escalation ( PA Wire )

Asked if she believed the levels of disorder had turned a corner overnight, Dame Diana told Sky News: I am cautious about what happened last night.

Its good that we didnt see the level of disorder and criminality on our streets that we have in previous days, but obviously this is just the start. There is now further intelligence of events during the next few days, and we need to see what happens there.

Sir Keir faced criticism from Robert Jenrick last week when reports suggested he had still planned to jet off, with a source close to the Tory leadership frontrunner suggesting the move would be Nero-esque  a reference to the Emperor who was said to have fiddled while Rome burned.

Mr Jenrick told GB News it would be completely wrong for the Prime Minister to holiday while parts of Britain are burning, adding that the situation needs to be handled from the very top.

But at the time, Labour backbencher Chris Webb defended the prime minister, saying he needs to have family time.

The Labour MP for Blackpool South said that deputy prime minister Angela Rayner could step in for Sir Keir, telling LBC: Every Prime Minister has to have that family time and that break but from what I know of Keir he will be continuing to work and monitor the situation wherever he is on holiday.

Downing Street has been contacted for comment.
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Watch as Stormont was recalled on Thursday, 8 August, as Northern Ireland politicians discussed far-right rioting seen in Belfast over the weekend.

MLAs returned from summer recess for an Assembly sitting to discuss recent scenes of violence on the city's streets.

It came as the Irish Congress of Trade Unions was set to lead a rally outside Parliament Buildings in opposition to the rioting seen in the capital on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday evenings following the disorder.

Police and members of the public have been attacked and two businesses owned by people from a minority ethnic background have been destroyed in south Belfast.

Further disorder on Wednesday night saw officers come under attack in east Belfast.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it has asked for support, submitting a request to National Police Co-ordination Centre for additional officers from across the United Kingdom to support their operation.

First Minister Michelle ONeill called for political leaders to speak with one voice following scenes of violent disorder.

Far-right violence erupted in England and Northern Ireland following the deaths of three children in a stabbing attack in Southport.

It came after the spread of false claims online that the suspect, identified as 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana from Lancashire, was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat.
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The rock band Journey has compiled an impressive list of hits over the past 50 years, but the song that might now be resonating the loudest for some band and crew members is Separate Ways.

The latest in a series of legal disputes with band founder and lead guitarist Neal Schon, longtime keyboardist Jonathan Cain is asking a Delaware judge to resolve a deadlock involving Freedom 2020, a company formed three years ago to oversee tour-related finances.

According to court filings, Schon is president of Freedom 2020, but he and Cain each holds a 50% stake in the company. In a petition filed last week, Cain said he and Schon fundamentally disagree on the management and operation of the company. He wants the court to appoint a custodian to act as an independent, deadlock-breaking director.

Cains attorneys also asked the judge to fast-track the case amid the bands current 50th Anniversary Freedom Tour, which concludes Nov. 17 in London. During a hearing Wednesday, Cain's attorney Sidney Liebesman told Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster that the current situation is dysfunctional.

It is in crisis, Liebesman said. The damage is taking place during the tour.

Liebesman complained that Schon is wasting company assets and believes that, as president of Freedom 2020, he can do whatever he wants.

It is his self-interest that is driving his decision-making, Liebesman said.

In a court filing Monday, Schons attorneys said many of Cains allegations have no basis. They specifically rejected allegations that the tours production company and vendors werent being paid on time.

Petitioners allegations that the company faces imminent irreparable harm from a purported inability of the company to meet its financial obligations has no basis in fact, according to Schons attorneys, who will file a more complete response to Cains petition on Monday.

Our client denies that theres been any mismanagement, Schon's attorney Jack Yoskowitz told Laster, adding that any dysfunction has been caused by Cain acting in his own self-interest, including making allegations to the press that harm the band.

Laster scheduled a final hearing in the case to begin on Sept. 3, timed with Labor Day weekend, as sought by Cains attorneys. Schons attorneys sought a hearing in late September or early October, after the North American leg of the tour ends.

Cains attorneys say a quick resolution is needed because the deadlock has become a very much public battle that also has created a toxic internal environment during the tour.

Rather than focusing on the bands performances during a major international tour, the bands business manager, lead vocalist and crew members now find themselves caught in the middle of the directors disputes, afraid of performing their job responsibilities, and pressured to align with one director or another, they wrote.

Cains attorneys say the dispute also threatens the bands reputation, could negatively affect its fan base, and could further strain relationships with vendors and personnel.

Indeed, the band has lost multiple members of its crew because of such tensions over the past several months, they wrote, adding that the companys new business manager, its seventh, was hired two months ago.

Cain says Schons desire to take a $1.5 million advance from promoter AEG Presents LLC to cover tour expenses, and his opposition to Cain's proposal for a more modest advance of $500,000, has caused a major rift. He also accuses Schon of exorbitant and wasteful spending on hotels and airfare for band and crew members. Schon, for example, has ignored the company limit of $1,500 per night for hotel accommodations and has spent up to $10,000 per night for hotel rooms for him and his wife, according to Cain.

Cain also alleges that Schon allows crew members to stay in hotel rooms during tour stops in or near their home cities, and to fly in business class. Schon also has used the company credit card for personal expenses and incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs for private jets for himself, his wife and various crew members, according to Cain.

The dispute also has even spilled over to creative differences, including Cains disagreement with Schons selection of a substitute drummer for a Toronto performance last week, and whether Cain should play rhythm guitar during performances of the 1978 song Wheel in the Sky."

"Even if that decision were within the scope of Freedom 2020s business, which seems highly doubtful, matters of song arrangement are objectively not a type of disagreement that threatens the company with irreparable harm," Schon's attorneys wrote.

The two band members have been at odds for several years. In 2022, for example, Schon sent a cease-and-desist letter after Cain performed the 1981 hit "Dont Stop Believin at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. Schon said Cain, whose wife was a spiritual adviser to Trump, had no right to use the Journey brand for politics. Cain countered that Schon was the one damaging the bands brand through his bullying tactics and reckless spending.
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Ksenia Karelina, an American-Russian amateur ballet dancer accused of committing treason against Russia for donating a little more than $50 to a Ukrainian charity in the US, has admitted guilt in her case, according to Russia state news agency TASS.

Karelina, 33, is a dual national American and Russian. She was detained in Yekaterinburg earlier this year while she was in the country visiting her grandparents. Recently-released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was also arrested on espionage charges while he was visiting Yekaterinburg.

Russian officials accused the dancer of donating $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity while she was in the US. She made the donation the day that Russia invaded Ukraine.

Prosecutors want to jail her for 15 years, accusing her of collecting money for Ukraine to use to purchase tactical military supplies. The organization Karelina donated to  Razom for Ukraine  is based in New York and is a non-profit group that provides non-military aid to Ukraine.

Karelina's lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, said a 15-year sentence  which would place her in a penal colony  was too severe for the nature of her infraction, and argued her cooperation in the investigation should earn her some good will in the court.

Ksenia Karelina, a dual U.S.-Russian national detained on suspicion of treason, attends a court hearing in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on June 20 ( via REUTERS )

The announcement comes on the heels of the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War. Karelina was prohibited from participating in that exchange because a final ruling had yet to be made in her case.

Mushailov told reporters on Thursday that once a verdict was reached her legal team would begin working toward including her in a future prisoner swap.

Karelina lives in Los Angeles and works at a spa and as an amateur ballerina. She became a US citizen in 2021. Since her arrest, her partner, Chris Van Heerden, has been campaigning for her release.

"I believe America will bring her back to me," Van Heerden told CNN earlier this year.

The couple had been vacationing in Istanbul just before her trip. Van Heerden returned to the US, while Karelina continued to Russia to see her family.

I thought it might be dangerous for her to go, with everything going on with the war in Ukraine, but she reassured me that she was Russian and that everything would be fine." he told the Los Angeles Times in February. So, for her birthday in December, I bought her a ticket. She was so excited. Now, I am hitting myself over the head about it.

US officials did not learn of her arrest until February 8.

Karelina detainment and trial coincides with Russian President Vladimir Putin's latest efforts to crack down on dissent within his borders.

In April, Putin signed a decree increasing the maximum sentence for treason charges to life in jail. Previously the most anyone could serve for treason was 20 years.
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Boeing executives have admitted they cannot promise that another incident where a plane door plug blows out mid-flight will not occur tomorrow as they were forced to give testimony this week following a string of safety scandals.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a two-day investigative hearing beginning on Tuesday concerning the near-tragedy on Alaska Airlines flight 1282 on January 5 which sent shockwaves through the aviation industry.

The aircrafts door plug  a self-sealing wedge-shaped door used on pressurized cabins  blew out while the 737 Max aircraft was cruising at 16,000 shortly after departing from Portland, en route to Ontario, California.

All 177 passengers and Alaska Airlines employees landed safely  despite one crew member testifying on Tuesday that she thought passengers had been sucked out of the plane.

During the hearing this week, the aerospace companys executives admitted that they cannot promise that it wont happen again.

Are you 100% sure a defect will not occur tomorrow? NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy asked Boeings vice president of regulatory compliance and core quality Hector Silva.

No, he replied.

She then asked Silva whether there could be another door plug installed without the same due diligence that was missed prior to the Alaska Airlines incident.

A gaping hole opened up on the side of Alaska Airline flight 1282 after the door plug blew off mid-flight ( NTSB via AP )

I cannot make a promise or guarantee of that, he said, before adding: We are definitely committed to making sure that all the changes we need to make are made.

The NTSB grilled the Boeing executives about the events leading up to the mid-air incident, which spelled disaster for the companys reputation, profits and revenues.

Last September, the 737 Maxs door plug was removed to undergo repairs in Renton, Washington, Boeing Commercial Airplanes senior vice president of quality Elizabeth Lund testified. It was later temporarily put back on the plane with four bolts missing.

Paperwork detailing the removal was never created, leaving other workers unaware that bolts needed reinstalling, she said.

But one instrumental piece of information remains shrouded in mystery for both Boeing and the NTSB: when and by whom the door plug was placed back on the plane without the bolts.

We dont know and neither do they and thats a problem, Homendy told reporters during a break in the hearing.

Additionally, Boeings 737 factory had issues with unauthorized work on door plugs for years, she told CNN.

NTSB board member J Todd Inman argued Boeing is playing a game of whack-a-mole every five to 10 years with safety.

Jennifer Homendy grilled Boeing execs during the NTSBs two-day investigative hearing ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Following the flight 1282 incident, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered Boeing to halt production of the 737 Max until it was satisfied that safety and quality issues had been addressed.

But the Alaska Airlines incident marked only one of a string of safety concerns, including  just last month  a wheel falling off a United Airlines Boeing 757-200 moments after it took off from Los Angeles.

Dozens of Boeing whistleblowers have also forward with claims of alleged bad working habits and the intentional use of defective parts on planes.

Ron Irvin, a former quality investigator at Boeing for six years, previously told The Independent that the aircraft manufacturer was infested with yes men and full of bean counters.

Boeing is also dealing with supply-chain issues that are hindering production as it re-acquires key contractor Spirit AeroSystems.

Then, last month, the company struck a plea deal with the Justice Department to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.

The charge relates to the company misleading federal regulators into approving its 737 Max jetliner  the aircraft model that was later involved in two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, which together claimed the lives of 346 people.

The scandals have taken a toll on Boeings profits too, with the company recording a staggering $1.4bn loss in the second quarter of 2024.
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Three deans at Columbia University, who sent text messages that the school president described as antisemitic, have resigned from their posts.

The deans resigned after a series of troubling texts came to light that were sent in May during a campus event called Jewish Life on Campus: Past, Present, and Future. The texts were exchanged while Jewish campus leaders shared their concerns about antisemitism at the New York school.

Matthew Patashnick, associate dean for student and family support, resigned alongside Susan Chang-Kim, the colleges vice dean and chief administrative officer, and Cristen Kromm, the dean of undergraduate student life.

This incident revealed behavior and sentiments that were not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes, Columbia President Minouche Shafik said in a statement last month.

Shafik had placed the deans on indefinite administrative leave in July after the messages came to light. A transcript of the messages has since been released by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, which is investigating antisemitism on campuses across the country.

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik pictured visiting Hamilton Hall, which pro-Palestinian protesters occupied in April. Three deans have resigned after sending text messages that Shafik said referenced antisemitic tropes ( Getty Images )

He knows exactly what hes doing and how to take full advantage of this moment, Patashnick sent in the group chat, according to the transcript. Huge fundraising potential.

Chang-Kim replied: Double Urgh.

Chang-Kim also appeared to sarcastically describe Columbias Hillel director, Brian Cohen, as our hero. Josef Sorrett, dean of Columbia College, replied with: LMAO.

Sorett, who is tenured, did not resign and will remain in his role. He apologized to the Columbia community last month. I am deeply sorry that this happened in a community that I lead and, that I was part of any of the exchanges, he wrote.

Students fly a banner that reads Hinds Hall out of a Hamilton Hall window on Columbia Universitys campus. Dozens of occupiers were arrested, however, the Manhattan DA has dropped charges against 31 of them ( AP )

The messages were sent in the weeks after massive pro-Palestinian protests shook the New York City campus and made national news. These protests inspired dozens of similar demonstrations on campuses across the US.

Dozens of Columbia students and their allies were arrested, particularly after occupying the schools Hamilton Hall and re-naming it Hinds Hall to honor a six-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli troops.

In June, the Manhattan District Attorneys Office said that it was dropping charges against 31 of the 46 people who occupied the hall.

The Independent has contacted Patashnick, Chang-Kim and Kromm for comment.
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NCIS: Los Angeles actor Gabriel Olds was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting at least three women across the country, police announced this week.

Olds, 52, was arrested Monday by the Los Angeles Police Department on seven felony sexual assault charges, and is now being held on a $3.5 million bond, according to public records. Police said the women told officers that Olds lured them in using his status as an actor and alum of Yale University, a prestigious Ivy League school, before becoming violent.

In recent years, hed met several victims on dating apps, the police department said.

Each victim reported that Olds lured them into a false sense of security during their initial encounters, then turned violent without seeking their consent, the LAPD said in a statement.

At least three women have told police they were assaulted by Olds, while two women reported lesser violent sexual conduct, the LAPD said.

Actor Gabriel Olds, pictured in a booking photo, was arrested on Monday for sexually assaulting at least three women, police said ( Los Angeles Police Department )

Officials said Olds likely targeted more women and are urging any other potential victims to come forward if they have been targeted.

We heard the same story again and again, Detective Brent Hopkins said in a statement. Mr. Olds started off charming, but then used brutal violence to carry out these rapes.

Some of these survivors suffered in silence for years before finding the strength to speak up, he continued. Now that hes off the streets, we want to make sure everyone has a chance to be heard.

The 52-year-old, originally from New York, has a recurring role playing Spencer Allen in NCIS: Los Angeles. Olds has also appeared on NCIS and NCIS: New Orleans. He has also appeared in several other popular crime shows, including Criminal Minds and The Mentalist.

Olds played the role of young Pat Robertson in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, an Oscar-winning 2021 film.
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Police in Arizona are investigating after a mother-of-two was found shot to death inside her home in broad daylight just weeks before her 40th birthday.

Alexandria Millard, 39, was at her Wickenburg home on Navajo Street with her children on July 10 she died of a gunshot wound, according to the Wickenburg Police Department.

One of the children called Millards boyfriend who called 911, family members told 12News.

Wickenburg Police, along with the Peoria Police Department Crime Scene Investigations team, and the state crime lab and the Maricopa County Medical Examiners Office have since launched an investigation into the mysterious death.

Further details about the killing have not been released by officials, but police say they are awaiting results from the crime lab and medical examiners office.

Alexandria Millard was found shot to death inside her Arizona home on July 10 just weeks before her 40th birthday ( GoFundMe )

Meanwhile, the single mothers loved ones are still in shock over her sudden death and are desperate for answers.

They have given me the impression that they do not feel that it was suicide, so much so that theyre investigating it and looking for other possibilities, Stacie Cannard, Millards aunt and godmother, told 12News.

Every day when you wake up, you pray that you get answers. Every day when you go to sleep, theres no answer. And then you dream, and youre happy for at least the time that youre asleep, and then you wake up and its real all over again. And its just too much.

Millard would have turned 40 on Wednesday, August 8. Her family and friends came together to remember her on what would have been her milestone birthday.

Going through this and not having answers and not understanding what happened or why this happened, you know, we felt like everyone that loved her getting together and remembering her and celebrating her. It was so close to her birthday, it just felt like the right thing to do, Millards close friend, Nicole Chavez, said.

She was just a beautiful person who loved life. She loved her friends and her family immensely. She would have done anything for anyone.

It just doesnt make sense, Chavez added about the circumstances surrounding her friends death. We feel like theres more to the story and we feel like some justice is due for Alex.

Millard, who worked as a clinical assistant at Highgate Senior Living, was known to dress up for every holiday and occasion  anything to bring a smile to residents faces, her colleagues said.

Alex was just very empathetic and took the extra time with all of the residents. I think she was always the first one to pick up shifts when we needed help, Jennifer West, Highgate Senior Livings Executive Director, told 12News.

A GoFundMe to help the family with funeral costs and to help Millards children has been created and has raised $5,800 as of Thursday.
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Atlanta police have arrested a womans husband for her murder, 25 years after her remains were found dumped in a trash bag.

Melissa Wolfenbargers family last heard from her on Thanksgiving Day in 1998 when the 21-year-old called her mother, Norma Patton, from her husbands grandparents home. But no one reported the woman missing until January 2000, when her mother filed a report.

Christopher Wolfenbarger (left) has been arrested for the 1999 murder of his wife, Melissa Wolfenbarger (right) ( Fulton County Sheriffs Office (left), Atlanta Police Department (right) )

Decades later, her husband, Christopher Wolfenbarger, was arrested for murder after being a person of interest in the case for years, police said at a Wednesday press conference. The arresting officers found Wolfenbarger hiding behind a dryer at his Atlanta home on Tuesday.

Christopher Wolfenbarger knowingly and intentionally killed Melissa Dawn Wolfenbarger and dismembered her body, read an arrest warrant obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Christopher Wolfenbarger, pictured in a booking photo, was arrested for the 1999 murder of his wife. The arresting officers found him hiding behind a dryer at his home ( Fulton County Sheriffs Office )

The deceased womans mother and her sister, Tina Patton, attended the press conference wearing shirts with photos of Melissa.

In April 1999, police found human remains in a trash bag dumped in an Atlanta neighborhood. At the time, officials misidentified those remains as belonging to another missing person. Additional human remains were found in another bag, two months later.

DNA testing in 2003, three years after Wolfenbarger was reported missing, confirmed that both sets of remains belonged to the Atlanta woman. Police have been hunting for her killer ever since.

Melissa Wolfenbarger, pictured, was last heard from on Thanksgiving Day 1998. Her remains were found in two trash bags in 1999 but werent identified until 2003 ( Atlanta Police Department )

Melissas father, Carl Patton, was the reason police investigated the remains again in 2003, her sister previously revealed. Carl Patton was arrested and convicted that same year for five murders across Georgia from 1973 to 1977.

My mom was able to convince him to say something about my sister, Tina said, according to local outlet 11Alive. And somebody in Atlanta saw it in the paper the next day and said, Wait a minute, theres some remains over here in the morgue. And the address, the vicinities are kind of close to where this girl lived. So lets go get DNA.

Tina said her father would have never hurt Melissa, according to 11Alive. Dad loved us, she said. He was devastated. Just like us. He broke down and cried.

But her husband was a long-time suspect in Melissas disappearance, Tina Patton said at the Wednesday press conference.

Norma Patton and Tina Patton (right) at a press conference on Wednesday wearing shirts honoring Melissa Wolfenbarger ( Fox 5 Atlanta )

From day one, we knew it was Christopher, she told reporters. There was never, ever any doubt in our minds, who did this. My mom has said, I dont know how many times, that when she first met him, there was just evil in his eyes, she continued.

Both Norma and Tina said they never heard from Christopher again after Melissas disappearance.

Wolfenbarger had left her husband the summer before she disappeared, according to her sister, after saying her husband hit her and dragged her by the hair down a sidewalk.

But when [Christopher] went in front of the judge, he asked the judge to let him talk to her alone, and she went back to him, her sister said.

The Atlanta Police Department is transferring the case to the attorney generals office.

Norma recalled her last words to her daughter: I love you, and you know where I am if you need me.

Melissa was very loving, if she loved you, you would know it, the mother continued. She loved her kids, and theres no way on this Earth that she would have left him, because she wanted her kids.
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The top attorney representing Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger has now been tapped to defend a white supremacist who will stand trial for allegedly killing a man during a 36-hour escape from prison earlier this year.

Anne Taylor was assigned Wednesday to the high-profile North Idaho capital murder case of Skylar Meade, according to the Idaho Statesman.

Meade, 32, is charged with killing a man in Nez Perce County after escaping from corrections officials at a Boise hospital in March. He is set to be arraigned at the Nez Perce County Courthouse on Thursday.

Like Kohberger, Meade faces the death penalty if found guilty. Kohbergers murder trial is scheduled to start in June 2025.

Taylor has been on Kohbergers case since December 2022, after he was arrested for the November 2022 slayings of University of Idaho students, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.

Now, Taylor will be tasked with juggling two high-profile capital murder cases as she is only one of 13 public defenders in the state approved by the Idaho Public Defense Commission to work as the lead in a death penalty case.

Anne Taylor, who is defending Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, will now defend another Idaho inmate. ( AP )

She will be defending Meade who made his escape in March. The inmate was serving a 10-year prison sentence at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution when prosecutors say he faked an injury and was taken to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise.

His alleged co-conspirator Nicholas Umphenour is accused of shooting three corrections officers while Meade was being loaded into the prison van outside of the hospital, according to law enforcement testimony.

The officers survived but Meade and Umphenour escaped and drove for six hours where they allegedly attempted to rob 83-year-old James Mauney north of Lewiston while he was walking his dogs, according to Idaho State Police.

Mauney was found dead and Meade is accused of shooting him in the head.

Prosecutors in Nez Perce County seeking the death penalty alleged that Meade had utter disregard for human life and has exhibited a propensity to commit murder.

Skyler Meade, 32, is charged with killing a man in Nez Perce County after escaping from corrections officials at a Boise hospital in March

Meade is also a suspect in a Clearwater County killing where 72-year-old Gerald Don Henderson, 72, was found dead in his cabin outside of Orofino, Idaho. Shackles belonging to Meade were found in the cabin.

Police say the men left north-central Idaho not long after, heading to the southern half of the state. They were arrested in Twin Falls roughly 36 hours after the hospital attack.

Police described both men as white supremacist gang members who had been incarcerated at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna, at times housed in the same unit.

Both Meade and Umphenour have links to the white supremacist gang Aryan Knights.

Meade has two face tattoos, including the numbers 1 and 11, which are thought to represent A and K, the first and 11th letters of the alphabet, which supposedly stands for Aryan Knights.

Nicholas Umphenour, left, and Meade, right. Umphenour allegedly assisted in the prison escape. ( AP )

At the time of the escape, Meade was serving a 20-year sentence for shooting at a sheriffs sergeant during a high-speed chase. Umphenour was released in January after serving time on charges of grand theft and unlawful possession of a weapon.

While Meade and Umphenour have been indicted and charged in Mauneys death, no one has been charged in Hendersons death, which Idaho State Police say is still under investigation.

In July, Meade, who pleaded guilty to five charges, three of which were related to the escape, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 35 years.

Umphenour still faces charges in Ada County. His trial is scheduled for October.
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A Michigan man has been charged with fatally shooting a Detroit neurosurgeon, whose body was found wrapped in a carpet in the attic of his mansion more than a year ago.

Desmond Burks, 34, was charged in connection with the murder of Dr Devon Hoover, 53, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy revealed on Wednesday.

She said the two had been in an intimate relationship and Burks charged Hoover for sexual services on occasion. During the course of an investigation, officials discovered 4,000 text messages between the pair confirming the nature of their relationship.

Police found Hoover murdered in the third-floor attic of his Detroit home on 23 April 2023, with two gunshot wounds to the head.

He was face down. He was only wearing socks. He was wrapped in a blood-soaked carpet, Worthy said.

Dr Devon Hoover, 53, was fatally shot in the head in April 2023. On Wednesday, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy revealed that his lover had been charged in connection with his murder ( WXYZ )

The day prior, the Detroit Police Department received a civilian parking complaint about a white Range Rover blocking a driveway about eight miles from Hoovers home. After arriving at the scene, police noticed blood on the interior of the vehicle, which was registered to Hoover.

That same evening, police went to Hoovers home and knocked on the front and back doors of the residence. The driveway gate leading to the back of the home was wide open, Worthy noted. Police left when no one came to answer the door.

The following day, police received a 911 call from a relative of Hoovers requesting a well-being check of his home because he hadnt gone to see his dying mother in Indiana, about 200 miles southwest.

Police returned to the mans address and forced entry upon noticing blood on the rear of the home. The Wayne County Medical Examiners Office determined that Hoovers manner of death was homicide.

As officials processed the crime scene, they noticed Hoovers designer watches, wallet, money and credit cards missing from his residence. Almost immediately after the murder, someone tried to make several fraudulent transactions through the mans accounts, Worthy relayed.

Authorities later found the text messages linking Burks and Hoover. Data revealed that Hoovers phone traveled from his home to the area where Burks residence was located.

Additionally, surveillance footage recovered from the area of Burkss home showed him parking Hoovers Range Rover and limping away with a backpack. His fingerprint was later discovered inside the vehicle.

Officials obtained a search warrant for Burkss home and found one of Hoovers Cartier watches, which is valued at $6,000.

Burks has been charged with felony counts of first-degree premeditated murder, felony murder, larceny of over $20,000, using a computer to commit a crime, possession of a firearm by a felon and other gun-related charges.

Burks was previously charged in connection with the murder of an 87-year-old man from Dearborn, Michigan earlier this year. He is currently in the Wayne County Jail on a $1m bond.

When reached for comment in a brief phone call on Wednesday, his attorney, Gabi Silver, said: I dont know anything about it. He hasnt been arraigned.

Burkss arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday at 10:30am.
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A conspiracy-obsessed Florida couple with a stockpile of weapons planned to ambush perceived sinners, a plot that culminated in the killing of a deputy and injuring of two other officers, according to a new affidavit.

"This was nothing short of an ambush, and the evidence will show that," said State Attorney Bill Gladson at the news conference earlier this week.

Residents of Eustis, Florida, 40 miles northwest of Orlando, called the Lake Couty Sheriffs Office to report that a neighbor, Julia Sulpizio, walked into their yard, struck them, and called them sinners.

When deputies arrived, Sulpizio told them the neighbors were involved in pedophilia and described a plan with her husband, Michael Sulpizio, to trick the devil by luring people into the couples house for an ambush.

Michael Sulpizio also allegedly threatened neighbors, telling them, "The next time I see you, Im going to shoot you."

Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link, a Florida police officer who was killed in a shooting on August 2, 2024. ( Lake County Sheriffs Office )

"It is at this point where Julie Sulpizio includes law enforcement (redacted) into her plan of luring the group to be ambushed by Michael Sulpizio who is awaiting the arrival of darks to kill them, as later learned to be the planned mission," the affidavit, obtained by Florida news station WESH, reads.

Julie Sulpizio then approached officers, who warned her to step back, one of them drawing his taser, to which she responded, Thats Gods light.

Deputies put the woman in handcuffs and requested medical attention for her mental state, then moved on to inspect her house.

Officers tried to make contact with those inside, but were unsuccessful, according to the affidavit.

In the yard, police reportedly found two dead dogs, and heard loud banging noises coming from inside the home.

Eventually, officers forced their way in, and body camera footage shows deputies encountering a male in a black sleeves shirt or body armor positioned with a rifle on the arm of the couch, waiting to ambush deputies, according to the court documents.

Julie Sulpizio allegedly told officers she and her husband planned to ambush sinners ( Lake County Jail )

Multiple shots were fired from inside the house, killing Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link, 28. Master Deputy Sheriff Harold Howell and Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano were also wounded during the operation, according to Florida officials.

As gunshots from inside continued, officers heard a female voice say, My king will kill all of you.

A SWAT team later raided the home, and found the bodies of Michael Sulpizio, and his adopted daughters, Cheyenne Sulpizio, 22, and Savanah Sulpizio, 23, with what appeared to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Inside, police also found more than 20 guns, a stockpile of ammunition, gas masks, a camouflage system and ant-government and conspiracy-related materials. Those included bumper stickers and advertisements for right-wing media like Infowars.

During an interrogation with Julie Sulpizio at the hospital, the woman reportedly admitted to helping stage the ambush. She claimed theres an "additional human body under the residence which Michael had trapped approximately one week ago," though police havent confirmed that.

She also "claimed to be God  and (her husband) Michael is the guardian angel Michael, which obeys Gods, her, command," Grinnell said at the news conference.

Sulpizio has been charged with 12 counts including murder of a law enforcement officer, to which she has pleaded not guilty. The Independent has contacted her public defender for comment.

Richard Eldrige, the biological father of Cheyenne and Savanah Sulpizio, said he was shocked to learn what happened and believed his daughters had been brainwashed.

"My mind went numb," he told Fox 35 Orlando. "I just sat in the dark for quite a few hours until I could kind of collect myself."

"No kids whatsoever should be put in that kind of environment," he added.

Sulpizio is scheduled to be arraigned in early February and could face the death penalty if convicted.
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A court has ordered bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX to pay $12.7 billion in monetary relief to its customers, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced on Thursday.

The settlement resolves the commissions litigation, which requires FTX to pay $8.7 billion in restitution and $4 billion in disgorgement to the victims whose deposits were locked during the 2022 collapse.

FTX drew customers in with an illusion that it was a safe and secure place to access crypto markets, then misappropriated their customer deposits to make its own risky investments, CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam said in a statement, according to Reuters.

The settlement comes months after FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced in March to 25 years in prison for stealing $8 billion from customers. ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

In a related settlement approved by the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, the commission agreed not to seek a civil monetary penalty against FTX, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The settlement comes months after FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced in March to 25 years in prison for stealing $8 billion from customers.

Bankman-Fried was once known as the King of Crypto and became a billionaire who appeared on the covers of magazines and brokered lucrative deals with celebrities to promote his company.

At its height, FTX was worth $32 billion and had a million users. Bankman-Fried was considered somewhat of an anomaly in the world of crypto, both for his age, 32, and his intention to use his wealth for altruistic purposes.

The empire came crashing down in November 2022 when a CoinDesk report revealed that most of FTXs assets were held by a quantitative trading company that Bankman-Fried also ran called Alameda Research.

At its height, FTX was worth $32 billion and had a million users - but it came crashing down in 2022 ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. )

The revelation sent investors and customers scrambling to withdraw their funds, which later exposed an $8 billion hole in the company.

As quickly as FTX grew, it fell  becoming essentially bankrupt overnight.

FTX is currently soliciting votes on its bankruptcy proposal, Reuters reported. Votes are due on August 16.
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Three German tourists have been cited for firing paintball guns inside Joshua Tree national park earlier this month.

On August 4, a park ranger patrolling a campground inside the California park saw fresh yellow paintball splatter on nearby structures and signs, according to a press release. Rangers found at least eleven signs splattered with the yellow paint.

The citation, issued to each of the three tourists, carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

The ranger caught the tourists after investigating the paint splatters and finding a slingshot inside a nearby vehicle in plain view. The tourists admitted to using a paintball gun and slingshots to fire paint the night before.

A road sign vandalized with yellow paint in Joshua Tree National Park. Three German tourists were cited for firing paintballs throughout the park and could face jail time ( National Park Service )

Park rangers recovered a paintball gun, paintballs and several slingshots, which are legally considered weapons and prohibited in National Parks, according to the release.

Defacing or altering the NPS landscape, no matter how small, is against the law, Joshua Tree national park acting chief ranger, Jeff Filosa, said. It diminishes the natural environment that millions of people travel the world to enjoy.

The park is regularly tasked with removing graffiti of all types, using time and resources that could be better dedicated to other priorities.

Joshua Tree became a national park in 1936 and is made up of the Mojave and Colorado deserts. Across 792,623 acres, the diverse park is home to more than 800 plant species - including the iconic Joshua Tree - more than 250 bird species, and dozens of different kinds of reptiles. Along with its biodiversity, it has world-famous rock formations and attracts more than 3 million visitors a year.

Earlier this year, two tourists were caught on video vandalizing Lake Mead National Park in Nevada.

Vandals smash protected natural red rocks at Nevada national park

The footage showed the two men scaling russet-colored formations on the Redstone Dune Trail and shoving large chunks of rock to the ground on April 7. Their actions caused irreversible damage, spokesperson John Haynes told local outlet KVVU.

Why on earth would you do this to this area thats so beautiful? Its one of my favorite places in the park and theyre up there just destroying it. I dont understand that, Haynes said.

As of this spring, park rangers had yet to catch the two men.

It is 1.5 million acres, Haynes said. We have two big lakes, a chunk of the Colorado River. It gets pretty difficult based on our staff levels to be everywhere all at once.
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A former top sommelier at a Michelin-starred restaurant in New York has appeared in court accused of stabbing his wife at their Manhattan home.

Aaron Von Rock was arrested on May 5 and charged with assault with intent to cause serious injury with a weapon, according to court documents. Von Rock is said to have slashed his wife multiple times with a knife at the couples apartment in Murray Hill.

The victim was left with a gash on her hand and foot, along with a stab wound on her leg. She told police my husband tried to kill me, according to a criminal complaint seen by The Independent.

Von Rock was arraigned on May 6 and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The wine buff appeared at a Manhattan criminal court hearing on Wednesday and was released without bail. Judge Marva Brown placed a temporary order of protection on his wife, who has not been named.The New York Post reported that Von Rock remained silent during the hearing.

Sommelier Aaron Von Rock was arrested on May 5 and charged with assault with intent to cause serious injury with a weapon ( Instagram )

The 55-year-old is the former wine director at the Michelin-starred Mediterranean hotspot, Benno, in Kips Bay.

The restaurateur was born in Maryland and got his first experience with wine at the age of three, stomping Concord grapes along with his siblings for the familys homemade wine, according to an interview with Wine Spectator.

After graduating from Boston University, Von Rock moved to New York and worked as a bartender and server at upscale contemporary restaurant Verbena, becoming wine director in 1997.

He now runs a wine consulting company and developed the lists at top end eateries including Italian hotspots Alto and Della Rovere in New York, and Aperitivo Plus in Westchester, New York.

Von Rock joined Upper West Side bistro Telepan as wine director when it opened in 2005 and won Wine Spectators Award of Excellence in 2007. Telepan closed in 2016.

In 2019, he became wine director for the Michelin-starred restaurant Benno, at the Evelyn Hotel, before it too was forced to shut during the pandemic.

Von Rock is due back in court on September 30, according to court documents.
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A New York City judge has thrown out 46 convictions tied to James Donovan, a former New York Police Department detective who later pleaded guilty to false testimony.

The fundamental fairness and reliability of each of these convictions has been called into question, Bryce Benjet, director of Queens District Attorneys Office Conviction Integrity Unit said in court on Thursday, according to Gothamist.

The convictions, which included drug possession, trespassing, and other misdemeanors, will be cleared from the records of those who were arrested, and whose sentences have all been completed.

We cannot stand behind a conviction where the essential witness was a law enforcement officer convicted of a crime that irreparably impaired his credibility, Queens DA Melinda Katz said in a statement heading into the hearing.

Former NYPD Warrant Squad Detective James Donovan pleaded guilty in 2023 to perjury in the third degree. He retired that year.

Decision wiped out drug, trespassing, and other misdemeanor charges for 46 cases ( Getty Images )

The charge stemmed from a 2020 investigation, in which Donovan testified before a Queens grand jury the following year that he personally arrested a man sleeping in the backseat of a car and saw a gun hiding beneath where the man had been lying.

In fact, Donovan did not actually make the arrest or observe the firearm in the car, according to the Queens DAs Office. He later admitted his testimony about the arrest was false when interviewed by a prosecutor preparing the case for a hearing.

Elizabeth Felber, supervising attorney of the Wrongful Conviction Unit at The Legal Aid Society, celebrated the decision to toss the cases.

While we hope that this moment delivers some justice and closure to the New Yorkers impacted by these tactics, the sad reality is that many were forced to suffer incarceration, hefty legal fees, loss of employment, housing instability, severed access to critical benefits and other collateral consequences resulting from criminal convictions, she said in a statement to The Independent.

All told, the boroughs conviction integrity unit has dismissed 148 convictions since its founding in 2020, 132 based on the work of detectives whose credibility was later undermined, according to Gothamist.
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A woman has pleaded guilty to pushing a stranger in front of an oncoming train in an unprovoked attack on a New York subway platform.

Anthonia Egegbara was sitting on a bench at the station in Times Square when she got up and shoved a 42-year-old woman onto the tracks. She then fled the scene.

The attack happened on October 4, 2021 at around 8am during the morning rush hour on the northbound 1, 2, 3 platform at the Times Square-42nd Street subway station, near West 42nd Street and 7th Avenue in Manhattan.

The unnamed woman was taken to hospital where she was kept in for several days, according to the New York District Attorneys office. She suffered a broken arm, which required surgery, and experienced bleeding from the leg, as well as bleeding and bruising to the face. The woman has had ongoing medical treatment to address lingering injuries that affect her ability to lift and grip objects.

Anthonia Egegbara fled the scene after pushing a 42-year-old woman into the path of the oncoming train in an unprovoked attack at the Times Square subway station in New York ( Getty Images )

Egegbara fled the station but was arrested the next day. The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree assault at New York State Supreme Court on Thursday.

She is expected to be sentenced on September 19 to 12 years in state prison, followed by 5 years post-release supervision, the DAs office said.

Today Anthonia Egegbara was held accountable for pushing a stranger into an oncoming train during morning rush hour in a completely unprovoked attack, said District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Due to this brutal conduct, the victim suffered serious physical injuries, which were thankfully non-fatal.

Our transit system should be a safe environment for all Manhattanites, and we will continue prosecuting those who jeopardize the safety of its commuters, riders and workers.
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Back in 1977, three women were strangled and their bodies found dumped in California.

For over four decades, no arrests were made and the case went cold.

Now, police believe they have solved the mystery  and say that it was the work of a suspected serial killer already charged with murder across the country in North Carolina.

Warren Luther Alexander was charged on Wednesday with the murders of three murders of Kimberly Carol Fritz, 18, Velvet Ann Sanchez, 31, and Lorraine Ann Rodriguez, 21, which all took place in Ventura County, California, in 1977.

The three women were all strangled within eight months of each other  Fritz on May 29, Sanchez on September 8 and Rodriguez on December 27.

Alexander, a 73-year-old from Mississippi, would have been 26 at the time.

The suspect was first arrested in Diamondhead in 2022 and charged with the 1992 murder of Nona Stamey Cobb, whose body was found by Interstate 77 in Surry County, North Carolina.

Witnesses had last seen Cobb climbing into a truck with an unknown man at a Cleveland County rest area in July 1992, The Winston-Salem Journal reported.

Warren Luther Alexander was hit with three new murder charges ( Hancock County Sheriffs Office )

Cobbs sister Vickie Gregory told the outlet that year that Cobb had lost custody of her three-year-old son Josh seven months before her death because of her struggles with substance abuse. She loved us, and we loved her, said Gregory. Just because you do something wrong doesnt mean you stop loving her.

While he was held behind bars awaiting trial for Cobbs murder, investigators tied him to the murders in California.

The Ventura County Sheriffs Offices Cold Case unit had reopened the investigations into the three 1977 killings.

Ultimately, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Surry County Sheriffs Office said they were able to use DNA samples to identify Alexander as the suspect.

The suspected serial killer was extradited from Surry County to California this week.

He is now being held in Ventura County Jail without bail ahead of his arraignment on August 21.
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Two giant pandas sent from China earlier this summer made their debut at the San Diego Zoo on Thursday morning as officials welcomed the public into their new habitat.

Four-year-old Yun Chuan and three-year-old Xin Bao, who arrived in the US in June, are the first pandas China has sent to the US in over two decades. The adorable duo will reside at the California zoo for the next ten years.

The debut ceremony featured music, dance performances and speeches before local officials cut a ribbon and welcomed the public into the pandas new home.

Watch the livestream of the giant pandas here

The pair have spent the summer acclimatizing to their 6,000ft private habitat, known as Panda Ridge. Giant Pandas last resided at the San Diego Zoo in 2019.

Yun Chuan is recognizable by his long, pointy nose while Xin Bao is known for her large, round face and big, fluffy ears, the zoo said.

Xie Feng, ambassador to the US from China, was among the speakers.

Two little panda fans from California wrote several letters to me proposing giving China grizzly bears to get pandas, he told the crowd.

Yun Chuan, pictured on August 8, is one of two giant pandas now living at the San Diego Zoo ( EPA )

I am most happy to tell them, after eight months of joint efforts, we have finally brought Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to San Diego. Your dreams have come true, even without giving us grizzly bears, he joked.

California Governor Gavin Newsom praised the pandas arrival, calling it a moment of pride and excitement.

In politics, you can't legislate pride, Newsom said. There's no bill you can sign. You can't legislate spirit. It manifests, and it manifests in moments like this. So I hope we can lift that up. I hope we can appreciate and embrace that at a moment like this.

Yun Chuan and Xin Bao were born at the Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base in Sichuan, China. Yun Chuans mother, Zhen Zhen, was born in San Diego in 2007 before returning to China in 2010.

Xin Bao, pictured on August 7, arrived from China alongside Yun Chuan in June. She can be identified by her fluffy face and ears ( REUTERS )

His grandmother, Bai Yun, lived in the San Diego Zoo for 23 years. Bai Yun and her partner, Shi Shi, arrived in 1996 and were the first pandas sent to California.

Governor Gavin Newsom declared August 8 California Panda Day to honor the duos debut.

Giant pandas are beloved around the world and their conservation story is an inspiring example of strong partnerships and innovative strategies to protect the worlds natural heritage, Newsom said.

The bears arrival in San Diego came after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi promised the country would send giant pandas before the end of the year, the Associated Press reports. Chinese President Xi Jinping made a similar promise after meeting with President Joe Biden last year in California, calling the pandas envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.

Their arrival marks a return of panda diplomacy, a method used often by Beijing officials to soften Chinas image in the US, the Associated Press reports.

The US received its first-ever pair of giant pandas in 1972 at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC after President Richard Nixon made a diplomatic visit to China.
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Tropical Storm Debby has now made landfall for a second time in the US, as it barreled into the South Carolina coast in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Debby came ashore near Bulls Bay at around 1.45am ET, and charted its path northeast, bringing with it the threat of heavy rain and major flooding while at least one large tornado was repotrted in North Carolina.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that the storm will first impact the South Carolina and North Carolina coastline and then continue moving inland to the Mid-Atlantic states.

Residents in the Carolinas and Western Virginia are under major flood threats with an additional three to nine inches of rainfall expected on Thursday.

A large tornado damaged a school in Lucama, North Carolina, and prompted orders for residents to take shelter in several surrounding counties.

As of early Thursday morning, parts of North Carolina and Virginia were under tornado watch warnings with more than five million people, 1,300 schools and almost 80 hospitals in the potential path, the National Weather Service said.

South Carolina can expect an additional one to two inches of rainfall, the NHC said, with a high risk of flash flooding through Thursday night.

Tropical Storm Debby has made landfall along the South Carolina coast ( AP )

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster described the second landfall as act two of Debbys three-act play, he wrote on X Wednesday evening.

Debby first made landfall on Monday morning as a Category 1 hurricane at Steinhatchee in Floridas Big Bend region, before tearing its way to the Florida-Georgia border by the evening and being downgraded to a tropical storm.

At least five people were killed in Florida and Georgia as Debby brought hurricane-force winds, catastrophic floods and intense storm surge to the states and left hundreds of thousands of homeowners and businesses without power.

Map shows areas potentially being affected by the sustained winds of tropical storm force ( NHC )

At least four dams were breached northwest of Savannah, South Carolina.

Debby continued to move northeast through parts of Georgia and South Carolina through Tuesday, before moving offshore and meandering in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday.

There it stayed, causing thunderstorms from the East Coast to the Great Lakes before making landfall for a second time on Thursday morning.

Homes left water-logged in Pooler, Georgia, after Debby caused floods ( AP )

It is expected to move northeast with residents as far as upstate New York and Vermont facing several inches of rainfall by this weekend.

By Saturday, Debby could move through central North Carolina, Virginia and into Washington where it is expected to become an extratropical cyclone.

Tropical cyclones always produce heavy rain, but normally as theyre moving, you know, it doesnt accumulate that much in one place, the NHCs Richard Patch previously explained.

Thousands of flights have been delayed across the East Coast since Debby first made landfall on Monday.
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Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota will conduct the next leg of their running mate rollout tour in Phoenix, Arizona. Its part of Harriss increased focus on Arizona. Polling shows she is gaining ground in the state against Donald Trump.

Her campaign has launched a Republicans for Harris event in Arizona already, and Mesas Republican Mayor John Giles has endorsed her.

The Harris campaign says it has almost 100 full-time staff in the state, and will open 18 offices. Those offices will include one in the city of Tempe and one in North Phoenix, both of which are in Maricopa County.

Harriss decision to go all-in on Phoenix, specifically Maricopa County, shows that the campaign knows Arizona will be won there.

Historically, Maricopa County was Republican country. In 1964, when Barry Goldwater was wallopped everywhere except the deep South due to his opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, he narrowly won Arizona because he performed well in Maricopa County.

Then in 2000, four years after Bill Clinton broke a perfect streak for Republicans since 1948, George W Bush put Maricopa back in the Republican column and he won it again in 2004. The states senior senator John McCain won Maricopa by double digits in 2008, which helped him keep Arizona.

While all that was happening, county Sheriff Joe Arpaio was busy earning a reputation as a tough law enforcement officer, forcing inmates whose lives he believed were too comfortable to wear pink underwear and sleep in tents in the sweltering Arizona heat. His crackdown on undocumented immigrants also served as a template for Donald Trumps style of politics.

But 2016 showed signs of change. Trump would only win Arizona by 4.1 points and Maricopa by 3.4 points as the largely suburban and urban county began to turn away from the far-right side of Republican politics. The fact that Trump publicly trashed McCain, a beloved politician in the state who won Maricopa by 15 points, likely did not do him any favors. Indeed, McCain would be the last Republican to win a Senate race in Arizona.

In a sign of things to come, Arpaio would lose his race then, too. He did so partly because he faced a criminal investigation  but Trump would later pardon him.

In 2018, Kyrsten Sinema, running as a Democrat, would flip the Senate seat partially because she turned Maricopa a light shade of blue.

In 2020, Mark Kelly, running to finish McCains term after McCains death, would also flip Maricopa when Joe Biden won the state. Kelly would run up the scoreboard there, beating Blake Masters by 6.4 points in 2022, while Katie Hobbs would beat Kari Lake there in 2022 by 2.4 points for the governorship.

Unsurprisingly, Maricopa has become the focal point of right-wing lies about the 2020 election being stolen. At one point, Republicans even announced they were running an audit where they claimed they were examining for bamboo fibers to determine if China had interfered with the election results. Investigations have shown no evidence of wrongdoing, but that hasnt stopped such falsehoods from proliferating in the state.

Late last month, Stephen Richer, the Maricopa County recorder and a Republican who pushed back on election lies, lost his primary.

At the same time, Maricopa continues to have a strong anti-Trump contingency. In the May 2024 presidential primary, which took place after Nikki Haley had dropped out, she still netted almost 20 percent of Republican votes.

As a westerner herself from neighboring California, Harris knows the importance of Arizona to holding the Sunbelt  and the momentum she has gained in recent weeks has allowed her to put Arizona in play. On Thursday, the non-partisan Cook Political Report moved Arizona from a state that leans Republican to a toss-up.

But if Harris is to have any hope of winning Arizona as a presidential candidate  and if Ruben Gallego has any hope of winning the Senate race against Lake  they will rely as heavily on Maricopa as Republicans of yore did. Harriss campaign movements show shes taking that seriously.
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Joe Biden says he is not confident at all that there will be a peaceful transfer of power if Donald Trump loses the 2024 presidential election.

The president said that Trump needed to be taken seriously over his March comments that there would be a bloodbath for the US car industry and country should he be defeated in November.

The White House claimed at the time that the former president was inciting violence, which he rejected.

Biden made the comments to CBS News during his first sit-down interview since officially halting his reelection campaign and handing over the reins of the Democratic party to Kamala Harris.

Asked about his confidence in a peaceful transference of power, he replied: If Trump wins. No, Im not confident at all.

The president quickly corrected himself, saying: I mean, if Trump loses, Im not confident at all.

The president told CBS News that his former political rival needed to be taken seriously over his previous incendiary rhetoric ( CBS News )

He means what he says. We dont take him seriously. He means it. All the stuff about if we lose, therell be a bloodbath. [The elections] have to be stolen, look what theyre trying to do now in the local election districts.

You cant love your country, only when you win.

The full CBS interview with the president is due to air in full on Sunday.

On January 6 2021, just three weeks before Biden was due to be sworn in as president, Trump gave a speech to thousands of supporters in Washington DC.

Speaking from behind bulletproof glass he declared that he would "never concede" the election, which he claimed had been stolen from him, criticized the media and called for his own vice president, Mike Pence, to overturn the election results.

Thousands of Trump supporters rushed to the US Capitol and stormed the building on January 6 2021 after the former president vowed he would never concede the election ( AP )

Supporters of the former president then marched to the United States Capitol Building and stormed the building, aiming to prevent a joint session of Congress from counting the Electoral College votes to formalize Bidens victory.

Within 36 hours of the insurrection, five people died: one was shot by Capitol Police, another died of a drug overdose, and three died of natural causes, including a police officer. Many people were injured, including 174 police officers.

The FBI says that in the 42 months since the attack on the Capitol, more than 1,470 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach, including more than 530 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.
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Two decades after false allegations of stolen valor against his opponent helped George W Bush win a second term in the White House, Vice President Kamala Harriss campaign isnt letting the same thing happen to her or her running-mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

The Harris campaign is defending Walz, an Army veteran who spent nearly a quarter-century in the Minnesota National Guard, from Republicans who are claiming he deserted to avoid deployment to Iraq and falsely accusing him of claiming to be a combat veteran.

His GOP opponent, Trump running-mate and Ohio senator JD Vance, made the disturbing allegations during a media availability in Wisconsin ahead of a massive Harris-Walz rally in the Badger State. He told reporters that Walz, who retired from the Minnesota guard after 24 years of service to run for Congress in the 2006 election, had dropped out of the army and allowed his unit to go [to Iraq] without him.

Vance also accused Walz of falsely claiming to have seen combat, citing comments the Minnesotan had made about not wanting weapons of war to be available on American streets.

The Ohio senators accusation that his opponent ditched his guard unit rather than deploy to combat is patently false.

Tim Walz in the military ( US Army )

According to military records, Walz officially retired from the Minnesota National Guard in May 2005, two months before his unit received word that it would be deployed, four months before deployment preparations began and ten months before the unit deployed.

In a statement, a Harris-Walz campaign spokesperson strongly pushed back against Vances claim that Walz had dropped out rather than deploy with the men he led, instead accurately describing the governors separation from service as a normal retirement after nearly a quarter-century in uniform.

After 24 years of military service, Governor Walz retired in 2005 and ran for Congress, where he chaired Veterans Affairs and was a tireless advocate for our men and women in uniform - and as Vice President of the United States he will continue to be a relentless champion for our veterans and military families, they said.

According to Army records, Walzs nearly two and a half decades in the Minnesota Guard began at age 17 and ended with him holding the rank of Command Sergeant Major, the highest possible rank for an enlisted soldier.

Like most National Guard soldiers, he was frequently deployed in response to national disasters, but he also was sent overseas to Italy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the US mission to Afghanistan that toppled the Taliban in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

The campaign spokesperson also pushed back on Vances claim that Walz had falsely claimed to have carried arms against the enemy by noting that he never claimed to have seen combat.

The Governor carried, fired and trained others to use weapons of war innumerable times, they said, including by specializing in heavy artillery to the point of suffering hearing damage as a result of exposure to decades of heavy gun blasts. They added that Walz would never insult or undermine any Americans service to this country and said he thanks Vance for having put his life on the line by deploying to Iraq as a public affairs specialist with the US Marine Corps.

The attacks against the governor appear to be the brainchild of Chris LaCivita, one of the two GOP operatives who run former president Donald Trumps 2024 campaign. Twenty years ago, he was one of the consultants who orchestrated a smear campaign against John Kerry, then a Massachusetts senator and the Democratic challenger who sought to deny Bush a second term in the White House.

The campaign was the work of a GOP group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, ostensibly made up of Vietnam veterans who served with Kerry, a US Navy veteran who earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star while commanding small riverine craft in the Vietnamese jungles.

It was 2004, just three years removed from the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, and Kerry was running against Bush  and in opposition to the US-led war in Iraq  by invoking his military service. Opinion polls at the time showed that Americans saw Kerrys record as a positive and put him ahead of Bush after the party nominating conventions that year.

The Swift Boat Veterans group responded by airing television ads in which purported veterans who claimed to have served with Kerry criticized him and accused him of being dishonest about his service record.

It wasnt true. Only one of the people in the ad had actually served alongside Kerry, and the claims they made about Kerrys alleged dishonesty didnt hold up to independent fact-checking. But the damage was done, and Kerry would go on to lose the 2004 election to Bush.

Two decades later, with Trump foundering in the polls against Harris and Walz, LaCivita began telegraphing his intention to dust off his Swift Boat playbook just minutes after Walz was announced as Harriss running-mate.

In response to a post on X (formerly Twitter) noting that Walz  a former Command Sergeant Major in the Minnesota guard  was the highest-ranking enlisted soldier to ever serve in the US Congress during his decade in the House of Representatives, LaCivita wrote that the would-be vice president deserted his men and quit before they went to combat.

A person close to the Harris-Walz campaign told The Independent that the vice president and a host of surrogates plan to push back hard against any attempt to swift boat the Minnesota governor and said LaCivitas playbook will not work this time.

Its a tired, old strategy and the American people are too smart to fall for that, especially from anyone allied with a draft dodger like Donald Trump, they said.

Rick Wilson, a former GOP operative who founded and runs the anti-Trump Lincoln Project super PAC, told The Independent that LaCivitas decision to go after Walzs military record is a sign that hes increasingly desperate and trying to keep from being fired by Trump as the ex-president loses ground to Harris and Walz.

Chris is worried about getting fired right now, so obviously hes going to do everything and can to play the LaCivita greatest hits album. If Donald Trump wasnt bunkered down in Mar-a-Lago hiding like a f*****g psychopath, it might be more effective, Wilson said.

He added that the attacks against Walz have a fat Elvis imitator vibe from some guy playing in a casino/gas station 27 miles out of Elko, Nevada.

Chris and Susie are in real trouble in Trump world, and its not getting any better, he said.

LaCivita did not respond to a request for comment from The Independent.
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Former President Donald Trumps speaking style may reveal signs of cognitive decline, according to psychological experts.

An analysis by STAT - a media organization focusing on health - found that Trumps common pattern of speech called tangentiality  jumping from topic to topic with few if any connections in between  is just one of a number of incoherent speaking habits that appears to have worsened in the last few years.

In 2017, Trumps first year as president, STAT found Trumps speaking style had worsened since the 1980s. In a repetition of that analysis, experts found that since 2017, Trumps way of speaking has deteriorated further. The complexity of his speaking style has decreased and while the experts in memory, psychology, and linguistics who spoke to STAT noted that they couldnt give a diagnosis without conducting an examination, several of them said some of the changes in the former presidents speaking style were possible signs of cognitive decline.

Before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, the 81-year-old Democrats age and mental capabilities received the most scrutiny, particularly after his disastrous debate performance on June 27. But now, as Trump, 78, is running against Vice President Kamala Harris, 59, that focus is shifting towards the former president.

Trump has claimed to have aced cognitive tests and urged all candidates to take them.

I want anybody running for president to take an aptitude test, to take a cognitive test. I think its a great idea. And I took two of them, and I aced them, he told the National Association of Black Journalists last week.

Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, speaks at a campaign rally. Experts are now voicing concern over his congnitive decline. ( AP )

During the 2024 campaign, Trump has appeared to mix up the names of Biden and his predecessor President Barack Obama, as well as the former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. But even as those errors received heavy scrutiny, those mistakes arent significant, experts say.

Everyone to some degree has some level of mixing up of names, clinical psychologist Ben Michaelis told STAT.

Psychology professor Zenzi Griffin at the University of Texas at Austin noted that Nikki Haley and Nancy Pelosi are similar-sounding names which makes it an easy error to make.

But when experts viewed clips from 2024 and compared them to clips from 2017, they noted that Trumps speech included more short sentences, a confused order of words, repetition and extended digressions. The causes could vary, some worse than others, including mood changes, trying to win over a certain group of people, natural aging or it could be the start of a cognitive condition such as Alzheimers disease, the experts said.

In an analysis for STAT, fellow University of Texas social psychologist James Pennebaker reviewed transcripts of interviews with Trump from 2015 until 2024. He found a major rise in all-or-nothing thinking which is signified by the use of words such as completely, never and always.

That trend could indicate depression, Pennebaker said, which also connects to his use of fewer positive words than earlier, and also his many references to negative emotions following his departure from the White House.

A rise in all-or-nothing thinking is connected to cognitive decline. Pennebaker told STAT that Bidens all-or-nothing thinking has also increased.

Pennebaker noted that a linguistic metric of analytic thinking reveals that Trumps levels of complexity are remarkably low  most presidential candidates range between 60 and 70 in the metric, while Trump ranges from 10 to 24, something Pennebaker called staggering.

He does not think in a complex way at all, he added.

Several experts said some of the changes in the former presidents speaking style were possible signs of cognitive decline, including a rise in all-or-nothing thinking. ( EPA )

Michaelis noted that Trumps digressions have increased since 2017 and that its hard to follow him.

Youd expect some cognitive diminishment, of course, hes 78 years old, he said.

He added that he couldnt give a diagnosis but said that Trumps speaking style is concerning.

Theres reasonable evidence suggestive of forms of dementia, he told STAT. The reduction in complexity of sentences and vocabulary does lead you to a certain picture of cognitive diminishment.

Boston University neurology professor Andrew Budson told the outlet that Trumps digressions are likely connected to the frontal lobe, which is the part of the brain that is most affected by aging. The digressions could also be a sign of ADHD, bad sleep or it could be an indication of Alzheimers.

Budson noted that the repetitions could be a sign of lower efficiency in the frontal lobe but that it could take place with normal aging instead of a condition.

The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.
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Donald Trump has tried out a number of nicknames as he tries to define Kamala Harris in the presidential race. There was Laffin Kamala, and there was Lyin Kamala but there has been none so confusing as simply Kamabla.

Because nobody knows what it means.

During the 2016 campaign, as he took on the Republican establishment in the GOP primary, he called former Florida Governor Jeb Bush Low-energy Jeb, Texas Senator Ted Cruz was also Lyin and then there was Florida Senator Marco Rubio who was targeted as Liddle Marco.

More recently, in the 2020 election cycle, it was Sleepy Joe Biden. He has also gone after the New York attorney general as Letitia Peekaboo James.

On Monday night, Trump took to Truth Social, writing, People vote with their STOMACH, and food is now at an all time high because of Kamabla/Biden INCOMPETENCE. With them in charge, IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE!

Ten minutes later, he added: Kamabla has stated, over and over again, that she wants to DEFUND THE POLICE AND, WITHOUT QUESTION, BAN FRACKING. NO MORE FOSSIL FUEL. This quadruple the cost of energy in America! DEPRESSION ANYONE!

Trump has kept using Kamabla and crazy Kamabla in his Truth Social posts, without expanding on what he means by it.

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during a campaign rally. He has started to call his rival Kambala but nobody seems to know why. ( REUTERS )

North Dakota governor and former Trump VP contender Doug Burgum deflected when asked about the nickname on CNN.

I cant comment on that but I do know when voters are making a decision, theyre going to vote in many ways their pocketbook, he said.

The man Trump eventually picked to be his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, laughed when asked if he knew what the nickname meant and said hes not planning on using it, adding that he hasnt spoken to Trump about it.

I think the president, obviously, he loves to give people nicknames and I think that hes going to keep on doing that, he said, according to Semafor. I would be shocked if its the last nickname he gives her before the end of the election.

Kamabla represents all the hurt and misery the Biden-Harris administration has brought to every single American, the Trump campaign told the Intelligencer.

Trump hasnt yet used the name during a rally or other public appearance leaving it unclear how he would pronounce it. But one guess is trying to add the word blah to Kamalas name, possibly in an attempt to brand her as dull or incoherent.

Trump could also be trying to combine the names Kamala and Obama. Earlier in the campaign, he claimed the former president was in charge of the Biden administration, and he has said Obama when he intended to say Biden on a number of occasions.

Trump could be trying to combine the names Kamala Harris and Barack Obama. Earlier in the campaign, he claimed the former president was in charge of the Biden administration, and he has said Obama when he intended to say Biden on a number of occasion ( AP )

On Tuesday, Trump made clear in a post on Truth Social that Obama continues to be on his mind.

What are the chances that Crooked Joe Biden, the WORST President in the history of the U.S., whose Presidency was Unconstitutionally STOLEN from him by Kamabla, Barrack HUSSEIN Obama, Crazy Nancy Pelosi, Shifty Adam Schiff, Cryin' Chuck Schumer, and others on the Lunatic Left, CRASHES the Democrat National Convention and tries to take back the Nomination, beginning with challenging me to another DEBATE, he wrote.

He feels that he made a historically tragic mistake by handing over the U.S. Presidency, a COUP, to the people in the World he most hates, and he wants it back, NOW!!! he added.

It could simply be a misspelling that Trump is using to show dominance. For instance, he called Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Rob for some time during the primary campaign.

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi has used a similar tactic against the former president, saying Now mind you, just to remind, when whats-his-name was president and the Republicans were in power... during a 2021 CNN appearance.

Trump has also called Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren Pocahontas after she noted her Native American heritage and he has called Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnells wife Elaine Chao, his former Labor Secretary, Coco Chow.

Both nicknames have been widely panned as racist. Similarly, Trump attacked former UN Ambassador and primary rival Nikki Haley by noting that her birth name was Nimarata Nikki Randhawa in an attempt to claim that she was hiding her true identity. Trump frequently misspelled her name as Nimrada or Nimbra.

Some have suggested that Trump is trying to target Harriss Indian heritage or that hes trying to shoehorn the word Black into her name.

The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.
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Hunter Biden has been accused of accepting payments from a Romanian oligarch in the hope that he might be able to influence US government agencies on his clients behalf during his father Joe Bidens presidency.

The allegation was made on Wednesday in a Los Angeles federal court filing by prosecutors in special counsel David Weisss office as part of the federal tax case the younger Biden is currently facing. It relates to business dealings with the wealthy businessman Gabriel Popoviciu which began in late 2015, according to ABC News.

The government will introduce the evidence... that [Hunter Biden] and Business Associate 1 received compensation from a foreign principal who was attempting to influence US policy and public opinion and cause the United States to investigate the Romanian investigation of [Popoviciu] in Romania, prosecutors wrote in their latest submission.

They allege that Hunter Biden and his unnamed associate were concerned that lobbying work might cause political ramifications for the defendants father, who was Barack Obamas vice president at the time.

The deal in question was therefore structured in a way that concealed the true nature of the work he was performing, the filing argues.

Hunter Bidens tie to Popoviciu was briefly alluded to in his original indictment last December but this weeks filing is the first time a lobbying role has been alleged against the presidents son.

The defendant faces three felony tax charges and additional misdemeanors for allegedly failing to pay $1.4m in income taxes between 2016 to 2020 while maintaining, in Weisss words, an extravagant lifestyle involving spending on drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing.

The taxes owed and associated penalties were previously paid in full by a third party, which ABC has identified as the defendants attorney Kevin Morris.

Hunter Biden attends federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, on June 3 2024 ( AP )

Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him. He is due to go on trial in California from September 5 and, if convicted, faces a maximum of 17 years in prison.

In June, he was convicted of three federal firearms-related felonies in an unrelated case. He has yet to be sentenced and is appealing that verdict.

MAGA Republicans on Capitol Hill have spent years alleging influence-peddling on behalf of the Biden Crime Family without producing any decisive evidence to substantiate their cable news-friendly claims.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer launched a drawn-out impeachment inquiry into the president last year that has so far proved fruitless and has led nowhere. Throughout this he has been brutally taunted and mocked by Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin, amongst others, in person and on television, for failing to make his case against the First Family.
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Kamala Harris is already weighing her Cabinet choices, aiming for more young people and people of color than President Joe Biden, a new report reveals.

Axios reported a preliminary list of several picks for top administration positions including Senators Laphonza Butler and Alex Padilla, from Harriss home state of California, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

For Secretary of State, Harriss shortlist includes Delaware Senator Chris Coons, CIA director Bill Burns and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, according to Axios.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a former contender as Harriss running mate, could be nominated for US Ambassador to the United Nations. Harris may also be considering Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy under President Barack Obama, for Secretary of Defense. If chosen and confirmed, Flournoy would be the first woman to hold the title, according to Axios.

Kamala Harris (right) greets Gretchen Whitmer (left), who she is considering for a number of cabinet positions, according to a new report. Harris hopes to pick younger and more diverse candidates for her cabinet, sources close to said ( AFP via Getty Images )

You wont see a bunch of new people youve never heard of, one unnamed staffer told Axios.

The report comes days after Harris announced her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and officially clinched the Democratic nomination.

As for the highly-visible role of White House press secretary, Harris could consider Brian Fallon, her current senior adviser for communications, Axios reports.

The list has been compiled in just under three weeks, since Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris for the top of the ticket.

This week, Harris is pulling ahead of Republican rival Donald Trump in election polling for the first time, with the vice president taking a three-point lead over her competition, according to new data from NPR, PBS and Marist.

This lead comes after polling showed Harris neck-and-neck with the GOP candidate for several days.
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Vice President Kamala Harris pushed back against pro-Palestine protesters in Detroit, her first major hurdle amid an otherwise positive rollout of her presidential campaign.

Harris was visiting Detroit as part of a tour with her newly-minted running mate Tim Walz. The two had held a large and raucous outdoor rally in Eau Claire, Wisconsin earlier in the day.

But Michigan, which has a large Arab-American population located in Dearborn outside of Detroit, has long been a hotbed of criticism for the Biden administrations support for Israel in its war against Gaza. Earlier this year, roughly 13 percent of the people who participated in the states Democratic primary voted uncommitted to send a message to the Biden administration.

During the rally, which also featured Walz and Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Harris faced chants from pro-Palestine protesters.

Kamala Kamala you cant hide, we wont vote for genocide, some of the protesters yelled as Harris delivered her stump speech.

Vice President Kamala Harris takes the stage for a rally in Detroit where she faced heckles from pro-Palestine protesters. ( Getty Images )

Initially, Harris tried to brush off the protesters while attendees chanted as a way of drowning out them out.

Im here because I believe in democracy, Harris said. I believe everyones voice matters. But Im speaking now. I am speaking now.

As protesters continued, Harris eventually pushed back.

If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I'm speaking, she said to huge applause.

Harris continued her normal stump speech that she has given several times and includes many lines that have previously gone viral.

We are joyful warriors, because while fighting for a brighter future may take hard work, we all here know hard work is good work, she said. Our work is good work.

Harris rattled off a series of policies she would sign, such as the PRO Act that would make it easier for people to join a union. Shawn Fain, the head of the United Auto Workers, attended the rally and delivered a speech. Harris also pledged to sign legislation to restore abortion and voting rights.

She made some jabs at Trump, including over his calls to terminate the US Constitution.

Let us be very clear, someone who suggests we should terminate the Constitution of the United States should never again stand behind the seal of the president of the United States, she said to cheers. Never again.

Harris has in recent months sought to forge her own path on Israel and Palestine separate from President Joe Biden, a longtime supporter of Israel going back to his early days in the Senate.

She chose not to sit behind Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he delivered a joint address to Congress last month and said she would not be silent about the devastating humanitarian conditions in Gaza amid Israels onslaught. Similarly, Harris has also said the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating.

At the same time, Harris met with Netanyahu separately and said she has a had an unwavering commitment to the existence of the State of Israel, to its security and to the people of Israel.

Michigan is a must-win state for both Trump and Harris. Trump became the first Republican presidential nominee to win the state since 1988 in 2016, when he won by 10,704 votes. Biden, with Harris on his ticket, flipped Michigan back in 2020 by 154,188 votes.

In addition, Senator Debbie Stabenow, who is retiring at the end of the year, attended the rally. Representative Elissa Slotkin won the Democratic primary on Tuesday in the race to replace Stabenow as Democrats hope to keep their majority.
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A trademark lawyer has managed to sell the website HarrisWalz.com for $15,000 after buying it in 2020 for about $10.

Attorney Jeremy Green Eche bought the domain four years ago after previously selling ClintonKaine.com in 2016 for $15,000 when former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was running with Virginia Senator Tim Kaine.

When he bought the HarrisWalz domain, he was thinking that then-Sentor Kamala Harris might win the Democratic presidential nomination, he told Business Insider.

Eche has also bought websites with the names of other possible running mates, such as HarrisPrizker.com for Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, HarrisFetterman.com for Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, as well as HarrisWarnock.com for Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock.

DespiteHarris dropping out early in the 2020 primary race, he continued to renew the domain. Just hours after the news came that Harris had chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, he had sold the domain name for $15,000.

Democratic presidential candidate, presidental nominee Kamala Harris and vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appear on stage together during a campaign event. ( Getty Images )

As of Thursday afternoon, the site appeared as Eche had set it up with a green background and walz in all lowercase letters in reference to Charlie XCXs album Brat after the Harris campaign adopted the look after the artist wrote kamala IS brat on X.

HarrisWalz.com links to the marketplace where the political domain names can be purchased. It states that HarrisWalz.com is out of stock.

Eche told Business Insider that the buyer was an American who wished to remain anonymous.

He is not affiliated with either campaign, but hes a Harris supporter, and hes buying the domain to protect it, Eche told the outlet. He called himself a domain protector. So he just wants to avoid having the Trump campaign buy it again like they did with ClintonKaine.com.

When Eche sold ClintonKaine.com in 2016, the Trump campaign used the site, which is no longer active, to criticize the Democratic ticket. He added that he didnt know who the buyer was until it had already been sold.

Now, the man behind the Harriswalz.com domain name has revealed his payday for his site. ( AP )

Im so jaded from 2016, he told Business Insider. Its hard to express how depressed I got when the Clinton campaign didnt even want to buy it.

I just thought I hit the jackpot and that was it, and then the money would show up, and I just wanted to sell it this time to somebody while there was still a lot of hype around it, he added.

However, Eche noted to the outlet that despite being a Democrat, he doesnt regret the sale of ClintonKaine.com as the Trump campaign couldve spent the $15,000 on something else.

Eche already owns a number of domain names connected to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and several linked to Walz.

He told Business Insider that he spent about $3,000 buying domain names during the 2016 election and about $500 during the 2024 election.
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Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert blasted Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in a post on X just as she entered court to support her son in his criminal theft case.

Boebert sat in the first row of the courtroom as her 19-year-old son Tyler Boebert appeared before the judge in the Garfield County Courthouse, according to Business Insider. He was charged in connection to a series of car thefts.

Just minutes earlier, she wrote on X: Between Kamala Harris Im speaking moment yesterday and Tim Walzs stolen valor being exposed, the wheels are beginning to come off the bus. Trump knows how to win.

Weve got this, MAGA! Watch that press conference at 2:00pm and see what I mean! she added.

On a live stream of her sons hearing, Boebert could be seen typing on her phone.

Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert attends the last day of the 2024 Republican National Convention. She recently ripped Harris on X as she went to court to back her own son in his criminal case. ( AFP via Getty Images )

Tyler Boebert was detained by the Rifle Police Department in February following a number of car break-ins and property thefts, authories said. Thursdays appearance was the first time the congresswoman appeared in court in her sons case. Earlier this year, Boebert went to New York to back up former President Donald Trump during his hush money trial as Tyler was in court.

During Tyler Boeberts hearing, the judge asked his lawyer and deputy district attorney Virginia Sorrell if discussions about the case were occurring between the lawyers. Sorrell noted that she had been sent a litigation packet that she had to look over.

Tyler Boeberts next court hearing was scheduled for October 10. Hes facing more than a dozen charges, such as a number of felonies for criminal possession of ID documents.

The teenager is one of four people who are accused of breaking into four cars in Rifle, Colorado, to take wallets and making purchases at McDonalds, Starbucks and gas stations, according to an arrest affidavit.

When he was arrested, Boebert told Business Insider that he should be held accountable for poor decisions just like any other citizen.
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Robert F Kennedy Jr left Americans stunned last week when he admitted to dumping a dead bear cub in Manhattans Central Park, ending a decade-long mystery as to how the corpse wound up there.

Now the independent presidential candidate has made a new confession: hes got a freezer full of roadkill and hes been picking up dead animal carcasses from the curb his whole life.

The bizarre revelation came to light as RFK Jr left an upstate New York courtroom on Wednesday where hes embroiled in a legal fight to stay on the states presidential ballot amid accusations that he falsified documents claiming to live in the Empire State.

When a reporter asked RFK Jr about the roadkill bear, he replied: Ive been picking up roadkill my whole life.

I have a freezer full of it, he added, prompting laughter from members of the media.

RFK Jrs campaign spokesperson Stefanie Spears later confirmed that his comments were no joke.

Robert F Kennedy Jr has been in court since Monday over whether he falsely put down where he lives in New York on his state ballot petition ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

She said that RFK Jr, a falconer who trains ravens and keeps two as pets, uses roadkill to feed his birds.

His comments came just days after he revealed in a social media video on Sunday that he had dumped a dead bear in Central Park back in 2014.

In the bizarre video, featuring Roseanne Barr, he recounts how he saw a car hit the bear in upstate New York, killing it.

RFK Jr said he picked up the bears carcass and put it in his car, with plans to skin, butcher and harvest the meat to keep it in his refrigerator.

But, he said he had to go to the airport and so the meat  which he said was initially in very good condition  would have spoiled.

Along with some intoxicated friends, he elected to leave the bear in the Manhattan park instead.

At the time, the discovery of a dead bear hit headlines  and what had gone on remained a mystery for the next 10 years.

It was RFK Jrs attempt to preempt a profile piece in the New Yorker, featuring a photo of him with his hand in the dead animals bloodied mouth, which prompted him to come clean now.

RFK Jr will not face state charges for his grisly actions, authorities said on Tuesday.

RFK is seen next to a dead bear cub after he revealed he left the corpse in Central Park in 2014 ( Brian Stelter/Twiter )

The story has largely overshadowed Kennedys civil trial, which began on Monday, that seeks to uncover whether he improperly listed a residence in Katonah, a wealthy Westchester County hamlet, as his home address when filing petition papers to be on the ballot in New York  while actually living in Los Angeles since 2014.

Attorneys representing several New York voters, backed by Clear Choice PAC, are alleging that Kennedy is not a New York resident.

While taking the stand on Tuesday at the Albany County Supreme Court, RFK Jr testified that his move to California was only temporary so he could be with his wife, actor Cheryl Hines, and that he always planned to return to New York.

A judge is set to decide the outcome.

RFK Jr is aiming to be on the ballot in all 50 states but has so far garnered just under nine per cent support in the polls, according to an analysis byThe Hill.
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Tim Walz has been attacked from all angles by Republicans since being unveiled as Kamala Harriss running mate to take on Donald Trump and JD Vance in November.

The mild-mannered Minnesota governor, 24-year veteran of the Army National Guard, and former high school teacher, has been called everything from a radical leftist to Tampon Tim as the opposition scrambles to define him in the eyes of voters.

So far, little has stuck, prompting Trumps allies to turn to Walzs ties to China as an avenue of attack.

This is a ticket that wants this country to go communist immediately if not sooner, Trump told Fox and Friends in a phone interview in August.

On the campaign trail, Vance also accused Walz of wanting to ship more manufacturing jobs to China.

On social media, Richard Grenell, Trumps former ambassador to Germany, posted in response to Walz joining the Democratic ticket: Communist China is very happy with Tim Walz as Kamalas VP pick. No one is more pro-China than Marxist Walz.

In China, local internet users have speculated that Walz was an undercover CIA agent responsible for stirring up the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, according to The Times. The outlandish claim appears to be premised solely on the fact that Walz happened to be in China at the time.

So what is the truth behind Walzs links with China?

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz arrive at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Michigan, on August 7 2024. After he was announced as Harriss running mate, Trumps allies are turning to Walzs ties to China as a fresh avenue of attack ( Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters )

Its true that Walz, aged 25 and a novice teacher, taught English and American history and culture in Foshan in southeastern Guangdong province between 1989 and 1990 as part of the WorldTeach program.

There is no evidence that he engaged in any political activity during his time there.

Yet, the trip clearly made an impression on him. The young educator told The Star Herald newspaper in 1990 that his stay was one of the best things he had ever done. If they had the proper leadership, there are no limits on what they could accomplish, Walz said of the Chinese people.

In a later interview with The Hill in 2007, he recalled: China was coming, and thats the reason that I went.

Years after that first trip, Walz and wife Gwen set up a business called Educational Travel Adventures to organize summer trips to China for American high school students. They even chose the country for their honeymoon in 1994. The couple continued to run an exchange program there until 2003.

After being elected to Congress in 2007, Walz served on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, focusing on human rights issues and frequently taking positions much more likely to anger the authoritarian government in Beijing than curry favor.

In 2010, Walz co-sponsored a House motion condemning the arrest of activist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Liu Xiaobo and fellow activist Huang Qi.

Walz also met with the Dalai Lama in 2016 and called for greater religious freedoms for Tibet; attacked Chinese aggression in the South China Sea; and criticized China for allying itself with Russia after it invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

However, unlike former president Donald Trump, who started a punishing trade war with China during his presidency by raising import tariffs on Chinese goods, Walz has advocated for less adversarial relations with Beijing and greater cooperation.

I think Walz is going to put a lot of people who care a lot about American foreign policy in this part of the world at ease, knowing that there is someone on the ticket who is informed, has spent time in the region, and is not starting from square one when it comes to learning about American foreign policy in East Asia, Lev Nachman, political scientist at National Taiwan University, told Voice of America.

The Chinese government has not commented specifically on Walzs ascent to the Democratic ticket other than to say that it hopes for better relations with Washington after the election  whichever side wins.
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Donald Trumps federal election interference case is slowly coming back to life.

The case is now back in the hands of District Judge Tanya Chutkan, after it was frozen for months while the former president was fighting for immunity up to the Supreme Court.

The four criminal cases against the former president  spanning 88 charges in four jurisdictions  have been hung up in months of appeals and delays, creating a Russian nesting doll of courtroom battles, with court dates and side hearings on evidence, gag orders and defense arguments all designed to slow down the likelihood of another conviction before Election Day.

Trump got his victory at the Supreme Court, where the conservative majority affirmed that a president is absolutely immune from criminal prosecution for actions that stem from official duties in office.

Now, Judge Chutkan will be hearing from Trumps attorneys and special counsel Jack Smith to determine how that ruling applies to the case in front of her.

Her work ends the eight-month pause in a case that asks whether Trump illegally conspired to overturn 2020 election results and then obstructed Congress by failing to stop a mob of his supporters who tried to do it by force.

Donald Trump speaks to reporters in Pennsylvania on July 13. A federal election interference case against him is back in a judges hands after months of delays ( AP )

The former president has been charged with four crimes, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights.

Within hours after the case returned to her courtroom, Judge Chutkan denied another Trump request to dismiss the charges against him. The next day, she rejected his other argument that the case involves vindictive and selective prosecution.

Her 16-page ruling said Trump has no evidence to support his argument and that he has repeatedly falsely characterized what the case is even about. The judge also said Trump has put up no meaningful evidence to justify a hearing to try to uncover more evidence to boost his argument,

Both sides are expected to lay out their proposed schedule for pretrial hearings this month, which could give the public the first look at how Trump and prosecutors plan to attack the case moving forward, with Election Day less than three months away.

Smiths team has asked to delay filing a join status report until August 30, saying saying his office is continuing to assess the new precedent from the Supreme Court.

A status conference previously scheduled for August 16 has also been moved to September 5.

Trumps lawyers were not opposed to further delays. Trump also is not required to attend that hearing.

District Judge Tanya Chutkan is overseeing the federal election interference case against Trump ( US District Court )

The hearings will be in the middle of a busy month of courtroom action for the former president.

As he mulls whether to toss out Trumps 34-count verdict under the Supreme Courts immunity decision, New York Justice Juan Merchan is expected to issue a decision on Trumps motion to recuse him from the case as early as August 11.

Last month, a Trump-appointed judge tossed out a separate case involving his possession of stacked boxes of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago compound. The special counsels brief urging an appeals court to reverse that decision is due by August 27.

New York Attorney General Letitia James also must file a response to Trumps appeal of his massive civil fraud judgment by August 21. Trump must reply by August 30.

Next month, Trumps appeals court arguments are due in his attempt to throw out a defamation verdict in the case from E Jean Carroll.

Judge Merchan is also expected to rule on Trumps motion to toss his hush money verdict on September 16.

This story was first published on August 8 and has been updated with developments
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A week after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, the Atlantic published a headline claiming that "Trump is Planning for a Landslide Win."

Now, a little over a month and one presidential candidate swap later, the 2024 presidential elections likely results appear a little less obvious.

With the defiant photo of a post-assassination attempt Trump pumping his fist in the rear-view, the former president has become increasingly frustrated by the surging poll numbers enjoyed by his presumed opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, according to five people close to the situation who spoke to The Washington Post.

He reportedly told a supporter he felt it was unfair that after he beat Joe Biden he had to turn around and run against Harris.

Its unfair that I beat him and now I have to beat her, too, the former president reportedly said.

While Trump famously has never beaten Biden  a fact the president brought up frequently when he was trying to justify staying in the 2024 race  it wasn't looking good for Democrats in early July.

At the convention, it was game over, and the Democrats realized that, Richard Porter of the Republican National Committee in Illinois told the Post. It felt like it was too good to be true, and it was. Its amazing how quickly they coalesced behind another candidate.

Biden would eventually leave the race after facing pressure from the public and from fellow Democratic lawmakers. Without any real second guessing or opposition, Harris stepped into the open spot.

Trump's campaign has been on uneven footing since the RNC. The announcement that Senator JD Vance would run alongside Trump prompted the press to dig up the Hillbilly Elegy-author's previous comments on his running mate.

He once suggested Trump could be "America's Hitler."

Vance and other Republicans also launched some wildly tone deaf attacks against Harris  calling her a childless cat lady, calling her a "DEI" candidate  that ultimately were rejected even by other Republicans lawmakers and the talking heads on Fox News programming.

With the post-assassination attempt momentum apparently depleted, it brings Trump back to playing the same old tunes; hes the victim, reporters are bad, everyones mean to him.

"If Kamala has 1,000 people at a Rally, the Press goes 'crazy,' and talks about how 'big' it was - And she pays for her 'Crowd.' When I have a Rally, and 100,000 people show up, the Fake News doesnt talk about it, THEY REFUSE TO MENTION CROWD SIZE," Trump complained on Truth Social. "The Fake News is the Enemy of the People!"

That outburst was almost certainly sparked by comparisons in the press and on social media between the crowd sizes at Trump and Harris's rallies at Temple University in Pennsylvania.

Photos of the Harris rally  where her newly-selected running mate Governor Tim Walz addressed the crowd  showed the university arena venue filled to the brim. During Trump's rally in the same venue reportedly "needed some of it curtained off and left the whole upper bowl empty," according to Pennsylvania journalist Nick Field, who attended the rally.

Whether or not the Trump campaign has just hit a speed bump or has lost a tire is unclear. As far as his campaign staff is concerned, it doesn't matter  they will continue to present Trump and his campaign as an underdog.

The Trump campaign has never taken anything for granted and we always fight like were the underdogs, Steven Cheung, a Trump spokesman, told the Post in a statement. Thats especially true after an assassination attempt on President Trump heading into Convention. Our sole job is to help President Trump win the election, and were going to beat the brakes off the dangerously liberal Kamala-Walz ticket.
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Despite claiming to know nothing of Project 2025, or the people behind it, former president Donald Trump has long-held connections to authors of the conservative presidential transition plan and at one point reportedly took a private flight with its leader.

In April of 2022, Trump took a 45-minute private flight with Kevin Roberts, the president of the Heritage Foundation  a right-wing think tank group responsible for Project 2025  to attend a conference in Florida for the group,The Washington Post reported.

A photo, obtained by The Post, depicts Trump and Roberts smiling beside one another while riding the private jet.

According to a press release published on the groups website, Trump served as the keynote speaker at the April 2022 event attended by top Heritage Foundation supporters.

During his four years as president, his administration worked closely with Heritage on a number of policy initiatives. In addition, dozens of Heritage staff and alumni worked in the Trump administration; several of whom have since returned to Heritage, a statement from the press release says.

Kevin Roberts, the current president of The Heritage Foundation ( AP )

The discovery contradicts Trumps statement from July where he claimed to know nothing about Project 2025 and have no idea who is behind it.

I disagree with some of the things theyre saying and some of the things theyre saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them, Trump wrote on Truth Social last month.

The former presidents statement arrived amid negative attention about Project 2025, a 900-page plan crafted by former Trump administration officials and right-wing individuals that serves as a blueprint for the next Republican president.

Some of the plans in the document include replacing civil servants in the executive branch with loyalists, expanding executive authority by consolidating power, restricting access to the abortion pill, imposing strict anti-immigration policies and more.

Trump insists he has nothing to do with the plan and a campaign spokesperson previously said that Project 2025 does not represent Trumps formal agenda and any policy proposals are merely suggestions.

But history shows that the Trump administration had closely connected to the Heritage Foundation and adopted many of its suggested policies.

At least 70 former Heritage employees worked in Trumps presidential transition team or were part of his administration, the organization said in 2018. Heritage boasted that its executive branch relations staff met with senior officials in several agencies and briefed Trump administration officials on recommendations they had.

Trump spoke during the Heritage Foundation's President's Club meeting on October 17, 2017 in Washington, DC ( Getty Images )

Out of the 334 unique Hertiage policy recommendations, the Trump administration implemented, budged for or considered 64 percent of them.

Even after Trump left office, he remained in contact with the group.

Sources familiar with the 2022 flight told The Post that Trump took the trip with Roberts because his jet was being refurbished.

At the time, Heritage was in the early stages of planning Project 2025. Roberts brought it up to the former president but Trump wasnt interested in speaking about it, sources told the newspaper.

But discussions have seemingly picked up since then. Roberts told The Post earlier this year that he personally spoke to Trump about Project 2025 and briefed him on the plan.

A spokesperson for the Trump campaign told The Post Roberts never briefed the former president.
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Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump are set to face off against each other for the first time on the national debate stage on Tuesday and how they perform under the limitations of the rules will be under a microscope.

After several days of back-and-forth, the two candidates finally agreed to comply with the same rules that Trump and President Joe Biden used during the first presidential debate back in June.

That includes muted microphones, no pre-written notes, no live audience, no sitting, and no speaking with campaign staff between commercial breaks.

Though many of the rules are standard for presidential debates, the originally agreed-up regulations could put Harris at a disadvantage since she has a different skill set than President Joe Biden.

Here are the rules for Tuesdays debate in Philadelphia and who stands to benefit.

Muted mics

Microphones will be live only when the candidate whose turn it is to speak is talking. Otherwise, they will remain muted.

This was a rule that Biden and Trump initially agreed upon. But its one that Harris tried to change once she became the Democratic presidential nominee.

Despite Trump saying it doesnt matter to him whether microphones stay on, his team threatened to pull out of the debate if the rules were changed.

Former president Donald Trump during the first presidential debate against President Joe Biden. Audiences and the media agreed that Trump prevailed in the first debate ( Getty Images )

Trump is notorious for interrupting people and making snide comments when he is being attacked. During his civil and criminal trials, judges have scolded the former president for speaking out of turn in the courtroom.

Brian Fallon, a top aide for Harris, wrote on X that Trumps handlers dont trust him to spar live.

Ultimately, Harris agreed to the muted microphone rule but Fallon told ABC News that Harris would be fundamentally disadvantaged.

However, a pool of journalists will be permitted in the hall and can report on remarks that are muted for television audiences, according to AP.

No prepared notes or help

Candidates cannot bring pre-written notes or props to the podium and must stand for the entire duration. They will be given a pen, pad of paper and water bottle. Additionally, campaign staff may not interact with either candidate during the two commercial breaks.

Improvising is neither Harris nor Trumps strong suit but the former president has more experience doing so than Harris.

Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2020 vice presidential debate. Audiences largely considered Harris to be the winner of that debate ( AFP via Getty Images )

Trump goes on long-winded, off-topic tangents at rallies, press conferences and during interviews. But hes good at praising his agenda and policies while tearing down Democrats, although sometimes it results in him making extreme statements.

As a former prosecutor, Harris excels in getting to the point concisely and clearly. But when asked to improvise, she can stumble and say things that are easily misconstrued. In previous interviews, she has been mocked or criticized for misspeaking.

No opening statements

There will be no opening statements during the debate, only closing statements. Trump has won a coin toss and chose the order of statements. Harris will give the first closing statement and Trump will go last.

The former president is at a slight advantage since he can hear all of Harriss talking points before delivering the final word of the debate.

Moderators will ask the questions

Only the moderators of the debate, David Muir and Linsey Davis, will be permitted to ask questions and there will be no live audience.

This means candidates must answer the question in full, and give a rebuttal in a direct and easy-to-understand way, because it will be a slightly more formal setting than previous debates.

Harris has a slight advantage to the former president in this aspect because she is better at remaining on topic and hitting multiple points more quickly than Trump.

The debate will air on ABC News beginning at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
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Former President Donald Trump spent nearly an hour at his Palm Beach, Florida, social club on Thursday ranting to a room full of reporters as he tries to grab the spotlight from a resurgent Democratic ticket fronted by Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

The ex-presidents campaign had called the hand-picked group of journalists to Mar-a-Lago, where he attacked Harris as a radical left person during a rambling monologue in which he claimed that America is in the most dangerous position it's ever been in and very close to a world war without offering evidence to support those assertions. In one bit of news, Trump said that he has agreed to debates hosted by Fox News on September 4, ABC on September 10, and NBC on September 25.

We have spoken to the heads of the network, and it's all been confirmed, other than some fairly minor details, he said.

But only the September 10 debate on ABC has been agreed on by both the Trump campaign and the Democratic campaign now headed by Harris after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race last month.

Approximately 12,000 people came to watch Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz at their first joint appearance ( AP )

Trump had previously backed out of the debate in a fit of pique after Bidens exit from the race in favor of Harris last month, but in a post on X, ABC Washington Bureau Chief Rick Klein confirmed that both the Trump and Harris campaigns have agreed to participate in a face-off on the Disney-owned network.

The Harris campaign has not agreed to participate in any other debates, but the former president suggested that her failure to do so would be evidence that shes incapable of debating even though she has run for office and debated opponents on numerous occasions.

I don't know if theyre going to agree they she hasnt done an interview, she cant do an interview, she's barely competent, and she cant do an interview. But I look forward to the debates, because I think we have to set the record straight, he said.

The ex-president also took a swipe at the record crowds drawn by Harris and Walz, claiming at one point that one of his events drew more people than the 1963 March on Washington featuring civil rights activist Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr. That event drew more than 250,000 people  far more than have attended any of Trumps political rallies.

Harris and Walz have been filling venues to capacity since they were rolled out as a ticket, with more than 12,000 people attending their first joint event in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Trump went on to attack Biden, who is no longer running for president, calling him the worst president in the history of our country and repeating an oft-told lie that other countries are deliberately emptying prisons and mental institutions and sending their former inmates to the United States.

He also complained that Harris is now leading the Democratic ticket, calling her a vice president who is the least admired, least respected, and the worst vice president in the history of our country, the most unpopular vice president, who is now running in Bidens stead because of political reasons ... even though she never received a vote.

In reality, Harris and Biden both received more than 81,000,000 votes when they ran against Trump and then-Vice President Mike Pence in 2020, defeating them in both the popular vote and the electoral college.

But Trump continued to fixate on Harriss previous record in presidential politics, citing her unsuccessful 2020 campaign which ended before the Iowa caucuses, and suggested that Biden, who has said picking Harris to run with him was the best decision he ever made, might not be happy with the move because she has now succeeded him on the Democratic ticket.

Donald Trump holds a rambling press conference at his Mar-a-Lago club on August 8 ( AP )

The presidency was taken away from Joe Biden, and Im no Biden fan, but I tell you what, from a constitutional standpoint, from any standpoint you look at, they took the presidency away, and people were saying he lost after the debate, he couldnt win. Well, I dont know that that's true, necessarily, but whether he could win or he couldnt win, he had the right to run. And they took it away, he said.

He added that he is now running against someone else  Harris  and claimed that hes still leading even though many recent opinion polls show him trailing or in a statistical tie with her since she became the Democrats presumptive nominee.

Asked if he was changing anything about his campaign now that Harris is his opponent, Trump replied: I haven't recalibrated strategy at all.

In a press release, the Harris campaign called Trump the most insecure man in America.

Campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa said Trump was throwing tantrums online and today at his country club for the media because he wasnt getting the attention he craves.

The self-obsessed, convicted felon is incensed hes not in the spotlight as Vice President Harris and Governor Walz barnstorm the nation talking about their vision for an America of opportunity and security  where freedom and democracy are protected and everyone has a fair shot not just to get by, but to get ahead, he said.

Trump has no vision, he has no solutions, and he is running a campaign of revenge and retribution to enact his Project 2025 agenda and make peoples lives worse. Its why voters will reject him again at the ballot box this November.
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A newly-surfaced phone call from 2020 has captured Donald Trump saying he was very happy with Tim Walzs handling of the unrest which swept Minneapolis after George Floyds murder  undermining the Republican criticism which has poured in since Walz was tapped as Kamala Harriss running mate this week.

As Minnesota governor, Walz oversaw the states response to the protests and riots which were triggered when white police officer Derek Chauvin murdered Floyd on Memorial Day 2020.

Peaceful protests, but also some looting and arson attacks, spread throughout the state, with more than 1,000 buildings destroyed and hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage caused. Two people lost their lives, while 600 people were arrested in the city.

Walz ultimately deployed more than 7,000 National Guard members.

However, Republicans have slammed Walz for the speed at which he deployed the guardsmen, coming three days after Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey asked him for the assistance. A report published by the then-Republican state senate in October 2020 claimed that his hesitation cost Minnesotans their lives, communities, and livelihoods.

But now a leaked recording of a 2020 phone call between Trump and a group of governors, including Walz, has poured cold water on those attacks.

Protests and riots spread through Minneapolis after Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd on Memorial Day 2020 ( Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

In the audio, shared on X by Harriss campaign, on Wednesday, Trump is heard praising Walz for his actions.

Hes an excellent guy. Youve got a big National Guard out there thats ready to come in and fight like hell, he says.

I tell you, the best  what they did in Minneapolis was incredible. They went in and dominated, and it happened immediately.

Trump continues: I was very happy with the last couple of days, Tim. You called up big numbers and the big numbers knocked them out so fast it was like bowling pins.

In the two days since Walz was crowned Harriss vice presidential pick, his handling of the summer protests has become one of the Republican partys most vocal lines of attack.

Walz was announced as Kamala Harris running mate Tuesday ( Getty Images )

He allowed rioters to burn down the streets of Minneapolis, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance told Fox News on Tuesday.

Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt parroted a similar attack. Governor Walz allowed Minneapolis to burn for days, despite President Trumps offer to deploy soldiers and cries for help from the liberal Mayor of Minneapolis, she told ABC News.

Earlier this month, Walz said of the matter that Frey did not hand over adequate information to provide the guardsmen a mission earlier.

Decisions were made in a situation that is what it is, he said at a Capitol press conference.

And I simply believe that we tried to do the best we can in each of those.
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British zoologist Adam Britton has been sentenced to 10 years and five months in prison after he admitted to sexually abusing dozens of dogs in Australia.

The 53-year-old leading British crocodile expert confessed to bestiality and a plethora of animal sexual abuse charges filed against him in Australia in September last year.

Warning that some of the details of Brittons crimes were too graphic to be published, Chief Justice Michael Grant suggested members of the public leave the courtroom at the Northern Territory Supreme Court.

"Your depravity falls outside any ordinary human conception," the chief justice told Britton, according to the Australian Associated Press.

The popular zoologist who has worked on BBC and National Geographic productions pleaded guilty to 56 charges relating to bestiality and animal cruelty.

The court observed that the British zoologist had filmed himself torturing the animals until almost all died. He also uploaded the videos online under pseudonyms.

Members sitting in the public gallery were seen sobbing and gasping as the details of Brittons violence and extensive offences were being read out. At least 39 dogs, including nine puppies, died as a result of the abuse by the Charles Darwin University academic.

Britton both tortured his own dogs and managed to source other canines from unsuspecting owners from Gumtree Australia in the Darwin region.

He encouraged others online to commit similar offences and shared advice on carrying out bestiality, according to the agreed facts of the case read out in court.

Justice Grant remarked: Your sheer and unalloyed pleasure is sickeningly evident from the recorded material.

Britton has also been sentenced for possessing and transmitting "the worst category" of child sexual abuse material.

Britton did not visibly react to the sentencing remarks by Justice Grant as he stood in the dock in a black suit and grey shirt.

In his sentencing, Justice Grant said Britton was banned from owning any mammal species of animal, or having them on his property, for the duration of his natural life.

The court recorded Brittons offences to have begun in 2014 until his arrest in April 2022. They first came to light when a video of his offences reached the Northern Territory animal welfare authorities anonymously.

Outside the court where hearing was underway, animal right advocates labelled Britton as a zoosadist and said he deserved the death penalty. Capital punishment has been outlawed throughout Australia since 1985.

Britton has also pleaded guilty to four counts of accessing and transmitting child abuse material.

I was talking with someone else about why I love to hurt dogs, he wrote in a secret chat group. I wasnt sure at first, but now I live for it. I cant stop myself hurting dogs.

I was sadistic as a child to animals, but I had repressed it. In the last few years I let it out again, and now I cant stop. I dont want to. He added a smiley.

Brittons lawyer  who has sought to remain anonymous due to the threats they have been receiving for representing Britton  presented a recent sentencing hearing with a fresh report on the zoologists paraphilia, a psychological term to describe a condition characterised by intense sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviours involving atypical objects, situations, or individuals.
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Jack Karlson, the man behind the iconic succulent Chinese meal meme after a video of his 1991 arrest went viral, has died at the age of 82

Whether Karlson is his real name is still unknown, but it is the serial prison escapee and petty criminals most popular alias.

Karlsons family confirmed his death, saying in a statement that he died in hospital on Wednesday surrounded by loved ones, due to prostate cancer.

He walked a full and colourful path and despite the troubles thrown at him, he lived by his motto  to keep on laughing, they said in a statement.

His niece Kim Edwards said that Karlson spent the last three weeks in hospital, trying several times to escape and asked us many time to sneak in his pipe.

As a final send off, we gave uncle a last taste of red wine through his drip just before it was removed, she said.

Karlsons niece Kim Edwards said that he spent the last three weeks in hospital ( GoFundMe )

A clip of his dramatic October 1991 arrest from the China Sea Restaurant in Brisbanes Fortitude Valley went viral almost two decades later in 2009.

In the video he could be seen shouting: What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal? at a number of police officers.

Karlson was accused of using a stolen credit card, but has always maintained that it was a case of mistaken identity.

The arrest and Karlsons impassioned speech was witnessed by several members of the press, who were waiting outside the restaurant.

Im under what? Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest! Karlson goes on to say theatrically when told he was being arrested, and then tries to direct the onlookers attention to a police officer by shouting, See that chap over. get your hand off my penis! This is the bloke who got me on the penis, people.

And you sir, are you waiting to receive my limp penis? he asked a police officer waiting for him in the police car  another iconic line that went on to inspire memes as well as several remixes, featuring Batman and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Democracy Manifest Bane

Karlson spoke about the arrest in an interview in May 2021, explaining what was behind the democracy manifest line.

Were supposed to be living in a democracy, and here they are dragging me out of a restaurant, halfway through a succulent Chinese meal. Well I thought, Gentleman, this is democracy manifest, he told 7News.

I thought, well heres an opportunity to prove my innocence. Because theyve dragged me out, thinking I was some sort of international gangster, when I knew that I wasnt, on seeing the cameras and press waiting outside.

So heres a chance, for the camera, for the people of Australia, to let democracy manifest itself gloriously, and thats why I carried on like that. Of course, I had been somewhat influenced by the juice of the great grape.

A documentary on Karlson, titled The Man who Ate a Succulent Chinese Meal, is currently in production. It is being directed by Heath Davis and is set for an early 2025 release.

A clip of Karlsons dramatic October 1991 arrest from the China Sea Restaurant in Brisbanes Fortitude Valley went viral almost two decades later in 2009 ( YouTube )

Davis has said he believes Karlsons name was really Cecil George Edwards, and that he has managed to find stories about how Karlson managed to escape prison; his methods include picking the lock that had him cuffed to a sleeping police officer, jumping off a moving train, and swimming away from a prison island and being rescued by someone out fishing.

He told ABC news that the escape he was pretty proud of was when he impersonated a detective and walked out of his court cell before trial.

Karlson, who was a part-time actor, spent a childhood in and out of institutions, homes, and prisons.

A regular person who experienced his life would have passed away years ago, Davis said, reported The Guardian.

But Jack just had this zest for life that made you go: this guy is made of mercuryhe might just live forever.

A biography on Karlsons life titled Carnage: A Succulent Chinese Meal, Mr. Rent-a-Kill and the Australian Manson Murders written by true crime author Mark Dapin was published in 2023.

Karlson has said he had no idea how famous he was on the Internet until someone came to him, saying they wanted to sell bottles of wine with his face.

It took me many years for someone to show me it was up there on the internet. Until someone approached me and said can we put it up, and sell bottles of wine with your face, he said.

The wine incidentally is called Get Your Hands Off My Pinot Noir. And I said Go ahead, as long as I get a cut out of it.
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The removal of basic Maori phrases from an invitation to an Australian official was not a snub of the Indigenous language by New Zealands government, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has said, instead joking that it actually reflected the incredibly simple language required when speaking to Australians.

The prime minister appeared to indulge in a favorite pastime of New Zealanders, who enjoy a friendly rivalry with their closest neighbor: calling Australians stupid.

The jibe from Luxon comes after the removal of the Maori words from an invitation sent to Australias arts minister.

It was an attempt to rebuff criticism that his government is anti-Maori, as it seeks to reverse policies favoring Indigenous people and language.In my dealings with Australians, it always pays to be incredibly simple and clear and use English, Luxon said, referring to the invitation sent to Tony Burke.

Ripostes between lawmakers across the Tasman have precedent. In the most famous example, a New Zealand leader, Rob Muldoon, quipped in the 1980s that New Zealanders who migrate to Australia raise the IQ of both countries.

On Thursday, a smiling Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded to Luxon with a favorite Australian joke  that no one can understand the New Zealand accent.

Protestors from the Maori iwi (tribe) Ngapuhi and others gather outside the Parliament building ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

He said that at times interpreters were needed, perhaps diplomatically adding that he had sometimes missed things said by Luxons predecessors too.

Look, were great friends and were great mates, the Australian leader said. Sometimes though we do speak a different language and thats when we both think were speaking English.

The exchange offered a diversion in an otherwise tense session of New Zealands Parliament, which has been roiled by accusations of bullying, racism and insults in recent weeks, with lawmakers in tears and the prime minister urging all political leaders to watch their rhetoric.

During Question Time, Luxon was asked by opposition leader Chris Hipkins about a series of inflammatory remarks he said lawmakers had recently made.

Among them was the report that New Zealands arts, culture and heritage minister, Paul Goldsmith  who signed off on the new year invitation  had directed officials to remove some Maori phrases from the materials, according to documents divulged by 1News.

Protestors from the Maori iwi (tribe) Ngapuhi and others gather outside the Parliament building in Wellington, New Zealand, Monday, Aug. 5 to protest the governments plans to remove recognition of a childs Maori heritage from the law governing the child protection system

They included t*n* koe  a formal way to say hello, learned by New Zealand children in their first year of elementary school  and Aotearoa, a commonplace Maori name for New Zealand.

A spokesperson for Burke, the Australian recipient of the controversial invitation, said on Thursday that he had known the meaning of the word Aotearoa since 1982, when it was referenced in the lyrics of a popular song by the New Zealand band Split Enz.

I just didnt think it needed a lot of te reo in it, Goldsmith told 1News, using a phrase meaning the Maori language, an official one of New Zealand. The language was once close to dying out, but activists provoked a revival over several decades, and common Maori words or phrases are now in everyday use among all New Zealanders.

The same movement prompted a revival of Matariki, the Maori lunar new year, which was established as a nationwide public holiday in 2020.

Since assuming office after the 2023 election, Luxons coalition government has prompted fraught public debates about race. One was over a return to English names for government agencies, many of which had assumed Maori titles in recent years.

Another was over ending initiatives that offer priority to Maori, who lag behind other New Zealanders in most health, economic and justice statistics.

Protestors gathered outside Parliament in the capital, Wellington, this week to oppose the governments plans to repeal a clause requiring recognition of childrens Maori heritage from the law governing the child protection system.
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Israel's Western allies have condemned remarks by its far-right finance minister, who suggested that causing the starvation of Gaza's population of more than 2 million Palestinians might be just and moral until hostages captured in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel are returned home.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in a speech Monday that Israel had no choice but to send humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Its not possible in todays global reality to manage a war  no one will allow us to starve 2 million people, even though that might be just and moral until they return the hostages, he said at a conference in support of Jewish settlements.

Smotrich, a key partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition, supports the reoccupation of Gaza, the rebuilding of Jewish settlements that were removed in 2005, and what he describes as the voluntary migration of large numbers of Palestinians out of the territory.

The European Union on Wednesday condemned his remarks, noting that the deliberate starvation of civilians is a war crime.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the remarks beyond ignominious," saying "it demonstrates, once again, his contempt for international law and for basic principles of humanity.

David Lammy, Britain's new foreign secretary, said there can be no justification for Minister Smotrichs remarks.

We expect the wider Israeli government to retract and condemn them, he wrote on the social media platform X.

Germany's ambassador to Israel, Steffen Siebert, called the remarks "unacceptable and appalling.

It is a principle of international law and of humanity to protect civilians in a war and to give them access to water and food, he wrote on X.

The ongoing war sparked by Hamas' attack has plunged Gaza into a humanitarian catastrophe. The vast majority of its population has been displaced within the blockaded territory, often multiple times, and hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid tent camps. The leading international authority on the severity of hunger crises, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, said in June that Gaza was at high risk of famine.

Aid organizations say efforts to deliver food and other assistance have been hindered by Israeli restrictions, ongoing fighting and the breakdown of law and order. Israel says it allows unlimited humanitarian aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for failing to promptly deliver it.

Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people in the surprise attack into Israel that triggered the war and took around 250 hostages. Some 110 hostages are still being held in Gaza, though Israel believes that about a third of them are dead. Most of the rest were released during a weeklong November cease-fire.

Israel's ongoing offensive has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, and has caused widespread devastation.

___

Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
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The last time anyone heard from Edni Lopez was Sunday. The 33-year-old political science professor and award-winning poet was preparing to board a flight to Argentina to visit a friend when she texted from the airport that something was wrong with her passport.

Migration took my passport because its showing up as expired, she wrote her boyfriend in the message shared with The Associated Press. I pray to God I dont get screwed because of a system error.

What happened next remains a mystery  one contributing to the climate of fear and repression that has engulfed Venezuela following its disputed presidential election, the most serious wave of human rights abuses since Latin Americas military dictatorships in the 1970s.

When Lopez's mother, Ninoska Barrios, and her friends learned she didnt board the flight, they started frantically combing detention centers. Finally, on Tuesday  more than 48 hours later  they learned she was being held, incommunicado, by Venezuelas feared military intelligence police on unknown criminal charges, unable to see an attorney or speak with her family.

Please, give back my daughter, a sobbing Barrios pleaded Tuesday outside Venezuelas top human rights office in a video that went viral on social media. Its not right that a Venezuelan mother has to go through all this.

Lopez's arrest isnt unique. Since the July 28 presidential election, security forces have rounded up more than 2,000 people for demonstrating against President Nicolas Maduro or casting doubt on his claim he won a third term despite strong evidence he lost the vote by a more than 2-to-1 margin. Another 24 have been killed, according to local human rights group Provea.

The spree of detentions  urged on by Maduro himself  is unprecedented, and puts Venezuela on pace to easily exceed those jailed during three previous crackdowns against Maduros opponents.

Those arrested include journalists, political leaders, campaign staffers and an attorney defending protesters. Others have had their Venezuelan passports annulled trying to leave the country. One local activist even livestreamed her arrest by military intelligence officers as they broke into her home with a crowbar.

Youre entering my home arbitrarily, without any search warrant, Maria Oropeza, an opposition campaign leader in rural Portuguesa state, says in the livestream that abruptly ends after three minutes. Im not a delinquent. Im just an average citizen who wants a different country.

The repression, much of it seemingly random and arbitrary, is having a chilling effect, said Phil Gunson, a Caracas-based analyst for the International Crisis Group.

Its not just discouraging protests. People are scared to go on the streets, period, said Gunson, adding that parents of teenage boys are especially worried. Theres a sense that police have a quota to fill and anyone can be stopped and carted away as a suspected subversive.

The threats start at the top.

Theyre hiding rats but were going to grab them, ruling socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello said about several prominent opponents in an address to the Maduro-controlled legislature a day after the election.

Meanwhile, Maduro has called on Venezuelans to denounce election doubters via a government-run app originally created to report power outages and complaints about state-provided services. He also said the government was refurbishing two gang-dominated prisons to accommodate an expected surge of jailed guarimberos  his dismissive term for middle-class protesters who barricaded themselves in the streets for weeks in 2014 and 2017.

There will be no mercy," Maduro said on state TV.

But complicating efforts to crush dissent is the changing face of the government's opponents.

While demonstrations have been far smaller and tamer than during past bouts of unrest, theyre now more spontaneous, often leaderless and made up of youth  some barely teenagers  from Caracas hillside slums who have traditionally been a rock solid base of support for the government.

I dont care how many people have to die,  Cleiver Acuna, a 21-year-old tattoo artist, said at one recent grassroots march where protesters climbed up lampposts to tear down Maduro campaign posters.

What I want is my freedom. My homeland. I want to live in the Venezuela my grandparents once told me about.

Maria Corina Machado, the opposition powerhouse who rallied Venezuelans behind a last-minute stand-in candidate after she was barred from running against Maduro, has also urged restraint, reflecting the fear many feel.

There are times to go out, times to meet, and demonstrate all our strength and determination and embrace each other, just as there are times to prepare, to organize, to communicate and to consult with our allies around the world, which are many, she said in a recorded message posted online Tuesday.

An operational pause is sometimes necessary.

But the swiftness of the governments clampdown does seem to be working. In just 10 days, security forces have rounded up nearly the same number of people as they did over five months in 2017, according to Provea.

Operation Knock-Knock is a prime tool of state terrorism, said Oscar Murillo, the head of Provea, referring to the surprise, middle-of-the-night detentions touted as a scare tactic by Cabello and others.

In the low-income Caracas neighborhood of Catia, once a ruling party stronghold, no one talks politics these days. One woman closed her business when protests began nearby and ran home. Videos of the demonstration flooded her phone over the next several hours, but she deleted them for fear the government was tracking social media posts to identify critics.

I could get arrested just for having them, she said.

The sudden silence is a sharp break from the hopeful mood preceding the election as emboldened opposition supporters confronted security forces who attempted to block anti-Maduro rallies. They served food, lent vehicles to opposition leader and opened their businesses to them despite knowing they would suffer retaliation from the police or have their businesses shut down.

Even before the current wave of unrest, Venezuelas human rights record was under intense scrutiny. Maduro is the target of an investigation by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the past.

Maduro's tactics have been likened to those in Central and South America in the 1970s when military dictatorships rounded up opponents and sometimes innocent bystanders. Many were killed, and in Argentina, some even drugged and dropped from airplanes into the ocean, with no trace of ever having been detained.

Maduros alleged abuses have little in common with those Dirty War campaigns by state security forces.

But the goal of instilling fear is the same, said Santiago Canton, an Argentine lawyer and secretary general of the Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists, a watchdog group.

Canton said Lopez's case reminded him of the disappearance in Argentina in 1977 of a female activist pulled off a plane bound for Venezuela and never seen again. At the time, oil-rich Venezuela was the wealthiest country in South America and a democratic refuge for exiles fleeing military regimes across the region.

What happened 50 years ago is unlikely to occur again, said Canton, who previously led the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. But social media is a multiplier factor that didnt exist before so you can be more selective with the use of force and achieve the same results.

Meanwhile, Lopez's friends and family are at a loss to explain why she was targeted.

Since 2020, shes been carrying out relief work in poor communities, for which she was honored as one of Venezuelas 100 Protagonist Women by the Netherlands Embassy in Caracas. The work is strictly humanitarian and Lopez doesnt belong to any political movement.

Her social media profile is similarly void of any anti-government content, consisting mainly of whimsical drawings of butterflies, poems she penned and pictures of beaches and sand dunes from her travels across Venezuela.

Cristina Ramirez, who moved to Argentina from Caracas eight years ago, joining an exodus of more than 7 million Venezuelans whove fled the country, said she bought a ticket for Lopez in May so her friend could enjoy a much-deserved vacation.

The two were looking forward to catching up after a long separation and a difficult year for Lopez, whose family is struggling financially. She worries that her friend, who takes medicine for diabetes, is suffering in prison without knowing what led to the nightmare.

It was going to be her first trip outside Venezuela, said Ramirez in a phone interview. Im still waiting for her.

___

Goodman reported from Miami.
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Catalan police are hunting for fugitive Catalonia separatist Carles Puigdemont after he dramatically returned to Spain for the first time in seven years to address a crowd of thousands before vanishing again.

The 61-year-old, a former president of the Catalonia region, climbed a stage to give a short speech near the Catalan parliament in Barcelona to thousands of followers who had shown up with independence flags and signs showing his face.

Today, many thought theyd be celebrating my arrest, and thought that this punishment would dissuade us  and you, he said.

Today I came to remind them that we are still here! We are still here because we have no right to quit.

Mr Puigdemont fled to Belgium seven years ago after Catalonia unilaterally (and unsuccessfully) declared independence from Spain. He has been living in exile ever since. He faces an arrest warrant for alleged embezzlement, which he denies.

The Catalan ministry of the interior has confirmed he is now on the run again. Police were stopping and searching vehicles heading towards the French border and there are traffic controls around the city centre following reports that Puigdemont was seen leaving in a car; roadblocks were also set up. The searches created traffic chaos in Barcelona and near the border. The operation, namedJaula (cage), was ended a few hours later. A ministry of the interior spokesperson said: I can confirm Puigdemont has not been detained yet.

Supporters of the Catalan independence leader excitedly waited near the parliament for Puigdemonts arrival ( AP )

After his speech, Mr Puigdemont was swiftly whisked through the crowd by members of his Junts per Catalunya (Together for Catalonia) party but was then nowhere to be seen among the politicians who later reached parliament.

A Catalan police officer was detained on suspicion of helping Mr Puigdemont flee, a spokesperson for the force said. The officer allegedly owns the car in which Mr Puigdemont escaped after making his address, Spanish media said.

A parliamentary debate to swear in Socialist Salvador Illa as Catalonias new president, ending a decade of separatist rule, began amid confusion and speculation about Mr Puigdemont's whereabouts.

Mr Puigdemonts supporters hope his return will rekindle enthusiasm for the Catalan independence cause, which has lost support in recent years. It represents the return of a symbol, said Xavier Vizcaino, 63, who was wrapped in an independence flag.

Given the risk of imprisonment, Mr Vizcaino said he was unclear of Puigdemonts intentions but hoped his return would build momentum towards independence.

I hope it is a stimulus that helps the movement recover energy and efforts, he said. I want to believe there is a well-structured plan behind his return.

Thursdays parliamentary session is set to see socialist appointed as the new Catalan president, ending more than 10 years of separatist governments in the northeastern Spanish region.

Mr Puigdemonts return poses a direct challenge to Spains judicial authorities and its delicate coalition government, risking a resurgence of tensions between Catalan separatists and Madrid.

In a video released on Wednesday, outlining his plan to return, Mr Puigdemont complained about being unable to attend freely and of a long persecution.

He said: That I can attend the parliament should be normal. That to do so risks an arrest that would be arbitrary and illegal is evidence of the democratic anomaly that we have the duty to denounce and fight.

It was not immediately clear how authorities will proceed if Mr Puigdemont is arrested. Detaining him could jeopardise the national socialist-led coalition governments fragile alliance with Junts per Catalunya, on which it relies for legislative support.

A contentious amnesty bill could potentially clear him and hundreds of other supporters of Catalan independence of any wrongdoing over the illegal 2017 ballot.

But the bill, approved by Spain's parliament earlier this year, is being challenged by the Supreme Court, leaving uncertainty about which crimes would be pardoned. Mr Puigdemont could initially be placed in pre-trial detention if he is arrested.

The former Catalan leader's return threatened to complicate a deal brokered after months of deadlock between Illa's Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya (PSC) and the other main Catalan separatist party, the left-wing Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC). That deal had ensured just enough support in Catalonia's parliament for Mr Illa to become the next regional president

Ignacio Garriga, secretary general of the far-right Vox party, told reporters outside the Catalan parliament. We had to see how the state allowed this criminal to hold a rally. We dont understand why he hasnt been arrested yet.

Agencies contributed to this report
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One of the teenagers arrested over a foiled terror plot at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna admitted he planned to kill as many people as possible, officials said.

The star was forced to cancel her upcoming shows after authorities in Austria detained two young men suspected of planning a major attack at one of her sold-out performances.

However, London mayor Sadiq Khan says Britains capital will carry on with planned gigs at Wembley next week.

The main suspect, a 19-year-old boy, had uploaded an oath of allegiance to the current leader of Isis online and is alleged to have been plotting alongside a 17-year-old who had begun working at the stadium days before.

Taylor Swifts performances, which were originally scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna, and expected to draw 195,000 people, were cancelled ( Getty for TAS Rights Mana )

Austrias general director for public security, Franz Ruf, told ORF that chemical substances and technical devices, showing concrete preparatory actions, were found at the 19-year-olds house in the town of Ternitz.

Both teenagers had become radicalised on the internet and had specific plans to carry out an attack, officials said, and investigators are now determining if the substances found could have been used to make an explosive.

Austrian security officials alleged the two young men wanted to commit an attack outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using knives or self-made explosives.

They said the 19-year-old was clearly radicalised in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels.

The second suspect was employed a few days ago by a facility company providing services at the venue during the concerts. Investigators said they found extensive material related to Isis and Al Qaeda at his home.

Swifts performances, originally scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at Ernst Happel in Vienna, and expected to draw 195,000 people, were cancelled. The move comes after officials initially said the concerts were set to move forward with heightened security.

The cancellations devastated fans, many of whom had spent thousands of pounds on travel and hotels for the events, part of her Eras Tour.

17-year old Anna-Maria from Sofia, Bulgaria talks to the Associated Press outside the Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna on Thursday ( AP )

Austrias vice-chancellor Werner Kogler tweeted: For many, a dream has been shattered today. On three evenings in Vienna, tens of thousands of Swifties should have celebrated life together.

I am very sorry that you were denied this. Swifties stick together, hate and terror cant destroy that.

Swift has not yet commented on the foiled plot, which comes just days after a mass stabbing at a Swift-themed childrens dance class in Southport, England.

People gather at a vigil to mourn the three children killed in a stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, UK ( Getty )

Policing minister Diana Johnson said Scotland Yard will look at all the intelligence ahead of Swifts five dates at Londons Wembley between Thursday 15 August and Tuesday 10 August.

Mr Khan said London is looking forward to welcoming Taylor Swift back as the capital is an international city that regularly hosts major events. We have a huge amount of experience in policing these events, were never complacent, many lessons were learned after the awful Manchester Arena attack, he said.

The police work closely, not just with City Hall, but with councils, but also with those who host concerts, like the Taylor Swift concert coming up over the next couple of weeks.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: London plays host to a significant number of very high-profile events each year with millions of visitors having a safe and enjoyable experience.

The Met works closely with venue security teams and other partners to ensure there are appropriate security and policing plans in place. There is nothing to indicate that the matters being investigated by the Austrian authorities will have an impact on upcoming events here in London. As always, we will continue to keep any new information under careful review.
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Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky has praised his armys ability to surprise and achieve results as it battles Russian forces during an audacious cross-border attack into Russian territory.

Around 1,000 Ukrainian troops in tanks and armoured vehicles successfully broke through the Russian border and into the Kursk region in the early hours of Tuesday with air support from swarms of drones and pounding artillery, according to Russian officials.

Russia has since declared a state of emergency in the region and local officials said on Thursday that thousands of people had been evacuated following the attack that an angry Vladimir Putin has labelled a major provocation.

While Ukrainian officials havent spoken directly about the attack, including Mr Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior aide to the president said that the root cause of any escalation, including into Kursk, was unequivocal aggression on the part of Russia in believing it could invade Ukraine without consequences.

He also suggested on the countrys national television news broadcast that the military actions could strengthen Ukraines position during any future negotiations with Russia to end the war.

Mr Zelensky said at an event to unveil a new digital app to cut paperwork for the military: Everyone can see that the Ukrainian army knows how to surprise. And knows how to achieve results.

This is demonstrated by the battlefield, where our soldiers not only withstood the overwhelming force of the occupiers, but also are destroying it in the way necessary to protect Ukraine  our state and independence.

President Putin attends a meeting on the offensive ( Getty )

Ukrainian soldiers have now penetrated more than six miles (10km) across the border, breaking through two Russian defensive lines and a stronghold, the Institute for the Study of War said. Some reports suggest that Kyivs forces are advancing towards a village 13 miles into Russian territory.

Heavy fighting has been reported near the town of Sudzha and some Russian bloggers, currently one of the most accurate sources of information, said Ukraines forces were pushing towards the Kursk nuclear power station, under 40 miles northeast of Sudzha.

Yuri Podolyaka, a popular Ukrainian-born, pro-Russian military blogger, said that there were intense battles about 30km from the Soviet-era nuclear plant, which supplies a large swathe of southern Russia with power.

Ukraines energy minister said gas transit via Sudzha was still functioning, despite reports of hostilities there. Most EU nations have reduced their dependence on Russian gas, but Austria is one country that still receives most of its gas via Ukraine.

The Center for Information Resilience, a non-profit open-source analysis organisation, said it was unable to visually confirm any damage to the gas metering station as a result of the incursion, but had verified significant damage to the border checkpoint about 500 metres to the south.

This, combined with footage verified by CIR of several Russian soldiers surrendering to Ukrainian soldiers near the entrance of the gas metering plant, makes it likely that the plant has been affected by the Ukrainian incursion, however, the level of damage cannot be verified at this time, it said.

Kursks regional acting governor, Alexei Smirnov, said that thousands of residents had been evacuated. The White House said the United States  Ukraines biggest backer  had no prior knowledge of the attack and would seek more details from Kyiv.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian shelling reportedly killed at least two individuals  a paramedic and an ambulance driver  and injured 24 others, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said. Neither of these Russian claims could be independently verified.

Russias defence ministry claimed on Thursday that the army and the Federal Security Service had halted the Ukrainian advance, but it has made such claims every day since the attack began, despite heavy fighting continuing.

The battles come at a crucial juncture in the conflict, the biggest land war in Europe since the Second World War. Kyiv is concerned that US support could weaken if Republican Donald Trump wins the November presidential election.

Trump has said he would seek to end the war, and both Russia and Ukraine are keen to gain the strongest possible bargaining position on the battlefield.

Agencies contributed to this report
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Kyivs audacious cross-border assault into Russias Kursk region has certainly ruffled feathers in Moscow. Vladimir Putin denounced it as a large-scale provocation while his officials have lined up to tell him the situation is under control  despite fighting continuing into a third day on Thursday and thousands of people having to evacuate the area.

Ukraine has an issue with the number of soldiers it can put on the battlefield and has been trying to up recruitment, so some may ask why it would commit resources to an incursion into Russia, especially when Moscows forces are putting Kyivs troops under pressure on other points of the 600-mile frontline, including around the key eastern town of Pokrovsk, several hundred miles away in the region of Donetsk.

However, while the operation into Kursk is unlikely to create a long-term strategic opportunity for Kyiv, given that troops will be unable to hold any gained land for long, there are plenty of more symbolic reasons for bursting through the border. The two major reasons are to boost morale and make both Moscow and Western allies think.

Taking the latter of those first, breaking through two sets of Russian defensive lines and making it between six and 10 miles into Russia will force Moscows military into restocking their lines, likely pulling troops from an offensive in Ukraines Kharkiv region, just across the border, which is where it had been making gains against Kyivs soldiers. That will both alleviate some of the pressure on Ukraines own defensive lines  even if only for a short period  and should also make Moscow more wary of overcommitting around the Kharkiv region and leaving themselves open like this again.

It also shows Kyivs allies in the West that its army is still capable of battlefield surprises even when it is under pressure, and can keep operations secret from their enemy. Kyiv will hope that such an ability to manoeuvre will remind its backers that sending more long-range weapons, shells and jets will not be wasted and that it can act nimbly and swiftly even when outnumbered and outgunned. While senior Ukrainian officials have not referred directly to the raid, president Volodymyr Zelensky praised his armys ability to surprise and get results during a public appearance on Thursday.

Ukraine will also never miss an opportunity to embarrass Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin, and this is an embarrassment. Whether it was hundreds of troops or 1,000, the attack shows the Russian people that Moscow can make mistakes and reminds them that this invasion can come home to roost. While in the public statements about the cross-border assault Russian officials say it is under control, those claims are made a mockery of by the three days of fighting (and potentially more).

On the other side of the coin, the attack is a big morale boost for both troops on the front and the Ukrainian people across the country who have faced repeated and increasing drone and missile attacks on their cities in recent months. The incursion has been tracked and celebrated, while the pronouncements of the Ukrainian advance Russian military bloggers that tend to give a more accurate  if not entirely accurate  picture of the battlefield than the Kremlin have been eagerly devoured.

The attack into Kursk will not fundamentally alter the trajectory of this war  but its symbolic importance should not be underestimated.
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Israel has intensified its bombardment of Gaza, hitting two schools, killing at least 40 people and ordering sweeping evacuations.

It comes as its allies brace for Iran and Hezbollah to retaliate over the killing of two top commanders in Tehran and Beirut.

World leaders have been urging restraint in a bid to avert potential escalation into a regional war after Israel assassinated Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut last week, and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed a day later in Tehran.

Israel has already vowed to kill Haniyehs hardliner replacement Yahya Sinwar  an architect of the 7 October attacks that sparked the war in Gaza  and flew warplanes low over Beirut on Tuesday as Hezbollah mourned their slain commander.

Displaced Palestinians left an area in east Khan Yunis towards the west, after the Israeli army issued a new evacuation order ( AFP via Getty Images )

With all eyes on how they will retaliate, CNN cited two sources with knowledge of intelligence on the matter as saying that the Lebanese militant group is moving more quickly than Iran in planning a strike  and could be poised to attack Israel independently of its more powerful ally.

Yemens Houthis  who, after a brief pause, have resumed their attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in a stated show of support for Palestine  also said they would coordinate with other members of Irans so-called Axis of Resistance in any joint operation to respond to Israels attacks.

Any decision to respond will be made by the axis as a whole, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi insisted, referring to groups aligned with Tehran such as Hezbollah and the Houthis.

Israel, meanwhile, was reported by Axios to have warned Washington privately that it would respond disproportionately to any civilian casualties as a result of Hezbollahs attack  after Lebanese outlet Al-Akhbar suggested the militants could target Tel Aviv and that civilians might be harmed on the margins.

Russias Vladimir Putin has also warned Iran against any retaliation that harms civilians, via his former defence secretary Sergei Shoigu, who visited Tehran this week, senior Iranian sources said.

A tank manoeuvres near the Israel-Gaza border amid the ongoing conflict ( Reuters )

Israel stepped up its airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, hitting a cluster of houses in the Al-Bureij camp and leaving least 15 people dead. Four people were also killed in the nearby Al-Nuseirat camp, medics reported.

Aircraft also bombed a house in the heart of Gaza City in the north killing five Palestinians, while another airstrike in the southern city of Khan Younis is believed to have killed one person and wounded others.

Israel was reported to have issued yet another mass evacuation order covering large areas in and around Khan Younis, Gazas second-largest city, which was devastated by air and ground attacks earlier this year. Israel warned its forces would soon operate in the affected areas in response to Palestinian rocket fire.

Residents said dozens of families had begun to leave their homes and head west towards Al-Mawasi, a humanitarian-designated area but one that is overcrowded by displaced families from across Gaza.

Israels military said it had struck dozens of military targets across Gaza over the past 24 hours, including rocket launching pads  as the armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad reported firing anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs at Israeli forces operating across Gaza.

Palestinians evacuate part of Khan Younis after Israels evacuation order ( AFP via Getty Images )

Later on Thursday, a further 15 people were killed and 30 injured in Israeli bombings of two schools east of Gaza City, the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said.

The Israeli military said it struck Hamas command and control centres embedded in the Abdel-Fattah Hamouda and Al-Zahra schools in the Tuffah neighbourhood of Gaza City, where it accused Hamas of exploiting civilians for military purposes  which Hamas denies.

In its daily update, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said at least 39,699 Palestinians had been killed and 91,722 injured since the war began on 7 October, following the cross-border incursion by Hamas in which 1,200 people in Israel were killed and around 250 taken hostage.

In a call with Frances Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, Iranian state media reported president Masoud Pezeshkian as warning Iran will never remain silent in the face of aggression and insisting that, if the West truly wants to prevent escalation in the region, it should force Israel to accept a ceasefire.
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Sir Keir Starmer has joined Joe Biden and allied world leaders in a call for Iran to stand down amid ongoing tension in the Middle East.

The prime minister also spoke to Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday night, warning him of a serious risk of miscalculation, Downing Street said.

It comes as Israel braces itself for a major attack with Iran vowing retaliation against Israel after the death of the leader of Hamas in Tehran last month.

The US has also sent a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine to the Middle East while Israels air force has suspended travel abroad for its service personnel.

The tensions increase as the US and its allies push for Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire agreement over the war in Gaza.

On Monday, Sir Keir held a 30-minute call with Mr Pezeshkian, asking him to refrain from attacking Israel and saying that war was not in anyones interest.

The No 10 spokesperson said: The prime minister said that he was deeply concerned by the situation in the region and called on all parties to de-escalate and avoid further regional confrontation.

There was a serious risk of miscalculation and now was the time for calm and careful consideration, the prime minister said.

He called on Iran to refrain from attacking Israel, adding that war was not in anyones interests.

The phone call followed a day of talks among western powers, with joint statements from British, American and European leaders urging de-escalation in the Middle East amid fears Iran could launch an attack on Israel this week.

Sir Keir, along with Mr Biden, German chancellor Olaf Scholz, French president Emmanuel Macron and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni urged all parties to resume peace talks this week.

In a joint statement they said: We, the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy discussed the situation in the Middle East.

We expressed our full support for ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions and reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza.

We endorsed the joint call from President Biden, President Sisi of Egypt, and Amir Tamim of Qatar to renew talks later this week with an aim to concluding the deal as soon as possible, and stressed there is no further time to lose. All parties must live up to their responsibilities.

Palestinians living in the Hamad area of Khan Yunis in Gaza  as the war rages on many are struggling to survive in the difficult conditions ( Getty )

In addition, unfettered delivery and distribution of aid is needed. We expressed our support for the defense of Israel against Iranian aggression and against attacks by Iran-backed terrorist groups.

We called on Iran to stand down its ongoing threats of a military attack against Israel and discussed the serious consequences for regional security should such an attack take place.

The deal endorsed by the US, Egyptian and Qatar leaders is for a three-phase framework to demand Israel withdraw its troops from Gaza, Hamas return hostages to their families and the safe and effective distribution of humanitarian aid.

It aims to bring to an end the conflict that started when Hamas launched the surprise attack on 7 October last year.

President Biden ignored shouted questions about negotiations over a ceasefire in Gaza as he returned to the White House on Monday ( EPA )

Israel claims some 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage following the attack. The Palestinian death toll is thought to be approaching 40,000 as a result of conflict in Gaza.

Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, based in Lebanon, have traded rocket fire with Israel over recent weeks and Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Irans capital at the end of July.

At least 80 people died on Saturday when an Israeli air strike hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Israel claimed it had hit a Hamas command centre at the venue, but Hamas has denied it had a base there.

US vice-president Kamala Harris said on Saturday: Yet again, far too many civilians have been killed.
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Pictures taken by an amateur astronomer showed a secretive Chinese space plane flying high up over Austria, revealing yet undisclosed features of the experimental craft.

China launched the reusable space plane Shenlong  meaning Divine Dragon  for its third mission in December aboard its Long March 2F rocket and it has been orbiting the Earth since.

It has previously completed two missions since 2020 with the previous one lasting over 250 days.

Space observers have noted that the plane launched at least seven satellites into orbit in the last seven months in its current mission.

Chinese officials have neither acknowledged the space planes existence nor have revealed any information about the nature of the objects it has released.

While the US Space Force said it has been tracking the space plane since it launched, there still arent any publicly verifiable images of the secretive vehicle.

ASTRA Space Company Takes On SpaceX

China designed the plane for multi-year robotic Earth-orbiting missions after it was launched aboard a rocket from the Gobi Desert.

The 30ft-long space plane is expected to return and land back safely on runways similar to conventional aircraft.

Images taken by space watcher Felix Schofbanker in Upper Austria have now revealed some features of the space plane, including what appears to be a pair of solar panels powering the craft.

Mr Schofbanker, an amateur astronomer in Austria, used a telescope with a 14-inch mirror to follow the released objects on 30 July.

Images taken of Chinese space plan by Felix Schofbanker ( Felix Schofbanker )

In the footage he prepared by stitching together the best frames, he noticed features what seemed like the planes solar panels.

However, since this is a previously unseen part of the space plane, he suspects it may be something else.

I am not really sure if they are solar panels or some other features like an antenna or something of that nature, Mr Schofbanker told Space.com.

The latest footage, although grainy, suggests that the space plane has lowered its orbit to about 350 km above Earth.

The US Space Force is also operating a Boeing-built space plane  X-37B  in orbit which is smaller than the Chinese vehicle.
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Two astronauts stuck at the International Space Station since early June may not return back to Earth until 2025, NASA officials have said.

The space agency has been examining whether the two stranded astronauts could come home on board a SpaceX craft instead of the Boeings Starliner capsule, which has been beset with problems since its launch over two months ago.

There is lingering uncertainty over the safety of Boeings capsule, NASA officials said on Wednesday, and the space agency is split over the risk.

As a result, chances are increasing that test pilots Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams may have to watch from the space station as their Starliner is cut loose to return to Earth empty.

If that happens, NASA would leave behind two of four astronauts from the next SpaceX taxi flight in late September, with the vacant seats set aside for Wilmore and Williams on the return trip next February. The pair expected to be gone just a week or two when they launched June 5 as Starliners first crew.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were originally set to return to Earth from the International Space Station in June. ( NASA )

NASA is bringing in additional experts to analyze the thruster failures experienced by Starliner before it docked. At the same time, NASA is looking more closely at SpaceX as a backup. At this point, we could take either path, said Ken Bowersox, NASAs space operations mission chief.

The disagreements over Wilmore and Williams return to earth prompted officials to postpone an in-depth readiness review of the Starliner and to delay a SpaceX launch that was planned for Tuesday.

The Independent has contacted NASA, Boeing, and SpaceX for comment.

Publically, Boeing has insisted it still stands behind the Starliner, which suffered mechanical issues on its way to docking at the ISS on June 6 for what was supposed to be an eight-day mission.

Boeing remains confident in the Starliner spacecraft and its ability to return safely with crew, the company said in a statement on Friday. We continue to support NASAs requests for additional testing, data, analysis and reviews to affirm the spacecrafts safe undocking and landing capabilities..

Bringing the astronauts back in a SpaceX capsule would be a major blow to Boeing.

The Boeing Starliner suffered mechanical issues on its way to the ISS ( AP )

The June flight was its first crewed mission to the ISS on the Starliner, a flagship development from the aerospace giant meant to compete with SpaceX for contracts with NASA.

Last week, Boeing reported a $125m loss on the Starliner program, adding to $1.1bn in previous losses it has taken on the effort, according to SEC filings.

The ability of the Starliner to complete its ISS mission could weigh on the fate of the half-dozen contracts it has with NASA for future flights, according to the Journal.

The issues with the Starliner add to a season of difficulty for Boeing, which has been under heavy scrutiny amid a series of mechanical issues and whistleblower claims surrounding its commercial aircraft.

These questions will all surely be on the agenda of Robert Kelly Ortberg, who assumes the role of chief executive at Boeing on Thursday.
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A week before Christmas in 2021, Elon Musk tweeted: Traceroute woke_mind_virus. It referred to a networking command to determine the source of information, in this case the woke culture of progressive social-justice activists. The centi-billionaire believed that it was this virus that had caused him to become estranged from his transgender daughter.

In the three years since, Elon Musk has gone from sharing memes about fringe cryptocurrencies and promoting clean energy technologies, to spreading extremist conspiracy theories and proclaiming civil war is inevitable in the UK following recent civil unrest. This transition from an apolitical moderate to a far-right instigator can perhaps be pinpointed to a single event  maybe even that single tweet.

According to Musks biographer Walter Isaacson, the transition of his child had a profound impact on Musks world view, with the rejection of him as a father triggering his descent towards fringe conspiracies and setting him on a trajectory towards becoming a leading figure in the culture war.

When she turned 18 in April 2022, his daughter legally changed her name from Xavier Musk to Vivian Jenna Wilson, declaring to the court: I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form. Musks girlfriend at the time  Claire Boucher, known professionally as Grimes  told Isaacson that she had never seen him as heartbroken about anything.

Having previously donated to Barack Obamas Democratic Party, Musk now associated the party with this woke agenda that had turned his child against him. This woke-mind virus resides primarily in the Democratic Party, he told Isaacson. He set out his shifting political stance in a tweet in May 2022.

In the past I voted Democrat, because they were (mostly) the kindness party, he wrote. But they have become the party of division and hate, so I can no longer support them and will vote Republican. Now, watch their dirty tricks campaign against me unfold.

At the time, Musk still had a deep disdain for Donald Trump, but his anti-woke comments drew in right-wing provocateurs like the Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson, while also distancing himself progressive friends and even partners. When he sent alt-right memes and conspiracy theories to Grimes in 2022, she reportedly replied: Is this from 4chan or something? Youre actually starting to sound like someone from the far right.

Grimes has publicly sided with Musks daughter since splitting up, and is now involved in a custody battle over the other children they share. Musks external strife appears to be directly correlated to the complications within his own internal family dynamics.

In an interview with Peterson last month, Musk publicly spoke about his reasoning behind his daughters estrangement for the first time  and the motivation it instilled in him to undergo his own political and moral transition. Essentially my son is dead, he said. Killed by the woke mind virus. So I vowed to destroy the woke mind virus after that. And were making some progress.

It has been a quick capitulation from centrist moderate to far right instigator for Musk. His tweet about finding the origin of the woke mind virus came just three months after tweeting: I prefer to stay out of politics.

Since taking over Twitter and renaming it X, Musk is now becoming radicalised by his own social media platform. Its algorithm, which is designed to keep people engaged, appears to be serving him increasingly extreme content, at least according to his likes and retweets.

Musk has consistently presented himself as a champion of free speech, with his takeover preceding a mass unblocking of accounts that had previously been banned for spouting extremist views. (It is worth noting that simply writing the word cisgender is enough to get an account temporarily banned, as Musk considers it a slur.)

One of those welcomed back was convicted criminal and anti-Islam campaigner Tommy Robinson. Despite having less than a million followers on X, his posts have been viewed more than a billion times  thanks in part to Musk actively responding to Robinsons anti-immigration posts, which have amplified his false claims to his 193 million followers.

Some believe that Musks engagement with such accounts, and the stoking of fears by calling out Prime Minister Keir Starmer about so-called two-tier policing, is designed to increase traffic and attention to his beleaguered site. But others suggest it is a direct result of the time he spends on X.

If you look at it over time, he was somebody who was talking about solving climate change and working on big things, and then all of a sudden has drifted into this echo chamber of conspiracy theories and science denial on extremism and racism, Sander van der Linden, a professor of social psychology and disinformation at the University of Cambridge, told The Independent this week.

How do you find yourself in such an environment? Whats changed between then and now is that hes spending a lot of time on X.
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Russian is seeing a reported mass outage on the availability of video hosting site YouTube on Thursday as Russian authorities step up criticism of the platform.

Internet monitoring service Sboi.rf said there had been thousands of glitches reported about YouTube in Russia. Users said they could only access YouTube via virtual private networks (VPNs).

YouTube is not working, one anonymous user said in comments on the site.

Reuters reporters in Russia were unable to access YouTube. The website remained available via some mobile devices.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. Russias state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor also did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

YouTube is one of the last major bastions of free expression on the Russian internet, where the site continues to host materials by Kremlin opponents that have been largely removed from other social media sites popular in Russia.

The sites download speeds have notably slowed in recent weeks, for which Russian lawmakers have blamed YouTube owner Alphabets Google, something the company disputes.

Alexander Khinshtein, head of a parliamentary committee on information policy, warned last month that YouTube speeds would drop by as much as 70%.

He said the degradation was a necessary step, directed not against Russian users, but against the administration of a foreign resource that still believes it can violate and ignore our legislation without punishment.

Khinshtein later explicitly blamed the slowdown on Googles failure to invest in Russian infrastructure, such as its local cache servers, something YouTube rejected.

A YouTube spokesperson said last week it was aware of reports that some people were unable to access YouTube in Russia. This was not because of any actions on technical issues on its part, it said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting with members of the government at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, Russia, 07 August 2024 ( EPA )

Meanwhile, Russian forces were battling Ukrainian troops for a third day on Thursday after they smashed through the Russian border in the Kursk region, an audacious attack on the worlds biggest nuclear power that has forced Moscow to call in reserves.

In one of the biggest Ukrainian attacks on Russia of the two-year war, around 1,000 Ukrainian troops rammed through the Russian border in the early hours of Aug. 6 with tanks and armoured vehicles, covered in the air by swarms of drones and pounding artillery, according to Russian officials.

Ukrainian forces swept through the fields and forests of the border towards the north of the border town of Sudzha, the last operational trans-shipping point for Russian natural gas to Europe via Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin cast the attack as a major provocation. The White House said the United States - Ukraines biggest backer - had no prior knowledge of the attack and would seek more details from Kyiv.
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Several countries have issued safety warnings to their citizens in the UK due to ongoing anti-immigration protests and riots.

Nigeria, Malaysia, Kenya, Australia, Sweden, Indonesia, the UAE, India and Hong Kong have all sent out alerts, advising their nationals living in or visiting the UK to stay away from demonstrations.

Hong Kong has become the latest of nine countries to issue a warning to citizens travelling to the UK following days of violent riots.

The HK governments Security Bureau issued a warning saying: Since late July 2024, protests and riots occurred across the United Kingdom, resulting in violent clashes.

Hong Kong residents who intend to visit the country or are already there should monitor the situation, exercise caution, attend to personal safety, avoid large gatherings of people and pay attention to local announcements, the advice says.

Earlier, officials at the High Commission of India in London said they were closely monitoring the situation as they advised visitors from India to stay vigilant and exercise due caution while travelling in the UK.

Australia issued a similar warning and advised travellers to avoid areas where protests are occurring due to the potential for disruption and violence as it urged people to monitor the media for information and updates.

Far-right riots rocked cities across the UK last weekend ( PA Wire )

Follow our live coverage of riots across the UK.

A post on the Embassy of Sweden website on 6 August told Swedes in Great Britain: Since the beginning of August, riots have taken place in several British cities, motivated by xenophobia. It is strongly recommended to avoid large crowds.

The UAE embassy in the UK also urged citizens to exercise the highest level of caution and take the necessary precautions in light of the unstable security situation.

Elsewhere, Kenyas High Commission in London warned Kenyans residing in the UK on Twitter/X to stay away from the protest areas and remain vigilant.

A travel alert by Nigerias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, based in the capital Abuja, also stated that there is an increased risk of violence and disorder occasioned by the recent riots in the UK, noting that the violence has assumed dangerous proportions.

It went on: Demonstrations by far right and other extra-parliamentary groups in parts of the UK in recent weeks have been large, and in some instances unruly.

The High Commission of Malaysia in London posted a message online on Sunday which read: Malaysians residing in or travelling to the United Kingdom are urged to stay away from protest areas, remain vigilant and follow the latest updates and guidance provided by local authorities.

It also strongly encouraged people to register with it to receive timely information and assistance.

The Indonesian embassy in London also issued a warning, advising its citizens in the UK to avoid large crowds and increase their vigilance.

Violence has broken out in several towns and cities in England and Northern Ireland following the killing of three young girls at a dance class in Southport last week (29 July).

Almost 500 people have been arrested after far-right riots rocked Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Hull, Belfast, Stoke and other cities across the UK this week.

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast
Andrew Tate admitted that he was wrong about details of the Southport stabbing as he clashed with Piers Morgan in a new interview.

The controversial social media influencer has been citied in recent days by Nigel Farage after falsely claiming the suspect had arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in a small boat.

Axel Rudakubana, the teenager who has been charged in connection with the Southport attack, was born in Wales to Rwandan parents in 2006.

Perhaps I was wrong about the fact he was an illegal migrant, Mr Tate said when he was challenged on the claims during an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored.
An Australian man has been arrested for the alleged theft of more than AU$600,000 (309,000) worth of limited-edition Bluey-themed coins.

The 47-year-old is accused of stealing 63,000 unreleased commemorative A$1 coins from a warehouse in Wetherill park, Sydney, in June.

"Strike Force Bandit," a special unit police set up to investigate the theft, said the coins sell online for ten times their face value.

The coins are produced by the Australian mint, look like A$1 coins, and would be legal tender.

Police alleged the suspect stole the coins, which weighed over 1,000 lbs, from the back of a truck with the help of two male accomplices.
Sir Mark Rowley has responded after Sky News filmed him snatching a journalists microphone as was questioned over the polices response to riots across the UK.

The Metropolitan Police commissioner was asked by the reporter Are we going to leave the two-tier policing, sir? before he grabbed the equipment.

It was a trivial side line, Sir Mark said of the question from the journalist.

Nigel Farage has accused UK police of carrying out  two-tier policing in their response to far-right riots.

The term is often spread by far-right conspiracists and refers to how police handle different groups in society.

The baseless claim is that officers are more heavy-handed with people on the right than the left.
Hundreds of people chanted refugees are welcome here as counter-protesters gathered in Sheffield amid fears of a far-right demonstration on Wednesday evening (7 August).

Groups also gathered in other areas of the country including Walthamstow, east London, Bristol, Brighton and Liverpool.

The appearance of peaceful anti-racism demonstrators quashed fears of further violent disorder, despite the threat of more than 100 planned protests.

In Sheffield, around 500 protesters gathered on the streets, some holding signs with messages including say no to racism and refugees bring joy as others chanted.
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So much for Britain sliding into civil war, eh, Mr Musk? Pretty much a whole nation was braced yesterday evening for the worst civil disorder in a decade or more. Fair to say, too, that some were also hoping, for their own malign reasons, for chaos, mayhem, and even death.

The rumours were of 100 far-right protests and about 30 counterdemonstrations, the hard-pressed police sandwiched in between, and with the inevitable violence and heartache to follow, as before. We expected towns and cities trashed, and their reputations with it. Community relations destroyed, Muslims cowering in fear and baying mobs picking on anyone of colour for a beating. Mob rule.

But it did not turn out like that, or anything like it. In fact, it was a rout for the far right in the best possible way  a peaceful one where they were overwhelmed by folk who despise what they stand for, as much as their incoherent claims make any sense at all. The turnout of anti-fascist citizens, many people whod ordinarily go nowhere near a political demo and actually regard themselves as simply decent people who are appalled by Islamophobia and other racism, was really a historic moment.

Britain really is not what we saw over the last week, and the reasonable, tolerant, democratically-minded centre held. The rule of law was upheld. Muslim communities under siege and trying to defend their homes and mosques did not give the propagandists of the far right what they wanted. They abided by the requests of wise community leaders  dont give them TikToks, and other video clips out of context to be used for propaganda, that seek to prove a false equivalence between racist attackers and law-abiding people whose skin colour and faith happens to be different.

It was, if it is not too fanciful, one of the nations finest hours. It was a moment when England and Northern Ireland, the two parts of the kingdom most violently assaulted, instead joined trouble-free Scotland and Wales, and there the night was passed without serious harm to anyone.

The fascists were, frankly, humiliated, often a handful marooned in a windswept roundabout or in a corner of a High Street, protected by our brave coppers, surrounded by their fellow Britons demonstrating that we are many, you are few. Indeed they are, and a criminal few as well. The Metropolitan Police commissioner Mark Rowley says that 70 per cent of those arrested have criminal records.

In his words: They are not your average man on the street. They are thugs and criminals, they are not patriots or protesters and they are being held to account.

It was a bad night for the likes of Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk, as well as anybody else seeking to find proof that Britains multicultural society is about to disintegrate in interracial conflict. It didnt. We dont want conflict  we want to live in peace with our neighbours.

How did it happen? No doubt the severe penalties dished out for client disorder, arson and looting served as a deterrent for some. It was a weekday evening, which is not the rioters usual ideal time to cause havoc. But most of all it was because a vast sea of people sought to take back control of the streets, as the aerial footage from Walthamstow showed so graphically. The far right were crowded out by people who wanted to stop them causing trouble by occupying their meeting points. There was, literally, no room for racism.

The far right have emerged from these events weaker, not stronger, their cause exposed for the nihilism it is, and their leaders on the wrong side of public opinion and of history. We might even dare to hope that some of the demons unleashed in the 2016 Brexit referendum have been tamed, and some wounds now starting to heal.

At any rate, after what parts of the country have been through since the troubles began after evildoers tried to exploit the unbearable agony of those families in Southport, it was time to say: enough is enough.
A briefing from Eirgrid, which operates the electricity network in Ireland, warned of a possible mass exodus of data centres from the country if new connection agreements could not be signed off on.

The presentation said Eirgrid had been warning of pressures on power supply since as early as 2016 and had escalated the matter to the Minister for Transport in 2021 warning the country had a significant power generation deficit.

It said they had good working relationships with technology companies but were being continually asked about the likelihood of firm plans for new connection agreements.

Because of ongoing uncertainty, the briefing warned: The big concern is that some of the large data centres decide to exit Ireland and that, in turn, leads to a mass exodus (as has happened previously in other technology sectors).

[This would undermine] the governments desire to benefit from the next phase of technological development in the ICT sector in Ireland (AI etc.)

It said data was a critical 21st century enabler of business and living and that Ireland needed a credible transition plan  not a shutdown.

Eirgrid also said work needed to be done on deciding which projects were considered critical and whether there should be a hierarchy that gives priority to those developments.

Their presentation warned as well of the dangers of talk around insisting that data centres were zero carbon to help combat climate change.

Saying [data centres] must be zero carbon is equivalent to saying that Dublin Airport can grow passenger numbers if they use zero carbon aircraft, it said.

No such proposition exists today!

It said the best choice was to work with operators that were innovative and committed to low carbon and prepared to be flexible.

Eirgrid said they should look for data centre developers that understood the near term constraints on Irelands energy supplies but still wanted reasonable certainty to plan for future growth.

It recommended a future strategy take account of the importance of specific projects and allow developers to synchronise work with already planned additions to the national grid.

It said the state should also seek to remove the potential for speculation and recognise the reality of a transition period between low carbon and a zero-carbon grid.

The presentation was shared with the IDA in October last year amid ongoing controversy and discussions over the scale of data centre development in Ireland.

Asked about its contents, a spokesperson for Eirgrid said their responsibility was for a safe, secure and reliable supply of electricity now and in the future.

They said: We recognise that electricity supply is only one consideration in setting large energy user connection policy, which requires a holistic and plan-led approach taking account of all challenges and opportunities.

The spokesperson added: In regards to future connections, while EirGrid participates in calls to support policy development, the connection of large energy users to the transmission system is currently aligned and will in future continue to align with relevant direction from the CRU [Commission for Regulation of Utilities]. EirGrid acts as directed in this area.
Irish-headquartered global travel business Hostelworld has reported a 9pc increase in net bookings to 3.7 million, versus a year ago, led by demand for destinations in Asia and Central America.

The company reported net revenue for the first half of 2024 of 46.4m. That was up just 1pc year on year and the net average booking value is down, reflecting the shift to lower-price destinations. However operating profit reached 4m compared with a loss of 1.7m in the first half of 2023 and net margin growth was up 23pc.

The adjusted earnings (Ebitda) in the first half of the year were 9.6m compared with 5.1m in the same period a year earlier.

A relatively new social strategy that allows travellers to communicate with each other in destination using the Hostelworld app, continues to deliver, the company said and the app is helping significantly cut marketing costs.

Sixty two per cent of Hostelworld travel customers are solo travellers for whom meeting fellow travellers is an important aspect of their experience.

The company has also launched a staircase to sustainability, which it says can deliver ongoing sustainability improvements in the hostel industry, a consideration for the mostly younger and relatively more environmentally conscious core of the customer base. Hostel beds generate 80pc less carbon than a hotel stay, the company calculates.

Hostelworlds biggest markets for customers are the UK, Europe and North America but the company said regional demand from within Asia is now also growing.

CEO Gary Morrison said Hostelworlds customer base is relatively insulated from the kind of cost-of-living squeeze affecting family groups and older cohorts.

I am very pleased to report strong growth in net bookings (+9pc year-on-year) and even stronger growth in net margins (+23pc), primarily driven by our highly differentiated social strategy. This performance, coupled with operating cost discipline, has translated directly into strong operating cashflow enabling us to fully repay our residual debt facility with AIB, two years ahead of schedule, he said.

The business, he said, had made good progress during the first half of the year on all aspects of its growth strategy.

"We have continued to provide our customers with enhanced social network product features, added more hostel inventory to our platform, and have continued to upgrade our platform towards a fully cloud-native architecture. In respect of delivering on our key sustainability strategic goals, we launched our staircase to sustainability platform to deliver ongoing sustainability improvements in the hostel industry.

In May, Hostelworld announced that it would be able to pay the remaining 7.5m balance of the AIB term loan by the end of the first half of 2024, two years ahead of schedule.

CFO Caroline Sherry said the business had delivered robust momentum in operating cash performance, with cash generation of 12.4m in the first half of the year from 10.8m in the same period of 2023 allowing the business to invest for growth.

In addition to the AIB repayment, Hostelworld said it has commenced repayment of warehoused payroll taxes to the Irish Revenue Commissioners.

Net debt has been reduced from 12.3m at the end of 2023 to 2.6m by the end of June 2024.
A couple who built their family home without planning permission have lost their latest bid to keep the house

A couple who built their family home without planning permission have lost their latest bid to keep the house after An Bord Pleanala refused to allow them to retain the property over fears it would establish an undesirable precedent for further development of this kind.

Rose and Chris Murray have been battling before the courts for nearly two decades to stop their house in Faughan Hill, Bohermeen, Co Meath being demolished. Last year, the couple proposed to reduce the size of the 588 sq m property by around one-third and applied to Meath County Council for retention permission. However, this was refused.

The decision was appealed to the planning authority on a number of grounds including that the demolition of the house would give rise to environmental impacts. In 2006, the Murrays applied for permission for a dormer bungalow on the site.

Two other planning applications they made in different parts of Meath had been refused prior to this. They claim they consulted with a planning official and a senior councillor to see if they would be likely to get planning at Faughan Hill before they bought the land. After being told there would be no problem, they bought the site and applied for permission.

However, the council subsequently refused on three grounds. The Murrays responded by building a house twice the size.
Minister also plans improved services for special schools

Education Minister Norma Foley is expected to prioritise services for children accessing special education during Budget negotiations.

With less than eight weeks until Budget 2025 is published, it is understood Ms Foley will also push for the expansion of the free schoolbooks scheme for senior cycle students.

Currently, the programme is available to children in primary school and special schools.

It will be rolled out to junior cycle pupils from next month, which was part of last years Budget announcement.

The provision of free schoolbooks for children in first, second and third year of secondary school will cost in the region of 65m and will benefit over 200,000 pupils.

It is understood that Ms Foley is keen to see the scheme expanded to include pupils in senior cycle years.

It is also expected that she will place an emphasis on the growth of special education, with a particular focus on special schools, places in mainstream schools and the provision of special classes.

There are 3,000 special education classes in the system, with about 2,000 of those coming on stream in the last four years.

However, a shortage of places in special schools has left parents under pressure to find an appropriate school place for children with additional needs.

In May, an investigation by the Irish Independent found that some special schools are experiencing greater demand for places than they had in previous years.

In response to the investigation, the Childrens Ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon said parents of children with additional needs were experiencing an unacceptable level of stress when trying to access education.

There are about 130 special schools in Ireland, with 11 opening since 2019.

Some children in under-serviced areas need to travel significant distances to access special education.

Two counties have no special schools  Leitrim and Monaghan. Children based in Monaghan must travel to a school in Cootehill, Co Cavan.

A source said it was Ms Foleys absolute ambition to ensure children will not be forced to travel far to secure a school place. It is intended that this objective will be realised in the shortest timeframe possible, the source added. However, they said there is an acceptance that it will not be achieved overnight.

It also understood that Ms Foley wants all schools be in a position to offer the school provision programme.

The scheme, which is a voluntary programme, offers educational support during the summer to children with special educational needs, as well as those most at risk of educational disadvantage.

There has been a big increase in the number of schools participating in the programme since it was launched. When first introduced in 2019, 13,000 children took part in the scheme. This has increased significantly, with more than 50,000 children taking part last year.
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The number of foreign tourists in Spain jumped 13pc in the first-half of 2024, putting the country on track for another record year for visitor numbers despite growing discontent over the impact of the holiday industry in some tourist hotspots.

For the six months to the end of June, 42.5 million international visitors arrived in Spain, with the month of June alone recording a 12pc rise to nine million as the busier summer period picks up, Spain's data agency INE reported last Friday.

That means 2024 is shaping up to be another record year for Spain, already the world's second most visited country behind France, making it likely it will beat last year's high of 85 million tourists, when numbers exceeded pre-pandemic levels.

But for some Spaniards in the most popular destinations including Mallorca, Barcelona and the Canary Islands, there is increasing unease about the influx of tourists and their impact on housing costs and locals have staged protests.

Earlier in July, a small group of anti-tourism campaigners in Barcelona squirted water pistols at foreign visitors, chanting "tourists go home", a demonstration that created headlines around the world.

Data showed that tourists spent 12.3 billion euros in Spain in June, 17pc more than the same month last year, helping drive economic growth, but highlighting the challenge for a government trying to find the right balance between tourism and local interests.

A lack of affordable housing in Spain has been partly blamed on a boom in holiday lets on platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com.

According to the data released last Friday, tourists are increasingly opting to stay in rented apartments. The number of visitors in the first-half of the year staying in that type of accommodation was up 30pc, while those staying in hotels was up 11pc.
Firefighters battle a blaze at an Asian shop following rioting in south Belfast last weekend. Photo: Photopress

If we arrive at a point where the prefix anti is added to social media, organisations running the platforms will have no one to blame but themselves.

There have been arguments about whether it creates hostility or merely reveals it. What is clear is that without responsible management, social media amplifies hostility to such an extent that it is having a chilling effect on democracy.

Taoiseach Simon Harriss criticisms of those who make threats online, and of platforms that allow such sinister posts, will be endorsed by most.

Once again, Mr Harris has had to endure frightening threats to his wife and children. This is indefensible and abhorrent. Any threat to the Taoiseach has to be seen as a threat to the State.

Platforms that shield such vile behaviour are culpable and ought to be held accountable, just like the perpetrators.

Mr Harris rightly insists there can be no hiding place for anyone seeking to threaten, attack or harm people or to incite others to do so.

It has been said that the best and worst thing about social media is that it gives everyone a voice.

But that voice cannot have impunity from doing harm by stirring up hatred or promoting violence.

We have seen too many dire examples of hate and misinformation being spread on social media. Similarly, the online platforms facilitating it are not taking responsibility for the consequences.

It is time, once and for all, to call out this huge problem for what it is. When a threat is made against anyone, the platform has an obligation to remove it immediately.

If it does not, it should be prosecuted for abetting would-be perpetrators.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin has criticised irresponsible platforms. He noted how mindless, ill-informed stuff published on social media was linked to the appalling recent violence in England and Northern Ireland.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said it is absolutely imperative that the companies take threats to anyone seriously.

She is correct in her assertion, but the Government must not shirk its duty to make sure this happens.

Ms McEntee noted Ireland is one of a few countries with an online safety commissioner. The commissioners job is to police illegal content and, where necessary, force firms to take their responsibilities seriously.

We need to see frequent offenders hit with severe penalties. Ms McEntee signalled that the era of self-regulation is over. It is time to see proof of this.

One of the fathers of the internet, Tim Berners-Lee, rightly argued that connectivity is a basic right. If it is weaponised continually for abusive and toxic purposes, it becomes a basic wrong.

We are beyond the time for warnings. Too many have been heard and they do not appear to work.

The question remains: What threshold must be crossed before platforms take their duties of care seriously?
Belfast was no stranger to riots in the past, but now a new type of violence has come to the city.

Weve seen anti-immigration sentiment boil over in Dublin and parts of the UK in recent times  and now it seems the stabbing of three children in Southport, near Liverpool, has been used as an excuse to destabilise Northern Ireland.

With disinformation being widely spread online about that attack, far-right mobilised mobs right across Belfast where they attacked immigrant and Muslim communities with devastating consequences.

But what has shocked many people in the Republic was the sight of Coolock Says No protestors crossing the border to stand side by side by side with Union Jack-waving loyalists, some of whom have strong paramilitary connections.

Today on the Indo Daily Kevin Doyle is joined by Allison Morris, crime correspondent with the Belfast Telegraph, to explain how Tricolours and Union Jacks were brought together in the name of hate.
The decision was described as akin to robbing Peter to pay Paul by healthcare campaigner Mike Daly

Several appointments in Midwest facilities are being deferred due to overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), the UL Hospitals Group has announced.

Today, August 8, the UL Hospitals Group explained that elective inpatient and day surgery, endoscopy and outpatient appointments are being deferred until further notice at UHL, Ennis Hospital, Nenagh Hospital, St Johns Hospital and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital.

The decision was taken as the high demand for emergency care at UHL at present is adversely affecting wait times and patient experience, and it is part of a number of measures agreed at a meeting of the executive management team this Wednesday, attended by the Regional Executive Officer, Ms Sandra Broderick, to de-escalate the UHL site, reduce wait times and improve patient flow.

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This morning, August 8, a total of 120 patients were waiting for a bed in UHL according to Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), following a total of 127 patients reported by INMO yesterday morning and 103 on Monday.

The Emergency Department at UHL remains open 24-7 for emergency cases and emergency and trauma surgery is continuing. Injury units and medical assessment units at Ennis, Nenagh, and St Johns hospitals are all operating as normal. Also, services at the University Maternity Hospital Limerick continue as normal and patients there are advised to attend for their appointments.

All affected patients are being contacted directly by hospital staff and the UL Hospitals Group ensured that these appointments will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

They said: We regret the impact this decision will have on patients waiting for surgery, appointments and investigations.

In line with our escalation plan, we are currently prioritising care for our sickest patients and we sincerely regret the significant reduction in services across our hospitals.

Sandra Broderick, Regional Executive Officer, HSE Mid-West, said: We understand that this is very difficult for patients who have in some cases already faced long waits for their appointments. Our staff will be working over the coming days and weeks to ensure affected patients are rescheduled as soon as possible.

The decision has resulted in anger in the community as healthcare activist Mike Daly described the decision as irresponsible and akin to robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Mike Daly said: If surgical procedures or clinics are being cancelled at Ennis Hospital today, with patients receiving last-minute phone calls just three hours before their appointments, all to redirect doctors to assist at University Hospital Limerick's A&E, then this is a disgraceful failure of management at UHL. It also reflects poorly on the team that Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly recently brought in to address issues in the A&E department.

This approach is akin to "robbing Peter to pay Paul", a misguided attempt to ease congestion at A&E by sacrificing essential services elsewhere. Cancelling numerous appointments and clinics not only disrupts care but also risks allowing serious health conditions to worsen, which is a dangerously irresponsible practice. The consequences for those whose appointments have been abruptly cancelled could be dire.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said the decision will have severe knock-on consequences for patient health outcomes and expressed concern about the busier winter months.

The IHCA also said it effectively amounts to a dereliction of hospitals across the Mid-West and those who depend upon them.

Vice president of the IHCA Colin Peirce said it illustrates a complete lack of creativity and collaboration on the part of HSE leadership.

We have all known for years that Limerick has problems.

We also know that fixing them requires a blend of immediate and medium-term decisions.

It is clearly a challenge, but instead of meeting it creatively, HSE leadership is essentially giving up.

Its unbelievable, unnecessary, and an abandonment of the local population.

No hospital consultant wants to tell a patient waiting for essential surgery that their critical treatment has been cancelled and, worse still, that they do not know when it will be rescheduled.

Alongside hampering diagnosis, treatment and delivery of care, this will have a severe impact on already excessive waiting lists.

The number of people on waiting lists is expected to reach further unacceptable levels when the NTPF data is published tomorrow, Friday August 9.

We cannot allow scheduled care to be seen as an optional extra in the delivery of healthcare.

Responding to a lack of resourcing and capacity by simply cancelling life-enhancing surgery is completely unacceptable and poorly thought-out.

These cancellations will have a direct negative impact on patients health.

Those who have their essential surgery cancelled have poorer physical health, increased functional impairments, and worse psychological functioning than those who do not experience such postponements.

Therefore, this decision cannot be presented as a solution for the people of the Mid-West, as it creates more problems than it solves.

We urge the HSE to reinstate these procedures, and to come to the table with long-term and sustainable solutions that the people of the Mid-West deserve.

There has been a focus on conditions at UHL since the death of 16-year-old Aoife Johnston at the hospital in 2022, who waited 12 hours to be assessed for suspected sepsis.

An initial report found that overcrowding in the hospitals emergency department was endemic and doctor and nurse staffing levels are insufficient.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that although reforms were not fully in place yet, those implemented to date had begun to bring the number of patients waiting on trolleys down.

The HSE and the University of Limerick Hospitals Group have been contacted for comment.
The funding will create and support much needed community infrastructure at a local level, according to the Lord Mayor of Cork

Grant applications for the second tranche of the Community Recognition Fund from Cork city community groups will be accepted by the local authority until August 18.

The 2024 fund, launched by Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys TD and Minister Joe OBrien TD in March, is worth 50 million.

It follows the introduction of a 100 Million fund in 2023 via the Department of Rural and Community Development, to recognise the huge efforts made by communities nationally in welcoming and supporting new arrivals coming into Ireland.

Cork City Council said it will distribute its 2024 fund allocation in a way that enables the development of a variety of community-led projects that will deliver long-term benefits to their areas.

Examples of previously funded projects include the provision and improvement of sports facilities, playground equipment and lighting schemes.

Lord Mayor of Cork, councillor Dan Boyle, said the funding will create and support much needed community infrastructure at a local level that can be accessed by all.

It recognises the input of communities in creating shared spaces, warm welcomes, understanding and empathy for those forced to flee their homelands and seek shelter. I am proud to say that Cork is certainly a City of Welcomes, Lord Mayor Boyle said.

Eligible submissions will be accepted online via https://www.corkcity.ie/en/council-services/services/community/community-recognition-fund/

The deadline for submission is Sunday, August 18 at 11.55pm.
Our beauty expert shares the products that will revitalise dry skin before your holiday

A time I dread every year has come  the time when I realise that I have once again neglected the skin on my body and its too late to turn it into the gleaming skin of a supermodel for my holidays.

Im not sure why I find it so hard to commit to a moisturising routine, but I absolutely do, so when it comes time to bare my legs, I am filled with regret.

These days, though, Im doing my best to swap regret for acceptance, and instead of punishing myself for not being better at life, Im trying to figure out ways to work around my failings.

Thus, one week ahead of my trip to Spain, Im using my emergency moisture routine every single day in the hope that, when Im poolside, no child will point to me while asking their mother, Whos that dried-out old husk?

LOccitanes Almond Shower Oil

The emergency moisture routine starts in the shower with an oil. I find shower oils to be an efficient and effective way to soften my skin quickly, and there are lots on the market that work well. My all-time favourite is 1. LOccitanes Almond Shower Oil (40 via millies.ie), which youll know if you read this column regularly, but a great (less expensive) alternative is 2. Sanctuary Spas Golden Sandalwood Three-Phase Shower Oil (11.99 via boots.ie).

Sanctuary Spas Golden Sandalwood Three-Phase Shower Oil

After the shower, I use a rich body butter like 3. Soap and Glorys The Righteous Butter (8.99 for 200ml via boots.ie), which is reasonably priced, smells delicious and, most importantly, works.

Soap and Glorys The Righteous Butter

A tub of body butter wont last long if youre applying it liberally so I dont think its worth spending a lot on them, however, if you fancy splashing out, 4. Sol de Janeiros Bum Bum Cream is popular for a reason (21 for 75ml via brownthomas.com). It softens and nourishes the skin effectively, and smells delightful. It wont, however, give you a new bum, lest there is any confusion.

Sol de Janeiros Bum Bum Cream

Next, I apply a layer of body oil all over my body. Often, I use this on its own on damp skin, but this is an emergency, remember? While the oil will soften the skin on its own, when applied over a cream product, it will seal the product in, ensuring that all that beautiful moisture goes into your skin.

If you apply the oil first, the moisturiser is unlikely to permeate the skin at all. (This also applies to your face, and is why a facial oil should be the last product you apply if youre using one as part of your night-time skincare routine.)

Space NKs Caribbean Shores Body Oil

Space NKs Caribbean Shores Body Oil (18 via spacenk.com) is a favourite of mine thanks to its beautiful scent. Mandarin, coconut and jasmine come together with sandalwood and caramel to create a fragrance which reminds me of holidays. Not just holidays, but expensive holidays. Holidays more expensive than any Im likely to ever experience.

Bio-Oil

5. Bio-Oil Skincare Oil (24.95 via mcgorisks.ie) is another excellent option. You probably know it as an effective product for reducing the appearance of stretch marks and scars, but it is also a great all-around nourishing body oil.

If possible, I do the emergency routine twice a day in the run-up to holidays (or an event when my skin is on display), but even a couple of applications should deliver an improvement. Husks begone!

Buying Irish

Sculptetd by Aimee's Liquid Lights

Sculpted by Aimee continues to go from strength to strength with its latest launch of a repackaged and expanded range of Liquid Lights. This range is full of liquid shades to highlight, bronze or flush the face. If you like to glow but dont want chunks of actual glitter on your face, youll love these as they add a natural-looking sheen to the face. Fair-skinned lovelies will love Opal Glow, which adds a beautiful, lightly pigmented sheen, while those with deeper-toned skin will enjoy Deep Bronze, which doesnt sparkle but bronzes beautifully. Liquid Lights are available individually for 21 or in a combination of three (a blusher, bronzer and highlighter) for 53.55 via sculptedbyaimee.com.

Something old...

Hourglass Cosmetics Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm

For a while there, a glossy lip was a big beauty no-no. We were all suddenly and totally committed to matte lips no matter how crusty or uncomfortable they felt. Then, a few years ago, that changed. Since then, theres been a flood of super-comfortable, glossy lipsticks into the market. The first one, which blew people away with its innovation, is Hourglass Cosmetics Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm (40 via arnotts.ie). Available in 16 shades, it hydrates your lips like a balm but delivers the pigment of a lipstick and the shine of a gloss. Hourglass is a brand committed to developing vegan and cruelty-free products without compromising on luxury. Every Hourglass product is beautifully packaged, but aside from that, they are truly innovative, and the brand has changed the cosmetics game repeatedly throughout its 20-year existence.

... Something new

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shine Gloss Stick

There arent many celebrity make-up brands I love, but Rihannas Fenty Beauty is one of them. While it doesnt release new products every five minutes, the range has grown significantly since its launch in 2017, and the products frequently deliver. One of its latest launches is Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shine Gloss Stick (27 via boots.ie). This is a glossy lipstick formula which delivers medium pigment but doesnt compromise on comfort. Its ingredients include nourishing vitamin E and shea butter along with squalane, which protects and hydrates. Its not bringing anything new, in my opinion, but the shade range is excellent. As weve come to expect from Fenty, there are colours which will flatter all skin tones, from a deep berry to a light pink.
Blake Lively has said It Ends With Us is an important film to be made (Ian West/PA)

Blake Lively has said It Ends With Us is an important film to be made as it shows the entire spectrum of the female experience.

The former Gossip Girl star, 36, told the PA news agency on the red carpet in London at the movies UK premiere that she was not often given the opportunity to play a messy woman.

She told PA: I feel like this is a film thats important to be made, because as an actor I am not often given the opportunity to tell the story of a woman that really experiences the entire spectrum of the female experience, or human experience.

When you experience pain, or trauma, or darkness, or sadness, thats your character, or if youre light, and levity, and love, and hope, and joy, then thats your character.

You dont often see a woman that gets to be so multifaceted, because you dont often see messy women in film.

And so to be able to be a woman whos contradicting herself, but yet it makes complete sense.

Seeing the messiness of the human experience I think is a beautiful thing to see, because it makes people feel seen and not alone. I know thats how I felt when I read Lily (Livelys character).

Lively wore a glittering floral dress at the premiere at the Odeon Luxe cinema in Leicester Square.

She was joined by co-star Isabela Ferrer, who plays Livelys character in her younger years.

When asked about what it was like to mirror Livelys performance, Ferrer, 24, told PA: We only spoke twice before I started filming, we had very brief conversations, but it was kindred very quickly.

We were both like, OK you have this idea, I have this idea, great.

Blake Lively and Isabela Ferrer at the UK premiere of It Ends With Us (Ian West/PA)

It was kind of like an immediate chemistry between us, that we knew we could carry this role seamlessly.

The film is based on the hit novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover.

The book, which has been a phenomenon on TikTok, tells the story of Lily Bloom (Lively and Ferrer) as she falls in love with Ryle Kincaid (played by Justin Baldoni) before reconnecting with her first love Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar).

Earlier this week, Lively arrived at the New York premiere wearing a dress previously worn by Britney Spears.

She appeared on the red carpet in the vintage Versace butterfly dress adorned with sequin flowers that Spears first wore in 2002.

Lively told US magazine People: It is Britneys actual dress.

It should be in the Smithsonian or the Met. But its on me. I feel so lucky!

It Ends With Us is released in UK cinemas on August 9.
How Skims reshaped the fashion industry: Has Kim Kardashian snatched Anna Wintours crown with her viral shapewear campaigns?

Embracing zeitgeisty models like Nicola Coughlan, Kim Kardashians brand has outpaced fusty Vogue to become the cultural archive of the moment  and put positive shapewear at the centre of the fashion industry

"If youre doing a Skims campaign, you are going to get exposure to probably the largest amount of eyeballs you can imagine, versus any other brand." Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan models for Kim Kardashian's shapewear brand Skims

Meadhbh McGrath Thu 8 Aug 2024 at 03:30

Posing before a backdrop of oversized blooms, her blonde waves falling around her, a luminous Nicola Coughlan models a series of body-hugging slip dresses in soft pastels.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who was recommended by Bangladeshi student leaders as the head of the interim government in Bangladesh, at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport in France yesterday. Photo: Reuters

Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus will be the new leader of Bangladeshs interim government after the dramatic exit of long-time prime minister Sheikh Hasina following a popular uprising.

Mr Yunus, who is an 84-year-old acclaimed economist and one of the most prominent political rivals of Ms Hasina, has been announced as the chief adviser of the interim government by president Mohammed Shahabuddins press secretary.
BREAKING | British zoologist Adam Britton jailed for 10 years in Australia after sexually abusing dogs

Warning: Some readers may find the below story distressing

Arpan Rai and Maroosha Muzaffar UK Independent Thu 8 Aug 2024 at 09:47







British zoologist Adam Britton has been sentenced to 10 years and five months in prison after he admitted to sexually abusing dozens of dogs in Australia.
Members of the public blow bubbles into the air among floral tributes left outside the Town Hall in Southport (Ryan Jenkinson/PA)

The final child injured in the Southport stabbings has been discharged from hospital as her family said they were deeply saddened by the disorder that has broken out since the attack.
splaced Palestinian woman sits in a tent damaged in an Israeli strike, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, August 7, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed

sraeli forces on Wednesday issued new evacuation orders to Palestinians in areas of north Gaza that were among the first to be hit at the start of the war with Hamas in October, after militants fired a fresh volley of rockets into Israel.
President Joe Biden is at his wits end. The Israeli military is exasperated. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis who regularly take to the streets suspect their leader of trying to prolong the war. And then there are the international organisations, European powers, hostage families and members of the US Congress. If nothing else, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has brought together an impressive list of adversaries who, even if they are sympathetic to Israels national security needs, are convinced that Netanyahu is, in Bidens words, bullshitting them about ceasefire negotiations.
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz kick off campaign tour and bring back the joy to Democrats

But Donald Trump says her running mate is a shocking pick and very liberal

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz speak at a rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Photo: AP

Patrick Svitek and Taylor Lorenz Washington Post Thu 8 Aug 2024 at 03:30







Moments after taking the stage for their first rally together, Minnesota governor Tim Walz thanked US vice-president Kamala Harris for putting her trust in him as her new running mate.
Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community!

Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region.
Kolkata: MP Birla Group's flagship company on Thursday said its June quarter profitability dropped due to unusually weak cement prices and sluggishness in demand, coupled with an unprecedented downturn in the jute industry.

In the face of contracting demand, the companys sales by volume fell less than 1%, thanks to improved capacity utilization at its Mukutban unit.

Alongside, its Jute Division suffered a setback in the June quarter as the Government scaled back orders for jute bags and export of shopping bags was hobbled by logistical constraints.

Consolidated revenue for the June quarter at Rs 2,207 crore was down 9%, while EBITDA at Rs 275 crore was 12% lower than last year.

Cement sales by volume during the quarter were at 4.38 million tons (mt) compared with 4.41 mt in the same period last year.

This translates into a capacity utilization of 91%, which is well ahead of rating agency ICRAs estimated full-year average capacity utilization of 71%.

Cement sales during the quarter were impacted by the general elections and extreme weather conditions in some of the companys key markets.

Still, the company ramped up sales of its premium products, the share of which was 59% of total sales by volume through the trade channel.

Premium product sales at 1.85 mt during the June quarter represent a 2% growth year-on-year.

Sales by volume of Perfect Plus, the Companys flagship brand, grew 8% over the same period last year.

Realization per ton for the June quarter at Rs 4,820 was 7% lower than last year, and resulted in EBITDA per ton falling 9% to Rs 603. It is estimated that overall cement prices in the June quarter were down 3-5% from the end of March as manufacturers pushed for market share despite tepid demand.

Cement prices fell sharply in Northern, Central and Eastern India. Even in Western India, prices were under pressure.

Demand remains subdued even in the current quarter, whereas supply-side expansion is expected in the central and eastern Indian markets due to commissioning of new units.

As a result, cement prices are expected to remain under pressure until the third quarter of the current fiscal year.

Amid unfavourable market conditions, Birla Corporation Limited benefited from further decline in power and fuel costs, which fell 20% year-on-year and 8% sequentially.

Alongside optimizing fuel mix, the Company increased the share of renewables in total power consumption to 27% versus 23% in the same period last year and 25% in the March quarter.

The company also reduced its raw material costs for the Cement Division by 4% from last year.

The Mukutban unit of the companys subsidiary, RCCPL Private Limited, continued to consolidate sales in its core markets and extend its footprint into secondary markets.

The company continued to optimize the variable cost of production at Mukutban, which has been making positive contributions to EBITDA since the past three quarters.

Faced with challenging market conditions, the company focused on optimizing costs and has had significant success in reducing variable cost in cement production across all units.

The companys net debt at the end of June was Rs 3,152 crore. The Company reduced its interest cost for the June quarter to 7.90%, down 12 basis points from a year earlier.

Birla Jute Mills, or the jute division of the company, registered a cash loss of Rs 3.9 crore in the June quarter against a cash profit of Rs 6.4 crore last year.

The jute goods industry is faced with multiple challenges, which forced major mills to scale back production. Government orders have fallen sharply, leading to an inventory pile-up. Most mills are currently running at partial capacity.



Besides reduction in government orders, several cottage-size mills have sprung up in jute-growing areas. These have a substantial cost advantage over organized sector mills and they are fast eating into Government orders.

The companys jute division has, since the past few years, been trying to raise the share of exports of value-added fabric and jute goods in total sales.

Despite improving production of value-added products, revenue from export of shopping bags dropped 26% from last year to Rs 11.9 crore owing to non-availability of containers and increase in freight.
Photo courtesy: Wikipedia

Kolkata/IBNS: Former West Bengal Chief Minister and Marxist icon Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who was suffering from prolonged illness, passed away at the age of 80 on Thursday.

Bhattacharjee reportedly passed away at his South Kolkata residence at 8:20 am. He is survived by his wife Meera Bhattacharjee and son Suchetan.

"Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's mortal remains will be preserved on Thursday and will be kept at Alimuddin (party headquarters) from 10:30 am on Friday for common people to pay their last respect.

"His last journey will begin from Alimuddin at 4 pm," said CPI-M state secretary Md. Salim.

His body has been taken to Peace World mortuary on Thursday as his tearful wife Meera Bhattacharjee and son Suchetan accompanied the hearse. His mortal remains will be donated for research to NRS Medical College and Hospital.

The former Chief Minister, who was suffering from pancreas related health issues, was admitted to hospital in July 2023 with lower respiratory tract infection and Type II respiratory failure.

The CPI-M stalwart remained the Chief Minister from 2000 to 2011.

The West Bengal government declared a holiday on Thursday in his honour while declaring a ceremonial honour tomorrow.

ALSO READ: Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: A 'capitalist communist', poet and face of Bengal's fractured industrialisation

His political journey

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was known for his unconventional stance towards the policies, economy in contrast to the Left's ideas.

Under his tenure, Bhattacharjee was proactive in attracting investments besides maintaining the agricultural base of West Bengal, which lacked industries for decades of Left rule marred by militant trade unionism.

However, his bid to attract investments was met with stiff resistance from local people and then opposition parties after Tata went to build a car factory in Singur.

Singur witnessed protests which were led by then opposition leader and now Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress.

Besides Singur, Bhattacharjee's aim to build a chemical hub in Nandigram too faced hurdles in 2007. After police firing killed 14 protesters, the CPI-M government came under massive criticism from all corners.

The under-fire Bhattacharjee government eventually collapsed in the 2011 assembly elections with the 34-year Left rule being brought to an end by Mamata Banerjee's TMC.

Mournings

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, "Saddened by the passing of Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, former CM of West Bengal. He was a political stalwart who served the state with commitment. My heartfelt condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti."

Saddened by the passing of Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, former CM of West Bengal. He was a political stalwart who served the state with commitment. My heartfelt condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2024

Mourning his demise, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee posted on X, "Shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of the former Chief Minister Sri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. I have been knowing him for last several decades, and visited him a few times when he was ill and effectively confined to home in the last few years.

"My very sincere condolences to Meeradi and Suchetan at this hour of grief. I communicate my condolences to the members of the CPI(M) party and all his followers. We have already taken a decision that we shall give him full respect and ceremonial honour during his last journey and rites."

Shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of the former Chief Minister Sri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. I have been knowing him for last several decades, and visited him a few times when he was ill and effectively confined to home in the last few years.



My very sincere condolences  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 8, 2024

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari posted on X, "I am deeply saddened to learn that former West Bengal Chief Minister; Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has left for his heavenly abode.

"Condolences to his family members and admirers. I pray that his soul finds eternal peace. Om Shanti."
Photo Courtesy: PIB

New Delhi/IBNS: The opposition walked out of Parliament's upper house Rajya Sabha after their demand for a discussion on the dramatic disqualification of Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat from Paris Olympics was turned down by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, media reports said.

Congress president and party's floor leader Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue and said he wanted to know who was behind the disqualification of the 29-year-old, who was a part of the wrestlers' protest against then Indian Wrestling Federation president and erstwhile Bharatiya Janata Party MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh last year.

Singh was accused of sexual harassment by several female wrestlers.

Kharge was followed by Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien stood up and raised the issue. But he was also not allowed by Dhankhar.

Following an uproar, the Opposition walked out of the House.

Vinesh, who was competing in the 50 kg freestyle wrestling category, was disqualified on Wednesday for crossing the weight limit by 100 gm.

Though she normally competes in the 53 kg category, Vinesh brought down her weight to 50 kg for the Olympics.

As per reports, Vinesh skipped meals, trained hard and spent sleepless nights to fit in the criteria.

The efforts went in vain after the Olympic Committee refused to give more time to Vinesh despite requests from the Indian officials.

She was disqualified on the second day of weigh-in.

India on Tuesday basked in joy after Vinesh defeated Yusneylis Guzman Lopez of Cuba by 5-0 to enter the Olympics 2024 women's wrestling 50kg final.

She stunned world no. 1 and defending champion Yui Susaki of Japan in the Round of 16, before edging out Ukraine's Oksana Livach in the quarterfinals.

Vinesh was set to take on Cuba's Yusneylys Guzman Lopez for a place in the final.
Photo courtesy: Wikipedia/Narendra Modi Facebook

New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the demise of former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who passed away at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness on Thursday.

The Prime Minister posted on X, "Saddened by the passing of Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, former CM of West Bengal. He was a political stalwart who served the state with commitment. My heartfelt condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti."

Saddened by the passing of Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, former CM of West Bengal. He was a political stalwart who served the state with commitment. My heartfelt condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2024

Bhattacharjee reportedly passed away at his South Kolkata residence at 8:20 am. He is survived by his wife Meera Bhattacharjee and son Suchetan.

The former Chief Minister, who was suffering from pancreas related health issues, was admitted to hospital in July 2023 with lower respiratory tract infection and Type II respiratory failure.

The CPI-M stalwart remained the Chief Minister from 2000 to 2011.

Brief about his political journey

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was known for his unconventional stance towards the policies, economy in contrast to the Left's ideas.

Under his tenure, Bhattacharjee was proactive in attracting investments besides maintaining the agricultural base of West Bengal, which lacked industries for decades of Left rule marred by militant trade unionism.

However, his bid to attract investments was met with stiff resistance from local people and then opposition parties after Tata went to build a car factory in Singur.

Singur witnessed protests which were led by then opposition leader and now Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress.

Besides Singur, Bhattacharjee's aim to build a chemical hub in Nandigram too faced hurdles in 2007. After police firing killed 14 protesters, the CPI-M government came under massive criticism from all corners.

The under-fire Bhattacharjee government eventually collapsed in the 2011 assembly elections with the 34-year Left rule being brought to an end by Mamata Banerjee's TMC.
Photo courtesy: Avishek Mitra/IBNS/ PID Bangladesh/David Lammy X page

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has discussed recent events in Bangladesh with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, following the collapse of Sheikh Hasina's government due to violent protests, according to the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday.

This discussion comes amid the rumours that Hasina, who is currently in India, may be seeking political asylum in the UK.

"The External Affairs Minister had a conversation with the Foreign Secretary David Lammy just a few hours back. The two leaders spoke about the developments in Bangladesh and West Asia," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing.

So far, neither the Indian nor the UK government has commented on Sheikh Hasina's future intentions.

UK Home Office sources informed news agency PTI that the country's immigration laws do not explicitly permit individuals to enter the UK for the purpose of seeking asylum.

Earlier this week, in Parliament, Jaishankar clarified that Hasina had requested approval to visit India only "for the moment."

Hasina is reportedly planning to travel to London, where her sister Sheikh Rehana's daughter, Tulip Siddiq, is a member of the British Parliament.

Chaos unfolded in Bangladesh after a contentious quota system for government jobs sparked intense street protests and violence. Over 550 people were killed and hundreds injured in the agitation that turned violent.

Following the collapse of Hasina's government, there have been reports of widespread looting and rioting across the country.

Attacks on Hindus, their houses, businesses establishments and temples, have been a concern for India.

Speaking on the issue, the MEA spokesperson said a string of steps have been taken by groups and organisations in Bangladesh to make sure the minorities in the country are safe.

"We are also monitoring the situation regarding the status of the minorities. We also want to make it clear that it is the responsibility of every government to ensure the well-being of all its citizens. We hope for an early restoration of law and order in Bangladesh. This is both in the interest of the country and for the larger region as a whole," Jaiswal said.

The MEA has said as many as 10,000 Indians are currently present in Bangladesh and many of them have approached the Indian High Commission to return to India.

"The High Commission in Dhaka and other assistant high commissions are assisting them to return to India. Several of them have reached out," Jaiswal said.

Apart from Dhaka, India also has consulates in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Sylhet.

A Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official stated that they are in touch with Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety of their missions and diplomats.
Photo courtesy: Yash X handle

Kannada film superstar Yash on Thursday kickstarted shooting for Geetu Mohandas' upcoming film, Toxic.

Yash posted a picture on X saying, "The journey begins #Toxic."

KVN Productions, the production house, shared some pictures from the puja ceremony marking the inaugural day of shoot.

Earlier, several reports claimed actresses Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kiara Advani, Sai Pallavi would join the cast of Toxic.

However, the entire cast is yet to be announced.

Yash, the 'KGF' star, sported short hair and a beard for his role in Toxic.
A Docu-series on one of the most infamous true crime cases, American Murder: Laci Peterson is going to be released on OTT very soon. American Murder: Laci Peterson OTT release date is out and for those who are unaware, the show is about one of the most well-known but terrifying American murder cases of the 2000s. Numerous individuals who had firsthand knowledge of the case are featured in the documentary, including the victim's mother and friends. This series is for folks who enjoy binge-watching documentaries on murders and are obsessed with serial killers. American Murder: Laci Peterson will be released on Netflix on 14th August 2024.

Plot

The events and persons connected in the Laci Peterson murder case will be followed in American Murder: Laci Peterson . In 2002, Laci Peterson, who had been married to Scott Peterson for eight months, vanished and no information about her could be gathered. In San Francisco Bay the next year, to everyone's shock, her corpse was found. A year and a half later, the investigators and police were able to assemble evidence that would ultimately prove her husband, Scott Peterson, was responsible for her death.

Cast/ Who it features

The show includes interviews with Amber Frey, the woman with whom Peterson was leading a dual existence at the time of his wife's demise, as well as with investigators, attorneys, and jurors involved in Peterson's trial.

Internet reacts to the trailer

Recalling the incident, many were quick to comment on how they remember when they got to know about the murder case.

One wrote, Cant wait to watch this. This was such a gut wrenching case.

Another added, I will be watching no question about it.

Also read: Matt Rife: Lucid - A Crowd Work Special OTT release date: When to watch the comedy special

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


Season 2 of House of the Dragon is being binge-watched by netizens. The series concluded its second season in the first week of August and since the finale episode aired, it has become one of the most liked series among the audience in parts of the globe, including India. While the prequel to Game of Thrones is gaining praise from Indian fans, do you know the series has an Indian connection too? Well, while several directors are involved in the making of the series, one who is gaining attention in particular is Geeta Vasant Patel.

Getting to know Geeta Vasant Patel:

Geeta Vasant Patel was born in Illinois in the year 1975. She is famous for her direction work in the US film industry. Geeta's parents migrated from the Indian state of Gujarat to the U.S., and that's how the House of the Dragon season 2 Indian connection came into play.



Here's how much Geeta has contributed to the House of the Dragon series:

Geeta has in total directed three episodes of House Of The Dragon including The Burning Mill, The Lord of the Tides, and The Queen Who Ever Was.

How did Geeta start her career?

Geeta is well-known for her impressive filming style. The first project that she took up after entering the film industry was the American TV series The Beast. She worked as an assistant writer for the series.

Also Read: House of the Dragon season 3 release date: Here's when show's new season is anticipated to drop on OTT

She has so far worked on big projects like The Fast and the Furious and Blue Crush. Geeta's directorial skills were even recognised in her documentary Project Kashmir, a thriller that talked about the geopolitical chaos in the Kashmir region.

Geeta has so far collaborated with many big banner companies like Disney, Universal Pictures, ABC, NBC, and Twentieth Century Fox.



For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


Part 2 of Kengam Ashura Season 2, a Japanese anime series, is releasing soon on the OTT platform Netflix. Kengan Ashura Season 2 Part 2 OTT release has been fixed to August 15. Kengam Ashura is an adaptation based on the manga series of the same name. The series' season 2, part 1, was released late last year, and now part 2 of it is coming on OTT. Season 1 of the series was released long ago, in 2020.

Here's the trailer for Kengam Ashura Season 2, Part 2:

While the first half of the second season has already been released on Netflix, bringing the series' popularity to an all-time high, the second half is set to be released on August 15.

Plot

What can we expect out of Kengan Ashura Season 2, Part 2?

Kengan Ashuras plot is all about businessmen who are rich and powerful. As per the trailer and story so far, viewers can expect the story of season 2, part 2, to revolve around a powerful and enigmatic martial artist.

Part 1 of Kengan Ashura Season 2 is all about a martial arts tournament. This part focusses on the injured player, their struggle to overcome such challenges, and looking forward. While the series focusses on martial arts and their techniques and skills, this time around, the story is expected to follow many players and how they battle individually.

The Kengan Life or Death Tournament continues in #KENGANASHURA: Season 2, streaming soon on Netflix, Thursday September 21!



The intense battle will conclude with KENGAN ASHURA: Season 2 Part 2 coming in 2024 pic.twitter.com/LIufm4P37R  Netflix Anime (@NetflixAnime) September 20, 2023

Part 2 of season 2 is intended to conclude the original story. People have been eagerly expressing their ideas on social media since the publication date was announced.

Also Read: Excited about Paris Olympics 2024? Watch these 5 sports Anime on OTT to keep the adrenaline pumping

Cast and crew

Cast members of the series include: Ohma Tokita, Agito Kano, Hajime Hanafusa, Yoshinari Karo, and more. The series is created by Seiji Kishi.



All the previous seasons of Kengan Ashura can be streamed on Netflix until Part 2 of Season 2 gets released on August 15.
Ever since the news of Naga Chaitanya dating Sobhita Dhulipala made headlines, people have accused the Telugu actor of cheating on ex-wife Samantha Ruth Prabhu. Now that the rumours about Naga and Sobhita's engagement are buzzing strongly, discussions on Reddit have once again turned into accusations of infidelity in the family.

"For this family its never happily ever after, its always happy until I find another. Like father like son," one of the users wrote. "The whole family is known for their infidelity," said another one. "Once a cheater always a cheater," a third user said.

Did Naga Chaitanya's father Nagarjuna cheat on his wife Amala with Tabu?

Credit: X

Nagarjuna and Tabu were once rumored to be dating. It is said that the duo's relationship lasted for about 10 years. When Tabu realised the actor won't leave his wife for her, she finally decided to move on.

When Tabu was asked about her alleged affair with Nagarjuna, she said on Karan Johar's chat show Koffee With Karan, she said that the rumours have been constant in her life since she was 16 years old. When Karan asked if they were true and if she had decided to move to Hyderabad because of him, she said, "Not because of him. Its because I made a house for myself there and because I belong to Hyderabad. But this Nagarjuna story is very old, and it keeps coming back. The media wants to give the impression that boyfriends can come and go, but Nagarjuna remains." She then called him one of the closest people in her life.

Nagarjuna's wife her husband's alleged affair with Tabu

Amala who married Nagarjuna in 1994 had once addressed the cheating allegations against her husband. In an interview with Times Of India, she said, "Tabu is one of the persons, besides Danny Denzongpa, my Rakhi brother, from Mumbai who I am in touch with. And, yes, she stays with us when she comes here."

Rubbishing the rumours, she said people shouldn't be bothered about what happens at her house and added that she was happy and had never discussed about this with her husband. "My home is sacred, like a temple, and I dont allow anything unpleasant from the film industry to come in, especially filthy gossip. I dont encourage such talks. I feel it will contaminate my house."

Also Read: Naga Chaitanya once admitted he cheated in a relationship, said "everyone should experience..."

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


Nag Panchami is an important Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of Nag Devta, or the Snake God. Celebrated during the auspicious month of Sawan, this unique festival honours serpents and seeks their blessings. This day is entirely devoted to Nagas, or snakes, who are honoured in Hindu mythology. Many people offer their prayers to these serpents. The festival is celebrated with great devotion and care in both India and Nepal. Let's dive into the details of Nag Panchami 2024, including its date, puja muhurat, rituals, and significance.



When is Nag Panchami in 2024?

Nag Panchami 2024 will be observed on Friday, August 9, 2024. This festival usually falls in July or August, aligning with the Panchami Tithi of Shravan month, during the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of the lunar cycle). The day is set aside for honouring snakes, an integral part of Hindu mythology.

Nag Panchami Puja Muhurat 2024

For Nag Panchami 2024, the ideal puja muhurat is from 05:25 AM to 08:00 AM. The Panchami Tithi of Shukla Paksha will begin at 12:36 AM on August 9 and end at 03:14 AM on August 10. Observing puja during this period is believed to bring good fortune and protection from evil.

Nag Panchami Puja Ritual

Credit: Freepik

The main ritual of Nag Panchami involves offering milk to the snake god. This practice is rooted in the belief that these offerings will protect families from harm.



On Nag Panchami, devotees typically bathe in the morning and create a representation of Nag Devta using clay or cow dung at their home entrances. The ritual includes offering durva (a type of grass), kusha (sacred grass), and flowers to the deity.

Traditional dishes made from milk, such as kheer (rice pudding) and sweets, are prepared and offered to the snake god. The festival also involves praying to prominent serpent deities like Ananta, Shesha, Vasuki, Kambala, Padma, and Kaliya.

Nag Panchami 2024: Story and Significance

The origin of Nag Panchami is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. Snakes hold a revered place in Hindu culture and are linked to various deities and myths. Lord Shiva, a central figure in Hinduism, is often depicted with the serpent Vasuki around his neck.

A famous story associated with Nag Panchami involves Lord Krishna. According to the legend, while playing near the Yamuna River, Krishnas ball fell into the water and was attacked by the serpent Kaliya. Krishna bravely confronted Kaliya, dragged him to the surface, and defeated him. Kaliya, realising Krishnas divine nature, begged for forgiveness and promised to cease his tormenting ways. This story symbolises the triumph of good over evil, a key theme of Nag Panchami.

Nag Panchami 2024: Rituals and Celebrations

Nag Panchami is marked by several rituals and customs:

Snake Worship: Devotees visit temples dedicated to serpent deities, offering milk, flowers, and other offerings to snake idols. At home, some create snake images from cow dung or clay and place them prominently for worship.

Devotees visit temples dedicated to serpent deities, offering milk, flowers, and other offerings to snake idols. At home, some create snake images from cow dung or clay and place them prominently for worship. Offering Milk: Pouring milk on anthills, believed to be the homes of snakes, is a common practice to appease serpent deities and seek their blessings.

Pouring milk on anthills, believed to be the homes of snakes, is a common practice to appease serpent deities and seek their blessings. Fasting: Many devotees observe a fast on Nag Panchami, abstaining from food and water until the evening puja.

Many devotees observe a fast on Nag Panchami, abstaining from food and water until the evening puja. Rangoli and Decorations: Vibrant rangolis or patterns representing snakes are created outside homes, particularly by women and children.

Vibrant rangolis or patterns representing snakes are created outside homes, particularly by women and children. Temple Processions: In some regions, processions featuring snake idols are carried out, accompanied by music and dance.

Nag Panchami 2024 is a day of devotion and cultural significance, bringing communities together to honour and seek the blessings of the revered snake deities.

May the blessings of Nag Devta be with you always. Happy Nag Panchami!


When we talk about billionaires, names like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani often come to our mind. However, many might not be aware that Bangladesh also has its share of wealthy individuals. Despite facing challenges like poverty and unemployment, the country is home to several billionaires who have built impressive fortunes. These individuals are not only making headlines in Bangladesh but are also catching global attention with their vast wealth. Today, we'll focus on one such billionaire, Moosa Bin Shamsher, and explore how wealthy he is.



Who is Moosa Bin Shamsher?

Credit: Alchetron

Moosa Bin Shamsher was born on October 15, 1945, in Faridpur, Bangladesh, into a well-known Muslim family. His father, Shamsher Ali Molla, was a senior officer during the British rule in India. Moosa was a brilliant student from an early age and showed exceptional intelligence at Faridpur Rajendra College. He later studied at California State University, where he earned a Ph.D. in Economics.

Moosa also had a passion for literature and culture, winning the All Pakistan Inter-School English Debate Competition. During the Liberation War, he was arrested by the Pakistani Army and was in poor health when he was released, needing treatment at Faridpur Sadar Hospital. After the war, he helped rebuild Bangladesh's economy.



Moosa Bin Shamsher began his career early and became a prominent business leader in Bangladesh. He started with DATCO, a company that exported manpower, and later moved into the arms trade, becoming a billionaire by selling tanks, fighter planes, and other weapons worldwide.

His success in the arms industry led to him being featured in a 1998 Sunday Telegraph article titled "Man with the Golden Guns." Known in the West as Prince Moosa for his unique style, he faced controversy over claims that he had $7 billion hidden in a Swiss bank. In 2007, Moosa established the DATCO Group, which deals in international weapons and exports Bangladeshi workers for global construction projects.

Moosa Bin Shamsher's net worth

Moosa Bin Shamsher is the richest person in Bangladesh. He founded the DATCO Group, a recruitment firm. Moosa Bin Shamsher is an international arms dealer and power broker. His net worth is around $12 billion (Approx Rs 1 lakh crore), reported in tv9hindi. In comparison, former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasinas net worth is just Rs 2.48 crore. This makes Moosa Bin Shamsher 40,000 times richer than Hasina.

Other Top Bangladeshi Billionaires

Salman F Rahman: Chairman of the Beximco Group, one of the largest groups in Bangladesh, Salmans net worth is about $2 billion (Approx Rs 16,600 crore).

Chairman of the Beximco Group, one of the largest groups in Bangladesh, Salmans net worth is about $2 billion (Approx Rs 16,600 crore). Tarique Rahman: The eldest son of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia , Tarique Rahman has a net worth of approximately $1.7 billion, which is around Rs 14,110 crore.

The eldest son of former President Ziaur Rahman and former , Tarique Rahman has a net worth of approximately $1.7 billion, which is around Rs 14,110 crore. Sajeeb Wazed Joy: The son of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Joy is also the current ICT advisor to the Prime Minister and chairman of the ICT company Synapse. His net worth is about $1.5 billion, or Rs 12,450 crore.

The son of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Joy is also the current ICT advisor to the Prime Minister and chairman of the ICT company Synapse. His net worth is about $1.5 billion, or Rs 12,450 crore. Saeed Abul Hussain: Chairman and MD of the Apex Group and chairman of the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI). His net worth is approximately $1.2 billion, or Rs 9,960 crore.

Chairman and MD of the Apex Group and chairman of the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI). His net worth is approximately $1.2 billion, or Rs 9,960 crore. Ahmed Akbar Sobhan: Chairman of the Bashundhara Group, one of Bangladesh's largest groups. His net worth is estimated at $1 billion (Approx Rs 8,300 crore.)

Chairman of the Bashundhara Group, one of Bangladesh's largest groups. His net worth is estimated at $1 billion (Approx Rs 8,300 crore.) Giasuddin Mamun: Former chairman of the Meghna Group. His net worth is around $420 million, which is about Rs 3,486 crore.

Former chairman of the Meghna Group. His net worth is around $420 million, which is about Rs 3,486 crore. Dr. Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir: A Bangladeshi economist and politician with a net worth of about $400 million, or Rs 3,320 crore.



For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here
Approximately 18,000 goats and sheep have been culled in Greece this summer due to a strain of animal plague known as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), according to Greece's Minister of Rural Development and Food, Kostas Tsiaras.

The alarming figure represents a significant loss for the agricultural sector but pales in comparison to the devastating impact

of the disease in Romania , where an estimated 230,000 animals have been destroyed.

Mr. Tsiaras explained that the relatively lower number of culled animals in Greece is a testament to the swift and decisive actions taken by authorities to contain the outbreak.

Greece implemented strict adherence to EU protocols outlined in Directive 687 of 2020, including a nationwide ban on transporting sheep and goats for two weeks. This proactive approach, combined with rigorous tracking and monitoring, has been instrumental in mitigating the spread of the disease.

While the PPR outbreak has posed a significant challenge for Greece's agricultural sector, Mr. Tsiaras also addressed another pressing issue: the ongoing water shortages affecting farmers and rural communities. He acknowledged that these shortages are hindering agricultural production and stressed that there are no easy solutions.

Still, he pointed to the recent establishment of a water resources management mechanism in Thessaly, following the catastrophic floods last September, as a step in the right direction.

Tsiaras further announced plans to develop a similar water resources management mechanism for Crete, aiming to address the specific challenges faced by this region.

The initiatives demonstrate the government's commitment to supporting the agricultural sector and ensuring its resilience in the face of both disease outbreaks and environmental challenges, officials say.

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A 48-year-old man is currently fighting for his life in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the General Hospital of Ilia after suffering a venomous spider bite.

The man initially sought medical attention at the hospital on Tuesday afternoon, complaining of unbearable pain

in his leg.

However, at that time, he was unaware that the pain was caused by a spider bite and had previously visited a private orthopedic doctor due to a misunderstanding about the source of the pain.

By midday Wednesday, his condition had rapidly deteriorated, and he began exhibiting symptoms consistent with a venomous bite.

Medical professionals at the hospital immediately recognized the severity of the situation and initiated life-saving measures.

The man was intubated and remains in critical but stable condition at the "Andreas Papandreou" Hospital. The medical team is working tirelessly to save his life, consulting closely with the poison control center for guidance on treatment and anti-venom administration.

The incident occurred while the 48-year-old man was vacationing in Ilia.

He sustained the bite high on his thigh, but the exact species of spider responsible for the envenomation is yet to be determined.

Authorities are urging residents and visitors in the area to exercise caution and be aware of the potential dangers of venomous creatures, especially during the warmer months when they are more active.

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A crossdresser identified as Abuja Area Mama was on Thursday found dead along the Katampe  Mabushi expressway in the Federal Capital Territory.

In a viral video sighted on X, the crossdresser was found lying in a pool of blood with scratches over his body.

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The vidictim appeared to have bruises on his face while his belongings were scattered beside him.

Benneth Igweh, the FCT Commissioner of Police, has however ordered an investigation into the death of the crossdresser.

In a statement, Josephine Adeh, the FCT police spokesperson, said the command received a distress call in the early hours of the day.

READ ALSO: Nollywood Actor Francis Duru Mourns, As He Loses His Son

Adeh said preliminary investigations showed that the crossdresser had no means of identification on him.



In response to a distress call received by the Command Control Room on 08/08/2024 at about 07:40 AM, that an unidentified lady was seen lying motionless along Katampe  Mabushi expressway, a team of detectives were immediately dispatched to the scene.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the individual was a man fully dressed in female clothings with no means of identification on him. He was immediately taken to Maitama District Hospital where Doctors on duty confirmed him dead.

The Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, psc, mni, has promptly ordered a thorough and discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death. Updates on this matter will be communicated in due course, the statement read.
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has blamed security operatives for allowing hoodlums to attacked, vandalized private and public properties during the #EndBadGovernance protest in the state.

Sanusi led this out when he visited Kano Printing Press, The Nigerian Communications Commission Digital Industrial Park and Barakat Stores on Wednesday.

According to him, the security were notified of the plans for the attacks on some of the properties days before it occurred.

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Sanusi added that anyone responsible for the vandalizations and mayhem is an enemy of the state.

He said: As we used to say, whoever had a hand in this is an enemy of Kano and he is an enemy to its people. What happened in Kano whoever saw them knew were planned. Kano was billed to be destroyed but we pray that God will not let them succeed. May God return all that was lost, we can only pray.

READ MORE: EndBadGovt: NSCDC Nabs 108 Suspected Looters In Kano, Recover Valuables

Before this happened, the security operatives were notified in writing that it is going to happen but instead of preventing it, it was allowed to happen. Whoever did good knows, whoever did bad knows and they all will see their result. We pray that God gives the government opportunity to return it.

My grandfather had worked here (Kano printing press). It is sad that a place like this is destroyed by their grandchildren.

We pray that God comes to the aid of these youth and whoever is behind it God will deal with them. We pray that we may not witness anything like this in the future. I swear to Almighty God those bent on destroying Kano will not succeed and God willing, the way they saw Kano they will leave it like that.
Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, member representing Anambra States Idemili North and South Federal Constituencies in the House of Representatives, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take actions that will alleviate Nigerians hardship.

The lawmaker gave the advice in a Wednesday statement released by his Media Office regarding the nations difficult challenges and what Nigerians are currently experiencing.

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He said: The hard truth is significant: actions are the only wheels that produce results. He must use the heat as motivation to clean up the stains of nepotism, reset the optics of palace grandeur, reduce the costs of governance, and rein in the hordes of hate spinners who pretend to love him more.

READ ALSO: Protest: Were Probing Polish Nationals Over Russian Flags In Kano  DSS

Nigeria is his beat, and each Nigerian is his employer. He should proceed now to persuade Nigerians better by tested actions that will mitigate these afflictions decisively and sustainably.

He urged all security agencies and personnel deployed to suppress and contain an already depressed population to instead protect and treat them with empathy, respect, and love.

It is a critical challenge to their call of duty and intelligences ability to skilfully identify criminals and deal with them quickly while protecting citizens legitimacy to express dissent or approval.

They should be aware that these people are also protesting for them, as they are prohibited by law from publicly expressing their frustrations, he added.
Francis Duru, a veteran Nollywood actor, has expressed sadness at the death of his son, Ifeanyi.

The actor announced the news in an Instagram post on Thursday, describing Ifeanyi as a champ and a lion who fought heroically.

He wrote, My champ! My lion, you fought like a lion. If this is the way He wants it, so be it, I still judge you faithful.

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Ifeanyi, my champ. I will miss you, son. I will forever love you. Rest in peace, son, rest. I give you thanks, Lord!

READ MORE: Korra Obidis Permanent Restraining Order Granted Against Ex-Husband, Justin Dean

Duru had recently celebrated Ifeanyis 15th birthday in December 2023, thus the revelation surprised fans and colleagues alike.

SEE POST:
Abdullahi Ganduje, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says protests against government policies are not peculiar to Nigeria alone.

He said this in reaction to the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest when he played host to some leaders of the Party from the United States of America in Abuja, on Wednesday.

The former Kano Governor who said developed economies have their challenges, assured that whatever challenges that were being faced in Nigeria currently, would soon be over.

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There is no doubt, as a developing country, even the so-called developed economies have their turbulence in one way or the other.

So, it is not surprising that Nigeria is having its own share of the problem. This is not the first time.

READ ALSO: APC Crisis: Protesters Storm Partys Secretariat, Demand Gandujes Resignation

You will recall that whenever there is a reform agenda, obstacles must be on the way, as a result, people must suffer in one way or the other.

But, in the long run, everything will be according to the plan, Ganduje assured.

He also emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came into power with the intention to introduce reforms that would secure the countrys future.

The countrys institutions, he said, were weak, adding that strong institutions were needed to implement whatever good policies the government had.

Ganduje added that Tinubu was doing all he needed to secure the countrys future in the interest of all.
The Senate, on Wednesday, expressed concerns over the $1.5 billion granted in 2021 for maintenance at the Port Harcourt Refinery, which has yielded little or no results.

Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairman of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, expressed concerns during an interactive session with stakeholders in Abuja.

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The Senate Leader, said punishing public firms poorly was unjust and unethical while private businesses thrived and prospered.

He noted that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the Ministry of Petroleum Resources plan to rebuild and turn around the Port Harcourt Refinery with $1.5 billion.

Bamidele also raised alarm about the malfunctioning state of government-owned refineries, despite billions of dollars spent on turnaround maintenance.

The federation is facing a genuinely difficult phase. Our fatherlands recent past has seen erratic and troublesome distribution and supply of refined petroleum products.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Air Force Destroys Illegal Refinery In Rivers

The huge lines at gas stations are visible evidence of this difficulty.

A situation whereby we now depend almost entirely on the importation of these products even when we daily supply the global oil market with about two percent of its crude oil requirements is worrisome, he said

He also expressed worry over importing dangerous petroleum products and dumping substandard fuel in the country.

Bamidele said that since 1999, the Federal Government had invested billions of dollars to maintain and turn around the state-owned refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt, and Warri. However, the refineries are not operating.

In 2021, specifically, the Federal Executive Council budgeted 1.5 billion dollars for turnaround maintenance at the Port Harcourt Refinery. However, this investment has not produced considerable profits.

For us in the Senate, we believe, it is unfair and unpatriotic to treat government businesses or public corporations as an orphan while private businesses are flourishing and thriving.

He stated that the National Assembly was prepared to conduct the investigation hearing with utmost respect and responsibility.
The Osun State Police Command has detained six people on charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, and armed robbery.

Yemisi Opalola, the Commands spokesman, revealed the arrests in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Wednesday in Osogbo.

Opalola said the suspects were apprehended in Ede, Osun State, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Akure, Ondo State, and Lagos State.

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Opalola further stated that the suspects had one Beretta pistol without a magazine, one locally produced pistol, two cartridges, one iPhone, an Apple wristwatch, two Toyota Camry automobiles, one earpod, an ATM card, and a screwdriver.

She gave the names of the suspects and their ages as Sunday Felix Eniola, 42 years, Sunday Emeka, 48 years, Solomon Michael, 49 years, Ebere Nwoye, 32 years, Moses Ogbu, 42 years and Friday Bernard, 50 years.

READ MORE: Black Panther Star Connie Chiume Dies At 72, Family Confirms

The statement reads, On 7th April, 2024 at about 11:20pm, the complainant reported at B Division Ede, that four armed robbery gang stormed his house at Akankan Area, Ede and dispossessed him and other occupants of the building valuables such as Iphone 13 promax, Iphone 7plus, Iphone 6S, clothes, PS4, Ipad, Ear pod and Apple wristwatch, chargers and sneaker amounted to the sum of four million nine hundred and ninety thousand naira only (N4,990,000).

Also, on 14th April, 2024, at about 11:12pm, the same four armed robbery gang, who came in Toyota Corolla with Reg. No. APP 352 RR, stormed the house of the complainant of Fiwasaye Agbale Area, Ede, kidnapped him and carted away three HP Laptop, one power bank and white WIFI.

The complainant was not released until 4:30am after collecting the sum of one hundred and twenty three thousand naira (N123,000) ransom which was transferred to Account No. 2022108661 belonging to one of the armed robbers, Solomon Michael. D

During the operation, one of the armed robbers named Sunday Felix fired the complainants brother; Ali Monday Segun on his right leg with a Baretta Pistol, the victim was rushed to Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife where the ammunition was removed after operation.

Again, On 19th April, 2024 at about 11:45pm, another complainant of Power line Area, Agbale Ede, Osun state reported that three armed men scaled the fence of their house and forced the door opened, they dispossessed the occupants of their valuables such as Iphone X, Infinix Note 8i, Itel power bank, wrist watch, two 14 promax, clothes and one Toyota Venza with Reg. No. SMK 488 JJ valued Eleven million naira only (#N11m).

Furthermore, On 27th April, 2024 at about 2:30am, a complainant of Fasinas Estate, Aisu Ede reported that, a gang of Armed Robber stormed his house and forcefully broke the door, collected their valuables such as Iphone and Toyota Highlander which belong to Federal Polytechnic Ede Union.

In addition, on 29th May, 2024, at about 11:00pm, the complainant reported that, his house located at Agbale Area, Ede Osun State was stormed by three armed men, ransacked his room and the other occupants of the building, carted away their valuables such as Iphones, Ipad, PS3 game and TVS motorcycle with Reg. No. GNN 06 QQ.

The above cases were reported at A and B Divisions Ede respectively and since then the Police has been on the trail of the suspects. Consequently, the cases were transferred to CPs Monitoring Unit for discreet investigation.

The CPs Monitoring Unit investigative team immediately swung into action arrested the above named suspects in connection with the cases at various locations such as Ede, Abeokuta, Akure and Lagos States respectively and the aforementioned exhibits were recovered. Investigation is still ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and recover other stolen items.

Opalola stated that after the inquiry is completed, the suspects would be charged in court.


Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has posited that the #EndBadGovernance protest is a wake-up call to northern leaders to bring good governance to the people.

Mohammed spoke on Wednesday during the flag-off of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign for the LG election in the State.

The protest kicked off in many parts of the country on August 1, seeing protesters demanding an end to economic hardship, insecurity, among other challenges in the country.

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Speaking on President Bola Ahmed Tinubus speech to Nigerians amidst the protest, the Bauchi Governor said it was empty and did not address the problems facing the nation.

According to him, the Federal Government should stop giving excuses to Nigerians and address their challenges.

His words: The protest has shown us so many things and lessons to be learnt but it appeared the APC leadership has learnt nothing.

I listened to Mr. Presidents speech with rapt attention and with all humility and courage that what he said was empty.

READ ALSO: No Room For Military Takeover, Change Of Tinubu Govt  Oshiomhole Speaks On Hardship Protest

He did not agree with the situation; he did not address the problems and challenges. The problems are not his alone but for all of us leaders, from the presidency to the sub-national down to the local government.

We can see that the manifestations have different colourations. In the North, it is a very big wake-up call for us to bring good governance and respect for people.

Mohammed expressed concern over the widespread hunger in the country, noting that the policies of the federal government are ineffective.

There is anger and hunger; we have to address our problems of development.

The new policy thrust of the federal government is not working. They have to understand that it is their problem and their programmes that have caused all these problems, so they have to change.

I have heard and with regrettable attention that some of the ministers of the federal government are saying that we have been given 70 trucks and 500 and something million; how much did the federal government make, and what did they do with it? he queried.
No fewer than six vehicles belonging to customers, have been razed by fire at a Mobil filling station, located along Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos State.

It was gathered that two people also sustained burns, and property worth millions of naira was damaged in the accident.

According to a source who spoke with Vanguard, said that an explosion occurred around 11 a.m., on Thursday, destroying at least seven vehicles.

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READ MORE: Fire Guts Lagos Warehouse, Destroys Properties Worth Millions Of Naira

The source, who refused to identify himself disclosed that the affected vehicles including, both commercial and private cars, were destroyed, adding that the second floor of a nearby two-story building was damaged.

Also confirming the incident, the Director of Lagos Fire Service, Margaret Adeseye, while addressing newsmen, explained that the explosion occurred when a gas truck was discharging its contents into a surface storage tank, which then ignited.

She said that the inferno rapidly spread, consuming eight vehicles, including the tanker, and damaging parts of the top floor of a nearby two-story building.

Adeyeye said: Fire service teams from Alausa and Ikeja Fire Stations acted quickly to control the blaze. As of the latest update, efforts to dampen the affected area are ongoing.
The Lustron Home of Karl Kernagis and Carl Gainsborough in Haddonfield. Manufactured in Ohio and assembled on site, the two-bedroom house is made mostly of steel. Read more

America desperately needed new houses and Ohio entrepreneur/inventor Carl Strandlund had a plan: Manufacture the components of compact, affordable, and stylish dwellings for shipment (instructions included) to local distributors and buyers.

Unlike the popular stick-built kit houses Sears sold through its catalogs from 1908 to 1940, Strandlunds Lustron Homes of 1948 were built mostly of steel. At least half of the nearly 2,700 houses Lustron manufactured before involuntarily declaring bankruptcy in 1950 are believed to exist, including several in the Philadelphia region.

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The distinctive design and steel-paneled exterior of the Lustrons seem to have inspired the Sanctuary Hills streetscapes in the postapocalyptic Fallout video game series. And the actual houses have inspired fans, researchers, writers, and buyers alike.

We just loved the look of the house immediately, said Vicky Nucci, who bought a Lustron in Woodbury with her partner, Trevor Gulledge, last year for $250,000.

Carl Gainsborough and Karl Kernagis bought their Lustron in Haddonfield for $210,000 in 2010 and have lived there ever since. Another Lustron, in Northeast Philadelphia, is used by Congregation Beth Emanuel, a Messianic Jewish Community.

Its been cool to learn about the history [of Lustron Homes] as an affordable housing option for people coming back from the war, Nucci, 28, said. How cool is it to own a little piece of history?

Said Gainsborough, 58: You dont have to remodel it. Its fine, just the way it is.

Radiant heat and a dual dish/clothes washer

Lustrons typically had 1,000 square feet of living space, two bedrooms, and one bath, and initially sold for about $10,000. They were offered in four models and four colors, composed of 3,000 parts, and framed in steel. The exteriors were clad in porcelain enamel-on-steel panels like those common on gas stations of the era, making the houses generally easy to spot, even to this day.

Our goal is to find and document all of the Lustrons, and build a solid database, said Virginia Faust, a Realtor in North Carolina and a volunteer with the nonprofit US Modernist archive.

We want to preserve as many as possible and keep them out of the dump, she said. If we find one thats what we call endangered, we make an effort to publicize it.

A lot of Lustrons have been repurposed as businesses  as coffee shops, for psychic readers, or medical offices.

 READ MORE: The Illustrious Lustron A Guide for the Disassembly and Preservation of Americas Modern Metal Marvel

Constructed on concrete slabs poured at the building sites, the houses have radiant heating systems above their steel-paneled ceilings, feature built-in bookcases and primary bedroom dressing tables, and have an open floor plan for the living room, dining room, and kitchen.

Our house is great for parties, Gainsborough said.

Lustrons also were equipped with a THOR  an alternating dish/clothes washing machine that proved to be difficult to use as well as unappetizing to many owners.

But the durability and easy upkeep of the steel panels, walls, and ceilings have retained their appeal.

I was a contractor for 25 years building wood houses, and when I moved in here, I got rid of my tools because I didnt need them anymore, Kernagis said.

The Lustron story and Lustron Stories

At the end of World War II, America was in an unusual situation, the writer and photographer Charles Mintz said.

We had all this manufacturing capacity, and all this optimism, and Lustron was kind of a fantastic, optimistic thing for people who wanted to own a starter home, he said. These homes had a huge amount of floor space out of a [compact] footprint, and they were very livable.

His book Lustron Stories was published by Trillium, an imprint of the Ohio State University Press, in 2016 and features photographs of 68 homeowners, many of them in the Midwest.

The rise and fall of the company and the man who built it is very much a heartland story, said Mintz.

Born in Sweden late in the 19th century, Carl Gunnard Strandlund emigrated to America with his family as a boy. He spent most of his life in Minnesota, Illinois, and Ohio, working for agricultural equipment companies and eventually holding 150 farming-related patents. One of his innovations strengthened tanks used in fighting World War II.

Strandlund also was a master promoter, arranging a Washington, D.C.-to-Chicago flight for a federal housing official, whom he picked up in a limousine, to a prototype Lustron that was picturesquely situated among the trees and late-blooming mums at a local nursery, according to The Lustron Home, a 2002 book written by Thomas T. Fetters and published by McFarland.

So when Strandlund obtained a total of $37.5 million in loans from the federal Reconstruction Finance Corp. to repurpose a former warplane factory in Columbus, Ohio, and fabricate parts for Lustron Homes there, he wasnt some carpetbagger, said Faust.

He had good ideas and sound engineering, and he built model Lustrons that got an enormous response from the press and the public, she said.

The company also got 20,000 orders, but there were production delays, delivery issues, resistance from the stick-built housing industry, and skepticism among some members of Congress. When the feds called back their loan  worth about $500 million in todays dollars  Lustron was forced into bankruptcy.

Strandlund died in 1974.

The company failed, and Carl Strandlund was depressed, said Gainsborough.

But I dont consider it a failure to have provided quality housing for more than 2,500 families across the entire nation.

A new chapter?

Faust and other volunteers in the preservation group have a vision for repurposing Lustrons at risk of demolition or demolition by negIect.

In an ideal world, an angel would arrive and enable us to fund a go team that would obtain the endangered home, take it apart, pack it up, and take it to a central warehouse, she said. We would maintain an inventory of Lustron parts. Were willing to do the organizing.
A catalytic converter is on display at a press conference on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 in Doylestown, P.a. Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub held the conference to announce the dismantling of a catalytic converter theft ring that targeted victims in Bucks County, Montgomery County, and the Delaware Valley region. Read more

In a blow to organized crime in the region, Montgomery and Delaware County prosecutors announced the dismantling of a large catalytic converter theft ring operating across Philadelphias suburban collar counties on Thursday. The coordinated effort followed two years of investigation, and led to the arrests of five individuals and a warrant for a sixth suspect.

The accused are Sharief Louden, 30, of Philadelphia; Daniel McIlhenney, 37, and Ryan McIlhenney, 36, both of Folcroft; Terrell Gibson, 40, of Chester; and Loai Nasser, 49, of Cherry Hill. An arrest warrant has been issued for Ali Sayyam, 29, of Ocean Township, N.J.

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The defendants face multiple felony charges, including corrupt organization, theft of catalytic converter, receiving stolen property, and theft of secondary metal.

The joint investigation by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau and the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division began in 2022, a response to a sharp rise in catalytic converter thefts that year, according to prosecutors.

Catalytic converters contain valuable metals such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium, and became prime targets for thieves during the COVID-19 pandemic when metal prices surged. At the height of the pandemic, prices for rhodium topped out at around $31,000 per ounce, but have since dropped to around $4,500 per ounce.

Prosecutors said members of the crime group would target vehicles parked in high-traffic areas, including shopping malls and business parks, as well as Philadelphia International Airport and Drexel University. The thefts were often completed in a matter of minutes, with crew members using a jack to lift a vehicle and cut out the converter before lowering it and fleeing the scene.

The stolen converters were then sold to salvage yards in Philadelphia. Prosecutors implicated Big Head Auto Salvage, operated by Daniel and Ryan McIlhenney; and Philly Auto Salvage, operated by Nasser and Sayyam. Philly Auto Salvage sold more than $1 million worth of converters in 2023, prosecutors said, while Big Head Auto Salvages sales exceeded $300,000.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced the arrests during a joint news conference Thursday morning.

These organized theft crews were responsible for a large portion of the catalytic converter thefts in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region, Steele said. They caused significant financial hardship for vehicle owners while undermining the safety of our communities. By dismantling this theft ring, we are sending a clear message that this type of criminal activity and other organized theft rings in Montgomery and Delaware Counties will be investigated and prosecuted aggressively.

Stollsteimer, meanwhile, described the trail of fear that catalytic converter thefts had left throughout the community.

By working together, law enforcement has broken up and removed this dangerous ring of thieves from our streets and hopefully restored a sense of peace with the knowledge that such lawlessness will not be tolerated, he said.

Police utilized electronic and visual surveillance, cell phone records, interviews, and other investigative techniques to ultimately make the arrests. Nearly 20 local police departments participated in the investigation, as well as Pennsylvania State Police and the FBI.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 19.
Philadelphia police officer Mark Dial, center, arrives at the Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice in Philadelphia, on Sept. 19, 2023, with attorneys for a bail hearing. Brian McMonigle is at left and at right is Fortunato Perri Jr. Read more

The District Attorneys Office has withdrawn a charge of first-degree murder against former police officer Mark Dial, a decision that prosecutors were effectively forced to make by a judge after failing to tell Dials attorneys about a key piece of evidence they intend to use against him at trial.

The decision, made Thursday, allowed Dial to be released from jail on bail to await a new trial date, now with a lead charge of third-degree murder. His case  which had been scheduled to begin in September  will now go before a jury in May 2025.

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Dials bail was set at $200,000, and he paid the required 10% to secure his release shortly after noon Thursday, court records show.

The development served as the latest twist in the high-profile case, one that has taken an unusually circuitous path through the courts. Dial is accused of fatally shooting Eddie Irizarry during a traffic stop in Kensington last year, and his prosecution has now been tossed out, reinstated, and downgraded over the last 11 months.

The latest issue revolved around the use of an expert witness.

Prosecutors months ago had hired an expert to prepare a report on whether Dial violated Pennsylvanias use-of-force law for police when he shot Irizarry, a question that goes to the heart of the case and will determine whether Dial should be convicted. But prosecutors told Dials attorneys about the experts report only this week  something Dials lawyers said was unreasonable, and didnt give them enough time to prepare a rebuttal.

Common Pleas Court Judge Glenn B. Bronson agreed, and said he did not want to delay the case and keep Dial incarcerated for months over an issue that prosecutors had effectively created.

Why didnt you tell them you were hiring an expert? he said in court this week, later adding: You sat on this for 10, 11 months.

Still, Bronson identified something of a compromise. He said he would permit the case to be postponed if prosecutors downgraded the lead charge to third-degree murder.

In that instance, the judge said, prosecutors could go on to present their expert to a jury, Dials attorneys could have enough time to prepare a response, and Dial could become eligible to post bail while awaiting his new trial date  something he was barred from doing while facing a first-degree murder charge.

Assistant District Attorneys Clarke Beljean and Karima Yelverton said that, after consulting with District Attorney Larry Krasner, the office opted to withdraw the highest charge. They did not explain the decision Thursday in court, and declined to comment after the hearing.

The prosecutors asked Bronson to hold Dial on house arrest ahead of trial. The judge denied the request, agreeing with Dials attorneys that he is not a flight risk.

Dials attorneys  Brian McMonagle, Fortunato Perri Jr., and Charles Gibbs  declined to comment after the hearing. But in the moments after the decision, they gathered outside the courtroom and called Dials mother to let her know her son would be home today.

The decision outraged some of Irizarrys relatives. His aunt, Zoraida Garcia, said that she didnt know about it until she was contacted by a reporter Thursday, and that she was shocked and furious.

An officer can kill somebody here and get away with it, Garcia said Thursday. Thats how Im feeling now.

She said she and her family had been told they didnt need to attend recent hearings in the case, but she now regrets missing out on them, and thinks she and her family and their supporters could have shown up in force.

If it was somebody else, they would have roofed him and thrown away the key. Forever, she said.... You think any of us get bail if we kill somebody?

On the day of the shooting, police said Irizarry had lunged at Dial while holding a knife, leading the officer to shoot him. But video later showed that Irizarry, 27, had been sitting in his car, with a knife in his hand and the windows rolled up, when Dial opened fire just seconds after arriving on the scene.

Dials attorneys have said the officer thought he heard his partner yell that Irizarry had a gun, and that he was fearing for his life when he opened fire.

Dial was fired several days after the shooting, and charged with murder a few weeks after that.

In the months since, his prosecution has bounced in and out of the courts: A judge dismissed all charges after a preliminary hearing last September, but another judge reinstated each count months later, paving the way for the case to head toward trial.

The latest decision, to withdraw the first-degree murder charge, eliminates the possibility of a life sentence if Dial is found guilty  the mandatory penalty for anyone convicted of first-degree murder in Pennsylvania. And it may change how prosecutors present their case: First-degree murder is considered a premeditated, intentional killing, while third-degree murder is an unintentional homicide that happens when a defendant exhibits malice, which in legal terms indicates a significant disregard for human life.
The Rev. Mark Hatcher is escorted out of a courtroom in the Montgomery County Courthouse on Thursday after being sentenced to state prison for raping and sexually assaulting three children. Read more

Montgomery County Court Judge Thomas Branca told the Rev. Mark Hatcher that two versions of the North Philadelphia pastor had been presented in his courtroom Thursday.

One was an active, beloved community leader who helped countless people through his ministry at Holy Ghost Headquarters Revivalist Center. The other was a serial predator who used that authority to rape a teenage congregant and sexually assault two children he was related to.

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That dichotomy led Branca to sentence Hatcher, 61, to five years and three months to 12 years in state prison after a crowded hearing in Norristown filled with dozens of the pastors supporters, including former Philadelphia Mayor W. Wilson Goode Sr.

I certainly need to give some credit to the defendant, who has given to the community and given to others. That does carry some weight in my calculations, Branca said. But the heavier weight is given to the crimes he committed.

Branca also ruled that Hatcher meets the criteria for a sexually violent predator. He will remain on the sex offender registry for the rest of his life and must seek mandatory mental health treatment.

In February, a jury convicted Hatcher of rape, statutory sexual assault, and indecent assault in separate acts that took place between 2000 and 2008 at his home in Blue Bell and an abandoned property his church owned in the city.

Hatchers attorney, Andrew Alston, asked Branca on Thursday for a sentence of partial confinement, such as house arrest, saying that any time in prison would be a death sentence for Hatcher, given his age. He reminded Branca that his client had never been arrested before this case, and said that he presents a low risk of reoffending.

Addressing the judge directly, Hatcher maintained his innocence, and said he hoped God would heal the three victims.

Your honor, Im asking you, and I stand in my innocence, to have leniency on me, Hatcher said. My wife needs me, my family needs me.

I am not a threat to society. Im a help to society.

But Assistant District Attorney Caroline Goldstein chastised Hatchers comments, saying he seemed to view his prosecution and conviction as a witch hunt against him.

The reality is that this defendant thrives on power, thrives on all of these people coming together to say hes the greatest, she said, referring to Goode and other supporters who testified or wrote letters on Hatchers behalf. And weve seen how he thrives on power in how he treated the victims.

The investigation began in January 2022, when two of Hatchers relatives told Whitpain Township police that he sexually abused them years earlier at his Blue Bell home, prosecutors said. One of the victims told police Hatcher assaulted her in 2000 when she was 15, fondling her breasts and exposing himself to her after isolating her from her family.

Another victim said Hatcher assaulted him at least five times, beginning in 2007 when he was 6 years old. The assaults gradually escalated, he said, starting with Hatcher forcing him to undress and eventually fondling the boy and forcing him to perform sex acts.

The final victim was a former parishioner of Holy Ghost whose mother was in a relationship with Hatcher in 2006. At the time, she said, she was 13, and Hatcher kissed and groped her on two occasions while giving her rides to school.

In another encounter, she said, Hatcher drove her to a house under renovation in Brewerytown. While she was alone with him in the house, she said, he pinned her to a mattress and raped her, covering her mouth as she screamed for help.

The male victims mother testified Thursday that her son suffered lifelong effects from the secret, sinister, systemic sexual assault, including depression and emotional outbursts he still struggles with.

Hatchers actions had torn their family apart, she said, and had led her to dwell on dark thoughts of enacting vigilante justice against him.

His victims had to watch him for years parade around arrogantly, acting like he was untouchable, she said. He believed he was above these victims, above the law, and above God.
Christina Mattei, an interdisciplinary artist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist who taught music business, entrepreneurship, and technology at the University of the Arts sits with her 8 year-old son Atticus following her testimony at a Philadelphia City Council hearing Thursday. Read more

Christina Mattei, an artist, music producer and single mom, sunk her life savings into moving to Philadelphia to accept a faculty position at University of the Arts last year. After the schools sudden, unexpected closure, shes left jobless and sleeping on a couch, unable to pay for childcare for her son.

Brynn Smith was 15 credits shy of graduation when the school suddenly shut, and now the musical theater major is in the midst of the most stressful summer of my life as she tries to piece together a way to finish out the college career she built and cherished at UArts.

And Jasmine Jiang and Quinn Bauriedel run the Pig Iron Theatre Company, an arts organization now facing an existential threat, they say, because of the closure and the $300,000 the university owed Pig Iron when the school folded.

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Bereaved, incredulous, angry members of the UArts community discussed the fallout of the universitys June shutdown during a City Council hearing Thursday that yielded plenty of plaintive testimony, but also ideas for how the university might live on, as well as continued speculation about what went so wrong that school leaders closed UArts with a weeks notice.

 READ MORE: The University of the Arts is closing June 7, its president says

Here are four things to know from Thursdays hearing:

1. Officials discussed whos to blame.

Debora Carrera, Philadelphias chief education officer, stressed how blindsided the city was by the UArts closure.

The lack of transparency around this decision was completely troubling, Carrera said. The sudden closure raised many questions.

Mark Campbell, who was a full-time faculty member and the former dean of the College of Art, Media and Design, accused the administration of David Yager, the UArts president who retired in 2023, for the schools downfall, which he described like a catastrophic act of nature, an earthquake where suddenly everything has changed.

During Yagers presidency, there was an elaborate shell game being played with university finances, all at the service of costly self-aggrandizing capital projects intended to support the narrative that David Yager was a successful president, Campbell said. He suggested Yager insisted on capital improvements at the expense of the universitys financial health.

Yager, Campbell said, centralized decision making, and kept his decisions mostly secret.

Apart from concealment, there was a counterfactual narrative propagated externally and internally of unprecedented financial solidity and fundraising success, Campbell said. Campbell said the money pledged and communicated was not actually in the bank; Yager took credit for a gift pledged years before his tenure, he said.

Campbell and others said they had spoken to the state Attorney Generals office, which is investigating the UArts collapse.

Yager could not be reached for comment.

2. City Councilmembers discussed having more eyes on Philadelphia institutions in the future.

Councilmember Nina Ahmad said she wanted to understand exactly what happened and why were there no eyes on it? Where are the board members? They were all watching this happen.

Going forward, Ahmad suggested that all major institutions in the city have representation from us, like an ex officio city official on boards of trustees.

Its critical that we watch our assets, Ahmad said, suggesting that the city do an analysis of all institutions in our city, not just UArts. Are they following their fiduciary path? This is a wake-up call for us.

3. Officials suggested theyre working on a way forward for UArts.

Councilmember Mark Squilla, who convened the hearing, said the city was involved in discussions of ways to move the University of the Arts, or its legacy, forward. (Temple University has said its in talks to potentially merge with UArts, though the feasibility and timeline of such a link is unclear, and nothing is imminent.)

No university officials appeared at the hearing to answer questions. Still, Squilla said, both the city and governors office are still actively working on ways forward.

We have philanthropists and other people who are interested, Squilla said.

Alumni and Philadelphia arts professionals offered up possible ways to revive the university or at least replicate some of its functions. UArts served as a gathering place for artists, a convener, a source of stability, a clearinghouse for ideas.

David Timony, a UArts alum, professor and current head of Delaware Valley Universitys teacher preparation program, said hed like to see the appointment of an interim board and leadership panel who can return to the offices and start solving the problems of this institution. Give us the keys so that competent and inspired problem-solvers may take the opportunity to make this right... let us get on with the good work of reopening UArts and getting this deserving institution back on its feet. There is plenty of work to do and guess what? We have lots of help.

Much is at stake, said Jiang, managing director of the Pig Iron Theatre, which had partnered with UArts to offer a unique masters of fine arts.

Already, we have seen brilliant artists and educators, formerly employed by UArts, forced to take their families and their skills out of this city. We have seen potential students, employees, and partners hesitate to make Philadelphia their destination amidst this instability. We have seen the once bustling Avenue of the Arts, the heart of Center City, become a ghost town.

The city, Jiang said, had the ability to make sure this moment is a canary in the coal mine and not a harbinger of doom. This is our chance to talk about and invest in the future of the arts in Philadelphia.

4. Students and staff showed, again, the human toll of the closure.

Zoe Hollander lost her final year of high school to COVID. Now shes losing her final year of college to UArts collapse.

As a rising senior, its hard to put into words just how big of a loss that this is, said Hollander, who moved from Minneapolis to study musical theater at UArts.

Hollander had her last year mapped out: She was already cast in a fall show, had planned performances of the improv comedy troupe that she founded, had signed on to study at Shakespeares Globe Theatre in London in the winter as part of a UArts program.

Shes going to finish her degree at Temple, but will be taking out more money in loans than she ever had at UArts  despite Temples lower tuition  because UArts hasnt been helpful with sharing financial aid information. And there was no seamless transfer process like UArts promised.

Truthfully, the fact that the UArts community has lost so much while not knowing what exactly happened is hard for me to stomach, Hollander said. Money does not just disappear, and information does not cease to exist, and to claim so is a slap on the face. Art is important, and devaluing it in favor of profit shows that we are disposable.

Mattei, the UArts professor, said, theres a very real financial devastation happening right now.

She cant get grants funded because all the grants that we were going to be applying for were partners with the university, Mattei said. Shes sleeping on a couch in her studio, offering free help to her former students, and taking her 8-year-old child with her everywhere she goes because childcare is too expensive to afford in her current jobless state.

The city must work to regard artists as theyre regarded in Europe, she said.

They consider artists, professors, like surgeons, Mattei said. We are surgeons of the soul, and you just took that from Philadelphia.

Staff writer Susan Snyder contributed to this article.
Camden School Advisory Board President Wasim Muhammad took a leave of absence in January during his civil sexual abuse trial. The district reached a $2 million settlement with his accuser, a former student. Muhammad now plans to return to the board. Read more

Despite repeated demands from Camden residents and the governor of New Jersey to step down from his position after he was accused of sexually assaulting a former student, beleaguered Camden School Advisory Board president Wasim Muhammad plans to resume his duties this month, his attorney said Thursday.

Muhammad informed fellow board members this week about his decision to attend the boards Aug. 22 work session, and thanked everyone for supporting his leadership, said his attorney Troy Archie.

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Archie said Muhammad is excited about returning and continuing on improving and helping the district, the children, and the city of Camden. He also notified Superintendent Katrina McCombs of his plans.

His return comes nearly two months after the South Jersey school system reached a $2 million settlement in a civil case brought by Salema Robinson, a former student of his who accused Muhammad of sexually abusing her when he was her teacher 30 years ago. Muhammad, 56, has denied any wrongdoing.

Robinson and her attorney, Jeffrey Fritz, have repeatedly called for the board to oust Muhammad. She alleged that Muhammad, known back then as Donnie Walker, began having sex with her in 1994 when he was her social studies teacher. Before the start of the civil trial, Gov. Phil Murphy called for Muhammad to step down, citing the appalling and heinous nature of the allegations.

 READ MORE: Woman in civil sex assault case against Camden school board president comes forward: I want people to see my face

A jury in May said Muhammad recklessly or intentionally committed extreme and outrageous conduct upon Robinson, but rejected her sexual assault and battery allegations against the Muslim minister. The jury awarded her $1.6 million, though, which was increased to $2 million under a later settlement between her, Muhammad and the school district.

A mother of three and a first-grade teacher in Atlanta, Robinson said she was disgusted by the announcement of Muhammads return.

His refusal to step down only speaks to how little he thinks of the people in Camden, said Robinson, 45. He remains the narcissist that I have always known him to be.

A petition drive launched two weeks ago by Elton Custis, a former Camden school board member, contended that Muhammads removal from the school board is necessary to maintain the integrity of our educational system and to ensure the safety and well-being of our students.

His actions and neglect have demonstrated a clear disregard for the responsibilities and ethical standards required for this position, the petition says.

Asked to respond to Muhammads return, McCombs, who heads the state-operated school system, said in a statement that the district remains committed to moving forward with a clear focus on the successful opening of the 2024-2025 school year.

Muhammad has served on the nine-member school advisory board since 2013 and has been president since 2020. Because the district is under a state takeover, board members serve in an advisory capacity with no real authority.

Muhammad took a leave of absence in January when the sexual assault case was pending in Superior Court and the trial made national headlines.

On Thursday, Maggie Garbarino, a Murphy spokeswoman, reiterated her statement from January: The governor believes he should immediately resign.

 READ MORE: Jury hears opening arguments in sex abuse civil trial against Camden school board president, what lawyers called a he say, she say case

About the accusations

The lawsuit accused Muhammad of sexually abusing Robinson for years and continuing even after she moved out of state after her freshman year at Camden High School. District employees, including a principal and a teacher, who knew about the abuse failed to stop it, according to the lawsuit.

The jury held Muhammad and the district liable for counts including willful misconduct and negligence in supervising Muhammad, and for permitting a sexually hostile educational environment. The verdict did not offer insight into its findings.

Robinson filed the lawsuit in 2021 under a state law passed in 2019 that allows victims of child sexual abuse to sue their abusers up until they turn 55. She was initially identified in the case as Jane Doe, but decided to come forward after the verdict to encourage other victims to speak up.

I want to make sure this doesnt happen to anyone else again, she said after the verdict. What was taken from me can never be given back.
Nobody could have predicted the twist ending.

A virtually unknown director from the suburbs of Philadelphia managed to pull off a blockbuster release during a sleepy summer month at just 29 years old. A newcomer named M. Night Shyamalan shocked the world with The Sixth Sense, 25 years ago.

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Since 1999, the psychological thriller starring Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, and Toni Collette has been endlessly dissected, praised, and spoofed  from Scary Movie to The Simpsons. Even this summer, it gained traction when Kendrick Lamar referenced it in two of his Drake diss tracks.

Shyamalan just released his 16th feature, Trap, on the anniversary of The Sixth Senses Philadelphia premiere. In honor of that films 25th anniversary, we take a look back at this unexpected classic.

 READ MORE: Every M. Night Shyamalan movie, ranked

How it started

As a tween, Shyamalan made movies in his parents backyard in Wynnewood and wrote his own screenplay for a fifth installment of Friday the 13th. He went on to study film at New York University. His first two films  the indie Praying With Anger (in which he starred) and the flop family comedy Wide Awake  gave little indication of his screenwriting chops for horror.

During the day, Shyamalan worked on the screenplay for Stuart Little, the adaptation of E.B. Whites childrens novel with Michael J. Fox voicing the cheeky anthropomorphic white mouse and Hugh Laurie and Geena Davis as Mr. and Mrs. Little.

The rest of the time, Shyamalan was writing The Sixth Sense. Early drafts focused on a serial killer drama in the vein of Silence of the Lambs, but he finally landed on the supernatural story about a child who sees ghosts (Osment) and his therapist (Willis).

Shyamalan and his wife, Bhavna, flew out to Los Angeles with his spec script, staying at the Four Seasons and praying that the film was good enough to pay for the room. It was: The script provoked a bidding war before Disney picked it up for $3 million.

Filming in Philly

Aside from its superb cast and unsettling twist ending, The Sixth Sense is also beloved for its portrayal of Philadelphia. Thanks to cinematographer Tak Fujimoto, who also filmed Jonathan Demmes Philadelphia, the citys charm blends well with Shyamalans sinister mood-making.

Many scenes were filmed in the now-demolished Philadelphia Civic Center in University City, which Osment and his fellow child costar Mischa Barton were convinced was haunted. (That didnt stop the adults from partying: The director credits Willis for DJ-ing cast parties and giving him his first hangover.)

Shyamalan worked with Sharon Pinkenson, longtime head of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, to secure permits to film across South Philly, Society Hill, and Center City. That included Old Citys St. Augustine Church on North Fourth Street, where Osments character, Cole Sear, seeks safety and opens up to Willis Malcolm Crowe. Peirce College served as Coles school, and he lived with his mom (Collette) in a brick home a few blocks from Fitler Square on Saint Albans Street.

 READ MORE: Rocky, and the 49 other best Philly movies

That street particularly stuck out to Shyamalan when he was scouting locations. We were actually on a location scout in a van and we were driving by here and I went, Stop! And we jumped out, he said in an interview in 2019. Probably the one and only time I ever jumped out of location and was like This is it!

Shyamalan has mostly maintained that approach throughout his career, with the majority of his films based and filmed in Philadelphia and its surrounding region. (Trap, is set in Philly but was shot in Toronto.)

Philadelphia is home, Shyamalan told then-Inquirer film critic Carrie Rickey in 1999. If youre making movies about people you know and love, you want them set in a place you know and love.

 READ MORE: Quiz: Where in Philly were these film scenes shot?

The Sixth Sense joined the list of notable titles shot locally in the 80s and 90s that helped make the case for the city as fertile ground for filming  and by the mid 2000s, the local industry was booming with movies like Marley & Me, National Treasure, and Silver Linings Playbook, making a beeline for Philly.

It was a very important project for all of us in Philadelphia, said Pinkenson. It was a new thing to have movies in Philadelphia, and people were excited.

Opening night

On Aug. 2, 1999, Shyamalan joined Willis, Colette, Osment, Donnie Wahlberg, and Olivia Williams to walk the red carpet, not in Hollywood but in Center City at the Prince Music Theater on Chestnut Street (now the Philadelphia Film Center). Boyz II Mens Shawn Stockman also attended. Wahlberg told the Daily News that he loved Phillys food scene, including the sandwiches at Nicks Roast Beef, and Williams gushed over the cookies at the Famous Fourth Street Deli.

With the fanfare came the anxiety over how audiences would react. Shyamalan was already writing his next script (Unbreakable) and hoping that his $40 million film could at least break even.

August isnt always the best time for movies. So what I was hearing is, Were not sure how this film is going to do, said Jesse Cute, a marketing executive from Roxborough who worked the premiere when he was fresh out of college. I dont think anybody, including Hollywood Pictures and Disney, had a clue that it would be the No. 1 film for five weeks, which is unheard of now.

The film opened on Aug. 6, 1999  Shyamalans 29th birthday  and before he and his wife celebrated, they stopped by the Plymouth Meeting movie theater. The director couldnt believe how quickly the shows were selling out.

My initial thought was, 300 people will see the movie  probably more than Wide Awake in 1998, he told The Inquirer. I thought it might be an anomaly. Was it because Im from Philly and these are Philadelphia moviegoers?

It wasnt just local buzz: The third-act reveal kept audiences coming back to see the Easter eggs they missed, earning success through word-of-mouth. The Sixth Sense went on to gross a whopping $672 million worldwide (more than $1.2 billion today). Even after 25 years and 16 subsequent movies, its Shyamalans biggest film.

It catapulted Shyamalan (and Philadelphia) into cinematic history, receiving six Oscar nominations, including best director and original screenplay. While Philadelphians may have mixed feelings about their hometown directors movies since, The Sixth Sense has never lost its unshakable, enduring power.
The Fugees reunite as Ms. Lauryn Hill (middle) is joined by Pras Michel (left) and Wyclef Jean (right) during the Roots Picnic Philadelphia at The Mann in Fairmount Park on Sat. June 3, 2023. Read more

Ms. Lauryn Hill and the Fugees have canceled the U.S. leg of their international tour, scheduled to start Friday in Tampa, Fla.

U.S. tour dates for The Celebration Continues tour were removed late Tuesday from Ticketmaster, and ticket holders received refund notices, reported Variety.

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Hill and the Fugees were expected to come to the Mann Centers TD Pavilion on Aug. 21. They were to complete their U.S. tour in Holmdel, N.J., on Sept. 21, before touring Europe throughout late fall.

U.K. and European concert dates appear to be unaffected, according to Ticketmasters website.

At the time of publishing, the reason for cancellation has not been shared with the public. Live Nation did not immediately respond for comment.

Cousins Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel, alongside friend Lauryn Hill, met in New Jersey in the early 90s. The trio formed a group called Tranzlator Crew, later named the Fugees, which is a shortened version of the word refugees. They rose to fame after their 1994 debut album, Blunted on Reality, and later 1996s The Score, which birthed hits like Fu-Gee-La and Ready or Not.

In 1998, Hill released her solo debut album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, to critical acclaim, being nominated for 10 Grammys and winning five, including Best New Artist and Album of the Year in 1999.

Hill reunited with the Fugees at the June 2023 Roots Picnic in Philadelphia for the first time in years, and again that November to make up for a postponed October concert that year at the Wells Fargo Center.

This years cancelation of the U.S. tour comes on the heels of last years 25th-anniversary tour for Hills debut album getting postponed due to vocal strain. As many of you may know, Ive been battling serious vocal strain for the past month. In order to prevent any long term negative affect on my voice and my body, I need to take time off to allow for real vocal recovery so that I can discontinue the medication completely, Hill posted to Instagram last November.

Ticket holders to the Ms. Lauryn Hill & The Fugees concert at the TD Pavilion at the Mann Center on Aug. 21 should receive a refund issued to the payment method used to buy the tickets within two to three weeks.
From left: Minnesota Gov. and Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate Tim Walz, former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy at a Bruce Springsteen concert at MetLife Stadium in 2023. Read more

In his first speech as Vice President Kamala Harris running mate on Tuesday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz knew how to win over Philadelphia audiences: name-dropping the Boss. In praising Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as a treasure, Walz said, I know this from experience. There is no one you would rather go to a Springsteen concert in Jersey with than him!

The line prompted cheers of Bruce from the crowd at Temple Universitys Liacouras Center (though Philadelphia son Jake Tapper seemingly mistook the reaction for boos).

Holy hell can this guy bring the fire, Walz said about Shapiro. This is a visionary leader. Also I have to tell ya, everybody in America knows, when you need a bridge fixed, call that guy. Shapiro, who also had been in consideration for the VP pick, also spoke at the rally on his home turf as a campaign surrogate.

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Right before Walzs speech in Philadelphia, Inquirer politics reporter Julia Terruso shared the fun fact on X: Little background on Shapiro saying Walz is a good friend  sources familiar tell me they once attended a Springsteen concert in Jersey together.

Not two hours later, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy entered the chat, responding Can confirm with a photo of himself, Walz, Shapiro, and former Texas congressman Beto ORourke at MetLife Stadium on Labor Day weekend in 2023.

We knew Tim was a big Bruce fan, Murphy told The Inquirer on Wednesday. Tammy, my wife, reached out to him and invited him to come to see the Boss in Jersey. Tim brought Beto ORourke as his guest. It was the first time Murphy had met ORourke. The show came right after Springsteen had postponed his Philadelphia shows due to illness, so Murphy extended an invite to Shapiro and his wife, Lori, as well.

As one does at a Bruce Springsteen concert, we had a grand evening and a great time together. Great guys, great fun, said Murphy. He added that in retrospect it was even more notable because Springsteen postponed the rest of his tour dates shortly afterward. Nobody knew how sick [Springsteen] was ... When you put it into context, what the guy was going through, never mind the company we were keeping with Tim and Josh and Beto and others, it was a pretty special night.

Some users on X commented that the governors seats were less than ideal, but Murphy disagrees. We had good seats as we always do. We werent in the elite [seats], you know, on the floor, but we were well-situated, he said. Its hard to complain at a Bruce Springsteen concert. You really have to go out of your way to not have a good time, and that night was no exception. We had a ball.

Walz is an admitted Springsteen fan. When the Boss played St Paul, Minn.s Xcel Energy Center last year, the governor declared March 5 Bruce Springsteen Day. The declaration called the concert a once-in-a-lifetime event and an opportunity to witness a living legend in action. Walz was also wearing a Springsteen shirt in a now-viral video with his daughter, Hope, at the Minnesota State Fair.

Springsteen has long been a fan of major politicians, whether the love is mutual or not (ahem, Chris Christie). He previously joined Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on their presidential campaigns. The Boss has a packed tour schedule this fall  including shows at Citizens Bank Park on Aug. 21 and Aug. 23  but maybe hell find time for a Harris/Walz rally.
The first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine were delivered to Penn Medicine's Pennsylvania Hospital Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Read more

The University of Pennsylvania is suing German drugmaker BioNTech over royalty payments for the COVID-19 vaccine it made with Pfizer using mRNA technology developed by Penn scientists.

In the federal complaint filed Monday in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Penn alleges that BioNTech hasnt paid the university all of what it is owed.

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Penn declined to share more information about the financial agreement with BioNTech, and financial information has been redacted from the publicly available complaint.

Penn contends that BioNTech agreed to pay royalties on worldwide sales of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine, but has paid only for sales in countries in which the university has patents for the mRNA technology. The university also says BioNTech paid a lower royalty rate than Penn is entitled to.

 READ MORE: Scientists Nobel-winning vaccine research brought Penn prestige  and a whole lotta money

Penn and BioNTech have been in discussions regarding the calculation of royalties for over a year, the German company said in a statement to The Inquirer.

We disagree with the positions being taken by the University of Pennsylvania, and intend to vigorously defend ourselves against their allegations, a BioNTech spokesperson said.

Penns role in COVID-19 vaccine

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine that rolled out in late 2020 utilizes patented technology that was developed by Penn researchers Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman. They were the first to discover a way to harness the bodys own genetic code to develop new therapeutics and won the Nobel Prize last fall for their work.

Penn licensed the technology to BioNTech and Moderna in August 2020 through a subsidiary, Cellscript LLC, in return for royalties from sales.

The university alleges that BioNTech is breaching the licensing contract in two ways.

First, Penn says it is getting paid royalties only on sales in countries where the university has patent rights for mRNA. The university says it should be paid royalties on all sales worldwide.

Penn also said that BioNTech didnt calculate the amount of royalties correctly.

The contract allows BioNTech to reduce its payments to Penn if the amount of royalties it pays other companies exceeds a certain amount. (The amount is redacted in the complaint.) Penn argues that BioNTech lowered its royalties rate prematurely.

Penn is seeking full royalty payments under patent licensing agreements that enabled BioNTech to develop its marketed COVID vaccine, a Penn spokesperson said.

A major windfall

The publicly available civil complaint is redacted and did not include the financial terms of the agreement, how much has been paid, or the percent of revenue that BioNTech agreed to pay.

But Penn has received $1.6 billion between 2021 and 2023 from BioNTech in royalties related to the COVID-19 vaccine, according to an Inquirer analysis of data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Open Payment system, which tracks transactions from pharmaceutical and medical device companies to health-care providers and teaching hospitals.

There are limits on how Penn can use the money it receives from royalties. Under 1980 federal law that allows universities to benefit financially from government-funded basic science research, Penn must put the money back into early scientific research.

In the civil complaint, Penn alleges that the university is owed significant additional royalties that, once recouped from BioNTech, will fund further scientific research.

Staff writer Ryan W. Briggs contributed to this article.
A man who sent his son into a restaurant for a robbery that ended in the shooting death of Philly rapper PnB Rock was convicted of murder on Wednesday.

Freddie Trone, 42, did not pull the trigger in the shooting, but Los Angeles prosecutors said he orchestrated the robbery that led to the rappers death. After less than four hours of deliberation, the jury agreed.

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The 30-year-old rapper, whose real name is Rakim Hasheem Allen, was shot multiple times while being robbed of about $500,000 of jewelry in South Los Angeles in September 2022. He was eating with his fiancee, Stephanie Sibounheuang, at Roscoes Chicken & Waffles at the time he was attacked.

Trones 17-year-old son was charged with Allens death, but a judge ruled last month that he was not competent to stand trial. Because he was charged as a juvenile, law enforcement has declined to release his name.

In addition to the murder charge, Trone was found guilty of two counts of robbery and one count of conspiracy. His codefendant, Tremont Jones, 46, was also found guilty of two counts of robbery and one count of conspiracy. Prosecutors said Jones tipped off Trone to Allens whereabouts.

Allens mother, Deannea Allen, told Rolling Stone shortly after the verdict that she was elated at the outcome. I wanted to jump up and scream, Hallelujah, she said. Im so happy it was quick. We got justice for Rakim. I feel better knowing theyll be in jail for a long time.

The case against Trone hinged on a six-minute period in which prosecutors said he left the parking lot of the restaurant before returning with his son, whom he armed with a gun, ski mask, and instructions to carry out the robbery.

Trone maintained his innocence, saying he did not drive his son to the crime scene, but the jury foreman, Edwin Lovo, said surveillance camera footage showed Trone driving the getaway car. Lovo said jurors were able to identify Trone by his distinctively frayed pants.

The crime cut short the life of one of Philadelphias biggest rap stars of the last decade, with such hits as Selfish and Notice Me that skillfully blended rap and R&B. Allen grew up in the Germantown section of Philadelphia and took the PnB name from the intersection of East Pastorius and Baynton Streets.
Women of Indian descent who are playing key roles in presidential politics  including former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Usha Vance  embody the spirit of the American dream, Priya E. Mammen writes. Read more

By any measure, its been an extraordinary summer in presidential politics. Between the shooting of Donald Trump, Joe Bidens exit from the campaign, Kamala Harris rise, and the selections of JD Vance and Tim Walz as their parties vice presidential nominees, it has been an unforgettable few months.

Yet for me, a marker of this period, will remain an observation that grew to a full realization through the crescendo of a reverberating drumbeat in my mind: Indian American women have arrived.

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Never before in our nations history have two South Asian American women played such a prominent role in presidential politics  one, Harris, as the Democrats pick for commander in chief, and the other, Usha Vance, as the wife of Trumps Republican running mate and a crucial partner in her husbands rapid rise.

As a South Asian American of Indian descent and a daughter of immigrants, seeing women who share my background playing such pivotal roles in the presidential election is powerful. Whereas others have focused on fraught discussions of DEI hires and when someone started becoming Black, I see first-generation Americans taking the opportunities their parents struggled to give them and advancing to the national stage in the span of a few decades through determination, excellence, and accomplishment.

As daughters of immigrants, Kamala Harris and Usha Vance were handed the batons their families carried as they came to the United States and bravely stepped into the unknown. And, in their own ways, both of those women took their batons, ran  and then flew. They embody the spirit of the American dream.

In actuality, South Asian Americans have been a part of this entire presidential campaign period as both Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, earlier Republican candidates, are also first generation Americans of Indian descent.

The three of them (Harris, Vance, and Ramaswamy) have South Indian origins, a nuance that is notable perhaps only to other Indians, as the more commonly known foods, clothes, traits, and celebrations in the U.S. are often from North Indian culture.

In fact, I was surprised to learn that Ramaswamy was from Kerala, the same Indian state as my family, and immediately texted my father to ask if he knew this. His comically curt response, No. He brings no honor to the diaspora, perfectly illustrates our shared belief that no matter how one looks or where one comes from, its the actions, values, integrity and track record that we scrutinize, especially in those for whom we might cast a vote.

Like mine, the stories of Kamala Harris, Usha Vance, Nikki Haley, and Vivek Ramaswamy are neither rags to riches nor completely self-made.

Each comes from middle-class families in India, the largest democracy in the world; each are the product of highly educated parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents, whose careers included new discoveries and creating new knowledge as researchers and scholars, caring for and healing countless patients and families as physicians, and educating and empowering generations of children and young adults as teachers and educators, among others.

Their trajectories began from the privilege brought by education, knowledge, awareness, and belief in unending possibilities  that which beckons with the notion that nothing is impossible if you work for it, but nothing is entitled.

A look across many major industries shows people of South Asian descent in key leadership positions in the U.S. and around the world.

A review done in 2024 showed the largest cohort of nonwhite CEOs in the U.S. were Asian/Indian. In the last decade or so, leaders of Indian descent broke into lists such as CEOs of Fortune 500, Forbes richest people in the world, New York Times bestsellers, and the Group of Seven (G7) in greater numbers than ever before.

A review done in 2024 showed the largest cohort of non-white CEOs in the U.S. were Asian/Indian.

Whether business, engineering, journalism and media, computer science, law, medicine, education, entrepreneurship, literature, film, and a variety of STEM fields, people of South Asian descent have made their indelible mark, their presence known and their voices heard. A visible cohort has been promoted through broad recognition of their expertise and leadership acumen, setting the precedent to normalize South Asians in those echelons  although women still lag.

A look closer to home, in the academic medical arenas of Philadelphia, doesnt paint the same picture. Consistent with my own experiences as a physician, others have written before about the lack of diversity among the high tiers of Philadelphias medical colleges and hospitals.

South Asians, or people of South Asian descent, are not a minority in the world of medicine; in fact, Indian ethnicity makes up the largest subgroup of Asian applicants to medical school, which is in itself the second most represented race/ethnicity group, behind white people, of all medical school applicants and active physicians in the U.S.

Yet studies have shown that despite making up a significant proportion of academic physicians and faculty, Asians were far less likely to be promoted to leadership positions, less likely to receive equitable grant funding, including the prestigious National Institute of Health R01 grants, or be recognized by national academies and medical speciality associations.

It has been postulated that the characteristics that lend to the model minority trope  hardworking, quiet, assimilating, goal-oriented  are the same reason they are overlooked for leadership roles or have the everyday experience of exclusion and invisibility.

The attributes that lend to the model minority trope  hardworking, quiet, assimilating, goal-oriented  may be the same reason some Indian Americans are overlooked for leadership roles.

In Philadelphia, chairs across academic medicine are a largely homogenous group in place for decades. The birthplace of American medicine has not reflected the changing demographics of its brethren in its leaders, and instead train their gaze to physicians who are more academic or who are perceived as having gravitas  code words commonly used that effectively exclude applicants who are not white.

The existing medical power structures are apparently comfortable with the anchored perspective of Eurocentric patriarchal leadership they perpetuate rather than widening their views to the qualities, skill sets, and competencies that would propel toward future and sustained success. Ironically, for me and many Asian American women like me, we seem to have been penalized for not complying with the quiet and meek Asian stereotype, instead being willing to use our voices when we get to the table.

I left that world because I felt its limitations for my missions and goals  reflected in the words of Amanda Gorman: And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us, but what stands before us. I chose to look and explore beyond and saw representation reflected in the problem solvers of our time  the ones who dare step into the arena, ask probing questions, poke the status quo, willing to speak truth to power, and work for benefit beyond their own.

More and more, when I look up, I see others of South Asian descent  particularly Indian American women  who advocate for themselves and others, who lean in with curiosity to listen and learn, who use their knowledge and expertise to influence, build partnerships, develop collaborations and bring others along, and who have the courage to always push for better, in themselves and the systems around them.

Kamala Harris, Usha Vance, and Nikki Haley and have made it possible for me, and generations of South Asian American women and girls, including my incredible nieces, coming behind me, to realize and boldly declare: I look like a leader.

Priya E. Mammen is an emergency physician and public health specialist whose work focuses on underserved and marginalized populations and improving health care equity. @PEMammen
A poster for the CROWN Act (Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) in the office of Pennsylvania House of Representatives Speaker Joanna McClinton at the Capitol in Harrisburg on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. Black girls who wear protective hairstyles (such as braids, locs, knots, afros, or twists) are routinely subjected to school rules prohibiting these forms of expression. Read more

At the start of each school year, districts across Pennsylvania, including the School District of Philadelphia, distribute their updated school rules  often called the code of conduct or student and family handbook.

These important documents set forth school rules that are often subjective, vague, and a main driver of racially discriminatory practices. These rules play a large part in determining whether Black girls, who face a unique set of challenges in public schools, can learn in supportive education spaces with fair rules.

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Schools have a clear legal duty to uphold every students right to learn free from discrimination or harassment, including on the basis of race, sex, and disability. But Black girls are especially harmed by subjective rules and their selective, discriminatory enforcement, despite these legal protections and even when their behaviors are comparable to their peers.

Our 2023 report revealed that anti-Black racism pervades all facets of students education. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania has some of the countrys most inequitable conditions: Black and brown children are concentrated in grossly underfunded schools. Many students attend schools where there are no teachers of color or any mental health counselors. These harmful school conditions undermine a childs ability to learn and thrive.

Both school rules and how they are enforced set Black and brown students up to be punished. School dress and grooming codes particularly harm Black girls and fuel adultification bias (treating Black girls as adults instead of children). Black girls who wear protective hairstyles (such as braids, locs, knots, afros, or twists) or express themselves by wearing specific styles (such as hoop earrings, bonnets, and headscarves) are routinely subjected to school rules prohibiting these forms of expression.

Racist and sexist rules like these push out Black girls, who are suspended at rates seven times higher than white girls, according to federal data.

Due to systemic racism and disinvestment, Black girls are more likely to attend schools where police are an everyday fixture and misused as disciplinarians, enforcing racist and sexist rules  arresting students in the process.

Pennsylvania schools have among the highest rates of student arrest in the nation: Black girls are detained at rates five times higher than white girls, despite equivalent behavior, and deal with the often lifelong collateral damage that comes from entering the juvenile or adult legal system.

Amaiyah Monet Parker, a Pennsylvania public school graduate who now attends college, shared her expertise about how rules shaped her experience. Black girls bodies are constantly policed, and they are often criminalized. They dont even have the security to unapologetically be themselves without the fear of judgment. If Black girls cant be children in schools, where can they be children?

Toxic school cultures hold Black girls back and hurt their mental health and overall well-being. But we have the power to transform our schools and communities.

One example is the CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair), HB 1394, which passed the Pennsylvania House in 2023 and is now before the Senate. We urge its passage. It is time for Pennsylvania to join the growing majority of states that have explicitly banned racial hair discrimination.

In the meantime, students in public schools should know that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the entity charged with enforcing our state antidiscrimination law, has adopted regulations that protect against racial discrimination on the basis of hair texture and protective hairstyle.

Schools must follow the law by reviewing their code of conduct policies to eliminate hair discrimination and other discriminatory and subjective school rules, and by providing frequent and transparent opportunities for students and families to provide input through surveys, feedback sessions offered by schools, and testimony at school board meetings.

Seventy years after Brown v. Board of Education  successfully challenging racial discrimination in public schools  we must exercise our collective voice and responsibility to demand that schools provide safe, supportive education spaces where Black girls can flourish without fear of discrimination or marginalization.

Black girls must be protected, affirmed, and celebrated in our schools. This is how they will thrive.

Paige Joki is a staff attorney at Education Law Center  Pennsylvania and leads ELCs Black Girls Education Justice Initiative. Tran T. Doan is a public voices fellow of the OpEd Project and AcademyHealth and an assistant professor at the Colorado School of Public Health.
Rather than face impeachment, and having lost Republican support, Richard Nixon announced he would resign the presidency on Aug. 8, 1974. Donald Trump was impeached twice but a GOP-controlled Senate declined to convict. Read more

Fifty years ago, Richard Nixon became the first and only American president to resign. A half-century later, that tumultuous event seems almost quaint compared to Donald Trumps unending corruption and criminality.

Nixon was toppled by what his spokesperson initially described as a third-rate burglary. In the end, Nixons lies, obstruction, and cover-up did him in.

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That came about because many Republican lawmakers, law enforcement appointees, and judges put the country before party politics. In a disgraceful turnabout, the opposite has happened throughout the Trump era.

A different media landscape played an important role back then. Three major TV networks and mainstream newspapers were trusted and ensured the public was provided a similar set of facts. There was no Fox News or social media landfill shaping public opinion with disinformation and conspiracy theories.

Todays right-wing echo chamber enables Trump to continue to get away with his crimes and corruption, while insulating Republican officials who enable him. Many within the GOP know their leader is dangerous, but they continue to look away at great risk to democracy.

Republicans can continue to avoid the truth, but the facts and history dont lie.

Trump is the first president to be impeached twice, including for inciting a deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol where his supporters hunted for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and wanted to hang then-Vice President Mike Pence. After both impeachments, most Republicans in the Senate refused to convict Trump, despite overwhelming evidence that detailed his roles.

Trump has been criminally indicted four times, including for widespread efforts to overturn an election and for stealing classified documents. Aileen Cannon, the Trump-appointed federal judge overseeing the classified documents case, ignored legal and historical precedent and dismissed the matter.

The Supreme Court, which includes three Trump appointees, went one extreme step further by granting Trump and future presidents immunity from many crimes. The courts bending to Trumps crooked will stand in stark contrast to how a Supreme Court with four Nixon appointees held him accountable.

Trump has been criminally convicted for a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election by paying hush money to an adult film actress who said the two had sex. Rather than condemn Trumps conviction, House Speaker Mike Johnson and other leading Republicans attended the trial in support while Fox News worked to discredit the case.

 READ MORE: Donald Trump is a clear and present danger | Editorial

More than two dozen women have accused Trump of sexual assault as he bragged about grabbing women by their genitals. A jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing a woman, which a federal judge said met the common definition of rape.

Trumps treatment of women should be more than enough to disqualify him from holding office. Instead, Trump supporters threatened the life of the woman he assaulted, E. Jean Carroll, who now says she sleeps with a loaded gun.

A judge found that for more than a decade, Trump orchestrated a massive business fraud and ordered him to pay a $355 million penalty. Thats on top of Trumps six bankruptcies, tax-dodging schemes, and more than a dozen other failed businesses. Yet the majority of Republicans think Trump was a successful businessman.

Trump also profited off of the presidency. His businesses received millions from 20 foreign governments during his time in office. Trumps son-in-law received a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia for his fledgling private equity fund, with no experience in that line of work. Republicans responded with unfounded claims about the Biden crime family.

Then there was the recent blockbuster story by The Washington Post. The same paper that led the Watergate coverage reported that while Trump was in office, federal investigators uncovered evidence that he received $10 million from the Egyptian government days before the 2016 election.

If true, Trump was apparently on the take before he set foot in the White House and should never be allowed back. The story has received little attention, especially in Republican circles.

Federal law prohibits U.S. candidates from taking foreign funds. In fact, Sen. Bob Menendez (D., N.J.) was recently convicted of accepting bribes and acting as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government. He plans to resign.

But Bill Barr, Trumps attorney general, reportedly led the effort to shut down the investigation. Barr also dishonorably led the cover-up of Robert Muellers investigation into Russias efforts to interfere with the 2016 election. Muellers report did not find any collusion between Trump and Russia, but it detailed 10 instances where he attempted to obstruct the investigation.

Barr released a summary of the report that claimed no wrongdoing by Trump. But a federal judge later found Barr made misleading public statements to spin findings in his boss favor. A federal appeals court found Barr wrongly withheld information regarding the findings of the Russia probe.

Trumps corruption and criminality make him unfit for office. But Republicans have nominated him for president for a third time. The shameful support of a convicted felon by the GOP, Fox News, and MAGA followers differs from the Watergate scandal.

Back then, many Republicans put their constitutional oath above subservience to a corrupt leader. Starting with Attorney General Elliot Richardson, a Nixon appointee, who named Archibald Cox, a Democrat, as special prosecutor to investigate the Watergate break-in.

After Nixon fired Cox, Richardson quit in protest. Leon Jaworski, who twice voted for Nixon, was named special prosecutor and soon pushed for a subpoena seeking the release of conversations Nixon recorded in the Oval Office.

Nixon tried to quash the subpoena, but federal Judge John Sirica, an appointee of Republican Dwight Eisenhower, ordered Nixon to release the tapes in a search for the truth.

Nixon appealed to the Supreme Court, claiming presidential immunity. But the court, which included four Nixon appointees, voted 8-0 to order the president to turn over the tapes. They showed Nixon approved the cover-up plans six days after the break in.

 READ MORE: To serve his country, Donald Trump should leave the race | Editorial

Justice William Rehnquist recused himself because he served in the Justice Department under Nixon. Thats unlike Clarence Thomas, who has participated in all Trump cases before the court despite his wifes role in supporting the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection  which legal ethicists say is wrong.

Eventually Republican House and Senate leaders, including Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania, traveled to the White House to let Nixon know GOP support had evaporated. During Trumps impeachments, no Republicans dared pay a similar visit.

Facing likely impeachment and a criminal grand jury preparing charges of bribery, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice, Nixon announced his resignation on Aug. 8, 1974.

Nixon said he must put the interests of America first. Gerald Ford became president and pardoned Nixon, a move that cost him any chance of election in 1976.

In the end, many Republicans understood then that no one in America is above the law, including presidents. The GOP of yesterday stood up to Nixon; the GOP of today continues to bow down to Trump.

Voters will soon have a chance to get on the right side of history.
My phone started ringing even before Donald Trump took the stage at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago last week.

A week later, Im still hearing from folks.

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Im at peace with the organizations decision to interview Trump. So is NABJ president Ken Lemon who told me earlier this week that he has zero regrets about it.

We had a battery of questions from the Black perspective for him to consider, Lemon told me Monday. He stumbled all over the place.

Journalists play a crucial role in shining light on subjects in a way that, hopefully, brings about positive change. Lemon said the organizations decision to host Trump was in line with that mission.

As journalists, we are called to make sure that we speak truth to power, he said. In a case like this, this is an individual who wants to be the leader of the free world.

Lemon added: This was the first time we got to see him walk into a place where people were going to bring serious questions about Black issues for an extended period of time.

And the moderators of Trumps panel at the convention brought plenty of serious questions. But, as the late Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Les Payne used to tell students, sometimes you have to Tell the truth, and duck.

After his appearance onstage last week, theres no ducking the truth about Trump.

He was rude to ABC news correspondent Rachel Scott, who was one of the co-moderators.

He mocked the racial background of Vice President Kamala Harris, who is both Black and Asian American.

Trump even told a room full of Black journalists that he was the best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln  which is ridiculous. If Id been there in person, I would have laughed out loud as others in that ballroom did.

I respect journalists such as White House correspondent April D. Ryan and others who went on social media to complain about his presence.

NABJ conventions are sacred. These annual homecomings offer much-needed respite from a competitive industry in which only 6% of reporting journalists are Black, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center. NABJ gatherings allow for Black journalists like me to gather and lick our collective wounds, attend professional workshops, network, and get reenergized.

NABJ has previously extended invitations to presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle. That the 49-year-old organization didnt make an exception this time around was OK with me, even though I would have organized things much differently.

The best thing that came out of the spectacle is that undecided voters got another chance to watch an unedited version of The Trump Show, and ask themselves if they really wanted to endure another four long years of it.

As Lemon pointed out, Opportunities like this really help to inform voters. People arent going to forget what happened on that stage any time soon.

I am proud of NABJ.

I am proud to be a co-founder of NABJs new Philly chapter.

I am also proud of Scott. She demonstrated how journalists need to fact-check in real time instead of letting interview subjects spread misinformation.

Trump, who has a history of responding negatively to strong women who challenge him, told her: I dont think Ive ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner, a first question.

Then he added, You dont even say Hello, how are you? Are you with ABC? Because I think theyre a fake news network.

I wish she had responded by saying, I think youre a fake presidential candidate.

Instead, Scott maintained her professionalism. She understood the assignment, as the saying goes, and did the best she could in face of his deliberate evasiveness and obfuscation of the truth.

Trump lives in a different reality than the rest of us.

After the interview, he posted on his Truth Social account that the questions were Rude and Nasty, often in the form of a statement, but we CRUSHED IT!

If he didnt still have almost a 50-50 chance of winning the presidential election in November, his shenanigans might be funny. Instead they are downright scary.
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have agreed to appear at a previously scheduled presidential debate on ABC on Sept. 10, the network confirmed Thursday.

Trump had backed out of a debate with Harris on Sept. 10, one that originally was to have been against President Joe Biden before he withdrew his reelection bid and endorsed Harris. The location of the now-back-on debate remains to be determined.

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During a news conference at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday, Trump proposed three debates with Harris in September. In addition to the one on ABC, he proposed one for Sept. 4 on Fox News in Pennsylvania and Sept. 25 on NBC.

I think its very important to have debates, Trump told reporters.

Following a campaign event with auto workers in Michigan, Vice President Kamala Harris said shes glad Trump agreed to debate and said she would schedule her first major interview as the partys nominee before September.

Harris took questions from the traveling pool after Trump held a long-winded and falsehood-filled news conference earlier in the day, accusing her of dodging reporters questions. Harris said shed be open to more debates, as Trump has asked for. Asked why the former president originally backed out, she told the pool: I am beyond trying to speculate about how he thinks.

Trump also mentioned a potential vice presidential debate between his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R., Ohio), and Harris VP pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Watz, that would air on CBS, though its unclear if either the network or the Harris campaign are part of the proposal.

A vice presidential debate had been scheduled to take place at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa., on Sept. 25, but the event was canceled.

 READ MORE: Trump slams Shapiro, proposes new debates against Harris; Fetterman denies telling Harris about VP concerns

Trump is suing both ABC News and George Stephanopoulos after the longtime anchor said a jury concluded Trump raped E. Jean Carroll. That Manhattan jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse but not rape, which has a specific legal definition in New York.

Trump suggested on Fox & Friends Wednesday that lawsuit wouldnt prevent him from appearing on ABC to debate Harris, since the moderators would be World News Tonight anchor David Muir and ABC News Live Prime anchor Linsey Davis.

Its up to me, obviously, Trump said. I think debates are very important, and I think shell be exposed like Biden was exposed.
Tropical Storm Debby is putting a damper on Thursdays event plans for the campaigns of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

Harris and her newly announced running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, had been scheduled to appear in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday as part of a five-day battleground state tour. That event, however, has been postponed due to Debbys impacts on the region, which is expected to see heavy rain Thursday and Friday.

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A rescheduled date has not yet been announced. Harris and Walz will reportedly hold a second event in Michigan Thursday, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The cancellation in North Carolina marks the second this week, with the Harris campaign previously announcing the postponement of a Georgia event, also due to Debbys impact.

Likewise, Trumps running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R., Ohio), has postponed a planned Thursday trip to North Carolina that would have had him stop in Raleigh and Oakboro. Those events, the Trump campaign has announced, have also been postponed over severe weather concerns, and have not yet been rescheduled.

Trump himself had no events publicly scheduled Thursday, according to his campaign website. He is slated to appear at a rally in Bozeman, Mont., Friday.

Harris husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, however, will make an appearance Thursday  in Paris, the White House said. Emhoff is scheduled to travel to France Wednesday to attend the closing ceremony of the Olympics this weekend, and is slated to speak at an unspecified campaign event Thursday as part of the trip.

Harris, Walz, and Vance, meanwhile, were scheduled to make stops in Wisconsin and Michigan Wednesday, a day after the trio appeared at separate events in Philadelphia. Vance spoke at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia Tuesday morning, followed by Harris and Walzs rally at the Liacouras Center in North Philadelphia in the evening.

The Liacouras Center event marked Harris and Walzs first public appearance together on the campaign trail, kicking off their multistate tour.

The Trump campaign plans to follow the Harris-Walz tickets tour closely this week, with Vance appearing in several of the same battleground states, Politico reports.
A meme comparing Kamala Harris' running mate, Tim Walz, to pop star Chappell Roan may have inspired a viral piece of campaign merch. We explain why this simple camo hat has gone viral within hours. Read more

To the untrained eye, a freshly listed piece of Vice President Kamala Harris presidential campaign merch seems like, well, just a hat.

But fashion experts and pop culture enthusiasts say theres deeper meaning behind the now-viral camouflage hat with orange embroidery.

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After Harris announced Tim Walz as her running mate, Democratic pockets of the internet celebrated the selection, pointing to Walzs policy track record  along with his dad jokes and Midwest charm. Memes about Walz may have even inspired the first sellout piece of Harris-Walz official merch within hours of its unveiling with an initial batch of 3,000 hats selling out in less than half an hour, according to the campaign. Its since been relisted for purchase, but is on back-order through October.

The meme-to-merch pipeline

It started here: A meme that quickly made the rounds swapped Walzs face over pop star Chappell Roans Midwest Princess album cover, dubbing the Minnesota governor the Midwest Prince.

Around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Eric Ziminsky  who worked as a senior designer on Joe Bidens presidential campaign and transition team, according to his LinkedIn  quote tweeted the Walz-Roan meme with a mock-up of a hat design.

Hear me out, Ziminsky wrote, attaching a photo of a camo hat with an orange Harris-Walz design meant to parody Roans official merch, a camo trucker hat that says Midwest Princess. Eight hours later, Harris team launched an uncanny real version. By 10:15 p.m., Walz tweeted a photo of himself wearing the hat.

Ziminsky told The Inquirer he was not involved with the creation of the actual merch and was impressed by the speed of Harris team.

I just made [the mock-up] for fun online when the Chappell Roan/Tim Walz memes started coming out, he said. The fact they have a camo hat out is a testament to their great design, marketing, and digital platform teams.

The campaign said the hats were designed by an in-house creative team, with prototypes made by 1:30 p.m. A small batch was printed in Philadelphia in order to get them to Walz and his family.

Following the hats drop, comparisons to Roans merch immediately rolled in.

Its, of course, impossible to confirm if the Harris team went with this motif on purpose  a spokesperson did not comment on the record. But even Roan noticed the similarities, asking in a tweet if the hat was real. It wouldnt be the Harris teams first attempt to garner relevance through pop culture nods, as we saw with the campaigns hard lean into Brat culture inspired by Charli XCXs summer album.

Who is camouflage for?

And while Roan isnt the first artist to sell a camouflage hat, the similarities have drawn a number of jokes from fans who have commented on LGBTQ+ artists reclaiming camo  Boygenius also released a popular camouflage shirt earlier this year with proceeds going to the Tennessee Equality Project.

How gay do u have to be to see hunting colors and think its a Chappell Roan thing? one tweet with nearly 200,000 views said before adding, It has recently come to my attention that this may indeed be a Chappell roan thing.

Still, fashion experts say the hats aesthetic could be a stroke of unifying genius  even for consumers who have no idea who Chappell Roan is  since camouflage is usually a styling choice among hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.

Walz describes himself as an avid hunter, even going as far as suggesting in an interview last week with Anderson Cooper that his new vice presidential opponent, JD Vance, cant shoot pheasants like I can.

Walz has often been seen sporting camo hats and was wearing one in a video filmed while Harris called him, asking him to be her running mate.

Another popular meme going around in light of the Harris-Walz announcement is a tweet that calls Walz an REI hire, a nod to the popular outdoor supply store.

Harris-Walz hat sells out in hours  and how to buy it

While the initial batch of hats sold out quickly, the Harris campaign converted the page into a preorder sale Wednesday morning, which continues to be live as of publication time  but with a back-order notice.

The original batch of hats was expected to ship in September, according to the campaign website. The new batch of preorder hats are listed with an anticipated ship date of mid-October.

The American and union-made hats retail for $40 on the Harris campaign website.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks at a rally at the Liacouras Center at Temple University in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Aug 6, 2024. Harris announced the selection of Walz ahead of their visit to Philadelphia. Read more

Depending on who you ask, the nickname Republican operatives have given Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz  Tampon Tim  can be seen as an insult or a compliment.

The title, which has been used by former Donald Trump adviser Stephen Miller and other conservative-leaning critics, originally stems from a law that Walz signed surrounding access to menstrual products.

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The school safety bill requires Minnesota public schools to provide menstrual products, including pads and tampons, to students in fourth through 12th grades.

The law  which took effect in January  has been widely celebrated, making Minnesota one of 28 states to pass laws that give students access to menstrual products. As noted by NPR, as president, Trump signed a 2018 package that requires federal prisons to provide them.

But Republican critics took issue with the legislations language, which acknowledges that people who menstruate are not necessarily women and that not all women have periods. Some challengers unsuccessfully tried to limit the law to only womens and gender-neutral restrooms.

Under Walz, who is now the Democratic nominee for vice president, Minnesota was one of the first states to protect gender-affirming care through an executive order, while other states banned or limited access to it.

In turn, some supporters are making light of the Tampon Tim nickname, celebrating Vice President Kamala Harris selection of a candidate with a progressive track record on points like health-care access and LGBTQ+ rights.

The Human Rights Campaign has lauded Walzs history of championing the LGBTQ+ community. As a teacher in 1999, he sponsored the schools first gay-straight alliance group and as a U.S. representative, hes opposed efforts advocates said would harm queer people.

As for what Walz has to say about the Tampon Tim nickname? He hasnt commented publicly on the title, but supporters are embracing it, using it in hashtags touting Walz and his candidacy.

 READ MORE: Did Gov. Tim Walz make weird happen?

This law exemplifies what we can accomplish when we listen to students to address their needs, Democratic Minnesota State Rep. Sandra Feist tweeted. Excited to see MN representation at the top of the ticket! #TamponTim

Hillary Clinton also spun the insult into a positive. When Libs of TikTok leader Chaya Raichik posted a photoshopped image of Walzs face on a Tampax box, Clinton reposted a screenshot with the caption: How nice of the Trump camp to help publicize Gov. Tim Walzs compassionate and common-sense policy of providing free menstrual products to students in Minnesota public schools! Lets do this everywhere.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker during a press conference at City Hall on Monday Aug. 5, 2024, as her office prepares to release the first citywide real estate reassessment in two years. Read more

Philadelphia released new property tax assessments on Wednesday for the first time since 2022. And with those assessments come brand new tax bills, due next year.

Property values increased citywide by more than 11% and lower income, majority neighborhoods of color continued to bear the brunt of that jump, according to an Inquirer data analysis.

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Philadelphia homeowners can expect to see their taxes increase by an average of more than $300, Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers administration announced Monday.

This round of assessments came after months of inexplicable delay from Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers administration. State law requires municipalities to complete new assessments by March, a deadline that Philadelphia blew. In contrast, the 2023 assessments, conducted in 2022, were released in early May.

Heres what you need to know about the citys newly released property assessments and your tax bill.

What is a property assessment?

Philadelphia values properties for taxation by attempting to estimate a homes market value, or the amount the property would sell for on the market.

The city relies on the sales data of surrounding similar homes, along with looking at other characteristics of each property, to make those calculations.

How are properties assessed and valued?

The Office of Property Assessment uses a computer-assisted mass appraisal system to value the roughly 580,000 buildings and properties in the city. This is only the second year the CAMA system has been used.

The citys tool takes into account features including buildings age, lot size, condition, the value of surrounding home sales, and other characteristics.

Philadelphias appraisals are designed to reflect the fair-market value, but lower-income neighborhoods and neighborhoods of color have been systematically and disproportionately impacted by assessments, despite reforms.

Montgomery Wilson, a senior attorney at Community Legal Services, said that although systemic inequities remain, the city is improving.

It has to be said that the city has worked steadily in improving its accuracy and uniformity, said Wilson, who worked on a study about the citys 2023 assessments and is part of a task force convened by Parker to assess remaining property assessment biases.

While multi-year assessments  which can reflect more substantial real estate growth  contribute to sticker shock Philadelphians feel when receiving their new values and tax bills, the city has found itself in a cyclical situation.

Bewildered property owners question and appeal their hiked tax assessments, which, in turn, overwhelms the Office of Property Assessment and leads the city to push assessments an additional year.

Still, said Wilson, Its impressive that OPA can do [assessments] every other year. Places such as Allegheny County, he noted in contrast, have not conducted new assessments in more than a decade, according to the countys website.

Where can I see my new property assessment?

New property valuations can be found by searching a tool on the citys website (property.phila.gov).

The city said it began mailing notices about new valuations and resulting tax bills Wednesday.

How do I calculate my tax bill?

Philadelphias real estate tax rate is 1.3998% of a propertys taxable value. The entire valuation of a property is not necessarily taxable due to certain exemptions, but more on that below.

You can tally up your bill by multiplying your new assessed value by the 1.3998%, or 0.013998. For example, if your home is valued at $250,000, youd multiply it by 0.013998 to get $3,499.50  your new tax bill.

When are the tax bills due?

The new, likely higher property valuations take effect on Jan. 1.

Property owners are expected to pay taxes based on this appraisal by March 31.

How do I appeal my assessment?

Owners who believe that their properties have been inaccurately valued can file a formal assessment appeal with the Board of Revision of Taxes or an informal appeal with the Office of Property Assessment.

The deadline for the appeals is Oct. 7. That leaves property owners just two months from Wednesday to appeal their new valuations.

My No. 1 concern is that 60 days is not enough for the BRT deadline, said Wilson, of Community Legal Services. People need to recognize that theyre on a really tight deadline to file their appeals before Oct. 7.

While informal appeals cant be filed until after property owners receive official communication about their assessments, a formal appeal can be filed now.

To file an informal appeal with OPA, property owners can request and fill out a First Level Review form to explain why they feel their assessment is inaccurate. This process avoids a hearing, and OPA will inform filers whether or not the office will adjust the valuation.

The formal BRT appeal form is available online and can be submitted by email, in person or by mail, though Wilson recommended the first two methods of delivery. After completing and submitting that form, BRT will schedule a hearing.

Though the deadline is tight, Wilson said, people can file an appeal after the deadline by filling out another form, called a nunc pro tunc and also available online, explaining why the appeal is late.

What tax relief or exemptions can I apply for?

The city now offers four primary tax relief or exemption programs with the addition of the new low-income tax freeze initiative.

Philadelphia has been absolutely proactive in trying to help homeowners who live in their homes keep their homes, said Wilson. I really think it is a model.

If you find yourself house rich and cash poor, heres what you can do:

Homestead exemption

The homestead exemption is a program for anyone who owns a primary residence in Philadelphia. It reduces a homes valuation by $100,000. Residents can apply online at the Philadelphia Tax Center website, or call the Homestead Hotline at 215-686-9200.

Senior citizen tax freeze

Homeowners who are 65 and older, single, and making $33,500 or less, or married and making no more than $41,500 are eligible for this program, which can freeze the amount of property tax homeowners pay. It can be applied retroactively to 2018. That means a homeowner who was at least 65 years old in 2018 can apply to freeze the tax rates at that number. Applications are available online.

Longtime Owner Occupants Program

LOOP is a program eligible to Philadelphia homeowners who have owned and lived in their properties for at least 10 years, and whose assessments have increased by at least 50% over the last year, or 75% over the last five years. The program freezes tax bills at either 50% or 75% of assessed value, respectively. For example, if a $100,000 propertys value increased to $200,000 between 2024 and 2025, LOOP would freeze that valuation at $150,000.

Homeowners can learn more and apply online (go to phila.gov/documents and use the search tool.)

Low-income property tax freeze

The city recently opened applications for this new program, which mirrors the senior citizen tax freeze and extends its benefits to people who meet the income threshold regardless of age. To qualify, you must make no more than $33,500 as a single person or $41,500 for a married couple.

Homeowners can learn more and apply online.

Eligible residents can also seek help with appeals and relief or exemption programs by calling the Philadelphia Legal Assistance Save Your Home Hotline at 215-334-4663, or reaching Community Legal Services directly at 215-981-3700.
The album cover of "Brat," Charli XCX's sixth studio album, released June 7, 2024. Image courtesy of Atlantic Records. Read more

While some may say Charli XCXs brat summer is dead, Philadelphia is keeping the pop culture phenomenon alive into September with themed drinks and dance parties.

Charli XCXs latest album, Brat, released in June, embraces a chartreuse aesthetic and celebrates being honest and unapologetically yourself. This sentiment reached the national political stage when the English pop star tweeted, Kamala IS brat, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president, with Harris campaign sharing brat memes in response.

From dance parties to lime green cocktails, Philadelphia offers plenty of ways to have a very bratty summer, culminating in Charlis concert in Philly on Sept. 25.

Charli XCX brat summer drink specials in Philly

48 Record Bar

Phillys audiophile cocktail bar, 48 Record Bar, inspired by Japans jazz kissas vinyl-listening culture, offers a brat green cocktail called the Lucky Number for $14. Its a complex concoction of citrus vodka, lemon, cucumber, mint bitters, egg white, and green chartreuse herbal liqueur.

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48 S. Second St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19106,  info@48recordbar.com,  48recordbar.com

Assembly Rooftop Lounge

Enjoy a Brat Girl cocktail at Assembly Rooftop Lounge, with its panoramic views of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, City Hall, and the Philly Museum of Art. The $17 frozen drink, a mix of Midori, vodka, lemon, lime, and simple syrup, is the perfect bright green sip for all the Brat girlies.

1840 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Philadelphia, Pa., 19103,  215-783-4171,  assemblyrooftop.com

Cake Life Bake Shop

This August, Cake Life Bake Shop in Fishtown, famous for baking Beyonce's birthday cake, is celebrating brat summer. The trans-owned artisanal bakery is offering chocolate-strawberry Bratcakes to honor Queen Charli. The $5.50 bright-green-frosted chocolate cupcake comes with a black glitter-dipped cherry on top.

1306 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, Pa., 19125,  215-268-7343,  cakelifebakeshop.com

The Elephant

The Elephant, a bar in Center City, is serving a Brat Summer, made with fresh watermelon juice, vodka, lemon and lime juice, matcha, basil, and salt for $10. Its garnished with a watermelon slice and best enjoyed while dancing with friends.

1500 Locust St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19102,  @theelephantphl

Oltremare and Oloroso

Both Oloroso Spanish tapas bar and Oltremare Italian restaurant offer the bratty cocktail the Jolly Green, a bold drink made with gin, Midori, lime, yuzu, and egg white.

1121 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19107,  267-324-3014,  olorosophl.com

121 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19103,  445-223-2093,  oltremarephl.com

Charli XCX dance parties

Center City bar and dance club Franky Bradleys is hosting a drag tribute to Brat on Friday, Aug. 23, at 8 p.m. Its presented by doll.redacted, Luis, and Savvy Baby, and stars Esme Eventide, Mew Ikki, Xtrella, Little Piece, and Jo-sephine Steel. Buy $15 tickets on Eventbrite, and dont miss the keep bumpin that after-party directly following the show for $10.

1320 Chancellor St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19107,  215-735-0735,  eventbrite.com

Fabrika is hosting a brat party in Fishtown on Friday, Aug. 16, featuring pop-up drag performances and club music that would make Charli XCX proud. RSVP before 11 p.m. for free entry; after, its $10 online and $20 at the door. The party runs from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

1108 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, Pa., 19125,  215-203-0202,  fabrikaphilly.com

Evil Genius is calling all 365 party girls to the Fishtown brewery on Saturday, Aug. 31, from noon to 5 p.m., for dancing thatll be so Julia, with exclusive Brat-themed summer beers and limited-edition Brat beer T-shirts for sale.

727 N. Front St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19122,  215-425-6820,  evilgeniusbeer.com

Finish off brat summer with the Queen Brat herself in concert at the Wells Fargo Center alongside Troye Sivan on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. Tickets are currently selling for more than $150 on Ticketmaster.

3601 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19148,  215-336-3600,  wellsfargocenterphilly.com
Shanxi noodles relish global fame in Paris

08:58, August 08, 2024 By Zhu Xingxin in Taiyuan and Zhou Huiying ( China Daily

Guo Zhanglong, owner of the Kung Fu Daoxiaomian restaurant near Notre Dame in Paris, France, poses for a selfie with his guests. PHOTO/CHINA DAILY

Every day, the Kung Fu Daoxiaomian restaurant, located next to the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, draws long lines of visitors looking for a serving of its daoxiao mian, or knife-cut noodles  a dish that bears testimony to the rich culinary heritage of North China's Shanxi province and the region's generations of skilled noodle masters.

Many residents and tourists are curious to have a taste of this special variety of Chinese noodles, making the restaurant a popular check-in spot in the French capital amid the Olympic Games. Even two-time Olympic flyweight champion Zou Shiming visited.

Little wonder that the restaurant's 36-year-old owner, Guo Zhanglong, has nearly 10 million followers on Chinese social media platforms, including Douyin, Kuaishou and Xiaohongshu.

"I truly want to promote the excellence of traditional Chinese cuisine and culture in Europe, and a bowl of noodles is more than delicious food. It also signifies mutual recognition, understanding and inclusivity," he said.

Guo, who was born in Yantai, East China's Shandong province, studied in France as an exchange student in 2011.

"I was both studying and working part time, while seeking business opportunities in Paris. I tried various odd jobs, including washing dishes in restaurants and delivering parcels," he said.

In 2012, Guo met a Chinese woman from Shanxi in Paris and they fell in love. The couple tied the knot in 2015.

"We went through some hard times together. We tried several businesses to improve our life  tourism, foreign trade, catering  but the situation didn't change much," he recalled.

At the end of 2019, Guo caught the rising wave of homemade short videos and established his own social media account. He began recording his experiences in France. His early content described the delicious food he was tasting, and followers came on board fast.

At the beginning of 2020, Guo's mother-in-law, Sun Shenglin, came to France for a visit from Datong, Shanxi. She could not return to China as scheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and her rich experience in the catering industry brought Guo luck.

Sun, a skilled knife-cut noodles master, won great praise from her son-in-law's friends and neighbors in Paris.

During Spring Festival in 2022, Guo organized a celebration that attracted more than 200 people. "We prepared a lot of Chinese dishes, but it wasn't enough, so my mother-in-law filled the gap by making some knife-cut noodles."

That was the start of a small Chinese miracle in Paris.

To Guo's surprise, his mother-in-law sliced more than 100 kilograms of dough and yet demand exceeded supply. As they watched Sun cut the dough at high speed and send the pieces flying into a pot, the guests likened her to a kung fu master.

At a friend's suggestion the next day, Guo completed the necessary procedures for setting up a stall to sell knife-cut noodles at an outdoor market in Paris. He decorated it with elements of Chinese culture, quickly making it the most eye-catching stall in the market.

In October last year, Guo opened an authentic Shanxi knife-cut noodles restaurant in central Paris and named it Kung Fu Daoxiaomian. In March, his restaurant opened a second outlet next to Notre Dame, attracting many Chinese and native Parisians.

"In the beginning, we were worried that foreigners might tire of the flavor, and wondered whether we should adjust and improve it slightly," Guo said.

"But my mother-in-law said the noodles have been around for 850 years and are already perfect, so there is no need for any improvement or innovation. We took her suggestion and gained acceptance beyond our imagination."

This year, in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations and the Paris Olympics, Guo was invited to several exchange activities where he shared his story.

"Currently, our knife-cut noodles have a very promising future in France. They embody the full charm of Chinese cuisine. Two more restaurant sites are undergoing renovations and are expected to open in the near future," he said.

"I hope to promote Chinese cuisine on the global stage. I also believe that with the help of short videos, more talented creators will join us to help Chinese culture go global," he added.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Liang Jun)
[The] announcement is welcome news for Western Australian motorists across the state. This addresses a key driver of cost for motor insurance in Western Australia, said ICA CEO Andrew Hall. The ICA and insurers have long called for reform of towing arrangements in WA to prevent price gouging and bring the State into line with other jurisdictions.
The Bruce Highway is the backbone of this state, its supposed to be a national highway but when you compare it to the Pacific or Hume, its substandard, he said. Those interstate highways have rightfully been upgraded to three, four, and five stars out of five for infrastructure safety, yet around half of the Bruce is still a poor two-star rating. In 2024, there is no way Queensland should have any two-star sections on the Bruce Highway.
More accurate understanding of farm risks is needed

Part of the problem is that the insurers and underwriters rarely actually see the farming operations they are assessing risks and coverages for. Martin said if they did actually see a feedlot, for example, theyd likely realise that some of the risks they worry about arent worth worrying about.
Group chief operating officer Jim Williamson declared: Strong, longstanding broker relationships are a hallmark of Everests business and central to our collective success. We are strengthening our commitment to the broker community with exceptional talent and service, who are highly attuned to the markets needs and deeply invested in delivering a world-class experience.
We take cybersecurity seriously and are committed to keeping all our stakeholders updated as we work to respond to this incident, the company said. We would like to assure our customers that we are taking all appropriate steps to remediate this situation as swiftly as possible and have also implemented sophisticated monitoring systems to ensure we are aware of any further developments.
Being an APRA [Australian Prudential Regulation Authority] regulated industry, all health insurance funds have detailed risk strategies in place and there is a lot of scrutiny around IT that even extends to independent audits and assessments, said Koce. The risk of a cyber breach or an IT shutdown is one of the things that keeps most health funds and regulators awake at night.
Columbia Insurance is a provider of personal and commercial risk solutions to clients in Washington, Oregon, and the broader US. With the acquisition, Mukensnabl and Columbia Insurance COO Whitney Norcup will continue to lead their team across the firms five locations while being supported by Clifford.
Im very excited about these well-earned promotions, Turner said when the succession plan was announced. All of these individuals are proven strategic leaders, have more than a decade of experience in senior positions within RT Specialty, and enjoy excellent relationships with clients, carrier trading partners, the larger insurance industry, and the entire RT Specialty team.
As Lockton Re grows and expands its global retro capabilities it is committed to attracting and retaining the most talented people in the market, but importantly talent that wants to work in a collaborative way, she said. I have seen this demonstrated at every level in this team since joining., with really talented people working together to do the best job for clients. It is amazing how refreshing that is - not only to work with, but from a clients perspective also.
I am honored and excited to take on the role of group CEO. It has been a privilege to be a part of the Everen Group and to lead Everen Limited as COO. I want to thank the board for its confidence as I step into this role, Foskey said.
A flight instructor charged with involuntary manslaughter for a crash that killed a student pilot in eastern Pennsylvania had surrendered his pilots certificate after two prior crashes with students aboard, prosecutors said in an indictment unsealed Monday.

Philip Everton McPherson II, 36, of Haddon Township, New Jersey, was in command of the single-engine Piper PA-28 when it left Queen City Airport in Allentown with the student on Sept. 28, 2022, according to the indictment. He told the National Transportation Safety Board that he took control of the plane from the 49-year-old student just after takeoff, when they encountered engine problems, according to an NTSB report.

The plane soon crashed and caught fire, killing the student, who was identified only by the initials K.K.. McPherson was seriously injured.

According to federal prosecutors in Philadelphia, McPherson knew he was not competent to fly the plane for several reasons. First, he had twice been instructing students at Central Jersey Regional Airport in New Jersey when their plane veered off the runway during attempted landings, causing substantial damage in incidents prosecutors described as crashes.

He then failed a certification exam and surrendered his pilots license in October 2021. He is also charged with 40 counts of illegally flying with passengers despite not having a pilots certificate after that date.

McPherson pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on bail, court records show. The charges carry a maximum potential sentence of 128 years in prison. His lawyer, public defender Jonathan McDonald, declined to comment on the case.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
State environmental officials in Maine on July 30 denied petitions from corporate owners of three Bucksport-area dams to forfeit ownership.

It was the second time within a week that the state Department of Environmental Protection identified deficiencies in the applications from dam owners Bucksport Mill, LLC and parent company AIM Demolition USA LLC, which filed to forfeit their dams on Alamoosook Lake, Silver Lake and Toddy Pond in early July.

The companies initial petitions were denied on July 23 for failing to properly describe the location of the dams and failing to notify the required stakeholders. Later that week they submitted some of the supplemental information the DEP requested, but continued notification lapses and missing dam condition reports led to the second denial.

Residents and local officials were shocked when the dam owners announced their forfeiture intentions.

News that the companies were seeking to give up ownership was announced in a public notice in the Bangor Daily News in early July after months of questions on what would happen to the structures, which hold back water on Silver Lake and Alamoosook Lake. Bucksport Mill, a subsidiary of Canadian firm American Iron and Metal, had been looking for an owner for the structures for months.

Critics have said that the companies did not appropriately notify local stakeholders of their petitions and improperly described the state-mandated process of forfeiting a dam, causing unnecessary fear among residents that the dams waters would be released far sooner than the legal process permits.

Reliance on Dams

Residents rely on the dams to maintain the artificial water levels in the impoundments that they have built their homes around, waters that also support a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fish hatchery and Bucksports municipal drinking water supply.

The denial shows that the department is taking AIMs requests to relinquish the dams seriously, Bucksport Town Manager Susan Lessard told The Maine Monitor. In addition to their importance to the communities, all three are classified as high risk, meaning human lives are in danger if the dams fail.

The petition was deficient in numerous ways and DEP is ensuring that all required information and steps are being supplied and followed, said Lessard, who is also chair of the citizen board that oversees the DEP.

Both companies now have until Aug. 11 to fully notify local stakeholders and submit reports on the dams conditions. Otherwise they will have to restart the process and renotify all residents, municipalities and other local entities.

Neither an AIM official nor attorney listed on AIMs petition responded to requests for comments.

What happens if the applications are accepted, however, has never been tested. Some are concerned that the way state law is written could leave area residents or municipalities stuck with the dams and all of their operation and maintenance costs.

Uncharted Territory

Officials for the state agencies mentioned in the law overseeing dam forfeiture could not recall a time in the laws more than two-decade history that the process was followed all the way through.

The most recent requests to relinquish dam ownership both came in 2013. One petition was from the owner of a Lincoln County dam on Clary Lake and another from a small pond dam owner in Waldo County. Both petitions were denied, according to DEP Deputy Commissioner David Madore, and neither owner refiled.

The Clary Lake dam was eventually acquired by its namesakes lake association and the pond dam is privately owned by an individual, according to a federal dam database.

Should a petition be accepted by DEP, a state law from 1995 mandates a 180-day consultation period between the dam owner and neighboring lake associations, residents abutting the dammed waterway, and local and state officials to determine whether someone else may want to assume ownership.

In the case of AIMs dams, local pond and lake association members say that this part of the process doesnt provide the information that an interested owner would need to determine the condition of the dam and the costs to operate and maintain it.

Dam owners have to submit recent inspection and maintenance reports to DEP, which AIM has failed to do. But they do not have to provide detailed studies on the long-term future of the dams.

We have no idea what the conditions the dams are in other than a (Maine Emergency Management Agency) report from 2021, said Marc Restuccia, chair of the Orland Watershed Committee and a member of the Toddy Pond Association.

AIM has not released any kind of engineering information, nor any kind of costs of what theyve done to upkeep it. So we really have a very vague idea.

Insurance Costs

Theres also the liability that the new dam owner would assume, requiring steep insurance costs that could be tens of thousands of dollars per year, according to other lake associations Restuccia and Toddy Pond contacted.

If costs prove to be restrictive and a new local owner isnt found, theres a review process that tasks three Maine agencies to each take up to 60 days to determine a dams maintenance costs and public value. After review, the agency can either take ownership of the dam or notify the next agency to assess the dam.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is first on that list. According to state law, the department would have to judge the costs of dam maintenance and the value to fisheries and wildlife of either maintaining the dam or releasing its water.

Although the department owns 82 dams, it has never taken over one that has been forfeited under this law.

In the 26 years that I have been at the department, and in talking with those that have been here longer than I have, (nobody can) recall an instance of us taking ownership of a dam through this process, said Mark Latti, the departments director of communications.

Latti said the department would look at the habitat upstream and downstream of the dam; identifying any unique features or species. Then it would consider whether lowering the water level behind the dam would harm that habitat; like leaving loon nests high and dry.

If those features would benefit from leaving the dam in place, then the department might take over and maintain water levels. If not, then the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry does a similar review  this time focusing on public recreation and conservation value.

The Maine Emergency Management Agency takes the last bite of the apple if the other two agencies pass. Unlike DACF and DIFW, however, MEMA doesnt own any dams, nor does it have specified funds for dam management, officials said.

Nevertheless, as the law is written MEMA could acquire the dam if there is a public safety component that needs to be addressed  like an imminent risk of dam failure.

Water Release

Only after this review process, if no new owner has been found, could the department order the owner to release the dams water in the least-impactful way.

Based on what the dams support on each waterway  like a drinking water supply, community property values, and a fish hatchery  Lessard seemed hopeful that they would be ascribed some sort of public good should the quest for a new owner fail.

Lessard and officials from neighboring Orland, Surry, Penobscot and the lake associations all met earlier this week to coordinate their efforts ensuring that all residents stay apprised of any developments and lowering water levels is ultimately avoided.

Tad Van Leer, president of the Alamoosook Lake Association, left the meeting feeling hopeful under Lessards leadership, in spite of the frustration hes felt with the situation.

Theres no method of remediation or anything else, and this whole thing has to be solved by the Maine legislature Van Leer said.

Im real comfortable having (Lessard) lead the five towns that are most affected by this. Shes smart. Shes connected. And if anyone can do this, its going to be her.

This story was originally published by The Maine Monitor and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Maine
XPT Specialty, headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut, appointed Tyler Myers as transportation underwriter.

Myers has over 10 years of experience as a broker specializing in underwriting commercial automobile risks. He began his career as an associate underwriter at Burns & Wilcox and most recently served as that companys transportation underwriting director.

Falvey Founder Will Transition to Executive Chairman

Effective January 1, 2025, Falvey Insurance Group CEO Mike Falvey will transition to executive chairman. He will continue to provide guidance and strategic insights to Falvey leadership in an advisory role and maintain his role as chairman of the board.

Falvey founded the North Kingstown, Rhode Island-based company in 1995 with just two employees. Nearly 30 years later, Falvey has evolved into Falvey Insurance Group, with 36 partner carriers via 5 MGAs.

Moving into the chief executive officer position will be Jack Falvey, who is currently the groups chief operating officer.

Topics Excess Surplus Underwriting
British insurer Beazley upgraded its combined ratio forecast for 2024 on Thursday after first-half pretax profit nearly doubled, boosted by growth in its property risks premiums and fewer catastrophe losses, sending its shares up 10%.

The insurer, which commands about 8% of the global cyber insurance market according to analysts, had soothed investor concerns last month by saying its annual forecasts were unaffected by the CrowdStrike outage.

Attritional losses were better and there were fewer catastrophe losses than we had budgeted for in the first half of the year, CEO Adrian Cox told Reuters.

JPMorgan analysts said Beazleys updated forecast assumes that both catastrophe losses and attritional claims revert back to normal levels in second half, which suggests that the guidance is being set conservatively.

Shares were up 10% in early trade, making it the top gainer on the London bluechip index .FTSE.

Cox told Reuters he expects the massive IT outage last month to have an impact on demand for cyber insurance particularly outside the United States, where the market is still smaller and the penetration of cyber insurance is lower.

I think in terms of insurer behavior theres long been discussion about systemic risk, this is the latest in a number of such sort of single points of failure issues that have happened this year, Cox said.

I think that needs to be absorbed by the cyber market and I think it could have an impact on pricing, he said, adding that the market got more competitive in the first half and he expects prices to flatten out a little bit.

Profit before tax was $728.9 million in the six months to June 30, compared with $366.4 million a year ago, Beazley said.

Beazley, which offers insurance for cyber liability, property, marine, reinsurance, accident and life, and political risks, said the undiscounted combined ratio is expected to be around 80%, from a previous forecast of low 80s.

A combined ratio  measuring an insurers profitability  of above 100 indicates an underwriting loss. A lower figure indicates better profitability.

(Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; editing by Savio DSouza and Janane Venkatraman; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

Topics Trends Carriers Profit Loss
DARAG Group, the Malta-based legacy acquisition company, announced it has agreed to sell its North American and Bermuda business entities to the RiverStone Group, a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd.

The sale, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close by year end. Financial details were not disclosed.

DARAG said this transaction simplifies its operations and allows the group to focus on its core European business, bringing additional capital to execute its strong pipeline of European transactions, several of which are in advanced stages of negotiation.

We are pleased to pass this excellent and well-established niche business into the hands of a great company like RiverStone, commented Tom Booth, CEO of DARAG.

Booth said the transaction provides the opportunity for DARAG to focus on its European core. Our strong, well capitalised niche position, and good market conditions, give us great optimism for our European business, he said.

DARAG and RiverStone Group said they are committed to ensuring there is no disruption to the business entities and their transaction pipeline.

This acquisition perfectly fits our growth strategy, bolstering our capabilities and significantly boosting our market visibility in several North America insurance segments. Were confident that this transaction will fuel innovation, inspire superior service, and create a powerful synergy that benefits our clients, according to Bob Sampson, president of RiverStone, in a statement.

Another legacy acquisition specialist, R&Q Insurance Holdings Ltd., was put into liquidation in Bermuda in June after facing months of adverse loss development and other cash-flow issues, which had prompted the company to sell its property/casualty program management subsidiary, Accredited, to Onex Partners, the Canadian private equity company. That sale was successfully completed at the end of June.

DARAG was advised by PJT Partners and Nomura as lead financial advisers, RBC as financial adviser, and Proskauer Rose LLP as legal adviser. RiverStones legal advisers were Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP.

About DARAG

DARAG is a leading international insurance and reinsurance group specializing in the assumption of discontinued business and the provision of capital and operational relief solutions. The group has completed 67 run-off transactions in 21 countries with a value in excess of 1.7 billion ($1.9 billion).

Source: DARAG

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions
The city of Naperville must pay $22.5 million in damages for the wrongful conviction of a man accused of arson and murder.

A federal jury awarded the damages to William Amors estate, the Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday.

Amor was found guilty for the 1995 murder of his mother-in-law. The conviction was based on his confession that he burned down the womans Naperville condo. His trial attorneys argued that Naperville investigators coerced the confession from him.

He spent 22 years in prison before a judge ruled that advances in fire science proved descriptions in his confession were impossible. The judge later acquitted him.

Amor filed a federal lawsuit against the city in 2018. He died last year before the case went to trial.

The biggest regret in all of this is that (William) didnt get to live to see justice, the estates attorney, Jon Loevy, said. You know, this trial really proved what happened to him. It really proved that his rights had been violated in a way that he didnt ever fully understand. So I do regret that he didnt get to watch the final chapter.

Naperville city attorney Mike Disanto said Tuesday that city officials were disappointed with the order and were discussing whether to appeal.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Illinois
The pandemic changed where Americans are likely to live and work, with a growing portion of job openings moving away from the biggest cities and into smaller metro areas, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of New York .

Job listings in large central metro areas now account for about 38% of total listings nationwide, down from 46% pre-pandemic, the researchers said in a blog post published Wednesday. The portion of job openings in smaller metros increased, and the share of openings in fringe metros outside of large central cities held steady, the study showed.

The biggest declines in job listings by occupation occurred in the largest and densest geographies, and the strongest increases in job listings by occupation occurred in the smaller and less populated geographies, they said.

There was also a shift in the types of jobs being advertised. The share of postings for jobs related to computers and math, such as software development, dropped to 6.8%, from 10.5%. Meanwhile, the share of job listings in health care rose to 18.6%, from 14.7%.

The researchers looked at job postings from Lightcast, which gathers data from company websites, job boards and websites such as Indeed. The analysis shows that while there was a full recovery in the unemployment rate after the pandemic pushed millions of people out of work, there were some lasting shifts in the makeup of the labor force.

Namely, increased remote work led to a decline in the share of jobs concentrated in major cities that require people to commute into an office. As people relocated, it created more demand for food workers, health care and other services in those areas.

Read More: Record Wave of Americans Fled Big Cities for Small Ones in 2023

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics USA Talent COVID-19
A survey of nearly 1,000 IT and security professionals shows numerous organizations were targeted by ransomware attacks in the past year with a high degree of success, with most paying a ransommany of which paid multiple times.

Semperis, a cyber resilience firm, conducted a poll of IT and security professionals at organizations spanning multiple industries across the US, UK, France and Germany. The firm says the results of the survey shows alarming trends in attack frequency, severity and consequences.

The highlights of the Semperis survey include:

74% of respondents that were attacked for ransom in the past 12 months were attacked multiple timesmany within the span of a week.

78% of targeted organizations paid the ransom72% paid multiple times, and 33% of those paid ransom four times or more.

87% of attacks caused business disruptioneven for those that paid ransomincluding data loss and the need to take systems offline. For 16% of respondents, the attack created a life-or-death dilemma.

35% of victims that paid ransom either did not receive decryption keys or received corrupted keys.

49% of respondents needed one to seven days to recover business operations to minimal IT functionality after a ransomware attack, and 12% needed seven days or more.

Semperis partnered with Censuswide, an international market research consultancy in London, to conduct a detailed study of global organizations experience with ransomware in the first half of 2024. The survey included 900 IT and security professionals across multiple industries, including education, finance, healthcare, manufacturing and utilities, IT and telecommunications, and travel and transportation.

Topics Trends Cyber
Liberty Mutual Holding Co. continued to put 2023s losses behind it and carefully manage growth in 2024, reporting consolidated net income of $717 million for the second quarter versus a net loss of $585 million for the same period in 2023.

The insurer reported consolidated $2.25 billion net income for six months ended June 30, 2024, versus a net loss of $660 million for the same period in 2023.

Timothy Sweeney, Liberty Mutual president and chief executive officer, credited the results to continued improvement in the companys underlying combined ratio and strong investment results.

He said deliberate actions are putting the company in good position to grow and meet its goals, which include a 95 combined ratio next year.

We are taking a measured approach to growth, Sweeney told analysts, reporting that consolidated net premiums were down about 3.3% in the second quarter to $11.4 billion and down 2.5% for the first six months to $22.4 billion.

Neeti Bhalla Johnson, president, Global Risk Solutions, echoed the message. We do not feel pressure to chase growth if we are not being adequately compensated for the risk, she stated.

Sweeney said the company is selectively targeting new business and seeing growth opportunities in mid and large commercial lines.

The second quarter underlying combined ratio improved 9.5 points from the prior year to 84. Of that, 7.1 points of improvement resulted from what Sweeney said was targeted underwriting strategies improving both personal and commercial lines.

In addition, the companys ongoing expense management program drove the expense ratio down 2.4 points to 26.4 for the second quarter and half year.

Catastrophe losses in the quarter ($15.4 million) remained elevated, despite improving over 2023 ($20 million), due primarily to severe convective storm activity in the US Midwest.

Including catastrophes, the total combined ratio was 99.6 for the quarter, a 9.8-point improvement over prior year. Year-to-date, the combined ratio was 97.7 compared to 106.5 for the six months of 2023.

In addition, investment results, benefiting from higher reinvestment rates and favorable private equity valuations, contributed to $1.3 billion of net investment income.

Second quarter net premiums for US Retail, which includes personal (82%) and small commercial (18%) lines, were down about 5% to $7.4 billion and down 5.3% year-to-date to $14 billion. The combined ratio for this division was 102.2 for the quarter (down from 114.8 for the second quarter last year) and 98.7 for year-to-date.

Global Risks Solutions, which includes North America and international commercial, specialty reinsurance and personal lines, saw net premiums hold steady for the second quarter at about $4 billion and come in at $8.4 billion year-to-date, up 1.7% from 2023s first half. Total combined ratio was 95 for the quarter and 94.6 for the first six months.

Topics Profit Loss
HOUSTON (AP)  A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed most of the claims in a lawsuit filed by a Black high school student who alleged that school officials committed racial and gender discrimination when they punished him for refusing to change his hairstyle.

The ruling was another victory in the case for the Barbers Hill school district near Houston, which has said its policy restricting hair length for male students instills discipline while teaching grooming and respect for authority.

But in his order, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown questioned whether the school districts rule causes more harm than good.

Not everything that is undesirable, annoying, or even harmful amounts to a violation of the law, much less a constitutional problem, Brown wrote.

The Associated Press left phone and email messages seeking comment with the school district and Georges attorney, Allie Booker, on Tuesday.

George, 18, was kept out of his regular high school classes for most of the 2023-24 school year, when he was a junior, because the school district said his hair length violated its dress code. George either served in-school suspension at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu or spent time at an off-site disciplinary program.

The district has argued that Georges long hair, which he wears to school in tied and twisted locs on top of his head, violates its policy because it would fall below his shirt collar, eyebrows or earlobes if let down. The district has said other students with locs comply with the length policy.

George and his mother, Darresha George, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit last year against the school district, the district superintendent, his principal and assistant principal as well as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The suit also alleged that Georges punishment violates the CROWN Act, a new state law prohibiting race-based hair discrimination. The CROWN Act, which was being discussed before the dispute over Georges hair and which took effect in September, bars employers and schools from penalizing people because of hair texture or protective hairstyles including Afros, braids, locs, twists or Bantu knots.

The lawsuit alleged the school districts policy was being enforced mainly on Black students. But Brown said George had not shown a persistent, widespread practice of disparate, race-based enforcement of the policy.

The lawsuit also alleged that Georges First Amendment rights to free speech were being violated. But Brown wrote that Georges lawyer could not cite any case law holding that hair length is protected as expressive conduct under the First Amendment.

Brown dismissed various claims that Georges due process rights under the 14th Amendment were being violated. He also dropped Abbott, Paxton, the district superintendent and other school employees from the case.

The only claim he let stand was an allegation of sex discrimination based on the school districts lack of clearly defined policies on why girls could be allowed to have long hair but boys could not.

Because the district does not provide any reason for the sex-based distinctions in its dress code, the claim survives this initial stage, Brown said.

Browns order comes after a state judge in February ruled in a lawsuit filed by the school district that its punishment does not violate the CROWN Act.

At the end of his ruling, Brown highlighted a 1970 case in which a judge ruled against a school district in El Paso, Texas, that had tried to prevent a male student from enrolling because his hair length violated district policy. The El Paso judges ruling was later overturned by an appeals court.

The judge in the El Paso case had written that the presence and enforcement of the hair-cut rule causes far more disruption of the classroom instructional process than the hair it seeks to prohibit.

Regrettably, so too here, Brown said in reference to Georges case.

Barbers Hills hair policy was also challenged in a May 2020 federal lawsuit filed by two other students. Both withdrew from the high school, but one returned after a federal judge granted a temporary injunction, saying there was a substantial likelihood that his rights to free speech and to be free from racial discrimination would be violated if he was barred. That lawsuit is still pending.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Legislation Claims Education K-12
Four people were killed when a small airplane crashed Tuesday afternoon in Oklahoma City, local authorities said.

The plane crashed about 1:30 p.m. at Sundance Airport, a small airport on the outskirts of the city, according to Oklahoma City Fire Capt. John Chenoweth. He said the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were notified of the crash.

The FAA said in preliminary statement that the aircraft was a single-engine Beechcraft BE33 that crashed while taking off from the airport and the NTSB will be in charge of investigating.

NTSB spokesperson Keith Holloway wrote in an email that the airplane was a Beech F33A, though the information is preliminary. NTSB investigators are expected to be on the scene tomorrow to examine the aircraft, Holloway added.

One resident who lives near Sundance Airport told KOCO 5 News that his son heard helicopters and they went outside. The resident said he smelled smoke.

The manager of Sundance Airport did not immediately return a phone call by The Associated Press seeking comment.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Aviation Oklahoma
If a property insurer is going to object to an appraisal panel members fee arrangement, it must do so early in the process  not after the panel provides an unfavorable, multimillion-dollar appraisal award.

That was the word this week from the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in a decision that could limit the options that Florida insurance carriers have on arbitration awards. A Florida plaintiffs attorney said the too-late objection to the appraiser is one of several tactics insurers have used in recent years to try and knock down awards after appraisal panels have finished their work.

This trend is concerning as appraisal was created to be an independent process without influence by the parties and a process insureds were confident to rely on, said Lake Worth attorney Gina Clausen Lozier, who once worked on the insurance side but now represents policyholders.

Insurers, who have long complained about the alleged bias of some public adjusters, won a major victory in February 2023 when the Florida Supreme Court found that public adjusters for homeowners cannot also work as appraisers if the policy requires them to be disinterested. Since that ruling, it is rare for appraisers to work for a percentage of the award if the policy demands that panel members have no financial interest in the outcome, Lozier noted.

The federal appeals court decision on Tuesday upheld a 2023 ruling by the U.S. District Court for South Florida, in favor of Biscayne Beach Club Condominium Association, representing a luxury condo in Miami. The association had sued its carrier, Westchester Surplus Lines Insurance Co., a Chubb company, in 2018 after a dispute over the amount of damage from storms. Unhappy with the amount tendered by the insurer, the condominium exercised its right to appraisal, as provided by the policy, the court explained.

Westchester initially objected to one appraiser on the three-member panel, a public adjuster chosen by the condo association, who was to be paid a 10% contingency fee, or 10% of the amount awarded. That type of fee would produce a skewed incentive for the appraiser  the higher the award, the higher his fee, the insurance company argued.

Biscayne Beach then retained another appraiser, Blake Pyka. The court noted that the exact nature of Pykas fee arrangement was in dispute, which may have led to some confusion in the case. But the court opinion also explained that an attorney for the condo association had made it clear to Pyka that he was to be paid $325 an hour, with no contingency fee.

Still, six months later, the panel met for final negotiations and Pyka then revealed that he thought he was still being paid on small contingency percentage basis by the condo association. But Westchester did not object to Pykas presence on the panel.

A month after that the appraisal panel landed on $14 million in losses to the condo site. Only then did Westchester object to Pyka. The insurer moved to reopen the matter and conduct additional discovery on Pykas pay.

The lower court denied Westchesters motion and confirmed the $14 million award. Westchester had essentially waived its objections to Pykas partiality by failing to raise concerns earlier, when it had the chance, the courts said.

The general rule is that a party who knows of an arbitrators bias must object to his partiality before the award issues, the three-judge panel wrote in the Aug. 6 opinion, citing several previous appeals court decisions.

The party may not sit idle, see whether the award is favorable, and then collaterally attack the proceedings on a ground that it declined to flag sooner, Circuit Chief Judge William Pryor wrote in the opinion.

Westchesters lawyers argue that previous court rulings give it grounds to object after the fact, but the appellate judges disagreed. The insurer never explained why it did not object earlier.

We are sympathetic to the concern that inequitable gamesmanship by one party should not force the other party to either stage an eleventh-hour holdup of the process or bite the bullet of potential bias, the court opinion explains. Yet Westchester had its chance to challenge Pykas partiality, chose to wait and see how the appraisal turned out, and now asks the court to restart the processall while claiming that it would be wasteful to have objected any earlier.

Related: Florida CFO Issues Emergency Order on Despicable Public Adjusters After Hurricane Debby

The legal move by Westchester is part of a troubling trend by some Florida insurers, Lozier told Insurance Journal.

We have seen in our practice numerous cases of appraisers for the insurance company taking direction from in-house examiners, adjusters or lawyers on the form of the award, the umpire, the items to be addressed and the amounts to be awarded, said Lozier, who is very familiar with the appraisal process in claims disputes: She is president-elect of the Windstorm Insurance Network, an organization that offers training and certification for appraisers and adjusters.

She argued that that the appraisal panel has full authority to determine the cause of the loss, but insurance companies continue to object when panels attempt to examine causal questions. Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state-created safety-valve insurer that is the largest insurer in the state, has been particularly aggressive on this issue, she said.

In one recently filed lawsuit in Charlotte County Circuit Court involving another condominium association, Loziers firm argues that appraisers had reached a verbal agreement on the amount of loss to the condo. But then Citizens inappropriately interfered with the process, forcing the Insurance Companys appraiser to renege on the agreement.

Later, after an appraisal panels umpire set the losses at $15 million, Citizens did not respond to request for payment, as required by the policy, the complaint contends. The insurer told the condo association that the appraisal award included a number of items that were not eligible for appraisal, including mitigation expenses and repairs that were not the associations responsibility, the suit notes.

Citizens has not filed an answer to the July 18 complaint. A spokesperson for the corporation could not be reached Wednesday afternoon. An attorney representing Westchester Surplus Lines in the Biscayne Beach case could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Photo: Biscayne Beach Club Condominiums and other buildings in Miami. (Adobe stock images)

Topics Florida Carriers
Significant flooding was expected across southeast North Carolina and eastern South Carolina Thursday and Friday as Tropical Storm Debby made a second landfill just north of Charleston.

Debby will continue to slowly move over the Carolinas, bringing heavy to torrential rain to North Carolina, South Carolina, and the East Coast states through the end of the week, the National Weather Service said in a bulletin Thursday morning. A major flooding threat exists in North Carolina and Virginia Thursday.

A tornado was reported east of Raleigh, North Carolina, and more were expected, the Associated Press reported. At least 10 homes were damaged in Wilson County, according to WRAL TV news. Flooding closed Interstate 95 near Fayetteville, North Carolina.

In South Carolina, near the second landfall spot, residents were cleaning several inches of water from their homes. In Georgia, authorities said four dams were breached northwest of Savannah in Bulloch County, but no deaths were reported, the AP noted.

In Florida, where Debby made its first landfall early Monday as a Category 1 hurricane, the states chief financial officer issued an emergency order Wednesday, extending the time period in which property owners can cancel a contract with public claims adjusters.

CFO Jimmy Patronis, who has long complained about the surfeit of public adjusters after storms, said in a bulletin that the contract recission period has been extended, from 10 days to 30 days. The order also requires public adjusters to respond to policyholders within 7 days, and requires all adjusters to identify themselves before signing a contract.

Following any disaster, fly-by-night contractors and so-called claims representatives will swoop into a storm-impacted area and try to come between you and your insurance policy, Patronis said in the statement. Most of the time, these bad actors give legitimate adjusters and contractors a bad name and are only in it to make a quick buck off vulnerable Floridians. Its truly despicable.

The order will be in effect for 60 days.

Top photo: A neighborhood a half-mile from the Alafia River is inundated with waist-high water after rainfall from Tropical Storm Debby swelled the river, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Alafia, Fla. (Max Chesnes/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

Topics Florida Flood
A fast-moving wildfire that swept into a Southern California hillside community this week destroyed five homes and damaged three others, authorities said.

The flames erupted Monday afternoon and chased residents from the neighborhood in San Bernardino, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles,

One firefighter was treated for a minor injury but there were no reports of injuries to residents, said Eric Sherwin, spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

How quickly this fire hit this community, Sherwin said, the fact that we have no civilians injured is truly a miracle.

The fire was reported at 2:40 p.m. Monday and stopped progressing about three hours later after scorching 54 acres. Containment was holding at 75%, Sherwin said. All evacuations were lifted late Tuesday morning.

Investigators were working to determine the cause of the fire, which erupted amid very dry and hot conditions that have made swaths of California quick to burn this summer.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe California Natural Disasters Wildfire
The Colorado funeral home owners who allegedly stored 190 decaying bodies and sent grieving families fake ashes were ordered by a judge to pay $950 million to the victims relatives in a civil case, the attorney announced.

The judgment is unlikely to be paid out since the owners, Jon and Carie Hallford, have been in financial trouble for years. They also face hundreds of criminal charges in separate state and federal cases, including abuse of a corpse, and allegations they took $130,000 from families for cremations and burials they never provided.

That leaves the nearly $1 billion sum largely symbolic of the emotional devastation wreaked on family members who learned the remains of their mothers, fathers or children werent in the ashes they ceremonially spread or clutched tight but were instead decaying in a bug-infested building.

Im never going to get a dime from them, so, I dont know, its a little frustrating, said Crystina Page, who had hired the funeral home, Return to Nature, to cremate her sons remains in 2019.

She carried the urn she thought held his ashes across the country until the news arrived in 2023 that his body had been identified in the Return to Nature facility, four years after his death.

Dozens of family members have received similar news as the 190 bodies have been identified, shattering their grieving processes. Many are still picking up the pieces, haunted by nightmares of what their decomposing family member may have looked like, or burdened by guilt that they had let a loved one down.

If nothing else, Page said, this judgment will bring more understanding to the case.

Im hoping itll make people go, Oh, wow, this isnt just about ashes,' she said, adding that far more people are impacted than just those listed in the lawsuit.

While the victims and the class actions attorney, Andrew Swan, understood from the outset that it was unlikely families would receive any financial compensation, part of the hope was to haul the Hallfords into court and demand answers.

That, too, went unfulfilled.

Jon Hallford, who is in custody, and Carie Hallford, who is out on bail, did not acknowledge the civil case or show up to hearings, Swan said.

I would have preferred that they participate, if only because I wanted to put them on the witness stand, have them put under oath and ask them how they came to do this, not once, not twice, but hundreds of times, said Swan.

To Page, it felt like another slap in the face from the Hallfords.

The civil lawsuit lists over 100 family members but has been left open in case other victims come forward since 190 total bodies were discovered in the funeral homes facility in Penrose, southwest of the companys office in Colorado Springs.

Jon Hallford is being represented by the public defenders office, which does not comment on cases. Carie Hallfords attorney, Michael Stuzynski, was not immediately available for comment.

The case helped spur Colorado lawmakers to pass sweeping regulations on the funeral home industry in the state, which previously had the laxest rules in the nation.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Colorado
Boeing Co. (BA) is one of the world's leading aerospace companies. It develops and manufactures commercial jets, military aircraft, weapons systems, and strategic defense and intelligence systems. Boeing provides services and support to customers globally and it provides financing for orders and deliveries.

The top shareholders of Boeing are David L. Calhoun, Stanley A. Deal, Theodore Colbert III, Vanguard Group Inc., BlackRock Inc. (BLK), and Newport Trust Co.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) began recertification testing on Boeing Max 737 aircraft at the end of June 2020. The aircraft has been grounded since early 2019 following two fatal crashes in five months. The FAA lifted the grounding order in November 2020 when the aircraft satisfied certification standards.

Boeing's 12-month trailing net revenue and income (TTM) are $73.55 billion and $-1.81 billion respectively as of August 2024. The company's market cap was about $103.02 billion at that time.

Key Takeaways Boeing develops and manufactures commercial jets, military aircraft, weapons systems, and strategic defense and intelligence systems.

The company has been besieged by problems with its aircraft since 2018 but it still boasts a market cap of about $104.05 billion in 2024.

Boeing's top individual shareholders were David Calhoun, Stanley Deal, and Theodore Culbert in the same month that Calhoun resigned and Deal retired.

Boing's top institutional shareholders are Vanguard, BlackRock, and Newport Trust Co.

Top 3 Individual Insider Shareholders

This list reflects direct ownership. It doesn't include indirect ownership of shares or shares that are accessible through stock options.

The term "insider" refers to people in senior management positions and members of the board of directors, as well as people or entities that own more than 10% of the company's stock. It has nothing to do with insider trading in this context.

David L. Calhoun

David Calhoun owned 221,903 shares of Boeing as of March 11, 2024.

Calhoun served as Boeing's CEO until his resignation in March 2024. He cited Boeing's five-plus-year span of serious woes with its aircraft. Calhoun has stressed that his departure is "100%" his decision. He intends to vacate his position by the end of 2024.

Stanley A. Deal

Stanley Deal held 90,036 Boeing shares as of March 11, 2024.

Deal was CEO of Boeing Commercial Airlines. He announced his retirement at about the same time Calhoun submitted his resignation in March 2024.



Theodore Colbert III

Theodore Colbert owned 65,805 Boeing shares as of March 11, 2024.

Colbert serves as Boeing's executive vice president, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. He's a member of the executive council and leads the company's aerospace services development and aviation industry customers globally.

Colbert first joined Boeing in 2009 and has served in several roles including chief information officer (CIO) and senior vice president of information technology and data analytics. He was senior vice president of Enterprise Architecture at Citigroup before joining Boeing and he worked at Ford Motor Co. in its information technology group before that time.

Top 3 Institutional Shareholders

Institutional investors hold the majority of Boeing's shares at about 64.18% of total shares outstanding as of August 2024.

Vanguard Group Inc.

Vanguard Group owned 49.72 million shares of Boeing as of March 31, 2024, representing 8.07% of total shares outstanding.

The company is primarily a mutual fund and ETF management company with about $9.3 trillion in global assets under management (AUM) as of March 31, 2024. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is one of the company's largest exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with about $1.2 trillion in AUM. Boeing makes up 0.23% of VOO's holdings.

BlackRock Inc.

BlackRock owned 37.17 million shares of Boeing as of March 31, 2024, representing 6.03% of total shares outstanding.

The company is primarily a mutual fund and ETF management company with approximately $10.47 trillion in AUM. The iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is among one of BlackRock's largest ETFs with approximately $478.25 billion in AUM. Boeing makes up 0.22% of IVV's holdings.

Newport Trust Co.

Newport Trust owned 31.25 million shares of Boeing as of March 31, 2024, representing 5.07% of total shares outstanding.

Newport Trust is a private company owned by Newport Group Inc. It provides trustee and independent fiduciary services to leading U.S. companies and institutions, including 25% of the corporations in the Fortune 500. The value of the company's portfolio is about $36.79 billion in managed securities. Boeing is among Newport Trust's top 10 holdings, making up about 16.39% of the portfolio's total value as of Q1 2024.

Diversity and Inclusiveness of Boeing

As part of our effort to improve the awareness of the importance of diversity in companies, we offer investors a glimpse into the transparency of more than just who the shareholders are at Boeing. We highlight the company's commitment to diversity, inclusiveness, and social responsibility as a whole.

Find out how Boeing reports the diversity of its management and workforce. The  shows if Boeing discloses its data about the diversity of its board of directors, C-Suite, general management, and employees overall across a variety of markets.
Toronto, Ontario - August 7, 2024 (Newsfile Corp.) (Investorideas.com Newswire) TMX Group Limited announced today it has acquired Newsfile Corp. (Newsfile), the largest Canadian-owned news dissemination and regulatory filing provider.

"TMX Group is committed to delivering best-in-class products and services; we are always looking at ways to add new capabilities to better serve our clients today and well into the future," said Loui Anastasopoulos, CEO, Toronto Stock Exchange and Global Head of Capital Formation, TMX Group. "The acquisition of Newsfile, a client-first newswire and regulatory filing solutions provider, bolsters our Capital Formation business as we continue to expand our offerings beyond listings."

Established in 1997, Newsfile services over 2,500 public and private clients and is a one-stop source for disclosure requirements, including news release distribution and SEDAR+, EDGAR, and XBRL filing solutions.

"We are excited to join forces with TMX Group, an organization whose client-first mindset aligns with ours," said Bill Batiuk, President, Newsfile. "By combining Newsfile's strengths with the brand, reach, and scale of TMX, we are confident that we can continue Newsfile's long track record of growth, innovation, and exemplary client service."

About TMX Group (TSX:X)

TMX Group operates global markets, and builds digital communities and analytic solutions that facilitate the funding, growth and success of businesses, traders and investors. TMX Group's key operations include Toronto Stock Exchange, TSX Venture Exchange, TSX Alpha Exchange, The Canadian Depository for Securities, Montreal Exchange, Canadian Derivatives Clearing Corporation, TMX Trayport and TMX VettaFi, which provide listing markets, trading markets, clearing facilities, depository services, technology solutions, data products and other services to the global financial community. TMX Group is headquartered in Toronto and operates offices across North America (Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver and New York), as well as in key international markets including London, Singapore and Vienna. For more information about TMX Group, visit www.tmx.com. Follow TMX Group on X: @TMXGroup.

For more information please contact:

Catherine Kee

Head of Media Relations

TMX Group

416-671-1704

catherine.kee@tmx.com

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Fraudsters stole almost 100m through frauds and scams in 2023, an increase of over 16% on 2022. Thats according to a new report from FraudSMART, the fraud awareness initiative led by the Banking & Payments Federation.

Experts are now warning holidaymakers to be extra vigilant with their credit and debit cards when booking flights and accommodation over the summer season. Card fraud accounted for 95% of fraudulent transactions and 36% (35.2m) of gross fraud losses in 2023.

Brandon, a culinary arts student from Shankill in Co. Dublin, is one of the real stories hidden in those statistics. When his card was declined, he couldnt understand it.

He knew he had money in his account, so he tried again, but again, the transaction would not go through. So he checked his balance and discovered that 260 had been taken out of the account. 110 went to a Spanish book website and the rest of it went in a series of other online card transactions.

Because he acted quickly, Brandon managed to get 210 of this money back. More worryingly, he has no idea how this fraud happened. He suspects one person sent details to other people, who then used the card. Within two hours of its use in Spain, it was used in Florida.

I was frustrated because I thought I was taking all the necessary precautions and I thought I was on top of it. But, obviously, there was somewhere along the line where I slipped up.

In terms of where he slipped up, he thinks he may have used a risky website and not paid enough attention to signs that could have alerted him to its intentions.

Brandon is now more cautious about what he does with his card and card numbers. He also only uses specific ATMs which he knows are monitored closely.

Despite the fact that fraud is rampant, theres no sign of any slowdown in card usage. The Central Bank reports a 28.8% increase in debit and credit card payments in 2023. In contrast, fraudulent card payments increased by 8.2%.

The FraudSMART report found that other types of fraud had lower volumes but higher average losses. In other words, they didnt happen quite as often, but when they did, people lost a great deal of money.

For example, unauthorised electronic transfers accounted for only 3% of the volume but 34% (33.8m) of losses. This type of fraud occurs when someone makes a payment through mobile or online banking without the account holders authorisation or permission, often called account takeover. It usually results from the loss or theft of sensitive payment data such as a victims account number or PIN.

APP fraud

Additionally, the report shows that consumers and businesses were scammed out of 18.1m through authorised push payment (APP) fraud. This occurs when a fraudster tricks a consumer into sending money directly to an account controlled by the criminal, for example through an investment or romance scam.

In another version, a scammer might call you claiming to be from your bank, and telling you that you need to move your money to a safe account. In reality, youll be gifting a fraudster your hard-earned cash.

While APP fraud makes up just 1% of fraudulent transactions, it makes up 18% of losses, which means that while its not as widespread as other forms of fraud, when people get caught, they get caught badly.

Moreover, its on the rise. The report tells us that cases of APP fraud rose by 42.5% between 2022 and 2023, while losses themselves rose by a whopping 82.2%.

Holiday fraud

FraudSMART is warning holidaymakers to be extra vigilant over the summer period  at home and abroad. Many of us tend to use debit and credit cards more frequently for booking travel or accommodation, as well as other holiday-related purchases.

Forewarned is forearmed. Get to know the kinds of fraud that are being perpetrated and familiarise yourself with the simple steps you can take to prevent falling victim.

Niamh Davenport is Head of Financial Crime at BPFI. She points out that these figures are a timely reminder to be on alert for what can go wrong when you start moving money around.

We can all be at risk of being enticed by unbelievable holiday deals and letting down our guard when out of our regular routines and environments. While it is important to recognise that cards remain one of the safest forms of payment, as they come with extensive fraud protections and offer many conveniences especially when planning holidays and travelling, fraudsters are increasingly targeting consumers using complex and deceptive methods.

Niamh Davenport: 'Forewarned is forearmed.'

Ms Davenport is also urging holidaymakers to watch out for copycat websites offering holiday accommodation, and packages which closely mimic a legitimate site or well-known company brand, but may have subtle differences in the website name and often have spelling errors.

These sites aim to steal your card details and personal information for fraudulent activities.

"Also, be alert for fake emails and social media ads offering holiday deals which appear to be offering bargain prices but are in reality too good to be true. When paying in person, never let your card out of sight, and dont share or write down your card PIN.

"If you think you have fallen victim to fraud, report it to your bank and the Gardai immediately.

Top FraudSMART tips and checks for protecting your card details:

 Book through reputable sources and always use trusted and well-known booking websites or travel agents.

 Be wary of unsolicited emails or social media ads offering cheap holiday deals. Verify the authenticity of special offers by visiting the official website of the travel company directly rather than clicking on links in emails or ads.

 Avoid making payments through bank transfers as these are harder to trace and recover.

 Do not use unsecured or public Wi-Fi networks when making payments  switch to 3G/4G on your phone if necessary.

 Keep a record of your purchase, print or save a copy of your order.

 Keep your computers security up to date with reliable antivirus and browser software.

 Keep your card in your sights and protect your PIN  never share or write down your PIN details.
1984 will be remembered as one of the strongest musical years of the decade it will also be remembered as one of great musical change. Many of the great British bands that emerged from the post punk scene were beginning to hit a wall creatively. Nauseating simple pop was increasingly soundtracking Thatchers Britain, but all was not lost. There was a new breed coming through eager to grasp the torch and some of the old dogs had a bit of life in them yet. Heres my 10 for the year. Feel free to express your opinions on the online version of this piece.

1. Husker Du, Zen Arcade

A friend once told me he bought this and Bitches Brew on the same day. It really got me thinking how similar both records are. Both are intense, challenging sonic journeys that demand to be experienced in total for maximum effect, and theyre not for the faint hearted.

For their second album Husker Du locked themselves in a studio over one weekend and emerged with a double album, a concept record about a young boys futile attempt to escape a horrible domestic situation, only to find the outside world was worse. Its widely recognised as the bible of the American hardcore scene and its the record that probably defines them.

2. Echo And The Bunnymen, Ocean Rain

The greatest album ever made. Thats what the ads said about this album when it was released and, while that statement raised a few eyebrows, it was hard to disagree. Their fourth and last great record was heavily influenced by Love and Scott Walker. The jangly guitars were further back in the mix with vocals and strings to the forefront. It wasnt a dramatic change of sound but it was a gamble that worked.

The new sound was more commercial and radio friendly and it provided them with the hit that enabled them to retire, The Killing Moon. I saw them touring this and the midnight gig at the SFX remains one of the best Ive ever seen.

3. REM, Reckoning

I made the entire journey with this band, from the debut to the final album. They went through many phases and this, their second album marked the end of the first period. While its not their last on the label its the one that marks the end of the trademark IRS sound.

While Reckoning is often looked at as a continuation of Murmur, the band sounded tighter and there was a maturity developing in the songwriting that would continue to blossom over the years. Pretty Persuasion, Camera and the anthemic Dont Go Back To Rockville were way ahead of what anyone else was doing. Vocals on the record arent great, though. Michael Stipes voice was shot from touring, and he could barely sing. Its a great album, even if the fan in me still prefers the rawer Murmur.

Reckoning; Hyaena

4. Siouxsie And The Banshees, Hyaena

June 1984, my first gig up North, understandably nervous I went record shopping and remembered that this had been released that day. By then The Banshees had moved on from punk to a kind of gothic psychedelia that had expanded greatly over five albums. For this, their sixth, they were without gifted guitarist John McGeoch, but Robert Smith was a more than adequate replacement. His influence is all over the record. The strings courtesy of the LSO on the opening Dazzle, that looped guitar on Blow The House Down and the piano-driven Swimming Horses which sounds like The Cure. While they delivered their best album, Smith didnt last. He was hospitalised due to exhaustion shortly afterwards, brought about by trying to juggle two bands at once.

5. Violent Femmes, Hallowed Ground

I first came across the Femmes on a Channel 4 documentary, and they absolutely fascinated me. They seemed to be a bizarre mish mash of punk, gospel, bluegrass, and good old fashioned bible-bashing, done in the style of the Loaded-era Velvets. The bible stuff comes from Gordon Ganos Baptist background and its all over the record, Jesus Walking On The Water and the more prophetic and less optimistic Its Gonna Rain. However, its the opening Country Death Song that really got under peoples skin.

A dark gothic twist on Dylans Ballad of Hollis Brown, where our hero takes his lovely daughter and throws her down the well. The other band members (all atheists) initially refused to play it, but seeing how popular it became, changed their minds.

Hallowed Ground; The Top

6. The Cure, The Top

Robert Smiths other band recorded this at the same time as Hyaena so he must have been under savage pressure. The Cure had undergone a bit of a transformation as well.

Lol Tolhurst moved to keyboards, and they had cheered up a bit since Pornography. While The Top thankfully wasnt as commercial as their more recent stuff, it straddled the two stools between poppy and grey Cure. Musically it was all over the place, but in a good way. The keyboards were very much evident on Bananafishbones, Dressing Up and the single Caterpillar, while The Wailing Wall was classic Cure. Im a huge fan of their earlier stuff and this for me is the last hurrah before the Cureheads came along and ruined everything.

7. Leonard Cohen, Various Positions

Despite what people think, this isnt a comeback album. It does, however, signal a new phase for Cohen. His singing partner Jennifer Warnes is correctly billed as co-vocalist and hes beginning to embrace electronic instruments, something he would greatly expand on later. The songs are up there with his best work, as is the sometimes sparse but effective backing.

The duetting with Warnes on Night Comes On and If It Be Your Will is off the scale, while The Law, with its John Barryesque chorus, is up there with his best. The album also includes the well worn and often butchered Hallelujah. Overall, a record that got him a lot of new fans and doesnt get the kudos it deserves.

Various Positions; A Pagan Place

8. The Waterboys, A Pagan Place

For their second album The Waterboys returned bigger, bolder and louder. Eddi Reader and Karl Wallinger joined the ranks, and The Big Music was born. And big it was, from the big brass opening of Church Not Made With Hands, the guitar powerhouse of Rags all the way through to the title track and its anthemic trumpet. Here was a band that had really found their sound woand they werent messing around.

It was tailor-made equally for the small backrooms and big 80s stadiums. Red Army Blues and the Van-inspired Thrill Is Gone provided some introspective moments, but it was the powerful Big Music, with Eddi singing her heart out, that provided the true highlight. A serious artistic stepping stone towards the album that would make them superstars two years down the line.

9. The Smiths, The Smiths

The late 1970s/early 80s indie scene rested on the shoulders of two bands. Joy Division were gone by 1980, so when The Smiths arrived in 1984 to save both the genre and Rough Trade (from bankruptcy) they were quickly hailed as the new messiahs. Initially I was sceptical. The bands I liked were much better, and besides, I was too old to be an angst-ridden teenager stuck in my bedroom all day listening to Morrissey.

I was wrong, not about the bedroom bit , and it wasnt all about Morrissey. A guitarist who sounded like an orchestra, the tightest rhythm section, cleverly crafted complex but catchy tunes and some of the sharpest lyrics ever written, The Smiths were the biggest game-changers of the 1980s. I witnessed this twice, in the Savoy in Cork, and they mesmerised the audience. This wasnt just a band. This was a movement.

The Smiths; Rattlesnakes

10. Lloyd Cole and The Commotions, Rattlesnakes

A friend of mine once described this as Echo And The Bunnymen for girls. While he could have worded it better, I know what he meant. Cole basically took the Bunnymen formula and tweaked it for more mainstream appeal. It more than worked. It was a massive hit and probably outsold the entire Bunnymen back catalogue.

While the songs werent very original, they were catchy and well crafted. The lyrics, though slightly cringe, able were designed for maximum cool.

Ive never heard so much name dropping on one album. Norman Mailer, Eva Marie Saint and even Arthur Lee all get a look in. The album has aged surprisingly well, and I can even listen to it now without nervously looking over my shoulder to see whos watching.

Four that nearly made it

Itll End In Tears
Location

Theres a reason Killarney is a firm favourite with overseas visitors, some of the countrys finest attractions are all within reach. From the famed Killarney Lakes and National Park, to Torc Waterfall and the Gap of Dunloe, there are iconic vistas at every turn and The Brehon Hotel offers an excellent base to discover them all. Just 1km from Killarney town centre, its easily accessible by both car and public transport.

9/10

Style & design

Opened 20 years ago as part of The Gleneagle Group, The Brehon is now an independent family-run establishment since 2021. Embarking on a new chapter of luxury and comfort it embodies the charm of the region. A blend of styles, the interiors are indicative of a property in the midst of transformation. Some areas, like the generous lobby and pillared dining room, show a touch of wear, while other newly refurbished areas including the Heritage Collection suites, perfectly capture the modern elegance of the new vision, though the juxtaposition can feel a bit disjointed.

7/10

Service

Choosing a hotel in Killarney is like shooting fish in a barrel. The reason visitors pick The Brehon is simple: old-school hospitality. The hotels new general manager, Neil Grant, exudes warmth and kindness, and leads with experience, ensuring guests feel welcomed and cared for. He not only recommended a trip on a jaunting car but personally drove us (in the hotels courtesy car) to the Gap of Dunloe where we would enjoy one of the most exhilarating experiences, making you question why the Irish tend to leave these excursions to overseas visitors. Encountering happy and accommodating staff members at every turn, from reception to spa, housekeeping to the restaurants maitre d is an excellent indicator of a positive workplace, that filters down into the warm atmosphere experienced by guests.

10/10

Guest rooms

These thoughtfully-curated rooms seamlessly incorporate subtle nods to the Brehon Hotels name

The newest update at The Brehon is the Heritage Bedroom Collection, a number of newly refurbished rooms which signal a real step change for the hotel. The start of things to come, these thoughtfully-curated rooms, by Adrian McCarthy, a talented local designer, seamlessly incorporate subtle nods to the Brehon Hotels name, with elegant motifs and light. Oak flooring creates a warm, natural finish. Lovely personal touches include a bespoke keep cup and wildflower seed capsules to take home, along with honey-themed chocolates locally crafted by Lorge Chocolatier and a scroll explaining the Story of the Bees from the Brehon Laws.

10/10

In-room perks

Each Heritage bedroom is generously stocked with the aforementioned in-room delights (did I mention the honey-themed chocolates?), fresh milk, tea and coffee, TV and radio, as well as a Remington hair dryer and straightener. Cora toiletries are well stocked but the single-use plastics seem out of step for a hotel that is making substantial sustainability gains elsewhere.

8.5/10

On the menu

The hotels Danu Restaurant provides a sense of occasion for diners, and the menu features much local produce. Breakfast included both buffet and a la carte options, but the former was so well-stocked there was little need for the latter. Bonus points for excellent gluten-free options.

9/10

Activities & Amenities

The Anu Spa at the hotel

Few people travel to Killarney to stay in their hotel. There is too much to explore outdoors. In addition to a jaunting car ride, on the GMs recommendation we took a boat tour of the Lakes of Killarney with Gap of Dunloe Traditional Boat Tours (ask for Donal Dux). The Anu Spa at the hotel offered the ideal place to reheat after two hours on the lakes. A Destress Massage and Indian Head Massage were the icing on the cake.

9/10

The bill

The Heritage Double Rooms are a 40 supplement on the B&B rate of the day.

The Hotel Examiner was a guest of The Brehon Hotel & Spa

Our overall rating: 7.5/10

Room to improve?

While 4pm check in is fast becoming industry standard, and for good logistical reasons, the result for guests can be a feeling of being a little shortchanged. Even one hour earlier would add further warmth to the welcome.

Access for guests with disabilities?

The Brehon takes accessibility seriously. It was great to see a wheelchair user comfortably enjoy the pool and spa facilities while we were there.

Family-friendly?

Interconnecting family rooms offer greater comfort for parents and children. While the pool area is strictly over 18s, families can use next door Gleneagles pool and leisure facilities for a nominal fee.

Dogs welcome?

Dogs are welcome in the Flesk River apartments, and dining with pets is allowed on the lawn. Flat fee of 40 if a dog is staying in the apartments, only dogs under 10kg allowed.

EV chargers?

The hotel has just signed a deal to install six chargers including a Fast Charger to be in place by late September.
The Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) warned companies over their use of artificial intelligence (AI) with personal data last month, prior to taking social media giant X to court earlier this week.

In a notice on its website, the DPC said that publicly accessible personal data falls within the scope of the EUs GDPR legislation and that companies need to consider the privacy risks of using such data in their AI products and the need to be transparent with consumers.

[You should] consider the purpose and goals of your processing and if there are other non-AI technologies or means to reaching them, the DPC said. These alternatives may be less risky or more appropriate for you.

On Tuesday, the DPC took X to the High Court over concerns about the use of personal data of millions of European users of the platform formerly known as Twitter to train artificial intelligence systems including its enhanced search tool known as 'Grok'.

Grok, which is available to X Premium customers, is billed as a humorous enhanced search feature powered by a "state-of-the-art large language model" that was initially trained on publicly available sources.

The company now wants to use user interactions and posts to improve the service. X users are opted in to the new system by default but can choose to opt out in settings on the web-based app.

When enabled, the setting allows posts on the site as well as interactions with the chatbot to be used for "training", while the data may also be shared with the X AI partner company.

Prior to taking the High Court proceedings, the DPC said it was "surprised" over Xs decision to use user posts to train the AI chatbot.

In the High Court case, the DPC is arguing that X is not complying with its GDPR obligations through its use of Grok. X denies any wrongdoing.

Its expected that the case will come before the High Court again on Thursday.
Stormont MLAs are set to return from summer recess for an Assembly sitting to discuss recent scenes of violent disorder on the streets of Belfast.

Executive ministers will gather in the morning at Stormont Castle before the Northern Ireland Assembly sitting at noon.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is set to lead a rally outside Parliament Buildings in opposition to the rioting seen in the capital on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday evenings following anti-immigration protests.

Abdelkader Mohamad Al Alloush, owner of the Sham Supermarket on Donegall Road in Belfast, after it was burned on Saturday night and attacked again on Monday (Rebecca Black/PA)

Police and members of the public have been attacked and two businesses owned by people from a minority ethnic background have been destroyed.

It comes amid widespread disorder across Britain which appears to have been sparked by misinformation spread online following the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport.

A senior Police Service of Northern Ireland officer earlier this week said a paramilitary element is suspected of co-ordinating violence in Belfast.

On Monday, four men linked to disorder on Saturday appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court, while a 15-year-old boy appeared before the same court on Wednesday charged with rioting.

All were remanded.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn and parliamentary under-secretary of state Fleur Anderson speak to media at a community centre in Belfast on Wednesday (Rebecca Black/PA)

On Wednesday, Britain's secretary of state for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn condemned racist violence in Belfast in recent days and stressed that it does not represent Northern Ireland.

He said it should be a cause of shame that some people currently do not feel safe in their own homes, and urged those behind the disorder to stop.

MLAs will debate a motion condemning criminal damage and targeting of businesses in recent days.

The motion also calls on First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to finalise the draft Refugee Integration Strategy and associated delivery plan, to bring forward the renewed Race Relations Order, and set out the process of replacing the Racial Equality Strategy 2015/25 by the end of 2024.
Kellie Harrington said she was looking forward to an easy life without the pressures that come with being a boxer after winning her second Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games. Harrington said she would be hanging up her gloves after beating Yang Wenlu of China by split decision in the final of the 60kg lightweight category. The 34-year-old became the first Irish boxer to win back-to-back gold medals, adding to her victory from the Tokyo Olympics.
The head of Queens University Belfast has urged young people not to risk jeopardising their future by taking part in violence.

The university has announced its campus will be closed on Friday, with an anti-immigration protest and a counter-protest expected in the Northern Ireland capital.

In a statement, the university said its public facilities will also close as a precautionary measure to ensure staff and students travelling to and from campus are not put at any risk.

Vice Chancellor Professor Ian Greer made a direct appeal to young people not to risk jeopardising their future and the future of the city through misguided actions.

At Queens, we abhor violence and condemn without reservation Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia in all forms, he said.

As a university community, we are committed to diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging, and to our campus being a safe, secure environment for all staff and students.

I urge young people who might become involved in violence to understand that the biggest threat to your future prospects does not come from people fleeing persecution in other parts of the world, or from committed international staff who underpin the Health Service, or from families, like yours, who wish to live in peace and contribute to society here.

Mr Greer emphasised in his message to young people that progress comes through cooperation and dialogue.

The biggest threat to your future prospects, and the greatest threat to your safety, comes from those who believe that violence is the answer, and that damage and destruction brings progress, he said.

Please do not jeopardise your future and the future of your city through misguided actions, which will damage your chances in life and damage this great city

None of this is true. We all want to see Belfast as a place that offers opportunities for you and your future. Violence will not achieve this. Progress comes through cooperation and dialogue.

Queens is a committed partner for all of the people of Belfast. We work closely with communities to identify and address the challenges exacerbated by social inequalities. We are your university. We hold opportunities for you, as much as anyone else.

Lets work together positively to change peoples lives. Lets harness our energies for the wider good, including your own.

Please do not jeopardise your future and the future of your city through misguided actions, which will damage your chances in life and damage this great city.
A "miracle" saved the life of a father who was repeatedly stabbed in broad daylight after a feud escalated in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, a court has heard.

An ongoing dispute has led to 15 incidents within the past five weeks, including shots fired at a house, the discovery of a firearm and cartridges, criminal damage, death threats, assaults and a stabbing. Gardai arrested five men who appeared before Patricia Cronin at a special late sitting of Mullingar District Court on Wednesday night.

The court, which sat for almost three hours to rule on bail applications, rose shortly before midnight. Judge Cronin heard the unrest in the town allegedly started on July 4 over a debt worth 50.

Bar worker Michael Nevin Jr, 39, of Grange Heights, Mullingar, was charged with assault causing harm to Anthony Dinnegan, who is in his 20s, threatening to kill or cause him serious harm, production of a black-handled kitchen knife as a weapon during a dispute, on August 2, at Austin Friar Street in the town. The court heard Anthony Dinnegan suffered knife wounds to his liver, bowel, and lung.

Mr Nevin Jr was also charged with travelling in a stolen Mercedes car on August 7, 2024, at Cloncollig Roundabout, Tullamore, Co Offaly, without a licence or insurance. The father of four was also accused of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Lucy Dinnegan and her son, 20-year-old Oliver, at their home in Greenpark, Ballymahon Road, Mullingar, on July 4.

His father, Michael Nevin Sr, 61, from Dalton Park, Mullingar, was accused of being unlawfully carried in the same car in Tullamore on August 7 and making threats to kill Oliver Dinnegan and his 19-year-old brother Johnnie on July 4. The court heard they could face additional charges and they were refused bail.

Bail refusals

Detective Garda Adrian Reilly played CCTV footage and told the court the stabbing happened "in broad daylight" shortly after 5pm when Mr Dinnegan left his home on Austin Friar Street with his wife.

It was alleged a threat had been made earlier "to kill you and burn you out". Two cars drove in convoy to the area, and the couple ran, but a group gave chase.

His partner and their child fled into a restaurant while Mr Dinnegan suffered life-threatening injuries: a laceration to his liver, bowel and lungs. Mr Nevin Jr allegedly told him: "I have you now, you're getting it now, you're dead", and that during the stabbing, he said: "You're going to die".

He lost consciousness and was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery. Judge Cronin heard that it was "a miracle he did not die"; he was in a critical condition, and gardai raised concerns in court about the escalation of the feud and feared there could be other serious incidents or loss of life.

Gardai also believed that up to 15 people took part in the attack on Mr Dinnegan, who also suffered a gash to his leg after being attacked with a hatchet. A shotgun and cartridge were recovered near the home of some of the "opposing faction", the court heard.

The detective told defence solicitor Roison Giles that bail terms would not alleviate his concerns.

Michael Nevin Jr abruptly addressed the court to claim that a statement had not been taken from him so far during the Garda investigation.

His father denied the allegations against him and agreed with his solicitor, Roison Giles, that he would obey a range of bail conditions if released.

Mr Nevin Sr told gardai the allegations were "lies, it's all lies". In court, he claimed his family had also been victims of incidents, including an attempt to kill one of his close relatives, and that shots had been fired at his house. He pleaded for bail and said he would pay for a lie detector test.

The court also heard that gardai believed he was the leader of the Nevin faction and had the potential to instigate further incidents. They also believed the stolen car was also used in the feud.

Lucy Dinnegan told the contested bail hearing that she had received a phone call with death threats, which she took seriously. She alleged that Michael Nevin Jr made a threat and that Mr Nevin Sr also told her during the call that he would slice up or cut the throats of her adult sons.

Bail permissions

Another son, trainee landscaper John Nevin, 24, and James Ward, 26, who have addresses in Dalton Park and Emmett Court in Mullingar, were charged with being carried in the stolen Mercedes.

John Nevin was remanded in custody with consent to 1,250 bail. He will appear again with his brother and father next week.

Mr Ward was also charged with causing criminal damage to a woman's Toyota Landcruiser and a campervan on July 11 in Ballinalack, Co. Westmeath.

Bradley McEntee, 23, who also lives in Dalton Park, was also accused of attacking and injuring Anthony Dinnegan at Austin Friar Street on August 2 and possessing a knife as a weapon at Raithin in Mullingar on August 7.

They must obey curfews, not associate with members of the Nevins or another named family or be in groups of more than three people in public, and be contactable by phone.

Mr Ward and McEntee, who did not face bail objections, were ordered to appear again in October.

Judge Cronin noted that gardai must obtain directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Legal aid was granted.
An elderly Dublin man died as a result of complications of poisoning himself after he mistakenly poured washing detergent on a bowl of cornflakes instead of milk, an inquest has heard.

Tom McDonald (92), a married father of five from The Elms, Donnybrook, Dublin, died on March 9, 2023, at St Vincents University Hospital in Dublin where he had been brought after accidentally ingesting the detergent in the middle of the night.

A sitting of Dublin District Coroners Court on Thursday heard that Mr McDonald had suffered from dementia and Alzheimers disease.

In a written statement, the deceaseds daughter Ailbhe McDonald said she had been living with her father for the previous 19 months after her mother, Viola, had moved to live in a nursing home.

The inquest heard that Mr McDonald had been diagnosed with dementia five years earlier with the condition getting noticeably worse in the five months before his death. Ms McDonald said her father would get very confused about time and whether it was day or night.

She said he would often get up in the middle of the night for food and she heard him getting cornflakes in the kitchen at around 3.30am on the day of the fatal incident.

She checked on him after 20 minutes when she had not heard him returning to bed and found him downstairs saying he felt unwell after having eaten something. Ms McDonald said she then noticed some purple detergent in the bowl of cornflakes before her father confirmed that he had eaten its contents.

The coroner, Crona Gallagher, heard Mr McDonald complained of still feeling unwell after vomiting up a small amount of food and drinking some water. Ms McDonald said her father was reluctant to go to hospital but she called an ambulance about 30 minutes later as he was complaining about a sore throat and having to cough.

The inquest heard doctors at St Vincents University Hospital sedated the patient but his condition deteriorated and he was pronounced dead at 8.50am.

Another daughter of the deceased, Aisling OGrady, gave evidence that her fathers condition with dementia and Alzheimers fluctuated with good and bad periods. However, Ms OGrady said it had been getting worse around the time of her fathers death.

In response to questions from Dr Gallagher, she said her father would have eaten anything he found in the fridge as he was no longer able to cook for himself. Ms OGrady said her father would even have eaten items in the fridge that would have gone off or been out of date.

While there had been no dangerous incidents of any type such as leaving a cooker or oven on, she said her family were getting concerned at the time over how it was becoming more difficult to care for their father at home.

The inquest heard that Tom McDonald had been diagnosed with dementia with the condition getting noticeably worse in the five months before his death. Picture: Collins Dublin

Ms OGrady said the detergent he had taken was stored in a low cupboard next to a dishwasher and washing machine that was nowhere near the fridge. I didnt think he would have drunk something he was not familiar with, she added.

She claimed her father would also have been well able to open the cupboard if it had been fitted with a child lock. Ms OGrady said her fathers sense of taste had also weakened which might have explained why he was not immediately aware that he had poured detergent on his cornflakes.

The inquest heard Mr McDonald was a retired member of the Defence Forces who had served in the Congo, but who had also worked as an accountant in the later part of his career.

Ms OGrady admitted she had been shocked by the speed at which her father had died after swallowing the detergent. It was so quick. He was perfectly well and then all of a sudden he is gone, she recalled.

In a statement, a consultant in emergency medicine at SVUH, John Legge, said Mr McDonald had vomited in the ambulance on the way to the hospital and was treated as a priority case in the emergency department.

However, he had problems with his breathing as the detergent had affected his lungs as well as his stomach. Dr Legge said advice was sought from the National Poisons Information Centre but doctors were informed that there was no antidote and they continued with care to support the patients breathing.

The consultant said Mr McDonalds condition continued to deteriorate which meant it was unlikely that he would survive.

Inquest ruling

The inquest heard that a postmortem examination confirmed that Mr McDonald had died from aspiration pneumonitis  an inflammatory reaction in the lungs which had resulted from the ingestion of the detergent.

Dr Gallagher said the deceaseds dementia and heart disease were also contributory factors in his death. However, she stated he was unlikely to have died at that time if he had not ingested the detergent.

The coroner noted that most bottles of washing detergent contained warnings about avoiding contact with the eyes and skin as well as being kept away from children.

Returning a verdict of accidental death, Dr Gallagher said she would bring the very unusual circumstances of Mr McDonalds death to the attention of the relevant authorities. The coroner said she had never come across such a death before.

Dr Gallagher said bodies like the HSE and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland may already be aware of such a risk but it was also something that families providing care to people should know about.
Planning permission has been granted for a large solar farm near Rahanisky on the outskirts of Cork City, despite strong opposition from some local residents.

An Bord Pleanala has upheld the decision of Cork County Council to approve the planning application by Harmony Solar Cork Limited to construct a solar farm on a 63.9-hectare site off the Old Whitechurch Road around 2km south of Whitechurch in the townlands of Rahanisky, Kileendaniel and Monard.

The planning permission for the solar farm is for a period of 10 years with the operational phase of the development listed as 40 years.

The board rejected an appeal by a number of locals who claimed their original submissions to the local authority about the project had been completely ignored. They expressed concern that the solar firm would impact on the delivery of the Monard Strategic Development Zone to create a new town in the area as well as inhibiting its future expansion.

It does not make sense to put a solar farm right next to a special development zone which will have a huge visual impact on it and also could prevent it from expanding if it gets off the ground, said one appellant. They claimed the solar farm would impact on the character of the landscape with the installation of an industrial facility.

SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE Check out our Sustainability and Climate Change Hub where you will find the latest news, features, opinions and analysis on this topic from across the various Irish Examiner topic desks and their team of specialist writers and columnists.

The objectors also expressed concern about the impact from glint and glare from the solar panels on the proposed Monard Town Centre that would be constructed under the Monard SDZ and playing pitches near the site as well as posing a road safety hazard.

However, the developer claimed any glint towards Monard would mostly occur in the early morning between 6.30am and 8am and would total less than 100 minutes per annum at even the worst affected location. The company, which is a subsidiary of the renewable energy firm, Harmony Solar Ireland, said a glint and glare assessment had concluded that there would be no hazardous effects on the local road network.

It also claimed the opponents of the project had provided no evidence to support their claim that the development of the solar farm would negatively impact on the value of neighbouring properties.

The solar farm will consist of 330,200 square metres of solar photovoltaic panels and a 38kV electrical substation on a site that is currently mostly grassland with some farm buildings and a farmhouse.

The planning permission also provides for the installation of almost 4.5 kilometres of underground medium voltage electric cable which will link an onsite substation with a substation in Blackpool in Cork City. A separate concurrent application for the part of the cable within the administrative area of Cork City Council was approved in May.

In reaching its decision, An Bord Pleanala said it had taken into consideration the policies and objectives of the Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028 and the likely significant effects of the solar farm on the environment as well as the main grounds of the appeals and submissions of prescribed bodies.

Subject to compliance with a number of planning conditions, the board said the proposed development would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. The conditions include a requirement for a revision of the layout of the solar farm to have a minimum 40-metre setback of solar panels from the roadside boundary to the west of the site.

It is expected the construction phase of the project will take approximately 12 months.
Watch: Thousands of counter-protesters take to the streets of London
The man who immortalised the phrase this is democracy manifest while starring in what has been described as the pre-eminent Australian meme, Jack Karlson, has died aged 82.

Mr Karlson  although there are debates as to whether this was his real name or one of many aliases  was a serial prison escaper and small-time crook who shot to fame in 2009 after a news clip of his arrest at a Chinese restaurant in Brisbanes Fortitude Valley in 1991 was uploaded on to the internet.

What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal? Mr Karlson theatrically boomed as his bear-like frame resisted a string of police officers.

Chris Reason, the Channel Seven journalist who reported Mr Karlsons arrest 33 years ago, paid tribute to Mr Karlson on social media site X, tweeting that Mr Democracy Manifest has died.

Mr Karlson died surrounded by family at 6.31pm on Wednesday.

He walked a full and colourful path and, despite the troubles thrown at him, he lived by his motto  to keep on laughing, his family said in statement.

Niece Kim Edwards said Mr Karlson spent the last few weeks of his life in hospital, where he had a few attempts to escape and pulled his cords out a couple of times and asked us many time to sneak in his pipe.

Ms Edwards said her uncle was battling many ailments but what got him in the end was [systemic inflammatory response syndrome].

As a final send off, we gave uncle a last taste of red wine through his drip just before it was removed, she said.

Mr Karlson died the day after his 82nd birthday. Or, at least, it was the most recent of the birthdates he claimed to film-maker Heath Davis, who is making a documentary on Mr Karlsons life.

This is the legit one, Mr Davis said. Or so Im told.

Mr Davis said he also learned the most recent alias Mr Karlson  who he believes was really Cecil George Edwards  was going by in the last years of his life. And though he is not currently at liberty to reveal it, Mr Davis said it was not Jack Karlson.

Lets just say: John, Mr Davis said.

The film-maker is expecting huge amounts of other information about Mr Karlsons life to be revealed, and it wont just be about names and dates. He and authors including Mark Dapin had already uncovered stories of Mr Karlsons prison escapes that are said to include picking the lock cuffing him to a sleeping officer and leaping from a moving train and swimming off a prison island before being rescued by a benevolent fisher.

But Mr Karlsons life was far from just a rollick. His boyhood was spent in institutions rife with sexual predators and bullies, and his varied stints in Australias most notorious jails included time in the Black Peter solitary confinement of Boggo Road jail  the cruelty of which was medieval  when he was still a teenager.

A regular person who experienced his life would have passed away years ago, Mr Davis said.

But Jack just had this zest for life that made you go: this guy is made of mercury  he might just live forever.

Jack Karlson 'is folklore and doesnt even know it'

Among old friends and foes reunited with Mr Karlson in the making of Mr Davis documentary was Stoll Watt, a senior sergeant in the then Special Weapons and Operations Squad who happened to be driving through the Valley on the now famous day in 1991 when the call came through for support in an arrest.

Mr Watt said there are many different versions of what occurred that day  his own is detailed in a yet-to-be-published book. One thing Mr Watt does not deny, though, is Mr Karlsons charisma.

He was some sort of trained actor, he learned that in prison, but he was also a natural showman, Mr Watt said. He bluffed his way out of a court in Sydney, said he was a detective, and to do that he must have been a very confident showman  and a bit of a conman as well.

Among Mr Karlsons cons, Mr Watt said, was the now infamous line he roared during the arrest when he declared: Get your hands off my penis!.

All it was, was, I was assisting him out of the restaurant and there was a step and he tripped a little bit and, to help him up, my hand grabbed him lower down on the thigh, Mr Watt said. He said I grabbed him by the thing  but I was nowhere near it.

Still, Mr Watt bears Mr Karlson no ill will and enjoyed meeting him once again last year at Mr Karlsons hideout near Esk somewhere in the mountains of south-east Queensland.

He said to me that I was the only copper he never hated, Mr Watt said. He called me comrade and he said come up and spend the night with me and well have a few, he calls it, the juice of the red grapes.

Mr Karlson was a very good wordsmith, Mr Watt said, adding the man he once arrested would have been a millionaire had he been able to trademark the phrases he coined that have now entered the modern Australian lexicon.

Yet it is through these words that Jack Karlson, or Cecil George Edwards, or John X, will live in posterity. Though Mr Davis said the subject of his film  for all his sins, hardly a tech savvy man  was for a long time naive to his online renown and, perhaps, never fully appreciated it.

He is folklore and doesnt even know it, Mr Davis said.

The Guardian
Tunisias president has sacked the countrys prime minister and replaced him with another cabinet member, the latest shake-up in the North African country ahead of the October presidential election.

President Kais Saied announced in a brief press release that he was dismissing prime minister Ahmed Hachani after only one year in office.

Mr Saied also named Kamel Maddouri, previously Tunisias social affairs minister, to the post.

The president gave no reason for his move. Mr Maddouri will be the sixth prime minister to serve as head of government under Mr Saied.

A few hours before his dismissal, Mr Hachani, a former executive of Tunisias Central Bank, posted a video on Facebook praising the achievements of his government, particularly in the economic and social fields.

Tunisia has been shaken by growing social discontent and economic tensions, stemming from a galloping inflation, high unemployment and persistent structural challenges.

Mr Saied will seek a second term in the October 6 vote.

Relations between the government and the opposition remain tense as leading figures languish in prison, including potential presidential candidates, some of whom were barred from running in elections.

Once hailed as the most progressive democracy to sprout from the regions 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, Tunisia has since seen turbulence and succession of governments.

Mr Saied, a 66-year-old former law professor, came to power in 2019, capitalising on widespread discontent and promising to make Tunisia more prosperous.

He has since suspended the parliament, rewritten the constitution to consolidate his own power and cracked down on politicians, activists and journalists known for their criticism of his rule.

Under Mr Saieds new constitution, he can unilaterally appoint the prime minister and the entire cabinet  a significant change from the 2014 constitution that gave parliament a major role in forming the government.
JP Lantin, right, owner of Total Refrigeration, and service tech Michael Villa, left, work on replacing a fan motor on an air conditioning unitas temperatures are expected to hit 117-degrees Wednesday, July 19, 2023, in Phoenix. Most of the Maricopa County's 645 heat-related deaths last year were outdoors, but 156 people died in their homes.
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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.
The members of the Peoples Assembly of BJFS which held a meeting today approved the draft law of Somalias labor law.This initiative was approved by 138 MPs, four MPs opposed it while one MP remained silent.

The Chairman of the Peoples Council of BFS, Sheikh Aden Mohamed Noor (Madobobe) who chaired todays meeting has finally confirmed the validity of the law passed by the members of the Peoples Council today.

The approval of Somalias labor law by the Peoples Assembly of BJFS is a significant step towards improving labor rights and protections in the country

The overwhelming support for the draft law (138 MPs in favor) demonstrates a strong commitment to addressing labor issues in Somalia

The role of Chairman Sheikh Aden Mohamed Noor (Madobobe) in guiding the meeting and ensuring the validity of the law highlights the importance of strong leadership in legislative processes.

The few MPs who opposed the draft law may have concerns or reservations that need to be addressed in order to ensure the effective implementation of the new labor law.
Aug 07 (Jowhar.com)  Egypt is sending troops to Somalia to be part of the new operation of the African Union, which replaces the ATMIS operation in Somalia, the African Union announced.

A press release from the African Union thanked Egypt and Djibouti for being the two countries that have so far confirmed that they will be part of this operation. And the other countries of the continent were called to join.

The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission (AUSSOM) came as a request from Somalia, which aimed to provide short-term support to Somali forces after the withdrawal of ATMIS to stabilize and strengthen the security of the country.

The African Union praised the efforts and commitment of the Somali government in strengthening security, reconstruction, training and capacity building of the armed forces. In order to speed up these activities, Africa called on the international community to increase support for the government.

The AUSSOM operation will focus on supporting the Somali government in its efforts to combat terrorism, piracy, and other security threats in the region. The African Union emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and solidarity in addressing these challenges, and expressed confidence that the deployment of troops from Egypt and Djibouti will help to enhance the effectiveness of the mission.

The African Union also called on the United Nations and other international partners to provide financial and logistical support for the AUSSOM operation, in order to ensure its success. The organization reiterated its commitment to working with the Somali government and other stakeholders to promote peace, security, and stability in the region.

The deployment of Egyptian troops to Somalia marks a significant development in the African Unions efforts to support the country in its transition to stability and peace. It is hoped that the AUSSOM operation will contribute to the long-term security and prosperity of Somalia, and help to create a more peaceful and secure environment for its people.
The Somali Council of Ministers has approved the Law on Elections and the Law on Parties

Aug 08 (Jowhar.com)  The Prime Minister of the Somali government, Hamze Abdi Barre, today chaired the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, which was closely watched.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the Elections Law and the Party Law, which is the beginning of President Hassan Sheikhs project for the election of People and Votes.

This legislation is expected to be presented to the House of Representatives for debate, and there is a question mark on the process of approval, as the opposition is strongly opposed to the presidential election plan.

The opposition argues that the proposed laws do not guarantee a fair and transparent election process, and they have raised concerns about potential government interference in the electoral process. Despite this opposition, President Hassan Sheikh remains determined to move forward with his election plan and is confident that the laws will be approved by the House of Representatives.

The approval of the Elections Law and Party Law marks a significant step towards the upcoming presidential election in Somalia. The government hopes that these laws will help ensure a smooth and democratic election process, and pave the way for a peaceful transfer of power.

As the debate over the election laws continues, all eyes are on the House of Representatives to see how they will respond to the governments proposals. The coming days and weeks will be crucial in determining the future of Somalias political landscape.
( Tomdispatch.com )  The Pentagon is in the midst of a massive $2 trillion multiyear plan to build a new generation of nuclear-armed missiles, bombers, and submarines. A large chunk of that funding will go to major nuclear weapons contractors like Bechtel, General Dynamics, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. And they will do everything in their power to keep that money flowing.

This January, a review of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program under the Nunn-McCurdy Act  a congressional provision designed to rein in cost overruns of Pentagon weapons programs  found that the missile, the crown jewel of the nuclear overhaul plan involving 450 missile-holding silos spread across five states, is already 81% over its original budget. It is now estimated that it will cost a total of nearly $141 billion to develop and purchase, a figure only likely to rise in the future.

That Pentagon review had the option of canceling the Sentinel program because of such a staggering cost increase. Instead, it doubled down on the program, asserting that it would be an essential element of any future nuclear deterrent and must continue, even if the funding for other defense programs has to be cut to make way for it. In justifying the decision, Deputy Defense Secretary William LaPlante stated: We are fully aware of the costs, but we are also aware of the risks of not modernizing our nuclear forces and not addressing the very real threats we confront.

Cost is indeed one significant issue, but the biggest risk to the rest of us comes from continuing to build and deploy ICBMs, rather than delaying or shelving the Sentinel program. As former Secretary of Defense William Perry has noted, ICBMs are some of the most dangerous weapons in the world because they could trigger an accidental nuclear war. As he explained, a president warned (accurately or not) of an enemy nuclear attack would have only minutes to decide whether to launch such ICBMs and conceivably devastate the planet.

Possessing such potentially world-ending systems only increases the possibility of an unintended nuclear conflict prompted by a false alarm. And as Norman Solomon and the late Daniel Ellsberg once wrote, If reducing the dangers of nuclear war is a goal, the top priority should be to remove the triads ground-based leg  not modernize it.

This is no small matter. It is believed that a large-scale nuclear exchange could result in more than five billion of us humans dying, once the possibility of a nuclear winter and the potential destruction of agriculture across much of the planet is taken into account, according to an analysis by International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.

In short, the need to reduce nuclear risks by eliminating such ICBMs could not be more urgent. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists Doomsday Clock  an estimate of how close the world may be at any moment to a nuclear conflict  is now set at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest its been since that tracker was first created in 1947. And just this June, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a mutual defense agreement with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a potential first step toward a drive by Moscow to help Pyongyang expand its nuclear arsenal further. And of the nine countries now possessing nuclear weapons, its hardly the only one other than the U.S. in an expansionist phase.

Considering the rising tide of nuclear escalation globally, is it really the right time for this country to invest a fortune of taxpayer dollars in a new generation of devastating use them or lose them weapons? The American public has long said no, according to a 2020 poll by the University of Marylands Program for Public Consultation, which showed that 61% of us actually support phasing out ICBM systems like the Sentinel.

The Pentagons misguided plan to keep such ICBMs in the U.S arsenal for decades to come is only reinforced by the political power of members of Congress and the companies that benefit financially from the current buildup.

Who Decides? The Role of the ICBM Lobby

A prime example of the power of the nuclear weapons lobby is the Senate ICBM Coalition. That group is composed of senators from four states  Montana, North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming  that either house major ICBM bases or host significant work on the Sentinel. Perhaps you wont be surprised to learn that the members of that coalition have received more than $3 million in donations from firms involved in the production of the Sentinel over the past four election cycles. Nor were they alone. ICBM contractors made contributions to 92 of the 100 senators and 413 of the 435 house members in 2024. Some received hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The nuclear lobby paid special attention to members of the armed services committees in the House and Senate. For example, Mike Turner, a House Republican from Ohio, has been a relentless advocate of modernizing the nuclear arsenal. In a June 2024 talk at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which itself has received well over a million dollars in funding from nuclear weapons producers, he called for systematically upgrading the nuclear arsenal for decades to come, while chiding any of his congressional colleagues not taking such an aggressive stance on the subject.

Although Turner vigorously touts the need for a costly nuclear buildup, he fails to mention that, with $305,000 in donations, hes been the fourth-highest recipient of funding from the ICBM lobby over the four elections between 2018 and 2024. Little wonder that he pushes for new nuclear weapons and staunchly opposes extending the New START arms reduction treaty.

In another example of contractor influence, veteran Texas representative Kay Granger secured the largest total of contributions from the ICBM lobby of any House member. With $675,000 in missile contractor contributions in hand, Granger went to bat for the lobby, lending a feminist veneer to nuclear modernization by giving a speech on her experience as a woman in politics at Northrop Grummans Womens conference. And were sure you wont be surprised that Granger has anything but a strong track record when it comes to keeping the Pentagon and arms makers accountable for waste, fraud, and abuse in weapons programs. Her X account is, in fact, littered with posts heaping praise on Lockheed Martin and its overpriced, underperforming F-35 combat aircraft.

Other recipients of ICBM contractor funding, like Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers, have lamented the might of the far-left disarmament community, and the undue influence of anti-nuclear zealots on our politics. Missing from the statements his office puts together and the speeches his staffers write for him, however, is any mention of the $471,000 in funding hes received so far from ICBM producers. You wont be surprised, were sure, to discover that Rogers has pledged to seek a provision in the forthcoming National Defense Authorization Act to support the Pentagons plan to continue the Sentinel program.

Lobbying Dollars and the Revolving Door

The flood of campaign contributions from ICBM contractors is reinforced by their staggering investments in lobbying. In any given year, the arms industry as a whole employs between 800 and 1,000 lobbyists, well more than one for every member of Congress. Most of those lobbyists hired by ICBM contractors come through the revolving door from careers in the Pentagon, Congress, or the Executive Branch. That means they come with the necessary tools for success in Washington: an understanding of the appropriations cycle and close relations with decision-makers on the Hill.

During the last four election cycles, ICBM contractors spent upwards of $226 million on 275 extremely well-paid lobbyists. For example, Bud Cramer, a former Democratic congressman from Alabama who once sat on the defense subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, netted $640,000 in fees from Northrop Grumman over a span of six years. He was also a cofounder of the Blue Dog Democrats, an influential conservative faction within the Democratic Party. Perhaps you wont be surprised to learn that Cramers former chief of staff, Jefferies Murray, also lobbies for Northrop Grumman.

While some lobbyists work for one contractor, others have shared allegiances. For example, during his tenure as a lobbyist, former Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Trent Lott received more than $600,000 for his efforts for Raytheon, Textron Inc., and United Technologies (before United Technologies and Raytheon merged to form RX Technologies). Former Virginia Congressman Jim Moran similarly received $640,000 from Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics.

Playing the Jobs Card

The argument of last resort for the Sentinel and similar questionable weapons programs is that they create well-paying jobs in key states and districts. Northrop Grumman has played the jobs card effectively with respect to the Sentinel, claiming it will create 10,000 jobs in its development phase alone, including about 2,250 in the state of Utah, where the hub for the program is located.

As a start, however, those 10,000 jobs will help a miniscule fraction of the 167-million-member American workforce. Moreover, Northrop Grumman claims facilities tied to the program will be set up in 32 states. If 2,250 of those jobs end up in Utah, that leaves 7,750 more jobs spread across 31 states  an average of about 250 jobs per state, essentially a rounding error compared to total employment in most localities.

Nor has Northrop Grumman provided any documentation for the number of jobs the Sentinel program will allegedly create. Journalist Taylor Barnes of ReThink Media was rebuffed in her efforts to get a copy of the agreement between Northrop Grumman and the state of Utah that reportedly indicates how many Sentinel-related jobs the company needs to create to get the full subsidy offered to put its primary facility in Utah.

A statement by a Utah official justifying that lack of transparency suggested Northrop Grumman was operating in a competitive defense industry and that revealing details of the agreement might somehow harm the company. But any modest financial harm Northrop Grumman might suffer, were those details revealed, pales in comparison with the immense risks and costs of the Sentinel program itself.

There are two major flaws in the jobs argument with respect to the future production of nuclear weapons. First, military spending should be based on security considerations, not pork-barrel politics. Second, as Heidi Peltier of the Costs of War Project has effectively demonstrated, virtually any other expenditure of funds currently devoted to Pentagon programs would create between 9% and 250% more jobs than weapons spending does. If Congress were instead to put such funds into addressing climate change, dealing with future disease epidemics, poverty, or homelessness  all serious threats to public safety  the American economy would gain hundreds of thousands of jobs. Choosing to fund those ICBMs instead is, in fact, a job killer, not a job creator.

Unwarranted Influence in the Nuclear Age

Advocates for eliminating ICBMs from the American arsenal make a strong case. (If only they were better heard!) For example, former Representative John Tierney of the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation offered this blunt indictment of ICBMs:

Not only are intercontinental ballistic missiles redundant, but they are prone to a high risk of accidental useThey do not make us any safer. Their only value is to the defense contractors who line their fat pockets with large cost overruns at the expense of our taxpayers. It has got to stop.

The late Daniel Ellsberg made a similar point in a February 2018 interview with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists:

You would not have these arsenals, in the U.S. or elsewhere, if it were not the case that it was highly profitable to the military-industrial complex, to the aerospace industry, to the electronics industry, and to the weapons design labs to keep modernizing these weapons, improving accuracy, improving launch time, all that. The military-industrial complex that Eisenhower talked about is a very powerful influence. Weve talked about unwarranted influence. Weve had that for more than half a century.

Given how the politics of Pentagon spending normally work, that nuclear weapons policy is being so heavily influenced by individuals and organizations profiting from an ongoing arms race should be anything but surprising. Still, in the case of such weaponry, the stakes are so high that critical decisions shouldnt be determined by parochial politics. The influence of such special interest groups and corporate weapons-makers over life-and-death issues should be considered both a moral outrage and perhaps the ultimate security risk.

Isnt it finally time for the executive branch and Congress to start assessing the need for ICBMs on their merits, rather than on contractor lobbying, weapons company funding, and the sort of strategic thinking that was already outmoded by the end of the 1950s? For that to happen, our representatives would need to hear from their constituents loud and clear.

Follow TomDispatch on Twitter and join us on Facebook. Check out the newest Dispatch Books, John Feffers new dystopian novel, Songlands (the final one in his Splinterlands series), Beverly Gologorskys novel Every Body Has a Story, and Tom Engelhardts A Nation Unmade by War, as well as Alfred McCoys In the Shadows of the American Century: The Rise and Decline of U.S. Global Power, John Dowers The Violent American Century: War and Terror Since World War II, and Ann Joness They Were Soldiers: How the Wounded Return from Americas Wars: The Untold Story.

Copyright 2024 William D. Hartung and Hekmat Aboukhater

Via Tomdispatch.com
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  The Israeli newspaper Arab 48 reported this week that the civil administrator of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian West Bank and the minister of finance, Bezalel Smotrich, broached the subject of whether it is legal and moral to starve over two million people to death.

Smotrich, the head of the fascist Religious Zionism Party, was addressing a conference of supporters of bringing back the Gush Katif Israel squatter-settlement on Palestinian land in Gaza, which was closed by right wing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Smotrich said, I did not demand that renewed settlement in Gaza be described as one of the war goals. But I am permitted to express my hearts desires. Where there is no settlement, there is no security. The head of government says that this is not true, but I disagree with him on this issue.

He expressed the view that Hamas cannot be destroyed from either a military and civilian point of view unless control is asserted over humanitarian aid. He blamed Netanyahu for being unwilling or unable to do so.

The monstrousness of Smotrichs remarks can be seen if we consider that in the 1930s and 1940s, the Nazi high command also wanted to starve its battlefield enemies. The Nobel Peace Center notes,

As Germany was planning the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, acquiring food for German soldiers was a central to their grand strategy. The minutes from Nazi meetings makes apparent what their expectation for the Soviet invasion was; millions of local civilians would likely die of hunger when German troops confiscated the food supply. This, however, was not seen as a problem. A month later, tanks rolled into Soviet territory, and proceeded with what became known as Der Hungerplan. Approximately 7 million Soviet civilians, Jews and gentiles alike, died as a consequence of Der Hungerplan.

It should be noted that Smotrich personally sequestered grain aid trucks last spring and did not allow them to go to Gaza until Biden administration pressure caused him to release them.

Smotrich blamed Netanyahus civilian control over the food aid for what he saw as leniency, and implied that the military should take over.

He said it would have been desirable for the Israeli military to assume responsibility for all the aid into Gaza. He said he recognized that the aid had to go into the Strip given current world opinion.

He complained, It is not possible in the world situation of today to administer a war.

No one, Smotrich added, will allow us to kill two million citizens with hunger  even though perhaps that is just and moral as long as they do not return the hostages  one humanitarian step for another  and that is right morally. [But] this war needs international legitimacy. He blasted the Biden peace proposal for getting out only a few hostages and so was not just and was, indeed, a threat to national security.

Smotrichs remarks about the possible moral and legal basis for starving two million people show how corrupt and rudderless the Israeli Right wing has become, which controls the whole contry.. There are no longer any guard rails.



Bonus video:

The Young Turks Video: Israeli Minister Advocates For Starving 2 Million Palestinians
Langley, British Columbia  August 8, 2024  TheNewswire: Viva Gold Corp. ("Viva Gold" or the Company) (TSX Venture Exchange: VAU) is pleased to announce that it has completed a non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering"). In connection with the closing of the Offering, the Company issued an aggregate of 7,953,359 units (the "Units") at a price of CDN$0.15 per Unit for gross proceeds of CDN$1,193,004. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a Share) and one-half of one non-transferable common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a Warrant). Each whole Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Share at an exercise price of CDN$0.22 per Share until August 8, 2027, which is 36 months from the date of issuance.

This financing will allow the company to complete the drill program initiated in April of this year of up to 2,500 meters of reverse circulation drilling in 15 to 20 drillholes at its Tonopah Gold project (Tonopah) located near Tonopah, Nevada. The program will target open extensions to gold mineralization. Additional targets include areas of inferred gold mineralization that can be upgraded to higher confidence levels of measured or indicated resources with additional drilling. We anticipate being able to initiate drilling in late August, early September. In addition, the company plans to update the resource model to incorporate all new drillholes completed since January 2022 and to update Tonopahs PEA study, stated James Hesketh, President & CEO.

Insiders of the Company acquired an aggregate of 1,586,693Units in the Offering, which participation constituted a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101). Such participation is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the Units acquired by the insiders, nor the consideration for the Units paid by such insiders, exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. As required by MI 61 101, the Company advises that it expects to file a material change report relating to the Offering less than 21 days before completion of the Offering, which is necessary to complete the Offering in an expeditious manner and is reasonable in the circumstances.

Viva plans to allocate the proceeds of the Offering, net of any finders fees, towards completing drilling, technical and environmental study work at its Tonopah Gold Project (Tonopah), located in Nevada, and secondarily for general working capital purposes.

The Company will pay aggregate finders fees of CDN$15,750.00 and 105,000 Share purchase warrants (the Finders Warrants) in connection with subscriptions from subscribers introduced to the Offering by Canaccord Genuity Corp. Each Finders Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Share in the capital of the Company at an exercise price of CDN$0.22 per Share until August 8, 2027, which is 36 months from the date of issuance.

The securities issued under the Offering, and any Shares that may be issuable on exercise of any such securities, will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance of such securities.

Correction: Vivas Press Release of July 9, 2024, inadvertently stated that finders warrants issued in connection with subscriptions from subscribers introduced to the Offering were exercisable to acquire one Share in the capital of the Company at an exercise price of CDN$0.22 per Share until January 15, 2026, which is 18 months from the date of issuance. The Press Release should have stated that warrants were exercisable until July 15, 2027, which is 36 months from the date of issuance.

About Viva Gold Corp

The Tonopah project is a 100%-owned land position on the prolific Walker LaneRound Mountain gold trend in western Nevada and is situated about a half hour drive south of the Round Mountain mine owned by Kinross Gold. Viva has consistently grown its resources since 2018 and recently completed a successful drill program to further define and grow the current resource base. The Company plans to complete additional drilling, update the resource model and PEA study in 2024, both of which are major catalysts and value creation events for shareholders.

Viva Gold is led by CEO James Hesketh, a 40-year veteran in the mining space who has led the development and construction of eight other mines around the world throughout his career. James has surrounded himself with equally experienced mining professionals both on the management team and the board.

The Tonopah Gold Project, a potential open pit, heap leach/mill opportunity, has all the hallmarks of a successful mining development project as key infrastructure is in place and is supported by compelling economic studies.

Please reach out and get to know us as 2024 is shaping up to be a transformational year.

Viva Gold trades on the TSX Venture exchange VAU, on the OTCQB "VAUCF" and on the Frankfurt exchange "7PB". Viva currently has ~118.4 million shares outstanding and boasts a best-in-class management team and board with decades of both gold exploration and production experience. The Company is advancing its high-grade Tonopah Gold Project in mining friendly Nevada with the support of several institutional shareholders. More information can be found on https://www.Sedar.Com and please visit our website: www.vivagoldcorp.com.

Viva is committed to developing the Tonopah Gold Project in an environmentally and socially responsible fashion. These values are aligned with managements core values and permeate throughout our decision-making process.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this news release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

For further information please contact:

James Hesketh, President & CEO

(720) 291-1775

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Graham Farrell, Harbor Access

(416) 842-9003

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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain information contained in this news release constitutes forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively, forward- looking information). Without limiting the foregoing, such forward-looking information includes statements regarding the process and completion of the Offering, the use of proceeds of the Offering and any statements regarding the Companys business plans, expectations and objectives. In this news release, words such as may, would, could, will, likely, believe, expect, anticipate, intend, plan, estimate and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved. Forward-looking information is based on information available at the time and/or the Company managements good faith belief with respect to future events and is subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond the Companys control. For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking information made in this news release, see the Companys most recent Managements Discussion and Analysis and financial statements and other documents filed by the Company with the Canadian securities commissions and the discussion of risk factors set out therein. Such documents are available at www.sedar.com under the Companys profile and on the Companys website, https://vivagoldcorp.com/. The forward-looking information set forth herein reflects the Companys expectations as at the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law




Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2024) - Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR) (OTCQX: FDMIF) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") announces drill core assay results from its fully-funded 2024 drill program at the Antino Gold Project ("Antino" or the "Project") in southeastern Suriname. Highlights within this release demonstrate successful step-out exploration drilling from the July 22, 2024 news release focused on the Froyo Gold Zone.

Drilling Highlights

44.0 metres (m) of 2.05 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) (24GG013) Including 11.0 m of 5.73 g/t Au

(24GG013) 35.0 m of 2.37 g/t Au (24FR073)

(24FR073) 30.0 m of 2.77 g/t Au (24GG006)

(24GG006) 3.0 m of 10.20 g/t Au (24FR076)

(24FR076) 9.3 m of 3.39 g/t Au (23GG002)

"These results represent another significant extension of mineralization at Froyo," commented President & CEO, Colin Padget. "Drill hole 24GG013 is a 65 m step-out north along strike of the previously released drillhole 24FR074, which intersected 46.0 m of 5.31 g/t Au. This new mineralization provides additional confidence in the continuity of the parallel zones at Froyo, which remain open along strike and at depth."

Results from 24GG013 (44.0 m of 2.05 g/t Au) represent a sizable step-out in the emerging gold trend that occurs within a broader series of parallel shear zones east of the main Froyo Gold Zone. In addition to the northern step-out, this drilling also highlights mineralization at depth. Drill hole 24FR076 (3.0 m of 10.20 g/t Au) is a 60 metre down-dip extension from previously released 24FR075 (refer to Figure 2 below). These parallel shears have consistent mineralogical characteristics of the main Froyo shear and likely exhibit deep rooted structures with strong growth potential.

About Founders Metals Inc.

Founders Metals is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on advancing the Antino Gold Project located in Suriname, South America, in the heart of the Guiana Shield. Antino is 20,000 hectares and has produced over 500,000 ounces of gold from surface and alluvial mining to date1. The Company drilled 10,000 metres in 2023 and is fully financed for drilling in 2024.

12022 Technical Report - Antino Project; Suriname, South America. K. Raffle, BSc, P. Geo & Rock Lefrancois, BSc, P.Geo.

Quality Assurance and Control

Results from samples were analyzed at FILAB Suriname, a Bureau Veritas Certified Laboratory in Paramaribo, Suriname (a commercial certified laboratory under ISO 9001:2015). Samples are crushed to 75% passing 2.35 mm screen, riffle split (700 g) and pulverized to 85% passing 88 m. Samples were analyzed using a 50 g fire assay (50 g aliquot) with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. For samples that return assay values over 10.0 grams per tonne (g/t), another cut was taken from the original pulp and fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. Founders Metals inserts blanks and certified reference standards in the sample sequence for quality control. External QA-QC checks are performed at ALS Global Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Lima, Peru (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility). A secure chain of custody is maintained in transporting and storing of all samples. Drill intervals with visible gold are assayed using metallic screening. Rock chip samples from outcrop/bedrock are selective by nature and may not be representative of the mineralization hosted on the project.

Qualified Persons

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Figure 1: Froyo Zone Plan Map with Drillhole Locations

Figure 2: Vertical Section of Froyo Zone

Table 1: Assay Results

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Core Length* (m) Au (g/t) 24FR076 6.60 9.60 3.00 2.98 and 180.00 184.00 4.00 0.60 and 300.00 303.00 3.00 10.20 24FR073 152.00 187.00 35.00 2.37 24GG013 133.00 177.00 44.00 2.05 including 153.00 164.00 11.00 5.73 and 202.00 209.00 7.00 3.62 and 372.00 376.89 4.89 0.55 24GG007 198.00 206.00 8.00 1.92 24GG006 186.00 216.00 30.00 2.77 24GG005 149.00 151.00 2.00 2.52 23GG002 197.00 206.30 9.30 3.39

*Intervals are estimated to represent 85% or more of true width based on current drill data

Table 2: Drill Hole Locations

Hole ID Easting* (m) Northing* (m) Elevation (m) Azimuth () Dip () Depth (m) 24FR076 817198.8 401182.2 157.3 250.0 -65.0 350.1 24FR073 817063.2 401147.6 157.0 248.8 -51.0 221.1 24GG013 817073.8 401218.0 182.2 245.0 -55.0 377.0 24GG007 817017.1 401194.1 178.6 238.9 -60.6 251.2 24GG006 817017.0 401193.9 178.7 233.9 -52.5 233.1 24GG005 817000.0 401151.5 171.1 240.1 -75.1 272.0 23GG002 816877.2 401027.7 167.6 52.3 -52.4 226.5

*The coordinate reference system is WGS 84, UTM zone 21N (EPSG 32621)

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings and the future or prospects of the Company. 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 statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

All material information on Founders Metals can be found at www.sedarplus.ca.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 24, 2024) - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSXV: SSV) ("Southern Silver") reports that it has filed on SEDAR its National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report titled Cerro Las Minitas, NI43-101 Technical Report, Preliminary Economic Assessment dated July 23, 2024 (the "Technical Report"). The authors are Ausenco Engineering USA South Inc. and Ausenco Sustainability ULC. ("Ausenco"), Kirkham Geosystems Ltd. ("KGL"), Entech Mining Limited ("Entech"), and MPC Metallurgical Process Consultants Limited ("MPC"). The report can also be found on Southern Silver's website by clicking here.

Filing of the Technical Report follows Southern Silver's news release issued June 10th, 2024 announcing the results of its Updated Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on its 100% owned Cerro Las Minitas Project, Durango State, Mexico.

PEA Highlights (all figures in $US unless otherwise noted):

Robust Project Economics - Base Case 1 : after-tax NPV5% of $501M (C$682M) and IRR of 21.2% with a 48-month payback;





after-tax of (C$682M) and of with a payback; Excellent Silver and Zinc Price Leverage - Base-case + 20% Metal Prices2: after-tax NPV5% of $876M (C$1,193M) and IRR of 30.1% with a 37-month payback;

Base Case Metal Prices: Ag- $23.00/oz, Au - $1850/oz, Cu - $4.00/lb, Pb - $1.00/lb and Zn - $1.25/lb



Base Case +20% metal prices: Ag- $27.60/oz, Au - $2220/oz, Cu - $4.80/lb, Pb - $1.20/lb and Zn - $1.50/lb

The 2024 Preliminary Economic Assessment features:

A Large-Scale Underground Mining Operation with a 17-year mine life and an annual average plant feed of 14.3 Mozs AgEq 3 (inc. 5.8 Mozs Ag) and life-of-mine (LOM) feed totalling 243.2 Mozs AgEq 3 ; (inc. 98.6 Mozs Ag). LOM product sales total 194.3Mozs AgEq 3 at an AISC of $13.23/oz AgEq 3 sold ; and





with a and an annual average plant feed of (inc. 5.8 Mozs Ag) and life-of-mine (LOM) feed totalling ; (inc. 98.6 Mozs Ag). LOM product sales total at an of ; and A High-Revenue Project with gross revenues totalling $4.47B with silver and gold representing 45% of revenues, and zinc representing 35% of projected revenues. The project has an Initial CapEx of $388M, an NPV5%-to-CapEx ratio of 1.3X and a paydown of 48 months on a post-tax basi.

AgEq is calculated on a (contained metal x metal price)/ Ag price basis

This latest economic update of Cerro Las Minitas is the culmination of a number of technical improvements of the earlier PEA, developed over the last 18 months, which together result in a significant increase in the value of the Cerro Las Minitas asset. This includes the addition of new mineral resources from the North Felsite zone as first reported in March 2023; the standardization of the metallurgical recoveries and charges across each of the deposits, including the addition of gold revenues into the project cash-flow; improvements in the mine scheduling and optimization both the Operating and Capital costs of the project.

The updated PEA:

Increases the Life of Mine (LOM) production by 5Mt , representing an approximate 20% increase;

, representing an approximate 20% increase; Increases daily mine production capacity to 5300 tonnes per day ("tpd") , representing an approximate 18% increase;

, representing an approximate 18% increase; Extends the mine life by 2.6yrs ;

; Increases the LOM Revenue by $765M , representing an approximate 17% increase in revenues;

, representing an approximate 17% increase in revenues; Increases the after-tax NPV5% by 45% to $501M ; and

; and Similarly, increases the post-tax IRR by 3.3% to 21.2%.

Cautionary Statement

The PEA is preliminary in nature, it may include mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves have not demonstrated economic viability. The mineral resources may be affected by subsequent assessment of mining, environmental, processing, permitting, taxation, socio-economic, and other factors.

Recommendations

The Technical Report recommends the continued development of the Cerro las Minitas project toward pre-feasibility. Specific recommendations include:

further drilling to upgrade the classification of areas of high-value tonnes within the payback years and to expand mineral resources;

further geotechnical assessment for mining and mineral processing (tailings) purposes;

the initiation of base-line environmental studies; and

continued social engagement with the local populations in the vicinity of the project.

The company plans to initiate a core drilling program of up to 6000m in 11 holes to test shallow targets along the north side of the Cerro between the North Felsite and Skarn Front deposits. Drilling will start in early September. The work is the first stage of a larger 25,000 metre exploration program on the property with the goal of adding an additional 4 million to 8 million tonnes of mineralization to the resource base.

About Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is an exploration and development company with a focus on the discovery of world-class mineral deposits either directly or through joint-venture relationships in mineral properties in major jurisdictions. Our specific emphasis is the 100% owned Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project located in the heart of Mexico's Faja de Plata, which hosts multiple world-class mineral deposits such as Penasquito, Los Gatos, San Martin, Naica and Pitarrilla. We have assembled a team of highly experienced technical, operational and transactional professionals to support our exploration efforts in developing the Cerro Las Minitas project into a premier, high-grade, silver-lead-zinc mine. Our property portfolio also includes the Oro porphyry copper-gold project and the Hermanas gold-silver vein project where permitting applications for the conduct of a drill program is underway, both located in southern New Mexico, USA.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Lawrence Page"

Lawrence Page, K.C.

President & Director, Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

Qualified Person

The PEA for the Cerro Las Minitas project as summarized in this release was completed by Kirkham Geosystems Ltd. ("KGL"), Ausenco Engineering USA South Inc. and Ausenco Sustainability ULC. ("Ausenco"), Entech Mining Limited ("Entech"), and MPC Metallurgical Process Consultants Limited ("MPC"). The report is now filed on SEDAR.

The scientific and technical content of this news release was reviewed and approved by Robert Macdonald, MSc. P.Geo, VP. Exploration, who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Southern Silver Exploration Corp. does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX: CXB; OTCQX: CXBMF) (the "Company" or "Calibre") is pleased to announce first ore delivery to the Libertad Mill (the mill) from its 100% owned Volcan Deposit (Volcan) located 5 km south of the mill. Volcan is anticipated to be a meaningful contributor to the Companys production profile during the second half of 2024.

Darren Hall, President and Chief Executive Officer of Calibre, stated: I am pleased with the rapid progress at the Volcan open pit considering first ore delivery to the mill during July within a month of receiving environmental permits. Volcan will contribute to higher production in H2 given the initial open pit resource averages 2.0 g/t gold, and consequently we remain confident in delivering into our annual production guidance of 275,000  300,000 ounces. The addition of Volcan demonstrates the effectiveness of our hub and spoke operating strategy, with surplus capacity at the Libertad mill there remains strong potential for low cost, high return on investment growth.

Additionally, with engineering of the fully funded Valentine Gold Mine at 98%, and construction at 77% we are confident in delivering first gold during Q2 2025 establishing Calibre as a quality mid-tier gold producer.

About Calibre

Calibre (TSX:CXB) is a Canadian-listed, Americas focused, growing mid-tier gold producer with a strong pipeline of development and exploration opportunities across Newfoundland & Labrador in Canada, Nevada and Washington in the USA, and Nicaragua. Calibre is focused on delivering sustainable value for shareholders, local communities and all stakeholders through responsible operations and a disciplined approach to growth. With a strong balance sheet, a proven management team, strong operating cash flow, accretive development projects and district-scale exploration opportunities Calibre will unlock significant value.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Darren Hall

Darren Hall, President & Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Ryan King

SVP Corporate Development & IR

T: 604.628.1012

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

W: www.calibremining.com

Calibres head office is located at Suite 1560, 200 Burrard St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3L6.

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The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to: the Companys expectations toward higher grades mined and processed going forward; statements relating to the Companys 2024 priority resource expansion opportunities. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Calibre's control. For a listing of risk factors applicable to the Company, please refer to Calibre's annual information form (AIF) for the year ended December 31, 2023, and its management discussion and analysis (MD&A) for the year ended December 31, 2023, all available on the Companys SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Calibre's forward-looking statements such as potential sanctions implemented as a result of the United States Executive Order 13851 dated October 24, 2022.

Calibre's forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. Such assumptions include but are not limited to: the Company being able to mine and process higher grades and keep production costs relatively flat going forward; there not being an increase in production costs as a result of any supply chain issues; there being no adverse drop in metal price or cut-off grade. Calibre does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 8, 2024 /CNW/ - OceanaGold Corporation (TSX: OGC) (OTCQX: OCANF) ("OceanaGold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results from the ongoing exploration and resource conversion program at Wharekirauponga (WKP), located ~10 kilometres from the Waihi operation, New Zealand.

Highlight drill intercepts include (estimated true width):

9.9 g/t Au over 20.3 m from 410.0 m , EG Vein (WKP129A, conversion)

, EG Vein (WKP129A, conversion) 19.4 g/t Au over 7.1 m from 398.0 m, EG HWS Vein (WKP129A, conversion)

34.5 g/t Au over 3.8 m from 573.0 m, EG Vein (WKP130A, extension)

12.8 g/t Au over 5.6 m from 569.1 m , EG Vein (WKP130, extension)

from , EG Vein (WKP130, extension) 14.2 g/t Au over 3.0 m from 497.1 m , EG Vein (WKP131, extension)

from , EG Vein (WKP131, extension) 5.6 g/t Au over 8.3 m from 644.7 m , EG Vein (WKP130B, extension)

Gerard Bond, President & CEO of OceanaGold, said "Today's drill results demonstrate a growing high-grade system where the EG Vein extends for at least another 200 metres along strike at WKP. In recent years, we have been focused on infill drilling, so it is very exciting to be able to again demonstrate the growth potential and continuity of high-grade mineralization which remains open in multiple directions. Successful commissioning of an additional drill site in March 2024 has enabled better drill access to further test potential extensions of the resource throughout the remainder of 2024 and beyond."

Results Overview

Since the March 7, 2024 WKP news release, drilling has continued to intersect significant mineralization in all 11 holes on the East Graben (EG) vein and associated hanging-wall and foot-wall veins (EG vein system) in the high-grade southern zone (Table 1, Figures 1 and 2).

Extensional Drilling

In late March 2024, drill site 9 was commissioned which has enabled drilling of the southern strike extension of the EG vein system (Figure 1). Two holes (WKP134 and WKP132) were drilled from the new drill site. WKP134 tested up-dip of the southernmost hole across the EG vein and continues to demonstrate excellent vein width and grade, with further growth opportunities remaining up-dip and along-strike to the south on the structure. This result is ~200 metres away from the southern extent of the current resource (Figure 2).

There were 4 resource extension holes drilled from drill site 8 and a further 4 resource extension holes from drill site 1 (Figure 1), all of which intersected significant mineralization and demonstrate strong grade and structural continuity along strike of the existing resource (Figure 2, Table 1). Other opportunities remain for up-plunge, down-plunge, and along-strike extensions of the EG vein system with all intercepts remaining open to the south over a vertical window of approximately 200 metres. The EG vein system remains the primary, near-term drill target for the 2024 21-hole growth and conversion program, with the T-Stream and Western Vein targets offering similar growth potential and warrant future additional drilling (Figure 1).

Resource Conversion Drilling

Another resource conversion drillhole, WKP129A, was completed from drill site 1 and returned excellent results (9.9 g/t Au over 20.3 metres (true width) and 19.4 g/t Au over 7.1 metres (true width). This hole supports the model with significant grade and width, resulting in a ~150 metre strike of high-grade mineralization remaining open up-dip for further testing.

2024 Exploration Program

Exploration drilling for the remainder of the 2024 program will target resource growth from drill sites 8 and 9, testing beyond the current southern extent of drilling, and up-dip of both current and future extension holes in the south. The NI 43-101 pre-feasibility study, scheduled for release by the end of the year, will be based on an interim resource model with drillhole data as of the end of May 2024. Subsequent drill results will be captured in an end-of-year resource model update to be released with the 2024 Annual Reserve and Resource statement early next year.

For maps and sections see Figures 1-3 and Table 1 for full results.

Table 1: WKP drill intersections subsequent to the March 7, 2024 exploration update

Drillhole ID From (m) To (m) True width (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Vein Purpose WKP129A 398.0 409.1 7.1 19.4 47.8 EG HWS Conversion WKP129A 410.0 438.7 20.3 9.9 24.9 EG Conversion WKP129A 454 459.5 4.8 10.5 26.1 EG FW Extension WKP130 569.1 575.9 5.6 12.8 8.7 EG Extension WKP130A 573 578.4 3.8 34.5 19.9 EG Extension WKP130B 644.7 661.2 8.3 5.6 9.0 EG Extension WKP130C 599.7 605 3.4 5.8 8.2 EG Extension WKP131 497.1 500.4 3.0 14.2 22.7 EG Extension WKP132 448.4 451.7 3.0 9.2 7.4 EG Extension WKP133 467.9 475 5.8 3.5 5.4 EG Extension WKP133A 505.4 510.8 4.1 5.9 23.0 EG Extension WKP133B 531.7 537 3.4 6.1 7.7 EG Extension WKP134 450 455.3 5.0 4.3 5.3 EG Extension

For further information relating to drill hole data for WKP, please refer to the Company's website at https://investors.oceanagold.com/additional-drillhole-data.

About WKP and the Waihi North Project

The WKP low-sulphidation epithermal Au-Ag vein system is located approximately 10 kilometres north of the Company's Waihi operation. The WKP Indicated Resource stands at 2.0 million tonnes grading 15.9 g/t Au for 1.01 million ounces of gold with a further 1.2 million tonnes grading 9.0 g/t Au for 0.35 million ounces of gold in the Inferred category as of December 31, 2023.

WKP is part of the Waihi North Project, which has the potential to create significant socio-economic contributions for the communities in the Waihi region and for New Zealand. This includes significant in-country investments and a substantial increase to direct and indirect employment opportunities, with the project having the potential to extend operation of the Waihi mine beyond the next decade. OceanaGold operates to the highest environmental and social standards which has enabled it to run a successful and responsible mining business in New Zealand for over three decades. The Company has lodged a resource consent application for its proposed Waihi North Project with Hauraki District Council and Waikato Regional Council and has also sought referral of the project to the proposed "fast-track" process.

About OceanaGold

OceanaGold is a growing intermediate gold and copper producer committed to safely and responsibly maximizing the generation of Free Cash Flow from our operations and delivering strong returns for our shareholders. We have a portfolio of four operating mines: the Haile Gold Mine in the United States of America; Didipio Mine in the Philippines; and the Macraes and Waihi operations in New Zealand. For further information please contact:

Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) at Wharekirauponga, Waihi Gold Mine

All exploration samples are assayed for gold by 30g fire assay with AAS finish. Since mid-2022 drill core sample intervals where visible electrum is logged are followed up by a subsequent screen fire assay after the routine 30g fire assay. Holes WKP40-45 had core samples shipped for sample preparation to SGS in Westport (New Zealand). Prepared pulps were then shipped to independent Australian Laboratory Services Pty Ltd (ALS) in Brisbane, accredited to ISO/NATA 17025 for gold analysis by fire assay and 4-acid digest, and 42 element ICP geochemical analysis. Holes drilled after WKP45 (i.e., WKP46 to WKP134) were prepared and analyzed at SGS Waihi NZ Ltd (Au by 30g fire assay and Ag by aqua regia digest and 0.3gm AAS finish). Selected pulps are periodically sent to ALS in Brisbane for a 4-acid digestion and 42 or 48 element ICP geochemical analysis.

Quality of exploration assay results has been monitored in the following areas:

Sample preparation at the SGS Waihi and Westport labs through sieving of jaw crush and pulp products.

labs through sieving of jaw crush and pulp products. Monitoring of assay precision through routine generation of duplicate samples from a second split of the jaw crush and calculation of the fundamental error.

Monitoring of accuracy of the primary SGS assay and ALS results through insertion Certified Reference Materials (CRM's) and blanks into sample batches.

Blank, duplicate and CRM results are reviewed prior to uploading results in the AcQuire database and again on a weekly basis. The protocol at Waihi requires CRMs to be reported to within 2 standard deviations of the certified value. The criterion for preparation duplicates is that they have a relative difference (R-R1/mean RR1) of no greater than 10%. Blanks should not exceed more than 4 times the lower detection value of the assay method. Failure in any of these thresholds triggers an investigation and if appropriate re-assay. Drill core is stored within secure facilities on site to which access is controlled. Site employees transport samples to the analytical laboratory which is also a secured facility. The SGS Waihi NZ Ltd laboratory is an independent commercial geochemistry and energy assay laboratory with ISO 17025: 2017 accreditation, audited by an external consultant in 2020, and is inspected on an annual basis by OceanaGold geologists. No sampling risks have been recorded during these visits.

Qualified Person Statement

The exploration results in this press release were prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NI 43-101").

Information relating to Waihi exploration results in this document has been verified by, is based on and fairly represents information compiled by or prepared under the supervision of Leroy Crawford-Flett, a Chartered Professional Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and an employee of OceanaGold. Mr Crawford-Flett has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as Qualified Persons for the purposes of the NI 43-101. Mr Crawford-Flett consents to the inclusion in this public report of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears.

Technical Reports

For further information, please refer to the following NI 43-101 compliant technical report available on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.com under the Company's name and the Company's news release titled "OceanaGold Reports Mineral Reserves and Resources for the Year Ended 2023" dated February 21, 2024:

(a) "Waihi District Study - Preliminary Economic Assessment NI 43-101 Technical Report" dated August 30, 2020, prepared by T. Maton, Study Manager and P. Church, Principal Resource Development Geologist, both of Oceana Gold (New Zealand) Limited, and D. Carr, Chief Metallurgist, of OceanaGold Management Pty Limited.

Cautionary Statement for Public Release

Certain information contained in this public release may be deemed "forward-looking" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information relate to future performance and reflect the Company's expectations regarding the generation of free cash flow, execution of business strategy, future growth, future production, estimated costs, results of operations, business prospects and opportunities of OceanaGold Corporation and its related subsidiaries. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements and information. They include, among others, the accuracy of mineral reserve and resource estimates and related assumptions, inherent operating risks and those risk factors identified in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form prepared and filed with securities regulators which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com under the Company's name. There are no assurances the Company can fulfil forward-looking statements and information. Such forward-looking statements and information are only predictions based on current information available to management as of the date that such predictions are made; actual events or results may differ materially as a result of risks facing the Company, some of which are beyond the Company's control. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release is based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual outcomes or results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements and information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. The information contained in this release is not investment or financial product advice.
Kyiv on Monday criticised Mali's move to break off diplomatic relations with Ukraine in a row over alleged Ukrainian support to separatist rebels in the Russia-allied African country.

Mali has accused Kyiv of supplying intelligence to rebel troops who then reportedly used it to kill dozens of mercenaries from Russia's Wagner paramilitary group and Malian soldiers in a battle last month.

Mali said Sunday it was breaking diplomatic ties with Kyiv with "immediate effect", pointing to a cryptic statement by a spokesman for Ukraine's military intelligence division which it said admitted involvement.

Ukraine's foreign ministry said Monday that the decision was "short-sighted and hasty" in a statement that criticised Russia's military presence in Africa.

It called the move "regrettable" and said Mali had gone ahead "without conducting a thorough examination of the facts and circumstances ... and without providing any evidence of Ukraine's involvement".

In three days of intense fighting in the north of the country last month, Tuareg-led separatists said they had killed 84 Wagner fighters and 47 Malian soldiers.

Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine's GUR military intelligence unit, was quoted by state media as saying: "The rebels received all the necessary information they needed," without elaborating.

Ukraine on Monday criticised Russia's Wagner group, which recruited thousands of prisoners from Russian jails to support Moscow's invasion, and has been active across Africa for many years.

"Kremlin-controlled military structures, including Wagner, use terrorist methods and are directly involved in numerous war crimes, killings of civilians and ill-treatment of prisoners of war both in Ukraine and in Africa," it said in a statement.

In a statement on Monday evening, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) condemned "any attempt to drag the region into current geopolitical confrontations".

The regional bloc, which Mali left in January, also expressed "its firm disapproval and condemnation of any foreign interference in the region that may constitute a threat to peace and security in West Africa".

Since seizing power in a 2020 coup, Mali's military leaders have made it a priority to retake all of the country from separatists and jihadist forces linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

Under Colonel Assimi Goita, the junta broke off its traditional alliance with former colonial ruler France and has turned toward Russia.
UN experts warned Monday of "escalating use of torture" by Israel against Palestinian prisoners since the war in Gaza began and called for efforts to prevent crimes against humanity.

A report published by the UN human rights office in July said that since the October 7 Hamas attacks, thousands of Palestinians -- including medics, patients, residents and captured fighters -- have been taken from Gaza to Israel, "usually shackled and blindfolded".

Thousands more have been detained in the West Bank and Israel, it added.

In Monday's press release, ten UN experts, who are mandated by the Human Rights Council but do not speak on its behalf, said that "escalating use of torture against Palestinians in custody is a preventable crime against humanity".

They denounced the "absolute impunity" as well as "the silence by Member States following the emergence of testimonies and reports of alleged maltreatment and torture".

The experts called for pressure to be put on Israel to implement a system of access, surveillance and protection of Palestinian detainees.

"What is required now is nothing short of an independent, international presence of human rights observers. They must become the world's eyes," the statement said.

For their part, the experts claimed to have received "substantiated reports of widespread abuse, torture, sexual assault and rape, amid atrocious inhumane conditions, with at least 53 Palestinians apparently dying as a result in 10 months".

Reports from men and women described detainees "locked in cages, tied to beds, blindfolded and wearing nappies, undressed, deprived of adequate health care, food, water and sleep" and subjected to "electrocution, including of the genitals, blackmail and cigarette burns".

The war in Gaza began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, which resulted in the death of 1,197 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants also seized 251 hostages, 111 of whom are still held captive in Gaza, including 39 the military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory air and ground campaign in Gaza has killed at least 39,623 people, according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, which does not give details of civilian and militant deaths.
The International Criminal Court prosecutor said Monday that he hopes to seek arrest warrants soon for some of those responsible for the "nightmare" experienced by the population of Darfur, a region of Sudan ravaged by war.

Presenting his half-yearly report to the UN Security Council, Karim Khan deplored a "further deterioration" of the situation and described "a terrible six months for the people of Darfur."

"Terror has become a common currency" endured by civilians, he said, citing "many credible reports of rapes, crimes against and affecting children, persecution on a mass scale inflicted against the most vulnerable."

Since April 2023, the war, which pits the RSF, led by former deputy commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, against the army headed by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has killed tens of thousands of people.

The United Nations says Sudan faces the world's largest internal displacement crisis, with more than 10 million forced to flee internally or abroad.

The ICC last year opened a new investigation for war crimes in the region, and Khan said it has made "significant progress."

"I hope by my next report, I will be able to announce applications for warrants of arrest regarding some of those individuals that are the most responsible," he said.

But he warned of a lack of international concern, saying the world is so "preoccupied with other epicenters of conflict, hot wars, in other parts of the world, that we've lost sight of the plight for the people of Darfur."

He added that a "climate of impunity that we see very tangibly on the ground in El-Genina, and increasingly in El-Fasher, is driven by a deep belief that all human life doesn't matter and that we're not watching."

In El-Geneina, capital of West Darfur, the United Nations estimates that between 10,000 and 15,000 lives have been lost.

Fighting in El-Fasher, the last city in Darfur outside the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces' control, has killed hundreds.

The conflict has ravaged Sudan's infrastructure, put more than three-quarters of health facilities out of service and sparked warnings of famine.
Air strikes hit the Zamzam camp for displaced people in Sudan's war-ravaged Darfur region, two organisations said Monday, days after an assessment found that "famine is ongoing" at the camp.

"Zamzam camp in Sudan was shelled for the 1st time on Sunday night," medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) wrote on social media platform X.

It warned that "since the warring parties have already hit hospitals 10 times & do not spare civilians, there is a clear risk of bloodshed if it is hit again".

The General Coordination for Refugees and Displaced, an independent Sudanese aid group, said the army used fighter jets to hit the camp.

It said the strikes "injured four children and destroyed 20 homes".

Aid group Plan International had previously estimated that the camp population had swollen to half a million people due to fighting in the nearby city of El-Fasher, which is under siege by paramilitaries.

Fighting in Sudan erupted in April 2023 between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and the country now faces the world's largest displacement crisis, according to the United Nations.

Both sides have been accused of war crimes, including deliberately targeting civilians and blocking humanitarian aid.

A UN-backed assessment last week found that fighting has led to famine in Zamzam camp, with warnings that Sudan within months could see starvation exceeding that in Ethiopia in the 1980s.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) review, which is used by UN agencies, found that "famine is ongoing in July 2024 in Zamzam camp".

"The main drivers of famine in Zamzam camp are conflict and lack of humanitarian access," it said.

With the country plunged into what the UN called "one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent memory", the vast majority of relief operations have been suspended due to the violence.

The International Criminal Court prosecutor said Monday that he hopes to seek arrest warrants soon for some of those responsible for the "nightmare" experienced by the population of Darfur.
Turkey on Wednesday joined South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

A Turkish parliamentary delegation accompanied by the Turkish ambassador to the Netherlands filed a "declaration of intervention" at the ICJ's headquarters in The Hague, according to state television TRT which covered it live.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said in a post on X that the "case brought before the ICJ is extremely important to guarantee that the crimes committed by Israel do not remain unpunished."

South Africa's December 2023 case alleges that Israel's Gaza offensive, launched in retaliation for Hamas' bloody October 7 attack on Israel, breached the 1948 UN Genocide Convention. Israel has strongly denied the accusation.

The case has since been joined by Colombia, Libya, Spain and Mexico.

In a ruling January 26, the ICJ told Israel to do everything possible to prevent acts of genocide during its military operations in Gaza, which have left nearly 40,000 dead.

In June, the court ordered Israel to allow access to investigators mandated by the United Nations to examine the genocide allegations.

While ICJ rulings are legally binding, the court has no concrete means to enforce them.
The European Union and France on Wednesday condemned a far-right Israeli minister for suggesting it would be "justified and moral" to starve two million Gazans to free scores of captives held in the Palestinian territory.

"No one in the world will allow us to starve two million people, even though it might be justified and moral in order to free the hostages," Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said at a conference earlier this week.

"We are bringing in humanitarian aid because we have no choice. We are in a situation that requires international legitimacy to conduct this war."

Smotrich's remarks sparked outrage in the international community, with the European Union saying the deliberate starvation of civilians was a "war crime".

"It demonstrates, once again, his contempt for international law and for basic principles of humanity," the EU said in a statement.

"We expect the Israeli government to unequivocally distance itself from the words of Minister Smotrich," the EU said, as it called for access to cover the humanitarian needs of Gazans, including hundreds of thousands of children.

The EU reiterated its call for an "immediate ceasefire" to secure the release of all hostages and also to increase the distribution of aid across the Gaza Strip.

France also criticised Smotrich, expressing its "deep dismay at the scandalous remarks".

Providing humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza is an "obligation under international humanitarian law" for Israel as it controls all access to the territory, it added.

Since the war in Gaza broke out on October 7, the humanitarian situation in the besieged Palestinian territory remains dire, with almost all of its 2.4 million population displaced and suffering from food shortages.

The war in Gaza began after Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants also seized 251 people, 111 of whom are still held captive in Gaza, including 39 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 39,677 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, which does not provide details on civilian and militant deaths.

burs-mib-jd/th/dcp
The European Union, France and the UK on Wednesday condemned a far-right Israeli minister for suggesting it would be "justified and moral" to starve two million Gazans to free scores of captives held in the Palestinian territory.

"No one in the world will allow us to starve two million people, even though it might be justified and moral in order to free the hostages," Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said at a conference earlier this week.

"We are bringing in humanitarian aid because we have no choice. We are in a situation that requires international legitimacy to conduct this war."

Smotrich's remarks sparked outrage in the international community, with the European Union saying the deliberate starvation of civilians was a "war crime".

"It demonstrates, once again, his contempt for international law and for basic principles of humanity," the EU said in a statement.

"We expect the Israeli government to unequivocally distance itself from the words of Minister Smotrich," the EU said, as it called for access to cover the humanitarian needs of Gazans, including hundreds of thousands of children.

The EU reiterated its call for an "immediate ceasefire" to secure the release of all hostages and also to increase the distribution of aid across the Gaza Strip.

France also criticised Smotrich, expressing its "deep dismay at the scandalous remarks".

Providing humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza is an "obligation under international humanitarian law" for Israel as it controls all access to the territory, it added.

UK Foreign Minister David Lammy said on X that there "can be no justification for Minister Smotrich's remarks", and called on "the wider Israeli government to retract and condemn them".

Since the war in Gaza broke out on October 7, the humanitarian situation in the besieged Palestinian territory remains dire, with almost all of its 2.4 million population displaced and suffering from food shortages.

The war in Gaza began after Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants also seized 251 people, 111 of whom are still held captive in Gaza, including 39 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 39,677 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, which does not provide details on civilian and militant deaths.

burs-mib-jd/th/dcp/giv/bjt






Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - Premier League club, Chelsea have reportedly pulled out of the race to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli to instead move for Spanish-born Nigerian striker Samu Omorodion.

Mail Sport revealed talks between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid are advancing over Omorodion, who is set to cost the Blues a cool 30million despite scoring just nine goals from 35 LaLiga appearances in a loan stint with Alaves.

Chelsea had been heavily linked with a move for Osimhen in recent windows, with a swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku plus cash floated.

However, Osimhen's 111m release clause has made it difficult for the deal to be sealed.

With Chelsea moving on from Osimhen, Sky Italy claims that Arsenal could now press ahead with a move for the Napoli marksman.

The report claims the Gunners, along with Paris Saint-Germain and clubs in Saudi Arabia, all hold an interest in Osimhen, who has scored 76 goals in 133 appearances for Napoli.

The 25-year-old is yet to feature in a single pre-season game for Napoli under new boss Antonio Conte.

Should Arsenal trigger Osimhen's release clause, it would shatter the club's record transfer fee just 12 months after they signed midfielder Declan Rice for 105m.




Thursday, August 8, 2024 - Acting Police Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli has cautioned Gen Zs going for Nane Nane protests of possible violence.

During a press briefing, Masengeli warned that the police had received intelligence from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) indicating that todays protests could turn violent due to hired goons planning to infiltrate and cause chaos.

However, he insisted that officers would not hesitate to engage the marauders.

The initial demonstrations held in June were peaceful but subsequent protests morphed into riots, with looters destroying and stealing property, he said.

Our intelligence reports indicate that there are security threats to the country with criminals planning to infiltrate tomorrow's demonstrations and commit further crimes.

"In anticipation, we have ensured adequate deployment of personnel."

While urging members of the public to exercise vigilance during the protests, Masengeli likewise cautioned protesters against trespassing on protected land like the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and State House.

"All those planning to exercise their rights of participation in the protests should do so in compliance with the law," he said.

"Kenya (as a) country is all we have. Every one of us therefore has a responsibility to keep our country safe."

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - Hamas has announced Yahya Sinwar, one of the masterminds behind the deadly attacks on Israel on October 7, as its new overall leader.

Sinwar, who has been the leader of Hamas in Gaza since 2017, will now also replace Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in an explosion in Iran last week, an act widely attributed to Israel.

"The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas announces the selection of Commander Yahya Sinwar as the head of the political bureau of the movement, succeeding the martyr Commander Ismail Haniyeh, may Allah have mercy on him," the movement said in a brief statement.

News of the appointment, came as Israel braces for a likely attack from Iran following the killing of Haniyeh in Tehran.

"The appointment means that Israel needs to face Sinwar over a solution to Gaza war," said a regional diplomat familiar with the talks brokered by Egypt and Qatar, which are aimed at bringing a halt to the fighting in Gaza and a return of 115 Israeli and foreign hostages still held in the enclave.

"It is a message of toughness and it is uncompromising."

Born in Gaza, the 61-year-old Sinwar is a major target for Israeli forces and is believed to be hiding in tunnels to evade attacks. Despite this, he has been influencing the groups stance in the cease-fire negotiations.''

Sinwars new role comes as the Middle East braces for potential retaliatory strikes from Iran and its allies, including Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen, in response to the deaths of Haniyeh and senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.

Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of the bombing that killed Haniyeh in Tehran following his attendance at the inauguration of Irans new president. While Israel has not commented on the incident, US officials have privately assessed that Israel was responsible.




Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - Elon Musks trans daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, slammed her father on Threads.

She called her father a serial adulterer after Musk bashed her for her gender identity.

Musk has 12 children from his three marriages and other relationships.

Vivian attacked Musk on Instagram Threads on Monday, August 5, where she called out her fathers various cheating scandals and kids.

She wrote, You are not a family man, you are a serial adulterer who wont stop f**king lying about your own children.

In the past, Musk was accused of having affairs with actor Amber Heard and Nicole Shanahawn, ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, all of which were denied by him.

Vivian taunted her father on Threads as she continued, You are not a christian, as far as Im aware youve never stepped foot in a church. You are not some bastion for equality/progress.

She also called him out for being allegedly a racist, writing You called arabic the language of the enemy when I was 6, have been sued for discrimation (sic) multiple times, and are from Apartheid South Africa.

Vivian also called Musks concerns for the climate and planet a facade. She claimed that her father doesnt care about saving the planet and couldnt give a f**k about climate change.

She concluded her post about Musk on Threads with, You single-handedly disillusioned me with how gullible we are as a species because somehow people keep believing you for reasons that continue to evade me."

Vivians comments for her father came after Musk made a post about destroying the woke society after he claimed it 'killed' his son (trans daughter, Vivian). Musk said Vivian was killed by the woke-mind virus as the former decided to begin her gender reassignment surgery.

Vivian brutally slammed Musks comments about her gender identity via Threads as she refused to use X owned by her father.

She wrote, I look pretty good for a dead bitch.

She also mentioned that it was she who disowned Musk and not the other way around.
Thursday, August 8, 2024 - Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has broken his silence on the looming impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua by allies of President William Ruto.

Speaking during the funeral of Professor Ngugi Njoroge in Subukia, Nakuru County, Kuria said he would not support the removal of Gachagua even if he wronged him.

He defended Gachagua, who is his sworn enemy, saying he will not allow anybody; not even President William Ruto, to impeach the DP.

I hear people saying that that the Deputy President should be impeached. I will not agree for the deputy president to be impeached.

"As long as I am alive, I will not agree he be impeached, said Kuria.

"We cannot pay a bad deed with a worse one, I have released him on a free bond," he added.

At the same time, Kuria expressed his dissatisfaction with the cabinet nominees that the Mt Kenya region presented in the new broad-based government.

The former CS argued that Raila Odinga presented well-known political individuals while the Mt Kenya region presented nominees that are little known.

"During the recent reshuffle, some have brought their superstars... haven't you seen Joho?

"Haven't you seen Oparanya? Haven't you seen John Mbadi?

"Ours who have been returned and those who have been selected even if you go to the encyclopedia, you can't tell where the person is coming from or where they are going, Kuria stated.

Gachagua has been linked to the ongoing anti-government protests by the Gen Zs and Ruto wants him gone for trying to undermine him.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, August 8, 2024 - The U.S. government has issued a stern warning to President William Ruto concerning the handling of human rights during ongoing demonstrations by the Gen Zs.

In a statement, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya warned of serious consequences if Ruto continues to aimlessly kill the young people who are just demanding good governance and accountability.

She emphasized the need for Ruto to transform his commitment to upholding democratic ideals into tangible actions.

The demonstrations, which have garnered international attention, have seen multiple allegations of human rights abuses by security forces.

Zeya highlighted the critical need for thorough investigations into these reports.

"One specific area is the importance of investigating reports of security forces abuses, prosecuting those responsible, and ensuring that accountability is achieved," she added.

Zeya pointed out that the real challenge lies in the effective implementation of these commitments.

"I encourage President Ruto to take concrete action on his recent public pledges to strengthen the rule of law, strengthen anti-corruption initiatives, and advance accountability within his own government," Zeya stated.

The US Embassy in Kenya, backed by Secretary of State Blinken, has been vocal about the need for transparency and justice.

"Throughout the protests, led by our embassy but supported by my boss US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, we've urged the government of Kenya to conduct prompt, transparent investigations into allegations of violence and hold those responsible accountable," Zeya affirmed.

This development comes at a crucial time for Ruto's administration, which is grappling with public discontent and international scrutiny.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, August 8, 2024  Services at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) are likely to grind to a halt.

This follows the looming strike by Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) workers over the controversial JKIA deal between President William Rutos government and an Indian company by the name of Adani Holdings which has escalated tension.

Efforts by Principal Secretary for Transport Mohamed Daghar to defuse the looming strike proved futile, as the meeting ended without an agreement.

The Kenya Airports Workers Union (KAWU) has called for a general meeting on Saturday, August 10, in Embakasi, where they plan to issue directives for the strike.

The crux of the dispute lies in the proposed Ksh246 billion deal to lease JKIA to Indias Adani Airport Holdings Limited.

The agreement includes the construction of a new passenger terminal and the refurbishment of existing facilities under a 30-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract.

Workers fear this deal could lead to job losses and are demanding the immediate resignation of key KAA officials, including the Acting Managing Director, the General Manager of Engineering, and the General Manager of Human Resource Development.

During the meeting at KAA headquarters, PS Daghar emphasised the benefits of the deal, urging the union to support it.

However, KAWU categorically rejected the proposal, calling for the government to address their concerns first.

We dont believe them. We dont have faith in them at all, Ndiema said, reflecting the deep mistrust between the workers and the government.

The discontent stems from the possibility that KAA employees might have to renegotiate their contracts, with the looming threat of job losses if Adani Airport Holdings wins the bid to manage JKIA.

This prospect has angered the workers, who issued an ultimatum for the government to clarify its stance on the deal.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - A Texas man slipped, fell and fatally shot himself while taking out the trash, police said.

First responders received a call for help at about 6 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, after a man was found lying on the ground unresponsive at an apartment complex on San Antonios north side, police said in a news release.

Investigators said the 58-year-old was carrying his garbage and a handgun when he slipped on mud and tumbled down a small hill.

While falling downhill, his pistol went off and a round hit him in the chest, police said.

Its unclear what caused the gun to fire, and officials didnt say if the man was holding the pistol when he fell or if it was in a pocket or holster.

He was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead, according to police.

A neighbour told KENS she heard the man crying out after the gunshot, and her brother ran outside to help.

I was looking through the window the whole time. He fell and he was still yelling, Help me! she told the station.

San Antonio police said the investigation is ongoing.




Thursday, August 8, 2024 - Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji has apologized to President William Ruto for voting against the now withdrawn Finance Bill, 2024.

Speaking during the President's visit to Embu County, Mukunji rescinded his earlier stance of going against the decision of the ruling party, with which he is affiliated, and committed to stand by the Head of State going forward.

He referred to Ruto as his political mentor, adding that he would not want to be left out in the Presidents quest to unite and oversee development in the country.

"I want to ask for forgiveness because I am one of your mentees. You have placed me in your plan to guide me on matters of leadership," he said.

"Haukuwa umeniambia ukikosea haya maneno unawekwa nje ya mentorship. I apologise and I am one of those people who will stand with you to take the country forward."

The remarks by the MP come barely two months after he defended his stand on the Finance Bill 2024 by stating that voting 'No' was in the best interest of the nation.

Mukunji noted that being a member of the ruling party, he had the obligation of telling President Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua the truth, which at the time he said was that the public was not in support of the punitive Bill.

The MPs who voted in support of the Bill attracted public condemnation and only served to fuel the fire in the countrywide demonstrations.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, August 8, 2024 - Narc Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua was spotted in Nairobi Central Business District, where she joined youthful protesters during the hyped Nane Nane protests.

A video doing rounds on social media shows Karua marching in the streets as other protesters cheer her.

On Wednesday, Karua held a press conference and announced that the older generation was considering joining the protests, which have so far been led by the youth.

When people stand together they shall never be defeated as your parents, those of us who are old enough to be your parents and grandparents are beginning to wonder whether we should not join our children and grandchildren, in demanding that the constitution of Kenya be respected, stated Karua.

Watch the video below.

Narc Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua spotted during #NaneNaneMarch in Nairobi CBD. pic.twitter.com/PtBwAwWukT  Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) August 8, 2024

The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - A Pakistani man with ties to Iran has been charged over an alleged plot to assassinate US politicians and officials.

Asif Merchant, 46, is accused of attempting to hire a hitman in New York to kill prominent American officials.

FBI director Christopher Wray called the scheme a "dangerous murder-for-hire plot... straight out of the Iranian playbook".

CBS quoted sources as saying Donald Trump was among Merchant's targets.

Security for the Republican presidential nominee was increased in June after authorities learned of an Iranian plot to kill him.

"A foreign-directed plot to kill a public official, or any US citizen, is a threat to our national security and will be met with the full might and resources of the FBI," Mr Wray said on Tuesday, August 6.

Mr Merchant was arrested in July and is being held in New York.

According to the justice department's indictment, Mr Merchant arrived in the US from Pakistan in April after having spent time in Iran.

After arriving, he allegedly contacted a person whom he believed could help with the assassination plot. That unnamed contact later reported Mr Merchant to the police.

Mr Merchant allegedly made a "finger gun" motion with his hand when talking about what he wanted to do.

The indictment said the job would not be a "one-time opportunity" and that contacts services would be needed on an ongoing basis.

Mr Merchant allegedly told the contact he planned to leave the US before targets were killed, and that he would stay in contact using code words.

The suspect asked the contact to arrange a meeting with would-be assassins, the indictment says. The contact then connected him in June to undercover FBI agents posing as hitmen.

Mr Merchant allegedly told the agents they were to steal documents from the home of a target, arrange protests at political rallies, and kill a "political person".

According to the indictment, Mr Merchant said the targets would be communicated in the last week of August or the first week of September.

While the indictment does not mention Trump by name, sources cited by CBS said that the former president was one of the intended targets.

The plot is unrelated to the assassination attempt on the former president at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on 13 July, by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper on site.

Trump and officials including his former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, have faced threats from Tehran since ordering the drone strike assassination of Qassim Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Quds force, in Iraq in 2020.




Thursday, August 8, 2024  The Government of President William Ruto has hired a new company to print money for Kenya.

This was revealed by Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Governor Doctor Kamau who noted that a renowned German firm was commissioned to print new banknotes for Kenya.

In a press briefing, the CBK Governor provided insights into the ongoing process and the rationale behind the initiative.

"The printing is being done by a German firm and it is actually one of the best firms," he stated during the live broadcast without revealing its identity.

Kamau emphasized the expertise and reputation of the selected company, noting that it will ensure the high quality and security of the new banknotes.

This move, according to Dr. Kamau, is part of the routine operations of the Central Bank of Kenya.

"This is just a normal process of the Central Bank of Kenya. The notes that we have are getting old and, therefore, we need to get new notes. That is really the reason," he explained.

The replacement of aging currency notes is a standard practice to maintain the integrity and functionality of the nation's monetary system.

In 2023, De La Rue made headlines in Kenya after it spent approximately Ksh2.7 billion to scale down its operations. The money was used to pay lawyers, fire its staff, and write off its assets.

The company had been contracted by the government of Kenya to print local currency. The state owned 40 per cent of the joint agreement.

At the time, the company employed 300 people and operated under the De La Rue Kenya EPZ Limited name.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - Russia has accused Ukraine of crossing the border into its Kursk region, a rarity, which if confirmed will be the first incursion of its kind from Ukraine putting pressure on Moscow in an area largely unaffected by the two-year Russia-Ukraine war.

The Russian Ministry of Defense, the Russian Investigative Committee and the Russian Ombudsman for Children all said Ukrainian forces had launched a massive attack on Tuesday, August 6 attempting to break through the Russian defences on the borders of the Kursk region, which sits just north of Ukraines Sumy region.

Russian military bloggers said Ukrainian forces attacked by land and air to enter Russia near the town of Sudzha, about 6 miles (10 kilometres) from the border.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said that about 300 troops, supported by tanks and armoured vehicles, attacked Russian positions near the villages of Nikolayevo-Daryino and Oleshnya.

The ministry said, the enemy is being inflicted with fire damage.

Aleksey Smirnov, the acting Russian installed head of the Kursk region, said on Wednesday that several thousand people left the area over the past 24 hours.

It is unclear why Ukrainian forces would launch an attack of the scale described by Russian authorities especially as Russia continues to make slow but gradual gains in the east and Ukraine complains of low manpower in the war.

Some believe that the invasion could be an attempt to divert Russian resources elsewhere or help Kyiv boost the morale of its troops and civilian population.

The Institute for the Study of War, a US-based conflict monitoring group, said it had geolocated footage published on August 6 that shows damaged and abandoned armoured vehicles roughly 4.3 miles (7 kilometres) north of the border, but said it could not confirm if they were Russian, Ukrainian or both.

In a surprising move, #Ukraine has crossed the border into #Russia and has advanced to #Kursk, taking at least five towns, claim #Russian sources. The offensive was launched in early hours of the morning. The fighting appears to be continuing on Russian soil. pic.twitter.com/xgPUNjPGOL  Kamal Korkees (@KorkeesM) August 7, 2024

#BREAKING: Ukraine military incursion into Russias Kursk region continues into second day. pic.twitter.com/945DBpHXu4  World Source News 24/7 (@Worldsource24) August 7, 2024




Thursday, August 8, 2024 - Vocal political activist Kasmuel McOure was almost arrested while protesting in Nairobi Central Business District.

A video circulating on social media shows Kasmuel running into Nation Centre after evading the arrest.

A plain-clothed police officer tried to run after him in vain.

Kasmuel had vowed to lead the youth to State House to oust President William Ruto.

Nane Nane is going to be our final day in the streets.

We will go to the streets because the Kenya Kwanza regime has taken everything we had.

We have elucidated very well what our demands have been.

That we want to live in a country that gives us land; we want to live in a country that gives us education; we want to live in a country where children will not die from natal diseases.

Tomorrow is a forward march in our annals of history, he said a day before the Nane Nane protests that flopped badly.

Watch video.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Thursday, August 8, 2024 - Mathira Member of Parliament Eric Wamumbi has dropped a bombshell regarding his acrimonious fallout with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Speaking yesterday, Wamumbi claimed that DP Gachagua asked him to attack President William Ruto since he was planning to dump Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Besides, the DP also asked him to start looking for allies ahead of the 2027 General Election.

However, the UDA legislator noted that he told Gachagua that the move was wrong and asked him to support the Ruto government until 2032.

You were told to insult the former president, and you did it, you even insulted his mother.

"You told me we fight the sitting president, and we start looking for friends we form ours in 2027.

I told you it is not right, I told you the right thing is to support the government and work for our people first until 2032.

"I told you the urgent thing is to finish all the stalled projects. Who did the right thing? Wamumbi posed.

The first-term MPs allegations come weeks after he revealed that there was a rift between him and Gachagua.

MP Wamumbi pointed out that their fallout was not about the re-opening of closed bars in Karatina town.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - A police sergeant has been arrested for assaulting relatives, including his sister, in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Sergeant Basil Nathan Williams, 38, stationed at the Riebeek West SAPS made a brief appearance in the Malmesbury Magistrate's Court on Monday, August 5, 2024, after he was formally charged for assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).

Williams was arrested on Friday, August 2 after he assaulted the victims in Deon Adams Avenue in Riebeek West.

Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Novela Potelwa confirmed the incident and said internal disciplinary action will be taken against the sergeant.

The management of the SAPS in the Western Cape reiterates its commitment to deal with instances of gender-based violence in all its forms irrespective of who the perpetrator is, Potwelwa said.





Western Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile said police officials have to lead by example in this regard because crimes against women, children and other vulnerable groups continue to be a priority within the SAPS.

It is disconcerting that the protectors of society are on the wrong side of the law at a time when our efforts to curb gender-based violence and femicide should be heightened, Patekile said.

The case against Williams has been postponed until August 16 for a bail application where the state will oppose his release.






Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - Miss South Africa Contestant, Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina has been the subject of controversies due to her nationality. Now, a probe into her citizenship has led to her mother being accused of fraud and identity theft.

The South African Department of Home Affairs on Wednesday, August 7, announced the preliminary findings following an investigation into the citizenship of Chidinma Adetshina.

The investigation began after some social media users called on the organisers of the pageant to disqualify Ms Adetshina as they alleged she is not a citizen of South Africa.

According to the Department of Home Affairs, on Monday 5 August 2024, the organisers of the event sent them a request to verify the citizenship of one contestant, Chidimma Adetshina. They said the request was accompanied by written consent from both Adetshina and her mother.

Announcing its preliminary findings, the Department of Home Affairs said it has found that the mother of Miss SA contestant, Chidimma Adetshina, may have stolen someone's identity.





The statement released on Wednesday night, August 7, reads: "Prima facie reasons exist to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded in Home Affairs records as Chidimma Adetshina's mother.

However, the department added that Adetshina could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother because she was an infant in 2001.

An innocent South African mother, whose identity may have been stolen as part of the alleged fraud committed by Adetshina's mother, suffered as a result because she could not register her child, the department said.

See the full statement below.





See reactions from South Africans below










Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - A Florida student with autism who brutally knocked out a high school teacher unconscious over his Nintendo Switch last February has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Brendan Depa, now 18, threw his head back after Circuit Judge Terence Perkins handed down the punishment on Tuesday evening.

Depa also received 15 years of probation after his release and will be placed in a group home, court records showed.

He was charged with felony aggravated battery, and bodily harm after he attacked paraprofessional Joan Naydich in a hallway inside Matanzas High School in Palm Coast.

The then-17-year-old, 6 feet 6 and 270 pounds was seen on security footage sprinting toward the female educator, who turns and spots her assailant a split-second before he shoves her to the floor.

Depa then repeatedly stomps on the unconscious paraprofessional before punching her 15 times.

Several staff members were needed to remove Depa from Naydich and hold him to the floor.

In October, Depa pleaded no contest to the charges. An original sentencing date, when he faced up to 30 years in state prison, was rescheduled after Perkins said he needed to hear from more witnesses in May.

The teen, who has autism spectrum disorder, will serve his sentence in jail despite pleas from his mother and defence attorney.

Depa then repeatedly stomps on the unconscious paraprofessional before punching her 15 times.

Several staff members were needed to remove Depa from Naydich and hold him to the floor.

In October, Depa pleaded no contest to the charges.

The teen, who has autism spectrum disorder, will serve his sentence in jail despite pleas from his mother and defence attorney.

They are punishing that he is black, they are punishing that he is large and they are punishing his disability, the teens adoptive mother, Leanne Depa, said after the sentencing.

I think he needs help, and I think he needs treatment. But I dont think he needs to be put away in a prison where hes going to be taken advantage of or harmed, she added, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

She went on to call out the school for not properly handling her sons disabilities.

I had told the school that being hungry was a trigger, that noise was a trigger, that being told no was a trigger, that being corrected in front of other people was a trigger, and electronics was a huge trigger, Leann Depa added.

Depas attorney said he should be tried as a juvenile since he attacked Naydich when he was still 17, but Assistant State Attorney Melissa Clark argued the teen had a history of violence, according to WESH.

Perkins agreed with Clarks argument and said the February 2023 attack wasnt an isolated incident and that Brendan Depa had numerous battery charges in the past, the outlet reported.

Naydich alleged that Depa had spat in her face and called her a whore.

The last thing I remember is having my hand on the door handle, Naydich told The Post in January. I dont remember anything [else] until 3:30 p.m. when I came to. And at that point, I was in the ER and my son and daughter were standing there.

Naydich, who first encountered Depa in January 2022, previously said she has PTSD and suffers from anxiety because of the attack.

Brendan Depas actions that day has caused me to lose a job that I had for almost 19 years, lose my financial security, lose my health insurance, Naydich said during a May hearing.

Like everything was taken away from me that morning, Naydich added. At 10 oclock that morning. Everything was taken away. My life will never be what it was before.

Depa can appeal his sentence in writing but was ordered to have no contact with Naydich and remain 500 feet away from her home and place of work.




Thursday, August 8, 2024  President William Ruto will have to go back to the drawing board after Parliament rejected one of his Cabinet Secretary nominees.

The Parliamentary Committee on Appointment found Stella Soi Lang'at unsuitable to head the Ministry of Public Service, Youth, and Gender Affairs.

The decision was informed by the deep concerns over her suitability for the role, marked by frequent job transitions and a perceived lack of in-depth understanding of the gender docket.

Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah presented the committees report to the House, outlining the reasons behind the controversial decision.

Ichungwah, representing the committees unanimous view, noted that Lang'ats career trajectory, characterized by multiple short-term roles, failed to demonstrate the stability and strategic vision necessary for a high-level ministerial position.

The nominees career has been marked by frequent transitions, with each role lacking the long-term strategic planning essential for leading a ministry effectively, Ichungwa stated, emphasizing the committee's concern that Lang'at had not developed a solid foundation in any specific leadership capacity within the public service.

The committees report was unequivocal in its assessment, noting that Lang'ats varied rolesranging from Director of Administration at the State Department of Housing and Urban Development to Senior Deputy County Commissioner in Nyamirahad not sufficiently prepared her for the demands of the Ministry of Public Service, Youth, and Gender Affairs.

The result of this frequent role-switching is a lack of grounding in any one area of leadership, Ichungwa elaborated.

Moreover, the nominee struggled to demonstrate an adequate understanding of the administrative and technical issues crucial to the ministry she was set to oversee.

Lang'at, who is currently the Director of Administration at the Ministry of Interior and Administration, has had a lengthy career in public service. Her roles include serving as Bomet County Secretary from 2020 to 2021, and previous positions as Deputy County Commissioner in various counties.

Despite her extensive experience, the committee felt these roles did not align with the high expectations of a Cabinet Secretary.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - Two men have been arrested in Austria for allegedly plotting a terr0r attack at Taylor Swift's upcoming concert in Vienna.

The Vienna State Police confirmed that the suspects, both Austrian citizens, include a 19-year-old who was arrested for planning an attack during one of Taylor Swift's shows this weekend.

Details on the exact nature of the planned attack remain unclear. However, a bomb squad found chemical substances during a raid on the 19-year-old's home, raising concerns about the potential creation of an expl0sive device. Authorities are investigating the materials to determine if they could have been used to manufacture a bomb.

Law enforcement officials have been in communication with the concert organizers, who are likely to inform Taylor Swift's team about the situation. With the concerts expected to draw nearly 85,000 fans each day, security measures are being intensified, and the Vienna Secret Police will be on high alert to ensure safety.

Franz Ruf, Director-General for Public Safety, revealed that the suspects had self-radicalized online. The 19-year-old suspect had reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. The names of the suspects have not yet been released.

This thwarted attack comes just weeks after another violent incident involving Taylor Swift's fans. A 17-year-old suspect was arrested in the UK following a massacre at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop.






Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - The wife of a British politician has been arrested for racial hatred after saying rioters should set fire to all the migrant hotels.

Lucie Connolly, who works as a childminder in Northamptonshire, made vile tweet with the phrase: 'if that makes me racist, so be it.'

Posting on Twitter, Connolly said: 'Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the b******* for all I care, while you're at it take the treacherous government and politicians with them.

'I feel physically sick knowing what these families will now have to endure. If that makes me racist, so be it.'





The message was posted just hours after the death of three girls, aged six, seven, and nine, at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport.

The horror knife rampage sparked a slew of misinformation that spread like wildfire online fuelled by Russian-linked fake news.

She has since deleted her post and blamed it on 'a moment of extreme outrage and emotion' when she was acting on 'false and malicious' information.

Her husband Raymond, who is vice chair of the committee on adult social care at West Northamptonshire Council, responded to the BBC by saying his wife is not racist because she looks after 'Somalian and Bangladeshi kids'.





Northamptonshire Police said that a 41-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after reports of a hate crime regarding a social media post.

Online childcare community Childcare.co.uk have since confirmed that they have suspended Connolly following the tweet, after allegations emerged she had an advert on their platform.

It comes after violent riots have exploded across several cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Plymouth, and Birmingham following the Southport knife rampage which claimed the lives of three young girls and left many others injured.

And just days ago gangs of masked thugs descended on hotels believed to be housing migrants and asylum seekers, with many starting fire to the buildings as they threw petrol bombs and projectiles at police.

Approached by the BBC, Cllr Connolly defended his wife, saying that his wife had made one 'stupid, spur of the moment tweet out of frustration and quickly deleted it'





He continued: 'She's a good person and she's not racist. She's got Somalian and Bangladeshi kids she looks after and she loves them like they're her own'.

Responding on social media today, Ms. Connolly said: I regret and apologise for a recent post that I made. Acting on information that I now know to be false and malicious, and in a moment of extreme outrage and emotion, I posted words that I realise were wrong in every way.

'I am someone who cares enormously about children, and the similarity between those beautiful children who were so brutally attacked and my own daughter overwhelmed me with horror but I should not have expressed that horror in the way that I did.

'This has been a valuable lesson for me, in realising how wrong and inaccurate things appearing on social media can be, and I will never ever react in this way again.'
The hearing of a corruption case against three Members of Parliament; Yusuf Mutembuli (Bunyole East), Paul Akamba (Busiki County), and Cissy Namujju (Lwengo District woman MP) is expected to resume today.

The hearing is expected to resume before the Anti-Corruption Court Division of the High Courts Judge Lawrence Gidudu with the first prosecution witness Mariam Wangadya, the Chairperson of Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC).

On August 2, 2024, Wangandya pinned the three legislators for having solicited a 20% cut from her proposed 2024/2025 budget by promising to have it enhanced through the Parliamentary Budget Committee and Finance ministry.

Wangadya testified that it was Hon. Mutembuli who first solicited the 5% cut before bringing the other two MPs and also had the bribe increased to 20%.

She then met President Museveni and revealed to him her dilemma, forcing the President to set up a plan to have the suspects recorded, which came to pass.

According to Wangadya, the MPs especially Cissy Namujju who spoke with so much toughness told her that they would face consequences if she did not deliver on their bribe since they needed the money for the 2026 general elections campaigns in order to be re-elected.

However, their lawyers led by Evans Ochenge and Mwesigwa Rukutana objected to having the alleged video recording of their clients, asking for the said bribery moment to be played in court.

Justice Gidudu agreed with the defence teams objections and threw out the prosecutions request to have an audio recording relating to the conversations held by Mariam Wagandya and the three MPs about the anticipated kick-back played in court.

Justice Gidudu ruled that Wangandya does not have forensic expertise in audio recordings apart from identifying the recording device she used.

Wangadya is expected to conclude her testimony today.
The Directorate for Ethics and Integrity, Office of the President is today expected to conclude the regional consultations on the Religious Faith-based Organizations (RFOs) policy.

The policy seeks to provide standard guidelines on starting new religious institutions and ensure accountability, among others.

The Policy also seeks to promote a culture of transparency and accountability among different religious faith-based organization players, facilitating collaboration for national development and promoting unity and harmonious coexistence among RFOs in Uganda.

Speaking at the last validation exercise which attracted religious leaders from the three districts of Luwero, Nakaseke, and Nakasongola in Luwero district on Thursday, the Directorate Permanent Secretary, Mr Alex Okello said the next exercise will be the national validation and later a cabinet paper.

This is the last regional consultation. We went to one in Masaka. I started from very far away in Arua, Karamoja, and later Kabale. After here, we shall go for the national validation, Okello said.
Civil Society actors have advised political parties to pay attention and target new voters in the ongoing demarcation of new polling areas by the Independent Electoral Commission.

The Electoral Commission (EC) is conducting this exercise at local governments in cities and districts where new sub-counties, Towns, and parishes/wards were created after the 2020/21 general elections.

The exercise, which started on the 6th will end on the 16th of August 2024.

According to Charity Ahimbisibwe, Executive Director Electoral Laws and Governance Institute, political parties need to target voters with their messages as they encourage them to participate in the electoral processes.

She advised that voter education should start as soon as possible.

According to the Commission, the following activities shall be undertaken; Merging of polling stations with significantly low number of voters within the same parish, Splitting of polling stations with more than 1,200 voters (for Kampala Capital City) and more than 900 voters for the rest of the country.

The other activities are; renaming, relocation, rationalization, relocation, and creation of new polling stations.

In preparation for the 2025/2026 general elections, the Commission will re-organize polling stations countrywide to enable voters to conveniently cast their votes, by ensuring adequate space at polling stations as well as a manageable number of voters per polling station, a statement from EC reads in part.

According to the revised roadmap for the 2026 general elections, the next activity of the calendar will be the display of constituencies, electoral areas, and their polling stations at Sub Counties and parishes from September 20th to October 26th, 2024.
By REUTERS

The US said on Wednesday it would provide nearly $414 million in humanitarian assistance for the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 25 million people need such aid, nearly a quarter of the countrys population.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, Jeffrey Prescott, told Reuters a significant amount of that money would go to United Nations agencies and aid groups providing urgent food assistance, healthcare and nutrition support, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene.

This funding also includes direct support (of) agricultural commodities from American farmers, said Prescott, who will formally announce the aid in Kinshasa on Wednesday with US Ambassador to the DRC Lucy Tamlyn.

It takes total US funding for DRC since October to $838 million, said Prescott.

Congos army has been battling M23 insurgents since 2022, and renewed fighting in the countrys east has driven more than 1.7 million people from their homes, taking the total number of Congolese displaced by multiple conflicts to a record 7.2 million, according to UN estimates.

A UN aid appeal for $2.6 billion for DRC this year is only one-third funded, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned last month that more than one million children are at risk from acute malnutrition in Congo.

Prescott said he hoped the US funding would encourage other countries to also step up as well and help DRC.

The US will also provide $10 million for health assistance and donate 50,000 mpox vaccines, Prescott said.

Mpox, a viral infection that can spread through close contact, is usually mild but can sometimes lead to death. It causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body.

The current mpox outbreak in Congo has already seen around 27,000 cases, and claimed more than 1,100 lives, most of them children, since the beginning of 2023.
O'Loughlin Gaels driving test centre in Kilkenny has the highest pass rate in the country with over two thirds of testers passing this year, according to the RSA.

Data from the Road Safety Authority revealed by the Irish Times shows the Kilkenny Centre had a pass rate of 68.4 per cent in the first six months of 2024.

The figures were provided to Green Party TD Marc O Cathasaigh by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

READ MORE - Taoiseach Simon Harris in town today to officially open 51st Kilkenny Arts Festival

The driving test centre with the lowest pass rate in the country in the first half of the year was Charlestown in Dublin at 36.8 per cent.

These figures show there was a wide variation in the rate of motorists passing driving tests at different test centres around the country in the first half of 2024.

Waterford TD O Cathasaigh pointed out the difference between his local centre in Waterford, which had a 42.8 per cent pass rate, and the OLoughlin Gaels centre in Kilkenny and argued that there should not be a 25 per cent divergence between pass rates.

He questioned if theres a difference in the testing regime between centres and said, if thats what the issue is thats a real problem.

An RSA statement noted: All driving tests conducted by the Road Safety Authority are operated in a fair manner and in accordance with the standard procedures for conducting a driving test.
A decision to cancel scheduled care across five hospitals and injury units for an indefinite period has been criticised as an abandonment of the people of the Mid-West.

A consultants group said the HSEs decision to cancel elective surgeries, endoscopies and outpatient appointments was unbelievable and one of the starkest developments in Irish healthcare in recent times.

The University of Limerick Hospitals Group said the action was taken to manage high volumes of patients attending the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

Appointments and operations have been cancelled at UHL, Ennis, Nenagh, St Johns Hospital and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital in order to de-escalate the UHL site and reduce wait times, it said.

The emergency department and services at University Maternity Hospital Limerick are continuing as normal.

We regret the impact this decision will have on patients waiting for surgery, appointments and investigations; and all affected patients are being contacted directly by hospital staff. These appointments will be rescheduled as soon as possible, it said in a statement.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) argued it will have severe knock-on consequences for patient health outcomes and expressed concern about the busier winter months.

The IHCA also said it effectively amounts to a dereliction of hospitals across the Mid-West and those who depend upon them.

Vice president of the IHCA Colin Peirce said it illustrates a complete lack of creativity and collaboration on the part of HSE leadership.

We have all known for years that Limerick has problems.

We also know that fixing them requires a blend of immediate and medium-term decisions.

It is clearly a challenge, but instead of meeting it creatively, HSE leadership is essentially giving up.

Its unbelievable, unnecessary, and an abandonment of the local population.

No hospital consultant wants to tell a patient waiting for essential surgery that their critical treatment has been cancelled and, worse still, that they do not know when it will be rescheduled.

Alongside hampering diagnosis, treatment and delivery of care, this will have a severe impact on already excessive waiting lists.

The number of people on waiting lists is expected to reach further unacceptable levels when the NTPF data is published tomorrow, Friday August 9.

We cannot allow scheduled care to be seen as an optional extra in the delivery of healthcare.

Responding to a lack of resourcing and capacity by simply cancelling life-enhancing surgery is completely unacceptable and poorly thought-out.

These cancellations will have a direct negative impact on patients health.

Those who have their essential surgery cancelled have poorer physical health, increased functional impairments, and worse psychological functioning than those who do not experience such postponements.

Therefore, this decision cannot be presented as a solution for the people of the Mid-West, as it creates more problems than it solves.

We urge the HSE to reinstate these procedures, and to come to the table with long-term and sustainable solutions that the people of the Mid-West deserve.

There has been a focus on conditions at UHL since the death of 16-year-old Aoife Johnston at the hospital in 2022, who waited 12 hours to be assessed for suspected sepsis.

An initial report found that overcrowding in the hospitals emergency department was endemic and doctor and nurse staffing levels are insufficient.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that although reforms were not fully in place yet, those implemented to date had begun to bring the number of patients waiting on trolleys down.

Sandra Broderick, regional executive officer of HSE Mid West, said: Additional measures agreed (on Wednesday) to de-escalate our main hospital site at UHL are being taken in the interests of patient care across the region and to prioritise those who are the most acutely unwell.



We understand that this is very difficult for patients who have in some cases already faced long waits for their appointments. Our staff will be working over the coming days and weeks to ensure affected patients are rescheduled as soon as possible.
Samsung is recalling 1 million stoves to prevent pets from setting your home on fire
By Park Jin-hai

Tving's upcoming drama "Queen Woo," set in the Goguryeo Kingdom (37 B.C.  A.D. 668), has been embroiled in a controversy related to the issue of historical accuracy.

Slated for release on Aug. 29, the drama tells the story of a queen of Goguryeo who fights to secure the throne after her husband passes away unexpectedly.

However, the teaser videos and promotional stills have ignited debates online, with many saying the costumes and hairstyles of the characters appear to be heavily influenced by Chinese styles rather than accurately representing the Goguryeo period.

The main point of contention was the styling of key characters, including Eulpaso (Kim Moo-yul), the highest-ranking official of Goguryeo; Go bal-gi (Lee Soo-hyuk), the vicious third prince and heir to the throne; and Go Nam-mu (Ji Chang-wook), the king.

Internet users claimed the middle-part hairstyle of the characters with topknots, hats and costumes are reminiscent of Chinese historical dramas set during the Warring States period or Qin Dynasty.

Criticism has been particularly sharp regarding the portrayal of Eulpaso, a well-known historical figure who served as the prime minister of Goguryeo in the second century. One online commenter pointed out that Eulpasos appearance closely resembles a character from the Chinese drama "The Qin Empire," set during the late Warring States period.

Another said, "For a drama set in Goguryeo, we should have seen 'jougwan' (a headdress or topknot crowned with a pair of feathers) and gilt-bronze crowns. That's what sets it apart from China. Even if 100 percent accuracy is difficult, they should have tried their best to get it as close as possible."

The distinctive jougwan is featured in various Goguryeo artifacts including tombs and murals. This style of headdress was also prevalent among the people of the other Three Kingdoms of Korea states, Silla and Baekje. Gilt-bronze crowns served as a key distinguishing element of Goguryeo attire, setting it apart from Chinese clothing of the time.

Additionally, there has been criticism over the fact that Eulpaso's clothing was fastened on the right side, which is Chinese style, whereas Goguryeo people traditionally fastened their clothing on the left side.

The drama has caused further anger for many in Korea, especially at a time when a cultural feud between Korea and China is intensifying over the origins of kimchi and hanbok among other things. People expressed concerns the drama could inadvertently strengthen China's efforts to distort history such as through the so-called Northeast Project.

In fact, after the release of the teaser and stills, some Chinese netizens have made mocking comments on Douban, a Chinese social networking service, such as, "The costume and props feel like they were copied from Hengdian (China's Hollywood)," and "Koreans love to copy Chinese culture."



In response to the backlash, Tving has stated that while "Queen Woo" is inspired by historical figures and events, it is ultimately a work of fiction.

"We received advice from experts based on verifiable related historical documents and records and we created the drama based on imagination to portray the part for which there are no records, the company said.

This is not the first time a Korean period drama has faced such a backlash over inaccurate portrayals, with one drama even having to stop filming in the middle of broadcasting after the controversy over historical distortion grew and advertisers stopped supporting the drama.

SBS' 2021 historical-supernatural series "Joseon Exorcist" was canceled after airing two episodes due to the backlash from many viewers for the historical inaccuracies and Chinese props including the Chinese traditional baked good known as mooncake and a shaman's Chinese-style costume shown in the series.

TvN's 2022 period drama series "Under the Queen's Umbrella" faced controversy for falsely portraying Korean history when it came to royal customs and using modern simplified Chinese characters in scenes.
Fu Bao, Korea's first native-born giant panda, is set to return to the country next month  on the big screen.

At a press event Thursday promoting the upcoming documentary "My Dearest Fu Bao," director Shim Hyung-jun described it as a "fairytale-like touching story" chronicling the three months leading up to Fu Bao's departure, as seen through her caregivers' eyes.

"It feels incredibly touching and almost unbelievable to complete the documentary," said Kang Cheol-won, Fu Bao's primary zookeeper, known as the "panda grandfather."

"I was initially concerned about how we could make the movie both moving and fresh, given that people were already familiar with Fu Bao," he said.

Addressing these concerns, the director focused on capturing the zookeepers' innermost feelings and the deep bond between them and the Fu Bao family.

Born on July 20, 2020, Fu Bao is the offspring of Ai Bao and Le Bao, giant pandas sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping in March 2016 as a symbol of Korea-China friendship. Under the endangered species conservation agreement, pandas sent by China must return before turning 4.

In April, thousands of fans bid farewell to Fu Bao outside Everland, Korea's largest amusement park, located 42 kilometers southeast of Seoul, where she was born and raised.

Facing the challenge of communicating with the pandas, the production team incorporated animation to depict scenes like Fu Bao's early childhood, the first meeting between Ai Bao, Le Bao and Kang and the pandas' love story.

"(Fu Bao) kept sleeping, eating and sitting idle. It was very challenging not to be able to communicate with her," the director said, jokingly adding, "It was a shame not being able to have drinks with the main actors."

The director expects this unprecedented integration of animation in a documentary to enhance the film's emotional depth and offer unique fun. The film also captures Kang's reunion with Fu Bao in China.

"The reunion scene was incredibly impressive," he said. "As I filmed the scene from behind, where Kang approached Fu Bao, my heart felt like it was about to burst. It was a personally thrilling moment."

"My Dearest Fu Bao" is set for release on Sept. 4. (Yonhap)
Opposition lawmaker prepares bill to split FSS into two entities

By Jun Ji-hye

The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) is considering an organizational restructuring to improve oversight of e-commerce platform operators following significant cash flow issues with TMON and WeMakePrice, according to political and financial sources, Thursday. These issues caused delays in payments to vendors and subsequently caused setbacks in refunds to customers.

The move comes as the liquidity crisis involving the two Korean affiliates of Singapore-based e-commerce platform Qoo10 has highlighted problems regarding the lax regulations and oversight by the financial watchdog in the rapidly growing industry.

Internal discussions are taking place regarding organizational restructuring and personnel changes, an FSS official said. We need to consult with the Financial Services Commission (FSC) regarding the workforce expansion.

Currently, the FSS has only four teams in charge of electronic financial services. About 20 officials are working there.

In contrast, 33 teams and 25 teams are assigned to the supervision of banks and insurers, respectively. The total workforce at the FSS is nearly 2,500.

During a National Assembly hearing over the two cash-strapped e-commerce platforms on July 30, lawmakers also pointed out that the FSS supervision of non-bank institutions has been inadequate.

At the time, FSS Governor Lee Bok-hyun said, We will consider expanding related teams and workforce.

While the organizational restructuring of the FSS falls under the discretion of its governor, increasing the workforce and the associated budget allocation require approval from the FSC, the countrys top financial regulator.

As the TMON and WeMakePrice situation has brought supervisory issues to the fore, the FSS is expected to initiate discussions with the FSC soon.

Some politicians, meanwhile, argue that the financial watchdog should be split to address the fundamental issues, based on the judgment that the organizations functions are primarily focused on supervision, leading to inadequate consumer protection.

Rep. Kim Hyun-jung of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea plans to submit a bill this month to split the FSS into two entities. Under this bill, one entity would be in charge of financial supervision, while the other would oversee consumer protection.

Due to inadequate consumer protection, similar issues keep recurring. There is a need to prevent this by restructuring the financial watchdog, Kim said.

In 2012, similar legislative efforts to split the FSS were made following the 2011 bank run on local savings banks, but to no avail.
By Yi Whan-woo

The government will lift restrictions on greenbelt or development-restricted zones in Seoul and surrounding areas in order to identify potential sites for 80,000 new homes.

This will be the first time since 2012 that regulations on greenbelts in the nation's capital are lifted.

The government will also streamline the lengthy processes involved in reconstructing old apartment complexes and redeveloping aging neighborhoods, aiming to supply an estimated 370,000 homes in Seoul alone.

Regarding the first generation of Koreas planned cities from the 1990s, the government will identify by November areas in Gyeonggi Province that urgently need redevelopment, with the goal of constructing over 26,000 new homes.

Additionally, the government will increase the acquisition tax exemption for first-time home buyers from 2 million won ($1,400) to 3 million won ($2,100). This exemption will apply to smaller homes, including less popular housing types such as "villas" or small residential buildings, and single or multiplex houses.

These measures were announced during a meeting of real estate related ministers, Thursday, as the government is grappling with exacerbating housing shortages in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.

This shortage is due to more Koreans choosing to live in the densely populated capital and the greater Seoul area, despite an overall decline in the nation's population.

The shortage is exacerbated by a strong preference among Koreans for apartments, leading to apartment prices rising at a much faster rate than those of other types of homes.

In that regard, the government wants to expand housing supply in a dramatic fashion while coping with housing demand in a preemptive manner," Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok said as he presided over the minsters meeting at the Government Complex Seoul.

He noted that, although the government came up with a package of housing supply measures in September 2023, home prices have been rising steeply in recent months.

Regarding the greenbelt, the government said it will increase the supply of homes four-fold from the initial 20,000 planned in January, in order to better address housing demand.

Of the 80,000 new homes, the government will designate sites for 50,000 homes by November, with the remaining 30,000 sites to be identified by next year.

The candidate sites are most likly to come from plateaus in southern Seoul, considering most greenbelts in northern Seoul are mountains.

To address the world's lowest birth rate, the government plans to allocate 70 percent of the 20,000 new homes for newlyweds, as well as families with infants or multiple children.

To prevent land speculation, the government will impose a temporary restriction on the sale and purchase of all greenbelt land in Seoul and the greater Seoul area starting Aug. 13. This measure will remain in effect until the announcement of candidate sites in November.

The government will work to simplify the procedures for reconstructing old apartment complexes and redeveloping aging neighborhoods.

For example, the minimum approval rate required from involved households for the reconstruction of a targeted apartment complex will be reduced from 75 percent to 50 percent.

Regarding the first-generation planned cities developed in Korea during the 1990s, the government aims to carry out a comprehensive redevelopment by 2035, with plans to build a total of 100,000 homes.

These areas are spread across Gyeonggi Province, including Bundang in the south and Ilsan in the north.

The candidate sites for the initial 26,000 homes will be selected by November, with construction potentially starting in 2029.

To qualify for the acquisition tax exemption, first-time home buyers must purchase homes that are 60 square meters or smaller and are non-apartment types.

The acquisition price of the homes must also not exceed 600 million won for properties in Seoul and surrounding areas.
Sen. Pia Addresses LMP Mindanao Island Cluster Conference on Sustainable Development

CEBU CITY - Senator Pia S. Cayetano, the first-ever and former chairperson of the Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Innovation, and Futures Thinking, spoke about the role of local executives in achieving sustainability at the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Mindanao Island Cluster Conference held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Cebu City on August 7 (Wednesday).

The conference, themed "Sustainable Development: Creating Smart Communities Through Localization of the SDGs by Municipal Governments," convened local chief leaders from all over Mindanao to share insights, strategies, and best practices for sustainable development.

"I ask you, 30 years from now, what do you want your people to be saying about you? Did you prepare your town to be a sustainable town?" Senator Cayetano asked, as she underlined the importance of long-term and strategic planning in realizing the legacy which local leaders envision to leave behind.

Senator Cayetano further encouraged the local executives to enroll in capacity-building programs on futures thinking offered by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP). She actively supported this project as the Senior Vice-Chairperson of the Senate Finance Committee, under the leadership of then Chairperson Senator Sonny Angara.

Now chairing the Senate Committee on Energy, the Senator also discussed critical sustainability issues and national security concerns related to ensuring reliable power, especially for municipalities located in island provinces.

Senator Cayetano has been actively working to align government programs and legislative measures with the SDGs, guided by the principles of futures thinking and strategic foresight.
By Lee Kyung-min

Woori Financial Group's acquisitions of Tongyang Life and ABL Life are expected to proceed without difficulty, underpinned by recent bankruptcy of Chinas Anbang Insurance, market watchers said Thursday.

Advancing the view is Chinas growing sense of exasperation toward the long-stalled, drawn-out selloff of the life insurance unit, to the advantage of Woori Financial in negotiations.

The liquidation of Anbang squanders years of efforts of state-owned Dajia Life Insurance Group to rescue the troubled firm. Dajia holds over 42 percent of Tongyang Life shares and a 100 percent stake in ABL Life. Dajia will be liquidated, soon after its subsidiaries are sold off.

Win-win

It can be a win-win for both Woori and Dajia, a Woori official said.

Woori Financials non-banking business will be significantly fortified, as indicated by the total combined assets of Tongyang and ABL standing at 49.9 trillion won ($36 billion) as of end-March.

The joined forces of the two will translate into the sixth-largest market player by asset size after Samsung, Kyobo, Hanwha, Shinhan and NH NongHyup.

Whether the life insurance business will thrive to outgrow Woori Aviva Life remains to be seen. Woori sold off the Aviva entity in 2014 to NH HongHyup Group, and has since remained lukewarm about acquiring a life insurance firm.

Woori and Dajia signed a memorandum of understanding last month. Due diligence for the acquisition of Tongyang and ABL is in progress, according to Woori.

Woori denied reports of the deal being close to inking a stock purchase agreement (SPA) of 2 trillion won late this month.

Many local media outlets reported stories about SPA developments, but it has not been finalized, the official added.

The acquisition of the two will prove an apt strategy for Woori Financial backing out of an acquisition deal for Lotte Insurance, June 28. Many said the last-minute withdrawal was to prime the Tongyang and ABL acquisitions.

A reason for Woori to opt out was JKL Partners with a 77 percent stake in Lotte not budging from the 3 trillion won ($2.1 billion) acquisition price.

The private equity firm said Lotte's market cap of over 1.1 trillion won and premium justify the hefty price tag, a price Woori considered too high.

Meanwhile, unionized workers of Tongyang and ABL said they would elicit the assistance of Korean Finance & Service Workers Union, a chapter of the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions, one of the countrys two powerful umbrella unions.

The 70,000 members of the financial services union will mobilize all available means, according to the workers, if the Financial Services Commission (FSC) fails to take the demands of workers into consideration in the sales of the two Chinese life insurers.

We will take collective action against the government-sanctioned disruption in the insurance market as well as violation of rights to labor and job security, they said.
The United States has extended its travel restriction for North Korea by another year, the State Department said Wednesday, citing a "serious" risk to its citizens of arrest and long-term detention in the reclusive state.

The department posted on the Federal Register the decision to extend the restriction until Aug. 31 next year. Since it was imposed in September 2017, the restriction has been extended annually.

"The Department of State has determined there continues to be serious risk to U.S. citizens and nationals of arrest and long-term detention constituting imminent danger to their physical safety," the department said in a notice on the register.

"Accordingly, all U.S. passports shall remain invalid for travel to, in, or through the DPRK unless specially validated for such travel under the authority of the Secretary of State," it added, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The restriction was introduced after Otto Warmbier, an American college student, was released from the North in a vegetative state and died in 2017. He was imprisoned in the North on a charge of subversion the previous year. (Yonhap)
A North Korean defected to South Korea on Thursday by crossing "neutral waters" between the two Koreas, multiple military sources said.

The individual crossed the neutral zone of the Han River estuary located west of the inter-Korean land border and arrived at South Korea's Gyodong Island off the west coast early Thursday and expressed intent to defect, according to the sources.

A military source said the individual arrived on the island on foot when the tides ebbed and added that two defectors had been initially spotted, raising the possibility that one of them may have failed to cross the border.

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said an investigation was under way by relevant authorities when asked about the defection during a session of the parliamentary defense committee.

Shin called the defection a "successful operation," noting that South Korean authorities had tracked the defector from the point of departure.

In a notice to reporters, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said relevant authorities are investigating the details, including how the defection took place.

It did not provide further details but said no significant movements by the North Korean military have been detected.

Thursday's defection came around 10 months after a group of North Koreans, comprising three women and one man, crossed the eastern maritime inter-Korean border on a wooden boat in October 2023.

The inflow of North Korean defectors has continued amid chronic food shortages and harsh political oppression in the North. In the first half of the year, the number of North Korean defectors arriving in the South reached 105, slightly up from 99 the previous year. (Yonhap)
North Korea on Thursday appointed a new top envoy to Cuba, nearly five months after its former ambassador left the Caribbean nation following the establishment of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Cuba.

In a one-sentence announcement on its website, North Korea's foreign ministry said Han Su-chol has been appointed as the country's ambassador to Havana.

Han is presumed to be the vice department director of the international division at the Central Committee of the North's ruling Workers' Party of Korea, whose name has appeared in state media reports.

In February, South Korea and Cuba forged formal diplomatic ties in a surprise move that many viewed as dealing a diplomatic blow to the North, which has long maintained brotherly ties with the Caribbean nation.

The following month, then Ambassador to Cuba Ma Chol-su left the country in what some observers viewed as North Korea's display of discontent over the move.

The North has since refrained from mentioning Cuba in its state media reports. (Yonhap)
Officials redouble efforts to prevent contagious diseases, bedbug infestations

By Jung Min-ho

The government is stepping up efforts to stave off contagious diseases and pest infestations as the nations athletes and tens of thousands of tourists are expected to return from the Paris Olympics in the coming weeks, according to health authorities, Thursday.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said its officials are strengthening biosecurity measures for airport facilities while stepping up monitoring of international travelers, particularly those coming from the French capital.

As part of the efforts, all aircraft on the Paris-Incheon route will now be disinfected once a week rather than monthly. High-risk areas at airports, such as transit lounges and arrival halls, will also be sanitized more frequently.

So far, no cases of infectious disease or pest infestation that would need special attention have been reported, a senior official at the agencys quarantine policy department told The Korea Times. Quarantine officers are now on increased alert amid reports about contagious diseases in that country and other parts of Europe  Starting today, special inspections will continue until end of the Paralympics (Aug. 28  Sept. 8).

This comes as Koreas 234-member delegation, representatives of Olympic sponsors as well as other visitors are returning before and after the end of the Summer Olympics on Aug. 11. In France, at least 40 athletes have so far contracted COVID-19, and increased cases of measles, whooping cough, syphilis and other infectious diseases have also been reported recently.

The risk from overseas brings up further concerns in Korea at a time when health authorities here are scrambling to contain the spread of COVID-19, whooping cough and other diseases amid an alarming increase in cases in recent weeks.

It is unclear how many Koreans have visited France during the international sporting event. But according to travel analytics firm ForwardKeys, visitors from Korea, along with China and Japan, topped the list of trips originating from Asia-Pacific nations bound for Paris between July 24 and Aug. 11.

Preventing bedbug infestations from France is another focus of the KDCAs efforts.

In collaboration with airport operators, airline companies and pest control company CESCO, the KDCA has installed bedbug traps in baggage claim zones and will operate a booth where people can have their luggage checked and disinfected thoroughly.

At that booth, Ceco, Koreas first commissioned bedbug-sniffing dog is expected to play a major role. The beagle is known to be able to find bedbugs in all life stages, from eggs to adults, with an accuracy rate of more than 95 percent.

The dog has been trained for that purpose after a plague of bedbugs hit Seoul and other Korean cities last year, provoking a wave of insectophobia and health worries.

Bedbugs are not known to spread infectious diseases to humans, but feed on blood, causing skin rashes, itchiness and allergic symptoms.

A surge in bedbug sightings made headlines in France just months ahead of the Olympics. A report released by a French government agency showed more than one in 10 households in the country reported bedbug infestations between 2017 and 2022.

Once spread (in Korea), it is very challenging to eradicate bedbugs. So its critical to prevent it in the first place, Lee Han-kyung, head of the disaster management office of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said in a statement. In collaboration with private companies, we will take pre-emptive actions by strengthening measures to stave them off at airports.
By Kim Hyun-bin

The ASEAN-Korea Centre kicked off the four-day "ASEAN Trade Fair 2024" at COEX on Wednesday. This annual event, launched in 2009, has become an important program for the center, facilitating business connections between the 10 ASEAN Member States (AMS) and Korean buyers by showcasing a wide range of food and beverage (F&B) products.

Building on the momentum from the pre-promotional event called, "ASEAN Pop-up Store  ASEAN Flavor Town," held at the main branch of Lotte Department Store last June, this year's four-day trade fair promises to introduce a variety of new ASEAN F&B products to the Korean market. It will also serve as a platform for business-to-business (B2B) networking, allowing ASEAN companies to establish valuable business partnerships with their Korean counterparts.

The 2024 ASEAN Trade Fair will feature three immersive zones: the F&B Booth Exhibition Zone, the B2B Business Meeting Zone and the ASEAN Pop-up Store Zone.

The F&B Booth Exhibition Zone will display a diverse selection of culinary products from 44 companies across the 10 AMS, including sauces, jams, coffees, cookies, chocolates and dried fruits.

The B2B Business Meeting Zone will provide a space for Korean buyers to connect with ASEAN delegations, fostering potential business collaborations. The ASEAN Pop-up Store Zone will offer the general public the chance to purchase ASEAN products at discounted prices.

Coinciding with the celebration of ASEAN Day on Aug. 8, which marks its 57th anniversary, the trade fair will feature a range of engaging on-site promotions. These activities, including quizzes, a photo booth and a raffle event, aim to raise public awareness and appreciation of ASEAN.

"Since its inception in 2009, the ASEAN Trade Fair has supported competent ASEAN small and medium enterprises in entering the Korean market, thus promoting active trade activities between ASEAN and Korea. This Trade Fair is expected to not only increase public awareness of ASEAN F&B products but also serve as a catalyst for strengthening B2B networks between the private sectors of the two regions," ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary-General Kim Jae-shin said.
Tokyo's 'insincere attitude' raises doubts about its pledge to commemorate Korean victims, critics say

By Lee Hyo-jin

Korea is requesting Japan release a list of Korean victims who were forced to work at the controversial wartime site known as the Sado complex of mines. However, observers said Thursday that Tokyo is likely to remain steadfast in its refusal, believing that the dispute over the mine has been resolved.

According to diplomatic sources, the Korean government has repeatedly asked for this list, stored at the Niigata Prefectural Archives in Japan, since early negotiations over the Sado mines UNESCO World Heritage site designation. But Japan has refused to do so.

The list was photographed in 1983 during a historical study of Niigata Prefecture and is reported to exist in microfilm format, as the original photograph is no longer available. It is known to contain the names of hundreds of Korean laborers.

While not an original document, this list is significant as it may be the only known official list of the Korean laborers mobilized at the mines. Currently, the available materials related to these laborers include a tobacco distribution list disclosed in 2021, which contains fewer than 500 names of the estimated 1,500 laborers.

As such, if disclosed, the Korean laborer list from the Niigata Prefectural Archives is expected to provide a more comprehensive and accurate record of the victims of forced labor.

The mines, located on Sado Island off the west coast of Niigata Prefecture, were used for war-related manufacturing during World War II. Historical records indicate that over 1,500 Koreans were coerced into labor there during the 1910-45 Japanese colonial era.

Korea's foreign ministry said Thursday that it is continuing related discussions with Japan regarding the Sado mines, but it declined to comment on detailed negotiations about the list of laborers.

Yang Ki-ho, a professor of Japanese studies at Sungkonghoe University and former consul-general of Korea in Kobe, believes the likelihood of Japan providing the list immediately is slim.

"Given the controversy surrounding the Sado mines after their UNESCO World Heritage listing, Japan is unlikely to comply with the request swiftly, as it may see the release of the list as fueling further controversy. Additionally, the Japanese government may be hesitant to appear as though it is yielding to Korea's demands," Yang said.

He added that Japan's insincere attitude after the UNESCO inscription raises questions about whether it will keep its promise to hold annual memorial services for Korean victims.

Some observers also suggest that Japans reluctance may stem from concerns about potential lawsuits from the families of forced labor victims if the list is disclosed.

Yang noted that Korea should have pushed harder for Japan to provide the list before the UNESCO inscription, when Seoul had greater leverage in the discussions.

"If Seoul had maintained its objection, the listing might have been impossible, giving South Korea a significant upper hand in the negotiations. Now that the mine has been inscribed, it will be more challenging for Korean officials to achieve fruitful negotiations," the professor said.

The mines were inscribed as a World Cultural Heritage site on July 27 during a UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in New Delhi. The decision was reached by consensus among the 21 committee members, including representatives from both Korea and Japan.

The Center for Historical Truth and Justice, a local civic group representing forced labor victims, argued that holding a memorial service without disclosing the list of victims is meaningless.

In return for Seoul endorsing Japan's UNESCO bid, Tokyo promised to hold annual memorial ceremonies honoring the Korean workers and to accurately portray the history of Japan's forced labor of Koreans in an exhibition hall near the mine site.

According to South Korea's foreign ministry, the Japanese government is considering holding the inaugural memorial event this September, but details regarding attendees and the venue have yet to be finalized.

"In a situation where Japan has not even properly disclosed the list of victims, how can they hold a memorial service for victims whose names are unknown?" the center officials said during a press conference earlier this week.

The group also urged the Korean government, which has pledged to put more effort into persuading Japan to reflect the victims' history accurately, to strongly request that Japan disclose the list.
Korea and the United States have agreed to tighten their cooperation to excavate and repatriate the remains of Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced mobilization when Korea was under Japan's colonial rule, the interior ministry said Thursday.

The interior ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), which is responsible for recovering unaccounted-for servicemen under the Department of Defense, in Hawaii on Wednesday (U.S. time).

Interior Minister Lee Sang-min and DPAA Director Kelly McKeague attended the signing ceremony, the ministry said.

The MOU calls on the two countries to conduct join excavations, share DNA and scientific data and exchange specialized personnel for the excavation and identification of the remains of Koreans killed in the Pacific region.

More than 5,000 Koreans were killed or remain missing in the Pacific region after being mobilized to work for Japan while the Korean Peninsula was under Japan's colonial rule from 1910-1945.

In cooperation with the DPAA, Korea retrieved and identified the remains of Choi Byeong-yeon, a victim of forced mobilization, and brought them home in December, marking the first repatriation case from the Pacific region. (Yonhap)
A military intelligence official has been referred to the prosecution for allegedly leaking information of South Korean espionage agents operating overseas, the defense ministry said Thursday.

The Defense Counterintelligence Command has referred the civilian official at the Korea Defense Intelligence Command to the military prosecution on charges of violating the Military Secret Protection Act and espionage charges, the defense ministry said in a statement.

The official, whose identity is withheld, was arrested last week over allegations of handing over personal information of "black agents" to a Chinese national of Korean descent, who is possibly an informant for North Korea's intelligence agency.

Black agents refer to intelligence officials conducting undercover espionage activities overseas.

Whether espionage charges could be applied to the official has been a focal point as such charges are only valid for those who have leaked intelligence to North Korea by law, raising views that military authorities have secured signs of such a connection.

The official denied the alleged leak of military intelligence, claiming that his laptop was hacked, but the intelligence command reportedly rejected such a claim in a closed-door meeting with lawmakers last month.

The intelligence command became aware of the alleged leak around June after being informed of the case by a related intelligence agency, according to the lawmakers.

Some overseas agents have been reportedly ordered to return home over worries of their identities being exposed, triggering concerns over a possible vacuum in South Korea's intelligence capabilities.

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik brushed off such concerns, but said the government will take "strong" measures to overhaul the intelligence command.

"There is no major vacuum in our intelligence affairs," Shin told lawmakers in a plenary session of the parliamentary defense committee, adding most of its operations have been "normalized."

"But in light of the incident, I plan to carry out overall innovation and follow-up measures in a strong manner," he said. (Yonhap)
By Anna J. Park

An incident involving BTS member Suga driving an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol has ignited a debate over whether social service workers  who serve as an alternative to mandatory military service  should receive more lenient treatment compared to those undergoing compulsory military service, according to military officials and citizens, Thursday.

This debate comes in response to the Military Manpower Administration's (MMA) announcement on Thursday that no additional punishment would be imposed by military authorities, as the drunk driving incident occurred outside of work hours.

"The social service worker in question will be punished according to relevant laws, including the Road Traffic Act, as he was caught by the police driving under the influence of alcohol after working hours," the MMA stated.

An MMA official explained that regulations mandating decent behavior for social service workers apply only during work hours. Since Suga's incident occurred outside of working hours, it does not breach these regulations. As a result, aside from any legal penalties stemming from the police investigation, there will be no additional disciplinary actions or sanctions from the MMA.

"The MMA, along with the agencies overseeing social service workers, will strengthen education to ensure compliance with regulations during their service period, while rigorously managing and supervising them," the military authority added.

Issue of fairness

The MMA's lenient stance on the issue has drawn significant criticism, raising concerns about fairness between social service workers and active-duty soldiers. Unlike social service workers, active-duty soldiers who commit crimes while on leave or after working hours are subject to military law and are tried in military courts.

Consequently, many former active-duty soldiers argue that they not only serve under harsher conditions, but they also face greater disadvantages when it comes to legal consequences for actions taken during their leave or outside of work hours.

"Active-duty soldiers are punished for accidents outside working hours. This is unfair," read a comment on a Korean internal portal site on Thursday.

This sentiment is echoed in numerous other comments.

"Its unreasonable that social service workers, who are fulfilling a role in place of military service, arent penalized for incidents after work hours," another comment noted.

"If an active-duty soldier did this, wouldnt they end up in the military detention barracks? Why are soldiers on leave punished so strictly?" asked a netizen.

"This country seems obsessed with further lowering the morale of active-duty soldiers," another commenter expressed.

Against this backdrop, a public online petition has been submitted requesting that the MMA impose a stricter penalty on Suga, such as a five-day extension of his service. The petition was filed on "e-People," an online platform operated by the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission.

BigHit Music apologizes twice

Since September last year, Suga has been fulfilling his mandatory military service as a social service worker in Seoul. He was assigned as a social service worker due to a shoulder injury he sustained in 2020. He is expected to complete his service in June 2025.

The BTS member was found by the police on a street in the affluent Hannam district late Tuesday night after falling off his electric scooter. When police officers nearby tried to assist him, they detected the smell of alcohol. A breathalyzer test showed that his blood alcohol concentration was 0.08% or higher, a level that warrants license revocation.

BigHit Music, the music agency of BTS, issued a follow-up apology on Thursday, stating: "We apologize for hastily releasing a statement without thoroughly examining various circumstances, which caused confusion."

When Suga's DUI allegation was first brought up in the media on Wednesday, the agency said Suga used an electric kickboard during the incident. Yet, police later confirmed that the vehicle was an electric scooter rather than a kickboard. This raised suspicions that the music company tried to downplay the incident.

"There was no intention to downplay the issue, as some have suggested. We sincerely apologize for the hasty and inaccurate information provided initially. We will fulfill our responsibilities according to the classification determined by the investigative authorities," BigHit Music wrote on the fan community platform Weverse.
Yonsei University has revoked the master's degree of a minor party leader's son following a court ruling related to the case, informed school officials said Thursday.

The university recently decided to cancel the admission of Cho Won, the son of Cho Kuk, the chief of the Rebuilding Korea Party, into its graduate school of political science and diplomacy in 2018 and his master's degree earned from the same school in 2021, they said.

The decision came after the Supreme Court confirmed the conviction of former opposition lawmaker Choi Kang-wook, who was found guilty of issuing a false internship certificate to the younger Cho while working for a law firm years ago. Choi lost his parliamentary seat after the top court approved his prison sentence of eight months, suspended for two years, in September last year.

The younger Cho submitted the internship certificate issued by Choi to Yonsei University at the time of his graduate school admission. (Yonhap)
Korea should address Big Techs monopolies, power abuse





The worlds largest search engine firm Google suffered a stunning court defeat in an antitrust trial filed by the U.S. federal government. A U.S. judge ruled on Monday that Google is a monopolistic company that engaged in unlawful practices to suppress competition in order to maintain its market dominance.

It has violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta wrote. The ruling is a landmark decision, heralding a major change in the platform industry. It will have a crucial impact on the tech giants fate, with significant adverse implications on its oldest and most lucrative businesses.

The trial began when the Department of Justice filed a legal suit against Google in 2020 claiming the firm had violated the antitrust law by controlling about 90 percent of the U.S. search market. It is a huge victory for the American people that antitrust enforcement is alive and well when it comes to competition, said Amy Klobuchar, a Democratic U.S. senator, who heads the Senates Judiciary Committees antitrust subcommittee.

The court judged Google had barred competitors and infringed upon a consumer's right to choice by exploiting its market-dominating status. It cited Googles provision of billions of dollars to other gigantic tech firms such as Apple in particular as illegal assistance to solidify its monopolistic position. It also criticized Google for consistently trying to increase online advertising fees by monopolizing the markets for cellular phones and web browsers.

Over the past 20 years, Google has monopolized search engine markets in most countries except Korea and China, which are dominated by their own local providers. Once the current ruling is finally confirmed, it will result in a significant shift in the landscape of online advertising and search engine businesses. Specific punishments against Google will be determined in a future court ruling. In a worst-case scenario, Google will be forced to divest some of its business units including a possible breakup of its parent firm, Alphabet.

Major platform companies like Google have taken flak for using their financial power to monopolize markets and unilaterally raise prices, which disrupts the market order. Against this backdrop, many countries have been introducing diverse measures to bring tech firms under control. For example, the European Union enacted the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which has been in effect since May 2023, to prevent the potential abuse of market dominance by large companies. Major platforms like Apple, Microsoft and Meta have been the primary targets of the legislation.

The DMA is designed to prevent potential abuses by Big Tech firms in the market. If violations occur, the companies involved could face fines of up to 10 percent of their global revenue. Earlier, the EU Commission imposed a 1.84 billion euro penalty on Apple for abusing its dominance in the application market.

In contrast to these global efforts, Korea has failed to take any feasible measures to address the expanding market influence of global Big Tech companies such as YouTube and Google. The nation introduced a bill against the abuse of power by Google for the first time in the world. However, the act has been ineffective over the past two years, with Google avoiding any regulatory action.

This was mainly due to the inactivity of regulatory bodies such as the Korea Communications Commission, in particular. Due to the frequent changes in its chairperson, it has struggled to implement the law in practice. The government should step up efforts to prepare legal foundations to properly address the arbitrary and market-disturbing practices of Big Tech firms in line with global trends. Yet the authorities should refrain from seeking excessive regulations to prevent them from undermining any innovative efforts by these enterprises.
















By Kang Seung-woo

Paris Baguette, the bakery-cafe chain owned by the nations food giant SPC Group, held the 2024 Paris Baguette Franchise Convention in Las Vegas for its local franchisees, the group announced, Thursday.

The three-day event, held from Monday to Wednesday, saw the participation of 250 individuals, including Paris Baguette executives and staff in the United States, as well as current and prospective franchisees from across the Americas.

This convention marked Paris Baguette's first large-scale strategic briefing for its international franchisees to enhance communication and networking among franchisees. To this end, the U.S. Paris Baguette franchise headquarters presented operational policies, detailed plans and a strategic vision, while franchisees shared their successful operational experiences, expertise and suggestions.

Paris Baguette currently operates about 180 stores in North America, with over 90 percent of these being franchise-operated. In the first half of this year alone, 22 new franchises were inaugurated and 83 new contracts were signed, highlighting the rapid expansion of the local franchise business. Paris Baguette intends to leverage this event to further systematize and advance its franchise operations in the U.S.

Under the theme Layers of Success, Darren Tipton, head of Paris Baguette America, along with other key executives, outlined the vision for the U.S. market and presented detailed strategies and operational plans encompassing marketing, supply chain management and personnel training.

Additionally, various essential training programs for franchise operations were conducted, providing franchise owners with an in-depth understanding of the headquarters policies and plans.

Paris Baguettes successful integration into the U.S. market is a testament to the dedication and efforts of our franchisees, supported by Paris Baguettes global franchise system, Hur Jin-soo, CEO of the Paris Baguette HQ, said in his opening remarks.

I extend my gratitude to all franchisees and related parties. Paris Baguette remains committed to supporting franchisee success and aims to achieve further growth through mutual advances.

Paris Baguette is a global bakery brand with approximately 4,000 stores across 12 countries in North America, Europe and Asia.
Carmakers urged to disclose battery details to customers

By Lee Min-hyung

Public anxiety about electric vehicles (EVs) has reached a peak after a Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan, fitted with a battery made by a lesser-known Chinese manufacturer that customers have labeled as unreliable, unexpectedly exploded last week, even though the vehicle was not being charged.

The German automaker is quickly losing customer trust following the recent incident. Concerns are mounting over the credibility of the problematic nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) battery produced by Farasis Energy, which has been identified as a key issue.

The NCM battery produced by the Chinese company has been associated with several safety issues internationally. In April 2021, Chinas BAIC recalled some of their EVs equipped with Farasis Energys NCM batteries due to potential fire risks.

Korean battery firms such as LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI demonstrate technological excellence in manufacturing NCM batteries, whereas Chinese companies are primarily concentrating on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

Premium EVs manufactured by luxury carmakers are typically equipped with NCM batteries, which offer the advantage of longer mileage compared to LFP batteries. However, LFP batteries are more affordable and are therefore more commonly used in less expensive EVs.

Experts and industry officials noted that Mercedes-Benz Korea's vague response contributed to a growing nationwide fear of EVs.

Mercedes-Benz Korea should have immediately announced that it will take responsibility for the explosion of its vehicle, but instead, has sat on the fence and appeared to shift blame for the latest accident, said Lee Ho-geun, an automotive engineering professor at Daedeok University.

It remains to be determined whether the carmaker or the battery supplier is at fault. However, since the end product was launched by Mercedes-Benz, the automaker needs to focus on addressing the growing fears among customers, according to Lee.

The professor recommended that the government and the National Assembly draft a bill aimed at minimizing damage from potential future incidents. Among the bill's provisions is a measure to prevent EVs from being fully charged, particularly at underground charging stations.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport is considering implementing a regulation requiring EV manufacturers to disclose details about the batteries used in their vehicles when selling them to customers. Currently, EV manufacturers do not provide information on the names of battery suppliers or the specific types of batteries used.

Kim Dae-jong, a professor of business administration at Sejong University, argued that carmakers appeared to be overly focused on maximizing their sales figures without conducting thorough safety checks on their vehicles.

Carmakers should focus more on enhancing their safety monitoring to prevent the latest incident from recurring, he said.

Some have speculated that Mercedes-Benz might have sourced batteries from the Chinese firm, especially since the German carmaker's largest and second-largest shareholders are Chinese companies. BAIC, for instance, holds the largest stake, with a 9.97 percent share in the German automaker.

However, industry officials argued that it is unlikely Mercedes-Benz engaged in such practices due to its governance structure.

For carmakers, the top priority is to receive stable part supplies from multiple partners, an official at a carmaker said.

Automakers design the details of the batteries used in their EVs and inform their battery manufacturing partners accordingly. There is typically a defect rate associated with any product. Therefore, it is premature to conclude that all batteries from the Chinese firm are defective.

The official also said Mercedes-Benz Korea should have responded more swiftly after the EQE fire incident.

Even though an investigation is ongoing, it is still disappointing that the company has not shared any information about its compensation plans, he said.
Thousands of police and anti-racism protesters gathered on streets across Britain on Wednesday to challenge expected far-right groups that failed to materialize following more than a week of violent racist attacks targeting Muslims and migrants.

Britain has been hit by a series of riots that erupted early last week after three young girls were killed in a knife attack in Southport, northwest England, triggering a wave of false messaging online that wrongly identified the suspected killer as an Islamist migrant.

Posts online had said far-right, anti-Muslim protesters would target a list of immigration centers, migrant support centers and specialist law firms on Wednesday, prompting many businesses to close early and some shops to board up windows.

The reports prompted the deployment of thousands of police officers, and crowds of protesters massed in towns and cities including London, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool and Hastings, holding banners saying "Fight racism," "Stop the far right" and "Will trade racists for refugees."

The protesters were made up of a diverse collection of Muslims, anti-racist and anti-fascist groups, trade unionists, left-wing organizations, and locals appalled at the riots that had hit the country.

By 9 p.m., there were no reports of any serious disorder. Police said around 50 people in Croydon, south London, had thrown bottles and were trying to cause disruption.

Waste collector Stetson Matthew, 64, who joined thousands of demonstrators in Walthamstow, northeast London, said people had the right to protest but that the targeting of ethnic minorities had put the country on edge.

"Everybody has the right to do what they need to do but what they must do is to put their voices across peacefully, amicably, without any stress or violence," he said.

One woman who joined a counterprotest in Hastings, southeast England, said she was relieved to see a large turnout.

"I felt I absolutely had to be here tonight to take a stand, and it is much easier for me to come as a white woman than for some of my non-white friends, so I'm here in solidarity," said 37-year-old Lucy, a flower grower, who declined to give her last name.

'Stop the boats'

Riots erupted last week when groups of a few hundred mostly men clashed with police and smashed windows of hotels housing asylum-seekers from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, chanting "get them out" and "stop the boats"  a reference to those arriving in Britain in small dinghies without permission.

They have also pelted mosques with rocks, prompting Muslim organizations to issue community safety advice.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a former chief prosecutor who is facing his first crisis since winning a July 4 election, has warned rioters they would face lengthy jail terms as he seeks to stamp out the worst outbreak of violence in Britain in 13 years.

A 58-year-old man was jailed for three years for violent disorder on Wednesday, while two others, aged 41 and 29, were sentenced to 20 and 30 months, respectively.

"This is the swift action we're taking. If you provoke violent disorder on our streets or online, you will face the full force of the law," Starmer said.

Migration to Britain was a major factor in its 2016 vote to leave the European Union and it was a battleground during last month's election, with Nigel Farage's Reform Party winning around 4 million votes on calls for tighter border controls.

Britain saw record net migration levels in 2022, with numbers buoyed by those arriving from Ukraine and Hong Kong, and through work and student visas.

Net migration through legal means was some 685,000 in 2023, while 29,000 people arrived on small boats across the Channel, many having fled war zones. The far-right chants of "stop the boats" was also a slogan of the Conservative Party before it was swept out of power after 14 years at the election.

The government has put together a so-called "standing army" of 6,000 specialist police officers to respond to any violence.

The National Police Chiefs' Council said more than 120 people had been charged and 428 arrests made in connection with the disorder. (Reuters)
Russia said on Wednesday it was fighting intense battles against Ukrainian forces that had penetrated its southern border near a major natural gas transmission hub, in one of the largest incursions into Russian territory since the war began.

The acting governor of Kursk region, Alexey Smirnov, said he had introduced a state of emergency in the border region. Regional officials said that meant restricting access to specific areas.

Russia's health ministry said 31 civilians, including six children, had been wounded. Smirnov said on Tuesday that five people had been killed.

No information on military casualties was available.

Russia's National Guard said it had beefed up security around the nearby Kursk nuclear power plant and its four reactors.

Russia has advanced this year after the failure of Ukraine's 2023 counteroffensive to achieve major gains, and has taken 420 square kilometers (162 square miles) of territory from Ukrainian forces since June 14, Russian officials say.

Ukraine struck back on Tuesday, and battles continued through the night into Wednesday as Ukrainian forces pushed to the northwest of the border town of Sudzha, 530 km (330 miles) southwest of Moscow, Russia's defense ministry said.

"The Kyiv regime has launched another major provocation," President Vladimir Putin told members of the Russian government, referring to the attack in Kursk region.

Nearly 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers



The chief of Russia's general staff, Valery Gerasimov, told Putin that Russian forces had halted a thrust by up to 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers  more than three times the figure that Russia's defense ministry had stated on Tuesday  and would push them back to the border.

The advance was stopped by "the actions of the units covering the state border together with border guards and reinforcement units, with airstrikes, missile and artillery fire," Gerasimov said in televised comments.

The Ukrainian military appeared to have adopted a strategy of strict silence.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his nightly video address on Wednesday, made no reference to the attack, while exhorting Kyiv's soldiers to press on and weaken Russian forces.

Ukraine's General Staff also made no acknowledgment in its daily battlefield update. In a late evening report, it said fighting had intensified in Sumy region  across the border from Russia's Kursk region.

The General Staff said Russian forces had deployed aircraft, helicopters and heavy weapons in the area "but made no headway and suffered significant losses."

'No violation' of rules on weapons

In Washington, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said the United States was seeking an understanding from Ukraine of the incursion, and said it had had no advance knowledge of it.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said U.S. rules on Ukrainian use of U.S. weapons  authorized in areas over the Russian border  remained in effect, but that Ukraine's actions were "not a violation of our policy."

The Russian ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, said on Telegram that U.S. statements on the Ukrainian action were "outrageous...not a word criticizing their clients, not a regret about the victims of the tragedy."

There was fighting around Sudzha, the last operational trans-shipping point for Russian natural gas to Europe via Ukraine. The UrengoyPomaryUzhhorod pipeline carried about 14.65 billion cubic meters of gas in 2023, about half of Russia's gas exports to Europe.

Ukraine's gas transmission operator said Russian gas was transiting to European consumers normally. Just 60 km to the northeast lies the Kursk nuclear power station.

The battles around Sudzha come at a crucial juncture in the conflict, the biggest land war in Europe since World War Two. Kyiv is concerned that U.S. support could drop off if Republican Donald Trump wins the November presidential election.

Trump has said he would end the war, and both Russia and Ukraine are keen to gain the strongest possible bargaining position on the battlefield. Ukraine wants to pin down Russian forces and show the West it can still mount major battles.

Russian military bloggers depicted the situation in Kursk region as more serious than the official accounts, with some suggesting that Ukraine had opened a new front. Russia has sent reserves to help shore up its defenses.

Some bloggers suggested that Ukraine might be planning an advance on the Kursk nuclear plant.

Both Kyiv and Moscow say they do not target civilians in the war, triggered by Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Russian Telegram channels carried unverified footage of shelled houses.

Forces describing themselves as voluntary paramilitaries fighting on Ukraine's side penetrated parts of Kursk and the adjacent Belgorod region earlier this year, triggering a push by Russian troops to set up a buffer zone in Ukraine's northeast. (Reuters)
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(The Center Square)  A rural east Texas district attorney has described how the border crisis is impacting her community after two Chinese nationals were arrested on money laundering charges.

Their arrest was not the first where we have encountered Chinese nationals on the highway engaged in illegal activities. We had another large seizure about 11 months ago where we took a half a million dollars from two Chinese nationals, Van Zandt County District Attorney Tonda Curry said in a news conference.

The recent arrests were the first involving gold bullion, she said. Their story started with them leaving China and coming here to prey on Americans. It ends right now with us taking $250,000 worth of gold from their organization.

Last Thursday, Wills Point Police Department Sgt. Charlie Hughes, a K-9 handler, was working traffic enforcement along I-20 when he pulled over two Chinese nationals in a White Chevy Malibu with Michigan plates committing a traffic violation.

Weijian Chen, 25, and Wenqiang Lin, 46, spoke no English and Hughes used a translation phone app to communicate. Lin, who rented the car, agreed to a search and Hughes decorated K-9 Hania found a bag full of gold bullion worth nearly $300,000 stuffed under the drivers seat.

Both Chen and Lin said they didnt know who the bag of gold belonged to. They were arrested. Based on my training, I know that it is very unlikely that Lin or Chen could have transported the gold bullion through airport Transportation Security Administration security checkpoint with[out] filing a United States Currency Transaction Report, Hughes said.

Their claims and suspicious activity fell flat, authorities said, like others arrested by Operation Lone Star officers, The Center Square first reported.

Hughes contacted Homeland Security and learned that the Chinese men illegally entered in California last September and December. Instead of detaining them or processing them for removal, Border Patrol agents released them, giving them notices to appear before an immigration judge.

Investigators found that Chen left China last September, and from Hong Kong flew to Turkey and then to Mexico. Once he arrived in Mexico, he traveled by foot to Tecate, California, where he illegally entered the U.S. with a large group of mostly military age Chinese men.

Last December, Chen also illegally entered in California, was apprehended by Border Patrol and even though he was attempting to enter illegally was allowed to enter our current administrations policies, Curry said. He was also given an NTA, like Lin.

Both men are currently being held in Van Zandt County Jail.

They claimed to be poor immigrants who have nothing, Curry said, but left Los Angeles on an airplane, flew to Atlanta, according to them for play, for vacation.

After they arrived in Atlanta, they rented a car and were stopped by a Monroe County Sheriffs Office Criminal Interdiction Unit for a traffic violation. The officers narcotics dog searched the vehicle and found nothing. The deputy then tracked their car and contacted the rental company. They both had registered drivers licenses, from California and Hawaii.

They went back to the rental company, rented a different vehicle, and drove to Marietta, Georgia, an area that according to the local law enforcement is known to be controlled by the cartel, by people who prey on U.S. citizens selling drugs, Curry said.

They left Marietta, drove south to Jacksonville, Florida, where they stayed for roughly two hours, then headed north where they were intercepted on Interstate 20 heading to Dallas and presumably back to LA where the car was due to be turned in, she said. Those are the type of people that are coming in at our southern border  who come here and help organizations that prey on U.S. citizens.

Curry also questioned any claims the men may have made to Border Patrol agents, stating they appear to have illegally entered the U.S. to engage in organized crime potentially linked to cartels, gangs, drug trafficking and money laundering.

When you come here and you're engaging in criminal activity in less than a year, you'll never convince me that you came with good intent, she said.

Van Zandt County is one of 55 counties whose leaders have declared an invasion, The Center Square exclusively reported.

Under the Biden administration, the greatest number of Chinese nationals have illegally entered the U.S., nearly 160,000, including hundreds whove reportedly breached U.S. military bases, The Center Square reported.

Their arrest really highlights and is a great example of the failure of the Biden-Harris administration's policies and our southern border. If you don't think that the chaos down at the border is not affecting rural East Texas, this arrest is a prime example of that, state Rep. Jill Dutton, a Republican who represents the area, said. The Biden-Harris administrations failed border policies are harming Americans. If you think this problem is limited to just the border cities, think again.
As the advertised evening meet-up time for a rumoured far-right rally approached in northeast London, a crowd of several thousand anti-racism and pro-Palestinian protesters let out a cheer and clapped.

There was no sign of the mobs that have rampaged through more than a dozen English towns and cities since early last week, clashing with police and targeting mosques and asylum-seeker accommodation.

Instead, with dozens of officers looking on, the crowd of "Stand Up To Racism" demonstrators were joined by hundreds of pro-Palestinian supporters in a noisy, carnival-like rally opposed to the far right.

"I live in the borough and we don't want these people on our streets... they don't represent us," Sara Tresilian, 58, told AFP as she joined the throngs in Walthamstow early Wednesday evening.

"You have to turn out to give that message... I think it's important that you show up for your friends and neighbours."

Maz, 40, who declined to give his last name, had come down with his Palestinian flag along with hundreds of other Muslims from the surrounding area.

"We're local, we're here for each other because these racists declared they were going to destroy our community," he said. "So we're here to keep the peace."

Following postings on far-right social media channels to target an immigration support office in the ethnically diverse, working-class district, police had also flooded the area since early afternoon.

The same happened at several dozen other similar sites across the country where the far right had been expected, with counter-protesters also turning out there.

- 'Concern' -

In Walthamstow, the crowds chanted "whose streets? Our streets!" and other slogans, holding banners saying "smash fascism & racism" and "racists not welcome here".

Several pro-Palestinian attendees held the Palestinian flag aloft, climbing atop bus stops and other vantage points.

"It's good to see," local restaurant owner Assad, who declined to give his last name, said of the collective turnout, from behind the counter of his Asian street food outlet.

"There was some concern," he admitted regarding whether far-right agitators would show up.

"It's one of those things you don't expect in London.

"We're a restaurant run by immigrants, Muslims as well. The silver lining is the community here is very strong," he added.

Hours earlier, around the corner, a bakery store owner was closing early in case trouble erupted.

"It's crazy," he said of the recent riots, which followed a knife attack in Southport, northwest England, that killed three young girls.

Disinformation spread online wrongly blamed the stabbing spree on a Muslim asylum-seeker.

"I understand why they're mad but this ain't the way," he said of protesters, who turned violent in the aftermath of the tragedy.

"Blaming a whole culture for the actions of one man -- what they're doing is wrong.

"What I just want is for them to do protests without attacking."

Muhammed Noman, an immigrant from Pakistan to the UK 13 years ago and who now owns several cafes in northeast London, was handing out bottled water from outside one on Wednesday.

He was not planning to board up his store, as several neighbouring businesses had done ahead of that evening's gatherings.

"I came myself to look after the store," he said, adding friends and family had told him to shutter the place temporarily.

Welcoming the heavy police presence, Noman added he wanted "peace" -- in Walthamstow and across England.

jj/imm
The buzz regarding IVE's "Lollapalooza 2024" performance is still making noise, as Wonyoung became a hot topic for her professionalism, passion, and resilience.

Korean netizens gathered in a community post titled, "IVE Wonyoung Said She Wasn't Feeling Well During Lollapalooza In Chicago."

The author included a screenshot of Wonyoung's Bubble conversation, where she revealed that IVE had wrapped up the performance successfully. The idol also expressed happiness in meeting DIVEs at the event.

"Finally, we finished our performance at Lollapalooza. Really safely. I have been waiting for this moment for a while now, but it finally came and I'm going back to Korea. There were so many who watched our performance in Chicago yesterday. If you were able to watch, then I hope you won't ever forget the experience."

Meanwhile, the author followed up another screenshot revealing that Wonyoung wasn't feeling well during the event. Wonyoung pointed out that she could go up on stage without people noticing her poor condition, and things still turned out well.

"Honestly, I stayed a little bit in Korea before going to Chicago. I wasn't feeling well yesterday at the performance. However, I was still able to perform on the stage without being obvious. I got upset because my health condition was restrained despite the performance. But it still ended happily. Thank you for supporting me."

OP also added several fansite photos of the idol.

In the comments section, netizens were beyond impressed by the idol's professional demeanor and dedication to her craft. They praised her performance skills at the event, while also applauding Wonyoung for her "Queen" behavior.

"During their performance for 'Baddie,' Wonyoung's low notes were really good. I will always support her."

"Wow, despite her poor health, the photos of Wonyoung performing were still legendary. These are the ones who will be successful no matter what.

"Australia is cold too and her being under the weather is understandable."

"What a queen!"

Meanwhile, on social media platform X (Twitter), fans also reacted to Wonyoung's performance at the "Lollapalooza 2024."

In other news, netizens discussed Jang Wonyoung's future once her contract with Miu Miu concludes. Internet users also expressed that it was unlikely for Wonyoung to part ways since the idol suits the brand perfectly.

What was your reaction to Wonyoung's dedication? Are you looking forward to more of IVE's activities? Let us know in the comments below!

For more intriguing K-pop news and exciting updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: IVE Jang Wonyoung Garners Praise For Impressive Mindset: 'I'm Totally Lucky Vicky'

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Israel Monte
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A natural gas leak led to the evacuation of multiple businesses and at least five residences Thursday along a bustling Palmer Township road, police said.

Palmer police Sgt. Tyson Unangst told lehighvalleylive.com crews were dispatched just after 11 a.m. for the leak along William Penn Highway. An outside contractor for UGI Utilities Inc. detected a strong odor in front of Marblehead Chowder House, 4101 William Penn Highway, prompting its evacuation.

At the time, the eatery was not open for business; however, several employees were inside and prepping for the work day, Unangst said. Neighboring businesses also were ordered to evacuate, as were the residents of some homes. Occupants of additional properties near the evacuation zone were asked to remain indoors, or shelter in place, Unangst said.

There were no reported injuries, he said.

UGI spokesman John Mason told lehighvalleylive.com the townships fire department has since shut down a portion of William Penn Highway. UGI crews currently remained on site into the afternoon and were working to determine and repair the source of the leak.

In an update around 1:15 p.m., Unangst said residents were able to return to their homes and all businesses were allowed to reopen. The shelter-in-place order also was lifted.

Police later announced William Penn Highway had reopened with one lane in each direction, assisted by flaggers.

Marblehead announced via social media it would be closed for lunch Thursday due to the gas leak investigation but opening at 4 p.m. for dinner.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
Two rulings in a weeks time went in different directions when it comes to ownership of military-style or assault-style firearms in states contiguous to Pennsylvania.

New Jerseys ban on the AR-15 rifle is unconstitutional, but the states cap on magazines over 10 rounds passes constitutional muster, a federal judge concluded Tuesday, July 30.

A week later, a federal appeals court on Tuesday, Aug. 6 upheld Marylands decade-old ban on military-style firearms commonly referred to as assault weapons.

Here is a closer look at each ruling:

In New Jersey, U.S. District Judge Peter Sheridans 69-page opinion says he was compelled to rule as he did because of the Supreme Courts rulings in firearms cases, particularly the 2022 Bruen decision that expanded gun rights.

Sheridans ruling left both Second Amendment advocates and the state attorney general planning appeals. The judge temporarily delayed the order for 30 days.

Pointing to the high courts precedents, Sheridan suggested Congress and the president could do more to curb gun-related violence nationwide.

It is hard to accept the Supreme Courts pronouncements that certain firearms policy choices are off the table when frequently, radical individuals possess and use these same firearms for evil purposes, he wrote.

Sheridan added: Where the Supreme Court has set for the law of our Nation, as a lower court, I am bound to follow it. ... This principle  combined with the reckless inaction of our governmental leaders to address the mass shooting tragedy afflicting our Nation  necessitates the Courts decision.

Nine other states and the District of Columbia have laws similar to New Jerseys, covering New York, Los Angeles and other major cities as well as the sites of massacres such as the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 children and six adults were killed by a shooter armed with an AR-15, one of the firearms commonly referred to as an assault weapon.

Bans on so-called assault weapons are immoral and unconstitutional. FPC will continue to fight forward until all of these bans are eliminated throughout the United States, said Brandon Combs, president of the Firearms Policy Coalition, one of the plaintiffs.

New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said in a statement the ruling undermines public safety.

The AR-15 is an instrument designed for warfare that inflicts catastrophic mass injuries, and is the weapon of choice for the epidemic of mass shootings that have ravaged so many communities across this nation, he said.

He added: We look forward to pressing our arguments on appeal.

Several challenges to state assault weapons bans have cited the Bruen decision.

A gun rights group has challenged Connecticuts landmark 2013 gun control law, passed after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, that bans assault weapons, including certain AR-15-style rifles and large capacity magazines. A federal judge last year rejected a request by the National Association for Gun Rights to temporarily block the law while litigation continues, and an appeal of that ruling is pending before a federal appeals court.

New Jersey has among the strictest gun laws in the country, particularly under Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who has signed a number of measures into law, including the 2018 large capacity magazine ban at the center of this weeks ruling. More measures Murphy signed in 2022 include allowing the attorney general to use the states public nuisance law to go after gun makers in court.

Murphy said last week he found the ruling concerning and that he was optimistic the dangerous ruling would be overturned on appeal.

For too long, these weapons  which belong in a war zone rather than on a New Jersey street  have senselessly torn mothers, fathers, daughters, and sons away from their loved ones, Murphy said in an emailed statement.

The states assault weapons ban dates to 1990 and includes various other weapons, but Sheridan focused on the Colt AR-15, citing the plaintiffs concentration on that weapon in their court filings, and the law specifying that make of the rifle. The large capacity magazine bill signed by Murphy lowered the limit from 15 rounds to 10 against the protest of Second Amendment advocates. The bills sponsors said the goal was to reduce the potential for mass casualties in shootings.

In a split decision, a majority of 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges rejected gun rights groups arguments that Marylands 2013 law is unconstitutional under the Second Amendment.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review this case in May, when the full 4th Circuit was still considering it. Maryland officials argued the Supreme Court should defer to the lower court before taking any action, but the plaintiffs said the appeals court was taking too long to rule.

Maryland passed the sweeping gun-control measure after a 20-year-old gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012. It bans dozens of firearms  including the AR-15, the AK-47 and the Barrett .50-caliber sniper rifle  and puts a 10-round limit on gun magazines.

The Firearms Policy Coalition Inc., one of the plaintiffs challenging Marylands law, said it would again ask the Supreme Court to review the case.

Our objective is simple: End all bans on so-called assault weapons nationwide. And we look forward to doing just that, coalition president Brandon Combs said in a statement.

The 4th Circuits full roster of judges agreed to consider the case after a three-judge panel heard oral arguments but hadnt yet issued a ruling.

The weapons banned by Marylands law fall outside Second Amendment protection because they are essentially military-style weapons designed for sustained combat operations that are ill-suited and disproportionate to the need for self-defense, Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III wrote in the courts majority opinion.

Moreover, the Maryland law fits comfortably within our nations tradition of firearms regulation, Wilkinson wrote. It is but another example of a state regulating excessively dangerous weapons once their incompatibility with a lawful and safe society becomes apparent, while nonetheless preserving avenues for armed self-defense.

Eight other 4th Circuit judges joined Wilkinsons majority opinion. Five other judges from the Virginia-based appeals court joined in a dissenting opinion.

The laws opponents argue its unconstitutional because such weapons are already in common use. In his dissenting opinion, Judge Julius Richardson said the courts majority misconstrues the nature of the banned weapons to demean their lawful functions and exaggerate their unlawful uses.

The Second Amendment is not a second-class right subject to the whimsical discretion of federal judges. Its mandate is absolute and, applied here, unequivocal, Richardson wrote.

Wilkinson said the dissenting judges are in favor of creating a near absolute Second Amendment right in a near vacuum, striking a profound blow to the basic obligation of government to ensure the safety of the governed.

Arms upon arms would be permitted in what can only be described as a stampede toward the disablement of our democracy in these most dangerous of times, Wilkinson wrote.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown praised the courts decision.

The Courts decision today will save lives, Brown said in a statement. Access to weapons of war that have no place in our communities causes senseless and preventable deaths.

The latest challenge to the assault weapons ban comes under consideration following a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision that effected a sea change in Second Amendment law. That 6-3 decision signified a major expansion of gun rights following a series of mass shootings.

With its conservative justices in the majority and liberals in dissent, the court struck down a New York law and said Americans have a right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. It also required gun policies to fall in line with the countrys historical tradition of firearm regulation.

The 4th Circuit previously declared the ban constitutional in a 2017 ruling, saying the guns banned under Marylands law arent protected by the Second Amendment.

Put simply, we have no power to extend Second Amendment protections to weapons of war, Judge Robert King wrote for the court in that majority opinion, calling the law precisely the type of judgment that legislatures are allowed to make without second-guessing by a court.

The court heard oral arguments in the latest challenge in March. Its one of two cases on gun rights out of Maryland that the federal appeals court took up around the same time. The other is a challenge to Marylands handgun licensing requirements.

Separately, a federal judge last week ruled that a 2023 Maryland law cant prohibit licensed gun owners from carrying firearms in bars and restaurants and in private buildings without the owners permission. However, Chief U.S. District Judge George Russell upheld other gun restrictions in the state law. Those include bans on carrying firearms in health care facilities, schools, government buildings, amusement parks, mass transit facilities, race tracks, casinos, museums, state parks and stadiums.

Maryland lawmakers approved the law last year in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down a New York law that was very similar to Marylands good and substantial reason standard for permits to carry concealed handguns.

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Supervising reporter Kurt Bresswein contributed to this report. Reach him at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
While the latest forecast track for Tropical Storm Debby, which made a second landfall early Thursday, has the remnants of the storm passing further west, the threat of tornadoes and damaging winds Friday have increased for the state.

The rainfall total forecasts have dropped due to the change in path, but areas in the region already saturated from storms this week will be prone to additional flash flooding, according to the National Weather Service. Gusty winds could top 50 mph along the Jersey Shore.

Some tornadoes are the main threat, the National Weather Services office in New Jersey said early Thursday. A more inland track of the remnants of Debby places our region in the more favorable zone for the tornado risk.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which made a second landfall early Thursday, are expected to bring heavy rain to New Jersey through Friday night. National Weather Service forecasters say the threat of tornadoes from the storm system have increased for New Jersey.AccuWeather.com and National Weather Service

Isolated severe thunderstorms are also possible. At the beaches, wind gusts of 35-50 mph are possible and theres a moderate risk of rip currents.

The Lehigh Valley and northwestern areas of New Jersey could get an additional 2 to 3 inches of rain by Friday night. An inch to 2 inches of rain is likely fall along the Interstate 95 corridor, while Jersey Shore areas are left with up to another inch. Forecasters caution that those amounts could wind up higher in areas where the strongest storms set up.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which made a second landfall early Thursday, are expected to bring heavy rain to New Jersey through Friday night. National Weather Service forecasters say the threat of tornadoes from the storm system have increased for New Jersey.National Weather Service

Winds inland are expected to be range from 15 to 25 mph with gusts of 30 to 40 mph.

Flash flooding on Friday is most likely to occur north and west of the Interstate 95 corridor. Some river flooding is also possible.

The first bands of Debbys remnants should push into the region on Thursday afternoon. A cloudy day with some rain is expected and highs will be in the mid 70s, the weather service said in its morning forecast discussion.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which made a second landfall early Thursday, are expected to bring heavy rain to New Jersey through Friday night. National Weather Service forecasters say the threat of tornadoes from the storm system have increased for New Jersey.AccuWeather.com and National Weather Service

There could be rain overnight, but the most direct impacts from Debby wont be felt until Friday.

Once Debby is gone, the good news is that an extended stretch of dry, sunny, less humid weather arrives on Saturday. Highs both weekend days will be in the low-to-mid 80s.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which made a second landfall early Thursday, are expected to bring heavy rain to New Jersey through Friday night. National Weather Service forecasters say the threat of tornadoes from the storm system have increased for New Jersey.AccuWeather.com and National Weather Service

Tropical Storm Debby landfall

Tropical Storm Debby made a second landfall in South Carolina on its way up the East Coast, where residents as far north as Vermont could get several inches of rain this weekend.

The National Hurricane Center says Debby came ashore early Thursday near Bulls Bay, South Carolina. The storm is expected to keep moving inland, spreading heavy rain and possible flooding all the way up through the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast by the weekend.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which made a second landfall early Thursday, are expected to bring heavy rain to New Jersey through Friday night. National Weather Service forecasters say the threat of tornadoes from the storm system have increased for New Jersey.AccuWeather.com and National Weather Service

Debby first made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane early Monday on the Gulf Coast of Florida. It is now a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds at 50 mph.

Considerable flooding is expected across parts of eastern South Carolina and southeast North Carolina through Friday, with an additional 3 to 9 inches of rain forecast, as well as in portions of Virginia, according to the hurricane center.

As of 5 a.m. Debby was centered 30 miles north-northeast of Charleston, South Carolina packing. The storm was headed northwest at 5 mph.

Current weather radar

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com
The Irish Farmers Association is holding a meeting this evening to discuss plans for farmers during the Electric Picnic Music and Arts Festival.

Laois County IFA Chair Henry Burns said we are having a meeting there tonight with branches all around Stradbally to discuss plans ahead of the Electric Picnic.

He said a plan has been worked out in consultation with the Gardai and Electric Picnic organisers and he was hopeful that disruption can be minimised for everyone. The Electric Picnic takes place next weekend from August 16 to 18.

While acknowledging the potential disruption for some grain farmers, Mr Burns believes the situation might not be as bad as initially feared as the peak harvest is unlikely to take place until after the festival.

He said the early barley seems to have been cut and the grain sown in the Spring will likely be cut after the festival.

Mr Burns explained that initial farmers fears centred around the potential for the peak harvest coinciding with the earlier Electric Picnic date for 2024. Although the harvest generally takes place over 12 days, there will be an intensive period when the majority of the crops are harvested and taken to The Maltings in the centre of Stradbally town, he said.

The peak of that harvest is five days. Thousands of tonnes comes in in those five days, Mr Burns explained.

He said each load of grain has to undergo a series tests at The Maltings and there can be tailbacks and congestion even without Irelands largest music and arts festival taking place.

I am fairly confident at this stage that the peak harvest wont happen until slightly after the Electric Picnic, said Mr Burns.

He said some people may still want to harvest or move machinery around the time of the festival and safety will be key.

Laois County Council facilitated a number of meetings between ourselves and the Electric Picnic and the Gardai, he explained.

He said between them, they have a plan worked out for farmers looking to transport machinery and crops but some advance warning would be needed. The main thing is there will be contact numbers for people, Mr Burns said.

He said despite the initial concerns and potential disturbance for farmers, there was still a general feeling among farmers around Stradbally that the festival was very welcome and good for the area.

Mr Burns encouraged anyone who was interested in knowing more about the Electric Picnic plan to attend the meeting at Community Hall in Ratheniska this evening, Thursday, August 8 at 8.30pm.
Laois-Offaly TD and Minister of State Sean Fleming today announced the eligibility for several services across Laois to apply for added funding.

From today, seven services are eligible for additional funding as part of older persons Day Centre and Meals on Wheels Community Care services.

This scheme will be available to support Laois community by providing extra financial support of up to 25,000 per organisation. The following organisations will be now be able to apply -

Alzheimers Society Ireland, Mountrath

Borris on Ossory Social Services

Durrow Community Services

Mountmellick Meals On Wheels Co/St Vincent's Hospital

Mountmellick MOW

Portarlington Meals on Wheels

St Fiaccs House, Graiguecullen

The funding is designed to support improvements to the physical premises for Day Centres and Meals on Wheels services in Laois. It can be used to upgrade kitchens and other facilities, and to purchase equipment.

Speaking on the additional funding, TD Sean FLeming said: "I would encourage all of these eligible centres in Laois to apply for this funding, which will greatly enhance their facilities and support their services.

"I am pleased that these Laois services are eligible to apply for this funding. This funding can go towards improving these services who may need upgrades to their facilities and will help these centres cater for the needs of people who avail of their services.

"Older person Day Centres and Meals on Wheels services are such a vital service for so many that rely on it. They offer a safe and welcoming environment where people can access these essential services as well as allowing people to engage in social activities".

READ NEXT - 850,000 Portlaoise outdoor stage no 'Dermot Bannon' design
A pilot scheme being administered by Laois Offaly ETB hopes to see hundreds of plumbers trained in domestic heat pump installation.

Qualified plumbers and their employers are to be offered up to 500 while they train to install domestic heat pumps under the 150,000 pilot scheme announced today.

The Domestic Heat Pump Installation Incentivisation Scheme aims to support the training of 300 domestic heat pump installers.

According to the SEAI, there are around 500 domestic heat pump installers registered in Ireland and a further 500 are needed by 2025. This scheme aims to see an additional 300 trained by providing 100 a day to the qualified plumbers employer while they are trained up.

Chief Executive at Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board, Joe Cunningham welcomed the initiative.

We are delighted to introduce this incentivisation scheme, which is pivotal in addressing the current constraints in heat pump installation capacity. By targeting recently qualified craft plumbers, we aim to rapidly enhance the sectoral expertise in domestic heat pump technologies.

This initiative not only supports our climate action goals but also provides valuable upskilling opportunities for construction industry professionals. Together with SEAI, DFHERIS, SOLAS, and approved training providers, we are committed to making significant strides towards a sustainable, energy-efficient future for Ireland, he said.

The scheme, which opens today and runs to December 1, was announced by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick ODonovan.

This scheme will give an incentive of up to 500 where plumbers take time off work to upskill as SEAI-registered heat pump installers.

By helping to offset these costs, the scheme will allow small and medium contractors to upskill their staff, gain extra capacity in an area that is in increasing demand, and help plumbers to future-proof their careers. said Minister

Up to 300 qualified plumbers will now be able to take time off from work to complete the domestic heat pump installation training course. Our commitment to a sustainable future requires skilled professionals. This course will help play a vital role in achieving our climate targets, he concluded.

Director of National Retrofit at SEAI, Dr Ciaran Byrne said the SEAI is constantly engaging with contractors and manufacturers to understand the challenges they are facing.

We can then collaborate with them and other government departments to find ways to remove these barriers and support the supply chain as it scales.

This incentivisation scheme is a great example of how SEAI and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science have been working together. We have heard from contractors and plumbers that lost earnings while training is a real barrier and we have delivered a very practical solution.

Currently, there are approximately 500 registered heat pump installers, but an additional 500 are needed by 2025. Industry consultations have revealed that taking time off work and lost earnings inhibit the take-up of upskilling training courses.

This scheme will help accelerate the adoption of heat pumps by boosting the supply chain's installation capacity. It is aligned with the Governments target of installing 400,000 heat pumps by 2030 under the National Retrofit Plan.

Those interested in enrolling in the scheme can find out more details by contacting incentivescheme@mountlucas.ie
Laois has received over 20,000 in funding to support local peatlands.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD has announced that Laois has been granted 20,738.40 to support local peatlands under the Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme.

Over 458,000 in funding has been announced for 36 local community groups and organisations for projects across Ireland under the expanded scheme.

14,219.40 of funding for Laois is dedicated to 'getting bugs back to a good vegetative state', with a further 6,519 allocated to a bog conservation and education demonstration project.

Projects to benefit from this funding in 2024 span 16 counties across Ireland including Galway, Donegal, Westmeath, Offaly, Limerick, Kerry, Cavan, Tipperary, Clare, Roscommon, Louth, Monaghan, Laois, Cork, and Wicklow.

The aim of the fund is to development and maintenance of amenities, conduct surveys to inform management plans for Natura 2000 and peatland sites, and for training around the management of invasive species.

The grant is also to support public outreach, such as the production of information booklets, brochures and training manuals, awareness and education events, education programmes and hosting of seminars with expert speakers.

Of the 36 grants awarded under this scheme, two are dedicated to nationwide projects.

A grant of 3,800.39 has been awarded to the Irish Peatland Conservation Council to promote peatland community education online.

RE-PEAT received 5,000 in funding for education through their Bog Academy nationwide.

I am really impressed by the diverse and creative initiatives put forward by such active community and volunteer groups and environmental organisations," said Minister Noonan.

"The Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme is a collaborative scheme which draws on the local communitys deep connection with our natural heritage.

"Through empowering local communities, we can safeguard our precious ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the impacts of climate change, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come," he finished.

Led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme supports local initiatives for the conservation and revitalisation of Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA).

The scheme promotes public engagement with and awareness of our natural heritage and environment. It is aimed at community-led projects and volunteer groups, who play a vital role in helping to promote and implement conservation and restoration in Ireland.
A Laois Fine Gael councillor is asking the county's three TDs to press the Office of Public Works again to deliver a new courthouse for Portlaoise.

The existing historic courthouse is on the Main Street, but there is no room for prison vans to park, with pedestrians feeling intimidated on court days. Downtown Portlaoise traders group have complained about the parking issues.

It also recently had a rodent problem. A new building by 2030 is on the national development plan, with a site bought behind Laois County Council offices facing the new southern link road.

However Cllr Willie Aird says there is "no talk" any more of building the new fit for purpose courthouse.

"It was great when we got the site. Now there's no talk about it.

"I am asking that we write to the three TDs. We are talking about an election in October or November. John Mulholland (retired Laois County Council CEO) worked hard to get a site. That seems to be the end of it. We have been told it's not on this plan. I ask so they can write back for our September meeting," he said.

He tabled his motion to the July meeting of Laois County Council, but Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley who is married to Deputy Brian Stanley, informed him of her husband's recent action on the issue.

"I'm not here to speak for him, but he met the OPW in June. They told him there is no funding at all so this needs to be directed back to the Government. It was in the local press a month ago. There is no point meeting the OPW, it's the Government Minister needs to be asked," she said.

Cllr Aird asked to amend his motion then to write just to Fine Gael TD Charlie Flanagan and Fianna Fail Minister of State Sean Fleming.

The Court Service had agreed some years ago that the 240 year old building was no longer fit for purpose. It had worked with the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Laois County Council to buy a site in 2020 for a new building, behind Laois County Council offices, facing onto the new link road.

According to the Courts Service, the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021  2030 contains Courthouse development projects to be completed during the period of the plan in Galway City, Wicklow Town, Portlaoise, Tralee, Roscommon, Naas, Bray, Navan, Swords, Tallaght and Dun Laoghaire.

The Courts Service says it is in discussions with the Department of Justice regarding funding.

It is understood that the next set of funding approvals by Government are due to be made this year, perhaps before the General Election. Court authorities are hopeful that the Portlaoise project will be included.

Senior OPW management told TDs recently that the new court would be similar to the Letterkenny Courthouse. It opened in 2018 costing 140 million to build under a public-private partnership mechanism.

However, Ciaran O'Connor, State Architect, told Laois Offaly TD Dep Brian Stanley in June that funding had yet to be approved.
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Irelands biggest art and sculpture event, featuring 8 million euros worth of works, is set to open this weekend at Kildare's K Club.

Art and Soul, featuring works by Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst, will be hosted by Gormleys at The K Clubs luxury hotel from August 11  September 8, showcasing works by the biggest names in international and Irish art.

The free event will include a major outdoor exhibition of over 90 large sculptures and installations set throughout the 550-acre grounds of the luxury estate.

With over 300 works on display, Art and Soul will be the largest showcase of sculpture in Ireland to date, featuring international artists alongside leading Irish sculptors Patrick O'Reilly, Ian Pollock, Eamonn Ceannt and Bob Quinn.

The hotels breathtaking interior will be further embellished with a display of over 100 artworks by some of the worlds best-known artists, including Damien Hirst, Giacinto Bosco, Patrick Rubinstein, Banksy, Keith Haring, and Julian Opie.

Oliver Gormley of Gormleys said, Art and Soul gives art lovers a unique opportunity to view these incredible works of art in the beautiful surroundings of The K Club.

Adults and children will enjoy the event equally, and our previous events in Russborough, Co Wicklow, Castlemartyr resort in Cork and The Culloden Hotel in Belfast attracted over 10,000 visitors.

The K Club is offering special rates for the duration of the Art and Soul event, starting from 235 per room/night B&B for those who quote Art and Soul when booking.

The K Club has long been linked to historys trailblazers so it feels very fitting that this historic hotel should now be host to such an incredible array of stunning works from some of the worlds most talented artists and sculptors, said Paul Heery, General Manager at The K Club.

Were honoured to provide the setting for this must-visit event and look forward to welcoming guests old and new, who want to celebrate this event.

During the event, there will be a programme of artists talks and daily guided tours.

Art and Soul will be open to the public daily from 11am7pm.

More information and accommodation offers can be found on gormleys.ie and kclub.ie.
Gardai have released a statement about misinformation in relation to the sudden death of a man near the Kildare-Dublin border.

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana (AGS) explained that, yesterday evening (Wednesday, August 7) Gardai were requested by the national ambulance service to assist with a medical emergency near Saggart Luas Terminal.

The spokesperson said: "Gardai sealed off Fortunestown Lane to allow ambulance personnel to treat a man who had taken seriously ill.

"The man, aged in his 30s, was taken from the scene to Tallaght Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased."

The spokesperson continued: "An Garda Siochana is aware of posts and comments online with misinformation and disinformation speculating and linking this personal incident to Immigration and International Protection.

"This speculation and commentary is completely false."

"This sort of baseless speculation is not only generally unhelpful, but is upsetting to a family who have in the very immediate lost a loved one.

"AGS is very aware of online misinformation, disinformation and fake news, not just in relation to this incident, but in general, in widespread public circulation."

The spokesperson concluded by saying: "AGS appeals to all members of the public to independently verify any information that you are reading on social media and / or messaging apps."
The HSE MMR vaccine catch up programme is now running in community vaccination clinics in Sligo and Leitrim.

The MMR catch-up campaign aims to protect against measles due to a rise in cases of the disease in the UK and Europe.

The campaign focuses on delivering the MMR vaccine to key groups, who may have missed their vaccines in the past, these include children, young adults and health and care workers.

The HSE has advised that the MMR Vaccine is the only protection against measles, with two doses required to guarantee full protection.

You can avail of the MMR vaccine at Leitrim Vaccination Centre on Leitrim Road, Carrick-on-Shannon, N41 XC59.

A walk-in clinic will also be held on August 16 in Sligo, from 9:00am to 1:00pm at Clarion Road, Sligo Town, F91 CD34.

You can book an appointment either by visiting https://www2.hse.ie/services/ mmr-vaccine/book-an- appointment

A list of vaccination clinics is available here: https://www2.hse.ie/ services/mmr-vaccine/ vaccination-clinics

MMR vaccines are available free of charge from GPs to all groups, but primarily to those under 18 years, and from HSE community clinics for eligible people.

Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious complications, particularly in children under one year of age, pregnant women, and the immunosuppressed.

Those eligible are people born in Ireland from January 1, 1978, without proof of two MMR vaccines, or anyone born outside Ireland without proof of two MMR vaccines.

If you are planning a holiday outside Ireland, you can now get your baby vaccinated before you go. They must be between 6 and 11 months. They should then get their next dose as normal at 12 months and the final dose in junior infants.

Further information about measles symptoms is available at: https://www2.hse.ie/ conditions/mmr-vaccine .

The HSE advises that individuals with these symptoms should seek medical advice. They should call ahead before visiting their GP, Emergency Department, or other healthcare provider to inform them about their symptoms.

The HSE also requests that people inform medical staff if they have been in contact with someone with measles or have recently travelled to an area where measles is spreading.
Cybin Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Results and Recent Business Highlights





Cybin Inc. (NYSE American:CYBN) (Cboe CA:CYBN) ("Cybin" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage breakthrough neuropsychiatry company committed to revolutionizing mental healthcare by developing new and innovative next-generation treatment options, today reported unaudited financial results for its first quarter ended June 30, 2024, and recent business highlights.

"During the recent quarter we continued to move quickly, having achieved meaningful progress on the development of our two lead product candidates: CYB003, our proprietary deuterated psilocybin analog program in development for the adjunctive treatment of Major Depressive Disorder, and CYB004, our proprietary deuterated dimethyltryptamine program in development for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The path towards approval and commercialization for our novel therapeutics is coming into focus as we work efficiently to provide improved outcomes for patients and their families," said Doug Drysdale, Chief Executive Officer of Cybin.

"To spearhead these programs through the next phases of development, we have hired two talented and experienced drug development experts: Dr. Atul R. Mahableshwarkar, and Dr. Tom Macek, to lead the CYB003 and CYB004 programs, respectively. Both bring in-depth expertise, and we welcome their guidance as we advance toward regulatory approval."

"Importantly, CYB003, which is in development for the possible adjunctive treatment of MDD, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration Breakthrough Therapy Designation. To date, CYB003 has demonstrated a robust, sustained benefit, with 75% of patients in the Phase 2 study in remission from depression four months after two doses (16mg). We expect to report 12-month efficacy data from our Phase 2 study this fall, providing further insights into the long-term efficacy of CYB003 in MDD. We also look forward to commencing our Phase 3 pivotal trial for CYB003 shortly. Concurrently, we are progressing our Phase 2 study of CYB004, in development for the treatment of GAD, where dosing is underway, and expect to share topline safety and efficacy data around year-end, or early Q1 2025. With our two lead programs, we are excited by the prospect of unlocking innovative mental health treatment options that are effective and patient-friendly as we continue our evolution into a late-stage clinical development company," concluded Drysdale.

Recent Business and Pipeline Highlights:

Continued progress towards initiation of our Phase 3 multinational study for the CYB003 program in late summer of 2024. The Phase 3 MDD study will include thirty sites in the United States and Europe with deep clinical expertise in depression studies. Clinical site selection has been completed for the Phase 3 study, and the Company is on track to commence enrollment shortly.

Strengthened research and development team with two key additions:

Dr. Atul R. Mahableshwarkar M.D., DLFAPA, Senior Vice President, Clinical Development. Dr. Mahableshwarkar is leading the CYB003 program, Cybin's proprietary deuterated psilocybin analog program in development for the adjunctive treatment of Major Depressive Disorder ("MDD"). Dr. Mahableshwarkar is a board-certified psychiatrist and accomplished drug development executive with experience in both large global and small startup companies. He brings varied experiences from academia and industry as a site principal investigator for industry-sponsored studies and has submitted several INDs and NDAs leading to drug approvals.

Dr. Tom Macek, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Clinical Development. Dr. Macek is leading the CYB004 program, Cybin's proprietary deuterated dimethyltryptamine ("dDMT") program in development for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder ("GAD"). Dr. Macek brings decades of pharmaceutical industry experience in new drug development across all phases of research (pre-IND to post-approval) across diverse treatment modalities and has submitted or supported several INDs and NDAs/BLAs leading to drug approvals.

Strengthened intellectual property portfolio with additional patent in support of the CYB004 program. On July 23, 2024, the Company was granted US patent no. 12,042,564, providing additional patent protection for the CYB004 program.

Upcoming Clinical Milestones and Future Studies:1

CYB003 - Deuterated Psilocybin Analog Program

12-month efficacy data from Phase 2 MDD study expected Q4 2024.

A multinational, multisite Phase 3 program to commence in late summer of 2024 to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of CYB003 capsules as adjunctive treatment in a larger MDD patient population.

30 clinical sites have been selected across the U.S. and Europe.

CYB004 ? Deuterated DMT Program

Dosing is underway and topline safety and efficacy readout from Phase 2 GAD study is expected around year end 2024, or early Q1 2025. CYB004 is being developed as a novel intramuscular formulation expected to deliver an experience lasting approximately 90 minutes.

First-Quarter Financial Information

Cash totaled C$183 million as of June 30, 2024.

With the previously announced public offerings of units of the Company (the " Units ") and a combination of the Company's current cash position, and assuming the exercise in full of the warrants issued as part of the Units, the Company has access to over C$247 million.

") and a combination of the Company's current cash position, and assuming the exercise in full of the warrants issued as part of the Units, the Company has access to over C$247 million. Net loss was C$15 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to a net loss of C$15 million in the same period last year.

Cash-based operating expenses consisting of research, general and administrative costs totaled C$16 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to C$11 million in the prior year quarter.

Cash flows used in operating activities were C$27 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to C$11 million in the same period last year.

Cash flows used in financing activities were C$0.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to C$3.5 million received from financing activities in the same period last year.

About Cybin

Cybin is a clinical-stage breakthrough neuropsychiatry company on a mission to create safe and effective next-generation therapeutics to address the large unmet need for new and innovative treatment options for people who suffer from mental health conditions.

Cybin's goal of revolutionizing mental healthcare is supported by a network of world-class partners and internationally recognized scientists aimed at progressing proprietary drug discovery platforms, innovative drug delivery systems, novel formulation approaches and treatment regimens. Cybin is currently developing CYB003, a proprietary deuterated psilocybin analog program for the treatment of major depressive disorder and CYB004, a proprietary dDMT molecule for generalized anxiety disorder and has a research pipeline of investigational psychedelic-based compounds.

Headquartered in Canada and founded in 2019, Cybin is operational in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Ireland. For Company updates and to learn more about Cybin, visit www.cybin.com or follow the Company on X, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.

Notes

1. There is no assurance that timelines will be met. Anticipated timelines regarding the initiation, advancement and results of clinical trials are based on reasonable assumptions informed by current knowledge and information available to the Company. See "Cautionary Notes and Forward-Looking Statements".

Cautionary Notes and Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release relating to the Company are forward-looking statements and are prospective in nature. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "should", "could", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "expect", "believe" or "continue", or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the Company's plans to progress to a Phase 3 trial of CYB003 in summer 2024; the release of 12-month durability data from Phase 2 study of CYB003 in Q4 2024; commencing enrollment at 30 clinical sites across the U.S. and Europe; the release of topline Phase 2 CYB004 data around year-end 2024 or early Q1 2025; and the Company's plans to engineer proprietary drug discovery platforms, innovative drug delivery systems, novel formulation approaches and treatment regimens for mental health conditions.

These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the psychedelics market; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for growth; political, social and environmental uncertainties; employee relations; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions in the markets where the Company operates; implications of disease outbreaks on the Company's operations; and the risk factors set out in each of the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and the Company's annual information form for the year ended March 31, 2024, which are available under the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

Cybin makes no medical, treatment or health benefit claims about Cybin's proposed products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada or other similar regulatory authorities have not evaluated claims regarding psilocybin, psychedelic tryptamine, tryptamine derivatives or other psychedelic compounds. The efficacy of such products has not been confirmed by approved research. There is no assurance that the use of psilocybin, psychedelic tryptamine, tryptamine derivatives or other psychedelic compounds can diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. Rigorous scientific research and clinical trials are needed. If Cybin cannot obtain the approvals or research necessary to commercialize its business, it may have a material adverse effect on Cybin's performance and operations.

Neither the Cboe Canada, nor the NYSE American LLC stock exchange have approved or disapproved the contents of this news release and are not responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the contents herein.

8 august 2024 at 07:40

News published onand distributed by:
Statement by the Prime Minister on ASEAN Day





OTTAWA, ON, Aug. 8, 2024 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement to mark ASEAN Day:

"Today, we join members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to celebrate ASEAN Day. For over half a century, ASEAN has promoted peace, prosperity, and progress. Its members and partners work together to grow strong economies and make the world a better place.

"Canada is one of 11 partners to be an ASEAN Dialogue Partner, which strengthens ties between our countries and advances mutually beneficial trade and investment. Our relationship is built on shared priorities, from taking climate action to making life more affordable for people on both sides of the Pacific. Last September, I took part in the ASEAN-Canada Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, where we started a new chapter with the launch of the ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership. This partnership, building on Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, will enhance trade, strengthen regional security, and increase Canada's footprint in the region.

"With over one million people of Southeast Asian descent calling Canada home today, these communities are deeply woven into our country's cultural fabric. They make us stronger, more diverse, and more inclusive.

"With this year's ASEAN Day theme, 'Connected & Resilient Community', Canada's partnership with ASEAN is only getting stronger. Together with our ASEAN partners, we are building a safer, fairer, and more prosperous world for everyone."

This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca

SOURCE Prime Minister's Office

8 august 2024 at 09:00

News published onand distributed by:
Amerant Bank Partners with SOCi to Elevate its Digital Marketing





Through the power of SOCi's CoMarketing Cloud and cutting-edge consolidated tools, the bank drives digital growth and community engagement

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SOCi, Inc. , the leading CoMarketing Cloud for multi-location enterprises, is the new digital marketing platform of record for Amerant Bank .

Amerant Bank, the largest community bank headquartered in Florida and the official bank of the Miami Heat and Florida Panthers, selected SOCi to support its localized marketing strategies and optimize its digital presence by utilizing SOCi Pages , Listings , and Reviews . With a focus on expanding in Florida as the company prepares to reach the $10 billion asset threshold, Amerant Bank's marketing goals include increasing brand awareness, expanding into new regions, and enhancing customer satisfaction through better review management and local search optimization.

"SOCi offered us review management, local pages, directory assistance, visual data for customer sentiment, SEO aid, and customization of modules for location landing pages," said Sam Francois, SVP Head of Marketing at Amerant Bank. "The platform's ability to effectively manage our banking center and ATM locator, ensuring our listings are live and able to be updated quickly in the case of emergencies, have been invaluable."

SOCi has been instrumental in enhancing the bank's local marketing efforts since August 2023, enabling them to better serve their communities and achieve significant growth. "Our first step was to have a deep understanding of Amerant Bank's goal of enhancing the UX/UI for their customers, all aimed at making it easier for them to locate branches and ATMs," said Ben Brownlee, Chief Customer Officer at SOCi. "Through this partnership, we've been able to support the bank's brand awareness in local areas and ensure their listings are always up-to-date for their customers. We do that by bringing together the power of the SOCi platform and the expert knowledge of our SOCi team. Amerant Bank's strategic objectives became our team's objectives too."

Key Benefits of the SOCi Platform

Review Management: To keep a pulse of customer feedback and improve their listings, Amerant Bank leveraged SOCi Reviews to drive customer engagement and satisfaction.

To keep a pulse of customer feedback and improve their listings, Amerant Bank leveraged SOCi Reviews to drive customer engagement and satisfaction. Local Pages: Powering their Google Business Profile listings, Amerant Bank has customized each of its local pages to optimize each location's online presence.

Powering their Google Business Profile listings, Amerant Bank has customized each of its local pages to optimize each location's online presence. Local Listings Management: The platform manages Amerant Bank's Google listings, including not only branch locations but ATM locations offered by an out of network deal with third-party locations. These listings have helped Amerant Bank appear on the first page of search results, boosting brand awareness and making it easier for customers to find them online.

The platform manages Amerant Bank's Google listings, including not only branch locations but ATM locations offered by an out of network deal with third-party locations. These listings have helped Amerant Bank appear on the first page of search results, boosting brand awareness and making it easier for customers to find them online. Data-driven Insights: SOCi provides valuable insights into customer sentiment, keyword rankings, and page performance, allowing Amerant Bank to make informed decisions and optimize their marketing strategies.

To learn more about how SOCi supports multi-location businesses in the financial services industry, visit soci.ai .

About SOCi

SOCi is the leading CoMarketing Cloud for multi-location enterprises. We empower nearly 1,000 brands like Ford, Ace Hardware, Jersey Mike's, Kumon, and more to automate and scale their marketing efforts across all locations and digital channels. Through the use of best-in-class generative AI and machine learning, the SOCi Genius platform provides multi-location enterprises with actionable insights and recommendations while automating their most important workflows at scale. With SOCi, businesses can strengthen their digital presence across local search and social pages while protecting their online reputation, driving improved customer engagement and market leading results. To learn more about how SOCi can help fuel your localized marketing success, please visit us at www.soci.ai or message us at [email protected] .

About Amerant Bank

Amerant Bank , N.A., is the largest community bank headquartered in Florida and the main subsidiary of Amerant Bancorp Inc. (NYSE: AMTB), with a presence across South Florida and in Tampa, FL, and Houston, TX. The bank has been serving clients for over 40 years and comprises subsidiaries Amerant Investments and Amerant Mortgage . Rooted in the communities it serves, Amerant supports numerous non-profit and community organizations. In 2022 and again in 2023, the company was certified as a Most Loved Workplace by Best Practice Institute. For news and updates, visit the Amerant Newsroom .

SOURCE SOCi

8 august 2024 at 10:00

News published onand distributed by:
Westland Insurance acquires Alberta-based F.A. Smith Insurance Service Ltd.





Surrey, BC/Territories of the Coast Salish (Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen First Nations), Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westland Insurance (Westland), one of Canada's largest insurance brokers, has acquired F.A. Smith Insurance Service Ltd. (Smith Insurance Service), effective August 1. Acquiring Smith Insurance Service, an Alberta-based brokerage, grows Westland's presence in the province and expands its ability to serve more clients in Fort Saskatchewan, Lamont, and Smoky Lake, Alberta.

Smith Insurance Service is a P&C brokerage serving clients with their home, auto, farm, and business insurance needs. For over 50 years, this family-owned business has developed deep-rooted connections with the local communities it serves. This community focus, along with their commitment to providing exceptional client experiences, with tailored risk management solutions, made a partnership with Westland a natural fit. Both organizations share a strong dedication to giving back and supporting the communities they operate in.

"I'm very pleased to welcome Smith Insurance Service to the Westland family," says Jamie Lyons, President & CEO for Westland Insurance. "This team of insurance professionals with extensive experience and local engagement will be invaluable as we continue to grow and serve the insurance needs of Albertans. This acquisition aligns extremely well with our strategic intent to expand our presence across the country."

Westland Insurance remains committed to investing in and growing its business in Canada, both organically and through strategic acquisitions.

- 30 -

About Westland Insurance Group

Westland Insurance Group is one of the largest and fastest-growing independent insurance brokers in Canada. Trading over $3.5 billion of premium, Westland continues to expand coast to coast. Westland's brokers provide expertise and advisory-based services across commercial, personal, employee benefits, farm, and specialty insurance segments. Since its founding in 1980, Westland has remained committed to supporting its clients, industry partners and local communities. For more information, please visit westlandinsurance.ca.

8 august 2024 at 10:30

News published onand distributed by:
Commercial halibut vessel master fined $33,596 for fishing illegally in a Glass Sponge Reef Marine Protected Area near Bella Bella, B.C.





VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 8, 2024 /CNW/ - On May 24, 2024, the Honourable Judge Roy Dickey fined Brent Belveal, owner and operator of the commercial Halibut fishing vessel Gypsy Soul, a total of $33,596 for offences under Canada's Fisheries Act. Mr. Belveal pleaded guilty to fishing inside of the Hecate Strait Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reef Marine Protected Area (MPA) near Bella Bella, B.C., and for selling his illegal catch.

An impact statement submitted to the Provincial Court by a Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) subject matter expert outlined the unique nature of the sponge reefs and the potential harms done by illegal fishing within the MPA. The glass sponge reefs are approximately 9,000 years old, and are considered to be the largest living example of glass sponge reefs that were abundant millions of years ago. The slow growth, fragility and highly sensitive nature and structure of these sponges make the reefs particularly vulnerable to damage and disturbance, since recovery may take tens to several hundreds of years. Harvesters who disregard fishery closures under the Fisheries Act and the Oceans Act MPA regulations pose a risk of causing new damage to the reefs, and undermine decades of work to provide protection to these globally unique ecosystems.

DFO has a mandate to protect and conserve marine resources and to enforce the Fisheries Act. As part of DFO's work to disrupt and prevent illegal activity, the Department asks the public for information on activities of this nature or any contravention of the Fisheries Act and regulations. Anyone with information can call DFO Pacific Region's toll-free violation reporting line at 1-800-465-4336, or email the details to [email protected].

Additional multimedia

Image ? Glass sponge

Video ? Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area

Quick Facts

The case stems from illegal fishing activity on April 4 and 5, 2020, captured through the electronic monitoring data that is provided to the Department as a licence condition for Groundfish, such as halibut, and other commercial fishing fleets.

and 5, 2020, captured through the electronic monitoring data that is provided to the Department as a licence condition for Groundfish, such as halibut, and other commercial fishing fleets. The Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs MPA was designated under the Oceans Act in February 2017 .

in . Given the historical engagement of the groundfish sector on the MPA closures, current technology and electronic equipment available and used by fishermen, and the extensive and highly publicized sponge reef closed areas, it is the responsibility of all harvesters to know the rules and follow them.

Associated links

Stay connected

Follow Fisheries and Oceans Canada on X, Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and LinkedIn.

Instagram YouTube and LinkedIn. Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on X, Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region

8 august 2024 at 13:00

News published onand distributed by:
WOW! REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2024 RESULTS





Second Quarter 2024 Passed Approximately 8,900 New Homes in Greenfield and Edge-out Markets

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WideOpenWest, Inc. ("WOW!" or the "Company") (NYSE: WOW), one of the nation's leading broadband providers, with an efficient, high-performing network that passes nearly 2.0 million residential, business and wholesale consumers, today announced financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Second Quarter 2024 Highlights (1)

Total Revenue of $158.8 million , a decrease of $13.8 million , or 8.0%, compared to the second quarter of 2023

, a decrease of , or 8.0%, compared to the second quarter of 2023 HSD Revenue totaled $105.0 million , a decrease of $1.7 million , or 1.6%, compared to the second quarter of 2023

, a decrease of , or 1.6%, compared to the second quarter of 2023 Net Loss was $10.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024

for the quarter ended Adjusted EBITDA of $70.0 million , an increase of $1.9 million , or 2.8%, compared to the second quarter of 2023

, an increase of , or 2.8%, compared to the second quarter of 2023 Net loss of 4,700 HSD RGUs for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 , including 5,000 related to the discontinuation of the Affordable Connectivity Program

, including 5,000 related to the discontinuation of the Affordable Connectivity Program Passed approximately 8,900 new homes in Greenfield and Edge-out markets in the second quarter of 2024

"We made substantial progress throughout the quarter, growing our presence in Greenfield markets while continuing to stabilize our subscriber numbers in our legacy footprint," said Teresa Elder, WOW!'s CEO. "The rising penetration rates in our expansion markets gives me further confidence in our strategy and ability to grow our business while building on our momentum."

"Our results this quarter include strong adjusted EBITDA growth and effective cost management through a challenging cycle in our industry," said John Rego, WOW!'s CFO. "Our Adjusted EBITDA increased to $70 million with an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 44.1%."

Revenue

Total Revenue was $158.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, down $13.8 million, or 8.0%, as compared to the corresponding period in 2023.

Total Subscription Revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 was $146.5 million, down $13.9 million, or 8.7%, as compared to the corresponding period in 2023. The decrease is primarily driven by a shift in service offering mix as we continue to experience a reduction in Video and HSD RGUs, coupled with a decrease in volume across all services. The decrease is partially offset by an increase in average revenue per unit ("ARPU") driven by rate increases issued in the third quarter of 2023 and first quarter of 2024.

Other Business Services Revenue totaled $5.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, down $0.1 million, or 2.0%, as compared with the corresponding period in 2023.

Other Revenue totaled $7.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, up $0.2 million, or 2.8%, as compared to the corresponding period in 2023 primarily to increases in paper statement fees and streaming partner revenue, partially offset by a decrease in shopping revenue and line assurance revenue.

___________________________ (1) Refer to "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" "Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures," and "Subscriber Information" in this Press Release for definitions and information related to Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin and reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the closest comparable GAAP measures and why our management thinks it is beneficial to present such non-GAAP measures

Costs and Expenses

Operating Expenses (excluding Depreciation and Amortization) totaled $64.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, down $11.0 million, or 15%, compared to the corresponding period in 2023. The decrease was primarily driven by decreases in direct operating expense, specifically programming expense, which aligns with the reduction in Video RGUs between periods, as well as increases in capitalizable expenses, decreases in bad debt expense and call center costs, partially offset by increases in charges for compensation related expenses, software and hardware related costs, and network expense. Selling, General, and Administrative expenses totaled $37.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, down $5.8 million, or 13%, compared to the corresponding period in 2023. The decrease is primarily attributable to decreases in restructuring costs associated with employee severance charges, as well as reductions in marketing expenses, stock compensation expenses, and transition service agreement expenses, partially offset by increases in legal and professional fees.

Net Loss

Net Loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 was $10.8 million as compared to net loss of $101.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. Net Profit Margin was (6.8)% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 as compared to (58.9)% for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, was $70.0 million, an increase of $1.9 million, compared to the corresponding period in 2023. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 44.1% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, as compared to 39.5% for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.

Subscribers

WOW! reported Total Subscribers of 495,200 as of June 30, 2024, a decrease of 27,200, or 5%, compared to June 30, 2023, down 5,500 compared to March 31, 2024. HSD RGUs totaled 485,000 as of June 30, 2024, a decrease of 22,800, or 4%, compared to June 30, 2023, and down 4,700 compared to March 31, 2024.

Market Expansion

Market Expansion projects passed an additional 8,900 homes for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, including 7,000 additional homes in Greenfield markets and 1,900 additional homes in Edge-out projects. As of June 30, 2024, Greenfield initiatives passed a total of 52,500 homes and 8,100 subscribers, representing a 15.4% penetration rate.

At June 30, 2024, the 2024 Edge-out projects passed 4,400 new homes and 1,700 subscribers, representing a 38.6% penetration rate. The 2023 Edge-out projects passed 18,500 new homes and 5,300 subscribers, which represents 28.6% penetration on such nodes. The 2022 Edge-out projects passed 2,900 new homes and 900 subscribers, which represents 31.0% on such nodes.

Capital Expenditures

Capital Expenditures totaled $51.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, representing a $12.5 million decrease compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2023. The decrease is primarily related to decreases in line extensions as a result of lower spending on market expansion initiatives. Core Capital Expenditures, or total capital expenditures excluding expansion capital expenditures, equated to 21% of Total Revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Liquidity and Leverage

As of June 30, 2024, the total outstanding amount of long-term debt and finance lease obligations was $974.5 million, and cash and cash equivalents were $20.7 million. Total Net Leverage as of June 30, 2024, was 3.4x on a LTM Adjusted EBITDA basis and undrawn revolver capacity totaled $0.4 million.

Acquisition Proposal Update

On May 2, 2024, the WOW! Board of Directors received an unsolicited non-binding preliminary acquisition proposal from DigitalBridge Investments, LLC and various Crestview entities. A special committee of independent directors has been formed to evaluate the Proposal. The Special Committee has retained Centerview Partners and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz as its financial and legal advisors. The work of the Special Committee is ongoing. WOW! does not undertake any obligation to make any further public comment or disclosure on matters related to the proposal or related matters unless and until WOW! determines that additional disclosure is appropriate or required by law.

Third Quarter 2024 Guidance





Q3 2024 HSD Revenue

$106.0 - $109.0 million Total Revenue

$157.0 - $160.0 million Adjusted EBITDA

$67.0 - $70.0 million





HSD net additions

(5,000) - (3,000)

Webcast

WOW! will host a webcast and conference call on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss the financial and operating results contained in this press release. The conference call and webcast will be broadcast live on the Company's investor relations website at ir.wowway.com. Those parties interested in participating can use the information as follows:

Call Date: Thursday, August 8, 2024

Call Time: 4:30 p.m. Eastern

Dial In: (800) 715-9871

International: (646) 307-1963

Conf. ID: 9830786









A replay of the call will be available on Thursday, August 8, 2024 on the investor relations website.

WIDEOPENWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)



















June 30,

December 31,



2024

2023



(in millions, except share data) Assets











Current assets











Cash and cash equivalents

$ 20.7

$ 23.4 Accounts receivable?trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $5.5 and $6.7, respectively



37.4



38.8 Accounts receivable?other, net



3.7



9.5 Prepaid expenses and other



44.4



38.5 Total current assets



106.2



110.2 Right-of-use lease assets?operating



20.9



20.1 Property, plant and equipment, net



843.5



830.4 Franchise operating rights



278.3



278.3 Goodwill



225.1



225.1 Intangible assets subject to amortization, net



0.8



1.0 Other non-current assets



49.0



49.6 Total assets

$ 1,523.8

$ 1,514.7 Liabilities and stockholders' equity











Current liabilities











Accounts payable?trade

$ 59.3

$ 59.5 Accrued interest



1.8



1.6 Current portion of long-term lease liability?operating



4.4



4.3 Accrued liabilities and other



62.4



60.0 Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations



17.9



18.8 Current portion of unearned service revenue



25.0



25.4 Total current liabilities



170.8



169.6 Long-term debt and finance lease obligations?less current portion and debt issuance costs



956.6



915.7 Long-term lease liability?operating



18.6



18.0 Deferred income taxes, net



115.8



125.7 Other non-current liabilities



25.4



27.5 Total liabilities



1,287.2



1,256.5 Commitments and contingencies











Stockholders' equity:











Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding



?



? Common stock, $0.01 par value, 700,000,000 shares authorized; 100,155,191 and 98,594,629 issued as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively; 84,757,140 and 83,557,786 outstanding as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively



1.0



1.0 Additional paid-in capital



397.7



391.8 Retained earnings



(5.5)



20.3 Treasury stock at cost, 15,398,051 and 15,036,843 shares as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively



(156.6)



(154.9) Total stockholders' equity



236.6



258.2 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$ 1,523.8

$ 1,514.7

WIDEOPENWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED (unaudited)





Three months ended

Six months ended





June 30,

June 30,





2024

2023

2024

2023





(in millions, except for share data)

Revenue:

























HSD

$ 105.0

$ 106.7

$ 211.2

$ 211.9

Video



30.8



41.6



62.6



83.7

Telephony



10.7



12.1



21.7



24.2

Total subscription services revenue



146.5



160.4



295.5



319.8

Other business services



5.0



5.1



10.3



10.3

Other



7.3



7.1



14.5



14.7

Total revenue



158.8



172.6



320.3



344.8





























Costs and expenses:

























Operating (excluding depreciation and amortization)



64.6



75.6



132.1



153.7

Selling, general and administrative



37.8



43.6



74.2



129.1

Depreciation and amortization



52.7



46.7



105.1



92.2

Impairment losses on intangibles



?



128.1



?



128.1







155.1



294.0



311.4



503.1

Income (loss) from operations



3.7



(121.4)



8.9



(158.3)

Other income (expense):

























Interest expense



(17.8)



(17.3)



(38.8)



(32.2)

Other income, net



0.2



0.8



0.5



2.0

Loss from operations before provision for income tax



(13.9)



(137.9)



(29.4)



(188.5)

Income tax benefit



3.1



36.2



3.6



48.8

Net loss

$ (10.8)

$ (101.7)

$ (25.8)

$ (139.7)





























Basic and diluted loss per common share

























Basic

$ (0.13)

$ (1.25)

$ (0.32)

$ (1.70)

Diluted

$ (0.13)

$ (1.25)

$ (0.32)

$ (1.70)

Weighted-average common shares outstanding

























Basic



81,938,341



81,502,527



81,644,131



82,262,724

Diluted



81,938,341



81,502,527



81,644,131



82,262,724



WIDEOPENWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)





Six Months Ended



June 30,



2024

2023



(in millions) Cash flows from operating activities:











Net loss

$ (25.8)

$ (139.7) Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:











Depreciation and amortization



105.4



92.3 Deferred income taxes



(9.9)



(49.5) Provision for doubtful accounts



4.8



5.5 Gain on sale of operating assets, net



(0.3)



(0.1) Amortization of debt issuance costs and discount



0.9



0.8 Change in fair value of derivative instruments



(0.7)



? Impairment losses on intangibles



?



128.1 Non-cash compensation



5.9



10.4 Other non-cash items



(0.1)



? Changes in operating assets and liabilities:











Receivables and other operating assets



0.1



(13.7) Payables and accruals



6.3



7.1 Net cash provided by operating activities

$ 86.6

$ 41.2 Cash flows from investing activities:











Capital expenditures

$ (123.6)

$ (123.8) Other investing activities



0.1



0.2 Net cash used in investing activities

$ (123.5)

$ (123.6) Cash flows from financing activities:











Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

$ 44.0

$ 130.0 Payments on long-term debt and finance lease obligations



(10.0)



(9.7) Reimbursement of finance lease payments



1.7



? Purchase of shares



(1.5)



(45.9) Net cash provided by financing activities

$ 34.2

$ 74.4 Decrease in cash and cash equivalents



(2.7)



(8.0) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period



23.4



31.0 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$ 20.7

$ 23.0 Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:











Cash paid during the periods for interest, net

$ 38.6

$ 30.2 Cash paid during the periods for income taxes

$ 0.1

$ 9.8 Cash received during the periods for refunds of income taxes

$ ?

$ 4.8 Non-cash operating activities:











Operating lease additions

$ 2.9

$ 0.9 Non-cash investing and financing activities:











Finance lease additions

$ 5.1

$ 4.3 Excise tax payable

$ 0.2

$ ? Capital expenditures within accounts payable and accruals

$ 33.7

$ 29.8

About WOW!

WOW! is one of the nation's leading broadband providers, with an efficient, high-performing network that passes nearly 2.0 million residential, business and wholesale consumers. WOW! provides services in 16 markets, primarily in the Midwest and Southeast, including Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. With an expansive portfolio of advanced services, including high-speed Internet services, cable TV, phone, business data, voice, and cloud services, the company is dedicated to providing outstanding service at affordable prices. WOW! also serves as a leader in exceptional human resources practices, having been recognized nine times by the National Association for Business Resources as a Best & Brightest Company to Work For in the Nation for the 10th time and by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR) for the sixth consecutive year. Visit www.wowway.com for more information.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release, including statements related to any future events or potential transactions, that are not historical facts contain "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. These forward-looking statements represent our goals, beliefs, plans and expectations about our prospects for the future and other future events. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical fact and can be identified by terms such as "may," "intend," "might," "will," "should," "could," "would," "anticipate," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "plan," "project," "predict," "potential," or the negative of these terms. Although these forward-looking statements reflect our good-faith belief and reasonable judgment based on current information, these statements are qualified by important factors, many of which are beyond our control that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors and other risks that could cause our actual results to differ materially include all matters relating to the acquisition proposal (including any response by the Company to such proposal, any further actions that may be taken by Crestview, DigitalBridge or any third party, any transaction that may result from the proposal or otherwise, the possibility that no transaction may result from the proposal or any impact on our business or operations as a result of the proposal) and the other matters set forth in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and other reports subsequently filed with the SEC. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this report are made as of the date hereof or the date specified herein, based on information available to us as of such date. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company has included certain non-GAAP financial measures in this release, including Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin. These terms, as defined herein, are not intended to be considered in isolation, as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"). These terms may vary from the use of similar terms by other companies in our industry due to different methods of calculation and therefore are not necessarily comparable.

We believe that these non-GAAP measures enhance an investor's understanding of our financial performance. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful financial metrics to assess our operating performance from period to period by excluding certain items that we believe are not representative of our core business. We believe that these non-GAAP measures provide investors with useful information for assessing the comparability between periods of our ability to generate cash from operations sufficient to pay taxes, to service debt and to undertake Capital Expenditures. We use these non-GAAP measures for business planning purposes and in measuring our performance relative to that of our competitors. We believe these non-GAAP measures are measures commonly used by investors to evaluate our performance and that of our competitors.

Adjusted EBITDA eliminates the impact of expenses that do not relate to overall business performance and is defined by WOW! as net income (loss) before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (including impairments), impairment losses on intangibles and goodwill, write-off of any asset, loss on early extinguishment of debt, integration and restructuring expenses and all non?cash charges and expenses (including stock compensation expense) and certain other income and expenses. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), operating income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP as measures of operating performance, operating cash flows or liquidity.

Refer to "Reconciliations of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures" and the accompanying tables below for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA margin to Net Profit margin which are the most directly comparable corresponding GAAP financial measures.

Subscriber Information

The Company uses the terms defined below throughout this release.

Homes passed are reported as the number of serviceable addresses, such as single residence homes, apartments and condominium units, and businesses passed by our broadband network and listed in our database.

We deliver multiple services to our customers, as such we report Total Subscribers as the number of Subscribers who receive at least one of our HSD, Video or Telephony services, without regard to which or how many services they subscribe. We define each of the individual HSD Subscribers, Video Subscribers and Telephony Subscribers as a Revenue Generating Unit ("RGU").

While we take appropriate steps to ensure subscriber information is presented on a consistent and accurate basis at any given balance sheet date, we periodically review our policies in light of the variability we may encounter across our different markets due to the nature and pricing of products and services and billing systems. Accordingly, we may from time to time make appropriate adjustments to our subscriber information based on such reviews.

WIDEOPENWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Reconciliations of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures (unaudited)

The following table provides a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin to Net (Loss) Income and Net Profit Margin for the periods presented:





Three months ended

Six months ended



June 30,

June 30,



2024

2023

2024

2023



(in millions) Net loss

$ (10.8)

$ (101.7)

$ (25.8)

$ (139.7) Net Profit Margin



(6.8) %



(58.9) %



(8.1) %



(40.5) %

























Plus: Depreciation and amortization



52.7



46.7



105.1



92.2 Impairment Losses on Intangibles



?



128.1



?



128.1 Interest expense



17.8



17.3



38.8



32.2 Non-recurring professional fees, M&A integration and restructuring expense



10.7



9.7



17.5



15.5 Patent litigation settlement



?



?



?



45.4 Non-cash stock compensation



2.9



5.0



5.9



10.4 Other income, net



(0.2)



(0.8)



(0.5)



(2.0) Income tax benefit



(3.1)



(36.2)



(3.6)



(48.8) Adjusted EBITDA

$ 70.0

$ 68.1

$ 137.4

$ 133.3 Adjusted EBITDA Margin



44.1 %



39.5 %



42.9 %



38.7 %

WIDEOPENWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Capital Expenditures and Subscriber Information (unaudited)

The following table provides additional information regarding our Capital Expenditures for the periods presented:





Three months ended

Six months ended



June 30,

June 30,



2024

2023

2024

2023



(in millions)











Scalable infrastructure

$ 17.8

$ 11.7

$ 50.4

$ 29.6 Customer premise equipment



15.8



15.8



34.4



32.0 Line extensions



8.2



22.7



19.3



38.7 Support capital and other



9.3



13.4



19.5



23.5 Total

$ 51.1

$ 63.6

$ 123.6

$ 123.8 Capital expenditures included in total related to:























Greenfields

$ 10.2

$ 23.0

$ 53.3

$ 43.2 Edge-outs

$ 2.7

$ 3.7

$ 4.4

$ 7.9 Business services

$ 4.7

$ 3.7

$ 6.9

$ 7.6

The following table provides an unaudited summary of our subscriber information:





Jun. 30,

Sep. 30,

Dec. 31,

Mar. 31,

Jun. 30,



2023

2023

2023

2024

2024 Homes Passed

1,892,600

1,905,600

1,932,200

1,948,500

1,956,700 Total Subscribers

522,400

517,400

504,100

500,700

495,200 HSD RGUs

507,800

503,400

490,100

489,700

485,000 Video RGUs

110,000

100,800

90,800

79,300

71,600 Telephony RGUs

85,300

82,700

79,500

77,700

75,700 Total RGUs

703,100

686,900

660,400

646,700

632,300

Additional Information Available on Website:

The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and footnotes contained in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, which will be posted on of our investor relations website at ir.wowway.com, when it is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A slide presentation to accompany the conference call and a trending schedule containing historical customer and financial data will also be available on our website.

SOURCE WideOpenWest, Inc.

8 august 2024 at 16:01

News published onand distributed by:
StateHouse Confirms Resumption of Trading





SAN DIEGO and TORONTO, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StateHouse Holdings Inc . ("StateHouse" or the "Company") (CSE: STHZ) (OTCQB: STHZF), a California-focused, vertically integrated cannabis company, is pleased to announce that the Canadian Securities Exchange has advised that the Company's common shares have resumed trading effective today, Thursday, August 8, 2024. Trading resumed following the revocation of the previously announced failure to file cease trade order ("FFCTO") issued by the Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC") after the Company successfully filed its financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 ("Q1 2024"), and the three-month ("Q4 2023") and twelve-month ("FY 2023") periods ended December 31, 2023 .

About StateHouse Holdings Inc.

StateHouse, a vertically integrated enterprise with cannabis licenses covering retail, major brands, distribution, cultivation, nursery, and manufacturing, is one of the oldest and most respected cannabis companies in California. Founded in 2006, its predecessor company Harborside was awarded one of the first six medical cannabis licenses granted in the United States. Today, the Company operates 11 dispensaries covering Northern and Southern California, an integrated cultivation facility in Salinas and manufacturing in Greenfield, California. StateHouse is a leading brand house in California by market share, with a diversified product across multiple brands, form factors, and price points. StateHouse sells its six popular house brands to over 700 retailers across California including Kingpen, Dime Bag, Loudpack, Fuzzies, Sublime, Urbn Leaf and Smokiez line of products. StateHouse is a publicly listed company, currently trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the ticker symbol "STHZ" and the OTCQB under the ticker symbol "STHZF". The Company continues to play an instrumental role in making cannabis safe and accessible to a broad and diverse community of California and Oregon consumers.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. To the extent any forward-looking information in this news release constitutes "financial outlooks" or "future-oriented financial information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. 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" 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 include, among other things, statements relating to potential future growth.

These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the cannabis markets where the Company operates; changing consumer habits; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for expansion and acquisitions; political and social uncertainties; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; employee relations; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on cultivation, production, distribution, and sale of cannabis and cannabis-related products in the markets where the Company operates; and the risk factors set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the Company's listing statement dated May 30, 2019, which are available under the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

The Company, through several of its subsidiaries, is directly involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale, and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplace in the United States. Local state laws where the Company operates permit such activities however, investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the United States Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute, or possess cannabis in the United States. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable United States federal money laundering legislation.

While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward non-enforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with recreational and medicinal cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve the Company of liability under United States federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against the Company. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of the Company and any proceedings brought against the Company thereunder may adversely affect the Company's operations and financial performance.

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 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 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.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For the latest news, activities, and media coverage, please visit https://www.statehouseholdings.com , https://shopharborside.com and https://urbnleaf.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

For further information:

StateHouse Holdings Inc.,

Ed Schmults, CEO,

800-892-4209

Investor Contact:

MATTIO Communications

Rob Kelly

[email protected]

8 august 2024 at 16:55

News published onand distributed by:
A NEWCASTLE West man who punched and kicked a man in the head after six or seven double vodkas and Red Bull in a cowardly attack has been spared jail.

Limerick Circuit Court heard that prior to the assault in a pub there was a drunken interchange, which the judge ordered media in attendance not to report on.

Paddy Philips, aged 22, of Lower Maiden Street, Newcastle West pleaded guilty to assault causing harm in the Strand bar, Newcastle West on February 5, 2023.

Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by State solicitor Brendan Gill, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Garda Sharon Farrell.

Ms Buckley said the victim was socialising in the Strand bar, went out to have a cigarette and the next thing he remembers is people seeking to assist him.

The barrister said the victim received a broken nose, multiple midfacial fractures and is currently on the public waiting list to have surgery for a fractured left orbital.

Garda Farrell said the injured party made a report on the following day. Garda Farrell sourced CCTV from the pub which she played in court for Judge Dermot Sheehan.

Mr Philips was arrested and made admissions to gardai after the CCTV footage was put to him. He said he drank six or seven double vodkas and Red Bull.

Mr Philips said he was called a name, which cannot be reported, prior to punching the victim twice with his left hand. He said the victim called him the name again and thats why I kicked him with a foot. Mr Philips told gardai: It shouldnt have happened. It was through drink. Im sorry.

Ms Buckley said the injured party didnt wish to make a victim impact statement.

She said Mr Philips has 16 previous convictions - 11 road traffic offences, two public order and three for the misuse of drugs.

Defence barrister Kenneth Kerins, instructed by solicitor Michael ODonnell, said: We have all seen the CCTV - it is a serious matter.

Mr Kerins asked Garda Farrell if she accepted that Mr Philips was called a name. Yes, said the garda. The defence barrister said this name provoked his client before reading out a letter of apology from Mr Philips.

I wish to apologise sincerely. Im not a violent man. I hope you accept my apology, read Mr Kerins, who added that Mr Philips had 2,000 in court as a gesture of remorse.

The barrister said his client had pleaded guilty, answered all the questions put to him by gardai and expressed remorse in the garda station and in court.

READ MORE: Man hospitalised after early morning collision in county Limerick

Judge Sheehan said the victim was extremely drunk and helpless.

The accused punched the victim twice and kicked him with full force into the head when it was not possible to defend himself. It was cowardly, said Judge Sheehan.

The judge referenced the name Mr Philips was called, saying no words uttered by a drunken man late at night in a bar could possibly justify what occurred.

Judge Sheehan said Mr Philips has no previous convictions relating to violence, had taken the matter seriously, apologised in the garda station and in court, and has 2,000 by way of compensation. Judge Sheehan said significant injuries were suffered by a helpless man particularly from the kick in the head.

He said it might be a case that warrants a custodial sentence and he is conscious of the injuries but something went wrong that night.

The judge spoke of the drunken interchange between the victim and the accused.

I am treating it as an isolated incident. I am not going to impose a custodial element, said Judge Sheehan, who imposed a fully suspended three-year jail sentence.

The judge told Mr Philips, Stay out of trouble.
A PROPERTY in county Limerick has now been shot at by criminals twice, Limerick Live has learned.

The gun attack on the home in Banogue occurred in the early hours of Monday, July 29.

In December of 2022, a woman was injured during a drive-by shooting in County Limerick at the same house. The Banogue Drama Group was performing to a packed crowd in the local hall, which is located in the vicinity, at the same time.

A garda spokesperson said: "Gardai are investigating an incident involving the discharge of a firearm at a domestic residence in Banogue, county Limerick on July 29, 2024 at approximately 12am.

No injuries have been reported to gardai and no arrests have been made at this time.

Investigations are ongoing, said the garda spokesperson.

READ MORE: 'Anybody who goes to a garda station with drugs - I dont know who the joke is on' - Limerick judge

Cllr John ODonoghue said he had a number of very concerned locals contact him after the shooting last month.

There is a smashing local school, smashing local community, and this is not what this area is about. It is a beautiful part of the countryside just off the main Limerick to Cork road.

It is a rural area, a very homely area and this is absolutely unacceptable, said Cllr ODonoghue.

The Independent Ireland councillor said he raised locals concerns with senior gardai.

They have assured me they are all over this. Garida are completely understaffed but they are doing the best with the resources they have.

This is a major blow to the local community - it is a gun attack on a house, said Cllr ODonoghue.
A NEW online portal has been launched which will allow members of the public to report road-traffic incidents in Limerick and across the country to An Garda Siochana.

This portal, which is now live on the garda website, replaces the Traffic Watch number, which was first set up in 2001 and expanded nationwide in 2004.

"Traffic Watch is a partnership approach with all road users to improve driver behaviour, reduce the number of road collisions and prevent fatalities. Members of the public can report non-emergency traffic-related incidents using the online reporting form," said a garda spokesperson who added that emergency situations should always be reported by contacting 999/112.

Reports uploaded to the new portal will be logged by the Garda Information Services Centre in Dublin and forwarded to the local superintendent with responsibility for the relevant Community Engagement Area.

Where deemed appropriate, a member of An Garda Siochana will then be assigned to investigate the report and he/she will make contact with the individual who has uploaded the report.

"Where, following the investigation, an offence is believed to be disclosed a file is submitted to the superintendent who will decide what action, if any, is to be taken In all instances, the complainant should be notified of the outcome of their complaint," said the spokesperson.

READ ALSO: Case before court in relation to death of University of Limerick journalism student

Speaking following the launch of the new online reporting form, Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman, Roads Policing and Community Engagement said: "Traffic watch has been important over the years in providing an opportunity where responsible and safe road users can report aggressive and careless drivers, empowering responsible road users to work with An Garda Siochana in enhancing road safety for all.

"The online reporting form provides an updated process through which members of the public can report non-emergency information to An Garda Siochana."
Foreign airlines spreading their wings in India are dipping into the local talent pool for cabin crew, at a time of abundant skilled professionals and growing outbound travel sentiment among Indian travellers.

While upcoming airline Riyadh Air has started hiring from India, Turkish Airlines is set to induct Indian talent under its first recruitment drive in the country for cabin crew. Saudia has also stated its intent to have more Indian employees in its aircraft, as it plans to expand services in the world's fastest growing aviation market.

Also read | Air India Express operations improve as cabin crew ends strike We have started the process of recruiting cabin crew in India. This is our maiden recruitment drive here and we are hopeful of conducting more such drives in the future as we see India as an important market for us. While cabin crew are rotated across flights, a set of Indian talent will help us in facilitating a better customer engagement on the aircraft which are carrying a large number of Indian travellers, Erkan Erdogan, general manager for northern & eastern India at Turkish Airlines said.

Hiring Indian cabin crew creates a culturally resonant environment for these passengers, potentially a means of boosting customer loyalty. The multilingual capabilities of Indian crew are particularly valuable, given India's linguistic diversity with over 20 official languages.

As per data from Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Turkish Airlines carried 130,732 passengers to and from India in the March quarter of 2024, or more than 1.3% share of the total traffic carried by the foreign carriers operating in the country.

Riyadh Air eyes India Saudi Arabias upcoming airline Riyadh Air, which expects to launch commercial flight operations next year, expects to utilize the Indian talent pool as it sees Indian aviation market as an important segment for its international expansion. The airline aims to launch operations to India within the first 12 months of its launch.

India will be a significant opportunity for us and it will be important for us to partner with a large Indian carrier as well. We look for the right people with the right experience. For aviation workforce, we are looking at both gender diversity as well as nationality. We have firmed up plans to conduct a recruitment drive for cabin crew in India. We will conduct more such drives here as we launch operations, Adam Boukadida, chief financial officer at Riyadh Air said.

Also read | Air India debuts Manish Malhotra-designed uniform for cabin and cockpit crew Industry executives said the closure of two major airlines -- Jet Airways and Go Airin less than five years has also resulted in availability of skilled aviation talent in India, who can be attracted with better renumeration packages.

South Asia is a large supplier of the workforce in Saudi Arabia like it is in other parts of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). We get a lot of resumes from India, and there is a belief that there are two happening aviation markets - India and Saudi Arabia. So, there are a lot of Indian airline professionals who are saying, may be we can look at Saudi Arabia. Not just us, others such as Riyadh Air and Flynas are also getting the resumes, Sanjiv Kapoor, executive vice president-strategies, Saudia Group told Mint earlier.

Saudia carried 373,220 passengers to and from India in the March quarter, and occupied nearly 4% share in the total traffic carried by foreign carriers to and from India of 9.2 million passengers.

A strategic move "We see this trend as a strategic move driven by multiple factors," said Pragya Priyadarshini, vice-president at Primus Partners. "India's aviation and hospitality sector employs over 500,000 skilled individuals, providing a rich talent pool for international airlines. This trend also responds to India's expanding outbound travel market, with over 65 departing and arriving international passengers in FY24. Hiring Indian cabin crew creates a culturally resonant environment for these passengers, potentially a means of boosting customer loyalty. The multilingual capabilities of Indian crew are particularly valuable, given India's linguistic diversity with over 20 official languages."

Also read | Air India may open doors for Go First's cabin, cockpit crew "In addition, while not the primary driver, India's competitive wages are also an important reason, allowing airlines to optimize costs while maintaining service quality. This together reflects both India's skilled workforce and its growing importance in global aviation," Priyadarshini said.
ATHENS, Greece (AP)  Greek authorities flew additional forces Thursday to the southern island of Crete, where 250 firefighters battled a wildfire that forced the evacuation of eight villages in mountainous areas.

The blaze tore through olive groves, farmland and scrub, damaging irrigation networks, but posed no immediate threat to the busy holiday resorts along the island's coast.

The fire service said 40 members of a specialist unit from Athens joined the operation in the island's central Rethymno area late Thursday, boosting the ground forces to nearly 300. A first team was sent in on Wednesday.

No injuries or severe damage to homes have been reported so far. Strong winds hampered firefighting efforts on the ground, assisted by a large fleet of 13 waterbombing aircraft and eight helicopters. Although the aircraft stopped flying after nightfall, firefighters were hoping to take advantage of an overnight lull in the wind to bring the blaze under control.

More than 2,000 wildfires have erupted all over Greece this summer, which authorities have warned carries the highest fire risk in the past two decades amid unusually high temperatures linked to climate change. But most have been tamed before they could cause extensive devastation or deaths, as has been the case during previous summers.

The Rethymno fire started on Wednesday and was initially contained after a nightlong lull in high winds, but the flames intensified after daybreak.

Greece has experienced a mild, dry winter followed by a dry, hot spring, which left vegetation across the country tinder-dry, enabling flames to spread fast.

To address the threat, the government invested in more firefighting assets, including water-dropping aircraft and early warning drones.
Press Release

August 8, 2024 Statement of Senator Joel Villanueva on the June 2024 Unemployment and Underemployment Rates

August 8, 2024 EBET Framework Act, vital in addressing job-skills mismatch! We welcome the decrease in our unemployment rate to 3.1%, with 1.62 million individuals employed in June 2024, down from 4.1% or 2.11 million in May 2024. However, underemployment remains a critical issue that requires government priority. The increase in underemployment to 12.1 percent, or 6.08 million Filipinos, in June 2024 from 9.9 percent, or 4.82 million Filipinos, in May 2024 highlights the persistent issue of job-skills mismatch and quality of jobs. The approval of Senate Bill No. 2587 or the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Act, which we principally authored and sponsored, on Second Reading on Tuesday was not only timely but also long overdue to close the skills gap with employer needs. During the LEDAC meeting last March, President Bongbong Marcos directed us to ensure the urgent passage of the EBET Framework Act in the Senate. We are pleased to report that, with the support of our colleagues, we have successfully accomplished this crucial task entrusted to us by the President. The bill, a priority measure of the administration, aims to boost the skills of our workforce through general EBET training, apprenticeship and upskilling, which duration shall vary depending on the complexity of the skills and competencies to be learned by a trainee. It further aims to encourage more enterprises to undertake EBET programs by ensuring their active involvement in its promotion and conduct, as well as thru the provision of streamlined processes for EBET program registration, enhanced incentives, and support mechanisms. The EBET Framework Act will complement the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, which we also principally authored and sponsored, in synergizing the government's efforts in solving employment woes in the country. We are hopeful that this measure will be enacted into law as soon as possible.
Bengaluru: Irfan Razack, 70, has never been a man in a hurry. For decades, real estate developer Prestige Groups chairman and managing director was content operating in Bengaluru. Later, he slowly expanded to other parts of Karnataka, and other cities in the South, such as Kochi, Chennai and Hyderabad. Landowners in Mumbai would reach out to him but he steered well clear of the Maximum City. And he had no plans to cross the Vindhyas and go north. But all that changed when a friend, who was also a customer, told him about a project in Pali Hill, an upscale locality in Bandra, which piqued Razacks interest.

The Prestige boss flew to Mumbai with his nephew to take a look for himself. It was just a modest 300,000 sq ft society redevelopment project, but Razack liked ithe knew the value would more than compensate for the size, given that Mumbai was Indias most expensive real estate market. Even if the project backfired, there wasnt much to lose.

Thereafter, one opportunity after another opened up for Prestige in Mumbai. In May 2022, it launched three projects in the city and today, Mumbai accounts for 15% of its sales (as of 2023-24). That share is set to become bigger this year with more launches on the anvil.

It may have taken him a while to get there but Razack has made a mark on Indias most competitive real estate market, home to industry giants such as Godrej Properties, Macrotech Developers (Lodha group), Hiranandani Group, and a slew of smaller outfits jostling for a piece of the lucrative pie.

View Full Image An artists impression of Prestige Ocean Towers, Mumbai.

Now, after testing the waters with a mixed-use project, the Prestige boss is looking to conquer the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) with a set of housing projects. There Prestige will take on the might of DLF, Indias biggest developer by market capitalization, on its home turf. Its not an arena for the faint-hearted; rather, it is a region where real estate developers are viewed with a high level of distrust after stalled projects left thousands of homebuyers in the lurch over the last decade. It is a market that has laid many aspirants low, such as the Jaypee Group and the erstwhile Amrapali Developers, and one that is synonymous with the demolition of Supertechs twin towers in Noida.

Heading north isnt the only thing on the agenda for Razack. Prestige Group has set itself an ambitious sales target of 25,000 crore for this fiscal year. It will launch a 5,000 crore qualified institutional placement (QIP). The group is rebuilding its office and shopping mall portfolio. And it will aim to monetize its hospitality assets, possibly through a public listing.

While achieving all of these goals may look like a tall order, the company has shown in the past that it can meet its targets. But is Prestige ready for this great leap forward?

A market on steroids

Prestige Group is part of an elite club of four publicly listed developers, with DLF, Godrej Properties and Macrotech. After clocking around 73,000 crore of residential sales bookings in 2023-24, a milestone for Indias real estate sector, the four companies are collectively targeting 88,000 crore of sales this year, with Prestige and Godrej together aiming for more than 50,000 crore of that figure.

The developers have good reason for this bullishness. After bouncing back during the covid pandemic, the housing market has shown no signs of fatigue. Indeed, in an 7 August note, rating agency Icra said that residential real estate players will continue to enjoy their dream run. Razack concurs. Today, as soon as you launch a project, it gets sold. The appetite of homebuyers has continued. So, we just need to bring the projects to the market," he said, in an interview with Mint. In Bengaluru, for instance, the developer has just around 400 crore of unsold inventory.

While they have set themselves ambitious targets, Prestige and its rivals did not have a first quarter to write home about because of the general election. The companys sales bookings in the April-June quarter dropped to 3,030 crore from 3,914.7 crore in the first quarter last fiscal year due to delays in project approvals, which impacted launches. In order to scale Mt 25,000, it will need to increase the pace of its launches. During the first quarter, Prestige launched only a residential project and a plotted project in Bengaluru.

Over the course of the year, the developer plans to launch 28 residential projects, covering 73 million sq ft, across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Chennai and Goa. We need to make sure we get the approvals for the new projects. Fortunately, we have a good launch pipeline. Once we launch, we are confident of selling," said Razack. Indeed, notwithstanding the sluggish first quarter, home sales in Indias top seven cities are expected to witness double digit growth in 2024-25, said the Icra note.

Bespoke approach

Razack credits the companys success in the housing market to its innovative product and pricing strategy. At a time when most developers are focused on high-end projects, Prestige has taken a tailored approach to buyers needs, understanding what an individual can afford and pricing property accordingly.

For instance, the companys Prestige City project in Hyderabad has a mix of one- and two-bedroom homes, small and large-format 3BHKs, and some 4 BHKs. Post-covid, everyone said people want bigger homes, and started making large-sized apartments. At the Hyderabad airport, I see advertisements for projects with 7,000 sq. ft homes. That may create stresshow many people can buy a 7,000 sq. ft home?," Razack wondered.

Anuj Puri, chairman of property advisory Anarock Group, said the companys ability to deliver on its promise has instilled confidence among customers. If we look at Prestiges projects, the quality of facilities, infrastructure, compliance, timely deliveryall these have played a role in their continued growth. What they show on the project brochure is what they deliver," he said.

While the residential segment remains the companys biggest revenue earner today, each business vertical has been performing well. Prestiges diversification strategy has also reduced its dependence on the Bengaluru market, but it could take time to yield results in the new markets it has entered because of stiff competition.

Cracking NCR housing

View Full Image DLF dominates the Gurugram housing market in the premium and luxury segments. (Mint)

The Delhi-NCR property market is not entirely new for the Prestige Group. It is currently developing a mixed-use project at Delhis Aerocity. The project will have two hotels under the St Regis and Marriott Marquis brands, 225,000 sq. ft of convention space, and 600,000 sq. ft of office space.

Prestige now wants to make it big as a residential developer in the market, which has bounced back since the pandemic ebbed. DLF dominates the Gurugram housing market in the premium and luxury segments, while Godrej Properties, which has launched a few projects in Gurugram, has a strong presence in Noida and Greater Noida.

Prestige has three upcoming launches: a niche, luxury project in Delhis KG Marg, a housing project in Noida, and a 62.5-acre township in Indirapuram Extension, Ghaziabad. While the Ghaziabad property has a projected gross development value of over 10,000 crore, the one on KG Marg could attract a price tag of 100,000 per sq. ft, as per broker estimates.

We want to launch these projects first and get a feel of the market. We are fairly confident the projects will do well," Razack told Mint. Beyond that, as is his wont, Razack is proceeding slowly. Whenever I am looking at land in Gurugram, I tell people I have no compulsion to do a deal. I will only do it when it makes sense to me. So, we are conservative when we tie up properties. We will do a mix of outright buying and joint developments," he said.

Whenever I am looking at land in Gurugram, I tell people I have no compulsion to do a deal.  Irfan Razack

But given the major trust deficit among NCR homebuyers towards builders in the wake of past failures, Prestige will need to win customers over when it launches projects. Razack knows a thing or two about how to do that. When Prestige launched in Mumbai, it had flown a large number of brokers down to Bengaluru to show them the companys projects. For a stuck project it had taken over in suburban Mulund, the company held a full-day session with customers to gain their trust.

The speed and quality of construction, the way they harnessed brokers and generated sales, and positioned themselves in a new market, are commendable," said Anarocks Puri.

The company may rely on similar channel partner activation methods and buyer engagement in the NCR too. Prestige is also sending a few teams from Bengaluru to set up a base in the region.

Annuity push

Among the top four developers, Prestige and DLF are the only ones with a portfolio across real estate asset classes. Prestige is now making efforts to boost its annuity portfolio, which comprises commercial office, retail and hotel assets. After selling a large chunk of its office and retail assets to global asset manager Blackstone Group in 2021 for $1.6 billion, Prestige is rebuilding both portfolios.

The developer is building 12 new commercial office projects and has 10 malls coming up. In addition, Prestige, which has nine operational hotels and three ongoing hotel projects, plans to scale this up with 10 hotel properties across multiple cities.

In June, the company said its board has approved a plan to monetize the assets of its hospitality subsidiary, Prestige Hospitality Ventures Ltd, by issuing shares through the primary or secondary route, or both.

Funding is key

Funding will be critical for the top four developers as they pursue their massive growth plans. Prestige may launch a 5,000 crore qualified institutional placement (QIP), its largest, in August or September, said two people familiar with the plans. A QIP allows a listed company to raise capital from the domestic markets by issuing securities. It is also a barometer of investor confidence in a companys prospects.

The funds will be used for the retirement of debt, payments for land buys, and general corporate purposes," said one of the persons cited above, who did not want to be named. Once the QIP is done, they will move on to the monetization of the hospitality business assets, including a possible IPO (initial public offering)," said the person.

Prestiges net debt had risen to 8,179 crore as of 30 June, from 7,780 crore at the end of the preceding quarter, on account of land acquisitions, said brokerage firm HDFC Securities said. The QIP will help it shore up its balance sheet.

Parikshit Kandpal, vice president of research at HDFC Securities, said the Prestige QIP would be one of the largest in recent times. They want to buy land and grow further. In the current scenario, whoever raises money will gain market share in land buying, which will give them an edge in sales," he said.

Despite Prestiges debt inching up, with a number of projects getting launched during the second half of 2024-25, collection and surplus cash flows will aid in its reduction, the HDFC report noted.

In the current scenario, whoever raises money will gain market share in land buying, which will give them an edge in sales.  Parikshit Kandpal

Over the years, Prestige has attracted many large institutional investors. In a recent deal, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Kotak AIF will invest 2,001 crore in Prestiges four residential projects in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Goa.

Piyush Gupta, managing director, capital markets and investment services, at property advisory Colliers India, said fund-raising for land acquisitions is critical for top developers eyeing big growth. There is a clear shift in how developers are raising funds through private financing and tapping public markets through QIPs to buy land, or pay for project approvals. Good developers such as Prestige and others have enough opportunities to tap funding and grow, compared to less governed developers," he said.

Succession planning

On 1 August, during Prestige Groups post-earnings call, Razack told analysts that the opening remarks would be made by Zayd Noaman, executive director at the CMDs office. Zayd will play a bigger role in the company from here on. He is the son of Noaman Razack, a whole-time director and the CMDs brother.

View Full Image Zayd Noaman, executive director, CMDs office, Prestige Group.

While it went public in 2010, Prestige is still very much a family-owned business, with the promoters holding over 65%. The company traces its origins to the late 1950s, to a time when it had nothing to do with real estate. Razacks father had an apparel shop in Bengalurus Commercial Street and the focus back then was on mens clothing. But by the 1980s, the family had entered the real estate business with Razack leading the charge along with his siblings Rezwan and Noaman.

Prestige started out with commercial office projects in Bengaluru, and got into the residential side a few years later. Its first housing project, Prestige Oakwood, in the posh Koramangala locality, had apartments selling at 450-500 per sq ft in 1988the going rate in the locality is now between 14,000-19,000 per sq. ft.

Today, Zayd and a new crop of family members are getting ready to succeed their elders. The company has reorganized its senior management after the resignation of chief executive Venkat K. Narayana in May. Narayana had worked at Prestige for nearly two decades, most prominently as its chief financial officer, and later, as CEO.

Zayd and a new crop of family members are getting ready to succeed their elders. The company has reorganized its senior management after the resignation of chief executive Venkat K. Narayana in May.

Post the reorganisation, the team is a mix of experienced executives and fresh members, with new business heads being appointed for each vertical and geography that Prestige operates in.

HDFCs Kandpal said that as of now, the companys ambition sales target for 2024-25 looks achievable. There are big launches planned this year, and Prestige has a record of selling out when it launches, he pointed out.

They do a lot of market research before launching, and customize home sizes and prices for different locations. They are more flexible in their product mix which is why they get high sales numbers," he said.

Razack is more measured in his expectations. We would be foolish not to ride this wave, but we will do it cautiously. I do believe that the best is yet to come. Real estate sounds very glamorous, but its a tough job. We have to sweat it out," he said.
Mumbai: The National Company Law Tribunal on Thursday ordered Hinduja Group-owned IndusInd International Holdings Ltd (IIHL) to deposit 2,750 crores in a special escrow account as part of Reliance Capital's resolution plan.

The Hindujas agreed to provide the binding term sheet agreement to the monitoring committee, and hold a meeting today with all stakeholders.

A bench comprising Justices Virendrasingh G. Bisht and Prabhat Kumar was hearing a petition filed by the Hindujas seeking modification of the tribunals 23 July order and further time to implement the resolution plan.

The order, while partly allowing an appeal by IIHL, directed it to implement the resolution plan by 10 August and deposit the equity component of 2,750 crore in an escrow account designated by the Committee of Creditors (CoC) by 31 July.

Hindujas pleaded that if the NCLT does not consider the modification of its order, the administrator, the CoC and IIHL will face inexplicable challenges in implementing the resolution plan for Reliance Capital.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, senior counsel appearing for Hindujas submitted a compliance affidavit stating that it has deposited the entire equity component of 2,750 crores. However, this amount has been deposited in accounts of Ashok Hinduja Harsha Hinduja and Shom Hinduja.

Earlier, IIHL said that banks in Mauritius have asked for certain details to process the funds' remittances.

Mauritius banks have sought KYC details of the Vistra account, a designated entity of the CoC, a duly executed tripartite escrow agreement by all stakeholders, a copy of the resolution passed by IIHLs Board of Directors and the end use of funds to be remitted.
Lenovos widely used ThinkPad laptop hasnt changed much over the years. Corporate technology leaders say thats why they love it.

Theres a lot to be said for familiarity and that consistent experience," said Ace Hardware Chief Information Officer Rick Williams, whose company uses about 4,000 ThinkPads.

The ThinkPad brand of personal computers, originally created by International Business Machines, hit the market in 1992 before Lenovo acquired it, along with IBMs PC division, in 2005. Since then, the boxy designoriginally inspired by the Japanese bento boxhas gotten thinner and lighter, but not much else has changed from a design perspective, Lenovo said.

The logo is the same, although in 2005 Lenovo did add the red dot over the i" in Think" that remains today. That logo has remained angled at 37 degrees on the device. And on the keyboard the small, red, old-timey trackpoint remains nestled between the B," G" and H" keys (which Lenovo says some users swear by and some CIOs say they never use). Ports and camera placement have also been relatively consistent. And despite some experimentation with colors, the laptop itself primarily remains its original black.

Youre going to recognize the iconic ThinkPad," said Tom Butler, executive director for worldwide commercial portfolio and product management at Hong Kong-based Lenovo.

Its strategy might seem counterintuitive in an industry where winners and losers are often determined based on their pace of innovation, and where to stay the same often means to become obsolete. Big consumer tech companies that dominated the early 2000s, like BlackBerry, Nokia and Motorola, ultimately couldnt keep pace with competitors and struggled.

But for Lenovo, which plays in the enterprise space, its paying off. Lenovo has been leading in market share in the worldwide personal computer vendor market, based on unit shipments, on and off for more than 10 years, according to research firm Gartner. Its leading market share for this years second quarter was 24.4%, trailed by HP with 22.6% and Dell with 16.7%, based on preliminary findings.

A Dell representative said that many rivals have high unit share in the lower-price bands of the market and in emerging regions, but Dell continues to focus on high-value segments. HP didnt respond to a request for comment.

An IBM brand from the 1910s

Early on, Lenovo banked on the cachet of IBMs Think" slogan, which was introduced by former IBM CEO Thomas J. Watson in the 1910s and became synonymous with trusted products, said Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst of the Enderle Group. (No one ever gets fired for buying IBM," was a common refrain through the 2000s).

Even as other hot technology brands of the early 2000s lost cachet, the ThinkPad brand retained it, thanks to a loyal user base that rose up the ranks of companies and ultimately landed in C-suite decision-maker roles, Enderle said.

But unlike consumer-focused tech companies, which gain followings through captivating innovations, the ThinkPads cachet is in large part thanks to the consistency of its design, which resonates with large, change-resistant legacy companies that simply want an offering thats familiar and dependable, said Enderle. For corporate tech leaders, too much change in a go-to product like a PC simply equals cost and aggravation, he said.

Enderle said that HP, Dell and others have played around with curvier designs and different keyboard types, and have been more aggressive about updating ports.

Reliable and resilient

It operates without most of our users having to think about it," said Ace Hardwares Williams, who added that the company has been using Lenovo as its primary PC vendor for nearly two decades. Its reliable. People assign a lot of weight to having technology thats reliable."

Lenovos ThinkPad is known for its resiliency. Butler said the company regularly puts the laptop through torture tests" that includes falls and extreme temperatures.

The Lenovo devices physically just are not sexy. They look a little bit dated compared to what Dell and HP have to offer these days," said John Wei, CTO of technology provider Integreon. But IT guyswe like Lenovo." He added: People put coffee over it. It doesnt die. People drop it when they travel. It doesnt die."

Some CIOs also say the timeless design helps reduce conflict among workers with older or newer devices.

Because they dont radically change designs, people that might have a laptop model from two to three years agotheyre not feeling like theyre left in the dust," said David Vidoni, CIO of software company Pegasystems.

Another factor propelling Lenovo is that it has more of a global footprint than its competitors, meaning companies with global operations can find consistent device support around the world, said Enderle.

Lenovo reported $57 billion in revenue in its fiscal year ended in March, and has about 70,000 employees worldwide. Its primary remit is in devices and personal computers, but it also has a growing software arm.

Modest changes

The laptop you find at Best Buy today isnt exactly the same as the one IBM brought to market in 1992. Lenovo has quietly made small improvements over the years, focusing on the types of changes that wont be disruptive to the user, Butler said. For example, todays generation of laptops has slightly raised marks on more areas of the keyboard for the visually impaired. Butler said he sometimes challenges users to see if they even notice the tweaks.

And of course, the processing capabilities of the computers have grown significantly, culminating in the AI PCs that hit the market this year that can run artificial intelligence algorithms directly on the device. CIOs remain mixed on when and how they plan to use these.

As far as future improvements, Butler said he has his ear to the ground and is constantly speaking with CIOs to understand what they want to get out of the device. But, he added, its important to remember: One thing that the enterprise wants is predictable and consistent."

Write to Isabelle Bousquette at isabelle.bousquette@wsj.com
Factories are still a major source of safety concerns at Boeing, according to testimony from current and former company employees, contractors and regulators at a federal hearing this week.

In testimony over two days, one worker said Boeing managers displayed a push-push-push" attitude to complete work in factories. The employee also said speaking out about safety problems risks reassignment to a jail." A former Federal Aviation Administration official also said Boeing makes improvements in factories only after regulators get tough.

The hearing was part of the National Transportation Safety Boards probe into why a door plug flew off a Boeing 737 MAX plane midair on Jan. 5. Accident investigators have said the jet left the companys Renton, Wash., factory without critical bolts to hold the fuselage panel in place. Alaska Airlines flight 1282 landed in Portland, Ore., roughly 30 minutes after takeoff without any major injuries to passengers and crew.

The door-plug debacle spawned more stringent federal oversight of Boeings manufacturing operations and leadership changes at the plane maker. The company recently pleaded guilty to conspiring to mislead air-safety regulators in connection with deadly MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019.

A healthy management-employee relationship is based on trust, treatment and transparency," NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said Wednesday. I dont see these here."

Boeing executives testifying this week said the company needs to accelerate changes to improve its safety culture.

Here are some of the revelations from the two-day hearing:

Workers offer a dim view of the companys safety practices

Problems associated with inexperienced employees, out-of-sequence production work and hard-driving managers weigh on Boeings ability to operate its factories properly, according to testimony gathered in the probe, even while regulators and company executives press for improvements.

A Seattle-area employee on a crew that specializes in removing and reinstalling door plugs described Boeings safety culture as garbage. Nobodys accountable." He cited persistent debris and tools strewn about the factory.

Workers are pushed to keep production at a steady pace, the employee said. Here, its just push-push-push, push-push-push, push-push-push, you know," the employee said.

The employee said he didnt think Boeings internal reporting system protected employees from retaliation, and complained that he had been reassigned during the NTSB investigation to an area he described as literally in a jail, in a cage."

Elizabeth Lund, a senior vice president for quality at Boeing, said she wasnt aware the area was known as Boeing prison." She said the company typically reassigns employees during safety investigations, and said the employee in question was given a lateral transfer with the same pay, shift and benefits.

Lloyd Catlin, an official in Boeings machinist union, said Wednesday that such transfers send a clear punitive message to the workforce: We see it all the time."

Boeing had problems with improperly removing airplane parts before Alaska Airlines incident

Boeing conducted a safety risk assessment on how workers remove parts like door plugs during the manufacturing process without proper documentation. The FAA had previously prodded the company to address the problem.

The plane maker had undertaken corrective actions and issued a quality alert on the subject in July 2023, just two months before the jet involved in the accident rolled out of its Renton factory.

Boeing workers cited confusion about requirements for conducting so-called removals" of critical airplane parts. The crew lead said the manager of the group involved with removing and reinstalling door plugs was new to his role and doesnt really understand doors."

Lund, the Boeing executive, acknowledged the company needs to do better with removals. Aerospace manufacturing requires extensive documentation, particularly when critical parts are removed from aircraft during production.

We need to do more" to simplify the process and ensure that employees understand it, Lund said.

Boeing is slow to change, even with regulators watching

Jim Phoenix, who managed the FAA office overseeing Boeings manufacturing until he retired in December, said it is a heavy lift to prod the company to improve. You need a lot of leverage to get Boeing to change and then when Boeing changes, its very slow and it took a long time for them to really understand that their quality system needed to improve."

Phoenix said he saw improvements after the agency forced Boeing to add back quality inspections. There was a lot of improvement that was needed," he told NTSB investigators. Im sure there still is."

Door-blowout probe found a separate problem on Boeing jet

The Alaska accident exposed other manufacturing flaws. Nearly all the oxygen generators above where passengers sit shifted during flight, because of defective adhesive, according to the NTSB. After the accident, the FAA ordered airlines to inspect oxygen canisters on more than 2,600 Boeing 737s, noting the potential risk to passengers who could need assistance breathing during an in-flight emergency.

Paul Wright, a Boeing safety executive, said the companys analysis found that shifting of the canisters didnt prevent passengers from getting oxygen.

Separately, a warning light about pressurization that activated before the door plug blew off was the result of a faulty computer chip, according to the NTSB. Earlier in the investigation, there were questions about whether the alert was an early sign that the fuselage panel wasnt being properly installed.

Why was no one seated next to the door plug?

Luck, it turns out. There were two plane seats next to the door plug that blew out midflight.

The passengers who were assigned to seats 26A and 26B were late arriving to the airport and were rebooked on a later flight," according to the NTSB.

Boeing plans new door plug design for planes

Lund, the Boeing executive, said the company was working to add sensors to door plugs that would alert crews that the fuselage panels might not be properly secured. Such sensors would be similar to those on actual emergency-exit doors installed on aircraft.

Wright said Boeing, after the Alaska accident, has also identified other potential design changes to address so-called single-point failures that might need added safeguards.

Sharon Terlep and Alison Sider contributed to this article.

Write to Andrew Tangel at andrew.tangel@wsj.com
New Delhi: The Union budget for FY25 shows the government has chosen a longer but more sustainable route for secular economic growth rather than a short-term consumption stimulus that could fizzle out, Sanjay Nayar, senior banker and president of industry chamber Assocham told Mint in an interview.

Nayar added that the 100 to 200 companies just below the 10 biggest ones must now step up their investments to further accelerate India's economic growth, boost consumption and increase employment.

India should aim for 8-10% economic growth over the next decade, he said. Assocham for its part is studying the cost of doing business to identify specific challenges that hinder the growth of small and medium businesses, and will share these with the commerce ministry, he added.

Beyond the top 10

Nayar said there were signs of green shoots in private capex, adding that when capacity utilisation crosses 78-80%, companies double down on investments.

He said, Indian businesses must be enthused, and the animal spirits have to come back, pushing investments across sectors. At the same time, we have to start looking beyond the top 10 groups in the country. An investment push has to also come from the next 100-200 companies.

Also read: How Bharat has betrayed Bharat Bond investors

We have some large conglomerates, but we also have a large base that needs to be engaged. The final frontier is small and medium enterprises, which have to start finding it easy to build capacity and hire more people. Ultimately, they are large job creators."

Official data showed that gross fixed capital formation (GFCF)  investments in factories, plant and machinery by private non-financial corporations  has recovered after contracting in pandemic-hit FY21.

GFCF by private non-financial corporations stood at 19.35 trillion in FY23, clocking annual growth of 6.4%, according to data from the ministry of statistics and programme implementation. This was a little more than a third of overall GFCF by the government, private companies and households. The figure for FY24 will be available early next year.

Sustainable growth path

The government's plan to help businesses, especially small and medium ones, through various schemes, providing them cover up to 100 crore through the self-financing guarantee fund, and doubling the limit of Mudra loans to 20 lakh will encourage job creation, Nayar said.

Also read: India's private capex not secular across industries, says HSBC's Malhotra

The alternative was to provide a big consumption stimulus, but this often peaks and fizzles out since it is cyclical and doesn't sustain. We saw that in the global financial crisis. For sustained economic growth, per-capita gross domestic product has to go up so that there's a secular uptick in disposable income, leading to higher consumption. A direct consumption stimulus is always short-lived," he added.

Also read: Why the Centres PSE capex story isnt as rosy as it sounds

The government has focused on macroeconomic stability and fiscal prudence in its management of the economy, while stepping up capital expenditure to build infrastructure and attract private investments, Nayar said.

Policy continuity attracts investments. The corporate tax has already been lowered, making India more competitive. Ease of doing business has improved over the years and ministries are making concerted efforts to enhance it further," he added.

Hopefully, everything will fall into place, and you will find it easier to invest across sectors. India should be shooting for 8-10% real GDP growth over the next decade," said Nayar.
India will discuss the demand for a Teesta water agreement, and renewal of the Ganga water agreement with Bangladesh once tensions ease and a new government is formed in the troubled eastern neighbour, Raj Bhushan Choudhary, minister of state in Jal Shakti ministry, said in an interview.

His remarks follow Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation and flight into exile on 5 August amid violent student protesters. She is currently thought to be in India.

Teesta treaty has been a long-standing demand of Bangladesh, which wants equitable distribution of Teesta water with Indiaon the lines of the Ganga Water Treaty of 1996. As West Bengal and Sikkim opposed it, the proposal by Bangladesh was turned into a conservation and management of Teesta water project, which is worth of billion of dollars.

Teesta has remained an outstanding issue even as relations between the two countries warned to their best ever in recent years.

The project assumes greater significance as China too has expressed an interest in it, which brings an entirely new security dimension into the matter. Under the project, it is envisaged to build a large reservoir and related infrastructure to manage and conserve Teesta River water.

A 414-km-long river flowing through Sikkim and West Bengal, before merging into the river Meghna in Bangladesh, Teesta is the fourth-largest trans-boundary river shared between India and Bangladesh after the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna.

It is also one of the main sources of irrigation for North Bengal and Rangpur region of Bangladesh, especially during dry months. The river is also the main hydroelectric power source for the mountainous state of Sikkim.

It would have been better and beneficial for us (India) if she (Sheikh Hasina) remained in power. Her vision was broad as far as India is concerned. Considering the current situation, talks cannot take place.

Once the situation eases and a new government is formed, we will discuss this (Teesta water sharing, conserving and managing project) at the diplomatic level and get it sorted," Choudhary told Mint.

About the Ganga water treaty renewal, the minister said, We are moving forward positively."

The Ganga treaty will complete 30 years in 2026 and calls for a renewal.

Queries sent to the spokesperson of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, and the concerned departments of Sikkim and West Bengal governments remained unanswered at press time.

Teesta featurted in Modi-Hasina talks

Teesta was one of the major topics discussed between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina during her last visit to India on 21-22 June. A major outcome was for India to send a technical team to Bangladesh soon for a mega project to conserve and manage Teesta River.

Modi said at the time the two countries had also decided to start negotiations at the technical level for the renewal of the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty.

"A technical team will soon visit Bangladesh for talks to conserve and manage the Teesta River in Bangladesh," the Indian PM said in his media statement in June.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra at a media briefing said at the time that India plans to undertake conservation and management of the Teesta River in Bangladesh and that there would be Indian assistance for this.

Modi earlier said Bangladesh is India's largest development partner and New Delhi attaches highest priority to its relations with that country.

The demand for equitable sharing of the Teesta water goes back to 1947, but it has always been opposed by West Bengal and Sikkim. In 1972, shortly after the liberation of Bangladesh, a Joint River Commission was formed to verify the water sharing options between the two neighbours.

Based on the commissions recommendations, in 1984 it was decided that the water share of Bangladesh will be 37.5% and Indias share 42.5%, with 20% left unallocated.

In 1998 Bangladesh launched the Teesta barrage irrigation project to supply water for three cropping seasons a year in Rangpur and asked for more share of Teesta water.

In 2011, it proposed an interim deal, which was shelved after Bengal and Sikkim opposed it. The deal has remained unsigned.

At present, Teesta waters irrigate 922,000 hectares of land in North Bengal and provide 67.60 MW of hydropower.

Experts were sceptical about the future of the Teesta agreement in the backdrop of Hasina's exit.

Overall, India-Bangladesh water sharing has to be done in a more scientific manner with far greater coordinated water management in that region. Within this current situation in Bangladesh all this has gone backwards. One does not know when things will normalize, when the elections will take place, who will be dealing with the situation and what their position will be because Sheikh Hasina is no more in power and the agreements were with her. There is huge uncertainty on the Bangladesh side," said Sujit Dutta, distinguished fellow and the editor of the quarterly journal, National Security, at the Vivekananda International Foundation.

Till a new government is formed, I don't think the issue will come back to the table."

Brahma Chellaney, professor emeritus of strategic studies at the New Delhi-based Centre for Policy Research, said, Its too early to say what the policy priority of the new government will be. A new government has not yet formed. We dont know the names of the cabinet ministers  we dont know if the new government will be hostile, friendly or neutral to India."

The important thing for India and Bangladesh is the Ganges River treaty. Teesta is a small river, but it is important for Indias West Bengal and Sikkim while it assumes equal significance for north-west part of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has been seeking a Teesta water treaty with India for two decades now but because of West Bengal government not agreeing, the Indian government has not been able to push it forward. The down-river project is designed as a substitute to the treaty because it will augment supply of water downstream by capturing water through a big barrage and release it during the dry season. We dont know what the attitude of the new government will be. The contract was not signed with India before Hasina was overthrown."

Manas Pimpalkhare contributed to this story.
NEET PG 2024 Admit Card: The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) is set to release the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) PG Admit Cards today, August 8, for the exam scheduled three days later on August 11. However, the Examination Board has not yet announced the time of the release of admit cards on its website.

The hall tickets for postgraduate courses can be downloaded by visiting the official website at natboard.edu.in. or nbe.edu.in.

Follow the below-mentioned steps to download the NEET PG admit card:

Step 1: Visit the official website of NBE NEET at natboard.edu.in.

Step 2: Click on the NEET PG 2024 admit card link on the home page.

Step 3: Provide the login details and click on submit.

Step 4: The admit card will be displayed on the screen.

Step 5: Check the details and download the admit card.

Step 6: Take a printout and keep a hard copy for future reference.

The national entrance examination admit card will provide details about the test centre venue in the previously allocated test city. In the past few days, the aspiring PG candidates received emails from the NBEMS informing them about the test city. The postgraduate medical exam will be conducted in 185 cities across the country.

Also Read | NMC to scrap physical counselling so students cant give donations to colleges

The NEET PG examination will be administered on August 11 in two shifts. However, the shift details have not been disclosed yet. The NEET PG exam was initially scheduled for June 23, but the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) postponed it as a precautionary measure amid the NEET UG controversy. The integrity of competitive examinations in the country was challenged after reports of paper leaks surfaced, pointing to irregularities in the conduct of exams this year.
Mumbai: The majority of the foreign portfolio investor (FPI) demand for Indian securities under the fully accessible route (FAR) is for bonds with a tenure of up to 10 years, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) deputy governor Michael Patra said.

We have observed that the major part of the interest of FAR investors is in the 5-10 years segment; actually, it accounts for 90% of the total investment. The interest in the 30-year paper is just 2% of the total stock of 30-year (bonds) that has been issued, Patra said in a post-policy press conference.

Also read | Quarterly household savings on rise: Patra In turn, total FPI holding under various routes, as a share of total outstanding papers, is only 4.8%, Patra said, adding that the security-wise, category-wise and concentration limits under the medium-term framework (MTF) act as natural barriers to any volatility in the segments.

FAR allows non-residents to invest in some Indian government bonds without any limits. Introduced in 2020, the framework was designed to encourage foreign investment through lower restrictions and quicken inclusion of Indian bonds in global bond indices. On 29 July, the RBI excluded all new securities with a 14-year and 30-year tenor from the FAR.

Fresh investment regulated This implies that while non-residents can continue to access existing 14-year and 30-year government securities in the secondary market, fresh investments by FPIs in 14-year and 30-year tenor bonds will be as per prescribed regulatory limits. Existing foreign investment limits in regular bonds cap overseas investment at 6% of outstanding stock.

Also read | No signs of systemic risk rising: RBIs Patra The restriction followed a surge in foreign inflows into Indian securities following the inclusion of some domestic bonds in key global indices. Indian sovereign bonds were included in JP Morgans Global Government Bond Index  Emerging Markets (GBI-EM) on 28 June. Later, Bloomberg Index Services too announced including the bonds in its Emerging Market Local Currency Government Index effective January 31, 2025.

Demand concentrated However, so far, demand has been concentrated in bonds with tenures of up to 10 years.

It's like giving time to people to adjust their portfolios because we know that the weight of India in the bond index will slowly rise over a 10-month period, so they will have time to adjust their portfolios, Patra said.

Including all existing securities issued, the total stock of available investments under FAR is around 41 trillion, of which the current foreign investment is only 2 trillion, he said, adding that this reflects that there is ample amount of space to go.

Our assessment is that in the categories that are now allowed, there is going to be 4 trillion of new issuances which are open to FAR. Apart from that, there is the MTF (medium term framework), where while the limit is 6 trillion, only 2% (is utilised) today, so it's not as terrible as it is made out to be, Patra.

Also read | Centre extends RBI Deputy Governor Patra's tenure by one year He added RBIs hope is that concentrating foreign investments into the 5-10 year segment will also help make the segment more liquid, aid better price discovery and reduce transaction costs as depth of the market increases.

Asked about global investor sentiment regarding Indian securities following the inclusion in global indices, RBI governor Shaktikanta Das said that global investor sentiment is very high and positive, as reflected in the flows being seen today.
The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has issued several orders to protect homebuyers. These aim to spur transparency and disclosures among builders and property agents. Other states could also incorporate some of them. Mint explains:

What do the new orders state?

The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act 2016 aims to regulate transactions, so that projects are completed and handed over in time. MahaRERA has now issued more orders for developerson delivery dates, maintenance of bank accounts, parking space and complaint redressal. It kept the registration of 1,750 lapsed projects under suspension due to delays. Senior citizen housing project guidelines have also been issued. And the registration of 20,000 property agents has been suspended for a year. It also issued a framework for third-party monitoring of construction quality.

Why are these important?

Buying a home is the biggest investment a person makes in their lifetime. However, homebuyers have been victims of delays and unkept promises by developers. The slew of new orders from MahaRERA addresses many of these challenges. For instance, it has noted that developers have not handed over amenities years after delivering the homes in many cases. In a first, all the details and exact delivery dates of amenities will be included in the sale agreement. MahaRERA will also start a project grading system, with legal, technical and financial details, so that homebuyers can make informed decisions.

How has the industry responded?

The Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India has expressed support, saying this will boost trust and confidence among buyers. The orders will also strengthen the integrity of the projects and the real estate assets, making them more attractive for investments. Developers would aim to set higher standards for buyers.

How do other states compare?

MahaRERA continues to lead, with over 46,000 projects having been registered since its launch in May 2017. Uttar Pradesh RERA, which has received most consumer complaints, leads in complaint resolution. MahaRERA has been the most active among states in introducing new regulations. For instance, MahaRERA last year made it compulsory to include a unique QR code for a project and the RERA registration number in all project marketing and advertising material. UP RERA implemented the same this year.

How has RERA fared so far?

RERA brought in many changes by mandating project registration, delivery timelines and even transparency in transactions. But it remains work in progress. There are several instances where a RERA has issued orders for recovery of interest penalty or refund and compensation in favour of homebuyers, but builders have not complied with them. The execution of recovery orders has been dismal. As a result, homebuyers have had to reach out to other grievance redressal tribunals and forums.
Indian yarn exports to Bangladesh could grow by 10% to 12% in the coming months, with Nobel laureate Muhammed Yunus forming an interim government on Thursday, say analysts.

Bangladesh's textile industry is a significant sector of its economy, accounting for 80% of its exports and 15% of its GDP. The country primarily exports textiles to the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan.

India has been a significant export partner, accounting for 20%-25% of the yarn that Bangladesh imports for manufacturing garments.

We are currently in August. So maybe from September to November, around two to three months, our exports could rise maybe by lower double digits, around 10%-12%, Deepak Jasani, Head of Retail Research, HDFC Securities, told LiveMint.

Also Read | Indian visa centres to be closed indefinitely in Bangladesh

Bangladesh's situation benefits India's garment industry by making it the main alternative for countries importing from Bangladesh. However, the fate of India's yarn industry now depends on which party wins the elections in Bangladesh following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government.

Hint of caution There is nothing to be too excited about. The only thing is that companies will get the advantage of operating leverage, and their margins will expand. But this would be temporary, said Deepak Jasani, while mentioning that no major reforms would be taken during the interim government's tenure.

Jasani added that there continues to be a reason for worry, as uncertainties remain on how much exports would take place.

Against this backdrop, textile stocks, including Vardhman Textiles, Nitin Spinners, and Precot, experienced a decline ranging from 6.25% to 0.13% in intraday trading today.

The fate of these companies depends on whether India can divert its exports to some other countries, as Bangladesh has been a reliable trading neighbour for India under the Awami League, said the analyst.
Shares of Garware Hi-Tech Films, a global manufacturer of solar control films, paint protection films, and other specialty polyester films, surged to the 20% upper circuit limit today, reaching a new all-time high of 2,895 per share, after the company released its June quarter results.

The company reported its Q1 FY25 performance during market hours today, posting a 102.2% year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit, amounting to 88.4 crore. Revenue from operations also saw a 25.0% year-on-year rise, driven by continued growth momentum in the Sun Control Films (SCF) and Paint Protection Films (PPF) businesses.

EBITDA experienced strong growth, increasing by 78.7% YoY and 44.9% QoQ. The EBITDA margin improved to 27.4%, up from 19.2% in Q1 FY23 and 20.1% in Q4 FY23.

Strong efforts in sales and marketing significantly boosted the high-end SCF and PPF business. The architectural segment of SCF saw significant growth with the introduction of new products.

Garware Hi-Tech Films is a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-quality, durable, and highly tensile polyester films, solar control films, and paint protection films globally. It is the only producer of professional-grade Premium Paint Protection (PPF) film in India, currently selling its products in around 90 countries, with exports accounting for 77% of its sales.

In 2018, Garware Hi-Tech Films underwent a significant shift in its business strategy, resulting in strong performance in the specialty films industry. This strategic shift led to higher margins and a highly differentiated product portfolio, enhancing the company's market position and growth prospects.

The company boasts a production capacity of 42,000 MT per annum in its Industrial Product Division (IPD) and 4,500 LSF per annum in its Consumer Product Division (CPD).

Phenomenal performance The company's shares have been on a consistent winning streak, concluding the last 13 out of 17 months with impressive gains. From their March 2023 trading price of 491 apiece, they have surged by a remarkable 500% to trade at the current price of 2,895 apiece.

Over the last one year, the shares have jumped 214%, and in the last four years, they have gained 1260%. For CY23, the stock delivered a stellar return of 114%, while it continued to surge for the current year as it is already up by 106%.

Architectural film: The next growth engine for SCF Architectural films are specialised films applied to glass surfaces in buildings for various purposes. They are used to enhance aesthetic appeal, improve energy efficiency, provide privacy, and protect interiors from harmful UV rays and heat.

The company said its architectural film segment experienced significant growth during the June quarter, driven by the introduction of new products. The company anticipates that this growth will continue in the coming years.

It launched Spectra Pro Architectural Films, designed for high heat rejection and high visible light transmission (VLT). These films are particularly appealing to luxury homeowners, commercial hotels, and corporate properties. They offer lower reflectivity than glass, allowing most light to pass through while providing excellent heat rejection.

Additionally, the company introduced the DecoVista Series Decorative Film, a stylish alternative to designer glass. The global SCF market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2022 to 2032.
Stock market today: After showing sharp weakness on the rise on Tuesday, the Indian stock market shifted into a sustainable upside bounce on Wednesday. The Nifty 50 index finished 322 points upward at 24,315, whereas the BSE Sensex ended 874 points higher at 79,468. The Bank Nifty index gained 472 points and closed at 50,221. However, the broad market outperform the frontline indices. The small-cap index gained 2.39 per cent, while the mid-cap index surged 2.63 per cent.

Trade setup for Thursday On the outlook for Nifty today, Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities, said, "The short-term trend of Nifty seems to have reversed on the upside. A follow-through move is required to consider this a short-term bottom reversal pattern. A decisive move above 24,400 could pull Nifty towards another resistance of 24,700 quickly. Immediate support for Nifty today is at 24,050."

On the outlook for Bank Nifty today, Hrishikesh Yedve, AVP Technical and Derivatives Research at Asit C Mehta, said, "The Bank Nifty index opened with a gap up and saw profit booking in the first half. However, a late recovery helped Bank Nifty conclude the day positively, at 50,119 levels. Technically, daily, the index has formed a homing pigeon candlestick pattern, a bullish reversal pattern. According to this pattern, if Bank Nifty sustains above yesterday's high of 50,690, it may experience fresh bullish momentum. Conversely, 49,650 will support the Banknifty in the short run."

India VIX today According to Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director at Choice Broking, the India VIX Index has dipped around 14 per cent after skyrocketing on Monday this week. This could be possible as the Nifty 50 index has managed to sustain above its 50-DEMA support, placed at around 23,950 to 23,980. However, the Choice Broking expert said that Wednesday's rise in the Indian stock market would remain a relief rally until the India VIX Index comes below 12.

Stocks to buy today About intraday stocks, stock market expert Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director at Choice Broking, recommends the following four stocks to buy today: Alkem Laboratories, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, New India Assurance Company, Laurus Labs, and DLF.

Sumeet Bagadia's stock recommendations today 1] Alkem Laboratories: Buy at 5512.25, target 5950, stop loss 5300.

Alkem Laboratories shares, currently trading at 5512.25, have exhibited a notable rebound from a robust support base around 5300, aligning closely with its 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA). The stock's resilience at this support level is cheerful, emphasizing its capacity to move higher.

2] HPCL: Buy at 397.20, target 425, stop loss 383.

HPCL's share price is currently trading at 397.20 and seems to be on the verge of breaking out from a cup-and-handle pattern on the daily chart. The pattern is backed by a significant increase in trading volume, suggesting a potential breakout. If the price successfully closes above the 400 level, it has the potential to reach short-term targets of 425.

Ganesh Dongre's shares to buy today 3] New India Assurance Company: Buy at 265, target 280, stop loss 255.

A notable bullish reversal pattern has emerged in the stock's recent short-term trend analysis. This technical pattern suggests a temporary retracement in the stock's price, potentially reaching around 280. The stock is currently maintaining a crucial support level at 255. Given the current market price of 265, a buying opportunity is emerging. This suggests that investors consider purchasing the stock at its current price, anticipating a rise towards the identified target of 280.

4] Laurus Labs: Buy at 433, target 450, stop loss 425.

We have seen significant support in this stock, around 425. So, at the current juncture, the stock has again seen a reversal price action formation at the 433 price level, which may continue its rally till its next resistance level of 450. So traders can buy and hold this stock with a stop loss of 425 for the target price of 450 in the near term.

5] DLF: Buy at 846, target 860, stop loss 835.

We have seen significant support in this stock, around 425. So, at the current juncture, the stock has again seen a reversal price action formation at the 433 price, which may continue its rally till its next resistance level of 450. So traders can buy and hold this stock with a stop loss of 425 for the target price of 450 in the near term.
Even after their recent tumble, shares of investor favorite Nvidia were up by a whopping 145% in the 12 months ended last week. But you didnt have to make highly coveted AI chips to post triple-digit returnsyou could have been selling sweaters and khakis. The best performer in Heard on the Streets seventh annual stock-picking series was Gap with a total return of 119%, picked by retail industry-watcher Jinjoo Lee.

It was a bold call: Lee noted that the retailers shares, then in the dumps, had declined by 5.4% over the preceding 21 years. But, with a creative new leader at the helm, she said Gaps discount was just too enticing to ignore.

Our columnists second-best pick was born out of skepticism instead of a leap of faith. Europe editor and automotive-industry follower Stephen Wilmot looked at the red-hot shares of Vietnamese EV maker VinFast and saw a crash coming. Though its share price had retreated somewhat by publication time last August, the company still was worth more than General Motors. His short bet on the stock returned 87%.

But what one pessimistic wager gave, another took awayand then some. SBB, a Swedish property company hooked on the crack of cheap debt," according to one critic, looked to columnist Carol Ryan like it was teetering. While the company is hardly back to its heyday, it has defied the pessimists. And its performance highlights a key difference between newspaper columnists touting stocks on paper and hedge-fund traders doing so in real life: The bet lost 104%, which would be stinging enough for almost any professional to have cut their losses before it got that bad.

Almost as tricky as picking short candidates, which can have theoretically unlimited downside, is trying to find a winner in the world of drug development. That is why professional healthcare investors spread their bets across multiple companies with a few big winners making up for duds. Heards columnists get only two picks and the teams healthcare watcher, David Wainer, struck out on both of his stocksa company developing a treatment for bladder cancer and another working on skin ailments. Both UroGen Pharma and MoonLake Immunotherapeutics lost 27% of their value.

That was hard to predict. An even bigger loser should have been a lot more obvious. Heard editor Spencer Jakab thought that beaten-down timeshare-seller Marriott Vacations Worldwide could get past high rates and consumers financial jitters with its new and improved business model. So far, so badit is getting harder to get their typically middle-class clientele to sign on the dotted line during one of those notorious 90-minute sales pitches, despite the usual freebies like discounted stays at a sunny resort. Its shares lost 28%, making them the second-worst pick over the past year after SBB.

That stock and other losers were enough to outweigh the seven columnist picks that beat the S&P 500 during the contest. While Heards picks would have made money, an equally weighted basket of them gained only 8.6% through last Friday compared with a nearly 21% total return for the S&P 500 index.

As Heard gears up for its eighth annual stock-picking series starting on Aug. 19 and running for two weeks, is it all an exercise in futility? Yes and no. While we would be middling mutual-fund managers, beating the market some years and lagging behind it in others, the columns themselves shed an unconflicted light on companies that are rarely written about outside of short recaps of their earnings or when there is news such as a change in the C-suite.

The contest also highlights the difficulty of stock picking. That long-term line that one sees representing a major stock index over the years consists of surprisingly few winners. Last year, for example, nearly two-thirds of the S&P 500s 26% gain came from the so-called Magnificent Seven stocks. Without them the index had a gain shy of 10%, according to calculations by BlackRock.

Performance is even more lopsided when measured in decades. A long-term study by Hendrik Bessembinder shows that half of all excess returns for American stocks over risk-free Treasury securities were created by just 83 companies from 1926 to 2019. Most havent been worth owning. An investor could have been very lucky, or smart, and made a substantial long-term investment in a top performer such as Altria, formerly Philip Morris, which compounded at 16.5% for a 2,655,289% return through 2023. Or they could buy an index fund and probably still see their nest egg grow nicely, propelled by a handful of tomorrows winners.

Will Heards columnists pick one of them later this month? Getting rich quickly sure beats doing it slowly, but the goal of the series is to be analytical and informative, not to promise readers a ticket to an early retirement.

Write to Spencer Jakab at Spencer.Jakab@wsj.com
Top Gainers and Losers Today : The Nifty closed at 24297.5, down by 0.74%. Throughout the day, the Nifty touched a high of 24340.5 and a low of 24079.7. The Sensex traded between 79626.92 and 78798.94 and closed 0.73% down at 79468.01, which was 581.79 points below the opening price.

The Midcap index outperformed the Nifty 50, with the Nifty Midcap 50 closing 0.16% down. Similarly, small cap stocks outperformed the Nifty 50, with the Nifty Small Cap 100 ending at 18383.3, down by 76.0 points and 0.41% lower.

The Nifty 50 has provided the following returns:

- In the last 1 week: -3.59%

- In the last 1 month: -0.85%

- In the last 3 months: 8.12%

- In the last 6 months: 11.03%

- In the last 1 year: 23.21%

Nifty Index Top Gainers and Losers Today The top gainers in the Nifty index were HDFC Life Insurance Company (up 2.03%), Tata Motors (up 1.60%), SBI Life Insurance Company (up 1.22%), HDFC Bank (up 1.18%), and Cipla (up 1.06%). On the other hand, the top losers in the Nifty index were LTI Mindtree (down 4.12%), Grasim Industries (down 3.50%), Asian Paints (down 3.10%), Infosys (down 2.71%), and Power Grid Corporation Of India (down 2.67%). The top gainers in the Nifty index were HDFC Life Insurance Company (up 2.03%), Tata Motors (up 1.60%), SBI Life Insurance Company (up 1.22%), HDFC Bank (up 1.18%), and Cipla (up 1.06%). On the other hand, the top losers in the Nifty index were LTI Mindtree (down 4.12%), Grasim Industries (down 3.50%), Asian Paints (down 3.10%), Infosys (down 2.71%), and Power Grid Corporation Of India (down 2.67%).

The Bank Nifty ended at 50119.0 with an intraday high of 50440.75 and a low of 49829.6. The Bank Nifty's performance in terms of returns is as follows:

- In the last 1 week: -2.75%

- In the last 1 month: -4.35%

- In the last 3 months: 4.43%

- In the last 6 months: 11.41%

- In the last 1 year: 11.52%

Here is the list of stocks that were the top gainers and losers during the trading session on 08 Aug, 2024:

Sensex Top Gainers And Losers Today

Top Gainers: Tata Motors (up 1.57%), HDFC Bank (up 1.06%), Bharti Airtel (up 0.69%), ITC (up 0.31%), Indusind Bank (up 0.19%)

Top Losers: Asian Paints (down 3.21%), Infosys (down 2.84%), Power Grid Corporation Of India (down 2.74%), Larsen & Toubro (down 2.53%), Ultratech Cement (down 2.53%)

Nifty Top Gainers And Losers Today

Top Gainers: HDFC Life Insurance Company (up 2.03%), Tata Motors (up 1.60%), SBI Life Insurance Company (up 1.22%), HDFC Bank (up 1.18%), Cipla (up 1.06%)

Top Losers: LTI Mindtree (down 4.12%), Grasim Industries (down 3.50%), Asian Paints (down 3.10%), Infosys (down 2.71%), Power Grid Corporation Of India (down 2.67%)

Nifty MidCap 50 Top Gainers And Losers Today

Top Gainers: Suzlon Energy, MRF, Alkem Laboratories, Bharat Forge, Lupin

Top Losers: Godrej Properties, Steel Authority Of India, Coforge, Mphasis, NMDC

Nifty Small Cap 100 Top Gainers And Losers Today

Top Gainers: Honasa Consumer, Triveni Turbines, Central Depository Service India, BLS International Services, Piramal Pharma

Top Losers: Tejas Networks, National Aluminium Company, Sonata Software, CIE Automotive India, Housing & Urban Development Corporation

BSE Top Gainers And Losers Today

Top Gainers: BASF India (up 9.27%), Triveni Turbines (up 8.16%), Route Mobile (up 8.06%), Hatsun Agro Product (up 5.91%), CRISIL (up 5.37%)

Top Losers: Lemon Tree Hotels (down 9.47%), Balaji Amines (down 7.19%), Astrazeneca Pharma India (down 6.77%), Caplin Point Laboratories (down 6.24%), Chemplast Sanmar (down 6.18%)

NSE Top Gainers And Losers Today

Top Gainers: Honasa Consumer (up 8.87%), BSE (up 8.39%), Route Mobile (up 8.32%), Triveni Turbines (up 7.78%), Kfin Technologies (up 7.77%)

Top Losers: Lemon Tree Hotels (down 9.49%), Balaji Amines (down 6.96%), Chemplast Sanmar (down 6.62%), Astrazeneca Pharma India (down 6.60%), Caplin Point Laboratories (down 6.27%)
Theres a certain comfort in familiarity, a warm glow of nostalgia that wraps us up when something old is draped in something new. Enter Batman: Caped Crusader , Amazon's latest attempt to bottle the Bat-magic. Bruce Timm returns with a series thats both a love letter to the 1990s classic, Batman: The Animated Series , and a fresh coat of noir paint. Its like slipping on those old yellow bat-bootstheyre still kicking, now shinier and newly polishedbut sadly, a little less revolutionary.

This isnt your average superhero fare  or at least its not the way were used to seeing superheroes playing today. The animation is crisp, the colors vivid, and Gotham pulsates with life, the corrupt and shadowy city playing a character in itself. Each episode mostly stands alone, the stories not enslaved to sprawling arcs. Its a refreshing respite from the serialised slog that superhero media has become. This format lets the series explore diverse themes and storylines without getting tangled in endless subplots.

Bruce Wayne, our ever-brooding billionaire with a bat problem, is rendered with a complexity often absent from his live-action counterparts. Hes a man battling not just Gothams gallery of rogues but his considerable inner demons. This Batman is introspective, contemplative, haunted. The series dives into the dichotomy of Bruce Wayne and Batman, peeling back layers through interactions with others. In one piercing scene, Bruce confides to Alfred, Every time I put on the mask, I feel like I'm losing another piece of myself. But without it, Im just a manafraid and alone." This encapsulates Bruces existential dread: the mask is both his salvation and his curse.

Characters like Harvey Dent get the spotlight they deserve. Dents tragic transformation into Two-Face is depicted with nuance, portraying him as more than a mere villain. The show delves into his friendship with Bruce and the heartbreaking fracture as Harvey succumbs to madness. Bruces line, Harvey, youre not defined by your scars. Youre defined by how you choose to face them," hits hard, revealing the series depth and sensitivity in handling its characters.

Yet Caped Crusader borrows far too heavily from its 90s predecessor. The aestheticnoir visuals, Art Deco architecture, and familiar character designsscreams homage. Its as if Timm couldnt resist the pull of the past, and decided to mount a cover version to his own classic. While the retro vibe is charming, it feels like a missed opportunity to push the envelope and truly innovate. Batman: The Animated Series (streaming in India on Netflix) is still the groundbreaking granddaddy of superhero animation, a show that pushed the envelope that this one merely sticks a stamp upon.

Compared to the recent bleak and joyless portrayals of Batman, this series strikes a delicate balance between darkness and light. The dialogue is hardboiled, and the voice acting is strong. Hamish Linklaters Batman channels the gravitas of Kevin Conroy while adding his unique edge. Jeffrey Wrights Jim Gordon and David Bradleys Alfred are equally compelling, grounding the series with their performances.

Setting the show in the 1940s adds a rich, historical layer to the storytelling. The eras aestheticclassic cars, fedoras, and noir sensibilitiesimbues the series with a timeless quality. This setting, blending retro charm with modern relevance, scratches the same itch as the acclaimed but canceled HBO series Perry Mason. The grimy streets, morally ambiguous characters, and intricate plots of Caped Crusader echo the old-school noir heart of Perry Mason, making it a treat for fans of both.

Caped Crusader isnt without its stumbles. The pacing can be inconsistent, with some episodes dragging. Its like watching a young gymnast with immense potential but occasional missteps  like Dick Grayson, say, before he found Batman. Most female characters remain underdeveloped. Selina Kyle lacks the depth and agency that should define her; her scenes with Bruce are flat, missing the electric tension these characters deserve to share. Barbara Gordon, introduced with promise, ends up as little more than a plot device, a far cry from the strong, independent character we know she can be.

One of the most bewildering yet fascinating choices is the gender-swapping of the Penguin. Revitalizing Oswald Cobblepot as a female character adds a fresh dynamic, even though the decision to gender-swap that particular character may be seen as baffling, given Colin Farrells upcoming Penguin series coming to HBO in September. Still, this brave change breathes new life into the villain, offering a new perspective and adding layers of complexity to the interactions with Batman. Minnie Driver does great voicing her, from the cabaret performance to the bat-mockery. Virginia, there really is a Batman," she exclaims when she sees him the first time.

In the end, Batman: Caped Crusader honours the characters roots while struggling to carve its own identity. Its definitely not a game-changer  and it may not feel particularly original  but this is a solid entry offering sizeable amusement to both longtime fans and new viewers. It reminds us why Batman is the icon he is, underlining his heroism and his tragedy. In a world as chaotic as Gotham, thats reassuring. This might not be a bat-signal heralding a new era of Batman animation, but it may be a start. Noir works for Batman. He may be summoned by a giant flashlight but he is a creature of the shadows.

Streaming Tip Of The Week:

The two most art-deco Batman films are the ones directed by Tim Burton. The iconic Batman (1990) and the gloriously weird Batman Returns (1992) are streaming both on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+, and both films are packed with comic and cinematic pleasures. Not to mention the impossibly sexy Batmobile.
News of a fashion collaboration has become as exciting as a bridge-to-luxury brand sale on an e-commerce site. Yet the stakes were raised anew when H&M recently announced the name for its annual designer collaboration: Anamika Khanna, one of the few Indian women designers who run an independent couture brand in the country.

Close to 40 garments for women and men and 12 accessories, including jewellery and bags, make the capsule H&M x Anamika Khanna collection.

The ingredients are obvious: the Kolkata designers eclecticism, love for bright colours and flair for fusing glamour and craftsmanship mixed with contemporary tailoring to suit the demands of fast-fashion shoppers who are constantly looking for something new for office, a party or dailywear that also promises comfort. The collection offers all this without the baggage of heavy embroidery, which is synonymous with most Indian couture designers. Perhaps thats good, because it not just helps bring the price downthe collection starts from 1,499 and goes up to 39,999 (quite steep as an offering from fast-fashion but accessible if you consider that Khannas couture garments are usually worth lakhs)but also showcases a relaxed design vocabulary for India.

At the same time, it doesnt compromise on colour and craft, unlike the 2021 H&M x Sabyasachi collectionthe first Indian designer collaborationthat was largely restricted to chintz overkill and often-repeated silhouettes.

Khanna has used a little chikankari on an oversized jacket that you can wear from an office meeting to a party; kantha on a long shirt thats perfect for a Sunday brunch; an elephant-eye print on a shirt-like jacket and lungi skirt that would work at an evening party; and hand-embroidered patchwork on a coat that will make heads turn. Its definitely not for those who love neutral colours.

View Full Image Ann-Sofie Johansson, the creative adviser at H&M, and (right) Khanna

The collection is derived from my roots, which is India. I didnt want to move from there. Thats my principle in design from the day I started, to take Indian shapes, silhouettes, crafts, heritage, textiles, and make it more relevant to the contemporary world. Thats what the collection is: It looks like its coming out of India, yet it is very global," Khanna says, pointing out a garment thats a hybrid between a shirt and a coat and comes with a corset detail.

You can wear it with a pair of jeans, or with a sari as a blouse," she continues. Nobody should be able to say, this is only for India. Or this is only for this occasion. It should be able to fit any part of the world and any part of the day."

The collection is size-friendly compared to last years H&M x Mugler collection, which, while it included the French brands bodysuits and corsetry in sizes XS to XL, wasnt too flattering for all body sizes.

There arent many female-led independent couture houses who are making noise on a global scale (Khannas streetwear, accessible AK-OK brand tied up with Reliance Brands Ltd for a 60:40 joint venture three years ago). So, this collection, which will be available online and in stores of the Swedish fashion retailer in Malaysia, UK, Singapore and South Africa from 5 September, will show the world the work of this master of contrasts, whos been quietly but seamlessly mixing feminine and masculine codes in India since 1998.

Thats a risk as well. The Anamika Khanna brand isnt as popular internationally as previous H&M collaborators like Karl Lagerfeld, Alexander Wang, Balmain, Madonna, and even Sabyasachi who The New York Times, referred to as Indias most famous fashion designer", in June 2022.

But Ann-Sofie Johansson, the creative adviser at H&M who worked with Khanna for over a year to bring the collection to life, doesnt agree. This is exactly what we wanted. This is our 20th year of H&Ms designer collaboration and ninth year (of the brand) in India, and we couldnt have asked for a better collaborator," she says. Anamika was the first female Indian designer to take part in the Paris Fashion Week. Her style is an interesting mix of the Indian tradition of bridalwear with modern touches, such as sportswear. Our collaborators have always been designers we admire for their different work. And India right now is shining when it comes to global fashion."

Also read: When spiritualism becomes part of couture
(Adds earnings details, CFO quotes and context in paragraphs 3-10)

SAO PAULO, August 8 (Reuters) - Brazilian food retailer Assai posted on Thursday a 21.2% fall in its second-quarter net profit from the same period a year earlier.

Assai, which operates a chain of stores in a hybrid wholesale format, posted a net profit of 123 million reais ($22 million) for the quarter ended in June.

Chief Financial Officer Vitor Faga told Reuters the profit decrease came mainly due to higher tax benefits in the same period last year.

Assai's net revenue rose 11.8% year-on-year to 17.9 billion reais, with same store sales rising 2.9%, adjusted to calendar effects.

"This was another quarter that consolidates our growth path, especially related to hypermarket conversions," Faga said

Assai has been converting in the last two years almost 70 Extra hypermarkets it had purchased from GPA, with the inaugurations almost completed by now.

The firm said that sales per month in the 47 converted stores that are at a more advanced stage of maturation rose 5% from the last quarter of 2023.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) totaled 1.29 billion reais, up 15.7%, with adjusted EBITDA margins rising 0.2 percentage points to 7.2%.

Assai, which has been focusing on lowering financial leverage after years of strong expansion, maintained its guidance to end 2024 with a net debt/adjusted EBITDA ratio of below 3.2 times.
(Bloomberg) -- Californias private sector is lagging significantly behind the broader US post-pandemic jobs recovery, according to an analysis from Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution.

While the US economy saw a robust increase of 7.32 million private-sector jobs from January 2022 to June 2024, Californias contribution was negligible, at about 5,400, according to the report published by the think tank on Wednesday.

If Californias growth rate matched the rest of the country, it would have added nearly 970,000 jobs  roughly 180 times the actual increase, according to the report authored by Lee Ohanian, a Hoover Institution fellow and an economics professor at University of California at Los Angeles. California has the worlds fifth-largest economy by GDP, and is home to about 12% of the US population.

Ohanian used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate changes in the private-sector employment by subtracting government jobs from the total in the state. Since the start of 2022, he found that practically all job growth in California came from the government.

Looking at the more recent period of 18 months  at a time when national job growth was booming  the economist found that California lost 46,000 private-sector jobs.

The total number of jobs in the state remains well below pre-Covid figures, and California is tied with Nevada among states with the highest unemployment rates.

The numbers underscore the loss of both people and businesses in the Golden State since the pandemic.

Californias population has shrunk by more than 570,000 since 2020, based on Census Bureau data. And in the past week alone, Elon Musks social media platform X said would shut down its San Francisco office, and Chevron Corp. announced plans to uproot its Bay Area headquarters. Both companies are moving their headquarters to Texas, where lower taxes and laxer business regulations have drawn a number of firms that once called California home.

In a report last month, Californias non-partisan Legislative Analysts Office highlighted significant job declines in the states technology sector since 2022, naming Google, Apple, Disney and Netflix as some of the key employers. The report also identified Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Visa among the major players in Californias finance and insurance industry, which also saw a large share of losses.

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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday that the Indian government had no update on former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's travel plans. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the situation was still evolving as far as Bangladesh is concerned.

When asked about India giving political asylum to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, Our External Affairs Minister [S Jaishankar] has already explained the approval for former PM Sheikh Hasina to come to India was given at short notice.

We don't have an update on her plansIt won't be appropriate for me to comment on her plans. It is for her to take this forward, said the MEA spokesperson, responding to a question about when Sheikh Hasina will leave India.

Hasina reached India after she was ousted as the Bangladesh Prime Minister on Monday amid mass protests and violence over a job quota in her country. Protesters had demanded her resignation.

After resigning as the Bangladesh prime minister on Monday, she fled to India and is expected to stay in Delhi for a little while.

As per earlier media reports, she reportedly sought asylum in the UK. However, Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, said, "The reports about her requesting asylum are incorrect."

The MEA spokesperson said that as far as India was concerned, "the interests of the people of Bangladesh are foremost in our mind."

On reports of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh When asked about reports of attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh, the MEA spokesperson said, We are monitoring the situation."

Jaiswal said, "There are also reports of various initiatives by groups and organisations to ensure the protection and well-being of minorities."

It is the responsibility of every government to ensure the well-being of all its citizens. We hope for the early restoration of the law and order situation in Bangladesh. This is both in the interest of Bangladesh as a whole and the larger region as a whole, he added.

We are in touch with Bangladesh authorities. We have requested them to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals and our High Commission, he said. He added, We hope for an early restoration of law and order in Bangladesh so that normal transactions and life can return to normalcy.

When asked about the condition of Indian diplomatic missions in Bangladesh, the MEA said that they had pulled back all non-essential staff and their families and that normal functioning would resume once law and order is fully restored.
The Rouse Avenue court on Thursday extended the judicial custody of CM Arvind Kejriwal till August 20 in Delhi Excise policy CBI case. The AAP leader was produced through video conferencing from Tihar Jail.

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case concerning the Excise Policy matter. Delhi High Court stated that it cannot be said that the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was without justifiable reason. In the case, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has requested a short adjournment to address its plea for the cancellation of bail granted to CM Kejriwal.

The Delhi High Court has questioned the ED on whether cancelling Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's bail would lead to his re-arrest. The court's inquiry aims to clarify the implications of the ED's plea for bail cancellation. The court adjourned the matter for September 5, 2024.

Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam and has been granted bail by the Supreme Court. However, he is currently lodged in Tihar in a connected CBI case.
Former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee died on Thursday at his Kolkata home, CPI(M) state secretary Mohd Salim told PTI.

He was suffering from age-related ailments.

The former chief minister, aged 80, is survived by his wife Mira and daughter Suchetana.

According to a party official, Bhattacharjee passed away around 8:30 am.

A veteran leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), Bhattacharjee assumed office as the chief minister of West Bengal in 2000, succeeding party stalwart Jyoti Basu.

In the 2011 assembly elections, Bhattacharya lost to the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, marking the end of the Left Front's 34-year-long rule in the state.

During his tenure, protests erupted over land acquisition for industries, which were spearheaded by current Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

In 2015, Bhattacharya resigned from the CPI(M) politburo and central committee, and in 2018, he relinquished his membership in the party's state secretariat.

In recent years, he largely avoided public engagements and lived in his modest two-room government apartment on Palm Avenue in south Kolkata.
"Four patients who tested positive for the virus have died, but their deaths were attributed to pre-existing health conditions, not the Zika infection, they aged between 68 to 78Among those infected are 26 pregnant women, who are being closely monitored. Fortunately, most of them are in good health," officials said earlier this week.

Officials however insisted that there was no need for panic at this time and urged people suffering from fever and other symptoms to get tested. Pune Health authorities have initiated several measures to control the outbreak  including surveillance and fumigation to prevent mosquito breeding. The health department will also share details about the deceased with the death audit committee of the Maharashtra government for review.

Most people with Zika virus infection do not develop symptoms. Those who do typically have symptoms including rash, fever, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise and headache that last for 27 days. Zika virus infection is associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome, neuropathy and myelitis in adults and children, explains a WHO fact sheet on the infection.

Zika virus infection during pregnancy can also cause microcephaly  a condition where the baby's head is significantly smaller due to abnormal brain development  and other congenital malformations as well as preterm birth and miscarriage.

The virus is spread through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. The insect bites mostly during the day and can also transmits dengue and chikungunya.
Maldives is Indias key maritime neighbour and an important partner in Indias Neighbourhood First' Policy and our Vision SAGAR i.e. Security and Growth for All in the Region. The visit is aimed at strengthening the close partnership between the two countries and to explore avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship further, read an MEA statement.

Muizzu had vowed to end the India First policy followed by his country after coming to power last year and demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel within hours of taking oath. Indian troops manning three aviation platforms used for medical evacuation from the archipelago were replaced by civilians in May.

The development also comes at a time of regional turbulence following the dramatic resignation of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Experts have indicated the possibility of a significant power shift within the subcontinent as the Bangladesh upheaval creates a power vacuum that could be filled by a new government more friendly to China and Pakistan.

Bangladesh has been a crucial ally to India in maintaining regional stability, especially as other countries in South Asia have slowly drifted towards China. The country's main opposition party incidentally has ties with Pakistan and has previously supported insurgent groups in northeastern India.

Neighbouring countries such as Nepal now have a government more amenable to the interests of Beijing. India also faces a similar situation with the Maldives  as it swapped its India-leaning leader with a pro-China one  and Sri Lanka where China's influence remains considerable.
Senior BJP leader Smriti Irani has lauded the introduction of an amended Waqf Bill and dubbed it need of the hour for Muslims. The bill introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday and sparked outrage in the Opposition ranks. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju however insisted that the changes did not interfere with religious freedom or violate any provisions of the Constitution.

I would like to express my gratitude to the government of India and PM Modi for introducing this historic Bill in the Parliament. Amending the Waqf act was the need of the hour for the Muslim community, especially for the women, the former Union Minister told PTI.

Irani had lost her Amethi Lok Sabha seat to Congress leader Kishori Lal Sharma earlier this year by a margin of more than 1.5 lakh votes. Speculative reports have broached the possibility of the actor-turned-politician taking over the BJP leadership after JP Nadda joined the Modi 3.0 Cabinet.

Also Read | KL Sharma supports Rahul Gandhis condemnation of trolls targeting Smriti Irani

The new Bill renames the Waqf Act from 1995 as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act. It seeks to scrap a section relating to the powers of the board to decide if a property is Waqf property and streamlines the registration of Waqfs through a central portal and database.

It also provides for a broad-based composition of the Central Waqf Council and the state Waqf boards and ensures the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in such bodies. The bill also proposes the establishment of a separate board for the Boharas and Aghakhanis.

Also Read | Govt sends Waqf Amendment Bill to Joint Parliamentary Committee for scrutiny

Opposition parties including the Congress, DMK, NCP, Trinamool Congress and AIMIM strongly opposed the introduction of the bill, saying its provisions were against federalism and the constitutional provisions. While some members demanded the withdrawal of the bill, many suggested that should be sent to a standing committee.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju defended the Waqf Board Amendment Bill, 2024, in Parliament on Thursday after the Opposition called it "unconstitutional" and an attack on religious freedom. Rijiju, in almost an hour-long speech, said, With this bill, there is no interference in the freedom of any religious body....Forget about taking anyones rights, this bill has been brought to give rights to those who never got them....

Also Read | Govt sends Waqf Amendment Bill to Joint Parliamentary Committee for scrutiny

Rijiju said the state waqf boards and central council will have women members under the new new Bill. Rijiju, the minority affairs minister, introduced the Waqf (Revision) Bill 2024 in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, August 8. Rijiju said this bill has been now titled - United Waqf Act Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act', 1995- UMEED.

Here's what Rijiju said in Parliament today: 1. No interference Whatever provision is there in this bill, there is no interference in the freedom of any religious institution nor has any article of the Constitution been violated, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said.

the Minority Affairs Minister added, In 2013, it was added to the law that anyone can declare a Waqf. We are removing it and implementing the old definition again. Now only Muslims can declare a Waqf.

2. Problems with Waqf board - dont link it to religion' He further informed Parliament that under the existing rules, many children are not able to inherit property as those lands are given are declared as waqf. He cited an incidence where a village in Tamil Nadu was declared waqf property.

Don't link this [incident] to religionhow can municipal land be declared as waqf, he said, adding that the new bill addresses these issues.

He said the government has received online complaints over illegal encroachment and transfer of waqf land. He said, Many MPs have told me that the mafia has taken over Waqf boards.

The current system of Wakf Board needs to be changed. Do not link it to religion, look at justice, the minority affairs minister said.

Rijiju also cited a Karnataka state minority report 2012 to claim that the Karnataka Waqf board converted 29,000 acres of land to "commercial purpose" land.

He went on to say that good, knowledgeable and talented people are needed to run Waqf boards. "We must those "diversified talent pool, with administrative skill, talent and good knowledge" to the board," he said while citing recommendations by committees.

He added that there were some MPs who approved the Bill privately. "Some MPs have said that they support the bill but can't say it due to their political parties. I will not take anyone's name so that their political career is not ruined," Rijiju said.

Also Read | Opposition vs BJP over Waqf Amendment Bill | Who said what in Lok Sabha

3. Bill introduced after 'extensive consultation' Countering Opposition's allegation that there was no consultation before introducing the Bill, Rijiju said consultations took place at official level, political level, with state government representations and consultation happened across the nation.

He said active consultation took place after 2015 with Waqf board chairmen, CEOs and other representatives. We have held multi-layered country-wide consultations on this bill. All the backward Muslims and the chairman of the Waqf Boards of 19 states and UTs started the discussion. A discussion was held with common Muslims in 2023, he said.

"At that time a meeting was held in Mumbai and suggestions were made as to what should be done to improve the State Waqf Board. In the Lucknow meeting, discussions were held with the top-level people of the UP State Waqf Board, and the views of the common people were also heard. They all said that this amendment is needed," Rijiju said.

4. Law of limitations Rijiju said the government wants to implement the law of limitations. "Because there was no time limit, if someone said that my ancestors had offered namaaz [prayer] here, then that land was given to the Wakf Board. The law to remove the time limit was also made by this house. We are improving it," he explained.

5. 'Correcting past mistakes' The Union Minister said that the government is trying to correct the mistakes of the past. "We bring this bill to tell the people of the country that we could do, whatever you could not ever do. Support this bill, I appeal to everyone because it will get you blessings of crores of people," he said in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

Kiren Rijiju also mentioned that this bill being brought on Thursday is based on the report of the Sachar committee (which called for reform) that Congress made.

"The Sachar Committee has said that priority should be given to women and children. If someone has given his will and is not given to Muslim women and children, should the government sit quietly? It is our responsibility to this House and the government that if there is any shortcoming in providing justice to poor women, then it should be made up. All the provisions have been made in this amendment. The population of the Bohra and Ahmadiya communities is less, so shouldn't their voices be heard?" he said.
(Bloomberg) -- As crypto investors nurse their wounds following a nasty selloff early in the week, many traders are scrutinizing the wallets of Jump Trading in search of answers.

The value of cryptocurrencies held by digital wallets believed to belong to Jump dropped by around $247 million in total between August 4 and 8, according to data from wallet tracker Arkham. In recent weeks, Jump has sent hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Ether to the so-called hot wallets of exchanges such as Binance, OKX and Coinbase, according to the researcher. A move to a hot wallet often suggests an owner is planning to sell.

Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin, was one of the hardest-hit among major tokens in recent weeks. It sank as much as 23% on Monday, and is down about 35% since July 22.

While the price declines on Sunday and Monday were part of a massive selloff in everything from global stocks to obscure crypto tokens, Ether has underperformed Bitcoin sharply during the recent selloff, said Kaiko analyst Dessislava Aubert, who added that the price ratio of Ether to Bitcoin has dropped to the lowest level since 2021. This can be linked to increased selling pressure from Jump and other market makers.

A Jump Trading spokesperson said the company never comments on its wallets or trading activity. Bloomberg could not independently verify the ownership of the wallets that Arkham attributes to Jump.

Jumps presumed selling volume was just a small portion of Ethers average daily volume of about $9 billion this year, according to researcher CCData. However, given its high profile over the years as a major market maker and trader of digital assets, the movement of its crypto may have spooked some investors.

Retail and specialists alike know Jump as a smart-money insider, who receives the spread between bid and ask prices, said Rich Rosenblum, co-chief executive officer of market maker GSR. It was understandably alarming to see them paying to exit positions on a Sunday. Youd expect them to be on the other side of that move.

Still, some in the market are skeptical that Jumps activities exacerbated the moves in crypto. Zaheer Ebtikar, founder of crypto fund Split Capital, called much of the finger-pointing just nonsense.

People think its interesting because its a known player, he said, adding that Jump gets a lot of scrutiny because traders think the firm knows things that others dont. Crypto people love gossip.

Jump has a mixed history in crypto. At the end of June, Kanav Kariya, the head of Jump Tradings crypto unit, said he is leaving the company. His exit followed a difficult two years in which Jump was at the center of one of cryptos largest collapses. The firm was a major backer of the failed TerraUSD stablecoin project, and it was among trading firms questioned by US prosecutors in a probe of the tokens 2022 collapse.

The Chicago-based trading house also had to provide about $320 million to cover losses at the crypto project Wormhole after it was hacked in 2022. Jump spun off Wormhole last year, with several of the projects staffers leaving the firm to run it as an independent entity.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is investigating Jumps crypto trading and investment activities, Fortune reported on June 20.

Jump pulled back from its digital-asset trading activities in the US last year due to regulatory uncertainty in the region. It remains an active player in the sector, however. Its crypto holdings are up slightly since the beginning of the year to about $434 million, according to Arkham.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- Everyone involved agrees on the basic facts about March 8, 2022  a venture capitalist and a startup co-founder spent a big night on the sidelines of a Miami conference. There, agreement ends. Cailin Hardell says the middle-aged VC investor and another CEO backed by his firm got her drunk and sexually assaulted her. They maintain the encounter was consensual.

After Hardell reported the incident to the head of Blumberg Capital LLC, she claims in a lawsuit, the firm refused to provide more funding for her company, Segmed, unless she agreed to keep quiet about her complaint, and when she refused, Blumberg Capital sought to kill the startup. The firm said it fired the investor involved and denies the retaliation allegations.

The civil suit, which has escaped major media attention, is now in pretrial fact finding in state court in San Francisco. It has become the first significant test of a measure approved by California lawmakers in 2018 to fight investor harassment of entrepreneurs, who dont fit into the traditional framework of laws covering employees and werent explicitly protected.

However it unfolds, the case shows that the tech industry is still grappling with issues around gender power dynamics and appropriate behavior seven years after the #MeToo movement shined a light on widespread sexual misconduct.

It doesnt feel like anything has changed, Hardell told Bloomberg News. She says she hopes that pursuing her lawsuit encourages more accountability in the industry.

The gender divide persists in the VC ecosystem, with women holding just over 17% of general partner positions at venture firms and three-quarters of all funds raised for startups going to all-male founding teams, according to data compiled by J. Thelander Consulting and PitchBook.

Long after hundreds of venture capitalists signed LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffmans so-called Decency Pledge, a 2023 survey by the nonprofit Women Who Tech found that almost 60% of female founders experienced discrimination in the previous 12 months. About 40% of those founders said theyd been harassed, only a slight decline since #MeToos heyday. Historically, when women in tech have turned to the legal system, it has delivered mixed results. Class-action gender discrimination suits against Microsoft Corp. and Twitter over pay disparities were rejected by judges. Similar cases against Alphabet Inc. and Oracle Corp. brought on behalf of thousands of women settled for $118 million and $25 million, respectively  pocket change for the giant companies.Shareholder complaints involving women being mistreated in the workplace led to a $310 million settlement by Google in 2020 and a $50 million accord with Pinterest in 2021  on top of a $22.5 million payout to the social networking sites former chief operating officer who had alleged sexism and retaliation. Neither company admitted wrongdoing in those out-of-court settlements.But Silicon Valley hasnt seen a high-profile gender dispute go to a jury trial since Ellen Pao lost her discrimination and retaliation suit against venture firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers in 2015. The vast majority of such complaints against companies and individuals are resolved privately with no public record of what accused wrongdoers paid or didnt pay.

I hear from female CEOs a couple of times a month who have had horrible experiences where investors and board members have discriminated against or harassed them, Pao said in an interview. She said its disappointing that the behavior continues in an era when workplaces regularly conduct anti-harassment training, and all levels of employees are deeply aware of the issue. Board members need to hold their peers accountable, because it wont stop until they decide to use their power to make it stop, she added.

Prior to founding Segmed, Hardell was a contractor for Alphabets Verily Life Sciences and earned a masters degree in bioengineering from Stanford. Her startup, which collected large datasets of medical images for use by researchers and others, launched just as powerful AI algorithms that can build on that type of data were becoming prevalent. While other companies have since caught up to Segmed in many ways, at the time it was ahead.

When Hardell went to Miami in 2022, part of her agenda was to raise the profile of her rapidly growing company. Once there, she joined Blumberg Capital senior director Adrian Vanzyl for dinner, along with Waleed Mohsen, who was the chief executive officer of MyNurse.ai, another health startup in Blumbergs portfolio.

As the night went on, the group moved from wine to vodka, and Hardell was pressured to imbibe, according to the suit. Afterward, the men took her to the beach and assaulted her  despite her efforts to resist, according to the complaint. Then, she claims, they took to a her to bar and pushed her to drink shots of tequila before they took her to a hotel room and continued to assault her.

David Blumberg, founder and managing partner of Blumberg Capital, told Bloomberg News the firm took Hardells complaint about the Miami incident very seriously and immediately launched an investigation led by a former federal prosecutor. In a court filing, his firm generally denies each and every allegation.

Vanzyl called the incident entirely consensual in a court filing. Vanzyl also claims he shouldnt have been sued in California because he lived in Florida. 'While I do not intend to litigate this matter in the media, I vehemently deny Ms. Hardells unsubstantiated allegations, Vanzyl said in a statement issued by his lawyer, Brian Sinclair.

Mohsen also denied wrongdoing and his lawyer said in a court filing that he was of the highest character and someone who has a track record of empowering women. Hardell dropped him from her suit in March, but her court filing didnt specify whether there was a settlement. Mr. Mohsen and Ms. Hardell have privately and amicably resolved the matter, his lawyer, Steven Friedlander, said in a statement.

If the case goes to trial, it poses risks for both sides.

Proving in court that drunken sex was nonconsensual is notoriously difficult. Juries may find that a woman put herself in danger because of her behavior unless she can show she was coerced into drinking so much alcohol she couldnt give reasonable consent.

Context really matters, said Cliff Palefsky, an employment lawyer in San Francisco not involved in the case.

Hardell cited one piece of physical evidence in her complaint: A medical examination that took place after she called a rape hotline showed she had vaginal tearing and cervical trauma.

But apart from that, public court filings dont reveal whether anyone besides Hardell, Vanzyl or Mohsen witnessed any of their after-dinner interactions on the night in question. Nor do the filings hint at any written or recorded communications, like texts, emails or voicemail messages, that might bolster or undermine her allegations.

A representative for the Miami Beach Police Department confirmed that it opened an investigation into a complaint filed by Hardell, but declined to comment.

If Hardell faces a challenge establishing that she was assaulted, she may nonetheless be able to pursue her claim that Blumberg Capital retaliated against her and ruined her career  which could expose the VC firm to extensive monetary damages even though it wasnt her employer.

You can win on retaliation even if the underlying claim was not valid as long as the complaint was made in good faith, Palefsky said. It is often easier to prove.

Palefsky said no one would come out ahead if the case goes to trial because of the impacts on everyones reputations and businesses. But he said it would be important as a legal precedent if Hardells attempt to hold non-employers liable succeeds.

In the aftermath of the incident, Blumberg Capital said that at Hardells request and at the firms discretion, it removed Vanzyl from the Segmed board and terminated his employment. Hardell, who was emotionally distraught, left her role as CEO of Segmed and later stepped down from the board. She claims in the suit that Blumberg Capital insisted she not be rehired as retaliation for her speaking out. The firm denies this.

Theres also a dispute about whether Blumberg Capital cut Segmed off from more funding because Hardell refused to sign a severance agreement with the startup that included a provision that she not say anything negative about Vanzyl or the VC firm.

Such provisions are another hot-button legal issue in tech. Under a California law known as the Silenced No More Act that went into effect weeks before the alleged assault, non-disparagement agreements attached to terminations are illegal if they deny the right to disclose information about illegal acts such as harassment.

A spokesperson for Blumberg Capital said in a statement that it repeatedly offered to reinvest in Segmed in 2022 after the Miami incident with no requirement that Hardell sign any non-disparagement or confidentiality provisions.The 2018 amendment to the workplace harassment law at the heart of Hardells case was inspired partly by revelations about sexual misconduct in Silicon Valley. The revision recognized that VCs and private equity financiers wield tremendous power over tech entrepreneurs, even though they do not have traditional manager-employee relationships.

Blumberg Capitals first effort to get the case thrown out failed. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Ulmer ruled that Hardell adequately alleged that Blumberg Capital aided acts of retaliation, rejecting the firms argument that she couldnt pursue the claim because it was never her employer.

Ulmer also dismissed the California-founded firms contention that it couldnt be sued in the state for an incident that took place in Florida. Without addressing the merits of Hardells claims, the judge said she could seek to hold Blumberg Capital liable for her trauma, finding that she sufficiently alleged outrageous conduct.The men who Hardell blames for her ordeal have moved on. Vanzyl now has a new stealth startup, according to his LinkedIn profile, and Mohsen is still a CEO. For its part, Segmed completed a $5.2 million funding round with new VC firms months after Hardell left  and Blumberg Capital participated in the startups latest round in April.

Meanwhile, Hardell said, shes been diagnosed with dissociative post-traumatic stress disorder, and is taking daily medication to control panic attacks and anxiety. She is no longer the 20-something CEO of a likely unicorn startup, according to her suit.

Ive been forced to take a path that was a bit diminished, she said in an interview, noting that shes now the chief operating officer of a wellness startup. My environment, impact, reach that I have, all of these things are quite a bit smaller.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
A hoarding at a religious gathering in Tamil Nadu featured a picture of former adult movie star Mia Khalifa. The hoarding went viral on the internet almost immediately after that.

The hoarding was erected at the 'Aadi' festival in the Kancheepuram district. The 'Aadi' festival is celebrated across Tamil Nadu to worship Goddess Amman (Parvati). As the villages in the state celebrate the festival with great favour, thousands attend the grand celebrations.

In one grand celebration, a hoarding lit up with lights featured Mia along with the picture of deities. This hoarding was spotted in Kuruvimalai's Nagathamman and Selliyamman temples.

The adult film star's picture was modified such that it seemed like she was carrying a "paal kudam" or a milk vessel, which is a part of the traditional offering made at the temple during the festival.

Interestingly, it also featured images of men who made the hoarding in an Aadhaar card-style format. Photos of the billboard were swiftly shared on social media, igniting a debate. The police were notified of the incident, and the authorities took swift action to remove the billboard.

After the image of the hoarding went viral, Magaral Police Station removed the hoarding, reported news agency IANS. However, the local authorities have not yet provided an explanation for how the image of Mia Khalifa was used in the hoarding, and it remains unclear whether it was a deliberate act or an unintentional error.

Also Read | Chilling video! Massive python gets trapped in fishing net in Karnataka village

Watch video of the hoarding here:

Netizens reacted to the hoarding and said, "Tamil Nadu poster addiction is next level."

"India is not for beginners...Kitne tejaswi log hain hamare pass...ULTRA PRO MAX FAN," another added.
People across the Indian subcontinent will celebrate Nag Panchami on Friday with devotees thronging temples to offer their prayers to Lord Shiva and Nag. The puja muhurat will occur early on Friday morning with the panchami tithi ending on Saturday. Nag Panchami is also celebrated by a significant number of devotees in Nepal.

The occasion is marked by several rituals to honour the serpent gods  including the offer of sweets and flowers to snake idols and images. In some parts of the country devotees can also be seen offering milk to live cobras.

Puja Muhurat

The Nag Panchami tithi will begin at 12:36 pm on August 9 and end the next day. The puja muhurat will extend from 5:25 am to 8:00 am on Friday.

Wishes and messages to share Celebrate the auspicious day of Nag Panchami with joy and help people understand the values of Lord Shiva. Happy Nag Panchami.

The mere utterance of OM Namah Shivaya with devotion is substantial to make you feel the power of God within you. Happy Nag Panchami!

Nag Panchami 2024: Puja muhurat, significance, wishes, WhatsApp messages, Facebook status, images that you can share

Happy Nag Panchami to everyone celebrating this day with their friends and family. I wish nothing but pure joy and prosperity for you. May God bless you with a happy and healthy life.

Many people believe that pooja offered to snakes can reach Nag Devta. We should treat snakes with respect and devotion if we want Nag Devta to fulfill our wishes. Happy Nag Panchami.

Nag Panchami is finally here, so make a wish and pray with a smile. May the Lord grant you all that you wish and may each day be happy and worthwhile. Happy Nag Panchami!

Nag Panchami 2024: Puja muhurat, significance, wishes, WhatsApp messages, Facebook status, images that you can share
Bulgarias parliament introduced changes to its education law on Wednesday banning what it calls LGBTQ propaganda in schools, a move slammed by campaign groups.

The Pre-school and School Education Act now prohibits propaganda, promotion and incitement in any way, directly or indirectly, of ideas and views related to non-traditional sexual orientation and/or the determination of gender identity other than biological. The text doesnt provide further details.

Kostadin Kostadinov said he was happy with the legislation which his nationalist Revival Party drafted, telling reporters in the capital, Sofia this propaganda is not humane and is not accepted in Bulgaria.

The amendment was passed in just one session by 159 votes to 22 in the 240-seat strong parliament, with 13 abstentions. Hundreds of people protested outside the building for a second day on Thursday, carrying posters bearing slogans such as my life is a fact, not propaganda.

Campaign groups criticized what they said was an attack on childrens rights that panders to far-right voters and political parties aligned with Russia, which has progressively cracked down on its LGBTQ community and introduced similar legislation in 2012.

The Revival Party and supporters of the amendment claim that this is to protect young people, said Chaber, Executive Director of Brussels-based ILGA-Europe, an independent, non-governmental organization uniting over 700 organizations from across Europe and central Asia. However, the truth is that this is an attack on the rights of children, particularly LGBTI children.

Given the extremely fast-tracked procedure for this law, its clear political aim is to scapegoat LGBTI people and legislate against their human rights, Chaber added.

Bulgaria has been mired in political instability since anti-graft protests in 2020. After the collapse of talks aimed at forging a ruling coalition earlier this month, the Balkan country is now facing its seventh general election in 3.5 years, probably in October.

Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007. But the chaos has slowed the countrys progress toward adopting the euro currency and accessing EU funds. It has also helped boost pro-Russian populists skeptical of further integration  including the Revival Party, which has rarely had such success in pushing through a proposal.

A spokesperson for the European Commission declined to comment on the legislation, saying only we have a clear stance on discrimination and we stand for the union where you can be who you are. The Commission is challenging a similar law passed in Hungary in 2021.

During the parliamentary debate, Sofia-based LGBTQ rights group Deystvie said that deputies used hate speech and wholly discriminatory statements that tend to undermine the foundations of democracy and the rule of law.

Deystvies chairperson, Denitsa Lyubenova, called the law absurd.

It is absolutely borrowed from the Russian legislation before it eventually declared the LGBT movement as extremist, Lyubenova said. What the Bulgarian parliament approved could well be just the beginning of a repressive policy against various minority groups in Bulgaria.

Russian-style laws are being copied by other countries seeking to put controls on civil society:
Indian visa application centres in Bangladesh will close indefinitely due to the volatile situation in the neighbouring country, India Today reported.

Applicants were informed that they will be notified of the next date through SMS and that their passports should be collected the next working day, the report added.

"All Indian visa application centres will remain closed till further notice, due to the unstable situation. The next application date will be informed through SMS and it is requested to pick up the passport on the next working day," the notice said, as per the report.

The student protests in Bangladesh, which began with demands for removal of quota for independence fighters families in government jobs, spun into anti-government demonstrations over the past months. It all came to a head last Sunday (August 4), with now ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigning from the post and fleeing to India.

Diplomats remain in High Commission; families, non-essential staff evacuated On August 7. the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh evacuated non-essential staff and families from Dhaka on a voluntary basis, through commercial flight, sources from the embassy said. They added that all diplomats will remain in the High Commission, as it continues to be functional.

Besides the High Commission or embassy in the capital Dhaka, India has assistant high commissions or consulates in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet.

India in touch with authorities On August 6, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed the Parliament that India has been "in regular touch with authorities in Dhaka" and the Indian community in Bangladesh.

As violence continued throughout July [in Bangladesh], we repeatedly counselled restrain and urged the situation be diffused through dialogue. Similar urgings were made to various political forces with whom we were in touch, Jaishankar said.

He also assured that India expected Bangladesh to provide the required security protection for the assisstant consulates in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet.

Also Read | States should propose removal of GST on insurance at Council meet: Sitharaman

Bangladesh has been witnessing nationwide protests since June over a special job quota bill that allowed reservations for families of veterans who fought the 1971 liberation war. The protests turned violent last month.
Keir Starmer called for a mature conversation with social media companies to limit malicious content thats stoked days of rioting in the UK. Instead, he found himself in an escalating online confrontation with Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X.

Now, the UK is mulling steps to tighten the regulation of platforms like Musks  and finding it has few levers, especially when the owner is a major amplifier of misinformation. One step would be to revive a key provision in the Online Safety Act, set to be implemented later this year, giving authorities more power to force social media companies to curb harmful content, according to people familiar with the situation.

Musks enormous reach and influence has limited the governments ability to force X to do more to limit racist content that has fueled violence on British streets in a dramatic illustration of the power global technology companies now wield. Starmer himself has avoided engaging directly online with the billionaire  and doesnt plan to try privately either  for fear of getting into a war of words the government risks losing, the people said, asking for anonymity to discuss private matters.

Musks post claiming civil war is inevitable drew criticism from a Downing Street spokesman. But the prospect of direct intervention by the new UK prime minister raises fears of a public feud with Musk like the one Australian Premier Anthony Albanese waged with little success earlier this year.

Some British officials have hinted at the challenge they face in dealing with the outspoken billionaire.

Dont underestimate the impact that he can have, not just on public discourse, but on actual facts on the ground, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle told the Times this week. So, the relationship we have with some of these companies is much more akin to the negotiations with fellow secretaries of state in other countries, simply because of the scale and scope that they have.

UK officials are discussing whether to revisit part of the Online Safety Act, according to the people familiar with the efforts. The bill was watered down by the last government, which removed language that would have regulated legal but harmful content in order to allay concerns of free speech campaigners. The legislation gives regulators the power to impose large fines and, in extreme cases, block social media platforms that dont comply.

On Monday, Kyles office said he met with executives from Meta Platforms Inc., Alphabet Inc.s Google, TikTok and X to discuss the spread of hateful misinformation and incitement.

The next day, Musk compared the UK to the Soviet Union and accused Britain of two-tier policing  a conspiracy theory that has grown online that police forces treat Britons differently based on their politics. On Thursday, Musk shared a post by the co-leader of Britain First, a far-right party, that showed a falsified news article about the UK deporting those arrested in the riots. Musk later deleted his post.

And thats not to mention the large amounts of racist content posted by other X users that UK officials say has helped fuel disturbances that have erupted in isolated pockets across the country, particularly in the north. Musks company has been among the least cooperative of major social media companies as authorities seek to get incendiary posts removed, the people said.

Every other tech company would turn down the temperature in this situation, but Musk is cranking up the heat, said Nu Wexler, the former head of policy communications at Twitter, Xs former name. It might work in the US, but its risky in Europe where tech regulators are empowered and platforms have fewer protections.

X didnt respond to a request for comment. Ofcom, the UK enforcement agency that oversees internet rules, released a post urging platforms to stop users from inciting violence but declined to comment further.

Starmers office declined to comment. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said its immediate focus is working with the social media companies to tackle content that has contributed to the disorder of the past week but confirmed that there will be a longer-term debate to be had about the wider framework for tackling online harms.

Musk appears to be deliberately thumbing his nose at any sense hes held accountable, said Bruce Daisley, a former vice president for Twitter. These people are operating as a renegade business beyond the local law.

An expected night of rioting on Wednesday was averted by a heavy turnout by police and thousands of anti-racism counter-protesters. Starmer said Thursday that authorities would maintain their crackdown on far-right violence.

In the first days of the disturbances, triggered after false online claims that a Muslim asylum-seeker was responsible for the brutal murder of three girls in Southport on July 29, the prime minister appealed to social media companies to intervene.

Let me also say to large social media companies, and those who run them, violent disorder clearly whipped up online: that is also a crime. Its happening on your premises, and the law must be upheld everywhere, Starmer said at a news conference, calling for a mature conversation to take place.

Musk has increasingly wielded his influence to forge relations with senior politicians  including former UK Premier Rishi Sunak who he interviewed while attending a summit on artificial intelligence last year. Most recently, he endorsed Donald Trump for US President. Trump announced this week that he will do an interview with Musk on Monday.

But Musk has also used his X platform to openly criticize governments.

Earlier this year, he accused Australia of censorship after it claimed X had failed to move fast enough to police graphic content and misinformation during two violent attacks in Sydney. Australia dropped a court case against the company in June, in a win for Musk, after months of back-and-forth between him and Albanese, who had called the entrepreneur arrogant and said he was choosing ego and showing violence over common sense.
Three sold-out Taylor Swift concerts were cancelled on Wednesday after Austrian authorities caught wind of a possible terror attack. Two suspects have been arrested in the ensuing hours with officials finding Islamic State group and al-Qaida material at the home of one individual. The Austrian intelligence agency said that a 19-year-old Islamic State sympathiser had planned to execute a deadly suicide attack during the concert in Vienna.

His aim was to kill himself and a large number of people during the concert on Thursday or Fridayhe was clearly radicalised in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels, reports quoted officials as saying.

Also Read | Watch: PM Modi speaks to Indian Hockey Team on winning bronze

Authorities also arrested the second suspect  a 17-year-old Austrian citizen with Turkish and Croatian roots  near the venue stadium. The duo had reportedly planned to use explosives and knives to carry out an attack.

The second suspect was employed a few days ago by a facility company providing services at the venue during the concerts. Investigators said they found extensive material related to the Islamic State group and Al Qaida at his home.

Meanwhile the cancellations of three sold-out concerts has left Swifties (as her fanbase is known) devastated across the globe. Many fans had spent thousands of euros on travel and lodging in the expensive capital city  often travelling from different countries in order to watch Swift perform live. The Ernst Happel Stadium was slated to host the ongoing Eras Tour shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Videos shared on social media showed some becoming aware of the cancellation partway through their travel while others found themselves lodged in Vienna without a clear purpose. Thousands however shrugged off their disappointment to Thursday evening to organise spontaneous sing-alongs on the streets of Vienna. Swifties were seen exchanging tears, hugs and friendship bracelets as they formed emotional gatherings across the city.
Republican nominee Donald Trump proposed three debates with Vice President Kamala Harris during a press conference as he sought to regain momentum for a campaign overshadowed in recent days by his new 2024 rival.

Trump said he had agreed to debates with Fox, NBC and ABC in September but acknowledged that the Harris campaign has yet to sign off on the plan. He also said he believed CBS would host a vice presidential debate.

They may or may not agree, I dont know if theyre going to agree, Trump said Thursday at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

Trumps campaign in a post on X clarified that the debates are slated for Sept. 4 with Fox, Sept. 10 with ABC and Sept. 25 with NBC, dates that differed from what the former president offered at his press conference.

The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump also assailed Harris for not doing a sitdown interview with the media since her entry into the presidential race in July.

She hasnt done an interview, she cant do an interview, Trump said.

Trump had previously declined to follow through on a debate set for Sept. 10 with ABC News that he originally agreed to with President Joe Biden. Harris campaign dismissed earlier calls for a debate on Fox, an outlet friendly to Trump and Republicans, banking that the ABC forum would go ahead if any of the qualified candidates attend.

Thursdays post on social media from his campaign suggests that Trump is agreeing to the ABC debate he had previously balked at attending.

Trump has previously dismissed the need for a debate, saying theres no reason to participate because hes leading in the polls and everybody knows him. Trump has led for much of the race, but Harris has cut into his margin in recent weeks. A Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll from July shows a dead-heat across seven swing states. Some national polls have found her mounting a small lead.

Earlier this year, Trump exerted heavy pressure on Biden to debate Anytime. Anywhere. Anyplace. In Trumps June debate with Biden, the president delivered a disastrous performance that eventually led him to end his reelection bid and endorse Harris.

With assistance from Josh Wingrove.
Bill Barr must be smiling. A federal judge on Monday tagged Google as an illegal monopolist in the antitrust case he championed as Trump Attorney General. While nobody can feel sorry for a company valued at $2 trillion, the judges 286-page ruling finds that Google acts like a monopolist but without harming consumers. This could pose some problems on appeal.

The Justice Department sued Google nearly four years ago for maintaining an illegal search engine monopoly, allegedly by paying web browsers and device manufacturers such as Apple to be featured as their default search engine. Judge Amit Mehta agreed, but with some paradoxical findings.

As a preliminary problem, the judge narrowly defined the market in which Google allegedly boasts a monopoly as general search text advertising." This excludes competing social media platforms, online retailers and specialized vertical providers" such as Yelp that backed DOJs lawsuit.

The judge says 90% of search queries are run on Google, and its only major general search competitor is Microsoft (now valued at $3 trillion). However, the judge concedes that Microsoft was slow in adapting its search engine for mobile devices, causing it to lose ground.

Google has not achieved market dominance by happenstance. It has hired thousands of highly skilled engineers, innovated consistently, and made shrewd business decisions," Judge Mehta writes. The result is the industrys highest quality search engine, which has earned Google the trust of hundreds of millions of daily users."

So whats the antitrust problem? The judge says Googles advertising revenue-sharing payments to Apple, Mozilla and others for default placement have made it harder for potential startups and Microsoft to compete.

Yet users can switch to other search engines if they want. And Judge Mehta notes that Apple and Mozilla have promotional deals" with other search engines. Microsoft pitched Apple on making Bing the default multiple times." Startup Duck Duck Go also made a bid to be the default for private browsing mode searches on Safari," but neither it nor Microsoft succeeded in part due to their inferior quality."

This makes for a very strange monopolistone that does better by consumers because its search engine is superior. Googles partners value its quality, and they continue to select Google as the default because its search engine provides the best bet for monetizing queries," the judge explains, adding that Google has continued to innovate in search."

The judge nonetheless holds this against Google by saying it has leveraged its search dominance to collect more data, which it uses to improve search quality and ad targeting. This network effect" has entrenched its monopoly, the judge says.

No doubt this isnt good for Googles search competitors. But antitrust law isnt intended to punish companies that win in the marketplace. The law is supposed to protect consumers from a monopolist that uses its power to raise prices or restrict choices.

Theres no denying that Google has market power, which it doesnt always use for the public good, and its algorithms have discriminated against conservatives. But unclear is how its alleged monopoly has harmed consumerswhich has been the standard for violating antitrust laws for 40 years. The DOJ lawsuit and Judge Mehtas ruling strike us as backing King Kong in a fight against Godzilla.

Mondays ruling doesnt stipulate a remedy, which the judge will consider after a hearing in September. Remedies could include barring Google from making payments to Apple and others, spinning off its Chrome browser and forcing Google to share its data with competitors. How any of this would help search users, as opposed to Googles competitors, isnt apparent.

Google says it will appeal, and by the time the case is resolved, the evolution of technology and the search market may have made the point moot. OpenAI recently unveiled a SearchGPT prototype that aims to compete with Google, which was late to AI and fumbled the rollout of its Gemini tool.

Meanwhile, if youre looking for more antitrust paradoxes, the Federal Trade Commission is now investigating OpenAI and its largest investorwhich happens to be Microsoft. Will the real monopolist please stand up, or is every large tech company a monopolist now?
ON AUGUST 5th Muhammad Yunus was expecting to stand trial in Dhaka, Bangladeshs capital, in a trumped-up corruption case that might have put him in prison for life. Barely two days later Mr Yunus, a Nobel laureate, economist and social entrepreneur, was appointed the head of Bangladeshs army-backed interim government. Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister for 20 of the past 28 years, had resigned and fled the country following weeks of student protests, which violent repression by state forces had failed to quash. The streets of Dhaka, previously patrolled by armed soldiers and police, were filled with students directing traffic and cleaning up buildings ransacked by looters, including the parliament. Overnight, years of autocratic rule had been replaced with hope for democratic renewal.

Can that be fulfilled? Restoring constitutional order will be hard, partly because it is unclear who will fill the vacuum left by Sheikh Hasinas sudden departure. Her Awami League (AL) party is discredited. Khaleda Zia, the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which has taken turns with the AL in dominating the countrys politics since independence from Pakistan in 1971, has been freed from jail. But she is 78 and unwell, and Sheikh Hasinas campaign against her party has left the BNP in tatters.

The former prime ministers authoritarian rule also prevented the emergence of new, more liberal forces. Islamist parties, which have grown more potent in recent years, may seek to fill the gap. The challenge is all the greater because Bangladesh is now a geopolitical battleground between China, India and the West.

Some initial signs are hopeful. The army, which stepped in after the prime minister fled to India, has shown restraint. General Waker-uz-Zaman, the army chief, promised to form an interim government the same day. He bowed to protesters demands the next day, by letting Mr Yunus lead the caretaker administration.

Mr Yunuss first task, if he is sworn in as expected on August 8th, will be to ensure the country is peaceful so that politics can resume. The movement that chased out Sheikh Hasina started in July when students began to protest against a quota system that awarded 30% of all government jobs to descendants of freedom fighters in Bangladeshs war of independence; the protesters argued that the system chiefly benefitted members of the AL. The government tried to suppress the demonstrators, killing hundreds.

When the courts at last scrapped the quota, the protests had already begun channelling years of pent-up frustration with Sheikh Hasinas authoritarianism and cronyism. The protesters anger was evident earlier this week in the ransacking of her residence and attacks on police stations and the homes of AL ministers. Mr Yunus clearly recognises the risk of continued unrest: on August 7th he called on people to stay calm and help those around you to stay calm."

Mr Yunuss next priority will be to revamp Bangladeshs politics. That will require more than just quickly organising new elections. The countrys courts and other democratic institutions need to be repaired. Political parties influence in universitieslong a source of unrestwill need to be curtailed. And new political forces need to be given time and space to organise themselves. Without those steps, a fresh election could easily play into the hands of Islamist groups or a regrouped BNP, which also suffers from cronyism.

The third big challenge for Mr Yunus is to navigate a complex geopolitical landscape. India, Bangladeshs largest neighbour, presents the biggest source of potential tension. It has close historical ties to the AL, seeing it as a secular bulwark against Islamism in the region. In the last decade, wary of Chinas growing influence in South Asia, India expanded trade, energy and military ties with Sheikh Hasinas government. Now India, as well as hosting the iron lady in exile, faces a hostile Bangladeshi public, many of whom resent its support for her. It is also under pressure at home to help protect the estimated 10,000 Indian nationals in Bangladesh, as well as the 14m-strong Hindu minority there.

Indeed, Bangladeshs interim government and any successor may be more inclined than Sheikh Hasina to turn to China for financial and other assistance. Not that she was averse to that. Under her rule, China became Bangladeshs biggest trade partner, its second-biggest foreign investor, its third-largest creditor and its principal source of military technology. Still, to avoid becoming too dependent on China, she was careful to nurture relations with India and other partners.

Complacency, then worries all round

The crisis in Bangladesh is troubling for America and other Western governments too. They have long shared Indias concerns about instability and Islamism there. After the free and fair election in 2008, Bangladesh went through a period of relative stability and rapid growth. Western governments saw it, for a while, as a regional success story, thanks to its vibrant civil society and thriving garment industry. Between 2000 and 2016 the share of the population living in extreme poverty fell by two-thirds. By 2020 Bangladesh had surpassed India on several indicators, including GDP per person (at market prices) and female participation in the labour force.

Over the past decade that optimism gave way to mounting concern as Sheikh Hasina rigged a series of elections and jailed hundreds of political opponents, including Mrs Zia, the BNP leader (who has been prime minister twice). America, in particular, grew increasingly outspoken in its criticism of Sheikh Hasinas conduct. It also imposed sanctions on an elite Bangladeshi police-force unit for alleged human-rights abuses in 2021, and on a former army chief of staff in 2024 over his alleged involvement in corruption.

Even so, Western governments avoided imposing heavier penalties on Sheikh Hasinas government. That was partly because of their concerns about Chinas growing clout in the developing world. But it was also a consequence of Americas closer ties to India, which has often been touchy about Western interference in its neighbourhood.

Western officials may now be questioning the merits of that approach. America and its allies still have considerable leverage in Bangladesh, not least because it is in the middle of a $4.7bn bailout from the International Monetary Fund (in which America has the most voting power). Bangladesh wants to strike a trade deal with the European Union, the biggest market for its exports. In 2029 the countrys exports are due to lose their tariff-free access to the bloc. Japan has influence too, as Bangladeshs biggest aid donor.

China will no doubt attempt to exploit its economic and military ties to Bangladesh, as well as antipathy towards India in the BNP and the broader public. It may offer short-term financial assistance to help replenish the countrys foreign-currency reserves (Sheikh Hasina sought $20bn in loans from China on a visit there in July). It could pledge to boost investment in Bangladesh. And it could promise to import more from there to help boost bilateral trade, which has grown from $3.3bn in 2009-10 to nearly $24bn in 2022-23 (mostly consisting of Chinese exports).

Still, Chinas largesse is limited these days by its own economic problemsand its wariness of debt linked to Belt and Road, its huge infrastructure-aid programme, which has been scaled back in recent years to focus on smaller high-quality" projects. After a series of attacks on Chinese workers at projects in Pakistan, the Chinese authorities may also be reluctant to prop up a government in a country with a long history of political unrest and Islamist violence.

In the short term the priority for all the countries involved in Bangladesh is political stability. Looking further ahead, perhaps the best hope is that they find a way to coexist, as they largely have in Sri Lanka since its government was toppled in 2022 (in somewhat similar circumstances). But as great-power rivalry intensifies, the risk is that it makes the interim governments efforts to reboot Bangladeshs politics even more difficult. Toppling Sheikh Hasina was challenging enough.

 2024, The Economist Newspaper Ltd. All rights reserved.

From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
The budget presented last month rightly seeks to address the issue of job creation, given the crisis on hand. Its grand announcements are the first sign of the government recognizing its severity. But the approach and measures proposed fail to address the issue.

The budget announced a 2 trillion package for employment and skilling, with the aim of creating 41 million jobs in the next five years. Under it, there are three schemes for job creation and one each for internship and upgradation of ITIs.

The employment-linked scheme for first-timers promises to pay 15,000 to every new employee in three instalments. The second scheme is primarily for the manufacturing sector and proposes incentives for employees and employers with graded payments for four years.

The third scheme is a subsidy to the employer, with the government contributing 3,000 per month as part of the employers provident fund contribution.

While all three schemes are for enterprises registered with the Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), thus catering only to the organized sector, the conditions for availing the scheme are onerous and likely to work as a disincentive.

The first scheme makes it conditional on the employee to attend an online financial literacy programme to get the subsidy for the second month. There is no rationale for such a requirement. It also stipulates that the employer must return the subsidy if the employee leaves the job within a year.

Similarly, for the second scheme, the enterprise has to hire a minimum of 50 workers or 25% of its existing workforce to get the benefit. Further, this scheme is not for new enterprises, but only those with a three-year track record of EPFO contributions.

Similar criteria are imposed on the third scheme. Some of these may have been designed for monitoring purposes, but they look set to place a financial and administrative burden on employers and thus defeat the purpose.

The scheme for internship in Indias top 500 companies is no better. It is applicable to youth in the age group of 21-24 years currently unemployed and not pursuing education. It excludes meritorious students from premier institutions (or with professional qualifications).

It also bars any youth whose family member is a taxpayer or working with the government at any level. Except for very low-skill roles, it is hard to imagine too many youth who would meet this stiff checklist.

While the overall budgetary allocation for the package is 2 trillion over five years, the pro-rata estimate of expenditure for the first year is only 28,000 crore. The actual budget estimate is only 12,000 crore for creating 16 million jobs in the first year.

The real problem, however, is not the implementation design or meagre allocation, but the budgets over-reliance on the private sector for employment. Faced with a slowdown in the economy after 2016-17, the budget in 2019 had announced a massive tax subsidy to the private sector.

As the Economic Survey points out, much of this was utilized by the corporate sector to increase profits and clean up balance sheets without any significant increase in their wage bill or employment creation.

The second problem is in the belief that employment creation is a standalone objective, independent of growth. In any economy, jobs are created in the process of growth as national output increases and/or investment takes place.

At a time when the economy is going through a period of deficient demand amid income stagnation, it is unfair to blame private businesses for not generating employment or investing enough. Incentives for job creation are unlikely to be useful in the absence of economic stimulus to produce more.

The primary responsibility of greater employment has to rest with the government. The jobs crisis in India is not just about providing employment, but also decent employment with a basic living wage. These require the government to use public expenditure to raise the incomes of workers.

This process is faster when the income multiplier effect of such public expenditure is higher. An increase in spending in rural areas and the informal sector not only raises incomes, but also creates jobs, as these are labour intensive fields.

Also read: Employment schemes aim to shift workforce from informal to formal jobs

Also, given Indias large deficiencies in education, health and other public services, creating public employment in these sectors would help bridge these gaps and improve worker productivity. It would also aid a large proportion of the marginalized and vulnerable population who may not benefit from schemes announced in the budget.
Every crisis comes twinned with opportunitynot just to solve the proximate problem, but also to effect a paradigm shift, away from the conditions that led to the crisis. So it is with Bangladesh.

The country has a chance to forge a new politics more in tune with its recent economic dynamism, which calls for a political system that enables free thinking, new ways of doing things and decentralized decision-making. That would help the country overcome a legacy of political feuds that drew in successive generations and trapped them in pre-set patterns of irredeemable conduct.

India has legitimate concerns about the ouster of its long-term ally Sheikh Hasina from Bangladeshs leadership and the possible rise of elements that are not just anti-India and pro-Pakistan, but may also be ready to serve as agents of Chinese interests in the region.

The Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist outfit that makes no bones about its affinity with Pakistan, is capable of fomenting sentiment against India, persecuting minorities and pushing Bangladeshi politics towards sectarian violence and away from democracy. India has vital security and economic interests that an anti-India government in Dhaka could hurt.

However, this does not mean that we should view with hostility any successor to the India-friendly Hasina regime. Instead, New Delhis best bet would be to encourage any nascent political tendency to create a new politics that emphasizes inclusion and democratic accountability.

Fortunately, the newly appointed head of an interim administration to govern Bangladesh and conduct fresh elections is Muhammad Yunus, a globally respected figure in developmental economics, committed to openness and inclusion as a matter of ideology and business sense.

He is best known, of course, for his work in the field of microfinance. In a guest essay for The Economist, Yunus calls upon the country to aim for three zeroes: zero net carbon emission, zero wealth concentration and zero unemployment. These are welcome goals.

While some may cavil that he has not explicitly called for zero attacks on minorities and zero relapse into religious fundamentalism, we must not overlook his call for new leadership drawn from the student movement, an uprising he has dubbed the countrys second liberation.

This snub to the political class signals both a commitment to change and the skill needed to fashion it in a way that avoids overt confrontation.

Rather than waste time bemoaning a potential tilt in Dhaka away from India, New Delhi should reach out to emerging power players in Bangladesh and aim for a consensus on the mutual benefits of cooperation. Yunuss ascent can be interpreted as an olive branch held out to us. We should grab it with both hands and reciprocate.

Indians at large must refrain from irresponsible rhetoric on social media which equates Bangladeshs second liberationtheres enough evidence of Hasinas dictatorial recordwith an Islamist takeover that dooms the future of minority Hindus there.

Indian investors who have initiated major projects in Bangladesh should make it clear that they will carry on, provided they are assured of security. The success of its garment industry has lifted large numbers out of poverty and empowered women.

Lets not express glee over potential gains to be had from business disruption there. Many of our value chains are linked. We must strengthen them. Hasinas departure offers a chance to forge better relations on a new basis.
The Biden regulatory blitz continues, but courts are beginning to do their job to stop the biggest legal overreaches. A Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals panel last week blocked the Federal Communications Commissions net neutrality rule, citing the Supreme Courts major questions doctrine. Welcome to the post-Chevron world.

Democrats on the FCC this spring reclassified broadband providers as common carriers under Title II of the 1934 Communications Act. This let the commission regulate broadband rates and impose non-discrimination obligations." The Biden FCC wants to impose political control over the internet.

But as the three-judge Sixth Circuit panel explains in an unsigned order, the law doesnt let the FCC regulate broadband providers as common carriers. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Obama FCCs Title II rule in 2016 under the Chevron doctrine, which required judges to refer to regulators interpretations of laws if they are reasonable."

The High Court tossed Chevron this summer, in a long-overdue ruling that restored the job of judges to assess if regulators have exceeded their statutory power. Critics, including the Courts liberals, said lower courts would struggle to review regulations in a post-Chevron world. Not the Sixth Circuit. Two of the three reviewing panels judges are Democratic appointees, one of whom was elevated by President Biden. The other is Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton, appointed by George W. Bush.

As the panel explains, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 created a new category of information service" providers separate from common carriers. The panel also cites the Supreme Courts major questions doctrine, which requires Congress to clearly authorize significant administrative actions.

An agency may issue regulations only to the extent that Congress permits it," the panel writes. The more an agency asks of a statute, in short, the more it must show in the statute to support its rule." The FCC pointed to a catch-all in the 1934 law that lets it prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary in the public interest" to implement Title II.

But such general or ancillary authority to fill gaps in Congresss regulatory scheme does not suffice to show that Congress clearly delegated authority to resolve a major question like this one," the panel writes. In the Chevron world, judges routinely deferred to administrative agencies when regulators sought to fill in such gaps."

The Justices have put lower courts and administrative agencies on notice that they cannot read between a laws lines to implement policy without clear Congressional command. Will the White House hear the Court now?
Indias three largest conglomerates have a question mark hanging over them, one that dominates private conversations but is pointedly ignored in public utterances.

Simply put, who will succeed Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata and Gautam Adani at the Reliance, Tata and Adani groups, respectively? None of the three has a clearly designated successor, with Adani being the latest to talk about shared leadership of the group going forward.

Over the last few years, the issue of succession has been brushed under the carpet of family councils, executive committees and other such formations. This lack of a central authority assumes a coalitional co-leadership that presupposes a perfectly rational collective mind, which is a denial of basic human nature.

With family businesses in India extending their sway over the countrys economy, any number of consultants and gurus can be found to dish out such seemingly pat solutions.

But evidenceanecdotal as well as empiricalsuggests that while ownership can be shared, when it comes to running multibillion-dollar groups with multiple businesses of high complexity, leadership-by-committee rarely works.

At the Hinduja group, the four brothers, Srichand, Gopichand, Prakash and Ashok Hinduja, signed a perfectly cordial agreementthat any asset belonging to any one of them belongs to them all. The fragility of the sentiment was tested soon enough, as the brothers successors questioned its validity, leading to a bitter family feud.

In November 2022, the family decided to smoke the peace pipe and settle its affairs out of court, but this came only after a lengthy and wasteful legal battle.

Similarly, at the erstwhile Ranbaxy group, Parvinder Singhs two sons, who were running the business jointly after their fathers death, ended up engaged in a bitter and highly public blame-game once the unravelling of their fortunes started.

The late Parvinder Singh himself had a running battle with his brothers, besides of course his infamous boardroom clash with his father Bhai Mohan Singh.

As Leo Tolstoy wrote in his novel Anna Karenina: All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."

Joint leadership is somewhat like that: when things are going well, no one has a problem. But the moment theres a bone of contention, rifts surface. Strangely, two of the three large Indian groups in question have had first-hand experience of the perils of contested leadership.

At Reliance, Dhirubhai Ambani would have thought the house he was leaving behind was in order, with his two sons running the business together. After all, there had never been any sign of discord between the brothers during his lifetime. It was only after his death that differences surfaced.

At Tata, it was even worse. While J.R.D. Tata clearly named Ratan Tata, a family member, as his successor, the various satraps of the group refused to accept his decision and Tata had to fight an attritional battle to assert his supremacy.

Both Reliance and Tata hit stable paths only after an undisputed leader took charge and stamped his singular authority over the entire business group.

That the problem runs deep can be seen from how a similar dilemma dogs other successful groups like Bharti Airtel, where again it isnt clear who among Sunil Mittals two sons Shravin and Kavin and daughter Eiesha will succeed him.

Some experts have floated the idea of a Walmart-like structure for Indian family groups. The Walton family plays no operating role in the company and exercises its rights merely as a shareholder, while retaining only board-level oversight of the business.

While it is possible for Indias business families to emulate that model, given the outsized roles of incumbents, it will be a tall order for their inheritors to detach themselves completely.

Tata, for instance, had already stepped aside as chairman of his group when he led the decision to oust his handpicked successor Cyrus Mistry. Even the latest development at Tata Trusts, which owns 66% of Tata Sons and through it controls the various group companies, leaves scope for confusion.

A high-powered four-member executive committee set up to oversee the Trusts includes Venu Srinivasan of the TVS group, Vijay Singh and Cyrus Mistrys first cousin Mehli Mistry, who is close to Ratan Tata. But with Tata as its chair, the key question still remains: Who will be his successor as the head of the all-powerful trusts?

At Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambanis three childrenAnant, Akash and Ishahave been given clear operating roles in the different businesses of the group, which would be fine if the three businesses they manage were independently listed companies with no cross-holdings.

Thats unlikely to happen, which means that there will always be the question of who takes the final decision when a group-level issue comes up.

Family businesses by their very nature need a clearly identified successor. The alternative is to fully professionalize such groups, leaving even the topmost roles to professional managers, with no intervention in how they run them. But that calls for the kind of distancing from the business that most Indian owners find difficult to achieve.
Tensions between the Rajya Sabha Chairman and Opposition parties flared again on Thursday. Jagdeep Dhankhar walked out of the House following intense confrontations with TMC leaders and other Opposition MPs who were denied the opportunity to discuss Vinesh Phogat's disqualification from the Paris Olympics.

Trouble started as Chairman Dhankhar refused to discuss Phogat disqualification issue, which led to an angry exchange between the Chair and TMC leader Derek O'Brien.

Soon after the listed papers were tabled in the House, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge cited that the issue is important and not related to any particular individual. He wanted to know "who is behind" the disqualification. However, Dhankhar did not allow Kharge to raise it and went ahead with the scheduled Zero Hour listings.

Meanwhile, Derek O'Brien stood up to raise his point, but could not be heard because of uproar in the House.

To this Dhankar cautioned the TMC member, saying "You are shouting at the Chair. Your conduct is ugliest in the House. I condemn your actions. Next time I will show you the door".

As uproar continued, Opposition parties staged a walkout.

"They (Opposition) think they are all wise. They think they are the only ones whose hearts are bleeding. The entire nation is in pain because of our girl. Entire nation is feeling the pain from the President to the Prime Minister to myself and many more. Everyone is sharing that situation, but to... politicize it is the greatest disrespect to that girl. That girl has a long way to go," Dhankhar said.

Dhankhar expressed his anguish on the conduct of Opposition members and left the House saying he was not in a position to remain in the House for the time being.
Union Minority Minister Kiren Rijiju moved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha on August 8. The bill proposes to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, and seeks to effectively address issues related to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, Central Waqf Coucil, registration and survey of Waqf properties, and removal of encroachments.

Attack on Freedom of Religion Opposition parties in the INDIA bloc, including the Congress, the Samajwadi Party (SP), the DMK and NCP (SCP), opposed the bill. Supriya Sule of the NCP (SCP) requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to either withdraw the bill or send it for scrutiny to a House committee.

The main points that the INDIA bloc members oppose include giving powers to the district collector and bringing non-Muslims on board the state waqf boards (SWBs) and central waqf council(CWC).

Also Read | Govt may send Waqf Bill to House panel amid opposition by INDIA bloc parties

Soon after the Minister moved the bill, Congress Member of Parliament (MP) KC Venugopal called it an attack on religious freedom. Venugopal said this bill is a fundamental attack on the Constitution. "Through this bill, they are putting a provision that non-Muslims also be members of the Waqf governing council. It is a direct attack on freedom of religion. Next, you will go for Christians, then Jains...People of India will not buy this kind of divisive politics now.

Not Against Muslims Rajiv Ranjan of the Janata Dal (United) countered Venugopal's comments saying that the bill intends to bring in transparency in Waqf Board management and doesn't target any particular individual religion.

How is it against Muslims? This law is being made to bring transparency...The opposition is comparing it with temples, they are diverting from the main issue. KC Venugopal (Congress) should explain how thousands of Sikhs were killedwhich taxi driver killed Indira Gandhi? Now, they are talking about minorities, Lallan Singh said.

Also Read | 5 key changes proposed in Waqf Bill, 2024 to be tabled in Parliament today

With over 40 amendments, the new bill proposes to revoke several clauses in the existing Waqf Act, 1995  the law governing Waqf boards. Among other changes, the bill pitches for far-reaching changes in the present Act, including ensuring the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in central and state Waqf bodies.

Violation of Article 30 The bill proposes that the Central Waqf Council and state Waqf Boards must have at least two women on the boards and at least two non-Muslim members appointed by the state government to the waqf boards at the state level.

Opposing the bill, DMK MP Kanimozhi said it is a direct violation of Article 30 which deals with minorities to administer their institutions. This bill targets a particular religious group.
Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP), have decided to oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, which will be introduced in the Parliament today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is slated to introduce the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha on August 8 to amend the Waqf Act, 1995.

The bill seeks to "effectively address issues" related to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties, and removal of encroachments.

Also Read | 5 key changes proposed in Waqf Bill, 2024 to be tabled in Parliament today

Those opposing the bill said it will infringe the Rights to Property, Right to Religious Freedom besides encroaching on state powers. "The Bill can potentially infringe the property rights of individuals and religious institutions without adequate legal safeguards violating Article 300 a," said Hibi Eden, the Congress MP. Eden gave notice to oppose the bill in Lok Sabha. Another Congress MP, KC Venugopal, has also given notice to oppose the bill in Lok Sabha.

Those opposing the bill said it will infringe the Rights to Property, Right to Religious Freedom besides encroaching on state powers.

With over 40 amendments, the new bill proposes to revoke several clauses in the existing Waqf Act, 1995  the law governing Waqf boards. Among other changes, the bill pitches for far-reaching changes in the present Act, including ensuring the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in central and state Waqf bodies.

Opposition parties on Wednesday demanded that the Bill be sent to Parliament's standing committee for scrutiny after it is introduced. The government told the Business Advisory Committee that it would take a call after assessing the sense of Lok Sabha.

At the Committee meeting, the government said it would not press for discussion on the Bill and its passage following its introduction in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

There is a strong possibility that the government may agree to refer the Bill, which some Muslim organisations oppose, to a parliamentary panel. Sources said some parties, which have supported the government's agenda, have also expressed their reservation over the proposed legislation.

"The way this bill is being brought, I would ask if it has been discussed within their alliance (NDA). Have JDU and TDP seen this Waqf bill and have given their consent? If it has not been done, then it is only important that whenever such a bill comes, all the stakeholders, parliamentarians must be heard and amendments to be made if needed," said Shiv Sena (UBT) MP (Rajya Sabha) Priyanka Chaturvedi

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday at the meeting of the Committee, which includes members from major parties and where the government discusses its proposed agenda, that the government will take a call whether or not to send the bill for parliamentary scrutiny, news agency PTI quoted sources as saying.

Incidentally, the department-related standing committees of Lok Sabha are yet to be constituted. The House may form a separate panel without the standing committee to scrutinise the Bill if the government decides on such a course of action. The Bill was circulated among Lok Sabha members on Tuesday night ahead of its introduction.
Goines was 22 weeks into her pregnancy, just past the halfway mark. Doctors at Methodist Hospital in suburban Minneapolis said they couldnt save such a premature baby and that no hospital could. They told her that once the baby girl was born, Goines could hold her until the infant died.

Goines didnt want to give up. She checked herself out of Methodist Hospital and, on the recommendation of a fellow mom on Facebook, went to a birthing center connected to Childrens Minnesota hospital, 7 miles away from Methodist. After Goines gave birth, doctors there immediately intubated the baby to help her breathe and placed her in an incubator.

MeLonii is now a healthy 4-year-old, and has surpassed all the developmental milestones for her age. Shes doing wonderfully well," said Dr. Thomas George, who directs the Childrens Minnesota neonatal intensive care unit.

Medical advances over the past several decades have given hospitals the ability to save younger and younger premature newborns. Yet most hospitals dont tryand parents often arent aware of whats possible or that other hospitals, even just a few miles away, might offer their newborns a fighting chance.

Doctors are now capable of saving the lives of babies born at 22 weeks and, in rare cases, a week earlier, with improved techniques to help tiny lungs develop and protect fragile skin and organs. Hospitals with extensive experience resuscitating extremely premature babies report survival rates as high as 67% for babies born at 22 weeks.

Some U.S. hospitals arent sufficiently equipped or capable of pulling off the new advances. Others have chosen not to offer the care, saying it is likely to fail, is expensivetypically more than $100,000 a child, and sometimes much moreand subjects tiny, fragile infants to needless pain and the risk of long-term disabilities.

Instead, they often provide comfort care: wrapping the newborn in a blanket, placing it on the mothers chest and sometimes giving medicines to ease the childs final moments.

The difference can be a matter of life or death for the roughly 8,000 infants born between 22 and 24 weeks gestation in the U.S. each year.

Doctors agree that babies born at 25 or 26 weeks can and should be treated as long as they dont have other complications, while those born at 20 weeks or less are too small to save.

In between is a gray zone," as doctors call it, where newborns fate can depend on which hospital happens to be delivering.

A spokesman for Methodist Hospital, where Goines first went for care when her water broke, said, Our team thoughtfully communicated the options available to her." The hospital said it attempted to arrange a transfer at her request, but failed, the spokesman said.

After MeLonii was born, in 2020, she stayed in the neonatal intensive care unit at Childrens Minnesota for about four months. Doctors helped her learn to breathe on her own, closed a hole in an artery near her heart and watched her gain weight. Parents should know extremely premature babies can survive and certain hospitals will pursue lifesaving treatment, Goines said.

At least give the parents that fighting chance," she said.

Never thought possible

In 1963, Jackie Kennedy gave birth at 34 weeks to a boy who lived for two days. Doctors then had few tools and little knowledge for how to help such premature babies survive.

Over time doctors fine-tuned equipment to keep babies warm, sometimes wrapping them in plastic. The doctors learned to give steroids to mothers about to deliver and a chemical, called surfactant, to babies to help premature lungs develop. Doctors modified ventilators meant for adults and later invented devices just for premature infants.

Through my career of more than 40 years now weve seen the limit of viability move about a week every 10 years," said Dr. Edward Bell, a neonatologist at the University of Iowa hospital, a leader at treating extremely premature babies. Weve done what we thought was never going to be biologically possible."

Still, saving a child born at 22 weeks is difficult. Their mouths and airways are small, making it difficult to intubate them. Their outer layer of skin is often only a few cells thick. Their guts are thin and can develop holes. They have trouble regulating their body temperature and often fall prey to hypothermia. They usually need months of treatment.

The University of Iowa hospital offers parents the option of either active treatment to try to save the baby or comfort care to those born at 22 weeks. The vast majority choose active treatment. Out of those it tries to keep alive, 62% end up going home. The hospital has even graduated several 21-weekers from its NICU.

In Japan and Sweden, treating babies born at 22 weeks is more common, and in some hospitals, every single 22-weeker is treated. Some 63% of babies born at 22 weeks and treated in Japan survived long enough to be discharged from the NICU and go home, according to a study published this year in the BMJ, a U.K. medical journal. In Sweden, the rate was 58% survival until the first birthday, according to a paper published in the journal JAMA in 2019.

Rates are generally lower at U.S. hospitals that offer the neonatal treatment, according to doctors and studies, though some report comparable rates. At Childrens Minnesota, about 60% of its 22-weekers go home after NICU stays. The USA Health Childrens & Womens Hospital in Mobile, Ala., which has been treating 22-weekers for 24 years, saves 67%.

The gray zone

Despite the progress, less than half of American NICUs45%provided treatment to babies at 22 weeks, according to a study of a sample of hospitals published this year in the journal JAMA Network Open.

Some hospitals simply cant. NICUs are classified into four levels, depending on the type of care they can provide, with only Levels 3 and 4 equipped to treat babies born before 32 weeks. Even some of the higher level NICUs arent caught up on what is now possible or how best to care for such small babies.

Keyanna Chimilio, a flight attendant from Charlotte, N.C., was 22 weeks and 4 days along in her pregnancy in 2021 when her water broke unexpectedly. Her husband rushed her to Atrium Health University City, which has a Level 3 NICU.

Atrium staff told the couple there was nothing they could do for her baby because she hadnt reached 23 weeks in her pregnancy. If she were just three days further along, of course they would intervene," she recalled them saying.

Chimilios family, which came to the hospital, asked about a transfer. Doctors said no, she recalled. Her baby, they said, would be too small to survive.

Chimilios baby, named Kedrick Isaias, was born the next morning at 22 weeks and 5 days gestational age, according to medical records. He lived for about four hours.

Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center, also in Charlotte and 12 miles away from Atrium, offers treatment to babies born at 22 weeks. Last year, a baby was born at Novant three days younger than Chimilios baby. The baby spent about five months in the Novant NICU. During that time, she fought off a Covid-19 infection.

Kaleigh Hughes is now home. To date, the only lasting complication is that she is small for her age, said her mother, Shontegra Hughes.

Atrium said it said it wouldnt have been appropriate to transfer Chimilio because she was in active labor when she arrived. It said it offered Chimilio and her baby the correct care.

Extremely premature babies who survive during the initial hours following birth may die a few days or weeks later. Their survival depends not just on their gestational age, but also their birth weight, sex, whether they are a twin and other factors.

Those who survive can develop vision problems or blindness from their retinas developing abnormally. They may need extra oxygen or feeding tubes at home. Longer term, they might have developmental delays and fall behind their peers in crawling, walking and talking. Some might never catch up.

In a group of more than 10,000 babies born between 2013 and 2018 at 19 U.S. academic medical centers, about 30% of those infants offered medical treatment at 22 weeks survived long enough to go home from the hospital, according to a 2022 study in the journal JAMA.

Roughly half of 29 of those children who were evaluated at two years of age had severe or moderate neurodevelopmental disabilities, while the other half had no or mild disabilities.

Joe Kaempf, a neonatologist with Providence Health System in Oregon who treated premature babies for nearly 30 years, said the survival and disability data isnt good enough to justify hospitals routinely offering treatment to babies born at 22 weeks. Newborns who do go home may become a child with an IQ of 60 who will never live independently," he said.

He worries that families may feel pressure from doctors, nurses and their hospitals to pursue treatment. The hospitals are taking advantage of the innate goodwill of pregnant women," said Kaempf, who now has a job improving hospital quality.

Supporters of caring for extremely premature babies say that while there are risks, results are now so good at some hospitals that doctors can no longer say treatment is futile simply because a mother is only 22 weeks along. They criticize drawing hard lines on providing treatment based on a babys gestational age, because it is inexact and notoriously unreliable. A child with a gestational age of 22 weeks might really be a week older.

Its hard for parents to know which hospitals offer treatment to 22- or 23-week babies. The U.S. doesnt have a comprehensive public list. Even for medical professionals, theres no database that says what certain hospitals offer.

A Facebook group known as TwentyTwo Matters has compiled a Google map of hospitals known to have offered medical care to babies born at 22 weeks. That doesnt mean hospitals will automatically offer care again, said Amy Hyde, one of the groups leaders, but families can use the information to advocate for themselves.

No way to know

Rachel Sherman, a hairstylist who now lives in Florence, Ariz., wishes she had had more information.

When her water broke at 22 weeks pregnant in 2021, while she was living in Utah, the first Salt Lake City-area hospital she went to told her they couldnt help until her baby was 24 weeks. She and her husband drove about 30 minutes to the University of Utah Hospital instead. It has a Level 3 NICU and shares a campus with a childrens hospital with a Level 4 NICU.

The staff there also told Sherman it wouldnt save a 22-week baby and there wasnt a neonatal unit in the U.S. that would treat an infant under 24 weeks, she recalled. But another hospital within half an hours drive was offering active treatment for babies at 22 weeks that year, The Wall Street Journal confirmed.

The doctors at Utah didnt want to delay Shermans birth. They told her, according to notes written in her medical record, about the risk of infection and said the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommended delivery. Sherman and her husband, worried that she could die, decided she should take drugs to speed her labor.

I dont necessarily feel like it was an informed decision because I was told there was no such thing as a NICU that would assist at 22 weeks. I didnt know it was an option," she said.

The Utah hospital, which declined to discuss Shermans case, said it follows national guidelines from ACOG.

The guidelines say doctors should consider talking to parents about whether or not to treat babies born at 22 weeks. The guidelines also say doctors can, in cases like Shermans, offer a wait-and-see approach that would allow patients to stay pregnant as long as no concerning symptoms appear.

When Sherman delivered, the hospital didnt send an obstetrician or nurse to her room to assist in the birth, leaving her alone with her husband, father, mother and stepmother. Staff there said they would let the infant drop out," and that the family should page the nurse when he was out, Sherman recalled. Her sons arm came out, but he was stuck, then stopped moving. I felt him die," she said.

Oliver Lewis Sherman was recorded as a stillbirth. The hospital gave her a resin keepsake of the babys footprint.
The US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has shared spectacular images from space of celestial bodies, planets, nebula, moon, star clusters, interacting galaxies, etc.

Here are a few images from space shared by NASA.

Eta Carinae

Eta Carinae

Eta Carinae may be about to explode, the time is not confirmed yet. It is a stellar system containing at least two stars with a combined luminosity greater than five million times that of the Sun, located around 7,500 light-years distant in the constellation Carina. Eta Carinae's mass is about 100 times greater than the Sun. According to NASA, about 170 years ago, Eta Carinae went through an unusual outburst which made it one of the brightest stars in the southern sky.

Also Read | From eight days to eight months  NASA astronauts may be stuck till 2025

First close up image of Moon

The first close-up image of the Moon's surface.

Nasa released the first image of the Moon taken by the United States' Ranger 7 spacecraft on July 31, 1964. After 17 minutes, it crashed into the Moon on the northern rim of the Sea of Clouds. The 4,316 images sent back helped identify safe Moon landing sites for Apollo astronauts. Until then there were no closeup images of the lunar surface.

Also Read | 5 jaw-dropping NASA images that will make you question wonders of the universe

Spiral Galaxy NGC 3430

Spiral galaxy NGC 3430

This detailed image of the spiral galaxy NGC 3430, which lies 100 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Leo Minor was taken by NASA Hubble Space Telescope. A nearby galaxy with gravitational interaction is enabling some star formation in NGC 3430  visible as bright-blue patches but outside of the galaxys main spiral structure. NGC 3430s distinct shape may be one reason why astronomer Edwin Hubble used it to help define his classification of galaxies. Edwin Hubble classified some four hundred galaxies by their appearance as spiral, barred spiral, lenticular, elliptical, or irregular.

Spiral Galaxy NGC 6872

NGC 6872, a spiral galaxy

On July 22, 2024, in order to commemorate the 25th anniversary of NASAs Chandra X-ray Observatory launch, the Chandra team released this never-seen-before image of NGC 6872, a spiral galaxy in the Pavo (Peacock) constellation. This image demonstrates corners of the universe.

NGC 6872 is 522,000 light-years across which is more than five times the size of the Milky Way galaxy. In 2013, astronomers from the United States, Chile, and Brazil found it to be the largest-known spiral galaxy, based on archival data from NASAs Galaxy Evolution Explorer. This record was surpassed by NGC 262, a galaxy that measures 1.3 million light-years in diameter, according to NASA.

The Penguin and the Egg

Two interacting galaxies, the Penguin and the Egg

As a celebration of the second science anniversary of NASAs James Webb Space Telescope, the team released a near- and mid-infrared image of two interacting galaxies, The Penguin and the Egg on July 12, 2024.
Water on the Moon isn't a new concept. NASA and Indian missions have detected signs of it before. However, upon examining soil from their lunar probe, Chinese scientists have discovered something groundbreaking.

Chinese scientists identified water in glass beads on the lunar surface. This is the first time molecular water (H2O) has been identified in physical samples. It is retrieved from a lunar region previously believed to be devoid of such water.

Researchers examined samples from Chinas Change-5 mission, which landed on the Moon in 2020. They discovered a tiny, transparent crystal called ULM-1. This new lunar mineral, detailed in a study published on July 16 in Nature Astronomy, is about the width of a human hair, CNN reported.

The crystal consists of approximately 41% water. Ammonia in the crystal helps stabilise the water molecules despite the extreme temperature changes on the Moon.

Also Read | Heatwave in Antarctica: Temperatures rise 50 degrees higher

Scientists indicated that this water might be useful for life on the Moon. The discovery is part of China's broader effort to lead in space exploration. It also plans to build a Moon base. Chinese social media users celebrated the study, viewing the space program as a point of national pride.

Fascinating discovery The discovery of a hydrated mineral at the Change-5 landing site is fascinating and will further enhance our understanding of rock-vapor reactions in the lunar crust and on the lunar surface. CNN quoted David A. Kring.

Kring is a principal scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Texas. He was not involved in the study.
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6. Continuous Support: Dedicated assistance and educational resources throughout the trading journey.

About Avenix Fzco: Avenix Fzco is a pioneering fintech company headquartered in Dubai, UAE, specializing in developing advanced forex trading software. The company is dedicated to empowering traders with cutting-edge tools that prioritize precision, risk management, and intelligent functionality. With the release of Avexbot, Avenix Fzco continues to demonstrate its commitment to innovation in the forex trading space. To experience the power of this forex robot firsthand, interested traders are encouraged to visit the Avexbot website and explore its capabilities.
Avenix Fzco, a leading financial technology company based in Dubai, has introduced Botogon, an innovative forex robot designed to transform the trading experience on the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform. This advanced Expert Advisor (EA) aims to provide traders with a sophisticated tool for navigating the complexities of the forex market, particularly focusing on the XAUUSD pair.

The Botogon Way Precision Strategy and Market Analysis Botogon employs cutting-edge algorithms to identify crucial market levels, including support and resistance zones. This feature enables traders to make well-informed decisions based on robust market analysis. The forex robot's ability to pinpoint key levels with precision sets it apart in the competitive world of automated trading systems.

Optimized Risk Management One of Botogon's standout features is its approach to risk management. The forex robot implements a competitive risk ratio for each trade, carefully balancing the protection of traders' capital with the potential for profit. This thoughtful approach to risk mitigation is essential for traders looking to navigate the volatile forex market with confidence.

Intelligent Auto-Lot Functionality Botogon introduces an innovative auto-lot feature that dynamically adjusts trade sizes based on account equity. This intelligent functionality optimizes position sizing, potentially enhancing profitability while managing risk effectively. By adapting to the trader's account balance, Botogon aims to provide a more personalized and efficient trading experience.

Advanced Money Management Tools  Trailing Stop: Botogon incorporates a trailing stop feature to protect profits as trades move in favor of the trader.

 Breakeven Function: This tool helps minimize losses by adjusting the stop-loss to the entry point once a trade reaches a certain level of profitability.

 Dynamic Stop-Loss Adjustments: The forex robot continuously updates stop-loss levels to ensure trades remain well-protected as market conditions change.

Specialized Focus on XAUUSD Botogon stands out with its specialized focus on the XAUUSD pair, trading on the H1 timeframe. By concentrating on this specific market, the forex robot leverages advanced algorithms and real-time data analysis to capitalize on the unique characteristics and opportunities presented by the gold market.

Supportive Trading Community Avenix Fzco has created a vibrant Botogon trading community to complement the software. This collaborative environment allows traders to:

 Engage with like-minded individuals

 Share insights and strategies

 Access personalized support from experienced traders and Botogon experts

 Seek assistance with software implementation and risk management

The community caters to both novice and experienced traders, fostering continuous learning and growth in the forex trading landscape.

Demo Software Availability To help traders familiarize themselves with Botogon's features and capabilities, Avenix Fzco offers a demo version of the software for download. This allows users to explore and test the forex robot's functionality in a risk-free environment before committing to the full version. By providing this demo option, traders can gain hands-on experience with Botogon's interface and tools, ensuring they understand its potential benefits for their trading strategies.

About Avenix Fzco Avenix Fzco is a pioneering fintech company headquartered in Dubai, UAE, specializing in the development of advanced forex trading software. The company is dedicated to empowering traders with cutting-edge tools that prioritize precision, risk management, and intelligent functionality. Avenix Fzco's commitment to innovation is evident in their forex robots, which incorporate real-time insights, user-friendly interfaces, and robust analytical tools. With the release of Botogon, Avenix Fzco continues to push the boundaries of forex trading technology. For more information about Botogon and its potential as an innovative trading solution, visit the Botogon website.
The Amazon Great Freedom Festival Sale 2024 is here, and Day 3 deals are all about transforming your sleep experience! Are you tired of tossing and turning on an old mattress? Nows the perfect time to upgrade with up to 67% off on the best mattresses from top mattress brands like Wakefit, Kurl-on, Flo, Centuary, Springtek and many more.

Whether you prefer memory foam, innerspring, or hybrid options, the Amazon Sale 2024 has incredible deals on a wide range of choices to fit your needs. Why settle for less when you can enjoy premium sleep at unbeatable prices? To help you with the selection process, we have shortlisted some of the best Amazon deals from the sale. But hurry, these deals are available for a limited time only! Explore the top Amazon deals offers and upgrade your sleep setup on a budget.

1. SleepX Dual Comfort Mattress

At a whopping 67% discount during the Amazon Sale 2024, the SleepX Dual Comfort Mattress offers versatile support with its dual firmness optionsmedium soft and medium hardcatering to various sleep preferences. Measuring 72x60x6 inches, it features high-density foam for pressure relief and comfort. The mattress has a premium fabric cover that is hypoallergenic, making it suitable for sensitive users. It comes with a 7-year warranty, ensuring durability and long-term use. Avail additional offers and EMI options on this premium mattress by shopping today.

2. wakeup INDIA Latex Foam Mattress Double Size 72x48x5 Inches | PureLuxe 5 inch Double Bed Softy Firm Mattresses | 10 Years Warranty | Dual Comfort Orthopedic Mattress (White Colour)

The Wakeup INDIA Latex Foam Mattress provides a blend of latex and memory foam for a supportive yet comfortable sleeping experience. With dimensions of 72x48x5 inches, it is designed for firm support and motion isolation. The mattress is breathable, helping to maintain a cool sleep environment, and features a 10-year warranty. Its dual comfort design makes it ideal for various sleeping positions and preferences.

Check out more mattress deals during the Amazon Sale 2024

4. Centuary Mattresses Sleepables 6-Inch King Size Ortho Pocketed Zero Partner Disturbance Plush Quilted Rolled Packed Pocket Spring Mattress (72x36x6)

The Centuary Sleepables Mattress, available at Amazon Sale 2024, is a single-sized option that combines multi-layered pocket springs with PU foam for a medium firm feel. It measures 72x36x6 inches and features a soft knitted fabric cover with a quilted finish. This mattress is designed to minimize partner disturbance and is vacuum-packed for easy delivery. Ideal for single beds, it offers comfort and support with practical features for everyday use. Get this now at a flat 50% discount on the ongoing Amazon Great Freedom Festival Sale 2024.

Also read: Amazon Sale special 8 PM deals: Unlock double benefits this Freedom Sale; save up to 80% on home and kitchen appliances

4. Sleepyhead Original BodyIQ

The Sleepyhead Original BodyIQ Mattress is a king-sized, medium firm mattress designed to offer orthopedic support with its three-layer foam construction. Measuring 78x72x6 inches, it features BodyIQ technology that adapts to body shape and sleep position for personalized comfort. The mattress has a breathable cover that wicks moisture, ensuring a cool and dry sleep environment. It comes with a 100-night trial and a 10-year warranty.

6. Wakefit Mattress | 10 Years Warranty | ShapeSense Orthopedic Classic Memory Foam Mattress, Mattress Single Bed, 6-Inch Bed Mattress, Single Size Mattress (72x30x6 Inches, Medium Firm, Space Grey)

The Wakefit ShapeSense Orthopedic Mattress is now up on a discount of 48% during the Amazon Sale August 2024. It offers a medium-firm feel with dimensions of 72x30x6 inches. Made from high-density memory foam, it conforms to your body shape, providing excellent support and preventing sagging. The mattress features a breathable fabric cover for added comfort and is equipped with a removable cover that is machine washable. It comes with a 10-year warranty, ensuring long-lasting durability and support.

Also read: Amazon Great Freedom Festival Sale 2024 LIVE: Incredible discounts on latest devices and gadgets, get massive savings now

7. The Sleep Company SmartGRID Ortho 6 Inch Mattress Queen Size | AIHA Certified Medium Firm Orthopedic Mattress for Back Pain Relief | Patented Japanese SmartGRID Technology | 78x60 | 10 Years Warranty

The Sleep Company SmartGRID Ortho Mattress uses patented SmartGRID technology to offer orthopedic support with a medium firm feel. Measuring 78x60x6 inches, it features over 2500 air channels for enhanced breathability and cooling comfort. The mattress is AIHA certified and made from non-toxic materials, making it safe for all ages. It includes a 10-year warranty, ensuring long-term performance and comfort. Hurry, grab it at a 38% discount on the Amazon Great Freedom Festival Sale 2024.

7. Kurl-On Orthopedic Mattress

The Kurl-On Orthopedic Mattress is a double-sized mattress designed for medium firm support, measuring 72x48x5 inches. It combines high-density foam and memory foam for back and spine support. The mattress is hypoallergenic, making it suitable for users with sensitivities. It features a premium finish and comes with a 5-year warranty, offering reliable comfort and durability for a restful sleep experience.

Check out more mattress deals on Amazon Great Freedom Festival Sale 2024

10. Nilkamal SLEEP Lite Dual Comfort 5 Inch Mattress, Soft and Firm Sides to Provide Plush Feel on one Side and Support on Other, Single Size Superior PU Foam Mattress (72x36x5, Black & White)

Do not miss out on the 39% discount during the Amazon Sale 2024 on this premium mattress. The Nilkamal SLEEP Lite Dual Comfort Mattress features a dual-sided design with soft and firm options, measuring 72x36x5 inches. Made from PU foam, it provides a plush feel on one side and firmer support on the other. The mattress has a soft knitted fabric cover for added comfort and breathability. It is a budget-friendly choice that offers versatility and durability, ideal for various sleep preferences.

Also read: Amazon Great Freedom Festival Sale 8 PM Deals on electronics are NOW LIVE: Save up to 40,000 on Apple, Samsung and more

11. Wakefit Mattress | 7 Years Warranty | Dual Comfort with Hard & Soft Foam, Mattress Double Bed, Foam Mattress, 6-Inch Bed Mattress, Mattress Queen Size (78x60x6_7 Pressure Zone Foam)

The Wakefit Dual Comfort Mattress provides both medium soft and medium firm options on either side, catering to different comfort preferences. It measures 78x60x6 inches and features high resilience foam for support and durability. The mattress includes a removable cover and is designed to minimize motion transfer. It comes with a 7-year warranty, ensuring long-term comfort and easy maintenance.

12. The Sleep Company SmartGRID Ortho 6 Inch Mattress Queen Size | AIHA Certified Medium Firm Orthopedic Mattress for Back Pain Relief | Patented Japanese SmartGRID Technology | 78x60 | 10 Years Warranty

The Sleep Company SmartGRID Ortho Mattress utilises SmartGRID technology for exceptional orthopaedic support and cooling comfort. With dimensions of 78x60x6 inches, it features a medium firm feel and over 2500 air channels for enhanced breathability. The mattress is AIHA certified and made from non-toxic materials, offering safety and comfort for all users. It includes a 10-year warranty, guaranteeing long-lasting performance. Grab this at an incredible discount of 38% on the Amazon Sale 2024.

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FAQs

Question : What should I consider when buying a mattress?

Ans : Consider firmness, material (like memory foam or innerspring), and your sleeping position. Check for durability and warranty to ensure it meets your needs.

Question : How often should I replace my mattress?

Ans : Typically, mattresses should be replaced every 7 to 10 years. If you experience discomfort or visible wear before then, it might be time for a replacement.

Question : What is the difference between memory foam and innerspring mattresses?

Ans : Memory foam conforms to your body for pressure relief, while innerspring mattresses use coils for support and breathability. Choose based on your comfort and support preferences.

Question : How can I determine the right firmness for my mattress?

Ans : Firmness depends on your sleeping position: side sleepers usually need softer mattresses, while back and stomach sleepers often prefer firmer ones. Try different options to find what feels best for you.

Question : Are mattress warranties worth it?

Ans : Mattress warranties can be useful for covering defects and ensuring longevity. Review the terms to understand what is covered and any conditions that apply.

Disclaimer: At Livemint, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Mint has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.
China's hunger for homemade chips is insatiable. In May, it was revealed that the government had launched the third iteration of its Big Fund", an investment vehicle designed to shore up the domestic semiconductor industry. The $48bn cash infusion is aimed at expanding the manufacture of microprocessors. Its generosity roughly matches similar packages from America ($53bn) and the EU ($49bn), both of which are also trying to encourage the expansion of local chipmaking.

Chinese chipmakers are in a tough spot. In October 2022 Americas government restricted the export to China of advanced chips and chipmaking gear made using American intellectual propertywhich is to say virtually all such devices. This makes it near-impossible for Chinese firms to produce leading-edge microprocessors, the kind whose transistors measure a few nanometres (billionths of a metre) across and which power the latest artificial-intelligence models. But it does not stop them cranking out less advanced chips, with transistor sizes measured in tens of nanometres, of the sort that are needed in everything from televisions and thermostats to refrigerators and cars.

Chips off the old block

As a consequence, semiconductor companies from China increasingly dominate chipmakings lagging edge. They account for more than half of all planned expansion in global manufacturing capacity for mature chips. TrendForce, a research firm, forecasts that Chinas share of total capacity will increase from 31% in 2023 to 39% in 2027 (see chart 1).

View Full Image ...

This has alarmed Western policymakers. In April Gina Raimondo, Americas commerce secretary, warned that Chinas massive subsidisation" of their manufacture could lead to a huge market distortion". America and the EU have launched reviews to gauge the effect of Chinas legacy-chip build-up on critical infrastructure and supply-chain security. Bosses of Western chip firms privately grumble that the coming glut of Chinese semiconductors will put downward pressure on prices both in China, from which foreign chipmakers derive large portions of their revenues, and elsewhere. Even some of their Chinese counterparts agree. They include SMIC, Chinas biggest foundry (as contract manufacturers that make chips based on their customers blueprint are known). Last month it warned investors that competition in the industry has been increasingly fierce" and that it expected prices to fall.

View Full Image Should-the-world-fear-China-s-chipmaking-binge-

Chinese investments certainly suggest ambitious plans. In 2022 China imported chipmaking equipment worth $22bn. The following year it bought $32bn-worth of similar tools, accounting for a third of worldwide sales. Customs data show that in the first four months of 2024 Chinese imports of chipmaking tools were nearly double those in the same period last year (see chart 2). Since American export controls bar the most sophisticated equipment from reaching China, the bulk of those imports are likely to consist of kit used to make lagging-edge chips, not leading-edge ones. Chinese chipmakers have also been buying more equipment from Chinese toolmakers, whose market share at home has risen from 4% in 2019 to an estimated 14%. Because homemade equipment is years behind the technological cutting edge, it is likewise destined for the production of mature chips.

Still, fears that this threatens the security of the Wests supply chains may be misplaced. Jan-Peter Kleinhans of SNV, a German think-tank, reckons most of the new production will be in China, for China". In 2018 SMIC and Hua Hong Semiconductor, another foundry, generated nearly 40% of their revenue from foreign customers. This fell to 20% last year. At the same time Chinese foundries overall output increased, reflecting robust domestic demand.

This demand looks likely to remain strong. Bernstein, a broker, estimates that Chinese carmakers, electronics firms and other chip users buy almost a quarter of the worlds mature semiconductors. Almost half of those purchases still come from abroad whereas they could be coming from home.

There is another reason for the West to keep its cool. Although Chinese chipmakers rival foreign makers of mature semiconductors in manufacturing, they are still outmatched when it comes to design, engineering and product reliability. This is especially true for fiddly semiconductors such as microcontrollers (a type of computer-on-a-chip) and analogue processors (which use wave-like signals instead of digital ones and zeros). Having doubled their domestic market share to around 12% between 2019 and 2021, Chinese makers of analogue chips have been unable to make further inroads since. Bernstein expects them to supply just 14% of the domestic market by 2026. That leaves lots of room for Western producers such as Analog Devices, Texas Instruments and NXP.

More surprisingly, Chinese foundries are also at a cost disadvantage. In contrast to leading-edge chip factories, which must upgrade their expensive equipment frequently as transistors shrink, most mature-chip manufacturers operate the same equipment for a long time. So long, in fact, that established companies have fully depreciated the value of many of their assets. This significantly lowers their unit costs, a boon at a time when competition keeps prices down. Chinese chipmakers which are investing in new capacity right now will have to absorb the hefty cost of those investments for several years. That means considerably thinner margins and therefore less money to reinvest in future growth. If Chinas government wants that growth to continue, the third Big Fund will not be the last.

 2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
New Delhi: Stagnation in product innovation, coupled with a period where retailers focused on clearing unsold inventories, led to a drop in smartwatch shipments for the first half of the year. A report by market researcher International Data Corp., published Thursday, said that the shipment of smartwatches dropped by over 27% year-on-year (y-o-y) in the June quarteron top of a 7% y-o-y drop that the category had witnessed in the March quarter.

Overall, a total of 18.9 million smartwatches were shipped in the first half of 2024, 18% less than the 23 million units that were shipped in the first half of 2023. The pressure in the sector came from unsold inventory of smartwatches, as well as stagnant innovation in the sector leading to buyers not being interested in purchasing new devices.

This has further led to a decline in the average selling prices (ASPs) of smartwatches. In the first half of 2024, the smartwatch market in India registered ASPs of 1,70023% less than 2,300 in the same period a year ago. This, the IDC report said, occurred due to price cuts to clear inventory, and discounts and offers by brands."

Vikas Sharma, senior market analyst for wearable devices at IDC India, said that the stagnation in the market partly occurred in anticipation of the festival period. Several new model launches by incumbent brands are expected during the upcoming festive season, which may help in arresting this decline. However, the annual shipments for smartwatches are expected to decline by 10% in 2024. We will also possibly see refreshed smartwatch portfolios by the smartphone vendors at low to mid-price segments," Sharma said.

Smartwatch market concerns

Market stakeholders, however, are concerned about the overall stature of the industry.

Sameer Mehta, co-founder and chief executive of Imagine Marketingwhich operates the brand Boat in Indiasaid that the decline in smartwatch demand is in large part due to a price war in the industry.

The smartwatch industry faced considerable pressures from brands looking to build scale and volume at the expense of margin. Now, buyers have slowed down upon the will to spend on smartwatches on a budget, which will add the onus on Indian firms to make better, more premium products," Mehta said.

A senior industry consultant told Mint on condition of anonymity that the slowdown was largely expected owing to the way the market evolved in the past three years.

If you look closely, there was an extreme price war between multiple brands in India, which started pushing the average price of smartwatches down to a near-ridiculous margin. This was never going to be sustainable, and many brands were even selling smartwatches at less than 1,000. This was not only leaving Indias smartwatch brands with low marginit left them with no margin. As a result, brands were left with very little space to innovate, and at a super-inexpensive pricing, there was always a ceiling that the brands would hit," the consultant said.

In the long run, the consultant further added that a strategy to push for more premium products will add value to buyers, even at higher prices."

A vast segment of Indias smartphone users are today looking for a premium smartwatch experience, something a brand like OnePlus has provided. Flagship units from Samsung or Apple arent affordable for all, but they are what most buyers aspire for. This gives Indias brands a huge opportunity to cash in on, and a premium market strategy, such as what Boat is looking to do, could define the industry going forward," he further added.

Mehta, on this note, further added, Going forward, we're looking at a new product strategy where we'll focus on more innovative smartwatches that offer buyers better experiences, and in turn, greater value."

Smartwatch market overview

To be sure, four out of the top five smartwatch brands in IndiaNoise, Fire-Boltt, Boat and Boultregistered double-digit y-o-y declines in shipments. Gupta, on this note, affirmed that the brand is confident of reviving shipments in the upcoming festive season.

The only outlier that saw a spike in shipments of smartwatches is accessories major Titan, whose shipment spiked by nearly 69% y-o-y.

The market, however, may improve in the near term. Boat's Mehta added, The demand is expected to rise in the festive seasonwhich can drive greater sales and a bigger opportunity for us."

IDC's Sharma, too, concurred, expecting a boost from the upcoming festival season.
The fire temporarily closed Hawley Road off U.S. Highway 95. The Latah County Sheriffs Offices Facebook page said there were reports of large plumes of smoke traveling over the highway.

Moscow Fire Chief Brian Nickerson said no buildings were damaged in the fire, but two grain trucks were destroyed. There were no injuries.
BOISE  Many of the families, state officials and business owners gathered Wednesday at Lucky Peak State Park agreed that one of Idahos greatest assets is its outdoor beauty.

Foster parents, under a new partnership, will have greater opportunities to enjoy that beauty with their bonus kids. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare along with the Department of Parks and Recreation will provide all foster families in the state free park entry passes as well as access to a new series of free outdoor education programming for kids and families.

I think being outdoors, going to parks, is an opportunity for family bonding that is unsurpassed, IDHW Director Alex Adams told the Idaho Press.

The partnership, which is funded through support from Regence BlueShield of Idaho and Idaho Business for the Outdoors (IBO), fits into Adams stated focus on improving recruitment and retention of foster families in Idaho. He said he got the idea shortly after taking office in June and began speaking to Parks and Recreation Director Susan Buxton in July.

In alignment with this goal, Gov. Brad Little announced Tuesday he is providing all state employees with eight weeks of paid parental leave after welcoming a new foster child. The executive order would extend the same benefit that new parents receive after a birth or adoption to foster parents.

Idaho has about 1,400 children in foster care currently, Adams said Wednesday, and 1,124 licensed foster homes.

Thats about half of what we need, Adams said.

Several current foster parents who attended the media event Wednesday said theyre looking forward to the new opportunities for their families  both biological and foster placements.

Nature is very regulating, and it really helps our kids and our bonus kids, Kevin Watson said.

He and his wife, Christina, have five biological children and have had seven long-term foster placements in the two years theyve been fostering in Idaho.

Becca Allen, who has fostered 16 kids over four years and has four children of her own, said these kinds of opportunities also provide some needed acknowledgement to the biological kids in foster homes.

As a biological child of a foster family, you sacrifice a lot, Allen said. You sacrifice your parents time and energy and their family dynamics. Theres hellos and the family dynamic changes, and then theres the grief with the goodbyes.

The parks department is in the process of creating the new First Time Adventure programs, which will be held across the state and focus on teaching skills such as starting a campfire or setting up a tent. Families and all their kids will be able to participate in the ranger-led classes and events.

The first event is expected to be held at Lucky Peak State Parks Discovery Unit in mid-September, but details arent finalized yet.
JULIAETTA  Two men who watched the recent wildfires burn their properties near Juliaetta came to the small towns elementary school Wednesday looking for assistance.

Multiple agencies gathered at the school to provide resources like housing assistance, food, hygiene supplies and damage assessment for those affected by the Texas and Gwen fires. This multi-agency resource center will also be open today from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the school.

Local residents Roger Eberhardt and Howard Hoskins both arrived with similar goals. Neither men lost their house in the fire, but the flames burned much of their land. Hoskins also lost a vehicle and farming equipment.

Hoskins and Eberhardt both said that one of their biggest problems is replacing the fences that were burned around their properties. They hoped one of the agencies at Juliaetta Elementary could help them.

Eberhardt is also concerned about the trees on his land that were swallowed up by the flames.

It remains to be seen how many of them will die and how many of them will live, he said.

Eberhardt recounted those scary hours when he could see the Gwen Fire creeping up the Potlatch River and heading for his house. He chose not to evacuate so he could stay with the cattle on his property. That meant he had a close-up view of the canyon ridges burning and the helicopters fighting to slow the flames.

It was the biggest Fourth of July display youve ever seen, he said.
Illegal is illegal

With due respect to the editorial board opinion on illegal immigration into the USA, the elephant in the room that the opinion did not mention was the fact that illegal immigration is illegal by law of our land.

Those who come here without permission and circumvent the legal immigration processes are committing a crime and are criminals. It begs the question: How many and what other crimes are going to be allowed?

The current president of the United States and his administration have opened our border to well more than 10 million illegal immigrants, coming from all over the world. The problem is that they are not here legally and are unvetted. It is a matter of law, not the economy or feelings.

Jock Demme

Lewiston

Please water trees

I tried to reach out by phone but the number for our region has been disconnected, so I am writing publicly.

I understand that the park maintenance for the Army Corps of Engineers parks at Little Goose is managed out of Clarkston Resources. Why arent our trees being watered at Texas Rapids and Bryans Landing? Why is the grass dead?

I understand these parks are mitigation for the dams to be used by the public. I have lived in the area for more than 50 years and have never seen them look as bad as they do now. I have also volunteered more than a thousand hours doing park maintenance at Lyons Ferry for the Corps.
This editorial was published in The Columbian of Vancouver, Wash.



A proposed update to the Columbia River Treaty is imperfect, but it includes provisions that are important to the environmental and economic future of the Pacific Northwest.

Last month, negotiators from the United States, Canada and Northwest tribes reached an agreement in principle following six years of talks. The proposal would update the treaty that dates to 1961, defining flood mitigation practices throughout the Columbia River Basin.

The need for such protection is clear. At this time of year, the Columbia River carries enough water past Vancouver to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools every second. On a daily basis, there is enough water to cover Clark and Multnomah counties to a depth of more than 16 inches.

As The Columbian has written editorially: Thanks to effective management throughout the basin, that water remains within its banks. It provides a spectacle for onlookers and fertile grounds for fishing and commerce. There is little concern about developing residences and retail businesses within a stones throw of the water.

The Columbia River Treaty has been a key piece of that management. It called for the construction of vast reservoirs in Canada, near the headwaters of the River of the West, to help with flood control. It also set parameters for the generation of hydroelectric power and an agreement on how electricity and revenue would be shared.

But conditions have changed since the treaty was launched. As President Joe Biden said last month: After 60 years, the Treaty needs updating to reflect our changing climate and the changing needs of the communities that depend on this vital waterway.
Longford bird enthusiasts are looking to assist the environment for an important summer visitor.

Swift Conservation Ireland are aiming to increase the numbers of Swifts breeding in the country.

Numbers of swifts have decreased by over 40% in the past 20 years.

However, this decline is being reversed through nationwide efforts. The Longford branch of the Swift Conservation Ireland has been set up to assist in increasing the number of swifts in the county.

Some of the towns in Longford (the swift is an urban bird) have seen either greatly reduced numbers or have lost the swift entirely.

However, the local branch is hoping to get the assistance of the public to try and ensure the survival of this remarkable bird.

Larry Mitchell spoke to the Leader about the project: The swifts winter in Southern Africa, before coming to Ireland for the summer months.

Swifts nest almost exclusively in buildings in towns. This reliance on buildings for their nest sites has led to a serious decline in swift numbers in Ireland.

The decline in swifts has been mostly caused by the renovation and demolition of old town buildings with swift nest sites, which has unintentionally led to the loss of these nest sites.

Since 2018, Swift Conservation Longford has overseen the setting up of 12 nest boxes throughout the county, he said.

The local project has seen an increase of over 5% in the breeding population of around 250 pairs.

Swifts breed in Ireland, as well as laying their eggs and rearing their chicks.

Larry spoke of the appeal of the bird: They are the fastest birds in Ireland - they can reach speeds of up to 130 mph.

They also eat, drink, sleep and even mate on the wing. Swifts feast on midges. The parents will collect up to 500 flying insects in a food ball in its throat pouch, which it takes to the nest to feed the chicks, he said.

Swift Conservation Ireland has set up a website www.swiftconservation.ie with the aim of providing information and advice.

The site will feature nest box projects and survey reports for every county and will also have contact details for local contacts.

The key to success for nest box projects is using the right type of box in the right location and helping the birds to locate the boxes whilst flying by playing attraction calls.

People can follow Swift nest box drama from the most extensive live-streaming project in Europe at GMIT Mayo in Castlebar at http://swiftconservation .ie/gmit-swiftcams

If people find swifts on the ground, that means that they are in trouble and need help.

A swift on the ground needs to be rescued or else it is doomed. Because of their short legs, swifts are usually unable to take off from the ground.

People can get advice on how to help grounded or injured swifts on www.irishwildlifematters.ie or www.swiftconservation.ie

Locally, the Longford representative for Swift Conservation Ireland, Larry Mitchell, will be giving talks about swift conservation regularly.

Larry will also be carrying out surveys of the towns in Co. Longford to identify traditional nest sites. He will also be setting up nest box projects to help grow the population and preserve it for future generations.

If people want to help to conserve Longfords swifts or get information about the talks, the Longford representative for Swift Conservation Ireland is Larry Mitchell. Larry can be contacted at (087) 2579786.

Both Larry and Finian OByrne can be contacted at swiftconservationireland@gmail.com
Identity Theft Ring Busted: Six Arrested in $25,000 Fraud at Lowes Stores Across Suffolk County

Crime

By Long Island Published: August 08 2024

Six individuals were arrested in Suffolk County for an alleged $25,000 identity theft scheme involving fraudulent Lowe's credit card accounts and purchases.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the arrests of ANANDA GABRIEL, AAMEER WAIGHT, ABILIO SANCHEZ, ANTHONY COLON, RASHAD PROVOST and JONATHAN LYNCE, who are accused of grand larceny, identity theft, and other related charges, for their roles in an identity theft scheme at Lowes stores. The scheme allegedly involved multiple Lowes credit card accounts being opened in the names of multiple victims, which were used to make fraudulent purchases of gift cards totaling over $25,000 from various Lowes store locations throughout Suffolk County.

These arrests allege a pattern of identity theft that represents a significant breach of personal security for victims across the United States, said District Attorney Tierney. Charges of identity theft often intersect with retail theft, as stolen identities are often used to make fraudulent purchases, potentially leading to substantial losses for merchants as well as headaches for consumers.

According to the investigation, between October 2023 and February 2024, the defendants allegedly opened Lowes credit card accounts online using the names and identities of multiple individuals who reside all over the United States, without their knowledge or consent.

The defendants then allegedly used those accounts to purchase more than $25,000 worth of gift cards from various Lowes store locations throughout New York. At least five Suffolk County Lowes store locations were targeted, including Commack, Bay Shore, Farmingdale, Medford and

Stony Brook.

Additionally, in November 2023, GABRIEL allegedly rented an apartment in Patchogue using the identity of another Suffolk County resident without their consent or awareness. To date, GABRIEL has allegedly not paid any rent for that apartment.

On August 6, 2024, all six defendants were arrested by members of the Suffolk County Police Department.

GABRIEL, 23, of Patchogue, was charged with:

 One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony;

 Five counts of Identity Theft in the First Degree, Class D felonies;

 One count of Identity Theft in the Second Degree, a Class E felony;

 Two counts of Identity Theft in the Third Degree, Class A misdemeanors;

 One count of Attempted Petit Larceny, a Class B misdemeanor; and

 One count of Attempted Identity Theft in the Third Degree, a Class B misdemeanor.

WAIGHT, 22, of Central Islip, was charged with:

 One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony; and

 One count of Identity Theft in the First Degree, a Class D felony.

SANCHEZ, 20, of Huntington Station, was charged with:

 One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony; and

 One count of Identity Theft in the First Degree, a Class D felony.

COLON, 25, of Bay Shore, was charged with:

 One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony;

 One count of Identity Theft in the First Degree, a Class D felony;

 One count of Attempted Petit Larceny, a Class B misdemeanor; and

 One count of Attempted Identity Theft in the Third Degree, a Class B misdemeanor.

PROVOST, 23, of Mastic Beach, was charged with:

 One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony;

 One count of Identity Theft in the First Degree, a Class D felony;

 One count of Identity Theft in the Second Degree, a Class E felony; and

 One count of Identity Theft in the Third Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

LYNCE, 22, of Central Islip, was charged with:

 One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony; and

 Two counts of Identity Theft in the First Degree, Class D felonies.

On August 6, 2024, the defendants were arraigned on the charges before District Court Judge Steven Weissbard.

Judge Weissbard ordered GABRIEL released from jail without bail because her charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. She was placed on supervised release with GPS conditions.

GABRIEL is due back in court on August 9, 2024, and she is being represented by Robert Macedonio, Esq.

Judge Weissbard ordered WAIGHT released from jail without bail because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. WAIGHT is due back in court on August 27, 2024, and he is being

represented by Del Atwell, Esq.

Judge Weissbard ordered SANCHEZ released from jail without bail because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. SANCHEZ is due back in court on August 14, 2024, and he is being represented by Jonathan Manley, Esq.

Judge Weissbard ordered COLON released from jail without bail because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. He was placed on supervised release during the pendency of the case. COLON is due back in court on August 27, 2024, and he is being represented by Oscar Crisafio, Esq.

Judge Weissbard ordered PROVOST released from jail without bail because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. PROVOST is due back in court on August 19, 2024, and he is being

represented by Harmon Lutzer, Esq.

Judge Weissbard ordered LYNCE released from jail without bail because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. LYNCE is due back in court on August 19, 2024, and he is being represented by Toni Mari Angeli, Esq.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: August 08 2024

JP McHales latest service - LymeShield - has been making extraordinary headway in reducing the spread of Lyme Disease and other tick-borne disease cases on Long Island.

JP McHale Pest Management, serving all of Long Island, utilizes the latest innovative technology to eliminate pests, using biological and environmentally sensitive methods. Founded over 50 years ago, JP McHale is the leading pest control company with service areas throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties including several satellite offices in towns such as Cutchogue and Oakdale.

JP McHale Pest Management started as a family business and is currently run by President and CEO, Jim McHale, Jr. The company now has more than a five decades-long reputation for embracing cutting-edge, emerging technology and utilizing it effectively for the betterment of its clients.

JP McHales latest service - LymeShield - is here and at a perfect time! This exciting new solution designed to keep ticks away from their clients' properties, has already been making extraordinary headway in reducing the spread of Lyme Disease and other tick-borne disease cases on Long Island.

Lyme Disease is very big on Long Island, and LymeShield is a paradigm shift in how we attack it. We take the attack to the disease itself, says Jim McHale, president of JP McHale Pest Management. Previously, we would go to the property, put down rodent bait, and spray the ecotone area  the area where your lawn ends, and the wooded area begins  for ticks. Some people may not realize this, but ticks don't naturally have Lyme Disease themselves; they actually pick it up from white-footed mice.

And that, Jim said, is where LymeShield comes into action.

LymeShield consists of feeding stations that contain pellets that are strategically placed around the property for the mice to feed on and get vaccinated against Lyme Disease, he said. So, they're no longer carrying the infection, and in turn, they are no longer able to pass that infection onto a tick which could then go on and spread the disease further to humans and other animals.

We're taking the fight right to the source now, Jim added. Instead of just trying to kill the ticks once they have the disease, we're taking the fight directly to the disease itself.

JP McHales LymeGuard+ Service, which consists of the LymeShield system and a Tick & Mosquito service plan is now available to customers. So far, it has been wildly successful due to its groundbreaking approach to combating Lyme Disease. One feeding station is needed per half-acre of property, with its effectiveness bolstered further by the application of several anti-tick treatments, creating a formidable barrier against Lyme infection and preserving the health and well-being of your family.

Once the regulatory community embraced it, we were free to bring LymeShield to Long Island, Jim said. It's environmentally sound and has gone through all of the hurdles. It's now the gold standard.

The LymeShield system is USDA, EPA, and FDA-approved for use in New York State and has made its Long Island introduction with a partnership between JP McHale Pest Management and LymeShield developer, US Biologic, a Memphis, Tennessee-based company that produces orally delivered vaccines in its mission to prevent global diseases and allow safe, effective, and cost-efficient delivery of preventative interventions to wildlife, companion animals, food animals, and humans. JP McHale and US Biologic are both committed to protecting the community by employing effective, cutting-edge pest control solutions including early detection of ticks and the elimination of Lyme Disease through the latest pest control technology. This collaboration aims to address the exponential rise in Lyme Disease cases.

Jim said his company's is committed to employing the latest technological breakthroughs in its treatment plans, continually evolving to provide the highest quality services to their customers. Unlike many other companies in his industry, which are content to rest on their laurels and adhere to traditional, often less effective methods of pest management, JP McHale continues to strive for innovation and excellence.

To this end, Jim cited another innovative JP McHale Pest Management approach -- their proprietary SMART System, which customers can have installed in their homes to head off rodent infestations BEFORE they happen, not after.

Although we're in a commoditized marketplace, we hold a unique position through our innovative solutions, he said. That's why we use our SMART digital technology, which we install in our customers homes to detect rodents and to intercept the early stages of infestation. Often, we're the ones calling the customer to let them know that there are rodents in their house and that we are on our way to deal with it, whereas other pest control companies wait for the customer to realize there's a mouse problem.

Between SMART and LymeShield, along with our other cutting-edge solutions and exceptional customer service, we have an extremely loyal client base and have been bringing on many new customers looking for our unique pest control technology that nobody else has.

Jim continued. We've invested in the technology; we've invested in the brand. That's how we provide an exceptional, elevated client experience and the technology to support it.

Given how prevalent ticks are on Long Island and the dangers posed by Lyme Disease exposure  ranging from fever, rash, facial paralysis, an irregular heartbeat, and arthritis  Jim invites anyone interested in protecting the health of themselves and their loved ones to reach out to his company to get a free estimate for the LymeShield System and find out more about all of the other services at JP McHale Pest Management.

It's a great enhancement to an existing tick problem, and it should really help cut down the instances of Lyme Disease on Long Island, he said.

To find out more about JP McHale Pest Management and the LymeShield and SMART systems, please call 833-270-1976 or visit https://nopests.com.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: August 08 2024

Automobile and motorcycle collectors, restorers and enthusiasts are invited to show their vehicles and compete for the Peoples Choice Award.

Drivers, start your engines, and head to the Tenth Annual Southold American Legion Car Show on August 25. Whether your special ride is an antique, a collectible, a hot rod or a motorcycle, the Southold American Legion Car Show is the perfect place to show off your wheels or come to check out more than 100 amazing vehicles.

The Southold American Legion Griswold Terry Glover Post 803 Car Show will be held at the Legion Post, 51655 Main Rd. in Southold from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 25.

Automobile and motorcycle collectors, restorers and enthusiasts are invited to show their vehicles and compete for the Peoples Choice Award. There is a $20 entry fee for vehicles. The public is invited to attend for free to enjoy the exhibit and all the festivities.

The Car Show will include live music by the New York Vendettas, vendors, a food truck, raffles and a representative of Veterans Affairs from Northport who will be available to share information and answer questions.

WHERE: The Southold American Legion Griswold Terry Glover Post 803, 51655 Main Rd., Southold

WHEN: Sunday, August 25  Rain or Shine

Car and motorcycle check-in begins at 8:00 a.m.

Gates open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

ENTRY FEES: $20 per vehicle to exhibit at the show

Admission is free to the public, but donations gratefully accepted.
Governor Hochul Cautions New Yorkers of Possible Heavy Rain and Flash Flooding Conditions as Remnants of Debby Approach State

Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: August 08 2024

New York City, Long Island, and Lower Mid-Hudson Regions Could See Some Isolated Severe Storms, Damaging Winds, and Brief Tornadoes.

Governor Hochul today cautioned New Yorkers as parts of the state are forecasted to be impacted by the remnants of Debby with heavy rain and potential river and flash flooding. Starting around midday Friday, Debby is expected to merge with another storm system, producing between 24 inches of rainfall with locally heavier amounts of 35 inches for parts of the North Country, Central NY, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, Capital, Mid-Hudson, and Southern Tier regions. The heaviest rain is forecast to begin Friday afternoon and continue into the evening, and the heaviest rainfall totals are expected in parts of the southern Adirondacks, the eastern Catskills, and Central New York. Heavy rain may cause flooding of urban or poor-drainage areas, as well as flash floods and river flooding. For the New York City, Long Island, and lower Mid-Hudson regions, there is the potential for isolated severe storms with damaging winds gusts and brief tornadoes, ahead of the cold front beginning Friday afternoon through Friday night. Wind gusts up to 35 to 45 mph are possible along the coast, which could result in tree damage and power outages. Governor Hochul urged New Yorkers to monitor the storms track as a shift in its direction could cause impacts in different locations of the state.

As we prepare for flood conditions, it is critical that New Yorkers monitor their local forecasts and take proper precautions, Governor Hochul said. My administration will continue to monitor and deploy necessary resources to impacted areas across the state.

Flood Watches have been issued for many areas of the state through Saturday. For a complete listing of weather alerts, visit the National Weather Service website at alerts.weather.gov. New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts by subscribing to NY Alert at alert.ny.gov, a free service providing critical emergency information to your cell phone or computer.

Agency Preparations

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

The State Emergency Operations Center in Albany will be activated on Friday, August 9 to support local governments requests for assistance. The States swift water rescue teams have been pre-staged in various locations and state stockpiles are ready to deploy resources as needed. The State Fire Operations Center is also activated and can support state agency operations as well as handle requests submitted via the State Fire Mobilization and Mutual Aid Plan.

Division of Military and Naval Affairs

The New York National guard has mobilized 100 Soldiers and Airmen with 30 high-axle vehicles to provide assistance to New York City and local governments in the Hudson Valley and on Long Island if required. These military personnel will remain on duty until any weather-related threats have passed.

Department of Transportation

The State Department of Transportation is monitoring weather conditions and prepared to respond with more than 3,429 supervisors and operators. All field staff are available to fully engage and respond and can be configured into any type of response crews needed such as flood response, chipper, load & haul, sewer jet, cut & toss, traffic signal, etc. DOT crews are also proactively checking and clearing drains and culverts across the state, particularly in areas impacted by recent floods and severe weather events. All residencies in impacted locations will remain staffed with operators, supervisors, and mechanics throughout the duration of the event and priority cleanup operations.

Statewide equipment numbers are as follows:

1,399 large dump trucks

317 large loaders

86 chippers

86 wheeled and tracked excavators

30 traffic tower platforms

16 vacuum trucks with sewer jets

11 tree crew bucket trucks

For real-time travel information, motorists should call 511 or visit https://www.511ny.org/#:Alerts, New York State's official traffic and travel information source

Thruway Authority

Thruway Authority staff is actively inspecting drainage systems and ready to respond to any flood related issues across the state with 671 operators and supervisors, small to medium sized excavators, plow/dump trucks, large loaders, portable VMS boards, portable light towers, smaller generators, smaller pumps and equipment hauling trailers, as well as signage and other traffic control devices available for any detours or closures. Variable Message Signs and social media are utilized to alert motorists of weather conditions on the Thruway.

Statewide equipment numbers are as follows:

346 large and small dump trucks

63 loaders

34 trailers

6 vac trucks

13 excavators

7 brush chippers

100 chainsaws

22 aerial trucks

25 skid steers

86 portable generators

70 portable light units

The Thruway Authority encourages motorists to download its mobile app which is available to download for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to live traffic cameras, real-time traffic information and navigation assistance while on the go. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert e-mails which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway, follow @ThruwayTraffic on X, and visit thruway.ny.gov to see an interactive map showing traffic conditions for the Thruway and other New York State roadways.

New York State Department of Public Service

New York's utilities will have approximately 6,900 workers available to engage in damage assessment, response, repair, and restoration efforts across New York State in preparation for potential infrastructure damage and customer outages incurred because of this weather event. This includes the following additional workers: 500 for NYSEG / RG&E; 495 for Con Edison; 200 for Orange & Rockland; 165 for PSEG LI; and 60 for Central Hudson. Agency staff will track utilities' work throughout the event and ensure utilities shift appropriate staffing to regions that experience the greatest impact.

New York State Police

State Police will be supporting a DHSES request at the Binghamton/Vestal staging location and will supply a team consisting of 6 URT members, 1 airboat and 1 RHIB. Operations will begin Thursday night at 6:00 pm for 12-hour operational periods and conclude when no longer needed. State Police will be closely monitoring weather conditions and additional personnel will be deployed, as needed, to affected areas. State Police specialized vehicles, including four-wheel drive vehicles, utility task vehicles and boats are staged and ready for immediate response.

Department of Environmental Conservation

DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers, Forest Rangers, Emergency Management staff, and regional staff are on alert and monitoring the developing situation and weather forecasts, and actively patrolling areas and infrastructure likely to be impacted by severe weather. All available assets, including swift water rescue teams, are positioned to assist with any emergency response.

With the potential for heavy rains, hikers are advised to temporarily avoid all high-elevation trails and trails that cross rivers and streams. Hikers in the Adirondacks are encouraged to check the Adirondack Backcountry Information webpages for updates on trail conditions, seasonal road closures, and general recreation information.

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

New York State Park Police and park personnel are on alert and closely monitoring weather conditions and impacts. State Parks has placed eight sawyer crews on standby to assist with storm clean up. Park visitors should visit parks.ny.gov, check the free NY State Parks Explorer mobile app or call their local park office for the latest updates regarding park hours, openings and closings.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is closely monitoring weather conditions to ensure safe, reliable service. MTA employees will be poised to respond to any weather-related issues. To reduce the likelihood of flooding and respond to any instances of flooding, MTA crews will inspect drains in flood-prone areas to ensure they are functional, and supervisors will monitor flood-prone locations for any reports of flooding to ensure quick response. Elevator and escalator specialists will be deployed to flood-prone locations to attend to any weather-related elevator and escalator troubles.

Customers are encouraged to check new.mta.info for the latest service updates, and to use caution while navigating the system. Customers should also sign up for real-time service alerts via text or email. These alerts are also available via the MTA app and the TrainTime app.

Port Authority

The Port Authority monitors weather conditions across all its facilities. In the event of severe weather, the agency issues travel alerts and updates as needed via facility email alerts and on social media. For the latest information about Port Authority facilities, please check social media, sign up for PA Alerts, or download one of the PA mobile apps, including RidePATH, which provides real-time updates and alerts for PATH service.

Severe Weather Safety Tips

Disaster Supplies:

Have supplies on hand, including:

Flashlight and extra batteries

Battery-operated radio and extra batteries

First aid kit and manual

Emergency food and water

Non-electric can opener

Essential medicines

Checkbook, cash, credit cards, ATM cards

Flash Flooding Safety Tips:

Never attempt to drive on a flooded road. Turn around and go another way.

If water begins to rise rapidly around you in your car, abandon the vehicle immediately.

Do not underestimate the power of fast-moving water. Two feet of fast-moving flood water will float your car, and water moving at two miles per hour can sweep cars off a road or bridge.

Thunderstorm Safety Tips:

If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Go to safe shelter immediately.

Move to a sturdy building. Do not take shelter in small sheds, under isolated trees, or in convertible automobiles.

If lightning occurs and sturdy shelter is not available, get inside a hard top automobile and keep windows up.

Get out of boats and away from water.

Telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity. Unplug appliances not necessary for obtaining weather information. Avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances.

Do not take a bath or shower.

Turn off air conditioners  power surges from lightning can overload compressors.

Get to higher ground if flash flooding or flooding is possible.

Do not attempt to drive to safety  most flash flooding deaths occur in automobiles.

If outdoors, find a low spot away from trees, fences, and poles.

If you are in the woods, take shelter under short trees.

If you feel your skin tingle or your hair stands on end, squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet; place your hands on your knees with your head between them; make yourself the smallest target possible; and minimize your contact with the ground.

For more safety tips, visit: https://www.dhses.ny.gov/safety-and-prevention.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: August 08 2024

Top Honor Was Awarded During FASNYs 152nd Annual Convention in Niagara Falls.

The Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) announced today that Lt. Petros Mestheneas, a 36-year member of the fire service, has been named Firefighter of the Year.'' This award highlighted Mestheneas bravery and quick actions as he rushed into a burning building and pulled two of his comrades to safety as they were running out of air. Mestheneas was presented with this award at FASNYs 152nd annual convention which was held in Niagara Falls, New York this week.

FASNY is honored to present Lieutenant Mestheneas with this prestigious award for his selfless act of bravery, said FASNY President Edward Tase, Jr. His heroic efforts saved the lives of two firefighters under extraordinarily dangerous conditions. He exemplifies the values and principles FASNY preaches to first responders across the state.

The Firefighter of the Year award honors an outstanding volunteer and their heroic actions. Each year, FASNY recognizes its bravest members with this prestigious honor designated for those who exemplify what the fire service and protecting our communities is all about. This award is sponsored by VFIS.

Lt. Petros Mestheneas, a 52-year-old employee of the Village of Freeport and member of the Freeport Excelsior Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1, was credited with saving the lives of the two firefighters on April 1, 2023. That morning, 180 firefighters from Freeport and other neighboring volunteer fire departments battled a five-alarm fire at the Emergency Ambulance Service Inc. garage and offices that housed 38 ambulances on Commercial Drive in Freeport, NY.

Mastheneas arrived at the 30,000-square-foot building where the two firefighters had gone searching for anyone inside the building as the fire raged. The two firefighters transmitted a mayday call as they became disoriented in the building when explosions caused conditions to rapidly deteriorate. They were low on air and now every minute mattered. Mastheneas actions saved these two firefighters as he pulled them to safety.

Firefighter Mestheneas training and experience kicked in during this emergency, said Raymond Maguire, Executive Director of the Freeport Fire Department, His quick, tenacious, skilled, deliberate, and disciplined actions, while operating by himself in punishing conditions without the protection of a hose line, resulted in the rescue of two firefighters. Had he hesitated, the outcome would have been very different.

ABOUT FASNY:

Founded in 1872, the Firemens Association of the State of New York (FASNY) represents the interests of the approximately 80,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel in New York State. For more information, visit www.fasny.com.
Manchester, VT (05254)

Today

Areas of patchy fog early. Cloudy with occasional rain during the afternoon. High near 55F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Steady light rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 39F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
The spring of 1918 was a time of unprecedented difficulty for the young soviet republic in Russia. The civil war and the recently-signed treaty with Germany had led to a drop in grain production. Combined with the collapse of the rail network, whole towns were left starving. Factories had to close down due to the lack of coal and unemployment was rising.

[Read Lenins Left-wing Childishness and the Petty-Bourgeois Mentality here]

What Russia was experiencing clashed with the naive revolutionary hopes that some in the Bolshevik party cherished, the so-called left communists, led at that time by Bukharin, who failed to understand the objective situation in Russia. In opposition to an unpalatable but unavoidable reality, they raised empty slogans that failed to correspond to the challenges they were facing.

In their publication Kommunist, the left communists expressed their disagreements with the pamphlet The Immediate Tasks of the Soviet Government, which we looked at in the last instalment of Lenin in a Year, where Lenin outlined the policies that were imposed on the soviet state to manage the peculiarities of this tough situation.

In Left-wing Childishness and the Petty-Bourgeois Mentality, Lenin relied to their criticisms, explaining that the arguments of the Left Communists actually undermine their own conclusions and lead inescapably to the conclusion that the Bolsheviks position was the correct one. But turning away from this reality, being incapable of giving thought to the balance of forces, these left communists fell into the trap of petty-bourgeois phrase-mongering.

This was not the first time that Lenin and the Bolsheviks had faced an ultra-left opposition from their own ranks. Such an opposition had been posed by vacillating, petty-bourgeois elements within the party at various times whilst the party was an underground organisation fighting Tsarism.

In the wake of the defeat of the 1905 Revolution, such an opposition had arisen. Its main feature, one of despair, was to turn away from reality and to take refuge in comforting, revolutionary-sounding phrases in preference to a harsh reality.

Defencism

Above all, the Left Communists denounced the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. They disapproved of what was a tactical retreat that conceded swathes of territory to German imperialism that the soviet republic had no means to hold, viewing it as an abandonment of the fight for world socialist revolution.

They denigrated efforts, led by Trotsky, to create a new Red Army / Image public domain

But at the same time, they denigrated efforts, led by Trotsky, to create a new Red Army, and implied that the Bolshevik leadership had become defencist. The new proletarian state, they claimed, should wage a revolutionary struggle, not a military struggle, as if one precluded the other.

The defining characteristic of ultra-leftism, of which Bukharin and others were guilty, is the opposition of abstract slogans, learned by rote, to the real situation. For years, the Bolsheviks had denounced those who argued for defence of the fatherland as in times of imperialist war, this meant the slaughter of Russian workers in the name of the Russian bourgeois and the Tsar. However, Lenin explained that the class content of this slogan had changed, therefore the defence of the socialist fatherland is the duty of any serious revolutionary.

To oppose preparation for a revolutionary war (and the tactical retreat at Brest Litovsk constituted part of that preparation) with abstract calls for revolution in the West  a revolutionary wave that was maturing but the date of which could not be precisely foretold  was to merely hide despairing passivity behind old, radical-sounding slogans.

State capitalism

The backwardness of Russia meant that the masses needed to master the technique and management of production and distribution in order to begin the task of socialist construction. But this would take time, and it meant learning from the old bourgeois experts. As such, the soviet state had to entice the old experienced management and experts to work with it, something they could only do by incentives  which meant higher salaries.

Lenin stressed that this could only be done with the minimum of danger under the strict control of the workers and their committees, but doing so would increase productivity and pave the way towards a fully nationalised planned economy.

This process, of the workers learning the techniques of capitalist industry, through regulation and incentive, while holding onto the levers of power, Lenin called state capitalism.

In response to such an approach, the Left Communists accused the Bolshevik leadership of derailing the revolution away from socialism. They deemed this stepping stone to socialism to be a Bolshevik deviation to the right, and demanded an immediate transition towards socialism. How this was to be achieved, they could not say.

A plan towards state capitalism alarmed the left communists, who were unable to look at the concrete situation Russia found itself in, seeing in it only a backsliding towards capitalism, rather than protective measures for the Soviet state. This is another general feature of ultra-leftism: seeing any compromise  even one as imposed by circumstances  as a betrayal.

Lenin explained that Russia was composed of varied socio-economic strata; the internal struggle in Russia in 1918 was more complex than simply one of capitalism versus socialist planning. The soviet republic contained within it, at one and the same time, peasant farming, small scale production, private capitalism, state capitalism, and elements of socialism.

State capitalism, given the backwardness of Russia, represented a material step forward in the organisation of production relative to backward peasant conditions. In reality, it was a step forward towards socialism, not a detour for the revolution.

Socialism is inconceivable without large-scale capitalist engineering based on the latest discoveries of modern science. It is inconceivable without planned state organisation, which keeps tens of millions of people to the strictest observance of a unified standard in production and distribution. We Marxists have always spoken of this, and it is not worth while wasting two seconds talking to people who do not understand even this (anarchists and a good half of the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries).

The composition of the state that guided the process was also a concrete question that the left communists failed to understand. The soviet state fundamentally differed from capitalist states, and as such, state capitalism under its guidance would have the character of a temporary measure to defend the gains of the revolution, given that the decisive control of the economy remained in the hands of the Soviet. As Lenin says:

At the same time socialism is inconceivable unless the proletariat is the ruler of the state. This also is ABC.

The principal enemy

In a small peasant country, such as Russia, the petty bourgeois predominated. This was a problem that state capitalism aimed to solve. The mass of small profiteers were like small holes draining the Soviet state. They constantly revived capitalist tendencies, and disrupted the state monopoly over trade and key sectors of the economy, and were thus the principal internal enemies of the economic policies of the soviet power.

In a small peasant country, such as Russia, the petty bourgeois predominated / Image: public domain

The left communists, by denouncing state capitalism in words, hoped to spur on the revolution. In deeds, however, they were blindly echoing the petty bourgeoisies opposition to state capitalism, which represents a progressive step forward from the small-scale, dispersed production of that class.

Either we subordinate the petty bourgeoisie to our control and accounting (we can do this if we organise the poor, that is, the majority of the population or semi-proletarians, around the politically conscious proletarian vanguard), or they will overthrow our workers power as surely and as inevitably as the revolution was overthrown by the Napoleons and Cavaignacs who sprang from this very soil of petty proprietorship. This is how the question stands. Only the Left Socialist Revolutionaries fail to see this plain and evident truth through their mist of empty phrases about the toiling peasants. But who takes these phrase-mongering Left Socialist-Revolutionaries seriously?

The petty profiteering layer constantly breached and avoided the economic measures passed by the soviets. Their undermining of the soviet regime was a direct threat to the workers state. The petty bourgeois were hoarding wealth and employed people for their own benefit. They had no intention of building socialism nor communism. They believed that the soviet state was an experiment that soon would come to a close.

Lenin warned the left communists that their opposition to state capitalism and their undermining of the Bolshevik leadership was leading them down the path of petty-bourgeois prejudice. It was the left communists that were abandoning the road to socialism, through their inability to face up to the concrete situation in Russia at the time. To give the final word to Lenin:
Kimi Ceridon has always wanted to open a gourmet shop for her artisanal pop-up cheese business Life Love Cheese.

Now after almost two years of selling various cheese boards online and at farmers markets and events in Greater Boston, the business owner is in the process of building her own space within the community that she has been serving.

Im very excited about having a home base, Ceridon, who appropriately refers to herself as the Head Cheese, told MassLive.

Ive been doing the shared kitchen game for a little while and its frustrating, Ceridon said. Theres always difficulties with any location that you end up with where its working fixed hours in somebody elses kitchen, bumping into other people, not [having] your own equipment and stuff, so Im so excited to have regular opening hours where its not confusing to customers.

Ceridon is hoping to open the storefront, which will be located at 184 Water St. in Wakefield, by the end of 2024. She ideally wants it opened by the holidays, but recognizes that might be challenging.

I dont have my solid timelines down yet since Im very early in the design process, Ceridon said, mentioning how the building Life Love Cheese is moving into is still being built. The finishes and everything are going to be fairly complete by the time I get the keys. So, I hope I can push the timeline.

A rendering of the store for Life Love Cheese at 184 Water St. in Wakefield.Courtesy of Kimi Ceridon

The shop will sell Life Love Cheeses signature artisanal cheeses and boards, picnic boxes, cheese-related gourmet products and gifts.

Regionally crafted beers, an eclectic selection of wines and non-alcoholic drinks will also be available for sale, Ceridon said.

The shop will also house a gourmet sandwich counter serving cheese-centric sandwiches with specials that change every week. The store will also host workshops on cheese and pairings.

I want it to be super fun. Thats the vibe I try to bring to everything I do because I feel like I want cheese to not be this kind of snobby thing. I want it to be approachable, Ceridon said. I know artisan cheeses are expensive by nature, but I hope to bring in cheeses that are approachable and easy for people to get into getting the artisanal cheeses and can be affordable.

Life Love Cheese is an artisanal cheese pop-up business that sells grazing, charcuterie and cheeseboards at local farmers markets and events.Courtesy of Kimi Ceridon

A Colorado native, Ceridon became fascinated with sustainable food while obtaining her masters degree in mechanical engineering at MIT. Upon graduating she moved to Texas and worked for an oil services company for several years.

After moving back to Massachusetts, Ceridon decided she had her fill with the corporate world and decided to go to culinary school at Boston University, eventually getting masters degree in gastronomy.

While at BU, she focused on local food systems while earning both a culinary arts and an artisan cheese certificate. She also attended the Sterling College Artisan Cheese Institute in Vermonts artisan cheese country, Life Love Cheeses website states.

Ceridon launched Life Love Cheese, which is based out of Woburn and Medford, as a grazing board company at the end of 2022.

Life Love Cheese is an artisanal cheese pop-up business that sells grazing, charcuterie and cheeseboards at local farmers markets and events.Courtesy of Kimi Ceridon

Outside of her own business, Ceridon has worked with the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA), helped launched the testing kitchen at Boston Public Market, worked as a cheesemonger at Formaggio Kitchen and has done consulting throughout New England. She even teaches at BUs gastronomy program.

As someone who has been involved in the food/cheese community for almost 10 years, Ceridon feels that her first storefront is a culmination of her hard work and dedication.

It feels fast, but it also feels like it was a lot of work going into it, Ceridon said.

Ive been able to draw on all the expertise... through all of those different ventures, she continued. All the work that Ive been doing up to this point was leading towards getting to this and I feel like theres just like a big community around me helping me out.

Ceridon still plans on hosting cheese shop pop-ups within Greater Boston once Life Love Cheese officially opens its shop.
The days are shortening and the nights are lengthening  a sure sign summer is nearing its end. And with the end of summer comes the time to dial clocks back from daylight saving time to standard time.

Twice a year, people throughout the country adjust their clocks, first to spring ahead to cherish an extra hour of daylight during the summer months before it is time to fall back for winter.

In the United States, this has the effect of creating more sunlit hours in the evening during months when the weather is the warmest, NIST reported.

This year the clocks turn back on Sunday, Nov. 3.

Daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday of March every year: clocks are set ahead one hour at 2 a.m.  becoming 3 a.m. It ends on the first Sunday of November at 2 a.m., which changes to 1 a.m.

In 2024, daylight saving time kicked off March 10 and will end Sunday, Nov. 3. It will start up again on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

The tradition of changing the clocks was formally introduced in the United States in 1918 and while most of the country observes daylight saving time, these states and territories do not: Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the state of Arizona, with the exception of the Navajo Indian Reservation, which does observe daylight saving time.

Daylight saving time lasts for 238 days  about 65% of the year, according to National Institute of Standards and Technology, with standard time accounting for only 35% of the year.

How did daylight saving time start?

Germany and Austria were the first countries to use daylight saving time in 1916 in an effort to conserve energy, according to National Geographic.

However, portions of regions of Canada have been credited for starting the tradition even earlier.

Some reports say residents of Ontario created the first daylight saving time zone by turning their clocks an hour forward between July and September in 1908, according to timeanddate.com

A clock change called Fast Time was introduced in 1918 but was ended less than a year later, though cities such as Boston, New York and Pittsburgh continued to use it.

Daylight saving time was reintroduced by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942, under the term War Time, which held through 1945.

Between 1945 and 1966, no uniform rules for changing clocks existed until the Uniform Time Act of 1966 was passed, which provided a framework for a nationwide daylight saving time schedule.

How popular is changing the clocks twice a year?

Changing the clocks is fairly unpopular.

In a 2023 YouGov poll of 1,000 Americans, 62% of participants said they no longer want to change their clocks twice a year.

Of those sampled, 50% said they preferred daylight saving time all year round while 31% wanted standard time all year. Only 12% voted they did not have a preference while 7% said they were not sure where they stood on the matter.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, there are many states that are trying to stop from having the clocks switch.

In 2023, there were three bills to establish permanent standard time in Massachusetts, but none were enacted.

All told last year, there were 75 pieces of legislation filed in 29 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. None of those bills became law that year, however.

There are 19 states that are ready to switch to permanent daylight saving time  Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and Wyoming  but congressional approval is required first.

As of 2024, at least 30 states have considered or are considering legislation related to daylight saving. This year alone, 28 bills have been introduced and 36 have been carried over from the last session, NCSL reports.

Bills to transition to standard time failed in Maine and Virginia earlier this year.

Indiana is currently considering a resolution petitioning the entire state move to share a universal time zone as the northwest and southwest corners are in the central time zone while the rest of the state is in the eastern time zone.

Is standard time better than daylight saving?

There is some disagreement about which is better  standard time or daylight saving time.

For sleep medicine doctor Karin Johnson at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, the research points to standard time.

She said her research completed with colleagues on sleep cycles shows that permanent standard time can improve brain functionality, mood, focus, and help reduce car crashes and the risk of developing long-term health conditions.

Timezones were designed to have the sun as close to being overhead at noon as possible, Johnson said in 2022. Daylight savings time shifts the clock an hour so we get later sunrises and sunsets. But unfortunately, our bodies dont go by the clock time, they go by the sun time.

A Baystate Medical Center spokesperson at the time clarified in a statement that the medical center does not promote Johnsons views.

Dr. Johnsons comments were not a reflection of Baystate Health but her own personal position on the subject as a physician and involvement with the organization promoting it, the statement read.
A 50-year-old New Hampshire man is facing criminal charges after prosecutors say he aimed an air rifle at three people, including a 5-year-old girl, in Mattapan on Monday, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Haydens office announced.

Salvador Maldonado, of Manchester, New Hampshire, is charged with three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. Maldonado was arraigned Wednesday and had his bail set at $1,500.

The arraignment judge, Vanessa Velez, also revoked Maldonados bail in a pending case in Lowell. Maldonado was ordered to be evaluated by a court clinician, who deemed he did not need to be hospitalized, Haydens office said in a statement.

Just before 7 p.m. on Monday, Boston police learned of a person with a gun on Morton Village Drive, according to the statement. The caller told police a man pointed what she described as a brown shotgun directly at her and her 5-year-old daughter while they were stopped at a traffic light on Corbet Street. The woman immediately fled.

The woman told police the other vehicle, which prosecutors say was being driven by Maldonado, had an out-of-state license plate.

As police met with the woman, other officers went to Burt Street for another call of a person with a gun, according to Haydens office. The caller told police she saw a man walking up and down the street with a rifle. She said she heard three popping sounds and people yelling. The woman told police a man, later identified as Maldonado, pointed a rifle at her before getting into a blue Honda Pilot.

Police later found Maldonado inside a blue Honda Pilot with New Hampshire license plates. Inside the car, officers saw a Sig Sauer MCX 177 airsoft rifle on the front passenger seat. Maldonado was then taken into police custody, according to the statement.

Maldonado will return to court on Sept. 5 for a pre-trial hearing.

To be going about your daily routines and then see someone point a gun at you is a terribly frightening experience, Hayden said in the statement. Im very proud of these victims for immediately contacting police and providing them solid identifying information. Their actions may have prevented a more dangerous outcome here.
A Hartford, Connecticut, man died on Thursday after he was killed in an early morning crash on Interstate 91 in Springfield, according to Massachusetts State Police.

The Hartford man struck and killed Thursday was identified as Dominic Brad, 54, state police said in a statement.

We offer our condolences to Mr. Brads loved ones, state police wrote.
On the 16th anniversary of Russia's invasion of Georgia, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement remembering those affected by the conflict and reaffirming America's support for Georgia's sovereignty."Today we mark sixteen years since Russia invaded the sovereign nation of Georgia and remember those killed, injured, or displaced by Russia's military campaign and illegal occupation," Blinken stated. He noted that Russia continues to occupy 20 percent of Georgian territory and is taking actions that undermine Georgian sovereignty, including claims over strategic lands in Abkhazia and efforts to establish a permanent naval base in Ochamchire.Blinken emphasized the U.S. commitment to Georgia's territorial integrity and called on Russia to meet its obligations under the 2008 ceasefire agreement."We call on Russia to fulfill its commitments and obligations under the 2008 ceasefire agreement to withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions and allow unimpeded access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance," he said. Blinken also urged Russia to reverse its recognition of the so-called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which would help tens of thousands of displaced people return to their homes safely.On the 16th anniversary of the August War, the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for not responding to their request for an international compensation fund for war victims.In a statement, GYLA revealed that they had submitted a formal request to the Ministry on January 26, 2024, asking for the creation of a fund to compensate victims of the 2008 conflict with Russia. As of now, GYLA has not received any response from the Ministry."On January 26, 2024, GYLA appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia to use the available resources in the Council of Europe to create an international compensation fund for victims of the Russian Federation as a result of the August war and in the subsequent period," the statement said. "GYLA's appeal has not yet received a response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia."The association stressed the importance of using diplomatic and international legal mechanisms to enforce the European Court of Human Rights' decisions against Russia. GYLA also criticized the government for opposing civil society efforts, stating, "Instead, the Georgian authorities are openly fighting against civil society, which plays an important role in protecting the rights of people affected by the conflict at the international and national level, with the 'Russian law'."GYLA's statement also raised concerns that restrictive measures like the "Foreign Agents" law could undermine Georgia's Euro-Atlantic goals and its constitutional guarantees of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On July 20 2024, the delivery ceremony of the first batch of SITRAK was successfully held at the Tanzania National Stadium! SINOTRUK and AZAM Group joined forces, leading the high-quality development of the logistics industry in Tanzania!

At the delivery ceremony, Mr. Lan Junjie, Assistant General Manager of SINOTRUK and CEO of African Region, cordially conversed with Mr. Ammar, General Manager of Said Salim BAKHRESA, jointly test-drove the vehicles, and participated in a joint interview with local media! Mr. Lan Junjie pointed out that Tanzania is a crucial hub on the Maritime Silk Road, a significant node in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and an important gateway for economic development in East Africa. In recent years, due to Tanzanias transportation and logistics advantages, the logistics division of AZAM Group has continuously grown and strengthened, becoming a leading enterprise in local logistics and transportation. Choosing SINOTRUK is not just about trusting the product quality, but also recognizing the core value of  Customer satisfaction is our mission  that SINOTRUK upholds. The successful delivery of this first batch of SITRAK marks not only a new milestone in our cooperation but also a new starting point for mutual development.

During a subsequent interview, Mr. Ammar, General Manager of Said Salim BAKHRESA, could not hide his excitement. He expressed that the timely delivery of the first batch of SITRAK fully demonstrates SINOTRUKs meticulous attention to detail and its commitment to creating value for customers through exceptional service. This highlights SINOTRUKs strength and influence in the heavy-duty truck market in Tanzania. In the future, both parties will continue to deepen cooperation, jointly promoting the continuous advancement of Tanzanias socio-economic development!
The African Development Bank Groups Country Report 2024 forecasts vigorous economic activity for Madagascar, with expected growth of 4.5 percent in 2024, climbing to 5.3 percent in 2025. Growth on the Grande Ile was 4.4 percent in 2023, compared with 4.3 percent in 2022.

The report, entitled Driving change in Madagascar by reforming the global financial architecture, was published in Antananarivo by the Banks Country Office in conjunction with the government of Madagascar, on Wednesday 31 July 2024. Government representatives, including the Minister of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Max Andonirina Fontaine, the chief of staff of the Minister of the Economy and Finance, Florence Andrianaivohery and others from the public authorities, the private sector, civil society and development partners of the Grande Ile, all contributed to wide-ranging and constructive discussions around the report.

Kevin Chika Urama, Chief Economist and Vice-President of the African Development Bank Group, responsible for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management, spoke by video message. He emphasised the importance of country reports, which shed light on national policies and feed into political dialogue between the authorities and the private sector and development partners on structural transformation. He also highlighted the necessity of reforming the global financial architecture to contribute to faster structural change in Madagascar.

Ms Andrianaivohery, for her part, commented that a fundamental reform of the global financial architecture could help her country to take advantage of new opportunities by diversifying the available funding sources, improving lending conditions and making it easier to access innovative financing, to accelerate its development.

The theme of the Country Report 2024 is in line with the objective of the Banks Country Strategy Document 2022-2026 for Madagascar, which is to speed up the structural transformation of the economy, backed by industrialization to create decent, green jobs, commented Adam Amoumoun, the Banks Country Manager for Madagascar. The mid-term review of the Country Strategy Document, which took place in May 2024, showed that the results achieved were satisfactory. The African Development Bank will build on these over the remaining period of the strategy to contribute to accelerating the countrys structural transformation, he emphasised.

Minister Max Fontaine stressed that Madagascar still has significant climate funding needs and it is important for the Bank to support the country in preparing projects and mobilizing finance from green funds.

Following the presentation of the report by the Banks Country Economist for Madagascar, Hamacire Dicko, the discussions turned to macroeconomic performance and prospects, tools for promoting strong and resilient growth, progress on the structural transformation of Madagascar and reforms of the global financial architecture.

The Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, Marilys Victoire Razakamanana, who acted as moderator, summarized the discussions with an emphasis on the need to increase climate funding for Madagascar.

On 31 July 2024, the African Development Bank Groups active portfolio in Madagascar comprised 18 operations, amounting to a total of USD 1.16 billion.
RMB has released the highly anticipated 2024 edition of its Where to Invest in Africa report, a comprehensive analysis of the top investment destinations on the continent.

The report, which has been developed in collaboration with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), leverages a robust methodology that has been updated to reflect new data sources, taking into account a variety of factors that have been proven to determine a countrys progress and therefore its investment potential.

Africa is not a country, but a vast, diverse and complex continent with different cultures, economies and investment potential. Our report therefore is not a definitive guide, but rather it is designed to provide insight to uncover the underlying drivers of a countrys performance that inform its ranking. This offers invaluable insights for investors, policymakers, and business leaders looking to navigate Africas dynamic economic landscape, says Isaah Mhlanga, Chief Economist at RMB.

Expanded data, extended granularity

Investment decisions need to be viewed through both an economic performance lens and an operating environment lens. As a result, the methodology used for this edition of the Where to Invest in Africa report builds and expands on previous editions, taking into account new data sets as well as changing geopolitical and macroeconomic climates.

The scorecard for the 2024 issue highlights 31 countries that collectively represent 92% of the continents economic activity (measured by GDP), and more than one billion people (three quarters of the continents population). It draws on publicly available data sets from global institutions, including the World Bank, the IMF, the African Development Bank, the United Nations, and the International Labour Organisation.

The model is constructed from 20 metrics across four measurement pillars: economic performance and potential; market accessibility and innovation; economic stability and investment climate; and social and human development. Each metric is weighted, which translates into a weight for each pillar, and based on these metrics a standardised scorecard is produced, with rankings that enable effective comparison across Africas complex and heterogeneous environment.

Africas top five investment destinations

Combining these elements results in a ranking across the 31 countries measured. The results of the report show that the two small island economies of Seychelles and Mauritius rank first and second as the most attractive investment destinations on the continent, while the significantly larger economies of Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco rank in third, fourth and fifth places respectively.

Seychelles leads the rankings thanks to high levels of personal freedom, human development, and a stable economic environment. Seychelles offers a unique and attractive investment climate. Despite scoring lower on economic size and potential, Mauritius is known for innovation, economic freedom, and high GDP per capita. It continues to be a top destination for investors seeking stability and growth opportunities in a well-regulated environment.

Egypt represents Africas largest economy by GDP (2023), offering a substantial market with diverse opportunities in sectors like technology, manufacturing, and services. Its strategic location and economic complexity further enhance its attractiveness. Despite facing significant challenges, South Africa remains a crucial hub for investment in Africa. Its robust financial sector, diverse economy, and potential for infrastructure development make it a key player. Finally, Moroccos strong performance in connectedness, innovation, and economic stability positions it as a top investment destination. Its strategic proximity to European markets adds to its appeal.

Distilling diversity  investment archetypes explained

Africa is an incredibly diverse continent, and no two markets are the same, which means there is no such thing as a universal success story. However, when we zoom out and view nations through the lenses of size and the relevant investability score, it becomes apparent that they fall into distinct groupings with shared traits. The 2024 edition of Where to Invest in Africa suggests five potential investment archetypes based on shared characteristics revealed through the four measurement pillars.

Highflyers represent the large, well-established economies that offer stability and a range of investment opportunities, such as Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia. Those Cleared for Take-off are countries with high economic growth and innovation potential thanks to factors like a young population and abundant resources, including Senegal and Cote dIvoire. People Potential are markets with a young and growing demographic, creating a sizeable consumer base and a future workforce, such as Kenya, DRC and Uganda. Global Connectors are more advanced economies with a strong international presence, such as Morocco, Mauritius, Tunisia and Seychelles. Low-Base Boomers are smaller markets with high potential for explosive growth but a corresponding higher degree of risk, including Rwanda, Mozambique, and Benin.

Additional insights unpacked

The report also highlights a number of trends across the various markets, and the role of innovation and economic complexity in driving growth is a central theme. Countries such as South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana are noted for their strides in technological innovation and diversification of their economic bases, making them attractive destinations for investment.

The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) holds significant potential for boosting intra-African trade, enhancing economic integration, and creating a more competitive continental market. Effective implementation of the AfCFTA is expected to drive economic growth and development across the continent. Africas young and rapidly growing population also presents a unique opportunity for economic growth, with countries like Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda poised to benefit from this demographic dividend, provided they can create sufficient employment opportunities and foster a conducive environment for economic participation.

In addition, there are a number of emerging markets with significant growth potential, including Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya. Despite facing challenges such as political instability and infrastructural deficits, these countries offer substantial opportunities due to their large and youthful populations, improving business climates, and diversification efforts. Africas vast natural resources, including minerals and arable land, are pivotal for sustainable economic growth. However, the report cautions against the  resource curse  and underscores the importance of good governance and strategic management. Angola, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are highlighted for their rich resources and potential for sustainable development.

One area that requires critical attention across the continent is the need for infrastructure investment. Improved transportation, energy, and digital infrastructure are essential for unlocking Africas economic potential, and South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria are identified as key markets where infrastructure development could yield significant returns.

Beyond the rankings  a deeper look at African investment

Looking beyond metrics and scorecards, Africa holds massive potential but equally faces numerous challenges. The continent is rich in natural resources, which can be a major driver of economic growth, but they also present challenges in the form of corruption and environmental degradation. Increased activity around trade agreements can open new markets for foreign investors and boost economic activity, but lack of adequate infrastructure is a major hurdle for many African economies. Investment in this space will improve connectivity and create new opportunities, while rapid and increasing urbanisation will prove attractive to investors in consumer goods, retail, and financial services. Finally, countries in Africa are embracing new technologies, leapfrogging traditional development stages and creating new investment opportunities in the tech sector.

The richness of Africas diversity makes fully analysing its nuance and contrast a challenging task, but an important one when it comes to understanding the varied markets that make up this vast regional economy. The 2024 RMB Where to Invest in Africa report aims to develop a balanced, robust and actionable view of the drivers, challenges and opportunities that characterise each of the 31 African markets included in the analysis, Mhlanga concludes.
From the time of their introduction in December 2020 through to March 2023, COVID-19 vaccines reduced deaths due to the pandemic by at least 59%, saving more than 1.6 million lives in the WHO European Region.

These are among the findings of a new WHO/Europe study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. It reveals that todays known COVID-19 death toll in the Region, currently at 2.2 million, might have been as high as 4 million without the vaccines. Most of those saved were aged 60 or older, the group at highest risk of severe illness and death from SARS-CoV-2.

The studys author, Dr Margaux Mesle from WHO/Europe, said, The results are clear: COVID-19 vaccination saves lives. Our findings remind us of the integral role played by vaccines to ensure people return to a semblance of their pre-pandemic lives across the Region, in work and leisure. Without the enormous vaccination effort, we would have seen many more livelihoods disrupted and families losing the most vulnerable among them.

The WHO/Europe study found that COVID-19 vaccination saved most lives during the period when the Omicron variant was dominant, from December 2021 to March 2023.

Countries that implemented early vaccination programmes covering large parts of the population  such as Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Malta and the United Kingdom  saw the greatest benefit in terms of overall number of lives saved.

What is a summer wave?

The findings are highly relevant today, over 12 months after WHO, in May 2023, declared that COVID-19 was no longer a public health emergency of international concern.

Over the past few weeks, a number of countries in the Region have reported an uptick in the number of cases  a summer wave of COVID-19. This is a timely reminder that while COVID-19 is fading into distant memory for millions of people, the virus has not gone away.

In fact, the percentage of patients with respiratory illness who have SARS-CoV-2 in primary care has increased 5-fold in the last 8 weeks, and the percentage of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 has increased as well.

While the absolute number of cases is lower than the winter wave, which peaked in December 2023, COVID-19 infections in the Region this summer are still causing hospitalizations and deaths.

Getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine remains an extremely effective tool to reduce both hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk individuals, which includes people who are older or immune-compromised, those with multiple underlying medical conditions, pregnant women, and health personnel who may be easily exposed.

Additionally, getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine also reduces your chances of developing long COVID.

The increased number of reported cases this summer could be explained by holiday travel, mass gathering events such as major sporting tournaments and music festivals, and less competition from co-circulating respiratory illnesses such as influenza.

Unlike seasonal flu, COVID-19 circulates year-round. Until this pattern changes, the Region may well experience multiple waves of infection every year, straining health-care systems and increasing the chance of people becoming unwell, especially the most vulnerable.

How do I protect myself?

To reduce your chances of infection, particularly now when COVID-19 is circulating more, consider using masks in crowded indoor spaces. A disposable respirator mask such as an N95 provides the best protection. If you must interact with someone who has COVID-19, be it a family member or a caregiver, using a mask is especially important.

Washing your hands regularly continues to be an effective infection control measure against SARS-CoV-2 as well as many other viruses and bacteria.

Taking these kinds of precautions is especially important for vulnerable people who are at higher risk of severe outcomes if they get infected.

If you have common COVID-19 symptoms  such as acute appearance of fever, cough, fatigue or shortness of breath  you may have a COVID-19 infection. You should take a COVID-19 test if one is available to confirm whether you are infected and to understand the level of risk for yourself and those around you.

In addition, if you are at high risk for a severe outcome from COVID-19, you may be eligible to receive antiviral medications. These have been shown to meaningfully reduce the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 in vulnerable people.

Importance of surveillance

Surveillance plays a key role in understanding disease patterns and trends, alongside monitoring for the unknown threat of a new variant. Having high-quality surveillance is imperative so that public health authorities can take fast and decisive action to protect populations from potentially more virulent strains of the disease.

Globally, JN.1 and its descendants, which include the so-called FLiRT variants KP.2 and KP.3, remain the most reported variants. Recently, KP.3 spawned its own descendant, KP.3.1.1, which is now the most common circulating variant in Europe, comprising nearly one quarter of sequenced viruses. It has been detected in several countries including France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.

These belong to the same family  called a sublineage  of SARS-CoV-2, and while they are not believed to be more severe, they are more transmissible. As many countries within the Region do not submit data regularly, an absence of data on specific variants does not necessarily mean they are not present in additional countries.

Current vaccines are effective in preventing severe disease and death among people infected with new variants, and studies are ongoing to ascertain the duration of protection given by booster doses.

The future of COVID-19

Dr Mesle emphasized,

Although we are now out of the pandemic phase, SARS-CoV-2 continues to infect people and lead to hospitalizations and deaths in our Region; therefore, COVID-19 vaccination continues to be important for people who are at high risk of severe outcomes if they get infected.

She added,

We are continuing to monitor SARS-CoV-2 activity and its impact as well as that from influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

As peaks are experienced during the summer, it is impossible to predict how the virus will behave for the remainder of 2024. Multiple waves could be possible as countries in the Region have transitioned from crisis management to sustainable, integrated, longer-term disease management.

Dr Mesle concluded,
A CASTLEBAR councillor has welcomed the beginning of the construction of four additional classrooms for the Educate Together National School in Castlebar.

The new classrooms are to be located at the old hat factory building on the Newport Road in Castlebar which was one of a number of campuses used by Educate Together National School to house classrooms for the ever growing school population.

The work on the new classrooms at the Newport Road building recently started and this was welcomed by local Fine Gael councillor Ger Deere.

This is fantastic news for students and staff who up to this have been operating out of three campuses around the town, namely Marsh House, Cavendish Lane and at the hat factory site.

A public meeting was called a few months ago to highlight the unsatisfactory and unsafe conditions that the school has had to operate under despite a promise made to them some years back to have a stand alone facility built, he said.

Cllr Deere explained that he has learned that the Department of Education is leasing the hat factory for five years and while they await a new build they will have four classrooms at the hat factory by this September and by the following September they hope to have a whole school there.

Cll Deere said this is fantastic news and complimented the Principal Sarah Calvey and her staff, Board of Management, parents and students.

The Fine Gael councillor also complimented Minister Alan Dillon who following the public meeting organised a meeting with Minister of Education Norma Foley, and her officials and the Board of Management from Educate Together to progress the project.
Up to 27 Meals on Wheels services and day centres in Mayo are eligible for funding.

Local Senator Lisa Chambers has welcomed the news of the new funding, which is being introduced by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and Minister for Older People Mary Butler.

The funding will be available to support around 400 community organisations across the country by providing extra financial support of up to 25,000 per organisation.

Designed to support improvements to the physical premises for Day Centres and Meals on Wheels services, the support funding can be used to upgrade kitchens and other facilities, and to purchase equipment.

Since its establishment, the Meals on Wheels service has been vital to many communities across the country, providing approximately 2.7 million meals last year.

Speaking on the availability of this funding, Senator Chambers said: Older person Day Centres and Meals on Wheels services are such a vital service for so many, and many people rely on it. They offer a safe and welcoming environment where people can access these essential services, as well as allowing people to engage in social activities.

The Fianna Fail Senator explained that people wishing to remain living at home for longer, doesnt always mean care will be provided in their home.

She added: For people to have access to these Day Centres and essential services, it gives them a sense of purpose, social interaction, and a safe environment to meet friends.

Senator Chambers concluded: Fianna Fail in government have almost doubled funding for the national Meals on Wheels service from over 3 million in 2022 to over 6 million this year. I would encourage all eligible centres in Mayo to apply for this funding.

See below the eligible Mayo organisations

Meals on Wheels, Ballina Community Centre

Meals on Wheels, Ballycroy Social Services

Meals on Wheels, Brickens Meals on Wheels

Day Centre, Castlebar Social Services Ltd

Meals on Wheels, Castlebar Voluntary Social Services

Meals on Wheels, Father Patrick Peyton CSC Memorial Company CLG

Meals on Wheels, Foxford Meals on Wheels

Day Centre, Fr Patrick Peyton Csc Memorial Clg

Meals on Wheels, Geesala Meals on Wheels

Day Centre, Kilcommon Activity For The Elderly

Meals on Wheels, Killala Community Centre

Meals on Wheels, Killala Community Council New Start

Day Centre, Killala Community Council Newstart

Meals on Wheels, Kilmovee Community Centre

Day Centre, Kilmovee Day Care

Meals on Wheels, Kiltimagh Social Services

Meals on Wheels, Knockmore Rathduff Econ Soc Dev Co.

Day Centre, Lacken Community Care - Tithe Cois Tra - Hi-Noon Club

Meals on Wheels, Louisburgh/Killeen

Meals on Wheels, Mayo Abbey Community Resource Centre

Meals on Wheels, Saint Coleman's Day Care Centre

Meals on Wheels, Seirbhisi Curam Chill Chomain

Day Centre, Seirbhisi Curm Chaill Chomain Teo

Meals on Wheels, South West Mayo Development Company

Day Centre, St Coleman's Care Centre Ltd

Day Centre, St John's Rest And Care Centre

Meals on Wheels, Tacu Family Resource Centre

Meals on Wheels, Westport Social Services
Mayo GAA star Aidan OShea and his bride-to-be Kristin McKenzie-Vass have arrived in Kerry for their wedding.

The 34-year-old is set to marry the model and Grant Thornton business consultant tomorrow, August 9, in her home county. The venue is believed to be Muckross House Hotel and Spa, 5km from Killarney.

Ms McKenzie-Vass announced on Instagram that wedding bells were on the way this week, where she shared a clip of her and her fiance in the car, saying the car was full to the brim as they headed to their wedding venue.

Kerry here we come, she wrote on the post, followed by bride and groom emojis.

Ms McKenzie-Vass is providing wedding updates on her social media

The pair have been taking measures to get set for their big day, with Ms McKenzie-Vass kicking off her wedding preparations with facial treatments at Face Aesthetic Clinic in Castlebar.

The groom was snapped with Castlebar suit specialists, Doherty For Men, who are kitting out Mr O'Shea and his grooms men for the special occasion.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Doherty For Men (@dohertyformen)

The couple announced their engagement after the Mayo forward proposed last summer in Ashford Castle.

The pair have been together seven years after they met in Dublin in 2017.

Ms McKenzie-Vass showed off her new diamond to her 21.9 thousand Instagram followers with the caption: Its happening. Big fat YES from me @aidoxi #engaged.

The couple got engaged last July

The model celebrated her hen-do in style back in May, as she and her friends jetted off to Barcelona.

Sharing snaps of the weekend on social media, she described the do as her last rodeo.

All attention now turns to tomorrows nuptials in the Kingdom county.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, August 7, 2024

The Ohio Attorney General is calling attention to this week's ruling that Google violated antitrust law, arguing in a letter to a state court judge that the ruling relates to Ohio's effort to declare Google a common carrier.

The antitrust finding is highly instructive to Ohio's claims against the company, Jennifer Pratt, director of litigation for the Ohio Attorney General, said in a letter sent Wednesday to Delaware County Court Judge James Schuck.

Her letter comes in a battle dating to 2021, when Ohio Attorney General David Yost claimed that Google is a common carrier -- comparable to a railroad -- and should therefore be prohibited from prioritizing its services or products in search results.

Pratt writes that even though the antitrust case presents different legal issues than Ohio's lawsuit -- which focuses on Ohio rules governing common carriers -- the decision is relevant and helpful to the state's case against Google.

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The antitrust ruling, issued Monday by U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta, focused on Google's search distribution deals.

Mehta found that Google illegally maintained a monopoly in two markets -- general search services, and search text ads -- by contracting to serve as the default search engine on browsers operated by Apple and Mozilla, as well as on Android devices.

That ruling confirms that Google Search is a matter of public concern, Pratt writes.

She adds that the decision provides valuable insights into the improbability that Google Search's importance to the interests of the general public will erode anything in the foreseeable future, referring to Mehta's findings that Google dominates the search engine market.

While Google has not yet responded to Ohio's new filing, the company has argued that it has a First Amendment right to wield control over its search results.

Just as a newspaper editor must choose what information to include in the paper, what to put on the front page, and in what order, a search engine must decide what information to include in its search results, what to put on the first page of the results, and in what order, Google wrote this January in a motion seeking summary judgment.

Last month, Google filed a letter with Schuck flagging the Supreme Court's recent ruling in a dispute over content moderation laws. Justice Elena Kagan wrote in that case that tech platforms have First Amendment rights to control the content on their services.

The First Amendment does not go on leave when social media are involved, Kagan wrote.

This Court has many times held, in many contexts, that it is no job for government to decide what counts as the right balance of private expression -- to 'un-bias' what it thinks biased, rather than to leave such judgments to speakers and their audiences, she added.

Google has also argued it doesn't meet Ohio's definition of common carrier because it doesn't transport or carry people or their property, and because its search results are individually tailored.

It does not carry or transport anything for hire, and it does not hold itself out as acting 'indifferently,' the company wrote.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, August 7, 2024

AI-driven technology has found its place in media planning and buying as well as targeting strategies -- despite Google's shift away from sole reliance on third-party cookies to protect consumer privacy.

Dentsu today announced the integration of Merkury -- its global data, identity, and insights platform -- with Quantcast, a demand-side platform (DSP).

The combination aims to provide advertisers with more precise audience targeting without reliance on third-party cookies.

The platform does rely heavily on AI. Merkurys predictive audience capability leverages AI, machine learning, and data engineering. The integration supports the creation of audiences from planning through activation. The company says, in fact, within minutes.

Hattie Smith, brand manager at Pandora, stated that the jewelry brand is continuing to build on this partnership.

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The integration gives clients access to more than 10,000 custom consumer data attributes to build audience profiles and apply AI to identify the most relevant consumers based on millions of online data signals across connected television (CTV), desktop, and mobile devices. Pandora works with Quantcast and Merkury.

The technology is available in five markets including the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Italy, and Sweden, with plans to scale to additional markets in the coming months.
by Tanya Gazdik , August 7, 2024

Harley-Davidson is the latest company to be caught in the crosshairs of conservative activist Robby Starbuck.

Starbuck, who posted a nine-minute video on X, launched a boycott, calling out the iconic motorcycle maker for a range of woke offenses, from hosting an LGBTQ+ boot camp at its offices to supporting gay and transgender equality legislation, according to USA Today. In a nation riven by cultural issues around race, gender and family, Starbuck is part of a new wave of agitators pressuring corporate America to back off commitments to diversity and inclusion, policies on climate change and support for the gay and transgender community.

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The chairman, president and CEO of Harley-Davidson, Jochen Zeitz, has long been an active advocate for sustainability. He previously worked at Puma and luxury goods company Kering.

Zeitz currently serves as the chairman for LiveWire Inc., which is the electric vehicle division of Harley-Davidson, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He also founded his own organization, the Zeitz Foundation, to support sustainable solutions that balance conservation, community, and culture and commerce.

Zeitz has set a goal to make all Harley-Davidson vehicles run on electricity by 2030, according to the New York Post.

Starbuck, who previously targeted Tractor Supply Company and John Deere, is now rallying motorcycle enthusiasts to his cause at the largest bikers' event in the world, this week's 84th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, according to the Daily Mail.

Many Harley-Davidson owners in Sturgis on Saturday said they had heard about the controversy, but few seemed to care, according to the Cowboy State Daily. Riders faithful to the storied motorcycle brand said their loyalty extends deeper than current politics.

A recent survey shows that DEI and LGBTQ+ initiatives help companies rather than hurt them.

Nearly three-quarters of executives surveyed by Bridge Partners Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Barometer cited the benefits of DEI on recruiting, hiring and retention (94%) and the reputational boost with the public (74%), according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Only 4% of executives surveyed say they will cut back or eliminate them.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, August 8, 2024

Google and Meta reportedly had a secret deal to target Instagram ads to teenagers on YouTube, allegedly bypassing Google's rules on how minors are treated online.

Documents seen by the Financial Times reveal that Google worked on a marketing project for Meta designed to target 13- to 17-year-old users on YouTube with advertisements promoting photo and video apps.

The target audience group in the Instagram campaign labelled unknown was skewed toward children under the age of 18, according to the report, citing people who knew of the campaign. Documents seen by the FT suggests that the true intent of the campaign was hidden.

The Google Ads help page lists the unknown demographic category as people whose age, gender, parental status or household income are supposedly unidentified, and can allow advertisers to reach a significantly wider audience when selected.

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The help page also goes on to explain that Google will sometimes "estimate people's demographic information based on their activity from Google properties or the Display Network."

The company provided this example: when people browse YouTube or sites on the Display Network, Google may store an identifier in their web browser, using a cookie -- with an identifier that may be associated with certain demographic categories, based on sites visited.

"We prohibit ads being personalized to people under 18, said a Google spokesperson. These policies go well beyond what is required and are supported by technical safeguards. We've confirmed that these safeguards worked properly."

The Google spokesperson said the company will take additional action to reinforce with sales representatives that they must not help advertisers or agencies run campaigns attempting to work around their policies.

Metas YouTube campaign intended to attract young users to Instagram had already been in the works in January when Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared before the U.S. Congress. The FT reported that during the hearing, Zuckerberg apologized to families of children who had been victims of sexual exploitation and abuse on the platform that he founded.

Google and Meta reportedly worked with Spark Foundry, a subsidiary of holding company Publicis, to launch a small pilot program in Canada between February and April 2024.

After success with the pilot program in Canada, the trial was extended into the U.S. in May, with plans to expand it into international markets and promote other Meta apps such as Facebook, the FT reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Although Google and Meta are rivals, this reportedly provided an opportunity to build a full-funnel relationship.

Weve been open about marketing our apps to teens as a place for them to connect with friends, find community, and discover their interests," a Meta spokesperson told Media Daily News. "Googles 'unknown' targeting option is available to all advertisers - not just Meta - and we have clear principles we adhere to when it comes to how we market our apps to teens on other platforms, including not using information about their interests to target them with ads."

Meta disagrees that selecting the broad group unknown -- which Google makes available to all advertisers and includes a mixed audience of users, including adults and teens -- constitutes a circumvention of Googles policies.

Despite the nuances, Meta has been sued by about 41 states and Washington, D.C. for targeting ads to minors. About 33 states have sued Meta for deploying manipulative practices targeted toward young users.

This lawsuit focuses on the impact of the practices on minors through advertising, according to Google Gemini.

The FT reported that when it reached out to Google, the company initiated an investigation into the allegations. The project has since been cancelled.
by Sarah Mahoney @mahoney_sarah, August 8, 2024

Walgreens is the latest retailer to bail out of the healthcare biz. The company, which had previously been looking to reduce its ownership stake in VillageMD, now says it is considering unloading the entire business.

The Company is currently evaluating a variety of options with respect to VillageMD, Walgreens says in a Securities & Exchange Commission filing dated last week. These options could include a sale of all or part of the VillageMD businesses, possible restructuring options and other strategic opportunities.

Shedding the ill-fated acquisition would allow Walgreens, now under new leadership, to retreat from its ambitious dive into healthcare and focus more closely on its retail and pharmacy business. In previous statements, the company has expressed its new commitment to simplify its sprawling portfolio.

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The Chicago-based retailer acquired VillageMD, an extensive network of primary care physicians, buying a 60% stake in the business for $6 billion in 2021. Roz Brewer, then chief executive officer, said the purchase was an integral part of a larger, more consumer-focused vision: connecting doctors, pharmacists and patients, all within Walgreens' tech platform, moving well beyond the scope of a conventional drugstore.

Brewer left Walgreens last September after a bumpy three years. She was quickly replaced by Tim Wentworth. In March, it announced a $6 billion second-quarter loss due to the acquisition and said it would shutter 60 clinic locations. Last month, Wentworth told analysts that Walgreens was working with Village MD toward an endpoint.

Walgreens isnt alone, CVS, Walmart, Amazon and Rite Aid also sought ways to move into healthcare as Covid reshaped consumer health preferences.

But it turns out that making money in healthcare requires plenty of patients, and creating a steady stream of sick people is beyond the reach of great retail minds. In a rare admission of failure, Walmart shut its 51 clinics earlier this spring and sold off its virtual care unit.

The company, which had begun investing in those clinics in 2019, once believed the clinics would do well by providing vital services in healthcare deserts. We determined there is not a sustainable business model for us to continue, Walmart said in that announcement.

CVS has also invested heavily, spending almost $20 billion last year to buy Signify Health and Oak Street Health. CNBC reports CVS has a 63% market share, but it too has hit speed bumps, closing down dozens of more than 1,000 MinuteClinics.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, August 8, 2024

In its latest move to expand operations in the Middle East, Stagwell has agreed to acquire Consulum, a pan-Middle East and North Africa government consultancy.

Founded in 2012, The firms capabilities span strategic communications, public policy, leadership support and diplomatic outcomes. It has offices in Riyadh, Manama, Dubai, London, Cape Town, and Kuala Lumpur.

advertisement advertisement Its the second recent acquisition in the region for Stagwell, which last month acquired Tel Aviv-based Leaders, a digital agency specializing in influencer marketing and social commerce. Other Stagwell agencies, including Assembly Global, Allison, and Forsman & Bodenfors also have presence in the region.
The whole nation is heartbroken after the sudden disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the finals of the Paris Olympics.

 Olympic Khel While many celebrities extended their wishes and support to the wrestler, legendary actress and MP Hema Malini was brutally trolled for her shallow remarks on Vineshs disqualification. In a media interview, Hema said, 100 gram ki wajah se disqualify ho gayi, aur isse hum sab mahilaaon ko seekh lena chhahiye ki 100 gram kitna important hai, I wish she loses those 100 grams quickly, lekin milega nahi abhi.

The reactions Fans attacked Hema for being so insensitive towards the wrestler and said that she could have used more empathetic words. One user wrote, It is disgusting to find a film personality like Hema malini showing no empathy towards the wrestler Vineyh being a woman herself. Is it what she wants to say the importance of 100 gm weigh? It is as others do not know until she says about it!What a shame!

 YouTube/NDTV Another user wrote, What is she saying ; what makes us vote for such people?.

 YouTube/NDTV Dharmendras reaction Contrary to his wife, Dharmendra shared a heartfelt paragraph addressing Vineshs loss and called her the brave daughter of the soil. Dharmendra wrote on Instagram, Darling daughter Vinesh, we are extremely sad to hear the news. You are a brave adventurous daughter of the soil . we love you and always pray for your health and happiness . Be happy healthy and strong for your family and your loving people. View this post on Instagram In the comment section, people said that Hema Malini should learn something from Dharmendra about how to pay respect to a sporting legend.
Some "single" soldiers who ship out to South Korea will now need to spend two years on the peninsula rather than one, the Army said in a recent force-wide message.

The exception to policy, aimed at seven career fields, requires "single soldiers without dependents assigned to the Republic of Korea to serve the accompanied tour length" of 24 months, according to the Aug. 1 memo.

The change applies to soldiers who received permanent change-of-station orders to South Korea on Aug. 1 or later; troops who were placed on orders or who were already stationed in South Korea before Aug. 1 are not affected by the new policy, an Army spokesperson, who agreed to discuss the policy on condition of anonymity, told Military.com on Wednesday.

The assignment will not become an accompanied tour that would allow soldiers to bring dependents along.

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Soldiers in seven career fields are affected, the Army said. Those include air traffic control operators (15Q); UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter repairers and aircrew (15T); military working dog handlers (31K); criminal investigations special agents and warrant officers (31D and 311A); counterintelligence special agents (35L); and signals intelligence analysts (35N).

The change is meant to cut down on turnover in jobs that require significant training once someone arrives in South Korea, and was not spurred by operational needs in the Pacific, the Army spokesperson said. It's expected to affect fewer than 200 soldiers each year.

"The main reason we're doing this is not related to any personnel shortages or anything in those fields," the spokesperson said. "These changes [are] to improve the efficiencies and utilizations of the soldiers in these occupations."

By the time soldiers in those seven occupations are certified as fully able to perform their mission, the spokesperson said, they sometimes have fewer than six months left on the job before they prepare to return to the United States.

"In order to get the most out of these soldiers and for them to become proficient in these roles, the extra time is needed to keep them in Korea," the spokesperson said.

U.S. Forces Korea will revisit the policy each year to decide whether it should be extended or whether the list of affected careers should change.

Single soldiers in the affected fields who are already serving unaccompanied tours in South Korea are not required to extend their stay, but will be encouraged to do so.

Soldiers comprise most of the approximately 28,500 U.S. troops currently stationed in South Korea, according to the Congressional Research Service. The United States has maintained a presence on the peninsula since the Korean War to fend off North Korean aggression and as a staging area for military operations around the Pacific.

Related: Overseas But Paying the Price: Army Ends Policy that Allowed Soldiers to Store Belongings While Deployed
JERUSALEM  The Israeli Supreme Court considered a petition Wednesday to shutter a desert military prison where soldiers have been accused of abusing Palestinians, as a new video emerged purporting to show the sexual assault of a Palestinian detainee.

Rights groups have been engaged in a legal battle since June to shut down the detention facility, known as Sde Teiman, where Israel has held many Palestinians detained in Gaza during the 10-month war with Hamas. The groups claim that conditions at the facility are grave and that abuse by Israeli soldiers is common, basing their claims on testimony from released detainees and Israeli whistleblowers.

Calls for the prison's closure ramped up in late July, when Israeli military police arrested 10 soldiers from Sde Teiman on suspicion of their involvement in the alleged sexual assault of a Palestinian detainee at the facility. Five of the soldiers are no longer under investigation. A physician who identified himself as the person who reported the attack said last week that the detainee appeared to have been seriously sexually abused.

The soldiers detention triggered angry protests by supporters, and at least two government ministers demanded their release. The response underscored tensions between the military command and hard-line nationalists in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government who advocate even harsher treatment of Palestinians detained from Gaza.

Defense lawyer Nati Rom told The Associated Press that the soldiers were arrested about a month after the alleged attack and are accused of performing acts of sodomy on the detainee. He said the soldiers used force to defend themselves against a detainee who attacked them during a search, but did not sexually abuse him.

A video purporting to reveal the assault shows a group of masked soldiers wresting a detainee from the ground, where he and other Palestinians appear to be lying face down in a fenced-in pen, their arms cuffed above their heads. The soldiers take the detainee to an area of the pen they appear to cordon off using shields. Footage then shows about eight soldiers and a dog with the detainee, largely hidden from view by shields held up by some of the soldiers. Israels Channel 12 news, which broadcast the video, said it captures the moment of the attack.

Two soldiers who formerly worked at the facility and requested anonymity for fear of retribution told the AP they believed the video had been taken at Sde Teiman. The room in which the detainees appear, a corral topped by barbed wire, matches photos of the facility shared with the AP and the description of incarceration conditions that whistleblowers have previously described.

Military prosecutors stated that evidence brought forth in the case indicates "a reasonable suspicion of the commission of the acts," the Israeli military said Tuesday. The military did not comment on the video.

Meanwhile, more information about the case has come to light from a doctor who treated the detainee in question.

Dr. Yoel Donchin, an Israeli anesthesiologist at the field hospital for Palestinian detainees at Sde Teiman, came forward Friday as the person who reported the case to the military authorities.

In an interview with Israeli public broadcaster Kan, Donchin said the detainee's life was in danger and that he was in need of emergency surgery after the attack.

During the interview, Donchin confirmed information attributed to an unidentified medical official who said the detainee had fractured ribs, showed signs of beating and bore evidence of being sodomized, leading to a tear in the lower part of the intestines.

Donchin said the detainee's case was the most extreme he had witnessed since working at the facility.

Naji Abbas, a case manager with the Israeli Physicians for Human Rights, said the detainee was transferred to a civilian hospital outside Sde Teiman about a month ago because his injuries were too severe for treatment at the military facility. Abbas received his information from a medical source with knowledge of the case.

In a written submission to the Israeli Supreme Court in advance of Wednesday's hearing, state attorneys did not mention the military's sexual assault investigation, but insisted the rights groups' claims of deplorable conditions were inaccurate.

The Israeli organization arguing in court for the military prison's closure, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, had alleged that detainees at the facility are punished with severe violence, including with attack dogs and sexual assault; made to sit on the ground blindfolded and handcuffed 24 hours a day; forbidden from moving or speaking and rarely shower or change clothes.

An investigation by the AP into the facility documented how detainees are blindfolded, handcuffed and diapered during medical treatment.

The state, in a written response, said detainees were given sufficient food and water, showered regularly, accessed medical treatment as needed, and were blindfolded and handcuffed because of concerns that they could harm staff. The state said a new wing of Sde Teiman set to open Sept. 5 would improve conditions, including adding a walking area for detainees. Additional improvements are expected to be made later this year, it said.

Following Wednesday's hearing, the court gave the state a week and a half to provide more information about conditions at the prison.

Sde Teiman was the main military prison holding Palestinians captured in large-scale raids on the Gaza Strip. Israel began moving detainees out of the facility following the rights groups petition to shut it down. State filings show 28 detainees remain.

Under Israeli law, Palestinians from Gaza can be held at the facility, and other military detention camps, without a detention order, trial or charge for over a month. Many Palestinian detainees have spent weeks in the facility before being released back to Gaza after Israeli authorities deemed them unaffiliated with militant groups.

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Associated Press reporters Tia Goldenberg and Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Jack Jeffery in Ramallah, West Bank, contributed to this report.
Amid some of the hottest temperatures on record, many Marines are struggling to stay cool in barracks often without air conditioning, leading to lack of sleep, low morale and safety concerns, according to interviews with a half dozen Marines, former Marines, and troop family members, as well as a Military.com review of service documents.

"I think there's a big morale crush when you get home," a current Marine leader in the Corps told Military.com of their troops' air conditioning situation. "You've been out sweating all day or even just doing hard [physical training] in the morning and then you come back to shower and change, and your room is consistently hot."

Marines shared that they've spent their own money on portable coolers, fans -- sometimes even taking them from their workplace -- and window units they hide when leadership comes by, all in an effort to beat the heat and often against barracks policies that ban air conditioning units due to concerns about the stability of the power grid or old electrical wiring.

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Some have slept on cooler floors or in truck beds at night, run their car's air conditioning, left their barracks doors or windows wide open despite personal safety concerns, or sought cooler spaces off-post. One experienced heat illness exacerbated by the sweltering barracks.

"When you have that day after day, and you're just looking for that comfort relief  it gets really frustrating," one Marine said.

Many expressed exasperation with the policies limiting air conditioning, including the Marine leader who said they meticulously dug through their installation's regulations and found them conflicting, despite other leaders at the unit enforcing a portable A/C ban.

When that leader brought the conflicting policy to their own leadership, they were essentially stonewalled.

"That was the end of what I could do there," they said. "It's important to get away and it's important to have things to do to unwind and relax  but if our barracks don't provide that, then how are they supposed to do it?"

In May, Marine Corps leaders identified ventilation as one of their top barracks concerns, noting that long-standing temperature and water control issues in the decades-old facilities have led to increased instances of maintenance problems such as mold. Earlier this year, the service put quality of life -- including barracks improvements -- at the top of its priority wish list to Congress.

But as the service works to demolish or refurbish old barracks or build new ones -- a process top service officials have conceded could take a decade -- service members described to Military.com brutal conditions during the sweltering summer months due to temperature control problems in the barracks.

"It definitely affects how I sleep," one current Marine, who has been at both East and West Coast installations in recent years, told Military.com of their air conditioning situation. "I feel like it's very hard for people who don't live in the barracks to actually care about the barracks because, at the end of the day, they don't experience that trouble."

Young Marines, junior enlisted service members and noncommissioned officers live in the barracks, though many quickly take advantage of housing for married couples once eligible. Ultimately, some of the visibility of these issues comes from Marines themselves, with one Marine NCO telling Military.com that he encouraged his troops to stay on top of fix requests that might be stagnant for weeks or months.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the summer of 2023 was the hottest ever recorded globally, with 2024 expected to break even more heat records. U.S. Marine Corps bases are situated in some of the nation's hottest climates, including Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, and Twentynine Palms and Camp Pendleton in California, which are among the service's largest installations. Even Japan, which is home to thousands of Marines, had its hottest July in recorded history this year.

Most of the Marines who spoke to Military.com described themselves or their peers finding no relief from the heat as they oscillated between field exercises, flight lines or motor pools only to return to their sweltering barracks. The service members interviewed by Military.com spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation.

Some of the current and former service members Military.com spoke to said that they had experienced living in newer barracks where the air conditioning was working, a relief to them or their peers who work outside or in labor-intensive jobs. Other times, the barracks had air conditioning, but it wouldn't work well or only in some rooms of the facility, causing some to seek reprieve in their peers' quarters and ask for fixes that seemed never to materialize.

Some Marines took to knowingly skirting measures banning portable A/C or spot coolers.

"I bought my own A/C. I don't really care what the barracks rule says," said one Marine, who described sleeplessness in their hot barracks. "If I'm suffering, I'm gonna do something about it. A fan just wasn't cutting it anymore."

Problems with Policy

The policies limiting the use of A/C units do not seem to be uniformly applied across bases in hotter regions, though concerns about draining or overloading the energy grid are prevalent at most installations. For example, in 2018, Camp Pendleton announced that, after years of restricting their use, it would be relaxing its policy to allow on-base housing tenants to use portable air conditioners up to a certain energy threshold. It is unclear whether that policy includes the barracks, as the installation did not respond to clarifying questions by publication.

Other installations, like Camp Lejeune, require approval from the commanding general "to prevent facility damage, imbalances in room cooling, mold growth from over-cooling spaces, and electrical issues from improper installation of temporary units," Victoria Long, a spokesperson for the installation, told Military.com.

Long said that, in cases where repairs cannot be immediately made, the installation might issue fans or window units, or even temporarily relocate Marines to other barracks in the case of long-term outages.

At Twentynine Palms in the California desert, a spokesperson for the installation said that policy prohibits the installation of window units or space coolers in the barracks for fear of overloading the power grid.

"There would be an impact on the building and installation electrical systems with the installation of window air conditioners or spot coolers in every room," Capt. Johnathon Huizar, the spokesperson, said in an emailed statement to Military.com on Tuesday. "At scale, the increased power load across multiple barracks would impact the high voltage system and trip substation circuit breakers, potentially causing mass power loss across a portion of the installation."

While there are no plans to relax existing policy at Twentynine Palms or Camp Lejeune, where recent highs have hit 118 and 93 respectively, Huizar noted that extreme weather, including high temperatures, already strains the installation's HVAC system. Spokespeople for both installations said that public works personnel are working to prioritize living spaces to address the issue, including holding bi-weekly meetings with barracks managers and unit commanders, increasing the number of connection points for portable chillers to boost cooling in the barracks, conducting preventive maintenance, and responding "immediately" to downed HVAC systems.

"Sometimes, repairs are impacted by complexity, or they're delayed due to a shortage in critical parts, which is a nationwide challenge," said Long, the Camp Lejeune spokesperson, adding that some A/C issues are fixed before residents notice a temperature change. "Air conditioning systems have grown in complexity over the years, and Camp Lejeune has added additional control specialists to its public works staff."

A recently released study from the Defense Health Agency found that, between 2019 and 2023, Marines and soldiers experienced higher rates of heat illness than their peers in other branches, with the second-highest rates of heat-related ailments located at Camp Lejeune. Other Marine installations that reached the study's roughly top 20 locations where heat illness was most prevalent included Camp Pendleton, Twentynine Palms and Parris Island in South Carolina.

Maj. Jose A. Castillo, deputy director of the Corps' housing branch, said that, starting next year, Camp Horno, located aboard Camp Pendleton, will begin to receive air conditioning installation and that other installations will be evaluated under Barracks 2030, "which will provide Marines comfortable living conditions, preventing heat stress, exhaustion and fatigue and, ultimately, improving training and mission readiness."

Promises Made

Senior Marine leaders are aware of the temperature issues affecting the barracks, and as part of the Barracks 2030 plan that is designed to upgrade living spaces in the coming years, there is a concerted institutional effort to rectify Marines' living conditions, which were neglected during 20 years of the Global War on Terror as other priorities took precedence.

Marine Corps Installations Command told Military.com in a statement Wednesday that the Barracks 2030 initiative includes evaluating the need to install or refurbish air conditioning in barracks, adding that the decision to install air conditioning varies depending on the climate conditions and infrastructure needs at certain installations.

The senior enlisted leader of the service has been particularly vocal on the barracks issue, previously describing the poor living conditions as "undefendable," instead working to push the Corps forward in its efforts to rectify the problem.

"I know part of my job is to bring light to the room realities of a young Marine today in the barracks," Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz said while appearing on the Moments in Leadership podcast earlier this year. "That it's not OK for a Marine to come home -- because that's their home -- and have mold or the temperature is 98 degrees."

Ruiz said he received a social media direct message from someone holding a temperature gauge in their room late at night showing that the barracks was 98 degrees; he added that it is not "OK" to force "Marines to live in places like that."

"There was a promise that is made -- is being made this morning -- when the recruiter's telling a young applicant or their parents, 'Look, we got you," Ruiz said. "When they get in here, we have a place to sleep and it's going to be safe and they'll be rested to execute a live-fire range the next day or fix the F-35 engine, or whatever it is."

The impact on sleep is a real problem, according to the service members who spoke to Military.com, especially as it can lead to safety concerns when Marines are required to operate heavy equipment or participate in high-stakes training environments.

Katherine Kuzminksi, a deputy director at the Center for a New American Studies, told Military.com in an interview Monday that sleep deprivation shows up again and again when looking at military accidents.

"So in the Marine Corps, what that has looked like has been rollovers of vehicles that have ended in accidents in the past -- fatal accidents -- or just ones that have cost lost duty days to Marines," she said.

The difficult conditions shouldn't be happening for service members and in some cases haven't been addressed because Congress often sets barracks improvement and other maintenance needs against each other in budget battles, Kuzminski said.

"We want to test our Marines to the limits in combat and in training, but there is not a requirement to do that during their leisure time or when they're trying to rest and recover in order to perform their job," she said.

One parent of a service member, whose name is being withheld to avoid impacting their child's career, told Military.com that their kid was admitted to the emergency room for fluids, in part due to intense training and lack of temperature control in the barracks. She said that the service member requested a fix several times, but no relief came.

"Your body's fighting this heat and you're drinking so much fluid, but you're not getting a break," the mother of the service member -- a registered nurse with more than 40 years of experience -- told Military.com. "It's making it hard for him to like the military, and this has been his dream."

Related: Marine Corps Says Half of Barracks Had Issues, Though Only 118 Marines Moved, After Worldwide Inspection
Pilots, military aviation experts and family members are voicing concerns about a recently released investigation report into a CV-22 Osprey crash off the coast of Japan last year that killed eight service members, saying the Air Force's findings that the crew were partially to blame for the incident isn't fair.

Findings released publicly last week by Air Force Special Operations Command, or AFSOC, probing a 2023 crash off the southern coast of Japan that led to the deaths of the eight airmen pointed to their "decision-making" and "ineffective crew resource management" as contributing factors to the crash, as well as a mechanical failure in the gearbox that lead to the deadliest CV-22 crash in the service's history.

But crash documents obtained by Military.com, including some that were marked as "Controlled Unclassified Information," along with interviews with a half dozen family members briefed on the findings and pilots who have flown the Osprey, reveal that the crew was doing exactly what they were trained to do and what was expected of them, with pilots saying that the warnings cited by Air Force investigators are commonplace and not often cause for immediate concern. In addition, data about developing problems on the aircraft wasn't relayed to the crew.

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"I think the report probably went a little far in criticizing them for what they did," an Air Force CV-22 pilot who spoke with Military.com said, describing having seen "a fair share" of the type of system warnings that popped up before the Osprey crashed in November. "I don't see a lot of people doing anything that drastically different in that scenario."

The Osprey, flying under call sign Gundam 22, was on an AFSOC training mission near Yakushima Island, Japan, on Nov. 29. The gearbox components started to chip and shed debris that wedged in, causing the left proprotor to stop spinning and the aircraft to fall out of the sky. The crew had decided to land the aircraft, but didn't deem the situation an emergency and were following normal landing procedures.

Killed in the crash were Maj. Jeffrey T. Hoernemann; Maj. Eric V. Spendlove; Maj. Luke A. Unrath; Capt. Terrell K. Brayman; Tech. Sgt. Zachary E. Lavoy; Staff Sgt. Jake M. Turnage; Senior Airman Brian K. Johnson; and Staff Sgt. Jake Galliher.

Gailliher's mother, Kim Krautter, has tried to process her grief in the months since her son's passing, but the findings in the accident investigation report, namely that the crew was partially to blame, have made it harder to get closure.

"That's what I can't process, that this blame has been put on the crew -- when the V-22s have a history of problems, and there was a problem that day," Krautter said.

In the minutes before the crash, the pilots discussed several warnings that sensors had flashed about metal flakes and chips in the oil of the gearbox, according to logs of the voice recorder from the crashed Osprey reviewed by Military.com.

When metal chips are detected by the sensors, a small electrical current is used to dissipate them, and a "chip burn" warning flashes for the pilots.

One of the Gundam 22 pilots in the minutes leading up to the crash recalled his experience of getting "100 and some chip burns in a space of like 15 minutes" but without any other detectable issues on a flight earlier in his career.

Another crew member mentioned in the log that he'd encountered the issue "on training sorties at Cannon" Air Force Base in New Mexico.

The warnings are sufficiently common that pilots often don't view them as critical, according to the pilots who spoke to Military.com.

Residents of Angaur load a Gundam 22 tribute bundle onto a truck after receiving bundles of humanitarian aid during Operation Christmas Drop 2023 in Angaur, Republic of Palau, Dec. 7, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler)

Air Force policy says that after three "chip burn" lights, Osprey crews should "land as soon as practical" -- the first and least serious of three landing conditions -- but the policy also gives pilots the opportunity to press on.

According to the logs of the flight voice recorder, the crew not only discussed the warnings for several minutes after a series of alarms, but also talked about whether they were experiencing any sort of "secondaries" -- additional signs or symptoms like vibration, noise or leaking that would corroborate a potential issue.

That's exactly what they should have been doing, according to the pilots who spoke to Military.com and those who spoke to investigators after the crash.

"I'd be flipping through the status layers just to ensure that everything is still kind of working as it should be for that," one pilot told investigators.

Another pilot said that they would be "looking at gauges to look for fluctuating pressures, temperatures within the gearbox and then possibly a gearbox oil pressure and temp trending in a certain direction," before adding that "with chips, I expect the gearbox to start tearing itself up, so I would expect erratic indications within those gauges."

Air Force investigators confirmed that the crew of the fatal Osprey flight in November never saw any further indications of problems.

Retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder, a former helicopter pilot and prior commanding general of United States Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, told Military.com in an interview that examining a crew's actions in the wake of a tragedy is difficult, complicated further by hindsight.

"As far as I know, this crew did all the right things. I would offer, for a Marine crew, I can't say whether they would have done anything different," Rudder said, adding that, in his experience in the Pacific, it is a paramount concern for crews to know where an aircraft should land in case of an emergency when operating over water.

But Rudder also pointed out that that's a call that the pilot is allowed to make on his own.

"That aircraft commander has that discretion, as per the book, to make those calls," he added.

A History of Problems

Since 1992, the Osprey has been involved in numerous crashes, accidents and mishaps, leading to more than 60 deaths, though investigations after those crashes have almost uniformly blamed pilot error. Officials have routinely noted that the number of mishaps the aircraft has for every 100,000 hours of flight is not unusual, and chalked the incidents up to heavy usage.

In the last several years, the aircraft has received heightened scrutiny because the services were forced to disclose that the Ospreys have been suffering from a clutch issue for more than a decade that was not known to the public. The problem -- called a hard clutch engagement -- appeared to be costly but not deadly until June 2022 when it brought down a Marine Corps Osprey, killing five Marines.

Since the crash, the office that manages the Osprey has tried to assure reporters and the public that it has a handle on the hard clutch engagement issue, but unanswered questions about the overall airworthiness of the airframe remain.

The Air Force's investigation, a summary of which was publicly released last week, found that the Gundham 22 pilots' choice to keep flying amid the warnings was one of the two causes for the crash.

Shortly before the Air Force released the summary, it allowed the man who oversaw that investigation, AFSOC Commander Lt. General Michael Conley, to speak with reporters.

Conley specifically argued that the pilots should have had more conversations about the choice to keep flying after a third chip warning came up.

"My expectation is that there should have been more conversation about the decision to press on and talk about the risks," he told reporters, before adding, "Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot of dialogue."

Later in the briefing, he also suggested that some in the crew may not have felt comfortable speaking up.

"We train our crew members to interact assertively and speak up when they're uncomfortable -- this did not happen in this case," he said.

Conley, however, acknowledged that the "chip burn" warnings shouldn't automatically have caused alarm among the crew members, describing them as "kind of like a check engine light in your car."

"You could drive your car for 10 years and not get any, or you could drive next week and get three different ones for multiple reasons," Conley said.

But though the crew didn't see further indications of a major issue in the minutes leading up to the crash and supporting materials from both the publicly released Accident Investigation Board report and a copy of the internal Safety Investigation Board report obtained by Military.com show that the aircraft's systems detected vibrations in the driveshaft that was powering one of the Osprey's proprotors and connected to the gearbox that was chipping. The crew had no way of knowing the onboard systems had spotted the problem.

In a section dedicated to this vibration detection system, the public accident report simply notes that an onboard system "recorded an increase in vibration in the left pylon drive shaft." The entire section is just a paragraph long.

Meanwhile, the unreleased, internal safety report said that this system detected a 10-fold jump in vibrations after the first chip burn light, and "it steadily persisted for the remainder of the mishap flight."

However, this system is designed only to show select data to the crew, and these vibrations didn't meet the criteria, the report noted. As a result, the pilots were unaware that there were more serious issues with the aircraft.

Even as the crew planned to divert the aircraft after discussing the warnings, the flight engineer remarked that "everything looks normal for temperature and pressure."

Just minutes before they would crash, the pilots told Japanese air traffic controllers that the airport didn't need to stop traffic for them.

"I don't want to land right in front of him," one pilot said. "Our situation is not that dire."

The fact that systems on the aircraft detected vibrations immediately after the first warning light but failed to report it to the crew was the fourth of 12 findings in the internal safety report.

Conley argued that he didn't think having the "data being available would have made a significant difference."

But, at the same time, Air Force officials have acknowledged that the data could be potentially useful to pilots in the future.

A U.S. Air Force Special Operations aircraft maintenance squadron crew chief inspects the engine of a CV-22 Osprey, April 23, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Charles Moye)

Jennifer Gonzalez, an AFSOC spokesperson, said that AFSOC was working with the V-22 Joint Program Office, which oversees the aircraft's use for all the services "to see if the VSLED data could be helpful and if it would be something we want to provide aircrew to increase safety."

The result appears to be that, despite having an incomplete technical picture of the issues going on with the aircraft and policies that supported the decision to keep flying, the Air Force's investigation concluded that the entire Osprey crew was partially at fault for the crash.

"Ultimately, the report has the mishap pilot decision making as a causal factor," Conley said, before adding that "it is a crew aircraft and they made decisions together."

Meanwhile, Conley told The Associated Press that "there's nothing we could have done to detect" the gearbox problem that brought down the aircraft, while also telling reporters that the crew's decision to keep flying was deadly.

"The investigation indicates that time mattered.  I do believe that there was an alternative ending," he told reporters last week.

Processing Grief, Remembering the Fallen

In the months following their loved ones' deaths, family members were left to grieve and wonder what went wrong. Now that the summary of the investigation has been released, new grieving paired with anger has taken root for some family members.

"I enthusiastically believe the crew is being unfairly criticized and graded on a situation in which command withheld critical information, as they have admitted," said one family member, who requested anonymity. "How can a crew make wise and effective decisions if they aren't given accurate and up-to-date information for the foundation of their decisions?"

Other family members, like Jim Turnage, the father of Jake Turnage, said that, while they didn't feel like the report was overtly critical of the crew, he thought his son was put in a tough situation.

"The crew, from my perspective, made choices based on best understood procedures and the best information that they had at the time," he said. "I think those procedures are going to be adjusted. Because maybe they should have landed earlier, but the checklist said when you have the opportunity, it's under your discretion to proceed. And as they're weighing all the things in the moment, they're making their best decision."

For the airmen who flew alongside Gundam 22, the reaction and fear of chip burns was even more swift.

One airman from one of the two other Ospreys that accompanied Gundam 22 told investigators that they landed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni after the crash. The two Ospreys were set to return home to Yokota, Japan, but then one of them revealed it had a chip burn warning as well.

"My aircraft commander, called  [and] told them it was the same thing that [Gundam 22] had," the airman told investigators. "And that's when we decided we're not gonna fly back to Yokota that night."

A maintenance supervisor for the squadron later told investigators that the crews took a train home and the squadron had to go to Iwakuni to do maintenance on the then-stranded Ospreys.

Conley told reporters last week that AFSOC has changed some of its protocol, and crews are now being advised to land as soon as practical after a single chip burn and "as soon as possible" after a second chip burn, he said.

"Before the crash, I didn't think prop box chips were going to change into a lost rotor system as rapidly as it seems like it might have," one airman told investigators after the crash, before adding that the investigation results would likely "change the calculus on how I handle a proprotor gearbox chip."

Last week, Military.com reported that an attorney is representing two of the families as they probe the cause of the crash. That same lawyer, Timothy Loranger, is also representing families of Marines who died in a 2022 V-22 Osprey training crash in California and filed a wrongful death lawsuit in May against Bell Textron and Boeing, which design and manufacture the aircraft, and Rolls-Royce, which designs and manufactures the engines. Another Osprey crash occurred in August 2023, which led to the deaths of three Marines in Australia.

Krautter, whose son Jake Galliher died in the Japan crash, said that many of the mothers who lost loved ones in the Gundam 22 accident as well as other recent crashes stay in touch, referring to themselves as "sisters" who have learned to look out for one another amid the grief.

"I'm now connected with a mom from the Australia crash, I'm now connected with a mom from the California crash. They've reached out to say, we know what this is like, and we're here," Krautter said.

"We're all still trying to process, and there's moms who are carrying this on their shoulders because their sons are being blamed."

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Prosecutors dropped the assault case against midshipman Garrett Lee Holsen Wednesday, ending a nearly three-year legal saga that followed Holsen through most of his time at the Naval Academy and extended past his graduation.

In a statement, Anne Arundel County States Attorney Anne Colt Leitess wrote she made the difficult decision to terminate the case because the alleged victim was not able to participate in a retrial scheduled at the end of this month

It was my privilege to represent her in this case as she is one of the strongest and most resilient people I have met in my career, Leitess said.

Defense attorneys Peter ONeill and Megan Coleman have challenged the states decision to retry the 22-year-old after he was found not guilty of rape in 2022. Prosecutors accused Holsen of attacking one of his classmates at an off-campus party when she was too intoxicated to consent to sex  a theory the jury rejected.

Keeping in line with instructions from Anne Arundel Circuit Judge Robert Thompson, however, the jury did not issue verdicts on third-degree sex offense and second-degree assault charges. Prosecutors took the rare step of appealing that decision and in December, the Appellate Court of Maryland ruled Thompson had acted without authority before sending the two remaining charges back to the circuit court for a retrial.

Across several hearings this year, Leitess, and assistant prosecutors Sean Fox and Katherine Smeltzer, signaled their intent to move forward with the case, arguing the assault charge considered different factors than rape. The sex offense charge was dismissed in June because of double jeopardy, which bars a defendant from being tried twice for the same crime.

With that, Holsen was left facing a second-degree assault charge, a broad misdemeanor; trial was scheduled to begin on Aug. 29. But on Wednesday, the three prosecutors chose to dismiss the case before Anne Arundel Circuit Judge J. Michael Wachs.

ONeill said the hearing was a bittersweet moment and that his client was ecstatic this nightmare is finally over. However, he said the midshipmans reputation has been marred for years by the accusations and that his military service, which was set to begin after his graduation earlier this year, has stalled.

Though he went to the Naval Academy, Holsen, a Wisconsin native, was working toward a commission as a Marine Corps officer. ONeill said the corps has yet to authorize Holsen as a second lieutenant because of the case.

The emotional trauma has been incalculable, ONeill said. He is a strong man of good moral character who only wants to serve his country and put this tragic set of events behind him.

I appreciate the states decision to appeal, he added. However, it seems that the resources spent both at the appellate level and the trial level were unnecessary.

According to the Maryland Judiciary, Smeltzer was brought onto the case shortly before Holsens initial trial in September 2022. Fox, who primarily handles sex crimes, was assigned to the retrial in March and Leitess, who rarely involves herself directly in trials, entered her appearance in June to challenge Thompsons role in the renewed case.

In hearings and filings, Leitess argued the judges decision to dismiss the remaining charges in 2022 was the functional equivalent of an acquittal and that the state would not be able to receive a fair trial if he were to preside over it.

Thompson, who conceded his jury instructions in 2022 were a mistake, disagreed and ruled he would preside over the two-day retrial later this month.

Leitess attempted to push the trial to later in the year to accommodate vacation schedules and give her team enough time to subpoena witnesses, some of whom had already begun their military service. But ONeill objected, claiming Thompson had already bent over backwards to accommodate the state and said Holsens right to a speedy trial trumped any scheduling conflict.

Leitess said Wednesday that she would have participated in the proceedings had they moved forward. Her involvement would have seen three attorneys attempt to prove a misdemeanor charge carrying a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

2024 Capital Gazette. Visit at capitalgazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Ten House Republicans have raised objections to new limits on military parents' access to their teenagers' medical records, calling the policies "reprehensible" and saying they restrict a parent's ability to make health decisions for their children.

A federal update in April to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act's (HIPAA) privacy rules modified the circumstances in which a person's health information can be disclosed, particularly regarding reproductive health care.

The modification followed the Supreme Court's decision in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade and prohibits doctors, insurance companies and other health organizations from disclosing patient information to state officials for investigations or civil or criminal cases.

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Just prior to the change, the Defense Health Agency published guidance saying that, in the military health system, parents of minors 12 and under have full access to their children's health records in MHS Genesis, the Defense Department's electronic health records system, but those with dependents ages 13 to 17 will have access only to appointment information, messaging, vaccination records and allergy care.

Although HIPAA's privacy rule permits parents to access minor children's medical records, there are exceptions, depending on state laws, that shield adolescents seeking care for mental or sexual health, including birth control and pregnancy, and other reasons.

The DoD's Parental Access to Protected Health Information of Unemancipated Minors Memorandum, published last year, said the department will follow federal and state privacy laws within the United States, while a March 2023 DoD memo allows dependent minors to get care at military hospitals and clinics overseas for birth control, reproductive health conditions and sexually transmitted diseases without parental consent.

The new DoD limitations have rankled some Republican lawmakers who say the policies allow providers to determine whether adolescents are capable of making their own health care decisions and violate parental rights.

According to the group, led by Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., the lack of access is "problematic" and "creates undue burdens on these parents."

"Adolescent children or teenagers under the age of 18 are prohibited from voting, drinking alcohol, using tobacco, and many other actions that vary across federal and state law because they are not mature enough to make appropriate decisions regarding their own welfare. Health care decisions should be no different," wrote the lawmakers in an Aug. 5 letter to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez.

The group also alleges that the changes preclude parents "from finding out if their child is 'identifying' as another gender."

According to the letter, a minor also may be deemed as mature and seek such care as having "their reproductive organs removed" without necessitating parental notification.

DoD policy specifically states there are situations in which a provider "may have to notify" a parent or legal sponsor, including life-threatening conditions, those that require removal of reproductive organs or behavior that includes potential harm to themselves or others.

But the lawmakers said the records policy language means there may be situations in which military parents overseas don't have a chance to engage with their child about a life-changing decision before the dependent is about to have a procedure.

"Even then, the provider may not decide it is necessary to notify the child's parents. This policy is reprehensible," they wrote.

The lawmakers asked Martinez-Lopez to reconsider the policies.

Adam Greene, a former Department of Health and Human Services regulator and partner with the Washington, D.C.-based law firm Davis Wright Tremaine, said the military policy is "actually very typical."

"We have this complicated relationship where HIPAA defers to state law on whether the minor ... needs the parents' consent, but then HIPAA will essentially control based on whatever the result is as to whether the parent has access," Greene said in an interview Thursday with Military.com.

State laws vary widely when it comes to allowing adolescents to make their own health decisions, but many allow young people to act on their own behalf for reproductive care, mental health and substance use disorder, or illnesses like sexually transmitted diseases that teens may not want parents to know about or whose disclosure could cause harm to the patient.

The creation of patient portals -- the interface between providers, electronic health records and patients with access to electronic health records -- has complicated privacy issues related to medical care, according to Greene.

In a perfect world, the portals would have an option in which providers could click a box for patients under 18 to mask protected medical care while allowing parents to see treatment for acute or chronic conditions that isn't private, Greene said.

But the technology is not built that way.

"This is bipartisan concern -- conservative concerns, and on the liberal side, it is impeding care -- potentially -- to not provide parents with immediate patient portal access to, for example, their child's oncology information. I think the key is improved technological solutions," Greene said.

A study published in the Journal of Pediatrics in 2022 found that the variability in state laws "complicates their interpretation" when considering the HIPAA regulations and health care standards.

According to lead author Dr. Marianne Sharko, with the Departments of Population Health Sciences and Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine, the evidence "demonstrates that adolescents are more likely to seek health care for potentially sensitive issues such as sexuality, mental health and drug use if they can provide their own consent and be confident that their health information is private."

"However, parents and guardians also have responsibilities pertaining to care for minor patients," she wrote.

In a delayed response Thursday to a request for comment from Military.com, Defense Health Agency spokesman Peter Graves said that HIPAA requires the DoD to protect certain health information, and the Pentagon is complying with federal and state law.

"In most situations, the parent is a minor child's personal representative under the  HIPAA Privacy Final Rule, and as a result, we are allowed to and do share their protected health information with the parent," Graves said. "There are some situations when the parent would not be the minor's personal representative under the Privacy Rule. The most common of these is when the minor is the one who consents to care, and the consent of the parent is not required under state or other applicable law.

He said the DoD could not comment directly on the letter pending a response to the congressional representatives, also noting that parents, guardians and others acting in the place of parents can obtain paper medical records through military treatment facilities, when in compliance with state laws and policies.

In a statement accompanying the press release on the policy in March, however, Dr. Anmarie Widener, chief of the Defense Health Agency's Privacy and Civil Liberties Office, said the new HIPAA Privacy Rule "gives clear guidance" on protecting Americans' health information, and minors are included in the rule.

Officials also urged patients to look at their state laws regarding teens' ability to consent to health treatment without parental notification.

"Each of the 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia have their own rules for when a minor can consent to the care they get. The DHA observes those state-by-state rules under all circumstances," DHA officials wrote.

In addition to Alford, the letter was signed by Republican Reps. Elise Stefanik of New York, Michael Waltz and Cory Mills of Florida, Doug Lamborn of Colorado, Rich McCormick of Georgia, Ben Cline of Virginia, Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, Pat Fallon of Texas, and James Moylan of Guam.

Editor's Note: This story was updated Aug. 9 to include a response from the Department of Defense.

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The U.S. Army, every few years, would break out a series of pontoons and boats and practice creating a pier where none existed before to land vehicles and cargo. It usually went pretty well, and it almost never generated any attention.

Sometimes, weather would get in the way, and so the last time the service successfully speared a pier into a beach was 2020. But it wasn't a capability that drew a lot of attention.

That all changed in March when the system, known as the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, or JLOTS, was hauled out for a mission facing intense international scrutiny -- delivering aid to Gaza. While the pier would help offload nearly 20 million pounds of aid, a stream of issues, breakdowns, injured service members and delays have led to questions about the Army ability to build these piers and the health of the service's watercraft community.

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There were the three injuries -- including one so severe that the service member never returned to duty -- the circumstances of which were never explained. The pier broke apart, leaving several Army boats and their crews stranded on the beach in Gaza. While the soldiers were evacuated fairly quickly, it took several days for the Israelis to return all the boats into the water.

But the pier concept isn't just about delivering aid. It's a capability that military strategists say could be key to fighting an island-hopping campaign in the Pacific.

Dr. Salvatore Mercogliano, a maritime historian and former merchant mariner who worked with JLOTS during the 1990s, stressed to Military.com that the Gaza mission "should be a warning bell for everybody about what a Pacific operation would look like."

While politicians have focused on the cost of the system and the politics of using military forces to deliver aid to Palestinians, military experts have concentrated on the overall viability of the pier concept, and some are raising concerns that the Gaza mission exposed vulnerabilities that will become costly if JLOTS is ever deployed in combat.

The land service largely ignored its amphibious capabilities for decades with boats so old some engines were built in "West Germany," according to a now-retired Army warrant officer who served on these vessels.

JLOTS missions are run by the 7th Transportation Brigade -- sometimes dubbed "The Army's Navy."

The unit practices a mission similar to what it would execute in Gaza -- putting a long pier onto a "bare beach" to offload vehicles and supplies. The unit last tried to execute the mission last year in Australia as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre after 14 months of careful preparations, but the effort ended up being scrapped due to rough weather.

Before that, a JLOTS pier was practiced in the United Arab Emirates in 2020 and South Korea in 2015. The 2015 exercise, the last time that a pier was successfully anchored into bare sand on a beach, took two attempts due to weather.

"I think it's a critical capability going forward for the Department of Defense, and it's got to be prioritized in sustainment, in modernization," retired Col. Randy Nelson, once a commander of the 7th Transportation Brigade, told Military.com.

Nelson, in an interview Monday, conceded that "Mother Nature gets a vote" on the operations, but he argued that the unit has "a play to fix that and put it back in place.  That's their job."

Military officials told reporters at the start of the mission that the pier was expected to deliver up to 150 trucks of food or 2,000,000 meals per day. It's not clear whether it ever reached that goal. Shortly after the pier began operating, Pentagon officials shifted to using "metric tons of aid" as their metric.

When Military.com asked Pentagon spokesman, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, how many tons of aid a truck would carry or how many people a ton of aid would feed, he said the Pentagon would research the answer but never provided it. The result is that making a direct comparison to what was promised versus what JLOTS ultimately delivered is difficult.

After delays in getting set up, food was slow to flow across the pier. Then, it became clear that the Pentagon would be responsible for the aid only up to the point it reached the beaches of Gaza. Questions about whether the food was actually reaching Palestinians were passed off to the U.S. Agency for International Development or the United Nations World Food Program.

Those distribution efforts were stymied by security concerns and finally led Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh to concede in June that aid was "not flowing the way it should."

Despite these issues, getting aid into Gaza through other routes was even more challenging and, at one point, the pier ended up providing the second-highest volume of aid from any entry point into Gaza.

"Twenty million pounds of aid on the beach is exactly why you brought the pier," Nelson said. "The fact that you had to recover it, repair it, recover it, repair it and put it back in  it's immaterial."

While the Army ran into issues out of its control, such as choppy water, the mission's lackluster impact raises questions over how the service can conduct more complicated water-based missions in a combat environment.

Both Nelson and Mercogliano argued that the Army shouldn't be judged too harshly since it was asked to do a job under difficult conditions -- namely, an inability to step foot on the beach.

"That really makes it difficult to do because you would have other methods to land cargo beyond just the Trident pier," Mercogliano explained, referring to the pier connected to the Gaza shore that ended up breaking loose in rough seas and then being removed for the same reason three times. "You'd be able to bring watercraft right to the beach -- you'd be able to do just a variety of different things."

Creating a connection to shore would be critical for the Army if war broke out in the Pacific, with watercraft missions key to moving supplies to the front lines. Those capabilities haven't been truly stressed in decades, and while the Gaza mission encountered challenges, such as choppy waters, combat in the Pacific would face those same obstacles but under more austere conditions.

"This was a high visibility, low threat test of the capability that we may actually need in a degraded environment in the Pacific in the future," said Katherine Kuzminski, a defense expert at the Center for a New American Security, or CNAS, a national security think tank. "On the flipside, it was good we tested a capability that we don't traditionally use to perhaps drive some improvements for combat environments."

The Army has made an enormous evolution since the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- with virtually every piece of gear a soldier uses seeing several upgrades, as well as new technology tactics making their way into every ground combat unit's playbook. But its watercraft operations have been largely left to obscurity as the Global War on Terror mostly took place in landlocked terrain in the Middle East and those capabilities received little, if any, publicity.

"That really built up a culture of: hide our head in the sand, stay quiet, do the bare minimum we can to not get in trouble, and they won't defund us," the now-retired warrant officer said.

Amid this culture, problems festered, and the boats started to fall apart.

The officer said that, during his time in the community, he saw boats caked with rust and key parts that were impossible to get fixed because the manufacturers have all gone out of business.

"The Army doesn't know what it wants to do with watercraft," Mercogliano said. "They are always at the bottom of the totem pole and so they have been neglected at times in terms of resources [and] whether they want the program even to continue."

The result of this resource shortage is that, according to the now-retired warrant officer, the crews struggle with keeping the boats in one piece.

The officer provided Military.com photos and emails that documented an issue with the bow ramp -- the key component that allows a crew to easily roll cargo on and off the boat -- on one boat that included serious issues with the hinge that connected it to the rest of the ship.

They also said that they had witnessed a bow ramp fall off of another Army landing craft while they were at sea and sink to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

"It's not the soldiers, it's not the command, it's the equipment that needs to be invested in," Nelson said.

In testimony to lawmakers in 2023, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth described the service's watercraft as "niche," but underscored those capabilities are much more relevant now and are in desperate need of a revamp as the service invests heavily in the Pacific.

Nelson detailed concerns regarding the service's equipment in an Army-published article in 2014, writing that "forces lack the ability to meet current and emerging requirements."

"Army forces lack a sufficient combination of speed, range and payload to rapidly shift combat-ready maneuver forces," he added.

Despite the maintenance issues and the lack of clear investment from the Army, Mercogliano says that the system has value when it's used in the right settings.

One example he cited was the system's use in Haiti in 2010.

"It was a very good Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore operation because it was done in Port au Prince, you were in an enclosed harbor, you were replacing  facilities that had been destroyed by earthquake," he said. "If you have the right operating environments, it works good."

Related: Military Removes Gaza Aid Pier for Third Time as Lawmakers Call It a 'Failed' Operation
Thousands of National Guardsmen throughout the Southeastern coast from Florida to North Carolina have been activated as now-Tropical Storm Debby barrels north, flooding communities, spawning tornadoes and claiming lives along the way.

As of Thursday morning, a total of nearly 4,000 Guardsmen had been activated, Lt. Col. Devin T. Robinson, a Pentagon spokesperson, told Military.com.

Debby's path from the Southeast and northward spawned multiple tornadoes in several states, the Weather Channel reported. As of Thursday, at least six people have been killed -- the most recent death coming from a tornado in North Carolina, CNN reported.

Read Next: As the Gaza Pier Is Packed Up, Experts Worry About What It Portends for a War in the Pacific

North Carolina officials announced Thursday that nearly 400 members of the state's National Guard and more than 130 vehicles were activated for recovery and response to the flooding, winds and damage from the storm.

North Carolina's activation and preparation of its Guard units follows Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia's National Guards work to prepare and respond to Debby's damage in their local communities.

The Virginia National Guard said in a press release that 130 soldiers have been alerted and began preparing personnel as well as "tactical trucks capable of high water transportation" on Thursday at Guard facilities in Lynchburg, Danville and Petersburg to respond to possible impacts from Debby.

The Georgia Army National Guard's 177th Engineer Battalion has been deployed in Bulloch County, just northwest of Savannah, to clean up storm damage and help reopen roads, according to NBC's WSAV affiliate. Rising waters caused by two dams that were breached in the past day as well as heavy rainfall from Debby have led to widespread flooding and road closures in that community.

Upward of 3,000 Florida National Guard members were activated amid the storms, according to a Tuesday press release from the Army, with units working a variety of tasks from "route clearing and debris removal on city streets" to providing help with assisted living facilities.

The South Carolina and Kentucky National Guards also sent assets to assist the Sunshine State, Military.com previously reported.

Debby made landfall Monday near the Florida panhandle as a Category 1 hurricane and began traveling through Georgia before hitting the Atlantic Ocean again. It returned to land near Charleston, South Carolina, and began meandering north into North Carolina as a tropical storm.

President Joe Biden has approved disaster declarations for Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina as of Thursday.

"More than 900 FEMA staff and federal partners are deployed in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina," the Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a press release Thursday. "Search-and-rescue teams and swift water rescue assets stand ready to assist as needed."

Related: Aircraft Evacuated, Bases Closed as Debby Batters Southeast US
Brittany Loy and her soldier husband were moving out of The Villages at Fort Moore, Georgia, this spring as they headed to a new posting in Alaska when they found out they were on the hook for a $2,000 move-out fee. The bill included the cost to replace the air conditioning unit in the home's back yard.

An inspector reportedly found "a small piece of corrosion in the bottom corner of the unit" and blamed the deterioration on the family's male dog, Loy said. She hadn't noticed whether the damage was there when moving in and estimated that at least two other families had lived in the house during the life of the unit.

The full amount to replace it "would have required us to pay $700 out of pocket," which the one-income household "did not have," Loy said in an interview. So she contacted the Military Housing Coalition for help.

Read Next: As the Gaza Pier Is Packed Up, Experts Worry About What It Portends for a War in the Pacific

Co-founder and CEO of the Military Housing Coalition Heather Hall said the nonprofit didn't have any marketwide data, but after her years as an advocate, she's sensing more instances of military families needing help disputing big move-out fees.

The neighborhood where the Loys lived is part of the Michaels Organization, a real estate development and management company responsible for roughly 18,000 houses at 11 military installations. A spokesperson for the Michaels Organization declined to comment on the fee in question or the company's practices when assessing move-out fees. The company has been in the news over its use of non-disclosure agreements for tenants amid heightened scrutiny over base housing conditions.

When a family lives in privatized base housing, for the most part, the service member's entire Basic Allowance for Housing goes directly to the local housing operator. In the last month in which the family lives there, the housing company typically prorates the amount for rent, then either cuts the family a check for the balance of the month or deducts money for move-out fees. The fees that the remaining BAH doesn't cover come out of the family's pocket.

Sources have previously described the process for resolving fee disputes -- which varies from base to base and company to company -- as not only "arduous" but even "frightening."

Once the Military Housing Coalition started asking questions on the Loys' behalf, the housing operator reduced the fee for the air conditioning unit to $698, Loy said -- low enough that the month's remaining BAH covered it all with some left over. In the end, the Loys got a $300 refund out of the month's BAH with the reduced air conditioning fee.

Loy said she asked The Villages at Fort Moore to provide proof that it replaced the A/C unit but had not received any such confirmation.

The Defense Department doesn't track move-out fees to know whether a given base or housing company is more likely to charge them, a spokesperson confirmed by email, adding that move-out fees "are negotiated between the individual Military Departments and [housing] companies" and that the DoD is "committed to ensuring ... fair treatment" of tenants by the housing operators.

Hall said she's never heard of a tenant successfully asserting one dispute provision that's supposed to be available to families -- the "right" to withhold rent payments during a dispute.

The rent "is supposed to go into an escrow account," Hall said, "and we've yet to see that actually happen."

Congressional Office Weighs In on Carpet Fee

Army spouse Ayanna DeCruise said the military housing office at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, initially denied her and her spouse access to the formal dispute resolution process there -- because they were "no longer a tenant" -- after being charged to replace all the carpet in the house they moved out of this year.

The Tenant Bill of Rights, a series of protections for families required by Congress in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, guarantees "access to a Military Tenant Advocate" either through a base's housing office or a military legal assistant.

DeCruise sought the help of a military attorney at the family's new post, Fort Stewart, Georgia.

When moving out of the Campbell Crossing neighborhood, DeCruise said the move-out inspection felt "very rushed and unexplained." The inspector never pointed out any carpet stains during the inspection itself, DeCruise said. However, the inspector then informed the couple they would have to pay more than $800 to replace the carpet -- and the family of six had to get from Kentucky to Fort Stewart by the next day.

The inspector told her they had a choice: Pay on the spot with a card or have the money deducted from her spouse's paycheck. They handed over their card number to the inspector.

A spokesperson for Lendlease Communities, which operates Campbell Crossing, did not address DeCruise's case in response to a query by Military.com but said the company provides residents "with as many moving resources as possible while transparently communicating the move-out process with detailed guides, educational videos and FAQs." A Campbell Crossing move-out rate guide linked in the response omitted rates for "Rolled Carpet" and "Carpet Squares," however, for which it advised residents to "See Community Office."

The Military Housing Coalition figured out that Campbell Crossing hadn't applied a formula to account for automatic depreciation of the carpet's value over time, so the family got $152 back.

Still, DeCruise isn't convinced that the carpet damage she described as spots that were "smaller than palm sized" should have put the family on the hook for replacing all the carpet in the house. Hall, from the Military Housing Coalition, said she understood that families moving out of Campbell Crossing only had to vacuum the carpets anyway and that small stains would be charged individually per "square."

The Military Housing Coalition ultimately looped in the office of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

In a letter in response to questions from McConnell's office, Fort Campbell's garrison commander, Army Col. Christopher Midberry, said a review concluded that the family had been "reasonably charged for damage to the carpet."

A constituent services manager for McConnell's office suggested that DeCruise's husband submit a complaint to the Army's inspector general.

Fort Campbell's public affairs office did not respond to a query about the case. Lendlease announced in July that it's selling its military housing portfolio of more than 40,000 homes.

Related: CEO of Privatized Military Housing Company Indicted on Racketeering Charges Unrelated to Defense Department
There are two ways for aspiring veterans to start their business ownership journey. The first requires coming up with a good idea, researching the market, raising the necessary funds, buying everything they need to get started and then marketing their product or service to potential customers. Its an uncertain future, but many entrepreneurs have made a great living by starting their own businesses from the ground up.

Then theres the private equity way: Buy an existing business and then optimize it to make it more profitable and create more value. Both paths involve a lot of hard work and come with a certain amount of risk, but buying into business ownership streamlines the process and comes with an existing business model and established customer base.

Houston-based Owners In Honor is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting American veterans through business ownership and entrepreneurship as they transition to civilian life, and its teaming with Chicagos Cold Bore Capital to facilitate the private equity model of acquisition and management by veterans. Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition uses the expertise and resources of both to grow the number of veteran business owners while growing their businesses.

Jerry Arteaga is an operating partner at Cold Bore Capital. He also happens to be a 23-year Army veteran who spent the bulk of his military career in special forces. He is on the board of directors for Owners In Honor and will soon join Cold Bores board of advisers.

We deploy a buy and build strategy, Arteaga told Military.com. We buy existing companies within the same industry, and we roll them up, if you will. So we buy a bunch of them, aggregate them, integrate them, streamline and optimize their processes, ultimately creating more value.

The goal is to grow those companies, then put them together and sell them to a larger investor. Its the private equity way of doing business. The Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition partnership wants to teach aspiring veteran business owners the same mindset, but on a smaller scale.

The program offers a pathway for veterans to get support while they become entrepreneurs, said Arteaga. Generally, you have to be able to qualify for a [Small Business Administration] loan, you have to want to be a business owner and you have to want to go through our program, which is a year long, and we help guide you through the entire process.

Owners In Honor will help qualified (and aspiring) veterans apply for an SBA loan, which requires the applicant to raise 10% of the required capital. The nonprofit also helps the applicant find gap funding -- finance partners to help raise that 10% of the loan value. Cold Bore Capital brings its experience in areas such as pre-acquisition, operational due diligence, post-acquisition integration and long-term value creation planning to mentor the new veteran owners as they take over an existing business.

This is something we do every day, Arteaga said. We play a very active role in the success of the veterans, and it's at no cost to them.

Why just veterans? Because veteran business ownership is a big deal to both partners. Owners In Honor and Cold Bore Capital were both founded by U.S. military special operations veterans. Army Special Forces veteran Patrick Flood founded Owners In Honor with the goal of giving back to the veteran community. Since he and Arteaga met a long time ago, the two bounced around the idea that would become Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition.

[Flood] looked at the organizations out there and noticed that there was a gap in one area that we specifically term entrepreneurship via acquisition, said Arteaga. He didn't have a private equity background, but he came to me maybe six months after he started the program, and we went back and forth to refine the program.

If youre a veteran and wannabe entrepreneur and know what industry you want to acquire a business, go to the Owners In Honor website to learn more or click on the buy a business link on their site to fill out the intake form and get started.

Want to Know More About Veteran Jobs?

Be sure to get the latest news about post-military careers as well as critical info about veteran jobs and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox.
Former All-Star pitcher Denny Lemaster passed away late last month, according to an obituary from a Georgia funeral home. The former Braves, Astros, and Expos hurler was 85 years old.

A California native, Lemaster signed with the then-Milwaukee Braves shortly after graduating from Oxnard High School and made his pro debut in 1958. The southpaw wouldnt make his big league debut until July of 1962 but pitched quite well for the Braves in 17 games, including 12 starts, with a 3.01 ERA in 86 2/3 innings of work. That audition during his rookie season earned Lemaster a more regular role in the clubs rotation going forward, and the lefty threw 237 innings during his first wire-to-wire big league campaign with a strong 3.04 ERA in 46 appearances, 31 of which were starts. He also launched two of his four career home runs as a hitter during that first full campaign as a big leaguer.

After his strong sophomore season, Lemaster took a slight step back in terms of results from 1964 to 1966 but was nonetheless a valuable source of innings for the Braves as they made the move from Milwaukee to Atlanta. Lemaster began to turn a corner late in the 1966 season with a 1.64 ERA over his final three starts of the year, including a three-hit gem against the reigning World Series champion Dodgers on August 9 where he managed to out-duel future Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, striking out 10 while allowing just one run in a complete game against a lineup that included All-Stars Jim Lefebvre and John Roseboro. Unfortunately, Lemasters 1966 campaign would be cut short rather abruptly due to a pinched nerve that kept him out of action after August 19.

The lefty returned to the mound with a vengeance in 1967, however, and had a strong first half with a 2.82 ERA in 127 2/3 innings of work that included six complete games as well as a brilliant 13-inning performance in a 15-inning game against the Dodgers where he struck out 12 and allowed two runs, only one of which was earned. That performance was enough to make Lemaster an All-Star for the first and only time in his career, although he did not appear in that years All-Star game due to an injury. The southpaw threw just 87 2/3 innings during the second half, surely hampered by injury woes, and made his final appearance in a Braves uniform on September 22.

Following the 1967 season, Lemaster was dealt to the Astros alongside All-Star infielder Denis Menke in exchange for infielders Sonny Jackson and Chuck Harrison. Lemasters first two seasons in Houston went quite well as he pitched to a 3.00 ERA across a combined 69 starts totaling 468 2/3 innings of work. After struggling through the first half in the 1970 season, Lemaster was moved to the bullpen for the second half and remained in a relief role for the rest of his career. The lefty departed Houston following the 1971 campaign and finished his career with the Expos in 1972. He pitched in his final MLB game on June 21 of that year.

Across his 11 seasons in the big leagues, Lemaster posted a solid career 3.58 ERA with a 90-105 record while racking up 1787 2/3 innings of work and striking out 1305 batters. Following his playing career, Lemasters obituary indicates he worked as a custom home builder and developed a talent for woodcarving wildfowl.

Those of us at MLBTR extend our condolences to Lemasters family, friends and loved ones.
Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes for Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024

Todays Birthday (08/08/24). Teamwork can accomplish wonders this year. Reorient shared financial routines to grow savings and equity. Collaborative ventures ride profitable autumn waves. Patiently navigate winter miscommunications. Springtime can get especially lucrative, before a turning point reorients summer studies or travels. Share support, news and resources.

To get the advantage, check the days rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19)  Today is an 8  Coordinate moves with your partner. Fortune blesses initiative and gumption. Stick to practical basics. Support each other to keep to the plan. Dance together.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)  Today is a 9  Polish your work. Practice basic moves to strengthen fundamental skills and provide a solid framework for improvisation. Youre energized and growing stronger. Bold action wins.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)  Today is an 8  Make fun plans with someone adorable. Practice a favorite game, diversion or sport. If you make a mess, clean it up. Enjoy the company.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)  Today is a 7  Home draws you in. Enjoy domestic arts and crafts. It may take making a mess to clean something up. The results are worth it. Make a structural improvement.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)  Today is an 8  Share ideas and resources with friends and relations. Plan and outline your story. Work up a solid framework before crafting details. Creative expression flowers.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)  Today is a 9  Now youre cooking! You can push beyond expectations. The profit potential is high. Dont lose what youve got to get more. Discover unconsidered options.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)  Today is a 9  Youre especially strong and creative. Dont overpower anyone. Keep things simple. Advance personal projects to new heights. Nurture yourself with good food, settings and company.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)  Today is a 6  Get lost in nostalgic retrospection. Review old photographs and memories. Prepare for a transition with reflection and rest. Peace and privacy suit your mood.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)  Today is an 8  A team prize tempts. Pull together and provide whats needed, whether leadership or backstage support. Inspire others by your example. Connect with friends.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)  Today is an 8  Crazy dreams seem possible. Dont chase a mirage, though. Take practical steps toward a concrete goal. Abandon an old limitation. Youve got this.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)  Today is an 8  Investigate and explore. Lay practical plans before setting off. Good news comes from far away. Keep your objective in mind. Imagine total success.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)  Today is a 7  Support each other. Fantasies dont pay the bills. Schedule the steps to take for success. Get moving. Energize and provide encouragement. Action gets results.

Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Blacks legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @LindaCBlack. For more astrological interpretations like todays Gemini horoscope, visit Linda Black Astrology by clicking daily horoscopes, or go to www.nancyblack.com.

2024 Nancy Black. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.
Update, 8/27: Algal toxins exceed limits this summer

MUSKEGON, MI  Photographers have captured evidence of a persistent harmful algae bloom thats plagued Muskegon Lake spilling into Lake Michigan.

On Thursday, Aug. 8, Muskegon videographer David J. Ruck captured aerial photos showing blue-green algae exiting Muskegon Lake through the harbor channel and appearing to spread onto either side of the harbor breakwaters.

Ruck, who produced a documentary about the annual bloom on Lake Erie called The Erie Situation, has been monitoring the Muskegon Lake bloom for several weeks.

I knew it was going to be a bad year, said Ruck, who captured images of the bloom between 7:30 and 10:30 a.m. Thursday morning. We didnt have winter and weve just had a ton of rain.

The bloom migration comes two days after Muskegon County Health Department advised municipalities to post signage at access points around Muskegon Lake on Aug. 6.

But that signage has yet to be posted at Pere Marquette Beach, a popular city park on Lake Michigan next to the harbor which is hosting the Great Lakes Surf Festival this weekend.

Thats concerning, said Kyle Karczewski, city parks director upon learning about the photos of the bloom entering Lake Michigan on Thursday morning.

The health department told us its inland beaches  Muskegon Lake  and that Pere Marquette isnt as much of a concern, Karczewski said.

The city yields to the public health department.

Harmful algae blooms (HABs) are fueled by high water temperatures and nutrient runoff  primarily phosphorus. Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, produces microcystin, a liver toxin that can sicken humans and wildlife.

A larger-than-normal bloom has survived several weeks through stormy weather in Muskegon Lake, said Alan Steinman, a research professor at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) Annis Water Resources Institute in Muskegon.

The bloom is a mixture of different algae species, he said. Scums have been present in embayments and nearshore areas with minimal water circulation.

Its a really unusual bloom, said Steinman. I wish I could tell you why its persisted so long, but I really cant explain it. Im kind of surprised, quite honestly.

Steinman said GVSU staff sampled and tested the bloom for toxicity and said concentrations werent outrageous, but they werent trivial either.

A harmful algae bloom in Muskegon Lake near the Annis Water Resources Institute in Muskegon, Thursday, Aug. 8.GVSU AWRI

That testing formed the basis for a recommendation to municipalities around the lake to post advisory signage warning people to avoid entering the water due to the presence of toxic algae, which is known to sicken people and kill pets.

Mike Eslick, health department operations manager, was not aware of the blooms migration on Thursday. He said the focus has been on Muskegon Lake and nearby Mona Lake, which has also shown signs of algae.

There hasnt been a huge concern for the Great Lake beaches, Eslick said.

Eslick said algae bloom testing is difficult because results take a while to return from a state lab and blooms can appear and dissipate quickly. Or they can stick around.

Wind and waves can break up a bloom. Those are forecast for this weekend as a cold front is expected to bring choppy conditions to the lakeshore.

Steinman predicted the bloom might disperse in Lake Michigan as winds pick up. The lake generally lacks the nutrients to feed a bloom for long.

Typical circulation pattern in the lake moves water northward from Muskegon, he said  away from the surf festival but toward Muskegon State Park beaches.

While the primary concern for exposure is ingestion of cyanobacteria, there is a potential for some of these toxins to be aerosolized, if theyre high enough concentration.

I dont mean to minimize potential concern with the surf festival  we certainly dont want to put anybody at risk. But given the conditions that were experiencing right now, my gut feeling is its not going to be problematic, he said.

If they contact us to do sampling, were happy to do that, Steinman said.

Surf festival organizer Joe Bidawid said the citys algae bloom warning was posted on the event website and staff will check the water before people go in.

The algae bloom has been around. Its not new, Bidawid said. Its on our radar.

Algae is nothing new for Muskegon Lake, which receives outflow from the Muskegon River and is prone to blooms. The lake turned green with algae last October during a warm spell.

Muskegon Lake is ringed by development and is recovering from a long history of industrial abuses. It is not heavily impacted by agricultural runoff in its lower watershed as other lakes which struggle with algae blooms often are.

Eslick said that people who encounter algae signage should take precautions and really not enter the water or let their animals into the water.

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Related stories:

Cold front may bring choppy conditions

MI Supreme Court upholds tighter restrictions on CAFOs

Muskegon Lake turns green again
Trust is an interesting bonding agent  its strong enough to hold relationships together through difficult trials, yet so fragile that it can be shattered with a single utterance.

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson seems not to have taken that into consideration when he stepped up to the microphone at a July 9 press conference and lied to the press. In doing so, he lied to the citizens he serves, too.
MOUNT CLEMENS, MI -- Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido announced charges Thursday against a Clinton Township man accused of holding a woman hostage for months over a drug debt. Darren Dawson, 34, was arraigned on charges of torture, unlawful imprisonment, and larceny by conversion of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000 in connection with the alleged months long abuse.

Dawson allegedly held a 58-year-old woman against her will inside of a closet at his Clinton Township apartment from November 2023 until April 2024. During that time, Dawson allegedly tortured the woman while also stealing her Social Security money and food stamps.

The victim endured unimaginable suffering in what can only be described as a living nightmare. Our office is committed to seeking justice for her, and we will pursue every avenue to ensure this individual is held fully accountable for the alleged crimes committed, Lucido said.

Dawsons bond was set at $1 million cash/surety with no 10% allowed. If he posts bond, Dawson will be required to wear a GPS tether, have no contact with the victim and possess no firearms. He is due back in court on Aug. 20 for a probable cause hearing.
A recently agreed to settlement may mean extra money in the pockets of users of the popular payment platform Cash App. If approved by the District Court for the Northern District of California, a portion of the $15 million settlement would be used to compensate users who were affected by a series of data breaches in the last two years.

The first data breach was announced in 2022 when Cash App confirmed a former employee accessed account data without permission. A year later Cash App disclosed another breach when an unauthorized user was able to access accounts using recycled phone numbers. Cash App was also accused of not implementing appropriate controls to prevent unauthorized access to accounts.

Cash App and its parent company Block Inc. have denied any wrongdoing in the matter, but have agreed to the settlement. If the settlement is approved a portion of the $15 million will be used to pay for attorneys fees and costs, a service payment for the class representative and settlement administration costs.

Class members who are eligible for compensation include any Cash App or Cash App Investing user whose information was accessed without permission, or if you had unauthorized or fraudulent withdrawals or transfers of funds to or from your account between Aug. 23, 2018  Aug. 20, 2024.

Claimants may seek damages for out-of-pocket losses, time lost and transaction losses. Out-of-pocket losses must be proven by third-party data and can include things like paying for credit monitoring or identity theft insurance, requesting a credit report, starting a credit freeze, opening a new bank account, getting a replacement credit card or monies lost in unrefunded overdraft or late payment fees.

Out-of-pocket expenses will be covered up to $2,500 per class member, according to the settlement.

Affected users may also submit a claim for up to three hours of lost time at a rate of $25 per hour. For more information on how to submit a claim for transaction losses, visit the settlement website.

Claims must be submitted by Nov. 18, 2024.
FLINT, MI -- Bishop Airport will receive a $1.9-million Federal Aviation Administration grant to make upgrades inside and outside the terminal, U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee says.

The grant will be used to upgrade the airports terminal, including new gate counters, ticket counters, and information displays, Kildees office said in a news release announcing the funding, which will also pay for a 6,000-foot service road and a taxilane.

Bishop Chief Executive Officer Nino Sapone said in a statement that the grant will go a long way in helping us enhance the travel experience FNT passengers love and appreciate.

Funding for the project comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Kildee, a Flint Township Democrat, also requested $4.5 million for the rehabilitation and improvement of the roof of the airports terminal earlier this year through the congressional community project funding program.

By upgrading our local airports, we can connect Michigan families to the rest of the world and ensure our small businesses can ship their products around the globe, Kildee said in a statement released by his office.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - John Ball Zoo recently announced the birth of a female eastern mountain bongo, one of the largest forest antelopes.

Carrot, a 4-year-old bongo, and Beckson, a 10-year-old male bongo, welcomed their baby Chestnut on July 23, the news release said. This marks the pairs second calf following the birth of a male bongo named Sprout last year.

According to zoo staff, Chestnut is healthy and currently with her mom Carrot behind the scenes, with guests able to see them both in their outdoor habitat next week.

Related: 3 more baby penguins born at John Ball Zoo

Were incredibly excited to welcome our newest addition at John Ball Zoo, a healthy female bongo calf, said Tim Sampson, curator at John Ball Zoo. The birth of a critically endangered species is a significant milestone in the conservation of this amazing species. We are happy to report that both mom and baby are doing well.

The eastern mountain bongo, primarily found in forest mountains in Kenya, is a critically endangered species due to poaching, habitat destruction and illegal trapping.

Carrot and Beckson are a recommended breeding pair through the Species Survival Plan Program by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, in which experts collaborate to maximize genetic diversity and manage the demographic distribution and sustainability of species.

The exciting birth follows other recent births at John Ball Zoo, including a snow leopard cub, three lynx kits, and the hatching of three penguin chicks.

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter.
Gentex Corporation will host a firework display on Thursday, August 15, at Kollen Park in Holland to celebrate the companys 50th anniversary. Pictured in this MLive File Photo are the Fourth of July fireworks at Ah-Nab-Awen Park in downtown Grand Rapids. (Andrew Travis | MLive.com)Andrew Travis | MLive.com
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Cherry Health is hosting a free community health fair Friday, Aug. 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its Wyoming Community Health Center, 2929 Burlingame Ave. SW.

The event, in recognition of National Health Center Week, will showcase the community health centers scope of services and feature its mobile vision clinic and Kent District Librarys Bookmobile.

National Health Center Week is a unique opportunity for us to highlight Cherry Healths high-quality patient services while showcasing the commitment and passion of our staff, Tasha Blackmon, Cherry Healths president and CEO, said in a statement. Cherry Health is proud to be one of the nearly 1,500 community health centers nationwide providing comprehensive healthcare services to patients in underserved communities. Collectively, we are improving public health, advancing health equity, and expanding access to care.

Cherry Health offers a host of services, including primary care, behavioral health, dental, vision, womens health, pediatrics, pharmacy, and more, according to a news release.

During the event, Cherry health staff will be onsite to talk with attendees about the health centers services, as well as health insurance enrollment and other community resources. Staff will also be giving away, while supplies last, school supplies, dental supplies and childrens books.

Cherry Healths mission is to make high-quality, affordable care available to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status, Blackmon said. Our work is essential  most of our patients wouldnt have access to the services we provide if we werent in their neighborhoods.

Based in Grand Rapids, Cherry Health employs more than 700 healthcare professionals at 20 locations throughout Michigan. The organization was founded in 1988, and served nearly 58,000 patients last year, according to a news release.

Cherry Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center. Such organizations receive funds from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration to provide care in underserved areas, and provide care on a sliding fee scale based on a patients ability to pay.

More on MLive:

Absentee voting continues to surpass Election Day voting in Kent Countys Aug. 6 primary

Endangered eastern mountain bongo born at John Ball Zoo

New townhomes to be built on busy Grand Rapids intersection
JACKSON, MI - Some Jackson Public Schools buildings are getting new principals at the start of the 2024-25 school year, as a trio of district administrators land in new positions.

Willie Lewis, former principal at Jackson Pathways High School, will begin his tenure as principal of Cascades Elementary School. Bradley Jayne, who was assistant principal at Northeast Elementary School, is taking over as principal of the JPS Montessori Center. And Clifton Foster, previously dean of students at South Central Michigan Virtual, will take over at Jackson Pathways.

I walked the halls of the former Cascades as a fourth-grader, and it feels like a wonderful homecoming to return to the same vibrant community that nurtured my early education, Lewis said.

A Jackson High School alum from the Class of 1989, Lewis also was a grade-level principal at Jackson High School.

He earned an undergraduate degree in history at Albion College and a degree in education Spring Arbor University. In 2013, he completed his masters degree in educational leadership at Marygrove University in Detroit.

We are pleased to welcome Mr. Willie Lewis as Cascades Elementary principal, said Julie Baker, JPS assistant superintendent of elementary curriculum. (He) brings a wealth of experience in educational leadership. Mr. Lewis is skilled at fostering a positive school culture and academic excellence, and I believe that Cascades will thrive under his leadership.

Lewis succeeds Crescenda Jones, who left Cascades this summer after two years to seek a new job, said Kriss Giannetti, assistant superintendent of communication & community relations.

Foster, who has more than 20 years of experience working with kids, was hired by JPS in 2022.

After several years working in residential treatment programs, Foster began his career in education in 2003, serving 13 years as a behavioral specialist in Battle Creek Public Schools. He transitioned to the Lansing School District in 2016, where he served two years as a student services specialist and four years as an elementary/middle school principal.

Related: 2 new administrators coming to Jackson Public Schools

The district is still looking for a new dean of students to fill Fosters former role at SCMV, Giannetti said.

Jayne took over as principal of the JPS Montessori Center earlier this summer, succeeding Robert Campbell after he took over as Jackson Preparatory & Early Colleges new principal.

Related: Former Jackson Public Schools principal makes move to Jackson Prep

I am thrilled to build upon the great things that are happening at the Jackson Montessori Center, Jayne said. The Montessori method focuses on the whole child while developing and fostering a love and curiosity for learning, which aligns perfectly with my educational philosophy. I look forward to working with our world-class staff and partnering with Jackson families to ensure our students success.

Jayne earned his undergraduate degree in education at Heidelberg University, and taught for three years in Ohio before moving to Jackson. Since joining JPS in 2010, Jayne has filled various roles, starting as a paraprofessional and subsequently transitioning into the classroom, officials said. He also previous served as assistant principal at Jackson High School.

If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools.

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MUSKEGON, MI -- A Midwest doctor looking to give people battling illness a chance to do something fun recently gifted a Muskegon man a thrilling experience.

Gregory Taylor is the founder of the charity Physicians for Wishes. Taylor travels around Michigan and Indiana to grant various wishes to people battling critical illnesses, documenting and fundraising on his Youtube channel.

Most recently, Taylor gifted a Muskegon man the opportunity to drive racecars and go skydiving.

Taylor is an emergency medicine physician for Riverview Health in Noblesville, Indiana. None of the people he gifts experiences to are his own patients.

Jeremy Manies, 50, faces esophageal cancer. He has three children and a girlfriend and resides in Muskegon.

With chemo and radiation keeping him down, he is definitely in need of a smile, Taylor said, in his July 9 YouTube video.

Last month, Taylor took Manies to the Michigan International Speedway, where he was able to suit up and drive 20 laps in two different racecars. Then, he and Taylor both went skydiving in Tecumseh, Mich.

Jeremy Manies, left, and Dr. Gregory Taylor, rightPhoto provided to MLive by Gregory Taylor

After both experiences, Manies demeanor was changed - he was smiling, his face lit up brighter and he had more energy.

I feel almost like Ive been reborn, Manies said. This was the coolest experience Ive ever had.

Taylor said he started Physicians for Wishes because of his own life experience, losing his mother young to cancer.

He said his family didnt have much money growing up and couldnt do anything extravagant, yet his extended family surprised him, his mother and his sisters with a weekend getaway to the Great Wolf Lodge.

She got to laugh again, smile again, Taylor said, adding that the experience would plant the seed for Physicians for Wishes.

Being able to give those that are in need, where all of their money is going towards their cancer treatment, they dont have much, Taylor said. Being able to be a blessing to those individuals, thats where my heart is at.

A screenshot from Taylor's Physicians for Wishes YouTube channel shows Jeremy Manies skydiving as part of his wish.Photo provided to MLive by Gregory Taylor

Nominations for wish recipients may be sent to physicians4wishes@gmail.com.

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OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  With important decisions up and down Tuesdays primary election ballot for all Ottawa County voters, theres a lot to unpack from the election results.

Voters decided the fate of countywide and local taxes, township and city races, as well as countywide leadership. Here are five major takeaways from the Aug. 6 election:

1. The biggest news from the Ottawa County election is that far-right political group Ottawa Impact has lost its majority on the countys board of commissioners, no matter what happens in the November general election.

RELATED: Far-right Ottawa Impact group loses county board majority in Aug. 6 election

Ottawa Impact took over the majority of the county board of commissioners after the 2022 election cycle, disrupting business as usual. The group of commissioners dismantled the countys diversity and inclusion office, fired two county administrators, tried to fire the health officer and passed multiple controversial resolutions. Under Ottawa Impact leadership, the county was also hit with several high-dollar lawsuits.

Of the nine candidates affiliated with Ottawa Impact who ran in the Republican primary, five of them lost to more traditional Republican choices. This leaves at most four Ottawa Impact members on the 11-member board, assuming they all win in the general election.

Those four Ottawa Impact commissioners are all incumbents: Ottawa Impact co-founders Joe Moss and Sylvia Rhodea, District 6s Kendra Wenzel and District 11s Allison Miedema. All four of those individuals are facing Democratic challengers in November.

Regardless of how many win in November, they will still be in the minority on the county board, meaning they will not control committee assignments, and will not automatically have the votes to pass controversial resolutions and amendments like Ottawa Impact has gotten used to since its taking control in January 2023.

2. While Ottawa Impact as a group has lost its majority on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners, its likely the groups two co-founders will remain in their seats. Both Moss and Rhodea handily won their primaries. Rhodea won her District 8 primary against challenger Dave Morren by 27.8%, while Moss won his District 5 race against Hudsonville Mayor Mark Northrup by 14.2%, according to unofficial election results.

Currently, Moss is chair of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners and Rhodea is the vice-chair. She also chairs the countys health and human services committee and sits on two other committees. Moss sits on six of the seven committees and chairs both the board rules and strategic planning committees.

RELATED: Far-right groups opponents say change is coming. Joe Moss will lose gavel in 148 days

This set up is likely to change in January when Ottawa Impact members become the minority. The board chair assigns committee assignments, and its unlikely Moss will remain as board chair given the upcoming shakeup.

Ottawa County Chairperson Joe Moss sits in silence as they wait for Administrative Health Officer Adeline Hambley to return on the fourth day of Hambleys termination hearing on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.com

3. Countywide, three races for important positions of power swung toward more traditional fiscally conservative Republican choices. In the elections for sheriff, prosecutor and treasurer, there were two Republican candidates each. In all three cases, one of the Republicans was a longtime county employee and more traditional Republican, while the other was listed as the preferred candidate on the Ottawa Impact websites voter guide. As there werent any Democratic challengers, the winner won the position outright.

In all three races, the more traditional Republican won, not the one considered far-right and the races werent close.

In the prosecutors race, current Chief Assistant Prosecutor Sarah Matwiejczyk beat her challenger Greg Todd by 12,666 votes, or a little over 19%. For sheriff, current Undersheriff Eric DeBoer beat his challenger Jon Anderson by 13,441 votes, or 20.2%. Current county Treasurer Cheryl Clark fended off her challenger Ben Genser by 16,243 votes, or 25%.

4. While its now clear that Ottawa Impact will not be the majority on the county board, the overwhelming votes against Ottawa Impact-affiliated candidates for countywide positions makes the district-level results for the individual county board seats even more telling. The county in its entirety rejected the far-right, ultra-conservative ideology of Ottawa Impact, but there were some stronghold areas for the group.

One of those strongholds is the Hudsonville area, including surrounding Blendon and Jamestown townships. This district is where Ottawa Impact co-founder Moss won his primary. Nearby, the southernmost portion of Georgetown Township also selected an Ottawa Impact commissioner in the Republican primary.

Another Ottawa Impact stronghold appears to be in northeastern Ottawa County. Voters in Chester, Crockery, Polkton, Tallmadge and Wright townships, along with the city of Coopersville, voted for Ottawa Impact Commissioner Miedema to win her primary.

Voters along the lakeshore, like in Holland, Park, Port Sheldon and Olive townships and Grand Haven voted against Ottawa Impact candidates.

5. Despite interest in primary elections being historically low, a whole lot of eyes were on Ottawa Countys results Tuesday night. In fact, there were so many people trying to access the elections results webpage that it crashed for over an hour. County elections staff had to direct voters to a PDF file over 160 pages long to see early results as they trickled in.

In an interview Wednesday morning with Michigan Public radio, Lansing-based pollster Richard Czuba said Ottawa County residents decisions to oust Ottawa Impact candidates is a blueprint for other communities. Earlier this year, MLive commissioned a public opinion poll from Czuba of 600 likely Ottawa County voters.

RELATED: A far-right faction took over Ottawa County. Its job approval is poor, MLive polling reveals

Something really, really important happened in Ottawa County last night, Czuba said. I know Americans like to think they are the center of the universe when it comes to politics, but what were seeing in Ottawa County right now is really reflective of what were seeing around the world in some of these far-right elections.

Everybody opposed to those far-right candidates coalesce and unites against them. Weve seen it happen in Poland, in France, and weve seen it happen in Ottawa County last night. Good governance Republicans, independents and Democrats coalesced around the anti-Ottawa Impact candidates. They are now down to only four seats on the Ottawa County board, all the other Ottawa Impact members were thrown out. We really do need to see there are patterns emerging with far-right governance and how the opposition is moving to defeat it and this is a template now in Michigan.

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ROMULUS, MI  Vice President Kamala Harris had a message for protesters of the Gaza war who interrupted her rally Wednesday: Im speaking now.

You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that, Harris said, staring down the group. Otherwise, Im speaking.

The Democratic presidential nominees remarks Wednesday, Aug. 7, in a Detroit Metropolitan Airport hangar were interrupted by protesters about midway through, with demonstrators appearing to shout, Kamala, Kamala, you cant hide, we wont vote for genocide.

Related: Fight for the future: Kamala Harris rallies crowd of 15,000 in Michigan

It wasnt clear if Harris heard the contents of their shouts or was simply responding to the noise, which she first tried to talk over.

The crowd of roughly 15,000 people cheered as Harris responded to them, first by saying: Im here because we believe in democracy; everyones voice matters, but I am speaking now. I am speaking now.

Some in the crowd booed the protesters as they were escorted out.

It was the first time during Harris presidential campaign that she had been interrupted by people protesting the ongoing war in Gaza.

With President Joe Biden stepping away from the presidential race this fall, Harris inherits his failure to bring an end to Israels war in Gaza, which has left almost 40,000 Palestinians dead since Oct. 7, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The Health Ministry doesnt distinguish between combatants and civilians killed.

Israels invasion was in response to an attack by Hamas that killed 1,200 Israelis  mostly civilians  and saw around 250 more taken hostage.

Harris rally in Metro Detroit took place 11 miles from Dearborn, which is home to the nations largest Muslim community.

The failure to end the war or broker a lasting ceasefire had been seen as a possible political liability for Biden in his aim to secure Michigan from former President Donald Trump this fall.

During the states Feb. 27 presidential primary, 101,623 voters cast their ballot for uncommitted instead of Biden, who took in 625,221 votes. The campaign was aimed at pressuring Biden to stop supporting Israels war.

Related: With 13% uncommitted, Michigan voters show breadth of anger over Gaza conflict

Michigan is considered a key battleground state in the 2024 race for the White House.

According to the Guardian , leaders of the uncommitted campaign spoke with Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, prior to the rally Wednesday about a ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo on Israel.

Walz spoke during Harris rally Wednesday. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other top state Democrats also gave remarks during the event.

Related: The energy is beyond belief: Crowd excited as Kamala Harris visits for first Michigan rally as presidential candidate
SALINE, MI - Voters will decide if the term lengths of Salines city council and mayor will increase from two to four years.

The Saline City Council voted unanimously at its Monday, Aug. 5 meeting to place a proposal on the Nov. 5 election ballot to move the mayor and council terms to four years and align election cycles during presidential and gubernatorial election years and change mayor and council member compensation methods.

Any changes to the city charter, originally drafted in 1962, require a vote of the people.

The proposed amendment is the latest in a string of changes intended to go before voters after the 2023 recommendations of a city working group on ways to modernize the charter and eliminate conflicts with state law.

Read more: Residency rules for elected leaders in Saline could shift under proposed charter changes

A city charter amendment to change election requirements for city officials failed in the Aug. 6 primary election, with 50.3% saying no.

This amendment would have required people running for City Council or mayor or who would like to be appointed to boards or commissions to have one year of residency in Saline, rather than the current requirement of two years.

Read more: See how votes went on 13 ballot proposals in Washtenaw County

As it stands, Saline City Council members and the mayor serve two year terms. Thats an aberration compared to most Michigan municipality governments, in which people serve four-year terms, City Manager Colleen OToole said.

Four years is certainly more of a standard, OToole said at the councils Monday, Aug. 5 meeting.

If the charter amendment is approved, council members elected in 2025 will serve three-year terms to align the election cycles. The four-year terms would begin for officials elected in 2026.

Saline Mayor Brian Marl said he supports the changes, especially the potential alignment of Salines election cycle to the presidential election cycle.

I do think its very advantageous for us to get off the odd election year cycle, Marl said at Mondays meeting.

Council Member Dean Girbach, who served on the Charter Review Working Group, said not having elections in odd years would put less stress on the clerks office. He also said the cycle change would save the city money.

Thats probably the biggest benefit, Girbach said.

The working group also cited greater consistency of operations by reducing the rate of turnover in suggesting the changes.

Additionally, if approved by voters in November, the proposal on the November ballot would change city officials compensation.

Currently, the city charter sets the compensation of the mayor and councilmembers. Under the new proposal, the mayor and councilmembers compensation would be established by a local officers compensation commission in a manner consistent with state law, OToole said.

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WAYNE, MI - Collective bargaining is about fairness, Vice President Kamala Harris said to a crowd of hundreds of United Auto Workers members Thursday afternoon.

Its about the collective, she said. Its about making sure no one ever has to fight alone.

The leader on the Democratic presidential ticket and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz spoke to union members Aug. 8 at the UAW Local 900 building off Michigan Avenue in Wayne in the duos second rally in Michigan in two days.

The two advocated for organized labor to help them over the next three months until Election Day in November.

Ive been telling people We have 89 days, youll sleep when youre dead, Walz told the clapping crowd.

Read more: The energy is beyond belief: Crowd excited as Kamala Harris visits for first Michigan rally as presidential candidate

The remarks came around 4 p.m. Thursday. Although Harris and Walz showed up over an hour later than scheduled, the crowd did not budge and roared when the pair arrived.

Steve Dawes, regional director for UAW near Flint, said the unions enthusiasm for Harris and Walz reflects what working class people feel about them.

Theyre very worker-friendly, very labor-oriented, very working-family oriented, very down to earth, he said. What do we all really want, right? We want a fair shake. We want to make a good living and be able to put roofs over our heads, shoes and clothing on.

Harris represents us, said UAW Local 900 member Carolin Perkins.

We get this lady, Perkins said. (We get) that shes very good, and shes going to be the President of the United States, and I love it.

Tiffanie Simmons, a UAW Local 900 member working on the Ford Motor Company plant assembly line, said she took off her Wednesday night shift and stayed on Michigan Avenue all day to get a front row seat for the rally.

Compared to the 15,000 who attended Wednesday nights rally at Detroit-Wayne Metropolitan Airport, the UAW rally created a more intimate feel that Simmons appreciated.

Read more: 5 takeaways from latest rally for Kamala Harris in Michigan - mlive.com

I am always excited for election time, because this is when we get to get our voices heard, she said. This is when we get to see which candidates are labor friendly and which candidates are willing to champion for the workforce.

President Joe Bidens decision to step down from the presidential race last month was definitely a plot twist, Simmons said. However, the fact that Harris and Walz visited the union building in Wayne is a big experience that she will remember for the rest of her life.

Its even bigger as a woman in the workforce and as a woman in the union, she said.

Its something that I can tell my daughter about. Its something I can tell my grandchildren about.

Read more: Im speaking now, Harris says to Gaza protesters at Detroit rally

UAW President Shawn Fain introduced Harris and Walz, contrasting Harris and Walz as working-class people with former President Donald Trump. He remarked that Harris worked at McDonalds as a young woman, and that Walz knows unions since he was once a teacher.

As the crowd cheered for Fains pro-labor message, he told them to seize momentum for the November election.

Now is not a time to stay silent, Fain said. This is not a time to sit back and hope for the best.

As the crowd chanted Were not going back, a message to deny Trump a second term, Harris riled the crowd up by saying how everyone benefits from unions.

Even if youre not a member of a union, she said, you better thank unions.

Harris and Walz now head to Phoenix, Arizona for their continued tour of battleground states.
The new 2024 NCAA Air Max Solo shoes for the Michigan Wolverines are here.

Fans can head over to Fanatics right now and grab a pair of Michigan Wolverines Nike Unisex Air Max Solo shoes in white for $109.99.

The shoes feature team-themed graphics and colors and boast cushioning for traction and durability. The mesh design adds more breathability and features color blocking on the toe, collar and base with school logos on the tongue and insoles.

If you arent a Wolverines fan (or just want to expand your collection), the collection also features Michigan State, Florida, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, Tennessee and Texas.

Grab a pair of the newly released 2024 NCAA Air Max Solo Footwear before they sell out.

Get free U.S. shipping on orders over $24. Use code: 24SHIP and 365 day returns.

Check out the MLive Michigan Wolverines shopping page for more deals on the latest Michigan Wolverines styles.

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Frontline Ministries, Inc., Celebrates 30 Year Anniversary

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Frontline Ministries, Inc.

Aug. 7, 2024



COLUMBIA, S.C., Aug. 7, 2024 /Standard Newswire/ -- Frontline Ministries, Inc., a non-profit, Christian organization, is celebrating 30 years of ministry by hosting a fundraising banquet at Jackson Hall, First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion St, Columbia, SC, on Friday, September 6, 2024, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The main speaker will be Dr. Carl Broggi, Senior pastor of Community Bible Church, Beaufort, SC. He will address the topic, "Pastors Leading Their Churches in Christian education." Tickets may be purchased for this event online at https://Frontline30@eventbrite.com.



Frontline Ministries, Inc., began in 1994, co-founded by Chaplain E. Ray Moore, and Rev. Lee Adams, the first executive director. Ray and his wife, Gail, and Lee Adams and his wife, Susan, both provided their children with homeschool education. Ray is a retired Army Reserve Chaplain (Lt. Col.), and veteran of Gulf War I. Ray and Gail began home schooling in 1977 and were among the first who pioneered the modern home-schooling movement.



For 30 years, Frontline Ministries, Inc., has been a major leader in raising awareness of the collapse of public education and encouraging Christian parents to remove their children from those godless institutions and to provide them with biblical worldview Christian education. It is only in the past 10-15 years that other ministries have mobilized with the same message. As a result of Frontline Ministries, Inc. and the efforts of similar organizations, an estimated 3.5 million children will be home schooling this year - and millions more will be attending Christian and private schools.



Special guest speaker, Dr. Carl Broggi, will deliver an inspiring and challenging message entitled, Pastors Leading Their Churches in Christian Education. Carl is the senior pastor of Community Bible Church in Beaufort, SC., and is the headmaster of Community Bible Church Christian Academy for K-12 home education. CBC Christian Academy started in 1992, which has had hundreds of participating families and graduates. Community Bible Church currently supports over 300 missionaries, both local and worldwide. He serves as president of WAGP 88.7 FM radio station which provides multi-faceted programming intended to transform and renew our minds in Christ. Carl provides leadership to The Institute of Biblical Studies, a continuing education opportunity for those who desire a Certificate of Biblical Studies. Carl also serves as president of Search the Scriptures radio, broadcasting his messages largely to east coast stations & worldwide on the Internet.



Ray Moore states,

"For over 30 years, I have traveled across the country promoting the mission of Frontline Ministries, Inc., encouraging and assisting Christian families and churches to leave the state-sponsored public school system for the promised land of K-12 Christian schools or home schooling. My hope and prayer is that a fresh obedience by churches and families in the education of their children according to biblical commands will prove to be a key for the revival and reformation of our families, churches and culture. Neither the state nor government has any God-ordained role in the education and discipleship of children, which belongs to the family and the Church."

Ray currently serves as president of Frontline Ministries, Inc., focusing on prayer, revival and Christian education. He is the founder and director of the Exodus Mandate Project (www.exodusmandate.org), launched in 1997, which is one of the leading advocates in America today for K-12 Christian and home-based education as an alternative to state-run public schools. He is Chairman Emeritus of the Christian Education Initiative (www.Christedu.org), launched in Feb 2019. He is Chairman of www.PublicSchoolExit.com, launched in 2020. He is author of Let My Children Go and co-authored with his wife, Gail, The Promise of Jonadab: Building a Christian Family Legacy in a Time of Cultural Decline. He is the Executive Producer of the 2011 award-winning film, IndoctriNation (Gunn Productions). He is script writer and Executive Producer of the July 2015 released film, Escaping Common Core: Setting Our Children Free (Cutting Edge Films).



The Dr. Robert Dreyfus "Courageous Christian Leadership Award," established by Frontline Ministries, Inc., in 2007, will be presented to the 2024 recipient during the banquet. It is awarded annually to honor and recognize Christian leaders who have exhibited moral courage through their unique contribution to the Church by advancing Christianity in the culture and life of the nation. This contribution may run counter to the prevailing culture of Church and society.



To reserve your ticket(s), please go to https://Frontline30.eventbrite.com Early Bird discount of $35/per person until August 10th. $45/per person until August 15th deadline.



For more information, please, contact: Frontline Ministries, Inc., P.O. Box 12072, Columbia, SC 29211, (803) 714-1744, www.exodusmandate.org, exodusmandate@gmail.com.



SOURCE Frontline Ministries, Inc.


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The Saga of WinePress Publishing Exposed on 'The Consider Podcast'

NEWS PROVIDED BY

The Consider Podcast

Aug. 8, 2024

ENUMCLAW, Wash., Aug. 8, 2024 /Standard Newswire/ -- The Consider Podcast releases a hate crime saga, Enumclaw: Notations on a Police Officer, a little bit of the truth on police corruption.



The podcast proposes police scripting accusations, gun violence and deleting evidence in the city of Enumclaw, southeast of Seattle, Washington.

Details are available on Notations on a Police Officer at: https://consider.info/enumclaw-notations-on-a-police-officer/

The Consider Podcast hosts attempt to express opinions through Gods holiness. Views expressed by others are their opinions. Nothing concerning justice or injustice should be taken as legal advice or a call to action. There is no political agenda. There is no church to join. There is no individual moral life advice. Each person is solely responsible before God and man for their beliefs, actions or inactions. The Consider Podcast is narrowly focused on one thing, and only one thing -- the need for all to surrender to a life of repentance according to the whole gospel.

SOURCE The Consider Podcast

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Rusape  The music world is abuzz with a new revelation that has sent shockwaves through the hearts of fans and family members alike. Francisco Zhuwawo Musaka, a 46-year-old musician, has come forward claiming to be the son of the late legendary musician, John Chibadura, H-Metro has reported.

It appears as if these music superstars were taking turns to impregnate women whenever a perfect opportunity presented itself. Francisco Zhuwawo Musakas case comes at a time when the quest of Aaron Chaka to legally assume the surname Mtukudzi and claim his place as the late music legend Oliver Tuku Mtukudzis son has hit a major roadblock, with the High Court dismissing his application.

The case, which has cast a long shadow over the Mtukudzi family, has been fraught with controversy since its inception. Aaron Chaka, the 45-year-old claimant who was seeking an order at the High Court to alter his birth certificate, replacing his fathers details with those of the late music icon, now even charges money for journalists to talk to him and ask questions.

Meanwhile, Franciscos story is one of a hidden past and a longing for recognition. He claims his Mozambican mother, Elizabeth Johanne, had been concealing his biological father since she was impregnated by Chibadura while she was still married to another man.

I came to know that my father was the late John Chibadura, years after his death. My mother refused to disclose my father since she was impregnated while married to another man, Francisco revealed.

Adding to the intrigue, Francisco claims one of Chibaduras hit songs, Eriza, was a tribute to his mother. He said Chibadura named him Musa John but he never acquired a birth certificate in the musicians name.

My mother told me that she had a misunderstanding with Chibadura and he recorded one of his songs, Eriza, as a tribute to her, he explained.

Franciscos journey to uncover his true parentage began with a decision to migrate from Mozambique to Zimbabwe. It was here that he finally learned the truth about his father.

I decided to migrate from Mozambique to Zimbabwe and settled here and that is when I learnt that Chibadura was my father, he said.

Determined to connect with his family, Francisco visited Chibaduras widow, Nelia Best, in Domboshava. He introduced himself and shared his musical aspirations.

I visited Mai Chibadura in Domboshava and introduced myself to the family. I told them about my music career and I decided to avoid using Tembo Brothers and named my band Nyamukoko, the real surname of my father Chibadura, he said.

Franciscos musical journey has seen him release his first album, which was a hit on Nyangani Radio Station last year. He has penned 256 albums, with six tracks each, and 45 of those albums are polished.

I released my first album and it was a hit last year on Nyangani Radio Station, he said. I have penned 256 albums, with six tracks each, but 45 albums are polished.

Despite his musical talent, Francisco faces challenges in finding sponsorship and a manager. He has been struggling to make ends meet but has found a home in Rusape.

My challenge is sponsorship, I am yet to find a manager and I have been struggling to make ends meet. I have since found a home here in Rusape, he said.

Nelia Best, Chibaduras widow, confirmed Franciscos visit to the village where she is staying. She said she referred him to Chibaduras younger brother.

Musa came here claiming to be my husbands son. I referred him to my husbands younger brother, said Nelia.

Nelia expressed doubts about Franciscos claim, highlighting his age and questioning why he never came forward during Chibaduras lifetime or after his death.

He looked older than my first born and I asked why he never showed up during his fathers time or upon his death? Handina kutaura zvakawanda sezvo chinoziva ivhu kuti mwana ndewake here she said.

Nelia emphasized that Francisco is not the only person to have come forward claiming to be Chibaduras son. Another man also came forward some years after Chibaduras death, and she referred him to the family members.

He is not the only one who came claiming to be my husbands son, another man also came some years after the death of Chibadura and I referred him also to the family members, she said.

Nelia confirmed that Richard is the only son introduced to her by Chibadura and that she looked after him.

Nelia had six children when Chibadura died in 1999. Chibaduras mother died while he was only five years old, according to Nelia.

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The political landscape in Zimbabwe is heating up as President Emmerson Mnangagwa has seemingly abandoned the controversial ED2030 campaign, a move that has sparked a fierce response from Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.

Mnangagwa, speaking at the Zanu PF National Assembly of the Youth League in Harare, declared his commitment to upholding the national constitution and respecting its term limits. Besides being a soldier, I am a trained lawyer. I am a constitutionalist, he said. I want our party, our leadership, our people to be constitutionalists. We must abide by the provisions of our constitution to the letter. Kana nguva yekuti uende [yakwana], enda. (If your time to go comes, leave.)

This announcement comes as a surprise to many within Zanu PF, who had been pushing for Mnangagwa to remain in power beyond 2028, the end of his second term. Last month in Mutare, Mnangagwa had already hinted at his impending departure, stating, I did my first five years, so I am serving my last five years, which I will complete soon, and I will go to rest. We will go to Congress and look for someone who will succeed me. My days to rest are close; we will go to Congress and choose the one who will follow in my footsteps.

However, despite Mnangagwas pronouncements, several Zanu PF provincial branches have been lobbying for him to extend his rule, citing the need to oversee the completion of various developmental projects.

While some have expressed skepticism about Mnangagwas commitment to the constitution, pro-ZANU-PF political commentator Kudzai Mutisi believes that the President will not follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, Robert Mugabe, who ruled for nearly 40 years. What is important here is that he is addressing some of the people who have been lobbying him to stay beyond 2028, Mutisi said. So whatever people have been saying or whatever people have been thinking has nothing really to do with him, it is what they, as lobbyists, they as commenters have been brewing their heads and voicing out, but what we heard is the presidents voice, the presidents position and thats what we should respect and stick to as we go forward.

However, others, like lawyer Brighton Mutebuka, remain unconvinced. By coming out publicly to claim otherwise, ED is trying to hoodwink the gullible in his party, the other faction and also SADC, Mutebuka said. And mind you, he has previously himself come out publicly and corralled his Cabinet ministers into pledging loyalty to this 2030 slogan, in Chikomba district.

The debate over Mnangagwas intentions has been further fueled by the recent actions of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. In a clear sign of his growing discontent with the ED2030 campaign, Chiwenga has openly criticized the rise of personality cults, power pursuits, and factionalism within Zanu PF.

Chiwenga, who has notably refrained from endorsing the ED2030 slogan, stressed that loyalty should lie with the party and the people of Zimbabwe, not with individual leaders. There is no room for factionalism at any level in the party, Chiwenga stated. Our loyalty is not to individuals but to the bigger agenda, that of the party and the people of Zimbabwe who are supreme.

His comments have been interpreted as a direct challenge to Mnangagwas intensifying ED2030 campaign. Mnangagwa and Chiwenga are reportedly engaged in a fierce power struggle over ZANU PFs unresolved leadership and succession issues, which have intensified as the former attempts to extend his rule beyond the 2028 constitutional term limit to 2030.

UK-based Zimbabwean lawyer, Brighton Mutebuka, recently claimed that there is a looming final showdown between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga over the control of the ruling ZANU PF party and the Zimbabwean government. ED is going nowhere. Battle lines are now drawn everywhere. In SADC, in ZANU PF and all state institutions. The unfinished business of November 2017 has returned to haunt Zimbabwe. The showdown is looming, Mutebuka wrote.

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By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Thanks to Federalism, what I intended to be a single post became a bit sprawling, because mask ban legislation is being passed in multiple local and state jurisdictions[1]. So I will split what was supposed to be one post into two, and print part two over the coming weekend. Today, I will present eight theses to sort the various claims swirling around the debates for each legislative effort. In part two, I will look at the individual jurisdictions where mask bans have passed (North Carolina, Nassau County, NY), and where they have been proposed or mentioned (New York State, Chicago IL, Los Angeles, CA). Ill conclude  unsurprisingly to NC readers  that mask bans are stupid, lethal, and wrong.

(1) Masks Exist on a Spectrum that Includes Health Masks

Masks exist on a spectrum from (a) cloth masks, to (b) surgical masks (Baggy Blues), (c) respirators (KN94s, N95s), (d) elastomerics, (e) full-on Darth Vader masks, and (f) various head-dresses like gaiters, keffiyeh, hijabs, ski masks, Venetian carnival masks (and even KKK hoods). It would surely be possible for regulators to distinguish the range (b)  (e), which are both clearly recognizable and manufactured for health purposes, from the others, which are not; but this seems never to be done. Indeed, I would go so far as to regard failure to make this distinction, whether in regulation or polemic, as a sign of bad faith. From the American Council on Science and Health:

Banning total face coverings such as KKK hoods or burqas is understandable, and laws around the world prohibit this, even as the obligation to cover ones mouth and nose in public spaces aroused immense and loud controversy. However, there is a distinction between all and nothing, confirming that this controversy has nothing to do with public safety or public health.

As we shall consider in thesis (8), Mask Bans Are Motivated by Animus Against Protesters and Protest.

I will call the range (b)  (e) health masks, as distinct from masks generally. If we make this distinction, we could regulate health masks differently from other masks (neatly solving the KKK hood ski masked robber problems). We might, for example, give nobody the right to demand that health masks be removed or even lifted. (When I say masks, I mean the range (a)  (e). Now, it may be that some activists disagree with the distinctions implied by this range, but I think its there in the engineering and should be recognized. My purpose here is to protect people who wish to protect themselves against hazardous air, and none other.)

(2) Health Masks Work to Protect Against Respiratory Particles like Viruses. See the literature: Effectiveness of face masks for reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2: a rapid systematic review (2023), and Greenhalgh et alias magisterial Masks and respirators for prevention of respiratory infections: a state of the science review. (Masks also protect against the fine particles in smoke, and in occupational settings.)

(3) Health Masks Do Not Work to Conceal Identity

First, health masks are less effective than sunglasses, which are not banned (see Nature, Face masks are less effective than sunglasses in masking face identity; the study used surgical masks).

Second, health masks do not conceal the eyes[2], hence do not conceal one persons identity from another person (The human eye contains an extremely large number of individual characteristics that make it particularly suitable for the process of identifying a person. Today, the eye is considered to be one of the most reliable body parts for human identification). Note the person to person qualifier; Im not talking about machine recognition via blood vessels in the retina or whatever, although the claim has been made that machine recognition works for health masks too.

Third, gait recognition may work, whether the target is masked or not (See Nature, Biometric recognition through gait analysis (2022). One proof of concept showed an accuracy of 88%.)

Fourth, there are cameras everywhere anyhow. From NBC:

Dawn Blagrove, executive director of the criminal justice organization Emancipate North Carolina expressed doubts that the North Carolina law is truly about safety, especially considering the advances in facial recognition software and how often people can be tracked via street cameras and on social media. Its asinine, she said, adding: We live in a society where we are all being tracked all the time.

Fifth and finally, China has an enormous system of mass surveillance: As of 2019, it is estimated that 200 million monitoring CCTV cameras of the Skynetsystem have been put to use in mainland China. Does anybody really believe that Xi Jinping blinded that system by imposing a mask mandate, as he did?

(4) Transmission Can Take Place In Seconds When a Health Mask Is Removed

Lets assume that a mask ban has a clause that allows a cop or a property owner to demand that you lift or remove your health mask. Via OK Doomer:

Peak viral exposure happens within five seconds of a personal encounter. In other words, theres no point during a conversation when youre safe. Youre in danger the instant someone opens their mouth and starts talking. Thats why anyone who cares about their health wants to keep their mask on. It has nothing to do with hiding their identity. Making someone remove their mask, even for a few seconds, is sentencing them to chronic illness or death.

In consequence

(5) Health Mask Bans Mandate Infection

From the Pandemic Accountability Index:

[T]hose who have done their best to refuse infection with N95 respirators and other mitigations are now essentially being told that no, youre not allowed to protect yourself from COVID-19, a disease that has already killed & disabled millions of Americans.

(6) Police Discretion for Enforcing Mask Bans Is Discriminatory

From the Washington Post, Masks are going from mandated to criminalized in some states:

I dont understand when theres a political protest exactly how the authorities plan to sort out those who are wearing masks for health purposes versus those who are wearing masks to protect their identity, said Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst at the American Civil Liberties Union who has written about the issue. It really sets up a situation where we are likely to see selective enforcement against protesters that the authorities dont like.

I dont understand how the authorities will do this under any circumstance, not just political protests. Though I can guess:

How police will enforce a mask ban with a "health exception" pic.twitter.com/nMIUHum14T  Dr. Lucky Tran (@luckytran) July 12, 2024

Just like pretextual traffic stops (broken tail light) for example.

(7) Mask Bans Do Not Consider Health Masking for Occupational Purposes

From Teen Vogue:

Mask bans are a labor issue, as well. A resident of New York City, who asked to remain anonymous to protect their privacy, says, I wear a mask and encourage others to do so because, prior to COVID, masks were a common form of PPE for indoor and outdoor airborne hazards at work. The criminalization of masks is a criminalization of workers protecting ourselves.

(8) Mask Bans Are Motivated by Animus Against Protesters and Protest

From Reckon, How mask bans became the new front in the war on protest:

Mask bans have long been a segment of these anti-protest laws, even before the pandemic. This current wave begins with protests against the North Dakota Access pipeline at Standing Rock. The protests began in the spring of 2016 and continued until February 2017. As a direct result of these protests, the election of Donald Trump to the presidency, and a flood of alarmist press reports about black-clad antifa members, what the ACLU called a flood of anti-protest bills made their way into legislatures across the country, and into Congress. Among these bills was one in Missouri that created the crime of concealing a persons identityby means of a robe, mask, or other disguise if theyre protesting. Congress dropped the mask, metaphorically speaking, on their version of a mask ban by calling it the Unmasking Antifa Act of 2018. These masking bills are, minus some pandemic-era language about health exceptions, more or less identical to the ones being put forward now. Except instead of black-clad antifa members or people locking themselves to drilling equipment, theres a new boogeyman: pro-Palestine protestors. This years North Carolina bill, the Associated Press said straightforwardly, was brought forth in part as a response to campus protests on the war in Gaza. Despite the governors comments, efforts to ban masks in New York have absolutely nothing to do with the June subway incident. They had started a month before in early May, when two different anti-mask bills were introduced in the state legislature  at the exact same time the Unmasking Antifa Act of 2018 was reintroduced in Congress. What was happening then? Campus protests and encampments. Masking was common in those spaces, for health reasons and because many protestors were scared of getting doxxed  a well-founded fear, as so-called doxxing trucks were frequent visitors to protest sites.

If health masks were a social norm, none of this would be an issue, but here we are. Personally, I think that if I want to go to the store, or the bank, or the Post Office wearing my rubber Nixon mask, I should be free to do so. And if the organs of state security want me to unmask, then they can do so do when Im shoplifting in the store, or robbing the bank, or stealing pens off the chains at the Post Office. In other words, criming while masked should be criming while masked , tans theres no reason for it to be more.

However, as I have indicated above, I also think that health masks can potentially be regulated differently (default: no unmasking) from masks generally, so to me thesis (8) is severable from the others. To which some might instantly respond: But the hateful protesters will all wear health masks and not [other identity markers]!! To which I would answer: Good. Fewer deaths from infection. And if they commit crimes, arrest them for that![3]

Conclusion

In the meantime, until we manage to stop this stupidity, there are a few measures we can take.

I dont know if a screen printer could do this, but the American Council on Science and Health suggests:

And there are solutions: how about a medical (half-face) mask that contains a photo of the wearers lower face? That would prevent the spread and protect the wearer from undue harassment by over-zealous law enforcement. For those arguing that requiring a photo mask is too much of a burden, we impose unmasking for passports and drivers licenses. Living in society requires tradeoffs: public safety (crime prevention) v. public health v. individual rights.

I dont know if Id call this a solution  more a hack or a kludge  but if it works, do it!

Here is a letter (I would laminate it) to wave at the cops or the property owners:

We just hit 1 million daily COVID infections in the U.S., per wastewater surveillance data. If you are in a region that recently enacted a #MaskBan, consider using this letter to #MaskUp under any of the exemption options. Get a local letter too.https://t.co/rXjMGN2kQt pic.twitter.com/ATRTiOMY0p  Mike Hoerger, PhD MSCR MBA (@michael_hoerger) August 6, 2024

And finally, there is organizing. Here is a letter writing campaign, and a toolkit. The World Health Network also runs phone banks on the individual legislative efforts.

Here ends part one. Stay tuned for part two!

NOTES

[1] S.2738, the Freedom to Breathe Act, sponsored by Senator Vance, would prohibit Federal funds from being used to mandate masks on air carriers.

[2] This is why I so vehemently resist the term face coverings, much beloved by our organs of state security. Health masks do not cover the eyes, hence do not cover the face. The odd focus on a requirement to show the mouth (Let me see your smile!), and to equate its visibility with identity, is an odd aspect of American culture I dont understand.

[3] Much of thesis (3) applies to the organs of state security, hence to various technical means of identification. Normal citizens wont have that. The thought occurs, then, that many normal citizens want mask bans not to assist law enforcement, but for acts of vigilantism and private retribution.
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Wandering around the old family farm in rural Satakunta, Finland and I feel in awe of the sheer numbers of insects. The air is full of them, there are tonnes of butterflies and lizards, this one small spot is simply packed with life. pic.twitter.com/pH4hoqi2Dq

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5/5

government bonds rather than property, and use the interest earned to pay rent, but at least it is no longer the case that the only justification for buying rather than renting is an expected infinite surge in property prices.  Michael Pettis (@michaelxpettis) August 7, 2024

China confirms the discovery of a major natural gas field in the South China Sea South China Morning Post

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Yves here. This post describes the operations of a lobbying coalition most of you probably have not heard about: the ICBM lobby. The article describes how an initiative which is not all that large in influence-buying or job creation terms is effectively pushing for larger numbers of ICBM, which are not only redundant but also greatly increase the odds of advanced-civilization ending nuclear exchanges.

By Hekmat Aboukhater and William D. Hartung. Originally published at TomDispatch

The Pentagon is in the midst of a massive $2 trillion multiyear plan to build a new generation of nuclear-armed missiles, bombers, and submarines. A large chunk of that funding will go to major nuclear weapons contractors like Bechtel, General Dynamics, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. And they will do everything in their power to keep that money flowing.

This January, a review of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program under the Nunn-McCurdy Act  a congressional provision designed to rein in cost overruns of Pentagon weapons programs  found that the missile, the crown jewel of the nuclear overhaul plan involving 450 missile-holding silos spread across five states, is already 81% over its original budget. It is now estimated that it will cost a total of nearly $141 billion to develop and purchase, a figure only likely to rise in the future.

That Pentagon review had the option of canceling the Sentinel program because of such a staggering cost increase. Instead, it doubled down on the program, asserting that it would be an essential element of any future nuclear deterrent and must continue, even if the funding for other defense programs has to be cut to make way for it. In justifying the decision, Deputy Defense Secretary William LaPlante stated: We are fully aware of the costs, but we are also aware of the risks of not modernizing our nuclear forces and not addressing the very real threats we confront.

Cost is indeed one significant issue, but the biggest risk to the rest of us comes from continuing to build and deploy ICBMs, rather than delaying or shelving the Sentinel program. As former Secretary of Defense William Perry has noted, ICBMs are some of the most dangerous weapons in the world because they could trigger an accidental nuclear war. As he explained, a president warned (accurately or not) of an enemy nuclear attack would have only minutes to decide whether to launch such ICBMs and conceivably devastate the planet.

Possessing such potentially world-ending systems only increases the possibility of an unintended nuclear conflict prompted by a false alarm. And as Norman Solomon and the late Daniel Ellsberg once wrote, If reducing the dangers of nuclear war is a goal, the top priority should be to remove the triads ground-based leg  not modernize it.

This is no small matter. It is believed that a large-scale nuclear exchange could result in more than five billion of us humans dying, once the possibility of a nuclear winter and the potential destruction of agriculture across much of the planet is taken into account, according to an analysis by International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.

In short, the need to reduce nuclear risks by eliminating such ICBMs could not be more urgent. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists Doomsday Clock  an estimate of how close the world may be at any moment to a nuclear conflict  is now set at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest its been since that tracker was first created in 1947. And just this June, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a mutual defense agreement with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a potential first step toward a drive by Moscow to help Pyongyang expand its nuclear arsenal further. And of the nine countries now possessing nuclear weapons, its hardly the only one other than the U.S. in an expansionist phase.

Considering the rising tide of nuclear escalation globally, is it really the right time for this country to invest a fortune of taxpayer dollars in a new generation of devastating use them or lose them weapons? The American public has long said no, according to a 2020 poll by the University of Marylands Program for Public Consultation, which showed that 61% of us actually support phasing out ICBM systems like the Sentinel.

The Pentagons misguided plan to keep such ICBMs in the U.S arsenal for decades to come is only reinforced by the political power of members of Congress and the companies that benefit financially from the current buildup.

Who Decides? The Role of the ICBM Lobby

A prime example of the power of the nuclear weapons lobby is the Senate ICBM Coalition. That group is composed of senators from four states  Montana, North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming  that either house major ICBM bases or host significant work on the Sentinel. Perhaps you wont be surprised to learn that the members of that coalition have received more than $3 million in donations from firms involved in the production of the Sentinel over the past four election cycles. Nor were they alone. ICBM contractors made contributions to 92 of the 100 senators and 413 of the 435 house members in 2024. Some received hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The nuclear lobby paid special attention to members of the armed services committees in the House and Senate. For example, Mike Turner, a House Republican from Ohio, has been a relentless advocate of modernizing the nuclear arsenal. In a June 2024 talk at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which itself has received well over a million dollars in funding from nuclear weapons producers, he called for systematically upgrading the nuclear arsenal for decades to come, while chiding any of his congressional colleagues not taking such an aggressive stance on the subject.

Although Turner vigorously touts the need for a costly nuclear buildup, he fails to mention that, with $305,000 in donations, hes been the fourth-highest recipient of funding from the ICBM lobby over the four elections between 2018 and 2024. Little wonder that he pushes for new nuclear weapons and staunchly opposes extending the New START arms reduction treaty.

In another example of contractor influence, veteran Texas representative Kay Granger secured the largest total of contributions from the ICBM lobby of any House member. With $675,000 in missile contractor contributions in hand, Granger went to bat for the lobby, lending a feminist veneer to nuclear modernization by giving a speech on her experience as a woman in politics at Northrop Grummans Womens conference. And were sure you wont be surprised that Granger has anything but a strong track record when it comes to keeping the Pentagon and arms makers accountable for waste, fraud, and abuse in weapons programs. Her X account is, in fact, littered with posts heaping praise on Lockheed Martin and its overpriced, underperforming F-35 combat aircraft.

Other recipients of ICBM contractor funding, like Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers, have lamented the might of the far-left disarmament community, and the undue influence of anti-nuclear zealots on our politics. Missing from the statements his office puts together and the speeches his staffers write for him, however, is any mention of the $471,000 in funding hes received so far from ICBM producers. You wont be surprised, were sure, to discover that Rogers has pledged to seek a provision in the forthcoming National Defense Authorization Act to support the Pentagons plan to continue the Sentinel program.

Lobbying Dollars and the Revolving Door

The flood of campaign contributions from ICBM contractors is reinforced by their staggering investments in lobbying. In any given year, the arms industry as a whole employs between 800 and 1,000 lobbyists, well more than one for every member of Congress. Most of those lobbyists hired by ICBM contractors come through the revolving door from careers in the Pentagon, Congress, or the Executive Branch. That means they come with the necessary tools for success in Washington: an understanding of the appropriations cycle and close relations with decision-makers on the Hill.

During the last four election cycles, ICBM contractors spent upwards of $226 million on 275 extremely well-paid lobbyists. For example, Bud Cramer, a former Democratic congressman from Alabama who once sat on the defense subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, netted $640,000 in fees from Northrop Grumman over a span of six years. He was also a cofounder of the Blue Dog Democrats, an influential conservative faction within the Democratic Party. Perhaps you wont be surprised to learn that Cramers former chief of staff, Jefferies Murray, also lobbies for Northrop Grumman.

While some lobbyists work for one contractor, others have shared allegiances. For example, during his tenure as a lobbyist, former Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Trent Lott received more than $600,000 for his efforts for Raytheon, Textron Inc., and United Technologies (before United Technologies and Raytheon merged to form RX Technologies). Former Virginia Congressman Jim Moran similarly received $640,000 from Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics.

Playing the Jobs Card

The argument of last resort for the Sentinel and similar questionable weapons programs is that they create well-paying jobs in key states and districts. Northrop Grumman has played the jobs card effectively with respect to the Sentinel, claiming it will create 10,000 jobs in its development phase alone, including about 2,250 in the state of Utah, where the hub for the program is located.

As a start, however, those 10,000 jobs will help a miniscule fraction of the 167-million-member American workforce. Moreover, Northrop Grumman claims facilities tied to the program will be set up in 32 states. If 2,250 of those jobs end up in Utah, that leaves 7,750 more jobs spread across 31 states  an average of about 250 jobs per state, essentially a rounding error compared to total employment in most localities.

Nor has Northrop Grumman provided any documentation for the number of jobs the Sentinel program will allegedly create. Journalist Taylor Barnes of ReThink Media was rebuffed in her efforts to get a copy of the agreement between Northrop Grumman and the state of Utah that reportedly indicates how many Sentinel-related jobs the company needs to create to get the full subsidy offered to put its primary facility in Utah.

A statement by a Utah official justifying that lack of transparency suggested Northrop Grumman was operating in a competitive defense industry and that revealing details of the agreement might somehow harm the company. But any modest financial harm Northrop Grumman might suffer, were those details revealed, pales in comparison with the immense risks and costs of the Sentinel program itself.

There are two major flaws in the jobs argument with respect to the future production of nuclear weapons. First, military spending should be based on security considerations, not pork-barrel politics. Second, as Heidi Peltier of the Costs of War Project has effectively demonstrated, virtually any other expenditure of funds currently devoted to Pentagon programs would create between 9% and 250% more jobs than weapons spending does. If Congress were instead to put such funds into addressing climate change, dealing with future disease epidemics, poverty, or homelessness  all serious threats to public safety  the American economy would gain hundreds of thousands of jobs. Choosing to fund those ICBMs instead is, in fact, a job killer, not a job creator.

Unwarranted Influence in the Nuclear Age

Advocates for eliminating ICBMs from the American arsenal make a strong case. (If only they were better heard!) For example, former Representative John Tierney of the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation offered this blunt indictment of ICBMs:

Not only are intercontinental ballistic missiles redundant, but they are prone to a high risk of accidental useThey do not make us any safer. Their only value is to the defense contractors who line their fat pockets with large cost overruns at the expense of our taxpayers. It has got to stop.

The late Daniel Ellsberg made a similar point in a February 2018 interview with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists:

You would not have these arsenals, in the U.S. or elsewhere, if it were not the case that it was highly profitable to the military-industrial complex, to the aerospace industry, to the electronics industry, and to the weapons design labs to keep modernizing these weapons, improving accuracy, improving launch time, all that. The military-industrial complex that Eisenhower talked about is a very powerful influence. Weve talked about unwarranted influence. Weve had that for more than half a century.

Given how the politics of Pentagon spending normally work, that nuclear weapons policy is being so heavily influenced by individuals and organizations profiting from an ongoing arms race should be anything but surprising. Still, in the case of such weaponry, the stakes are so high that critical decisions shouldnt be determined by parochial politics. The influence of such special interest groups and corporate weapons-makers over life-and-death issues should be considered both a moral outrage and perhaps the ultimate security risk.

Isnt it finally time for the executive branch and Congress to start assessing the need for ICBMs on their merits, rather than on contractor lobbying, weapons company funding, and the sort of strategic thinking that was already outmoded by the end of the 1950s? For that to happen, our representatives would need to hear from their constituents loud and clear.
14% of illegal immigrants in Georgia admit they are registered to vote in Americas elections

The public policy institute The Heritage Foundation recently released a bombshell video exposing information that an alarming 14 percent of non-citizens and illegal immigrants in Georgia admitted to being registered to vote in the upcoming 2024 American elections.

The organization's Oversight Project shared footage on its account on X, formerly Twitter, on July 31 with footage from investigative journalism outlet Muckraker showing numerous so-called "noncitizens" admitting to being registered voters.

In the video, people in Georgia were asked whether they were registered to vote and whether they were citizens. Some of them confirmed they are registered to vote despite not being citizens of the United States.

"The apartment complex Elliot Norcross in Norcross, Georgia, is occupied primarily by non-citizens," one journalist in the video stated. "We visited the complex to ask residents two questions: 'Are you a citizen?' and 'Are you registered to vote?' Shockingly, 14 percent of respondents admitted to being noncitizens registered to vote."

In the same X thread, The Heritage Foundation reported that the Oversight Project estimates that Georgia has a noncitizen population of around 339,000. This just means that as many as 47,000 noncitizens in the state could be registered to vote. It should be noted that President Joe Biden only won the state by less than 12,000 votes during the 2020 presidential election.

It is unclear what information the illegal immigrants provided when registering to vote. The Oversight Project called on Georgia officials to look deeper into this matter and volunteered to cooperate with a law enforcement investigation.

"One thing is for certain: Systems are being taken advantage of, and the outcome of the 2024 election will be difficult to determine given the near impossibility of auditing in a short period," it warned.

Since only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote in Georgia, every Georgia voter is supposed to go through a citizenship verification process. In its 2022 audit, the Office of the Georgia Secretary of State reportedly found that 1,634 people attempted to register to vote.

"None of these individuals have cast ballots in Georgia elections," the office claimed via a statement it released.

People with Temporary Protected Status, visa holders, legal permanent residents and those with work permits in the U.S. are not allowed to vote and will be stopped for trying to register. Attempted registration by noncitizens is a felony and is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

America First Legal sues Maricopa County for allowing illegal registrations

In Arizona, the conservative group America First Legal (AFL) filed a suit against Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer for not complying with state and federal law in conducting monthly reviews of local voter rolls and comparing that information with databases that could verify citizenship.

AFL is demanding the office to kick noncitizens off its voter rolls in the most populated county in Arizona as this may greatly affect the outcome of the 2024 election in November. (Related: AFL urges election officials in all states to halt voter registration of non-citizens.)

"America First Legal is leading the charge to keep illegal aliens from voting in 2024," said AFL President Stephen Miller in a statement. "Maricopa County, in direct violation of state law, is refusing to remove illegal alien voters from the rolls."

James Rogers, AFL's senior counsel, said the Grand Canyon State has adopted first-in-the-nation laws to help make sure foreigners cant and to also ensure that foreigners already on the voter rolls are removed. However, he noted that "those laws have no impact if Arizona's county recorders ignore them."

"Many recent elections in Arizona have been decided by margins of less than one percent. It is reasonable for Arizonans to be concerned," Rogers argued, citing a Rasmussen Reports survey last month that found slightly more than one percent of likely general election voters admit to being noncitizens in Arizona, as well as at least five other battleground states.

"This lawsuit is about helping to restore the public's trust by making sure that election officials follow the law and that foreigners are not able to influence the outcome of our elections," he continued.

Meanwhile, a Maricopa County Recorder's Office spokesperson insisted that it "prides itself on maintaining accurate, up-to-date voter rolls."

"Under Recorder Stephen Richer, voter list maintenance has remained a top priority, removing more than 400,000 voters from the rolls since January 2021," the spokesperson claimed. "As an administrative office, we will continue to follow the letter of the law."

Head over to Rigged.news to read more stories about government's efforts to rig the election.

Watch the video below where the illegals in Georgia admitted planning to steal the election from Republican frontrunner Donald Trump

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

THE STEAL: Survey finds that 1 out of 10 illegals is registered to vote this fall in federal elections.

California sending voter registration forms to illegal immigrants.

Biden administration opposes bill that would require PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP for voting in federal elections.

49 U.S. states now supplying ILLEGALS with voter registration forms.

Arizona Rep. Gosar blasts Dem lawmakers who VOTED AGAINST the SAVE Act.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

X.com

11Alive.com

NYPost.com

Brighteon.com
BLACK SWAN events only a surprise for the populace, as insidious government organizations plot, plan and scheme to GAIN POWER at any cost

Black Swan is a theory based on a metaphor used for describing a surprise event that has major effect, only capable of being rationalized after the fact, with the benefit of hindsight. A Black Swan is unexpected and unpredictable, next-to-impossible to forecast using existing data and knowledge. A Black Swan event has profound and far-reaching consequences for individuals, organizations and societies.

Many people called the housing bubble burst (global financial crisis) of 2008 a Black Swan. What happened on 9/11/2001 was a Black Swan event. Some folks call the Covid-19 pandemic a Black Swan, but was it? Others would say that the attempted assassination of President Donald J. Trump could also be considered a Black Swan. This requires careful consideration, because several of these events were planned out, and planned out by many people from many different organizations, collaborating to bring about what seemed like a Black Swan, but were they really?

Top platforms of the Democrat Party: Never-Ending Wars, Extinctionism, Communism, Homogenous News Narrative and Open Borders  all fueled by Black Swan events

Most of the extreme events of the past two decades were planned out very well by insidious government organizations, including the FBI, CDC, CIA, DHS, WHO and the communist cabal in Washington DC. To the populace, its very hard to wrap their heads around the fact that their own government benefits from the destruction of the populace, through violent Black Swan events that devastate health, wealth and safety. Its all about money and control, and the Democrat platforms currently in place require many Black Swans to stay in business.

Never-ending wars are vital to the crooks in Washington DC. The politicians launder money through the military industrial complex to fund their own campaigns to remain in power. When the enemy suddenly attacks out of the blue (think 9/11 here), its a huge reason to get the American people to support a fake war (think Iraq and Afghanistan). That "Black Swan" was Republican politician "enabled." This is how politicians occupy foreign soil and steal their resources (think oil and opium here). Big Government and Big Pharma gain power through Black Swan events like 9/11. It was planned out very well, covered up even better (think fake news mass media here), and used as the perfect excuse for Haliburton and the prescription heroin epidemic. Get it?

Kamala Harris is all about extinctionism, telling teenagers its too scary to start a family, so that the Democrats' population reduction platform gains steam, from the youth up. Are you or a loved one suffering from woke mind virus? Its contagious and it makes you sterile. When the next round of clot shots makes all the females infertile, will that too be called a Black Swan, or an insidious communist plot carried out using dirty vaccines? There's a reason independent media call it the PLANDEMIC and a SCAMDEMIC. It's no Black Swan.

Black Swan or White Patsy?

The attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump was a huge surprise to everyone, except all the agencies (Secret Service, FBI, local police, multiple snipers) that worked together to make sure the shooter was able to enter the park with weapons, climb on the closest rooftop to Trump, aim his gun at Trump for half an hour, while people screamed at security that he was up there. Meanwhile, Secret Service ate donuts and drank coffee in the same building as shooter Crooks, took pictures of him aiming at Trump, and did absolutely NOTHING to stop him from trying to kill Trump, until he failed miserably. Would you call THAT a Black Swan? Or a White Patsy? Crooks appears more and more to be just another young white male patsy in a long line of FBI stooges.

Communism cant persist in America if everyone in the hills has guns (automatic weapons and hand grenades). Communists cant take over the Republic if leaders like Donald J. Trump protect the Constitution and call out fake news. The homogenous fake news narratives cant win debates if truth news and independent media keep writing stories about how contrived it all is daily.

We must close the southern border, vote for Trump and get rid of the ghouls and goblins in Washington DC who want everyone to believe that every planned and staged event that destroys democracy, freedom and the American way of life is a Black Swan. Theres also lots of swamp land in Florida for sale, and ice is on discount in Alaska. By the way, have you seen the Joe Biden body double, who is 6-foot-4 and walks very quick and agile, like a 45-year-old? It's all staged folks. It's ALL staged.

Tune your apocalypse dial to Preparedness.news for updates on real news about the Black Swans flying in soon to help the Demoncrats try to steal another election.

Sources for this article include:

Censored.news

NaturalNews.com
FTC warns of scammers posing as airline customer service agents amid widespread flight cancellations caused by CrowdStrike glitch

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently had to release a warning about the increase in scammers lurking on social media and posing as airline customer service agents to target upset travelers dealing with flight cancellations and delays.

With tens of thousands of passengers stranded at airports on July 19 after Microsoft experienced a faulty software update from Texas-based cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, scammers took the opportunity to target their vulnerability. (Related: Scammers can use Twitter to interfere in matters of national security.)

The glitch affected 8.5 million machines globally, including Delta Airlines' IT systems that took several weeks to recover. This resulted in over 5,500 flights being canceled and the airline having to provide lodging, meals and alternative travel options for thousands of customers. Many of these reportedly missed work and suffered health problems from sleeping on airport floors.

"Most people can probably agree that there are few things more frustrating than airline delays or cancellations that leave you stranded at the airport,'' the FTC said. "Whether the issues are the result of an unprecedented event like the CrowdStrike glitch that grounded thousands of flights worldwide or more common disturbances like weather delays, desperate travelers often turn to social media for help from the airlines."

The FTC stated that these scammers usually use this opportunity to lurk behind fake accounts and steal travelers' information, including booking confirmation numbers, phone numbers or bank accounts. Sometimes they even "send passengers to a spoofed site that harvests their personal information and uses it to steal the passenger's identity or rack up charges on their accounts."

National security strategist explains how cybercriminals have mastered the art of deceptive attacks

Jason Rabinowitz, a co-host of the "AvTalk Podcast" of the flight tracking service Flightradar24, has been tracking this scam for some time.

"This has been going on for a while now, and it doesn't seem to have gotten better. The only real change since then is that a number of airlines have given up on Twitter [now called X] as an official channel altogether," Rabinowitz said.

"Scammers were definitely trying to take advantage of this, replying to unsuspecting passengers while posing as the airline. One of the best tips to avoid being scammed is to always verify the authenticity of the account responding to you. Do a quick Google search to make sure it's really the airlines support account, and watch out for tricks like substituting a one for an L."

Eric O'Neill, a national security strategist at the cybersecurity firm NexaSure, further explained that cybercriminals "have mastered the art of inserting themselves into a crisis," including the CrowdStrike outages which caused thousands of flights to be delayed or canceled.

"They use deceptive and impersonation attacks that prey upon a targets fears or desire to believe a thing to be true," said O'Neill, a former undercover field operative for the Federal Bureau of Investigation who was tasked with surveilling foreign and domestic spies and terrorists. "During the CrowdStrike crisis, we saw countless scams where criminals would use imposter attacks that pretended to be airline support, CrowdStrike support and various pretend vendor support to assist a target in escaping the crisis."

Moreover, O'Neill revealed that these scams often begin with an email or text alert claiming that the victim's information has been compromised and identified in the dark web.

"When the victim calls for assistance, the criminal sitting in the dark web call center walks them through a process to install a helper application on their device,'' he said. "This download grants control to the attacker, allowing them to dateline information, lock the device with ransomware or load other malicious software."

Watch Glenn Beck discuss Jennifer DeStefano's experience of being scammed by AI in the clip below.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Apple warns of cyberattack targeting 1.46 BILLION Apple devices.

Fraudsters are impersonating billionaires on Facebook, scamming Americans out of their life savings.

One of Mexicos most dangerous cartels is using artificial intelligence to expand its operations.

BEWARE: Financial advice columnist loses $50K of her savings to a SCAM involving conmen posing as FTC staffer and CIA agent.

Manhattan DA warns of MOBILE PAYMENT FRAUD: Two taps and someones life savings could be gone.

Sources include:

Yahoo.com

Fox10Phoenix.com

MSN.com

Brighteon.com
Holodomor: How Stalins man-made famine starved millions of Ukrainians to death

It has been nearly a hundred years since the dreaded Holodomor, the Soviet Union's man-made famine in Ukraine that killed millions of people.

Also known as the Ukrainian famine, the Holodomor  a combination of the Ukrainian words for "starvation" and "to inflict death"  by one estimate claimed the lives of over 3.9 million people, mostly in Ukraine. That was about 13 percent of the population of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, a part of the Soviet Union at the time.

The historical assessment of the Holodomor is clear. This preventable disaster was caused by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin and his desire both to replace Ukraine's class of small, land-owning farmers with state-run collectives and to punish the perceived threat Ukrainians had over Stalin's authority and their desire to break away from the Soviet Union. (Related: Think engineered famine could never happen? Learn the story of the HOLODOMOR as history repeats itself.)

"The Ukrainian famine was a clear case of a man-made famine," said Alex de Waal, executive director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University in Massachusetts and author of the 2018 book, "Mass Starvation: The History and Future of Famine."

De Waal described the Holodomor as "a hybrid  of a famine caused by calamitous social-economic policies and one aimed at a particular population for repression or punishment."

The lead-up to the Holodomor began in 1929 when, as part of his plan to quickly turn the Soviet Union's economy into one more in line with his communist ideals, enforced collectivization practices, replacing individually owned and operated farms with larger, state-run collectives. Ukraine, at the time, was run mainly by subsistence farmers who owned their land and were opposed to giving it up.

Holodomor was a "classic example" of genocide

Experts consider Holodomor as a "classic example" of genocide, as defined by Raphael Lemkin, the Polish lawyer who was one of the first to provide proper definitions for the term after testifying to the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Millions of people in Ukraine died by starvation over two years of man-made famine, which irreversibly scarred the structure of Ukrainian society for decades.

The attempt to suppress Ukraine with a scheme to fuel growing industrial centers in Russia led to mass starvation, disease and cannibalism. Some of the darkest moments of the Holodomor featured children looking on as their siblings perished in their homes, with their remains being devoured by rats as those still alive in the household became too weak to bury the deceased. There were also reports of cannibalism, with parents being forced to eat the corpses of their children due to extreme hunger.

The true extent of the Holodomor went largely unnoticed, concealed in a deliberate campaign of propaganda, revised reporting and historical revisionism by the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

"The good people died first. Those who refused to steal or to prostitute themselves died. Those who gave food to others died. Those who refused to eat corpses died. Those who refused to kill their fellow man died," wrote historian Timothy Snyder.

Watch the video below to know more about the Holodomor  Stalin's secret genocide.

This video is from the Hostile Takeover channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Globalists weaponize food and energy supply to pave the way for global "Holodomor."

America and much of the developed world is on the fast track to food shortages, Holodomor.

GENOCIDE by STARVATION: Israels bombing operations have exhausted the food supply in Gaza.

ENGINEERED HOLODOMOR: UK farmers are being PAID to destroy food crops.

HOLODOMOR 2023: Media sounds alarm over shooter sabotage of power substation in North Carolina; says nothing about government sabotage of food, farms, fertilizer and fuel.

Sources include:

History.com

DailyMail.co.uk

Brighteon.com
Life after death is real! Here are 5 examples of people that met Jesus during near death experiences

We arent supposed to talk about what happens after we die. In fact, our society trains us not to even think about it. But the clock is ticking. Your body is wearing out and your time is limited. Of course the truth is that your number could be up at any time. If you died tonight, where would you go? The good news is that the other side is not a mystery. Countless numbers of people have been to the other side and have come back to tell us about it. According to a study that was conducted in 2019, approximately 10 percent of the entire population has had a near death experience. In this article, I am going to share 5 examples of people that actually met Jesus during their near death experiences.

(Article by Michael republished from EndOfTheAmericanDream.com)

#1 A 6-year-old girl named Zola Tomic was in the hospital to have her tonsils removed, but after the surgery she began to bleed and hemorrhage for nearly ten days due to a very rare genetic disorder. She lost a tremendous amount of blood and it was during this time that she met Jesus. After she recovered, she asked a question that absolutely floored her mother

Zola asked her mom, When can I go see God again? Its something even to this day that I still cant even comprehend, Brittani said. I was getting her ready and, it wasnt even like we were talking about anything God-related beforehand, we were just getting ready to go to gymnastics. And she just asked, When can I see God again?' Her mom was confused and taken back by her question, so she asked Zola, When did you see God? Zola replied with the most stunning statement, The night I died.

During the time she was out of her body, Zola experienced many things. At one point, Jesus actually thanked her for loving him and being his friend

Over time, Zola began to talk more and more about being with Jesus. She told her mother that she remembers God giving her a big hug. Zola said everything looked like a rainbow and Jesus had thanked her for loving him and being his friend.

I cant even imagine how wonderful that must have been, and I am very thankful that Zola is sharing her story with the world.

#2 A Georgia man named Mike McKinsey says that his appendix ruptured just before his sons wedding. He went to the hospital for surgery, and during that surgery he died and found himself standing directly in front of Jesus

After becoming sick in the days before his sons wedding, he learned his appendix had ruptured. Surgery began  and then, he said, there was Jesus Christ, the Son and very incarnation of God himself, right beside him. With dark skin and blueish-green eyes, Jesus did not look like the man often depicted in the U.S., McKinsey said. Still, McKinsey said he knew exactly who he was looking at.

When Jesus started to speak to him, McKinsey quickly realized that he must be dead

McKinsey said this was no dream or ghostly affair: Jesus was a physical, embodied presence, he said, adding that the Son of God held out his hand and said, I want to answer your prayer. McKinsey said he felt confused. And I thought, Oh shoot, I was at the wedding  wait, I think I was having surgery by now, right?  and trying to put it all together. And then I thought, Oh my gosh, I think Im dead.

The doctors were ultimately able to bring him back, but this is an experience that McKinsey will remember for the rest of his life.

#3 When author Randy Kay died, he also had an encounter with Jesus, and he says that he was absolutely overwhelmed by the love that he felt

Kay recalled feeling compelled to call out Jesus name at one point during the experience. After doing so, he said he was immediately next to a figure whom he knew was Christ.

I was so overwhelmed with emotion, and my first thought was, So, this is love? And I just caved, he said. And I started shouting every superlative I could think of  Praise you, Lord God! And then He reached down, and He wrapped His arms around me. Kay described feeling an unimaginable love in those moments  something he called the most incredible experience, with Jesus imploring Kay to trust Him. Ultimately, Kay said God told him he needed to return home, a reality that left him deeply saddened, considering the paradise he was experiencing.

Love that is so powerful that it is beyond words is a common theme in near death experiences.

Without a doubt, virtually all of us would like to personally experience that sort of love.

#4 Meeting Jesus is most certainly not just a western phenomenon. For example, the son of a Muslim sheik in Rwanda had a truly remarkable encounter with Jesus when he died

Swidiq, the son of a Muslim sheik, grew up in Rwanda during the genocide. When he died and had an NDE, he found himself in a hellish place. Into this darkness came a man of light, bright like the sun. He lifted his hands slightly, with palms up, revealing holes in each handHe spoke, clear and firm, I died for mankind. And you are among those I died for. Do not deny it again. You must tell others, Swidiq said.

#5 All over the world, people are coming face to face with the Son of God. All her life, a 16-year-old Jewish girl named Heidi was told that there is no God and that Jesus is a hoax, but then she personally met Jesus during her near death experience

Heidis family was Jewish, but her atheist father chanted a mantra to her daily, There is no God. When you die, you cease to exist. Jesus Christ was the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind. Despite this, Heidi prayed to God every night and felt God near her, comforting her through the abuses of her childhood. At 16, when Heidis horse reared back and landed on her, she found herself up in the air looking down on the accident. A brilliant light shone from behind her. I turned to look, and I saw a man floating there with meI recognized Him immediately. How could I not? This was the man, God, who had been at my bedside every single nightThere was no doubt in my mind, not one. This man was, without question, Jesus, or Yeshua, she recalled. His was the name Id never been allowed to utter in my homeWhat a joyous occasion! He grinned at me, every bit as happy as I was, happier, because He is all joy, and He is all happiness.

It is very important to note that all near death experiences are not positive.

In fact, some are absolutely terrifying.

When journalist Sebastian Junger died, a giant black pit opened up underneath him and he felt like he was being pulled directly into it

The doctor was busy trying to put a large-gauge needle into my jugular vein through my neck. They numb you with lidocaine, so actually I didnt feel much except the pressure. But at any rate, they were working on that and it seemed to take a long time and suddenly this black pit opened up underneath me and it felt as though I was getting pulled into it. You can think of me as extremely drunk. Im like, Whoa, whats that? It didnt occur to me that a black pit suddenly appearing makes no sense. I was just like, Oh, theres the pit. Why am I getting pulled into it? I didnt know I was dying, but I sort of had this animal sense that you dont want to go into the infinitely black pit that just opened up underneath you, thats just a bad idea. And if you get sucked in there, youre probably not coming back. That was the feeling I had about it.

Everyone is going somewhere.

Which side will you choose?

Please choose wisely, and please share these testimonies with as many people as you can because the clock is ticking for all of us.

Read more at: EndOfTheAmericanDream.com
Logitech unveils green forever mouse that users have to pay a SUBSCRIPTION to use  for the climate

The computer mouse is one of those things that probably does not come to mind when thinking about climate change, but to Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber, even that little device is too polluting to allow people to purchase outright.

Instead, Faber would like to see Logitech customers opt for her new "forever mouse," which they would have to pay a regular subscription fee in order to use, kind of like a car lease.

Faber, described as "a longtime executive with an extensive background in consumer goods at conglomerates like Unilever and Procter & Gamble," told The Verge's "Decoder" podcast that her number-one priority moving forward is not to gouge customers with pointless subscription fees just because, but rather to "cut carbon emissions."

"I'm a big believer that you have to make a few changes if you want to get, in our case, even better results and a little faster growth with the same margins  and not unimportantly, reduce that carbon footprint by 50 percent," she said in the interview.

(Related: Are you ready to do your part for the climate by getting climate vaccinated?)

When you need an excuse, just blame "climate change"

Notice the careful wording of the above quote from Faber, who makes it sound as though Logitech is doing wonderfully as it is and does not necessarily need to make its mouse products subscription based.

According to Faber, Logitech simply wants to do its part to "cut carbon emissions" by charging its customers over and over and over again to use their computer mouses in perpetuity.

What Faber conveniently failed to reveal during her interview is the truth, of course. Like the rest of the consumer market, product sales are plummeting now that the Wuhan coronavirus (covid-19) is over (at least for now) and the economy implodes.

Truth be told, Logitech's sales tapered so much after covid that its former CEO quit, leaving Faber as the new person in charge. Faber's leadership style seems to be one of lying to shareholders and coming up with harebrained stupidity like a subscription-based mouse.

Faber claims that a Logitech subscription-based mouse would be of such great quality that consumers will be jumping for joy at the opportunity to own one, no matter the recurring cost.

"What I'm actually hoping is that this will contribute to the longevity of our products, that we'll have more premium products but products that last longer because they're superior and because we can continue to update them over time," she said.

In Faber's mind, customers will want to keep their Logitech mouse or keyboard  yes, keyboards at Logitech could soon become subscription-based as well  forever because of their amazing strength and longevity. This will keep the money flowing into her pocket and the world's "carbon" in a death spiral.

"Imagine it's like your Rolex," Faber told the interviewer, comparing Logitech mouse and keyboard products to one of the world's most luxurious watch brands. "You're going to really like that."

When pressed about how software engineers at Logitech are now going to have to be employed to ship over-the-air updates to customers "forever," Faber started describing Logitech's future subscription-based products as a rare "artifact."

"We're not at the forever mouse today, but I'm intrigued by the thought," she imagined out loud. "I am intrigued by a forever mouse or forever video conferencing solution that you just update with software and create a business model around that."

Faber emphasized that she disapproves of the current average spend on a Logitech mouse, which is around $26. She described this as "really so low" and would rather see Logitech recreate its products more in the style of luxury handbags or designer sunglasses.

The latest news about the latest climate scams can be found at Climate.news.

Sources for this article include:

WinePressNews.com

NaturalNews.com
The mRNA vaccines do NOT readily degrade and ultimately create IgG and IgM antibodies against lipid nanoparticles

A July 27 preprint study provides new insights into the failure of Modernas SPIKEVAX COVID-19 vaccine. The study shows that the mRNA and lipid nano-particle components of the vaccine can linger in the bloodstream for up to 28 days post-vaccination and generate IgG and IgM antibodies against lipid nanoparticles, skewing the vaccine's efficacy and causing potential adverse events. This revelation has sparked calls for government agencies and vaccine developers to explain the lack of comprehensive pharmacokinetic studies

Pharmacokinetics is the study of how the body processes a substance over time, including its absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion. The vaccine industry and government regulators had previously advised that the vaccines mRNA components would quickly degrade in the deltoid muscle after injection. This process cannot be guaranteed and has implications for long term adverse events and damages to the immune system of tens of millions of people.

Vaccine ingredients linger 28 days after injection, forcing immune cells to resist lipid nanoparticles such as polyethylene glycol

The study tracked Modernas vaccine components in 19 individuals over a 28-day time frame. The study found specific ionizable lipid (SM-102) particles in blood samples within four hours of injection. The level of these components peaked between one and two days after injection. In most of the vaccinated individuals, the mRNA was detected 14 to 28 days after injection. Lipid nanoparticles sometimes remained intact and continued to recirculate in the bloodstream at the same decay rate as the mRNA. This contributed to an increase in antibodies against polyethylene glycol (PEG), a component of the lipid nanoparticles. This means the vaccine trains the immune cells to attack PEG, leading to immune deficits against actual infectious viruses and bacteria.

The researchers measured a 1.4 times increase in immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and a 4.6 times increase in IgM antibodies -- which is not a proper immune response. This measurement indicated that the immune cells are responding to the vaccine delivery system and are not relaying immunity to any pathogen. This study builds upon previous research in 2023 which showed mRNA vaccine components circulating in the blood up to 28 days post injection. Likewise, a Japanese bio-distribution study found the particles getting into the brain.

Previous studies also warn against immune cells being programmed to attack PEG, and its devastating implications for allergic and autoimmune issues when PEG is injected once more in the future. The study focused solely on blood samples without exploring other tissues and organ systems. Its crucial to understand that the mere presence of mRNA and lipid nanoparticles in the blood could lead to further issues in the body and across organ systems. How do these foreign particles interfere with hormonal processes and blood circulation? How might the body mount an autoimmune attack against these foreign particles, leading to blood clots or allergic reactions?

The level of persisting nanoparticles in a patients blood may come down to the way the vaccine is administered in the arm

The level of mRNA and nanoparticles in the blood may be determined by improper administration of the vaccine in the arm. If the vaccine is properly administered intramuscularly, then approximately .1% of the components may leak into the blood and travel throughout the body. However, in some patients, the vaccine is injected directly into the blood, leading to a higher concentration of unresolved mRNA and lipid nanoparticles circulating in the blood for days or weeks post injection. This is a numbers game, said Michael Palmer, a member of Doctors for COVID Ethics. It seems quite possible that this unfortunate group of patients are the ones suffering severe side effects.

Dr. McCullough and others expert witnesses are demanding answers and accountability on the issue. McCullough said pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies should have been done in 2020 as part of Operation Warp Speed.

The absence of thorough pharmacokinetic studies on COVID-19 vaccines  especially considering their rapid development and deployment  represents a glaring failure of oversight. Government agencies and vaccine developers have a fundamental responsibility to conduct these studies to ensure not just efficacy but also safety. Instead, they opted for surrogate data, glossing over vital concerns about immune failure, autoimmunity, and antibody dependent enhancement. This lapse has left the public with more questions than answers, undermining trust in the very institutions that should be ensuring our safety. Vaccine developers and regulatory agencies must remove untested vaccines from the marketplace and transparently address these concerns, while providing clear, scientifically validated explanations.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

Pubmed.gov

PandemicTimeline.com

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov
South Korean scientists discover how to use nanoparticles to control emotions, appetite via external magnetic field

Globalist-"sponsored" scientists are so obsessed with controlling the mind that they conducted a study where a remote magnet would be able to manipulate the brain  even one's appetite  without any invasive procedure performed.

Researchers at South Korea's Institute for Basic Science (IBS) are in the very early stages of development of hardware that utilizes nanoparticles to control the minds of mice. It is a brain remote control that they claimed is "long-range" and "large-volume" and switches using magnetic fields.

According to the "science experts," the technology dubbed Nano-MIND (Magnetogenetic Interface for NeuroDynamics), allowed researchers to control the emotions and appetites of mice from afar and could be used to treat neurological disorders like depression. They tested the "innovation" by inducing "maternal" instincts in their female test subjects. In another test, the researchers exposed a test group of lab mice to magnetic fields designed to reduce appetite, leading to a 10-percent loss in body weight, or about 4.3 grams.

The scientists manipulated a complex network of over 100 billion neurons by magnetically twisting a tiny actuator to pull or push nanoparticles implanted in the mice's brains. According to studies, this network is crucial for understanding cognition, emotion and social behavior.

"This is the world's first technology to freely control specific brain regions using magnetic fields," said Dr. Cheon Jinwoo, director of South Korea's IBS Center, who helped spearhead the new effort. "We expect it to be widely used in research to understand brain functions, sophisticated artificial neural networks, two-way brain-computer interface technologies, and new treatments for neurological disorders."

There have been numerous "mind control" experiments on animals over the years, the Sun reported, "But this is the first that hasn't involved invasive surgery and bulky external systems, which has instead allowed mice the freedom of movement."

In an op-ed that came with the said study published in Nature Nanotechnology, senior scientist at Spain's Instituto de Neurociencias Dr. Felix Leroy said that the concept of using magnetic fields to manipulate biological systems has been well established. "It has been applied in various fields," he noted, "like in magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], transcranial magnetic stimulation and magnetic hyperthermia for cancer treatment."

However, he cautioned against rushing too soon to human testing. "Further studies are needed to assess potential cumulative effects, including neuroadaptation or neurotoxicity," Leroy advised.

A nanoparticle is a small particle that ranges between one to 100 nanometres in size, which is undetectable by the human eye and even smaller than the wavelengths of visible light which are between 400 and 700 nanometres. A special electron microscope or microscope with lasers is needed to observe them. Studies involving nanoparticles are branches of nanotechnology that is famously relied upon by the fictional Marvel character Tony Stark, aka Iron Man.

Korean, U.S. scientists create a brain implant that could be controlled using a smartphone

In a separate effort by South Korea and the United States, supported by grants from the National Research Foundation of Korea, the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and Mallinckrodt Professorship, another innovation was tested to control the brain. A soft neural implant, capable of delivering multiple drugs and color lights, was discovered to manipulate neural circuits using a smartphone.

In the study that was published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the researchers said the tiny implant is the first wireless neural device capable of speeding up efforts to uncover brain diseases, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, addiction, depression and pain.

"The wireless neural device enables chronic chemical and optical neuromodulation that has never been achieved before," said lead author Raza Qazi, a researcher with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the University of Colorado Boulder.

Co-author Michael Bruchas, a professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine and pharmacology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, said this technology allowed them to better dissect the neural circuit basis of behavior "and how specific neuromodulators in the brain tune behavior in various ways," he said. "We are also eager to use the device for complex pharmacological studies, which could help us develop new therapeutics for pain, addiction, and emotional disorders."

The device uses Lego-like replaceable drug cartridges and powerful Bluetooth low-energy to deliver drugs and light to specific neurons of interest.

According to the scientists, this technology significantly overshadows conventional neuroscience methods, which usually involve rigid metal tubes and optical fibers. Though some efforts have addressed adverse tissue response by incorporating soft probes and wireless platforms, the previous solutions were limited by their inability to deliver drugs for long periods as well as their bulky and complex control setups.

Controlled with a simple user interface on a smartphone, the device can create a specific combination or precise sequencing of light and drug deliveries in any implanted target animal without the need to be inside the laboratory. With this device, researchers could easily set up fully automated animal studies where the behavior of one animal could positively or negatively affect behavior in other animals by conditional triggering of light and/or drug delivery.

"This revolutionary device is the fruit of advanced electronics design and powerful micro and nanoscale engineering," said Jae-Woong Jeong, a professor of electrical engineering at KAIST. "We are interested in further developing this technology to make a brain implant for clinical applications." (Related: Neuralink receives FDA approval to implant brain chip in second patient.)

FutureScienceNews.com has more stories similar to this.

Sources for this article include:

TheSun.co.uk

Nature.com

DailyMail.co.uk

NewsRoom.UW.edu
TRUTH about Kamala Harris: She wants to abolish ICE, ban fracking and offshore drilling, defund the police, and provide taxpayer-funded healthcare to illegals

If Kamala Harris is installed into the White House like the media wants, America will be forced to embrace her radical, far-left agenda for the country.

Though they continue to try to recast her as a moderate centrist Democrat, corporate media outlets can do nothing to stop Kamala's extremist left-wing agenda from speaking for itself. For one, she wants to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), having once compared the federal agency to the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), and let illegal aliens freely enter the nation at will  how do you hide a position this extreme from the American public, we wonder?

On Dec. 9, 2020, ABC News tweeted that then-Vice President-elect Kamala was planning along with Joe Biden to "send an immigration bill to Congress" that reflects her and his views on illegal immigration, which are far-left to an extreme  watch below:

Vice Pres.-elect Harris tells National Immigrant Integration Conference she and Pres.-elect Biden "will send an immigration bill to Congress, reinstate DACA, repeal harmful and discriminatory policies like the Muslim ban" in first 100 days in office. https://t.co/14JmcmnqHL pic.twitter.com/0FDOSqdqN3  ABC News (@ABC) December 9, 2020

(Related: Did you know that some right-wing members of Congress are trying to impeach Kamala for mismanaging the southern border and hiding the cognitive decline of Joe Biden?)

Americans don't matter to Kamala Harris

Kamala is powerfully anti-American in other ways as well, preferring to give special treatment to illegals and people from other countries like Ukraine, which she personally visited in order to provide "peace and security" to the borders of the Zelensky regime.

This brings a nice segue into Kamala's anti-white policies that aim to prop up other races in order to create "equity" and "equality" as she defines these two terms. Kamala values equality of outcomes over equality of opportunity, which she explains in the below video:

Theres a big difference between equality and equity. pic.twitter.com/n3XfQyjLNe  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 1, 2020

This in part explains why Kamala proudly enabled the Jussie Smollett race hoax, which in case you missed it was a faux hate crime and "attempted modern-day lynching" that was staged in order to make white people look bad.

Even after it was revealed that the whole thing was a hoax and Smollett was convicted of felony disorderly conduct and making false police reports, Kamala refused to apologize for pushing the hoax on America.

Kamala's other far-left policies include banning all oil drilling and natural gas fracking in the United States as well as providing "free," taxpayer-funded healthcare to illegals. And the corporate media is doing its part to scrub these facts from Kamala's record.

"Does it even matter what 'her' record is?" one commenter asked. "The Satanic Death Club just installed and 'propped up' a vegetable (Joe Biden) for 4 years. If they can do that, they feel they can do anything."

"There is no record other than cackling," responded another about the only thing that Kamala has to offer.

Others pointed out Kamala's vehement hatred of "assault weapons," which stems from her hatred for the Second Amendment and Americans' right to bear arms.

"She's a Bolshevik radical who will now try to disguise herself as a 'moderate' with the help of the activist press," one added. "She's a neo-Marxist she-wolf having moderate sheep's clothing put on her."

"The establishment (jailors) want to get rid of the guns just in case anyone tries to go after them," said another about why Kamala and other political puppets are always railing on guns.

Will Kamala 'win' the election or will it be Trump (or some other surprise candidate who emerges from the shadows)? Find out more at Rigged.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
UNRWA fires 9 staffers over possible involvement in Oct. 7 massacre after months of denying Hamas links

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has fired nine staffers who were reportedly involved in the Oct. 7 Operation Al-Aqsa Flood attack in Israel.

The United Nations agency terminated the nine individuals on Aug. 5 for working alongside Hamas  formally the Islamic Resistance Movement  as it slaughtered Israeli civilians. "For nine people, the evidence was sufficient to conclude that they may have been involved in the [Oct.7] attacks," said UNRWA spokesman Farhan Haq.

According to the Israeli government, at least 12 UNRWA employees directly participated in the Oct. 7 attack that killed more than 1,200. It also alleged that around 10 percent of UNRWA's workforce is affiliated with Hamas  including around 450 staffers serving as foot soldiers for the group. (Related: Israel seeks to label UN agency responsible for aiding Palestinian refugees a terrorist organization.)

The agency initiated an internal review following cuts to funding from the U.S. and other international donors, with the results of this probe leading to the Aug. 5 announcement. Reuters reported, citing Haq, that the records of the three remaining UNRWA staffers would be reviewed.

The UNRWA spokesman added that all nine staffers who were terminated were men, but did not give details of what they may have done. "For us, any participation in the attacks is a tremendous betrayal of the sort of work that we are supposed to be doing on behalf of the Palestinian people," the spokesman said.

Adam Kredo of the Washington Free Beacon noted that the termination "marks an abrupt about-face for the contested humanitarian group, which has long faced accusations that its employees double as Hamas agents and divert aid to the terror group."

"The [UNRWA] has spent more than nine months denying its employees work alongside Hamas, dismissing these claims as Israeli propaganda. [It] categorically denied claims that its employees work with Hamas, even as Israeli authorities offered direct proof."

UNRWA in hot water over links to Hamas

Kredo noted that as recently as May, UNRWA claimed it has "not received any information, let alone any evidence" from Tel Aviv or other UN member states about its employees linked to Hamas. The organization only "became aware of this claim first from international media and later from a press briefing by an Israeli government official," it said in a fact sheet disputing Israel's allegations.

"The names of the 12 individuals against whom allegations were made were all shared multiple times with Israel and other [UN] member states. Prior to January 2024, UNRWA did not receive any indication from the relevant authorities of any involvement of its staff in armed or militant groups."

The agency has also disputed video evidence showing the aid it provides being stolen by Hamas and diverted away from the civilian population that needs it the most. It claimed that it is unaware of such illegal diversions, adding that "should it be revealed to be the case, UNRWA will strongly condemn any diversion of humanitarian supplies and immediately inform its donors to determine appropriate next steps."

UNRWA also rejected claims that it had long been infiltrated by Hamas even before the Oct. 7 attack. According to the agency, such an accusation has "absolutely no ground." While it has also repeatedly denied knowing Hamas' use of its Gaza facilities as command centers and weapons storage depots, an instance in February appeared to debunk this claim.

That month, Israeli forces discovered a Hamas data center within a tunnel system underneath the UNRWA's headquarters in the Gaza Strip. This led to UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazarini saying his organization "did not know what is under its headquarters in Gaza."

Head over to Humanitarian.news for similar stories.

Watch this video about Hamas infrastructure being discovered underneath UNRWA facilities in the Gaza Strip.

This video is from the Jerusalem Cats channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

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12 UNRWA employees accused of HELPING HAMAS stage Oct. 7 attack.

UN estimates it will take at least 15 years to clear Gaza of bombing debris.

PROXY WAR: Bidens $235M funding of Palestine in 2021 contributed to Hamas' violent attacks on Israel.

United Nations agency in charge of Gaza relief to investigate claims that some of its employees took part in Oct. 7 attack.

Sources include:

FreeBeacon.com

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
Vermont Supreme Court: Parents CANT SUE school for injecting 6-year-old with COVID-19 vaccine without their consent

The Vermont Supreme Court (VTSC) has ruled that the parents of a six-year-old boy cannot sue a school after the child was illegally injected with a Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.

In its July 26 decision, the highest court of the Green Mountain State rejected the lawsuit filed by the parents of six-year-old L.P. against the Windham Southeast School District (WSESD). This is because state officials, including officials in the public school system, are protected from liability under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act of 2005.

The PREP Act signed into law by former President George W. Bush ensures certain "covered persons" are immune from claims causally related to the use of a "covered countermeasure" during a public health emergency. A vaccine is considered a covered countermeasure under this law.

"To avoid dismissal on immunity grounds, plaintiffs would have had to present well-pleaded allegations showing that (1) at least one defendant was not a covered person, (2) some conduct by a defendant was not causally related to administering a covered countermeasure, (3) the substance injected into L.P. was not a covered countermeasure, or (4) there was no PREP Act declaration in effect at the time L.P. was injected," the ruling read. (Related: PREP Act passed in 2020 was designed to protect everyone EXCEPT those injured by vaccines.)

According to FOX 26, L.P. was injected with the COVID-19 vaccine during the November 2021 clinic hosted by the WSESD and the Vermont Department of Health. L.P.'s father told school officials days before the clinic that his son was not to be vaccinated. Despite the school acknowledging the directive, the six-year-old child was given one dose of Pfizer's mRNA COVID-19 vaccine after erroneously given the name tag of a child with no such restriction.

School officials apologized to the child's parents

It was only later that school officials eventually realized the error and called L.P.'s parents to apologize. But this failed to assuage the boy's parents, who later removed their child from the WSESD school.

"Thankfully, we are not aware of any harm to the student because of this mistake," WSESD Superintendent Mark Speno said in a 2021 apology letter. "We take our responsibilities to students and families very seriously, and we respect parents rights to make health care decisions for their children."

L.P.'s parents eventually took the school district to court, but the high court ruled in favor of the defendants, citing the PREP Act. The VTSC's ruling affirms an earlier decision by a state superior court in January of last year, LifeSiteNews reported.

"Near the beginning of the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, the Trump administration invoked the Act in declaring the virus a 'public health emergency,'" the pro-life news outlet stated. "A large body of evidence identifies significant risks to the COVID-19 vaccines, which were developed and reviewed in a fraction of the time vaccines usually take under former President Donald Trumps Operation Warp Speed initiative."

Even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention point out the injuries caused by the COVID-19 injections. Researchers from the public health agency have recognized a "high verification rate" of myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation) to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System following vaccination with mRNA COVID-19 injections. This led the researchers to conclude that "under-reporting is more likely" than over-reporting.

Watch this clip about the excess death of kids in America and the healthcare system.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Young man suffers month-long debilitation and death after taking Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine.

CDC, Facebook colluded to CENSOR COVID-19 vaccine safety FAQs, emails reveal.

Kansas legally charges Pfizer for misleading the public about its so-called "COVID-19 vaccine."

Latest email leaks show Big Tech and Biden colluded on COVID narratives, including with CDC and Twitter (now X).

Courts set precedent for mass FORCED VACCINATION of all children.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

KMPH.com

Brighteon.com
Dr. Robert Epstein: Google and other Big Tech firms can shift MILLIONS OF VOTES without people even knowing

According to longtime psychology researcher Dr. Robert Epstein, Google and other Big Tech firms can shift millions of votes without people knowing.

While election integrity is an important issue for people to ensure free and fair elections, he lamented how people tend to ignore Big Tech. This, Epstein added, is a big mistake.

"They've got to start looking at the Big Tech companies because it turns out that these companies, Google above all, have the ability to shift millions of votes without people knowing and without leaving a paper trail for authorities to trace," he told Seth Holehouse during the latter's "Man in America" podcast.

"That's very different than shifting a few hundred votes or a few thousands votes here and there because of ballot harvesting, ballot stuffing or whatever the terms are. This is happening on a much, much larger scale." (Related: ELECTION INTERFERENCE: Google can MANIPULATE swing voters to vote for candidates it supports, reveals Dr. Robert Epstein.)

Epstein cited his more than 11 years of rigorous and controlled research into Big Tech to back up his claims. These include controlled experiments that showed the power tech giants have in shifting opinions and votes. One such technique Epstein shared to Holehouse is called search engine manipulation effect (SEME).

Using this technique, people are assigned at random to three different groups. It turns out that people trust high-ranking results in search engines and tend to click on these results.

"We learn what's at the top is best, what's at the top is truest," Epstein told Holehouse. According to the former editor of Psychology Today magazine, controlling the ordering of search results  the practice SEME takes its name from  could result in a shift in people's thinking.

By manipulating search results, Epstein and his research team could get shifts in voting preferences of two of three percent. He told Holehouse that the first experiment they did on "undecided" voters in the election showed a shift of 43 percent. A repeat of this experiment with another group of representative voters showed a shift of 66 percent.

People can't see the bias in search results

Epstein noted that his research team also learned in their early experiments that people can't see the bias in search results.

"People can't see if there's bias, even extreme bias, in search results. So now we're talking about a technique of influence, of manipulation that's new, that's made possible by the internet, that's made possible by the invention of search engines," Epstein said.

"People are unaware when this happens when those shifts occur. They're unaware that they're being influenced. That makes them very, very dangerous."

While his endeavor began with the discovery of SEME, it didn't stop there as his research group discovered about a dozen similar techniques  such as the search suggestion effect and targeted messaging effect. Based on their experiments, the more times these manipulation techniques are done, the more people shift. Epstein added that a company like Google could be hitting people with the same kind of technique and bias for weeks or months before an election with similarly biased content.

Follow EvilGoogle.news for more stories about Google and Big Tech companies.

Watch the full interview between Seth Holehouse and Dr. Robert Epstein on the "Man in America" podcast below.

This video is from the Man in America channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Google API leaks reveal search giant RIGS results for COVID, election to favor hand-picked narratives.

Google already RIGGING 2024 election by making Republican candidates, RFK Jr. INVISIBLE in search results.

Study: Nearly 60% of Google searches in the U.S. and European Union end with ZERO follow-up clicks.

Google unveils new "fact-checking tools" meant to censor and keep independent media out of search results.

Google has a 'kill list' of stories, information, knowledge and opinions they dont want you to know.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

DrRobertEpstein.com
GOP lawmakers call for probe into Big Techs CENSORSHIP of Trump assassination attempt

Two Republican lawmakers have called for a probe into Big Tech's censorship of the July 13 failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, a member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation under the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, announced a probe into the matter. In line with this, he wrote a letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai on July 31 telling him to appear before lawmakers and testify about the search engine giant's conduct.

He blasted Google for censoring conservatives and demonstrating "willful discrimination against Trump and users of [the] search engine," noting that this type of behavior is all the greater given that Google is the largest search engine in the world. Marshall also described Googles censorship of information about the assassination attempt  in particular the autocomplete functions' refusal to acknowledge the incident  as proof that there is "no low" the company won't stoop to.

"If the autocomplete function is truly reflective of the recent searches completed on Google, the self-learning algorithms should have easily adjusted their autocomplete function during a massive increase in search queries over the last two weeks," the senator argued.

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida also called for a similar probe, also pointing to "autocomplete irregularities" on Google. He issued this call in a July 31 letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

In his letter, the congressman told Mayorkas to provide any documents that might show another case of collusion between Big Tech and Big Government, this time around the failed assassination attempt. Gaetz gave a deadline of Aug. 16 for the Department of Homeland Security to accomplish these requirements.

Google denies claims of censorship

According to Reclaim The Net, Google has claimed there is no "manual action" recently done to affect search results. It added that the search engine has a policy of "protections against autocomplete predictions associated with political violence." (Related: Facebook ADMITS to censoring Trump assassination attempt photo.)

Other users begged to differ, however. Some who searched for "failed assassination attempt" got other examples of political violence, such as those on former U.S. Presidents Gerard Ford and Ronald Reagan. They also received results for the June 1914 assassination of Austria's Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip  an event that sparked World War I.

None of the results showed the July 13 incident where Thomas Matthew Crooks fired at Trump. While the 20-year-old Crooks only grazed Trump's right ear, rally attendee Corey Comperatore died while shielding his family from gunfire. Secret Service counter-snipers neutralized Crooks moments after he pulled the trigger.

Marshall ultimately pointed out in his letter that Google has turned into a "propaganda wing of the Biden-Harris administration and the radical left." According to him, this censorship is a form of election interference against Trump. The senator ultimately accused Big Tech in general of bias toward Democratic politicians  first with Hillary Clinton, then incumbent President Joe Biden and now Vice President Kamala Harris.

Head over to Censorship.news for similar stories.

Watch Breanna Morello discussing Google being caught covering for Trump's assassination attempt in the clip below.

This video is from the MyPodcastDropped2320 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Dr. Roger Marshall announces full investigation into bias, censorship at Google: "a propaganda wing of the Left."

Secret Service counter sniper warns of SECOND assassination attempt on Trump before November election.

Cops WERE AWARE of Thomas Crooks 90 minutes before Trump assassination attempt, leaked messages reveal.

Study: Nearly 60% of Google searches in the U.S. and European Union end with ZERO follow-up clicks.

Democrats want to scrub all AI modules of truth before allowing them to be released to public.

Sources include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

Docs.ReclaimTheNet.org [PDF]

Brighteon.com
Kamala Harris national security adviser being investigated by Congress over possible ties to Iran

Congressional Republicans are investigating Vice President Kamala Harris' national security adviser, Phil Gordon, over his alleged ties to an Iran-backed influence network

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) are heading the probe, questioning Gordon's connections to Ariane Tabatabai, a senior Department of Defense official with top-secret security clearance who was recently outed in a report by Semafor accusing him of being a member of an Iranian-run influence network that reports back to Tehran's foreign ministry and helps push its policies among lawmakers in Washington. (Related: Deep state plotting SECOND assassination attempt on Trump, via IRAN.)

Tabatabai's alleged links to the organization prompted a congressional probe and calls among Republicans for her security clearance to be yanked.

Chris Maier, the assistant secretary of defense for special operations, disclosed the investigation during testimony before Congress. Tabatabai serves as Maier's chief of staff.

Part of the investigation is concerned with how much Iranian interests have influenced the administration of President Joe Biden and Harris, and the effect this may have had on the national security of the United States. As the 2024 election approaches, Gordon's ties to pro-Tehran advocacy groups are likely to remain a focal point of scrutiny.

"Before joining your office, Gordon co-authored at least three opinion pieces with Tabatabai blatantly promoting the Iranian regime's perspective and interests. In a March 2020 piece, Gordon and Tabatabai claimed continued sanctions on Iran would create 'catastrophe' in the Middle East," wrote Cotton and Stefanik in a letter to Harris. "In another, they wrote sanctions could lead to new Iranian efforts to 'lash out with attacks on its neighbors, and on Americans and American interests in the Middle East.' Each prediction was as wrong, as it was biased in favor of Tehran."

Tabatabai not properly screened before taking on Pentagon job

When asked if Tabatabai was subjected to a "full-scope" security screening before assuming her Pentagon job, Maier told Congress: "I don't know that information."

Maier also said that the Defense Department is reviewing whether Tabatabai disclosed on her security screening forms that she had maintained contacts with the Iranian government and its senior officials. This type of information must generally be disclosed on these forms, though there is a statute of limitation on how far the information goes back. Maier said the probe is likely to review the time period in which Tabatabai was alleged to be in contact with Iran's foreign ministry.

In their letter to Harris, Cotton and Stefanik requested detailed information about Gordons connections to Tabatabai, allegedly involved in an Iranian operation to expand Tehrans influence in the United States. The lawmakers are concerned about Gordon's access to classified information, questioning whether his ties to Iranian enablers might disqualify him from holding a top-secret security clearance.

The letter also highlights Gordon's association with the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), an organization accused of serving as Iran's unregistered lobbying arm in the United States. Gordon spoke at NIAC's Leadership Conference in 2014 and 2016, around the time he worked on the nuclear agreement with Iran during the administration of former President Barack Obama.

"The Biden-Harris Administration is no stranger to Iran accommodators, appeasers, and accomplices," Cotton and Stefanik wrote. They emphasized ongoing concerns, noting that Tabatabai remains employed in the Defense Department and that the Biden-Harris administration's former envoy to Iran, Robert Malley, is currently being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for allegedly passing on classified intelligence to Tehran.

The lawmakers pressed Harris to disclose whether she was aware of Gordon's connections to Tabatabai and the NIAC when she hired him. They also questioned whether Gordon was properly screened and vetted and if he received a security clearance.

Additionally, they inquired if Harris initiated an investigation into Gordon after Tabatabai's connections to the Iranian Foreign Ministry were revealed.

Donald Trump believes foreign countries would walk all over Kamala Harris. Watch this video.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren: Kamala Harris will forge "pathway to citizenship" for MILLIONS of illegal immigrants.

Michigan auto workers warn that "America is done for" if Kamala Harris wins the presidency.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

FreeBeacon.com

Brighteon.com
House probes major businesses for censorship collusion with GARMs alleged ad cartel

US House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan on August 1 requested documents from more than 40 companies that are members of the controversial, powerful advertising initiative, the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM)

(Article by Didi Rankovic republished from ReclaimTheNet.org)

The Committee has long had GARM (set up by the World Federation of Advertisers, WFA) in its sights in the context of a broader investigation into the government colluding with tech companies, but also other corporations, to censor online speech.

In this case, GARM is suspected of getting the worlds biggest brands to effectively demonetize, by withholding ads, various platforms, podcasts, news sites, and other content that GARM and its members deem disfavored, Committee Chairman Jim Jordan writes in his letter sent to dozens of GARM members.

We obtained a copy of the letters for you here.

GARMs official purpose is to provide brand safety to its clients (and theirs amounts to some 90% of marketing spending globally)  but Jordan says that this WFA initiative (with ties to the World Economic Forum, WEF) has significantly deviated from that goal.

Instead, it has collectively used its immense market power to demonetize voices and viewpoints the group disagrees with  even intervening in situations that do not have a so-called brand safety concern, Jordan writes.

Among those who received the letter are Electronic Arts, Red Bull, McDonalds, General Motors, Bayer, Johnson & Johnson, Verizon, Volvo, American Express, Chanel, CVS, Pepsi, Adidas, Nike, IKEA, Sony, Shell  and thats just a third of the corporations listed, but it gives a clear idea of the power GARM, as their brand safety umbrella, has to make or break any entity disfavored for their speech.

Jordan informed these corporations that the committee he chairs has learned that collusive activity is occurring within the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, of which your company is a member.

That activity included boycotting sites, podcasts, etc., that GARM decided should be excluded from the members marketing spending. Among those that were allegedly targeted in this way are conservative media outlets like Daily Wire and Fox News, but also Joe Rogans podcast.

A WFA spokesperson denied that GARM was involved in operational steps relative to monetization eligibility nor things like content ratings, platforms assessments  or media investment decisions.

But a recent Judiciary Committee interim report said that GARM head Rob Rakowitz was influencing members to make their decisions based on what fact-checkers like Global Disinformation Index (GDI) and NewsGuard had to tell them.

These are considered left-leaning while those who suffered censorship through demonetization are entities considered conservative or libertarian.

Famously, one of them was Twitter  as soon as Elon Musk acquired it, that is.

Read more at: ReclaimTheNet.org
Congressional report reveals 99 illegals on TERROR WATCHLIST were released into the U.S. by Biden-Harris government

A new Congressional report has revealed that nearly a hundred illegal immigrants on the terrorist watchlist have been released into the U.S. under the administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

According to the report, titled "Terror at Our Door: How the Biden-Harris Administration's Open-Borders Policies Undermine National Security and Endanger Americans," U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered approximately 250 illegal immigrants on the terrorist watchlist at the southwest border from fiscal year 2021 to 2023.

Out of 250 suspected terrorists, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the current administration has released 99.

These immigrants came from 36 countries known for active terrorist activities, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritania, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Yemen. (Related: CBP declines FOIA request to reveal nationalities of illegal immigrants on the FBI terror watchlist.)

In the current fiscal year 2024, Border Patrol agents encountered tens of thousands of illegal aliens from countries posing potential national security risks, including 2,134 Afghans, 33,347 Chinese nationals, 541 Iranians, 520 Syrians and 3,104 Uzbeks.

In June, eight Tajik nationals with possible ties to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) were arrested in a coordinated law enforcement operation across New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. They entered the U.S. by using Customs and Border Protection's CBP One app.

The report also revealed that U.S. agents are actively pursuing over 400 illegal immigrants smuggled into the country through an ISIS-affiliated network from Central Asia. These immigrants were not detained as they were not on the terrorism watch list despite the initial vetting process. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has already arrested 150 of the 400 migrants, but the whereabouts of 50 remain unknown.

These immigrants in question are primarily from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Russia, countries with known connections to ISIS and its notorious affiliates, including ISIS-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K).

Biden-Harris administration still downplays the national security risks associated with the border crisis

The report also criticizes the national security protocols of the Biden-Harris administration.

It notes instances where immigration judges have granted asylum, bond and other forms of immigration relief to individuals potentially associated with terrorist activities.

For example, the case of Jovokhir Attoev from Uzbekistan and Mohammad Kharwin from Afghanistan, both of whom were on the terror watchlist but lived in the U.S. for extended periods before ICE apprehended them. These illegal immigrants used fake documents to pass border checks and the "catch and release" practice.

In line with this, the House Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security and Enforcement call for improved screening and vetting procedures and enhanced tracking of individuals.

National security officials have been warning the public about potential terrorist threats, but the Biden-Harris administration continues to downplay the national security risks associated with the border crisis. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has repeatedly claimed that illegal aliens are adequately screened and that "individuals who pose a threat to national security or public safety are detained."

However, the on-the-ground reality reveals significant and potentially dangerous flaws in the current open border policies.

Visit InvasionUSA.news for more stories about the border crisis.

Watch this episode of "The Breanna Morello Show" as Breanna Morello interviews Dan Lyman about men of military age illegally entering the United States.

This video is from the MyPodcastDropped2320 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

The terror watchlist prepared the way to tyranny.

Teenage son of Rwandan migrants responsible for recent U.K. STABBING SPREE that killed 3 children.

Illegal immigrants use ROPE made from CLOTHES to cross Rio Grande into Texas.

Illegal immigrants are throwing away their military IDs before entering America, says Border Hawks Dan Lyman.

Illegal immigrants in New York City are leaving their shelters to go door-to-door begging for money and food.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Judiciary.House.gov [PDF]

Newsweek.com

Judiciary.House.gov

Brighteon.com
Kamala Harris and the Great Democrat Cheat Machine

There is a Cheat Machine out there.

(Article by Daniel Zoernig republished from AmericanThinker.com)

It worked in the 2020 general election and it's no doubt gearing up again for another run. The only question is, will it work twice?

Four years ago, after the results of the presidential election finally came in, it was obvious there were problems and inconsistencies with the process. Dead voters, bogus residencies, midnight ballot dumps in crucial swing states that magically propelled one candidate over the other in just a few short hours, 2,000 mules, video evidence of poll workers running ballots through scanners multiple times, etc.

A lot of people took those instances as evidence of massive voter fraud, while a lot of people dismissed them as evidence of the mere anecdotal. Either way, I don't think those matters were given adequate consideration because they were never properly adjudicated, as cases were thrown out by judges across the country. The Supreme Court never involved itself, though I think it should have, because this is far more important than who uses what bathroom, and Attorney General William Barr washed his hands of it about 30 days after the election, hardly enough time to give it its due. (Even a lawyer for your average murder trial gets a year to hash through the evidence and prepare.)

So these instances of irregularity have always bothered me, but because there's really no way to get around the "anecdotal" nature of this, one is left to conspiracy theory, cynicism, or abject despair... which may be the point of the whole thing anyway.

But it disturbed me to the degree that I wanted to find some sort of clearinghouse for the whole matter. Where could one go to find data revealing what actually happened four years ago? Where could one find an aggregate collection of data uncontaminated with opinion, bias, or any other point of view apt to skew an average citizen's quest for accuracy? And after some thought and rumination, I found a place Id not immediately considered before, a place that just might give me some valid information and a little peace of mind.

I found the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Census Bureau is not really known for anything but data. Raw data. Who was born, who has died, who has children, who does not, and so forth. The Bureau is trusted by the likes of Ancestry.com, the Selective Service, and the curators of the largest genealogical database on earth, the Mormon Church.

So. What could the Census Bureau tell me about the results of the 2020 presidential election? Well, it told me quite a bit.

It told me that Joseph R. Biden received 81 million votes, and it told me that Donald J. Trump received 74 million votes. Three million people also voted for the Communists, the Greens, or themselves. O.K., what else did it tell me? Well, it told me that at the time of the 2020 election, there were 168 million registered voters. So, I got out a pencil and a pad of paper and did me some flyover country cipherin.' My remedial math skills are not very good, but this was not much of a challenge.

81+74+3=158

158 is 94% of 168. (I had to use an online percentage calculator for this, because again... poor math skills.)

But, Hmm...

So, just using very rudimentary data provided by the Census Bureau, we can see that for the first time in American history our voter turnout has finally rivaled that of the old Soviet Union, Communist China, and Castos Cuba. Huzzah I knew someday we'd finally catch up.

Read more at: AmericanThinker.com
Michigan is pushing residents to report their neighbors to the government for spreading election misinformation

The state of Michigan is encouraging residents to report one another to authorities in a misguided attempt to stop the flow of so-called election misinformation.

Michigans Democrat Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, is behind the campaign, and a document from her office lists an email address people can use to report their neighbors. Residents are being instructed to keep an eye on those around them and report anything they see or hear that they believe is misinformation  and they are even being told to include an image if they can.

An Election misinformation document published by the states Bureau of Elections lists so-called threats to a healthy democracy. They claim that misinformation about voters rights and the election process could pose a serious threat to the security of elections.

The state is also instructing residents to look for media outlets that print true stories, which sounds like a code word for stories that support their preferred narratives. For example, they list the left-leaning fact check sites Snopes, FactCheck.org and PolitiFact as trusted, verified nonpartisan information providers, along with Michigans own SOSFactCheck site. The Bureau claims it can debunk so-called conspiracy theories and verify the accuracy of political speech in addition to debates, statements, ads and interviews.

Resident receives cease and desist letter threatening prosecution

Michigan is the same state whose Attorney General recently threatened to prosecute a resident for spreading what they deem misleading or false election information. This is according to a letter received by Ross Township resident Kerry Lynn Elieff after posting concerns on June 12 about changes to polling locations.

The cease and desist letter was dated July 24, and it contained a threat of prosecution from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. It stated: It has come to the attention of our office that you have spread misleading or false election information regarding polling locations in Ross Township through on-line sites.

The letter warns: [Y]ou are hereby ordered to CEASE AND DESIST the use of online platforms to continue spreading false or misleading information regarding the Ross Township polling locations. Failure to comply with this notice may result in criminal prosecution.

Elieff told The Federalist: I was just thinking, Theyre going to prosecute me for this? Theyre probably hearing one side of the story.

The letter also instructed her to remove any false or misleading information from all platforms. She then removed her posts in which she had expressed concerns about local officials changing polling stations without meeting the legal requirement to inform the public at least 60 days in advance.

The letter claimed that she violated a statute that bans any attempt, by means of bribery, menace, or other corrupt means or device, either directly or indirectly, to influence an elector in giving his or her vote, or to deter the elector from, or interrupt the elector in giving his or her vote at any election held in this state.

She complained that she was not given a chance to clarify her statement and was not provided with contact information to discuss the intention of her post.

She believes that someone who lives in the township who disagrees with her political views reported her as part of Bensons recent campaign to hold people accountable for spreading lies about elections.

Michigan Fair Elections Chair Patrice Johnson believes this is only the beginning of a much broader censorship effort aimed at silencing political dissent.

This is trying to silence people before the election. Its clearly trying to stifle civic involvement, she said. Its like the next generation of 1984, coming here.

Sources for this article include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

TheFederalist.com
Rocket attack on Iraqi airbase injures several U.S. personnel

Seven U.S. personnel were injured following a rocket attack on Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq on Monday, August 5. The incident comes amid heightening regional tensions following the recent killings of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah, allegedly by Israel.

According to U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the attack involved at least two Soviet-era Katyusha rockets that fell inside the base.

"We can confirm that there was a suspected rocket attack today against U.S. and Coalition forces at Al Asad Airbase, Iraq. Initial indications are that several U.S. personnel were injured. Base personnel are conducting a post-attack damage assessment. We will provide updates as more information becomes available," said a Department of Defense spokesperson.

The attack follows a recent American strike against militants in Iraq who were allegedly preparing to launch drones that pose a threat to U.S. and Coalition forces from the Combined Joint Task Force  Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led international coalition targeting the remnants of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. (Related: Nearly 60 U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria injured in series of attacks by Iran-backed militias.)

America is currently on high alert as it anticipates a possible retaliation from Iran after the recent killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The incident is part of a series of targeted killings of senior figures in the Palestinian militant group amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Pentagon to deploy additional troops and equipment to the Middle East

In response to the rising threats from Iran and its allies Hamas and Hezbollah, the Pentagon has announced the deployment of additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East in preparation for the possible escalation of conflict in the region.

There are currently around 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq, which is also host to a whole swath of militia groups allied with Tehran, with some of these groups even enjoying the direct or indirect support of Iraqi security forces.

Amid an increase in retaliatory attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq, Baghdad has expressed its desire to see troops from the U.S and the Coalition begin withdrawing in September, and to formally finish the Coalition's work in the country by September 2025. Washington is prepared to renegotiate its stay to allow some American forces to remain in advisory roles.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is already in talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken over possible Iraqi intervention in the brewing conflict between Israel and Iran. Blinken reportedly asked Al-Sudani to help convince Iran to tone down any possible retaliation against the purported Israeli strike in Tehran that killed Haniyeh.

U.S. Army General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, went to the Middle East and talked with allies to make sure there is cooperation in case of an Iranian attack against Israel.

Follow WWIII.news for more stories about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Watch the video below about a second rocket attack reported on Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Iranian analyst warns of harsher response to Haniyeh's killing than previous strike on Israel.

U.S. carries out AIRSTRIKES in Syria and Iraq  but Iran remains untouched for now.

Pentagon instructs U.S. troops stationed in Iraq to BE PREPARED for possible Israel-Hamas war escalation.

Iran claims missile strikes targeting Iraq and Syria destroyed Israeli spy base.

Another world war unfolding after Israel "assassinates" Hamas chief in airstrike: "We have a duty to avenge him," vows Iran.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
UK prosecutors threaten to police speech overseas and extradite anyone who criticizes mass migration

Prosecutors in the United Kingdom (UK) are looking to hunt down anyone who criticizes their mass migration policies that have resulted in increased violence across Great Britain. This totalitarian effort to suppress speech on a global level includes threats of extradition against individuals who speak out about the wave of criminality coming from migrants. Right now, it's unclear how UK prosecutors will round people up globally, but UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer did threaten the world that the UK government is making alliances with prosecutors globally to extradite anyone who supports protests in the UK. Social media companies are likely to censor out any dissent, but the owner of X, Elon Musk, has publicly dissented to these totalitarian threats coming from the UK government.

UK prosecutors threaten to police speech and protests globally

In recent weeks there has been significant political and social unrest in the UK, sparked by the tragic stabbing deaths of several young girls in Southport. These girls were knifed to death by a murderous teenager who was part of the last wave of mass migration into the UK. This incident has ignited a series of violent anti-mass migration protests across the country. People are fed up. In response, the UK government has doubled down on their support for unchecked migration, while showing no remorse for the stabbing deaths of the young girls -- citizens -- inside their borders. Since the anti-migration protests began, the UK has adopted a hard-line stance against these demonstrations, aiming to clamp down on what it describes as violent disorder and potential terrorism linked to the unrest. So far, about 400 people have been arrested and 100 face charges.

Now the UK is looking to take on anyone overseas who supports these anti-migration protests, threatening to extradite individuals who speak out of line with their authority. This move, spearheaded by the UK's Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, and endorsed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, represents a significant expansion of the British legal system, as they attempt to police the world, well beyond their borders, and through social media channels.

Stephen Parkinson is making headlines by declaring that individuals abroad who support or incite violence related to these protests are not immune from prosecution.

"Some people are abroad. That doesnt mean theyre safe," Parkinson asserted, highlighting the potential for international extradition and legal consequences, regardless of an individuals location.

Individuals charged with violent disorder could face up to five years in prison, while those found guilty of rioting could be sentenced to up to ten years. Additionally, the government is prepared to pursue terrorism charges against those involved in planning or inciting serious disruptions for ideological purposes.

Out-of-control UK government targeting social media users and known activists

Parkinson said the British government has established liaison prosecutors worldwide to assist with international collaboration on such cases. Parkinson warned social media users who protest the governments migration policies they are not safe and there is nowhere to hide. This tyrannical move is likely to strain diplomatic relations as it tests the limits of international extradition agreements, free speech and basic human rights.

One of the UKs most-likely targets is Tommy Robinson, a well-known activist who protests corrupt government policies that enable gang-related activity. He is known as the founder of the English Defense League, which organizes street demonstrations to protest against radical Islamic extremism. He is currently residing in Cyprus. He recently missed a court appearance related to contempt of court charges, and faces an arrest warrant from Englands High Court. UK authorities have not confirmed whether he will be among those targeted for extradition in relation to the recent protests, but it wouldnt be the first time he was targeted for his speech and activism.

The UKs initiative to prosecute individuals abroad for their speech and actions related to domestic unrest sets a new precedent and puts pressure on social media companies to censor individuals, much like how the U.S. government coordinated censorship during the COVID-19 scandal. No truth is allowed on the topic. Groups that organized freedom marches and spoke about vaccine injury were censored from social media channels.

The founder of social media company X, Elon Musk, has made his intentions clear on the current matter in the UK. He accused the UK Prime Minister of enforcing a "two-tier" system of policing. Musk points out that Starmer is applying unequal treatment against anti-mass migration protesters while giving the green light to counter-demonstrators from the Muslim community. How will the UK target Musk for daring to speak out of line? Ironically, freedom of speech will be the force that submits the UK government, and politicians there will be forced to deal with the scourges of unchecked migration and the ensuing crime and civil unrest that their policies caused.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

Business-Standard.com
U.S. to boost military presence in Middle East following rocket attack on Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq

American defense officials are bracing for a potential escalation in the Middle East after a rocket attack injured several U.S. personnel at a military base in Iraq

The attack has prompted U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to announce the deployment of additional military assets to the region, including fighter jets, carrier strike groups, and ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers.

That attack involved the use of Soviet-era Katyusha rockets that successfully targeted the joint American-Iraqi-controlled Al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq. Seven U.S. personnel were injured in the attack.

This heightened military posture comes amid rising tensions as Iran threatens retaliation against Israel for the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. (Related: Iranian analyst warns of harsher response to Haniyeh's killing than previous strike on Israel.)

An Iraqi military source reported that two rockets landed inside the base, while others hit a nearby village without causing significant damage.

Pro-Iranian armed groups in the region have been known to target U.S. bases during periods of heightened tension, though no group has claimed responsibility for the latest attack. The rocket fire at the U.S. base is part of a broader pattern of attacks on American interests in the region.

The U.S. response includes an increase in military capabilities to bolster defense and support for its regional allies. The U.S. claims this decision to increase its military presence in the Middle East is aimed at defending its forces and bolstering regional stability.

Attack on U.S. base could be part of escalating conflict between Israel and Iran

In Washington, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris convened a high-level meeting in the Situation Room to discuss the incident and its implications.

National security officials informed them that the timing and specifics of Irans potential retaliatory actions remain uncertain. There are concerns about potential attacks from both Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Iranian Armed Forces, though intelligence on the exact nature and timing of such attacks is still evolving.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has stated that Iran is likely to strike Israel in retaliation for Haniyeh's assassination, which followed an Israeli airstrike in Beirut that killed Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned of the possibility of imminent Iranian retaliation during a G7 meeting. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, reaffirming U.S. support for Israel.

Iran has openly threatened Israel, asserting its "legal right" to retaliate against what it considers an Israeli aggression. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani and Revolutionary Guard General Hossein Salami have made strong statements against Israel, with Salami warning of severe consequences for Israel's actions.

Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has intensified its actions, including launching a salvo of 30 missiles from Lebanon into northern Israel. This escalation comes amid fears of a broader conflict involving Iran's proxies and Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the current situation as a "multi-front war" with Iran and has emphasized Israels preparedness for various scenarios. Accusations have been made against Netanyahu for not pursuing a ceasefire with Hamas, as Haniyeh was the groups lead negotiator.

Watch this Aug. 5 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as host Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses how an escalation of the brewing conflict between Iran and Israel will draw in China and Russia on the side of Tehran.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

U.S. on high alert as Iran's proxies threaten retaliation following Israeli strikes.

Another world war unfolding after Israel "assassinates" Hamas chief in airstrike: "We have a duty to avenge him," vows Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu calls for U.S.-Israel alliance to combat "Iranian threat."

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
VP pick Tim Walz accused of stolen valor by JD Vance  and a group of retired MN National Guardsmen

When Kamala Harris announced that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz would be her running mate, the mainstream media latched onto his military record, making a big deal of his status as a U.S. Army National Guard veteran and a Command Sergeant Major.

However, some of those who served with him insist that his record is exaggerated  and the accusations have been flying since well before he joined Harriss ticket. To set the record straight, a group of retired Command Sergeants Major from the Minnesota National Guard published a letter back in 2018 outlining the true nature of his service record.

According to information provided by people who served with him or had firsthand knowledge of the circumstances of his service, he reenlisted in the National Guard in 2001 and was chosen to take part in the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy in early 2003. His participation meant agreeing to a few stipulations. One of them is serving for two years after graduating or being promoted to Sergeant Major or Command Sergeant Major, while those who fail to complete the course will have their rank reduced to Master Sergeant.

He deployed with the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in 2003 to Italy. After returning in 2004, he was chosen to serve as Command Sergeant Major of the battalion. Then, in early 2005, the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion received a warning order to prepare for mobilization for active duty in Iraq, including the position Walz was serving.

However, he decided to quit in May, leaving his battalion and its soldiers hanging and without their senior officer as they got ready for war. He said the reason for quitting was to run for Congress. However, a Department of Defense directive states that he could have run for office and asked the Secretary of Defense for permission before entering active duty, which is something that many other reservists have done in the past.

In September of 2005, Walz saw his position reduced from conditionally promoted Command Sergeant Major to Master Sergeant.

Meanwhile, his battalion was serving a 22-month deployment from 2006 to 2007. At the time, the members of his battalion were not allowed to speak out against him, as a candidate for office, due to army regulations. This meant that those with direct knowledge of his status were unable to dispute the claims he made about his service record.

Iraq war veteran Tom Hagen wrote a letter to the editor of the Winona Daily News in November 2006 drawing attention to how Walz handled the situation, noting: But even more disturbing is the fact that Walz quickly retired after learning that his unit -- southern Minnesota's 1-125 FA Battalion -- would be sent to Iraq. For Tim Walz to abandon his fellow soldiers and quit when they needed experienced leadership most is disheartening.

The National Guard members closed their own letter with a rundown of Walzs questionable record, reiterating that he didn't complete the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. He also quit before fulfilling the six years enlistment he signed in September 2001, nor did he serve for two years following his conditional promotion to Command Sergeant Major.

Vance accuses Walz of "stolen valor garbage"

He failed his country. He failed his state. He failed the Minnesota Army National Guard, the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion, and his fellow Soldiers. And he failed to lead by example. Shameful, they stated.

Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) has also called Walz out on his military record, stating: "When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, you know what he did? He dropped out of the army and allowed his unit to go without him, a fact that he's been criticized for aggressively by a lot of the people that he served with."

He also stated: What bothers me about Tim Walz is the stolen valor garbage."

Sources for this article include:

WCTrib.com

FoxNews.com
A powerful geomagnetic storm is expected to create a spectacular display of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, over parts of the United States, including New York and Idaho.

This rare event, typically visible only in high-latitude regions, is caused by a significant coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun, which interacts with Earth's magnetic field.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a geomagnetic storm watch, indicating that the storm could bring the Northern Lights as far south as New York and Idaho. Its arrival on Earth is anticipated to cause a G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm, according to Newsweek.

Rare Opportunity for Stunning Skies

Read Also: Solar Storm Alert: 'Strongest Solar Flare' for Current Solar Cycle 25 Detected

The geomagnetic storm results from the interaction between the solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere, producing brilliant displays of light as particles collide with the atmosphere. "This is an exciting opportunity for people in lower latitudes to witness the Aurora Borealis, which is usually only seen near the poles," said a NOAA spokesperson.

Experts suggest that the best time to view the Northern Lights will be during the night, away from city lights which can obscure the display. Enthusiasts are advised to find a dark, open space and look towards the northern horizon.

Local weather agencies also recommend checking updated aurora forecasts and local weather conditions to increase the chances of a successful viewing experience. "This event provides a unique chance for people across New York and Idaho to see one of nature's most beautiful phenomena," stated an expert from the American Geophysical Union.

The current solar cycle, which is approaching its peak, increases the likelihood of such geomagnetic storms and, consequently, aurora sightings in unusual locations. This cycle's heightened solar activity means more frequent and intense displays could occur over the next few years .

Related Article: Auroras in Night Skies: 5 Best Places to Spot Unique Lights
For the first time in 400 years, baby beavers have been born in a Scottish national park, marking a significant milestone in the country's wildlife conservation efforts. The births occurred at Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, a historic event that signifies the successful reintroduction of this once-native species to the region.

The reintroduction project, which began in 2009, aimed to bring beavers back to their natural habitat in Scotland. The success of the project is highlighted by the birth of the baby beavers, known as kits.

Beavers are known as 'ecosystem engineers' due to their ability to shape the environment. By building dams and creating ponds, they provide habitats for various species, enhance water quality, and reduce the risk of flooding.

Historic Milestone in Conservation

Read Also: Beaver Reintroduction in Scotland Sparks Debate Over Agricultural Impact

This development indicates a thriving and expanding beaver population within the park, which benefits the local ecosystem by creating wetlands that support a diverse range of species.

RSPB Scotland, the organization overseeing the project, expressed their delight at the news. "The birth of these kits is a significant conservation success and a testament to the efforts made to reintroduce beavers to Scotland," said Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland in a Yahoo News report. "Beavers play a crucial role in creating and maintaining wetland habitats, which are vital for biodiversity."

The presence of beavers at Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park has already led to noticeable ecological improvements, including increased biodiversity and healthier waterways.

The successful birth of the kits has been celebrated by conservationists and local communities alike. The Scottish Wildlife Trust emphasized the importance of monitoring the beavers' impact on the environment to ensure their long-term sustainability and coexistence with human activities.

Meanwhile, conservationists continue to monitor the beaver population to ensure their impact remains positive and sustainable. Regular assessments will help guide future conservation strategies, ensuring that these efforts benefit both wildlife and human communities.

Related Article: 8 Unique Animals That Take Advantage of Tools in Wildlife
India's onion exports touch 2.6 lakh tons mark in April-July

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total quantity of 2.60 lakh tons of onion have been exported during the first four months of the current financial year (2024-25) till July 31, the Parliament was told on Wednesday.

The government has lifted the onion export prohibition from May 4 and has allowed exports with a minimum export price (MEP) of $550 per MT and an export duty of 40 per cent.

The net export value earned by India from onion exports for each of the last three years was Rs 3,326.99 crore in 2021-22, Rs 4,525.91 crore in 2022-23 and Rs 3,513.22 crore in 2023-24, Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution B.L. Verma told the Lok Sabha in a written reply to a question.

Further, the government has procured 4.68 lakh tons, majorly from Maharashtra, through NCCF and NAFED for the price stabilisation buffer in the current financial year, he added.

In comparison with last year (2023), the price realisation by onion farmers has been much higher in the current year, the Minister added.

The average monthly mandi modal prices of onion in Maharashtra between April and July 2024 were in the range of Rs 1,230 to Rs 2,578 per quintal as against Rs 693 to Rs 1,205 per quintal for the corresponding period last year. The average procurement price of onion for the buffer in the current year was Rs 2,833 per quintal which is 64 per cent higher than the procurement price of Rs 1,724 per quintal last year, the minister said.

The top five countries to which India exported onion in the current financial year are Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the UAE, and Nepal. Maharashtra is the highest onion-producing state in the country with an output of 86.02 lakh tons in 2023-24, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 41.66 lakh tons in the second spot and Gujarat in the third position with 20.57 lakh tons. Karnataka and Rajasthan are the two other states in the top 5 list of onion producers with 16.38 lakh tons and 16.31 lakh tons, respectively.

 India's onion exports touch 2.6 lakh tons mark in April-July

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Telangana, World Bank to prepare roadmap for partnership

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elangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and World Bank President Ajay Banga decided to prepare a roadmap for partnership in various sectors.

Revanth Reddy, who is currently visiting the US with a delegation, called on the World Bank president in Washington.

The potential areas for partnership being outlined through explorations and deliberations would include initiatives on skills development, urban rejuvenation and reimagination, Net-Zero developments, citizens' healthcare, diagnostics and electronic records, according to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) in Hyderabad.

During the hour-long meeting, it was decided to set up cross-functional team to conceptualise viable projects in each of the areas in an accelerated mode. People, planet, sustainability, health, skills, and jobs were the major themes of the discussions between the two visionary leaders, the CMO said.

The World Bank backing would give a massive fill-up to several of the key visions of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, including the Musi River rejuvenation project, Skill University, Future City, Citizen Healthcare and development of Hyderabad 4.0.

The World Bank president, while expressing delight and optimism about the balanced vision of the Chief Minister for Telangana and Hyderabad, highlighted how the Bank has enjoyed success in generating positive outcomes in the region with several project initiatives earlier.

He also showcased a great interest in backing the vision of creating a Net Zero city.

Revanth Reddy expressed delight after the marquee endorsement of several key initiatives of the state and promised to ensure each project is followed up on mission mode to ensure ambitious impact and outcomes but with the highest transparency.

The Telangana team gave an overview of several other developments that impact the lives and livelihood of citizens, the environment and sustainability in the state.

IT & Industries minister D. Sridhar Babu, Telangana Chief Secretary A. Shanthi Kumari, and other officials including Jayesh Ranjan, Ramakrishna Rao, V. Sheshadri, Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, and Ajith Reddy were present.

World Bank executive director Parameswaran Iyer praised the Telangana government for its holistic, balanced, sustainable and impactful vision keeping state and people first.

 Telangana, World Bank to prepare roadmap for partnership

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Blake Lively: My husband calls me his knight in shining armour

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ctress Blake Lively has shared that her husband and Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds has kept a sweet name for her and revealed that he calls her his "knight in shining armour".

"My husband calls me his knight in shining armour, which I think is so sweet, because we only hear about men being that," Lively told The Sun newspaper.

Lively went on to share that the relationship works because the couple has learnt to prioritise each other.

She added: "(We) made a rule not to work at the same time ... (to) prioritise (our) personal life".

It was in 2010 when the two met. Two years later, the couple got married and they are now parents to four children together -- James, Inez, Betty and one-year-old Olin.

Reynolds recently shared he's learned to "embrace the chaos" as a father-of-four saying he accepts "nothing's going to be tidy ever again", reports femalefirst.co.uk.

During an appearance on the "Not Skinny But Not Fat" podcast, Reynolds said Lively has been encouraging him to treasure the years when their children are all at home.

He said: "(Lively) always says, 'They're all under our roof right now. The whole family's under our roof right now. We have them all.' And that is a fleeting thing. Not an infinite resource, you know?"

Meanwhile, Reynolds also shared he's received some good parenting advice from Shawn Levy, the director of "Deadpool and Wolverine".

 Blake Lively: My husband calls me his knight in shining armour

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Thanedar wins Democratic Congressional nomination in primary with racial politics undertones

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hri Thanedar has won the Democratic Party Congressional nomination to run for re-election in a primary battle tinged with an undercurrent of racial politics.

Thanedar beat two challengers in the primary held on Tuesday, winning 54 per cent of the votes in a constituency that is a Democratic Party fortress that covers parts of Detroit in Michigan state.

He won the 2022 election with 71.4 per cent of the votes - a 47 per cent lead over the Republican candidate assuring him of a re-election this time.

The constituency has an African American majority and, according to the Detroit News, his two opponents had argued that the seat should be represented by African Americans like them because for over 60 years a member of the community had represented the city.

Earlier, the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus in Congress, Steven Horsford, had endorsed fellow African-American, Adam Hollier, against Thanedar in a break with the tradition of members of Congress not backing anyone against a fellow legislator.

But Hollier was disqualified after election officials acting on a complaint by Thanedar said some signatures on the petition nominating him for the primary were forged.

A scientist-turned-entrepreneur, Thanedar became the fifth member of the "Samosa Caucus" of Indian American members of Congress when he was first elected in 2020 from a differently configured constituency with 93 per cent of the votes.

He was born in Chikodi in Karnataka and came to the US in 1979 to do a PhD in chemistry.

Thanedar is a supporter of Israel and broke off from the Democratic Socialists of America, a leftist group within the Democratic Party, after it held what he called a "hate-filled and antisemitic rally" in support of Palestine after the Hamas attack in October.

His X account was hacked in December and an anti-Israel rant was posted on it to embarrass him.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)

 Thanedar wins Democratic Congressional nomination in primary with racial politics undertones

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Four carmakers to recall over 1.72 lakh vehicles for faulty parts

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MW Korea, Hyundai Motor and two other carmakers will voluntarily recall more than 172,000 vehicles due to faulty components, the transport ministry here said on Thursday.

The four companies, also including Kia and KGM Commercial, will recall 172,976 units of 103 different models, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement.

The problems that prompted the recall include an error with the airbag module inflator of some BMW 320d units and a wiring error of the second-row seats of over 43,000 units of Hyundai Motor's Santa Fe SUV, reports Yonhap news agency.

Also, over 15,000 units of Kia's Soul model are subject to a recall due to a potential fire risk associated with the vehicles' hydraulic electronic control unit. KGM Commercial will recall 52 units of its Smart 110E electric bus models due to a defect in the steering system.

Last month, Kia, Nissan Korea and three other carmakers voluntarily recalled more than 1,56,000 vehicles due to faulty components.

The five companies, also including Hyundai Motor Co., Porsche Korea and Toyota Motor Korea Co., will recall 1,56,740 units of 32 different models.

The problems that prompted the recall include poor durability of the electronic control hydraulic unit of 1,39,478 units of the Sorento SUV model.

Also, 8,802 vehicles across eight Nissan models, including the Q50 model, were found to have defective manufacturing of the propeller shaft.

According to the ministry, Hyundai's luxury brand Genesis will recall 2,782 GV70 units due to defective engine ignition connection bolts. Porsche Korea will recall 2,054 vehicles across 17 models, including the 911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, due to a safety issue involving the lane-keeping function.

Toyota Korea will recall 737 vehicles across three models, including the Prius 2WD, due to a defect in the rear door external handle, the ministry said.

 Four carmakers to recall over 1.72 lakh vehicles for faulty parts

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Taylor Swift cancels Vienna Eras Tour concerts for safety after terrorist plot foiled

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inger-songwriter Taylor Swift had to cancel three of her shows in Vienna in the light of two men being arrested in an ISIS-connected terrorist plot against her upcoming concerts.

The suspects arrested earlier on Thursday included a 19-year-old who pledged his allegiance to ISIS and was living with his parents in the town of Ternitz, as well as another man, reports Variety.

Both were arrested after police raided the 19-year-old's home and found various chemicals and substances. Residents of Ternitz were allegedly evacuated and roads were closed during the raid.

In a post from Austrian concert promoter Barracuda Music, organisers wrote: "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Vienna Shows were cancelled due to government officials confirming a planned terrorist attack. With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone's safety."

As per Variety, the target of the attack was Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium, where Swift was scheduled to perform on Friday and Saturday nights as part of her Eras Tour.

Vienna State Police Director Franz Ruf and Police Chief Gerhard Purstl said during a news conference that both men had been radicalised through the internet and apparently had specific plans on how the attack was to be carried out.

Purstl claimed that the concrete danger had been "minimised," but that an "abstract danger" remained, which prompted the cancellation of the shows. Ticketholders will receive refunds in the next 10 days.

News of the suspected terrorist attack comes just days after a "terroristic threat" delayed Morgan Wallen's concert in Kansas City on Friday. The man was arrested in connection with the threat posted on social media that he was targeting two men who were backstage with Wallen, suggesting those men were Swift's boyfriend Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes.

 Taylor Swift cancels Vienna Eras Tour concerts for safety after terrorist plot foiled

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Population collapse is accelerating: Elon Musk

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opulation decline is rapidly increasing, said tech billionaire Elon Musk on Thursday.

"Population collapse is accelerating," Musk said in a post on X, citing a population chart by the New York Times which showed how birth rates decline in a year.

The highest decline was seen in Poland (-10.5 per cent), followed by Ireland (-10.3 per cent), and the Czech Republic (-10 per cent). Denmark (-1.9 per cent), the US (-1.9 per cent), the Netherlands (2 per cent), and Spain (2 per cent) had the least decline.

There was a slight increase in the population in Norway (0.3 per cent), Malaysia (2.2 per cent), Thailand (3.6 per cent), and the Philippines (6.7 per cent).

It is not the first time the Tesla and SpaceX CEO raised concerns about the declining population.

In April, Musk warned that record low birth rates are leading to population collapse and such countries will fall into ruin like several dead civilisations.

He added that as Europe is witnessing record-low birth rates, this will lead to population collapse. The collapse will be even faster in most of Asia.

If this doesn't turn around, then any countries on Earth with low birth rates will become "empty of people and fall into ruin, like the remains we see of the many long-dead civilisations," the X owner argued.

Last year, Musk said that "population collapse due to low birth rates is a much bigger risk to civilization than global warming."

Countries like South Korea, Japan, and China also grapple with low birth rates.

A recent published research in The Lancet showed that most countries globally will not have high enough fertility rates to sustain population size by 2100.

According to the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) research, the global total fertility rate will drop from 2.23 births per female in her lifetime in 2021 to 1.68 in 2050 and 1.57 in 2100 in about 97 per cent of countries.

 Population collapse is accelerating: Elon Musk

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President Murmu calls for deepening India-New Zealand educational ties

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resident Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said educational exchanges are an important aspect of the bilateral relations with New Zealand and called for further deepening educational ties with the country.

Addressing the New Zealand International Education Conference in Wellington, she said, "Educational exchanges are an important aspect of our bilateral ties, collaborating to create productive minds who can contribute globally."

Praising New Zealand's education system, she said, "New Zealand is renowned for its high-quality education with a focus on research, innovation, inclusivity, and excellence. Education remains one of New Zealand's top service exports."

Highlighting the significance of educational exchanges in bilateral relations, President Murmu noted, "India and New Zealand enjoy a warm and friendly relationship, anchored by shared values of democracy and the rule of law. Our rich cultural exchanges and robust people-to-people ties foster mutual understanding and goodwill."

Sharing her journey, President Murmu said, "Education has always been close to my heart. Growing up in a remote village in India with limited access to quality education, my parents understood its value and ensured I attended school. I was the first woman from my village to receive a college education, thanks to the unwavering support of my parents and my teachers' dedication. This experience instilled in me a deep belief in the transformative power of education."

She emphasised that education is a vehicle for social change and nation-building, touching on every aspect of life - economy, intellect, art, society, and spirituality.

"Education creates leaders, thinkers, guides, protectors, and keepers of society's conscience. It is the cornerstone of a nation's progress and advancement," the President said.

Highlighting India's rich educational heritage, she said, "Knowledge has always been the highest pursuit in India. From our timeless scriptures - the Vedas, Upanishads, and Buddhist Tipitaka- to ancient centres of learning like Nalanda, the pursuit of knowledge has been eternal."

President Murmu noted India's progress in the 21st century, reforming the educational institutions through the National Education Policy 2020.

"It also opens avenues for greater collaboration with foreign institutions," she said, highlighting the educational reforms.

"India's literacy rate has significantly improved, with more educational institutions established and wider representation in the education system. Our premier institutions, like the IITs and IIMs, produce world-class engineers, scientists, and managers who contribute to the global knowledge economy. I am pleased that New Zealand universities have established a centre at IIT Delhi for academic collaboration," she said.

She concluded by mentioning the growing number of Indian students in New Zealand, saying, "Around 8,000 Indian students are studying in New Zealand, making them the second largest group of international students, and this number continues to grow."

President Murmu arrived in Auckland late Wednesday, New Zealand time, on the second leg of her three-nation visit

 President Murmu calls for deepening India-New Zealand educational ties

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Laman Ismayilova

Azer Guliyev's film "Sanki Yoxsan" will be screened at Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF) on August 16-23, Azernews reports.

The film, produced by the French company La Luna Productions, was previously included in the short film competition program of the 77th Cannes International Film Festival.

The 16-minute film, in which the director acted and co-wrote the script with Nijat Mukhtarov, was included in the short film program of the festival.

Azer Guliyev's film "Sanki Yoxsan" will be screened on August 21-23. The film cast includes Milana Gasanova, Oktay Mehdiyev and Elshan Mammadov.

The SFF was founded at the end of the 1992-1995 Bosnian War by a group of film enthusiasts and has since enjoyed the support of filmmakers from around the world.

This year, the festival will screen 240 films. 54 films from Southeastern Europe, Ukraine and the South Caucasus will compete in four categories  features, shorts, documentaries and student films  for the Heart of Sarajevo Award, including 19 world premieres.

The festival, which spans from Vienna to Istanbul, will honor Hollywood stars, actors, and directors Meg Ryan, John Turturro, and Alexander Payne for their contributions to the arts.

Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF) will open with the world premiere of "My Late Summer" by Bosnian Oscar-winning director Danis Tanovic.
B'desh unrest a $250 mn monthly readymade garment export opportunity for India: Report

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f the political unrest prolong in Bangladesh, nearly 10 per cent of the neighbouring country's readymade garment (RMG) export orders could shift, presenting a $200-250 million monthly export opportunity for India's RMG sector in the near term and $300-350 million in the medium term, a report said on Thursday.

India has enough headroom to increase RMG exports by 20-25 per cent given the available capacities in the sector, according to a CareEdge Ratings report.

"In case of sustenance of the socio-political disturbance for more than one or two quarters, Bangladesh exporters would face difficulty in ensuring on-time delivery to its customers. In such a situation, India is expected to gain monthly export orders of $200-250 million in the near term," said Akshay Morbiya, Assistant Director at CareEdge Ratings.

As global RMG brands and retailers are relatively stickier with their sourcing partners, a large part of this market share loss could be permanent and lead to a gain in monthly export orders of around $300-350 million in the medium term," Morbiya mentioned.

In the global RMG trade ($550 billion in 2023), Bangladesh occupied the second position with around 8.5 per cent market share.

Bangladesh's share in global RMG trade has consistently increased, largely at the expense of China. Meanwhile, India remains at the seventh spot in terms of global RMG trade with a market share of around 3-4 per cent.

According to the report, countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam captured a large part of China's declining share in the global RMG exports in the past.

"Recent political upheavals and social unrest in Bangladesh, which is the second largest exporter of RMG after China, present an opportunity for the Indian RMG sector," the report mentioned.

In FY24, Bangladesh's RMG exports were around 3.2 times of Indian RMG exports. However, during the April-June quarter of FY25, this ratio narrowed down to around 2.5 times, "reflecting India eating into the share of Bangladesh".

"Apart from the impact of socio-political upheavals in Bangladesh, this was also aided by various initiatives to enhance the competitiveness of Indian RMG exports," the report findings showed.

"With the China+1 sourcing strategy already in the works, global RMG brands and retailers have limited alternatives such as India, Vietnam and Cambodia to replace Bangladesh. India is in a prime position to capitalise on the opportunity," said CareEdge Ratings.

India has its presence across the textile value chain from fibre to garment, unlike Bangladesh which is largely dependent on the import of yarn and fabric.

Furthermore, various government initiatives such as PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) park, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, and free trade agreements (FTAs) with key export markets, are designed to enhance textile exports.

These factors collectively position India as a strong alternative for global brands seeking reliable garment supplies.

Indian entities with substantial capacities are likely to benefit the most, as they can manage large single orders from global brands.

 B'desh unrest a $250 mn monthly readymade garment export opportunity for India: Report

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Implement MYUVA scheme to empower youth: CM Yogi

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ttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday called for the implementation of the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (MYUVA) scheme, aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among youth.

In a meeting, the CM said, the government had allocated funds for the 'MYUVA' in the Budget, and now the time has come to implement this initiative.

The innovative scheme is designed to empower educated and skilled youth across the state, facilitating self-employment opportunities and fostering the establishment of new Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

He stressed that more youth should be apprised about the scheme to encourage them to earn their livelihood and become self-reliant.

The Principal Secretary of MSMEs, who was directed to devise a comprehensive action plan for the initiative, informed the Chief Minister that the scheme would provide financial grants to 1,00,000 youth annually by facilitating loans from banks, thus enabling the establishment of 1,00,000 micro enterprises each year.

"Thus, over the next 10 years, 1 million youth will have the opportunity to engage in self-employment," he noted.

Beneficiaries who have undergone training in various government-run schemes, such as the Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana, One District One Product Training and Toolkit Scheme, Scheduled Caste, Tribe, Other Backward Class Training Scheme, and Skill Upgradation (Kaushal Unnayan) run by the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission, will be eligible for assistance.

Youths having certificates, diplomas, and degrees from educational institutions will also be entitled to benefits under this scheme.

The Chief Minister asked officials to make provisions for offering grants to the general category, OBCs, women, Divyangjans, and SC/ST individuals for establishing enterprises.

Additionally, subsidies should be provided on margin money, he said

The CM said to ensure interest-free loans to young entrepreneurs, interest subsidy and Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) coverage should also be provided for the fixed period of a loan,

To guarantee effective implementation of the scheme, the Chief Minister directed that qualified youth be assigned to each district, akin to the CM Fellows deployed in aspirational development blocks.

The government has allocated Rs 1,000 crore in the Budget for the financial year 2024-25 to support this initiative.

 Implement MYUVA scheme to empower youth: CM Yogi

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Devoleena, Neelu and Lakshay reveal how they celebrate the spirit of 'Shravan'

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umbai, Aug 8 (IANS)From praying to Lord Shiva to fasting and performing 'Rudra Abhishek' at home, television actors Devoleena Bhattacharjee, Neelu Vaghela, and Lakshay Khurana have talked about how they celebrate the spirit of Shravan.

Actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee, who plays the titular character in "Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya," called Shravan the "most precious time" of the year for her.

"My devotion to Mahadev runs deep, and this month allows me to strengthen that bond. Each morning begins with heartfelt prayers to Mahadev, with the belief that any wish made during Shravan will come true through strong devotion."

She said that this sacred time holds a special place in her heart,

"I eagerly anticipate its arrival, trusting that Mahadev will never leave me empty-handed."

Actress Neelu Vaghela, who plays the role of Maa Hukum in "Saajha Sindoor," said: "According to Hindu scriptures, this month is considered very auspicious, during which we worship Lord Shiva. It is a holy month where girls and women adorn themselves with henna and green bangles."

She added: "It is believed that worshiping Lord Shiva during this time helps girls find their desired husband and ensures a long life for their husbands."

Neelu, who is a devotee of Lord Shiva, said: "I observe a fast every Monday during Shravan and offer water to Shiva at the temple. This month fills me with positivity and gives me a renewed sense of energy."

Actor Lakshay Khurana, who plays the lead role of Aditya in "Ishq Jabariya," said that Shravan has always been a special time for him and his family.

"We organise a Rudra Abhishek at home every year to honour Lord Shiva, who has been our greatest guide and supporter. However, this year, my schedule with Ishq Jabariya on Sun Neo has kept me from our usual celebration," he said.

The actor said that he is planning to visit a temple with my family to perform a special pooja.

"For me, Shravan is not just a month of devotion but a time to reconnect with Lord Shiva and seek his blessings. His guidance has profoundly shaped my journey, and my life is dedicated to him," he said.

"Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya", "Ishq Jabariya" and "Saajha Sindoor" airs on Sun Neo.

 Devoleena, Neelu and Lakshay reveal how they celebrate the spirit of 'Shravan'

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Kay Kay Menon on shooting in Shantiniketan: 'You could feel the presence of Rabindranath Tagore'

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ctor Kay Kay Menon, who is all geared up for the release of his upcoming series 'Shekhar Home', has opened up on how the locations inspire artists, sharing about shooting for the show in Shantiniketan, West Bengal.

'Shekhar Home' is a detective drama set in the early 1990s in the fictional West Bengal town of Lonpur.

Speaking about the location, Menon said, "Each location has its own charm and its own air. So, Shantiniketan was such, that you could feel the presence of Rabindranath Tagore over there. I always go by the rhythm of things. I feel that a place has a rhythm and Shantiniketan has a Tagore rhythm."

Shedding light on how an actor performs irrespective of their surroundings, the 57-year-old actor shared: "I remember, while shooting for 'Shekhar Home' in West Bengal, the temperature was somewhere around 45 degrees Celsius -- scorching heat. However, when you are too immersed and enjoy what you are doing, these things get ignored."

"It is like a batsman batting at a hundred, though he is tired and exhausted, he is enjoying it. So, for me, working in 'Shekhar Home' was enjoyable and that mattered the most. If it won't have been enjoyable, I would've felt the heat very badly. It always happens in an actor's life and invariably you're portraying winters when it's completely summer and vice versa. So, these are the job hazards of being an actor," concluded Menon.

The series follows the unconventional partnership of the brilliant but eccentric Shekhar Home, played by Kay Kay, and his unlikely accomplice, Jayvrat Sahni, essayed by Ranvir Shorey.

Together, they navigate a world of perplexing mysteries ranging from murder and extortion to the inexplicable.

'Shekhar Home' will premiere on JioCinema Premium on August 14.

On the work front, Menon was last seen in the web series 'The Railway Men: The Untold Story of Bhopal 1984', featuring R Madhavan, Divyenndu and Babil Khan in the lead, and Sunny Hinduja and Juhi Chawla in pivotal roles.

 Kay Kay Menon on shooting in Shantiniketan: 'You could feel the presence of Rabindranath Tagore'

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Anil Kapoor celebrates 38 years of 'Karma' with rare pics from sets

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ctor Anil Kapoor, who recently hosted the third season of the streaming reality show 'Bigg Boss OTT', is celebrating 38 years of the multi-starrer film 'Karma' directed by Subhash Ghai.

The actor took to Instagram Stories and shared a collage of some unseen pictures from the making of the film. Anil's role in the film blended intensity with emotional depth, making it a memorable contribution to his illustrious career.

The film also starring Dilip Kumar, Nutan, Anupam Kher, Jackie Shroff, Naseeruddin Shah, Sridevi, and Poonam Dhillon in key roles has stood the test of time, as it effortlessly blended action, drama, and a powerful storyline into a compelling narrative.

The film is part of a long list of Anil's collaborations with Jackie Shroff, which include films like 'Ram Lakhan', 'Kala Bazaar', 'Yudh', 'Parinda' and others.

The film's portrayal of heroism and justice, combined with its iconic music and dramatic plot twists, made it an unforgettable watch for cinema lovers. It was the top-grossing Indian film of 1986 and the eleventh highest-grossing Bollywood film of the decade.

The film reunited Subhash Ghai and Dilip Kumar after the success of their last film together, 'Vidhaata' (1982). It also marked the first time Dilip Kumar was paired with veteran actress Nutan.

On the work front, Anil, who had two theatrical hits recently -- 'Animal' and 'Fighter', is now looking forward to the release of 'Subedaar'.

He is also rumoured to be a part of YRF's spy universe.

 Anil Kapoor celebrates 38 years of 'Karma' with rare pics from sets

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Main suspect in attack plot on Taylor Swift's Vienna concerts confesses: authorities

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ustrian security officials said on Thursday that the main suspect in a foiled plot to attack the now-cancelled Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna has made a full confession.

The 19-year-old suspect had planned to "kill himself and a large number of people" with explosives and sharp weapons during Swift's shows either on Thursday or Friday, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, director of state security and intelligence in the Austrian interior ministry, told a press conference on Thursday.

The suspect was arrested Wednesday morning in Ternitz, a town south of Vienna, on suspicions of planning a terrorist attack on Swift's concerts.

Haijawi-Pirchner said the suspect did not have a concert ticket, but wanted to kill people outside the Ernst Happel Stadium, the venue for the concerts, according to reports from Austrian news agency APA.

A second suspect was arrested near the stadium on Wednesday afternoon in connection to the attack plan.

Haijawi-Pirchner said on Thursday that authorities had found Islamic State organization and Al-Qaeda material at the home of the second suspect, a 17-year-old Austrian citizen. The 17-year-old was employed by a facility company that provides services in the stadium during the concerts.

The second suspect has so far refused to confess, APA reported according to Xinhua news agency.

Organisers on Wednesday evening canceled all three of Swift's concerts in Vienna after Austrian authorities announced the two arrests.

Swift was scheduled to play in the Austrian capital on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as part of her widely popular Eras Tour. An estimated 170,000 fans would have attended the three concerts, according to APA.

Austrian interior minister Gerhard Karner told the press conference on Thursday that no other suspects are being sought after the two arrests.

 Main suspect in attack plot on Taylor Swift's Vienna concerts confesses: authorities

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In a 17-page lawsuit, popular former Booker T. Washington Assistant Principal Rebecca Ramey says she was discriminated and retaliated against due to her sexual orientation, and that Unit 4 violated her rights under the First Amendment (free speech) and Fourteenth Amendment (due process).
In a recent perspective piece published in the Alzheimer's Association's journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, researchers from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands examined the pros, cons, and challenges associated with the use of amyloid immunotherapy drugs for treating early Alzheimer's disease from the clinical lens and the perspectives of health systems and population health.

Perspective: Considering challenges for the new Alzheimer's drugs: Clinical, population, and health system perspectives. Image Credit: Juan Gaertner / Shutterstock

Clinical perspective of amyloid immunotherapy

Amyloid immunotherapy involves using antibodies that target the amyloid  protein to prevent its accumulation and the formation of amyloid plaques, one of the major hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. The recent approval of amyloid therapy by the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been contentious due to reports of adverse effects and the lack of clarity about the long-term impacts of this treatment method.

The two phase III trials for the amyloid immunotherapy drugs donanemab and lecanemab have reported that compared to the placebo, the drugs have been successful in lowering the rate of functional and cognitive decline. However, the observed effect sizes are well below the minimum threshold for clinical importance.

The researchers also observed that only 80% of the participants completed the clinical trials, and the dropout rates were higher in the intervention groups than in the placebo groups, which could have potentially biased the results in favor of amyloid immunotherapy.

Furthermore, adverse events such as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities or ARIA, including hemorrhage and brain edema, have been reported in close to 30% of the participants. The trials for donanemab reported three deaths due to ARIA, while the open-label trial extension for lecanemab had two deaths due to hemorrhages and amyloid-linked inflammation.

Individuals carrying the apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) allele who were at higher risk of Alzheimer's disease also showed greater rates of adverse reactions and lower treatment response rates, indicating that genetic testing is necessary before amyloid immunotherapy is recommended as a treatment option.

Furthermore, amyloid immunotherapy is based on the amyloid cascade hypothesis, which implicates amyloid accumulation in the brain as a cause of dementia. While this treatment is founded on the hypothesis that clearance of amyloid accumulation over time will slow the progression of the disease, the long-term effects of this treatment remain unknown.

Implications for population health

Participants were recruited for the phase III trials for the amyloid immunotherapy drugs based on the diagnoses of mild dementia or mild cognitive impairments and elevated amyloid levels characteristic of early Alzheimer's disease. The trials for donanemab also recruited participants based on elevated levels of tau protein.

The exclusion of Alzheimer's disease patients with comorbidities and co-neuropathies meant that to maximize efficacy, these phase III trials focused on a highly homogeneous group, making the findings difficult to generalize to the broader population of Alzheimer's disease patients. The exclusion of patients with mixed dementia pathologies also impacted the applicability of the findings to the general patient population.

The data from these clinical trials were in contrast with the press coverage for these drugs, which claimed that these amyloid immunotherapy drugs had broad applicability. However, the trial data indicated that a very small percentage of Alzheimer's disease patients met the eligibility criteria for the trials.

The average age of the trial population was also younger than the average age of the global Alzheimer's patient population, further reducing the generalizability of the results. The researchers believe that the exclusivity of the clinical trial study population, combined with the small effect sizes reported by the trials, poses specific challenges to translating the efficacy into benefits for the broader population scale.

Perspectives from healthcare

The researchers discussed the amyloid immunotherapy drugs that have currently been approved for clinical use and the reception of these drugs among the Alzheimer's disease patient population. The current FDA-approved drugs include aducanumab, lecanemab, and donanemab.

While aducanumab was approved based on successful amyloid clearance as an endpoint, the low uptake of the drug resulted in the discontinuation of phase IV trials and termination of aducanumab marketing by Biogen in the U.S. Both lecanemab and donanemab have been approved with no labeled contraindications for patients with comorbidities or co-neuropathologies. However, the recommendations include caution while prescribing these drugs to individuals at high risk of hemorrhage or those carrying the APOE4 high-risk allele.

The health system perspective of amyloid immunotherapy also examined the financial and resource requirements for the treatment method. These included positron emission tomography (PET) scans, lumbar punctures for amyloid marker assessments, various clinical evaluations, magnetic resonance imaging scans for detecting amyloid accumulation, and genetic testing for the high-risk APOE4 allele to determine eligibility for the therapy.

The substantial financial and resource burden of the diagnostic process to determine eligibility for amyloid immunotherapy and the subsequent requirements for administering therapy, including specialized centers to carry out infusions, also add to the challenges in making the method viable in middle to low-income countries.

Conclusions

Overall, through this perspective piece, the researchers presented a concise view of the current challenges in making amyloid immunotherapy a broadly applicable and affordable treatment option for early-stage Alzheimer's disease.

While the research for developing more effective treatment options for Alzheimer's disease continues, the current opinion about amyloid immunotherapy is that several clinical, population-scale, and healthcare-associated concerns and challenges need to be addressed to make it a favorable therapeutic option.
Providing radiotherapy after surgery could prevent breast cancer from returning in the same place for up to 10 years, a long-term study suggests.

This protective effect is limited after a decade, when the risk of cancer recurrence is similar to that in those who have not received radiotherapy.

The findings provide a more complete picture of the long-term benefits of radiotherapy following breast cancer surgery, experts say.

Surgery followed by radiotherapy remains the standard care for women with early-stage breast cancer. Radiotherapy targets high doses of radiation to the breast to destroy any remaining cancer cells after removal of the tumor.

The Scottish Breast Conservation Trial, led by the University of Edinburgh, looked at 585 women who received treatment for early-stage breast cancer in Scotland  half received radiotherapy and half did not. The average follow-up period for patients was 18 years, with some cases followed for more than three decades.

After 10 years, 16 per cent of those who had radiotherapy had experienced the return of their cancer in the same location, compared with 36 per cent of those who did not have the treatment.

Despite a reduction in cancer recurrence, survival rates did not improve with radiotherapy treatment.

Average overall survival rates after 30 years were similar for those who received postoperative radiotherapy and those who did not  19.2 years and 18.7 years, respectively.

There were fewer deaths from breast cancer among those who received radiotherapy than those who did not  37 per cent versus 46 per cent. By contrast, there were more deaths from other cancers in the group who received radiotherapy  20 per cent versus 11 per cent.

Understanding the long-term impact of radiotherapy is increasingly important, as improvements in the detection and treatment of early-stage breast cancer mean that patients are living longer, experts say.

The study, funded by Exact Sciences and the Breast Cancer Institute, part of NHS Lothian Charity, is published in the journal The Lancet Oncology: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(24)00347-4/fulltext [URL will become active after embargo lifts].

The research team included experts from the Usher Institute and the Institute of Genetics and Cancer at the University of Edinburgh, Public Health Scotland, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, and the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.

This 30-year study marks the longest follow-up of postoperative radiotherapy in the treatment of early-stage breast cancer. Long-term studies like this, which go beyond 10 years of follow up, are crucial to fully assess the risks and benefits of treatments." Dr. Linda Williams, from the University of Edinburgh's Usher Institute and lead author

Professor Ian Kunkler, from the University of Edinburgh's Institute of Genetics and Cancer, said: "Our evidence suggests that radiotherapy protects against cancer returning in the same breast for up to 10 years. It supports the continued use of radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery for most patients with early breast cancer. Like other anti-cancer treatments, radiotherapy loses its beneficial effects in the long term."
Over the course of life, memory fades with varying degrees, robbing older people of the ability to recollect personal experiences. This progressive, nearly inevitable process has long been hypothesized as a consequence of nature's removal of dendritic spines, a key component of synapses, from brain neurons as they age.

A study published in Science Advances led by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, now provides evidence that the preservation of past life experiences is maintained by the quality -; not the quantity -; of synapses in old age.

This is a paradigm breaker. For 35 years, the predominant dogma was that memory decline is mediated predominantly by loss of dendritic spine, which are a surrogate for synapses. As we age from 40 through 85, there is natural loss of dendritic spines and synapses, which is completely normal. This natural loss can contribute to the lack of cognitive sharpness that we all feel as we age. However, we demonstrate that, even though there is synapse loss, the ones that are left can compensate for that loss." Jeremy Herskowitz, Ph.D., associate professor in the UAB Department of Neurology and corresponding author of the study

Herskowitz says this has an enormous implication. "Even in older individuals, people age 80, 90 or 95, there is still enough plasticity in synapse formation to retain memory. This means a therapy to remodel dendritic spines and synapses could dramatically facilitate memory as you age or if you are experiencing memory impairment due to Alzheimer's disease dementia."

The study was made possible by the Religious Orders Study and Rush Memory and Aging Project, or ROSMAP, at Rush University. ROSMAP enrolls Catholic nuns, priests and brothers age 65 or older, who are without known dementia at time of enrollment. Participants receive medical and psychological evaluations each year and agree to donate their brains after death.

Herskowitz and colleagues studied postmortem brain samples from 128 ROSMAP participants. The participants had an average age of 90.5 years at the time of death, with variable cognitive performance scores and Alzheimer's disease-related neuropathology. They all had undergone yearly cognitive testing for episodic memory, visuospatial ability/perceptual orientation, perceptual speed, semantic memory, and working memory. The study included two samples from each brain, one from the temporal cortex, which has structures vital for long-term memory, and one from the frontal premotor cortex.

After staining the brain samples, photographing thin slices and building three-dimensional digital reconstructions of 55,521 individual dendritic spines on 2,157 neurons, researchers used two statistical methods, one employing innovative machine learning, to see if any of 16 different spine morphology measurements correlated with any of 17 different measures of brain function, age and Alzheimer's disease neuropathology. One of the brain function measures was episodic memory -; the ability to remember everyday events and past personal experiences.

For neurons from the temporal cortex, researchers found that dendritic spine head diameter, but not the quantity of spines, improved prediction of episodic memory in models containing -amyloid plaque scores, neurofibrillary tangle pathology and sex. Larger head diameters were associated with better episodic memory performance, supporting the emerging hypothesis that, in the temporal cortex, synaptic strength is more critical than quantity for memory in old age.

"Targeting pathways that maintain spine head diameter or synaptic strength, rather than pathways that maintain or generate new spines or synapses, could potentially yield greater therapeutic benefits for older adults in preclinical phases of Alzheimer's disease," Herskowitz said.

A dendrite is a branched extension from a neuron body that receives impulses from other neurons. Each dendrite can have thousands of small protrusions called spines. The head of each spine can form a contact point called a synapse to receive an impulse sent from the axon of another neuron. Dendritic spines can rapidly change shape or volume while forming new synapses, part of the process called brain plasticity. Creating or eliminating synapses is a fundamental mechanism of brain function.

Collecting the tens of thousands of spine measurements took two and a half years. This painstaking work started in 2019 and continued through the COVID-19 pandemic, as UAB researchers worked under COVID restrictions, Herskowitz says.

Co-first authors of the study, "Dendritic spine head diameter predicts episodic memory performance in older adults," are Courtney K. Walker and Evan Liu, UAB Department of Neurology.

Other authors are Kelsey M. Greathouse, Ashley B. Adamson, Julia P. Wilson, Emily H. Poovey, Kendall A. Curtis, Hamad M. Muhammad and Audrey J. Weber, UAB Department of Neurology; David A. Bennett, Rush University Medical Center; Nicholas T. Seyfried, Emory University School of Medicine; and Christopher Gaiteri, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York.

Support came from National Institutes of Health grants NS061788, AG067635, AG061800, AG054719, AG063755, AG068024, AG10161, AG72975, AG15819, AG17917, AG46152 and AG61356.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have identified a link between a SARS-CoV-2 protein and the onset of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). MIS-C is a pediatric disorder characterized by widespread inflammation throughout the body. The new findings describe a case of molecular mimicry, where a section of a protein from SARS-CoV-2 closely resembles the human protein SNX8, confusing the immune system and sparking inflammation. The findings were published today in Nature.

The researchers found that a region of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein shares high sequence and immunogenic similarities to SNX8, a protein predominantly expressed in immune cells. Consequently, the human immune system that reacts to N mistakes SNX8 as an invader and triggers an inflammatory response. Understanding this mimicry mechanism, the elements of the immune system that are involved, and why it occurs in a subset of children could help physicians better address MIS-C.

Before the study, clinicians had observed that MIS-C typically manifests after SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) infection, but whether the onset was connected to SARS-CoV-2 infection was unknown.

MIS-C has been recognized as a problem downstream of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children since the beginning of the pandemic, and it's very similar to other post-viral inflammatory conditions that have evaded understanding in terms of etiology for a number of years." Paul Thomas, PhD, co-senior author, St. Jude Department of Host-Microbe Interactions

Reflecting on the clinical impact, co-senior author Adrienne Randolph, MD, MSc, Boston Children's Hospital, noted, "Every time COVID peaked in an area, about 30 days later, there would be a peak of children presenting with what looked like septic shock in our network of ICUs, except they were negative for all kinds of infection. If we hadn't intervened and supported them, they could have died."

This is the first study to identify molecular mimicry as one of the immunological mechanisms behind the development of MIS-C. "Understanding this mechanism going forward may help improve diagnosis and treatment," Thomas added.

Molecular mimic linking SARS-CoV-2 infections and MIS-C

Believing that there may be a link between SARS-CoV-2 proteins and the syndrome, the researchers used samples from patients with MIS-C to identify autoantigens (self proteins recognized by the immune system which trigger an autoimmune response) associated with the condition. They found candidate autoantigens derived from SNX8, ERFL and KDELR1 proteins. SNX8 plays a role in regulating the antiviral pathway associated with MIS-C pathogenesis, making it the prime suspect.

Scientists identified a part of SNX8 that is structurally similar to SARS-CoV-2 N that stimulates an autoimmune response in cases of MIS-C. This finding provides evidence of molecular mimicry as a mechanism contributing to MIS-C and connects SARS-CoV-2 infection with the onset of MIS-C.

"The biggest takeaway is that our study now directly links the disease with components of the actual SARS-CoV-2 virus," said co-first author and postdoctoral fellow Robert Mettelman, PhD, St. Jude Department of Host-Microbe Interactions.

Echoing this sentiment, co-senior author Joseph DeRisi, PhD, University of California San Francisco, stated, "We've identified the smoking gun  what made these kids so sick. This discovery opens the door to understanding why so many of these post-infectious, horribly inflammatory autoimmune events occur."

While this research marks a significant breakthrough in understanding MIS-C, its implications extend beyond the specific disorder. "There are other diseases that are similar to MIS-C," Mettelman added. "The immune mechanism we describe can be explored in additional autoimmune and inflammatory contexts where a viral infection is thought to trigger disease onset."

These findings showcase a bright future for the improved diagnosis and treatment of MIS-C. "We are trying to understand the relationship between these responses and the full development of the disease," Thomas said. "We are aiming to see if there is a diagnostic setting where we could use this to predict who's going to develop this disease and if early interventions can be applied."
Mom always said, "Choose your friends wisely." Now a study led by a Rutgers Health professor shows she was onto something: Their traits can rub off on you  especially ones that are in their genes.

The genetic makeup of adolescent peers may have long-term consequences for individual risk of drug and alcohol use disorders, depression and anxiety, the groundbreaking study has found.

"Peers' genetic predispositions for psychiatric and substance use disorders are associated with an individual's own risk of developing the same disorders in young adulthood," said Jessica E. Salvatore, an associate professor of psychiatry at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and lead author of the study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. "What our data exemplifies is the long reach of social genetic effects," Salvatore said.

Socio-genomics  the influence of one person's genotype on the observable traits of another  is an emerging field of genomics. Research suggests that peers' genetic makeup may influence health outcomes of their friends. To test this, Salvatore and colleagues used Swedish national data to assess peer social genetic effects for several psychiatric disorders.

With an anonymized database of more than 1.5 million individuals born in Sweden between 1980 and 1998 to Swedish-born parents, the first step was to map individuals by location and by school during their teenage years. The researchers then used medical, pharmacy and legal registries documenting substance use and mental health disorders for the same individuals in adulthood.

Models were run to assess whether peers' genetic predispositions predicted target individuals' likelihood of experiencing substance abuse, major depression, and anxiety disorder in adulthood. Peers' genetic predispositions were indexed with family genetic risk scores  personalized measures of genetic risk based on family history  for the same conditions.

Even when controlling for factors such as the target individuals' own genetic predispositions and family socioeconomic factors, the researchers found a clear association between peers' genetic predispositions and target individuals' likelihood of developing a substance use or psychiatric disorder. The effects were stronger among school-based peers than geographically defined peers.

Within school groups, the strongest effects were among upper secondary school classmates, particularly those in the same vocational or college-preparatory track between ages 16 and 19. Social genetic effects for school-based peers were greater for drug and alcohol use disorders than major depression and anxiety disorder.

Salvatore said more research is needed to understand why these connections exist.

The most obvious explanation for why peers' genetic predispositions might be associated with our own well-being is the idea our peers' genetic predispositions influence their phenotype, or the likelihood that peers are also affected by the disorder. But in our analysis, we found that peers' genetic predispositions were associated with target individuals' likelihood of disorder even after we statistically controlled for whether peers were affected or unaffected." Jessica E. Salvatore, associate professor of psychiatry, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

What is clear, Salvatore said, is what the findings mean for interventions.

"If we want to think about how to best address these socially costly disorders, we need to think more about network based and social interventions," she said. "It's not enough to think about individual risk."

This research also underscores the importance of disrupting processes and risks that extend for at least a decade after attendance in school, Salvatore added. "Peer genetic influences have a very long reach," she said.

Coauthors include Henrik Ohlsson, Jan Sundquist and Kristina Sundquist, from Lund University in Sweden; and Kenneth S. Kendler from the Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics at Virginia Commonwealth University.
A discovery by a three-member Albert Einstein College of Medicine research team may boost the effectiveness of stem-cell transplants, commonly used for patients with cancer, blood disorders, or autoimmune diseases caused by defective stem cells, which produce all the body's different blood cells. The findings, made in mice, were published today in the journal Science.

"Our research has the potential to improve the success of stem-cell transplants and expand their use," explained Ulrich Steidl, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair of cell biology, interim director of the Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, and the Edward P. Evans Endowed Professor for Myelodysplastic Syndromes at Einstein, and deputy director of the National Cancer Institute-designated Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center (MECCC).

Dr. Steidl, Einstein's Britta Will, Ph.D., and Xin Gao, Ph.D., a former Einstein postdoctoral fellow, now at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, are co-corresponding authors on the paper.

Mobilizing stem cells

Stem-cell transplants treat diseases in which an individual's hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells (HSCs) have become cancerous (as in in leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes) or too few in number (as in bone marrow failure and severe autoimmune disorders). The therapy involves infusing healthy HSCs obtained from donors into patients. To harvest those HSCs, donors are given a drug that causes HSCs to mobilize, or escape, from their normal homes in the bone marrow and enter the blood, where HSCs can be separated from other blood cells and then transplanted. However, drugs used to mobilize HSCs often don't liberate enough of them for the transplant to be effective.

"It's normal for a tiny fraction of HSCs to exit the bone marrow and enter the blood stream, but what controls this mobilization isn't well understood," said Dr. Will, associate professor of oncology and of medicine, and the Diane and Arthur B. Belfer Faculty Scholar in Cancer Research at Einstein, and the co-leader of the Stem Cell and Cancer Biology research program at MECCC. "Our research represents a fundamental advance in our understanding, and points to a new way to improve HSC mobilization for clinical use."

Tracking trogocytosis

The researchers suspected that variations in proteins on the surface of HSCs might influence their propensity to exit the bone marrow. In studies involving HSCs isolated from mice, they observed that a large subset of HSCs display surface proteins normally associated with macrophages, a type of immune cell. Moreover, HSCs with these surface proteins largely stayed in the bone marrow, while those without the markers readily exited the marrow when drugs for boosting HSCs mobilization were given.

After mixing HSCs with macrophages, the researchers discovered that some HSCs engaged in trogocytosis, a mechanism whereby one cell type extracts membrane fractions of another cell type and incorporates them into their own membranes. Those HSCs expressing high levels of the protein c-Kit on their surface were able to carry out trogocytosis, causing their membranes to be augmented with macrophage proteins-;and making them far more likely than other HSCs to stay in the bone marrow. The findings suggest that impairing c-Kit would prevent trogocytosis, leading to more HSCs being mobilized and made available for transplantation.

Trogocytosis plays a role in regulating immune responses and other cellular systems, but this is the first time anyone has seen stem cells engage in the process. We are still seeking the exact mechanism for how HSCs regulate trogocytosis." Dr. Xin Goa, assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI.

The researchers intend to continue their investigation into this process: "Our ongoing efforts will look for other functions of trogocytosis in HSCs, including potential roles in blood regeneration, eliminating defective stem cells and in hematologic malignancies," added Dr. Will.

The study originated in the laboratory of the late Paul S. Frenette, M.D., a pioneer in hematopoietic stem cell research and founding director of the Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Research at Einstein. Other key contributors include Randall S. Carpenter, Ph.D., and Philip E. Boulais, Ph.D., both postdoctoral scientists at Einstein.

The Science paper is titled, "Regulation of the hematopoietic stem cell pool by c-Kit-associated trogocytosis." Additional authors are Huihui Li, Ph.D., and Maria Maryanovich, Ph.D., both at Einstein, Christopher R. Marlein, Ph.D., at Einstein and FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, Wilton, England, and Dachuan Zhang, Ph.D., at Einstein and Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China, Matthew Smith at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and David J. Chung, M.D., Ph.D., at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.

The study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health (U01DK116312, R01DK056638, R01DK112976, R01HL069438, DK10513, CA230756, R01HL157948 and R35CA253127).
With a new $11.3 million Program Project grant from the National Institutes of Health, experts from the Vascular Biology Center at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University are working to better understand the underlying mechanisms of cardiovascular disease.

"Blood vessels are critical for the transport of oxygen, nutrients, and immune cells and when they don't function properly it not only impacts the function of the heart, but other organs such as the lung, eye, brain and even our muscles. A key regulator of blood vessel function is a thin layer of cells lining the inside of all blood vessels, called the endothelium", explains co-program director Tohru Fukai, MD/PhD. Those endothelial cells and finding ways to fix them when they become dysfunction is a critical focus of this new five-year grant.

Normally, endothelial cells form a tightly regulated barrier, reduce inflammation and help blood vessels to relax, allowing blood to flow. But in cardiovascular disease, when they begin to malfunction, they can't maintain that barrier, which leads to increased inflammation and constriction of blood vessels. That results in increased blood pressure, decreased blood flow and limited organ function.

A key problem contributing to endothelial cell dysfunction is the loss of "redox balance" between harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) and helpful molecules like nitric oxide (NO). Too much ROS and not enough NO underlies many cardiovascular diseases. To date, treatments targeting this imbalance by reducing ROS and increasing NO haven't been very effective. To develop more effective treatments, we need to understand what causes this imbalance." Masuko Ushio-Fukai, PhD., co-program director, MCG vascular biologist

Scientists have recently reported that endothelial cells can reprogram the ways they create energy to meet the demands of their local environment. Normally they rely on a healthy balance between aerobic glycolysis, a metabolic process, which produces energy and regulates ROS, and mitochondrial oxidation, which generates energy, ROS, and various metabolites.

But in cardiovascular disease, the balance is disrupted, and this "metabolic flexibility" often results in a shift to excessive glycolysis, which can actually shift redox balance in a negative way.

"We don't fully understand the mechanisms regulating the relationship between endothelial metabolism and ROS/RNS balance and how it becomes altered in cardiovascular disease," Dr. Fukai explains. "Our program will investigate how the imbalance between endothelial metabolism and ROS/RNS that is induced by various risk factors promotes endothelial dysfunction and vascular disease."

To make inroads into the origins of such a prevalent and complicated problem -; approximately 83 million people have one or more forms of vascular disease in the US alone -; requires a collaborative approach. The MCG research team includes world-known endothelial and vascular biologists: Fukai; Ushio-Fukai; Eric Belin de Chantemele, PhD; David Fulton, PhD; David Stepp, PhD; and Rudolf Lucas, PhD.

The five-year project will include the use of shared models and resources, tightly integrated projects and the support of administrative, animal and analytic cores.

Project 1 is led by Fukai, who also serves as Barbara A. Schnuck Endowed Chair in Translational Medicine and a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. He will investigate how altered copper metabolism due to dysfunction of the copper exporter, ATP7A, leads to excessive glycolysis, redox imbalance, mitochondrial changes and ultimately endothelial dysfunction, which accelerates atherosclerosis.

Project 2 is led by Belin de Chantemele, professor of medicine and Fulton, director of the VBC, who also serves as Regents Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology. They will study how sex-specific mechanisms involving Nox1  a key source of ROS  and the satiety hormone, leptin, a key regulator of metabolism, impact endothelial cell metabolism and function and cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension.

Project 3 is led by Ushio-Fukai, who also is director of the Redox Signaling Program in the VBC and a professor in the Department of Medicine. She will examine how mitochondrial dynamics coordinate crosstalk between mitochondrial redox signaling and endothelial glycolysis to regulate new blood vessel formation. Blood vessel growth will be investigated using an animal model of peripheral arterial disease with diabetes, which results in excessive glycolysis and increased ROS signaling.

These projects are also supported by three cores.

Administrative Core A is led by Fukai and Ushio-Fukai and will provide overall program support, coordinate project integration, standardized biostatistics and bioinformatics support.

Scientific Core B will provide standardized animal and metabolic phenotyping and is led by Stepp, who also serves as Leon Henri Charbonnier Endowed Chair in Physiology, Regents Professor and the medical school's associate dean for research. Core B will support all projects by providing novel knockout or transgenic mice with altered endothelial genes that reduce and increase glycolysis, and live measurements of metabolic phenotypes.

Scientific Core C will provide endothelial cell analytics and is led by Lucas, a professor of pharmacology and toxicology and Fulton. This core will support the isolation and characterization of primary endothelial cells from genetically modified mice and human tissue. It will also provide standardized measurements of cellular metabolism, oxidative/nitrosative stress, NO and inflammation and measuring cytokine/chemokine profiles, which are key indicators of immune function, using multiplex analysis.

This Program Project grant is also supported by trainees, technicians and administrative staff and will bring together experts from across MCG and even from other universities with the common goal of reducing one of our nation's top killers.
Researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine used the setting of the man-made Ukrainian Holodomor famine of 1932-1933 to examine the relation between prenatal famine and adult Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). They studied 128,225 Type 2 diabetes cases diagnosed between 2000-2008 among 10,186,016 male and female Ukrainians born between 1930 and 1938.

Individuals who were exposed in early gestation to the famine had a more than two-fold likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes compared to those unexposed to the famine, according to a study led by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The results are published in the journal Science.

The famine led to 4 million excess deaths in the short-term and losses were concentrated in a 6 month period. The Holodomor far exceeded other famines in terms of its intensity. Life expectancies at birth in 1933 were only 7.2 years for females and 4.3 for males.

The Ukraine setting provided an unusual opportunity to investigate the long-term impact of the Holodomor -- or death by hunger --on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) cases diagnosed seven decades after prenatal famine exposure. With the famine concentrated in a six-month period in early 1933, we are able to pinpoint the timing of famine together with extreme variations in intensity across provinces." L.H. Lumey, MD, Professor of Epidemiology at Columbia Public Health

This concentration was the result of Stalin's use of famine as a weapon of terror against Ukrainian farmers. When Ukraine could not fulfill its grain procurement quotas to the Soviet Central Government, having not enough for themselves, drastic measures were implemented to fulfill the quotas, under the excuse that counter-revolutionary elements sabotaged grain procurement. A countrywide campaign of searches of peasant's homes looking for "hidden" or "stolen" grain was launched in late 1932 and expanded in early 1933. All or most of the food was confiscated during many of these searches, leaving families without any food for the rest of the winter. In addition, measures were implemented that curtailed Ukrainian peasants' travel in search of food.

These measures created a perfect storm. Many rural families were left without any food; avenues to search for food were closed and grain reserve funds were depleted. Thousands of rural families were condemned to a slow death by starvation in their villages. The result was an extraordinary increase in Holodomor excess deaths between January and June 1933. At the peak of the famine in June 1933, there were, on the average, 28,000 famine-related deaths per day caused by the famine, equivalent to 1,167 deaths per hour or 19 per minute.

"Our study into the long-term health impact of the Holodomor famine offers several critical lessons for addressing health challenges posed by national disasters," observes Lumey. "It underscores the necessity for a comprehensive health care and policy framework that takes into account the lasting effects of early-life adversities on population health and their potential long-term repercussions on chronic diseases and mental health."

While individuals diagnosed with T2DM in 2000-2008 may also be overweight or obese and have other risk factors for the disease, the relation between adult T2DM risk and the place and date of birth at the time of the famine is so specific that famine exposure in early gestation appears to be the dominant factor that overrides all others, according to the research team.

"This awareness should prompt a proactive approach among policymakers and public health officials to anticipate the increased healthcare needs among populations affected by national disasters. It also highlights the importance of raising awareness about the potential long-term health effects of early-life adversities," observed Lumey.

"Besides the need to develop policies for addressing long-term health challenges after a national disaster, the results of our study underscore the importance of policies aimed at preventing events like the Holodomor from happening again. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 shows that history repeats itself" points out Dr. Wolowyna of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "The three-month siege in 2022 of the city of Mariupol during the current war in Ukraine to starve the population into surrender serves as a reminder of a current and real danger. The blockade of Ukrainian ports to prevent the export of Ukrainian grain to developing countries in Africa and Asia, has increased the danger of starvation for millions of persons in these countries."

Co-authors are Chihua Li, University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University, and University of Macau; Mykola Khalangot, Komisarenko Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kyiv and Shupyk National Healthcare University, Kyiv; Nataliia Levchuk, Ptoukha Institute of Demography and Social Sciences, Kyiv and Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Germany.

The study was supported by Ukraine State complex program Diabetes Mellitus, 0106U000844; the Holodomor Research and Education Consortium in Canada; NIDI-NIAS Fellowship of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences; National Institute of Aging, R01 AG028593 and R01 AG06687, R01 AG070953 and R01AG075719.
For Roderick Givens, a radiation oncologist, the expansion of Medicaid isn't just a policy issue. He practices medicine in a rural area in the Mississippi Delta and he sees daily how Medicaid coverage could help his uninsured patients.

"I can't tell you the number of patients who I see who come in with advanced disease, who have full-time jobs," Givens said. "They haven't seen a physician in years. They can't afford it. They don't have coverage."

This spring, the Mississippi Legislature considered but ultimately failed to expand Medicaid, which would have extended coverage to around 200,000 low-income residents. Mississippi is one of 10 states that haven't expanded Medicaid, the state and federal health insurance program for people with low incomes or disabilities.

Seven of those states are in the South. But as more conservative-leaning states like North Carolina adopt it, the drumbeat of support, as one Southern state lawmaker put it, grows louder.

Advocates for expanding Medicaid say opposition is largely being driven by political polarization, rather than cost concerns.

Givens, who is also chair of the board of trustees for the Mississippi State Medical Association, which supports Medicaid expansion, said the federal government would pay for the vast majority of it and that most Mississippians support it. "Why does that not translate when it comes to policy?" Givens asked. "It's called the stupidity of politics. Period."

Givens pointed to Arkansas as a potential model for Mississippi because the state has similar demographics and expansion has been in place there for a decade. "Look at what has worked for them and what needs to be tweaked," he said. "For me, that's just common sense."

In states that have not expanded Medicaid, hundreds of thousands of people fall into the "coverage gap," meaning they earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but are not eligible for subsidies to help pay for private insurance. Those in the coverage gap also can't afford premiums and other out-of-pocket expenses on employer-sponsored insurance even if they are eligible.

The coverage gap is not an issue in states that have expanded Medicaid. In those states, a single person making up to 138% of the poverty level, or about $20,000 a year, can get on Medicaid. Someone making more than that can get subsidies for private health insurance.

For the first time in Mississippi, both the state Senate and House of Representatives proposed expanding Medicaid during the legislative session that ended in May. In the end, the efforts fizzled at the last minute.

Had the proposed bills succeeded, some 74,000 Mississippians who are stuck in the coverage gap would have gained access to Medicaid.

The House speaker, Jason White, a Republican who supports expansion, acknowledged the political hurdles. "It's President Obama's signature piece of legislation. It's known as Obamacare," White said. "So, there are a lot of political dynamics centered around it that probably never allowed it to get off the ground."

White said this year was different because of increased support from the business community.

"I kidded some of my fellow Republicans. I said, 'Come for the savings, if you will, and then you can stay for the salvation and the good things that it does to improve people's lives,'" White said. "If you can't get there because it's the right or compassionate thing to do to help these individuals, get there because it makes sense from a business standpoint."

In neighboring Alabama, politics also thwarted attempts to provide more health care this year. Although the state legislature didn't vote on any direct expansion bills, there was an attempt to include expansion language in a bill about casino gambling  specifically, a provision to allocate some gambling profits to rural health systems.

Ultimately, the Alabama bill was stripped down, and the funding for rural health was removed.

If Alabama expanded Medicaid, at least 174,000 more people would be covered, according to KFF. But the connection to Obamacare remains a stumbling block in Alabama's Republican-dominated state legislature.

"Just the partisan nature of this is definitely a problem," said Regina Wagner, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Alabama. Wagner said that most Alabama voters support expansion and that other states have adopted the programs after mounting public pressure.

"A lot of rural voters are Republicans. And so your own constituents are being hit by this and you're not addressing it," she said. "If the pressure gets high enough and sentiment shifts, maybe that's going to be enough to push them."

The main disagreement in the Mississippi Legislature revolved around work requirements  recipients would have to show they were working part-time or in school.

White said many of his Republican colleagues view extending health coverage through Medicaid as "some form of welfare, some form of giveaway, some form of expanding government."

Opponents of Medicaid expansion in Alabama are also concerned about potential impacts on the workforce of what they call free health care.

"If you open up this federal subsidized program for hundreds of thousands of people, then it could actually hurt that labor participation rate, give them another reason not to go to work, to stay at home," said Justin Bogie, senior director of fiscal policy at the Alabama Policy Institute, a research group that says it is committed to limited government.

The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, would have to issue a waiver to allow an expansion plan with a work requirement  something the Biden administration hasn't done for any state.

This spring, Mississippi came close to a compromise bill that included a work requirement, something that needs a CMS waiver. Had the bill passed and CMS denied the waiver, expansion still would not have taken effect, and the state would have had to apply for the waiver from CMS every year, hoping for approval under a future  potentially more conservative  presidential administration.

That's what happened in Georgia. In 2020, the Trump administration approved a waiver for a work requirement as part of a limited expansion effort. CMS later rescinded the waiver under the Biden administration, leading to a lawsuit. A federal judge ruled in favor of Georgia, reinstating the work requirement provisions.

However, only about 2,300 people are enrolled  which is fewer than half of 1% of the more than 430,000 uninsured Georgia adults who could gain access if Medicaid were fully expanded, according to KFF. The state's alternative expansion plan has cost taxpayers at least $26 million, according to KFF, with nearly all of it going to administrative and consulting fees, not medical care for low-income residents.

As public support for expansion continues to grow in holdout states, North Carolina, the most recent Southern state to pass Medicaid expansion, may offer a glimpse of the future. Since its adoption last year, more than 600,000 people have become eligible.

"But it still took a long time," said Robin Rudowitz, a vice president and director of the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured at KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News. "It took the governor who continually supported expansion, and the legislature finally came to endorse and pass the expansion."

Rudowitz said the fiscal incentive under the American Rescue Plan Act played a role in moving the needle in North Carolina and could help ignite debate in other holdout states. But ultimately, she said, the reasons the Affordable Care Act was established continue to be the strongest motivators.

"Without expansion, there are more people who are uninsured. Hospitals and other providers are not able to get reimbursement because individuals are uninsured," Rudowitz said. "Those are the underlying issues that existed pre-ACA and continue to exist, particularly in states that haven't adopted expansion."

This article is from a partnership that includes the Gulf States Newsroom, NPR, and KFF Health News.
The war on drugs shows no indication of slowing down; illicit drugs appear on the market every day, and law enforcement officers face numerous challenges in their endeavors to reduce trafficking and drug abuse.

From arrest to prosecution, the judicial process is long and expensive for taxpayers. After arrest, specific drug test kits are used to attain a positive indication for presumptive evidence, but for some newer or more exotic illicit drugs, such as synthetic cathinones or bath salts, test kits may not be available.

Seized drugs are sent to state laboratories for confirmation. As the laboratories are often overburdened, the process may be extended for weeks or even months before test results are returned to the prosecutor. The stress and burden placed on such labs to process samples as quickly as possible can be significant.

Fortunately, advanced analytical techniques for analysis (such as Raman spectroscopy) are beginning to be simplified and miniaturized for operation in the field. This transition allows users to conduct the same measurements at the point of interest, reducing burdens on crime labs and speeding up the process of prosecution.

Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific  Portable and Handheld Raman Spectroscopy

This article outlines the solid technical foundation of Raman spectroscopy and introduces a new handheld Raman instrument designed for narcotics identification. By enabling narcotics identification in the field rather than in the laboratory, this technology facilitates swifter legal action and reduces costs.

Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy is a highly sensitive and established analytical technique for the analysis of gases, liquids, and solids. It is one of many techniques that are sensitive to the vibrations of atoms in molecules, classified as vibrational spectroscopy.

Although Raman spectroscopy was discovered in the 1920s, over the last four decades, we have seen a renaissance in the technique due to developments in more stable lasers, smaller components, and faster computers with associated search/match algorithms.

Infrared spectroscopy (IR) is another vibrational spectroscopy technique; both methods are often used in forensic laboratory settings due to their low false alarm rates and high specificity.

Raman spectroscopy, however, is sensitive to a materials chemical structure and, therefore, can be used to identify a sample. Illicit drugs are organically based chemical compounds that vibrate at discrete frequencies.

The frequency and number of vibrations depend on the number of atoms in the compound and how the atoms are connected via specific chemical bonds. As these factors are different between any two chemical compounds, the vibrational frequencies will be different.

Raman spectroscopy utilizes such differences in a compounds vibrational frequencies to differentiate compounds (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Raman spectra for cocaine and methamphetamine. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific  Portable and Handheld Raman Spectroscopy

Field-based narcotics identification

Spectrometers (handheld field-based Raman instruments) are used for on-scene identification of hazardous chemicals and explosives. Such small and mobile equipment allows first responders to conduct assessments of potentially hazardous areas quickly and safely.

Handheld Raman systems have also been brought into field-based narcotics identification as a well-established forensic technique accepted by the Scientific Working Group for the analysis of seized drugs for the Analysis of illicit substances.

Forensic laboratories providing confirmatory narcotic testing results also use gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), which, despite giving definitive results, is an expensive technique confined to laboratories and is thus time-consuming, delaying reporting of results back to law enforcement agencies.

Track record

A number of civil actions, usually intellectual property cases relating to patent litigation in pharmaceuticals, have relied on Raman spectroscopy (see Abbott/Fournier Industrie v Teva, US District Court, Dist. of Delaware, Civ. No. 02-1512-KAJ; Takeda v Teva, US District Court, Dist. of Delaware, Civ. No. 06-033-SLR.; Abraxis Bioscience v Navinta, US District Court, Dist. of New Jersey, Civ. No. 07- 1251 (JAP)).

The technique meets the Daubert admissibility standards for admissibility in court, namely that:

It is a technique with multiple uses in many fields, and it has been published in thousands of books, peer-reviewed journals, and treatises.

It is well-understood, and the scientist who discovered it later won a Nobel Prize for his explanation of the method.

There are established standards to assess the precision and accuracy of the technique. Such standards are available to the scientific community from nationally recognized standard-setting organizations.

It has uses in the field as well as in laboratory settings.

The reliability and relevance of the technique are reported and accepted by the scientific community, and it is authorized for use by US federal agencies.

Thermo Scientific TruNarc analyzers

The TruNarc analyzer is a field-based identification system that can identify numerous narcotics in seconds with a single test. The analyzer marries the chemical specificity of Raman with non-destructive, non-contact analysis, minimizing a law enforcement officers exposure to unknown materials and preserving the evidence.

Narcotic samples can be identified in their original packaging by pressing the sample to the nosecone of the analyzer and pressing the scan button. The device provides a definitive result with no user interpretation needed; all scans are time- and date-stamped and stored automatically.

The devices interface allows an officer to transfer data to a computer for automated storage and reporting, includes a diagnostic system check to verify that it is working properly, and can support prosecution with permanent and printable records.

The Melendez-Diaz case

In US narcotics cases, as a consequence of the 2009 Supreme Court ruling on Luis E. Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, attorneys representing defendants can subpoena any scientists that present lab test results on narcotics samples submitted into evidence.

This decision was a result of a 2001 cocaine trafficking case involving Melendez-Diaz. A local court ruled that the defendants Sixth Amendment rights (the right of a defendant to confront his accuser) were violated when a lab technician who identified a powder as cocaine did not testify in person.

During the 2001 trial, the defense attorney objected to the evidence (based on the Sixth Amendment), but his objection was overruled. Melendez-Diaz was found guilty and was eventually convicted, but later appealed his case to the Supreme Court, which in 2009 reversed the original court ruling.

Thus, a new precedent was set; defense attorneys can request testimony from a scientist who completes narcotics testing and use it as evidence in a prosecution. This decision has had a huge impact on these scientists, adding courtroom testimony to their workload.

Shifting narcotics identification from the laboratory to the field could reduce backlogs and create a quicker, more streamlined prosecution process for narcotics cases.

Lab versus field results

Street samples of heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine analyzed by the TruNarc system were compared with laboratory tests for the same samples; 131 of the 137 samples analyzed by the TruNarc device agreed with the lab result.

The remaining results allowed researchers to inform subsequent analysis and correctly identify cutting agents. There were no false positive results.

For more information, refer to Improvements in Field Narcotics Identification Using Raman Spectroscopy: A Comparison of Raman Field Test Results and Laboratory Test Results, White Paper 201b.

Conclusion

Although there is variation in different areas, processes of adjudicating drug-related arrests are similar across the US. Despite increases in trafficking narcotics, pressures around expenditure force jurisdictions to evaluate which drug cases they prosecute and which drugs are sent to labs for analysis.

There was a substantial movement to reduce lab testing for DUI arrests in the 1970s, resulting in the acceptance of field confirmatory alcohol content testing; narcotics testing is following a similar route.

The ability of defense attorneys to require narcotics-testing scientists to testify in court has had a costly effect on the judicial process of prosecuting drug users and dealers. Relieving this pressure could directly impact the costs associated with using laboratories for drug testing.

As well as reducing backlogs in laboratories, the TruNarc analyzer may have other benefits for law enforcement agencies, such as use as a screening tool for sample submissions to a laboratory, where labs could, therefore, sample a smaller amount of submissions for confirmatory testing.

The analyzer could also be utilized for field confirmatory identification for possession cases, allowing labs to focus on trafficking cases or samples that cannot be analyzed in the field.

The TruNarc system provides definitive and clear results and automated, comprehensive reports for each analysis. It collects detailed spectral data, which can be submitted for further analysis or compared to library standards if necessary.

With such a device, law enforcement officers can reliably identify suspected narcotics at the point of seizure.

Acknowledgments

Produced from materials originally authored by David Bugay from PharmAnalysis and Michael Cipoletti of Waynesburg University.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific  Portable and Handheld Raman Spectroscopy

Thermo Fisher Scientific offers innovative solutions that help our customers solve complex analytical challenges, accelerate life sciences manufacturing, deliver medicines to market, and increase laboratory productivity. Our Thermo Scientific portable and handheld process Raman analyzers enable accurate, real-time results for process monitoring.

The Thermo Scientific MarqMetrix All-In-One Process Raman Analyzer is an all-in-one system purpose-built for rapid deployment, ease of use, and scalability in markets where time-to-results is critical. The MarqMetrix All-In-One Process Raman Analyzer is designed for:

Analysis without sample preparation, delivering Raman spectral results in real-time

Easy setup and deployment by nonRaman spectroscopists

Non-destructive workflows to protect precious samples

Non-invasive handling to minimize contamination of samples

Small footprint for convenient deployment

Factory calibration for hardware stability and portability

Our Thermo Scientific TruScan Handheld Raman Analyzers includes state-of-the-art optics paired with a patented multivariate residual analysis that offers an effective chemometric solution for material identification, with two spectral pre-processing options. The non-destructive point-and-shoot sampling principle facilitates rapid verification of a broad range of chemical compounds, including cellulose-based products.

The TruScan G3 Handheld Raman Analyzer continues the evolution of raw material ID testing for pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing quality control processes with:

Incoming raw material identification (RMID)

Dispensing of materials during API manufacture

Finished product inspection

Identification of falsified (counterfeit) medicines

Enables non-technical operators to rapidly perform raw material ID testing without the need of a lab

The TruScan RM Handheld Raman Analyzer takes pharmaceutical manufacturing QA/QC to the next level with:

Enhanced 21 CFR Part 11 and cGMP compliance with biometric login, complex password options, and full audit trail features

Non-contact analysis through plastic bags, glass containers, blister packs and clear gel caps

Intuitive workflow adapted to production environment through PDF batch reports and ease of data input using barcode scanners

Easy fleet management feature that enables cloning of instruments and identification methods

Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments.
Even as Karnatakas information technology and biotechnology minister Priyank Kharge welcomed quick commerce startup Zeptos shift to Bengaluru from Mumbai, another state has been trying to impress and wean away investors from Indias IT capital.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Dr Mohan Yadav has been seen in Bengaluru trying to engage with prominent industrialists across various sectors to invest in his state.

The MP government is targeting various sectors for investment and strategic partnerships: information technology (IT), information technology-enabled services (ITES), electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM), textiles, aerospace and defence, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and medical devices.

The third interactive investment session aims to promote Madhya Pradesh as a favorable investment destination and foster economic growth through strategic partnerships, said a statement from the MP government.

Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy recently decided to establish its new and third manufacturing facility in Aurangabad Industrial City (AURIC) in Maharashtra with an investment of Rs 2,000 crore, triggering a political slugfest between the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and ruling Congress in Karnataka.

After Karnataka lost the investment to BJP-ruled Maharashtra, deputy leader of the opposition and BJPs Arvind Bellad hit out at the Congress government for not doing enough. The Congress governments lack of effort and initiative is glaring. CM Siddaramaiah failed to even engage in discussions with this Bengaluru-based company. This inaction has cost us dearly, he said in a post on social media site X.

The Madhya Pradesh CM also paid a courtesy visit to Karnataka governor Thawar Chand Gehlot even as the Raj Bhavan is in focus for reviewing a request to allow prosecution sanction against chief minister Siddararmaiah in the alleged Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam.
In a recent update, it has come to light that India has exported non-basmati white rice worth a total of USD 122 million in the month of April-May of the current financial year. The government closely monitored the production, availability along with the export scenario to assess suitable policy intervention. Jitin Prasad, the Minister of the state for commerce and Industry, claimed this in a written account in the Lok Sabha. According to the data provided by the Union Minister, India has exported non-basmati rice worth USD 852.53 million between the financial Year 2023-24. It was USD 2 billion and USD 2.2 billion in the financial year 2021-22 and 2022-23 respectively.

He further said that the export of non-basmati rice is debarred from July 20, 2023. Export of non-basmati rice is allowed based on the permission granted by the government of India to other countries in order to meet their food security needs. Prasad also claimed that the export of non-basmati white rice has been allowed to different countries.

According to reports, in April-May, 1,24,218.36 metric tonnes of non-basmati rice was sent by India to Maldives. This is the highest compared to the export of rice to any other country in the months under review. Apart from this, 14,000 metric tonnes of non-basmati rice have been exported to Mauritius, 1,000 metric tonnes to Malawi, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

In the year 2023-24, the country exported the product to 17 countries. This included 79,000 metric tonnes to Bhutan, 14,000 metric tonnes to Mauritius, 50,000 metric tonnes to Singapore, 75,000 metric tonnes to UAE, 95,000 metric tonnes to Nepal, 1,90,000 metric tonnes to Cameroon, 1,42,000 metric tonnes to Cote dIvoire, 1,42,000 metric tonnes to Guinea, and 1,70,000 metric tonnes to Malaysia.

Apart from this, non-basmati rice was exported to other countries like Philippines 2,95,000 metric tonnes, Seychelles 800 metric tonnes, Comoros 20,000 metric tonnes, Madagascar 50,000 metric tonnes, Equatorial Guinea 10,000 metric tonnes, Egypt 60,000 metric tonnes, Kenya 1,00,000 metric tonnes and Tanzania 30,000 metric tonnes.
Petrol, Diesel Prices Today On August 8, 2024: Oil marketing companies (OMCs) announce fuel prices at 6 am on a daily basis. The OMCs adjust prices in response to global crude oil prices and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, ensuring consumers are always informed about the latest fuel costs.

Government oil marketing companies release the latest petrol and diesel prices daily at 6 am in the country.

The prices have remained unchanged in most parts of the country since March 2024 when the central government cut petrol prices by Rs 2. Before that, the fuel prices remained steady since May 2022, following a reduction in fuel taxes by the central government and several states.

Petrol Diesel Price Today In India

Check city-wise petrol and diesel prices on August 8:

City Petrol Price (Rs/litre) Diesel Price (Rs/litre) Delhi 94.72 87.62 Mumbai 103.44 89.97 Chennai 100.85 92.44 Kolkata 103.94 90.76 Noida 94.66 87.76 Lucknow 94.65 87.76 Bengaluru 102.86 88.94 Hyderabad 107.41 95.65 Jaipur 104.88 90.36 Trivandrum 107.62 96.43 Bhubaneswar 101.06 92.91

Factors Affecting Petrol And Diesel Prices In India

Crude oil price: The primary raw material for the production of petrol and diesel is crude oil; as such, its price directly influences the ultimate cost of these fuels.

The exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the US dollar: As a major importer of crude oil, Indias petrol and diesel prices are also influenced by the exchange rate between the Indian and US dollar.

Tax: Various taxes on petrol and diesel are imposed by both the central and state governments. These taxes may differ across states, exerting a notable influence on the ultimate prices of petrol and diesel.

The cost of refining:

The final price of petrol and diesel is additionally influenced by the expenses incurred in refining crude oil into these fuels. The refining process can be costly, and the refining expenses may fluctuate based on factors like the type of crude oil utilised and the refinerys efficiency.

The demand for petrol and diesel: The demand for petrol and diesel can also affect their prices. If demand for these fuels increases, it can lead to higher prices.

Know the price of petrol and diesel through SMS

You can also find out the latest petrol and diesel prices in your city through SMS. If you are a customer of Indian Oil, then you will have to write RSP along with the city code and send it to 9224992249. If you are a customer of BPCL, then you can get information about the new price of petrol and diesel by writing RSP and sending it to 9223112222. Whereas, if you are a customer of HPCL, then you can find out the price of petrol and diesel by writing HP Price and sending it to 9222201122.
A six-year-old Dalit child, who was allegedly forced to clean the toilet by some teachers, was found locked in the classroom of a government primary school in the Jansath area, police said on Wednesday.

The Basic Education Department has taken action against the schools principal and a teacher.

The incident took place on Tuesday when a six-year-old student of class one was found locked in the school classroom, allegedly due to the laxity of Principal Sandhya Jain and class teacher Ravita Rani, police said.

A police complaint in this regard has been given by the childs mother in which she alleged that the two teachers used to force her son to clean the toilet as they had hatred against Dalit children.

She alleged that due to the negligence of the teachers, her son remained locked in the classroom for more than an hour after the school closed. When her son did not reach home after the closure of the school, she inquired about him with other students, who expressed ignorance, she added.

She said she found the school closed when she went there, and heard the cries of her child, after which the villagers and her family members called the principal. Later, teacher Ravita Ranis husband reached the school with the keys and opened it.

Ranis husband said the child might have fallen asleep in the class.

Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Sandeep Kumar told PTI that the principal has been suspended and teacher Rani has been given an adverse entry.

A probe has been ordered into the matter and a two-member committee led by the block shiksha adhikari, Jansath and Shahpur, will look into it and submit its report within three days.

Kumar said that all staff have been asked to check the classrooms before closing the school.

Principal Jain said that injustice was done with her as the class teacher was responsible for this. Even if the child was sleeping, the classroom should have been checked before locking it, she said.

Police is probing the matter.
Two candidates from Patna were arrested for using Bluetooth devices to cheat during the Bihar Police Constable Recruitment Examination on Wednesday, August 7. The suspects, identified as Ravi Shankar Sharma and Vicky Kumar from Dulhin Bazar area of Patna district, were apprehended at the Town Plus Two School Examination Centre in Arrah. The Central Selection Board of Constable (CSBC) was conducting the examination when Sharma and Kumar were caught with Bluetooth devices embedded in their slippers. The Bluetooth was connected to earpieces, allowing them to receive answers discreetly. The discovery stunned police officers and the examination centre superintendent.

Following their arrest, Sharma, a resident of Sadawah Dorwa village and Kumar from Pirhi village, were taken to the Town Police Station. Bhojpur Superintendent of Police Pramod Kumar Yadav confirmed that the candidates were caught during routine checks while attempting to use the devices to receive answers. An FIR has been filed against two candidates at the Town Police Station following a complaint from the examination centre superintendent. The Bluetooth devices and earpieces were also confiscated.

The Bihar Police Constable Recruitment Examination was conducted at 18 centers in Arrah under the Bihar Selection Boards oversight. The exam was carried out smoothly and without incidents of malpractice, thanks to the implementation of the Chakravarti system.

District Magistrate Raj Kumar and Superintendent of Police Pramod Kumar Yadav actively monitored the examination process, with approximately 48 magistrates and 35 static officers deployed. Candidates were allowed entry starting at 9:30 am, and the exam took place from 12 noon to 2 pm. SP Yadav reported no disturbances or complaints throughout the examination period.

The successful identification of the cheating attempt highlights the vigilance of the authorities. In a press release, SP Pramod Kumar praised the police for their alertness, which led to the arrest of the fraudulent candidates on the first day of the examination.

Previously, similar incidents of cheating attempts involving micro earpieces and Bluetooth devices had been detected in various exams.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has relaxed the overall Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) criteria for academic performance, allowing students to obtain a graduation degree by just passing all required courses, marking a significant policy change aimed at addressing mental health issues following recent cases of student suicides on campus.

Previously, a minimum CGPA of 5 was required to earn a degree. However, under the new policy, students can now be granted their degree with a CGPA of 4. The decision to implement this new rule was made earlier this year by the institutes senate, which is the highest decision-making body of an IIT for all academic purposes.

Passing in all required courses will account to a CGPA score of 4, which is now the minimum criteria for obtaining a graduation degree.

CGPA is an index of a students academic performance, which reflects throughout their course duration.

A crucial policy change

This is a crucial policy change that has been brought about to extend support to students. This means their academic progression will be monitored and those struggling to get that CGPA 5, as was the case until now, will not need to stress about getting their graduation degree, as they would be required just to pass all the courses they have opted for in order to receive their degrees. This is a big change from what we used to do earlier, said Professor ND Karur, Dean (Academics) at IIT Delhi.

Karur further added that the new approach will allow students to progress at their own pace. Those who are struggling will be monitored and assigned advisors to help manage their academic progress, he said.

IIT Delhi Director Rangan Banerjee noted that the institute has also revised its re-start and termination policies. This means that we will allow students to progress academically putting them on probation period. So, in-principle there is no termination as such on this basis, Banerjee said.

In the senate we have also added the provision that subject to academic units agreeing if a student has failed some courses, they will be allowed to opt for similar courses to complete their degrees. So, we are trying to simplify processes for students, he added.

The change in grading criteria was one of the major demands made by students, who had flagged several issues including the grading policy, social isolation, and the need for a system to provide feedback on faculty members. These concerns were discussed during an open house with the institute director this February. The open house was conducted after several incidents of student suicides over the past year.

In 2024 alone, five student suicides have already been reported across various IITs, including two in Kanpur, and one each in Delhi, BHU, and Roorkeeall first-generation IITs. A significant number of these students belong to reserved categories.

In December of last year, IIT Delhi established an Academic Progress Group, comprising faculty members and student mentors to assist those struggling with backlogs and extended degrees. This group identifies struggling students from each department and provides them with support throughout their programme.

Currently, there are around 30-35 students in the Academic Progress Group from different departments. They have been assigned mentors for guiding them through the courses they have not been able to make progress in. One of these students has done so well on being guided that he himself has become a mentor now. For those allowed to stay with a parent the number is less than ten, said a faculty member, requesting anonymity.

In exceptional cases it also allowed students to stay with a family member on campus and reserved hostel seats for those on extended degrees beyond the regular semester duration to help them complete their degrees.

IIT Delhi will host its annual convocation ceremony on August 10, where 2,600 students will receive their degrees at the 55th convocation.
Over 16,000 candidates sitting for the interviews for entry to premier business schools in the country, as well as improved academic performance this year, have led to higher cut-offs for admission to the flagship MBA programme at 10 newer Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) that conduct admissions collectively.

Ten IIMs that are part of the Common Admission Process (CAP), 2024, are Jammu, Kashipur, Nagpur, Raipur, Bodh Gaya, Ranchi, Sambalpur, Sirmaur, Tiruchirappalli, and Udaipur. CAP is the conclusive selection phase for MBA admissions at these newer and relatively smaller IIMs.

This year, IIM-Kashipur was the coordinating IIM for CAP 2024, overseeing the entire process. Every year, one of the CAP-participating IIMs is nominated as the coordinator.

According to data from IIM-Kashipur, this year, a record number of candidates  16,371  sat the Personal Interview (PI) round. Of these, 3,800 were women. The interviews are conducted in hybrid mode. The common online PI process of 10 IIMs ensures lower costs in terms of time and money for MBA/PGP aspirants, the institute said.

The full-time Masters of Business Administration (MBA) programmes are the flagship programmes across all IIMs. The degree is offered as a two-year Post Graduate Programme (PGP) in Management.

Shift in cut-off scores

According to the coordinating institute, this years cut-off scores for CAP 2024 are higher as compared to last year. For example, the cut-off for IIM Ranchis PGP programme has increased from 96 to 98 percentile while last year, cut-off scores for CAP 2023 lay in the range of 92 percentile.

Higher CAP cut-offs this year were attributable to several factors, including the CAT 2023 score  on the basis of which initial shortlisting was done  where the cut-off range was 95-100 percentile. Other factors were a higher number of applicants and improved candidate academic performance.

A higher number of applicants increased competition. This shift in percentile in 2024 reflects an increase in competition and popularity of the programme. With the aspirant count increasing manifold, a more rigorous selection process is employed. Hence, the cut-offs have gone higher, said Prof Abhradeep Maiti, CAP-2024 coordinator and associate professor of economics at IIM-Kashipur.

Also, he said, the selection criteria have undergone changes in 2024 for all major management entrance exams.

It includes revisions in the weightages for entrance scores, academic performances and interview processes. IIMs have introduced some new parameters to ensure greater diversity in student demographics, he added.

For the 2024-26 programme, some IIMs gave CAT scores 55 per cent weightage in the first phase and 25 per cent in the second. Graduation marks are important and at least two of the three academic criteria require strength.

This CAP iteration has seen the implementation of greater degree of transparency and candidate-friendly features by the CAP group of IIMs. During the process, the candidates got an opportunity to correct incorrect information in their applications to avoid issues later on. The candidates also got to see the normalised Personal Interview (PI) score at the end of the process. This ensures fairness of the process and will lead to further increase in the popularity of CAP in future, said Maiti.

This year, the 10 participating IIMs together offer 2,400 seats for the MBA programme. This figure was 2,300 in 2023; 2,200 in 2022; 2,000+ in 2021; 1,600+ in 2020; 1,500+ in 2019; and 1,460 in 2018.

What is the selection process for entry into IIMs?

IIMs conduct admissions to their MBA/PGP courses after the declaration of the Common Admission Test (CAT) result. CAT is a national-level entrance exam conducted by IIMs for entry to their flagship MBA/PGP programmes. Candidates are short-listed based on CAT scores, Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) while final selection is based on various parameters, including academic record and work experience.

There are 21 IIMs across the country of which 11 conduct admissions individually. These mostly include first and second-generation institutes, while the newer 10 IIMs follow a common admission process.

The IIMs established after 2008 are called newer IIMs. They admit students through CAP, which is another level of assessing candidates having become eligible based on CAT scores.

Each CAP-participating IIM creates a separate merit list using normalised PI scores and other criteria based on the already-published admission policy and sends offers individually. The first few offer lists are generally sent on the same dates by all the CAP-participating IIMs so that the candidates can make informed decisions regarding their choice of institute.
The NEET PG 2024 question paper has not been leaked, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) said. Such reports are false and misleading, the board said. According to a press release released by the board, it said that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Postgraduate (NEET PG) 2024 question papers have not been prepared yet.

The NBEMS has said that some unscrupulous agents are making false and bogus claims through the social media platform, Telegram Messenger that the papers have been leaked and are claiming to provide papers in exchange for money. A police complaint has been registered by the board regarding this.

By the present notice, NBEMS denies such false claims made by Telegram channel titled NEET-PG LEAKED MATERIAL and cautions applicants for NEET-PG 2024 to not get allured/misled by such unscrupulous elements who are trying to befool them by claiming to have access to questions of upcoming NEET-PG 2024, the official notice states.

All candidates are assured that the question papers for NEET-PG 2024 are yet to be prepared by NBEMS and claims of paper leak made in social media platforms are bogus. the notice added. The board has also requested students that in case they are approached by any such unscrupulous agents promising to provide question paper in exchange for money, the same must be reported to NBEMS or the local police for further investigation.

#MythvsFactsMedia reports claiming potential leakage of NEET-PG 2024 Examination Paper are false and misleading NBEMS has registered a police complaint against fraudsters and their accomplices for attempts to befool NEET-PG aspirants in the name of providing questions of  Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) August 7, 2024

NEET PG 2024 is slated to be held on August 11. A week before the exam, the All FMGs Association (AFA) alleged that a confidential letter containing details about exam centres had been leaked online. The letter signed by Dr Abhijeet Sen, President of the National Examination Board for Medical Sciences (NBEMS) also features details about the number of candidates, exam timings, etc. The letter has been addressed to the District Magistrates of the regions where NEET PG exam centres are located. It has asked the respective District Administration to support the smooth conduct of the examination
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths government, under School Har Din Aaye programme, is to teach children who do not attend school. Retired teachers are going to be recruited for this with an honorarium of Rs 6000 per month.

The appointment process of these teachers is also going to start soon. For this, instructions have been issued from the government level. Director General of School Education Department Kanchan Verma has given instructions to start the selection process soon. The block-level committee will select the retired teachers.

What will the retired teachers do?

The responsibility of the children who does not go to school will be handed over to these retired teachers under School Har Din Aayen (SHDA) programme.

The government is running a campaign across the state to motivate children to come to school daily. But still children are not coming to some government schools. To improve the situation, the government plans to appoint retired teachers in schools where five or more children are not coming to school daily, so that the children gets education.

These children from the age of six to 14 years will be given admission in various classes. Arrangements will be made to teach these children under the SHDA program.
Sheikh Hasinas ouster will not only have a gargantuan effect on Bangladesh but will also rattle the geopolitics of its subcontinent, including India.

Bangladesh has been a key ally to India since Hasina came to power in 2009. With her exit and a new military-backed interim government in place, not just security but trade ties could also get affected, restricting the movement of people and goods between the two countries.

New Delhis relations with Dhaka have often been stressed when the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) ruled Bangladesh with Khaleda Zia as the prime minister. The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and several other insurgent organisations operating in the northeast were allowed to set up bases in Bangladesh to prepare militants for carrying out attacks in India.

After Hasina returned to power in January 2009, she reversed the policy of BNP government. Tacit cooperation between the security agencies of Bangladesh and India resulted in the arrest of many insurgents. Hasina, however, took advantage of Bangladeshs growing geostrategic importance of late amidst the India-China strategic rivalry and opened up the door for China to invest in many projects in her country, as per a report by Deccan Herald. Thus, the current situation in Bangladesh throws up several challenges before India, which is its immediate neighbour.

Security Challenges Before New Delhi

The Bangladesh crisis comes just three years after President Ashraf Ghanis government fell in Kabul and the Taliban regained control over Afghanistan after about two decades, giving an advantage to Pakistan and causing unease for India.

New Delhi seems to be worried about the possibility of rise in extremism in Bangladesh with Hasina and her Awami League party out of power. Some of the radical organisations in Bangladesh have links with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) other terrorist outfits based in Pakistan as well as with the Pakistan Armys spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which might like to expand its activities in the eastern neighbour of its arch-enemy India.

India is closely monitoring the move initiated by Bangladesh Army chief Waker-uz-Zaman to set up the interim government, which once collapsed in the wake of surge in violence across the country over protests against reservation in government recruitment and police crackdown on agitators.

Trade Between India and Bangladesh

Bangladesh is Indias biggest partner in the subcontinent, and India is Bangladeshs second biggest partner in Asia after China. Their total bilateral trade amounted to $13 billion in the financial year 2023-24, according to the Union Ministry of Commerce.

Bangladesh is the biggest export destination for Indias cotton, accounting for 34.9% of Indias total cotton exports (some $2.4 billion in FY24). Other major Indian exports to Bangladesh are petroleum products and cereals. Indias top import from Bangladesh are readymade garments, amounting to $391 million in FY24. In recent years, Bangladesh has emerged as a major global hub for textiles.

India and Bangladesh discussed free trade agreement (FTA) during a meeting of the Joint Working Group on Trade in Dhaka in 2013. The FTA would reduce or eliminate customs duties on goods traded between India and Bangladesh.

Infrastructure and Connectivity

India has extended three lines of credit to Bangladesh since 2016 amounting to $8 billion for the development of road, rail, shipping and port infrastructure. In November 2023, two joint projects  the Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link and Khulna-Mongla Port rail line  were inaugurated.

The latest Akhaura-Agartala link was the sixth cross-border rail line between the countries. This has cut down the travel time (by train) between Agartala and Kolkata from 31 hours to 10 hours and was expected to boost tourism, trade between two countries.

Any disruption in Indo-Bangladesh ties could restrict Indias access to northeast, which is connected to mainland India through Chickens Neck between West Bengal and Assam.

Impact on FMCG Companies

Although political or economic turmoil has not significantly impacted Indian companies, but some could see their earnings in the coming quarters affected.

Marico, which established a subsidiary in Bangladesh in 1999 and listed it on the Dhaka Stock Exchange in 2009, has seen its Bangladeshi operations become a significant contributor to its overall business. The subsidiary accounted for 44% of Maricos overseas revenue in the previous financial year, with two factories located in Ghazipur, Dhaka and other places, as per a report by The Economic Times.

According to CITI, Indian companies with manufacturing operations in the country are likely to face challenges in maintaining their production flow, leading to delays and potential shortages in the market. This disruption could affect the availability of products and might force companies to seek alternative manufacturing solutions to mitigate the impact.

Amid the uncertainties in Bangladesh, there is already a noticeable shift towards alternative manufacturing hubs such as a strategic move by companies to diversify their production bases and reduce dependency on a single market, CITI stated.

It observed that Indian textile hub Tirupur, known for its robust textile and apparel manufacturing capabilities, may emerge as a key beneficiary of this shift.

Bangladesh is a crucial market for Indian textiles, serving as both a manufacturing hub and a significant export destination.

(with inputs from PTI)
If you consume content online, post videos on YouTube or Instagram or seek expert advice on the Internet, then this news is for you. The government is set to replace the 30-year-old Cable TV Networks Act 1995 with Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill 2024.

The proposed regulations on content creators of Instagram, YouTube and X have already raised concerns about the freedom of speech and expression and the governments powers to regulate it.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has expanded its remit from OTT content and digital news to include social media accounts and online video creators compared to a version of the draft law which was released publicly in November 2023.

Who are News Broadcasters Under New Bill?

The new draft defines professional as a person engaged in an occupation or vocation  and systematic activity as any structured or organised activity that involves an element of planning, method, continuity or persistence.

The new draft mentions that news and current affairs programmes would include texts apart from the existing audio, visual or audio-visual content, sign, signals, writing, images which are transmitted directly or using a broadcasting network.

How Govt Wants to Regulate New Creators Online

In the 2023 version of the draft, the bill defined news and current affairs programmes as (i)newly-received or noteworthy audio, visual or audio-visual programmes or live programmes, including analysis, about recent events primarily of socio-political, economic or cultural nature, or (ii) any programmes transmitted or retransmitted on broadcasting network, where the context, purpose, import and meaning of such programmes implies so.

It should be noted that the ministry is keen to regulate individuals who publish news and current affairs content as systemic business or commercial activity. The bill specifically includes individual creators as digital news broadcasters unlike the Information Technology Rules, 2021 that excludes individual users.

The Bombay and Madras High Courts had stayed rule 9(1) and 9 (3) of the IT Rules 2021 that mandate news and current affairs publishers to adhere to Code of Ethics, citing its adverse impact on press freedom.

What are the Legal Obligations for Content Creators?

The compliance burden across platforms includes informing the government of operations, registration with self-regulatory organisations, compliance evaluation committee  to screen content before publishing, ensuring Grievance Redressal Mechanism and adding sign language to the content, a tall ask for most creators with small teams.

The bill directs social media platforms to share, with the government, details of Digital News Broadcasters, featuring on their platform.

The creator community will now be faced with a three-tier regulation structure. Creators will have to constitute Content Evaluation Committees (CEC), register with a Self-Regulatory Organisation and adhere to orders by Centre appointed Broadcast Advisory Council.

Failing to appoint such a committee will attract a hefty fine. News creators who do not intimate the Central government names, credentials and other details of members of their CEC will be fined Rs 50 lakh in the first contravention, and Rs 2.5 crore for subsequent violations in the next three years.

Why Govt Wants to Regulate Independent Creators

Some government officials, as quoted by The Indian Express, say the role of independent content creators in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections has been the major reason why the scope of the current draft bill was expanded.

Some big Indian creators of current affairs and news content on YouTube and foreign broadcasters too are on governments radar, under the new bill.

The government has rubbished any intent or attempt to enforce censorship or impose restrictions on any particular media segment. With the New Broadcasting Bill, the Centre is only pushing for a consolidated legal framework to organise the broadcasting sector, replacing all existing policies, it said.
Google Pay, PhonePe, Amazon Pay, MobikWik and Cred are five payment firms seeking to join the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) digital rupee project by allowing their users to transact e-rupee via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

Initially, the RBI had permitted only banks to offer e-rupee via their mobile applications, but in April it said payment firms could also offer e-rupee transactions via their platform once approved by the RBI.

Payment firms are working closely with the RBI and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the domestic payments authority, and are expected to roll out access to e-rupee over the next three-to-four months, the sources said, as quoted by Reuters.

What is e-rupee?

The e-rupee is a digital currency issued by the RBI, aimed at creating an additional option for using money. The digital rupee is available entirely in electronic form and does not leave a computer network.

The e-rupee is like banknotes issued by the RBI and is a legal tender that can be used to make transactions. But the only difference is that they can only be transacted online.

Unlike deposits which pay interest, the digital rupee in users wallets does not attract interest payments from the central bank. However, deposits held in banks can be converted into digital rupees and vice versa for ease of use.

The digital rupee aims to enhance financial inclusion, facilitate efficient digital transactions, and align with Indias technological progress. Unlike cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, the digital rupee is fully integrated into the RBIs monetary policy and payment infrastructure.

Google Pay and Amazon Pay, offered by Alphabet Inc.s Google and Amazon.com, respectively, enable retail payments through Indias widely used UPI.

Why is e-Rupee Needed?

When digital rupee was launched by the RBI on a pilot basis in December 2022, the currency was offered by a select group of public and private banks in a few major cities. During that time, the digital rupee was seen as an alternative to cryptocurrencies.

Last year, e-Rupee transactions had peaked at over 1 million daily, but had since dropped significantly to around 100,000-200,000 per day. The idea behind allowing payment firms to facilitate e-rupee transactions to expand user base and increase transaction volume.

Why Payment Firms Want to Join RBIs Project

Collectively, these five payment firms account for more than 85% of digital payments through UPI, which handles about 13 billion transactions monthly.

The RBI has been looking to increase the adoption base for the digital rupee, and rollout on popular fintech platforms could be the push it needs. However, the RBI does not have any immediate plans to launch a full-scale digital currency programme.

What are the Key Features of Central Bank Digital Currency?

The CBDC is a legal tender issued by a central bank, and is similar to cryptocurrency except that its value is fixed by the bank. It is issued in accordance with the RBIs financial policies and can be converted into physical cash through commercial banks.

The RBI has introduced the digital rupee for wholesale (eRs-W) for interbank settlements and for retail (eRs-R) for consumer and business transactions. As of February 2023, the digital rupee had reached 50,000 users and 5,000 merchants.

Many countries are exploring how CBDCs may affect their economies, financial networks, and stability.

In the US and many other countries, many individuals dont have access to financial services. In the US alone, 6% of adults had no bank account in 2023.

CBDCs are of two types: wholesale and retail. Wholesale CBDCs function similarly to holding reserves in a central bank. The central bank grants an institution an account in which to deposit funds or to use to settle interbank transfers. Retail CBDCs are government-backed digital currencies used by consumers and businesses, eliminate intermediary risk.
Residents of Meghauna, a small village in Bihars Khagaria district, were overjoyed upon receiving a letter from the Prime Ministers Office (PMO). The letter, addressed to the village head Akanksha Basu, brought immense excitement and pride to the community. The correspondence from the PMO, signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modis office, extended an invitation for Basu to attend the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort in Delhi.

On August 15, PM Modi will preside over the flag hoisting ceremony, and Basu has been invited to participate in this prestigious event. The PMO sent invitation letters to nine female representatives from Bihar, including Akanksha Basu, recognising their contributions and achievements.

The news was met with widespread enthusiasm in Meghauna, with villagers expressing their pride and joy at the honour bestowed upon their village head. Residents noted that significant development projects have been undertaken in the Panchayat, totaling over Rs 2 crore in investment. Akanksha Basus invitation was seen as a reflection of the progress and empowerment of women in the region.

Basu herself expressed her excitement about the opportunity, calling the invitation a testament to womens empowerment in India. The entire village is looking forward to the event, celebrating the recognition of their community on a national stage.
To ensure that there is continuous fresh air circulation for a comfortable, safe, and pleasant travel experience for passengers in the underground stations, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), building the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), is installing advanced environmental control systems (ECSs), an official statement announced on Thursday.

The systems, the corporation said, are being installed to maintain optimal temperature and fresh air quality by continuously regulating the cooling and ventilation requirements of the stations.

This ECS is being installed at all four underground stations on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor . Anand Vihar in Delhi, and Meerut Central, Bhaisali, and Begumpul in Meerut. These stations are being constructed below the ground level at the depths ranging from 8 to 23 meters, the statement said.

Passenger comfort

Underground stations have limited airflow compared to elevated ones, and so the systems are needed to ensure that the air quality is good and passengers comfortable.

This ECS system features state-of-the-art, energy-efficient Air Handling Units (AHUs) designed to meet high air quality standards. It includes electronically commutated (EC) motors that minimise energy loss and ensure reliable performance, enhancing overall energy efficiency. Also, strategically placed ultraviolet-C (UVC) lights combat airborne infections, the statement added.

Water-cooled chillers, CO2 sensors at stations

Further, the NCRTC has planned efficient water-cooled chillers with high-performance capability to provide optimum comfortable temperature and freshness inside the stations. It will also maintain the humidity level in the station, ensuring a comfortable and cosy ambience for commuters.

To ensure optimal air quality for Namo Bharat passengers, CO2 sensors are installed at the station public areas to monitor CO2 levels. A logic controller analyses this data and regulates fresh air intake levels as and when necessary, ensuring proper ventilation, it said.

The NCRTC has also adopted various new-age tools to strategically plan the environment control system. These advanced tools help to prevent the formation of hot or cold spots within the stations, optimising station layout and infrastructure design for passenger comfort.

Rigorous AC load assessments further ensure desired passenger comfort with minimum energy consumption, the statement said.

In Meerut, underground stations at Meerut Central and Bhaisali pose additional challenges due to their longer lengths and shorter platforms of around 75 metres for metro trains. These stations accommodate four trackstwo for Meerut Metro and two for Namo Bharat trains to pass through.

Further, at Anand Vihar RRTS station, the NCRTC has introduced an innovative solution for the placement of ECS fans. Instead of the conventional parallel placement, these fans are installed perpendicular to each other. This unique configuration effectively addresses the challenge of space constraints.

Currently, a 34-km section of the RRTS between Sahibabad and Modinagar North in Ghaziabad, with eight elevated stations is operational. The entire corridor is expected to be operational by the targeted deadline of 2025.
In a disturbing incident that has captured widespread attention on social media, Mohammad Yunus, a salon owner from Uttar Pradeshs Kannauj, was arrested following a video showing him spitting on customers during massages. The video, which quickly went viral, revealed Yunus repeatedly spitting on his palm and then using it to massage a customers face. The footage also included reactions from both Yunus and the customer.

The offensive nature of the act sparked outrage among viewers, leading to a swift response from local authorities. Additionally, the administration has taken immediate action by demolishing Yunus stall with a bulldozer. Charges related to the offensive nature of his actions were filed against him.

Watch video:

Mohammad Yunus operated a roadside stall in Talgram Nagar Panchayat, Chhibramau, where he provided various services including haircuts and massages. The video prompted significant backlash, particularly from Hindu organisations, with former BJP MP Subrat Pathak denouncing the act as spit jihad and calling for immediate police intervention.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) workers also staged a protest and demanded strict action against the salon owner, reported ABP News. According to reports, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Shashank Singh and the customer, Pandit Ashish Kumar from Unnao, gave an FIR under relevant sections in this connection after which the accused barber was arrested and sent to judicial custody.

In response to the FIR, the police apprehended Yunus, who had been evading arrest after the video surfaced. He is currently in custody and is being questioned in connection with charges related to hurting public sentiments.
In one more instance of Enforcement Directorate representatives falling in the crosshairs of another agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested an ED officer in Delhi. ED assistant director Sandeep Singh Yadav was arrested by the CBI in a bribery case on Thursday. The officer posted in Delhi was arrested while accepting a bribe of 20 lakh rupees, a CBI representative confirmed to News18.

This is the third instance, in recent times, of an ED officer being taken into custody by a sister agency. Earlier the Tamil Nadu directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption (DVAC) had booked ED officer Ankit Tiwari in an alleged case of bribery. Tiwari, posted in the Madurai sub-zonal office of ED, was allegedly caught in December last year while receiving Rs 20 lakh as a kickback. The agency accused the officer of asking for a bribe amount of Rs 51 lakh in total.

In November 2023, Rajasthans anti-corruption bureau (ACB) arrested ED officer Naval Kishore Meena after allegedly catching, red-handed, a middleman who worked for him. Meena, posted in Imphal, was probing a chit fund case against a businessman in Manipur. The ACB accused him of threatening the complainant to pay Rs 15 lakh as a bribe or get implicated in the case. ACB Rajasthan said Meena had told the victim to pay up to avoid seizure of his properties and arrest.

Sandeep Yadav too stands accused of blackmailing a businessman. CBI sources said that he was threatening to implicate the victim from Mumbai in an ED case.

A trap was laid in Delhis Lajpat Nagar market by the anti-corruption branch after the input was received by the CBI. The ED official who works with the agencys headquarters was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe, a CBI officer told News18.

Officials said that the case came to light after a jeweller was raided by the ED in Mumbai. The charge against Yadav is that he attempted to implicate the businessman after the raids. An FIR was registered and a trap laid under the Prevention of Corruption Act after the CBI received a complaint that the ED officer was demanding a bribe, a CBI representative said.

The FIR said that a complaint was received from Vipul Harish Thakkar of Wadala, Mumbai, on August 6 that Sandeep Singh and co-accused Alok Kumar Pankaj from the ED headquarters were threatening to arrest Vipuls son Nihar Thakkar if a bribe of 20 lakh rupees was not paid.

The aforesaid facts prima facie discloses commission of cognizable offence punishable under section 61(2) (a) BNS and section 7 of PC Act, the CBI FIR said.

According to the ED, taking immediate cognisance of this incident and following the policy of zero-tolerance towards corruption, the agency has initiated criminal action against Sandeep Singh under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

ECIR is registered against him and a search operation is conducted at his residence on 08-08-2024 under the provisions of PMLA by ED so as to gather evidences of his criminal activities, said a statement. His office was jointly searched on 08-08-2024 by CBI and ED to collect evidences related to the offence.

In addition to the PMLA case, action has also been initiated to place the officer under immediate suspension and for his repatriation to his parent department from the ED, added the statement.

On verification of facts which led to the arrest of Sandeep Singh, it is found that ED was conducting a money laundering investigation against certain entities based on multiple FIRs of Delhi, Uttrakhand, Bangalore Police FIRs. In this case, search action was conducted and completed on 04-08-2024. During the course of this action, Sandeep Singh, Assistant Director, ED acting as the Search Warrant Authorized Officer had conducted the search at the residential premises in Mumbai of an individual under investigation, said the agency.

Vipul Thakkar is the owner of M/s V S Gold, an entity which was suspected to be part of money laundering. The search was uneventful and conducted as per the due procedure. Sandeep Singh is not the investigating officer of this ECIR. He was requisitioned for the limited purpose of conducting the search at the target premises. However, Sandeep Singh represented himself as investigating officer and allegedly accepted the bribe for favouring the accused though he was no way connected with the case being investigated, the agency said.

Further investigations by the ED are in progress.
Former Chief Minister of West Bengal and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharya passed away at his Kolkata home on Thursday morning after a prolonged illness. Bhattacharjee was 80 and is survived by his wife Mira and daughter Suchetana.

Bhattacharya was earlier admitted to a private hospital in Alipor with multiple ailments on July 29, 2023. He was diagnosed with lower respiratory tract infection and Type 2 respiratory failure. He had been suffering from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and other age-related ailments.

Bhattacharya took over as the chief minister of West Bengal in 2000 from party senior Jyoti Basu. During the 34 years of the Left Front rule in Bengal, Bhattacharya was the second and last CPM chief minister who held office for 11 consecutive years.

As Bhattacharya lost the 2011 assembly elections to Banerjees TMC, the CPI(M)-led Left Fronts 34 years of rule in the state came to an end  a loss from which it is yet to recover. Over the last few years, Bhattacharya stayed away from the public glare due to his deteriorating health and remained confined to his Palm Avenue apartment.

He was last seen in public when he surprised party workers by arriving unannounced at the Lefts rally at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, with oxygen support. Bhattacharya had stepped down from the CPI(M)s Politburo and Central Committee in 2015, and gave up membership of the partys state secretariat in 2018.

Politicians express grief

The news of the veteran politicians demise shocked politicians across the country.

I am deeply saddened to learn that former West Bengal Chief Minister; Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has left for his heavenly abode.Condolences to his family members and admirers.I pray that his soul finds eternal peace.Om Shanti pic.twitter.com/312uZBGFCV Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) August 8, 2024

Taking to social media platform X, Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari wrote, I am deeply saddened to learn that former West Bengal Chief Minister; Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has left for his heavenly abode. Condolences to his family members and admirers. I pray that his soul finds eternal peace. Om Shanti.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, in her condolence message on X, said, Shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of the former Chief Minister Sri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. I have known him for last several decades and visited him a few times when he was ill and effectively confined to home in the last few years. My very sincere condolences to Meeradi and Suchetan at this hour of grief.

Congress also President Mallikarjun Kharge offered his condolences on X.

Saddened by the passing of Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, former CM of West Bengal. He was a political stalwart who served the state with commitment. My heartfelt condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2024

PM Modi called Bhattacharya a political stalwart who served the state with commitment. He condoled his death and wrote, Saddened by the passing of Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, former CM of West Bengal. He was a political stalwart who served the state with commitment. My heartfelt condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.
During a session in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Union Minister and Janata Dal (United) MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lalan forcefully defended the new Waqf Board Bill against opposition criticisms. Singh argued that the bill is being misrepresented as anti-Muslim by opposition members. Addressing the uproar from the opposition, Singh maintained that he would continue to voice his position on the bill regardless of opposition support or dissent. Defending the bill, he said, Several members are making it sound as if the amendment in Waqf Board law is anti-Muslim. How is it anti-Muslim?

The Union minister also criticised opposition MPs for drawing parallels between the Waqf Board and temples, questioning their understanding of the differences between these institutions. Here example of Ayodhya is being given Can you not differentiate between a temple and an institution? This is not an attempt to interfere with mosques. This law is for the institution, to make it transparent PTI reported him as saying.

Defending the Waqf Board Bill in the Lok Sabha, Singh asserted that the legislation aims to enhance transparency within the Waqf Board, which was established by law. Singh emphasised that the bill is intended to ensure that no institution operates in an autocratic manner and that transparency is maintained. He rejected claims that the bill seeks to interfere with mosques, underscoring that the governments goal is to introduce a law that promotes institutional accountability.

Slamming the opposition parties, he said, There is no communal divide, they are spreading rumours.

Singh also criticised the Congress party, accusing it of having no credibility on minority issues. Taking a jibe at the Congress over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, he asked, Who killed thousands of Sikhs. The Bill should come and transparency should be brought, he said. Singhs comments were a sharp retort to opposition claims and highlighted ongoing tensions over the bills implications.

His remarks were made in response to opposition claims that the new Waqf Board Bill is anti-Muslim. Many opposition MPs, including those from Congress, had called for the bills withdrawal, labelling it discriminatory.

Singh countered these allegations, asserting that the bill aims solely to enhance transparency within the Waqf Board, which has been established by law. He argued that the legislation is not anti-Muslim and criticised the opposition for attempting to incite communal tensions by framing the bill as a threat to minority interests.

The bill to amend the law governing Waqf boards proposes far-reaching changes in the Wakf Act, 1995, including ensuring the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in such bodies. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill also aims at renaming the act as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday discussed the unfolding situation in Bangladesh with his British counterpart David Lammy during a phone conversation.

Jaishankar, in a post on X, said he and Lammy also deliberated on the developments in West Asia. The phone call was initiated by Lammy. Received a call from UK Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy today. Discussed the situation in Bangladesh and West Asia, Jaishankar said.

The discussion between Jaishankar and the UK foreign secretary on the situation in Bangladesh comes against the backdrop of former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasinas initial plan to seek asylum in London. However, the plan has hit a roadblock following the UKs hesitation to provide her refuge.

Received a call from UK Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy today.Discussed the situation in Bangladesh and West Asia.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 8, 2024

Hasina resigned as the prime minister on Monday following weeks of massive protests that initially began as an agitation against a job quota scheme but weeks later morphed into a mass movement demanding her ouster from power. Shortly after resigning from the post, 76-year-old Hasina landed at the Hindon airbase near Delhi with a plan to leave for London.

The plan did not materialise as the UK indicated that she may not get legal protection against any possible probe into the violent protests in her country. In a statement, Lammy said in London on Monday that Bangladesh has seen unprecedented levels of violence and tragic loss of life in the last two weeks and people of the country deserve a full and independent UN-led investigation into the events.

Under the UKs immigration rules, it is not possible to apply for asylum from outside the UK and each asylum claim is carefully considered on its individual merits on a case-by-case basis. The UK has a record of providing protection for people who need it but at the same time there is no provision within its immigration rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum or temporary refuge, said an expert.

Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach; that is the fastest route to safety, the expert added. It is learnt that Hasina is considering several options including the United Arab Emirates, Belarus, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Finland for taking refuge. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday that it is up to Hasina to decide on her future plans, and it is not appropriate for India to make any calls regarding that.

Our External Affairs Minister has already explained that the approval for former PM Sheikh Hasina to come to India was given at short notice. The situation is still evolving as far as Bangladesh is concerned. It would not be appropriate to talk about her plans, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a press briefing.

(With agency inputs)
Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Thursday moved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in Lok Sabha. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill will amend the law governing Waqf boards and aims to rename the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.

#WATCH | Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju moves Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in Lok Sabha pic.twitter.com/g65rf2tDow ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2024

Opposition On Waqf (Amendment) Bill

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi accused the Centre of dividing the country and targeting Muslims. This bill violates the principles of Articles 14, 15 and 25 of the Constitution. This bill is both discriminatory and arbitraryBy bringing this bill, you (the Central govt) are doing the work of dividing the nation not uniting it. This bill is evidence of the fact that you are an enemy of the Muslims, he said.

Congress MP KC Venugopal called the Bill an attack on the federal system.

We are Hindus but at the same time, we respect the faith of other religions. This bill is specialized for the Maharashtra, Haryana elections. You do not understand that last time the people of India clearly taught you a lesson. This is an attack on the federal system

#WATCH | Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 moved in Lok SabhaCongress MP KC Venugopal says, We are Hindus but at the same time, we respect the faith of other religions. This bill is specialized for the Maharashtra, Haryana elections. You do not understand that last time the pic.twitter.com/cTrybNbRWo  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2024

This bill is a fundamental attack on the ConstitutionThrough this bill, they are putting a provision that non-Muslims also be members of the Waqf governing council. It is a direct attack on freedom of religionNext you will go for Christians, then JainsPeople of India will not buy this kind of divisive politics now he added.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on the other hand, emphasised that the government is trying to bring justice for those who never got justice through this Bill.

Forget about snatching anybodys right. We in this bill are trying to bring justice for those who never got justice, and we will fight for their rights. The amendment to the Bill has not happened for the first time ever since independence multiple times have been amended, he said.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said that the party demands that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill be sent to the Standing Committee.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said, As Ive said, the motives of the government are always sinister and I think we will be opposing this bill and theres been no wider consultation with stakeholders and we think it should be referred to the Standing Committee before its brought to passing in the House

#WATCH | On Union Govt to introduce a Bill to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram says, As Ive said, the motives of the government are always sinister and I think we will be opposing this bill and theres been no wider consultation with stakeholders and we pic.twitter.com/YT23j92zuc ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2024

RJD MP Misa Bharti also noted that INDIA alliance parties and RJD will oppose this bill.

According to sources, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas Paswan) proposed consultations involving all stakeholders over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. Nothing is wrong with the Bill and it is not against Muslims. But a Parliament Committee should look into it threadbare, party sources said.

Meanwhile, the Opposition staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha on Thursday over the issue of Vinesh Phogats disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024.

ALSO READ: How Dare You: Dhankhar Schools Derek In Massive Rajya Sabha Ruckus Over Vinesh Phogats Disqualification

Speaking on the issue, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said,They (Opposition) think they are the only ones whose hearts are bleedingThe entire nation is in pain because of the girl. everyone is sharing the situation but to monetise it, politicise it, is the greatest disrespect to the girl. That girl has a long way to go

The monsoon session of Parliament commenced on July 22 and is scheduled to conclude on August 12.

Parliament Updates
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Ukraine on August 23 as a harbinger of peace, government sources said on Thursday, noting that his trip aims to vouch for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict, which has been raging for over two years.

During the India-Russia annual summit in Moscow in July, PM Modi conveyed to President Vladimir Putin that a military solution to the Ukraine crisis is not possible and that peace talks cannot succeed amid bombs, guns, and bullets. Modi later this month will carry forward this message of peace to Ukraine as well.

His travel to Kyiv will be one of the few by world leaders who have visited both Ukraine and Russia since the conflict began in 2022. India is expected to use its diplomatic influence to counter Chinas efforts to position itself as a global peacemaker in contrast to the United States perceived warmongering image.

According to government sources, the visit also seeks to settle the storm India kicked up in Ukraine, the United States, and Europe as a result of Prime Minister Modis Russia trip. Despite close ties with Russia, India has maintained that the conflict must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

During his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in June, PM Modi conveyed Indias commitment to supporting a peaceful solution and a human-centric approach to finding a resolution to the conflict. PM Modis visit to Ukraine, if realised, would be the first by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in more than four decades.
Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamic political party, has been at the centre of controversy across three countries. The party is allegedly responsible for the ousting of the Awami League government in Bangladesh and the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Jamaat-e-Islami employed violence and arson to force Sheikh Hasina to step down, garnering support from various radical Islamic groups. As the largest Islamic political party in Bangladesh, Jamaat-e-Islami, previously known as Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, faced significant legal challenges.

In 2013, the Bangladesh Supreme Court invalidated the partys registration, rendering it ineligible for national elections. This month, the Bangladeshi government imposed a complete ban on the party.

Founded in pre-independence India by Maulana Abul Ala Maududi, Jamaat-e-Islami was created with the aim of establishing a divine rule. Maududi, born in Aurangabad in 1903, envisioned Islam as a comprehensive political ideology, distinct from purely religious doctrines. Jamaat-e-Islami, established in 1941, quickly became one of the most prominent Islamic organisations of its time. In 1979, Maulana Maududi was honored with the Saudi Arabian Shah Faisal International Award for Service to Islam, becoming the first recipient of this award.

During the Independence Movement in India, Maududi and Jamaat-e-Islami actively opposed the partition of India. Following partition, Maududi and his followers focused on advocating for an Islamic state in Pakistan. His efforts are believed to have influenced Army General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haqs Islamisation policies in Pakistan. Following the partition of India in 1947, Jamaat-e-Islami divided into two distinct entities: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind was established in 1948. Over time, related groups influenced by Jamaat-e-Islami emerged in Bangladesh, Kashmir, Britain, and Afghanistan.

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan opposed the independence of Bangladesh, actively supporting Pakistan during the 1971 independence war. During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Jamaat-e-Islami was implicated in the massacre of Hindus and Bengali-speaking Muslims. The Bangladeshi branch of Jamaat-e-Islami played a significant role in forming auxiliary forces for the Pakistani army, such as the Razakars, Al-Badr, Al-Shams, and Shanti Samiti. These groups were involved in numerous atrocities, including the mass killing of Hindu men, women, and children, as well as the widespread rape of Hindu girls and women.

Years ago, the International Crimes Tribunals in Bangladesh labeled Jamaat-e-Islami as a key ally of Pakistani occupation forces during the 1971 independence war. Recent reports continue to implicate the organisation in attacks against Hindus, their homes, and temples amidst ongoing violence in Bangladesh.

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan faced significant government repression in 1948, 1953, and 1963. However, during the early years of Army General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haqs rule in Pakistan, the partys influence grew, and it became seen as an ideological and political ally of the government. Under Zia-ul-Haq, many Jamaat-e-Islami members and sympathisers were appointed to the judiciary and civil service to promote this ideology. Members of the party held important cabinet positions, including roles in the Department of Information and Broadcasting. Jamaat-e-Islami has been linked with several banned organisations in Pakistan, most notably the Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi. This militant group, founded in 1992 by Sufi Muhammad, emerged as an offshoot of Jamaat-e-Islami.
The concept of Waqf may have been introduced in India during the Delhi Sultanate and flourished during Firoz Shah Tughlaqs rule, but its all-encompassing powers came after Indias Independence through various laws passed in Parliament.

It was in 2013, just a year before Narendra Modi swept to power, that the UPA government  through the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2013  gave expansive powers to the Waqf Board.

With the Modi government all set to bring amendments to the Act to curtail the boards powers, very few would know that Indias Waqf laws failed to modernise with the times compared to Muslim nations like Turkey, Syria, Oman, Iraq or UAE. Sources suggest the government studied the laws pertaining to Waqf in the Muslim nations before deciding to go ahead and make the boards in India more centralised, modern and transparent  a move that made Indias top Muslim clerics throw their weight behind the governments idea.

The Waqf Act, 1995, confers excessive powers with respect to the applicability of the Act. The Waqf definition has been enlarged and suo moto powers of the land survey have been given to the Waqf board. Such a scenario does not prevail in Waqf Acts in other Muslim nations.

TURKEY

Take Turkey, for instance, where the Waqf system has deep roots in the Ottoman Empire. In Turkey, the Waqfs played a crucial role in social welfare, education, and infrastructure. But, soon after the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923, the Ministry of Waqfs was abolished in 1924. Waqf properties were taken over by the General Directorate of Foundations. This centralisation aimed to modernise and secularise the administration of Waqfs.

Today, the General Directorate oversees the management, restoration, and utilisation of Waqf properties. It also ensures that Waqf revenues are used for public-welfare projects. Turkeys Waqf system underwent significant reforms to align with secular principles, whereas Indias system operates within a framework that balances religious and legal considerations.

KUWAIT

Even in Kuwait, where historically Waqfs have played a significant role in supporting religious, educational, and social services, the administration of Waqf properties is overseen by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. The ministry focuses on the development and maintenance of Waqf properties, including mosques, schools, and hospitals. In an attempt to make it relevant even in 2024, it also works on modernising Waqf management through digitisation and improving transparency and efficiency  a far cry from Indias Waqf system.

LEBANON

Even Lebanon, which has been engaged in a war with Israel due to the presence of Hezbollah militants in its southern part, can boast of a more centralised and modern Waqf system than India.

The governance of Waqf properties has evolved through various legal reforms, particularly during the Ottoman period and the French Mandate. As a result, it now operates under the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs. This body is responsible for managing Waqf properties, ensuring their proper use, and overseeing the distribution of Waqf revenues for charitable purposes. Like Kuwait, efforts are being made to modernise Waqf management through digitisation and improving transparency and efficiency.

SYRIA

Waqf properties in Syria are overseen by the Ministry of Awqaf which ensures the proper use of Waqf properties as well as overseeing the distribution of Waqf revenues for charitable purposes. Syrias Waqf administration is centralised under the Ministry of Awqaf, while Indias system is more decentralised, with state Waqf boards playing a significant role.

IRAQ

In Iraq, Waqf is managed by the Sunni Endowment Office and the Shiite Endowment Office, established after the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. They have a centralised administration with separate offices for Sunni and Shiite endowments. Iraqs Waqf administration is divided along sectarian lines (Sunni and Shiite), whereas Indias Waqf Boards manage properties without such a division.

SAUDI ARABIA

If you turn to the land of Mecca, the Waqf management has also evolved with time. In Saudi Arabia, it is managed by the General Authority for Awqaf (GAA), established by Royal Decree in 2016. The GAA is a public body with financial and administrative independence but linked directly to the prime minister. Saudi Arabia focused more on modernising Waqf management and integrating it into national development, whereas India faces more traditional challenges like political interference and governance issues.

The comparisons can go on with Middle Eastern nations like the United Arab Emirates and Oman or South Asian nations like Singapore and Indonesia. The only attempt to modernise Indias Waqf system was made in 1984 when the recommendations of the Waqf Inquiry Committee were turned into the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 1984. It provided for the reconstitution of Waqf Boards with elaborate additional powers, the constitution of Waqf Tribunals, the appointment of several committees and appointments as well as enlarged powers of the Waqf commissioners among others. However, stiff opposition and political realities did not let the modernisation become a reality.

Now, with the backing of top Muslim clerics who have called Indias Waqf system discriminatory, the Narendra Modi government has a chance to do what the then government failed in 1984.

Catch the latest developments on Bangladesh Unrest with our live blog.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday said he would have brought the entire Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) with him had the BJP and Shiv Sena offered him the chief ministers post.

Speaking at the launch of Yoddha Karmayogi  Eknath Sambhaji Shinde, a biography of the current chief minister, Pawar noted in a lighter vein that in politics he was senior to both CM Shinde and fellow deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis.

Shinde and Fadnavis were also present at the book launch.

Pawar rebelled against his uncle Sharad Pawar in July 2023 and joined the BJP-Sena government by splitting the NCP.

All went ahead and I trailed behind, Ajit Pawar said, noting that Fadnavis first became an MLA in 1999 and Shinde in 2004, while he first became a member of the state assembly way back in 1990.

Fadnavis served as chief minister twice, from 2014 to 2019 and for 72 hours in 2019 when Ajit Pawar joined hands with him in a short-lived alliance government.

I told a few people jokingly that when you (an apparent reference to the BJP) told Eknath Shinde to come along with these many MLAs and he would be made chief minister..You should have asked me. I would have brought the entire party along, quipped Pawar.

Whatever happens in life is planned by destiny, Pawar said with a mock seriousness, evoking laughter.

The NCP chief has not concealed his ambition to occupy the top post in the state in the past.

Shinde led a rebellion with 39 MLAs against then Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray in 2022 which led to the collapse of the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Shinde then became the chief minister.

Pawar said he has seen several chief ministers, but none like Shinde who is surrounded by people all the time.

Speaking on the occasion, Fadnavis noted that he himself is someone who became chief minister, leader of the Opposition and then a deputy chief minister during a single assembly term (between 2019 and 2024).

Similarly, Pawar became deputy chief minister, the leader of Opposition and again a deputy chief minister during the same period, he said.

Speaking to reporters later, CM Shinde expressed confidence that his government would retain power after the assembly elections, thanks to its focus on development and welfare schemes over the past two years.

The Mahayuti government has worked as a team, prioritizing both development and welfare schemes, he said.

He also announced that funds under the Ladki Bahin Yojana would be credited to the accounts of eligible women across the state before the Raksha Bandhan festival.

Catch the latest developments on Bangladesh Unrest with our live blog.
Kiara Advani knows just how to make heads turn with her impeccable fashion ensembles. Whether she is rocking those chic co-ord sets or charming everyone with traditional outfits, Kiara consistently proves to be a fashion force to be reckoned with. Recently, the actress channelled her inner Barbie by slipping into a fabulous pink off-shoulder dress that made her look like an absolute vision. Lets take a closer look at her stunning ensemble which is setting hearts aflutter.

Kiara Advani dazzled in an Odetta Midi dress from the renowned fashion brand Rebecca Vallance and it is nothing short of a fashion dream. This blush pink beauty features an off-shoulder design with a stunning floral applique taffeta neckline. The fitted bodice with its structured corseted boning hugged her curves perfectly, creating a flattering silhouette that is hard to miss. The dress flows into a chic pencil skirt, gracefully cinched at the waist. It also boasts a daring slit at the back. Priced around Rs 73,008 ($870), this ensemble is truly a showstopper.

For the accessories, Kiara kept it sleek and simple, letting her show-stopping dress take center stage. She opted for a minimalistic approach, pairing her dazzling outfit with just some embellished strappy sandals. Her only piece of jewelry was a gorgeous pink sapphire-adorned ring, which perfectly complemented her look.

Her glam game was on point, creating a mesmerising look with soft pink eyeshadow, perfectly sculpted brows, kohl-rimmed eyes and voluminous mascara-laden lashes. A glowing highlighter accentuated her contours and collarbones. Pink manicured nails and glossy pink lips completed the look, tying everything together with a radiant finish.

She styled her luscious locks into a high ponytail, finishing off with soft, wavy curls at the ends.

Have a look at her pics here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Varinder Chawla (@varindertchawla)

In her latest Instagram posts, Kiara wowed in a daring backless blue faux leather jumpsuit that turned heads. The outfit featured a striking halter neckline with a cross design and a daring cut-out that showcased her midriff. She glammed with smoky eyes and left her wavy hair flowing freely with a chic middle-parting. Kiaras look was elevated with chunky accessories, including sword-shaped statement earrings, silver and gold bracelets and stylish rings. These standout pieces perfectly complemented her fierce and glamorous ensemble, making her look both bold and unforgettable.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by KIARA (@kiaraaliaadvani)

Meanwhile, on the professional front, Kiara is all set to appear in action thriller film Game Changer opposite Ram Charan. Directed by S Shankar, the ensemble cast of Game Changer also includes Anjali, SJ Suryah, Srikanth, Jayaram, Sunil, Samuthirakani and Nassar.
Actors Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala are now officially engaged, and superstar Nagarjuna shared the first images from their private ceremony, which took place early on August 8, 2024. The couples elegant and traditional engagement ceremony has captured the attention of both fans and fashionistas.

Designer Manish Malhotras choice for Sobhita Dhulipalas engagement attire is evidence of her strong ties to her Telugu roots. Sobhitas attire, adorned with a fusion of fabrics that were specifically procured from Andhra Pradeshs weaving villages, is a celebration of contemporary elegance as well as a nod to history.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manish Malhotra (@manishmalhotra05)

She was dressed in a gorgeous golden blush Uppada silk saree that was evocative of the Kanakaambaram, a traditional temple flower that Telugu women frequently don. Intricate designs of the immortal Padmam (lotus), which stands for beauty and purity, were also incorporated on the saree. Her clothings silhouette is derived from the traditional half-saree, which is worn by young ladies in South India, and is influenced by the paintings of the renowned Telugu artist Bapu.

Naga Chaitanya wore a traditional three-piece Andhra Pradeshi mens outfit consisting of Pattu pancha, laalchi, and kanduva, which complemented Sobhitas traditional dress. His combination of muted gold tussar silk and ivory brocade, accentuated with antique gold zari dori work, radiated a timeless sophistication and grace.

We are delighted to announce the engagement of our son, Naga Chaitanya, to Sobhita Dhulipala, which took place this morning at 9:42 a.m.!!We are overjoyed to welcome her into our family.Congratulations to the happy couple!Wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness.  pic.twitter.com/buiBGa52lD Nagarjuna Akkineni (@iamnagarjuna) August 8, 2024

On Instagram, Manish Malhotra congratulated the couple and expressed his deep love for them, emphasising how important it was for their clothes to represent their cultural background and origins. He expressed his happiness at being a part of this unique occasion, highlighting Sobhitas emotional bond with the ancient fabrics and patterns.

In addition to starting a new chapter in their life, Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipalas engagement ceremony was a stunning display of tradition and modern elegance that left a lasting effect on everyone.
On August 8, 2024, actors Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala have finally got engaged. In front of their immediate family and friends, the couple exchanged rings during a private ceremony that took place in the morning. Naga Chaitanyas father, superstar Nagarjuna, shared the couples first official photos on his X handle a few hours after they were engaged. Nagarjuna expressed his happiness for the future of the couple and welcomed Sobhita into the family in a moving post.

Naga Chaitanya, dressed in a traditional white kurta-pyjama combo, looked every bit the gorgeous groom-to-be. His simple outfit was enhanced with a delicately styled cream-coloured stole that was slung over his shoulder. His well-groomed beard and beaming smile gave his classic appearance a little something extra. Chaitanya accentuated his easygoing attitude by wearing simple accessories, like a gold bracelet, which let his inherent charm show through.

Check out Nagarjunas post right here:

We are delighted to announce the engagement of our son, Naga Chaitanya, to Sobhita Dhulipala, which took place this morning at 9:42 a.m.!!We are overjoyed to welcome her into our family.Congratulations to the happy couple!Wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness.  pic.twitter.com/buiBGa52lD Nagarjuna Akkineni (@iamnagarjuna) August 8, 2024

Known for having great style sense, Sobhita Dhulipala did not let her engagement look down. She looked gorgeous in a peach saree that was the ideal fusion of traditional and modern style. Her elegance was emphasised by the sarees exquisite beading and gold embroidery. Her blouse gave her traditional outfit a contemporary spin with its stylish neckline and intricately embroidered sleeves.

Sobhita picked out her accessories with care to match her outfit. She accessorised with matching jhumkas, an elaborately embroidered maang tikka, and a striking necklace composed of gold and pearls. Several gold bracelets encircled her wrists, giving her appearance a hint of opulence. Her classic bun hairstyle was adorned with fresh flowers, adding to her ethereal beauty. Her lovely features were accentuated by the delicate makeup, which included delicate pink lips and a hint of kohl, giving her a radiant and composed appearance.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manish Malhotra (@manishmalhotra05)

We are delighted to announce the engagement of our son, Naga Chaitanya, to Sobhita Dhulipala, which took place this morning at 9:42 a.m.!! We are overjoyed to welcome her into our family. Congratulations to the happy couple! Wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness. God bless! 8.8.8 A beginning of infinite love, Nagarjuna wrote.

The couples admirers and well-wishers are already enamoured with their engagement photos as they start this wonderful adventure together.
As the monsoon season rolls in, the craving for street food often intensifies, but the traditional outdoor vendors may not always be the best choice due to hygiene concerns and unpredictable weather. For those seeking the vibrant flavors of street food without compromising on cleanliness and quality, two innovative ventures have emerged, each with its unique approach to replicating these beloved dishes in a more controlled environment.

Alok Aggarwal, co-founder, Indian Republic Canteen, shares insights into the challenges and solutions involved in bringing street food to a restaurant setting. Serving authentic street food in a restaurant involves a meticulous approach to preserve the original flavor and quality while adhering to higher hygiene standards, Aggarwal explains. Indian Republic Canteen (IRC) goes to great lengths to replicate street food authenticity by studying street vendors processes closely. This includes integrating their techniques with upgraded equipment and ingredients. For instance, IRC uses higher-quality oil and precise temperature control to maintain the distinctive taste of street food, such as their sizzling pakodas, vada pav, and Bombay masala sandwiches. Despite the diverse menu, IRC maintains a focus on preserving traditional flavors while ensuring a clean and hygienic environment.

In contrast, Aditi Bicholia, Co-Founder, Bombay Meri Jaan, emphasizes a different approach. Our core principle is delivering hygienically prepared, authentic Mumbai street food directly to our customers doorsteps, states Bicholia. Bombay Meri Jaan (BMJ) addresses the need for clean, high-quality street food by operating cloud kitchens with standardized processes to ensure freshness and quality. BMJs offerings, including kanda bhajiya, vada pav, and bhata vadas, are made fresh to order, with no pre-made or frozen food. Extensive research and collaboration with Mumbai experts help perfect their recipes, including the critical spice blends sourced from Gujarat.

Bicholia further highlights the importance of rigorous hygiene standards. BMJs cloud kitchens are subject to regular hygiene checks and audits, conducted multiple times a day. The commitment to these practices is reflected in the positive reception of their monsoon-season specials, which have become favorites among customers seeking both taste and cleanliness.

Both Indian Republic Canteen and Bombay Meri Jaan exemplify how modern adaptations can maintain the essence of street food while meeting contemporary hygiene standards. As the monsoon season continues, these establishments offer a reliable alternative for enjoying street foods rich and diverse flavors in a safe and enjoyable manner.
Shraddha Kapoor is once again painting the town red with her latest promotional look for Stree 2. Known for her impeccable style, Shraddha is nailing the method dressing trend. Her recent series of red outfits has become a goldmine of style inspiration for her fans. Just a day ago, she turned heads in a red knitted bodycon dress, and now she is dazzling in a stunning red midi dress that proves she can pull off any look to perfection. Lets dive into her latest look and take some fashion notes from this style queen.

Shraddha Kapoors scene-stealing floral dress is sourced from the clothing brand Self-Portrait. Her dress features floral lace all over the beige base. The feminine fit and flare silhouette of the dress falls to a chic midi length. It is elevated by a flattering square neckline and short sleeves with a slight puff. A sleek matching red belt around her waist adds a graceful look to her overall appearance. The zip-closure at the back ensures a seamless fit. Her gorgeous red number comes with a price tag of Rs 40,554.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shraddha  (@shraddhakapoor)

For accessories, Shraddha chose to keep it simple by opting for round danglers and a stacked bracelet on one hand. She rounded off her look with a pair of white pointed heels.

In terms of glam department, Shraddha chose a no-makeup yet glamorous look. A dewy base, softly done eyes, a touch of blush, and nude lipstick were her picks.

Shraddha Kapoors red ensembles for the promotion of her upcoming film have been truly breathtaking. Earlier, she wore a red knitted bodycon dress. This dress features full sleeves, a floor-length hem, and a small cut-out at the top secured with a golden hook. It also had a mini slit in the front, allowing the actress to move comfortably and freely.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by EatTweetBlog (@eattweetblog)

Shraddha completed the look with heart-shaped drop earrings, a sleek bracelet adorning her wrist, and white strappy heels. She kept her makeup glamorous with sparkling eye shadow enhanced by smudged black eyeliner, defined brows, and mascara. She also opted for lightly done blush, highlighter, and nude glossy lipstick. Lastly, she chose a high ponytail with a few strands framing her face.

If youre planning your next date with your partner, be sure to check out Shraddhas stunning looks for some fashion inspiration.
Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala are finally engaged. The couple exchanged rings on Thursday, August 8 morning. Hours after their engagement, superstar Nagarjuna took to his X handle to share the first official photos of the couple. He congratulated the couple and welcomed Sobhita to the family.

We are delighted to announce the engagement of our son, Naga Chaitanya, to Sobhita Dhulipala, which took place this morning at 9:42 a.m.!! We are overjoyed to welcome her into our family. Congratulations to the happy couple! Wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness. God bless! 8.8.8 A beginning of infinite love, Nagarjuna wrote.

We are delighted to announce the engagement of our son, Naga Chaitanya, to Sobhita Dhulipala, which took place this morning at 9:42 a.m.!!We are overjoyed to welcome her into our family.Congratulations to the happy couple!Wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness.  pic.twitter.com/buiBGa52lD Nagarjuna Akkineni (@iamnagarjuna) August 8, 2024

Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipalas dating rumours have been making headlines for a long time. It all started in May last year when they were first spotted together in Hyderabad, Nagas hometown where Sobhita was promoting her film, Major. Reports suggested that the actress, who was in the city for film promotions, celebrated her birthday with Naga and some friends.

Naga Chaitanya was previously married to Samantha Ruth Prabhu. They dated for a few years before tying the knot in 2017. However, the two announced their separation in October 2021 i.e. after four years of their marriage. Back then, they had issued a statement asking fans and followers for privacy as they move on.

In February this year, Samantha recalled her separation from Naga Chaitanya. Even though the actress did not name her former husband, she said that the year before myositis was extremely difficult.

I remember specifically the year before I had this problem, it was an extremely difficult year for me. I specifically remember the day that I think my friend/partner/manager Himank, and I were traveling back from Mumbai. And this was in June of the year before last, and I remember telling him that finally I feel calm. I havent felt a little relaxed and a little calm in a very, very long time. And I finally feel like I can breathe and I can go to sleep, and I can now wake up and focus on my work and be the best that I can be at work. And I woke up with this condition, Samantha said.

Congratulations Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala!
Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala got engaged on August 8. The couple had an intimate engagement ceremony in Hyderabad, at Nagarjunas house. The superstar shared photos from the engagement ceremony and blessed the couple. But how did Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipalas love story begin? It was months after Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu split.

In May 2022, Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita were first spotted together in Hyderabad. Sobhita was in the city to promote her film Major. Reports suggested that the actress was not only promoting the film in the city at the time but also ended up ringing in her birthday, which took place on May 31. Naga Chaitanya was a part of the celebrations. Thats when they clicked and instantly became friends. Their friendship grew stronger and eventually, they started dating.

During the course of their two-year relationship, they have been spending time together. Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita were even spotted together on holidays together. While the couple remained private about their relationship, the news of their engagement surfaced on late Wednesday night.

Eventually, Nagarjuna confirmed the news on X. Sharing photos of the couple from the engagement ceremony, he said, We are delighted to announce the engagement of our son, Naga Chaitanya, to Sobhita Dhulipala, which took place this morning at 9:42 a.m.!! We are overjoyed to welcome her into our family. Congratulations to the happy couple!

Wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness. God bless!  8.8.8 A beginning of infinite love.

Check out the post below:

We are delighted to announce the engagement of our son, Naga Chaitanya, to Sobhita Dhulipala, which took place this morning at 9:42 a.m.!!We are overjoyed to welcome her into our family.Congratulations to the happy couple!Wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness.  pic.twitter.com/buiBGa52lD Nagarjuna Akkineni (@iamnagarjuna) August 8, 2024

Congratulations to the couple!
Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala are getting engaged today, if reports are to be believed. It has already been revealed that Nagarjuna will be the one who will share the photos from the engagement. A new report has now claimed that the Telugu superstar is also hosting the engagement ceremony at his place in Hyderabad. The engagement will take place on Thursday evening.

A source close to the rumoured couple has claimed that the engagement ceremony will be intimate and only family members have been invited. Yes, Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala are getting engaged on Thursday evening. The ceremony will be a very private and intimate one and will take place at Nagarjunas home in the evening. Nagarjuna is likely to be the one who will share the news first on social media, a source shared with Hindustan Times.

The guest list will include Amala Akkineni and Akhil, Naga Chaitanyas brother. From Sobhitas side, her parents will be a part of the ceremony. Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita are yet to react to the news.

Rumours of Naga Chaitanya dating Sobhita emerged much after he and Samantha Ruth Prabhu separated. The former couple announced their separation in 2021. Chaitanya and Sobhitas dating rumours began in 2022. Although they have kept their speculated relationship away from the spotlight, the duo made headlines with a picturesque holiday in Europe, further adding to the buzz. In a photo gone viral, Chay and Sobhita enjoying a wine-tasting session, igniting even more speculation about their relationship.

In a conversation with News18 last year, Sobhita shared that she remains unfazed by the spotlight cast on her private life. She stated, Whats there to be bothered? If I say dont say this, theres no way people would know about it I mean, its not a nice thing to talk about my own accomplishments. Its not like Im asking people to look at my accomplishments and the name I made for myself but its more like, I come from Vizag and Ive worked hard at every step along the way.
Govinda was one of the biggest Bollywood stars of his time. Today, we will talk about one of his sensational statements that created a massive stir. In the year 2019, Govinda claimed that he was offered a role in the Hollywood film Avatar, directed by James Cameron. In an episode of India TVs Aap Ki Adalat, the actor claimed that he was the one who suggested the title of the film. He also mentioned that he rejected the film. Following this, Govinda was heavily mocked with social media memes and posts. When he found out that he was being mocked on social media for his statement, he decided to give a sharp response to the trolls. In an old interview, Govinda said, I am not so active on social media, but my daughter keeps telling me about these trolls. People think that an actor like me cannot reject James Camerons film. I have no objection to that as I understand their thought process. Everyone has the right to give their opinion and I respect them. But saying that how could Govinda get this offer is wrong. The old clip of Govindas claim has once again gone viral since last month. This time too, he has been facing immense trolling for this statement.

When Govinda was asked in the old interview about how James Cameron knew about him, he replied, I was a superstar at that time. He must have seen my films, but I cant say for sure where he got my name. There was a Sadarji who was close to Dev Anand ji. He was one of the financiers of the film and he knew me well.

Govinda explained that he met James in London, where the director narrated the story of Avatar. While talking to them, he suggested the title. Govinda said, The word Avatar slipped out of my mouth and he immediately liked the title. However, I rejected the film. Sardarji also complained to Dev Anand Sahab telling him that Govinda had rejected a big Hollywood film, despite being offered a hefty fee for it.
Popular actor Arjun Sarja is set to return to the Malayalam film industry with the film Virunnu. It is directed by Aadupuliyattam fame director Kannan Thamarakkulam. Apart from Arjun Sarja, the film stars Nikki Galrani, Mukesh, Baiju Santhosh and Asha Sarath in the prominent roles.

The makers have announced that the film is slated to release in theatres worldwide on August 23. The film is touted to be an action thriller as per the teaser of the film. Virunnu will be released in Malayalam and Tamil. The actor was last seen in the Tamil film Leo. It was one of the highest-grossing films in India. It also starred Thalapathy Vijay in the lead role and was directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj.

Arjun Sarja will be doing some high-octane action sequences in the film Virunnu. The makers have already released the teaser and first-look poster of the film. Ever since the return of Arjun Sarja has buzzed the internet, the fans have been eagerly waiting for the release date of the film. The film is produced by Gireesh Neyyar under the banner of Neyyar Films. Virunnu is written by Dinesh Pallath while the music is composed by Ratheesh Vega. Gireesh Neyyar announced the release date of the film through Instagram.

The makers earlier released the teaser of the film which featured high-octane action sequences and spine-chilling mysteries. The teaser offered a glimpse into the gripping narrative which revolves around Arjun Sarjas character as he delves into a sinister world of evil worship cults and the horrifying murders they commit. Take a look at the teaser:

The makers of the upcoming film Virunnu have unveiled the intriguing first-look poster, offering viewers a glimpse into an exciting and mysterious story on the occasion of Arjun Sarja last year. The presence of the Illuminati symbol on the poster hints at a thriller drama. The song Sakka Podu Podu was released which went viral in no time.

Arjun Sarja was also seen in the Malayalam film Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea, directed by Priyadarshan. It was released in 2021.
Organizers have canceled three Taylor Swift concerts in Austria after authorities arrested two suspects for allegedly planning a terror attack during the Vienna leg of her blockbuster Eras tour.

The decision has left fans devastated and renewed focus on the vulnerability of huge concerts as soft targets for terror networks and spree killers.

Swift was scheduled to play three shows in the European city from Thursday to Saturday  which have all been canceled, according to Barracuda Music, the promoter for Swifts concerts in Austria.

With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyones safety, Barracuda Music said on Wednesday in a post online.

Swifts official website also listed the concerts as cancelled. CNN has reached out to Taylor Swifts representatives for a comment.

Speaking at a press conference in the capital, police said a 19-year-old Austrian citizen, who they identify as a sympathizer of Islamic State, was arrested Wednesday morning in Ternitz, lower Austria, while another arrest was carried out later that morning in Vienna.

They had become radicalized by the internet, with the 19-year-old pledging his allegiance to the leader of ISIS in July, police said.

The two suspects had undertaken concrete preparatory measures for a terrorist attack after police suspected explosives were stored at the home of the suspect in Ternitz, authorities said.

Police also said that chemical substances were secured at the home of the 19-year-old and were being evaluated, Associated Press reported.

From the current standpoint of the investigation we assume that the target of the attack were events in the Vienna region, police said.

Barracuda Music said all tickets for the cancelled shows will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.

Swifts Eras Tour began in Glendale, Arizona on March 18, 2023, has been extended several times since it was first announced. It has since passed through the United States, South America, Asia and Australia, and is currently on its European leg before it makes a return to North America.

The Vienna concerts were the penultimate venue of the current European leg, with Swift slated to play five nights at Londons Wembley Stadium next week before moving on to Canada for the tours final dates in November and December.

Just a day before the announcement of the Vienna cancellation, Swift posted on Instagram after performing in Warsaw, Poland: I cant believe we have 2 cities left on the European leg of The Eras Tour. Its truly flown by. See you soon Vienna!

The cancellation has left fans both shaken and disappointed, including many who had flown in to Vienna from other places for the concert.

Vanessa Szombathelyi, 24, had traveled from Ireland to Hungary  where she and her best friend had planned to drive to Vienna for the show. It would have been her first Taylor Swift concert since she first became a fan in 2018, and shed been excitedly waiting since buying the ticket last summer.

(Im) feeling mixed emotions, everything from tears to being angry, she told CNN on Wednesday, adding that she was mad and grateful that the two people were caught.

Concerts as attack targets

In recent years, music performances and venues in Europe have become targets for mass attacks by Islamist militants.

In November 2015, ISIS gunmen attacked the Bataclan theater in Paris  part of an assault that hit other targets in the city  killing at least 130 people in total.

And in May 2017, the group claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, that killed 22 people.

Swift herself has called these types of attacks her biggest fear.

In a 2019 essay for Elle Magazine, she wrote: After the Manchester Arena bombing and the Vegas concert shooting, I was completely terrified to go on tour this time because I didnt know how we were going to keep 3 million fans safe over seven months, referring to the 2017 mass shooting at a Las Vegas music festival that killed 60  the deadliest by a lone gunman in the US to date.

There was a tremendous amount of planning, expense, and effort put into keeping my fans safe, she wrote at the time, adding that those fears have carried over into her personal life  with the star carrying around emergency first-aid equipment like bandage dressing for gunshot or stab wounds.

CNNs Isaac Yee and Elizabeth Wagmeister contributed to this report
Star Indian javelin throw athlete Neeraj Chopra bagged the silver medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 to claim the nations fifth medal at the ongoing edition of the Summer Games in France.

Chopra claimed the second-place finish with his best throw and 89.45m at the Stade de France. The honourable Prime Minister of the nation Shri Narendra Modi lauded the efforts of the javelin thrower.

ALSO READ| Paris Olympics 2024: Neeraj Chopra Clinches Historic Silver in Javelin Throw Final, Joins Elite List of Indian Athletes to Win Multiple Medals

Neeraj Chopra is excellence personified! Time and again hes shown his brilliance. India is elated that he comes back with yet another Olympic success. Congratulations to him on winning the Silver. He will continue to motivate countless upcoming athletes to pursue their dreams and make our nation proud, Modis post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, read.

Neeraj Chopra is excellence personified! Time and again hes shown his brilliance. India is elated that he comes back with yet another Olympic success. Congratulations to him on winning the Silver. He will continue to motivate countless upcoming athletes to pursue their dreams pic.twitter.com/XIjfeDDSeb Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2024

Pakistani thrower Arshad Nadeem claimed the yellow metal with a mammoth attempt of 92.97m, while Grenadas Anderson Peters completed the podium with his 88.54m.

ALSO READ| Neeraj Chopra to Manu Bhaker: Lists of Indian Athletes with Multiple Individual Medals at the Olympics

Nadeem fouled on his first throw but came back strong with an Olympic record throw on his second attempt to race to the top of the standings, and was never replaced from the top spot.

ALSO READ| Pakistans Arshad Nadeem Claims Historic Gold With Olympic Record in Mens Javelin Throw

Chopra started the final with a red-flagged throw, before bouncing back with his best attempt of the night on his second try, much like Nadeem did. However, Chopra failed to log in a further legal attempt as he posted four more fouls in his final four attempts.

Chopra also joined an elite list of names to claim multiple Olympic medals with his valiant efforts in the French capital city.

Catch Paris Olympics 2024 Day 13 LIVE Updates Here. Stay updated with the latest from Olympics 2024. Explore India At Paris Olympics 2024 Today. Check the updated list of Paris Olympics 2024 Medal Tally. Check Paris Olympics 2024 Event Results.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday decided to expunge certain unnecessary observations made by Justice Rajbir Sehrawat of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in a July 17 order. Justice Sehrawats remarks were directed at a Supreme Court order that had stayed contempt proceedings initiated by the high court. The expunged observations have raised significant questions about judicial hierarchy and authority, setting the stage for a deeper examination of the dynamics between the Supreme Court and high courts in India.

Justice Sehrawat was critical of the Supreme Courts decision, noting that the top court, without any special appeal, had stayed the high courts proceedings. This action effectively placed an estoppel on the high courts powers under Article 215 of the Constitution of India and the Contempt of Courts Act, the judge had opined. He emphasised the potentially severe and damaging consequences of the Supreme Courts actions, suggesting that while the SC likely did not intend such outcomes, its decision affected the benefits due to judicial officers.

This power tussle between the two constitutional courts sparks a broader discussion on the often-unintended ripple effects of top-down decisions within the judiciary.

Who is responsible for the plight of the judicial officers in the superior judiciary of Punjab and Haryana? Is it the High Court or the Supreme Court? Justice Sehrawat had questioned, advocating for a thorough examination by both courts, which could yield surprising insights. His bold questioning touched on a critical issuehow judicial decisions at the highest level impact those at lower levels, sometimes in unforeseen ways.

The judge went further, suggesting that this situation could serve as a cautionary note for the Supreme Court to be more specific about the legal consequences of its orders. He also analysed the Supreme Courts decision from a psychological perspective, attributing it to a tendency to avoid responsibility for the outcomes of such orders and a presumption that the Supreme Court is more supreme than it actually is, while the high court is perceived as less high than it constitutionally is.

Justice Sehrawats observation perhaps challenged the conventional view of judicial impartiality and may have sparked a broader discussion on how these perceived hierarchies impact legal outcomes. Could such observation prompt a reconsideration of the balance of power within the judicial system and highlight the need for greater accountability and mutual respect among its various levels?

Days later, the Supreme Court took suo moto cognisance of Justice Sehrawats comments. The matter was placed before a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, including Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, and Hrishikesh Roy. The Attorney General and Solicitor General termed the high court judges observations as rather contemptuous and a transgression which was unwarranted.

Taking a stern view, the top court emphasised the need to uphold judicial discipline. The bench deemed the high court judges observations unnecessary and said, In a situation where the authority of this court is undermined, it is our duty to maintain the sanctity of judicial hierarchy.

Does the Supreme Courts reaction indicate the tightrope walk that high court judges must performbalancing critique and respect within a structured hierarchy?

In this case, the Supreme Court decided to expunge the remarks made by Justice Sehrawat. However, it pointed out that it was inclined to issue notice to the judge, but that would have subjected the judge to adjudication by the top court, which the bench did not desire.

Importantly, regarding criticism of its decisions, the Supreme Court stated that while parties may be aggrieved by a court order, judges themselves are never aggrieved by an order passed by an institution. Every judge is bound by the discipline of the hierarchy of the judicial system, the bench asserted, cautioning judges.

Furthermore, the Chief Justice of India stressed that, in an era where proceedings are widely reported, judges must exercise restraint. We hope and trust that such circumspection shall be observed in the future, he said.

This situation begs the question: Can this legal tussle serve as a potential catalyst for introspection and reform within the judicial system?

As this debate unfolds, it presents an opportunity for the judiciary to reflect on its practices, fostering a more harmonious relationship between the Supreme Court and high courts.

After all, this is not the first instance where the top court has intervened in a decision made by a high court judge. In February this year, the Supreme Court criticised the Madras High Court Single Judge Bench of Justice N Anand Venkatesh for exercising suo motu jurisdiction without the Chief Justices approval. This intervention pertained to the initiation of a criminal revision case against the trial courts discharge of Revenue Minister KKSSR Ramachandran and his wife Aadhilakashmi P. Visalatchi in a disproportionate assets case.

The judge had initiated a total of six suo motu proceedings between August and September last year.

Following the SCs intervention, the High Court Chief Justice decided to allow Justice N. Anand Venkatesh to continue the hearing of suo motu cases. Notably, on Wednesday, Justice Venkatesh set aside the discharge of the minister, and the case has now been restored to the Special Court for a day-to-day retrial.

In another instance, this year, the Supreme Court criticised former Madras High Court judge, Justice T Mathivanan, for gross impropriety after he issued a one-line order in a criminal case in May 2017 and only released the detailed judgement five months after his retirement.

This series of incidents brings to the forefront a crucial issue: the boundaries of judicial propriety and the consequences when these boundaries are overstepped. When high court judges act outside established protocolswhether by exercising suo motu jurisdiction, delaying the issuance of detailed judgments, or being critical of the Supreme Courts ordersdo they risk undermining the judicial process and inviting interventions by the Supreme Court?

While it is imperative to correct and prevent instances of gross impropriety, it is equally important to ensure that this does not lead to an overly rigid system where judicial creativity and independence are stifled.

These interventions from the apex court may provoke an essential discussion on the delicate balance between maintaining judicial propriety and allowing judges the autonomy to interpret and act within their judicial discretion.

It is time to consider whether instances of power struggles between the Supreme Court and high courts in India should be seen as an opportunity to redefine and reinforce what constitutes judicial propriety. A more cohesive legal system will ensure that it supports rather than hinders the effective functioning of the judiciary, ultimately establishing that neither the Supreme Court nor the high courts are supreme; supremacy rests solely with the Constitution of India.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The obliterated Bamiyan Buddhas of Afghanistan and the vandalised statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Bangladesh stand as solemn testaments to a resplendent past now obscured by the fervour of belief. Islamic fundamentalism, ensnared by its own history, engenders a disquieting duality within its adherents. This selective amnesia delineates the contemporary contours of Bangladesh.

The nation has witnessed an Islamic revolution, stealthily supported by a military coup apparently engineered brilliantly by the CIA, sidelining China. For India, the aftermath of investing wholly in Sheikh Hasinas leadership parallels the Wests predicament following the Shahs ousting in Iran. Thankfully, Bangladeshs economic and military clout pales in comparison to Irans, affording India numerous strategic options, starting with its advantageous geography.

The Ascendancy of Jamaat-e-Islami

Since its inception, a considerable segment of Bangladesh has supported the Jamaat-e-Islami, a group that envisions an Islamic state and targets non-Muslims. This ideological zeal, capable of subsuming nationalism and condoning mass atrocities, underscores the formidable influence of the mosque. The ostensible bipartite political structure conceals an Islamist substratum.

However, as the Arab Spring demonstrated, true power emanates from the guns barrel. The Bangladeshi military, unwilling to relinquish its political dominion, will cut the Jamaat to size and may even exile and arrest those whom it currently supports.

The Spectre of Regime Change

Apparently, the CIA has deftly orchestrated civil unrest and facilitated regime change, likely resulting in unwavering support for a quasi-permanent US military presence. However, a potential Trump administration might abruptly forsake Bangladesh, rendering this arrangement precarious.

Economically, Bangladesh is poised to suffer significantly. The phenomenal economic progress achieved under Sheikh Hasinas stewardship, marked by unparalleled prosperity, is in jeopardy. For the devout, however, economic stability and growth are secondary to ideological fervour.

Bangladeshs economy, heavily reliant on textiles, is particularly vulnerable, with 85 per cent of exports rooted in this sector and 25 per cent of these factories under Indian ownership. This leverage could be instrumental should Bangladesh continue its antagonistic stance. India could incentivise the relocation of manufacturing to its own territory.

If the interim government doesnt pragmatically deal with the situation, be prepared for an impoverished, radicalised, Islamic Bangladesh. In such a case, Bangladesh will be reduced to a densely populated, dangerously radical ragtag nation on the brink of implosion. One hopes better sense prevails with the new rulers of Dhaka.

The writer is a senior journalist with expertise in defence. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The political turmoil in Bangladesh has taken a very ugly turn over the past few days. What seemed like a students protest has taken a visceral form. The Pandoras box has been opened. The hysterical mob has resorted to everything possible to ensure the paralysis of the state. Radical elements have left no stone unturned to lead Bangladesh to complete anarchy. The elected government was forcibly dissolved. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee to India by helicopter. This happened with dramatic suddenness.

The violent mob attacked the prime ministers residence and resorted to looting, damaging property, and hurling invectives against her. The demolition of statues of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was carried out across the country. The man who gave freedom to Bangladesh was subjected to ignominy and disgrace. This indicates that the students protest was a facade. It signifies a strong collusion of forces both inside and outside the country. The public disgrace of Mujibur Rahmans statues amplifies the intent of the subversive forces.

Hindu temples were torched and desecrated. Hindu minority houses were attacked. The intensity of this attack reached its most ferocious form as India was portrayed as an enemy country because it gave shelter to Sheikh Hasina. The Hindu minority, which has now been reduced to just 8 per cent, bears the brunt of the ongoing political crisis.

Apart from multiple instances of temple attacks, the ISKCON temple in Meherpur, Bangladesh, was vandalised and set on fire. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar expressed serious concern over the precarious conditions of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh on the floor of the Parliament. Districts such as Panchgarh, Dinajpur, Bogura, Rangpur, Sherpur Kishoreganj, Sirajganj, Mugra, Narail, West Jashore, Patuakhali, South-West Khulna, Central Narsingdi, Satkhira, Tangail, Feni Chittagong, and North-West Lakkipur are particularly sensitive, and conditions may further intensify in these areas which might lead to mass migrations to India.

Given all these atrocities, arson, and vandalism taking place in several districts, including the capital, Dhaka, the army has remained strangely silent, choosing inaction, and allowing the radicals and anarchists to ensure the complete paralysis of the country. This chaos is a premeditated one, and the students protest was merely a trigger to unleash the forces that pulverised democracy in Bangladesh. The release of Opposition leaders and some radicals from prison, the demand for Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus involvement in politics, and the tactical silence of the army chief are indicators of a larger game plan.

External forces have contributed to the complete collapse of Bangladesh. All the antithetical forces against Sheikh Hasina have joined hands to oust her from politics. They have succeeded, and many more developments are apparently yet to be seen. There is a pressing need for an interim government to address the situation. However, from the look of it, the crisis does not seem to be ending any time soon.

However, it is important to see what this situation holds for India. The tension of this gravity and scale in the neighbourhood is not good for India. The paralysis in Bangladesh serves as a warning to India about what might await in the long run. The collusion of forces intending to undermine Indias interests in Bangladesh, South Asia, and beyond is evident in the ongoing crisis. The India-Bangladesh cooperation and camaraderie developed over the past few decades have suffered a serious setback with Sheikh Hasinas ouster. The coup has marked the end of this friendly relationship.

Needless to say, Sheikh Hasina was pro-India, and under her political leadership, India made significant strides in engaging in developmental activities and securely placing its importance in the scheme of things there.

Since Chinas rising heft in the region, US-China antagonism in the Indo-Pacific, the formation of the Quad, and the China-Taiwan conflict, the Bay of Bengal has gained significant strategic importance. The Bay of Bengal is within Indias sphere of influence. Indias conventional policy of non-alignment creates strategic ambiguity for both the US and China, as both vie for dominance in the region. The littoral states of the Bay of Bengal are Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia. China has successfully penetrated these littoral countries through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The instability in Sri Lanka and Myanmar has yet to see an effective resolution, and the situation remains fragile. Indias decision to remain unaligned, neither siding with China nor the US, invites increased challenges from these hegemonic powers.

China ferments trouble in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and the Maldives. This makes Indias neighbourhood difficult and increases its challenges. China and Pakistan have long posed a two-front threat to India, and with the addition of Bangladesh, India now faces a potential third front. Confronting enemies on three fronts is not a prudent strategy; it leads to economic and energy drain, with minimal chances of success, and weakens the country. Engaging in a three-front war would be detrimental to Indias economy. Sometimes, avoidance of conflict is beyond Indias control, as conditions may force countries into such situations. The current circumstances do not favour India.

The US presidential election is underway, with campaigning in full swing. The Democrats and Republicans are fiercely competing for victory. Historically, this period has seen Pakistan intensify its efforts to trouble India. The 9/11 terror attack on Indian soil is an example of Pakistans duplicity and treachery.

The rising tension in Bangladesh exacerbates the refugee crisis. The Hindu minority in Bangladesh is in a state of fear and paranoia, leading to a potential mass migration. If such a migration occurs, Indias northeast is likely to experience difficulties. Tension in the northeast is always a concern for India, particularly given the regions history of insurgency and the ongoing Manipur crisis, which could be exacerbated. Internal security will face significant challenges.

The crisis and coup in Bangladesh represent a tectonic shift in geopolitics in the Bay of Bengal. This situation recalls the famous statement by Alfred Thayer Mahan in The Influence of Sea Power Upon History: Whoever rules the waves rules the world. His observations highlight the dynamics of the sea in rivalries for power and dominance.

China has gone a long way with its BRI framework and debt trap policies in the Bay of Bengal region, bringing Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh under its sway. Beijing ensures New Delhis increasing isolationism in its backyard by outmanoeuvring it when necessary. The symptom of this helplessness is shown in the form of the Bangladesh crisis.

For China and the US, the Bay of Bengal has become another maritime space for confrontation. St. Martins Island has recently emerged as a bone of contention between these competing and rival powers. The islands geopolitical significance has increased due to its strategic location. Sheikh Hasina had previously referred to the island and its foreign interest, and she had also expressed her determination not to lease it to any external power. The islands accessibility and geostrategic positioning are crucial for establishing a military base, leading both China and the US to court Hasina for a lease.

Her reluctance to lease the island has provoked the ire of the major powers interested in the region. This ongoing resentment has culminated in the recent coup and her removal from power in Bangladesh. With her departure, the path is now clear for foreign interests to exert influence and act freely in the region.

The treaties and commitments between India and Bangladesh, particularly those involving Modi and Hasina, are unlikely to work in Indias favour. Forces antithetical to Indias interests will have a strong say in Bangladeshs politics. Despite this, India is likely to seek ways to de-escalate the situation due to its commitment to a neighbourhood-first policy. It will remain steadfast in its approach despite the regional turmoil exacerbated by foreign interventions. Although this storm will eventually pass, it will likely cause significant damage. The ongoing crisis is expected to precipitate a major economic downturn, impacting Bangladesh in a complex manner. The prevailing hysteria, fundamentalism, and violence could lead to an irreparable economic crisis in Bangladesh.

Jajati K Pattnaik, an Associate Professor at the School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi; Chandan K Panda, an Assistant Professor at Rajiv Gandhi University (A Central University), Itanagar. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The call came well past midnight, India time.

Dada, please find a way for me to come to India. They will kill me and my family, said Bangladeshi journalist Mohidul Hassan (name changed to ensure his safety), his voice low and trembling.

Some consider Hassan as close to the toppled regime. His social media handles have been inundated with the vilest of abuse and death threats.

I am hiding at a friends place in Dhaka with my wife and six-year-old son, he said. We are awake the whole night. Just a while ago, there was a rampage outside. Houses in this lane were being openly looted. The long beards of Jamaat Shibir were out with long swords, going house to house, emptying out every piece of jewellery, furniture and other belongings. We are lucky this is among the houses they skipped.

Mohidul is among tens of thousands being violently targeted in Bangladesh. Whether Muslims or minorities, especially Hindus, if you are seen as supportive of the dethroned regime, you are fair game.

But with Jamaat and BNP cadre usurping the student protest, Hindus have become objects of special and egregious level of hatred; one that is reminiscent of the Noakhali genocide.

Bangladeshs leading English newspaper, The Daily Star, reported on Wednesday that Islamists had attacked Hindus in 27 of the 64 districts already.

In Rayer Kathi, Brahman Kathi, and Baju Kathi areas, for instance, they looted homes, raped and gang-raped women.

In a video, a local Hindu woman says, her eyes tearing up: They came with swords and sharp weapons. They took everything. To save our daughters, we give them everything we have. I had to hide my daughters.

Another Hindu woman says: They came at night. They vandalised our homes and looted everything. We were hiding. They grabbed my brothers wife, took her to another room, and raped her. When we recovered her, we found her gagged. They even wanted to slit her throat. To save her, we gave them all our gold ornaments.

In this unending nightmare, what are the lessons for India, a growing global superpower which has been caught completely off-guard, right in its neighbourhood?

Lesson one: Never put all your eggs in one basket

For more than two decades, the Indian establishment-backed Sheikh Hasina. It functioned with a binary: Hasinas father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman liberated Bangladesh from Pakistan with complete support from India, so that family is above all suspicion; and Khaleda Zias family and her party BNP have been pro-Pakistan, so they cant be trusted ever. With Hasina in the hot seat, India didnt ever seriously explore a third front, even as her unpopularity grew. This has come to haunt us now.

Lesson two: Never ignore the little neighbour

A rising India, heady with attention and importance from far bigger powers, kept neglecting its smaller neighbours. From intel gathering to diplomacy to propping up effective friendly regimes, a lot was overlooked or taken for granted.

The result is the unravelling of leverage in almost every neighbouring nation from Sri Lanka to the Maldives, Myanmar to Nepal, and now Bangladesh.

In contrast, one needs to learn from how the US constantly works on its smaller neighbours  Cuba to Mexico, Colombia to Venezuela  deploying enormous money and energy.

Lesson three: Never back an unpopular bully

The Indian intelligence and security establishment knew exactly how unpopular the Sheikh Hasina regime was getting, especially since the previous student insurrection in 2018. Yet, it allegedly helped Sheikh Hasina win the 2018 general election by a landslide.

It should have taken into account how Hasinas unpopularity was rubbing off on India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India should have cut its losses and worked towards an alternative for 2024. It didnt.

Lesson four: Never hang Hindus, other Indics out to dry

Hinduness is the glue which binds Indias magnificent diversity together as a nation and civilisation. Legislations like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)  steps to turn Bharat into a natural homeland for Indic religions  will remain empty shells as long as the host nation does not take proactive action in every case of persecution of Hindus and those from other Indic religions.

Lesson five: Never ignore local language, culture, trends

Finally, Indias intelligence and security failure in Bangladesh is colossal.

Insiders in the intel community say there was a disconnect with local language and culture at senior levels.

One does not need senior diplomatic staff to have the local language as their mother tongue or understand every nuance of culture. But in Bangladesh, whose mother tongue is one of the major Indian languages, it was possible.

Besides, there are accusations of officials who would fly under the radar using Indias influence to make money, often by even flaunting their nature of work.

Even at top levels of the security establishment, officers with an outdated idea of Bangladesh politics were handling the feedback pipelines.

Bangladesh is perhaps Indias biggest foreign affairs lesson in the last ten years. If it fails to learn from this, there will be dust in the mouth.

Abhijit Majumder is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The violence, some of Britain's worst in years, has led to hundreds of arrests as the government pledges that the rioters will feel the full force of the law after hurling bricks and other projectiles at police, looting shops and attacking hotels used to house asylum-seekers.
He ran into trouble with Hasina in 2008, when her administration launched a series of investigations into him. He had announced he would form a political party in 2007 when the country was run by a military-backed government but did not follow through.
Former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee died around 8.20 am on Thursday in his two-room south Kolkata residence. He was 80 and unwell. Doctors said he passed away following a heart attack.

Buddha Babu, as he was popularly known, was famous for his simple living.

He began his career in student politics and closely worked with communist icon Jyoti Basu.

Bhattacharjee became chief minister of West Bengal in 2000 and remained in the post till 2011 when Mamata Banerjee ended 34 years of Left rule in the state.

CM with revolutionary ideas

Bhattacharjee is seen as a tragic hero, according to analysts, because he tried to go against traditional Leftist thinking and usher industrialisation into West Bengal, but was defeated in the end. He wanted to focus on the information technology (IT) sector. He tried to argue that the 30-year-old Left Front government needed to change focus. His idea was to hold on to agriculture and bring in industry. He wanted to change the image of Bengal, known for strikes and hartal.

In 2006, when the Left won power with 235 seats in the assembly, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee came up with the slogan Krishi amader bhithyi, shilpo amader bhobishyat (agriculture is our foundation, industry is our future).

Land movements and losing ground

Tata Motors showed interest in starting a factory for its Nano car in Bengal. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee decided to provide land for this in rural Singur block.

The Lefts political base was focused on the farm community and land rights. Mamata Banerjee picked up the Singur issue and started a spirited movement, with the narrative that Bhattacharjees Left Front government was snatching land from poor farmers. She sat on a nearly month-long hunger strike. At least 14 people were killed in police firing during protests. The chief minister also faced criticism from his party CPI(M). The Tatas finally left Bengal.

The Singur campaign was followed by the Nandigram movement with a similar narrative that the state government was planning to seize land from locals and start a chemical plant there. Mamata too plunged into this stir. In the 2008 panchayat polls and the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the Left was dented in Bengal while the Trinamool Congress gained ground.

Ahead of the 2011 assembly polls in the state, Mamata gave the slogan of Poriborton (change). It worked with the electorate as the TMC came to power, unseating the Left Front after decades. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee himself and several of his ministers faced defeat.

Left in the lurch

Party insiders say Bhattacharjees intention was to generate employment and development in Bengal but he did not get proper support from his party.

Ma, Mati, Manush (Mother, Land, and People) actually describes the Left ideology, but the TMC used it to spin the narrative that the Left was anti-farmer, said a close associate of the late CM.

Bhattacharjee was frequently compared with his mentor and former chief minister Jyoti Basu. Their styles of running the government were not the same, but Bhattacharjee wanted to rule with honesty and good intentions, said the associate.

Sources said that Bhattacharjee developed health problems following the electoral defeat in 2011 and they plagued him till the end. The ailing former CM last attended a party meeting at Kolkatas Brigade Ground in 2019.
He was old, sick, tired, disillusioned, harassed, slandered, and unappreciated  each and every word that Gabriel Garcia Marquez used for his protagonist Simon Bolivar in his celebrated work The General in His Labyrinth is an apt fit for Bengals former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee who breathed his last on Thursday.

Never a textbook Communist, Buddha Babu  as he was fondly called  did not hesitate to take his party head-on regarding issues of West Bengals industrial growth. The Bengalis have mostly heard him call himself Bampanthi (Leftist). However, the basic ideas of Communism that advocate for the abolition of private property, the establishment of a classless society, and the means of production being owned and controlled by the community or state, were not fully supported by him.

Bhattacharjee embraced capitalism  much to the chagrin of the Communists  and spoke against lockouts and strikes that his party loved. He also embraced private partnership, another stand strong enough to irk the protectors of the Left lineage in the country.

In his time, he epitomised the Bengali bhadralok in his crisp white dhoti-kurtas and was the liberator who envisioned Bengals industrial renaissance. Unfortunately, he is also the one who saw his vision and Bengals future go up in smoke.

The Disillusioned Liberator Who Failed

The parallels with Marquezs Bolivar are striking and unmissable, especially given that the elderly man, who breathed his last at 80, was one of the greatest admirers of the Colombian author. He translated two of his non-fiction works into Bengali: The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor and Clandestine in Chile. And he was working on more such translations of his works, some essays and papers of other renowned authors.

Bhattacharjee was a true patron of Bengali culture and literature. He scripted over a dozen books and translation works, continued writing letters to his comrades and penned articles based on contemporary politics  regional, national and global  for the partys mouthpiece Ganashakti.

The similarities with Marquezs Bolivar dont end here: He was physically ailing, likely weary from the repeated defeats his Communist Party of India (Marxist) faced in every election except in Kerala, vilified by his political opponents, and unappreciated by the very Bengalis he sought to liberate. The book, in which Marquez shaped his general Boliver, is based on the final days of the man known as the liberator of many South American nations.

Buddha Babu tried to make his party evolve but, in the hurried process, the path to progress was lost. The CPI(M)-led Left Front government introduced Operation Barga in West Bengal in 1978. It was a land reform movement that aimed to record and protect the rights of sharecroppers  known as bargadars  by ensuring them legal recognition and security of tenure.

From Operation Barga to Operation Dawn

Under Operation Barga, the sharecroppers were given formal rights to the land through documentation, preventing their eviction by landlords and granting them a more significant share of the produce. This initiative worked and it significantly improved the socio-economic conditions of rural farmers, leading to increased agricultural productivity and rural empowerment in the state. The land reform by the Left has been seen as the most path-breaking and revolutionary decision by Bengals longest-serving Leftist chief minister Jyoti Basu. The government stood with the farmers and thats how the tide turned in the state. Congress faded and the Left citadel became impregnable.

However, the process also gave birth to militant workers unions. The plight and the flight of capital brought scores of educated but unemployed youth. As the chief minister, Bhattacharjee sought to change this idea  Chasha er Byata Chasha Keno Hobe (Why would a farmers son become a farmer). He invited capital to the state and envisioned dreams of Bengal Shining.

However, the dreams were flawed, given the consequences. In Singur, Nandigram and Lalgarh, the former chief minister chose to use force and stood witness to the decision of agricultural land being forcibly acquired for industry. He went against the very basic idea of Communism, which had brought an uninterrupted rule of Leftists. Overdependence on bureaucrats and police and use of excessive force leading to police brutality caused his undoing and paved the way for the rise of Mamata Banerjee.

The Spotless White Kurta

In May 2011, after the Left Front was decisively defeated, Bhattacharjee was seen walking out of the Writers Building  then the seat of power  refusing to ride the white Ambassador meant for the chief minister. He got into the car the party sent for him and went straight to Lal-Bari, the CPM headquarters in Kolkata. Until his illness confined him, he visited the party office almost every day.

In 2016, during the assembly elections, he addressed mass rallies in Kolkata alongside Rahul Gandhi. Even in the 2021 and 2024 elections  both assembly and parliamentary  his party used his speeches to motivate cadres, and finally, an AI-driven Buddha Babu reached the masses. Since 2011, he lived in a two-room flat in south Kolkatas Palm Avenue, never faced any corruption charges and none ever accused him of nepotism, or encouraging dynasty politics.
Microsoft Edge browser has a security issue that has been highlighted with a medium severity rating by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team or CERT-In this week. The security agency claims that the web browser from Microsoft has multiple security vulnerabilities that could allow an attacker to remotely execute arbitrary code and access sensitive information on the targeted system.

The agency has also given the details of the issue and how it could affect the targeted devices. The vulnerabilities exist in Microsoft Edge due to insufficient validation of user input or insecure handling of specific types of data within the browser, out-of-bounds read in WebTransport, insufficient data validation in Dawn.  the CERT-In mentions in its notes.

Microsoft Edge Security Issue: Who Is Affected

The CERT-In mentions that the security issue is affecting Edge browser version prior to 127.0.2651.86. So if you have versions higher than this one, you are protected by the latest Microsoft patch for the update.

Exploiting these issues means attackers generally resort to phishing attempts to infect their devices, and these security loopholes have become the popular medium for them to attack. The best way to avoid falling prey for such attempts are:

 Never open emails from unknown senders

 Never download any attachments given in an email from unknown people

 Never click on on any link given in the mail from unknown people

Microsoft has already issued a security bulletin for this issue, so we suggest you update the Edge browser on your PC and other devices right away.

The security alert comes in a week when Android users have been warned about major security issues that might have been exploited in the wild. Google says the patches for over 40 vulnerabilities are rolling out this week, and other brands will be doing for their devices soon.
The foldable era for Samsung has reached a crucial point, now that the competition is slowly making its strides and showing people how the form factor can become popular. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 feels a big step for the company as it looks to keep its lead in the segment and give buyers all the reasons to continue their growth in this trajectory with the brand that started it all.

Samsung has made the right improvements this time around, offered its latest AI features to push the envelope but the rising price tag of Rs 1,64,999 might need more solid reasons for an upgrade. Having said that, Samsung knows who is the buyer for the Fold and it needs to show enough to tempt them into writing the cheque once again.

A Fold That Has The Right Size

Samsung has trimmed the size of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 which was around 253 grams on the Fold 5 and now it weighs 239 grams. You might see the difference isnt much but holding both the foldables tell you a different story and thats where the finesse comes into play.

The cover display is now slightly taller at 6.3-inches and the resulting changes gives you a comfortable grip in the hand which I didnt see with its predecessor.

The enhanced armour aluminium on the frame, the IP48 rating (IPX8 on the Fold 5) and the claimed straightening of the hinge gives us a lot more assurance about the device and its longevity, which could be easily questioned for the previous Fold models.

Make no mistake, the folded state thickness is still at an uncomfortable 12.1mm but the design tweaks seem to work in its favour for once.

Displays That Work Inside And Outside Now

The main display is still the same 7.6-inch LTPO 2X AMOLED display with 2600 nits peak brightness and 120Hz refresh rate. Samsung displays generally are its strong point and we can have no complaints about the main unit here as well. The hinge improvements have somehow allowed the crease on the screen to be less visible but we would prefer to see a no-crease panel soon from the brand.

The cover display has seen a slight bump from 6.2-inches on the Fold 5 to 6.3-inch LTPO AMOLED 2X panel that feels a lot more functional and allows you to do more without opening the main screen.

Having the Corning Glass Victus 2 protection again gives you the peace of mind that the screen wont easily get scratches or dents. The taller screen profile on the cover is an understated change that makes it easy to use the Fold 6 with one hand.

Flagship Power In Tow

Samsung is offering the Galaxy Z Fold 6 with up to 12GB RAM and 1TB storage this year in the market. You have it powered by the reliable Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset which gives it the upper hand when it comes to the overall performance. We barely saw the device heat up abnormally and thats where the cooling vapors do their job effectively.

The foldable ecosystem needs functional software and the One UI has been slowly adapting to these changes giving you more features. Samsungs promise of 7 years of OS updates is another strong point that competition has found it hard to match so far.

Galaxy AI And Other Features

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 supports the S Pen once again, and unlike the Galaxy Ultra series, the company wants people to spend extra on the accessory. We have found it hard to understand the reasoning for a flagship product to miss out on the S Pen out of the box, especially when you pay big money to buy one. The debut of Galaxy AI allows Samsung to show off what it plans for the foldables in the near future.

You have the AI-powered translate, live calls, and image editing tools. You need to sign up with Samsung to use these AI features and most of them bring a fun factor to the foldable, more so compared to its value on the Flip.

The fingerprint sensor is still on the power button even though you have an AMOLED panel. The stereo speakers offer rich sound but they are not loud enough from certain angles.

Upgrades That Didnt Happen

Samsung feels happy to continue with the same camera setup on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 as you get the 50MP + 10MP telephoto and the 12MP ultrawide sensors once again. The photos that you get are not bad at all but for a new foldable upgrade, hardware and sensor improvements are warranted when you jack up the prices.

Whilst we dont have much to complain about them, we dont have anything exciting to share either.

Similarly, the battery on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the same 4400mAh unit as you had on the Fold 5. The device still supports 25W wired charging speed along with 15W wireless charging.

The overall battery life is adequate in most cases but the speeds at which you charge the device are archaic now, and it is high time we see a speed bump to let you use the device without a long break.

Samsung is making the right noises with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and has made it more usable and stronger than the previous versions. But the price seems to be going up with every generation, which means the premium device will continue to have its niche audience which needs a rethink for the future of the foldable segment.
We often hear about fights due to love. This is a very common thing in every corner of the world. Today, we will talk about one such incident that was reported from a neighbouring country. A report emerged from China where two doctors ended up in a brawl over a nurse.

The 27-year-old nurse worked at the same hospital as the two doctors. However, neither of them knew that the nurse was dating both of them at the same time. When both doctors found out that the nurse was double-dating, they both started cursing each other. The situation escalated to the point where one of them ended up in the ICU.

This unusual incident took place at a hospital in Jiangsu province of China. The name of the hospital is Wuxi Peoples Hospital. The two doctors, who are 50 years old, fell in love with the nurse while working at the hospital. When they discovered that they were both dating the same woman, they felt jealous which led to a serious brawl. The fight became so intense that one doctor suffered a head injury. The name of the doctor who was injured is Xu. He was first treated at the hospitals orthopaedics department before being transferred to ICU.

The condition of the injured doctor was so severe that he had to be admitted to the ICU. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the nurse had been receiving expensive gifts from the doctors. She received a luxurious villa from a doctor and a luxury car from the other.

An official mentioned that they have started an investigation and appropriate action will be taken following the probe. Meanwhile, the nurse has gone back to her home. The official said, We will look into the matter and will take appropriate action against the person who is responsible for this incident.
If we look at the global electronics manufacturers, most of the companies are based in the USA, UK, China or South Korea. For example, Apple, a giant in this sector, has its headquarters in California. On the other hand, Samsung, recognised for its wide range of products like television, smartphones, laptops and home electronics, was founded by a South Korean businessman, Lee Byung-Chul. But what if we say none of these electronic devices were invented in these countries? Television, telephone, refrigerator and even the ATM were actually the brainchild of some Scottish inventors.

Scotland is mainly known for its contributions to poetry, art and music. However, the scientists hailing from this European country are credited with several discoveries that can be seen as the foundation for modern technology. Nowadays, we cant imagine a day without our smartphones. Apart from aiding in long-distance communication, these devices have also brought the entire world to our fingertips.

Alexander Graham Bell patented the first-ever workable telephone in 1876. He might be known as a Canadian-American scientist, but Bell was born in Scotland. The device he first invented was completely different from modern-age cellphones. It was a box-like structure, through which people could communicate with others.

The television system was introduced by a Scotting inventor named John Logie Baird. He demonstrated his discovery first in January 1926. His device used a mechanical scanner to produce the video signal. Though its picture quality was quite poor, the prototype let other scientists think further about the concept.

Nowadays, refrigerators can be found in almost every household across the world. It was a Scotting physician, William Cullen, who first developed the principle of cold storage. He revealed his concept while staying in Glasgow in 1748. Cullen perhaps didnt design any particular device but his work later helped in producing modern-day refrigerators where people can keep food and other items for a certain period.

Thanks to the introduction of online money transfer and UPI payment, city people are gradually turning their back on ATMs (Automated Teller Machine). However, there are many places where people still rely on ATMs for cash withdrawals. This useful machine was also invented by a Scot, James Goodfellow. Besides ATMs, he also patented the PIN technology, which has become popular in other sectors as well.
In Taiwan, a man named Hao is making headlines after filing for divorce from his wife, Xuan, due to her unusual demands and harsh treatment. The couple, who married in 2014, hit a rough patch three years later when Xuan limited their intimacy. By 2019, the situation worsened, as she refused any physical contact and even told Haos family he was too fat and

incompetent. In 2021, Hao tried to end their marriage but later withdrew the lawsuit when his wife promised to improve their relationship. He even transferred their property into her name. However, things took a bizarre twist as Xuan reportedly returned to her old ways and started demanding NT$500 (approximately Rs 1200) each time he wanted to get physical or even have a conversation with her.

This time, Haos frustration reached its peak, which led him to file for divorce for a second time this year. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the couple had stopped talking to each other for two years and only communicated through a messaging app. They even tried marriage counselling, but it didnt help. During the divorce proceedings, the judge granted the divorce, stating that their marriage was cold and difficult to fix. In a surprising turn of events, Xuan opposed the divorce and appealed to a higher court, but her request was turned down.

Surprisingly, this isnt the first case, as earlier, in 2014, a wife began charging her husband NT$2,000 (approximately Rs 5,000) for s** and even set fees for talking and meals. She justified this by claiming her husband, a truck driver, did not contribute financially to the family. The children also demanded payment from their father if he wanted to have a conversation with them. The situation escalated when the police were involved, as the man agreed to pay NT$20,000 (approximately Rs 51,000) a month to meet these demands.

In another surprising case, a Chinese couple caught social medias attention for splitting their expenses evenly during their two decades of marriage. They went Dutch on everything, from furniture to side dishes at restaurants. When the husband sued his wife for 110,000 yuan (approximately Rs 12 Lakh), claiming she should have covered half of the bills, the court dismissed his claim.
A man received a call from a scammer who tried to scam him of Rs 8,999 via UPI in the name of account verification. The man followed all the steps to the tee but as soon as he landed on the page where he had to enter his UPI pin, he figured out that he was being scammed. The scammer did try to convince him by saying that once he entered the PIN, he would receive the money in his bank account. Luckily, the man did not enter his PIN and stopped a Rs 8,999 UPI scam dead in its tracks.

A new way of scam has been introduced in the market, reads the caption to the video shared on X (formerly Twitter).

Read| Delhi Lawyer Calls Amazon iPhone Exchange Offer Scam In Viral Post

The video captures a tense encounter between a man and a scammer. The scammer, attempting to defraud the man of Rs 8,999, instructs him to initiate a UPI payment of the same amount to receive the sum in his bank account. After the man follows these instructions and taps pay 8,999, he is directed to a page requesting his UPI pin. When the man questions the need to enter his UPI pin, the scammer claims it is for account verification and assures him that he will receive the money once he enters it.

When the man expresses concern about the potential debit of the Rs 8,999 instead of receiving it, the scammer brazenly suggests that he could file a complaint. This leads the man to confront the scammer about using a fake 15-digit phone number. Despite the scammers attempts to convince the man to enter the UPI pin but in vain.

Also Read| Bengaluru Man Asks WhatsApp Scammer How Are You, Then This Happened

Realising he has been exposed, the scammer first claims that the police cannot trace his number and that he is using a voice assistant. When the man reveals he has been recording the call and plans to share it online, the scammer threatens to hack his phone if he does.

Watch the entire video right here:

A new way of scam has been introduced in the market.. pic.twitter.com/5yJkmBvD2a Simple man (@Simple__Banda_) August 6, 2024

The phishing call was recorded on video and shared on social media on August 6. It has since then accumulated nearly five lakh views and over 6,400 likes. Many even took to the comments section of the video to share their thoughts.

Check out a few reactions to this video here:

I was scammed 12K in exactly the same way. I also registered the complaint with Delhi Police but no action was taken. I was told that entering a UPI pin will verify your account for transactions, and how foolishly I entered the UPI pin and paid the money, expressed X user Rohit Dubey.

Another added, Always stay cautious.

Isse Jamtara series yaad aa gayi [This reminded me of Jamtara series], shared a third.

A fourth commented, Not new but old, my cousin brother was scammed around 3 4 years ago via the same way.

I also received a fraud call where a person asked me to check my PhonePe for a refund of cashback. Luckily I have heard of this kind of fraud. Give him some nice words with great helping verbs and disconnected the call, wrote an IT professional from Ahmedabad in the comments.
Mayonnaise, often known as mayo, is a thick, creamy sauce created by combining oil, egg yolks, lemon juice or vinegar, and seasonings such as salt, mustard, and pepper. It can be used as a base for creamy salads and dips, as a meat tenderiser, or even as a hidden ingredient to add moisture and richness to baked goods like cakes and cookies. But did you know, the mayonnaise you spread on your bread can be an important factor in achieving nuclear fusion? It wont make sense to us when we see mayo and this scientific reaction together in one line, but a team of scientists has shown they are related.

Scientists at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, are investigating the potential of mayonnaise to revolutionise nuclear fusion research. The condiment, famed for its creamy smoothness and numerous culinary applications, is being utilised as an unexpected model to study the complex behaviour of plasma in fusion reactors.

Were still working on the same problem, which is the structural integrity of fusion capsules used in inertial confinement fusion, and Hellmanns Real Mayonnaise is still helping us in the search for solutions, said Arindam Banerjee, Lehigh Universitys Paul B. Reinhold Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics and Chair of the MEM department at the PC Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science.

The team of researchers has found mayonnaise, which is normally thought of as a solid, can behave more like a fluid under certain pressure circumstances. This behaviour is quite similar to that of plasma, which is the superheated state of matter required for nuclear fusion.

According to a Lehigh University press release, fusion reactions are what powers the sun. Scientists believe that if the process could be harnessed on Earth, humanity may get access to a nearly endless and clean energy source. However, simulating the suns harsh conditions is a highly hard task. Researchers from several science and engineering disciplines, including Arindam Banerjee and his team, are looking at the challenge from a variety of perspectives.

Capsules containing fuelin this example, hydrogen isotopesare compressed and heated quickly to start nuclear fusion reactions through the method of inertial confinement fusion. These capsules melt in the presence of high pressure and temperatures, forming plasmaa charged state of matter capable of producing energy.

Reportedly, the teams earlier study, published in 2019, also used mayonnaise to investigate the underlying physics of fusion. This current research is a fresh approach to one of the most pressing issues in energy science.
It is often stated that when fortune favours you, wealth comes your way, or your luck leads you to it. Even a small amount of unearned money can bring excitement. A similar event occurred with an individual who came upon a gem effortlessly. This man travelled to Namibia. When he discovered what was inside a rock there, he was astonished- it was a gem. He shared a video revealing that he found it in a mine during his trip to Namibia.

In the viral video, a person is seen breaking off and removing a small part of a rock. As he extracts the fragment, a shiny purple crystal is revealed inside. His excitement is palpable as he gazes at the crystal, clearly pleased with his find. The individual has accompanied the video with a post explaining that this is his piece, directly from the mine, obtained during his trip to Namibia. He has found an Amethyst stone.

The discovery appears to have been entirely coincidental as the person had simply been exploring when he stumbled upon the gem. The accompanying post provides further context to the video. The individual recounts how he came across the crystal while visiting a mine in Namibia. He emphasises that the gem is a unique piece he collected during his travels. This revelation has sparked considerable interest and enthusiasm among viewers, many of whom are fascinated by the unexpected and fortunate nature of his discovery.

The video has been shared on Instagram on an account named father_son_minerals. Till now it has been seen by millions of people and liked by thousands. While many have recognized the stine as Amethyst Stone i.e. Jamunia Ratna, many users think that the entire video of the find is scripted since the man knew beforehand the exact location to scavenge for the gem.
Bangladesh News LIVE: Modi Calls For Protection Of Hindus, Other Minorities In Bangladesh My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development, Modi said in a post on X. My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2024 Read full Article

Nobel Winner Yunus Sworn In As Chief Advisor In Bangladesh's Interim Govt With 13 Advisors Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus has been officially sworn in as the chief advisor of Bangladeshs newly formed interim government, marking the countrys first such administration in 16 years. According to dbnews24, Yunus will lead a team of 13 advisors tasked with overseeing the upcoming general election, which follows a significant student-led movement that ended the Awami Leagues 15-year tenure.

PM Modi Offers 'Best Wishes' To Bangladesh Interim Leader Yunus Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his best wishes to Bangladeshs newly sworn-in interim leader Muhammad Yunus on Thursday, saying New Delhi was committed to working with neighbouring Dhaka. My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities, Modi wrote on social media platform X. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfil the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development.

Bangladesh News LIVE: Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus Takes Oath To Lead Interim Govt Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus took an oath to lead the interim government on Thursday, just hours after returning to Bangladesh from exile.

Bangladesh News LIVE: Guests Arrive At Presidential Palace for Interim Govt Oath Ceremony Guests are arriving at Bangabhaban as the venue is prepared for the swearing-in ceremony of the interim government, according to bdnews24. The Darbar Hall is adorned for the occasion, with the ceremony scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath to the members of the new interim government, as confirmed by Joynal Abedin, the Presidents press secretary.

Pakistan's Army chief Warns Against Attempts To Create Bangladesh-Type Chaos Pakistan Army chief Gen Asim Munir on Thursday warned against attempts to create chaos in the cash-strapped country, saying the armed forces will foil any such move and safeguard national integrity. His remarks came after many teasing comments appeared on social media, often comparing Pakistans situation with that of Bangladesh where a popular uprising swept away a government which had won a landslide electoral victory. If someone tries to create chaos in Pakistan, by God, we will stand before him. No power in the world can harm Pakistan because this country is built to last, Gen Munir was quoted as saying by the Inter-Services Public Relations, the armys media wing.

17 Indian Construction Workers Stranded In Bangladesh Evacuated: BSF Altogether 17 Indian workers engaged in road construction in Bangladesh and stranded due to the ongoing unrest were evacuated by the BSF, an official said on Thursday. BSF Tripura Frontier IG Patel Piyush Purusottam Das received a call about the workers situation on Wednesday evening, the official added. Due to unrest in Bangladesh, the workers were stranded at their camp in Ramrail. They were en route to ICP Akhaura from the Bangladesh side, and a request was made to the BSF to facilitate their safe passage through ICP Agartala, a BSF official said, adding that contact was promptly established at the nodal officer level between the BSF and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).  PTI

India Facilitates Safe Passage And Travel for Nationals Amid Bangladesh Crisis The Indian High Commission has coordinated with Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safe passage of Indian nationals to borders and facilitated their travel through land borders and flights. Over the past two days, the Mission Control Room handled over 350 calls. The High Commission assisted personnel from various Indian companies and issued Emergency Certificates for urgent travel needs. Efforts also included ensuring airlines continued operations to prevent travelers from being stranded.

Jaishankar Discusses Situation in Bangladesh with British Counterpart Lammy External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday discussed the unfolding situation in Bangladesh with his British counterpart David Lammy during a phone conversation. In a post on X, Jaishankar said he and Lammy also deliberated on the developments in West Asia. The phone call was initiated by Lammy. Received a call from UK Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy today. Discussed the situation in Bangladesh and West Asia, Jaishankar said.

US Foresees Key Role for Yunus-Led Interim Govt In Ensuring Stability in Bangladesh The United States has expressed confidence that the interim government led by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus will be crucial in achieving long-term peace and political stability in Bangladesh, according to State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller. Miller emphasized, As noted by the Secretary yesterday, any actions taken by the interim government should uphold democratic principles, the rule of law, and the will of the Bangladeshi people, during a press briefing in Washington.

Indian-American Congressmen Call for Immediate End to Violence Against Hindus in Bangladesh Two prominent Indian-American lawmakers have called for an immediate end to the ongoing brutal violence against the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led government. The Congressmen have also urged the prime minister-designate of the interim government, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, to uphold the rule of law as he takes over the reins of the interim government. The remarks by two influential Congressmen come a day after scores of Hindu American groups met State Department officials amidst the spike in crime against the minority Hindu community and the destruction of Hindu temples in Bangladesh. They also said the failure of Congress and the administration to acknowledge and condemn the violence against Hindus and other religious minorities is unacceptable.  PTI

'The Situation Is Evolving': MEA on Bangladesh Crisis On the Bangladesh situation, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said,  The situation is evolving. It has been reported that this evening there will be a swearing-in of the interim government. Once that occurs, I would like to emphasize that for both the Indian government and its people, the interests of the Bangladeshi people are foremost in our minds

Approval Given on Short Notice Amid Evolving Situation in Bangladesh: MEA on Sheikh Hasina Regarding the political asylum granted to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the MEA spokesperson said, Our External Affairs Minister has already explained that the approval for former PM Sheikh Hasina to come to India was given at short notice. The situation in Bangladesh is still evolving.

India Hopes For Early Restoration Of Law, Order In Bangladesh India on Thursday expressed hope for the swift restoration of law and order in Bangladesh amid the ongoing crisis, emphasizing the importance of stability for both the country and the broader region. In a press conference, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasised that it is the duty of every government to safeguard its citizens well-being. It is the responsibility of every government to ensure the well-being of all its citizens. We hope for the early restoration of law and order in Bangladesh. This is in the interest of both the country itself and the region as a whole, Jaiswal said.

Bangladesh News LIVE: 20 Bungalows Being Prepared in Dhaka for New Interim Cabinet Members As Dhaka readies for the formation of the new interim cabinet, preparations are underway for 20 bungalows located on Bailey Road, Minto Road, and Hare Road. According to bdnews24, the housing arrangements are being finalized, though the exact number of occupants remains unknown. The directorate is tasked with preparing accommodations for 20 individuals, and work is progressing accordingly.

Bangladesh LIVE: Actor Shanto Khan, his father lynched A Bangladeshi actor and his father were lynched on Monday night amid the massive unrest in the country. Actor Shanto Khan, and his father Selim Khan, who owned a renowned Bangladeshi production house, were killed by a mob, news agency PTI reported.

Bangladesh News LIVE: Yunus Says First Task Is Restoring Bangladesh's 'Law And Order' Today is a glorious day for us, Yunus told reporters at the airport in Dhaka shortly after returning to the country to lead a caretaker government. Bangladesh has created a new victory day. Bangladesh has got a second independence. Now, the first task is to restore law and order.

Bangladesh LIVE: Sheikh Hasina's Entourage Members Start Leaving From India Members of the Sheikh Hasina entourage, who reached India with her on Monday, have now started departing from India for their next destinations. Along with the two sisters, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, a significant number of associates had also come to India on August 5. Most of the members of the entourage have now started leaving India for their next destinations, sources told ANI.

Bangladesh News LIVE: Muhammad Yunus Lauds Youth Campaign for Second Victory Day According to local reports, Muhammad Yunus commended the youth for their campaign and expressed his gratitude for what he said was Bangladeshs second Victory Day.
US President Joe Biden warned that he was not confident at all of a peaceful handover of power to Kamala Harris if Donald Trump loses Novembers election, in an extract of a CBS interview broadcast Wednesday.

Biden, 81, who dropped out of the White House race in July and was replaced by Vice President Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee, said Trumps hints on the campaign trail about not accepting a defeat should be taken seriously.

If Trump loses, Im not confident at all, Biden told the US network in the interview, which was due to air fully on Sunday, when asked if he believed there would be a calm transfer in January 2025.

He means what he says. We dont take him seriously. He means it  all the stuff about if we lose therell be a bloodbath,' added Biden.

While campaigning earlier this year, Biden regularly brought up the fact that Trumps supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, after Biden beat him in the 2020 election.

Biden also frequently quoted Trump as saying there would be a bloodbath if he lost  although the Republican said he was talking in the context of electric car imports from China.

Trump has, however, maintained his false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him, and in the CBS interview Biden accused the former president of trying to install allies in key electoral positions in US states to manipulate counts if the same thing happened again.

You cant love your country only when you win, said Biden.

The ageing president has long framed Trump as a threat to US democracy.

Harris has sometimes echoed that theme, while focusing more on a positive vision in a campaign that has reenergized Democrats, brought in millions of dollars and helped her nose ahead of Trump in opinion polls.

Catch the latest developments on Bangladesh Unrest with our live blog.
The attacks on Hindus in strife-torn Bangladesh are on the rise, with the police and army refusing to respond to the situation, top Intelligence sources have told CNN-News18.

Sculptures, idols and temples have been destroyed. Despite assurances from the army, no attempts have been made to save Hindus in Bangladesh. In fact, reports indicate that the army and police are robbing and looting houses too. Hindu families are being assaulted and beaten. A Hindu professor was brutally killed with a hammer. Hindu families have lost everything in Bangladesh and even now, Hindu organisations are afraid to speak openly, they said.

The sources said the attacks were not by radicals but the protest was becoming a terror movement. No leadership can control them because this has been going on for many years. There have been more than 4,000 attacks on Hindus since 2013. Saudi money and return of old Bangladeshis from the Gulf with huge money is giving a boost to Islamist groups. The free run to these Islamists by army and police is a clear indication that they are endorsing these goons, they said.

The attacks on Hindus are a major cause of concern for the Indian government. According to reports from local media and functionaries of Hindu minority groups in Dhaka, almost 97 places have been attacked.

ISKCON temple and Kali Mandir have been attacked and houses of Hindus damaged. Hindu councillor Haradhan Roy was murdered by protesters in these attacks. The house of celebrated musician Rahul Ananda was vandalised and just a piece of cloth was left behind. In a very systematic way, radicals have burned down the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre and Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.

Bangladesh has seen nearly 4,000 attacks against the Hindu community since January 2013. These are systematic attacks. The ongoing communal violence after Sheikh Hasinas departure is not spontaneous but deliberate and well-orchestrated. Multiple factors have played an important role in these constant attacks. The inaction of state agencies is because they have decided to let this continue for some time. Now, the Islamist groups have found a reason to attack Hindus, terming Indian policies as anti-Muslim.

Top Intelligence sources say the acts of terror were controlled by Hasina so far but now, the attackers have an open agenda which the state will also sponsor so that the international community can be given a handle.

This will increase in the days to come because of Saudi pumping in money for radical Islam. Also, a majority of Bangladeshis wenr to Middle East after the oil boom. They are doing good in the Gulf and want radical Islam in Bangladesh. Many of them have come back in old age with huge sums of money and now want religion to spread through radicals, they said.

In the past 15 years, many radical political parties and groups like Ansarullah Bangla Team, Hizb ut-Tahrir, and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) have emerged. These groups have attacked secular intellectuals, terrorised the Hindu community, and launched dramatic terrorist attacks, including in Dhaka. The Hasina government wanted a crackdown on them but it was not sufficient to hold them, they said.

THE LATEST IN BANGLADESH

Chaos reigned supreme in Bangladesh after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on Monday, with police absent from their duty to keep law and order or manage traffic, local media reports said.

Bodies of at least 29 supporters of Hasinas Awami League party were recovered across the country through Tuesday, taking the overall death toll to 469 in almost three weeks since the protest first started in July over a quota system in government jobs.

Meanwhile, Nobel peace prize winner Muhammad Yunus was flying back to Bangladesh on Thursday to lead a caretaker government after the student-led uprising ended the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina.

Yunus, 84, could be sworn in as the countrys new leader as soon as Thursday evening to begin what the army chief has vowed will be a beautiful democratic process.

Hasina, 76, who had been in power since 2009, quit on Monday as hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets of Dhaka. Jubilant crowds later stormed and looted her palace.

Mondays events were the culmination of more than a month of unrest, which began as protests against a plan for quotas in government jobs but morphed into an anti-Hasina movement.

Hasina, who was accused of rigging January elections and widespread human rights abuses, deployed security forces to quash the protests.

Catch the latest developments on Bangladesh Unrest with our live blog.
Amid the crisis in Bangladesh that forced Sheikha Hasina to resign as the Prime Minister, all Indian visa application centres in Bangladesh will remain closed until further orders.

However, Indian diplomats remain in the country and the missions are functional, sources said

The online portal Indian Visa Application Center (Bangladesh) has a message, All IVACs will remain closed till further notice, due to unstable situation. Next application date will be informed through SMS & It is requested to pick up the passport on the next working day.

The development comes a day after India evacuated non-essential staff and their families from its High Commission and consulates in Bangladesh.

India has a high commission in Dhaka and consulates in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, in an address to the Parliament, said India is closely monitoring the status of minorities in Bangladesh.

He said the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh is in touch with the Indians citizens there.

After the protests broke out, many of the students returned to India.

After lumbering through chaos and violence, Bangladesh is set to get an interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus on Thursday.

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved the Parliament on Tuesday after the resignation of the former Prime Minister on Monday.

Hasina, who was serving her fourth straight term in office since assuming power in 2009, is currently in India after leaving Dhaka on Monday.

It is believed that Nahid Islam, one of the main coordinators of the anti-quota protests that eventually led to the resignation of Hasina, emerged as one of the key figures in the formation of an interim government in the country.

Islam, along with President Shahabuddin and Army chief Zaman, was locked in significant discussions Tuesday evening on the structure of the new government following Hasinas departure from the country.

Catch the latest developments on Bangladesh Unrest with our live blog.
Israel vowed to eliminate new Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, the alleged mastermind of the October 7 attack, with regional tensions threatening to boil over as the Gaza war entered its 11th month on Wednesday.

The naming of Sinwar to lead the Palestinian militant group came as Israel braced for potential Iranian retaliation over the killing of his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh last week in Tehran.

Speaking at a military base on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was determined to defend itself.

We are prepared both defensively and offensively, he told new recruits.

Army chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi vowed to find him (Sinwar), attack him and force Hamas to find another leader.

Sinwar  Hamass leader in Gaza since 2017  has not been seen since the October 7 attack, the deadliest in Israels history.

A senior Hamas official told AFP the selection of Sinwar sent a message that the organisation continues its path of resistance.

Hamass Lebanese ally Hezbollah congratulated Sinwar and said the appointment affirms the enemy has failed to achieve its objectives by killing Hamas leaders and officials.

Analysts believe Sinwar has been both more reluctant to agree to a Gaza ceasefire and closer to Tehran than Haniyeh, who lived in Qatar.

If a ceasefire deal seemed unlikely upon Haniyehs death, it is even less likely under Sinwar, according to Rita Katz, executive director of the SITE Intelligence Group.

The group will only lean further into its hardline militant strategy of recent years, she added.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that it was up to Sinwar to help achieve a ceasefire, saying he has been and remains the primary decider.

Civilians in both Israel and Gaza met Sinwars appointment with unease.

Mohammad al-Sharif, a displaced Gazan, told AFP: He is a fighter. How will negotiations take place?

In Tel Aviv, logistics company manager Hanan, who did not want to give his second name, said Sinwars appointment meant Hamas did not see fit to look for someone less militant, someone with a less murderous approach.

 Hezbollah vows response 

Iran-backed Hezbollah has also pledged to avenge the deaths of Haniyeh and its own military commander Fuad Shukr in an Israeli strike in Beirut hours earlier.

In a televised address to mark one week since Shukrs death, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said Tuesday his group would retaliate alone or in the context of a unified response from all the axis of Iran-backed groups in the region.

The United States, which has sent extra warships and jets to the region, urged both Iran and Israel to avoid an escalation.

President Joe Biden had calls with Jordans King Abdullah II, the Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday.

No one should escalate this conflict. Weve been engaged in intense diplomacy with allies and partners, communicating that message directly to Iran. We communicated that message directly to Israel, Blinken told reporters.

Frances President Emmanuel Macron told Netanyahu on Wednesday to avoid a cycle of reprisals, after earlier delivering the same message to his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian, the French presidency said.

Pezeshkian told Macron in a separate telephone call that the West should immediately stop selling arms and supporting Israel if it wants to prevent war, his office said.

The Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on Wednesday said Israel was fully responsible for the heinous attack that killed Haniyeh, which it described as a serious infringement of Irans sovereignty.

Gambian Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara, whose country currently chairs the bloc, said the killing risked leading to a wider conflict that could involve the entire region.

Israel has not commented on Haniyehs killing but confirmed it had carried out the strike on Shukr.

It held the Hezbollah commander responsible for a rocket attack in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights that killed 12 children.

 Flights cancelled 

Hezbollah has traded near-daily cross-border fire with Israeli troops throughout the Gaza war.

On Wednesday, a Lebanese security source said that a Hezbollah fighter and a civilian were killed in an Israeli strike near Jouaiyya close to the border. The Israeli military said it had eliminated a Hamas commander in the area.

Numerous airlines have suspended flights to Lebanon or limited them to daylight hours, while Egypt said Iran had warned civilian airlines to steer clear of its airspace as it will be conducting military exercises overnight.

The United Nations said it was temporarily reducing the presence of UN staff family members in Lebanon, although it was not moving its staff.

The Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, triggered by the Palestinian groups unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, has already drawn in Iran-backed militants in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.

The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Palestinian militants seized 251 hostages, 111 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 39 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israels retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 39,677 people, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry, which does not give details of civilian and militant deaths.

The toll included two dozen deaths in the past 24 hours, according to ministry figures.

Israel said its air force had struck dozens of terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip over the past day.

Catch the latest developments on Bangladesh Unrest with our live blog.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed deep remorse for the unprecedented October 7 Hamas attack during an interview with Time magazine, acknowledging the tragedy that occurred under his leadership.

When asked if he would apologise for the events of that day, Netanyahu replied, Of course, of course. I am sorry, deeply, that something like this happened. And you always look back and you say, Could we have done things that would have prevented it? Despite his apology, Netanyahu has not formally accepted responsibility for the failures that led to the Hamas assault on southern Israel.

Israels embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu answers questions on Gaza, Iran, and his countrys future https://t.co/3SyW5Vvz7p pic.twitter.com/KqwTBxhMOj TIME (@TIME) August 8, 2024

Probe After War

Netanyahu stated that an independent commission would be established after the war to investigate the events leading up to the attack, with all parties, including himself, expected to answer tough questions. The Israeli PM stressed that he intends to remain in office as long as he believes he can lead his country toward security and prosperity.

Netanyahus interview comes as the Israeli military has ordered another mass evacuation in large areas around Khan Younis in southern Gaza, saying its forces will soon operate there in response to Palestinian rocket fire. Gazas second-largest city, Khan Younis suffered widespread destruction during air and ground operations earlier this year.

Israeli forces have repeatedly returned to heavily destroyed areas of Gaza where they had fought earlier battles against Hamas and other militants since the start of the 10-month-old war. Gaza faces a severe humanitarian crisis with Israeli restrictions on aid and ongoing fighting limiting access to crucial medical, food and other supplies. The Health Ministry in Gaza says the death toll in the territory is nearing 40,000.

Regional tensions have soared since Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed July 31 in Iran by a presumed Israeli strike. Retaliation has been expected. French President Emmanuel Macron urged Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in a phone call to do everything in his power to avoid a new military escalation that he said would do lasting damage to regional stability.

World leaders have been pushing for a cease-fire in Gaza, and United States President Joe Biden spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Tuesday about their hopes for a deal calming tensions in the Middle East. Netanyahu told his Cabinet over the weekend that Israel is already in a multi-front war with Iran and its proxies.

(With agency inputs)
The External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar will pay an official visit to the Maldives from August 09-11, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday. In a statement, the MEA said Jaishankars visit aims to further strengthen the partnership between India and the Maldives.

The visit follows the recent visit of the President of the Republic of Maldives, H. E. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, to India for the swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet and Council of Ministers. EAM had previously visited Maldives in January 2023, the MEA said in a press release.

Neighbourhood First Policy

Maldives is Indias key maritime neighbour and an important partner in Indias Neighbourhood First Policy and our Vision SAGAR i.e. Security and Growth for All in the Region. The visit is aimed at strengthening the close partnership between the two countries and to explore avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship further, the statement added.

Muizzu came to power last year on an anti-India campaign plank seeking the removal of around 80 Indian military personnel operating helicopters and Dornier aircraft donated by India. China for its part has scaled up its relations with Maldives, since Muzzu, widely regarded as a pro-Beijing leader, took over power.

Early this year, he visited China during which the two countries elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and signed 20 agreements followed by a military assistance pact with Beijing much to the disquiet of India as Maldives is its closest neighbour located strategically in the Indian Ocean.

He also permitted Chinese research vessels also regarded as spy ships to berth in Maldives waters after Sri Lanka banned them for a year. However, after clinching an agreement with India to replace the military personnel flying the helicopters used to evacuate the patients from a host of islands in the archipelagic nation, Muizzu warmed up to India and attended Prime Minister Narendra Modis swearing ceremony.

Last month, Muizzu thanked India for helping strengthen the Maldives fragile economy, highlighting the importance of the two countries in addressing the Island nations looming debt crisis and its future development. China and India provide the most assistance in repaying the countrys debt, he said during an official function held to mark the 59th anniversary of the countrys independence.

I thank the Chinese government and the Indian government on behalf of the Maldivian people for their cooperation with this effort to strengthen the economy, to assure our economic sovereignty, for the sake of the Maldivian people, Muizzu was quoted as saying by Maldivian news portal adhadhu.com.
Authorities in Austria have revealed that one of the suspects arrested in connection with an alleged terrorist plot targeting Taylor Swifts now-canceled concerts had chemical substances and technical devices at his residence.

The 19-year-old Austrian, with North Macedonian roots, was described by officials as having been clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State and intending to commit violence against infidels, according to Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence.

Big plans

The suspect had recently quit his job and allegedly stated he had big plans. Investigators found ISIS and Al Qaeda-related materials at the home of a second suspect, a 17-year-old Austrian with Turkish and Croatian roots, who had recently ended a relationship. According to Fox News, authorities say this individual was involved in planning an attack using knives and homemade explosive devices.

The 19-year-old suspect had reportedly pledged allegiance to ISIS on social media shortly before the planned attack. Both suspects were detained after a search uncovered explosives and other materials. The second suspect, employed at a facility management company serving the Ernst Happel Stadium, was arrested near the venue.

Foiled plot

The foiled plot led to the cancellation of three sold-out Taylor Swift concerts scheduled to begin Thursday at the stadium, which would have drawn an estimated 170,000 attendees. Barracuda Music, the event organizer, announced on Instagram that the cancellation was made for public safety, and all ticket holders will receive automatic refunds within ten business days.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer praised the early detection and prevention of the planned attack, emphasizing the seriousness of the threat and the effective response by emergency services. The situation surrounding the apparently planned terrorist attack in Vienna was very serious, Nehammer said, adding that the threat was successfully mitigated.

Public security director Franz Ruf noted that the 19-year-old suspect had uploaded an ISIS oath of allegiance to an internet account. The 17-year-old was employed by a company providing services at the stadium, and extensive Islamic State and Al Qaeda materials were found at his home.

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner confirmed that no other suspects are being sought in relation to the plot. Despite the threat, Taylor Swifts upcoming concerts in the United Kingdom are expected to proceed as scheduled, according to Londons Metropolitan Police.

(With agency inputs)
Police in the US state of Pennsylvania have released bodycam footage showing officers attempting to intercept Thomas Matthew Crooks moments before he attempted to assassinate Donald Trump at a campaign rally last month.

The footage, released Thursday, captures the desperate efforts of Butler Township police officers as they tried to stop Crooks, who was armed with a DPMS AR-15 rifle, the Fox News reported. The incident occurred during a campaign rally where Crooks fired at Trump, grazing the former US presidents ear and resulting in the death of a rallygoer.

Cops Chase Crooks

The footage shows one officer hoisting another onto the roof of the building, where Crooks was located some 12 feet above the ground. As the US officer reached the roof, Crooks pointed his weapon at him, causing the officer to duck and lose his grip, falling about eight feet and spraining his ankle. Seconds later, Crooks opened fire, leading to the chaos that ensued at the rally.

Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe said that the officers intervention likely saved Trumps life by distracting the shooter. If Im interrupted, and I move my gun, you are going to have to reassess that whole situation," Slupe said. Timing is everything," he added, noting that the interruption allowed Trump to turn his head just in time to avoid a more serious injury.

The release of the bodycam footage is part of ongoing investigations into the security failures that allowed Crooks to get within 150 yards of Trump and open fire. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe acknowledged that video footage of a figure moving along the roof shortly before the shooting indicates a failure" in security measures.

The FBI has revealed that Crooks arrived at the rally site at 11 am. on the day of the shooting and spent an hour there before leaving, only to return at 3:50 pm. Local law enforcement first spotted him around 5:10 pm, approximately 50 minutes before Trump was scheduled to take the stage. During his second visit, Crooks flew a drone near the rally site, but the FBI later reported that no photos or videos were taken from it.

As investigations continue, questions remain about the motives behind the shooting. FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate indicated that Crooks social media activity contained anti-Semitic and anti-immigration themes. The US Secret Service meanwhile faces scrutiny over its handling of security for the event, with lawmakers demanding accountability for the lapses that led to the assassination attempt.
The New York Times on Thursday drew widespread ire after it called the anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh post former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas exit revenge attacks.

After being called out on various platforms by people across the globe, the US media house changed its headline.

.@nytimes covers anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh as revengeChanges headline after being called out No explanation, no apology pic.twitter.com/srslFH0rtJ  Swati Goel Sharma (@swati_gs) August 8, 2024

Some people also pointed out that no apology or explanation was released by the media firm.

So NYT suggests that attacks on Hindus are revenge . In other words they must has done something bad to start it and needed to be avenged pic.twitter.com/1917WidfPu Sanjeev Sanyal (@sanjeevsanyal) August 8, 2024

Swaminathan Gurumurthy, the editor of the Tamil political weekly magazine Thuglak and a pro-Hindu voice, also called out the New York Times.

Even more shameless the guys are than I had thought https://t.co/EjYF2olKUq S Gurumurthy (@sgurumurthy) August 8, 2024

Attacks on Hindus

Hundreds of Hindu houses, businesses, and temples have been vandalised following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid the unrest over the controversial quota system reserving 30% of jobs for families of veterans who fought the 1971 liberation war.

India has voiced concerns about the incident, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar saying that what was particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses, and temples also came under attack at multiple locations.

India has evacuated all non-essential staff and their families from its embassy and consulates in Bangladesh, two Indian government sources told Reuters.

All Indian diplomats remain in Bangladesh and the missions are functional, the report said. Besides the high commission or embassy in the capital Dhaka, India has assistant high commissions or consulates in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet.

Amid the political unrest, an Air India flight from Dhaka carrying 199 passengers and six infants landed in Delhi early on Wednesday morning, ANI reported.

According to sources quoted by ANI, Air India operated the special charter flight at short notice despite infrastructure challenges at Dhaka Airport late last night.

Hindus constitute about 8% of Bangladeshs 170 million people and have historically largely supported Hasinas Awami League party, which identifies as largely secular, instead of the opposition bloc that includes a hardline Islamist party.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) said 200-300 mainly Hindu homes and businesses had been vandalised since Monday, and 15-20 Hindu temples damaged. Up to 40 people have been injured though not seriously, its general secretary, Rana Dasgupta, said.

Global Voices Calling Out Attacks On Minorities

Bangladeshi students had just human rights concerns against PM Hasina. Its good she is gone. But the violence now targeting Hindus is wrong. PM Yunus must uphold the rule of law & prevent the targeting of temples or people of any political party or faith from violence. Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) August 8, 2024

Several global leaders have called out attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. Ro Khanna, an American politician and lawyer serving as the US representative from California, took to X saying, Bangladeshi students had just human rights concerns against PM Hasina. Its good she is gone. But the violence now targeting Hindus is wrong. PM Yunus must uphold the rule of law & prevent the targeting of temples or people of any political party or faith from violence.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus on Thursday took oath as the head of an interim government in Bangladesh. Yunus was administered the oath of office by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, as the chief advisor with a team of 13 other advisors, at a ceremony at the presidential palace in Dhaka.

Yunus was appointed as the head of the interim government on Tuesday after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India following widespread protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs. Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work on microlending.

New dawn

While interacting with the media, Yunus said Bangladesh will create its new dawn of victory. I want to express my gratitude and praise the youths who have made this possible. They have protected this country and given it a rebirth and we wish for this new Bangladesh to progress with speed, he was quoted as saying by ANI.

We have to protect this freedom  not just protect it, we have to ensure that it reaches every single household. Otherwise, the freedom will have no meaning The entire Bangladesh is one big family and we want to progress together by removing all doubts and differences, he added.

Dr. took oath as the chief advisor of the interim government. Muhammad Yunus pic.twitter.com/rpL4YzONlH Morphey (@Irtiza_mahin) August 8, 2024

My best wishes

Earlier Thursday, economist-turned-politician promised to deliver a government that assures safety to its citizens and urged them to assist him in rebuilding the protest-torn Bangladesh, as the Nobel laureate described the ouster of Sheikh Hasina as the countrys second independence.

Yunus, 84, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work on microlending, was appointed by President Mohammed Shahabuddin as the head of the interim government after Prime Minister Hasina resigned and fled to India following widespread protests against her regime over a controversial quota system in jobs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first leaders to wish Yunus after he took oath. My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development, PM Modi said in a post on X.

My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2024

Emotional press conference

Yunus, who was in Paris for the Olympic Games, returned to the country via Dubai on Thursday on an Emirates flight. Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, senior officials, student leaders and civil society members welcomed him at the airport. At an emotional press conference at Dhakas Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after his arrival, Yunus described the change of regime in Bangladesh as the second independence.

Today is a day of our pride, he said. We have got independence for the second time. We have to protect this independence. He expressed gratitude to the youth who made the protest movement against Hasina successful and said he would like to stress first is to save the country from violence so that we can move forward on the path that the students have shown us. He urged people from all walks of life to listen to him and said he agreed to take charge of the interim administration responding to the call of the students and youths.

Have faith in me and trust me

If you have faith in me and trust me, then ensure that there will be no attack anywhere in the country. This is our first responsibility, he said at the crowded press briefing. If I cant do it and you do not listen to me, I dont have any utility here. He termed the anarchic activities and attacks on minority communities as part of a conspiracy.

We have to form a government which assures safety to its citizens, he said. Yunus said the country was now in the hands of the young people. The nation is in your hands now. Now you have to rebuild it as per your aspirations. You have to use your creativity to build the country. You have earned independence for the country, he said. We need to change our state structure and remove all elements of fear from it, so that people look at it and think that the state has been formed to safeguard them, Yunus added.

Yunus-led interim government

The Yunus-led interim government will lead the country for a certain period and oversee the election to transition power to an elected government. The Army chief on Wednesday hinted that the interim government may have 15 members for now. He, however, did not disclose the possible tenure of the government. Gen Zaman hoped that normalcy would return within three to four days as the situation across the country is improving significantly.

Yunus, whose name was first proposed for the top job by the coordinators of the student movement that led to Hasinas ouster, on Wednesday congratulated the brave students who took the lead in making, what he said, our Second Victory Day possible, and appealed to all students, political parties and non-political people to stay calm.

Violence is our enemy

Let us not miss the chance by going into any senseless violence. Violence is our enemy. Please dont create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country, he said in a statement. If we take the path of violence everything will be destroyed. Please stay calm. Help those around you to stay calm. His successful anti-poverty campaign through the Grameen Bank became a model which was replicated across continents.

He had been in a protracted row with Hasinas government due to obscure reasons while authorities initiated a series of investigations against him after she came to power in 2008. Bangladesh authorities launched a review of the statutory Grameen Banks activities in 2011 and fired Yunus as its founding managing director on charges of violating the government retirement regulation.

Yunus was charged under dozens of cases during Hasinas regime. In January, a court sentenced Yunus to six months in jail on charges of labour law violation. Many people believe Hasina became enraged when Yunus announced that he would form a political party in 2007 when a military-backed government ran the country and Hasina was in prison.

(With agency inputs)
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday that it is up to Bangladeshs former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to decide on her future plans, and it is not appropriate for India to make any calls regarding that.

Hasina fled to India after stepping down as prime minister on Monday following violent protests demanding her resignation. The 76-year-old Awami League leader landed at an airbase near Delhi on Monday and later moved to a safe location under tight security.

Our External Affairs Minister has already explained that the approval for former PM Sheikh Hasina to come to India was given at short notice. The situation is still evolving as far as Bangladesh is concerned. It would not be appropriate to talk about her plans, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a press briefing.

#WATCH | Delhi: On giving political asylum to former Bangladesh PM Shiekh Haseena, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, Our EAM has already explained the approval for former PM Shiekh Haseena to come to India was given at short notice. The situation is still evolving as far as pic.twitter.com/NsL5sdQzun ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2024

Bangladeshs ousted prime minister who fled to India following mass protests against her government, is planning to stay in Delhi for a little while, according to her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy. During a video interview with German broadcaster Deutsche Welle on Wednesday, Joy was asked about Hasinas reported plans to seek asylum in a third country.

These are all rumors. She has not made a decision on that yet. She is going to stay in Delhi for a little while. My sister is with her, so she is not alone, Joy said. Hasinas daughter Saima Wazed is the World Health Organisations Regional Director for the Southeast Asia Region, which has its headquarters in New Delhi.

Hasinas plan to travel to London has hit a roadblock due to the UKs hesitation to provide her refuge. Rehanas daughter, Tulip Siddiq, is a member of the British Parliament. Joy, who spoke on the current volatile situation in Bangladesh, was also asked if he has any plans to join politics.

He laughed it off, saying: There is no such plan right now. This is the third time a coup detat has been staged against our family. All his family members, except Hasina, have been living abroad for a long time and settled into their respective lives. He also dismissed the chance of Sheikh Rehana or any other family members joining politics.
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, has dismissed reports of his mother seeking asylum in the United States or United Kingdom calling them rumours. He said she was going to stay in Delhi for a little while and divulged details of how he persuaded Hasina to leave Bangladesh after she resigned on Monday amid violent protests led by students seeking an end to the quota system for government jobs.

Joy, in an interview with Deutsche Well, said that he was worried, not because she was leaving Bangladesh, but because she did not want to leave Bangladesh.

When the interviewer asked about Hasinas plan for asylum in the US and UK, he said, These are all rumours. She has not made a decision on that yet. She is going to stay in Delhi for a little while.

I was worried not because she was leaving Bangladesh, but because she didnt want to leave Bangladesh. We had to convince her. I said this is not a political movement anymore, this is a mob  they are going to kill you, Joy said.

Joy said that the decision to resign was taken a day earlier but not announced.

She had made the decision a day earlier. Only a few of us knew that she would announce she was resigning and that her plan was to ensure a transition of power according to the Constitution. But when they (protesters) began marching towards Ganabhaban, we said out of fear, there was no more time. You have to leave now.

Responding to a question about leadership in the Awami League, Joy said that he currently has no plans to enter politics.

For the third time, our family has faced a coup. For the third time, we had to live abroad, losing everything. Except for my mother and me, all of us have been abroad for a long time. We are settled here. We have no difficulties in life here. We are accustomed to living here, he said.

Joy further said that there is no decision for Hasina to move from India to another place.

Sheikh Hasina is well and now in Delhi. My sister is with her. My sister lives in Delhi She is well, but very upset, he added.

Further, he expressed that his mother is sad that her father gave his life for the country, however, the entire family lost their lives.

The political situation in Bangladesh remains volatile following Sheikh Hasinas resignation amid escalating protests. These demonstrations, largely driven by students demanding an end to the quota system for government jobs, have evolved into broader anti-government protests.

Sheikh Hasina arrived in India on Monday evening after tendering her resignation. It is not clear if Sheikh Hasina will continue to stay in Delhi or move to another location later.

On Tuesday, Bangladesh PM President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced the dissolution of the countrys parliament to make way for the formation of an interim administration. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed as the head of Bangladeshs interim government.

(With ANI inputs)

Catch the latest developments on Bangladesh Unrest with our live blog.
Britain and Egypt asked their airlines on Wednesday to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace amid growing fears of a possible broader conflict in the region after the killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

Britains advisory to its airlines to avoid Lebanons airspace came hours after Egypt instructed all of its airlines to avoid Irans airspace for three hours in the early morning on Thursday.

Many airlines globally are revising their schedules to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace while also calling off flights to Israel and Lebanon.

Flights through conflict zones became a prominent industry safety issue a decade ago after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.

U.S.-based United Airlines said on Wednesday its flights to Tel Aviv, which were paused on July 31 due to security concerns, remained suspended. We continue to closely monitor the situation and will focus on the safety of our customers and crews as we decide when to resume service, the airline said.

Its rival Delta Air Lines has paused its flights between New York and Tel Aviv through Aug. 31.

British carriers are not flying to Lebanon currently, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24.

Singapore Airlines stopped flying through Iranian airspace last Friday and is using alternative routes, saying safety is its top priority.

Similarly, Egyptian airlines have already been avoiding Irans airspace. The new directive applies to all Egyptian carriers, including charter operators and other smaller airlines, said Mark Zee, founder of OPSGROUP  a membership-based organization that shares flight-risk information.

Egypts NOTAM, a safety notice provided to pilots, said the instruction would be in effect from 0100 to 0400 GMT on Thursday.

All Egyptian carriers shall avoid overflying Tehran (Flight Information Region). No flight plan will be accepted overflying such territory, the notice said, referring to the three-hour period specified.

Egypts civil aviation ministry later confirmed on Wednesday the notice was intended to reduce flight safety risks in light of a notification it received from Iranian authorities.

Military exercises will be conducted over Iranian airspace on Aug. 7 from 11:30 to 14:30 and from 4:30 to 7:30 on Aug. 8 Tehran time, the statement said.

The ministrys press statement followed an unnamed source quoted by the state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV as saying that Iranian authorities had said to avoid flying in the countrys airspace because of military exercises.

Irans Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani spoke with the Egyptian foreign minister by phone on Wednesday, according to Iranian foreign ministrys website.

In 2020, Iranian air defence units said they mistakenly shot down Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS752, killing all 176 people on board, shortly after it took off from Tehran airport. At the time, they were on heightened alert because of increased tensions with the United States.

On Sunday, Jordanian authorities asked all airlines landing at its airports to carry 45 minutes worth of extra fuel.

Countries in the region, including Jordan, closed their airspace earlier this year amidst aerial attacks on Israel.
A final settlement of the Kashmir issue should be reached by peaceful means under the UN Charter and full respect for human rights, a spokesperson for UN chief Antonio Guterres has said, recalling the 1972 Simla agreement between India and Pakistan which rejects any third-party mediation.

Our position on Kashmir remains unchanged, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said at the daily press briefing here Wednesday. India has repeatedly told Pakistan that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was, is and shall forever remain an integral part of the country.

The ties between the two countries nosedived after India abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution, revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the State into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019. Haq said this while responding to a question by a Palestinian journalist on the UN Secretary-Generals position on Kashmir and the situation there five years after the abrogation of Article 370.

Haq said that the final settlement of the issue concerning Jammu and Kashmir is to be reached by peaceful means in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and full respect for human rights. He added that the position of the United Nations is governed by the charter of the United Nations and applicable Security Council resolutions.

The Secretary-General also recalls the 1972 agreement on bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, also known as the Simla Agreement, he said. The Simla Agreement was signed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and then Pakistan President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1972 and is a bilateral agreement between the countries and rejects any third-party mediation on the Kashmir issue.

The 1972 Simla agreement provides that the resolution of differences between the parties should be resolved by peaceful means and by bilateral negotiations. India has repeatedly said it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.
Russian prosecutors have requested a 15-year prison sentence for a dual US-Russian national charged with treason for donating to a pro-Ukraine group, according to media reports.

Earlier in February, the Russian FSB security service said it had arrested ballerina Ksenia Karelina, who lives in the United States and was visiting family in Russia, accusing her of providing financial assistance to the Ukrainian army.

Who is Ksenia Karelina?

Karelina, who is in her early 30s and worked in Los Angeles, is just one of a string of US citizens and dual nationals that have also been targeted. The state prosecutor asked the court to sentence Karelina to 15 years in prison, the Sverdlovsk Regional Court in the Urals city of Ekaterinburg said in a statement Thursday.

Her lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, also confirmed the 15-year request in a post on his Instagram account. Karelina donated around $50 to a US-based pro-Ukraine charity after Russia launched its full-scale military offensive in 2022, US media reported, citing her family and employer.

Ukraine Donation

Russias FSB security service accused her of collecting money that was used to purchase tactical medical supplies, equipment, weapons and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces. The defendant pleaded guilty, the court said in its statement.

The verdict will be delivered next Thursday. Russian courts almost always side with the prosecution, and acquittals in treason cases are almost unheard of. Moscow has launched dozens of criminal cases against Russian citizens it accuses of supporting or collaborating with Kyiv.

Last week Russia released three of them  journalists Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, as well as ex-marine Paul Whelan  in the largest East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War.

(With agency inputs)
Laman Ismayilova

The year 2024 marks the 94th anniversary of the birth of People's Artist Togrul Narimanbayov, known for his unique talent and relentless dedication to his art, Azernews reports.

After many years, his masterpieces resonate deeply with art enthusiasts, capturing their hearts.

Togrul Narimanbayov's journey has left an indelible mark on the history of Azerbaijani art.

Born on August 7, 1930, in Shusha, known as Azerbaijan's historical and cultural center, to a notable family, Togrul was the son of Yaqub Farman Bey. Yaqub, chosen to study abroad by the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1919, studied engineering in Toulouse and later married Irma, a young Frenchwoman from Gascony. Upon their return to Azerbaijan, tragedy struck when Yaqub was arrested during Stalin's purges on December 31, 1937, accused of espionage. Irma, along with Togrul and his brother Vidadi, was exiled to Samarkand, Uzbekistan.



They returned to Azerbaijan, but Yaqub was arrested during Stalins terror on 31 December 1937, on charges of espionage. Irma, Togrul, and his brother Vidadi were exiled to the historic city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan.

His father was released after completing his sentence and the family was allowed to move back to Azerbaijan, but not to Baku. They lived in Mingachevir until 1956 when his father was rehabilitated under Khruschev and the family could return to the capital.

Togrul Narimanbayov studied at the Azim Azimzade School of Art in Baku, then at the Lithuanian Higher School of Art in Vilnius where he described education as global in content.

The first picture "Dawn over the Caspian", created in 1957, and presented at the exhibition in Moscow, made him famous. The painting fascinated art lovers with an unconventional approach to the topic of work, a romantic uplift, distinctive individual pictorial language, sincerity, and intimacy of the captured images.

His triumph continued at exhibitions abroad. The "Dawn over the Caspian" followed by other works, including "All the Farther into the Sea," "Overpass," and "Stronger than the Storm".

The master of brush gained worldwide fame for his works in all genres of fine arts. His bright works created in various fields such as landscapes, portraits, monumental paintings, illustrations, and theater painting are characterized by genre diversity, aesthetic perfection, and a unique style.

Togrul Narimanbayov loved to paint very large canvases and murals, some of which can be seen at the State Puppet Theatre and Parliament in Baku. He also designed sets for ballets by Azerbaijani composers and did a magnificent set of illustrations for a 1988 edition of the Turkic epic The Book of Dada Qorqud.

Togrul Narimanbayov synthesized East and West in his works, combining the decorativeness of Eastern miniatures with the intellectuality of Western art.

He always admired French Romanticism, while his favorite artists were Eugene Delacroix and Gustave Courbet. Cezannism also played an important role in his artistic career.

However, the rich traditions of Azerbaijani art played an important role in Narimanbayov`s paintings, which are defined by their vibrant color, bold brushstrokes, and impasto. One can describe his drawings as a fairy tale, inviting one to a faraway wonderland.

Despite the pressures on Soviet artists to conform to Socialist Realism, he remained true to his own expressive, emotional style.

The leitmotif of the works of Togrul Narimanbayov was his great love for his native country. With special tenderness and trembling he drew the Old City, the Maiden Tower, and minarets of ancient mosques.

The rich traditions of Azerbaijani art, samples of antique miniatures, and carpet weaving played a great role in the development of Togrul Narimanbayov, as a great master.

People of creative work, poets, writers, artists, and creators of Azerbaijans culture are subjects of Narimanbayov`s portraits. Externally simple and unpretentious, they are full of inspiration, desire, and ability to create.

The activity of Togrul Narimanbayov has affected the formation of the artistic and aesthetic vision of several artists generations. Being a wonderful school for young artists with a rich heritage, he played an important role in the formation of their professionalism.

One of the biggest achievements of the artist is his contribution to the creation of Azerbaijani classical painting, helping the country to define its cultural identity and originality.

Togrul Narimanbayov received many awards throughout his life. He became a Peoples Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR in 1967 and received the state prizes of the Azerbaijan SSR and USSR. National Leader Heydar Aliyev conferred on him the Azerbaijan Republics Order of Independence (Istiqlal) in 2000, and President Ilham Aliyev the Order of Honour (Sharaf) in 2010.

Togrul Narimanbayov passed away in 2013 at the age of 83 in Paris, yet he left behind an extraordinary legacy in contemporary art. His daughter, Asmar Narimanbayova, has also pursued an art career, with her works exhibited in esteemed galleries and museums across Azerbaijan, America, France, Germany, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Finland, and China.

Characterized by bright colors and creative interpretations, Togrul Narimanbayov's art is notable for its emotional depth.
The members of the US figure skating team did not compete at the Paris Olympics, but that's where their medal ceremony was held. The nine athletes were presented with the gold due them from the 2020 Winter Games in Beijing in Champions Park near the Eiffel Tower on Wednesday. They held up US flags and bouquets, and the crowd chanted "USA!" while the names of the winners were read, NPR reports. "That was amazing, more than I could have ever dreamed of," said Vincent Zhou afterward. "Everything has come full circle now."

The wait was connected to Kamila Valieva's disqualification. The figure skater, then 15, led the Russian Olympic Committee to a gold medal over the US but tested positive for a prohibited performance-enhancing drug. No medals were awarded while everyone awaited a final ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which last month upheld a four-year ban for Valieva and threw out her Beijing performance. The reordering of medal finishers put the US at the top, Japan second, and the ROC third, per CNN. Japan's team received silver in the same ceremony Wednesday.

"We're all so incredibly grateful," Madison Hubbell said. "What a special moment for us." The US winners honored are Evan Bates, Karen Chen, Nathan Chen, Madison Chock, Zachary Donohue, Brandon Frazier, Alexa Knierim, Hubbell, and Zhou. (More 2024 Paris Olympics stories.)
Steve Martin is almost 20 years older than Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, but after Vice President Kamala Harris named Walz as her running mate Tuesday, plenty of people pointed out the resemblance between the two men and urged Martin to play Walz on Saturday Night Live. Rolling Stone calls the resemblance "uncanny." Martin acknowledged the interest, quipping on Threads : "I just learned that Tim Walz wants to go on the road with Marty Short." But when SNL producer Lorne Michaels called on Wednesday morning, it was an offer Martin could refuse.

"I said: 'Lorne, I'm not an impressionist. You need someone who can really nail the guy,''' Martin, who turns 79 next week, tells the Los Angeles Times. "I was picked because I have gray hair and glasses." He says he wasn't willing to commit to the role through the election cycle. "It's not like you do it once and get applause and never do it again," he says. "Again, they need a real impressionist to do that. They're gonna find somebody really, really good. I'd be struggling." SNL's 50th season begins next month, and Maya Rudolph will be returning to play Walz's running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris, Variety reports. (More Steve Martin stories.)
The last time anyone heard from Edni Lopez was Sunday. The 33-year-old political science professor and award-winning poet was preparing to board a flight from Venezuela to Argentina to visit a friend when she texted from the airport that something was wrong with her passport. "It's showing up as expired," she wrote her boyfriend in the message shared with the AP . "I pray to God I don't get screwed because of a system error." What happened next remains a mysteryone contributing to the climate of fear and repression that has engulfed Venezuela following its disputed presidential election , the most serious wave of human rights abuses since Latin America's military dictatorships in the 1970s.

On Tuesday, more than 48 hours after Lopez sent the text, family and friends learned she was being held, incommunicado, by Venezuela's feared military intelligence police on unknown criminal charges, unable to see an attorney or speak with her family. Her arrest isn't unique. Since the July 28 presidential election, security forces have rounded up more than 2,000 people for demonstrating against President Nicolas Maduro or casting doubt on his claim he won a third term despite strong evidence he lost the vote by a more than 2-to-1 margin. Another 24 have been killed, according to local human rights group Provea.

The spree of detentionsurged on by Maduro himselfis unprecedented, and puts Venezuela on pace to easily exceed those jailed during three previous crackdowns against Maduro's opponents. In just 10 days, security forces have rounded up nearly the same number of people as they did over five months in 2017, according to Provea. Those arrested include journalists, political leaders, campaign staffers, and an attorney defending protesters. Others have had their Venezuelan passports annulled trying to leave the country. One local activist even livestreamed her arrest by military intelligence officers as they broke into her home with a crowbar. "There will be no mercy," Maduro said on state TV.

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While demonstrations have been far smaller and tamer than during past bouts of unrest, they're now more spontaneous, often leaderless and made up of youthsome barely teenagersfrom Caracas' hillside slums who have traditionally been a rock solid base of support for the government. Lopez's friends and family are at a loss to explain why she was targeted. Since 2020, she's been carrying out humanitarian relief work in poor communities, for which she was honored as one of Venezuela's "100 Protagonist Women" by the Dutch embassy in Caracas. She doesn't belong to any political movement and her social media profile is void of anti-government content. She was about to take "her first trip outside Venezuela," says friend Cristina Ramirez. "I'm still waiting for her." (More Venezuela stories.)
UPDATE

Aug 15, 2024 7:00 AM CDT

Another US citizen has received a long sentence from a Russian court. Dual US-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina was sentenced to 12 years on Tuesday on a treason charge connected to a donation of around $52 she made to a US charity providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine in 2022. Russian prosecutors said the funds were used to buy supplies, including weapons, for Ukraine's military. The 33-year-old was arrested after she went to Russia to visit her family in January. Her lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, says he plans to "take all legally significant actions" to ensure that Karelina will be included in a future prisoner exchange, CBS News reports.

Aug 8, 2024 8:57 AM CDT

An American citizen not included in last week's prisoner swap is facing a sentence of up to 15 years in prison over a $51.80 donation she made to a pro-Ukraine charity more than two years ago. Ksenia Karelina, an amateur ballerina who worked in a Beverly Hills spa, was arrested in January after she traveled to Russia to visit family. She was charged with treason after authorities searched her phone and found evidence of the donation. Her lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, said Thursday that she had pleaded guilty in the hope of getting a lower sentence, and because "it was stupid in this situation to deny the obvious," Al Jazeera reports.
In the week of getting to know Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, focus has turned to the Minnesota governor's financesor what CNBC describes as a "modest financial profile" that stands "in stark contrast to that of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump."



For one thing, the former teacher and Army veteran has no stocks, bonds, mutual funds, private equities, or other securities, financial disclosures reveal.

The only investment assets of Walz and his wife, Gwen, "appear to be via pensions," Axios reports.

No real estate, either. Before moving into the governor's mansion in 2019, the Walzes sold their four-bedroom place in Mankato for $304,000, $11,000 below asking. They'd purchased the home in 1997 for $145,000 and earned $2,500 a year renting a room, per CNBC and Business Insider.
Vice President Kamala Harris held two rallies in two states with newly minted running mate Tim Walz on Wednesdayand she shut down two very different interruptions.

Later Wednesday, Harris was interrupted by people protesting the war in Gaza when she spoke in an airport hangar outside Detroit, the Hill reports. According to the New York Post, they were chanting, "Kamala! Kamala! You can't hide! We won't vote for genocide." Harris replied, "I'm here because we believe in democracy. Everyone's voice matters, but I am speaking now. I am speaking now." After the chants continued, she said, more sternly, "You know what, if you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I'm speaking." The Detroit Free Press reports that she "then delivered a withering stare at the protesters and did not relent for some time." The AP reports that the protesters were eventually escorted out of the venue after a "tense confrontation" with Harris supporters.

The campaign said around 15,000 people attended the Michigan event. Politico reports that around 12,000 attended the event in Eau Claire, just across from Minnesota, Walz's home state. "Isn't it good to have a candidate who can pronounce the name correctly?" he quipped about Eau Claire. (More Kamala Harris 2024 stories.)
A Nevada man awaiting trial on charges that he stormed the US Capitol has been jailed after being accused of making threats directed at Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett and other public officials. Bradley Scott Nelson's "escalating rhetoric" is grounds for detaining him until a hearing, a federal magistrate judge in Maryland ruled Tuesday. In July, US District Judge John Bates revoked Nelson's pretrial release and issued a warrant for his arrest. Bates is scheduled to preside over a hearing next Wednesday on whether to hold him until his trial on charges stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by supporters of then-President Trump, the AP reports.

Magistrate Judge Charles Austin's order outlines the threats that Nelson is accused of making this year, in social media posts and other statements. Authorities said Nelson last month posted an image of Attorney General Merrick Garland with apparent crosshairs drawn on Garland's head. In June, officials said, Nelson threatened Barrett approximately one hour after the Supreme Court issued a ruling limiting the application of a federal obstruction law used to charge hundreds of Capitol riot defendants as well as Trump. Barrett cast a dissenting vote in that case. Nelson said he hoped that somebody would cut her throat "from ear to ear," according to the magistrate's order.

In February, Nelson is accused of posting an image of New York Attorney General Letitia James with crosshairs on her head, and he profanely expressed a desire to see her "head explode, or at least the back of her head blowout." That same month, a New York judge ordered Trump to pay $355 million in penalties in a civil fraud case brought by James' office. Nelson, a long-haul truck driver, also is accused of posting videos in which he expressed hatred for two FBI agents assigned to his Jan. 6 case, per the AP. An attorney who represents Nelson in his Capitol riot case declined to comment. Nelson's jury trial is scheduled for Dec. 10.

(More Capitol riot stories.)
California's governor flew in for the event. Throngs of media gathered, while the City of San Diego warned of traffic jams. The San Diego Zoo rolled out the red carpet Thursday for the first public showing of its newest residents. Visitors watched the two giant pandas sunbathe and chow down on bamboo in their new home, the first pandas to enter the US in two decades. For years, the Chinese government has loaned pandas to zoos around the world in a practice called " panda diplomacy ." These fuzzy ambassadors have long been a symbol of the US-China friendship, ever since Beijing gifted a pair of pandas to the National Zoo in Washington, DC, in 1972.

The opening ceremony included dancing, music, and remarks from Gov. Gavin Newsom, Chinese ambassador Xie Feng, and local officials. "This is about something much deeper, much richer, than just the two beautiful pandas we celebrate," Newsom said. "It's about celebrating our common humanity." The governor recognized the zoo as the first organization in the US to establish a cooperative panda conservation program with China. Ambassador Xie said he met someone on his flight traveling from Washington, DC, to see the pandas. "Two little panda fans from California wrote several letters to me proposing giving China grizzly bears to get pandas," Xie said, eliciting laughs.

Both pandas were born at the Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base in China's Sichuan province. Yun Chuan is a nearly 5-year-old male described by the zoo as "mild-mannered, gentle and lovable." He is the grandson of Bai Yun and Gao Gao, who both lived at the San Diego Zoo for more than a decade. Xin Bao is a nearly 4-year-old female described as a "gentle and witty introvert with a sweet round face and big ears." Only four other giant pandas reside in the US, all at the zoo in Atlanta. However, the Smithsonian's National Zoo is to receive a new pair of pandas by the end of the year. As part of the loan agreement, US zoos typically pay $1 million a year toward China's wildfire conservation efforts. All cubs born in the US must return to China by age 4.

(More giant pandas stories.)
Summary:

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced on August 6, 2024, that the goods and services deficit decreased to $73.1 billion in June 2024, $1.9 billion less than the revised deficit of $75.0 billion in May 2024.





Key data points from the report include:

Exports: June exports were $265.9 billion, an increase of $3.9 billion from May.

Imports: June imports were $339.0 billion, up by $2.0 billion from May.

Goods deficit: The goods deficit was $97.4 billion, $2.5 billion less than in May.

Services surplus: The services surplus was $24.2 billion, $0.6 billion less than in May.

The year-to-date deficit in goods and services is up $22.7 billion, or 5.6%, from the same period in 2023. Exports are up $58.0 billion from 2023 (3.8%) and imports are up $80.7 billion from 2023 (4.2%).

Detailed Analysis:

Exports:

The value of exported goods increased by $4.4 billion to $174.2 billion during June, with capital goods and industrial supplies, particularly civilian aircraft and natural gas and other petroleum products, respectively, driving the increase.

On the other hand, exports of services fell by $0.4 billion, to $91.7 billion, driven by a decline in travel services.

Imports:

Imports of goods increased by $1.9 billion to $271.6 billion while a significant uptick in consumer goods, especially pharmaceutical preparations, and capital goods, such as semiconductors and telecommunications equipment, was reported.

Imports of services inched up by $0.2 billion to $67.5 billion, with travel and maintenance and repair services showing small increases.

Trade Balance by Country:

The US had its largest deficits with China ($22.3 billion), the European Union ($18.0 billion), and Mexico ($13.7 billion). The deficit with China decreased by $1.6 billion between May and June.

Surpluses were recorded against countries such as the Netherlands ($4.8 billion), South and Central America ($3.6 billion), and Hong Kong ($2.1 billion).

Revisions for May 2024 are included in the report, showing exports of goods up by $0.3 billion and imports of goods down less than $0.1 billion, reflecting primarily late-arriving data and data corrections.

Implications:

All said, these numbers have to be taken as a positive development, with the declining trade deficit pointing to a strengthening of the export market for the US. However, the year-to-date increase in the overall level of the deficit still points to areas of weakness. The jump in exports, especially capital goods and industrial supplies, indicates robust demand for US goods abroad, while the decline in travel services exports to the EU and the slight increase in services imports may signal areas of recovery in the travel and tourism sector that should be kept under the microscope.

It is also instructive for following the extent of trade imbalances with particular countries through the breakdown of the trade balances given by country. The massive trade deficits with China and with the European Union tell us that these are the difficult issues that any future trade negotiations and policies might eventually have to tackle.

Overall the June 2024 trade data shows a mixed trend but the fact that exports kept on rising and the manageable import growth can help critics credibly predict that US trade balance is getting better step by step. We should continue to monitor the U.S. trade policy and support it in order to sustain the above-mentioned trend.

Source: U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES, JUNE 2024
Mayor Tiffany Henyard: Navigating Controversy and Legal ChallengesTiffany Aiesha Henyard, the first and youngest woman to serve as mayor of Dolton, Illinois, is currently navigating a storm of controversies and legal challenges that have significantly impacted her administration and the community she leads.

Early Life and Career

Henyard, a lifelong resident of Dolton, graduated from Thornridge High School and earned a degree in Business Administration from Robert Morris University Illinois. Her political career began with her work on then-Governor Pat Quinn's "Put Illinois to Work" initiative in 2011. She served two terms on the Dolton Village Board of Trustees from 2013 to 2021 before being elected mayor in 2021. Henyard also holds the position of Thornton Township Supervisor since 2022.

Financial Mismanagement Allegations

Henyard's tenure as mayor has been marred by multiple allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption. The Illinois Attorney General's office and the FBI have been scrutinizing her activities, including her nonprofit organization, Tiffany Henyard Cares, which is under investigation for potential fraud. Henyard is also facing several lawsuits and civil investigations by the Illinois Department of Human Rights.In a recent development, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was appointed by the Dolton Board of Trustees to investigate Henyard's administration. This decision came after a contentious board meeting on August 5, 2024, where trustees overrode Henyard's veto to halt the investigation. Lightfoot's role as a special investigator underscores the seriousness of the allegations against Henyard, which include misuse of village funds and retaliatory practices against employees.

Lawsuits and Federal Probes

Henyard is embroiled in multiple lawsuits, including a notable case filed by former Maintenance Manager Dwayne Thrash, who alleges wrongful termination for refusing to participate in the dismissal of another employee. This lawsuit is part of a broader pattern of alleged retaliatory terminations under Henyard's administration. Federal subpoenas were issued in June 2024 to the Village of Dolton and Thornton Township, seeking records related to these allegations.

Moreover, Henyard's administration is under federal investigation, with subpoenas issued for financial records and other documents. The FBI's involvement underscores the seriousness of the ongoing investigations into her administration

Contentious Board Meetings

Board meetings in Dolton have become increasingly contentious, with residents and trustees frequently clashing with Henyard. A recent meeting on August 7, 2024, saw multiple residents escorted out by police after being accused of disruptive behavior by Henyard. The meeting also resulted in a "credit card spending freeze" to curb unauthorized expenditures, a move that reflects the community's frustration with the current administration's financial practices.

Political Retaliation and Park District Dispute

Henyard has also been accused of using her political power to retaliate against opponents. The Dolton Park District President, Cleo Jones, claims Henyard issued citations to the Park District for routine maintenance activities as a form of political retribution. This dispute has further strained Henyard's relationship with various community leaders and organizations. On August 6, 2024, Henyard called the layoffs of certain employees "political retaliation" and stated that the trustees responsible would be sued for their actions.

Conclusion

Mayor Tiffany Henyard's administration is at a critical juncture, facing significant legal and political challenges. The ongoing investigations and lawsuits have cast a long shadow over her tenure, raising serious questions about her leadership and the future of Dolton. As the investigations by Lori Lightfoot and federal authorities continue, the community awaits the findings that could determine the next steps for Henyard and the village she serves.
Lucas Kunce, a Marine veteran and attorney, has captured the spotlight in Missouri politics following his victory in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat. This sets the stage for a high-stakes showdown against incumbent Republican Senator Josh Hawley in the upcoming general election. As of today, August 8, 2024, Kunce's campaign is rooted in his personal experiences of financial hardship and his extensive military service, emphasizing a platform focused on revitalizing American industry, supporting labor rights, and achieving energy independence. With strong backing from labor unions and progressive organizations, Kunce aims to appeal to a broad spectrum of voters in a traditionally Republican-leaning state. As the election approaches, his grassroots approach and commitment to addressing the needs of working families position him as a formidable challenger in one of the nation's closely watched Senate races.

Personal Details

Age and Early Life: Lucas Kunce was born on October 6, 1982, making him 41 years old. He grew up in Jefferson City, Missouri, in a working-class family that faced financial challenges. These early experiences have deeply influenced his political views and commitment to advocating for working families.

Family: Kunce is married to Marilyn Martinez, and they have a son born in 2023. This addition to his family underscores his personal investment in the future of Missouri and the importance of policies that support families and children. Kunce also has two sons from a previous marriage, highlighting his role as a father and the personal stakes he has in creating a better future for the next generation.

Residence: He resides in Independence, Missouri, which is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Kunce also owns a home in Washington, D.C., reflecting his professional commitments and connections to national politics.

Education: Kunce attended Yale University, where he graduated with a degree in classical civilization. He later earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law and a Master of Laws from Columbia Law School. His educational background in law and classical studies provides him with a broad perspective on both historical and contemporary issues.

Military Service: Kunce served as a judge-advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps, with deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. His military service is a cornerstone of his identity and informs his views on national security and foreign policy. He also worked at the Pentagon as an International Negotiations Officer, engaging in arms control negotiations with NATO and Russia.

Religion: Kunce is an Episcopalian and a member of the Grace Episcopal Church. His religious affiliation reflects his personal values and community involvement.

Main Policy Proposals for Missouri

Revitalizing the WARN Act: Kunce proposes strengthening the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act to prevent the closure of defense-critical plants by foreign interests. This policy aims to protect American jobs and safeguard communities that rely heavily on these industries. By ensuring that workers receive adequate notice and support during plant closures, Kunce seeks to mitigate the economic impact on affected families and communities.

Energy Independence and the "Marshall Plan" for the Midwest: Kunce advocates for a comprehensive plan to develop renewable energy sources in Missouri, drawing inspiration from the post-World War II Marshall Plan. This proposal focuses on creating jobs through investments in solar, wind, and other renewable energy technologies. By positioning Missouri as a leader in the green energy sector, Kunce aims to reduce reliance on foreign energy and address climate change while boosting the state's economy.

Healthcare and Reproductive Rights: Kunce supports codifying Roe v. Wade to protect reproductive rights and ensure that women have access to safe and legal abortion services. Additionally, he advocates for expanding federal funding for entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare. His healthcare policies are designed to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for all Missourians, with a focus on reducing prescription drug costs and expanding Medicaid coverage.

Reshoring Manufacturing Jobs: Kunce emphasizes the importance of bringing manufacturing jobs back to the United States, particularly to Missouri. By encouraging the reshoring of industries, he aims to revitalize local economies and provide stable, well-paying jobs for residents. This policy includes incentives for companies to invest in domestic manufacturing and infrastructure, thereby strengthening the state's economic resilience.

Labor Rights and Worker Protections: Kunce is a strong advocate for labor rights, supporting policies that protect workers' rights to organize and bargain collectively. He proposes measures to ensure fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to unionize. By enhancing job security and improving the quality of life for working families, Kunce seeks to build a more equitable economy that benefits all Missourians.

Infrastructure and Economic Development: Recognizing the critical need for infrastructure improvements, Kunce supports investments in transportation, broadband, and public utilities. His plan includes upgrading roads and bridges, expanding high-speed internet access to rural areas, and modernizing public transportation systems. These investments are intended to spur economic development, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for residents across the state.

Addressing Financial Struggles in Missouri

Reshoring Manufacturing Jobs: Kunce emphasizes the importance of bringing manufacturing jobs back to the United States, particularly to Missouri. By encouraging the reshoring of industries, he aims to revitalize local economies and provide stable, well-paying jobs for residents. This policy includes offering incentives for companies to invest in domestic manufacturing and infrastructure, which would help counteract the outsourcing trends that have led to job losses in many communities.

Supporting Small Businesses: Recognizing the vital role small businesses play in Missouri's economy, Kunce advocates for policies that support entrepreneurs and local enterprises. This includes simplifying regulations, improving access to capital, and providing resources for business development. By fostering a supportive environment for small businesses, Kunce seeks to stimulate economic growth and innovation at the local level.

Investing in Infrastructure: Kunce supports significant investments in infrastructure to create jobs and improve the quality of life for Missourians. His plan includes upgrading roads and bridges, expanding broadband access to rural areas, and modernizing public utilities. These projects are intended to spur economic development, enhance connectivity, and ensure that all residents have access to essential services.

Enhancing Labor Rights: Kunce is a strong advocate for labor rights, supporting policies that protect workers' rights to organize and bargain collectively. He proposes measures to ensure fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to unionize. By enhancing job security and improving the quality of life for working families, Kunce seeks to build a more equitable economy that benefits all Missourians.

Addressing Income Inequality: Kunce is committed to addressing income inequality by advocating for progressive tax policies and increased funding for social programs. He supports expanding access to affordable healthcare, education, and housing to ensure that all Missourians have the opportunity to succeed. By focusing on policies that reduce economic disparities, Kunce aims to create a more inclusive and just society.

Education and Workforce Development: Kunce believes in the importance of investing in education and workforce development to prepare Missourians for the jobs of the future. He supports increasing funding for public schools, expanding vocational training programs, and making higher education more affordable. By equipping residents with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a changing economy, Kunce aims to enhance economic mobility and opportunity.

Endorsements

Labor Unions: Kunce has received strong backing from several major labor unions, which play a crucial role in his campaign strategy by mobilizing support among working-class voters.

Missouri AFL-CIO : This endorsement is significant as the AFL-CIO is a federation of unions representing a wide array of industries and workers across the state. Their support underscores Kunce's commitment to labor rights and his alignment with the interests of working families.

United Auto Workers (UAW) : The UAW's endorsement highlights Kunce's focus on revitalizing manufacturing jobs and his advocacy for fair labor practices. This union represents a significant portion of Missouri's workforce, particularly in the automotive sector, and their support is a testament to his pro-worker policies.

Missouri Fire Fighters: The endorsement from the state's firefighters union reflects Kunce's dedication to public safety and his support for first responders. This backing is crucial in building trust and rapport with communities that rely on these essential services.

Newspapers and Media Outlets: Several prominent newspapers have endorsed Kunce, recognizing his potential to bring meaningful change to Missouri and his ability to connect with voters.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch : This endorsement is particularly influential given the newspaper's reach and reputation. The Post-Dispatch has praised Kunce's military and legal experience, highlighting his leadership qualities and his understanding of both local and national issues.

Kansas City Star: The endorsement from the Kansas City Star further amplifies Kunce's visibility and credibility. The newspaper has commended his grassroots campaign and his focus on issues that resonate with everyday Missourians, such as healthcare, labor rights, and economic development.

Progressive Organizations and Advocacy Groups: Kunce's campaign has also attracted support from various progressive organizations that align with his policy priorities and vision for Missouri. These endorsements often come from groups focused on issues such as environmental protection, healthcare access, and social justice, reflecting Kunce's commitment to progressive values and his appeal to a diverse coalition of voters.

Key Challenges in His Campaign

Republican-Leaning State: Missouri has historically leaned Republican in statewide elections, posing a substantial hurdle for any Democratic candidate. Kunce must work to appeal not only to the Democratic base but also to moderate and independent voters who may be open to his message. This requires a nuanced campaign strategy that addresses the concerns of a broad spectrum of voters.

Fundraising and Polls: While Kunce has demonstrated strong grassroots fundraising capabilities, he still trails Hawley in early polls. Closing this gap will require a significant investment in campaign infrastructure, including advertising, voter outreach, and ground operations. Kunce needs to effectively communicate his policy proposals and personal story to gain traction among undecided voters.

Political Climate and Polarization: The current political climate in the United States is highly polarized, and Missouri is no exception. Kunce must navigate this polarization by finding common ground on key issues and presenting his policies as beneficial to all Missourians, regardless of party affiliation. This involves addressing divisive topics like healthcare and reproductive rights in a way that resonates across party lines.

Incumbent Advantage: As the incumbent, Josh Hawley has the advantage of name recognition and established political networks. Kunce must work to overcome this by building his own visibility and credibility with voters. This includes participating in debates, engaging with local media, and leveraging endorsements to bolster his campaign's legitimacy.

Voter Turnout and Engagement: Ensuring high voter turnout, particularly among young and minority voters who may be more aligned with Kunce's progressive platform, is crucial. His campaign must focus on mobilizing these groups through targeted outreach efforts, including digital campaigns and community events.

Addressing Rural Concerns: Missouri's rural areas often hold significant sway in elections, and Kunce must address the specific concerns of rural voters. This includes focusing on issues like agricultural policy, rural healthcare access, and infrastructure development. Building trust and rapport with rural communities is essential for gaining their support.

Countering Opponent's Narrative: Kunce will need to effectively counter the narrative put forth by Hawley and his supporters. This involves addressing criticisms and misinformation while highlighting his own strengths and policy proposals. Crafting a compelling and positive message that distinguishes him from his opponent is key.

As Lucas Kunce continues his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat in Missouri, he faces a dynamic political landscape filled with both challenges and opportunities. With a platform deeply rooted in his personal experiences and a commitment to revitalizing Missouri's economy, Kunce is positioning himself as a candidate who understands the struggles of everyday Missourians. His focus on labor rights, energy independence, and healthcare access resonates with a diverse coalition of voters, while his endorsements from key labor unions and prominent media outlets bolster his credibility.

However, the road ahead is not without obstacles. Missouri's historical Republican leanings and the incumbent advantage of Senator Josh Hawley present significant hurdles. Kunce's success will depend on his ability to engage and mobilize a broad spectrum of voters, including moderates and independents, while maintaining strong support from his Democratic base. By addressing the concerns of rural communities and countering political polarization with a message of unity and progress, Kunce aims to build a winning coalition.

As the election approaches, Lucas Kunce's campaign will continue to focus on connecting with voters across Missouri, emphasizing his vision for a more equitable and prosperous future for all. His grassroots approach and dedication to addressing the needs of working families make him a formidable challenger in this closely watched race, with the potential to bring significant change to Missouri's political landscape.
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TDT - Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

H.E. Mr. Vinod K Jacob, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Bahrain participated in the discussions on the highlights of the Indian Budget 2024-25 organized by State Bank of India (SBI). The discussions centered on the presentation by Dr. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Adviser, SBI.

In his remarks, Ambassador Jacob recalled his close collaboration with SBI during his tenure as Deputy High Commissioner in Colombo in implementation of the US$ 1 billion line of credit for Sri Lanka from 2022 to 23 - an important demonstration of the successful cooperation between the diplomatic and financial verticals in pursuit of Neighbourhood First policy.

Ambassador Jacob said that the Indian budget is keenly watched in Bahrain. The headline economic growth figure of 8 percent provides immense opportunities for both sides. This month marks the fifth anniversary of the state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bahrain. In the past five years, two-way investments has increased by 40 percent and augurs well for the coming years.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism and Chairperson of the Bahrain Exhibition and Tourism Authority (BETA), has underscored the importance of advancing cooperation between Bahrain and Kuwait to achieve more integrated horizons in various fields.

The minister highlighted the strong bonds uniting the two countries, founded on a history of brotherhood and guided by the vision and directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Amir of Kuwait.

The tourism cooperation agreement for 20242026 aims to enhance collaboration in tourism promotion, marketing, and activation. It seeks to develop cooperative opportunities that reflect the strong ties between the nations, encouraging entrepreneurs and investment firms in both countries to establish joint tourism projects. The agreement also focuses on promoting tourism-ready investment opportunities and coordinating the exchange of legislation and regulations related to tourism and hotel activities.

Minister Al Sairafi reiterated Bahrains commitment to strengthening Gulf cooperation to boost inter-tourism, creating a comprehensive regional tourism system that enhances its contribution to the GDP. She noted that the GCC countries are vital tourism markets as outlined in the Tourism Strategy 2022-2026, and the agreement with Kuwait supports this strategy's objectives and unifies efforts to develop the tourism sector in collaboration with the private sector.

The minister affirmed Bahrains dedication to launching joint tourism packages celebrating Gulf identity, especially with Manama being selected as the Gulf Tourism Capital for 2024. She emphasized that Bahrain will continue promoting tourism exchange and cooperation by facilitating joint tourism programmes at competitive rates, positioning the GCC region as a unified destination. This will highlight the rich Gulf culture and foster the development of a promising sustainable tourism sector in the region.
Delicious or gluten-free, actress or astronaut  why not both? The brand returns with Annie Murphy to launch the next chapter of its crispiest campaign, reminding Canadians they don't always need to choose between this or that.

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Aug. 8, 2024 /CNW/ - The Crispy Minis brand and Annie Murphy are back with the second installment of "That's Crispy," a campaign rooted in encouraging Canadians to embrace the joy of snacking and liberate their crispy sides.

In Year 2, they'll be taking audiences to new astronomical heights and sending Annie where no actress has gone before  the moon! Impossible, you say? They say, "Watch me." Just like Crispy Minis snacks can be popped, never fried, and still taste so good, the brand wants Canadians to know they shouldn't have to settle for just one option.

Crispy Minis (CNW Group/Crispy Minis)

"What's crispy this time around, is the ability to do both without having to choose. Being sensitive AND a leader? That's crispy. Being an actress AND an astronaut? That's so absolutely crispy. With this new campaign, I'm hoping to encourage Canadians to embrace duality, as opposed to limiting themselves to checking just one box," shared Emmy Award-winning actress, Annie Murphy.

In Year 1, the campaign focused on introducing Canadians to what it means to be 'crispy'  that special feeling of just enjoying yourself, without holding back. Embracing the free spirit, flirtatious fun, and charming playfulness inherent in everyone. Now, the brand is demonstrating what's possible when Canadians embrace their crispy sides.

Breaking the Cosmic Mold: Bringing a Moon to a Moonless Night

To further celebrate this sentiment, the Crispy Minis brand decided to blaze a new trail among the stars and do the impossible  bring a 'moon' to a moonless night. On Sunday, August 4th, the New Moon meant no moon would be visible against the inky backdrop of the night sky in Huntsville, Ontario during the August long weekend. In response, the brand went to uncharted territory and created a bright and bold full moon using hundreds of drones, illuminating the moonless night.

"As we step into Year 2 of 'That's Crispy,' we're excited to show Canadians the amazing things that are possible when they allow themselves to have the best of both worlds, whether that be in life or with their snacks," shared Logan Chambers, Senior Director of Marketing at PepsiCo Foods Canada. "Crispy Minis brown rice cakes are surprisingly delicious, yet gluten-free and 70 calories or less per serving. It's a product that defies expectations  kind of like conjuring a 'moon' out of thin air!"

Launching this week, the campaign will include out-of-this-world moments with Annie Murphy across digital, social, TV and out-of-home. This campaign was developed with creative agency Behaviour and supported by public relations agency Edelman and media buying agency OMD.

Canadians can stay connected by using the hashtag #ThatsCrispy and tagging @CrispyMinis to share how they will be embracing their crispy side this year.

About Quaker Canada

A Canadian staple since opening its production facility in Peterborough in 1902, the Quaker brand features food products with a wide range of choices. For more information, please visit quakeroats.ca.

About PepsiCo Foods Canada

PepsiCo Foods Canada is comprised of the Frito Lay Canada and Quaker Canada businesses. The company employs over 6,000 Canadians with seven manufacturing plants and sales and distribution facilities from coast to coast. Frito Lay Canada is the country's largest snack food manufacturer and the company's brands include Lay's, Doritos, Tostitos, Ruffles, Smartfood and Cheetos. The Quaker brand portfolio includes a wide range of wholesome cereals, oatmeal, rice and corn snacks and snack bars, and features other prominent brands such as Quaker Life, Quaker Chewy, Quaker Harvest Crunch and Crispy Minis. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.ca.

SOURCE Crispy Minis

For further information or media inquiries, please contact Shania Simon, [email protected]
The startup Hermeus is rapidly developing a hypersonic plane. They have begun testing their proprietary precooler technology with the Pratt & Whitney F100 engine. This video highlights some of our favorite camera angles from testing.

Whats a precooler and why are they testing it? The Hermeus precooler increases the maximum speed of the turbine engine by lowering the temperature of incoming air. This is the first major propulsion milestone for their next aircraft, Quarterhorse Mk 2, which will utilize this engine configuration and fly at supersonic speeds.

Quarterhorse Mk 2 will fly with this precooler-F100 engine combination and be capable of hitting speeds greater than Mach 2.5. The entire Chimera engine, which includes a ramjet, will power Hermeus following aircraft, Quarterhorse Mk 3. This aircraft will reach speeds close to Mach 4 and pave the way for future Hermeus aircraft that will fly at hypersonic speeds.



At low speeds, Chimera is in turbojet mode  just like any jet aircraft. At higher speeds, Chimera bypasses the incoming air around the turbojet and the ramjet takes over completely. Chimera utilizes readily available off-the-shelf gas turbine engines  saving Hermeus billions of dollars worth of development and years of schedule.

Most hypersonic platforms are powered by a rocket engine  which limits operability, maintainability, and reliability.

Quarterhorse Development Timeline:

Mk 1: The first flyable version of Quarterhorse, Mk 1, is set for flight tests later in 2024. These tests will focus on high-speed takeoffs and landings

Mk 2: Scheduled for 2025, Mk 2 will be powered by a Pratt & Whitney F100 engine, enabling supersonic flight. This version will serve as a precursor to the full hypersonic capabilities planned for future iterations

Mk 3: Expected to be developed by 2026, Mk 3 will incorporate Hermeus Chimera II propulsion system, which includes a modified F100 engine. This version aims to achieve speeds faster than Mach 3.3, supporting Defense Department testing

Darkhorse Development Timeline:

Following the Quarterhorse program, Hermeus plans to develop Darkhorse, an uncrewed hypersonic system intended for mass production for military applications. The timeline for Darkhorse is set to follow the completion of the Quarterhorse Mk 3.

After the Darkhorse drones, the plan is create the hypersonic passenger jet, Halcyon.

Hermeus approach involves building one test vehicle per year, refining processes, and pushing technological boundaries to achieve hypersonic flight capabilities.

Airbreathing engines are critical to Hermeus goal of operationalizing hypersonic aircraft, said Hermeus Co-Founder and Chief Technologist, Glenn Case. By making a full-range, air-breathing hypersonic engine, Hermeus is setting the stage for aircraft that are capable of taking off from a regular runway and accelerating up to hypersonic speeds. No rockets or motherships required.

The precooler is part of their larger turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine. Their TBCC engine, named Chimera, is a full-range, air-breathing hypersonic engine combining a turbine with a ramjet. At low speeds Chimera operates in turbine mode with the F100 engine, while at higher speeds the engine transitions to ramjet mode. The precooler helps bridge the gap between these two modes of operations by increasing the performance of the turbine.

Darkhorse will be a multi-mission hypersonic UAS (uncrewed aerial system) designed for defense and national security missions.

Like Quarterhorse, Darkhorse will be powered by a Hermeus-developed turbine-based combined cycle engine. This version of Chimera is significantly more powerful as it integrates the Pratt & Whitney F100.

Hypersonic aircraft represent a major step change in defense technology, offering unprecedented speed, altitude, and maneuverability. These attributes allow Darkhorse to operate responsively in contested environments.

Halcyon will be a passenger aircraft capable of accelerating 125+ trans-oceanic routes at hypersonic speeds  five times faster than any commercial aircraft today.

More than 500,000 business class passengers travel from New York to London each year. Flying at Mach 5 would save them six hours on a one-way trip. Thats three million hours saved per year  on just one route, in just one year.

Historically, accelerating transportation networks has resulted in massive social and economic growth. Hypersonic travel has the potential to add more than $4 trillion of global GDP growth per year by radically accelerating the speed of commerce and cultural exchange.

Mach 5+ aircraft solve urgent national security challenges.
One of two men who entered a South Jersey home in a mask and threatened the residents with a gun last year has been sentenced to prison.

Malachi H. Edmonds, 26, of Bridgeton, received a seven-year state prison sentence on Friday on convictions of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, trespass to a dwelling and theft, the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office said on Wednesday.

Police were called to a house on Spring Street in Bridgeton on the night of April 27, 2023. The homeowner told officers two masked men had stormed into the house with guns and demanded that everyone get on the ground, authorities said.

The duo fled after taking a cell phone that was on the floor, officials said.

Edmonds was arrested three weeks after the home invasion, according to public court records. Prosecutors did not say whether the second man was ever identified.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
Blake Lively and Brandon Sklenar at a surprise Texas screening of "It Ends With Us" in June. Sklenar, who hails from Jersey, plays the good guy, Atlas Corrigan, in the movie based on the bestselling novel, which filmed locally. Eric Charbonneau | Getty Images
UPDATE: This story was updated Thursday with a statement from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Four Essex County men have been accused by federal authorities of robbing a United States Postal Service employee at gunpoint last year, U.S. District Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced Wednesday.

Troy D. Corbett Jr., 28, Dyshawn Williams, 28, and Antwuan Brown, 24, all of Newark, were charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. Karieem Stamps, 25, also of Newark was charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Brown was also charged with wire fraud and identify theft.

Prosecutors accused the men of holding a postal employee at gunpoint while robbing the person of a cellphone, keys and wallet in November 2023. They are also accused of stopping the employee from delivering mail, which interfered with interstate commerce.

After the robbery, Brown and Stamps allegedly used a stolen debit card to make purchases at a BP gas station just over a mile away.

Surveillance footage from the gas station captured Brown getting out of a car and using the stolen debit card at the gas station, something Brown later confessed to police after his arrest, charging documents showed.

Stamps is accused by authorities in charging documents of using the stolen debit card at a Wendys less than half a mile from the gas station shortly after leaving it. Stamps was under parole supervision at the time of the robbery, and was identified in surveillance footage from the Wendys by his parole officer, the complaint alleged.

Two of the men charged were previously convicted of drug charges and weapons offenses, according to authorities.

Corbett, who was previously convicted of felony offenses in 2018, was found on Jan. 18 with methamphetamine and a loaded pistol with 16 rounds during a traffic stop after the car he was driving was flagged in a connection to an armed robbery investigation.

Stamps had also had a previous felony conviction from 2020, and on Aug. 1 was found with a handgun loaded with an extended magazine and approximately 25 rounds of ammunition after authorities searched his home.

Corbett, Williams and Stamps were arrested on Aug. 1 in Newark and detained after their initial court appearance. Brown was arrested on the same day in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, and was detained after his initial court appearance.

The safety and security of USPS employees is our highest calling and the mission of the Postal Inspection Service, Greg Kliemisch from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said Thursday.

Since May 2023, the U.S Postal Service has implemented Project Safe Delivery, a joint initiative with the intent to counter postal crimes and protecting postal employees and U.S. mail, Kliemisch said. The postal service has also added new digital security features at many drop boxes around New Jersey and updated locks and keys that mail carriers use to access drop boxes.

Tens of thousands of antiquated locks have been replaced with electronic mechanisms with more to come, Kliemisch added. These updated mechanisms have an electronic component, that thieves will be unable to duplicate, removing the very thing criminals are seeking in robberies of our letter carrier, their postal keys.

From May 2023 to June 30, 2024, Kliemisch said the Postal Inspection Service has made 1,700 arrests regarding mail theft and postal robberies.

Attorneys for the four men did not immediately return requests for comment.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X.
Nearly all of the personal and financial data of thousands of students and staff hijacked from New Jersey City Universitys computer network has been released on the dark web for anyone to access, cyber experts say.

Apparently, school officials did not pay the approximately $700,000 ransom, in the form of cryptocurrency Bitcoin, the ransomware hackers demanded in exchange for more than one million copied files.

Not sold data was uploaded. Data hunters, enjoy, says the designated leak site (DLS) belonging to Rhysida, the ransomware group that breached the Jersey City schools network in early June.

Numerous screenshots of NJCU documents that reveal lists of names, social security numbers, and photos of an individual drivers license and social security card.

A. Harry Moore, budgets, board of trustees and American Federation Teachers are just some of the titles the files posted in the dark web.

Experts interviewed by The Jersey Journal say Rhysida sold 20% of the data and posted 80% of it after the Bitcoin demand went unanswered.

From the data leaked, its evident that personally identifiable information (PII), as well as personal health information (PHI) and sensitive data for both students, faculty, and staff have been leaked, said a spokesman for Cyble, a cyber threat intelligence company that examined the leaked data.

This could have serious implications for the data privacy of the affected individuals as well as potential business impact due to the exposure of potentially internal and confidential documents belonging to the college and its vendors/partners.

Emsisoft Threat Analyst Luke Connolly Wednesday showed The Jersey Journal a glimpse of files that were accessed and released by Rhysida. He did not click on any private files for ethical and legal reasons; and noted that the ransomware group could place a virus in a file could subject the user to a ransomware attack.

NJCU officials did not comment on the leaked data or why the ransom was not paid. The school has focused its comments on what it is doing to help anyone affected by the data breach.

Hackmanac CEO Sofia Scozzari and Connolly said 2.3 terabytes has been published on Rhysidas DLS. A terabyte (TB) is a measurement of data equal to 1,000 gigabytes (GB). The latest iPhone can hold as many as 256 GB to 1TB of music, movies and photos.

I would say NJCU didnt pay the ransom, Scozzari, founder of the cybersecurity firm Hackmanac, said.

That is not a lot of data for a large organization, said Connolly, an electrical engineer who has worked in various parts of the cyber industry for over 30 years. They didnt get access to all the systems. They got access to some systems and they took what data they could find.

It is never a good idea to pay the ransom, Connolly said, noting it will not guarantee the criminal is actually going to follow through on the promises they make to you.

The Jersey Journal will not disclose the names of any identifiable individuals information without their permission.

The university quietly announced on its website in late July that its network was hacked between June 4 and June 10, and that the stolen information possibly included social security numbers, drivers license numbers, financial account numbers and credit card numbers.

The university has roughly 6,000 graduate and undergraduate students and hundreds of staff and faculty.

One of the files on the DLS contained documents from the schools 2007 graduation commencement. A grab bag is how Connolly described Rhysidas haul.

Not all of the (files) are going to be of value, but the thing is the victims dont know necessarily of what was taken, Connolly said. They are trying to instill fear in their victim by posting this data here.

Scozzari and Connolly said the other 20% was sold to an unknown buyer.

They are criminals who try to use the data in a similar fashion, rather than try to extort the university, they can take the data and then try to extort individuals, Connolly said of the potential buyer.

A NJCU spokesman said the university has entered into a contract with Transunion to establish a call center to assist with answering questions about the network data security event. Transunion is one of three top crediting bureaus, along with Equifax and Experian.

The phone line has not been set up yet, but a source close to the university said it is working around the clock to set up the line as soon as possible. The source added that NJCU claims it could not notify the community about the cyber attack until it had investigated the threat in working with law enforcement and outside legal counsel.

School officials did not explain how they they could not do both at the same time.

A spokesman said the school website and will soon provide further information its offer of complimentary identity monitoring service.

Connelly reiterated previous tips given by several experts, such as monitoring all accounts (banks, credit cards and even Amazon accounts) for suspicious activity and changing all their account passwords.

Individuals should consider a credit freeze to prevent any credit being taken out in their name and use two-factor authentication for all accounts, he said, noting that 90% of (hackers) are not going to get past two-factor authentication.

The cyber expert, based in Canada, suggested contacting the U.S. FBI and U.S. cyber defense agency, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, if contacted by a potential hacker threatening ransom. If data has been encrypted, sometimes the agencies can get a hold of the encryption keys.
Nicholas Sacco is going all in, scorched-earth on one-time ally Brian Stack. And Stack, never one to back down, pulled out his own blowtorch.

The North Bergen mayor and former state senator lashed out at the Union City mayor/state senator Stack for calling him a coward and an outdated political boss from North Bergen in a letter to Union City residents last month.
The future of a deteriorating strip mall in New Jersey is still unknown.

The Raritan Borough Council unanimously voted down a $96.3 million redevelopment plan for the Raritan Mall at a recent council meeting  the second time a proposal for the complex has been rejected by local officials.

The plan sought to transform the  decrepit  property into a five-story, mixed-use development, which would have included 28,000 square feet of retail space and 276 residential units.

The decision to turn down the ordinance on July 16, which came as a surprise to Raritan Borough Mayor Nicolas Carra, was in part influenced by the concerns raised by community members, he said. About 25 residents attended the meeting and public hearing, 10 of whom spoke out against the plan, Carra said.

Several residents directed questions about the current state of the property to Raritan Mall owner Lenny Dimentman at the meeting.

He couldnt really answer them, and whether thats because he didnt know or he just didnt want to say, I dont know, but I think that also made some council members feel that they needed to do more research on it, Carra said.

Since the council did not come to a consensus during the meeting on a date to reintroduce the proposal, Carra encouraged the members to vote on the ordinance instead of tabling it.

From at least my perspective, if the council wasnt going to be supportive of it, there was really no point in tabling it, Carra said. Instead of tabling it, just turn it down and maybe work towards something else.

The July 16 meeting marked the second time the Raritan Mall redevelopment plan has been unanimously rejected by the borough council. The proposal, which was initially turned down on May 9, was reintroduced with a vote on June 25 after the developer, Raritan Mall, LLCs attorney claimed Councilman Michael Patente should not have voted due to a conflict of interest. Though he recused himself on June 25, Patente participated in the most recent vote.

Before an amended version of the redevelopment plan is introduced, Carra said discussions will be held with stakeholders, including residents, council members and the developer. Since finalizing an ordinance can be a lengthy process, Carra expects the proposal to carry over to the new year.

At this point I dont think well put the same plan on for a third time, Carra said. I do think that a revised plan would look a lot different if he wants to get more buy-in from council members.

According to Carra, some residents have pushed for the property to remain fully commercial, while others have advocated for a revised plan with fewer residential units.

The 12.2-acre property along Route 206 has remained largely vacant since its primary commercial tenant, Stop and Shop, closed in 2017, according to a preliminary study prepared by Van Cleef Engineering Associates in 2022.

The dilapidated site is located in a floodplain, and has previously been affected by severe flooding, including from Hurricane Ida in 2021. The primary building has been defaced with vandalism, graffiti, bird excrement, broken glass, exposed nails and mold prevalent almost everywhere, the report states.

Dimentman declined a request from NJ Advance Media for comment about the future of the property.

Carra said he hopes a revised version of the redevelopment plan will better address the environmental remediation of the property, which was formerly a landfill, as well as flood mitigation.

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Rebecca Heath may be reached at RHeath@njadvancemedia.com.
As Donald Trump tries to find attack angles on Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who is the Democratic vice presidential candidate, his campaign has argued that Walz mishandled violent protests that followed the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in May 2020.

He allowed rioters to burn down the streets of Minneapolis, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican candidate for vice president, said Tuesday.

On Wednesday, however, an unearthed recording revealed that Trump, at the time, actually had praised Walz for using local police and the National Guard to squash the unrest, which started locally and spread across the nation and into more than 60 countries. More than 2,000 U.S. cities witnessed demonstrations, many led by the Black Lives Matter organization.

Eventually, in Minneapolis, stores were looted and a police precinct was set on fire. Police in riot gear  using tear gas and rubber bullets  ended the violence, and the states National Guard was used to enforce a curfew to enable further peaceful protests.

Soon after, Trump, on a call with Walz and other governors, praised Walzs decision to use force.

Trump said Walz dominated, and praised his leadership, which was an example for other states to follow. Trump gushed that Walz had knocked out protesters like bowling pins.

Governor Walz is on the phone, and we spoke, and I fully agree with the way he handled it the last couple of days, Trump said on the call. I asked him to do that, and the whole world was laughing. Two days, three days later, I spoke to the governor. The governor, I think, is on the call, and hes an excellent guy.

Youve got a big National Guard out there thats ready to come in and fight like hell. I tell you, what they did in Minneapolis was incredible. They went in and dominated, and it happened immediately. Tim is on the phone now. Tim Walz, again, I was very happy with the last couple of days, and you called up these numbers, knocked them out so fast it was like bowling pins.

Walz told Trump: Our city is grieving and in pain. And I would just say ... the peaceful protesters were expressing an outrage that is real. They witnessed eight minutes of a man dying in front of them. At that point in time, I did something unprecedented. I mobilized the entire Minnesota National Guard, and thats what the President was alluding to with the size of the force. But I think again, Mr. President ... I would just say its going to be very difficult. There are bad actors in this, but theres such a legitimate anger. ...

What you saw yesterday was engaging civic leaders and the peaceful protests. And I would just close with, I think, the guidance is youve got to get a handle on it with that force, that is absolutely correct. And then the transition in the next phase is trying to get those spaces for the peaceful protest and ... there are a few things that we have to look at  how do we get reforms?

Trump praised Walz and added. I dont blame you.

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NJ Transits River Line light rail service is in the cross hairs of state Sen. Troy Singleton  for the second time in less than a year  over numerous canceled trains this summer.

The Burlington County Democrat and Majority Whip asked for the Senate Transportation Committee to conduct hearings about a spike in canceled River Line light rail trains and NJ Transits performance in general. He requested that in a July 25 letter to state Senator John Diegnan, D-Middlesex, chairperson of that committee.

At this moment, there are no further details on the scheduling of a potential hearing to investigate the persistent delays facing commuters on the River Line and other NJ Transit routes, Singleton said on Wednesday.

Between Aug.4 and 3: p.m. Wednesday, 47 RiverLine trains were canceled due to equipment availability and 3 for mechanical issues, according to NJ Transit alerts. Cancellations have been high since June.

The River Line had the lowest on-time performance of NJ Transits three light rail lines in June at 74.9%, according to agency data. That was a drop from an 83.2% on-time record in May.

Singleton criticized the agency last September when the River Line had to temporarily reduce its frequency of service from trains every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes during the morning and afternoon commuter rush periods on weekdays. Saturday service also was changed to a different Sunday-holiday schedule.

That was done to resolve engine and heating, ventilation and air conditioning problems with RiverLine trains. Regular service resumed in mid- October.

This year, a high rate of daily train cancellations due to equipment being unavailable for trains got Singletons attention. He also wants the committee to probe problems NJ Transit has had with North Jersey commuter rail lines it shares with Amtrak.

These cancellations are not an anomaly, Singleton wrote. This is the third summer we find ourselves in a position of demanding answers on service interruptions and statistics for on-time performance.

River Line trains are operated by Alstom, a contractor that is paid $25.2 million annually to operate the service and maintain diesel-powered light rail cars.

NJ Transit officials said mechanical issues due to high summer temperatures and a problem with a power unit on the trains are among reasons for the cancellations.

We are working every day to resolve the equipment issues with our contract operator in order to provide the service our customers expect and deserve, said John Chartier, an NJ Transit spokesperson. Unfortunately, the excessive temperatures have taken a toll on mechanical components of the light rail vehicles and have impacted service.

A common fault was identified with the auxiliary power units in the light rail vehicles and replacement units were ordered, he said.

River Line light rail vehicles are one-of-a-kind models that were custom built to share the lines tracks with Conrail freight trains. That means the lead time needed for customized parts and supply chain issues have contributed to delays in procuring additional APUs, Chartier said.

The 20 trains that serve the River Line were built by Stadler, a Switzerland-based company.

In recent months, individual APUs have been received and replaced in the light rail vehicles, he said. Staffing in the mechanical division has also been increased.

The now 19-year-old cars are receiving the rail equivalent of a heart transplant in a process that began in 2020 when old diesel engines started to be replaced with new ones that have cleaner exhaust emissions.

NJ Transit also had an independent team of experts on site to assess and evaluate the light rail vehicles and maintenance program, Chartier said.

New Jersey Transit, for their part, has provided a response for why these delays are occurring, Singleton said Wednesday. But, given the persistent nature of these issues, more must be done to ensure commuters are able to trust and rely on our transit services.

Unlike North Jersey light rail lines, which may have paralleling bus routes, South Jersey riders have few or no options if their River Line train doesnt run, he said.

The River Line is the only rail service in South Jersey serving commuters in this region; there are no other alternatives for rerouting, Singleton said. My office has been contacted by disappointed riders who have been extremely inconvenienced by repeated delays and cancellations, often with little advance notice.

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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @CommutingLarry.
First, she scolded the hecklers. Then she followed it up with the Mom Stare.

Vice President Kamala Harris interrupted her speech at a presidential campaign rally in Michigan on Wednesday night to lay down the law  as prosecutors often do.

[Trump] intends to end the Affordable Care Act, Harris was telling the overflow crowd.

When there was a commotion in the audience, she raised her hands, looked at the perpetrators and shut them down for the second time in the rally.

You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, Im speaking, Harris said.

As the crowd erupted, she held a defiant stare.

Katie Phang of MSNBC called it serious Im going to count to 3 and then turn the car around energy.

Eventually, Harris supporters broke into the chant that has marked every rally: Were not going back! Were not going back! Harris gave the crowd a smirk before joining in the mantra.

She was interrupted by protesters opposing Israels fighting with Hamas. At first, she told those trying to disrupt her, I am here because I believe in democracy and everybodys voice matters.

That was a response similar to Bidens, who often said when interrupted at his rallies that protesters should be allowed to speak before being removed by security.

Harris, however, quickly pivoted to a tougher tact, continuing: But I am speaking now, sparking cheers from most of the audience.

Those demonstrating were led away, but not before a tense confrontation between Harris supporters and protesters, who screamed at each other.

The rally was held in an airport hangar in Romulus, Mich., outside Detroit, where the campaign announced a crowd of 15,000, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, herself frequently mentioned as a future presidential candidate, declared, We need a strong woman in the White House and its about damn time.

This elections going to be a fight, Harris told the same event. We like a good fight.

Bidens handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict had caused a rift among Democrats.

With the president now out of the race, leaders of the Arab American community and key unions say they are encouraged by Harris running mate choice.

Tim Walzs addition to the ticket has soothed some tensions, signaling to some leaders that Harris had heard concerns about another leading contender for the vice presidential slot, Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, who they felt had gone too far in his support for Israel.

The party is recognizing that theres a coalition they have to rebuild, said Abdullah Hammoud, the mayor of the heavily Arab-American community of Dearborn, Michigan. Picking Walz is another sign of good faith.

The AP contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Is this it? Is social media finally in line for a long overdue reckoning? Only believe it when you see it.

As Big Tech blossomed into existence and quickly made a business out of monetizing rage, teen depression, and your personal information, Congress adopted a new tradition. Every six months or so they like to wrangle all the pertinent tech bros in a hearing room and publicly flog them for their transgressions. Then the assorted CEOs promise to do better and work with Congress to draft commonsense regulation.
I was having an online debate with a friend yesterday. The subject was the bill now before the Legislature to ban gas-powered leaf blowers.

My friend argued they are necessary to clear the leaves off his property. I replied that they are so loud I cant do any work when one is nearby.

I struggled for a comparison to illustrate what a horrible, brain-deadening racket leaf-blowers make.

Finally it came to me.

Its like listening to Josh Shapiro, I wrote.

That ended the argument.

Shapiro is the governor of Pennsylvania who was a finalist for the partys vice-presidential nomination. In the end, he wasnt chosen but as a sort of booby prize, he got to give a speech at the rally in Philadelphia Tuesday for the politician who was chosen, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

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Living as I do on the good side of the Delaware River, I had never heard Shapiro speak before.

It turns out he is seen as some sort of an up-and-comer on the Democrats nation scene.

But his sole talent seemed to be shouting.

I gather that Democrats seem to believe that the louder one talks, the more likely ones assertions will be believed

But one wag on the internet asked whether the governor hadnt noticed the microphone and public address system that were already amplifying his speech.

As for the content of that speech, it was remarkable only for the volume at which he delivered it.

I love you, Philly! Shapiro bellowed. And you know what else? I love being your governor!

And so on for twenty ear-splitting minutes.

When Walz came out, he praised Shapiros speaking skills.

Holy hell, can this guy bring the fire! Walz said.

That struck me as a rather strange turn of phrase from a guy who likes to boast of being a Minnesota Lutheran.

But it was something else he said that hit me like a leaf-blower blast on a silent summer morning.

It concerned the senator who got the Republican nomination for vice-president, JD Vance

Ive gotta tell you, I cant wait to debate the guy, Walz said. That is, if hes willing to get off the couch and show up.

The crowd went wild, but only because most were likely familiar with what Politico termed an obviously made-up story about JD Vance having an unnatural interest in couches that has been circulating on Twitter this week.

The story in question states that Vance and his college friends took turns having sex with a lubricated glove that was jammed between the cushions of a sofa.

The wise guy who created that meme also debunked it a week ago. That didnt stop Walz from using that smarmy reference to support his accusation that Vance is weird.

Among my Democratic friends, that is considered a new high in political rhetoric.

To me, its a new low.

After the applause died down, Walz can be heard saying See what I did there?

What he did was promote what the Democrats call a dog whistle, a seemingly innocuous remark that is not innocuous at all to those who know the background.

So much for the promise by Kamala Harris that Were going to unify this country and were going to win.

Win? Possibly.

Unite the country?

To do that youd have to focus on the issues.

Earlier that day, Vance did just that at his own rally in the City of Brotherly Love. The issue in question was the Biden administrations effort to phase out fossil fuels.

Vance cited Harriss 2019 statement: Theres no question Im in favor of banning fracking.

Harris has now said she longer opposes fracking, but follow-up questions are needed, Vance said.

Then theres her 2021 statement that There can be no doubt: The future of transportation, in our nation and around the world, is electric.

You can certainly make an argument for that sort of thing. But would you want to defend it in a state like Pennsylvania, with an economy heavily dependent on fossil-fuel extraction?

So far, Harris hasnt had to defend anything. As Vance noted, she hasnt held a press conference since she became a presidential candidate more than two weeks ago.

Vance took questions from all comers in the press after his rally appearance Tuesday.

But Harris has been ducking tough questions.

I for one would l like to ask her whether she thinks repeating malicious falsehoods is below the dignity of a major-party vice-presidential nominee?

I certainly do.

In fact I think its weird.

ADD - GREAT MINDS LIKE A THINK:

Im not the only journalist who caught this comment from Walz. This Washington Post writer did so as well:

In no less than his debut as Harriss running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), who emerged from a vetting process overseen by Holder, made a pointed reference to a false social media story about GOP vice-presidential nominee JD Vance. If you havent heard about it, the fake story deals with Vance supposedly having admitted to sexual relations with a couch. Three weeks ago, an X user posted a fake citation from Vances book, Hillbilly Elegy, and its been the subject of liberal jokes ever since.

More: Recent Paul Mulshine columns

Paul Mulshine may be reached at pmulshine@starledger.com.

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Scott Kelly is having none of JD Vances stolen valor attacks against Tim Walz for not having gone to Iraq despite serving more than two decades in the National Guard.

Kelly, a former Navy captain and the identical twin of U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, took to X to rail against Donald Trumps running mate after Vance had a lengthy takedown of Walz on the campaign trail. He accused Kamala Harriss running mate of having abandoned his unit in 2005 ahead of a planned deployment to Iraq and instead opted to run for Congress.

He has not spent a day in a combat zone, Vance said. What bothers me about Tim Walz is the stolen valor garbage. Do not pretend to be something that youre not.

Scott Kelly clapped back:

You know what really bothers me @JDVance, is when you attack a fellow veterans military service. I respect your service and the service of @GovTimWalz and all of those honorably discharged. He was eligible for retirement after 24 years and submitted his retirement paperwork before his unit received orders (or even warning orders) to deploy and then he continued his service as a member of congress, Scott Kelly said.

He continued: If they needed him to stay in his unit there is a mechanism called, stop-loss. Look it up. As a corporal with 4yrs of service, I highly doubt the USMC, asked, you to go to Iraq. They most likely, ordered you to go to Iraq and had you refused, you would have been thrown in the brig. Release your military record to prove the USMC, asked you to go. Raise your hand if you want to go to Iraq. Its laughable to those of us who have served. If you win, you are next in line to be Commander in Chief and need to earn the respect of all who serve, and this is not how you do it.

You know what really bothers me @JDVance, is when you attack a fellow veterans military service. I respect your service and the service of @GovTimWalz and all of those honorably discharged. He was eligible for retirement after 24 years and submitted his retirement paperwork https://t.co/F0PS3wQbGY  Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) August 7, 2024

Another veteran, Secretary of transportation Pete Buttigieg, also jumped into the fray to defend Walz.

Come to think of it, denigrating the worth of a soldiers service based on whether he deployed to a war zone is kind of like denigrating the worth of a womans citizenship based on whether she happens to have children, he wrote on X.

Come to think of it, denigrating the worth of a soldiers service based on whether he deployed to a war zone is kind of like denigrating the worth of a womans citizenship based on whether she happens to have children.  Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) August 8, 2024

Vance is a former Marine who was deployed to Iraq.

NPRs Quil Lawrence, who covers national security, climate and veterans issues nationwide, reported Vance worked as a civil affairs Marine who helped escort journalists around the wartorn country. He noted Vance has been careful not to say he served in a combat role.

Theres a civilian-military divide in this country and very people have firsthand experience, or even family experience, of military service, and I think most veterans, they really dont care what role you had with the proviso that at long as youre not bragging about doing something that you didnt do. And he hasnt done that, Lawrence said.

He was in Iraq in a very tough year in Iraq. I can tell you, personally, that it was a very violent year and a lot of the combat in Iraq and Afghanistan wasnt really any sort of a frontline combat gunfight, he said. It was convoys getting blown up and mortars dropping anywhere on anyone, so I think veterans give Vance credit for going and as he says, serving honorably. And he has not been saying that he did anything other than what he did, which was go over and serve honorably.

Trump, meanwhile, avoided service in the Vietnam War through student and medical deferments.

He said he got a medical deferment for a bone spur in a foot, but could not remember which foot when he talked about it in 2015. He added that he did not serve because he was not a big fan of the Vietnam War. I wasnt a protester, but the Vietnam War was a disaster for our country.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
Republican pollster Frank Luntz has been bullish on Donald Trumps chances of returning to the White House after this Novembers election.

But now, in a series of interviews, he says Trump and his teams minds will explode with his latest prediction: If the election were held today, Kamala Harris would win.

Make no mistake, Trumps advantage with the Republican Convention after that ended is gone. It is wiped away. And if the election were held today, I actually believe that Harris would beat Trump. Thats how much things have changed over the last two weeks, Luntz said during a Zoom event with No Labels, a nonpartisan political group.

If the election were held today, I actually believe Kamala Harris would beat Donald Trump.



That's how much things have changed over the past two weeks. https://t.co/OS7WyweVcX  Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) August 8, 2024

And then again during another interview:

Let me emphasize, I do believe, and I understand the importance of what Im about to say, that Vice President Harris is now the frontrunner in this race. I know the Trump people, their minds will explode. But Harris has got the intensity, shes got momentum, shes bringing people back into the political fold that had left when Joe Biden was gonna be the candidate, that Donald Trump has made a series of misstatements, that his vice presidential choice has not done well, and that Tim Walz is a good speaker. Very presentable. Knows the issues. Mirrors her views.

Republican pollster Frank Luntz:



Let me emphasize, I do believethat Vice President President Harris is now the front runner in this race. I know that Trump people's minds will explode but Harris has got the intensity, shes got momentum



pic.twitter.com/ZhPs1pzHqD  Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) August 7, 2024

Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, are set to play up their support for organized labor Thursday during an appearance at a Detroit-area union hall as the new Democratic ticket lavishes attention on a crucial base of support.

Harris and Walz have been highlighting their support for working people during their first joint appearances this week in some of the most closely contested states that will help decide whether she becomes the first female U.S. president or whether Trump returns to the White House and brings along JD Vance as his vice president.

The Democrats visited Wisconsin and Michigan on Wednesday, hoping to shore up support among the younger, diverse, labor-friendly voters who were instrumental in helping Biden get elected in 2020.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
Donald Trump appears to have pulled out of the second presidential debate he said hed do against Joe Biden, but had second thoughts now Kamala Harris is the partys nominee.

Is Trumps pick for running mate, JD Vance, next to refuse to debate VP hopeful Tim Walz?

Heres my offer to Kamala Harris. If shed like to do a debate with me on Aug. 13, Ill do it, Vance said at a campaign event Wednesday in Wisconsin.

I dont think she wants to anymore because, one, she probably doesnt even know that shes going to be the Democratic nominee. And two, we dont know who the vice presidential nominee is going to be either, he said. Hes got a lot of skeletons that are coming out of the closet today, and well see if the Democrats pull a bait and switch on Tim Walz or on Kamala Harris just like they did with Joe Biden.

Harris is officially the Democratic Partys nominee this November. She was certified this week after getting the vast majority of delegate votes in a virtual roll call. Same for Walz.

The statement from Trumps VP hopeful comes after the former president pulled out of a September debate on ABC that he agreed to when he thought hed be squaring up against Biden. Trump, instead, proposed he and Harris face off on Fox News.

Trump has gone back and forth on debating with Harris since she entered the presidential race. He had told reporters he felt an obligation to debate but also said in a recent Fox News interview that he thought Americans already know everything about both candidates Harris has pressed Trump to keep the commitment he made when Biden was in the race. Noting Trumps criticisms of her, Harris dared him recently to say it to my face.

In his Truth Social posts, Trump also cited his litigation against ABC News as a conflict of interest in his participation in the networks debate. Trump sued the network in March following an assertion by anchor George Stephanopoulos that Trump had been found liable for rape. A New York jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll but rejected her claim that she was raped.

But Trump agreed, two months after filing his lawsuit, to the Sept. 10 debate on ABC, as well as the June 27 debate on CNN that helped knock Biden out of the race. David Muir and Linsey Davis, not Stephanopoulos, are set to be ABCs debate moderators.

Trump has skipped debates before, including all the 2024 Republican presidential primary debates.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
UPDATE: Tropical Storm Debby remnants to blast N.J. with tornado threat, 50 mph wind gusts today

ALSO: Heres why N.J. faces a tornado threat during the storms from Debbys remnants

While the latest forecast track for Tropical Storm Debby, which made a second landfall early Thursday, has the remnants of the storm passing west of New Jersey, the threat of tornadoes and damaging winds Friday have increased for the state.

The rainfall total forecasts have dropped due to the change in path, but areas of New Jersey already saturated from drenching storms this week will be prone to additional flash flooding, according to the National Weather Service. Gusty winds could top 50 mph along the Jersey Shore.

Some tornadoes are the main threat, the National Weather Services office in New Jersey said early Thursday. A more inland track of the remnants of Debby places our region in the more favorable zone for the tornado risk.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which made a second landfall early Thursday, are expected to bring heavy rain to New Jersey through Friday night. National Weather Service forecasters say the threat of tornadoes from the storm system have increased for New Jersey.AccuWeather.com and National Weather Service

Isolated severe thunderstorms are also possible. At the beaches, wind gusts of 35-50 mph are possible and theres a moderate risk of rip currents.

Northwestern areas of New Jersey could get an additional 2 to 3 inches of rain by Friday night. An inch to 2 inches of rain is likely fall along the Interstate 95 corridor, while Jersey Shore areas are left with up to another inch. Forecasters caution that those amounts could wind up higher in areas where the strongest storms set up.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which made a second landfall early Thursday, are expected to bring heavy rain to New Jersey through Friday night. National Weather Service forecasters say the threat of tornadoes from the storm system have increased for New Jersey.National Weather Service

Winds inland are expected to be range from 15 to 25 mph with gusts of 30 to 40 mph.

Flash flooding on Friday is most likely to occur north and west of the Interstate 95 corridor. Some river flooding is also possible.

The first bands of Debbys remnants should push into New Jersey on Thursday afternoon. A cloudy day with some rain is expected and highs will be in the mid 70s, the weather service said in its morning forecast discussion.

There could be rain overnight, but the most direct impacts from Debby wont be felt until Friday.

Once Debby is gone, the good news is that an extended stretch of dry, sunny, less humid weather arrives on Saturday. Highs both weekend days will be in the low-to-mid 80s.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which made a second landfall early Thursday, are expected to bring heavy rain to New Jersey through Friday night. National Weather Service forecasters say the threat of tornadoes from the storm system have increased for New Jersey.AccuWeather.com and National Weather Service

Tropical Storm Debby landfall

Tropical Storm Debby made a second landfall in South Carolina on its way up the East Coast, where residents as far north as Vermont could get several inches of rain this weekend.

The National Hurricane Center says Debby came ashore early Thursday near Bulls Bay, South Carolina. The storm is expected to keep moving inland, spreading heavy rain and possible flooding all the way up through the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast by the weekend.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which made a second landfall early Thursday, are expected to bring heavy rain to New Jersey through Friday night. National Weather Service forecasters say the threat of tornadoes from the storm system have increased for New Jersey.AccuWeather.com and National Weather Service

Debby first made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane early Monday on the Gulf Coast of Florida. It is now a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds at 50 mph.

Considerable flooding is expected across parts of eastern South Carolina and southeast North Carolina through Friday, with an additional 3 to 9 inches of rain forecast, as well as in portions of Virginia, according to the hurricane center.

As of 5 a.m. Debby was centered 30 miles north-northeast of Charleston, South Carolina packing. The storm was headed northwest at 5 mph.

Current weather radar

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com
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Advocate staff photo by JOHN McCUSKER -- Many St. John parish public housing units, like these in LaPlace off of Elm Street, are empty having been flooded during hurricane Isaac. The St. John Housing Authority is being removed from HUD's list of troubled agencies.
Jack Karlson's famous arrest prompted 'many laughs' after becoming an internet sensation.

Jack Karlson, the man behind the iconic 'democracy manifest' clip has died. Source: 7News via NCA Newswire

Outspoken Aussie Jack Karlson, famous for his dramatic arrest while 'eating a succulent Chinese meal', has died aged 82. Karlson is being remembered as a 'cultural icon' after his brush with police in 1991 reached viral status, thanks to his profound resistance and claims of innocence.

At the time he was enjoying a meal at Brisbane's China Sea Restaurant when he was dramatically pulled away by authorities, resulting in his iconic outburst which, some 30 years later, has become a meme sensation.

"Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest," he's seen and heard exclaiming as a news crew filmed the arrest. "What is the charge? Eating a meal, a succulent Chinese meal?" he continued before famously requesting for the arresting officer to "get your hand off my penis".

Since then Karlson has maintained his innocence, blaming the arrest on a case of mistaken identity. The 82-year-old's family not long ago announced he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Farewell, Jack Karlson. Wherever you are, I hope you're eating your succulent Chinese meal in peace. #DemocracyManifest pic.twitter.com/ZTFdmxNta7  Conor Patrick Jackson (@SocialObscure) August 7, 2024

Tributes flow for 'cultural icon' Jack Karlson after death aged 82

Leading the tributes online was Seven Network reporter Chris Reason who first reported on the arrest in 1991. The journalist reunited with Karlson earlier this year some 33 years after the incident.

Taking to X on Thursday morning following the news of his death, Reason confirmed the "sad news".

"Mr Democracy Manifest has died. The cultural icon, whose arrest inspired a thousand t-shirts and millions of downloads, had advanced cancer. His immortal words will echo thru generations: What is the charge..eating a meal, a succulent Chinese meal?!! Vale Jack Karlson," he wrote.

Others agreed he offered "many laughs" for people across the country and the world, thanks to the memorable moment caught on camera.

Sad news: Mr Democracy Manifest has died. The cultural icon, whose arrest inspired a thousand t-shirts and millions of downloads, had advanced cancer. His immortal words will echo thru generations: What is the charge..eating a meal, a succulent Chinese meal?!! Vale Jack Karlson pic.twitter.com/nLTuZgJDaZ  Chris Reason (@ChrisReason7) August 7, 2024

Family remembers 'generous' man who 'inspired many memes'

In a GoFundMe fundraiser set up by Karlson's niece in June, following the news of his cancer, he was described as being "generous" to his friends and family. Last week it was updated to say "things aren't looking good".

"I know Jacks video has given a lot of people joy and he has inspired many memes, T-shirts and other things over the years but Jack himself is doing it quite tough," his niece wrote.

"He has never had much money but has always been generous to family and friends. He lives week to week in regional QLD with the help of a voluntary carer.

"Hoping people can dig deep  I think hes worth at least a beer, maybe even a 6-pack."

Democracy Manifest!!



Rest In Peace Jack Karlson, you bloody ripper & Aussie larrikin.



Wherever you go I hope, for you, theres unending succulent Chinese meals.



RIP, you gave us laughs when we needed it most



Ta taa, and farewel! pic.twitter.com/OicMCiEKE1  Punt Road (@punt_rd) August 7, 2024

with NCA Newswire

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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has expressed condolences to relatives and friends of Ismail Berdiyev, the Chairman of the Coordination Center of Muslims of the North Caucasus and the Mufti of the Russian Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Azernews reports.

"I received with deep sorrow the sad news of the passing of Ismail Aliyevich Berdiyev, the Chairman of the Coordination Center of Muslims of the North Caucasus and the Mufti of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic.

Haji Ismail was a great friend of Azerbaijan. He made a significant contribution to the development of friendly and neighborly relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. In recognition of his many years of fruitful work in strengthening friendly ties between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Russia, he was awarded the State Order of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Dostlug.

Haji Ismail's extensive spiritual work in promoting religious tolerance and understanding, as well as deepening interfaith and intercivilizational dialogue, earned him deep respect not only within his own country but also beyond its borders.

I fondly remember the meetings and conversations with Haji Ismail, especially our last meeting this past May in Baku. His bright memory will forever remain in our hearts.

I express my sincere condolences and share your pain in this heavy loss. I mourn with you.

May Allah rest his soul in peace!

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 7 August 2024
Aussies are being warned one simple clothing choice could set them back thousands.

Tourists have been warned to not walk about in their swimwear in European cities. Source: Instagram/Dubrovnik Times

An Aussie tourist is warning those visiting Europe over the summer that a little-known offence could cost them a large chunk of their well-earned travel savings.

Tourist Isabelle said popular European spots have introduced fines for those who walk about in their swimwear without covering up and people she knows have been "stung pretty badly" after being accused of public indecency.

"This is a PSA if you're a girl... do not wear your bikini top when you leave the beach without something over it. They will get you, they do not want tourists doing that," she said on social media. "If you think you can just, like, scoot on through town with a little bikini top, I wouldn't recommend it... Don't do it, you've been warned."

She claimed anyone who walks around in their swimwear in parts of Italy, or in Hvar and Dubrovnik in Croatia will cop a 700 fine  equivalent to A$1,100.

The town of Hvar in Croatia has erected signs to remind tourists about inappropriate dress rules. Source: Total Croatia

Crackdown on public indecency in European destinations

In 2017 the mayor of Hvar, Rikardo Novak, introduced a number of fines to encourage tourists to behave appropriately. Those who walk around in their swimwear can cop a fine of up to 600 (AU$1000), with men fined 550 (over $917) for not wearing a top with their shorts off the beach, or near a swimming pool.

Tourists who are caught public drinking on the popular party island will be set back 700.

The mayor of Sorrento in southern Italy introduced fines for similar offences last year, with bikinis and exposed midriffs on the street a big no-no. Tourists in Sorrento can cop a $800 fine for this. Lipari in Sicily is reported to have a similar rule in place while people sightseeing in swimwear in Venice have also been fined.

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The expensive and new-looking BYD Atto 3 was dumped in a one-hour charging bay for almost a week, and EV drivers were less than impressed.

EV owners have 'turned on one another' after a BYD Atto 3 was left in a one-hour charging bay for 'at least five days'. Source: Facebook

A BYD electric vehicle was "dumped" in a one-hour charging bay for "at least five days" in a highly coveted inner-city location, prompting EV owners to turn on the driver in their quest to have the car removed.

A war of words erupted this week after the red BYD Atto 3 was ditched at an EV hub on Edward Street in Brunswick, in Melbourne's inner north, with many frustrated drivers sharing their grievances online, and two even going as far as penning handwritten notes and leaving them on the windshield.

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, a spokesperson for Merri-bek City Council confirmed they were aware of the apparently dumped car and said they had sent a staff member to investigate, but were not able to ascertain who owned the mysterious vehicle.

People, both in person and online, condemned the driver's act, but some were concerned for their welfare after having abandoned a new car for so long. Source: Facebook

Aussies torn over mysteriously abandoned BYD

Some Melburnians desperate to charge up their EVs at the station were incensed by what they described as "entitled" and "selfish" behaviour on the BYD driver's behalf, but others wondered whether there was a more sinister reason for the vehicle being left behind, and questioned the owner's welfare.

"So much hostility," one person wrote of the heated online debate. "Bad enough there's a 'war' between EV and ICE drivers. Now EV drivers turn on each other  chill out."

Others theorised the car was a rental, and argued perhaps the driver "didn't know how to charge it" and "dumped it" as a result. One handwritten letter said the motorist should be ashamed. "You are a disgrace of an EV owner! So selfish! Learn some manners," they scribbled in frustration.

Another note read: "One hour max, and only while charging, you're not the only one driving an EV." An infringement notice from council to the tune of $119 was also seen beside the other two informal notes.

"If its been there at least five days Id be concerned for the driver's welfare," a woman said online. But speaking to Yahoo on Thursday morning, a council spokesperson said the BYD had since vanished. The spokesperson had no further details on what led the driver to abandon the $44,000 EV for almost an entire week.

BYDs are soaring in popularity in Australia, which is a good thing according to one of the country's leading transport experts. Source: Reuters

BYDs soaring in popularity, in line with rising EV uptake

While the Melbourne driver may not have cared too much for the safety of their car, Chinese-made BYDs are actually soaring in popularity in Australia, with the rate at which Australians are buying them rivalling Elon Musk's Tesla. In fact, China's emerging ascendency in the electric vehicle sector is a good thing for both Australian consumers and the environment, one of the country's leading transport experts argued.

Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Hussein Dia, said Chinas "dominance of the EV market is not a coincidence" but instead "a result of a targeted strategy that built on their strength in advanced battery technologies" over the past two decades, and their partnerships with leading car manufacturers.

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia previously, Dia said Aussies are already buying Chinese EVs in record numbers  and this is only the beginning. "People who drive electric vehicles, most of them say 'there is no going back' because it's so different, in a good way. Particularly when it comes to the technology inside and the energy management systems. And Chinese vehicles are no different," he told Yahoo.

Australia as of this week is on track to shatter EV sale records across the country as new data emerged showing "unprecedented" demand for the environmentally-friendly vehicles, a surprise to some amid intense and prolonged cost-of-living pressures.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Pity Tanya Chutkan, the punctilious federal district judge in Washington who inherited the ill-fated Jan. 6 prosecution of Donald Trump one year ago and has since done everything by the book, only to be rewarded with an eight-month delay while the defendant pressed his claim that he exists magically above the law.

It was a claim so outrageous, so detached from basic constitutional principles and hard-won lessons of American history, so fundamentally Trumpian, that virtually no serious person would countenance it  no one, that is, until six Supreme Court justices did last month, on the final day of the term.

Now Chutkan has to clean up the mess the right-wing majority made in its ruling, which created a shockingly broad yet poorly defined zone of immunity from criminal prosecution for presidents who can argue that they were engaged in their official duties.

This means going line by line through the special counsel Jack Smiths 45-page indictment and separating the charges that involve official acts from those that are unofficial. The former must be dismissed; the latter might survive. The process will most likely include what some legal observers are calling a mini-trial, in which the government would be able to present some of its evidence in open court. Its a far cry from an actual jury trial  which could and should have taken place months ago and surely would have if the defendant was not named Trump  but at this point its the only chance the American people will have to get more clarity on the details of the former presidents role in the Jan. 6 insurrection.
The family of a French explorer who was aboard the Titan submersible, the vessel that imploded last year during its failed mission to explore the Titanic wreckage, killing all five people aboard, has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the crafts manufacturer, OceanGate Expeditions.

Paul-Henri Nargeolet, a French explorer whose deep knowledge of the sunken ship earned him the nickname Mr. Titanic, was hired to assist OceanGate, a Washington State-based ocean exploration company, during the Titans journey to the Titanic.

But the company and its founder, Richard Stockton Rush III, who also died aboard the vessel, misled Mr. Nargeolet about how the submersible was built, according to the lawsuit filed in King County, Wash.
Before Vice President Kamala Harris confronted pro-Palestinian and anti-Gaza-war protesters on Wednesday at a campaign rally in Detroit, she faced demands from the leaders of a group that has mobilized voters to protest the U.S. governments support for Israel.

The founders of the Uncommitted National Movement, the group that mobilized more than 100,000 people to withhold their votes from President Biden in this years Michigan primary over his support for Israels war against Hamas in Gaza, were among those invited to welcome Ms. Harris and her new running mate, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, to Michigan in a photo line.

There, the founders, Abbas Alawieh and Layla Elabed, said they asked Ms. Harris for a meeting to discuss an arms embargo on Israel. After 10 months of war, Gazan health officials say nearly 40,000 people, many of them women and children, have been killed.

In a statement, a Harris campaign spokesman said only that in this brief engagement, the vice president reaffirmed that her campaign will continue to engage with those communities.
Prosecutors signaled in a court filing on Wednesday that they intended to mount an aggressive strategy in Hunter Bidens tax trial in California, saying they would show how foreign interests paid him to influence the U.S. government while his father was vice president.

The special counsel in the case, David C. Weiss, has wrangled for weeks with Mr. Bidens lawyers over what evidence can be introduced when he is to be tried in September on charges of evading taxes on millions in income from foreign businesses. Already, Mr. Weiss has overseen Mr. Bidens conviction tied to the purchase of a gun in Delaware in 2018.

Mr. Bidens team had moved to disqualify evidence about his lucrative foreign business activities and lifestyle from a time when he was addicted to crack cocaine and alcohol. Mr. Weisss deputies rejected those arguments on Wednesday, in a preview of what promises to be a bare-knuckled courtroom strategy.

Prosecutors stopped short of accusing Mr. Biden of violating foreign lobbying laws, which are not among the charges for which he faces trial. While they intend to introduce evidence that Mr. Biden and his business partners contacted government officials, they said they did not plan to accuse him of having improperly coordinated with the Obama administration.
Sandee Kosmo was in her car today, inching along a backed-up county road on the way to Vice President Kamala Harriss rally in Eau Claire, Wis., grinning about the prospect of seeing Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota.

Hes so Midwest, she gushed, after I asked to interview her as she crawled along. She praised his wry sense of humor. His hunting background. Even his ever-so-Midwestern faith.

Im a Lutheran pastor, Kosmo, 78, said. And Walz is a Lutheran!

The Harris campaign chose Walz partly in the hope that he would connect with voters in critical states like Wisconsin. And the crowd that gathered in Eau Claire today  at least 10,000 people on event grounds surrounded by cornfields  was eager to claim him as its own.

Kamala made a good pick, Wisconsins secretary of state, Sarah Godlewski, told the cheering crowd, not just because Tim understands our love for a good Friday fish fry, but he also embodies our shared beliefs.
Since the World Anti-Doping Agency first came under scrutiny this spring for its handling of positive tests for banned substances by nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers, the United States has been the agencys chief critic.

Congress has threatened to cut funding for the agency, which is known as WADA. The Justice Department and F.B.I. have opened criminal investigations into how the tests were handled. And the head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency and American swimmers have raised doubts about whether WADA can be trusted to do its job.

On Wednesday, WADA launched its latest counterattack on the Americans, accusing the United States Anti-Doping Agency, known as USADA, of doing the same thing it has accused WADA of: failing to strictly follow the rules when an athlete tests positive for a banned drug.

In a lengthy statement, WADA said that USADA had gone against the global antidoping code a decade ago by allowing athletes who had been doping to continue competing.
Through April 7. The Ukrainian Museum, 222 East Sixth Street, Manhattan; 212-228-0110, theukrainianmuseum.org.

If you know the name Maria Prymachenko, it might be because in February 2022, Russian forces attacked a Ukrainian museum that housed 14 of her paintings. People saved her art from the blaze, and Prymachenko  a cultural icon in Ukraine  became an international symbol of a nations resilience.

In a way, this is fitting, since her exuberant art is allegorical and filled with allusions to folk tales. But it has also perhaps flattened her. If before she was regarded as a benign, cheery folk artist, as one critic put it, lately shes been seen as an antiwar beacon of hope.

The show Maria Prymachenko: Glory to Ukraine suggests a more complex reality. The largest exhibition of her work outside of Europe, it features over 100 paintings, embroideries, ceramics and wooden plates. Prymachenko mostly painted flora and fauna, real and imagined, from proud peacocks to flowers with eyes and multiheaded beasts. Her style is cartoonish; her works patterned and repetitive, almost psychedelic.

Prymachenko, who was born in 1909 in Bolotnya, a village near Kyiv, survived a lot: polio, the Ukrainian famine of the 1930s, the deaths of her husband and brother in World War II, and Russification. You wouldnt immediately know this from her art, which vibrates with playful energy. But theres mania, too, in the surrealism of her images and the way her landscapes almost eruptive states of bloom. More pointed works, such as War Is Horrible (1968)  which shows a beast filled with the heads of other animals  seem like the flip side to national paeans like A Ukrainian Palianytsia (1984), which depicts a couple holding up the titular loaf of bread. Prymachenko died in her hometown in 1997.
Researchers had to triple check their data after making the shock finding.

Iconic tourism destinations like the Great Barrier Reef (left) and Ningaloo Reef (right) are at risk as climate change worsens. Source: Courtney Greatrex

When pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis broke his own world record at the Paris Olympics this week, it was celebrated across the globe. However, today's announcement that a very different type of record has been smashed back here in Australia hasnt sparked the same level of interest. But heres why it should.

In 2024 sea surface temperatures have been at their highest in 400 years around the Great Barrier Reef. On top of the record-breaking year of 2024, the Coral Sea also reached temperature highs in 2017 and 2020. The results have left researchers in disbelief and they're calling on the federal government to take urgent action to further reduce emissions.

When I plotted the 2024 data point, I had to triple check my calculations  it was off the charts  far above the previous record high in 2017. I could almost not believe it, lead author Dr Benjamin Henley said.

The Great Barrier Reef could be destroyed by mass bleaching events. Source: Getty

There aren't any written temperature records from 1618  James I, son of Mary, Queen of Scots, was on the throne in England and white settlers were over 150 years from setting foot in Australia. So to understand how warm the water was back then researchers from the Universities of Melbourne and Wollongong examined coral skeletons, which develop differently depending on the temperature. They published their findings in the prestigious journal Nature.

Related: Timing of minister's controversial gas 'celebration' sparks uproar

Unsurprisingly, the team also found coral mass bleaching events coincided with five of the six hottest years. This is further evidence linking the impact of climate change on coral.

While the federal government has successfully lobbied UNESCO not to list the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef as in danger, scientists aren't convinced its future is secure. The Great Barrier Reef is estimated to be worth $56 billion in terms of economic, social and iconic asset value.

It supports 64,000 jobs and in 2023 it attracted around 2 million visits from tourists. But numbers that year were down 12.9 per cent when compared to pre-pandemic levels. And experts are warning its on a road to experiencing more "summers from hell" like 2024.

In the absence of rapid, coordinated and ambitious global action to combat climate change, we will likely witness the demise of one of Earths most spectacular natural wonders, Henley warned.

Aussies unaware of nation's massive impact on climate change

University of Melbourne Emeritus Professor David Karoly was a co-author of the paper and a member of advocacy non-profit group, the Climate Council.

He commended the federal government for its efforts to reduce emissions and slow the impact of the climate crisis, but warned it wont be enough to save the worlds reefs, including Ningaloo Reef and the Great Barrier Reef from destruction.

The Albanese government has been warned the approval of new coal and gas mines is putting the future of the Great Barrier Reef at risk. Source: AAP

While its possible to fix the problem, greenhouse gases must be slashed much faster to prevent now regular mass coral bleaching events. Karoly has accused Australia's leaders of working in "defiance of the science" by continuing to approve new coal and gas projects that are "turning up the temperature and putting our lives and the places we love in greater harm's way".

Australia is a much higher emission source than most people understand, and that the government wants to talk about, Karoly told Yahoo News.

He said its bad enough Australia is the highest emitter of climate pollution per capita in the developed world, but theres another even more pressing issue that also needs to be addressed  our massive fossil fuel exports.

Whats critically important in stopping global warming is that the Australian government needs to take into account its export of coal and gas. Because those emissions are double Australia's domestic emissions, he said.

When the exported coal and exported gas is used in other countries, it contributes to global warming. Even if Australia was to have zero emissions, its Australian exports would be still a dominant cause.

Conservationists warn more summers 'from hell' to hit reefs

The report has caused widespread alarm among environmentalists. The Australian Marine Conservation Society warned the impacts on the Great Barrier Reef are worsening.

The Great Barrier Reef has just experienced a summer from hell and the hottest decade in 400 years," its campaign manager Dr Lissa Schindler said.

"Climate change is the greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef. This summer our Reef was hit by flooding, two cyclones and one of the worst coral bleaching events on record  the fifth mass bleaching event in eight years  driven by climate change.

"We know that damage is bad, but we will not know the full extent of the damage until the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority releases data on the coral mortality later in the year."

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The philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah is this years winner of the John W. Kluge Prize for Achievement in the Study of Humanity, a $500,000 prize awarded by the Library of Congress recognizing work in disciplines not covered by the Nobel Prizes.

Appiah, a professor of philosophy and law at New York University, is an author of more than a dozen books and is known for scholarly contributions to philosophy relating to ethics, language, nationality and race. His books include In My Fathers House: Africa in the Philosophy of Culture (1992) and The Honor Code: How Moral Revolutions Happen (2010).

He is also, as The Ethicist, the columnist for The New York Times Magazine who responds to reader-submitted moral dilemmas and interpersonal arguments with ethical frameworks. Recent columns have responded to a reader who wrote a novel inspired by an adulterous friend and another who wanted straight women to stop calling their friends girlfriends.

In a statement, Carla Hayden, the librarian of Congress, called Appiahs philosophical work elegant, groundbreaking and highly respected. Timothy Frye, a Columbia University professor and a member of the Librarys Scholars Council, praised Appiahs moving effortlessly between academic and public discourse on subjects including privilege and power.
In Spanish, ruidosa means noisy, loud, roaring, rumbling and attention-grabbing. The final a makes it a feminine adjective.

Its the name that Francisca Valenzuela, an American-born Chilean songwriter, chose when she decided to create a festival, and an organization, dedicated to getting Latina musicians heard  and defying the gender imbalance across the music business. Since 2016, Ruidosa Fests have taken place across Latin America, presenting female-led acts from multiple countries and gathering industry figures for panel discussions and strategic networking.

On Saturday, New York City gets its first Ruidosa Fest, with 10 acts on multiple stages at Lincoln Center, followed by a silent disco D.J. set. At 3 p.m., before live music begins at 4:30, journalists and media executives will speak on a panel titled Latinx to the Front: Nuestro Ruido (Our Noise) Is Worldwide. The festival is part of Lincoln Centers Summer for the City series, and the days admission is free.

Ruidosas lineup is filled with genre-stretching musicians: electronic experimenters, pop adepts and songwriters bringing new thoughts to traditional forms.
What books are on your night stand?

Jan Morriss Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere. Its about the city she first visited as a soldier after World War II  and about the weirdness of time and history. Also Fernanda Eberstadts nervy Bite Your Friends, stories of artists and activists who use their bodies to defy the status quo. And Caoilinn Hughess The Alternatives and Jenny Erpenbecks Kairos, both up next, that is after I finish War and Peace.

What book would people be surprised to find on your shelves?

Brenda Starr, Girl Reporter, by Dale Messick.

How do you organize your books?

I dont. Mine is an orderly disorder: I keep the books Im reading and using for work near at hand, even if that means on the floor around my desk. As for the rest, my husband, whose organization skills rank among his many gifts, arranges them according to category and then, within those categories, he alphabetizes. His is an orderly order.

Describe your ideal reading experience.

Reading a novel in the wee hours of the morning, when the city is quiet. I curl up on the couch beneath my favorite bookcases, and often stay there until the sky is streaked with morning light.
Antiracism protesters gathered in Britain

Thousands of police officers were mobilized across Britain yesterday amid fears of a new round of anti-immigrant riots, after far-right groups called for further protests. But at least as of early evening, large far-right demonstrations had not materialized, and only a handful of arrests had been made.

Instead, thousands of antiracism protesters gathered across the country, including in Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool and London. Some of those demonstrations were close to places that had been identified as potential targets for rioters.

In Liverpool, people banged drums, chanted Fascists out! and held signs that read Love Not Hate, as a helicopter circled overhead. The gathering was diverse, made up of locals who were surprised that their street had become the center of a demonstration, as well as union groups and others who voiced condemnation of the recent violence.

Context: Rioters have clashed with the police, set cars afire and targeted mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers over the past week. The chaos was fueled in part by an online disinformation campaign after a deadly knife attack on a childrens event in northwestern England.
Trump and Harris agreed to debate in September

Donald Trump suggested that he was eager to face off with Vice President Kamala Harris yesterday during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, and he proposed three dates for debates. The ABC network confirmed that it would host the two candidates for a debate on Sept. 10.

The conference was the former presidents first public appearance since Harris became the Democratic nominee, and it signified an effort to recapture political momentum. His points were familiar: that Harris was weak on the issues of crime and protecting the U.S. border with Mexico, and he described her as a radical left person who was very, very bad to Israel and very bad to Jewish people.

Trump also took personal shots, saying that Harris wasnt smart enough to do a news conference and repeatedly mispronouncing her first name.
Just how big is the market for news about the news?

Thats a question that Oliver Darcy, a veteran media reporter, is poised to answer. He announced on Thursday that he would leave his longtime perch at CNN, where he writes the widely read Reliable Sources newsletter, to start an independent, subscription-based news site dedicated to the media industry.

Mr. Darcy, 33, is tossing his fedora into a crowded ring. Puck, another digital outlet, has found success with bespoke emails focused on media gossip in Manhattan, Hollywood and Washington. Semafor recently debuted a media-focused podcast, Mixed Signals, and The Hollywood Reporter beefed up its media coverage this year.

Mr. Darcys new venture, called Status, will be similar to the daily media digest that he helped lead for four years at CNN, with a mix of reporting, commentary and analysis. Topics will range from Silicon Valley to presidential politics to the effects of artificial intelligence technology on news consumption.

We are trying to connect all these dots on a nightly basis, he said in an interview.

Reliable Sources, founded in 2015 by the journalist Brian Stelter, is distributed free by CNN. Subscriptions to Mr. Darcys version will begin at $15 a month or $150 per year; an elite membership, with perks like private Zoom calls, is available for $595 annually. The first issue is set to appear on Monday.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, one of the worlds biggest makers of advanced computer chips, announced plans in May 2020 to build a facility on the outskirts of Phoenix. Four years later, the company has yet to start selling semiconductors made in Arizona.

The Taiwanese companys presence in the state was viewed as an all-around win: It would boost advanced chip making in the United States and help diversify TSMCs manufacturing away from Taiwan, an island democracy that is the focus of increasingly aggressive geopolitical claims by China. TSMC has committed $65 billion to the project, and in April, the Biden administration announced that the company would receive a $6.6 billion grant funded by the CHIPS and Science Act.

American officials have long been concerned about the countrys reliance on TSMC. Gina M. Raimondo, the U.S. commerce secretary, has said America buys 92 percent of its leading edge chips from Taiwan. The TSMC factory in Arizona stands as a test of American efforts to diversify its reliance on chips produced overseas.

In Taiwan, TSMC has honed a highly complex manufacturing process: A network of skilled engineers and specialized suppliers, backed by government support, etches microscopic pathways into pieces of silicon known as wafers.
This year is on track to be the warmest on record after the previous high set in 2023, according to the European Unions Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Two days in July were the hottest days on record in a data set that extends back to 1940. The month was the second-warmest July on record, ending the more than yearlong streak of global monthly temperature records.

July was only 0.04 degrees Celsius lower than the previous high set in July 2023. These temperatures led to heat waves that impacted millions of people in the United States.
More than a half century after federal regulators banned most psychedelic compounds, the Food and Drug Administration is nearing a decision on a novel treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder that pairs talk therapy with MDMA, the club drug commonly known as Ecstasy or Molly.

The decision, which is expected in the coming days, has generated a groundswell of lobbying by veterans groups, researchers and members of Congress from both parties. Eighty lawmakers signed letters to the Biden administration this week, urging the F.D.A. to approve the application by the drug company Lykos Therapeutics.

The campaign was prompted in part by an expert panels overwhelming rejection in June of Lykoss application, because of what participants said were flaws in the companys clinical trials and insufficient data.

We have a mental health crisis and a suicide epidemic, with thousands of military veterans taking their own lives every year, said Representative Jack Bergman, Republican of Michigan and a former Marine Corps general who helped organize the letters 60 backers in the House. I would just ask the F.D.A. to consider the negative ramifications of them not taking action, which means more veterans will die needlessly.
We had now climbed the hilltop to a position the rebels had seized, a stony outcrop where a city of more than 100,000 people spread out across a lush African plain. Through a pair of binoculars, I could make out Kaduglis residents beginning their day in what was still territory held by the government. Kadugli once served as a staging ground for a slow ethnic slaughter as the Sudanese regime tried to wipe out the rebels in the surrounding mountains. Villagers paid the price instead, as entire settlements were destroyed by barrel bombs. Many families hid in caves. But the dictatorship fell in 2019, and last year, the two generals who seized power in its wake turned against each other. A new civil war began.

Now, in this valley, the tables had turned: As the generals fought each other elsewhere, the rebels were on the offensive.
Australian saltwater crocodiles are growing in numbers and physical size. A fisherman's image, taken on the Ord River, shows just how big they can be.

Rodney Fischer was cruising the Ord River in WA's Kimberly region when they spotted the large crocodile on the riverbank, which he said was easily 5.3 metres or more. Source: Rodney Fischer

For Rodney Fischer, a large crocodile basking in the sun mere metres from his boat is an all too familiar sight. Especially as the fisherman cruises the Ord River in the Kimberley region of Western Australia where they're known to frequent.

But a recent sighting along the riverbank even surprised him, because it was much bigger than any he was used to seeing. "It had to be 5.3 metres or something, it was a big boy. Anything over five meters is just huge," he told Yahoo News Australia.

Fischer, who lives in the remote region of East Kimberley at the very top of the state, was on the water in a boat with his daughter and her partner at the time. "We just went fishing that day and I spotted it from the other side of the river," he said.

'Big, beautiful croc' captured on camera

A photo taken using a drone shows the sheer size of it compared to that of their boat. At a glance, it appears to be significantly longer than the vessel.

At first, they assumed the predator was roughly four metres  the average male is about 4.2 metres. While female crocodiles tend to be smaller, usually a maximum length of about three or three-and-a-half metres. But a closer look made them "realise how big it really was".

The fisherman got up close with the huge 5.3m croc which was basking in the sun on the riverbank. Source: Rodney Fischer

"We'd seen a few that day and I saw that one and thought, 'Oh, that's bigger than four meters'. We cruised over and had a look," he said. "Once we got up near it, we realised how big it was. It's a beautiful big croc  all its limbs attached and the tail tip.

"We saw it a couple of hours later, too, just a bit further along [the river]," he added. "It let us come right up to the edge of the bank, it didn't mind. We were probably about five meters from it."

One of the biggest crocodiles seen in Australia in recent times

At Fischer's estimate of 5.3m, the huge croc is one of the biggest seen anywhere in Australia in recent times. Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife caught a saltwater crocodile in Darwin Harbour in 2018 it said would have been 5.3m long if it wasn't missing 60cm of its tail.

In 2020, Queensland authorities removed a five-metre crocodile from a cane drain close to a swimming area at Babinda near Cairns. Guinness World Records in 2011 said the biggest crocodile in captivity at the time was 5.48m-long Cassius, kept at a wildlife zoo on Green Island, Queensland. Australia's largest known crocodile was 8.64m when it was shot dead on the Norman River in northwest Queensland in 1957.

Crocodile population growing in line with their physical size

Earlier this year, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) conducted a survey across East Kimberley rivers  including the King, Ord and Berkerly rivers  to examine and "track the recovery of crocodiles" after historical overharvesting. They found crocodile numbers are on the rise and the average size of the predators has also grown.

Crocodiles in the Ord River often feed on cattle, making them much, much bigger in size. Source: Rodney Fischer

But the results aren't too surprising says Fischer, especially in the Ord River region. He says the saltwater crocodile population  found in NT, WA and Far North Queensland  is "just getting back to a healthy amount" after becoming protected in the 70s. Before that, crocodiles were regularly killed  and their eggs taken  en masse for their skin.

$800,000 in livestock lost to hungry crocs each year

As for their size, they're often much, much bigger in that river too, mostly due to food supply.

"Here on the Ord River, there's an endless supply of cattle. So the crocodiles are getting big quicker at a younger age," he explained.

Rodney says the wallabies are a common food source for the Ord River crocodiles. Source: Rodney Fischer

Last month, Fischer captured a "magnificent" photo showing a large saltwater crocodile drag a calf through waters in the area. He said wild crocs killing domestic cows is all too prevalent in the area, personally having spotted cow carcasses on riverbanks and along the water's edge.

He said farmers lose about "three cows a day or 1,000 per year", worth about $800,000. Wallabies are often a popular food source for the Ord River crocs.

"I haven't seen any get taken, but a friend has seen wallabies get taken by crocs down on the Ord. Every now and then you come across half a wallaby on the bank," Fischer previously told Yahoo.

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Three Columbia University deans who exchanged disparaging text messages that the university president said touched on ancient antisemitic tropes during a forum about Jewish issues in May are resigning, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

The deans, who had responsibility for undergraduate student affairs, sent the biting and sarcastic messages as they reacted in real time to Jewish speakers expressing concern about antisemitism on campus during the two-hour event.

In June, Nemat Shafik, the university president, placed the three deans on indefinite leave as an investigation proceeded.

In the texts, one dean suggested that a Jewish speaker was playing up concerns for fund-raising purposes. Another sent vomit emojis in reaction to the mention of a college newspaper opinion piece written by one of the schools rabbis.
This essay is part of What to Eat on a Burning Planet, a series exploring bold ideas to secure our food supply. Read more about this project in a note from Eliza Barclay, Opinions climate editor.

Its hard to find drinking water in La Guajira, an arid peninsula in northern Colombia, where drought and overuse are sucking wells and small reservoirs dry.

When theres no water, people turn to soda.

Over the last two decades, as climate change has grown worse, sales have skyrocketed in Colombia, with junk food companies heavily marketing their products to children. In 2017, the countrys largest soft drink manufacturer gave free sugary fruit drinks to thousands of young people in La Guajira under the guise of ending malnutrition. As of 2020, children there still had a malnutrition mortality rate that was six times the national average.

As a global nutrition researcher, I frequently hear about food companies boosting their marketing campaigns for sugary drinks and ultraprocessed foods, like prepackaged cookies and crackers, as climate change disrupts food and water supplies. Whats clear is that the companies are taking advantage of worsening environmental conditions to increase their profits. To stave off a major public health crisis, governments will have to double their efforts to make sure everyone has access to healthy food and clean water.
The size of the crowd at a rally for Vice President Kamala Harris in Atlanta last month rivaled the turnout for Donald Trump days later only because she had entertainers, Trump told the audience at his event, referring to the rappers Quavo and Megan Thee Stallion. I dont need entertainers.

Translation: Harris cheated. Even so, she didnt get the better of him.

She isnt really Black but happened to turn Black over the course of her political career. Thats what Trump said at a meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists, insinuating that Harris had performed a melanin metamorphosis and was falsely improvising identities to contrive some perk unavailable to him.

Poor Trump. Always forced to compete on an uneven playing field.

Of all his feats of projection, which is psychologys term for seeing your own methods and motivations in someone else, none fascinates me more than his incessant insistence that every one of his adversaries  that everyone, period  is the beneficiary of some scheme or scam that puts him at a disadvantage. If he triumphs nonetheless? Its a testament to his peerless might. If he doesnt? It was never a fair fight.

Hes the prince of self-pity, the bard of bellyaching, reportedly worked up over the imagined injustice or trickery of Harriss late replacement of President Biden on the Democratic ticket. According to an article in The Washington Post this week, he told an ally: Its unfair that I beat him and now I have to beat her, too.
No regrets. Its a phrase you come across a lot these days. Its on T-shirts and bumper stickers. Its in Instagram bios and pop songs. It is tattooed on forearms and emblazoned on the covers of self-help books.

At first glance, it seems like a pretty straightforward bit of wisdom. After all, regret is a dirty word. It suggests a dark, anxious way of looking at the world and calls to mind sleepless nights spent stewing over past mistakes. Who wants to live that way? Wouldnt it be better, and healthier, to simply move on?

No regrets. Its a nice idea. But is it real? Does anyone actually live a life completely free of regret?

Who among us hasnt spent at least one fitful night thinking over something we said or did that we wish we could take back  a cruel comment made in a moment of anger, the not-so-white lie we told our partner, the knee-jerk decision to quit a job or end a friendship.



Eventually, we push these thoughts out of our minds and drift off to sleep. But perhaps we shouldnt discard them so quickly. Perhaps, if we sat with it for a minute, regret could teach us something.
Very soon, the federal government may authorize the killing of nearly a half-million barred owls in the Pacific Northwest in a desperate bid to save the northern spotted owl. The killing could go on for decades.

As philosophers in Oregon whose work focuses on scientific and ethical issues regarding animals and the environment, we believe that the reasons given for this mass slaughter are deeply problematic. More broadly, this attempt to pick ecological winners and losers in a rapidly changing world shows how ill equipped the Endangered Species Act is to protect rare and important ecosystems.

Barred and spotted owls are related species that probably diverged about seven million years ago. Barred owls, which are considered native to the eastern United States, are increasingly appearing in the Pacific Northwests old-growth forests where the threatened northern spotted owls breed and live. Where the two birds overlap, the barred owls tend to outcompete the northern spotted owls, taking the best nest sites and harassing, killing or occasionally mating with spotted owls.

In the 1980s, the northern spotted owl became the centerpiece of a bitter controversy over the logging of old-growth forests, which it depends on for its survival. By 1990, its numbers had dwindled to the point that the federal government classified the bird as threatened, which led to sharp limits on logging in its territory. Nonetheless, its numbers have continued to decline because of the ongoing loss of its habitat  and the competition with the barred owl.
Guided tours of Rockefeller Center dont usually start with cocktails and bar snacks at the upscale French restaurant Le Rock. Nor do they typically end with pasta and a 30-layer chocolate cake at Jupiter, a popular Italian restaurant at the plaza in Midtown Manhattan.

But Beverly Nguyen, who led a group around Rockefeller Center on a recent Tuesday evening, is not your standard tour guide. For the group of marketing and public-relations executives from brands like Ralph Lauren, Cartier and Versace that she was showing around, Ms. Nguyen had arranged access to some special spaces, she said, while standing in front of Isamu Noguchis plaque sculpture News, carved into the facade of one of the plazas Art Deco-style buildings.

Though not a household name, Ms. Nguyen, 33, has, through a multi-hyphenate career, made a name for herself in various industries.

She is a fashion stylist and consultant who has worked with clothing brands like Kallmeyer and magazines like HommeGirls. She is the living editor at Family Style, a quarterly food and culture magazine. She is the owner of a home-goods store, Beverlys, and became the first Asian American woman to have a shop at Rockefeller Center when she opened a Beverlys pop-up in the plaza in 2021. (It has since moved to a permanent location on Orchard Street on the Lower East Side, not far from where Ms. Nguyen lives in Dimes Square, a neighborhood buzzing with young creative types.)
Adam Lemire, an architect in Gardiner, Maine, came through with the winning design.

Credit... State of Maine/Secretary of State, via Associated Press
Days after the assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump last month, Ben Wolfgram, the president of a family-run glassware business in Wisconsin, started advertising a new product on Facebook: a whiskey tumbler with a bullet sticking out of it. It was inscribed with the words Bulletproof Trump.

Within an hour, Facebook had removed the advertisement for violating its prohibition on political content in ads. So Mr. Wolfgram turned to Truth Social, the social network owned by one of Mr. Trumps companies, paying $7,500 to run about five variations of his ad over a week. Truth Social posted them without any questions.

Mr. Trumps site was a lot more lenient, said Mr. Wolfgram, whose company, BenShot, is based in Appleton. His ads were seen more than one million times.

Five months after going public, Trump Media & Technology Group, which owns Truth Social, has revealed little about how it plans to build its business. But an examination by The New York Times found that the company, which is a major source of Mr. Trumps wealth, is increasingly reliant on revenue from an obscure corner of the ad market: a niche, sometimes called the patriotic economy, that caters to hard-core Trump fans and Christian conservatives.
Dear Tripped Up,

I took a 7.95-euro taxi ride in Paris and charged it to my Citi credit card, but the driver refused to provide a receipt, and my card was charged $795.85. Citi would not reimburse this obvious fraud. Can you help? Ann, Philadelphia

Dear Tripped Up,

We booked a $5,500 stay at an apartment in Amsterdam via Vrbo, and soon after, the property owner contacted us requiring that we wire him the full cost of the rental. We were reluctant but had successfully wired money before for a stay in Italy, so we went ahead with it. The owner canceled at the last minute, and the refund he promised never came through. Vrbo is stalling. Can you help? Kevin, Seattle

Dear Tripped Up,

I wanted to enroll my two college-age children in Global Entry, the program run by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, so they could speed through passport checkpoints with me. So I Googled Global Entry application and clicked on the top link, which looked at first glance like an official government site. I filled in the forms and was charged $249 per application. When I realized my mistake  the actual government fee is $100  I asked for a refund and eventually got everything but the $100 fees back. The applications did go through, but these people were super sketchy, and Im worried about identity theft. Doesnt Google have an obligation not to promote a fraudulent site? Christine, New York

Dear Ann, Kevin and Christine,

You are all experienced travelers, and yet you were caught in three schemes that, unfortunately, regularly surface in the Tripped Up inbox of reader woe.
One concerned campaigner is calling on major retailers to stop selling the 'unnecessarily harmful' products.

Dr Rob Davis says his entire freezer is filled to the brim with between 50 to 100 dead owls that have been poisoned after consuming rodenticides. Source: Facebook

Australian wildlife rescuers say they are drowning in dead owls and are unable to keep up with demand when it comes to rehabilitating sick and injured animals poisoned by lethal rodenticides.

A West Australian scientist says the grisly situation has become so dire his freezer is filled to the brim with at least "50 to 100 dead owls"  merely from within "the last month".

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia in a bid to prevent Australians from buying the "unnecessarily harmful" rodent killers  currently on shelves at major retailers including Woolworths, Coles and Bunnings  Dr Rob Davis, Senior Lecturer at Edith Cowan University, said the poisons not only annihilate "our native wildlife" but probably "harm people" too.

Davis stores the animals for analysis and said much of the deceased are "beautiful barn owls", which are found throughout Australia, and predominantly feed on rodents. He said the active ingredients used in the rodenticides killing our owls include brodifacum and bromodialone, which have "a very long half-life", lasting up to an astonishing 300 days in the natural environment.

Dr Rob Davis of Edith Cowan University is calling Woolworths, Coles and Bunnings to immediately cease stocking products that contain brodifacum and bromodialone as active ingredients. Source: Facebook

Professor's desperate plea after 'hundreds' of owls turn up dead

Davis told Yahoo that the product becomes concentrated in the livers of animals that eat those rodents and "over time, this poison builds up to lethal levels and kills animals such as owls."

"Anticoagulant rodenticides, especially those so-called "second-generation" products [SGARs  second generation anticoagulant rodenticides] are killing our native wildlife and probably affecting human health. Consumers do not need to be buying these products and we strongly advocate that they are banned from consumer sale.

"These SGARs work by preventing blood clotting and lead to rats and mice bleeding out. Instead of the SGARs, a better choice or non-anti-coagulant baits such as Ratsak Naturals that use a different mechanism to kill rodents.

"The first-generation baits containing warfarin and coumatetralyl are much better choices, too, with substantially shorter environment residence times."

Ratsak Naturals are available at major retailers including Woolworths and Bunnings.

Barn owls are being killed by the hundreds every month from consuming rodents which had eaten poison laid by humans. Source: Facebook

Davis said among the dead animals he's analysed, it's "obvious from pathological signs" that "poisoning has occurred".

"We are drowning in dead owls. There would be on average two to four a day brought in to wildlife carers that then make their way to us. I have probably 50 to 100 in my freezer just from the last month or two," he said, adding that figure is "sadly not at all uncommon".

"Animals take some time to die [after consuming the poison] and often require multiple feeds. That means plenty of opportunity for predators like owls to eat them. There is a risk of direct exposure from any animals eating SGAR baits and vets treat many cats and dogs for poisoning each year as well."

Calling on Woolworths, Coles, Bunnings and others to immediately cease selling rodenticides that contain toxins including brodifacum and bromodialone, Davis said "unfortunately so far they have refused to listen."

On Owl Awareness Day, a reminder that the best way you can help owls is by not buying anticoagulant rodenticides containing brodifacum, bromodialone and other second generation products. Choose traps or natural baits such as Ratsak naturals as a better choice. pic.twitter.com/5y1FYgmWu3  Rob Davis (@Dr_Rob_Davis) August 4, 2024

"As a consequence, myself and other scientists recently went to Canberra to lobby the Australian Pesticides And Veterinary Medicines Authority," he said.

"We have presented all the science that is unequivocal on the environmental impacts of these poisons. Australia is one of the few countries in the world that still allows consumers to buy these products as they are banned in Europe, the USA, Malaysia, Thailand and many other countries.

"The writing is on the wall and Australia is now far behind all developed countries in allowing these nasty poisons to continue to be used with scant regard for environmental or human health impacts."

Davis explained his pioneering research found an incredible 73 per cent of all birds studied had been poisoned. "Work by other researchers has further uncovered these poisons in Australian frogs as well as possums, wedge-tailed eagles and a wide range of native animals," he added.

Major retailers weigh into debate

Yahoo News Australia contacted Coles, Woolworths and Bunnings for comment regarding criticisms of their stock. Bunnings Director of Merchandise, Cameron Rist said "we offer rodent repellers, live catch traps and regular rat traps" as alternatives.

"We know how important rodent control is to customers and we offer a wide range of products allowing customers to choose the option thats right for them," Rist told Yahoo News Australia.

"For customers looking for alternatives to rodenticides, we offer rodent repellers, live catch traps and regular rat traps. We sell rodenticides in line with guidance from the federal regulator and we continue to follow its advice in this area."

A spokesperson for Woolworths defended the supermarket's stance and said all rodenticides adhered to local laws. "All rodenticides sold at Woolworths must comply with standards set by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority," they told Yahoo.

"We have and will continue to consult the Authority on product safety matters. As always, we advise customers to follow all instructions outlined on the product labelling and use it only as intended."

Coles did not respond to questions at the time of publishing.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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For years, Baltimores leaders gave overdoses little public attention, even as the death rate swelled to unprecedented levels. But for a few weeks this summer, it seemed that the city would respond to its drug epidemic with new urgency.

The City Council was about to hold four hearings  planned after The New York Times and The Baltimore Banner reported that the overdose rate here was far higher than in any other major American city. And Mayor Brandon Scott had just announced a $45 million legal settlement with a drug manufacturer, raising the possibility of well-funded new public health efforts to combat the epidemic, which had claimed nearly 6,000 lives here in the past six years.

But hours before the first hearing, as demonstrators prepared to rally outside City Hall, the council president abruptly canceled the session, at the request of Mr. Scotts administration.

The administration said that holding any of the public meetings would jeopardize a lawsuit the city had filed accusing numerous opioid makers and distributors of causing the crisis by flooding Baltimore with pills. City leaders believe the case could result in a transformative amount of money for its overdose response  far more than the $45 million it collected in a settlement with a single company that shipped relatively few drugs to Baltimore.
A Los Angeles actor was arrested on Wednesday after three women accused him of luring them into a false sense of security on dates and then sexually assaulting them, the police said.

The actor, Gabriel Olds, 52, has had roles in television, film and stage productions since the 1990s, including a turn as Pat Robertson, the Baptist minister and broadcaster, in the 2021 movie The Eyes of Tammy Faye, starring Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield.

The Los Angeles police said in a statement on Wednesday that investigators had identified three women whom Mr. Olds sexually assaulted since 2013, as well as two other women who reported lesser violent sexual conduct. Mr. Olds, who was charged with seven counts of felony sexual assault, was being held for $3.5 million bail.

It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer.

Because Mr. Olds often traveled for work, detectives believe there may be more victims in other parts of the country who have not come forward, the Los Angeles police said.
A flight instructor was killed and a student pilot was injured when a helicopter crashed at a military base in Alabama on Wednesday, according to military officials.

The AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed during routine flight training at Fort Novosel, the Armys main training facility for helicopter pilots, which is about 100 miles south of Montgomery and was formerly called Fort Rucker.

The instructor, identified by the county coroner as Daniel Munger, 46, was retired from the Army and was working as a contractor. The student pilot, whose name was not released, was airlifted to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Maj. Gen. Clair A. Gill, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Novosel commanding general, said in a statement that the accident remained under investigation and that officials were focused on the welfare and health of the student pilot and care and concern for the family of the deceased.
A third person has died from consuming products tainted with listeria, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday, the latest death connected to a nationwide outbreak that began in May and has been linked to meats sliced at deli counters.

Officials also said that the number of people sickened by food contaminated by the bacteria had risen to 43 since they last released numbers in late July. The outbreak has been linked by federal food safety officials to Boars Head deli meats, and the company recently recalled millions of pounds of meat.

Boars Head, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the third death, which occurred in Virginia, began recalling sliceable deli meats in late July, after federal food safety officials announced that a sample of Boars Head liverwurst for sale at a Maryland store had tested positive for the same strain of the bacteria causing the outbreak of listeriosis.

On July 30, Boars Head recalled seven million pounds of meat, following an earlier and more limited recall. The recall includes more than 70 products  including those made from ham, beef and poultry  that were manufactured at its plant in Virginia.
Vice President Kamala Harriss national security adviser said on Thursday that she did not support an arms embargo on Israel, laying out one of her first firm policy positions since becoming the Democratic nominee on how she would approach the war in Gaza.

The adviser, Phil Gordon, said on social media on Thursday morning that Ms. Harris would always ensure Israel is able to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups. He added: She does not support an arms embargo on Israel. She will continue to work to protect civilians in Gaza and to uphold international humanitarian law.

The assertion of Ms. Harriss stance came as she faced pressure from the Democratic Partys left flank to depart from the Biden administrations response to the war. Before her surprise ascent, she had carefully navigated the partys tensions over the war, signaling that she was sympathetic to concerns about the Palestinian death toll and suffering in Gaza while not breaking from President Bidens firm support for Israel.

Now Ms. Harris, who has yet to lay out a broad policy agenda since beginning her presidential campaign, is under a more intense spotlight when it comes to how she would handle the Mideast conflict if elected.
The Justice Department has charged two Iranians with smuggling missile components bound for Houthi rebels that were seized in the Arabian Sea in January during a nighttime search that resulted in the deaths of two Navy SEALs, according to a court document unsealed on Wednesday.

The two men, brothers who work for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, are accused of conspiring to provide material support to Irans program for weapons of mass destruction and remain at large.

A third man, a Pakistani citizen who was captain on the vessel, was also charged with conspiring to provide weapons support. He was taken into custody with three other men who were captured when U.S. personnel boarded the ship, known as a dhow, which was packed with weapons. Those four men were charged earlier this year with related crimes in a federal court in Virginia.
Representative Tim Walz was traveling across his conservative, rural district in 2014, holding town halls across southern Minnesota, when a voter confronted him with a prickly question about his support for the Affordable Care Act.

President Barack Obamas signature legislation was supposed to save families thousands of dollars in health care premiums but still proved costly for some, the voter said. What happened? the man demanded.

Some Democrats in politically vulnerable swing seats like Mr. Walzs who had supported the bill tried to backpedal from their vote, a choice that voters punished them for at the ballot box later that year.

Not Mr. Walz.

Instead, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who shared the stage with Mr. Walz, recalled in an interview that he stood by his decision. He didnt try to hide from the vote, she said. He leaned into it.
Three men with ties to white supremacist groups were sentenced to prison last month for planning to attack a power grid in the northwestern United States.

Last year, federal law enforcement officials charged two people with conspiracy to destroy an energy facility and accused them of creating a racist plot to cut power in Baltimore, a predominantly Black city.

And in February 2022, three men also connected to white supremacist groups pleaded guilty over a scheme to target substations around the country in an attempt to cause economic distress and civil unrest, according to the F.B.I.

These plots, though unsuccessful, are part of a larger trend by far-right extremist groups in recent years to try to create chaos by bringing down the energy infrastructure that keeps society functioning, according to experts in extremism.
Faced with a shrinking population, Chinas top leadership has tried everything to get women to have more babies. Everything, it turns out, except allowing unmarried women to freeze their eggs.

A Beijing court this week chose to uphold a longstanding rule that only married women may use the procedure. Rights activists say the rule is unfair because it excludes single women from a reproductive measure that gives them the option to put off childbirth.

The ruling centers on a lawsuit filed by Teresa Xu, against an obstetrics hospital after a doctor denied her access to egg freezing services and instead told her that she should get married and have children quickly.

On Wednesday, Ms. Xu said the Beijing No. 3 Intermediate Peoples Court had rejected her lawsuit, exhausting her legal options in a six-year battle for reproductive rights. The court had argued that her rights were not violated.
Japans meteorological agency said on Thursday that there was a higher-than-usual chance that an immense earthquake could hit the country in the next few days, following a 7.1-magnitude temblor off the southern island of Kyushu.

Japan has long expected a major earthquake to occur along the Nankai Trough off its eastern coast. As of last year, researchers said there was a 60 percent chance that an earthquake of magnitude 8 to 9  even more devastating than the one in 2011 that laid waste to the countrys northeast coast and knocked out cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant  would occur in the trough area over the next 20 years.

After the 7.1-magnitude quake on Thursday, Japans meteorological agency convened a group of experts to evaluate whether it could be related to the long-anticipated bigger disaster, called a Nankai Trough megathrust earthquake.

Experts warn that an earthquake between two tectonic plates that converge along the Nankai megathrust fault, which runs from Kyushu north through Tokyo, could cause devastation. It could extensively damage cities throughout Japan, potentially cause a tsunami and lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths.
A weather expert believes talk of La Nina was 'premature' but warns some regions will still be wetter than usual this spring.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned rainfall will persist in some areas despite La Nina being less likely. Source: Getty/BoM

After the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) released its latest weather outlook on Tuesday, an expert believes it is now much less likely millions will cop the effects of a La Nina event in the second half of 2024.

The terms La Nina and El Nino have been bandied about in recent years after the impact of both caused devastation for many around the country. An El Nino brings dry and hot weather which threatens drought and bushfires, while La Nina's above-average rainfall often leads to flooding.

If La Nina does occur this year it would mean the country has experienced it four times in five years, which would make it a "historic" weather record.

La Nina looking less likely but rain will 'persist' in parts

The Bureau flagged a possible La Nina weather event for later this year in May, saying there was a 50 per cent chance more rainfall than usual would sweep across late winter and spring. Now it's looking more unlikely the country will experience severe rainfall, with meteorologist Matthew King deeming these early predictions "premature".

"There's been this kind of discussion over recent months about the possibility of going into another La Nina... the Bureau is kind of backing off that a little bit now," the professor from the University of Melbourne said. "There was a bit too much hype around the possibility of a La Nina, it's not something that's ruled out but it's not looking super likely."

Most of the country is set to see a typical range of rainfall but the southwest of the country and areas in the east, such as southern Queensland and inland NSW can expect wetter than usual conditions.

"There's a heightened chance of wetter than normal conditions over the southwest of Australia, particularly for places like Perth. They are already experiencing quite wet conditions which will persist," he said.

Why it's almost always warmer than average now

The BoM has forecast above-normal temperatures throughout the next few months on the continent but "that's kind of the norm" now.

"The Bureau forecasts above-normal temperatures because the normal or average conditions are from a few decades ago, and essentially the world has warmed," he said. "Australia has warmed because of our greenhouse gas emissions, it's almost always warmer than natural temperatures now."

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The incident passed in moments: Two American instructors from a college in Iowa were each stabbed in the back on June 10 in northeast China. Two of their colleagues were then slashed on their left arms as they turned to face the assailant. A Chinese national who tried to intervene was knifed in the abdomen.

Nearly two months later, the attack in Jilin City is becoming the latest in a series of diplomatic frictions between the United States and China. R. Nicholas Burns, the United States ambassador to China, criticized Beijings limited divulgence of specifics about the episode and said that he was actively pressing for more disclosure.

Chinese government authorities have not provided additional details on the motives of the assailant, he said in a statement to The New York Times on Tuesday. We remain dissatisfied about the lack of transparency and have made our concerns abundantly clear to the government in Beijing.

In response, Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly defended how the stabbings were handled. A statement to The Times on Wednesday, repeating what the Jilin police said shortly after the stabbings, said that the episode began when the assailant, 55, collided on a crowded path with one of the instructors. The statement, released by the ministrys office of the spokesperson, added that the assailant had been having trouble walking before the collision, but did not elaborate.
After months of losing ground to Russia in brutal, grinding battles in Ukraine, Kyiv shifted tactics with a surprise attack into Russian territory this week that caught Moscow off guard and opened a new front in the 30-month war.

Ukrainian forces have punched through Russian border defenses and seized several settlements in fighting that was still raging on Thursday, according to Russian officials, a Ukrainian soldier and analysts. The attack triggered a state of emergency in one region in the west of Russia. Ukrainian armored columns were filmed moving along roads as far as six miles inside Russia.

But the attack left some military analysts wondering why Ukraine would throw scarce resources into a risky assault in a new area at a time when it is fighting pitched battles to hold on to positions in its own territory.

It was unclear whether Ukraine would seek to hold the area. Whatever the next step by Ukrainian forces, the attack appeared to push the limits on attacking inside Russia with American-provided equipment and put the Russians in disarray. American-made armored vehicles were also filmed being blown up in a Russian counterattack.
British officials on Thursday expressed relief and cautious optimism after far-right protests failed to materialize the previous night and thousands of antiracism demonstrators took to the streets instead.

The authorities had been braced for further violence after anti-immigrant protests in previous days had descended into riots, fueled by disinformation about the fatal stabbing of three young children at a dance class in Southport, northwestern England, on July 29.

But with around 6,000 officers on standby, Wednesday evening passed with little violence. Pockets of far-right protesters were easily outnumbered by antiracism counterdemonstrations in several cities, including Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool and London.

That raised hopes that the law enforcement authorities had begun to regain control after riots over the previous weekend. Hundreds of people were arrested and dozens of police officers were injured in those outbreaks of violence, which saw rioters set cars on fire and target mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers.
The Toll of 10 Months of Simmering Conflict on the Israel-Lebanon Border

Mediterranean Sea Israeli attack Hezbollah attack Lebanon Golan Heights Israel 5 miles Israeli attack Hezbollah attack Lebanon Mediterranean Sea Golan Heights Israel 5 miles Israeli attack Hezbollah attack Lebanon Israel Golan Heights 5 miles Source: Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project

Even before a deadly rocket strike and a round of assassinations renewed fears of a wider war across the Mideast, the steady, simmering conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon proved devastating.

For almost a year, both sides have been carefully calibrating their tit-for-tat attacks to avoid a larger conflict. But the near-daily exchanges of fire have added up.

Satellite imagery makes clear just how profound the toll has been on both sides of the border. This is what one Lebanese town, Aita al-Shaab, looked like before and after it came under attack.

October 23 Lebanon Image location Israel Aita al-Shaab Lebanon Image location Israel Aita al-Shaab Lebanon Image location Israel Aita al-Shaab July 13 Lebanon Image location Damaged buildings Israel Aita al-Shaab Lebanon Image location Israel Damaged buildings Aita al-Shaab Lebanon Image location Damaged buildings Israel Aita al-Shaab July 13 Lebanon Image location Damaged buildings Israel Aita al-Shaab Lebanon Image location Israel Damaged buildings Aita al-Shaab Lebanon Image location Damaged buildings Israel Aita al-Shaab Source: Planet Labs

Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants, who are backed by Iran, have been fighting off and on for years. But the conflict intensified last October after another Iranian ally, Hamas, led an attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip, setting off the war there.

In the cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, the most widespread structural destruction has been in Lebanon, where thousands of buildings have been damaged or destroyed. The thousands of Israeli attacks since October have far outnumbered Hezbollah attacks into Israel, according to data collected by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a nonprofit that studies world conflicts.

Around a quarter of the structures are damaged in some villages, according to an analysis of satellite data by Corey Scher of the CUNY graduate center.

Israeli airstrikes and shelling in Lebanon have killed nearly 500 people, at least 100 of them civilians, according to the U.N. and Lebanons health ministry.

Hezbollah has launched 7,500 rockets, missiles and drones since the start of the war in Gaza, according to the Israeli prime ministers office, killing 43 people in Israel, more than half of them civilians, and setting swaths of farmland ablaze. Northern Israel has seen more than 700 wildfires, according to the prime ministers office, which Israel has blamed on the Hezbollah barrages.

This satellite imagery shows what happened to large areas of dry brush surrounding the Malkiya kibbutz after it was ignited.

May 23 Lebanon Image location Israel Malkiya Lebanon Israel 0.5 miles Dishon Lebanon Image location Israel Malkiya Lebanon Israel Dishon 0.5 miles Lebanon Image location Israel Malkiya Lebanon Israel Dishon 0.5 miles May 29 Lebanon Image location Israel Burned Area Malkiya Lebanon Israel 0.5 miles Dishon Lebanon Image location Israel Burned Area Malkiya Lebanon Israel Dishon 0.5 miles Lebanon Image location Israel Burned Area Malkiya Lebanon Israel Dishon 0.5 miles May 29 Lebanon Image location Israel Burned Area Malkiya Lebanon Israel 0.5 miles Dishon Lebanon Image location Israel Burned Area Malkiya Lebanon Israel Dishon 0.5 miles Lebanon Image location Israel Burned Area Malkiya Lebanon Israel Dishon 0.5 miles Sources: Planet Labs, OpenStreetMap

It is not only Israel that is burning.

The fighting has caused significant fires on both sides of the border, and many fear they may cause long-lasting damage to land that plays an important role in food production.

Many villages near the border on both sides are ghost towns. Roughly 60,000 people in northern Israel and 100,000 in southern Lebanon have been displaced by the fighting along the border since October, with no clear timeline for returning home.

Where fires have broken out Fires detected since the war began Fires detected during the same period a year earlier

Lebanon Map Area Syria Majdal Shams Israel Lebanon Mediterranean Sea Israel Golan Heights 5 miles Sea of Galilee Haifa Lebanon Map Area Syria Majdal Shams Israel Lebanon Mediterranean Sea Israel Golan Heights 5 miles Sea of Galilee Haifa Lebanon Map Area Israel Syria Mediterranean Sea Lebanon Golan Heights Israel Sea of Galilee Haifa Nazareth Jordan 10 miles Sources: Ororatech, OpenStreetMap Note: Fire boundaries are rough estimates of thermal activity based on satellite detections. Detections since the war began are from Oct. 7, 2023 to Aug. 6, 2024, and those before the war are from the same period a year earlier.

Now, there is fear that like the wildfires, the conflict itself may spread. In the past three weeks, attacks have escalated, threatening a larger regional war.

In July, a rocket from Lebanon killed 12 civilians in a town in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. It was the deadliest attack on Israeli-controlled territory since the Oct. 7 attacks led by Hamas.

Israel responded with a strike in Beiruts southern suburbs, killing a Hezbollah leader along with five civilians, according to Lebanese authorities. A senior Hamas figure was assassinated hours later in the capital of Iran. Both Hezbollah and Iran vowed vengeance.

Lebanon Beirut Israel killed a Hezbollah commander near Beirut Golan Heights A rocket from Lebanon killed 12 civilians in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Jerusalem Gaza Israel Lebanon Beirut Israel killed a Hezbollah commander near Beirut. Golan Heights A rocket from Lebanon killed 12 civilians in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Jerusalem Gaza Israel

Lebanon's border towns with Israel, made up mainly of Shiite Muslims, are a bastion of support for Hezbollah. But there are also Christian and Sunni Muslim enclaves.

Some of those border towns that have borne much of the destruction in the current attacks were the scene of heavy ground fighting in 2006, when Israel and Lebanon fought their last war.

A U.N. peacekeeper inspecting a house destroyed by an Israeli attack in the southern Lebanese village of Yarine. Diego Ibarra Sanchez for The New York Times

Now, with hostilities heating up, some Israelis want their country to mount a full-scale invasion again. Others fear that an all-out response from Hezbollah could be devastating. The militants arsenal of sophisticated precision-guided missiles is considered capable of striking cities across Israel, along with critical infrastructure like power plants and ports.

Israeli military commanders have their own concerns. They are still prosecuting one major war  against Hamas in Gaza  and do not relish the prospect of a second. And with munitions stockpiles dwindling, it is unclear how intense a battle the military could wage in Lebanon.


MI State Wants to Tout Economic Impact Thu., Oct. 3, 2024 Michigan State University wants bids from PR and communications firms to promote its University Research Corridor alliance with the University of Michigan and Wayne State University.
Surj Gish

ROIDNA, part of Hotwire Global and The Enero Group, appoints Surj Gish as managing director. Gish, who was most recently SVP, global marketing at the firm, has been an integral part of ROIDNA since its inception in 2011, playing a key role in building its digital advertising services teams and working with such brands as Virgin America, Figma, Cisco and Dropbox. In his new post, he will lead the agency, driving growth and further integrating operations with Hotwire Global, under the leadership of CEO Heather Kernahan. Surj has been an invaluable leader within ROIDNA, and his deep understanding of digital marketing combined with his passion for fostering a strong, inclusive culture makes him the perfect fit for this role," said Hotwire Global CEO Heather Kernahan. "Together, were focused on driving growth, innovation, and delivering exceptional value to our clients. 

Mark Shambura

Panera Bread names Mark Shambura CMO. Shambura previously served as CMO at Papa Johns and MOD Pizza. Before that, he was executive director of marketing at Chipotle. He has also been a marketing agent at CAA. At Panera Bread, Shambura will lead all aspects of marketing, including brand building, digital and loyalty, product strategy and consumer insights. "Mark brings an impressive background building brands and leading marketing teams for fast-casual restaurants, said Panera Bread CEO Jose Alberto Duenas, Chief Executive Officer. "Mark's depth of experience and ability will help drive our growth."

Patty Parobek

Mod Op, a digital marketing agency, hires Patty Parobek as VP of AI and machine learning transformational change. Parobek was most recently senior director of AI adoption at Cleveland-based digital marketing agency Fathom. She was previously VP of digital & growth strategy at Tenlo, which was acquired by Mod Op in 2022. In her new post, Parobek will oversee the AI practice group and collaborate with the executive team to redefine how creative, advertising and marketing work is executed. She will also work with Mod Op's AI Council to ensure responsible development and evaluation of AI tools. Miami-based Mod Op, which also has offices in Dallas, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Portland, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Panama City, Panama, Cleveland, Calgary and Toronto, works with brands including Nestle, Duracell and ExxonMobil.
LOUGH Derg RNLI volunteers and family members participated in a special photo moment  One Moment for One Crew  to create a photographic record of those involved with the lifesaving charity in this, its 200th anniversary year. Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat station also celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

The charity, founded in 1824, asked its volunteers and staff from around Ireland and the UK to take a photo of themselves, their crew or their team, at as close to 18:24 on 1.8.24 as possible. Whether lifeboat crew at a station, fundraisers at an event or lifeguards on a beach  all involved with the charity have been encouraged to submit a photo of themselves representing their RNLI role.

Representatives including lifeboat crew and shore crew, station officials, fundraisers and family members from the RNLI community on Lough Derg have taken part and the photos have been uploaded to an online portal and will be used to create a montage image.

The volunteers at Lough Derg RNLI fulfil diverse roles with the one aim of saving lives on the lake, and the station also celebrates 20 years of service on our beautiful Lough Derg.

The RNLI celebrated its 200th anniversary on March 4th, and this photographic moment is one of a range of events and programmes which the charity has organised to mark its bicentenary.

Anjie Rook, RNLI Associate Director, who is overseeing the RNLIs 200th anniversary programmes, says: The RNLI has been saving lives at sea for 200 years thanks to its incredible people  the courageous lifeboat crews and lifeguards who put their own lives at risk to save others; the dedicated fundraisers who raise the income to power those rescues; the committed volunteers who give their own time in a range of other roles such as giving out water safety advice or helping to run our retail shops and museums, and the staff who provide vital support to our volunteers.

We have encouraged anyone who has some form of involvement with the RNLI to participate in this special One Moment for One Crew photographic event, to capture a record of everyone who, at this moment in time, is playing some part in the RNLIs lifesaving work, continuing its legacy and securing its future.

During our 200th anniversary year we have been remembering our past, celebrating the lifesaving service we provide today, and aiming to inspire future generations of lifesavers and supporters. One Moment for One Crew is very much about celebrating the people of todays RNLI and, we hope, inspiring those future generations who will take the RNLI into its third century of lifesaving.

Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its volunteer crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives  this equates to an average of two lives saved every day for 200 years.

Founded in a London tavern on March 4th 1824 following an appeal from Sir William Hillary, who lived on the Isle of Man and witnessed many shipwrecks, the RNLI has continued saving lives at sea throughout the past two centuries. Today, it operates 238 lifeboat stations around Ireland and the UK. It designs and builds its own lifeboats and runs domestic and international water safety programmes.

For further information about the RNLIs 200th anniversary, visit RNLI.org/200.
Irish people want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, even if they require assistance with daily tasks such as getting dressed or preparing meals.

Having a small team of CAREGivers provide such support maintains a persons independence in their own home and is a realistic desired alternative to nursing home care.

Home care bridges the gap between ageing at home and transitioning to a nursing home. While nursing homes have their place, there is no place like home.

Ageing individuals benefit from the familiarity and comfort of their surroundings, cherished memories, and the independence they deserve.

How Does Live-In Care Work?

Like all Home Instead care plans, live-in care plans are designed by your local care manager and based on your loved ones specific requirements.

Our primary CAREGiver resides with the client and is on active duty for seven hours a day, six days a week.

Cover is provided by the local office for the seventh day, the live-in CAREGivers day off. They provide your loved ones care as and when it is needed, as the sample timetable on the picture shows.

CAREGiver Selection and Training

Our live-in CAREGivers are recruited both locally and through our international Home Instead partners. They are fully vetted, have excellent references and participate in our comprehensive training prior to starting work with our clients.

We take great care to ensure that clients interests are matched to those of their CAREGiver. CAREGivers can access 24-hour support from their local office.

Tax Relief

Costs of live-in care can be significantly reduced through the Home Care Tax Relief Scheme. Costs can be reduced by up to 40% and more information can be learned through the HomeInstead.ie website or by chatting to our Midlands team on 044 938 5260

Other Home Care Services

Home Instead have a wide range of home care services, from 30-minute companionship calls to specialist dementia care, overnight care to live-in care.

If your loved one requires some assistance with daily living tasks, please get in touch with Home Instead.

For more information visit www.homeinstead.ie

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Heritage Week is a wonderful opportunity to explore your county and get to see many sites and places that are not always open, or to see them with a guide to shed new light.

Heritage Week is a wonderful opportunity to explore your county and get to see many sites and places that are not always open, or to see them with a guide to shed new light. This year there are over 70 different events to choose from in Offaly! While the week is coordinated by the heritage team in Offaly County Council, many of the events are hosted by communities and owners who are keen to welcome you to explore their place. The majority of the events are free to attend. A huge thanks to all our event hosts, who make it all happen.

Pick up a County Offaly Heritage Booklet from your local library or Council office or look up www.heritageweek.ie for more details!

Behind the Scenes

Several properties will be open with tours just for Heritage Week. This year Tullamore Courthouse is offering tours for the first time; family homes at No 6 High Street, Loughton House, Gloster House, Tullanisk House, St Annes in Kilcormac and Ballybrittan Castle are all open but you will need to book! Charleville Castle (Sat 17th 12pm to 3pm) and Clonmacnoise (Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th) are open during the year but are free for these dates.

Clara Heritage will host a talk Recalling the IRA attack on Clara Barracks on 2 June 1920 exploring this incident, its aftermath, and the impact on the town of Clara and surrounding area. The talk will take place in the actual building attacked on that night 104 years ago, hosted by local historians Tara McGrath, Aidan Doyle, Larry Fleming and Pat McLoughlin. Thursday 22nd at 8pm in the Mill House.

Vernacular Architecture  tours, talk and film night!

A firm favorite for Heritage Week is a tour of Carrigeen Farmhouse in Five Alley  hosted by the Egan family. The wonderful work the Egan family have done over the years led them to be named the national Heritage Heros in 2020. Their house has a unique range of fixtures and fittings which many people remember from their childhood but are long gone in so many cases. The tours will be held on the weekend of the 17th and 18th.

National vernacular architecture expert Barry OReilly will give a talk on Thursday 22nd in Johns Hall, Birr at 6pm. He will provide a picture of Offalys vernacular heritage and an update on what the State is doing to help the owners to live and conserve their homes.

Esker Arts is hosting an evening on Tuesday 20th which will feature films from the National Museum of Ireland collection featuring Bill Egan from Clonfinlough; Building a load of hay on a cart Making a Straw rope; making a wooden bird crib and making a clothes basket featuring Ciaran DArcy Clonascra. Afterwards two new films from 2024 featuring the tradition of basket making with Padraig Larkin and God in a Bottle featuring makers Pat Gorman of Killurin and Eddie Hendricks from Shannonbridge will be shown

For the whole week there is an exhibition at Tullamore Library of hand-sewn dolls made by the women of the Chatters and Matters Tullamore Travellers Womens Shed. These dolls were made as part of Threading Needles, Telling Stories, a storytelling through doll-making project led by Artist and doll-maker Teresa Doyle.

Exploring Landscapes

A lecture by James Scully of Offaly History is always a joy! On Tuesday 20th Offaly Tullamore Library is hosting a talk by James focused on the Grand Canal. The talk will be in the form of a miscellany with readings from the writings of Jim Brennan of Daingean, Brian O'Nolan aka Flann O'Brien, Michael Hensey, late of Tullamore, John Doyle of Ferbane and many others, and music composed by Paddy O' Brien of Daingean, Frank Kelly, James Lynam Molloy and others. James will narrate the presentation and will be joined by talented musicians Siobhan Godley, (flute), Aidan Barry, (guitar) and Frank Kelly (accordion).

On Friday 23rd there is a tour of the work that is ongoing at the Sculpture Park at Lough Boora Discovery Centre led by sculptor Michael Burke. On the same day John Feehan is leading a tour exploring the eskers around Birr.

On Saturday 24th Clara Heritage Society are hosting a celebration of the River Brosna with story and song. The theme will be developed in Ballycumbers Folly Tales and Treasure Trails on Sunday 25th.

Nature Events

Have you ever heard of nature journaling? There are three workshops being held on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th in the gorgeous grounds of Mount Briscoe house near Daingean. Discover fresh and interesting ways to increase your curiosity and develop a calm and compassionate awareness of the natural world where you will be guided through note taking, sketching and photography to develop your creativity and experience joy in the everyday.

There is something about the experience of being out at dusk and using a bat detector  this family friendly event is being held in Syngefield in Birr on Thursday 22nd.

For those interested in focusing in on insect and plant life  there is a stroll of Noggus Bog near Ferbane - by booking only on Thursday 22nd.

Doorey Wood Guided Walk  many may be familiar with the looped walk on the open Clara Bog but there is a most interesting walk on the other half of the bog accessible from the Tullamore Road which goes through esker, bog and farmland. This will be led by the staff from the NPWS Clara Bog Visitor Centre

The tours of Fancroft Mill (close to Roscrea but in Offaly!) are always popular  this year the event starts early with the opening of moth traps at 8am, Saturday 24th, a light breakfast follows with a tour of the mill complex. Booking required!

The same morning but at the later time of 10.30am  the Native Woodland Trust are leading a walk through their Forelacka  Camcor reserve near Kinnitty.

Did you Know?

In 1843 workmen outside Shinrone happened upon a dark woollen dress buried in peat. By May of that year, the Gown's importance was recognised, and it subsequently changed hands among several collectors. Today, the dress is recognised as an early seventeenth example and a unique survivor.

Some four hundred years later, 'Unstitching the 17th Century Shinrone Gown' is a celebration of this unique part of our social and material culture. Shinrone Heritage Group has commissioned a historically correct replica of the Shinrone Gown based on a technical examination of the original in the National Museum of Ireland. This process will be presented by artist Rosalind Fanning, seamstress Bernie Stapleton, and Irish medieval costume historian Kass McGann. And to add to the evening; Janet White-Spunner and friends will be demonstrating traditional spinning and weaving and are keen for the public to have a go themselves. Interested in hearing more  come along on Friday 23rd.

Edenderry and Daingean

On Wednesday 21st, Edenderry library host Dr Ciaran Reilly who will explain how recently discovered archives shed light on the impact of the Great Famine in the Edenderry and Rhode area. The same evening, Daingean Development Association are hosting a walk of the Daingean exploring their new QR codes.

Kids Specials

Those who experience the wonder of a bird in the hand often come back years later with such positive memories  there will be a demonstration of Swallow bird ringing at Pallas Lake on Sunday 25th at 8.30pm. The birds roost communally in the reedbed at Pallas Lake before returning to Africa for the winter, this gives an opportunity to safely catch and ring the birds (before safely releasing) allowing for biological data to be collected giving us a further understanding of their ecology and migration.

On Wednesday 21st, the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland welcome you to Birr Castle Demesne for Whirlpool Workshops that are suitable for children aged 8 to 13 years. Children must be accompanied by an adult. This is a free workshop and both children and adults must have tickets to attend.

Offaly Libraries are hosting honeybee pollination workshops - aimed for children, eight years old and above. The workshop consists of an interactive presentation where children become beekeepers with an educational honeybee. Exploring elements including hive pollen, handling beekeeping equipment and the opportunity to taste local honey.

Ballycumber are hosting a Kids Event on Sunday 25th from 2pm - 4pm which will include a Foraging workshop, Treasure hunt, Art Exhibition, Flag presentations  special award presentation.

Monastic Sites, Castles, Churches and burial grounds

From exploring the memorials at Shinrone Church of Ireland, Bullys Acre in Birr to St Carthages Church of Ireland in Rahan followed by a screening of the film series about Lemanaghan to a tour of Lis Graveyard near Boher there is a great opportunity to get to know more about graveyards!

Two churches will be explored on the Offaly History walking tour on Sunday 18th meeting at Durrow Roman Catholic Church and proceeding to the old Durrow Church of Ireland which is now a private residence.

The winners of last years Heritage Week County award were Bracknagh Heritage Group and this year they have arranged for a return visit to St Brochans monastery and well on Sunday 18th from 2pm to 4pm.

The medieval, now ruined St Brendans church in Birr is part of a tour by Birr 2020 Vision on Wednesday 21st outlining conservation plans, which will then move to St. Brendans Church of Ireland on Oxmantown Mall and onto another Birr 2020 Vision project at Birr Courthouse.

Birr Historical Society are partnering with the Irish Heritage School to take a closer look at the remains of Clonoghill Castle at Syngefield at 11am on Monday 19th August. Meeting at Syngefield gates.
Carter, 45, died in her inner Melbourne home on Tuesday afternoon, after holding the title of mayor of Maribyrnong a record three times.

The "absolutely heartbroken" mother of rising Labor politician Sarah Carter, who was found dead in her home in Melbourne on Tuesday, has remembered her daughter as a "great example for everybody" and a daughter she "is very proud of".

Speaking for the first time since the former three-time mayor's shock death, Gaynor Morris revealed Carter was actually due to to fly to Europe with her partner, Nikhil Roy, on the day she died, but never made it to the airport.

In a tragic twist, Morris revealed it was Roy who found Carter at her home in Maribyrnong, after the 45-year-old failed to turn up to the airport. It's understood Carter was treated by emergency services just before 4pm on Tuesday, but could not be saved. Police say they are not treating the death as suspicious.

Former three-time Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter was suddenly found dead on Tuesday Source: Instagram

Heartbroken mother speaks out after Sarah Carter's shock death

The Victorian councillor's grieving mother said the holiday excitement quickly turned to dread earlier this week.

"She hadnt made it to the airport to meet him for their holiday together," she told the Herald Sun. "He [Roy] went and checked on her and he literally found her dead.

"No-one knows anything different unfortunately." A report is underway for the coroner.

Morrison reflected on her daughter's courageous efforts during her tenure as mayor of Maribyrnong. "I think she sets a great example for everybody and theres a lot of people that will miss her. I am very proud," she said.

Former Labor leader and current minister for Government Services Bill Shorten branded Carter "remarkable". "Children's champion, community leader, Labor through and through. The best of us," he said. "My thoughts are with her family and loved ones in this difficult time."

Carter was the first woman in history to hold the title of mayor in Maribyrnong for three terms. Source: City of Maribyrnong

Beloved former mayor remembered for her unwavering dedication

Carter's death sent shockwaves around Melbourne and Australia yesterday, with those in both political circles and in the media paying tribute the dedicated public servant.

The 45-year-old is being remember for being the first three-time female mayor of Maribyrnong  which encompasses the suburbs of Braybrook, Footscray, Kingsville, Maidstone, Maribyrnong, Seddon, Tottenham, West Footscray and Yarraville  and for her "unwavering and unbeatable passion".

In a statement, the City of Maribyrnong said Carter, who was serving her fourth consecutive term on the council at the time of her death, was a "trusted and valued colleague" with her "passing an enormous loss to our community".

"Council is shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing of former Mayor and councillor Sarah Carter," the statement said. "She has worked tirelessly to support [her community] over her 16 years on council.

Carter, a member of the Labor party, was first elected in 2008 and served as mayor in 2011, 2020 and 2022. She also worked for charity organisation Save The Children. In 2023 Carter received the Mayor Emeritus Award, which is given to councillors who serve three terms as mayor.

According to some reports about her surprising death, she was touted by some in the party as a future potential Labor leader.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On August 8, Black Sesame Technologies officially went public on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, under the stock code 02533.HK, becoming the first Chinese autonomous driving chip company to do so.

Photo credit: Black Sesame Technologies

According to an announcement from Black Sesame Technologies on August 7, the IPO price was set at HKD 28 per share. After deducting listing expenses of HKD 85.2 million, the net proceeds raised amounted to HKD 951 million.

The company further disclosed that the net proceeds from the IPO will be allocated to different business aspects.

Approximately 80% will be used for R&D over the next five years. Specifically, about 30% will be allocated to developing the R&D team for automotive-grade SoCs, 25% for developing and upgrading the company's intelligent automotive software platform, 20% for procuring materials, tape-out services, and software for SoC and automotive-grade IP cores, and 5% for developing autonomous driving solutions, such as the next-generation V2X edge computing solution and the next-generation commercial vehicle active safety system Patronus.

About 10% of the funds will be used to enhance the Black Sesame Technologies commercialization capabilities. Then, another 10% will be allocated to working capital and general corporate purposes, particularly for purchasing inventory for SoC mass production.

Founded in 2016, Black Sesame Technologies is an automotive-grade computing SoC and SoC-based intelligent vehicle solution provider. The company has launched the Huashan and Wudang series of cross-domain computing chips and is developing next-generation automotive-grade SoC products to meet the diverse and complex needs of advanced intelligent automotive functions. Additionally, Black Sesame Technologies is expanding its capabilities in automotive-grade chips, including further developing and commercializing the Wudang series of cross-domain SoC products.
Riyas, a native of Thiruthiyad near Vazhayur in Malappuram, died in an accident 300 km from Mecca after attending his father's funeral.

Riyas and his family were heading to Kuwait, where he worked, when he accident happened. His wife and children were injured in the mishap.



Riyas' father Mannikadavath Muhammed (74) died a few days ago during the Haj pilgrimage. He had left for the pilgrimage from Kozhikode with his wife. However, Muhammed was declared missing during the pilgrimage and the Mecca Police launched a search on June 22. A few days ago, the embassy was notified about Muhammed's passing.

Riyas and his brother Salman had been in Saudi Arabia since late June in search of their father. The funeral of Muhammed, who retired as a teacher from Kozhikode, was held at Mecca on Wednesday.
By Robert Weiner and Jonathan Person

On July 1st 1997, the world witnessed the handover of Hong Kong from British control to China. When terms were made between the two nations, it was determined that Hong Kong and China would act under the pretense of "one country, two systems'' and that Hong Kong would retain full autonomy for the next 50 years. The joint agreement also states that the SAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) will enjoy a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defense affairs, which are the responsibilities of the Central People's Government. When addressing the handover, then-US President Bill Clinton remarked that the situation in Kong Kong was not set in stone and would "unfold over the months and years ahead". 27 years on, things have not gone smoothly between the two nations, with protests and demonstrations eerily similar to past situations in Tibet as well as Taiwan today.

With the new government taking control of Parliament, China and Hong Kong should be on the top of British foreign policy. The newly elected Labour parliament must realize that they have to help uphold a peaceful transition, as they are the ones who agreed to protect the state of Hong Kong and its citizens' rights and to help insure a peaceful transition during their handoff negotiations. This can best be done through increased and harsher sanctions against China, increased presence from the British, and possibly through legal proceedings.

Before and after the handover, Hong Kong has developed a different culture and economy that clashes with the Chinese government. It is important to note that it was agreed during the handover that under their autonomy Hong Kong would have an independent judiciary, freedom of speech, and the right to have elections with many political parties. This is best seen through a crackdown on journalism. Former Hong Kong Press Club General Manager Didier Saugy, now the General Manager at the club in the US, talked about the unique situation of having to manage both Hong Kong and Chinese citizens during the unrest. He emphasized the importance of "promoting unity at the press club" and to uphold journalist integrity and peace despite what was going on around them. The UK should take a similar approach by promoting a peaceful unity through fighting for the preservation of the citizen rights on both sides.

The UK could also look to emulate the actions of the United States. The situation in Hong Kong is akin to the US situation in Taiwan, with both conflicts involving a key trading partner who have found themselves in difficult situations with their Chinese neighbors. The US has come to understand that they have an obligation to protect the rights of Taiwanese citizens and to help promote peace in the whole of southeast Asia.

The current choice of action for the US is sanctions, and harsher sanctions should be implemented in the future if China continues to encroach. However, an increased land presence by the US and their allies such as the ASEAN nations, could be a potential solution. US Army General Charles Flynn said something similar at the LANPAC conference in June where he sees an increased land presence as being advantageous and that countries "must be in a position to defend our sovereignty, to protect our people and uphold their rights under international law". If increased presence is needed, the UK must unite with allies in the area with the goal of promoting a peaceful existence for all nations in the area. Another choice of action worth considering is for the UK to take China to the UN Court of Justice, being that they are both members, and by association required to uphold the rule of law agreed between two states. This is a legitimate option, and with cooperation by the UK, China, and the Hong Kong government, could lead to a peaceful existence and transition, which was promised almost 30 years ago.

This situation questions the role of the UK in their former territories. While China feels like they understand their role in the area, the UK must act to hold up their own end and defend the autonomy of Hong Kong. The US also sees this as an issue, and has offered remedies to the situation, which the UK can follow. With a new government taking shape, it is imperative that they show the willingness to stand by the agreements and protect the rights of their citizens at home, in the Commonwealth, and in former territories.

Robert Weiner is a former Spokesman for The Clinton and Bush White Houses, and for the House Government Operations and Oversight Committee. He has been senior staff for Cong. John Conyers, Charles Rangel, Claude Pepper, Ed Koch, Sen. Ted Kennedy, and 4-Star Gen. Barry McCaffrey. Jonathan Person is Senior Research and Policy Analyst for Robert Weiner Associates and the Solutions for Change Foundation.
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"Either this nation shall kill racism, or racism shall kill this nation." (S. Jonas, August, 2018)

"A vote for ABHB (Any Body But) Harris, is a vote for Trump"



I didn't want to post another pic of Trump so soon, so I searched for Steve Miller, an arch henchman. This is all I could come up with. They are Repubs.

(Image by Shook Photos) Details DMCA



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Why do virtually all Republicans, even most of those who denounced (or at least criticized) Trump post-Jan.6, from McCarthy to McConnell, with Graham in between, now support him? Because they are closely entwined with the segment of the Ruling Class that supports Trump, and most especially his policies for a second term.

(Do go to see Project 2025. The cited commentary provides an excellent summary of it from the progressive perspective.)

In my view, as my regular readers know, what should now be called the Trumpublican Party (it used to be called the Grand Old Party [which is where "GOP" comes from] representing the traditional U.S. capitalist class), has become a party, under Trump's leadership, that is promoting the imposition of a form of fascism on the United States. And of course, it is doing that not just on a whim, but because the segment of the capitalist class that it represents wants it to move in that direction, because, in turn, it holds to the view that doing so is the only way that it can hold onto its political and economic power. A variety of names suit this party now. The one that I now use much of the time is: TrumpRepubloFascist.

Let me begin here with the definition of "fascism" that I use:

"There is a single, all-powerful executive branch of government, in service of a capitalist ruling class that controls, for the most part, the functions of production, distribution, finance, and exchange. There is no separation of the principal governmental powers: executive, legislative, and judicial. There are no independent media. There is a single national ideology, based on some combination of racism, misogyny, religious bigotry, homophobia, xenophobia, and authoritarianism. There is a single political party supporting the movement. There is a state propaganda machine using the big and little lie techniques. There may be a full-blown dictatorship, a charismatic leader, engagement in foreign wars, and the use of the mob/private armies to enforce governmental control."

The Heritage Foundation creators of "Project 2025" would probably not agree that what they are promoting represents a U.S. form of fascism, but that denial would/could be stated for only one (or both) of two reasons. Either they do not know what fascism has been since its beginnings (first in post-World-War-post-Austro-Hungarian-Empire Hungary, in 1920, under Admiral Miklos Horthy), or they do know that to call their program "fascist" is a bad idea politically (and of course they do know that).

Trump doesn't know much history, but he does know that much. As is well known, the plan was developed by numbers of former and present Trump staffers. But public reactions have been widely negative. So, Trump is running away from it as fast as he can (as is his head-ideological-honcho Stephen Miller, heard doing the reverse 100-yard ideological dash on Ari Melber's MSNBC show "The Beat" of 8/7/24). That is, even though if Trump does manage to get back to the White House, he would start implementing The Plan as fast as he could.

And then, just to take a couple of examples of how P2025 falls under the definition of "fascism," the Heritage Foundation's head, one Kevin Roberts, famously announced that what they are proposing is a "Second American Revolution," that would be bloodless, "if the Left allows it to be." But gee, Kevin, what are the conditions, in your mind, that would call for a Revolution in our great nation at the present time? Other than the proposal/installation of a set of policies that would overthrow Constitutional government in the United Sates, without going through the bother of amending the Constitution. Yes, indeed. That might well bring about some sort of violent response (starting with at least some form of secession).

And, Kevin, you may not know this, but historically revolutions have had a broad base of popular support, rather than arising from some 925-page document that is a compendium of historically right-wing formulations/policies, written in major part by members of TeamTrump. That is if you do manage to win power peacefully (or semi-peacefully), without running explicitly on what you are proposing in P2025 (so you cannot marshal "popular support" for your proposals/doctrine), what you are proposing is indeed revolutionary, like throwing out, without the benefit of legislation, whole sections of U.S. law, such as the Civil Service Act of 1883, and enforcing other sections of it, like the Comstock Act of 1873 that haven't been used in decades. Just like that.

Further, in the view of many of us, leftists and liberals alike, what you propose would indeed be revolutionary, without you having to lay out, specifically, why the times require revolution and why you think, for example, that a President, on his own authority, could just choose to ignore a major piece of legislation that has been in place (with amendments) for about 140 years, just so that he could stack the Federal Civil Service with his political loyalists. (Actually, the Civil Service Act was passed in 1883 precisely to prevent the kind of ideological takeover of the civil service that you are proposing.) Suppose a leftist government were elected and then began to make changes, without the benefit of legislation, that would begin to install elements of socialism into the political economy. Don't you think that the Right would react with violence, as happened, for example in Chile in the 1970s, Brazil in the 1960s, and Spain in the 1930s (and in those three examples, the legislative process had been put to use)?

If one looks at the history of Fascist nations, from Horthy's Hungary, through Mussolini's Italy, through Nazi Germany, through Peron's Argentina, through Pinochet's Chile, through Franco's Spain, through Salazar's Portugal, through "The

Generals' " Brazil, through "The Colonels' " Argentina, one sees exactly the same pattern: the imposition by force and violence of a regime of one kind or another designed to benefit the interests of the economic ruling class of the period (and if not all of it, then a significant segment of it at time). In fact, fascism has rarely (if ever) been installed in a nation without the use of violence at one level or another. At least in this instance you folks would be attempting to do it peacefully, just by Presidential fiat (as did happen in Hungary, Italy, and Germany, of course).

And so, given Trump's authoritarianism and his open proclamation that he would, for example, a) destroy the traditional U.S. Civil Service and b) the traditional U.S. separation of the Justice Department from the Office of the Presidency, without the benefit of legislation, how is that not fascist, by definition? Further, if he gets back in, such actions (and many other anti-Democratic ones to be sure) would be strongly backed up by the Supreme Court's "Immunity Decision," which amended Article II of the Constitution without the bother of going through the amendment process.

Further on the latter, indeed that decision was an "amendment-in-practice:" nothing anything like granting Presidents immunity from prosecution for criminal acts of whatever kind appears anywhere in Article II of the Constitution, nor is there any language in it that would open the door for such an amendment. To repeat, the Supreme Court majority created that one out of whole cloth. In practice, they added a clause to Article II (which defines the Presidency) that cannot b y any stretch be seen to belong there, to repeat: "immunity from being charged for crime-commission while on the job." Back in office, Trump would use this "amendment" to the Constitution to a fare-thee-well. But, according to Heritage's Roberts, the Left shouldn't get upset.

Addendum: Anti-Semitism is creeping into modern Republican politics .

When I was a youngster the core word for "International Jew," a simple object of scorn for some, a symbol of outright anti-Semitism by many others, was the word "Rothschild." The modern symbol for anti-Semitism of the "there is a secret international Jewish conspiracy to take over the world" type is "George Soros." (Mr. Soros is a very wealthy, left-wing, philanthropist, who not-too-long-ago had to leave his native Hungary because of the arrival-to-power of the great friend to Trump and Tucker Carlson, the authoritarian Viktor Orban.)

Trump has been using that code, on occasion to be sure, since the 2016 Presidential campaign. Now, for the first time, I have seen another prominent Republican using it. Here's a text from Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House, that I received the other day (and yes, I am on several Republican fund-raising-text lists so that I keep up with their ground-game).

Monday July 29, 2024. Text message: " 'We need to talk about George Soros. Will you read my plan to DEMOLISH the Soros agenda?' {Here 'tis}: Allred24.info/SME2hH. 'He is a radical left-wing billionaire who's hellbent on DESTROYING the Conservative Movement.' [and he is] 'The man behind Trump's conviction.' "

No further comment needed. This developing campaign is just one reason why the Vice-President did not (wisely in my view) choose Pennsylvania's Gov. Shapiro as her running-mate. In part it's his position on Israel/Gaza to sure. But even without that issue, just imagine the torrent of traditional anti-Semitism that would have been pouring out from the Republican side, regardless of what the Governor's position on Israel/Gaza was or would be.

(Article changed on Aug 08, 2024 at 4:55 PM EDT)

(Article changed on Aug 08, 2024 at 9:55 PM EDT)

(Article changed on Aug 09, 2024 at 9:30 AM EDT)
Delhi, India: Hula Global, a leading clothing supplier with over a decade of experience, announces a robust plan to support international fashion brands affected by the recent political instability in Bangladesh. With the resignation of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, creating disruptions in the apparel supply chains, Hula Global is ready to redirect these orders to our state-of-the-art factories in India, ensuring continuity and quality for our partners during 
PLA holds combat patrol in South China Sea

09:01, August 08, 2024 By Liu Xuanzun and Guo Yuandan ( Global Times

File photo taken in July, 2016 shows Chinese H-6K bomber patrolling islands and reefs including Huangyan Island in the South China Sea. (Xinhua/Liu Rui)

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command on Wednesday held a combat patrol in the South China Sea in an apparent response to a joint exercise by the Philippines, the US, Australia and Canada in the region. The combat patrol is a move to defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights while sending a warning to relevant parties not to fan the flames in the region, experts said.

With the aim of testing troops' reconnaissance, early warning, fast maneuvering and joint strike capabilities, the PLA Southern Theater Command on Wednesday organized a joint combat patrol in waters and airspace near Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island) in the South China Sea, the theater command said in a press release on Wednesday.

All military activities that stir up the situation in the South China Sea, create hotspot events and sabotage regional peace and stability are in complete control, the PLA Southern Theater Command said.

The PLA Southern Theater Command did not elaborate, but the Philippines, the US, Australia and Canada kicked off their first joint military exercise in the South China Sea on Wednesday to enhance interoperability among their forces, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

The two-day exercise involves naval and air force units, and follows the first Philippines-Japan joint exercise in the South China Sea last week, Reuters said.

PLA warplanes and warships routinely conduct exercise trainings in the South China Sea, so the PLA can immediately respond to any provocative moves or threats, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Zhang Junshe, another Chinese military expert, said that the Philippines-US-Australia-Canada joint drill is of symbolic significance only, attempting to show that countries such as the US are supporting the Philippines in its provocative moves.

Manila's approach of "inviting wolves into the house" not only attracts many external military forces in the South China Sea, but also negatively impacts the centrality of the ASEAN in regional security affairs, Ding Duo, a deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at China's National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times.

Calling the US the biggest external factor that escalates tensions in the region, Ding said that the US' pushing of small multilateral mechanisms and bloc confrontation stems from its entrenched Cold War mentality and wrong perception toward China.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Liang Jun)
Fatima Latifova

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the expulsion of the last Azerbaijanis from Armenia, Azernews reports.

The Western Azerbaijan Community has issued a statement regarding this event.

The statement noted that following the expulsion of the residents of Nuvadi village in the Zangezur region by Armenian authorities using force on August 8, 1991, no Azerbaijanis remained in Armenia. Thus, the final deportation, which began in 1987 and resulted in the expulsion of 300,000 Azerbaijanis from Armenia, has concluded and remains a dark chapter in the history of humanity.

The community demands that the right to return, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other important documents, be upheld, and that conditions be created for the safe and dignified return of Azerbaijanis expelled from present-day Armenian territory. The Western Azerbaijan Community calls on the international community to support the provision of security for the return of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenian territory, and to endorse the adoption of international acts with verification and guarantee mechanisms that are legally binding.

The community also condemned attempts at ethnic and religious discrimination concerning the right to return and emphasized the need to adhere to the principles of reciprocity and legal equality in this matter.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On August 6, BYD, the world's leading new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, officially opened its first dealership in Poland. The opening ceremony took place in Warsaw, marking a significant milestone for BYD's expansion into the Polish market.

Photo credit: BYD

Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD and President of BYD Americas, stated, "As the world's best-selling NEV brand, the models we are introducing in Poland embody the latest technological advancements and cutting-edge design aesthetics. We hope this collaboration will not only provide high-quality new energy products to more consumers but also lay a foundation for a greener future."

The newly opened store in Warsaw is a modern space that combines comfort and functionality. In May this year, BYD announced plans to launch three models in Poland: the BYD SEAL, the BYD SEAL U (named Song PLUS EV in China), and the DOLPHIN. Besides Warsaw, BYD aims to open dealerships in Poznan, Wroclaw, Krakow, and Szczecin, partnering with premium local dealers to gradually establish a comprehensive sales network across Poland. BYD said this network will ensure local consumers have access to convenient, efficient car purchasing, usage, and after-sales services.

To date, BYD has introduced seven NEV models to over 20 countries across Europe.
Actor Gabriel Olds, who has appeared on television shows including Six Feet Under and NCIS: Los Angeles, used his Hollywood success and status as an Ivy League alumnus to entrap and sexually assault women he met on dating apps, according to authorities.

Olds, also known for portraying Pat Robertson in the Oscar-winning film The Eyes of Tammy Faye, was arrested Wednesday and booked on seven felony counts of sexual assault, according to a press release from the Los Angeles Police Department.

Authorities launched their investigation into Olds, a New York native and Yale graduate, on Jan. 19, 2023, after a 41-year-old woman came forward, telling officers he raped her at her home in Los Angeles. She was followed by two more alleged victims, who both made similar claims about their encounters with the 52-year-old actor.

Police noted two more women also reported Olds for lesser violent sexual conduct.

The incidents date back to 2013, according to the press release.

We heard the same story again and again, Detective Brent Hopkins, a Special Assault Section supervisor, said.

Mr. Olds started off charming but then used brutal violence to carry out these rapes, he continued. Some of these survivors suffered in silence for years before finding the strength to speak up. Now that hes off the streets, we want to make sure everyone has a chance to be heard.

Due to Olds travel as an actor, detectives suspect there could be additional victims nationwide who have not yet come forward. Theyve asked anyone with information in the case to contact authorities.

____

2024 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Washington County District Attorneys Office on Thursday announced it had been awarded more than $1.5 million from the Organized Retail Theft Grant Program  the largest award the Oregon program has bestowed.

The Portland Police Bureau, in the neighboring and larger Multnomah County, announced on Thursday that it had received nearly half a million dollars from the same program, the amount it requested.
July ended on a slightly cooler note in Portland, but earlier in the month a significant heat wave killed at least 17 people across the state.

The normal average overnight low for Portland in July is 58.5 degrees, Rebecca Muessle, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland told The Oregonian/OregonLive. This year, that average was 61 degrees.

Nearly half of July 2024 saw temperatures of 90 degrees or more, with three days at 100 degrees and above.

Its not just Portland. Temperatures are higher around the world.

Earths string of 13 straight months with a new average heat record came to an end this past July as the natural El Nino climate pattern ebbed, the European climate agency Copernicus announced Thursday.

But July 2024 s average heat just missed surpassing the July of a year ago, and scientists said the end of the record-breaking streak changes nothing about the threat posed by climate change.

The overall context hasnt changed, Copernicus deputy director Samantha Burgess said in a statement. Our climate continues to warm.

Human-caused climate change drives extreme weather events that are wreaking havoc around the globe, with several examples just in recent weeks. In Cape Town, South Africa, thousands were displaced by torrential rain, gale-force winds, flooding and more. A fatal landslide hit Indonesias Sulawesi island. Beryl left a massive path of destruction as it set the record for the earliest Category 4 hurricane. And Japanese authorities said more than 120 people died in record heat in Tokyo.

Those hot temperatures have been especially merciless.

The globe for July 2024 averaged 62.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 1.2 degrees above the 30-year average for the month, according to Copernicus. Temperatures were a small fraction lower than the same period last year.

It is the second-warmest July and second-warmest of any month recorded in the agencys records, behind only July 2023. The Earth also had its two hottest days on record, on July 22 and July 23, each averaging about 62.9 degrees Fahrenheit. Copernicus had previously identified July 21 and 22 as the hottest days, but changed that based on updated data.

During July, the world was 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit warmer, by Copernicus measurement, than pre-industrial times. Thats close to the warming limit that nearly all the countries in the world agreed to in the 2015 Paris climate agreement: 1.5 degrees.

El Nino  which naturally warms the Pacific Ocean and changes weather across the globe  spurred the 13 months of record heat, said Copernicus senior climate scientist Julien Nicolas. That has come to a close, hence Julys slight easing of temperatures. La Nina conditions  natural cooling  arent expected until later in the year.

But theres still a general trend of warming.

The global picture is not that much different from where we were a year ago, Nicolas said in an interview.

The fact that the global sea surface temperature is and has been at record or near record levels for the past more than a year now has been an important contributing factor, he said. The main driving force, driving actor behind this record temperature is also the long-term warming trend that is directly related to buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

That includes carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.

Julys temperatures hit certain regions especially hard, including western Canada and the western United States. They baked, with around one-third of the U.S. population under warnings at one point for dangerous and record-breaking heat.

In southern and eastern Europe, the Italian health ministry issued its most severe heat warning for several cities in southern Europe and the Balkans. Greece was forced to close its biggest cultural attraction, the Acropolis, due to excessive temperatures. A majority of France was under heat warnings as the country welcomed the Olympics in late July.

Also affected were most of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and eastern Antarctica, according to Copernicus. Temperatures in Antarctica were well above average, the scientists say.

Things are going to continue to get worse because we havent stopped doing the thing thats making them worse, said Gavin Schmidt, climatologist and director of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, who wasnt part of the report.

Schmidt noted that different methodologies or calculations could produce slightly different results, including that July may have even continued the streak. The primary takeaway, he said: Even if the record-breaking streak comes to an end, the forces that are pushing the temperatures higher, theyre not stopping.

Does it matter that July is a record or not a record? No, because the thing that matters, the thing that is impacting everybody, Schmidt added, is the fact that the temperatures this year and last year are still much, much warmer than they were in the 1980s, than they were pre-industrial. And were seeing the impacts of that change.

People across the globe shouldnt see relief in Julys numbers, the experts say.

Theres been a lot of attention given to this 13-month streak of global records, said Copernicus Nicolas. But the consequences of climate change have been seen for many years. This started before June 2023, and they wont end because this streak of records is ending.
Oregon health officials said Thursday a Willamette Valley measles outbreak has grown to 25 residents  all unvaccinated.

The outbreak is unusual, despite the highly contagious nature of the disease, in part because it is easily controlled through vaccination. But vaccination rates have declined in recent years, health officials say, leading to repeated outbreaks.

The latest outbreak emerged two months ago, when the state reported that an unvaccinated adult contracted the virus in Marion County. The adult then spread measles to an unvaccinated child in the same household.

To date, there are 16 cases in Marion County, eight in Clackamas County and one in Multnomah County, according to Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director at the Oregon Health Authority. Five of those cases involve adults over 20 years old, while the rest are under 20, he said.

The outbreak is now the states largest since 2019, Cieslak said. That year, the state confirmed 28 cases. (Clark County, just across the Columbia River, saw a much larger outbreak that year, he added.)

Measles is a highly infectious virus that spreads through the air and can linger for up to two hours after someone who is infectious has left the area, according to health authorities. People are contagious with measles for up to four days before a rash appears and up to four days after. That means a person might not yet know that they have measles and can unknowingly transmit it to others.

Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, usually followed by a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. These symptoms begin seven to 21 days after exposure to the infection.

Officials said the spread of measles  which can be fatal  poses the highest risk to those who have not received a measles vaccination, pregnant people, infants younger than 1, and people with weakened immune systems.

Before the measles vaccine was available, an average of 400 to 500 people died of the virus each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2000, after three decades of vaccination efforts, the U.S. eradicated the virus.

Cieslak said that before 2019, Oregons last measles outbreak was in the 1990s, which he attributes to the states very high vaccination rates and very high population levels of immunity.

Unfortunately, weve seen an erosion in the percentage of people who are getting vaccinated against measles, he said.

Last school year, Oregon had the second highest non-medical exemption rate in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Officials say the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is highly effective against measles, but only if enough people are vaccinated.

Before 2000, about 1% of the states kindergartners would obtain a nonmedical exemption from school vaccination required, according to Cieslak. But that number has steadily risen, he said. Nearly 9% of the states kindergarteners during the last school year had a nonmedical exemption.

That is threatening our herd immunity, Cieslak said, referring to the prevalence of immunity to a disease across a large population. Measles is perhaps the most contagious disease that we know of.  It takes very high levels of population immunity in order to stem the transmission of this contagious disease.

Dr. Sarah Present, health officer for Clackamas County, said large numbers of people who are not vaccinated against measles can put their communities at risk.

Measles is a serious disease. Its not just a little rash. There are very frequent complications, she said. It can be a significant burden to not be able to go to school when youre exposed to this illness. Of course, the burden of getting the illness is greater.

Officials urge people experiencing symptoms of measles to call a health care provider or urgent care center ahead of time to arrange a plan that avoids exposing others in the facility to the disease.

-- Kristine de Leon covers the retail industry, small business and data enterprise stories. Reach her at kdeleon@oregonian.com.

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VIENNA  Both suspects in a foiled plot to attack Taylor Swift shows in Vienna appeared to be inspired by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida, Austrian authorities said Thursday, and investigators found bomb-making materials at one of their homes. Officials said one of the two confessed to planning to kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue.

Three sold-out concerts were canceled Wednesday because of the plot, devastating Swifties from across the globe. Many of them had dropped thousands of dollars on travel and lodging in Austrias expensive capital city to attend the Eras Tour shows at the Ernst Happel Stadium, which sat empty Thursday morning.

Concert organizers said they had expected up to 65,000 fans inside the stadium at each concert and as many as 30,000 onlookers outside, where authorities said the suspects planned to strike. The foiled attack was planned for Thursday or Friday, according to Austrias interior minister, Gerhard Karner.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer defended the decision to cancel the concerts, saying the arrests of the suspects took place too close to the shows, scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

I understand very well that those who wanted to experience the concert live are very sad, Nehammer told a news conference Thursday. Moms and dads are looking after their daughters and sons, who were full of enthusiasm and anticipation for this concert. But its also important that in such serious moments as now, its inevitable that safety comes first.

Swift is also scheduled to perform at Londons Wembley stadium in five concerts between Aug. 15 and 20 to close the European leg of her record-setting Eras Tour.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that while he understood Viennas reasons for canceling, Were going to carry on. Khan said the capitals authorities were prepared for shows there following lessons learned from a 2017 attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, that killed 22 people.

A suicide bomber had set up a knapsack with explosives in Manchester Arena. The bomb detonated at the end of Grandes concert as thousands of young fans were leaving.

Last month, an attacker in England killed three girls and wounded 10 people in a knife attack during a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class. Swift at the time said she was completely in shock over the violence.

In Austria, the main suspect confessed that he had started planning the attack in July, authorities said. The 19-year-old just a few weeks ago uploaded to the internet an oath of allegiance to the current leader of the Islamic State group.

He was clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels, said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence.

Haijawi-Pirchner added that the suspect wanted to carry out an attack in the area outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using the knives or even using the explosive devices he had made.

During a raid of the suspects home in Ternitz, south of Vienna, investigators found chemical substances and technical devices that indicated concrete preparatory acts, said Franz Ruf, director general for public security at the Ministry of the Interior.

Authorities said they also found Islamic State group and al-Qaida material at the home of the second suspect, who is 17. That suspect, who has so far refused to talk, was employed a few days ago by a company providing unspecified services at the venue for the concerts. The 19-year-old is an Austrian with North Macedonian roots. The 17-year-old is an Austrian with Turkish and Croatian roots.

The North Macedonian Interior Ministry released a statement Thursday saying that it had received a request from Austria to look into the 19-year-old.

Both teens were arrested Tuesday. Neither of their names was released in line with Austrian privacy rules.

The suspects had undergone clear social changes recently, authorities said. The 19-year-old had quit his job but said he still had big plans, while the other broke up with his girlfriend. Neither suspect appeared to have a ticket to any of the shows, Haijawi-Pirchner said.

Karner said that Austrias intelligence service had worked closely together with foreign intelligence services to capture the two teens. He did not identify the agencies, but added that the help was needed because Austrian investigators, unlike some foreign services, cant legally monitor text messages.

The CIA declined to say Thursday whether U.S. intelligence agencies played any role in the investigation.

No other suspects are being sought, though a 15-year-old who had been in contact with both suspects was also interrogated by police, Karner said.

The situation is serious. But we can also say: A tragedy was prevented, he said.

Concert organizer Barracuda Music said in an Instagram post late Wednesday that it had no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyones safety.

Barracuda said all tickets would be refunded. The same message was posted under the Vienna dates on Swifts official website. Austrian rail operator OeBB in the meantime said that it would reimburse fans for unused train tickets for the concerts.

Swift has not spoken publicly about the plot or canceled shows. Taylor Nation, a verified Instagram page widely believed to be run by her team, reposted the announcement from Barracuda Music in a story, which is only visible for 24 hours. Her main account has not posted anything.

Swifts biggest fear has always been that such large-scale violence could take place at her concerts, the superstar told Elle magazine in 2019 ahead of her Lover Tour, which was ultimately canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The attack at Grandes concert, as well as a 2017 mass shooting at an outdoor country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip where 58 people were killed, worried Swift as she prepared to circle the globe.

I was completely terrified to go on (the Lover Tour) this time because I didnt know how we were going to keep 3 million fans safe over seven months, she told the magazine. There was a tremendous amount of planning, expense, and effort put into keeping my fans safe.

An official inquiry reported in 2023 that Britains domestic intelligence agency, MI5, didnt act swiftly enough on key information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the Manchester bombing, the deadliest extremist attack in the United Kingdom in recent years.

Terrorism expert Magnus Ranstorp, based at the Swedish Defense University in Stockholm, told The Associated Press by phone that any mass public event constitutes a potential threat now.

So we shouldnt be surprised that these extremely popular iconic popstars that attract a massive audience will also attract terrorists that want to create fear and destruction and mayhem, he said.

 By PHILIPP-MORITZ JENNE, STEFANIE DAZIO and KIRSTEN GRIESHABER, Associated Press

Dazio and Grieshaber reported from Berlin. Associated Press writers Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark; Vanessa Gera in Warsaw, Poland; Danica Kirka in London; and David Klepper in Washington contributed to this report.
Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey ODonnells unilateral decision not to book those arrested under Portlands anti-camping law is nothing less than outrageous, (Multnomah County sheriff defends decision not to jail 1st person arrested for violating Portlands camping rules, July 30).

County sheriffs are elected and sworn to uphold and enforce the law. They should not have discretion to pick and choose which laws they will enforce. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the right of communities to ban urban camping. If ODonnell feels that she cannot enforce our anti-camping laws within the bounds of her conscience, then she should do the right thing and resign.

Once again, it seems as if Multnomah Countys officials live in a dream world of their own, where urban camping and rampant drug use are not really a problem requiring action and urgency. Maybe they all should just have another meeting. Thats what they do best.

Mark B. Williams, Portland

To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.
Five members of Oregons congressional delegation sent a letter to top Biden administration officials Thursday, asking that the officials return to the state for a fresh look at Oregons semiconductor manufacturing industry.

The letter invites Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Laurie Locascio, director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to come to Oregon at a date of their choosing. The letter suggests they visit to celebrate the second anniversary of the federal CHIPS Act and share our vision for the future of Oregons semiconductor industry.
Two planets will be aligning this month in an astronomical event that comes around only about once a decade.

Jupiter and Mars will come into conjunction in the wee hours of Aug. 14, appearing to be right next to each other in the night sky.

The two planets will be a mere .19 degrees apart in the night sky, according to Jim Todd, space science director for the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. This close of a conjunction of Jupiter and Mars hasnt happened since 2015, Todd said, and wont happen again until 2033.

An illustration of the 2024 conjunction of Jupiter and Mars.OMSI / Starry Night Pro

While the planets will seem to be making a close pass, in reality they are extremely far apart  about 300 million miles. From our perspective on Earth, that distance will be negligible, the two planets appearing close enough to fit into the same field of a small telescope.

From Portland, both Jupiter and Mars will rise around 12:56 a.m. in the Taurus constellation, Todd said. The conjunction will be visible until astronomical twilight begins at 4:14 a.m.

Todd said while there are planetary conjunctions all year, every year, this is considered a major conjunction.

--Jamie Hale covers travel and the outdoors and co-hosts the Peak Northwest podcast. Reach him at 503-294-4077, jhale@oregonian.com or @HaleJamesB.

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Wildfires have already burned more acres in Oregon this year than in any other season in the past 32 years, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, which has data on burned acreage going back to 1992. And with the regions fire activity typically peaking mid-August, the new record likely will end up dramatically beyond the previous mark.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On August 7, BAIC Groups premium electric vehicle brand ARCFOX put the KAOLA S model onto the market. The new model comes in two variants, the KAOLA S AIR at 109,800 yuan and the KAOLA S PRO at 119,800 yuan.

Photo credit: ARCFOX

The KAOLA S is a new addition to the KAOLA childcare vehicle lineup released last year, and it is priced 22,000-yuan lower than the previous model. The KAOLA S features a more practical 2+3 seating layout compared to the previous 4-seater.

Photo credit: ARCFOX

The KAOLA S maintains the same design and dimensions as the current model, with a length of 4,500mm, width of 1,870mm, height of 1,655mm, and a 2,820mm wheelbase. It offers a rear cargo capacity of 410L to 1,360L and a minimum ground clearance of 145mm. Standard features include a right-side sliding door with a 650mm opening and an interior height of 1,245mm.

Powered by a front single motor, the KAOLA S delivers 120kW and 240Nm of peak torque, achieving a top speed of 160 km/h. It comes with CATLs LFP battery, offering a capacity of 58.8kWh, a CLTC-rated range of 500km, and a consumption rate of 14.7kWh per 100km, supporting both fast charging and V2L (vehicle to load) functions.

The interior features a 14.6-inch central control screen and a 10.25-inch LCD instrument panel. Additionally, it is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip enabling L2 intelligent driving assistance.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - Ethiopian Airlines, the leading aviation group in Africa and a rapidly expanding global airline brand, has been distinguished with the US President's Lifetime Achievement Award, the airline announced on Thursday
Nippon Paper Industries to Shut Down Two Graphic Paper Machines in 2025, Expand Tissue Production

In response to the acceleration of demand decline of graphic paper, Nippon Paper Industries has been working on consolidating production sites and improving productivity. In response to the acceleration of demand decline of graphic paper, Nippon Paper Industries has been working on consolidating production sites and improving productivity.

Aug. 8, 2024 - Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. ("the Company") announced its decision to reduce graphic paper capacity through the shut-down of two paper machines  one at Shiraoi Mill and the other at Yatsushiro Mill. Both mills are located in Japan.

Nippon Paper also said that it has decided to start producing "Household Paper" (tissue paper) at Yatsushiro Mill, beginning in 2027. Household paper includes facial tissue, bath tissue, paper towels, pre-moistened wipes, and personal care products. The Company said the mill's production will primarily target exports.

In a press release, Nippon Paper said, "In response to the acceleration of demand decline of graphic paper, the Company has been working on consolidating production sites, improving productivity, and reducing GHG emissions in an integrated manner, as well as expanding growth areas such as Daily-Life Products Business by leveraging its existing resources."

At Shiraoi Mill, the No.8 paper machine, which has the capacity to produce 64,000 tons per year of fine paper, will be shut down around the end of September 2025. The mill's remaining production will be used to expand products other than graphic paper.

At Yatsushiro Mill, its N2 paper machine, which has the capacity to produce 232,000 tons per year of newsprint, will be shut down around the end of June 2025. At the same time, No. 9 coal-fired boiler will be shut down by the end of November 2025 to reduce GHG emissions, eliminating the entire coal utilization at Yatsushiro Mill.

"The Company will continue manufacturing the products made with these machines at its facilities including the abovementioned mills. The employees involved in the machines that will be shut down basically continue to be employed within their respective mills.

"We will take all possible measures to avoid any inconvenience to our customers and other concerned parties," Nippon Paper said.

Nippon Paper Industries produces a wide range of products, including newsprint, coated and uncoated paper, paperboard, tissue, pulp, lumber, chemicals and more.

SOURCE: Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.
Port Hawkesbury Paper Announces Eric Huard as Director of Specialty Sales

Eric Huard Eric Huard

Aug. 8, 2024 - Port Hawkesbury Paper announced the hiring of Eric Huard as the Director of Specialty Sales.

Huard received his bachelor's in chemical engineering from Ecole Polytechnique (University of Montreal). He started his career with a leading paper machine clothing company, later acquired by Voith, as a technical support representative before moving into sales. His responsibilities included accounts in Eastern Canada and the Canadian Maritimes. In his role with Voith, Huard was involved with the start-up of PM 2 at the Port Hawkesbury mill.

In 2005, Eric joined MeadWestvaco in Chillicothe, Ohio, and was responsible for carbonless sales in Eastern Canada. The Chillicothe mill changed ownerships (NewPage, Glatfelter, and now Pixelle Specialty Solutions), and Eric's responsibilities grew within the organization to sell book and specially engineered product grades.

"Throughout his career, Eric has developed solid business relationships with end-users in the markets Port Hawkesbury currently participates in," states John Picklesimer, President of Sales for Port Hawkesbury Paper. "We look forward to Eric leading our efforts in many of these markets, developing new areas of opportunity, and collaborating with our current sales team on targeted accounts."

Port Hawkesbury Paper, located in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, Canada, is a leading producer of thermal mechanical pulp and supercalendered paper (SCA+ and (SCA++). The company ships its products to customers throughout North America and worldwide.

SOURCE: Port Hawkesbury Paper
Nearly half of all teens in the United States said they feel ignored at home, citing their parents' usage of smartphones as the cause.

In a recent Pew Research Center survey, 46% of teens reported that their parents are at least sometimes distracted by their phones to pay attention during conversations-a phenomenon known as phubbing. Of those teens, 8% said their parents are too often distracted by their phones.

Similar figures were reported when parents were asked if they believed they spent too much time on their smartphones. Overall, 47% of US parents said they spend too much time on their phones while 45% said they believe they are only spending the right amount and 5% said they spend too little time on phones.

That being said, parents' views on their own phone usage vary depending on household income. About 50% of parents earning an annual income of $75,000 or more say they spend too much time on their phones. This figure drops to 41% among parents in households earning between $30,000 to $74,999, and 38% among those making under $30,000 in annual income.

READ ALSO : New Study Reveals 74% of Teens Experience Happiness Without Phones Amidst Digital Dependency Crisis

By race and ethnicity, 57% of White parents said they believe they spend too much on their phones while only 38% of Black parents and 34% of Hispanic parents said the same.

Phubbing may include glancing at the phone in the middle of a conversation, checking the phone when the conversation stills, keeping the smartphone close during one-on-one time, and interrupting a conversation to answer the phone.

How Does a Parent's Phone Usage Affect Their Children?

Parents who are constantly distracted by their phones could lead to them having a poor relationship with their children, according to research published in Frontiers in Psychology.

"When caregivers prioritize their phones over interacting with their child, what can get communicated to that child - and internalized by that child - is that the phone is more valuable, engaging, interesting, and important than them," Michelle Felder, a licensed clinical social worker, told Parents.

In addition to strained relationships, phubbing could also cause cellphone addiction in preteens, hinder language development, and affect a child's ability to learn crucial social skills.
I enjoyed this piece in the Deseret News, which was written by Jacob Hess: What surprised a British journalist after spending time with Latter-day Saints: Eight discoveries in an in-depth profile about Latter-day Saints that challenged the stereotypes of a U.K. journalist and helped to demystify the faith for her.

If youre interested in reading the original article, written by Nina-Sophia Miralles, here it is: Light Reading: Myth-Busting Mormonism in London: This column aims to illuminate dark corners as we grope our way through a world bereft of meaning. Featuring human interest stories from our capital, Light Reading will investigate groups, movements and people who have found bright spots of hope, solace, and sanctuary in unexpected ways.

This comes as a real breath of fresh air after some of the media coverage to which I drew attention here a few days ago.

Some of you will be familiar with the name of Sebastian Junger (born 1962), who is an American journalist, author, and filmmaker. And you should be familiar with his name, because I wrote about him here a week or two ago.

The documentary film Restrepo, based on Jungers writing, received the Grand Jury Prize for best documentary at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. He reported from the war in Afghanistan for roughly a decade and has written for various highbrow magazines. He has also written several books, the most famous of which is almost certainly The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea (1997), which was adapted into a major motion picture, and which has given us an expression (a perfect storm) that has come to be quite commonly used since then.

Near the end of this past May, Junger, who was raised an atheist, published a new book entitled In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife. Its a personal memoir that is based upon a severe, life-threatening medical emergency that he experienced not terribly long ago. I read the book a month or two back, and I want to share a little bit more from it.

[Dr. Sam] Parnia also tells a seminal story of a man whose heart stopped for almost an hour. Very sophisticated techniques allowed the man to survive without brain damage, and when he woke up four days later, he reported an extraordinary memory: he had been greeted by a luminous, loving, compassionate being that did not have mass or a shape. He woke up without any fear of death. I was finding it impossible not to root for an afterlife, and one of the things that triggered a flicker of optimism was the medical paradox of lucidity during collapsing brain function. The brain uses 15 percent of the oxygenated blood in the body and around 20 percent of the glucose. When the heart stops, those huge needs suddenly go unmet, and electrical activity in the brain plummets. And yet awareness seems to increase. The occurrence of lucid, well-structured thought processes together with reasoning, attention and memory recall of specific events during cardiac arrest (NDE) raise a number of interesting and perplexing questions, writes [Dr. Sam] Parnia in the medical journal Resuscitation. From a clinical point of view any acute alteration in cerebral physiology . . . leads to disorganized and compromised cerebral function. (101)

But . . . Not only does the brain seem to continue functioning, it has experiences that are consistent across many, many cases. A study of near-death experiences around the world found some cultural variationspeople from Anglo-European society were more likely to describe a journey through darkness as a tunnel rather than a voidbut the basic contours of the experience were remarkably similar. The dying generally recall rising over their bodies, journeying to another realm, encountering dead relatives, and returning. A Maori woman named Nga, for example, recounted her brush with death to New Zealand author Michael King: I became seriously ill for the first time in my life, Nga said. I became so ill that my spirit actually passed out of my body. My family believed I was dead because my breathing stopped I had hovered over my head and then left the room and traveled northwards, towards the Tail of the Fish. I passed over the Waikato River, across the Manukau, over Ngati Whatua, Ngapuhi, Te Rarawa, and Te Aupouri until I came to Te Rerenga Wairua, the leaping-off place of souls. At that point, a voice told Nga to go back because it was not her time. She regained consciousness in her body, surrounded by family members. (102)

Junger continues:

In 1998, Dr. Greyson [of the medical school at the University of Virginia] and two colleagues, Emily Cooke and Ian Stevenson, published a series of extraordinary accounts of near-death experiences in the Journal of Scientific Exploration. As explained in the abstract, they wanted to examine fourteen cases that, in their opinion, gave credence to the idea that individual consciousness survives death. Some cases were drawn from popular accounts published in newspapers, and some were from their own files. The researchers attempted to track down people from the accountssometimes decades laterand were able to confirm the stories in only the most general sense. It goes without saying that these are self-reported stories that, by definition, are impossible to confirm. The core experiences in the stories are remarkably consistent, though, and as I read them, I found it hard to imagine that deliberate falsifications would converge in such dramatic ways.

He goes on:

In every case cited by Greyson and his colleagues, the dying person found themselves outside their body and often looking down from above as doctors or bystanders tried to save them. Many also claimed to have perceptions that were not constrained by ordinary human perspectives. In my wanderings there was a strange consciousness that I could see through the walls of the building, recorded a British army officer named Alexander Ogston, who almost died of typhoid fever at a military hospital around 1900. I saw plainly, for instance, a poor Royal Army Medical surgeon, of whose existence I had not known, and who was in quite another part of the hospital, grow very ill and scream and die; I saw them cover his corpse and carry him softly out on shoeless feet, quietly and surreptitiously, lest we should know that he had died Afterwards, when I told these happenings to the sisters [nurses], they informed me that all of this had happened. According to Greyson and his colleagues, a nurse named Jean Morrow contacted them in 1991 to give her experience of almost dying in childbirth decades earlier: Due to blood loss, my blood pressure dropped. When I heard, Oh my god, were losing her, I was out of body at once and on the ceiling of the operating room looking downwatching them work on a body. Her account is similar to one given to Greyson by Peggy Raso, who barely survived a pulmonary embolism after giving birth to a healthy baby: I, the real me, was not on the bed, and I began to think about this I looked down at the bed from my vantage point near the ceiling. I saw a girl there who looked to be in a great deal of pain . . . I felt sorry for her. Doctors and nurses were coming and going from the room. I saw one doctor hit her hard on the chest. I tried to tell them I was not there. I saw a doctor come to the station that I recognized. He was a family friend and I had been raised next door to him. The nurse told him [Peggy Raso] had just died. He replied he would call Margaret (my mother). My hearing was extremely acute. I heard and saw another patient on the floor complaining about the activity and noise coming from my room. It dawned on me they were talking about me. I tried to tell them I was not down there. It became obvious they were not hearing me. Another recurring theme in many near-death experiences is encountering dead loved ones and other spirits. Not only have researchers documented this from around the world, but virtually every society believes that when you die, you will be reunited with loved ones who have already passed. This belief exists in the entire spectrum of human society, from small-band hunter-gatherers to mass industrialists, and forms a core part of almost all religions, including Christianity. (102-104)

Plainly intrigued by such reports, Junger relates yet another account:

Around one quarter of near-death survivors report encountering the dead, as I did. Some were long-dead relatives, some were the recently dead, and some were not yet known to have died. One American soldier responded to an appeal in military publications for near-death experiences with this account of a helicopter crash in Vietnam: It was peaceful and cool. I could see others like myself just sort of floating around only inches from the ground . . . dead [Viet Cong]. Our eyes meet, but there are no hard feelings between us, just something we have in common people walk past you, and you know what they are thinking . . . we all have the same thing in common we are dead. (104-105)

Ive selected another infuriating specimen for you from the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File. Please try to restrain your (entirely justified) indignant rage: 2 million meals  what the Church of Jesus Christs donation to a Canadian food bank means: Around 1 in 10 Toronto residents rely on food banks

Posted from Salt Lake City, Utah
Including Documentation of Popes Massive Consultation with Bishops and Others Before Declaring Dogmas, and Particulars of the Voting at Vatican I

Rev. Dr. Jordan B. Cooper is a Lutheran pastor, adjunct professor of Systematic Theology, Executive Director of the popular Just & Sinner YouTube channel, and the President of the American Lutheran Theological Seminary (which holds to a doctrinally traditional Lutheranism, similar to the Lutheran Church  Missouri Synod). He has authored several books, as well as theological articles in a variety of publications. All my Bible citations are from RSV, unless otherwise indicated. Jordans words will be in blue.

This is my 18th reply to Jordan (many more to come, because I want to interact with the best, most informed Protestant opponents). All of these respectful critiques can be found in the Replies to Jordan Cooper section at the top of my Lutheranism web page. Thus far, he hasnt responded to any of my critiques, for reasons that he explained on my Facebook page on 17 April 2024:

I appreciate your thoughtful engagement with my material. I also appreciate not being called anti-Catholic, as I am not. Unfortunately, it is just a matter of time that I am unable to interact with the many lengthy pieces you have put together. With teaching, writing, running a publishing house, podcasting, working at a seminary, and doing campus ministry, I have to prioritize, which often means not doing things that would be very much worthwhile simply for lack of time.

I appreciate the explanation and nevertheless sincerely hope that Dr. Cooper does have more time and desire to dialogue with me in the future. I think we could have some good and constructive  and civil  discussions. In the meantime, I will continue to try to write what he regards as thoughtful and worthwhile responses.

***

I am replying to Jordans video, Papal Infallibility at Vatican I (8-3-24). See my Facebook post on his introductory remarks regarding Catholic converts.

2:04 I would like to do something that is a little bit more in depth on the issue of of the papacy.

Good!

5:19 Rome really I think does stand or fall with this issue.

Its certainly central, I agree, just as Protestantism stands or falls on sola Scriptura and sola fide (Bible Alone and Faith Alone): its two pillars.

5:32 if were really wrestling with Rome and the claims that Rome makes . . . if the pope really is the Vicar of Christ; if Jesus really did set him up as the head of the church then Ill submit to him; I should, right? And and you should as well.

I couldnt agree more!

6:44 Ive looked at a number of sources . . . that Im working my way through . . . some of them are those that are defenses of papal infallibility, others are critiques of papal infallibility and the critiques come from both Protestants as well as some of those within Rome or who left Rome to form the Old Catholic Church, so Im trying to get a wide range of texts that are dealing with these questions.

I did exactly the same in 1990 (because this was my biggest objection to Rome; I despised infallibility), examining the excommunicated Dollingers objection to papal infallibility, George Salmons critiques, and Hans Kungs, among others. Then I read St. Cardinal Newman on the other side and some other related materials. Perhaps Dr. Cooper will be willing to read some of my many articles devoted to the issue as well.

7:27 what Im really trying to hone in on for this particular series is what were the actual claims that were being made at Vatican 1 and what were the arguments that were being produced at that time, because something that I have found within a lot of Roman Catholic apologetics is that the arguments made by apologists today seem to be significantly different in some areas than the arguments that were actually being made when certain things were declared Dogma.

There is more than one approach to anything. I concentrate on biblical proofs for infallibility (including massive corroboration from Protestant Bible scholars in various ways). But Ive also gone into great depth regarding the historical arguments pro and con.

30:04 [Pope Pius IX] releases this document and this document is really essential for the dogma of papal infallibility, and that is Ineffabilis Deus in 1854. It is here that Pius IXth declares that the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mother is a dogma . . . Pius IX is really using the dogma of infallibility in his action here, even before that particular dogma has yet been ratified at any council at all. You dont really find anything like Ineffabilis Deus prior to this time. Popes certainly condemn people and condemn ideas but you dont have such a direct declaration of a single pope outside of a council making such a clear dogmatic decree.

I dont know how he can make that claim, when Protestants themselves are quite fond of bringing up Unam Sanctam: a Bull of Pope Boniface VIII from November 18, 1302. He starts by writing:

Urged by faith, we are obliged to believe and to maintain that the Church is one, holy, catholic, and also apostolic. We believe in her firmly and we confess with simplicity that outside of her there is neither salvation nor the remission of sins, as the Spouse in the Canticles [Sgs 6:8] proclaims: One is my dove, my perfect one. She is the only one, the chosen of her who bore her, and she represents one sole mystical body whose Head is Christ and the head of Christ is God [1 Cor 11:3]. In her then is one Lord, one faith, one baptism [Eph 4:5]. There had been at the time of the deluge only one ark of Noah, prefiguring the one Church, which ark, having been finished to a single cubit, had only one pilot and guide, i.e., Noah, and we read that, outside of this ark, all that subsisted on the earth was destroyed. We venerate this Church as one, the Lord having said by the mouth of the prophet: Deliver, O God, my soul from the sword and my only one from the hand of the dog. [Ps 21:20] He has prayed for his soul, that is for himself, heart and body; and this body, that is to say, the Church, He has called one because of the unity of the Spouse, of the faith, of the sacraments, and of the charity of the Church. This is the tunic of the Lord, the seamless tunic, which was not rent but which was cast by lot [Jn 19:23- 24]. Therefore, of the one and only Church there is one body and one head, not two heads like a monster; that is, Christ and the Vicar of Christ, Peter and the successor of Peter, since the Lord speaking to Peter Himself said: Feed my sheep [Jn 21:17], meaning, my sheep in general, not these, nor those in particular, whence we understand that He entrusted all to him [Peter].

And it ends like this:

This authority, however, (though it has been given to man and is exercised by man), is not human but rather divine, granted to Peter by a divine word and reaffirmed to him (Peter) and his successors by the One Whom Peter confessed, the Lord saying to Peter himself, Whatsoever you shall bind on earth, shall be bound also in Heaven etc., [Mt 16:19]. Therefore whoever resists this power thus ordained by God, resists the ordinance of God [Rom 13:2], unless he invent like Manicheus two beginnings, which is false and judged by us heretical, since according to the testimony of Moses, it is not in the beginnings but in the beginning that God created heaven and earth [Gen 1:1]. Furthermore, we declare, we proclaim, we define that it is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff.

This is almost precisely exactly what Jordan claimed no pope had stated before 1854, but here it is, 552 years earlier; 28 years after the previous council (2nd Lyons) and nine years before the next one (Vienne). Protestant apologists who critique our doctrine of no salvation outside of the Church  which is massively misunderstood, by the way  cite this document all the time. Jordan himself is certainly familiar with it. I again addressed these arguments six months ago, in replies to Jordans friend and fellow YouTube apologist, the Reformed Baptist Gavin Ortlund:

Catholicism & Non-Catholic Salvation (Vs. Gavin Ortlund) + How Early Protestants Widely Damned Other Protestants Who Held Different Theological Views [2-9-24]

But Jordan also does well, I think, and is fair-minded in acknowledging that Pope Blessed Pius IX didnt act alone at all; that in fact he massively consulted the worlds bishops before issuing his declaration (it was simply done informally, outside of an ecumenical council):

29:34 he writes Ubi Primum in 1849 where he is requesting responses from a a variety of bishops regarding certain some of these debated questions about about Mary . . . hes relying on those bishops who are experts within theological fields, to get some input from them about this. and then he releases this document and this document is really essential for the dogma of papal infallibility. . . . to be clear he does come to this conclusion through the consultation of a variety of bishops, so hes not just bringing this up out of nowhere.

Exactly! Protestant critics (I speak generally and more broadly now) cant have it both ways: on the one hand claim that the pope is an autocrat who acts absolutely alone, like some sort of Christian dictator, and complain loudly about that, but then turn around and note (or be informed of) the actual fact that he always works in these sublime doctrinal matters with the bishops: particularly but not exclusively in ecumenical councils. And so we see this in Ubi Primum:

3. Moreover, Venerable Brethren, many of you have sent letters to Our Predecessor and to Us begging, with repeated insistence and redoubled enthusiasm, that We define as a dogma of the Catholic Church that the most blessed Virgin Mary was conceived immaculate and free in every way of all taint of original sin. Nor do we lack today eminent theologians  men of intellectual brilliance, of virtue, of holiness and sound doctrine  who have so effectively explained this doctrine and so impressively expounded this proposition that many persons are now wondering why this honor has not already been accorded to the Blessed Virgin by the Church and the Apostolic See  an honor which the widespread piety of the Christian people so fervently desires to have accorded to the Most Holy Virgin by a solemn decree and by the authority of the Church and the Holy See. 4. Welcome indeed have such requests been to Us. They have filled Us with joy.. . . 5. . . . Accordingly, We have appointed certain priests of recognized piety and theological learning, as well as several cardinals of the Holy Roman Church who are renowned because of their ability, piety, wisdom, prudence, and knowledge of the things of God; and We have directed them to make, carefully and thoroughly, a most diligent examination into this most important matter and then provide Us with a complete report. Through such a procedure, We feel that We are following in the clearly marked footsteps of Our Predecessors and that We are emulating their example. 6. Wherefore, Venerable Brethren, We sent you this communication that We may effectively encourage your admirable devotion and your pastoral zeal and thus bring it about that each of you, in such manner as you will see fit, will arrange to have public prayers offered in your diocese for this intention: that the most merciful Father of all knowledge will deign to enlighten Us with the heavenly light of His Holy Spirit, so that in a matter of such moment We may proceed to do what will redound to the greater glory of His Holy Name, to the honor of the most Blessed Virgin, and to the profit of the Church Militant. We eagerly desire, furthermore, that, as soon as possible, you apprise Us concerning the devotion which animates your clergy and your people regarding the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin and how ardently glows the desire that this doctrine be defined by the Apostolic See. And especially, Venerable Brethren, We wish to know what you yourselves, in your wise judgment, think and desire on this matter.

Thats Catholic ecclesiology (and a wonderfully balanced and practical thing it is): the pope is leader and head, but it doesnt follow that he lords it over everyone. He works closely with the community: bishops, priests, and laypeople, just as Jesus said that the greatest would be the servant, and called His disciples His friends. Likewise, Peter, though the leader of the early Church (as established on many biblical grounds), referred to himself as a fellow elder (1 Pet 5:1). Blessed Pope Pius IX, in his Apostolic Constitution Ineffabilis Deus (8 December 1854), in which he defined ex cathedra the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, again highlighted this sought-after (overwhelming) consensus of the bishops:

[O]n February 2, 1849, we sent an Encyclical Letter from Gaeta to all our venerable brethren, the bishops of the Catholic world, that they should offer prayers to God and then tell us in writing what the piety and devotion of their faithful was in regard to the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God. . . . We were certainly filled with the greatest consolation when the replies of our venerable brethren came to us. For, replying to us with a most enthusiastic joy, exultation and zeal, they not only again confirmed their own singular piety toward the Immaculate Conception of the most Blessed Virgin, and that of the secular and religious clergy and of the faithful, but with one voice they even entreated us to define our supreme judgment and authority the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin.

After consulting theologians Blessed Pope Pius IX consulted 603 bishops and 546 (91%) had responded affirmatively. Four or five thought it couldnt be defined, 24 were inopportunists (i.e., believed that the time was not right, independently of the truth of the doctrine), and ten wanted a more indirect definition. That leaves only approximately eighteen (or 3%) who  I am assuming  opposed it altogether. So in fact he was acting quite collegially and not autocratically 16 years before the conciliar dogmatic definition of papal infallibility,

Ven. Pope Pius XII  following the lead of earlier popes  acted in precisely the same way when he dogmatically defined the Assumption at the highest level in 1950. According to Alan Schreck (Catholic and Christian, Ann Arbor, Michigan: Servant Books, 1984, 180):

In the hundred years before Pope Pius declaration, the popes had received petitions from 113 cardinals, 250 bishops, 32,000 priests and religious brothers, 50,000 religious women, and 8 million lay people, all requesting that the Assumption be recognized officially as a Catholic teaching.

Thats no top-down dictatorship. Its anything but. Its as democratic and collegial as anything to be found in Protestantism. So wheres the beef?

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***

31:50 nothing has been quite so pointed in precisely this way and so he is using his own authority directly and singularly to simply say this is true and you are all bound to submit to it now.

In other words, just as Boniface VIII had done in 1302 . . . But the pope acts in harmony with prior tradition, theological speculation, and the massive consultation of bishops and others. That assuredly wasnt the case with Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism. If one wants to see how he proclaimed his truths and bound people to them on pain of hell if they refused, I would highly recommend this excerpt:

I need not have any title and name to praise highly the word, office, and work which I have from God and which you blind blasphemers defile and persecute beyond measure. I trust my praise will overcome your defiling, . . . Therefore, I now let you know that from now on I shall no longer do you the honor of allowing you  or even an angel from heaven  to judge my teaching or to examine it. . . . Instead, I shall let myself be heard and, as St. Peter teaches, give an explanation and defense of my teaching to all the world  I Pet. 3:15. I shall not have it judged by any man, not even by any angel. For since I am certain of it, I shall be your judge and even the angels judge through this teaching (as St. Paul says [I Cor. 6:3 ]) so that whoever does not accept my teaching may not be saved  for it is Gods and not mine. Therefore, my judgment is also not mine but Gods. (Against the Spiritual Estate of the Pope and the Bishops Falsely So-Called, July 1522, in Luthers Works, Vol. 39; except from pp. 248-249; see much more along these lines)

This is what I have called, semi-sarcastically, Luthers de facto infallibility or his (absurdly) self-assumed status as a super-duper pope. Real popes, almost needless to add, dont speak in this ultra-dogmatic, my way or the highway manner at all, as the above excerpts from Blessed Pope Pius IX abundantly prove. Later, Im happy to add, his rhetoric cooled quite a bit, after the Peasants Revolt of 1525, and he made quite a few traditional statements that Catholics could wholly agree with. I compiled an entire book of those (see the Introduction).

32:18 he is exercising this pointed authority that moves beyond the way that popes have spoken in the past . . . he says we declare, pronounce, and define; this is unique; you dont see this kind of language elsewhere.

No? I again remind Jordan of Unam Sanctam (cited above), where a pope wrote in 1302: we declare, we proclaim, we define that it is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff. This isnt even as strong as what the Jerusalem Council, led by Pope Peter, declared: it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church . . . it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord . . . it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit . . . (Acts 15:22, 25, 28).

No less than St. Paul, with Timothy, then went all around Asia Minor (Turkey) and delivered to them for observance the decisions which had been reached by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem (Acts 16:4). Thats binding Church authority, led by a pope, in consultation with both bishops and priests (or pastors, if one prefers: elder or presbuteros in Greek), right in the Bible.

33:05 his is a dogmatic declaration which usually would be something that would arise out of of the council.

Usually, but not always. The pope always had authority to act on his own. He is not obliged to always consult others, but in fact, popes usually choose to do that, too, because the community and the tradition are intrinsically intertwined with any papal decision.

Jordan starts discussing the notion of (from our perspective, heretical) conciliarism: the idea that ecumenical councils were more authoritative than popes. This has never been Catholic teaching, or practice on any magisterial level. I have written about it several times. The following three articles from twenty years ago were in response to a very zealous Presbyterian apologist named Tim Enloe (no longer active online) who was very big on conciliarism as a supposed disproof of Catholic ecclesiology:

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*

*

50:27 Those who break off and form the Old Catholic Church after Vatican 1 [thought it] . . . was really unjust that the pope essentially decided that he was going to call people that supported his cause and make them bishops and then give them a significant voice at this Council, even though they were not actually bishops in any real sense or a functional sense. Now this isnt the first time that this kind of thing has happened but it happened, I believe, at least [according to] some of the claims of the critics is that this happened to a much greater degree here.

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Ill take his word for this. But assuming this is true, I would note two things:

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1) This shows again that there was participation of those other than true bishops: laypeople, consultants, etc., which goes against the stereotype of the top-down autocrat. This was like the Jerusalem Council, which had apostles and elders. Jordan cites folks who left the Church and were disenchanted with the council because they disagreed with it (i.e., the were thinking like Protestants, as Luther did: councils can err). But it seems that this should make him happy: to discover that not just bishops were involved in the decision-making process.

*

2) We can look at the vote for papal infallibility that took place. Encyclopaedia Britannica ( First Vatican Council of Pius IX ) reports:

Pius intervened decisively to alter the procedure of the council on February 20, 1870, and again on April 29. The outcome was to postpone all deliberation except that upon infallibility. The decisive vote came on July 13 when 451 voted for it, 88 against it, and 62 in favour of some amendment. . . . the final definition was carried on July 18 by 533 votes to 2. Infallibility was confined to those occasions upon which the pope made pronouncements ex cathedra.

So even the initial vote of 601 participants was 75% in favor (451), with 62 (only 10%) in favor of amendment. Even if we discounted 120 whom Jordan (perhaps following the reasoning of disgruntled former Catholics like Dollinger) claims were mere hacks and bootlickers appointed by the pope because they agreed with him, it would still be 55% in favor. Those against (88) constituted only 15% of those who voted. That sounds like pretty strong consensus to me. The final vote was then 99.63% in favor. If we take away the 120 the vote would be 413 to 2. So how are they relevant at all to the final outcome? This is straining at gnats.

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Compare that to the early Protestant colloquies, like Regensburg (1541) and Poissy (1561) , where the participants could never bring themselves to any broad agreement at all. Luther and Melanchthon had already clashed miserably over the Real Presence in the Eucharist with Zwingli, Bucer, and Oecolampadius, in the Marburg Colloquy in October 1529. Protestants never healed their divisions, which have scandalously multiplied steadily from that time till ours.

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Perhaps thats one reason why Protestant apologists so often seek to find divisions and contradictions in our councils. Theyve never managed to have any significant and constructive councils in 500 years, and so they pick away at ours (almost as if they are jealous way down deep because they cant manage  and never have managed  to come together and reach theological consensus?). Instead we have scandals like the United Methodist Church (that I grew up in) recently voting to allow practicing homosexual clergy, and all mainline Protestant denominations favoring abortion.

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51:08 another critique that is is levied at the council is that Vatican 1 had a strongly disproportionate number of Italian bishops and the Italian Shortly before the fourth public session a large number of the bishops of the minority left Rome with the permission of the directing officers of the council. They did not oppose the dogma of papal infallibility itself, but were against its definition as inopportune. Thats not a theological disagreement, but one regarding the timing and prudence of declaring the dogma at that time. This was cardinal Newmans position. He agreed with the doctrine (from long before the council, actually, as I have written about) but thought it was inopportune. But when he saw the definition, he was pleased with it and saw Gods providence at work. Its also my position on declaring Mary Mediatrix of all graces. I think its too early, while I firmly believe in the doctrine and vigorously defend it as traditional and biblical. The old article continues, showing exactly who disagreed: Only a few bishops appear to have had doubts as to the dogma itself. Both parties sought to gain the victory for their opinions. . . . Most of the German and Austro-Hungarian members of the council were against the definition, as well as nearly half of the American and about one-third of the French fathers. About 7 of the Italian bishops, 2 each of the English and Irish bishops, 3 bishops from British North America, and 1 Swiss bishop, Greith, belonged to the minority. While only a few Armenian bishops opposed the definition, most of the Chaldean and Greek Melchites sided with the minority. It had no opponents among the bishops from Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Holland, and Central and South America. The most prominent members of the minority from the United States were Archbishops Kenrick of St. Louis and Purcell of Cincinnati, and Bishop Verot of St. Augustine; these were joined by Archbishop Connolly of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Prominent members of the majority were Archbishop Spalding of Baltimore, Bishops Williams of Boston, Wood of Philadelphia, and Conroy of Albany. I would speculate, prima facie, that opposition may have been to some degree due to Protestant cultural and religious influence in Germany and America, and by theological liberalism in France. After all, bishops from countries that had never been Protestant, like Spain, Portugal, and nations in Central and South America, were unanimously in favor. Jordan claimed that English bishops were among  the most critical due to coming from a constitutional nation. But in fact only two English bishops were opposed.

51:48 so the the criticism at the time is that essentially the pope stacked the deck with all the people that are going to agree with him and so he already made this decision. Infallibility is going to become a dogma of the church and in order to do that he basically decides that he needs to appoint those Bishops to make this decision who are going to affirm the decision that he has already made.

As shown, the overwhelming nature of the vote shows this to be a most inaccurate and cynical point of view. It just doesnt fly. Virtually no one disagreed with the theological rationale. At least 60 who voted against it did so thinking it was not the right time (as opposed to it being a false doctrine). Thats a completely legitimate discussion to have, but its not theological or doctrinal. Its about prudence and when to do what in the Church.

55:34 you have John Henry Newman whos at least privately very skeptical of this dogma and does not want it to be declared dogma . . .

The latter is true but the former is absolutely not true, as I have meticulously documented from his own words. He believed in the doctrine even before he became a Catholic:

*

*

St. Cardinal Newman wrote in 1843, 27 years before the council and definition, two years before he even became a Catholic:

In June and July 1839, near four years ago, I read the Monophysite Controversy, and it made a deep impression on me, which I was not able to shake off, that the Pope had a certain gift of infallibility, and that communion with the See of Rome was the divinely intended means of grace and illumination. . . . Since that, all history, particularly that of Arianism, has appeared to me in a new light; confirmatory of the same doctrine. (Letter to John Keble, 4 May 1843; referring to his views in July 1839)

He made many such statements  including lots of private ones  prior to 1870:

As to the Infallibility of the Pope, I see nothing against it, or to dread in it,. . . (Letter to Edward B. Pusey, 17 November 1865) * As to writing a volume on the Popes infallibility, it never so much as entered into my thoughts. . . . And I should have nothing to say about it. I have ever thought it likely to be true, never thought it certain. I think too, its definition inexpedient and unlikely; but I should have no difficulty accepting it, were it made. And I dont think my reason will ever go forward or backward in the matter. (Letter to William G. Ward, 18 February 1866) * Applying this principle to the Popes Infallibility, . . . I think there is a good deal of evidence, on the very surface of history and the Fathers in its favour. On the whole then I hold it; . . . (Letter to Edward B. Pusey, 23 March 1867) * I hold the Popes Infallibility, not as a dogma, but as a theological opinion; that is, not as a certainty, but as a probability. . . . To my mind the balance of probabilities is still in favour of it. There are vast difficulties, taking facts as they are, in the way of denying it. . . . Anyhow the doctrine of Papal Infallibility must be fenced round and limited by conditions. (Letter to Peter le Page Renouf, 21 June 1868)

Then when the dogma was promulgated, this is what Newman wrote about it:

I saw the new Definition yesterday, and am pleased at its moderationthat is, if the doctrine in question is to be defined at all. The terms are vague and comprehensive; and, personally, I have no difficulty in admitting it. (Letter to the Duke of Norfolk, ch. 8, 1875; Letter to Ambrose Phillipps de Lisle, 24 July 1870)

So much for the Newman mythology that is almost always part of Protestant analyses of this topic and Vatican I.

*
I watched The Wicker Man again this past weekend. Thats the 1973 original directed by Robin Hardy, which is the only Wicker Man. The Wicker Tree is Hardys 2012 spiritual sequel. Its not bad, but it cant hold a candle  much less a flaming effigy  to the original. The 2006 remake is an abomination of which we will not speak.

The Wicker Man is usually categorized as folk horror  theres nothing supernatural in it. The fright comes from watching humans do terrible things, not because theyre evil but because theyre doing something greatly at odds with the social expectations of the viewers.

I dont remember exactly when I saw The Wicker Man for the first time. But I know it was sometime in my teens, after I had figured out there was something wrong with what I was being taught at the fundamentalist church my parents took me to, but before I was able to begin my escape.

I enjoyed watching The Wicker Man and I saw nothing scary about it. The ending felt odd when I first saw it: unexpected and not quite right, but satisfying in a way I couldnt articulate then but understand deeply now.

Lets be clear: human sacrifice is wrong. It was wrong when the ancients did it  which some of them did, though almost certainly not to the extent some of their detractors claimed (Julius Caesar, Im looking at you). It would be wrong to do it today, even with a willing sacrifice. For all his faults, Sergeant Howie did not deserve what happened to him.

Still, after watching countless movies where witches and Pagans were burned at the stake, it feels good to be on the other side of the flames for a change. Though it should be noted that Sergeant Howie wasnt sacrificed because he was a Christian. He was sacrificed because he was a virgin, a representative of the King (that should have been the Queen in 1973, but lets not nitpick), and a fool who came willingly.

More than that, Summerisle is the kind of joyously sensual Pagan community that so many of us dream about.

Accept our sacrifice!

Youll simply never understand the true nature of sacrifice  May Morrison to Sergeant Howie

The Wicker Man is a horror movie, not a work of religious studies. Still, it got quite a bit right about Paganism, though more thematically than in detail. But one of the things it got wrong  that a lot of people get wrong  is its concept of sacrifice.

There are two separate but related definitions of sacrifice. The first definition is to give up. We sacrifice wine when we pour a libation and give up the opportunity to drink it ourselves. The second definition is to make sacred. Sacrificial animals in ancient Greece and other places were going to be eaten regardless. Ritual and prayers dedicated them to the Gods, making the community meal a sacred event, rather than yet another secular dinner. (Some sacrifices gave the whole animal to the Gods  that would fall in the first category of to give up)

But Sergeant Howie wasnt a member of the Summerisle community  they didnt give up anything. And while they did mark him as a sacred king, he was tricked into coming forward  he was not a willing sacrifice, certainly not in the modern sense of informed consent.

Throughout history witches and Pagans have been accused of making horrendous sacrifices to beings unworthy of such honors. These slanders ignore the fact that to be effective, a sacrifice must be something that is yours that you give away willingly. Offering a life that is not yours to give may be suitable payment for services provided by demons (or maybe not  Ive never tried) but it is no way to obtain the favor of the Gods.

During the height of the polytheist movement a few years ago, we had a series of discussions about sacrifice, including animal sacrifice. I have never performed animal sacrifice and I imagine I never will, but I respect those who do it properly. If you think animal sacrifice is horrible and you eat meat, you havent thought through the process and your cultural bias is showing.

The modern Pagan movement isnt exactly comfortable with the concept of sacrifice. Even those of us who arent Wiccan like to quote The Charge of the Goddess: nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the Mother of all things and my love is poured out upon the Earth. Our rituals  including my own  speak often of offerings but rarely of sacrifices.

Offerings given in hospitality and love are good and right, but sacrifices are still necessary. Ritual sacrifices of food and drink and other items of value remind us that tangible sacrifices of time, effort, and resources are required if anything of value is to be accomplished.

When you approach the Wicker Man, the Corn God, or just the altar you keep in your house: are you willing to make sacrifice? Are you willing to give up time and treasure, sweat and blood, to learn something new? To build something necessary? To affirm and support a divine relationship? To extract yourself from a bad situation? To bring about a good situation?

Even in our modern high tech society, sacrifice remains necessary.

Take our prayers, oh Wicker Man

As for the Wicker Man itself, did such a thing ever exist? Maybe. Julius Caesar wrote about it, but he wasnt exactly an objective observer.

The Wicker Man definitely exists in modern times, albeit without the sacrifice of virgin police officers. Heres a 2014 piece Damh the Bard wrote about attending a camp that built and burned a 25-foot-tall wooden effigy. Participants placed prayers and offerings inside the figure and the flames carried them into the Otherworld. Damh turned that experience into a song:

Wicker Man, oh Wicker Man,

Like a mighty God you stand,

You are guardian of our land,

Take our prayers oh Wicker Man

Denton CUUPS has done similar things, although on a much smaller scale. Our 2016 Samhain ritual featured a Corn God. We wrote prayers and tied them to the effigy, then burned it in a fire pit. In 2021  our first public Samhain after the restrictions of the pandemic  we ripped the Corn God to shreds in a frenzy of mourning, anger, and release.

The metaphysics of prayer are an interesting thing. Do we need the smoke of sacrifices or of incense to carry our prayers to the Gods? I think most modern Pagans would say no  I certainly would. Still, Ive participated in burning rituals often enough to recognize that theres something about them that adds extra power to prayers. Is it the smoke? Is the flames transforming our written messages into energy? Perhaps its the psychological impact of participating in something so ancient and primal. I suspect its all of the above.

Whatever the reason, theres something special about approaching a Wicker Man, a Corn God, or a flaming cauldron and placing your prayers inside it. It reminds you that when its done right, prayer isnt just a wish or an idle thought. Its the deepest yearnings of your heart, spoken to divine persons who have the power to intercede on your behalf. Or not, as they see fit.

Its an act that inspires reverence. Not subservience and not self-debasement, but deep respect for beings who, though it is accurate to call them persons, are far more than we are.

And when we commune with them in prayer and meditation, we become a little more like them than we were before.

Contemplating the true nature of sacrifice

I love movies that include witchcraft and Paganism. The good ones are inspiring and even the bad ones are usually entertaining. We just have to keep them in proper perspective  movies are rarely good sources of historical information.

The best movies dont just entertain you  they also make you think.

The Wicker Man lets us imagine what it would be like to live in a community where everyone shares our beliefs and practices.

It warns us against unreflectively adopting any religious practice, especially practices that harm others or ourselves.

(Is Lord Summerisle a sociopathic con man or does he truly believe in the efficacy of human sacrifice? As a critic pointed out on one of the Blu-ray extra features, the movie makes it impossible to say for sure.)

And for us as modern Pagans, The Wicker Man calls us to contemplate the nature of prayer, and the true nature of sacrifice.

If you havent seen The Wicker Man recently, watch it again. Its currently available on several streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime and Tubi.
In the new documentary, God Bless Bitcoin, currently streaming on YouTube and X (formerly Twitter), the question is asked How do we fix our broken money? Directors and financial experts Brian and Kelly Estes, inspired by the book Thank God for Bitcoin, use the film format to make the case for digital currency through talking head interviews with Mark Cuban, Tony Hawk and Cathie Wood as well as animated lessons on what is happening with global currency now. The Estes believe in their message so strongly that, as a last-minute decision, they put the film out for free, hoping to help consumers who have been feeling the financial squeeze.

Brian, CIO of Off the Chain Capital, and Kelly, founder and president of the Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow Foundation, recently spoke to Reel Faiths DeWayne Hamby about the inspiration for the documentary, a deep spiritual component to the money system, and why it is so important to speak about now.

At what point did you decide a documentary is the way to go? We want to educate people and maybe a documentary is a way to do it.

Brian Estes: Four years ago, I read a book called Thank God for Bitcoin, which is about the Christian view of our monetary system and how Bitcoin fits in. And it just made me curious. I was like, Well, this is the Christian view. What do the other religions say? I dove in and did my research on the Muslim and the Jewish and Hindu and Buddhist aspects of it. And then I just kind of sat on it, but then I had this like internal voice, like talking to me, You should take what you learned and tell people about it. Im a storyteller. Ive never written a book, never made a movie, and so I just kind of ignored it. But then the voice kept getting louder and louder and louder. And then finally, two years ago, I went to Kelly, who has her masters degree in education, and I said, Hey, you know, I feel this need to tell this story. I kind of want to make a movie out of this. Can you help me tell the story? And so I dragged her into it and she helped me take what was up here and in my heart and lay it out.

Kelly Estes: I do believe Bitcoin has is a tool for people to create a store of value for themselves. And for the last 15 years of my life and education, Ive worked with people, with students who have grown up in generational poverty, and I see that the struggles they are having with our current financial system, and how it doesnt matter how many jobs they work, they cant keep up. And I think that financial literacy is key. I think this movie has partly a discussion of financial literacy and partly a discussion of how Bitcoin is a new tool that people could use, all looked at through the lens of morality and ethics. So, to me, I was like, I can get on board with that 100%

I think its a great point you make in the film about how in the Brady Bunch show, this whole family survived on one salary, even though its fictional. But a one salary home used to be more common. Also, Im curious about you said you read the book about Bitcoin from the Christian perspective. At what point did you decide that this documentary would benefit all these other viewpoints?

Brian Estes: To circle back to what you said about the Brady Bunch. Why are people having fewer children? One of the reasons is because they cant afford it. And they cant afford it because their money doesnt hold hold its value. And its the same reason that 50% of kids, 18 to 30, are still living with their parents. And in Genesis, it says Man shall leave his parents find a wife, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. And because of our monetary system not being functional anymore, its preventing young people from leaving their parents, finding a spouse, having many children, and fulfilling Gods will.

Thats a good point, because there is a new phenomenon of the prolonging of adolescence. That contributes to the whole thing of an 18 year old 30 years ago who are much different than an 18 or even 25 year old today, as far as their responsibilities and what theyre doing with their lives.

Kelly Estes: The reason that we wanted to explore the other faiths, both of us said, the funny thing about this is that Bitcoin is open source. Its for everybody, but were only looking at it through the lens of Christianity. What would happen if we open that up to other faiths and see what those have to say about this more moral form of money? Because of that, we started exploring what they said, and what we found is something that was new to Brian and me, honestly, was that Islam and Judaism and Christianity, those are all the Abrahamic God and so the Old Testament for all of us is the same. Now we go about interpreting it differently, right? But really, we are united in those mandates from God in the Old Testament. And so I think that was really what prompted us to look further and then say, if we want more people to know about this, lets look at it from all of the different faith traditions?

Brian Estes: Yeah, I grew up in a small town in Illinois, 10,000 people, and yet, Protestants and Catholics, we had one Mormon family in town, but we didnt have any Jewish families or Muslim families in town. So, I just never knew anything about those faiths and thats why I was curious. So, for example, in the Muslim faith, I learned this when we were doing the research. Its against the Muslim faith to pay interest or receive interest. Thats called riba. They could use gold, because gold doesnt create interest or interest, but our current monetary system, its based off paying interest and receiving interest. So there are 2 billion Muslims out there where the current financial system is not compliant with their religion. There was a Saudi cleric several months ago that put out whats called a Fatah, that said Bitcoin is Sharia compliant money, and it could be used in the Muslim faith as money. Just like gold, it could be used in the Muslim faith. We just wanted to, you know, explore these different religions just to see how they fit into, you know. Is Bitcoin good for them? Or is it just certain faiths its good for? And what we found out is that all across the spectrum, Bitcoin is good for all the faiths.

Whats the next step after somebody watches the documentary and theyre compelled to act. What would you hope somebody would do after watching it?

Kelly Estes: I would hope that this just opened the door to their understanding. We give a macro view of Bitcoin and what it does. We really spend more time talking about why its useful to people and why its a more ethical form of money, but I would encourage them to before they do anything to learn more, study more. And there is a website called hope.com that has a ton of really important information, easy to digest. Some others, more complicated articles and information. Its got a full university of resources for people to study more.

Brian Estes: The goal is, like Kelly said, you know, just this hopefully piques their interest, gets people curious. It takes 20 to 40 hours of study to understand, you know, the full gamut of what Bitcoin could do to help human, you know, and help the world. So, this is hopefully open the door to allow people to do that, like take that first step into, you know, educating themselves. And like Kelly said, hope.com is a website that Michael Saylor bought 30 years ago, and hes dedicated that site to Bitcoin education, you know, to help educate the world. And he and he does it for free. You know, theres a whole university section in there to help people understand, you know, how this technology can make the world better.

I noticed household names like Tony Hawk and Mark Cuban in the documentary. How did they get involved?

Kelly Estes: Our filmmaker reached out to their team, and they agreed to be interviewed for the film. They are Bitcoiners, or they understand Bitcoin enough and believe in aspects of it enough to be able to they agreed to be interviewed for us, but neither of us know them personally.

Brian Estes: Tony got involved very early on in Bitcoin, probably about 10 years ago. And Mark Cuban, at first, he was skeptical about it, and then a few years ago, he finally understood it, and now hes like a proponent of people should understand what Bitcoin is, because it could help them.

Whats the rollout for this?

Brian Estes: We decided just a few weeks ago, so we sent our team scrambling, to make the movie free, because we believe that the people that need to understand this information the most are the people who dont have an extra $10 to buy a movie or rent a movie. We decided that this would be our gift back to the Bitcoin community and to help educate people. Its on YouTube and Twitter and Amazon Prime, and then eventually itll be on like Tubi and Roku and Apple, and itll be on all the platforms. All were asking the price of admission is that if you like the movie and you think it should be spread to help other people understand it, then all the ask is that you share it. Thats all were asking is if you agree with the message, share the movie. If you dont agree with it, dont share it. But you know that thats the price of admission. Is the ask button, and

Kelly Estes: As an educator, of course, I believe knowledge is power. As cliche as that might be, this is an educational film. We wanted to reach as many people as possible. Our goal is 1 billion views, and so we have dubbed it in seven languages and subtitled it in over 15 to make it more universal. People can hear it in their own native tongue, or read it in their native tongue. We really do want to push this out to as many people as possible.

Watch God Bless Bitcoin, directed by Brian and Kelly Estes and starring Anthony Pompliano, Cathie D. Wood, Cory Klippsten, Dan Held, David Bailey, Dennis Porter, Dr. Darrell Bock, Fr. Robert Sirico, Hailey Lennon, Harris Irfan, Jeff Booth, John Salley, Mark Cuban, Mark Moss, Mark Yusko, Matthew Roszak, Michael Saylor, Natalie Brunell, Nic Carter,Peter Diamandis, Perianne Boring, Preston Pysh, Rabbi Daniel Lapin, Rabbi Michael Caras, Robert Breedlove, Robert Kennedy Jr, Robert Kiyosaki, Sam Callahan, Scott Snibbe, Stephan Livera, Thomas Lee, Tim Draper, Vikram Rangala, Warren Davidson, at this link.
Now that Tim Walz is the pick to be Kamala Harris running mate, the label weird is going to be getting even more attention. He is the one whose reference to Donald Trump as weird got so much attention and sparked the current movement.

I have seen a lot of mixed reactions, as well as some amusing memes, related to the topic of Donald Trump as weird. Most of the negative reaction has come from people like me, the nerds, the geeks, the ones who have been labeled as weird our whole lives and have embraced it as a label were willing to wear with pride. Thats why some of us are unhappy to share the label with an individual that we find to be the antithesis of all we stand for. Keep Portland Weird is not an expression of support for the Republican presidential candidate.

I think that is why the label has proven so effective, eliciting such a strong reaction from Trump. Trump is a bully, part of that group that imagines that they are the cool kids. Coolness of course just means that people respect and want to emulate you. We nerds and geeks achieve amazing things, inventing the devices and writing the songs and stories that everyone decides they cant live without. That happens precisely because we dont follow the crowd into sameness. We chart new courses.

As an aside, on my recent trip to Australia, I did a lot of things that are expressions of my nerdy geeky weirdness. One of them was making an appearance at Sci-Fi Church in Sydney (actually Gordon-Pymble Uniting Church in a suburb). We wore various cosplay and sang Soon Im Gonna Be a Jedi by Weird (theres that word again) Al Yankovich. I think our rendition, accompanied by a ukulele-playing song leader wearing Princess Leia earmuffs was better than the original. We geeked out about our faith as well as our fandoms, and explored the connections between the two. One of the things that the minister, Rev. Karen Mitchell-Lambert, got us to do was to create our own beatitudes. One that I came up with went something like this:

Blessed are those who imagine other worlds, for they will transform the world they live in

The weirdness of geeks and nerds does not always lead us in positive directions, but the ability to imagine and explore possibilities is crucial to making any kind of positive impact on the world. Influence without imagination wont take us anywhere we havent already been.

Bullies know that imagination and creativity are threateningly unstable. They thus opt for the other way to achieve a measure of influence and feigned respect for a time, which is to threaten people. That ultimately fake and fleeting coolness is what bullies thrive on, and one of the ways they seize power is by labeling others.

One effective way of undermining this strategy is to wear the label as a badge of honor. The other is to find a way to turn it back on the bully. Theres nothing that a bully finds more disturbing than to be a victim of the kind of attack they use against others.

Thats why calling Donald Trump weird gets under his skin so effectively. It is why it might be worth continuing to use the label even if you have serious reservations in doing so, as I do.

Yet as someone who is not just a geek but a Christian, I also want to urge caution. Jesus used labels. He knew that calling opponents actors and whitewashed tombs would get a rise. The word translated hypocrites means actors, and it wasnt widely used as an insult before Jesus adopted it. Why did he do so? Presumably it conveyed succinctly that they were giving a performance but it didnt show who they really were. Like a whitewashed tomb, they were pristine white on the outside and full of death and decay on the inside. I suspect that Jesus used the label so often because he discovered, as Tim Walz did with weird, that his opponents couldnt stand being labeled that way.

Yet Jesus also teaches us to not repay evil with evil, and thats something we have to keep in mind. Labeling someone as weirds is a tactic a bully might use. Turning it back on the bully is appropriate. Yet when one turns the weapons of oppressors back on them, there is always a risk that we might go too far, and cross the line that turns us from victims into being bullies ourselves.

As a Lutheran, I am sure that Walz is aware of both the teaching of Jesus about how we treat enemies, and Jesus powerful and effective use of creative insults. Finding ways to keep the balance is crucial if we are to defeat evil by exposing its true colors, while resisting becoming the evil that we seek to combat.

Here is Walz explaining why the label can be effective, taking away the perceived power from a bully.

Im glad that geeks have done things like bring Doctor Who into the picture. If you know the episode, the 2005 Christmas special The Christmas Invasion, then youll get the meaning of this reworked scene.

How do you feel about calling Donald Trump weird? Is this an effective way to handle a bully? Why or why not? Please do share your thoughts about this and related topic in the comments section below!
At a glance Expert's Rating Pros You can repair this laptop!

Good battery life

Bright display Cons Not great for more intensive tasks

Expensive for what it is Our Verdict The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 is a serviceable business laptop with solid battery life, a vibrant display, and decent repairability.

At first glance, the new Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 laptop might look as boring as its name sounds. Its grey, boxy, and, dare I say, almost dated looking. But just as you shouldnt judge a book by its cover, you shouldnt judge this laptop by its casing. Because its whats on the inside that count and I ripped this laptop apart to prove it.

But while well get into the repairability, its still important to address whats on the outside. The best way to describe this computer is old faithful. The design, the specs, even the classic ThinkPad red nub all scream, Ive seen this before! and theres something comforting about that. This is the computer you choose because it promises to hold true and get the job done, not because of the flash and pizzazz.

Today is Amazon Prime Big Deal Days! Our editorial team lists the best tech deals here. ]

Lenovo ThinkPad T14: Specs

At nearly $1,700 this is by no means an affordable laptop. You can easily get a gaming laptop for this price and a powerhouse of a desktop for that matter. So its good to see that for the most part, the specs live up to the name. You can spend a little less ($1,500) to get something a little less powerful (with an Intel Core 5 processor), but its probably worth to step up as long as youre already spending this much.

Alas, some of the best specs still require spending more like an IR-compatible webcam, more RAM, and storage. But for the average business or school use, this model feels like more than enough, although I do wish it came with more RAM by default.

Specs as tested:

CPU : Intel Core Ultra 7 155H

: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H Memory : 16GB LPDDR5X

: 16GB LPDDR5X Graphics/GPU : Intel Arc integrated graphics

: Intel Arc integrated graphics Display : 19201200 IPS non-touch 60Hz IPS

: 19201200 IPS non-touch 60Hz IPS Storage : 512GB PCIe Gen 4 TLC SSD

: 512GB PCIe Gen 4 TLC SSD Webcam : 1440p QHD webcam

: 1440p QHD webcam Connectivity : 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio jack, ethernet

: 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio jack, ethernet Networking : WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 Biometrics : Fingerprint reader

: Fingerprint reader Battery capacity : 52.5 watt-hours

: 52.5 watt-hours Dimensions : 17.7 x 315.9 x 223.7

: 17.7 x 315.9 x 223.7 Weight : 2.96 pounds

: 2.96 pounds MSRP: $1,692

Lenovo ThinkPad T14: Build quality and looks

IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson

This is going to sound like an insult, but hear me out because its not meant to be. The design of this ThinkPad looks like something from ten years ago. Even setting aside the bland grey colors that youll always get with ThinkPads, save the bit of red for the TrackPoint, its an old looking design. Its boxy, flat, and full of sharp corners. The underside barely has curvature to hide just how thick this device is. And the truth is I love it.

Sure, other laptops are flashier, sexier, and thinner. But you know what those laptops arent? Repairable in any way. Were going to cover that later, but right away I see what Lenovo is doing here, because Im all too familiar with this design. Ten years ago I used to repair laptops, replacing batteries, fans, keyboards, and displays, and the thing I dreaded most was working on an ultrabook. The laptops I hated repairing the least looked like the ThinkPad T14.

If you want a laptop from a trusted brand that can get you through the workday and, if need be, repair it in the tomorrows to come, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 is the way to go.

You do find some modern touches like the webcam jut-out that nearly every ThinkPad gets right now, but for the most part this is at best dated looking and at worst boring. And its fine. The hinge feels tight, the plastics dont creak, and the laptop doesnt get covered in fingerprints. This ThinkPad will probably never win any design awards, but youll never be embarrassed to use it in public either.

IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson

The best part about all of this is sheer repairability. Lenovo worked with iFixit to design a laptop you can actually take apart and upgrade or fix. In just a few minutes, I gently removed the bottom and had access to the battery, storage, RAM, and more. Now to be clear, this isnt like a Framework laptop, where every part is labeled with a QR code. But it is a return to once laptops were.

I think what I felt was likely akin to a car mechanic used to working on modern vehicles suddenly getting to peek into a car from the 1950s. I recognized everything, I knew immediately how to change things out. Even the display could be replaced, though given it involves carefully removing quite a few screws and threading cables through a maze of channels, Im not ready to call it easy like a Framework laptop. But its possible. And after years of completely unrepairable laptops, thats exciting in my book.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14: Keyboard and trackpad

IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson

Another area that feels a little out of date, for better or worse, is the keyboard. While I understand this is a 14 inch laptop and therefore more portable, everything feels a little too cramped. Ive worked with 13-inch laptops that left me more room. Some of that might actually be modern touches like the requisite Copilot key. But as I type, my thumbs are constantly hitting each other, which breaks my focus.

You do of course get the usual ThinkPad embellishments like the TrackPoint and the ThinkPad-style trackpad setup. There you will find three buttons at the top of the trackpad that work well in conjunction with the TrackPoint. And perhaps in part due to its small size, I dont find myself accidentally brushing the trackpad that often.

Speaking of the trackpad, its pretty good. If you havent used a ThinkPad before, it might take awhile to get used to the buttons at the top, but learn to use the TrackPoint and youll come to appreciate it. And if you dont care to use the TrackPoint, you can click the trackpad in the lower left and right corners instead. Everything is smooth and responsive, as it should be, and you have multi-touch capabilities like pinch to zoom. Thats helpful as this particular variant doesnt have a touchscreen.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14: Speakers and display

IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson

Speaking of the display, I have no real complaints here either. This model features a 14-inch non-touch IPS screen, which gets bright enough for indoor use. You may struggle a little in on bright sunny days though, so keep that in mind. Colors are good enough for casual use, including watching videos on Netflix or Hulu. But they arent all that vibrant and dont pop off the screen. Lenovos choice to go with a matte display might be contributing to the mute colors, but at least it always looks smudge-free.

Basically, its what youd expect from the ThinkPad line, especially with an IPS panel. A reliable option that isnt flashy or standout, but instead gets the job done. The same goes for the speakers as well. Very few laptops actually have good speakers, so as long as you have Bluetooth or a headphone jack and the speakers arent offensively bad, its a win.

Here, the speakers are good enough to handle light tasks. You can play music of course, but youll miss out on bass and even some of the mids. And dialog sounded fine when streaming a movie, but the thematic background sounds werent quite there. For most things, theyll do. But for when sound really matters, get some headphones.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14: Webcam, microphone, biometric options

IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson

Right along the top, youll find the ThinkPad 14s 1440p webcam, which is fine. Its high enough resolution that you get all the important details (and maybe more than you want on a bad hair day). Color reproduction is a little lacking, though. At this point in summer, I have a pretty good tan going and yet according to the webcam Ive not seen a spot of sun in years. The blue walls in my office look white as well. But despite everything looking paler than usual, the camera itself is more than up to the task for video calls. You dont need a webcam here unless picture perfect accuracy is a must.

Unfortunately, the webcam on this particular model is not capable of unlocking the laptop through Windows Hello. You have to pay extra for that, though when I checked it was just $15 more and so Id suggest going for that if you can. But if you prefer to not have face unlock, this ThinkPad does have a fingerprint reader. It works well enough, assuming you dont have dry skin. I do suffer from dry skin issues and right now my right thumb is the worst digit. I had issues with just that thumb and while I doubt youd ever use your thumb to unlock a laptop, I tried it just to see if dry skin did present problems. Just like nearly every other fingerprint reader, it does, and thats why Id probably spring for a Windows Hello camera.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14: Ports and connectivity

IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson

Im not sure when the manufacturers all got together and decided that from now on all USB-C ports will go on the left side of the laptop, but I wish theyd stop. The ThinkPad 14 does, to its credit, have plenty of ports. Youll find two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, which double as power, two USB-A spots, an HDMI slot, Ethernet, a Kensington security slot, and a headphone jack. That should be enough for most people, I imagine.

But I just wish more laptop makers understood that a USB-C port on each side of the device is better for versatility. Never mind plugging in on whatever side works best, sometimes having your power cord next to your peripherals is inconvenient. Still, its great to see Thunderbolt here, and its hard to complain too much when you have pretty much all the ports you could ever want. Look on the right side and youll find two curious cutouts for an optional Nano Sim Slot and Smart Card Reader. This is a business focused laptop through and through.

That shows in the connectivity area too, which isnt quite as future proof as possible, but is good enough. You get Wi-Fi 6E, which is a slight step behind Wi-Fi 7, but honestly so few homes and businesses support the latter option that its not a big loss. Youll also find Bluetooth 5.3 on board, which is as good as it gets. Thats a good thing too, as a Bluetooth mouse and headphones really do make good add-ons to this solid laptop.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14: Performance

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 runs an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor. A hot minute ago, that was the new kid on the block, but things move fast in tech and already the latest buzz revolves around Qualcomms Snapdragon X hardware. But all that means is weve had a chance to get to know the latest Intel Core series and now we know you can expect a few things: Generally good battery life, decent integrated graphics performance, and reliable every day performance.

But just because two laptops runt he same processor doesnt mean theyll generate the results, its a mix of all the choices from RAM to GPUs to even space for airflow. This ThinkPad proves that point.

IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson

Right away, Lenovo turned in an average result on PCMarks test. Were comparing to other similar laptops running Intel Core Ultra processors and usually the difference is RAM or CPU. PCMark tests various functions like web browsing and video chat and these results are honestly pretty good. Comparing so favorably to other similar hardware means that despite all the repairability, this ThinkPad hasnt lost a step in day-to-day functions.

IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson

Next we run Cinebench R23 and here is where things falter a bit. In this version of the test, Cinebench tests heavy loads in short durations and the ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 falls behind. Ive re-run this test a few extra times just to confirm and the results were consistent. The fans dont run harder than Id expect and Ive never felt a particular slowness during intense operations. For what its worth, were starting to run the latest Cinebench R24 benchmark, but we dont have enough data on similar laptops to compare with yet to see how it fairs in newer tests.

IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson

We also run the Handbrake benchmark, which is a good measure of heavy load usage over a long period of time. Here again, this ThinkPad falls behind the rest, even other laptops running a slightly weaker processor. During the test, the laptop didnt run its fans especially hard either. Repairability mightve come at the cost of less efficient cooling. Thats not something I expected given the size of the vents along the bottom, but I suspect that might be some of the issue. Most of the vents are directly on the bottom, and even the hinge fans are partially tucked into flat surfaces when you open the lid.

IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson

The previous tests focused more on productivity and everyday use, but 3Dmarks Time Spy benchmark focuses on graphics capability. Its no surprise that the Dell in our comparison scores way above everything else thanks to its GPU. It also has the same processor as the ThinkPad T14. If its gaming youre after, youll definitely need discrete graphics. The ThinkPad, with its last place score in this metric, is not the best choice for intensive gaming or video editing. Dont hold that last place score against it too heavily, its just shy of the next two in the list, which run similar specs.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14: Battery life

IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson IDG / Josh Hendrickson

One thing we have learned about Intel Core Ultra processes is that, at least for the purpose of watching videos, they provide epic battery life. Thats assuming you have a decent battery, cooling, and the other necessities for longevity. And here, skipping the GPU helps as well. Although the ThinkPad doesnt place in the top three, at 13 hours, you cant say it doesnt last long. Our test involves looping a local 4K copy of Tears of Steel at 50 percent brightness over and over till the battery dies. That used to make all laptops cry, but this ThinkPad fared very well.

Of course, looping video tests doesnt always tell you the full story. But Im happy to say that the ThinkPad outlasted my workday every day, even as I pushed it with a dozen browser tasks, Office programs, and other work needs. As long as you dont try to push it to game, it should make it through the average school or workday.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14: Conclusion

I have to admit, I have some mixed feelings about the ThinkPad T14 Gen 5. I adore the concept of repairability. And from a value perspective, the fact that you can change out the RAM, hard drive, even the battery, with little more than a screwdriver and a guitar pic, is tantalizing. You should be able to make this laptop last longer, in theory, than a similarly specd thinner laptop. I laud those choices. However, at nearly $2,000 that value proposition isnt as great as it could be. Its expensive. And its not even as repairable as a Framework laptop, although it does come from a name you can be sure will be around in ten years.

Meanwhile, some of the benchmark testing is hard to ignore. In my everyday usage, I didnt notice that the laptop seemed any slower than others Ive used in recent months. But the way I used it is probably how Lenovo intended, for productivity. I wrote articles, I checked news, I social networked, and checked e-mail. For office or school work, it does the job. But the moment you start trying to do more like gaming or video editing, its not equipped to handle such a load.

But again, thats just not what this laptop is meant to do, so its hard to fault it for that entirely. I do wish it stood up to the task better though since other laptops with similar specs do put up better numbers. But ultimately, benchmark testing is a guide. What you really need to ask yourself is what do you want out of a laptop? If you want a laptop from a trusted brand that can get you through the workday and, if need be, repair it in the tomorrows to come, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 is the way to go.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- In July 2024, Chinas new energy passenger vehicle (NEPV) production volume reached 933,000 vehicles, representing a 21.7% jump year-on-year. Meanwhile, the countrys NEPV wholesales stood at 945,000 vehicles, growing 27.6% from a year ago, according to data provided by the China Passenger Car Association.

In the first seven months of this year, Chinas NEPV production and wholesale volumes surged 27.6% and 29.8% from that of the previous year, respectively, to around 5.513 million and 5.562 million vehicles.

In the past month, NEPVs accounted for 48.1% of the total passenger cars wholesaled by automakers in China, climbing up 12.4 percentage points year on year. Specifically, NEPVs made up 62.6% of the July wholesale volume of Chinese indigenous brands, 37.2% of luxury vehicle brands, and 8.1% of mainstream joint-venture brands.

Specifically, Volkswagens two joint ventures in China, SAIC Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen, sold 16,884 NEPVs via wholesale, securing 48% of the mainstream joint-venture battery electric vehicle (BEV) market in July. Meanwhile, the NEPV wholesales of BMW Brilliance and FAW Toyota showed a growing momentum as well.

ID. family; photo credit: Volkswagen

In terms of powertrain solutions, BEVs accounted for the majority of Chinas total NEPV wholesale volume in the past month at 53% with 505,000 units (+0.9% YoY) sold. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) made up 34% of the market with a wholesale volume of 318,000 units (+73% YoY). Range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) secured the rest 13% of the NEPV market with 122,000 units (+115% YoY) wholesaled last month.

Model-wise, 15 passenger car models realized a monthly wholesale volume of over 20,000 units in July, the top 10 were NEPVs, which were the BYD Song (55,128 units), the Model Y (41,405 units), the BYD Qin (40,600 units), the BYD Seagull (36,256 units), the BYD Qin L (32,941 units), the Model 3 (32,712 units), the BYD Yuan (30,286 units), the BYD Destroyer 05 (25,558 units), the BYD Seal 06 (25,200 units), and the Li L6 (24,856 units).

BYD Song L; photo credit: BYD

Company-wise, as Chinese indigenous brands continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach in product launches, the NEPV market base keeps on growing. In the past month, a total of 17 automakers saw their respective NEPV wholesale volume exceed 10,000 units, which was two more than that of a year ago, but two less than that of June. These 17 automakers NEPV wholesales accounted for 89.6% of the countrys total volume.

Seven out of the 17 companies boast NEPV wholesales figures surpassing 40,000 units, including BYD (340,799 units), Tesla China (74,117 units), Geely Auto (59,051 units), Li Auto (51,000 units), Changan Auto (42,714 units), SERES (40,968 units), and Chery Auto (40,121 units).

AITO M9; photo credit: SERES

In regards to Chinas NEPV retail market in July, there were a total of 878,000 NEPVs retailed, surging 36.9% year over year. In the first seven months of this year, Chinas NEPV retail volume came in at 4.988 million units, indicating a 33.7% leap from a year ago.

Notably, NEPVs made up 51.1% of the countrys total passenger car retail volume in the past month, up 15 percentage points year-on-year.



Specifically, 73.9% of the passenger cars retailed by Chinas indigenous brands in the last month were NEPVs. Meanwhile, the share stood at 27% and 8.3% for luxury vehicle brands and mainstream joint ventures retail volumes.

The market share of startup NEPV makers in July, driven by brands like Xiaomi EV, rose 4 percentage points from the previous year to 19%. Teslas vehicles nabbed 5.3% of the NEPV retail market in China, which climbed up 0.4 percentage points year over year.

Model 3; photo credit: Tesla China

In the seventh month of 2024, automakers in China exported around 92,000 NEPVs to overseas markets, representing a 1.3% rise year-on-year and constituting 24.5% of the countrys total passenger car export volume. BEVs were the main driver of last months NEPV exports, which accounted for 72.6% of the total export figure.

In the first seven months of this year, roughly 677,000 NEPVs were shipped to overseas markets, representing a 17.8% increase year-over-year.

The top three NEPV exporters in July were BYD (30,014 units), Tesla China (27,890 units), and Polestar (6,752 units).
QNET, a 26-year-old lifestyle and wellness-focused direct selling company today announced the launch of its "QNET Against Scams" campaign in Ghana.



This six-month initiative aims to educate the public and raise media awareness about fraudulent activities misusing the QNET brand.



The comprehensive campaign will utilize multiple channels, including television, radio, online news portals, social media, print media, and billboards across Ghana. The launch event took place at the QNET Training Centre, operated by Bosumtwi Industries Limited, QNET's local business partner in Ghana.



Ms. Ramya Chandrasekaran, Chief Communications Officer for the QI Group, QNET's parent company, stated, "Despite our ongoing efforts, misconceptions about QNET persist in Ghana. Unauthorized individuals have been exploiting our brand name for illegal activities, deceiving people with false promises of jobs or travel opportunities abroad. Our campaign aims to aggressively combat this issue through public education."



Col. Rashid Salifu, Managing Director of Bosumtwi Industries, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for collective action: "We must unite to fight against scammers who are defrauding innocent Ghanaians. Awareness is our most powerful tool in this battle."



The "QNET Against Scams" campaign will focus on key regions, including Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern, Western, Ahafo, Volta, Northern, and Bono.



Ms. Chandrasekaran outlined the campaign's primary objectives:



1. Raise public awareness about QNET's legitimate business operations

2. Educate individuals on identifying and avoiding scams that misrepresent QNET

3. Collaborate with law enforcement and government agencies to prosecute offenders

4. Reinforce QNET's commitment to transparency and ethical business practices

QNET is about empowerment, not exploitation! And we are fighting back against these scams, she concluded.



QNET urges the public to actively participate in this campaign by reporting any suspicious activities falsely representing the company. Reports can be made via WhatsApp at +233256630005 or email at [email protected].



For more information about QNET and its products, please visit www.qnet.net.

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Insurance group Hollard Ghana, with subsidiaries Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life, has been awarded the coveted Customer Care Award for going above and beyond to deliver an excellent customer experience at the just-ended Ghana Insurance Awards held at the plush Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.



The company's unique approach to customer care, deeply rooted in its dedication to placing customers at the heart of its operations, has been recognised. Hollard's innovative technology, personalised service, and unwavering commitment to a customer-centric approach have set it apart as the Customer Care corporate Insurer, establishing a new standard for excellence in the insurance sector.



Speaking on the back of the award, Cynthia Ofori-Dwumfuo, Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, said, "At Hollard, our purpose is to treat everyone with care and dignity. Hence, we put customers first in all our efforts. For this reason, we opened a state-of-the-art Customer Experience Center with a toll-free number, 0800 444 999, to augment our customer care efforts while enabling our customers to reach us without hassle. We have also intentionally revamped our customer service offerings to put our customers first".



"Today, we are thrilled that our collective efforts to deliver exceptional customer experience have been acknowledged. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff of Hollard Ghana, who have consistently upheld the 'Putting Customer First Charter'. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to our customers for their unwavering trust in us. This award is as much theirs as it is ours. Thank you", she added.



Xodus Communications Limited organised the 7th edition to provide a spectacular occasion for insurance industry players to celebrate and network while rewarding achievements and leadership in various key areas. The event also promoted the industry's growth through progressive competition, innovation, and adherence to the highest professional standards in the sector.



About Hollard Ghana



The countrys favourite insurance group is Hollard Ghana, with subsidiaries Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life Assurance. The group combines its deep local knowledge of the market, having previously operated in Ghana for 25 years as Metropolitan Insurance, with the world-class expertise of an international insurance brand in 18 countries worldwide. With feet firmly planted on Ghanaian soil but headquartered in South Africa, Hollard delivers innovative insurance solutions customised to the unique risks Ghanaians face. Hollard offers various life and general insurance products, including funeral, personal accident, motor, business, travel, home, and more. Reach Hollard via 0800 444 999. Beyond various nationwide office branches and Hollard 2U franchise shops, Ghanaians can find Hollard at Shell Fuel Station Welcome Shops, Melcom stores and online at www.hollard.com.gh, www.melcom.com/hollard-insurance and www.jumia.com.gh for all their insurance needs.









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The government has announced plans to reintroduce road tolls in a bid to tackle a significant financing gap in road infrastructure, a development which is expected to generate substantial revenue for the sector.



This proposal was disclosed by the Minister of Roads and Highways, Hon Francis Asenso-Boakye during a high-level panel discussion marking the 50th anniversary of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA).



Hon Asenso-Boakye stressed the critical role of road infrastructure in the socio-economic development of the country, noting that road transport accounts for approximately 95% of all transportation in Ghana.



The need for increased funding to the Road Sector is both urgent and evident," the Minister emphasized, as the nation grapples with a road network where only 44% of roads are in good condition, against a target of 70% by 2025.



Despite significant progress under the current administration, which added 12,830 kilometers of roads compared to the 4,636 kilometers by the previous administration, the Minister acknowledged that much work remains.



Government resources alone are insufficient to bridge this gap," he stated, underscoring the importance of exploring innovative financing models and public-private partnerships.



Given the Minister of Finance's recent announcement to reintroduce road and bridge tolls in 2025, the Roads Minister said the Ministry of Roads and Highways has already begun taking steps towards this actualization, viewing tolling as a promising revenue source.



Hon Asenso-Boakye cited the Korea Expressway Corporation, which generates $4 billion annually from tolls, as an example of the potential revenue such measures could yield.



The Minister also called for increased engagement with private sector partners and international development agencies such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank.



These partnerships are deemed vital for leveraging additional funds and expertise, essential for the ambitious road development projects Ghana envisions.



As part of these efforts, the government is preparing to establish a National Roads Authority, which will unify the countrys three implementing agencies into a single entity.



This new Authority aims to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and create a more coordinated approach to road management, thereby enhancing the capacity to deliver better infrastructure and maintenance services.



The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who was the guest speaker at the event, highlighted the critical role of road infrastructure in national development and the governments commitment to addressing the financing shortfall.



According to recent estimates, Ghana requires $12 billion to clear the maintenance backlog and bring the network of about 94,203km to an optimal level. However, current funding levels cover only about 38% of this requirement, leading to deteriorating road conditions, increased maintenance costs, and missed economic opportunities.



The Vice President proposed several policy initiatives to address the identified challenges. These include fostering Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to unlock new funding streams and leverage expertise in project implementation.



The government has taken proactive steps to create an enabling environment for PPPs, streamlining regulatory processes, and offering incentives to attract private investment, he added.



Exploring innovative financing models, such as infrastructure bonds, road funds, and toll systems, was also suggested as a means to generate sustainable revenue streams. He said the government is committed to expanding such initiatives and exploring new models to enhance funding capacity.



The Vice President also emphasized the importance of enhancing domestic revenue mobilization efforts. By broadening the tax base and improving tax administration, additional revenue can be generated to support road projects.



This includes collecting property rates in high-income neighborhoods and issuing municipal bonds to raise capital.



On his part the Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam,said the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) and the upcoming Economic Roads Improvement Initiative will ensure funding of roads that link pivotal productivity-enhancing ventures such as agricultural enclaves and tourist sites.



However, he said, despite the governments best-efforts, public-sector funding and initiatives alone will not bridge this gap.Adding We believe that the solution lies in making significant room for private-sector participation. Therefore, PPPs offer a critical opportunity for us to close our road financing gap, and we have prioritised working toward streamlining the PPP process.

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The Minister of State at the Ministry of Energy, Mr. Herbert Krapa, has assured the nation that the government will continue to work diligently to maintain a steady electricity supply for domestic, commercial, and industrial use.



He emphasised the ministry's proactive approach in constant communication with energy sector players to address challenges, ensuring sufficient and uninterrupted power generation promptly. "Constant electricity supply is my priority," Mr. Krapa stated.



Mr. Krapa provided this assurance during a media interaction while on a working visit to the Aboadze Energy Enclave in Sekondi, Western Region. Accompanied by ministry technocrats, he toured the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo), Amandi Energy Plant, and the Volta River Authority (VRA) facilities, including the Tiko, Taka, and T3 plants.



When asked about the purpose of his visit, Mr. Krapa explained, "I came to see these facilities for myself, engage with the engineers, and understand any issues so we can address them back in Accra to ensure sufficient power generation."



During the visit, Mr. Krapa and his team were briefed by engineers and given tours of each plant.



He commended the management and engineers for their efforts in keeping the systems running smoothly and ensuring reliable power generation.



"The Ghanaian people rely on us to keep the lights on, and it all comes from power generation," he remarked.



At the Ghana Gas processing plant in Atuabo, it was revealed that a 17-day planned maintenance shutdown was underway for the replacement and maintenance of some components.



Despite the shutdown being on its second day, the power supply remained unaffected due to alternative arrangements. Mr. Krapa commented, "The lights are on across the country because of the careful planning that went into this process."



Regarding the anticipated major maintenance shutdown of the Amandi plant in November, Mr. Krapa explained that such outages are usually planned a year. "Last November, we met with all the players at Royal Senchi and planned these maintenance outages," he said.



However, he noted that the upcoming maintenance for Amandi was an emergency that arose after the initial planning.



He assured that the ministry would collaborate with plant managers to ensure both the safety of the plant and the continuous provision of energy are balanced, stating, "The decision will be taken to meet both important variables for generation."







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The West Africa Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA) Ghana has commended the Minister of the Interior, Hon. Henry Quartey, for his tireless efforts in ensuring the safety and security in Ghana since his assumption of office.



At the end of a three-day capacity-building session for about 25 civil society organisations connected to WAANSA-Ghana in Abokobi, near Accra, on the Saving Lives Entity (SALIENT) Project administered by the UN Systems in Ghana, the CSOs acknowledged the minister's proactive approach to addressing security concerns in Ghana.



However, WAANSA Ghana also called on the Minister to prioritize theapproval of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) implementation Cabinet Memo, which is long over due, and the National Commission on Small Arms Bill, which aims to regulate the proliferation of small arms and light weapons(SALW).



The CSOs emphasized the urgent need for the bill to be passed into law to ensure effective control and regulation of SALW. The current gun control lawsremain the weakest link in the efforts to counter terrorism, money laundering, and combat the proliferation of SALW in the country, as acknowledged by the European Union and other International Organizations.



According to WAANSA Ghana, the Minister's commitment to protecting citizens is commendable, but the passage of the National Commission on Small Arms Bill into law, as well as the Cabinet's approval of the Arms Trade Treaty implementation Memo are crucial in addressing the root causes of insecurity and violence in Ghana and preventing the illicit trade in arms.



The organization acknowledged his track record inhis previous portfolio as Greater Accra Regional Minister and urged him to work closely with stakeholders to ensure that the Cabinet Memo for Arms Trade Treaty Implementation which Ghana signed and ratified nine years ago is approved topave the way for the National Arms Commission bill to be passed into law without delay.



WAANSA Ghana also highlighted the need for increased public awareness and education on the dangers of proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons(SALW). The organization called on government to intensify collaboration with civil society organizations and community leaders to promote peace and security in Ghana, especially before, during and after the December 2024 general elections.



WAANSA Ghana emphasized that the fight against proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons requires a collective effort from all stakeholders, since the easy availability SALW is a threat to national security The organization expressed its willingness to work with the government and other partners to ensure that Ghana becomes a safer and more secure country for all.



The CSOs also commended the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for their commitment to support the efforts towards the passage of the draft Bill and the approval of the Arms Trade Treaty Implementation Memoranda.



It is noted that Ghana is the third African country to benefit from the first phase of the SALIENT Trust fund, being spearheaded by the UNODA, UNDP and the UNODC.



The project aims to address armed violence and proliferation of illicit SALWtrafficking, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to sustainable security and development.



BRIEF BACKGROUND TO SALIENT PROJECT



The project seeks to upscale efforts towards the passage of the Small Arms Commission Bill into law to provide the necessary tools and mechanisms to effectively regulate the trade, possession, and transfer of small arms and light weapons.



Recent global developments underscore the urgent need to develop a robust strategy to safeguard sustainable development gains and address the menace of small arms proliferation.



The SALIENT project is being implemented in Ghana by WAANSA-Ghana, the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.



SALIENT is integrated into multisectoral platforms and initiatives that have been created over the past 20 years by UNDP, UNODA, UNODC, and other UN bodies. These initiatives highlight the necessity of a multisectoral approach to combating armed violence as well as the control of small arms and ammunition.



Additionally, the project aims to support ongoing efforts by UN and non-UN organisations engaged in border control, law enforcement, and crime prevention.





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A three-day residential Knowledge and Sensitization Training Workshops under the Building Resilient and Active Communities in Extractive Landscapes in Ghana (BRACE) project funded by the European Union kick start today August 8, 2024, at Kyebi.



According to Arocha Ghana, this initiative aims to equip community stakeholders with the necessary knowledge and skills to advocate for improved natural resource governance, environmental management, and protection of environmental rights in the extractives sector.



The workshops aim to build capacities among key community groups to safely gather evidence, advocate for environmental rights, and hold state and private sector actors accountable. The workshops will cover a wide range of topics, including national and international environmental legislation, rights to Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC), and strategies for effective advocacy and negotiation.



We believe your participation will be invaluable in building a stronger, more informed, and active community capable of advocating for sustainable and just natural resource management, Arocha Ghana.







Source: Jesse Amankwah Peace FM Correspondent E/R









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Former New Patriotic Party parliamentary hopeful, Hopeson Adorye, has promised to ensure that the secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana, Rev Victor Kusi Boateng, is prosecuted in the event the NPP leaves power.



Hopeson Adorye, during an interview on XYZ TV on Wednesday, August 8, 2024, said that he would make sure Rev Kusi Boateng, the founder and leader of the Power Chapel Worldwide, is jailed for supposed involvement in corrupt activities in the construction of the National Cathedral.



The NPP-turn-Movement for Change leader indicated that what annoys him the most is that after all the things the pastor has done, he has the guts to prophesy that the NPP would win the upcoming presidential election.



I hope you heard Rev Kusi Boateng say that Bawumia would win the 2024 election. Anybody who sees him should hoot at him. God does not talk to thieves.



After all the resources of Ghana that have been put into this thing (the Cathedral) which has gone to waste, this man says that he lent money to the government. Ei, where would you hear such a thing, he said in Twi.



He added, You do all these things and you come and tell us that God says (Bawumia would win the elections). This man is a liar. I would join Okudzeto Ablakwa, we would make sure that Kusi Boateng would go to jail On December 7, NPP would lose the election; after that, I would make sure, to partner Okudzeto. Rev Kusi Boateng would go to jail.



About the allegations against Rev Kusi Boateng:



The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, mentioned the clergyman in his "Mother of all scandals" publication on January 16, 2023, alleging primarily that Kusi Boateng was using two different identities on official documents.



He had previously alleged that an amount of GH2.6 million was "irregularly" paid out from the coffers of the National Cathedral to JNS Talent Centre, a company closely associated with Kusi Boateng.



In response to the accusations, the clergyman stated that he welcomed the inquiry by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) into the matter, following the lodging of an official petition by Ablakwa.



Kusi Boateng, in a statement on January 16, 2023, added: "When all is done, I will seek redress against Mr. Ablakwa for his deliberate defamatory statements against me."



"I will continue to contribute my quota to the National Cathedral project and offer my services to the country to the best of my ability," the statement concluded.



Watch Hopeson Adorye's remarks in the video below:













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Co-Chairman of the Democrat Union of Africa (DUA), Ghanas Louisa Atta-Agyemang (Mrs.)says the escalating pattern of toppling democratically elected governments in sub-Saharan Africa shouldnt be entertained.



Addressing the opening ceremony of the Democrat Union of Africa (DUA Forum 2024), held in Accra on August 8, 2024, she described as intolerable the re-emergence of military Coup detats in especially West Africa and called for concerted efforts to stop it.



Since August 2020, for instance, power has changed hands unconstitutionally six times in five countries: Burkina Faso, Sudan, Guinea, Chad, and Mali. Two other African countries saw thwarted coup attempts in this period, Niger in March 2021 and Guinea-Bissau in January 2022, the latter of which led to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) deploying a force to the country.



Such events underscore the urgent need for us to strengthen our democratic institutions and ensure that they are resilient against such disruptions. Our mission at the Democrat Union of Africa is to advocate for and support democratic governance, uphold the rule of law, and promote political stability across the continent. We must continue to stand firm against any actions that undermine these principles and work collectively to foster environments where democracy can thrive.



She emphasized the importance of deepening democracy in Africa to address the myriad development deficit that has plagued the continent for decades.



The theme of this years forum, Strengthening Democratic Institutions for Political Stability: Crafting Africas Response, resonates deeply with the challenges and opportunities we face today as a continent. As we gather here today, it is essential to reaffirm our collective commitment to the principles that unite us as leaders: transparency, accountability, inclusivity, and the rule of law. Every leader present at this forum is a firm believer in these core values, which are fundamental to building and sustaining strong democratic institutions. However, as we celebrate our unity and shared values, we must also acknowledge and address the undemocratic happenings on our continent.



She implored African leaders to create more opportunities that will embolden the youth tozealously safeguard the continents development.



The world is at a crossroads, and this holds particularly true for Africa. We have before us a unique opportunity to write about and determine the future of our people. As we stand at the brink of a new era, it is imperative that we challenge the status quo and boldly pursue a path that creates employment, determines our development strategies, builds stronger healthcare systems, and sheds an unquenchable light for the upcoming generation to follow. The time has come for Africa to redefine its destiny, leveraging our immense resources, diverse cultures, and the undying spirit of our people to forge a future that is shaped by our own hands.



For Africa, this is not just an opportunity but a necessity. We must harness our collective strengths to address the pressing challenges that have long hindered our progress. By fostering a culture of democracy, and entrepreneurship, investing in education and healthcare, we can build an Africa that stands tall on the global stage. Our mission must be to create a continent where the dreams and aspirations of every African can be realized, where the younger generation can look forward to a future filled with promise and possibility.



As we proceed with this forum, we must share best practices and collaborate on strategies to fortify our democratic institutions. We must create a political system in Africa where democracy is not just an ideal but a lived reality for all citizens. Together, we can shape a future where political stability and democratic governance are the foundations of our societies, ensuring a prosperous and independent Africa for generations to come.



The Co-Chairman of the Democrat Union of Africa (DUA), bemoaned the constitutional cracks in Togo saying, On April 19, lawmakers in the National Assembly from the ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR) party adopted a change to the Constitution by a vote of 87-0 that eliminates citizens right to vote directly for the president of the Republic. The approved Constitution also establishes a new powerful executive position of President of the Council of Ministers, elected by the National Assembly. This change removes the stipulation of a limit of two five-year presidential termsa key provision in the 2019 Constitution adopted after widespread popular protests. These developments in Togo highlight the fragility of democratic institutions and the ongoing struggle for political stability in some parts of our continent. This is not an isolated incident.



As the Convener of the DUA 2024, Louisa Atta-Agyemang (Mrs.), espoused Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumias unassuming nature and described him as a source of inspiration to the African youth.



At this years forum, we are honored to host the Leader and Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, H. E. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. Your Excellency, your dedication to public service, especially your commitment to the youth, has been truly inspiring. I recall with pride your keynote speech at the Young Democrat Union of Africa Forum in Malawi during my tenure as President of YDUA where you charged the young people in Africa to be keenly interested in politics and to do so with a passion to make Africa a better place for all. Your leadership has been characterized by humility, firmness and innovation, exemplified by your pioneering efforts in digitizing Ghana. In my current role as Deputy CEO of the National Health Insurance Authority, I have witnessed firsthand how some of these digital interventions are yielding real results.



She thanked the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for their support and collaboration in organizing the forum.



On behalf of all of us at the Democrat Union of Africa, I also extend a heartfelt thank you to the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and in particular, Dr. Holger Dix, for his enduring support of our



mission. If we are having this conference today, it is largely because Dr Dix and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation have seen meaning in what we are doing and our efforts to build stronger democratic systems in Africa.



Participants at the forum were the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in Uganda, InkathaFreedom Party in South Africa, Unity Party in Liberia, PDCI-RDA in Ivory Coast, Popular Democratic Movement in Namibia, The Third Republic Party in Tunisia, The Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) in Mozambique, Kenya African National Union in Kenya, RENAMO in Mozambique, Forces Democratiques Pour LaRepublique (FDR) in Togo, Peoples Movement For Democratic Change (PMDC) in Sierra Leone, Peoples Democratic Party in Nigeria, the National Grand Coalition Party in Sierra Leone, UNITA in Angola, CHADEMA in Tanzania, the Istiqlal Party in Morocco, Malawi Congress Party in Malawi, the ACDP in South Africa, the Democratic Party in Uganda, and Union de Centro Derecha (UCD) in EquatorialGuinea.







Source: ABDUL KARIM NAATOGMAH









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Three Ghanaians and one Chinese national have been apprehended for interfering with and installing altered meters from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).



Wisdom Sewlorm was an agent responsible for the installation of ECG meters. However, his employee, Ernest Afatsawu, tampered with the meters.



Afatsawu then sold these modified meters to a Chinese plastic manufacturing company for GH1,200, a report by citinewsroom.com has said.



The manager of the Chinese firm, Rulian Shan, and his sales manager, Ali Yakubu, were taken into custody on Friday, August 2, 2024, the report added.



Afatsawu and Sewlorm are currently under investigation.



It is worth mentioning that for the months of July and August, the ECG has lost in excess of GH77,000.



The report added that the four suspects are scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, according to Paul Abariga, Director of Investigation, Prosecution, and Security.



There are meters being installed in many parts of our operational area, and investigations have revealed that some of these meters are tampered with before installation.



Based on our findings, we arrested these four individuals. They were using a residential meter in a factory to manufacture plastic bowls at Oblogo near Weija.



We aim to conclude our investigations soon and present them before the court tomorrow, Abariga said in an interview, as reported by citinewsroom.com.

















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Residents of Ketu South Municipality in the Volta Region are voicing their outrage and frustration over what they describe as unacceptable billing practices by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). These practices, they claim, have caused significant psychological distress and financial burdens.



The core issue lies in the discrepancies between the readings on the power meters installed in homes and businesses and the bills received. Despite the presence of these meters, which are intended to accurately measure consumption, many consumers are being issued what they describe as "outrageous bills" based on predictive or estimated consumption rather than actual usage.



"We are law-abiding citizens and are ready to pay for what we have consumed as recorded by the meters fixed by the company itself," stated a group of concerned consumers. "However, the current billing practices are a blatant violation of our rights and undermine the purpose of metering."



The consumers have outlined several demands aimed at rectifying the situation:

Suspension of Problematic Billing Software: The billing software should be suspended, replaced, or modified to ensure accurate meter readings and billings.



Halt Disconnections Due to Billing Errors: The disconnection of customers with billing errors should cease immediately until the issues are resolved.

Optional Prepaid Meters: Prepaid meters should be optional for those who prefer them.





Audit of Meters: ECG should audit meters in the areas under the Denu ECG jurisdiction, addressing the presence of illegal meters bought from neighbouring countries, which result in significant revenue loss.



Improved Customer Service: Staff at the Denu office should be trained to treat customers with dignity and professionalism.



The residents emphasize that these issues not only cause personal distress but also pose a serious national security threat by eroding public trust and undermining community stability. They urge the ECG to take immediate action to address their concerns and restore fairness and accountability to its billing practices.



"We stand ready to collaborate with ECG to resolve this matter," the statement continued. "However, we will not hesitate to explore all available legal and regulatory avenues to seek justice and accountability."



As the call for justice and accountability gains momentum, the affected consumers hope that their collective voice will prompt the ECG to make the necessary changes to ensure accurate and fair billing practices.



However, the people of Keta and other areas have also been affected by the billing issues and have appealed to the authorities to do something urgently about the situation.





Source: myjoyonline.com









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Image: Toyota

If you own a Toyota GR Corolla, you may want to take it easy on driving it too hard. Two GR Corolla owners have been literally burned by both their car and Toyota for simply driving their cars, as the company denied both warranty claims.

Motor1 reported on two separate incidents involving GR Corollas that were destroyed by fire. The first incident involved Bryan Banks and his 2023 GR Corolla Circuit Edition, which burst into flames on June 8th when the car had some kind of engine failure. He filed a claim with his personal insurance and received a payout that covered most of the damage, so he reached out to Toyota in hopes the company would cover the rest. Toyotas response didnt make much sense, as the automaker seemed to imply the fire started due to speeding.



Banks says the speed part puzzled him as the owners manual only cautions against speeding due to the possibility of a tire blow out. He says Toyota clarified things a bit when he spoke to someone over the phone, but it still didnt make much sense. Heres the full response Toyota gave Banks, via Motor1:



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In response to your concerns, a vehicle inspection was conduced on June 24, 2024 ....The last reported odometer reading of the vehicle was 23,413 miles. Per the CarFax report, on February 12, 2024, accident damage was reported to the front, the left front, the right front, and the right rear. At the time of the inspection, the vehicle had fire damage to the front and the engine compartment. The inboard side of the engine block had a small hole on the upper side from internal engine damage. Oil residue was found at the turbo charger, the bottom of the engine, the undercarriage, and exhaust pipes. The owners manual warns not drive [sic] in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal speed limit permits it, do not drive over 85 mph unless your vehicle has high-speed capability tires. Driving over 85 mph may result in tire failure, loss of control and possible injury. Be sure to consult a tire dealer to determine whether the tires on your vehicle are high-speed capability tires or not before driving at such speeds. Based on our inspection findings and the facts relating to this incident, we cannot provide any assistance in this matter.

Story continues

Essentially, Toyotas reason for denying Banks was that the car was abused. According to Banks, at some point after he purchased it, Toyota informed him the car had sent out a data packet that included the cars speed, though the company wouldnt tell him the details of when or where this occurred. Toyota claimed the data packet showed the Corolla had reached a speed of 114 mph, essentially saying that speed = abuse. However, two weeks before the fire, Banks told Motor1 the GR Corolla had been running rough. When he visited his local dealer, they told him there wasnt anything wrong with the car.

The same situation happened to another GR Corolla owner named Sebastian R. His Corolla was completely destroyed in a fire in the middle of the desert, and the car had just over 9,000 miles on it. Initially I got a notification on my phone through Toyota Connect saying to check the engine, a malfunction in the electronic control, which I thought was weird, Sebastian told Motor1. Not long after, the Corolla malfunctioned and eventually burst into flames. Worse yet, Motor1 says Sebastian had a lapse in his insurance at the time.



Sebastian filed a claim with Toyota, but the automaker gave no reason why, just saying the cause for the fire was inconclusive even though holes were found in the engine block. Sebastian said the whole ordeal of trying to get ahold of Toyota for the claim was a hassle. Eventually, he and Banks connected via Reddit and weirdly found the same claim analyst handled both their cases. This lead both men and Motor1 to speculate whether or not their denials were a clerical error, as it was noted that both of their fires happened on the same day, even thoughthey didnt.



As for Toyota, Motor1 pressed the automaker about how it handles claims.



We contacted Toyota with questions. Chief among them: Does Toyota void warranties if data shows its cars exceed 85 mph? Is the mere act of speeding viewed as vehicle abuse? If so, GR Corolla owners may want to think twice about partaking in that complementary Toyota track day, because the GR Corolla is easily capable of exceeding 85 mph, never mind 114 mph.

Toyota gave a simple response that said everything and nothing at all:

All claims are reviewed individually, including this one, and we look at many attributes including vehicle data, dealer records, witness statements, and other information.

Hopefully there arent any other GR Corolla owners who have to go through this.



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Mr. Michael Leslie Bartlett-Vanderpuye wins the 100 Most Notable African Leadership and Excellence Award as Africa CEO of the Year. Mr. Michael Leslie Bartlett-Vanderpuye is the Group Chairman of M&C Group Global.



His exceptional leadership and expertise in diverse industries make him the most deserving recipient of this award. His excellence spans precious metal trading, gold refinery, commodities trading, energy, real estate development, and management consultancy, demonstrating his remarkable vision and innovative spirit.



M&C Group Global, under his leadership, has established a strong presence across the globe, with offices in Ghana (General Secretariat), Guinea, Dubai, China, South Africa, Cameroon, Nigeria, and the United States of America. The award was received on his behalf by Mr. Bright Kosi Asiamah, Country Director of the 100 Most Notable Peace Icons Africa Organization in Ghana, during the recent Leadership and Business Summit, which took place from August 1st to 4th, 2024, in Kigali, Rwanda.



The event brought together an impressive gathering of prominent figures from across the African continent, including Former President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State,Dr Dauda Lawal, Minister of State Zimbabwe, CEOs, policymakers, bankers, industry experts, and innovators. Amb Kingsley Amafibe stated that prestigious recognition is a testament to Mr. Bartlett-Vanderpuye's dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence.



As a leading figure in Africa's business landscape, his achievements serve as an inspiration to entrepreneurs and leaders across the continent. Congratulations to Mr. Bartlett-Vanderpuye on this well-deserved honor, and we look forward to seeing the continued growth and success of M&C Group Global under his leadership.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has sent a stern warning to the government to ensure that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) discharges his duties void of any governmental interference.



Speaking to the media in Bolgatanga on the morning of Wednesday, August 7, 2024, the former President expressed worry over the constant interference of government with the work of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.



According to the former President, there is a perceived meddling in affairs of the OSP by some government officials and institutions, which may end up crippling the work of the OSP.



He highlighted the critical role of the OSP in investigating and prosecuting corruption and other criminal activities.



He added that, the next Mahama government, in his quest to fighting corruption and corruption related cases, will make sure that the Office of the Special Prosecutor functions void of any interference from his government if elected President in the upcoming December 7 elections.



He opined, To be able to deal with corruption, I think that we should take away political interference. We should leave the anti-corruption institutions to do their work. This government is fighting the OSP. Indeed theyve made attempts to, they hounded the first one so much  Martin Amidu  that he had to resign."



"The OSP should be left to work and I make that commitment when I come into office, the Special Prosecutor would have a free hand to do any investigations he wants."



What we do is its easy when you come into office to investigate your predecessor government. They are your political opponents so investigating them and prosecuting them indeed you will enjoy doing it, but the real test of the fight against corruption is when it happens in your regime that you are able to investigate and deal with it, he stated.





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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Godfred Yeboah Dame, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, has criticized the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for their lack of a clear vision as the 2024 elections approach.



Speaking at the Efia NPP campaign launch and the inauguration of the campaign team on Monday, August 5, 2024, Godfred Dame argued that the NDC's concept of a 24-hour economy remains unexplained and unconvincing.



Where we are, in the life of our country, we need a party which is focused, a party which is has a clear vision. Ask the NDC the vision they are taking into this election. Is it the 24-hour economy they cant explain? That is not what we need. We need a man with a vision like Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, onuaonline.com quoted the Attorney General.



He emphasized that Ghana requires a party with a clear vision and focus, especially given the current state of the nation, adding that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), led by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, is best suited to lead the country towards prosperity.



"Dont allow the NDC to deceive you. It requires only boldness, clear direction, and vision," Dame stated.



He further highlighted the importance of the NPP breaking the '8'a reference to maintaining governance beyond the traditional two-term limit of eight yearsnot for selfish reasons, but to secure and safeguard the future of Ghana.



"Breaking the 8 is not for any selfish reason at all. In my view, it is simply for the future of this country," he added.



Dame called on NPP supporters to unite and vote massively for the party, stressing the need for visionary leadership in the form of Dr. Bawumia.



"We need a man with a vision like Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia," he charged.



Joe Ghartey, Board Chairman of the board member of Ghana Revenue Authority and Member of Parliament for Esikado Ketan, also urged party supporters in the Western Region to vote overwhelmingly for the NPP.



"We have to win the Western Region massively so that we will also be counted as part of those that won massively for the party to come to power," Ghartey said.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has urged Ghanaians to vote for the party in the pending general elections.



In a video shared online by Adom TV, the former president, during a recent campaign tour, said the NDC has a track record of delivering on their promises, unlike the Akufo-Addo led administration.



He pointed out that most of the promises the New Patriotic Party made to Ghanaians have not been fulfilled.



December 7, you must vote for the truth. I, Mahama, will not come and deceive you. I wont say that I will build a factory in every district. I wont tell you I will build a dam in every village. I wont tell you that I will give every constituency one million dollars, when I know its not true. I wont lie to you, he noted.



He said the NDC will build on its legacy by focusing more on infrastructure development and job creation for the youth.



NDC in the previous administration was about infrastructure development, the provision of electricity and water, he noted.









Source: ghanaweb.com









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Bernard Allotey Jacobs has described it extremely "unnecessary" John Mahama's promise to create a new Region from the Upper East Region if elected President again.



The former President and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has kicked off his 2024 presidential campaign tour in the Upper East Region on Saturday.



During a visit to the Bawku Nabas palace in the Upper East Region, Mahama disclosed that a proposal has been submitted to the Speaker of Parliament through the Member of Parliament for Bawku, Mahama Ayariga, for a Region to be created in the Bawku area named as Kusaug Region.



This new Region, he noted, will encompass the Zebilla, Binduri, Garu, Tempane, Pusiga and Bawku District and Municipal assemblies.



Mahama's New Region Promise



I discussed something with him. Your Member of Parliament, Im aware he has written a letter to the Speaker requesting that another region should be created out of the Upper East Region to cover the six constituencies in the Bawku area.



Bawku Naba raised it with me, and I told him in principle I think its a good idea for two reasons. One, for the reason of bringing government closer to the people.



Thats the principal reason for which we create new regions and new districts. And then the second reason is for security. Bawku is a special security zone because of the issues that have been happening here. And so it would be a good proposal to have a region so that it can be a focus to make sure that we deal with the security issues as well as we can.



And so, I dont think its out of place because the criteria are dependent on population, they are dependent on land size, and they are dependent on economic viability.



Allotey's Reply



The former NDC Central Regional Chairman, Allotey Jacobs reminded the former President of the volatile situation in the community, hence advising the latter to be measured in his utterances.



He warned Mr. Mahama against inciting the people of Bawku saying; "Not at this time. In politics, you know the place is a volatile area from time immemorial...I know the place very well, proper. Whether North East, whether Upper East Region, I don't know about a town or village that I don't know and I also know the tension and conflicts in the areas. So, if you are a politician and enters that area, your utterances should be very diplomatic and not offend any person."



Replying on Peace FM's Wednesday edition of 'Kokrokoo' show, Allotey Jacobs vehemently admonished Mahama to desist from making what, to him, are seditious comments, stating to create a Bawku Region "goes with fire and thunder".



Watch video below





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The running mate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof Jane Naana Opoku- Agyemang has says the flagbearer of her party, Mr John Dramani Mahama, is the right person to lead the country at this critical moment.



Addressing supporters of the NDC at Twifo Praso as part of her campaign tour of the Central Region on Tuesday, Prof Opoku-Agyemang said the government has plunged the the country into economic quagmire, with no hope in sight.



She said Ghana cannot continue on such a downward spiral and it is imperative that the right leader is elected to lead the country out of its current difficult state.



Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said NDC flagbearer Mr Mahama, having served this country before, is the right person with the needed experience to salvage Ghana from the current economic hardship.



She pointed out that Mr Mahama has the people of Ghana at heart and that is why he is proposing policies like the 24-Hour Economy, Women Development Bank, National Apprenticeship programme and the Big Push, among many others.



"Mr Mahama has a good heart and he has respect for all Ghanaians, especially women. He has done it before and will even do more to cushion Ghanaians when elected", she said.



Prof Opoku-Agyemang therefore appealed to the electorates to vote massively for the NDC in the upcoming December 7 general elections.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The New Patriotic Party's Vice Presidential Candidate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has assured that if Dr. Bawumia assumes office as President, Chiefs' permission and involvement will be necessary before any mining activities can proceed.



This measure, he emphasized, aims to protect the livelihoods of local communities.



Dr. Prempeh made this commitment in response to concerns raised by Denkyirahemaa Nana Ama Ayensuwa Saara III during his visit to the Denkyira Traditional Council in Dunkwa On-Offin, Central Region.



Dr. Prempeh stressed the importance of granting Chiefs a significant role in land use decisions. He underscored the need for locals to have fair access to opportunities in cases where land is designated for mining activities.



He assured that, under Dr. Bawumia's leadership, the misuse of state power to the detriment of local communities would no longer be tolerated.



Additionally, Dr. Prempeh pledged that ongoing road projects in the area would be completed, aligning with the progress seen in some areas. While acknowledging delays in certain road constructions, he remained optimistic about the timely completion of pending projects within the enclave.



Denkyirahemaa Nana Ama Ayensuwaa Saara III expressed her confidence in Dr. Prempeh, describing him as 'her blood' due to family connections with her father. She offered prayers for his success and that of his superior in advancing Ghana's development efforts.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A 37-year-old Adams County man is charged with endangering the welfare of children and simple assault after police said he threw his son across the room, hitting the boys back against a table, according to an affidavit.

Officers in New Oxford responded to the first block of Commerce Street around 8:15 p.m. on July 9 for a reported domestic dispute.
By Stephanie Armour, KFF Health News (TNS)

From his perch in the Trump administrations Department of Health and Human Services, Roger Severino made a controversial name for himself, working to shield health workers who declined to perform medical procedures including abortion on religious grounds.

After President Donald Trump left office, Severino helped the conservative Heritage Foundation develop a plan to expand that conservative stamp to the broader department, recasting HHS with a focus on traditional marriage and family.

The vision is outlined in the Project 2025 Mandate for Leadership, a blueprint by the foundation and allied groups intended to guide the next presidential administration. It has emerged as a political flash point, as Democrats portray the 900-page document as promoting an authoritarian power grab by extreme conservatives.

Severino, the lead architect of the projects section on HHS, has won praise from conservatives and criticism from LGBTQ+ and other liberal advocacy groups who say he poses a threat to reproductive rights and gender-affirming care.

His proposals smack of some of the most heated culture war conflicts shaping the election, from gay rights to gender identity to contraception. They would likely find support under a conservative administration.

Under Severinos vision for HHS, federal approval of one commonly used abortion drug, mifepristone, could be revisited and potentially withdrawn. Health agencies would promote fertility awareness as an unsurpassed method of contraception. Medicaid, the public health insurance program that covers more than 75 million low-income and disabled people, could be converted into block grants that Democrats say would result in far lower funding and enrollment.

HHS itself would be known as the Department of Life, underscoring a new focus on opposing abortion.

Severino declined to comment extensively on Project 2025, but he pushed back in an interview on assertions that it would ban access to medication abortion.

FILE - Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, and Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, attend the Republican National Convention, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)AP

When the Biden-Harris administration says [the document] would ban all chemical abortion nationally, its a lie, plain and simple, he said.

Trump, again the GOPs presidential nominee, has taken increasingly aggressive steps to distance himself from Project 2025 as it has become central to his opponents attacks. Heritage on July 30 said that Paul Dans, who directed the initiative, would step down from his role. The same day, Trumps campaign managers, Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, denounced the document.

Project 2025 had nothing to do with the campaign, did not speak for the campaign, and should not be associated with the campaign or the President in any way, Wiles and LaCivita said in a statement.

But the campaigns message is undermined by the documents authorship; its contributors include a number of high-ranking officials from Trumps first administration, including former White House adviser Peter Navarro; Christopher Miller, whose positions included acting secretary of defense; and Trumps secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Ben Carson.

Project 2025s passages on abortion, in particular, depart significantly from what Trump has said about the issue on the campaign trail. He has said he wants abortion policy made in states, not at the federal level, and that he wouldnt support a national ban or taking mifepristone off the market. He refashioned the official GOP platform to make scant mention of abortion, recognizing the political peril the issue posed for his campaign.

Support for abortion access is growing. Sixty-one percent of adults want their state to allow legal abortion for any reason, according to a poll conducted in June by The Associated Press and the University of Chicagos NORC, which conducts social research.

The Heritage Foundations policy proposals, published roughly every four years since the 1980s, have had considerable sway on GOP presidents. Former presidents Ronald Reagan and Trump each adopted about 60% or more of the recommendations produced in earlier Heritage guides, the group says.

Severino was a trial attorney for seven years in the U.S. Department of Justices Civil Rights Division under former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. He joined Heritage in 2015 and garnered acclaim from conservatives in part because of articles he published while he was there.

Reginald Brown, Board Chair, VOCAL discusses the threats of the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 at a rally aimed at stopping Project 2025 on Saturday, Jan. 27th, 2024 in Washington. (Joy Asico-Smith/AP Images for Center for Popular Democracy)AP

In one, for example, he said a proposal by Obama to include gender identity in Affordable Care Act provisions prohibiting discrimination would penalize medical professionals and health care organizations that, as a matter of faith, believe maleness and femaleness are biological realities to be affirmed rather than treated as diseases.

He was tapped to run the HHS Office for Civil Rights in 2017.

There, he created a new Division of Conscience and Religious Freedom because, he said, protections for people with deeply held religious beliefs had been underenforced.

The proposals for HHS laid out in Project 2025 have alarmed LGBTQ+ advocacy groups as well as some researchers.

It could promote stigma and discrimination, said Lindsey Dawson, director of LGBTQ Health Policy at KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.

President Joe Biden and the Democratic Partys new presumptive presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, have repeatedly urged voters to read the document themselves.

In one of her first speeches after taking over the top spot on the Democratic ticket, Harris said Project 2025 would treat health care as only a privilege for the wealthy instead of what we all know it should be, which is a right for every American.

Conservatives say Democrats are lying about what Project 2025s proposals would do and are incorrectly attributing the ideas to Trump for political gain.

Spokespeople for the Trump and Harris campaigns didnt respond to requests for comment.

The blueprints foreword espouses what it calls an anti-woke mentality, proposing to delete from every federal regulation words such as diversity, equity, inclusion, and any other term used to deprive Americans of their First Amendment rights.

FILE - Paul Dans, director of Project 2025 at the Heritage Foundation, speaks at the National Religious Broadcasters convention, Feb. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. Dans, the director of the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 vision for a complete overhaul of the federal government, stepped down on July 30, a spokesperson for the think tank confirmed. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)AP

HHS would revisit a rule that prohibits discrimination in health programs and extends those protections to people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. The document says that definition created special privileges for new classes of people, defined in ways that are highly ideological and unscientific, and should be reversed.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would cease collecting data on gender identity because, the Project 2025 report says, it legitimizes the unscientific notion that men can become women (and vice versa), and health agencies would study the negative effects of cross-sex interventions such as puberty blockers.

Families comprised of a married mother, father, and their children are the foundation of a well-ordered nation and healthy society, according to the document.

The road map would roll back years of hard-fought gains for people who are LGBTQ+, their advocates say.

This is a fantasy reality, like watching Leave it to Beaver, said David Stacy, vice president of government affairs at the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group.

The concepts may appeal to many in Trumps conservative base, however. Nine in 10 U.S. adults say a husband and wife raising children together is completely acceptable, according to a 2023 poll by the Pew Research Center. Fewer than half say the same about a married gay or lesbian couple raising children together.

Nine in 10 Trump supporters and about 4 in 10 Biden supporters say sex at birth determines if someone is a man or a woman, according to an April Pew poll.

Project 2025 risks GOP voter support over its anti-abortion stance, according to some political analysts. Its foreword also calls for removing from grants, regulations, and legislation words such as abortion, reproductive health, reproductive rights, and any other term used to deprive Americans of their First Amendment rights.

The proposal urges that the CDC fund research into abortion risks and complications and that HHS cut federal funding for states that dont provide data such as the number of abortions performed within their borders.

Project 2025 calls for revisiting approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. It could potentially lose FDA authorization and be subject to new dispensing requirements  such as barring distribution by mail, based on an 1873 law known as the Comstock Act  before that step.

Abortion access in the USAssociated Press

The proposals authors say misoprostol, a medication approved to treat ulcers but also used for abortion, would not be affected.

If the FDA were to reconsider mifepristone because of legal or safety concerns, at most, it would put doctors back in the process without limiting their ability to prescribe other chemical abortion drugs off-label, Severino said.

(KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF  the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.)

2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Zach Bryan performed in Philadelphia on Aug. 7 as part of his Quittin Time tour, and he was joined on stage by a few special guests.

Among them were none other than The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, who joined Bryan in a performance of the song Atlantic City.
Randy Phillips recently got the kind of publicity that one just cant buy.

The owner and winemaker of Cave Ridge Vineyard in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia provided some of his best wine for a dinner celebrating the 400th anniversary  that is not a typo  of the Richard Bocking Winery in Germany.

The celebration took place on June 14 and 15 in the picturesque town of Traben-Trarbach on the Middle Mosel River, ending with a reception at a 19th-century restored building that was formerly a mail-order wine shop.

He shipped five or six cases of his award-winning 2019 Fossil Hill Reserve, which won a gold medal in Virginias 2024 Governors Cup competition. It finished as one of the top 12 in a contest that drew around 750 entries from throughout one of the countrys top wine states.

Around 400 friends, family and wine media gathered for the dinner, Phillips said, providing great coverage for the event including his wine.

A majority of them were from Germany, but there were quite a few U.S. wine critics there ... and also some distributors that distribute their wines in the U.S.

The underground barrel room at Cave Ridge Vineyard & Winery in Mt. Jackson, Virginia. In. 2025, it will celebrate 25 years since the first vines went into the ground.Cave Ridge Vineyard

They published some very favorable comments about his Fossil Hill Reserve, a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 20% Petit Verdot, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Per the winemaker: Notes of spice from Cabernet Franc, black olive from the Petit Verdot, and the complex nature of the Cabernet Sauvignon which adds some current and other black fruit such as cherry and plumb. The three wines were aged in a combination of French and Hungarian Oak.

Phillips called the invitation an honor to play a small part in the celebration of a winery that has been in the same family for 15 generations, and to have the opportunity to present our wines to an international audience.

So how did a rural winery in Mt. Jackson, Virginia  around 150 miles northwest of Richmond and 105 miles west of Washington D.C.  find its way into a 400th anniversary party thousands of miles away?

Phillips said that Denman Zirkle, and his daughter, Sigrid Carrol, bought their familys winery thats located on the Mosel. Theyve also been customers of Cave Ridge, which in turn has through the years carried some of the Richard Bocking Riesling to taste aside the Riesling that Cave Ridge makes.

Phillips began planting his vines in 2001 and opened the tasting room in 2005.

Randy Phillips, owner and winemaker at Cave Ridge Vineyard in Virignia, sent cases of his 2019 Fossil Hill Reserve to the 400th anniversary celebration of the Richard Bocking Winery in Traben-Trarback, Germany.Cave Ridge Vineyard

While the German producer is known for its high-quality Riesling, it doesnt make any red wines. So when it came time for the Zirkles to plan their dinner, they sought out Phillips, telling him that Cave Ridges red blend was as good as were going to find out there for the money, he recalled.

Randy and his wife Karen made the trip over for the dinner and spent about 10 days catching up with an old friend in Munich while stopping in at some wineries. It was a good opportunity to get away from making wine and instead spend a week and a half sampling it.

He left the winery in good hands. His daughter Megan is the general manager and theyre starting to train a third generation, their 14-year-old granddaughter.

The winery is also evolving, Phillips noted, as they are completing work on an events center that sits above their below-ground barrel room and can accommodate around 180 people and a large patio that will connect to it. They already have started to book weddings for next spring.

Underground at the 00-year-old Richard Bocking Winery in Germany. Owner Sigrid Carrol is in the blue coat.Randy Phillips

Were excited about it, he said. We have a small guest space, so weve had to turn away a lot of events. [We figured we] might as well diversify a little more. As you know, were selling an experience, and the county here doesnt have a whole lot of event space, especially wineries. So were going to try to provide that.

The portfolio also is evolving, evidenced by Phillips bringing a 2022 Blanc de Blanc Riesling  made using the Charmat method, a process that traps bubbles in wine via carbonation in large steel tanks  to an East Coast winemakers summit in early July.

Its one of several sparklings theyve been making for a program that began seven or eight years ago, Phillips said, in addition to making bubbly for a few other Virginia wineries.

I started that when Wine Business Monthly [printed a story] showing an increase in sales of sparkling wines worldwide, he said. So, you know, its all about trying new things and following, as much as you can, consumer demands, and the sparking demand is definitely there. It does require specialized equipment, and we do everything [Charmat Method], or if somebody requests force carbonation, we do that as well. But we think the prosecco style [Charmat Method] allows me to get the wine out a little sooner and a little less expensive.

Vineyards in Germany's Rhine Valley.Randy Phillips

Prices for his sparklings range from $25 to $35, and those include two Blanc de Blancs  one a Riesling-based and the other Chardonnay-based  a sparkling raspberry Chambourcin rose and a petillant natural, or pet-nat. Three are completely dry and the raspberry has around 1 1/2% to 2% residual sugar.

Hes also planning to experiment with some natural frizzantes, he said.

All fit within the recent trends, at least nationally, of a move toward whites and sparklings in addition to lower or no alcohol. All generally cost less than a reserve red, also seemingly a consideration.

Finally, he said he plans to experiment with making a naturally low-alcohol frizzante. For now, hes withholding judgment on when that will be ready.

Ive tasted some of the low and nonalcohol wines, and right now, Im not a fan, he said.

And, you know, the something I learned in my my other career, was that value of networking and meeting people and being out there, and you know, you find those opportunities through the relationships that that one develops.

customer of ours,

he and his daughter bought the familys German winery on the Mosul. Weve we carry over, over the years, weve carried some of their Riesling so, so people could taste the German recently, next to our recently, we we found about three acres of Riesling here, and so we got to know them. And then they bought the familys winery to keep it in the family. And so its been in the same family for 400 years. And, you know, its amazing. And its, you know, its a, its a high end Riesling product producer on the Mosul. And so for their 400 year anniversary, they dont, they dont make red wine, and so they wanted to feature a red wine for the celebration dinner. So they said, you know, the Governors Cup, fossil Hill, red blood is as good as what were going to find out there for the money. So they shipped it over to have as the red wine for the event, which was great for us. Had great German news media coverage. And so it was, you know, it was, it was a nice, nice thing for us. Mm, hmm, yeah, how much did, how much wine Did you ship over there? Well, I shipped five to 96 cases. Okay, and about how many people showed up for the for the dinner, for 401

one for each year. Hey, thats pretty cool. Yeah, they had about 400 people from from the majority of them were from German. But there were quite a few us wine critics there. I didnt know they had their names, but also some distributors that distribute the wines in the US, excellent. So Im sure you got a lot of favorable comment. Really good favorable comments, you know, oh, good for you. And Im and Im not surprised so that thats good, yeah, thats a that is a boy thats a once in a lifetime opportunity, isnt it? It is. And, you know, the something I learned in my my other career, was that value of networking and meeting people and being out there, and you know, you find those opportunities through the relationships that that one develops. You

we have a good team here, yeah. So I get maybe two short vacations a year, and at some point well start to train up an assistant, yeah, that can eventually take that over. My daughter is General Manager here, right? And my 14 year old granddaughter gets involved as well. So were trying, were training the third generation, yeah, I just wrote about a fourth generation down in North Carolina that, yeah, its pretty, pretty, pretty cool. Since, to me, its part of the part of the attraction, the covering the industry is just, you know, the one generation after another, although I will say 400 years, thats a different thats a whole different story. Well, maybe theyll stuff out

Cave Ridge Vineyard, located in Mount Jackson, VA, was chosen to provide one of its award-winning red wines, the 2019 Fossil Hill Reserve, at the 400th Anniversary celebration of the Richard Bocking Winery in Traben-Trarback, Germany. Fossil Hill 2019 won a gold medal in the 2024 Governors Cup Competition and was one of the top 12 of the more than 750 wines entered.

The German winery produces world-class Riesling wines that are sold in twenty-two countries, but they produce only a limited number of red wines. The celebration will take place at the winery on June 14 and 15, located in the picturesque town of Traben-Trarbach on the Middle Mosel River, ending with a reception for 400 expected guests at a 19th century restored building that was formerly a mail order wine shop.

The owners of Richard Bocking Winery, Denman Zirkle, and his daughter, Sigrid Carrol, selected Cave Ridge to provide the red wine for the celebration because of the quality of wines produced at the Virginia winery for nearly 25 years.

Owner and Winemaker Randy Phillips said, it is an honor to play a small part in the celebration of a winery that has been in the same family for 15 generations, and to have the opportunity to present our wines to an international audience.

Cave Ridges vineyard was planted beginning in 2001 and the tasting room opened in 2005. All wines are estate grown and produced and have garnered numerous gold medals and awards including winning the Shenandoah Cup twicein 2022 for the 2019 Fossil Hill Reserve and in 2020 for the 2017 Petit Verdot.
Hulu. ESPN+. And, of course, Disney+.

These streaming platforms are all under the Disney umbrella. And the prices for each are going to go up.

CNN reports how the behemoth of a corporation announced its intent to raise the prices for the aforementioned streaming services on Tuesday.

Even though this branch of this business, for the first time ever, actually turned Disney a profit in the third quarter, CNN notes this price hike comes during a volatile for media companies from ever- and quickly-changing consumer behavior; an increased cost of doing business; the reinvigorated labor movement occurring in Hollywood; and tougher regulators.

Disneys parks, too, are seeing a lag in their business: Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston said during a recent company conference call that the locations have been affected by lower-income park-goers feeling more financial stress while higher-income consumers are trending toward international travel these days.

According to CNBC, Hulu, ESPN+ and Disney+ will start to cost more on Thursday, Oct. 17. Most plans under each will cost between $1 to $2 a month, although the most expensive plans under Hulu  which includes its live TV extension  will get bumped up by about $6.

The same CNBC report notes that the $19.99 ad-free bundle for Disney+ and Hulu that Disney offers wont experience a price increase at all.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Several major banks are currently under scrutiny.

This investigation arose due to how said banks handle customer funds on peer-to-peer payments platform, Zelle Network.
DELTONA, Fla. (AP)  A Florida sheriffs deputy ran through the woods, ripped off his bulletproof vest and ran into a pond after hearing the cries of a missing 5-year-old autistic boy.

Volusia County Sheriffs Deputy Wes Brough scooped the boy up, and the child wrapped his arms tightly around Broughs neck as they trudged back to dry land on Tuesday evening in Deltona, which is near Daytona Beach on Floridas Atlantic Coast.

I thanked God a lot for putting me in that position one, and two for allowing that kid to be above water and breathing fine when we got there, Brough said. Thats all glory to God for putting me in the right place at the right time.

Deputies had responded to a call of a missing child around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The father told deputies the child had escaped through a second-story door, which set off an alarm, according to an account of the incident posted on the sheriffs Facebook page. Sheriffs officials said the boys family had taken several measures to secure the home, including having an alarm on that door.

The family and neighbors began searching. Someone called 911.

In this image made from a video made from a Volusia County Sheriff's Department bodycam, Deputy Wes Brough saves a missing 5-year-old autistic boy from a pond Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Deltona, Fla. (Volusia County Sheriff's Department via AP)AP

Brough and several other deputies headed toward a nearby pond, after hearing that the child was attracted to water, the report said.

About 7:48 p.m., Brough heard the boys voice and spotted him holding onto a log in the water.

Brough attributed the training they received, including autism awareness training, for preparing him to be ready for any situation. The rescue was captured by the deputys body cam.

I have three children of my own, one being a 5-year-old, Brough said. So to have him hold on to me tightly like that, it felt like it was my own kid holding on to me.
By JEFFREY COLLINS and JOHN MINCHILLO, The Associated Press

HUGER, S.C. (AP)  Tropical Storm Debby has made a second landfall in South Carolina on its way up the East Coast, where residents as far north as Vermont could get several inches of rain this weekend.

The National Hurricane Center says Debby came ashore early Thursday near Bulls Bay, South Carolina. The storm is expected to keep moving inland, spreading heavy rain and possible flooding all the way up through the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast by the weekend.

Debby first made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane early Monday on the Gulf Coast of Florida. It is now a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds at 50 mph.

Considerable flooding is expected across parts of eastern South Carolina and southeast North Carolina through Friday, with an additional 3 to 9 inches of rain forecast, as well as in portions of Virginia, according to the hurricane center.

Keon Johnson and his wife Zyla Johnson, left, talk about how to get to work since his house on Tappan Zee Drive that was flooded on Monday from Tropical Storm Debby, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Pooler, Ga. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)AP

Debby continued spinning over the Atlantic Ocean and influencing thunderstorms from the East Coast to the Great Lakes on Wednesday. The National Weather Services office in Charleston also said survey teams confirmed four Debby-related tornadoes.

And about 3 a.m. Thursday, an apparent tornado spawned as Debbys outer bands blew through North Carolina damaged at least four houses, a church and a school in Wilson County east of Raleigh, county officials said. No injuries were immediately reported.

Debby could bring more tornadoes Thursday in parts of North Carolina and Virginia, forecasters said.

Flooding from heavy rains closed a major freeway along the East Coast. Interstate 95 near Fayetteville, North Carolina, was shut down before sunrise Thursday, and officials did not say when that portion of the freeway linking Florida to Maine would be reopened.

In Huger, about 15 miles northeast of Charleston, Gene Taylor was waiting in the afternoon for a few inches of water to drain from his house along French Quarter Creek as high tide passed.

Taylor saw the potential for flooding last week and started moving belongings out or up higher in his home. Its a lesson learned the hard way  Taylor estimated that this is the fourth time he has had floodwater in his home in the past nine years.

To save everything, weve learned from the past its better be prepared for the worst. And unfortunately, I think we got it, Taylor said.

Charles Grainger cleans up around his house in the historic district of French Quarter Creek as flood waters recede from Tropical Storm Debby, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Huger, S.C. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)AP

A few doors down, Charles Grainger was cleaning up after about 8 inches of water got into his home.

Eight inches disrupts your whole life, Grainger said. You dont get used to it. You just grin and bear it. Its part of living on the creek.

In Georgia, at least four dams were breached northwest of Savannah in Bulloch County, but no deaths had been reported, authorities said at a briefing.

More than 75 people were rescued from floodwaters in the county, said Corey Kemp, director of emergency management, and about 100 roads were closed.

Weve been faced with a lot of things weve never been faced with before, Bulloch County Commission Chairman Roy Thompson said. Im 78-plus years old and have never seen anything like this before in Bulloch County. Its amazing what has happened, and amazing what is going to continue to happen until all these waters get out of here.

For residents on Tappan Zee Drive in suburban Pooler, west of Savannah, Georgia, the drenching that Debby delivered came with a painful dose of deja vu. In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew overflowed a nearby canal and flooded several of the same homes.

Located roughly 30 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean, with no creeks or rivers nearby, the neighborhood doesnt seem like a high-risk location for tropical flooding. But residents say drainage problems have plagued their street for well over a decade, despite local government efforts to fix them.

Debby also dumped rain on communities all the way up to the Great Lakes and New York and New Jersey. Moisture from the tropical storm strengthened another system Tuesday evening, which caused strong thunderstorms, according to weather service meteorologist Scott Kleebauer.

We had a multi-round period of showers and thunderstorms that kind of scooted from Michigan eastward, Kleebauer said.

As much as 6 inches of rain fell in parts of New Jersey in less than four hours.

At least six people have died due to the storm, five of them in traffic accidents or from fallen trees. The sixth death involved a 48-year-old man in Gulfport, Florida, whose body was recovered after his anchored sailboat partially sank.
WRANGELL - The Oakland Museum of California has housed the Kadashan cane for the past 65 years. Now, with help from the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, the five-foot cedar cane is due to arrive in Wrangell in the coming days.

Lu Knapp, a direct descendant of Chief John Kadashan, was thrilled when she learned of the cane's imminent return.

"It just gives me a really good feeling hearing that it's coming back," Knapp said. "It was my great-grandfather's!"

While any repatriation is a success for Indigenous communities, the Kadashan cane is returning at an especiall...
Researchers at the University of British Columbia are staring into an abyss of their own making  a new "super-black" material that absorbs almost all visible light that reaches it.

The team stumbled onto the discovery quite by accident, but they already see potential commercial applications on the horizon.

Forestry professor Philip Evans and PhD student Kenny Cheng were experimenting with high-energy plasma etching, trying to make wood more water-repellant by engraving a microscopic texture similar to that of the moisture-shedding lotus leaf.

But when they used the same etching technique on the wood's end grain, everything went dark  extremely dark.

Rather than discarding the wood, they sent a sample to Texas A&M University's department of physics and astronomy, considered the world leader in validating super-black materials, Evans said on the phone from Australia on Thursday.

The Texas scientists confirmed the UBC specimen reflected less than one per cent of visible light, which is the minimum threshold for super-black or ultra-black materials.

"Ultra-black or super-black material can absorb more than 99 per cent of the light that strikes it  significantly more so than normal black paint, which absorbs about 97.5 per cent of light," Evans said.

"They came back to us with measurements that indicated that the material absorbed 99.3 per cent of all light that struck the surface."

The UBC team has now trademarked the discovery, calling the material Nxylon after "Nyx," the Greek goddess of the night, and "xylon," the Greek word for wood.

Unlike other super-black materials, including Vantablack, which is comprised of carbon nanotubes, the UBC discovery is derived from basswood, a natural resource found throughout North America.

"There's some environmental concerns about carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles, in general," Evans said. "What makes this interesting is that it's obviously made from a renewable material."

Super-black materials have promising applications in astronomy, where the darkest possible coatings are required to reduce stray light and improve the clarity of telescopic images, the researchers said. (UBC Forestry/Ally Penders)

Super-black materials have promising applications in astronomy, where the darkest possible coatings are required to reduce stray light and improve the clarity of telescopic images, the researchers noted.

The materials are also used to create more efficient solar-power cells, and to adorn luxury goods, like watches and jewelry, in place of expensive gemstones, like onyx, or rare woods, such as ebony and rosewood.

"The wood industry in B.C. is often seen as a sunset industry focused on commodity products," said Evans. "Our research demonstrates its great untapped potential."

Replacing poached woods

The UBC researchers have already created some prototype watches using the etched wood while exploring other potential commercial applications.

The team is also creating a startup company, the Nxylon Corporation of Canada, looking to monetize their discovery in collaboration with jewellers, artists and tech product designers.

Other applications could include the construction of car dashboards, wall cladding for theatres and panels for the interior of aircraft, Evans said.

One of the most surprising discoveries, according to the researchers, is that Nxylon remained black even when covered with a gold coating to make it electrically conductive enough to be studied through an electron microscope. It retained its super-black quality because the colour is not dependent on pigments or dyes, but rather the structure of the material itself.

Evans, who has worked extensively with governments in Canada and the United States to develop methods to detect illegal logging and prevent poached timber from entering the countries, says the material could even help replace dark woods on the black market.

"A lot of these timbers are very black timbers, things like ebony and rosewoods," he said. "So what you want to do is develop substitutes that reduce the demand for those timbers."
Reporters on the scene are observing that the crowd for the Harris-Walz Michigan event is the biggest theyve seen for a Democratic campaign since 2016.

Here is a picture of the crowd:

Likely the largest Democratic campaign rally Ive covered in Michigan in 2020 or so far in 2024. pic.twitter.com/G9ygha2okG  Craig Mauger (@CraigDMauger) August 7, 2024

The Detroit News posted:

Thousands of supporters gathered for a @VP Kamala Harris rally inside and outside of a hangar at Detroit Metro Airport. Follow along with @CraigDMauger and https://t.co/yN1D3kcDqW for live updates. https://t.co/FHLnMCncGK  The Detroit News (@detroitnews) August 7, 2024



JD Vance drew what was estimated to be a crowd of a couple hundred people 30 miles outside of Detroit, while Harris and Walz already spoke to a crowd of 12,000 in Wisconsin.

Comparisons to the 2008 Obama campaign should not be thrown around lightly, but there is a special energy that continues to build around the Harris campaign. It is an energy that Donald Trump and his running mate cant match, and almost as important for Republicans, Trump doesnt seem interested in trying.

If this is what Harris and Walz bring to the Midwest, Trump and the Republican Party could have a massive problem on their hands.

These sorts of crowds with this kind of energy are what election blowouts are made of.
A new poll from Arizona found that Kamala Harris holds a 44%-41% lead over Donald Trump in the critical swing state.

AZ Highground wrote about their poll:

In the race for President, the survey revealed that Harris is starting with a slim lead  earning 44.4% of the vote compared to 41.6% of likely voters casting their support for Trump. The 2.8 point lead is within the surveys margin of error. Harris lead is bolstered by 86.5% of the Democratic base, whereas Trump is earning 79.5% of the Republican base, a slippage that was also witnessed by other MAGA candidates in Arizona in 2022. Essential independent and unaffiliated voters are also initially breaking by about 7.2 points for Harris.

Harris earns support from a majority of female voters (51% Harris/36% Trump) while Trump holds a ten point lead among male voters (37.2% Harris/47.7% Trump). Harris is earning significant support among younger voters, while Trumps largest strong hold is among voters ages 50-64. Both candidates are split evenly among Arizonas incredibly important 65 and older demographic.

In the Senate race, Rep. Ruben Gallego leads Kari Lake by 11 points (rounded up: 50%-39%).

Arizona has been a target for Trump in the general election. The state is one of the main reasons that he has been hammering away at immigration and the border as his top issue.

Trump needs Arizona. Harris has multiple paths to the White House open to her. She can go through the Sunbelt by winning Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia along with one of Michigan, Wisconsin, or Pennsylvania, or she can win Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. If Trump loses Arizona, he would have to win both Georgia and Pennsylvania to hit 270 Electoral College votes.

It is a good sign for Democrats that the Harris momentum is starting to show up in critical swing state polls like Arizona.
Trump is raging and complaining and trying to downplay the huge crowds that are showing up for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

Trump posted on Truth Social:

If Kamala has 1,000 people at a Rally, the Press goes crazy, and talks about how big it was  And she pays for her Crowd. When I have a Rally, and 100,000 people show up, the Fake News doesnt talk about it, THEY REFUSE TO MENTION CROWD SIZE. The Fake News is the Enemy of the People!

The truth is that a segment of the crowd that attends Trumps rallies arent local. Trump has large group of supporters who follow him around the country like he is some sort of anti-democracy jam band and come to all of shows. Some of them make money off the shows by selling Trump merchandise. Many of the others are his most committed fans.

The biggest story of Trumps 2o24 rallies is the lack of energy. These rallies clearly arent 2016. The crowd is being ground to dust by Trumps insistence on being at least an hour late to most events and then rambling for at least 90 minutes. It has become common for Trumps supporters to walk out on him the longer he drones on.

In contrast, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz draw bigger crowds than Trump. The Harris-Walz event in Wisconsin drew 12,000 people, and the event in Michigan was even bigger than Wisconsin. Trump believes that crowd sizes predict election success, so what he is seeing from Harris scares him.

This is real momentum and the kind of energy that Trump has never faced. Donald Trump is barely campaigning. Harris and Walz did more events yesterday than Trump will do this week.

Donald Trump is a stagnant and stale rerun of a candidate, and he is melting down because he is witnessing an election that is slipping away from him.
A cold front broke a pattern of sweltering heat in Billings on Tuesday, but it didnt show up quietly.

In fact, it wrecked the place. City crews were still cleaning up debris as of Wednesday, piling up limbs and chopping up entire trees uprooted by a storm that brought near record-breaking winds.

It takes us a long time to get through and clear everything, said Derick Miller, head of the Billings Public Works Street Traffic Division, so if youve got the saw, the ability and the strength to get out there and help your neighbor, cut that (debris) up into manageable pieces so we can get out there and pick them up.

An isolated thunderstorm blasted Billings neighborhoods Tuesday afternoon, pelting traffic with sheets of rain and hail. Although no homes were destroyed, the storm left some residents with trees leaning up against their homes. Leaves and limbs clogged city drains.

Crews were up until 11 p.m. on Tuesday clearing streets and breaking down felled trees, Miller said. Private property damage mostly consisted of smashed vehicles. In one instance, he said, crews picked away at a fallen tree in the Billings Heights only to discover it was hiding a destroyed Jeep. He expected the cleanup to continue for several weeks, with Billings Public Works operating several sites around town for residents to dump debris.

All the tree branches well take to the landfill, where theyll mulch it, said Miller, speaking from one of the debris dump sites. He spoke in front of a minced pine tree that had been blocking traffic at Rimrock Road and 17th Street West.

As of Wednesday afternoon, all of the citys major roads were cleared and open. Rain knocked a rock the size of an exercise ball loose onto Zimmerman Trial, closing the artery. The road reopened after Public Works fitted one of their pickup trucks with a plow and rolled the rock off the asphalt. Miller did not see any reports of injuries related to the storm.

The storm tore down about a dozen trees at parks throughout town, Billings Parks, Forestry & Public Lands Supervisor Cole McQuillan said, but spared all of their infrastructure minus some fencing. The damage was mostly concentrated in North Park, Pioneer Park, South Park and Castle Rock Park, he said. The branches broken loose will be mulched on site, McQuillan said, while the entire felled trees will be chopped into logs.

Fortunately, we have a pretty dense forest canopy in the city, McQuillan said, especially in the parks that took most of the damage.

One of the more difficult tasks ahead for the crews repairing the parks, he said, is filling the holes left behind by uprooted trees. Most of the trees in the area might reach heights of 100 feet, but have a root system only a couple of feet deep. Their root system is shallow, but can spread out as much as twice the diameter of the trees canopy. Those shallow root systems leave older trees vulnerable to being ripped from the ground by wind gusts, and gouging a hole in the earth large enough to fit a sedan.

Roughly 12,000 NorthWestern Energy customers were impacted by the storm, company spokesperson Brandy Powers told the Gazette in an interview over the phone. Going into Wednesday, the largest energy supplier in Billings was still responding to outages caused by Tuesdays storm. The companys outage map was showing pockets of neighborhoods without power throughout the city, and by Wednesday afternoon, Powers said, some 900 customers were still facing power outages.

In a statement posted to the companys website, NorthWestern said its crews along with those contracted for assistance were at work restoring power to North Park, Downtown and Rimrock neighborhoods. NorthWestern reported that an outage at Hilltop Road and Nutter Boulevard in the Heights would likely take most of the day to restore.

"We do know that the work will continue into the night," Powers said.

The damage from the storm erupted from a single cell that moved over Billings, said Logan Torgerson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Billings. NWS instruments at Billings Logan International Airport recorded about 0.38 inches of rainfall during the storm. The fastest winds Tuesday were traveling at 76 mph, the second fastest in the citys history.

Leading up to Tuesdays storm, highs in Billings for the past several weeks consistently stayed in the 90s and occasionally reached triple digits. On Wednesday, temperatures were about 20 degrees below average, Torgerson said. The trend of temperatures remaining at or below average is expected to continue over the next week.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 74F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 64F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.
Poetry harnesses the power of the human experience. It is a universal language steered by an emotive morality, transcending political and historical narratives with a multifaceted perspective.New York Times-bestselling author Marjory Wentworths new poetry book entitled One River, One Boat is out on Aug. 12. Its her love song to South Carolina.

South Carolina is my home and always will be, Wentworth told The Post and Courier. Ill be writing poems about South Carolina for the rest of my life.

Wentworth, who moved to Charleston in 1989, served as South Carolinas sixth poet laureate from 2003 to 2020. Cities, states and regions appoint poet laureates to contribute poetry for official occasions and build community programming geared toward reading and writing poetry. The position is as varied as it is inspired, leaving room for the individual to bestow an indelible mark.

Whether youre a city, state or United States poet laureate, the essential task is to find ways to broaden the audience for poetry and bring more opportunities for people to read and study poetry and come together over poetry, Wentworth said. Poetry is a marginalized art form, so the task of a poet laureate is to address that.

In the collection of occasional poems and essays that comprise One River, One Boat, Wentworth chronicles the dynamic of immense loss and great joy, both personal and public, encapsulating major moments of South Carolina history such as Hurricane Hugo and the Mother Emanuel AME massacre. Her words illuminate the natural beauty of the Palmetto State and unearth a lingering sorrow over its storied past.

History doesnt always tell the lived experience, the day-to-day human experience, she said. And I like to think that poetry does. You can read statistics about hate crimes, racism and gun violence, but if you read a poem about what happened at Mother Emanuel, youre going to weep.
As Tropical Storm Debby leaves South Carolina on its northward track, officials are keeping an eye on the states swollen rivers and creeks. Charleston-area rivers already have started to flood and are expected to continue to rise over the weekend because of Debby's inundation of rain and additional thunderstorms forecast for the next several days.

The Edisto River, which meanders 250 miles from Saluda and Edgefield counties, through the city of Orangeburg and between Colleton and Dorchester counties to the Atlantic Ocean at Edisto Beach, remains a top concern for officials.

Officials also are concerned about major flooding on French Quarter Creek near Huger and the prospect of major flooding on the Pee Dee River near Cheraw and Pee Dee and the Little Pee Dee River near Galivants Ferry.

Its not over yet, Gov. Henry McMaster said during an Aug. 8 briefing at the state Emergency Management Division office near Columbia. Weve passed some danger, but theres still plenty. Rain continued to pelt the Pee Dee and Grand Strand on Aug. 8.

River levels are expected to continue rising but are not expected to reach the levels seen from hurricanes Matthew or Florence, said John Quagliariello, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The Charleston Weather Service monitors the Savannah, Edisto and Santee rivers, as well as dozens of smaller creeks in the area, said Charleston meteorologist Neil Dixon.

The Edisto River is at 11.6 feet, a minor flood stage. It's expected to peak at 14.5 feet, a moderate flood stage, by Aug. 13, according the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at the time of publication. That is approaching the rivers record flood stage of 17.5 feet, set in 1925, he said.

Over the weekend, river flooding along the Edisto will become worse and worse, and this will affect residents along the river, he said.
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The company will be showcasing its latest cybersecurity product, CodeHawk Binary Patcher, during the prestigious Black Hat Arsenal Tools Demo event.BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Aarno Labs, a leading R&D firm specializing in innovative cybersecurity solutions, is proud to announce that it has been selected to present at Black Hat USA 2024. The company will be showcasing its latest cybersecurity product, CodeHawk Binary Patcher, during the prestigious Black Hat Arsenal Tools Demo event.CodeHawk Binary Patcher: High Assurance Binary Patching Without a Reverse EngineerCodeHawk Binary Patcher represents the cutting edge in application security, offering a high-assurance solution for binary patching that eliminates the need for a reverse engineer. This innovative tool is designed to counteract cyber threats such as remote code injection and open-source software exploits, addressing critical pain points for midsize and enterprise organizations. By drastically reducing the cost and increasing the assurance of third-party binary micropatching, CodeHawk Binary Patcher ensures robust protection for the digital landscape."We are honored to present CodeHawk Binary Patcher at Black Hat USA 2024," said Dr. Michael Gordon, founder and Chief Researcher at Aarno Labs. "CodeHawk was developed in partnership with multiple government R&D contracts. The lead researchers took an innovative approach to solve the problem of managing safe and assured security patches for devices deployed across healthcare and energy sectors." The development of CodeHawk Binary Patcher was led by a team of esteemed engineers at Aarno Labs: Dr. Michael Gordon, Dr. Henny Sipma, Dr. Ricardo Baratto, Dr. Ben Karel and Jeff Perkins.Aarno Labs has a distinguished record of developing impactful cybersecurity research projects, supported by prestigious government research grants. The company's work is focused on tackling the most pressing security challenges faced by both government entities and private enterprises.The selection to present at Black Hat USA 2024 underscores Aarno Labs' commitment to advancing cybersecurity and its role as a leader in the field. Attendees are invited to visit the Black Hat Arsenal Tools Demo event to see a live demonstration of CodeHawk Binary Patcher and learn more about how Aarno Labs is pioneering new solutions to protect against emerging cyber threats.About Aarno LabsAarno Labs is an R&D company specializing in cybersecurity research, focused on addressing the most critical security challenges faced by governments and private enterprises. The company's mission is to protect and secure the digital landscape for a safer, more resilient world. Aarno Labs has led research grants from DoD and intelligence agencies and published numerous research papers in the fields of program analysis and security.For additional information, please visit www.aarno-labs.com Contact InformationJeff Perkins jhp@ aarno-labs.com Jason Wilbur jason@ aarno-labs.com SOURCE: Aarno LabsView the original press release on newswire.com
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 7, 2024 / Levi & Korsinsky notifies investors that it has commenced an investigation of Dril-Quip, Inc. ("Dril-Quip") (NYSE:DRQ) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws.On July 8, 2024, Dril-Quip disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it had identified "an error in the classification of certain inventory write-downs from 2021." Specifically, the Company had "misclassified inventory write-downs from 2021 totaling approximately $67 million, including $19.3 million related to the 2018 global strategic plan and approximately $47.7 million due to the discontinuation of certain product categories under the 2021 global strategic plan. The Company classified these charges as Restructuring and other charges'; however, these charges should have been classified in Cost of sales' in the Consolidated Statement of Income (Loss) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, in accordance with ASC 420-10-S99-3. As a result, Cost of sales' was understated and Restructuring and other charges' was overstated by $67 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the Affected Period')." Accordingly, Dril-Quip stated that its prior statements regarding the Affected Period "should no longer be relied upon" and will be restated. Dril-Quip further stated that "the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2023 were not effective." On this news, Dril-Quip's stock price fell $1.76 per share, or 9.9%, to close at $16.01 per share on July 9, 2024. To obtain additional information, go to:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212)363-7500.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212)363-7500 Fax: (212)363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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PARIS, FRANCE / ACCESSWIRE / August 7, 2024 / The 2024 China-France Tour, led by the premier brand HONGQI, reached its final destination in Paris. The new HONGQI H9 and EH7 models took the lead in capturing the attention of Parisians with their stunning oriental beauty.Europe, the birthplace of the automobile, boasts a mature automotive industry and a rich automotive culture. The China-France Tour convoy, spearheaded by HONGQI, traversed 11,700 kilometers across six countries, allowing European citizens to experience the outstanding performance of Chinese cars. The convoy made its mark in cities like Brussels, Innsbruck, and Lausanne.HONGQI was born in an era of fervent passion, evolving from initial handcrafted models to today's fully self-developed vehicles, showcasing the technological prowess of Chinese manufacturing. The new H9, which represents the perfect combination of artistic heritage and industrial dreams, and ideal car EH7, which seamlessly integrates luxury and technology, have thoroughly impressed the European people.Only by boldly venturing out can one reach great distances. By daring to conquer the Nurburgring and the Alps, HONGQI invited the world to witness the transformation of Chinese automobiles from mere bystanders to active participants in areas where they had never ventured a century ago. The Grand Show that attracted countless people and the China-France high-end Business Exchange Salon that gathered elites from all walks of life jointly drew a blueprint for the future of Chinese automobile brands.With the conclusion of the Paris Grand Show and the high-end Business Exchange Salon, the 2024 China-France Tour officially came to an end. However, HONGQI remains on the move, with more beautiful destinations ahead, beyond the exotic scenery of the Mercedes-Benz Museum, Lake Zurich, and the Eiffel Tower.Promoting the exchange and mutual learning of automotive cultures between China and other countries is a key objective of HONGQI's journey. Bringing Chinese design aesthetics, manufacturing engineering, and intelligent science represented by HONGQI to Europe unlocks limitless possibilities for Chinese cars.Name: Wang YingEmail: hq-callcenter@ faw.com.cn Phone: +86 18810777578SOURCE: HONGQI
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CLEARWATER, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Cleartronic, Inc. (OTC PINK:CLRI) ($CLRI) ("Company") is pleased to announce the strategic acquisition of Alastar, a technology platform previously co-owned by Advanced Technology International and the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA). This acquisition includes Alastar's trademarks, software, platform, clients, and employees.Alastar, established approximately ten years ago, has been a key player in developing, marketing, selling, and implementing an online situational awareness software program designed to enhance public safety and mission effectiveness. The Alastar program is used by clients in South Carolina and across the United States.Marc Moore, CEO of Cleartronic, Inc., stated, "Alastar represents a great opportunity for us to enhance our ReadyOp platform and add valuable talent to our employee group. Our two companies are very similar and offer complementary capabilities to clients. We anticipate a very smooth transition and the integration of the Alastar capabilities into our ReadyOp platform during the coming months. We also have a few clients in common who have expressed their enthusiasm for our companies becoming one and for our platforms to integrate. Adding these new capabilities to our ReadyOp platform will allow us to increase revenue from our current clients and offer an enhanced package of capabilities and services to new clients." CLRI believes the acquisition is accretive to Cleartronic Inc.'s operations and will provide greater programming capabilities from the new employees in addition to other acquired assets.About Cleartronic, Inc. (OTC PINK:CLRI) ($CLRI):Cleartronic, Inc. (OTCPINK:CLRI), through its primary operating subsidiary, ReadyOp Communications, offers ReadyOp as a Software as a Solution (SAAS) that integrates planning, operations, communications, visual displays, reporting forms, and more in a single web-based platform now in use nationwide and internationally. ReadyOp is used by government agencies, hospitals, ports, airports, first responders, schools and universities, companies, and unified commands for daily operations, alert and response actions, special event planning, incident management, and emergency response and recovery. ReadyOp is simple to use and designed for fast, efficient access to information and the ability to plan, coordinate, direct, and communicate with multiple persons, groups, agencies, and locations. www.cleartronic.com Safe Harbor StatementThis new release contains statements that involve expectations, plans, or intentions (such as those relating to future business or financial results) and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These statements are forward-looking and subject to risks and uncertainties, so actual results may vary materially. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words such as "may," should," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan," and other similar expressions. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements because of certain factors not within the control of the Company. The Company cautions readers not to rely on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company disclaims any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.Contact and Inquiries for Investor Relations:Larry Reid(954) 826-2508 lreid@ cleartronic.comwww.cleartronic.comwww.readyop.com SOURCE: Cleartronic, Inc.
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Leading global firms and corporations sign with DraftWiseNEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / DraftWise , an AI-powered contract and negotiation platform for lawyers, today announced it has achieved 97% precision and 94% recall in an external, AM Law50 client-driven evaluation of its AI capabilities for extracting insights from complex contracts. The evaluation confirms DraftWise's internal benchmarks and rigorous testing conducted by its in-house team of legal experts.This assessment, which was defined by AM Law50 members of the company's client base, was designed to be a better real-world measurement of the application's impact on lawyers compared to benchmarks commonly used in the industry. Both test types examine an application's ability to acquire and reason with general legal knowledge. However, it is standard practice in the LegalTech industry to run evaluations on datasets that are either synthetic and/or "first-party" (the vendor develops the test). In contrast, a third-party evaluation utilizing real questions and real transactions from a practice group avoids biases in the synthetic data generation process or those present in the vendor's creation of the benchmark."We set out to make a product that could change the way contracts and negotiations are handled, applying Generative AI in combination with a firm's precedent data in unique but fundamental ways," said James Ding, Co-Founder of DraftWise. "We are relentless about accuracy and reliability because DraftWise is a tool lawyers depend on every day. In other words, we set the quality bar of our software extremely high, especially around the completeness and accuracy of responses. Based on the external benchmarks and real user experiences we're seeing, I am confident that we are well on our way to achieving our mission." Consistent with DraftWise's commitment to accuracy and trust, DraftWise has partnered with several high-profile AI leaders to further refine retrieval accuracy, alongside DraftWise's own proprietary models, to deliver high-quality results. For example, DraftWise recently announced that it has integratedAnthropic's Claude 3 Opusinto its Contract Intelligence platform.Commitment to Quality Drives Customer MomentumWith DraftWise's focus on trust, accuracy, and practical applications of Generative AI to reduce the manual nature of contracts and negotiations, the company has experienced remarkably strong customer momentum. It has signed multiple firms to its platform, including a leading nationally ranked law firm, Dykema. The company has expanded into corporate in-house legal teams as well following the announcement of the newMarkupproduct."Our customers are consistently impressed with how easy DraftWise is to implement and how quickly they can benefit from their investment in generative AI," shared Will Seaton, DraftWise's Chief Customer Officer. "With our platform, law firms are no longer recreating the wheel for every contract, so it makes the entire negotiation process much faster. DraftWise knows a firm's preferred language, it knows a client's sticking points and all of the important nuances, and it can deliver that directly to lawyers where they work. The feedback we're hearing from so many of our customers is that, in a surprisingly short time, DraftWise has become a total game changer for their lawyers." Leading in security and data protectionTo ensure best practices of organization and customer data handling, the company also appointed Tony Mauriello, General Counsel and Legal Product Architect at DraftWise, as its Data Protection Officer (DPO). Mauriello brings nearly two decades of legal experience from firms like Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Latham & Watkins, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. As DPO, he will work closely with the company's Chief Technology Officer, Emre Ozen, to oversee internal policies relating to customer data.The promotion comes while DraftWise continues to expand its team with top talent across departments to better serve the needs of its customers.To learn more about why DraftWise is gaining industry traction and attracting the best minds in legal, security, and technology, please visitwww.draftwise.com . Or see the platform in action. It will be demonstrated atILTACON 2024August 12-15 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN.About DraftWiseDraftWise is on a mission to transform the legal industry by harnessing the power of AI. With AI-powered drafting and negotiation software, DraftWise arms lawyers with data-driven intelligence that drastically improves the complete contract workflow, from first draft to client win.A global team with headquarters in New York City, DraftWise's customers include leading firms across North America, Europe, and Australia, including Orrick, Gunderson Dettmer LLP, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP, and Mishcon de Reya LLP, and other Vault 10, AM Law 100, Magic Circle, and Seven Sisters ranked firms.Company Contact Sarah Schultz sarah.schultz@draftwise.com SOURCE: DraftWise
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NEW CANAAN, CT / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Draycott Place Partners announced today that its client, ProfitKey International LLC (ProfitKey), has been acquired by ECI Software Solutions (ECI).Draycott Place Partners Logo Firm logoDraycott Place Partners, an affiliate of Weild & Co., served as the exclusive financial advisor to ProfitKey.Founded in 1979, ProfitKey is a leading Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) software provider for small and mid-sized made-to-order manufacturers across the U.S."I am very excited about this news and the great value it will provide to all the ProfitKey stakeholders," said Kevin O'Keefe, CEO of ProfitKey. "Our investors are receiving a fair return on their capital while our customers are benefiting from the additional resources that ECI brings to their long-term success. ProfitKey's employees will realize greater opportunities for career and personal growth by joining a larger, global organization like ECI." Steven Palmer, President of Draycott Place Partners, said, "It's been an honor to work with Kevin and his team to help facilitate this great outcome for the shareholders, management team, employees, and clients of ProfitKey." Regarding Draycott Place Partners, Kevin O'Keefe added: "Steven and Jerrod have been fantastic partners and did a great job casting a wide net in reaching out to prospective partners and then rolling up their sleeves and performing the blocking and tackling required to help us get the transaction closed with ECI. In short, they added significant value throughout the course of our engagement with them." About ECIECI provides cloud-based business software for running small and mid-sized businesses end to end. Built by experts in manufacturing, residential construction, field service, building supply, office technology, and wholesale/retail distribution industries, ECI's industry-specific software connects businesses and customers, improving visibility, operational efficiency, and profitability. With ECI, businesses seamlessly integrate sales and marketing, business intelligence, CRM, data and analytics, e-commerce, mobile apps, and payment processing. With more than 30 years of industry leadership, ECI is trusted by 24,000 customers in more than 80 countries globally. Headquartered in Westlake, Texas, it has offices in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Australia. For more information, visit www.ECIsolutions.com About Draycott Place PartnersDraycott Place Partners provides M&A and Capital Raising services primarily to settlement services companies, proptech enterprises, and other fintech services businesses like ProfitKey. Draycott Place Partners is an affiliate of Weild & Co., a licensed broker dealer. All securities transactions executed through Weild & Co., Member FINRA | SIPC. www.draycottplace.bizsteven.palmer@draycottplace.biz 203-952-2632Contact Information:Steven PalmerPresident, Draycott Place Partnerssteven.palmer@draycottplace.biz 2039522632SOURCE: Draycott Place Partners LLCView the original press release on newswire.com
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LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 7, 2024 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Dril-Quip, Inc. ("Dril-Quip" or "the Company") (NYSE:DRQ) for violations of the securities laws.The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Dril-Quip filed a current report on Form 8-K with the SEC on July 8, 2024. The Company's filing disclosed it had "became aware of an error in the classification of certain inventory write-downs from 2021." The Company added, "after considering the recommendations of management and discussion with the Company's independent registered public accounting firm[,] the Audit Committee of our board of directors ("Audit Committee") concluded that the consolidated financial statements for the Affected Period should no longer be relied upon due to the error described above. Any previously issued or filed reports, press releases, earnings releases and investor presentations or other communications describing the Company's consolidated financial statements and other related financial information covering the Affected Period also should no longer be relied upon." If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT: The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq. www.schallfirm.com Office: 310-301-3335 info@ schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm
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With Seamless Data Integration and Cutting-Edge Visualization, This Partnership Will Drive Business Growth and Empower Data-Driven Decisions for Businesses of All SizesHOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Optimum Consultancy Services, a leader in IT consulting that specializes in data, business intelligence (BI), and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, is thrilled to announce a new strategic partnership with Qlik, a renowned leader in data integration and data analytics solutions.This partnership is set to transform the way businesses leverage data for strategic decision-making. Through this collaboration, Optimum will integrate Qlik's cutting-edge BI tools and data integration solutions into its service offerings. This includes the powerful Qlik Sense platform, known for its associative analytics engine and sophisticated AI, and Qlik's comprehensive data integration and quality solution, Qlik Talend Cloud.Qlik Sense will enable Optimum's clients to unlock powerful insights from their data, enhancing decision-making processes with interactive dashboards, fully interactive analytics apps, and beautiful reports that are accessible on any device. Additionally, the partnership will leverage Qlik's data integration and quality to ensure that data is not only seamlessly integrated but also maintained with the highest quality and integrity. This means clients can trust the data at their fingertips, making it easier to achieve compliance with data regulations and standards."We are thrilled to partner with Qlik to enhance our clients' data integration and analytics capabilities," says Nooshin Yazhari, President and CEO of Optimum. "This partnership not only enhances our BI and AI offerings but also strengthens our data integration and quality services, ensuring our clients have access to the best tools in the industry. We are confident that our partnership with Qlik will unlock new opportunities for our clients and drive growth for their businesses." Benefits for Clients:Enhanced Data Capabilities: Clients will benefit from a seamless blend of Optimum's expertise and Qlik's technological prowess, leading to enhanced capabilities in data processing, analytics, and decision-making.Streamlined Operations: With improved data integration and quality, businesses can streamline their operations, reduce costs, and increase efficiency.Competitive Advantage: By leveraging real-time data insights and forecasts, businesses can stay ahead of market trends and make informed strategic decisions that provide a competitive edge.Scalability: The solutions provided are scalable, ensuring that as a business grows, its data solutions can grow with it without performance loss.This strategic partnership is effective immediately, and Optimum is ready to assist businesses in implementing these powerful solutions to harness the full potential of their data.For more information about Optimum's partnership with Qlik, please visit our Qlik offerings page or contact us at 713.505.0300 | info@ optimumcs.com About OptimumOptimum Consultancy Services, based in Houston, Texas, is a leading IT consulting firm focused on delivering top-tier data and business intelligence solutions. Specializing in integrating and optimizing complex data environments, Optimum leverages cutting-edge technologies, such as Qlik, to empower clients with actionable insights and tailored analytics strategies. As a trusted advisor in the IT sector, Optimum partners with industry-leading software providers to enhance its service offerings, ensuring clients receive comprehensive, state-of-the-art support that drives significant business outcomes. Known for its commitment to excellence and innovation, Optimum continually strives to transform the data capabilities of its clients nationwide.Learn more at www.optimumcs.com About QlikQlik converts complex data landscapes into actionable insights, driving strategic business outcomes. Serving over 40,000 global customers, our portfolio provides advanced, enterprise-grade AI/ML and data management. We excel in data integration and governance, offering comprehensive solutions that work with diverse data sources. Intuitive analytics from Qlik uncover hidden patterns, empowering teams to address complex challenges and seize new opportunities. Our AI/ML solutions, both practical and scalable, lead to better decisions, faster. As strategic partners, our platform-agnostic technology and expertise make our customers more competitive. 2024 QlikTech International AB. All rights reserved. All company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated.Contact InformationNooshin YazhariPresident and CEOnyazhari@ optimumcs.com 713.505.0300Gabby de JanaszMarketing Specialistgdejanasz@ optimumcs.com 713.505.0300Keith ParkerSenior Director, Global Corporate and Executive Communicationskeith.parker@qlik.com 512.367.2884SOURCE: Optimum Consultancy ServicesView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 14:01:22

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 /Grande Portage Resources Ltd. (TSXV:GPG)(OTCQB:GPTRF)(FRA:GPB) ("Grande Portage" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed a non-brokered private placement with the issuance of 5,836,221 Units at a price of $0.18 for gross per unit for gross proceeds of $1,050,520. The closing is subject to final approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.Each unit in this offering consists of one common share in the capital of the company and one share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the unit holder to purchase one additional GPG common share at a price of $0.25 per share at any time within 24 months of the closing.The Company will pay an aggregate of $22,858 in cash and issue 119,210 Finders Warrants in connection with this offering. Each Finder's Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share of the Company at $0.25 per share for 24 months from the date of closing. The Finder's Warrants are issued on the same terms and conditions as the private placement Warrants. All finder's fees are subject to compliance with applicable securities legislation and TSX Venture Exchange policies.All securities issued will be subject to a four-month hold period which will expire on the date that is four months and one day from the date of issue.About Grande Portage:Grande Portage Resources Ltd. is a publicly traded mineral exploration company focused on the Herbert Gold discovery situated approximately 25 km north of Juneau, Alaska. The Company holds a 100% interest in the Herbert property. The Herbert Gold property system is open to length and depth and is host to at least six main composite vein-fault structures that contain ribbon structure quartz-sulfide veins. The project lies prominently within the 160km long Juneau Gold Belt, which has produced over seven million ounces of gold.The Company's updated NI#43-101 Mineral Resource estimate reported at a base case mineral resources cut-off grade of 2.5 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) and consists of: an Indicated Resource of 1,438,500 ounces of gold at an average grade of 9.47 g/t Au (4,726,000 tonnes); and an Inferred Resource of 515,700 ounces of gold at an average grade of 8.85 g/t Au (1,813,000 tonnes), as well as an Indicated Resource of 891,600 ounces of silver at an average grade of 5.86 g/t Ag (4,726,000 tonnes); and an Inferred Resource of 390,600 ounces of silver at an average grade of 7.33 g/t silver (1,813,000 tonnes).ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD"Ian Klassen"Ian M. KlassenPresident & Chief Executive OfficerTel: (604) 290-5762Email:Ian@ grandeportage.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking InformationThis news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties as described in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICE PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED UNDER THE POLICIES OF THE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASESOURCE: Grande Portage Resources Limited
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 15:00:51

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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 /Groceryshop, the world's leading community and event for the intersection of grocery, technology and innovation today announced a partnership with The Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA), the world's largest voluntary supermarket network. The partnership will foster greater collaboration within the CPG and grocery industry while expanding the event content to a broader audience.Groceryshop (October 7-9 at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas) brings together over 5,000 senior executives from the world's leading retailers, brands and technology companies to discuss the latest strategies, technologies and innovations for engaging and retaining today's digital-first consumers. Featuring over 165 speakers across more than 50 sessions, IGA members will gain valuable insight into the technologies and strategies to enhance store operations, including inventory management, price and promotion optimization, and new marketing tactics to increase profitability. The event will also spotlight growth opportunities such as scaling online grocery businesses, building appealing retail media offerings, and integrating personalization into loyalty programs."We are excited to partner with Groceryshop and provide IGA members with added value," said IGA VP Brand Development Michael La Kier. "After attending Groceryshop last year, I knew that the event could benefit from greater inclusion of the independent grocery market as it represents one-third of all sales volume. This event - and new partnership - is an unparalleled opportunity for our community to engage with the latest industry advancements and connect with fellow leaders." IGA members are entitled to an exclusive 40% discount on event tickets, enabling greater access to the event's invaluable insights and networking opportunities including Meetup, the show's signature double opt-in meetings program. Participants are connected with other attendees that are aligned to their goals and objectives to maximize the quality of the up to 16 meetings scheduled across the three days of the event."Independent grocers are a vital part of the global grocery and CPG ecosystem, serving to strengthen local communities and shape market trends," said Adam Houston, SVP and Event Director, Groceryshop. "Our partnership with IGA will allow us to share our insights and connect these retailers with the cutting-edge solutions that improve operations and create customer experiences that meet the demands of today's modern shopper." Registration for Groceryshop is now live. For more information about today's announcement and for the latest Groceryshop news and developments, please visit https://www.groceryshop.com About GroceryshopA Hyve Group plc event, Groceryshop produces the leading online and offline events for innovation in grocery and consumer packaged goods (CPG), covering the evolution of grocery retailers, including supermarkets, mass merchants, convenience stores, drug stores, club/warehouse stores, discount stores and ecommerce players. Groceryshop events deal with the rapid changes in the production and distribution of CPG, including fresh and packaged foods and beverages along with beauty, personal care, household and health products. Groceryshop events also address the disruptive shifts in how consumers discover, shop and buy these products in an increasingly wide range of stores and online destinations, including the latest technologies, trends and business models. For more information, visit https://www.groceryshop.com About IGAThe Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) was founded in 1926, bringing together independent grocers across the United States to ensure that the trusted, family-owned local grocery store remained strong in the face of growing chain competition. IGA is the world's largest voluntary supermarket network with aggregate worldwide retail sales of over $43 billion per year. The Alliance includes more than 6,300 stores globally, with operations in 46 of the United States and over 25 countries.Press Contacts:George MorinDirector, Press and Partnerships, Groceryshop pr@ groceryshop.com Ashley M. PageVice President, Marketing & Public Affairs, IGA apage@igainc .comSOURCE: Groceryshop
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 22:07:16

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The revolutionary service cuts down application processing time from weeks to just hours whilst setting a gold standard benchmark for compliance, efficiency and quality assuranceSAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 /INTO University Partnerships, an international education services provider has launched its groundbreaking AI-powered admissions processing system that aims to revolutionize university admissions for international student recruitment.Through seamless integration of artificial intelligence, INTO has streamlined the application process for talented students seeking entry into leading universities across the US, UK, and Australia.The revolutionary service cuts down application processing time from weeks to just hours whilst meeting the highest standards for compliance, efficiency and quality assurance."Our strategy is to create a differentiated market-leading admissions service that is valued, trusted and delivers for our partners," said Andy Fawcett, INTO's Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Global Admissions."With our new AI-enabled admissions processing system, we are setting a gold standard for compliance, efficiency, and quality assurance, ultimately enhancing the enrollment prospects for both students and our university partners." The process is hugely beneficial for students as it delivers a faster turnaround of applications and queries and also helps them secure an offer by preparing the best application for submission.Key features of INTO's AI-powered admissions processing system include:Seamless admissions for universities: INTO ensures a seamless application process by leveraging global scale and local expertise, delivering excellence in admissions services tailored to university requirements.Automated AI-enabled admissions operation: The system provides fast-track, comprehensive, and automated application validation, offering an application validated or an offer delivered in minutes 247.Full-service agent admissions portal: INTO offers an online admissions portal that provides full visibility of application status and the ability to transact, making it the best and easiest partner to work with.Data and information for insights: Through insights derived from admissions information, INTO drives student engagement and improves enrollment yield.INTO's Application Processing Centre in New Delhi The AI-enabled admissions process has been successfully launched for applications to university partners in the US and UK. The system utilizes AI to read and extract data from application documents, running 60+ rules tailored to individual university requirements.Compliance, consistency, and quality are built into the system, enhancing service by immediately notifying agents of missing documents or data. With a remarkable response time of 30% within 1 hour, the system ensures efficient processing and enhances user experience."Working with INTO's AI-powered admissions processing has significantly improved our application turnaround time and efficiency. This innovative system enhances our ability to attract and enrol talented international students while ensuring a smooth and compliant admissions process. We are excited about the positive impact it has had on our university's recruitment efforts and look forward to continued success with INTO's cutting-edge technology," said Kristin Brymer, Director of International Admissions at The University of Alabama at Birmingham."Our AI-powered admissions processing system represents a significant milestone in our mission to provide innovative solutions that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the admissions process," said Sharon Sundue, INTO's Executive Vice President for North America."By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, we are not only streamlining operations but also providing our university partners with invaluable insights to drive student engagement and improve enrollment yield. This system reaffirms our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver exceptional value to our partners." Early results of the AI-enabled admissions processing system have been overwhelmingly positive, with over 25000 applications processed so far. More than 30% of applications are processed in an hour. In some cases, such as conditional offers for the UK, the process allows to send offers out in minutes."We are thrilled with the early success of our new admissions operation," added Mr Fawcett. "The positive feedback from our partners underscores the transformative impact of our AI-powered system on the application process, reducing turnaround times and instilling confidence in all stakeholders." INTO University Partnerships connects talented international students with US, UK, and Australia's leading universities. Since its inception in 2005, INTO has helped over 150,000 students from more than 180 countries achieve their dream of obtaining a degree from a world-class institution.Media contact:Davinder KumarVP, Corporate & Public Relationsdavinder.kumar@intoglobal.com SOURCE: INTO University
Fatima Latifova

Under the training plan for 2024, mechanized units of the Land Forces hold live-fire tactical exercises, Azernews reports.

During the classes held at the combined-arms training range, the focus is on enhancing the knowledge and skills of the crews.

The Azerbaijan Army continues to take measures focused on maintaining the combat training of units and the professionalism of personnel at a constant high level.
Mary

Alexandra

Almost everything was going well in the Zhang household. Mr. Zhang had recently secured tenure in the statistics department of a small rural college, and he was making enough money to begin sending their daughter, Mary, to a good local private school. It was a Catholic school, but you didnt have to be Catholic to attend. They reassured Mary of this fact when she expressed anxiety about changing schools. She even shared a name with the most important woman in the Bible, they saidalthough Mr. and Mrs. Zhang had named her Mary, not out of any religious inclination, but rather because they were inspired by Mrs. Zhangs sister, who lived in Virginia and had named her daughter Virginia, as well as another family friend in South Carolina, who had named their daughter Caroline.

The Zhangs resided in St. Marys County, Maryland, and when Mary complained of having a plain and boring name amidst all of the Melindas and Melissas and Marissas of her third grade class, Mr. and Mrs. Zhang dutifully reminded her that she could have been born in Wisconsin, or Utah, or even Arkansas, which was not pronounced like Are Kansas, to Mrs. Zhangs extreme disbelief. The Zhangs felt that they had a foolproof baby naming method on their hands. The slippery awkwardness of Wisconsin could actually be shortened to Winnie, Pennsylvania to Penny, and Florida didnt sound all too bad on its own.

Earlier in the year, the Zhangs had briefly entertained ideas for names of their second child. These ideas had quickly been droppednot, of course, because they had never planned to move states in the first place. The tender and more painful issue was that the second child had never come. After Mrs. Zhang had suffered a miscarriage at the end of summer, she had taken time off from her administrative job in order to recover. Still, for months, she was unable to feel entirely at home in her body. Standing naked in the bathroom after a shower, Mrs. Zhangs feet looked alien and disconnected from the rest of her. She struggled to recognize her toes as her own. It felt like she had been abandoned, left alone to carry her brain around in an empty and unusable sack of flesh, even though her husband still stroked her hair in bed and her daughter was still young enough to reach for her hand in public.

Mrs. Zhang liked to think that her time off would help her focus on Mary. She was happy that Mary had new educational opportunities. Both Mr. and Mrs. Zhang felt that the emphasis Catholics put on education and discipline, with all those Franciscan and Jesuit universities and whatnot, aligned with their Chinese principles. They liked the look of the old metal chairs in each classroom. They liked the orderly lines in which the students traveled, and the grim focus of the third grade teacher, Sister Ann. Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Zhang quite understood the religious aspect, but they both agreed that it would be useful cultural exposure for Mary. It was not that they were a family of atheists, they explained to her, but rather that they had grown up in China at a time when religion was forbidden. Consequently, it had never occurred to them to believe in a god. It was an opportunity for her to learn about things they had never known.

Mrs. Zhang repeated this spiel as she delivered Mary to her first day at the new school. She watched from the back of the gymnasium as the students stood for Morning Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Forgive us our trespasses, they said, as we forgive those who trespass against us. They spoke in loose unison and took breaths at the same time. Mrs. Zhangs pulse accelerated, and she craned her neck to search for Marys double braids. The Sisters had assured Mr. and Mrs. Zhang that non-Catholics would be welcome, but nobody in the Zhang family had ever heard of those prayers before. The prayers gave Mrs. Zhang the creeps. All of the ss in trespasses slid together, like the hissing of a snake. Did the children at the school even understand how solemn they sounded?

The strange words and the large painting of the Virgin Mary in the entranceway of the school stuck rather unpleasantly to Mrs. Zhangs mind, like a hair in her mouth. In the following days, she dropped Mary off in the parking lot and then drove quickly away from the school, and its adjacent Our Lady of the Immaculate Heart Church. Although Mrs. Zhang had once asked Mary what her day at school had been like every single day, she began avoiding her daughter in the afternoons. She took up crocheting as an excuse to watch more television. She selected colorful discount yarns from the craft store and then spent hours in front of game shows and house hunter programs, weaving scarves with intricate Fair Isle designs. She knit small mittens for Mary, and big ones for her husband, the kind you could flip up and fasten with a button so that you could use your fingers. It was only September, and the air was still warm, but the living room couch grew crowded with winter goods.

Mr. Zhang sat down with Mary every night after dinner to help her memorize her prayers. They started with Grace Before Meals, because it was the shortest, and then they did the Hail Mary and the Our Father. When Mary said that most of the kids in her class didnt know the Nicene Creed, Mr. Zhang insisted that she memorize it anyway. Catholicism delighted Mr. Zhang. He looked over Marys religion class homework with gleeful disbelief, and asked Mary to tell him about all of the gospels and homilies she heard at school Mass.

This is great stuff, Mary, Mr. Zhang would say, while his wife washed the dishes. Its absolutely foundational to understanding the West. And while I dont believe any of it, I do think it is a good way to live in the world. If you are a bad person, then bad things will happen to you. But if you are a good person, then God will reward you with the things that you pray for. If you pray really hard every day for your mom and dad, then maybe one day you will have a little brother! Wouldnt that be nice?

Mrs. Zhang scrubbed a saucepan and listened over the sound of the running water. They were still trying to conceive a second child. Were they unsuccessful because Mrs. Zhang was a bad person who had not prayed to become pregnant? A handful of sins sprung to Mrs. Zhangs mind like weeds after rain. She had once ignored her daughters request for an afternoon snack. She did not volunteer to run events or donate baked goods at Marys school. She did not go to work. How could she bring another child into the world when she hardly wanted to take care of herself? She climbed out of bed every day out of habit, the action weighed down with the agonizing tedium of a rush-hour traffic jam.

I dont like hearing you joke about religion with Mary, she said to her husband that night, in the quiet moment before he switched off the light and got into bed. You might not take any of it seriously, but we still need to be respectful of her classmates that do believe.

What jokes? asked Mr. Zhang, jokingly. Marys learning about things we could never have imagined!

His words did nothing to allay her discomfort, but she turned toward him when he crawled into bed and placed his hand on her hip. Several evenings later, Mrs. Zhang saw Mary on her knees, praying fervently beside her bed. It looked like a scene out of a childrens book. The light from Marys reading lamp pooled into a spotlight, highlighting her small clasped hands and casting a halo about her hair, which was wet from her nightly shower.

The next day, she said Grace before dinner, requesting that Mr. and Mrs. Zhang silently bow their heads in reverence. After they ate, Mr. Zhang helped Mary review her worksheet from religion class, in which she had matched characters and parables to their respective books of the Bible.

Can we name my little brother Isaac? asked Mary.

What about Adam or Joseph? said Mr. Zhang, joking again.

I like David, too, said Mary. Ive been praying a lot every day.

Mrs. Zhang listened from the sink as she scrubbed the pots clean. She bit her lip. Imagining a tiny ball of life somersaulting inside of her, she yearned for its reality.

Yet, she did not long for the baby because Mary wanted a brother, or because her husband wanted a son. Rather, Mrs. Zhang just wanted somebody that belonged entirely to herself. She didnt care if it was a girl or a boy. She wanted something inside of her, entirely dependent on her for its own existence, completely secure from the rest of the world. Everything I eat, you eat, she said to her imaginary baby.

Everything I breathe, you breathe, and everywhere I am, you are with me. She was becoming selfish.

Mrs. Zhang finished washing the dishes and informed the rest of her family that she needed to pick up more yarn from the craft store. Mary and her father were busy reading together, so they did not mind. Mrs. Zhang could not help but feel that they ought to have protested her departure more. As she started the car and flicked on the headlights, it occurred to her that she had not left the house after dark in a very long time. She felt dizzy and light, like all of her long hair had been cut off. The roads were nearly empty, and she found herself driving the usual route, unable to remember if she had actually stopped at the red lights or not.

Mrs. Zhang already knew what color she needed to buy at the craft store, but she took her time fingering each of the yarns and comparing some shades of pale blue to other, cheaper shades of pale blue. She was the only customer. When the overhead announced that the store was closing in twenty minutes, Mrs. Zhang quickly went to the front to pay. She felt a dense, animalistic panic that the fluorescent lights would flip off without warning, that the automatic sliding doors would clamp shut, and that she would be trapped in a dark craft store overnight, the walls of woolly fibers closing in around her.

On the way home, Mrs. Zhang passed Marys school and turned into the parking lot of the Our Lady of the Immaculate Heart Church. The parking lot was bleak and empty, the colors of the autumn trees around the church building muted in the dark. Someone had once told Mrs. Zhang that churches left their doors unlocked at all times to welcome those in need, but she found the idea impractical and unlikely. Anyway, she did not want to make appeals to shut doors. She parked the car and switched off the headlights. Mrs. Zhang did not expect any flames or beams of light, but she listened carefully for some kind of tiny alteration within her, like a small corner folded over on a sheet of paper that laid flat before. She willed that her listening would count as an act of faith, even if her faith was only her imagination. If a new and beautiful baby manifested in her future, she thought to herself, the truth and reality of this current moment would not matter to her either way.

***

Laurel Moon, Fall 2018, Vol. 2, No.1, Braindeis University.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 05:30:57

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The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Community Health Systems, Inc. ("Community Health" or "the Company") (NYSE: CYH ) for violations of the securities laws.The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Community Health issued a press release on Juny 19, 2024, "provid[ing] an update on the planned divestiture of two North Carolina hospitals." According to the Company, "On June 18, 2024, Novant Health, Inc., a North Carolina non-profit corporation ('Novant'), informed [Community Health] that Novant has decided not to move forward with the acquisition of two North Carolina hospitals. The transactions were contemplated by an Asset Purchase Agreement dated February 28, 2023 (as amended, the 'Purchase Agreement'), by and among Novant and certain subsidiaries of the Company." The Company added, "Novant's decision follows a ruling by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals", which "issued a temporary injunction blocking the sale to Novant Health, pending final resolution of an appeal by the Federal Trade Commission. The injunction prevented completion of the transaction until the Court of Appeals decides whether to uphold or overturn a previous District Court decision that allowed the sale to proceed." If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT: The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq. www.schallfirm.com Office: 310-301-3335 info@ schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm
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NEW YORK, NY and MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Imagine a world where changing your eye color is not just a dream but a safe and seamless reality. This vision has been materialized through the innovative efforts of KERATO, a pioneer in the field of cosmetic keratopigmentation. As KERATO celebrates its 5-year anniversary, it proudly announces the opening of a new location in Miami, further expanding its reach and bringing its revolutionary procedure to more people than ever before.A Vision Realized: The Journey of Safe Eye Color ChangeFor years, the idea of changing one's eye color was fraught with risks and complications. Traditional methods like iris implants, laser depigmentation, and eye tattooing often led to intraocular complications and long recovery times. However, Dr. Alexander Movshovich, a Clinical Associate Professor in Ophthalmology at Cornell University, envisioned a safer, more effective solution. Through relentless research and innovation, he developed the KERATO technique, which has since transformed the lives of over 1000 patients.The KERATO Difference: Precision and ComfortThe KERATO procedure is distinct in its approach. Utilizing an advanced femtosecond laser, Dr. Movshovich and his team create a fine intracorneal tunnel where a special pigment is introduced. This method alters the natural eye color without causing pain, thanks to the use of topical anesthetic eye drops. The result is a precise, comfortable, and quick procedure that stands apart from traditional methods.Expanding Horizons: New Locations, New OpportunitiesWith the success of its New York practice, KERATO's expansion to Miami marks a significant milestone. This new location aims to bring the revolutionary keratopigmentation technique to a broader audience, offering more patients the opportunity to safely and effectively transform their eye color. The Miami office embodies KERATO's commitment to accessibility and patient care, ensuring that more people can benefit from this groundbreaking procedure.Expertise You Can Trust: Dr. Alexander MovshovichDr. Movshovich's expertise is the cornerstone of KERATO's success. His innovative instrument set and extensive research ensure the safety and effectiveness of the keratopigmentation procedure. Unique in his field, Dr. Movshovich is the only specialist who performs the procedure post-LASIK, demonstrating his unparalleled skill and dedication to patient safety.Celebrating Milestones: Scientific Recognition and AchievementsKERATO's contributions to ophthalmology extend beyond patient care. The initial case report on four years of keratopigmentation experience was presented at the Weill Cornell Alumni Meeting in May 2023, followed by a presentation at the ASCRS in April 2024. Dr. Movshovich also played a leading role on the scientific committee at the First World Congress on Keratopigmentation in Alicante, Spain, in May 2024, delivering multiple scientific presentations and further solidifying KERATO's reputation in the scientific community.Join the Celebration: Discover the Future of Cosmetic TransformationAs KERATO marks its 5-year anniversary, it invites you to join the celebration and discover the transformative power of keratopigmentation. Visit our new Miami location or our established New York practice to experience the innovative procedure that has changed the lives of over 1000 patients.Contact Information:Website: www.kerato.com Phone: (866) 915-9328NY Surgery Location:NEW YORK160 East 56th StreetNew York, NY 10022NJ Consultation location:NEW JERSEY596 Anderson Avenue Ste 101Cliffside Park, NJ 07010Miami Office Location:860 NW 42nd Ave Ste 206Miami, FL, 33126For more information or to schedule a consultation, visit our website or contact our offices in New York and Miami.SOURCE: KERATO
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 16:02:24

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PLANTATION, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Laurie Finkelstein Reader Team, a leading South Florida real estate company, proudly announces the donation of over 1,000 backpacks filled with essential school supplies to students across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties. This donation results from the team's 11th Annual Back-To-School Drive, reflecting their core values of being a Great Human and a Contributor to the South Florida community.Laurie Finkelstein Reader Team Laurie Finkelstein Reader Team stuffed over 1,000 backpacks full of supplies in preparation for their backpack donation delivery on Friday, August 9th, 2024.The filled backpacks will be delivered to three Title 1 Elementary schools in South Florida. A special delivery event will be held at Riverland Elementary School on Friday, August 9th, from 10 AM to 12 PM. Additional deliveries will be made to Roosevelt Elementary in Palm Beach and North Twin Lakes Elementary in Miami. These donations will directly benefit students, providing them with notebooks, pens, pencils, and other critical supplies to kickstart their academic journey with confidence and enthusiasm.CEO Laurie Finkelstein Reader emphasized the impact of this initiative: "Every child deserves the opportunity to start their school year with the resources they need to succeed. Our backpack donation not only provides essential supplies but also instills confidence and excitement in students as they begin their educational journey." Last year, the drive successfully collected and distributed over 1,000 backpacks to students across South Florida, positively impacting the lives of many young learners. This year, Laurie Finkelstein Reader Team aims to continue this community support and collaboration tradition, ensuring even more students have a bright start to their school year.Laurie Finkelstein Reader Team extends their gratitude to local residents, businesses, and organizations who contributed to this noble cause. By working together, the community has once again demonstrated the power of collective effort in making a difference in the lives of South Florida's youth.For more information about Laurie Finkelstein Reader Team's 11th Annual Back-To-School Drive and other community initiatives, please email Estefania@ lauriereader.com Contact InformationEstefania MonesDirector of Marketingestefania@ lauriereader.com (561) 783-6607SOURCE: Laurie Finkelstein Reader TeamView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 15:01:57

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LONG BEACH, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Oiwa Garage, the leading supplier and distributor for Japanese mini-trucks (Kei trucks) in the United States, is expanding its reach to Canada, Australia, and Europe. Based in Long Beach, California, Oiwa Garage was recently featured by CNN in an article that highlighted the company's expertise and comprehensive selection of Kei truck parts and accessories.Classic Red Honda Kei Truck with Custom Upgrades | Oiwa Garage Honda Acty Kei truck with custom spotlights and a front brush guard, parked on a beach at sunset in Long Beach, California, showcasing Oiwa Garage's quality Kei truck customization. Your Trusted Source for Everything Kei TruckOiwa Garage offers a wide range of products tailored to meet the unique needs of Kei trucks. Whether you need essential maintenance parts or custom upgrades, Oiwa Garage has everything to keep your Kei truck running smoothly and looking great.Kei trucks, known for their compact size, reliability, and adaptability, are gaining popularity worldwide. Oiwa Garage understands these vehicles' unique requirements and provides products that enhance their performance, safety, and aesthetics. Our inventory includes parts and accessories for both everyday drivers and those customizing their trucks.Why Choose Oiwa Garage?Oiwa Garage is more than just a parts supplier. We are the premier distributor for all things Kei truck in the United States, known for our commitment to quality, reliability, and customer service. Our extensive inventory ensures that no matter what part or accessory you need, we have it in stock and ready to ship. We pride ourselves on sourcing products from top manufacturers, ensuring they meet the highest standards.In addition to our product offerings, Oiwa Garage provides expert advice and support to our customers, helping them find the right parts and accessories for their specific needs. Our team is passionate about Kei trucks and is always ready to assist with any questions or concerns.Global Reach, Local ExpertiseOiwa Garage has built a strong reputation in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe. Our global reach allows us to serve a diverse customer base, ensuring that Kei truck owners around the world have access to the parts and accessories they need. Despite our international presence, we maintain a strong local focus, with our headquarters in Long Beach, California.Recognized by CNNOur dedication to excellence has not gone unnoticed. Oiwa Garage has been featured by CNN, highlighting our role as a leader in the Kei truck community. This recognition underscores our commitment to providing top-quality products and exceptional service, solidifying our position as the premier source for Kei truck parts and accessories.Discover More at Oiwa GarageTo explore our extensive product range and learn how Oiwa Garage can help you optimize your Kei truck, visit our website at Oiwa Garage. Whether you're a daily driver or a passionate Kei truck enthusiast, Oiwa Garage is your ultimate destination for parts & accessories.Contact Information:George ZotosCEOgeorge@ oiwa.co 562-661-8859Related FilesRed and blackSOURCE: Oiwa GarageView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 09:05:30

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Omega Pacific Resources Inc. (CSE:OMGA)(OTCQB:OMGPF)(FSE:Q0F) ("Omega Pacific" or the "Company") is pleased to announce additional drill results from its 2024 drill program at the Williams Property in British Columbia's Golden Horseshoe. Assay results from Phase One's second drill hole (WM24-02) continue to demonstrate high-grade and bulk tonnage mineralization (Figure 1).HighlightsGold mineralization has been extended east of the previous results in WM24-01 and WM22-02Discovery of two new gold mineralization zones located deeper and north of historical resultsResults including 1.09 g/t Gold over 57.98 metres (principal zone), 0.57 g/t Au over 26.3 m (central zone), and 2.18 g/t over 8.41 m within 1.33 g/t Au over 28.24 m (north zone)These zones are separated by 30 m and 50 m respectively.Omega Pacific's CEO Jason Leikam commented, "Omega Pacific management is very pleased with the results of our drill program to date. We continue to deliver robust mineralization at our Williams Property. The results of drill hole WM24-02 indicate two new gold zones, giving us a new understanding of our project and presenting significant exploration upside. Overall, we are starting to realize a broad, bulk tonnage gold bearing system with localized high grade, and we are eager to report on the pending results of the final two holes from our initial drill program at GIC. The complete dataset will provide us with clear direction on our next steps for Williams and will help guide our strategy for a Phase 2 drill program." Drill Results at GICWM24-02 was drilled east of holes WM24-01 and WM22-02 (Omega Press Release July 24, 2024) and intersected the principal zone from 230-295 m downhole (Figure 2). As noted in previous drilling, this mineralization is centred on a black basaltic unit with several phases of quartz veining and pyrite mineralization. Individual assays in the principal zone returned values up to 107 g/t Au in neighbouring drill holes. A bulk-tonnage intersection from this zone in WM24-02 included 1.09 g/t Au over 57.98 m.Figure 1. Plan map of the GIC Prospect showing 2022 and 2024 drill holes on bedrock geology. Drill hole WM22-03 intersected 4.64 g/t Au over 8 m and lies 600 metres east of WM24-01 and 24-02.Altered volcanic rocks were noted below the basaltic unit in previous drilling - the two new zones revealed in WM24-02 are part of these same altered volcanic rocks. These volcanic rocks have been extensively altered and silicified with variable amounts of pyrite ranging up to 15-20% over several multi-metre sections. Local shear zones and brecciated intervals have also been noted highlighting potential structural controls on mineralization at the GIC prospect. The central zone returned 0.57 g/t Au over 26.3 m while the northern, deeper zone returned 2.18 g/t Au over 8.41 m within a broader, bulk-tonnage interval of 1.33 g/t Au over 28.24 m (Figure 2).GIC ExpansionOmega Pacific anticipates that pending assays for drill holes WM24-03 and WM22-02 (extension) will expand the central and north zones further west. Some aspects of the core logging observations coupled with XRF analysis in the field suggest this is possible - notably, correlations between gold assays and arsenic, potassium, and zinc in analytical results so far and increased abundances in the latter three elements from WM24-03 and WM22-02 (extension).With the encouraging follow-up results from the 2024 drill program and the historical 2022 results, Omega has >600 lateral metres of gold mineralization between the holes of this news release and WM22-03 (Figure 1). This envelope of gold mineralization is still wide open to the east and west representing several kilometres of potential strike length to explore. Further to the potential expansion east and west of the three zones, it is important to note that they are also open to expansion closer to surface and to depth. The principal and north zones have been intersected at ~250 and 390 vertical metres from surface, respectively. This leaves an abundance of room to grow these zones towards surface with shallow drilling.Figure 2. Cross-section of drill holes WM24-01 and WM24-02 with current gold results on IP chargeability. WM24-02 intersected three distinct zones of gold mineralization (principal, central, and north).Select Assay Results WM24-02HoleFrom (m)To (m)Width (m)Au (g/t)WM24-02232.02290.057.981.09and320.0346.326.30.57and397.62425.8628.241.33Table 1. Select assay intervals from drill hole WM24-02. True thicknesses of mineralization are not known given the early stage of exploration. A complete list of all drill results to date will be posted to the Company's website at OmegaPacific.ca Drill Collar LocationsHoleIDEasting (m)Northing (m)Elevation (m)AzimuthDipDepth (m)WM24-0157276964080081655-57503WM22-02(ext)57276964080101655-50From 300-502WM24-025727706408008165513.66-48.95509Table 2. Current drill hole information.Omega Pacific's summer 2024 drill program is designed to drill up to 2,000 m at the GIC Prospect of the Williams Property. The GIC Prospect represents a >4 km long target with overlapping gold-copper rock and soil anomalism and chargeability/resistivity anomalies from induced-polarization (IP) geophysical surveys. This area is marked by the "Park Gossan" and occurs proximal to the contact between volcanic and intrusive rocks and large-scale faults all of which are critical to mineralization elsewhere in the Golden Horseshoe. It has seen limited historical exploration drilling of ~2,300 m.The company will report on additional program results over the summer season as it receives assays.Corporate UpdateAdditionally, the Company announces that Grant Carlson has resigned as a Director of the Company. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Carlson for his service as a Director.Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Measures and Analytical ProceduresOmega Pacific adheres to a strict QA/QC monitoring program that includes the insertion of blanks, standards and duplicates into the sample stream, as well as the re-submission of select samples for check assays by an independent third party laboratory. Drill core is cut in-half with a diamond saw, with one-half placed in sealed bags and shipped to the laboratory and the other half retained on site. Third party laboratory checks on 5% of the samples are carried out as well. Chain of custody is maintained from the drill to the submittal into the laboratory preparation facility.Core samples were prepared and analyzed by ALS Labs in Kamloops and Vancouver, BC using Fire Assay methods on a 30g split with an atomic absorptio
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 17:01:48

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SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / OMNICOMMANDER was recently named one of Florida's Best Companies To Work For.The annual Best Companies To Work For In Florida list featured in the August issue of Florida Trend magazine ranks 100 companies in small, medium, and large employer categories.To participate, companies or government entities were required to have at least 15 workers in Florida and to have been in operation for at least one year. Companies that chose to participate underwent an evaluation of their workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems, and demographics. The process also included a survey to measure employee satisfaction. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking."In today's hyper-competitive labor market, it takes more than good salaries and benefits to attract and keep talent," says Florida Trend Executive Editor Amy Keller. "Looking under the hood, we see that the Best Companies To Work For' in Florida maintain an edge by prioritizing culture and creating environments where employees are engaged, feel valued, and can grow. They also strive to balance employee needs with business priorities, baking flexibility and fun into the workplace. Their examples provide a terrific blueprint for companies seeking to stand out from the pack." Founder and CEO of OMNICOMMANDER, Eric Isham, shared his thoughts on the recognition: "We are incredibly honored to be named one of Florida's Best Companies To Work For. At OMNICOMMANDER, we know that the COMMANDOs are our greatest asset, and we strive to create an environment where they can thrive both personally and professionally. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, and it reinforces our commitment to maintaining a workplace culture that reflects our values of Teamwork, Enthusiasm, Agility, and possessing an Ownership Mentality." "Pioneers and trend-setters this year's group of Best Companies To Work For In Florida stand out from their competition," says Florida Trend Publisher David Denor. Innovative in their thinking, inspirational in their actions, and visionaries in their industries - these companies recruit, retain, and deliver unique workplace environments and employee benefits to keep their staff engaged, involved, and continuing to collaborate. These companies are far from risk-averse and provide a glimpse into future workforce and workplace environments.The Best Companies To Work For In Florida program is managed by Florida Trend and Workforce Research Group and is endorsed by the HR Florida State Council. Workforce Research Group managed the registration, survey, and analysis and determined the final rankings. For a list of the 100 Best Companies To Work For In Florida, go to FloridaTrend.com/BestCompanies About Florida TrendFlorida Trend Business magazine is read by 270,000 influential business executives, civic leaders, and government officials each month. Its award-winning reporting covers regional and statewide business news, industry executives, and the business sectors they represent, as well as information on Florida's lifestyle, arts, and culture scene. FloridaTrend.com offers eNews alerts, covering daily morning and afternoon breaking news; Business Beat, a weekly video newscast highlighting Florida's top business news stories; and weekly eNewsletters providing information, insight, and details on Florida's growing industry sectors, including health care, education, real estate, small business and movers and influencers. FloridaTrend.com attracts nearly a million page views and over 140,000 unique visitors each month.About Workforce Research GroupWorkforce Research Group works with partners worldwide to establish and manage "Best Places to Work," "Best Companies" and "Best Employers" programs. Through its thorough workplace assessment, utilizing employer questionnaires and employee satisfaction surveys, WRG identifies and recognizes companies that have been successful in creating and maintaining workplace excellence. For more information, visitwww.WorkforceRG.com About OMNICOMMANDEROMNICOMMANDER is a veteran-owned and operated financial technology, digital marketing, and cybersecurity company that provides a comprehensive suite of digital solutions for financial institutions. For the first time in history, FIs can partner with a single company to create, host, and manage their Digital Branch and integrated service offerings within one complete ecosystem. OMNICOMMANDER solutions are powered by a world-class team of financial institution experts. In addition to unmatched service, OMNICOMMANDER products and services are always mobile-responsive and built with the highest level of attention to accessibility and ADA compliance to garner increased brand awareness and reach the widest audience possible. To learn more, please visit OMNICOMMANDER.com Media Contact:Christi SimsSVP of Brand Development christi@ omnicommander.com SOURCE: OMNICOMMANDER
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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Predictiv AI Inc. (TSXV: PAI.H)(OTC PINK:INOTF)(FSE:71TA) ("Predictiv AI", "PAI" or the "Company"), www.predictiv.ai , announces that it has entered into a letter of intent (the "LOI") dated August 2, 2024 to acquire all issued and outstanding shares of Shift Technologies Canada Inc. ("Shift") and HouseStack Holdings Inc. ("HouseStack "), both private companies which are each 83% owned by Suman Pushparajah ("Pushparajah").The LOI outlines the principal terms and conditions of a business combination by way of a share exchange, amalgamation, or other similar form of transaction (the "Proposed Transaction"), which will result in Shift and HouseStack becoming wholly-owned subsidiaries of Predictiv AI, or otherwise combining their corporate existence with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Predictiv AI.Predictiv AI intends for the Proposed Transaction to constitute a Reverse-Takeover Transaction pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TXSV"). The trading in the common shares of Predictiv AI ("PAI Shares") will remain halted pursuant to the policies of the TSXV. It is anticipated that trading will remain halted until the completion of the Proposed Transaction. It is anticipated that the reporting issuer resulting from the Proposed Transaction (the "Resulting Issuer") will qualify as a Tier 2 Technology Issuer pursuant to the requirements of the TSXV. Unless otherwise indicated, any capitalized term contained in this news release that is not defined herein has the meaning ascribed to such term in the policies of the TSXV.Proposed Transaction SummaryPredictiv AI will acquire all issued and outstanding shares in the capital of both Shift and HouseStack (the "Target Shares") in exchange for 70% of Predictiv AI's total and outstanding common shares immediately prior to the closing of the Proposed Transaction. Based on the number of PAI Shares currently issued and outstanding of 128,500,616, it is expected that the holders of Target Shares will be issued approximately 300,000,000 PAI Shares (on a pre-Consolidation basis, as discussed below).In addition to the issuance of PAI Shares, on closing of the Proposed Transaction, Pushparajah will receive (i) a cash payment of $250,000, and (ii) a promissory note (the "Note") issued by the Resulting Issuer with a principal amount of $250,000, accruing interest at an annual rate of 6%. Pushparajah shall have the option to convert the principal amount of the Note into PAI Shares at the issue price of the PAI Shares under the equity financing (the "Financing") completed concurrent with completion of the Proposed Transaction (as described below); or receive cash repayment under the Note once the Resulting Issuer achieves positive cash flow for at least two consecutive financial years.As per the LOI, a condition of closing the Proposed Transaction, Predictiv AI will complete the Financing in an amount that is sufficient to meet the initial listing requirements of the TSXV, at a price to be determined in the context of the market.Immediately prior to the closing of the Proposed Transaction, and subject to Predictiv AI shareholder approval and TSXV approval, it is anticipated that Predictiv AI will undertake a share consolidation on the basis of one (1) post-consolidation common share for up to 6 pre-consolidation common shares (the "Consolidation").Closing of the Proposed Transaction will be subject to a number of conditions precedent including, without limitation:receipt of all required regulatory, corporate and third-party approvals, including TSXV approval, and compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements and conditions necessary to complete the Proposed Transaction;completion of satisfactory results from due diligence investigations for each of the parties;completion of the Financing; andother mutual conditions precedent customary for a transaction such as the Proposed Transaction.The Proposed Transaction is not a Related Party Transaction under TSXV Policy 5.2, and it is not expected that the Proposed Transaction will be subject to approval by PAI's shareholders. There are no Non-Arm's Length Parties of PAI that are Insiders, officers or shareholders of Shift or HouseStack.About Shift Technologies Canada Inc.: AI-Driven All-In-One Fleet Management PlatformShift Technologies Canada Inc. ("Shift") has developed an AI-driven all-in-one fleet management platform to enable businesses to efficiently manage their fleet operations, providing advanced features such as real-time tracking, predictive maintenance, intelligent route planning, AI inspections and more. Shift simplifies fleet management, allowing businesses to focus on their core operations while handling the rest.Key Features of Shift:Predictive Maintenance: Leveraging data from sensors and historical performance, Shift's predictive maintenance capabilities forecast potential vehicle issues, allowing for proactive maintenance. This reduces downtime and maintenance costs, extending the overall lifespan of fleet vehicles.AI Inspections: Through photo analysis, AI algorithms automatically detect damages and assess vehicle condition, streamlining the inspection process and providing accurate, real-time insights, expanding into video analysis.Real-Time Tracking and Route Optimization: Provides complete visibility into fleet activities, enabling operators to monitor vehicles, intelligent route planning and ensure efficient dispatching. This results in significant time and fuel savings, enhancing overall productivity.AI Dashcam: Provide real-time driver monitoring, incident detection, and instant alerts, helping deter theft and unauthorized usage while ensuring comprehensive safety measures.Seamless Integration with IoT Devices: Shift seamlessly integrates with Internet of Things (IoT) devices, enhancing overall connectivity and providing real-time data from sensors monitoring fuel, tire pressure, engine health, and more.For more information, visit www.shiftfleet.ai About HouseStack Holdings Inc.: Real Estate Intelligence PlatformHouseStack Holdings Inc. ("HouseStack") is a comprehensive real estate intelligence platform that provides AI-powered solutions for real estate professionals. HouseStack products equip users with data-driven insights and advanced technology to make informed decisions.Key Products include:HouseFax: An AI-powered property analysis tool that delivers real-time, accurate property valuations and detailed reports. HouseFax provides invaluable insights for real estate investors, buyers, sellers, agents, banks, and mortgage lenders, ensuring informed decisions through 1 billion data p
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 14:00:24

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23-year-old identity and cyber fraud prevention company readies for growth with leadership change.ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / myNetWatchman today announced the appointment of David Montague as myNetwatchman's CEO, effective as of May 1, 2024. Mr. Montague will succeed Lawrence Baldwin, who has served as the Company's CEO since its formation in 2001. Mr. Baldwin founded the company and will continue to be at the company as the Chief Innovation Officer working closely with Mr. Montague to ensure a smooth transition.Mr. Montague is a risk and security executive and GM with highly specialized skills in eCommerce, fintech, payments, fraud, risk and security. His skills have been leveraged into executive positions at leading technology companies like Amazon, Expedia, IBM and consulting firms like The Fraud Practice Inc. A true technology leader, David blends business acumen, empathy and technical expertise to solve the toughest challenges facing enterprises today. From growth in the age of heavy and steady cybercrime, explosive enterprise application deployments through to accelerated digital transformation."David Montague is an executive that brings a wealth of knowledge on the fraud and security industry and he has a track record for helping emerging fraud companies to become growth companies," said Lawrence Baldwin, Founder myNetWatchman."I am truly honored to have the opportunity to lead myNetWatchman as we build on the foundations established by Lawrence, Jen, Rob, the leadership team, and our workforce. I see tremendous opportunity for myNetWatchman as companies are starving for more effective and customer friendly approaches to confirm identity (email, credit card, username & password) and user credentials aren't compromised. I believe this need will only grow as bad actors make more use of ATO and synthetic identities in their attacks. I will work to grow the company by introducing products that make use of the company's unique ability to see into live bad actor traffic to become the markets leader in being able to say if these key identity attributes are compromised or synthetic. " David Montague, CEO myNetWatchmanMr. Baldwin continued, "On behalf of the company, I would like to welcome David, and I look forward to working with him." About myNetWatchmanGeorgia-based myNetWatchman has been providing cyber fraud intelligence data for more than 20 years to retailers, financial services, insurance, and other industries. With over 10 years of live data surveillance, the company manages a continuously growing data repository containing over 30 billion exposed credential pairs and protects over 550 million users for their clients.CONTACT INFORMATION:myNetWatchman, LLC mynetwatchman.com Jen Baldwin(678) 624-0924 jen@ mynetwatchman.com SOURCE: myNetWatchman
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 05:40:26

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 7, 2024 / Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Dril-Quip, Inc. ("Dril-Quip" or the "Company") (NYSE:DRQ). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.The investigation concerns whether Dril-Quip 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 July 8, 2024, Dril-Quip disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it had identified "an error in the classification of certain inventory write-downs from 2021." Specifically, the Company disclosed that it "misclassified inventory write-downs from 2021 totaling approximately $67 million, including $19.3 million related to the 2018 global strategic plan and approximately $47.7 million due to the discontinuation of certain product categories under the 2021 global strategic plan. The Company classified these charges as Restructuring and other charges'; however, these charges should have been classified in Cost of sales' in the Consolidated Statement of Income (Loss) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, in accordance with ASC 420-10-S99-3. As a result, Cost of sales' was understated and Restructuring and other charges' was overstated by $67 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the Affected Period')." Accordingly, Dril-Quip stated that its prior statements regarding the Affected Period "should no longer be relied upon" and will be restated. Dril-Quip further stated that "the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2023 were not effective." On this news, Dril-Quip's stock price fell $1.76 per share, or 9.9%, to close at $16.01 per share on July 9, 2024.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, 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 billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 04:40:15

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 7, 2024 / Levi & Korsinsky notifies investors that it has commenced an investigation of Dril-Quip, Inc. ("Dril-Quip") (NYSE:DRQ) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws.On July 8, 2024, Dril-Quip disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it had identified "an error in the classification of certain inventory write-downs from 2021." Specifically, the Company had "misclassified inventory write-downs from 2021 totaling approximately $67 million, including $19.3 million related to the 2018 global strategic plan and approximately $47.7 million due to the discontinuation of certain product categories under the 2021 global strategic plan. The Company classified these charges as Restructuring and other charges'; however, these charges should have been classified in Cost of sales' in the Consolidated Statement of Income (Loss) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, in accordance with ASC 420-10-S99-3. As a result, Cost of sales' was understated and Restructuring and other charges' was overstated by $67 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the Affected Period')." Accordingly, Dril-Quip stated that its prior statements regarding the Affected Period "should no longer be relied upon" and will be restated. Dril-Quip further stated that "the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2023 were not effective." On this news, Dril-Quip's stock price fell $1.76 per share, or 9.9%, to close at $16.01 per share on July 9, 2024. To obtain additional information, go to:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212)363-7500.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212)363-7500 Fax: (212)363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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SphingoTec GmbH has successfully secured funding to drive its global expansion, including the US market, through strategic collaborations.The investment round is led by Think.Health Ventures, with support from existing investors. Think.Health Ventures will add significant value to SphingoTec through its expertise in diagnostics and its extensive network in clinics and laboratories.The raised capital will be pivotal in advancing the out-licensing and commercialization of SphingoTec's innovative biomarkers for critical care, aiming to significantly improve patient management and outcomes.The funding underscores SphingoTec's dedication to pioneering advancements in critical care patient management.HENNIGSDORF/BERLIN, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Diagnostics company SphingoTec GmbH ("SphingoTec") announces the successful closing of a Series C financing round. The raised capital will allow the company to reach profitability through sustained and strategic commercialization of its products. This includes supporting market development, out-licensing activities, and close collaboration with licensees. SphingoTec aims for global expansion, including entry into the US market. The lead investor, Think.Health Ventures, specializes in healthcare ventures that focus on innovations and business models in digital healthcare, medical technologies, and health service providers. Think.Health Ventures will provide support to the SphingoTec management team through its extensive network in clinics and laboratories. Additionally, SphingoTec has secured support from existing investors, which include Brandenburg Kapital, HBM Healthcare Investments, NRW.BANK , and Wellington Partners.Dr. Florian Kainzinger, Managing Partner and Founder of Think.Health Ventures, commented, "We are pleased to support SphingoTec at this exciting stage of the company's development. With its developed and commercialized lead product penKid, SphingoTec is well-positioned for global expansion through out-licensing to key players in the diagnostic industry." SphingoTec develops and markets in vitro diagnostic (IVD) solutions for novel and proprietary blood-based protein biomarkers. The company focuses on translational medicine, bringing innovations to frontline healthcare by discovering biomarkers, developing IVD assays, and making them available on different diagnostic platforms. The biomarker portfolio includes Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid), a biomarker for the assessment of kidney function, and bioactive Adrenomedullin 1-52 (bio-ADM), a biomarker for the assessment of endothelial function. PenKid has been out-licensed and commercialized and is currently used in routine measurements in university hospitals to improve patient management. To achieve broad market adoption of its first-in-class biomarkers, SphingoTec partners with global IVD companies. The portfolio is available for licensing to companies seeking to enhance their immunoassay portfolios and develop biomarker-based diagnostics for clinical use on high-throughput and near-patient testing platforms.Deborah Bergmann, Managing Director and CEO, stated, "There is a substantial demand for more advancements in critical care diagnostics. Our scientifically and clinically validated innovations have the potential to improve the management of critically ill patients. With this investment, we will focus on further out-licensing our biomarkers to translate scientific advancements into routine clinical practice, ultimately supporting clinicians in improving patient outcomes." ###About SphingoTecSphingoTec GmbH ("SphingoTec"; Hennigsdorf near Berlin, Germany) is a commercial-stage diagnostic company focusing on innovative critical care biomarkers for diagnosing, predicting, and monitoring acute medical conditions. SphingoTec's innovative markers are made available on different IVD platforms. SphingoTec's proprietary biomarker portfolio includes Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid), a biomarker for the assessment of kidney function in critical diseases, and bioactive Adrenomedullin 1-52 (bio-ADM), a biomarker for the assessment of endothelial function in conditions like sepsis. www.sphingotec.com About penKid Proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid) is a blood-based biomarker for assessing kidney function in acute and critical conditions. The biomarker offers a blood-based alternative for the complex and time-consuming in vivo measurement of true glomerular filtration rate (GFR). PenKid is independent of common comorbidities (e.g., hypertension and diabetes) and the frequently occurring inflammation in critically ill patients. Rising penKid blood levels predict acute kidney injury earlier than today's standard of care, and decreasing penKid blood levels indicate the improvement of kidney function, even under dialysis.About bio-ADM Bioactive Adrenomedullin 1-52 (bio-ADM) is a dynamic blood biomarker for the real-time assessment of endothelial function. The endothelium contributes to blood pressure and separates blood from the surrounding tissue. Elevated bio-ADM blood levels predict both blood pressure drop, resulting in shock and leaky blood vessels, leading to edema formation. Early identification of an imbalance in endothelial function allows for the prediction of vasopressor demand in critically ill patients and aids in the identification of residual congestion in acute heart failure patients.Media contact: Ruxandra LenzHead of Marketing and CommunicationSphingoTec GmbHNeuendorfstr. 15 A16761 HennigsdorfTel. +49-3302-20565-0SOURCE: SphingoTec GmbH
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 15:07:56

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The new west coast sustainable manufacturing event will be held in Anaheim Feb. 4-5, 2025.ANAHEIM, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 /Sustainable Manufacturing Expo , the only North American event dedicated to showcasing the latest technologies, innovations and thought leadership for progressing sustainable manufacturing processes, today announces a strategic partnership with Omdia, the global analyst and market intelligence leader that helps connect organizations across the technology ecosystem.Omdia's partnership with Sustainable Manufacturing Expo will provide direction and insights to the event organizers, through their deep understanding of industry opportunities and trends. Omdia's knowledge of the tech markets, combined with the coverage of industrial sustainability analyses through theIndustrial Sustainability Today websiteand newsletter, will provide Sustainable Manufacturing Expo with intelligence into the technologies and regulations driving sustainable investments.Consumer demand and governmental regulations are increasing the pressure for manufacturers to find sustainable solutions in all aspects of the product life-cycle and are requiring reporting that backs up that work. The Sustainable Manufacturing Expo will prove to be the go-to outlet and education resource dedicated to the technologies available to limit manufacturing's effect on global emissions."Sustainable Manufacturing Expo is the first-ever event in North America committed to propelling sustainable manufacturing forward, and Omdia is the perfect partner to provide deep analysis of industrial sustainability," says Melissa Magestro, VP at Informa Markets Engineering, and the founder of Sustainable Manufacturing Expo. "This knowledge partnership will bring education to our attendees across the entire sustainable manufacturing processes and development, while also providing a holistic view of the greater market and innovations to come." "Omdia works to cut through the buzzwords surrounding sustainability and provide real solutions for those looking to invest more into sustainable business practices," says Alex West, Senior Principal Analyst- Industrial IoT and Sustainability, Omdia. "As manufacturers increasingly continue to fund sustainable technologies for their businesses, industry education is extremely important in developing these environmental strategies. The partnership with Sustainable Manufacturing Expo will allow us to educate through actionable market insights to propel the future of a lower environmental footprint in manufacturing." Sustainable Manufacturing Expo (Feb. 4-5) will be co-located with the renowned West Coast show, IME West/MD+M West, taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center in California Feb. 4-6, 2025.To stay up to date on the upcomingSustainable Manufacturing Expoor to learn more about Omdia, please visit omdia.tech.informa.com About Informa Markets Engineering:Informa Markets' Engineering portfolio is the leading B2B event producer, publisher, and digital media business for the world's $3-trillion advanced, technology-based manufacturing industry. Our print and electronic products deliver trusted information to the engineering market and leverage our proprietary 1.3-million-name database to connect suppliers with buyers and purchase influencers. We produce more than 50 events and conferences in a dozen countries, connecting manufacturing professionals from around the globe. The Engineering portfolio is organized by Informa, the world's leading exhibition organizer that brings a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit informamarkets.com About Omdia:Omdia, part of Informa Tech, is a technology research and advisory group. Our deep knowledge of tech markets combined with our actionable insights empower organizations to make smart growth decisions. To learn more, visitomdia.com Media Contact:Informa Markets Engineering PR EngineeringPR@ informa.com SOURCE: Informa Markets Engineering
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 14:01:30

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LITTLETON, CO / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Taillight , a strategic branding agency, has recently achieved significant recognition by being ranked among thetop 5 naming firmsandtop 15 branding firmsworldwide by Clutch, a leading B2B research, ratings, and reviews platform. Additionally, Taillight is now listed as the#1 branding firm in Canada . These accolades highlight Taillight's rapid ascent in the branding industry, distinguishing itself through innovative and impactful brand storytelling."Being recognized by Clutch is a testament to our team's dedication to creating memorable and differentiated brand experiences," saidJaclyn Hesse , co-founder of Taillight. "We strive to help our clients tell their stories with clarity and impact, ensuring their brands stand out in a competitive marketplace." Bruno Benedini , co-founder of Taillight, added, "Our rise in the Clutch rankings reflects the hard work and creativity our team brings to every project. We are thrilled to see our efforts acknowledged and are excited to continue delivering exceptional results for our clients." Taillight's impressive growth and success can be attributed to its collaborations with notable clients such as Vertiv, IMO Health, Peoplelink, Sage Raven, and YD3. These partnerships have showcased Taillight's expertise in crafting compelling narratives that resonate with audiences and drive brand success.Clutch is a preeminent platform that identifies leading marketing, IT and software service providers based on in-depth market research and client reviews. Taillight's rise in the rankings reflects the positive feedback and successful outcomes delivered to its clients.For more information about Taillight and its award-winning services, please visit https://taillight.agency/ About TaillightTaillight is a forward-thinking strategic branding agency dedicated to helping brands accelerate ahead of the competition. With a presence in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Costa Rica, the team comprises seasoned strategists, designers, marketers, business developers, writers, researchers, and web developers. Founded by experienced industry professionals in 2023, Taillight partners with founders, CEOs, CMOs, and other business leaders to create distinctive brands, catchy names, elegant visual identities - and much more. Clients include visionary start-ups, ambitious scale-ups, solid mid-caps, and global Fortune 500s-the gamut of the business world. What sets Taillight apart is the ability to turn strategic insights into beautiful brands that are more than just beautiful-they help drive lasting business results. For more information, visit https://taillight.agency/ Contact DetailsTaillight Jaclyn Hesse+506 8773 7130 jaclyn@ taillight.agency Company WebsiteSOURCE: Taillight
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 23:41:24

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Levi & Korsinsky notifies investors that it has commenced an investigation of The Chemours Company ("The Chemours Company") (NYSE:CC) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws.Chemours issued a press release on August 1, 2024, reporting its financial results for the second quarter of 2024. Among other items, Chemours reported non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.38, missing consensus estimates by $0.20. The Company advised that it "anticipates a low to mid-single digit sequential decline in Net Sales for the third quarter," citing "[r]esidual impacts from Q2 unplanned downtime at our Altamira, Mexico manufacturing site" in its Titanium Technologies segment; "[r]efrigerant seasonality paired with weaker Freon Refrigerants pricing in its Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment; and "[a] continued modest recovery in" its Advanced Performance Materials segment. Following this news, Chemours's stock price dropped over 11% on August 2, 2024. To obtain additional information, go to:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212)363-7500.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212)363-7500 Fax: (212)363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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Top Four Conveyor Car Wash Opens Nineteenth Location in the Lone Star StateTHOMASTON, GA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Tidal Wave Auto Spa, one of the nation's fastest-growing express car wash companies, is pleased to announce the grand opening of their newest location in El Campo, TX at 2209 N Mechanic Street.To celebrate the Grand Opening, the El Campo location is offering eight days of free car washes from August 7 - August 14. This limited-time promotion provides an opportunity for car owners to experience Tidal Wave's premium wash option, Graph-X4, at no cost. Additionally, any new customer that joins a Clean Club unlimited wash membership plan during Grand Opening week will enjoy their first month of unlimited washes for only $9.97 - saving up to $40."We opened our first Texas location five years ago," said Tidal Wave Auto Spa founder and CEO Scott Blackstock. "Since then, we've been strategically expanding throughout the state to serve more communities with our industry-leading car wash. We're thrilled to open our brand-new El Campo location this week and look forward to providing folks in this community with an enjoyable, efficient, and exceptional car wash experience for years to come." El Campo, TX Location: 2209 N Mechanic Street, El Campo, TX 77437Nearby Locations: Victoria, KatyTidal Wave currently operates nineteen locations in Texas with plans to open additional brand-new locations in Alice, Early, and Fort Worth in the coming months.Tidal Wave Auto Spa is committed to providing every customer with an exceptional car wash experience through industry-leading car care technology, clean and attractive locations, and friendly customer service at every location. Stop by for a single wash or join Tidal Wave's Clean Club for the ultimate experience. Members can wash every day of the month for one convenient monthly payment and save time with exclusive club member wash lanes - plus, memberships can be used at any Tidal Wave location. For those needing to wash multiple cars, Tidal Wave offers discounted monthly family plans and fleet plans for businesses with five or more vehicles.Tidal Wave proudly serves customers at 277 express wash locations in twenty-eight states across the South, Midwest and Northern United States. For additional information, including upcoming locations, fundraising, fleet plans, and more, please visit: https://www.tidalwaveautospa.com About Tidal Wave Auto SpaTidal Wave Auto Spa is an industry-leading conveyor car wash company founded in 1999 by Scott and Hope Blackstock in Thomaston, GA. Tidal Wave is committed to providing cutting-edge car care technology and exceptional customer service at each of their 277 locations sprawling 28 states across the South, Midwest, and Northern United States. In 2020, Tidal Wave partnered with Golden Gate Capital to facilitate their accelerated growth across the country. Tidal Wave is one of the top five conveyor car wash companies in the country and has been included in the Inc. 5000 list for America's Fastest Growing Companies since 2020. The company was recognized as a 2023 Champion of Charity Honoree by Professional Carwashing & Detailing and has raised over $3 million dollars for organizations in their communities.Contact InformationHeather ColemanMarketing Managermedia@ tidalwaveautospa.com Andrea TraylorSenior Director of Digital Marketingandrea.traylor@tidalwaveautospa.com 2058212220SOURCE: Tidal Wave Auto SpaView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 16:02:26

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TrendMiner offers a contextualized industrial data fabric by allowing custom calculations to write into events for deeper operational insights.Personalization of reports and dashboards help to convey the right message shared into the organization.SAP Digital Manufacturing and TrendMiner bring a true 360 view on operations.HASSELT, BELGIUM / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / TrendMiner, the Industrial AI & Analytics platform, takes a next step toward offering a contextualized data fabric for industrial data with the launch of its 2024.R2 release. This industrial data fabric is further enforced with the integration of SAP Digital Manufacturing. Also called "Enhanced Data Layer," TrendMiner's industrial data fabric forms the basis for all self-service capabilities of the platform. Personalization of reports and dashboards help improve awareness and understanding throughout the organization. This accelerates data-driven decision-making at every level of analytics maturity.Industrial Data Fabric for advanced event analysisCustom calculations that use complex formulas, time series data, operational events and human knowledge are stored as properties to events to improve operational insights. On top of these calculations, newly added visualization options for events and new chart formatting options for data refinement ensure that the right insights are used. This leads to faster data-driven decision making by all operational experts. "By enabling calculations to be applied to operational events, the TrendMiner Enhanced Data Layer' is enriched with new operational insights, including human-generated shop floor expertise for additional context." -- Julian Pereira, Director of ProductsPersonalized Reports & Dashboards for Effective CommunicationEvery user of the TrendMiner platform can personalize his or her view with the new chart alias option for tags and attributes. When combined with the options for grouping, coloring, and scaling, users can give more meaning to the view. This helps convey the right message in reports and dashboards for users, the team, or the entire organization.TrendMiner's 2024.R2 release offers a complete platform to facilitate event analytics and operationalize industrial data.SAP & TrendMiner: A 360 View on OperationsSAP Digital Manufacturing and TrendMiner bring a true 360 view to operations by blending equipment and MES data. This makes it easy to combine processed time-series data with event data and asset hierarchies from SAP. Operational experts can use this information for monitoring, predicting, and delivering product quality. The new integration with SAP Digital Manufacturing allows everybody from the shopfloor to the boardroom to analyze any type of industrial data, anytime and everywhere, to increase cross-team collaboration and knowledge sharing.Further InformationFor details about all the new capabilities and improvements in the TrendMiner 2024.R2 release, visit www.trendminer.com . Users of the TrendMiner software will get more information via other communication channels.About TrendMinerTrendMiner, part of the Proemion holding, delivers Industrial AI & Analytics software to optimize process performance in chemical, petrochemical, oil & gas, pharmaceutical, optics, semi-conductors, food & beverage, metals & mining, water & wastewater, and other process manufacturing industries. TrendMiner unlocks the full potential of IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) data infrastructure, regardless of vendor, and taps into the available human intelligence for making data-driven decisions. The solution includes standard integrations with a wide range of data sources, such as OSIsoft PI, Yokogawa Exaquantum, AspenTech IP.21 , Honeywell PHD, GE Proficy Historian, Wonderware InSQL, Cumulocity, Aveva Data Hub, AWS S3, AWS IoT SiteWise, Amazon Timestream, Microsoft Azure Data Lake, Azure Data Explorer, Microsoft Fabric, and SAP's S/4 HANA, and DMC.TrendMiner empowers everyone in manufacturing operations across multiple locations with powerful yet intuitive capabilities to iteratively generate and validate real-time context-aware time-series insights individually and as a team. Search, diagnostic, and predictive capabilities help speed up root cause analysis, define optimal processes, and configure early warnings to monitor production 24/7. TrendMiner helps operators make data-driven decisions to improve production quality, meet business objectives, and increase profitability.Media ContactMatt Saxton TrendMiner Editor+1 408-490-5345matthew_saxton@ softwareag.com SOURCE: TrendMiner N.V.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 08:00:37

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / TRU Precious Metals Corp. (TSXV:TRU)(OTCQB:TRUIF)(FSE:706) ("TRU" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Nicol as the new CEO of the Company, effective August 7, 2024. Mr. Nicol is currently a director on the TRU board of directors (the "Board") and also serves as Technical Advisor to TRU's strategic investor Ormonde Mining plc ("Ormonde"). One of his initial key focusses will be overseeing the multi-year, partner-funded gold and copper focused exploration program at the Golden Rose Project ("Golden Rose") in Western-Central Newfoundland pursuant to the earn-in agreement with Eldorado Gold Corporation (TSX:ELD)(NYSE:EGO) ("Eldorado") announced on July 30, 2024.Mr. Nicol is a mining engineer with over 35 years of experience in the mining industry, including in operations management, mine evaluation and development, and other diverse corporate roles. He has held Operations Management positions in various underground and open pit mines, culminating in a 13-year period as Managing Director and Project Manager of the Spanish-based company that identified, studied, designed, permitted, financed, constructed, and put into successful operation the Barruecopardo Tungsten mine in Western Spain. That mine continues successfully operating today, adjacent to an environmentally protected area, employing some 200 people and selling a high-quality mineral concentrate product across the globe.A generalist, with a very strong ESG as well as economic focus, Mr. Nicol's experience covers base, precious and specialty metals, open pit and underground mining, CIL, flotation, and gravity processing, and direct hands-on management of all phases of diverse mining projects from early-stage exploration through to mine closure and rehabilitation.To transition leadership of the Company, now embarking on an exciting new phase of its development as a Newfoundland mineral resources explorer, Joel Freudman, who has been serving TRU as CEO since founding the Company in its current incarnation in late 2020, has resigned from his positions as CEO and director. Mr. Freudman will continue to provide transitional capital markets advisory support through his Toronto-based merchant bank, Resurgent Capital Corp.TRU's Chairman of the Board Manish Z. Kshatriya commented: "I would like to congratulate Steve on his appointment as CEO. Through our work on the TRU Board, I have had the opportunity to get to know him as a highly analytical, strategic thinker with an expansive technical expertise in mining and operations. As the Company is moving forward with more extensive exploration plans, we are certainly in good hands with more technical mining leadership experience. Through its new earn-in arrangement with Eldorado, management believes that TRU and Golden Rose are positioned for significant value creation." Mr. Kshatriya continued: "We respect and appreciate Joel's decision to resign from his positions as CEO and director, to ensure that TRU, under the leadership of Steve and together with the assistance of current serving President and CFO Olga Nikitovic, can deliver operational excellence paving the path for major discoveries. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Joel for his valuable role in identifying and securing the Golden Rose Project opportunity in the Cape Ray-Valentine Lake Shear Zone. Through subsequent tactical acquisitions and option agreements, TRU was able to consolidate a district-scale land package that is now approximately triple the original project size. Joel was pivotal in attracting a number of strategic investments and partnerships for TRU despite challenging market conditions for junior mining companies. The talented team he helped assemble will provide continuity and support for the new CEO. We look forward to Joel's continued future contributions as capital markets advisor." About TRU Precious Metals Corp.TRU (TSXV:TRU)(OTCQB:TRUIF)(FSE:706) is on a mission to build long-term shareholder value through prudent natural resource property development and transactions. TRU is exploring for gold and copper in the highly prospective Central Newfoundland Gold Belt on its 100%-owned Golden Rose Project, a regional-scale 264.25 km2 land package including 45 km of strike length along the deposit-bearing Cape Ray - Valentine Lake Shear Zone, directly between Calibre Mining's Valentine Gold Project and AuMEGA Metals' Cape Ray Gold Project. In addition, TRU has an option to acquire up to an aggregate 65% ownership interest in two claim packages covering 33.25 km2, including a 12 km strike length along the Shear Zone within Golden Rose. The Golden Rose Project is currently optioned-out to TSX-listed Eldorado Gold Corporation.TRU is approximately 36%-owned by European strategic investor Ormonde Mining plc (AQSE:ORM).For further information about TRU, please contact:Olga NikitovicPresident & CFOTRU Precious Metals Corp.Phone: 1-855-760-2TRU (2878)Email: ir@ trupreciousmetals.com To connect with TRU via social media, below are links:X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TRUMetals YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruMetalsCorp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tru-precious-metals-corp/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TRUMetals/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TRUMetals/ AcknowledgementTRU would like to thank the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for financial support through the Junior Exploration Assistance Program and the Federal Government for its critical mineral assistance funding for the exploration activities at Golden Rose.Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding TRU's leadership and personnel, exploration and development plans for Golden Rose, and earn-in arrangement with Eldorado, that are based on numerous assumptions regarding personnel, exploration potential, and corporate plans believed by management to be reasonable in the circumstances, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including challenges attracting and retaining qualified personnel, risks inherent in mineral exploration activities, challenges in meeting contractual obligations, changing corporate priorities and objectives, and those other risks described in the Company's continuous disclosure documents. Actual results may differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements herein. Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements herein except as required by
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 17:06:25

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FREMONT, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / Truss Health, a leading innovator in healthcare technology, is excited to announce a strategic partnership with KIMS Hospital group , one of the largest corporate healthcare groups in India. This collaboration aims to significantly enhance postoperative care and infection control by integrating Truss Health's advanced AI-driven sensor fusion technology with KIMS Hospital's clinical expertise.From left to right: Dr. Abhinay Bollineni, CEO KIMS Hospital, Dr Bhaskar Rao Bollineni, CMD KIMS Hospital, Kadambari Beelwar, CEO Truss Health, Dr. V. Bhujanga Rao, Chairman KIMS Foundation Research Center Addressing a Critical Healthcare Challenge:India experiences a high volume of surgeries each year, with surgical site infections (SSIs) being a major concern. This partnership seeks to address this issue by leveraging advanced technology and scientific research. Truss Health's proprietary platform will be deployed to enhance postoperative monitoring and enable early detection of SSIs, improving recovery outcomes and supporting better home care management.What Truss Health Will Provide:Truss Health will supply KIMS Hospital with state-of-the-art hardware and AI-driven solutions designed to monitor patients post-surgery. This technology will enable real-time data collection and analysis, significantly improving diagnostic accuracy and patient monitoring. Sensor fusion technology will provide patients with cutting-edge tools for wound care and infection detection, ultimately enhancing overall patient health.Benefits for KIMS Hospital:KIMS Hospital will leverage Truss Health's innovative solutions to augment their clinical expertise and extensive patient data. This collaboration will enhance the hospital's ability to monitor patients more effectively, particularly those recovering from surgery. The integration of advanced sensor technology will also facilitate better home care management, ensuring patients receive continuous and comprehensive care even after they leave the hospital.Synergy for Better Healthcare Outcomes:This partnership represents a perfect blend of complementary strengths. Truss Health's expertise in hardware, software and AI, combined with KIMS Hospital's clinical capabilities, will enable the development and deployment of cutting-edge medical technologies. By leveraging their respective strengths, this collaboration is expected to significantly improve healthcare outcomes, particularly in infection control.Dr. B.Bhaskar Rao, Chairman and Managing Director of KIMS Hospitals, said: "By leveraging proprietary AI technology to enhance infection detection, Truss Health fills a vital gap in the current AI healthcare landscape. KIMS Hospital is ready to partner with Truss Health, combining our clinical expertise and extensive patient data with their innovative solutions. This collaboration aims to improve patient outcomes through advanced infection monitoring and care, demonstrating our shared commitment to tackling one of healthcare's most pressing challenges." Dr. A. V. Gurava Reddy, top orthopedic surgeon in Asia, stated: "AI in healthcare is rapidly expanding, with much of the focus traditionally centered on respiratory and cardiovascular applications. However, Truss Health is addressing a critical and often overlooked issue: infection control." Kadambari Beelwar, CEO of Truss Health, added: "We are thrilled to partner with KIMS Hospital to bring our advanced sensor fusion technology to one of India's largest and most respected healthcare groups. This collaboration will not only enhance postoperative care for patients but also set a new standard for infection control in the healthcare industry. Together, we aim to make significant strides in improving patient outcomes and overall healthcare quality." About Truss HealthTruss Health is a trailblazing healthcare technology company dedicated to developing innovative solutions that elevate patient care. Utilizing cutting-edge AI technology and advanced sensor fusion, Truss Health strives to enhance diagnostic accuracy, improve patient monitoring, and achieve superior healthcare outcomes. Currently, Truss Health is in the process of raising funds to further its mission.About KIMS HospitalKIMS Hospital is the largest corporate healthcare group in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra, with a network of 12 hospitals. Known for its comprehensive healthcare services across specialties and super specialties, KIMS Hospital provides high-quality patient care using the latest medical advancements.For more information, please contact:info@ trusshealth.ai SOURCE: Truss Health
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-08 15:00:55

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2024 / TSS Photography is proud to announce the inductees of the President's Club for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. This exclusive club is established to recognize and reward TSS Franchisees who have demonstrated excellence across various facets of the TSS system. Membership in the President's Club represents the highest level of achievement possible within the TSS organization and is the most coveted annual award among franchisees.TSS PhotographyPresident's Club: An Honor and a PrivilegeBeing selected as a member of the TSS President's Club is a significant honor and a testament to the franchisees' dedication and success. To be considered for the President's Club, franchisees must meet specific Membership Requirements, maintain good standing within their community, and exhibit exceptional leadership qualities.2024-2025 President's Club InducteesWe are thrilled to welcome the following franchisees into the TSS Photography President's Club:Adam Cogan, ArizonaJason Jackson, Corpus Christi & Austin, TXKellie Healy, Pittsburg, PARick Einheuser, White Lake, MILindsay & Steve Verdun, Peoria, ILMaggie Depoorter-Shappard & Sue Taylor, Western, ILReid Nixon, Greater Houston, TXRonnie Thornberry, Northeast OhioSaundra & Brian Banning, Salem, ILRachel Sherman, South FloridaDesiree & Bob Troutner, Erie-Crawford, PACaitlin & Wayne Bowring, New JerseyJennifer Lambertz, North GeorgiaMembership BenefitsMembership in the President's Club includes an invitation for the franchisee and a guest to join TSS Owners on the annual President's Club trip in the winter of 2025. In addition, inductees receive a prestigious award and the opportunity to participate in the President's Club committee, helping to steer the future direction of TSS Photography.Achieving President's Club StatusFranchisees can achieve President's Club status by meeting various levels of achievement. For example, rookie franchisees who generate $30,000 in P&D within their first fiscal calendar year can earn a spot in the Club. Non-rookie franchisees are awarded membership based on reaching specific sales volume goals. The greater the level of achievement, the larger the perks and benefits.Jack Counts Jr., President of TSS Photography, shared his excitement about the new inductees: "Being inducted into the President's Club is a remarkable achievement and speaks volumes about the dedication, hard work, and exceptional leadership of our franchisees. Each member of the President's Club has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence, and we are incredibly proud to recognize their contributions to the TSS family. Congratulations to all our inductees, and we look forward to celebrating your successes at the annual President's Club trip." About TSS PhotographyTSS Photography franchise owners enjoy the flexibility of a home-based business model, low-cost entry, comprehensive training, onsite photography and sales training, and the tools for owners to book and conduct high-volume photography shoots. To learn more about the TSS Photography franchise opportunity, visit tssfranchisebusiness.com , email James.Calabrese@candid.com , or call 800-336-4550 ext. 114.Contact InformationJames CalabreseDirector of TSS Franchise Developmentjames.calabrese@candid.com (405) 951 - 7114Alison CountsDirector of Marketingalisonc@ candid.com SOURCE: TSS PhotographyView the original press release on newswire.com
Hannatu Musawa, minister of art, culture, and the creative economy, has inaugurated a Technical Committee to implement the construction of King Jaja of Opobo Historical and Cultural Centre.

There are several accounts of the 19th century of King Opobos life and death, but all the accounts agree that he was among the first monarchs to resist British colonialism and died trying.

King Jaja of Opobo, Jubo Jubogha, was a merchant prince between 1821 and 1891. He founded the Opobo area, the present-day Rivers State in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister said at the ceremony that the centre would be built in Opobo Kingdom in Rivers State.

According to her, the project signifies a milestone in taking Nigerias Art and cultural heritage to enviable heights, as it would make history always to remember the historic monarch.

I am delighted to address you at this epoch-making event: the inauguration of the Technical Committee to oversee the implementation of a project considered key to preserving our cultural heritage. The establishment of the King Jaja of Opobo Cultural and Historical Centre is a testament to our commitment to immortalising past heroes and promoting our cultural identity. One of the ministrys core mandates is immortalising past heroes by promoting national heritage and values, she said.

At the gathering, the minister said the event is a testament to the federal governments readiness to partner with any state, community, individual or group that desires to immortalise persons of proven capabilities.

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Those whose immense contributions helped shape and project the uniqueness of our cultural values, norms, and artefacts as a people. This project is designed to be a historical tribute to the cultural renaissance and a clarion call for cultural preservation. It is a step to encourage our nations quest for cultural tourism and boost diplomacy in international affairs.

Charge

Ms Musawa added that the centres establishment aligned with Nigerias vision of utilising the art, culture, and tourism sectors to create job opportunities for the teaming youth.

The project is expected to create employment in various fields such as construction, tourism management, and cultural preservation, providing a platform for the youth to contribute to and benefit from the preservation of their cultural heritage.

Therefore, she urged the technical committee to regard their selection as a clarion call to national assignment and to provide regular updates to the stakeholders on its activities.

She appreciated the Government of Rivers State, the Amayanabo of Opobo, and the people of Opobo Kingdom for their vision and commitment to sustaining cultural heritage and immortalising their progenitor, the Late King Jaja of Opobo.

Let me remind you that you must be critical in completing this arduous task. Your assignment will require you to serve as a liaison between the Federal Government, represented by the Ministry, the State Government and the host Community, she said.

According to her, the committee must develop a work plan for the project and draft a strategy for its implementation.

She said this includes detailing the timeline and suggesting other terms of reference that are considered germane to the projects success.

Appreciation

Earlier, His Royal Majesty, Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Jeki V, Treaty King, Natural Ruler and the Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom thanked the Federal Government for showing interest in the project.

The royal father, who led a delegation of Opobo Kingdom indigenes to the ministry, appreciated the initiative to establish such a historical and cultural centre to immortalise King Jaja.

Also, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, a member representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency of Rivers State, lauded the Federal Government for the initiative.

This project has taken us several years, and the other people there did not share our vision, but we are delighted. I am glad that a minister came and bought into the vision, and today, we are starting the journey to make people know exactly our intentions, she said.

(NAN)

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The Department of Home Affairs for South Africa has announced preliminary findings after it launched an investigation to determine the authenticity of Chidimma Adetshinas citizenship claims.

Ms Adetshina is a contestant in the Miss South Africa pageant, which will be held on Saturday at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria.

This investigation and its findings could potentially impact the outcome of the competition, especially Ms Adetshinas fate.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that South Africas Home Affairs Minister, Leon Schreiber, initiated an investigation into Ms Adetshinas citizenship following a request from the Miss South Africa organisers and outcry from South Africans.

They noted that they had consent from Ms Adetshina and her mum to conduct the findings.

According to information on the Miss South Africa organisations website, Ms Adetshina was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambique mother and is now a naturalised South African.

Fraud, identity theft

However, on Wednesday night, in its statement, the Home Affairs Department alleged that preliminary evidence suggests Ms Adetshinas mother may have committed fraud.

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The Home Affairs department said they responded swiftly to the organisers of Miss South Africas request by conducting a thorough investigation, including archival research, hospital visits, and on-site verification to determine the authenticity of Ms Adetshinas citizenship claims.

The statement partly read: From the information we have uncovered thus far, the Department of Home Affairs can indicate that prima facie reasons exist to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded in Home Affairs records as Chidimma Adetshinas mother:

Adetshina could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother, as she was an infant at the time when the activities took place in 2001; an innocent South African mother, whose identity may have been stolen as part of the alleged fraud committed by Adetshinas mother, suffered as a result because she could not register her child.

More investigations

Furthermore, the Department of Home Affairs said it has expanded its investigation into Ms Adetshinas citizenship to identify and prosecute any officials involved in the alleged fraudulent scheme.

Additionally, the Department stated that it is seeking legal counsel to determine the impact of the alleged fraud on the Ms Adetshinas citizenship status.

Home Affairs intends to press criminal charges against all implicated parties upon completing the investigation. There are ongoing engagements with all stakeholders, including Adetshinas mother. This case, which stems from alleged fraudulent activities committed 23 years ago, highlights the urgent need for the digital modernisation of Home Affairs applications, adjudication and verification processes to insulate the Department against fraudulent interference, similar to the reforms undertaken at the South African Revenue Service in the late 2000s.

The case also highlights the reason for the Departments blocking of certain duplicate IDs and that the court-ordered unblocking of these documents must be handled with caution. Throughout this process, Home Affairs is guided by our commitment to both restoring and upholding the rule of law and the rights of all parties, the statement added.

Controversy

This newspaper reported that controversy surrounding Ms Adetshinas eligibility to contest for Miss South Africa began shortly after she entered the beauty pageant.

The 23-year-old emerged as a central figure in the countrys xenophobia debate and discussions on national identity after advancing to the Top 30 and becoming a finalist in the Miss SA competition.

However, the criticisms intensified on Monday when South Africans unearthed her marriage video, which South Africans deemed violated the competitions guidelines.

Critics argued that a married, divorced woman or a nursing mother is not eligible to compete for Miss South Africa. However, as their website outlines, the Miss South Africa organisations guidelines clarify that being married, divorced, or a mother does not disqualify contestants from participating in the pageant.

According to the South African Citizenship Act, an individual automatically qualifies for citizenship if they are born in South Africa, if at least one of their parents is a South African citizen, or if a South African permanent residency permit holder or a South African citizen adopts them.

This Act provides the legal basis for Ms Adetshinas South African citizenship as she is a dual citizen of South Africa and Nigeria.

Before investigation

Despite several criticisms and calls for her disqualification, the Miss South Africa organisations website maintains stringent citizenship and ethical conduct criteria. Surprisingly, the body initially supported the model.

In a statement to The South African newspapers, the organisation confirmed that Ms Adetshina met all the requirements to participate in the pageant.

They noted that citizenship, irrespective of origin, is the primary requirement, aligning with the revised South African Citizenship Act, which recognises birth, descent, and naturalisation as valid pathways to citizenship.

The Miss South Africa 2024 competition winner will succeed Natasha Joubert of Gauteng, the 2023 titleholder, and represent South Africa at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico.

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Chidinma Adetshina, a strong contender in the Miss South Africa pageant, which will be held on Saturday at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, has withdrawn from the competition.

The 23-year-old emerged as a central figure in the countrys xenophobia debate and discussions on national identity after advancing to the Top 30 and becoming a finalist in the Miss SA competition.

She gave in on Thursday morning, weeks after South Africans called for her disqualification over issues related to her nationality.

According to information on the Miss South Africa organisations website, Ms Adetshina was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambique mother and is now a naturalised South African.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Department of Home Affairs for South Africa issued a statement on Wednesday night claiming that preliminary evidence suggests Ms Adetshinas mother may have committed fraud.

The Home Office said: Information we have uncovered thus far, the Department of Home Affairs can indicate that prima facie reasons exist to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded in Home Affairs records as Chidimma Adetshinas mother,

The department, which commenced investigations on Tuesday, alleged that Ms Adetshinas mother stole a South African womans identity to register her birth 23 years ago.

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Withdrawal

However, on Thursday, Ms Adeshina posted a statement on her Instagram announcing that she had withdrawn from the Miss South Africa pageant.

The statement reads: I would like to start by thanking everyone who has stood beside me right from the start of my Miss South Africa journey. Im grateful for all the love and support I have been shown. Being part of the Miss South Africa 2024 competition has been an amazing journey; however, after much careful consideration, I have decided to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and well-being of my family and me.

With the support of the Miss South Africa Organisation, I leave with a heart full of gratitude for this amazing experience. I would like to take this opportunity to wish my fellow finalists all the best for the remainder of the competition. Whoever wears the crown represents us all.

Reactions

South Africans had persistently harassed Ms Adetshina online before and after allegations surfaced that her mother may have committed fraud.

The bullying intensified in the past weeks and reflects broader issues of xenophobia and nationalistic sentiment in the country.

Although Ms Adetshina turned off her comment section on Instagram, Netizens have taken to X to air their opinions on her decision to quit.

An X user, Kinglohot, said, Now the South African would be happy, but a time will come when theyll need Nigerians as African brothers, but well not be there.

Another user considered her decision the best, claiming she could get hurt if she proceeds.

Other reactions from X are: https://x.com/rinzbounce01/status/1821523577134301229?s=46

https://x.com/jackboys02/status/1821524195701842025?s=46

https://x.com/samuelpresh/status/1821523599464808574?s=46

An X user, Put South Africans First, claimed the 23-year-old never loved South Africans as Nigerians constantly surrounded her.

Another user insisted she represent her country, Nigeria, because she is not South African.

Background

The controversy involving Ms Adetshina erupted soon after she entered the beauty pageant and has since faced the nations debate on xenophobia and national identity.

This was intense on Monday when they dug out her traditional marriage video claiming that married or divorced women should not be allowed to contest for Miss South African.

However, according to the Miss South Africa organisations website, contestants are not disqualified from entering the pageant if they are married, divorced, or mothers.

Soon after, the Department of Home Affairs for South Africa began inventions and discovered that her mother was involved in identity fraud. It concluded that criminal charges should be pressed against all implicated parties.

Ms Adetshina was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambique mother.

The mother of one was married but divorced her husband in February 2024.

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Commercial sex workers in Kano State have appealed to organisers of the nationwide hunger protests to engage the Federal Government in dialogue.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that the protests had crippled social-economic activities, leaving them without customers and struggling to survive.

Monica James, who operates on France Road, said dialogue was the only option to address the protesters grievances.

I have not eaten for two days because of the curfew; our customers are nowhere to be found, she said.

She urged the organisers to shelve their protests and negotiate with the government to end the demonstrations.

Deborah Iliya, a sex worker on Yoruba Road, who echoed James sentiments, described the situation as horrible, as she has not been able to find customers.

Hannatu Ibrahim, Weather Head area, also called for an end to the protests, joining the growing calls for a return to normalcy.

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Caroline James, a sex worker operating from a brothel on Enugu Street in Sabon Gari, said the infiltration of hoodlums and subsequent violence spoilt our business.

She said she had booked clients willing to pay between N30,000 and N40,000, but they could not keep their appointments due to the tension and curfew.

A sex worker, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that some of her colleagues were forced to share rooms due to the lack of customers during the protest.

She appealed to the authorities to relax the curfew, stating that it severely impacted their business ability.

A bar attendant, Moses John, told NAN that the curfew had severely impacted business activities in Sabon Gari, with hotels and bars hardly selling due to customers absence.

Kenneth John, a dealer in Esi Ewu ( goat head) on Aitken Road, told NAN that the curfew had negatively impacted business activities in Sabon Gari, lamenting that he had lost several goats due to lack of power supply.

(NAN)

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President Bola Tinubu says his administration will ensure that companies engaged in mineral exploration prioritise the health and safety of Nigerians and the host communities.

The president stated this while receiving a presentation titled, Harnessing the Mining Industry for Enhanced National Security and Development: Strategic Options for Nigeria by 2035, by Course 32 participants of the National Defence College (NDC) on Thursday in Abuja.

The president also directed security agencies to intensify efforts to crack down on illegal miners across the country.

The Course 32 Participants were tasked with researching topical national issues, and their findings during their 11-month study focused on the mining industrys potential to contribute to national security and development.

Responding to the presentation delivered by Olajide Bello, a colonel, on behalf of the delegation, President Tinubu commended their work and reiterated the importance of diversifying Nigerias economy.

I have listened carefully to your presentation on the theme. Aside from your knowledge of war and security, I could see the intellectual depth of the work done to help the nation, and I must say thank you to all of you.

I recognise the need for the diversification of the economy, and we have been pushing hard on this. Your involvement will equally promote a better understanding of the issues.

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We have challenges of scavengers and exploiters around the country. We must nip that in the bud, and you military officers understand this better than the civil society.

We expect that through your command, we will have more resources that we need to make sure we have a stable economic environment, the President said.

President Tinubu assured the delegation that his administration would ensure the completion of the NDC headquarters in Abuja.

Addressing the health implications of exploration activities during an interactive session, the president expressed concern over the well-being of those living near mining areas.

We must pay attention to that at the outset by providing medical centres and other facilities that will protect the lives, property and health of Nigerians, President Tinubu said.

In his remarks, Olumuyiwa Olotu, a rear admiral and commandant of the NDC, said the institution, established in 1992 as the National War College, has graduated 2,871 participants since its inception.

He disclosed that besides participants from 30 African countries, the college has had participants from Bangladesh, Brazil, France, Germany, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.

Mr Olotu said through the presidents magnanimity, the college has embarked on unprecedented infrastructural upgrades, making the institution compete favourably with any other defence college in the world.

However, he appealed to President Tinubu to assist in the completion of the colleges permanent site in Abuja, noting that the institution currently operates from its temporary facility in the Central Business District owing to the non-completion of its permanent site since 2010.

READ ALSO: Tinubu appoints governing councils for more tertiary institutions

The 111 participants of NDC Course 32 were drawn from the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as 19 international participants from Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America.

The college undertakes in-depth studies on all factors that affect national security and development.

The research centre in the college, known as the Centre for Strategic Research and Studies, is also designated as the ECOWAS training Centre of Excellence for Peace Support Operations at the strategic level.

Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

August 8, 2024

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The Senate ad-hoc committee investigating the alleged economic sabotage in Nigerias petroleum industry has expressed concern over the failure of government-owned refineries to function despite committing billions of dollars to their rehabilitation yearly by successive governments.

Chairperson of the committee, Opeyemi Bamidele, raised the concern at an interactive session with individuals and companies in the petroleum industry at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja on Wednesday.

The session was attended by Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri and Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari.

Others are Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, among others.

During the session, Mr Bamidele, the senate leader, specifically said about $1.5 billion was approved for the turn around maintenance of Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri refineries during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari but yielded no significant returns.

He said that some individuals managing the rehabilitation of Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri refineries are not patriotic and as such reducing the commitment to make the refineries function.

He said the individuals are managing the government businesses like an orphan and putting efforts in private businesses to make it flourish at the expense of the government properties.

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Under different administrations, the federal government invested billions of dollars to maintain and turn around the state-owned refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri.

In 2021, specifically, the Federal Executive Council approved $1.5 billion for the turn-around maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery. Yet, this investment has not yielded significant returns.

For us, in the Senate, we believe, it is unfair and unpatriotic to treat government business as an orphan while private businesses are flourishing, he said.

Concerns over long queues at filling stations

Mr Bamidele also expressed displeasure with the persistent long queues at petrol stations across the country.

He said the long queues were as a result of the irregular supply of refined petroleum.

The panel chairman also listed the circulation of the adulterated petroleum products across the country as part of the challenges in the sector.

Respected stakeholders, you will agree with me that this is truly a challenging period in the recent history of our fatherland. The supply of refined petroleum products has been irregular and problematic. The long queues at filling stations are also a testament to this challenge.

A situation, whereby we now depend almost entirely on the importation of these products, even when we daily supply the global oil market no fewer than two per cent of its crude oil requirements, is to say the least, highly worrisome.

We also have at hand a grievous issue of national concern that directly borders on the importation of hazardous and substandard petroleum products, he added.

Mr Bamidele noted that the challenges have also put pressure on the foreign exchange market.

Each of these challenges has put undue pressure not just on our foreign exchange market, but also contributes to the sub-optimal performance of our domestic economy, which the Executive Arm has been taking decisive measures to address in the interest of all Nigeria.

No monopoly of products

Mr Kyari, in his remarks, said that the NNPCL is not monopolising Nigerias petroleum industry, contrary to the allegation circulating on social media.

He noted that the leadership of the NNPCL under his directive is protected and guided by the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act.

The GMD said some individuals are attempting to blackmail his leadership for involvement in the importation and circulation of adulterated petroleum products which is sabotaging the Nigerian economy.

And all of us here see what is happening in the media. Targeted personal attack on my person, on the institution. And we all know how this works. They are deliberate, they are calculated. So that creates the impression that NNPC Limited and our leadership are doing anything to create economic sabotage in our country.

It is far from it, Mr Chairman. This company has grown, Mr Chairman. We are proud to say this. From a lost company for 43 years to a profit-making company today, Mr Chairman.

Mr Chairman, it is very clear from everything you have said through this investigative hearing that you can see the majority of the issues you have raised have nothing to do with NNPC Limited. Yet, everybody believes, by sheer misinformation which my minister has highlighted, that NNPCL is responsible for creating any economic sabotage in our country, he added.

Identities of adulterated fuel suppliers

Mr Kyari assured that he would reveal identities of suppliers of adulterated fuel across the country.

We follow the rules. Nobody will bring products into this country that dont meet specifications. If it does happen, its a crime. It couldnt have passed through any regulatory institution. It is impossible.

We all know what happens. Smuggling does take place. And Im happy that the Customs Service is here. No one can deny that smuggling takes place across our border. But for PMS and every other commodity that you can think of. This is real.

Mr Chairman, when the details come, we will tell you what we know. Mr Chairman, I also suggest that it should be said live so that everybody will hear what is going on in the industry.

Nigeria below target

Mr Edun, on his part, submitted that Nigeria is below the estimated 1.78 million barrels it is projected to produce per day.

For the 2024 budget, we had estimated and projected 1.78 million barrels per day. We are below that target at the moment, although production is moving up, I believe. And we have the experts here, but I believe we are at about 1.6 million barrels per day.

And we have a commitment that we will be able to reach two million barrels per day. And that is critical. And why it is critical is that that is the first source that we look to for foreign exchange, as well as government revenue, Mr Edun said.

The finance minister said the federal government is committed to developing the petroleum sector.

There is a commitment to dealing with these issues. And the focus also remains in the oil and gas industry in improving incentives. Already Mr. President has signed some executive orders which have meant that oil and gas investments, particularly in the gas sector, have started to flow back, he added.

Oil and gas quickest way to solve Nigerias economic challenges  Minister

Mr Lokpobiri, in his submission, said the best method to resolve the challenges of the Nigerian economic situation is to develop the oil and gas sector.

The oil and gas sector is the most critical sector of our economy. The oil and gas sector is the quickest way to solve our economic problems in the country.

You heard from the minister of finance that the quickest way we can also get forex is also through the oil and gas sector. And so this is one sector that is very fundamental and requires the support of all stakeholders, the Minister added.

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The Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Edo State, Chris Nehikhare, has confirmed that the state government received trucks of rice from the federal government after its initial denial.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mr Nehikhare had on a national television denied that the Edo State Government received trucks of rice from the federal government.

We only received grains and garri from the federal government, not rice, he had said on a live television programme.

The PDP-led governments denial prompted the opposition APC in the state to accuse it of being economical with the truth.

The APC claimed that the bags of rice looted in Benin during the nationwide protest were part of the palliative from the federal government, which the Edo State Government hoarded.

Amidst the controversy, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Abubakar Momoh, clarified that each state, including Edo, received 20 trucks of rice.

At a news conference on Wednesday in Benin, Mr Nehikhare capitulated and confirmed that the Edo State Government did receive trucks of rice from the federal government.

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He said that the federal government delivered the rice to the state with instructions that it should be shared amongst the Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs), orphanages and local government areas.

He said: On the issue of the federal government giving us rice, I will tell you, a few months ago, maybe early this year or late last year or mid-this year, they brought some trucks of rice.

They (the rice) were distributed according to the formula that they be sent to IDP camps, different people, and orphanages. You people should do the investigation.

Edo State Government did not touch any of the trucks.

They moved straight to the local governments and where they were designated to be given out.

Edo State Government does not keep rice. We have spent N2.2 billion to feed our people.

What can 20 trucks of rice do where we are close to seven million people in the state? How does that help?

According to the commissioner, the state government provided free bus services since September as part of its measures to fight poverty.

I will state categorically that the Edo State Government does not buy rice. It did not buy rice.

What it did is to provide N2.2 billion to the Christian Association of Nigeria to purchase food items: garri, yam, plantain and rice to give to the vulnerable people, and that is a deliberate government policy, he said.

(NAN)

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced that armed security operatives raided its headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday night.

NLC spokesperson Benson Upah said the heavily armed security operatives broke into the second floor and ransacked the bookshop carting away hundreds of books and other publications.

The invading troop claimed that they were looking for seditious materials used for the #EndBadGovernance Protests. he wrote.

The NLC did not participate in the #EndBadGovernance protests held across many states in Nigeria but has cautioned security operatives to be civil and not attack protesters.

In the statement, the NLC demanded the immediate withdrawal of the troops from its headquarters and threatened a nationwide strike, saying it would not hesitate to call on its members to stay at home until their safety and security are assured.

The protests

On 1 August, Nigerians commenced the #EndBadGovernance protests against poor governance, corruption, and lack of accountability.

The protests were ignited by the high cost of living, exacerbated by President Bola Tinubus economic policies, including removing fuel subsidies and devaluing the naira.

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PREMIUM TIMES reported that police and other security agencies have used force, including tear gas and live bullets, to disperse peaceful protesters in several states, including the capital, Abuja.

According to Amnesty International, at least 13 people have been killed during the protests, most by police and security forces.

However, police claim that seven people have died, none due to the activities of security operatives.

The NLC had on 3 August called on the police and other security agencies to stop shooting and killing protesters demanding good governance in Nigeria.

Deaths have been recorded in states such as Niger, Kano, and Borno as the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests continue.

The NLC also recently called for the reversal of the ill-conceived policies that have plunged the country into an economic crisis, sparking ongoing nationwide protests.

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the reversal of what it called ill-conceived policies that plunged the country into an economic crisis, sparking nationwide protests.

According to a communique jointly signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja, the union disclosed this at its emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Wednesday.

On Thursday, 1 August, Nigerians took to the streets in a protest tagged #EndBadGovernance, in response to President Bola Tinubus economic policies.

The demonstrators also voiced their frustration about the insensitivity of public officials and the overall lack of effective governance in the country.

Since he took power in 2023, the Tinubu administration has removed subsidy on petrol and electricity tariff, amid devaluation of the Nigerian currency. Although the government said the policy reforms are necessary to rejig the Nigerian economy, many Nigerians have been heavily affected by the ripple effects of the policies.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Tinubu addressed Nigerians about the protest last Sunday but did not make any concessions.

The protests turned violent in some states, mainly in northern Nigeria, leading state governments to declare curfews. In other states like Abuja, where it was peaceful, the police attacked protesters with tear gas and other ammunition, injuring many.

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Amnesty International reported that at least 22 people have been killed since the protests started, most by police officers, although the police dispute the claim.

On Wednesday, the NLC noted that the government cannot hope to stop a democratic protest by threatening the people who are already losing their lives to the unrepentant massacre of unarmed protesters by the police but by concrete actions and reasonable dialogue.

The labour union said it condemns the continuous trivialisation of treasonable felony by the government operatives, noting that the right to protest is a fundamental democratic right, and its suppression through violence is unacceptable.

The attempt to criminalise protest is completely deplorable especially in a democracy. The hiring and use of sponsored thugs and divisive propaganda in an effort to scuttle the protests is most unfortunate.

The NEC in session also frowns strongly at the unwarranted use of subterfuge on the congress by the government through the Federal Ministry of Labour as it concerns our rights to political participation. It noted the unprofessional and unethical conduct of the minister of labour through the registrar of trade unions in wilfully misdirecting a politically motivated letter to NLC. It is tendentious, mischievous and provocative, the communique reads.

In light of the concerns raised, the labour body called for the reversal of all the ill-conceived policies that have led to the current economic crisis.

According to the union, the government must implement policies that prioritise the welfare of the people, create jobs, and ensure fair distribution of resources.

It said NEC in session mandated the national leadership to decide on the day NLC will set aside as a national day of mourning in honour of those who were maimed and lost their lives in the ongoing #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests.

The communique said NEC calls for an independent investigation into the killings and maiming of protesters.

Those responsible for these heinous acts must be held accountable, and justice must be served to the victims and their families. All the peaceful protesters held illegally and unconstitutionally in the governments gulag must be freed without delay.

The NEC-in-session urges the federal government to engage in meaningful dialogue with representatives of the protesters, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to resolve all the issues at stake to end the national carnage. This is to avoid the NLC being compelled to direct its members to stay home for the safety of their lives.

The labour body explained that the government must implement immediate relief measures to alleviate the suffering of workers and the general populace.

This, it said, includes the provision of direct food aid, subsidies on essential commodities, and other social safety nets in a way that would reach the people and not be hijacked by politicians.

It noted that the NEC in session called on the federal government to restrain its officials, especially the minister of labour and the registrar of trade unions, from colluding with retrogressive political elements seeking to abridge its rights as workers and trade unions to political participation.

We demand the immediate withdrawal of that intrusive and misplaced unsolicited advice from the registrar of trade unions to avert industrial crisis as the congress and its affiliates will stop recognising and relating with him.

The NEC finally calls on all Nigerian workers to remain united and resolute in their demands for better governance. Solidarity is our strength, and together, we can amplify the voices of the people and demand justice and accountability, it said.

Meanwhile, the NEC directed all workers across the country to continue to keep themselves safe amid the protests.

Continue to take measures to protect themselves as the masses try to make their voices heard. We must maintain our commitment to non-violence and ensure that our actions are lawful and disciplined as the people protest, it said.

The NLC said it remains committed to defending the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers and the broader population.

We will not relent in our efforts to ensure that justice, equity, and good governance prevail in our nation.

The communique was released before security operatives raided the headquarters of the NLC in Abuja, according to officials.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that NLC spokesperson Benson Upah said the heavily armed security operatives broke into the second floor and ransacked the bookshop carting away hundreds of books and other publications.

Mr Upah, in the early Thursday statement, called for the immediate withdrawal of the troops.

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The police have paraded 23 persons suspected to be involved in rioting in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State during the #EndBadGovernance protest on Thursday, 1 August.

The suspects were paraded before journalists by the Commissioner of Police in the state, Shawulu Danmamman, at the police headquarters in Minna, the state capital, on Wednesday.

The suspects were accused of joint acts, criminal trespass, mischief by fire, office breaking, belonging to an assembly of thugs, and theft of government properties.

The police chief said the suspects were arrested during the nationwide protest.

Unfortunately, on the same date, at about 1000 hrs, some miscreants from the Tafa area of Kagarko LGA in Kaduna State and the Sabon-Wuse Tafa and Hayin-Dikko Gurara areas of Niger State were said to have mobilised and stormed the Tafa LGA Secretariat of Niger State located along the Abuja-Kaduna motorway in Sabon-Wuse, Tafa LGA of Niger State, Mr Danmamman stated,.

They looted office valuables such as computers, refrigerators, file cabinets, ceiling fans, chairs, television sets, and office burglaries. The police and other security agencies responded to the scene, and a total of twenty-three (23) suspects were arrested with different dangerous weapons. Others were dispersed from the scene, and most of the looted items were recovered, mostly from Kagarko in Kaduna State.

He identified the suspects arrested at the scenes as Musa Umar, aged 24, Aliyu Ibrahim, aged 13, Shamsudeen Abdullahi, aged 25, Auwal Sanusi, aged 30, Isiyaku Sanusi, aged 10, Ahmed Muktar, aged 20, and Ashiru Abdullahi, a.k.a. Yellow, aged 10, all of Tafa, Kaduna State.

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Others include Justice Danjuma, aged 19, Ismaila Aliyu aged 26, Aliyu Betara aged 24, Musa Sani aged 32, Yasir Ibrahim aged 13, Abdullahi Yusuf aged 26, Bakir Hussaini aged 15, Ahmad Jibrin aged 18, Abubakar Salisu aged 18, Yusufu Tijani aged 28, Lawal Abdullahi aged 35, Idris Sani aged 21, and Ibrahim Haruna aged 35, all of Sabon-Wuse, Tafa LGA, Niger State.

Also paraded were Ibrahim Nuhu, aged 18, and Abdulrahman Abubakar, aged 18, both of Hayin-Dikko, Gurara LGA, Niger State, and Saifullahi Usman, aged 24, of the Kano/Komboso area of Kano State.

Mr Danmamman listed items allegedly recovered from the suspects as wooden benches and office chairs, car side mirrors, extension wires, reflective jackets, ceiling fans, table calculators, laptops and generators, ceiling sheets, and office televisions.

He said the items were returned to the LGA Secretariat, while the suspects were transferred to SCID Minna for further investigation.

He said the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations were concluded.

Meanwhile, the police chief thanked Niger State residents, the youths and other stakeholders, including the state government, for their support towards ensuring that peace returned to the state.

I urge all to continue to be law-abiding citizens and cooperate with security agencies to ensure that the remaining three days of the unknown group protest pass peacefully, he said.

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Bayero University, Kano, has resumed academic activities following the return of normalcy after the #EndBadGovernance protest.

The universitys spokesperson, Lamara Garba, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

Mr Garba said the university resumed complete academic activities following the relaxation of the curfew imposed by the Kano State Government from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Management has directed all staff to resume normal duty. Lectures and other academic activities are to resume with caution.

However, all University activities should end by 5:00 p.m. pending further development.

The official statement stated that heads of departments and units are to ensure strict compliance with these directives.

The announcement on the resumption of academic activities in the school came a day after the schools authorities suspended its activities as the #EndBadGovernance protest resulted in looting and loss of lives in the state.

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The protesters were chased off the streets in Kano State after wanton looting and destruction of properties.

The state government relaxed the restrictions on movements from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. following the improvement of security and resumption of businesses in the state.

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The South-east caucus of the National Assembly has written to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, demanding the arrest and prosecution of social media handlers circulating the #IgboMustGo, in line with the Cybercrime Act.

The caucus made the demand in a petition jointly signed by its leader in the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe, and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Igariwey Enwo, on Wednesday.

The #IgboMustGo is a social media campaign for the forced relocation of Igbo people from Lagos and other South-west states of the country within one month.

It gained traction on social media since the beginning of the #EndBadGovernanance nationwide protest on Thursday last week.

In the petition dated 4 August, the federal lawmakers called the attention of the IGP to a post on X, calling on the indigenes and residents of south-west states to forcefully evacuate the Igbos from the geopolitical zone within one month.

The lawmakers specifically said an X user tweeted the post, @Lagospedia before other users started circulating it.

We write on behalf of all members of the South-east Senate Caucus and all members of the South-east House of Representatives Caucus of the 10th National Assembly. On 27 July, a handle on X (formerly Twitter) with a blue tick known as @Lagospedia (this user on 2 August abandoned this handle switching to @Lagospidia before finally deactivating it on Saturday, 3 August 2024) issued a call, which read thus: Lagosians and every SWest stakeholders should prepare for the massive protest of #IgboMustGo on the 20th-30th of August. They have one month to leave and relocate their business from all SWest States. We urge all Yorubas living in the SEast to return home. @Lagos_IBILE, the petition reads partly.

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The South-east lawmakers said many social media handlers have been attacking the Igbo people since the post went viral.

They also said the campaigners are pitching the Igbo people against the northerners by insinuating that the Igbos instigated the nationwide protest against hardship and bad governance.

Since this vile and bigoted tweet was sent out, the social media, especially X, has been inundated by vitriol against the Igbo with several handles including but not limited to the following joining the call for attacks against the Igbo: @GideonAdekusibe; @kultureklansman; @jackunle777; @adex_smithjr; @Waspapping. Some of these handles have openly called for the killing and extermination of Ndi Igbo.

As the ongoing nationwide protest continues, these anti-Igbo sentiments have led to a well-orchestrated effort at pitching Ndi Igbo against Northerners by insinuating that the Igbos instigated the protests so that Northerners can destroy their homes.

It is on record that the call for the protest was, in fact, initiated by a Yoruba man and that leaders of the South-east had called on our people not to join the protest, hence the relative peace we are enjoying in the region as there were barely any protests. May we point out that these calls for the extermination of Ndi Igbo are reminiscent of the anti-Igbo campaigns of the 1950s, which culminated in the bloody pogroms of 1966, which eventually led to an even bloodier civil war between 1967 and 1970? All over the world, calls for the extermination of a people have never ended well. The genocide in Rwanda is a good example.

The federal lawmakers said that the anti-Igbo campaigners had contravened the provisions of the Constitution and that they should be punished for their actions.

They, therefore, called on the IGP to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the anti-Igbo campaigners.

In view of these constitutional provisions, we affirm that this #IgboMustGo campaign contravenes the provisions of the Constitution and thus its champions must be brought to book. We are therefore calling on you to exercise the powers of your office in ensuring that these culprits are fished out, and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Justice must be done and be seen to be done as a deterrent to others who harbour such intentions not only against the Igbos but also against any section of the country, the lawmakers said.

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A Catholic priest in the Wukari Diocese of Taraba State, Richard Unom, was on Monday allegedly beaten by Nigerian soldiers at his Cathedral in Ikyaior, Wukari Local Government Area of the state.

The priest said he and his cook, Terhemen Cornelius, were brutalised by the soldiers.

Mr Unom, who was receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Jalingo on Wednesday when he narrated their experience to PREMIUM TIMES.

The soldiers tortured me and my cook and even threatened to kill us, despite my plea and proof of identity as a Catholic priest.

I just reported to my new station at the All Saints Pastoral Centre on Friday, 2 August 2024 and on Monday, 5 August around 9:am I saw six hilux vans load of army personnel and motorcycles in the church premises and I approached them and introduced myself as a priest in charge of the church.

I tried to enquire from them what was happening and they told me they were on a mission in the area in search of criminals.

One of them requested for water which I asked one of the altar boys to give him. I then went inside to prepare because I was heading for Wukari town to buy a few things. It was while I was inside that I heard my cook crying and calling on me for help.

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I quickly stepped out and found him on the ground while the soldiers were mercilessly beating him. I cried out that he was my cook.

I kept appealing to them to leave him and I repeated to them that I am a priest and one of them shouted you are a priest so what?

Before I realised what was happening, I saw myself on the ground with more than three soldiers on me.

They were targeting my face and I quickly turned and faced the ground. One of them came to my rescue and that was how I was spared from severe injuries.

They destroyed one of the eyes of my cook, Mr Cornelius. We are currently at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo for treatment because the eye is completely damaged, he narrated.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Jalingo, Oni Olubodunde, said those behind the said operation were not from the 6 Brigade.

I am aware of the incident but those behind the incident are not personnel of our brigade and I doubt if they are even true army personnel, Mr Olubodunde said.

When contacted the acting police spokesperson in Taraba, Gambo Kwache, said she was not aware of the incident.

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The Anambra command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested Christian Chukwugozirim, who is suspected of impersonating Nigerian Navy personnel and engaging in fraudulent activities.

The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Olatunde Maku, who paraded the suspect on Thursday, said he was arrested on Tuesday in Awka when operatives of the corps were on routine visibility patrol.

According to Mr Maku, the 39-year-old suspect hails from Nnobi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

On 6 August at Kwata Junction in Awka, the suspect was observed exhibiting an unusual appearance while impersonating military personnel, and his dubious behaviour caught the attention of our operatives.

They promptly pursued and apprehended him (and) brought him in for questioning at our office.

During questioning, the suspect claimed to be a naval rating, prompting the command to contact the Naval Base in Onitsha for verification.

However, authorities confirmed that he was an impersonator with no affiliation to the Nigerian Navy, he said.

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He said a search at the suspects residence revealed various military gears.

He listed items discovered to include a walkie-talkie, a black beret and belt, a complete blue combat uniform, a lanyard, a camouflage top, a machete, a white naval shirt and a blue beret.

Mr Maku said that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect had been masquerading as a naval officer, duping innocent civilians and engaging in a string of criminal activities.

He directed the Intelligence and Investigation Department to launch a comprehensive investigation to identify and apprehend the suspects accomplices, who are currently at large.

According to him, the suspect will be charged after investigations.

While commending the NSCDC operatives for their vigilance and professionalism in apprehending the suspect, Mr Maku reiterated the corps commitment to safeguarding residents from impostors and criminals.

This arrest will serve as a deterrent and stop those using the cover of security personnel to perpetrate criminal acts in Anambra state.

I urge the public to remain vigilant and provide the command with timely and accurate information that will lead to the arrest and prosecution of criminal elements, he said.

(NAN)

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Heirs Energies, Africas leading integrated energy company, said it had doubled its oil production in 100 days, from 27,000 barrels to 52,000 per day.

The Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Energies, Osa Igiehon, disclosed this in an interview with Financial Times, highlighting the companys contributions to Nigerias energy sector despite the challenging operating environment.

We took over operational control from the previous operator in July of 2021 we essentially doubled our oil production in 100 days, from 27,000 barrels to 52,000 barrels of oil per day. But we noticed very quickly that whilst we were trying to ramp up production, what was getting to the terminal was declining, Mr Igiehon said.

He explained that a global push for energy transition has made financing for oil and gas more challenging.

Founded in 2021, Heirs Energies operates an Oil Mining License (OML17) with a mission to ensure that Nigerian businesses and consumers derive direct benefit from the countrys natural resources.

Mr Igiehon noted that the company manages 5 per cent of Nigerias oil production and a similar share of domestic gas production.

We operate about five per cent of Nigerias oil production and roughly about another five per cent of Nigerias gas production into the domestic market. Whilst we hear the global narrative of energy transition, which talks about moving from predominantly one source of energy through other sources of energy, he added.

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According to him, the recent trend of international oil companies exiting onshore operations in Nigeria created opportunities for indigenous firms like Heirs Energies to fill the void.

He further explained that Africapitalism positions the private sector at the forefront of investments to improve lives and drive economic prosperity and social progress.

Mr Igiehon emphasised that oil theft is a major challenge to Nigerias energy sector developments.

The country should be in the position to produce two to 2.5 million barrels per day. Today, we are only able to produce somewhere in the range of 1.2 to 1.5 million barrels over a day. There are a number of causative factors, but the biggest is theft.

The second challenge is then the point of investment because of the theft, it has created a scenario where there has been a stifling of investment in the sector, he said.

However, he highlighted that the country has improved in the fight against theft compared to previous years.

In December of 2021, we only got three per cent of our production at the terminal. Today, we now get an average of 85 per cent of our production. So, lots of appreciation to the government for the steps and very decisive steps they have taken and sustained to secure the pipelines, he said.

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Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has lifted a 25-year embargo on employment in the state civil service.

Erasmus Ekpang, the commissioner for information, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Calabar on Wednesday.

While noting that the last time mass employment took place in the service was in 1999, Mr Ekpang said 2,000 people would be recruited in the first phase.

He said the recruitment exercise, which would begin immediately, will be carried out across all the Ministry, Department and Agencies (MDAs).

The immediate past administration tried to employ but when the present government came in, lots of flaws were discovered in that exercise.

As we speak, the state civil service is almost depleted, and we are indeed happy that the governor has considered it necessary to recruit at this point in time, he stated.

When asked if the state will pay the N70,000 minimum wage, the commissioner said, That will be considered at the appropriate time.

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In another development, Mr Otu has commended the people of the state for not participating in the nationwide protest against economic hardship.

He specifically commended youths for allowing peace to reign in Cross River.

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There was confusion in a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, as two counsels announced an appearance for Rivers House of Assembly in a suit seeking an order to shut down all expenditures of the Rivers State Government.

The Rivers assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, had filed the suit before Justice Emeka Nwite to restrain Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers from having access to the states funds until he re-presents the appropriation law for the 2024 financial year before the house.

In the originating summons dated 14 July but filed on 15 July by their lead counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, the Rivers assembly and Mr Amaewhule are 1st and 2nd plaintiffs.

They sued the Central Bank of Nigeria, Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, Accountant-General of the Federation, Governor Fubara, and Accountant-General of Rivers as 1st to 6th defendants, respectively.

Others include Rivers Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Chief Judge of Rivers, Justice S.C. Amadi, Chairperson of RSIEC, Adolphus Enebeli and the Government of Rivers State as 7th to 10th defendants respectively.

Background

The plaintiffs sought an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria, Zenith and Access Banks, including the Attorney General of the Federation, from honouring any request or financial instruction issued by Mr Fubara for revenue of Rivers State or Rivers State Government in their custody for the benefit of Rivers State or Rivers State Government.

Justice Nwite had, on 17 July, refused to grant the plaintiffs ex-parte motion moved by Sebastien Hon, SAN, for the suspension of the states expenditures pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

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The judge, instead, ordered the plaintiffs to put all the defendants in the suit on notice and adjourned until 7 August (today) for a hearing.

Who has right to appear for Rivers assembly?

However, when the matter was called on Wednesday and the 1st and 2nd plaintiffs counsel, Mr Hon, announced his appearance, another lawyer, Sammie Somiari, SAN, stood up to also announce his representation for the 1st plaintiff (Rivers assembly).

Mr Somiari said pursuant to a notice of change of counsel filed on 5 August, he was in court to represent the Rivers assembly and also to appear for the applicant (Victor Oko-Jumbo) seeking to be joined as co-plaintiff pursuant to the motion filed on 6 August.

He said another motion on notice was filed on 6 August, seeking an order striking out the name of the assembly from the originating summons.

The News Agency of Nigeria observes that in the three motions filed, Mr Somiari argued that an originating summons was filed on Rivers assemblys behalf without authorisation.

Take notice that the 1st plaintiff herein has changed their Counsel, J. B. Daudu, SAN of J. B. Daudu & Co., and now briefed S. A. Somiari, SAN, MCIArb (UK) of Sammie Somiari & Associates for the purposes of legal representation in this suit, the notice of change of counsel read.

Also in the motion seeking an order joining Mr Oko-Jumbo in the case, Mr Somiari argued that Mr Amaewhule filed the suit without the leave and authority of the assembly.

The lawyer submitted that Mr Oko-Jumbo is the incumbent speaker of the 10th Rivers Assembly and the statutory head of the legislative arm of government.

He said he was elected on 8 May following the resignation of the former speaker, Edison Ehie.

Mr Somiari said Mr Amaewhule, who was elected to represent his constituency at the Rivers assembly on the platform of the PDP, publicly announced his defection on 11 December 2023, to the APC without any lawful justification, alongside several former members of the house.

He said following the said unconstitutional cross-carpeting of Mr Amaewhule and others, their legislative seats were declared vacant on 13 December 2023 by the former speaker, thereby leading to the cessation of their membership of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The 2nd plaintiff, who is no longer the speaker of the House of Assembly, cannot institute an action in that capacity, he said, among other grounds.

Another lawyer, Collins Dike, equally announced his appearance for Obio/Akor Local Government Council of Rivers State as the party seeking to be joined as the 11th defendant in the matter.

When Mr Hon stood up to make his submission on the issue of change of counsel, Mr Somiari objected, urging the court to direct Mr Hon to file a formal application if he had a contrary view.

If he has any query on the motion for change of counsel, he can put it in writing in accordance with Section 6(5)(c), he said.

But Mr Hon insisted that based on the Supreme Court decision in Modu Sheriff Vs. PDP, the court could take his argument orally without filing a counter affidavit, citing Section 36(1) of the constitution.

We are here and representing a faction (of the House of Assembly) that is recognised by law, he said.

Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, who appeared for Governor Fubara, argued that Mr Hon could not have been heard when there were motions for joinder.

Mr Iboroma argued that Order 9(16) of the Federal High Court Rules prescribed that issues of joinder had to be settled before the court proceed in the matter.

The Central Bank of Nigerias lawyer, S.T. Ologunorisa, SAN, also disagreed with Mr Hon on his submission.

Mr Ologunorisa said the issue of the plaintiffs and counsel in the case must be decided first so that he would know who he is responding to.

Turudu Ede, SAN, who appeared for Rivers Attorney General (6th defendant), aligned himself with Mr Ologunorisas submission.

We need to know who brought us to court first. That has to be sorted out first in this kind of situation because we have an avalanche of papers to deal with, he said.

Isaac Ita, who said he appeared in protest on behalf of the 10th defendant (Rivers State Government), argued that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the matter being a vacation court.

Citing Order 46(5) of the Federal High Court Rules, he said besides that the matter was not filed during vacation, there was no urgency that would have warranted hearing the suit during the vacation.

But Justice Nwite informed that he was directed by the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, to hear the matter as a vacation judge.

My Learner CJ gave me the order to continue this matter during vacation

Can I show you the authority given to me by my Learner CJ to continue this matter as vacation judge? he asked.

Mr Hon, therefore, argued that the chief judge has the administrative power pursuant to the Federal High Court Act to give the directive.

The judge said looking at the contention of parties, there were some issues that needed to be resolved before proceeding.

Mr Hon then sought for a 10-minute stand-down to allow him to consult with his team of lawyers, and the application was granted.

After the court reconvened, Mr Hon applied for an adjournment to enable him to respond to all the motions filed.

The lawyer also applied for an abridgement of time within which parties could file and respond to processes in the suit.

Justice Nwite, who adjourned the matter until 30 August for hearing the motions, ordered parties to file and respond to processes within seven days of receipt of court documents.

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The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Muhammed, says his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will employ President Bola Tinubu as its campaign director come 2027 as the presidents policies are making him unpopular.

Mr Muhammed stated this at the flagging off of the PDP local government election campaign in the state at the Government House, Bauchi on Wednesday.

There is hunger and anger. We have to address our problems of development. Unemployment is everywhere, our educational system is not working, and the new policies of the federal government are not working.

They have to understand that. Its their problem; its their programme that has caused all these problems. On your behalf, I am telling Mr President (Bola) Tinubu to change his policies because its not working.

If he continues like this, in 2027, I will invite him to be our campaign director because everywhere would be PDP, and we are going to win because its self-inflicted injury, the governor stated.

The governor also chided the federal government on the disbursement of palliatives and money sent to the state governors, saying that the amount the federal government is making is huge while the state is given a pittance.

I have heard with regrettable attention some of the ministers of the federal government are saying that we have been given 70 trucks, given over N500 million, (but) how much is the federal government making? What have they done with it? Why should they bring a policy that is causing pain? Mr Muhammed said.

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The governor also blamed the naira devaluation of the Central Bank of Nigeria as the reason the existing minimum wage cannot purchase a bag of maize for the workers.

Who brought hunger? Who brought suffering? Who brought abusing people? Who brought the protest? We know there is hunger. There is suffering.

The salary doesnt pay the bill. We pay salaries on time but it doesnt buy a bag of maize. Who brought such a situation? the governor asked as the gatherings jeered the president.

He removed the fuel subsidy. He made N30,000 unable to buy a bag of maize. They are lying and deceiving that they give us money. But, the money/grant that increased has become useless courtesy of devaluation of naira, the governor added.

On the #EndBadGovernance protests, Mr Muhammed said the PDP had heard the citizens grievances and said the federal governments excuses are insufficient in addressing the publics concerns.

We have listened to you; we have some leadership lapses, he stated, adding that the violence that erupted in Katagum Local Government Area was a communication gap.

He said the PDP was poised to grant local governments full autonomy before the Supreme Court ruling on the matter.

He said the state and local governments are interdependent for success.

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A wooden cargo boat, identified as Godbless Dickson, laden with cargo and over 64 passengers and crew, exploded and was engulfed with flames, leaving 20 dead in the waterways in Bayelsa State, south-south Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt on Thursday that the tragic incident occurred on Wednesday along the Ezetu 1 community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

Musa Mohammed, the police spokesperson in Bayelsa told NAN correspondent that 20 people have been so far confirmed dead, while rescue efforts by the Marine Police unit were still ongoing.

The ill-fated cargo boat, laden with farm produce from the rural settlement, was en route to Swali market in Yenagoa.

Ogoniba Ipigansi, chairperson of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Bayelsa Chapter, also confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with a NAN Correspondent on Thursday.

He said that a rescue team of the union, consisting of two speedboats, had been dispatched to the scene to assist the passengers on board.

Also, he said that the exact number of casualties was yet to be ascertained, as the rescue was still underway and several people on board were yet to be accounted for.

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A speedboat operator, Augustine Amayoro, who participated in rescue efforts, said he rescued 10 persons from the scene, leaving other passengers stranded in the nearby fishing camp.

NAN gathered that the wooden cargo boats were exempted from the state governments ban on night navigation on waterways.

Because of the slow pace of navigation, the cargo boats set sail a day ahead of the targeted weekly market days of Thursdays when farm produce flood the Swali waterside in Yenagoa.

The chairperson of the Southern Ijaw, Target Segibo, who bemoaned the loss of 20 persons in the incident, described the disaster as regrettable.

He called for concerted efforts by stakeholders to strengthen safety regulations in the marine transport sector.

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A retail outlet of ExxonMobil filling station along Awolowo Road, opposite Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, went up in flames on Thursday, leaving two people critically injured, six vehicles burnt, and segments of a nearby building destroyed.

The fire incident was caused by the explosion of a 12-tonne gas truck at the filling station.

Emergency responders said that the gas truck exploded at about 11 a.m.

Though no casualties were recorded, two adult males are said to have been severely burnt and rushed to the Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for treatment.

A statement by Head, Public Affairs Unit, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Nosa Okunbor, said others who sustained minor injuries were promptly rescued and given immediate medical attention by the agencys pre-hospital care team in collaboration with LASAMBUS.

In response to distress calls received by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, through the 767/112 Toll-Free Emergency lines at 1108hrs, the agency activated its Tiger Response Team from the Command and Control Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

Upon arrival of the Tiger Team at the incident scene, it was observed that the Mobil filling station at the location above was engulfed in flames.

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On further investigations conducted at the incident scene, the fire was attributed to the explosion of a 12-tonne gas truck, registration number unknown, which impacted several cars within the filling station and portions of a nearby building, the statement read in part.

It added that the agencys response team, and personnel from the Lagos State Fire Service and Rescue team, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the Nigeria Police were deployed to the scene to prevent the fire from escalating.

The fire is under control, as it was quickly contained by the agencys LRT and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service to prevent it from escalating to the surroundings, it stated.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation, according to LASEMA.

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Blessing Oyindamola, a Nigerian working as a customer service advisor, lives in Manchester, one of the first cities to be attacked by rioters. She was gearing up for her childs first birthday and had plans to go pick up a cake before the ongoing riots in the United Kingdom started.

Since then, she has spent most of her time at home, afraid of what could happen if she came across the rioters.

We feel targeted but have not experienced any (violence) first-hand because we would rather not leave home, she told PREMIUM TIMES about the riots which are now targeting immigrants around the UK.

The riots began after three young girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga event in Southport, north England, last Monday.

According to local news, the riots have been fuelled by misinformation online, the far-right and anti-immigration sentiment.

When Yemi Olawepo, an Administrative Assistant and Data Processor living in Bournemouth, first spoke to this reporter on Tuesday, he did not feel targeted as his city was calm. Instead, he was emotionally traumatised.

At the moment, I do not feel targeted even if you do not feel targeted, you could be a target because you do not know the intent of the other person in the bus, at the bus station, while walking or passing by a handful of people, he said.

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This calm was short-lived. About 24 hours after the first exchange with this reporter, the riots reached Bournemouth. Now, Mr Olawepo is concerned about the welfare of his family, especially his children, who are due to be back in school in a few weeks.

Just this evening, the protests are happening in the city I reside in, and people are scared of the uncertainties in Bournemouth, he told this reporter.

Like Mr Olawepo, Mamuzo Adums, who lives in London, has yet to witness any riots in his area but is affected emotionally by the news he has received so far from friends living in affected areas.

It is a shame what is happening in the UK I knew there was subtle racism but I could never have imagined this will happen, Mr Adums said. He encouraged Nigerians in the UK to shut down any rhetoric being perpetuated online by racist hoodlums and far rights influencers.

We must not allow their lies fly. We are good people and we behave ourselves in an orderly manner in this country and should not be made to feel unsafe or suffer, he added.

Although Mrs Oyindamola sympathises with the loss of the young girls, she believes it is being used as a cover to act on existing grievances.

A lot of Brits are of the notion that immigrants come here free, get all the jobs, stay in five-star hotels and take all the benefits, she noted.

She said she is comforted by her British friends, who have condemned the ongoing violence. We will continue to be upstanding members of society and hope to be accorded the same respect and dignity.

While the protests continue to spread across different cities, the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has assured the public that offenders will be made to face the law.

I utterly condemn the far-right thuggery we have seen this weekend. Be in no doubt, those who have participated in this violence will face the full force of the law, he said on Sunday on X.

BBC reported that three men who admitted taking part in riots in Southport and Liverpool in the days after the three girls were killed have been jailed.

Responding to the widespread racist and anti-immigrant riots, groups of anti-racist protesters hit the streets wielding placards reading refugees welcome, stop the far right.

On Monday, the Nigerian government issued a security advisory to Nigerians wanting to travel to the United Kingdom.

The violence has assumed dangerous proportions as evidenced by reported attacks on law enforcement agents and damage to infrastructure. To this end, citizens are advised to be extra vigilant, avoid political processions and protests, rallies or marches, the advisory read.

On Tuesday, the head of NIDCOM, the Nigerian agency responsible for the interests of Nigerians in the Diaspora, met with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Mongomery, and other officials to discuss the fate of Nigerians living in the UK amidst the riots.

At the meeting, Mr Mongomery assured Nigerians in the UK of their safety and security. However, many of them, like Ms Oyindamola, still feel unsafe.

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Staff members and officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have deserted their offices after security operatives allegedly raided the congress national secretariat on Wednesday night.

NLC President Joe Ajaero had alleged that its Pascal Bafyau Labour House national secretariat in Abuja was invaded by armed security operatives both in uniform and mufti.

Mr Ajaero, in a message sent to the group WhatsApp platform of Labour correspondents, said the incident occurred at about 9 p.m.

Comrades, armed security men, both in uniform and mufti, just invaded the Labour House in their numbers and were at the 10th Floor and 2nd Floor, he stated.

Mr Ajaero also said the operatives ransacked books at a bookshop located in the building, carrying all the materials into their van, claiming that they were used to incite and organise the recent protest.

When PREMIUM TIMES visited the 10-storey building behind the Federal Ministry of Finance in the Central Business District (CBD) of Abuja on Thursday, it was observed that no staff member or official of the congress reported for work.

The congress offices on about three floors of the building, including those of the President and the general secretary on the 10th floor, were locked.

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This newspaper learnt that the ransacked bookshop is owned by a foreign national engaged in photocopying and other publishing activities. However, it did not open for business today due to the incident.

The shelves of the bookshop and cartons scattered all over the floor during our visit.

It is speculated that the SSS operatives targeted the office because they were unable to locate the tenant at his residence.

In a telephone interview on Thursday, NLC General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja told PREMIUM TIMES that the security operatives came to the Labour House shortly after the NLCs National Executive Council (NEC) on Wednesday.

Mr Ugboaja alleged that the 10th floor, where his office and that of the President are located, were the targets of the operatives.

The 10th floor, where both the President and I have our offices, was targeted. The security officer was taken from there and forced to open an office on the 2nd floor that belongs to a tenant, he stated.

He questioned the SSSs motives, stating that the 10th floor is not associated with any individual.

If they claim they were after a specific person, does the entire 10th floor belong to one individual? The security guard they held at gunpoint, who does he work for? he asked.

When asked if he could confirm whether the NLCs offices were specifically targeted, Mr Ugboaja said, How would I know? They came at night after we had left.

Mr Ugboaja added that the raid has left the NLC staff fearful of returning to work.

Until the SSS clarifies their actions and assures us that the premises are safe, we wont be going back, he said.

In an earlier statement, NLC spokesperson Benson Upah said security operatives broke into the building on Wednesday night.

They ransacked the bookshop, taking away hundreds of books and other publications, the statement read.

Mr Upah denounced the action, saying, The Nigeria Labour Congress condemns in its entirety this new low in security operations in Nigeria. Even in the dark days of military rule, NLC secretariats were never invaded and ransacked by security agents. Today is indeed a very sad day for our democracy.

Another senior NLC official, who arrived at Labour House when this reporter visited, reiterated the congresss stance, saying the attack was on their property.

This building is ours. The attack was on our facility, the official who requested anonymity, said.

SSS denies allegations of raid

The incident has raised serious concerns about the security of labour unions in Nigeria, with the NLC demanding an explanation from the SSS and a guarantee of safety for their members.

The SSS on Thursday refuted claims that its operatives invaded the NLC national headquarters.

In a brief statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the agency categorically denied any involvement in the alleged operation.

Please kindly note that the Service (DSS) did not carry out any operation at the NLC office in Abuja, the statement read.

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The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) recently held a two-day workshop in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, to empower journalists with the knowledge and skills to navigate the complexities of Nigerian laws and regulations as they affect media practice.

The programme was organised with support from the MacArthur Foundation through the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusion, and Accountability (CMEDIA) project.

The program, which commenced on Tuesday and ended on Wednesday, covered a range of topics and issues crucial to journalism practice, including national, regional and international frameworks on freedom of expression, press freedom and the safety of journalists.

Others include legal frameworks that are inimical and beneficial to media freedom in Nigeria, digital security and common digital threats to journalism practice, ethics in journalism practice in Nigeria, how to avoid legal liabilities as a journalist, and how to protect information, systems, confidential sources and contacts.

The workshop was attended by about 30 participants made up of media professionals from broadcast, print and online media organisations from different states.

Director speaks

In the rapidly evolving media landscape, workshops such as this are more significant than ever, Edetean Ojo, MRAs executive director, said in his opening remark.

Mr Ojo said the workshop is to ensure that journalists are grounded in the legal landscape that governs the profession.

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He said: Such workshops also enhance your ability to report accurately, responsibly, and fairly, which is essential for maintaining public trust and upholding the principles of democracy, he said.

So by investing your time in participating in such a programme, you not only improve your competence and confidence, but you can also be more resilient and innovative, which in turn, strengthens the overall quality of journalism and its critical role in informing and empowering the public.

Avoiding legal liability as a journalist

Mr Ojo described legal liability as an adverse legal consequence as a result of ones action or inaction which can arise under civil or criminal laws.

He said defamation suits or claims are arguably the most common legal problem for journalists and media organisations.

He implored journalists to have a good understanding of defamation laws in order to avoid being slammed with a suit arising from it.

Always double-check your information and try to verify the facts from multiple credible sources before publishing, Mr Ojo advised.

Clearly separate opinion pieces from factual reporting and use accurate quotations.

Even after doing due diligence, claims of defamation may sometimes be made against a journalist, Mr Ojo said.

But there are defences available to a journalist or media organisation facing a defamation claim.

Understanding the available defenses is critical. Defenses include; truth, privilege, fair comment, innocent dissemination, consent and retraction.

Obioma Okonkwo, MRA legal officer, mentioned some laws impacting media freedom such as the Nigeria Press Council Act, Criminal Code Act, National Health Act, Child Rights Act, Cybercrime Act, Official Secret Act and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) code.

READ ALSO: NUJ restricts visitors to Edo press centre

The NBC code, for instance, does not respect fair hearing, she said.

One of the participants, Maryam Olaniyi from Naijonline, told PREMIUM TIMES that the training emphasises the need for continuous advocacy, legal reform, and international cooperation to uphold the rights of journalists and the integrity of media institutions.

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A prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, responded on Thursday to critics of the Supreme Court judgement ordering direct payment of Nigerias 774 local governments shares of federal allocations directly to them.

The judgement, delivered in July, upturned the longstanding arrangement of paying the local government areas federal allocations into joint accounts controlled by the state governors in their respective states.

The Supreme Court ruled that it was illegal and unconstitutional for governors to receive and withhold funds allocated to local government areas in their states.

Mr Ozekhome said the judgement is binding and must be enforced nationwide.

He said the Supreme Courts interpretation of section 162 of the Nigerian constitution was unambiguous, leaving no room for delay in its implementation.

Many people, both Nigerians and non-Nigerians, have asked me whether the Supreme Court erred in its interpretation of Section 162(3), (4), (5), and (6) of the 1999 Constitution, and what can be done about the allegedly incorrect judgement, Mr Ozekhome said in a statement released Thursday in Abuja.

My response is simple: the judgement of the Supreme Court is not just enforceable, it is superior to the written provisions of the Constitution. The law is not merely what is stated on paper; it is what the courts interpret it to be, he explained, referencing an opinion of an American jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., who once said, The prophecies of what the courts will do in fact, and nothing more pretentious, are what I mean by the law.

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He further argued that the Supreme Courts interpretation of section 162 of the constitution prevails over the plain text, as the law only comes to life through judicial interpretation.

Addressing concerns about the enforceability of the decision, Mr Ozekhome referenced section 287(1) of the constitution, which mandates that decisions of the Supreme Court shall be enforced in any part of the federation by all authorities and persons, and by courts of subordinate jurisdiction to that of the Supreme Court.

He said the the judgement remains enforceable regardless of contrary opinions anyone may hold about its interpretation of the constitution.

Even if the Supreme Courts interpretation of section 162 is considered flawed, the judgement remains binding on all until it is either overturned by a higher authority or the relevant section of the Constitution is amended, the senior lawyer said.

He said no person or authority has the discretion to selectively obey or disobey a court judgement.

He cited a 2007 case, Michael Balonwu & Ors v. Governor of Anambra State & Ors, where the court held that an order of the court, whether valid or not, must be obeyed until it is set aside.

The rule of law demands that court judgments be respected and enforced, regardless of whether one agrees with them, he said.

Agreement on procedure

Mr Ozekhome suggested that the federal, state, and local governments jointly establish procedures for the direct payment of allocations to local governments.

This is not a complex issue, Mr Ozekhome said, noting that the Supreme Courts decision aimed to correct the long-standing misuse of local government funds by state governors. The judgment was clear: by Section 162(3) and (5) of the Constitution, allocations from the Federation Account to local governments must be distributed and paid directly to them.

The directives in this judgement are straightforward, unambiguous, and must be implemented without delay.

I stand by my earlier opinion that the Supreme Court was correct in its interpretation of Section 162, and I urge all concerned parties to respect the rule of law as we work towards true fiscal federalism in Nigeria, he said.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled in favour of granting financial autonomy to the countrys 774 local governments, a decision seen as a significant step towards strengthening local governance.

In a unanimous decision delivered on 11 July by its seven-member panel, the Supreme Court upheld a suit brought by the federal government seeking to bolster the independence of local governments across the nation.

A Supreme Court judge, Emmanuel Agim, who delivered the lead judgement, ordered that local governments must begin to receive their federal allocations directly from the Accountant-General of the Federation.

Mr Agim ruled that it was illegal and unconstitutional for state governors to receive and withhold funds intended for local government areas (LGAs).

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While several groups of people, including one of my constituencies  the civil society  have made pilgrimages to the humongous site of the Dangote Refinery, unarguably the largest private refinery in the world, l decided on sifting facts from emotions. The issue has even reverberated in the hallowed chambers of the House of Representatives, where the adhoc committee set up to investigate the issue, among other issues in the upstream and midstream petroleum sections, was dissolved recently.

When the Dangote refinery controversy blew up, naturally as one wired to support anyone l perceive to be oppressed, this time, Dangote, l lined up in support of the richest man in Africa.

I perceived he was being unduly treated by the downstream and midstream regulators, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). For days, l had heated arguments with people of opposing views on this matter. However, one person l respect cautioned that people should not be too emotive on this matter but seek knowledge. I took that as a challenge.

Subsequently, in an attempt not to look foolish out of emotive consideration, l opened my mind to critically study the issues involved and even the nitty gritty technical details of the oil and gas system. And because l owe an obligation to educate people, l had to open up myself to information, researching on this issue and the petroleum sector, devoid of emotions.

While several groups of people, including one of my constituencies  the civil society  have made pilgrimages to the humongous site of the Dangote Refinery, unarguably the largest private refinery in the world, l decided on sifting facts from emotions. The issue has even reverberated in the hallowed chambers of the House of Representatives, where the adhoc committee set up to investigate the issue, among other issues in the upstream and midstream petroleum sections, was dissolved recently.

In a report today by Daily Nigerian, the Speaker of the House of Reps, Abbas Tajuddeen, dissolved the committee over alleged compromise by some of its members, who had exculpated the richest man in Africa, even before the assignment kicked off.

From my findings, there are three major critical issues that are affecting the operations of Dangote Refinery.

1. Crude Supply Feedstock

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It appears that when Dangote was building the refinery, there were no proper arrangements on ground on how he would get feedstock for the refinery, which is the largest single train refinery in the world. Nobody builds and opens a refinery of this magnitude without agreements to get feedstock. Dangote didnt have a feedstock agreement for his refinery.

I have read where some people claim that he has an agreement with NNPC Ltd, but that arrangement was not for feedstock. What happened with the NNPC Ltd. arrangement was that during the building phase, the Dangote Refinery project got stuck and NNPC Ltd got the approval of the President to take equity in it.

Subsequently, the NNPC got a loan and paid $1 billion as part of the 20 per cent equity, while the rest was to be paid in crude supply.

The lack of feedstock was part of Dangotes problem and he is now sourcing feedstock when the refinery has been powered. So far, NNPC Ltd has given him 39 cargoes.

2. Crude Oil Prices

Dangotes claim that international oil companies (IOCs) are selling crude oil to him at $6 per barrel above the international price doesnt seem to be true. What l discovered is that crude oil has different grades. What he got from the US is WTI and the price is not the same as others. Another key issue under pricing is that the margin of sale of crude oil is different because it is an international business. There is what is called market margin and it is usually from $1.5 to up to $20 per barrel.

There are several crude grades and Dangote Refinery blends different grades of crude for its products. So, when Dangote said he is importing from the United States, it is because he needs it as part of the grades to be used to blend in his refinery to produce petroleum products. His refinery needs several percentage of Bonny light, WTI and others to be able to blend very well. But he is using the fact that he imports from US to give the impression that he is importing oil from several countries, when in actual fact he is actually sourcing different crude grades to blend.

Another critical point of under pricing is that the marketers buy this crude grades and add their own margin, which ranges from $1.5 to $20, but the Nigerian government is giving it to Dangote at a margin of $0.5 per barrel, which to me seems to be a good deal for him.

One other contentious issue is that Dangote is also persuading the regulator to convince the international oil companies to give him crude, but the IOCs cannot do that because they have Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) with the Nigerian government. Through the PSCs, the IOCs produce, give Nigeria government its share and take their share of the crude and sell to marketers. Dangote didnt enter any agreement with the IOCs to give him feedstock. What people must also know is that these IOCs borrow money from banks, invest in equipment, drill the oil fields, give government its share and take theirs, by selling, recovering their costs and make further investments.

Also, Dangote wants to use the local refinery obligation to obfuscate issues but this is not working for him because the local refinery obligation, according to the PIA, is based on a willing buyer and willing seller arrangement. This means the product must be available, and the parties must agree on the price in line with Section 109 of the PIA, which deals with the National Crude Oil Requirement of Refineries. The section states that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission shall base the allocation of the domestic crude oil supply obligation applicable to the respective lessees on the National Crude Oil Demand Requirement Supply Curve, which is the curve of crude oil or condensates that can be supplied on a voluntary basis at the prevailing international market price.

3. Downstream

On the controversial issue of licensing of Dangote Refinery, while it has the license to build the plant, the refinery does not have licenses that cover other parts of its operations.

For monopoly, Dangote is asking the regulator to direct all oil marketers to get petroleum products from his refinery. But the question to ask is: Can Dangote guarantee Nigeria three billion litres of petroleum products per day, in strategic national reserves for 32 days, and not sell it? As a business entity, for Dangote to keep these products in strategic national reserves without selling them will lead to huge losses for him.

For the regulator to give Dangote that monopoly that he asking for means that the business of other oil marketers would be killed and this is against the policy of deregulation, because marketers should be allowed to import, so that there can be healthy competition.

Another critical point to note is that Dangote Refinery operates in a free trade zone and he will be exempted from paying tax to government. This is a loss of revenue to the government. The petroleum products from the refinery would be sold in foreign currency, instead of naira, to Nigerians, as oil marketers who want to buy from there will fill form M (Importers form) in the bank.

Another contentious issue is the sulphur content in the petroleum products. It was reported in the media that the NMDPRA has a minimum of 11 staff members in Dangote Refinery and all other local refineries. The test of the petroleum products from the refinery are done daily and sent to the regulator. This means the regulator knows what they are saying when they stated that the product is inferior.

One worrisome aspect of the whole arrangement is that Dangote will need a minimum of $1.8 billion working capital to operate the refinery and no bank would be willing to give it to him because he appears to be in a financial tight corner.

This was further confirmed with the recent International Fitch ratings, which downgraded the Dangote Industries Limited, reflecting the precarious liquidity position of the business conglomerate.

The report stated, inter alia, that the groups liquidity position, followed lower than expected disposal proceeds, operational and financial underperformance compared to our prior expectations, also affected by local currency devaluation, and lack of contracted backup funding to repay its significant debt facilities maturing on 31 August 2024.We view the lack of DILs audited accounts for 2023 as a corporate governance issue. The RWN reflects uncertainty related to the groups ability to refinance maturing debt.

Lack of tangible steps to refinance or repay the maturing debt would lead to further downgrade while we do not expect a positive rating action until the companys liquidity position improves substantially.

I love Dangote and his can-do spirit  the reason l initially was emotive when this controversy broke out, as l felt he was being unduly treated. But my study of the whole scenario has changed my perspective. I want him to succeed but he too has to do the needful. The monopolistic mindset which he carried from his cement business cannot work in the deregulated petroleum sector. More importantly, he needs a pragmatic approach to solve his liquidity challenges in this petroleum sector, which, with the benefit of hindsight, he underestimated, based on the seeming hand-in-gloves relationship he had with the previous leadership of the Central Bank of Nigeria, where it appeared he had easy access to funds.

Soji Adekunmbi, an Abuja based public policy analyst, in an article in The Cable, proffered solutions to Dangote to enable him navigate the humongous financial quagmire he seems to have found himself, when he posited: A few options are available to Dangote but the most viable of them is that he should consider divesting some of his shares in the refinery. It may seem a difficult option but it is the best for him given the circumstances.

There are business entities who took a similar path when confronted with some of the challenges seemingly facing Dangote. In Saudi Arabia, the Saudi government sold Aramco, the national oil company to the public when it faced difficulties.

Even Microsoft founder, Bill Gates sold off a majority of his stake in the company retaining a mere five percent interest in the business. Gates took that route after facing anti-trade court cases following Microsofts monopolistic nature, which had caused the collapse of several IT companies.

Dangote should do the needful by selling shares to Nigerians as it is obvious given the intricate nature of business in the oil and gas sector particularly the huge capital outlay required to keep a business going, he cannot pull it off alone.

Richard Akinnola, a journalist, author, and lawyer, is executive director of the Centre for Free Speech.

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If the masses want to lower the cost of governance, they should also be prepared to withdraw such undue recognition accorded to stolen common patrimony by some of our politicians and public officeholders. If one is in an environment where no one cares about the size of your house or car, the tendency to de-emphasise them would be high, and the tendency to steal to impress would be low.

I have always wondered why some erstwhile good people go into politics, accept political appointments, and come out changed. I have also wondered what goes on in the minds of our political leaders. For instance, how do they see leadership and governance? Are they concerned about the people? The search for answers has somehow turned me into a political anthropologist.

Of course, some political leaders are outstanding. They are other-oriented and genuinely interested in the welfare of their people. They go out of their way to make things happen. Their legacies speak for them. However, many are selfish, narcissistic, self-centred and feed on the ignorance of the poor masses and sycophants who prop them up. Ironically, they are only what they are because the masses empower them to be such.

Take the concerns about the high cost of governance, one of the trending issues in Nigeria today, for example. Having observed the political class both closely and from a distance, it seems that the masses are at the root of Nigerias high cost of governance. I will tell you why.

I have had the experience of an ex-prime minister as a colleague. His lifestyle was very simple. He lived in an average apartment and cycled to school. He was not treated in any special way by us, his colleagues. Not that he expected it. But even if he did, he wouldnt get it. This is in Europe.

Having lived in Europe for decades, I have always been struck by the freedom it offers the average citizen. I am not talking about the usual freedom of being able to do the things you want to do or the unfreedom associated with poverty. Instead, I am talking about the freedom to be oneself, irrespective of colour, ethnicity, faith, and sexual orientation. Although you see the odd racial attacks, those are largely in the minority. No one cares, as long as you dont intend to harm others or yourself.

Thats why when some of our big men and women are in Europe, they blend in unnoticed. No bodyguards. No fanfare. No convoys. No noise.

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If you are a politician in a society like this, where who you are and what you are rarely counts, there is almost no incentive to ask to be noticed. There is also no need or pressure to impress anyone because this society is a leveller.

The other thing that helps is that there is no apparent competition to be the wealthiest and most powerful in a community. There are no kinsmen and women to impress or oppress. Society has found a way to provide basic amenities. The unemployed are placed on benefits. People with disabilities are taken care of. No one is a burden to anyone, because society takes care of all.

although it takes about six hours to fly directly between Lagos and most European cities, the difference in maturity and relevance between their political and socio-economic institutions is about 600 years apart. So, each move in either direction comes across as time travel. Either you are going back in time (i.e. travelling to Lagos) or forward in time (i.e. travelling to European cities). A successful back-and-forth would require appropriate mental and psychological calibrations and adjustments.

For instance, in Scotland, where I live, education is free from kindergarten to university. So, there is no excuse for being out of school. Moreover, it is compulsory to be in education until one becomes an adult. When a child stays out of school for no genuine reason, the parents risk being punished or the child taken away from them by the social services. Healthcare is also free.

However, these free services are partly made possible by high taxes. Although the tax system is equitable, it seeks to ensure value for money. This way, people do not grumble to pay taxes and leverage it to hold their politicians accountable. As such, it is difficult to sway any voter with the lure of stomach infrastructure. Thats the nature of democracy in many advanced economies. Even though they are not perfect and are a work in progress, in my opinion they offer more human freedom than many African countries.

For instance, although it takes about six hours to fly directly between Lagos and most European cities, the difference in maturity and relevance between their political and socio-economic institutions is about 600 years apart. So, each move in either direction comes across as time travel. Either you are going back in time (i.e. travelling to Lagos) or forward in time (i.e. travelling to European cities). A successful back-and-forth would require appropriate mental and psychological calibrations and adjustments.

When you eventually land in Nigeria, the scenario is very different. Poverty is rife. Unemployment is high. Insecurity is nigh. As such, the few well-to-do people, made by hook or crook, are the centres of attraction. Everyone wants their attention. They control a lot of resources and command a lot of power.

They have large followers who want one or two favours from them. They like to be visible and known in their communities. It gives them joy. They also like to be consulted before any significant decisions are taken. It keeps them cool in the Gen Z world. As far as politics is concerned, either they are calling the shots themselves or propping their stooges as kingmakers. Either way, they are in charge.

The recognition society accords them has made them inglorious role models. They are literarily celebrated. They feed a multitude and require constant supplies to maintain their status. Thats why corruption is the order of the day, and no one is bothered. Corruption has been normalised, and no one cares about how riches are made. But does it matter? The truth of the matter is that everyone is waiting for their time to have a bit of the proverbial national cake.

So, it is only a matter of time and opportunity. Thats why the few rich people have a lot of people milling around them, waiting for the right time and opportunity to seize the moment, which could be a juicy business contract or political appointment. And when they make it big, the masses hail them.

Nonetheless, these options are not cheap. Getting a juicy business contract or pursuing a political appointment costs a lot. They are pure investment decisions which should come with commensurate profit. Eventually, they work hard to recover their vast investments when they secure a business contract or political appointment. Thats why the cost of governance is high. We have also normalised it.

Obviously, recognition is a psychological reward. We enjoy it. It takes a poor person to fashion a wealthy person because a wealthy person is only wealthy in comparison. Without the poor, no one is wealthy. The rich amongst us understand this. To maintain their status quo, it is in their interest to keep the masses impoverished and offer them peanuts occasionally to secure their loyalty. Thats the misery of poverty.

But have you stopped to wonder what life would look like for some of our big men and women if they had no one to fan the ambers of their tremendously massive egos? What incentives would they have to amass wealth for personal aggrandisement? What use is wealth if it is not recognised, worshipped and celebrated? This is often the missing jigsaw in the quest for reduced governance cost.

The other truth is that big men and women are nothing without the masses. The recognition the masses offer them is the oxygen sustaining their rapacious propensity to amass wealth, rightly or wrongly.

Obviously, recognition is a psychological reward. We enjoy it. It takes a poor person to fashion a wealthy person because a wealthy person is only wealthy in comparison. Without the poor, no one is wealthy. The rich amongst us understand this. To maintain their status quo, it is in their interest to keep the masses impoverished and offer them peanuts occasionally to secure their loyalty. Thats the misery of poverty.

The masses have power and can use it if empowered. And one way to empower them is to fight poverty head-on.

If the masses want to lower the cost of governance, they should also be prepared to withdraw such undue recognition accorded to stolen common patrimony by some of our politicians and public officeholders. If one is in an environment where no one cares about the size of your house or car, the tendency to de-emphasise them would be high, and the tendency to steal to impress would be low.

But to achieve this, the masses should be genuinely independent and free. Thats what it means to live in a progressive society. And the freedom of the masses is the most significant challenge.

However, freedom is everything worth living for. Thats why the masses must bite the fingers that feed them to earn their freedom!

Kenneth Amaeshi is a public philosopher, professor of sustainable finance at the European University Institute, Italy, and chair in business and sustainable development at the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. He tweets @kenamaeshi

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Zenith Bank Plc, in a significant move to meet the Central Bank of Nigerias (CBN) new minimum capital requirement of N500 billion, is offering its ongoing hybrid rights and public offers at the banks lowest price range, locking in about 32 percent gain in potential immediate return for existing shareholders and new investors. This hybrid rights issue and and public offer aimed at raising approximately N290 billion, will not only enable the bank to meet the CBNs requirement but also provide additional working capital to support its expanding operations and investments in information technology infrastructure.

Currently, Zenith Banks issued and fully paid share capital stands at N15.698 billion, complemented by a share premium of N255.047 billion. To meet the CBNs new stipulation, the bank requires an additional N229.225 billion. Despite its robust historical performance, the CBNs new capital requirement has necessitated this substantial capital raise.

According to Adaora Umeoji, Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank, this capital infusion will help meet regulatory requirements and enhance the banks information technology infrastructure.

The hybrid offer includes a rights issue of 5.233 billion ordinary shares priced at N36 per share for existing shareholders, alongside a public offer of 2.767 billion ordinary shares available to the public at N36.50 each. The offer commenced on 1 August, 2024, and is set to close on 9 September, 2024. These figures suggest that Zenith Banks shares are not only undervalued but also present a promising opportunity for capital appreciation. Engaging in the banks upcoming capital-raising offer could yield significant capital gains for investors who recognise the potential upside.

Zenith Banks strong financial performance adds to its appeal as an investment opportunity. The bank has consistently demonstrated resilience, with impressive profitability metrics and a solid track record.

Over the past five years, Zenith Banks share price has grown by approximately 57%, establishing itself as one of the most capitalised banks on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) with a market capitalisation of N1.130 trillion.

In 2023, the bank emerged as the most profitable listed bank on the NGX, reporting a pre-tax profit of N795.962 billion. Notably, in the first quarter of 2024, Zenith Bank achieved about 40% of its total pre-tax profit for 2023, indicating a strong trajectory.

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Currently, Zenith Banks stock trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 1.30xsignificantly lower than the banking sector average of 2.2xsuggesting it may be undervalued compared to its peers. Additionally, its price-to-book (P/B) ratio stands at 0.4, while its price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is 0.44, indicating a considerable discount relative to its book value and annual sales.

Financially, Zenith Bank reported a pre-tax profit of N795.962 billion in 2023, with a solid net interest income of N736.182 billion for the same year. However, concerns linger regarding its loan portfolio; loans and advances surged by 63% to N6.6 trillion, accompanied by a cost of risk increase of 128% to 7.3%.

Zenith Bank Plc is offering its ongoing hybrid rights and public offers at the banks lowest price range, locking in about 32% gain in potential immediate return for existing shareholders and new investors. Nigerias largest bank by profit, Zenith Bank is offering a rights issue of 5.233 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N36 per share. The shares were pre-allotted to existing shareholders on the basis of one new ordinary share for every six existing ordinary shares held as at the close of business on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.

For investors, Zenith Banks Hybrid Rights Issue and Public Offer represent an enticing opportunity to acquire shares at competitive prices. With strong historical performance and favourable valuation metrics, investors seeking stability and potential growth may find this offer particularly appealing.

A review of the trading history of Zenith Bank at the stock market indicated that the banks shares had recently traded as high as N47.35 per share, a price range that market pundits believe is a fair price for the stock. This recent price range implies a discount of about 32% locked into the ongoing hybrid rights and public offers.

With earnings per share of N21.55 for the 2023 business year, Zenith Banks offers carry an earnings yield of about 60%, the most attractive value addition among peers and competing offers. This simply means that beyond its industry-leading dividend payout, investors in Zenith Bank have significant value creation in the investment that can sustain above-average, long-term returns.

At the latest audit, Zenith Bank led the banking industry with a pre-tax profit of N796 billion and profit after tax of N677 billion in 2023. The bottom-line performance was driven by aggressive business expansion and brand adoption across domestic and foreign markets. The banks gross earnings crossed two milestones from N946 billion in 2022 to N2.13 trillion in 2023. There are only three Nigerian banks with N2 trillion gross earnings.

First quarter results for 2024 already indicated that the bank could surpass the 2023 performance in the current year. Gross earnings jumped by 189% from N270 billion in the first quarter of 2023 to N781 billion in the first quarter of 2024. Profit before tax tripled by 267.8% to N320 billion in March 2024 as against N87 billion recorded in March 2023. After taxes, net profit leapt by 291% from N66 billion to N258 billion. Earnings per share rose simultaneously from N2.10 to N8.22.

Analysts believe Zenith Bank has entered a new phase of phenomenal growth. Annualised, the first quarter 2024 performance indicates that the banks net profit could surpass a trillion, with potential earnings per share that almost covers the cost of buying into the ongoing offers. Such fundamental performance usually triggers a rally for a stock, underscoring the belief by investment experts that the bank could set a new all-time high within the next few months.

Zenith Bank has been adjudged the Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria for the fourth consecutive year by the prestigious World Finance Banking Awards. It has also been honoured for the past three years as the Best Corporate Governance in Nigeria. These awards were revalidated in the Summer 2024 issue of World Finance Magazine, which provides comprehensive coverage and analysis of the financial industry, international business, and the global economy. The awards recognised the banks financial performance, customer service, sustainability initiatives, and corporate governance practices.

Established by Jim Ovia, in May 1990, Zenith Bank began operations in July 1990. The bank became a public limited company on 17 June, 2004, and was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on 21 October, 2004, following a successful initial public offering (IPO). In 2013, the bank listed $850 million worth of shares at $6.80 each on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

The bank has grown into one of Africas leading financial institutions. The banks philosophy is to remain customer-centric with a clear understanding of its market and environment. Zenith Banks excellent performance has earned numerous international awards, including being recognised as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the 15th consecutive year in the 2024 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking, published by The Banker Magazine, Finacial Times.

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The Jigawa State Government has approved the release of the sum of Eight Hundred and Eighty-Two Million, Eight Hundred Thirty-Two Thousand and Nine Hundred and Sixty-One Naira Twenty-Five Kobo (N882,832,961.25k) only for the settlement of National Examinations Registration charges (NECO), National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) and National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) of the Jigawa States candidates for the 2024 academic year.

The payment covers the payment for 39,709 candidates who wrote the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), National Examinations Council (NECO), the National Teachers Certificate (NTC), NABTEB, SAIS/STQ and NBAIS examinations.

Approval of the approximately N883m was one of the major decisions taken at the State Executive Council meeting held on Thursday 8th August at the Government House, Dutse. A statement signed by the Commissioner of Information, Youth, Sport and Culture, Sagir Musa Ahmed disclosed that the meeting was chaired by the Governor of the State, Umar Namadi.

Other highlights from the meeting include approval of the sum of Nine Hundred and Twenty-One Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty- One Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty-Six Naira, Eighty-One Kobo (N921,931,126.81) as contract continuation payment for the on-going maintenance/rehabilitation of Auyo -Kan Hausa Road to Messrs. ALREN Construction Company Limited. Similarly, additional award of Consultancy Services of Sixteen Million, One Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Four Naira, Seventy-Two Kobo (N16,133,794.72) only to Messrs. Innovative Engineering Consultant.

The continuation of support to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the state with the sum of Four Hundred Million Naira (N400,000.000.00) only was equally approved at the meeting. The approval completed the sum of One Billion Naira (N1,000,000,000.00) only earlier approved by the State Executive Council to the project account.

Also approved was the disbursement of the sum of One Hundred and Seventy-Nine Million, Two Hundred and Forty-Seven Thousand Naira (N179,247,000.00) only as direct facility financing (DFF) to the accredited Primary Health Care centres (PHCs) and additional 17 PHCs across the 281 political wards in the state for the 1st and 2nd quarter of 2024 by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). Similarly, the sum of Sixty-Nine Million, One Hundred and Seventy Naira (N69,170,000.00) only was okayed for the payment of monthly stipend for 79 midwives, community inuencers, promoters and services (CHIPS agents).

The work plan for the implementation of Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project as presented by the Ministry of Health was also deliberated upon at the meeting. The IMPACT Project is supported by World Bank with a total amount of One Billion, Two Hundred and Eighteen Million, Three Hundred and Sixty-Four Thousand and One Hundred Seventy-Nine Naira (N1,218,364,179.00K) only in the work plan for the year 2024 for Jigawa State. The project is for revitalization of 161 Primary Health Care Centres (PHCC) in the State.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

The State programme for Free Maternal Neonatal and Child Health Care (FMNCH) is now to cover free treatment for people with hypertension, diabetes and sickle cell in all the state government owned hospitals across the 27 LGAs of the State.

The meeting also approved the establishment of a 10-member committee for the implementation of a new minimum wage in the State. The committee is chaired by the Head of Service (HOS) while the Principal Personnel Secretary to the governor is the Secretary. Other members of the committee are Commissioner of Justice, Commissioner of Finance, Commissioner for Budget, Commissioner for Local Government, Commissioner for Basic Education, Commissioner of Health, Commissioner of Information and the Special Adviser Salary and Pension.

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An Ondo State Chief Magistrates Court in Igbokoda, in Ilaje Local Government Area, has sentenced the Baale of Ebute Ipare Community, Francis Ogundeji, to three years imprisonment for disobedience of court order.

The copy of the judgement dated 5 August was delivered by Senior Magistrate E. Manuwa and was sighted by journalists on Thursday.

According to the judgement, Mr Ogundeji and Ikuejamoye Thomas were charged to court for selling land in the community in November 2022, against a court order.

It was gathered that the state High Court, sitting in Okitipupa and a magistrates court, Igbokoda, had restrained people from selling the land, but the traditional ruler, in collaboration with Mr Thomas, went ahead and sold the land.

The convicts were also arrested and charged with falsehood as they backdated the date on the receipt of the sale of the land.

They were charged on a four-count charge of contempt of court and falsehood.

At the proceeding, the charge was read over to the defendants in English Language and interpreted to them in Yoruba Language to the satisfaction of the court.

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That you, Francis Ogundeji, M, a farmer (2) Ikuejamoye Thomas, M, a pensioner and others at large, sometime in the month of November 2022 at about 12 p.m. at Ebute Ipare Community in the Igbokoda Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit an offence to wit contempt of court and thereby, committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006, the charge sheet read.

That you, Francis Ogundeji, M, a farmer (2) Ikuejamoye Thomas, M, a pensioner and others at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did disrespect the order of the court delivered on 10 April 2019 in Suit No: HOK/51/2018 by selling Ebute Ipare Ogunowo descendant land and thereby, committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 133 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

That you Francis Ogundeji, M, a farmer (2) Ikuejamoye Thomas, M, a pensioner and others at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did forge the land receipt of Ebute Ipare Community Ogunowo descendant land by backdating the receipt of sales to read month of November 2022 instead of 16 April 2017, knowing same to be false and thereby, committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

That you, Francis Ogundeji, M, a farmer (2) Ikuejamoye Thomas, M, a pensioner and other at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did disrespect the court order delivered on the 11 September 2018 in Suit No: MKD/3M/2018 which was presided by His Worship E.A Manuwa Magistrate Grade I as then was on the rank, over the tussle of land committee of Ebute Ipare Community and thereby, committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 133 (1 & 9) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006, the charge sheet further read.

The magistrate, Mr Manuwa, found Messrs Ogundeji and Thomas guilty of the offence in count three and they were sentenced to three years imprisonment with the option of a fine of N150,000 each. But the court discharged and acquitted Mr Thomas on counts one, two and four.

The magistrate resolved that, The first defendant, Ogundeji Francis, is hereby sentenced to three months imprisonment on count one or pay the sum of N30,000.00 to the purse of the state government as fine.

READ ALSO:Chidimma Adetshina withdraws from Miss South Africa pageant

The first defendant Ogundeji Francis is also sentenced to three months imprisonment or pay the sum of N30,000.00. The second defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted of the offence in count two.

In count three, both the first and second defendants are sentenced to three years imprisonment each or pay a fine of N150,000.00 each to the purse of the state government.

The first defendant Ogundeji Francis is also sentenced to three months imprisonment or pay the sum of N30,000.00 to the purse of the state government. The second defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted of the offence in count four.

The court also held that the terms of imprisonment of the first defendant run consecutively in count.

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LONDON, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chaarat Gold is due to be delisted from AIM as a group of the Company's lenders, advised by Goldman Sachs, seek to seize control of its equity, in order to sell off its assets  wiping out minority shareholders.

The Company's board has already forced out Chief Executive and major shareholder Martin Andersson and looks set to agree to the lenders proposals at a General Meeting in London at 11am today.

China Railways, one of the world's largest companies, has lodged a counter proposal with Chaarat's board  seeking to refinance the Company and keep it on AIM.

Through its China Overseas Engineering Group (COVEC) subsidiary, China Railways is proposing to invest 42 million USD, comprising 20 million USD for a 35% equity stake and a 23 million USD loan to refinance existing borrowing, at lower rates.

In addition, COVEC made an offer in July to provide project financing to complete the construction of Chaarat's Tulkubash mine in Kyrgyzstan

Sources close to COVEC: "The existing proposal by the lenders has treats the company like an enemy and is an outrageous attempt to seize control of Chaarat  totally disproportionate to their financial interest."
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 29, 2024, the Asian American Coalition for Education (AACE) successfully hosted the Second National Conference on Equal Education Rights at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Unlike other educational conferences organized by the American establishment, this event directly confronted major flaws in America's educational policymaking. These flaws include ignorance of global competition in technology, failure to address the STEM talent shortage, reluctance to tackle the K-12 education crisis in American inner cities, and an overly myopic focus on promoting woke DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) agendas.

This conference marked the largest gathering of equal education rights leaders, scholars, and supporters in America in years, including keynote speakers SFFA lawyer Patrick Strawbridge and US Civil Rights Commissioner Gail Heriot.

During his welcome speech, AACE President Yukong Zhao challenged educational policymakers and school administrators to adopt a broader perspectiveone that enables America to compete effectively in the 21st century instead of compromising equal education rights and meritocracy.

The big picture view of American education was further elaborated upon by Heritage Foundation Senior Fellow Mike Gonzalez. He compellingly argued why America needs a meritocratic system. National Science Foundation Board Member Julia Phillips presented shocking evidence regarding the STEM talent shortage in America. Additionally, Xi Van Fleet, author of "Mao's America," shared the sobering lessons learned from China's decision to abolish its meritocratic college entrance exam during the Cultural Revolution.

Under the big picture View, education advocates Paul Lott, University of Arkansas Education Policy Chair Jonathan Wai, and Yukong Zhao engaged in a thought-provoking discussion about the effectiveness and proper role of standardized testing in college admissions. Despite differing opinions, the panel reached a consensus: Standardized testing remains the best measure of students' college readiness and should be a key requirement for college admissions.

Furthermore, prominent scholars and grassroots Asian American leaders have underscored the importance of monitoring colleges to ensure faithful implementation of the Supreme Court's rulings in the SFFA v. Harvard/UNC cases. They have engaged in discussions about strategies to uphold meritocracy in K-12 education and have shed light on the underlying factors contributing to the lack of diversity in American higher education.

Relevant links: 1. Conference Video Recording. 2. Expanded Conference Press Release.

SOURCE Asian American Coalition for Education
TOPEKA, Kan., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For the sixth year in a row, AE Wealth Management (AEWM) has managed to rise in the ranks of the top 50 Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firms by earning the number 19 spot in Financial Advisor (FA) magazine's "2024 RIA Ranking" while simultaneously reaching a $30 billion assets under management milestone.

AEWM finished 2023 with $25.1 billion in AUM. In the first six months of this year, the firm has brought in more than $5 billion in new assets to achieve the $30 billion mark. Since 2018, AEWM has averaged a 42 percent annual growth and, for the past seven years, has continued to rise in the ranks of Top RIAs on this list.

"I believe what makes AEWM unique and successful as an RIA is how we consistently provide a full-service experience for our clients," said Chris Radford, President of AE Wealth Management. "Our advisors are entrepreneurs working hard to build their client's portfolio, and we assist them every step in that journey. From the transition to the platform to training and back-office support, we are genuinely their partner."

In addition, AEWM ranked 32 in Financial Advisor magazine's FA's "Top 50 Fastest Growing Firms." The magazine compares year-end growth to the previous year to determine the fastest-growing ranking. FA's RIA survey ranks 400 independent RIA firms that file with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) based on assets under management at year-end.

AE Wealth Management oversees more than $30 billion in total platform assets as of June 30, 2024. For more information, please visit www.aewealthmanagement.com.

About AE Wealth Management

AE Wealth Management (AEWM) is one of America's fastest-growing Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firms. It offers an open-architecture platform of investment solutions and practice management resources independent financial advisors can use to help clients work towards their financial goals. Advisors can demonstrate more significant value for clients and grow their practices by utilizing cutting-edge technology  and the broad array of investment strategies and asset classes from consistently vetted and monitored money managers  on AE Wealth Management's platform. The insights and tools from AE Wealth Management enable advisors to obtain a holistic view of each client's financial universe in one place.

AEWM is an SEC Registered Investment Adviser located in Topeka, Kansas, managing $30 billion in assets under management.

For more information:

Brie Parks, 866.363.9595

[email protected]

SOURCE AE Wealth Management
The new full-service facility, located at 4709 Lone Star Blvd., Fort Worth, TX, is conveniently located near Interstate 35W and Interstate 820, just 20 miles west of DFW Airport. The parts sales department will open its doors on August 12, 2024, with the service and pump refurbishing departments following in subsequent weeks. An open house is planned for fall 2024.

The demand for the company's products in Texas made this expansion the next logical step for Alliance Concrete Pumps. The new facility in Fort Worth increases their geographical footprint allowing the company to better serve their customers in the South, providing them with high-quality parts, service, and sales support.

Clayton White, CEO of Alliance Concrete Pumps, expressed his enthusiasm for the new facility: "This expansion is a significant milestone for Alliance Concrete Pumps and our valued customers and suppliers. By establishing a presence in Texas, we're not only meeting the high demand for our products in the region but also completing a strategic triangle with our existing east and west coast locations. We are committed to maintaining our position as the leading brand of concrete pumps in North America. This new branch allows us to provide even more efficient, high-quality service and support across North America."

Facility Highlights:

Size: 7.2 fenced acres

7.2 fenced acres Structure: 18-bay facility covering 54,586 sq ft

18-bay facility covering 54,586 sq ft Office Space: 4,793 sq ft

4,793 sq ft Pipe Building Facility: On-site welding for single wall and twin wall make-up pipes

Leadership and Staffing:

Service Manager: William Wiebe , a 19+ year veteran in the concrete pump industry, will be relocating from the company's head office in Aldergrove, Canada .

, a 19+ year veteran in the concrete pump industry, will be relocating from the company's head office in . Parts Sales Manager: Shawn Ford , a local Texan with over eight years of experience in the concrete pumping industry.

, a local Texan with over eight years of experience in the concrete pumping industry. Bilingual Staff: The team at the Fort Worth facility speaks both English and Spanish.

This expansion is part of Alliance Concrete Pumps' ongoing growth strategy. The company is also awaiting permits to begin expanding its current head office in Canada, which will nearly double in size upon completion.

Learn more at www.allianceconcretepumps.com

About Alliance Concrete Pumps:

Founded in 2002 in Canada, Alliance Concrete Pumps is the leading concrete pump manufacturer in North America, specializing in truck-mounted concrete boom pumps. With three full-service branches located in Aldergrove, BC, Linwood, PA, and Fort Worth, TX, the company is dedicated to providing exceptional parts, service, and sales support to customers across Canada and the United States.

SOURCE Alliance Concrete Pumps
Installation of Dr. Brian J. Tabb to Feature Remarks by John Piper and D. A. Carson

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bethlehem College and Seminary will inaugurate the school's third president, Dr. Brian J. Tabb, in ceremonies to be held at 7:00 p.m. CST, Friday, October 11, 2024, on the school's main campus at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. Chancellor John Piper is scheduled to make remarks, as is special guest D. A. Carson, Distinguished Emeritus Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and co-founder of The Gospel Coalition. President Tabb will also deliver an Inaugural Address.

Dr. Brian J. Tabb, President, Bethlehem College and Seminary, MInneapolis,, MN

"We regard it important to commemorate Dr. Tabb's new presidency in formal ceremonies that give us the opportunity to both invoke God's blessing and to invite our institution's faculty, students, alumni, generous contributors, and theologically like-minded friends to share in this historic Godward experience," said Tom Lutz, Chairman of the Bethlehem College and Seminary Board of Trustees. "We will be especially privileged to welcome Don Carson to the Bethlehem pulpit. Dr. Carson is one of the world's most respected theologians, a personal mentor to our new President, and a spiritual and intellectual mentor to many of us," he added.

President Tabb responded to the announcement saying, "It is a joyful and weighty calling to lead this institution that I love, and I covet the prayers of the saints for the ongoing work of Bethlehem College and Seminary. I look forward to welcoming delegates from other institutions and gathering with many colleagues, students, and friends of Bethlehem to celebrate God's faithfulness and seek the Lord's help in fulfilling our school's mission to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ."

Tabb has served as Interim President of Bethlehem College and Seminary from April 2023 to February 2024, while still the school's Academic Dean, before then being called to be the school's third president and assuming office immediately. He remains Professor of Biblical Studies. Tabb graduated from Wheaton College and its Graduate School with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, minoring in Bible and Theology, and a Master of Arts in Biblical Exegesis, respectively. He came to Bethlehem twenty years ago to serve as a pastoral apprentice in The Bethlehem Institute, the school's predecessor institution, and earned a Master of Arts in Biblical and Pastoral Studies from Bethlehem College and Seminary. He also completed a Master of Theology at Luther Seminary concentrating on New Testament, before receiving his Ph.D. from the London School of Theology. He is the author and editor of seven books, and is general editor of Themelios, an international theological journal published by The Gospel Coalition.

Bethlehem College and Seminary Chancellor and Founder John Piper is scheduled to deliver a message, as is Dr. Carson. There will also be remarks by Marshall Segal (M.Div., 2012), President and CEO of Desiring God Ministries, Kenny Stokes, Pastor for Preaching and Vision of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, and Steven Lee (M.Div., 2012), Pastor for Preaching and Vision of The North Church, Mounds View, the governing churches of Bethlehem College and Seminary. The school's two former presidents, Dr. Timothy J. Tomlinson, and Dr. Joseph J. Rigney are both expected to be on-hand for the inauguration ceremonies, as are delegates from other institutions of Christian education, churches, and ministries. A dessert reception on-site will follow the ceremonies.

Bethlehem College and Seminary is a churches-based, degree-granting institution with its main campus located on the site of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, and evening classes conducted at The North Church, Mounds View, Minnesota. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees. The college is in the model of classical and Christian education, while the seminary focuses on equipping of biblical elders for the tasks of pastoral, missionary, and academic ministry. The seminary maintains a separate location in Yaounde, Republic of Cameroon, in West Africa.

SOURCE Bethlehem College and Seminary
The global biomass briquette fuel market is propelled by climate change mitigation. One of the most significant drivers of the biomass briquette fuel market is the global effort to mitigate climate change. Biomass briquettes are considered a renewable and carbon-neutral energy source. When biomass is burned, the carbon dioxide released is roughly equal to the amount absorbed by the plants during their growth, making the net carbon emissions much lower than those from fossil fuels.

Wilmington, Del., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Biomass Briquette Fuel Market by Raw Material (Saw Dust, Wood, Rice Husk, Groundnut Shells, Bagasse and Others), Application (Brick Kilns, Dyeing Plants, Oil Extraction Units, Cooking and Baking and Others), and End-Use Industry (FMCG and Beverage, Pharmaceuticals, Cement Manufacturing, Power Generation, Leather, Rubber and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033". According to the report, the biomass briquette fuel market was valued at $0.9 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $1.8 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2024 to 2033.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/A279664

Prime determinants of growth

The global biomass briquette fuel market is driven by rise in technological advancements, which have significantly improved the efficiency and quality of biomass briquettes. Modern briquetting machines can process a wide variety of biomass types and produce briquettes with high calorific value and low moisture content. Innovations in pre-treatment processes, such as torrefaction and palletization, enhance the energy density and combustion efficiency of briquettes, making them more competitive with conventional fuels. This factor is expected to act as one of the key drivers responsible for the growth of the biomass briquette fuel market during the forecast period. However, high initial investments in setting up biomass briquette manufacturing units is anticipated to restrain the investors with less investment potential to enter in the biomass briquette fuel market.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20242033 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2023 $0.9 billion Market Size in 2033 $1.8 billion CAGR 7.1 % No. of Pages in Report 550 Segments covered Raw Material, Application, End-Use Industry, and Region. Drivers Public policies and regulatory support

Growing preference for sustainable activities

Rapid shift towards renewable energy sources

Climate Change Mitigation Opportunities Government incentives and subsidies

Technological Advancements in Briquetting Techniques Restraints High initial costs

The rice husk segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period.

Rice is one of the most widely cultivated crops worldwide, especially in Asia-Pacific countries like China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. The large-scale production of rice results in a significant quantity of rice husks as a by-product. Furthermore, the continuous cultivation and harvesting of rice ensure a steady and reliable supply of rice husks, making them a dependable raw material for briquette production.

Also, rice husks are a by-product of rice milling. Traditionally, they have little economic value and are often considered waste. This makes them a low-cost raw material for briquette manufacturers. Utilizing rice husks for briquette production can reduce waste disposal costs for rice mills, further contributing to cost savings.

Procure Complete Report (550 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/3A9crUT

The oil extraction units segment is expected to be the most lucrative segment during the forecast period.

Biomass briquette fuel is predominantly used in oil extraction units due to its cost-effectiveness, high calorific value, and environmental benefits. These briquettes provide a steady, reliable, and sustainable source of heat required for the oil extraction process, ensuring efficient and consistent operation. Unlike fossil fuels, biomass briquettes produce lower emissions, helping oil extraction units comply with environmental regulations and reduce their carbon footprint. Additionally, using locally sourced biomass briquettes can reduce dependency on imported fuels, enhance energy security, and support local economies. This combination of economic, operational, and environmental advantages makes biomass briquettes an attractive fuel option for oil extraction units.

The power generation segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period.

Biomass briquette fuel is predominantly used in power generation due to its suitability for large-scale energy production, high energy density, and environmental benefits. Biomass briquettes offer a renewable and carbon-neutral alternative to fossil fuels, aligning with global efforts to mitigate climate change. Power generation plants can easily integrate biomass briquettes into existing infrastructure, such as boilers and turbines, enabling efficient conversion of biomass energy into electricity. Additionally, biomass briquettes provide a reliable and stable energy supply, reducing dependency on volatile fossil fuel markets. The environmental advantages, coupled with the scalability and compatibility with power generation systems, make biomass briquettes an attractive choice for meeting electricity demand sustainably.

Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2033

The biomass briquette fuel market in the Asia-Pacific region continues to expand due to a combination of environmental concerns, economic factors, and policy initiatives. With the region facing severe air pollution and striving to reduce carbon emissions, biomass briquettes offer a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuels, aligning with sustainability goals and climate targets. Additionally, the abundance of agricultural and forestry residues in the region provides a readily available and cost-effective raw material for briquette production. Supportive government policies, including subsidies and incentives for renewable energy, further drive the adoption of biomass briquettes, promoting energy security and rural development. These factors collectively contribute to the rising demand for biomass briquette fuel in the Asia-Pacific region.

For Purchase Inquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/biomass-briquette-fuel-market/purchase-options

Leading Market Players: -

KKR Bio Fuels

Yashhraj Group of Companies

Ecostan

Gattuwala.

Energy Plus India

Sree Amman Briquettes

NIRMALA & SIDDAGANGA BIOFUEL INDUSTRIES

Neerpati Biofuels Private Limited

NARSIHMA AGRO INDUSTRIES

Buyo India Pvt Ltd

Vidhyut Power & Systems

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global biomass briquette fuel market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
The August editions of Construction and Food & Drink Digital Magazines include interviews with leading experts and executives from Red Sea Global, NTT and The Honey Baked Ham Company

LONDON, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BizClik, the UK's fastest-growing publishing company, has published the latest editions of Construction & Food & Drink Digital Magazines. These publications are highly regarded within the construction and catering sectors for their in-depth reports and interviews with prominent figures in the respective industries.

Construction Digital

This month's edition features a special report with Balfour Beatty, Celsa, Tarmac and Cambridge University on 'Electric Cement' and how it can reduce global carbon emissions significantly.

"I am super excited about this cement sustainability breakthrough" - Adam Elman EMEA Sustainability Lead at Google

The edition also contains interviews with key thought leaders from Red Sea Global, NTT and EllisDon along with the Top 10 Energy Infrastructure Projects.

You can visit Construction Digital for daily news and analysis of the ever-changing construction industry.

Food & Drink Digital

The August Edition features a lead interview with Adam Grant, GM, Mars Wrigley UK who outlines the sustainability journey of one of the UK's favourite brands.

"Sustainability is the right thing to do and is also good for business"

The edition also includes interviews with key thought leaders from The Honey Baked Ham Company, T2 Tea and Brix Holdings along with the Top 10 Agritech Companies.

You can visit Food & Drink Digital for daily news and analysis for the ever-changing food & drink industry.

About BizClik

BizClik is one of the fastest-growing digital media companies in the UK, host to a growing portfolio of industry-leading global brands and communities.

BizClik's expanding portfolio includes Technology, AI, FinTech, InsurTech, Supply Chain, Procurement, Energy, Mining, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Mobile, Data Centre, Cyber, and Sustainability.

For more information, please visit https://www.bizclikmedia.com/

SOURCE BizClik Media
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (C.A.R.) today announced it has named Phil Hawkins as its new chief executive officer. Hawkins currently serves as chief executive officer for the Pacific West Association of REALTORS (PWR), one of the largest local real estate associations in California.

CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS CEO Phil Hawkins

He was selected as part of a nationwide search by C.A.R.'s leadership team and a search committee comprised of highly experienced members with backgrounds in working with state CEOs. He succeeds Debra Ferrier, who has served as interim CEO since April, and who is the current CEO of C.A.R.'s for-profit subsidiary Real Estate Business Services (REBS).

"On behalf of C.A.R.'s leadership team and our search committee, I am thrilled to make this announcement," said C.A.R. President Melanie Barker. "Phil has deep knowledge about the real estate industry and the political landscape in California. His insights into the many issues facing us today make him uniquely positioned to be our next CEO. Phil joins the organization during a time of significant industry change and, as such, will be instrumental in developing and delivering on a vision for C.A.R. and for our profession.

As the CEO of the Pacific West Association of REALTORS since 2015, Phil has a keen understanding of what our members need and will ensure that C.A.R. members remain at the center of the real estate transaction. As we stand on the cusp of the organization's 120th anniversary in 2025, it is our strong belief that Phil is the best person to lead this organization, its 200,000 members and the California real estate industry in the years ahead.

On behalf of the Leadership Team, I'd also like to thank Debra for directing the organization during these past few months," said Barker.

At PWR, Hawkins oversaw all aspects of the association, including professional standards, education, political advocacy, finance, charity foundation, community involvement, communications, and Multiple Listing Services. He joined PWR in 1998 as vice president of Government Affairs, representing the interests of the association in matters involving local, state, and federal governments. He was named executive vice president of Government Affairs in 2008 and then became the association's CEO in 2015.

At the state level, Hawkins has served on numerous C.A.R. committees, including Real Estate Business Services (REBS), RPC Coordinating, RPC Fundraising & Member Mobilization Advisory, Association Executive, CREPAC, C.A.R. Mission Task Force, and Housing Affordability Fund. At the national level, he has served on NAR's Association Executive Committee since 2014 and is an NAR Presidents Circle and RPAC Hall of Fame member.

"I am honored to be named C.A.R.'s next CEO," said Hawkins. "I am eager to collaborate with our leadership team, the Board, and the staff at C.A.R. during what is an extremely challenging period for our industry. I am confident that, together, we will successfully navigate the current environment and emerge even stronger, ready to seize opportunities that lie ahead for our members, the industry, and our organization."

Leading the way in California real estate for more than 110 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States with nearly 200,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.

SOURCE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (C.A.R.)
After five years of battles in Hamburg, a judge has cleared the way for a businesswoman to move forward with a controversial asphalt plant.

Rosanne DiPizio, who owns a Camp Road concrete plant where the asphalt plant would be built, can now begin construction after State Supreme Court Justice Emilio Colaiacovo handed down his decision in the lawsuit brought by the company, AL Asphalt Corp., seeking relief from town ordinances and environmental review decisions that prevented her from beginning the project.

DiPizio, who first came to the town with plans for the asphalt plant in 2019, said in a phone interview with The News she now plans to start construction.

Im pleased with the decision that was based upon the facts that we laid out, she said. Im pleased that the way that my attorneys laid them out made it clear what happened for the last five years.

After first bringing plans for the asphalt plant to the towns Planning Board, residents began to voice their concerns about having the facility near residential neighborhoods and facilities like daycares and schools. A public campaign opposing the plant sprung up that resulted in packed meetings, where residents spoke out about potential air quality issues and odor. Lawn signs that read NO ASPHALT PLANT dotted front yards throughout the community.

The Planning Board issued a positive declaration  meaning the project would hurt the environment  on the state environmental review process in November 2023, denying the company the clearance to move the project forward.

The Town Board also voted in January of 2023 to remove bituminous processing facilities, which include asphalt production facilities, from being permitted in M-3 manufacturing zoning districts and prohibited them from locating anywhere in the town.

In the petition, DiPizio, through her attorneys, argued that the towns actions were arbitrary, capricious and exclusionary, targeting her business specifically.

Colaiacovo agreed, denying the towns arguments on three of the four causes listed in the lawsuit. DiPizio was seeking $500,000 in damages related to the lost income she suffered while fighting the town, an argument Colaiacovo wrote did not meet the threshold to award the damages.

But his affirmation of the other three causes listed in the petition overturned the town decisions that would prevent DiPizio from building and operating the plant.

In his decision Colaiacovo wrote that the property where the plant is planned was zoned for uses that permit asphalt production and only after learning of DiPizios plans did they change town ordinances and zoning to deny her the right to move the project forward.

Thus, the Town Board erred when, in its legislative function, it ignored that the application was a Type II action and required Petitioners to engage in the process that treated the property as unlisted, Colaiacovo writes.

Town Supervisor Randy Hoak said in a phone interview that he hopes to convince other Town Board members to appeal Colaiacovos decision.

My hope is that the Town Board will see this worthy of pursuit, Hoak said.

Hoak has been supportive of the fight against the plant and was part of the former Democrat majority on the board that changed the zoning of the property and passed the ordinance banning asphalt production throughout the town.

A Republican majority took over in January of 2024 after defeating two incumbent Democrats  Shawn Connolly and Karen Hoak, Randy Hoaks sister.

Hoak said he has yet to speak with board majority members Elizabeth Farrell Lorentz, Dan Kozub and Frank Bogulski about the matter.

As of January, the town had spent more than $350,000 on attorneys and consultants in its fight to stop DiPizios plans from moving forward.

The town supervisor did not immediately have an updated amount spent on the legal battle. He said he believes town residents continue to strongly oppose the production of asphalt on the property and throughout the town.

I think that there is overwhelming support among the residents of the Town of Hamburg to continue this, regardless of the cost, Hoak said.
Proposed Bill Estimated to Cost $250 Million in State Sales Tax Revenue and Up to 41,000 Jobs

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a blow to California's already strained budget deficit, Assembly Bill 2223 is projected to have a negative fiscal impact across sectors. The proposed legislation aims to monopolize the state's hemp market by granting exclusive full spectrum hemp retail control to marijuana dispensaries.

If passed unamended, AB 2223 will force the closure of California hemp retailers, jeopardizing approximately $250 million in sales tax revenues and 41,210 jobs, according to the 2023 National Cannabinoid Report by Whitney Economics, the most comprehensive analysis based on state-level data.

Chad Paydo, owner of Petaluma, Lafayette, and Concord Sunmed | Your CBD Store locations, stated, "Proponents of AB 2223 argue that any fiscal losses will be offset by increased sales at dispensaries. Since all of my stores are located where dispensaries are banned, this claim is simply false and misleading."

According to the California Department of Cannabis Control , 54% (289 out of 539) of cities and counties in California do not allow dispensaries. Of the 18 independently owned and operated Sunmed | Your CBD Store locations in the state, 15 are situated in areas where dispensaries are banned.

"Since October 2021, California Sunmed | Your CBD Store locations have generated an estimated $11.5 million in hemp CBD product sales and contributed approximately $410,000 in state taxes alone, creating hundreds of jobs," said Marcus Quinn, CEO of Sunmed | Your CBD Store. "Every one of these stores is expected to close if AB 2223 passes unamended."

Quinn continues, "Bad actors are already violating existing regulations. AB 2223 does nothing but monopolize the industry, causing economic concerns and punishing responsible businesses like ours that follow strict guidelines to keep consumers safe."

Historically, government enforcement against bad actors in California has been markedly insufficient. Concerns are mounting that the state may be underestimating the actual cost of enforcement necessary for AB 2223 to achieve its goals, as a comprehensive financial impact analysis has yet to be publicly released.

Without a publicly available plan for budget allocation, cost analysis, or oversight, AB 2223 appears to be a bill advancing through the legislative process with minimal scrutiny, raising serious concerns about its potential financial impact and effectiveness.

Sunmed | Your CBD Store supports existing regulations and advocates for increased funding for the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to enhance its enforcement capabilities. An increased budget for CDPH, supported by an excise tax, could address existing deficiencies and ensure effective enforcement.

To prevent further financial loss for California residents and counteract monopolistic incentives in the state, Sunmed | Your CBD Store urges the community to oppose AB 2223 through social media advocacy and direct engagement with local politicians.

Contact

Patrick Shatzer

Sunmed | Your CBD Store

[email protected]

About Sunmed | Your CBD Store

Sunmed | Your CBD Store, an affiliate of Sunflora, Inc., is the largest hemp retailer in the United States and the exclusive home of award-winning, hemp-derived Sunmed products. With 300+ nationwide locations across 42 states, the brand offers a premium in-store customer experience with access to 150+ nonpharmaceutical wellness formulas, including clinically proven sleep gummies, pain relief topicals, USDA-organic oil tinctures, and CBD for pets. Through in-store education, community involvement, and groundbreaking clinical research, Sunmed strives to empower modern wellness and enhance people's lives with natural science-backed products. Learn more at getsunmed.com

SOURCE Sunmed
WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE CONTINUUM OF CARE, FACILITY GARNERS NEW ACCREDITATIONS THAT FOCUSES ON QUALITY AND RESULTS

ABU DHABI, UAE, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambridge Medical & Rehabilitation Center (CMRC), the GCC's leading Rehabilitation and Long-term care provider ensuring a "continuum of care" to its patients, today announced that its UAE facilities in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain has received Three-Years accreditation from The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF International) for the Stroke Specialty and Long-Term Active Care Programs. The accreditation, the most prestigious and strategic of its kind for rehabilitation hospital/healthcare facilities, has also bestowed accreditation to the organization's Stroke Specialty Rehabilitation Program and Long-Term Acute Care Program, in addition to the re-accreditation for all its rehabilitation programs for Adults, Adolescents, and Pediatrics for both inpatient and outpatients.

Cambridge Medical & Rehabilitation Center Team from the day of the CARF audit completion at the Abu Dhabi Facility, Shakhbout City.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/9284351-cmrc-accredited-by-commission-rehabilitation-facilities-stroke-specialty-ltac-programs/

With these two new accreditations, CMRC now holds the distinction of having the highest number of CARF accreditations for rehabilitation programs in the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, totaling eight unique recognitions. These include Inpatient Adult Rehabilitation, Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation, Adolescent Inpatient Rehabilitation, Stroke Adult Inpatient Rehabilitation, Long-Term Acute Care Adult Inpatient Rehabilitation, Adult Outpatient Rehabilitation, Children Outpatient Rehabilitation Program, and Adolescent Outpatient Rehabilitation.

The Long-Term Acute Care Program plays a crucial role in ensuring continuity of care for patients, significantly alleviating the pressure on inpatient bed capacity in acute care hospitals across the healthcare sector. Additionally, with the acquisition of the prestigious Stroke Specialty Rehabilitation accreditation, CMRC aspires to become the Center of Excellence for Stroke Rehabilitation in the GCC region. This ambition is founded on its extensive expertise and experience amassed over the past 10 years in the Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care sector in the region.

The Stroke Specialty Rehabilitation and Long-Term Active Programs involve specialized clinical rehabilitation teams including Intensive Care Physicians (ICU Doctors), Anesthesia Physicians, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physicians, Internal Medicine Physicians, General Practitioners, Skilled Nursing teams, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech & Language Pathologists, Psychologists, Case Managers, Patient Experience teams and Social Workers. The holistic approach helps patients combat stroke-induced health issues and any decreased abilities that they may face including cognitive dysfunction, speech and language issues, physical disabilities, the risk of future strokes, and more.

CARF, an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services, based in the United States, stands as the international gold-standard for its recognition of patient-care excellence in categories such as Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient and Outpatient Rehabilitation, Residential Rehabilitation, Occupational Rehabilitation, as well as Stroke Specialty Rehabilitation.

The CARF accreditation was based on the demonstration of CMRC's substantial conformance to global standards for these programs. The commission highlighted the crucial role of CMRC leadership and clinical teams in achieving exceptional clinical outcomes for stroke patients admitted to its facilities. The commission's decision was reinforced by multiple aspects, including but not limited to the beautiful and well-maintained facilities that meet the personalized needs of each patient, patients and families inclusion in the care plan and goals progress, the effective system in place for documenting, measuring and tracking the rehabilitation outcomes, the exceptional trained and experienced staff that can serve different patients' profiles, and the remarkable holistic Patient Experience approach that makes the patients and their families feel that CMRC is their Second Home.

Dr. Howard Podolsky, the Group CEO for CMRC, commented on this milestone, "Reaching this milestone, I congratulate everyone in CMRC for their well-deserved achievement that wouldn't happen today without their hard work and commitment to caring for our patients and restoring hope for a better future. CMRC stands as a pioneer in the healthcare industry to achieve new benchmarks that represent our commitment to world-class quality care and providing substantial value to our communities in the UAE and KSA."

Such achievement emphasizes the commitment of the organization to providing its services and ensuring world-class quality care for its patients across the UAE and KSA. This commitment is supported by the organization's approach to ensure a dynamic blend of geographic expansion and service diversification across the GCC region.

For more information please visit www.cmrc.com or contact Dr. Ihab El Ghonimi, Group Chief Business Officer [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2478264/CMRC_Team.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1759826/CMRC_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Cambridge Medical & Rehabilitation Center
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Gallopade International recently announced the release of an all-new series by award-winning author Carole Marsh. In "The Mystery of the Haunted Library," the author-turned-character and her rescue pup, Coconut, join four adventurous kids from the fictional Spanish Moss School as they travel to solve mysteries in some of the world's most famous libraries.

Get ready for suspense, discovery, history, and FUN in "The Mystery of the Haunted Library" series, ages 6-14! Post this "The Mystery of the Haunted Library" six-book series, ages 6-14.

Inspired by librarians at the American Association of School Libraries (AASL) conference, Marsh's latest release honors libraries' importance in shaping young minds. Her passion shines through, encouraging readers to view these institutions as hubs of discovery and learning, not just knowledge repositories.

"I grew up going to libraries. If I could, I would have lived in one. Sitting in a chair and reading until the library closed was my favorite thing from age six. We never want kids to think of libraries as boring or unessential," says Marsh. "A library is where answers are, where we find our passions, and where we match our interests to what we might become!"

"My goal is to highlight that libraries are cool places to be, to present examples of kids of all ages interacting with adults in today's world and building mutual interests and respect, to show young people collaborating, solving, and other essential skills," Marsh states. "After all, they're going where we can't go: to a future where kids need the confidence and abilities to change the world!"

The author garnered accolades for her popular "Real Kids - Real Places" series and has created a new cast of characters and adventures for a new generation of readers. In this captivating chapter book series, the author weaves fiction with narrative non-fiction and engaging graphic novel illustrations to keep kids reading as each page-turn reveals a new surprise. Her goal is to instill a love of reading, an appreciation of collaboration to solve problems, and a fascination with historical facts. As a finishing touch, she included Coconut, her real-life rescue pup, in the series, as she has gained a loveable reputation among Marsh's fan base.

"At a time when kids are stressed, a book can be a companion," insists the author. "And adding a lively, lovable dog adds charm and comedy like nothing else can!"

The new six-book series for ages 6-14 is now available for purchase at gallopade.com and Amazon.

SOURCE Gallopade International
CEOs downgrade current conditions but cautious optimism for the future remains

NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence in collaboration with The Business Council fell to 52 in Q3 2024, down from 54 in the previous quarter. While this was the lowest reading in 2024, the Measure remained above 50, indicating that CEOs remain moderately optimistic (A reading above 50 reflects more positive than negative responses). A total of 130 CEOs participated in the Q3 survey, which was fielded from July 15 through 29.

"CEOs remained cautiously optimistic about the future but their views about the current economic situation weakened in Q3," said Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., Vice Chairman of The Business Council and Chair Emeritus of The Conference Board. "Negative views about current economic conditions outweighed positive views of the economy, with more CEOs saying that conditions have worsened compared to six months ago than saying they improved. Their views about current conditions in their own industries also deteriorated. CEOs' views about the economy going forward were little changed, but still positive on net. The balance of opinions on future conditions in own industries was also stable and moderately positive. Regarding top risks to their own industries, CEOs continue to rank cyber risks first, followed by geopolitical instability, and legal and regulatory uncertainty."

"CEO perceptions of labor shortages eased slightly in Q3, as fewer CEOs reported difficulty finding qualified workers," said Dana M. Peterson, Chief Economist of The Conference Board. "The share of CEOs expecting no problem hiring rose to pre-covid levels. Most CEOs planned to continue hiring or keep their workforce unchanged, but there was a slight increase in the share of CEOs expecting to reduce their workforce. Most firms anticipated raising wages by more than 3% over the next twelve months, with most wage increases planned in the 33.9% range. However, there was a slight increase in the share of CEOs planning to increase wages by less than 3%. CEOs continued to indicate no revisions to their capital spending plans. The share of CEOs expecting a recession declined further to 30%down from 35% in Q2 and 84% a year ago. Regarding monetary policy, a slight majority of CEOs (52%) expected one rate cut this year, up from 38% in Q2. The share of CEOs expecting two cuts also roseto 38% from 26% in Q2. Only 7% expected no rate cuts, down from 31%."

Current Conditions

CEOs' assessment of general economic conditions turned negative in Q3:

26% said economic conditions were worse than six months ago, up from 16% in Q2.

Only 20% of CEOs said economic conditions were better, down from 30% last quarter.

CEOs' assessments of conditions in their own industries also turned negative:

31% said conditions in their own industries were worse than six months ago, up from 26% in Q2.

26% of CEOs said conditions in their industries were better, down from 30%.

Future Conditions

CEOs' expectations about the short-term economic outlook improved slightly in Q3:

32% of CEOs expected economic conditions to improve over the next six months, up from 30% in Q2.

25% expected conditions to worsen, down from 26%.

CEOs' expectations for short-term prospects in their own industries were on balance little changed in Q3:

42% of CEOs expected conditions in their own industry to improve over the next six months, up from 38%.

19% expected conditions to worsen, up from 15% in Q1.

Employment, Recruiting, Wages, and Capital Spending

Employment: 40% of CEOs expected to expand their workforce over the next 12 months, up from 33% in Q2. Meanwhile, 23% of CEOs expected a reduction in their workforce, up from 21%.

40% of CEOs expected to expand their workforce over the next 12 months, up from 33% in Q2. Meanwhile, 23% of CEOs expected a reduction in their workforce, up from 21%. Hiring Qualified People: 27% of CEOs report some problems attracting qualified workers, but only in key areas, down from 31% last quarter. Only 12% report serious and/or widespread problems attracting qualified workers, unchanged from Q2. 10% reported no problem hiring, up from 6%.

27% of CEOs report some problems attracting qualified workers, but only in key areas, down from 31% last quarter. Only 12% report serious and/or widespread problems attracting qualified workers, unchanged from Q2. 10% reported no problem hiring, up from 6%. Wages: 70% of CEOs anticipated raising wages by more than 3% over the next twelve months. Most said they plan wage increases in the 3-3.9% range, but there was a slight increase in the share of CEOs planning to increase wages by less than 3%.

70% of CEOs anticipated raising wages by more than 3% over the next twelve months. Most said they plan wage increases in the 3-3.9% range, but there was a slight increase in the share of CEOs planning to increase wages by less than 3%. Capital Spending: Most CEOs are not planning to revise capital spending plans (61%). 23% of CEOs expect their capital budgets to increase over the next year, up from 21% last quarter.

For more, listen to the C-Suite Perspectives podcast with Dana Peterson and The Conference Board CEO Steve Odland.

About The Conference Board

The Conference Board is the member-driven think tank that delivers Trusted Insights for What's Ahead. Founded in 1916, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. ConferenceBoard.org

About The Business Council

The Business Council is a forum for the CEOs of the world's largest multinational corporations across all industry sectors. Members gather several times each year to share best practices, network and engage in intellectually provocative, enlightening discussions with peers and thought-leaders in business, government, academia, science, technology and other disciplines. Through the medium of discussion, the Council seeks to foster greater understanding of the major opportunities and challenges facing business, and to create consensus for solutions. The Business Council is a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (6) tax-exempt status. The Business Council does not lobby. Visit The Business Council's website at www.thebusinesscouncil.org

SOURCE The Conference Board
ZURICH, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Chubb Limited (NYSE: CB) today declared a quarterly dividend equal to $0.91 per share, payable on October 4, 2024 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 13, 2024. The dividend will be payable out of legal reserves and will be made in United States dollars by the company's transfer agent, as described in the Chubb Limited 2024 proxy statement. This will be the second installment as approved by the company's shareholders on May 16, 2024.

About Chubb

Chubb is a world leader in insurance. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 40,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Forward-looking statements made in this press release, such as statements regarding dividends, and our expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts, reflect the company's current views with respect to future events and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements. For example, payment of scheduled or future dividends could be affected by extraordinary company events or capital constraints or similar factors that could require the company to adjust, delay or withhold dividend payments. Additional information regarding factors that could cause differences from these forward-looking statements appears in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made.

SOURCE Chubb Limited
WASHINGTON and OTTAWA, ON, Aug. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The disturbing and heart wrenching data, visuals and testimony of Hindus under attack in their historic homeland of Bangladesh, require collective action. The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) is urging immediate intervention by the US State Department, the Department of Global Affairs in Canada, the UN, and other collective forces in order to prevent a selective genocide and mass targeting of religious minorities .

Bangladeshi Hindus are being physically assaulted and killed. A number of temples have been destroyed, homes and businesses of Hindus systematically vandalized and even set on fire.

"Since this past week-well before the fall of the Sheikh Hasina Government, I had started receiving calls and messages for help," said a CoHNA volunteer from Bangladesh who wishes to remain anonymous to ensure their family is not targeted. "My friends and family are traumatized and in fear of their lives. I will never recover from the horribly graphic and stark images of torture and terror that I have had shared with me and the calls for help where I am unable to do anything. I am asking all those with influence to speak up and ask for our safety and basic human rights."

The plight of Hindu women is especially worrisome given many reports of abduction , rapes, and sexual violence . Amidst the mind-numbing violence, there are several calls for exterminating the Hindu population that hark back to the unfinished agenda of Operation Searchlight in the 1971 Bengali Hindu Genocide .

"As a grassroots advocacy and civil rights organization based in the US and Canada, we have Hindus from different parts of the world who are volunteers, members, and supporters. As such, since last week, we have been getting advance warnings and calls for help when most of the world was focused on the political turmoil," said Nikunj Trivedi, President of CoHNA. "Haunted by the carnage we saw, we decided to act, launching a campaign to gather and share the information trickling out and enabling those who care for basic human rights to easily share the same with their lawmakers. Thousands have signed, but we need more to drive change among our lawmakers."

CoHNA asks everyone to take action immediately:

Join our Congressional Briefing on the Bangladesh violence on Monday, August 12 , at 6 PM EST by clicking here .

violence on , at by clicking . Sign this letter to send a message to your lawmakers. Make them aware of the carnage, call to follow up after the email and ask for help for the religious minorities. So far, 50,000 emails have been sent, but we need more. US residents click here . Canadian residents click here .

If you are in Toronto , join a vigil on August 10 to show your support.

, on to show your support. Consider organizing a vigil in your town, Contact CoHNA for support.

The Background

This latest spate of violence comes on the back of systemic large scale violence periodically unleashed on Bangladeshi Hindus. The scale, scope , and pattern of this slow genocide, has been widely documented by human rights groups as well as American lawmakers like late Sen. Ted Kennedy and late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee .

In 1951 after the partition of the Indian Subcontinent, Hindus constituted 22 percent of the population in the then East Pakistan. In 1974, after the creation of Bangladesh, that number had fallen to 13.75 percent and the downward trajectory continued despite the formation of what was hailed as a new secular republic. Today, Bangladeshi Hindus constitute less than 8 percent of the total population.

The religious violence against Hindus is often camouflaged under the broader turmoil, but the numbers don't lie. In 1971, a US State Department Report noted that "more than 60% of the Bengali refugees who fled to India were Hindus," despite being less than 18 percent of the population in . Yet, popular media at the time depicted (and continues to depict it) as primarily differences over language. The disproportionate violence directed today at this minority community is part of the same trend - only this time we are hearing it presented as party preferences.

About CoHNA

CoHNA is a grassroots level advocacy and civil rights organization dedicated to improving the understanding of Hinduism in North America by working on matters related to the Hindu community and by educating the public about Hindu heritage and tradition. For more information, please visit https://cohna.org or follow us on Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn and on Instagram .

SOURCE Coalition of Hindus of North America
Gross sales organic growth1 of 11.1% and gross profit organic growth1 of 2.1%;

Returned $47.4 million in capital through dividends and share repurchases;

Announces Group CEO Transition

TORONTO and GATINEAU, QC, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Converge Technology Solutions Corp. ("Converge" or "the Company") (TSX: CTS) (FSE: 0ZB) (OTCQX: CTSDF) is pleased to provide its financial results for the three and six months period ended June 30, 2024. All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

Second Quarter 2024 Highlights (year-over-year, unless otherwise noted):

Gross sales 1 of $1.06 billion , an increase of $106.4 million or 11.1%;

of , an increase of or 11.1%; Gross sales organic growth 1 of 11.1% and gross profit organic growth [1] of 2.1%;

of 11.1% and gross profit organic growth of 2.1%; Revenue of $651.8 million , a decrease of $14.0 million ;

, a decrease of ; Gross profit increased 2.1% to $179.3 million , representing a gross margin of 27.5%;

, representing a gross margin of 27.5%; Adjusted EBITDA 1 increased 8.6% to $45.1 million ;

increased 8.6% to ; Cash from operating activities was $52.4 million , an increase of $62.0 million , compared to cash used in operating activities of $9.6 million for the comparative period in the prior year;

, an increase of , compared to cash used in operating activities of for the comparative period in the prior year; Returned $47.4 million of capital to shareholders;

of capital to shareholders; Reduced net debt1 by $194.0 million year-over-year and by $51.9 million compared to Q4 FY23 to $157.9 million , compared to $351.9 million as at Q2 FY23 and $209.8 million as at Q4 FY23.

Year-To-Date 2024 Highlights (year-over-year, unless otherwise noted):

Gross sales1 of $2.07 billion , an increase of $147.2 million or 7.7%;

, an increase of or 7.7%; Gross sales organic growth1 of 7.7% and gross profit organic growth of 2.1%;

Revenue of $1.28 billion , a decrease of $63.4 million ;

, a decrease of ; Gross profit increased 2.1% to $354.6 million , representing a gross margin of 27.7%;

, representing a gross margin of 27.7%; Adjusted EBITDA 1 increased 5.8% to $87.3 million ;

increased 5.8% to ; Net loss of $168.5 million , an increase in loss of $160.6 million , driven by the non-cash impairment charge on the Germany segment of $176.1 million ;

, an increase in loss of , driven by the non-cash impairment charge on the segment of ; Returned $51.7 million of capital to shareholders;

of capital to shareholders; Cash from operating activities was $163.3 million , an increase of $144.2 million , compared to $19.1 million for the comparative period in the prior year.

__________________________ 1 This is a Non-IFRS measure (including non-IFRS ratio) and not a recognized, defined or a standardized measure under IFRS. See the "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" section of this press release for definitions, uses and a reconciliation of historical non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures.

"Demand for products, software and services in our key practice areas of AI, cybersecurity and cloud drove double-digit organic growth in the second quarter, leading to our fourth consecutive quarter of billion-dollar gross sales," said Greg Berard, Converge CEO. "The team has done an incredible job adapting to the needs of our clients and demonstrating the strength and diversity of our business model. This has allowed us to return $51.7 million in capital to shareholders year-to-date and $47.4 million in Q2 alone through dividends and share repurchases."

Financial Summary

In $000s except per share amounts 3-month Q2 2024 3-month Q2 2023

6-month Q2 2024 6-month Q2 2023 Gross Sales1 1,063,667 957,240

2,069,656 1,922,498 Revenue 651,847 665,813

1,280,613 1,344,011 Gross profit (GP) 179,284 175,672

354,556 347,260 Gross profit (GP) % 27.5 % 26.4 %

27.7 % 25.8 % Adjusted EBITDA1 45,107 41,257

87,316 82,531 Adjusted EBITDA as a % of GP1 25.2 % 23.6 %

24.6 % 23.8 % Net Loss (164,963) (4,495)

(168,503) (7,856) Adjusted net income1 38,759 25,124

61,466 49,565 Adjusted EPS1 $0.19 $0.12

$0.30 $0.24

Subsequent to Quarter-End

On August 7, 2024 , the Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.015 per common share to be paid on September 10, 2024 to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 27, 2024 .

Financial Outlook

Converge is providing financial guidance for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 as follows:

(expressed in millions of Canadian dollars)



Q3 2023 Actual Q3 2024 Expected FY 2023 Actual FY 2024 Expected Revenue $710.1 $636 - $658 $2,705 $2,620 - $2,664 Gross profit $174.1 $172 - $178 $702.9 $709 - $721 Adjusted EBITDA $41.3 $43 - $47 $170.3 $176 - $184

Note: Q3 2023 Actual and FY 2023 Actual includes results of Portage which has been deconsolidated on June 27, 2024.

Group CEO Transition

Converge is announcing today that following the recent deconsolidation of Portage Cybertech Inc. ("Portage"), Converge will be eliminating the role of 'Group CEO' at the end of 2024. Shaun Maine will continue in his role as Chair of Portage and continue to be an advisor to Greg Berard, currently CEO of Converge. Greg will assume all of Mr. Maine's executive responsibilities at the beginning of 2025.

"Greg has expertly spearheaded the leadership of Converge globally since the beginning of 2023, integrating our family of acquisitions under One Converge and propelling our organic growth engine" said Shaun Maine, Group CEO. "From founding Converge in 2017 to becoming a global company with approximately 3,000 employees generating more than $4 billion in annualized gross sales, I'm immensely proud of the team's achievements. Greg created the practices areas in 2019 and is the right person to leverage those unique capabilities to take advantage of the growth opportunities in the IT Services marketplace, particularly around AI."

"On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Shaun for his unwavering vision and leadership," said Thomas Volk, Chair of the Board. "Under Greg's leadership, Converge is the strongest it has ever been, possessing the depth and scale to become a global leader and sustain long-term value creation for our shareholders."

Conference Call Details:

Date: Thursday, August 8th, 2024

Time: 8:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Participant Webcast Link:

Webcast Link  https://app.webinar.net/JRKZ82MjxEQ

Participant Dial-in Details with Operator Assistance:

Conference ID: 50386

Toronto: 1-289-819-1350

North American Toll Free: 1-800-836-8184

International Toll-Free Numbers:

Germany: 498005889782

Ireland: 35315251826

Spain: 34917918582

Switzerland: 41432107274

United Kingdom: 448002797040

You may register and enter your phone number to receive an instant automated call back via https://emportal.ink/3VPeZPg

Recording Playback:

Webcast Link - https://app.webinar.net/JRKZ82MjxEQ

Toronto: 1-289-819-1450

North American Toll Free: 1-888-660-6345

Replay Code: 50386 #

Expiry Date: August 15th, 2024

Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure time for any software download that may be required to access the webcast. A live audio webcast accompanied by presentation slides and archive of the conference call and webcast will be available by visiting the Company's website at https://convergetp.com/investor-relations/ .

About Converge

Converge Technology Solutions Corp. is a services-led, software-enabled, IT & Cloud Solutions provider focused on delivering industry-leading solutions. Converge's global approach delivers advanced analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), application modernization, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and digital workplace offerings to clients across various industries. The Company supports these solutions with advisory, implementation, and managed services expertise across all major IT vendors in the marketplace. This multi-faceted approach enables Converge to address the unique business and technology requirements for all clients in the public and private sectors. For more information, visit convergetp.com.

Summary of Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position

(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)



June 30, 2024 $ December 31, 2023 $ Assets



Current





Cash 173,820 169,872

Restricted cash 267 547

Trade and other receivables 882,385 803,652

Inventories 82,664 73,166

Prepaid expenses and other assets 33,265 26,528



1,172,401 1,073,765 Non-current





Investment in associates 29,877 -

Unbilled receivables and other assets 115,349 64,158

Property, equipment and right-of-use assets, net 68,880 75,488

Intangible assets, net 290,550 375,181

Goodwill 387,573 564,770 Total assets 2,064,630 2,153,362







Liabilities



Current





Trade and other payables 1,055,632 853,655

Other financial liabilities 32,341 54,095

Deferred revenue 66,617 59,325

Borrowings 12,141 1,664

Income taxes payable - 9,286



1,166,731 978,025 Non-current





Trade and other payables 104,030 60,339

Other financial liabilities 42,875 57,668

Borrowings 319,538 378,007

Deferred tax liabilities 47,766 67,168 Total liabilities 1,680,940 1,541,207







Shareholders' equity





Common shares 574,155 599,434

Contributed surplus 12,586 10,970

Accumulated other comprehensive income 15,997 3,963

Deficit (219,048) (28,167) Total equity attributable to shareholders of Converge 383,690 586,200 Non-controlling interest ("NCI") - 25,955

383,690 612,155 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 2,064,630 2,153,362

Summary of Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)



Three months ended June 30,

Six months ended June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023 Revenue













Product 516,448

511,597

1,002,558

1,048,286 Service 135,399

154,216

278,055

295,725 Total revenue 651,847

665,813

1,280,613

1,344,011 Cost of sales 472,563

490,141

926,057

996,751 Gross profit 179,284

175,672

354,556

347,260 Selling, general and administrative expenses 135,943

136,699

271,836

268,732 Income before the following 43,341

38,973

82,720

78,528















Depreciation and amortization 25,208

26,893

49,421

52,783 Finance expense, net 7,328

10,652

15,755

20,002 Acquisition, integration, restructuring and other 4,868

4,083

8,456

8,367 Change in fair value of contingent consideration 1,129

9,209

3,273

9,209 Share-based compensation expense 1,140

1,117

1,912

1,965 Other (income) expense, net 48

(6,529)

255

(4,060) Loss on loss of control of Portage 117

-

117

- Impairment loss- Germany segment 176,124

-

176,124

- (Loss) Income before income taxes (172,621)

(6,452)

(172,593)

(9,738) Income tax recovery (7,658)

(1,957)

(4,090)

(1,882) Net (loss) income (164,963)

(4,495)

(168,503)

(7,856) Net (loss) income attributable to:













Shareholders of Converge (163,315)

(3,548)

(165,230)

(5,505) Non-controlling interest (1,644)

(947)

(3,273)

(2,351)

(164,963)

(4,495)

(168,503)

(7,856) Other comprehensive (loss) income













Exchange gain (loss) on translation of foreign operations 3,895

(15,725)

12,034

(13,552) Comprehensive (loss) income (161,068)

(20,220)

(156,469)

(21,408) Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to:













Shareholders of Converge (159,423)

(19,273)

(153,196)

(19,057) Non-controlling interest (1,645)

(947)

(3,273)

(2,351)

(161,068)

(20,220)

(156,469)

(21,408)















Adjusted EBITDA 45,107

41,527

87,316

82,531 Adjusted EBITDA as a % of Gross profit 25.2 %

23.6 %

24.6 %

23.8 % Adjusted EBITDA as a % of Revenue 6.9 %

6.2 %

6.8 %

6.2 %

Summary of Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows

(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)



For the three months ended

June 30, For the six months ended

June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023















Cash flows (used in) from operating activities













Net (loss) income (164,963)

(4,495)

(168,503)

(7,856) Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to cash from operating activities













Depreciation and amortization 26,973

29,235

54,017

56,785 Unrealized foreign exchange (gains) losses -

(5,281)

-

(2,818) Share-based compensation expense 1,140

1,117

1,912

1,965 Finance expense, net 7,328

10,652

15,755

20,002 Gain on sale of property and equipment 8

(598)

69

(598) Change in fair value of contingent consideration 1,129

6,551

3,273

6,551 Impairment loss  Germany segment 176,124

-

176,124

- Loss on loss of control of Portage 117

-

117

- Income tax expense (recovery) (7,658)

(1,957)

(4,090)

(1,882)

40,198

35,224

78,674

72,149 Changes in non-cash working capital 36,231

(40,349)

109,353

(41,585)

76,429

(5,125)

188,027

30,564 Income taxes paid (24,045)

(4,520)

(24,708)

(11,446) Cash from operating activities 52,384

(9,645)

163,319

19,118















Cash flows used in investing activities













Purchase of property, equipment and intangible assets (2,003)

(2,091)

(3,861)

(7,197) Proceeds on disposal of property and equipment -

3,681

-

3,749 Payment of contingent consideration (16,164)

(975)

(19,328)

(9,935) Payment of deferred consideration (4,002)

(4,066)

(11,867)

(29,720) Payment of NCI liability -

-

-

(29,994) Cash used in investing activities (22,169)

(3,451)

(35,056)

(73,097)















Cash flows (used in) from financing activities













Transfers from restricted cash 296

2,371

293

2,587 Interest paid (5,556)

(7,365)

(12,329)

(15,242) Dividends paid (2,969)

(2,067)

(5,003)

(2,067) Payment of lease liabilities (5,028)

(5,089)

(10,116)

(10,224) Repurchase of common shares (44,425)

(14,230)

(46,721)

(14,230) Stock options exercised 875

-

875

- Repayment of notes payable -

(40)

(39)

(80) Net proceeds from (repayment of) borrowings 41,799

(22,815)

(54,472)

11,384 Cash (used in) from financing activities (15,008)

(49,235)

(127,512)

(27,872)















Net change in cash during the period 15,207

(62,331)

751

(81,851) Effect of foreign exchange on cash 1,631





Non-IFRS Financial Measures

This press release refers to certain performance indicators including Adjusted EBITDA, gross profit, gross sales, gross sales organic growth, net debt, adjusted net income ("Adjusted Net Income") and adjusted earnings per share ("Adjusted EPS") that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Management believes that these measures are useful to most shareholders, creditors, and other stakeholders in analyzing the Company's operating results and can highlight trends in its core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS financial measures. The Company also believes that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures in the evaluation of issuers.

Management also uses non-IFRS measures in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, prepare annual operating budgets and assess the ability to meet capital expenditure and working capital requirements. These non-IFRS financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to the consolidated income (loss) or any other measure of performance under IFRS. Investors are encouraged to review the Company's financial statements and disclosures in their entirety, are cautioned not to put undue reliance on non-IFRS measures and view them in conjunction with the most comparable IFRS financial measures.

Please see "Non-IFRS Financial & Supplementary Financial Measures" and "Summary of Consolidated Financial Results" in the Company's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis, which is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, for further details on certain non-IFRS measures, which information is incorporated by reference herein.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA represents net income or loss adjusted to exclude amortization, depreciation, interest expense and net finance expense, foreign exchange gains and losses, other expenses and income, share-based compensation expense, income tax expense, change in fair value of contingent consideration, impairment loss, gain or loss on loss of control of subsidiary and acquisition, integration, restructuring and other expenses. Acquisition and transaction related costs primarily consists of acquisition-related compensation tied to continued employment of pre-existing shareholders of the acquiree not included in the total purchase consideration and professional fees. Integration costs primarily consist of professional fees incurred related to integration of acquisitions completed. Restructuring costs mainly represent employee exit costs as a result of synergies created from acquisitions and organizational changes.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized, defined, or standardized measure under IFRS. The Company's definition of Adjusted EBITDA will likely differ from that used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited.

Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a substitute for or in isolation from measures prepared in accordance with IFRS.

The IFRS measure most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA presented in the Company's financial statements is net (loss) income before taxes.

The Company has reconciled Adjusted EBITDA to the most comparable IFRS financial measure as follows:





For the three months ended

June 30, For the six months ended

June 30,

2024 2023 2024 2023

Net (loss) income before taxes (172,621) (6,452) (172,593) (9,738)

Depreciation and amortization 25,208 26,893 49,421 52,783

Depreciation included in cost of sales 1,766 2,342 4,596 3,798

Finance expense, net 7,328 10,652 15,755 20,002

Acquisition, integration, restructuring and other 4,868 4,083 8,456 8,367

Change in fair value of contingent consideration 1,129 9,209 3,273 9,209

Share-based compensation expense 1,140 1,117 1,912 1,965

Other expense, net 48 (6,317) 255 (3,855)

Loss on loss of control on Portage 117 - 117 -

Impairment loss- Germany segment 176,124 - 176,124 -

Adjusted EBITDA 45,107 41,527 87,316 82,531













Adjusted EBITDA as a % of Gross Profit1

The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA as a % of gross profit is a useful measure of the Company's operating efficiency and profitability. This is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by gross profit.

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS 1

Adjusted Net Income represents net income (loss) adjusted to exclude acquisition, integration, restructuring and other expenses, change in fair value of contingent consideration, impairment loss, gain or loss on loss of control of subsidiary, amortization of acquired intangible assets, unrealized foreign exchange gain/loss, and share-based compensation. The Company believes that Adjusted Net Income is a more useful measure than net income as it excludes the impact of one-time, non-cash and/or non-recurring items that are not reflective of Converge's underlying business performance. Adjusted EPS is calculated by dividing Adjusted Net Income by the total weighted average shares outstanding on a basic and diluted basis. The IFRS measure most directly comparable to Adjusted Net Income presented in the Company's financial statements is net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share.

The Company has provided a reconciliation to the most comparable IFRS financial measure as follows:



For the three months For the six months ended June 30, ended June 30,

2024 2023 2024 2023 Net income (loss) (164,963) (4,495) (168,503) (7,856) Acquisition, integration, restructuring and other 4,868 4,083 8,456 8,367 Change in fair value of contingent consideration 1,129 9,209 3,273 9,209 Amortization on intangibles 20,271 21,527 39,857 41,735 Foreign exchange (loss) gain 73 (6,317) 230 (3,855) Share-based compensation 1,140 1,117 1,912 1,965 Loss on loss of control or Portage 117 - 117 - Impairment loss- Germany segment 176,124 - 176,124 - Adjusted Net Income 38,759 25,124 61,466 49,565 Adjusted EPS -Basic $0.19 $0.12 $0.30 $0.24

Leverage Ratio

The Company defines leverage ratio as net debt (current and non-current borrowings less cash) divided by trailing twelve months Adjusted EBITDA.

Gross sales and gross sales organic growth

Gross sales, which is a non-IFRS measure, reflects the gross amount billed to customers, adjusted for amounts deferred or accrued. The Company believes gross sales is a useful alternative financial metric to net revenue, the IFRS measure, as it better reflects volume fluctuations as compared to net revenue. Under the applicable IFRS 15 'principal vs agent' guidance, the principal records revenue on a gross basis and the agent records commission on a net basis. In transactions where Converge is acting as an agent between the customer and the vendor, net revenue is calculated by reducing gross sales by the cost of sale amount.

The Company has provided a reconciliation of gross sales to revenue, which is the most comparable IFRS financial measure, as follows:



For the three months For the six months ended June 30, ended June 30,

2024 2023 2024 2023 Product 716,692 640,017 1,418,144 1,305,327 Managed services and professional services 112,026 135,977 234,279 255,444 Maintenance, support and cloud solutions 234,949 181,246 417,233 361,727 Gross sales 1,063,667 957,240 2,069,656 1,922,498 Less: adjustment for sales transacted as agent (411,820) (291,427) (789,043) (578,487) Revenue 651,847 665,813 1,280,613 1,344,011

Organic Growth

The Company measures organic growth at the gross sales and gross profit levels, and includes the contributions under Converge ownership in the current and comparative period(s). In calculating organic growth, the Company therefore deducts gross sales and gross profit generated from all corresponding prior comparable pre-acquisition period(s) from the current reporting period(s) included in the consolidated results.

Gross sales organic growth is calculated by deducting prior period gross sales, from current period gross sales for the same portfolio of companies. Gross sales organic growth percentage is calculated by dividing organic growth by prior period reported gross sales.



For the three months For the six months ended June 30, ended June 30,

2024 2023 2024 2023 Gross sales 1,063,667 957,240 2,069,656 1,922,498 Less: gross sales from companies not owned in comparative period - 214,227 - 459,857 Gross sales of companies owned in comparative period 1,063,667 743,013 2,069,656 1,462,641 Prior period gross sales 957,240 729,678 1,922,498 1,403,607 Organic Growth - $ 106,427 13,335 147,158 59,034 Organic Growth - % 11.1 % 1.8 % 7.7 % 4.2 %

Gross profit organic growth is calculated by deducting prior period gross profit, from current period gross profit for the same portfolio of companies. Gross profit organic growth percentage is calculated by dividing organic growth by prior period reported gross profit.



For the three months For the six months ended June 30, ended June 30,

2024 2023 2024 2023 Gross profit 179,284 175,672 354,556 347,260 Less: gross profit from companies not owned in comparative period - 39,239 - 83,836 Gross profit of companies owned in comparative period 179,284 136,433 354,556 263,424 Prior period gross profit 175,672 133,152 347,260 242,197 Organic Growth - $ 3,612 3,281 7,296 21,227 Organic Growth - % 2.1 % 2.5 % 2.1 % 8.8 %

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation regarding Converge and its business. 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" 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.

Specifically, statements regarding Converge's forecast on gross profit and Adjusted EBITDA, expectations of future results, performance, prospects, the markets in which it operates, or about any future intention with regard to its business and acquisition strategies are considered forward-looking information. The foregoing demonstrates Converge's objectives, which are not forecasts or estimates of its financial position, but are based on the implementation of its strategic goals, growth prospects, and growth initiatives. The forward-looking information, including management's assessments of, and outlook for, gross profit and Adjusted EBITDA, are based on management's opinions, estimates and assumptions, including, but not limited to: (i) Converge's results of operations will continue as expected, (ii) the Company will continue to effectively execute against its key strategic growth priorities, (iii) the Company will continue to retain and grow its existing customer base and market share, (iv) the Company will be able to take advantage of future prospects and opportunities, and realize on synergies, including with respect of acquisitions, (v) there will be no changes in legislative or regulatory matters that negatively impact the Company's business, (vi) current tax laws will remain in effect and will not be materially changed, (vii) economic conditions will remain relatively stable throughout the period, (vii) the industries Converge operates in will continue to grow consistent with past experience, and (ix) those assumptions described under the heading "About Forward-Looking Information" in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2024. While these opinions, estimates and assumptions are considered by the Company to be appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances as of the date of this press release, they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.

The forward looking information, including the achievement of target gross profit and Adjusted EBITDA set out above, are subject to significant risks including, without limitation: that the Company will be unable to effectively execute against its key strategic growth priorities, including in respect of acquisitions; the Company will be unable to continue to retain and grow its existing customer base and market share; risks related to the Company's business and financial position; that the Company may not be able to accurately predict its rate of growth and profitability; risks related to economic and political uncertainty; income tax related risks; and those risk factors discussed in greater detail under the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's most recent annual information form and under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis, which are each available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Many of these risks are beyond the Company's control.

If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the opinions, estimates or assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results or future events might vary materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other risk factors not presently known to the Company or that the Company presently believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking information.

Although the Company bases these forward-looking statements on assumptions that it believes are reasonable when made, the Company cautions investors that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that its actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity and the development of the industry in which it operates may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. In addition, even if the Company's results of operations, financial condition and liquidity and the development of the industry in which it operates are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results of developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods.

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 information. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future results. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date made. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the company's expectations as of the date specified herein, and are subject to change after such date. However, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking information or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of those statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indications of future performance, unless specifically expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data.

All of the forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements.

SOURCE Converge Technology Solutions Corp.
NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CurePSP has announced a record number of student fellowship recipients, totaling ten projects between the Urso Student Fellowship Grant and the inaugural Jim Atwood Neuroscience Student Fellowship Grant, awarded to projects from around the world that hope to answer questions in the progression of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and related diseases, as well as expand the community of researchers dedicated to finding a cure. The Urso Student Fellowship Grant, supported by the Paul and Ruth Urso Memorial Research Fund, was awarded to eight projects focused on basic, translational, clinical or epidemiological aspects of PSP and CBD. The record eight recipients have identified urgent questions regarding tauopathies and will conduct their research at leading institutions around the world. They hope to open new avenues for collaboration and advancement in the field of neuroscience.

The Jim Atwood Neuroscience Student Fellowship Grant is a compelling new program sponsored by the Atwood family that will further the scope of research in the rare disease field, supporting undergraduate student summer research projects focused on PSP or CBD. The fellowship aims to encourage undergraduate students to pursue research in the field to make PSP and CBD long-term areas of research interest and to further awareness and our understanding of these diseases. The Atwood family is thrilled to sponsor this program and continue the legacy of Dr. D. James (Jim) Atwood, an undergraduate professor for 42 years who passed away from PSP in 2023. Kris Atwood, Jim's wife, looks forward to increasing undergraduate interest in these rare diseases, a field that Jim poured his heart into for decades. The fellowship will offer invaluable exposure to undergraduates that they can take with them through their careers.

"Jim's lifelong love of undergraduate learning led us to form his endowed fellowship at CurePSP. We aim to forge a path for students to engage in meaningful research and gain early exposure to this specific neuroscience field for undergraduate pre-med students," Kris Atwood said. "Jim would be terrifically pleased with the selection of these two inaugural research scholars and their exemplary proposals."

Learn more about CurePSP Student Fellowships and the latest awardees here.

About CurePSP:

CurePSP is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to the awareness, care and cure for three neurodegenerative diseases: progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). As a catalyst for new treatments and a cure, CurePSP establishes important partnerships and funds critical research internationally. Through its advocacy and support efforts, CurePSP enhances education, care delivery and quality of life for people living with PSP, CBD and MSA and their families. Science, community and hope are at the heart of CurePSP's mission and all its services. CurePSP is a registered 501(c)(3) charity within the United States (EIN: 52-1704978). For more information, please visit www.curepsp.org.

Contact:

Kristophe Diaz, PhD

Executive Director and Chief Science Officer

646-725-1453

[email protected]

SOURCE CurePSP, Inc.
DENVER, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dizzion, the leader in Desktop as a Service (DaaS), is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Goodman to its Board of Directors. This strategic addition underscores Dizzion's commitment to driving innovation and excellence in the end user computing market.

Kevin Goodman brings a wealth of experience to Dizzion, having co-founded and served as CEO for two successful venture-backed startups: FSLogix, which was acquired by Microsoft in 2018; and RTO Software, acquired by VMware in 2010. Most recently, Goodman worked at Amazon Web Services (AWS) as a Director of Product Management in End User Computing. Although he retired from full-time work in 2024, Goodman continues to mentor CEOs, as well as students and faculty at his Alma Mater, the University of Georgia.

Reflecting on Goodman's appointment, Rob Green, CEO of Dizzion, stated, "Kevin's exceptional track record in leading innovative companies and his deep understanding of the end user computing space make him an invaluable addition to our Board. His insights and guidance will be instrumental as we continue to expand our market presence and enhance our product offerings."

Goodman's role on the Board of Directors will involve providing strategic guidance and mentorship to the Dizzion leadership team, leveraging his extensive experience in product management and executive leadership to support the company's growth and innovation initiatives.

"I am thrilled to join Dizzion's Board of Directors at such an exciting time in the company's journey," said Kevin Goodman. "Dizzion's commitment to delivering cutting-edge DaaS solutions aligns perfectly with my passion for driving innovation in end user computing. I look forward to contributing to the company's continued success and helping to shape its future direction."

Goodman's appointment follows a series of strategic moves by Dizzion to bolster its leadership team and accelerate its growth trajectory. The company remains focused on delivering exceptional value to its customers through innovative DaaS solutions that enable secure, reliable, and efficient remote work environments.

For more information about Dizzion and its services, please visit www.dizzion.com.

About Dizzion

At Dizzion, we simplify Desktop as a Service (DaaS) for effortless workspace transformations. Our cloud-native platform and comprehensive services offer you a one-stop solution. As pioneers and visionaries, we're committed to making work accessible, secure, sustainable, and enjoyable. Choose from our Flex, Managed, or Complete offerings. Managed or Complete solutions can be enhanced with our specialized +Compliance add-on for the highest compliance standards. Experience the future of workspace technology with Dizzion.

SOURCE Dizzion, Inc.
SAO PAULO, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EMBRAER S.A. (NYSE: ERJ; B3: EMBR3) RELEASES ITS SECOND QUARTER 2024 EARNINGS RESULTS.

HIGHLIGHTS

Embraer delivered 47 jets in 2Q24 of which 27 were executive jets (20 light and 7 medium) , 19 were commercial jets and 1 multi-mission C-390 Millennium in Defense  an increase of 88% compared to the 25 aircraft delivered in 1Q24.

in of which (20 light and 7 medium) and 1 multi-mission C-390 Millennium in Defense  an increase of 88% compared to the 25 aircraft delivered in 1Q24. Firm order backlog of US$21.1 billion in 2Q24  a 7-year high, up more than 20% annually. For more information please see our 2Q24 Backlog and Deliveries release.

 a 7-year high, up more than 20% annually. For more information please see our 2Q24 Backlog and Deliveries release. Revenues totaled US$1,494 million in the period or an increase of 67% compared to the previous quarter (qoq) . Highlight for Commercial Aviation revenues with 176% growth.

compared to the previous quarter (qoq) Highlight for Commercial Aviation revenues with 176% growth. Adjusted EBIT reached US$138.8 million with a 9.3% margin in 2Q24 ( US$6.8 million and 0.8% in 1Q24).

( and 0.8% in 1Q24). Adjusted free cash flow w/o Eve in 2Q24 was negative US$(215) million because of working capital needs to support higher number of deliveries in the second half of 2024.

because of working capital needs to support higher number of deliveries in the second half of 2024. 2024 Guidance reiterated: Management believes current estimates are valid and represent evenly balanced opportunities and risks for full year operations. Commercial Aviation deliveries between 72 and 80 aircraft, and Executive Aviation deliveries between 125 and 135. Total company revenues in the US$6.0 -6.4 billion range, Adjusted EBIT margin between 6.5% and 7.5%, and Adjusted free cash flow of US$220 million or higher.

For additional information, please check the full document on our website ri.embraer.com.br

Investor Relations

Guilherme Paiva, Patricia Mc Knight, Viviane Pinheiro, Eliane Fanis, Marilia Saback and Marcelo Cuperman.

(+55 11)3040-6874

[email protected]

ri.embraer.com.br

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

Embraer will host a conference call to present its 2Q24 Results on:

Thursday, Aug 8, 2024

ENGLISH : 8:00 AM (NY Time) / 9:00 AM (SP Time).

Simultaneous translation to Portuguese.

To access the webcast click here.

Zoom webinar: 829 8775 0865

Or alternatively to participate by phone call:

U.S.: +1(305)224-1968, +1(309)205-3325

Brazil: +55(11)4632-2236, +55(11)4632-2237

Password: 829 8775 0865

We recommend you join 15 minutes in advance.

SOURCE Embraer S.A.
Second quarter revenues of $1.147 billion , down 2.0% year-over-year

GAAP income from operations was 10.5% of revenues and non-GAAP income from operations was 15.2% of revenues for the second quarter

Second quarter GAAP diluted EPS of $1.70 , a decrease of $0.33 , and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $2.45 , a decrease of $0.19 on a year-over-year basis

For the full year, EPAM narrows expected range for revenues to $4.590 billion to $4.625 billion , updates expected GAAP diluted EPS to now be in the range of $7.18 to $7.38 and non-GAAP diluted EPS to now be in the range of $10.20 to $10.40

For the third quarter, EPAM expects revenues to be in the range of $1.145 billion to $1.155 billion , GAAP diluted EPS to be in the range of $1.75 to $1.83 and non-GAAP diluted EPS to be in the range of $2.65 to $2.73

New Share Repurchase Program - On August 1, 2024 , the Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program with authorization to purchase up to $500 million of EPAM common stock

NEWTOWN, Pa., Aug 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EPAM Systems, Inc. (NYSE: EPAM), a leading digital transformation services and product engineering company, today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

EPAM Reports Results for Second Quarter 2024 and Updates Full Year Outlook

"With ongoing exposure to a challenging macro-demand environment, EPAM's solid performance highlights the Company's ability to adapt and optimize operations, while continuing to strengthen its offerings and client value propositions," said Arkadiy Dobkin, CEO & President at EPAM. "We are continuously improving our geographic delivery footprint, while simultaneously strengthening our transformational capabilities, including our GenAI-relevant expertise and assets, and preparing ourselves to be our clients' partner of choice once the demand environment improves."

Second Quarter 2024 Highlights

Revenues decreased to $1.147 billion , a year-over-year decrease of $23.6 million , or 2.0%. On an organic constant currency basis excluding the impact of the exit from Russia , revenues were down 2.8% compared to the second quarter of 2023;

, a year-over-year decrease of , or 2.0%. On an organic constant currency basis excluding the impact of the exit from , revenues were down 2.8% compared to the second quarter of 2023; GAAP income from operations was $120.6 million , a decrease of $23.8 million , or 16.5%, compared to $144.3 million in the second quarter of 2023;

, a decrease of , or 16.5%, compared to in the second quarter of 2023; Non-GAAP income from operations was $174.5 million , a decrease of $16.3 million , or 8.5%, compared to $190.8 million in the second quarter of 2023;

, a decrease of , or 8.5%, compared to in the second quarter of 2023; Diluted earnings per share ("EPS") on a GAAP basis was $1.70 , a decrease of $0.33 , or 16.3%, compared to $2.03 in the second quarter of 2023; and

, a decrease of , or 16.3%, compared to in the second quarter of 2023; and Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $2.45 , a decrease of $0.19 , or 7.2%, compared to $2.64 in the second quarter of 2023.

Cash Flow and Other Metrics

Cash provided by operating activities was $186.9 million for the first six months of 2024, compared to cash provided by operating activities of $176.4 million for the first six months of 2023;

for the first six months of 2024, compared to cash provided by operating activities of for the first six months of 2023; Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $1.792 billion as of June 30, 2024 , a decrease of $251.5 million , or 12.3%, from $2.043 billion as of December 31, 2023 , largely driven by share repurchases; and

as of , a decrease of , or 12.3%, from as of , largely driven by share repurchases; and Total headcount was approximately 52,650 as of June 30, 2024 . Included in this number were approximately 47,000 delivery professionals, a level consistent with that as of March 31, 2024 .

Share Repurchase Program

The Company repurchased 1.160 million shares of its common stock for $214.5 million during the second quarter of 2024 under its previously authorized share repurchase program. During the second quarter of 2023, the Company repurchased 195 thousand shares of its common stock for $41.4 million under its previously authorized share repurchase program. As of June 30, 2024 , the Company exhausted the $500 million available for purchases of the Company's common stock under the previously authorized share repurchase program;

during the second quarter of 2024 under its previously authorized share repurchase program. During the second quarter of 2023, the Company repurchased 195 thousand shares of its common stock for under its previously authorized share repurchase program. As of , the Company exhausted the available for purchases of the Company's common stock under the previously authorized share repurchase program; On August 1, 2024 , the Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program with authorization to purchase up to $500 million of EPAM common stock; and

, the Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program with authorization to purchase up to of EPAM common stock; and EPAM may repurchase shares of its common stock from time to time through open market purchases, in privately negotiated transactions, or by other means, including through the use of trading plans intended to qualify under Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in accordance with applicable securities laws and other restrictions. The timing and total amount of stock repurchases will depend upon business, economic and market conditions, corporate and regulatory requirements, prevailing stock prices, and other considerations. The share repurchase program will have a term of 24 months, may be suspended or discontinued at any time, and does not obligate the company to acquire any amount of common stock.

2024 Outlook - Full Year and Third Quarter

Full Year

While client demand has stabilized, the Company is expecting no aggregate improvement in demand for the remainder of the year. As a result, EPAM now expects the following for the full year:

The Company narrows its expected range for revenues to $4.590 billion to $4.625 billion for the full year reflecting a year-over-year decline of 1.8% at the midpoint of the range. The Company expects that revenues on an organic constant currency basis excluding the impact of the exit from Russia will decline 2.9% at the midpoint of the range;

to for the full year reflecting a year-over-year decline of 1.8% at the midpoint of the range. The Company expects that revenues on an organic constant currency basis excluding the impact of the exit from will decline 2.9% at the midpoint of the range; For the full year, EPAM expects GAAP income from operations to now be in the range of 10.5% to 11.0% of revenues and non-GAAP income from operations to now be in the range of 15.5% to 16.0% of revenues;

The Company expects its GAAP effective tax rate to now be approximately 21% and continues to expect its non-GAAP effective tax rate to be approximately 24%; and

EPAM expects GAAP diluted EPS to now be in the range of $7.18 to $7 .38 and non-GAAP diluted EPS to now be in the range of $10.20 to $10.40 . The Company expects weighted average diluted shares outstanding for the year to now be 57.9 million.

Third Quarter

EPAM expects the following for the third quarter:

The Company expects revenues will be in the range of $1.145 billion to $1.155 billion for the third quarter reflecting a year-over-year decline of 0.2% at the midpoint of the range. The Company expects that revenues on an organic constant currency basis excluding the impact of the exit from Russia will decline 1.4% at the midpoint of the range;

to for the third quarter reflecting a year-over-year decline of 0.2% at the midpoint of the range. The Company expects that revenues on an organic constant currency basis excluding the impact of the exit from will decline 1.4% at the midpoint of the range; For the third quarter, EPAM expects GAAP income from operations to be in the range of 10.0% to 11.0% of revenues and non-GAAP income from operations to be in the range of 16.0% to 17.0% of revenues;

The Company expects both its GAAP effective tax rate and its non-GAAP effective tax rate to be approximately 24%; and

EPAM expects GAAP diluted EPS will be in the range of $1.75 to $1.83 for the quarter, and non-GAAP diluted EPS will be in the range of $2.65 to $2.73 for the quarter. The Company expects weighted average diluted shares outstanding for the quarter of 57.4 million.

Conference Call Information

EPAM will host a conference call to discuss the results on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. EDT. The conference call will be available live on the EPAM website at https://investors.epam.com. Please visit the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register for the event. For those who cannot access the live webcast, a replay will be available in the Investor Relations section of the website.

About EPAM Systems

Since 1993, EPAM Systems, Inc. (NYSE: EPAM) has used its software engineering expertise to become a leading global provider of digital engineering, cloud and AI-enabled transformation services, and a leading business and experience consulting partner for global enterprises and ambitious startups. We address our clients' transformation challenges by fusing EPAM Continuum's integrated strategy, experience and technology consulting with our 30+ years of engineering execution to speed our clients' time to market and drive greater value from their innovations and digital investments.

We make GenAI real with our testing, engineering and AI LLM orchestration solutions, EPAM EliteA, EPAM AI/RUN and EPAM DIAL, respectively.

We deliver globally but engage locally with our expert teams of consultants, architects, designers, and engineers, making the future real for our clients, our partners, and our people around the world.

We believe the right solutions are the ones that improve people's lives and fuel competitive advantage for our clients across diverse industries. Our thinking comes to life in the experiences, products and platforms we design and bring to market.

Added to the S&P 500 and the Forbes Global 2000 in 2021 and recognized by Glassdoor as a Best Workplace in 2023 and 2024, our multidisciplinary teams serve customers across six continents. We are proud to be among the top 15 companies in Information Technology Services in the Fortune 1000 and to be recognized as a leader in the IDC MarketScapes for Worldwide Experience Build Services, Worldwide Experience Design Services and Worldwide Software Engineering Services as well as a leader in the 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Custom Software Development Services, Worldwide.*

Learn more at https://www.epam.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

* Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

EPAM supplements results reported in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, referred to as GAAP, with non-GAAP financial measures. Management believes these measures help illustrate underlying trends in EPAM's business and uses the measures to establish budgets and operational goals, communicate internally and externally, for managing EPAM's business and evaluating its performance. Management also believes these measures help investors compare EPAM's operating performance with its results in prior periods. EPAM anticipates that it will continue to report both GAAP and certain non-GAAP financial measures in its financial results, including non-GAAP results that exclude stock-based compensation expenses, acquisition-related costs including amortization of acquired intangible assets, impairment of assets, expenses associated with EPAM's humanitarian commitment to its professionals in Ukraine, unbilled business continuity resources resulting from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, costs associated with the geographic repositioning of EPAM employees based outside of Ukraine impacted by the war and geopolitical instability in the region, employee separation costs incurred in connection with restructuring programs including the Company's exit from Russia, certain other one-time charges and benefits, changes in fair value of contingent consideration, foreign exchange gains and losses, excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation, and the related effect on income taxes of the pre-tax adjustments. Management also compares revenues on an "organic constant currency basis excluding the impact of the exit from Russia" and an "organic constant currency basis," which are also non-GAAP financial measures. These measures exclude the effect of acquisitions by removing revenues from an acquired company in the twelve months after completing an acquisition and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations by translating the current period revenues into U.S. dollars at the weighted average exchange rates of the prior period of comparison. In addition, revenues on an "organic constant currency basis excluding the impact of the exit from Russia" reflect the decision to exit from Russia by removing revenues from clients located in Russia in both the current period and prior period of comparison. Because EPAM's reported non-GAAP financial measures are not calculated in accordance with GAAP, these measures are not comparable to GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly described non-GAAP measures reported by other companies within EPAM's industry. Consequently, EPAM's non-GAAP financial measures should not be evaluated in isolation or supplant comparable GAAP measures, but rather, should be considered together with the information in EPAM's consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes estimates and statements which may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the accuracy of which are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Our estimates and forward-looking statements are mainly based on our current expectations and estimates of future events and trends, which affect or may affect our business and operations. These statements may include words such as "may," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate" or similar expressions. Those future events and trends may relate to, among other things, developments relating to the war in Ukraine and escalation of the war in the surrounding region, political and civil unrest or military action in the geographies where we conduct business and operate, difficult conditions in global capital markets, foreign exchange markets and the broader economy, and the effect that these events may have on client demand and our revenues, operations, access to capital, and profitability. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied include general economic conditions, the risk factors discussed in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the factors discussed in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, particularly under the headings "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we believe that these estimates and forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, they are subject to several risks and uncertainties and are made based on information currently available to us. EPAM undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities law.

EPAM SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data)



Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023 Revenues $ 1,146,597

$ 1,170,206

$ 2,312,062

$ 2,381,147 Operating expenses:













Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and

amortization) 810,857

808,715

1,645,191

1,664,616 Selling, general and administrative expenses 194,058

194,377

392,511

406,264 Depreciation and amortization expense 21,121

22,768

43,267

45,550 Income from operations 120,561

144,346

231,093

264,717 Interest and other income, net 12,036

11,710

27,078

23,231 Foreign exchange gain/(loss) 1,213

(6,010)

(706)

(10,618) Income before provision for income taxes 133,810

150,046

257,465

277,330 Provision for income taxes 35,165

30,013

42,577

55,005 Net income $ 98,645

$ 120,033

$ 214,888

$ 222,325















Net income per share:













Basic $ 1.71

$ 2.07

$ 3.72

$ 3.84 Diluted $ 1.70

$ 2.03

$ 3.67

$ 3.75 Shares used in calculation of net income per share:













Basic 57,594

57,993

57,716

57,848 Diluted 58,149

59,181

58,540

59,240

EPAM SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (In thousands, except par value)

As of June 30, 2024

As of December 31, 2023 Assets





Current assets





Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,787,182

$ 2,036,235 Trade receivables and contract assets, net of allowance of $6,557 and $11,864, respectively 960,866

897,032 Short-term investments 61,492

60,739 Prepaid and other current assets 106,103

97,355 Total current assets 2,915,643

3,091,361 Property and equipment, net 210,378

235,053 Operating lease right-of-use assets, net 129,953

134,898 Intangible assets, net 78,241

71,118 Goodwill 608,072

562,459 Deferred tax assets 213,074

197,901 Other noncurrent assets 67,968

59,575 Total assets $ 4,223,329

$ 4,352,365







Liabilities





Current liabilities





Accounts payable $ 30,954

$ 31,992 Accrued compensation and benefits expenses 367,670

412,747 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 129,539

124,823 Income taxes payable, current 37,466

38,812 Operating lease liabilities, current 36,829

36,558 Total current liabilities 602,458

644,932 Long-term debt 25,501

26,126 Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent 103,654

109,261 Other noncurrent liabilities 93,757

100,576 Total liabilities 825,370

880,895 Commitments and contingencies





Equity





Stockholders' equity





Common stock, $0.001 par value; 160,000 shares authorized; 56,932 shares issued

and outstanding at June 30, 2024, and 57,787 shares issued and outstanding at

December 31, 2023 57

58 Additional paid-in capital 1,087,411

1,008,766 Retained earnings 2,379,332

2,501,107 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (69,423)

(39,040) Total EPAM Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity 3,397,377

3,470,891 Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries 582

579 Total equity 3,397,959

3,471,470 Total liabilities and equity $ 4,223,329

$ 4,352,365

EPAM SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Comparable GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited) (In thousands, except percent and per share amounts)

Reconciliation of revenue decline as reported on a GAAP basis to revenue decline on an organic constant currency basis

excluding the impact of the exit from Russia is presented in the table below:



Three Months Ended June 30, 2024

Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 Revenue decline as reported (2.0) %

(2.9) % Foreign exchange rates impact 0.3 %

(0.2) % Inorganic revenue growth (1.6) %

(1.2) % Impact of exit from Russia 0.5 %

0.5 % Revenue decline on an organic constant currency basis excluding the impact of the exit from

Russia (2.8) %

(3.8) %

Reconciliation of various income statement amounts from GAAP to non-GAAP for the three and six months ended

June 30, 2024 and 2023:



Three Months Ended June 30, 2024

Six Months Ended June 30, 2024

GAAP

Adjustments

Non-GAAP

GAAP

Adjustments

Non-GAAP Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and

amortization)(1) $ 810,857

$ (17,504)

$ 793,353

$ 1,645,191

$ (40,520)

$ 1,604,671 Selling, general and administrative expenses(2) $ 194,058

$ (30,620)

$ 163,438

$ 392,511

$ (64,713)

$ 327,798 Income from operations(3) $ 120,561

$ 53,945

$ 174,506

$ 231,093

$ 117,003

$ 348,096 Operating margin 10.5 %

4.7 %

15.2 %

10.0 %

5.1 %

15.1 % Net income(4) $ 98,645

$ 43,621

$ 142,266

$ 214,888

$ 72,624

$ 287,512 Diluted earnings per share $ 1.70





$ 2.45

$ 3.67





$ 4.91



























Three Months Ended June 30, 2023

Six Months Ended June 30, 2023

GAAP

Adjustments

Non-GAAP

GAAP

Adjustments

Non-GAAP Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)(1) $ 808,715

$ (20,314)

$ 788,401

$ 1,664,616

$ (46,135)

$ 1,618,481 Selling, general and administrative expenses(2) $ 194,377

$ (20,654)

$ 173,723

$ 406,264

$ (47,193)

$ 359,071 Income from operations(3) $ 144,346

$ 46,451

$ 190,797

$ 264,717

$ 104,348

$ 369,065 Operating margin 12.3 %

4.0 %

16.3 %

11.1 %

4.4 %

15.5 % Net income(4) $ 120,033

$ 36,167

$ 156,200

$ 222,325

$ 80,468

$ 302,793 Diluted earnings per share $ 2.03





$ 2.64

$ 3.75





$ 5.11



Items (1) through (4) above are detailed in the table below with the specific cross-reference noted in the appropriate item.



Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023 Stock-based compensation expenses $ 16,937

$ 15,416

$ 39,294

$ 31,427 Humanitarian support in Ukraine (a) 567

2,853

1,226

5,293 Unbilled business continuity resources (b) 

2,045



9,415 Total adjustments to GAAP cost of revenues(1) 17,504

20,314

40,520

46,135 Stock-based compensation expenses 18,747

17,694

41,181

40,262 Cost Optimization charges (c) 9,513



16,530

 Humanitarian support in Ukraine (a) 2,119

1,049

4,739

4,666 Other acquisition-related expenses 456

1,340

1,679

1,581 Geographic repositioning (d) 104

230

825

442 One time (benefits)/charges (319)

341

(241)

242 Total adjustments to GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses(2) 30,620

20,654

64,713

47,193 Amortization of acquired intangible assets 5,821

5,483

11,770

11,020 Total adjustments to GAAP income from operations(3) 53,945

46,451

117,003

104,348 Foreign exchange (gain)/loss (1,213)

6,010

706

10,618 Change in fair value of contingent consideration included in Interest and other income, net 1,485

1,218

2,535

1,518 Provision for income taxes:













Tax effect on non-GAAP adjustments (10,632)

(10,151)

(25,027)

(21,665) Tax shortfall/(excess tax benefits) related to stock-based compensation 103

(7,361)

(20,763)

(13,383) Net discrete benefit from tax planning (e) (67)



(1,830)

(968) Total adjustments to GAAP net income(4) $ 43,621

$ 36,167

$ 72,624

$ 80,468



(a) Humanitarian support in Ukraine includes expenses related to EPAM's $100 million humanitarian commitment in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine to support EPAM professionals and their families in and displaced from Ukraine. These expenses are incremental to those expenses incurred prior to the crisis, clearly separable from normal operations, and not expected to recur once the crisis has subsided and operations return to normal.





(b) Given the uncertainty in the region introduced by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, EPAM has assigned delivery professionals in locations outside of the region to ensure the continuity of delivery for clients who have substantial delivery exposure to Ukraine or other delivery concerns resulting from the invasion. These employees are not billed to clients and operate largely in a standby or backup capacity. These expenses are incremental to those expenses incurred prior to the crisis, clearly separable from normal operations, and not expected to recur once the crisis has subsided and operations return to normal.





(c) Cost Optimization charges include severance, facilities and contract termination charges incurred in connection with the programs initiated in the third quarter of 2023 and second quarter of 2024. Consistent with the Company's historical non-GAAP policy, costs incurred in connection with formal restructuring initiatives have been excluded from non-GAAP results as these are one-time and unusual in nature.





(d) Geographic repositioning includes expenses associated with the relocation to other countries of employees based outside of Ukraine impacted by the war and geopolitical instability in the region, and includes the cost of accommodations, travel and food. These expenses are incremental to those expenses incurred prior to the crisis, clearly separable from normal operations, and not expected to recur once the crisis has subsided and operations return to normal.





(e) One-time benefit related to the implementation of tax planning to disregard certain foreign subsidiaries as separate entities for U.S. income tax purposes. Consistent with the Company's historical non-GAAP policy, the benefit related to the implementation of tax planning has been excluded from non-GAAP results as it is one-time and unusual in nature.

EPAM SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Reconciliations of Guidance Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Comparable GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)

The below guidance constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws and is based on a

number of assumptions that are subject to change and many of which are outside the control of the Company. Actual results may

differ materially from the Company's expectations depending on factors discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and

Exchange Commission.

Reconciliation of expected revenue decline on a GAAP basis to expected revenue decline on an organic constant currency basis

excluding the impact of the exit from Russia is presented in the table below:

Third Quarter 2024

Full Year 2024 Revenue decline (at midpoint of the range) (0.2) %

(1.8) % Foreign exchange rates impact 0.2 %

(0.1) % Inorganic revenue growth (1.5) %

(1.3) % Impact of exit from Russia 0.1 %

0.3 % Revenue decline on an organic constant currency basis excluding the

impact of the exit from Russia (at midpoint of the range) (1.4) %

(2.9) %

Reconciliation of expected GAAP to non-GAAP income from operations as a percentage of revenues is presented in the table below:



Third Quarter 2024

Full Year 2024 GAAP income from operations as a percentage of revenues 10.0% to 11.0%

10.5% to 11.0% Stock-based compensation expenses 4.1 %

3.6 % Included in cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 2.0 %

1.8 % Included in selling, general and administrative expenses 2.1 %

1.8 % Humanitarian support in Ukraine (a) 0.3 %

0.2 % Cost Optimization charges (c) 1.0 %

0.7 % One-time charges and Other acquisition-related expenses (f)  %

 % Amortization of acquired intangible assets 0.6 %

0.5 % Non-GAAP income from operations as a percentage of revenues 16.0% to 17.0%

15.5% to 16.0%



(f) EPAM has not included the impact of potential future One-time charges including asset impairments, unusual gains and losses, expenses incurred in connection with future cost optimization actions, and Other acquisition-related expenses, if any, because the Company is unable to predict these amounts with reasonable certainty.

Reconciliation of expected GAAP to non-GAAP effective tax rate is presented in the table below:



Third Quarter 2024

Full Year 2024 GAAP effective tax rate (approximately) 24 %

21 % Tax effect on non-GAAP adjustments (0.8) %

(1.2) % Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation 0.8 %

4.2 % Non-GAAP effective tax rate (approximately) 24 %

24 %

Reconciliation of expected GAAP to non-GAAP diluted earnings per share is presented in the table below:



Third Quarter 2024

Full Year 2024 GAAP diluted earnings per share $1.75 to $1.83

$7.18 to $7.38 Stock-based compensation expenses 0.79

2.95 Included in cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 0.39

1.46 Included in selling, general and administrative expenses 0.40

1.49 Humanitarian support in Ukraine (a) 0.05

0.22 Cost Optimization charges (c) 0.19

0.63 One-time charges and Other acquisition-related expenses (f) 

0.03 Amortization of acquired intangible assets 0.10

0.41 Change in fair value of contingent consideration 

0.04 Foreign exchange loss 0.02

0.05 Provision for income taxes:





Tax effect on non-GAAP adjustments (0.23)

(0.89) Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation (0.02)

(0.39) Net discrete benefit from tax planning (e) 

(0.03) Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share $2.65 to $2.73

$10.20 to $10.40

SOURCE EPAM Systems, Inc.
Eventnoire and Pronghorn are excited to announce a global strategic partnership.

NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Eventnoire, an event management platform and media hub, helps consumers and brands discover cultural experiences that embrace inclusivity. With over 10,000 venues and event organizers and nearly 400,000 influencers in North America and Africa, Eventnoire is emerging as a leader in the online ticketing industry, projected to reach over $94 billion by 2026. In 2023, Eventnoire's ticketing business grew by 231%, with expectations to surpass that in 2024.

Pronghorn, dedicated to cultivating the next generation of Black founders, executive leaders, and entrepreneurs, focuses on the spirits industry. The investment in Eventnoire is part of Pronghorn's goal to generate $2.4 billion in economic value for the Black community through investments in 57 Black-owned spirits brands by 2032.

This partnership enables mutual growth. Pronghorn's investment will help Eventnoire expand its platform, scale its team, enhance the Eventnoire App, and solidify its position as a premier marketplace for culturally significant events. This collaboration also grants Pronghorn access to Eventnoire's robust community of event curators and direct consumer channels.

The partnership launched with three June screenings of the "Distilled" docuseries, produced by Pronghorn and promoted by Eventnoire, in Washington, D.C., Dallas, and Chicago. Co-founders Erin J. Hall, Dan Sanborn, and Dia Simms announced the investment at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity, with further announcements in Chicago.

"Eventnoire is thrilled to partner with Pronghorn," said Jeff Osuji, Founder and CEO of Eventnoire. "This strategic partnership will drive innovation and inclusivity in the spirits industry. Together, we will impact generations and transform the industry."

Eventnoire will leverage its partnerships, media channels, and community to amplify Pronghorn's brands and initiatives. "Partnering with Eventnoire is a seamless fit for Pronghorn," said co-founder Erin J. Hall. "Together, we'll elevate event experiences, forge meaningful connections with emerging Black spirits founders, and redefine the landscape of celebration."

For more information about Eventnoire, visit Eventnoire or follow on Instagram @Eventnoirehq. For more information about Pronghorn, visit Pronghorn or follow on Instagram @pronghorn.co.

SOURCE Eventnoire
Improved efficiency, environmental benefit are hallmarks of new 'Maintenance Lineup'

MARIETTA, Ga., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstKey Homes announced today the deployment of the Maintenance Lineup, a technology that will enable residents to more conveniently make service requests.

The Maintenance Lineup is a new feature within the FirstKey Self Service (FSS) platform. It is designed to let residents bundle all of their non-emergency maintenance requests into one order, resulting in fewer anticipated service calls to the home and a more seamless overall process. In fact, early pilot results indicate a 20 percent decrease in service visits to the home for new residents  which has resulted in a better onboarding experience.

"Enhancing the resident experience is our top priority," said Dawn Jones, SVP of Property Operations at FirstKey Homes. "We are always leveraging our residents' feedback and enhancing our technology pipeline, which led to the launch of this exciting new feature designed to simplify the resident experience."

Existing residents will be introduced to the Maintenance Lineup through the FSS platform. New residents will learn how to leverage the technology during their virtual or in-person move-in orientation, ensuring they can immediately take advantage of this feature.

FirstKey Self Service is a proprietary maintenance platform that residents use to schedule maintenance and other self-service options. FirstKey Homes' maintenance experience is the company's highest-rated experience, currently rated by residents at 4.12 out of 5 stars.

About FirstKey Homes

FirstKey Homes, LLC, is a privately owned single-family rental home property management company with corporate headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. With a mission to give our family of residents a place to call home, FirstKey Homes manages nearly 52,000 safe, affordable, and well-maintained homes in 29 markets across the West, Midwest, and Southeast.

Contact:

FirstKey Homes

Alex Horwitz

770-557-5834

SOURCE FirstKey Homes, LLC
Bank Foundation Continues to Raise Funds to Achieve Greater Equality and Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs of Color in the DC Region

FAIRFAX, Va., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Freedom Bank of Virginia announced today the Freedom Bank Foundation will be hosting its third annual Campaign Celebration on Thursday, September 12 in Reston, Virginia. The Campaign Celebration raises funds to promote economic inclusion in the local community and builds on the exciting work the Freedom Bank Foundation has engaged in with the Community Business Partnership (CBP) through the NOVA Freedom Fund which provides financing and technical assistance for minorities and entrepreneurs of color in the DC Region.

"We are excited to announce the Third Annual Campaign Celebration of the Freedom Bank Foundation at the iconic Reston Town Center Pavilion. Join us for an enjoyable evening dedicated to raising awareness and funds to promote economic inclusion and fostering vibrant and equitable communities. Thanks to the NOVA Freedom Fund supported by the CBP, we have already witnessed transformative impacts on local businesses, helping them thrive and expand with essential funding," said Joe Thomas, President and CEO. "Our Board of Directors and employees are committed to this important work, and we invite our clients, shareholders, vendor partners, friends and community members to take advantage of this opportunity to help the Foundation fulfil its critical mission," continued Mr. Thomas.

The Freedom Bank Foundation is a nonprofit, tax exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. Businesses or individuals who are interested in attending or learning more about the Campaign Celebration or the Foundation are asked to contact [email protected] or visit freedom.bank/foundation.

About Freedom Bank

Freedom Bank is a next-generation community bank, headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, offering commercial banking, personal banking, and mortgage banking solutions using banker expertise and innovative technology to build lead relationships with clients. Focusing on businesses, real estate owners, and professionals, Freedom Bank concentrates on key industry verticals to deliver unique, sector-specific solutions to help clients meet their goals and realize their dreams. Freedom Bank has sales office locations in Fairfax, Vienna, Reston, Manassas, and Chantilly, VA. The Freedom Bank Mortgage Division is headquartered in Chantilly, VA. For information about Freedom Bank, visit our website at www.freedom.bank.

Contact:

Joseph J. Thomas

President & Chief Executive Officer

Phone: 703-667-4161

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE The Freedom Bank of Virginia
As with Money's Best Colleges, the editorial team analyzed schools and gave them a star rating instead of a numerical ranking, giving users a more useful and nuanced research experience. This rating system is based on the philosophy that there is not one, singular best college for every student. Instead, there's a variety of outstanding, high-value colleges across the country.

"With so many excellent universities offering an online degree program, it's logical that Money expands its flagship Best Colleges franchise into this space," said Mike Ayers, executive editor of Money. "Readers will get a sense of what the ROI is with an online degree program and be able to make the most informed decision about their future prospects."

For the Best Online Colleges, Money teamed up with College Factual to create a robust, one-of-a-kind methodology. We started our analysis with a list of all schools in the United States offering an undergraduate bachelor's degree program as reported in the federal government's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

From there, we filtered the list to include only the following:

Must be a public or private, not-for-profit school (for-profit schools excluded).

Must be a regionally accredited school.

Must enroll at least 500 exclusively online students in their undergraduate programs.

Must offer at least 20% of their programs at least partially online.

Must have sufficient, reliable data to generate a score in key factors.

Money and College Factual scored colleges' quality and affordability to create a value-focused list. The quality data points take into account graduation rates, the robustness of a college's online offerings, typical student borrowing, employment rates and average earnings. Affordability includes costs per credit hour and net price of attendance.

For Money's complete list of the Best Online Colleges go here. For the complete methodology, click here.

Money Best Colleges editor Kaitlin Mulhere and College Factual's Josh McWilliam are both available for interviews.

ABOUT MONEY:

Money has a 50-plus-year legacy of guiding people to financial victories with up-to-date information, education, and tools. Money, a digital destination, helps create richer lives for everyonein every sense of the word. Signature franchises include a bevy of Best-In categories such as Best Places to Live, Best Crypto Exchanges, Best Mortgage Lenders, Best Life Insurance, Best Auto Insurance, Best VA Loans, Best Homeowner Insurance, Best High-Yield Savings Accounts, Best Credit Cards, Best Colleges, Best Student Loans, and Best Student Loan Refinance Companies, with an aim to improve your finances and promote your well-being. For more information, visit Money.com.

SOURCE Money
Award-Winning Solar Roof Boasts World's First Nailable Solar Shingle Now Available in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GAF Energy , a Standard Industries company and the leading provider of solar roofing in North America, today announced the launch of its innovative Timberline Solar roof for sale in Minnesota. Timberline Solar , the only system on the market to directly integrate solar technology into traditional roofing processes and materials, will initially be available in the Twin Cities metro area for purchase and installation by local roofers. The award-winning solar roofing system incorporates the world's first nailable solar shingle, the Timberline Solar Energy Shingle (ES) and is assembled at GAF Energy's U.S. manufacturing facilities.

GAF Energy's Timberline Solar ES boasts an industry-defying depth of less than a quarter inch and integrates with traditional shingles to create a sleek and attractive look. Timberline Solar was the first product to achieve ULs 7103 certification, which certifies that GAF Energys product meets ULs rigorous electrical, building, and safety standards as a roofing product and a solar energy product.

"Minnesota homeowners need a durable solar product that can withstand the state's tough conditions, and Timberline Solar is a durable, attractive, affordable choice for homeowners replacing their roof," said Martin DeBono, President of GAF Energy. "We're excited to bring the next generation of solar and building products to Minnesota."

The Timberline Solar ES boasts an industry-defying depth of less than a quarter inch and integrates with traditional shingles to create a sleek and attractive look. It was the first product to achieve UL's 7103 certification, which certifies that GAF Energy's product meets UL's rigorous electrical, building, and safety standards as a roofing product and a solar energy product. GAF Energy recently expanded its manufacturing capacity with a 450,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Georgetown, Texas.

Minnesota homeowners interested in solar roofing options and roofers interested in installing GAF Energy products can find out more at: www.gaf.energy .

About GAF Energy

GAF Energy is transforming the solar and roofing industries to generate energy from every roof. A Standard Industries company, GAF Energy works with North America's largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer, GAF, to offer homeowners elegant, roof-integrated solar options through a national network of roofer partners. The company's leading product, Timberline Solar, incorporates the world's first nailable solar shingle to create an attractive, durable, and reliable solar roof. GAF Energy's products have received numerous awards and honors, including the Fast Company 2022 World Changing Ideas Award, the CES Best of Innovation Award , named The Best Solar Shingle by CNET, and an NAHB Best of IBS Award . GAF Energy develops and assembles its products in the United States at its facilities in California and Texas. For more information, visit www.gaf.energy .

SOURCE GAF Energy
Ginkgo provides update on its restructuring process including estimated annualized cost savings of over $85 million from reduction in force

BOSTON, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DNA, "Ginkgo"), which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, today announced its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024. The update, including a webcast slide presentation with additional details on the second quarter and supplemental financial information, will be available at investors.ginkgobioworks.com .

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Second quarter 2024 Total revenue of $56 million , down from $81 million in the comparable prior year period, a decrease of 30% primarily driven by the expected ramp down of K-12 testing in Ginkgo's Biosecurity segment Second quarter 2024 Cell Engineering revenue of $36 million , down from $45 million in the comparable prior year period, a decrease of 20% driven by a decline in revenue from early stage customers partially offset by growth from large/enterprise customers Second quarter 2024 Biosecurity revenue of $20 million with gross profit margin of 41%

, down from in the comparable prior year period, a decrease of 30% primarily driven by the expected ramp down of K-12 testing in Ginkgo's Biosecurity segment Second quarter 2024 Loss from operations of $(223) million (inclusive of stock-based compensation expense of $38 million and M&A and restructuring related costs, including asset impairments, of $72 million ), compared to Loss from operations of $(184) million (inclusive of stock-based compensation expense of $62 million and M&A and restructuring related costs, including asset impairments, of $26 million ) in the comparable prior year period

(inclusive of stock-based compensation expense of and M&A and restructuring related costs, including asset impairments, of ), compared to Loss from operations of (inclusive of stock-based compensation expense of and M&A and restructuring related costs, including asset impairments, of ) in the comparable prior year period Second quarter 2024 Adjusted EBITDA of $(99) million , down from $(80) million in the comparable prior year period, driven by the decrease in Total revenue partially offset by a decrease in certain operating expenses

, down from in the comparable prior year period, driven by the decrease in Total revenue partially offset by a decrease in certain operating expenses Cash and cash equivalents balance as of the end of the second quarter of $730 million

"This past quarter was a quarter of focused execution for Ginkgo," said Jason Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Ginkgo. "During the Q1 2024 earnings call, we announced that we were taking decisive action to reduce costs in order to reach Adjusted EBITDA breakeven by the end of 2026 and, in June, we commenced a reduction in force impacting 35% of the workforce. Alongside the RIF, we continued to deliver well for customers as reflected in our second quarter revenue and I'm happy we have gained initial traction with our new lab data as a service ("LDaaS") offering, including our first few deals with a large cap tech company."

Recent Business Highlights & Strategic Positioning

Cell Engineering worked to close deals as Ginkgo's new commercial terms begin to gain traction Added 18 new programs and other customer contracts to the Cell Engineering platform in Q2 2024, of which 10 were comparable in size and scope to historically reported New Programs and an additional 8 contracts that represent a variety of smaller deal archetypes, such as LDaaS projects Signed first LDaaS deals with a large cap tech company in protein characterization Delivered on a major technical milestone for a large pharmaceutical customer Announced a new collaboration with Syngenta Crop Protection aimed at accelerating the launch of a new biological solution to develop and optimize a microbial strain that can meet the productivity targets of a secondary metabolite from the Syngenta Biologicals pipeline

Ginkgo Biosecurity continues to work towards creating solutions that offer persistent, pervasive monitoring Ginkgo has put forth a proposed Genomic Analysis Program to address the threat of H5N1. The program builds upon existing practices of pooling and sampling milk for food safety, and integrates novel capabilities to generate genomic analysis of H5N1 if it spreads and evolves

Ginkgo began executing on its plan to reach Adjusted EBITDA breakeven by the end of 2026 The reduction in force is estimated to achieve over $85 million in annualized savings by mid-2025 Ginkgo is also implementing significant non-people cost cutting measures, including rationalizing third-party costs and site consolidation



Full Year 2024 Outlook

Ginkgo reaffirms Total revenue of $170 - $190 million in 2024 Ginkgo continues to expect Cell Engineering services revenue of $120 -140 million in 2024 Ginkgo continues to expect Biosecurity revenue of at least $50 million in 2024

- in 2024

Conference Call Details

Ginkgo will host a videoconference today, Thursday, August 8, 2024, beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET. The presentation will include an overview of second quarter financial performance, recent business updates, a discussion on Ginkgo's outlook, as well as a moderated question and answer session.

To ask a question ahead of the presentation, please submit your questions to @Ginkgo on X (hashtag #GinkgoResults) or by sending an e-mail to [email protected] .

A webcast link is available on Ginkgo's Investor Relations website and a replay will be made available following the presentation.

Ginkgo Investor Website: https://investors.ginkgobioworks.com/events/

Audio-Only Dial Ins:

+1 646 876 9923 (New York)

+1 301 715 8592 (Washington DC)

+1 312 626 6799 (Chicago)

+1 669 900 6833 (San Jose)

+1 253 215 8782 (Tacoma)

+1 346 248 7799 (Houston)

+1 408 638 0968 (San Jose)

Webinar ID: 991 5650 6740

If you experience technical difficulties with any of these dial-ins or if you need international dial-in numbers, please visit our website at https://investors.ginkgobioworks.com/events/ for updated dial-in information.

About Ginkgo Bioworks

Ginkgo Bioworks is the leading horizontal platform for cell programming, providing flexible, end-to-end services that solve challenges for organizations across diverse markets, from food and agriculture to pharmaceuticals to industrial and specialty chemicals. Ginkgo Biosecurity is building and deploying the next-generation infrastructure and technologies that global leaders need to predict, detect, and respond to a wide variety of biological threats. For more information, visit ginkgobioworks.com and ginkgobiosecurity.com , read our blog , or follow us on social media channels such as X (@ Ginkgo and @ Ginkgo_Biosec ), Instagram (@ GinkgoBioworks ), Threads (@ GinkgoBioworks ) or LinkedIn .

Forward-Looking Statements of Ginkgo Bioworks

This press release, the presentation, and the conference call and webcast contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding our plans, strategies, including with respect to our balance sheet and cash runway, current expectations, operations and anticipated results of operations, both business and financial, including the timing for attaining Adjusted EBITDA breakeven and profitability, the success of our new LDaaS offering and anticipated impacts on our results, our planned reduction in workforce and anticipated impacts thereof, the timing and structuring of our planned site consolidation and the potential financial impact thereof, opportunities for and timing of increased operational efficiency and the expected impact on our operational expenditures, our manufacturing capabilities, potential customer success, including successful application of our offerings by our customers, the capabilities and potential operational and financial success of our acquisitions, partnerships and collaborations, and expected timing thereof, expectations with regard to revenue, the nature of such revenue and any related downstream value share associated with such revenue, funding that is contingent upon Ginkgo's achievement of milestones, expenses, including our stock-based compensation expenses, our full year 2024 outlook, the expansion, timing and potential capabilities of our biosecurity monitoring, surveillance and detection systems, and the market environment, all of which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, market trends, or industry results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "can," "project," "potential," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document, including but not limited to: (i) our ability to realize near-term and long-term cost savings associated with our site consolidation plans, including the ability to terminate leases or find sub-lease tenants for unused facilities, (ii) volatility in the price of Ginkgo's securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Ginkgo operates and plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, and changes in laws and regulations affecting Ginkgo's business, (iii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and to identify and realize additional business opportunities, (iv) the risk of downturns in demand for products using synthetic biology, (v) the uncertainty regarding the demand for passive monitoring programs and biosecurity services, (vi) changes to the biosecurity industry, including due to advancements in technology, emerging competition and evolution in industry demands, standards and regulations, (vii) the outcome of any pending or potential legal proceedings against Ginkgo, (viii) our ability to realize the expected benefits from and the success of our Foundry platform programs, (ix) our ability to successfully develop engineered cells, bioprocesses, data packages or other deliverables, (x) the product development or commercialization success of our customers, and (xi) the potential negative impact on our business of our planned reduction in force or the failure to realize the anticipated savings associated therewith. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of Ginkgo's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 29, 2024 and other documents filed by Ginkgo from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Ginkgo assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Ginkgo does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Certain of the financial measures included in this release, including Adjusted EBITDA, have not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), and constitute "non-GAAP financial measures" as defined by the SEC. Ginkgo has included these non-GAAP financial measures because it believes they provide an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating Ginkgo's financial performance and prospects. Due to the nature and/or size of the items being excluded, such items do not reflect future gains, losses, expenses or benefits and are not indicative of our future operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental to, and should not be considered in isolation from, or as an alternative to, financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from non-GAAP financial measures with comparable names used by other companies. See the reconciliation below for additional information regarding certain of the non-GAAP financial measures included in this release, including a description of these non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of the historic measures to Ginkgo's most comparable GAAP financial measures.

Ginkgo Bioworks Contacts:

INVESTOR CONTACT:

[email protected]

MEDIA CONTACT:

[email protected]

Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except per share data, unaudited)















As of June 30, 2024

As of December 31, 2023 Assets







Current assets:







Cash and cash equivalents

$ 730,367

$ 944,073 Accounts receivable, net

18,589

17,157 Accounts receivable - related parties

302

742 Prepaid expenses and other current assets

34,104

39,777 Total current assets

783,362

1,001,749 Property, plant, and equipment, net

210,582

188,193 Operating lease right-of-use assets

418,008

206,801 Investments

62,490

78,565 Intangible assets, net

90,602

82,741 Goodwill



49,238 Other non-current assets

60,211

58,055 Total assets

$ 1,625,255

$ 1,665,342 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity







Current liabilities:







Accounts payable

$ 23,029

$ 9,323 Deferred revenue

26,007

44,486 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

117,118

110,051 Total current liabilities

166,154

163,860 Non-current liabilities:







Deferred revenue, net of current portion

152,869

158,062 Operating lease liabilities, non-current

452,265

221,835 Other non-current liabilities

20,895

24,433 Total liabilities

792,183

568,190 Commitments and contingencies







Stockholders' equity:







Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value



 Common stock, $0.0001 par value

206

199 Additional paid-in capital

6,508,209

6,385,997 Accumulated deficit

(5,673,620)

(5,290,528) Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

(1,723)

1,484 Total stockholders' equity

833,072

1,097,152 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$ 1,625,255

$ 1,665,342













Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (in thousands, except per share data, unaudited)





















Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,



2024

2023

2024

2023 Cell Engineering revenue

$ 36,205

$ 45,283

$ 64,094

$ 79,379 Biosecurity revenue:















Product



10,788



22,454 Service

20,001

24,497

30,056

59,437 Total revenue

56,206

80,568

94,150

161,270 Costs and operating expenses:















Cost of Biosecurity product revenue



2,034



6,575 Cost of Biosecurity service revenue

11,807

16,062

21,009

33,896 Cost of other revenue

1,914



1,914

 Research and development (1)

134,221

144,282

270,678

306,921 General and administrative (1)

66,285

102,341

136,572

213,774 Goodwill impairment

47,858



47,858

 Restructuring charges

17,066



17,066

 Total operating expenses

279,151

264,719

495,097

561,166 Loss from operations

(222,945)

(184,151)

(400,947)

(399,896) Other (expense) income:















Interest income, net

10,313

14,349

22,024

28,894 Loss on equity method investments



(67)



(1,516) Loss on investments

(6,826)

(2,121)

(9,370)

(8,491) Change in fair value of warrant liabilities

3,233

(4,482)

4,173

(3,278) Other income (expense), net

(766)

3,224

1,249

6,152 Total other income

5,954

10,903

18,076

21,761 Loss before income taxes

(216,991)

(173,248)

(382,871)

(378,135) Income tax expense

190

67

221

149 Net loss

(217,181)

(173,315)

(383,092)

(378,284) Net loss per share, basic and diluted

$ (0.11)

$ (0.09)

$ (0.19)

$ (0.20) Weighted average common shares outstanding:















Basic

2,054,801

1,933,437

2,029,630

1,924,251 Diluted

2,055,024

1,933,437

2,029,853

1,924,251 Comprehensive loss:















Net loss

$ (217,181)

$ (173,315)

$ (383,092)

$ (378,284) Other comprehensive (loss) income:















Foreign currency translation adjustment

(172)

314

(3,207)

1,332 Total other comprehensive (loss) income

(172)

314

(3,207)

1,332 Comprehensive loss

$ (217,353)

$ (173,001)

$ (386,299)

$ (376,952)



















(1) Total stock-based compensation expense, inclusive of employer payroll taxes, was allocated as follows (in thousands):









Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,



2024

2023

2024

2023 Research and development

$ 20,693

$ 40,569

$ 44,814

$ 88,110 General and administrative

17,533

21,908

35,809

49,567 Total

$ 38,226

$ 62,477

$ 80,623

$ 137,677

Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands, unaudited)













Six Months Ended June 30,



2024

2023 Cash flows from operating activities:







Net loss

$ (383,092)

$ (378,284) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:







Depreciation and amortization

30,199

36,610 Stock-based compensation

77,928

134,474 Goodwill impairment

47,858

 Restructuring related impairment charges

4,823

 Loss on investments and equity method investments

9,370

10,007 Change in fair value of warrant liabilities

(4,173)

3,278 Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability

2,284

8,453 Non-cash lease expense

13,070

16,327 Non-cash in-process research and development

19,795

3,981 Impairment loss on assets held for sale



9,001 Other non-cash activity

2,097

2,429 Changes in operating assets and liabilities:







Accounts receivable

(1,102)

15,397 Prepaid expenses and other current assets

1,770

12,087 Operating lease right-of-use assets

14,373

4,096 Other non-current assets

(833)

(2,426) Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities

10,864

(4,004) Deferred revenue, current and non-current

(17,012)

(21,372) Operating lease liabilities, current and non-current

(3,866)

(13,250) Other non-current liabilities

1,998

(922) Net cash used in operating activities

(173,649)

(164,118) Cash flows from investing activities:







Purchases of property and equipment

(33,742)

(32,974) Business acquisition

(5,400)

 Proceeds from sale of equipment

191

2,926 Other



(590) Net cash used in investing activities

(38,951)

(30,638) Cash flows from financing activities:







Proceeds from exercise of stock options

84

24 Principal payments on finance leases

(494)

(648) Contingent consideration payment

(661)

(1,042) Other



(603) Net cash used in financing activities

(1,071)

(2,269) Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

(173)

(495) Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(213,844)

(197,520)









Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

944,073

1,315,792 Restricted cash, beginning of period

45,511

53,789 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

989,584

1,369,581 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

730,367

1,105,787 Restricted cash, end of period

45,373

66,274 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$ 775,740

$ 1,172,061

Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. Selected Non-GAAP Financial Measures (in thousands, unaudited)





Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,



2024

2023

2024

2023 Net loss

$ (217,181)

$ (173,315)

$ (383,092)

$ (378,284) Interest income, net

(10,313)

(14,349)

(22,024)

(28,894) Income tax expense

190

67

221

149 Depreciation and amortization

17,330

17,652

30,199

36,610 EBITDA

(209,974)

(169,945)

(374,696)

(370,419) Stock-based compensation (1)

38,226

62,477

80,623

137,677 Impairment expense (2)

47,858

9,001

47,858

9,001 Restructuring charges (3)

17,066



17,066

 Merger and acquisition related expenses (4)

4,512

12,212

6,906

30,874 Loss on equity method investments



67



1,516 Loss on investments

6,826

2,121

9,370

8,491 Change in fair value of warrant liabilities

(3,233)

4,482

(4,173)

3,278 Change in fair value of convertible notes

(480)

(152)

846

(196) Adjusted EBITDA

$ (99,199)

$ (79,737)

$ (216,200)

$ (179,778)



















(1) Includes $1.1 million and $1.0 million in employer payroll taxes for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $2.7 and $3.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. (2) Impairment expense includes $47.9 million related to goodwill impairment in the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and $9.0 million related to lab equipment acquired as part of the Zymergen acquisition in the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. (3) Restructuring charges include $12.2 million in employee termination costs from the reduction in force commenced in June 2024 and $4.8 million in impairment of right-of-use asset relating to facilities consolidation. (4) Represents transaction and integration costs directly related to mergers and acquisitions, including: (i) due diligence, legal, consulting and accounting fees associated with acquisitions, (ii) post-acquisition employee retention bonuses and severance payments, (iii) the fair value adjustments to contingent consideration liabilities resulting from acquisitions, (iv) costs associated with the Zymergen Bankruptcy, as well as securities litigation costs, net of insurance recovery. Not included in this adjustment are non-cash charges for acquired in-process research and development expenses, which totaled $3.0 million and $4.0 million in the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $19.8 million and $4.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. Segment Information (in thousands, unaudited)





















Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,



2024

2023

2024

2023 Revenue:















Cell Engineering

$ 36,205

$ 45,283

$ 64,094

$ 79,379 Biosecurity

20,001

35,285

30,056

81,891 Total revenue

56,206

80,568

94,150

161,270 Segment cost of revenue:















Cell Engineering

1,914



1,914

 Biosecurity

11,807

18,096

21,009

40,471 Segment research and development expense:















Cell Engineering

96,487

86,083

196,588

184,605 Biosecurity

458

528

578

1,095 Total segment research and development expense

96,945

86,611

197,166

185,700 Segment general and administrative expense:















Cell Engineering

33,615

50,907

73,848

112,599 Biosecurity

11,179

16,699

23,130

30,655 Total segment general and administrative expense

44,794

67,606

96,978

143,254 Segment operating (loss) income:















Cell Engineering

(95,811)

(91,707)

(208,256)

(217,825) Biosecurity

(3,443)

(38)

(14,661)

9,670 Total segment operating loss

(99,254)

(91,745)

(222,917)

(208,155) Operating expenses not allocated to segments:















Stock-based compensation (1)

38,226

62,477

80,623

137,677 Depreciation and amortization

17,330

17,652

30,199

36,610 Impairment expense (2)

47,858

9,001

47,858

9,001 Restructuring charges

17,066



17,066

 Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability

3,211

3,276

2,284

8,453 Loss from operations

$ (222,945)

$ (184,151)

$ (400,947)

$ (399,896)



















(1) Includes $1.1 million and $1.0 million in employer payroll taxes for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $2.7 million and $3.2 million in employer payroll taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. (2) Includes $47.9 million related to goodwill impairment in the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and $9.0 million related to impairment of lab equipment acquired as part of the Zymergen acquisition in the three and six months ended June 30, 2023.

SOURCE Ginkgo Bioworks
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Bridge Associates (GBA), a leading study abroad and homestay organization, is excited to announce significant business growth and the launch of its newly redesigned website. This expansion reflects GBA's commitment to enhancing international education experiences and providing exceptional, personalized support to exchange students and host families worldwide.

In a move to strengthen its international presence, GBA has formed a strategic partnership with Lynn-Rose School in Ontario, Canada. This collaboration marks a milestone in GBA's growth, enabling the organization to extend its reach and offer more diverse and enriching cultural exchange opportunities.

Expansion reflects commitment to enhancing international education experiences & support for students & host families. Post this

"We have carefully selected to collaborate with Global Bridge because of their commitment to providing safe and supportive homestay environments for our international students." says Sitara Chaudhary, Regional Head of Admissions at ISP Canada. "We admire their dedication to matching students with caring and responsible host families who will not only provide a comfortable living environment, but also offer opportunities for cultural exchange and personal growth."

"We are thrilled to partner with Lynn-Rose School, a prestigious institution known for its dedication to academic excellence and cultural diversity," said Philip Martin, Co-Founder of Global Bridge Associates. "This partnership will allow us to provide even more comprehensive support and opportunities for our students and host families, fostering greater understanding and connection across borders."

To support its expanding services, GBA has launched a newly redesigned website, www.gba-us.com. The new site offers a user-friendly interface, improved functionality, and a wealth of information for students, parents, and host families. Key features include:

Comprehensive program information on study abroad programs, homestay opportunities, and application processes.

on study abroad programs, homestay opportunities, and application processes. Resources and support including guides and tips for exchange students and host families.

including guides and tips for exchange students and host families. Firsthand testimonials and stories highlighting student and host experiences.

GBA continues to expand its student and partner network throughout North America, Asia, and Europe to support recent unprecedented growth in the international student exchange industry.

About Global Bridge Associates

Global Bridge Associates is dedicated to bridging cultures through safe, nurturing homestay experiences for international students. GBA connects students with host families around the world, offering personalized support and enriching experiences that foster global understanding and lifelong connections.

For more information about Global Bridge Associates, visit www.gba-us.com or contact [email protected].

Media Contact:

Marcela Ricci

Global Bridge Associates

[email protected]

SOURCE Global Bridge Associates
Limited-Time Rotating Game Modes Offer Fans New Competitive Ways to Capitalize and Customize Epic Battles, While Earning Rewards

SYDNEY , Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Immutable Games, a global leader in web3 game development and publishing, today announced the upcoming release of "Formats" in Gods Unchained (GU) - the leading web3 trading card game (TCG). Starting August 19, players can refresh how they use their cards in a variety of Formats - rotating game modes that will each run for a limited time.

Each game mode will offer players the opportunity to face off with unique rules across numerous levels of competitive intensity. With different modes requiring strategic deck builds for old and new cards, players will experience fresh matches and an opportunity to revitalize their decks. Plus, players can also earn rewards for their achievements, with opportunities to accumulate additional rewards through a Bonus Multiplier and for playing bonus games.

"With almost 2,000 cards already in Ranked, Gods Unchained has a huge playspace at the moment. Formats offers players, new and old, fresh ways to play with their collection, bringing forward new metas and reviving old ones. This is where we see the future of competitive GU," said Gods Unchained Game Designer, Bryn Welch.

"Formats lets players flex their creativity and immerse themselves more deeply into the rich lore and beautiful illustrations of Gods Unchained through their deck building. I am excited to see the spotlight shine on card art and characters that may have been previously overshadowed amidst the usual meta. I can't wait to see the creativity players will bring to Formats," said Claudia Skinner, Creative Game Designer for Gods Unchained.

GU's permanent Formats, Ranked and Sealed, remain unchanged, with the latter refreshed with new cards for a new competitive experience. With new game modes of varying levels of difficulty, players will be drawn into expanded realms within the ominous world of Eucos. During battles, they will strategize on how they can leverage game mechanicsrethinking how they maximize their power through deck building to restore cosmic order in ways beyond what is presently possible.

With Formats, Immutable is refining the structure of web3 gaming, and creating a more competitive environment for TCG players to enter or re-engage.

Learn more about Formats at https://godsunchained.com/ and on the Gods Unchained Blog at https://godsunchained.com/blog/ .

About Gods Unchained

Gods Unchained is the leading web3 trading card game that empowers players with true ownership of their in-game items. Combining the immutability of real, tangible cards with the convenience of digital collectibles, players can earn, trade, sell, and collect NFT cards to build strategic decks and compete in skill-based multiplayer battles. Led by Chris Clay (former Game Director of Magic The Gathering Arena), Gods Unchained is enjoyed daily by a loyal community of trading card OGs and web3 enthusiasts alike.

About Immutable Games

Immutable Games is a global leader in web3 game development and publishing, backed by a world-class team who have proven track records of bringing games to millions of players. As the gaming-focused arm of Immutable , the leading web3 gaming company, Immutable Games has pioneered the world's first blockbuster NFT trading-card game Gods Unchained and is currently building the highly anticipated mobile RPG Guild of Guardians.

Alongside its own high-quality titles, Immutable Games partners with third-party game developers to provide them with best-in-class strategy and execution expertise aimed at ensuring the success of every web3 game deployed within the Immutable ecosystem.

Immutable Games is guided by its mission to redefine gaming for generations to come, by developing innovative and engaging experiences that empower players with true ownership, value, and creative expression.

For more information, please visit: https://www.immutable.com/games-studio

Join the Immutable community on Discord , Reddit , Twitter , Instagram , Telegram and Youtube

SOURCE Immutable Games Studio
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Golden Arrow Resources Corporation (TSXV: GRG) (FSE: G6A) (OTCQB: GARWF), ("Golden Arrow" or the "Company") is pleased to report significant new results from drilling at its San Pietro Project in Chile, including long intercepts of iron oxide-copper-gold ("IOCG") plus cobalt mineralization in two step-out drill holes in the central Rincones target (see Figure 1), highlighted by:

109.10m at 0.44% Cu, 0.06 g/t Au, 130 g/t Co and 15.0% Fe starting at 253.9 m depth in drill hole SP-DDH-18.



Includes 12m at 1.16% Cu, 0.09 g/t Au, 202 g/t Co and 21.6% Fe.



Collared in a previously untested area approximately 150m east of SP-DDH-15, reported on July 11, 2024 .





depth in drill hole SP-DDH-18. 101.38m at 0.43% Cu, 0.09 g/t Au, 177 g/t Co and 30.1% Fe starting at 35.6m depth in drill hole SP-DDH-19.



Modeling indicates continuity with mineralization in SP-DDH-18.

in drill hole SP-DDH-19.

One additional hole in the south Rincones target returned multiple mineralized intervals, including:

19.23m at 0.45% Cu, 0.05 g/t Au, 110 g/t Co and 51.3% Fe in a magnetite manto starting at 202.77m depth in drill hole SP-DDH-20.

Brian McEwen, VP Exploration and Development for Golden Arrow, commented, "Once again, our step-outs at Rincones are showing us that this target has plenty of growth potential. Both holes 18 and 19 hit really exciting intervals and this area is still open for expansion to the east and north, which is very promising as we move closer to our first resource estimate for the project. Last week, we were pleased to see that Capstone Copper announced an updated feasibility study for their Santo Domingo project, located adjacent to our San Pietro property. This gives us great information on exploration and current development conditions for a local IOCG deposit, which will help us with our resource estimation work and our ongoing exploration. We are excited to continue to advance this project at the heart of what is shaping up to be an important IOCG district."

[Proximity to a mineral resource, deposit, or mine does not indicate that mineralization on Golden Arrow's property will occur in sufficient quantity or grade that would result in an economic extraction scenario.]

This work was part of the on-going 10,000-metre diamond drilling campaign at the San Pietro Iron-Copper-Gold-Cobalt Project in Chile ("San Pietro" or the "Project") announced on April 24, 2024. Drill holes SP-DDH-18, SP-DDH-19 and SP-DDH-20 are part of the initial set of eight holes drilled to complete a nominal grid over the advanced Rincones target and verify the requisite spacing for completing the first Mineral Resource Estimate for the project. One additional hole reported herein (SP-DDH-17) was drilled at the adjacent Colla target and is described below. Drilling of the remaining holes from the preliminary grid have now been completed and samples submitted to the laboratory for analysis. The Company has moved on to additional step-out and infill drill holes at the Rincones target, as well as completing one additional hole at Colla.

Table 1. Summary of Intervals, Rincones Phase 2 Drilling

[Cu Grade >0.20% or Co Grade >200 g/t or Au Grade >0.2 g/t or Fe Grade >30%]

Hole Detail From (m) To (m) Interval

(m) Cu (%) Au (g/t) Co (g/t) Fe (%) SP-DDH-17

13.18 17.00 3.82 0.03 0.02 750 26.2 63.52 88.85 25.33 0.02 -0.01 38 37.5 150.45 157.08 6.63 0.08 0.02 121 32.4 SP-DDH-18

44.00 83.83 39.83 0.27 0.06 144 30.8

106.00 110.00 4.00 0.41 0.04 25 12.0

140.00 146.00 6.00 0.35 0.04 77 12.5

253.90 363.00 109.10 0.44 0.06 130 15.0 includes 312.00 324.00 12.00 1.16 0.09 202 21.6 SP-DDH-19

35.62 137.00 101.38 0.43 0.09 177 30.1 includes 41.00 46.00 5.00 1.30 0.29 253 27.4 includes 125.35 135.38 10.03 0.16 0.04 218 53.2 SP-DDH-20

82.47 94.00 11.53 0.25 0.09 162 30.1

202.77 222.00 19.23 0.45 0.05 110 51.3

316.00 364.00 48.00 0.24 0.04 83 12.7 Notes: Intervals are downhole length. See hole descriptions in text for additional details.

San Pietro Phase 2 Drill Program Details

The San Pietro Project hosts multiple targets with strong IOCG+cobalt mineralization (see Figure 1).

In 2023 the company completed a Phase 1 drill program of approximately 4000 metres of diamond drilling in 13 holes to add to the database of ~34,000 metres of historic drilling at San Pietro. Strongly mineralized intervals were intercepted at all targets tested as reported in company news releases on June 13, June 27 and July 12, 2023.

The Company is concentrating this Phase 2 drill program mainly on the Rincones advanced exploration target with the goal of completing an initial Mineral Resource Estimate. In addition, approximately 3,000 metres of drilling has been earmarked to test for new mineralization at other high-potential target areas throughout the Project.

Rincones Target Drilling

SP-DDH-18 was drilled at the Rincones target, collared approximately 150 metres east of hole SP-DDH-15 (reported on July 11, 2024). It intercepted two mantos with magnetite replacement, one from 44 to 84 metres depth and a second from 254 to 294 metres depth. The mantos are cut by several specularite breccias with chalcopyrite and pyrite. The first manto is interpreted to also be intercepted by hole SP-DDH-19, described below (see Figure 2). The second manto and adjacent specularite breccias together returned an interval of over 109 metres with an average grade of 0.44% Cu, as well as significant gold and cobalt, as shown in Table 1. There may also be continuity between both of these mantos with intervals returned in historic holes RA12DH-03, RA12DH-04 and RA12DH-06 to the north (see Figure 1), however due to limited information from the historic holes, additional drilling and modeling are needed to better understand the area.

SP-DDH-19 was collared 180 metres SSW of hole SP-DDH-18. It intercepted a series of magnetite mantos up to 12 m wide, between 35 and 135 metres depth, that correlate with the first manto described on hole SP-DDH-18. These mantos are also mineralized with chalcopyrite and pyrite and crosscut by specularite breccia with chalcopyrite between 64 and 69 metres depth. This breccia is believed to have been intercepted by historic hole RADDH-04 approximately 170 metres west of SP-DDH-19, where it returned an average of 13 metres with 0.43% Cu starting at 33 metres downhole.

Both SP-DDH-18 and SP-DDH-19 indicate that the mineralization is open to the east, as well as to the north.

SP-DDH-20 was collared 280 metres southwest of hole SP-DDH-14 (reported on July 11, 2024) and 490 metres west-southwest of hole SP-DDH-19. It intercepted several magnetite mantos from approximately 82 to 93 metres downhole and from 202 to 219 metres downhole, with the last interval reporting an average of 51.3% iron. This included disseminated chalcopyrite, pyrite and massive scapolite resulting in significant copper, gold and cobalt, as shown in Table 1. A series of veins and crackle breccias with specularite, chalcopyrite and pyrite were intercepted from 316 to 364 metres.

Colla Target Drilling

SP-DDH-17 tested the Colla target, which is an early-stage exploration prospect where the historic focus was a north-south specularite breccia with high cobalt reported in drill intervals. In 2023 Golden Arrow's Phase 1 drill program identified new areas of strong copper and cobalt mineralization, as well as the highest gold interval encountered on the property to date, as reported on June 13, 2023. The Colla prospect is located approximately two kilometres southwest from the main Rincones target. While most exploration target drilling in the Phase 2 program will be completed after the drilling at Rincones, the proximity of the Colla target provided the opportunity to continue drilling while information from the early Phase 2 holes was being evaluated and new drill pads were being constructed at Rincones. SP-DDH-17 tested a series of sub-outcropping magnetite-replacement mantos mapped at surface, 250 metres east of the main north-south cobalt breccia. It successfully intercepted two significant iron-rich (magnetite) mantos of 25.33 m and 6.63 m widths with shallow dip to the northeast.

Table 2. Drill Hole Collar Information

[PSAD 56 / UTM Zone 19 S]

Hole Easting Northing Elevation

(m) Azimuth

() Dip

() Final Depth

(m) SP-DDH-17 390372 7069736 1127 205 -65 194 SP-DDH-18 391558 7071834 909 20 -65 410 SP-DDH-19 391442 7071700 928 20 -60 221 SP-DDH-20 390997 7071490 979 40 -65 389

Methodology & QA/QC

This drilling campaign was completed by Sociedad de Servicios Andinos SpA of Copiapo, Chile, using diamond drill producing HQ-sized core. The Golden Arrow field team, supervised by senior geologists, photographed and logged the entire length of core for each drillhole, as well as measured it for recovery and marked it for sampling. Pieces of whole core approximately 10 to 15 cm long were selected and measured for specific gravity on average every 20 metres and targeting all different lithologies. Subsequently, the core was cut in half with an electric saw. One half was labelled, bagged and sent for analysis and the other half retained onsite. After completing the sampling of each hole, the samples were shipped to ALS Laboratory in Copiapo, Chile by a contract truck service. Sample preparation and gold analysis by Fire Assay and reading by atomic absorption on 30 gm sample by method Au-AA23 was completed at the ALS facility in Santiago de Chile. Multi-element package by ICP-OES reading following a four-acid digestion by method ME-ICP61 was performed at ALS facilities in Lima, Peru. Samples with overlimits in copper (+ 10,000 ppm) were re-assayed by ore grade method Cu-OG62 that includes four acid digestion and ICP-OES reading. The Company follows industry standard procedures for the work carried out on the San Pietro Project, with a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. Blank and standard samples were inserted in each batch of samples sent to the laboratory for analysis. Golden Arrow detected no significant QA/QC issues during review of the data. The trajectory of all the holes drilled at San Pietro during this Phase 2 were measured using the gyroscope equipment "Champ Navigator" that assures no interference from the magnetite in the ground. Additionally, all the core was orientated using the "Champ Ori" core orientator to measure the azimuth and dip of structures.

About the San Pietro IOCG Project

The San Pietro Project covers 19,200 hectares, approximately 100 kilometres north of Copiapo. Situated between and adjacent to Capstone Copper's Manto Verde Mine property and Santo Domingo Project, San Pietro is in the centre of a potential new copper-iron-cobalt district within an active, well-developed mining region that is home to all the major iron oxide-copper-gold ("IOCG") deposits in Chile.

The Project is hosted by andesite units in a Cretaceous-aged volcano-sedimentary sequence associated with intrusive rocks including granodiorites and diorites of similar age. The Project is located east of the Atacama Fault system, a major north-south regional structure, which was instrumental in controlling the emplacement of the ore deposits in the area.

Mineralization at San Pietro is typical of an IOCG system, with the addition of cobalt, and occurs in mantos, breccias and veins within a zone of alteration characterized by an association of actinolite, epidote, chlorite and scapolite. The mantos are replacement of andesite by magnetite and sulphides, with a roughly southeast strike and a gentle dip to the SW. Breccias and veins crosscut the mantos, are often subvertical, and filled with specularite and sulphides.

Qualified Persons

The exploration programs are designed by the Company's geological staff and results are reviewed, verified (including sampling, analytical and test data) and compiled under the supervision of Brian McEwen, P.Geol., VP Exploration and Development to the Company. Mr. McEwen is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the contents of the news release.

About Golden Arrow:

Golden Arrow Resources Corporation is a mining exploration company with a successful track record of creating value by making precious and base metal discoveries and advancing them into exceptional deposits.

Golden Arrow is actively exploring its flagship property, the advanced San Pietro iron oxide-copper-gold-cobalt project in Chile, and a portfolio that includes nearly 125,000 hectares of prospective properties in Argentina.

The Company is a member of the Grosso Group, a resource management group that has pioneered exploration in Argentina since 1993.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Joseph Grosso"

_______________________________

Mr. Joseph Grosso,

Executive Chairman, President and CEO

Neither 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 release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "anticipate", "will", "expect", "may", "continue", "could", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments management of the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, statements about the Company's plans for its mineral properties; the Company's business strategy, plans and outlooks; the future financial or operating performance of the Company; and future exploration and operating plans are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and, even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: risks and uncertainties related to the ability to obtain, amend, or maintain licenses, permits, or surface rights; risks associated with technical difficulties in connection with exploration activities; the possibility that future exploration. There may be other factors that cause results or events to not be as anticipated. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Readers are encouraged to refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact expected future results. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof or the dates specifically referenced in this press release, where applicable. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, unless required pursuant to applicable laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

We advise U.S. investors that the SEC's mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties.

SOURCE Golden Arrow Resources Corporation
Iconic fitness brand plans to open up to 8 more Greater Atlanta locations

DALLAS, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Gold's Gym, the growing iconic fitness brand, has unveiled its newly renovated gym in the Hamilton Mill area, created in the image of its legendary original location, The Mecca in Venice Beach.

The 24,800-square-foot gym at 1250 Auburn Road in Dacula is owned by franchisee Koran Winters, who purchased it in 2023. Winters has plans to grow the brand's footprint in the Atlanta area, with one new gym opening planned per year over the next seven to eight years.

"Gold's Gym represents a growth opportunity with an iconic brand and leader in the fitness space," said Winters. "I've been a Gold's Gym fan since I was a member as a teen, and I love the direction the brand is taking with its new gyms. I look forward to bringing the Gold's legacy back to the Atlanta area in a big way."

The updated gym now has a legacy-inspired, all-new look and feel with brick walls and wooden accents, best-in-class gym80 equipment and a reproduction of The Mecca's famous green wall.

"We are growing the Gold's brand in the U.S. and globally by going back to our bodybuilding roots, which at Gold's means gaining muscle, toning up and becoming stronger," said Gold's Gym co-CEO Danny Waggoner. "Every member at Gold's becomes part of a long line of serious fitness buffs and bodybuilders who have come to Gold's Gym to fulfill their potential and reach their fitness goals."

The gym also celebrates the brand's history with a "Legend Wall," featuring photos of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the famed bodybuilder who came up through Gold's Gym.

Amenities include a cardio cinema, energizing group classes, a functional training area, a pro shop, on-site childcare and a smoothie bar. Images are available here.

The Hamilton Mill Gold's Gym is open Monday through Thursday from 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 4:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For membership information, go to https://www.goldsgym.com/hamiltonmillga/. Find information on franchise opportunities at www.goldsgym.com/franchise .

About Gold's Gym

What started out in 1965 as a small gym in Venice Beach, California, has since become one of the most iconic fitness brands in the world  Gold's Gym. Over the last 59 years, Gold's Gym has developed into a global brand with over 600 locations spanning six continents. In 2020, the RSG Group acquired Gold's Gym and integrated the brand into its portfolio, making it the global leader in the fitness sector. For more information, go to goldsgym.com or follow Gold's Gym on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok or X.

Media contact:

Ashley Lennington

[email protected]

817-329-3257

SOURCE Gold's Gym
The heritage mountaineering equipment brand partners with the Swiss operator and investor to support the development and expansion of its business.

AOSTA, Italy, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Grivel, the renowned Italian mountaineering equipment brand with a 200-year legacy, proudly announces that it has entered a strategic partnership with Midi Management, an operating and investment firm specializing in category-defining consumer products. The partnership is designed to accelerate growth through selective international expansion, product development and innovation. Grivel will continue to serve the mountaineering and climbing market with a focus on improving the practitioner's experience while preserving the brand's over 200 years of heritage. This strategy will be supported by an improved operational backbone and additional talents led by Oliviero Gobbi, who is retaining all his shares and will continue as CEO of the Company. The investment sees Midi Management take a majority stake in the business.

Oliviero Gobbi, CEO of Grivel, said: "We are very excited to strategically partner with Midi Management, with whom we share the same passion and ambition. We have developed together a growth and product expansion plan that will hit the ground in the next few months."

Midi Management was advised by Gianni & Origoni and KPMG.

Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

About Grivel

Grivel, founded in 1818 at the foot of Mont Blanc, is a world leader in manufacturing technical mountain and climbing equipment. Rooted in a rich heritage and driven by innovation, Grivel is headquartered in the Aosta Valley, Italy with a strong global presence and representation. For more information on Grivel, please visit the website: www.grivel.com

About Midi Management

Midi Management is a Switzerland based investment company established in 2017. The company invests in category-defining, high growth consumer brands with a focus on outdoor and modern luxury brands highly connected to their consumers. Midi Management provides growth capital, strategic guidance and operational expertise to empower founders and management teams to reach their full potential. For more information on Midi Management, please visit the website: www.midimanagement.com

Media Contact

[email protected]

[email protected]

SOURCE Midi Management
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a precedent-setting legal battle, plaintiff Gustavo Reyes Gonzalez, a 34-year-old immigrant from Mexico, has received a verdict for $52,437,366 in damages after a Los Angeles County jury found the defendant manufacturers of artificial stone slabs liable for his fatal accelerated silicosis. This landmark verdict marks the first of its kind in the U.S., highlighting the severe health risks associated with the fabrication of artificial stone (quartz) slabs to make kitchen and bathroom countertops.

The lawsuit involved over 30 artificial stone slab manufacturer and supplier defendants, with many resolving before trial, however Caesarstone USA, Cambria, and Color Marble went to verdict after a month-long trial. The jury found in favor of plaintiff Gustavo Reyes Gonzalez, and against the three remaining defendants in the amount of $52,437,366 in damages.

Gustavo Reyes Gonzalez was represented by a trial team from the law firm Brayton Purcell LLP consisting of Gilbert Purcell, James Nevin, Daniel Morse, and Gabriela Monoz-Gomez and by Raphael Metzger and Scott Brust of the Metzger Law Group. He worked in stone fabrication shops for 15 years until at age 33 he developed accelerated silicosis resulting in a lung transplant. However, transplanted lungs only function an average of 5 years, requiring him to get repeated lung transplants to survive.

Lead trial partner, Gilbert Purcell of Brayton Purcell LLP stated: "On behalf of our client Gustavo Reyes Gonzalez, and our entire trial team, we want to thank the jury for their courageous verdict. Thank goodness for jurors and our civil justice system."

Partner James Nevin of Brayton Purcell LLP stated: "Since this is the first of hundreds of trials, it was important for the artificial stone slab manufacturer and supplier defendants to hear the message loud and clear from the jury  stop selling your deadly fashion products. The health and lives of these young fabrication workers are far more important than your profits. The jury heard the evidence that the defendants' warnings, when actually conveyed at all, are entirely inadequate, and that the defendants' products are inherently defective in that they cannot be fabricated safely. The jury rightly rejected the defendants' efforts to place the blame for accelerated silicosis on plaintiff's unsophisticated hirers who never received any warnings at all from the defendants. The defendants have known for decades that their artificial stone products are deadly to fabrication workers, and yet they continue to sell it, in relentless pursuit of profits over worker safety. We hope that upon hearing about this verdict, more fabrication workers will come forward, having learned that they too have a right to justice. And, we hope that consumers, will hear about this verdict, and stop buying these deadly products."

This case sheds light on the growing health crisis among fabrication workers caused by artificial stone slabs. While the defendants tried to blame his silicosis on the fabrication shop that hired him, Brayton Purcell LLP represents over 150 fabrication workers with silicosis who worked at over 350 different fabrication shops. The problem is the product, not the shops. This is why Australia banned it as impossible to be fabricated without causing workers to develop fatal silicosis. Reports indicate a rise in silicosis cases among workers exposed to quartz dust, prompting calls for stricter safety regulations. More information on the hazards of fabricating artificial stone and Gustavo Reyes-Gonzalez's story can be found in the following resources:

Incurable silicosis cost a countertop cutter his lungs. Are these companies at fault?Los Angeles Times

Deadly DustSpectrum News, Los Angeles

Production of artificial stone countertops causing deadly lung issues in workers - CBS News

Emerging Health Concern: Silicosis-NBC, Los Angeles

California Bill on Silicosis Safety Measures

A License to Kill is No Solution--Brayton Purcell Press Release

Diseases Associated with Artificial Stone

The Silicosis Epidemic

Brayton Purcell Featured in The HillPress Release

July, 2023-- Dr. Jane Fazio from UCLA and Dr. Sheiphali Gandhi from UCSF  JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association)

August 2012  Dr. Mordechai Kramer, et. al  Chest

This verdict is not just a victory for Mr. Reyes-Gonzalez, but also a significant step towards greater accountability and safety in the artificial stone slab industry.

Media Contact:

Brayton Purcell, LLP

James Nevin

[email protected]

(415) 493-3531

This press release is provided by Brayton Purcell, LLP, representing Gustavo Reyes-Gonzalez in his landmark case against the manufacturers of artificial stone materials.

SOURCE Brayton Purcell LLP
CHICAGO, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hub International Limited (Hub), a leading full-service global insurance brokerage and financial services firm, announced today that it has acquired the assets of Clark 401k Consulting, LLC (Clark 401k Consulting). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Located in Los Gatos, California, Clark 401k Consulting is an independent 401(k) consulting and fiduciary processes firm. They provide 401(k) retirement plan consulting services in various areas, including independent 401(k) investment consulting, review and help establish fiduciary processes and best practices, retirement readiness, plan optimization strategies, benchmarking, and investment selection assistance and monitoring.

Christopher Clark, an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) and Investment Consultant, and the Clark 401k Consulting team will join Hub's Retirement and Private Wealth practice in Central & Northern California.

"We are excited to have Chris and his team join us and look forward to using his expertise to help us grow the organization," said Darren Caesar, CEO of Hub Central & Northern California.

"Chris's experience with not only retirement plans, but employee benefits and financial wellness, is an excellent fit for what we are focused on here at Hub," added Joe DeNoyior, President of Hub Retirement and Private Wealth (RPW).

The move continues to strengthen Hub RPW practice and its services to develop more comprehensive strategies for clients. Hub RPW works to help plan sponsors create an offering that aligns with their business strategy, navigates fiduciary risk and helps employees pursue their financial goals. The several registered investment advisory affiliates in HUB RPW provide investment advisory services to clients whose total assets are approximately $148 billion.

About Hub's M&A Activities

Hub International Limited is committed to growing organically and through acquisitions to expand its geographic footprint and strengthen its industry and product expertise. For more information on the Hub M&A experience, visit WeAreHub.com .

About Hub International

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Hub International Limited is a leading full-service global insurance broker and financial services firm providing risk management, insurance, employee benefits, retirement and wealth management products and services. With more than 18,000 employees in offices located throughout North America, Hub's vast network of specialists brings clarity to a changing world with tailored solutions and unrelenting advocacy, so clients are ready for tomorrow. For more information, visit Hub Media Center .

CONTACT:

Media: Jessica Wiltse

Phone: 312-596-7573

[email protected]

M&A: Clark Wormer

Phone: 312-279-4848

[email protected]

SOURCE Hub International Limited
With a one-click integration to Conversations, Infobip's contact center solution, HumanFirst helps enterprise teams leverage LLMs to analyze 100% of their customer data.

MONTREAL, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - HumanFirst , a prompt and data platform, and Infobip , a global cloud communications platform, today announced a collaboration that connects HumanFirst directly to Infobip's communications suite. The partnership helps enterprise teams leverage large language models (LLMs) to work collaboratively with unstructured data; for small tasks like support call summaries, and complex initiatives like contact center topic modeling.

Companies across the globe have adopted an omnichannel approach to customer engagement. Last year, 473 billion company-to-customer interactions took place on Infobip's CPaaS platform, representing a 91% increase in conversational messaging across sales, support, marketing, and more.

Conversational data contains critical business signals but remains inaccessible to most teams; unstructured feedback is messy, and teams lack the tools they need to interact with it at scale. Gartner predicts that by 2028, 80% of enterprises using CPaaS platforms will also employ generative AI-based conversational strategies. But the opportunity for GenAI goes far beyond conversation design.

"We believe large language models (LLMs) will be the primary way customer-facing teams make sense of their data," says Alex Dubois, SVP Strategic Growth and Partnerships at HumanFirst. "We're committed to enabling any and every team with the skills they need to do that work."

Infobip recognized HumanFirst as one of the complementary partners bringing performant genAI strategies to customer-centric teams. HumanFirst has worked with industry leaders like Google, Deloitte, and HomeServe to manage data-driven transformations 90% faster and 80% cheaper, increasing the number of non-technical experts working with data by 7-fold.

"At Infobip, we value innovation and customer-centricity," shares Ivan Ostojic, Chief Business Officer at Infobip. "HumanFirst helps us with both. We believe companies around the world will be able to show up for their customers in new and powerful ways with Infobip and HumanFirst."

Working with HumanFirst themselves, Infobip generated 220+ knowledge articles with genAI to address repetitive support requests occupying their agents' time.

"Within a week of working with HumanFirst, we found two categories of support tickets comprised 30% of our agents' workload," says Ostojic. "We saw a significant cost-savings opportunity, and started building self-service automations based on our real customer-agent conversations. We want to bring that capability to our customers to help them achieve the same results in transforming their customer experience using HumanFirst & Infobip AI Hub."

Infobip helps household name companies like Uber, Hubspot, Meta, and Microsoft communicate with their customers. With a low-code LLM playground connected to that data source, customer-facing teams will be able to extract the insights they need to be more effective across support, sales, marketing, and more.

"Infobip is unmatched not only in their vision of bringing AI to market, but also in their ability to act on that vision," says Dubois. "We're thrilled to be in partnership."

HumanFirst is currently available on Infobip Exchange . The integration is free of charge; Infobip customers can activate their HumanFirst account by scheduling a meeting with the HumanFirst team.

About HumanFirst

HumanFirst is a prompt and data playground. We help companies get their teams up to speed and past first gear with generative AIfor one-off tasks, repetitive work, and complex business initiatives. Learn more at www.humanfirst.ai .

About Infobip

Infobip is a global cloud communications platform that enables businesses to build connected experiences across all stages of the customer journey. It offers natively built technology with the capacity to reach over seven billion mobile devices and 'things' in 6 continents connected to over 9,700+ connections of which 800+ are direct operator connections. Founded in 2006, the company has grown exponentially, bootstrapping revenue to 1.55 bn in 2022. Learn more at www.infobip.com .

SOURCE HumanFirst
DALLAS, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hunt Energy Network, L.L.C, today announced it has received a funding commitment of $250 million from Manulife Investment Management. Manulife Investment Management's commitment was sourced from Manulife Infrastructure Fund III and its affiliates (collectively "Manulife"). With this funding, Hunt Energy Network will develop and operate dispatchable power resources in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).

This new commitment is wholly distinct from Manulife's March 2021 commitment of $225 million to form HEN Infrastructure, L.L.C., a separate venture with Hunt Energy Network to develop and operate a portfolio of distribution level energy storage assets in ERCOT. As of today, this venture has developed 270 megawatts (MW) of energy storage currently operational in ERCOT and another 80 MW under development with a targeted completion date of early 2025.

"Over the past three years, our partnership with Manulife let us build a resilient network of dispatchable, distributed storage all across Texas," said Pat Wood, chief executive officer of Hunt Energy Network. "Now, we can continue that work as well as move into other opportunities to reliably serve customers in ERCOT."

Backed by Manulife's commitment, Hunt Energy Network plans to develop additional energy storage projects and new thermal peaking generation facilities throughout ERCOT. These thermal peaking units would have significant on-site fuel storage, ensuring the ability to reliably operate during critical times, such as extreme weather events. Also, these generators would be able to run on a variety of fuel types. Unlike generators that rely solely on natural gas, these generators would not be dependent on the operational status of natural gas supply and delivery.

Hunt Energy Network will also focus on helping commercial customers fully utilize backup generation at their facilities to provide resiliency for the customer and participation in the ERCOT market when the generation is not serving the customer. Using its 24/7 operations desk and TraDER optimization platform, Hunt Energy Network can provide opportunities for commercial and industrial customers to receive full resilient back up power while also providing much needed resources to the ERCOT grid.

"We recognize the importance that dispatchable generation brings to the electricity customers of Texas by providing reliable power when needed most," said Recep Kendircioglu, Global Head of Infrastructure, Manulife Investment Management. "Continuing our long-standing partnership with Hunt Energy will support the grid and allows us to drive innovation with a market leader in ERCOT."

"Hunt Energy Network is building Texas' first network of distributed resources, which will include batteries, peaking power, and customer onsite generation to help Texas meet its explosive demand growth. Our goal is to provide the resiliency ERCOT needs to keep supplying affordable, clean, and reliable power to Texans," said Hunter Hunt, CEO of Hunt Energy, L.L.C., the parent company of Hunt Energy Network. "Hunt's relationship with Manulife goes back decades, and we are thrilled to continue and expand that relationship in making Hunt Energy Network the partner of choice for grid operators and customers."

About Hunt Energy Network

Hunt Energy Network is a Dallas-based developer and operator of dispatchable energy resources. The company utilizes its TraDER platform to site distributed energy resources, integrate those resources into competitive markets, and operate those resources as optimized portfolios. It is part of a larger privately-owned group of companies managed by the Ray L. Hunt family that engages in oil and gas exploration, refining, power, real estate, ranching and private equity investments. For more information, visit www.huntenergynetwork.com.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. Our mission is to make decisions easier and lives better by empowering investors for a better tomorrow. Serving more than 19 million individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members, we believe our global reach, complementary businesses, and the strength of our parent company position us to help investors capitalize on today's emerging global trends. We provide our clients access to public and private investment solutions across equities, fixed income, multi-asset, alternative, and sustainability-linked strategies, such as natural capital, to help them make more informed financial decisions and achieve their investment objectives. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

Hunt Energy Network Media Contact

Paul Schulze, 214-978-8534, [email protected]

Manulife IM Media Contact

Elizabeth Bartlett, 857-210-2286, [email protected]

SOURCE Hunt Energy Network
The Early Childhood Learning Center is the First Brand Location to Open Outside of Texas

ATLANTA, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ivy Kids Early Learning Center, a leading provider of premier care and early childhood education, is expanding into Georgia for the first time through the debut of the brand's newest location in Johns Creek, which opened on Aug. 1. Located at 9970 Medlock Bridge Rd., the new learning center will offer Atlanta area families educational programs for children ages 6 weeks to pre-kindergarten and after school programs for children ages five to twelve.

Ivy Kids of Johns Creek is locally owned and operated by Karim Badani and his wife, Shraddha Naik. Education has always been a passion of Karim's, having first immigrated to the U.S. with his family in search of better educational opportunities when he was 12 years old. Throughout his professional career, Badani regularly spent time volunteering at schools and learning centers before leaving his job in the banking industry. Shraddha grew up in Johns Creek, and is passionate about providing quality education to the community that was not available to her and her family. She now works as a healthcare professional at a local hospital and will help in operations management alongside Karim. Their decision to invest in bringing Ivy Kids Early Learning Center to his Atlanta community was rooted in their passionate advocacy for bettering the education of children.

"Bringing Ivy Kids Early Learning Center to Johns Creek has been a goal we have been working towards for a long time. Education has always held an essential role in my life," said Badani. "Through Ivy Kids, we are honored to now provide families in Johns Creek a place where both academic excellence and innovation are offered in a nurturing and joyful environment designed for kids to learn and thrive. Amid national conversations surrounding post-Covid learning loss, early childhood educational centers like Ivy Kids have never been more important."

To celebrate the learning center's grand opening, an event will be held at the school on Sept. 7 to welcome local families. Ivy Kids of Johns Creek has partnered with several local vendors and organizations to offer guests a fun filled day with face painting, food, games, and activities. In addition, the John's Creek Fire Department will bring in a fire engine to the school for families to explore and learn about. As part of Ivy Kid's World Changers Program, the school has also established ongoing partnerships with several charities including St. Jude's Children's Hospital, and Atlanta Community Food Bank. Ivy Kids will also be hosting a Trike-a-Thon fundraiser benefiting St. Jude's cancer research on Sept. 28, teaching kids the importance of making positive impact in their community. Ivy Kid's staff have also volunteered their time to the Atlanta Community Food Bank to stock and distribute food to local families in need.

Families in the Johns Creek community now have access to the school's research-based MultiPrep Curriculum that promotes academic excellence through active learning. The 16,443 square-foot Johns Creek Ivy Kids Early Learning Center includes 11 classrooms, an enrichment room, a cafeteria and a low teacher to student ratio.

For more information about Ivy Kids Early Learning Center, please visit their website ivykidsjohnscreek.com, or call (770) 746-8980.

About Ivy Kids Early Learning Center:

Founded by Al and Laila Bandali in Pearland, Texas in 2005, Ivy Kids was conceived to provide an alternative to other childcare providers. Disheartened by the childcare offerings available to them, Al and Laila decided to create a learning center that would combine academic excellence and innovation with a nurturing and joyful environment. Ivy Kids has now grown into one of the most trusted preschool providers in their communities, offering premier early childhood education programs for children and families. Currently, the schools serve children ranging from infants six weeks old to pre-kindergarten, and offer before and after-school programs for children up to age twelve.

Ivy Kids has become a leading provider of premier care and early childhood education. In the past few years, Ivy Kids has opened several facilities around the Houston, San Antonio, Atlanta and Dallas areas, and continues to grow and looks forward to serving communities and neighborhoods across the US.

Media Contact: Kira Obolsky | Fishman PR | [email protected]

SOURCE Ivy Kids Early Learning Center
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- JELD-WEN Holding, Inc. ("JELD-WEN") (NYSE: JELD) today announced that it has priced its previously announced offering of $350 million of 7.00% senior unsecured notes due 2032 (the "Notes") in a private placement exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Net proceeds from the offering will be used to fund the (i) redemption of all of the outstanding 4.625% Senior Notes due 2025 previously issued by JELD-WEN, Inc., the main operating subsidiary of JELD-WEN ("JWI"), and (ii) partial repayment of outstanding borrowings under JWI's term loan facility.

The offering is expected to close on August 22, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.

The Notes will be guaranteed by JWI and by each of JWI's domestic subsidiaries that guarantee indebtedness under JWI's term loan facility.

The Notes were offered and will be sold in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and to certain non-U.S. persons in transactions outside of the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state or jurisdiction. The Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase the Notes, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

About JELD-WEN

JELD-WEN Holding, Inc. (NYSE: JELD) is a leading global designer, manufacturer and distributor of high-performance interior and exterior doors, windows, and related building products serving the new construction and repair and remodeling sectors. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company operates facilities in 15 countries in North America and Europe and employs approximately 18,000 associates dedicated to bringing beauty and security to the spaces that touch our lives. The JELD-WEN family of brands includes JELD-WEN worldwide, LaCantina and VPI in North America, and Swedoor and DANA in Europe. For more information, visit corporate.JELD-WEN.com or follow LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including all statements regarding the offering of the Notes. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by our use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "might", "plan", "potential", "predict", "seek", or "should", or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. Where, in any forward-looking statement, we express an expectation or belief as to future results or events, such expectation or belief is based on the current plans, expectations, assumptions, estimates, and projections of our management. Although we believe that these statements are based on reasonable expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections, they are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those indicated in such statements.

Our actual results could differ materially from the results contemplated by these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update, amend or clarify any forward-looking statements to reflect events, new information or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.

Media Contact:

Caryn Klebba

Head of Global Public Relations

704-807-1275

[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact:

James Armstrong

Vice President, Investor Relations

704-378-5731

[email protected]

SOURCE JELD-WEN Holding, Inc.
Localized and in-person conference will focus on collaboration, discussion, and knowledge sharing around cloud native technologies with a focus on Japan

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cloud Native Computing Foundation  (CNCF), which builds sustainable ecosystems for cloud native software, is pleased to present KubeDay Japan , happening on August 27 in Tokyo. The event will offer a full day of sessions with speakers from Japan and around the world, including a beginner and an advanced track.

Hosted by CNCF, KubeDay events connect international and local experts in global cities with adopters, developers, and practitioners to promote face-to-face collaboration and deliver rich educational experiences. KubeDays target specific geographical regions experiencing community expansion and interest and is a wonderful opportunity to engage with the leaders of CNCF-hosted projects as we set the direction for the cloud native ecosystem.

"The cloud native community has been growing significantly the last few years with a focus on global communities, which culminated in the creation of Cloud Native Community Japan late last year," said Chris Aniszczyk, CTO, CNCF. "With its vibrant and active community of cloud native developers we are thrilled to return to Japan this month to share knowledge and the future of the cloud native ecosystem."

The community-curated schedule will feature sessions from open source community members, including:

Empowering Japanese Contributors: Kubernetes Upstream Training - Shu Muto , Principal Software Engineer & Ziyi Xie , Software Engineer, NEC Solution Innovators, Ltd.

, Principal Software Engineer & , Software Engineer, NEC Solution Innovators, Ltd. Rising Sun of Cloud Native in Japan - Yuichi Nakamura , Evangelist, The Linux Foundation Japan

- , Evangelist, The Linux Foundation Japan Our Journey from in-House CD System to Open Source - Yoshiki Fujikane , CyberAgent, Inc.

- , CyberAgent, Inc. Unleashing the Power of Serverless Computing in Kubernetes with Knative, Crossplane & Dapr - Mauricio "Salaboy" Salatino, Diagrid & Viktor Farcic, Upbound

For the full KubeDay Japan program, please visit the schedule .

Registration

Register for standard in-person pricing through August 11.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

KubeDay Japan this year has been made possible thanks to our amazing community and support from our Diamond Sponsors: Fsas Technologies , Hitachi , and IOWN Global Forum .

Additional Resources

About Cloud Native Computing Foundation

Cloud native computing empowers organizations to build and run scalable applications with an open source software stack in public, private, and hybrid clouds. The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) hosts critical components of the global technology infrastructure, including Kubernetes, Prometheus, and Envoy. CNCF brings together the industry's top developers, end users, and vendors, and runs the largest open source developer conferences in the world. Supported by more than 500 members, including the world's largest cloud computing and software companies, as well as over 200 innovative startups, CNCF is part of the nonprofit Linux Foundation. For more information, please visit www.cncf.io.

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

Jessie Adams-Shore

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE Cloud Native Computing Foundation
Venerable public radio stations leverage the audio-as-a-service platform to deliver and measure their celebrated, diverse programming

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SoundStack, the independent audio-as-a-service (AaaS) company, today announced partnerships with some of the most esteemed public radio groups in history. KCRW (Los Angeles), WBGO (Newark), KUT (Austin), as well as KUTX, its full-time music service, will deliver their live streams to millions of listeners with the SoundStack platform.

"KCRW is excited to join forces with SoundStack as we continue our commitment to deliver compelling audio that resonates with our diverse audience," said Tejal Ajmera, CFO/CSO of KCRW. "This partnership will leverage SoundStack's expertise in digital media to enhance KCRW's storytelling capabilities."

In addition to carrying National Public Radio (NPR) programming, each station produces some of the most unique, renowned shows in radio, including KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic, WBGO's Jazz Night in America, and KUT's In Black America.

SoundStack Hosting and Delivery is built to make it easier for all kinds of audio publishers  radio groups, podcast networks, and more  to ensure seamless listening experiences for their massive, loyal audiences. The functionality is rooted in SoundStack Engine, a content delivery network (CDN) featuring real-time, global audio orchestration with nine, global points of presence, and an array of automation for simple streaming management.

Several of the stations will also leverage SoundStack Insights  including historical/real-time listening data, heat mapping of listenership around the world, streaming trends to monitor performance, and more. All of the stations will have direct access to SoundStack's collaborative solutions engineering and service teams.

"For WBGO, SoundStack is a gift from the gods of digital technology," said Steven A. Williams, President and CEO of WBGO. "From the thorough, and transparent data insights to the easy accessibility -- SoundStack provides the perfect bridge to efficient and effective maintenance and distribution of our digital assets."

"KUT's streaming audience is only getting bigger and broader. Working with SoundStack helps us reliably reach far beyond our market," said Todd Callahan, Technology Director of KUT/KUTX. "The redundancy we added with SoundStack's CDN ensures our daily news show, the Texas Standard, can be heard coast-to-coast, and delivers KUTX's "Austin Music Experience" worldwide. The global real-time streaming data from Insights is our program director's dashboard favorite."

"We couldn't be happier to be powering live streaming for many of the most famous public radio stations in history," said Jon Stephenson, SoundStack's CEO. "Everyone knows what a unique and critical role public radio plays in everyone's lives  I'm proud that these stations have entrusted us to ensure that their amazing programming continues to enrich so many people's lives."

About SoundStack

SoundStack is the audio-as-a-service (AaaS) company for every kind of digital audio business  podcasters, digital broadcasters, platforms, advertisers and more. Giving those businesses equal access to big tech that's easy-to-use, and the ability to connect with any provider across the market, SoundStack makes audio hosting/delivery, monetization, and measurement simple and effective for everyone. Fully independent, the company's team of 70+ audio tech experts is guided only by what delivers the best results for its 14k+ customers. SoundStack is headquartered in Pittsburgh with offices around the country, and is the parent company of Live365.

Visit www.soundstack.com for more info.

Contact:

Scott Klass, CMO

[email protected]

SOURCE SoundStack
A drive has been launched by YMCA Buffalo Niagara to help teachers and students get prepared for the upcoming 2024-25 school year.

The YMCA seeks donations of pencils, crayons and markers, along with highlighters, folders, copy paper, tissues, scissors and glue sticks that will go to the Teachers Desk, which educators to shop free for 150,000 students in need across the region.

The drive runs through Wednesday. Donations can be dropped off at any YMCA location. Visit ymcabn.org for more information.

Participating donors who are not members of the YMCA will be eligible to save $50 on a Y membership.

Strengthening our community is at the core of what we do at the Y, Regional YMCA President and CEO John Ehrbar said in a news release. We want all educators and students in local schools to be ready for the upcoming school year, but we know this task cant be done alone. The Teachers Desk is a vital resource for teachers and kids and were thrilled to play a part in their important work.

- Harold McNeil
E-commerce health and wellness retailer marks 30-year anniversary; 10-year anniversary with Kroger

CINCINNATI, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today shared Vitacost.com, the leading online destination for health and wellness products, is honoring company milestones with customer savings all year-long. Vitacost is celebrating its 30-year anniversary in the health and wellness business and 10 years since joining the Kroger Family of Companies.

"Since the inception of Vitacost.com in 1994, we have remained dedicated to empowering individuals to lead healthier lives by offering affordable, convenient access to a wide range of high-quality supplements, specialty foods, eco-conscious brands and non-toxic home essentials," said Guy Burgstahler, Vitacost president. "We're excited to celebrate these milestones with our customers and provide extra savings on top of already great prices for nearly 40,000 health and wellness products."

Customers can take advantage of Vitacost savings all year-long with exclusive discounts and promotions*, including:

30 Thursdays : Customers can enjoy a 30% discount on select up-and-coming wellness brands on Thursdays throughout the year. Stay informed on the latest offerings by subscribing to email or SMS messages.

: Customers can enjoy a 30% discount on select up-and-coming wellness brands on Thursdays throughout the year. Stay informed on the latest offerings by subscribing to email or SMS messages. $30K Giveaway Sweepstakes : Vitacost will award three winners each with a grand prize of $10,000 cash. To enter, participants can visit vitacost.com/sweepstakes and follow the instructions provided.

: Vitacost will award three winners each with a grand prize of cash. To enter, participants can visit vitacost.com/sweepstakes and follow the instructions provided. 20% Off: New customers can subscribe to email alerts and receive 20% off their first order.

"For three decades Vitacost.com has been ensuring the highest quality wellness essentials are affordable for all, and we are proud to have spent 10 of those years together," said Mike Murphy, group vice president, e-commerce and merchandising analytics & execution at Kroger. "Since joining the Kroger family in 2014, Vitacost has provided another option for our customers to shop for products tailored to their lifestyle in a convenient and affordable way."

Vitacost offers a variety of high-quality supplements, specialty foods, eco-conscious brands and non-toxic home essentials for every customer and every category:

Shop these items and read more about Vitacost's history by visiting vitacost.com/anniversary.

*Exclusions may apply. See site for full promotional details.

About Kroger

At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. We are, across our family of companies nearly 420,000 associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through a seamless digital shopping experience and retail food stores under a variety of banner names, serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.

About Vitacost.com

Vitacost.com, Inc. is an online retailer of health and wellness products, providing an award-winning experience to customers through its website, www.vitacost.com. Vitacost.com features affordable pricing and speedy delivery on nearly 40,000 items, including dietary supplements (vitamins, minerals and herbs), hard-to-find specialty foods, organic body and personal care products, pet essentials and sports nutrition products. In addition, Vitacost.com strives to motivate, educate and inspire healthier living for customers by creating and curating thousands of helpful tips, expert articles and recipes woven throughout the shopping experience. Vitacost.com is a subsidiary of The Kroger Co.

SOURCE The Kroger Co.
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Browse in-depth TOC on "Label-Free Detection Market"

450 - Tables

54 - Figures

486 - Pages

Danaher Corporation: Leading Innovator in Label-Free Detection

Danaher Corporation, headquartered in the US, is a top player in the global label-free detection market for 2023. Through its biotechnology division, including subsidiaries Cytiva and Pall, Danaher provides a range of label-free detection products. Although the growth in infectious disease testing revenue showed a rise in 2022, it is anticipated that this trend may not continue into 2023. Nevertheless, Danaher remains committed to advancing its product offerings through substantial investments in R&D. The company also focuses on inorganic growth strategies, such as partnerships and acquisitions, to enhance its competitive edge in the label-free detection industry.

Sartorius AG: Prominent Force in Label-Free Detection

Sartorius AG, based in Germany, is a major player in the label-free detection sector. The company is dedicated to expanding its product range through robust R&D investments and strategic inorganic growth. Sartorius emphasizes product integration and user-friendly solutions to strengthen its market position. Notably, in April 2022, Sartorius launched the Octet SF3, an advanced surface plasmon resonance (SPR) system under its Octet brand. By introducing new products and focusing on comprehensive solutions, Sartorius aims to enhance its global presence in the label-free detection market.

Agilent Technologies, Inc.: Key Contributor in Label-Free Detection

Agilent Technologies, Inc., based in the US, held the third-largest market share in 2023. The company offers a diverse portfolio across life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets. Agilent's subsidiary, ACEA Biosciences, provides label-free detection products. Agilent is focused on product development and market expansion, highlighted by the February 2024 announcement of an integration between the XCELLigence RTCA HT platform and the BioTek BioSpa 8 Automated Incubator. This integration enhances throughput and reduces sample sizes by offering a label-free, non-invasive analysis of cell growth and cytotoxicity. Through such innovations, Agilent aims to capture a larger market share and compete effectively in the label-free detection industry.

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Label-Free Detection Market Segmentation: Instruments at the Forefront

In 2023, the global label-free detection market was segmented into instruments, consumables, software, and services. The instruments segment led the market, attributed to the growing use of advanced label-free detection instruments in drug discovery and clinical research studies. Technological advancements and the introduction of new, high-performance instruments by leading market players have further boosted this segment.

Technology Segmentation: Surface Plasmon Resonance Dominates

The market is segmented by technology into surface plasmon resonance (SPR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), bio-layer interferometry (BLI), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and other label-free detection (LFD) technologies. In 2023, SPR technology held the largest market share due to the frequent introduction of advanced SPR instruments. These advancements have driven increased adoption and application across various research fields.

Application Segmentation: Binding Kinetics Leads

Applications are segmented into binding kinetics, binding thermodynamics, hit confirmation, lead generation, endogenous receptor detection, and others. Binding kinetics commanded the largest market share in 2023, reflecting its significant role in drug discovery and molecular research. The increasing use of label-free detection instruments for these applications has driven the growth of this segment.

End User Segmentation: Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies Lead

The end-user segments include pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, academic & research institutes, contract research organizations (CROs), and other users. In 2023, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies led the market share, driven by their extensive use of label-free detection instruments, reagents, and consumables in R&D. This is coupled with rising research activities, development of new therapeutics, and expanding healthcare infrastructure in emerging markets.

Regional Insights: North America in the Lead

Geographically, the market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. North America dominated the market in 2023, supported by major players, advanced biopharmaceutical infrastructure, and favorable regulatory conditions. Europe held the second-largest share, with Asia Pacific expected to exhibit the highest growth rate during the forecast period due to increasing pharmaceutical R&D, rising demand for novel detection products, significant investments by biopharmaceutical companies, and growing support for research activities.

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Proteomics Market

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SAN DIEGO, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) Foundation is proud to announce that this month, dedicated advocates from the LGS community will be meeting with their congressional representatives to discuss vital issues affecting those living with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. This crucial advocacy work is being undertaken to honor and support the many individuals and families impacted by this rare and severe form of epilepsy.

Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome is a complex and challenging condition that begins in early childhood and is characterized by multiple types of seizures, developmental delays, and a range of other neurological and behavioral issues. Despite its profound impact on those affected, LGS remains underrepresented in public discourse and policy discussions.

The Advocates for LGS program was launched in 2002 and consists of 43 LGS family members across the U.S. who are dedicated to telling their stories to effect change. Each year in August, advocates meet with their Members of Congress at their in-district offices and educate them on the issues that are important to the rare disease community by sharing our stories and making sure our national leaders understand what it is like to live with daily seizures and multiple-chronic health challenges.

"The most important thing we bring to these meetings is our own LGS story," said Jennifer Griffin, Director of Family Support at the LGS Foundation, Leader of the Advocates for LGS, and mother to a 22-year-old son who has LGS. "LGS is devastating and many of our families are not only dealing with the disease, but also the immense economic, social, and emotional burden that comes with it. By sharing their stories, the Advocates for LGS are making a difference that will impact the future of individuals with LGS and their families."

Learn more about how the Advocates for LGS are advocating to improve the lives of everyone impacted by LGS at www.lgsfoundation.org/advocates-for-lgs .

About the LGS Foundation

The Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals impacted by LGS. It educates the public about LGS, supports families living with the condition, and drives cutting-edge research to find the cures.

SOURCE Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) Foundation
CINCINNATI, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Map Your Show (MYS), a leader in trade show and event technology, is excited to announce its participation in the upcoming ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition, taking place from August 10-13, 2024, at Booth 436. During the 3-day event, MYS will showcase its suite of innovative event management technologies, including Floor Builder, Exhibitor Resource Center, Conference Management Technology, and the newly redesigned Mobile App. The centerpiece of this showcase will be MYS's recent partnership with Cision PR Newswire, aimed at enhancing visibility for trade shows and events through the distribution of exhibitor press releases.

The partnership between Map Your Show and Cision PR Newswire offers a unique advantage to show and event organizers, leveraging the power of exhibitors' press releases. By encouraging exhibitors to share their latest innovations and announcements via PR Newswire, event organizers can significantly boost website traffic and attendee registration for their shows. This collaborative approach not only amplifies the reach of individual exhibitors but also draws more attention to the event, attracting a broader audience of potential attendees.

Through this joint effort, PR Newswire and Map Your Show have launched Exhibitor PR Boost, a new feature that provides exhibitors with a convenient way to promote upcoming event attendance using the industry's leading press release distribution platform. With this new offering, exhibitors will have access to discounted web distributions and fill-in-the-blank press release templates, making it effortless to announce their event participation.

"We're thrilled to partner with PR Newswire to provide a platform that elevates the presence of both exhibitors and the shows they participate in," said Don Kline, CEO of Map Your Show. "This partnership allows us to offer our clients a comprehensive solution that goes beyond traditional event management, ensuring that their events gain the visibility they deserve."

For more information, visit Map Your Show at booth 436 during the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition or visit mapyourshow.com to learn more.

About Map Your Show:

Map Your Show is your trade show operating system. For 20 years, our technology has been trusted by the world's leading trade show and event organizers. MYS offers the technology solutions you need to power your event: building an expo floor plan, helping exhibitors stay on top of their deadlines, navigating attendees through the event with a mobile app, and selling booths and advertising. Our technology powers trade shows, conferences and events so that organizers can focus on what matters most: delivering a successful event.

About PR Newswire:

PR Newswire is the industry's leading press release distribution partner with an unparalleled global reach of more than 440,000 newsrooms, websites, direct feeds, journalists and influencers and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. From our award-winning Content Services offerings, integrated media newsroom and microsite products, Investor Relations suite of services, paid placement and social sharing tools, PR Newswire has a comprehensive catalog of solutions to solve the modern-day challenges PR and communications teams face. For 70 years, PR Newswire has been the preferred destination for brands to share their most important news stories across the world.

SOURCE Map Your Show
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Panera Bread today announced that Mark Shambura has joined the company as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Mr. Shambura will lead all aspects of marketing at Panera, including Brand Building, Digital & Loyalty, Product Strategy & Consumer Insights. An accomplished marketing leader with broad expertise in the restaurant industry, Mr. Shambura has previously held marketing leadership roles during pivotal growth periods for top brands including Chipotle, MOD Pizza, and most recently Papa Johns.

Mark Shambura

"Mark brings an impressive background building brands and leading marketing teams for fast-casual restaurants, and we're thrilled to welcome him to Panera Bread," said Jose Alberto Duenas, Chief Executive Officer. "As Panera continues to evolve our brand, guided by listening to our guests, Mark's depth of experience and ability will help drive our growth as a brand that serves great food you feel good about eating."

Mr. Shambura previously served as CMO at Papa Johns, where he led a revitalization of the brand by enhancing its iconic "Better Ingredients, Better Pizza" platform, and developing a more modern, innovative omnichannel approach to transform how Papa Johns appealed to both new and loyal consumers. As Executive Director at Chipotle, Mr. Shambura guided the marketing function through periods of both sustained growth and transition, providing leadership over brand strategy, advertising, digital, social, events/sponsorships, promotions, and field marketing, including playing a key role in spearheading its "Real Ingredients" brand strategy.

"I'm proud to join the Panera Bread team and excited to build on the momentum of the brand's transformation as it continues to evolve in service of our guests," Mr. Shambura said. "Panera propelled and cemented its position at the top of the fast casual restaurant segment through its promise of high-quality ingredients and freshly prepared food, and I'm thrilled to join a highly talented team to help shape its next chapter."

Prior to his tenure in the restaurant industry, Mr. Shambura gained extensive marketing agency experience, working with a broad array of top global consumer brands for over a decade. Shambura will report directly to Jose Alberto Duenas, Chief Executive Officer, and officially assumed the role of Chief Marketing Officer on July 29, 2024.

About Panera Bread

Our first bakery-cafe opened in 1987, founded with a secret sourdough starter and the belief that the best part of bread is sharing it. That vision led to the invention of the Fast Casual category with Panera at the forefront, serving as America's kitchen table centered around our delicious menu of chef-curated recipes that are crafted with care by our team members. We make food that we are proud to serve our own families, from crave-worthy soups, salads and sandwiches to mac and cheese and sweets. Each recipe is filled with ingredients we feel good about and none of those we don't because we are committed to serving our guests food that feels good in the moment and long after. While our company is now nearly 2,200 bakery-cafes strong, our values and belief in the lasting power of a great meal remain as strong as ever. We spend each day filling bellies, building empowered teams and inspiring communities. Nothing beats breaking bread together.

As of July 23, 2024, there were 2,169 bakery-cafes, company and franchise, in 48 states and Washington D.C., and in Ontario, Canada, operating under the Panera Bread or Saint Louis Bread Co. names. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast casual restaurant companies in the U.S., comprised of Panera Bread, Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels. For more information, visit panerabread.com or find us on Twitter (@panerabread), Facebook (facebook.com/panerabread) Instagram (@panerabread) or TikTok (@panerabread).

Media Contact

Panera PR

[email protected]

SOURCE Panera Bread
Access to US helium system could be impacted if operation-critical lease of the CHEU is not extended

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Aug. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This afternoon, the 108th District Court in Amarillo, Texas granted Messer Helium Cliffside LLC's (MHC) request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to prevent the imminent shutdown of the former federal Helium System that MHC recently acquired from the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Court's order will permit MHC to continue operating the Crude Helium Enrichment Unit (CHEU) owned by Cliffside Refiners LP (CRLP) after the current lease between CRLP and the BLM ends on August 11, 2024.

Messer company flag.

The CHEU is the central piece of machinery that extracts and processes helium from the Helium System. Without access to the CHEU, the Helium System would be forced to shut down.

The TRO allows the continued operation of the CHEU after August 11, avoiding imminent disruption in domestic helium supply. The Court ordered MHC and CRLP to appear on August 23, 2024, at which time the Court will decide whether to grant MHC a preliminary injunction to give time to negotiate a new lease with the CRLP in good faith.

Two of the three CRLP partners support allowing MHC continued access to the CHEU. Despite diligent efforts, MHC has been unable to reach a reasonable commercial solution with the third partner, Air Products. By impeding MHC's ability to operate the CHEU, Air Products could deprive numerous third parties access to their privately owned helium stored in the System.

MHC welcomes the opportunity to explain to the Court at the upcoming hearing why its continued access to the CHEU is critical to protect the stability of the domestic helium market and the needs of helium users in several major industrial sectors.

"Without helium, MRI machines cannot run, semiconductor chips cannot be made, and space rockets cannot launch. Not to mention, national defense and economic security could be impacted, as the largest foreign suppliers of helium (Qatar and Russia) are subject to disruption by geopolitical events and trade restrictions," said Chris Ebeling, Messer's Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, North America.

As a leading supplier of helium, Messer is committed to providing a safe, dependable and continuous supply of this valuable gas that plays a pivotal role in the nation's health and security. Messer has operated the CHEU safely and reliably over the past two years while under contract with the BLM.

About Messer



Messer is the largest privately held industrial gas business in the world and a leading industrial and medical gas company in North America, South America, Asia and Europe. Messer offers more than 125 years of expertise in industrial, medical, specialty and electronics gases. The company delivers quality gases, related services and technology via an extensive production and distribution network. Health and safety, sustainability practices and environmental protection are core Messer values that are embedded in the company's daily operations. Messer Americas sales account approximately for 52% of Messer worldwide sales of $4.7 billion USD. For more information, visit: www.messeramericas.com.

SOURCE Messer North America, Inc.
DALLAS, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nanoscope Therapeutics Inc., a late-stage clinical biotechnology company developing gene therapies for inherited retinal diseases and age-related macular degenerations (AMD), today announced that Sulagna Bhattacharya, Chief Executive Officer and Samarendra Mohanty, President of Nanoscope Therapeutics, will present and participate in a panel discussion at the 2024 H.C. Wainwright 4th Annual Ophthalmology Virtual Conference, taking place on August 15, 2024.

Details for the presentation are as follows:

Session Type: Presentation

Session Date: Thursday, August 15th

Session Time: 7:00 a.m. EST

Presenters: Sulagna Bhattacharya, Chief Executive Officer, and Samarendra Mohanty, PhD, President

Ms. Bhattacharya and Dr. Mohanty will provide a corporate update on Nanoscope's upcoming activities following positive end-of-study top-line data from the Company's randomized clinical trial of MCO-010 in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and Phase 2 trial in Stargardt disease. The presentation will also introduce the next-generation MCO-020 laser-delivery platform for non-viral gene therapy of geographic atrophies (GA) secondary to AMD. This will be followed by a panel discussion on advanced clinical programs targeting retinal indications moderated by Yi Chen, PhD, Managing Director, Equity Research at H.C. Wainright. The details for the panel are as follows:

Session Title: Derisked late-stage candidates for retinal disorders

Session Type: Panel Discussion

Session Date: Thursday, August 15th

Session Time: 11:00 a.m. EST,

Panelist: Samarendra Mohanty, PhD, President

The panelists will discuss the paths they have forged for their respective programs toward advanced clinical status. This will include insights on the navigation of manufacturing, regulatory, and health economics on the path towards approval and commercial launch.

To register for the live webcast, please contact your H.C. Wainwright representative. A replay of the webcast will be available through H.C. Wainwright for a limited time following the event.

About Nanoscope Therapeutics Inc.

Nanoscope Therapeutics is developing gene-agnostic, sight-restoring optogenetic therapies for the millions of patients blinded by inherited retinal diseases, for which no cure exists. The company's lead asset, MCO-010, recently announced the 100-week data from the RESTORE Phase 2b/3 multicenter, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled clinical trial in the U.S. for retinitis pigmentosa (NCT04945772). The company has also recently completed the Phase 2 STARLIGHT trial of MCO-010 therapy in patients with Stargardt disease (NCT05417126). MCO-010 has received FDA fast-track designations and FDA orphan drug designations for both retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt disease. Preclinical assets include non-viral laser-delivered MCO-020 gene therapy for GA secondary to AMD.

Investor Contact:

Argot Partners

212-600-1902

[email protected]

SOURCE Nanoscope Therapeutics
NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nexio, a pioneering Bitcoin scaling solution leveraging parallelized rollup technology, today announced that it has raised $2.2 million in pre-seed funding from a diverse roster of prominent industry investors. This funding will enable Nexio to accelerate the development and adoption of its parallelized Bitcoin rollup technology, aiming to revolutionize Bitcoin's scalability and usability.

Founders Charlie Gordon (left) and Jake Gordon (right) Nexio Raise Poster

Concurrent with the pre-seed funding, Nexio is launching its parallelized Bitcoin rollup powered by the MoveVM, which supports over 30,000 transactions per second with gas fees maintained below $0.01. This technology addresses critical challenges in the Bitcoin ecosystem, including slow transaction times, high gas fees, poor security in scaling solutions, and inadequate tooling that have hindered mass adoption.

Nexio's adoption of the MoveVM sets a new standard for security in Bitcoin scaling solutions. Originally developed by Facebook, MoveVM addresses critical vulnerabilities that have plagued traditional EVM-based systems. Move's linear type system ensures that there is always a single "owner" for a resource. This is vital for representing digital assets, where double-spending is a concern. It embraces a linear execution and utility system that prevents reentrancy attacks. The MoveVM could have prevented 84% of crypto hacks between 2016-2022, potentially saving over $4.6 billion in assets.

Nexio's technology combines a zk-Rollup, Multi-Party Computation Threshold Signature Scheme, and the Fractal interpreter to set new standards in speed, security, and interoperability. By utilizing MPC Threshold Signatures, Nexio prevents single points of failure, offering robust, decentralized transaction validation that is more secure than traditional multisig approaches.

"Nexio's vision is to unlock Bitcoin's full potential by providing a scalable, secure, and cost-effective infrastructure," said Charlie Gordon, co-founder of Nexio. "Our technology, combined with advanced cryptographic techniques, will enable a new era of innovation and adoption within the Bitcoin ecosystem, supporting complex DeFi applications, gaming platforms, NFT marketplaces, and infrastructure projects."

This round of investors was led by Lattice, with participation from HTX Ventures, Artichoke Capital, Morningstar Ventures, Sharding Capital, SNZ Holding, Sats Ventures, Wise3 Ventures, and other notable partners. The raise also involved angel investors, such as Paper Ventures' Danish Chaudhry, ex-BlackRock's Paul Taylor, ex-ParaFi Santiago R Santos, Comfy Capital, Movement Labs' Rushi Manche, Elixir Protocol's Tim Wang, Notifi's Paul Kim, and R89 Capital.

"Nexio's innovative approach to Bitcoin scaling is truly groundbreaking," said Rushi Manche, co-founder of Movement Labs. "By leveraging our Movement SDK and integrating the MoveVM and Fractal EVM bytecode interpreter, Nexio is not only enhancing Bitcoin's capabilities but also bridging the gap between different blockchain ecosystems. This collaboration exemplifies the kind of innovation that will drive the future of blockchain technology."

Through its partnership with Movement Labs, Nexio has built a framework that combines horizontal interoperability through high-throughput modular Move Virtual Machines with vertical composability. This integration enables developers to build with Aptos move, Sui move, and Solidity, ensuring robust cross-chain functionality and seamless asset movement across platforms.

Nexio aims to achieve several key milestones in the next 6-12 months, including the rollout of a permissionless testnet and the subsequent launch of their mainnet solution. These developments will mark significant steps toward revolutionizing the Bitcoin ecosystem with enhanced scalability, security, and interoperability.

About Nexio

Nexio is revolutionizing Bitcoin scalability through a parallelized Bitcoin rollup. The team is building a suite of products and services that empower developers to leverage the power of Bitcoin for complex DeFi applications, gaming platforms, NFT marketplaces, and infrastructure projects without compromising on security or efficiency. Nexio's technology supports over 30,000 transactions per second with ultra-low gas fees, making it ideal for high-frequency applications. Led by co-founders with significant expertise in Bitcoin zkVM rollup development, Nexio is setting new standards in blockchain technology.

For more information, follow on X @buildnexio and on Discord

About Movement Labs

Movement Labs, founded in 2022 by Rushi Manche and Cooper Scanlon, is building a blockchain network that powers a secure, high-performance Layer 2 on Ethereum. By bringing the MoveVM to Ethereum through its flagship L2, Movement Labs aims to enhance smart contract security and scalability.

For more about Movement Labs and a guide to participating in its testnet, please visit: movementlabs.xyz, follow on X @movementlabsxyz and on Discord.

SOURCE Nexio
CHICAGO, Aug. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nora Restaurant & Bar, a culinary gem that opened this year in Chicago, is excited to announce the arrival of its new Executive Chef, Daniele Sotgiu. With his extensive experience and passion for Mediterranean cuisine, Chef Sotgiu is set to elevate the dining experience at Nora with a unique blend of flavors inspired by his Sardinian roots.

"At Nora, I aim to introduce traditional Sardinian flavors to Chicago, combined with broader Mediterranean influences," said Chef Sotgiu. His culinary philosophy focuses on creating dishes from scratch using the freshest, seasonal ingredients. Blending Mediterranean, Spanish, and French influences with Sardinian traditions, Chef Sotgiu strives to offer a unique and evolving dining experience each season.

Chef Sotgiu brings a wealth of culinary expertise and experience to Nora. Born and raised in Sardinia, Italy, Chef began his culinary journey at the age of 15, attending culinary school while gaining hands-on experience in local kitchens and businesses. He began his career at the five-star Starwood Marriott Hotel followed by three years at Porto Cervo, an Italian seaside resort in Northern Sardinia. Both restaurants are known for their outstanding, authentic Italian international cuisine. Before leaving the country, Sotgiu worked under Chef Luigi Pomata, the Owner and Executive Chef of Pomata. His career has taken him to prestigious establishments, including the one-star Michelin restaurant S'Apposentu in Sardinia owned by Chef Roberto Petza and the renowned Michelangelo restaurant in Milan.

Under Chef Sotgiu's direction, Nora plans to launch new menu items that promise to be a delectable feast for the senses. Guests can look forward to signature dishes such as the boneless branzino served with persillade sauce and vegetable caponatina, the bone-in saffron lamb shank that's marinated overnight, as well as a rotating selection of homemade pastas. The menu will continue to highlight healthy, vibrant dishes, staying true to Mediterranean culinary culture. Chef Sotgiu emphasizes the importance of seasonal ingredients, planning to update the menu seasonally to incorporate the freshest ingredients available. The new menu aims to offer something new and unique that diners won't find anywhere else.

For more information, or to make reservations, visit Nora's website at www.norarestaurant.com or follow Nora on social media, @norastreeterville.

For media inquiries, speaking opportunities, and news specials, please contact:

Mahrianna O'Shea, Socialite Media

[email protected]

SOURCE Nora Restaurant
A new lab testing based verification allows additive free Nosotros Tequila to join the movement for industry transparency

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A long time supporter of transparency in addition to sustainable industry practices, premium agave spirits brand Nosotros Tequila and Mezcal is officially joining the Additive Free Alliance.

Nosotros Blanco, Nosotros Reposado, Nosotros Mezcal, and Nosotros Madera

With the recent announcement from Tequila Matchmaker founder Grover Sanschagrin that they are updating the process for how brands join the Additive Free Alliance (AFA), brands will now join the program and maintain additive-free certification through rigorous lab testing in lieu of distillery visits. This opens a path for Nosotros Tequila and Mezcal to gain their official membership after they were previously unable to join the Alliance because of their distillery's privacy practices.

"One of the advantages now of the Additive Free Alliance is that the verification process is all lab-based, so we can participate without the need for an in-person site visit to the distillery," said Carlos Soto, founder of additive-free brand Nosotros Tequila, "this allowed for Nosotros to be rigorously tested, and with this new focus on transparency, we're able to further provide information to our clients, keeping our promise to provide a clean, low aldehyde, tasting experience."

The focus from AFA on transparency has created a movement of Tequila producers who are committed to making tequila in a natural way, and the consumers who appreciate their efforts. "From the very beginning, our goal was simply to seek transparency in product labelling," said Grover Sanschagrin, the founder of Tequila Matchmaker and the new board president of Additive Free Alliance, Inc.

About Nosotros

Founded in 2015, Nosotros became the winner of the San Francisco World Spirit Competition, claiming the "World's Best Tasting Tequila" title just a few months after joining the marketplace with Nosotros Blanco. Since then, Nosotros has also launched Nosotros Reposado, Nosotros Mezcal (Espadin y Tobala), and their Nosotros Madera Collection. Nosotros is centered around creating unforgettable and authentic experiences with loved ones.

Visit www.nosotrostequila.com, @nosotros, and https://additivefreealliance.com

SOURCE Nosotros Tequila and Mezcal
By Leyla Tarverdiyeva, Day.Az




Fabhalta achieved a 44% proteinuria reduction from baseline in Phase III APPLAUSE-IgAN interim analysis, compared with 9% in placebo arm, demonstrating a clinically meaningful reduction of 38% vs. placebo (p<0.0001) 1

Fabhalta is an inhibitor of the alternative complement pathway, activation of which is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of IgAN 1-4

Despite current standard of care, up to 50% of IgAN patients with persistent proteinuria progress to kidney failure within 10 to 20 years of diagnosis 5-11

This marks the first approval from Novartis' renal pipeline, which also includes atrasentan and zigakibart

East Hanover, N.J., Aug. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Novartis today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval for Fabhalta (iptacopan), a first-in-class complement inhibitor for the reduction of proteinuria in adults with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) at risk of rapid disease progression. This is generally defined as a urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) 1.5 g/g1. Fabhalta specifically targets the alternative complement pathway of the immune system. When overly activated in the kidneys, the complement system is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of IgAN1-4.

This indication is granted under accelerated approval based on the pre-specified interim analysis of the Phase III APPLAUSE-IgAN study measuring reduction in proteinuria at 9 months compared to placebo. It has not been established whether Fabhalta slows kidney function decline in patients with IgAN. The continued approval of Fabhalta may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit from the ongoing Phase III APPLAUSE-IgAN study, evaluating whether Fabhalta slows disease progression as measured by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline over 24 months1. The eGFR data are expected at study completion in 2025 and are intended to support traditional FDA approval.

"The heterogeneous and progressive nature of IgA nephropathy has made it challenging to effectively treat this disease. Thankfully, the treatment landscape is rapidly evolving," said Professor Dana Rizk, Investigator and APPLAUSE-IgAN Steering Committee Member and professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Division of Nephrology. "Mounting clinical evidence underscores the pivotal role of complement activation in IgA nephropathy. I am thrilled that this advancement is now available to help enable a targeted treatment approach for IgAN patients."

IgAN is a progressive, rare disease in which the immune system attacks the kidneys, often causing glomerular inflammation and proteinuria12. Approximately 25 people per million worldwide are newly diagnosed with IgAN each year13. Each person's disease journey is unique as IgAN progresses differently and treatment responses vary as well12,14.

Despite current standard of care, up to 50% of IgAN patients with persistent proteinuria progress to kidney failure within 10 to 20 years of diagnosis. These patients often require maintenance dialysis and/or kidney transplantation5-11. Effective, targeted therapies with different mechanisms of action can help physicians select the most appropriate treatment for patients12,14.

Data supporting approval

The ongoing Phase III APPLAUSE-IgAN study is evaluating the efficacy and safety of twice-daily oral Fabhalta (200 mg) versus placebo in adult IgAN patients on a stable dose of maximally-tolerated renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitor therapy with or without a stable dose of SGLT2i. The primary endpoint for the interim analysis was the percent reduction of proteinuria, a marker of kidney damage, measured by comparing UPCR at 9 months to baseline1,4.

Fabhalta achieved a 44% reduction in proteinuria at 9 months relative to baseline, compared with a 9% reduction in the placebo arm, demonstrating a clinically meaningful and statistically significant 38% reduction vs. placebo (p<0.0001). The treatment effect on UPCR at 9 months was consistent across all subgroups, including age, sex, race and baseline disease characteristics (such as baseline eGFR and proteinuria levels), and the use of SGLT2i1. Fabhalta demonstrated a favorable safety profile, consistent with previously reported data1,13. In patients with IgAN, the most common adverse reactions (5%) with Fabhalta were upper respiratory tract infection, lipid disorder, and abdominal pain. Fabhalta may cause serious infections caused by encapsulated bacteria and is available only through a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) that requires specific vaccinations1.

Expanding commitment in IgAN

"Today's approval of Fabhalta as a first-in-class medicine for IgA nephropathy is an important milestone in our journey to evolve rare renal disease care by bringing new treatments to people in urgent need of options," said Victor Bulto, President US, Novartis. "We are deeply committed to those living with rare renal diseases and look forward to continued partnership with this community as we further advance our broad portfolio."

Novartis is advancing the late-stage development of two additional IgAN therapies with highly differentiated mechanisms of action: atrasentan, an investigational oral endothelin A receptor antagonist that received FDA filing acceptance in Q2 2024, and zigakibart, an investigational subcutaneously administered anti-APRIL monoclonal antibody that is currently in Phase III development.

"As a parent of a son living with the disease for 20 years, I understand firsthand the fear and uncertainty that come with an IgAN diagnosis, and the devastating impact it can have on patients and their families," said Bonnie Schneider, Director and Co-Founder, IgAN Foundation. "Today's approval offers new hope for people living with IgA nephropathy as it represents a treatment innovation that provides us with a new way to fight this multifaceted disease."

In addition to developing innovative medicines for people with rare renal diseases, Novartis offers resources to help eligible patients access their treatment. The comprehensive Novartis Patient Support program provides personalized assistance for patients to navigate insurance coverage and identify financial assistance options, and offers educational resources to get started and stay on treatment. Patients or providers can call Novartis Patient Support at 1-833-993-2242 or visit support.fabhalta.com to learn more.

About APPLAUSE-IgAN

APPLAUSE-IgAN (NCT04578834) is a Phase III multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of twice-daily oral Fabhalta (200 mg) in 518 adult primary IgAN patients1,15.

The two primary endpoints of the study for the interim and final analysis, respectively, are proteinuria reduction at 9 months as measured by 24 hour UPCR, and the annualized total eGFR slope over 24 months1,4. At the time of final analysis, the following secondary endpoints will also be assessed: proportion of participants reaching UPCR <1 g/g without receiving corticosteroids/immunosuppressants or other newly approved drugs or initiating new background therapy for treatment of IgAN or initiating kidney replacement therapy (KRT), time from randomization to first occurrence of composite kidney failure endpoint event, and change from baseline to 9 months in the fatigue scale as measured by the Functional Assessment Of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue questionnaire15,16.

The main study population included 250 IgAN patients with an eGFR 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 and UPCR 1 g/g at baseline15,16. In addition, a smaller cohort of patients with severe renal impairment (eGFR 2030 mL/min/1.73 m2 at baseline) was also enrolled to provide additional information but will not contribute to the main efficacy analyses1.

Indication

FABHALTA is a prescription medicine used to reduce protein in the urine (proteinuria) in adults with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), who are at risk of their disease progressing quickly. It is not known if FABHALTA is safe and effective in children with IgAN.

FABHALTA has been approved based on a reduction of proteinuria. Continued approval may require results from an ongoing study to determine whether FABHALTA slows decline in kidney function.

Important Safety Information

FABHALTA is a medicine that affects part of the immune system and may lower one's ability to fight infections. FABHALTA increases the chance of getting serious infections caused by encapsulated bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae type b. These serious infections may quickly become life-threatening or fatal if not recognized and treated early. Patients must complete or update vaccinations against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis at least 2 weeks before the first dose of FABHALTA. If patients have not completed vaccinations and FABHALTA therapy must be started right away, they should receive the required vaccinations as soon as possible. If patients have not been vaccinated and FABHALTA must be started right away, they should also receive antibiotics to take for as long as their doctor tells them. If patients have been vaccinated against these bacteria in the past, they might need additional vaccinations before starting FABHALTA. Their doctor will decide if they need additional vaccinations. Vaccines do not prevent all infections caused by encapsulated bacteria. Patients should call their doctor or get emergency medical care right away if they have any of these signs and symptoms of a serious infection: fever with or without shivers or chills, fever with chest pain and cough, fever with high heart rate, headache and fever, confusion, clammy skin, fever and a rash, fever with breathlessness or fast breathing, headache with nausea or vomiting, headache with stiff neck or stiff back, body aches with flu-like symptoms, or eyes sensitive to light. Doctors will give their patients a Patient Safety Card about the risk of serious infections. Patients must carry it with them at all times during treatment and for 2 weeks after their last dose of FABHALTA. The risk of serious infections may continue for a few weeks after their last dose of FABHALTA. It is important for patients to show this card to any doctor who treats them. This will help doctors diagnose and treat patients quickly.

FABHALTA is only available through a program called the FABHALTA Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). Before patients can take FABHALTA, their doctor must enroll in the FABHALTA REMS program, counsel patients about the risk of serious infections caused by certain bacteria, give patients information about the symptoms of serious infections, make sure that patients are vaccinated against serious infections caused by encapsulated bacteria and that they receive antibiotics if they need to start FABHALTA right away and are not up to date on vaccinations, as well as give patients a Patient Safety Card about the risk of serious infections.

Patients should not take FABHALTA if they are allergic to FABHALTA or any of the ingredients in FABHALTA. Patients should not take FABHALTA if they have a serious infection caused by encapsulated bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, or Haemophilus influenzae type b when starting FABHALTA.

Before taking FABHALTA, patients should tell their doctor about all their medical conditions, including if they have an infection or fever, have liver problems, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known if FABHALTA will harm an unborn baby), or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed as it is not known if FABHALTA passes into breast milk. Patients should not breastfeed during treatment and for 5 days after the final dose of FABHALTA.

Patients should tell their doctor about all the medicines they take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking FABHALTA with certain other medicines may affect the way FABHALTA works and may cause side effects. Patients should know the medicines they take and the vaccines they receive. Patients should keep a list of them to show their doctor and pharmacist when they get a new medicine.

FABHALTA may cause serious side effects, including those mentioned above as well as increased cholesterol and triglyceride (lipid) levels in the blood. Doctors will do blood tests to check patients' cholesterol and triglycerides during treatment with FABHALTA. Doctors may start patients on medicine to lower cholesterol if needed.

The most common side effects of FABHALTA in adults include headache; nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, sneezing, and sore throat (nasopharyngitis); diarrhea; pain in the stomach (abdomen); infections (bacterial and viral); nausea; and rash.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING and Medication Guide.

Novartis in rare kidney diseases

At Novartis, our journey in nephrology began more than 40 years ago when the development and introduction of cyclosporine helped reimagine the field of transplantation and immunosuppression. We continue today with a broad renal R&D portfolio targeting the underlying causes of disease to preserve kidney function. We aim to help transform the lives of people living with kidney diseases enabling them to live longer without the need for dialysis or transplantation.

Discovered at Novartis, Fabhalta (iptacopan) is the first of our renal pipeline to receive FDA approval. Novartis is also studying the investigational agents atrasentan and zigakibart for IgAN.

Beyond IgAN, Fabhalta is in development for a range of additional rare diseases, including C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) and lupus nephritis (LN). Studies are ongoing to evaluate the safety and efficacy profiles in these investigational indications and support potential regulatory submissions. Fabhalta submissions to the FDA and EMA for the treatment of C3G are planned by year-end.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "potential," "can," "will," "plan," "may," "could," "would," "expect," "anticipate," "look forward," "believe," "committed," "investigational," "pipeline," "launch," "progress," "accelerated," "targets," "continued," "contingent," "progressive," "evolving," "enable," "innovation," "ongoing," "evaluating," "evolve," "committed," "advance," "advancing," "commitment," "to developing," "to provide, "development," "to address," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for Fabhalta or the other investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such product. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that Fabhalta or the other investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis

Novartis is an innovative medicines company. Every day, we work to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people's lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach more than 250 million people worldwide.

Reimagine medicine with us: Visit us at https://www.novartis.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X/Twitter and Instagram.

References

FABHALTA prescribing information. East Hanover, NJ : Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; August 2024 . Lafayette RA, Kelepouris E. lmmunoglobulin A nephropathy: advances in understanding of pathogenesis and treatment. Am J Nephrol. 2018;47(suppl 1):43-52. Rizk DV, Maillard N, Julian BA, et al. The emerging role of complement proteins as a target for therapy of IgA nephropathy. Front Immunol. 2019;10:504. Perkovic V, Kollins D, Renfurm R, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Iptacopan in Patients with IgA Nephropathy: Interim Results from the Phase 3 APPLAUSE-IgAN Study. Presented at the World Congress of Nephrology (WCN); April 15, 2024 ; Buenos Aires, Argentina . Xie J et al. PLoS One. 2012;7;e38904. Rodrigues J, et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2017;12(4):677-686. Pitcher D et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2023;18(6):727-738. Hastings MC et al. Kidney Int Rep. 2018;3(1):99-104. Sim JJ et al. Poster TH-PO615 presented at: ASN Kidney Week 2023; November 2-5, 2023 ; Philadelphia, PA. Bobart SA et al. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2021;36(5):840-847. Saha MK et al. Poster TH-PO1016 presented at: ASN Kidney Week 2019; November 5-10, 2019 ; Washington, DC . Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2021 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Glomerular Diseases. Kidney Int. 2021;100(4):S1-S276. Zhang H, Rizk DV, Perkovic V, et al. Results of a Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Phase 2 Study Propose Iptacopan as an Alternative Complement Pathway Inhibitor for IgA Nephropathy. Kidney Int. 2024;105(1):189-199. Boyd JK, Cheung CK, Molyneux K, Feehally J, Barratt J. An Update on the Pathogenesis and Treatment of IgA Nephropathy. Kidney Int. 2012;81(9):833-843. ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT04578834. A Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group, Phase III Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of LNP023 in Primary IgA Nephropathy Patients. Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04578834. Accessed June 2024 . Rizk DV, Rovin BH, Zhang H, et al. Targeting the Alternative Complement Pathway with Iptacopan to Treat IgA Nephropathy: Design and Rationale of the APPLAUSE-IgAN Study. Kidney Int Rep. 2023;8(5):968-979.

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Novartis Media Relations E-mail: [email protected] North America

Michael Meo +1 862 274 5414 Marlena Abdinoor +1 617 335 9525

Novartis Investor Relations E-mail: [email protected] North America



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SOURCE Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
GRAPEVINE, Texas, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Maple Bear USA is thrilled to announce the opportunity for individuals to own a Maple Bear early learning center franchise, marking an exciting expansion in the United States. With established locations in Tempe, Arizona, and coming soon to Dallas Fort Worth, Texas, and a new school slated to open soon in Jacksonville, Florida, Maple Bear is poised to extend its renowned bilingual immersion early childhood education to more communities across the country.

Maple Bear USA Maple Bear USA Maple Bear USA

Maple Bear USA, a leader in early childhood education, invites passionate individuals to invest in a Maple Bear early learning center franchise and contribute to shaping young minds with its world-class curriculum. Franchise owners will leverage Maple Bear USA's proven Canadian methodology, which has been adapted and refined by educational experts to meet the highest standards of bilingual education.

Owning a Maple Bear franchise means partnering with a brand that prioritizes quality and support. Franchisees benefit from an extensive network of global resources, marketing support, and ongoing training designed to ensure the success of each school. From initial setup to daily operations, Maple Bear provides guidance every step of the way, helping franchise owners deliver an exceptional educational experience for young learners in their communities.

The support includes comprehensive initial training for both franchise owners and staff, covering all aspects of operations, marketing, and academics, as well as continued assistance with market analysis, school build-out, and performance optimization. Franchisees also receive access to global marketing resources, operational best practices, and academic frameworks to help ensure their success. This exceptional level of support ensures that franchisees are never left to navigate their journey alone.

Franchise owners with Maple Bear come from diverse backgrounds but share a common goal: to make a meaningful impact on children's lives through high-quality education. Ideal candidates for the Maple Bear franchise program are those with a background in education or a strong appreciation for academics, business and management experience, and a commitment to creating a nurturing, inclusive environment for young learners.

Maple Bear differentiates itself in the early childhood education market with its unique dynamic curriculum, which is continually updated to reflect the latest educational research and best practices. The bilingual immersion education program, offering instruction in English and Spanish, provides children with a significant advantage in today's globalized world. Maple Bear's play-based learning approach, combined with a supportive and engaging environment, ensures that every child can reach their full potential.

By joining Maple Bear USA as a franchisee, individuals become part of a global network dedicated to excellence in early childhood education. Those interested in investing in a proven educational model and making a lasting impact on their community are encouraged to explore the opportunities with Maple Bear USA.

Maple Bear USA provides a comprehensive and globally recognized bilingual education program, inspired by Canadian methodologies and adapted to meet local educational standards. With a presence in over 39 countries and a commitment to nurturing young minds, Maple Bear is dedicated to delivering high-quality early childhood education that prepares students for success in a growing interconnected world. To learn more about franchise opportunities and how to join the growing Maple Bear network, visit https://www.maplebearusa.com/.

Media Contact:

Veronica Auaujo

1-800-921-9145

[email protected]

SOURCE Maple Bear USA
Newest team members bring robust experience in growing sectors, increases 2024 M&A transactions total to nine

LINDON, Utah, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PCF Insurance Services, a top 20 U.S. insurance brokerage, announced today it has acquired the insurance business of DLD Insurance Brokers, marking the company's ninth significant acquisition in 2024.

"DLD represents the ideal acquisition that aligns with our M&A strategy," said Felix Morgan, PCF Insurance CEO. "Their team has served as trusted advisors for decades by bringing robust experience and knowledge in helping mitigate increasingly complex risks, specifically for the construction and real estate sectors. Their specialization in these industries adds to our own bench strength and aligns with our core business."

PCF Insurance Services acquired the insurance business of DLD Insurance Brokers, marking its ninth acquisition in 2024. Post this

Founded in 1989 in Irvine, California, DLD Insurance Brokers specializes in serving companies with multibillion-dollar portfolios in the construction, real estate, manufacturing, medical device and technology sectors as an extension of their risk management departments.

By joining forces with PCF Insurance, the DLD team will now be able to further expand their risk management and insurance solutions offered to clients through increased market access, in-house risk management and claims advocacy, and exclusive programs.

With an expressed goal to add $50 million in EBITDA from M&A by year-end and to double the size of the company in the next five years, PCF Insurance continues building its M&A pipeline with strategic acquisitions that strengthen its core property and casualty (P&C) and health and benefits (H&B) business in key markets, deepen its in-house experience implementing risk management and loss control solutions within growing industries, and maintain healthy, long-term profitability.

About PCF Insurance Services

A top 20 U.S. insurance brokerage headquartered in Lindon, Utah, PCF Insurance Services of the West, LLC offers a broad array of commercial and personal lines, life and health, employee benefits, and workers' compensation insurance solutions. PCF Insurance's operating model and entrepreneurial environment support its tremendous growth profile, offering its businesses alignment through equity ownership, enhanced coverage solutions and capabilities for clients, and shared-services resources. With more than 4,000 employees across the U.S., PCF Insurance is a notable leader in the insurance space, ranking #19 on Business Insurance's 2024 Top 100 Brokers and #14 on Insurance Journal's 2024 Top Property/Casualty Agencies. Visit pcfins.com for more information.

SOURCE PCF Insurance Services
U.S. Air National Guard Senior Airmen Grace Swarts awarded scholarship for academic excellence and service

TYSONS, Va., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PenFed Credit Union, the nation's second largest federal credit union, today announced U.S. Air National Guard Senior Airmen Grace Swarts as the winner of a $10,000 scholarship to pursue her pilot's license. Swarts was selected for demonstrating academic excellence while serving in the military. The scholarship is administered by the EAA Aviation Foundation, Inc.

PenFed Credit Union Announces Young Aviator Scholarship Winner

"Grace is a talented individual who embodies 'The Spirit of Aviation' and PenFed is proud to provide her with the necessary support to soar into the skies," said PenFed Credit Union President/CEO and PenFed Foundation CEO James Schenck. "We chose to create this scholarship with EAA Aviation Foundation because we align with EAA's commitment to nurturing the next generation of pilots."

Swarts fell in love with aviation as a child frequently visiting the National Air Force Museum near her hometown of Dayton, Ohio. She joined the Air National Guard as an aircraft mechanic on the KC-135 and learned the mechanics of an aircraft and later began studying aviation technology at University of Cincinnati Clermont. Swarts completed University of Cincinnati's two-year flight training program in a record 1 year and 3 days and received the distinguished graduate award for having the highest grade percentage in her class. She recently completed the CFI one and is working to complete CFII. Swarts plans to instruct at a flight academy and then progress to flying for a regional airline to gain experience as a pilot.

"I am honored to be chosen as the recipient of the PenFed Aviation Scholarship out of a pool of hardworking, deserving applicants," said Swarts. "This scholarship has allowed me to complete my Certified Flight Instructor training stress-free and not worrying about how I'm going to financially support an aviation career. It will also allow me to complete my CFI-I and multi engine training to advance my skills to become a professional pilot. When I achieve something so great, such as receiving this scholarship, it reminds me that all the hard work is worth it!"

About PenFed Credit Union

Established in 1935, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America's second-largest federal credit union, serving 2.9 million members worldwide with over $33.5 billion in assets. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading certificates, checking, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, and a wide range of other financial services with members' interests always in mind. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA and is an Equal Housing Lender. To learn more about PenFed Credit Union, visit PenFed.org, like us on Facebook and follow us @PenFed on X. Interested in working for PenFed? Check us out on LinkedIn. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

SOURCE PenFed Credit Union
Company expands footprint in the Philadelphia market and celebrates new location with a commitment to the community

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pep Boys, a leading U.S. automotive service provider, continues its national network expansion with the grand opening of its newest location in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania at 700 Nutt Road, providing a full range of automotive maintenance and repair to customers. The Phoenixville location joins 59 other Pep Boys locations in the Greater Philadelphia Area.

Pep Boys will mark the occasion with a grand opening event including a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 10 at 11 a.m. A special appearance by the Phillie Phanatic is also planned between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. and free conventional or semi-synthetic oil change vouchers will be given to the first 100 adults in-line who visit the location between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.*

As a sign of its ongoing commitment to its community, Pep Boys will also present a $1,000 donation to The Travis Manion Foundation, a local non-profit organization that develops programs, training opportunities and events designed to empower veterans and families of the fallen.

"We're thrilled to expand our presence in the Philadelphia area by opening a new state-of-the-art Pep Boys location in Phoenixville," said CEO David Willetts. "Our Pep Boys team is eager to serve the local community by making quality car care simple, convenient and accessible for everyone."

The Phoenixville location provides both individual customers and the area's fast-growing fleets with preventative maintenance, tire installations and both routine and major repairs performed by certified technicians. In addition to being equipped with the latest technology to handle today's complex vehicles, Pep Boys offers every driver a Courtesy Vehicle Inspection as well as an entirely digital customer experience from online appointment booking to service tracking and mobile pay.

About Pep Boys

Founded in 1921 by military veterans, generations of drivers have counted on Pep Boys ASE-certified Pros to care for their cars. With a national network of Service and Tire Centers, millions of consumer and fleet vehicles pass through Pep Boys bays each year. Our commitment to being the one our communities count on is demonstrated through our exceptional customer experience and technical expertise. For more information, visit www.pepboys.com/corporate .

Media Inquiries:

[email protected]

* Limited to first 100 people in line from 11am-1pm ET on 8/10/24 at 700 Nutt Rd Suite 540, Phoenixville, PA 19460 (the Location). Must be in-person and 18+ to receive voucher and redeem. Limit 1 voucher per customer and per household. Voucher expires 9/10/24. Voucher for either a free conventional or semi-synthetic oil change or $30 off a full synthetic or platinum oil change. Voucher includes oil filter up to $4.99 and up to 5 quarts of oil; more expensive filters and additional oil costs extra. Must surrender voucher at the time of service. Excludes large trucks and commercial/fleet vehicles. No cash value. Cannot combine with other offers or discounts. Redeemable only at the Location.

SOURCE Pep Boys
Fall 2024 event will showcase research and development (R&D) progress and introduce new energy system focus areas including Artificial Intelligence (AI)

OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AI, grid-enhancing technologies, stabilizing energy costs, enabling good load growth, advancing electrification, and more, will take center stage at Pacific Gas and Electric Company's (PG&E's) 2024 Innovation Summit presented by DISTRIBUTECH on November 13 in San Jose.

Innovation Summit 2024

The 2024 summit will showcase breakthrough partnerships, R&D advancements, and updates to PG&E's R&D Strategy Reportoriginally published in June 2023which outlines opportunities for strategic collaboration across several key focus areas including energy supply and load management, integrated grid planning, electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid applications, wildfire mitigation, undergrounding, and decarbonizing the gas system.

The fall event will feature a keynote with Patti Poppe, PG&E Corporation CEO, along with a recorded conversation between Patti and Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO of Microsoft. Additional cross-sector conversations with thought leaders in AI, technology, and energy will be announced in the coming weeks.

"We're working with the best and the brightest building a clean, climate-resilient energy system on a foundation of safety here in California. Collaboration opportunities abound with technology and AI paired with good electricity demand from data centers and EVs benefiting the grid and all customers," said PG&E Corporation CEO Patti Poppe.

The summit will bring together entrepreneurs, start-ups, thought leaders, utility peers, private industry, national research labs, agency leaders and policymakers to collaborate in swiftly deploying novel solutionsat scalethat bridge the gap between today's energy system and California's electrified and decarbonized future.

John Engel, editor-in-chief of DISTRIBUTECH and the POWERGRID International utility news publication, said the Innovation Summit presents a unique opportunity for utility leaders and innovators to confront the most urgent challenges facing the energy transition.

"After spending decades in the background of society, The Grid is now rightfully identified as the linchpin to economic growth and human prosperity. But climate change, electrification, load growth, and decarbonization have drastically altered the playbook for providing reliable and affordable power," Engel said. "As North America's largest utility event, DISTRIBUTECH is honored to extend its impact by partnering with PG&E, one the most innovative utilities in the world."

PG&E's R&D strategy initiative aims to help achieve the company's True North Strategy, which has three major components: focusing on rebuilding trust and delivering excellent service for customers; architecting a decarbonized, safe, and reliable energy system; and enabling these outcomes by building strong foundational capabilities.

PG&E currently leverages AI and machine learning across the company for applications in meteorology, planning, inspections, monitoring, and maintenance to help detect, prevent, and respond to the risk of wildfires and achieve greater electric system resiliency.

PG&E has identified opportunities to further leverage AI for more automated data quality management, improved data collection and analysis, and other applications that can augment current processes and result in improved service for customers.

PG&E's R&D strategy initiative helps to realize the commitments outlined in its Climate Strategy Report, build upon the current emerging technologies detailed in the company's Wildfire Mitigation Plan, and enhance the company's existing emerging electric technology programs and gas R&D efforts.

Registration for the Innovation Summit will open on August 29, 2024, and the event will have robust in-person and virtual participation options.

Visit www.pge.com/innovation for information about PG&E's Innovation Summit 2024 and to learn more about PG&E's efforts to accelerate energy R&D.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than sixteen million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news

About DISTRIBUTECH

DISTRIBUTECH is North America's largest and most influential transmission and distribution utility event, showcasing the leading innovators and technologies that fuel the energy transition. DISTRIBUTECH 2025 will be held in Dallas, Texas March 24-27. Save the date and visit distributech.com for the latest news and announcements.

SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company
DENVER, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading national renewable energy provider Pivot Energy , announced today a 5-year framework agreement with Microsoft to develop up to 500 megawatts (MWac) of community-scale solar energy projects across the United States between 2025 and 2029. This significant, impact-driven collaboration supports both Pivot's and Microsoft's commitment to maximize the environmental and social benefits of the renewable energy transition at the local level.

The agreement represents Pivot's largest Renewable Energy Credit (REC) agreement and most significant community impact collaboration. This also marks Microsoft's first major distributed generation portfolio and, by matching customer electricity usage with new renewable electricity generation, supports the company's goal of reducing its Scope 3 emissions by more than half by 2030.

This marks Microsoft's first major distributed generation portfolio & Pivot's largest Renewable Energy Credit agreement. Post this

The agreement will enable Pivot to develop approximately 150 U.S. solar projects in roughly 100 communities across 20 states, including Colorado, Maryland, Illinois, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Microsoft will purchase the project RECs for a 20-year term. The first projects are expected to come online before the end of 2024.

This collaboration takes Pivot's community impact commitment to a new level, with each solar project including significant community benefits. The agreement outlines four overarching community-centric initiatives that Pivot will prioritize:1) increasing the diversity of its subcontractors, 2) partnering with workforce development organizations and subcontractors to train and hire local diverse talent, 3) partnering with Sustain Our Future Foundation to invest in equitable community initiatives, and, 4) increasing the energy bill savings of the community solar projects directed to low-income subscribers.

"An economy fueled by clean, distributed energy can do more than provide power at low cost; it drives growth and success in communities across the nation. This collaboration between Pivot Energy and Microsoft exemplifies the power and impact that distributed generation can have," said Tom Hunt, CEO of Pivot Energy. "Pivot Energy is proud of our industry-leading role in developing solar projects that benefit local communities. We are honored to collaborate with Microsoft to provide purpose-driven solar energy"

"We believe the clean energy transition can and should benefit communities across the United States that have been historically excluded from economic opportunity," said Adrian Anderson, GM, Renewables, Carbon Free Energy, CDR, Microsoft. "Through our work with Pivot Energy and with its commitments to driving community impact, this collaboration helps to build more inclusive, local economic growth across 100 communities while addressing the sustainability needs and opportunities within those communities."

Over 20 years, the 500 MWac will produce more than 1 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually, which is enough energy to power approximately 90,000 homes a year. This is equivalent to removing approximately 165,000 gas-powered passenger vehicles off the road each year.

About Pivot Energy

Pivot Energy is a renewable energy provider and independent power producer that develops, finances, builds, owns, and manages solar and energy storage projects. Pivot leverages its renewable expertise to provide a range of unique offerings that accelerate the clean energy transition by helping companies and communities attain impactful decarbonization. Pivot is a U.S.-based Certified B Corporation that proudly follows a corporate strategy aimed at providing a positive impact on society as measured by Environmental stewardship, Social leadership, and responsible Governance factors. Pivot Energy is an ECP portfolio company. Learn more at pivotenergy.net.

SOURCE Pivot Energy
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:POST) (the "Company" or "Post") today announced it has commenced a cash tender offer (the "Tender Offer") to purchase up to $475.0 million in aggregate principal amount (subject to increase, the "Maximum Tender Amount") of its 5.625% senior notes due 2028 (the "Notes").

Offer to Purchase up to $475.0 million in Aggregate Principal Amount of the Notes Listed Below:

Title of

Security CUSIP Nos. ISINs Principal

Amount

Outstanding Maximum

Tender

Amount U.S. Treasury

Reference

Security Bloomberg

Reference

Page Fixed

Spread(1) Early Tender

Premium(2)(3) 5.625%

Senior Notes

due 2028 737446AN4 U7318UAN2 US737446AN44 USU7318UAN29 $939,920,000 $475.0

million 4.500%

Treasury due

November 30,

2024 PX 3 +50bps $50

(1) In no event will the Early Tender Consideration (defined below) payable in respect of the principal amount of Notes tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer exceed $1,018.75 for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes so tendered. (2) Per $1,000 principal amount. (3) The Early Tender Consideration for the Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Time (defined below) and accepted for purchase is calculated using the Fixed Spread (defined below) and is inclusive of the Early Tender Premium (defined below).

Tender Offer Details

The Tender Offer is being made on the terms and subject to the conditions, including a financing condition, set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated August 8, 2024 (as it may be amended or supplemented, the "Offer to Purchase"), which sets forth a more detailed description of the Tender Offer. Holders of the Notes are urged to read carefully the Offer to Purchase before making any decision with respect to the Tender Offer.

Subject to the Maximum Tender Amount, proration (if applicable) and the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the Tender Offer, including that the Company has received proceeds from a senior notes offering sufficient, determined in the Company's sole discretion, to fund the purchase of the Notes (the "Financing Condition"), the Company will accept for purchase on the Early Settlement Date or the Final Settlement Date (each defined below), as applicable, Notes validly tendered in the Tender Offer.

The Tender Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 6, 2024, or any other date and time to which the Company extends the Tender Offer (such date and time, as it may be extended, the "Expiration Time"), unless earlier terminated.

To be eligible to receive the Early Tender Consideration, which includes an early tender premium of $50 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (the "Early Tender Premium"), holders of Notes must validly tender their Notes at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 21, 2024, unless extended or the Tender Offer is earlier terminated by the Company (such date and time, as it may be extended, the "Early Tender Time").

Holders of Notes that validly tender their Notes after the Early Tender Time, but at or prior to the Expiration Time, will only be eligible to receive the Late Tender Consideration (defined below).

Priority of Acceptance and Proration

Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Time will be accepted for purchase in priority to other Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Time. Accordingly, if the Maximum Tender Amount is reached as a result of tenders of Notes made at or prior to the Early Tender Time, Notes tendered after the Early Tender Time will not be accepted for purchase (unless the Maximum Tender Amount is increased by the Company, in its sole discretion, subject to applicable law). If the aggregate principal amount of Notes validly tendered exceeds the Maximum Tender Amount on the applicable settlement date, the amount of Notes purchased in the Tender Offer will be prorated as set forth in the Offer to Purchase.

Consideration and Accrued Interest

The consideration (the "Early Tender Consideration") offered per $1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Time, and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer, will be determined in the manner described in the Offer to Purchase by reference to the fixed spread for the Notes (the "Fixed Spread") specified in the table above, plus the yield to maturity based on the bid-side price of the U.S. Treasury Reference Security specified in the table above as quoted on the Bloomberg Reference Page specified in the table above at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on August 22, 2024, unless extended or the Tender Offer is earlier terminated by the Company.

The Early Tender Time is the last date and time for holders to tender their Notes in order to be eligible to receive the Early Tender Consideration. Holders of any Notes that are validly tendered after the Early Tender Time, but at or prior to the Expiration Time, and that are accepted for purchase, will receive an amount equal to the Early Tender Consideration minus the Early Tender Premium (the "Late Tender Consideration").

In addition to the Early Tender Consideration or the Late Tender Consideration, as applicable, holders whose Notes are purchased in the Tender Offer will receive accrued and unpaid interest from the last interest payment date up to, but not including, the applicable settlement date.

Settlement

Except as set forth in the paragraph below, payment for the Notes that are validly tendered at or prior to the Expiration Time, and that are accepted for purchase, will be made on the date referred to as the "Final Settlement Date." The Company anticipates that the Final Settlement Date will be September 10, 2024, the second business day after the Expiration Time, subject to all conditions to the Tender Offer, including the Financing Condition, having been satisfied or waived by the Company.

The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to pay for Notes that are validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Time, and that are accepted for purchase, on a date following the Early Tender Time and prior to the Expiration Time (the "Early Settlement Date"). The Company anticipates that the Early Settlement Date will be August 23, 2024, the second business day after the Early Tender Time, subject to all conditions to the Tender Offer, including the Financing Condition, having been satisfied or waived by the Company.

Withdrawal Conditions

Notes tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer may be withdrawn at any time at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 21, 2024, unless extended or the Tender Offer is earlier terminated by the Company (such date and time, as it may be extended, the "Withdrawal Deadline"), but not thereafter.

After the Withdrawal Deadline, holders may not withdraw their tendered Notes unless the Company amends the Tender Offer in a manner that is materially adverse to the tendering holders, in which case withdrawal rights may be extended to the extent required by law, or as the Company otherwise determines is appropriate to allow tendering holders a reasonable opportunity to respond to such amendment. Additionally, the Company, in its sole discretion, may extend the Withdrawal Deadline for any purpose. Notes withdrawn prior to the Withdrawal Deadline may be tendered again at or prior to the Expiration Time, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Offer to Purchase.

If a holder holds their Notes through a custodian bank, broker, dealer or other nominee, such nominee may have an earlier deadline or deadlines for receiving instructions to participate or withdraw tendered Notes in the Tender Offer.

The Company's obligation to accept for purchase and to pay for the Notes validly tendered in the Tender Offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions described in the Offer to Purchase, including the Financing Condition. The Tender Offer may be terminated or withdrawn, subject to applicable law. The Company reserves the right, subject to applicable law, to (i) waive any and all conditions to the Tender Offer, (ii) extend or terminate the Tender Offer or (iii) otherwise amend the Tender Offer in any respect (including increasing or decreasing the Maximum Tender Amount).

Dealer Manager and Depositary and Information Agent

The Company has appointed Barclays Capital Inc. as dealer manager (the "Dealer Manager") for the Tender Offer. The Company has retained D.F. King & Co., Inc. as the depositary and information agent for the Tender Offer. For additional information regarding the terms of the Tender Offer, please contact: Barclays Capital Inc. at (800) 438-3242 (toll-free) or (212) 528-7581 (collect). Requests for documents and questions regarding the tendering of securities may be directed to D.F. King & Co., Inc. by telephone at (212) 269-5550 (for banks and brokers only) or (877) 732-3613 (toll-free) or by email at [email protected] or to the Dealer Manager at its telephone numbers.

None of the Company, the Dealer Manager, the depositary and information agent or the trustee for the Notes makes any recommendation as to whether holders of the Notes should tender any Notes in response to the Tender Offer. Holders of the Notes must make their own decision as to whether to tender any of their Notes and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender. This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offering, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Tender Offer is being made solely by means of the Offer to Purchase. In those jurisdictions where the securities, blue sky or other laws require any tender offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Tender Offer will be deemed to be made on behalf of the Company by the Dealer Manager or one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.

From time to time after completion of the Tender Offer, the Company or its affiliates may purchase additional Notes in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, through tender or exchange offers or other methods, or the Company may redeem Notes pursuant to their terms. Any future purchases may be on the same terms or on terms that are more or less favorable to holders of the Notes than the terms of the Tender Offer.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Language

Forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are made throughout this press release, including statements regarding the Tender Offer and the Offer to Purchase. These forward-looking statements are sometimes identified from the use of forward-looking words such as "believe," "should," "could," "potential," "continue," "expect," "project," "estimate," "predict," "anticipate," "aim," "intend," "plan," "forecast," "target," "is likely," "will," "can," "may," "would" or the negative of these terms or similar expressions elsewhere in this press release. All forward-looking statements are subject to a number of important factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statements. These factors and risks include, but are not limited to, unanticipated developments that prevent, delay or negatively impact the Tender Offer and other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's cautionary statements contained in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company may not consummate the Tender Offer as described in this press release and there can be no assurance that the Tender Offer will be completed as anticipated or at all. These forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

About Post Holdings, Inc.

Post Holdings, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a consumer packaged goods holding company with businesses operating in the center-of-the-store, refrigerated, foodservice and food ingredient categories.

Contact:

Investor Relations

Daniel O'Rourke

[email protected]

(314) 806-3959

SOURCE Post Holdings, Inc.
MENLO PARK, Calif., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global consulting firm Protiviti has been recognized with an Alliance Excellence Award by the Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals (ASAP), in the Best Ecosystem Solution category for its work with SAP. Alliance Excellence awards are given to organizations that have successfully nurtured strategic alliances positively impacting their business through increased revenue, penetration of new market segments, enhanced products or services, or social impact.

The Best Ecosystem Solution award recognizes a group of at least four partners that jointly deliver an innovative solution for a specific client/customer or set of clients/customers.

Protiviti's award-winning solution brings together expertise on a number of products, including AWS's cloud solutions and the Microsoft Copilot GenAI engine to integrate with SAP's suite of offerings.

"There are many challenges when you're building an ecosystem around a major platform like SAP, and that is because technology is so dynamic and changing rapidly," said Claudia Kuzma, CA-AM, global ecosystem program leader, Protiviti. "What was relevant 18 months ago is not as relevant today. At Protiviti, we constantly review emerging technologies and other services to best meet our clients' needs."

Protiviti's global ecosystem program is comprised of more than 70 strategic partnerships that span industries and the firm's consulting practices, including Technology Consulting, Business Performance Improvement, Internal Audit and Financial Advisory, Digital, Legal Consulting, Risk and Compliance, and Managed Solutions. To facilitate its alliances, Protiviti has developed a proprietary Ecosystem Maturity Model that crystallizes a roadmap for each ally vendor's evolution and growth. Based on this model and several accelerators, including a process for kickstarting joint solution development efforts, Protiviti then shepherds the alliance partners through a series of phases designed to promote a higher maturity level.

Protiviti has been recognized with several other awards related to its ecosystem program, including a Blackline APAC Regional Consultancy of the Year award (2024); as a Microsoft Compliance and Privacy Trailblazer Award winner (2023); a finalist for Microsoft Canada Impact Awards (2023); an Ardoq Partner of the Year award (2023); as the ServiceNow EMEA Emerging Growth Markets Partner of the Year (2023); as the Workiva EMEA Emerging Partner of the Year (2023); and an ASAP Alliance Excellence Award for our Protiviti-Microsoft partnership (2023).

About Protiviti

Protiviti ( www.protiviti.com ) is a global consulting firm that delivers deep expertise, objective insights, a tailored approach and unparalleled collaboration to help leaders confidently face the future. Protiviti and its independent and locally owned member firms provide clients with consulting and managed solutions in finance, technology, operations, data, digital, legal, HR, risk and internal audit through a network of more than 90 offices in over 25 countries.

Named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list for the 10th consecutive year, Protiviti has served more than 80 percent of Fortune 100 and nearly 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies. The firm also works with government agencies and smaller, growing companies, including those looking to go public. Protiviti is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half Inc. (NYSE: RHI).

SOURCE Protiviti
BOISE, Idaho, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- RescueStat, a Boise-based healthcare technology company, has partnered with the Boise School District to enhance student safety with a new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program. The district is incorporating RescueStat's Scout Remote Monitoring System and Apollo Program Management for advanced readiness and management to the existing 97 AEDs across the district.

Dana Miller, Chief Experience Officer at RescueStat, emphasized the importance of this partnership, noting the personal impact as her children and many others in the community attend these schools. Tamara Fredricison, Health Services Administrator for the Boise School District, expressed confidence in the improved safety measures, highlighting the benefits of real-time monitoring and device readiness.

This initiative is crucial as sudden cardiac arrest affects up to 20,000 youths under 18 annually. The Boise School District, known for its commitment to academic excellence and student well-being, is taking proactive steps to protect students as they prepare for the upcoming school year.

About RescueStat

RescueStat, headquartered in Boise, ID, is a pioneer in healthcare technology, dedicated to saving lives and protecting organizations from unexpected critical life events. Our innovative solutions and expert support ensure that AED programs are always compliant and ready to respond in emergencies. Partnering with RescueStat guarantees that your AED devices are ready to protect your team, customers, and anyone else on your premises.

About Boise School District

Boise School District is a high-performing, nationally-recognized, comprehensive public school system committed to academic excellence, student well-being, and preparing students for success in college, career and citizenship. With a diverse range of programs and a dedicated team of educators, Boise School District strives to empower every student to reach their full potential. Discover how Boise School District is Educating Today for a Better Tomorrow at www.boiseschools.org.

SOURCE RescueStat
ALBANY  The State Assembly recently asked a judge to bar the state Division of Human Rights from holding a public hearing on a sexual discrimination complaint a woman filed against Buffalo-area Assembly Member Patrick Burke.

Attorneys for the Assemblys Democratic majority stated there was no legitimate public interest in the dispute between the Assembly and Division of Human Rights, according to a court filing in state Supreme Court in Erie County.

But in a July 25 decision, state Supreme Court Justice Donna Siwek rejected the Assemblys request.

That means the allegations and evidence against Burke and the Assembly could soon be aired in a public hearing.

On June 7, the Assembly sued the Division of Human Rights, alleging the state agency unfairly and unconstitutionally added the Assembly to a complaint initially filed against Burke alone. Burkes former legislative director, Nicole Golias, whom Burke fired alongside two other staffers in May 2022, has alleged that Burke subjected her to sexual harassment and a hostile work atmosphere. She had worked for Burke since September 2021.

Golias did not allege in her complaint to the Division of Human Rights that Burke made any sexual advances toward her, but accused him of making inappropriate remarks and jokes, including discussing genitalia and the sex lives of both his teenage son and fellow legislators.

Burke, who is running for re-election this November, has denied all the allegations.

The Assembly and its former majority leader, Sheldon Silver, faced significant criticism in the past over the Assemblys handling of complaints of sexual harassment.

But in court papers, Assembly attorneys argued the Assembly should not be subjected to a public hearing on the complaint before an administrative law judge. In their filing, the attorneys also asked a judge to seal several exhibits from public disclosure.

Further, the likelihood of harm here is high, as the sensitive nature of the underlying proceeding opens Golias, Burke, and other uninvolved non-parties up to public harassment, damage to their business/personal reputations, and potential embarrassment, Buffalo-based attorney Robert C. Weissflach argued on behalf of the Assembly.

The lawsuit alleged the Division of Human Rights was forcing the Assembly to a public hearing with no notice of the allegations or discriminatory conduct of which it is accused, is exceeding its authority and jurisdiction and denying the Assembly fundamental procedural due process, in violation of the federal and New York state constitutions.

The Division for Human Rights is tasked with enforcing the states Human Rights Law. It investigates and prosecutes cases of discrimination in employment, public accommodation, education and housing against a person due to their race, religion, citizenship status, disability, sexual orientation, gender or expression or other protected class status.

On July 3, attorneys for the division argued in court documents that the Assemblys suit was premature, noting it had not rendered a final decision on Golias complaint that would be subject to judicial review. It contested the Assemblys efforts to distance itself from the complaint, saying Golias clearly identified the Assembly as her employer, that the Assembly was responsible for ensuring she not be sexually harassed, and that she had filed a complaint with the Assembly.

The Assembly maintained a personnel file for Golias, processed her hiring and her termination, Harvey Sanders, the attorney for Golias, told the Buffalo News on Thursday.

Our position is that they had a duty to protect her from being subjected to sexual harassment on the job, Sanders said. We filed this charge at the Division of Human Rights and were eager to have it heard on the merits.

Burke, a former Erie County legislator first elected to the Assembly in 2018, represents the 142nd District. It includes South Buffalo, the City of Lackawanna and towns of West Seneca and Orchard Park. In 2022, he was re-elected with nearly 53% of the vote over Republican challenger Sandy Magnano, who received just under 47%.

Republican Marc Priore, an Erie County Sheriffs Office lieutenant, is running against Burke this year.

On Thursday, when asked about the Assemblys lawsuit, Burke said he was cleared of the allegations by the states Legislative Ethics Commission.

The claims, that I made inappropriate jokes and comments in my office, are false and were made by disgruntled former employees being terminated, Burke said.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who appeared with Burke on Wednesday in Cazenovia Park in South Buffalo, stood by his lawmaker. Heastie said the Legislative Ethics Commission, which exonerated Burke, is comprised of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans.

There was no finding (of wrongdoing), so from the Assemblys standpoint thats where we stand, Heastie told reporters.

Asked why the Assembly wanted to avoid a hearing, Heastie said: Im not really versed in that. Youll have to talk to the lawyers  our standpoint was once the committee had a no finding, what other agencies decide to do, thats on them.

When Heastie was elected speaker in February 2015, following the arrest of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on corruption charges, the Bronx Democrat promised zero tolerance for Assembly members or staffers who engage in sexual harassment.

Silver had previously authorized secret payments to two women who accused former Assembly Member Vito Lopez of sexual harassment. Silver, who in violation of Assembly policy never forwarded the womens complaints to an ethics committee, later apologized. Lopez resigned. Silver, convicted of the bribery and corruption charges in a scheme unrelated to the harassment scandal, died in federal custody in January 2022.

In making the Assemblys legal case, however, Weissflach and attorney Mary C. Hamilton distanced the Assembly from Burke, D-Orchard Park, one of the majoritys own members. For instance, their lawsuit noted that Assembly members have discretion to choose their own staff.

As such, Burke, not the Assembly, had authority to hire, supervise, set the conditions of employment, and ultimately, terminate Golias, the suit stated. The Assembly is not involved in the discretionary employment decisions of Assembly Members.

The lawsuit said there was no allegation the Assembly knew of, much less condoned or ratified, any alleged discriminatory conduct by Burke or anyone else.

What is absent from the administrative record in this case is any allegation that the Assembly, as an employer, harassed Golias and/or condoned or acquiesced in any such harassment directly or by failing to intervene to prevent the continuation of any alleged conduct it was made aware of during Golias employment, Weissflach stated in a July 23 filing.

That same day, Assembly counsel Rebecca Mudie argued that the Assembly does not pay its own employees.

While the (Division for Human Rights) suggests the Assembly pays the wages of the staff of members, and uses that as the justification for naming the Assembly as a respondent in the (lawsuit), such paychecks actually come from the State of New York, she wrote.

The sequence of events preceding the complaint began in the aftermath of convicted murderer Payton Gendrons May 14, 2022, racially motivated massacre of 10 people at Tops supermarket on Jefferson Avenue. Within days, Burke fired Golias and two other top staffers  communications director Brendan Keany and Matthew T.H. Dearing, director of community relations  following arguments over whether Burke took a strong enough stance against white supremacy. Burke said the staffers, who accused him of being a political coward, were fired for gross insubordination.

In April 2023, Golias lodged the complaint solely against Burke. Five months later, the Division of Human Rights found probable cause to move the complaint against Burke to a public hearing. The Division of Human Rights subsequently added the Assembly to the complaint and also earmarked it for a hearing based on its own alleged probable cause, the Assemblys lawsuit said.

In March, Mudie told Caroline Downey, the general counsel for the Division of Human Rights, that it was unfathomable that the division baselessly added the Assembly to the complaint with alleged probable cause. She asked the agency to reverse its position. The division said no, saying there were issues of fact to determine about the actions of Burke and the Assembly.

In the lawsuit, the Assemblys attorneys said the complaint against the Assembly essentially copies the initial one lodged against Burke. They said it contained no allegations of discriminatory acts or omissions by the Assembly.
DALLAS, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following its highly successful launch in 2023, the CX Retail USA Exchange returns for its second edition on September 24-25, 2024 at the Marriott Dallas Uptown, Texas. Bringing together customer experience leaders from some of the USA's biggest retail brands for two days of learning, discovery, and networking, attendees will gain valuable insights into how to remain competitive in today's volatile consumer landscape and adapt CX strategies to meet and exceed fast-evolving customer expectations.

Curious how failing at CX can spark innovation? Shaz Kahng will reveal all in her presentation, "The Stunning Secrets to Transform Customer Experience," at the CX Retail USA Exchange on September 24-25 in Texas.

At a time when retailers are increasingly recognizing the value of their customer data, one pertinent agenda highlight is an expert-led panel discussion featuring Nathalie Baier, Global Director of MarTech Planning & Enablement at Under Armour, Kunal Banerjee, Senior Director of Product Management  eCommerce at Target, and Tariq Muhammad, Senior Director of Customer Service  Loyalty at Verizon Consumer Group. The line-up of expert speakers will discuss best practices for harnessing data to establish loyalty through personalization in today's fickle customer landscape.

Another notable agenda highlight is a keynote presentation from Board Director at GoPro, Former CEO at Gymboree, and Award-Winning Author, Shaz Kahng. Shaz's session on 'The Stunning Secrets to Transform Customer Experience' will draw from her extensive experience of catalyzing consumer-focused business transformation, demonstrating to delegates how excellence and innovation in customer experience can meaningfully contribute to sustainable business growth.

Commenting on the upcoming Exchange, Shaz Kahng stated that: "I think it's really valuable for senior leaders to attend conferences like the CX Retail USA Exchange for two reasons: firstly, not only will you learn new ways of thinking and new approaches which can be very valuable, but secondly  and even more importantly  is that smaller conferences like these with senior level CX leaders allow you to interact with each other, exchange ideas, and engage in dialogue." You can watch Shaz Kahng's full interview with the CX Retail USA Exchange team here: https://youtu.be/9Uf4GrbKGF0

With advancements in technology moving at lightning speed and post-pandemic consumers valuing experiential retail experiences both in-store and through omnichannel engagement more than ever, the agenda for the CX Retail USA Exchange has been designed to address the need for retailers to understand and adapt to transforming customer purchasing habits and expectations. With a variety of activity formats including peer-to-peer networking sessions, expert-led keynote presentations, and interactive think tanks and roundtables, the event enables customer and experience professionals to explore solutions to retail's most pressing challenges from multiple different viewpoints.

The CX Retail USA Exchange's world-class speaker faculty is comprised of senior retail and customer experience leaders from some of the USA's biggest and most recognizable brands, including Walmart, Albertsons, Walgreens, and Lowe's. Attendees will come away with a deeper understanding of today's customer and fresh ideas for CX strategies to bring back to their own organizations.

Attendance at the CX Retail USA Exchange is by invitation only. For inquiries and to request an invitation, please visit the event website or contact [email protected].

Join us in ushering in a new era of customer experience in retail.

Media contacts: Julia Levin, [email protected]

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Uf4GrbKGF0

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2478465/CX_Retail_USA_Logo.jpg

SOURCE CX Retail USA Exchange
The new offerings streamline and automate manual tasks, empowering brands to reduce errors, save time, and focus on growth

NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Settle , the leading cash-flow management platform, today announced two new product offerings, Landed Costs and Universal Catalog, to calculate instant, accurate landed costs. These new features further the company's mission of becoming the go-to finance and operations platform for brands, giving them one central place to manage procurement, inventory, payments and finance.

Growing brands spend tens of thousands of dollars and time annually trying to accurately calculate landed costs for their products. Brands who issue their purchase orders and pay their bills on Settle can now get automated landed costs on every SKU with precision and accuracy. It's as easy as linking a bill and adding additional expenses such as shipping and tariffs, and landed costs will be calculated based on quantity or value allocation methods, eliminating complex calculations and manual errors while providing confidence in the accuracy of cost calculations.

Settle's Universal Catalog is the only Product Information Management solution built for brands that is natively synced to the end to end procurement cycle. Universal Catalog seamlessly integrates with brands' sales platforms (e.g. Shopify), warehouse management systems, and accounting systems to ensure product information is always accurate. Expanding product lines and managing bills of materials (BOMs) across kits and product variants all become fast, accurate, and straightforward with Universal Catalog. This synchronized product data forms the foundation for faster, more efficient and reliable inventory management and forecasting.

"It's crucial for growing businesses to free up time so they can concentrate on sales and customer engagement, and that's exactly what Settle's expanding product offerings achieve," said Alek Koenig, co-founder and CEO of Settle. "By streamlining cost calculations and inventory management, we save brands time and money, helping them focus more on driving business growth, especially ahead of the upcoming buying season."

Brands interested in simplifying their operations and moving beyond complicated spreadsheets can start managing their BOMs and automatically calculating landed costs for free for a limited time at Settle.com .

About Settle

Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Settle propels the growth of CPG brands by simplifying cash flow management. Through an integrated platform, Settle empowers consumer goods and e-commerce brands to elevate their financial operations with seamless vendor payments, purchase order 3-way matching, and transparent financing with Settle Working Capital. Settle proudly serves hundreds of high-growth consumer goods brands, including Branch, Soft Services, Dagne Dover, Truvani, HigherDOSE, and Olipop. Visit Settle.com to learn more.

Media Contact

Diana Kozak, VP

Ditto Public Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE Settle
Paris Baguette Headquarters and Franchise Representatives Convene in the U.S.

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Paris Baguette, a global bakery brand, announced that it has held the '2024 Paris Baguette Franchise Convention' from August 5 to 7 (local time) at Resorts World Las Vegas, U.S., specifically for its local franchisees.

As many as 250 individuals, including Paris Baguette executives and staff in the U.S., franchisees, and prospective franchisees managing Paris Baguette stores across the Americas, convened for a significant event.

At Resorts World located in Las Vegas, Jin-Soo Hur, CEO of the Paris Baguette HQ, speaks during a 2024 Paris Baguette Franchise Convention for its local franchisees. (PRNewsfoto/Paris Baguette)

The event marks the first large-scale strategic briefing for international franchisees organized by Paris Baguette. It was designed to improve communication and networking among franchisees. To this end, the U.S. Paris Baguette franchise headquarters presented its operational policies, detailed plans, and strategic vision, while franchisees shared their successful operational experiences, expertise, and suggestions.

Paris Baguette currently operates about 180 stores in North America, with over 90% of these being franchise-operated. In the first half of this year alone, 22 new franchises were inaugurated, and 83 new contracts were signed, demonstrating the rapid expansion of the local franchise business. Paris Baguette intends to leverage this event to further systematize and advance its franchise operations in the U.S.

Under the theme 'Layers of Success,' Darren Tipton, Head of Paris Baguette America, along with other key executives, outlined the vision for the U.S. market and presented detailed strategies and operational plans encompassing marketing, supply chain management, and personnel training. Additionally, various essential training programs for franchise operations were conducted. These sessions provided franchise owners with an in-depth understanding of the franchise headquarters' policies and plans.

In his opening remarks, Jin-soo Hur, CEO of the Paris Baguette HQ, said "Paris Baguette's successful integration into the U.S. market is a testament to the dedication and efforts of our franchisees, supported by Paris Baguette's global franchise system. I extend my gratitude to all franchisees and related parties. Paris Baguette remains committed to supporting franchisee success and aims to achieve further growth through mutual advances."

A representative of Paris Baguette commented, "This convention was a significant opportunity to reaffirm Paris Baguette's growth potential in the global market including the U.S. We will continue to create opportunities for close cooperation and communication with global partners."

Paris Baguette is a global bakery brand with approximately 4,000 stores across 12 countries in North America, Europe, Asia.

SOURCE Paris Baguette
New Funding Will Help Leading National Workforce Organization Meet Goal to Serve 10,000 People Each Year by 2033

NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- STRIVE, a leading national workforce development organization, celebrates 40 years of impact in 2024 as it expands to new sites and cities, and adds significant new sources of funding. This growth is helping STRIVE mark progress toward its goal of helping 10,000 people each year by 2033 to achieve upward mobility and financial empowerment.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9282951-strive-celebrates-40-years-of-impact-and-growth-workforce-development/

STRIVE Works STRIVE CELEBRATES IMPACT AND GROWTH IN ITS 40th ANNIVERSARY YEAR

"2024 has been a banner year as we continue to expand to other cities across the U.S., creating a pathway to economic opportunity and empowerment for thousands of people facing systemic barriers to quality employment," said STRIVE President and CEO Phil Weinberg. "Our 76% employment placement rate for our graduates is a testament to the grit and determination of our students and the support of our generous donors, dedicated staff, alumni and partners."

With the recent backlash against DEI initiatives, and the continued fight for social justice, the need to bridge the opportunity gap for those who are systemically disconnected from opportunity is urgent. Most significantly, individuals who are justice-impacted, a disproportionate percentage of whom are Black men and other people of color, face the steepest obstacles to employment and mobility. STRIVE provides free of charge job training and clearly defined career pathways for individuals who are determined to succeed, despite multiple obstacles, including housing and food insecurity and lack of transportation. In addition, STRIVE's Women's Empowerment Initiative addresses the complex barriers disproportionately faced by Black women and other women of color who seek career opportunity and economic mobility, STRIVE graduate LaShawn speaks about the impact of the program on her life.

Launching New Sites

In July, STRIVE celebrated the graduation of 20 students from its newest location in Brooklyn, New York, including John Draper, who recently completed a lengthy prison term and who has already secured an environmental services position in the New York-area healthcare system.

As he told his peers at the graduation, "Success isn't about chance, it's about preparation." John said he hopes to be an inspiration to others who have been impacted by incarceration and the justice system by showing that with help from STRIVE, and personal commitment, it is possible to change the direction of your life.

The Brooklyn pilot was fueled by a generous donation from the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation's Social Justice Fund, led by philanthropists and owners of the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty, Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai. The grant supports STRIVE's signature Career Path workforce training program, which provides occupational training, job search skills and placement assistance, with emphasis on the robust healthcare sector in the Metro New York area.

"I am extremely proud of this group of 20 hard-working, resilient graduates, many of whom have already secured life-changing employment in the Brooklyn healthcare system," says Ayesha George, executive director of STRIVE New York. "I am thankful to our compassionate, expert staff and our partners at Brooklyn Communities Collaborative, SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Maimonides Medical Center, who are demonstrating the power of community spirit to drive family, neighborhood and economic change."

Gregg Bishop, executive director of the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation's Social Justice Fund, said that STRIVE's 40th anniversary is especially meaningful for him. He emigrated with his family to Brooklyn from Grenada 40 years ago, and his mother worked as a nurse at local hospitals to support the family. Now he is paying it forward by helping others in Brooklyn. "There is a community here that sees you, is rooting for you and supports you. Be ready, believe in yourself, lean on each other, support each other," Bishop said.

In addition to Brooklyn, STRIVE Atlanta launched in 2021, and STRIVE New Orleans just launched this year, with plans for its first graduation this month. STRIVE Birmingham recently celebrated its one-year anniversary.

STRIVE's Graduates and Employer Partners Tell Stories of Success

Robert is just one of the many thousands of STRIVE success stories. After serving 12 years in prison, Robert came to STRIVE New York's Fresh Start reentry program to find his path to a second chance. Robert got up to speed on computer literacy, learned how to write a resume and conduct himself in an interview. Through STRIVE'S relationships with local employers, Robert secured a position in custodial maintenance, and he and his wife have purchased a home and are living a fulfilling life.

New Funding Spurs Growth

To support its ambitious goals, STRIVE will deploy significant new funding across its national footprint  from New York to Birmingham to Atlanta to New Orleans - including a recent generous investment from leading private investment firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), a strong STRIVE partner that supports the proven workforce development model.

"The CD&R Foundation is pleased to support STRIVE's important work to provide New York City talent facing systemic barriers with the skills and resources necessary to attain economic opportunity and advancement," said Randy Moore, CD&R Foundation President. "STRIVE's mission is aligned with CD&R's commitment to enabling 'Equity through Opportunity' which supports business growth by attracting and developing talent from diverse backgrounds, experiences and capabilities."

The funding from CD&R comes in addition to $15 million from other iconic global philanthropies in the past year, including MacKenzie Scott, Ballmer Group, The Justice and Mobility Fund of Blue Meridian Partners and Truist Foundation, as well as Gotham Gives in New York City, Bank of America in Atlanta and the Regions Foundation in Birmingham.

Critical Employer Partnerships

Focusing on growing sectors where demand for a well-trained workforce is high, and building evidence-based, customized skills training to meet those needs is critical in helping STRIVE match its graduates with its employer partners.

As John Martinez, Vice President for Evidence to Practice of MDRC, a nonprofit that develops and evaluates antipoverty programs, notes, "We're delighted to partner with STRIVE, along with other leading workforce organizations, to demonstrate the power of the evidence-based, sectoral and employer-driven approach to providing opportunities to motivated students and graduates, while helping to fuel local economies. Sector programming like STRIVE offers is a proven model that sets the standard for the workforce of the future."

STRIVE's evidence-based model of occupational skills training with wraparound social services, provides much-needed access to pathways toward life-changing careers in growing industries including healthcare, construction and supply chain logistics.

"Our partnership with STRIVE enables us to hone a unique workforce model that creates career pathways and upward mobility opportunities for people from marginalized communities across New York City," said Valerie Orellana, RN, MS, Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Operations Officer at the Mount Sinai Health System. "We collaborate with STRIVE to develop a 12-week training and certificate program to educate their pool of talent and match these individuals with opportunities across our hospital system."

About STRIVE

STRIVE (www.strive.org) is a national workforce development leader that for nearly 40 years has successfully provided services to populations facing significant societal barriers to employment. STRIVE moves students into careers that lead to upward mobility and economic empowerment. Headquartered in East Harlem, New York and with operations in 14 locations, STRIVE has supported more than 85,000 individuals through employment programs geared toward adults of all ages including those with involvement in the justice system.

SOURCE STRIVE International
"There is no greater task," said Supreme Knight Kelly in his opening address, in which he reported on the achievements of the Catholic fraternal organization over the past year. "It requires sacrifice and sometimes even suffering. But that's what it means to be a disciple. That's what it means to be on mission."

Supreme Knight Kelly praised the convention's host province, Quebec, noting this year marks the 350th anniversary of the church in Quebec. In fact, Quebec is the cradle of the Catholic faith in North America, north of Mexico, once covering a territory that today has more than 150 dioceses. Moreover, Quebec held a special place in the heart of Blessed Michael McGivney, who studied for the priesthood in the cities of Saint-Hyacinthe and Montreal.

Growing the Knights

Supreme Knight Kelly reminded the Knights that in these challenging times, the Order's mission matters more than ever. "The days of easy faith are over," he said.

Today's Knights must have "the zeal of Father McGivney," he continued, to build the next generation of Catholic men by growing the organization and forming Catholic men in faith and virtue, so they're prepared to serve as missionary disciples. And he applauded their historic progress in the past year.

The Knights of Columbus now has more than 2.1 million members worldwide, and last year alone, more than 92,000 men joined the Knights  one of its best years of growth in a century. This includes a record number of Hispanic men, who are critical to the future of the Catholic Church, since over half of young American Catholics are now Hispanic.

A Witness to Charity

Supreme Knight Kelly then reminded the assembled Knights that together they can follow the founding mission established by Blessed Michael McGivney by building communities that reflect God's love, especially through their witness to charity. Last year, Knights worldwide spent over 47 million volunteer hours serving others and donated more than $190 million to those in need.

A highlight of the Knights' many charitable efforts includes their signature Coats for Kids program. In November 2023, Supreme Knight Kelly visited Annunciation Catholic School in Denver personally to give the one-millionth coat donated since the program began 14 years ago.

"But we are not done  today, I have a challenge," the Supreme Knight continued. "I'm calling on all of us to double that number in half the time. The Knights of Columbus will give 2 million coats to children in need by the year 2030!"

The Knights also continues to serve those who are persecuted for their faith, including Christians in the Middle East and Nigeria. In fact, last year, Nigerians accounted for 82% of Christians killed for their faith. In response to this crisis, Supreme Knight Kelly announced a new collaboration between the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria and Franciscan University of Steubenville. Through this collaboration, the Knights will fund the ongoing formation of priests and lay leaders to reach thousands of parishes and strengthen the faith of millions of Catholics in Africa.

In addition to fighting religious persecution, Supreme Knight Kelly noted that anti-Christian bigotry has become more aggressive and blatant around the world.

"A recent example was the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, where Our Lord and the Last Supper were outrageously mocked," Supreme Knight Kelly said. "The Olympics should be a celebration of God's gifts and the triumph of human achievement. But in Paris we saw blasphemy  a vile and intentional denigration of our faith."

"As Catholics, and as Knights, we are rightly angry," he continued. "But even more than that, we are resolved: We are Knights and we stand with Christ, our King  and we will not be silent!"

And over two years after Russia launched its war in Ukraine, more than 10,000 Knights in Ukraine and Poland continue to manage the largest relief effort in their history. Knights have distributed 8.5 million pounds of humanitarian aid to over 1.6 million refugees, most of whom are women and children, and recently announced a new partnership with the Protez Foundation to provide personally fitted prosthetics to the victims of war. In fact, their efforts have made such an impact that Russian authorities have officially banned the Knights of Columbus from the territory they occupy.

"Let me be clear," Supreme Knight Kelly said. "Their ban is our badge of honor!"

Defending the Culture of Life

Supreme Knight Kelly also challenged Knights to continue the fight to defend life around the world.

"The reality is, we are not just fighting legal and policy battles. We are fighting what John Paul II described as a 'culture of death' and what Pope Francis has called a 'throwaway culture.'"

Across the globe, Knights continue to follow Blessed Michael McGivney's mission to protect mothers and their children.

In Washington, D.C., this year, the Knights co-hosted the second annual Life Fest with the Sisters of Life, which saw over 6,000 young people pray and rally for a future that respects the dignity of life at all stages. Later, thousands more gathered for the annual March for Life, which the Knights has co-sponsored for over 50 years.

Knights are working closely with vulnerable mothers and their unborn children as well. In 2023, Knights helped to place 135 ultrasound machines in pregnancy resource centers, bringing the total to over 1,800. And through the Aid and Support After Pregnancy (ASAP) program, Knights have donated more than $11 million to pregnancy centers and maternity homes.

Knights of the Eucharist

When Supreme Knight Kelly was installed in office, he called on all Knights to be, first and foremost, Knights of the Eucharist.

"As Catholic families, the ultimate source of our strength is Jesus Christ," he said. "And as Knights, we're especially devoted to Christ in the Eucharist."

Supreme Knight Kelly recalled his own personal experience of joining the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage on Memorial Day Weekend in New York City.

"We walked with pilgrims as they made their way from St. Patrick's Cathedral through Manhattan. It was a truly amazing experience. Tourists knelt on the sidewalk and took videos. Waiters came outside and crossed themselves. Onlookers broke into spontaneous applause. And all the while, hundreds of pilgrims sang songs and bore witness to Christ's real presence in the Eucharist. Even on the streets of New York City, it was clear  Jesus is alive, he's real, and he's changing hearts!"

On Mission

In conclusion, Supreme Knight Kelly stated that the duty of Catholics and of Knights is to witness to the hope that comes from Jesus Christ.

"Hope is at the heart of who we are," he said. "It led Father McGivney and the first Knights to band together, trusting that through them, our Lord would do great things. Hope led them to provide for widows and orphans. Hope led them to strengthen the family and defend the Church."

Stressing the theme of the convention, Supreme Knight Kelly continued, "And like those first Knights, we trust in the Living God who holds the future in his hands. He will guide us, as he did our forefathers. And like them, he calls us to go on mission."

Supreme Knight Kelly Announces New Pilgrim Icon of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

At the annual States Dinner, Supreme Knight Kelly noted that the Knights was celebrating not just one but two significant anniversaries this week. In addition to the founding of the Catholic Church in Quebec, this year marks the 350th anniversary of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque receiving her visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1674.

"Our Lord reminded her of that ancient and beautiful devotion, and she shared that gift with the world," said Supreme Knight Kelly. "As our Lord told her: 'Behold this Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify its love.'"

Mr. Kelly noted that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has announced that he's writing a new document  a reflection on the Sacred Heart  that will be released next month.

"The Holy Father has said that he will reintroduce this devotion which is full of spiritual beauty, and he will offer it 'to a world that seems to have lost its heart,'" said Mr. Kelly. "Our Holy Father's encouragement, and his pastoral document, couldn't be more timely."

Mr. Kelly also announced that in early 2025, the Knights will help spread devotion to the Sacred Heart with the launch of a new pilgrim icon of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. For more than 40 years, the Knights' Pilgrim Icon Program has brought sacred images to parishes around the world for prayer and devotion.

"In the heart of Christ, we see the heart of the Father," said Supreme Knight Kelly. "And we ask Our Lord to help us make his heart our own, so that we may see and love in others what he sees and loves in us. That is what the world needs. And on the 350th anniversary of St. Margaret Mary's visions, we will make this mission our own."

Knights' Delegates Elect Two New Members to Board of Directors

During the Knights' business session Aug. 7, more than 530 delegates, representing over 2.1 million brother Knights around the world, elected two new members to the organization's Board of Directors.



The new board members are Christopher A. Kolomjec from Michigan and Herbert W. Yang from British Columbia, who will each serve a three-year term beginning Sept. 1, 2024, and ending on Aug. 31, 2027.

Christopher A. Kolomjec

Christopher A. Kolomjec, an attorney in private practice for the past 23 years, was Michigan state deputy from 2022-24. He previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Judge Advocate, retiring with the rank of Major. In addition, he was appointed a U.S. Special Assistant Attorney and worked as a federal prosecutor for four years.

A member of the Knights of Columbus for 28 years, he belongs to Assumption Grotto Council 13419 and Rev. Paul M. Onderbeke Assembly 1795, both in Detroit.

He and his wife, Julie, live in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, and have three adult children.

Herbert W. Yang

Herbert W. Yang, a professional engineer with more than 30 years of experience in the power distribution and motor control field, is the current British Columbia state deputy. After many years of working for outstanding companies such as General Electric, he started his own company in 2014 and continues to work with industry leaders.

Born in Manila, Philippines, he came as a teen with his family to British Columbia. He joined the Knights of Columbus in 1996 and belongs to Coquitlam Council 5540 and Bishop Durieu Assembly 30 in New Westminster, B.C.

He and his wife, Clara, live in Coquitlam and have two adult daughters.

About the Knights of Columbus

In 1882, Blessed Michael McGivney, a young parish priest in New Haven, Connecticut, founded the Knights of Columbus to serve the needs of a largely immigrant Catholic community. What began as a small fraternal benefit society has since grown into the world's premier lay Catholic men's organization, with more than 2.1 million members in over 16,800 local councils. As members of one of the world's leading international charitable organizations, Knights around the world donated approximately 50 million service hours and nearly $185 million for worthy causes in their communities in 2022. The Knights of Columbus also offers a range of life insurance products to members and their families and was named by Forbes as one of America's Best Insurance Companies 2024 in the permanent life insurance category. Knights of Columbus Insurance currently has more than $123 billion* of life insurance in force. In addition, the organization offers investment services in accord with Catholic social teaching through its wholly owned subsidiary, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors, which holds more than $27 billion** in assets under management. Based on the founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity, the Knights of Columbus is committed to strengthening Catholic families and parishes, and to practicing faith in action through service to all in need. To learn more or to join the Knights of Columbus, please visit kofc.org/join.

*As of December 31, 2023

**As of December 31, 2023

SOURCE Knights of Columbus
AMSTERDAM, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TBAuctions, Europe's leading multi-brand online B2B marketplace for used industrial goods, acquires Surplex. The transaction closed on 7th August 2024. This strategic move accelerates TBAuctions growth into new countries including Spain, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Serbia. It also bolsters TBAuctions' presence in Germany, France, and Italy, adding deep industry vertical expertise in metal and woodworking. The combination with Surplex enables TBAuctions to achieve new milestones. The combined brands of TBAuctions reach nearly 200 million annual site visits, source sellers from 20+ countries across Europe, sell over 1.6 million assets receiving bids from 750K bidders in 175 countries, generating hammersales of over 1.6 billion, and employing nearly 1,200 team members.

From left to right: Uli Stalter, Managing Director Surplex; Tom Christenson, CEO TBAuctions; and Michael Werker, Managing Director Surplex

The European market for used business equipment sales exceeds 250 billion per year, and digital auctioning is a fast-growing channel for trading these assets. Driven by tech advancements, digital adoption, and sustainability shifts. With a proprietary intelligent auctioning platform, TBAuctions makes auctioning more transparent and efficient through a connected bidder base, automation, AI, and scale; taking advantage of these trends. Every year, manufacturing of new vehicles, farm and construction equipment generates over a billion tons of CO2e. By extending the life of existing equipment, and buying second hand machinery, companies can reduce their carbon footprint, and global emissions.

Founded in 1999 in Dusseldorf, Germany, Surplex has built a strong reputation across Continental Europe, specializing in installed industrial machinery for metal and woodworking for international commercial buyers. This complements well with TBAuctions position in the Nordics and Benelux focused more on mobile equipment.

Tom Christenson, CEO of TBAuctions, shared: "Surplex has a great team of people, excellent customers, and a strong brand across Europe. Together with TBAuctions' best in class tech platform and leading brands, we see great opportunities through our complementary services, values, and people to drive exponential growth. This marks a major milestone for us to serve customers in all countries of Europe on our journey to revolutionize digital auctioning and promote sustainable trade."

Michael Werker, Managing Owner of Surplex, said: "It makes a lot of sense for Surplex to come together with TBAuctions. We share similar values, commitment to excellent customer service, and a passion to drive the circular economy." Uli Stalter, Managing Owner of Surplex, summarizes saying: "The combination of skills and geographic footprint between Surplex and the family of TBAuctions brands creates a comprehensive digital auction experience across Europe."

About Surplex

Surplex has been one of Europe's leading industrial auction houses for 25 years and trades worldwide in used machines and factory equipment. The 18-language auction platform Surplex.com has over 125,000 registered customers. Around 1,000 online auctions are held annually, with more than 400,000 industrial products sold to date. The company is based in Dusseldorf and has offices in 16 European countries.

About TBAuctions

TBAuctions is Europe's leading multi-brand (Troostwijk Auctions, Klaravik, Auksjonen, PS Auction, British Medical Auctions, Vavato, and Auktionshuset dab), digital auction platform for B2B used goods with 1,000+ team members across the Nordics, Benelux+UK, and Continental Europe. We believe that "Everything Has Value" and we make auctioning more effective and efficient by using technology, automation, and economies of scale. TBAuctions' proprietary platform hosts intelligent online auctions, connecting bidders from various storefronts into a single, unified auction experience. TBAuctions brings sustainable trade to a higher level. Sourcing locally and selling globally, millions of products are auctioned every year. Funds managed by Castik Capital are the majority owners of TBAuctions, with Summa Equity as the minority shareholder.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2475481/TBAuctions_Surplex.jpg
Automakers lured by government policies tilt the global balance towards electric vehicles

BANGKOK, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BYD and BMW are two very different auto companies.

BYD is the Chinese upstart that is tussling with Tesla for the title of world's leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles. BMW is the venerable 108-year-old German company that ranks as the global top selling luxury car brand.

A glimpse inside BYDs first EV factory outside China. The plant, opened in Rayong, Thailand, in July 2024, will eventually produce 150,000 vehicles annually. (photo: Laurent Malespine).

Yet despite their dissimilar pedigrees and target markets, BYD and BMW have made one identical business decision: To make Thailand a base to manufacture electric vehicles and the increasingly sophisticated batteries that power them.

They are far from alone. Thai government tax breaks, subsidies and other incentives are transforming Southeast Asia's second largest economy into a global hub not only for the production of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) but also the hybrid technologies that are supporting the zero-emission transition.

And even as BYD staged the grand opening on July 4, 2024 of its 32 billion baht (about $900 million) state-of-the-art factory at Rayong in Thailand's high-tech Eastern Economic Corridor, six other major Chinese BEV manufacturers -- Great Wall Motor, Hozon New Energy Automobile, SAIC Motor, Chongqing Changan Automobile, GAC Aion and Chery Automobile -- were already either operating or building their own factories nearby.

In addition to this Chinese investment surge, Japan's Isuzu Motors in March used the Bangkok International Motor Show in March 2024 to unveil the company's first BEV  a version of the best-selling D-Max one-ton pickup truck  which it said would be built in Thailand and exported to select European markets, such as Norway, starting in 2025. Isuzu, which boasts 50 percent of the Thai pickup market, has filed last year with the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) a plan to increase its investment in Thailand by 32 billion baht.

Isuzu's compatriots, Toyota and Honda, are also embracing the Kingdom as a place to advance their own clean energy ambitions by initially focusing on hybrids while taking tentative steps towards EV production.

So, too, is Korea's Hyundai Motor Company. Its unit, Hyundai Mobility Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. received approval from the BOI in August 2024 to invest 1 billion baht to start in 2026 the local assembly of BEVs and the batteries that power them.

Of the major European investors, Mercedes-Benz has been assembling electric cars and batteries in Thailand since 2022. BMW, which leads the premium market segment and has been building cars in Thailand since 2000, will launch its first locally made EVs in the second half of 2025. In March 2024, it broke ground on a 42 million euro fifth generation high voltage battery plant in Rayong.

That same month, Chinese battery maker SVOLT Energy Technology, in partnership with Thai energy company Banpu Next, began producing EV battery packs in Thailand  further evidence that the kingdom is not only building vehicles, but also creating a localized supply chain to support the sector's growth.

Then in May, Changan announced partnerships with Thailand parts manufacturers including AAPICO Hitech PCL and Thai Summit Group as part of a total procurement plan worth 20 million baht (about $540 million) to produce Changan EVs locally from the start of 2025.

In total, 18 clean energy automakers have invested $2.2 billion in the Kingdom, a figure the BOI believes could soar by 10-fold by 2027.

"I follow these topics very deeply, but even I was surprised at how the market has developed here in the past year," Eric Ruge, Managing Director of BMW Manufacturing (Thailand) Co. Ltd., said in an interview. "Customers are marching in the direction of battery electric vehicles."

Thailand has long been a successful player in the conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) auto industry, ranking 10th in the world and number one in Southeast Asia as a manufacturer in 2023.

Now government policies offering subsidies, tax breaks and other incentives to manufacturers and consumers have catapulted it towards the top of the EV rankings, ahead of the U.S. and chasing market leader China.

Even when enthusiasm for BEV began to falter in other countries, Thailand this year offered "an unwavering commitment" to maintain its consistent support.

That consistency has not only led to a surge in BEV sales locally but also contributed towards what analysts at Bloomberg Green, a unit of the New York-based financial news service that focuses on the business, science and technology of climate change, say will be a tipping point for mass adoption of zero-emission vehicles.

The tipping point, the analysts estimate, is a 5% market share  the level at which new technologies such as smart watches typically start to take the world by storm. So far 31 countries have met that figure for EV sales with Thailand being one that surpassed it "in blazing fashion," they noted.

In 2023, EV sales in Thailand soared by almost eight-fold to 76,000  accounting for 12 percent of all vehicles sold. In the first quarter of 2024, the EV market share rose to 14 percent. "Thailand emerged as Southeast Asia's EV pioneer," Bloomberg Green reported.

And that is just the start. Before this year, almost all EVs sold in Thailand were imported  mostly from China. Now with the opening of so many local production facilities, the annual sales figure for 2024 is set to double again to 150,000  a 20 percent market share of all vehicles produced, the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand has forecast.

The country's next big target is a so-called "30@30" strategy that aims for 30% of vehicles manufactured by 2030 to be EVs. These include not only private cars, but also trucks and buses.

Given that more than half of Thailand's 2.5 million vehicle manufacturing capacity will be exported, that would make the Kingdom an even more important global contributor to clean energy vehicle production.

"Thailand aims to become a major EV manufacturing hub for domestic and export markets," the International Energy Agency, a Paris-based intergovernmental organization comprising countries that account for 80% of global energy consumption, said in its 2024 Global EV Outlook. "New subsidies, including for domestic battery manufacturing, and lower import and excise taxes, combined with the growing presence of Chinese carmakers have contributed to rapidly increasing sales."

The most visible of those Chinese carmakers is BYD, which has chosen Thailand as its first production base outside China.

When it entered the local market in 2022 with an imported model, the Atto 3, Thais queued outside showrooms to buy it. Last year, following the introduction of imported Dolphin and Seal models, BYD sold 30,000 cars locally  a 40% share of the Thai EV market.

It also struck a deal for Bangkok-based Rever Automotive to assemble its battery-powered buses and trucks in the kingdom.

Now the opening of its new Rayong factory, with a production capacity of 150,000 vehicles a year, seems destined to play a key role in the company's lightning-swift international expansion  especially across the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a market of more than 670 million people.

"We already have plans to export into ASEAN countries, the Australian market and even Europe," Benson Ke Yubin, General Manager of BYD Thailand said in an interview.

With so many other potential locations to choose from, what persuaded the Chinese BEV giant to invest in Thailand? Like other manufacturers interviewed for this article, Ke singled out Thailand's supportive policies and the role of the BOI in assisting investors. "We feel confident investing here," he said.

If the speed of Thailand's transition to BEVs sounds ambitious, it is based on a proven strategy. To get where it is today as a global leader in conventional ICE vehicle production, it not only attracted foreign car manufacturers, but also developed a sophisticated onshore supply chain of parts makers.

Now a prime objective is to attract investment in the manufacturing of battery cells to complete the localization of the most important parts of the EV supply chain.

But how did Thailand persuade car and battery makers to move so swiftly? Several years ago, the government identified "the car of the future" as one of five key strategic new technology industries it aimed to develop.

Then in 2022 the incentives it offered foreign EV producers included allowing them to import vehicles for the first two years on condition they agreed to build factories soon after.

Those companies that begin local production by the end of 2024 get the most privileges, although automakers opening factories between 2025 and 2027 will continue to be incentivized.

The result has been the surge of investment followed by a jump in EV production as the new local factories come online.

First off the blocks was Great Wall Motor, which in 2020 acquired a conventional auto factory from U.S. giant General Motors, then announced it would spend 22.6 billion baht (about $615 million) converting it to manufacture hybrids and EVs. (NB: source is Reuters July 10, 2023 and Nikkei Feb 11, 2023). The first hybrids rolled off the production line in June 2021 followed by EVs in January 2024.

Capable of producing 80,000 vehicles a year, including the Ora Good Cat, Haval and Tank models, the company describes the Rayong factory as its key production base for right hand drive vehicles in Southeast Asia.

Then in March, Hozon fully opened what it termed "the first 100 percent EV factory in Thailand", producing the Neta V small car which in Thailand competes in price with similar ICE models.

Even before local manufacturing began, the Neta V had become an established favorite in Thailand following Hozon's launch of the imported model in 2022. Within a year, 14,000 Netas had been sold  catapulting it to number two EV brand and into the top 10 best selling car models of all types in that year. "We took just one year and one model to gain consumer acceptance in Thailand," Neta Auto (Thailand) General Manager Shu Gangzhi said in an interview. "This gave us confidence to invest more in this market and that's why we decided to start production here."

Now, with a production capacity of 30,000 annually, the company is looking beyond Thailand's borders. "We are also preparing the basis for exports to other Asian markets and maybe other markets such as South Africa, for both left and right hand drive vehicles," Shu said.

Why did Hozon choose Thailand? "It has the most attractive, stable EV policy  very realistic  with incentives for both consumers and manufacturers," Shu added. "It is also a large and sophisticated market."

Both Great Wall and Hozon use batteries supplied by the new SVOLT JV factory. While SVOLT was originally the battery unit of Great Wall Motor Holdings, it now gets 70 percent of its business from other manufacturers, SVOLT's Senior Vice President, Feng Zhang, says.

Zhang says part of SVOLT's decision to choose Thailand for its first factory in Southeast Asia stemmed from its earlier experience. "Progress has been fast and smooth and this gave us very high confidence," he says.

The bottom line, however, was commercial. "We are doing our business independently," Zhang adds. "We expect a very high EV transformation in Thailand. In China, the EV market share is close to 50%. I think the same will happen in Thailand. This is going to be a huge market for us."

Back at BMW's factory in Rayong, Managing Director Ruge doesn't attribute Thailand's success at winning investment entirely to its incentives or market opportunities. He also gives high praise to the Thai workforce.

Of BMW Group's global production network comprising 30 manufacturing plants in 15 countries, Rayong is unique in that it builds both cars and motorcycles under the same roof.

"It's a small plant, but it's extremely complex," Ruge says. "And it's absolutely impressive how they can build these cars and motorcycles without any compromise in quality. I have worked all over the world, but what I have experienced here is really exceptional."

For more information, please contact:

Thailand Board of Investment

Tel. +66 (0) 2553 8111

Website: www.boi.go.th

YouTube: Think Asia, Invest Thailand

SOURCE Thailand Board of Investment (BOI)
Describing the experience, Captain Alexander Peacock stated that "Navigating the Arctic waters packed with icebergs and sea ice requires careful observation, close communication among the crew, and precise maneuvering. I'm filled with pride at the impressive growth of the student crew over the eight weeks aboard the Bowdoin. They matured as individuals, came together as a group, and rose to the countless challenges with confidence."

The Bowdoin departed from Boothbay Harbor, Maine on May 29 and made port calls in St. John's Harbour, Newfoundland, Nuuk Port and Harbour, Greenland, Ilulissat, Greenland, Godhavn, Disko Island, Greenland, Sisimiut, Greenland, and Mary's Harbour, Newfoundland. After crossing the Arctic Circle at 6632.33, the crew explored fjords, witnessed calving glaciers, examined abandoned settlements, and weathered strong katabatic winds, crossing N70 on June 29.

Maine Maritime Academy Interim President and Chief Operating Officer Craig Johnson said, "The schooner Bowdoin's Arctic voyage, culminating in the crossing of the 70th Parallel, is an illustration of the multidisciplinary, practical and academic pursuits of the students, staff, and faculty at Maine Maritime Academy. Their journey adds to the Bowdoin's historical legacy so important and unique to the State of Maine and the Academy."

The Bowdoin's journey was supported, in part, by a $50,000 grant from L.L.Bean. L.L.Bean's Senior Manager of Partnerships & Charitable Giving, Christina Semanyshyn, expressed pride in the opportunity to support the continued operation of the Bowdoin, adding that the "schooner Bowdoin is a national treasure representing an important part of U.S. maritime heritage and Arctic exploration and we are pleased to facilitate the voyage. L.L.Bean has been supporting the Bowdoin's Arctic expeditions since outfitting its very first skipper, Donald MacMillan with Bean Boots in 1921."

The Bowdoin's crew consists of six professional mariners including Captain Peacock, chief mate David Stolz, Tyler Jupp, Kimberly Stinson, Graham McKay, and Tom Klodensky, in addition to nine Maine Maritime Academy students. Student crew members are pursuing courses of study in vessel operations and technology, marine biology, power engineering technology, and international logistics management. Captain Peacock noted the "value the fully immersive experience on the vessel offers students as a part of their maritime education."

The Schooner Bowdoin's student crew is also conducting scientific research under the supervision of Maine Maritime Academy professor, Kerry Whittaker, involving the collection of environmental DNA to measure and monitor biodiversity. They will then investigate the relationship between observed biodiversity and the physical parameters of the marine environment including conductivity, temperature, and depth.

Mackenzie Morin, a Coastal Marine & Environmental Science and Small Vessel Operations student at the Academy said that "The skills we learned on this voyage are diverse and invaluable. We developed seamanship under challenging conditions, posed scientific questions in remote environments, honed engineering competency while maintaining the vessel's integrity, and gained business insight in coordinating logistics. These experiences have not only equipped us with the ability to navigate the Arctic seas, but also to overcome the demands of our respective careers and fields in the future."

Among the purposes of the schooner Bowdoin's 2024 Arctic voyage is cultural exchange with the indigenous Greenlandic Inuit and Maine Maritime Academy is pleased to continue the century-old legacy. Many elders in villages throughout coastal Greenland remember the schooner Bowdoin from visits during their childhood and still have the black and white photographs; renewing these ties and forging relationships with new generations is an important aspect of the Bowdoin's mission. According to Captain Peacock, "it's an honor to welcome the Greenlandic Inuit aboard the Bowdoin; they're an essential part of her history."

About Maine Maritime Academy

Maine Maritime Academy is a co-educational, public college offering 22 academic programs in engineering, management, science, and transportation to promote the maritime interests of the United States. The college is consistently recognized for providing a high-value education by organizations including the Brookings Institution, U.S. News and World Report, and Money Magazine. A 2022 Report by Georgetown University ranked MMA #1 among all public colleges for return on investment for low-income students at public bachelor's degree institutions.

Media Contact

Michael Dickerson

[email protected]

SOURCE Maine Maritime Academy
YONKERS, N.Y., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Gaby Daboul, MD is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member for his contributions in Providing Compassionate Care and Healing Hands in Medicine.

Dr. Gaby Daboul, a dedicated physician with a heart for healing, stands as a beacon of compassion and expertise in the field of medicine. With a commitment to providing comprehensive care to adults in the hospital setting, Dr. Daboul's approach is rooted in empathy and treating each patient as a cherished member of the family.

Gaby Daboul, MD

Originally from Homs, Syria, Dr. Daboul embarked on his journey in medicine with a degree from Aleppo University, Faculty of Medicine in Syria. He then completed his internal medicine residency at Wyckoff Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY.

As a board-certified internal medicine physician, Dr. Daboul brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his practice. He is dedicated to addressing a variety of medical issues, ordering necessary labs and tests, and collaborating closely with surgeons when needed to ensure the best possible outcomes for his patients.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Dr. Daboul finds joy and rejuvenation in his hobbies, including meditation, sports, and exercise. These pursuits not only enrich his personal life but also contribute to his holistic approach to patient care, emphasizing the importance of overall well-being.

Dr. Daboul's journey in medicine is marked by the unwavering support of his partner and family, particularly two cousins, who have stood by his side throughout his career. Their encouragement and love have been instrumental in his success and dedication to serving others.

With a steadfast commitment to providing compassionate care and healing hands, Dr. Gaby Daboul continues to make a meaningful impact in the lives of his patients and the community at large. His unwavering dedication to excellence and empathy serves as an inspiration to all who have the privilege of knowing him.

Dr. Daboul expresses gratitude to his family, (particularly his two cousins), and his significant other for all of their support in his career.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
CRANSTON, R.I., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The RISE Group, Inc., an employee-owned leading provider of energy, engineering, laboratory, and field services, is pleased to announce the acquisition of DG Service Company as part of its strategic plan to expand its mechanical/HVAC/refrigeration contracting capability in the New England region.

DG Service is a highly respected, 28-person firm based in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, serving commercial and residential clients throughout southeastern MA and Cape Cod. The company has specialized in servicing and installing heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems for over 25 years, with a special growing emphasis on heat pump technology. The company is led by its co-founder, Grace Knox, who will continue to lead the organization post-acquisition as part of The RISE Group.

"Our long-time customer base continues to look to us to help them meet the challenges of our time," said Grace Knox. "Teaming with RISE provides us with a well-known organization that shares our common values and places customers first. Joining an employee-owned company also safeguards the long-term interests of our staff and their families who have contributed so much to our firm's success," Knox observed.

"DG Service offers us some critical advantages, and we're thrilled to welcome them to the RISE Group family," said RISE Group CEO, Vin Graziano. "DG's stellar reputation, its highly qualified staff, and its continuing focus on new technologies make it an ideal addition that enables us to directly deliver even more cost-effective energy solutions," he noted.

The acquisition of DG Service is a continuation of The RISE Group's ongoing efforts to strengthen its mechanical/HVAC contracting capability, which began seven years ago with the acquisition of Coldmasters, an RI-based HVAC/refrigeration contractor. It now includes Holden Mechanical, serving advanced industries in central Massachusetts, and AirMasters, offering specialized control and HVAC project installation and service in southeastern MA and Rhode Island.

"As Massachusetts continues its nation-leading efforts to meet aggressive climate goals, RISE continues to play a major role in bring cost-effective HVAC/mechanical services on behalf of program sponsors in the region including National Grid, Eversource and Cape Light Compact. DG's wide-ranging capability to service residential customers is a huge step forward for The RISE Group", said Graziano. "It enhances our ability to offer true turnkey comprehensive energy solutions. It will result in both cost savings and more convenience for those homeowners we serve in southeastern MA and on Cape Cod," he noted.

All current employees of DG Service will remain with the business. The firm will operate under the umbrella of The RISE Group's Built Environment division from its current Mattapoisett location.

About The RISE Group, Inc.

The RISE Group, Inc. is a multidisciplinary professional services company that provides a complete range of energy, engineering, and environmental testing services to customers throughout the United States and internationally. Its operating divisions are highly regarded for their delivery of premium quality technical offerings from its offices in New England, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Florida. The RISE Group is a 100% employee-owned company, with over 600 staff participating in its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

For more information, contact:

Vincent R. Graziano, President

The RISE Group, Inc.

(401) 784-3700 x 6115

[email protected]

SOURCE The RISE Group, Inc.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) announced today that cardiologist Dr. Henry Ting (Senior Vice President, Chief Health & Wellness Officer, Delta Air Lines; Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Emory University; and Professor Emeritus, Mayo Clinic) will present the keynote address at the opening Plenary Session of the HFSA Annual Scientific Meeting. The meeting takes place September 27-30, at the at the Georgia World Congress Center and the new Signia by Hilton Atlanta in Atlanta, GA.

Dr. Ting will investigate: what would it mean to transform healthcare from patient-centered to consumer-driven? Post this The HFSA Annual Scientific Meeting takes place September 27-30, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.

During his presentation Transforming to Patient-centered and Consumer-driven Healthcare, Dr. Ting will draw on his unique career expertise to investigate the question: what would it mean to transform healthcare from patient-centered to consumer-driven? He will also explore how physicians can get involved in roles in Corporate America, a concept that has been gaining traction in recent years.

Following his talk, Dr. Ting will be joined by Mitchell Psotka, MD, PhD (System Section Chief of Heart Failure and Transplant, Inova Health System), 2024 ASM Program Committee Chair; and Amanda Vest, MBBS, MPH, FHFSA (Section Head of Heart Failure and Transplantation Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic) 2025 ASM Program Committee Chair for a Fireside Chat and Q&A session.

The opening Plenary Session will take place on Saturday, September 28 at 9:00 AM ET and will kick off the bulk of the meeting's scientific programming.

The HFSA Annual Scientific Meeting has become the premier gathering for the heart failure community, offering an array of educational and networking opportunities for all professionals with an interest in heart failure. The program emphasizes timely, high-impact, multidisciplinary education, covering the full spectrum of advances in heart failure from bench to bedside and beyond.

This year's meeting is chaired by Mitchell Psotka, MD, PhD (System Section Chief of Heart Failure and Transplant, Inova Health System), alongside co-chairs Aaron Bagnola, PharmD (Specialty Practice Pharmacist at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center), Laura Peters, NP (Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant at the University of Colorado), and Nosheen Reza, MD (Cardiologist and Translational Researcher, University of Pennsylvania).

More information will be released in the coming weeks about the Sunday and Monday plenary sessions and other key sessions. Registration for the meeting is open at hfsa.org/asm2024.

About the Heart Failure Society of America

The Heart Failure Society of America, Inc. (HFSA) represents the first organized effort by heart failure experts from the Americas to provide a forum for all those interested in heart function, heart failure, and congestive heart failure (CHF) research and patient care. The mission of HFSA is to provide a platform to improve and expand heart failure care through collaboration, education, innovation, research, and advocacy. HFSA members include physicians, scientists, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, trainees, other healthcare workers and patients. For more information, visit hfsa.org.

Media Contact: Laura Poko, 301-798-4493, ext. 226, [email protected]

SOURCE Heart Failure Society of America
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) today announced that Steve Hagerman will be its new chief information officer. Hagerman will join Truist on Oct. 28, reporting to Chairman & CEO Bill Rogers. Based at Truist headquarters in Charlotte, Hagerman will lead the enterprise technology team, shaping and executing a strategic vision for the bank's technology future, including key areas like data and analytics, AI, information security, technology transformation, and more.

"I'm delighted to welcome Steve Hagerman to Truist as chief information officer," said Truist Chairman & CEO Bill Rogers. "Steve has deep experience serving clients, inspiring teams, and driving business results through technology innovation and modernization. His purposeful leadership, broad expertise and focus on client experience aligns with our strategy and our culture. He is the ideal leader to enhance and leverage our technology capabilities to drive growth and performance."

Hagerman has more than 25 years of experience, primarily in the financial services industry. Most recently, he served as CIO for consumer technology, chief technology officer, and head of consumer lending technology at Wells Fargo. Previously, he held senior leadership positions at JPMorgan Chase and served in the United States Marine Corps. He is a graduate of Franklin University and the Wharton Executive Education Program.

"I'm thrilled to join a company that is built on purpose-driven performance," Hagerman said. "Truist's commitment to caring for clients and inspiring communities is a differentiator in the industry. I'm looking forward to working with the enterprise technology team to deliver capabilities that empower the business and deliver premiere service to clients."

About Truist

Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. As a leading U.S. commercial bank, Truist has leading market share in many of the high-growth markets across the country. Truist offers a wide range of products and services through our wholesale and consumer businesses, including consumer and small business banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth management, payments, and specialized lending businesses. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist is a top-10 commercial bank with total assets of $520 billion as of June 30, 2024. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.

SOURCE Truist Financial Corporation
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Strategic Metals ("USSM" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has received a non-binding Letter of Interest ("LOI") from the Export-Import Bank of the United States ("EXIM Bank"), for a potential debt funding package of $400,000,000, with a loan term of up to 15 years. The funding will enable further development of USSM`s Missouri-based mining and metallurgical project (the "Project").

This transaction may be eligible for special consideration under EXIM Bank's China and Transformational Export Program ("CTEP"), a congressional mandate for EXIM Bank to help American companies facing competition from the People's Republic of China ("PRC") in sectors including Renewable Energy, Energy Storage, & Energy Efficiency.

Given the PRC's dominant market position in critical minerals used in lithium-ion battery and advanced superalloy applications, EXIM Bank's potential funding for USSM supports an America's-focused critical minerals supply chain and helps advance the Company's strategic partnerships for domestic US processing.

The EXIM loan, in combination with existing equity and credit facilities, would provide funding for substantially all of the anticipated construction and development capital required to complete the Project.

Following USSM's formal application for debt funding, EXIM Bank will begin their formal due diligence process and conduct the required comprehensive underwriting to determine the appropriate terms and conditions of the loan.

This press release does not constitute an offer or sale of, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, securities of the Company nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About US Strategic Metals.

USSM is a St Louis, Missouri, US-based critical minerals company; its' state-of-the-art metallurgical plant will process third party concentrates and recycle metals from lithium-ion batteries. USSM will also mine and process the largest cobalt reserve in North America.

The Project will produce cobalt, nickel, lithium and copper. Its fleixble flow sheet will enable it to supply the associated metals, intermediate products and salts which are required for the energy transition and other US strategic needs.

USSM is focused on building a dynamic and sustainable business with an emphasis on applying leading environmental stewardship, social engagement, and corporate governance practices to its strategy.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains statements that involve expectations, plans, or intentions (such as those relating to the Company's ability to enter into a definitive agreement with EXIM Bank for the debt financing as provided for in the LOI) and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These statements are forward-looking and are subject to risks and uncertainties, so actual results may vary materially. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "may," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan," and other similar expressions. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements the Company makes regarding its ability to enter into a definitive agreement with EXIM Bank for debt funding as provided for in the LOI, approval for special consideration under Qualification under Section 402 of EXIM Bank's 2019 reauthorization (P.L. 116-94), ability to establish "Proven" or "Probable" Reserves, as defined by the SEC under Industry Guide 7, through the completion of a Feasibility Study for the minerals that the Company seeks to produce and the inherent risks of mining exploration, development, and processing operations that may negatively impact the business. Consequently, the Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors not within the control of the Company. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company disclaims any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

SOURCE US Strategic Metals
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Uzum (hereafter referred to as "we", "us", "our", "Uzum" or the "Company"), a leading ecosystem of digital services in Uzbekistan, today announces its key performance highlights for the six months ended 30 June 2024.

Key Operating and Financial Highlights

Marketplace GMV grew 4 times year-on-year

Loan portfolio of Uzum fintech services more than doubled

Every third resident of Uzbekistan uses Uzum services

Uzum is currently preparing to launch a Series B funding round in Q4 2024 or Q1 2025 and seeks to raise up to $300 million to fund the further development of its BNPL business, online lending products, and its e-commerce vertical.

The Uzum ecosystem delivered strong growth during 1H 2024, with consolidated net income increasing by 50% year-on-year on the back of the rapid development of its e-commerce and fintech services. The combined audience of the ecosystem nearly doubled year-on-year and reached 10.6 million active users per month, or approximately 30% of Uzbekistan's population.

Nikolay Seleznev, Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer at Uzum, commented:

"We are proud of the solid results that Uzum delivered during the first half of this year and are grateful to our investors, partners, and customers for believing in our mission as we work to unlock the full potential of e-commerce and fintech in Uzbekistan. For the second half of 2024, we will lay the groundwork for the roll-out of the Uzum Bank card as well as our online lending and deposit business. At the end of this year or early next year, we plan to attract further funding to accelerate growth in the promising market of Uzbekistan. To that end, we are targeting large international funds, which would be instrumental in a subsequent prospective listing on an international stock exchange in the medium term."

E-commerce

Uzum's e-commerce unit posted a nearly fourfold increase in GMV, as the online marketplace Uzum Market further solidified its position as the country's e-commerce champion. The marketplace's GMV grew 3.5-fold year-on-year, while the number of orders processed by the marketplace in 1H 2024 grew more than threefold year-on-year and totaled more than 8 million, with more than 10,000 sellers now operating on the platform. Looking ahead, the Company is on track to commission the first phase of the largest warehousing complex in Uzbekistan (77,000 sqm) by year-end to service the further expansion of Uzum Market.

During this period, the online food delivery service Uzum Tezkor became a significant contributor to Uzum's e-commerce business. In just over a year of its operation, Uzum Tezkor has become the largest domestic delivery service by geographic reach, covering the eight largest cities in the country. The service continues to onboard new restaurants to offer customers a growing range of delivery options, with 1,690 restaurants operating on the platform by the end of the period.

Fintech

The Company continued to focus on profitability and product development for its fintech businesses, notably the digital Uzum Bank and the Uzum Nasiya installment payment service. During this quarter, the Bank launched pre-order branded Visa virtual cards with attractive terms for Uzbek consumers and is planning an active roll-out of online lending products over the next 12-18 months, as the business undergoes a strategic transformation into a full-blown neobank with a full suite of daily banking services.

Uzum Nasiya, a convenient installment service for everyday needs, posted a TFV 2.5-fold increase year-on-year while its loan portfolio more than doubled. The number of users with approved limits amounted to 2.8 million at the end of Q2 2024, an increase of 27% from Q1 2024. The service also showed strong synergy with the Uzum's online marketplace, with more than 55% of orders on Uzum Market paid via Nasiya's BNPL solution during this quarter.

In spring 2024, Uzum reached a valuation of over $1 billion and became the first tech unicorn in Uzbekistan, placing the country among the world's most dynamic and high-opportunity markets for the development of e-commerce and fintech services. The Company is laying the technological foundation for the digitization of Uzbekistan's economy and aims to continue its pace of growth by actively developing its own physical and IT infrastructure, as well as seamlessly integrating its services throughout the Uzum ecosystem.

About Uzum

Uzum is a digital ecosystem and the largest digital platform in Uzbekistan, providing services spanning e-commerce, express delivery, banking and fintech, and business development. More than 10 million people in Uzbekistan, or nearly one-third of the country's population, use Uzum services every month.

After successful series A round in March 2024 Uzum became the first tech unicorn in Uzbekistan with a post-money valuation of over $1 billion.

Learn more at uzum.com.

For additional information please contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Uzum Group
CHICAGO, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Valor Equity Partners (together with its affiliates, "Valor"), an operational growth-focused private equity investment firm with $17.5 billion in assets under management, announced today the final closing of its flagship fund, Valor Equity Partners VI ("Fund VI"). Fund VI closed at $2.35 billion in commitments, substantially oversubscribed the Fund's $2.0 billion target, receiving strong support from existing and new limited partners. Concurrent with the Fund VI fundraise, Valor also received over $1.0 billion in new commitments for other Valor managed funds, including Valor Siren Ventures II, a venture fund strategy, and the Valor Opportunity Fund, a later stage growth fund, bringing total new commitments during the period to $3.4 billion.

Fund VI includes a broad range of U.S. and international limited partners, including public pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, multinational corporations, family offices, endowments, foundations, and high net worth investors. Antonio J. Gracias, Valor's Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer, noted, "We are extremely grateful for the longstanding support we continue to receive from our existing investors, many of whom have partnered with us over multiple funds. We also welcome a new group of U.S. and international limited partners to Fund VI and our other Valor managed funds. We are honored to have the trust and confidence of our investors as we pursue our mission to serve exceptional founders, entrepreneurs, and companies that are making the world a better place."

Valor's operational growth funds, including Fund VI, seek to identify and select high-growth, "pro-entropic" companies where the transition to a technology-enabled economy is an important accelerant. Valor defines "pro-entropic" companies as businesses demonstrating the ability to perform and grow across economic and market cycles, unexpected developments, and uncertainty. As in prior operational growth funds, Fund VI will continue to focus on businesses that Valor believes have achieved an inflection point in their ability to scale and are positioned to achieve their market, revenue, and operating goals. As Mr. Gracias further noted, "For over 25 years, we have been privileged to partner with visionary founders and innovative companies transforming their industries through disruptive technology and operational excellence. As we accelerate into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we will continue to invest in these mission-oriented companies that are making our world better." Select initial Fund VI investments include SpaceX, WEKA, xAI, and Zipline.

Valor's in-house Scale Group, known for its hands-on approach to providing operational support to our portfolio companies, has been recognized for its work at, among others, Tesla and SpaceX. Fund VI continues Valor's strategy of using capital, as well as our operational resources and expertise, to serve portfolio companies as they transform their industries and generate compelling returns for our limited partners.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor in connection with Fund VI and the other referenced Valor funds.

About Valor Equity Partners

Valor Equity Partners is an operational growth investment firm focused on investing in high-growth companies across various stages of development. For decades, Valor has served its companies with unique expertise to solve the challenges of growth and scale. Valor partners with leading companies and entrepreneurs who are committed to the highest standards of excellence and the courage to transform their industries. For more information on Valor Equity Partners, please visit www.valorep.com.

SOURCE Valor Equity Partners
IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- VESICA HEALTH, INC., a leading multi-omics liquid biopsy company committed to improving the management of hematuria patients and the early detection of bladder cancer, is excited to announce the formation of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB comprises a distinguished group of world-renowned bladder cancer experts, who will bring invaluable insights and expertise across all phases of operations, spanning research to clinical strategies, to enhance patient care.

"We are honored to welcome these exceptional and accomplished bladder cancer leaders to Vesica Health's Scientific Advisory Board," stated Laura Caba, MPH, President of Vesica Health. "In our commitment to supporting the clinical community and patients, we will rely on these experts. Their deep understanding of the unmet needs will guide us in our mission to elevate patient care and improve outcomes."

Vesica Forms Scientific Advisory Board for the Advancement of Early Bladder Cancer Detection Post this

"I am excited to join Vesica's Scientific Advisory Board and support their important mission to improve the early detection of bladder cancer," commented Sam S. Chang, MD, MBA, Professor of Urology, Patricia and Rodes Hart Chair of Urologic Surgery and Chief Surgical Officer, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center at Vanderbilt University. "This Advisory Board brings together an esteemed group of peers, and I know we all look forward to collaborating with the management team to advance Vesica's clinical programs and our shared goal of improving bladder cancer detection, treatment and ultimately outcomes."

Members of Vesica's Scientific Advisory Board (in alphabetical order) include:

Peter Black, MD, FACS, FRCSC, Professor, Department of Urologic Sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Khosrowshahi Family Chair, Associate Director of Clinical Research at Vancouver Prostate Centre

Sam S. Chang, MD, MBA, Professor, Department of Urology, Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Urologic Surgery, Chief Surgical Officer, Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center and Chief, Division of Urologic Oncology at Vanderbilt University

Siamak Daneshmand, MD, Professor, Department of Urology and Director of Clinical Research at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, as well as the Society of Urologic Oncology Fellowship Director

Cheryl T. Lee, MD, Professor and Chairman, Department of Urology, Dorothy M. Davis Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, Vice President of the OSU Physicians and Faculty Group Practice at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Yair Lotan, MD, Professor of Urology, Chief of Urologic Oncology, the Jane and John Justin Distinguished Chair in Urology, In Honor of Claus G. Roehrborn, M.D. and holder of the Helen J. and Robert S. Strauss Professorship in Urology at UT Southwestern Medical Center

Sima P. Porten, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Urology at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), and member of the multi-disciplinary Urologic Oncology team at the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

Gary D. Steinberg, MD, Professor, Department of Urology at Rush University in Chicago, and former Director of the Bladder Cancer program at NYU Langone and the Director of Urologic Oncology at the University of Chicago

Full biographies available at: www.vesicahealth.com

About AssureMDx

AssureMDx is a multi-omic noninvasive urine-based DNA test designed to transform the triage of hematuria patients. By providing physicians with a precise method for identifying patients at increased risk for bladder cancer, AssureMDx facilitates immediate urological referral and clinical evaluation when needed. Importantly, the test also helps physicians effectively distinguish patients at very low risk, who may bypass invasive procedures and avoid unnecessary CT scans, thereby reducing potential radiation exposure risks. Backed by extensive research, the AssureMDx epigenetic and somatic biomarkers have been reported in 22 peer-reviewed studies involving over 6,000 patients, including multiple prospective clinical validation studies. These studies consistently demonstrate the test's robust clinical performance, notably 0.96 AUC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve), 99% Negative Predictive Value (NPV), and 96% Sensitivity for the detection of bladder cancer in hematuria patients. Moreover, AssureMDx will provide urologists a noninvasive means to monitor bladder cancer patients at heightened risk of recurrence following treatment, thereby enhancing patient management and improving outcomes.

About Vesica Health, Inc.

At Vesica Health, our mission is clear: to revolutionize the management of hematuria patients, enhance the early detection of bladder cancer, and improve patient survival. Hematuria, characterized by blood in the urine, affects an estimated 17 million (1-in-5) adult Americans annually, serving as the most common symptom of bladder cancer. Despite guideline recommendations, only 12% of patients are referred to urology for clinical evaluation, resulting in approximately 20,000 diagnoses missed each year. Delayed detection leads to later-stage disease and increased mortality rates. Conventional diagnostic methods like cytology and cystoscopy, while widely used, suffer from lower sensitivity and often fail to detect bladder cancer. Moreover, the fear of undetected cancer prompts a high rate of CT scans, exposing patients to unnecessary radiation and an increased risk of secondary cancer later in life. Drawing from 20 years of advanced multi-omics research in bladder cancer detection, AssureMDx is a clinically validated, noninvasive test that helps improve the evaluation of hematuria, enhance early disease detection, and enable effective recurrence monitoring. For more information on our groundbreaking initiatives, visit www.vesicahealth.com.

For more information:

Vesica Health Corporate Communications

[email protected]

This company announcement contains forward-looking statements and estimates with respect to the anticipated future performance of Vesica Health and the market in which it operates. Such statements and estimates are based on assumptions and assessments of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which were deemed reasonable but may not prove to be correct. Actual events are difficult to predict, may depend upon factors that are beyond the company's control, and may turn out to be materially different. Vesica Health expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this announcement to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based unless required by law or regulation. This company announcement does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of Vesica Health in any jurisdiction. No securities of Vesica Health may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. securities laws.

NOTE: The Vesica Health wordmarks and logos, including Vesica Health, and AssureMDx are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vesica Health, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Vesica Health
NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vestar Capital Partners, a leading U.S. middle-market private equity firm, today announced the closing of the recapitalization of Roland Foods, LLC, a leading branded purveyor of fine global ingredients serving the foodservice industry for over 90 years. As part of the transaction, Vestar and co-investors have made a significant growth capital investment alongside the refinancing of Roland Foods' credit facilities. The recapitalization positions the company for the continued execution of its organic growth strategy and provides significant dry powder for future acquisitions. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"Roland has been a very successful investment for Vestar thus far, and we are thrilled to continue our partnership with CEO Keith Dougherty and the Roland management team to support the company's continued growth and expansion," said Ken O'Keefe, Vestar Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, and Member of the Board of Roland Foods. "Over the course of our ownership, Roland has scaled significantly and materially expanded its product offerings, both organically and through the acquisitions of AUI Fine Foods and ifiGOURMET. We see a tremendous opportunity to continue to scale the platform via M&A and additional investments across the organization."

"We have been very strategic about our growth, and this new capital will help support future acquisitions and other initiatives that will allow us to take advantage of strong demand for specialty foods and ingredients," said Mr. Dougherty. "We're excited to keep moving forward with a partner that truly understands our business, and we thank the Vestar team for their ongoing support."

About Roland Foods

Since 1934, Roland Foods has been a purveyor of premium, high-quality global ingredients. With a curated portfolio of over 2,400 products carefully sourced worldwide, the brand is a trusted resource relied upon by chefs and home cooks. An established brand in the Fine Foods category, Roland Foods aims to inspire culinary curiosity and creativity in the kitchen. To learn more about Roland Foods, please visit https://rolandfoods.com/

About Vestar Capital Partners

Vestar Capital Partners is a leading U.S. middle-market private equity firm specializing in management buyouts and growth capital investments. Vestar invests in and collaborates with incumbent management teams and private owners to build long-term enterprise value, with a focus on Consumer, Business & Technology Services and Healthcare. Since inception in 1988, Vestar funds have invested over $12 billion in 94 companies  as well as more than 200 add-on acquisitions  with a total value of approximately $61 billion. For more information on Vestar, please visit www.vestarcapital.com.

Media Contacts:

Lambert

Jennifer Hurson

845.507.0571

[email protected]

or

Caroline Luz

203.570.6462

[email protected]

SOURCE Vestar Capital Partners; Roland Foods
GRAND BAHAMA, Bahamas, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Air, The Bahamas based commercial airline announces the launch of daily, direct flights between Freeport, Grand Bahama and Fort Lauderdale Florida. The highly anticipated route begins Thursday, August 22, 2024 and will mark the airline's second route connecting South Florida with the islands of The Bahamas. With a brief flight time of approximately 25 minutes, Western Air's direct flights will offer both frequency and easy accessibility for Grand Bahama and South Florida residents seeking to enjoy a close, affordable getaway. Free checked bags are included up to 40 lbs.

Western Air operates daily jet flights between Grand Bahama and Fort Lauderdale, Nassau and Fort Lauderdale, Freeport, Abaco, Exuma, Eleuthera, San Andros, Congo Town, Bimini, and Cat Island.

Continuing in its trademark ticket flexibility, all Western Air tickets are valid for one year with the freedom to adjust your travel plans anytime without penalty or change fees. Flights departing from Freeport, will operate from Western Air's private passenger terminal at Grand Bahama International Airport which was newly reconstructed and reopened one year ago, after significant damage from Hurricane Dorian in 2019. The bright, new state-of-the-art passenger facility brings relaxed comfort to the Western Air travel experience in and out of Grand Bahama.

Grand Bahama, the northern most island in The Bahamas boasts ecological wonders, stunning beaches, vibrant culture, native foods and a variety of activities for all visitors, be it solo travelers, sport enthusiasts, nature lovers, couples or families. South Florida will now have a new flight alternative to make visiting Grand Bahama an island breeze.

ABOUT WESTERN AIR

Founded in September 2000, Western Air is the largest privately owned airline in The Bahamas operating daily jet service between Nassau and Grand Bahama, Abaco, Exuma, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Bimini, Congo Town, San Andros and Fort Lauderdale. The airline also offers on demand charters throughout the Caribbean, Central & South America & the United States. Western Air operates a uniformed fleet of Embraer ERJ145 LRs & XRs, one class cabin, 50-seater jets and has a team of over 260+ employees. The airline holds the best on-time record in the region and operates its own passenger terminals & full-service maintenance facilities located in San Andros and Grand Bahama. For more information, please visit www.westernairbahamas.com.

SOURCE Western Air Limited
SHANGHAI, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ZKH Group Limited ("ZKH" or the "Company") (NYSE: ZKH), a leading maintenance, repair and operations ("MRO") procurement service platform in China, today announced that it will release its unaudited financial results for the second quarter of 2024, on Thursday, August 22, 2024, before the open of the U.S. markets.

The Company's management will hold an earnings conference call on Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 8:00 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 P.M. Beijing/Hong Kong 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 Access Code: 7845776

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 August 29, 2024:

United States:







+1-877-344-7529 International:







+1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code:







2271132

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available on the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.zkh.com.

About ZKH Group Limited

ZKH Group Limited (NYSE: ZKH) is a leading MRO procurement service platform in China, dedicated to propelling the MRO industry's digital transformation to drive cost reduction and efficiency improvement industry-wide. Leveraging its outstanding product selection and recommendation capabilities, ZKH provides digitalized, one-stop MRO procurement solutions that enable its customers to transparently and efficiently access a wide selection of quality products at competitive prices. ZKH also facilitates timely and reliable product delivery with professional fulfillment services. By catering specifically to the needs of MRO suppliers and customers through its unmatched digital infrastructure, ZKH empowers all participants in the value chain to achieve more.

For more information, please visit https://ir.zkh.com.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

ZKH Group Limited

IR Department

E-mail: [email protected]

Piacente Financial Communications

Hui Fan

Tel: +86-10-6508-0677

E-mail: [email protected]

In the United States:

Piacente Financial Communications

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE ZKH Group Limited
Book bans enacted by conservative leaning school boards and state governments have impacted American schools these past few years.

Pen America reports 5,894 instances of books banned across the 202122 and 202223 school years, 37% of which include characters of color or discuss race or racism.

History repeats itself. In 1967, government suppression targeted two Black-owned Buffalo bookstores.

Since opening in 1965, Martin Sostres Afro-Asian Book Shop at 1412 Jefferson Ave. served as an empowering space for Black Buffalonians, featuring books about Black history, culture and literature, records featuring Black musicians, and African artifacts.

Geraldine Pointer (then Robinson) managed Sostres second bookstore, the East West Book Shop at 289 High St. Due to the bookstores growing contributions to Black political consciousness in Buffalo, local law enforcement targeted Sostre and Pointer.

In the early morning of July 15, 1967, plainclothes police officers and FBI agents raided the store and arrested Pointer and Sistre, scapegoating Sostre as the cause of the citys recent social unrest (June 27 to July 1), in which Black Buffalonians revolted against police brutality, segregated housing and racialized inequality.

Sostre was charged with illegal sale and possession of narcotics, inciting a riot, arson, resisting arrest and assault. Pointer was charged with selling narcotics and interfering with an arrest. The arrests led to the bookstores closure.

By the time of Sostres trial the following year, the arson and riot charges were dropped, drug charges were reduced to a single $15 bag of heroin (supplied by a police informant who later recanted his testimony).

Pointer lost custody of her five children before being reunited with them after two years of imprisonment. Sostre was sentenced to 31 to 41 years by an all-white jury. Following nine years of incarceration, Sostre was granted executive clemency on Dec. 24, 1975, and released on Feb. 9, 1976.

Pointers and Sostres records, however, have not been exonerated, an injustice requiring re-examination by Acting County District Attorney Michael Keane. Although exoneration would acknowledge local governments role limiting access to books by Black authors, it also raises questions of what justice means within a historical context of government endorsed redlining, segregated public housing, and urban renewal.

On July 14, 45 community members met at Burning Books, a bookstore previously targeted by the FBI, to demand Pointer and Sostres exonerations. Community members will gather on Aug. 15 at 6 p.m. at the Merriweather Library to continue pushing for Pointers and Sostres exonerations and organizing around their legacies.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Entertainment / Events

by Paul Ndou

Various artistes will be performing at Guruve Hotel on Saturday at a gala dubbed "Gamba Remumhanzi."Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation (ZBC), National FM radio presenter Rabson Umali will be the Master of Ceremony at the event.Musicians performing include Josphat Somanje, Itai Muchawaya, Gulf Makina , Vari Khumulani, Mvurwi based gospel outfit Chiedza Chedenga, Evelyn Kapupurika, Guruve Prisons, and many more upcoming artistes.The show is free and families are being invited to attend.Guruve hotel brand Ambassador Simbarashe Sithole invited people around Guruve to come in numbers and celebrate Heroes holiday."We are inviting all families from Guruve and places around to come in huge numbers and celebrate Heroes holiday at Guruve hotel since they will be meeting their artistes and radio presenters at the venue," Sithole said.
United Nations, Aug 8 : The Simla Agreement of 1972 is also to be noted while finding a final settlement to the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Charter, according to Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

He said, "Our position on Kashmir remains unchanged: That the final settlement of the dispute concerning Jammu and Kashmir is to be reached by peaceful means in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and full respect for human rights."

"The Secretary-General also recalls the 1972 agreement on bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, also known as the Simla Agreement," he added.

The pact was reached in Shimla between Indira Gandhi, then the prime Minister of India, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Pakistanas president at that time, in the aftermath of the Bangladesh War of Independence.

The agreement between the two countries stipulated that disputes between the neighbours, including over Kashmir, were bilateral issues to be resolved without the involvement of third parties.

Haq was replying to a question at the daily UN briefing from a Palestinian journalist who alleged that the UN was silent on the "atrocities committed for the past five years" since Article 370 of India's Constitution that gave Kashmir special status was abrogated on August 5, 2019.

UN's position "is governed by the Charter of the United Nations and applicable Security Council resolutions", Haq said.

Security Council Resolution 47 adopted on April 21, 1948, requires the Pakistani government "to secure the withdrawal from the State of Jammu and Kashmir of tribesmen and Pakistani nationals not normally resident therein who have entered the State for the purpose of fighting, and to prevent any intrusion into the State of such elements and any furnishing of material aid to those fighting in the State".

Although Pakistanis and their supporters cite the Security Council resolution asking for a plebiscite to be held in Kashmir, they ignore the Councilas demand that Pakistan withdraw from the occupied areas.

Under that resolution, Pakistan is also forbidden to aid terrorists in Kashmir.

India maintains that given Pakistanas failure to abide by the resolution a plebiscite is moot and the people of Kashmir have instead been able to voice their preference through participation in elections there.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)
New Delhi, Aug 8 : A judicial tribunal established by the government to review the extension of the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act has upheld the ban.

The tribunal, presided over by Delhi High Court Judge Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, cited ISIS links among a host of reasons for the decision.

In a notification issued on January 29, the Union Home Ministry had extended the ban on SIMI for five more years and declared it an 'unlawful association'.

The ministry had said that the SIMI "continues to be involved in fomenting terrorism, disturbing peace and communal harmony which are prejudicial to the sovereignty, security and integrity of India".

Later, a tribunal was constituted on February 16 to decide whether there were sufficient reasons to declare SIMI an illegal organisation or not.

On July 24, the judicial tribunal, in the exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (3) of Section 4 of the UAPA, passed an order confirming the announcement of the ban on SIMI, an official notification said.

Established in 1977 in Aligarh Muslim University, the SIMI was first banned in 2001 and since then the ban has been extended periodically.
Srinagar, Aug 8 : A high-level team of the Election Commission of India (ECI), headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, is arriving in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday to review preparedness for the Assembly polls in the Union Territory.

Srinagar, Aug 8 (IANS) A high-level team of the Election Commission of India (ECI), headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, is arriving in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday to review preparedness for the Assembly polls in the Union Territory.

Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu will accompany the CEC during the visit.

As per the schedule, the ECI team will reach Srinagar at 10 a.m. At 11.15 am, it will hold meetings with representatives of different political parties including the BJP, Congress, National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bahujan Samaj Party, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and Aam Admi Party.

The ECI members will not meet the representatives of the Panthers Party as its name and symbol were frozen by the commission on March 20.

After holding meetings with different political parties, the commission will hold a joint meeting with Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) of all 20 districts through video conferencing. The meeting is slated to start at 2 p.m.

At 7 p.m., the ECI team will meet the J&K Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), state poll nodal officer and coordinator of central paramilitary forces to review preparedness for the polls.

After their night halt, the members will hold a meeting with Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and Director General of Police (DGP) R.R. Swain at 9 a.m. on Friday. They will leave for Jammu on Friday at 11.40 a.m.

At 1 pm on Friday, the ECI team will meet various enforcement agencies in Jammu and before leaving for New Delhi, it will address a news conference at around 2:30 p.m.

The J&K's last elected government was dissolved in June 2018 after the BJP withdrew from the PDP-BJP coalition government headed by Mehbooba Mufti.

On August 5, 2019, Article 370 was abrogated and the state was bifurcated into two UTs of J&K and Ladakh each headed by a Lt Governor.
Jaipur, Aug 8 : Rajasthan BJP MLA Amrit Lal Meena passed away late on Wednesday night after his health suddenly deteriorated. He was 65.

Meena was rushed to the MB Hospital in Udaipur where he died during treatment. Officials said that Meena died due to a heart attack.

The MLA from the Salumber Assembly constituency was admitted to the hospital after he complained of chest pain. Doctors tried their best to save him, but could not succeed, said sources.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, BJP state president Madan Rathore, party's former state president C.P. Joshi expressed grief over the death of Amrit Lal Meena.

CM Bhajan Lal Sharma wrote on X, "It is very sad! I am shocked by the news of the death of BJP MLA Amrit Lal Meena from the Salumber Assembly constituency due to a heart attack. This is an irreparable loss for the BJP family. I pray to Almighty God to give strength to his family members in this hour of grief."

Rajasthan BJP state president Madan Rathore wrote on his X handle that he was shocked to hear the news of the sudden demise of a senior member of BJP member and MLA from Salumbar, Amritlal Meena. "Amritlal ji propagated the organisation's ideology throughout his life and raised issues of public interest. May God give peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense pain" he said.

Amritlal Meena served as MLA three times since 2013

arc)
Seoul, Aug 8 : The government is considering requiring electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers to disclose information on car batteries amid an EV scare following a massive fire caused by a Mercedes-Benz vehicle last week, according to sources on Thursday.

According to the sources, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is reviewing the measures for car manufacturers to include EV battery manufacturer details in vehicle specifications, reports Yonhap news agency.

Currently, EV manufacturers are required to provide information on vehicle size, weight, maximum output, energy efficiency and battery capacity. However, details such as the battery manufacturer or product name are not mandatory.

As a result, consumers who wish to verify battery information must often rely on media reports or contact the manufacturer directly. Some companies do not fully disclose battery information even when approached by consumers.

The ministry plans to carefully review the matter, considering the various complexities involved in disclosing battery information.

EV manufacturers often do not disclose battery supplier details, citing competitive and trade secret concerns. Some watchers note that information disclosure measures could lead to unintended trade issues.

Meanwhile, recent EV fire incidents involving Mercedes-Benz and Kia models could not have come at a worse time for the local automotive industry.

The latest scare surrounding electric cars started last Thursday, when a Mercedes-Benz EQE vehicle caught fire in an underground parking garage inside an apartment complex in Incheon, 27 kms west of Seoul.

The fire gutted the facility, completely ravaging around 40 nearby vehicles and partly damaging some 100 additional cars. Over 800 residents were staying in temporary shelters due to a disruption in the water and power supply.

Another fire incident was reported involving a EV6 model by South Korean automaker Kia in Geumsan county, South Chungcheong Province.

As EVs have become more and more common, so has the number of fire cases. In 2018, there were three reported EV fire cases. Last year, the tally jumped to 72.
Seoul, Aug 8 : BMW Korea, Hyundai Motor and two other carmakers will voluntarily recall more than 172,000 vehicles due to faulty components, the transport ministry here said on Thursday.

The four companies, also including Kia and KGM Commercial, will recall 172,976 units of 103 different models, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement.

The problems that prompted the recall include an error with the airbag module inflator of some BMW 320d units and a wiring error of the second-row seats of over 43,000 units of Hyundai Motor's Santa Fe SUV, reports Yonhap news agency.

Also, over 15,000 units of Kia's Soul model are subject to a recall due to a potential fire risk associated with the vehicles' hydraulic electronic control unit. KGM Commercial will recall 52 units of its Smart 110E electric bus models due to a defect in the steering system.

Last month, Kia, Nissan Korea and three other carmakers voluntarily recalled more than 1,56,000 vehicles due to faulty components.

The five companies, also including Hyundai Motor Co., Porsche Korea and Toyota Motor Korea Co., will recall 1,56,740 units of 32 different models.

The problems that prompted the recall include poor durability of the electronic control hydraulic unit of 1,39,478 units of the Sorento SUV model.

Also, 8,802 vehicles across eight Nissan models, including the Q50 model, were found to have defective manufacturing of the propeller shaft.

According to the ministry, Hyundaias luxury brand Genesis will recall 2,782 GV70 units due to defective engine ignition connection bolts. Porsche Korea will recall 2,054 vehicles across 17 models, including the 911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, due to a safety issue involving the lane-keeping function.

Toyota Korea will recall 737 vehicles across three models, including the Prius 2WD, due to a defect in the rear door external handle, the ministry said.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : As the unified payments interface (UPI) technology continues to empower millions of users, more than 1.73 lakh panchayats in the country are now UPI-enabled, able to collect payments digitally.

According to Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Professor S.P. Singh Baghel, rural citizens can now make tax and non-tax payments digitally, thereby strengthening the financial capabilities and local governance of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

They can pay property tax, water tax, streetlight tax, trade license fee, building permission fee and layout approval fee with the UPI-based platforms.

The Minister said that the UPI platform can also provide a convenient and accessible way for citizens to link their Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts with their UPI IDs, enabling seamless transactions and financial inclusion.

They can easily access their accounts, make transactions, and leverage the benefits offered by the PMJDY programme, such as RuPay Insurance coverage, the minister informed Parliament.

"This streamlined approach encourages the rural citizenry to take advantage of the financial services and insurance benefits provided by the government, ultimately fostering financial empowerment and security among the rural population," said Baghel.

The contribution of mobile phones and digital banking services in India has lifted 800 million people out of poverty.

Rural farmers, who never had a relationship with a banking system, are now able to transact all their businesses on their smartphones, Dennis Francis, President of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), said earlier this month.

Digital payments have registered unprecedented growth in India during the past 10 years, with the UPI having emerged as the preferred payment mode of the citizens.

Baghel said that the Ministry of Panchayati Raj also supplements the efforts of the states through Central Finance Commission Grants and Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA).

The RGSA scheme provides financial and technical support to the states for capacity building and training (CB&T) of elected representatives and functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
Tel Aviv, Aug 8 : Israel intelligence is gathering maximum information from its network in Gaza on Yahya Sinwar, the newly anointed political head of the militant group, Hamas.

Sources told IANS that Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, a hawk among the top leadership of the country, has renewed his earlier call to eliminate Sinwar.

According to the information available, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant met Mossad Chief David Barnea and Shin Bet Chief Ronan Bar and apprised them of the urgency to eliminate Sinwar at the earliest.

It may be recalled that Defence Minister Gallant had publicly called for the assassination of Yahya Sinwar and had said that the Israeli establishment would hunt down the dreaded Hamas leader at any cost.

The spokesperson of Israel Defense Forces (IDF ), Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari in a press statement after Sinwar was announced as the political head by Hamas said, "Yahya Sinwar is a terrorist, who is responsible for the most brutal terrorist attack in history -- October 7th. There is only one place for Yahya Sinwar, and it is beside Mohammed Deif and the rest of the October 7th terrorists. That is the only place we're preparing and intending for him."

Israel had on August 1 publicly announced that it had killed Mohammed Deif, the military head of Hamas, and the statement of Hagari is a clear message that Israel will not rest till it eliminates Sinwar.

Sinwar, according to Israel is the man behind the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that led to the murder of 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping of 251 people who were taken as hostages into Gaza. Of the kidnapped, 111 hostages are still in Gaza. The mortal remains of 39 hostages have also not been handed over.

Israel intelligence agencies have already reported that Yahya Sinwar was hiding in an underground tunnel network in either the Khan Younis area or the Rafah area and is surrounded by Israeli hostages.

Meanwhile, Israel has stepped up its defence systems for a probable Iranian attack following the killing of Hamas political head Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and that of Hezbollah military head Fuad Shukr in Beirut on August 1.

After the two back-to-back killings of the top leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, Iran has been mulling retaliation against Israel.

However, Iran International has reported that the Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian met their supreme leader Ali Khamenei and apprised him that an attack on Israel would have a retaliation that could cripple the country's economy.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said educational exchanges are an important aspect of the bilateral relations with New Zealand and called for further deepening educational ties with the country.

Addressing the New Zealand International Education Conference in Wellington, she said, "Educational exchanges are an important aspect of our bilateral ties, collaborating to create productive minds who can contribute globally."

Praising New Zealand's education system, she said, "New Zealand is renowned for its high-quality education with a focus on research, innovation, inclusivity, and excellence. Education remains one of New Zealand's top service exports."

Highlighting the significance of educational exchanges in bilateral relations, President Murmu noted, "India and New Zealand enjoy a warm and friendly relationship, anchored by shared values of democracy and the rule of law. Our rich cultural exchanges and robust people-to-people ties foster mutual understanding and goodwill."

Sharing her journey, President Murmu said, "Education has always been close to my heart. Growing up in a remote village in India with limited access to quality education, my parents understood its value and ensured I attended school. I was the first woman from my village to receive a college education, thanks to the unwavering support of my parents and my teachers' dedication. This experience instilled in me a deep belief in the transformative power of education."

She emphasised that education is a vehicle for social change and nation-building, touching on every aspect of life - economy, intellect, art, society, and spirituality.

"Education creates leaders, thinkers, guides, protectors, and keepers of society's conscience. It is the cornerstone of a nation's progress and advancement," the President said.

Highlighting India's rich educational heritage, she said, "Knowledge has always been the highest pursuit in India. From our timeless scriptures - the Vedas, Upanishads, and Buddhist Tipiaaka- to ancient centres of learning like Nalanda, the pursuit of knowledge has been eternal."

President Murmu noted India's progress in the 21st century, reforming the educational institutions through the National Education Policy 2020.

"It also opens avenues for greater collaboration with foreign institutions," she said, highlighting the educational reforms.

"India's literacy rate has significantly improved, with more educational institutions established and wider representation in the education system. Our premier institutions, like the IITs and IIMs, produce world-class engineers, scientists, and managers who contribute to the global knowledge economy. I am pleased that New Zealand universities have established a centre at IIT Delhi for academic collaboration," she said.

She concluded by mentioning the growing number of Indian students in New Zealand, saying, "Around 8,000 Indian students are studying in New Zealand, making them the second largest group of international students, and this number continues to grow."

President Murmu arrived in Auckland late Wednesday, New Zealand time, on the second leg of her three-nation visit
News / Local

by Staff reporter

The government has deployed soldiers in residential areas to maintain peace and order ahead of the 44th session of the SADC Heads of State and Government Summit, scheduled to be hosted by Harare on August 17.Police have also increased their presence in urban areas, including Chitungwiza, where there was a heavy presence of police and soldiers, leaving residents shocked and leading to a self-imposed curfew.In Chitungwiza, soldiers and police patrolled in convoys, with soldiers using motorized military gear and police armed with water cannons, batons, and guns. This heightened security has led to early closures of bars and vendors leaving their stalls. Residents expressed fear and uncertainty, opting to stay indoors.National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi described the deployments as "normal" and intended to assure public safety, stating that such measures could be extended to other areas if necessary. He did not comment on the duration of the deployments.In addition to these measures, police have launched an operation targeting pirate taxis and vendors to "restore sanity" in the capital. The government has also intensified a crackdown on activists suspected of planning protests ahead of the summit, with many political and human rights activists currently incarcerated.
Wellington, Aug 8 : President Droupadi Murmu met New Zealand's Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters on Thursday and discussed the progressing bilateral ties between the two nations and ways to strengthen them.

During their meeting, President Murmu and Governor General Kiro hailed the warm and friendly relationship between India and New Zealand and discussed cooperation across various sectors.

Later, Deputy PM Peters, who is also the Foreign Affairs Minister of New Zealand, called on the President and discussed the bilateral ties.

Earlier in the day, President Murmu also addressed the New Zealand International Education Conference in Wellington and highlighted the strong educational bonds between both countries.

President Murmu highlighted the significance of educational exchanges in bilateral relations, noting, "India and New Zealand enjoy a warm and friendly relationship, anchored by shared values of democracy and the rule of law. Our rich cultural exchanges and robust people-to-people ties foster mutual understanding and goodwill."

Mentioning the growing number of Indian students in New Zealand, the President said, "Around 8,000 Indian students are studying in New Zealand, making them the second largest group of international students, and this number continues to grow."

On Wednesday, the President arrived in New Zealand on the second leg of her three-nation tour. She received a warm welcome from Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro at Government House and was accorded a traditional Maori 'Powhiri' ceremony and the Royal Guard of Honour.

President Murmu, visiting the country at the invitation of Governor General of New Zealand Dame Cindy Kiro, was received at the Auckland airport by Todd McClay, New Zealand's Minister of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry, Hunting and Fishing and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs.

After New Zealand, President Murmu will visit Timor-Leste on August 10 at the invitation of President Jose Ramos-Horta. This will be the first-ever Head of State visit from India to Timor-Leste.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear on Friday a plea seeking directions to the National Board of Examination (NBE) to reschedule the Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)-PG 2024, which is scheduled for August 11.

A bench headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud directed the registry to list the matter for hearing on Friday after advocate Anas Tanwir, representing petitioners, mentioned the plea for urgent listing.

The petitioners seek postponement of the exam on the ground that candidates have been allocated cities which are highly inconvenient for them to reach and the formula for normalisation is unknown to them.

The plea seeks details and disclosure of the formula for the normalisation of the four sets of question papers to eliminate any possibility of arbitrariness in the process.

"The examination will be conducted in two batches...There is a likelihood that one batch of candidates may face a more difficult question paper than the other batch. Therefore, it is prayed that the formula for normalisation should be disclosed before the conduct of examinations thereby ruling out any fear of arbitrariness," it said.

Further, the plea stated that the allocation of test cities was made on July 31 and the specific centres are scheduled to be declared on August 8, and given such short notice it has become highly difficult for students to make arrangements for their travel to their specific cities.

"That more than two lakh students are scheduled to appear in the examination. The examination is scheduled to be held in 185 test cities, therefore, resulting in the non-availability of train tickets as well as the hiking of airfares due to dynamic pricing, thereby making it almost impossible for a large number of students to reach their test centres," it added.

Earlier, the NEET-PG, which was scheduled to be held on June 23, was postponed by the Union Health Ministry in "best interests of the students and to maintain the sanctity of the examination process".

"Taking into consideration the recent incidents of allegations regarding the integrity of certain competitive examinations, the Ministry of Health has decided to undertake a thorough assessment of the robustness of processes of NEET-PG Entrance Examination, conducted by the National Board of Examination for medical students," the ministry said in a statement on June 22.

Last year, the top court had declined to entertain petitions seeking postponement of the NEET-PG 2023 exam.
Kolkata, Aug 8 : The mortal remains of former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee will be donated to a state-run medical college and hospital in Kolkata on Friday, as per his last wish.

The CPI(M) Politburo member and former minister in the previous Left Front regime, Dr Surjya Kanta Mishra told media persons that the former Chief Minister had pledged his body for the purpose of research for medical students.

"His body will be preserved on Thursday. On Friday morning his body will be taken to CPI(M) state headquarters and kept there for some time for people to pay homage.

"Apart from that several party leaders including Politburo members will be coming to pay their tributes.

"Thereafter his body will be donated at any state-run medical college and hospital, which will be decided after consulting with the state health department," Dr Mishra said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has issued a statement expressing condolences to the bereaved family members and his party colleagues and said the departed leader will be provided with a ceremonial honour during his last journey and rites.

"Shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of the former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. I have known him for several decades, and visited him a few times when he was ill and effectively confined to his home in the last few years. My very sincere condolences to Meera di and Suchetan, at this hour of grief.

"I communicate my condolences to the members of the CPI(M) party and all his followers. We have already taken a decision that we shall give him full respect and ceremonial honour during his last journey and rites," the Chief Minister's statement read.

In his condolence message, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari also expressed condolences to the bereaved family members and admirers of the former Chief Minister.

"I am deeply saddened to learn that former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has left for his heavenly abode. Condolences to his family members and admirers. I pray that his soul finds eternal peace. Om Shanti," his statement read.
Kochi, Aug 8 : The Kerala High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by K.P.M. Mustafa, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in the 2021 Assembly election, against Najeeb Kanthapuram of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), who won the Perinthalmanna seat.

Kanthapuram won the 2021 Assembly polls by a slender margin of just 38 votes and Mustafa had approached the high court with an election petition claiming that 348 postal votes in three ballot boxes were not counted.

Mustafa had contended that had those votes been counted he would have won the election.

Reacting to the court clearing his election, Kanthapuram, presently in the US on a trip, said he is happy with the verdict.

"I am very happy and this is the result of the prayers of thousands of my voters in Perinthalmanna. I was always sure that the truth will triumph and I was always confident that there was no merit in the allegations," said Kanthapuram.

"At this time I would like to give my special thanks to the huge support I received from the party leadership. I have always been at the forefront and engaged in my work. This will give me more impetus to work for the people in my constituency," added Kanthapuram.

"I don't think there was any lapse on the part of the officials. It's natural that when the margin is very slender, such thoughts might come and I will not blame my opponent candidate who filed the plea," said Kanthapuram.
Hyderabad, Aug 8 : Police in Greater Hyderabad are on the alert to check the possible arrival of Bangladeshi illegal immigrants following unrest in the neighbouring country.

Police personnel were thoroughly checking trains arriving from Kolkata to thwart any attempt by Bangladeshis to enter the city.

Following an alert sounded by the intelligence agencies, police were checking trains reaching Secunderabad and Nampally railway stations. Police teams were also conducting checks in parts of the city where illegal immigrants from Bangladesh were arrested earlier.

Police from Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda commissionerates were on alert in areas like Balapur, Katedan, Mailardevpally, Falaknuma and Pahadai Shareef. Residents have been advised to inform police about the presence of suspicious individuals in their neighbourhood. Sources said few suspects were rounded up for questioning.

In the past, Rohingyas and some Bangladeshis were found to have settled down in these areas. They were working as vendors or as workers in industries or the construction sector. Some of them were allegedly travelling illegally to Bangladesh and coming back.

In February, five minors from Bangladesh were rescued by police under 'Operation Muskan' in Khammam town of Telangana. The children were sent back to their country with the help of an NGO. Four Bangladeshi nationals were also arrested for illegally staying in Khammam. Two of them had allegedly obtained passports, Aadhaar, PAN and voter ID cards using fake credentials.

Recently, four Bangladeshis, including a minor, were caught in Secunderabad. They told police that they had come to visit their relatives living in Chandrayangutta, However, the alleged illegal immigrants escaped before police could trace them.

Some of the illegal immigrants have reportedly become agents helping others from Bangladesh with illegally entering India. Each individual is said to be paying Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 for illegally entering India and reaching Hyderabad.

Hyderabad Airport was also found to have become a safe passage to Gulf countries for Bangladeshi illegal immigrants. In February this year, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) police arrested a Bangladeshi national with a fake passport and Aadhaar card.

Two similar cases were reported last year. In all three cases, the accused had entered India via Tripura.

Following the large-scale violence and collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh, many people from the neighbouring country are reported to be

Border Security Force (BSF) is already on alert on the border to prevent any infiltration. Hundreds of Bangladeshis had on Wednesday gathered at the international border with India in West Bengalas Jalpaiguri district, seeking to cross over. They claimed that they were under attack in their country.

However, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) later took them back.
Kolkata, Aug 8 : The West Bengal government and UNICEF have joined hands for promoting involvement of fathers in encouraging new mothers to breastfeed their babies till six months of age.

According to the West Bengal Minister incharge of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Department, Dr Shashi Panja, as part of the initiative, workers at Anganwadis have begun to discuss the benefits of breastfeeding with fathers of the newborn and other family members. "Breastfeeding should not be discussed with the mothers alone. This awareness-building exercise should start immediately with the conception of a child so that the entire family comes forward in easing the mother into breastfeeding," said Panja, who is herself a medical practitioner.

According to her, the state Women & Child Development and Social Welfare Department is actively promoting breastfeeding in the backdrop of the findings that 53 per cent of the mothers still need to exclusively breastfeed their children for the first six months.

Emphasising that the doctors and nurses should play a special role to spread awareness on the need of colostrum feeding within an hour of a child's birth and its benefits, Dr Panja said that even in case of caesarean babies, breastfeeding has to be initiated within an hour of childbirth with the support of others present in the labour room or operation theatre of government or private hospitals.

According to the chief of UNICEF in West Bengal, Dr Md Monjur Hossain, there is an interesting example on how the involvement of fathers can be promoted in newborn care.

"A few years ago during my work in a South-East Asian country, fathers were asked to use their chests to care for the babies like the mothers to increase their participation. Breastfeeding creates a psychological bond between a mother and the child and it also stops excess carbon emissions by preventing fuel burning to boil non-human milk," Hossain said.

Dr Basab Mukherjee, president of the Bengal Obstetric and Gynaecological Society, said that breast milk is the baby's "first vaccine, considering that it is extremely rich in nutrients and antibodies."
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Bangladesh went into a tailspin after nationwide protests over job quota flared up. Following the agitation, Sheikh Hasina resigned as Bangladesh's Prime Minister and fled the country.

In an exclusive interview, the former Prime Ministeras son, Sajeeb Wazed, told IANS that the protests went out of hand as some groups kept inciting the demonstrators and he suspects the involvement of Pakistanas ISI or Western groups in it.

Q: What is your take on the current situation in Bangladesh?

A: Our government had removed the quota two to three years ago, but the families of freedom fighters reached court. That's why the protests started. Initially, it was a minor protest, but, I think all along Western groups kept inciting it. We wanted a peaceful resolution. We wanted the judicial committee to resolve the problem, and investigate, and we suspended police officers.

But, I think there was some group that kept inciting the protesters. Ultimately, the protests turned violent and it became an issue of my mother's safety. They were marching on the Prime Minister's residence. My mother didn't want to leave the country even at the last minute. She went to the military air base and she told her sister that she didn't wish to leave. But, I talked to her and convinced her to leave. I told her aleave because they will kill you.a So, this is the situation in Bangladesh. This situation was escalated deliberately. First of all, there was no reason for the protests as it was not the decision of our government. It was the decision of the courts. Our government was appealing against the decision of the courts.

The protest was peaceful at the start, but on the night of July 15, someone started marching at Dhaka University chanting aWe are Razakars.' They started saying that my mother had called students 'Razakars' but she didn't say this.

The students got angry and started protesting and police used excessive force to stop them. Our government immediately suspended those police officers. Our government formed a judicial team to investigate. But, the whole incident was designed to flare up. The protest escalated and they demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister. Many of the protesters had firearms. They attacked police stations with guns. From where did they get the guns?

Q: Reports suggest that whatever is happening in Bangladesh is because of the US, China, and Pakistan. Do you agree?

A: I don't think China is involved in this as it has never been involved in our internal matters. We were friends with every country. With China and India, we had good relations. We consider India our best friend. The US also had good relations but Pakistan (ISI) was always against the independence of Bangladesh. We fought for independence from them. So, I suspect that ISI was involved in inciting protests.

Q: Is it true that the Army Chief had given an ultimatum to Sheikh Hasina to leave the country within 45 minutes?

A: That's not true. They met, and I was there with my mother before and after the meeting. There was no ultimatum from the Army Chief. My mother had ordered the police and military not to kill the protesters. When they started demonstrating, the military barricaded Dhaka city. So, at the time when the protesters were marching, the military took my mother to safety. So, the allegations are completely false.

Q: Sheikh Hasina was giving a speech to the nation and in the middle of it she had to stop as the protesters were marching towards her residence. What do you want to say about this?

A: No, she was planning to resign. She told me that she didn't want bloodshed anymore. She would resign, make a statement, and arrange for a peaceful transfer of power as per the Constitution. But, unfortunately, the protesters declared their march on the Prime Minister's residence. She didn't have time to make a statement or speech.

Q: Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus will be the chief of the interim government. What are your comments on this?

A: Unfortunately, the whole situation is unconstitutional. There is no constitutional provision for an interim government. In fact, our Supreme Court has ruled that any unconstitutional situation has to be dealt with but you cannot fulfill all the demands of protesters. It has to happen within the Constitution. However, nothing matters, as there is no law and order in the country now. Riots, looting, and vandalism are going on throughout the city. There is a little bit of security in Dhaka city as the military is deployed there. But, outside Dhaka, if you look at social media, there is complete anarchy. There is no police and there is no law and order. I am waiting to see how an interim government is going to control this because an interim government cannot bring law and order. Then Bangladesh will become Afghanistan.

Q: Muhammad Yunus said that this is the second liberation day of Bangladesh, the first was in 1971. Your comments?

A: He is talking about liberation from whom? Riots? Vandalism or anarchy? Is this freedom for Bangladesh? If this is the freedom that he thinks Bangladesh wants, then that's fine. Good luck to them. People are dying. There is no law and order in the country. There is looting. Everyone is being looted. That's freedom!

Q: Yunus is claiming that students will get jobs, as they were not getting them due to reservation.

A: Well, that's fine, let him take over. Let him prove it. We will see the results soon.

Q: What is the future of Bangladesh now?

A: Well, today Bangladesh looks like Syria or Afghanistan. There is no law and order. After this, it's up to Mr Yunus' government, if they think they can control it. Maybe we will have democracy again. If they can't, then Bangladesh will become like Afghanistan.

Q: Will Sheikh Hasina return to Bangladesh?

A: She will return as my mother loves Bangladesh. It is her country and she will definitely return when the situation is in control.

Q: What is your message via our platform?

A: I want to see a democratic Bangladesh soon. I want India to use its powers to ensure free and fair elections in Bangladesh.

Q: What's your take on minorities being killed in Bangladesh?

A: Our government wants the safety of minorities of Bangladesh as we believe they are also our voters. The BNP should leave Jamaat-e-Islami. They have to accept that we have minorities in Bangladesh. If they cannot accept this and if they come to power, the minorities in Bangladesh will never be safe.

Q: Why did the protests not stop after the Supreme Courtas order?

A: Exactly, that is my point. I am sure someone is provoking all this, even after the Supreme Courtas order, they didn't stop. Despite all efforts to control the situation in Bangladesh, they wanted my motheras resignation. That means it was pre-planned.
Hyderabad, Aug 8 : Charles Schwab, a global leader in financial services, has chosen Hyderabad as the prospective location for its first Technology Development Centre in India.

The decision followed fruitful discussions between Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, IT Minister D. Sridhar Babu, and senior Schwab executives, Dennis Howard, Rama Bokka and others at Charles Schwab's world headquarters in Dallas.

According to the Chief Ministeras Office (CMO) here, the Chief Minister and the IT Minister committed to guiding Schwab through all necessary formalities for establishing their presence in Hyderabad, ensuring swift access to the necessary talent for a rapid ramp-up.

Schwab's executives have expressed confidence and enthusiasm and appreciated the proactive support from the government as a promising indicator of a successful collaboration.

Charles Schwab is currently awaiting the final approvals for announcing detailed insights into the upcoming center and delegating a team to India for officially establishing the Schwab Technology Centre in Hyderabad, the CMO said.

Meanwhile, CM Revanth Reddy along with his ministerial colleagues Sridhar Babu and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue in Dallas, Texas.

A delegation from Telangana headed by the Chief Minister and IT minister is currently on a week-long visit to the US to mobilise investments.

After meeting top executives of various companies in New York, New Jersey and Washington, the delegation reached Dallas.

In Washington, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy met World Bank President Ajay Banga. They decided to prepare a roadmap for partnership in various sectors.

According to the CMO, the potential areas for partnership being outlined through explorations and deliberations would include initiatives on skills development, urban rejuvenation and reimagination, Net Zero developments, citizensa healthcare, diagnostics and electronic records.

During the hour-long meeting, it was decided to set up a cross-functional team to conceptualise viable projects in each of the areas in an accelerated mode. People, planet, sustainability, health, skills, and jobs were the major themes of the discussions between the two visionary leaders, the CMO said.

Earlier in New York, Corning Incorporated, a global leader in materials science, signed an MoU with the Telangana government on skilling and innovation

As part of the agreement, Corning and Telangana would collaborate on designing and implementing programmes focused on skilling the local workforce in advanced manufacturing and chemical engineering technologies.

Corning will also strengthen its partnership and participation in the Flow Chemistry Technology (FCT) hub, a collaborative initiative of the Government of Telangana, with Dr Reddyas Limited, Laurus Pharma Limited, and the University of Hyderabad.

During their discussions with the Chief Minister, Corning introduced its cutting-edge Corning Advanced-Flow Reactors (AFR) technology.

The company is keen to collaborate with Telangana in developing and implementing flow chemistry technology, further solidifying the stateas position as a hub for innovation in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju moved the Waqf Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, sparking disruptions by the Congress.

The Bill seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995 and repeal the Mussalman Waqf Act of 1923.

Congress leader KC Venugopal raised strong objections, calling the Bill an attack on the Constitution.

"I would like to raise an objection to this draconian law introduced by the government. Fundamentally, this is an attack on the Constitution," Venugopal said.

The Congress MP argued that the Bill violates Article 26 of the Constitution, which grants the right to form and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes, manage religious affairs, and administer property according to the law.

"Through this Bill, they (the Centre) are putting a provision that non-Muslims can also be members of the governing council. Can anyone imagine a non-Hindu being part of the Supreme Court-constituted Ayodhya Board? This provision directly attacks the faith and freedom of religion," Venugopal asserted.

He expressed concerns that the government might target other religious communities next, saying, "Now you are going after Muslims, next you will go for Christians, and then Jains."

"There is a fundamental principle. What is the tradition and the culture of India? We believe in traditions and culture. We respect each other's faith. We are Hindus, we are believers, but at the same time, we respect the faith of other religions also," Venugopal said.

Slamming the Bill as the Centre's political move, the Lok Sabha MP said, "This Bill is specialised for Maharashtra and Haryana elections. You did not understand when, last time, the people of India taught you a lesson. The countrymen will not buy this kind of divisive politics now. This is a clear attack on the federal system."

Accusing the government of attempting to create conflict and "spread violence," he asserted, "Your fundamental idea is to create conflict and anger between communities... This Bill cannot pass, and it cannot be introduced."
New Delhi, Aug 8 : A new study has shown how the terrain of Mars can be re-engineered, making it a little more hospitable, given the planet's notorious reputation as barren.

A study from the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Central Florida in the US suggests a revolutionary method to terraform Mars. The new approach, involving engineered dust particles, could potentially raise the planet's temperature by more than 50 degrees Fahrenheit, making it suitable for microbial life.

This method is over 5,000 times more efficient than previous global warming schemes for Mars, marking a significant advancement in modifying the Martian environment. Unlike earlier proposals that required importing materials from Earth or mining rare Martian resources, this strategy utilises resources already abundant on Mars.

"This suggests that the barrier to warming Mars to allow liquid water is not as high as previously thought," said Edwin Kite, an associate professor at the University of Chicago and corresponding author of the study.

While this method won't make Mars breathable for humans, it could lay the groundwork for microbial life and food crops that might gradually add oxygen to the atmosphere, much like Earth's early history.

Proposals to make Mars habitable have a long history, from Carl Sagan's ideas in 1971 to recent concepts like transparent gel tiles to trap heat. However, the biggest challenge remains Mars' temperature, averaging about -80 degrees Fahrenheit.

The proposed strategy involves releasing engineered dust particles into Mars' atmosphere to enhance its greenhouse effect. Unlike natural Martian dust, these particles are designed to trap heat more efficiently. The researchers created particles shaped like short rods, similar to glitter, which can scatter sunlight towards the surface.

"You'd still need millions of tons to warm the planet, but that's five thousand times less than you would need with previous proposals," said Kite. Calculations suggest that continuous release of these particles at 30 liters per second could warm Mars by over 50 degrees Fahrenheit within months, and the effect would be reversible if the release is stopped.

Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects and how quickly the engineered dust would cycle out of Mars' atmosphere. The study focuses on warming Mars for microbial life and food crops, not creating a human-breathable atmosphere.

"This research opens new avenues for exploration and potentially brings us one step closer to the long-held dream of establishing a sustainable human presence on Mars," said Kite.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

Zimbabweans living in South Africa have launched a petition to urge their government to reverse the recent passport fee hike for citizens residing in the neighboring country. The Zimbabwe Community in South Africa, representing these citizens, expressed concerns that the new passport fees are unaffordable for ordinary people.The Zimbabwean embassy in South Africa recently increased the passport price from R3,000 to approximately R4,540. In response, Zimbabweans staged a demonstration at the Zimbabwean consulate in Johannesburg and the embassy in Pretoria, demanding a reversal of the fee hike.The online petition, initiated on July 30, aims to collect over two million signatures. The petition describes the new US$250 passport fee as exorbitant and unaffordable, particularly considering the average earnings of Zimbabweans in South Africa. It argues that this increase imposes an overwhelming burden that prevents citizens from securing essential legal documents, which are fundamental to their human rights. The petition calls on the Zimbabwean government to reassess and reduce the fees to a fair amount.Former Operation Dudula commander Nhlanhla Lux also criticized the fee hike, stating that it undermines efforts to ensure all migrants in South Africa are documented and legal. He expressed support for the Zimbabweans' march and urged South African citizens to back their cause, emphasizing the importance of affordable documentation for legal residency in both Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Mumbai, Aug 8 : Actress Siddhi Sharma has shared insights about her hobbies and what she might have pursued if she weren't an actor.

Mumbai, Aug 8 (IANS) Actress Siddhi Sharma has shared insights about her hobbies and what she might have pursued if she werenat an actor.

Speaking about the same, Siddhi, who is currently seen as Gulki in the show 'Ishq Jabariya' shared: "If I werenat an actor, Iad definitely be a dancer or a model. Iave always loved being in the creative field because dancing and modelling are where my passions lie. Before I got into acting, I spent a lot of time dancing and modelling, which I really enjoyed."

"Back in school, I was fascinated by fashion designing, but when I got to college, I started exploring theatre and practised dancing even more. If acting hadnat worked out for me, I would have pursued a career in dance or modelling without a second thought," she said.

Siddhi added: "Creativity has always driven me, and I find joy in expressing myself through movement and style. Whether Iam on stage or in front of the camera, I love the thrill of performance. Bringing something to life and sharing that with an audience is what makes every moment special for me."

The romantic drama 'Ishq Jabariya' set in Begusarai, Bihar, is a love story featuring Gulki (Siddhi), a vibrant young woman with dreams of becoming an air hostess. Her journey takes unexpected turns as she faces various challenges.

The show stars Kamya Panjabi, and Lakshay Khurana in prominent roles.

The TV opera airs on Sun Neo.

Siddhi has earlier featured in shows like 'Pavitra: Bharose Ka Safar', 'Savdhaan India: Criminal Decoded' and 'Shrimad Ramayan'.
Lucknow, Aug 8 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday called for the implementation of the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (MYUVA) scheme, aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among youth.

In a meeting, the CM said, the government had allocated funds for the 'MYUVA' in the Budget, and now the time has come to implement this initiative.

The innovative scheme is designed to empower educated and skilled youth across the state, facilitating self-employment opportunities and fostering the establishment of new Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

He stressed that more youth should be apprised about the scheme to encourage them to earn their livelihood and become self-reliant.

The Principal Secretary of MSMEs, who was directed to devise a comprehensive action plan for the initiative, informed the Chief Minister that the scheme would provide financial grants to 1,00,000 youth annually by facilitating loans from banks, thus enabling the establishment of 1,00,000 micro enterprises each year.

"Thus, over the next 10 years, 1 million youth will have the opportunity to engage in self-employment," he noted.

Beneficiaries who have undergone training in various government-run schemes, such as the Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana, One District One Product Training and Toolkit Scheme, Scheduled Caste, Tribe, Other Backward Class Training Scheme, and Skill Upgradation (Kaushal Unnayan) run by the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission, will be eligible for assistance.

Youths having certificates, diplomas, and degrees from educational institutions will also be entitled to benefits under this scheme.

The Chief Minister asked officials to make provisions for offering grants to the general category, OBCs, women, Divyangjans, and SC/ST individuals for establishing enterprises.

Additionally, subsidies should be provided on margin money, he said

The CM said to ensure interest-free loans to young entrepreneurs, interest subsidy and Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) coverage should also be provided for the fixed period of a loan,

To guarantee effective implementation of the scheme, the Chief Minister directed that qualified youth be assigned to each district, akin to the CM Fellows deployed in aspirational development blocks.

The government has allocated Rs 1,000 crore in the Budget for the financial year 2024-25 to support this initiative.
Hanoi, Aug 8 : Nine people have been killed while seven others injured in landslides and floods triggered by torrential rains in Vietnam's northern mountainous region in August, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported on Thursday.

As many as 121 houses were damaged from August 1 to 8, while 10 houses had to be urgently relocated, the report said, citing the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Xinhua news agency reported quoting VNA.

The report said that about 170 locations were eroded, causing traffic congestion.

Heavy rain is forecast to continue until August 17 in the northern region, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

Natural disasters in the Southeast Asian country left 111 people dead and several others missing from early this year until August 5, the highest number reported for the same period in five years, said the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.
Mumbai, Aug 8 : From praying to Lord Shiva to fasting and performing 'Rudra Abhishek' at home, television actors Devoleena Bhattacharjee, Neelu Vaghela, and Lakshay Khurana have talked about how they celebrate the spirit of Shravan.

Actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee, who plays the titular character in "Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya," called Shravan the "most precious time" of the year for her.

"My devotion to Mahadev runs deep, and this month allows me to strengthen that bond. Each morning begins with heartfelt prayers to Mahadev, with the belief that any wish made during Shravan will come true through strong devotion."

She said that this sacred time holds a special place in her heart,

"I eagerly anticipate its arrival, trusting that Mahadev will never leave me empty-handed."

Actress Neelu Vaghela, who plays the role of Maa Hukum in "Saajha Sindoor," said: "According to Hindu scriptures, this month is considered very auspicious, during which we worship Lord Shiva. It is a holy month where girls and women adorn themselves with henna and green bangles."

She added: "It is believed that worshiping Lord Shiva during this time helps girls find their desired husband and ensures a long life for their husbands."

Neelu, who is a devotee of Lord Shiva, said: "I observe a fast every Monday during Shravan and offer water to Shiva at the temple. This month fills me with positivity and gives me a renewed sense of energy."

Actor Lakshay Khurana, who plays the lead role of Aditya in "Ishq Jabariya," said that Shravan has always been a special time for him and his family.

"We organise a Rudra Abhishek at home every year to honour Lord Shiva, who has been our greatest guide and supporter. However, this year, my schedule with Ishq Jabariya on Sun Neo has kept me from our usual celebration," he said.

The actor said that he is planning to visit a temple with my family to perform a special pooja.

"For me, Shravan is not just a month of devotion but a time to reconnect with Lord Shiva and seek his blessings. His guidance has profoundly shaped my journey, and my life is dedicated to him," he said.

"Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya", "Ishq Jabariya" and "Saajha Sindoor" airs on Sun Neo.
Dhaka, Aug 8 : Economist Muhammad Yunus, who is set to become the chief adviser to Bangladesh's interim government, arrived in the capital Dhaka from Dubai on Thursday afternoon.

Yunus was welcomed at the airport by the Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, and coordinators of the Students Against Discrimination movement, Xinhua news agency reported.

Waker-Uz-Zaman earlier said that an interim government, headed by economist Muhammad Yunus, is likely to be sworn in on Thursday night.

The army chief said at a press conference in Dhaka Wednesday that the advisory council may have 15 members.

On Tuesday, President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved the parliament, paving the way for the formation of an interim government in the South Asian country following the fall of the government led by resigned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Meanwhile, ousted Prime Minister Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed told IANS that he suspects the involvement of Pakistan's ISI or Western groups in fuelling the protests.
Seoul, Aug 8 : Police are looking into a fax threatening to blow up Seoul City Hall and other major institutions, though no signs of explosives have been found so far, officials said Thursday.

The Namdaemun Police Station said it received the report of the fax, which claimed it had installed explosives in major facilities, such as Seoul City Hall, and threatened to bomb the places if money was not sent, Yonhap news agency reported.

The fax, written in mixed English and Japanese, was first reported to the Incheon Metropolitan Police which later requested cooperation from the police in charge of Seoul City Hall at around 11 a.m.

Police searched the site near City Hall for signs of explosives, but found none, officials said.

Police suspect the threat could be from the same person who has consistently sent hoax bomb threats via email and fax since August last year.

In particular, email and fax bomb threats that claimed to be written by a Japanese lawyer named Takahiro Karasawa were sent on multiple occasions last year, targeting the Supreme Court, the prosecution, and Seoul City Hall, among many others.

Karasawa wrote on X at the time that his name was being used without permission, adding some extremists were carrying out the crime, which is often not regulated in Japan.
Mumbai, Aug 8 : India has a rich and ancient heritage in the gems and jewellery industry but it is constantly innovating and now the jewellers should create an international brand of India in this sector, Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan said here on Thursday.

Inaugurating the world's second-largest five-day India International Gem and Jewelry Show (IIJS), the Governor said that the industry players should not just create jewelleries but make them unique pieces of art.

"If only a jewel is made, it fetches around Rs 2-3 lakh, but if it is made as a beautiful, striking piece of art and given a brand identity, the same piece would fetch five-ten times or more," said Radhakrishnan.

He said the country has many indigenous brands in the gem-jewellery sector, and now the industry must strive to create a global brand of India with an emphasis on innovations, research and skill development of the artists.

The industry must aim to create wealth which in turn would help alleviate poverty and urged the Gemstone Jewelry Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) to collaborate with universities and make the students stakeholders in the gemstones jewellery sector.

Skill & Employment Minister Mangalprabhat Lodha, GJEPC Chairman Vipul Shah, Vice-Chairman Kirit Bhansali, Brand Ambassador and Miss World Manushi Chhillar, plus top industry representatives from India and abroad were present at the inauguration.

He urged every entrepreneur in this sector to impart the relevant skills to at least one youth as their contribution to society and focus on skill training for the younger generations.

Shah said that more than 2,100 exhibitors from 60 countries have put up 3,600 stalls and over 50,000 traders and sellers are participating in the expo, which opened at the Jio World Convention Center in Bandra Kurla Complex, near the Bharat Diamond Bourse.

On display at the IIJS is a breathtaking array of silver, gold, diamond, platinum, natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds and other glittering gemstones in the business-to-business (B2B) exhibition.
New Delhi, August 8 : A court here on Thursday extended the judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till August 20 in connection with the alleged excise policy scam.

CM Kejriwal was produced before the Rouse Avenue Court through video conferencing from Tihar Jail upon the expiry of his previously granted custody.

On Monday, the Delhi High Court dismissed a plea filed by CM Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the CBI in the corruption case. A bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna asked the AAP supremo to approach the trial court with his plea seeking release on interim bail.

The Delhi High Court is yet to pronounce its verdict on his bail plea in the corruption case and reserved its verdict recently.

Meanwhile, the CBI has filed its charge-sheet before a special court here against CM Kejriwal and other accused persons.

The ED had already filed its prosecution complaint in the money laundering case, naming the AAP and its national convenor Arvind Kejriwal as accused.

On July 12, the Supreme Court ordered CM Kejriwal to be released on interim bail in connection with the money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). However, he could not walk out of jail since he was arrested by the CBI.

CM Kejriwal is currently lodged in Tihar jail in connection with the corruption and money laundering cases linked to the excise policy case.

On Wednesday, he wrote to Lieutenant Governor (L-G) V.K. Saxena, informing him that Education Minister Atishi Marlena will hoist the flag in his place this Independence Day on August 15.

The Delhi government's annual Independence Day programme at Chhatrasal Stadium traditionally sees the Chief Minister hoisting the Tricolour. However, due to CM Kejriwal's current incarceration, he has now authorised his Cabinet colleague Atishi to undertake this role.
Srinagar, Aug 8 : Union Minister of State (MoS) for social justice and empowerment, Ramdas Athawale said on Thursday that statehood could be announced for J&K before October this year.

Addressing the media here, the MoS said, "Centre may announce restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir before October this year. The legislative Assembly elections may also be held in October. Polls are scheduled to be held in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh before October. I think before October, statehood can be restored and election may also happen in October," the minister said.

He appealed to the people to ensure record-breaking turnout. He reiterated that the home minister had announced at the time of the abrogation of Article 370 that Assembly elections and statehood would be restored.

He hailed the high voter turnout in the Lok Sabha elections and lauded people for strengthening democracy.

He said he had a fruitful half-hour meeting with Lt.Governor, Manoj Sinha in Srinagar.

"Tourism has flourished since the abrogation of Article 370. More than 2.11 crore tourists, including foreigners, have visited here. People don't fear going to Kashmir now. Earlier, they wanted to come but terrorism was stopping them from arriving here. The Lt Governor told me peace is prevailing amid some untoward incidents," said the Union Minister.

"The administration has given over two lakh pre and post-matric scholarships to SC and above 84,000 scholarships to OBC students in J&K. SC and OBC constitute eight per cent each in J&K, but there is not a single SC family in Kashmir," Athawale said.

"A total of 74 cases were registered under the Atrocities Act against SC and OBCs. We are planning to start one old age home in each district of J&K. Currently, we have 16 old age homes in J&K," he said.

Ramdas Athawale belongs to the Republican Party of India. He said his party would fight around 16 seats in the Assembly polls in J&K.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday expressed strong opposition to the Waqf Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, during a heated Lok Sabha session.

The SP President also accused the Centre of undermining the Lok Sabha Speakeras authority.

Akhilesh Yadav criticised the provision to include non-Muslims in the Waqf Board, arguing that it lacks justification and is part of a broader political strategy.

Akhilesh Yadav questioned the rationale behind the amendment, saying, "This Bill is being introduced as part of a well-thought-out political strategy. Where other religious bodies do not include anyone not belonging to the same religion, so what is the point of including non-Muslims in the Waqf Board?"

He further accused the BJP of using the Bill to "appease" its core supporters, stating, "Frustrated and disappointed, BJP is working to bring this Bill to satisfy its staunch supporters. There is no justification for including non-Muslims in the Waqf Board."

The SP President also raised concerns about the rights of the Lok Sabha Speaker, suggesting that the government was undermining the Speaker's authority.

"Recall, Speaker sir, I told you that you are the judge of democracy. I have heard in the lobby that this government is snatching your rights also. We will fight for you," he asserted.

In a sharp rebuttal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded, "Speaker's rights are not just yours but of the entire House. You are not the custodian of rights."

Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla intervened and asked Akhilesh Yadav to be seated, urging members to avoid personal comments and maintain decorum.

"There should not be any personal comments on the Parliament or the Chair. This is my request to all the members of the House," Birla stated.

Earlier in the day, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju moved the Waqf Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, sparking disruptions by the Opposition.

The Bill seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995 and repeal the Mussalman Waqf Act of 1923.

Congress leader KC Venugopal also raised strong objections, calling the Bill an "attack" on the Constitution.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

Some members of the secessionist Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) were reportedly detained by police in Nguboyenja, Bulawayo, yesterday amid an ongoing government crackdown on human rights and opposition activists.The clampdown on perceived "enemies of the State" has intensified in the lead-up to Zimbabwe hosting the 44th SADC summit next week.MRP president Mqondisi Moyo stated that the activists were arrested while participating in a clean-up exercise in the high-density suburb and have yet to be formally charged.Recently, the party has drawn controversy for destroying Apostolic sect shrines, accusing the followers of polluting the environment and performing rituals deemed foreign to the Matabeleland region.
Shillong, Aug 8 : The influential North East Students' Organisation (NESO) -- an apex body of eight students' bodies representing seven NE states -- on Thursday urged Home Minister Amit Shah to not provide shelter to any individual from the trouble-torn neighbouring nation of Bangladesh in India's northeastern region.

NESO Chairman Samuel Jyrwa and Secretary General Mutsikhoyo Yhobu in a letter to HM Amit Shah said that "the unabated flow of immigrants into the northeastern region earlier caused insecurity, agitations, riots and clashes between foreigners and the indigenous people of the region".

Seeking HM Shah's immediate intervention to ensure no migrants are allowed to enter the northeastern states from Bangladesh, the NESO leaders requested the Home Minister to take steps so that "not even a single Bangladeshi is granted asylum in the entire region".

"At this juncture, it is also imperative for the Central government to ensure that the border between northeast India and Bangladesh should be thoroughly and strictly manned to detect attempted illegal migration from across the border," the NESO told the Home Minister.

It said that the prevailing situation in Bangladesh can have serious ramifications in India, especially in the northeastern region where four states  Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram -- share a vast boundary with Bangladesh.

The NESO leaders submitted that the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh may lead to an exodus of its nationals into India, especially in the northeast region and past events indicate that whenever there is a civil war or a riot in Bangladesh, the region always had to bear the brunt of mass illegal immigration from the country.

"The northeastern region is home to a plethora of indigenous communities which are microscopic in numbers and live among their own communities in traditionally marked territories. The arrival of millions of illegal foreigners from other countries led to a contestation of space, forced cultural assimilation, economic competition and distrust between the indigenous populace and the foreigners," the NESO letter mentioned.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Senior Congress leader and former diplomat Mani Shankar Aiyar on Thursday said in an interview with IANS that the beleaguered former PM of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina had been most cordial to India and the government did the right thing by extending her a helping hand in times of crisis.

The veteran Congressman also concurred with reports of foreign interference in Bangladeshas political crisis.

Q: How do you see the unrest in Bangladesh and ouster of Sheikh Hasina?

A: In the last 15 years, Bangladesh has witnessed remarkable economic progress under Sheikh Hasina's leadership. Itas surprising to see that the student movement turned into a revolution, resulting in dramatic changes within 15 years. This led to her abrupt exit from the country.

Q: Bangladesh has plunged into a major crisis. How do you see the country moving from here?

A: Bangladesh witnessed a rise in unemployment despite economic growth. Opposition parties are unconvinced over its democratic processes. They didnat participate in Parliamentary elections this year and lodged protests claiming that it was not a free and fair election. That is not the situation in India but similar doubts are beginning to emerge here. We need to learn from this. Becoming a ' Viksit Bharat' is one thing but will it be a free and democratic India? Such questions raise concerns that we need to be cautious about.

Q: After escaping Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina is currently stationed in India. How do you see the governmentas stand on giving her a safe refuge?

A: India has welcomed her, and we are happy about it. Until Sheikh Hasina decides where she wants to go, she is welcome to stay here. Among all the Prime Ministers of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina has been the best Prime Minister for India. Because of her secular thinking, she protected and contributed a lot to the development of the Hindu community in Bangladesh and included them in the larger society. She has been a good friend to India.

Q: Do you think that foreign influences fomented political turbulence in Bangladesh?

A: There might have been interference from Pakistan and the US, but there is no evidence to support this claim.

Q: What is your assessment of India-Bangladesh relations, in the backdrop of the coup?

A: A new government will be formed in Bangladesh soon. Whoever forms the government, India should maintain good relations with them. Our relationship with Bangladesh should not deteriorate because of our support for Sheikh Hasina. I am not objecting to it, she is our close friend and India has always provided shelter and security to friends in times of need including the Dalai Lama and more, it's in our legacy.

Q: What would you like to say about Pakistan's stance on the situation in Bangladesh?

A: Some people in Pakistan are happy about the situation in Bangladesh. As far as I know, the Pakistani government has not taken any official stance.

Q: How should India tackle Pakistan, given that terror attacks continue to bleed the Valley? Whatas your view?

A: To safeguard our citizens, it is very important to maintain talks and engage in dialogue with Pakistan. The world should see that a nation aspiring to be a 'Vishwa Guru (teacher of the world)a is trying to resolve issues with its neighbouring countries.

Q: In your view, what road map should India acquire for becoming a developed nation?

A: It is important to be both developed and free. Seeing adevelopeda and afreea separately would be a mistake. In the last 10 years, there has been much division and schism in society. It is important to have a united India that embraces diversity, as that existed in the pre-2014 era. In the last 10 years, there has been a decline in peace and harmony. In the last elections, people did not support the ruling dispensation as expected by BJP leaders. The Prime Ministeras victory margin fell in Varanasi and a Samajwadi Party (SP) leader trounced the BJPas nominee in Ayodhya. These are lessons to learn from.
Amaravati, Aug 8 : Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Thursday reached Bangalore to hold talks with Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar B. Khandre to request him to send some Kumki elephants for the state.

As Kumki elephants help drive away wild elephants, the Andhra Pradesh government is requesting Karnataka to send some of these elephants to drive away wild elephants which are causing havoc in a few parts of the state.

Pawan Kalyan, who holds the portfolio of Environment and Forests besides Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Science and Technology and Rural Water Supply, will urge the Karnataka Forest Minister to accept the request.

Meanwhile, Pawan Kalyan called on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bangalore.

Earlier, Pawan Kalyan was accorded a warm welcome on arrival in Bangalore. Representatives of the Karnataka government received him at the airport.

Parts of Chittoor district bordering Tamil Nadu and Parvathipuram Manyam district near Odisha have been witnessing the incidents of the human-elephant conflict.

In May, the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department officials placed a request before their counterparts in Karnataka to give them nine trained Kumki elephants.

Karnataka reportedly has about 100 elephants at various camps, but all are not Kumki elephants.

Kumki elephants are useful in taming wild elephants and thus keeping both animals and humans safe.

Wild elephants are entering villages in some parts of Chittoor and Parvathipuram Manyam districts. They are not only destroying agricultural and horticultural crops but also attacking humans. This has resulted in the loss of a few lives.

In May, a farm worker was trampled to death by an elephant at a mango orchard abutting the Sarakallu forest beat of the Thavanampalle mandal in Chittoor district.

In June, an elephant trampled to death another farmer in Ramakuppam mandal in the same district.

In August last year, a couple was killed and another person injured in an attack by wild elephants in Chittoor district. In May, two persons were trampled to death in two separate incidents in the same district.

According to officials, trained Kumki elephants and mahouts will assist in driving away the wild elephants.

Recently, Odisha also requested the Tamil Nadu government to provide a few Kumki elephants to address the problem of human-elephant conflict.

Tamil Nadu is seen as a successful model as the authorities there are training the Kumki elephants and using them for wildlife conservation.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : A significant majority of women find it crucial to use Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to boost their careers, yet only one-third are prepared by employers to use the technology, said a report on Thursday.

The report by the IT industry's apex body Nasscom was launched on the sidelines of the Nasscom Global Inclusion Summit at Bengaluru.

The findings point out that women view Gen AI tools as a significant boost to their perceived competence. About 45 per cent of the surveyed women in tech roles experienced higher confidence compared to their non-tech peers.

In addition, the report outlined that Gen AI adoption is driven by efficiency and innovation, acknowledging its transformative potential.

About 95 per cent of junior, 96 per cent of mid-management, and 100 per cent of senior management women are ready to invest more time to achieve professional success in GenAI. And 1 in 5 women was also found to use GenAI tools almost daily with nearly 35 per cent of senior management women reporting daily usage.

While GenAI can act as an equaliser for women in tech, only 35 per cent of surveyed women respondents felt completely prepared by their employers.

Further, challenges for the lower adoption and usage of GenAI tools among women include limited knowledge, lack of trust, restricted access to these tools, and fear of competence scrutiny. From entry-level roles to the C-suite, women consistently point to knowledge gaps as the primary challenge in adopting Gen AI, the report said.

Despite significant progress in diversity and AI/Gen AI adoption, Sangeeta Gupta, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Nasscom, voiced out the substantial gaps that continue to limit women's full potential in the tech industry.

She noted that as "Gen AI is set to dominate the tech industry, it is critical to address key challenges, to empower women in these roles".

Sreyssha George, Managing Director and Partner, at Boston Consulting Group added that while "globally, senior women lead in GenAI adoption, India lags with a 64 per cent gender disparity in AI leadership".

She stated that to "capture the $320 billion AI market, India's tech sector needs diversity".

"This will ensure effective systems by eliminating biases and incorporating varying ethical perspectives," George said

To bridge the gender gap, the report called out organisations to play a pivotal role in driving GenAI adoption by creating environments that support and encourage these technologies.
Jerusalem, Aug 8 : Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced on Thursday that he was revoking the diplomatic status of Norwegian envoys to the Palestinian Authority (PA), citing Oslo's "anti-Israel behaviour" since the onset of the Gaza war in October 2023.

In a letter sent to the Norwegian Embassy in Tel Aviv, Katz stated that the status of eight Norwegian representatives to the PA would be revoked within seven days, Xinhua news agency reported.

"I ordered the termination of any representation on behalf of the Norwegian Embassy in Israel vis-a-vis the Palestinian Authority," Katz said in a press statement.

"There is a price for anti-Israel behaviour," he added, referring to the Norwegian government's decision to recognize Palestine as a state in May and its announced intention to comply with the International Criminal Court in The Hague if arrest warrants are issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

The move came a day after Israel announced that it is withholding PA funds designated for Gaza, terminating the escrow arrangement previously managed by Norway.
Mumbai, Aug 8 : Actor Kay Kay Menon, who is all geared up for the release of his upcoming series 'Shekhar Home', has opened up on how the locations inspire artists, sharing about shooting for the show in Shantiniketan, West Bengal.

'Shekhar Home' is a detective drama set in the early 1990s in the fictional West Bengal town of Lonpur.

Speaking about the location, Menon said, "Each location has its own charm and its own air. So, Shantiniketan was such, that you could feel the presence of Rabindranath Tagore over there. I always go by the rhythm of things. I feel that a place has a rhythm and Shantiniketan has a Tagore rhythm."

Shedding light on how an actor performs irrespective of their surroundings, the 57-year-old actor shared: "I remember, while shooting for 'Shekhar Home' in West Bengal, the temperature was somewhere around 45 degrees Celsius -- scorching heat. However, when you are too immersed and enjoy what you are doing, these things get ignored."

"It is like a batsman batting at a hundred, though he is tired and exhausted, he is enjoying it. So, for me, working in 'Shekhar Home' was enjoyable and that mattered the most. If it won't have been enjoyable, I would've felt the heat very badly. It always happens in an actor's life and invariably you're portraying winters when it's completely summer and vice versa. So, these are the job hazards of being an actor," concluded Menon.

The series follows the unconventional partnership of the brilliant but eccentric Shekhar Home, played by Kay Kay, and his unlikely accomplice, Jayvrat Sahni, essayed by Ranvir Shorey.

Together, they navigate a world of perplexing mysteries ranging from murder and extortion to the inexplicable.

'Shekhar Home' will premiere on JioCinema Premium on August 14.

On the work front, Menon was last seen in the web series 'The Railway Men: The Untold Story of Bhopal 1984', featuring R Madhavan, Divyenndu and Babil Khan in the lead, and Sunny Hinduja and Juhi Chawla in pivotal roles.
Mumbai, Aug 8 : Actor Anil Kapoor, who recently hosted the third season of the streaming reality show 'Bigg Boss OTT', is celebrating 38 years of the multi-starrer film 'Karma' directed by Subhash Ghai.

Mumbai, Aug 8 (IANS) Actor Anil Kapoor, who recently hosted the third season of the streaming reality show aBigg Boss OTTa, is celebrating 38 years of the multi-starrer film 'Karma' directed by Subhash Ghai.

The actor took to Instagram Stories and shared a collage of some unseen pictures from the making of the film. Anilas role in the film blended intensity with emotional depth, making it a memorable contribution to his illustrious career.

The film also starring Dilip Kumar, Nutan, Anupam Kher, Jackie Shroff, Naseeruddin Shah, Sridevi, and Poonam Dhillon in key roles has stood the test of time, as it effortlessly blended action, drama, and a powerful storyline into a compelling narrative.

The film is part of a long list of Anil's collaborations with Jackie Shroff, which include films like aRam Lakhana, aKala Bazaara, aYudha, aParindaa and others.

The film's portrayal of heroism and justice, combined with its iconic music and dramatic plot twists, made it an unforgettable watch for cinema lovers. It was the top-grossing Indian film of 1986 and the eleventh highest-grossing Bollywood film of the decade.

The film reunited Subhash Ghai and Dilip Kumar after the success of their last film together, 'Vidhaata' (1982). It also marked the first time Dilip Kumar was paired with veteran actress Nutan.

On the work front, Anil, who had two theatrical hits recently -- 'Animal' and 'Fighter', is now looking forward to the release of 'Subedaar'.

He is also rumoured to be a part of YRF's spy universe.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday defended the Waqf Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha, affirming that it "does not interfere" with the freedom of religious bodies.

Amid disruptions from the Opposition, Rijiju clarified, "All the provisions in this Bill, from Article 25 to 30, do not interfere with the freedom of any religion, nor do they violate any Article."

Citing a topo court ruling, Rijiju said, "In the Brahmachari vs. State of West Bengal case, the Supreme Court ruled that the Waqf Board doesn't fall under the purview of Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution of India."

Emphasising that the Bill aims to extend rights to the marginalised groups within the Muslim community, Rijiju said, "Forget about taking away the rights, this Bill has been brought to give rights to those who were deprived of them, including women, children, and other backward and suppressed Muslim classes."

Highlighting the historical context, the Union Minister noted, "This is not the first time that the Waqf Act (Amendment) Bill has been introduced. It has happened many times before since Independence. This amendment aims to accomplish what the Congress could never do."

Rijiju referenced the 1976 Waqf Enquiry Report, which recommended necessary reforms in the management of Waqf properties, including disciplining trustees, establishing a tribunal system, and maintaining proper audits and accounts.

He also pointed out the recommendations by the committees formed under the Congress rule.

"A high-level committee under Justice Rajender Sachar, formed on March 9, 2005, during the UPA rule, focused specifically on the welfare of Muslims. This Bill is based on the Sachar Committee report," he said.

The Sachar Committee suggested broadening the Waqf Board to include more representation, including two women in both central and state Waqf councils.

Additionally, Rijiju mentioned the Joint Parliamentary Committee under K. Rehman Khan (Cabinet Minister in the UPA government), which highlighted issues such as insufficient infrastructure and manpower, improper fund usage, and the need to remove the provision for trustees.

"The committee also recommended digitising the entire board, centralising databases, and maintaining revenue records of all Waqf properties," he said.

Amid the opposition's slogans, Rijiju sarcastically remarked, "Everyone is convinced but still opposing the Bill due to political pressure."

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister also claimed that many MPs privately supported the Bill but felt "pressured" by their parties.

"We are not saying that people of different religions should be part of the Waqf Board. We are saying that an MP should be a member of the board. The MP can be a Hindu or Christian, we can't do anything about it. If an MP is added to the Waqf Board because he/she is a member of the Parliament, should we change his/her religion," he asked.

The session witnessed significant uproar as the opposition MPs voiced their disapproval of the Bill, leading to disruptions in the House proceedings.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : As Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju tabled the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha on Thursday amid objections from the opposition Congress, various Muslim organisations and leaders expressed mixed reactions to the government's move.

Syed Farid Ahmed Nizami, Sajjadanashin of Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia, and President of the Dargah Management Committee, expressed his dissatisfaction with the proposed amendments to the existing Waqf Act.

"The current bill has some flaws, and not all amendments are correct," he contended as he emphasised the need for transparency. He specifically flagged concerns that the government might eliminate certain types of waqf properties.

Nizami added that there are thousands of ongoing legal cases on waqf properties, including dargahs and graveyards, and the government should clarify the provisions of the amendment bill.

On the other hand, Kashish Warsi, president of the Indian Sufi Foundation, supported the amendments, comparing the Waqf Amendment Bill to the Triple Talaq reform, which he said benefited women and protected homes.

Warsi stated that the bill would safeguard waqf properties, prevent their misuse, and benefit those who actually need support.

Maulana Yasoob Abbas, General Secretary of the All India Shia Personal Law Board, stated that the board would support the bill if it benefits the waqf boards.

However, he opposed the proposed amendments, questioning the source and nature of these changes. He expressed concerns about corruption and land mafia involvement in waqf properties while also stressing the need for transparency in the proposed changes.

BJP leader Danish Iqbal mentioned that until the bill's provisions are examined, it is difficult to comment. However, he assured that the government is working on changes to the Waqf Act to prevent the misuse of waqf properties. He highlighted that the Central government is focused on bringing transparency to waqf properties, including registering them on a public portal.

Kausar Jahan, Chairperson of the Delhi Hajj Committee, praised the proposed amendments as a transparent step by the government. She emphasised the importance of involving all Muslims and ensuring women's rights in the 21st century. She questioned the opposition's objections, arguing that the amendments aim to stop the misuse and corruption of waqf properties and strengthen the Waqf Boards legally.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar will pay an official three-day visit to Maldives starting Friday as both countries look afresh at ties following a strained relationship since President Mohamed Muizzu came to power in the strategically significant Indian Ocean archipelago, last year.

This would be Jaishankar's first visit since assuming the office for a second term in June. He had previously visited Maldives in January 2023.

"Maldives is India's key maritime neighbour and an important partner in India's 'Neighbourhood First' Policy and our Vision 'Sagar' i.e. Security and Growth for All in the Region. The visit is aimed at strengthening the close partnership between the two countries and to explore avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship further," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

The EAM's visit follows Muizzu's recent New Delhi visit for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the council of ministers.

During his visit, EAM Jaishankar will pay a courtesy call on the President of the Maldives and will also hold talks with his Maldivian counterpart Minister Moosa Zameer to review the existing bilateral cooperation.

"Both ministers will inaugurate the completed projects under the High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP) and Line of Credit facility of EXIM Bank of India and witness the exchange of Memorandum of Understanding on areas for capacity building, commerce and trade," stated Maldives Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

Maldives Foreign Minister Zameer had also travelled to New Delhi in May on his first official visit to India since assuming office following the complete withdrawal of Indian troops from the archipelago in the Indian Ocean.

"Our cooperation has also enhanced the security and well-being of your country through shared activities, equipment provisioning, capacity building and training. It is in our common interest that we reach an understanding on how best we take our relationship forward," EAM Jaishankar said during his meeting with Zameer on May 9.

New Delhi has also time and again reminded Maldives that it has been a key provider of development assistance to the island nation and several projects funded by India have benefited the lives of thousands of people in the country.

In spite of the recent sour ties between the two neighbouring countries, India had announced limited exports of essential goods including sugar, wheat, rice, onions and eggs as a goodwill gesture to Maldives.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

ZANU-PF central committee member Mike Chimombe and his business partner Moses Mpofu have been indicted to the High Court on charges of defrauding the government of over US$7 million in a presidential goat scheme. The case appeared before Harare regional magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa, with Chimombe and Mpofu represented by Tapson Dzvetero and Arshiel Mugiya.Prosecutor Anesu Chirenje stated that the trial is set to proceed at the High Court from October 1 to 4, and the State has substantial evidence, including a tax clearance certificate, valuation of tender documents from the Lands ministry, minutes of a meeting with Blackdeck, and bank statements.The allegations involve the forgery of a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) tax clearance certificate and a National Social Security Authority (NSSA) compliance certificate in the name of Blackdeck (Private) Limited. The State claims Blackdeck misrepresented its compliance with Zimra and NSSA requirements, with investigations revealing that the QR code and reference on the NSSA compliance certificate were issued to a different company. Chimombe and Mpofu are accused of defrauding the government of funds intended for the Presidential Goat Pass-on Scheme.
Dindori : , Aug 8 (IANS) In a serious bid to woo girls, women, youth, farmers and Backward Classes in the run up to the Assembly elections, NCP National President and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday launched the 'Jansanman Yatra' assuring them of all possible support for their empowerment and uplift.

Ajit Pawar told the gathering comprising mostly of women, that he had cleared files pertaining to expenses worth Rs 6,000 crore to be made on a slew of welfare and development schemes.

These schemes include the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, Mukhyamantri Karya Prashikshan Yojana, free power supply to agricultural pumps up to 7.5 horse power.

Ajit Pawar kick-started his yatra from the tribal dominated Dindori, which is currently held by NCP legislator Narhari Zirwal, in the presence of ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Dhananjay Munde, Anil Patil, Sanjay Bansode and the state unit chief Sunil Tatkare.

Ajit Pawar will complete the first leg of his Jansanman Yatra covering North Maharashtra, Western Maharashtra, Mumbai and Vidarbha on August 31.

The junior Pawar, who is seen sporting a pink jacket these days, will move around in a special pink bus and interact with the masses in a bid to create awareness about the government's schemes and increase the NCP's presence ahead of the Assembly elections.

Ajit Pawar appealed to the women to elect the Mahayuti government again in the Assembly elections so that the implementation of various welfare and development schemes would continue unabated for the next five years.

He declared that the state government would deposit Rs 3,000 (Rs 1,500 each) for July and August into the bank accounts of eligible women beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin scheme through DBT on August 17, two days before the auspicious occasion of Rakshabandhan.

"Spend that money on yourself. The state government is spending Rs 46,000 crore annually on various welfare and development schemes. The Opposition is criticising this as an election gimmick, but I tell you, this is not temporary. But for these schemes to continue, you bless the grand alliance government again. It is Ajit Dada's 'wada (promise)' that the Ladki Bahin and other schemes will be implemented for the next five years," said Ajit Pawar amid applause.

"The state government will provide free education to all girls and three free cylinders to women annually. Farmers' electricity bills have been waived off. They don't have to pay the previous and future electricity bills. If the lineman comes demanding payment, tell him my name," said Ajit Pawar.

Ajit Pawar urged the participants not to fall prey to the Opposition's "fake narratives" making it clear that the government was resolved for the development of all castes and communities.

"Forget what happened in the Lok Sabha election. Don't fall prey to fake narratives. Give blessings to the Mahayuti for its re-election," he said.

"We did not aspire for power. We participated in government to carry out development work for the benefit of the people. I could announce welfare and development schemes because I am in power. We are able to work and perform due to our grip over the administration," he asserted.
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 8 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a heartfelt condolence message on the demise of former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Thursday, said it is with a heavy heart that he learned the passing away of his senior CPI-M colleague with whom he served in the party's Central Committee and the Politburo.

"Right from the days of his youth, he had shown exemplary organising capabilities and leadership qualities. During the semi-fascist authoritarian reign of terror in West Bengal during the 1970s, the dedication he showed to protect our party and party workers was selfless," Vijayan said in his message.

Bhattacharjee, 80, the Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011, passed away at his home in Kolkata on Thursday.

Vijayan noted that as Chief Minister, Bhattacharjee laid out a clear plan for the industrialisation of West Bengal which would have led to long-lasting progress, had the Left Front continued in power.

"His dedication to democracy and secularism was evident in his actions. During tumultuous times, it became more and more evident that his commitment and dedication to the people of West Bengal knew no bounds. All through, he lived a very frugal life, becoming a role model for all those in public life, especially for us communists," he added.

Vijayan also recalled when the Centre chose to bestow the Padma Bhushan on him, he forthrightly declined the award.

"It was a testament of how true he stayed to the ideal that has always been upheld by the Communist Party, that our life in the service of the people is not for any recognition or accolade, but for the sake of humanity itself," he said.

"In this time of great grief, our thoughts are with all those who are in mourning, especially the members and sympathisers of the CPI-M in West Bengal. May his memories strengthen us to carry forward the fight to strengthen democracy, protect secularism and realise socialism. On behalf of the Government of Kerala and on my own personal behalf, I express condolences to his family and loved ones," the Chief Minister added.
Agartala, Aug 8 : The Border Security Force (BSF) with the help of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) facilitated the return of 17 Indian workers who were stranded in the unrest-struck neighbouring nation, an official said on Thursday.

A BSF spokesperson said that the 17 workers, who were employed by Afcons Infrastructure Pvt Ltd for the construction of 52 km four-lane road from Akhaura to Kishoreganj in Bangladesh, returned to Tripura through the Agartala-Akhaura (Bangladesh) Integrated Check Post (ICP) on Wednesday night.

The official said that on Wednesday evening, BSF Tripura Frontier Inspector General Patel Piyush Purusottam Das received a call regarding stranded Indian workers in Bangladesh requiring assistance.

"Due to the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, workers of a private company were stranded in their camp at Ramrail (in Brahmanbaria district of Bangladesh) and these 17 workers were en route to ICP, Akhaura. A request was made to the BSF to facilitate their safe return to India during the night," the spokesperson said.

He said that immediately, a contact was established at the nodal officer level of BSF and BGB.

"In a well-planned and coordinated operation, BSF and BGB acted in tandem, displaying synergy. BGB provided help to the 17 workers and ensured their safe movement up to the ICP, Akhaura and then ensured customs and immigration clearance late in the night before handing them over to BSF," the spokesperson said.

The Mumbai-based Afcons Infrastructure Pvt Ltd company engaged these 17 workers, who belong to West Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan and other states, to construct a 52 km 4-lane road from Akhaura to Kishoreganj.

The chaos and unrest in Bangladesh against the backdrop of weeks-long protest over a quota system led to unprecedented violence in the country, followed by the abrupt resignation of Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister following which she fled to India.
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 8 : Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit landslide-hit Wayanad on Saturday.

"This is the information that we have received. The other day we sent a detailed letter to the PM about our needs in the form of a complete rehabilitation package. In the letter we have also thanked the Centre for the support given to us till now," said CM Vijayan.

A nine member central team led by a senior Union Home Ministry official reached Kerala to study the damage caused by the landslide and met CM Vijayan at his office on Thursday.

"A new township at Wayanad has to be created and help from the Centre is expected for this," said CM Vijayan.

"On Friday, a massive public search operation will be conducted with the help of volunteers who will assist the present team of experts leading the rescue efforts. This could be the final leg of the ongoing rescue and search operations," said CM Vijayan.

Kerala has risen remarkably well to help Wayanad recover from this tragedy and financial assistance is pouring in from all quarters.

On Thursday, CM Vijayan said among those who have contributed to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund included Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan (Rs 5 lakh), Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan (Rs 1 lakh), former Defence Minister AK Antony (Rs 50,000).

"I have been told that Telugu actor Chiranjeevi and his son are coming to meet me to give their contribution. The state government employees also have agreed to contribute their five days' salary. The response has been excellent," added CM Vijayan.

Thursday was the 10th day of the ongoing rescue operations which began on July 30, the day the landslides occurred at the four villages of Wayanad, leaving 413 dead and 152 people missing.
Chandigarh, Aug 8 : The Haryana Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday approved a bonus of Rs 2,000 per acre for farmers of all Kharif crops owing to a deficit in southwest monsoon this year.

Talking to the media about the Cabinet's meeting, the Chief Minister said the state has received significantly less rainfall this year compared to the previous year, which has adversely affected crop production.

"To mitigate these challenges, the government has decided to grant a bonus of Rs 2,000 per acre to the farmers for all crops during the current Kharif season," he said.

To ensure that all eligible farmers receive the bonus amount, Chief Minister Saini urged them to register on the 'Meri Fasal, Mera Byora Portal' by August 15.

The bonus will apply to all types of crops, including fruits, flowers, and vegetables. This initiative is designed to support even the small farmers owning land measuring 1 acre or less.

The government will also bring an Act for service security of contractual employees working for more than five years till retirement, the Chief Minister said.

The employees completing five years in service by August 15 will get benefit from this decision, he said.

All benefits like dearness allowance (DA), Chirayu Yojana cover etc. would be given to the employees twice a year.

The decision will apply to all the employees of Outsourcing Policy Part I and II.

The Cabinet also approved an amendment in the monthly pension scheme for accredited mediapersons above 60 years of age in Haryana. Earlier, one member per family was eligible for the monthly pension. Now this rule has been removed by the Cabinet.

The Cabinet also approved the implementation of the new LPG scheme for families who are registered under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). The scheme will come into force from August 1.

Under this scheme, all registered BPL families will be provided up to 12 cylinder refills per annum at the rate of Rs 500 per 14.2 kg domestic cylinder.

Also, to promote women's empowerment, the LPG subsidy will be transferred into the bank account of the eldest woman member of the family. If there is no female member above the age of 18 years in the family, the LPG subsidy will be transferred into the bank account of the eldest male member of the family.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : The Supreme Court will hear on Friday a Special Leave Petition filed by Muslim girls of a Mumbai college against the Bombay High Court judgment, which had rejected their plea challenging the ban on sporting hijabs, veils, stole, caps, etc.

On Thursday, CJI D.Y. Chandrachud was apprised by the counsel representing Muslim students that they would not be allowed to appear in the college examination and the matter required an urgent hearing. At this, CJI Chandrachud told the petitionersa counsel that the apex court would hear the matter on August 9.

On June 26, a Division Bench comprising Justice A.S. Chandurkar and Justice Rajesh Patil of the Bombay HC dismissed Muslim studentsa plea saying they were not inclined to interfere with the decision of the Chembur Trombay Education Society (CTES)as N.G. Acharya & D.K. Marathe College.

The girls, students of SYBSc and TYBSc (Computer Science) programmes for the past two years, had termed the CTES managementas decision as "arbitrary, unreasonable, bad in law and perverse" in their petition. The petitioners contended that the new dress code imposed by the college violated their fundamental rights to privacy, dignity and religious freedom.

"The prohibition of wearing a hijab rather leads to indirect discrimination against female Muslim students regardless of the motive behind the Impugned Instruction as the outcome is prejudicial and discriminatory a" the same violates Article 14 of the Constitution," said the special leave petition filed before the apex court through advocate Abiha Zaidi.

The prohibition of wearing a hijab has resulted in female Muslim students being stigmatised and not being able to attend classes a" this also has resulted in victimisation and indirect discrimination under the guise of enforcing discipline, it added.

Pertinently, a two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court, in October 2022, gave a split verdict on petitions challenging the validity of the ban on hijab worn by some Muslim girl students in classrooms of pre-university colleges in Karnataka and directed that the matter be posted before the Chief Justice of India, who is the Master of Roster, for setting up a larger Bench.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : The Supreme Court will deliver, on Friday, its verdict on bail pleas filed by senior AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy case.

As per the causelist published on the website of the apex court, a bench, headed by Justice B.R. Gavai will pronounce its decision on August 9.

On Tuesday, the Bench, also comprising Justice K.V. Viswanathan, reserved its judgment after hearing the oral arguments raised by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju, representing the central agencies, and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared on Sisodia's behalf.

During the hearing, the CBI and the ED told the apex court that a Rs 100 crore bribe was demanded by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the Goa elections, out of which Rs 45 crore has been traced in the course of the investigation.

"A Rs 100 crore bribe was demanded to be used for Goa elections. Out of which we have been able to trace 45 crore. We have digital evidence. There is a lot of evidence," the ASG said, adding that Sisodia was in charge of the Excise Department of the Delhi government and co-accused Vijay Nair was tasked to receive the kickbacks.

"They wanted to make money out of this exercise. There is evidence to show that this particular gentleman (Sisodia) engineered emails and told certain interns to write a particular type of email," Raju said.

On the other hand, Singhvi contended that the AAP leader has been in custody for 17 months and should be granted bail on the grounds of delay in the conclusion of the trial.

Singhvi also prayed that Sisodia be released on interim bail. He said his wife has "a very very bad medical condition" and is "virtually like a vegetable".

In its judgment delivered on October 30 last year, the SC had denied bail to the former Deputy CM but said that if the trial proceeds slowly in the next three months, he may apply for bail afresh.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court had on April 30 refused to grant bail to Sisodia who was seeking regular bail a second time. Denying bail, the trial court order noted that delays in the case proceedings were largely due to actions attributable to Sisodia himself, dismissing his claims of undue delay. Subsequently, the Delhi High Court denied bail to Sisodia, saying that he failed to pass the triple test for grant of bail in the corruption case and the twin conditions required under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

Challenging this, the former Deputy CM filed special leave petitions before the Supreme Court. Last month, the apex court had disposed of the pleas seeking bail in corruption and money laundering cases after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta gave an undertaking that the final charge sheet/complaint in the liquor policy case would be filed by July 3.

Meanwhile, a court here extended the judicial custody of Sisodia, till August 9 in the CBI case and till August 13 in the money laundering case. He was produced through video conferencing from Tihar Jail upon expiry of the previously granted judicial custody.
Tehran, Aug 8 : Iran's interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani on Thursday congratulated Yahya Sinwar on his appointment as Hamas politburo chief.

He made the remarks in a message published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website after Hamas on Tuesday announced that Sinwar, the group's leader in the Gaza Strip since 2017, replaced its late chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran last week.

Bagheri Kani extended his best wishes to Sinwar for health, success, and strength in pursuing the Palestinian cause, particularly the complete liberation of Palestine.

Sinwar, 61, has spent more than 20 years in Israeli prisons and was released under a prisoner exchange deal with Israel in 2011. He is considered by Israel as one of the main planners of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Haniyeh, who had been invited to attend Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's swearing-in ceremony on July 30, was killed along with his bodyguard the next day when their residence in Tehran was hit. Iran accused Israel of carrying out the attack and vowed "a harsh and painful response."
New Delhi, Aug 8 : The Central government on Thursday introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha to amend the laws governing the Waqf boards in the country.

In an interview with IANS, Taslim Rehmani, President of the Muslim Political Council of India (MPCI), shared his concerns about the Waqf Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Pointing out that the Bill proposes to grant powers to District Magistrates (DMs), Rehmani said that if this happens, the long-standing agenda of the BJP and RSS will be realised, leading to the potential seizure of Waqf properties from Muslims within the next six months.

He also acknowledged that while the Bill has some positive aspects, it also contains provisions that could drastically alter the nature of the Waqf Board.

While Rehmani welcomed the inclusion of women, he criticised the inclusion of non-Muslims in the Waqf Board, calling it illegal.

He argued that only members of the relevant community should be part of such boards, questioning why non-Muslims would be included in the Waqf Board when there are no Muslims in trusts like those formed for the Babri Masjid and the Ram Janmabhoomi.

This is a wrong tradition which is against Article 26 of the Constitution, he claimed.

Rehmani further criticised the idea of transferring the Waqf Board's management from the Waqf to the DM and CM, suggesting this could lead to arbitrary decisions about whether a property is recognised as Waqf property.

He also noted that this shifts the burden of proof onto the Waqf, which he views as a violation of civil law.

aYou want to take away the entire management of the Waqf Board from the Waqf and hand it over to the DM. This means that the magistrate may or may not accept a property as Waqf property. As per the civil law, the claimant has to prove his claim. This is against our civil law," he said.

Moreover, Rehmani expressed concern about the potential misuse of power by DMs, recalling the 1948 incident when the DM of Faizabad ordered the locking of the Babri Masjid, a decision which had significant repercussions over the following decades.

He also warned that if this Bill is passed, it could result in widespread confiscation of Waqf properties from the Muslim community within a short period.

"If we give power to the DM, I want to remind you that in 1948, the DM of Faizabad had used his power to lock the Babri Masjid of the Waqf Board. You can understand... What was its result between 1948 and 2019? If this Bill is passed and the Collector or the DM gets power, properties will be snatched from the hands of the Muslims within the next six months," Rehmani said.
Aden : , Aug 8 (IANS) The Yemeni government on Thursday called for international support to help address the damage caused by recent heavy rains and floods in its key provinces.

There is significant damage to displacement camps and mud houses as a result of the heavy rains, threatening the lives of residents and exposing their property to danger, the state-run Saba news agency reported, citing the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.

"The perilous situation resulting from the low pressure system necessitates immediate and comprehensive intervention to confront the repercussions and alleviate the suffering of the affected citizens," the report said.

The government called upon all partners to respond swiftly and provide urgent support in all forms to offer relief to those impacted, rehabilitate critical infrastructure, and prevent further loss of life and property, it said.

The government affirmed commitment to facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to those most in need in the affected areas, Xinhua news agency reported via Saba.

Local health authorities reported Wednesday that heavy rains and floods killed at least 39 people in northern Yemen over the past 24 hours, including 30 in the province of Hodeidah and nine in Taiz.

Hundreds of families have been forced to flee their homes, they said.

Yemen's National Centre of Meteorology has issued a warning of possible continuing rainstorms across the country, advising people to keep away from flood paths.

Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating conflict since late 2014 when the Houthis seized control of the capital, Sanaa, and large swathes of the country. A UN-brokered truce in April 2022 led to a significant reduction in hostilities, but the country has continued to grapple with severe economic challenges and political divisions.

The latest natural disaster is said to compound the challenges faced by a population already struggling with widespread poverty, malnutrition, and limited access to basic services.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : In a conversation with IANS, Kausar Jahan, Chairperson of the Delhi Haj Committee, applauded the government's move to introduce the Waqf Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in Parliament on Thursday.

New Delhi, Aug 8 (IANS) In a conversation with IANS, Kausar Jahan, Chairperson of the Delhi Haj Committee, applauded the governmentas move to introduce the Waqf Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in Parliament on Thursday.

Sharing her views on the issue, she said the Bill is a commendable step towards creating an effective law that ensures accountability, transparency, and equitable representation.

Kausar Jahan also expressed her support for the Bill, noting that the amendment emphasises the participation of all sections of the Muslim community, saying that the opposition should not have any issues with this.

She also mentioned that following the implementation of this Bill, the Waqf Board will become more competent and accountable, and the possibilities of corruption will decrease.

Highlighting the situation of the Delhi Waqf Board, she claimed that funds meant for widows and orphaned children are not being properly disbursed, while the Imams of mosques are not receiving adequate salaries.

Responding to the opposition's claims that the Bbill interferes with Sharia, Kausar Jahan questioned the basis of such concerns.

She emphasised that the current condition of Waqf Boards is not satisfactory, with some individuals illegally occupying Waqf Board lands, as she reiterated that the government's action on the Bill is commendable.

Amid the opposition's protests, the government introduced the Waqf Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Muslim Waqf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

When Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stood up to present the Waqf Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in Lok Sabha, the opposition, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajawadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, staged a massive protest.

Leaders from various opposition parties, including Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar), and AIMIM, along with MPs from DMK, IUML, CPI, CPI(M), RSP, and VCK, opposed the Bill, labeling it as anti-Constitutional and anti-Muslim.

However, NDA allies like JD(U), TDP, and Shiv Sena supported the Bill.

Supporting the Bill, JD(U) MLA Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh said it is the government's duty to bring transparency to an unchecked institution and that the Bill is not anti-Muslim.

He also criticised the opposition for failing to distinguish between a temple and an institution.
Beirut, Aug 8 : Lebanon's tourism revenue loss exceeded 3 billion US dollars this summer due to the Hezbollah-Israel conflict, Jean Beyrouthy, head of the Federation of Tourism Syndicates, said Thursday.

"Over this summer ... the occupancy rate in hotels fell to less than 20 percent," Beyrouthy was quoted by local news website Elnashra as saying, Xinhua news agency reported.

Beyrouthy stressed the need for a special economic decision to save the tourism sector as the conflict is expected to continue for an unknown period.

He also called on Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati to "hold a meeting with the Supreme Council of Tourism to assess the tourism situation so that the sector can be exempted from fines."

Tensions are high in Lebanon following Israel's attack on Dahieh in Beirut's southern suburbs, which resulted in the death of a senior Hezbollah military commander, Fouad Shokor, and seven civilians. Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has threatened a definite and painful response to the Israeli raid at the appropriate time and place.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, when Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets at Israel in solidarity with Hamas's attack on Israel the previous day. In response, Israel fired heavy artillery into southeastern Lebanon.
New Delhi: Pakistan's political and security instability is reaching critical levels.

The country is experiencing a summer of protests across its provinces, with significant movements surfacing in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (POJK), including Gilgit-Baltistan.

Pakistan's situation is compounded by its ventilator-laden economy, debilitating internal security, perpetual political instability, growing social tensions, along with a legitimacy crisis for the military-dominated political establishment.

These developments suggest the country is on the brink of a major political upheaval which will have significant ramifications.

As Pakistani British political analyst Adeel Malik argues, the country faces a potential Arab Spring-like situation because of the military establishment's fast-declining popular legitimacy.

Multiple factors are contributing to these assessments from political analysts.

Firstly, it needs to be recognised that Pakistan's governance system is characterised by authoritarian power sharing, with the military establishment, led by the Army chief, holding the largest share.

However, to maintain this power, the military establishment has adopted a convenient distribution mechanism among various actors. There is a political element, often referred to as "electables", or "lotas" in Pakistani terms, through which the Army chief is able to orchestrate political changes. The system also relies on members of the civilian bureaucracy, judiciary, pro-regime media, and external support to sustain itself.

However, this power structure has been disrupted in recent years because of various factors.

On one hand, Pakistan has witnessed a significant youth bulge, particularly in the rural areas, which has grown disillusioned with what they see as an obsolete governance system that is unable to take care of its needs.

For instance, "two out of every three Pakistanis today are below the age of 30 and just under one in every three is between 15 and 29 years of age".

In addition, the country's middle class has expanded significantly in the last two decades. For instance, "roughly 40 per cent of Pakistan's population could be classified as middle class  a group that has accounted for most of the country's income growth over the past few decades."

Both these demographics have been exposed to multiple perspectives with the advent of smart screens and new communication methods. This dynamic has challenged the long-held narratives propagated by the military-controlled establishment.

As a result, the power of traditional 'electables' is waning, and even the judiciary, now including middle-class members, is becoming more conscious of public perception.

Interestingly, this middle-class influence has also reached within the ranks of the military. Therefore, this nexus of demographic shift with technological affordability is challenging Pakistan's current system of governance.

Secondly, Pakistan is going through a crisis of governability. It is a situation when the ruling class, despite their hold over power, loses legitimacy among the ruled. This principle applies universally, as rulers need popular legitimacy to exercise power effectively; without it, they rely solely on force, which is unsustainable.

For effective governance, voluntary obedience from the governed, who recognise the ruler's authority as beneficial for the community and state, is essential. Given how the Pakistan Army-controlled establishment has been unmasked and challenged, it has lost legitimacy and is left with just power.

Thirdly, there is a legitimacy crisis of institutions in Pakistan. The institutions meant to resolve societal tensions are fast losing credibility among the people.

For example, the media, courts, and the electoral system are all viewed with scepticism because of their susceptibility to pressures from the military establishment.

As such, the Pakistan Army has unmasked itself to the people to demonstrate who remains in the control of the state. While an effective exercise of power is often hidden, when it becomes apparent to people as to who controls the system, as is evident in Pakistan, the same development undermines the system.

Therefore, the Pakistan military establishment's tight control over state institutions has effectively exacerbated the loss of institutional trust among the people, thereby creating a dangerous situation in the counrty.

This is evident in how the judiciary is being viewed in Pakistan currently, especially how it has facilitated the political persecution of Imran Khan, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party, and political dissenters across the country, especially in Balochistan and KPK.

The same holds true for the civilian bureaucracy, including the election commission, and docile pro-regime media, which have actively colluded to propagate the statist narratives. The ongoing media blackout of Balochistan protests, where the Pakistan Army has killed scores of protesters and arrested hundreds, is a case in point.

Fourthly, the cost of political engineering has increased exponentially. Previously, the Pakistan Army's military-political engineering, such as in the 1990s, did not have such a huge economic impact as the country managed to maintain a semblance of economic stability even with minimal growth rates. However, during the last two decades, the establishment, fronted by its 'electable' managed governments, has acquired and usurped aid money and loans from external donors and creditors without making any efforts to stabilise the national economy. This has led to Pakistan's current economic condition, making its military adventurism costly for all societal sections, including the Army itself.

Moreover, as highlighted above, the growing awareness among rural and middle-class Pakistanis, particularly the youth, about the military's political role has also surged the costs of its political meddling. The new media platforms have in particular exposed these demographics to competing perspectives and narratives, thereby allowing them to challenge state narratives about historical events and consequently increasing economic costs for the Army to push through its narratives.

As such, these factors make it implicit that Pakistan appears ripe for a political upheaval similar to the ones that happened in the Arab world from 2010 onwards such as in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, among others.

The country presents a scenario reminiscent of the Arab Spring, with a significant youth bulge, a struggling middle class, and shrinking economic resources. However, unlike the Arab countries, Pakistan has political forums to voice grievances, even during martial law periods.

Currently, Imran Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), serve as unifying figures against the system. If the establishment removes this political buffer, as indicated by the government to ban the PTI, it could plunge the country into chaos and leaderless political movement.

These developments could take Pakistan to a completely unpredictable political trajectory. Nevertheless, the military establishment and the civilian facade of the Shehbaz Sharif government are navigating a volatile situation, which is akin to playing with a volcano. When this volcano erupts and deluges Pakistan is not a matter of "if" but "when".
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his best wishes to Nobel laureate and microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus (84), who took oath as the head of the interim government in Bangladesh on Thursday evening, while expressing that the new regime would restore peace and ensure the protection of Hindus and other minorities in the neighbouring country.

"My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development," Prime Minister Modi said in a post on X.

Amid the violence that led to Sheikh Hasina's resignation and flight from the country, there were reports that Hindus, their properties, and places of worship were being targeted.

Yunus was attending the Paris Olympics as the country got engulfed in massive unrest and violence. The 84-year-old former banker landed in Dhaka on Thursday afternoon, hours before his swearing-in ceremony.

After taking oath, Yunus said that he would "uphold, support and protect the constitution and will perform my duties sincerely".

His major role in the military-backed interim government became quite evident within hours of Sheikh Hasina's departure from the country on Monday amid massive anti-quota protests that had several lives.

A well-known social entrepreneur, banker, and economist, Yunus is also hailed as the 'father of microfinance' for founding the Grameen Bank in 1983 and becoming the pioneer of microcredit and microfinance concepts.

In 2006, he and the bank were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work to create economic and social development from below.

Although Yunus was a well-known figure in Bangladesh, he had largely stayed away from the political arena, save one short-lived stint in February 2007, when he founded 'Nogarik Shakti' (citizens' power) before announcing his exit from politics in May 2007.

He also shared a tumultuous relationship with Sheikh Hasina, whom he accused of destroying the legacy of her father and Bangladesh founder, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Born on June 28, 1940, in Chittagong district, Yunus did his schooling at the Chittagong Collegiate School before earning a bachelor's degree in economics from Dhaka University.

He later obtained a PhD in economics from Vanderbilt University in the USA on a Fulbright Scholarship in 1969.

Upon returning to Bangladesh in 1972, Yunus became the head of the economics department at Chittagong University.

From 1993 to 1995, Yunus was appointed by the UN Secretary-General as a member of the International Advisory Group for the Fourth World Conference on Women. He was also a prominent member of the Global Commission on Women's Health, the Advisory Council for Sustainable Economic Development, and the UN Expert Group on Women and Finance.
Mumbai, Aug 8 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday directed various agencies including the NHAI, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), state public works department and the traffic police department to immediately repair potholes on Thane-Nashik and Mumbai-Ahmedabad highways which are causing huge traffic jams and serious problems for commuters to commute.

Shinde has instructed the agencies to repair these highways and relieve citizens from the traffic snarls in Thane, Palghar, Nashik and Raigad districts.

At the review meeting, he also directed that cases should be filed against those obstructing the repair work.

While giving instructions to work on war-footing for urgent repair of Nashik-Bhiwandi road, he asked the agencies not to waste time on temporary road repair work.

He directed the Konkan Divisional Commissioner to issue a combined notification for the regulation of heavy traffic during peak hours between 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and also parking lots along the highway for heavy vehicles.

The CM's intervention came in the wake of complaints from elected representatives and commuters of traffic jams on these highways, mainly due to potholes.

Shinde announced that he would personally visit the Thane-Nashik highway on Friday to take stock of the situation.

The Chief Minister expressed strong displeasure regarding potholes on the Thane-Nashik and Thane-Ahmedabad highways.

To provide immediate relief to the citizens from the problems caused by traffic jams, the systems should plug the potholes immediately,

He suggested that Precast panels should be used where time is required to fill pits, asking the NHAI management to take immediate action in this regard.

He also emphasised the need for coordination among various agencies.

Shinde also directed to increase the number of traffic wardens for traffic regulation while the process of plugging potholes is going on.

"Heavy vehicles should be controlled by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) to regulate this heavy traffic so that it does not add to the traffic jams.

He has appointed Thane District Collector as a nodal officer for coordination with JNPA and other agencies.

The Chief Minister also directed that the potholes on the highway leading from JNPA to Panvel, Pune, Thane should be filled immediately.

He asked the City and Industrial Development Authority (CIDCO) to provide Navi Mumbai Police with 200 traffic wardens to regulate the traffic coming from Navi Mumbai, Panvel, JNPA area.

He also asked JNPA to provide cranes required to remove heavy vehicles parked on these roads due to technical issues.

Shinde directed the creation of a parking lot at Sonale, Padgha, Asangaon on Nashik highway for parking of heavy vehicles.

He gave instructions that necessary repairs should be done, including filling of potholes and drains on a priority basis, and the progress of this work should be reviewed daily.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : The Delhi High Court is slated to hear on Friday the anticipatory bail plea of former Maharashtra cadre probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who allegedly submitted false OBC and PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) certificates and fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limits provided for the Civil Services Examinations (CSE) by faking her identity.

As per the cause list published on the website of the Delhi HC, a bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad will take up the matter for hearing on August 9.

Last week, a court here turned down her anticipatory bail plea and asked the investigating agency to find out if anyone from inside the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) had helped Khedkar.

Widening the scope of the probe, Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala asked the Delhi Police to investigate if other people recommended by the UPSC have availed quota benefits without entitlement.

On Wednesday, the UPSC told the Delhi High Court that it would communicate to Khedkar, within two days, its order cancelling her provisional candidature for CSE-2022.

A bench of Justice Jyoti Singh was hearing a plea filed by the former IAS trainee officer challenging the validity of a press release issued by the UPSC cancelling her provisional candidature and permanently debarring her from all future exams/selections.

Disposing of Khedkaras plea, the high court granted her liberty to approach the appropriate judicial forum for remedy. The UPSC, Central government, Maharashtra government, and the police are conducting separate probes against Khedkar, while the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie removed her from field training as a trainee IAS officer in Pune and Washim districts. The UPSC had said that its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) "could not detect her number of attempts primarily because she changed not only her name but also her parentsa names".
Ahmedabad, Aug 7 : The Congress will launch its Gujarat Nyaya Yatra from Morbi on Friday.

The march will travel through some key cities, including Tankara, Rajkot, Chotila, Surendranagar, Viramgam, Sanand, and Ahmedabad, before concluding in Gandhinagar on August 23.

On August 11, the Yatra will reach Rajkot where a condolence meeting will held at the TRP Game Zone, where a fire tragedy killed 27 people in May this year.

The following day, it will cover key areas of Rajkot before moving to Surendranagar on August 13.

Overall, seven Yatras will be conducted across Gujarat.

The Congress said the Yatra is a call for accountability and justice for the victims of various incidents, as it aims to raise awareness against corruption, bootlegging, and the rise of 'fake' officers in the state.

This Yatra also aims to seek justice for the victims of the recent tragedies in Gujarat, such as the Morbi bridge collapse, the Takshashila fire incident, and the Vadodara Harani boat tragedy.

Congress Seva Dal chief Lalji Desai, Gujarat Congress President Shaktisinh Gohil, and Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani will lead the Yatra, which is expected to be joined by Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and party President Mallikarjun Kharge at different stages.

"This march highlights the series of devastating incidents that have impacted the state and the nation over the past two years. Through this initiative, the Congress hopes to bring justice to the affected families and address the issues facing Gujarat under the current administration," said Gujarat Congress chief Gohil.

aParticipants will be divided into three categories -- those walking fr the entire 15-day journey, district-level participants joining for five to seven hours, and others joining or leaving as convenient.

Around 100 participants are expected to walk continuously throughout the Yatra. Starting from Jhulta Bridge in Morbi on Friday, coinciding with Kranti Din, the Yatra will feature a Maha Dhvajvandan ceremony in Surendranagar on August 15, followed by a segment from Viramgam Sanand to Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad, party sources said.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the first significant piece of legislation introduced by the Modi 3.0 government, has sparked considerable controversy among Muslim organisations and the opposition.

The Bill, which seeks to streamline the registration process of Waqf properties via a central portal, was presented in the Parliament on Thursday. It also proposes renaming the Waqf Act of 1995 as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act.

Union Minister of Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, has agreed to refer the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, to a joint committee of Parliament, which will include representatives from all political parties. This committee will be constituted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Rijiju also expressed his willingness to engage with the stakeholders through the joint House panel once it is established.

IANS has reviewed the Bill to highlight and explain some key amendments that the legislation proposes to introduce.

What is Waqf?

Waqf refers to property dedicated exclusively to religious or charitable purposes under Islamic law. Once declared Waqf, the property cannot be revoked. The Bill's amendments aim to address this issue. There are approximately 30 Waqf boards in India, managing properties that cover over 9 lakh acres, with an estimated value of Rs 1.2 lakh crore, making them the third-largest landowners in the country after the Railways and the Defence Ministry.

What are the key features (amendments) in the Bill?

The key amendment proposals in the Bill include the establishment of a Central Waqf Council and state Waqf Boards with representation from both Muslim women and non-Muslims. Some Muslim organisations are opposing the recommendation to give representation to non-Muslims.

The Bill stipulates that two women will be appointed to each state board as well as the central council.

One major change is that the District Collector will become the authority in determining whether a property belongs to Waqf or government land, replacing the Waqf Tribunal from the 1995 Act.

This shift is intended to address allegations of misuse of power by vested interests in property disputes. It means the District Collector will be the arbiter, which is also one of the suggestions not going down well with the opposition and Muslim leaders.

The Bill also proposes creating a separate Board of Auqaf for the Boharas and Aghakhanis and includes provisions for the representation of Shias, Sunnis, Bohras, and Aghakhanis on the Waqf boards.

Additionally, the legislation seeks to grant the Centre the authority to direct audits of Waqf properties by auditors appointed by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

The Bill introduces a requirement for a valid 'Waqfnama', a formal deed or document expressing the intention to donate property as Waqf, replacing the current practice that allows Waqf to be established through oral agreements.

Also, a non-Muslim chief executive officer and at least two non-Muslim members are proposed to be appointed by the state government to the Waqf boards at the state level.
New Delhi, August 8 : The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Thursday issued a directive to the education departments of all the states and Union Territories (UTs), asking them to prevent incidents of corporal punishment and discrimination against schoolchildren during upcoming festivals, including Raksha Bandhan (August 19).

In a letter sent to the Principal Secretaries of School Education Departments across the country, NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo underlined the importance of protecting the rights of children and addressing their matters.

The directive comes in the wake of reports of schoolchildren facing harassment over the display of their cultural and religious practices during festivals, including wearing of rakhis.

In the letter dated August 8, the NCPCR chief expressed concern over alleged harassment and discrimination of children by school teachers or other school staff during festivals.

The letter highlighted a few instances, citing news reports where children have been prohibited from wearing rakhis, tilak, or mehendi in schools during Raksha Bandhan, as it asked the authorities to ensure that such harassment, physical or mental, is prohibited.

"With festivals approaching, it is crucial to direct the concerned authorities to ensure that schools do not engage in practices that could subject children to corporal punishment or discrimination," Kanoongo said in the letter.

Kanoongo also said that such actions violate Section 17 of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

The NCPCR has also called for compliance reports along with copies of the relevant orders, to be submitted to the Commission by August 17.

Notably, the Commission is a statutory body and is responsible for the protection of children from sexual offences (under POCSO Act), juvenile justice (under Care and Protection of Children Act, 2015), and the Right to Education (under RTE Act, 2009).
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 8 : The Kerala Police team on Thursday found that the fatal road accident of an elderly person was a cleverly planned murder, hatched by a woman official working at a private financial institution in Kollam, to steal his money

Papachan, who was living alone after he retired from the BSNL at Kollam, died after being knocked down by a car when he was on a cycle on May 23.

His entire savings including a huge sum which he received as retirement benefits were deposited with a leading private bank at Kollam. Papachan had good relations with the bank manager Saritha and the other staff members and they knew this entire family background.

After some time and after winning the confidence of Papachan, Saritha, along with another staffer Anoop, hired local goon Ani, who has a few criminal cases registered against him, to eliminate Papachan, as per police.

As the conspirators knew Papachan often rides a bicycle, Ani, in his car, knocked down the aged man, who died on the spot.

Then the police, after a preliminary probe, closed the case as a road accident.

However, when Papachan's daughter arrived at the bank and realised a sizeable sum of his savings had been withdrawn, she asked his friends and family members about the withdrawal and failing to get an answer, she approached the Kollam police and filed a complaint.

The police reached the private bank after a series of probes and found out something was fishy. As Saritha was not cooperating with the probe, the police decided to look into the call details and found out that there were two different mobile numbers that Saritha and Ani were communicating on. They then checked the bank account of Ani and found money transactions on and around the day that Papachan was knocked down by Ani in his car.

As Saritha broke down, police on Thursday arrested her, Anoop, Ani and two of his associates Ali and Maheen. On interrogation of the accused, the police found that Saritha had entrusted the job of eliminating Papachan to Ani for a sum of Rs 2.40 lakhs. All five are in the custody of the police and will be produced before a local court.
By Azernews

Elnur Enveroglu

Sometimes the face of life is so harsh and unfair that it is difficult to express it in words. Rich and poor, full and hungry, guilty and innocent, and what else...all these elements are reflected in a tableau called Armenian realities. This is a bitter reality that comes alive with time and the shades of history.

We would not be wrong if we say that bribery and corruption are the main pillars of the Armenian administration system. In 2018, when Nikol Pashinyan, who had a mediocre experience in the field of journalism, got the high seat of politics, many people described the future of the country in a mythical image created by the West  a country free of corruption. Everyone believed that everything from Armenia's administrative system to law, legislation, power structures, and defense system would operate in a transparent and orderly manner. Until the true potential of Armenia is revealed in 2020.

The country's situation dragged it further into the quagmire, and eventually, the puppet state, which was inserted like a wedge into the region, became a victim of corruption that undermined it from the inside.

The kingdom that Nikol Pashinyan won in the Velvet Revolution was actually thanks to former clan leaders who were notorious for corruption before him. The corrupt millionaires like Robert Kocharyan and Serjik Sargsyan, who were particularly involved in bribery, corruption, and embezzlement of state property, made Pashinyan's new image in power popular.

Everyone thought that the state budget was spent on the dreams of Armenia, and the only goal of the officials was to educate the generations by keeping the traditions of invading foreign lands alive. However, the bitterness of the 44-day war created conditions for the increase of deserters in the country and the emergence of corrupt gangs.

Now it becomes crystal clear why a soldier's parent is crying over the death of an Armenian soldier in someone else's land, that is, in Garabagh, which is Azerbaijan.

One is hungry, the other is full, one is usurping other people's land in a trench, and the other is filling his pockets by stealing from the state budget - look, this is the reality of Armenia.

Gurgen Arsenyan, a member of the Armenian parliament from the ruling Civil Contract faction, whose candidacy is being considered for the post of Armenian ambassador to Russia, owns 17 real estate properties, land plots and shares in various companies.

A standard question: Where does the new Armenian ambassador to the Russian Federation get all this?

On May 3, 2024, Arsenyan submitted an annual declaration of his property and income for 2023 to the Corruption Prevention Commission, which shows that the MP has significant wealth. In particular, he declared 17 real estate units, including buildings, structures, and land plots in Yerevan, Gyumri and Kotayk. He also owns 4 cars (Nissan, Bentley, Mercedes Benz, and Range Rover) and shares worth over 1 million rubles and 768 million drams.

Arsenyan is even close to leaving behind Bob Menedez, the US senator who was named the corruption hero of the United States with this move.

In addition, Arsenyan owns 16 expensive items, including a gold bar worth 32 million 55 thousand 700 drams, inventory purchased in 1995 for $370 thousand, a collection of paintings worth about 400 million drams, and collectible coins worth 18 million drams.

Arsenyan's cash amounted to 40 euros, $800,193, and 32,571 drams, which by the end of the year turned into 0 euros, $449,995.1 and 4 drams. Cash amounted to $628 thousand, 5.5 million drams, and 16,500 drams, which by the end of the year increased to $977,600 dollars, 6 million 780 thousand drams, and 58 thousand euros.

The ex-parliamentarian's annual income was 14 million 443 thousand 370 drams, of which 9 million 983 thousand 370 drams was his parliamentary salary. During the reporting period, Arsenyan's income included 2 million 300 thousand drams in dividends from Unicorn Group LLC.

The deputy has a stake in seven companies, including Vkredit24 LLC, Arsoil, Unicorn Service and Unicorn Group.

It is obvious that we have a classic example of a corrupt official abusing his powers for personal gain. Such people use their position to obtain illegal income, enriching themselves at the expense of the Armenian people. Corruption undermines the trust of Armenian citizens in the government and infringes on economic development and social justice. And it is not difficult to guess what Gurgen Arsenyan will do as the new Armenian ambassador to the Russian Federation.

Do you think it is just about one person? Of course, this is still the cover of the book, besides Gurgen, there are still corrupt politicians whose names can be written like a saga.

When you see them, the poor face of Nikol Pashinyan, who really needs India's useless weapons and Europe's 10 million military aid package, comes to mind. Armenia, unable to cope with the officials who loot billions of wealth of its state and people, is trying to protect itself through donations
Agartala, Aug 8 : Condoling the demise of veteran Left leader and former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee (80), the CPI-M in Tripura said on Thursday that whenever the erstwhile Left Front government in the state or the party sought his help, he immediately responded.

Bhattacharjee, who passed away on Thursday morning in Kolkata, was unwell for a while, suffering from respiratory problems that led to frequent hospitalisations. He was put on life support last year after he contracted pneumonia.

In a condolence message, the CPI-M state committee in Tripura said in the past few decades, Bhattacharjee took part in a large number of party programmes and events in the state.

The people of Tripura would remember Bhattacharjee for his outstanding contributions and sacrifices in building and expanding the Communist party base in West Bengal.

"Following alternative policies, Bhattacharjee proved his efficiency and success in running the Left Front government in Bengal. His role and meritorious creations in the literary and cultural world are also unparalleled and exceptional," the CPI-M said, adding that he translated many international literary works into Bengali.

Bhattacharjee, as a dedicated Communist, led a simple life, and throughout his tenure as the Chief Minister and subsequently, lived in a modest two-room apartment, the Left party said.

In a separate condolence message, former Tripura Chief Minister and CPI-M politburo member Manik Sarkar expressed his deep shock over the death of Bhattacharjee, saying that he showed an alternate path to the country during his stint as the Chief Minister of Bengal.

"I am very upset over the demise of Bhattacharjee. It is the end of a big chapter. He came through a long journey of youth and Communist movements. Executing Left politics, as minister in the Bengal government and over 10 years as the Chief Minister of the state, Bhattacharjee played a crucial role in taking the Left Front ahead, showing alternative ways (of development) to the country," Sarkar said.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha also expressed his grief over the demise of Bhattacharjee.

"I am deeply saddened by the demise of former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones at this difficult time. May God bless his departed soul," Saha said in a post on X.
Patna, Aug 8 : In the wake of rising fatalities due to road accidents in Bihar, Transport Minister Sheela Mandal announced an increase in the reward for those who assist road accident victims to get to hospitals to Rs 10,000, with the aim of encouraging more people to take swift action in rescuing victims and helping save their lives.

This decision comes as part of broader efforts by the Nitish Kumar government to address the concerning trend of increasing road accident fatalities in the state.

In a cabinet meeting held on August 6, the government passed a proposal to empower the Transport Department to establish a committee focused on setting maximum speed limits on various roads, including National Highways, State Highways, as well as roads under the Road Construction Department, and the Rural Works Department. The goal of this committee will be to reduce accidents caused by high-speed vehicles, thereby enhancing road safety across Bihar.

The measures reflect the government's commitment to tackling road safety issues through a combination of immediate incentives for rescue efforts and long-term strategies for preventing accidents, officials said.

The Transport Minister emphasised the critical importance of the "first one hour" following a road accident, where immediate medical assistance can significantly increase the chances of saving lives.

"To encourage more people to assist accident victims during this crucial time, the Bihar government has increased the reward for good Samaritans from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. This initiative has seen a positive response, with more people now stepping forward to help," she said.

Mandal highlighted that the initiative, initially launched in Bihar, has also been adopted by the Central government, where Rs 5,000 is being given as a reward to those who assist the injured. She said that the fear of legal hassles previously deterred many from helping accident victims, but the government's efforts have reduced these concerns, leading to increased participation in rescue efforts.

"The initiative underscores the idea that helping accident victims is not just a civic duty but a humanitarian act that could save anyone's life, as accidents can happen to anyone," she said.

To facilitate the reward process, the police are required to send a report to the Transport Department about the person who brought the injured individual to the hospital in time. Once the police investigation confirms the details, the reward money is disbursed through the District Magistrate, along with a certificate of appreciation. If multiple people assist in the rescue, the reward is divided equally among them.
Chennai, Aug 9 : The Madras High Court has refused to restrain Tamil Nadu Police from arresting YouTuber 'Savukku' Shankar alias A. Shankar, in multiple cases registered against him at various police stations across the state for his comments on women police personnel in a YouTube interview.

Justice G. Jayachandran on Thursday rejected the plea for interim protection.

Shankaras counsel Balaji Srinivasan said, that the Supreme Court had granted interim bail to his client even in a preventive detention order passed under the Goondas Act and yet he was unable to step out of the prison because of multiple cases registered for the same incident.

The judge granted three weeks time for the government advocate to obtain instructions from the police after the law officer said that not all the FIRs that the YouTuber had listed out in an annexure could be related to the same interview and that in any case, he would require some time to verify the claim.

'Savukku' Shankar has approached the high court seeking a direction to the Tamil Nadu Police to club all 17 First Information Reports (FIRs) that had been registered against him at various police stations across Tamil Nadu in connection with an interview he had given to a YouTube channel regarding the conduct of women police personnel.

Shankar, in his affidavit, said that the first FIR was registered against him by the Coimbatore cyber crime police, and after this multiple cases were registered before various districts in the same case. The YouTuber prayed before the court that he was being paraded before different courts with the sole intention of harassing him. He went on to state that the interview given by him regarding women police personnel had led to the registration of FIRs in the police stations in Coimbatore, Tiruchi, Madurai, Dindigul, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Perambalur, Nagapattinam, the Nilgiris, Sivaganga, Nagapattinam, Salem, and Tirunelveli districts.

He said that he was a whistleblower who had been exposing alleged misgovernance as well as the misdeeds of bureaucrats.

Shankar told the court that multiple criminal cases had been booked against him ever since he was arrested first on May 4 and that he had also been detained under the Goonda Act. He alleged that the police were acting as per the desires of their political bosses and added that the cases were foisted against him to prevent him from raising his voice against the people in power.
Jaipur, Aug 8 : With trade and industry in Bangladesh getting hugely affected by the political turmoil in the neighbouring country following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister on Monday, the readymade exporters in Rajasthan are expecting a 20 per cent increase in Christmas orders for readymade garments.

The reason is that international garment buyers have started contacting Indian exporters amid the tense situation in Bangladesh, bringing a ray of hope for the garment exporters of the desert state to boost their business.

Every month, readymade garments worth around $3.5-3.8 billion are exported from Bangladesh, compared to about $1.3-1.5 billion worth of readymade garments exported from India.

Exporters in Rajasthan said their Bangladesh counterparts are facing a challenge to finish their orders for Christmas coming from the US and European countries.

More than 5,000 factories in Dhaka and surrounding areas manufacture garments, which include shirts, T-shirts, trousers, and skirts.

"If the instability in Bangladesh persists for a long time, 10-20 per cent of the orders may again shift to Rajasthan during Christmas," said Zakir Hussain, President, Garment Exporters Association of Rajasthan.

"When I went to Japan recently, I was told that if the situation in Bangladesh does not improve, we will look for other options. This is how things work. So, there can be a big chance for us. When a foreign buyer comes to India, we will also get an opportunity," said Mahaveer Taylor, a dealer in readymade garments.

Other industry players said that multinational companies like Puma, Gap, and others place orders for readymade garments with Bangladesh, but due to the political crisis there, the possibility of India's garment industry benefiting this season has increased.

In such a situation, if the situation in Bangladesh does not improve soon, the buyers from Western countries can turn to India.
Kolkata, Aug 9 : Various central and state security agencies, including the Border Security Force (BSF), Coast Guard and coastal police, have increased the intensity of patrolling at the marine borders with Bangladesh in the Sunderbans area scattered over West Bengal's North 24 Paragans and South 24 Parganas districts, as these are the most vulnerable points for illegal immigration in wake of the ongoing crisis in the neighbouring country.

A senior official from the state police said that besides patrolling by the BSF and members of state police, seasoned officers and staff of the state Forest Department, who are long acquainted with the spider net of narrow creeks in the region are also being involved in the process.

As per the latest information available, joint teams of members of the coastal police force and Forest Department staff are mainly guarding the connecting points of the innumerable creeks with the main river, using high-end motorised boats for the purpose.

On the other hand, the BSF, using motorised boats, speed boats, and other vessels, have intensified the patrolling on the marine borders scattered in the Sunderbans areas and private vessels coming to their notice are intercepted, searched and the citizenship credentials of the passengers are being checked.

In addition, a hovercraft of the Coast Guard has also been deployed in the Sunderbans area for round-the-clock monitoring of the situation.

All these different forces have also been equipped with high-end and sophisticated night-vision cameras and binoculars considering that the chances of illegal immigration are higher during the night hours.

Sources from the state police said that movement restrictions have also been imposed on those residing at the island villages near the marine borders. Besides restrictions on fishing at certain points in the area, the residents of these island villages have been asked not to climb on the river embankments in the area.

The residents of these island villages have also been advised to avoid staying outside their homes beyond a certain point after sunset as far as possible, as per the sources.
Patna, Aug 9 : Responding to the opposition's objections to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal on Thursday criticised the Congress and its alliance partners, accusing them of being entangled in the politics of appeasement.

The Bill, which seeks to streamline the registration process of Waqf properties through a central portal, among other things, was presented in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

Defending the Bill, Jaiswal said, "It is essential to resolve the disputes and problems related to the Waqf Board. The Bill is not only necessary for addressing the present issues, but is also crucial for the future. It will bring much-needed transparency to the management of Waqf properties."

He also criticised the opposition for opposing the Bill, accusing them of trying to instill fear among the minority communities, particularly the Muslims.

"It is clear that the amendments proposed in the Bill are not anti-Muslim. The opposition is spreading confusion and misinformation about the Bill. I believe that it is in the national interest and crucial for the unity and integrity of the country," Jaiswal said.

The BJP leader positioned the opposition's resistance to the Bill as detrimental to national unity, suggesting that supporting the Bill is aligned with safeguarding the country's interests.

Samrat Choudhary, the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, also criticised the Congress and other opposition parties for opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill, accusing them of engaging in vote bank politics and appeasement policy.

Choudhary also expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his party JD(U) for supporting the Bill.

"We welcome JD(U)'s stance that the Bill is not anti-Muslim but is intended to bring legal accountability to an institution that has operated with considerable autonomy," he said.

"The proposed amendments to the Waqf Act are based on the Sachar Committee report. The report said the income of the Waqf Board from all its assets is only Rs 163 crore. If Waqf assets were properly maintained, it would have earned an annual income of Rs 12,000 crore. The Waqf Act was amended in 2013 also," Chaudhary said.

By linking the current amendments to the Sachar Committee's recommendations and past legislative actions, Choudhary reinforced the argument that the Bill is part of an ongoing effort to improve the management and transparency of Waqf properties, rather than a politically motivated or anti-Muslim move.
Gurugram, Aug 9 : The Gurugram Police have filed a case against eight flat owners of a residential society who accommodated 16 foreign nationals in their flats without informing the police and without the necessary documentation.

According to police, in the past week, a total of 34 cases have been registered against those who disobeyed the instructions to accommodate foreign nationals.

Apart from this, the police on Thursday issued some guidelines and orders to ensure law and order in view of Independence Day. All parking contractors have been instructed to check all vehicles thoroughly before getting them parked.

Similarly, all malls and other important building owners have been asked to install CCTV cameras at the entry and exit gates and also ensure that the cameras are working properly so that suspicious activities can be monitored.

CCTV cameras should be installed at the reception place based on prescribed parameters so that all the persons making inquiries can be easily identified. Apart from this, surveillance cameras should also be installed inside these buildings at appropriate places like underground parking, generators power control rooms.

Police have asked bus drivers and conductors to park buses under their supervision, keep a strict watch on the bus and immediately inform the police through any medium in case of any suspicious situation.

According to the guidelines, every mall management and industry owner should appoint security guards at their place and get their character and criminal record verified. Also, instruct the security guards to immediately inform the police station about any suspicious person.

Mobile phone and SIM card sellers should issue mobile phone connections only after proper identification and verification of identity documents, police said.

Guest house, hotel, and restaurant owners should keep complete details of the people staying at their place and maintain their complete records. Along with this, police verification of the employees working in guest houses hotels, restaurants, and resorts should also be done.

Cyber aacafe owners and managers should immediately inform police about any person making suspicious calls or sending e-mails from their place, the police said, adding that they should keep complete details of the people coming and going to the cyber cafe and maintain the record.

Police have asked agencies operating microlights, aircraft, gliders, power gliders, and hand-it-air balloons to verify employees working at their place and use all means of security.

All vehicle dealers must keep the identity card of all the customers buying and selling vehicles from them in their records.

The Gurugram Police have formed various teams to ensure compliance with these orders and instructions, which are conducting regular investigations.

"The Gurugram Police also appeals to the general public that if you sense any suspicious person, vehicle, object or place, then you must inform the police through any medium so that law and order and peace can be maintained and your safety is ensured," Arpit Jain, DCP (headquarters) said.
The Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators hosted an online UnBanning Books panel, open to the public, on August 1. SCBWI executive director Sarah Baker welcomed more than 500 audience members to the discussion of combatting book bans, which kicked off the organizations virtual summer conference, which had more than 1,600 registered participants. As members of the childrens book community, we have a special responsibility to understand how book bans work and how to fight them, Baker said. We hope that this discussion will give you practical strategies to support intellectual freedom in your communities.

Arthur A. Levine, president and editor in chief of Levine Querido, moderated the conversation among four presenters who shared a message of unity. Despite frustrating battles and setbacks, they take a long view toward victory. We are winning this fight, which I know sounds bonkers, because were all here in this moment, said Lee Rowland, executive director of the National Coalition Against Censorship, now in its 50th year. When people show up to school board elections and meetings, books get returned to the shelves. When people challenge [efforts to curtail free speech] in court, the criminal penalties are on hold.

Rowland described attending a Moms for Liberty meeting on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and learning about the right-wing groups three-part agenda to ban books, take anti-trans positions, and kill the public education system writ large. Rowland told SCBWI, Do not kid yourself. This is the tip of a spear of a political movement to deprecate our public institutions, so freedom to read advocateseven those who dont attend school board meetings or picket in the streetscan attend author readings and show support for young peoples literacy. The courts are with us, and public opinion is with us, Rowland said. In order to preserve and fight for that freedom to read, it comes down to us. It needs to be a kind of popular social movement at the grassroots level, paying attention to school boards and local government.

Betsy Gomez, assistant director of communications and public outreach at Unite Against Book Bans and the American Library Associations Office of Intellectual Freedom, underscored Rowlands assessment of success. She listed key freedom to read lawsuits and legal victories in states including Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Iowa. Lawsuits are not a perfect solution, because theyre expensive, Gomez said. But when people are paying attention in their communities, they can effect change. Bucks County [Pa.] had a bunch of Moms for Liberty types on their school board, and they flipped that board to rational people. And were seeing that happening around the country. Gomez, whose freedom to read career began at the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, took heart in the fact that, notwithstanding parental advisory labels on 1980s music, and comics censorship decades earlier, All of those types of music are still here, and theyre thriving. Comics are a billion-dollar industry now.

Gomez shared concern about a drastic uptick in censorship efforts in both school and public libraries. While the ALA typically tracks more challenges in school libraries, she said, What we saw in 2023 was a sharp spike in the attacks on public libraries, a more than 90% increase over the previous year in the attempts to remove materials, especially books depicting LGBTQ and BIPOC communities. She explained that extremist groups target institutions with accusations of obscenity, harassment of staff, and policies that encourage fear-based decisionswhich often go unreportedand these undermining tactics parallel demoralizing resource reductions like decreased library funding, fewer staff trainings, and the elimination of positions.

Shadow Bans and Silencing

Echoing Gomezs points about intimidation, Kyle Zimmer, president/CEO and co-founder of nonprofit First Book and co-founder of the Diverse Books for All Coalition, attested that the term pornography is lobbed as a hand-grenade that is used to scare people. Zimmer said allies, even when they wholeheartedly believe in First Amendment rights, can be cowed by accusations that theyre distributing obscene content to minors. When its somebody whos not in that fight every single day, those contentious phone calls scare them away from calling their local school or their school board, and we need to think about mass approaches to solidarity, she said.

Levine jumped in to assert that such bullying leads to shadow bans. Librarians and teachers say, Why even put this book on my shelf? Im just going to cause myself trouble, and that doesnt register as a ban. He added that it definitely registers with readers and with authors, because Levine Querido experienced a 50% drop in revenue in 2023 directly attributable to fear-mongering. Orders for Darcie Little Badgers A Snake Falls to Earth decreased after censors broadcast that Little Badger publicly identifies as asexual.

My personal response is refusing to let the climate change what we publish, Levine said. That said, we are looking for other ways to fight. He noted that the Independent Book Publishers Association, in coalition with the EveryLibrary Institute, will debut a program in September called We Are Stronger Than Censorship. IBPA chief content officer Lee Wind and PEN America right to read advocate Taslyn Magnuson will spearhead the effort, which aims to donate two or more books for every book banned or challenged in September 2024. We hope to create a whack-a-mole defense, Levine said.

Maggie Tokuda-Hall, representing the 2,000-strong membership of Authors Against Book Bans, said AABB would work with We Are Stronger Than Censorship, in parallel with Banned Book Week efforts that same month. Well be treating this years Banned Book Week like a hard launch for our organization, Tokuda-Hall said. Were hoping to have events all over the nation, from statehouse readings to candidate scorecards, banned book sales and drives, so its a really exciting time to join us. When Levine asked Tokuda-Hall what publishers might do to support AABB and IBPA, Tokuda-Hall said publishers and authors must never obey in advance by self-silencing. We should write as fearlessly as we always have, and publishers should publish accordingly.

Rowland said the best strategy against censorship is open communication. Our greatest tool in this moment is transparency, Rowland said, and public observers should inform the NCAC, UABB, AABB, and OIF about attempted bans and harassment. If you hear about censorship, even second- or third-hand, make sure to report it, because that helps us get the ball rolling on effective advocacy to fight it, she reminded the SCBWI audience. We win when its in the sunlight.
The Severn Valley Railway has announced a Super Saturday event this August, with visiting loco 45596 Bahamas set to feature.

On the 31st August 2024, 45596 Bahamas will join 2999 Lady of Legend, Stanier Mogul 13268 and D821 for a mini enthusiast event.

The SVR says that the event will recognise the particularly superb line up of locomotives in service at the railway.

Additionally, there will also be the 100th birthday celebrations for GWR No. 4566.
Africa has never truly been a strategic geopolitical focus for the United States. Despite the continents population of 1.4 billion people, which is predicted to double by 2050, and having some of the fastest-growing economies in the world, the U.S. government has remarkably few reliable allies on the continent and risks losing even more of its standing to global adversaries Russia and China.

For example, a $1 billion investment in Niger was dealt a massive blow when the military government earlier this spring switched its allegiance to Russia and informed the Pentagon that U.S. military personnel engaged in counterterrorism efforts against ISIS and Al Qaeda franchises were no longer welcome. Russian troops are already in the country, sharing the use of a base with departing American service members.

China is an even more formidable challenge. The Middle Kingdom has successfully deployed several strategies in Africa to pursue its geopolitical interests. According to Heritage Foundation scholar Michael Pillsbury, it has a history of supporting autocracies on the continent, leverages strategic lending and investment, and forms beneficial arrangements with governments on the continent based on the principle of non-interference. China has even gifted infrastructure projects such as modern state houses or parliament buildings, as it did in Zimbabwe a few years ago. Moreover, Beijing has built a media propaganda system using channels such as China Global Television Network (CGTN) in a bid to disseminate favorable perceptions about the country to an African audience while diminishing those of the United States. One of CGTNs three global production centers is based in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

Kenya is one of the few countries that enjoys a long-standing relationship with the United States. Rightly seen as a bastion of democracy on a continent with a patchy record of democratic rule, Nairobi hosts the largest U.S. embassy in Africa and the U.S. military operates several bases in the country from which it conducts counterterrorism operations in Somalia and further afield. During a state visit to Washington last May by President William Ruto, President Joe Biden even announced that Kenya had been designated the first major non-NATO ally in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Apart from having security interests in Africa, the United States must consider building better economic ties with African partners and providing more effective development assistance. Historically, American trade with Africa generally, and Kenya specifically, amounted to only a fraction of what China trades on the continent. Moreover, China had been admired across the African continent for its lending practices that peaked somewhere around 2016 before dropping precipitously and being replaced by loans from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

In comparison, prior U.S. development assistance overly targeted sectors such as education, health, or good governance which require a long-term horizon and are thus less noticed by the public. While Kenya ranked amongst the top 10 recipients of nonemergency State Department and USAID-managed aid in 2023, it was Chinese-built roads and expressways that garnered great admiration amongst the Kenyan population and further assisted in cementing Chinas reputation as a benevolent actor. Beijings star has faded somewhat on the continent, however, due in part to the widespread dissemination of videos showing Chinese bosses mistreating locals and reports of illegal mineral extraction.



With the election of President Ruto in August 2022, Kenya turned away from its previous eastward-looking policy. Ruto increasingly sought a stronger relationship with the United States, and he was ultimately rewarded with the visit to mark 60 years of the U.S.-Kenya partnership. He was keen to position himself on the international stage as the African leader of choice, even sending 1,000 Kenyan police officers to the U.S.-financed mission to Haiti.

While Ruto was in Washington, Microsoft, together with UAE-based AI firm G42, signed a letter of intent with Kenyas Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, for a comprehensive package of digital investments worth $1 billion, including the construction of a state-of-the-art green data center to run Microsoft Azure in a new East Africa Cloud Region. The deal was lauded for furthering the U.S. economic goals but has since come under scrutiny by Washington officials because of G42s lengthy history with China.

Embracing Ruto so willingly, however, may have inadvertently backfired. Rutos standing in his own country was viewed to be dramatically weakened by youth-led, and ultimately lethal protests that erupted across Kenya upon his return home  and linger to this day. Ironically, the state visit may have been a trigger for the current unrest, as some Kenyan media reports portrayed him to be a lackey of the American government.

By misjudging the overall public mood, Rutos trip ignited the ire of particularly the Generation Z and Millennial demographic segments which comprise most of Kenyas population. Unimpressed with investment announcements in Washington, the protestors took umbrage with the higher taxes they were about to face by a now-withdrawn 2024 finance bill. The youth were also outraged by calls for belt-tightening while the political elite was seemingly enriching themselves through corruption, which Rutos predecessor in 2021 had claimed was costing the country around $17 million per day.

The government-led crackdown against the protesters has tragically led to an estimated 60 people dead at the hands of the security forces. The media have also been officially warned about covering the protests responsibly so that the country does not go in the wrong direction," according to Ruto. In a call between Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and President Ruto on 25 July, the former "underscored the importance of freedoms of assembly and expression as enshrined in Kenyas constitution, amongst others.

It remains vital that Washington address human rights and good governance, something Beijing studiously overlooks. However, America needs to up its game with greater support in strengthening Kenya's manufacturing sector, as well as the digital economy, from which Kenyas GenZ and Millennials are well positioned to benefit, given their technological savviness. Both will serve to create jobs and a middle class that embraces democratic values.

In the near term, the current U.S. administration and the next one, whether Democrat or Republican, will have to delicately navigate its partnership with Kenya in a bid to not alienate a key African security partner and weaken the regions institutional infrastructure. Succeeding in this diplomatic balancing act will signal to Kenya and other African governments that Washington is indeed a reliable and relevant partner in the decades ahead, whereas additional missteps will only further diminish American influence.

Noah Miller is the CEO of Sochin Limited, a Nairobi-based communications consultancy (@sochinagency). Jason Epstein is president of Southfive Strategies LLC, an international public affairs consultancy (@Southfive).
DISNEY/John Fleenor

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 08/08/2024



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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 Jenn Tran has admitted Sam McKinney should "take responsibility" for the controversial things he had said and done while filming her season.fans have been cringing over Sam M.'s aggressive behavior on the show, including when he had made Jenn visibly uncomfortable during their one-on-one date at the Auckland Sky Tower in New Zealand.In response to backlash and criticism he's a "bully" and "really bad person," Sam recently posted two emojis, a mirror and smoke, via Instagram to indicate that things may not be what they seem.And Sam's family has also been blowing up social media with fiery messages directed at producers for allegedly creating a false narrative about Sam and intentionally giving him a bad edit."I've seen that, and what I will say is -- listen, nobody can put words in your mouth," Jenn, 26, said during an August 2 appearance on the "Love to See It" podcast.Jenn apparently believes that what viewers watch on TV is what really happened, even if the footage is unflattering."As much as a TV edit [can do], no one can give you a villain edit in some way, which is what people are claiming," Jenn explained."You have to own your words because no one is putting words in your mouth. You are the person that's saying those things."She therefore concluded, "And so, what I will say is that, sometimes you've just got to take responsibility for the things that are coming out of your mouth."During a recent appearance on "The Viall Files," Jenn shared how Sam was "very different with the guys" than he was with her.And when asked if Sam's behavior during filming was as aggressive as it has appeared on the show, Jenn responded, "I will say, in the moment, it was exactly how it was portrayed [on ]."Sam received Jenn's First Impression Rose during 's July 8 premiere, but then he started to become a villain due to his feuding with Devin Strader Sam joined forces with Thomas Nguyen and called Devin "an ankle-biting dog" and "a bully," but ABC took a jab at Sam by writing in an onscreen graphic that Sam needed to look up the definition of the word "bully" in the dictionary.Sam also gave Jenn an awkward lap dance that she didn't seem to want after the striptease group date, and then he was shown pressuring Jenn to jump off a sky tower in New Zealand when she was completely frozen with fear and cried about not wanting to do the activity.As Sam laughed and made light of the situation, Jenn accused Sam of not listening to her needs and failing to read her emotions. She was admittedly frustrated with and pissed off at the bachelor."He's not the most empathetic person," Jenn said on the "Love to See It" podcast."That's kind of the way I grew up, and that's why I was more okay with it than most people. Well, I wasn't okay with it; I was pretty pissed off," Jenn acknowledged."However, that's not what I want in a partner. I don't want a partner that's just going to tell me to do something and not be there for me and emotionally support me."Jenn therefore said watching that one-on-one date back on was "tough.""Because that's not the message I want people to be watching, like, little girls looking up to me. That's not what you should be allowing your partner to do," Jenn noted, before adding how she had forgiven him "way too quickly" and needs to work on giving men a mile when they only give her an inch.Sam also hasn't been portrayed as the brightest bulb in Jenn's group of men given he seemed to repeat the same cliche phrases such as, "Keep the main thing, the main thing."While Sam hasn't stood up for himself on social media, presumably due to contractual obligations with ABC, his family has been doing the talking for him."@bacheloretteabc you can silence your contestants, but you can't silence me #freespeech #letstellthetruth," Sam's sister Olivia McKinney recently wrote via Instagram Stories.Sam's other sister Hannah McKinney vented, "Let's see all the footage @bacheloretteabc.... I'm waiting."Many of the angry messages Sam's family has written were uploaded via screenshots on Reddit.One fan wrote to Hannah, "You don't have to defend your brother so hard. The viewers can see Sam's actions or hear the words he speaks. Your brother acts and speaks like a BULLY. He can learn from his mistakes and BECOME A BETTER MAN."Hannah replied, "Lol he isn't a bully and never has been. Again, they cut out so much that you aren't getting the true context [of] everything that is happening. I will defend my brother day in and day out... especially when they are being portrayed as somebody they're not."Sam's brother Seth McKinney got in on the action and wrote, "If only they showed footage of other people being the bully and Sam and Thomas actually being good guys."But it happened to be Sam's parents who penned the most passionate and angry messages on Facebook.Sam's mother, Susan McKinney, argued, "There is nothing real about 'reality' tv. To destroy someone's character and manipulate the truth through editing is wrong on so many levels... There are several spoilers out there for who [Jenn] chooses in the end.""Sam is a good guy regardless of how he is betrayed," she continued, "and I will no longer sit idly by and not speak up. Hey it's called free speech. At least mine is honest, which is more than they can say."And Sam's father, Jeff McKinney, revealed that Sam has been "a complete wreck" over how he's been portrayed on 's 21st season."Sam has (mostly) been the favorite with the first impression rose, etc. The spoiler was revealed and (in my opinion) the network had to paint Sam as this horrendous guy in order for Jenn not to look like a complete idiot," Jeff explained."Now I know why the network offers free counseling for 1 year after the show."Jeff claimed Sam's words and phrases were cut and pasted to create a narrative wanted to run with."Can't change what he said and how he said it, but they can change the scene, script and context and totally change the delivery. That's how I feel. #StandWithSamM," Jeff concluded.But Sam may have redeemed himself in some viewers' eyes on 's fifth episode that aired on August 5.Sam comforted Jenn when she was feeling unworthy of love, and he assured the Bachelorette that all of the guys left -- even his enemy Devin -- viewed her as their future wife. Click here to read episode-by-episode spoilers about how the rest of Jenn's season unfolds, including who Jenn picks as her winner and runner-up Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
'The structural story of India is a multi-decadal story.'

'One should stay invested in that story and avoid reacting to what is happening globally.'

IMAGE: The Bombay Stock Exchange. Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/Reuters

Hemant Mishr, co-founder and CIO of Singapore-based fund manager S CUBE Capital, tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com how investors should play the India story at a time the global markets are selling off on the fears of geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran and fears of recession in the US.

He also lists three broad themes where investors can put their money once calm and some stability returns to the markets.

"There'll be some ramifications for India," he cautions as he fears that India too could face some ripple effects of the unwinding of yen-carry trade.

Part 1 of the interview: Markets: 'India Will Be In A Brighter Position'

How much of this unwinding of yen-carry trades will impact India? How much more can India correct from here?

If the central banks come to the fore over the next couple of days, I think the damage to India is potentially another three to five per cent. But if they don't, then it's anybody's guess.

The second bit that's important, and it's a sword that's hanging over everybody's neck, is the Middle Eastern escalation (the simmering tensions between Israel and Iran).

The last thing that the world needs, and surely India needs, when these two factors (unwinding of yen carry trades and fears of US recession) are playing havoc in the market is increased geopolitical tension. If that also happens, then Indian markets could correct substantially more.

What should retail investors, small investors who invest in mutual fund SIPs, who also invest directly in equities, do in the present scenario? What would be your advice for such investors?

It's a wonderful opportunity to invest in India, particularly for retail investors. They normally, unfortunately, end up investing when the market is closer to its high. The structural India story does not change.

India is one of the least leveraged markets in the world. Our credit (debt) to GDP (ratio) is one of the lowest globally, so we don't have that problem.

But the unfortunate thing is when you throw a stone in the sea, there are ripples. That's exactly what's happening in this pool of liquidity (easy availability of Japanese yen at almost zero rate of interest).

Given that liquidity pools are global, you've got this particular event (unwinding of yen carry trades) that's happening in that liquidity pool. There'll be some ramifications for India.

Whenever such kind of economic crises evolve, coupled with geopolitical tensions, it's the retail investors who panic the most.

What would you have to say to those retail investors to soothe their nerves in the present situation?

What would be your advice to them? Where should they invest? How should they invest?

India is an island of calm and an oasis of stability right in the midst of what is happening globally.

Our banking and market regulator -- the Reserve Bank of India and Securities and Exchange Board of India -- must be lauded for ensuring prudential practices, which ensure that we don't run the kind of risk that global financial centres in the US and the UK run. It goes back to the point about India being one of the least leveraged markets that I just mentioned.

Don't panic. The structural story of India is a multi-decadal story. One should stay invested in that story and avoid reacting to what is happening globally.

They should focus on companies with domestic consumption that is the demographic story of India; companies that will thrive on account of Digital India; companies that provide last mile access into tier two and tier three cities.

These three themes are helping in structural transformation of India and which gets impacted very little due to whatever is happening globally. Even if things went south in the rest of the world, I think these (companies) will continue to offer good returns.

If a retail investor has Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh as cash in hand right now, then how should s/he allocate these funds with an investment horizon of ten years?

For the time being, I would stay on the sidelines. Nobody knows what happens over the next one week. Whether central banks will come in and give some liquidity comfort to the markets or stay away from any intervention.

Once the situation calms down a bit only then I would look at those three themes that I mentioned earlier.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.
'The government should come back as a job creator as it did in the 1960s and the 1970s.'

According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), India's unemployment rate in June 2024 was 9.2%, an eight-month high. It was 7% in May 2024.

CMIE data also says that India's unemployment rate rose from 5.41% in 2008 to 9.2% in June 2024. It has almost doubled!

If we look at the India Employment Report 2024 report published jointly by the International Labour Organization and the Institute of Human Development, it says 83% of the unemployed people in India are young people.

And the percentage of unemployed people with secondary or higher education has nearly doubled since 2000.

No wonder K R Shyam Sundar, Adjunct Professor at the Management Development Institute, Gurgaon calls unemployment a 'ticking time bomb'.

"If the government leads the way by creating jobs in the formal sector, the private sector also will be forced to create jobs," Professor Shyam Sundar tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier.

Recently you described unemployment as a time bomb. Has the bomb exploded, or is it about to explode?

It is about to explode.

According to CMIE data, rural unemployment rate rose to 9.3 per cent in June from 6.3 per cent in May 2024. Urban unemployment rate climbed from 8.6 per cent to 8.9 per cent.

The IHD-ILO study clearly says that a large number of youth remained unemployed though the PLFS (Periodic Labour Force Survey) data claimed that youth unemployment had declined from over 17% to 10% over the years.

One tends to go by the CMIE data because they give a 30-day moving average. So, it takes care of the fluctuations in the market, and also highly contemporary. They look into the 20-25 age group also.

It is believed that as educational level increases, skill level increases, and then there should be less unemployment among the youth. But the CMIE data also shows something different.

The reality is that as educational level increases, prospects of unemployment also increases.

IMAGE: Graduates during walk-in interviews outside a software company in Bengaluru. Photograph: Jagadeesh N V/Reuters

Some experts say that educated youth prefer to remain unemployed rather than under employed...

It is true. In India, you should talk more about under employment than unemployment.

Taking up any jobs depends on the compelling necessities they face.

The very fact that thousands and thousands of youngsters, many of them postgraduates, apply for a very few vacancies shows youth are desperate for any job.

So, the desperation shown by the educated youth to get any job makes the situation a ticking bomb.

It may explode, it may not explode. But it is a huge cause for concern.



IMAGE: K R Shyam Sundar, Adjunct Professor, MDI

The Budget speaks of an internship programme, depositing money in the EPFO account, etc to address the issue of unemployment. Economists I interviewed described these as just quick fixes. What is your opinion?

I would say, these are not even quick fixes.

The government is in denial mode as far as unemployment is concerned.

In December 2023, when there was a question in Parliament, the government reproduced the PLFS data that showed a decline in unemployment to less than 5%.

The government even questioned the methodology used by CMIE which showed there was unemployment.

The government has to either produce data that is contemporary in nature or rely on the data published by CMIE.

I am of the opinion that the CMIE data indicates the extent of the problem the country is facing.

The numbers may vary but it brings out the broad picture very clearly.

You need not quarrel about the specific number, it doesn't matter whether it is 30% or 25% or 20%.

There is no denying the fact that it shows the broad direction in which unemployment situation is going.

What you need to do is acknowledge the problem and then address it.

The Budget has given three ways to tackle unemployment, all of them linked to EPFO.

Actually, the registration of EPFO is not in the hands of the employee. Many times, a sacked employee won't even ask for his PF contribution.

Will the internship programme in 500 companies announced in the Budget happen?

I don't know how many will fall for it.

The UPA had created a Skill Development Corporation which can actually play an active role in this.

There has to be synergy between public ITIs (Industrial Training Institutes) and private ITIs.

Skill mapping has to be done so that the problem can be addressed properly.

The government has to understand that more than anything, it is the skill that matters.

Engineers are produced not in thousands but in lakhs. Why are they under employed? Because they lack skills.

IMAGE: Job seekers queue for interviews at a job fair in Chinchwad. Photograph: The Late Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

Industry says they are unemployable...

Industry says they are not employment ready.

If they are not employment ready, they should make them ready instead of complaining.

Since the industry has a stake in the future work force, why can't they participate in the ITIs and provide employment training according to their needs? Why do they want the government to do that? Do they have to piggy ride on the government?

I would rather blame industry for the problem of educated unemployment.

But the sufferers are the unemployed youth...

That's why there has to be some kind of social engineering that has to take place.

The government should tell industry, 'Since you are going to absorb these youngsters, you have to participate in the making them employable'.

Industry knows very well what skills are relevant, and what skills are in demand.

I suggest that there has to be a tripartite skill mapping board consisting of representatives of the skill ministry and education, industry bodies and trade unions.

They should establish such bodies in all the districts so that micro level mapping can take place.

Whatever they come out with should go to the curriculum of the ITIs.

India is the founding member of the ILO. And the ILO provides technical consultation for problems like this as they have the experience of fixing such problems in various countries.

ILO may be willing, but the government should be interested in using their services.

What happens is, someone sits somewhere and write programmes to solve the problem of unemployment and crores of rupees are mis-spent. This is the actual problem.

IMAGE: Government job-seeking candidates protest in Kolkata demanding immediate recruitment. Photograph: ANI Photo

Is the real unemployment not in the unorganised sector?

I wouldn't say, unemployment. It is a curious case of under employment.

The unorganised sector has not come out of the shocks of demonetisation, GST and the pandemic.

And 82% of the workforce are in the unorganised sector.

Most of the measures taken to help the sector are half baked measures, not well thought out ones.

NITI Aayog has not succeeded so far. The Planning Commission was far more representative than NITI Aayog.

So, what the government needs to do is to have counsel from a group of diverse working group of economists and plan accordingly. After all, it is the taxpayers' money.

If the government is in denial mode, where will this lead to?

We do not know, and we are all very concerned as it may have some undesirable social outcomes.

I hope it doesn't become a time bomb. I am just expressing my social concern because of the way things are going.

The neo-liberal idea that it is not the government's job to create jobs must go away.

The government should come back as a job creator as it did in the 1960s and the 1970s.

If the government leads the way by creating jobs in the formal sector, the private sector also will be forced to create jobs.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
Flipkarts hyper-value e-commerce platform Shopsy is intensifying efforts to tap over half of the 821 million internet users (about 442 million) in rural India.

These efforts are being led by Prathyusha Agarwal, who recently joined as business head at Shopsy.

The aim is to become the go-to destination for consumers seeking entry-level products across various categories.

I end up gravitating towards stuff which appeals to doing something for the small-town world.

"This ranges from my very first role in Unilever to my last few roles.

"That has been a passion area, said Agarwal.

The Bharat shopper is possibly today doing a couple of transactions on e-commerce but is not completely like the metro consumer who is possibly now an e-commerce native.

"We are looking at such consumers and asking can we be the hyper-value horizontal platform for all their needs, said Agarwal.

The primary focus is on the Bharat consumer, particularly households with an annual income of less than Rs 10 lakh.

These consumers are found in Tier-II and lower-tier markets. Shopsy said it is dedicated to meeting their needs effectively with the right price point and product range.

For instance, the platform has expanded into multiple categories, including kids wear, budget mobiles and large appliances.

These are helping it cater to the Bharat consumers entry-level needs.

It is also expanding into large appliances and electronics.

We are opening a bunch of categories almost every quarter.

"We have noticed that entry-level price points and models are gaining immediate traction, reflecting the preferences of our Shopsy consumers, said Agarwal.

Indeed, India's e-tailing sector is poised to experience a fivefold growth, surging from $59 billion in 2022 to an estimated $300 billion by 2030.

This will be fuelled by value-seeking 'mass' consumers, states a report by Redseer Strategy Consultants. Shopsy competes with SoftBank-backed Meesho and Amazon Bazaar to tap this market.

I am not focused on what the competition is going on behind.

"I think we have a good value proposition and we deliver it to the consumer, said Agarwal.

There is a Bharat across every state.

"My previous experiences have been looking at every Bharat and saying what is the unmet need that the consumer is looking for and then going ahead to deliver it.

"I think there is enough opportunity.

Nearly 70 per cent of Shopsys customers are from Tier-II and III cities such as Bhagalpur, Bankura, Kurnool, Nagaon, and Dhule.

And 90 per cent of its new customers are millennials and Gen Z.

In 2024, Shopsys highest orders came from UP, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Bihar, with over 60 per cent of customers from Tier-III cities.

Promotion and facilitation agency, Invest India underscores the growing prominence of rural-centric e-commerce, anticipating a significant portion of demand to originate from Tier II-IV cities and rural areas by 2026.

Since its launch in 2021, Shopsy has achieved over 330 million downloads.

It is leveraging Flipkarts extensive supply chain and diverse product range to build strong customer confidence.

This has helped it provide affordable products across 1,300 categories, expanding its reach to more than 19,000 pin codes.

It has a seller community of 1.4 million (including Flipkart) from cities and towns across India.

Its product portfolio spans over 160 million, across categories.

Agarwal said Shopsy is committed to technology-driven enhancements, making the platform accessible, efficient and tailored to the needs of its diverse customers.

For instance, Shopsy is focused on providing a seamless shopping experience on budget-friendly devices by continuously enhancing its app to be more efficient and light.

This enables customers to easily locate and buy products, even in areas with limited internet access.

The platform optimised its app size last year by 15 per cent.

The focus is also on an intuitive user interface and strong support for vernacular languages to meet the diverse needs of customers.

By using artificial intelligence and machine learning, Shopsy offers customised product suggestions for Bharat consumers.
The governments move to tweak the long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax regime proposed in the Finance Bill 2024 and re-introduce the indexation benefit is likely to boost the investments and spur housing sales in the country, industry executives believe.

Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

By enabling taxpayers to choose the lower tax burden between the new and old schemes, the amendment is poised to drive investment and enhance sales across housing segments, said Niranjan Hiranandani, chairman of the Hiranandani Group.

In Budget 2024, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed an overhaul in the capital gains tax regime, including lowering the LTCG tax to 12.5 per cent from 20 per cent.

But she also suggested doing away with the indexation benefit for homes bought on or after April 1, 2001.

The Finance Bill 2024 was passed in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, and awaits Rajya Sabha's nod.

The move met with resistance and criticism from various quarters.

And on Wednesday, the government moved an amendment to the Finance Bill, 2024 in Parliament.

It allowed taxpayers to avail of the old LTCG regime if the property was acquired before July 23, when the Union Budget was tabled.

A taxpayer can now calculate their LTCG tax at 12.5 per cent, without indexation, or at 20 per cent, with indexation, and pay the lower amount.

While this benefit won't apply to future transactions, it gives taxpayers more time to plan the sale of their assets to maximise benefits, further boosting investment across housing segments, said Dhruv Agarwala, Group CEO, Housing.com & Proptiger.com, calling it a significant step forward.

By ending the confusion and speculations from the Budget announcement, this move prevents potential negative impacts on market sentiment and growth in Indias second-largest employment-generating sector, he said.

Relief after shock

Anuj Puri, chairman of the ANAROCK Group, too welcomed the move.

This change gives homeowners flexibility in their tax liabilities when they sell their property.

Shishir Baijal, chairman and managing director, Knight Frank India said that while the 12.5 per cent rate may seem immediately attractive, the decision to opt for it or the 20 per cent rate with indexation should be made after careful consideration of individual circumstances.

Abhishek Kapoor, the Group CEO of the Bangalore-based real estate firm, Puravankara Ltd., too appreciated the governments decision stating,

This is a welcome move for both the industry and the customers as it gives greater flexibility to the customers to make independent choices and brings in a lot of clarity on LTCG going forward.

"It will help the home buyers to upgrade. It's an upgrade opportunity.

Rajeshwar Burla, senior vice president and group head, Corporate Ratings, ICRA, also said that the old regime would be more suitable in cases where returns are lower than 10 per cent.

Otherwise, the new regime would be a better option where the returns are more than 10 or 11 per cent.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Sanghvi, partner in the Direct Tax Practice Group at Khaitan & Co., called the change as a prospective law (on a going forward basis) as opposed to being retrospective in nature as originally contained in the Finance Bill.

Industry executives had expressed concern with the announcement in the Budget, stating that a higher tax burden could hamper the positive sentiment in the sector which has been witnessing all-time high sales.

Puri stated that this revision can potentially stimulate the residential property market because it provides clarity and implies a potential tax burden reduction.

Homebuyers sentiment will improve as they have flexible options for addressing their future capital gains tax burden.

"Also, the anticipation of these changes can potentially cause some homeowners to sell properties sooner to benefit from the new tax regime.

"This will raise the overall supply of housing units available on the market, helping to keep prices in check, he added.

Calling the amendment rare, Harsh Bhuta, Partner at Bhuta Shah & Co LLP said, "This will allow homeowners to enjoy the best of both worlds and minimise their tax burden when they sell the house property."
Crucial reforms in Muslim personal law, especially laws related to inheritance and adoption, need to be initiated forthwith; historically speaking, without the State's backing, hardly has any reform taken place or allowed to prevail, asserts Mohammad Sajjad.

IMAGE: The Jamia Masjid in Srinagar. Kindly note the images in this coulmn have only been published for representational purposes. All photographs: ANI Photo

The Supreme Court on July 10, 2024, ruled that a divorced Muslim woman is entitled to a claim of maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, against her former husband -- affirming that a parallel remedy under a secular law cannot be foreclosed by existing personal laws.

The Supreme Court also reiterated that the 1986 Act (nullifying the Shah Bano verdict) won't be relevant in such cases.

This is something which was clarified by the Supreme Court in the Danial Latifi vs Union of India (2001).

The Supreme Court had pronounced similar verdicts in 1979 (Tahira Bi vs Ali Hasan), 1980 (Fazlun Bi vs Qadir Wali) and in 1985 (Shah Bano) as well.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), having lost its credentials and in a changed political atmosphere, cannot instigate the community for street agitations any longer unlike what they did in 1985-1986 and also in 1972-1973.

The AIMPLB, however, refuses to welcome the verdict and go for internal reforms on some of the issues which will be identified in this column.

The AIMPLB is trying to obfuscate and mislead its constituency by confusing them and instigate them by creating confusion.

They are trying to mobilise other religious minorities (external link) and to make them rise against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

Contrary to the AIMPLB's political intent, it needs to be clarified that the issue of reforming Muslim family laws and moving towards implementing the UCC are distinctly different and segregated issues.

The incumbent BJP government, before going in for parliamentary elections 2024, had proposed to go ahead with legislating and implementing the UCC.

The 22nd Law Commission of India (LCI) had been constituted, and it had solicited proposals from citizens, to be emailed to the member secretary of the LCI.

Certain political-ideological forces have always been insisting upon the UCC. Many segments of Muslims have been reacting to it in a manner as if the UCC is simply and exclusively an attack on their personal laws.

As a result, responding to the 22nd LCI, many Muslim leaders and theologians looked upon it as referendum or plebiscite on the UCC.

These theologians and leaders appealed to the community to reject the UCC. Thus, both sides (the political proponents of the UCC, as well as the opponents belonging to various ideological persuasions) pushed ahead the politics of polarisation.

The Muslim side had claimed that they had submitted several lakhs of emails to the LCI rejecting UCC.

Announcements were made from masjids in Friday prayers to do so, besides using social media.

Many masjid speeches also said that in the absence of any draft proposal from the government there is really no need to panic.

Also, the noteworthy fact is, in 2018, against the reform in the instant triple talaq (ITT), they could gather around two crores of signatures against the proposed reform.

This time it was confined only to several lakhs (the figures are unverified). This may indicate falling support for the theologians among the Muslim populace.

Collective hypocrisy of both sides becomes apparent. It is a relatively lesser known fact that in the 1950s, the UCC was brought to the fore by the Hindu Right across political parties, just to forestall the Nehruvian reforms in Hindu Personal Law. They didn't have the conviction for UCC.

Just like the Muslim regressive forces, who oppose the UCC not because they hate homogeneity and love heterogeneity within the religious communities, rather, they oppose the UCC just to forestall any reform in the Muslim Personal Law. Muslims think only Muslim rulers can interfere in Islam. Non-Muslim rulers cannot.

Nehru had excluded Muslims while legislating on reforms in Hindu laws with an argument that the reforms among religious minorities would come from within themselves.

That moment is yet to come, even after over seven decades. This is what became known as one of the foremost components of Muslim appeasement by the Indian State.

IMAGE: Muslim women at Union Home Minister Amit A Shah's roadshow in Bhopal.

In April 1973, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) was established.

The immediate reason was to oppose the law of child adoption amended in 1972, says Saumya Saxena's research essay (2018)(external link).

This amended law didn't directly affect the Muslims. Yet, they went ahead with fierce street opposition.

This was to demonstrate Muslim strength in identity politics and to warn the government of the day.

Let it be made clear that there is a sharp distinction between adoption and custody.

In the secular law (Guardians and Wards Act 1890), the custody of the baby disputed between the biological and foster parents is determined keeping in mind the welfare of the baby and also the wish of the baby.

This is quite consistent with what Prophet Muhammad had done in the case of his adopted son, Zayd.(external link)

The custody of Zayd continued with the Prophet as per the wishes of Zayd, despite his biological father, Harisa, having come to claim him back.

So far as adoption is concerned, the Quran instructs not to conceal the biological parentage of the adopted baby.

This is often popularised as summary prohibition against adoption. The AIMPLB refuses to issue this clarification.

As a result, even the higher judiciary almost invariably adjudicates against Muslim foster parents, invoking this misinterpretation.

There is no law to punish the biological parents, as to, if they, as afterthought, invoke the Islamic prohibition against adoption, then why did they give away their baby in adoption to begin with.

Thus, in the case of Hindus, any signed document is accepted by the judiciary as proof of adoption, whereas in the case of Muslims and Christians, adoption is invalidated despite such documents.

Needless to say, upsetting the custody of the child in this manner leads to psychological and overall ruination of the child's life and career.

Fortunately, since January 2016, the Juvenile Justice Act has come into force which is of some help to Muslims as well.

The pre-2016 adoptions, now coming to the judiciary, are often adjudicated upon as per the misinterpreted Muslim law.

Recently, the supreme court of Pakistan even went on to validate concealing the biological paternity of the child.

As if the Indian judiciary is more Shariat-abiding than the Islamic countries, not just Pakistan! Though the Supreme Court, in its landmark verdict of March 4, 2024 (Shazia Aman Khan vs The State of Orissa) awarded custody(external link) of a 14-year-old girl to the adoptive Muslim parents.

On the question of Un-Quranic Instant Triple Talaq(external link) (ITT; divorce), the AIMPLB refuses to make the necessary reforms.

Most of the Islamic countries have reformed it. Even on the Shah Bano issue, in early 1986, the AIMPLB leader Ali Miyan Nadvi (1914-1999) misleadingly persuaded the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi to ignore the reforms carried out in Islamic countries. This is confessed by Nadvi in his Urdu memoir (Karwan-e-Zindagi, 1988).

This fact is known to very few people that Mohammad Ahmad Khan (1913-2006), a rich and influential advocate of Indore, had married (in 1946) a cousin of his wife Shah Bano (1916-1992), and that in 1975 he threw Shah Bano out of the house, when she was 60 years old.

Shah Bano went to the lower court in April 1978 for maintenance. The lower court issued an interim order for maintenance.

Just to get rid of the maintenance, on November 6, 1978, Khan pronounced instant triple talaq inside the trial court of Indore.

Subsequently, the issue reached the high court and eventually the Supreme Court.

It was the maintenance awarded by the Supreme Court, in April 1985, which was upturned by Parliament in May 1986.

In its exchange, the AIMPLB delegation to the PM had agreed to go ahead with unlocking the Ayodhya Masjid.

Nicholas Nugent's biography of Rajiv Gandhi and Ali Miyan's Urdu autobiography together corroborate this.

Now coming to the Muslim law related to inheritance of parent's assets.

In the 1930s, when the Shariat law was being codified, a daughter of the landed, powerful family of Sikandar Hayat Khan Tiwana, the premier of the undivided Punjab, asked for her right in landed properties as per the Sharia law.

Tiwana, in order to find ways of denying this demand to the woman, approached Mohammad Ali Jinnah to shelve the Shariat codification.

Jinnah came out with outrageously manipulative and dishonest arguments: Firstly, the local customs are laws, and hence, the custom of not letting daughters inherit landed property would continue, despite the Shariat law; Secondly, agriculture and land are provincial subjects whereas the Shariat Act would be a subject of the central legislature.

In 1937, Jinnah piloted the Shariat Act, seeing in it an opportunity to forge an all India Muslim political constituency to pursue his separatist politics.

We are yet to know, if Maulana Azad, Maulana Husain Madani of the Muttahidah Qaumiyat fame, and even Maulana Maududi really said anything on the Shariat Act 1937.

In 1962, Jinnah's Pakistan introduced some reforms in the family laws, such as: ITT was prohibited; justifiable and proportionate to the economic status of the husband, the amount of alimony had to be paid to the divorced woman; polygamy was restricted to the extent of near-prohibition.

Without a written consent of the existing wife, another wife cannot be brought into the marriage; the minimum marriageable age was also raised, etc.

Yet, in 1986, in India, the Ulema and other leaders went on to ruin the likes of Shah Bano. They still continue to do so quite shamelessly.

Criminalisation of ITT in 2019, is acting as a very good deterrence. But, the issue of maintenance to the separated wife and adequate or proportionate alimony/maintenance to the divorced women remained unresolved.

Let it be known that, in early 1986, while negotiating with the prime minister, the delegation led by Ali Miyan Nadvi had promised that they will make some institutional arrangement to extend financial help to the divorced women who have been denied maintenance and alimony.

This promise is recorded very clearly in the Nadvi's Urdu memoir (1988), Karwan-e-Zindagi, volume three, chapter four.

This promise has been chosen to be forgotten by the Ulema, intelligentsia and the community. Already, Muslim men have found a way around the restriction on ITT -- torture the wife to give khula.

IMAGE: Muslim women pray on the outskirts of Srinagar.

In February 2018, the spokesperson of the AIMPLB issued a statement that they will issue a model nikahnama (external link) inserting a column for a pledge by the bridegroom not to go for ITT (Times of India, Lucknow, February 3, 2018).

Within a week time, in the 26th plenary session of the AIMPLB (in Hyderabad, 9-11 February, 2018), the board conveniently chose to shelve the idea.

The State and intelligentsia need to expose the abovementioned duplicities of the segments of Muslim leadership.

It is distressing that even the modern institutions funded by the secular State of India, such as the AMU, Jamia Millia Islamia (New Delhi), MANU University (Hyderabad), and their departments of studies such as gender and women studies, Islamic studies, theology, law, social sciences, etc, have not been able to pursue a reformist agenda with any degree of sincerity and conviction.

Quite a lot of them have either maintained a dishonest silence or have endorsed the regressive positions (external link).

Both ways, they are on the regressive side. This is extremely disgusting, to say the least.

This time however, Hasan Suroor's column (external link) has taken on the AIMPLB's regressivism and hypocrisy.

There has to be a compulsory registration of marriages, divorces, besides the registration of birth and death.

While the paternal grandfather is alive, if someone loses his/her father, then s/he forfeits his/her right to inherit the grandfather's assets. This law also needs to be done away with by the Indian legislature.

Muslim parents (external link) with only daughters (no sons), if they don't transfer their assets while they are alive, then the daughter will inherit only a part of their father's assets.

Even a will registered in the court of law to the contrary will not do, as per the as per the existing interpretations of Muslim law in India.

Owing to this discriminatory law, some Muslims have begun to re-register their marriages under the Special Marriages Act. (external link)

Also, some Muslim daughters have begun to challenge this discrimination in the Supreme Court. (external link)

Muslim parents, having no kids, cannot even register a will in the court of law bequeathing all their assets. As per Muslim law, they can bequeath only a third of their own assets to anyone.

The Supreme Court, despite Hindu Law having a contrarian provision, has given its verdict for equal right to inherit parental assets by daughters and sons. (external link) This gender justice must be made to prevail in the case of Muslims as well.

By way of conclusion, historically speaking, without the State's backing, hardly ever is any reform allowed to prevail.

In the colonial period as well, reforms like abolition of Sati (1829), abolition of slavery (1847), widow remarriage (1856), law against child marriage (1891), [and even codification of Shariat (1937), howsoever, quite patriarchic and regressive], etc, happened only with the State's backing.

People need to persuade the current dispensation that it needs to go beyond electoral gimmicks, and implement the above mentioned seven aspects of family law reforms (including gender-just laws).

Meanwhile, a draft UCC should be prepared for wider debate. (Sadly, at the moment, they, too, are shelving family law reforms in the name of opposing the UCC). The personal law reforms cannot wait.

The UCC can and should wait. This is something even the Liberal-Left should also try to understand.

That is the way forward, and one of the ways to avoid or minimise competitive communal polarisation.

Mohammad Sajjad teaches Modern and Contemporary History at Aligarh Muslim University and is the author of Muslim Politics in Bihar: Changing Contours (Routledge 2014/2018 reprint).

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
'All of these guys who are opposing the Supreme Court judgment are from dominant scheduled caste communities and none of them come from the scavenging community.'

'Not a single scavenging leader will oppose this Supreme Court judgment.'

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Supreme Court judgment allowing states to sub-categorise scheduled castes and scheduled tribes for reservations has opened a Pandora's box, especially over its order that the creamy layer among SC/ST must be excluded from reservations, with many Dalit parties coming out against the order.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan, president, Lok Janshakti Party and a Dalit leader, has stated that he will file a review petition against the judgment.

Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati went further and said the National Democratic Alliance government must overturn the Supreme Court judgment through a Constitutional amendment and place it in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution so that it cannot be challenged in courts.

Among the many who have also welcomed the judgment is Ravichandran Bathran, a post-doctoral scholar who runs the YouTube channel Dalit Camera (external link) and whose research paper 'The many omissions of a concept: Discrimination amongst Scheduled Castes' was quoted in the Supreme Court ruling on August 1.

Bathran converted to Islam (external link) in January 2020 and goes by the name of Raees Mohammed as he felt that Islam is the only religion that can annihilate the caste system.

Before converting to Islam, Bathran came from the Arunthathiyar caste in Tamil Nadu which was involved in manual scavenging and cleaning toilets and, he says, faced discrimination from other scheduled castes.

Today he runs a successful company, Kotagiri Septic Tank Cleaning Services, and is popularly known as 'Septic tank bhai'.

Raees Mohammed spoke to Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com on why the Supreme Court judgment is welcome, and why Dalit parties are opposing it.

The Supreme Court judgment allowing sub-categorisation of scheduled Ccastes for reservations is being opposed by Dalit parties, why?

The judgment is a revelation judgment for us. The scavenging community has been stating that among the scheduled castes they are being treated unequally.

The schedule castes are a heterogeneous community. We have different food habits and culture. We have different history from other scheduled castes. We face violence from fellow schedule castes.

Discrimination is present among scheduled castes too.

The Supreme Court judgment too says that scheduled castes are a heterogeneous community and not homogeneous. We have been arguing this point for so long.

We Valmikis, Mangs, Mehtars, Sakis are not in power.

Which are the powerful castes among Dalits and which are the not so powerful ones?

The cobbler caste is a powerful caste among scheduled castes. Mayawati is from the cobbler community which is a dominant caste and is ruling among the scheduled castes.

The same goes with Union Minister Chirag Paswan's caste which is powerful and a ruling class among the scheduled castes.

The Mahar community of Ramdas Athavale is a dominant caste among the scheduled castes in Maharashtra.

Chandrashekhar Azad is also from a dominant caste among scheduled castes.

All of these guys who are opposing the Supreme Court judgment are from dominant scheduled caste communities and none of them come from the scavenging community.

Not a single scavenging leader will oppose this Supreme Court judgment. 18 percent of scheduled castes get reservations. What we are saying is that the same logic should apply for those who are the marginalised community in the scheduled castes.

How will you explain this by giving an example?

In Tamil Nadu there are 18 percent scheduled castes. Among this 18 percent, take a list of castes which are very backward like the scavenger community which is Valmiki (who do manual scavenging work).

Sub-classification is a must.

The basis of reservations is untouchability. And even if Mayawati or Chirag Paswan might come from a dominant scheduled caste they will have to face untouchability from the upper castes and that is the basis of reservations.

Does this judgment thus not overlook the principles of untouchability?

Scheduled castes and scheduled tribe reservation status was given to them on two levels.

One level was empowerment and another level was protection of their rights, which is stopping the discrimination.

We are talking of empowerment of scavenger castes within scheduled caste category. We are not telling to relook into SC/ST reservation. We are only talking of empowerment.

For example, if 10 Dalits are applying for a job you give jobs to Valmikis according to their population.

We are not asking for entire reservation to be kept aside for Valmikis.

In Tamil Nadu already 3 percent of reservations is given to the scavenging community who are called Arunthathiyar through scheduled caste reservation, even though their population is 6 percent.

You stated in one of your interviews that in India, toilets are always kept outside homes in villages and from there the caste structure came in. Was it done to keep scavengers out of the upper caste homes and lives?

The caste system in India is rooted and reproduced in toilets, septic tanks and the (caste of the) cleaner.

There was a study in Maharashtra in 2011 which found out that even Dalits kept their toilets out (so that the scavenger community can do the dirty work and not enter their homes).

This is done because toilets are considered to be untouchable.

If you go to any old building from the British era or the chawl system of Mumbai, you will find that toilets are built outside homes. Even if it is built inside homes, the toilet will be attached to a separate staircase so that sweepers can come and clean the toilet by taking that route, which is not taken by other caste people.

The caste system is rooted in sanitation and therefore the scavenging system still exists.

In earlier times the government used to give space for temples in villages but never space for toilets. This was true for schools too where they never made toilets in government schools. It is only now that the culture of building toilets has picked up.

What are the problems that the scavenging community faces from other Dalit communities?

All Dalits may have self-respect in doing their professional work but a majority of sweeping work is the government work which is done by Valmikis, which is my community.

In India sanitation work is worse than a labourer's work. And this work is considered as service to the nation.

For example, the prime minister will take a broom and tell them to clean roads. He will never tell the people to sit and act like the collector of a district.

He does not do that because that job is not a service to the nation, but sweeping with a broom and cleaning roads is considered as service to the nation.

There is no law for sweepers of India. The sweeping labourers are treated very differently from the way other professions are treated.

Why did only the Valmiki caste get stuck in sweeping and cleaning work in India and not the rest of the scheduled castes?

The sweeping work came only with the coming of municipalities in cities. Before this there was open defecation. People used to go to the bushy areas or watery areas to answer nature's call.

Our Valmiki brothers were leather workers before municipalities came into existence. Traditionally in the leather business there is tanning which is a very low level work and there is unbearable stench that makes it difficult to breathe while doing this work. The Valmiki community used to do this work.

Another profession that the Valmiki community used to do was to clear the carcass of a dead cow. It was our duty to do that.

When the British introduced municipalities this work came to us because we accepted this work across India.

The government came and recruited the Valmiki community as they did not consider the work of scavenging as untouchable.

No other community in Dalits or any other community was ready to do this municipality cleaning work so the Valmiki community got into it.

Will the Supreme Court judgment affect Dalit reservations in the future?

The creamy layer of Dalits will be affected by this judgment but not the sub-classified classes among the Dalits.

Why is no political party coming out and openly supporting this judgment?

This is because all the Dalit members of Parliament from all these political parties are from the dominating castes among schedule castes.
Policemen in Bangladesh were slowly returning to work from Thursday in response to the call by the newly-appointed chief, the official media reported, amidst the political turmoil and street violence in the country.

IMAGE: Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who was recommended by Bangladeshi student leaders as the head of the interim government in Bangladesh, meets officials at the Hazarat Shahjalal International Airport, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 8, 2024. Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters

Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on Monday due to student-led protests, several police stations were attacked and set on fire, leading to many officers evacuating their stations due to the threat of more attacks.

More than 400 people, including police personnel, were killed in the violence centring the students' movement.

On Wednesday, the newly-appointed inspector general of police, Mohammed Mainul Islam, ordered officers to join their respective units within the next 24 hours.

People from all walks of life, including different political parties leaders and students, are extending all-out necessary support to the returnee police personnel so they can come to their workplaces safely, according to a press release issued by police headquarters on Thursday.

The policemen are returning to their working places from Thursday responding to the call of the newly-appointed IGP, the BSS news agency reported citing the release.

Meanwhile, quoting witnesses, The Daily Star newspaper reported that some police personnel in plainclothes were arriving at Rajarbagh Police Lines, signed in the attendance registers.

However, they are not going to their respective workplaces, such as police stations, due to security concerns.

Addressing a press briefing at the police headquarters on Thursday, IGP Islam said some unprofessional officers did not follow the accepted principles of applying force and violated human rights.

"It is because of them [unprofessional officials] that this ongoing violence and casualties have occurred," he was quoted as saying by The Daily Star newspaper.

Many police officials have been injured, killed, and tortured because of some unprofessional and overly ambitious officials, he said.

Islam assured that every murder would be properly investigated.
Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina's daughter Saima Wazed on Thursday said she was "heartbroken" by the loss of lives in her country and that she could not "see or hug" her mother during such a difficult time.

IMAGE: Saima Wazed with her mother and former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Photograph: @drSaimaWazed/X

Hasina resigned as prime minister and travelled to India on Monday following unprecedented anti-government protests.

"Heartbroken with the loss of life in my country Bangladesh that I love. So heartbroken that I cannot see and hug my mother during this difficult time. I remain committed to my role as RD," Wazed said in a post on X.

Wazed is the World Health Organization's (WHO) regional director for Southeast Asia.

The protests in Bangladesh began initially with the demand to end a quota system that reserved 30 per cent of government jobs for families of veterans who fought in Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence before turning into anti-government demonstrations.

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved Parliament on Tuesday and appointed Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus as head of an interim government.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which Sheikh Hasina has crushed during her multiple terms as prime minister, has stirred into action after its leader Begum Khaleda Zia was released from prison.

IMAGE: Bangladesh Nationalist Party supporters chant slogans at a rally in Dhaka. Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters

IMAGE: A BNP supporter holds a picture of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who was released from prison on August 6, 2024, at the rally. Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters

IMAGE: A BNP supporter holds a picture of BNP founder and the late Bangaladesh president Ziaur Rahman at the rally.

General Ziaur Rahman, a former army chief, was assassinated by disgruntled army officers in May 1981. Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters

IMAGE: Glimpses of the BNP rally, here and below. Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters

Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters

IMAGE: Soldiers guard the prime minister's office in Dhaka. Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters

IMAGE: Civilians and members of the Bangladesh Ansar, a paramilitary force, jointly control traffic at the Bijoy Sarani intersection in Dhaka, here and below. Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters

Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters

In India

IMAGE: A candlelight prayer meeting for peace and harmony in Bangladesh outside the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Bangla Sanskri Baloi members hold candles during a silent protest in Agartala against the alleged attacks on art, heritage, and common people by fundamentalist groups in Bangladesh, here and below. Photograph: ANI Photo

Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Rashtriya Bajrang Dal supporters in Jammu protest against the violence in Bangladesh, here and below. Photograph: ANI Photo

Photograph: ANI Photo

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Sheikh Hasina, who quit as prime minister and fled Bangladesh, will be back in the country as soon as democracy is restored, his son Sajeeb Wazed Joy said on Thursday and blamed Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, for fuelling the ongoing unrest in the country.

IMAGE: People climb the statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bijoy Sarani area, as they celebrate the resignation of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka, on August 5, 2024. Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters

In an exclusive interview with PTI, Joy said although 76-year-old Hasina would definitely return to Bangladesh, it is not yet decided whether she will be back as a 'retired or active' politician.

He also asserted that the members of the Sheikh Mujib (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) family will neither abandon its people nor leave the beleaguered Awami League in the lurch.

He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for protecting his mother and appealed to India to help build international opinion and exert pressure for the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh.

"Yes, it is true that I had said she wouldn't return to Bangladesh. But a lot has changed in the last two days following continuous attacks on our leaders and party workers across the country. Now we are going to do whatever it takes to keep our people safe; we are not going to leave them alone."

"Awami League is the largest and oldest political party in Bangladesh, so we cannot just walk away from our people. She will definitely return to Bangladesh once democracy is restored," he told PTI over the phone.

Terming Awami League as an 'all-weather ally of India', he said India must ensure the security of Awami League leaders in Bangladesh by building international pressure.

With Bangladesh set to get an interim government, Joy also urged it to restore law and order, noting that 'the country is turning into a state of anarchy and becoming a second Afghanistan in the region'.

He said he also expects the interim government to create a level playing field whenever democracy is restored and fresh elections are held.

"You cannot exclude the Awami League and have a representative democracy in Bangladesh ever. Whatever his (Mohammed Yunus) personal views are, he has said that he wants a government of unity and wants to move forward and not let the mistakes of the past cloud over the future. I hope he stays true to his word," he asserted.

Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus is set to take oath as the head of Bangladesh's interim government on Thursday.

Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country following violent protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs. She flew to the Hindon air base, near Delhi, in a Bangladesh military aircraft on Monday.

Joy mentioned that once democracy is restored, either the Awami League or BNP will come to power, and the 'Mujib family and Sheikh Hasina will be around'.

"She has been in touch with all our party leaders for the last two days. My mother was going to retire anytime soon, so we thought now that she is gone, they (rioters) would leave our party people alone, but that did not happen. Instead, they started attacking," he said.

Declining to comment directly on whether he and his sister Saima Wazed, who is currently the South East Asian regional director for the World Health Organization, would enter politics, Joy said he would do whatever it takes to protect Bangladesh from total anarchy.

"I can't give a definite reply to this question. But I will do whatever it takes to save Bangladesh and protect the Awami League. The Mujib family would not leave them in a lurch," said Joy, the former Information and Communication Technology Advisor to Hasina.

Blaming Pakistan for fueling the unrest in Bangladesh, Joy said there is circumstantial evidence suggesting foreign interference and alleged involvement of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency.

"I am quite certain given the circumstantial evidence; I suspect Pakistan ISI's involvement. The attacks and protests were very coordinated, meticulously planned, and intentional efforts to keep inflaming the situation through social media. No matter what the government did to control the situation, they kept trying to worsen it," he said.

He also pointed out that the rioters attacked police with guns which could only be provided by terror outfits and foreign powers.

On reports of involvement of a US intelligence agency like the CIA, Joy said he had no evidence but added, 'maybe, they are'.

He dismissed any Chinese involvement when asked about it.

Dismissing reports of Hasina seeking asylum in the UK or any other country as 'rumours', Joy said the reports of her US Visa being revoked are also untrue.

"Nothing of this sort has been planned (seeking asylum). Sooner or later, there has to be a restoration of democracy in Bangladesh and hopefully, that will be between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Awami League. Then Sheikh Hasina will be back."

"At this point, she wants to go back to Bangladesh. It's a question of when rather than if," he said, hinting that the ousted Bangladesh PM will be staying at an undisclosed location in India for now.

Joy, who spent much of his childhood studying in India, appealed to the Indian government to ensure the quick restoration of democracy for stability in the region.

"I want to thank the Indian government for protecting my mother. I owe my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Modi. If India wants stability in its eastern backyard, then they have to pressure the international community and take the lead to ensure the quick restoration of democracy," he said.

Speaking on the 'INDIA-out' campaign in Bangladesh, he said, 'the anti-India forces are already very active, and with Awami League out of power, the ISI is now free to supply as many weapons as it wants to the anti-India forces'.

Joy said India must act fast before anti-India forces gain more ground.

Refuting claims that Hasina ran away to save her own life, he said the family insisted on stopping the bloodshed.

"She was not willing to leave the country. The Prime Minister's security was ready to protect her till the end. But that would have led to hundreds of deaths of protestors who were marching towards the PM's residence. We convinced her for the sake of Bangladesh, we cannot let her get killed," he said.

"Our government was not weak, but my mother did not want to harm the students. Even after her leaving the country, the bloodshed has not stopped. The people will now understand the difference with and without Sheikh Hasina," he said.

The death toll in the anti-government protests in Bangladesh climbed to 440 on Wednesday, with the recovery of 29 more bodies of Hasina's Awami League party members across the country through Tuesday, taking the overall death toll to 469 in nearly three weeks since the protests began in July.
The Jharkhand high court on Thursday directed the state government to take immediate action against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants entering the state through the Santhal Parganas.

IMAGE: Bangladesh citizens show their passports as they arrive at the Petrapol checkpoint in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, amid the turmoil in the neighbouring country. Photograph: ANI Photo

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai gave the direction while hearing a PIL filed by one Daniel Danish.

The court observed that illegal immigration will be on the rise in view of the present unstable situation in Bangladesh.

The bench ordered the director of the intelligence bureau, director general of the BSF, chief election commissioner of India, and director general of the Unique Identification Authority of India to be made parties in the case.

The court while issuing notices to them ordered them to file a response in the matter.

The court also suggested that the government should conduct a sudden inspection of Aadhaar cards and voter identity cards.

These drives will not only help in identifying the illegal settlers but will also deter others from trying to come into India illegally, the judges held.

The court also held that the state and Union governments will have to work together to tackle the problem of illegal immigration.

In the present scenario of Bangladesh, the situation is going to be more volatile, the judges held.

The case will again be heard on August 22.

The petition claimed that immigrants from Bangladesh have entered the state through the Santhal Parganas.

The demographic structure of the tribal populace in Santhal Pargana is already disturbed by the influx of Bangladeshi residents, the petition said, adding that it was a serious threat to the sovereignty of the country.

Illegal immigrants from Bangladesh have made their way into the state through the six districts in the Santhal Pargana -- Deoghar, Dumka, Pakur, Godda, Sahebgunj and Jamtara, the petitioner said.
India's influence and access in Bangladesh will remain strong irrespective of which government is in power there and any setback due to the ouster of its "friend" Sheikh Hasina would be temporary only, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and India Foundation founder Shaurya Doval has said.

IMAGE: Supporters of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) attend a rally, days after the resignation of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka, on August 7, 2024. Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters

At the same time, Doval asserted, India has made it clear that it is a "big, friendly and giving" nation but also one that firmly protects its interests and no one should dare in Bangladesh to try to use their soil as a way to foster terrorism in India.

In an exclusive interaction with PTI, Doval said Bangladesh also understands very well the importance of relations with India, no matter which regime is in power there.

"Once these things stabilise, it should be business as usual and India will reforge its relations," he said.

Long-running protests in Bangladesh reached a turning point earlier this week when Hasina had to flee to India after quitting as prime minister.

Talking about the crisis in Bangladesh, Doval said, "What is unfolding in Bangladesh, at first level, it is their internal affair, but if we see from India's perspective, in Sheikh Hasina we had a friendly government with whom we had a certain degree of comfort and access."

"It was very good, and it allowed us to have a long period of relationship with Bangladesh where we were able to sort out our border disputes, and ensure that our economic interests are met, including infrastructure development.

"To that extent, her reign in Bangladesh has given us those x numbers of years. We were able to achieve what we were not able to in the last 75 years," he said.

"When these kinds of things happen in a country, it will hit India in the short run because it has lost a friend. But in the long run, India's influence, approach and access in Bangladesh are much beyond just one political party," he said.

Doval asserted that India has capability to engage with all political parties and whoever forms the next government there, India will engage with them and its influence and access will continue to be there.

He said there may be certain perceptions that need to be set right initially as India "went long on relations with Sheikh Hasina".

"But that is more of a perception and once we are able to provide the same kind of support to whichever government is in place, that would be taken care of," he said.

Doval further said there are certain red lines India has been able to draw and that is irrespective of the political regimes.

"That is, India is a big country, India is a friendly country, but beyond a certain point, if India's interests are hurt then India will not tolerate that. So, I don't think, and I hope not, that anybody will again in Bangladesh will try to let's say use their soil as a way to foster terrorism in India," he said.

Doval said that for many years these lines were ambiguous and they were used by some political regimes in neighbouring countries to play around with India.

"That has stopped now as we have drawn those lines very clearly," he said.
On Thursday, August 8, 2024, an Election Commission team led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar arrived in Srinagar to meet with representatives of political parties.

They are set to review the preparedness for assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir and seek feedback from political parties.

The Supreme Court has set a September 30 deadline for holding elections in the Union Territory.

All Photographs: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu arrive in Srinagar, here and below.

IMAGE: Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sunil Sharma and other members of the BJP manifesto committee for the assembly election at a media interaction in Srinagar, here and below.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
National Democratic Alliance allies Janta Dal-United, Telugu Desam Party, Shiv Sena and the Lok Janshakti Party backed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill that was introduced in Lok Sabha on Thursday, saying it was aimed at bringing transparency in the functioning of the Waqf Board and was not an attempt to interfere with the running of mosques.

IMAGE: The proceedings of the Lok Sabha are underway during the Monsoon Session of the Parliament, in New Delhi, August 8, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo/Sansad TV/

The TDP and the LJP also supported the Bill being sent to a parliamentary committee for further examination.

Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and proposed sending it to a joint parliamentary committee after the Opposition parties objected to its provisions.

Speaking in Lok Sabha as the government moved for introducing the Bill, Janata Dal-United leader and Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan' asserted that the Bill was not anti-Muslim.

Defending the Bill, he said, "Several members are making it sound as if the amendment in the Waqf Board law is anti-Muslim. How is it anti-Muslim? Here is an example of Ayodhya is being given... Can you not differentiate between a temple and an institution?"

"This is not an attempt to interfere with mosques. This law is for the institution, to make it transparent... How was the Waqf Board formed?" he said, and himself replied that it was through a law," he said.

The minister said if any institution established through law becomes autocratic, the government has the right to bring a law to ensure transparency, he said.

Slamming the Opposition parties, he said, "There is no communal divide. They are spreading rumours."

Taking a jibe at the Congress over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, he asked, "Who killed thousands of Sikhs?"

"The Bill should come and transparency should be brought," he said.

Telugu Desam Party MP GM Harish Balayogi said his party will not mind if the Bill is sent to a parliamentary panel.

"I appreciate the concern with which the government has brought this Bill. The purpose of the donors need to be protected. When the purpose and power get misused, it is the responsibility of the government to bring reforms and introduce transparency in the system," he said.

The TDP MP said there is a requirement for the government to regulate and streamline the purpose.

"The Bill has been brought and we support it... We believe that the registration is going to help poor Muslims and women of the country, and bring transparency," the TDP MP said, adding his party will not mind if the Bill is sent to a panel of Parliament for further consultation.

"If wider consultations are required to remove misconceptions and to educate the purpose of the Bill, we have no problem sending it to the select committee," he said.

Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde also supported the Bill.

"Some people are only politicising this Bill. There is only one intention behind this Bill -- to bring transparency and accountability," he said.

He accused the opposition of spreading misinformation on the Bill.

"When their government was in power, they put administrators in temples like Shirdi. They did not remember federalism at that time. They have pushed Muslim women back," he said in Lok Sabha.

Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas MP Shambhavi Choudhary spoke on similar lines and supported the Bill.

"The founder of our party Ram Vilas Paswan ji always supported Muslims. In 2004, he wanted a Muslim to become the prime Minister. We support this Bill, but if some people want wider consultations, we have no objection if it goes to a committee," Choudhary told reporters outside Parliament.

"This is not an anti-Muslim Bill. It is bringing equality in the representation of the minorities by including groups like Bohra Muslims, Ahmadiyya and women who will also get representation," the LJP MP said.

The Bill to amend the law governing waqf boards proposes far-reaching changes in the Wakf Act, 1995, including ensuring the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in such bodies.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill also aims at renaming the Act as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.
A team of the Election Commission of India is set to review on Thursday the preparedness for assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir and take feedback from political parties, officials said.

Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Gyanesh Kumar in Srinagar to review poll preparations.

The team led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar arrived in Srinagar on Thursday and is set to meet with representatives of political parties at the Sheri Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC).

The office of the chief electoral officer, Jammu and Kashmir, had on Tuesday issued letters to various political parties, inviting them for a meeting with the ECI.

The political parties have been given time slots for the meeting with the Election Commission.

Representatives of various political parties, including the National Conference, the People's Democratic Party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress, and Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party arrived at the SKICC to meet the ECI team, the officials said.

Several senior officials of police and civil administration, including J-K Chief Electoral Officer P K Pole, also arrived at the SKICC, they said.

The ECI will review preparedness for Assembly polls, weeks before the Supreme Court's September 30 deadline for holding elections in the Union Territory.

Kumar is accompanied by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu.

The Commission will also review the preparations with election officers and police superintendents of all districts, as well as the chief secretary and the director general of police.

The three-day visit will culminate on August 10 at Jammu where the ECI will take a review meeting with enforcement agencies. It will also hold a press conference in Jammu to brief the media on the review process.

Earlier in March this year, Kumar -- who was then the sole member of the three-member Commission to visit the Union Territory -- had assured political parties and the people of Jammu and Kashmir that the poll panel would soon hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

At that time, the two posts of Election Commissioners were vacant. They were filled days before the Lok Sabha polls were announced on March 16.

After a record turnout in the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Kumar had said, "This active participation is a huge positive for Assembly elections to be held soon so that the democratic process continues to thrive in the Union Territory."

Besides meeting the political parties, the Commission will also review the situation with the chief electoral officer and the central forces coordinator.
More than 7,200 Indian students have returned to India in the past couple of weeks ending August 1 in view of the situation in Bangladesh, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

IMAGE: Indian students studying in Bangladesh return to India through the Akhaura International check post after deadly clashes in Bangladesh, in Agartala, Tripura, July 20, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written response, also said that as per available records, there are about 19,000 Indian citizens, including over 9,000 students, living in Bangladesh.

He was asked about the total number of Indians living in Bangladesh for the purpose of education or business, the number of people from Gujarat living in Bangladesh, and whether any special campaign has been started to evacuate Indian citizens from the violence-hit neighbouring country.

The minister was also asked about the number of citizens brought back to India so far.

Indian students in Bangladesh are from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and states of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam, among others. State-wise list is not maintained by our Mission and Posts in Bangladesh, the Union minister said.

The high commission of India in Dhaka and the assistant high commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Khulna have been assisting in the voluntary return of Indian nationals, he said.

They are also coordinating with the authorities concerned of Bangladesh for their safety and security during stay as well as movement to the airports and to land ports along India-Bangladesh border.

"Ministry of external affairs has also been coordinating with relevant Indian authorities to ensure a smooth passage for our citizens arriving at land ports and airports. Over 7,200 Indian students have returned to India till 01 August 2024, starting from 18 July 2024," Singh said.

State-wise list of Indian nationals who have "voluntarily departed from Bangladesh is not maintained by our Mission and Posts in Bangladesh," the minister added.

In a separate query, he was also asked whether it is a fact that Indian students' intake in Canadian universities has dipped in recent years due to strained relations with Canada, and if so, the details of students enrolled there during the last three years, year-wise.

The minister of state for external affairs shared data and said as per information obtained from the website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Indian student intake at Canadian universities has "increased over the last three years".

As per the shared data, the corresponding figures were -- 2,16,360 (in 2021) 3,18,380 (in 2022) and 4,27,085 (in 2023).

In a separate question, he was asked whether the government is aware about the "growing Chinese influence" on India's neighbouring countries.

Singh, in his written response, said the "government keeps abreast of all activities in India's neighbourhood that impinge on its interests".

"Neighbourhood First Policy continues to guide our approach to our neighbouring countries. It has resulted in outcome-oriented engagements, strong development partnerships, physical, digital and economic connectivity as well as vibrant people-to-people and cultural exchanges. India is an active partner of its neighbours, with extensive education, culture, trade and investment linkages.

"Our relations with neighbours stand on their own footing and are independent of the relations of these countries with third countries. Government keeps a vigilant watch on all developments which have a bearing on India's national security, and takes all necessary measures to safeguard it," he added.

In response to a separate query, he shared data on the number of pilgrims from India who visited Gurudwara Shri Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan in the last three years -- 10,025 (2021); 86,097 (2022); and 96,555 (2023).

He was also asked whether India has taken "any diplomatic initiative to stop ongoing war between Palestine and Israel".

"India has strongly condemned the terror attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023 and also the loss of civilian lives in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. India has called for ceasefire and sustained humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza," the Union minister said.

"During the ongoing conflict, India has provided 70 tonnes of humanitarian aid including 16.5 tonnes of medicines and medical supplies. We have also called for release of remaining hostages. We remain concerned at the deteriorating security situation and have called for restraint and deescalation and emphasized a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy," he added.

Around 26,000 Indian nationals, who have arrived in Israel over the past several years, are currently working in different sectors of the Israeli economy. In 2022, India and Israel commenced discussions on a framework agreement to facilitate temporary employment of Indian workers, which was concluded in November 2023, under which 4,825 Indian workers have so far been placed in Israel, the minister said.
Muhammad Yunus on Thursday promised to deliver a government which assures safety to its citizens, as the Nobel laureate returned to the protest-torn Bangladesh from Paris to take oath as the head of the interim government following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.

IMAGE: Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who was recommended by Bangladeshi student leaders as the head of the interim government in Bangladesh, meets officials at the Hazarat Shahjalal International Airport, in Dhaka, on August 8, 2024. Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters

Yunus, 84, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work on microlending, was designated head of the interim government after President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved parliament on Tuesday after Hasina resigned as Prime Minister and fled the country following widespread protests against her regime.

Yunus was in Paris for the Olympic Games. He returned to the country via Dubai.

An Emirates flight (EK-582) carrying Yunus landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2.10 pm local time.

Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, senior officials, student leaders and civil society members welcomed him at the airport.

At an emotional press conference at the airport, Yunus expressed gratitude to the youth who made the protest movement against Hasina successful.

"We have got independence for the second time. We have to protect this independence," he said.

"The nation is in your hands now. Now you have to rebuild it as per your aspirations. You have to use your creativity to build the country. You have earned independence for the country," he said.

"We have to form a government which assures safety to its citizens," he said.

He asked the citizens to save the country from chaos created during the protests.

"Bangladesh can be a very beautiful country and we can make it one," he said.

He also paid tribute to Abu Sayed, who was among the first killed in police firing during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

He will go directly to Bangabhaban, the Prime Minister's official residence.

This interim government will lead the country for a certain period and oversee the election to transition power to an elected government.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath of office to the new government.

The Army chief on Wednesday said the oath-taking ceremony will likely be held in the evening in the presence of some 400 dignitaries.

He hinted that the interim government may have 15 members for now. He, however, did not disclose their names and the possible tenure of the government.

The Army chief hoped that normalcy would return within three to four days as the situation across the country is improving significantly.

Yunus, whose name was first proposed for the top job by the coordinators of the student movement that led to Hasina's ouster, on Wednesday congratulated the 'brave students' who took the lead in making, what he said, 'our Second Victory Day possible', and appealed to all students, political parties and non-political people to stay calm.

'Let us not miss the chance by going into any senseless violence. Violence is our enemy. Please don't create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country,' he said in a statement.

'If we take the path of violence everything will be destroyed. Please stay calm. Help those around you to stay calm.'

His successful anti-poverty campaign through the Grameen Bank became a model which was replicated across continents.

He had been in a protracted row with Hasina's government due to obscure reasons while authorities initiated a series of investigations against him after she came to power in 2008.

Bangladesh authorities launched a review of the statutory Grameen Bank's activities in 2011 and fired Yunus as its founding managing director on charges of violating the government retirement regulation.

Yunus was charged under dozens of cases during Hasina's regime. In January, a court sentenced Yunus to six months in jail on charges of labour law violation.

Many people believe Hasina became enraged when Yunus announced that he would form a political party in 2007 when a military-backed government ran the country and Hasina was in prison.
As an interim government takes charge in Dhaka, India on Thursday said the interests of the people of Bangladesh are foremost in its mind.

IMAGE: Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina. Photograph: ANI Photo

India also hoped for early restoration of law and order in Bangladesh.

As far as India is concerned, interests of people of Bangladesh are foremost in our mind, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing.

The situation in Bangladesh is still evolving, he said.

Asked when former prime minister Sheikh Hasina will leave India, Jaiswal said: "We do not have any update on her plan."

To another question on reports of attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh, the MEA spokesperson said that New Delhi is monitoring the situation.

He said India is in touch authorities in Bangladesh to ensure safety and security of Indian missions, the personnel working there and Indians residing in that country.
Prominent Muslim bodies on Thursday hit out at the The Waqf (Amendment) Bill that was introduced in Lok Sabha and urged the government to withdraw the proposed amendments and engage in a detailed consultation with all stakeholders, including religious leaders.

IMAGE: A combination of pictures shows Union Home Minister Amit Shah and SP MP Akhilesh Yadav in a heated exchange of words during a discussion over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, August 8, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo/SansadTV)

Both factions of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (Arshad Madani and Mahmood Madani) slammed the Bill and expressed grave concerns over the proposed legislation.

Maulana Arshad Madani, who heads one Jamiat faction, claimed that the government wants to change the status and nature of waqf properties so that it becomes easier to take their possession.

"Once the new amendment is passed, a collector raj will come into existence and the decision of the Waqf Tribunal will not be final to decide which property is waqf and which is not. The decision of the collector will be final in relation to ownership," Madani said.

"Earlier this right was with the Waqf Tribunal. The proposed amendment to the Waqf Act is also against the religious freedom granted by the Constitution and is in violation of Articles 14, 15 and 25 of the Constitution," he said.

He alleged that ever since this government has come, it has been bringing such new laws to keep Muslims in "fear".

The proposed legislation is an open interference in the religious matters of Muslims, he said.

"The Jamiat wants to make it clear that we will never accept any such change in the Waqf Act, 2013 that changes or weakens the status or nature of Waqf properties. Jamiat Ulame-e-Hind has always taken effective steps to ensure the safety of waqf properties and even today we are moving ahead with the resolution that the Muslims of India will be against every plan of the government that does not guarantee the safety of waqf properties," he said in a statement.

Maulana Mahmood Madani, who heads the other faction of the Jamiat, has expressed strong concerns regarding the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act.

He said the amendments presented in Parliament are detrimental to the protection of waqf properties.

"These amendments would provide government bodies with unnecessary interference, undermining the original status of waqf and violating the concept of divine ownership," he said.

He pointed out that the proposal to abolish Section 40 of the Waqf Act and to grant district collectors the authority to resolve issues and disputes related to waqf property titles and possession under revenue laws instead of Waqf Tribunals is tantamount to "nullifying the Waqf Board itself".

Mahmood Madani urged the government to withdraw the proposed amendments and engage in a detailed consultation with all stakeholders, including religious leaders and waqf management bodies.

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind president Syed Sadatullah Husaini also criticised the Waqf Bill, saying it is unacceptable to the Muslim community.

"We oppose the proposed amendments by the government to the Waqf Act, 1995. The proposed changes are aimed at diminishing the autonomy and integrity of waqf properties and the communities they serve. This is not acceptable to the Muslim community," he said.

"We feel that this legislation has been designed to dismantle the established legal structure of waqfs, effectively targeting a constitutionally guaranteed right to the religious minorities that allows them to conduct and preserve their community's heritage and religious practices," Husaini said.

The amendments draw inspiration from outdated colonial laws, positioning the collector as the ultimate authority, thereby stifling the rights of Muslims to manage their religious endowments, he alleged.

Husaini said the fundamental aspect of waqf jurisprudence, the concept of waqf by user, which recognises long-standing religious and charitable use, is being removed. This change threatens to create further disputes over waqf properties.

The amendment allows the state governments to appoint all members of the Waqf Board, effectively eliminating the democratic election of at least two members from Muslim communities, he said.

"In summation, we would like to state that the Bill was created without any consultation with the Muslim community. No Muslim parliamentarian was consulted regarding the Bill.

"No stakeholders were involved in the discussions about the Bill. The changes proposed in the law are harmful rather than beneficial. The government should withdraw the Bill," he said.

Husaini said the JIH expects the Opposition as well as the National Democratic Alliance allies like the Janata Dal-United and the Telugu Desam Party to oppose and prevent such detrimental laws from being enacted.

Imam of Masjid Anglo-Arabic, Ajmeri Gate, Mufti Mohammad Qasim, said several properties of the waqf have been occupied and if the government wants to help the community, it should first get such properties vacated from illegal occupancy.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on Thursday and referred to a joint parliamentary panel after a heated debate, with the government asserting the proposed law did not intend to interfere with the functioning of mosques, and the opposition calling it targeting Muslims and an attack on the Constitution.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said he will talk with leaders of all parties for constituting the joint parliamentary committee.

Soon after Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sought leave to introduce the Bill, opposition INDIA bloc MPs strongly protested the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, calling it an "attack" on the Constitution and stating that it targets Muslims.
Even though the NIA claims that more than 90 per cent of cases charge-sheeted have ended in conviction, the figure is likely misleading.

To date, very few cases investigated by the NIA have resulted in a completed trial, points out former CBI joint director Navneet Rajan Wasan.

IMAGE: Mumbai's Taj Mahal hotel on fire after Pakistani terrorists launched a multi-pronged attack on the city on November 26, 2008. Photograph: Reuters

The response to terrorist attacks in India, which can have interstate or transnational ramifications, has proven especially difficult for the State Police to manage.

With perpetrators spanning state or national borders, some terror cases have been entrusted to the CBI at the request of the state government.

That bureaucratic delay, however, has impeded many investigations.

For years, security experts, political parties, and even parliamentary committees called for a national-level agency with the ability to investigate terrorism and other threats to internal security without waiting for state-level consent.

For instance, the Second Administrative Reforms Commission, in its reports on public order and combating terrorism, also recommended the creation of a federal agency to investigate terrorism.

After 174 people died in the ghastly 2008 terror attack in Mumbai -- known as 26/11 -- the government fast-tracked a bill in the Lok Sabha to set up the National Investigation Agency, or NIA.

The agency's stated mandate is to investigate and prosecute offences affecting the sovereignty, security, and integrity of India.

The NIA officially came into existence through the NIA Act, passed by Parliament on the last day of 2008.

The Act gives the NIA concurrent and overriding jurisdiction over the state police to probe any offence committed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), SAARC Convention (Suppression of Terrorism) Act, Chapter VI of the Indian Penal Code (offences against the state, including sedition and waging war against India), possession and circulation of counterfeit currency, and other Scheduled Offences.

In 2018, the Act was amended to include human trafficking, the manufacture or sale of prohibited arms, offences under the Explosive Substances Act, and cyberterrorism.

Significantly, it granted extraterritorial jurisdiction to the NIA, subject to international treaties and domestic laws of the nation(s) concerned.

Under section 3(2) of the Act, the NIA is empowered to investigate offences throughout India and exercise all the powers of the police.

Section 6 of the Act makes the NIA the central government's most capable investigation agency.

Unlike the CBI, the central government does not require the NIA to seek state-level consent before it investigates any offences in its schedule.

This provision has also prompted much controversy, resulting in several court cases over whether the NIA Act violated the Constitutionally enshrined principle of federalism and the distribution of powers.

In one such petition, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur v. State of Maharashtra, the Bombay high court upheld the validity of the Act.

IMAGE: The NIA produces arrested accused in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case at the city sessions court in Kolkata, April 12, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The court based its reasoning on an earlier Supreme Court decision -- PUCL v. Union of India -- which upheld the validity of the 2002 Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Observing that terrorism is a transnational rather than state-specific problem, the court determined that it would not fit within the ambit of 'public order' under the State List, which is confined to disorders of lesser gravity.

In an earlier judgment -- Kartar Singh v. State of Punjab24 -- the court held that activities of a more serious nature, which threaten the security and integrity of the country as a whole, relate to the defence of India and thus fall within the ambit of Entry 1 of the Union List.

Further, the court concluded that Parliament had the legislative competence to enact the NIA Act as it could legislate on any matter not covered under the State List.

The latest challenge to the NIA's legitimacy is a petition filed by the state of Chhattisgarh in the Supreme Court.

It holds that the NIA Act is 'ultra vires the Constitution' and 'beyond the legislative competence of the Parliament'.

The petition states that the Act takes away the state's power to conduct an investigation through its police, while conferring 'unfettered, discretionary and arbitrary powers' on the central government.

It further adds that the provisions of the Act leave no room of coordination and precondition of consent, in any form whatsoever, by the Central government from the State government which clearly repudiates the idea of state sovereignty as envisaged under the Constitution of India.

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit a Shah inaugurates the NIA's state-of-the-art Criminal Case Management System software. Photograph: ANI Photo

The challengers have also claimed that the provisions of sections 6(4) and 6(6) of the Act have undermined Entry 2 of List II (State List), which holds that investigation of matters arising within the territorial jurisdiction of any state are generally investigated by State Police.

As widely reported in the media, diplomatic cables exposed by WikiLeaks revealed that in 2011 P Chidambaram, who was home minister at the time, told then US Federal Bureau of Investigations Director Robert Mueller in March 2009 that he was unsure of the NIA's constitutionality.

The Supreme Court's final decision on the validity of the NIA Act remains pending.

***

IMAGE: Paramilitary personnel stand guard during an investigation by NIA officers outside the Israel embassy in New Delhi. Photograph: Amit Sharma/ANI Photo

The NIA, immediately after its formation, was delegated many of the terrorism cases being investigated by the DSPE and State Police, including the Samjhauta Express attacks (2007), the Ajmer Dargah bombing (2007), the Mecca Masjid blast (2007), and the Malegaon bombings (2008).

The investigation and prosecution of these cases, entrusted to the NIA after a long delay, have been subject to much criticism after all the accused in the Samjhauta Express and Mecca Masjid cases were acquitted by the trial court and only two accused were convicted in Ajmer Dargah bombing. The Malegaon case is still pending trial.

Other significant cases entrusted to and investigated by the NIA include the Maoist attack on Sukama district of Chhattisgarh (2013), the Bodh Gaya Temple Complex bombings (2013), the Dilsukhnagar twin blasts (2013), the Burdwan blast case (2014), the Uri attack (2016), the Pathankot Airbase attack (2016), the Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case (2017), and the Pulwama attack that killed more than 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel (2019).

The Bodh Gaya Temple, Dilsukhnagar, and Burdwan cases have resulted in convictions.

The others are either still under investigation or at trial.

The first-ever case registered under the extra-territorial jurisdiction vested in the NIA was the 2020 attack on a Sikh gurudwara in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The NIA's history of successful investigations and prosecutions has been rather chequered.

Even though it claims that more than 90 per cent of cases charge-sheeted have ended in conviction, the figure is likely misleading.

To date, very few cases investigated by the NIA have resulted in a completed trial.

And in many cases where convictions have been obtained, appeals filed by the convicted are yet to be heard.

A swirling controversy has embroiled the government of the day, which has questionably invoked provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in order to entrust cases to the NIA rather than state police.

These actions have even been questioned by the courts.

It is, without doubt, not a healthy practice and may bode poorly for the NIA's enduring credibility.

The unfortunate number of vacancies in various ranks across both the CBI and the NIA presents a serious challenge to the agencies' efficiency and must not be allowed to persist.

The problem of vacancies has also spread over to senior ranks of SPs and DIGs in the past few years.

This author has been an advocate of a system wherein the central government would finance a certain number of inspectors and DySPs in State Police investigation wings, and the states would be obligated to send an equivalent number of officers to the CBI and the NIA.

These officers could revert back to the states after an interval of five or six years, carrying with them valuable investigative experience.

Navneet Rajan Wasan is a retired Indian Police Service officer of the 1980 batch. He has served in senior positions in Andhra Pradesh and at the Centre, including as joint director, Central Bureau of Investigation.

Excerpted from Institutional Roots of India's Security Policy edited by Milan Vaishnav published by OUP with permission.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 61F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 41F. Winds light and variable.
BRATTLEBORO  As community members call for change to address unwanted behavior, the Select Board is considering the creation of "safety zones."

Developing the concept is one of the board's priorities over the next two years. Initial discussion touched on concerning behavior and identifying problematic areas where no-trespass orders would be more readily handed out along with other interventions.

Before the topic came up at Tuesday's meeting, community members expressed frustration with what they're seeing in town. They cited public nudity, sex, defecation, urination, aggressive panhandling, and drug use and sales.

"It feels like a small minority of transient citizens are overpowering and disturbing the majority of citizens in Brattleboro," local musician Kevin Parry said. "I would like to see the balance restored."

A letter being circulated among downtown businesses includes recommendations for the town to increase its police foot patrols, move a homeless shelter planned to replace Morningside House to another town, repeal a decision to raise parking meter rates and charge for parking on Sundays, and create an initiative for new businesses to move into empty storefronts.

Brattleboro to explore 'safety zones' BRATTLEBORO  Developing the concept of "safety zones" is one of the Select Board's prioriti

In a memo about safety zones, Town Manager John Potter said the idea came from Michelle Simpson, former executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro. She "wanted to extend the concept of drug-free zones to encourage a better environment around downtown areas frequented by children," according to the memo.

Drug-free zones are described by Potter as a way to "protect children from drug trafficking near schools by threatening drug dealers with mandatory sentences for convicted drug crimes occurring there."

"Other states, such as Illinois, extend their drug-free zones to other types of properties such as public housing, drug treatment facilities, nursing homes, highway rest areas, and churches," he said in the memo. "Different kinds of safety zones have also been established, for example, to keep sex offenders away from schools or to reduce conflicts related to face-to-face solicitations around ATM machines, gas pumps, and parking kiosks. There are hunter safety zones, pedestrian safety zones, and hazardous waste protection areas."

Board member Peter "Fish" Case said he's worked on the idea of "safety zones" before he joined the board more than a year ago in collaboration with the local Youth Council led by Building A Positive Community.

"I think what we're trying to do is create some municipal action," he said. "I know that these next few meetings, around this, there's going to be a lot of discussion."

If the zones are established and no-trespass orders are handed out for 500-foot radiuses, Case said he wants to ensure restorative justice and recovery services are still available.

Many of the concerning behaviors identified in a memo from Potter already have penalties and are enforced by some extent at the judgement of the responding officer, Board Chairman Daniel Quipp said. Potter noted that not all of the behaviors are illegal but could be discouraged by messaging.

Youth Council members described being scared by intoxicated people and heroin needles, wanting to be compassionate about where displaced people go and feeling vulnerable walking alone in areas of downtown. They showed a map where issues are known to occur, including the parking lot on Flat Street, Harmony Lot and the Transportation Center.

Susan Bellville, property manager, said she's constantly trying to keep families and businesses safe.

"I really need some help with asking people to move along and get them to move along from areas that I consider safe zones," she said, citing building entryways and exits as an example.

Encouraging the community to take a stand against troubling behaviors by calling it out, she said the town can't arrest or cite its way out of its problems.

Dick DeGray, former board member, suggested the town could adopt an ordinance prohibiting people from sleeping in parks and storefronts in the downtown improvement district.

Part of the effort is about getting creative on increasing enforceability but police don't have the capability to address every incident, Potter said.

"I think we made some good strides tonight," Potter said.

He expects local police officials will attend the next board meeting to discuss expanding resources. The department was hosting a local event Tuesday tied to the National Night Out initiative aimed at building community.

At another point in the meeting, board members encouraged state officials to look at ways to support municipalities hosting the emergency housing program in motels and hotels. Brattleboro was never asked if it would participate and has provided additional services as a result, Board Vice Chairwoman Elizabeth McLoughlin said.
A Chippewa Falls man who brought a gun into a Stanley tavern on New Years Eve and consumed alcohol there, and later fired the gun in the presence of police, has been placed on probation and must surrender the weapon.

Christopher W. Mathison, 44, pleaded no contest in Chippewa County Court to operating a firearm while intoxicated and resisting or obstructing an officer. Both convictions are misdemeanors. The more serious felony-level charge of first-degree recklessly endangering safety was read-in and dismissed.

On Tuesday, Judge James Isaacson placed Mathison on probation for two years and ordered him to pay $926 in fines. While on probation, Mathison must take an alcohol treatment course, cannot consume alcohol or enter taverns. He also must write a letter of apology to the law enforcement officers involved in the incident. Isaacson also ordered that Mathison must forfeit the weapon involved.

Stanley police chief Lance Weiland told the Leader-Telegram that Mathison was accused of firing one shot up in the air in city limits in the vicinity of law enforcement. Mathison lived in Boyd at the time of the shooting.

According to the criminal complaint, a person at the Hill House Bar and Grill at 910 Highway X in Stanley called police at 12:37 a.m. Jan. 1 for a report that a male subject had a gun that had fallen out of his shirt and onto the floor. The man picked up the gun and exited the bar. A bartender showed police where Mathison had been sitting, and he left his jacket and cell phone behind.

The owner said people in the bar had noticed that he had a gun in his pants and told her about it, the complaint reads.

The owner opted to close down the bar that night because of Mathisons actions.

Officers went to Mathisons home and observed him at the residence.

He was argumentative and was not cooperating with the deputys commands, the report reads.

A deputy heard Mathison say he had a gun, and officers retreated behind squad cars and trees.

I then heard one shot fired, the officer wrote. I also heard deputies telling Christopher to drop the gun.

Mathison then placed his hands in the air and was arrested, but he was yelling on and off at the time. The gun was located along the east side of the house.

Mathison had no prior criminal record in Wisconsin, court records show.
The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) is running a proof of value trial for Microsoft 365 Copilot across around 300 users.

Microsoft 365 Copilot was being used to improve productivity for back-office functions for a select group of ACC employees, ACCs acting deputy chief executive of enterprise change, Shayne Culbert, told Reseller News.

It was being employed for tasks such as drafting content, summarising meetings, and researching and summarising ACC information and files that the user had access to, he said.

Currently the 300 users were exploring possible additional uses for the technology.

Before starting the trial, ACC said it undertook a rigorous testing and approvals process involving specialists from privacy, security, information management, technology and the ACC ethics panel to ensure it was safe.

ACC has rigorous privacy and security accreditation and certification processes, which are applied to any technology we adopt, Culbert said.
In the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States, Secretary of State Colin Powell gave assurances that America would deal with the tragedy by bringing those responsible to justice while protecting the world's democracies.

"They will never be allowed to kill the spirit of democracy," Powell said. "They cannot destroy our society. They cannot destroy our belief in the democratic way."

President George W. Bush, who won office in 2000 as a candidate who would be cautious about committing U.S. troops to foreign wars, quickly made fighting global terrorism a top policy, and set about establishing an international "coalition of the willing" to carry out the mission.

The U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan had the primary goal of punishing the Al-Qaeda terrorist network, which had been given refuge in Afghanistan and carried out the deadly 9/11 attacks. And once on Afghan soil, Washington quickly ousted the Taliban regime accused of sheltering Al-Qaeda from power.

Costly Campaign

But the U.S. experience in Afghanistan ultimately ended in failure, and with the hard-line Taliban group back in power. The nearly 20-year war ended with immense costs in terms of lives lost and money spent. And it made the U.S. public and politicians on both sides of the aisle in Washington reluctant to get involved in "forever wars" that could not be won.

"More than $2 trillion spent in Afghanistan," U.S. President Joe Biden said on August 31, 2021, in announcing the official end of the United States' longest-ever war. "20,744 American servicemen and women injured, and the loss of 2,461 American personnel."

In explaining to the U.S. public that he was "not going to extend this forever war," Biden did not mention the estimated 70,000 deaths among Afghan security forces, more than 46,000 Afghan civilian deaths, and the deaths of more than 4,000 allied troops and U.S. contractors.

The withdrawal under Biden has become a lightning rod for debate ahead of the U.S. presidential election on November 5. Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump has blasted Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running against Trump, for the "humiliation in Afghanistan," with much of the criticism centered on the chaotic last days of the withdrawal, when 13 U.S. soldiers and 170 Afghan civilians died in a bombing by the Islamic State-Khorasan extremist group.

Harris's campaign, meanwhile, has highlighted Trump's role as president in signing the 2020 deal with the Taliban that paved the way for the withdrawal and provided a "virtually impossible" deadline.

But experts who spoke to RFE/RL stressed that multiple U.S. administrations, beginning with Democratic President Barack Obama's from 2009 to 2017 -- had come to the realization that what had begun as a fight against terrorism had become an overly costly and potentially "forever" endeavor.

"It was an extremely expensive war in a place that was probably least important to the United States," said Vali Nasr, a professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University. "It was a war that the United States started to destroy Al-Qaeda, which it did very quickly, then to dislodge the Taliban from Afghanistan, which it did, and then it became something much bigger, like how to establish a democracy and a functioning government in Afghanistan and sustain it."

The question asked by Obama, who initiated an exit strategy by reducing the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and later Trump, was whether there was a compelling reason to stay.

The United States "was becoming committed to a forever war, or a forever presence at the tune of billions of dollars a year and tens of thousands of troops, in a condition that the threat from Afghanistan had declined and the strategic value of the country was declining," Nasr said.

And the economy and civil society established under the protection of the U.S. military, he says, was not something Afghanistan could sustain on its own.

"What the United States created is like a tree that never grew roots," Nasr said. "So, at some point you're going to say, 'I'm going to stop watering it, and I'm going to take my hand off from trying to forcibly keep it upright.'"

No Good Outcome

Rajan Menon, an emeritus professor of international relations at the City College of New York and director of the Grand Strategy Program at Defense Priorities, said that "no matter how long [the United States] had stayed, I don't see what a good ending could have been."

The minimal good outcome, Menon says, would have been "a stable country with a government that may not have been democratic, but which could be counted upon not to serve as a platform for terror and which would have a positive relationship with the United States."

But in attempting to realize that goal, what you are essentially "trying to do is engage in nation-building," Menon said. Even a "very, very powerful military machine" like the United States has difficulties pulling that off, he said, and there "are no pretty exits."

To avoid the chaotic type of withdrawal that took place in Afghanistan, Menon said, "you have to build institutions, political and military and civic in nature." Without that, "once you leave and remove the military protection, the institutions will start crumbling, and that is exactly what happened."

U.S. wars and democracy-building efforts were not isolated to Afghanistan during its nearly 20-year campaign there. There were others -- most notably the costly war in Iraq from 2003 to 2011 -- that former Secretary of State Powell argued was necessitated by an alleged Iraqi program to build weapons of mass destruction that was later determined to be nonexistent.

Prior to his death in 2021 just six weeks after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Powell said that his arguments before the UN Security Council "was a great intelligence failure."

Baghdad and the United States, which sent troops back to Iraq in 2014 to help fight the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, are still trying to repair relations. According to the Soufan Center think tank on September 9, the two sides reportedly have reached an agreement to transition from the United States leading the effort against IS to a bilateral partnership.

'Forever' Ending?

So is the U.S. era of "forever wars" over?

Many of the unique circumstances that accompanied the Afghan invasion -- a direct attack on U.S. soil, counterterrorism becoming a focal point of U.S. policy, and the idea that nation-building is an effective solution -- are unlikely to repeat themselves, Nasr says.

And the mood in the United States amid a hotly contested election campaign could indicate that it will at least think twice.

With both Trump and Harris there is "a little bit of a backlash against the so-called forever wars...and I think the American public probably will be much less supportive" of involvement in them in the future," Menon said.

But Madiha Afzal, a fellow in the foreign policy program at Brookings, said in written comments that while "some of the lessons from the Afghanistan war" had started being discussed, particularly in the last couple of years of the conflict, "the disaster of the withdrawal...really focused the conversation in America on Afghanistan to be just about the withdrawal."

The larger discussion about the war, Afzal said, "has been entirely obscured," with much of the conversation becoming intensely partisan.

"I fear that the larger lessons of the 20-year war have been lost along the way," Afzal concluded.
Israel has claimed that the successor to slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has likely been "eliminated," while U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris called Tehran the greatest adversary of the United States.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on October 8 said that Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon, was an "organization without a head."

"Nasrallah was eliminated -- his replacement was probably also eliminated," Gallant told officers at the military's northern command center without providing details.

"There's no one to make decisions, no one to act," he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later echoed those comments, saying, "We've degraded Hezbollah's capabilities."

"We took out thousands of terrorists, including Nasrallah himself and Nasrallah's replacement, and the replacement of the replacement," Netanyahu said.

Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union blacklists its armed wing but not its political party. Hezbollahs political party has seats in the Lebanese parliament.

Hashem Safieddine, a top Hezbollah official and a cousin of Nasrallah, was widely expected to be named to the group's top position, but his whereabouts and condition are a mystery since an Israeli strike hit a suspected Hezbollah leadership meeting on October 2.

Hezbollah has not commented on Safieddine's fate, although unidentified members have told various media that the group had lost contact with him since the attack.

Safieddine has been declared a global terrorist by the United States.

Meanwhile, Harris told CBS TV's 60 Minutes program in an interview that she considered Iran to be the greatest adversary of the United States.

"Iran has American blood on their hands," she said. "And what we saw in terms of just this attack on Israel, 200 ballistic missiles, what we need to do to ensure that Iran never achieves the ability to be a nuclear power -- that is one of my highest priorities."

Harris -- the Democratic presidential nominee who will face Republican Donald Trump in the November 5 election -- declined to speculate on whether the United States would take military action itself should proof be uncovered that Iran is building a nuclear weapon.

Tehran has denied it is building such weapons and says its nuclear program is for civilian purposes.

The comments came as the battered and bloodied leadership of Hezbollah suggested it might be ready to negotiate a cease-fire with Israel

Deputy leader Naim Qassem, in a televised speech, for the first time did not suggest that ending the war in Gaza was a precondition to reaching a truce with Israel in Lebanon.

Qassem said the group backed an effort by Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, to reach a deal to halt the fighting.

Late on October 8, the Syrian government said that seven civilians were killed in an Israeli air strike in Damascus. A war monitor said the strike targeted a building used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah.

Israel did not immediately comment and the reports could not be verified.



The Israeli military said earlier on October 8 that it had killed another senior Hezbollah commander, a day after marking the somber anniversary of a Hamas attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people.

Suhail Husseini, who was responsible for overseeing the logistics, budget, and management of Hezbollah, was killed in a targeted attack on October 7, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.

"Husseini played a crucial role in weapon transfers between Iran and Hezbollah," the statement said, adding that he was also in charge of distributing advanced weapons to the group's members and for its "most sensitive projects" that included operations against Israel.

The IDF said Husseini was also a member of the Jihad Council, the supreme military body of Hezbollah.

There was no immediate confirmation from Hezbollah.

The Israeli announcement came after Palestinian militants in Gaza fired a barrage of rockets on October 7 into Israel, where President Isaac Herzog led a national moment of silence to mark the start of last year's Hamas attack, which started at Kibbutz Reim in the south of the country.

Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union.

In Washington on October 7, President Joe Biden condemned Hamas on the anniversary, while also stating again the U.S. administration's commitment to reaching cease-fire agreements to end fighting in both Gaza and Lebanon.

"On this solemn anniversary, let us bear witness to the unspeakable brutality of the October 7 attacks but also to the beauty of the lives that were stolen that day," Biden said in a statement.

In Jerusalem, relatives of the some 100 hostages still in Hamas captivity, out of a total of 250, gathered outside Netanyahu's residence and stood in silence as a siren wailed in a gesture of protest against what relatives say is the failure of the government to secure their loved ones' release.

The conflict in Gaza is still raging while Israel is now fighting on a second front in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah.



Following the October 7 attack, Israel launched a military assault on Gaza that has killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas. Some 90 percent of the population of Gaza has been displaced and large areas have been destroyed by Israeli bombardments.



The Israeli military said on October 7 that over the past year it has bombed more than 40,000 targets in Gaza, found 4,700 tunnel shafts and destroyed 1,000 rocket launcher sites.

Israel in recent weeks has been carrying out air strikes across Lebanon, including Beirut, and has staged a ground invasion into south Lebanon in its drive to wipe out Hezbollah's capabilities and leadership.

In the attacks, Israel killed Hezbollah leader Nasrallah and dozens of other leaders of the group.

On October 6, two senior Iranian security officials told Reuters that Ismail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force -- the overseas arm of the IRGC -- had also not been heard from in recent days since traveling to Lebanon.

Tel Avivs campaign against Hezbollah prompted Iran to respond by attacking Israel with a large wave of rockets that were largely shot down by Israeli air defenses without causing substantial damage, but the attack renewed fears of a larger regional conflict.

Gallant on October 6 threatened Iran that it might eventually find itself looking like Beirut or Gaza -- which has also been battered over the past year -- if Tehran attempts to further harm Israel.

With reporting by CBS and AP
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Every August, Bosnian Serbs, Bosnian Croats, and Bosniaks who have spent thousands of dollars on raising bulls battle for glory in one of the Balkans' oldest and most coveted sporting prizes.
One year ago, Hamas -- the U.S.- and EU-designated Palestinian terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip -- carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel, the deadliest in the countrys history.

In response, Israel launched an aerial bombardment and ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave to destroy Hamas and rescue the 251 hostages taken by the group.

Israel has expanded its war in recent weeks by invading Lebanon and launching air strikes targeting Hezbollah, the armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon.

RFE/RL spoke to Lior Yohanani, manager of quantitative research at the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based independent research center, which on October 7 released a wide-ranging survey of Israeli public opinion after one year of war.

RFE/RL: Can you explain what your study found as to how Israelis view the past year since Hamas's October 7 attack?



Lior Yohanani: Well, I think Israelis still don't see October 7 as an event that's over. Sure, the actual horrific events of that day ended, but Israelis are still living with the consequences.

There are two main aspects to this. First, since October 7, Israel has been in this multifront war that doesn't seem to have an end in sight. And then, of course, there is the issue of the hostages still being held in Gaza. So, we're seeing a sharp drop in people's sense of personal security. Almost three quarters of the public feel less safe compared to before October 7, and that's despite a year of war and some significant military achievements. On the flip side, we're also seeing that most people say their lives have returned to normal when it comes to things like work, media consumption, and family and social gatherings.

Another thing we're noticing is that the Israeli public is giving pretty low marks to all the political and military leaders for the performance since October 7. For example, almost two-thirds of Israelis are rating Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu's performance since then as poor or not good.

RFE/RL: How has Israel's involvement in a two-front conflict, in both Gaza and Lebanon, as well as a confrontation with Iran affected public opinion among Israelis?



Yohanani: It's tough to answer that question, because we're at the point where things could go in a few different directions. In the last few weeks, we've seen a major escalation in the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and just last week, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, which Israel is expected to respond to. In a survey we just did recently, we asked whether Israeli society and the military could handle fighting on two or more fronts for an extended period of time, and the results were pretty striking. Over 70 percent believe that yes, both Israeli society and the military can handle that kind of prolonged fighting. So, while the situation is complex and evolving, there seems to be a strong sense of resilience and capability among Israelis, even in the face of these multiple threats. But of course, public opinion could shift depending on how events unfold in the coming weeks or months.



RFE/RL: Is there support for Netanyahus response to October 7? Is there debate in Israeli society, as well as political circles, over Netanyahus strategic choices?



Yohanani: First of all, it's important to say that the Israeli public has largely supported significant military operation against Hamas in Gaza. That said, the Israeli discourse around the October 7 events, the ongoing war, and especially toward Prime Minister Netanyahu, is very polarized between right-wing supporters on the one hand and left and center supporters on the other.

People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term."

So, on the left and the center, there is a high level of distrust and suspicion toward Netanyahu and his government. For instance, Netanyahu's apparent reluctance to pursue a deal for returning the hostages in exchange for ending the fighting in Gaza is seen by large parts of the public, even on the right, as resulting from Netanyahu's dependence on far-right, ultranationalist members of his government who refuse any compromise or ceasefire.

Now for a long time, Netanyahu and his ministers argued that only significant military force would lead Hamas to compromise and release the hostages. Now, with military attention and resources shifting to the north, people are asking, where is this massive military force that was supposed to bring the hostages home?

One question we have asked several times since October 7 in our polls is what should be the main goal in Gaza: Dismantling Hamas or bringing back the hostages? And as time goes on, public opinion is increasingly supporting the return of hostages. In our current survey, 62 percent saw bringing the bringing back the hostages as Israel's main goal, while only 29 percent pointed to dismantling Hamas as the primary objective.

RFE/RL: How do ordinary Israelis see the question of the remaining hostages amid the continued protests by the hostages' families?



Yohanani: As I mentioned before, most of the public supports a deal to release the hostages, even if it means ending the war and withdrawing the military forces from Gaza. There's this widespread feeling that we've left the hostages behind, and that's really hitting at our sense of solidarity, which is a deep and fundamental value, I think, in Jewish history in general and in Israel society in particular.

At the same time, the campaign run by the Hostages And Missing Families Forum has become very politicized. Many right-wing supporters see it as weakening Israel. As time goes on, we're seeing more and more harassment of protesters who support bringing the hostages back. There are cases of passersby cursing, even hitting and throwing eggs, at hostages' families. In our latest survey, we asked about the effectiveness of the protests and actions taken by the hostages' families.

Despite most of the public feeling empathetic toward the hostage issue, only less than a third think these actions are actually helping to advance a deal for the hostages' release, while almost 40 percent think they're actually hurting the cause. So, you've got this complex situation where people want the hostages back, but there is disagreement and some backlash about how to make that happen.

RFE/RL: Can you explain the reasons behind the apparent contradiction in views regarding prioritizing a negotiated return of the hostages, or destroying Hamas?

Yohanani: You're right to point out that apparent contradiction. Let me break it down a bit. As I mentioned earlier, a clear majority of the public sees a deal to release the hostages as the main goal. But there is a big gap between political camps on this issue. In the center and left, about 80 percent support the deal for the hostages' release, while the opinions on the right are evenly split. So, for most of the left and center, the fighting in Gaza has run its course. They feel most military objectives have been achieved, and Hamas's military power has been significantly weakened. From their perspective, continuing the fight now only puts the hostages at greater risk.

It's important to know that about half of the right-wing also shares this view of prioritizing the hostages' release, but the other half of those on the far-right thinks dismantling Hamas is more important.

Why? For a couple of reasons.

First, there's a security stance that Hamas must be wiped out and not allowed to recover. There is also a very strong sentiment of revenge, with minimal consideration for the cost, whether it's the lives of the hostages, soldiers, let alone innocent civilians in Gaza. Another significant component openly discussed in religious nationalist circles is the return of Jewish settlement to the Gaza Strip after Israel evacuated Jewish settlements from there in 2005.

RFE/RL: Is there public confidence that Israel will ultimately be able to remove the threat of Hamas and Hezbollah and come out of this conflict with greater prospects for a peaceful and stable near-term future?



Yohanani: Right now, the Israeli public isn't showing a lot of optimism. In our current survey, when we asked people if they're optimistic or pessimistic about Israel's future, we found more pessimists, 48 percent, than optimists, 45 percent.

I also think it's important to note that a peaceful future, as you put it, or peace in general, isn't really a common concept in the current Israeli discourse. I would say the hope of Israelis is that the military actions against Hezbollah and Iran will lead to a situation where Israel's existence isn't in question, and that Israeli military superiority will prevent events like October 7 from happening again. So, it's less about peace in the traditional sense, and more about security and deterrence. People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term.
Minority Serb residents of northern Kosovo protested the proposed full opening of a key bridge in Mitrovica on August 7, decrying it as a symbolic threat. Members of the ethnic Serb community say they are angry over the recent closures of Serb-run postal facilities and the rejection of the Serbian currency by Kosovo.
NORTH MITROVICA, Kosovo -- Fears of ethnically charged strife have flared up in the Balkans this week as Kosovo dramatically intensified its pressure on tens of thousands of local Serbs to abandon aspects of daily life tied to Serbia, shutting post offices used by Serbs and preparing a controversial reopening of a bridge separating ethnic Serb and Albanian communities.

Tensions between Kosovo's government and the minority Serbs are a near-constant problem in Kosovo, but the rapid-fire pace of Pristina's current clampdown could threaten to drag it toward confrontation with neighboring Serbia.

Unilateral moves by Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti's government over the past two years has already tested the patience of longtime Western allies responsible for maintaining security in the former Serbian province and sensitive to Russian inroads of influence in a region where critics say Moscow fuels separatism and actively stokes disinformation.

Serbia and Kosovo are both aspiring EU members, but Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's stubborn insistence on deepening diplomatic and security ties with Moscow and Kurti's increasingly assertive actions affecting Kosovo's Serb minority and failure to lay the groundwork for a long-promised representative body for Kosovo Serb municipalities have complicated their respective relations with the West.

Lulzim Peci, a former ambassador and current director of the Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED), told RFE/RL's Kosovo Service that the uncoordinated steps by Pristina suggest "the rift is deepening" between Kosovo and the international community.

He said it was important to understand that Kosovo doesn't necessarily have "full sovereignty" so long as KFOR, NATO's peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, is the de facto guarantor of security in parts of the country where Serbs are the majority.

KFOR is understandably eager to avoid getting "caught up in some interethnic tension...without being notified in advance," Peci said.

"The problem does not lie with the implementation of the law, the problem lies in whether or not we are reliable partners," Peci said. "Herein lies the crux of this problem."

Peci said that "there is no greater sanction" at Washington's disposal than a public withdrawal of support for Pristina's actions. "Kosovo has been left to itself and it is now only being dealt with in the domain of conflict management -- nothing more," Peci said.

He predicted that "Kosovo is heading toward a major clash with the international community," adding, "It can only harm itself."

More than 100 countries, including the United States and all but five EU members, recognize Kosovo's independence.

Serbia, with Russian and Chinese diplomatic support, continues to reject outright independence for its former province, which it officially calls the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija.

New Protests

On August 7, local Serbs protested near a bridge over the Ibar River in the divided city of Mitrovica after Kurti told Western diplomats last week he would reopen it to vehicle traffic after years of closure despite warnings from the United States and European powers as well as NATO.

"We don't feel safe here," a protester and former judge from North Mitrovica, Nikola Kabasic, said. He said such a move should only happen after agreement within the so-called dialogue, involving EU and U.S. mediators who have spent more than a decade encouraging Kosovo and Serbia to build trust and normalize relations.

The Serbs held banners claiming they were defending themselves against "expulsion" and "extinction." The bridge is a powerful symbol of the ethnic volatility that has seen sporadic clashes since the wars of the 1990s.

KFOR said it would "not hesitate to tackle any development that may affect the security environment and regional stability, in full respect of our UN mandate."

Two watershed events in the last 14 months have crystallized the urgency of diplomacy and a resolution of so-far intractable differences between Pristina and Kosovo's ethnic Serb communities, and by extension Serbia.

In May 2023, dozens of peacekeepers for the KFOR mission in northern Kosovo were injured in clashes with Serbs after Kosovar authorities seated ethnic Albanian mayors after boycotted elections in four communities.

Four months later, in September, dozens of commando-style gunmen killed a Kosovar policeman and injured another in a heavily armed siege of a Serbian Orthodox monastery at Banjska, near the Serbian border in northern Kosovo. Pristina blamed Serbia, and Serbian authorities have declined to hand over a Kosovar Serb politician suspected of involvement in what it has called a "terrorist" plot with Serbian state involvement. Belgrade has denied it played a part in the incident.

Parallel Infrastructure

Tens of thousands of Serbs in Kosovo have resisted Pristina's authority in areas from education to health care and pensions, and on customs and other institutions dealing with everything from license registration to cigarette stamps. Many have clung for decades to banking and daily transactions in Serbian dinars at restaurants, doctor's offices, and taxi fares.

Serbia has perpetuated a massive parallel infrastructure financed openly and behind the scenes by Belgrade to support and encourage them, consuming tens of millions of dollars from the Serbian budget over Pristina's objections.

Serbian President Vucic described the EU's response to the postal closures calling for a solution through mediated dialogue as "shameful."

He accused Kurti of "an attempt to provoke a war conflict." "We don't want war, we want to preserve peace," Vucic said. "Kurti is doing it deliberately and organized and with the support of certain Western powers."

Kurti, a former student organizer who was imprisoned by Yugoslav forces during Kosovar Albanians' push for independence in the 1990s, launched his second stint governing and pressing his doctrine of "reciprocity" with a high-profile standoff in 2022 over Kosovar Serbs' continued refusal to register their vehicles and Belgrade's rejection of Kosovar license plates.

Since then, Pristina has enforced a series of unilateral moves to root out the parallel institutions and influence that remain essential to everyday life for Kosovar Serbs.

The steps to rein in northern Kosovo have come more frequently as talk of possible snap elections increases ahead of the end of Kurti's four-year term in February 2025, with a surprise ban on the use of the Serbian dinar, a shutdown of Serbian banks, and a Serb-boycotted referendum on four controversial mayorships held by ethnic Albanians.

So the announcement last week of the intention to reopen car traffic on a bridge partitioned for decades to separate ethnic Albanians from Serbs in the city of Mitrovica and the post-office closures are regarded by some Kosovar Serbs as the last straw intended to destabilize their communities.

"This doesn't lead anywhere, not at all toward peace," Dragan Ilic, a Serb in North Mitrovica, said after the post-office shutdowns earlier this week. "I fear unrest, God forbid that happens, but it seems like someone is calling for it; it seems like they are calling for major unrest to start here because the Serbian people won't tolerate this."

Stern Signal

In a stern signal to Pristina, EU officials who have mediated the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue for over a decade stressed that both sides had agreed to discuss postal services "at a later stage" of the talks.

The U.S. Embassy in Pristina said the "uncoordinated actions of Kosovo put the citizens of Kosovo and KFOR soldiers at great risk, promote an unnecessary escalation of regional tensions, and undermine Kosovo's reputation as a reliable international partner."

Toby Vogel, a Western Balkans analyst and senior associate of the Democratization Policy Council who has criticized the West's tolerance for antidemocratic trends in Serbia as it tries to further the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, said that, while he didn't have the full picture of the post-office move, "the closure does seem to follow the logic of the dinar ban."

"In any case, the general dynamic at work is quite clear," Vogel told RFE/RL's Kosovo Service. "Prime Minister Kurti has correctly concluded that the dialogue is dead, that the EU's measures against his government are not going to be lifted, and that no consequences will flow for the Serbian regime from Banjska," a reference to the 14th-century monastery that was the site of the deadly September attack.

Kurti, he said, faces elections sometime in the next six months and perhaps feels like he has "nothing to lose."

"In this wider context, [Kurti] seems to think that catering to his core domestic constituency is more important ahead of the general election than trying to patch up relations with Kosovo's main allies in Berlin, Washington, and Brussels," Vogel said.

He said the Kosovar leader's move "feeds the narrative that Kurti wants to make life insufferable for Serbs in Kosovo," adding, "It is hard to see a way out of this dynamic."
Russian leaders say Ukrainian forces attacked civilian targets in Russia's Kursk region, starting late on August 6. The regional governor said there had been at least two deaths. Residents of the region shared videos of planes overhead and burning cars, while Ukraine had yet to comment on Russian officials' description of events.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on August 8 said that Russia brought war to his country and "must feel what it has done" after Russia claimed to have repelled a surprise cross-border advance by Ukraine into its Kursk region.

Zelenskiy did not directly refer to the incursion, which Russia said is in its third day and involves up to 1,000 Ukrainian troops supported by tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery.

He said he has received reports from Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskiy, Ukraines top military commander, and called the military action "effective" and "exactly what our country needs now."

Mykhaylo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskiy, commented indirectly on the operation earlier on X, saying the root cause of any escalation, shelling, military actions, forced evacuations, and destruction of normal life, "including within Russia's own territories like #Kursk and Belgorod regions, is solely Russia's unequivocal aggression."

"This includes attempts to seize foreign territories and disregard for international law norms that clearly uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity," Podolyak said on August 8.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

Zelenskiy also commented indirectly on the incursion, saying on Telegram, "Russia has brought war to our land and must feel what it has done."

Without mentioning Kursk he said there had been three reports from Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskiy, Ukraines top military commander, and, "The reports are effective. Exactly what our country needs now."

Russia claimed earlier that Kyiv's forces fired rockets at civilian and residential targets in the Kursk region amid reports by Russian pro-war bloggers that a number of villages have been captured by Ukrainian forces as they advance into Russian territory.

The acting governor of Kursk, Aleksei Smirnov, declared a state of emergency on August 7 after Russian President Vladimir Putin called the military operation "another large-scale provocation."

The Russian Defense Ministry in a statement on August 8 said Russia's Battlegroup North and border guard units had thwarted Ukrainian forces' attempts to break through the districts of Sudzha and Korenevo.

Earlier, the ministry claimed to have downed six drones and five missiles over the Kursk region and 14 drones in the Belgorod region.

Belgorod regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed that a man died and one person was injured in Ukrainian shelling of Shebekino.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine's eastern region of Donetsk, two civilians were killed on August 8 by Russian shelling of Kostyantynivka, regional Governor Vadym Filashkin said on Telegram.

Russian air strikes in the Sumy region killed two people, including a child, and two more were wounded, said the governor of Sumy, Volodymyr Artyukh.

Russia also said Ukrainian forces penetrated its border near the major natural gas transmission hub at Sudzha. The Sudzha gas transfer and measuring stations in the Kursk region are the only entry point for Russian natural gas into the Ukrainian gas transmission system for onward transport to Europe.

Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said on August 8 that Ukraine had not been contacted by Russia about the situation with gas transit, but the transit route for Russian gas deliveries to Europe via Ukraine is still functioning.

In addition, the International Atomic Energy Agency said on August 8 that it is aware of developments around Russia's Kursk nuclear plant and is monitoring the situation, according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

Dmitry Medvedev, the former president who is now deputy chief of Russia's Security Council, has called for Russian troops to press deeper into Ukraine as Moscow claims to have intercepted Ukrainian drones and missiles targeting the Kursk region.

Commenting on the Ukrainian incursion in the Kursk region, Medvedev said Moscow should aim beyond securing the territories that Russia considers its own and urged further advance into Ukraine's Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolayiv, and Kyiv regions.

EU spokesman Peter Stano told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that while the bloc does not comment on battlefield operations, it believes "Ukraine has a legal right to defend itself, including striking an aggressor on its territory."

Meanwhile, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on August 7 said the White House had reached out to Ukraine to "get a little better understanding" of the situation in the Kursk region.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller confirmed on August 7 that Washington's policy on the use of U.S. weapons by Ukraine across the border or against Russian military facilities had not changed.

The actions taking place "are not a violation of our policy," Miller added.

With reporting by Reuters and AP
Schoolteachers in Turkmenistan's northeastern city of Lebap received a big surprise when they returned from their summer holidays this year.

Instead of getting ready for the new school classes, they were ordered to prepare to join the government's cotton-harvesting campaign that kicks off on August 20.

"The managers of state agencies announced that all public-sector workers have to pick cotton in addition to paying money each week so that [the authorities can also] hire day workers to take part in the harvest," a teacher in Lebap told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity.

He likened the situation to "slavery."

Every year during harvest season, Turkmenistan mobilizes tens of thousands of state workers, students, and even soldiers to pick cotton, the country's largest source of revenue after natural gas and oil.

The employees are used as forced labor under the threat of dismissal from their normal jobs, while students are threatened with disciplinary action or expulsion from school, according to workers and rights groups.

Those who can afford it often bribe officials to get around the difficult manual work or pay someone else to pick cotton instead of them.

According to RFE/RL sources, the amount of such bribes for an official for last year's harvest season was about $115-$140, while hiring replacement pickers cost about $8.50 to $14 a day. Such costs are well beyond the reach of most people in Turkmenistan, where the average monthly salary is around $200-$400.

A source close to the Lebap provincial government told RFE/RL that authorities have already made a list of teachers and other employees who are expected to take part in cotton-picking rotation.

He also confirmed claims that each state worker must pay the equivalent of $17 a week to cover the authorities' harvest-season expenses, which include hiring additional workers.

"Authorities don't care about employees' financial situation, they just make demands," complained the employee of a housing management company in the provincial capital, Turkmenabat.

"People are afraid and don't raise their voices. They fear they will be fired from their jobs and left with no income [if they disobey officials.] People are intimidated," he added.

In authoritarian Turkmenistan -- a closed and repressive country that stifles free speech and independent media -- it is extremely difficult to obtain any information regarding people who may have recently been punished for refusing to pick cotton.

But the government in Ashgabat is notorious for brutally clamping down on its critics and opponents.

Sweltering Heat, Lack Of Drinking Water

Cotton is Turkmenistan's second-largest export commodity after energy. Last year, the country planned to harvest 1.25 million tons of cotton from some 580,000 hectares of land.

State media often reports about the government purchasing hundreds of tractors and other machines from abroad to harvest cotton. But in reality, most of Turkmenistan's cotton is picked by hand.

Turkmenistan's use of forced labor in the cotton industry goes beyond the harvest season.

In the western Balkan Province, schoolteachers and medics spent their summer vacation in July and early August working the fields, helping farmers remove weeds and other duties.

Teachers were ordered to work at least 10 days, while doctors, nurses, and other employees of local hospitals and clinics were mobilized for 15-20 days, according to RFE/RL sources.

A doctor from Balkan's Bereket district told RFE/RL on August 2 that they worked 12 hours a day in the sweltering heat, with officials not even providing drinking water.

"We arrive at 7 a.m. and work until 7 p.m. every day," the doctor said in describing the unpaid mandatory work on the farms.

"The temperature on these days can go beyond 45 degrees Celsius, but authorities don't even give us drinking water," he said. "We bring 3-liter water bottles from home, but this water only lasts until midday."

RFE/RL correspondents tried to reach Balkan authorities for comment but received no response.

Turkmenistan has been criticized by the U.S. government and international human rights organizations for its use of forced labor.

The U.S. State Department's 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report notes the Turkmen government continues to use forced labor involving adults and children in the annual cotton harvest, forcing them to participate in community service, and mass events.

The Cotton Campaign, a nongovernmental organization that seeks to end forced labor in the cotton industry in Central Asia, has urged international fashion brands and retailers to boycott cotton from Turkmenistan.

A similar international boycott has forced neighboring Uzbekistan to take measures to eliminate its much-criticized child labor in the cotton fields in recent years.

Cotton harvest season in Turkmenistan usually lasts from late August through early December.

(Written by Farangis Najibullah with reporting by RFE/RL Turkmen Service correspondents in the Lebap and Balkan provinces.)
Noise from the Athlone bypass is impacting on local residents quality of life and devaluing their property, South Roscommon councillors were told last week.

At the July meeting of the Athlone Municipal District, Independent Councillor Emer Kelly called on the council to write to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to request confirmation that any proposed noise reduction works by TII on the N6 Athlone bypass would include junction 13, which is in Monksland.

There is a working group proposed in Westmeath to examine solutions to high noise levels along the N6, however it is unclear if the group will incorporate County Roscommon, she said in her motion.

The current noise levels are affecting the quality of life for nearby residents and devaluing properties as a result. Any works being examined or funded, should include the section of bypass in County Roscommon. The motion was agreed by her colleagues.

Cllr Kelly said that the issue had been raised with her during the recent local elections. She added that residents were concerned that County Roscommon would not be included in any noise reduction works.

It is causing an issue for people, particularly those who are trying to sell a house as its devaluing their property quite significantly. It is also reducing the quality of life for people living there, she said.

She called on TII to ensure that the Roscommon section of the Athlone bypass was included in any works.

Cllr John Naughten supported the proposal, saying the matter had also been raised with him.

"It isnt acceptable that people would be subjected to high levels of noise on a continuous basis, he said. It is probably one of the busiest routes in the country. Local residents and their concerns need to be taken into account, he added.

Cllr John Keogh, MD Cathaoirleach, said he had also been contacted about the matter.

It is an issue that has been going on for many years, he said.

Director of Services Caitlin Conneely said that a noise action plan was underway in the county.

That process has started and is underway, she said. She explained that every local authority in the country was tasked with producing a noise action plan, and a committee had been set up within the council to progress it. The plan, which will go out for public consultation, will put in place measures to address noise in the county. Some of these would be expensive and require the intervention of TII.

We will be working with our colleagues in Westmeath in relation to the N6 in particular, she said. The council will also be working with other neighbouring counties.

She said that some noise monitoring had taken place at the specific location, and had not proved conclusively that noise mitigation measures were required in Monksland.

But that has to be looked at in more detail, she said.
Roscommon woman Tori Towey, in her first television interview since being allowed to travel home from Dubai has described how she felt there was no way out of what she claimed was an abusive relationship, allegations which her husband denies, which led to her attempting to take her own life.

The 28-year-old air hostess made international headlines when she became trapped in the United Arab Emirates after being charged with attempted suicide and alcohol abuse and served with a travel ban. These charges were later dropped and Ms Towey returned home to County Roscommon following interventions by the Irish government.

Speaking on her first television interview to presenter Victoria Derbyshire on BBC Newsnight last week, she described her marriage as being one where she felt she had no way out. She stated: There were just a lot of control issues. Obviously in the beginning I didn't see anything like that, it was when we moved in together, I was cut off from my friends, my family. I wasn't allowed to be on my phone, so I was kind of cut off from the rest of the world; so, then there were a lot of arguments which led to physical abuse and just emotional and mental abuse so it was it was really, really tough. When asked if it got so hard that she wanted to end it all, Ms Towey replied, yes. She added, I just couldn't see a way out, nothing was getting better, it wasn't ending so I just at one point thought there is no way out, I can't leave, I can't do anything, I'm stuck. She recalled the night of her arrest saying: I woke up and they had given me oxygen. I was in my pajamas, so they got one of my dresses and they told me to put it on and then I was brought straight to the police station.

I was put in a room; the police were speaking in Arabic, so I didn't understand anything that was going on. I wasn't told why I was there or what I was being charged with at this point. Then I was just brought straight up to the jail cell that was in the police station. She said there were about 50 women there and described the jail as a narrow corridor with individual cells beside the corridor and it's just full of mattresses on the floor and there's just girls sitting there. When I went in, I sat down and I began to speak with some of them, some of them were there for seven months,10 months, for very minor things.

I didn't know how I was going to contact anyone, so it was it was really terrifying. Fortunately, Ms Towey had managed to ring her mother and friend before having all her possessions including her phone taken from her by the police. They in turn made contact with the organisation Detained in Dubia. The family also got in touch with Roscommon TD Claire Kerrane who immediately made contact with Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald who then raised the matter in the Dail. Following diplomatic intervention, the charges were dropped and Ms Towey was allowed to fly back to Ireland and return home to County Roscommon.
Bill seeking to amend Waqf Act referred to joint House panel

Government has maintained the draft legislation is seeking to enhance the administration of waqf properties.

Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 Latest News Today: In a major development, the bill seeking to amend the 1995 Waqf Act for more centralized control of Islamic charitable endowments was on Thursday referred to a joint parliamentary panel for further scrutiny following the Congess-led INDI Alliance's opposition against the proposed law in its present form.

In the meanwhile, the parties such as Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party (SP), and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) criticized the proposed amendments that included the inclusion of non-Muslims in waqf governance stating that they will encroach on the religious rights.

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On the other hand, the government has maintained the draft legislation is seeking to enhance the administration of waqf properties that Muslims dedicate for religious or philanthropic purposes as part of piety to perpetuate charitable activities beyond their lifetime.

SP leader Akhilesh Yadav said, When other religious boards do not have non-believers, why non-Muslims should be included in waqf boards? The reality is BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] has brought this bill for its few hardline supporters who are frustrated.

Besides, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi maintained that the Parliament does not have the competence to make the proposed amendments.

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(For more news apart from Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
By Alimat Aliyeva

American and European planetary scientists have proposed seeding the atmosphere of Mars with a small amount of iron or aluminum nanoparticles, whose interactions with the Sun's rays will generate a greenhouse effect and make Mars more suitable for human life, Azernews reports.

"Our calculations show that these nanoparticles will rise into the upper atmosphere of Mars from the surface of the planet and hover in these air layers for a long time. Due to the powerful greenhouse effect, the ingress of even a small number of nanoparticles into the Martian air will increase temperatures on Mars by more than 30 degrees Celsius, which will trigger the melting of its polar caps," the planetary scientists write.

This initiative was put forward by a group of European and American planetary scientists led by Homan Mohseni, professor at Northwestern University in Evanston, in a comprehensive study of the prospects for colonization of Mars. One of the main obstacles to this is that the atmosphere of Mars is extremely sparse, which complicates the process of landing on its surface, and also prevents the occurrence of a greenhouse effect that retains heat on Mars.

Many planetary scientists suggest that this problem can be solved if the polar caps of Mars are somehow melted. Professor Mohseni and his colleagues discovered in the course of their calculations that this can be achieved if the atmosphere of Mars is seeded with rod-shaped nanoparticles made of iron or aluminum, whose length is about 60 times their width.

Such nanostructures, according to the researchers, reflect light and heat unusually well - they are 3-5 thousand times superior in this respect to the strongest artificial fluorinated greenhouse gases. Another advantage of these nanoparticles is that they can be produced directly on the surface of Mars, extracting iron from local rocks, which will allow for almost unlimited amounts of them on the colonized planet.

In addition, calculations carried out by scientists show that in order to warm up the atmosphere of Mars and start melting its ice caps, it will be necessary to constantly emit a very small number of nanoparticles into the air, about 30 liters per second. This is theoretically achievable with the help of existing technologies for the use of local resources (ISRU) and the production of nanoparticles, which suggests that the adaptation of Mars to human life will require significantly less resources and time than many researchers assume, summed up Professor Mohseni and his colleagues.
August 8, 2024 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 08.08.2024, 19:49

Start Up Nation. The Government approved, on Thursday, a new edition of the Start Up Nation  Romania program, with a budget of almost 450 million euros, for a maximum of five years. The program has two components: one for access to training courses for young people under 30 years of age, and the second is intended for those between the ages of 30 and 35 who want to develop a business. Start Up Nation is dedicated to young entrepreneurs, as well as those who live in poor areas or belong to disadvantaged categories. Entrepreneurs from the Roma minority are also an important component. The project is coordinated by the Ministry of Economy, and the responsible minister, Radu Oprea, stated that this year more money is allocated for each participant compared to previous years. 80% are European funds and 20% from the state budget.



GRECO. The anti-corruption fight in Romania has not registered any progress regarding the members of parliament, since the last GRECO report, before which only eight of the 13 recommendations made had been implemented satisfactorily. This is the conclusion of the report published on Thursday, in which the anti-corruption body of the Council of Europe indicates that there are negative elements at work in Romania. GRECOs recommendations referred to anti-corruption measures aimed at parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors. It is important that the transparency of the parliamentary process be improved and that the use of emergency procedures be reduced. Conflicts of interest and rules for interacting with lobbyists have yet to be introduced, the document states. Regarding judges and prosecutors, the report notes the positive efforts made to increase the role of the Supreme Council of Magistracy and the Judicial Inspectorate in responding to risks to the integrity of judges and prosecutors. The report also welcomes the fact that legislative measures have been taken to ensure greater independence of prosecutors. However, the report states, GRECOs recommendations also concerned clarity and predictability regarding the liability of judges and prosecutors for judicial errors.



Investigation. Two doctors specializing in anesthesia and intensive care from the St. Pantelimon Emergency Clinical Hospital in Bucharest were detained under the charge of qualified murder, in a case concerning several suspicious deaths in April. A nurse, accused of continuous perjury, was placed under judicial control. The doctors are accused of having premeditated the death of a 54-year-old patient hospitalized in the intensive care unit by suddenly reducing the dose of noradrenaline, an essential drug in increasing or maintaining blood pressure. Research continues in the case of other patients who died during that period. Moreover, the investigation was started after the prosecutors were informed about the death of 17 people. The medical director of the Bucharest hospital resigned, and the manager announced that he would also resign. In the meantime, the anesthesiologists and intensive care doctors at the St. Pantelimon hospital started a spontaneous strike on Thursday, ensuring only emergencies, guard duty and treatment of patients in the intensive care ward. According to the management of the medical unit, the doctors complain about the attitude and the climate in which they work.



Untold. One of the most anticipated musical events of the year in Romania  the Untold Festival  started in the city of Cluj-Napoca on Thursday night, to last until Sunday. The four day program of the festival includes, in addition to concerts, numerous themed events and parties, and as a first, on the main stage, the musical pieces will be interpreted in sign language for people with hearing impairments. The authorities say they are ready to act to provide safety to the participants in the Untold Festival. Special attention is paid to the prevention of the sale and consumption of drugs.



Ship. Romanian training vessel Mircea has been one of the most effective, smartest and well-trained ambassadors Romania has had in the past century, the countrys Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said upon the ships entry into the military port of Constanta, south-eastern Romania on Thursday, at the end of a six-week training voyage around the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. 86 cadets of the Mircea the Old Naval Academy and 8 cadets from partner academies in Bulgaria, Latvia, Poland, Spain and Turkey were on board the ship during the voyage. Mircea set sail from Constanta on June 26th and its trip included stopovers in Piraeus, Greece, Livorno, Italy, Toulon, France, Palermo, Italy and Bodrum, Turkey. Mircea is a sailing ship built in Hamburg over 1938-1939, and since its firs sail, it has completed 45 training trips through the Black Sea, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean. (MI)
Oil prices traded lower on Thursday, after having risen nearly 3 percent in the previous two sessions on concerns over the possibility of a retaliatory strike from Iran on Israel.

The downside, however, remained capped after government data showed a steep draw in U.S. crude stockpiles.

Also, Libya's National Oil Corporation has declared force majeure on all crude loadings from the Sharara oil field with immediate effect.

Benchmark Brent crude futures dipped 0.6 percent to $77.85 a barrel in European trade, while WTI crude futures were down half a percent at $74.85.

The killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah last week raised the possibility of retaliatory strikes by Iran against Israel.

The assault has sparked increased regional tensions as Washington intensifies its efforts to reach a ceasefire deal.

Israel and Hamas are close to reaching a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, a White House official said Wednesday.

"We are as close as we think we have ever been," National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby told reporters.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Taylor Swift'S three concerts in Austria this week have been canceled in the wake of a terror attack threat.

The pop star was scheduled to perform on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Ernst Happel Stadium in capital Vienna as part of her blockbuster Eras tour.

"Due to confirmation by government officials of a planned terrorist attack at the Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three planned shows for everyone's safety," Barracuda Music, the promoter for Swift's concerts in Austria, said in a statement Wednesday.

The organizers promised to refund all tickets within the next 10 working days.

Earlier in the day, Austrian police arrested two people on suspicion of planning attacks inspired by the Islamic State terrorist group targeting high-profile events in Vienna.

Austria's General Director for Public Security, Franz Ruf, said at a news conference that one of them was a 19-year-old Austrian citizen, who they identified as a sympathizer of ISIS.

"From the current standpoint of the investigation we assume that the target of the attack were events in the Vienna region," he told reporters.

"The two suspects became radicalized via the internet," according to him.

He said chemical substances were recovered from the teenager's home in Ternitz, lower Austria.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have expressed concerns for the safety of Venezuelan opposition leaders after the disputed presidential election.

In a telephone call, they expressed their readiness to support an inclusive, Venezuelan-led process toward the re-establishment of democratic norms, in coordination with international partners, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a press release.

Blinken noted that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia received the most votes in the July 28 election, adding that "the actas provided overwhelming evidence" to show that Gonzalez defeated incumbent president Nicolas Maduro.

Actas are physical tally sheets, which are being stored by the opposition secretly to evade a government crackdown.

The U.S. State Secretary and the UN chief condemned the political violence and repression, indiscriminate arrests, and violation of due process in Venezuela.

The state-controlled National Electoral Council's announcement declaring Maduro as the winner triggered nation-wide protests.

The opposition Democratic Unitary Platform has published more than 80 percent of the tally sheets received directly from polling stations throughout Venezuela, indicating that its candidate won the most votes in the election by a big margin. Independent observers have corroborated these facts, and this outcome was also supported by Election Day exit polls and quick counts.

Opposition leaders, including Urrutia and Democratic Unitary Platform leader Maria Corina Machado, are under threats of being arrested.

Machado published a letter in The Wall Street Journal last week, stating that she had gone in to hiding "fearing for my life, my freedom, and that of my fellow countrymen from the dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro".

The Venezuelan attorney general, a close ally of the President, has announced he is investigating Machado and Urrutia for alleged "incitement to insurrection".

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Masakhe Programme launch by SIZO MEDIA

By The Division of Communication and Advancement

Ubuntu is often used to describe a sense of shared responsibility and humanity, perhaps even virtues that underpin shared development. But when Rhodes University officially launched the Masakhe Enterprise and Supplier Development Programme (MESDP) recently, it was clear that Ubuntu is a lived experience grounded in vision.

The strategic initiative aims to revitalise the local economy of Makhanda by investing in small businesses. The university-community partnership is led by Rhodes Universitys Department of Administration, Finance, and Procurement in collaboration with Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE), Rhodes Business School, and the NPO Assumption Development Centre (ADC).

Stakeholders gathered at the launch to share the positive impact the programme has had on Makhanda since its inception last year. The programme aims to accelerate enterprise and supplier development to benefit both Rhodes University and the broader community, especially the youth-owned businesses.

Among the guests were local enterprise owners who shared their feelings about the success of the programme and highlighted how it had helped them uplift not only their own lives but the lives of other citizens.

SIZO MEDIA founder Siphosethu Zono was one of the speakers at the event. He said SIZO MEDIAs journey is a testimony that the vision Rhodes University has of Makhanda is actually working.

Im born and bred in Makhanda, he shared, saying the programme has helped him to grow from being a lone freelancer to leading a team of colleagues. This team includes creatives, young people, and students, all with the opportunity to invest back into their communities through the audio-visual work SIZO MEDIA does. Using the analogy that it is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish, Zono said: Through the lens, our drones, and our artistic skills, we have learned that we now can fish ourselves out of the indignity of unemployment.

Rhodes University Vice Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, has been consistent in his drive to invest in the Makhanda community, stating, We are not only geographically located in this city, but we are of and for this city. This vision has driven the University to anchor itself in the local community, creating impactful, co-created solutions.

This vision is set to bear even more fruit with an appeal to repurpose the old Grahamstown Railway Station as an educational and business-focused centre for innovation, economic development, and social inclusion. This proposal, which was recently shared with Transnet, aims to transform the defunct station into a vibrant social and economic meeting place offering education, community engagement, and business development opportunities. This would facilitate knowledge and information flows between the University, community, and business sectors, providing access to university-level and accredited study programmes for personal and small business development.

These initiatives support Rhodes University's commitment to being a cornerstone of its local community, fostering shared solutions that have a meaningful impact on the city. With so much support for the Masakhe Programme and many other economic development initiatives underway, it can only be a matter of time before Makhanda becomes a thriving, comfortable city for all who choose to call it home. And to quote Zono, ...extend greetings in the beautiful name of community engagement and Ubuntu.
Designed by experts from the aviation industry, the Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 is the worlds most advanced electric motorcycle.

The Supercar Blondie Test  With its advanced capabilities, Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 was recently evaluated by SuperCar Blondie. Arguably the biggest auto influencer in the world, SuperCar Blondie has presented some exceptional cars and motorcycles to its viewers.

When reviewing the Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2, the motorcycle was put up against an RC jet in a drag race. While the RC jet has speeds of over 300 km in air, this contest was limited to the runway. With the Ballistic mode on, Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 scored a win. Even though the race was neck and neck demonstrating the top notch acceleration of the motorcycle to keep up with the nimble and quick jet that runs on aviation fuel.

Underwater Feat  In a world-first, the F77 Mach 2 was submerged 20 meters underwater at Deep Dive Dubai, the worlds largest and deepest man-made pool. This incredible stunt highlights the motorcycles engineering prowess and build quality. The bike now holds a place of honour underwater, accessible to all visitors at the Dubai Dive Centre.

Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2  Specs, range

Designed for folks who prioritize performance and style, the Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 utilizes cutting-edge technology and innovation. The F77 Mach 2 electric motorcycle has a 7.1 kWh battery pack. Power and torque output is 36.2 hp and 90 Nm. In comparison, the top-spec F77 Mach 2 Recon variant has a 10.3 kWh battery pack. It delivers 40.2 hp and 100 Nm. Both variants have a top speed of 155 km/H. The Recon variant can achieve 0 to 60 km/H in just 2.8 seconds, while the standard variant does it in 2.9 seconds.

As per IDC standards, Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 has a 211 km range. The Recon variant has a higher range of 323 km. Range will depend on the mode selected. In Glide mode, the F77 Mach 2 Recon offers a range of 266 km. In Combat and Ballistic mode, the range is 209 km and 186 km, respectively. Users can enhance the range by using the regen braking system. F77 Mach 2 has 10 levels of regenerative braking.

Using a standard charger, 20% to 80% can be achieved in 3 hours. The Recon variant takes 5 hours. Charging is much faster when using the Boost charger or a 12 kW DC fast charger. Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 utilizes a steel trellis frame, with 41 mm USD forks and a monoshock rear suspension. Braking setup comprises 320 mm front and 230 mm rear disc brakes.

Advanced safety features

Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 is equipped with a comprehensive range of safety features. It includes auto dimming LED headlight, side stand sensor, traction control, hill hold, dual-channel ABS and dynamic stability control (DSC). Safety is also improved with features such as tyre pressure monitoring system, Delta Watch, Lockdown, anti-collision warning system and crash alert. The battery pack comes with a patented 5-level safety system. Its the only battery pack in India to be equipped with cell level fuse technology.

Making in India, for the world

Engineered by experts from the aviation industry, this high-performance electric motorcycle is not just for Indian roads but is set to make waves globally. Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 will be the first Indian electric motorcycle to be launched in Europe soon. With capabilities to establish a global footprint, the Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 can be described as the Tesla of India.
The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank has canceled Fridays scheduled mobile food pantry food distribution at Crystal Cathedral on Oak Street in Dillwyn for safetys sake in anticipation of Tropical Storm Debby and the heavy rainfall and flooding it is expected to bring to the area.

The cancellation, which will affect people in and around Buckingham, Nelson, Appomattox, Cumberland, Goochland and Powhatan counties, was prompted by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkins state-of-emergency declaration issued earlier this week.

The Verona-based food banks staff said they want to avoid anyone venturing out in potentially heavy rainfall or flooding conditions. The tropical storm remnants may make traveling difficult and result in power outages.

The next scheduled mobile food pantry event is set to begin at 10 a.m. Aug. 23. Senior food boxes also will be distributed at that time.

Local residents who need free groceries in the meantime, or know someone who does, may call 211 or go online to brafb.org/find-help to locate a nearby pantry.
Gov. Glenn Youngkins executive order requiring formal certification that election officials follow Virginias existing election security regulations and law drew praise from former President Donald Trump.

Trump, who has falsely denied that he lost the 2020 election, including his 10.1-point loss in Virginia, said in a post on his Truth Social platform that Youngkin has set an example for other states.

His message highlighted the states requirement that Virginians can only vote on paper ballots, as they did in his 2020 and 2016 losses.

The beautiful Commonwealth of Virginia, superbly led by Governor Glenn Youngkin, IS TAKING A STRONG LEAD IN SECURING THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER  PROTECTING EVERY LEGAL VOTE AND KEEPING ILLEGAL ALIENS THAT HAVE BEEN LET INTO OUR COUNTRY FROM VOTING, Trump said in his Truth Social post.

EVERY STATE SHOULD FOLLOW VIRGINIAS LEAD requiring paper ballots, Trump added.

The state Board of Elections banned the use of touch-screen electronic voting machines in 2017. People with disabilities can use ballot marking devices which generate paper ballots by offering a variety of ways they can hear or read Braille to see who is on the ballot, as well as a variety of ways they can indicate their choice if disability keeps them from using a pen or pencil.

Youngkins executive order directed the state Commissioner of Elections to produce formal, annual certifications that state and local election officials meet longstanding state law and regulation requirements on using paper ballots, counting them, verifying results and maintaining voter lists.

He also directed the Department of Motor Vehicles to determine the legal status of people applying for drivers licenses, to make sure they dont apply to register as voters as part of the process of getting a license. DMV is also to speed information about noncitizen license issues to election officials.

The chairs of the House of Delegates and state Senate Privileges and Elections committees, Del. Marcia Price of Newport News and state Sen. Aaron Rouse of Virginia Beach, both Democrats, noted that Youngkin pulled Virginia out of the Electronic Registration Information Center. The multistate system allows election officials to exchange information about voters who moved, died or are registered in more than one place.

Youngkin this year vetoed bills that would have required Virginia to rejoin the center. He also vetoed a measure Price sponsored that would have required unique individual identifiers data on any data the state Department of Elections uses for list maintenance, to ensure that information about eligibility is linked to the right person.

In 2020, Virginias paper ballots gave Democrat Joe Biden a margin over Trump of more than 451,000 votes, or 10.1 percentage points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton topped Trump in Virginia by more than 212,000 votes or 5.3 percentage points.

I dont believe that we lost there. I dont believe we lost Virginia, Trump told broadcaster John Fredericks shortly after Youngkins victory in the 2021 gubernatorial election, according to published reports at the time. Fredericks was Trumps Virginia campaign manager in 2016 and 2020.

What a mess, what a mess, this election process. Now I dont believe it. They said Virginias blue. I never believed it was blue, Trump told Fredericks.

Youngkin has said Virginia will be a battleground state this year. Trump has said he will win Virginia.
Jeff Keedy, a Battle Creek native, designed the font used in the new Battle Creek tagline.

Battle Creek's new tagline featuring Jeff Keedy's font, Keedy Sans.
V. Word, Executive Director of the Arts & Culture Collective of Battle Creek

Kara Beer, President of the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce and member of the Executive Design Team

Eric Greene, Vice President for Communications and Advancement at Kellogg Community College and member of the Executive Design Team

Battle Creek's new tagline in Spanish

Image from Battle Creek's new tagline
Britain's competition regulator said its phase 1 review into Barratt's 2.5bn deal to buy smaller house builder Redrow had raised concerns around one Barratt development.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it was concerned about the development in Whitchurch, which includes nearby towns such as Nantwich, Ellesmere and Market Drayton.

It offered Barratt and Redrow the opportunity to submit proposals to address its concerns.

"Both housebuilders currently hold a high combined share of land in the catchment area centred around the Barratt development at Tilstock Road, with the addition of Redrows development at Kingsbourne in Nantwich," the CMA said on Thursday.

"If the deal goes ahead, the CMA found that it could lead to higher prices and lower quality homes for homebuyers in this catchment area."

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com
Beazley announced a record profit before tax of $728.9m for the first half on Thursday, nearly doubling its $366.4 million profit from the same period last year.

The FTSE 100 insurer said the strong financial performance was driven by an increase in insurance written premiums, which rose to $3.12bn, up from $2.92 billion in the first half of 2023.

It also reported a significant improvement in its combined ratio, a key measure of underwriting profitability.

The undiscounted combined ratio fell to 81% from 88% in the previous year, while the discounted combined ratio improved to 77% from 84%.

Its return on equity for the period was 28% on an annualised basis, compared to 18% in the first half of 2023.

Additionally, Beazley's $325m share buyback programme, announced in March, was on track to be completed by the end of the year.

The company reaffirmed its full-year guidance, expecting an undiscounted combined ratio of around 80% and high single-digit premium growth.

I am pleased to report a record first half profit of $728.9m, said chief executive officer Adrian Cox.

Expertise in underwriting and active risk selection are key drivers of this strong result, even as the rating environment is moderating.

Property grew 25% in the first half, demonstrating the success of our strategy to grow in this increasingly specialist class, focusing on the US E&S market.

Cox said the company continued to innovate in cyber, launching a comprehensive, integrated cyber security and insurance offering with Full Spectrum Cyber and Beazley Security.

When faced with the world's largest ever IT outage, Beazley's approach to underwriting cyber risk was tested and proved to be highly resilient.

We see opportunities in the remainder of the year and are confident in delivering on our high single digit growth guidance.

We are also pleased to confirm that we have improved our undiscounted combined ratio guidance for the full year to around 80%.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Cell and gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organisation Oxford Biomedica reported a strong first-half trading performance in an update on Thursday, with revenue expected to reach 50m.

The London-listed company reiterated its full-year revenue guidance of between 126m and 134m, underpinned by a growing market share in the expanding cell and gene therapy sector.

As of 31 July, the contracted value of client orders signed during the year stood at 80m, reflecting robust demand for Oxford Biomedica's CDMO services.

The firm said the revenue backlog was 113m, further bolstered by high levels of GMP suite reservations for 2025, providing the company with increased confidence in meeting its financial forecasts.

Despite the positive revenue outlook, Oxford Biomedica said it still expected to report a low double-digit operating EBITDA loss for 2024, due to ongoing investments in talent and resources to support future growth.

The company said it remained committed to its strategic initiatives aimed at streamlining operations, and anticipated a positive operating EBITDA in the second half of the year.

Its medium-term financial outlook remained strong, with a projected three-year revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 35% from 2023 to 2026 and operating EBITDA margins surpassing 20% by the end of 2026.

Oxford Biomedica said its cash position remained robust, with 81m on hand as of 30 June, including funds from a recent 20m investment by TSGH - a subsidiary of Institut Merieux SA, following the acquisition of Oxford Biomedica France.

The company said it made significant progress with its multi-site, multi-vector strategy, expanding its capabilities across key locations.

Notably, it had successfully transferred its lentiviral vector capabilities to its Bedford, Massachusetts site, where it had started its first lentiviral vector program in the US

Additionally, plans were underway to enable its French sites to offer similar services by the end of 2024.

Oxford Biomedica has seen continued strong momentum in 2024, reinforcing our position as a world-leading cell and gene therapy CDMO, said chief executive officer Dr Frank Mathias.

Our multi-site, multi-vector strategy is gaining traction, demonstrated by our strong revenue backlog and growing order book.

These strong KPIs and high GMP suite reservation for 2025 provide us with confidence in our growth trajectory and our ability to capitalise on the growing opportunities in the cell and gene therapy market.

Oxford Biomedica said it expected to report its interim results for the six months ended 30 June on 23 September.

At 1208 BST, shares in Oxford Biomedica were down 0.14% at 353.5p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
The UKs largest employers have warned the jobs market is cooling amid a slowdown in wage growth in July and a fall in vacancies, extending an almost two-year downturn in hiring demand for permanent staff. Figures from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and the accountancy firm KPMG showed a fall in permanent staff placements in July as large employers made more redundancies and hired fewer new starters.  Guardian

Ocado is testing offering everyday products such as pasta, rice and washing liquid in refillable packaging in a first by an online supermarket. The scheme will trial a reusable vessel that can take food or laundry products with no extra costs for customers. The first phase of the trial, starting this month, will include 2kg packs of basmati rice and 1kg of penne pasta, both under the Ocado Reuse brand. Phase 2 coming later this year, will add 3 litre containers of Ocado Reuse non-bio liquid detergent and Skies fabric conditioner.  Guardian

Fast fashion retailer Boohoo is seeking to offload its office in Londons Soho as it battles to shore up its balance sheet. The troubled retailer has been looking for offers of around 60m for its base in the capital, according to market sources, just three years after splashing 72m on the building. It is understood that any deal will include a sale-and-leaseback agreement in which Boohoo will occupy the premises at 10 Great Pulteney Street for up to five years.  Telegraph

The former boss of Credit Suisse has lost a blackmail case against an ex-housekeeper who had a nervous breakdown after working at his luxury villa. Tidjane Thiam accused the domestic worker of extortion when she demanded almost 600,000 Swiss francs (547,000) in compensation for alleged abusive working conditions. However, a judge in Zurich rejected the claims, ruling that the former staff member had acted within her contractual rights.  Telegraph

Regulators are pushing ahead with reforms which they say will help millions of savers to get better value for money from their pension schemes, including a new scoring system to identify the best and worst performing plans. A reformed system would shift the emphasis from lowest cost to highest value for money, potentially enabling schemes to invest in higher-returning illiquid assets including private equity and infrastructure.  The Times

EY has become the first of the Big Four accounting firms to be fined for breaching the cap on fees it can earn from providing consulting services to an audit client. The Financial Reporting Council found that EY carried out twice as much consulting work than it was allowed to for Evraz, the Russian steelmaker backed by Roman Abramovich.  The Times
Amy Neff

(photo: Sylvie Rosokoff)

Amy Neff's debut novel is The Days I Loved You Most (Park Row), a stunning love story and immersive family drama set in a New England beach town. Neff lives in Connecticut with her husband, two sons, and their rescue dog.

Joseph and Evelyn are genuine, fully developed characters, their marriage a remarkable example of lifelong devotion. Were they inspired by real people?

That means so much to hear, thank you. Joseph and Evelyn are completely works of fiction; their story is not my family story, although their setting is inspired by my family place. That said, I was lucky to have great examples growing up which have informed my definition of love. My grandparents had a beautiful marriage for over 50 years, until we lost my grandfather swiftly and unexpectedly to cancer. The years my grandmother lived without him always struck me as bittersweet, seeing grandchildren marry and snuggling great grandchildren, but not being able to share those happy moments with the one she loved most.

Jane refers to her parents' relationship as "impenetrable, a united front to a fault." What is the cost of this exceptional, almost exclusionary, marital bond for the rest of the family?

Their great love affects each of their three children in different ways. Jane, their oldest, is disillusioned by a damaging relationship in her past, and bristles against the idea that you need another person to be complete. Thomas is extremely private and guards his emotions, prioritizing his career over his marriage. Violet, their youngest, idealizes her parent's relationship as a fairy-tale romance, and the reality of her own marriage always pales in comparison. Their children have always understood that if forced to choose, their parents would choose each other, and that devotion turns into the catalyst for Joseph and Evelyn's unthinkable decision.

Stonybrook is a fictionalized version of the New England beach town where your family summered. Which aspects of your own experiences did you incorporate into the book?

I wanted to explore all that comes with committing not only to another person, but to a place. I grew up spending summers on a shared lot with my extended family. The two cottages were revolving doors of cousins, aunts and uncles, and my summers were filled with sun-soaked beach days and big family dinners with people shouting over each other to be heard. It was the most beautiful chaos and an idyllic childhood. It is a very special place to me, and the sense of calm and belonging I feel along the shore imprinted on me so deeply I wanted to capture those feelings within the pages of this book.

At its core, The Days I Loved You Most is a captivating love story with Joseph and Evelyn as the primary narrators, but it also includes the perspectives of their three adult children. What made you decide to add Jane, Thomas, and Violet?

When I set out to write this novel, it was important to me that it remained first and foremost a love story. Originally, and for many drafts, the only two points of view were Joseph's and Evelyn's. An editor I worked with along the way made the case for hearing from their children, because as much as it is a love story, it is also a family story, and the decisions made between them don't exist in a vacuum. I loved writing those three chapters because they give crucial context and alternate perspectives to explore. I had spent so much time with the family that their voices came easily, as though they had been banging on the door, relieved to finally be let out. I'm so glad they got to speak for themselves.

You mention that The Days I Loved You Most has been a lesson in novel writing. May I ask you to expand on that and share insight into the challenges of breaking into the publishing industry as a debut writer?

I have always been an avid reader, so I had a sense of what worked, and had been writing all my life. But I embarked on this journey blissfully naive, for the fun and challenge of it, and followed where it led. I learned a lot about structure and pacing as I went, but I think some of the magic for me was the not knowing. I wasn't trying to hit certain beats, or follow a formula. These things can be incredibly helpful, and certainly is more efficient. But the meandering was all discovery and play. When I took the novel as far as I could on my own, I worked with editors that brought out different elements, and I learned so much from each draft. Breaking into the industry was much harder. It took me five years of querying this book to get a literary agent. Each batch of rejections, I revised again. I dug in deeper, uncovering layers to the characters, their motivations and fears, and the book was better for every year spent working on it.

How would you describe your creative process?

I am very disciplined. I like yellow legal pads and notecards and carving out overly ambitious schedules. To revise, I'd break down the weeks or months it would take, and then divide the number of chapters based on that timeframe. For the better half of my writing journey, I was pregnant and/or raising babies and toddlers full time. I don't write every day. It's not possible for this phase of life, at least for me. But I made time where I could, in early mornings, late nights, during the short-lived era of naptime, and in the rare stretches I could steal away thanks to sitters and grandparents. I took my self-imposed writing schedule seriously, long before there was anyone else holding me accountable. I found a way to move forward, even if I only had minutes. And there were stretches when I didn't touch the book at all. There are chapters that I wrote in one sitting, and ones that have been reworked and threaded throughout, and many scenes that were written and cut completely. I wrote far more than what ended up in the final version, and that helped me understand my characters on a far deeper level.

Do you have advice for fledgling authors launching their writing life while navigating the demands of raising a family?

Be patient with yourself. There is such an emphasis on getting published quickly, and getting your book out there fast. Don't buy into this. My journey was 10 years long. I started querying before I had children, and my children are now three and nearly five. It's not a race, and it's okay if it takes longer than you expect. My book is better for the years spent in revisions. Outsource what you can, ask for help. Take your writing seriously. Carve out time, but remember this season with your family is precious and fleeting, too. It's okay to not write every day. Stick with whatever you can commit to. The only one who can write your book is you, but give yourself grace when inevitably someone throws up, or your perfect flow is interrupted by someone needing to be wiped. As long as you keep going, you'll get there. --Shahina Piyarali
Kat Tang

(photo: Colleen O'Connell Smyth)

Kat Tang is a graduate of Columbia's MFA program, where she taught as an Undergraduate Writing Fellow. Born in China, relocated to Japan, and raised in California, she is fascinated by how we make and fake human connection in a technologically evolving world. Her short stories and graphic narratives have appeared in Electric Literature, The Margins, Pigeon Pages, and elsewhere. She lives in St. Louis, Mo. Five-Star Stranger (Scribner), Tang's debut novel, follows a professional Rental Stranger resolutely devoted to his perfect rating but whose long-term gig as a young girl's fake father is in jeopardy.

What made you decide to keep the narrator of Five Star Stranger unnamed?

Name and identity--especially for someone like me who tried on various names after immigrating to the United States--are closely tied together; for a narrator who is both unknowable to himself for a large portion of the book and a mystery to the audience, it made sense to me that he would remain unnamed.

Was it also a significant choice that he fills roles for other Asian identities beyond his own?

Asians in America are often mistaken for one another, so why not use this to his advantage? Make money from the ignorance of others?

The narrator is obsessed with maintaining his five-star rating, claiming it can make or break his profile, but it also seems to have slipped into his personal sense of worth.

Yes. I think our society is obsessed with rankings. We (by which I mean, I) can't even choose a restaurant to eat at without checking its reviews. It seemed natural that on an app where people are being ranked and reviewed, this would seep into his sense of self-worth.

It's because of his fraught relationship with his deceased mother that the narrator endeavors to succeed at this job. How did you find ways to instill in your narrator such an authentic portrayal of guilt and emotional strain?

I think guilt can be a powerful motivator, especially for people who are very conscientious. It also can be a very selfish emotion--thinking that your guilt matters or makes a difference. I drew on both of these to flesh out the narrator's emotional tension.

The narrator's arrangement to be Lily's fake father is his only long-term assignment. But because he otherwise spends his time alone, this also makes it his only relationship, right?

Yes, and that isolation is self-imposed as part of his atonement for his relationship with his mother. He's afraid of making connections because he's afraid of hurting or being hurt by other people, but he wouldn't readily admit this to himself. Instead he would say that he's too busy to maintain relationships, that any outside relationships would compromise his ability to be a perfect Rental Stranger, or that there's no point in fostering a relationship for free.

At one point, the narrator notes that sometimes his customers "conflate kindness with love," yet he seems to agree with Darlene when she describes the inability to love as "something defective in you that you're not capable of kindness." Why, then, does he work so hard to keep kindness and love compartmentalized?

The former, what the narrator performs, is a pretend kindness. It's like the "let me know if you need anything" when you know that the other person isn't going to take you up on the offer--a performance, an act. I think what Darlene is talking about, however, is a true kindness--a care that extends beyond the self. A kindness that bridges the self to others. He keeps this difference in mind because he's afraid of the latter, afraid to tether himself to another--to love.

Lily, the narrator's fake daughter, doesn't know he is not her real dad. What was the challenge in creating a bond between two characters based on a lie?

The difficulty was balancing the lie with the true affection that the narrator has for Lily. Even though he is paid to act like a perfect father, his feelings for Lily urge him to act in imperfect ways: being rude to Lily's friend Piri, for example. This blurring of the lines of what makes a relationship "genuine"--affection? official title? thoughts? actions?--is something I hope readers will be left questioning.

There are such beautiful details marking his love for Lily, such as when he realizes her exposed wrists would chafe in the winter air. How did such vivid images come to you?

Some time ago I began to associate the act of noticing with love. When writing from the perspective of someone who really cares about someone else (that second type of "kindness"), I try to think about what they might see and what small details they would pay attention to that no one else, not even the person they care about, notices.

Are there any books that inspired your novel?

I was inspired by the article in the Atlantic, "How to Hire Fake Friends and Family," by Roc Morin back in 2017, and wrote a very early rough draft then. By the time I was ready to write this version in 2021, I had a couple books rattling around in my head: The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen, A Personal Matter by Kenzaburo Oe, The Sellout by Paul Beatty, and A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, among many others.

What are you working on next?

I'm actually quite far into the first draft of a novel about a woman from the Bay Area who runs away from her problems by traveling to Japan, where she befriends a mysterious, enchanting woman. When her new friend goes north to visit family, the 2011 earthquake and tsunami strikes--cutting off all contact. In an effort to find her new friend, the protagonist travels to Tohoku to search among the destruction. It's been one hell of a ride researching and writing it so far. --Samantha Zaboski
Brand Street Integrated, a prominent marketing agency, has announced its expansion into Gujarat with Siddharth Mishra appointed as the new Business Director (West). This strategic move highlights the agencys commitment to strengthening its presence in the western region of India.

Siddharth Mishra brings 11 years of extensive experience in integrated marketing communications to his new role. Renowned for his creative problem-solving skills and adaptability, Mishra has a proven track record in business development, brand and strategic management, and integrated marketing communications. His career includes significant positions at leading agency networks such as Publicis, Dentsu, DDB, and Schbang.

Digital Marketing, and Creative Services. The agency is poised to leverage its expertise to tap into the growing Gujarat market. Brand Street Integrated, headquartered in Gurgaon, is known for its comprehensive services, including Consumer Marketing, Trade Marketing, Rural Marketing, OOH, Merchandising,, and Creative Services. The agency is poised to leverage its expertise to tap into the growing Gujarat market.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Siddharth Mishra said, I am excited to join Brand Street Integrated and contribute to its expansion in Gujarat. The region offers tremendous potential, and I am eager to apply my skills to drive growth and achieve our organizational goals. Our focus will be on delivering impactful brand experiences that resonate with our target audience.

Surendra Singh, CEO of Brand Street Integrated, welcomed Mishra with optimism, stating, Siddharths deep industry experience and innovative mindset are assets to our leadership team. His appointment signifies our dedication to expanding our operations and enhancing service offerings in Gujarat. We are confident that his leadership will help us reach new heights and deliver outstanding results for our clients.
Stocks to Watch on Thursday, August 8: Benchmarks Sensex and Nifty50 may see a gap-down opening influenced by weak global cues. At 6:50 AM, GIFT Nifty futures were down 179 points, trading at 24,187.5, indicating a negative start for Indian stocks. Asian markets were mostly in the red, reflecting Chinas mixed trade data where exports fell short of expectations while imports increased. Japans Nikkei dropped 1.74 percent, the Kospi fell 1.34 percent, and the ASX200 was down 0.37 percent.

Eicher Motors: The company is scheduled to release its earnings report for the first fiscal quarter of FY25 on 8th August. Flat volume growth and slow sales of its popular Hunter Enfield bikes are expected to limit the companys revenue and profit growth to single digits. According to analyst estimates, the company is expected to see an 8% year-over-year increase in revenue, reaching Rs 4,263 crore. Net profit is projected to rise by 8.4% to Rs 991 crore from Rs 914 crore in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.

Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited: On August 7, ABFRL reported a widened consolidated net loss of Rs 161 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to a net loss of Rs 141 crore in the same period last year. However, the company's net loss narrowed sequentially from the Rs 229 crore loss reported in the March quarter. Additionally, the company's revenue increased by 7% to Rs 3,428 crore in Q1FY25, up from Rs 3,196 crore in Q1FY24.

Protean eGov Technologies: Standard Chartered Bank is planning to sell its 3.09% equity stake in the IT-enabled solutions company Protean through block deals. The sale is expected to occur on 8 August, with the share price estimated to be between Rs 1,750 and Rs 1,775. Reports suggest that the total offer size could reach Rs 221.9 crore at the higher end of the price range.

Apollo Tyres: The company's net profit dropped by 24% to Rs 302 crore for Q1FY25, compared to Rs 397 crore in the same period last year. Revenue from operations increased by 1.4% to Rs 6,335 crore compared to Rs 6,244 crore in the year-ago period. The decrease in net profit was attributed to lower sales and increased raw material costs. EBITDA stood at Rs 909.4 crore, marking a drop of 13.5% compared to Rs 1,051.4 crore in the year-ago period, resulting in margins falling to 14.4% from 16.8%.

BSE: The stock exchange reported a 40% decline in net profit at Rs 265.05 crore in the first quarter of FY25, compared to Rs 442.66 crore in the corresponding period of the previous financial year. The exchange had posted a net profit of Rs 107.04 crore in the March quarter. The firms revenue from operations rose over 180% to Rs 607.7 crore in the quarter under review from Rs 215.62 crore in the year-ago period. In the March quarter, the companys revenue stood at Rs 488.37 crore. The income from investments jumped 43% to Rs 62.9 crore from Rs 43.99 crore in the same period of the previous financial year. Its EBITDA stood at Rs 284 crore, jumping significantly from Rs 70 crore in the year-ago period. Meanwhile, the EBITDA margins came in at 47% in Q1FY25 over 33% in the corresponding period of FY24.

TVS Supply Chain Solutions: The company has secured a multi-year contract with JCB India to manage its in-plant warehousing and logistics operations at the JCB facility in Vadodara, Gujarat, for three years. The facility produces fabrications and components for JCB plants globally. TVS SCS will provide end-to-end warehouse management services, deploying material handling equipment, and employing close to 110 personnel.

Adani Enterprises: Billionaire Gautam Adani's flagship firm, Adani Enterprises, is considering raising around Rs 100 billion ($1.2 billion) to Rs 120 billion through a share sale, according to sources. Adani Enterprises may seek to raise funds through a qualified institutional placement (QIP), with the share sale potentially taking place as early as September. The Adani Group is seeking institutional investors, including those from the US, to expand its shareholder base and attract more research analysts to cover the firm.

Reliance Industries: The conglomerate, led by Mukesh Ambani, announced that it has strengthened its balance sheet by securing funds at competitive rates. This is to finance capital expenditures, facilitate business expansion, and refinance existing debts despite challenging market conditions.

Hindalco Industries: In the latest financial report, Novelis, a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries and a major producer of aluminum, experienced a 3% year-on-year decrease in net income attributable to common shareholders, amounting to $151 million. However, the company's net sales increased by 2% to reach $4.2 billion. This growth was driven by higher average aluminum prices and an increase in total shipments. Novelis particularly saw a significant increase in shipments for beverage packaging due to a rise in demand. Despite this, the company's overall profit decreased due to various factors including flooding at its Switzerland plant, restructuring activities, and unfavorable metal prices. On the positive side, the company's adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) increased by 19% year-on-year to $500 million in the June quarter, and the adjusted EBITDA per tonne rose by 10% to $525.

Godrej Consumer Products: In the June quarter of FY25, GCPL reported a 41.36% increase in consolidated profit after tax, reaching Rs 450.69 crore. This growth was attributed to lower raw material costs. The company's total revenue from operations for the quarter was Rs 3,331.58 crore, down from Rs 3,448.91 crore in the same period last fiscal year. Despite this decrease, the company's board declared an interim dividend of Rs 5 per share of face value of Re 1 each for the financial year 2024-25. Additionally, GCPL's board approved an investment of Rs 500 crore over five years for its entry into the pet care business through one of its subsidiaries.

Welspun Corp: The company's net profit increased by 47% to Rs 247.94 crore in the June quarter, primarily because of reduced expenses. In the same period last year, the company had reported a net profit of Rs 168.45 crore. However, the company's total income dropped to Rs 3,179.67 crore from Rs 4,118.78 crore in the year-ago quarter. Welspun Corp managed to decrease its expenses to Rs 2,914.50 crore from Rs 3,878.67 crore year on year.

Abbott India: Abbott India, a pharmaceutical company, reported a 13% year-over-year increase in net profit to Rs 328 crore for the first quarter ending on June 30, 2024, compared to Rs 290 crore in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year. The revenue from operations grew by 5.3% to Rs 1,557.6 crore from Rs 1,479 crore. The EBITDA rose by 10.2% to Rs 391.1 crore from Rs 355 crore, resulting in an EBITDA margin of 25.1%.

NHPC: State-owned hydropower giant NHPC reported a 1.2% YoY increase in net profit to Rs 1,108.5 crore for the first quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to Rs 1,095 crore in the same quarter last fiscal. Revenue from operations dipped 2.3% to Rs 2,694.2 crore from Rs 2,757.3 crore in the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal. EBITDA fell 2.8% to Rs 1,462.6 crore from Rs 1,504.6 crore, with an EBITDA margin of 54.3%.

Brookfield India REIT: Office space operator Brookfield India Real Estate Investment Trust reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 37.40 crore for the quarter ending June 30, compared to a loss of Rs 27.10 crore in the same quarter last year. It declared a net distributable cash flow of around Rs 216.80 crore for the quarter, equivalent to Rs 4.50 per unit. For Q4FY24, Brookfield India REIT reported a marginal profit of around Rs 4.60 crore. The REIT, backed by Brookfield Asset Management, reported a consolidated income of Rs 573.8 crore for the quarter, higher than Rs 314.10 crore for the same quarter last year, and Rs 535.90 crore reported in the quarter ending March 31.

Lemon Tree Hotels: The company's consolidated net profit for Q1 decreased by 26.9% YoY to Rs 20.1 crore, compared to Rs 27.5 crore in the same period last year. Revenue increased by 19.5% to Rs 268 crore in the quarter, compared to Rs 224.2 crore.

PB Fintech: The company, which operates Policybazaar and Paisabazaar, has decided to change its approach to acquiring companies. After the founder of MyLoanCare, which it acquired in 2021, exited the company, PB Fintech has announced that it will now primarily focus on making minority investments. Co-founder Yashish Dahiya stated that there may be exceptions for strategically crucial deals, but the company plans to move away from taking a majority stake in acquisitions.

Maruti Suzuki India: The country's largest carmaker announced on 7 August that it will recall 2,555 Alto K10 vehicles due to a suspected defect in the steering gear box assembly. In a statement filed with the stock exchange, Maruti said, "The defect may, in rare cases, affect the vehicle's steerability." Owners of the affected vehicles will be contacted by Maruti Suzuki authorized dealer workshops for inspection and replacement of the part, free of cost.

Marico: The operating conditions in the Bangladesh market are gradually improving, although the company remains vigilant of the evolving situation. After a brief interruption, a large majority of its retail sales force and distributors have now resumed operations. The company expects manufacturing operations to resume soon.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As a student in Darren Coronas pottery class, Diana Ferdinando became passionate about her new hobby that allowed her to create unique ceramics with her own hands.

My passion for working with clay began in 2021 while experimenting with air dry clay with my daughter. That summer, I enrolled in a handbuilding class taught by Darren Corona at ArtLab. The rest, as they say, is history, said Ferdinando, mother of two daughters, ages 4 and 8, about her instant attraction to pottery creation.

The former music educator became so passionate about pottery, she located a space in the heart of West Brighton for a studio where she could craft her ceramic pieces.

Diana Ferdinando opened Silk Road Ceramics Studio in August 2023 with Darren Corona.(Courtesy of Amanda Domenech of Remi Studio)

But it wasnt long before Ferdinando and Corona found themselves discussing the lack of area studios that allow patrons to make pottery from scratch. Thats when the unlikely business partners started putting together a plan, which led to the August 2023 launch of Silk Road Ceramics Studio in the space initially intended to be Ferdinandos personal studio.

We saw a void on Staten Island for a professional pottery studio, said Corona, who has 30 years experience working with clay. We are the only one of its kind here on the Island. Our approach has been since the beginning to create a professional ceramic studio that is accessible to all who use this space no matter what their level of experience is.

Silk Road Ceramics Studio opened in August 2023 in West Brighton.(Courtesy of Amanda Domenech of Remi Studio)

But before launching, the business partners carefully outlined their plans and ensured their compatibility to run a successful studio.

We really took baby steps because we didnt really even know each other. We wanted to make sure that we would work well with one another, that we trusted one another, said Ferdinando.

And it wasnt long before they discovered a synergy as partners and the joy of cultivating a supportive environment, she said.

Darren Corona has been working with pottery for 30 years.(Courtesy of Amanda Domenech of Remi Studio)

Walking through the studio each morning filled me with pride and inspiration. Our community embraced our vision, said Ferdinando.

Must-have qualities for running a creative business, like Silk Road Ceramics Studio, are patience, flexibility, creativity, faith and an incredibly strong work ethic, said Corona. And the pair say they share those traits.

Offerings

Silk Road Ceramics Studio offers an array of classes to help all levels of potters create masterpieces with the use of their own hands and/or a pottery wheel.

Darren Corona and Diana Ferdinando opened Silk Road Ceramics Studio in August 2023 in West Brighton.(Courtesy of Amanda Domenech of Remi Studio)

Offerings include one-time pottery wheel and handbuilding classes, which teach students how to make pottery without a wheel. In addition, Silk Road Ceramics Studio hosts teen spin and sculpt classes, which are one-time pottery throwing explorations, and pottery wheel and handbuilding six week courses for people looking for more in-depth knowledge about the craft.

There are also handbuilding classes designed for children ages 7 to 12 years old. And the business owners also host various special events including: team-building, birthdays, community events, ladies night, social gatherings at home, collaborative workshops with other small businesses and more.

Silk Road Ceramics Studio also offers membership perks for serious potters to enjoy the freedom of open studio access, they said.

Darren Corona and Diana Ferdinando opened Silk Road Ceramics Studio in August 2023 in West Brighton.(Courtesy of Amanda Domenech of Remi Studio)

Special Events

Silk Road Ceramics Studio owners also offer a host of special events, including:

Kurinuki : A traditional Japanese carving technique embedded in the aesthetic philosophy of Wabi-Sabi where they reflect on the beauty of imperfection, impermanence and authenticity.

Clay Monoprinting : A unique technique where printmaking and clay collide.

Macrame and Ceramics: A workshop where you create your own ceramic planter and a macrame plant hanger to hold it in.

Raku : An exciting and unpredictable outdoor firing inspired by traditional Japanese methods.

Silk Road Ceramics Studio offering an arry of pottery-making classes.(Courtesy of Amanda Domenech of Remi Studio)

Since opening, Corona and Ferdinando said theyve received a warm welcome from the community and interested potters of all levels who find honing their craft is both calming and therapeutic.

So many people have come in saying things like, Ive been looking for something like this. We didnt know you were here. Ive been wanting to do something like this, said Corona, noting many people will say they made ceramics in their youth and wanted to try it again. It has all been really supportive, really friendly and encouraging.

There are also handbuilding classes designed for children ages 7 to 12 years old. And the business owners also host various special events including: team-building, birthdays, community events, ladies night, social gatherings at home, collaborative workshops with other small businesses and more.(Courtesy of Amanda Domenech of Remi Studio)

Silk Road Ceramics Studio at a Glance

Address: 751 Forest Ave.

Website: SilkRoadCeramicsStudio.com

Instagram: SilkRoad.Ceramics.Studio

New Businesses in Focus is a column that relates the stories of new Staten Island business owners.

If you have a new business on Staten Island, e-mail porpora@siadvance.com.

FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and X
VIENNA (AP)  Both suspects in a foiled plot to attack Taylor Swift shows in Vienna appeared to be inspired by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida, Austrian authorities said Thursday, and investigators found bomb-making materials at one of their homes. Officials said one of the two confessed to planning to kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue.

Three sold-out concerts were canceled a day earlier because of the plot, devastating Swifties from across the globe. Many of them had dropped thousands of euros (dollars) on travel and lodging in Austrias expensive capital city to attend the Eras Tour shows at the Ernst Happel Stadium, which sat empty Thursday morning as media filmed outside.

Concert organizers said they stood behind their decision, saying they expected up to 65,000 fans inside the stadium at each concert and as many as 30,000 onlookers outside, where authorities said the suspects planned to strike.

Officials told reporters that the main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian, began working on his attack plans in July, and just a few weeks ago uploaded to the internet an oath of allegiance to the current leader of the Islamic State group militia. He planned to use knives or homemade explosives.

He wanted to carry out an attack in the area outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using the knives or even using the explosive devices he had made, said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, the head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, citing the 19-year-olds confession.

He was clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels, Haijawi-Pirchner added.

The foiled attack was planned for Thursday or Friday, according to Austrias interior minister, Gerhard Karner. Neither suspect appeared to have a ticket to any of the shows.

During a raid of the main suspects home in Ternitz, south of Vienna, investigators found chemical substances and technical devices that indicated concrete preparatory acts, said Franz Ruf, Director General for Public Security at the Ministry of the Interior.

Authorities also found Islamic State group and al-Qaida material at the home of the second suspect, a 17-year-old Austrian. He was employed a few days ago by a company providing services at the venue for the concerts, and was arrested by special police forces near the stadium.

Outside view of the Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna on Thursday, Aug.8, 2024. Organizers of three Taylor Swift concerts in the stadium in Vienna this week called them off on Wednesday after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the concerts. (AP Photo/Heinz-Peter Bader)AP

Both teens were arrested Tuesday. Neithers name was released in line with Austrian privacy rules.

No other suspects are being sought, Karner, the interior minister, said. However, a 15-year-old, who had been in contact with both suspects, was also interrogated by police.

The situation was serious, the situation is serious. But we can also say: A tragedy was prevented, he said.

Concert organizers, Barracuda Music, said in an Instagram post late Wednesday that we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyones safety.

It cited government officials confirmation of a planned attack at the stadium.

Last month, an attacker in England killed three girls and wounded 10 other people in knife attack during a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class. Swift at the time said she was completely in shock' over the attack.

Europe is enamored with the American superstar, with the German town of Gelsenkirchen renaming itself Swiftkirchen before its mid-July concerts.

Austrias Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler wrote on social platform X: For many, a dream has been shattered today. On three evenings in Vienna, tens of thousands of #Swifties should have celebrated life together.

I am very sorry that you were denied this. Swifties stick together, hate and terror cant destroy that, Kogler added.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer posted on X that the cancellation of the Taylor Swift concerts by the organizers is a bitter disappointment for all fans in Austria.

The situation surrounding the apparently planned terror attack in Vienna was very serious, he wrote. But he added that, thanks to intensive cooperation between police and Austrian and foreign intelligence, the threat could be recognized early on, tackled and a tragedy prevented.

Barracuda Music said that all tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days. The same wording was posted under the Vienna dates on Swifts official website.

The Vienna stadium had been sold out for the planned concerts, APA reported, with an estimated 170,000 fans expected for the concerts in Austria. Some who posted on X lamented months of now-wasted efforts to make friendship bracelets and pick out fashionable outfits for the performance.

Swift is expected to perform at Londons Wembley stadium in five concerts between Aug. 15 and 20 to close the European leg of her record-setting Eras Tour.

In 2017, an attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, killed 22 people. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi set up a knapsack bomb in Manchester Arena at the end of Grandes concert as thousands of young fans were leaving. More than 100 people were injured. Abedi died in the explosion.

An official inquiry reported in 2023 that Britains domestic intelligence agency, MI5, didnt act swiftly enough on key information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the bombing, the deadliest extremist attack in the United Kingdom in recent years.

Swifties trade bracelets in the city centre in Vienna on Thursday, Aug.8, 2024. Organizers of three Taylor Swift concerts in the stadium in Vienna this week called them off on Wednesday after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the concerts. (AP Photo/Heinz-Peter Bader)AP

Swifties trade bracelets in the city centre in Vienna on Thursday, Aug.8, 2024. Organizers of three Taylor Swift concerts in the stadium in Vienna this week called them off on Wednesday after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the concerts. (AP Photo/Heinz-Peter Bader)AP

The hands of 17-year old Anna-Maria from Sofia, Bulgaria are pictured outside the Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna on Thursday, Aug.8, 2024. Organizers of three Taylor Swift concerts in the stadium in Vienna this week called them off on Wednesday after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the concerts. (AP Photo/Heinz-Peter Bader)AP
By Alimat Aliyeva

From mid-August, 175 Chinese language teachers will start working in primary and secondary schools in Saudi Arabia, Azernews reports.

According to the educational program implemented between the two countries, Chinese teachers will represent the first group to serve in Saudi Arabia. The program is part of an agreement between the two countries to expand cooperation in the field of Chinese language teaching in 2023. Accordingly, a group of teachers completed preparatory courses at Tianjin University from July 29 to August 2.

The training was organized jointly with the Center for Language Education and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education of Saudi Arabia and China in Beijing. The website of the newspaper Jankao Xiaoxi, associated with the Xinhua news agency, reports that Chinese language lessons will be taught in primary schools in Saudi Arabia.

According to the data jiaohanyu.com , a website that provides detailed information about Chinese language learning programs and job opportunities, China will send 800 teachers to Saudi Arabia in the coming years. Yakin Talal, Chief representative of the training organization, HR specialist at Tatweer Co of Saudi Arabia, thanked the center and the university for organizing the event.

University representative Gu Kai stated that the main goal is to educate more than 60,000 international students who know Chinese language and culture. According to him, China will implement new educational and cultural projects with Saudi Arabia in the future.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Ahead of the anticipated arrival of Tropical Storm Debby on Friday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a warning to residents in the state.

Hochul urged residents to prepare for the impending impacts of Debby, which include the potential for tornadoes and flooding.

Despite moving north through the Carolinas Thursday morning, as indicated by the National Weather Service (NWS), the remnants of the storm are expected to sweep through much of New York Friday afternoon into Friday evening, the impacts expected to extend through most of the state.

In merging with another storm system, Debby is forecast to release 2 to 4 inches of rain on the state; some areas could experience 3 to 5 inches. Hochuls office indicates that these areas include parts of the North Country, Central New York, the Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, Capital, Mid-Hudson and Southern Tier regions.

The worst of these rainfall totals is forecast to impact the southern Adirondacks, the eastern Catskills, and Central New York, according to a release from Hochuls office.

I dont want to be a Debbie Downer, but the forecast shows us that Tropical Storm Debby is about to lead to massive downfalls of rainfall all over the state of New York, said Hochul. Were expecting that starting tonight, significant rainfall thatll lead to flash flooding  it begins tonight and intensifies Friday, continues into Saturday. We expect up to six inches of rain in some parts of our state  thatll mean two inches per hour, which is fairly cataclysmic.

This excessive accumulation could produce urban, poor drainage, flash and river flooding.

As we prepare for flood conditions, it is critical that New Yorkers monitor their local forecasts and take proper precautions, added Hochul. My administration will continue to monitor and deploy necessary resources to impacted areas across the state.

Here is the latest briefing on Debby as she weakens from tropical storm status and the center most likely passes to our west on Friday: https://t.co/zyfd5tSznl pic.twitter.com/0rVEgE1ErO  NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) August 8, 2024

Those in the New York City, Long Island, and lower Mid-Hudson regions should brace for the potential of isolated severe storms with damaging winds gusts and brief tornadoes, as reported by Hochuls office.

Gusts of 35 to 45 mph along the coast could down trees and trigger power outages, warns Hochuls office.

Hochul asks residents to monitor the latest forecasts as a shift in the course of Debby could determine the severity of impacts on locations throughout the state.

In preparing for the encroaching system, Hochul has activated the emergency operations center. Additionally, the governor says 5,500 utility personnel and 100 National Guard are on standby for when they are required.

We have state agencies pre-positioning swift water rescue teams because weve seen with some massive flooding events, not the least of which was a thousand year flooding event just last year, the year before, Hochul said. We have to be ready to rescue people. And also to be really on top of this, were releasing some water from some of the reservoirs already  the Hudson River Basin from the Stillwater Reservoir and the Black River Basin as well. Were also in the canal system, lifting movable dams from Rotterdam to Fort Plain to manage the volume of water in the Mohawk River. So this will close it off to ships and boats for the duration of the storm.

As of Thursday afternoon, multiple parts of the state have been issued a flood watch, including the cities of Syracuse, Ithaca, Rome, Binghamton and more, as reported by the NWS.
Aged care A Macau-based investor has swooped on a Moonee Ponds office building leased to a key federal department. Records show investment firm Charter Hall sold the building at 1 Dean Street for $38 million to MP Investments Management, at the end of July. 1 Dean Street, Moonee Ponds The company is owned by the Ho family, which last spent $40 million in 2018, buying an office at 454 Collins Street.

Most of the MP Investments Management shareholders are based in Macau and include racing car driver Henry Ho. They are not related to the multi-branched casino-owning billionaire Ho family. The Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment signed a 12-year lease on the 7104 square-metre four-storey office in 2022. Purpose built for Foxtel more than 20 years ago, its on a large 6640 square-metre parcel of land, half of which is currently used for car parking. Charter Halls Direct PFA Fund tried to sell it in 2018 for $45 million but Foxtels soon-to-expire lease put the kybosh on any deals. Charter Hall also once held the nearby Australian Tax Office building on Gladstone Street but sold it 10 years ago for $83 million. Sydney-based Marshall Investments picked it up for $126 million last year.

The off-market campaign was pitched at a limited pool of potential investors with Cushman & Wakefields Daniel Wolman, Oliver Hay, Leon Ma and Gross Waddell ICRs Raff De Luise on the case. City fringe Hot on the heels of Jetstars Collingwood headquarters hitting the market comes its neighbour at 103 Victoria Parade. The three-storey laboratory, leased by Melbourne Pathology, was purchased by Australian Unitys Healthcare Property Trust in 2016 for $45 million. The building is on Australian Unitys books at $58.5 million but is tipped to fetch more than $60 million. Its in a city-fringe location undergoing rapid commercial and hospital-related redevelopment and could take a new 12-storey building.

103 Victoria Parade, Collingwood. The 5891-square-metre lab and offices was built by Melbourne Pathology in 1994 on 4069 square metres of land purchased from Carlton & United Breweries. The pathology company, part of the listed Sonic Healthcare group, is believed to have bought Costcos Docklands premises on Footscray Road, with plans to build or fit out new laboratories and offices. Sonic has not responded to queries about the purchase and its lease on the Collingwood office does not expire until 2028. The expressions-of-interest campaign is expected to close a couple of weeks after the Jetstar campaign. Combined, the two sites consist of nearly one hectare of contiguous prime land.

Colliers agents Anna Cavar, Ian Sanders and John Marasco are handling inquiries. Henkell Brothers is selling Jetstars Collingwood HQ with a $65 million-plus price tag. Qantas budget subsidiary also has three years left on its long-term lease. The properties are on the corner of Wellington Street, around the corner from Gurners recently completed Victoria & Vine apartment project. St Vincents Hospital and the Australian Catholic University are also expanding their holdings in the precinct. The Jetstar listing is being handled by Colliers Jozef Dickinson, Matthew Stagg and Philip Heberling, as well as CBREs Trent Hobart, Nathan Mufale and David Minty. Inner north

Elsewhere in Collingwood, another of the suburbs old rag traders is selling up, at 53-57 Cambridge Street. Vendor and current occupier M.Recht Accessories has operated from the address for more than 50 years, selling textile products to the fashion accessories industry. The two-level showroom is on an 811-square-metre parcel of land with frontages to Cambridge, Derby and Langridge streets. 53-57 Cambridge Street, Collingwood Its across the street from the 14-level apartment tower developed by Cbus Property in 2019 and close to a host of other new office and residential projects.

Cushman & Wakefields Daniel Wolman, Raphael Favas, Hamish Burgess and Leon Ma are handling the campaign and expect more than $11 million. Also poised for redevelopment is a site in nearby Fitzroy at 329 Napier Street, which is also understood to have sold recently for $11 million. Records show a company linked to developer Cobild has recently put a caveat on the 1071-square-metre property. Alexander Robertson agents Warwick Bramich and Kristian Peatling, with Cushman & Wakefields Anthony Kirwan and Hay negotiated the deal. They declined to comment. Aged care

Private aged care operator Infinite Care has snapped up its first Victorian property buying a vacant facility in Windsor for $11.75 million. The deal reflected a 16 per cent increase on the $9.75 million price paid by investors in 2022. The former aged care facility at 241 Dandenong Road was last operated by Estia Health. 241 Dandenong Road, Windsor CBREs Australian Healthcare and Social Infrastructure team of Sandro Peluso, Marcello Caspani-Muto and Jimmy Tat managed the sale.

Infinite Care is planning to open a new 60-bed home on the site mid-2025. It is also opening a new 177-bed home in Knoxfield later that year. Meanwhile, north of the city, a vacant site at 800 Plenty Road, Reservoir, which has a permit for a six-storey aged-care development, has sold to an offshore group. Zoned Commercial 1, the site is part of the sprawling Summer Hill retail precinct, high on the hill overlooking the eastern suburbs and a short tram ride away to La Trobe University. It was previously owned by aged care developer and operator Japara, which was bought by Calvary in 2021. Savills agents Julian Heatherich, Benson Zhou and James Latos handled the transaction.
Which is totes funny, though when the contest devolves into trauma Olympics (and the queens start comparing the number of their miscarriages to win) the lone survivor, Henrys last wife Catherine Parr (Giorgia Kennedy), launches a feminist histo-remix, liberating them all from King Henrys shadow. No weak link exists among the remaining queens. Kimberley Hodgson as Catherine of Aragon, Loren Hunter as Jane Seymour, Zelia Rose Kitoko as Anna of Cleves and Chelsea Dawson as Katherine Howard each brings a vital spark to individual highlights, with enough left in the tank for high-energy ensemble work  smooth backup vocals, perfectly synchronised choreography, rapid-fire comic repartee  that, along with rockstar digital set and lighting, really ratchets up the concert atmosphere. Only a cast of genuine triple threats could pull Six off, and they succeed with such exuberance I wouldnt be surprised if (just like pop concerts) loyal fans return again and again.

Reviewed by Cameron Woodhead MUSIC

Last Dinosaurs | KYORYU Tour 

The Croxton, August 10 The sound of electric guitar fills the air and the stage lights flicker as Last Dinosaurs launch into Afterlife off their latest album, KYORYU.

Last Dinosaurs perform at The Croxton in Thornbury in August 10. Credit: Richard Clifford This is the four-piece indie rock acts first Australian headline tour since December 2022. The Melbourne show brings a welcome end to the circuit for the Brisbane musicians, as lead singer Sean Caskey professes: Long time no see, we missed you so much. The album name KYORYU is a portmanteau of band members Lachlan and Sean Caskeys Japanese names, which translates to dinosaur. We got any OG Dinos fans in the house? enquires lead singer Sean. The packed floor of the Croxton Bandroom cheers in agreement. Aptly, the bands set brims with nostalgia as they play tracks from older albums Wellness, Yumeno Garden and In A Million Years. The band members are dressed in suits, a nod to having drawn inspiration from The Beatles Twist and Shout performance on The Ed Sullivan Show for Paranoia Paradise. The spotlights on stage change colours, reflecting off the shimmery curtains behind to light up the band members with technicolour hues.

Last Dinosaurs upbeat tracks, such as Eleven, Apollo and Weekend, are reminiscent of the indie sleaze era. More sedate tracks, such as Elton and Slow, were played mid-set, noticeably lulling the ambience. When the pace picked up again with Honolulu, the crowd went wild. The simplicity of the experience enabled focus on the connection between the performers, music and audience. Credit: Richard Clifford Before playing their popular track Zoom, Sean says: If you know the words to this song, I want to feel you scream them at me. And if this song made you feel something at any point in your life, I want to make you make this place f---ing shake like an earthquake. He then proceeds to jump up and down, and the crowd does the same, clapping their hands and shouting out the lyrics. There was no unnecessary fanfare in terms of special effects or crowd work, nor any requests from the band to turn mobile phone torches on to invoke sentimentality. The simplicity of the experience enabled focus on the connection between the performers, music and audience. The Last Dinosaurs are far from extinct, reinvigorating the local music scene with the youthful innocence of the noughties.

Reviewed by Vyshnavee Wijekumar

MUSIC AND DANCE

Silence and Rapture 

Australian Chamber Orchestra, Melbourne Recital Centre, until August 12 Much thought has gone into crafting this highly theatrical evening of works by J.S. Bach and the Estonian composer Arvo Part. The program offers a clear sense of narrative and the effort to create an immersive spectacle should be applauded. Silence and Rapture is an admirable attempt to fuse dance with poetry and music in a more theatrical form of recital. Credit: Daniel Boud Nonetheless, the overall mood of the concert is more ruminative than rapturous. The great attraction is the stylish, clear-toned performance of Iestyn Davies in his Australian debut. What makes this supremely talented British countertenor so unusual is the combination of meticulous control and expressive power.

In other words, Davies is both a storyteller and a gifted technician. His enthralling rendition of the plaintive Erbarme dich from St Matthew Passion is the high point of the evening. The evening includes choreography for two dancers by Sydney Dance Company artistic director Rafael Bonachela. Its an admirable attempt to fuse dance with poetry and music in a more theatrical form of recital. The inclusion of dance in Silence and Rapture is at times a distraction. Credit: Daniel Boud And the combination of voice and movement certainly heightens the uncanny effect of Parts ghostly version of My Hearts in the Highlands, where slow, cryptic gestures complement the otherworldly sentimentality. Elsewhere, however, its hard to see how Bonachelas choreography is necessary. Where its not a distraction, its merely ornamental: scribbled arabesques at the bottom of a larger aesthetic project.

The evening is divided into five chapters, the last of which is intended to lead us into contemplative silence. Here we have Bachs fragmentary Fuga a 3 soggetti, left unfinished by the composer at his death. The evenings final piece is then the fourth movement of Paul Hindemiths Trauermusik. This is apt, not only because it quotes from Bachs Wenn wir in hochsten Noten sein, but because it synthesises all that comes before. If you dilute an evening of Bach with sufficient quantities of Arvo Parts shimmery mysticism then, yes, you do get a feeling approximate to the unreal softness, the dreamlike passivity of Hindemiths elegy.

Reviewed by Andrew Fuhrmann THEATRE

In Search of Applause 

Maroussia Vladi, The Butterfly Club, until August 17 I couldnt help thinking of Melania Trump watching this one-woman show. Its a black comedy written from the perspective of a so-called trophy wife, and no one has been more upfront about the art of that deal than Melania. In 2005, asked if shed have married Trump had he not been rich, she quipped: If I werent beautiful, do you think hed be with me?

Maroussia Vladi in her one-woman show In Search of Applause Credit: Nicholas Robertson The idea of the trophy wife would seem to represent patriarchy at its most transactional  outside sex work  and the entanglement of love and extreme financial inequality is a reminder that most marriages used to be this way. A wife in the Victorian era was utterly dependent on her husband  she couldnt own property in her own right  so you can see why early Communist thinkers proposed that matrimony itself was a form of prostitution. For Lorelei, the feeling of compromising herself springs from a different source. She used to be an artist, an actor, but abandoned the boards to wed Nigel  a stinkingly rich workaholic who does something or other in fintech. Her marriage isnt cynical: Lorelei says she really likes Nigel, though shes hardly immune to the pleasures of international jet-setting, luxurious accommodation, and every material comfort money can buy. The price, alas, is emotional, sexual, and existential poverty. Nigel ignores her whenever mutual leisure isnt scheduled, and Lorelei becomes obsessed with maintaining her fitness and beauty. Striking up conversations with Harry, the hot young musician who serves her at an artisanal juice bar, Loreleis prejudices and contradictions emerge, and she warns Harry against the path she has taken.

In Search of Applause has some winning comic moments  mostly slivers of physical clowning, and sequences that leap into formal exaggeration and overt satire of a life blighted by affluenza. As character-based comedy, its undercooked. The internal monologue lacks a level of character definition, a human complexity that might have achieved poignancy. The script is clunky and too bald in its treatment of the conflict between material needs (and the coercive power of capital) and intangible ones  the need for love and attention, creative expression and meaning. And the profound question of how gender plays into Loreleis predicament remains in the shallows: portraying one-sided conversations with absent men who stand as inhuman ciphers doesnt help. Maroussia Vladi does have obvious comic potential as a performer, and this monodrama feels like a step on the road to unlocking it. Reviewed by Cameron Woodhead

THEATRE

Piper 

Frenzy Theatre Co, Theatre Works, until August 24 Right before heading to this wildly maximalist stage adaptation of The Pied Piper of Hamelin, I read some dreadful news. Rat numbers are increasing in Melbournes Docklands again. Apparently, the soulless warren of a place has become a rodential hot spot  according to local rat catchers, at a time when they report that demand for their services has decreased. Piper plays unexpected games with the visceral disgust people feel towards rats. If those doing it tough in the current economic climate really are cutting corners on pest control, we might well wish for a piper soon enough. Rats! Ugh. For many, theyre a source of visceral disgust. Frenzy Theatre Cos Piper plays unexpected games with that disgust and mashes the first half of Grimms fairytale into a febrile world where information is routinely unreliable. This Hamelin is as prey to disinformation and fake news and shameless spin from vested interests as it is to rats, and you can wade right into the social satire.

For half an hour before the start time, the enormous cast  24 in the ensemble  forms an interactive performance installation onstage, a funfair Hamelin you can wander through. The show itself turns Hamelins rolling crisis into an unsettling and darkly funny extravaganza, and theatre lovers will be impressed by the scale of the artists ambition and all the logistical challenges overcome in this work. Its theatre with the lot  combining berserk eisteddfod, surreal projections and Marxist agitprop (Guy Debords society of the spectacle seems to be an influence), alongside group choreography, circus arts, original musical theatre, and fairytale set and costume. Piper is an ambitious work  its theatre with the lot. Piper is deeply political, and if its sometimes too verbose for drama, it never reduces itself to didactic messaging.

The rats might be a cruel scourge on humans  vermin, vectors of disease  but it is human cruelty under the microscope. There are bleak flickers of rats as a metaphor for marginalised social groups, for instance, and the fate of lab rats in the cosmetics industry is portrayed in gruesome detail. Loading Incompetent and corrupt councillors dither and stonewall and play for political advantage. Contradictory public messaging about the crisis emerges. Citizens take matters into their own hands. Social cohesion goes out the window. The Pied Piper and the towns children are almost an afterthought. Piper is much more interested in showing us, in the theatre industry no less than other areas of public life, what the powerful can get away with when people live in thrall to an endless cycle of distraction and disgust.

Reviewed by Cameron Woodhead

OPERA

La Rondine 

Victorian Opera, Palais Theatre, until August 10 Puccini is everywhere in 2024. The centenary of the composers death has been cause for artistic celebration for opera companies worldwide. Theres a Tosca, Boheme or Puccini Gala around every corner. That increase in frequency would stand out for most, but not for operas most popular man (though Verdi and Mozart would rightly contest that title). Puccini is always everywhere. He wrote 12 operas, many of them what artistic directors turn to when a company needs to improve its bottom line. The aforementioned La Boheme and Tosca, Madama Butterfly, Turandot  audiences never tire of them. Throughout the past century, people have come back for Puccini again and again. Concise, relatable stories  theres rare few princesses or dragons, and youll leave the theatre in under three hours  coloured by glorious orchestral texture and memorable melodies make his works universally loved by novice and connoisseur alike. But because of this incredible popularity, La Rondine is no ones favourite Puccini opera. The word masterpiece can really be a relative term. Is Rondine a masterpiece compared to much of opera? Sure. Is it a masterpiece in comparison to Puccinis own canon? Not really. Boheme looms large over it musically, coupled with an unbalanced storyline and thoroughly meh ending. La Rondine is one of Puccinis less-performed operas. Credit: Charlie Kinross

Leading lady, Magda, is an unhappy Parisian courtesan who is kept by a wealthy older man but longs for the freedom of her youth. She falls in love with country boy Ruggero and leaves the city to start a new life with him, only to realise his family will never accept her, so she returns to her old life. She is the rondine (the swallow) who flies toward the sun. La Rondine is the first mainstage production at Victorian Opera with new artistic director Stuart Maunder at the reins. His direction is fun and effective, and he shrewdly deals with the dissatisfying ending. Richard Roberts sets and costumes are also superb. Swedish conductor Tobias Ringborg shapes the score like a man who knows and loves Puccini with all his heart. He leans Orchestra Victoria into Puccinis lilting rhythms, with frivolous lightness at appropriate times and swirling drama at others. The Act II climax, with clever fireworks-type lighting by Gavan Swift, involving the entire cast and orchestra, was spectacular. The fervent Ringborg pushes excitement through the music, even when the drama unfolding onstage doesnt match the quality of the score. Brisbane-born, Hannover-based soprano Kiandra Howarth is an affecting Magda. The role is light work for her outstanding soprano, which is golden warm, and she nailed the showpiece, Chi il bel sogno. It would be wonderful to see an Australian company bring her home for a Mimi or Contessa, something with more authentic emotion. In the supporting roles of Prunier and Lisette, Queenslanders Douglas Kelly and Nina Korbe are perfect. Credit: Charlie Kinross

South Korean tenor Won Whi Choi plays her lover Ruggero, and though the character is a bit of a sap, Choi possesses a true Puccini tenor sound (think Pavarotti et al). With a thrilling top and gleaming colour throughout, hes vocally flawless. In the supporting roles of Prunier and Lisette, Queenslanders Douglas Kelly and Nina Korbe are perfect. They actually have chemistry! Kelly is charming  a natural actor  and possesses excellent evenness in range and tone. He is a young tenor to watch. Korbe is stunning, her soprano glorious at the top and her characterisation delightful. Loading The duo of Howarth/Choi is less successful than Kelly/Korbe, though its hard to tell whats to blame. Is it that Choi appears wooden, or that the character is a simpleton? Is Howarths Magda one-dimensional, or is the character merely unsympathetic? Either way, no one benefits from the uneven plot. Still, its an appreciated choice by Victorian Opera, in a year otherwise stacked with Puccini favourites. Reviewed by Bridget Davies

THEATRE

Apologia 

Nicola Gunn, Malthouse Theatre, until August 18 Its wonderful to see Nicola Gunn making theatre back in Melbourne. The performance artist has been based in Europe for years but developed her inimitable style here, in works such as In Spite of Myself, Hello My Name Is and Piece for Person with Ghetto-Blaster. Surrealist theatre and physical comedy inform that style and predominated during the earliest phase of Gunns career. It wasnt until she collapsed art into life and started making the live equivalent of autofiction  autotheatre, if you will  that her distinctive brilliance coalesced into (pardon my French) an oeuvre. Gunns Apologia is the second part of a trilogy exploring translation and interpretation, and it springs from her fantasy of becoming a French actor. Apologia is the second part of a trilogy exploring translation and interpretation. Credit: Gregory Lorenzutti

Absurdity lurks in the premise  Gunn isnt French and cant speak the language  though she has an entree in the voice of Severine Magois, a bracingly opinionated French translator. We dont meet Magois in the flesh. Shes initially present through vaping noises emanating from a speaker. Then Gunn arrives, tells off her invisible interlocutor for vaping inside, and begins a wide-ranging conversation with Magois recorded voice about realising her ambitions. Offbeat humour ripples through what becomes a defence  an apologia  of subjectivity and authenticity, and an interrogation of how language shapes those ideas. Complexities deepen when the scene shifts to two Japanese tourists disappointed by Paris (Yumi Umiumare and Taka Takiguchi), performed in Japanese with English subtitles. Taka Takiguchi and Yumi Umiumare in a scene from Apologia at Malthouse Theatre. Credit: Gregory Lorenzutti

So-called Paris Syndrome is a psychological phenomenon first documented in Japan: it describes the depression and disillusionment experienced when the City of Love doesnt match the romanticised idea of it that tourists are expecting. Does Gunns wild desire to be a French actor represent a theatrical version of Paris Syndrome? Well, theres frustration and despair at the disparity between expectation and reality, but she does get to live fragments of her dream. Loading Scenes where she appears in a French film (as a woman grief-stricken at learning of her mothers death) possess a poise, visual stylishness and emotive intensity that suggests the real deal, before the piece abandons verbal for visual language in a charming, entirely silent conclusion. If Apologia doesnt feel entirely satisfying and complete as a standalone, its strikingly original theatre that will stimulate reflection on the philosophy behind performance and translation. How do you translate your self (or someone elses) into another language? How does language itself influence our experience of reality, of art?

These questions are probed through a tragicomic blend of intimacy and artifice, in a production enlivened by a talented international team of design collaborators, including Emma Valente and Kate Davis from The Rabble. Lets hope some arts festival programs the trilogy on completion. As Apologia shows us time and again, context is crucial to the act of interpretation, and Im not sure the shows true worth can be appreciated without it.

Reviewed by Cameron Woodhead MUSIC

Maxim Vengerov in Recital 

Hamer Hall, August 7 Had I thought about it in advance, I would have predicted Maxim Vengerovs recital would be a five-star affair. After all, Vengerov is among the few candidates for worlds best violinist, and at 49 he is absolutely in his pomp. And so it came to pass  Vengerov and accompanist Polina Osetinskaya were sublime, and were rewarded with a standing ovation. Maxim Vengerov performs at Hamer Hall on August 8, 2024. Credit: Nicole Cleary

This was the fourth time Ive heard Vengerov in Melbourne, and it was the best, two hours of bliss. The program was divided between Russia and France, with two works by Prokofiev in the first half, and Franck and Ravel in the second. The Five Melodies provided a languorous, lyrical opening before the familiar spiky Prokofiev rhythms and harmonies appeared in the bleak but gripping first Violin Sonata. Then came a complete contrast in the poetic Franck sonata, a work of gentle beauty delivered with elegance and subtle refinement. Loading Vengerov made so light of any technical challenges, so unostentatiously, that one could doubt they were there. But they certainly were  for example, ferocious and flawless double stopping, wondrously pure and accurate harmonics, thrilling bravura runs, delicate dynamics, effortless projection and ravishing pianissimos that floated out to fill the hall. He emphasised artistry over pyrotechnics  but then came Ravels vigorously virtuoso Tzigane and all the dramatic flair one could wish for. Osetinskaya, clearly a marvellous musician in her own right, was a delicate and sensitive accompanist, though once or twice I felt she was too unobtrusive.
Independent Senator Fatima Payman has hired veteran political operative Glenn Druery as her chief of staff, formalising a partnership that began in the weeks before the former Labor senator sensationally quit Labor over its response to the war in Gaza.

This masthead first revealed last month that Payman had teamed up with Druery, who is widely known as the preference whisperer for his success in securing seats for upper house independents and minor party candidates.

Senator Fatima Payman. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Druery has also been working with Muslim groups on a plan to stand candidates in lower house seats with a high proportion of Muslim residents, amid growing disquiet within some communities over the federal governments stance on the war in Gaza.

Druery, who has been informally advising Payman, joked the pair would raise the Titanic together as he confirmed the appointment to the newly-independent senators office.

His appointment means he will play a key role in helping Payman determine her legislative priorities.

I hope to help the senator achieve her goals and those goals will become clearer as time goes by, he said.

For the duration of her term in parliament, senator Payman will be focused on the good people of Western Australia.

Druery said Payman had the potential to be as consequential a balance of power senator as former Tasmanian Senator Brian Harradine and Nick Xenophon from South Australia.

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Both of those men held a share of the balance of power for decades and earned reputations for driving a hard bargain on behalf of their states and, for the most part, being reliable centrists who were prepared to with the government of the day on legislation.

I have worked with politicians for decades not all of them know how to work in parliament to achieve their goals. Harradine and Xenophon did and achieved a lot for the states. You cant just sit there, you have to work with the government of the day, Druery said.

But he struck a note of caution for the Albanese government, adding it could not take Paymans vote for granted.

All legislation will be taken on its merits and dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Labor currently holds 25 seats in the 76 member senate and to pass legislation needs to secure a majority of 39 votes meaning it needs to secure the support of the Coalition, or the Greens and a handful of crossbenchers to pass laws.

The Coalition holds 31 seats, the Greens hold 11 seats and there are nine senators sitting on the cross bench, including the ACTs David Pocock, two Pauline Hanson senators and Tasmanian Jacqui Lambie.
Australias toll road giant insists it is working as fast as possible with the NSW government to reach a deal by Christmas on a shake-up of Sydneys tolling regime but warns it will defend a $36 billion investment in the citys motorways over the past two decades.

Almost a month after former competition tsar Allan Fels released a final report into tolling, Transurban chief executive Michelle Jablko said all parties were now sitting at the table willing to find an outcome.

Sydneys patchwork of toll roads is facing a major shake-up. Credit: Louie Douvis

Theres clearly work to do to get there, she said on Thursday as she released Transurbans annual results. Were willing to work quickly on that.

Transurban and its large investment partners have proposed plans for corridor pricing whereby tolls are based on motorways in sectors of the city. This differs considerably from Fels preference for declining distance-based tolling across the entire network.
Hunter Karam was an extrovert with plenty of friends and a job in construction when he noticed he was feeling an uncomfortable emotion he couldnt quite put his finger on when he was in his early 20s.

At first it was just confusing, I didnt know what I was feeling. I felt a bit sad, or like I didnt have that same drive.

Hunter Karam, 24, says making more meaningful connections eased his loneliness. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

It was only later Karam, 24, realised the feeling was loneliness, after long hours on the job and rostered shifts made it harder for him to catch up with his friends and sapped his usual energy.

I was working in a team of 40 people, but I was lonely, he said. It made me realise if I can feel lonely, anyone can.
Greg Oehm of Western Creek (Tas) is one of many to take up Chris Wilkinsons stereophonic challenge (C8): I nominate Gerry Raffertys Whatevers Written in Your Heart from the City to City album. A creditable performer in her own right, Barbara Dickson sings backing vocals and, at one point, rather disconcertingly takes a wander from your left ear to your right ear and back, right through your head! A second mention must go to Lets Talk About Me from the Alan Parsons Projects Vulture Culture album. This track opens with a conversation about NATO in one ear and porcupines in the other. It takes some concentration to listen to both conversations at once. I use this track at school as a bit of a test to see if my music students can follow two separate lines at once - its good ear training.

The very best use of stereo effects is in If You Want to Be a Bird (Bird Song) by the Holy Modal Rounders, a track on the Easy Rider soundtrack, says John Boddington of Dalton. If you listen, you will hear the vocals flying from side to side all over the room. Yeah, well, Johns just getting his thing together.

Sticking with music, it looks like Beyonce has the gig with Freedom, but Chips Mackinolty of Nightcliff (NT) suggests a rethink: Clearly the US Democrats should adopt as their theme song, the Australian piece Walzing Kamala?

This sounds a little flaky, but the grave of Charlotte Sargent in Waverley cemetery has a nice story and photos of Sargents Pies, says Graham Russell of Clovelly. It makes me yearn for a pie every time I walk past it. It brings back my very distant school days.

Despite being snake-related, commentary on the burglary at the herpetologists house (C8) has legs, with Jenny Stephenson of Wollongong remarking: Maybe the burglar was lucky enough to have landed on a ladder?
A teenager has been arrested and another is on the run after they were allegedly caught in the act of drawing a large swastika on a northern beaches toilet block.

Two teenage boys were spotted by a resident at about 8.30pm on Wednesday allegedly drawing the Nazi symbol along with other offensive graffiti near the Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club.

Police are investigating after two teenagers were caught allegedly drawing a large swastika on a toilet block at Dee Why. Credit: Nine News

The pair were allegedly using markers to draw on the walls of the toilet block.

Police were called and arrested a 16-year-old boy at the scene. He is assisting with inquiries. He has not been charged and was released.
In the parable The Gentlemen of the Jungle by Jomo Kenyatta, the first president of Kenya, an elephant asks to put his trunk inside a mans hut to keep it out of the rain.

But once Mr. Elephant gets his trunk inside, he keeps pushing until he takes over the entire hut.

Such is the situation facing Benton County, as the corporate behemoth Republic Services seeks to open a new landfill to the south of its existing landfill on Coffin Butte. Republic tried to expand southward twice before and was rejected, first in 1994 and again in 2021.

Now its proposing a much smaller free-standing new landfill, but dont be fooled. Republic knows that if it can get a toehold in this new area, that will give it traction for further expansions in what will become an ever-growing mountain of trash.

In Kenyattas tale, the aggrieved man appeals to local officials who appoint a Commission of Enquiry. But the commissioners  Mr. Rhinoceros, Mr. Buffalo, etc.  turn out to have interests aligned with Mr. Elephants.

So, first they let Mr. Elephant speak: I considered it necessary ... to turn the undeveloped space to a more economic use by sitting myself in it.

When the man tries to speak, the jungle commissioners tell him, "My good man, please confine yourself to relevant issues. All we wish you to tell us is whether the undeveloped space in your hut was occupied , and then they silence him entirely.

Here our Benton County government is already restricting avenues for public comment. It has removed dissenters from committees, and even dissolved one committee.

Lately the government realized the committee it had dissolved, the Solid Waste Advisory Council, had a defined role in county code. No problem; they swapped in a new entity, the Environmental and Natural Resource Committee, which has never previously dealt with landfill issues.

The members of this new committee have specifically been instructed not to hold any public hearings, no matter if they believe they could benefit from such hearings to inform their decision.

Residents will be allowed to testify only to the Planning Commission  and then only within narrow sidewalls of land-use criteria that were agreed on by county-appointed attorneys in concert with Republics lawyers.

So, we can expect to hear, in some form, Please confine yourself to relevant issues, in particular if we start to talk about the environmental issues that people are really concerned about:

How will methane emissions affect climate?

How will leachate from the landfill pollute the Willamette River?

What will be the impact on groundwater, when the landfill starts to leak?

Kenyattas story was an allegory of the colonial process in his homeland, where an outside empire imposed itself on the local society. Here we face corporate profiteerism, where an Arizona-based business empire built on trash is exploiting our community, with both tacit and overt assistance from Benton County officials.

In the story, the man finally sits down and says, "Ngenda thi ndeagaga motegi. Or, as Kenyatta paraphrases, You can fool people for a time, but not forever.

The people of Benton County are now awake to the motivations behind this new landfill scheme. We will not be fooled.
Police say Brailey has made admissions and an acknowledgement of her wrongdoing in statements to them after they dramatically arrested her at the school on Tuesday in response to reports that a female teacher had sexually touched a 17-year-old boy. They allege Brailey has also admitted to speaking with two other students on social media, in addition to her alleged victim. She has not been charged over that communication, but police are investigating the type of contact that was made, Liverpool Local Court heard on Wednesday. Brailey tried to cover her face when leaving the correctional facility. Credit: Louise Kennerley Police are reviewing CCTV linked to the alleged sexual touching incident in West Wollongong, as well as videos found on the students phone. Theyre also forensically examining his car. Brailey willingly handed over her phone and passcode to the police.

The police prosecutor told the court on Wednesday that the case is of significant concern due to Braileys position of authority and that she even informed the complainant not to speak about what had occurred. What has her defence team said? Loading Braileys solicitor, Patrick Schmidt, told the court he did not shy away from the seriousness of the allegations. While its currently just an allegation, he acknowledged the prosecution case seemed strong. He argued successfully for Brailey to be released from custody on Wednesday to live with her parents in Wollongong while she awaits further court proceedings, saying decisions on bail were not about early punishment but risks to the community.

Schmidt noted Brailey had no prior criminal record and strong community ties, with her parents and husband supporting her in court. Her family was extremely emotional throughout the hearing. He said it was clear police did not yet have all their ducks in a row, and it was not clear how long their investigation would take. It could be 18 months to two years before a trial takes place, if Brailey were to fight any of the charges, and he argued it would be onerous to keep her in prison until then. Schmidt told the court that while age is an issue, the acts were often referred to as non-oppositional in the police fact sheet. Legally, a student cannot consent to sex with their teacher. Who is Tayla Brailey? Just 11 months ago, Tayla Brailey was celebrating her wedding.

Brailey appeared on the 1% Club Australia. The teacher got engaged in December 2021, and her mother posted a glowing social media update showing off her daughters impressive engagement ring. Other social media posts showed her celebrating her hen party in Bali and posing outside the popular Finns Beach Club at Canggu. The 30-year-old graduated from the University of Wollongong in 2017 with a degree in physical and health education before becoming a teacher. Recently, she co-ordinated her schools athletics carnival.

She lives in a western Wollongong suburb with her real estate agent mother, where she must stay at all times unless supervised by her parents as part of her bail conditions. Outside the classroom, Brailey appeared as a contestant on the Channel Seven quiz show the 1% Club Australia earlier this year. Why was she released on bail? Magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim said the serious allegations involved an abuse of position and trust, and the prosecutions case appeared strong. Ultimately, however, he was confident the strict bail conditions proposed by Schmidt would mitigate any risks raised by the prosecution, which included failing to appear at court, endangering the safety of victims and the community and interfering with witnesses or evidence. He was also convinced she would abide by the conditions that were comparable to house arrest. She must live with her parents in Wollongong and not leave home without them, abide by a 9pm7am curfew, stay off social media, not contact any prosecution witnesses, not go near children unless with her parents, enter no educational facilities, stay away from the schools suburb, report to police three times a week, surrender her passport and not go near international departure points.

Brailey tied the knot in September 2023. Credit: Facebook What happens next? The Herald can report this case thanks to a win by this masthead and another media outlet in court against the prosecution, which fought to ban the publication of Braileys name and other identifying details. On Wednesday, the prosecution argued for an eight-week interim non-publication order due to ongoing police investigations into the matter. But Abdul-Karim noted that media coverage of arrests and court proceedings are regularly publicised while investigations are ongoing, and no specific risks to anyones safety were raised. He said he was not satisfied that it was in the public interest to suppress the information.
A Tesla Model 3 has crashed into the back of an ambulance in the Brisbane CBD.

The collision occurred about 3pm on Ann Street, between Central Station and King George Square.

A man was being treated by paramedics after the Tesla he was driving collided with an ambulance on Ann Street. Credit: William Davis

More than a dozen police, paramedics and firefighters remain on the scene.

It was so loud we could hear it from the 18th floor, one onlooker told Brisbane Times.

A man was treated next to the car.

Eight emergency vehicles have been called to the street.

Brisbane Times has contacted Queensland police and ambulance for more information.
A Perth dentist has gone on trial this week over explosive allegations he drugged and raped multiple young women over two months of 2022 after meeting them on dating apps Tinder and Bumble.

Farzam Mehrabi, 34, is accused of meeting the women, all aged between 18 and 20, in various Perth bars before inviting them back to his parents house in Shelley.

Farzam Mehrabi is accused of drugging and raping multiple young women. Credit: Nine News Perth

Mehrabi, who was born in Iran and moved to Australia as a child, was also a third-year medical student at Notre Dame University.

State prosecutors claim Mehrabi, then aged 31, mixed a cocktail of drugs including MDMA, MDA, lorazepam and methamphetamine into drinks he bought or made for them before allegedly engaging in rough non-consensual sex.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size While Washington has warmed to the AUKUS submarine deal in the last couple of years, Elbridge Colby has stood against the tide. Indeed, the former Pentagon defence strategist emerged as its most important critic in the US. It was crazy he said earlier this year. Not because hes unfriendly to Australia. He counts Australia as Americas best ally. I mean, Australia has been in even our ill-advised wars like Vietnam and Iraq, he tells me. Im a big fan. Elbridge Colby is a self-proclaimed big fan of Australia. That feeling doesnt extend to the AUKUS pact. So while Australia loses points for its strategic judgement, it wins on dogged loyalty. Colbys objection to AUKUS is that the US faces the prospect of war with China any time now so why are we giving away this crown jewel asset when we most need it? he posed in June.

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Colby, the lead author of the 2018 US National Security Strategy under the Trump administration, is widely mooted as a potential national security adviser to Trump if the Republican should win the November election. His opposition matters. So its notable that hes now started to relent. Even in the last couple of months, I would say that my views on AUKUS have become a bit more receptive, he tells me. I would describe myself as maybe an AUKUS agnostic. Im not an atheist, which is to say Im prepared to be convinced in the existence of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but I have not seen the weight of compelling evidence thus far. Colby wont be swayed by groupthink, but his changing attitude does coincide with a gathering political momentum in the Biden White House and the US Congress to make AUKUS happen. President Joe Biden this week signed the legal authority to allow the US to transfer submarines and technology to Australia and to entrench Canberras promises of nuclear non-proliferation. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles called it a key foundational document. It will go before the Australian parliament, and the US Congress and UK parliament, for ratification in the coming days.

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We are making this happen, said Marles during a trip to Washington D.C. this week. The deals most important advocate in the US Congress, Democrat Joe Courtney of Connecticut, tells me that both Democrat and Republican congress members and senators, after some initial scepticism and apathy, have now got religion on AUKUS. He measures its political popularity by congressional vote counts on supplemental budgets. There were three before the Congress at the same time in April  one for aid to Israel, one for aid to Ukraine and one for the Indo-Pacific, including help to Taiwan and AUKUS-related funding. Actually there was a very strong consensus [in favour of] the Indo-Pacific area, says Courtney. Indo-Pacific had by far the largest bipartisan vote, by a ratio of about 10 votes in favour to one against. As it went through the various committee processes, its something that sort of actually grew in terms of popularity and support, particularly among Republican members. Why? Chiefly because its part of the US effort to deter aggression by China. He also credits Kevin Rudd as the perfect man for the time because of his expertise on China  his book The Avoidable War was doing the rounds on Capitol Hill  and effectiveness in persuading Republicans to support AUKUS.

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While pro-AUKUS consensus forms among the Washington political class, a mood of isolationism develops among the broader public, led by disillusioned combat veterans. Loading Dan Caldwell is a veteran of the Iraq war and now an adviser at Defence Priorities, a Washington think tank advocating restraint in US defence policy, the opposite of activism or adventurism. There is distrust of a lot of national security institutions, both in government and outside, because these institutions, these individuals  youve probably heard the term the blob [the nickname for the Washington foreign policy establishment]  have been consistently wrong for the last 30 years, Caldwell says. A clear indicator of popular mood is that Joe Biden, Donald Trump and Barack Obama have all boasted that they led the US into no new wars. Yet political support for AUKUS consolidates. The two countercurrents today coexist in the person of Trumps running mate, J.D. Vance. Like Caldwell, hes an Iraq combat veteran who favours military restraint, but has endorsed AUKUS to confront China.

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Whether the two can continue to coexist is an open question. Why has Elbridge Colby become less hostile to AUKUS? Hes been learning about the ancillary benefits of the deal: Because I have heard not only from the Australians, but the Americans, including about Australian investments in the submarine base. A $US3 billion contribution from the Australian government is to allow increased tempo of Virginia class submarine-building in American shipyards, up from 1.3 vessels a year to a projected 2.3 a year by the end of the decade. And allowing an expanded, you know, opening access for US submarines in

Australia, as the US increasingly disperses its forces to Australia as an operating base out of range of Chinas missiles. Further, says Colby: Im impressed that there are very capable and competent and serious people working on this problem, not only in government, but an industry here and in the UK and in Australia.

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That last win, he was three wide with cover and rounded them up so quickly, so Im not worried about the weight. Iron Man could be heading for bigger races in the early part of the spring, particularly if the tracks stay dry. We actually waited with him for the tracks to be a little less wet because he needs that confidence in his footing, ORourke said. The good thing about his two wins has been he has shown the ability I knew he had, and he hasnt yet got on a firm surface. Bart Cummings said patience is the cheapest thing in racing and the least used, and this shows that he was right because we could have rushed him and not had the success we are having. It is a similar story for Bryce Heys with Dancing Alone, which has shown potential from her debut. Her record stands at six wins from eight starts after being well-placed by Heys.

The I Am Invincible mare rose through the grades last spring winning four of her six starts and finished the campaign by being placed at group 3 level during the Flemington carnival, but Heys decided to miss the autumn with her. It was the toughest decision to make because I know how good she is, said Heys, who went so close to group 1 glory with Speith a few years back. It would have been a quick turnaround into the autumn, so I felt giving her a long break could pay dividends later on. Being a small trainer, you dont get many like her. She is older and stronger and we would like to get her back to stakes level again, but timing-wise this is a good starting point for her. Dancing Alone is unbeaten first up and is a $3.20 second favourite behind the flying Our Kobison ($1.90) as she returns over the Randwick 1000m, where she is likely to take a sit behind the favourite.

It was a tactic she used to run down smart sprinter Jedibeel over 1000m at Kembla Grange at the beginning of her spring campaign last year She is going to take improvement from the run on Saturday, Heys said. I think she is going to get those black type races later in the prep and be very competitive. Rosehill stable providing Golden Path for Price and Kent junior Mick Price and Michael Kent juniors satellite stable at Rosehill has earned more than $1.5 million in six months and they are hoping to make it a permanent part of their business to let horses like Golden Path shine. The Melbourne training partnership is waiting on confirmation from the ATC to formalise their Rosehill stable, where they already have staff.

Golden Path has won his past two starts, including powering away from subsequent Grafton Cup runner-up Touristic in the McKell Cup at the end of June. He is a horse that has loved being in Sydney and since that last win he has had a short break with the Premiers Cup in mind, Kent said. Chad Schofield and Golden Path score an easy McKell Cup win in June. Credit: Getty Images We earmarked that race after his last win and Saturday is the logical lead-up with his target two weeks away. Chad [Schofield] knows the horse well and I think from the good gate he will be confident of his chances over the 1800m

Golden Path is $3.40 favourite for the Premiers Cup Prelude against a group of stayers looking to further into spring and races like the Wyong Cup, Newcastle Cup and the Metropolitan. Loading These are the only two runs we have planned and then we will assess where he is at, he said. Getting him to win at 2000m has opened up plenty more options for him but if hes going well we could push on into spring, but there are races like The Ingham later on for him. The Price-Kent partnership have had a handy group of horses at Rosehill including Queensland Derby winner Warmonger, which is spending a couple of weeks in Sydney to start his spring, and All Aged Stakes runner-up Amenable, which is back in work after running fifth in the Stradbroke. He could look at the Epsom and the Five Diamonds, Kent junior said. There is a good program of races in Sydney for him and it is what makes Rosehill a big part of our stable going forward.
~Validity of the alert now being questioned~

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:--- The US Consulate General of Curacao advised its citizens traveling to St. Maarten on Wednesday evening on the rise in crime on St. Maarten. The advisory addresses the rise in criminal activity, and travelers should exercise caution, particularly in the Dutch Quarter, where most of the violence has been reported.

The US Consulate General also advises its citizens to be mindful of possible political demonstrations in relation to the August 19th parliamentary snap elections.

Read the precautions the Consulate General asks its citizens to take in St. Maarten.

Noteworthy to mention is the alert that has been circulating on social media has not been published on the US Consulate Website. The last alert on St. Maarten was on June 27th, 2024, when the Consulate announced the power outages experienced on the island. https://cw.usconsulate.gov/alert/

The Minister of TEATT, Grisha Heyliger Marten, also did not say she was officially notified but stated in her press release that "reports" reaching her indicate that the consulate general would be notifying its citizens about the need to exercise increased vigilance while traveling to Sint Maarten.
Corvallis elected officials were divided over a new parking lot proposed by a downtown hotel owner that would require the demolition of a pair of commercial buildings.

The Courtyard by Marriott brought its request for additional guest parking to the City Council after the Planning Commission unanimously denied the expansion in July.

A Place to Sleep, episode 9: Sleep The latest episode is here, and this time we put a lot less emphasis on the word "place" and a lot more on "sleep."

Marriott owner Corvallis River Run LLC wants to replace the buildings, which share an alley with the hotel, with a 12-space lot. The hotel is on Southwest First Street and the buildings are on Second Street. A one-way driveway would exit through the alley and provide access to the hotel.

The council voted 5-4 to tentatively deny the appeal during a meeting Monday, Aug. 5. Opponents of the proposal cited concerns about bicycle and pedestrian safety as well as conflicts with city planning goals and regulations. The Planning Commission raised similar opposition in voting down the proposal in July.

We have state mandates that ask us to reduce vehicle miles traveled by personal car, to remove required parking and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Councilor Charlyn Ellis said in moving to deny the proposal.

We also have a Corvallis Vision, a climate action plan and a comprehensive plan which direct us to reduce dependency on cars, use land efficiently and maintain a lively pedestrian-orientated downtown, she said.

Ellis added that the land development code states off-street parking must be placed to the rear of the building it serves.

Councilors Paul Shaffer, Tracey Yee, Gabe Shepherd and Briae Lewis backed Ellis motion against the appeal. Councilors Jan Napack, Tony Cadena, Hyatt Lytle and Laurie Chaplen voted against it.

Napack spoke in favor of the appeal, saying the developer rebutted every objection to the proposal put forth by the Planning Commission. She said comprehensive plans are not sacred, they are a guide, not an absolute.

She also challenged the notion of catering to bicycle and pedestrian traffic over vehicles.

This is the business of downtown, Napack said. And downtown itself is not going to be depending on people riding bikes and walking.  People are driving cars, and they want to park. Thats the reality.

Shaffer, who is council president, countered Napacks remarks, saying the Marriott is a benefit to downtown, but the hotel will not sink or swim on a handful of parking spaces.

He believes Marriott representatives did not make their case that the hotel needs the additional parking capacity. And that was on top of code and planning concerns Shaffer had.

City staff are expected to bring formal findings back to the council for consideration and a final decision at a future date.

Following questions from councilors seeking to clarify policy and planning regulations and intentions, Senior Planner Rian Amiton acknowledged that the parking proposal highlighted some gray areas in our code that have been a challenge.

At the Planning Commission level, the panel heard from many residents suggesting the parking lot would go against community livability standards and code guidelines as well as create a traffic safety risk to the sole benefit of the hotel.

The City Council received similar public comments against the proposal Monday.

Marriott management argued its parking capacity is insufficient, citing 176 rooms and meeting space for 120 people, but only 133 parking spaces. They also have said guests complain about a lack of ground-level parking and noted concerns regarding homeless people around nearby parking close to the skate park.

By any measure, this applicant has made one of the top three improvements and significant long-term business investments in downtown Corvallis, development consultant Lyle Hutchens told the council.

City staff found the application was largely compliant with local code and recommended approval, though 11 conditions were suggested to meet development requirements, including expanding the size of a small park area facing Second Street in place of a proposed outdoor seating area and a few parking spaces.

The proposal would require demolishing the former Cyclotopia store and what was previously the site of a live-work development, which are mid-block between the Corvallis Museum and Riverside Window & Door Inc.

Benton County tax records show the .20-acre property was sold to Washington-based OMCE LLC for $1.25 million in 2022, and Corvallis River Run paid $1.31 million for it in 2023.

Related stories:
Australian science magazine slammed over AI-generated articles



Sydney, Aug 8 (AFP) Aug 08, 2024



One of Australia's leading science magazines drew fire Thursday after publishing AI-generated articles that experts said were incorrect or oversimplified.

Cosmos, published by Australia's state-backed national science agency, used Open AI's GPT-4 to produce six articles published last month.

Although the use of artificial intelligence was disclosed, the Science Journalists Association of Australia said its use had caused serious concerns.

Association president Jackson Ryan told AFP that in the AI-generated Cosmos article 'What happens to our bodies after death?' the descriptions of scientific processes were incorrect or vastly simplified.

In one example, the AI service wrote rigor mortis sets in 3 to 4 hours after death. Ryan said scientific research shows the timing to be less definitive.

Another example included the description of autolysis -- a process in which cells are destroyed by their enzymes -- which the article described as "self-breaking".

Ryan said this was a poor description of the process.

He said generally, these inaccuracies would damage people's trust in and perception of the publication.

A spokesperson for the national science agency said the AI content had been fact-checked by a "trained science communicator and edited by the Cosmos publishing team".

Cosmos will continue to review the use of the AI service throughout the experiment, the spokesperson said.

The magazine has drawn further criticism for using a journalism grant to develop its artificial intelligence capabilities, which could come at the expense of journalists.

Cosmos former editor Gail MacCallum told Australia's national broadcaster ABC that while she was a "huge proponent of exploring AI", having it create articles was "past my comfort zone".

Another former editor, Ian Connellan, told the ABC he had not been informed of the AI project and, if he had, he'd have advised it was a "bad idea".

The use of AI is becoming a major battleground for publishers and musicians.

The New York Times recently sued ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and Microsoft in a US court, alleging that the companies' powerful AI models used millions of articles for training without permission.

The emerging AI giants are facing a wave of lawsuits over using internet content to build systems that create content on simple prompts.
Libya government forces brace for 'possible attack' by rivals: local media



Tripoli, Aug 8 (AFP) Aug 08, 2024



The armed forces of Libya's internationally-recognised government are on alert for a "possible attack" near the border with Tunisia and Algeria by forces loyal to the divided country's rival eastern administration, local media reported Thursday.

"Salahuddin al-Namroush, the deputy chief of staff, has instructed army units to be on high alert and ready to repel any possible attack," a military source told the Libya al-Ahrar television channel.

Energy-rich Libya has been wracked by unrest since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising.

It is split between the UN-recognised government in the capital Tripoli in the west and a rival administration backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar that rules from Benghazi and Tobruk in the east.

In 2019-2020, Haftar's forces tried to seize Tripoli but failed, despite backing from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Russia and some Western powers.

Libya al-Ahrar, a privately-owned channel, reported Wednesday that forces affiliated with Haftar were "heading towards southwest Libya", in an area controlled by Tripoli authorities, without providing further details.

Forces led by the strongman's youngest son, General Saddam Haftar, on Tuesday said they were deploying "patrols ... to monitor the border strip with neighbouring countries" to enhance "national security and stability in these strategic areas".

According to a statement posted on Facebook, the units, under the "direct supervision" of Saddam Haftar, are heading "towards the towns and areas of southwest Libya".

rb/fka/ysm/jsa
Iraq says five arrested over attack on US troops



Baghdad, Aug 8 (AFP) Aug 08, 2024



Iraqi authorities have arrested five suspects over a recent attack on a military base hosting US troops that wounded seven Americans, officials said Thursday.

The rocket attack Monday was the latest in a series targeting Ain al-Assad base in recent weeks, which hosts American troops as well as other personnel from the US-led coalition against the Islamic State jihadist group.

The Iraqi government's security media unit said in a statement that after "in-depth investigation and witness statements... five people involved in the illegal act were arrested".

The statement did not provide further details on the suspects or whether they were affiliated with any groups.

According to a US defence official "five US service members and two US contractors were injured in the attack," in which two rockets struck the base.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin blamed the attack on "an Iranian-backed Shiite militia group," but said investigations were ongoing to determine which group.

Such attacks were frequent early in the war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, but had largely halted until recently.

There have also been two other recent attacks targeting Ain al-Assad base -- on July 16 and 25.

Monday's rocket attack came at a time of already heightened tensions in the Middle East, with the region awaiting an expected counterattack by Iran on Israel following the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week.

The rocket attack came after US forces carried out a strike in Iraq last week that a US official said targeted combatants who were attempting to launch drones deemed a threat to American and allied troops.

The strike, which Iraqi sources said left four dead, was the first by American forces in Iraq since February.

Attacks against US troops were much more common in the first few months of the Gaza war, when they were targeted more than 175 times.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose alliance of pro-Iran groups, claimed the majority of those attacks, saying they were in solidarity with Palestinians.
US F-22 stealth warplanes arrive in Middle East



Washington, Aug 8 (AFP) Aug 08, 2024



Advanced American F-22 stealth warplanes arrived in the Middle East on Thursday, the US military said, as Washington boosts its forces in the region ahead of an expected Iranian counterattack on Israel.

The deployment is part of "force posture changes in the region to mitigate the possibility of regional escalation by Iran or its proxies," US Central Command said on social media, without specifying the number or exact location of the planes.

The Pentagon said last week that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had ordered assets including additional warships and a fighter squadron to the region.

Seven American personnel were wounded in a rocket attack in Iraq earlier this week that Washington blamed on an Iran-backed militia group.

And Tehran and its allies are expected to launch an attack on Israel in retaliation for the killing of top Hamas and Hezbollah figures in strikes last week either blamed on or claimed by Israel.

The killings are among the most serious in a series of tit-for-tat attacks that have heightened fears of a regional conflagration stemming from the Gaza war.
'Victory closer': Kyiv residents welcome offensive on Russia's Kursk region



Kyiv, Ukraine, Aug 8 (AFP) Aug 08, 2024



As Ukraine's major assault on the Russian border region of Kursk entered a third day, residents in the capital Kyiv praised the offensive as "bringing victory closer".

The cross-border incursion appears to be Ukraine's most serious since Russia's invasion began in February 2022, and may involve up to 1,000 troops, according to Moscow's estimates.

"To be honest, I feel proud of our guys and happy," said Tetiana Krapyvka, a financier in the Ukrainian capital.

"I believe that it was a prepared operation and maybe personnel reserves were used, but it was prepared well," she added.

Ukraine has not officially taken responsibility for the operation, which began on Tuesday morning, but officials have blamed Moscow for inciting the attack.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said that "Russia brought the war to our land and should feel what it has done".

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called it a "large-scale provocation" by Kyiv and Russia's top general vowed on Wednesday to crush the incursion.

"With these actions, Ukraine is strengthening its defence capabilities and its ability to defend itself," said Anastasia Volkova, a cultural manager in the Ukrainian capital

"This is a success of our military, including in the most difficult areas of the front line."

The independent US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Ukraine had made significant territorial gains in the first two days of the incursion.

The Russian defence ministry said its troops were "continuing to destroy" armed Ukrainian units and were using air strikes, rocket and artillery fire to try to push them back.



- Show them 'what war is' -



Many residents praised the attack as payback for Russia's invasion, now in its third year.

A local resident in Kyiv, Rita Simon, told AFP that the Kursk region operation was "necessary" to show Russia the consequences of war.

"They came to our land, and now let them feel what our mothers, our boys who are fighting now, feel," she said.

"Let them feel what it's like to live and lose their children, and let their children feel what we feel."

Volodymyr Borodyansky, a worker in the tourism sector, had the same sentiment.

"Let those in Moscow also know what war is," he said.

Another resident, 27-year-old Volodymyr Pyatov, said the operation would give Ukraine the upper hand in the war.

"It seems to me that the military leadership knows better what is best for bringing victory closer," he said.

"I hope that this will somehow help to withdraw enemy forces from other fronts and make it easier for the Ukrainian military on the eastern and southern fronts," he added.

video-cad/am/gv




With just two weeks left for the team to complete their assessments, there is so much to get through. Luckily, they did not have to choose the next case on their own as Sister Andrea brings them their next case. I really love Sister Andrea, she is one of the best characters on the show.





Sister Andrea brings them Paul - the son of her friend that killed herself. He is being possessed by Gregory, his doppelganger who recently killed himself. Of course the team thinks he has a mental disorder but Sister Andrea can see the demon in him and when she asked him who he was he flashed that evil smile, I jumped.





"Fear of the Other" - EVIL, Pictured: Andrea Martin as Sister Andrea and Mike Colter as David Acosta Photo: Michael Parmelee/Paramount+ 2024 Paramount+. All Rights Reserved





The backstory for the episode was Kristen dealing with the fallout of her divorce. She thought she would be getting money from the billionaire climber but he already paid Andy. If that wasnt enough to deal with, she attends Lelands trial everyday. Kurt was called as a witness for the defense. Lelands lawyer aka the evil demon that has come to NY shows himself to Kurt in order to scare him into submission. Kurt does say that Leland needs to be hospitalized but he goes off script and says for life - therefore putting his own life at risk.





"Fear of the Other" - EVIL, Pictured: Fedor Steer as the Stick Demon Photo: Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+ 2024 Paramount+. All Rights Reserved





Apparently, the person Paul saw was his doppelganger. There is a website where you can find your doppelganger. Ben, who has been offered multiple job opportunities, has trouble accepting them to the point he almost took off his foil to talk to the Jin. Instead, he looks up his doppelganger. He seems to be happily married with a child. Meanwhile, Kristen is on the website and instead of looking up her doppelganger she searches for Davids and finds a boxer and has a dream about him.





Sister Andrea saw her own doppelganger after being haunted by her friend. She goes to see David to confess her sins. The scene was very emotional and well acted. Later, David tries to save the Church with the Archdiocese but the Church has been bought and everyone has to move out. They promoted him to a sinking ship.





Kristens girls try to raise money by starting a gofundme and they raised over ten thousand much to Kristens shock. Before she can punish them, they give her an idea to start her own practice and Kurt agrees to refer his patients to her while he is on her book tour. She returns to the trial only for Lelands case to be dismissed as the demon got to the judge who killed Kristens surrogate in a shocking scene. Everytime I think Leland has lost, he comes back swinging harder.





Paul has his exorcism with the help of Sister Andrea. She is so strong and wise and later that night Kristen goes back to the doppelganger website and finds her doppelganger who is a musician. My issue with the doppelganger storyline this episode is that they didnt cast actors that look similar to our cast but just had our cast act as other characters. I think it would have been more believable had the people on the website just looked similar and not exactly the same.





"Fear of the Other" - EVIL, Pictured: Andrea Martin as Sister Andrea and Paul Deboy as Paul Sr. Photo: Alyssa Longchamp/Paramount+ 2024 Paramount+. All Rights Reserved

David talks with Sister Andrea about what is going on with the Church and his doubts. She has him play the piano and a bright light surrounds them. She tells him that He (God) is in the room with them. I love their relationship and how they help each other. They are each other's glue and one of my favorite moments from the episode was her staring down the demon in court.





Overall, the episode had its shocking and scary moments, however I feel like Bens story is getting a little lost this season and I want him and Kristen to really believe in what is happening with them. I am nervous for Kurt because what he did will not go unpunished. I am so tired of Leland winning and I hope we get to see him go down soon, probably the final episode (two episodes left).





What did you think of the episode? Leave a comment and remember to follow me on X @jereereviews to discuss more.








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Also it matters not that a particular offender voluntarily present at the scene of a disturbance did not instigate the disorder, or play a leading role, or themselves throw a missile at the police or cause particular damage. As has often been observed in cases such as this it is an unavoidable feature of mass disorder that each participant's act, whatever it might have been when considered in isolation, is capable of stirring up and encouraging others to behave in a similar way, and that the harm to the public stems from the combined effect of what is done by everyone who is present.
Speaking on her way in to the Executive meeting at Stormont Castle, Ms ONeill said: Given recent events, its important that we, as political leaders, come together with one voice to say no to racism  ultimately, thats what this is about.
Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austrias interior ministry, said on Wednesday that authorities were aware of preparatory actions for a possible attack in his country and also that there is a focus by the 19-year-old perpetrator on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna, the Austria Press Agency reported.
Lack of investment by the last government in public services and housing are the cause and by taking out your frustrations on others because of their ethnicity, religion, skin colour or more, more scarce resources are being wasted and you are being manipulated by far right groups and social media fakery.
Any suggestion that theyre patriots, or theyve got a cause that theyre protesting about is nonsense, and frankly, most of them are going to be charged with violent disorder and most of them are going to be going to prison for a few years.
Can I also just say there is, of course, a commitment in our manifesto in the General Election to introduce Martyns law, which, again, is about making sure that those venues which could be subject to terrorist attack have in place everything that they need in terms of keeping people safe, and that will be brought forward by the government shortly.
MTN Group announced it received regulatory approval to sell its Guinea-Bissau unit to Telecel Group as the operator pushes on with its plan to focus on core markets in Africa.

In a regulatory filing, MTN stated it had concluded the sale of its small West African subsidiary MTN Guinea-Bissau.

The move is in line with its strategy to streamline its portfolio of units. The company has began steps to transfer ownership which, the Group believes is in the best interests of MTN Guinea-Bissau, its stakeholders and the sector in Guinea-Bissau at large.

MTN Group accepted Telecels offer for Guinea-Bissau and Guinea-Conarky in December 2023, highlighting the how the units were contributing little to group bottom line.

MTN Guinea-Bissau recorded 830,000 subscribers in the first quarter of 2024, a decline year-on-year decline from 871,000. Revenue in Q1 from the unit was ZAR94 million (US$5.1 million) up from ZAR73 million.

In the same regulatory filing, MTN revealed it had renewed tower leases in Nigeria.
Clear Mobitel, a UK-based technology data company, has announced plans to invest US$200 million in Zimbabwes telecommunications sector.

Clear Mobitel says it decision to invest in Zimbabwe comes amid growing interest from several global players and aligns with the Second Republics ongoing efforts to attract foreign investment and bolster the countrys economic growth.

Clear Mobitel specialises in a wide range of advanced technologies, including cloud computing, IP bandwidth, internet connectivity, 5G, data centres, the Internet of Things (IoT), mobile broadband, fixed wireless access (FWA), and autonomous vehicles. The company also offers telemedicine, artificial intelligence, big data, data analytics, 5G private networks, eSIM and more.

Clear Mobitel CEO Mr Harpal Mann is widely quoted as saying: I am impressed by the countrys business environment and prepared to invest US$200 million because of the open-for-business policy in Zimbabwe. He adds: Our objective is to eventually spread our services throughout the SADC region.

Additionally, Clear Mobitel says it has partnered with Japanese tech giant NEC Corporation to supply advanced technologies that will enhance Clear Mobitels offerings in Zimbabwe.

As for how inviting the business climate really is in Zimbabwe, a number of news outlets have reported that the country is making a push to lure foreign capital and is using its new gold-backed currency  the ZiG  to persuade investors that it wont repeat past economic mistakes.

Indeed, according to a Bloomberg report, Zimbabwean officials have set early 2026 as the new deadline for making the ZiG the countrys sole currency. Previously, authorities had targeted 2030 as the deadline.
The Ministry of National Defence (MApN) has a stand in the Central Park of Cluj-Napoca, open Thursday to Sunday, for the Untold Festival.

According to MApN, in attendance there will be servicepersons from the 4th Gemina Infantry Division, the Special Operations Forces, specialists in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) together with dog Rocky, the 30th Mihai Viteazu Guards Brigade and the 71st General Emanoil Ionescu Air Base, school boys and students from military educational establishments.

Throughout the festival, Team Invictus Romania will provide first aid courses where participants will be able to learn basic manoeuvres in line with the updated medical protocol guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council.

On display there will be weapons of the Special Operations Forces (FOS), a riot control vehicle and a robot of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, a flight simulator of the Air Force Academy in Brasov and a virtual shooting simulator of the Land Forces Academy in Sibiu.

Servicepersons of the 30th Mihai Viteazul Guards Brigade will conduct drill team exercises, and the participants who want to check their motor skills can do so using a military-applicative route with obstacles prepared by the soldiers of the 317th Vladeasa Regiment.

Officials of the Cluj Area Military Centre will provide detailed information to all those interested in a military career.
The government will approve the 2024 edition of the "Start Up Nation - Romania" program, which has been allocated a budget of almost 450 million euros, for a maximum of five years, prime minister Marcel Ciolacu said.

"We continue to support the business environment and we are starting the 2024 edition of the 'Start Up Nation - Romania' program. We are coming with two components, the first for young people under 30: access to training courses and acquisition of entrepreneurial skills. The second is for those aged between 30 and 35 who want to develop a business. The program's budget is almost 450 million euros, for a maximum of 5 years, and the financial support is a maximum of 50,000 euros per beneficiary," said Marcel Ciolacu, on Thursday, in the Government meeting.
The Giurgiu Border Police Inspectorate (ITPF) on Thursday started flights for the surveillance of the Romanian-Bulgarian common border with support from the General Aviation Inspectorate of the Romanian Ministry of Interior in the presence of Bulgarian border police partners.

"At ITPF Giurgiu,we deal with the surveillance and control of the border crossing on the entire border formed by the Danube River, and today we have started flights for border surveillance with support from the General Aviation Inspectorate of the Romanian Ministry of Interior, and on this occasion, I had the honour to have with me the director of the Ruse Regional Directorate of the Bulgarian Border Police Dimitar Chorbadzhiev. I said that we inaugurated it because part of the joint Romanian-Bulgarian border surveillance actions, starting today, a new way of border surveillance, from the air," head of ITPF Giurgiu Viorel Chiran told a news conference at Giurgiu border crossing.

He added that the ITPF Giurgiu covers about 450 kilometres, from the border between the counties of Dolj and Mehedinti to the city of Calarasi.

"We supervise this area jointly with our Bulgarian partners. We work together, as you can see, Romanian border guards and Bulgarian border guards work together on the ground, and we do border surveillance through our policing methods. But there are many activities that we carry out jointly, in particular joint patrolling on the Danube River with ships belonging to the Romanian Border Police and the Bulgarian Border Police, joint land patrolling, alternately on the Romanian shore and on the Bulgarian shore with vehicles of both the Romanian border police and the Bulgarian border police, and, more recently, you have seen air patrols and joint missions with the General Aviation Inspectorate of Romania," Chiran said.

According to him, the first drone at ITPF Giurgiu will arrive soon, but, for now, only for Dolj County, as border surveillance actions will be carried out together with the General Inspectorate for Immigration to check the accommodation areas in the border area.

Director of the Ruse Regional Border Directorate Dimitar Chorbadzhiev thanked the Giurgiu Border Police for their invitation to him to carry out together this mission of surveillance of the Danube River.

After Schengen accession, checks at the checking points will stay in force, but as members of the Schengen area, Bulgaria and Romania have to take compensatory measures and for that, together they make mixed patrols in the border area and now they are also applying this new way of observation by helicopter.

He added that now, with the aid of a helicopter and the observations made from the air and in the context in which the levels of the Danube waters have decreased, new places where there may be a risk of illegal crossing can be observed very well, so that appropriate measures can be taken.

These air patrolling measures in the Romanian-Bulgarian border area are part of the modes of action of the Romanian and Bulgarian border authorities as compensatory measures after accession to the Schengen Area.

Chiran and Chorbadzhiev arrived at the news conference in Giurgiu in an observation helicopter.
The Bucharest Courthouse on Thursday decided to take up a prosecutors' request for a 30-day pre-trial arrest of two female doctors from the Emergency Clinical Hospital Sfantul Pantelimon in Bucharest accused of having caused the death of a patient admitted to intensive care by intentionally lowering the dose of norepinephrine, which maintains blood pressure.

The court's decision is not final.

Dr M.M.A. is investigated for attempted murder -with premeditation and taking advantage of the victim's state of obvious vulnerability - and aggravated murder - with premeditation - and Dr P.M. is investigated for aggravated murder - with premeditation.

Specifically, prosecutors claim that in March and April, the two doctors lowered the dose of the blood pressure maintainer norepinephrine to a patient admitted to intensive care, who consequently went into cardiopulmonary arrest.

Investigators determined that before the doctors lowered the norepinephrine dose for the second time, the patient's condition had improved.

"The 54-year-old patient was admitted to the hospital on March 17, and due to his worsening health condition, he was transferred to the ICU on March 25. On March 26, the first sudden reduction in the dose of norepinephrine occurred. In the following days, the patient's condition improved, he was even visited by family. On April 4, the second reduction of the dose of norepinephrine happened, and death occurred," according to an official of the Prosecutor's Office.

In the same case, a nurse from the ICU ward has been indicted for allegedly lying to prosecutors about suspicious deaths at the Pantelimon Hospital.
Indonesian telco Telkomsel says it has rolled out 49 new base stations to support 5G and 4G services in the countrys new capital of Nusantara (IKN), which would make it the only 5G service provider in the city when its officially inaugurated on August 17.

In a statement issued this week, Telkomsel said the new base stations cover the Central Government Core Area (KIPP) and other supporting areas in Nusantara, which is located on the island of Borneo in East Kalimantan.

Telkomsel also said it has optimised its network in two IKN buffer cities, Balikpapan and Samarinda. That project was focused on ten strategic areas such as airports, shopping centres, hotels and main roads connecting the two cities with IKN. The objective is ensure optimum connectivity for customers who coming in and out of the IKN area, the telco said.

The 5G installations will make Telkomsel the only 5G provider in IKN for the time being. Rival telco Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison has invested at least US$10 million to build out 4G infrastructure in Nusantara and beef up existing infrastructure in the area. Indosat president director and CEO Vikram Sinha told Nikkei Asia in November 2023 that Indosat is only deploying 4G in IKN because there are "still a lot of things which can be done with 4G.

Meanwhile, Telkomsel said it has also established two customer service centres in the IKN area  one at the IKN Construction Worker's Residence (HPK), which was launched last week, and one at Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport in Balikpapan.

"We hope to provide a smooth and efficient communication experience in meeting the digital needs of all customers at IKN, as well as showing IKN's readiness as the centre of future government, said Telkomsel network director Indra Mardiatna.

Delays and budget questions

Just how ready IKN is remains an open question. The US$32 billion project, first announced in 2019, has been under construction since July 2022. While the roadmap calls for Nusantara to be fully completed by 2045, it was originally scheduled to officially replace Jakarata as the new capital city of Indonesia this month. President Joko Widodo began working from the new presidential palace last week, but according to The Guardian, IKNs construction is way behind schedule, with most buildings still unfinished. Plans to relocate Jakartas 12,000 civil servants to Nusantara  which was supposed to happen last month  have been delayed.

While Nusantara will still be officially inaugurated as part of its Indonesia Independence Day celebrations on August 17, it wont be officially decreed the new capital city. That might not happen until at least October 20, when president-elect Prabowo Subianto is inaugurated, the report said.

Apart from the general infrastructure challenges of building any new city, Nusantara has the additional challenge of establishing itself as a modern and sustainable smart city. Telkom Indonesia has signed separate MoUs with KT Corp and NEC to collaborate on developing smart-city solutions for Nusantara. However, the smart-city aspect adds to both the complexity and the cost of the project.

Senior researcher Tauhid Ahmad from the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance said on Wednesday that the cost of smart city projects is significantly higher than conventional infrastructure projects, even when factoring in the efficiencies of renewable resources, according to the Jakarta Globe.

Tauhid said the governments IDR71.8 trillion (US$4.5 billion) budget for Nusantaras development from 2022-2024 is not nearly enough to support its initial smart-city ambitions, which would require between IDR300 trillion and IDR400 trillion.
ST. LOUIS  A cocktail bar, a Nigerian restaurant and a plant-based skincare company are the first businesses to receive funding through the Downtown Retail Incentive Program.

In April, Greater St. Louis Inc. and the St. Louis Development Corp. announced the program, which offers up to $15,000 for pop-up retail shops at vacant storefronts and $5,000 to restaurants in an attempt to draw more retail to St. Louis downtown neighborhood.

The first round of awardees include Pour Decisions, a mobile cocktail business starting its first brick-and-mortar location at 1321 Washington Avenue, called The Passport.

Theres also Whip It Goods Skincare, which specializes in plant-based products such as body butter, sugar scrub, body oil, soap and face masks. Whip It Goods will open a pop-up store at 1304 Washington Avenue, combining retail with skincare workshops.

Levels Nigerian Cuisine, at 1405 Washington Avenue, is set to use the incentive grant to upgrade their outdoor storefront, adding seating and expanding service capacity.

All three businesses are renovating or expanding street-level spaces downtown.

Ashley Morgan, owner of Whip It Goods, said she is excited to be part of the retail momentum happening in downtown St. Louis.

From visitors looking for locally made products to our St. Louis-based customers, were thrilled to not only sell our products in the heart of downtown, but also to introduce our first-of-its-kind skincare workshops, she said in a statement. This space will serve as both a retail and production hub, where customers can experience creating their own custom skincare products.

Kurt Weigle, chief downtown officer for Greater St. Louis Inc., said its goal is to increase vibrancy and activity by attracting and growing businesses at street level.

These new establishments and the additional businesses we hope to announce soon are the next step in our efforts to strengthen downtown as the vibrant, dynamic, walkable neighborhood at the heart of the St. Louis metro, Weigle said in a statement.

Greater St. Louis and St. Louis Development Corp. have committed to provide over $350,000 for the pilot program. This program is in addition to two other programs Greater St. Louis Inc. and SLDC announced this year that aim to support downtown landlords and existing retailers.

Existing businesses are the lifeblood of the local economy, so its exciting to see the first round of investments go toward supporting entrepreneurs who are committed to expanding their presence in Downtown by bringing new energy and amenities along Washington Avenue, said Neal Richardson, president and CEO of SLDC.
WASHINGTON COUNTY  A man stomped on his ex-girlfriend, then enlisted the help of his new girlfriend to tie her up, shoot her and set the body on fire near Richwoods, Missouri, authorities allege.

Tony Lawrence Charboneau, 36, is accused of killing Amy Hogue in June and burying her in a shallow grave near his Richwoods home, about 60 miles southwest of St. Louis. Investigators say Charboneaus girlfriend, Brandi Luffy, took part, including acting as a lookout while Charboneau dug the grave in a wooded area.

Police say Luffy, 40, led them to the grave last Friday, weeks after Hogues family first reported Hogue missing.

Hogue, 43, was killed on June 20, police say, which would have been the day before her 44th birthday. Around that time, she was reported missing. Her sister in Franklin County and other out-of-state relatives waited weeks for word on her whereabouts. Police circulated a missing-person flyer.

Sgt. Steven Rion of the Washington County Sheriffs Department said in court documents that Charboneau argued with Hogue and he punched her and stomped on her.

Charboneau and Luffy then put Hogue in a wheelchair and tied her hands and feet to the chair using ratchet straps, Rion said. Investigators believe Charboneau and Luffy left her in the wheelchair while they gathered shovels, a tarp, a pickax and a gun.

They loaded the wheelchair into Charboneaus vehicle and drove across Charboneaus property to a nearby wooded hill, Rion said. Charboneau dug a shallow grave, then shot Hogue, Rion said.

Charboneau spent the rest of the day burying her in the grave, covering her with large rocks and tree limbs, Rion wrote in a probable cause statement. Brandi stayed at the vehicle and was a lookout for any persons that may come.

Charboneau and Luffy left and burned the tarp and ratchet straps, police said. They also dumped Hogues purse at a river access in Jefferson County, Rion said.

Nobody deserves to go the way she went, Hogues daughter-in-law Taylor Crider wrote on a fundraising page to help pay for a memorial service. She leaves behind a family that loved her dearly.

Hogues first grandchild, a boy, was born in Montgomery, Louisiana, just days before she disappeared, and she never got to meet him, Crider said. The family was last in contact with Hogue around June 19. They said Hogues body was discovered last Friday evening.

Charboneau is charged with first-degree murder; Luffy is charged with second-degree murder. They each were being held Thursday in the Washington County Jail in Potosi in lieu of $1 million bond.

This case is horrifying in every respect, and my office will not rest until the victims killers are brought to justice, Washington County Prosecutor John Jones said in a statement.

In addition to murder, Charboneau and Luffy are charged with kidnapping, abandonment of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and conspiracy to commit a felony. Charboneau is also charged with domestic assault.

Charboneau lives in a trailer in the middle of a field on Haven of Rest Road, west of Richwoods. His property has no electricity. Luffy lived there with him.

Washington County Sheriff Zach Jacobsen told the Post-Dispatch that Hogue had been abused by Charboneau before, including in May 2023. Jacobsen said police took the case to prosecutors, but no arrest warrant was ever issued.

Then this summer, her family reported her missing. Authorities werent sure if she had gone missing in Franklin or Washington counties because she was known to move around a bit and had friends in both places.

Investigators arent sure why she was back at Charboneaus home this summer.

All we know is that she was trying to leave, Jacobsen said. She was just ready to leave the residence, and thats when the brutal assault took place.

In mid-July, her purse was recovered near the river access in Jefferson County.

Thats the day we realized she was probably dead, Jacobsen said.

Police went back to the prosecutors office to ask about an arrest warrant from the May 2023 assault. The court then issued the arrest warrant, and police picked up Charboneau. He has been in custody since.

Investigators focused on finding where Hogue was and what happened to her, fearing it was a homicide investigation. The remote country locations meant officers couldnt rely on technology.

We are trying to piece this together with no cell service so its hard to ping phones, Jacobsen said. So its old school police work, knocking on doors, interviewing everybody that we encounter, executing search warrants. They are literally boots on the ground. No technology in Gods country. And with no cell service, youre not leaving a digital footprint.
ST. LOUIS  A state audit of St. Louis Public Schools will investigate a wide scope of the districts finances and operations to uncover wasteful spending and potential fraud.

Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said Thursday that families have more questions than answers after the SLPS superintendent was placed on leave last month over hiring and spending practices.

The kids of St. Louis desperately need and deserve to have a school district that can provide them a quality education and not have a bunch of distractions related to the financial management of the district, Fitzpatrick said at a news conference downtown.

During Keisha Scarletts yearlong stint as superintendent, the districts general operating budget plunged from a surplus of $17 million to a projected deficit of $35 million, in part because of additional spending on staff pay raises and transportation. The district also brought in more than 20 new administrators and consultants with connections to Scarlett and her previous employer, Seattle Public Schools.

Fitzpatrick acknowledged the districts $180 million fund balance  enough to cover about five months of expenses  but said dipping into the reserves can only last for a limited amount of time.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones previously called on Fitzpatrick to audit the SLPS administration and school board in addition to the annual audit of the budget overseen by her office.

The state audit, which will begin Tuesday, will look into the boards practice of approving emergency contracts without a bidding process and the hires of top-level administrators who bypassed candidate interviews.

The school board placed Scarlett on temporary leave July 25 and replaced her with Millicent Borishade, the deputy superintendent and one of Scarletts first hires and closest friends. Borishade does not have a Missouri superintendents certificate and received a vote of no confidence from teachers in her last school district outside Seattle.

Fitzpatrick said transportation will be a key focus of the audit as SLPS faces a critical bus shortage. The auditor said he wants to know what led to the districts bus vendor, Missouri Central, deciding to terminate its contract in March and why the district did not have a contingency plan.

Thousands of students have been assigned to taxicab or rideshare companies for the first day of school Aug. 19. Another 1,700 high school students were given MetroBus passes. The district has not responded to public records requests for the contracts and safety plans of the various vendors.

The audit will also dig into the districts compliance with state transparency laws for government meetings and records. On the academic side, investigators will check if SLPS has created individualized plans for thousands of struggling readers, as required by state law.

Fitzpatrick did not offer a clear time frame for the audit but indicated it could take up to a year or longer.

Two other state audits in the region are set to be completed by the end of the year, including the finances of the city prosecutors office under former Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner and the construction cost overruns of the new Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles County.
JEFFERSON CITY  Gov. Mike Parson is heading out of the country Saturday when he leads a delegation to Panama for four days.

The Republican governor, who is in his final year in office, was supposed to go the country earlier in his administration, but the visit was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In announcing the voyage, Parson said Panama is a key trade partner for Missouri, with $37 million in exports in 2023.

This trade mission serves as another opportunity to strengthen relationships with key international partners, said Parson, who returned from a similar trip to Great Britain and Belgium two weeks ago.

Parson also led a delegation to Italy in May.

In a statement, the administration said the goal of the trip is to build relationships with key international figures to promote Missouris strong capacity for trade.

Gov. Jay Nixon also led a group to the country in 2016, also his final year in office.

Parson is slated to meet with government officials and diplomats in addition to visiting Missouri National Guard service members who have been participating in a multinational exercise for nearly three decades focused on securing shipping through the Panama Canal, which links the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Were excited to again promote our state abroad while deepening ties that support mutual economic prosperity, Parson said.

The governor also will tour the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal.

Goods exported from Missouri to Panama include nonmetallic minerals, dairy products, grain and oilseed milling products, and air conditioning and refrigeration equipment.

The trip to the nation of 4.4 million people is slated to begin Saturday and end Tuesday, allowing Parson to return for the annual ham breakfast political event at the Missouri State Fair next week.

The junket is being organized by the Hawthorn Foundation, which receives funding from businesses and the state to promote economic development in the state.

Taxpayers typically cover the costs of accompanying security or representatives from state agencies. The delegation includes Levon Cumpton, who heads the Missouri National Guard, three officials at the Missouri Department of Economic Development and a handful of other guests.

Other countries visited by Parson include Ireland, Japan, France, Germany, Switzerland and Australia.
Garabagh University has announced the languages of instruction for the upcoming academic year, Azernews reports.

The university will offer courses in Azerbaijani and English, with no admissions to the Russian language section. Efforts will be made to enhance the English language skills of students in the English department during their first year. From the following academic year, all courses will be conducted in English.

This update follows the Order signed by President Ilham Aliyev on November 28, 2023, establishing Garabagh University. The decree aimed to address the region's need for highly qualified professionals and preserve its educational traditions by creating Garabagh University as a public legal entity under the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan. The university will be based on the higher education institution in Khankendi.

Initially, Garabagh University will offer programs across six faculties: Pedagogy, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Economics, Engineering, and Tourism. For the 2024/2025 academic year, the university plans to enroll 1,120 students across 27 majors. Additionally, SABAH groups will be introduced for eight specialties, with 200-250 students expected to join these groups in September. These students will be selected through exams and interviews from those who have completed their first year at various higher education institutions.
The State of Ad-ID in CTV and Streaming

Launched by the IAB Tech Labs Advanced Television Systems Committee and designed to provide standardized identity management for ad creatives through metadata, Ad-ID is designed to bring streaming ad insertionparticularly for live eventsout of the Wild West, according to Paramounts Jarred Wilichinsky, and to stop, among other things, the mindless repetition of ads that drags down so many streaming experiences. Wilichinsky, Rokus Charlie Goodman, JWPs David Palomento, Akamais Peter Chave, and Infinitives C.J. Leonard weigh in on ad-IDs progress and its potential impact in the streaming ecosystem in this in this discussion with Reality Software's Nadine Krefetz at Streaming Media NYC.

The universal ad-ID disparities between traditional linear and streaming

Wilichinsky of Paramount laments how universal ad IDs are nonexistent in digital advertising, unlike in traditional and linear broadcasting, where ad ID has long been standardized. However, with streaming, he says, You think about live events and as you have programmatic filling in, you don't really know what ad you are serving because there is no notion of this universal identifier and a universal directory or metadata, its the Wild West. Everyone in this room streams something. And how many times do you see the same Sherman ad, break after break, or you get a Ford and a Toyota ad in the same break? And it's all because everyone's trying to do it themselves. Luckily, at Paramount, we have the resources to build stuff like Conduit, which lets us get the data we need for proper global brand frequency caps. When Roku tries to serve the same Atkins ad break after break, we throw it out because weve got to always remember who's first, and it's the user. It's our fans who want to consume our stories. So the notion of trying to get that into the digital world is a massive effort that we're really trying to focus on this year.

The challenges and benefits of the linear to streaming ad-ID transition

C.J. Leonard of Initiative emphasizes the challenges of this transition and the need to adopt some television procedures to make digital platforms resemble television. She says there are many issues with using web address domains as identifiers, where there could be a Ford Dealer group out of Philadelphia and then ford.comyou could have back-to-back ads just because maybe it's the same creative and just there's different deals going on. A domain is such a blunt object that you would think by now would've been resolved.

JW Player's David Palomento does mention some side benefits of this transition. It improves caching in your ad stitcher, which means that more viewers get a faster ad response and less buffering, he says.

Why homebrew solutions further highlight the need for standardization

Peter Chave of Akamai highlights many workarounds that larger companies with more resources have been using, such as tagging every ad themselves, allowing them to gain credit for national ads playing on digital platforms. I've seen a whole bunch of homebrew solutions with metadata being stuffed in secret places into the stream to get it down to the player, he says. So it would be nice to have a standard.

Roku's Charlie Goodman further underscores the complications with these various approaches. Somebody is buying us from the trade desk. They're buying us direct, he says. You're buying us so many different ways. But ultimately, the actual video might be the same, but you might have a creative ID. It has five videos in it, in different dimensions, etc. And I think it plagues the advertisers too. When they have beacons and measurement pixels, they can look at it globally, but it is really hard even for them to tell which videos are performant. I think [we need to move] to a standard where we know it's the same ad we've transcoded.

See more highlights and interviews from SMNYC.

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FAST, Data, and Tracking Diverse Audiences Given that traditional media measurement companies have always underrepresented diverse audiences, minority-owned content companies targeting multicultural audiences face unique challenges in tracking those audiences and leveraging the data to monetize their channels, as Publicis Media EVP Cultural Investment & Innovation Stephen Paez explains in this candid discussion with media universe cartographer Evan Shapiro at Streaming Media NYC. Follow the Data or Stay on Brand? A DEI-Focused Digital Strategists Dilemma Striking a balance between responding to what data tells you about your fan base's desires and staying true to your brand identity is a constant issue for digital strategists, in the FAST world as much as any other part of the media ecosystem. It can be especially difficult for a company like Fuse Media, with its stated mission of telling positive stories for diverse audiences, when the analytics say "more true crime" or "be more like TMZ." Fuse Media VP, Digital Strategy Rashaun Hall explains how he walks this tightrope in this discussion with Media Cartographer Evan Shapiro at Streaming Media NYC. How Google Leverages First-Party and Partner Data to Improve Consumer Experiences For "data machines" like Google, the problem is never having too little customer datait's all about managing the data overload to pinpoint the right data to leverage to build customized, targeted, personalized experiences that satisfy users and keep them engaged. Increasingly, according to Google TV Product Manager UX Rob Caruso in this interview with Media Universe Cartographer Evan Shapiro at Streaming Media NYC, it's working with partners to identify the right mix of first-party and partner data to take personalization to the next level. Can Data Normalization Fix FAST? Arguably, the two biggest challenges in the FAST ecosystem are managing the ad experience and delivering ROI for the brands that support the platform. Experts, from Fremantle's Laura Florence to Fuse Media's Patrick Courtney to Media Cartographer Evan Shapiro, agree that standardizing the data they collect and delivering on the promise of programmatic advertising is the key to making it all work. But as this clip from Streaming Media Connect 2024 reveals, it's easier said than done.

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Assistant Army Secretary Paul Farnan, Rep. Marilyn Strickland, D-Wash., and Army Col. Kent Park, Joint Base Lewis-McChord garrison commander, pick out hard hats and shovels for groundbreaking ceremony of a new barracks using sustainable building materials and environmentally friendly construction techniques. The pilot program could be replicated at Army bases around the world. (Derick Fennell/U.S. Army)

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash.  The Army on Wednesday broke ground on a one-of-a-kind barracks at the base that service officials said will be the future home of a relatively new combat unit.

The $100 million barracks will open in 2027 to house 168 soldiers of the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force, the Army said in a statement about its plan.

Lewis-McChord was chosen out of 130 Army installations around the world for the Sustainable Building Material Pilot Program, according to Paul Farnan, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment.

We are proving that we can build better, we can save money and increase our resilience and lower our emissions and still deliver the very highest levels of quality for our soldiers, he said.

Representatives from the Pentagon, White House, Congress and regional Army leaders took part in the ceremonial shovel turning that officially began work on the barracks.

While 21 of the 88 barracks at Washingtons Joint Base Lewis-McChord date from before the 1970s, some of the most modern additions have incorporated college and residential architectural design, such as the Jackson Avenue Barracks designed in 2008. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Its designed to use new sustainable building techniques and materials to reduce its carbon impact by 30%.

The 89,000-square-foot, three-story facility features a twin-barracks style for unaccompanied soldiers, with two 44,500-square-foot structures. It will have a mix of four-bed, two-bath apartments, and two-bed, one-bath apartments.

The new barracks are also being built to enhance soldier privacy with some single-occupancy rooms, while having communal kitchens and living spaces where soldiers can gather.

We are certainly building a better future for our soldiers, said Maj. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, I Corps deputy commander.

Rep. Marilyn Strickland, D-Wash., whose district includes Lewis-McChord, has advocated for more on-base housing and higher housing allowances to offset a shortage of residences for the 45,000 service members at the base.

Strickland said a state statistic showing 7% of residents in the southern Puget Sound area of Seattle-Tacoma are affiliated by job, family or residence with Lewis-McChord.

Strickland said she and Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., who represents areas with large military populations on the Kitsap Peninsula, have done a deep dive into what soldiers desire in housing accommodations.

To no surprise of anyone  housing affordability, housing access, spousal employment and child care rose to the top, she said.

Improvements in living conditions at Lewis-McChord are part of that mix, Strickland said. According to the Army, 21 of the 88 barracks on the base were built prior to 1970.

Investing in service members is one of the ways we can invest in the challenges we are having with recruitment and retention of those who join the military, she said. To take care of those who are serving is showing our patriotism in the best possible way.

Col. Kathryn Sanborn, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Seattle district, said part of the work for the pilot project will be measuring the amount of energy saved, alternative materials used and transportation distances covered to see whether the 30% carbon reduction is met.

Success would likely mean the design template could be used for the construction of other future Army barracks. The Army uses a standardized design, then makes alterations based on location.

Youre not going to have the same building at Fort Moore, Ga., as you are in Fairbanks, Alaska, Sanborn said.

She said Lewis-McChord is the site for a second pilot project that will use mass timber  super-compressed wood that advocates say has the load-bearing strength of steel  as a main construction element in a new barracks.

With suppliers in Oregon and Montana, the project can take advantage of regional  and likely lower  materials costs that will improve the efficiency of the new building.

Farnan said bids on the initial work have come in under cost projections.

We can save taxpayers money, too, he said.
Col. Dan Kent, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe district commander, speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 7, 2024, celebrating the completion of the new cargo pad at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania. The pad is part of more than $100 million in projects at the base. (Alfredo Barraza/U.S. Army)

U.S. and Romanian military leaders unveiled an airfield upgrade this week at Romanias Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base that will spur growth at what may become one of NATOs largest military installations in Europe.

A new cargo pad, completed Wednesday, will allow fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to unload equipment fit for a wide range of missions, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said in a statement Thursday.

The expansion comes amid growing security concerns in the Black Sea region prompted by Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Widely referred to by U.S. personnel as MK, the base is less than 100 miles from Ukraine.

American forces have operated at Mihail Kogalniceanu since 1999. In 2009, the base formally became a permanent forward operating site. Earlier this year, the Army stood up its Black Sea garrison there.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is involved with various projects at the base, including one to improve its barracks.

U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and 10th Mountain Division mark the units official departure and arrival at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, on July 15, 2024. The base is home to the Army's Black Sea garrison. (Julius Harris/U.S. Army) A B-52H Stratofortress lands at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania on July 21, 2024. The base is on track to become the largest NATO military installation in Europe. (Flor Gonzalez/U.S. Army) U.S. soldiers watch as a Black Hawk helicopter lands for a medical exercise at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania on July 11, 2024. A new cargo pad at the base will support rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said. (Nolan Brewer/U.S. Army)

This is all part of a larger construction program were proud to be managing that overall includes an investment of more than $100 million in projects, Col. Dan Kent, the Corps of Engineers Europe district commander, said in the statement.

In June, Romania announced an estimated $2.7 billion expansion and modernization project at the base that includes construction of a new runway, a guard tower and additional hangars to house existing and future equipment.

The expansion is expected to allow the base to support about 10,000 NATO personnel and their families over 7,000 acres of land, Euronews reported in March, quoting Romanian defense officials.

A squadron of Romanian F-16 fighter jets recently bought from Norway as well as MQ-9 Reaper drones were expected to arrive at the base soon, the BBC reported in June.

Last month, two U.S. Air Force long-range B-52H Stratofortresses on their way to the base were intercepted by Russian fighter jets over the Barents Sea.

(Stars and Stripes)

The U.S. aircraft maintained their course without incident and became the first American bombers ever to operate at the installation, U.S. Air Forces Europe and Africa said at the time.

The B-52s came from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and were in Europe in connection with the Air Forces ongoing bomber task force missions, which involve short-term deployments to the Continent. They returned to Louisiana in late July.

Russia has denounced NATOs plans at Mihail Kogalniceanu, calling the expansion proof of the alliances unrestrained militarization of Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region.

The chief of staff of NATOs Allied Air Command, Italian Maj. Gen. Gianluca Ercolani, said in January that the work shows countries in the bloc cooperating and standing shoulder to shoulder to carry out their collective defense mission.
Coast Guard Cutter Stone makes way in the Atlantic Ocean on June 29, 2024. (Thomas Settle/U.S. Coast Guard)

The Coast Guard is facing a service-wide moral failure to address sexual assault and harassment in its ranks, which has been allowed to spread through closed-door proceedings, honorable discharges and a look-the-other-way mentality, according to a report released Wednesday by senators investigating the service.

Until the Coast Guard is willing to fully reckon with its failures, it will remain tethered to them, wrote Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., the chairman of Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subpanel on investigations.

The subpanel began investigating the Coast Guard about a year ago after it learned of an unflattering internal review of sexual misconduct at the Coast Guard Academy that service leaders hid from the public.

The Senate report, A Pervasive Problem: Voices of Coast Guard Sexual Assault and Harassment Survivors, was released ahead of the subpanels field hearing scheduled for Thursday in New London, Conn., where the Coast Guard Academy is located. The hearing will be held at Connecticut College  just a short walk from the academy  and will include testimony from two current and three former members of the Coast Guard.

The subpanels inquiry into the Coast Guard focused on the cover-up of Operation Fouled Anchor, an internal review of sexual assault and harassment cases that occurred between 1990 and 2006 at the academy. As part of Fouled Anchor, the Coast Guard Investigative Service reviewed 102 reports of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment at the academy and identified 63 potential victims, according to the Senate report.

The Coast Guard conducted the Fouled Anchor investigation for six years and issued a final report on Jan. 31, 2020, which found the academy knew of allegations against 30 of 43 people, but only five were reported to criminal investigators.

It concluded academy leaders failed to take sufficient action to ensure a safe environment, yet no one was held accountable. Congress only learned of Fouled Anchor in 2023 as reporters at CNN learned of its existence and began reporting about it.

The subpanels focus has been on the Coast Guards original mishandling of these cases, and the services failure to reveal Operation Fouled Anchor, and its associated report, to Congress and the public. Yet senators have also heard from dozens of veterans with stories of misconduct that extend beyond Fouled Anchor.

The Coast Guard did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesdays report from the Senate.

The 49-page report presented accounts from more than 80 whistleblowers with personal experiences from the 1970s through today that portray systemic and ongoing failures at the Coast Guard Academy and throughout the service. Common themes involved victims being ostracized, shamed and deterred from reporting abuse. For those who did report, the veterans said the investigations were traumatizing and inadequate and led to retaliation and little accountability.

Of the whistleblowers, 39 said they were sexually assaulted, and 27 said they were sexually harassed. Roughly 44% of the assaults, and 2% of the harassments described to the subpanel occurred at the academy, and the majority occurred within the active-duty fleet.

One cadet who reported a sexual assault in 2020 told senators that classmates immediately stopped speaking to her while her attacker told fellow cadets that she was lying. Another cadet told the subpanel that Coast Guard lawyers discouraged her from reporting her assault by telling her that it would impact her ability to graduate in the spring and arrive at her first duty station.

An enlisted member told the subpanel that after telling a supervisor about enduring months of sexual misconduct, she was asked to consider the careers of the men involved and reporting the misconduct would ruin their lives and investigators would show her to be a liar.

It is imperative that the Coast Guard uses all means available to hold accountable both individual perpetrators and the leadership that covered up their wrongdoing. And it is equally essential that the Coast Guard begins to leverage meaningful, swift, and consistent accountability against present and future perpetrators. The culture will not change until the Coast Guard makes clear that sexual assault and harassment will not be tolerated, Blumenthal wrote.

No one has been held accountable for the cover-up of Operation Fouled Anchor, and veterans of the service have called on past service leaders to testify before the subpanel about what they knew about it.

Adm. Linda Fagan, the Coast Guard commandant, took command of the service after the decision was made to bury the Fouled Anchor report. She has said she is cooperating with an ongoing Department of Homeland Security inspector general investigation and awaiting its results and recommendations.

She has also directed 33 actions be taken that stem from an internal accountability and transparency review. Nearly half of the recommendations have been completed, according to the Coast Guard.

One action already implemented is a safe-to-report policy, which intends to protect members from discipline for collateral misconduct involved in their sexual assault, such as underage drinking. All other military branches implemented a similar policy two years earlier under congressional mandate.

The fear of punishment for collateral misconduct came up among whistleblowers who spoke to the subpanel. One cadet said during her time at the academy in the 2010s, her underage drinking was used as blackmail by her perpetrator to keep her from reporting.

Senators said they will continue their investigation into the Coast Guard and Fouled Anchor.

We pledge to continue investigating what has gone wrong to identify what needs to be done to prevent future harm, Blumenthal wrote.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Tribune News Service)  Prosecutors dropped the assault case against midshipman Garrett Lee Holsen Wednesday, ending a nearly three-year legal saga that followed Holsen through most of his time at the Naval Academy and extended past his graduation.

In a statement, Anne Arundel County States Attorney Anne Colt Leitess wrote she made the difficult decision to terminate the case because the alleged victim was not able to participate in a retrial scheduled at the end of August.

It was my privilege to represent her in this case as she is one of the strongest and most resilient people I have met in my career, Leitess said.

Defense attorneys Peter ONeill and Megan Coleman have challenged the states decision to continue arraigning the 22-year-old after he was found not guilty of rape in 2022. Prosecutors accused Holsen of attacking one of his classmates at an off-campus party when she was too intoxicated to consent to sex  a theory the jury rejected.

Keeping in line with the instructions of Anne Arundel Circuit Judge Robert Thompson, however, the jury did not issue verdicts on a sex offense and an assault charge that was also levied in the case. Prosecutors took the rare step of appealing that decision and in December, the Appellate Court of Maryland ruled Thompson had acted without authority before sending the two remaining charges back to the Circuit Court for a retrial.

Across several hearings this year, Leitess, as well as assistant prosecutors Sean Fox and Katherine Smeltzer, signaled their intent to move forward with the case, arguing the assault charge considered different factors than rape. The remaining sex offense was dismissed in June as a matter of double jeopardy, which bars a defendant from being tried twice for the same crime.

With that, Holsen was left with a second-degree assault charge, a broad misdemeanor, and was prepared to begin trial on Aug. 29. But on Wednesday, the three prosecutors chose to dismiss the case before Anne Arundel Circuit Judge J. Michael Wachs.

ONeill said the hearing was a bittersweet moment and that his client was ecstaticthis nightmare is finally over. However, he said the midshipmans reputation has been marred for years by the accusations and that his military service, which was set to begin after his graduation earlier this year, has stalled.

Though he went to the Naval Academy, Holsen, a Wisconsin native, was working toward a commission as a Marine Corps officer. ONeill said the corps has yet to authorize Holsen as a second lieutenant because of the case.

The emotional trauma has been incalculable, ONeill said. He is a strong man of good moral character who only wants to serve his country and put this tragic set of events behind him.

I appreciate the states decision to appeal, he added. However, it seems that the resources spent both at the appellate level and the trial level were unnecessary.

According to the Maryland Judiciary, Smeltzer was brought onto the case shortly before Holsens initial trial in September 2022. Fox, who primarily handles sex crimes, was assigned to the retrial in March and Leitess, who rarely involves herself directly in trials, entered her appearance in June to challenge Thompsons role in the renewed case.

In hearings and filings, Leitess argued the judges decision to dismiss the remaining charges in 2022 was the functional equivalent of an acquittal and that the state would not be able to receive a fair trial before him.

Thompson, who conceded his jury instructions in 2022 were a mistake, disagreed and ruled he would preside over the two-day retrial later this month.

Leitess attempted to push the trial to later in the year to accommodate vacation schedules and give her team enough time to subpoena witnesses, some of whom had already begun their military service. But ONeill objected, claiming Thompson had already bent over backwards to accommodate the state and said Holsens right to a speedy trial trumped any scheduling conflict.

Leitess said Wednesday that she would have participated in the proceedings had they moved forward. Her involvement would have seen three attorneys attempt to prove a misdemeanor charge carrying a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

2024 Capital Gazette.

Visit at capitalgazette.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Members of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, also known as The Old Guard, place flags at the graves of those buried at Arlington National Cemetery for Flags In on Thursday, May 23, 2024, to honor fallen service members for Memorial Day. (Matthew Adams/Stars and Stripes)

(Tribune News Service)  A bronze rosette has been placed next to the name of a World War II airman from Manchester, N.H., on the Wall of the Missing at the North Africa American Cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia, signifying he has been accounted for, officials with the American Battle Monuments Commission said Thursday.

Joey R. Hood, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Tunisia, placed the rosette next to the name of U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Stanley J. Samoski.

Samoski, 22, was from Manchester and served with the 334th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 9th Air Force in WWII.

Samoski will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined, officials said.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced July 2 that remains belonging to Samoski had been positively identified.

On Aug. 1, 1943, a B-24D Liberator (serial number 41-24197) carrying Samoski and nine other crew members took off from an airfield in Lete, Libya, as part of Operation TIDAL WAVE, a large-scale aerial attack against oil refineries in Ploesti, Romania.

The aircraft was last seen over the target area, with its bomb bay on fire, when it suddenly fell behind and out of sight, and eventually crashed. A survivor of the crash later reported that the B-24D took a hit in the nose and top turret sections, caught fire, and was forced to crash-land in a cornfield near the target area.

It hit the ground and rolled at high speed with the crew inside, who were rendered unconscious from the impact.

Five crew members survived and exited the wreckage before it exploded. These men were captured, survived, and eventually were returned to U.S. custody. The other five crew members were not located at the time or heard from following the incident.

Samoskis remains were not identified following the war. The remains that could not be identified were buried as Unknowns in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania.

Following the war, the American Graves Registration Command (AGRC), an organization responsible for searching for and recovering fallen American personnel, disinterred all American remains from the Bolovan Cemetery for identification.

The AGRC was unable to identify more than 80 unknowns from Bolovan Cemetery, and those remains were permanently interred at Ardennes American Cemetery and Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, both in Belgium.

In 2017, DPAA began exhuming unknowns believed to be associated with unaccounted-for airmen from Operation TIDAL WAVE losses. These remains were sent to the DPAA Laboratory for examination and identification.

To identify Samoskis remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, along with circumstantial evidence. Scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System also used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis as part of the process.

When a missing service member is recovered, identified and finally laid to rest, the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) places a rosette beside their name on the Walls of the Missing. The rosette, a symbol of eternity, is crafted as a bronze rosemary wreath, encircled by the eight-points of a compass, signifying Americas commitment to reaching out in all directions to recover their remains from the farthest corners of the earth.

Samoskis rosette is the 21st to be placed on the Wall of the Missing at North Africa American Cemetery, which includes the names of 3,724 service members, and one of more than 900 placed beside the names of missing service members at ABMC sites around the world.

(c)2024 The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.)

Visit at www.unionleader.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(Joseph Giordono/Stars and Stripes)

Somewhere in the desert in Kuwait, Feb. 1, 2003: A crew from the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division readies their M1-A1 Abrams tank at a camp in the Kuwaiti desert near the so-called Highway of Death. The road where American airpower destroyed a long column of retreating Iraqi armor in the first Gulf War is back in business. But this time, thousands of U.S. troops, tanks and artillery pieces are heading north on the barren road from Kuwait City to Baghdad with a different purpose.

Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/living/u-s-troops-revisit-scene-of-deadly-gulf-war-barrage-1.5305
Master Sgt. Miguel Garza was sentenced at a court-martial Aug. 7, 2024, in Kaiserslautern, Germany, to prison time and expulsion from the military. During one incident that prompted accusations against him, he repeatedly called German police officers Nazis. (Joshua Magbanua/U.S. Air Force)

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany  An Army master sergeant who repeatedly called German police officers Nazis after being arrested for drunken driving was sentenced Wednesday at a court-martial to 18 months in jail for several crimes.

Master Sgt. Miguel Garza pleaded guilty to drunk and disorderly conduct, driving while intoxicated and two counts of assault with battery during proceedings at Kleber Kaserne.

The charges stemmed from two separate incidents in 2022.

Garza, a food inspector who was assigned to Public Health Command Europe, had faced five counts of sexual assault, which were thrown out as part of a last-minute plea deal.

The deal ensured that he would be jailed for at least 18 months and up to two years, and receive a bad conduct discharge.

A soldier for 17 years, Garza also was ordered to forfeit all pay and allowances and had his rank reduced to E-4.

On Jan. 1, 2022, Garzas blood alcohol content was four times over the legal limit. After celebrating the new year with his family at home, he left for another nearby party.

When German police pulled him over for suspicious driving near the village of Enkenbach-Alsenborn, he refused to take a Breathalyzer test and was exceptionally uncooperative and dismissive, police officer Carsten Herm said.

Testifying through an interpreter, Herm described how he and a colleague had to forcefully remove Garza from his vehicle, handcuff him and take him to the police station.

Garza admitted in court that while he was at the station, he refused to answer questions, telling Herm: I dont talk to Nazis.

Herm said at another point that when Garza was asked where his drivers license was, he replied the Nazis took it.

And when we was eventually allowed to leave the station, he gave the officers a Hitler salute.

He said to my colleague that his rank was so high up that nothing would happen to him, Herm added.

After the New Years Day incident, Garza lost his first sergeant job but retained his E-8 position.

In October 2022, he got into an altercation with U.S. airmen outside a bar in downtown Kaiserslautern.

Garza explained during sentencing how he violently shoved a male airman and inappropriately touched a female airman.

He said he got violent when he offered them a ride home and they refused.

I had no right to touch anybody just because I was upset for not getting my way, he said. It was wrong of me.

The prosecution alleged that he got angry when the female airman would not allow him to touch her.

He was belligerent and angry, and I was scared, the female tech sergeant, who asked not to be named, told the judge, fighting back tears.

The womans father also testified, saying he could hear derogatory remarks being yelled at his daughter by Garza over the phone when she called him during the incident.

I look at the Army uniform and I have an unrealistic prejudice now, he said.

Defense attorney Will Helixon called Garza a good man who drunkenly made mistakes.

Garzas mother testified by telephone from Texas, describing her son as a family man who helped raise his three younger siblings and continues to provide financial support to his extended family.

But prosecutor Maj. Sara Nicholson said Garza had no respect for authority and thought of himself as above the law.

He believed his status in the military gave him a free pass, Nicholson said, when appealing to the judge, Lt. Col. Thomas Hynes, to hand down the maximum two-year sentence, adding that it would send a clear message, that soldiers cannot be promoted out of punishment.

In a sworn statement read in court, Garza said his actions have ruined his career and his familys future stability.

I am truly sorry, he said. I hope this does not define who I am as a father, husband or soldier.
The young lawyer warned her followers on social media: President Nicolas Maduros security forces were cracking down as she had never seen, even in authoritarian Venezuela.

What we are facing is a witch hunt, Maria Oropeza, an opposition organizer in the mostly rural western state of Portuguesa, said in a video on X.

Less than two hours later, she shared another video: an Instagram live stream showing agents of the state breaking into her home. In the video, recorded from the top of a dark stairwell, she can be heard demanding that they show her a search warrant and calling for help. Im not a criminal, she says. Im just another citizen who wants change in this country. The agents walk up the stairs, and the video goes dark. Oropeza has not been seen or heard from since.

Shes one of more than 2,200 people who have been arrested since Venezuelas presidential election July 28, according to Maduros count. His electoral council declared the authoritarian socialist the winner of that contest, but voting machine receipts collected at the polls by the opposition on the election date indicate challenger Edmundo Gonzalez won more than twice as many votes.

Protesters in Venezuela have demanded Maduro release precinct-level results to prove his victory claim. He has refused. The United States and other governments have called for negotiations.

The government, meanwhile, has doubled down on repression. Maduro has boasted of a mass operation to capture and detain protesters he accuses of being terrorists and criminals.

The opposition and rights advocates say security forces are rounding up not only political leaders but also the regular citizens who helped monitor the presidential election  and anyone who has demanded that he accept his loss.

The government has dubbed it Operacion Tun Tun. The name recalls a notorious 2017 crackdown, Tun Tun being the sound of security forces or pro-government paramilitaries banging on doors late at night without identification or arrest orders, their faces covered, to carry Venezuelans away.

National Assembly Deputy Diosdado Cabello, a former vice president and National Assembly president influential in the government, warned this week that the targets could include journalists working for international organizations. He claimed they were CIA plants.

Take care of your agents, Diosdado advised the outlets. Because if they are alone, Operacion Tun Tun could come for them.

Police and military leaders have promoted a phone line for citizens to report their neighbors to authorities. Maduro says he plans to transfer the new detainees to two infamously dangerous prisons that were emptied last year, facilities he says hell adapt to their new purpose.

Report the fascist criminals to me, so I can go after them! Maduro said.

The result, many Venezuelans say, is a level of fear theyve never before experienced. Theyre refusing to leave their houses at night for fear of being stopped on the street by police. Theyre deleting social media posts and exchanging tips on how to wipe WhatsApp messages from their phones. (Maduro this week announced he would criminalize WhatsApp, the messaging app used by just about every Venezuelan.)

Every night now, Mairim Yanes reviews her WhatsApp chats, making sure texts are disappearing after 24 hours and deleting those that are too risky  such as those calling Maduro a dictator or criticizing the repression.

Were in survival mode, Yanes said. On Tuesday, she said, national guard members went through a friends phone, and he was detained. His family, Yanes said, still doesnt know where hes being held. On Wednesday morning, she said, she spotted a group of officials at a bakery near her home asking people to show them their phones.

I cant explain the amount of fear swirling around, Yanes said. Its having to pray every time you step outside your door, hoping youll make it back. Its pure terror.

At least 23 people have been shot to death during protests since the election, according to Victims Monitor, an independent group that tracks homicides in Venezuela. Of those shootings, the group says, eight were linked to the military, three to police and seven to the pro-Maduro motorcycle gangs known as colectivos. The youngest victim was 15.

Venezuelas attorney general, Tarek William Saab, did not respond to a request for comment.

The crackdown, lawyers and human rights activists say, is an escalation even for Maduro, who is already under indictment in the United States for narcoterrorism, and under investigation in the International Criminal Court for allegations of torture and the extrajudicial killing of political opponents. A United Nations fact-finding mission accused Maduro and his inner circle of ordering and coordinating arbitrary detentions, disappearances and killings that constitute crimes against humanity.

Its not just the number of arrests that stand out, said Alfredo Romero, president of the independent legal rights group Foro Penal. Unlike in previous waves of repression, when many detainees were processed and released within days or hours, the great majority of the current arrestees remain locked up, he said. Many, he said, have not been given choice of lawyer.

Were going to have the highest number of political prisoners in history, Romero said, or at least since Foro Penal began tracking cases more than two decades ago.

Most of the detainees have been charged in initial arraignments with terrorism, instigating hate and association to commit a crime, Romero said. Some were arrested during protests after the election. Some, he said, have been detained for posting a video of a protest online. Others simply had the misfortune of walking near a protest, on their way to somewhere else.

The number of detainees has been too high for lawyers and other advocates to keep up. For the first time, they say, the governments count is significantly higher than their own. Foro Penal has been able to verify only 1,229 arrests  little more than half the tally Maduro boasted this week on television. Of those, Foro Penal says, 105 are under 18.

We are absolutely overwhelmed, said Rafael Uzcategui, a director of Laboratory for Peace. The lawyers who are available to accompany the victims cannot cope with the amount of demand. Some of our colleagues have also received threats and have had to take refuge.

Some lawyers have been arrested when trying to visit a client. Kennedy Tejeda, a 24-year-old Foro Penal lawyer, was asking at a national guard station in Carabobo state to see his clients when he was taken into custody, the organization said.

Verifying the cases has been made difficult by the reluctance of family members of the detained or killed to come forward.

Moments before she was detained, Oropeza spoke to a Washington Post reporter about a young protester who was beaten so badly he was almost unrecognizable. He died in the hospital. Oropeza tried to contact family members of the young man to discuss the case, she said, but everyone is afraid.

Maduros government in some cases has accused the opposition of fabricating stories of deaths.

On July 29, a man was reported dead in the Caracas neighborhood of Antimano. Video of his lifeless body, covered in blood, circulated on social media. He was identified as Anibal Romero, known as Pimpina.

Two days after the reported death, Maduro showed a video of a man he claimed was Pimpina. Saab, the attorney general, said the blood covering the body was just ketchup and accused the opposition of faking the death.

Days later, a woman emerged who said she was Pimpinas mother, and was recorded saying that he did in fact die and that she was waiting for the government to release his body to her.

A Victims Monitor researcher, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of security concerns, said Pimpinas body was given to two of his sisters last week.
U.S. Ambassador of Japan Rahm Emanuel visits Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Jan. 19, 2024. (Stars and Stripes)

TOKYO  The American and British ambassadors to Japan declined to attend Fridays Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony after event organizers refused to invite a representative from Israel.

U.S. Ambassador Rahm Emanuel will honor and commemorate the day at an event in Tokyo, but he does not want to be involved in a politicized event, U.S. Embassy Tokyo said in an unattributed statement emailed to Stars and Stripes on Wednesday.

Nagasaki holds an annual ceremony commemorating the atomic bombing of the city on Aug. 9, 1945, estimated to have killed 75,000.

This year, perceived sentiments over Israels invasion of Gaza has shaded the event.

Nagasaki decided not to invite Israel this year, not based on political considerations, but to ensure the safety of attendees and the smooth running of the ceremony, Mayor Shiro Suzuki told reporters July 31.

Suzuki said event organizers deferred a decision to invite the Israeli ambassador to Japan, Gilad Cohen, after considering the various global developments regarding the current situation in the Middle East and out of concern for the risk of unforeseen circumstances occurring at the ceremony.

Israeli Ambassador to Japan Gilad Cohen speaks with reporters at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo, Oct. 13, 2023. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)

Nine days before the ceremony, our concerns about the risks remain unchanged, and it is a very difficult decision to make, but we have decided to withhold the issuance of an invitation to the Israeli ambassador, Suzuki said.

U.S. Consulate Fukuoka Principal Officer Chuka Asike will attend the ceremony, according to a press release the embassy provided to Stars and Stripes on Thursday.

U.K. Ambassador to Japan Julia Longbottom, who attended an Aug. 6 ceremony commemorating the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, has also decided not to go to Nagasaki, according to British Embassy Tokyo.

As Ambassador Longbottom explained at Hiroshima, she will not be attending this years peace ceremony in Nagasaki, the embassy wrote in an unsigned statement Thursday. As she explained, the decision not to invite Israel to the Nagasaki memorial creates an unfortunate and misleading equivalency with Russia and Belarus  the only other countries not invited to this years ceremony.

The United Kingdom recognizes the importance the commemorating and remembering the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and communicating a message of peace internationally, the statement said.

The UK Government will of course still attend the Nagasaki memorial, the statement said, without specifying who would go.

The Israel response to Oct. 7 attack from Gaza, a Palestinian territory, by Hamas militants divided opinions and sparked further conflict and worldwide protests.

Israel undertook an invasion of Gaza, a Palestinian territory, following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants who stormed out of Gaza and killed hundreds of Israelis and took scores more hostage. The Israeli invasion has so far killed approximately 39,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities.

The decision not to invite Israel to the Nagasaki event was based solely on the desire to commemorate victims of the atomic bomb in a peaceful and solemn atmosphere, the citys mayor said.

For the same reason, Nagasaki has not invited Russia and Belarus for three years in a row, and not out of political consideration, an official from the citys Atomic Bomb Measure Department told Stars and Stripes by phone Wednesday.

Some Japanese government officials may speak to the press only on condition of anonymity.
Police gather 155 people accused of human trafficking and fraudulent appropriation of assets in Ha Tinh Province, August 2024. Photo by police

Police in the central Ha Tinh Province have taken into custody 155 people suspected of operating or joining a ring to trick people in need of jobs to send them to Laos, where they were forced to work for online scammers.

Hoang Bich Ngoc, 30, a native of northern Hai Phong City, along with 154 men and women, are now under arrest as police investigate them for activities related to human trafficking and fraudulent appropriation of assets, police announced Wednesday.

According to the investigation, late last year, Ngoc went to Laos to join a human trafficking and online fraud organization in Bokeo Province.

Ngoc then recruited hundreds of Vietnamese, paying them salary ranging from VND18-30 million (US$700-1,200) per month to lure and entice other Vietnamese to illegally enter Laos.

Once the victims arrived in Laos, Ngoc's group handed them over to foreign criminal organizations, where they were forced to go online and make calls to people in Vietnam, finding ways to trick people into playing games online or deposit money into apps at the purpose of stealing their money.

The individuals in the network also created fake Facebook accounts, impersonating as successful businessmen, often posting photos of luxury travel and services to connect with wealthy single women.

Once they gained trust from such women, they lured them into investing in hotel businesses on virtual apps, promising high profits and commissions, and then appropriated the money the victims had invested.

Many victims of the scam are from Ha Tinh, with some filing reports to the police.

Upon receiving complaints, Ha Tinh police launched an investigation and collaborated with Laos police to expand the investigation.

On Aug. 2, authorities from Laos and Vietnam raided the group's workplace in Bokeo.

After a four-hour siege, the joint forces arrested 154 people, seizing 100 passports, tens of thousands of foreign currencies, and many tools used to commit fraud.

After learning that her accomplices had been arrested, Ngoc immediately fled to Vietnam, but was apprehended upon arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi that same day.

The case is under further investigation.
Thousands of people from the Druze community in Israel attend the funeral of 10 children and teenagers killed in July by a rocket attack from Lebanon. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post)

TEL AVIV  As Israel braces for an attack from Iran  fueling fighter jets, positioning air defense batteries and coordinating with Washington on the placement of U.S. military assets  there is growing apprehension about one of its most critical lines of defense: an American-led Arab coalition that helped thwart the last Iranian assault.

The once covert alliance, involving Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, burst into public view on the night of April 13, when it aided Israel in intercepting 99% of more than 300 drones and missiles launched from Iran  the first direct strike of its kind by Tehran after decades of shadow war with the Jewish state.

Israels military chief lauded the collaboration at the time as paving the way for new opportunities for cooperation in the Middle East. White House national security adviser John Kirby said it sent a strong message about where Israel is in the region versus where Iran is in the region.

Four months later, with Iran vowing to respond forcefully to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in its own backyard, Israel is more regionally isolated, which military analysts say could make the country more vulnerable. There are also fears that, even with American support, Israels aerial defense systems may not be able to fully counter a massive, coordinated attack.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to agree to a cease-fire and hostage release deal in Gaza, despite pressure from Washington and appeals from his own military chiefs. The killing of Haniyeh  the lead Hamas negotiator  angered U.S. officials and Arab leaders, who had believed talks were at a critical stage. While Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its role in the assassination, it told U.S. officials immediately afterward that it was responsible.

Even in April, Arab countries downplayed their roles in staving off the Iranian attack, wary of retaliation from Tehran and not wanting to be seen as supportive of Israel at a time of widespread public fury over the human toll of the Gaza war. Those concerns are even more pronounced now, and Arab states have sought to publicly distance themselves from any involvement in the next round of violence.

Jordan and Saudi Arabia have declared they do not want their airspace transformed into a battle zone. Egypt has said it would not take part in a military axis that would participate in repelling an Iranian attack.

Such public statements are very disturbing, according to a senior Israeli politician who helped build the regional coalition, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters. While the Arab states in missile range want Iran contained, he said, the ties that bind them to Israel are delicate and have only been tested once before on a large scale.

Facing down the prospect of all-out war, Israel is operating quite alone, he acknowledged.

Were working really, really hard, with intense diplomacy, to try to avoid an escalation, Kirby told reporters on Wednesday, while adding that President Joe Biden ordered additional military resources to the region to make sure that, should Israel be attacked, that the United States can ably come to her defense.

Irans attack in April, launched after an Israeli strike near a diplomatic facility in Damascus, was well choreographed, giving Israel and its allies valuable time to prepare. Officials believe the assault this time could be more sudden, larger in scale and longer  possibly lasting several days instead of several hours. It could also be a coordinated barrage from multiple directions, involving Iranian proxies in Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon.

Over the past 10 months, Hezbollah militants in Lebanon have used low-flying, high-speed explosive drones to hit military sites and private homes in Israel  eluding the countrys vaunted aerial defense systems, which are designed to identify and intercept more traditional rockets that fly at higher altitudes and along linear flight paths. Such drones could pose a significant danger if unleashed in large numbers, weapons experts say.

Our response is coming and it will be strong, impactful and effective, Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah said in a speech on Wednesday.

The group could also make use of longer-range munitions that it claims to possess but has never publicly displayed. Repelling such a barrage would probably come at a high price for Israel: Iron Dome interceptions cost around $30,000 per interception; the Arrow 3, designed to down ballistic missiles, runs an estimated $3 million per interception.

Israel assesses that Hezbollah will start the attack, potentially firing toward Tel Aviv and using guided missiles, according to Yoel Guzansky, a former official on Israels National Security Council who is now a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.

A worst-case scenario, he said, would be a multi-front attack from other Iranian proxies designed to challenge the limits of Israels systems, which can be overwhelmed  and which, as seen in April, rely on the regional coalition for strategic depth.

Guzansky said Israel has communicated to Hezbollah and Iran that hitting civilian population centers would be a red line and would elicit a forceful response.

If Hezbollah continues its aggression, Israel will fight it, with all its might, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned in a message in Arabic posted on X on Thursday. He who plays with fire may expect destruction.

Israel might also consider a preemptive attack against Iran if it concluded an attack was imminent, Israeli media reported Monday after Netanyahu met with his defense chiefs. Thats something that we havent gotten to yet, but the future is yet to come, the senior Israeli politician said.

Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, was in Israel for a second time this week to discuss military coordination. Newly deployed U.S. assets include a squadron of F-22 Raptors, naval cruisers and destroyers, and the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying ships, which are heading toward the Middle East to replace another carrier strike group that will be departing the region.

The U.S. is much busier than it was in April, but it also realizes that a regional war will affect the economy, and it is in their interest to stop the escalation, said Israel Ziv, a retired major general who served as the head of the Israel Defense Forces Operations Division.

But he urged Israeli leaders not to take American support for granted: Here, I think Israel could make a mistake, in going to a regional war with the assumption that its assets will always be there.

He also predicted Israel would encounter difficulties in keepings its regional coalition together, since theyre not all ready to work with Netanyahu.

Abdullah Al-Junaid, a political analyst in Bahrain, said that Persian Gulf states were still invested in partnering with Israel to contain Iran, but that any long-term alliance would require progress toward a resolution between Israel and the Palestinians  which Netanyahu and his far-right allies have refused to consider. Their intransigence has stalled U.S.-backed efforts to expand normalization agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbors, including Saudi Arabia.

The current regional conflict is empowering the extremist models that Iran represents, Junaid said, which is in no ones interest.

Now we need to dig deeper and find out a Middle East 2.0, he said. The alternative is not sustainable.

Lior Soroka in Tel Aviv, Missy Ryan in Jerusalem and Dan Lamothe in Washington contributed to this report.
An HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter prepares to land July 30, 2023, at al Asad Air Base in Iraq. (hane Hamann/U.S. Army)

WASHINGTON  Five individuals were arrested in connection with a rocket attack on an air base in western Iraq earlier this week that injured four U.S. troops and a defense contractor, the Pentagon confirmed Thursday.

The arrests were announced by the Iraqi Security Media Cell, an official body responsible for disseminating security information.

We certainly welcome those actions. We have a good partnership with the Iraqi government, said Sabrina Singh, deputy press secretary for the Pentagon.

The Americans were injured when two rockets struck al Asad Air Base at about 9 p.m. local time Monday. Of those injured, three service members have been transferred to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for continued treatment. The contractor and one service member have returned to duty.

An initial assessment from the Defense Department said seven Americans were injured. However, two additional individuals who were thought to be injured were screened by medics and immediately cleared to return to duty, Singh told reporters Thursday at the Pentagon.

In the attack, three rockets were launched by an Iranian-backed militia. Two impacted the base, while the third rocket was intercepted. U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, is investigating how the rockets got through defense measures, Singh said.

We want to make sure that this doesnt happen again, she said.

The attack is the latest targeting al Asad in recent weeks. On July 25, two rockets were launched but did not strike the base. Less than two weeks earlier, on July 16, the base came under attack by two drones, one of which struck the base but caused minimal damage. The second drone launched in the same attack was shot down. No injuries were reported following either attack.

Mondays attack followed an order last week by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to move additional warships and a fighter squadron to the Middle East to bolster defenses in the region. The decision to move U.S. forces came ahead of an anticipated Iranian attack in response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

Austin ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, which is now deployed in the Middle East. CENTCOM also announced Thursday that Air Force F-22 Raptors had arrived in the region to help mitigate the possibility of regional escalation by Iran or its proxies.

The fighter jets can be an invaluable defensive platform, Singh said. I think it sends a very clear signal to the region that we want to see tensions deescalate, and it sends a really, I think, powerful message of deterrence.

U.S. bases in the region have been prone to attacks. After the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants on Israel, Iran-linked groups launched some 175 rocket and drone strikes on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria.

Stars and Stripes reporters Matthew Adams and Alison Bath contributed to this report.
Tim Walz appears at a campaign event in Philadelphia on Aug. 6, 2024, after being announced as Kamala Harriss running mate. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post)

Tim Walz was weighing a life-altering decision when he stepped into a supply room at the National Guard Armory in New Ulm, Minnesota, nearly two decades ago. He closed the door behind him, recalled a colleague, Al Bonnifield, and confided he was considering whether to leave their unit even though it was preparing to go to war so he could run for Congress.

It was a very long conversation behind closed doors, said Bonnifield. He was trying to decide where he could do better for soldiers, for veterans, for the country. He weighed that for a long time.

Walz, 60, ultimately chose to leave the Guard in 2005 and went on to win a House seat the following year, unseating a Republican incumbent as a populist wave of opposition to the Iraq War lifted Democrats to a majority of both chambers of Congress. That jump-started a political career that saw him elected governor of Minnesota in 2018 and, this week, selected as Vice President Kamala Harriss running mate in a heated race for the White House.

But while Walz and his political allies have cited his 24 years of military experience as an asset, the circumstances of his departure from the National Guard and his characterization of his service already have come under attack. At least three former Guard colleagues have publicly voiced bitterness at Walzs decision to leave their unit at such a consequential moment. Its not clear how widespread that feeling was, but Donald Trumps campaign has moved quickly to capitalize on the issue.

Nobody wants to go to war. I didnt want to go, but I went, Doug Julin, a retired National Guard soldier who worked with Walz, said in an interview. The big frustration was that he let his troops down.

The Harris campaign did not address criticisms from fellow soldiers that he retired to avoid going to war. Instead, the campaign said that while in Congress he was a tireless advocate for our men and women in uniform. As vice president, the campaign said in a statement to The Washington Post, he will continue to be a relentless champion for our veterans and military families.

Walz, a native of West Point, Nebraska, enlisted in the Nebraska Army National Guard at age 17. His father served during the Korean War era and urged both him and his sister to enlist, Walz said during a 2009 interview for an oral history project by the Library of Congress. Walz shifted to the Minnesota Army National Guard in 1996 after relocating with his wife, Gwen. He was activated for a variety of missions, including responses to forest fires, tornadoes and flooding.

On Wednesday, Walz also came under scrutiny for saying during a gubernatorial campaign event in 2018 that we can make sure those weapons of war that I carried in war are not on Americas streets. Walz did not serve in combat, according to the Minnesota Army National Guard, and his Republican counterpart jumped on those comments.

He said we shouldnt allow weapons that I used in war to be on Americas streets, JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, said during a campaign event in Michigan. Well, I wonder. Tim Walz, when were you ever in war?

The Harris campaign, in response to those comments, said in its statement to The Post that Walz carried, fired and trained others how to use weapons of war innumerable times. It declined to address why Walz claimed incorrectly to have done so in war.

Governor Walz would never insult or undermine any Americans service to this country  in fact, he thanks Senator Vance for putting his life on the line for our country, the statement said. Vance, a Marine Corps veteran, served in Iraq in a noncombat role for six months beginning in fall 2005.

Walz and his political allies also have inaccurately described him as a retired command sergeant major, one rank higher than he holds in retirement. Walz himself did so in a video clip from 2006 that was surfaced by C-SPAN on Tuesday and in a 2018 clip posted on his own YouTube account.

Im a retired sergeant major in the Army and the Army National Guard, he told a group of voters in the latter video.

Though Walz did achieve the rank of command sergeant major, it was a provisional rank until he completed required coursework for senior leaders, National Guard officials said. He did not do so by the time he departed the military, and his retirement rank reverted to master sergeant on May 15, 2005, officials said. Walz retired the next day.

The Harris campaign declined to address why Walz has inaccurately said he retired as one. He has sometimes called himself a former command sergeant major, which is accurate.

Walz, asked by the oral history interviewer where his combat experience occurred, said initially that his unit  the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery  had served throughout the European theater with Operation Enduring Freedom, the name the Pentagon used to describe the war in Afghanistan and other counterterrorism assignments.

Walz clarified later in the interview that he and his fellow Guard members initially thought they would fire artillery, but later learned they would be assigned in Europe to backfill other U.S. troops who were going to war.

I think in the beginning, many of my troops were disappointed, Walz said, recalling how he was assigned in Vicenza, Italy. I think they felt a little guilty, many of them, that they werent enough in the fight up front as this was happening.

But Thomas Behrends, a retired command sergeant major who also was on that deployment, said it was very clear that their unit was not going to war.

Hes sugarcoating it to make it more than it was, Behrends said. After 9/11, he added, the Air Force realized it needed to better safeguard its airfields and requested the National Guard to assist.

That was the mission from the get-go, Behrends said. There was nothing ever said about going to combat.

Behrends has been a vocal critic of Walzs since at least 2018, when he and another Guard member, Paul Herr, placed a scathing letter to the editor in a local newspaper, the West Central Tribune, that accused Walz of exaggerating his military career for years as he ran for governor.

He failed his country. He failed his state. He failed the Minnesota Army National Guard, the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion, and his fellow Soldiers, Behrends and Herr wrote. And he failed to lead by example. Shameful.

Behrends, who replaced Walz as the units command sergeant major, has donated to Republican political causes in the past. In 2022, he promoted a petition on his Facebook page demanding that Walz resign as governor, posting a photo of a grain silo  Behrends is a farmer  festooned with the phrase Walz is a traitor!

He also stood next to Walzs gubernatorial opponent, Republican Scott Jensen, at a campaign event that year and donated $2,500 to Jensens campaign, records show. He acknowledged in an interview Wednesday that he has made political donations in the past and said they were not about politics. He went on to call Walz as far left as they come, and said he cant speak to whether other candidates are lying, but does know for a fact that Tim Walz is lying about his record.

I always thought he was somebody that talked too much, he said of their time serving together. It was like, God, could he just sit down and shut up? But he liked to hear himself talk, the same as he does now.

Joe Eustice, who served in the National Guard with Walz for at least a decade, said he vehemently disagrees with Walzs politics but described him as a good soldier. In an interview, he rejected assertions that Walz avoided combat duty. In late spring 2005, when Walz said he wanted to pursue politics and decided to retire, there was only speculation of a combat deployment on the horizon, Eustice said.

Other than having a rumor, we were not notified that we were going to be deployed, Eustice said.

The unit received an official alert order two months after Walz had retired, the Minnesota National Guard said, which helped the unit prepare for mobilization later in the fall.

Walz, when asked by the Library of Congress historian about his retirement, said that he did so to run for Congress, adding that he was concerned about trying to serve in the military and run for office simultaneously. He also cited worries about the Hatch Act, which restricts partisan political activity by federal employees.

Julin, who oversaw Walz as a more senior command sergeant major, said that Walz approached him in 2005 and said he was prepared to go on their upcoming deployment to Iraq, but also was interested in running for Congress. Julin said he thought no big deal because other members of Congress had deployed.

But a couple of months later, Julin learned from another member of the Guard that Walz had retired. Julin was frustrated, he said, because Walz had arranged his retirement with two officers who outranked Julin.

I would have analyzed it and challenged him, Julin said. It would have been a different discussion, but he went to the higher ranks. He knew I would have told him, Suck it up, were going. 

Bonnifield, who listened as Walz pondered his future nearly 20 years ago, said the future politician appeared then to have no fear about the possibility of danger.

He was not that kind of man, said Bonnifield. Absolutely not.

The deployment to Iraq turned out to be grueling for their unit, which was deployed to Camp Scania, a way station between Baghdad and Kuwait constantly targeted by insurgents with rockets and other long-range fire, Bonnifield said. On the day their deployment was supposed to end, he said, it was extended an extra six months. The soldiers were away from home for a total of 22 months, he said, and multiple people died.

Bonnifield, who described himself as a Democrat willing to vote across party lines, said he thought Walz made the right career decision. He later voted for Walz, whom he said he has spoken to only once since, during a chance encounter at a political event.

If I had the same choices, I probably would have done the same thing, he said.

Patrick Murphy, the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress, met Walz on Capitol Hill in 2006 during their orientation as freshman lawmakers, Murphy said in an interview. They quickly bonded while rooming together in a modest apartment on Capitol Hill, he said.

Both felt the Iraq War was a disaster, and Walz said he believed he could do more as a policymaker to avoid such conflicts rather than deploy again, Murphy recalled. While Walz did not see combat, his service in Italy still meant leaving his family behind.

We have yanked these citizen-soldiers around for the last two decades, Murphy said. The Pentagon, the Army, they pick where you go. You dont get the chance to go where you want.

Walz served on the House Veterans Affairs Committee and pushed for the repeal of Dont Ask, Dont Tell, the Pentagons policy at the time that prevented gay service members from being open about their sexuality. He also supported in 2008 the Post-9/11 GI Bill, legislation that provided far more generous education support than the previous benefit.

Vance has credited the expanded benefits for his ability to attend Yale Law School. Vance should thank Walz for that, Murphy said, instead of criticizing him for his military record.

Nicole Markus in Detroit, Aaron Schaffer and Glenn Kessler contributed to this report.
Vietnamese student who went blind due to Agent Orange gets into 6 universities

Abandoned by his father at birth and losing his vision at 13 as an Agent Orange victim, a student in central Vietnam has overcome immense challenges to excel in studies and gain admission to six universities.

Do Nam Khanh, 18, from the central province of Ha Tinh, was classified as a student with a severe disability and exempted from the 2024 high school graduation exams in June.

But his academic results during high school were great enough to win him tickets into six universities: the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), Hanoi University of Education, the University of Technology in HCMC (Hutech), FPT University, Hoa Sen University, and Duy Tan University.

Do Nam Khanh at his home in the central province of Ha Tinh. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Hung

Upon receiving the acceptance letters, Khanh was so happy he cried. "I hugged my mother and grandmother, and said 'I did it'," Khanh recalled.

He now hopes his efforts will inspire others, especially those in similar situations.

Khanh and his mother, Nguyen Thi Thanh Tinh, 39, live with his grandparents in a small house in Nam Ha Ward in Ha Tinh City, the capital of the eponymous province.

Tinh said that when Khanh was born, her husband left after learning that their son had a visual impairment, inherited from her.

Khanh was diagnosed with congenital cataracts, a condition caused by the effects of Agent Orange to third-generation victims.

Vietnamese and international researches show that Agent Orange/dioxin, sprayed by the U.S. during the Vietnam War as a defoliant, can cause extensive harm to the human body, and its impact can be transmitted across generations. In Vietnam, its effects have been seen up to the fourth generation.

Estimates suggest that there are over 75,000 second-generation victims, more than 35,000 third-generation victims, and over 2,000 fourth-generation victims in the country.

With the main income from a breakfast food stall in front of their house, Tinh said she had to work hard to take care of her son.

When it was time for Khanh to start going to school, he must always wear thick glasses and a small rechargeable lamp to see the letters clearly during classes. At that time, Khanh could still see objects at a close distance.

At the age of 13, his condition worsened, and he completely lost his vision. The family took Khanh to several hospitals for surgery and treatment, but to no avail. He then switched to learning braille, and practiced using phones, computers, and assistive tools to make his studying easier.

The boy said he was shocked when he lost his vision entirely and saw only darkness. Gradually, he started to feel inferior and pity for himself.

In the early days of learning braille, the tips of his fingers would always be in pain, and Khanh often sat alone in a corner, crying. He recalled that braille has many characters and is very difficult to memorize, requesting him to spend around four hours each day familiarizing himself with it.

He also brought it to class and received support from teachers and classmates to study with it.

After a few months, he grasped the system of symbols and the rules for reading and writing Vietnamese braille at a basic level.

"There were times when I felt discouraged and wanted to give up because it was too difficult. But then I remembered why I started. My mother and grandmother have worked hard to raise me, so I must not disappoint them," Khanh said.

"I try to think positively and improve myself in the best way possible."

In class, Khanh focused on listening to the lectures, trying to remember all the basic knowledge that the teachers conveyed.

When feeling stressed, Khanh listened to music and podcasts and read books in various ways. He was also active in participating in school extracurricular activities.

Do Nam Khanh sings on stage during an event at Phan Dinh Phung High School in Ha Tinh in 2023. Photo courtesy of Khanh

During his three years at Phan Dinh Phung High School, Khanh consistently achieved excellent academic performance, with an average score of 9.3/10 in 12th grade.

Additionally, Khanh won awards at several competitions organized by the Vietnamese Blind Association. In 2023, he was one of 10 students commended by the Provincial Youth Union and the province's Department of Education and Training for overcoming difficulties.

He was also the youngest among the 21 outstanding individuals awarded a certificate of merit by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

In addition to academic knowledge, Khanh has been learning to play musical instruments, majoring in Piano-Organ at the intermediate level at Nguyen Du College for the past two years. At the end of last year, he graduated with honors.

Do Nam Khanh (L) is with his mother, Nguyen Thi Thanh Tinh. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Hung

Nguyen Thi Kim Bong, Khanhs homeroom teacher at Phan Dinh Phung High School, praised the student for his determination and high sense of responsibility.

"Khanh's achievements have motivated and inspired his peers," she said.

For the path ahead, he plans to study social work at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Khanh said he practices pronunciations of hosts on stage to improve his speaking skills.

"Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value," Khanh said, quoting Albert Einstein.

He said he uses it as a guiding principle for everything he does and much more now as he prepares to start a new chapter in his life.
Leanne Gleeson (42) started drinking following the row, and she regretted her behaviour

A drunken mother of two who became aggressive towards gardai was upset following an argument with her adult son, a court has heard.

Leanne Gleeson (42) started drinking following the row, and she regretted her behaviour.

Judge David McHugh convicted and fined Gleeson 80.

The defendant, with an address at Mount Eustace Crescent in Tyrrelstown, admitted public drunkenness and threatening and abusive behaviour on July 18, this year.

Sergeant Conor Mohan told Blanchardstown District Court that gardai were called to the defendants home following reports of a drunken female.

He said the defendant was highly intoxicated and she became highly aggressive towards gardai, and was screaming and shouting.

The court heard the defendant had one previous conviction.

Defence solicitor Tertius Van Eeden said that Gleeson was a single mother of two children, aged 19 and six years old.

On the day in question, Mr Van Eeden said, Gleeson had an argument with her adult son, and she was quite upset about it.

She started drinking following the argument, the solicitor said.

Gleesons adult son and his girlfriend were both in the house, and things had become heated, the court heard.

Mr Van Eeden said Gleeson wished to apologise for her behaviour.

She was not a frequent drinker, and she was embarrassed at what had happened.

Mr Van Eeden also asked the judge to be as lenient as possible.
The charges arose after three masked men entered a handful of licensed premises in Dungiven, claiming to be from the IRA and issuing threats against drugs suppliers

An alleged gun-toting New IRA man accused of trying to control his local community through the barrel of a gun has been denied permission to move back to the town.

Limavady Magistrates Court, sitting in Coleraine, heard that while Dermot Burkes proposed bail address is 400 metres outside the exclusion area delineated by a 30mph zone, the police and prosecution fear that for the 58-year-old to live anywhere near Dungiven is deeply inappropriate.

Prosecuting counsel also revealed that Burke himself had told police he had been working almost every day in Dungiven and while that was also outside the court-imposed exclusion zone and was therefore not a breach of bail conditions, there are concerns that he is pushing the envelope and not abiding by the spirit of the conditions.

Burke, bailed to live in Toomebridge but still listed as having an address on the Drum Road in Dungiven, is one of three defendants facing terrorist charges relating to intimidation around his home town on January 19 this year.

The other accused, a 17-year-old boy who cannot be identified and 30-year-old Michael Stephen Conwell, from Lettershendony Avenue in Drumahoe, alongside Burke, are all jointly charged with belonging or professing to belong to a proscribed organisation, namely the IRA, possessing a handgun with intent to cause a person to fear unlawful violence would be used against them and with possessing a weapon, namely a metal pole, on the Garvagh Road in Dungiven.

Previous courts have heard how the charges arose as a result of three masked men entering a handful of licensed premises in Dungiven, claiming to be from the IRA and issuing threats against drugs suppliers and users.

According to the police case Conwell leads the charge with the firearm in his left hand as the trio of masked terrorists visited four pubs and St. Candices GAA club over the course of an hour between 7-8pm on January 19, this year, declaring to patrons during their 30-second visits: We are New IRA, we are here to clean up the bars, if you dont clean up the bars we are going to do it  the bars are full of drugs.

Michael Conwell

Previous courts have heard how detectives have obtained CCTV footage and data from a Ford car connected to Conwell which suggests the Ford car met up with a white Citreon van in the car park of Owenbeg GAA on the Foreglen Road in Dungiven and that van was then used to transport the masked terrorists to each of the pubs as well as St. Candices GAA club.

Police believe the registration plate of the van had been doctored with black tape but that in actuality, the van belongs to Burkes employers and he regularly drives it.

There was also evidence obtained by police which connected Conwell to his mothers white motability Ford Ecosport car and also that a mobile attributable to him had been in contact on numerous occasions both before and after the incident, with Burkes mobile number.

The court heard that while the mobile phones of both Burke and Conwell show no activity during the hour while the masked terrorists make their intimidatory pub crawl, suggesting they had been switched off, Conwells Ford EcoSport has a built -in SIM card.

Also at an earlier hearing detective told the court that within 24 hours of Burke being arrested, someone had tried to perform a factory reset on the car infotainment system to delete data stored on it but despite that, a PSNI technical officer had been able to retrieve GPS data which puts the car entering the Owenbeg car park at a time when it parks up beside the van used by the terrorists.

In court yesterday, Burkes defence solicitor Paddy McGurk said the defendant wanting to move back home is simply a matter of convenience as he was having to pay rent on both that property and his bail address in Toomebridge.

He is finding it financially challenging to maintain rent on both properties, the solicitor revealed, despite the fact the 58-year-old works every hour God sends.

Mr McGurk said while the police and PPS have made some progress on getting the case to the next stage Burke is highly unlikely to get a hearing date for the case this year, theres not much argument about that.

Giving evidence to the court, Det. Const. McNamee said the proposed bail address was just 0.7 miles from St Candices GAA club which is at the centre of the case and the police investigation and if Burke was to be living there it would be near impossible to manage.

District Judge Peter King, who has previously commented that the allegations amount to alleged terrorists trying to control a local community through the barrel of a gun, said given the concerns of the police and PPS I am not persuaded to vary the bail conditions.

Refusing the bail variation application, he adjourned the case to September 4 for a prosecution update on the progress of the file.
The judge also warned Mr Andrei that it would be a condition of his bail "not to carry out any cryptocurrency transactions" and make no comments on public forums, including social media, about the case.

A Dublin man charged following a cyber crime investigation into darknet markets and money laundering involving cryptocurrencies has been released on bail.

Detectives with the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) seized around 6.5 million worth of cryptocurrency and arrested three people during a raid at a property in north Co Dublin.

Kevin Daniel Andrei, 23, of Drynam Avenue, Swords, appeared at Dublin District Court on Thursday afternoon charged with three counts of possessing close to 600,000 in crime proceeds under section seven of the Criminal Justice Act (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing).

He is accused of "concealing and disguising the true nature and source of 65 Wirex transactions" totalling 22,049 between March 3, 2021, and September 5, 2022, at various locations within the state.

According to another charge, between February 26, 2021, and February 26, 2024, he engaged in "concealing and disguising the true nature and source of 1822 Revolut transactions that is the proceeds of criminal conduct," valued 227,429.

The third one claims he disguised the true nature and source of 422 separate Binance transactions worth 341,959 between March 21, 2021, and December 20, 2023, at various places in Ireland.

Kevin Daniel Andrei, 23, of Drynam Avenue, Swords, appeared at Dublin District Court on Thursday. Pic Collins Courts

Dressed in a grey hoody, dark trousers and runners, the accused sat silently during the hearing and has yet to indicate a plea.

GNCCB Detective Ciaran Byrne told Judge Michael Connellan that the accused was charged at Kevin Street Garda station at 1.25 pm on Thursday and "made no reply to the charges".

Although the detective initially objected to bail, he added that he had discussed significant conditions with defence solicitor Kate McGhee.

The solicitor confirmed her client agreed to the terms proposed by the GNCCB detective. Judge Connellan imposed them and granted bail.

He told the accused, who has surrendered his passport, to sign on three days a week at his local garda station, not to apply for a replacement passport or new travel documents, reside at his current address, provide a mobile phone number to gardai and be contactable at all times.

The judge also warned Mr Andrei that it would be a condition of his bail "not to carry out any cryptocurrency transactions" and make no comments on public forums, including social media, about the case.

Bail was set in his bond of 100, and Mr Andrei was ordered to appear again on October 3 for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to be outlined.

Legal aid was granted after the judge noted from the defence solicitor that her client was not working.

A man and a woman were also arrested on suspicion of alleged offences under money laundering and terrorism financing legislation. However, they have been released from custody pending the submission of a file to the DPP.
CCTV footage of the incident was played showing the alleged victim running from his attackers along the street

Michael Nevin (39) who stands accused of assault causing harm and threats to kill or cause serious harm.

A man in his 20s who sustained multiple lacerations to his liver, lung and bowel during a feud-related stabbing in a midlands town last week was allegedly told by his attacker as he stood over him: You are going to die today, a court has heard.

The episode, which unfolded in broad daylight along Mullingars Austin Friar Street last Friday, is one of 15 feud related incidents gardai are investigating and which last night led to a near three hour special court sitting in the midlands town.

Five men, Bradley McEntee (23), Dalton Park, Mullingar; James Ward (26), Dalton Park; Mullingar; John Nevin (24) Dalton Park, Mullingar; Michael Nevin (39) Grange Heights, Mullingar and Michael Nevin (61) Dalton Park, Mullingar, were brought before the late night court sitting before Judge Patricia Cronin.

During the course of the lengthy hearing, the court heard of State objections to all three Nevin family members with consent to bail, subject to conditions being granted to McEntee and Ward.

Bradley McEntee was charged with assault causing harm on August 2, 2024 at Austin Friar Street, Mullingar and the possession of a knife five days later at Raithin, Mullingar.

Bradley McEntee arriving at Mullingar Courthouse.

His co-accused James Ward was charged with being a passenger in a stolen car at Cloncollig Roundabout, Tullamore yesterday (Wednesday) and of criminal damage to a Toyota Landcruiser and camper van valued at 17,000 during an incident at Leney, Ballinalack, Westmeath on July 11.

John Nevin (24), meanwhile, was similarly charged with being found in the same stolen vehicle while his two older family members, father and son Michael Nevin (61) and Michael Nevin Jnr both faced charges of threats to kill or cause serious harm and of also being found in the same vehicle as Ward in Tullamore.

The younger of the two Nevin men was further charged with assault causing harm to the young man who underwent emergency surgery at Mullingars Midland Regional Hospital as a result of the injuries sustained in the attack.

During the contested bail hearing, CCTV footage of the incident was played showing the alleged victim running from his attackers along the street as his partner and young child fled sought refuge in a nearby restaurant shortly after 5pm.

The footage then showed the young man running out of shot of the camera while being pursued by a man.

The court heard it will be the States evidence that man was Michael Nevin (39) who was allegedly armed with a black handled knife.

Detective Garda Kevin Lennon said it was moments later that the young man was stabbed repeatedly by Mr Nevin who stood over the alleged victim to say: I have you now, you are going to die today.

The court heard how the alleged incident stemmed from a worsening feud involving two locally based families in the midlands town over an alleged 50 drug debt.

Judge Cronin was informed that since July 4 there had been 15 incidents of a violent nature being recorded, ranging from criminal damage, threats to kill, discharge of a firearm as well as the discovery of stolen firearm as recently as Tuesday.

James Ward standing outside Mullingar Courthouse.

The court also heard evidence from Lucy Dinnegan, the aunt of the alleged injured party in connection to two threats to kill or cause serious harm charges at Greenpark, Ballymahon Road, Westmeath, both Mr Nevin (61) and his younger co-accused Michael Nevin Jnr (39) stand accused of.

She told of receiving a phonecall from both men on July 4 detailing how threats against the safety of her two sons, Oliver Jnr (20) and Johnnie Dinnegan (19).

She said the younger of the two, Michael Nevin Jnr, had initially ordered her older son, Oliver Jnr to fight his brother and that if he didnt he was getting cut to ribbons.

Ms Dinnegan said it was at that stage Mr Nevin Snr grabbed the phone where further threats were made.

He (Nevin Snr) roared down the phone to me that he was killing my children, that he will slice Oliver up and cut Johnnies throat.

They have threatened my children from then on. My house was broken and my neighbours have been terrorised and this is all down to a 50 drug debt.

"Him and his father made the threats to kill my sons. They came to my mothers home, a 76 year old woman with Alzheimers and they demolished her home also.

Ms Dinnegan said the scale of the intimidation waged against both her and her extended family had taken a deep, emotional and psychological toll.

I am living in fear for my sons every day of my life and I dont let them out of my sight, she said.

I need to know their whereabouts because I know what these people are capable of. I know he (Michael Nevin Snr) will make sure these threats will be carried out.

My childrens lives might mean nothing to him but they mean everything to me Your Honour.

Defence solicitor Roisin Giles said Michael Nevin and Michael Nevin Jnr men enjoyed the presumption of innocence, were willing to abide by strict bail terms and attend all future court dates.

She said Mr Nevin Jnr was also a married father of four who worked part time, adding that both men were unaware the car they were found travelling in in Tullamore had been taken during a burglary in the Mulhuddart area of Dublin in July.

For his part, Mr Nevin Snr took the stand to insist the threat to kill charges being made against him were unfounded.

He also stated that his home had been targeted with two bullets fired through a downstairs window while his teenage grandson had narrowly escaped serious injury when almost being struck by a car.

The first time I have spoken to that woman is in this court, he told Judge Cronin, as he reached across to place his hand on the bible.

I dont even look at her, never mind talking to her on the phone. I am telling the truth. Thats on my life, my childrens life that I never talked to that woman before only here. My daughters windows were broke, I left the town to keep down trouble and my house was shot at.

My grandson, 13 years of age was nearly driven over by a car and I am here under false allegations. I swear on that holy bible and my familys lives that that woman is telling lies.

Judge Cronin denied both men bail, remanding the pair in custody to appear back at a sitting of Mullingar District Court next Monday.

John Nevin, meanwhile, was remanded in custody with consent to bail subject to a number of conditions.

Among them included the submission of a 1,000 court approved independent surety, to reside at an address outside Westmeath and an 8pm to 8am curfew.

Bradley McEntee and James Ward were remanded on bail to a sitting of Mullingar District Court in October.
Shane Christopher Frane (36) was sentenced to a minimum of six years for the manslaughter of a police officer in 2013

An on-the-run police killer, who argued that he was facing an "extreme and draconian" sentencing regime if he was sent back to prison in Northern Ireland, has consented to his surrender, the High Court has heard.

Shane Christopher Frane (36) was sentenced to a minimum of six years for the manslaughter of a police officer in 2013 after a car crash.

The sentencing judge also gave Frane an Indefinite Custodial Sentence that requires him to remain in prison until he can prove he is no longer a danger to the public.

Frane absconded from Northern Ireland on January 24 this year when on day-release and was arrested in the Republic in February on foot of an extradition warrant.

Shane Frane (Photo: Margaret McLaughlin)

Frane had pleaded guilty to the 2013 manslaughter of Constable Philippa Reynolds. Ms Reynolds (27) was the back seat passenger in a police patrol car that was struck by a stolen Toyota Landcruiser driven by Frane in February 2013 in Derry. She was killed instantly.

At the High Court today, Frane took the stand to tell Mr Justice Paul Burns that he was now consenting to his surrender to the North.

Frane's barrister, Karen Quinlivan KC had previously argued before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath in June that to surrender her client would be a breach of his rights under the Constitution and Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights. She said it had been accepted that Frane has shown genuine remorse and regret and has embraced opportunities for rehabilitation in prison.

Constable Philippa Reynolds

However, before allowing Frane's release, the parole board in Northern Ireland must be satisfied that he no longer poses a risk to the community. This requirement, counsel said, sets an "almost impossible standard" for him to meet and despite his efforts he has not been cleared for release.

Ms Quinlivan pointed out that a judge of the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland has described Indefinite Custodial Sentences as "extreme and draconian" and urged lawmakers to reconsider them.

Ms Quinlivan said it is a well-established principle that preventing risk to the public cannot be the only objective of sentencing.

A sentence requiring a person to prove they are no longer a risk to society would be unconstitutional in this jurisdiction, she said, and such a regime represents an egregious and fundamental defect in the sentencing regime in Northern Ireland.

A judgement had been due to be delivered in October but Frane will now be surrendered to the North inside a maximum of 20 days.
Brute who walked free from court after domestic abuse conviction says he wants to move on

A Wexford pensioner who avoided jail this week for beating his wife over an eight-year period has moaned that it was 30 f**king years ago and said he just wants to forget about it now.

John Sheridan (70) had pleaded not guilty to four counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and three counts of assault causing harm to Ann Sheridan (64) on dates between January 1, 1994 and June 30, 2002.

Sheridan, of St Aidans Villas, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, was convicted by a jury following a trial at The Central Criminal Court earlier this year.

Ann Sheridan detailed in court how she was abused from the very first day of their marriage.

At first it was verbal abuse and the court heard he would berate her if her cooking wasnt to his liking.

She told how he then started physically attacking her, first with an open hand before progressing to punching her with a closed fist and kicking her. The court heard the beatings took place twice a week.

70-year-old John Sheridan speaking to our reporter

Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford noted there was no guilty plea and no concrete admission of remorse when she sentenced him this week.

Sheridan now accepts he assaulted his wife on a number of occasions but has tried to downplay the number of times and the extent of the violence.

He said he wanted to move on and forget about what he did when the Sunday World called to his home this week.

I dont want to talk about it. Ive been through it now. My mental health is f**ked over the whole thing.

Did you get the whole case? There was a lot in it.

He continued to say he just wanted to move on following his conviction.

I dont want to talk about it. I just want to forget about it now. It is 30 f**king years ago. You cantI dont understandI dont want to talk about it, okay. What I had to say about the whole thing, I said in court.

Asked if there was at least any remorse, he said: From me, like?

When our reporter said yes, he said: Im sorry everything went like that. Look Im sorry, just forget about it.

Sheridan walked free from court after receiving an 18-month suspended sentence this week.

The court heard the couple married in 1990 after Mrs Sheridan answered an ad in Irelands Own titled quiet man.

Garda Aine OConnell told the court a year after the marriage, he took voluntary redundancy and did nixers.

The verbal abuse started as soon as she got married, and the physical violence started a year after the birth of their son in 1993, where Mr Sheridan would hit her with an open hand.

On one occasion, when she was pregnant, he threw a bedroom locker at her, which she narrowly avoided but said she didnt feel the baby move until 4am the next morning. The assaults would happen twice a week, and she would be left bruised and marked under her clothing, the court heard.

After the birth of their daughter in 1997, the physical abuse progressed from hits with an open hand to using a closed fist. After she had healed, hed give her what he referred to as a renewal.

He would refer to her as a leppy as she was epileptic, and he said that this was the cause of her bruising. She said she was breastfeeding her younger child, and hed rabbit punch her. The court heard this is a rural term for a punch with a closed fist.

On another occasion, she was in a room with her two children when he came towards her, and when she tried to run away, he kicked her in the coccyx with his steel-capped boot. He also kicked her in a part of her leg where she had no feeling, as shed previously had a skin graft. She did not feel any pain at the time in that part of her leg, but her son told her she was bleeding.

Her husband wouldnt allow her to go to the doctor that evening, the court heard. She was allowed to go to the doctor the next day, and Sheridan told her to say she slipped on a toy. She said the abuse was happening twice weekly at that time.

He left the family in 2000 and has had no contact with his children since. When interviewed by gardai, Sheridan admitted hitting his wife but denied kicking her. The court heard he had no previous convictions.

In her victim impact statement, the woman said: I was married for 10 years, being abused from the first day.

She said she suffered pain in her coccyx after being kicked by his steel-capped boot and had pain in her leg. She said she stood sideways at the cooker because she was always being pushed into it.

I cant deal with silence in company because it means abuse, so I keep talking, she said.

To this day, the emotional pain never goes away Im only a shell of the woman I once knew, she added.

I never had freedom in my marriage obedience was always demanded of me in all areas of my life  as they say, Love, honour, obey.

Under cross-examination by Colman Cody SC, defending, Garda OConnell agreed that Sheridan was now in a new relationship and has no contact with his children.

Mr Cody said his client is not the person as depicted by his wife. At all times, he was a good provider and said he wasnt coping.

He said Sheridan has lost his family he had with his wife and has already been punished.

He felt he was a man who couldnt deal with the situation at the time, Mr Cody added.

A summarised psychiatrists report conducted in July 2000 said that after the events he said he contemplated suicide and is suffering from an adjustment disorder, the court heard.

He felt he had not been treated fairly by the family courts, said Mr Cody.

Is it in the interest of justice to send this elderly man to prison? Mr Cody asked the court.

This is a case where there are no winners, he added.

Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford said the pattern of abuse would now be considered as coercive control but that he was guilty of assaults on his then-wife.

She noted he was a different man now and is in a new relationship for the past 20 years with his new partner, saying he is supportive.

The judge said there was no useful purpose in sending him to prison. She ordered that Sheridan hand over his interest in the family home to her and said it was on that basis she was giving him a suspended sentence.

She set a headline sentence of three years for the assaults but reduced this to 18 months, suspending it in its entirety.

She further ordered that he stay away from her and his children and must not approach them unless invited to.

The case will be mentioned again on October 7 next to follow up on the status on the transfer of the house.
Two men and one women were arrested in the highly complex investigation targeting the sale of illegal material on darknet markets and money laundering operations.

Gardai have seized crypto currency worth 6.5m as well as luxury watches and high-end vehicles after raiding a home in north Dublin.

Two men and one women were arrested in the highly complex investigation targeting the sale of illegal material on darknet markets and money laundering operations.

As part of an ongoing investigation being conducted at the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) into sale of illegal material on Darknet Markets and Money Laundering involving extensive use of cryptocurrencies, Detectives attached to the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB), supported by the Armed Support Unit, conducted a search of a residence in North County Dublin on the morning of 5th August 2024, a garda spokesperson said.

During the search, gardai seized Crypto Currency, namely Bitcoin and Monero, with a current market value of around 6.5 million , along with luxury brand watches worth more than 120,000 and two high-powered vehicles valued in the region of 220,000.

Two males (aged 23 and 49) were arrested on suspicion of alleged offences of Enhancing the Capability of a Criminal Organisation to Commit a Serious Offence contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 and were detained under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at Garda Stations in South Dublin.

A 32-year-old female was also arrested on suspicion of alleged offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 and detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, as amended.

The man (49) and woman have since been released from custody pending a fie being sent to the DPP.

Gardai said the 23-year-old man remains in garda custody.

Detective Superintendent Michael Mullen of the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau described it as a highly complex investigation.

These Law Enforcement actions demonstrate Irelands continued determination that this jurisdiction is not a safe place for persons involved in any form of criminality and the determination of An Garda Siochana to prevent those involved in criminality of benefitting financially from same, irrespective of what form such profits takes. I would also like to reassure the public that this Darknet market, where illegal good and services were for sale, is no longer in operation
Single mum praises neighbours who came to her aid  and forgives culprits

Lanai Molina (45) reading the note left by an anonymous well-wisher (Picture by Brett Campbell)

A Filipina care worker has said she will not leave her Co Antrim home after it was targeted in a race hate attack because she doesnt know where is safe.

Lanai Molina (45) was working at a care home when a brick was thrown through the front window of her house in Ballyclare shortly after 12am yesterday.

The same person or people are believed to have thrown a brick through the windscreen of her car, parked outside the property on Erskine Park. Police are treating the matter as a racially-motivated hate crime.

Ms Molina said she forgave whoever was to blame.

She added: I hope you dont do this to anyone again. You dont know what youre doing.

I came here to take care of your people. I will not harm your people and I am not a bad person. I just do my job.

The well-wisher said the attack was not in their name

The single mother, a former mechanical engineer who moved to Northern Ireland in February after almost 20 years in Dubai, received a text from her eight-year-old daughters nanny explaining what had happened, but she was unable to read it until the end of her shift at 7.30am.

Ms Molina said: I still feel nervous because I have a daughter, and I dont know who did this. What if she had been here when it happened? The upstairs window is close to where she sleeps, so that worries me because there is damage to the roof. It looks like a brick missed an upstairs window.

Im really shocked and scared. I dont know when it will happen again. Maybe when my daughter is here and we are sleeping.

Her daughter, Jelleine, was staying with a friend when the attack happened but is normally in the property with her nanny.

Her frightened mother delayed picking her up until the window had been repaired and the shattered glass cleaned up.

I dont want her to witness what happened here. She doesnt know, she said.

I dont want her to feel bad. I want to keep this a secret from her because she will be sad, worried and scared. I will bring her home later like normal, as if nothing happened.

I dont want her to have a bad image of people. She loves people here and has so many classmates in the neighbourhood. She really enjoys living here.

Damage to the front window (Picture by PressEye)

Ms Molina also praised a neighbour who came and gave me a hug.

She said: They are really sad about what happened.

I have another very good neighbour who I went to this morning and said, Please help me. He came straight away and spoke with me. He did not think twice. He phoned the police and helped me with my landlord.

I feel like they are with me and are concerned too.

An anonymous well-wisher also posted a card through her letterbox reading: Not in my name. We are so sorry that this has happened to you. Whoever did this does not represent our neighbourhood. God Bless.

Ms Molina said while she was grateful for the support, she did not feel safe.

She told how she had received text messages from her worried mum and siblings just hours before she was targeted.

They asked her to be careful after watching news bulletins at home in the Philippines about the violence in Northern Ireland.

Ms Molina said: I told them Im okay because I live in Ballyclare and it is far from Belfast, and then suddenly it happened to me.

I will stay here because I dont have anywhere else to go and I have no family here, but I dont know where is safe for us.

This is happening everywhere, and I know colleagues who have been targeted in other places.

Damage to the car (Picture by PressEye)

Ms Molina believes whoever was behind the attack must have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs because she cant imagine a normal person doing what they did.

She remains convinced that the wider community is good and is relying on her faith to get her through.

I really feel scared, but you have to decide if the fear goes into your heart or your mind, she said.

Everything happens for a reason. God is with me and I will just take this situation as a trial in our lives.

I like this country and I like this area, so I will continue my service because I love caring for people. This is the reason why I am here.

It was reported earlier this week that around 10 nurses in the Belfast Trust were considering leaving Northern Ireland because they no longer felt safe.
The United States is intensely working to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. Conflict has tragically flared over the past 10 months after the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing over 1200 people, mostly civilians, and taking more than 240 hostage. Israels ensuing military operations against Hamas in Gaza have led to the death of thousands of Palestinians, as well as to immense suffering from displacement and food shortages.



In recent days, tensions have soared even higher between Israel and Iranian proxies in the region, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, after the killing by Israel of a Hezbollah commander in Beirut and the death of a Hamas leader in Tehran.

At a press briefing, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States has been in constant contact with partners in the region and well beyond:

In those conversations, weve heard a clear consensus: no one should escalate this conflict.

Secretary Blinken said the United States has been engaged in intense diplomacy with allies and partners communicating that message directly to Iran. We communicated that message directly to Israel.

Our commitment to Israels security is ironclad. We will continue to defend Israel against attacks from terrorist groups or their sponsors, just as well continue to defend our troops. But everyone in the region should understand that further attacks only perpetuate conflict, instability, insecurity for everyone, he said. Its urgent that everyone in the region take stock of the situation, understand the risk of miscalculation, and make decisions that will calm tensions, not exacerbate them.

The best way to do that, said Secretary of State Blinken, is for Israel and Hamas to finalize a ceasefire agreement for the conflict in Gaza, whose framework was first proposed by Israel and announced by President Joe Biden two months ago.

This is the decisive moment. The negotiations have reached their final stage, and we believe strongly that they should come across the finish line very, very soon, said Secretary Blinken.

And that, declared Secretary Blinken, besides changing everything for people in Gaza, bringing the hostages home, giving us an opportunity to build a more enduring peace for Gaza, also opens up other possibilities, other prospects more broadly in terms of de-escalating tensions and bringing real security and stability. Thats what were focused on.
We remain committed to identifying those involved in a range of incidents across Belfast since the weekend and we will be relentless in our pursuit in order to bring these offenders before the Courts.

CCTV footage of a man the PSNI wish to speak to in connection to the disorder in Belfast (Photo: PSNI)

CCTV footage of a man the PSNI wish to speak to in connection to the disorder in Belfast (Photo: PSNI)

CCTV footage of a man the PSNI wish to speak to in connection to the disorder in Belfast (Photo: PSNI)

CCTV footage of a man the PSNI wish to speak to in connection to the disorder in Belfast (Photo: PSNI)

CCTV footage of a man the PSNI wish to speak to in connection to the disorder in Belfast (Photo: PSNI)

CCTV footage of a man the PSNI wish to speak to in connection to the disorder in Belfast (Photo: PSNI)

The PSNI has released images of six men wanted after disorder and violence across Belfast.

Beginning on Saturday, incidents of disorder and violence have occurred across Northern Ireland in connection with anti-immigration protests with over 20 people arrested.

Police have said they wish to identify six people they believe are connected to causing incidents of disorder and attacking property, the public and police officers.

Assistant chief constable Davy Beck said: Today we are releasing six images of individuals whom we would like to speak with, in connection with our ongoing investigation into a number of incidents of disorder and attacks on Police officers since Saturday, August 3.

Over the course of a number of days, there were a number of people who were intent on causing incidents of disorder and attacking property, the public and police officers.

"These are hate marches" - Justice Minister Naomi Long addresses Stormont after nights of race hate violence

We remain committed to identifying those involved in a range of incidents across Belfast since the weekend and we will be relentless in our pursuit in order to bring these offenders before the Courts.

"Following a number of nights of disorder across Belfast, we have arrested 22 people and further arrests will be made. Four of these arrests have been as a direct result of being identified as part of our ongoing evidence gathering operation.

The scenes we have been seeing across Belfast over the last week have been a disgrace and have no place in Northern Ireland. Those who are intent on causing disorder or committing offences, need to think of the consequences of their actions.

"Rest assured, we will use all lawful means, tactics or tools at our disposal to gather evidence and arrest those involved in this criminality. Think of the consequences of your actions which could lead to potentially prosecution and a criminal record.

CCTV footage of a man the PSNI wish to speak to in connection to the disorder in Belfast (Photo: PSNI)

Assistant Chief Constable Beck continued: By releasing these images I am hopeful that the wider community will help us identify these individuals. It is in everybodys interest  as well as in the interest of justice - that those responsible are dealt with appropriately and I would urge anyone who may have any information to bring it forward.

I also encourage the persons within these pictures to contact police directly. In doing so, they will minimise the impact on themselves, their family and their community.

CCTV footage of a man the PSNI wish to speak to in connection to the disorder in Belfast (Photo: PSNI)

Anyone who may be able to identify any of these individuals or provide any information about them such as their name, address or age is urged to contact detectives at Musgrave Police Station on 101.

Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Stephen has been discharged nine times in four months despite showing symptoms of serious illness

Proud parents Colin and Sharon Heaney with Stephen on his graduation

An Armagh family has become so desperate for help for their son they released a video of him in the grip of mental illness.

Colin and Sharon Heaney say son Stephen has been discharged from Bluestone Unit in Craigavon Area Hospital nine times in four months despite showing symptoms of serious illness.

Hes also gone missing from the unit on several occasions.

In desperation the family shared Ring doorbell footage from a neighbour of their business graduate son walking in pyjamas during a downpour.

Police have informed them of Stephen walking into traffic in Banbridge, and videos of the 29-year-old clearly in the grip of mental illness have been shared on TikTok.

Bluestone Unit

The family believe at one point he walked the 22 miles from Craigavon to Banbridge and, on another occasion, he walked 29 miles from Banbridge to Belfast.

Despite suffering for years, he completed his degree and last year finished his Masters.

The worried parents say Stephens mental health declined dramatically when his diagnosis was changed.

The way he is when hes himself to the way he is now, you wouldnt recognise him, says dad Colin.

From he was about 20 or 21 hes had periods when he wasnt well and he was in Bluestone, but hes also had periods when hes had jobs and was able to do his degree and his Masters.

We would have family meetings with Bluestone and wed talk and come up with ideas about what was working. For the last eight years weve been happy with his treatment there.

Since he got his new diagnosis we feel they want him out of there.

A neighbours Ring doorbell camera captures Stephen leaving his home

A litany of admissions and discharges has seen Stephen admitted to the unit and then sent home within 24 hours.

They sent him home at 7.30pm with a nurse and didnt tell us. One of his neighbours rang us to say he was running around and the nurse was running around after him.

The way he is being treated is unfair and degrading when you know he is not well.

Earlier this month he was discharged from Bluestone and left sitting outside the unit with no shoes and no way of getting home before medical staff phoned police to remove him.

The police and A&E have shown him more compassion.

He has turned up at the police station in Belfast and we think he walked from Banbridge. He collapsed in the back of a police car, says Colin.

We are waiting for the police to come to the door and tell us our son is dead.

His parents fear that if Stephens mental health continues to decline, he may not recover.

He had been hearing things and his moods are up and down. He has been shouting and squealing about things and talking to himself. Hes wrecked his flat. He had 2000 in savings and he spent it in a week.

And were being told he doesnt need to be in hospital.

Stephen Heaney

The couple say they have been exhausted fighting to get the right treatment for their son and have asked for him to be treated at another mental health unit.

The Heaneys have now made an official complaint.

In a statement, the Southern Trust says its unable to comment on any individual patient. However, there has been significant ongoing contact between Trust staff and this patient and their family.

Our dedicated mental health staff are very experienced in professionally assessing people with complex conditions and offering intervention as required, based on clinical need.

We encourage any patient or family member with concerns about our services to contact our Service User Feedback team so that each concern or complaint can be fully investigated and responded to when appropriate and valid consent from the patient has been provided.
South African man was accused of domestic abuse by flight attendant

The ex-husband of Tori Towey, the Irish woman who was banned from leaving Dubai last month, is also claiming he is trapped in the country.

Ms Towey (28) was the subject to a travel ban in Dubai after she tried to take her own life, which is a crime in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Her case was raised in the Dail by Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, who said the Roscommon woman had been the victim of the most gross domestic violence.

Irish government and diplomatic intervention saw the Emirates flight attendant return to Ireland two days later.

In an interview earlier this week, Ms Towey told the BBC the abuse started with a lot of control issues.

I was cut off from my friends, my family. I wasnt allowed to be on my phone

Obviously in the beginning I didnt see anything like that. It was when we moved in together, she said of her life with her ex-husband.

I was cut off from my friends, my family. I wasnt allowed to be on my phone. I was cut of from the rest of the world.

Tori Towey

She stressed that there were a lot of arguments between her and her husband, which led to the alleged physical, emotional and mental abuse. So it was really, really tough, she added.

Now, Ms Toweys former husband, who remains in Dubai, is claiming he too has been prevented from returning to his home country.

He denies all allegations of domestic abuse.

The South African citizen claims he is currently subject to a travel ban for walking across the road during a night out. He claims he has lost his home, his job and is running out of money.

I can only stay here for the next two days, after which I will be homeless, which is a crime in the UAE

In an interview with Nexus News South Africa he said he is in a dire situation and is stuck in Dubai.

I have no passport, he said. I have a travel ban on my name. Ive lost my home. I had to give my dog up for adoption and I am currently staying in a hotel room.

I can only stay here for the next two days, after which I will be homeless, which is a crime in the UAE.

This all originating from the fact that I walked across the road in front of a Chinese ladys car.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald raised Ms Towey's plight in the Dail. Photo: Frank McGrath

In May last year, I went to dinner with friends as we were celebrating a birthday. I came out of the shopping centre and I had to get into a taxi that was on the other side of the road. I walked across the road where the Chinese lady was proceeding to drive. I didnt think much of it. I got in the taxi and I went home.

He said that after returning from being abroad for several days, he was detained by immigration officers.

He claimed he was placed in a room for 10 hours with no food, no water and they didnt allow me to sleep.

I have been under an extreme amount of stress, emotionally and physically and financially. I have lost my job, I cannot pay my debts

The man claims he was asked to remove his uniform, cuffs were placed on his wrists and he was walked to an unlocked van in the middle of the night.

He said: Since may last year, following this incident I have been under an extreme amount of stress, emotionally and physically and financially. I have lost my job, I cannot pay my debts.

In the next two days, I will be arrested for not paying my debt.

Tori Towey worked as a flight attendant (Detained in Dubai)

The man claims the Dubai authorities told him the case for walking across the road is still under investigation.

He said his family has begged and reached out to the South African government to no avail.

I have received no help, he said. The situation is getting worse day by day and I just dont see any light of the tunnel. Over the next few days my resources will be depleted.

I will be without food, without a place to stay and I will be on the street. This is just a dire situation.
Paul-Henri Nargeolet was among five people who died when the Titan submersible imploded during a voyage to the famed Titanic wreck site in the North Atlantic in June 2023

The family of a French explorer who died in a submersible implosion have filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking more than 50 million dollars (39 million) that accuses the subs operator of gross negligence.

Paul-Henri Nargeolet was among five people who died when the Titan submersible imploded during a voyage to the famed Titanic wreck site in the North Atlantic in June 2023.

No-one survived the trip aboard the experimental submersible owned by OceanGate, a company in Washington state that has since suspended operations.

Known as Mr Titanic, Mr Nargeolet had visited the Titanic site many times before and was regarded as one of the worlds most knowledgeable people about the famous wreck.

Paul-Henri Nargeolet (Jim Rogash/AP)

Lawyers for his estate said in an emailed statement that the doomed submersible had a troubled history, and that OceanGate failed to disclose key facts about the vessel and its durability.

According to the lawsuit, the Titan dropped weights about 90 minutes into its dive, indicating the team had aborted or attempted to abort the dive.

While the exact cause of failure may never be determined, experts agree that the Titans crew would have realised exactly what was happening, the lawsuit states. Common sense dictates that the crew were well aware they were going to die, before dying.

The lawsuit goes on to say: The crew may well have heard the carbon fibres crackling noise grow more intense as the weight of the water pressed on Titans hull. The crew lost communications and perhaps power as well.

By experts reckoning, they would have continued to descend, in full knowledge of the vessels irreversible failures, experiencing terror and mental anguish prior to the Titan ultimately imploding.

A spokesperson for OceanGate declined to comment on the lawsuit, which was filed on Tuesday in King County, Washington.

In their statement, the lawyers, the Buzbee Law Firm of Houston, Texas, said: The lawsuit further alleges that even though Nargeolet had been designated by OceanGate to be a member of the crew of the vessel, many of the particulars about the vessels flaws and shortcomings were not disclosed and were purposely concealed.

Tony Buzbee, one of the lawyers on the case, said one of the goals of the lawsuit is to get answers for the family as to exactly how this happened, who all were involved, and how those involved could allow this to happen.

Concerns were raised in the aftermath of the disaster about whether the Titan was doomed due to its unconventional design and its creators refusal to submit to independent checks that are standard in the industry.

Its implosion also raised questions about the viability and future of private deep-sea exploration.

The US Coast Guard quickly convened a high-level investigation, which is still ongoing. A key public hearing that is part of the investigation is scheduled to take place in September.

The Titan made its last dive on June 18, 2023, a Sunday morning, and lost contact with its support vessel about two hours later.

After a search and rescue mission that drew attention around the world, the wreckage of the Titan was found on the ocean floor about 984 feet off the bow of the Titanic, about 435 miles south of St Johns, Newfoundland.

OceanGate chief executive and co-founder Stockton Rush was operating the Titan when it imploded.

In addition to Mr Rush and Mr Nargeolet, the implosion killed British adventurer Hamish Harding and two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood.

The company that owns the salvage rights to the Titanic is in the midst of its first voyage to the wreckage site in years.

Last month, RMS Titanic Inc, a Georgia-based firm, launched its first expedition to the site since 2010 from Providence, Rhode Island.

Mr Nargeolet was director of underwater research for RMS Titanic. His estates attorneys described him as a seasoned veteran of underwater exploration who would not have participated in the Titan expedition if the company had been more transparent.
This sort of baseless speculation is not only generally unhelpful, but is upsetting to a family who have in the very immediate lost a loved one.

Gardai have issued a warning to the public over completely false information which they say was posted online following the death of a man in west Dublin.

The man in his 30s was taken to hospital on Wednesday after suffering a medical emergency near Saggart Luas terminal on the red line. He was brought to Tallaght Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Gardai have since issued a statement criticising baseless speculation and online commentary which has linked his death to immigration.

They have labelled it as fake news and are urging the public to independently verify information they are reading on social media.

"Gardai were requested by the national ambulance service to assist with a medical emergency near Saggart Luas Terminal, a spokesperson said.

Gardai sealed off Fortunestown Lane to allow ambulance personnel to treat a man who had taken seriously ill. The man, aged in his 30s, was taken from the scene to Tallaght Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

An Garda Siochana is aware of posts and comments online with misinformation and disinformation speculating and linking this personal incident to Immigration and International Protection. This speculation and commentary is completely false.

This sort of baseless speculation is not only generally unhelpful, but is upsetting to a family who have in the very immediate lost a loved one.

They added: An Garda Siochana is very aware of online misinformation, disinformation and fake news, not just in relation to this incident, but in general, in widespread public circulation.

An Garda Siochana appeals to all members of the public to independently verify any information that you are reading on social media and/ or messaging apps."
Patrick Owens has dedicated his life to helping those caught in the grips of addiction

Patrick Owens first got involved in drugs at a very young age when he started smoking hash. From there, it escalated to hard drugs as Patrick chased the next high.

It wasn't until Patrick woke up, locked in a cell in Kilkenny Garda Station, that the hard truth hit home. If he didnt turn his life around soon, it wouldnt be a prison cell he would find himself in, but an early grave.

Patrick, better known as Packie, grew up in Ossory Park in Kilkenny. He later moved to Bishop Birch Place, where he found himself surrounded by older lads who were already involved in drugs. Taking a lead from the older guys, Patrick started drinking and then moved onto smoking hash in his early teens.

"We always looked up to the older lads and they were always drinking and doing drugs so we just followed suit, said Patrick. We were the next in line so we copied their behaviour. I was worse with the drink so I was trying hard to get away from that but then I ended up doing drugs instead.

"But I still couldnt give up the drink so I was smoking hash while also drinking. No one could ever understand how I was able to do both.

Once he turned 14-years-old his behaviour intensified. I found out my girlfriend was pregnant and the responsibility hit me. The drink got worse, I left school and went working on the building sites. I had money so I went to the pub every Friday and spent the weekend drinking. It was the same thing every week, waiting for Friday.

I was often on my way home at 5am or 6am in the morning when lads would be passing in the van on their way to work beeping.

But the more Patrick smoked and drank, the higher his tolerance became so he went in search for something stronger.

"It escalated as my tolerance kept getting higher and higher so I moved onto the acid, crack and even heroin because once you start you are always looking for something better and stronger.

"Between the drink and the drugs, I knew what was coming next for me and that was death, said Patrick. I had already been in the institutes and jails so the only place left for me was an early grave.

Patrick tried to get clean many times and even attended a methadone clinic in Dublin at one stage. Imagine, all the way to Dublin to get 40mls, said Patrick. But I had to do it or if not, youd be sick.

It was a long road to recovery for Patrick. He served a two and a half year prison sentence while friends from back home were dying from drugs. The prison sentence and the death of his friends acted as a wake-up call for Patrick. He quickly realised he needed to fight this addiction for fear of ending up like his friends.

"Before I even ended up in jail I wanted to get clean. I had been in three addiction treatment centres so I had tried. But then came the deaths. People were dropping like flies and it was really hitting me hard because friends I grew up with were all dying around me. So the conclusion I came to was that I would be the next one to die if I didnt change my ways.

But thankfully, there was a turning point for Patrick after 2017. Once he got out of prison, he went to The Good Shepherd Centre in Kilkenny. This centre provides services to women, men and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The staff at the centre believed in Patrick that he could get better. In turn, Patrick believed in himself.

"Without the help of the staff in The Good Shepherd Centre, I wouldnt be where I am now. They really opened my eyes. They were so helpful to me and I never felt judged by them. What really stuck out for me was how they treated me, they were different to everyone else. They never treated me like an idiot or a scumbag, instead they treated me like a normal person which really meant a lot to me.

"I could see the goodness in them, but they good also see the goodness in me which helped me believe in myself that I could overcome this addiction. They then sent me to recovery college and I was determined to get clean. They also found me a house, my own space and that made the world of a difference too because I was away from the drugs and the temptation.

I found a new social outlet and that was the gym

After getting clean, Patrick threw himself into fitness, running 5kms a few times a week and constantly trying to improve his times. He now attends the gym multiple times a week, where he has found a new circle of friends and social life that does not depend on drink or drugs.

Patrick Owens and Catherine White, Regional Manager with the Good Shepherd Centre Kilkenny. Photograph: Patrick Browne

Patrick found that the hardest part about staying clean was changing the company he was in. You realise youre only as good as your next twenty pound note. Everything is about are you getting a bag? Youre of no interest to some people otherwise. I was never offered so much free stuff in my life until I was getting clean.

"But I found a new social outlet and that was the gym. It has been a really good influence on me and has stopped me returning to my old habits, explained Patrick.

"For years I wasnt happy looking in the mirror because I didnt like what was looking back at me. It did take me a while to change that but now I can go into the bathroom and have a look in the mirror and give myself an old wink, laughed Patrick. I am now happy with what is looking back at me.

You arent going to be healed in one or two meetings, you have to just keep going to them and put in the work

One thing in particular that really helped Patrick get clean and stay clean was attending addiction meetings. As a result, Patricks main advice to people trying to overcome addiction, is to find a group local to them and to keep going to the meetings. He explained that at the start, it may not feel like any progress is being made, but to see results you must stick with it.

"It does take time, but things will change if you stick with it. It took me a long time to get to where I am now. I tried to give up drink and drugs so many times. But going to the meetings and listening to people, it made me understand I am not the only one. I always thought I was the lunatic but when I went to the meetings I realised that I was in the same boat as all the other people there.

"Thats why I kept going to the meetings because I was able to relate to the people there. They were having the same types of thoughts and challenges I was having. It showed me that if they could give up what they were on, then I could do the same.

"Thats why I would advise anyone who has found themselves in the same situation I was in a few years ago to just give the meetings a chance. You arent going to be healed in one or two meetings, you have to just keep going to them and put in the work.

Now that Patrick is clean, his new life consists of going to work, training in the gym and also helping others overcome drug addiction. He was even the featured speaker at a recent drugs awareness symposium in the Pembroke Hotel in Kilkenny City, organised by The Good Shepherd Centre, where he shared his story to help raise awareness around drugs and addiction.

Im very happy with my life now. I have my routine, I go to the gym in the morning time and I work on Tuesdays and Fridays. With the rest of my time I work with The Good Shepherd Centre and I bring people from the centre to meetings.

"I want to give back to The Good Shepherd Centre because they helped me when I needed it the most, so now I want to help them to help others who are at the start of their journey to overcoming addiction.

Some of the people in the centre have found themselves on a similar road that I did a few years ago. But now they see that I was able to change, even though many people never thought I would. But after seeing that I was able to turn my life around, it has inspired them and now they are trying to change for the better.

"I hope that more people hear my story and realise it is never too late for them.

Helplines: If you have been affected by the contents of this article, click here for more information.
Lead researcher and GP Dr Joanna Strom says nutrition for children creates a foundation for the rest of their lives.

Health experts and childrens advocates call the findings shameful and urge the government to prioritise childrens health over grocery store profits.

The University of Auckland study, published in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand , found it was virtually impossible for families on a benefit to feed their children healthily.

A new study has found that the soaring price of food means our poorest families cannot afford to feed their children healthy diets.

Joanna says one-third of all children in New Zealand are overweight or obese and only 5.4 per cent of children aged 2 to 14 eat the recommended number of servings of vegetables daily.

Nutrition is so important for children because theyre developing and what we eat affects not only our physical health but also mental health.

If kids are eating overly processed, high-fat, high-sugar foods and becoming overweight, with poor dental health, they cant move their bodies well and that impacts how they interact with other kids.

In her research, Joanna designed a tool to model the costs for a family with two children.

Joanna focused her study on the lower cost healthy foods index produced by Statistics New Zealand.

She found prices increased 35 per cent from 2018 to 2023, with the largest annual increase being a rise of 13.6 per cent in 2023.

Generally, there has been a year-on-year increase in these lower-cost healthy foods, over the past six years, which is higher than the food price index overall, and that is concerning.

Joanna says the data gets more concerning when you consider the childrens needs grow as they do.

She says in the Child Poverty Action Group in its 2023 report estimated a family with two children which was renting and receiving government allowances could have an income of $1157 per week.

She says using her tool and data collected from CPAG she found this family will be in a $212 deficit each week if they are to feed their children low-cost healthy food.

CPAG spokesperson and professor of Nutrition at AUT, Dr Elaine Rush, says high rates of malnutrition will affect the future health needs and productivity of New Zealand.

The child cannot wait: the time to invest in their future is now.

Health Coalition Aotearoas (HCA) food policy expert advisory group co-chair, Dr Sally Mackay, says it's an impossible challenge for low-income families.

It is shameful that New Zealand cannot provide better access to healthy food for its own, most vulnerable citizens.

The nutritional needs of children must be prioritised in our food policies and systems over the profits of the food industry.

-Bay of Plenty Times.
The New Zealand China Friendship Society is looking forward to its Mid-Autumn Festival Gala on Friday, August 16  and its inviting everyone to get involved!

The theme of the event at Baycourt is Full Moon, Full Heart which symbolises the importance family and inclusivity, the core values of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

In the past, weve invited Maori performances to be part of our celebration and this year weve invited the Indian community to perform for the first time, but we always welcome people of all ethnicities to join us, says NZCFS Tauranga president Tina Zhang.

The audience will enjoy a diverse range of dancing, singing, music and a lively festival atmosphere ranging from classic mid-autumn songs to modern pop music and featuring traditional Chinese musical instruments such as the guzheng.

NZCFS Tauranga member Shuhua Yang cant wait to share her culture at the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 16. Photo: John Borren.

Tina says the Mid-Autumn Festival gala is not just a grand gathering of artistic performances but also an opportunity for communities and the public to celebrate together.

The event is free for everyone, says Tina.

We welcome people of all ages to come together on this day.

Through the gala, the society hopes people not only appreciate beautiful performances but also feel the strength of community unity which allows ancient traditions to flourish in modern society.

The NZ Chinese Friendship Society Mid-Autumn Festival Gala is Friday, August 16, from 6pm-8pm at Baycourt Community & Arts Centre, 38 Durham St, Tauranga.

Entry is free, but attendees are asked to register on the Baycourt website.
Alba Tenza Thursday, 8 August 2024, 09:20 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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For those who lived through the Spanish Civil War, the risk of death was always a terrifying, unavoidable reality, even in this small town in the north of Malaga province. The history of Campillos will forever be marked by the tragic events of 13 September 1936. Now, 88 years on, the bodies of over 100 villagers who lost their lives have finally been discovered.

Following a month of fieldwork, a team of researchers have located two mass graves in the Campillos cemetery, each around 15 metres long and two metres wide. The project was made possible by an agreement between the University of Malaga (UMA) and the Andalusian Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

"The research indicates that on 13 September 1936, the rebel troops occupied Campillos, and on that day the village's cemetery saw the clandestine executions and burials of those who opposed the rebellion against the legitimate Republican government, whether or not they had participated in the murders committed between July and September 1936," Maria Jose Berlanga, a lecturer in the Department of Historical Sciences at the UMA and one of the project's coordinators, told SUR.

The state in which the city of Granada was left after the coup d'etat in July 1936 would influence the rebel army's actions in the north of Malaga province. In the summer of 1936, several operations took place from Ronda to Loja to connect Granada with rebel territories. It was at this point that General Varela began the advance of his troops into the Antequera region, occupying Fuente de Piedra, Humilladero and Mollina. He established his headquarters in Antequera and subsequent advances departed from there.

Zoom Some of the investigation's findings. SUR

According to Berlanga, from 20 July 1936 onwards, a number of right-wing residents were arrested in Campillos: some were taken to the municipal morgue while others were brought to the Civil Guard barracks and executed. In this context, on 12 September 1936, the Captain of the General Staff of the Operations Bureau issued the general order, from Seville, to occupy Campillos.

"Thus, the El Saucejo division was ordered to occupy Campillos on the 13th, where the troops spent the night, and on the same day that they took the village, the Campillos cemetery became witness to the executions and burials of the victims that we have located," explained the coordinator of the work.

Victims located at last

At the moment, the agreement between the UMA and the Andalusian government only involves locating the two graves. The next step will be the exhumation of victims, which will likely take two years to complete.

"We have the names of the people who died from archival studies but we still can't match the names to the bodies, we will do that in the next phase. We are still studying the findings, although we were able to determine that these were graves from the Civil War because there was one victim with bullet wounds, and other bodies with fractures from beatings, and hands in a position which indicates their arms were tied," said Berlanga.

The researchers have documented the bodies of more than 120 people murdered in July 1936 - some for being pro-Nationalist and some for being pro-Republican. They range in age from young people to people over the age of 69, with ten per cent of the bodies being those of women.

"This figure is above the average number of women found in Andalusian graves, which is around three to five per cent," said the UMA lecturer. She explains that the professions of the victims can also be deducted from the study of archives and the oral testimonies of relatives. They have identified people in the graves who were labourers, bankers, railway workers, bakers and lawyers.

Zoom The works taking place in the municipal cemetery. SUR

The investigation began a year ago, as the possibility of the existence of a mass grave in the town was a continual topic of conversation there. Different archives, both civilian and military, were studied, including the Archives of the Second Territorial Military Tribunal of Seville and the provincial historical archives of Malaga. Surveying of the area also took place using a ground-penetrating radar. Following four weeks of work on the ground, the experts have now concluded the first phase of the project.

The team who located the graves was made up of Berlanga, Encarnacion Barranquero, from the UMA's Department of Modern and Contemporary History, a forensic anthropologist and two archaeologists. The project is part of the Secretary of State for Democratic Memory's exhumation plan.
SUR Thursday, 8 August 2024, 12:44 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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The former president of Catalonia  who had been in self-imposed exile in Belgium  made a dramatic reappearance in Barcelona on Thursday morning (8 August) after seven years on the run from charges in Spain linked to the illegal independence movement of 2017.

Carles Puigdemont spoke in front of a crowd of some 3,500 followers at the doors of the Catalan parliament building before vanishing again, Houdini-style according to commentators, as a police operation to capture him swung into place.

His arrival back in Spain had been widely anticipated to coincide with the investiture debate of the likely new president of Catalonia, Salvador Illa of the Catalan Socialist party. Illa came first in Mays regional election but without an overall majority. In recent days he had secured the support of left-wing separatist ERCs regional MPs in a controversial political deal in order for him to become Catalan Leader.

Zoom Puigdemont addressed supporters just before he disappeared. EFE

Puigdemont, leader of the rival main independence party to ERC in Catalonia, right-of-centre Junts per Si, won a seat in the May election despite living outside Spain. He had long promised to return as a regional MP for the investiture debate despite an arrest warrant still being active for him in Spain. The Supreme Court has said that the national governments recent amnesty law for those involved in the illegal Catalan independence process does not apply to charges against Puigdemont for embezzlement.

How Puigdemont was going to manage to attend the investiture debate on Thursday without being arrested was the main topic of conversation nationally this week. If police had tried to hold him inside the regional parliament in Barcelona, the speaker of the parliament, who is from the same party as Puigdemont, had promised to suspend the investiture debate.

In the end, Puigdemont opted for a high-profile speech outside while police stood by before disappearing again. Police then launched an operation to find him looking for a white car in which he was believed to be travelling with others. The investiture debate to begin to choose Salvador Illa as regional president began with Puigdemonts seat empty in the chamber.

In his five-minute speech outside earlier just after 9am and surrounded by high profile members of Catalan pro-independence movement, Puigdemont said, We are here because we have no right to give up," adding in a reference to Spanish authorities. Although we have seen the face of repressors, I have come to remind them that we are still here.

The investiture debate inside was still continuing inside on Thursday.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A Chenango County man pleaded guilty Wednesday for making a profanity-laced Facebook threat and unlawfully possessing firearms, prosecutors said.

James Kenyon, 52, of Smithville Flats, admitted to posting a threat on Facebook to decapitate a person in December 2022, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of New York. He told the person to move out-of-state in the post as well, persecutors said.

Kenyon also admitted to having two rifles and a shotgun in December while under a domestic violence restraining order, they said. The restraining order prohibited him from possessing any firearms, they said.
When do we turn our clocks back for daylight savings time?

Daylight Saving Time 2024 ends on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 2 a.m. For most people, that means you should plan on changing your clocks the night before (on Saturday, Nov. 2), turning them back a full hour; youll gain an extra hour of sleep or possibly enjoy another hour out Saturday night.

Computers, TVs, cell phones and other digital devices will automatically update at 2 a.m. but youll want to manually set any other clocks back one hour. We always spring forward when DST begins and fall back when it ends.

Daylight Saving Time, also colloquially referred to as daylight savings time, begins on the second Sunday in March and ends the first Sunday of November.

Despite some confusion in recent years, most of the U.S. still observes Daylight Saving Time; Arizona and Hawaii do not participate in DST. Multiple bills have been introduced in the New York state legislature to end the changing of clocks in the Empire State, but no progress has been made.

In 2022, the Senate approved a bill known as the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent nationwide. However, the legislation stalled in the House due to a disagreement over whether to keep standard time or make daylight savings time permanent.

A bipartisan group of 12 senators reintroduced the legislation last year to end the changing of the clocks. The bill wouldve made Daylight Saving Time permanent, which would mean we would not fall back in November, making sunrise around 8:15 a.m. on the first day of winter (December 21) in New York; if we turn our clocks back, then sunrise would be around 7:15 a.m.

Daylight Saving Time was first established during World War I to conserve fuel for war industries. The law was repealed after WWI ended, but was re-established by Congress during World War II due to energy consumption and became U.S. law in 1966 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Uniform Time Act, establishing uniform start and end times within standard time zones. The policy, regulated by the Department of Transportation, aims to save energy, reduce traffic fatalities, and reduce crime.

Some health experts have opposed making daylight saving time permanent, calling it a bad idea.

Dr. Nathaniel F. Watson, a spokesman for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and a neurologist at the University of Washington Medicine Sleep Center, told NBC: If we do this, its essentially dosing the entire United States with jet lag  permanent jet lag.

Daylight Saving Time was kept after World War II because Americans were believed to use less energy by extending summer daylight into the evening. However, a 2008 Department of Energy study found that DST reduces annual energy use by just 0.03 percent, and another study by the University of California-Santa Barbara found DST might even increase energy consumption.

The Firemens Association of the State of New York recommends that people replace batteries in their smoke detectors when we switch to and from daylight savings time. The group says that 60 percent of home fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms.
Syracuse, N.Y.  The conclusion of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuses bankruptcy has been further delayed as lawyers rework key documents following a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

The judge handling the case, Wendy Kinsella, suspended all upcoming deadlines in the case, including a November hearing on final approval for the dioceses proposed plan to exit bankruptcy. The judge said she will re-evaluate the case at a Sept. 18 hearing.

Kinsella said during a hearing Thursday afternoon that she is highly sensitive to requests to keep the case moving. But, she added, the court simply cant proceed under a scheduling order formulated under a plan that is no longer being pursued.

The ruling by the Supreme Court earlier this summer struck at the heart of the dioceses proposed plan, which would distribute $100 million to abuse survivors if they agree not to pursue further legal claims against the diocese and more than 250 other Catholic institutions.

The court ruled in late June in an unrelated case involving Purdue Pharma, the company at the center of the opioid crisis, that such an arrangement to forbid legal action can violate federal bankruptcy law.

In a 5-4 decision, the court said these protections cant be provided without proper consent from anyone affected to organizations that didnt themselves declare bankruptcy. It did not specify how consent would be shown.

Diocese lawyers originally said they thought the bankruptcy exit plan didnt need to change to meet the Supreme Courts new standard. They then proposed limited changes to the plan that could be filed next week.

Now, they say surgical changes will be submitted during the week of Sept. 9.

These are cutting-edge issues, said Stephen Donato, the dioceses lead bankruptcy lawyer. We want to make sure we get it right.

The ruling added new uncertainty to the bankruptcy case, which had been pending for four years and seemed to be nearing its conclusion. It arrived as creditors voted on the proposed plan, with a hearing on final approval set for the fall.

All but two of the 305 survivors who submitted ballots voted in support of the plan, according to results released by the diocese. An additional nine eligible voters did not cast a ballot.

Creditors will likely have to vote on the new plan once it is submitted.

A government-appointed trustee had previously warned against continuing to advance the proposed plan before a ruling had been made in the Purdue case.

The centerpiece of the 81-page bankruptcy exit plan is the $100 million fund to pay abuse survivors if they end their lawsuits against the church.

Bishop Douglas Lucia previously said the diocese would cover half of the $100 million fund, with the rest paid by parishes, schools, missions and Catholic Charities. If split evenly among the parishes, each would face an average bill of nearly $400,000.

The $100 million is what local Catholic institutions have agreed to pay on their own to survivors; any money from insurance companies would be on top of that money, officials said.

Headquartered in Syracuse, the diocese has nearly 200,000 members across 116 parishes in seven counties, 10 missions and seven oratories. It employs about 3,000 people.

Staff writer Jon Moss covers breaking news, crime and public safety. He can be reached at jmoss@syracuse.com or @mossjon7.
A 30-year-old Manlius woman ran into trouble last Saturday when she went hiking in the Adirondacks with her Siberian husky.

The two were attempting to climb Giant Mountain, a 4,637-ft Adirondack High Peak overlooking Keene Valley thats considered to be a difficult climb even for experienced hikers.

A Manlius hiker and her Siberian husky tried to climb Giant Mountain on Aug. 3 but had to quit when the dog hurt its paw. A forest ranger bandaged the dog's paws and walked them out.NYSDEC

The pair had hiked approximately 1.2 miles from the trailhead when the husky injured its foot and refused to go any farther. But the big pooch was too heavy to carry out. Plus it was getting dark.

A New York State Department of Environmental Conservation forest ranger came to the rescue. He bandaged the dogs paws, then guided both dog and owner back to the trailhead in the dark.

The following reports are excerpted from DEC:

A 25-year-old hiker from New Jersey hurt her head on Aug. 1. Rangers transported her across Cranberry Lake where EMS took her to the hospital.NYSDEC

A 25-year-old hiker from New Jersey hurt her head on Aug. 1 near Curtis Pond, about half a mile east of Cranberry Lake. Rangers took a boat across the lake and hiked into the area where they found the hiker, who had become nauseated and dizzy. Rangers helped her to the boat and transported her across the lake to Cranberry Lake Rescue, who took her to the hospital.

A 26-year-old from New York City dislocated his shoulder in a fall near the observation deck at Kaaterskill Falls on Aug. 1. Rangers walked the man out to Hunter EMS who transported him to the hospital.

A 27-year-old from New Jersey under the influence of an unprescribed drug went off the trail at the Adirondack Mountain Reserve and sat down, refusing to move. When rangers arrived with his girlfriend, the hiker became irate and threw himself further downhill. The rescue team secured the man and carried him out to an ambulance.

A hiker from Baldwinsville got sick on the night of Aug. 2 approximately one-half mile from the Colden Outpost. Rangers initially had difficulty locating the hiker, but eventually found him shortly after midnight. They rehydrated him and helped him back to his vehicle.

On Aug. 3, a 66-year-old, 44-year-old, 37-year-old, and 5-year-old from Boonville all fell out of their kayaks about one mile downstream from the Lyons Falls boat launch on the Black River. A nearby boater helped the four into his boat. Rangers arrived in an air boat and brought the capsized crew to a waiting ambulance.

A 12-year-old from Brockport went missing from Massaweppie Scout Camp on July 31. He was found later that night.NYSDEC

A 12-year-old from Brockport went missing from Massaweppie Scout Camp on July 31. Six rangers, DEC and local police, and camp staff searched through the afternoon and into the night. At 8:07 p.m., a community member at a nearby hunting camp found the child, who was reunited with his mother.

Two hikers suffered hip injuries on Aug. 4 at Chair Rock Flow. Rangers and fire department volunteers helped both hikers approximately -mile to the lake, then another 5.5 miles by boat to the Cranberry Lake boat launch where they were met by an ambulance.

A camper at the Cranberry Lake Campground raised a ruckus on the Aug. 4, catching the attention of the caretaker. Two rangers and a state trooper ticketed and evicted the unruly camper for disorderly conduct and driving an unregistered vehicle.

A 23-year-old hiker near the Burnt Bridge trail in St. Lawrence County experienced what she believed was an allergic reaction with skin irritation, but no trouble breathing. Rangers hiked in and determined that she was having an anxiety attack. They calmed her down and walked her out of the woods.



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Ohio man ticketed for threatening hikers on popular Adirondack trail - newyorkupstate.com

Two injured hikers rescued one day apart on popular ADK mountain - newyorkupstate.com

Rangers organized search for Upstate NY plane crash that killed five - newyorkupstate.com

Rangers aid two hikers injured at same time, place in ADK high peaks - newyorkupstate.com

Rangers rescue hikers wilting in extreme heat - newyorkupstate.com

Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors.
One hot day in early June, a red-tailed hawk chick perched on the second-floor gutter of a Syracuse University sorority house, whistling plaintively for its parents.

The chick had fledged the previous day from its nest in a tall gingko tree across the street, perhaps 100 feet away. Now it seemed skeptical about this whole flying thing and wasnt in any hurry to try it again.

Finally, the chick flapped its big fluffy wings and, with all the grace of a pillow tossed out of moving vehicle, flew to a nearby pine tree.

Oh, good job, good job, you did it, you did it! Shouted Anne Marie Higgins from the parking lot below. She pointed her camera at the pine tree and snapped a few photos.

Higgins, 69, a retired nurse practitioner from Syracuse, was there to ensure nothing bad happened to the chick. Fledglings are prone to running into windows and landing in busy streets.

The chick was just one of 11 chicks from five different red-tailed hawk nests scattered around SU and the near East Side that Higgins has been monitoring since early March.

Fledge watch is her busiest time. She shuttles from nest to nest, visiting each one twice a day and posting her observations and photos to her Red-Tailed Hawk Tales Facebook page.

Higgins is the hawks guardian, cheerleader, chronicler, benefactor, and human mother, all rolled into one.

How do I do it? I dont do anything else, she joked. This is my avocation. Theyre my life now.

Anne Marie Higgins at hawk headquarters in her home office. On her monitor Higgins is running the nest camera livestream on YouTube.Steve Featherstone | sfeatherstone@syracuse.com

Red-tailed hawk royalty

Of the 11 fledglings that Higgins took under her wing this yearthe most ever for herseven are descendants of red-tailed hawk royalty, SU-Sue and Otto.

SU-Sue and Otto began nesting on SUs campus in 2012. They became international YouTube stars in 2017 after SU installed nest cameras and began livestreaming the pairs chick-rearing exploits.

An SU alumnus, Higgins donated the cameras and operated them for six years along with a group of volunteers. Shes a regular presence on campus, which is how she met DeAnn Buss, an information systems director at SU who often stopped to watch SU-Sue and Otto during nesting season.

Buss and Higgins became friends and soon Buss was operating the nest cameras and helping Higgins rescue injured hawks from campus grounds.

She just has so much love for those hawks, said Buss, who has since retired from SU. Theyre like her children, really.

SU-Sue died suddenly in January 2023; five days later, Otto died. Both hawks tested positive for H5N1, or avian flu, according to Cornells Animal Health Diagnostic Center where Higgins had taken the birds to be necropsied.

SU-Sue and Otto had raised 28 offspring at SU in 11 years, many under Higgins watchful eye. On her computer she maintained a spreadsheet of all their statistics. She named them, documented their milestones, and grieved for the ones that died.

But the deaths of SU-Sue and Otto marked one of the darkest periods of Higgins life.

I was devastated, she said. Her 19-year-old cat Vivi died around the same time, and she felt as though she didnt have anything left.

The hawks deaths hit Buss hard, too, but not as deeply as it did her friend. For Anne Marie, said Buss, it was like a death in the family.

A framed picture of Anne Marie Higgins' soul mate and husband, Tim Higgins, sits on her kitchen counter. In 2009, Tim was diagnosed with acute leukemia and died 18 days later, weeks shy of the couple's 25th wedding anniversary.Steve Featherstone | sfeatherstone@syracuse.com

Two souls, one heart

Red-tailed hawks are as beautiful as they are common. Youve probably seen one perched on a dead tree branch on the side of a highway, rust-brown feathers glowing in the sun.

More than likely youve heard a red tails familiar raspy war cry on a movie soundtrack where its often substituted for bald eagles and other, less vocally talented raptors.

Anne Marie and her husband, Thomas Tim Higgins, a Syracuse city court judge, were avid birders. Red-tailed hawks were one of their favorite birds, not least because they mated for life.

Anne Marie and Tim were soul mates.

I knew the moment I met him, said Higgins. I just knew.

In 2009, Tim was diagnosed with acute leukemia. He died 18 days later. He and Anne Marie had been married for nearly 25 years. It was as if part of her soul had been ripped out.

We just had an extraordinarily close, loving relationship, Higgins explained. Ours just got better and better and better. Especially going through all the infertility stuff together, because that often drives people apart. We weathered the storm together.

Higgins wears a heart-shaped silver locket on a silver cord around her neck. Its engraved with the phrase Two souls, one heart, and inside it is her husbands ashes.

Hes always with me, said Higgins, lightly tapping the locket with her fingertip, always, always.

A juvenile red-tailed hawk looks for a landing spot in Oakwood Cemetery.Steve Featherstone | sfeatherstone@syracuse.com

A spiritual connection

Higgins devotion to red-tailed hawks transcends altruism.

She says she communicates with her husbands spirit through the hawks. It began the summer after Tims death. She was staying at a cottage near Lake Ontario that theyd often rented when a red-tailed hawk appeared on the roof.

Very unusual, because theyre not water birds, number one, Higgins said. It just hung out with me, and it had blue eyes. Hawks do not have blue eyes. And my husband did.

Higgins detailed the hawk encounter, and many other signs and portents of her husbands spirit positive coincidences, she calls themin a 2015 self-published memoir, Dancing in Two Realms: A Love Story Beyond Death.

One year later, she discovered SU-Sue and Otto. And her life ever since has been hawks, hawks, and more hawks.

Well, Ive got a zillion hawks now, she chuckled. He brought me to this life.

One of Anne Marie Higgins' pair of ocicats plays in front of a poster of SU-Sue's and Otto's family tree. The pair of beloved red-tailed hawks died within days of each other in January 2023.Steve Featherstone | sfeatherstone@syracuse.com

Shes a force of nature

Losing SU-Sue and Otto last year felt to Higgins almost like losing her husband again.

And once again, a red-tailed hawk rescued her from the depths of despair.

Days after SU-Sue and Otto died, Higgins spotted a hawk perched on a campus radio tower overlooking their hunting grounds in Oakwood Cemetery.

Based on similarities in plumage and behavior, Higgins believes the hawk was one of SU-Sues and Ottos offspring. She named it Sarah in honor of SU alum Sarah Loguen, one of the first Black woman physicians in the US.

This past spring, Sarah and her mate raised two chicks in a campus neighborhood near Oakwood Cemetery. Two other pairs of red-tailed hawks related to SU-Sue and Otto also had chicks this year. One pair nested on a south campus light tower; the other pair nested in a gingko tree near Bird Library.

From breeding to hatching to fledging, Higgins chronicled every moment in the lives of the three SU red-tailed hawk families. She even operated a livestream from a new nest camera that she got up and running with help from the Syracuse mayors office, SU, and a Texas company specializing in wildlife camera installations.

Forty percent of the cameras cost came out of Higgins own pocket; Matt Kosty, who owns three Wild Birds Unlimited stores in upstate NY, including two in Onondaga County, donated funds for the rest.

But money was the easy part.

The hoops Anne Marie had to jump through to get that camera put up were pretty monumental, Kosty said. Shes a force of nature. Shes a tsunami. When she has her mind made up, she will manifest that thing.

Electrical conduit runs up the trunk of a tall gingko tree on SU's campus where a pair of red-tailed hawks raised their first brood this spring. Anne Marie Higgins coordinated with the Syracuse Mayor's office, SU, and a professional installer to get a nest camera put in the tree.Steve Featherstone | sfeatherstone@syracuse.com

A red-tailed legacy continues

Tony Williams, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation and Youth Programs for the City of Syracuse, vividly remembers the first time he spoke to Higgins in January about putting a nest camera in a city park located on SUs campus.

Williams knew nothing about birds, but he knew passion when he heard it.

It sent chills down my back feeling her emotion, Williams said, which is an indication to how much Anne Marie cares. She does this just for the love.

Crews snaked electrical conduit 50 feet up the trunk of a gingko tree where the hawks had made their nest. The pair, Oren and Ruth, were named after stand-out SU alumni Oren Lyons and Ruth Colvin.

So as not to disturb the hawks, installers then worked through the night to get the camera in place on March 18. Ruth laid her first egg the next day.

The camera feed went live four days later, just before Ruth laid her second egg. Higgins watched the momentous event from hawk headquarters in her home office. Two laminated memorial cards from her husbands funeral rested on either side of her keyboard.

In the weeks that followed, thousands of people from more than 30 countries clicked on the livestream to watch Oren and Ruth raise their first brood.

Its wonderful for SU because theyve got this legacy of these wonderful birds of prey that people are so in awe of and absolutely love following, Higgins said. Its just heartwarming to share this beautiful continuation.

Anne Marie Higgins strolls through Oakwood Cemetery, observing the many hawks she chronicles on her Red-Tailed Hawk Tales Facebook page.Steve Featherstone | sfeatherstone@syracuse.com

Hawk medicine

Nest cameras are valuable public education tools. They also have potential scientific value, especially when documenting new hawk parents like Oren and Ruth, said Chris Briggs, a biology professor at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

We have good evidence that those first-time breeders tend to do poorly, Briggs said. We just dont understand the why. Thats where cameras can fill in some of that data.

Indeed, one of Oren and Ruths chicks died of unknown causes over Memorial Day weekend. Now that the other two chicks have fledged, the livestream features an empty nest. Meanwhile, Higgins does her daily rounds to make sure the young hawks are staying out of trouble.

Two weeks ago, passersby found one of Oren and Ruths juvenile offspring on the ground near Thornden Park. Higgins took it to Cornells wildlife veterinary hospital for evaluationit was bleeding behind its eyethen to Pages Wildlife Center in Manlius where its currently being rehabilitated. She expects to soon release it back into the wild.

Higgins has lately been spending more time in Oakwood Cemetery now that the juveniles from the other two SU hawk nests are expanding their range into SU-Sue and Ottos old hunting grounds.

On a recent afternoon, she drove slowly through the cemetery, her car swaying in the narrow, rutted lanes. Its familiar territory to Higgins. She knows every tree and monument where the hawks like to perch.

She parked near a fir tree with a dead crown from which SU-Sue and Otto once surveyed their realm. A few days earlier, Higgins had held a little ceremony at the base of the fir tree. She sprinkled the last of SU-Sue and Ottos ashes on the ground and cried.

Its a very peaceful site, Higgins said, sitting on a stone memorial bench beneath the fir tree. Its helpful to get hawk medicine. Thats what I call it. Thats what I get every day. Its needed for all the woes.

Never one to linger, Higgins got up from the bench and walked to her car. She needed to get home to feed her two 11-month-old cats before they tore up her house again.

Holy moly do they drive me crazy, she exclaimed. But she just rolled with it. Her capacity for love was boundless. Higgins laughed.

I need some place to put my love other than hawks!



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Otto, Syracuse Universitys widowed red-tailed hawk, dies five days after mate (newyorkupstate.com)

Sue, Syracuse Universitys beloved red-tailed hawk, dies after being found injured on campus - newyorkupstate.com

Syracuse courthouse mourns death of Judge Thomas Higgins Jr. - syracuse.com

One lucky bird: Hurting, juvenile red-tailed hawk healed, then released near SU campus - newyorkupstate.com

Hawk watch: Three red-tailed hawk eggs hatch at Syracuse University (video) - newyorkupstate.com

Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors.
By Patrick Tine | Times Union, Albany, N.Y. (TNS)

Bethlehem, N.Y.  FBI agents and State Police on Wednesday descended on the home of Scott Ritter, a former United Nations weapons inspector who in June had his passport seized by the U.S. Department of State as he attempted to fly to Russia for a conference.

Shortly after noon, marked and unmarked State Police vehicles could be seen at Ritters Dover Drive home. It was unclear if Ritter was at the residence; efforts to reach him by phone for comment were not successful. Two cars remained in the homes driveway after officers moved in and out of the house Wednesday.

Ritter appears to be in the area: On Tuesday, he posted a photograph of himself on X  the website formerly known as Twitter  alongside independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been in an Albany courtroom this week while lawyers argue over whether he should be allowed on the November ballot in New York.

Burgers with Bobby!, wrote Ritter, a repeat guest on Kennedys podcast; the photo appeared to be taken at a restaurant across from Albany Medical Center Hospital.

The FBI confirmed law enforcement activity in connection with an ongoing federal investigation, but declined further comment. State Police said troopers were aiding the investigation.

FBI spokeswoman Sarah Ruane arrived at Ritters house just before 4 p.m. and told the assembled media that no one was currently in custody and that she could not provide information beyond the bureaus initial statement. She was seen speaking with an FBI attorney at the scene before entering the house.

WNYT-Channel 13 first reported on the raid.

Only two months ago, Customs and Border Protection officers stopped Ritter at John F. Kennedy International Airport and confiscated his passport book. The reasons for that seizure remain unclear; Ritter has in recent years become a more passionate supporter of Russia as it has pursued its invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking on former Fox News host Andrew Napolitanos podcast in June, Ritter said three uniformed Customs and Border Protection agents stopped him as he was about to board a flight to Istanbul on his way to Russia.

Ritter said the agents explained they had been told to seize his passport at the request of the State Department. The agents took the document and offered no further explanation for why they were taking it, Ritter said, adding that they did not give him a receipt. His bags were removed from the plane and he was escorted out of the airports security area.

At the time, the State Department declined to discuss Ritters case.

The State Department can revoke passports for a variety of situations including laws and regulations affecting passport usage by individuals with active warrants or criminal records, fraud concerns, tax debt and child support arrears.

Ritter has a criminal history unconnected to his public stances on foreign policy: He was convicted in 2011 in Monroe County, Penn., after Barrett Township police presented evidence that in 2009 he had masturbated in front of a webcam being viewed by an undercover officer who was posing as a 15-year-old girl. He served three years behind bars.

That investigation was not Ritters first brush with the law involving allegations of sexual interest in children. In 2001, he was caught in a police sting in which officers said he had tried to lure a Colonie police officer posing as a 16-year-old girl to a Burger King in Menands. The case was effectively dismissed and records were sealed, but information about that incident emerged in 2003.

At the time, Ritter suggested that the case was a smear campaign designed to silence him after he began speaking out against the war in Iraq, including his correct assertion that the U.S. would not uncover significant weapons of mass destruction after it invaded.

In the years since he was released from prison, Ritter has become an enthusiastic supporter of Vladimir Putins Russia and the war with Ukraine, likening the besieged country to a rabid dog and calling the invasion a preemptive act of self-defense. He has been a regular commentator on RT, a Russian state-owned media outlet.

Ritters street was quiet Wednesday afternoon as authorities came and went from his house. One neighbor who declined to give her name said that while she did not agree with his position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, or that he traveled to the country to promote a book, she thought his conviction for child sex offenses was entrapment.

Hes not creepy or anything, she said. Hes a good neighbor.

Jim Hoffman, who has lived across the street from Ritter for two decades, said that he has kept a low profile in the neighborhood.

He also recalled the condemnation Ritter received for his opposition to the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

He said that he could not recall seeing a police presence outside of the house before, but remembered television news crews outside Ritters home when he came out against the invasion.

When he came out against the Iraq War back in early 2000s, he was vilified everywhere, Hoffman said. Honestly, he was right. He said there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

___

(c) 2024 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.)

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
By H. Rose Schneider | Times Union, Albany, N.Y. (TNS)

Albany, N.Y.  A pair of French bulldogs are missing after they were reportedly snatched off their owners porch Sunday morning, becoming the latest members of the hugely popular breed to be stolen from owners.

Anya and Nova were last seen by a neighbor on the porch of their Myrtle Avenue home around 10:30 a.m. The neighbor said she saw someone in a van pull up and take the dogs away, the dogs owner Alicia Williams said Tuesday.

Were just heartbroken and just trying to hold on to hope to get them home, said Williams, 44, who was picking up her son from camp after he learned his best buddies were gone.

Williams and her husband were putting up flyers and searching for the dogs after they went missing Sunday. It wasnt until a neighbor described what shed seen that they realized the pair may have been stolen. They filed a police report on Monday. Albany police spokeswoman Officer Megan Craft confirmed police are investigating the theft of two French bulldogs that occurred between 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday on Myrtle Avenue. WTEN-Channel 10 previously reported on the theft.

Its likely not the first pair of French bulldogs whove been stolen in the area. Dream and Bella, a black and fawn pair with the distinct bat-like ears and brachycephalic faces of French bulldogs (police at the time only confirmed they were a type of bulldog), were reported stolen this past November from Kinwood Apartments in Rensselaer. Police in that city have not yet returned a call confirming if theyd been found.

French bulldog thefts have made headlines nationwide. In 2021, a five-month-old French bulldog puppy was stolen and later returned in Los Angeles. In 2023, a woman said she was beaten and had her French bulldog stolen in Chicago, and in 2024, a Los Angeles woman clung to the hood of a car to stop the theft of her French bulldog. The most famous case is likely when Lady Gagas dog walker was shot and her two French bulldogs were stolen in 2021 in Los Angeles.

In 2022, the American Kennel Club reported a 40 percent increase in pet thefts from the year prior. Craft said reports of stolen dogs are not unusual, but it hasnt appeared to increase in Albany. According to the AKC, high-value breeds are a likely target, with thieves practicing dog flipping in which they quickly resell stolen or shelter-adopted pets for a profit.

French bulldogs are known to be an expensive breed, Williams said. So I can only imagine someone took them to sell them.

With their squashed noses, perked-up ears and small  yet still endearingly-stout  stature, French bulldogs have taken the crown as the AKCs most popular dog breed for the last two years, ending the Labrador Retrievers three-decade reign.

Williams and her family have had their pair since they were puppies. Nova, at age 3, has black-and-tan markings, and Anya, at age 1, has black-and-white markings. Williams and her husband had been away for the weekend, and she asked her brother to let them out in the backyard Sunday morning. A temporary fence set up in one section due to damage from past storms may have given them just enough space to squeeze out through the side yard and get on the porch where they were snatched.

Theyre just so sweet, she said. Theyre too sweet for their own good, I guess.

Police will be checking video footage around Delaware and Myrtle Avenues, Williams said. Both dogs have identification tags and microchips, and the family is offering a $2,000 reward for their return. Anyone with information can call them at 518-669-2508 or 518-698-7439.
The ASEAN flag-raising ceremony (Photo: Congannhandan)

The ASEAN flag-raising ceremony has become an official practice of the ten member states namely Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Viet Nam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

Addressing the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet highlighted the increasingly strong role and position of ASEAN, emphasizing that over the past 57 years, ASEAN has indeed recorded significant achievements, and maintained peace and stability in a region that was once plagued by wars and conflicts.

We have built a highly integrated economic region, with sustainable and inclusive growth, agile and responsive to emerging trends. We have cultivated a people-centered society, with an ASEAN Community spirit, he said.

Amidst global volatilities, unpredictability, conflicts, and division, ASEAN stands as a model of regional integration and cooperation. The bloc's sustained efforts to enhance connectivity and resilience are key to ASEANs further advancement.

Today's ASEAN is guided by a strategic vision, grounded in unity, leveraging its central role, and driven by concrete actions.

It possesses the necessary conditions to adapt to the changing landscape and continue thriving in the coming decades.

Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet

Since joining ASEAN 29 years ago, Viet Nam has seen ASEAN as a top priority and a strategic choice in its foreign policy.

Viet Nam remains strongly committed to working with ASEAN member states and our partners to foster a united and strong ASEAN, and make Southeast Asia a region of peace, security and prosperity.

The official said that Viet Nam will continue to work closely with ASEAN member countries and partners to support Laos in successfully accomplishing the goals and priorities of its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024 under the theme ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience.

In particular, Viet Nam will host the second edition of the ASEAN Future Forum, tentatively in April 2025, as a contribution to the work of the Association.

Viet Nam will also do its utmost to strengthen the bridge connecting ASEAN and its Partners, notably as the Country Coordinator of ASEAN - New Zealand and ASEAN - UK Relations for 2024-2027./.




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Supermarket 88 in Vancouver (Photo: IMM Canada)

Overseas Vietnamese still mainly maintain their living habits as when they were in their homeland, so food and consumer goods are often imported from Vietnam or other Asian countries.

Recognizing this need, the supermarket 88 chain has been established and become a familiar address for the Vietnamese community in Vancouver thanks to have many types of traditional foods.

This is a small supermarket chain, but has almost all ingredients of vegetables and food for a Vietnamese family meal.

This supermarket chain is very proud because most Vietnamese people in Vancouver know Supermarket 88, said Mr. Tran Tien while sharing with correspondent of the Vietnam News Agency in Canada.

This supermarket chain has a full range of Vietnamese and Asian products, so almost all Vietnamese people in Vancouver know it.

He affirmed that about 60-70% of Vietnamese people in Vancouver shop at this supermarket chain.

Starting from a very simple idea to serve the daily needs of overseas Vietnamese, Mr. Chau Tu Cuong decided to establish the first Supermarket 88 in 2008.

In the past two years, Mr. Cuong has opened two more stores in Vancouver and he is going to soon open more branches in other cities to serve overseas Vietnamese in Canada.

At the Supermarket 88 chain, in addition to fresh meat and seafood, there are also many imported goods from Vietnam, mainly dried goods, frozen goods, canned goods or vegetables and fruits of Vietnam.

According to Mr. Tien, Supermarket 88 has all the necessary items that a Vietnamese family uses every day.

Ms. Ha, a customer living near Supermarket 88, shared that this supermarket has all goods that Vietnamese people need such as rice and spices that suit her familys taste, so she chose it.

In addition to essential goods, the supermarket 88 chain also has some items that are typical of Vietnam such as incense or worship items according to Vietnamese customs.

Moreover, the staff here are also quite friendly and dedicated, with the working criteria to bring joy to customers./.
In brief: After announcing an upcoming patch to resolve instability issues affecting 13th- and 14th-generation desktop CPUs, Intel has now listed the specific processors covered under its new extended warranty. Furthermore, pre-built PC manufacturers have been contacted to determine which ones plan to honor Intel's commitment.

Intel has confirmed that its recently announced two-year warranty extension for 13th- and 14th-generation Core processors covers i5 K, KF, and above models. The company can only guarantee the extension for boxed units purchased separately. Users experiencing crashes in pre-built systems must contact the manufacturer's customer support.

According to The Verge, Asus, HP, Digital Storm, Falcon Northwest, Maingear, and iBuypower will begin guaranteeing five-year warranties for Intel Raptor Lake CPUs in their products, adding the processor manufacturer's extra two years to the existing three-year policy. Dell and Alienware only said they would work with Intel to cover all costs. Corsair and Origin PC promise four years, while Puget Systems guarantees only three years. Confirmation from Acer, Lenovo, MSI, NZXT, and CyberPowerPC is forthcoming.

Click to enlarge

Intel's new policy is a response to increased reports of crashes and high failure rates for Raptor Lake CPUs. Users and companies reported instability related to running games and intense productivity applications. Some companies said significant percentages of their Intel desktop, workstation, and server CPUs failed, prompting a switch to AMD.

A microcode patch coming later this month aims to address the problem, which Intel said originates from incorrect voltage value requests. Owners of the impacted models who haven't encountered crashes yet should use the BIOS to engage official baseline voltages to lower the risk until the company deploys the patch. Unfortunately, units already exhibiting instability must be replaced.

Users with EVGA motherboards should remain extra vigilant. Because the company has released no BIOS updates for its Z690 and Z790 boards since 2023, many doubt whether it will release Intel's microcode fix, potentially leaving owners with defective CPUs.

Intel released a list of covered processors on its official forums this week. Additionally, Weibo user "Little Pigeon" (via VideoCardz) reported on a recent meeting between Intel and Asus in China where Chipzilla provided further details.

The company promised that the patch wouldn't impact turbo performance or overclocking. Looking forward, Intel also claimed that its upcoming Arrow Lake CPUs would provide considerable performance improvements while drawing 100 fewer watts of power.

Furthermore, the company's sophomore generation of dedicated graphics cards, codenamed Battlemage, is still on track for a 2024 launch. Recent rumors suggest that its competitors  AMD's RDNA 4 and Nvidia's Blackwell  might not emerge until CES 2025 or later.

Image credit: VideoCardz/Weibo
Why it matters: Arguably one of the best additions to X/Twitter in recent years has been the community notes feature, which allows contributors to add context such as pointing out incorrect facts beneath posts. YouTube, another platform rife with misinformation, is testing a new feature that works the same way.

YouTube says that the experimental feature will allow users of the platform to add notes to provide relevant, timely, and easy-to-understand context on videos. It gives examples such as when a song is meant to be a parody, which some people apparently need pointing out, when a new version of a product being reviewed is available, or letting viewers know when older footage is mistakenly (or intentionally) portrayed as a current event.

YouTube is currently inviting a limited number of eligible contributors who are channel owners to write the notes. The initial pilot will involve third-party evaluators, not users, rating the helpfulness of these notes, which will help train the systems. Contributors themselves will rate notes as well as the pilot program advances. Eventually, assuming the feature rolls out fully, everyone will be able to write and rate notes.

As explained by YouTube: "When you find a video that might be confusing or inaccurate, you can submit a note clarifying it. Your contributions will be reviewed by others with a wide range of views to ensure their quality and helpfulness before being added to the information panel below the video."

If they're found to be broadly helpful, the notes will be displayed beneath videos in a blue box and can be expanded by clicking on them, much like comments. People will be asked whether they think a note is "helpful," "somewhat helpful," or "unhelpful" and why. YouTube will then use a bridging-based algorithm to consider the ratings and determine what notes are published.

YouTube says testers should submit notes on videos they find inaccurate or unclear, emphasizing that they should be written in their own words and not use text copied directly from sources. The notes should also add clarity or useful context to videos.

The pilot program will only be available on mobile, in the US, and in English to start. Viewers, participants, and creators are invited to give YouTube feedback on the quality of notes.

YouTube is the world's second-most-popular website behind Google.com, with over 30 billion visits per month. It also has a misinformation problem that Google has been battling for years. Community notes have helped address this issue somewhat on X, and they could do the same on Google's video platform.
Bottom line: Whether Boeing fixes Starliner tomorrow or the crew hitches a ride with SpaceX next year, they will surely be grateful to have their feet back on solid ground. An eight-month ISS stay was not on the calendar, and they are undoubtedly missing their friends, family, and home-cooked meals.

In a Wednesday press conference, NASA said it has a contingency plan to bring Starliner pilots Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams home. Unfortunately, the plan is for them to hitch a ride on SpaceX's Crew-9 mission, which NASA postponed until next February because of the incapacitated Boeing spacecraft.

The astronauts are currently calling ISS home while Boeing tries to figure out how to get its vessel operational again. Engineers may fix the ship's problems before the delayed rescue, but those hopes dwindle with each passing day. The Starliner crew has been stranded for almost two months on what Boeing promoted as an eight-day mission, but its actual timeframe was one to two weeks.

Boeing has repeatedly denied that the astronauts are stranded, saying that they knew there was a possibility that the mission could last longer. However, the company's argument relies on contingencies, semantics, and PR spin. The astronauts completed the mission within the initial timeframe, but complications with the Boeing Starliner prevented the crew from returning home. That's the dictionary definition of being stranded.

"Stranded - adjective. Left without the means to move from somewhere."

In hindsight, the mission probably should have been indefinitely scrubbed while Boeing thoroughly worked out the kinks. Boeing was in a race with SpaceX to get it launched and lost that contest, so there was no good reason to continue rushing to complete a flight. Furthermore, the mission was delayed multiple times over several years due to various issues with the craft. It got to the point where it was questionable if Starliner would ever leave the ground.

One of the three Starliner capsules was retired following a failed test, as engineers could not identify the cause of the malfunction. Then, in June 2023, the remaining two capsules were indefinitely grounded due to the discovery of two significant safety concerns: the tethers connecting the parachutes were found to be insufficient to support the craft's fullweight, and hundreds of feet of flammable tape had been used to insulate the wiring inside the capsule.

Boeing's spin is not excusable but is understandable. The company's public image has been shaky recently after several mishaps and "technical glitches" with its 737 Max. The jumbo jet was involved in two preventable incidents  the crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 in 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in 2019  that together killed 346 passengers and crew. Regulators investigating the Ethiopian Airlines event found Boeing had withheld "essential safety features," offering them as optional add-ons instead.

Even though those accidents were over five years past, the company is still struggling to recover from an image of incompetent internal management. The Starliner fiasco is not helping that effort, and multiple management shakeups have seen senior executives step down, including CEO Dave Calhoun, who will 'retire' at the end of the year.
Artificial intelligence introduces new tools that institutions can leverage to transform the conventional teaching and learning process. According to a survey done by Forbes Advisor, more than half of their respondents (500 practicing educators) believe AI has had a positive effect, and 60% of them use the technology in their classrooms.

Integrating AI into teaching tools can make complex subjects more accessible and comprehensible to the average student. However, AI also raises concerns like data privacy, algorithmic bias, and academic dishonesty. Students may become accustomed to the technology and may fail to develop the skills that are necessary post-graduation.

Leading companies must consider the unique needs and concerns raised by institutions regarding the responsible use of AI. No doubt, embracing its solutions drives schools forward and opens up new possibilities for development as AI platforms can automate administrative tasks, generate tailored content for personalized learning, and provide insights into institutional performance.

Reinvent teaching methods by leveraging cutting-edge educational technology. This article outlines five of the best AI platforms for institutions in 2024.

#1 StudyFetch

Overview

StudyFetch leverages AI to transform existing course materials into engaging and personalized study tools. This learning platform can create interactive flashcards, quizzes, and games from text-based documents, including handwritten notes and lecture videos, making it easier for students to review and understand key concepts.

StudyFetch adapts to the learning style, ability, and skill level of each student to provide a personalized learning experience. It fosters a sense of autonomy and responsibility as users can study and learn at their own pace.

The AI learning platform generates a customized plan that leads to academic growth and personal development. It presents a gamified and user-friendly UI featuring an AI tutor that makes learning fun, interactive, and more accessible.

StudyFetch also contains AI tools for academic evaluation and assistance. Instructors can use its AI quizzes and essay grading features to assess student understanding and provide instant tailored feedback. With its adaptive learning capabilities, StudyFetch adjusts the difficulty level and content based on the student's progress.

StudyFetch provides accurate and relevant content as the platform generates content based on the resources the users upload. Teachers can review and verify the AI-generated content to ensure it aligns with course objectives and academic standards.

Designed for instructions, StudyFetch leads in ed-tech AI safety with robust enterprise-level security, privacy, and data handling. The AI learning platform has been carefully designed and tested to avoid biases and provide faster response times.

StudyFetch can integrate with existing login and user infrastructure and provide advanced analytics for insights into student engagement performance and progress. This AI learning platform supports 20+ languages, making its solutions more accessible on a global scale.

Features

Tutor Me

Spark.E can discuss an entire lecture online through Tutor Me. StudyFetch transforms the uploaded material into an accessible, interactive session where the AI tutor presents a lesson plan and breaks down the material into milestones to help users better understand its key concepts. The AI learning platform can also provide AI test questions within the lesson plan to measure the student's progress.

AI-Generated Flashcards

StudyFetch can also convert course materials into AI-generated flashcards which users can also customize for a personalized learning experience. The AI flashcard generator breaks down the material into question-answer pairs. These flashcards can help users engage in active recall so they can better familiarize themselves with the terms most likely to appear (or be asked) in a test.

AI-Generated Quizzes

The AI learning platform can also generate quizzes from uploaded materials. StudyFetch can customize the quiz based on the selected question type: multiple choice, free response, fill in the blank, short answer, and true/false. These quizzes can help teachers formulate questions, saving them time and effort from reviewing the coverage.

Live Lecture

StudyFetch can also take notes and transcribe them in real time on behalf of the students. The AI learning platform listens to the live lecture so students can instead give their full attention to the discussion. A simple click instantly generates a note from the lecture. Students can also ask the AI tutor to clarify any information.

AI Tutor

StudyFetch boasts an AI tutor who is free 24/7 to assist students with any request they may have. Spark.E can provide feedback for essays, summarize topics, and answer questions so users no longer have to search through multiple course materials or seek answers outside of the AI learning platform.

#2 MagicSchool

Overview

MagicSchool boasts 70+ AI learning tools institutions need to create engaging and tailored education content. It presents an easy-to-use interface that eliminates the need for complicated prompting. The platform also provides robust training resources to help users harness the power of generative AI.

This award-winning platform can help teachers create a lesson plan, differentiate, write an Individualized Education Plan, and more. MagicSchool contains tools that can save users time from doing repetitive and tedious tasks that take a lot of effort. It can also interoperate with any existing LMS.

MagicSchool also prioritizes safety and privacy, ensuring responsible AI for educational institutions. The AI learning platform contains built-in safeguards that are integrated to highlight potential bias and emphasize factual accuracy and privacy. It also complies with FERPA and state privacy laws.

This AI learning platform is free for educators and has access to all time-saving tools, educator-monitored tools, the AI chatbot, and the AI image generator. For unlimited access, MagicSchool Plus costs $99.96/year. Large-scale organizations can request a quote to avail of the Enterprise plan.

Features

Academic Content Generator

Powered by multiple AI models, MagicSchool can generate original academic content for any subject. Teachers can also customize the content according to the topic and criteria of their choice, ensuring the content is directly relevant to their classroom needs. The AI learning platform streamlines the creation of study materials so teachers can focus their efforts on understanding and mastering content instead of laborious material preparation.

MagicSchool can generate other content like a letter of recommendation, lesson plan, or syllabus. Using its AI tools lets teachers focus on other aspects of course preparation and instruction, which ultimately sets students up for success.

Assignment Scaffolder

MagicSchool can break down assignments into steps that are easier to follow. Through scaffolding, teachers can foster a stronger understanding among the students. This method gives the student more autonomy and independence when answering their assignments without external help.

Clear Directions

MagicSchool can make instructions more concise and sequential. The AI learning platform refines and simplifies the directions so students can follow them effectively. Clear Directions prevent errors caused by misunderstanding. Teachers can create organized learning experiences by providing well-structured and straightforward instructions.

Custom Chatbot

Designed to enhance the educational experience, the Custom Chatbot can engage users in a dynamic and personalized manner. This tool can provide instant assistance, such as additional explanations or clarifications when teachers are researching specific topics. Its versatility makes the virtual companion an invaluable asset in increasing teacher productivity and efficiency.

#3 Eduaide

Overview

Eduaide provides an AI-driven workspace for creating engaging lesson plans, generating tailored teaching resources, and providing insightful feedback. This lesson-planning platform boasts 150+ AI tools used by 500K+ educators. It can reduce the time needed to source educational materials so teachers can shift their focus toward the students.

Eduaide uses AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic. The AI learning platform seamlessly switches between models, ensuring maximum uptime. This model agnosticism allows the company to test different models, monitor error rates, and select the best tool to implement AI in modern education.

Eduaide removes the internal logic and context required when using generative AI. Normally, using AI platforms like ChatGPT entails knowing what to ask to get the desired response. Teachers can instead focus on personalizing and differentiating generative resources even without extensive training in prompt engineering and instructional design.

Eduaide contains a built-in text editor that lets teachers edit the generative outputs. The AI learning platform eliminates the endless exports and imports, which creates friction and prolongs instructional planning.

Features

150+ Content Generator Resources

Eduaide can create over 150 different resources by harnessing the power of AI. The AI learning platform can assist in lesson planning and instructional design. This empowers teachers to provide the best materials and bring out the full potential of their students. These educational resources can support teachers in various subjects and disciplines, making the platform suitable for educators across different fields.

Personalization Tools

Edauade lets users revise and remix generated content. The AI learning platform has a built-in text editor so teachers can customize the materials they provide for students according to different course objectives and meet the needs of diverse learners.

Feedback Bot

Instructors can also use Eduaide to provide timely, relevant, and actionable feedback. The feedback bot can generate feedback using four different built-in rubrics (or based on a custom rubric) that can help students improve. In collaboration with engineers and designers, the platform is developed by teachers for teachers. Professional instructors can trust that the rubrics in place align with academic standards.

#4 SC Training

Overview

SC Training (previously known as EdApp) adopts a gamification method to make learning more fun and engaging. This AI platform caters to teams across all industries as its tools can generate onboarding and training content, as well as educational content.

SC Training prioritizes mobile-first learning. The platform puts workplace learning at the team's fingertips so they can access content anytime, anywhere, and on any device, even without an internet connection. It also boasts a template library that can help organizations create interactive and mobile-friendly courses in minutes.

SC Training offers a freemium version for teams with up to 10 learners and a free trial of the Premium plan that costs $5 per learner/month (annually). The mobile learning management system (LMS) works best for institutions that handle remote teams and operate with multiple facilities due to its mobile-first priority and blended learning features.

Features

AI Course Builder

SC Training empowers organizations to build interactive courses with the help of AI. Anyone can generate an entire course in seconds after entering the prompt or uploading up to 6 photos. These gamified courses are bite-sized by default, so users can immediately implement their learning, boosting their efficiency and deployment speed.

Reporting and Analytics

SC Training can provide the metrics team leaders need to improve performance. The mobile LMS can track every in-person and digital training interaction so users can get insights on learner engagement and progression at a glance and produce out-of-the-box reports. Having access to slide-level analytics can also help them identify which sections of the course are challenging for learners so they can make adjustments in real time.

#5 360learning

Overview

Designed for collaborative learning, 360learning can help organizations upskill and reskill from within. The platform boasts an AI-powered authoring tool with rich editing abilities that can help users create a new course at one click and save on cost.

360learning integrates with third-party services like Salesforce, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Drive. It also has an API for custom integrations so institutions can tailor the LMS to meet their unique requirements and objectives.

Features

AI-Powered Tools for Building Courses

360learning leverages AI to generate courses from prompts or existing content. The LMS can also provide questions for quizzes that test users' knowledge of the course content.

L&D Controlled Prompts

Instructors can include a prompt template to ensure all outputs align with their compliance, culture, pedagogy, and DEI standards. Having customizable and controlled prompts maintains consistency in course development.

AI-based Recommendations

360learning ensures continuous growth and development for team members across the organization through AI-based recommendations. The LMS recommends courses that align with the job title and skills of each user. Providing tailored content makes the learning process more effective and, therefore, helps users produce better results that drive the company forward.

Conclusion

Promote student engagement and improve learning outcomes by using the best AI platforms. These innovative educational tools can automate administrative tasks, provide personalized learning experiences, and improve accessibility, transforming how users learn and thrive in the modern age.

These AI platforms can improve the learning experience in numerous ways. Choose from StudyFetch, Magic School, Eduaide, SC Training, and 360learning and transform how knowledge is imparted and acquired.
SpaceX has now announced the target launch date for the Polaris Dawn mission, a renowned program that will bring civilian astronauts to a deeper part of space, combined with an iconic spacewalk. Initially, the Polaris Dawn faced a delay from SpaceX because of two reasons, first, it was because of the NASA Commercial Crew program, with Crew-9 being prioritized, and next was Falcon 9's earlier mishap.

That being said, the Polaris Dawn mission is now set to launch earlier than Crew-9, with the all-civilian mission given the green light for it to begin.

SpaceX Polaris Dawn Mission Launch Date Now Set

The Polaris Program's X account has confirmed that it and SpaceX are targeting a launch date come Monday, August 26, to launch the Polaris Dawn mission bringing four civilian astronauts to space. The mission would come "no earlier than August 26," and if all systems are a go or there are no natural catastrophes or hindrances, it would launch comethis time.

The mission would feature all-American astronauts aboard SpaceX's Dragon and Falcon spacecraft, with Isaacman commanding the team, also his second time in space.

It would focus on reaching a farther distance for commercial astronauts, about 435 miles altitude, also testing out Falcon 9 and Dragon's maximum output.

Civilian Space Flight with Spacewalk is Coming

The upcoming civilian space flight would also be the farthest the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft has flown, and its goal is to understand the effects of spaceflight and space radiation on humans better. The Polaris mission would be farther compared to the International Space Station, with its ultimate goal centering on helping the future Mars mission.

The Polaris Dawn Program and SpaceX

After the iconic Inspiration4 mission led by commercial astronaut and Shift4 CEO, Jared Isaacman, he had another mission in mind with SpaceX as the partner, and it is known as the Polaris Dawn. This next mission for Isaacman is set to be more ambitious, particularly with the first-ever commercial spacewalk that would be done by civilians in its proposed five-day mission.

However, the all-civilian astronaut mission has seen its fair share of delays, particularly as it was first plannedto commence by December 2022, but it did not push through. One of its rescheduled launch windows was in March 2023, but this too has seen a delay from SpaceX, with Isaacman and his new crew hanging back, awaiting the date that its mission would move forward.

Its July 2024 launch window was also delayed after it followed an FAA suspension for SpaceX's Falcon 9, and when it was permitted to launch again, Crew-9 was said to be prioritized. Now, Polaris Dawn will be at the forefront of launches again for SpaceX, getting a target launch date come August 26, looking forward to the farthest commercial spacewalk for humans in history.
Apple is reportedly considering transforming some of its advanced AI features into paid subscription services, a move that could reshape how users interact with the tech giant's ecosystem.

According to recent reports, analysts speculate that these new services could cost users up to $20 per month, reflecting Apple's growing emphasis on monetizing software and services.

Would you subscribe to Apple Intelligence if it's released today?

Apple Intelligence: A New Frontier in Subscription Services

Paid subscription services are common among tech giants. If you happen to upgrade your Google Drive storage, you can pay the basic plan to add an extra 100GB for $2 per month. Microsoft also implements this in Xbox Game Pass Core at $10 per month. Apple is no different from them.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman revealed in July that while Apple Intelligence is initially expected to be free, the company's long-term strategy might involve launching a premium version, tentatively dubbed "Apple Intelligence+."

Similar to the iCloud+ model, this service would offer enhanced features for a monthly fee, providing users with advanced AI capabilities that could justify the additional cost.

Related Article: Apple Intelligence With Google Gemini Potentially Coming in a Few Months

Pricing Expectations and the Apple One Model

Neil Shah, an analyst from Counterpoint Research, told CNBC that Apple might integrate these AI features into a modified version of its existing Apple One subscription.

Shah said that a realistic price for the upgraded service could range between $10 and $20 per month. Given that Apple One currently costs $19.95 per month and includes popular services like Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Fitness+, and additional cloud storage, adding AI-powered features could make this package even more appealing to users.

"Apple has successfully monetized value-added services across its product ecosystem, and AI could be the next frontier," Shah stated.

The Precedent of Paid Services

Ben Wood, Chief of Research at CCS Insight, pointed out that the iPhone maker has already established a strong precedent for charging users for premium services.

As a result, it wouldn't be surprising if the company extends this approach to its AI offerings. Wood also mentioned that Apple could introduce a new tier within Apple One, bundling various services under a single, unified price.

Either way, this strategy aligns with Apple's broader goals of expanding its services revenue, which has seen substantial growth, according to MacRumors.

In the June quarter alone, Apple reported a record-breaking $24.2 billion in services revenue, up from $21.2 billion the previous year.

Analysts believe that by making AI features a part of this revenue stream, Apple can offset the slower pace of hardware innovation and pass on the high costs associated with AI development to customers.

Apple's AI Ambitions and Infrastructure Investments

Apple's commitment to AI extends beyond software. The company has reportedly begun building its own AI servers powered by the M2 Ultra chip. Additionally, Apple is said to be developing a custom AI server processor using TSMC's 3nm process, which could be deployed as early as 2025. These developments suggest that Apple is investing heavily in the infrastructure needed to support its AI ambitions.

According to renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company is expected to spend several billion dollars on hardware to bolster its AI capabilities in 2024. Kuo predicts that Apple will invest "at least" $620 million on servers in 2023, with spending projected to soar to $4.75 billion in 2024.

As Apple continues to refine its AI technologies, the introduction of a paid subscription model could be a game-changer. By integrating advanced AI features into its existing services ecosystem, the company not only enhances the user experience but also opens up new revenue streams.

Earlier this month, Tech Times reported that Apple is working with regulators to make Apple Intelligence accessible to other parts of the world. The report says that AI will come to China and Europe.
Rescuers transport building materials to reinforce a newly repaired dike in Tieling, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 7, 2024. The dike breach at a river in northeast China's Liaoning Province was sealed at 4:27 a.m. Wednesday after emergency workers had worked around the clock to repair it, according to local authorities. Sun Huaijun, deputy director of the city's water resources bureau, said that over 130 emergency vehicles had been sent and more than 10,000 cubic meters of materials had been used to repair the dike. No casualties have been reported, Sun added. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

SHENYANG, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The dike breach at a river in northeast China's Liaoning Province was sealed at 4:27 a.m. Wednesday after rescuers had worked around the clock to repair it, according to local authorities.

The dike breach, measuring 18.6 meters in length, occurred on Tuesday at the Wanghe River, a tributary of the Liaohe River, near Fanjiawopeng Village in the city of Tieling, due to rising water levels caused by continuous heavy rains.

Sun Huaijun, deputy director of the city's water resources bureau, said that over 130 emergency vehicles had been sent and more than 10,000 cubic meters of materials had been used to repair the dike.

No casualties have been reported, Sun added.

This aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 7, 2024 shows emergency workers transporting building materials to reinforce a newly repaired dike in Tieling, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The dike breach at a river in northeast China's Liaoning Province was sealed at 4:27 a.m. Wednesday after emergency workers had worked around the clock to repair it, according to local authorities.

Sun Huaijun, deputy director of the city's water resources bureau, said that over 130 emergency vehicles had been sent and more than 10,000 cubic meters of materials had been used to repair the dike.

No casualties have been reported, Sun added. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

This aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 7, 2024 shows emergency workers transporting building materials to reinforce a newly repaired dike in Tieling, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The dike breach at a river in northeast China's Liaoning Province was sealed at 4:27 a.m. Wednesday after emergency workers had worked around the clock to repair it, according to local authorities.

Sun Huaijun, deputy director of the city's water resources bureau, said that over 130 emergency vehicles had been sent and more than 10,000 cubic meters of materials had been used to repair the dike.

No casualties have been reported, Sun added. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

This aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 7, 2024 shows emergency workers reinforcing a newly repaired dike in Tieling, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The dike breach at a river in northeast China's Liaoning Province was sealed at 4:27 a.m. Wednesday after emergency workers had worked around the clock to repair it, according to local authorities.

Sun Huaijun, deputy director of the city's water resources bureau, said that over 130 emergency vehicles had been sent and more than 10,000 cubic meters of materials had been used to repair the dike.

No casualties have been reported, Sun added. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

This aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 7, 2024 shows emergency workers attempting to seal a dike breach in Tieling, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The dike breach at a river in northeast China's Liaoning Province was sealed at 4:27 a.m. Wednesday after emergency workers had worked around the clock to repair it, according to local authorities.

Sun Huaijun, deputy director of the city's water resources bureau, said that over 130 emergency vehicles had been sent and more than 10,000 cubic meters of materials had been used to repair the dike.

No casualties have been reported, Sun added. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

This aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 7, 2024 shows emergency workers attempting to seal a dike breach in Tieling, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The dike breach at a river in northeast China's Liaoning Province was sealed at 4:27 a.m. Wednesday after emergency workers had worked around the clock to repair it, according to local authorities.

Sun Huaijun, deputy director of the city's water resources bureau, said that over 130 emergency vehicles had been sent and more than 10,000 cubic meters of materials had been used to repair the dike.

No casualties have been reported, Sun added. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

This aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 7, 2024 shows emergency workers reinforcing a newly repaired dike in Tieling, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The dike breach at a river in northeast China's Liaoning Province was sealed at 4:27 a.m. Wednesday after emergency workers had worked around the clock to repair it, according to local authorities.

Sun Huaijun, deputy director of the city's water resources bureau, said that over 130 emergency vehicles had been sent and more than 10,000 cubic meters of materials had been used to repair the dike.

No casualties have been reported, Sun added. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

This aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 7, 2024 shows emergency workers reinforcing a newly repaired dike in Tieling, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The dike breach at a river in northeast China's Liaoning Province was sealed at 4:27 a.m. Wednesday after emergency workers had worked around the clock to repair it, according to local authorities.

Sun Huaijun, deputy director of the city's water resources bureau, said that over 130 emergency vehicles had been sent and more than 10,000 cubic meters of materials had been used to repair the dike.

No casualties have been reported, Sun added. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Editor: WXY
Alon Leviev, a security researcher at SafeBreach, has drawn urgent attention to software downgrade attacks on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server systems that can force fully up-to-date software to revert to an older version with known, exploitable vulnerabilities.

Making the announcement at the ongoing security conference Black Hat 2024 held in Las Vegas, Leviev warned that malicious actors can expose and exploit previously fully patched vulnerabilities to compromise systems and gain unauthorized access.

Leviev showed how the Windows update process could be compromised to downgrade critical OS components, including dynamic link libraries (DLLs), drivers, and even the NT kernel.

Although a downgrade attack would roll back all critical components to the older versions, the update check would falsely report that the operating system (OS) was fully updated and unable to install future updates, while recovery and scanning tools were unable to identify any issues.

I found several vulnerabilities that I used to develop Windows Downdatea tool to take over the Windows Update process to craft fully undetectable, invisible, persistent, and irreversible downgrades on critical OS componentsthat allowed me to elevate privileges and bypass security features. As a result, I was able to make a fully patched Windows machine susceptible to thousands of past vulnerabilities, turning fixed vulnerabilities into zero-days and making the term fully patched meaningless on any Windows machine in the world, Leviev wrote in a blog post.

The Israeli researcher was able to successfully downgrade Credential Guards Isolated User Mode Process, Secure Kernel, and Hyper-Vs hypervisor by exploiting the zero-day vulnerabilities, thereby exposing past privilege escalation vulnerabilities.

I discovered multiple ways to disable Windows virtualization-based security (VBS), including its features such as Credential Guard and Hypervisor-Protected Code integrity (HVCI), even when enforced with UEFI locks. To my knowledge, this is the first time VBSs UEFI locks have been bypassed without physical access, Leviev revealed.

As a result, I was able to make a fully patched Windows machine susceptible to thousands of past vulnerabilities, turning fixed vulnerabilities into zero-days and making the term fully patched meaningless on any Windows machine in the world.

According to Leviev, this is the first time that UEFI locks of virtualization-based security (VBS) have been bypassed without physical access. The implications of his research are significant not only to Microsoft Windows but also for all OS vendors that may be subject to downgrade attacks.

SafeBreach Labs reported the downgrade attack, dubbed Windows Downdate, to Microsoft in February this year as part of a coordinated responsible disclosure process. Six months after the reporting, Leview revealed the Windows Downdate downgrade attack to the public.

Microsoft has issued advisories on the two unpatched zero-day vulnerabilities (tracked as CVE-2024-38202 and CVE-2024-21302) and said customers will be notified when the official mitigation is available in a Windows security update. It also said that it is not aware of any attempts to exploit these vulnerabilities in the wild.

Meanwhile, the company has given recommendations that do not mitigate the vulnerabilities but can be used to reduce the risk of exploitation until the security update is available.

We appreciate the work of SafeBreach in identifying and responsibly reporting this vulnerability through a coordinated vulnerability disclosure. We are actively developing mitigations to protect against these risks while following an extensive process involving a thorough investigation, update development across all affected versions, and compatibility testing, to ensure maximized customer protection with minimized operational disruption, a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement.
Amazon deforestation rises for the first time in 15 months



Rio de Janeiro, Aug 7 (AFP) Aug 07, 2024



Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest increased in July for the first time in 15 months, according to official data released Wednesday.

An area of 666 square kilometers (250 square miles) was destroyed in the Amazon last month, up 33 percent from the 500 square kilometers lost in July 2023.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has pledged to put a stop to illegal deforestation of the Amazon by 2030. The practice had dramatically worsened under his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro.

Among the factors that contributed to the increase in July, according to the government, was a strike by public employees in the environmental agency IBAMA.

In addition, "in July last year the decrease (in deforestation) was very high," Joao Paulo Capobianco, executive secretary of the environment ministry, said during a press conference explaining this July's poor results.

During the last 12 months, deforestation decreased 45.7 percent compared to the previous period.

"Over the past year, the reduction has been extremely significant," Capobianco said.

While deforestation destroyed 7,952 square kilometers between August 2022 and July 2023, it destroyed only 4,315 square kilometers in the same period in 2023-2024.

Deforestation is strongly linked to agricultural expansion and illegal mining.

The Amazon, the world's biggest rainforest, covers nearly 40 percent of South America. In the last century, it has lost about 20 percent of its area to deforestation, due to the advance of agriculture and cattle ranching, logging and mining, and urban sprawl.

Tropical forests absorb carbon and are a vital ally in the fight against climate change, but they are also the most ravaged by deforestation.
This photo taken on Aug. 6, 2024 shows part of fossilized small dinosaur footprints discovered at the Linxia Global Geopark in the Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Linxia, northwest China's Gansu Province.(Xinhua/Cheng Nan)

LANZHOU, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- A set of five fossilized small dinosaur footprints from the Cretaceous period has been discovered in northwest China's Gansu Province, believed to be among the smallest known dinosaur tracks in the world.

Workers from a dinosaur museum in the Linxia Global Geopark in the Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Linxia found them inside the geopark in early August after continuous rainfall exposed the footprints on a weathered rock surface.

Each footprint measures approximately one to three cm in length.

Xing Lida, an associate professor at the China University of Geosciences (Beijing), noted that such footprints were first found in the country's Sichuan Basin and later discovered in Shandong Province and then the Republic of Korea.

The latest discovery in Linxia suggests a broader distribution of these tracks during the same period, which is significant to the study of biostratigraphy, geological ages and dinosaur diversity in these regions, said Xing.

Xing emphasized the discovery's scientific value, stating that it provides a new perspective on dinosaur miniaturization, a key step towards the evolution of birds.

Since the late 1990s, over 2,000 dinosaur footprints have been found in Linxia's Yongjing County, part of the geopark, known as the "Liujiaxia dinosaur footprint cluster."

You Wenze, the curator of the museum, said that the continuous discoveries based on strengthened protection in the geopark and the neighboring area not only enlarged the dinosaur footprint cluster, but also greatly enhanced the cultural and tourism value of the local area.

Xing explained that the new footprints indicate that the trace-makers were not fast-moving.

"The rock surface shows clear ripple marks, suggesting that the small dinosaurs were active near water, with many waterbird footprints found alongside them, forming a typical combination consistent with findings in other regions," he said.

These footprints not only reflect the habits and behaviors of dinosaurs but also shed light on their relationship with the environment, he added.

Editor: WXY
2024 'increasingly likely' to be warmest on record: EU monitor



Paris, Aug 8 (AFP) Aug 08, 2024



It is "increasingly likely" 2024 will be the hottest year on record, despite July ending a 13-month streak of monthly temperature records, the EU's climate monitor said Thursday.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said last month was the second warmest on record books going back to 1940, only slightly cooler than July 2023.

Between June 2023 and June 2024, each month eclipsed its own temperature record for the time of year.

"The streak of record-breaking months has come to an end, but only by a whisker," said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of C3S.

Last month the global average temperature was 16.91 degrees Celsius, only 0.04C below July 2023, according to C3S's monthly bulletin.

But "the overall context hasn't changed, our climate continues to warm," said Burgess.

"The devastating effects of climate change started well before 2023 and will continue until global greenhouse gas emissions reach net zero," she said.

From January to July global temperatures were 0.70C above the 1991-2020 average.

This anomaly would need to drop significantly over the rest of this year for 2024 not to be hotter than 2023 -- "making it increasingly likely that 2024 is going to be the warmest year on record", said C3S.



- 'Too hot to handle' -



July 2024 was 1.48C warmer than the estimated average temperatures for the month during the period 1850-1900, before the world started to rapidly burn fossil fuels.

This has translated into punishing heat for hundreds of millions of people.

The Earth experienced its two hottest days on record with global average temperatures at a virtual tie on July 22 and 23 reaching 17.6C, C3S said.

The Mediterranean was gripped by a heatwave scientists said would have been "virtually impossible" without global warming as China and Japan sweated through their hottest July on record.

Record-breaking rainfall pummelled Pakistan, wildfires ravaged western US states and Hurricane Beryl left a trail of destruction as it swept from the Caribbean to the southeast of the United States.

Temperatures for the oceans, which absorb 90 percent of the excess heat caused by human activities, were also the second warmest on record for the month of July.

Average sea surface temperatures were 20.88C last month, only 0.01C below July 2023.

This marked the end of a 15-month period of tumbling heat records for the oceans.

However, scientists at C3S noted that "air temperatures over the ocean remained unusually high over many regions" despite a swing from the El Nino weather pattern that helped fuel a spike in global temperatures to its opposite La Nina, which has a cooling effect.

On Wednesday, World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Celeste Saulo reflected on a year of "widespread, intense and extended heatwaves".

"This is becoming too hot to handle," she said.
Swimming trunks: transparent tank shows paddling pachyderms



Susono, Japan, Aug 8 (AFP) Aug 08, 2024



Paddling with chunky legs and using their trunks as a snorkel, the elephants at Fuji Safari Park in Japan are taking a dip in their summer swimming pool -- with each graceful movement visible thanks to a special see-through tank.

Visitors are often surprised to discover that elephants can swim, but the hefty creatures are very good at it, zoo manager Daisuke Takeuchi told AFP on Thursday.

The park's six Asian elephants swim daily in the summer months, sometimes entering the 65-metre (210-foot) canal -- the length of five buses parked in a line -- together.

"Especially on hot days, they can't wait to get in the water, so when the water is ready, they rush in energetically and splash," Takeuchi said.

The park, within sight of Mount Fuji in central Japan, installed the pool with transparent sides in 2015, and elephant keepers from Laos clean it and change the water daily.

Japan's scorching summers are getting hotter, and last month the country saw its warmest July since records began.

To cool down in the heat, elephants spray water on their bodies and flap their large ears like a fan, so the main purpose of bathing is to remove parasites and dirt from their skin.

Elephant expert Sanjeeta Sharma Pokharel, assistant professor of Asian and African Area Studies at Kyoto University, said elephants use their "remarkable" instinctive swimming skills to migrate across habitats by crossing rivers.

"But swimming may not be their daily activity, until and unless circumstances demand it," such as during floods, Sharma Pokharel said.

Elephants also use bodies of water when they have leg or other injuries, a habit which "helps in reducing the strain due to their body weight", she added.

Using their trunk to breathe means they can swim long distances, and "in the wild, they have no choice but to swim in search of food", Takeuchi said.

"But in our zoo, rather than searching for food, they swim for fun, and because their bodies get cooler and it feels good to cool down, they happily enter the water."
Friends, family, Louisiana dignitaries, members of the Judiciary and people in the legal profession attend the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse Naming Ceremony at the Louisiana Supreme Court in New Orleans, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. Chief Justice Calogero retired in 2008 after 36 years serving as a Justice of the Court. For 18 of those years, he served as Chief Justice. During his career, he spearheaded the restoration and return of the Louisiana Supreme Court to Royal street in the French Quarter. Chief Justice Calogero died a year ago.
But some companies were smart and sensing the potential difficulties they would face in raising required funds  at a hugely-discounted scrip price, no less, they decided to take a different approach of getting into a business bed with a big dog, a much bigger mining firm with deeper pockets and a more credible ability to raise funds.

Interest from a bigger company would see the red carpet rolled out, wisely it must be said, as the hopeful junior partner lobbied for an investment either in the shape of taking a sizeable stake in the firm or forming a joint venture (JV) at a prospective project.

A good example is Ardea Resources, a company sitting on possibly Australias biggest nickel resource of 854 million tonnes at 0.71 per cent nickel and 0.045 per cent cobalt for 6.1 million tonnes of contained nickel and 386,000 tonnes of cobalt.

In February 2022, when the sun was shining brightly for nickel developers and producers, Ardea received an unsolicited email from Japans $US10 billion (AU$15.26 billion) behemoth Sumitomo Metal Mining expressing interest in the companys Kalgoorlie Nickel Project (KNP). As the nickel price was still flavour of the month and motoring along nicely, Ardea could have treated the approach with indifference.

Instead, management jumped at the opportunity to begin discussions with the mining giant to see what it could potentially offer. Talks progressed slowly at first, initially on a weekly basis before ramping up to almost daily discussions when Sumitomos genuine interest became clear.

About the same time, the Government-owned Export Finance Australia introduced Ardea to Mitsubishi Development, the wholly-owned mineral resources arm of the Japanese giant, Mitsubishi Corporation.

Ardea started separate discussions with the Japanese pair until it realised they were communicating with each other about the merits of the nickel project. It eventually led to all three companies sitting down and having joint discussions, with a further potential Japanese participant, Mitsui & Co, also being welcomed into the fold.

The discussions finally paid dividends when Ardea revealed on July 5 last year that a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been signed with the Japanese consortium, with plans to formalise a scope of work to develop the Goongarrie Hub operation within the KNP through a JV arrangement. The deal was designed to lead to joint project funding, in addition to a final investment decision (FID) for the massive nickel operation.

The market clearly liked what it heard, sending the shares that previously closed at 44.5c to a high of 80c, on a volume of 2.81 million shares traded  well above the companys daily average of less than 500,000. The price rallied again the following day, on even higher volume of about 3 million shares and again touched an intraday high of 80c.

When the dust had settled, the share price retreated to a low of 34c on January 23 this year. But the price started to slowly climb again before Ardea landed its big fish, revealing to the market on April 29 that a JV agreement between Sumitomo, Mitsubishi and Ardea had been formalised, with Mitsui electing to drop out.

The 50:50 JV between Ardea and the Japanese consortium revealed the latter will fund $98.5 million to develop a definitive feasibility study (DFS) for Goongarrie Hub. Once again, the market jumped, sending the shares to a high of 95c on the day as Ardeas decision to link-up with the Japanese giants proved to be a fruitful one.

Another company benefitting from a tie-in with a much bigger player is Magmatic Resources after it revealed to the market on March 8 this year that iron ore giant Fortescue had executed an earn-in JV with the company for its Myall copper-gold-silver project near the New South Wales town of Narromine.

Fortescue agreed to spend up to $14 million during a six-year period to earn up to a 75 per cent interest in the project. A maiden mineral resource for Myall was defined last year from the projects Corvette and Kingswood prospects, consisting of 110 million tonnes at a grade of 0.33 per cent copper equivalent.

But the big Andrew Forrest-led miner went even further by becoming a cornerstone investor in Magmatic, acquiring a 19.9 per cent stake to raise about $3.7 million for the mining junior, which it plans to use to advance its other projects including its Boda Southwest prospect that lies immediately adjacent to Alkane Resources massive 15.7 million-ounce gold equivalent Boda-Kaiser deposits that sit in central NSW.

The market gave an approving nod to the reveal, sending the shares that had closed at 4.5c on March 7 to a high of 8c on the day the JV was announced. The stock was boosted even higher on the next trading day to touch 10c, an 11-month high, while a peak of 13c was reached on April 3.

Volumes surged with 13.3 million units traded upon the JV disclosure and 8.5 million the following day, levels well above its 20-day average of about 300,000 in daily turnover.

On October 30 last year, Western Australian gold producer Ora Banda Mining notified the market that a transformational lithium JV farm-in agreement was executed with ASX-listed conglomerate Wesfarmers through its Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers subsidiary Brenahan Exploration. Ora Banda disclosed it had sold 65 per cent of the companys non-core mineral rights, excluding gold, at its Davyhurst ground package for a cool $26 million in cash, plus a 2 per cent royalty.

Ora Banda Mining got a share price kick when it revealed a $26 million investment from Westfarmers.

Brenahan and Ora Banda formed a 65:35 JV to advance exploration on the sizeable underexplored ground, with the former having the option to solely fund $15 million of exploration during the first three-year period to increase its JV stake to 80 per cent. Ora Banda management said it would be free-carried from any discovery through to the completion of a DFS, giving Brenahan the option to acquire its remaining JV interest on project ground that is covered within the DFS.

The market reacted positively to the news, pushing the price from its previous 13.5c close to a 16.5c high on a healthy volume of 12.9 million shares.

The companys share price move after the reveal was a slow-burn initially, with occasional jumps in volume on select trading days giving it the impetus to move higher. In what appears to be an all-time record for traded volume of its shares, 52.46 million units then changed hands on November 10, lifting the price to 17.5c.

Further intermittent boosts to the volume saw the price eventually touch 25c on December 4, a near three-year high. The share price effectively moved sideways for a few months until positive news on both of the companys Sand King and Riverina underground developments, with reports of several stellar drill intersections continuing the positive momentum.

After touching a low of 12c on December 15 last year, Novo Resources stunned the market just four days later when it confirmed that global lithium giant Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chiles wholly-owned subsidiary SQM Australia had agreed to pay $10 million for a 75 per cent interest in five of its promising lithium-nickel tenements in WAs West Pilbara region, near the town of Roebourne.

The payment formed the Harding Battery Metals JV and provided an option for additional Novo tenements to be rolled into the agreement package within a year. All tenements within the JV are adjacent to the Andover lithium-nickel project formerly owned by Azure Minerals, which has since been acquired for $1.7 billion by SQM and Gina Rineharts Hancock Prospecting.

With a closing price of 15c on December 18, the share price bolted out of the starting gates the next morning, opening at 17.5c before racing to an intraday high of 24.5c.

Volume surged on the day to 2.7 million shares, well above its previous 10-day average of near 200,000 and followed through the next day with another solid 1.3 million turnover.

Under the JV terms, SQM will be the manager of the operation, while Novo retains 100 per cent of any gold, silver, copper, platinum-group-elements (PGE), lead and zinc and is free-carried until a decision to mine.

These are just a handful of the many examples of junior companies making an ultimately beneficial decision to join forces with a bigger, more powerful ally which can provide the capital backing required and the financial firepower to keep a project moving forward.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
We dont have a crocodile problem at all, he said. In Indonesia, for example, there were at least 85 people killed last year by saltwater crocodiles, usually subsistence fishermen taking risks. Some of the deaths in Australia include Indonesian fishermen in our waters. Why do crocodiles attack humans? The short answer is because they are hungry and humans are food. Crocodiles always have attacked humans and our ancestors, going back hundreds of thousands of years, Sideleau said. It is natural behaviour, but it can become excessive if certain individuals learn that humans are easy prey.

He said crocodiles in Australia typically ate fish, crabs and turtles, and only hunted humans or other large mammals if the opportunity presented itself, if the individual had learned humans were easy food, or there was not enough other prey. Loading If a crocodile attacked a human, they would usually seize the person and pull them underwater, until they stopped struggling. In the Cooktown incident, local residents reportedly had been feeding the crocodiles, including with roadkill. Professor Mike Letnic at the University of NSW said this would have increased the danger.

The problem with feeding them is that crocodiles are really quite intelligent, and they will begin to hang around in areas where they know there is regular food available, Letnic said. Feeding crocodiles was banned, but Sideleau said this was rarely enforced, and penalties were not enough. Why are crocodiles protected? Saltwater crocodiles were nearly wiped out by hunting until they were protected in the 1970s, starting with Western Australia in 1970. The numbers have now rebounded to about 105,000 in the NT, 20,000-30,000 in Queensland and 100,000 in Western Australia.

Theyre in very good shape now, Letnic said. Were becoming increasingly aware that large predators play really important roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Sideleau said there was a misconception the population would keep growing. As apex predators, the population was self-regulating because if they overpopulated, they starved. Sideleau said the crocodile population in the NT had been stable for a decade. In Queensland, the species was still considered vulnerable and would probably never recover because of pressure from the large and expanding human population on the coast. So far, there is no sign that saltwater crocodiles are expanding their range because of climate change. While they have been spotted in Queensland as far south as Maryborough and Fraser Island, both experts agreed this was the creatures reclaiming historical territory. Both the NT and Queensland governments remove and relocate crocodiles away from towns, and the NT has a permit program permitting third parties to remove crocodiles or eggs from the wild.

Some people advocate for a cull, but Sideleau said this wont increase public safety, and it would require an eradication program to allow swimming at Kakadu, for example. Loading What do Australian governments say about crocodiles? The Queensland government website says Croc Country, or typical crocodile habitat, begins at the Boyne River south of Gladstone, and extends northward and around the top to the NT border. Crocodiles can be found in freshwater and saltwater locations along the coast, from rivers and creeks hundreds of kilometres inland to offshore islands of the Great Barrier Reef.

Crocodiles use ambush tactics, such as lying and waiting at the waters edge, can stay underwater for over an hour and can be completely concealed, even in knee-deep water. They are most active at night, dusk and dawn. The government advice is to stay at least 5 metres from the waters edge, dispose of food and fish scraps in a bin or take them home, keep pets away from the water, avoid using small watercraft such as kayaks and paddleboards, and stay away from crocodile traps. The NT government website says it should be assumed that any water body in the saltwater crocodiles natural range was unsafe to swim, unless signposted for swimming. The Western Australian government website says anywhere in the Kimberley or Pilbara is crocodile country. What should you do if a crocodile attacks you?

Run for your life. Dont bother zig-zagging  that is a furphy. Loading The idea that crocodiles can chase people on land is just a myth, Sideleau said. They can only do it for short bursts out of the water for maybe 5-7 metres. They can charge out real fast ... but once theyre on land, theyre not very agile. Sideleau said most attacks were by crocodiles in the 2.5 to 3-metre range, and an adult human had a good chance of fighting it off. Gouging the eyes was reportedly effective.
A groundbreaking Australian study has linked plastic chemicals that are commonplace in food packaging and widespread in the environment to increased chances of a child developing autism.

The peer-reviewed paper comes months before a final round of global talks to curb plastic pollution.

The study, published in Nature Communication, found boys exposed to bisphenol A (BPA) chemicals in the womb were 3 times more likely to have autism symptoms by age two and six times more likely to be diagnosed by age 11.

Clean Up Australia Day volunteers collecting plastic litter. Credit: Wolter Peeters

These chemicals are not found in all plastics, but they are widely used in plastic food packaging and the lining of metal food cans. They are usually eaten in trace amounts, but can also be inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
There will be no changes to public servant hybrid work arrangements in Queensland amid contrasting views between the Sunshine States premier and his NSW counterpart.

Steven Miles has flagged the Queensland government has no impetus to change current flexible working arrangements for the public sector.

Loading

It follows comments from NSW Premier Chris Minns, who said a return to office and face-to-face work was a long time coming, four-years after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minns said his governments directive was about building up a culture in the public service thats about teamwork, a common and shared sense of purpose, as well as mentoring the next generation of young public servants.

Queensland  the most decentralised state in the nation  will not adopt the same route, with Miles backing flexibility in public service work.

We dont have any plans at this stage to change the current arrangements, Miles said on Thursday.

I understand New South Wales is in a somewhat different position to Queensland.

Our economy continues to be strong, our CBD has come back more strongly and, of course, as of this week, were starting to see public transport usage closer to those pre-COVID levels.

Those arrangements are generally based on negotiations in each workplace and based on the needs of each workplace.

AAP
Never mix business with pleasure, as the saying goes.

And its a saying that has particular relevance to Gillon McLachlan, the South Australian aristocrat and former AFL head boy who exited that role and became managing director and chief executive of Tabcorp, the largest provider of gaming services in Australia.

Former AFL boss Gillon McLachlan is now chief executive of Tabcorp. Credit: Getty Images

As anyone will tell you, horses and betting are two of McLachlans most favouritest things ever. And if those two things dont align, as they didnt during last years spring racing carnival, well, a bum run of racing tips leads to a glum Gill.

Its not our style at CBD to be party poopers, but we were wondering if there were any corporate governance parameters for Lofty dabbling in racehorses (he part owns A Samurai Mind and Into The Light) and betting using the company services.
Were back at the WA Supreme Court, and Liberal senator Linda Reynolds has continued to defend her decision to leak top-secret letters about the compensation claim by her former staffer Brittany Higgins to the media, telling the court she believed Attorney General Mark Dreyfus was trying to stitch her up.

During cross-examination, Higgins lawyer Rachael Young, SC, grilled the former defence minister at length about her decision to forward three legally sensitive letters to The Australian newspapers Janet Albrechtsen in December 2022.

WA senator Linda Reynolds. Credit: SMH

Reynolds had been named a defendant in Higginss $2.4 million compensation claim over the mishandling of her alleged rape by colleague Bruce Lehrmann in Parliament House in 2019, an allegation Lehrmann denies.

After seeking financial assistance from the Commonwealth, Reynolds took issue with a breakdown of terms that required her to remain tight-lipped about the case and at arms length from the mediation.

Young submitted Reynolds sent the emails from her personal address to avoid them becoming public, a claim the senator denied.

And Young accused Reynolds of leaking the letters to Albrechtsen, including a response outlining her concerns and claims the settlement was being handled by people with a conflict of interest, to ensure favourable coverage.

Did I want Ms Albrechtsen to know I had not had the ability to defend claims? Yes, I was incredibly angry because I could see the Attorney General of this country was stitching me up on allegations I had not seen and believed had expired, Reynolds told the court.

I had respect for her even-handedness and know you cannot influence her. I had no expectation of how she would write it, I just provided evidence of corruption, and she could report that as she saw fit.

Young put to Reynolds that her hope was that Albrechtsen would publish that she had in effect been muzzled by the Commonwealth, to which the senator responded: I had been, but it was up to her to decide whether she believed that.

When asked whether she believed leaking the emails would be taken by the Commonwealth as a breach of the confidentiality requirement, Reynolds told the court she did not consent to the Albanese government taking over her defence of the matter and said they may well have never wanted it to see the light of day.

Young put to Reynolds that in publicly challenging the process by which the Commonwealth reached the settlement with Higgins, she would cast doubt over whether she should have received it.

I had no issue with Ms Higgins, my issue was with the Attorney-General and how the law had been manipulated to muzzle me, Reynolds responded.

It was about what I saw as government corruption.

The cross-examination continues.
Embattled NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has axed the practice of using taxpayers money to buy alcohol for gifts and hospitality after she became engulfed in controversy for purchasing 50 bottles of gin.

Webb called Police Minister Yasmin Catley on Thursday morning to inform her that she had scrapped the policy, which she inherited from her predecessor Mick Fuller, effective immediately.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb is under intense pressure over purchasing 50 bottles of gin. Credit: James Brickwood

The commissioner has been under intense pressure since it was revealed in parliament that she had bought 50 bottles of personalised gin, known as Commissioners Gin, since taking the top job.

An anonymous complaint was lodged with the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) in October last year into whether the gin purchases constituted a conflict of interest.
Palm Beach: Donald Trump gave an hour-long news conference on Wednesday in which he recommitted to debating Vice President Kamala Harris and taunted her while also repeating old lies and lashing out at questions about the enthusiasm her campaign is receiving.

As Trump addressed reporters at his Palm Beach, Florida, estate, ABC announced that Trump and Harris, the Democratic nominee, have agreed to a September 10 presidential debate, setting up a widely anticipated face-off in an already unparalleled presidential election.

Republican presidential nominee former president Donald Trump speaks to reporters. Credit: AP

Trump said he had proposed three presidential debates with three television networks in September.

The former president again insisted there had been a peaceful transfer of power in 2021 and renewed attacks on Republican rivals like Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, whom he has harshly criticised since Kemp refused to go along with his false theories of election fraud.
Austrian police have arrested two people suspected of planning a terror attack at a Taylor Swift concert.

The three 'Eras Tour' performances at Vienna's Ernst-Happel-Stadion on Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week have been cancelled, as reported by BBC News.

According to the Guardian, authorities have now revealed that a plot to attack the concert has been foiled and two people have been arrested - including a 19-year-old man.

The teenage suspect was reportedly arrested an hour outside Vienna and the second suspect was arrested in the capital on Wednesday.

Metro reports that Franz Ruf, The General Director for Public Security, confirmed the pair were arrested on Wednesday and added in a statement: "According to the current status of the investigation, the two suspects became radicalised via the internet."

While The Irish Times states Vienna police chief Gerhard Purstl said a police presence in the Austrian capital would be increased, explaining: "We will also use special forces and police dogs. We have passed on the information we have to the concert promoter."

The Irish Times also reported: "The 19-year-old man had been under surveillance for some time, had radicalised in recent months and, in early July, had sworn an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organisation."

It was also reported that unnamed chemical substances were found at the home of one of the suspects.

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Chaos continues in Bdesh Md Yunus to takeoath as head ofinterim Govt today





By Anisur Rahman

DHAKA,

NOBEL laureate Mohammad Yunus is set to take oath as the head of Bangladeshs interim Government on Thursday, as he made a fervent appeal to everyone to stay calm and refrain from all kinds of violence to make the best use of our new victory. As authorities scrambled to bring the law and order situation under control, Army chief Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman on Wednesday announced that the interim Government will take oath around 8 pm on Thursday. He said the advisory council may have 15 members. Gen Zaman further said THAT the armed forces will provide all possible support to 84-year-old Yunus after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister and fled the country following violent anti-government protests spearheaded by the Students Against Discrimination movement. Yunus is now in Paris and was headed to Dhaka. Bangladesh Nationalist Party(BNP) chairperson and ex-premier Khaleda Zia, who was freed from house arrest on Tuesday, echoed the views of Yunus, saying it is not anger or revenge but love and peace which will rebuild the nation. Businesses demanded immediate restoration of law and order to ensure the safety of their production units amid attacks on factories over the last two days.

They said factories were reopened on Wednesday, particularly the garment units, but many cannot run properly fearing unrest and vandalism, the Daily Star newspaper reported. With police absent from their duty to keep law and order or manage traffic, students carried out traffic management as volunteers for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper said. There were reports of attacks on police stations and facilities across the country on Tuesday, resulting in numerous police casualties, it added. Yunus, whose name was first proposed for the top job by the coordinators of the students movement, congratulated the brave students who took the lead in making, what he said, our Second Victory Day possible, and appealed to all students, political parties and non-political people to stay calm. Let us not miss the chance by going into any senseless violence. Violence is our enemy. Please dont create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country, he said in a statement.

If we take the path of violence everything will be destroyed. Please stay calm. Help those around you to stay calm. Let us make the best use of our new victory. Let us not let this slip away because of our mistakes, the economist said. I fervently appeal to everybody to stay calm. Please refrain from all kinds of violence. Bodies of at least 29 supporters of Hasinas Awami League party were recovered across the country through Tuesday, taking the overall death toll to 469 in almost three weeks since the protest first started in July, according to local media reports. Sheikh Hasina flew to Hindon air base, near Delhi, by a Bangladesh military aircraft on Monday. Yunus appeal comes as the Army chief acknowledged there were incidents of looting and anarchy after Hasinas ouster.
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What is the Security Advisor doing ? Delhi should answer

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Delhi and Imphal should be answerable. And when one says Delhi, it should be understood via the Security Advisor, who has been named the Chairperson of the Unified Command, the DGP, who was hand picked by the Centre and the Assam Rifles, particularly the units that come under the IGAR (East). That the ongoing conflict has affected everyone is known to all and given this reality it is not the act per se of setting ablaze the newsprint of The Sangai Express at Gamgiphai near Motbung on the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway, on August 7, 2024 that is perturbing but the total failure of the Government to ensure free flow of goods and people on the National Highway. It was sometime last year that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is understood to have conveyed to Chief Minister N Biren that he would take care of the hills while the valley should come under the watch of the Chief Minister. So what has Amit Shah got to say to this open loot and arson on the highway ? What were the security personnel tasked with the job of ensuring the safety of the highway doing when the truck was impounded, searched, the newsprint identified, the truck driver told to leave and later set on fire. News of the truck being impounded reached the office of The Sangai Express in the evening and when the office of the Public Relations Officer of the Assam Rifles at Mantripukhri was contacted, this newspaper was asked to instead get in touch with the IGAR (E) as the said area where the truck was impounded comes under the jurisdiction of the East. Just to give a better idea on the response of the Assam Rifles, here is a brief break up of the time when the office of the PRO of IGAR (S) was contacted. The Sangai Express rang up the PRO office at 5.43 pm and was told that the PRO would get back later as the official was out. The call came at 6.08 pm and at 6.09 pm. A good after more than 15 minutes and this newspaper was told to instead contact the office of the PRO of IGAR (E) as the area came under its jurisdiction. When a contact number was requested, during the very brief chat at 6.09 pm, the number was given only at 7.33 pm via Whatsapp and that too after a gentle reminder at 6.18 pm. A clear reflection of indifference and fortunate that the incident did not involve threat to human lives. This is what is unacceptable for if this is what can happen to a newspaper establishment, the fourth estate, one can imagine how things could have been if it had involved the ordinary citizens of the land.

Ironic it is but the truck hijack and the very act of setting on fire the newsprint came on the day that Chief Minister N Biren informed the Assembly that the total number of SoO cadres of the KNO and UPF is 2181, and the truck was hijacked by well armed persons who identified themselves as cadres of the KNF. How did a truck carrying bulky newsprint and other goods went past the security checkposts set up all over the place is a question which perhaps only the IGAR (E) can answer. Does setting up buffer zones mean only to stop people from venturing towards areas which are deemed unsafe for either community while turning a blind eye to whatever may happen beyond the lakshman rekha ? How are armed persons allowed to roam around so freely on the National Highway ? The security personnel, especially the Assam Rifles, have a lot to answer and the growing accusations that the AR troops are giving a free hand to armed Kuki militants is gaining substance. Additional sixty thousand troops rushed in is the figure that Manipur and the rest of the country have been made to believe but when these 60 thousand security personnel cannot even ensure free flow of traffic on the National Highway and that too over a stretch of just some kilometres, then something is seriously wrong. The powerful Union Home Minister Amit Shah needs to answer what has happened to the earlier instructions that he would look after the hills while the Chief Minister should contain the violence in the valley ? Or is it a case of the Security Advisor not keeping the Home Minister updated on the reality here ? Jiribam and the free hand given to gun toting elements on the National Highway are enough indications that there could be some elements who want the violence to prolong.
ONENESS: A landmark in Manipuri cinema breaks barriers

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ABOUT THE FILM :

ONENESS, directed by Priyakanta Laishram, is a groundbreaking film that has shattered the glass ceilings in Manipuri cinema. This powerful narrative explores the harsh realities of Manipur society, focusing on the complexities of love and relationships in a conservative society. The film is inspired by the true story of an 18-year-old boy from a Christian family who was tragically murdered by his family member in 2013.

The film features an impressive cast, including Maya Choudhury, Priyakanta Laishram, Suraj Ngashepam, Harendra Laishram, Sachinker Sagolsem, and Ramva Leishangthem, each delivering performances that elevate the films compelling storyline. ONENESS made a strong impact at its Delhi Screening on June 20, 2024, proving that truth

resonates with audiences.

Produced by Roushil Singla and Priyakanta Laishram, the film is also notable for its technical excellence, with top-notch sound and visual effects that enhance the overall experience. The film was premiered at the KASHISH Pride Film Festival on May 17, 2024, South Asias biggest and one of the most prestigious LGBTQ+ film festivals globally.

ONENESS not only addresses issues of sexuality but also explores themes of women's empowerment and the struggle against societal norms, affirming that love transcends boundaries and defies gender.

Additionally, the films subtitles adhere to a universal standard, ensuring that non-Manipuri speakers can fully understand and appreciate the narrative. In scenes where English is spoken, the actors deliver their lines with excellent clarity and pronunciation, making the dialogue accessible and impactful for a broader audience.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:

Priyakanta Laishram is a meticulous filmmaker whose work on ONENESS has set new standards in Manipuri cinema. Known for his dedication, smart work, and critical analysis, Priyakanta has brought a unique vision to this film. His portrayal of Ivan Martin, the films protagonist, stands out as the best performance among the entire cast,

showcasing remarkable depth and nuance. His ability to fully inhabit his character made his portrayal one of the most memorable aspects of the film, leaving audiences deeply moved by the climactic scenes.

ABOUT THE ACTORS:

- Maya Choudhury as Anna Martin:

Maya Choudhury, a seasoned actor in the Manipuri film industry, delivers one of her most powerful performances in ONENESS. As Anna Martin, her portrayal captivated the audience, especially during the films emotional climax. Her dialogue delivery and the way she embodied her character left a lasting impression on those who attended the

Delhi Screening, moving many to tears.

- Suraj Ngashepam as Pamheiba:

Suraj Ngashepam was well-suited for the role of Pamheiba, bringing a natural fit to his character.

- Harendra Laishram as Peter Martin:

Harendra Laishrams performance as Peter Martin was commendable. His strong dialogue delivery and vocal tone engaged the audience, though his gestural performance was the highlight.

- Sachinker Sagolsem as Daniel Martin:

Sachinker Sagolsem, mostly known as a YouTuber, surprised many with his portrayal of Daniel Martin. Initially, cinephiles had low expectations, but his performance in ONENESS revealed a depth not seen in his previous work. While his acting was good, it was not the best. There is room for improvement in his gestures and dialogue delivery, but his performance demonstrated significant potential for his future in acting.

- Ramva Leishangthem as Mersia Martin:

Ramva Leishangthem played the role of Mersia Martin with a focus on emotional expression rather than dialogue. Her performance as an innocent, progressive, and understanding character was both charming and poignant, further immersing the audience in the films narrative.

OVERALL REVIEW:

ONENESS is more than just a film; it is a reflection of societys often-unspoken realities and the ingrained prejudices that exist within it. The films impact was evident at its screening, where audience members from diverse backgrounds shared their emotional responses.

A woman, who attended the Delhi Screening, deeply moved by the films portrayal of a mother-son relationship, said, I never knew about these things before, but through this film, I have realized the reality of our society. He is my son, and if he wants to be whoever he wants, I'll surely support him. I can feel the pain of Ivan as a mother. This moment alone symbolizes the films power to break stereotypes and challenge societal norms. Heterosexual Muslim families also attended the screening and praised the filmmaker for his work, while many others lauded the film for its focus on such a critical and underrepresented topic. ONENESS is the film after MAMI SAMI (2008), directed by Ningthouja Lancha which serves as an eye-opener, particularly for young audiences unfamiliar with the harsh realities, cultural norms and societal status it portrays.

In conclusion, ONENESS is a significant milestone in Manipuri cinema, shedding light on the complexities of human relationships and the societal pressures that often dictate them. It is a film that will be remembered not only for its storytelling and performances but mostly for its cultural impact.

Review by Laishram Malemnganba Meitei Alias Mocha Laishram Khuman
Amid the turmoil in Bangladesh, senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday claimed that those causing unrest in Bangladesh had come to Bengal after the Lok Sabha elections and spread violence. In response, Trinamul spokesperson Shantanu Sen rebuked Dilip Ghosh, stating: This is an attempt at religious polarisation politics. Mr Ghosh on Wednesday targeted chief minister Mamata Banerjee over the Ban  gladesh unrest, saying: There is anarchy in Bangladesh. They are the ones who caused unrest in Bengal after the elections. Mamata Banerjee is not saying anything because she thinks they are on her side.

Trinamul spokesperson Shantanu Sen responded to Dilip Ghosh, saying: He has lost credibility within his own party. The party doesnt take him seriously. Now, by saying these things, he is trying to create religious polarisation. Amid this political slugfest between TMC and BJP, high alert has been issued in the border areas due to apprehension regarding infiltration, especially involving terrorists. Sources indicate that the BSF already has a list of 15 individuals, which has also been shared with the customs department. These individuals are reportedly residents of Bangladesh and are currently in border-adjacent areas. They could enter India at any time.

Central intelligence sourceshave indicated that these 15 individuals may enter through the Malda or Hili borders, and it is suspected that among them, there might be Jamaat terrorists. Additionally, it is believed that some of them are seeking to enter India out of fear for their lives. Moreover, another list is expected, which might include terrorists and criminals who have escaped from Bangladeshi prisons. A customs department official made an explosive claim, stating, This is not just a student movement. There are Jamaat terrorists behind it. The Chapainawabganj and Shibganj areas of Bangladesh, adjacent to Malda, have a high number of Jamaat members. Therefore, they use these areas along with Malda as a base to carry out attacks or terrorist activities elsewhere.

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Export and import business and slow movement of trucks carrying international goods began today both from Ghojadanga and Petrapole-Benapole on the India-Bangladesh border in North 24 -Parganas. Amid unprecedented security deployment and the presence of BSF and police, slow movement of trucks across the international border began for loading and unloading of goods. Since Tuesday afternoon, the gates of the land ports at Petrapole, Benapole, and Hili on the India-Bangladesh international borders have been opened. Flight services from Dhaka have also started on Wednesday. Indian government sources also said aro und 205 Indians returned to the country from Bang ladesh.

They returned from Dhaka to Delhi on a special Air India flight on Wednesday morning. The passenger list includes six children. Notably, considering the law and order situation in Bangladesh on Mo nday, the BSF had issued high alert along the India-Bangladesh border. Due to the turbulent situation in the neighbouring country, flights were also halted. Trains and bu ses from India to Bang ladesh were stopped, leaving many citizens stranded in both countries. However, fr om Tuesday afternoon, the gates of the land ports at the Pet rapole, Benapole, and Hili India-Bangladesh international borders were reopened. Flight services also resumed on Wednesday.

The General Secretary of the Federation of West Bengal Truck Operators Association, Sajal Ghosh, said: Around two thousand trucks are stuck at border crossings like Petrapole, Hili, Mahadipur, and Fulbari. Yesterday, the border was opened for 2 to 2.5 hours, during which one to two thousand trucks could pass through. However, the border was closed again shortly after. Trucks carrying essential items are stranded. Many trucks ha  ve perishable items like gin  ger, garlic, and onions. Some trucks carrying onions separately are also stuck. Ad ditio  nally, many trucks with medicines are stranded. Its uncertain when the situation will normalise. Our or ga nization is appealing to Nitin Ga dkari to look into the matter, as the losses continue to increase.

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This memoir covers far more ground and offers more narratives than the sub-title suggests, being written by Reba Som, an author, scholar, musician with Tagore and Nazrul expertise, script-writer and administrator. Indian embassies abroad, where she was located for the years of her husbands career, form merely the backdrop to a far more varied presentation of her travels, interests and attributes. Of 15 chapters, the two longest are those of her husbands last assignments at home and abroad, when Reba was able significantly to hone many of her own talents.

There have been many recent memoirs of Indian diplomats, but far fewer of the partners that accompanied them. Rebas husband Himachal was posted in eight countries, twice as ambassador. She describes being buffeted from posting to posting with the many unenviable (and unrecognised) tasks that fall to the partner without the glamour of office or benefit of remuneration. She describes her personality as methodical, reserved and focused, great qualities for her many challenges, but omits the sensitivity, romanticism and even mysticism that clearly form a part of her persona. Nevertheless, she writes, there was a sense of pride in being called out to the world stage to represent your country, your culture.

Reba had a son in Denmark and a second one in the USA, and discovered that the best insight into people and cultures can be gleaned by having babies in different countries. The first experience was decidedly inferior to the second  though in New York the awaiting mother was first presented with the wrong baby. It is a matter of shame that the unnamed (lady) ambassador at Copenhagen asked the author to stand in a dance pose wearing a red banarsi sari and gold kamarbandh before a map of India while the ambassador made a speech. Equally, the next ambassador and wife asked to be addressed as Baba and Ma.

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In the mid-970s during a home posting Reba started research on stalwarts of the Indian National Congress Patel, Prasad, Rajagopalachari  that led to the award of a PhD three postings later. She was also a newsreader for AIR, taught at Delhi University and expanded her musical repertoire beyond Rabindrasangeet. In Islamabad, her husbands third foreign assignment, Reba encountered mob violence against the Americans, which led to a sense of panic in the diplomatic corps as stories of trauma, manhandling and loss poured in. In New York, the next assignment, she had time to work on projects and profiles at the UN Center for Transnational Corporations. During this period, the Soms were warned of threats from Kashmiri and Khalistani militants which led to her husband leaving before her while she finished her UN project.

Bangladesh (1984-8) was Rebas husbands next assignment, where both had ancestral ties which they revived with considerable nostalgia. Here, Reba was talented enough to train under the Nazrul legendary exponent Firoza Begum, and her research that began in Delhi culminated in a doctors degree. She also taught in the Indian school, was consultant to an international health agency, and experienced first-hand the tortured and often illogical love-hate sentiments of Bangladeshis towards both Pakistan and India.

After a second home posting, Reba moved to Ottawa  the second coldest capital in the world where once again the Khalistani threat created forebodings. After this, Himachal was ambassador to Laos, a communist country [since 1975] with a Buddhist soul, where caterpillars to scorpions were delicacies to the local people and earth spirit worship, though banned, was the dominant non-Buddhist belief. Fittingly it was here that the reader learns the first of three mystical experiences that the author experienced; emanations of her fathers death, later her mothers, and much later, Himachals post-mortem messages both direct and indirect.

Himachal shone brightest in his next assignment as director general ICCR in Delhi when he organised an Indian writers international gathering, the forerunner of the book festivals that now proliferate in India. Reba worked at UN Women (UNIFEM) which prompts her to expatiate on women married to foreign service officers; So many issues on which wives broke their heads  temperamental differences to be addressed within marriages often arranged among strangers, maladjustment of children in new schools, in ever-changing social settings; the burden of identifying and scouting around for provisions needed to host endless parties; the eternal problem of being left with unsatisfactory household help at home since many of the India-based staff would be homesick, ill or want to leave, and the constant pressure of hosting friends and family. When Indian diplomats were addressed in glowing terms by their minister, the wives swathed in our Kanjeevaram best, stood around like ornamental figures, ignored and redundant. Yet, Reba found herself much sought after for her translations of Tagores songs, and performed with dancers Uma Sharma and Sonal Mansingh when her full-throated singing and crystal clear diction were widely acclaimed.

Rome for me was the ultimate dream Reba writes about her husbands last posting, and it proved a highly important period for her. She lectured on Gandhi, Nehru and Bose, performed at a series of concerts at many prestigious locales, including at the beatification of St Theresa at St Peters, made recordings and established herself as an international musicologist and literary figure.

Inevitably came Himachals retirement and she writes of the transition to increasing anonymity and decreased relevance. For Reba, though, it was fulfilling. She curated an album of 50 Tagore songs, organised documentary films on Tagore and Nazrul, and was appointed first director of the Tagore ICCR centre in Kolkata for five years against the wishes of her husband and eldest son. She made an indelible success of this appointment, including celebrations of Tagore and Vivekanandas 150th anniversaries.

This memoir flows evenly and lucidly and is the result of careful record keeping, both of data and photographs. There are passages of relevant history and tourism that could interest readers, and of celebrities whose names are familiar to all. Curiously though, there are many persons, mainly but not all, of the diplomatic service, who appear but whose names are not revealed, even when the reference is laudatory. Perhaps Reba is needlessly coy, but it remains a minor distraction.

The characterisation of foreign peoples and races are vividly sketched particularly during her early postings. She laments how politics interferes with friendships, such as in Pakistan, and agrees that conditions in our foreign service have changed for the better, though it is sad to read that in the early days, even an ice cream was considered an extravagance. She has time for commentary on racism and alcoholism, deep-set prejudices among those ignorant about the world outside, school ragging, immigration, integration, inter-generational conflict, multiculturalism and assimilation. She writes tellingly about her early ordeals with asthma. And on the lighter side, her varied experiences as a swimmer.

Reba has a questing eye for the comic and bizarre. In an introspective mood, she could not help wondering why Bengali men fixated on their dreams could remain mule-headed, choosing to remain unresponsive to any advice they did not want to hear. Her husband was a person so intelligent and full of lifeoverprotective in the best of times and rather faint hearted in the worst, and herself famous for misplacing house keys every second day, notorious for forgetting peoples names. Reba Soms self-deprecatory comments should not deter readers. This is an engaging and illuminating book of multi-layered history  a phrase she uses in a different context.

The reviewer is a former foreign secretary

Hop, Skip and Jump: Peregrinations of a Diplomats Wife

By Reba Som

Om Books, New Delhi, 2023

240 pages, Rs 395/-
The Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) hosted a vibrant four-day orientation programme to welcome its new batch of undergraduate students. Held at the prestigious Netaji Auditorium recently, the event aimed to integrate freshers into the institutes dynamic community and familiarise them with its rich traditions and cutting-edge resources. The comprehensive induction programme offered an immersive introduction to the vibrant campus environment and the academic and administrative structures of IIT-KGP. Freshers were introduced to various studentrun societies, clubs, and cells, along with advanced research facilities like CoEAI and CoEAMT.

These facilities are designed specifically for research and higher studies, underscoring the institutes commitment to academic excellence. The orientation kicked off with a special session for parents, aimed at easing their minds and introducing them to IIT-KGPs robust academic and administrative framework. Key figures, including Director Prof. Virendra Tewari, Deputy Director Prof. Rintu Banerjee, and Registrar Capt. Amit Jain (Retd.), addressed the gathering, providing valuable insights into the institutes motto, vision, and mission.

Prof. Rintu Banerjee highlighted the importance of the induction programme, stating, This meticulously designed orientation is not only about acquainting students with our academic framework but also about welcoming them into a community where curiosity and collaboration thrive. By fostering early connections and offering robust support, we aim to empower our new students to navigate their journey with confidence and enthusiasm. Prof. Virendra Tewari added, This years induction was special as it gave parents an opportunity to interact with me, the Deputy Director, the Academic Deans, and respective professors. Our goal is to ensure every student feels embraced, empowered, and ready to excel. Through engaging interactions, insightful guidance, and cultural immersion, we are committed to making their transition as smooth and inspiring as possible.

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During the programme, freshers enjoyed guided bus tours of the sprawling IITKGP campus, exploring landmarks like the Ramanujam Complex and the Nalanda Classroom Complex. The tours included captivating narratives about the campuss history and state-of-the-art facilities. New students were assigned to their residences, with boys residing in the Lal Bahadur Shastri Hall of Residence (LBS) and girls in the Sister Nivedita Hall of Residence (SNVH). These accommodations are designed to offer comfort and foster community. For the first time, IIT-KGP opened its gates to JEE Qualified Candidates of 2024.

An Open House Campus Tour was held, where 15 JEE Qualified Candidates and their parents explored the campus. They visited various departments, labs, centres of excellence, and major attractions of the KGP community. This initiative allowed potential students to interact with current students and learn about the course curriculums and the unique opportunities at IIT-KGP. The orientation programme also featured cultural shows conducted by various cultural clubs, entertaining the audience and sparking the interests of the freshers .
Chief Minister MK Stalin, who is slated to leave for the US on August 22 scouting for investments for Tamil Nadu, will chair a Cabinet meeting on August 13.

According to sources in the Tamil Nadu government, the Cabinet will clear some huge investment projects in the state.

The meeting that is scheduled to be held in the Secretariat is likely to approve some key reforms to attract investment and generate jobs in Tamil Nadu.

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This will be done so that the state can provide a perfect platform for investors from the US and other countries.

Tamil Nadu held a Global Investors Meet (GIM) in January and the state industries minister, TRB Rajaa said that 60 per cent of the memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed at the GIM were in advanced stages of implementation.

As many as 631 MoUs were signed, with a commitment of Rs 6.64 lakh crore in investment.

Of this, a manufacturing facility at Thiruporur would be inaugurated in December this year.

It may be noted that Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) is establishing two space parks adjacent to the upcoming space port at Kulasekarapattinam.

According to sources, during his US visit, Chief Minister Stalin will be pitching for investments in the space sector as it is booming.

The state has already constituted a nodal agency Guidance Tamil Nadu for bringing in investment. The Stalin government is now planning to open a desk of Guidance Tamil Nadu at Tokyo, Japan.

It may be recalled that Tamil Nadu has around 200 Japanese companies that are into automobile manufacturing, transport equipment, machinery, electric machines and chemicals.

The Cabinet will also deliberate on the north east monsoon preparedness. It may be recalled that during the 2023 monsoons people died due to rain related incidents and flooding.

The state government is also sore at the Union government for not allocating anything for Tamil Nadu in the recent Union Budget.

Sources in the government told IANS that the Cabinet meeting will take up this issue also.
Two men ended their lives by jumping in front of the Metro train in separate incidents, one at Maharaja Surajmal Stadium station of the Green Line and the other at Yamuna Bank station of the Blue Line on Thursday.

In the first incident, the police stated that a call was received from the Station Controller at Yamuna Bank Metro Station, reporting that a man had jumped in front of a metro train. Based on this, a team was rushed to the spot.

The station controller informed the police that the individual had been sent to LBS Hospital, through a CAT Ambulance. The deceased was identified as Naveen a 50-year-old resident of Gandhi Nagar, Delhi. Upon reaching LBS Hospital, the enquiry officer was informed that Naveen had been declared brought dead.

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An identification card and a suicide note were found in the mans pocket, in which he stated: I am committing suicide myself. Nobody forced me. My health is not good, and I cannot earn money. My family is good. I dont have any problem with anybody. This is my own decision. Now life is not good. Ok bye.

In the second incident, a call was received at police station Nangloi Metro, reporting that an individual had jumped from platform No. 1 at Maharaja Surajmal Metro Station onto the roadside, apparently with suicidal intent.

Upon arrival, the officers spoke with the station controller and found that the injured individual had been transported to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital by CAT Ambulance. Unfortunately, the individual was declared dead on arrival.

The deceased was identified as Harish, a 49-year-old resident of Sector-07, Rohini.

The police discovered no suicidal note at the scene. The family of the deceased has been informed, and further investigation is underway. The crime team and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) have been notified to assist in the investigation.
As Chennai Express marks its 11th anniversary today, fans are revisiting one of the films standout features: Deepika Padukone in memorable portrayal of Meenamma. This role, a delightful blend of charm, humor, and emotion, not only captivated audiences but also solidified the creative partnership between Padukone and director Rohit Shetty. Their collaboration has been a testament to the cinematic magic that happens when a visionary director and a versatile actress come together.

Meenamma, with her endearing quirks and vibrant personality, remains one of Padukones most cherished roles. The films success not only highlighted her exceptional performance but also showcased the potent synergy between Padukone and Shetty. Their dynamic, which resonated deeply with viewers, set high expectations for their future projects.

Now, as anticipation builds for their next venture, Padukone is set to bring another iconic character to life: Shakti Shetty, the formidable Lady Singham in Rohit Shettys forthcoming film, Singham Again. The announcement of Shakti Shetty has been met with great enthusiasm, especially with Shettys introduction of the character, describing her as a fusion of Sitas grace and Durgas strength. He has called Padukones role a mix of brutality and power, a significant shift from the playful Meenamma to a fierce and uncompromising police officer.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by   (@deepikapadukone)

Rohit Shetty has hinted that Shakti Shetty will not just be a character but a cornerstone of his cinematic universe. He has expressed excitement about focusing on a woman-centric cop film, emphasizing that this will be Padukones story. According to Shetty, She is like one of the heroes, and what we are doing is developing her story. We will create a film that centers entirely around Deepika.

As Chennai Express continues to be celebrated, the buzz surrounding Singham Again and Shakti Shetty is palpable. This new chapter in Padukone and Shettys collaborative journey promises to deliver the same kind of engaging and memorable experience that audiences loved in Chennai Express. With Padukone stepping into a role as dynamic as Shakti Shetty, the anticipation is that this reunion will be as impactful and entertaining as their previous work together.

Fans are eagerly awaiting to see how Deepika Padukone as Shakti Shetty will unfold, hopeful that it will be as groundbreaking as her portrayal of Meenamma. As the release of Singham Again draws near, the excitement for Padukones return to Shettys universe continues to build, promising yet another spectacular addition to their impressive cinematic legacy.
This International Cat Day, lets shine a spotlight on some of Bollywoods beloved actresses who are not just stars on screen but also passionate cat lovers in real life. These celebrities use their platform to advocate for animal welfare and share their love for their furry companions, giving fans a delightful glimpse into their lives beyond the limelight.

Jacqueline Fernandez

Jacqueline Fernandez, known for her vibrant screen presence, is also a dedicated cat mom to Miu Miu, her adorable Persian feline. Her social media is a treasure trove of heartwarming photos and videos featuring Miu Miu, showcasing the actresss affectionate side. Jacquelines commitment to animal welfare extends beyond her personal life; she has been recognized by PETA India for her contributions to animal causes.

Zareen Khan

Zareen Khan, another prominent actress, has a special place in her heart for her six cats. Shes open about how her pets help alleviate stress and bring joy to her life. Zareens passion for animal care earned her the Our Hero to Animals award from PETA India, underscoring her dedication to animal advocacy.

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Richa Chadha

Richa Chadha, with her charming cats Kamli Chadha and Jugni Chadha, often shares her deep bond with her pets. She has spoken candidly about how her cats are integral to her life, describing their relationship as a mutual attachment. Richas love for her feline friends is evident through her social media posts, where she celebrates their companionship.

Nimrit Kaur

Nimrit Kaur, who has been a pet parent for over a decade, frequently shares her experiences with her cats on social media. Her posts often include videos and snapshots that highlight the special connection she has with her pets, reflecting the joy they bring to her life.

These actresses not only dazzle on screen but also use their influence to champion the cause of animal welfare. This International Cat Day, lets celebrate their commitment to their feline friends and the positive impact they have on promoting pet adoption and animal care.
South Korean actress Choi Soo Im known for her roles in A Man of Reason, Trolley, and Samjin Company English Class has announced marriage plans with her non-celebrity businessman beau. The star shared the happy news with her fans on social media, dropping an adorable set of photographs.

On August 7, Choi Soo Ims agency Management Romance shared the announcement that the actress will tie the knot with her partner on August 18. The agency revealed that Soo Ims to-be-husband is a businessman who is not a public figure and likes to stay away from the limelight. Actress Choi Soo Im and her fiance have been together for over two years, and have built a strong bond of love and trust over time. The slated wedding is poised to be a private and intimate celebration involving only close family, relatives, and friends at a location in Seoul.

Sharing the news with her fans, the South Korean actress dropped a series of photographs featuring her in a wedding dress as she is all hearts and holds a bunch of lilies with her fiance as his face remains hidden. The first slide of the post features Soo Im showing her palm to the camera with the words I Said Yes! scrawled across. Since the announcement, fans and colleagues have been showering the actress with congratulatory messages as she gears for a personal milestone.

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Catch the post here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Choi Su Im (@suimming._)

Actress Choi Soo Im entered the field of acting with her debut in Sunny where she essayed the role of a bully. Over the years, the actress has taken on several diverse roles that highlight her acting prowess and have helped her carve a niche for herself. She gained prominence with her performances in renowned dramas including Trolley and Glitch, receiving appreciation from viewers for her depth and versatile range. Soo Ims performance in Trolley as Choi Ja-Young was widely appreciated and helped her cement her footing in the industry.

As the actress gears for a new milestone, fans of the star are awaiting further details as they keep showering her with their support and admiration.
Telugu star Naga Chaitanya is now engaged to the Made in Heaven star Sobhita Dhulipala. The news of their engagement was doing the rounds of the internet and it has been confirmed by Naga Chaitanyas father, Nagarjuna, who posted glimpses from the ceremony. The duo officiated their wedding processions in a private ceremony today, August 8.

Sharing the happy news on Social media, Nagarjuna penned on the microblogging site X, We are delighted to announce the engagement of our son, Naga Chaitanya, to Sobhita Dhulipala, which took place this morning at 9:42 a.m.!! We are overjoyed to welcome her into our family. Congratulations to the happy couple! Wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness. God bless! 8.8.8. A beginning of infinite love.

We are delighted to announce the engagement of our son, Naga Chaitanya, to Sobhita Dhulipala, which took place this morning at 9:42 a.m.!!

We are overjoyed to welcome her into our family.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness.  pic.twitter.com/buiBGa52lD Advertisement  Nagarjuna Akkineni (@iamnagarjuna) August 8, 2024

The news of the couples rumoured engagement was first broken by The Great Andhra, reporting that the Naga Chaitanya and Sobhitas engagement ceremony is scheduled to take place today in Hyderabad and Naga Chaitanyas father, the Telegu superstar Nagarjuna will share a note about the couples wedding. The source also revealed that the Custody actor and the Monkey Man actress are going to get married very soon starting with their engagement slated for Thursday.

Dating rumours of the Telegu star, Naga Chaitanya and the Monkey Man actress Sobhita Dhulipala started making the rounds of the internet in 2022 when snapshots of the two stars from a restaurant in London went viral. Further, the rumours solidified in June after photographs from their holiday in Europe took over social media.

For the unversed, Naga Chaitanya was previously married to Kushi star Samantha Ruth Prabhu and the couple tied the knot in 2017. They crossed paths while shooting for the film Ye Maaya Chesave and eventually started to date. However, the couple got divorced in 2021 as the stars announced their separation in a joint statement in October 2021. The news of the couple splitting had come as a shock to several fans.

While Naga Chaitanya is known for delivering hits including Manam, 100% Love, Saahasam Swaasaga Saagipo, Preman, Oka Laila Kosam, and Josh, Sobhita catapulted to fame with Zoya Akhtars series Made in Heaven. She is known for starring in films like Raman Raghav 2.0, Kaalakaandi, Kurup, and Moothon and the Indian adaptation of The Night Manager among others.

On the acting front, Naga Chaitanya would be next seen headlining the film Thandel while Sobhita has the film Sitara in the pipeline.
Malavika Mohanan is gearing up to dazzle audiences in her latest film, Thangalaan, where she stars alongside the acclaimed Chiyaan Vikram. Directed by the talented Pa. Ranjith, the film promises to be one of the years major Tamil releases, generating significant buzz in the industry.

During a recent promotional event in Bengaluru, Mohanan, known for her stunning performances, opened up about her role and what drew her to the project. I was really excited to take on well-written roles created by skilled filmmakers, Mohanan explained. Repetitive roles can become quite monotonous, so I was eager to explore something new and challenging.

Her role in Thangalaan represents a departure from her previous work. Malavika Mohanan reflected on this, saying, I considered how audiences have seen me in various types of roles before, but ultimately, I focused on understanding and delivering the essence of my character. She plays Aarthi in the film, a part that she believes will offer a fresh perspective to viewers.

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Thangalaan is set against the historical backdrop of the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), exploring the era when British colonialists exploited these resources. The film aims to continue the tradition of unique and engaging narratives emerging from the South Indian film industry.

Scheduled for a global release on August 15, 2024, Thangalaan will be available in multiple languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. With its compelling story and an impressive cast, including the music scored by G.V. Prakash Kumar, the film is anticipated to make a significant impact.
The government on Thursday agreed to refer the Waqf Act, 1995 Amendment Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) after a heated debate in the Lok Sabha during which the Opposition alleged that the Bill was against the Constitutions basic structure, encroached on fundamental rights and would harm the countrys secular image.

Speaker Om Birla assured that he would talk to all political parties to constitute a JPC, after Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju proposed that the government was ready for discussion on the Bill in any committee or forum. The Bill was introduced after about two and a half hours discussion.

We are open-minded. Our intentions are clean, he said, and proposed that a JPC be formed to study the Bill. Mr Rijiju told the Opposition that the Bill only sought to legislate changes which were proposed by committees formed by the Congress governments for proper management of vast Waqf properties.

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The amendment Bill seeks to rename the Waqf Act, 1995 as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995. The Minister introduced a related Bill to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923 also.

The Minister said the House was competent to legislate on the issue as the subject came under the Concurrent List of the Constitution under Entries 10 and 28. He said Sachar and Rahman committees had made recommendations on the subject.

There were lakhs of Waqf properties which could generate more income for the welfare of the community only, he said. There would be faster resolution of disputes. Most people want the new law for better administration of the Waqf properties, he said.

The Opposition across several parties did not want the Bill introduced at all, stating that it would not stand judicial scrutiny, and simply interfered with religious freedom. Members from the Treasury Benches pointed out that the Bill did not touch mosques at all; the Waqf properties came under a law which required amendment.

Opposing the Bill, K C Venugopal (Congress) said the Bill was draconian and an attack on the fundamental rights. Followers of all religions had freedom to manage their affairs. The Bill proposed that non-Muslims could be on the Waqf management. Could anyone imagine non-Hindus on the management of Ayodhya or Guruvayur temples.

He said Hindus respected all religions. The ruling BJP had perhaps brought the Bill for advantage during the coming Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections. The Bill was also against the federal structure as all it would call for State data to a Central portal, he said.

Mohibbullah Nadim (Samajwadi Party) said Hindu temples had only Hindus on their management and all Sikh Gurdwaras had only Sikhs on their management. How could then non-Muslims be on the administration of Waqf properties. He said the goodwill of the country would suffer if such a law was passed.

Sudip Bandyopadhyay (Trinamul Congress) said the Bill violates Article 14 of the Constitution on freedom of religion. It would also violate the federal law as land comes under States as part of the Seventh Schedule.

Ms K Kanimozhi (DMK) said the members of Parliament have taken oath of the Constitution and are now faced with a Bill which goes against the Constitution. Articles 25 and Articles 26 of the Constitution are violated. The Bill is against the Constitution, federal structure and against minorities.

She said the Bill violated Article 14 of the Constitution on equality before law. Section 40 of the Bill was anti-Muslims and anti-minorities.

Panchayati Raj Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh said the Bill did not deal with mosques but other properties. The governments aim was just to bring transparency. Srikant Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) said the only objective of the Bill was to bring transparency and accountability in the functioning of the Waqf boards. Women too would get a role in the Waqf management, he said.

Supriya Sule (NCP-Sharad Pawar) said the government should withdraw the Bill as no consultations were done with the concerned community. She said the minorities should be protected. Powers being given to Collectors was a worrisome affair.

E T Mohammed Basheer (IUML) opposed the Bill saying it clearly violated Articles 14, 15, 25, 26 and 30 of the Constitution. The Bill was ill-motivated. The government is trying to keep Muslims and Hindus in water-tight compartments.

Kalyan Banerjee (Trinamul Congress) said he opposed the Bill as it was against the competence of the House. Land subject was under civil courts. The law would target Muslims. The last election had given the ruling party a message that the country was against religious domination by a community.

K Radhakrishnan (CPI-M) said there was no consultation with Muslims or other organisations. The Waqf Boards would become nominated boards. Either the Bill be withdrawn or sent to a Standing Committee.

N K Premachandran (RSP) said the Waqf boards did charitable activities. The Bill violated various rights and the House did not have competence to legislate on the issue. The Bill allows Hindus to join the Waqf boards but not donate to the boards.

Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) said several Articles of the Constitution would be violated by the Bill, and the basic structure of the Constitution would suffer. G M Harish (Balayogi) (Telugu Desam) said there was need for regulation but his party would not oppose it the Bill was sent to a Committee.
Taking a dig at Delhi Education Minister Atishi, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva accused her of showcasing construction of a few rooms of schools as an achievement.

Sachdevas statement came hours after Atishi inspected the new building of the Sarvodaya Vidyalaya under construction in Mandawali on Thursday.

Delhis Education Minister Atishi is merely a magician of words who showcases the construction of a few rooms as her success in education, while the results of Class 10 and 12 in Delhi government schools continue to decline, said the Delhi BJP chief.

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Attacking the AAP government, Sachdeva said, On the one hand, more than half of the schools in Delhi are without principals, and over 30 per cent of the teaching positions are vacant while n the other, science is not taught in more than 750 of 1,030 Delhi government schools, and commerce is not taught in over 500 schools, depriving poor students of a good education.

This year, the failure rate of Class 9 students in government schools has shocked the people of Delhi. The BJP has been consistently demanding an investigation into this matter. The high failure rates in Class 9 and 11 are part of a conspiracy by the government to show better results in Class 10 and 12, he said.

The Delhi BJP chief said that the city governments claim of constructing 22,711 rooms is misleading, as it does not specify how many old rooms were demolished and replaced with new ones, and how many rooms were actually newly constructed.

The people of Delhi have not forgotten that during the tenure of former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, even bathrooms were counted as classrooms, which is currently under investigation by the Lokayukta, he said.

Sachdeva further said, Atishi, who claims to have world-class schools, was announcing the reconstruction of a school in Seemapuri two days ago, renowned educationist Ashok Agarwal, Advocate, was exposing a school in Nand Nagri where half of the students in the class are forced to sit on the floor.
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, on Thursday, launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Central government over the Waqf Act (Amendment) Bill accusing it of targeting Waqf lands under the guise of amendments.

All these amendments by the Waqf Board are just an excuse. Selling land like defence, railway, and Nazul land is the target, Yadav said in a social media post in Hindi.

He further alleged, Waqf Board lands are just another link in the chain of schemes for the benefit of BJP after Defence land, Railway land, and Nazul land. Why doesnt BJP openly write: Issued in the interest of BJP?'

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Yadav demanded a written guarantee that Waqf Board lands would not be sold, adding, BJP is working like a real estate company. It should change its name by adding Zameen instead of Janta: Bhartiya Zameen Party.

The Waqf Act Amendment Bill, which seeks to modify the existing Waqf Act of 1995, has drawn sharp criticism from the Oppositions INDIA bloc leaders, who demanded the bill must be sent to the standing committee.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condemned the bill saying, It shows the NDA government is against the minorities. They are not for secularism, social justice. We have been telling people of the country that they are communal parties. They are fascist and thats why they are doing this.

NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule also voiced her objections to the Bill. She said, We will object to it. The bill should be sent to the standing committee for more recommendations or a joint parliamentary committee should be made.
In a significant development, a sessions court on Thursday framed charges in a money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against incarcerated former DMK minister V Senthil Balaji.

Principal sessions judge S Alli, before whom the former minister was produced in person, read out the charges in both Tamil and English and asked whether he would plead guilty.

The judge had framed the charges dismissing the petition by Balaji, seeking to defer it in view of his bail petition pending before the Supreme Court. The apex court had posed the question whether trial in the PMLA case could proceed without trial of the predicate offence, the cash-for-job scam pending against him.

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Denying the charges, the former minister said he had not committed any offence and was innocent and that the case was foisted on him due to political vendetta. There is no evidence for the charges levelled against him by the ED, he submitted and expressed his desire to cross-examine the witnesses.

Following this, the judge posted further hearing in the case to August 16 for examination of witnesses and extended the judicial custody of Balaji, who was arrested on June 14 last year. This is the 54th time that his custody has been extended, prolonging his incarceration.

Considered a DMK strongman of Western Tamil Nadu, Balaji was arrested by the ED in the cash-for-job scam during the then AIADMK government of Jayalalithaa in which he was the Transport minister in 2011. After Jayalalithaas demise, he was briefly with the faction led by TTV Dhinakaran, nephew of VK Sasikala. But he switched over to the DMK ahead of the 2021 Assembly election which he had won and was inducted as the Electricity Minister.

It was during his tenure as the Transport Minister under Jayalalithaa that he alleged to have manipulated the marks of candidates appearing for various examinations in the Transport Department in a cash-for-job scam. Three FIRs were filed against him, his brother, Ashok Kumar and his Personal Assistant Shanmugam. Even as the cases were pending before the special court for MPs/MLAs in Chennai, Senthil Balaji and others moved the High Court seeking to quash the FIRs on the ground that a settlement had been reached with the complainants. A total of 81 persons were victims of the scam and of this the cases of 13 candidates who had applied for Junior Engineers had been investigated. It was at this juncture that the ED made its entry and filed a case under PMLA.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the former Chief Minister of West Bengal, passed away on Thursday. He was 80.

Bhattacharjee, who had been suffering from chronic respiratory issues for several years, died at his residence before he could be admitted to the hospital.

On Wednesday night, Bhattacharjees health had deteriorated and he started having breathing difficulties.

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According to reports, Doctors at Woodlands Hospital were to examine him at 11 am today and admit him if necessary. However, his condition worsened and he passed away in the early hours.

A prominent figure in West Bengals political landscape, Bhattacharjee took over as Chief Minister in 2000, succeeding Jyoti Basu, who had stepped down due to health reasons after serving as the countrys longest-serving chief minister.

Bhattacharjee led the Left Front to consecutive victories in the assembly elections of 2001 and 2006.

He was a strong advocate of industrialisation in West Bengal and believed to have played a key role in the establishment of Tata Nano plant in Singur and a special economic zone in Nandigram.

He is survived by his wife, Mira, and a daughter, Suchetana.

Mamata Banerjee condoles his demise

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her sorrow over his passing, stating, Shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of the former Chief Minister Sri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. I have known him for the last several decades and visited him a few times when he was ill and effectively confined to home in the last few years.

She extended her condolences to his family, adding, My very sincere condolences to Meeradi and Suchetana at this hour of grief. I also communicate my condolences to the members of the CPI(M) party and all his followers.

Banerjee further announced that the state government has decided to accord full respect and ceremonial honours to Bhattacharjee during his last rites.
In view of the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, Indian visa processing centres in the neighbouring country have closed until further notice.

Next application date will be informed through SMS & It is requested to pick up the passport on the next working day, a notification on the online Visa application portal read.

The development comes a day after India scaled back its diplomatic presence and repatriated non-essential staff and family members from its Dhaka embassy to India.

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Bangladesh slipped into a state of turmoil after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and flee the country as thousands of violent protesters marched towards her official residence.

Following her resignation, the Bangladeshi Army announced formation of an interim government headed by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.

Yunus, a staunch critic of Hasina, is said to be returning to Dhaka from Paris. He, along with others members of the Interim government will also take oath later today.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina will continue to remain in India for sometime. Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of Sheikh Hasina, said that his mother has not sought asylum in the UK and will remain in India for the time being.

A day after Hasina arrived in India, the Indian government said that New Delhi will provide all assistance to the former Bangladeshi PM as she plans her next course of action.
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday called upon the partys local body representatives from Araku and Paderu segments to ensure party candidate Botsa Satyanarayanas victory in the by-election to Legislative Council from United Visakhapatnam District Local Bodies constituency.

The former chief minister held a meeting with public representatives from the two segments at his camp office here and appealed to them for their continued support and cooperation, emphasising that this election should serve as a lesson for Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Jagan Mohan Reddy said YSRCP secured a clear majority in the local body elections of the united Visakhapatnam district and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) does not have sufficient numerical strength. He remarked that if the TDP leaders adhered to moral values, they wouldnt contest these elections. He emphasised the importance of values and integrity in politics, stating that even though it is a more challenging path, it is the one that endures.

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The former chief minister recalled the 2014 elections when he resisted pressure to make unrealistic promises. He said Chandrababu Naidu made false promises which led to public disillusionment and YSRCPs victory in 2019. He claimed that YSRCP implemented all promises made in 2019. He said for YSRCP, the manifesto is like sacred scriptures.

He alleged that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu attempted to influence elections through unethical means, including monetary inducements, which degrade the standards of politics, and urged the local representatives and party members to adhere to values and integrity, as these are the principles that will lead to lasting political success.

He called for collective support to ensure the victory of Botsa Satyanarayana, highlighting the unanimous backing from candidates who contested and won. He also condemned the TDPs attempts to buy local body representatives and stressed that such practices should not be entertained. He reiterated his enduring commitment to the tribal areas of Visakhapatnam, expressing gratitude for their unwavering support since the partys inception.

The YSRCP last week announced Botsa Satyanarayana as the candidate for the by-election to the MLC seat, which is scheduled to be held on August 30 to fill the vacancy arising out of the disqualification of Chennuboina Srinivasa Rao.

Srinivasa Rao, whose real name is Vamsi Krishna Yadav, was disqualified as MLC by the Council Chairman in March under the anti-defection law after he quit YSRCP to join Jana Sena Party.

Srinivasa Rao was elected to the Assembly on Jana Sena ticket from Visakhapatnam South constituency in May 13 elections.

One of the seniormost leaders of YSRCP, Botsa Satyanarayana served as the minister for municipal administration and urban development and human resources development in the previous YSRCP government headed by Jagan Mohan Reddy.

In the recent Assembly elections, Satyanarayana suffered defeat from Cheepurupalli constituency in Vizianagaram district at the hands of Telugu Desam Partys K. Kalavenkata Rao.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay an official visit to the Maldives from 9-11 August as part of Indias Neighbourhood First policy.

His visit follows the recent visit of Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu to India for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his new Cabinet and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Dr Jaishankar had previously visited the Maldives in January 2023.

He is expected to hold meetings with President Muizzu, Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer and senior officials during the trip.

It is learnt that Dr Jaishankar will visit various places in the Maldives where several projects are being undertaken with Indian assistance.
Cutting across party lines, all political parties met with the visiting Election Commission of India (ECI) in Srinagar on Thursday and called for immediate Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, besides seeking a level playing field in the polls.

The ECI team, led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, arrived in Srinagar on Thursday morning and met with representatives of registered political parties, including the National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, CPI(M), and the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP).

The ECI delegation, comprising election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and SS Sandhu, is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to review preparedness for the Assembly polls and gather feedback from political parties. The Supreme Court of India has set a deadline for holding the elections in Jammu and Kashmir before 30 September.

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Jammu and Kashmir will witness elections after a gap of ten years as the last assembly election was held in 2014. The PDP-BJP coalition government fell in June 2018 when the latter withdrew support to the then chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti.

Speaking to reporters after separate party-wise meetings with the poll panels delegation, political leaders expressed unanimous support for immediate holding of Assembly elections in the Union Territory (UT). They also called for ensuring a level playing field in the polls to restore democracy in Jammu and Kashmir.

The BJPs Jammu and Kashmir unit has called for the elections to be held within the Supreme Courts deadline, party spokesman RS Pathania said.

We are hopeful that Jammu Kashmir will soon have a democratic government. I am optimistic that the notification will be released shortly, Pathania said.

NCs Kashmir provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, who led a five-member party delegation, said the NC has demanded that the people of J&K now want their own government. We told the EC that you came here many times and we have met with you and it is now time for a definite decision on this matter, he told reporters.

We pointed out that there has been no government in J&K since 2018 and that Assembly elections have not taken place for the last 10 years, Wani said and added that the NC told the EC that a Lieutenant Governor, his sole adviser, and a few bureaucrats cannot run the UT.

We told the EC that this is a matter of their credibility. Either you strengthen the voices opposing elections or uphold their credibility by conducting the elections, Wani said, adding that the response from the ECI was positive.

Congress leader GN Monga said that democracy should flourish in Jammu and Kashmir. We call ourselves the mother of democracy, yet the people of J&K have been without elections for many years. Democracy should flourish here, and elections should be held soon, he told reporters.

Monga said, We told them that there is discrimination in the security provided to between parties. We appealed that all parties should be weighed in the same scale.

PDP leader Khurshid Alam, a member of the partys delegation that met with the EC, said the people of J&K should have the right to elect their own government. What justification is there for not holding polls when the government claims the situation has improved, when one crore tourists visited, and when the parliamentary elections and Amarnath yatra were conducted without any untoward incidents, he asked.

We do not have personal differences with the LG, but as a political appointee, we have concerns that his decisions may be biased. Therefore, we requested the EC to ensure that the government is sanitised to provide a level playing field without any bias, he added.

The EC will also meet with the Chief Secretary, DGP, and other officials handling law and order.

The team will visit Jammu on Friday to meet with security agencies and hold a press conference.
President Droupadi Murmu landed in Wellington, New Zealand this morning on the second leg of her three-nation state visit.

Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro of New Zealand received President Murmu at the Government House. She was welcomed with a traditional Maori Powhiri ceremony and accorded Royal Guard of Honour.

During their meeting, the two leaders hailed the warm and friendly relationship between India and New Zealand and discussed cooperation across various sectors. They agreed on the need to continue efforts to widen the scope of India-New Zealand economic relationship by establishing mutually beneficial collaborations and partnerships, especially through trade and businesses.

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In her next engagement, President Murmu addressed the New Zealand International Education Conference, where India is the Country of Honour this year.

The President elaborated on the rich Indian tradition of pursuit of knowledge and the contemporary progress in the field of education, including the National Education Policy aimed at transforming the Indian education landscape by promoting multidisciplinary learning, critical thinking and global competitiveness.

She added that New Zealand is renowned for its high-quality education with focus on research & innovation, inclusivity and excellence. Many Indian students are gaining access to quality education at various institutions in New Zealand.

The President encouraged more educational exchanges and collaboration between our institutions, particularly in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, vocational and skills-based training, climate and environment studies, cultural exchange programs, research and innovation.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand also called on the President. Both the leaders held discussions on various issues ranging from deepening of cultural ties to commitment for regional and global security.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters of New Zealand also called on President Droupadi Murmu. Both leaders acknowledged the progress in bilateral relations and deliberated upon ways of enhancing cooperation.

The President also paid floral tributes at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Wellington Railway Station and laid a wreath to pay tribute to martyred soldiers at the Pukeahu National War Memorial in Wellington. Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro joined the President on both occasions.

In the last official engagement in Wellington, President Murmu attended a banquet hosted in her honour by Governor General Kiro.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha (LoP) and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday held a meeting with partys MP in lower house to discuss a wide range of issues including the Bangladesh and Chinese issue.

Chairing the meeting with Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi and partys general secretary in-charge of Organisation K C Venugopal at the Parliament House Annexe, Gandhi called upon them to raise issues of the people. Discussed important topics with my fellow MPs in the meeting, the leader of Opposition wrote in a social media post after the meeting.

He, however, did not divulge the details of the meeting.

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The Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, while referring to the meeting, said,Today, a meeting of the Congress MPs of Lok Sabha was held. Rahul Gandhi was present. Discussion was held on several issues.

Discussion was held on ongoing situation in Bangladesh, China issue, judgements of the Supreme Court and todays business in Parliament, Gogoi told a news agency.

He said the Leader of Opposition in Lower House has asked the MPs to raise the issues concerning to the people in the House.

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary in-charge of Organisation Venugopal in a post on X wrote, Lok Sabha MPs met under the leadership of LoP Rahul Gandhi ji in the Parliament House Annexe this morning.

Gandhis meeting with the party MPs came days after Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi held a meeting with the party MPs.
A delegation of the fishermen called on Rahul Gandhi here on Thursday. During their meeting with the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha at the reception hall of the Parliament House, they briefed him about the issues faced by them.

Rahul Gandhi had to meet the fishermen at the reception hall as they were not issued passes to enter the parliament house.

Talking to reporters, Gandhi said, It is our right to meet anyone, but they are not allowing us.

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Thats all fine. My life becomes a bit more difficult because its easier to meet them there, otherwise now I will have to keep coming here, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said.

Earlier, the party said, Rahul Gandhi met the delegation of fishermen from across the country in reception hall of the Parliament House as the passes were not issued to the delegation.

Notably, the All India Fishermen Congress (AIFC), while attacking the Centre, said, The NDA Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, now in their third term, has persistently neglected the struggles of fishermen across the nation. The recent budget has further betrayed the interests of our community, prioritizing corporate gains over the welfare of the poor fisher folk.

The governments corporate mentality and the implementation of unscientific Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms threaten to displace fisher folk from their lands, gravely affecting their livelihoods, it alleged.

Moreover, fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry continue to face severe hardships due to repeated abductions and detentions by the Sri Lankan Navy. The frequent confiscation and auctioning of boats and fishing equipment by the Sri Lankan authorities have compounded their woes, it said.

Later, Gandhi also met a delegation for the Right to Food Campaign in the reception area of the Parliament House.
The Supreme Court will hear on Friday, August 9, a plea challenging the ban imposed by Mumbai-based Chembur Trombay Education Societys N G Acharya and D K Marathe College on wearing burqa, hijab, niqab, stole, caps, or any kind of badges on campus.

Heading a bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud on Thursday said that it will hear the matter on Friday after a mentioning by the petitioner students lawyer for early hearing.

The petitioner students approached the top court in an appeal against the Bombay High Courts order refusing to interfere with the dress code prescribed by the college management.

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As the advocate for the petitioner students urged the bench to hear the case on Thursday itself as exams are starting, the bench asked, Are you being stopped from appearing in the exam?

The advocate said, If students do not adhere to the uniform policy. Please hear the case today.

The bench said, It is coming up (for hearing) tomorrow.

On June 26, the Bombay High Court dismissed a plea by nine science students challenging the dress code, stating that the dress code does not suffer from infirmity so as to violate provisions of Article 19(1)(a) and Article 25 of the Constitution.

Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution guarantees right to freedom of expression and Article 25 guarantees the freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.

The High Court had said that the object behind issuing the dress code is that the dress of a student should not reveal his/her religion which is a step towards ensuring that the students focus on gaining knowledge and education which is in their larger interest.

The students in the second and third years of the BSc and BSc (Computer Science) programmes have claimed that the new dress code violates their fundamental rights to privacy, dignity, and religious freedom.

The college had told the High Court that the ban applies to all religious symbols and is not targeted at Muslims.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai gave a sneak peek into the festive spirit ahead of Rakshabandhan on August 19 by personally meeting and addressing the grievances of thousands of people from across the state at his residence during the Jandarshan programme. Two women, Rishi Agrawal and Siddhika Goswami, who tied rakhis on the CMs wrist, were assured of compassionate appointments, setting the tone for a day of direct interaction and swift resolution of public concerns.

During the programme, CM Sai distributed cheques worth Rs 11 crore 41 lakh 25 thousand 500 to 6,205 beneficiaries under various schemes. He also handed over battery-operated motorised tricycles to three differently-abled individuals, Komal Lahare, Sana Parveen, and Thagia Sahu.

Villagers and panchayat representatives from Gram Panchayat Khapri presented their demands and problems to the CM, including the poor condition of roads, unpaved village streets, and lack of proper buildings for schools. The CM directed officials to take immediate action on these issues.

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The CMs Jandarshan programme aimed to address the grievances and demands of the people. He assured the villagers that their problems would be addressed promptly. The programme was a success, with many beneficiaries receiving financial aid and assistance.

Chhattisgarh CM Sais efforts to reach out to the people and address their concerns were appreciated by the villagers. The Jandarshan programme was a step towards ensuring that the governments schemes and programmes reach the intended beneficiaries. The CMs commitment to the welfare of the people was evident in his interactions with the villagers.
Ramchet, a cobbler in Uttar Pradesh, who shot to national fame after his shop was visited by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi last month, met Sultanpur District Magistrate (DM) on Wednesday and apprised her about the problems that he was facing regarding the governments welfare schemes.

Ramchet attended the Janata Darshan programme, organised by Sultanpur DM Kritika Jyotsana.

He was accompanied by a group of Congress leaders, where they sought the DMs attention in ensuring that he receives the benefits of the governments welfare schemes

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Later, speaking to mediapersons, Sultanpur unit Congress chief Abhishek Singh Rana said that they informed the DM that Ramchet was not getting the benefits of the governments welfare schemes, and they urged her to make amends for the same.

Ramchet said that he does not have a house under PM Awas Yojana, he is not a beneficiary of government schemes, and moreover, his ration card had also been discontinued a month ago.

He also said that the DM assured him of resolving all his issues within a week.

The District Development officer (DDO) has reportedly been instructed by the DM to resolve Ramchets problems, within seven days.

DDO Ajay Kumar Pandey said that all issues are being looked into, and necessary action will be taken.

Congress leaders, who accompanied him, told the mediapersons about the cobblers daily travails and said that if Ramchets grievances are not addressed within a week, they would begin a demonstration against the authorities.

Notably, Rahul Gandhi paid an unscheduled visit to Ramchets shop in Vidhayak Nagar on the outskirts of Sultanpur and stitched a shoe for him.

Days after the visit, the cobbler has been receiving offers in lakhs to sell the slipper stitched by the Congress MP but he insists that he would not sell it ever as this has given a new identity to him.

After meeting Rahul Gandhi, my life has changed. People stop their cars in front of my shop and take selfies with me, he said while recalling the memorable meeting with the Leader of the Opposition.
The Narendra Modi-led central government on Thursday introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, sparking fierce opposition from several INDIA bloc leaders who condemned the bill as divisive, anti-Muslim, and unconstitutional.

Congress MP KC Venugopal strongly opposed the bill, stating, This Bill is a fundamental attack on the Constitution a direct attack on the right to religion.

He accused the government of using the bill for political gains in the upcoming Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly elections.

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This bill is specialized for the Maharashtra, Haryana elections. You do not understand that last time the people of India clearly taught you a lesson. This is an attack on the federal system, he added.

RSP MP NK Premachandran alleged that the bill will totally disempower the Waqf Board and Waqf council.

You are dismantling the system. It is against the principles of the Constitution, he cautioned.

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi also criticized the bill, accusing the BJP of dividing the nation and being the enemy of Muslims.

DMK MP Kanimozhi also joined the Opposition leaders in Opposing the Bill, arguing that it violates Article 30 of the Constitution, which guarantees minorities the right to administer their institutions. This bill targets a particular religious group, she asserted.

Oposition trying to mislead people, says Rijiju

In response to the criticism, Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju defended the bill, claiming it does not interfere with religious freedoms.

With this bill, there is no interference in the freedom of any religious body Forget about taking anyones rights, this bill has been brought to give rights to those who never got them, Rijiju said.

He also accused the Opposition of trying to mislead people about the Waqf bill.

Opposition is trying to mislead people about intention of Waqf bill. No law can be above Constitution but 1995 Waqf law has such provisions, he stated.

Union Minister Lalan Singh also defended the bill amid the uproar, stating, The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is not anti-Muslim; there is no attempt being made to interfere in the functioning of mosques.
The forthcoming regulations by the Centre to clamp down on surrogate advertising in the liquor industry mark a significant step towards consumer protection and public health. These regulations, set to be finalised within a month, will not only prohibit direct advertisements of alcohol but also ban the more insidious surrogate ads and event sponsorships that have long circumvented existing laws. Surrogate advertising, a clever but misleading tactic, has been used by liquor companies to promote their brands under the guise of unrelated products such as bottled water, soda, and music CDs.

These advertisements often feature logos, slogans, and imagery closely associated with their alcoholic products, creating a strong brand recall among consumers. By using popular Bollywood stars and high-profile events, these companies have managed to keep their brands in the public eye despite the ban on direct alcohol advertisements. The new rules will impose fines of up to Rs 50 lakh on companies found guilty of misleading surrogate advertising. Celebrities endorsing these products will also face penalties, including endorsement bans ranging from one to three years.

This move is a clear message from the government that circumventing advertising bans through creative loopholes will no longer be tolerated. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare has emphasised that these regulations aim to close the circuitous routes companies take to promote their products. By targeting the entire ecosystem of surrogate advertising, the government hopes to reduce the pervasive influence of alcohol advertising on Indian society. Indias alcohol market, valued at approximately Rs 3.76 lakh crore, is one of the largest globally, with a rapidly growing middle class driving demand. However, this growth comes with a significant public health cost.

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has noted that comprehensive bans on alcohol advertising are among the most effective measures to reduce alcohol consumption and related harms. Indias per capita alcohol consumption is projected to increase from about 5 litres in 2019 to nearly 7 litres by 2030, outpacing even China. The high rate of alcohol-related deaths in India further underscores the need for stringent regulatory measures. The new regulations are inspired by global best practices, such as those in Norway, where strict advertising bans have successfully reduced alcohol sales over time. By prohibiting the marketing of products like soda and glassware that use designs similar to alcohol brands, India aims to eliminate the subtle yet powerful brand recall these ads create. Critics might argue that these regulations could stifle the business interests of major corporations and impact the economy.

However, the long-term benefits of a healthier population and reduced alcohol-related harm far outweigh the short-term economic gains. The liquor industry must find more responsible ways to market their products without resorting to deceptive practices that undermine public health. Responsible advertising practices will not only comply with the law but also foster a healthier society. The governments proactive stance should be commended, as it sets a precedent for prioritising public health over commercial interests.
Empires and kingdoms needed maps. In times of peace and war, the importance of maps was always underscored; the accuracy of maps in marking out frontiers was highlighted; and those who contributed to the creation of maps were acknowledged for their meticulous work, for pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Maps, whether in the ancient, pre-modern or modern world, are clearly termed as knowledge products whose worth continues to be recognised by Kings and Heads of State.

At the Maharaja Fatesingh Museum in Vadodara, a selection of rare archival maps and paintings is driving home the significance of these artefacts, painstakingly restored and exhibited as Picturing Place: Painted and Printed Maps at the Udaipur Court. It is a collaborative effort of The Getty Paper Project and The City Palace Museum, Udaipur which has made possible the building of these bridges with the past, adding another dimension to our understanding of how our history was mapped, as it was shaped. Launched in 2018, before the pandemic stopped the physical world in its tracks, the Getty Paper Project was focussed not only on funding professional development of curators around the world, it was designed to bring prints and drawings on to the centre stage of museums and collections.

For far too long paintings, sculpture, textiles, arms and armouries, architecture took pride of place in museums, big and small. Through the Paper Project, it was books, documents, prints and drawings which assumed rightful significance as interest in these collections grew with 21st century audiences. The Getty reached out to museums for experimental projects to challenge the creativity of their curators, besides providing opportunity to proactively restore archival materials. Many may not be aware that the US-based Getty is a leading global arts organization committed to the exhibition, conservation, and understanding of the worlds artistic and cultural heritage. Working collaboratively with partners around the globe, the Getty Foundation, Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Museum and Getty Research Institute are dedicated to greater understanding of relationships between the worlds many cultures, bringing together people, professionals, and institutions in meaningful ways.

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It was in 2021 that the Udaipur-based Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) received the grant from the Getty Foundation. The objective was to research, restore and plan exhibitions of rare, never-seen-before array of maps and cartographyrelated documents. The curatorial and research teams of the City Palace Museum were working on preserving the cartographic materials in its archives, many of which dated back to the 1700s. Digging into archives of Maharana Mewar Research Insitute (MMRI), it was clear that historical documentation in the premodern era, whether in Mewar or in other Princely States, was second to none. The myth, propagated by the British colonial authorities, that Indian natives had neither any sense of history nor the ability to maintain records, lies shattered.

Court records of Princely States provide details of daily events, visits, letters received and despatched, accou nts and payments, as sets and inventories; in todays parlance these would be MIS reports, while Court records as in the State of Udaipur-Mewar are referred to as Bahidas. At MMRI, for instance, records of the last 400 years are available, awaiting digitization while several bahidas have been published. Picturing Place: Painted and Printed Maps at the Udaipur Court was initially exhibited at the City Palace Museum, and cerator Dr Shailka Mishra explaied it has been curated in different themes. We have showcased some 53 objects including a diverse array of maps meticulously commissioned and collected by the Maharanas of Mewar.

On display are seven paintings, 31 maps, one architectural drawing, 12 photographs, one photo album and one bahida from the MMRI. Topographical maps, landscape paintings, the cartographic works of British painters on Mewar and Udaipur, besides the early printed maps of India, world maps, and local district maps created for revenue administration have been presented. The exhibition gives visitors fascinating insights into how places, landscapes, and the topography of the State of Mewar were produced on maps, paintings, and other related documents. The

iconic architecture of Udaipurs palaces and temples can also be seen in these artefacts, as depicted by cartographic printers and painters of the past. Once again, a myth-shattering moment: it had been assumed that map-making and collection of topographic details began with the coming of the British, especially after the British imperial authorities began their subjugation and rule over India.

The vast collection, of over 500 maps, architectural drawings and blueprints preserved at the MMRI, bring to light the brilliance of painted maps. In pre-modern, or pre-colonial times, these painted maps were the visual means to tell stories, curator Dr Mishra pointed out. The pride of place is taken by the Chittorgarh maps; Chittor being acknowledged since the 8th-9th centuries CE as the fort among all forts. Presented are fascinating details of Chittorgarh: its history, genealogical charts of its ru lers, and most significantly, the public spaces have been highlighted, the landscape and waterbodies marked, the till-date famous temples can be seen on the maps.

No wonder these painted maps, some very large in size, remain historical documents providing an over view of the social and cultural life within the fort-city of Chittorgarh, once the capital-city of Mewar before the Maharanas established Udaipur and moved to the city of lakes in the middle of the 16 century CE. While the Court of Udaipur was famous for its writings on history and literature, exhibitions like Picturing Place have put the spotlight on these maps, as part of a vibrant intellectual culture belonging not just to Rajasthan but the entire nation. Through this exhibition, Dr Mishra highlighted the multifaceted purposes and interpretations of maps, from political and cultural motivations to imperialistic ambitions. Seen together, it provides an opportunity to examine the visualization of architecture, landscape and topography in different mediums over two centuries, said the curator.

Moreover, the exhibition, as it moves across India, provides avenues for further research on this unique collection and elaborates on the agency of court artists within the challenging field of cartographic knowledge. Reading the map titled Mewar State, published by Hiteshi Pustak Prakashan, 1945, (Accession No.: 2020.42.0050) is an interesting exercise in seeing resurgent identities through maps in regional languages, Hindi in this case. The late 19th and early 20th century CE were a period of cultural resurgence and linguistic movements in India. These maps of Mewar in Hindi and English reflect the growing interest in regional histories and cultural identities.

During this era, historians delved on regional histories, exploring local narratives, dynasties, and cultural developments within specific regions, challenging colonial narratives, and celebrating indigenous histories. Maps of historical kingdoms like Mewar with its boundaries, landmarks, and cultural sites gained popularity, reflecting the regions rich legacy. Hindi emerged as a prominent language during Indias independence movement, and the demand for maps in Hindi soared.

By 1937, Hindi maps were locally available in Udaipur, emphasizing Mewars identity within Rajasthan and India. Several maps showcased administrative units, physical features, local produce, economy, infrastructure, colleges, population, and mines, offering fascinating insights into the vibrant past of Princely State of Udaipur-Mewar. For those keen on military his tory, maps of the Western campaign of World War I are displayed. The map, printed by W & AK Johnston, highlights the German Empires western front during 1914-1918, marked by a bold red line. Maps in the inset provide detailed views of Paris and Berlin, key cities in the campaign. The British relied heavily on Indian contribution to the war effort, said Dr Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, trustee of MMCF. Our illustrious great-great grandfather Maharana Fateh Singh extended generous financial aid including a loan of Rs 5 lakhs, troops and resources to the British.

Mind you, he was the only invitee among the Indian Princes who, on a matter of principle, did not attend the Delhi Durbars of 1903 and 1911. Maharana Fateh Singh had steadfastly refused to offer obeisance to the British Monarch or to admit a subservient sovereign status. In 1911, he made the journey to Delhi by a special train but did not attend the Durbar. His chair, made for the occasion, was never sat upon. King George V came to Salimgarh railway station to meet him, thus making Maharana Fateh Singh the first Indian ruler to meet the KingEm peror in private audience. Maps have an extraordinary power to unfold stories, making us proud of our history and exemplary personalities.

(The writer is an authorresearcher on history and heritage issues and a former deputy curator of Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya)
Four Chinese nationals were killed after a helicopter crashed in Nepals Nuwakot district on Wednesday afternoon, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal confirmed.

The helicopter belonging to Air Dynasty has crashed. We have found four dead bodies, Tilak Bharati, spokesperson for the district police, told Xinhua news agency.

He said the helicopter was flying from Kathmandu to Syafrubesi in Rasuwa district when it went down in Nuwakots Shivapuri. The Chinese Embassy confirmed that the four passengers onboard were Chinese nationals, Xinhua news agency reported.

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The helicopter lost contact with the control tower in Kathmandu three minutes after taking off, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said in a statement, noting that it crashed at 13:54 local time.

Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli has expressed his sadness over the incident.
The Philippines registered 1,28,834 dengue cases with 337 deaths since January this year, the countrys Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday.

Philippine health department Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said the number of dengue cases recorded from January to July 27 this year was 33 per cent higher than that recorded in the same period last year, Xinhua news agency reported.

Despite the higher number of cases, he said the number of dengue deaths from January to July was lower than in the same period last year.

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(The trend indicates) people seeking early consultation and hospitals doing better case management, Domingo said.

Domingo said four out of the countrys 17 regions saw continuously increasing dengue cases in the past six weeks.

Philippine Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa urged Filipinos to continue searching and destroying containers that allow mosquitos to breed.

Dengue is endemic in the Philippines. Water-borne infectious diseases, including dengue, usually peak at the start of the rainy season from July to October due to fluctuating weather conditions, flooding, and accumulation of contaminated water.

Dengue mosquitos breed in stagnant water, like water-filled containers, and in some plants, such as bananas.
Ugandan authorities said at least seven primary and secondary schools have been closed in the western district of Ntoroko due to floods caused by heavy rainfall.

Edward Bashungura, the resident district commissioner for Ntoroko, told Xinhua Wednesday over the phone that the heavy rains had caused a nearby river and lake to overflow their banks, resulting in flooding.

About 20 villages have been affected (by) flowing flooding of River Semliki and Lake Albert. This has left many schools submerged, Bashungura said. We were left with no choice but to close the schools for the safety of the children. More schools are being assessed today and are due for closure.

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The officer said in these villages alone, 20,000 people had been affected by floods.

What we need now is (the) restoration of washed away bridges, tents for schools, shelter for affected villagers, food and water purifiers, said Bashungura, adding some of the affected villagers were living in shelters and camps for internally displaced people.

Last week, the government weatherman announced that the country would experience heavy rains, with lightning strikes in early August.
Any state government would like to have a preference for local people in jobs. The idea is to ensure that more local people get jobs in the private sector as well. The only way to ensure this is to give them the best skill sets. The government of Karnataka is coming up with a more disruptive plan to ensure that every Kannadiga is the most skilled human resource in the world and that is how we are going to ensure that we skill locally and do locally. These remarks were made by Priyank Kharge, IT-BT Minister of Karnataka.

He said that the 14-hour workday shift in the IT sector was an industry-driven request and already states such as Gujarat, Odisha, and Telangana etc were having it.

We are evaluating it as of now and it is very industry specific. It will not happen without the consent of the industry. As of now it is just a thought process and we need to have multi-department consultations on this issue, said Kharge. He was speaking in Bangalore on the sidelines of the preview of the 9th Edition of TiE Global Summit (TGS) 2024, scheduled for December 9th to 11th in Bangalore and December 12th, 2024 in Mysore.

Bangalore is the 5th largest unicorn hub in the world with 45 unicorns in the IT city. There are 38 percent soon-to-be unicorns in the country in Bangalore alone. Our state is home to a thriving ecosystem supported by over 400 R&D centers and leading technology firms, making it a powerhouse of innovation, said Kharge.

The TiE Global Summit (TGS) 2024 is a collaborative effort with other TiE chapters in Karnataka and is being supported by the Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) and the Government of Karnataka as the Host State Partner. Under the theme "Putting Entrepreneurship First," the summit aims to create an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem, democratising opportunities and uniting the global entrepreneurial community.

The summit is also expected to host over 25,000 delegates including 5,000 plus startups, 750 plus investors, 300 plus corporates, 150 plus speakers, and 10,000 plus Futurepreneurs, from across India and more than 50 countries.

Speaking at the event, M.B. Patil Minister of Commerce and Industries and Infrastructure, pointed out that as far as the employment for local people is concerned nothing will be forced on the industries. We will continue our dialogue with all the industry stakeholders. There should be no panic or fear in the industry regarding this issue but our dialogue will continue, said Patil.

The curtain raiser event also announced that registration for the 2nd edition of the VentuRISE Global Startup Challenge, an initiative by the GOK, is now open for global start-ups. VentuRISE 24 will concentrate on Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM), Auto or Clean Mobility, and Aerospace and Defence. This challenge will offer startups a platform to tackle industry issues and connect with investors and corporate accelerators.

"VentuRISE 24 the startup challenge initiative aims to position Karnataka as a global innovation hub, promoting the state as a preferred destination for startups in manufacturing and allied sectors by facilitating connections with investors and industry partners. We are excited to participate with TiE Global for the VentuRISE '24 event and are committed to making this year's event even bigger and better by introducing new initiatives, expanding mentorship programs, and attracting a wider pool of global investors, added Patil.
Karnataka Waqf Board has illegally converted 29,000 acres of land for commercial purposes, states the 2012 report by the Karnataka State Minorities Commission on Waqf land encroachments, said Union Minority Affairs minister Kiren Rijiju in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, while introducing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024.

Rijiju, who later proposed to send the bill to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) following objections from the opposition parties, was elaborating on the gross misuse of Waqf lands in the country and the need to amend the Waqf Act.

The minister was referring to a report submitted by the Anwar Manippady committee report, which stated that 54,000 acres of land is registered in the Waqf Board, while 27,000 acres was unregistered. However, what was alarming was that 29,000 acres of the registered land had been embezzled by prominent persons including senior politicians.

Responding to the introduction of the bill, BJP MLA from Vijayapura Basanagouda Patil Yatnal said he had written to the prime minister seeking to repeal the draconian and unconstitutional Waqf Act on August 4, last year.

The proposed bill seeks to amend the Waqf Act which would check the sweeping powers of Waqf Board to declare any land as its own property. It also proposes to change the composition of the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards. Once this bill becomes a law, Waqf cannot tag any property as Waqf asset, said Yatnal welcoming the move to amend the law which he dubbed as a tool to grab assets of innocent people.

In his letter, Yatnal noted that a total of 8.54 lakh properties spread across eight lakh acres of land amounted to an illegal appropriation of the national resources.

It is worth noting that the concept of Waqf does not exist in Muslim-majority countries such as Turkey, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, Jordon, Tunisia, and Iraq. The extraordinary powers vested with Waqf Board should be revoked immediately as they legitimise the unlawful occupation of land in the name of charity, said Yatnal who also opposed the practice of collecting substantial revenue from over four lakh temples, but no monetary contributions are sought from the mosques and the dargahs.

In Karnataka, there are 62,830 waqf properties registered in the Waqf Asset Management System of India portal, against a total of 8.72 lakh assets registered across the country, said Rijiju, replying to a question by Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta in the Parliament. But according to the State Minorities Commission report, a large number of Waqf land remains unregistered and those that are registered have rampant encroachment.

It may be recalled that on March 23, 2012, BJP leader Anwar Manippady, who was the chairman of Karnataka State Minorities Commission had submitted the waqf lands report to the state government. The report stated that around 29,000 acres of waqf land (valued at 2.30 lakh crore in 2012) had been encroached and embezzled by political leaders and bureaucrats.

The report alleges the involvement of senior Congress leaders Mallikarjuna Kharge, former Rajya Sabha member Rehman Khan, late chief minister Dharam Singh, former Union minister late C. K. Jaffer Sharief and former minister Qamar ul Islam, former ministers Tanveer Sait and Roshan Baig, Shanthinagar MLA N A Haris MLC C.M. Ibrahim, former minister Hindasgeri, former MP Narasing Rao Suryavamshi and former MLAs Iqbal Ansari and Syed Yasin, along with several IAS and IPS officers belonging to the minority community. This explains why the subsequent governments kept evading tabling of the report till the Supreme Court directions. The Yediyurappa government finally tabled the report in September 2020.

Amid criticism from the Congress party which questioned the jurisdiction of the Commission to conduct raids, Manippady said that Sections 10(1-2) of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission Act, 1994, had authorised the minorities commission chairman to make recommendations from time to time to the government, which is to be tabled in both houses of the legislature.

What the Waqf report says

Manipaddy had conducted the first raid in Bidar district after he had received complaints about encroachment in a graveyard. He started visiting every district and documented the extent of encroachment of Waqf land. The report stated that the mutuvalis (managers) of Waqf properties and politicians were hand in glove and hence the Waqf lands were shrinking with each survey.

The modus operandi for embezzling the land had shocked the commission too. The mutuvalis appointed by the donor would enter into an understanding with the Waqf Board and procured a NOC to sell the land to a benami and all stakeholders would share the profit. In some cases, the Waqf Board and minorities minister would de-notify the land and sell it. If caught, they would take back the land from the buyer. A rampant practice is also to lease out prime land at throwaway prices to the influential parties.

As Waqf is the third largest landholder in India, after railways and the defence forces, many minority leaders have been mooting reforms to prevent misuse of the land. Fresh survey of Waqf lands, GIS mapping and documentation of Waqf properties, creation of Waqf development councils with non-political appointees, and revision of rentals for Waqf property (not less than 5 per cent of the market value) will help put these assets to good use and prevent its misuse too.
N. Aswathaman, an office bearer of the Tamil Nadu Youth Congress, was arrested by Sembium police on August 7 in connection with the murder of Bhaujan Samaj Partys state unit leader K. Armstrong. Armstrong was hacked to death with deadly weapons in Chennai on July 5.

A police team lead by Joint Commissioner Dr P. Vijayakumar detained Aswathaman a few days ago for questioning. He was suspected to be part of the several forces that were behind the murder of Armstrong.

Aswathaman had been earlier arrested in a case related to the threatening of a businessman in Ennore. According to sources, he suspected that Armstrong was the reason for his arrest and had developed an enmity towards the latter. The enmity grew deep that Aswathaman believed that Armstrong had worked against him contesting in the lawyers association election. Sources also say that a few months ago Aswathaman had threatened Armstrong at gun point over a multi crore land dispute at Morai near Sholavaram on the outskirts of Chennai.

Incidentally, Aswathaman had attended the 16th day ritual of Armstrongs death. His social media pages are filled with photos shot at the birthday function of Armstrongs daughter. Aswathaman is also the son of Nagendran, a history sheeter who is now in Vellore prison. The investigation is also likely to lead to Nagendran.

Sources say that the police will soon question Nagendran and probe his links to Armstrong murder. Nagendran had come out on parole a few weeks before Armstrongs murder. He tried meeting Armstrong for finding a settlement in the land dispute with Aswathaman. But Armstrong avoided meeting him, police sources say.

The police team had questioned Ponnai Balu, Arul, Hariharan and others arrested in the case. The police have so far apprehended 22 persons including a woman, Anjali, who was a member of the BJP.

In mid-July, one of the key suspects, K. Thiruvengadam, 33, was short dead by the police in an encounter in Chennai as he allegedly attempted to flee after attacking an officer. He was being taken to the Madhavaram lake area to recover the weapons used by the rowdy elements to attack Armstrong.

While film makers like Pa Ranjith and a few Dalit leaders used the killing of Armstrong to highlight the issue of atrocities and discrimination against the Scheduled Castes (SC), sources say that Armstrong himself was involved in many crucial high value land deals and had running disputes with several rowdy elements. Sources also indicate that the suspects arrested and questioned by the police indicate that he was killed in retaliation of a murder of a history sheeter Arcot Suresh who was also from Armstrongs own Dalit community.

Now Aswathamans arrest has led the investigation into to yet another directions with several enemies of Armstrong being in the suspects list.
The government and the opposition locked horns over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha on Thursday with the opposition tagging the bill "an attack on the constitution."

Just after Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sought leave to introduce the bill, the Congress raised its voice, stating the bill was "specialised for the Maharashtra and Haryana elections."



Congress leader K C Venugopal said: "We are Hindus but at the same time, we respect the faith of other religions. This bill is specialised for the Maharashtra and Haryana elections. The last time the people of India clearly taught you a lesson yet you don't learn from it. This is an attack on the federal system," he said.



"This is a draconian law and a fundamental attack on the Constitution," Venugopal said.



The Congress leader said the Centre's provision that non-Muslims be made members of the Waqf Governing Council was a direct attack on freedom of religion. "Next you will go for Christians, then Jains...People of India will not buy this kind of divisive politics now," Venugopal added.



Besides Congress, Samajawadi Party MP Mohibullah Nadvi too hit out at the bill, stating it was against freedom of religion. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sudip Bandhopadhyay too opposed the introduction of the bill, calling it divisive, anti-constitutional and anti-federalism.



DMK MP Kanimozhi too said the bill was against the Constitution, a religious minority and federalism. "It shuns justice in every possible way," she added. "It is a direct violation of Article 30 which deals with minorities to administer their institutions. This bill targets a particular religious group," she said.



Meanwhile, JD(U) MP & Union Minister Rajeev Ranjan slammed the opposition, ruling out allegations that the bill was against Muslims.



"How is it against Muslims? This law is being made to bring transparency. The opposition is comparing it with temples, they are diverting from the main issue. KC Venugopal (Congress) should explain how thousands of Sikhs were killedwhich taxi driver killed Indira Gandhi? Now, they are talking about minorities," Ranjan added.

The bill to amend the law governing Waqf boards proposes changes in the Wakf Act, 1995, including ensuring the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in such bodies. It also aims at renaming the act to the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995. It was circulated among Lok Sabha members on Tuesday night.


Political parties unanimously called for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir during their meetings with the Election Commission of India (ECI) officials who arrived in the union territory on a three-day visit on Thursday.

Led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, the ECI team met representatives of various political parties at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Center (SKICC) on the banks of Dal Lake after landing in Srinagar.

Sunil Sethi, the chief spokesperson of the BJP, along with party colleagues R.S. Pathania and Rafiq Wani, represented the party at the meeting. He said that they urged the ECI to hold elections without delay.

We told them we want the elections to be held within the time limit fixed by the Supreme Court of India, he said. We want adherence to that.

Sethi said that they demanded the restoration of security for political leaders and workers whose security has been withdrawn.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Monga said they told the ECI that India is the mother of democracy, but Jammu and Kashmir has been denied elections for the last 10 years. We insisted that elections be held at the earliest, he said. We also raised security concerns for political leaders and workers whose security has been withdrawn.

Monga said that they urged the ECI not to discriminate in providing security to political parties. We also raised the issue of nomads who have migrated to the hills with their herds, he added. Monga was accompanied by senior party leaders Ravinder Sharma and Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed.

Sakina Itto of the National Conference described the meeting with the ECI as positive. The atmosphere was good, she said. We brought up certain things, and they listened patiently. She expressed hope that the ECI would decide to hold the polls without further delay. We are not seeking any charity but the right of the people that has been snatched from them for the last 10 years so that they can elect their representatives and get their problems addressed, she said.

Sakina said they also urged the ECI for transparency in elections and a level playing field for all parties.

Asiya Naqash of the PDP said they reminded the ECI that during their last visit to Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP had suggested that the Assembly elections be held alongside the Lok Sabha polls. We told them your visit is late, given the Supreme Court deadline for holding elections in September, she said. We told them we hope you will make an announcement about the Assembly elections. Naqash also noted that the ECI officials assured them they would meet again.

After meeting the political parties, the ECI held a joint meeting with all deputy commissioners (DCs) and senior superintendents of police (SSPs). Later, the ECI was scheduled to meet with the chief electoral officer, state police nodal officer and coordinator of central paramilitary forces to review preparedness for the polls. The ECI then planned to meet with Chief Secretary Atul Dullo and Director General of Police (DGP) R.R. Swain before leaving for Jammu.

The ECI will brief the media on August 10 in Jammu in which some important announcements on election are expected.
As per a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Uttar Pradeshs grand plantation drives have not adhered to plans, have been improperly monitored, and have led to a decrease in forest cover.

Since 2017, the states BJP government has undertaken large-scale plantation drives with a target of planting 101.35 crore saplings between 2016-17 and 2021-22.

The Performance Audit Report of the CAG of India on Afforestation and Social Forestry Programme Government of Uttar Pradesh has not accepted the states response that plantation plans were prepared but its approval was delayed. As per the National Forest Policy, valid plans for afforestation must be prepared two years in advance of the expiry of the current plan.

This lack of a plan has meant that even in the state capital of Lucknow, in four out of eight blocks, even identification of nurseries which were to receive saplings for plantation was not carried out.

The audit has found that plantation work has been carried out by vehicles bearing false numbers. Also, the number of saplings raised in nurseries has been above the approved number. In one of the audit areas for the latter, it was found that an excess of saplings were planted to make up for dead ones and subsequently the number of saplings planted was inflated. This inflated number is also upheld by the fact that plantation activity in excess of the available area has been marked in some forest blocks.

Moreover, this excess area was not necessarily with less forest density, open and with degraded forest area as per prescriptions by the Ministry of Forest.

This has meant that UP, which as per its Forest Policy Plan of 2017, was to bring 33 per cent of the geographical area under forest cover has seen a decrease in 100 sq km between 2017 and 2021.

The state also shows up poorly in compensatory forestry where trees are planted to make up for forest land diverted for other uses. In one example, in Kaimoor Wildlife Forest Division, Mirzapur though regular expenditure was being made on the maintenance of planted saplings, there had been no discernible increase in the forest cover as examined by satellite imagery.

Despite plans to enhance forest cover, the budgetary allocation was not commensurate with the proposed increase in plantation activities. Where plantation was achieved, the Rural Development Department failed to ensure that the saplings survived.
Former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya breathed his last earlier today at his Kolkata residence, but history will ironically remember him as the last Communist chief minister of a state where the Left held sway for 34 years.

Born in a scholarly family and being a prolific writer himself, Bhattacharya was the quintessential bhadralok (a colloquial Bengali term for a refined gentleman) who sought to bring about change not just in West Bengal but also in Left politics.

Much like former Soviet Union president Mikhail Gorbachev, Bhattacharya took it upon himself to revive West Bengals economy and shed the states anti-industry image.

Gorbachev sought to reform the Communist Party through the concepts of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (change), but the reforms he started to revive the countrys stagnant economy and to relax the repressive regime inadvertently set off a chain of events which brought about the end of Communism in Europe, and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. In 1990, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the Cold War.

Bhattacharya, too, focused on reviving West Bengals economy through industrialisation  a strict no-no in Communist parlance and ideology. He actively wooed industrialists to set up business in the state to generate jobs for the youth. His public denouncement of the CITU, the CPI(M)'s trade union wing, for frequent strikes too earned him many admirers, and contributed to his image of a progressive and clean leader. Bhattacharya returned as the chief minister in 2006, with the Left Front winning 235 of the 294 seats in the West Bengal assembly.

The Singur land acquisition row

In 2006, the then Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata announced the Tata Nano project - to manufacture the worlds cheapest car, at Rs 1 lakh. The West Bengal government led by Bhattacharya promised to give Tata nearly 1,000 acres of land needed for the plant. Singur was chosen as the site and the cars were scheduled to roll out by 2008.

But, all hell broke loose as the government started acquiring the land under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894. Thousands of farmers came out in protest, alleging their agricultural land was illegally converted into industrial property.

Sensing a political opportunity, Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee, who had not been able to dent the Lefts vote-bank in the assembly polls, took up the cause of the farmers. She even went on a hunger strike on the Singur issue, and called it off only after then president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and prime minister Manmohan Singh appealed to her. Bhattacharyas efforts to convince Banerjee through talks failed.

The CPI(M) stalwart failed to foresee the dangers ahead in a constituency which had sided with the TMC in the 2006 assembly polls at a time when the popularity of the Left Front was at its peak. The movement in Singur also got support from civil rights activists like Medha Patkar, and authors Arundhati Roy and Mahasweta Devi.

By 2008, Tata suspended work at Singur, citing protests and violence. Though the state government decided to give the farmers an improved compensation package, Tata exited the state later that year, taking the Nano project to Gujarat.

[File] The abandoned Tata plant in Singur | Salil Bera

The Nandigram fiasco

Close on the heels of the Singur Nano plant, the Left government also declared the setting up of a Special Economic zone in Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district in the state, with Indonesian conglomerate Salim Group, for a 4,000-acre chemical hub. Protests broke out, with villagers clashing with CPI(M) workers on January 2, 2007, resulting in six deaths. Villagers blocked the area earmarked for the SEZ.

On March 14, Bhattacharya ordered around 2,500 cops to enter Nandigram, which left 14 people dead allegedly in police firing. Trinamool Congress proved to be the beneficiary again, as the Left government lost credibility and Banerjee emerged as the champion of the masses.

The two incidents dealt a body blow not only to the Left parties in West Bengal but also to Bhattacharyas popularity.

Abdur Rezzak Mollah, who was the minister for land and land reforms in the Left Front government from 1977 to 2011, in an interaction with Caravan magazine in 2016, said that the top leadership of the CPI(M), including Bhattacharyya, was out of touch with the ground reality. The party expelled Mollah in 2014 for his criticism of the land policies, and he joined the TMC in 2016.

Mollahs assessment holds water, as the common refrain in the political circles was that though Bhattacharya the bhadralok played a crucial role in promoting the Bengali art and culture, he lacked the tact and guile of his predecessor Jyoti Basu.

It culminated in the rout of the Left Front in the 2011 assembly elections, with the alliance led by the TMC winning a whopping 227 seats, thus ending the Lefts 34-year-old reign in the state.
The statehood of Jammu and Kashmir could be restored before October this year. This was stated by Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Thursday at a press conference in Srinagar.

"Polls are scheduled to be held in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh before October. I think before October, statehood can be restored, and elections may also happen in October," he said.

He also urged people to ensure a record-breaking voter turnout.

Athawale reiterated the government's commitment made during the abrogation of Article 370 to restore statehood of Jammu and Kashmir and conduct assembly elections.

The minister also praised the high voter turnout in the recent Lok Sabha elections, commending the people for their role in strengthening democracy.

In his meeting with J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in Srinagar, Athawale highlighted the positive impact of the abrogation of Article 370 on tourism.

"More than 2.11 crore tourists, including foreigners, have visited here, he said. People don't fear going to Kashmir now. Earlier, they wanted to come, but terrorism was stopping them.

The minister said that the LG informed him that Jammu and Kashmir is peaceful barring some untoward incidents.

He shared details on social justice initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir, noting that over 2 lakh pre- and post-matric scholarships have been awarded to SC students and more than 84,000 scholarships to OBC students.

"SC and OBC constitute 8 per cent each in J&K, but there is not a single SC family in Kashmir," Athawale said.

He informed that 74 cases have been registered under the Atrocities Act against SCs and OBCs in J&K and announced plans to establish one old age home in each district of J&K, with 16 such homes already operational.

He said his party, the Republican Party of India, intends to field 10-15 candidates in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly elections.
Mission mode policies have the power to galvanize the entire ecosystem toward achieving incredible changes. John F. Kennedys space mission put America on the moon and Franklin D. Roosevelts The New Deal changed the face of the American economy.



Prime Minister Narendra Modis NIPUN Bharat Mission is one such policy that has the potential to make Indias 260 million school-going children learn and thrive. Three years into the mission, all states have adopted it in some form and achieved great strides.



Uttar Pradesh, for instance, has made 16,000 schools NIPUN and Madhya Pradesh has hired NIPUN professionals across all districts to help schools and teachers make their children proficient in reading, writing, and mathematics. However, 50 million children are still not able to read with comprehension or do basic mathematical operations by the time they cross grade three. To take this mission to the next level and ensure all students become NIPUN, data and governance become key. Thankfully, India already has a robust data ecosystem which now needs to be used effectively.



Take the example of the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE). It is arguably the largest educational data system in the world measuring 37 metrics across 1.4 million schools, tracking everything from attendance to infrastructure quality.



However, the high volume of data, coupled with low state capacity, is limiting the usage and utility of this ecosystem. Despite such granularity, the education system is suffering from inefficiencies. Twenty-five per cent of teachers and 28 per cent of students are still absent from school, teaching and learning materials are still delivered at a time when half of the academic year has elapsed, and the usage of these materials is patchy. All of these factors are creating significant hurdles in achieving the mission.

Clearing these hurdles requires inculcating data-mindedness across the public education system where every single education worker uses data to improve the learning outcomes of students.



The journey starts with states. They must first take these large swathes of data and categorize them into achievement, attainment, and experience metrics. Achievement metrics are those that measure the cognitive development of a child through ongoing formative assessments which are measured against a predefined standard. Attainment metrics measure whether a student meets certain educational milestones like progress, graduation rate etc.



Finally, experience metrics measure how students and teachers experience the system. It measures whether the teacher and students are attending the classes, if the classroom is conducive to learning etc. Such categorization will help state administrators identify leading metrics which are areas where the state is doing well, and lagging metrics which are areas where the state is lagging behind and needs focus. Such data clarity will help the state governments make policies that are based on evidence and prioritize areas that need improvements.



The next step is to take these metrics to the district level. The leading and lagging metrics will help the district education officers to first conduct more effective meetings with the education cadres. Through these metrics, these meetings can become conduits for identifying the bottlenecks in the system as well as forums for ideating the solutions to clear them. Subsequent meetings can be used to look at these metrics to measure the progress they have been able to make and whether any changes are required. A data-minded outlook will also enable the administrator to streamline their budgeting. They can request funds for interventions that will have a direct impact on the learning outcomes of the children while deprioritizing other areas.



Finally, relevant metrics must trickle down to the classroom level to inform the teachers about the effectiveness of their interventions. Unless teachers are shown the performance of their class, they continue to believe that their methods are working and rely instead on end-of-year assessment results to judge the quality of their teaching. These assessments either happen too late into the year or do not provide the necessary feedback to teachers to improve specific skills. To ensure data-mindedness at this level, states must focus on making data consumable to teachers along with giving them guidance on how to improve certain lagging metrics. Such a collaborative approach between the teachers and the administrators will bring in a better alignment in the education system and motivate the teachers to teach better.



States like Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh have already launched interventions to create data-mindedness in the system. Gujarat launched the Vidhya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) in 2019 to integrate all child-related data into a single dashboard to help the state make data-oriented policies and decisions to improve school education. VSKs helped the states track key metrics and keep the administration accountable for them. With the help of such interventions, the state was able to record a 15 per cent and 7 per cent jump in students who scored more than 70 per cent in Gujarati and Maths respectively.



Uttar Pradesh launched the NIPUN Lakshya app which helped teachers assess the oral, reading and mathematical fluency of their children within minutes and gave them a view on the achievement levels of their students. This data was integrated into the school management system which helped administrators also see the progress. With 90 per cent of the schools using this app on a daily basis, Uttar Pradesh has managed to make 1 in 4 schools in the State NIPUN.



Using a data-minded approach to improving education, the government can give the people a new deal that will moonshot our way towards success. With the deadline for the NIPUN Bharat Mission looming, we need to clear the hurdles out of the path of reaching this goal by using our robust data ecosystem more effectively. Creating a framework for its usage at the state, district, and classroom can put us on a path to becoming the best education system in the world.

Dr. Kirit P Solanki is a former Lok Sabha member.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
The Madras High court on August 7 reversed the discharge of Tamil Nadu ministers KKSSR Ramachandran and Thangam Thennarasu by lower courts in two different disproportionate assets cases. The high court ordered the trial court to conduct fresh trial expeditiously to take the case to a logical conclusion.

With Justice N. Anand Venkatesh allowing two suo motu criminal revision petitions, Thennarasu, Ramachandran and their family members will face trial before the special court designated for cases involving Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly. The high court ordered the special court to frame charges and directed the ministers and all the other accused to appear before the trial court on September 9. The HC has also ordered that the accused furnish a bond with or without sureties as deemed fit by that court.

Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu and his wife Manimegalai were discharged by the Principal District and Sessions Court in Srivilliputhur in December 2022 in a disproportionate assets case filed by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC) in 2012, during the erstwhile AIADMK regime. The DVAC then accused the couple of amassing wealth when Thennarasu served as the School Education Minister between 2006 and 2011.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran and his wife Aadhilakshmi along with KSP Shanmuga Moorthy were acquitted by the Srivilliputhur Principal sessions court in July 2023 in a DA case filed by the DVAC during the AIADMK regime. The trio were accused of accumulating disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 43 lakhs when Ramachandran was the Minister for Health and Backward Classes between 2006 and 2011 under the DMK government.

Justice Anand Venkatesh, in his order, invoked Section 397 of CrPC to revise the acquittals. Earlier in 2023, he had also taken suo motu revision of DA cases against minister K. Ponmudy and former chief minister O. Panneerselvam.

Though the Madras High Court had initiated suo motu petitions a year before, the order directing the ministers to face fresh trial has shaken the DMK camp. Thennarasu and Ramachandran are the two strongmen of the DMK from the Virudhunagar region. Thennarasu, a DMK veteran, is considered to be one of the confidants of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. Ramachandran, who was part of the then MGRs cabinet, moved to the DMK decades before and is one of the senior ministers from South Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, in yet another development, the high court dismissed a plea filed by Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Anita Radhakrishnan, praying for quashing of the money laundering case registered by the ED in a DA case.

It may be also recalled that former minister Senthil Balaji is in judicial custody for more than 300 days in a cash for job scam. The PMLA court in Chennai on Thursday registered the charges against Balaji.
The Centre is all set to introduce the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha on Thursday to amend the Waqf Act, 1995. The bill, listed for introduction by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, seeks to amend the law governing waqf boards, including their powers, registration and survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments.

It also aims to ensure the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in such bodies. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill also seeks to rename the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995. The Bill was circulated among Lok Sabha members on Tuesday night ahead of its introduction.



The opposition has already raised its voice against the bill, demanding that it be sent to Parliament's standing committee for scrutiny.



Congress MP Hibi Eden has given notice in Lok Sabha to oppose the Waqf Act Amendment Bill. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has also vowed to oppose the bill. "We will surely oppose it vehemently. I think everybody is united in this. I feel that some of them who are giving support (to govt) may also join us in this protest. The issue is very serious, they are capturing the entire rights of the board and handing it over to the government," party MP ET Muhammed Basheer told ANI.



Besides Congress and IUML, TMC, NCP (SCP), Samajwadi Party and DMK too opposed the bill. "This is a hasty decision. The government is introducing the bill without any discussion with the concerned Muslim organisations and the stakeholders, just for political gain or polarisation in the upcoming elections. We demanded that this bill be sent to the Standing Committee for evaluation or thorough verification. The entire opposition is strongly opposing this bill," said Congress MP Kodikunnnil Suresh.



Rijiju had also made it clear that the government would take a call on whether or not to send the bill for parliamentary scrutiny. However, the department-related standing committees of Lok Sabha are yet to be constituted. The House may form a separate panel in the absence of the standing committee to scrutinise the Bill in case the government decides on such a course of action.


Shaista Ambar, chairperson of the All-India Muslim Womens Personal Law Board has welcomed the proposed changes in the Waqf Act which gives rights to women but cautioned against amendments that give non-Muslims a role in it.

Ambar said, We have been advocating that women be given equal participation in Waqf. When Pratibha Patil was the President of India we had given a representation that drew on the Holy Quran, the Hadith, and the life of our Prophet to establish womens ability and equality in all matters religious, political, and social.

She is, however, opposed to a change in the Act that gives a role to non-Muslims.

The proposed amendment puts forward representation for all Muslim sects and for non-Muslims to make it more inclusive.

Ambar said that this would be in direct conflict with the spirit of the Constitution which grants rights to the minorities.

The important thing is that there be strict action against those who have occupied Waqf property. The government should focus on the weak and the downtrodden getting benefits of its schemes, she said.

Waqf property cannot belong to anyone. It cannot be registered in anyones name. This has been constantly violated. Only strict enforcement of protections to Waqf land can ensure that such malpractices stop, said Ambar.

Strict action, Ambar said, should include both imprisonment and fine.

The spirit of the Waqf Act should not be tampered with. This will be in direct conflict with the tenets of Islam. The government should use Waqf land to run beneficiary schemes so that no one in the community remains poor, dependent, or oppressed, said Ambar.

Ambar said that the forced occupation of Waqf land was the greatest problem faced by the community.

Rich, well-connected people have turned waqf properties into business. Those who have been opposing changes to the manner in which Waqfs are run are only trying to protect their personal interests, she said.
Nobel laureate and Bangladesh interim government's new head Muhammad Yunus will land in Dhaka on Thursday. Yunus, who boarded a flight home on Wednesday night from Paris, where he had been receiving medical treatment, appealed for calmness.

"I fervently appeal to everybody to stay calm. Please refrain from all kinds of violence," he told reporters outside the airport. "I'm looking forward to going back home and seeing what's happening there and how we can organise ourselves to get out of the trouble that we're in. I'll go and talk to them. I'm just fresh in this whole area," said Yunus, an economist who was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for founding a bank that pioneered fighting poverty with small loans to ordinary people.

In a statement, Yunus also urged the public not to create more enemies. "Our youth is ready to give this leadership in creating a new world. Let us not miss the chance by going into any senseless violence. Violence is our enemy. Please don't create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country," he said.



Ahead of his return back to the country, the Dhaka tribunal acquitted Yunus in a labour law violation case.



Meanwhile, Bangladesh Army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman has announced that the oath-taking ceremony of the interim government will be held at 8 pm on Thursday. "We are making every effort to hold the oath-taking ceremony tomorrow (Thursday). There was a proposal to hold it in the afternoon. However, that would result in a very tight schedule because Dr Yunus is expected to arrive in the country around 2:10 pm. It would be difficult to arrange the ceremony after that. Therefore, we may hold it around 8 pm. The arrangement will accommodate a total of 400 people," Zaman told reporters on Wednesday.



The Army chief said he already had held discussions with student leaders, political parties, and the president and that he was confident that Yunus would be able to take the country towards a democratic process.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court on Wednesday overturned Yunus' conviction in a labour case in which he was handed a six-month jail sentence in January. Yunus had called his prosecution political, part of a campaign by Hasina to quash dissent."Let us make the best use of our new victory," Yunus said.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took oath as the head of an interim government in Bangladesh on Thursday. He was administered the oath of office by President Mohammed Shahabuddin at a ceremony held in presidential palace 'Bangabhaban'.

Yunus was appointed the head of the interim government after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned, ending her 15-year reign, and fled to India following violent protests that erupted across the country.

A 16-member council of advisers was announced to assist Yunus in running the state's affairs. Md. Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, two key organisers of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, were also part of the advisory council.

Women's rights activist Farida Akhtar, freedom fighter Sharmeen Murshid, former foreign secretary Touhid Hossain, and right-wing party Hefazat-e-Islam's deputy chief AFM Khalid Hossain were among the advisory council members.

The interim government will lead the country for a certain period and over the election to form the new government.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended best wishes to Yunus as he took oath. Modi said that he hoped for an early return of normalcy in the violence-hit country and ensuring the safety of Hindus and other minority communities in the country.

"My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities," said Modi.

"India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security, and development," he added.

Yunus promised to deliver a government that assures safety to its citizens and urged them to assist him in rebuilding the protest-torn country.

"Today is a day of our pride...We have got independence for the second time. We have to protect this independence," said Yunus while addressing a press conference at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

"If you have faith in me and trust me, then ensure that there will be no attack anywhere in the country. This is our first responsibility," he added.

Over 500 people were killed in the violence that erupted across the country. Initially, the protests erupted in the country over the controversial quota system evolved into a mass movement demanding her ouster. Over 100 people died in the fresh clashes that erupted in Dhaka.

Several police stations and even Hasina's official residence were targeted by the protesters after her resignation.

The Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said that normalcy is expected within three to four days as the situation across the country is improving.
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) In a major crackdown against pesky calls by spammers, TRAI on Thursday said telcos will disconnect the telecom resources of entities that are found misusing bulk connections for making spam calls, and such entities would face blacklisting by all operators for up to two years.

Sending out a strong message to erring entities and declaring its all-out offensive against spam calls, TRAI emphasised the urgent need to take firm action on spammers using `PRI/SIP connections' for voice calls/Robo calls/Pre-recorded calls "without further delay".

The action comes just a day after TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti made it clear that the regulator will review and strengthen regulations to curb spam calls.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) held a meeting, with regulatory heads of all the Telecom Service Providers on Thursday. The meeting, Chaired by TRAI Chief, was attended by the Chief Regulatory Officers of Airtel, BSNL, Quadrant Televentures Limited (QTL), Reliance Jio, Tata Teleservices Limited, Vodafone Idea Limited and V-CON Mobile & Infra Private Limited.

Representatives of MTNL and Reliance Communications Limited didn't turn up for the meeting.

After detailed deliberations, it was decided "If any entity misuses its SIP/ PRI (Session Initiation Protocol/Primary Rate Interface) lines for making spam calls, all the telecom resources of the entity shall be disconnected by its Telecom Service Provider (TSP) and the entity shall be blacklisted by it."

"This information shall be shared by the TSP with all other TSPs who will, in turn, disconnect all the telecom resources given by them to that entity and blacklist it for a period of up to two years. No new telecom resources shall be allocated to it by any TSP during the period of blacklisting," TRAI said in a release.

With effect from September 1, 2024, no message, containing URLs/APKs that are not whitelisted, shall be allowed to be delivered.

"The technical implementation of entity and telemarketer chain binding for ensuring traceability of the message flow shall be completed by the TSPs latest by October 31, 2024," TRAI said.

TRAI highlighted that there is an immediate need to take firm action on spammers using PRI/SIP connections for voice calls/Robo calls/Pre-recorded calls without further delay.

"All the TSPs promised to extend full support to TRAI in curbing the menace of spam calls and implement all the directions of TRAI within timeframe," TRAI said.

The issues discussed during Thursday's meeting included spam calls by entities sending bulk commercial communications through PRI/ SIP or bulk connections and migration of all telemarketers and enterprises making bulk calls to DLT (Distributed ledger technology) platform. The meeting also deliberated on issues of entity and telemarketer Chain Binding for traceability of messages, and whitelisting of URLs for blocking of messages containing malicious links.

On Wednesday, the TRAI chief had said: "We will work seriously...we will plug any loopholes that people are finding on existing regulations to tighten (the checks on) spam call issue."

The crackdown on pesky calls has figured high on the agenda of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, and the regulator has been hardening its stance on the issue, amid rising consumer complaints around unsolicited communications from unauthorised telemarketers.
Mumbai, Aug 8 (PTI) Concerned over household savings moving towards alternative investment avenues, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Thursday asked banks to mobilise deposits through innovative products and services by leveraging their vast branch network.

"Banks are taking greater recourse to short-term non-retail deposits and other instruments of liability to meet the incremental credit demand. This, as I emphasised elsewhere, may potentially expose the banking system to structural liquidity issues," he said.

Observing that alternative investment avenues are becoming more attractive to retail customers, he said, as a result banks are facing challenges on the funding front with deposits trailing loan growth.

Banks, he said, need to focus more on mobilisation of household financial savings through innovative products and service offerings and by leveraging fully their vast branch network.

Expressing concern over high growth in 'top-up' housing loans, Das said the regulatory prescriptions relating to loan to value (LTV) ratio, risk weights and monitoring of end use of funds are not being strictly adhered to by certain entities in this regard.

Banks and NBFCs have also been offering top-up loans on other collateralised loans like gold loans.

"Such practices may lead to loaned funds being deployed in unproductive segments or for speculative purposes. Banks and NBFCs would, therefore, be well-advised to review such practices and take remedial action," he said.

He also flagged the issue of rising personal loan and urged banks to keep carefully monitor the credit growth in the segment.

It is observed that the sectors in which pre-emptive regulatory measures were announced by the Reserve Bank in November last year have shown moderation in credit growth.

However, he said, certain segments of personal loans continue to witness high growth.

Excess leverage through retail loans, mostly for consumption purposes, needs careful monitoring from macro-prudential point of view, he said.

It calls for careful assessment and calibration of underwriting standards, as may be required, as well as post-sanction monitoring of such loans, he added.

Referring to the recent incidence of unprecedented IT outage globally, he said, the Reserve Bank has time and again emphasised the importance of robust business continuity plans (BCP) to deal with such incidents.

The outage demonstrated how a minor technical change, if it goes haywire, can wreak havoc on a global scale, he said.

"It also showed the fast-growing dependence on big-techs and third-party technology solution providers. In this background, it is necessary that banks and financial institutions build appropriate risk management frameworks in their IT, cyber security and third-party outsourcing arrangements to maintain operational resilience," he said.

Emphasing availability of accurate credit information is vital for both lenders and borrowers, Das said, it is proposed to increase the frequency of reporting of banks to credit information companies (CICs) to a fortnightly basis or at shorter intervals.

"Consequently, borrowers will benefit from faster updation of their credit information, especially when they repay their loans. The lenders, on their part, will be able to make better risk assessment of borrowers," he said.

At present, Das said, lenders are required to report credit information to CICs on a monthly basis or at such shorter intervals as may be agreed between the lenders and the credit bureau.
Vienna, Aug 8 (AP) Pricey tickets for three sold-out Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna. Hundreds of euros, if not more, dropped on flights and hotels in one of Europe's most expensive capital cities. Tens of thousands of Swifties, bedecked in homemade friendship bracelets, devastated by the cancellations of three sold-out Eras Tour shows in Austria after authorities foiled an apparent attack plot.

Austrian security officials said two young men wanted to commit an attack outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using knives or self-made explosives.

Concert organisers said they stood behind their decision, saying they expected up to 65,000 fans inside the stadium at each concert and as many as 30,000 onlookers outside, where authorities said the suspects planned to strike.

The venue sat empty Thursday morning aside from media filming outside. Swift and her team have not spoken publicly about the plot or canceled shows. Her Instagram page re-posted the announcement from concert organiser Barracuda Music in a story, which is only visible for 24 hours.

Both suspects appeared to be inspired by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida, authorities said, and investigators found evidence of the militant groups' propaganda and other material at their homes. Officials did not release additional details but it did not appear that the duo was in contact or coordinating with the militant groups.

The main suspect, aged 19, had also posted an oath of allegiance online to the current leader of the Islamic State group, authorities said. The suspects' names were not released in line with Austrian privacy rules.

The news rattled the superstar's fans, many of whom took to social media to express their devastation at missing out on one of the shows. Some who posted on the social platform X lamented months of now-wasted efforts to pick out fashionable outfits for the performance and make friendship bracelets. The beaded bracelets, typically bearing Swift's song titles or popular phrases, are usually swapped at concerts with strangers.

Other fans begged online for tickets to Swift's next shows. She is expected to perform at London's Wembley stadium in five concerts between August 15 and 20 to close the European leg of her record-setting Eras Tour.

Some North American fans have travelled abroad in tour tourism"  a pattern that emerged during Beyonce's Renaissance world tour  after noticing that tighter restrictions on ticket fees and resales in Europe made seeing Swift perform abroad no more costly  and potentially cheaper  than catching her closer to home.

Andrew Strauss, 34, and his mother, Alison Strauss, 62, heard about the plot Wednesday while they were having a glass of wine at the airport bar in New Jersey when his phone started blowing up".

I was like, wait, why are all these people texting me broken heart emojis?''' he told The Associated Press from Vienna on Thursday. And then I went on Twitter and I looked at my mom and I was like, 'I think the concert is cancelled.'"

The pair were on a direct flight to Austria and you could see it, like, ripple through people finding out, he said.

The Swift concert was the start of a European vacation with other family members so they decided to go ahead with their plans anyway. Still, they knew of another fan who got off her plane at a New York airport instead.

I'm actually heartbroken,'' Alison Strauss said. I actually want to write to her and tell her: This was a great mother-son event. Can you get me tickets in the US for one of the concerts?'

The pair said they still support Swift and believe the concert organisers did the right thing by cancelling the events.

It's not in her nature to put anybody in danger,? Alison Strauss said. And to play three sold-out concerts is probably way too much to risk.

Europe is also enamoured of the American superstar. The German town of Gelsenkirchen even renamed itself Swiftkirchen before its mid-July concerts.

Norwegian fan Marie Hov Aans told Norwegian broadcaster NRK about the letdown.

I am very disappointed, to be honest, but I understand that safety is the most important thing, she said.

Still, she said we must Shake It Off,' to quote Swift's 2014 hit.

Actually, we are just very grateful that security was tightened enough for them to unravel this, Aans told NRK. (AP) PY

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New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) The Supreme Court will screen 'Laapataa Ladies' movie on Friday for the judges, their families and officials of its registry.

The critically acclaimed movie is based on the theme of gender equality.

According to a communication circulated by the administration section of the apex court, noted actor and producer Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, director of the movie, will also be present during the screening.

"As part of the activities organised during the seventy-fifth year of the establishment of the Supreme Court of India, the movie 'Laapataa Ladies' which is based on the theme of gender equality, will be screened on Friday, August 9, 2024 in the Auditorium, C-block, Administrative Building Complex," the communication said.

According to the schedule, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, judges of the apex court along with their spouses will arrive for the screening of the movie. The film will be screened from 4.15 pm to 6.20 pm.

"The officials of the Registry have also been invited for the movie," it said.
Washington, Aug 8 (PTI) The United States Wednesday said it is ready to work with the interim government of Bangladesh as the country charts a democratic future for its people.

"We continue to monitor developments in Bangladesh, and we obviously have seen the appointment of Muhammad Yunus as the leader of an interim government," State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference.

"We think the interim government will play a vital role in establishing long-term peace and political stability in Bangladesh," Miller said responding to questions on the fast-moving development in Bangladesh.

A State Department spokesperson, meanwhile, told PTI, "All decisions regarding the interim government should respect democratic principles, rule of law, and the will of the Bangladeshi people."

"We understand Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus has agreed to lead Bangladesh's interim government. We stand ready to work with the interim government, as it charts a democratic future for the people of Bangladesh," the spokesperson said in response to a question.

Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus is set to take oath as the head of Bangladesh's interim government on Thursday, as he made a fervent appeal to everyone to stay calm and "refrain from all kinds of violence" to make the best use of our new victory.

As authorities scrambled to bring the law and order situation under control, Army chief Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman on Wednesday announced that the interim government will take oath around 8 pm on Thursday. He said the advisory council may have 15 members.
Washington, Aug 8 (AP) Ohio Sen JD Vance, Donald Trump's running mate, defended on Wednesday a false claim the former president made about Vice President Kamala Harris ' racial identity, suggesting wrongly that Harris had downplayed her Black heritage in trying to suggest she's inauthentic.

What I took it as was an attack on Kamala Harris being a chameleon, he told reporters when asked in Michigan about the former president's suggestion that Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, had only recently identified as Black.

I think he was observing the basic foundational reality that Kamala Harris pretends to be something different depending on what audience she's speaking to, Vance said. She fakes who she is depending on the audience she's in front of, and that's who she is and that's who she's always been."

Vance's was the most recent of the Republican criticisms of how Harris portrays herself, in the wake of Trump's comments last week to the National Association of Black Journalists conference in Chicago. Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, a high-profile Trump surrogate who is a Black man, echoed the claim on Sunday as a guest on ABC's This Week."

The proliferation of Trump's falsehood by other Republicans is part of their effort to stay in his favor, said former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.

It's 'I'll do anything and I don't want to be on the wrong side of you,'" said Steele, a former Maryland lieutenant governor who was the first Black man to lead the RNC. It's I don't want to take the heat that comes with calling out your racism, that comes with calling out your ugliness, so I will pretend that's not what it is'.

The Harris campaign has declined to comment specifically on Trump's false claim. The vice president, speaking to a Black sorority last week, accused Trump of the same old show: the divisiveness and the disrespect.

Harris has frequently talked about being Black in addition to being Indian American during her political career. She was the first African American to serve as California attorney general and became the first Indian American to serve as a U.S. senator and the second Black woman, after Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois.

As an undergraduate, Harris attended Howard University, one of the nation's most prominent historically Black colleges and universities, where she also pledged the historically Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha.

As San Francisco's first Black district attorney, she was recognized as a Woman of Power by the National Urban League and received the Thurgood Marshall Award from the National Black Prosecutors Association in 2005.

She was recognized in India Abroad during her 2010 campaign for California attorney general as being potentially the first African American as well as the first Indian-American to hold the office.

Harris identified as both Black and Indian in an Associated Press story published that same year about the number of candidates of Indian descent running for prominent offices that year.

I grew up in a family where I had a strong sense of my culture and who I am, and I never felt insecure about that at all, she said at the time. Slowly, perhaps, with each of us taking on more prominent positions, people will start to understand the diversity of the people.

Harris joined the Congressional Black Caucus when she entered the Senate in 2017. And writing about her time at Howard in her 2019 memoir, The Truths We Hold, Harris wrote: Every signal told students that we could be anything - that we were young, gifted, and black, and we shouldn't let anything get in the way of our success. The campus was a place where you didn't have to be confined to the box of another person's choosing.

The echo of Trump's claim comes as the Republican nominee has tried to cut into Harris' fundraising and media attention following her taking over President Joe Biden's campaign after the president quit the race. Some Republican strategists have criticized Trump for making personal attacks that echo his past questioning of President Barack Obama's citizenship, instead of pivoting to issues like the economy or immigration.

Vance previously hit Harris for using what he called a fake Southern accent when she campaigned in Atlanta last week. And Michaelah Montgomery, a Black conservative activist who organized a widely shared Trump meet-and-greet with local college students at an Atlanta Chick-fil-A, tore into Harris at the former president's rally on Saturday, suggesting of Harris, She's only Black when it's time to get elected."

Rashawn Ray, a national scholar on racial and social inequity and vice president at American Institutes for Research, said the criticism willfully ignores the growing number of people who identify as multiracial.

People can be both Black and Asian," Ray said.

Casting doubt on Harris' identification as Black is also an effort to use race to undermine her qualification to be president - as Trump did questioning Obama's citizenship - said Ray.

Some people believe that by attacking the authenticity of Vice President Harris' Blackness, they can send a dog whistle that questions her Americanness and electability, Ray said. People are often judged by what they look like rather than what they represent. Some people are banking on the shallowness of this perspective. (AP)

NSA

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Dhaka, Aug 8 (PTI) Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus on Thursday returned to Bangladesh from Paris to take oath as the head of Bangladesh's interim government, three days after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister and fled the country following widespread protests against her regime.

Yunus, 84, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work on microlending, was designated head of the interim government after President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved parliament on Tuesday.

Yunus was in Paris for the Olympic Games. He returned to the country via Dubai.

He will go directly to Bangabhaban, the Prime Minister's official residence.

This interim government will lead the country for a certain period and oversee the election to transition power to an elected government.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath of office to the new government.

Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman yesterday said the oath-taking ceremony will likely be held in the evening in the presence of some 400 dignitaries.
Colombo, Aug 8 (PTI) Pakiyaselvam Ariyanethran was named on Thursday as the common candidate by a cluster of Sri Lankan Tamil parties, but without the main party, ITAK, for the September 21 presidential election.

Pakiyaselvam Ariyanethran, 69, is a former Member of Parliament. He was named in the northern capital of Jaffna earlier in the morning, Tamil party sources confirmed here.

The leaders of north and east-based Tamil parties TELO, PLOTE, TPA, TNP and EPRLF with a civil group named Tamil Peoples Congress Association had signed an agreement in mid-July to field the common candidate.

However, the main Tamil party, ITAK, which heads the umbrella group Tamil National Alliance (TNA), was not a party to the agreement.

ITAKs leading member M A Sumanthiran had dismissed the idea as a bad decision as it would weaken the Tamil minority position at the election.

In addition to fielding Tamil candidates at several past presidential elections, the Tamils from the north and east regions have aligned historically with the opposition candidate.

So far, some 22 candidates have paid deposits to contest with nomination that closes on August 15. Namal Rajapaksa, the 38-year-old heir to the Rajapaksa dynasty, was on Wednesday named as the SLPP candidate for the presidential election.

Namal's entry made the election a four-cornered contest. Besides President Wickremesinghe, the main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and the Marxist JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake are already in the fray.

Sri Lanka has a mixed demography and Tamils, both ethnic Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian-origin Tamils. They reside mostly in north and eastern Sri Lanka.
Jerusalem, Aug 8 (AP) A new report from Human Rights Watch says Israeli soldiers killed at least seven people and severely wounded two, including a 5-year-old, when they attacked a home in Gaza City where a Palestinian family was sheltering from the Israel-Hamas war in December.

Gaza faces a severe humanitarian crisis with Israeli restrictions on aid and ongoing fighting limiting access to crucial medical, food and other supplies. The Health Ministry says the death toll in the territory is nearing 40,000.

Regional tensions have soared since Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed July 31 in Iran by a presumed Israeli strike. Retaliation has been expected. French President Emmanuel Macron beseeched Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in a phone call to do everything in his power to avoid a new military escalation that he said would do lasting damage to regional stability.

World leaders have been pushing for a cease-fire in Gaza, and United States President Joe Biden spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Tuesday about their hopes for a deal calming tensions in the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet over the weekend that Israel is already in a multi-front war with Iran and its proxies.



Here's the latest:



Rights group says Israeli soldiers killed at least 7 people sheltering in a Gaza City home

Jerusalem: Human Rights Watch says Israeli soldiers killed at least seven people and severely wounded two, including a 5-year-old, when they attacked a home in Gaza City where a Palestinian family was sheltering in December.

The New York-based rights group released a report Thursday based on interviews with two members of the al-Khalidi family who witnessed the attack, and video footage released by the Israeli military that placed forces in the vicinity of the home at the time.

The family members said there were no militants or weapons inside the house, and that the family had no connection to any armed group. They said the troops barged in without warning, hurling grenades and opening fire.

A pregnant woman was among those killed, and the 5-year-old is being treated for severe injuries in Qatar.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, and Human Rights Watch said the army had not responded to detailed questions sent in July.

Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians as it seeks to destroy Hamas following the militant group's October 7 attack into Israel, which triggered the ongoing war. But Israel's relentless aerial bombardment and ground operations have wiped out entire Palestinian families. The International Court of Justice is investigating allegations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, something Israel has adamantly denied.



Saudi Arabia condemns the killing of Haniyeh in Iran as a flagrant violation' of international law

Dubai: Saudi Arabia has condemned the targeted killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran as a flagrant violation of international law.

The statement issued early Thursday by Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed ElKhereiji came after the Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the largest bloc of Muslim countries, issued a similar statement following a high-level meeting the day before.

Iran has vowed to avenge the July 31 explosion that killed Ismail Haniyeh, which was widely blamed on Israel, raising fears of a regional war. Israel has not said whether it was involved.

ElKhereiji said the killing of Haniyeh was a flagrant violation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and constitutes a threat to regional peace and security".

The statement did not directly blame Israel but referred to Israeli attacks against Palestinians inside and outside the Palestinian territories". (AP) BHJ

BHJ
Jerusalem, Aug 8 (AP) The Israeli military has ordered another mass evacuation in large areas around Khan Younis in southern Gaza, saying its forces will soon operate there in response to Palestinian rocket fire. Khan Younis, Gaza's second-largest city, suffered widespread destruction during air and ground operations earlier this year.

Israeli forces have repeatedly returned to heavily destroyed areas of Gaza where they had fought earlier battles against Hamas and other militants since the start of the 10-month-old war.

Gaza faces a severe humanitarian crisis with Israeli restrictions on aid and ongoing fighting limiting access to crucial medical, food and other supplies. The Health Ministry says the death toll in the territory is nearing 40,000.

Regional tensions have soared since Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed July 31 in Iran by a presumed Israeli strike. Retaliation has been expected. French President Emmanuel Macron beseeched Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in a phone call to do everything in his power to avoid a new military escalation that he said would do lasting damage to regional stability.

World leaders have been pushing for a cease-fire in Gaza, and United States President Joe Biden spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Tuesday about their hopes for a deal calming tensions in the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet over the weekend that Israel is already in a multi-front war with Iran and its proxies.



Here's the latest:



Israeli military orders another mass evacuation in southern Gaza

Jerusalem: The Israeli military has ordered another mass evacuation in southern Gaza, saying its forces will soon operate there in response to Palestinian rocket fire.

The orders announced Thursday cover large areas in and around Khan Younis, Gaza's second-largest city, which suffered widespread destruction during air and ground operations earlier this year.

Associated Press video captured loud blasts and smoke rising over the city on Thursday.

Israeli forces have repeatedly returned to heavily destroyed areas of Gaza where they had fought earlier battles against Hamas and other militants since the start of the 10-month-old war. The military ordered an evacuation of much of Khan Younis in early July. The vast majority of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people has been displaced in the war, often multiple times, and hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid tent camps.

Others have remained in their homes despite being ordered to leave, saying nowhere in the isolated coastal territory feels safe.



Israel will no longer facilitate Norwegian diplomats to work in Palestine,' Norway's foreign minister says

Copenhagen (Denmark): Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said Thursday that the Scandinavian government was told that Israel "will no longer facilitate Norwegian diplomats to work in Palestine".

This is an extreme act that primarily affects our ability to help the Palestinian population, Barth Eide said, adding that it showed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government "actively opposes the work for a two-state solution".

He said at a news conference that it meant that Norway can no longer work from its representations in the occupied territories. Its representation in the West Bank town of Al Ram was opened in 1995.

Thursday's decision will have consequences for Norway's relationship with the Israeli government and they are considering the next steps, he said.

In May, Norway -- together with Spain and Ireland -- announced they would recognise a Palestinian state.



Rights group says Israeli soldiers killed at least 7 people sheltering in a Gaza City home

Jerusalem: Human Rights Watch says Israeli soldiers killed at least seven people and severely wounded two, including a 5-year-old, when they attacked a home in Gaza City where a Palestinian family was sheltering in December.

The New York-based rights group released a report Thursday based on interviews with two members of the al-Khalidi family who witnessed the attack, and video footage released by the Israeli military that placed forces in the vicinity of the home at the time.

The family members said there were no militants or weapons inside the house, and that the family had no connection to any armed group. They said the troops barged in without warning, hurling grenades and opening fire.

A pregnant woman was among those killed, and the 5-year-old is being treated for severe injuries in Qatar.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, and Human Rights Watch said the army had not responded to detailed questions sent in July.

Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians as it seeks to destroy Hamas following the militant group's October 7 attack into Israel, which triggered the ongoing war. But Israel's relentless aerial bombardment and ground operations have wiped out entire Palestinian families. The International Court of Justice is investigating allegations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, something Israel has adamantly denied.



Saudi Arabia condemns the killing of Haniyeh in Iran as a flagrant violation' of international law

Dubai: Saudi Arabia has condemned the targeted killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran as a flagrant violation of international law.

The statement issued early Thursday by Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed ElKhereiji came after the Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the largest bloc of Muslim countries, issued a similar statement following a high-level meeting the day before.

Iran has vowed to avenge the July 31 explosion that killed Ismail Haniyeh, which was widely blamed on Israel, raising fears of a regional war. Israel has not said whether it was involved.

ElKhereiji said the killing of Haniyeh was a flagrant violation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and constitutes a threat to regional peace and security.

The statement did not directly blame Israel but referred to Israeli attacks against Palestinians inside and outside the Palestinian territories. (AP) BHJ

BHJ
Islamabad, Aug 8 (PTI) Pakistan Army chief Gen Asim Munir on Thursday warned against attempts to create chaos in the cash-strapped country, saying the armed forces will foil any such move and safeguard national integrity.

His remarks came after many teasing comments appeared on social media, often comparing Pakistan's situation with that of Bangladesh where a popular uprising swept away a government which had won a landslide electoral victory.

"If someone tries to create chaos in Pakistan, by God, we will stand before him. No power in the world can harm Pakistan because this country is built to last, Gen Munir was quoted as saying by the Inter-Services Public Relations, the army's media wing.

Addressing a conference of Islamic clerics here, the army chief reiterated the military's dedication to preserving peace and stability in the country.

Gen Munir asked the clerics and scholars to encourage tolerance and unity in society instead of extremism or discrimination, saying they should "bring back moderation in the society and reject corruption in the world.

He also said that social media was spreading "anarchy" in the country.

Gen Munir pledged to uphold the principles of Islamic Sharia and the Constitution. He also criticised extremism and reiterated the Islamic teaching that "there is no coercion in religion" and condemned the backing of terrorism by criminal mafias.

Gen Munir also said that Pakistan had provided longstanding support to the Afghan refugees and urged Kabul to maintain peaceful relations with Pakistan.

"We are explaining to them (Afghan Taliban) not to oppose their neighbour, brother Islamic country and long-time friend for the sake of the Khawarij fitna (Pakistani Taliban), he said, referring to the demand by Pakistan from Kabul.

Gen Munir also referred to the Kashmir issue, saying the dispute was an incomplete agenda between Pakistan and India.

Addressing the same event, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted the unprecedented cooperation between the government and institutions.

"I want to say this without hesitation that in my 40-year-long political career, I have never seen the level of cooperation between the government and the constitutional institutions that exist today," he said.

He lamented the collective shortcomings since 1947 and urged the people to learn from past mistakes.
London, Aug 8 (PTI) Several members of the Indian diaspora gathered on the banks of the river Thames to greet INS Tabar and witness the grand sight of the iconic Tower Bridge lifting its moveable levers for the frontline frigate to pass through for its four-day visit to the UK.

A series of professional interactions between the Indian Navy and Royal Navy are planned as INS Tabar docked on Wednesday near HMS Belfast  a Second World War frigate now operated by the Imperial War Museum on the Thames.

INS Tabar, a stealth frigate built for the Indian Navy in Russia, is commanded by Captain M.R. Harish with approximately 280 personnel on board.

Indian Navys stealth frigate INS Tabar, during her ongoing Operational Deployment to European nations, arrived at London, UK, to a huge welcome by Indian diaspora present at the iconic Tower Bridge, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

A series of professional interactions between the Indian Navy and Royal Navy are planned during the four days of INS Tabar's stay at the London port.

The crew of INS Tabar would also offer community service to the retired pensioners of the Royal Army at Old Age Home, highlighting the ideology of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam. The ministry noted that these engagements seek to enhance bilateral relations, particularly in the maritime domain, and offer an opportunity to showcase Indian culture, the ministry noted.

The visit of the warship, part of the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy, forms part of a regular exchange between Indian and British navies. The naval forces of the two countries share a long-standing partnership, including a bilateral naval exercise called Konkan, which has been held annually for the past several years.

INS Tabar is equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors and is among the earliest stealth frigates of the Indian Navy, based in Mumbai under the Western Naval Command.
*Mohammad Yunus to take oath as head of interim govt in Bangladesh on Thursday.



US says it stands ready to work with Bangladesh's interim govt.



US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi condemns recent violence in Bangladesh.



President Droupadi Murmu discusses ways to boost bilateral cooperation with New Zealand's Governor General, Deputy PM.



Stories on political developments in Pakistan.



Stories on Mideast tensions.



Stories on Russia Ukraine war. * NSA

NSA
Qamishli (Syria), Aug 7 (AP) Violence surged in opposition-held areas of Syria on Wednesday as government-backed fighters killed at least two people in rare violence in the east, while a truck bomb exploded in the northern city of Azaz, killing nine people, the main US-backed force in the war-torn country and an opposition war monitor said.

Fighters backed by the Syrian government and Iran attacked areas controlled by US-backed fighters in the country's east, killing at least two people and wounding others, the main US-backed force in the war-torn country said on Wednesday.

To the west, a truck bomb exploded on Wednesday evening in the northern city of Azaz, which is controlled by Turkey-backed opposition fighters, killing nine people and wounding 11, the opposition's Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, said.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in Azaz, which has witnessed such bombings in the past. Turkey has launched three major cross-border operations in Syria since 2016 and controls some Syrian territory in the north.

The clashes in Syria's eastern province of Deir el-Zour, which borders Iraq, came amid high tension in the region following last week's killings of a top military commander of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group in Beirut and the leader of the Palestinian Hamas group Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. Israel was blamed for both attacks, and Iran and Hezbollah have vowed to retaliate.

The clashes in eastern Syria are the most intense in nearly a year in areas where hundreds of US troops have been deployed since 2015 to help in the fight against the Islamic State group.

Syrian government forces and Iran-backed fighters are deployed on the west bank of the Euphrates River in Deir el-Zour, while members of the US-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces control the east banks of the river.

The SDF said in a statement that Syrian regime-backed mercenaries attacked the villages of Dhiban, Latwa and Abu Hamam starting late Tuesday. It added that fighting was ongoing Wednesday as the SDF tries to bring the situation under control.

Dhiban lies a few kilometers (miles) from the al-Omar oil field that houses SDF fighters and US troops at a base there.

Kurdish-led authorities imposed an open-ended curfew in areas they control on the east bank of the Euphrates, saying that anyone that violates the order will be referred to judicial authorities.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the SDF brought reinforcements to the area as the fighting continued Wednesday.

The SDF and the Observatory said the clashes and shelling left two people dead and five others wounded.

Pro-government media outlets said the attacks were carried out by local Arab tribesmen against the SDF, saying that several people were wounded in government-held areas.

On Monday, a rocket attack on a base housing US troops in western Iraq left several American personnel wounded.

The rocket attack came days after a strike near a base of an Iran-backed Iraqi militia southwest of Baghdad killed at least one militant and wounded two others.

The attack on SDF fighters comes days after an umbrella group of Iran-backed Iraqi militias dubbed the Islamic Resistance resumed rocket attacks on US military bases in the country and in eastern Syria. (AP) PY

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Cairo, Aug 7 (AP) Egypt's Civil Aviation Ministry said on Wednesday it has ordered Egyptian airlines to avoid Iranian airspace for three hours the following day after a notice from Tehran to do so because of military exercises.

The warning comes amid soaring tensions in the region following last week's assassination of Hamas' leader in Tehran.

The Egyptian ministry said the warning came in a notice sent by Iran to all commercial airlines. There was no immediate confirmation from Iranian authorities or other carriers.

The ministry said the ban from Iranian airspace was to last for three hours, 4:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. on Thursday. Iran's warning also covered three hours earlier on Wednesday.

Israel has been bracing for an attack by Iran and its allied militias over the assassinations in Tehran of Hamas' top leader Ismail Haniyeh and a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.

Iran and Hamas have blamed Israel for the July 31 explosion in Tehran that killed Haniyeh. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.

The escalation prompted many international carriers to suspend flights to Lebanon, Israel and Iran. (AP) PY

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Caracas (Venezuela), Aug 8 (AP) The last time anyone heard from Edni Lopez was Sunday. The 33-year-old political science professor and award-winning poet was preparing to board a flight to Argentina to visit a friend when she texted from the airport that something was wrong with her passport.

Migration took my passport because it's showing up as expired, she wrote her boyfriend in the message shared with The Associated Press. I pray to God I don't get screwed because of a system error.

What happened next remains a mystery  one contributing to the climate of fear and repression that has engulfed Venezuela following its disputed presidential election, the most serious wave of human rights abuses since Latin America's military dictatorships in the 1970s.

When Lopez's mother, Ninoska Barrios, and her friends learned she didn't board the flight, they started frantically combing detention centres. Finally, on Tuesday  more than 48 hours later  they learned she was being held, incommunicado, by Venezuela's feared military intelligence police on unknown criminal charges, unable to see an attorney or speak with her family.

Please, give back my daughter, a sobbing Barrios pleaded Tuesday outside Venezuela's top human rights office in a video that went viral on social media. It's not right that a Venezuelan mother has to go through all this.

Lopez's arrest isn't unique. Since the July 28 presidential election, security forces have rounded up more than 2,000 people for demonstrating against President Nicolas Maduro or casting doubt on his claim he won a third term despite strong evidence he lost the vote by a more than 2-to-1 margin. Another 24 have been killed, according to local human rights group Provea.

The spree of detentions  urged on by Maduro himself  is unprecedented, and puts Venezuela on pace to easily exceed those jailed during three previous crackdowns against Maduro's opponents.

Those arrested include journalists, political leaders, campaign staffers and an attorney defending protesters. Others have had their Venezuelan passports annulled trying to leave the country. One local activist even livestreamed her arrest by military intelligence officers as they broke into her home with a crowbar.

You're entering my home arbitrarily, without any search warrant, Maria Oropeza, an opposition campaign leader in rural Portuguesa state, says in the livestream that abruptly ends after three minutes. I'm not a delinquent. I'm just an average citizen who wants a different country.

The repression, much of it seemingly random and arbitrary, is having a chilling effect, said Phil Gunson, a Caracas-based analyst for the International Crisis Group.

It's not just discouraging protests. People are scared to go on the streets, period, said Gunson, adding that parents of teenage boys are especially worried. There's a sense that police have a quota to fill and anyone can be stopped and carted away as a suspected subversive.

The threats start at the top.

They're hiding rats but we're going to grab them, ruling socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello said about several prominent opponents in an address to the Maduro-controlled legislature a day after the election.

Meanwhile, Maduro has called on Venezuelans to denounce election doubters via a government-run app originally created to report power outages and complaints about state-provided services. He also said the government was refurbishing two gang-dominated prisons to accommodate an expected surge of jailed guarimberos  his dismissive term for middle-class protesters who barricaded themselves in the streets for weeks in 2014 and 2017.

There will be no mercy," Maduro said on state TV.

But complicating efforts to crush dissent is the changing face of the government's opponents.

While demonstrations have been far smaller and tamer than during past bouts of unrest, they're now more spontaneous, often leaderless and made up of youth  some barely teenagers  from Caracas' hillside slums who have traditionally been a rock solid base of support for the government.

I don't care how many people have to die," Cleiver Acuna, a 21-year-old tattoo artist, said at one recent grassroots march where protesters climbed up lampposts to tear down Maduro campaign posters.

What I want is my freedom. My homeland. I want to live in the Venezuela my grandparents once told me about.

Maria Corina Machado, the opposition powerhouse who rallied Venezuelans behind a last-minute stand-in candidate after she was barred from running against Maduro, has also urged restraint, reflecting the fear many feel.

There are times to go out, times to meet, and demonstrate all our strength and determination and embrace each other, just as there are times to prepare, to organise, to communicate and to consult with our allies around the world, which are many, she said in a recorded message posted online Tuesday.

An operational pause is sometimes necessary.

But the swiftness of the government's clampdown does seem to be working. In just 10 days, security forces have rounded up nearly the same number of people as they did over five months in 2017, according to Provea.

Operation Knock-Knock is a prime tool of state terrorism, said Oscar Murillo, the head of Provea, referring to the surprise, middle-of-the-night detentions touted as a scare tactic by Cabello and others.

In the low-income Caracas neighbourhood of Catia, once a ruling party stronghold, no one talks politics these days. One woman closed her business when protests began nearby and ran home. Videos of the demonstration flooded her phone over the next several hours, but she deleted them for fear the government was tracking social media posts to identify critics.

I could get arrested just for having them, she said.

The sudden silence is a sharp break from the hopeful mood preceding the election as emboldened opposition supporters confronted security forces who attempted to block anti-Maduro rallies. They served food, lent vehicles to opposition leader and opened their businesses to them despite knowing they would suffer retaliation from the police or have their businesses shut down.

Even before the current unrest, Venezuela's human rights record was under intense scrutiny. Maduro is the target of an investigation by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the past.

Maduro's tactics have been likened to those in Central and South America in the 1970s when military dictatorships rounded up opponents and sometimes innocent bystanders. Many were killed, and in Argentina, some even drugged and dropped from airplanes into the ocean, with no trace of ever having been detained.

Maduro's alleged abuses have little in common with those Dirty War campaigns by state security forces.

But the goal of instilling fear is the same, said Santiago Canton, an Argentine lawyer and secretary general of the Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists, a watchdog group.

Canton said Lopez's case reminded him of the disappearance in Argentina in 1977 of a female activist pulled off a plane bound for Venezuela and never seen again. At the time, oil-rich Venezuela was the wealthiest country in South America and a democratic refuge for exiles fleeing military regimes across the region.

What happened 50 years ago is unlikely to occur again, said Canton, who previously led the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. But social media is a multiplier factor that didn't exist before so you can be more selective with the use of force and achieve the same results.

Machado tried Thursday to pressure other nations to help end the oppression. I feel that there has been a lack of firmness from all governments, from all sectors, to demand an immediate end to the madness that is happening, she told reporters.

Meanwhile, Lopez's friends and family are at a loss to explain why she was targeted.

Since 2020, she's been carrying out relief work in poor communities, for which she was honoured as one of Venezuela's 100 Protagonist Women by the Netherlands' Embassy in Caracas. The work is strictly humanitarian, and Lopez doesn't belong to any political movement.

Her social media profile is void of any anti-government content, consisting mainly of whimsical drawings of butterflies, poems she penned and pictures of beaches and sand dunes from her travels across Venezuela.

Cristina Ramirez, who moved to Argentina from Caracas eight years ago, joining over 7.7 million Venezuelans who've fled the country, said she bought a ticket for Lopez in May so her friend could enjoy a much-deserved vacation.

The two were looking forward to catching up after a long separation and a difficult year for Lopez, whose family is struggling financially. She worries that her friend, who takes medicine for diabetes, is suffering in prison without knowing what led to the nightmare.

It was going to be her first trip outside Venezuela, Ramirez said in a phone interview. I'm still waiting for her. (AP) PY

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Sao Paulo, Aug 8 (AP) Brazil's government on Thursday kicked out Nicaragua's ambassador to the nation in retaliation for a similar move by the Central American country's President Daniel Ortega.

The press office of Brazil's foreign ministry confirmed to The Associated Press that it had decided to expel Nicaraguan ambassador Fulvia Patricia Castro Matu. It said Brazil's ambassador to Nicaragua, Breno da Costa, was expelled Monday.

The office said da Costa was kicked out for failing to attend the 45th anniversary celebrations of Nicaragua's Sandinista revolution. Ortega, whose critics see him as an authoritarian leader, was a guerrilla fighter in that movement.

An ongoing rift between Ortega and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, two former allies, has grown over the last year.

A diplomatic source in Brasilia told the AP that Nicaragua's government protested two weeks ago against da Costa's absence from the festivities opening the way to kick him out. The source, who spoke under condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak about the matter publicly, added that the Brazilian ambassador was following orders from the foreign ministry.

The foreign ministry hadn't previously confirmed local media reports of the Brazilian ambassador's expulsion.

The divisions between Ortega and the Brazilian president Lula, two former allies, have grown over the last year, with Brazil freezing relations with the Central American country. That means no visits or meetings between leaders and diplomats of the two countries.

Lula, who previously supported Ortega's presidency, steered away from Ortega after the Nicaraguan leader ignored a request from Pope Francis to stop repression against Catholic clergymen in the Central American nation.

Leticia Bessa, an administrative assistant at the Nicaraguan embassy in Brazil's capital, said Matu left the country before Brazil's foreign ministry finalised its decision.

Nicaragua's Vice President Rosario Murillo, who is also first lady and the government's main spokesperson, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the diplomatic spat.

During a press conference with international news agencies in Brasilia on July 22, Lula told reporters that Ortega was not answering his phone calls. (AP) PY

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Mumbai, Aug 8 (PTI) A 35-year-old labourer died after falling into a manhole in Borivali West in the northern part of Mumbai on Thursday, a civic official said.

The incident happened at 4:30pm near Ambaji Mandir close to Gokhale school on Shimpoli road and the deceased has been identified as Sunil Siddharth Wakode, a contract worker.

"The manhole, which is part of the BMC sewerage line, was forcefully opened by a hotel owner for cleaning for which he deputed private contract labourers. While it was being cleaned, Wakhode fell inside. He was declared dead on arrival at Babasaheb Ambedkar hospital. Fire brigade and ward staff were sent to the site," a release said.
Nagpur, Aug 8 (PTI) A Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) functionary on Thursday said as long as India retains its Hindu majority character, a Bangladesh-like situation of civil unrest and mass uprising will not arise in the country.

Addressing a press conference here, VHP (Goa & Maharashtra) regional secretary Govind Shende maintained the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh is facing atrocities amid turmoil in the neighbouring country.

Shende said shops, offices, homes and temples of Hindus are not safe in Bangladesh due to the presence of radical elements there.

The VHP leader urged the world community to ensure the safety of Hindus in that country.

Asked by reporters if a Bangladesh-like situation could happen in India as well, Shende said, "Hindus should ponder over it...and that is why we are saying every Hindu should have two children. If Hindus remain in majority then such a situation will not arise (in India), but if Hindus are not in majority then such a situation can arise."

Hindus are facing brutal violence in Bangladesh following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led government. The neighbouring country has witnessed a spike in crime against Hindus and the destruction of their temples after it was engulfed by civil unrest which started with student protests against the quota system and morphed into a mass uprising against then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, leading to her ouster.

Several Hindu temples, households and businesses have been vandalised and at least two Hindu leaders affiliated with Hasinas Awami League party were killed in the violence since Monday when Hasina resigned and fled to India.

At least 232 people were killed in Bangladesh in the incidents of violence that erupted across the country following the fall of the Hasina government on Monday, taking the toll to 560 since the anti-quota protests first started in mid-July.
Pune, Aug 7 (PTI) Seventeen workers of a food processing unit in the Yavat area of Pune district were hospitalised following an ammonia gas leak on Wednesday, police said.

The unit located at Bhandgaon near Yavat manufactures ready-to-eat food and requires temperatures below 18 degrees Celsius, which is maintained using ammonia.

"On Wednesday, ammonia leaked in one of the sections. At the time of the incident, 25 people, mostly women, were working," said Narayan Deshmukh, Senior Police Inspector at Yavat Police Station.

Seventeen of the workers were affected by the gas leak, a woman among them more than the others as she was closest to the leakage point, Deshmukh said.

"After the leak, the main regulator was switched off, and the affected workers were rushed to a hospital with complaints of breathlessness and uneasiness. Sixteen of the workers are stable. The woman who was directly exposed to the gas is currently undergoing treatment in the ICU. She is under observation but her condition is stable and she is out of danger," he added. PTi SPK TIR

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Kolkata, Aug 8 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the residence of her predecessor Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who died on Thursday morning.

Banerjee, who expressed shock and sadness at the demise of her predecessor in an X post, went inside the two-room government apartment of Bhattacharjee at Palm Avenue in south Kolkata.

She had also visited Bhattacharjee a few times when he was ill.

Left Front chairman Biman Bose, CPI(M) state secretary Mohd Salim and several other party leaders went to their residence.

Many party workers and common people gathered near the residence to pay their last respects.
Guwahati, Aug 8 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday expressed grief over the death of former West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and described the CPI(M) leader as a stalwart in public service.

Sarma said Bhattacharjee's extensive experience in public life has left an "indelible mark".

"I am deeply pained by the passing away of the Former Chief Minister of West Bengal Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee", Sarma posted on 'X'.

"A stalwart in public service, his extensive experience of over five decades as an MLA, minister and later as chief minister has left an indelible mark," he said.

His simplicity, rich contributions to Bengali literature and commitment to community service were noteworthy, he said.

"My heartfelt condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti," the chief minister.

Bhattacharjee died on Thursday in Kolkata, following a prolonged illness.
Agartala, Aug 8 (PTI) Polling for the three-tier panchayat elections in Tripura was held largely peacefully on Thursday and a turnout of 79 per cent was recorded, officials said.

There are a total of 6,889 seats in the panchayat system, which comprises gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zilla parishads, and the BJP won 4,805 seats uncontested. Polling was held for the remaining 2,150 seats, they said.

State Election Commission (SEC) secretary Asit Kumar Das told PTI that a voter turnout of 79 per cent was recorded till 4 pm, when the polling was supposed to conclude.

The final turnout will increase as there were a lot of people in the queue waiting to vote, he said.

"The polling was by and large peaceful with no major incident reported," he added.

According to the SEC, re-polling is likely to be ordered in a booth in Kumarghat block of Unakoti district as an error in ballot papers was reported.

AIG (Law & Order) Ananta Das said some minor incidents were reported from a few areas, and security personnel intervened swiftly.

The ruling BJP thanked the voters, poll personnel and security forces for a "smooth and peaceful" election.

"People voted in a festive mood. We are confident that the party will win the remaining seats of the panchayat," state BJP's chief spokesperson Subrata Chakraborty said.

The CPI(M) urged the SEC to examine the complaints it lodged.

"Despite forceful victory in 71 per cent seats, the BJP seemed scared to face the opposition in the 29 per cent seats. The ruling party prevented voters from exercising their democratic rights in many places. Though many of our polling agents were forced to flee the booths, the police remained a silent spectator," CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury said.
Ranchi, Aug 8 (PTI) The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday directed the state government to take immediate action against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants entering the state through the Santhal Parganas.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai gave the direction while hearing a PIL filed by one Daniel Danish.

The court observed that illegal immigration will be on the rise in view of the present unstable situation in Bangladesh.

The bench ordered the director of the intelligence bureau, director general of the BSF, chief election commissioner of India, and director general of the Unique Identification Authority of India to be made parties in the case.

The court while issuing notices to them ordered them to file a response in the matter.

The court also suggested that the government should conduct a sudden inspection of Aadhaar cards and voter identity cards.

These drives will not only help in identifying the illegal settlers but will also deter others from trying to come into India illegally, the judges held.

The court also held that the state and Union governments will have to work together to tackle the problem of illegal immigration.

In the present scenario of Bangladesh, the situation is going to be more volatile, the judges held.

The case will again be heard on August 22.

The petition claimed that immigrants from Bangladesh have entered the state through the Santhal Parganas.

The demographic structure of the tribal populace in Santhal Pargana is already disturbed by the influx of Bangladeshi residents, the petition said, adding that it was a serious threat to the sovereignty of the country.

Illegal immigrants from Bangladesh have made their way into the state through the six districts in the Santhal Pargana -- Deoghar, Dumka, Pakur, Godda, Sahebgunj and Jamtara, the petitioner said.
Itanagar, Aug 8 (PTI) A body of students in Arunachal Pradesh has urged the government to enhance vigil along the inter-state border to prevent a possible entry of illegal immigrants from violence-hit Bangladesh.

In a representation to state Home Minister Mama Natung, All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) said several reports suggested that many people in the neighbouring country were displaced and made attempts to enter India illegally.

In the wake of the turmoil in Bangladesh, we have received disturbing reports of a large number of people being displaced and attempting to enter India illegally," it said.

The apex student body of the state said it was deeply concerned about the "possible entry of illegal immigrants into Arunachal Pradesh, which could disrupt the tribal ecology and the demographic balance of our state", the AAPSU said in its representation to the minister.

We strongly appeal to the government to take serious and immediate measures to prevent any illegal immigration, it said.

The students body firmly believes that these measures are crucial to safeguarding the interests of the indigenous communities and maintaining the socio-cultural integrity of the state.

We trust that the government will act promptly and decisively to address this pressing issue, the AAPSU representation added.

The death toll in the anti-government protests in Bangladesh on Tuesday climbed to 440, according to local media, even as efforts were on by the army to bring the situation under control in the violence-hit nation.



Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus was appointed as the head of Bangladesh's interim government by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country following deadly protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs.

Several residents across Bangladesh spent a sleepless night as they gathered in groups to guard the streets amid fears of robbery and looting by criminals in the violence-hit country, where the interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is all set to take oath on Thursday.
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) The proxy war by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, whose "sudden escalation" we are seeing in south of Pir Panjal, and prolonged border dispute with China are two major security challenges that India faces, while the issue of instability in "our neighbourhood" is another "cause of concern" for the nation, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said on Thursday.

His remarks come in the backdrop of the ongoing political situation in Bangladesh.

Addressing a conference hosted by industry body FICCI in New Delhi, General Chauhan said the "global geopolitical environment is in a state of a flux".

"And, I believe that we are passing through an era of great global disruption. It encompasses technological disruption, economic, environmental whether it is climate change, demographic, migration of people or whether it is peace and security," General Chauhan said.

The global security environment has been "altered actually by two major wars" that are not only intense but also been protracted for a very, very long time, he added.

"However, there are other conflicts also, ranging from other parts of the world, be it Myanmar, be it Sudan or Congo. The war in Libya, Syria, Yemen and Armenia may have settled out for the time being, but peace or lasting peace is elusive," the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) said.

He said in his view, actually, "the world is in the most violent phase of its existence, ever since World War II".

"The vagaries of this VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) (of the) world are severely impacting global defence supply chains, especially ammunition. The global arms industry is presently grappling between this widening gap of demand and supply," the CDS added.

Underscoring the significance of civil-military fusion, he called upon the "troika" of the Services, defence industries and scientists, including the academia to come together for promoting the nation's 'Aatmanirbharta' drive.

General Chauhan in his address also spoke of India's security challenges.

"India has its own share of challenges, security challenges, we have a proxy war... by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, whose sudden escalation we are seeing in south of Pir Panjal, and the prolonged border dispute with China is yet to abate. These are two major security challenges that we face," he said.

The issue of instability in "our neighbourhood is another cause of concern for us," the CDS said, without naming any country.

General Chauhan asserted that strong armed force backed by strong industrial sector is hence a sine qua non for the nation-state.

"For a large nation like India with plentitude of security problems, it cannot remain dependent on foreign imports for war-fighting and sustenance, especially in an environment where the global security environment is in a state of flux. And, we have live borders...," he said.

The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a standoff in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides have completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.

"India's quest for 'Atmanirbharata' is central to maintaining strategic autonomy," the CDS said.

Innovations during a war that is applicable not just for technology or tactics but also for ammunition. One sees it happening in Ukraine, as even during Kargil war it happened, he said.

General Chauhan said indigenous capabilities can also open up "new vistas" not only for defence industry but also for defence diplomacy.

The reliance on imports to bridge this gap is becoming a necessity of most nations, highlighting global interdependence in defence supplies. But as the saying goes in every challenge there is an opportunity and in ever cloud there is a silver lining, the CDS said.

"These disruptions have presented an opportunity for the global defence arms manufactures including ammunition factories, including Indian markets," he added.
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) The democratic representation and decision-making powers of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) have been retained following the formation of the Union Territory of Ladakh in 2019, the government informed Parliament on Thursday.

These LAHDCs continue to exercise executive powers over different subjects within their respective districts, the government also said in response to a query regarding the extension of tribal area status to the Union Territory (UT).

The LAHDCs in Leh and Kargil function as District Planning and Development Boards and prepare plans for different programmes and policies. They reflect the demands and aspirations of the local population, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey said in response to a question by Congress MPs Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka and Tanuj Punia.

Ulaka and Punia had asked whether the government intends to extend the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution to Ladakh, and the reasons behind the delay in granting tribal area status to the UT.

The minister said the matter of the Sixth Schedule under Article 244(2) of the Constitution and the UT of Ladakh falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

He said the MHA informed that "democratic representation and decision-making powers of the LAHDCs have been retained after the formation of the Union Territory.

"Periodic elections for the Hill Development Councils, Panchayati Raj institutions, and members of Parliament are being conducted to ensure continued democratic representation in the UT," he said.

The minister said LAHDCs exercise executive powers over various subjects within their respective districts. According to the mandate of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Act, 1997, the LAHDCs function as District Planning and Development Boards and independently prepare plans for different programmes and policies of the UT, taking into account the demands and aspirations of the people, he added.

Uikey also said the MHA is providing adequate funds to the LAHDCs through budgetary grants to the UT of Ladakh.

The CAPEX allocation to these councils has been increased from Rs 183 crore in 2019-20 to Rs 600 crore in 2023-24 to meet their funding requirements for developmental activities in their respective districts, he said.

The minister also told Lok Sabha that the MHA has set up a high-powered committee under the minister of state for home affairs for Ladakh to ensure protection of the region's unique culture, language, land and employment.

A section of the local population, led by climate activist Soman Wangchuk, has been demanding that Ladakh be included under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to protect the land, employment and cultural identity of the local community.

The Sixth Schedule provides for the creation of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) with legislative, judicial and administrative autonomy within a state.

These councils govern areas under their jurisdiction, enact laws on specific matters with the governor's assent, establish village councils or courts for dispute resolution and manage local facilities and services, including education and healthcare. They also have the authority to impose taxes and regulate certain activities.
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) A fire broke out at a Delhi Police's vehicle impounding yard in Northeast Delhi's Wazirabad area Thursday morning, officials said.

A Delhi Fire Service (DFS) official said they received the first call about the fire in bushes near the yard around 5.15 am and another call half an hour later about the blaze catching impounded vehicles.

At least 12 fire tenders have been pressed into service, he said, adding no one is injured in the incident, he said.

An operation to control the fire is underway, he said.

This is a second such fire incident at the Wazirabad yard within a week.
Jaipur, Aug 8 (PTI) Rajasthan BJP MLA Amritlal Meena died of a cardiac arrest Wednesday night, party sources said. He was 65.

Meena was admitted to the MB Government Hospital in Udaipur after he complained of chest pain last night. He died at the hospital, the sources said.

Meena served as MLA three times since 2013.
Lucknow, Aug 7 (PTI) A day after a 30-year-old woman suffered severe burn injuries following a self-immolation bid near Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's residence in the Vikramaditya Marg area here, claiming torture by her husband and in-laws, police arrested her lawyer on Wednesday for allegedly inciting her for the act.

The husband of the woman and his brother have already been arrested.

According to a press statement issued by the Lucknow Police, Sunil Kumar, the woman's lawyer, was arrested for allegedly inciting her for the act.

Police have alleged that Kumar incited the woman with an intention of "maligning the image of police and the government".

An FIR has been lodged against Kumar at the Gautam Palli police station.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Lucknow Central) Raveena Tyagi on Tuesday said Anjali Jatav, the mother of a one-year-old boy from Unnao district, had accused her husband and in-laws of subjecting her to physical as well as mental harassment.

The woman attempted to immolate herself by pouring a flammable liquid on her body near Vikramaditya Marg within the Gautam Palli police station limits.

Police personnel extinguished the flames and got her admitted to the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee (Civil) Hospital, where doctors confirmed that she had suffered 90-per cent burns.

Unnao district authorities said in a statement on Tuesday that instructions were issued to initiate action in the case, leading to the arrest of Jatav's husband and his brother on charges of harassment.
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 8 (PTI) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said the reasons given by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Lok Sabha for certain railway projects not being implemented in the state despite being sanctioned years ago are "politically motivated and misleading".





The railway minister had on July 24 said in the Lower House of Parliament that the Kerala government has not been very cooperative on railway projects and emphasised that a lot more can be done in the state provided there is government support for land acquisition.







His remarks came during Question Hour, while responding to supplementaries related to the proposed Angamaly-Sabarimala railway line project, which was sanctioned as far back as 27 years ago in 1997-98.







Hitting back at Vaishnaw, Vijayan said that the union minister's "response regarding the Angamaly-Sabarimala rail project was politically motivated and misleading".







He said that it was the Centre and railways' "apathy and complacency" that has stalled the project.







"This is nothing but an attempt to run away from discharging the railways responsibility. The Angamaly-Sabarimala railway line was announced in the 1997-98 Railway Budget, and the state has extended all possible support in this regard," the CM said.







Vijayan said that the alignment for the project was approved, and land acquisition for the 70-km stretch from Angamaly to Ramapuram had commenced.







"The state government had assured that it would bear 50 per cent of the project cost. It is the union government and the ministry of railways that have shown apathy by not moving forward with the project," he said, while responding to a query from reporters regarding Vaishnaw's remarks.







The CM further claimed that due to delays by the union government, there has been a significant increase in the cost estimate for the Sabarimala railway line.







"The initial estimate was Rs 2,815 crore, but the revised estimate has gone up to Rs 3,811 crore, an increase of 36 per cent. The Union Government now expects the state to bear this additional burden as well," he said.







Vijayan said that the state government was not opposed to any new projects, including the Chengannur-Pamba railway line, but the central government was yet to seek any details from Kerala about it.







"In the last budget, not only were no new projects announced for Kerala, but even existing projects like the Thalassery-Nanjangud, Nilambur-Mysore, and Angamaly-Sabarimala railway lines were not allocated any funds," he said.







Slamming Vaishnaw's remarks, the CM said it was "inappropriate" to spread misinformation without implementing previously announced projects.







"The union railway minister stated in Parliament that Rs 2,125 crore was allocated for the Angamaly-Sabarimala railway line, but was not spent by the state. This statement is entirely false.







"The minister spoke in Parliament so as to suggest that the funds allocated for land acquisition across Kerala were specifically set aside for the Sabarimala rail line," he said.







Vijayan further claimed that for the railway line from Thiruvananthapuram to Parassala, 49.50 hectare were acquired and handed over to the Railways, and other procedures are ongoing.







Besides that, of the Rs 2,125 crore allocated by the Railways, Rs 1,823 crore has already been deposited for three projects, he added.







"It is clear who is responsible for the lack of progress on the Sabarimala rail line. The state has not been negligent or indifferent in this matter," he said.







Vijayan further said that as the CM, he had written to Vaishnaw requesting the revival of the Sabarimala railway line and the allocation of the necessary funds in the budget.







"I had raised this issue during a meeting with the railway minister in October 2021 as well. In June 2023, I sent a detailed letter requesting urgent intervention regarding various railway projects, including the Angamaly-Sabarimala line.







"After the new union government took office, the state sent another detailed letter to the union minister on June 21, 2024. Additionally, the chief secretary and the states special representative in Delhi have also sent letters on this matter," he said.







However, despite all these communications, there has been no positive response from the central government, he said.







"It is not only in this issue that Kerala has faced such a bad experience from the railways," he added.







According to Vaishnaw, further works on the Angamaly-Sabarimala line could not be taken forward due to protests by local people against land acquisition and fixing of alignment of the line, court cases filed against the project and inadequate support from the Kerala government.







He had also contended that a lot more can be done in Kerala if the "state government supports us".







The railways minister had also said that though fund allocation has increased manifold, the pace of execution of the project was dependent on expeditious land acquisition.







He highlighted that fund allocation for the railways in Kerala has increased substantially since 2014 and the average outlay stood at Rs 2,033 crore in 2023-24 compared to Rs 372 crore annually during 2009-14 period.
Imphal, Aug 8 (PTI) Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday asserted that his government shifted people from ethnic violence-hit areas such as Churachandpur, Moreh and Imphal to safer places to protect them.

Responding to the opposition's queries on shifting of people from Churachandpur and Moreh to Imphal Valley and from the state capital to hills, Singh said, "The night violence broke out (May 3), we couldn't sleep. We were in the office discussing things to be done immediately."

"Those affected in Moreh were kept at an Assam Rifles camp and those in Churachandpur were in the Secretariat. Initially, we thought of keeping them there itself but there were constant cries for help and there was pressure from all sides claiming the affected were not safe in their present locations. Hence, with saving lives being our top priority, the government decided to evacuate them," he said.

Questions are now being raised as to why they were shifted from Churachandpur and Moreh to Imphal Valley and vice versa but had they not been shifted and had there been unfortunate incidents, it would have raised a different question, and created much frustration, the CM said.

Singh, said "Mobs numbering tens of thousands had assembled and you cannot simply fire on the people indiscriminately."

"There are plenty working to sabotage the peace process. Only a day after peace initiatives were announced in Jiribam district, there were incidents of arson. There were many who still want the conflict to continue as well as build it up," he alleged.

"Still, we are seeing signs of peace. Recently, 133 people who had fled their homes in Jiribam have returned to their respective homes. We are working to ensure that those displaced also return to their homes," he said.

More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless after ethnic violence broke out between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and hills-based Kukis since May last year.
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) The third edition of 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign will be celebrated from August 9 to 15 to mark the 78th Independence Day, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Thursday here.

"The initiative aims to instil spirit of patriotism and national pride among citizens by encouraging every Indian to hoist the national flag," he said during an interaction with reporters.

The minister urged citizens to hoist the tricolour at their homes and click a selfie with the flag and upload it on the HGT portal.

He said 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign was started under the banner of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in 2022 and it has grown into a people's movement.

In 2022, the national flag was hoisted at more than 23 crore homes and six crore people uploaded their selfies with the flag on HGT portal.

In 2023, over 10 crore selfies were uploaded under the HGT campaign, the Culture Ministry said in a statement.

A highlight of the campaign is a special 'Tiranga Bike Rally' featuring members of Parliament, which will take place in Delhi on August 13.

The rally will start from Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, and end at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, passing through India Gate, it said.
IDF: Changes in the Home Front Command Defensive Guidelines Following a situational assessment, it was determined that as of today (Tuesday) at 6:00PM, changes will be made to the Home Front Commands defensive guidelines. As part of the changes, it was decided that in the area of the Haifa Bay (HaMifratz), specifically the communities of Kiryat Ata, Kiryat Bialik, Kiryat Yam, and Kiryat Motzkin, the activity scale will be changed from Partial Activity to Limited Activity, meaning educational activities are prohibited. The rest of the countrys guidelines remain unchanged. The instructions published on the official Home Front Command channels must be followed. The full instructions are updated on the National Emergency Portal and the Home Front Command app.

WATCH: IDFs 98th Division Conducts Targeted Raids Against Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon The IDFs 98th Division, including the Paratroopers Brigade, Commando Brigade, 7th Brigade, and Yahalom Unit, has carried out a series of targeted operations against Hezbollah strongholds near Israels border with southern Lebanon. During these limited raids, the division has eliminated hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists, dismantled several underground tunnel routes, and destroyed dozens of terrorist infrastructure sites and combat compounds. Hezbollah had embedded hundreds of weapons along the border, which were located and destroyed by the IDF. The ongoing operations aim to neutralize Hezbollahs capabilities in the region. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/08103301/WhatsApp-Video-2024-10-08-at-10.30.15-AM.mp4 https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/08103309/WhatsApp-Video-2024-10-08-at-10.30.00-AM.mp4 https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/08103318/WhatsApp-Video-2024-10-08-at-10.29.49-AM.mp4

Hezbollah Fires Rockets Into Central Israel Interceptions seen over Central Israel after Hezbollah fired rockets. No reports of injuries. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/07162808/WhatsApp-Video-2024-10-07-at-4.26.19-PM.mp4

Air France Extends Flight Suspensions to Tel Aviv and Beirut Due to Regional Security Concerns Air France announced on Monday that it will continue suspending flights between Paris and Tel Aviv until October 15, and between Paris and Beirut until October 26, citing ongoing security concerns in the area, according to a company spokesperson.

Netanyahus Address at the State Ceremony to Mark One Year since the October 7 Massacre Following is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus address at the state ceremony to mark one year since the October 7 massacre [translated from Hebrew]: Citizens of Israel, A year ago, on October 7th, we were all hurled into a critical battle. That day, a Saturday, the Sabbath and the holiday of Simchat Torah, will be etched in the history of our nation as a day of grief and loss, of unimaginable agony. On that day, the Hamas monsters attacked our communities, our brothers and sisters, who are so dear to our hearts. They murdered and kidnapped babies and children, adults and old people. They tortured, maimed, raped, burned and destroyed. The memory of our citizens who were killed in the terrorist attack, and the memory of all the fallen heroes from the IDF and security forces, will be cherished forever. On October 7th, we were all hurled into a critical battle, but we were not defeated. On the contrary, it is we who are acting to defeat and deter our enemies. And, as we have often experienced in our history, it is in dark moments such as these that we exude our great inner power. We rallied together to defend our country, our homeland. We mustered immense mental strength. We outlined the goals of the war and we are achieving them: toppling the rule of Hamas; bringing all the hostages home, the living and the deceased alikethis is a sacred mission and we will not stop until we complete it; eliminating any future threat from Gaza to Israel; and returning the residents of the south and the north safely to their homes. We are doing this with solidarity unlike anything among the nations. When put to the test we proved, once again, that we are the Eternal People. A people that fights to bring light to this world, that aspires to spread good and eradicate evil. A people that rises like a lion, leaps up like a lion. Every time my wife and I meet with our soldiers, our wounded, with bereaved families, we hear the same message over and over again: we mustnt stop the war prematurely. As long as the enemy threatens our existence and the peace of our country, we will continue to fight. As long as our hostages are still in Gaza, we will continue to fight. We will not forsake any of them. I will not give up. As long as our citizens have not returned to their homes safely, we will continue to fight. We will continue to fight, and unitedwe will win. And when we win, not only for our sake but for the sake of future generations and for all humanity, we will rebuild the Tekuma region even bigger. When we hold onto the roots, the tree of life will grow back

.

Laly Derai, the mother of Saadia, who fell in battle said: Shadow is not darkness. Shadow is a sign that there is light from behind. Even if a mountain of grief obscures the light, we must all, as a nation, climb the mountain, because the light exists. We must always aim up, towards the light. Citizens of Israel, my dear brothers and sisters, Victory is the light. Victory guarantees eternity. October 7th will symbolize for generations the cost of our revival, and for generations it will demonstrate how determined we are and how strong our spirit is. Together we will continue to fight. And together, with Gods help we will win. Am Yisrael Chai!

NOW: Hamas Protests At Brooklyn College Pro-Hamas protestors are at Brooklyn College, as thousands are expected to protest at multiple locations around NYC on Monday. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/07142419/WhatsApp-Video-2024-10-07-at-2.23.01-PM.mp4

Home Front Command Eases Restrictions in Parts of Northern Israel, Allows Limited Educational Activities Following a situational assessment, it was determined that as of today (Monday) at 7:00PM, changes will be made to the Home Front Commands defensive guidelines. As part of the changes, it was decided that in the areas of the Lower Galilee, Southern Golan (in communities in the Emek HaYarden Regional Council) and Central Galilee (in some of the communities in the Lower Galilee Regional Council) the activity scale will be changed from Limited Activity to Partial Activity, meaning educational activities can be held in a place from which a standard protected space can be reached within the time available to reach shelter. The rest of the countrys guidelines remain unchanged.

FLASHBACK FEARS: Paragliders in Northern Israel Cause Brief Panic on October 7th Anniversary Thousands of Israelis in the north were briefly alarmed Monday afternoon when they spotted three paragliders flying around, triggering memories of the Hamas attacks exactly a year ago on October 7th. However, authorities confirmed the paragliders were civilians, and there was no connection to any terrorist activity. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/07113116/WhatsApp-Video-2024-10-07-at-11.29.00-AM.mp4
On Tuesday, August 6th, the eyes of the country were on the 1st Congressional District of Missouri to see if Wesley Bell could beat incumbent Congresswoman Cori Bush in the Democratic primary election. Agudath Israel of America and its staff were also closely watching the Missouri election results. Their focus, however, was not on who won (Bell did), but on voter turnout. An historically high Orthodox turnout.

Agudath Israel of America is a 501 (c) 3 religious nonprofit and does not support or oppose candidates for elected office. As it does in many states across the country, Agudah spearheaded a nonpartisan voter registration and turnout effort targeting the Orthodox community of St. Louis. Led by Rabbi Ari Weisenfeld, director of Agudath Israels office of state relations, the effort was wildly successful thanks to a large team of dedicated volunteers. Together, they contacted every member of the Orthodox community located in the 1st and 2nd Congressional districts and worked to ensure that each family member was registered and then encouraged to vote early.

The Orthodox turnout rate doubled compared to the 2022 primary race and far exceeded the turnout for the rest of St. Louis County. A detailed analysis of the early voter data showed that more than 49% of eligible voters in the Orthodox community in District 1 voted early compared to the 5.7% early voting rate of the entire county. Even including election day, the turnout in the county was still under 30% while the Orthodox turnout was above 70% (and likely higher once all the data is reviewed).

Agudah works with many communities on similar efforts but the St. Louis community has raised the bar, said Rabbi Weisenfeld. The Orthodox Jewish communities in St. Louis and Chesterfield proved that they are an engaged, organized, and educated constituency that shows up to the polls.

The keys to our success was having all the rabbis and community leaders delivering a unified message of the importance of voting and the constant guidance and assistance from the national Agudah and our local director, Hillel Anton, said Rabbi Josh Bregman, a local community leader and one of the campaigns co-chairs.

Elected officials pay attention to which individuals and communities vote and make their decisions accordingly. said Rabbi A.D. Motzen, Agudath Israels national director of government affairs. The real winner of the election is the Jewish community,

To learn more about Agudahs Get Out The Vote efforts go to agudah.org/vote
A Yemeni official said Wednesday that 30 people have been killed and hundreds displaced in flooding in the southern city of Hodeidah following several days of heavy rains.

Hodeidah Gov. Mugammad Qahim told Houthi rebel-controlled Masirah TV that the floods displaced people from 500 homes. Five people were missing, he said.

Hodeidah, the southwestern city of Taiz, and the northwestern city of Hajjah were all hit hard by floods this week during Yemens ongoing seasonal rainfall that caused flooding that swept away poorly built homes.

Authorities have not announced a confirmed overall death toll, or given the overall number of people injured or missing.

Yemens rainy season begins in late March, and rains intensify in July through mid-August.

The U.N.s humanitarian office in Yemen said Wednesday afternoon that Friday floods in the Maqbnah district in Taiz city killed 15 people, cleared agricultural lands and damaged homes and infrastructure.

Further severe weather was expected to hit the western port city of Hodeidah later on Wednesday.

Some residents have reportedly been stranded inside their homes in al-Mansuriyah district since Tuesday night as roadways have been blocked.

Local authorities still havent reached areas severely affected by the floods for two days, leaving some residents trapped inside their homes, according to witnesses who spoke with The Associated Press.

Mahdi al-Mashat, chairman of the Supreme Political Council, ordered local authorities to respond to damaged areas, according to Masirah TV, which reported that floods caused major damages to properties, lands, and roads in Hodeidah.

Witnesses described the scene in the Yemeni Tihamah coastal plain as horrifying. Mohamed Rassam said some livestock were found dead after drowning in the mud due to the floods. Food supplies and drinkable water were also lost.

The floods swept away everything, he said.

Some residents were stranded inside their homes in Tihamah, a region that is part of Hodeidah. Others were able to leave and headed to Hodeidah city.

Many of the houses in Tihamah, where malnutrition has been reported, are made of brick and materials that can be easily ruined by rain.

We have been left stranded under the rain after severe winds damaged our home, which is a hut where me and my seven children lived. Authorities never provided any assistance, said Ahmed Ayesh.

Meanwhile, Khaled Meswat said that people in the community only hear about humanitarian assistance and emergency services, but never actually receive any. He said at least three people were swept away by the floods, while elderly people died of hunger and cold.

I can say that hundreds of houses built from straw in Tihamah have been swept away by the floods over the past 24 hours, said Faree Hamdan. He added that cattle and livestock in those areas were also swept away.

The United Nations Population Fund-Yemen said this week on the social media platform X that the floods impacted more than 28,000 people living in four districts in Hajjah city.

Rapid response teams led by agency have been carrying out assessment and response operations and have recorded around 4,112 families who need emergency relief, according to the agency.

Yemens ruinous civil war began in 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital of Sanaa and much of northern Yemen and forced the internationally recognized government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition including the United Arab Emirates intervened the next year to try to restore the government to power.

(AP)
Turkey on Wednesday filed a request with a U.N. court to join South Africas lawsuit accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, the foreign minister said.

Turkeys ambassador to the Netherlands, accompanied by a group of Turkish legislators, submitted a declaration of intervention to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

With the development, Turkey, one of the fiercest critics of Israels actions in Gaza, becomes the latest nation seeking to participate in the case. Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Nicaragua and Libya have also asked to join the case, as have Palestinian officials. The courts decision on their requests is still pending.

We have just submitted our application to the International Court of Justice to intervene in the genocide case filed against Israel, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan wrote on the social media platform X. Emboldened by the impunity for its crimes, Israel is killing more and more innocent Palestinians every day.

The international community must do its part to stop the genocide; it must put the necessary pressure on Israel and its supporters, he said. Turkey will make every effort to do so.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Israel of genocide, called for it to be punished in international courts and criticized Western nations for backing Israel. In May, Turkey suspended trade with Israel, citing its assault on Gaza.

In contrast to Western nations that have designated Hamas a terrorist organization, Erdogan has commended the group, calling it a liberation movement.

South Africa brought a case to the International Court of Justice late last year, accusing Israel of violating the genocide convention through its military operations in Gaza.

Israel has strongly rejected accusations of genocide and has argued that the war in Gaza is a legitimate defensive action against Hamas militants for their Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that killed around 1,200 people and in which 250 hostages were taken.

If admitted to the case, the countries who joined would be able to make written submissions and speak at public hearings.

Preliminary hearings have already been held in the genocide case against Israel, but the court is expected to take years to reach a final decision.

The court on Wednesday confirmed that Turkey filed a declaration for intervention in the case, adding that South Africa and Israel have been invited to furnish written observations on the request.

In a statement to the media, Hamas welcomed Turkeys request to join the lawsuit and said it affirms Erdogans support for the Palestinian cause.

No country in the world is above international law, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said on X earlier. The case at the International Court of Justice is extremely important in terms of ensuring that the crimes committed by Israel do not go unpunished.

Keceli also called for the immediate implementations of precautionary measures ordered by the court, including a halt to military offensive and an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Since Erdogan took power in 2003, former allies Turkey and Israel have experienced a volatile relationship, marked by periods of severe friction and reconciliation. The war in Gaza has disrupted the most recent attempts at normalizing ties.

(AP)
Military-run hearings for accused Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were in upheaval Wednesday following Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins decision to throw out a plea agreement.

Defense attorneys contend the plea deal still stands and suspended participation in the pre-trial hearings while legal challenges to Austins action play out. Prosecutors also raised the prospect that the pre-trial hearings might have to be frozen as lawyers look for explanations in Austins order and work through the issues raised by it.

The judge overseeing the case, Air Force Col. Matthew McCall, acknowledged concerns over outside pressure on the case. The plea agreement, which would have spared the defendants the risk of the death penalty, and Austins subsequent order, issued late Friday, have generated strong feelings, including among the families of Sept. 11 victims. The Biden administration came under heavy Republican criticism over the plea deal.

If more political pressure is put on the parties to make a decision one way or the other, that could build the case for illegal interference in the case, but  its not going to affect me, McCall said during Wednesdays hearing. Reporters were able to monitor the proceedings from Fort Meade, Maryland.

The events of the past week are the latest significant disruption of the U.S. military prosecution of defendants accused in the 2001 killings of nearly 3,000 people, in an al-Qaida plot that saw hijackers commandeer four passenger airliners and fly them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, with the fourth coming down in a field in Pennsylvania.

Set up as former President George W. Bush and his Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld pursued what they called the U.S. war on terror, the military commission trying the 9/11 defendants has struggled with some of the unusual restrictions and legal challenges of the case.

That includes the torture of the defendants while in CIA custody in their first years after being captured, leaving the commission still hammering out legal questions over the effect of the torture on evidence.

The new developments began unfolding last week after the Pentagon-approved chief authority over the Guantanamo Bay military commission, Susan Escallier, approved the plea agreement between the military-appointed prosecutors and defense attorneys, which had been two years in the making.

Austin said in Fridays order that he was overriding Escalliers approval and taking direct control of such decisions in the 9/11 case going forward. He cited the significance of the case.

Defense lawyers and some legal analysts are challenging whether the laws governing the Guantanamo proceedings allow for that overruling.

Some of the attorneys and rights groups charge that the Republican criticism of the plea deal, and criticism from some of the families of the victims, appear to have influenced Austins action. Austin told reporters on Tuesday that the gravity of the American losses in the al-Qaida attack and in the years of U.S. military intervention that followed convinced him that the cases had to go to trial.

Defense attorneys told McCall on Wednesday they considered the plea bargain still in effect. McCall agreed to excuse them from participating in the pre-trial hearings while expected challenges to Austins actions play out.

Gary Sowards, the lead attorney for Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, warned the court on Wednesday that that process alone was likely to take up to two year, adding to the length of a troubled case already well into its second decade.

To intervene in this most unusual way ensures total chaos from this point forward, Sowards told McCall, referring to Austins action.

Walter Ruiz, an attorney for 9/11 defendant Mustafa al Hawsawi, called Austins order an unprecedented act by a government official to pull back a valid agreement and said it raises issues involving unlawful interference at the highest levels of government.

Ruiz said the defense chiefs move also raised questions whether we can ethically continue to engage in the Pentagon-run commission in the face of an action that goes right at the heart of the integrity of the system itself.

Under the plea agreement, Mohammed, Hawsawi, and fellow defendant Walid bin Attash would have entered guilty pleas in exchange for the government not seeking the death penalty against them. Defense attorneys stressed Wednesday the agreement would have committed the accused to answer any lingering questions about the attack from family members of victims and others.

After Wednesdays tumultuous start, the hearing proceeded with the questioning of an FBI witness, with the active defense participation of only one defendant who had not taken the plea agreement, Aamar al Baluchi.

(AP)
Russian prosecutors on Thursday asked for a 15-year sentence in the treason trial of a Russian-American woman, who has pleaded guilty, Russian news agencies reported.

Ksenia Khavana, whom Russian authorities identify by her maiden name of Karelina, was arrested in Yekaterinburg in February, accused of collecting money for Ukraines military.

She pleaded guilty in the closed trial on Wednesday, news reports said, and the Interfax news agency on Thursday quoted her lawyer Mikhail Mushalov as saying prosecutors called for 15 years in prison. The sentencing is expected on Aug. 15, Mushalov was quoted as saying.

Khavana reportedly obtained U.S. citizenship after marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles. She had returned to Russia to visit her family.

The rights group The First Department said the charges stem from a $51 donation to a U.S. charity that helps Ukraine. Russias Federal Security Service claims she proactively collected money in the interests of one of the Ukrainian organizations, which was subsequently used to purchase tactical medical supplies, equipment, weapons, and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces.

Since sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has sharply cracked down on dissent and has passed laws that criminalize criticism of the operation in Ukraine and remarks considered to discredit the Russian military. Concern has risen since then that Russia could be targeting U.S. nationals for arrest.

In the largest Russia-West prisoner exchange since the end of the Cold War, Russia last week released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and American corporate security executive Paul Whelan, both of whom were imprisoned on espionage convictions, and U.S.-Russian dual national Alsu Kurmasheva, a Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe journalist sentenced to 6 1/2 years for spreading false information about the Russian military.

Russia also released several prominent opposition figures who were imprisoned for criticizing the Ukraine military operation.

(AP)
Mickey Levy, chairman of the Knesset State Control Committee, has expressed concerns over the cost-effectiveness of Israels new presidential plane, dubbed the Wing of Zion. The plane, used for the first time last month to transport Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the US, has a high annual maintenance cost, prompting Levy to reexamine its necessity.

Levys comments come after a surprise discovery by the Prime Ministers Office that the plane can only accommodate 60 passengers, far fewer than expected.

The reconfigured Boeing 767 has been a topic of political debate in Israel for years, with supporters arguing its a necessary safety measure and detractors calling it a waste of taxpayer money and a symbol of corruption.

Levys visit to the planes parking site left him unimpressed. I did not get the impression that there was anything grandiose there. It is by no means ostentatious.

He emphasized the need to reassess the planes operation costs and justify its expense.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reportedly advised Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei against launching a direct attack on Israel, citing concerns about devastating consequences for Iran.

According to a report by Iran International, Pezeshkian warned Khamenei that an Israeli retaliation could severely damage Irans economy and infrastructure, potentially even leading to the regimes collapse.

Sources familiar with the development said that Pezeshkian expressed his concerns during a meeting with Khamenei, who remained noncommittal, neither supporting nor opposing the presidents warnings.

The report comes as Iran is widely believed to be preparing for  and has openly threatened to  carrying out a massive attack against the Jewish over the recent assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and leading Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukur in Beirut.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
It looks increasingly likely that Hezbollah will strike Israel independently of Iran, two sources familiar with the intelligence told CNN.

According to one of the sources, Hezbollah is expected to strike Israel in the coming days.

Due to its proximity to Israel, Hezbollah could strike Israel with little or no notice. Iran, on the other hand, must make extensive preparations to attack Israel. Multiple officials told CNN that Iran appears to still be in the planning stages of its response. One US military official said that Iran had made some, but not all, of the expected preparations before a major attack on Israel.

It is unclear if and how Iran and Hezbollah are coordinating their attacks. Some officials believe that they are not aligned on how to respond.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Israel informed the US that if Hezbollah harms Israeli civilians in its response to the elimination of Hezbollah commander Fuard Shukr, the IDF will respond with disproportionate force, Axios reported.

Israeli officials arent interested in an all-out war with Hezbollah and are now making it clear what would escalate the conflict into a war.

On Tuesday, Ibrahim al-Amin, the editor-in-chief of the Al-Akhbar Lebanese newspaper reported that Hezbollah will likely target Tel Aviv in a retaliatory strike against Israel.

Al-Amin, who is considered close to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, wrote that Hezbollah has leeway to target Israeli civilians because Lebanese civilians were killed during Shukrs elimination.

If Hezbollah can choose targets, it is possible that it will target Tel Aviv and civilians might be harmed on the margins, he wrote in a front-page article. The effective thing will be to hit a significant center of the organization that made the decision about the assassination and took part in it.

Israeli officials are concerned that Hezbollah will target the IDF headquarters in central Tel Aviv or the Mossad headquarters and other intelligence bases in northern Tel Aviv. All the targets are located close to civilian areas and Israel told the US it fears Hezbollah could hit civilian population centers if it strikes military bases in central Israel.

Israel believes that the Hezbollah rocket that hit Majdal Shams last month, killing 12 children, was a rocket that was aimed at a military base but missed its target.

In the internal discussions with the U.S., Israel stressed that the cost of another Hezbollah mishap would be heavy and that Hezbollah would pay a disproportionate price if it harmed civilians as part of its retaliation, a senior Israeli official said.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The investigators of the Central Unit of the Jerusalem District Police suspect that Solomon Abramov, who was extradited from England to Israel last week, may be involved in the murder of Moishie Kleinerman, Mako reported on Thursday.

According to the investigators, Abramov was one of the last people who spent time with Kleinerman before he disappeared in March 2022. The investigation shows that there is real fear for Kleinermans life after the investigators claimed that they found blood stains belonging to Kleinerman in Abramovs car.

Abramov, 37, from Jerusalem, was questioned twice upon landing in Israel regarding the disappearance and murder of Kleinerman, but he denied the suspicions against him.

It should be noted that Abramov, who was arrested as a suspect in the Kleinerman case in 2022 and then released, was questioned again about Kleinerman during an interrogation about serious acts he committed against two minors. However, according to a Walla report, a source involved in the investigation said that he was not suspected of murder and no traces of Kleinermans blood were found in his car  and that either way, this investigation did not shed any light on the deadlocked case.

A police official told Chareidim10 about the Mako report: There is nothing new. Unreliable news.

The Kleinerman family also confirmed that the family is not aware of any development in the investigation.

I have nothing to do with the murder, Abramov told the investigators. Abramov admitted that he did spend time with Kleinerman before he disappeared but has no idea what became of him. Its true that I was with him several times in certain areas but I didnt murder him. Do you think I would do such a thing? he said in the interrogation.

I have no idea what happened to him after that, Abramov pointed out, I didnt touch him and I didnt do anything bad to him. Youve got the wrong address.

The investigators interrogated Abramov in recent days for many hours for his involvement in the alleged crimes of murder under aggravated circumstances. The investigations, which began in the morning and ended late at night, included several interrogation exercises conducted by the investigators, which were not particularly successful. Abramov defended his position: I am not the murderer and I have nothing to do with Moishies disappearance.

According to Abramovs defense attorney, Attorney Roi Atias, his client was interrogated 12 hours a day for six days since he landed in Israel after being extradited from England. They interrogated him very aggressively on suspicion of murder and sexual offenses, explained an associate of Abramov, who claimed that he did not break down during the interrogation.

In the meantime, the Jerusalem district attorneys office yesterday submitted an indictment against Abramov to the citys district court for crimes of indecent acts against teen boys. These are two cases that occurred about three years ago when Abramov convinced the teens to help him distribute Sifrei Tzaddikim at intersections throughout Israel and during the trips in his car he forcibly committed indecent acts against them against their will.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, will host a significant event on August 9, bringing together the heads of Central Asian states and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan's involvement in such prestigious events is not merely a result of geographical proximity; the country has proven itself to be a reliable partner, contributing substantially to regional and international peace and security, and fostering broader regional cooperation that benefits all Central Asian nations. Over the past two years, the President of Azerbaijan has visited Central Asian countries 16 times, and in return, Central Asian leaders have visited Azerbaijan 15 times.

Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has become a crucial and irreplaceable partner for each Central Asian country. Cooperation between Central Asia and Azerbaijan is realizing strategically significant projects across various economic sectors, benefiting not only the region but also extending to Europe.

One notable example of this cooperation is the recent agreement reached between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan during the inaugural meeting of Central Asian energy ministers in Kazakhstan. The agreement focuses on establishing a joint venture (JV) to export green energy from Central Asia to Europe, with the JV based in Baku. This builds on a December 17, 2022, agreement among Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary to create an energy bridge from the Caucasus to Europe. As part of this agreement, a 1,195-kilometer submarine electric cable will be constructed to transmit green electricity generated in Azerbaijan through Georgia and the Black Sea to Romania, and subsequently to Hungary and Europe. This project aims to deliver up to four gigawatts of green energy.

Thus, Azerbaijan is effectively creating a strategic energy bridge connecting the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and Europe.

Beyond alternative energy, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have also collaborated on conventional energy. In 2022, NC KazMunayGas JSC and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) signed an agreement for the transportation of 1.5 million tons of oil per year from the Tengiz field to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan signed a further agreement to increase this volume to 2.2 million tons per year during his visit to Azerbaijan on March 1112.

According to Kazakhstan's National Development Plan until 2029, the country aims to boost oil transportation via the Trans-Caspian route to 20 million tons annually. This includes increasing trans-Caspian oil transport through the port of Aktau to seven million tons per year, as well as exploring projects like the Eskene-Kuryk pipeline, marine terminals, and a larger tanker fleet to facilitate this growth.

Additionally, there are promising prospects for energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. As of May this year, Uzbek Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade Laziz Kudratov had announced ongoing negotiations with SOCAR for its involvement in Uzbekistan's oil and gas production projects. Similarly, discussions are in the final stages regarding Uzbektegaz's participation in gas production projects in Azerbaijan.

The transportation sector is another significant area for cooperation. Given the growing importance of the Middle Corridor, discussions on expanding its capacity are increasingly vital amid the evolving international transportation landscape. Azerbaijans collaboration with Central Asian countries in this sector has become more crucial than ever. The Middle Corridor exemplifies how joint projects between Azerbaijan and Central Asian nations extend beyond the region, attracting interest from China, Europe, and the United States. This corridor is crucial for diversifying trade and transportation routes from China to Europe.

The statistics show that there is a growing interest in the Middle Corridor. Freight traffic along the corridor in the first half of 2024 reached 2.1 million tons, marking a 65 percent increase compared to the period from January through June 2023.

In 2023, freight traffic on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) rose by 86 percent from 2022, reaching 2.7 million tons. For 2024, the target is 4.2 million tons.

Developing the Middle Corridor involves more than just building infrastructure; it also requires integrating "hard" infrastructure with "soft" elements to facilitate the smooth movement of goods and people across borders.

Looking ahead, the Middle Corridor is poised for a new phase of rapid development, positioning itself as a major trade route in Eurasia and a key component of the global supply chain. Its significance will grow as more countries join the route and freight volumes increase.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railroad is a crucial part of the Middle Corridor. On May 20, the 184-kilometer section of the BTK railway through Georgia underwent repair, expansion, and reconstruction, leading to the resumed freight transportation. This railroad not only links three countries but also provides the shortest overland route between Asia and Europe, saving time and offering access to European and global markets for Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan, thus benefiting Azerbaijan strategically and economically.

Additionally, Azerbaijan is working to increase the Baku port's throughput capacity from 15 million tons to 25 million tons, further expanding the Middle Corridor.

Central Asian countries are also actively developing this route. To enhance the Middle Corridor, Kazakhstan is establishing a large maritime transportation and logistics cluster based on the Aktau and Kuryk ports. This initiative aims to increase container capacity, improve cargo transshipment terminals and international logistics, and reduce administrative barriers. Recently, Kazakhstan began dredging work in the Kuryk port.

Kyrgyzstan is also exploring the Middle Corridors potential. As Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev mentioned, while current cargo traffic goes through the southern corridor via Iran and Turkiye to Europe, alternative routes like the Middle Corridor through Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and the Caucasus are being considered to expedite transportation.

Another key project is the Digital Silk Road, which seeks to create a fiber-optic telecommunication route between Europe and Asia via the Caspian Sea through Azerbaijan. This project underscores Azerbaijans central role in the telecommunications corridor, highlighting its position as a transit hub for major content providers such as Google, Amazon, Alibaba, Netflix, and Facebook. By turning Baku into an Internet exchange center, Azerbaijan aims to become a hub for transmitting content and Internet services to Central and South Asia, as well as neighboring regions. The Organization of Turkic States also supports the Digital Silk Road project.

Azerbaijan's multifaceted strategic cooperation with Central Asian countries positively impacts the development of cultural relations. The opening of the Mirzo Ulugbek School, donated by Uzbekistan, the Kurmangazy Children's Creativity Center, donated by Kazakhstan, and the secondary school in Aghdam, built with support from Kyrgyzstan, vividly illustrate the high level of relations between Azerbaijan and Central Asia. These significant projects not only enhance cultural and educational ties but also highlight the mutual respect and support that underpin their enduring cooperation.

Cooperation in the military sphere is particularly noteworthy. The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan signed a joint plan to hold the international Birlestik-2024 military exercise in July 2024, serving as a prime example.

This collaboration enhances regional security and fosters mutual understanding between the armed forces of Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan. Exercises like Birlestik-2024 are key steps toward achieving long-term stability and partnership.

As a result, the strong foundation of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries will continue to strengthen these ties to benefit the broader region.

Azerbaijan's participation in such prestigious events underscores the centuries-old bonds of brotherhood and friendship, as well as the deep historical connections and current high level of cooperation between Azerbaijan and its regional partners.

Increased mutual visits at the heads-of-state level in recent years have established a basis for expanding and deepening cooperation between the countries.

The friendly relations between the heads of state significantly contribute to bilateral ties and further develop and strengthen cooperation, elevating these relations to a level of genuine strategic partnership.

Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
US Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris faced a disruption from pro-Palestinian Arab protesters at a rally in Detroit on Wednesday. The protesters chanted Kamala, Kamala, you cant hide. We wont vote for genocide as Harris spoke.

Harris responded, saying, You know what, if you want Donald Trump to win then say that. Otherwise, Im speaking. She then continued her remarks, undeterred by the interruption.

This incident is the latest in a series of anti-war protests targeting US politicians, including President Joe Biden, who has faced similar disruptions in recent months. In June, protesters interrupted Bidens speech in Washington, DC, accusing him of being complicit in genocide in the Gaza Strip. Biden replied, Folks, its ok. Look, they care. Innocent children have been lost. They make a point.

In March, Biden responded to pro-Palestinian protesters who interrupted his healthcare speech, saying, They have a point. We need to get a lot more care into Gaza. First Lady Jill Biden also faced similar disruptions in Tucson, Arizona, earlier that month.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Yisroel Dovid Weiss, the reprehensible, terrorist-kissing leader of Neturei Karta, released a video expressing his shock and sorrow over the tragic passing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated under murky circumstances in Tehran, during a visit marking the swearing-in of new Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian.

We are here to show the Palestinian people that all the actions of the Zionist state has nothing to do with Judaism or the Jewish people, Weiss said, speaking from Doha, Qatar. We have come here to the funeral of Sheikh Ismail Haniyeh, and to give condolences to the people of Palestine on the 76 years of Nakba, and the last ten months of the carnage  of the genocide in Gaza.

A demented lunatic to his core, Weiss contended that it was his obligation  which he claimed was dictated by great rabbis  to inform the world that Judaism is totally in opposition to the State of Israel and everything that emanates from the State of Israel.

This latest crime was committed amidst the ten-month-long genocide launched on the besieged Gaza, with tens of thousands killed in the brutal aggressive war, leading to a humanitarian disaster within the territory under siege, a statement from his terrorist organization said.

Our heartfelt condolences are extended to his family, to the Palestinian people, and to every single victim of the cycle of bloodshed in Palestine, which is caused only by the very existence of Zionism and the occupation of Palestine, the statement concluded.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
London-listed estate agents have flagged signs of property market growth as a new industry forecast UK home sales rise to the highest level since 2020.

Savills held its annual guidance after reporting a sharp jump in interim profits amid signs of a global recovery, although major markets were still 'subdued', it said.

Pre-tax profits for the first six months of the year surged 48 per cent to 9million, while total revenue jumped 5 per cent to 1.06billion.

Results: Savills saw its pre-tax profits for the first six months of the year surge 48% to 9m, while total revenue jumped 5% to 1.06bn

Mark Ridley, chief executive of Savills, said: 'Our improved performance in the first half reflects the positive effects of early recovery phases in a number of our markets, as well as the robust and growing earnings provided by our less transactional businesses.

'Whilst we have seen resilience in prime commercial leasing markets, global capital transaction volumes remain subdued, although activity is recovering in certain markets.'

Savills said major markets, such as Germany, France and greater China were still reporting 'very low' transaction volumes as real estate markets adjust to 'challenging conditions'.

Savills said on Thursday: 'Our expectations for the current year remain unchanged.'

UK revenue grew by 6 per cent to 435.9million in the first half, when compared to the same point a year ago.

Short-term sales expectations highest since 2020, Rics says

Expectations for a house sales uptick over the next few months have reached their strongest levels since the start of 2020, according to surveyors. A net balance of 30 per cent of property professionals expect sales to rise over the next three months rather than fall, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) said. This was the most positive sentiment seen since January 2020. For the year ahead, a net balance of 45 per cent of professionals expect sales to increase rather than decrease. Rics report for July also found that a net balance of 19 per cent of property experts reported house prices falling rather than rising, with particularly weak price readings in East Anglia and Yorkshire and the Humber. Scotland and Northern Ireland bucked the trend, with surveyors there reporting prices rising overall. Looking ahead, a net balance of 46 per cent of experts expect property prices to be higher in a years time. The Bank of England base rate was cut from 5.25 per cent to 5 per cent last week, boosting expectations of a pick up in the housing market this autumn. Rics' chief economist, Simon Rubinsohn, said: 'The new governments focus on boosting housing development alongside the recent quarter point base rate cut does appear to have shifted the mood music in the sales market, with projections for both near and medium activity picking up according to the latest Rics residential market survey. 'Inevitably, significant challenges lie ahead in delivering on the ambitions around planning reform and it is far from clear that the Bank of England will follow the August move with further easing over the coming months, but, even so, the policy mix is becoming more supportive for the sector.'

In the UK, Savills' capital transactions remained largely focused on lot sizes below 100million.

It added: '20billion of commercial property investments were traded in the first six months of 2024, 8 per cent lower than the same period in 2023. However, this is 6 per cent higher than the second half of last year, supporting the sentiment that the market is beginning to recover.

'Prime Residential (high equity component) markets, particularly in the UK, Middle East and the South of France remained relatively buoyant in the first half of 2024, whilst activity in other regions such as Singapore fell during the period.

'The same is true of new build markets which tend to be more highly dependent on mortgage finance.'

In the US, where Savills is primarily involved in occupier-focused activities, the market 'saw the return of larger occupier leasing transactions as corporates began to commit to future growth', Savills said.

Savills announced a 7.1p interim dividend, up from the 6.9p announced a year ago.

Savills shares fell 2.74 per cent or 34.00p to 1,208.00p on Thursday, having risen over 22 per cent in the last year.

Derwent London boosted by acceleration in rental growth

Property investment and development firm Derwent London saw its income grow in the first half, but valuations continued to fall.

The office-focused FTSE 250 group was boosted by an acceleration in rental growth during the period.

Derwent saw its year-on-year gross rental income increase by 1.5 per cent in the six months to 30 June, up from 105.9million to 107.5million.

Derwent said: 'The financial results for the first half of 2024 reflect an improving background for our brand of high-quality central London offices.'

It added: 'H1 2024 saw good letting activity across the portfolio, with 27 leases signed totalling 8.8million of rent.'

Paul Williams, chief executive of Derwent, said: 'The pace of rental growth accelerated in H1 for the best offices in the right locations whilst investment yields have recently stabilised, helping drive greater confidence across the sector.'

The group upped its annual rental guidance to between 3 and 6 per cent. It said: 'Office yields increasingly attractive as the UK economic and political environment continues to stabilise.'

Derwent shares fell 1.23 per cent or 28.00p to 2,248.00p on Thursday.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Under the training plan for 2024, mechanized units of the Land Forces hold live-fire tactical exercises, Trend reports via Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense.

During the classes held at the combined-arms training range, the focus is on enhancing the knowledge and skills of the crews.

The Azerbaijan Army continues to take measures focused on maintaining the combat training of units and the professionalism of personnel at a constant high level.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Awareness trainings are underway to prevent negative incidents in the snap parliamentary election in Azerbaijan, the nation's Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairman Mazahir Panahov said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at today's meeting on the possibilities of equal election campaigning and the basics of the activities of media entities in the upcoming election in Baku.

According to him, millions of people participate in election around the world, and in this process, no one is immune from unpleasant situations, the official explained.

The role of the media in these activities [trainings] is undeniable. Media actors sometimes use sensational moments to increase their popularity. There is no need to be afraid of unpleasant situations arising. At an event in which millions of people participate, such situations are not excluded. It will just be needed to make a quick decision on the spot," Panahov added.

To note, on June 28, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree dissolving the sixth convocation of the Azerbaijani Parliament and scheduling a snap election for September 1.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Aer Lingus have announced their plan to close their cargo facility at Shannon Airport.

The airline said that the decision to close the facility at the Mid-West airport before the end of 2024 had been taken following a review of its operation in Shannon.

In a statement, they said the level of cargo activity at the airport would not support the "significant capital investment" required by the current cargo building in Shannon.

Aer Lingus has confirmed that its parent group, International Airlines Group (IAG) Cargo is set to commence consultation with impacted staff in the coming weeks.

"Every effort was made in the last few years to secure additional cargo business for the Shannon facility both locally and by diverting cargo from other areas, but regretfully it was concluded that the Cargo operation for Ireland could no longer support a dedicated presence in Shannon, particularly in light of the fact that over 95% of all Shannon cargo travels by road to fly in or out of Dublin," the airline added.

Read Also: Solar farm at Shannon Airport gets green light

A spokesperson for The Shannon Airport Group, who manage operations at the airport, said they were "sorry to see the operation cease."

"We will work closely with Aer Lingus to explore potential opportunities that may arise in the future, ensuring that our airport continues to be a key hub for both passenger and cargo operations".

"Shannon has a strong cargo operation, and we will continue to work with our other cargo operators at Shannon Airport among these, DHL, UPS and FedEx. We remain dedicated to serving our community and supporting the growth and resilience of our regional economy. Our focus is on maintaining the highest levels of service and connectivity for our customers, and we will continue to seek ways to attract new business and investment to our airport," the spokesperson added.

SIPTU have released a statement saying its members working at the Aer Lingus cargo facility "were left shocked and saddened by a sudden announcement" on Wednesday, August 7, that the cargo operation is set to close.

SIPTU Industrial Organiser, Andrew Clune said: "Our members were called into a meeting on Wednesday afternoon where management announced the closure to them. They were totally shocked and saddened by this devastating news."

SIPTU Aviation Sector Organiser, Niall Phillips said: The union has been in contact with Aer Lingus management and a meeting is scheduled for next Thursday, August 15, to discuss the closure and the implications it will have for the 18 SIPTU members employed by Aer Lingus in their Shannon cargo operation.

"At the meeting we will be prioritising redeployment over redundancies. Under the Protection of Employment Act employers proposing a collective redundancy must engage in an information and consultation process with employees' representatives for at least 30 days prior to issuing any notices of redundancy,"Mr Philips continued.

"SIPTU will be working diligently to ensure that the rights of our members are protected throughout this process."

Fianna Fail spokesperson on Transport and Aviation Cathal Crowe said he was "very concerned" over the news.

"I have been speaking to a number of employees this morning and they are devastated with this news and are understandably very worried about their futures," the Clare TD said in a statement.

"This news also has serious ramifications for the many manufacturing plants in the region who depend on this facility to transit their products globally and they now have to scramble to find alternative routes."

"I will be using my voice as Party Spokesperson on Transport and Aviation to ensure that Aer Lingus fulfil all statutory obligations to their employees and I hope redeployment packages will also be offered to workers who wish to remain with the airline in Shannon," he said.
The Irish Farmers Association is holding a meeting this evening to discuss plans for farmers during the Electric Picnic Music and Arts Festival.

Laois County IFA Chair Henry Burns said we are having a meeting there tonight with branches all around Stradbally to discuss plans ahead of the Electric Picnic.

He said a plan has been worked out in consultation with the Gardai and Electric Picnic organisers and he was hopeful that disruption can be minimised for everyone.

Electric Picnic takes place next weekend from August 16 to 18.

While acknowledging the potential disruption for some grain farmers, Mr Burns believes the situation might not be as bad as initially feared as the peak harvest is unlikely to take place until after the festival.

He said the early barley seems to have been cut and the grain sown in the Spring will likely be cut after the festival.

Mr Burns explained that initial farmers fears centred around the potential for the peak harvest coinciding with the earlier Electric Picnic date for 2024. Although the harvest generally takes place over 12 days, there will be an intensive period when the majority of the crops are harvested and taken to The Maltings in the centre of Stradbally town, he said.

The peak of that harvest is five days. Thousands of tonnes comes in in those five days, Mr Burns explained.

He said each load of grain has to undergo a series tests at The Maltings and there can be tailbacks and congestion even without Irelands largest music and arts festival taking place.

I am fairly confident at this stage that the peak harvest wont happen until slightly after the Electric Picnic, said Mr Burns.

He said some people may still want to harvest or move machinery around the time of the festival and safety will be key.

Laois County Council facilitated a number of meetings between ourselves and the Electric Picnic and the Gardai, he explained.

He said between them, they have a plan worked out for farmers looking to transport machinery and crops but some advance warning would be needed. The main thing is there will be contact numbers for people, Mr Burns said.

He said despite the initial concerns and potential disturbance for farmers, there was still a general feeling among farmers around Stradbally that the festival was very welcome and good for the area.

Mr Burns encouraged anyone who was interested in knowing more about the Electric Picnic plan to attend the meeting at Community Hall in Ratheniska this evening, Thursday, August 8 at 8.30pm.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. The Azerbaijan Media Development Agency is working to timely reveal fakes directed against the country, the agency's Executive Director Ahmad Ismayilov said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at today's meeting on the possibilities of equal election campaigning and the basics of the activities of media entities in the upcoming snap parliamentary election in Baku.

The official emphasized the need for increased vigilance against attempts to mislead the public and shape negative opinions about Azerbaijan.

"Experience shows that during election, threats to Azerbaijan's information environment from external sources increase, and there are instances of systematic use of all forms of information manipulation. It's crucial to provide timely support to Azerbaijan's media entities to mitigate such threats.

Circles that regularly violate media ethics, exploiting opportunities provided by information technologies to spread inaccurate and biased information, have always faced condemnation from our countrys media community. Support has been provided for the state's strategy to improve the information environment and ensure information security," Ismayilov added.

To note, on June 28, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree dissolving the sixth convocation of the Azerbaijani Parliament and scheduling a snap election for September 1.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. A total of 34 polling stations with all necessary conditions are operating in Azerbaijan's liberated territories in connection with the upcoming snap parliamentary election, the country's Audio Visual Council Chairman Ismat Sattarov said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at today's meeting on the possibilities of equal election campaigning and the basics of the activities of media entities in the upcoming snap parliamentary election in Baku.

We set up polling stations in Khankendi. Again, we do not make any distinction for our citizens of Armenian origin living there; they can participate in the election. This will be the first parliamentary election in the liberated territories, which we can also call the victory election. Once again, we'll hold voting at polling stations throughout the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan," Sattarov added.

To note, on June 28, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree dissolving the sixth convocation of the Azerbaijani Parliament and scheduling a snap election for September 1.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. A total of 5,113 addresses have been set for meetings with voters (1,853 indoor premises and 3,259 open areas) in connection with the snap parliamentary election in Azerbaijan, the nation's Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairman Mazahir Panahov said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at a meeting on the possibilities of equal election campaigning and the basics of the activities of media actors in the upcoming election.

Each constituency was allocated 1415 seats. Conditions have also been created even for meetings of all candidates with voters," the official added.

To note, on June 28, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree dissolving the sixth convocation of the Azerbaijani Parliament and scheduling a snap election for September 1.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. The deportation of Azerbaijanis from Armenia marks a dark chapter in human history, said the Western Azerbaijan Community in a statement, Trend reports.

Thirty-three years have passed since the final expulsion of Azerbaijanis from Armenia. On August 8, 1991, Armenian authorities forcibly removed the residents of Nuvadi village in Zangezur from their native lands, leaving no Azerbaijanis remaining in Armenia. This marked the end of a deportation campaign that began in 1987, resulting in the expulsion of 300,000 Azerbaijanis, and remains a dark chapter in human history.

The Community of Western Azerbaijan, which rejects this injustice, demands the creation of conditions for the safe and dignified return of those expelled, in line with the right of return as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other key documents.

The Western Azerbaijan Community urges the international community to support the secure return of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia to their homeland and to implement legally binding international instruments with verification and guarantee mechanisms. The community condemns any ethnic or religious discrimination related to the right to return and calls for adherence to the principles of reciprocity and equality.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. The international community must take necessary measures to ensure the right of Azerbaijanis deported from Armenia to a safe and dignified return and exert serious pressure on this country to rectify the historical injustice, Trend reports via Azerbaijani Ombudsperson Sabina Aliyeva's appeal on the 33rd anniversary of deportation.

The appeal states that hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis were expelled from Armenia based on their ethnic background, becoming victims of crimes against humanity and war, suffering various severe injuries, and being taken as prisoners and hostages, with many brutally killed.

"Armenia's policy of ethnic cleansing and hatred resulted in a gross violation of the fundamental human rights and freedoms of Azerbaijanis," the appeal emphasized.

It also highlighted that the Azerbaijani ombudsperson has prepared special reports and video materials on hate crimes committed by Armenia against Azerbaijanis and has presented them to relevant international organizations.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Tonight we focus on a critical exchange between a Missouri regulatory agency and the elected leadership at the courthouse.

An explainer quote from local news about a ruling today . . .



"The Missouri State Tax Commission ruled on Wednesday that Jackson County must roll back the assessment values on 75% of the countys more than 300,000 property parcels due to errors by the countys assessment department . . .



"The order filed late Wednesday from the State Tax Commission cite multiple errors in the assessment process, which led to higher tax bills for thousands of people across the county.



"The commission says the county did not physically inspect some properties. Those inspections are required when valuations increase 15%.



"The order says the county did not notify property owners whose valuations went up that much and then made it hard, and in some cases, impossible for people to appeal their assessments."



Accordingly . . .

THIS ORDER IS SERIOUS AND DEFYING THE MISSOURI COMMISH & THE EXEC CALLING THEM "RECKLESS" IS UNPRECEDENTED!!!

Not to be too hyperbolic but this is a blog and when we say serious we mean . . .

Seriously like . . . Missouri State Trooper serious.



As a real person who, in real life, wants everybody to get along . . . We REALLY hope the Exec knows what he's doing when he's playing with/at these stakes.



Accordingly . . .



Here is a lengthy response from the county sent out this afternoon . . .



Jackson County rejects State Tax Commission's order as politically motivated and inaccurate

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Jackson County unequivocally rejects the State Tax Commissions (STC) recent order issued today, deeming it both inaccurate and dangerously politicized. The STCs order is a desperate, last-minute maneuver before the conclusion of a trial on related issues. It is nothing more than a litigation tactic from politically motivated actors who are ill-informed and acting in bad faith.



Our reassessment plans for 2023 and 2024 were reviewed and approved by the STC. Despite this, and without any hearings or evidence, the Commission now asserts that we failed to meet statutory requirements. This claim is baseless. Even the States own expert acknowledged on social media that they failed to prove their case. Furthermore, the original order received by the County notably included the signature of a commissioner who had recused himself from the votean alarming indication of the unprofessional and haphazard manner this process has been conducted.



The consequences of this order would be disastrous for our community. Local school districts have made it clear that such an order could cost them nearly $1,500 per studenta crippling blow to our educational system. But the damage wouldnt stop there. Libraries, fire departments, and cities across the county would face serious budget cuts, which would negatively impact the essential services our residents depend on every day. Amicus briefs from the school districts detailing these harmful effects are attached.



Fairness in property assessment is not just a legal duty but a moral obligation. Property tax differs fundamentally from sales tax: when one property is undervalued, others must pay more to fill the gap.



For too long, many homes have been undervalued, forcing others to overpay, said Jackson County Assessor Gail McCann Beatty . We cannot and will not allow this injustice to continue. We will do our jobs and uphold the law by assessing properties at market value, regardless of these political games.



Our mission is to provide a fair and equitable process where no one pays more than the law requires, said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. This reckless order is harmful to not only taxing jurisdictions, but also taxpayers. While fixing decades of mismanagement hasnt been easy, we are committed to fairness and will continue working every day to achieve it. Actions like this do immense harm to our communities.



The issue of unequal property assessments has long been a critical concern, particularly in its disproportionate impact on Black and Brown communities. Research consistently shows that these communities often face higher property tax assessments relative to their home's market value compared to predominantly white neighborhoods. This discrepancy can exacerbate economic inequality and contribute to systemic disadvantages in housing and wealth accumulation. Two reports detailing these disparities are linked here :

How the property tax system harms Black homeowners and widens the racial wealth gap

The Color of Wealth in the Nation's Capital



Jackson County will explore all legal avenues to protect our taxpayers, schools and essential services from this politically motivated attack. Fairness will prevail, and we will not allow our community to be sacrificed for political gain.



###

MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE AMICI CURIAE BRIEF OF FORT OSAGE R-1SCHOOL DISTRICT, INDEPENDENCE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 30, LEES SUMMIT R-7 SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND OAK GROVE R-VI SCHOOL DISTRICT

And . . .

AMICUS BRIEF OF FORT OSAGE R-1 SCHOOL DISTRICT, INDEPENDENCE DISTRICT NO. 30, LEES SUMMIT R-7 SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND OAK GROVE R-VI SCHOOL DISTRICT



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

State Tax Commission orders Jackson County to fix some 2023 assessments Thousands of Kansas City property owners appealed to the tax commission after their appeals to the county's Board of Equalization failed.

Missouri Tax Commission orders changes to 2023 Jackson County property assessments All residential properties whose values increased by more than 15 percent will have to be rolled back to that 15 percent increase level, excluding increases caused by new construction.

Missouri tax commission orders values rolled back on 75% of Jackson County properties Jackson County says the tax commission ruling would cripple public school district budgets, if it is allowed to stand.

State commission orders Jackson County to correct property value assessments The State Tax Commission cite multiple errors in the assessment process, which led to higher tax bills for thousands across the county.

Developing . . .


In fairness, we think a separate post noting the today's word from the Courthouse was appropriate to consider in addition to local news coverage.

Here's the press release sent to www.TonysKansasCity.com and other local media outlets today:



Jackson County's response to politically motivated legal maneuvers and State Tax Commissions reckless order

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Jackson County is issuing this statement to address recent legal developments and the State Tax Commissions unprecedented and unjustified order. Its clear that this is a political ploy meant to confuse and alarm the public, distracting from the ethical breaches, losing cases, and outright lies being told by the supporters of this baseless lawsuit.

This is exactly what we expecteda political stunt disguised as a legitimate legal challenge. Any remaining credibility the backers of this case once had is now gone. Their broken promises, misleading statements and political attacks have only served to create confusion, frustration and false hope among our residents. But lets be honest: that was their goal from the start.



The truth is simple: every time the facts and the law are presented, Jackson County wins.



- Last December, the Missouri Supreme Court unanimously ruled in the Countys favor, dismissing a class action lawsuit.



- Yesterday, the Court of Appeals rejected Attorney General Baileys last-ditch attempt to avoid a deposition with our attorneys regarding potential ethical violations. By dismissing his claims against the County, Attorney General Bailey avoided being deposed under oath, scheduled for today.



- Today, the Circuit Court dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning the Attorney Generals Office and State Tax Commission (STC) cannot re-file it. We respect the Courts decision and thank the Judge for her careful consideration and dedication to ensuring a fair and impartial process.



Jackson County has always been, and remains, committed to ensuring a fair and equitable assessment process where no one pays more than their fair share. The STCs order blatantly ignores these principles, violating their own lawful duties and responsibilities.



It is clear that the Commission is being used as a shield for Attorney General Bailey, who is trying to escape accountability after lying and realizing he was losing the case. This dangerous order is nothing more than the latest move in a political game, one that threatens to cause significant harm to taxpayers, school districts, cities, and essential servicesimpacting them to the tune of millions of dollars.



The preliminary estimates of this orders financial impact are nothing short of devastating. Schools and libraries in Jackson County could immediately lose $86,318,397.97money they have already received, budgeted and spent. Meanwhile, cities and fire districts are estimated to lose $19,923,482.40. These losses would directly undermine the ability of these institutions to provide essential services to our community. This is not just about numbers; its about the real-world consequences for our childrens education, public safety and the quality of life in our communities.



This kind of reckless action jeopardizes the stability and planning that our schools, libraries, cities, and fire districts rely on. The entire list of impacted entities and estimated financial losses is attached to this release, providing a clear picture of the widespread damage this order would cause.



Our goal remains providing a fair and equitable process for all. This order is not just bad for our taxing jurisdictions; its bad for our taxpayers, said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. The process to fix decades of mismanagement and unfairness hasnt been easy, but we are committed to doing what is right for our community.



This is about fairness. Property tax isnt like sales taxwhen one property is undervalued, others have to pay more, said Jackson County Assessor Gail McCann Beatty. The only way to ensure fairness is to assess all properties at market value, as required by state law. Weve seen that many homes have been undervalued for years, forcing others to overpay. We cannot stand by and allow this injustice to continue.



Just weeks ago, Attorney General Bailey claimed this case was one of the most important pieces of litigation to reach a Missouri courtroom in decades, yet after only three days of trial, he chose to drop the case entirely. This abrupt reversal exposes the lawsuit for what it truly was: a politically motivated tactic that has cost Missouri taxpayers countless dollars and eroded public trust.



Jackson County firmly believes that fairness will prevail once again, and we will not allow our community to be sacrificed for political gain.



Attached to this release are the social media post from the States witness and the amicus brief from our school districts, highlighting the severe consequences of this reckless order.

###

Developing . . .


Not any time soon.

In fact . . .

REALITY CHECK: WE'RE LOOKING AT AN EPIC COURT FIGHT UNDERWAY PRECEDENT FAVORING MISSOURI REGULATORY AGENCIES!!!



And so . . .

Here's a reminder about the circumstances from elected officials . . .



In total, Jackson County residents paid $115 million in property taxes over what was legally required, the legislators said.



Much of the money collected has already been distributed to cities, school districts and other taxed jurisdictions.



"The reality is, this money has been passed along now to those cities and schools, who in turn have relied on that money to pay teachers, firefighters, and everybody else," Jackson County Legislator Sean Smith said at a press conference addressing the matter. "So immediate refunds are just not a realistic possibility."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Credit to the local faithful for speaking up about this issue rather than trusting that officials would handle the issue . . . Here are the basics . . .



The diocese was first made aware of the accusation on August 1 and launched an investigation to assess any connection to Wehner, who is now assigned to the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.



"Precautionary suspension from ministry should not be viewed as a punishment or as indication of wrongdoing, but rather a protective measure for all persons involved," the diocese said in a statement.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Chinese envoy reiterates call for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Xinhua) 09:07, August 08, 2024

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday reiterated the call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

"As we speak, conflict in the Gaza Strip has been going on for over 300 days, with more than 10,000 women killed and over a million Palestinian women and girls facing famine," said Dai Bing, charge d'affaires of China's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, at the Security Council briefing on sustaining WPS (women peace and security) commitments in the context of accelerated drawdown of peace operations.

Dai reiterated the call on all parties to respond to the "overwhelming consensus of the international community" and to jointly promote the "full and effective" implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, to put an end to the humanitarian catastrophe, and to contain the spillover of the conflict.

In his remarks, the ambassador emphasized that all efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts and to create a peaceful environment for civilians, including women, are key prerequisites for advancing the WPS agenda.

"No matter what transitions or adjustments peace operations go through, the promotion of political settlement of hotspot issues should always be the most fundamental mandate," he said.

With the changes in factors such as the situation on the ground and the will of the countries concerned, some UN missions need to withdraw, downsize, or make adjustments, he noted, adding that how to achieve smooth transitions while maintaining peace and stability in the countries and regions concerned is an important topic for council members.

China supports the United Nations and the Security Council in formulating clear and feasible transition plans and exit strategies for peace operations based on fully heeding and respecting the will of the countries concerned and aligning with the national development strategies and priority areas of the countries concerned, so as to ensure a smooth transition, he said.

Noting that women are important stakeholders in peace operations, Dai said Security Council Resolution 1325 explicitly supports women's equal and full participation in peace processes, and calls for enhanced protection of women and girls in conflict areas.

"We support the countries concerned in elevating the protection of women's rights and interests to the level of national will and, along with the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, making sustained investments in women's empowerment and development, so as to continuously enhance women's representation and voice in political, economic, cultural, and social affairs," he said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Today, three more Azerbaijani athletes will take part in the Summer Olympic Games in Paris, Trend reports.

Two of them are freestyle wrestlers and one is a gymnast.

Freestyle wrestlers Aliabbas Rzazade (57 kilograms) and Osman Nurmagomedov (86 kilograms) will enter the competition in the 1/8 finals.

Azerbaijani gymnast Zohra Agamirova will demonstrate her skills in movements with balls, hoops, ribbons and clubs at the qualifying stage of rhythmic gymnastics.

Today, Greco-Roman wrestler Khasrat Dzhafarov (67 kilograms) will compete for the bronze medal.

At the moment, Azerbaijan has four medals. Judokas Hidayat Heydarov (73 kilograms) and Zelim Kotsoyev (100 kilograms) became Olympic champions. Taekwondo athlete Gashim Magomedov took second place. Boxer Alfonso Dominguez (92 kilograms) secured at least a silver medal by reaching the final.
(TRAVPR.COM) 8th August, 2024 - There was a sort of frenetic energy at Da Nang Station, a rail hub about halfway down Vietnam's tropical coast. People lugging suitcases and duct-taped polystyrene boxes were streaming in and out of its useful entrance, but none looked like they were on holiday.

And then I spotted Koah out front. Dapper in a beige linen suit, the young attendant was holding a wooden paddle with "The Vietage" embossed in gold and scanning the horizon for lost guests like me.

Dreamt up by the Anantara hotel group, this was Vietnam's first foray into luxury rail travel. It was designed to shuttle guests between its resorts in culture-packed Hoi An (20 miles south of Da Nang) and the coastal city of Quy Nhon in utter comfort. But it's also a standalone experience, showcasing central Vietnam's vivid landscapes alongside a three-course meal, complimentary massage and free-flowing drinks over six-and-a-half hours  all included in the price of a ticket, which starts from 250 each way: a fraction of what you might pay for a ride on the likes of the British Pullman or the Orient Express.



The Vietage is unique because it's a single carriage attached to the Reunification Express, the government-run service connecting capital Hanoi and the country's southern metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City. This little quirk means the timing is not what you might consider holiday-friendly hours  the departure south from Da Nang is an almost-bleary-eyed 8.15am, while the service north from Quy Nhon gets in at 12.53am. But the experience more than makes up for it.



As we drew close to Quy Nhon, I moved to the bar where cocktail shakers were rattling with urgency while guests  most of whom, I noted, were British  traded tips on where they'd been and where they planned to head next. Someone had ordered a bitter-sweet cocktail that perfumed the carriage with curling cinnamon smoke, so I quickly did the same, sipping it slowly, lulled into a contented daze by the whisky and the train's gentle rocking. By the time the guestbook came around, my handwriting had turned into a languid scrawl.



More Information - https://www.thevietagetrain.com/experiences.html

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The Vietage by Anantara expands its luxury railway journeys with a second carriage, offering daily return trips between Nha Trang and Quy Nhon starting May 15, 2024. This expansion aims to connect the central coast of Vietnam and provide travelers with an enhanced experience.



(TRAVPR.COM) VIETNAM - August 8th, 2024 - The Vietage by Anantara today announces the introduction of a second railway carriage, which will operate a daily return journey between Nha Trang and Quy Nhon commencing its first journey on 15th May 2024.

Building on the resounding success of the existing carriage running daily between Da Nang and Quy Nhon, the second carriage aims to capture the international hub of Nha Trang served by Cam Ranh International Airport and connect the central coast of Vietnam offering opportunities for visitors to explore more of the stunning country in luxury.

At a signing ceremony this morning at the Saigon Railway Transport JSC (SRT) Head Office in Ho Chi Minh City, The Vietage by Anantara's General Manager, Erik Billgren, thanked the Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) and the SRT for their commitment and support over the last three years since the launch of the initial carriage and looks forward to the ongoing partnership in bringing Private Luxury Train journeys to Vietnam.

Reservations for the new route between Nha Trang and Quy Nhon will open on 1st February 2024.

About the company: Minor Hotels is an international hotel owner, operator and investor currently with more than 540 hotels in operation. Minor Hotels passionately explores new possibilities in hospitality with a diverse portfolio of properties designed intelligently to appeal to different kinds of travellers, serving new passions as well as personal needs. Through our Anantara, Avani, Oaks, Tivoli, NH Collection, NH Hotels, nhow, Elewana, Marriott, Four Seasons, St. Regis, Radisson Blu and Minor International properties, Minor Hotels operates in 56 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Europe, South America and North America. With dynamic plans to expand existing brands and explore strategic acquisitions throughout opportunistic markets, Minor Hotels pursues a vision of a more passionate and interconnected world.

In the event of any inaccuracies, problems, or queries arising from the content shared in this press release, we encourage you to notify us immediately at error@releasecontact.com. Our diligent team will be readily available to respond and take swift action within 8 hours to rectify any identified issues or assist with removal requests. Ensuring the provision of high-quality and precise information is paramount to us.

More Information - https://www.thevietagetrain.com/

###
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. AzerGold Closed Joint Stock Company (CJSC) has arranged the next blood donation campaign.

Employees of AzerGold CJSC and its subsidiary Dashkasan Iron Ore LLC, voluntarily participating in the campaign, donated blood to support children with hereditary and acquired bleeding diseases and increase the supply of blood for them

Hematologists of the special medical team of the National Hematology and Transfusion Center first performed an appropriate medical examination to check the health of each donor and then took blood. The collected bloodstock will be laboratory tested and used in the treatment of children suffering from thalassemia, hemophilia, and leukemia.

It should be noted that over the past months, AzerGold CJSC and its subsidiaries have regularly arranged voluntary blood donation campaigns. Employees of the CJSC and its subsidiaries continue to support the treatment of people with various blood diseases with these noble actions, traditionally held every year.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. The hat has been drawn for the second day of freestyle wrestling at the Summer Olympics in Paris, revealing the opponents of the Azerbaijani wrestlers, Trend reports via Idman.biz.

Turan Bayramov, stepping into the ring in the 74 kg weight category, is about to go head-to-head with Albanian wrestler Chermen Valiyev.

Giorgi Meshvildishvili, throwing his hat in the 125 kg weight category, will lock horns with Diaaeldin Abdelmottaleb from Egypt.

The two wrestlers from Azerbaijan will compete starting in the 1/8 finals.

The showdowns in these two weight categories are set to kick off tomorrow, August 9.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Speak up and say something. This was the message sent to all students who witness bullying.
More than half of the Ukrainian refugees who arrived in the Czech Republic after the start of full-scale Russian aggression have found jobs.

This was announced by Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala in an interview with Ukrinform.

He reminded that the Czech Republic has received more than half a million Ukrainian refugees since February 2022, and about 362,000 remain in the country.

It is positive that more than 50% of people of economically productive age are working. This share is very high compared to other EU countries. On the contrary, only about a quarter of people receive humanitarian aid, Fiala informed.

According to him, the Czech society has been very favorable to Ukrainians, and they, in turn, are trying to integrate quickly and coexist well in Czech society.

Read also: Czech Republic launches second project to purchase ammunition for Ukraine

The Prime Minister also spoke about the changes that will be introduced to asylum seekers on September 1. The main one will concern the distribution of humanitarian housing provided by the state. From the beginning of the fall, it will be provided exclusively for up to three months after arrival in the Czech Republic, so that people can find their own housing. However, particularly vulnerable groups of the population will be able to use compensation instruments.

As reported, the share of refugees from Ukraine in the total population of the Czech Republic has reached approximately 4.5%.
As part of its defensive war against Russia's illegal aggression, Ukraine has the right to hit the enemy wherever it finds necessary, including on his territory.

EU spokesperson Peter Stano said at a press briefing in Brussels on Thursday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"We think that Ukraine is fighting a legitimate defensive war against illegal aggression, and in the framework of this legitimate right to defend itself, Ukraine is entitled to hit the enemy wherever it funds necessary, both on its territory and also on the territory of the enemy," Stano said, commenting on whether a Ukrainian offensive operation in the Kursk region is part of the legitimate right of Ukrainians to defend itself.

He stressed that the position of the European Union regarding Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine remains unchanged and consists in full support for Ukraine in its legitimate right to defend itself.

"Our principled and general position is that Ukraine is under illegal aggression. So Ukraine is fighting a rightful defensive war. Based on international law, Ukraine has the right to defend itself, and this right includes also hitting the enemy on his territory," he added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine considers the decision made by Nigers authorities to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine as a gesture of "solidarity" with those who chose the path of rapprochement with the terrorist state Russia, and rejects any accusations of the alleged "support for international terrorism."

Thats according to a statement released on Thursday, Ukrinform reports.

"Ukraine took note of the decision of the authorities of the Republic of the Niger dated on August 6, 2024, to break off diplomatic relations with Ukraine. The accusations against Ukraine mentioned in the statement of the representative of the government of this country do not withstand any criticism, are groundless and untrue," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized.

MFA noted that Ukraine resolutely rejects any accusations of its alleged "support for international terrorism, violation of the UN Charter and international law."

Read also: Nigeria secret police arrest tailors for making Russian flags used in protests

"We consider that such a decision is a gesture of solidarity with those who have chosen the path of rapprochement with the terrorist state, the Russian Federation, which for more than two years has been waging an unprovoked full-scale aggressive war against Ukraine, using large-scale terror against our state, its population and civil infrastructure, commiting numerous war crimes against the Ukrainian people, destabilizing the international security and political situation, spreading chaos and confrontation in all corners of the world, including the African continent," the statement said.

Diplomats regret that the authorities of Niger decided to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine without conducting any investigation of the incident in Mali and without providing any evidence regarding the reasons for such a step.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured that Ukraine is sincerely determined to continue to build mutually beneficial relations with all African states on the basis of equality, non-interference in the internal affairs, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states within internationally recognized borders, strict compliance with international law, the Goals and Principles of the UN Charter.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the government of Niger decided to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine citing "solidarity with the government and people of Mali" and in connection with Ukraine's alleged support for "terrorist groups."

Earlier, the Malian government announced the break in diplomatic ties with Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of alleged support for the actions of the Taureg rebels, who recently ambushed an armored convoy of Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine referred to Malis decision as "short-sighted and hasty", rejecting the accusation of alleged "support for international terrorism". MFA said it reserved the right to take all necessary measures of political and diplomatic response in the wake of Malis unfriendly actions.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Ozon, a popular Russian online retailer, has started selling its products to residents of Azerbaijan, a source in the company told Trend.

"Now residents of the country can order any of over 30 million products across various categories, from children's goods to household appliances, on the ozon.com showcase. The delivery will take nearly 10 days. The range of goods accessible to the country will be expanded tenfold in the near future.

The company also plans to develop logistics infrastructure in the country - warehouse complexes, its own delivery service, and a network of branded points for receiving and issuing orders under franchise," the source said.

Commenting on the issue, Director of Operations and Development for Ozon in the CIS, Aleksei Sapon, mentioned that Azerbaijan ranks among the fastest-growing countries in terms of e-commerce growth.

We are launching our business in the Republic to offer local residents the opportunity to order any of 370 million products at optimal prices with fast and convenient delivery.

We are confident that our marketplace will not only improve the quality of shopping for local residents but will also become a platform for the development of local entrepreneurs in the future, he pointed out.

The company plans to attract local entrepreneurs to sell on the platform and to start a flow of goods from Azerbaijan to Russia and other CIS countries.

Ozon has been expanding its international business since 2020. Currently, in addition to Russia, the company operates in eight countries.

Ozon is a multi-category marketplace with a well-developed logistics network. The platform offers over 370 million product listings across more than 20 categories, including books, clothing, food, and health products. With 50 million active buyers, Ozons advanced logistics infrastructure also enables 500,000 entrepreneurs to sell their products in Russia and the CIS countries.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) held another currency auction on August 8, Trend reports.

The data from CBA indicates that the demand at the auction amounted to $64.9 million (a decline of 13.24 percent or $9.9 million compared to the previous auction) and was fully satisfied.

The demand at the previous currency auction amounted to $74.8 million.

The weighted average exchange rate at the end of the auction amounted to 1.7 AZN/1 USD.

A total of $4.067 billion has been purchased at currency auctions since the beginning of the year. The maximum demand for currency was recorded at the auction on February 13, 2024 - $151.1 million. In January 2024, $417.1 million was purchased at currency auctions; in February - $870.6 million; in March - $498.3 million; in April - $623.4 million; in May - $558.6 million; in June - $581 million: and in July - $597.1 million.

About $3.8 billion was purchased at currency auctions in 2023.

The CBA started conducting currency auctions by unilaterally selling foreign currency under competitive conditions in mid-January 2017.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
With the new school year approaching, both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian student groups are preparing for renewed college campus protests --- though they may differ than the ones seen last spring.

Hundreds of Jewish and pro-Israel students recently gathered in Washington, D.C., for a leadership summit aimed at strategizing for the upcoming year, according to Fox News Digital. The summit, hosted by the Israel on Campus Coalition, focused on rallying students against rising antisemitism and bolstering pro-Israel activism.

Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian activists are gearing up for more protests as Israel's 10-month conflict with Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza continues. Despite over 2,000 arrests last year, they are planning to intensify their efforts to push their institutions to divest from Israel, among other demands.

"We've been working all this summer on our plans, on what's next to pressure Columbia to listen to the students and to decide to be on the right side of history," Mahmoud Khalil, of Columbia University Apartheid Divest, told The Hill.

Last year's campus disruptions included protests against the Gaza conflict and interruptions of graduation ceremonies. This year, activists are strategizing new ways to raise awareness and apply pressure, despite more universities adopting stricter protesting policies surrounding demonstrations.

Indiana University's Board of Trustees approved a new policy in July regarding campus demonstrations following an independent review of the school's response to pro-Palestinian protests this past spring.

The new policy, which went into effect Aug. 1, supports protests that don't disrupt university operations or hinder the expressive activity of another individual or group.

While the new policy permits actions such as assembly in public areas, peaceful protesting, making speeches and carrying signs, it prohibits constructing temporary structures without approval at least 10 days in advance, outdoor amplified sounds that disrupt others and applying permanent markings to university property.

The University of Pennsylvania also introduced temporary protest guidelines this summer, explicitly banning encampments. And Harvard University announced it wouldn't make official political statements, impeding protesters' efforts to push institutions to take a stance on the Israel-Gaza war. Universities are also showing stronger solidarity with Jewish students, some of whom have sued their schools over hostility or harassment during the protests. This could impact how future demonstrations are handled.

At the pro-Israel summit, speakers including former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett urged students to remain steadfast in their support for Israel and confront antisemitism with unity and resilience.

"Never apologize for being Jewish. Never apologize for loving the state of Israel," Bennett said.

During a joint meeting of Congress in late July, current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed similar sentiments and offered scathing remarks to people participating in anti-Israel protests.

"When the tyrants of Tehran who hang gays from cranes and murder women for not covering their hair are praising, promoting and funding you, you have officially become Iran's useful idiots," he said.
Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities:

2024, Forty-third session

31 October 2024 (with a standalone training component on 28 October 2024), New York

Introduction

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, in its capacity as UN-Space secretariat, is pleased to announce that the forty-third session of UN-Space will be held in New York, with the support of the Capacity Development and Operational Training Service (CDOTS) of the Department of Operational Support. This is the first time UN-Space is partnering with CDOTS and it looks forward to new areas of collaboration.

UN-Space encourages representatives of entities of the United Nations system, in line with General Assembly resolution 78/72 of 11 December 2023 (A/RES/78/72), to participate, as appropriate, in UN-Space coordination efforts.

Forty-third session of UN-Space

A dedicated meeting of UN-Space, open to representatives of all United Nations entities, will be held on 31 October 2024. The meeting on 31 October will focus, inter alia, on orientations on the latest developments in the peaceful uses of outer space, updates on space sustainability efforts by various entities and discussions on improving coordination in obtaining and sharing commercial satellite imagery across the United Nations system. Please see the annotated agenda for the meeting.

Following on a joint meeting of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Working Group on Capacity-building and Data Democracy and UN-Space, held in March 2023, which focused on the identification of needs of Member States and United Nations entities for capacity-building in the use of space-based observations, a standalone training day will also be arranged as a component of the forty-third session.The training will feature sessions led by the NASA Applied Remote Sensing Training (ARSET) and Earth Science Data Systems (ESDS) programs, highlighting Earth observations and satellite data analysis and providing a hands-on experience. By the end of this training attendees will be able to: recognize how remote sensing observations can inform decision making; identify how to locate applicable NASA datasets and tools that support decision-making and policy; and apply workflows to access and visualize NASA datasets. The training will take place in-person only on 28 October 2024.

The same individuals need not join both the training day and the regular portion of the session.
(@FahadShabbir)

Research fellow at Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and a specialist on South Asian Affairs, Dr Shafqat Munir on Thursday expressed the optimism that with the fall of Hasina Wajid led government in Bangladesh, a new power balance in South Asia would help strengthen Bangladesh-China-Pakistan regional initiative for peace, development and prosperity

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Aug, 2024) Research fellow at Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and a specialist on South Asian Affairs, Dr Shafqat Munir on Thursday expressed the optimism that with the fall of Hasina Wajid led government in Bangladesh, a new power balance in South Asia would help strengthen Bangladesh-China-Pakistan regional initiative for peace, development and prosperity.

Talking about the recent uprising in Bangladesh in a SDTV programme, Dr Shafqat said that the Awami Leagues politics was based on hatred and divide policy without realizing the sentiments of three generations of Bangladesh as she could not maintain the heroism of her late father for long and with her largely pro-Indian stance, she keep distancing herself from a large number of people who disagreed with her politics of authoritarianism. The three generations included the population who lived in united Pakistan, a generation that was grown up in Bangladesh with some bitterness of the past and a new young generation who did not have the baggage of strained history, he said.

Sharing his experience of interactions with these three generations, Dr Shafqat said by and large a majority of the people hailing from these generations with predominantly did not like the countrys tilt towards India by distancing from Pakistan. "One extremist sizable population that was supporting Awami League was certainly siding with Hasina on her pro-Indian politics. Amid this reality, Ms Hasina remained insecure that is why she relied on Indian security and Modis then stature which has now been eroded after the general election 2024 in India. Indian elections happened to be a demise of Hindutva. Hasina had assumed that India and Modi will emerge as the most powerful but that proved to be a counter productive for her political strides, he added.

Dr Shafqat said Modi used Hasina to derail the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). In the SAARC region, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan are leading powers followed by Nepal, Sri Lanka and others, he said and added, Hasina put her weight behind Modi while now the new power dynamics may take place in the region which hopefully would help revive SAARC with India no more a spoiler power.

I met several people who shared good memories of their lives in united Pakistan and denied that all Bengalis were against Pakistan. They were of the view that all Bengalis did not want to separate from Pakistan but due to some vested interests, the separation was projected as independence by some national, regional, and international players. A senior citizen was of the view that how could they claim independence as Hasina subjugated us to India, Dr Shafqat said.

The Army and other state institutions were closely watching Hasinas policies and once this uprising started and reached its peak, the Army declared that they are with their people and not with Hasina, the government. The sparked strengths and the mob moved to topple the government. Over the years, mutiny within the Bangladesh Army was witnessed but the Army and other institutions had reformed themselves and finally did not block toppling of an authoritarian and arrogant regime.

The Army and protestors in Bangladesh, he said, unanimously challenged the mandate and upheld state interest during the protests to end Indian influence over their sovereign state, adding, The development that has been done is through Indian investments in the businesses and industry apart from Chinese investments. The economy was developed but not linked with political stability.

Importantly, he said Pakistans flag was hoisted in the protests and a large number of the population believed that separation from Pakistan was a political compulsion imposed by outer forces. It is hoped that the protesters, caretaker government, and leading political parties will ensure that democracy is restored as Begum Khalida Zia has demanded for fresh elections in next three months to shorten the span of the caretaker set up. Begum Zia had ruled with a balanced approach towards India and Pakistan. However, during Zias rule Pakistanis were never intimidated but during Haseena Wajids regime, they used to detain Pakistanis on the Airport despite a valid visa.

Dr Shafqat believed that the strained relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh will normalize, and trade will improve further. He claimed that India is losing its grip over the region as Modi himself has weakened after losing Bangladesh who was the strongest ally of India in the region. Modi has convened his security experts in the present situation as it has got serious security concerns after fall of Hasina in Dhaka, he added. India before elections had predicted that Modi would emerge as a more powerful leader but people in India had realized that he was isolating the country and getting lethal for the society under his Hindutva ideology causing polarization against Muslims and Christians and other, he observed.

Dr Shafqat underlined that the South Asians by temperament are democratic and liberal people as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, and Nepal are democratic through mind and thought but extremism has been implanted within Pakistan and India to create division. Populism, Rightism experiments are failing and when South Asia will return to its original values that will bring stability in the region, he said.
Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) Muhammad Ali Randhawa on Thursday emphasized the importance of connecting cycle tracks with metro and other bus stations in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Aug, 2024) Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) Muhammad Ali Randhawa on Thursday emphasized the importance of connecting cycle tracks with metro and other bus stations in Islamabad.

The consultants from Asian Development Bank (ADB) gave a detailed briefing to Chairman CDA on proposed cycle tracks in Islamabad.

The meeting was held via Zoom aimed at introducing an affordable and alternative mode of transportation and recreation in the Capital City.

Chairman Randhawa stressed that the project should be developed according to international standards while being cost-effective.

He directed to consult environmental experts to ensure the design is eco-friendly and preserves the city's green belt.

The ADB mission shared international best practices and experiences from various countries, providing valuable insights for the development of cycle tracks in Islamabad.

Suggestions were made to complete the project, incorporating these international standards.
PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Aug, 2024) The Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Support Group has appreciated the inclusion of the minority education quota in the revised policy and sought for its integration into the KP Universities Act.

The group called for scholarships to support minority students unable to avail of the quota due to poverty, ensuring these students can fully benefit from educational opportunities.

A press release issued here on Thursday, said the group commended the Directorate of Higher Education and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for the progressive step by including a minority education quota in the recently notified "Revised Admission Policy" for 2023-2024.

This policy marks a milestone in promoting inclusivity, diversity, and equal opportunities for minority students in educational institutions across the province, said the group.

It said the "Revised Admission Policy" for 2023-2024 ensures the representation of minority students, addressing historical inequities and fostering social cohesion.

Providing a level playing field encourages academic achievement and creates role models for future generations.

This initiative is expected to support minority students in overcoming socio-economic barriers and achieving their educational aspirations, added the group.

Rizwan ullah Shah, Provincial Coordinator, National Commission for Human Rights (NHCR), said NCHR is committed to improving minority rights in KP.

We applaud the inclusion of the minority quota in the Revised Admission Policy and will continue to focus on empowering and ensuring compliance with minority quotas in education.

This policy promotes inclusivity and paves the way for a more equitable and just society, he added.

Yumna Aftab, Project Manager at Blue Veins, said: "We are pleased to see the inclusion of the minority education quota in the Revised Admission Policy.

This decision reflects the commitment of the KP government and the Directorate of Higher Education to create an inclusive and diverse academic environment.

It is a significant step towards ensuring equal educational opportunities for all students, regardless of their backgrounds.

We believe this policy will inspire minority students to pursue higher education and contribute positively to society.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Aug, 2024) The parliamentary leader of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) in the Senate Senator Irfan Siddiqui Thursday urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Imran Khan to adopt a mature approach and appealed to Khan to seek constructive dialogue to address his grievances rather than resorting to immature political tactics.

Talking to a private news channel, Siddiqui emphasized that by engaging in dialogue, Khan can harness the collective wisdom of stakeholders and find solutions that benefit the country as a whole.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui has urged Imran Khan to take a step towards reconciliation by accepting responsibility for the 9th May incident and apologizing to the nation for any harm caused.

Siddiqui emphasized that this gesture of goodwill is essential for creating a conducive environment for meaningful dialogues with the government.

Furthermore, Siddiqui advised Khan to refrain from criticizing the Army and other institutions, as such rhetoric only serves to further divide the nation, he added.

By putting aside differences and engaging in constructive talks, Khan can work towards finding solutions to the country's pressing issues, he added.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui criticized Imran Khan for his inconsistent stance and statements, emphasizing that Khan's lack of maturity and serious strategy has hindered his ability to resolve issues with other political parties.

Siddiqui stressed that dialogue is the only solution to Pakistan's political challenges, and that without it, Khan will never achieve his goals.

He pointed out that Khan's propensity for changing his stance and statements has eroded trust and credibility, making it essential for him to adopt a more consistent and serious approach.

In response to a question, Senator Irfan Siddiqui expressed his concern that Imran Khan is heading in the wrong direction, citing his recent alliance with Mahmood Achakzai as a misguided move.

Siddiqui believes that seeking support from Achakzai will not yield any positive results for Khan, he needs to reassess his strategy and seek more constructive partnerships if he hopes to make progress.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Azerbaijan and the World Climate Foundation (WCF) have discussed arrangements for COP29, Trend reports.

According to Azerbaijan's Ministry of Economy, the discussions took place during a meeting between Deputy Minister Samad Bashirli and WCF CEO Jens Nielsen.

The meeting emphasized that hosting COP29 in Azerbaijan underscores the country's commitment to addressing climate issues and promoting 'green growth'.

The event pointed out the key role of effective cooperation with international organizations, including the WCF, presented data on the development of the countrys energy sector in alignment with global climate change goals, and spotlighted the implementation of initiatives aimed at advancing a green economy and mitigating the impacts of global climate change.

The parties exchanged views on the organization of COP29 events and the partnership with the WCF.

To note, this November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 7080,000 foreign guests.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. The COPthe Conference of the Partiesis the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, with its secretariat in Bonn.

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The new Centralized Complaint Management System developed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) will facilitate beneficiaries of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to redress their complaints efficiently

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Aug, 2024) The new Centralized Complaint Management System developed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) will facilitate beneficiaries of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to redress their complaints efficiently.

This was shared during a meeting between Secretary BISP Amer Ali Ahmad with the technical team of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) here Thursday.

The ADB team presented a detailed briefing to Secretary BISP on the development of a new iGMS Centralized Complaint Management System.

During the briefing, the ADB team informed the Secretary that the newly developed system aimed to enhance the redressal process for BISP beneficiaries by generating a unique ID/Tracking number, allowing users to monitor and track the entire life cycle of their complaints.

The Secretary BISP emphasized the importance of an efficient complaint reporting mechanism and suggested the introduction of a simple complaint form specifically for BISP beneficiaries.

He stressed that this would make the system more accessible and user-friendly.

The ADB technical team announced that testing of the system was scheduled for October 2024, with the pilot program expected to launch in December 2024. Additionally, a test trial of the new Complaint Management System will begin in November 2024, they said.

The Secretary BISP requested the ADB team to advance the pilot launch to September 2024 and sought their continued technical and technological support to ensure the smooth functioning of the system.

The ADB team assured that they would provide comprehensive technical training to the BISP IT team to facilitate a successful transition to the new system.
The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) hosted a photo exhibition at its headquarters here on Thursday

JEDDAH, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Aug, 2024) The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) hosted a photo exhibition at its headquarters here on Thursday.

The exhibition was organized by the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the OIC to mark the fifth anniversary of Indias revocation of Jammu and Kashmirs special status.

In his speech, Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General of the OIC, reiterated the Organizations support for the Kashmiri peoples right to self-determination in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Additionally, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Jammu and Kashmir and Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Youssef bin Mohammed Aldobeay, reviewed the OICs efforts and initiatives in defending the legitimate rights of the Kashmiri people.
Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) caught 11016 power pilferers during last 334 days and imposed a fine of over Rs.1.1125 billion for stealing electricity in six circles of the company during the ongoing special anti-power theft drive

FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Aug, 2024) Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) caught 11016 power pilferers during last 334 days and imposed a fine of over Rs.1.1125 billion for stealing electricity in six circles of the company during the ongoing special anti-power theft drive.

FESCO Spokesman Tahir Sheikh said here on Thursday that over 25.7 million detection units were charged and more than 10,832 cases were registered against power theft in various police stations.

The police arrested 8083 pilferers so far including 47 accused during past 24 hours in addition to recovering Rs 803.3 million from the power pilferers.

Giving further details, he said that the FESCO teams detected electricity theft at 2672 points in Faisalabad First Circle and imposed a fine of Rs.275.4 million on them under the head of 6362,000 detection units.

In Faisalabad Second Circle, the FESCO teams caught 2103 electricity thieves and imposed a fine of Rs.208.9 million under 5416,000 detection units.

Similarly, 1207 cases of electricity theft were detected in Jhang circle and the company handed down the power pilferers with a fine of Rs.118 million under 3459,000 detection units.

He further said that 1602 electricity thieves were caught from Sargodha circle and they were imposed a fine of Rs.163.9 million under 3538,000 detection units.

In Mianwali circle, 2740 consumers were found involved in electricity theft and they were handed down with a fine of Rs.261.1 million for 5341,000 detection units.

The FESCO teams also caught 692 power pilferers from Toba Tek Singh circle and they were fined with Rs.84.9 million for 1645,000 detection units, spokesman added.
(@FahadShabbir)

Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Aug, 2024) French President Emmanuel Macron told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to "avoid a cycle of reprisals" in the middle East, his office said, as fears of a regional war soar.

After earlier telling his Iranian counterpart to "avoid a cycle of reprisals that would put the populations and stability of the region at risk", Macron urged Netanyahu in a telephone call to adopt the same reasoning, the French presidency said in a statement.

Already high amid the war in Gaza, tensions in the Middle East have soared following the assassinations of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut last week.

The former has been blamed on Israel, which claimed responsibility for the latter.

The French presidency said it was imperative to prevent all-out war between Israel and the powerful Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which have been trading near-daily cross-border fire since Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel.

"Faced with rising tensions on the border between Israel and Lebanon, every effort must be made... to avoid a regional conflagration," said the French presidency, stressing that "a war between Israel and Lebanon would have destructive consequences for the entire region".

Macron also reminded Netanyahu that "the absolute priority" for France remained "the immediate achievement of a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages... and the massive and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to the people there".
Tokyo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Aug, 2024) Nagasaki's mayor said Thursday it was "unfortunate" that US and British ambassadors have refused to attend a ceremony marking the 1945 atomic bombing of the Japanese city because Israel was snubbed.

But he defended the decision not to invite Israel to Friday's annual event, repeating that it was "not political" but to avoid possible protests related to the Gaza conflict.

"It is unfortunate that they have communicated to us that their ambassadors are not able to attend," Shiro Suzuki told reporters.

"We made a comprehensive decision not for political reasons. We want to conduct a smooth ceremony in a peaceful and solemn environment."

On August 9, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, killing 74,000 people including many who survived the explosion but died later from radiation exposure.

This came three days after the first nuclear bomb on Hiroshima that killed 140,000 people.

Japan announced its surrender in World War II on August 15, 1945.

The United States, Britain, France, Italy and the European Union -- plus reportedly Canada and Australia -- are all sending diplomats below ambassador level to the ceremony.

Only the US and British embassies made an explicit link to Nagasaki's decision not to invite Israel's ambassador Gilad Cohen, although a source told AFP that Italy's move was also a direct consequence.

The British embassy said leaving out Israel created "an unfortunate and misleading equivalency with Russia and Belarus -- the only other countries not invited to this year's ceremony".

A spokesperson for the French embassy called Suzuki's decision "regrettable and questionable", while the German mission criticised "placing Israel on the same level as Russia and Belarus".

Cohen, who attended a similar memorial ceremony in Hiroshima on Tuesday, said last week that the Nagasaki decision "sends a wrong message to the world".

On Thursday Cohen thanked "all the countries that have chosen to stand with Israel and oppose its exclusion from the Nagasaki Peace Ceremony."

"Thank you for standing with us on the right side of history," Cohen said on X, formerly Twitter.
Houston, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Aug, 2024) A Texas man was executed on Wednesday for the 1997 murder of a woman who was jogging in her Houston neighborhood, one of two executions scheduled this week in the United States.

Arthur Lee Burton, 54, was put to death via lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, and pronounced dead at 6:47 pm Central time (2347 GMT), officials from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said.

Separately, the western state of Utah is scheduled to carry out an execution overnight, its first in 14 years.

Taberon Honie, 48, is to be put to death shortly after midnight Mountain Time (0600 GMT Thursday) for the 1998 murder and sexual assault of his ex-girlfriend's mother.

Honie is to be executed by lethal injection at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City.

Utah's last execution was carried out by firing squad in 2010.

Burton, the death row inmate in Texas, was convicted of the July 1997 murder of Nancy Adleman, a mother of three who was attacked while out jogging.

Adleman was strangled with her own shoelaces.

Burton's lawyers appealed to the Supreme Court to stay his execution but the request was denied without comment.

His attorneys had argued that Burton should be constitutionally exempt from being put to death because he is intellectually disabled.

"To all the people I have hurt and caused pain, I wish we didn't have to be here at this moment, but I want you to know that I am sorry for putting y'all through this," Burton said in his final statement.

Texas has carried out two executions since January and there have been 10 in the United States this year so far.

The death penalty has been abolished in 23 US states, while six others (Arizona, California, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee) have moratoriums in place.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Azercosmos OJSC, the space agency of Azerbaijan, will provide satellite services to Botswana, Southern Africa, Trend reports.

According to Azerscosmos, the company has initiated cooperation with the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana.

Under this long-term agreement, the Botswana government agency will utilize data services provided via the Azerspace-1 telecommunication satellite.

Furthermore, this marks the inaugural provision of satellite data services to Botswana via the African C band coverage on the Azerspace-1 satellite.

To note, Azercosmos currently supplies satellite services to nearly half of the 13 countries in Southern Africa. This collaboration with Botswana will enhance the deployment of Azerspace satellite services in large-scale data projects across Southern Africa.

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The United States on Wednesday completed one of the last major troop departures from Niger ahead of the military junta-imposed September 15 deadline. About 1,000 troops were stationed in Niger before the ruling leaderships order to leave.

A joint statement from the Nigerien Defense Ministry and the U.S. military said personnel and equipment from the base had been withdrawn and coordination would continue over the coming weeks to make sure the pullout is complete.

The effective cooperation and communication between the U.S. and Nigerien armed forces ensured that this turnover was completed ahead of schedule and without complications.

In an interview with VOAs Anthony LaBruto, U.S. Representative Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, details how the United States is reevaluating its military presence in light of the troop departures as well as recent challenges to its broader security initiatives on the continent.

The conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.

VOA: What role does the United States Africa Command, or AFRICOM, play in the continent? In what capacity do AFRICOM's teams serve in different countries in Africa and how is it helping to stabilize democracy?

U.S. Representative Michael McCaul: I just met with AFRICOM. I had a briefing from them. So, this is a very timely interview. They're primarily military. That's why in 2019, I introduced the Global Fragility Act. ... And to your point, it forces [AFRICOM] to go beyond just being a military organization. It forces them to coordinate with states and with the United States Agency for International Development together on the African continent, and thats very helpful if theyre working together rather than independently with their own missions. When I was at AFRICOM, they talked about it a lot, how that bill has really changed the way they operate.

VOA: I noticed that when the head of Africa Command testified before your committee, he mentioned that military presence in Africa should go alongside diplomatic and aid efforts on the continent. Can you elaborate on how these different elements are coordinated and their overall impact on the region?

McCaul: Look, the military is important. But thats not going to win this alone, right? I mean, when you have economic ties, they strengthen our alliances and that's where I think the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation can be helpful.

And then of course USAID, you know, we provide our humanitarian assistance. I passed the branding bill, which requires the American flag to be on this, so that they know where the aid is coming from, because prior to that, they didnt know where its coming from. Now, if China brings in the [diplomatic] systems, their flags are everywhere and so now USAID has the American flag. They know where its coming from. That really helps in diplomacy.

I would also throw trade in there. If we could get back to having some trade agreements, which we havent done, quite frankly, under this administration. Of course, the military we need. They provide the security umbrella to provide the soft power  that being diplomatic and economic assistance.

VOA: What are the U.S. military's strategies for countering threats in countries like Somalia and Kenya, and how do these efforts support and integrate with aid projects in the region?

McCaul: We have counterterrorism operations  thats where AFRICOM comes in  but theyre overstretched and overburdened. Their role in coordinating with the State Department and USAID is to provide that security piece. ... But when you have Niger kicking us out, there's nothing we can do. We cant operate within countries.

You look at Somalia, I mean our presence there is ... quite frankly, that embassy is so dangerous you cant even drive to it, you have to fly in. Thats probably the most dangerous embassy in the world right now. And now, with the events of the Houthi rebels joining forces with al-Shabab, its even worse. I really worry about that embassy. ... They have a lot of security there, and it's probably the most secure embassy in the world, but still. I mean, what good is that presence if you cant really operate out of the country?

VOA: With the military or AFRICOM being challenged so much, is the U.S. rethinking any of its military or aid policies on the continent?

McCaul: They are [being challenged], and it's a resource issue; its a big continent. There's not much we can do if the country doesn't want us there. They kicked the French out of Mali, in the Sahel regions, theyre gone.

They have this anti-colonialism attitude that goes back to the French, and I understand that, and they probably look at us [similarly] in some respects. We want them to look at us as a liberator, not an occupier, but they do have a sense of, Oh, the colonials are coming back in, certainly with the French, probably less so with the Americans, but we still have that issue.

The AFRICOM General [Michael] Langley warned that the loss of U.S. bases in the Sahel will degrade our ability to do active watching and warning, including for the homeland defense. Right now, the terrorist organizations in Africa are more focused on Africa and not external operations, but we always have to be mindful of that, that any of these terror operations can go operational, external operations, if thats the direction they want to go. Right now, Im not sure they have that capacity to conduct external operations necessarily over here, but its something we have to continue to watch.

This Q&A originated in VOAs English to Africa Service.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have sealed the deal by signing a memorandum of understanding in the realm of cybersecurity, Trend reports.

According to the Electronic Security Service (ESS) under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, the memorandum was signed during Azerbaijani delegates' working visit to Kazakhstan.

The document outlines plans for collaborative efforts in information security and cybersecurity, including the sharing of data and expertise between the involved parties.

To note, the ESS continues its efforts to establish cooperation with CERTs (Computer Emergency Response Teams) and similar organizations from other countries in accordance with the Cybersecurity and Information Security Strategy of Azerbaijan for 2023-2027, approved by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on August 28, 2023.

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President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he was not confident about a peaceful transfer of power in the United States if Republican Donald Trump loses the Nov. 5 presidential election.

"If Trump loses, I'm not confident at all," Biden said in an interview with CBS News when asked whether he thought there would be a peaceful transfer of power after the vote.

"He means what he says. We don't take him seriously. He means it. All this stuff about if we lose there'd be a bloodbath," Biden added.

During a March campaign appearance in Ohio, Trump warned of a "bloodbath" if he fails win the election. At the time Trump was discussing the need to protect the U.S. auto industry from overseas competition, and Trump later said he was referring to the auto industry when he used the term.

Trump has falsely claimed he won the 2020 election against Biden and was criminally charged in Washington and Georgia with illegally trying to overturn the results.

Biden dropped out of the campaign last month after fellow Democrats called for him to step aside following a poor debate performance against Trump that raised questions about the Democratic president's age and health.

Biden's vice president, Kamala Harris, has since captured the Democratic nomination and is running against Trump.
China has been intensifying pressure on some prominent dissidents in recent weeks, as local prosecutors decide whether to impose jail sentences on human rights lawyer Lu Siwei, and police repeatedly threaten to arrest citizen journalist Zhang Zhan again.

Some human rights advocates say the renewed threats against Lu and Zhang are part of a broader campaign by the government to intensify crackdowns on activists and human rights lawyers.

Beijing is trying to warn dissidents that if they try to defend the rule of law or freedom of expression, they could be arrested or imprisoned, Bob Fu, founder of the Texas-based human rights organization ChinaAid, told VOA by phone.

Lus wife, Zhang Chunxiao, who now lives in the U.S., tells VOA that Chinese police in the southwestern province of Sichuan have imposed strict restrictions on her husband since he was released on bail in October, putting him under 24-hour surveillance and barring him from leaving the city of Chengdu without approval.

The authorities have deployed eight to nine people to monitor him around the clock and he is followed by someone whether he is taking the metro or getting into a taxi, she told VOA by phone.

Lu, a prominent human rights lawyer who has handled several high-profile cases, tried to flee China last year in July and reunite with his family in the United States by traveling through Southeast Asia last. Despite holding a valid U.S. visa and Chinese passport, he was arrested and detained by Laotian police and later deported back to China.

Zhang said the constant surveillance has made Lu feel isolated and experience serious mood swings.

Almost everyone around him, including his friends and family members, has cut off contact with him so he is in a very bad mental state, Zhang added.

In addition to surveillance and restrictions on his movement, the police told Lu last month that Chengdu prosecutors were reviewing his case and would determine whether to charge him with a crime or not later.

While Zhang said she hopes there is a slim chance authorities would decide not to charge her husband with any crime and let him regain his basic rights and freedom, some analysts say there is a high probability that Lu could be found guilty and given a jail sentence.

Since the conviction rate in China is more than 99%, I think Lu will likely be prosecuted for some crime, Yaqiu Wang, research director for China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan at Freedom House, told VOA by phone.

Fu in Texas said Lus experience is a typical case of Chinas transnational repression, and that Beijing is preparing to prosecute him.

His case shows that under Chinese President Xi Jinpings rule, even a peaceful human rights lawyer would be arrested in a foreign country for trying to reunite with his family in the United States, he told VOA.

In a written response, the Chinese Embassy in Washington said Beijing strictly abides by international law and fully respects the law enforcement sovereignty of other countries.

There is no transnational repression, Liu Pengyu, the embassys spokesperson, told VOA.

Forced family separation

While Lu faces the looming threat of prosecution in China, his family has also been forcibly separated since his wife and children moved to the U.S. in January 2022. Zhang said Lus detention and deportation back to China have pushed her to learn how to advocate for him, which is something that she wasnt used to.

I used to be a very quiet person living a simple life, but since his arrest last year, I had no choice but to start advocating for him, she told VOA, adding that she has been doing it out of her instinct as a wife despite the work being difficult for her.

My child is still young and my husband also needs my emotional support so I need to become stronger, Zhang said.

Fu from ChinaAid said Zhangs experience reflects a common situation that the family of other Chinese dissidents have to face.

The pain that such forced separation brings to Chinese dissidents families is indescribable and it is a tragedy created by the Chinese government, he told VOA.

Life-long threats from the Chinese government

While Lu awaits his fate, Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan has been receiving repeated threats of rearrest by the police since she was released from prison in May.

Zhang, who was sentenced to four years for covering the initial lockdown in Wuhan during the COVID-19 pandemic, shared in a post on the messaging app WeChat on June 9 that police in Shanghai warned her that if she again crosses certain red lines, she would be jailed again.

In another video she uploaded onto YouTube in July, Zhang said authorities had confiscated her passport, and that she remains aware of possibly being followed.

Despite the recurring threats she faces, Zhang continues to advocate for the release of other Chinese dissidents who have been taken away by police in recent weeks.

Wang at Freedom House said that as Zhang continues to advocate for freedom and the rule of law, she will likely keep facing harassment and intimidation from the police.

Surveillance and threats of reimprisonment will always accompany her, likely for the rest of her life, she told VOA. These cases show that the cost of dissenting is not limited to the formal time these dissidents serve in prison.

Wang adds that it also shows how threats to dissidents under Xi Jinping are increasing and are often all-encompassing.
Firefighters battled on Wednesday the reawakened Park Fire, a massive blaze that re-exploded in Northern California on Monday after several days of slumber and grew by as much as 53 square kilometers, mostly in about 12 hours.

The Park Fire, California's largest so far this year and the state's fourth largest on record, had scorched nearly 1,676 square kilometers by Tuesday morning.

Firefighters were told during their morning briefing to focus on safety and to be mindful of extreme fire behavior, including intense and rapidly moving flames.

The Park Fire was allegedly ignited by arson on July 24 outside the Sacramento Valley city of Chico and has destroyed 640 structures and damaged 52.

In Southern California, a fast-moving wildfire that swept into a hillside community this week destroyed five homes and damaged three others, authorities said Tuesday.

The flames erupted Monday afternoon and chased residents from the neighborhood in San Bernardino, about 97 kilometers east of Los Angeles,

One firefighter was treated for a minor injury but there were no reports of injuries to residents, said Eric Sherwin, spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

"How quickly this fire hit this community," Sherwin said, "the fact that we have no civilians injured is truly a miracle."

The fire was reported at 2:40 p.m. Monday and stopped progressing about three hours later after scorching 22 hectares. Containment was holding at 75%, Sherwin said. All evacuations were lifted late Tuesday morning.

Investigators were working to determine the cause of the fire, which erupted amid very dry and hot conditions that have made swaths of California quick to burn this summer.
Security forces have arrested five people in connection with an attack this week at a military base in Iraq in which five U.S. troops and two U.S. contractors were wounded, Iraqi officials said on Thursday.

The arrests were announced by the Iraqi Security Media Cell, an official body responsible for disseminating security information.

"After in-depth legal investigations and listening to witnesses' statements ... five of those involved in this illegal act were arrested," the Security Media Cell added in a statement.

In Monday's attack, two Katyusha rockets were fired at Ain al-Asad air base in the west of the country. On Tuesday, Iraq's military condemned what it called "reckless" actions against bases on its soil and said it had captured a truck with a rocket launcher.

The attack came as the Middle East braced for a possible new wave of attacks by Iran and its allies following last week's killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

It was unclear whether the incident in Iraq was linked to threats by Iran to retaliate over the killing in Tehran of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Iraq is a rare ally of both the U.S. and Iran. It hosts 2,500 U.S. troops and has Iran-backed militias linked to its security forces. It has witnessed escalating tit-for-tat attacks since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in Gaza in October.

Iraq wants troops from the U.S.-led military coalition to begin withdrawing in September and to formally end the coalition's work by September 2025, Iraqi sources have said, with some U.S. forces likely to remain in a newly negotiated advisory capacity.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate in the November election, and her Republican challenger, former President Donald Trump, agreed Thursday to a high-stakes, prime-time television debate September 10 on ABC News.

NBC News is discussing a potential second debate with both campaigns.

Meanwhile, Trump said at a lengthy news conference that CBS News had agreed to host a vice presidential debate between his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, and Harris ticket mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

Trump said he had also accepted a September 4 debate date on Fox News, where an array of conservative commentators favor his election, but the Harris campaign has not agreed.

The Harris-Trump face-off that was agreed to is likely to be one of the pivotal moments of the campaign leading to the November 5 election. It almost certainly will be watched by millions of voters, at least a small sliver of whom may not have already decided whom to vote for.

Pollsters show the contest is currently a virtual dead heat, with Harris perhaps edging ahead.

Biden-Trump debate

One debate  between Trump and President Joe Biden  has already played a key role in the election of a new president for a four-year term in the White House starting next January.

Biden, 81, stumbled badly in his June 27 debate with Trump, often losing his train of thought and unable to either sustain an attack on Trump or defend his own 3 years in office.

With falling polling numbers and pressure from fellow Democrats to withdraw from the campaign, Biden ended his reelection effort July 21 and immediately endorsed Harris, 59. If elected, she would be the countrys first female chief executive, its second Black president after Barack Obama, and the first person of Indian descent to lead the country.

Biden trailed Trump in national surveys by 5 or 6 percentage points when he dropped out of the contest, but Democrats have quickly rallied to Harris side. She has edged ahead of Trump by a percentage point or two in numerous surveys across the country but still trails him in some political battleground states that are likely to determine the national outcome.

Trump answered 37 questions Thursday afternoon at a 65-minute news conference at his oceanside Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. It was a session intended as a put-down of Harris and her failure to hold a full-scale question-and-answer session with reporters in the 18 days since Biden ended his campaign.

Trump, 78, relentlessly disparaged Harris, attacked her as an intellectual lightweight, described her as a radical left person out of touch with mainstream voters and repeatedly mispronounced her first name as Kuh-mahl-uh, instead of the correct Comma-la.

She cant do an interview, shes barely competent, Trump claimed. Shes not smart enough to do a news conference.

He described her as worse than Biden and not as smart, but said later, Its not really about her. Its her bad policies.

Numerous falsehoods

Trump uttered numerous falsehoods during the news conference, including one instance when he claimed about 1,500 people had showed up at Harris rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan on Wednesday, when in fact the raucous crowds numbered in the thousands.

In another instance, he wrongly said no one was killed as about 2,000 of his supporters marched to the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, trying to block Congress from certifying that he had lost his 2020 reelection bid to Biden. More than 1,000 were arrested, some of whom vandalized the U.S. seat of government and rampaged into congressional offices. Police shot to death one of Trumps supporters, and others died in the trauma of the day.

He claimed, The vast majority of the country does support me, when he did not win the popular vote in either of his presidential campaigns, in 2016 and four years ago. He currently is viewed favorably by 43% of Americans.

In campaign events, Harris and Trump have each been reminding voters of the others perceived shortcomings.

Harris does not waste a moment of her campaign speeches before reminding voters, as she did Wednesday, that she was a longtime local and state prosecutor in California, the most populous U.S. state, who put convicted felons behind bars.

She knows Trumps type, Harris likes to say, noting that he is a convicted felon who also has been found liable for millions of dollars in damages in civil business fraud and defamation cases.

On Thursday, it was Trumps turn to zing Harris. Vance had attacked her the day before for not holding an open-ended news conference or sitting down for an interview with a media outlet since she became the likely Democratic presidential nominee.

Harris has had fleeting exchanges with reporters who have been tracking her campaign but has not engaged in a full question-and-answer session.

Trump has been looking for ways to regain the attention of voters as Harris has dominated the news since becoming the Democrats standard-bearer. This week, she kept the spotlight by announcing that Walz would become her running mate.

Democrats on road, Trump at home

The Harris-Walz ticket immediately embarked on a multistate visit to the half-dozen states that will play a pivotal role in determining who will take over the White House. Trump stayed in Florida this week to raise campaign funds.

Both campaigns canceled Thursday rallies in the mid-Atlantic state of North Carolina as Tropical Storm Debby raged across the region, leaving some towns and cities with significant flooding.

Harris and Walz spoke in Michigan at an event with Shawn Fain, president of the influential United Automobile Workers union, which endorsed Harris last week.

She answered a handful of questions from reporters after the rally, saying that at some point she would sit for an interview with a media outlet.

I want us to get an interview scheduled before the end of the month, she said.

Both campaigns are heading to the western U.S. for events Friday evening.
The ouster of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, with whom India had built strong ties, is a strategic setback for New Delhi, which could see its influence wane in a country that was its closest ally in South Asia, according to analysts.

This is a serious challenge for India given that for over 15 years, there was a government which was largely sympathetic to Indian sensitivities, Harsh Pant, vice president for studies at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi, told VOA.

"So after years of relative stability in the relationship, the political uncertainty that now confronts Bangladesh is discomfiting, said Pant.

Stable ties with Bangladesh, with which India shares its longest land border, were important for New Delhi in a neighborhood where it confronts Pakistan and China across disputed frontiers.

Hasina stepped down Monday after student-led protests to abolish job quotas snowballed into a movement to oust a leader blamed for democratic backsliding and authoritarianism. She fled to India, where she is presently staying.

During her tenure, both countries built strong economic ties. Hasina had also clamped down on Islamic militant groups that used sanctuaries in Bangladesh to mount attacks in Indias northeastern states.

An interim government, headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is due soon to take charge in the country and begin to prepare for elections. The leader of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Khaleda Zia, has been released after years of house arrest.

As Bangladesh confronts a political vacuum in the coming months, China could gain a stronger foothold in the country, setting back New Delhis efforts to contain its influence in the South Asia region, according to analysts. While seeking investments from Beijing and joining Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, Hasina also took into account Indias sensitivities in the region.

There will be concerns about China playing a bigger role in Bangladesh, Pant said. Sheikh Hasina had balanced Chinese and Indian interests quite effectively from New Delhis perspective. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, on the other hand, had been seen as a pro-China party in the past when it was in power.

Dhaka was seen as critical for helping to limit Chinas expanding footprint in the Indo-Pacific region. Last November, a pro-China administration took charge in the Maldives, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean.

Indias first task will be to build ties with opposition parties that are expected to step into the political vacuum in Bangladesh. But analysts say it will not be easy for a country whose close association with Hasina and her Awami League Party had alienated ordinary citizens and the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which had a rocky relationship with New Delhi in the past.

India was seen as Hasinas strongest supporter through her 15-year tenure. Unlike the United States and U.K., which said that elections which brought Hasina back to power in January were not free and fair, India did not question the credibility of the polls. In Bangladesh, many viewed Indias silence as contributing to erosion of democracy in their country.

India needs to reflect on its old policy of how it related to the previous government and to the people of Bangladesh, Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue in Dhaka, told VOA. But it is now time to rebuild the relationship on a new footing. Bangladesh has learned to live with changing governments in Delhi. India will have to do the same.

In New Delhi, analysts say there are fears of a setback to the strong linkages the two countries had built. Over the past decade, they had signed a land boundary agreement to settle border issues, boosted bilateral trade to about $13 billion and launched road and rail link projects.

Instability in Bangladesh could affect all the gains that were made, Chintamani Mahapatra, founder of the Kalinga Institute of Indo Pacific Studies in New Delhi, told VOA. "The hope is that the developmental activity that has taken place between the two countries will provide the foundation for the relationship to go ahead, but of course that will depend on whichever dispensation finally takes power.

Meanwhile, the immediate challenge for New Delhi are reports of sporadic violence targeting minorities including, Hindus emerging from Bangladesh. In a statement in Parliament on Tuesday, Indian External Affairs Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar welcomed initiatives by various groups to ensure their protection, but he said, India will naturally remain deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored.

Yunus has appealed for calm. Asking people to get ready to rebuild the country, he said in a statement on Wednesday, that if we take the path of violence, everything will be destroyed.
U.S.-led efforts to thwart attacks on international shipping by Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen are nothing more than a shock absorber and are unlikely to lead to stability or safer seas, according to a senior U.S. commander.

Vice Admiral George Wikoff, who heads the U.S. naval efforts in the Middle East, shared the blunt assessment Wednesday, saying that not only have U.S. strikes and defensive efforts done little to change the Houthis behavior, it now appears unlikely the group will be swayed by military force.

The solution is not going to come at the end of a weapon system, Wikoff told an audience in Washington, speaking via video from U.S. 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.

We have certainly degraded their capability. There's no doubt about that. We've degraded their ability, he said. However, have we stopped them? No.

The comments build on other U.S. assessments that have questioned the ability of the United States and its allies to stop the Houthis from targeting commercial ships transiting the Red Sea, which account for up to 15% of international maritime trade.

An unclassified report issued this past June by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, or DIA, found container shipping in the region plunged by 90% from December 2023 through mid-February 2024.

It also warned that despite U.S. and European countermeasures, such as the U.S.-led Operation Prosperity Guardian and the European Unions ASPIDES mission, the Houthis still carried out more than 43 attacks between November 19 and March 23, driving up security costs and insurance premiums.

Wikoff on Wednesday said U.S. forces have seen some signs of stabilization since February but called it an unacceptable stabilization, with the number of ships crossing the Bab el Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, still down by about half.

Yet the attacks and threats to commercial shipping and U.S. forces in the region persist.

Houthi officials Wednesday claimed they launched attacks on a container ship and on two U.S. military vessels, although a U.S. defense official told VOA there was no operational reporting to support those claims."

Separately, U.S. Central Command, which oversees American troops in the Middle East, has said its forces have destroyed seven Houthi aerial drones, seven Houthi missiles, one Houthi naval drone and one Houthi missile launcher, all in the past five days.

It's a struggle we have every day to try to figure out where are we on the meter with regards to stability in the region, Wikoff said.

The Houthis have said their campaign in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is to show solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza amid the war between Israel and Hamas.

But Wikoff pushed back against that notion, noting Houthi attacks on shipping predate the war while describing the U.S.-designated terror group as a weapon looking for a reason to use it.

And if the Houthis have anything they value enough that they do not want to risk using it, the U.S. and its partners have yet to find it.

It's very difficult to find a centralized center of gravity that we can hold at risk over time and use that as a potential point of deterrence, Wikoff said. So, trying to apply a classic deterrence policy in this particular scenario is a bit challenging.

It is an argument some experts have been making for months.

We have very little leverage over the Houthis, and air strikes are unlikely to deter them, according to Elisabeth Kendall, a Yemen specialist at the University of Cambridge in Britain.

They have a high tolerance for casualties, they are highly adaptable, they do not need sophisticated weapons to wreak havoc, they just need to keep going  not losing is winning, and they believe they have God on their side, she told VOA via email. In reality, air strikes by the U.S. and U.K. benefit the Houthis by providing evidence to back up their propaganda narratives against the U.S. and its allies.

But other experts, such as former British Ambassador to Yemen Edmund Fitton-Brown, are more critical of the approach taken by the U.S. and its allies in trying to degrade and dissuade the Houthi attacks.

The U.S.-led responses have been meticulously proportionate, said Fitton-Brown, now a senior adviser for the New York and Berlin-based Counter Extremism Project.

We need to be more determined and creative about what to do about this, he said. We are looking at a de facto authority, and a de facto authority has fixed points you can attack.

They have military bases that were previously in the hands of the government. They have intelligence headquarters. They have security deployments in [the port city of] Hodeidah, Fitton-Brown told VOA. Significant escalation of targeting is possible without changing the legal status of the conflict.

The U.S. vice admiral in charge of U.S. naval forces in the region, however, is wary that military force will ultimately move the Houthis.

Our mission remains to disrupt their ability and try to preserve some semblance of maritime order while we give an opportunity for policy to be developed against the Houthis, Wikoff said. The more players in the field that can get involved in a diplomatic piece of this, the better off I think we'll be.
New U.S. reinforcements have arrived in the Middle East, positioned to help defend Israel against a potential strike by Iran and Iranian-backed proxies.

U.S. Central Command, which oversees American forces in the region, said a contingent of F-22 Raptors arrived Thursday. It posted photos of the fighter jets on social media.

The jets are "part of U.S. force posture changes in the region to mitigate the possibility of regional escalation by Iran or its proxies," the post noted.

Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh defended the move while briefing reporters in Washington.

"They can be a very invaluable defensive platform," she said. "They add a maneuverability, additional systems that allow the commander to have more versatile options."

The arrival of the U.S. warplanes  part of a series of maneuvers ordered by the Pentagon last week  comes amid fears of an expanded conflict in the region following Israels recent killing of a Hezbollah commander in Beirut and an attack in Tehran that killed Hamas political leader.

Both Iran and Hezbollah have vowed to respond, while Israel has pledged to eliminate newly appointed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

"We remain poised to respond," Singh said. "We're postured to come to the defense of Israel should we need to."

But she said the U.S. aims to prevent any further escalation.

"What we really want to see is tensions de-escalate," she said. "The need for this cease-fire deal to go forward so we can get hostages home - thats really our focus, and thats what we want to see moving forward."

In a joint statement on Thursday, leaders of the United States, Egypt and Qatar said, "It is time to bring immediate relief both to the long-suffering people of Gaza as well as the long-suffering hostages and their families. The time has come to conclude the cease-fire and hostages and detainees release deal."

"There is no further time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delay. It is time to release the hostages, begin the cease-fire, and implement this agreement," they added.

They called on both sides to resume talks on August 15 in Doha or Cairo.

Israels military said Thursday that its forces carried out airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in several areas of southern Lebanon.

Lebanons National News Agency said that one of the strikes in the town of Doueir destroyed a house but that no casualties were reported.

The Israeli military also said Thursday that it conducted raids in the Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip, where it has battled Hamas militants for months. Israeli fighter jets also destroyed a militant firing site in northern Gaza, the military said.

Aid group World Central Kitchen said Thursday that a Palestinian member of its warehouse team was killed in central Gaza. The group said it was seeking details about Nadi Sallouts death, and that it believed he was off duty at the time.

Israels military said it was "unaware of any incident in which an employee of the organization was harmed during his work in recent days."

Israeli airstrikes in April hit three World Central Kitchen vehicles, killing seven people. Israel said it did not deliberately target the aid workers in the attack.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in retaliation for the October 7 terror attack that killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of 250 hostages. Israels counteroffensive has killed nearly 40,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the territory's Health Ministry, while Israel says the death toll includes thousands of Hamas fighters it has killed.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's landmark three-day visit to Central Asia, beginning Friday, is poised to challenge the existing geopolitical balance in the region.

The Central Asia + Japan group will hold its inaugural summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, where Kishida, supported by a delegation of 50 Japanese business leaders, will unveil a strategic $2 billion economic support package.

During the August 9-12 trip, Kishida is also scheduled to visit Uzbekistan and Mongolia.

Japans foreign ministry said on X that the meeting marks the 20th anniversary of the Central Asia + Japan Dialogue, though it is the first such meeting at this level. The friendships built over these last two decades will form the foundation for further cooperation & partnerships for decades to come, the posting said.

Experts say that as Central Asia's natural resources and its strategic roles in trade and security attract global interest, Japan is seeking to counter Russia's and Chinas dominance in the region with alternative models for trade and governance.

The visit shows Japans desire somewhat to counter, or perhaps more realistically, to mitigate the historically closer economic engagement with Central Asian countries that Russia and China have had, said Koichi Nakano, professor of political science at Sophia University in Japan.

But it would seem unrealistic to think that Japan can quickly flip them to its side by ditching their close ties with Russia and China in economic and security terms, he told VOA.

In the five post-Soviet Central Asian countries  Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan  China is the leading exporter, boosted by its Belt and Road Initiative and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Meanwhile, Russia exerts substantial influence through energy exports, labor migration and regional security, particularly via the Collective Security Treaty Organization and its military presence in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

China hosted a summit with Central Asian leaders in May 2023, followed by a high-level meeting organized by the European Union in June. The United States and Germany then held their own summit in September.

Japan has maintained diplomatic relations with Central Asian countries since their independence in the early 1990s. In August 2004, Japan established the regional framework called the Central Asia + Japan Dialogue. Subsequently, other countries, including the U.S., India and South Korea, have initiated similar diplomatic frameworks with the region.

Cautious alliances

According to Nakano, Central Asian countries are cautious about being dominated by Russia and China.

But now that the tension between Japan, on the one hand, and Russia and China, on the other hand, is rising, there is a stronger reason for Japan to boost its ties with the Central Asian countries, Nakano said.

Those tensions have escalated because of Japans support for Western sanctions against Russia and disputes over the Kuril Islands. Japans concerns about Chinas military activities have also strained relations.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Wednesday issued a statement criticizing the Tokyo-led summit as "Japan's attempts to penetrate Central Asia.

"We have no doubt that our partners from Central Asia, with their wisdom, will be able to distinguish approaches in favor of mutually beneficial cooperation from plans to reduce their countries to the position of a neocolonial appendage of the Western camp, she said in the statement.

"We hope that the destructiveness of such a prospect and the serious costs of losing full-blooded ties with Russia are quite obvious to them.

Domestic motives

Hiromoto Kaji, professor at Aichi University in Japan, said that while the new summit framework with Central Asia might seem like a foreign policy move, it is actually driven by Japans internal political factors.

The new cooperation framework that Prime Minister Kishida has now proposed does not fundamentally change the policy objectives. Rather, Prime Minister Kishida may be seeking to establish a diplomatic legacy in preparation for the upcoming LDP [Liberal Democratic Party] presidential election, Kaji told VOA.

Kishidas LDP will hold elections in September to choose its next party president.

Tsuyoshi Nojima, a professor at Daito Bunka University in Japan, said Japan enjoys a higher level of goodwill in Central Asia and the Middle East than the United States.

In Asia, the U.S., Japan, China and Russia are all competing for influence  one in Southeast Asia and one in Central Asia. Japan is effectively helping the U.S. manage relationships with Central Asian countries, Nojima told VOA.

Democratic engagement

Anders Corr, publisher of the Journal of Political Risk, says Japans summit in Central Asia is a positive development that could introduce greater democratic influence in the region.

The summit is focused on bringing Japanese diplomacy and businesses to the region, which will assist in democratic influence efforts through economic incentives, Corr told VOA.

Corr also said democracies will need to solidify any gains in the region through a combination of business incentives and sanctions aimed at addressing authoritarianism and human rights abuses.

Such incentives and disincentives can only be reliably based upon the economic and military strength and unity of the democracies more broadly as they face off against increasingly belligerent autocracies, including Iran, that surround Central Asia, Corr said.

After more than 30 years of independence, citizens in Central Asian countries at varying levels continue to face restrictions on press freedom, civil liberties and political rights as they endure authoritarian practices.

Chung-Hsi Tu of VOA Mandarin contributed to this report.
Police in Kenya used tear gas against protesters in Nairobi on Thursday, as President William Ruto introduced his new Cabinet.

The demonstrations, led by activists calling for Rutos resignation, continued despite his recent Cabinet changes and the removal of planned tax increases.

The Nane Nane march, named after the number eight in Swahili and occurring on August 8, follows weeks of protests that began peacefully in June but later turned violent. The unrest started over a controversial tax proposal that would increase taxes amid high living costs.

Protesters stormed parliament on June 25 as its members voted to pass the bill, which was subsequently rejected by Ruto.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights says that more than 50 people have died since the protests began.

On Thursday, many businesses in Nairobi were closed, and public transport was disrupted. Police set up roadblocks and used tear gas to drive protesters out of the citys financial district.

Some protesters shouted Ruto must go during clashes with riot police, according to Reuters.

Ruto responded to the protests by firing most of his Cabinet last month, keeping only the foreign minister. He then added opposition members to his Cabinet, but activists criticized the action as a corrupt move and continued to call for his resignation.

They also demand more reforms to fight corruption and improve public services.

Ruto defended his new Cabinet, saying it shows national unity and will meet the demands of protesters. He has promised to look into complaints about police behavior during the protests but generally supports their actions.

Ruto urged Kenyans to wait until the 2027 elections for change, stressing his commitment to the rule of law.

The protests, organized mostly online and without official leaders, have caused varying levels of disruption across major cities. Civil society groups and the Law Society of Kenya have called for respect for human rights during protests and urged police to avoid using unmarked vehicles and non-uniformed officers.

Other youth protests

Over the past two weeks, protests have also occurred against corruption in Uganda and the high cost of living in Nigeria.

McDonald Lewanika, the head of Accountability Hub East and Southern Africa, an organization that promotes good governance for Africa, said young Africans are generally unhappy with their governments and others managing their countries.

"One thing that is certain is that African young people are mad," Lewanika said, "They are angry, they are dissatisfied. And in that dissatisfaction and anger, they are not calling for anything that is not justly deserved by them. They are asking their leaders to do better. They are asking their leaders to change. They are asking their leaders to govern in their interests as the vast majority of the people of Africa. So there is a significant amount of anger in relation to the inability of our governments to deliver what they should be delivering as governments and also to govern properly."

Afrobarometer, a pan-African research network, surveyed 39 African countries from 2021 to 2023 and found that Africans overwhelmingly see their governments as failing and that those leading them are becoming less trustworthy to run the affairs of state.

Some experts say the age gap between the young population and the elderly presidents of many countries is contributing to anger in the streets, as the leaders sometimes impose economic and political policies that do little for the average person, leaving voters feeling frustrated and hopeless.

Focusing on issues

Lewanika said African youth movements need to push on common agendas that do not create division.

"The moment we start talking about changing people, then that in itself is the terrain for division, that in itself is a terrain for hijacking of movements by people who are interested in capturing power," he said. "I think that what young people's movements need to do is to remain pure and committed to the issues, because the issues see no political color."

Ruto admitted Thursday that there was a disconnect between the public and those in the government.

"It's true and I freely admit due to suboptimal communication of our development agenda and a feeling of insufficient public engagement, we have lost many opportunities to walk the journey of transforming Kenya with everyone aboard, leaving some citizens unable to connect with the policies, programs and projects that have been rolled out throughout our country," he said.

Africans view protests as a last resort to get the attention of officials and government institutions that favor the ruling class. Experts warn that more protests may follow if African leaders do not address the needs of their young citizens.

Mohammed Yusuf contributed to this report from Nairobi. Some information came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Japan plans to strengthen its partnership with Central Asian countries at the Summit in Kazakhstan's Astana, a source at the Japanese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan told Trend.

"In Kazakhstan, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will attend the first ever summit meeting of the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue, which was pioneered by Japan in 2004 and marks its 20th anniversary this year. He intends to further deepen the partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation that have been built up to date," the embassy stated.

The source noted that the prime minister plans to use this opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with leaders from Central Asia, including Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

"The focus will be on bilateral cooperation and engagement on the international stage, as well as strengthening relations across various fields," the embassy emphasized.

The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, will visit Kazakhstan for the "Central Asia + Japan" Summit from August 910 and then travel to Uzbekistan from August 1011.
Lawyers and human rights groups have condemned Iran for the execution of a man accused of killing a Revolutionary Guard during womens rights protests.

The family of Gholamreza "Reza" Rasaei and his lawyer were not informed in advance of the execution that took place Monday. Irans judiciary website later announced its action against the 34-year-old, whom Iran alleged had stabbed a member of the Revolutionary Guard.

Rasaei, a member of the Kurdish and Yaresan ethnic and religious minority, was arrested in November 2022 after taking part in the Woman, Life, Freedom protests. Amnesty International has described his trial as grossly unfair, noting it used as evidence forced confessions obtained under torture.

The protests were a response to the death in September 2022 of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who had been detained by the morality police for allegedly not complying with the countrys veiling laws.

Dadban, a group of pro bono lawyers who represent Iranian political prisoners, and Amnesty International are among the organizations to condemn Irans actions as unfair and unlawful.

The continuing arbitrary execution of protesters in the aftermath of the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising illustrates yet again that without constitutional, legal and policy reforms, human rights violations and impunity will persist, Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty Internationals Middle East and North Africa deputy director, said in a statement.

During the first week of the protests, Iran detained between 15,000 and 16,000 people, Amnesty has previously reported. Those detained have reported widespread torture and ill treatment, the rights group has said.

Irans mission to the United Nations did not respond to VOAs email requesting comment.

Rasaei was the 10th person to be executed in connection with the protests.

Human rights lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher has also condemned the action and called the case a sham. Gallagher works for British legal firm Doughty Street Chambers, which advocates for high-profile cases, including the Nobel laureate and journalist Maria Ressa and the detained pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai.

Reza Rasaei  a supporter of #WomenLifeFreedom  executed in secret, after his conviction on sham charges, a grossly unfair trial & sustained torture. No one should now persist with the illusion of a 'reformist' President; this is the reality, said Gallagher in a post on X.

Eltahawy said the case against Rasaei underscores the need for states to hold Iranian officials responsible by initiating criminal investigations under international standards.

Journalists and activists, including the Iranian actress Nazanin Boniadi, have also condemned the execution on social media.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus returned Thursday to Bangladesh to lead an interim government, following the resignation and departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Yunus, 84, landed at Dhakas Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a flight from Paris and was welcomed by the countrys military chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, and other high-ranking military officers. He received a bouquet of flowers from supporters.

He was sworn in as head of the countrys interim government shortly after his return on Thursday. His oath was administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, declaring Yunus his chief adviser. The position is said to be equivalent to that of prime minister.

Today is a glorious day for us, Yunus told a news conference at the airport. Bangladesh has created a new victory day. Bangladesh has got a second independence, said Yunus, who was appointed by the military.

The unrest that led to Sheikh Hasinas departure began with protests against a government job quota system and expanded into broader opposition to her long tenure, marked by allegations of human rights abuses and election rigging.

More than 300 people died in the initial weeks of the protests.

General Waker-Uz-Zaman said in a televised address Wednesday that those responsible for recent violence will be held accountable.

Yunus is tasked with restoring peace. At a news briefing, Yunus said he will focus on reestablishing order, asking for all violence to end.

"Violence is our enemy. Please don't create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country," Yunus said.

Shahabuddin, who is currently a ceremonial leader, dissolved parliament on Tuesday. This move has paved the way for Yunus to lead the interim government, although the timing of new elections remains uncertain.

Yunus is an economist and banker who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his work with microcredit through Grameen Bank. He has been recognized for his efforts in reducing poverty through small loans.

Yunus was acquitted on Wednesday in a case regarding labor law violations where he was sentenced to jail for six months. The case involved a telecommunications company he founded

In his first statement since being appointed, Yunus praised the students for their role in recent protests and urged calm. He stressed the need to avoid further violence and focus on rebuilding the country.

As the country shifted to the interim government, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP, held a rally in Dhaka. The rally was led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who was recently released from house arrest.

Zia, who served as prime minister from 2001 to 2006, was convicted of corruption in 2018 and sentenced to 17 years in prison. Her party claims the charges were politically motivated.

Supporters gathered for the BNP rally in Dhakas Naya Paltan area hours before it began, reflecting the evolving political situation.

Former Prime Minister Hasina, 76, was reelected for a fourth term in January, but the election faced criticism as flawed. The United States and United Kingdom condemned the results.

On Wednesday, Dhaka was relatively calm following recent violence. Student volunteers were seen cleaning streets and managing traffic, and the police presence was minimal.

Some information for this report was provided by Agence France-Presse, The Associated Press and Reuters.
With their running mates now in place, the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates charge ahead with just three months to Election Day. But after all the speculation over the choice for running mates, how much effect does it have on voters? Russias president accuses Ukraine of a large scale provocation with a raid in southwestern Russia. The U.S. urges Iran and Israel to deescalate tensions amid fears of a wider regional war. Brian Katulis, analyst with the Middle East Institute on how much leverage the U.S. has in efforts to deescalate. A community of breastfeeding women in Uganda is helping mothers struggling not to just feed their newborn babies, but to keep them alive. Taylor Swift's scheduled concerts in Vienna this week cancelled over threats of terror attack.
Russian prosecutors on Thursday sought a 15-year prison sentence for Russian-American woman Ksenia Khavana, who pleaded guilty to treason.

Khavana was detained in February while on a trip to visit relatives in Yekaterinburg. She was accused of treason for donating $51 to a United States charity that helps bring aid to Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia.

The charity, Razom, says that it supplies items like first aid kits and clean water to Ukraine.

Russias main domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Security Service, says Khavana proactively collected money in the interests of one of the Ukrainian organizations. The agency went on to accuse the organization of providing ammunition and weapons to Ukrainian troops in Russias war of aggression.

Khavanas lawyer Mikhail Mushailov said that she pleaded guilty because "it was stupid in this situation to deny the obvious." This was done in hopes that she would get a lesser sentence, with Mushailov also claiming that Khavana had cooperated with law enforcement throughout the investigation. He expressed that a 15-year sentence was too harsh.

Khavanas trial comes a week after the biggest prisoner swap between Russia and the West since the Cold War. Mushailov explained that a prisoner exchange for Khavana wouldnt be possible until after her sentencing and that they will work in this direction once that happens.

Khavana is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15.

Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press and Reuters.
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, believed to be the architect of the October 7 attacks on Israel, is now the Palestinian terror groups new political chief as well as its military leader based in Gaza. Analysts say Sinwar is unlikely to conclude a cease-fire deal with Israel to end fighting in Gaza and return hostages, but a Hamas spokesman says Sinwar will continue negotiations.

Nicholas Heras of Washingtons New Lines Institute told VOA Yahya Sinwars unanimous appointment as Hamas new political chief shows that Gaza is now center stage, and not Qatar, where the political leadership has been based.

Now, Hamas is making a very clear statement to the world, not just to Israel, the United States, Qatar and Egypt that the path for Hamas runs through Gaza and fundamentally Hamas is willing to fight until the very bitter end, not only for its own survival as an organization, but from its point of view for the future of the Palestinian people. Hamas is signaling to the Israelis and whoever works with them that there is no way to separate Gaza and the future of Gaza from Hamas, said Heras.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said its now up to Yahya Sinwar to clinch a ceasefire deal in the 10-month Gaza conflict because he has been and remains the primary decider. This indicates that was the case even when top Hamas negotiator Ismail Haniyeh, considered relatively more moderate, was still alive.

Khaled Hroub, a Hamas specialist at Northwestern University in Qatar, told Frances Le Monde newspaper that if Israel, the United States and their allies in the region and beyond were hoping to subdue Hamas by force, the response will be a more radical Hamas."

He said he does not see a softening of the groups position as Washington and Qatar try to reach a deal in hopes of reducing the current escalation between Israel and Iran.

Cinzia Bianco, a Gulf specialist at the European Council on Foreign Relations told VOA that Qatar has tried for eight months to see a deal happen, but Hamas really takes its cues from Iran.

They only respond to Iran and perhaps to other external backers to some extent, Russia and China as well. The political cause and the military cause are now one. That means that Qatars leverage is now less, said Bianco.

Israeli and U.S. intelligence officers told The New York Times that Sinwars strategy is to keep the war in Gaza going for as long as it takes to shred Israels international reputation and to damage its relationship with its primary ally, the United States.

Nicholas Heras said he sees Sinwar both influenced by slain Iranian Republican Guard Corps General Qassem Soleimani and using his Israel playbook. Heras said Soleimani developed an entire strategy to create a network of proxies and partners that surround Israel, including Hamas, to seek its destruction.

Over time a series of attritional conflicts with Israel will undermine the foundation of Israel economically, socially, politically and then geopolitically. All those elements have been present in this current conflict that Hamas initiated on October 7, 2023. And we see this Soleimani playbook continue to be enacted, he said.

Observers say they see both Sinwar and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as unwilling to reach a cease-fire agreement for their own political reasons.
What should have been a quick trip to the International Space Station may turn into an eight-month stay for two NASA astronauts if they have to switch from Boeing to SpaceX for a ride home.

There's lingering uncertainty over the safety of Boeing's new Starliner capsule, NASA officials said Wednesday, and the space agency is split over the risk. As a result, chances are increasing that test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams may have to watch from the space station as their Starliner is cut loose to return to Earth empty.

If that happens, NASA will leave behind two of four astronauts from the next SpaceX taxi flight in late September, with the vacant seats set aside for Wilmore and Williams on the return trip in February. The pair expected to be gone just a week or two when they launched June 5 as Starliner's first crew.

NASA is bringing in additional experts to analyze the thruster failures experienced by Starliner before it docked. At the same time, NASA is looking more closely at SpaceX as a backup.

At this point, "we could take either path," said Ken Bowersox, NASA's space operations mission chief.

During a recent meeting, "we heard from a lot of folks that had concern, and the decision was not clear," he said. A final decision is expected by mid-August.

Boeing issued a brief statement following NASA's news update, repeating its position that the capsule could still safely bring the astronauts home.

"We still believe in Starliner's capability and its flight rationale," the company said.

Boeing will need to modify the capsule's software in case Starliner ends up returning without a crew.

No serious consideration was given to launching a separate SpaceX flight just to retrieve Wilmore and Williams, according to commercial crew program manager Steve Stich.

Tests on the ground have replicated the thrust problems, pointing to seals as one culprit. But it's still not understood how or why those seals swell when overheated and then shrink back to the proper size, Stich noted. All but one of the Starliner's five failed thrusters have since been reactivated in orbit.

These thrusters are essential for allowing Starliner to back away from the space station following undocking, and for keeping the capsule in the proper position for moving out of orbit.

At the same time, engineers are grappling over helium leaks in Starliner's propulsion system, crucial for maneuvering. The first leak occurred before liftoff but was deemed isolated and stable. Then more cropped up in flight.

NASA hired Boeing and SpaceX to ferry astronauts to and from the space station after the shuttles retired in 2011. SpaceX flew its first crew in 2020. Boeing stumbled on its first test flight without a crew and then fell further behind after a repeat demo.

Officials repeated their desire for a backup taxi service on Wednesday, A situation like this one could happen again, and "that's why we want multiple vehicles," Bowersox said.

The next crew flight will be SpaceX's 10th for NASA. On Tuesday, it was delayed for a month until late September to allow for extra time to figure out how best to handle Starliner's return. Three NASA astronauts and one Russian are assigned to the flight, and managers on Wednesday declined to say who might be bumped.
Tim Walz brings extensive China experience to Vice President Kamala Harris presidential campaign  which his political allies see as an asset, but his opponents see as a liability.

The Minnesota governors resume includes a year teaching in China just after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. He visited more than 30 times in the years that followed, organizing student trips.

Within hours of Harris Tuesday announcement of her choice of a running mate and twice on the same day, JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, described Walz as soft on Beijing.

She selected Tim Walz, a guy who wants to ship more manufacturing jobs to China, he said.

Other political allies of former President Donald Trump said Walzs pick would please Beijing.

Communist China is very happy with @GovTimWalz as Kamalas VP pick, Richard Grenell, former acting director of national intelligence under Trump, posted on X.

Walz made no mention of China at his debut campaign appearance on Tuesday but in 2016, the then-U.S. representative spoke about living in and visiting China.

If someone tells you, and they're an expert on China, they're probably not telling you the truth, because it's a complex country, but it's critically important for us, he said in a 2016 interview with Agri-Pulse Communications.

I don't fall into the category that China necessarily needs to be an adversarial relationship. I totally disagree, and I think we need to stand firm on what they're doing in the South China Sea. But there's many areas of cooperation that we can work on.

And speaking with VOA in 2014, he described what it was like to live there following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.



It was very powerful, and I'm certainly honored to have been there and to see the spirit of the Chinese people about trying to be very proud of their country but understanding that freedom needs to, it needs to shine, he said.

'I think he might be friendly'

In the hours after his debut on the campaign trail, Walz and his travels in China quickly became a trending topic on Chinese social media. A Weibo page with posts on Walz's time in China had nearly 15 million views.

One netizen said, I think he might be friendly to China.

Other Chinese internet users thought he would take a harder line. While in Congress, Walz co-sponsored resolutions critical of Chinas human rights record. One Chinese nationalist military historian on Weibo said the Democrats want to destroy China.

Others commented on what Walz called his life-changing lunch with the Dalai Lama, Tibets exiled leader. One Weibo user said the former teacher in China looked like an American spy.

That user did not elaborate. Walzs U.S. government service includes a 24-year career in the Minnesota Army National Guard, 12 years as a U.S. congressman and five years in his current job as governor of Minnesota.

Keen China watchers say that so far, Beijing has not publicly reacted.

Kaiser Kuo, who hosts the Sinica podcast, a weekly discussion of current affairs in China, says Walz's directness may prove to have influence among the Chinese public.

He's been very forthright in his criticisms of China's human rights record, and I think he's done that from a position that is maybe more credible because of his conspicuous earnestness and his sincerity, and the embodiment of the kind of values that he purports to be wanting to spread to China, Kuo said.

Kuo noted that in a statement Walz read into the record while serving on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, "He very explicitly said anything the United States does won't really change what happens on the ground in China  that only the Chinese people can do that. So, I think he's aware of the limitations of this. But I think like all Americans  I would hope  he is very committed to democracy.

Other China analysts said that a Harris-Walz administration is expected to largely continue the toughened China policies of the Biden and Trump administrations. Under President Joe Biden, a stream of Cabinet officials visited China, and Biden met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in person in late 2023.

If he [Walz] should win, and he becomes vice president  I think this should be seen around the world, in China, in Asia, as continuity in the complex decades-long U.S. policy of recognizing the need to deal with China as a major power in the world, not that part of the world  but also the differences in in values, especially when it comes to democratization, said Jim Fallows, an author and journalist who has written two books on China and was a speechwriter for former President Jimmy Carter.

Fallows, who also lived in China for several years, said Walzs recollections about living there are largely similar to those of other Americans, where they recognize the many areas of fellow feeling between Chinese and American people and institutions but also the areas of tension which he's expressed.

If elected, Walz will be the highest-level U.S. official to have lived in China since former President George H.W. Bush, who served as a top diplomatic official in the country for a little over a year starting in 1974.

Paris Huang, Bill Ide, Wenhao Ma and Katherine Michaelson contributed to this report from Washington.
Russian and Ukrainian forces are clashing in Russias Kursk region for a third consecutive day, Russias Defense Ministry said Thursday.

Russia described it as one of the largest cross-border incursions by Ukrainian forces during the war that started 2 years ago with Moscows invasion of Ukraine along its eastern border with Russia.

But a Defense Ministry statement said the Russian military and border guards have blocked Ukrainian forces from advancing deeper into the Kursk region in southwest Russia. It said the army is attacking Ukrainian combatants who are trying to advance from Ukraine's Sumy region.

"Attempts by individual units to break through deep into the territory in the Kursk direction are being suppressed," the ministry said.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank that has closely monitored the Russia-Ukraine war, said that as of Wednesday, Ukrainian troops had advanced as much as 10 kilometers (6 miles) into Russian territory, although the assessment has not been confirmed.

Ukrainian officials have not publicly commented on the fighting in the Kursk region around the town of Sudzha.

The Ukrainian operation, however, did get some approval from Washington.

The incursion into Russias Kursk region "is consistent with our policy," said Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh, while briefing reporters Thursday.

Singh said the U.S. still does not support Ukraine launching long-range attacks into Russia, but she noted that Ukrainian forces in Kursk "are taking actions to protect themselves from attacks that are coming from a region that are within the U.S. policy of where they can operate our weapons, our systems, our capabilities.

As they see attacks coming across the border, they have to be able to have the capabilities to respond, and so you're seeing some of these cross-border counterfire measures," she said.

The Kursk region's acting deputy governor, Andrei Belostotsky, told the state news agency RIA-Novosti, The enemy has not advanced a single meter. On the contrary, it is retreating. The enemy's equipment and combat forces are being actively destroyed. We hope that in the near future ... the enemy will be stopped."

Russias Defense Ministry said it destroyed Ukrainian aerial drones over the Kursk and Oryol regions.

Alexei Smirnov, the acting governor of Kursk, said Thursday on Telegram that Russian air defenses also shot down several Ukrainian missiles overnight.

Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram that Ukrainian drone attacks in two districts damaged an infrastructure facility and a house.

Meanwhile, in Ukraines Donetsk region, Russian shelling killed at least four people on Thursday, regional Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

Ukraines military said Thursday it shot down two Russian guided missiles and four aerial drones.

The drone intercepts took place over the Kherson, Kirovohrad and Odesa regions, Ukraines air force said.

Kirovohrad Governor Andriy Raykovych said on Telegram there was no reported damage from the attacks in his region.

Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said that in addition to one drone being shot down over the region, Russian forces also shelled Kherson, setting a residential building on fire and damaging several others.

In Dnipropetrovsk, Governor Serhiy Lysak said on Telegram that Russian forces targeted the Nikopol area with drones and artillery, damaging several houses.

In an interview that was published Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys chief of staff said that a second Kyiv-led peace summit should not be treated as the beginning of negotiations with Russia.

VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this report. Some information for this story was provided by Reuters and The Associated Press.
The head of the United Nations counterterrorism office warned Thursday that there is a risk of the Afghanistan-based Islamic State affiliate IS-Khorasan carrying out attacks abroad.

ISIL-K has improved its financial and logistical capabilities in the past six months, including by tapping into Afghan and Central Asian diasporas for support, Vladimir Voronkov said, referring to the terror organization by an acronym. The group has also intensified its recruitment efforts.

He told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the threat of terrorism that the activity of the self-styled Islamic State and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan remains a significant concern.

We must unite to prevent Afghanistan from once again becoming a hotbed of terrorism, Voronkov said, urging Afghanistans neighbors to counter and prevent the threat from IS-K from spreading.

The United Nations secretary-general said in a July 31 report that the threat from IS and its affiliates remained high, with the group and affiliates continuing to demonstrate resilience and adaptability despite sustained counter-terrorism efforts.

The report said following ISs claimed deadly attacks at a memorial service in Iran on January 3 and at a concert hall in Moscow on March 22, Islamic States core has reportedly directed operatives from Afghanistan and neighboring countries to undertake attacks abroad.

Afghanistans de facto-ruling Taliban claim their security forces have eliminated IS-Khorasan bases in the country and degraded the group's ability to threaten national security and that of the region.

Voronkov also warned that parts of Africa remain a hotbed of Islamic State activity, which is fueling instability, especially in West Africa and the Sahel. He said two IS regional affiliates  Islamic State West Africa Province and Islamic State in the Greater Sahel  have expanded and consolidated their areas of operations.

Should these groups extend their influence in northern littoral states, a vast territory stretching from Mali to northern Nigeria could fall under their effective control, Voronkov warned.

He said they also present a threat in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, northern Mozambique and Somalia.

Elsewhere, the threat posed by ISIL-K resulted in heightened threat levels in Europe, Voronkov said. The group is considered the greatest external terrorist threat to the continent.

Authorities in the Austrian capital, Vienna, announced Wednesday that they had foiled a plot by a 19-year-old, who had sworn loyalty to ISs leader online, to carry out an attack at a concert this week by U.S. pop superstar Taylor Swift.

Two other Austrian youths, ages 17 and 15, were also detained. Organizers have canceled the three sold-out Vienna concerts out of caution, disappointing nearly 200,000 fans, many of whom traveled from abroad to attend the show.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press.
The United States on Thursday banned imports from five more Chinese companies over alleged human rights abuses involving the Uyghurs, according to a government posting, as part of its effort to eliminate goods made with forced labor from the U.S. supply chain.

The companies include Hong Kong-based Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group Holdings and its parent, Century Sunshine Group Holdings, which manufacture magnesium fertilizer and magnesium alloy products. Also included is Zijin Mining Group subsidiary Xinjiang Habahe Ashele Copper Co, which mines nonferrous metals.

The targeted companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The companies were added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List, which restricts imports tied to what the U.S. government characterizes as an ongoing genocide of minorities in China's western Xinjiang region.

The list now includes over 70 entities tied to products that include cotton apparel, automotive parts, vinyl flooring and solar panels.

The list identifies those who work with the government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to recruit and transport Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz or members of other persecuted groups out of the region, and those who source material from the region or from people who work with the government of Xinjiang.

U.S. officials say Chinese authorities have established labor camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang. Beijing denies any abuses.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. The World Bank (WB) Group is gearing up to put together a brand new Country Partnership Framework for Kazakhstan for the next five years, Andrei Mikhnev, World Bank Country Manager for Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, said in an exclusive interview with Trend.

Mikhnev highlighted that the World Bank aims to assist Kazakhstan in reaching high-income status through a model of sustainable and equitable growth, with a particular emphasis on decarbonization and extensive benefits for the people.

Takeaways of 30-year partnership

"The WBG's partnership in Kazakhstan spans more than 30 years and is guided by the Kazakhstan Country Partnership Framework (CPF) 20202025. The WBG includes the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investments Guarantee Agency (MIGA). Our support and interventions are informed by the governments priorities and our analytical work, including through our Joint Economic Research Program (JERP), which informs the governments economic and social development reform agenda, and has been in place for over 20 years," he said.

The country manager pointed out that ever since getting involved in Kazakhstan, IBRD has been backing more than 50 projects with a whopping sum of over US$8 billion.

"Today, we have eight active projects focused on areas such as connectivity, water systems, innovation and technology, landscape management and restoration, and education modernization. These projects are already showing tangible results. Some highlights include the 1,900 km of road constructed along an International Transit Corridor from Western Europe to Western China to facilitate trade and logistics, which has also strengthened local connectivity and, most importantly, improved the lives of local residents. Agricultural investments have resulted in the improvement of 76,000 hectares of irrigation and drainage services, as well as the development of 700 kilometers of lined canals. Our new project, the Digital Acceleration for an Inclusive Economy Project (DARE), aims to support equitable access to high-quality, affordable broadband infrastructure in remote areas and help to accelerate economic diversification and improved access to services," Andrei Mikhnev said.

The country manager observed that the IBRD and the IFC had provided assistance to around 250,000 small and medium firms in implementing cutting-edge technologies.

"Other projects included institutional support for tax administration and the justice sector. IFCs focus on private sector solutions to address development challenges has seen a portfolio of over $257 million. Examples of partnerships include assisting the government in forming a public-private partnership to develop the Almaty Ring Road (BAKAD) and constructing a new terminal at Almaty Airport. Meanwhile, MIGAs focus on providing guarantees has been instrumental in facilitating private investment in rail. In 2023, MIGA issued a guarantee of more than $500 million to the National Railway Company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy JSC (KTZ) to help access long-term international commercial financing at favorable terms, which is expected to increase the reliability of railway services and track networks and improve safety," he said.

As he noted, the World Bank Group intends to continue supporting the ambitious reform agenda in Kazakhstan.

"The World Bank Groups contributions are not just about financing; we are, importantly, a "knowledge bank". We have and will continue to leverage our deep global experience and long presence in Kazakhstan to provide policy-relevant analysis and ideas and engage in dialogue to support a successful and ambitious reform agenda in Kazakhstan. For example, our Country Climate and Development Report, issued in 2022, supported the governments preparation of the Low Emissions Development Strategy in Kazakhstan, while our Country Economic Memorandum: Dependence, Distance, and Dispersion mapped out a chart for feasible economic development. Joint Economic Research Program analysis has supported the drafting of a new Investment Policy Concept, the Concept of Local Self-Governance, a new Law on the Development of Agglomerations, and a new methodology for setting the minimum wage, to name just a few," he said.

WB support to advance Kazakhstan's decarbonization agenda

The dedication of WBG to renewable energy in Kazakhstan is complex, covering both the theoretical and practical dimensions, as Andrei Mikhnev pointed out.

"Our Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR), released in 2022, delves into decarbonization pathways and their economic implications. Currently, we are offering technical assistance to develop sectoral roadmaps aligned with Kazakhstan's Low Emissions Development Strategy. As you may know, Kazakhstans municipal buildings are among the most energy-intensive globally, per unit area. The Kazakhstan energy efficiency project, which concluded in 2021, demonstrated success in reducing energy consumption and could be expanded nationally to align with Kazakhstan's strategic goals," he said.

Mikhnev noted that the World Bank provides sectoral programmatic technical assistance to improve energy efficiency, promote small-scale solar projects, integrate renewable energy to stabilize grids, and modernize hydropower plants.

"Looking ahead, we are poised to equip the government of Kazakhstan with the necessary tools to move the decarbonization agenda forward. This includes our recent Partnership for Market Implementation (PMI) grant agreement aimed at improving Kazakhstan's Emissions Trading Scheme and broadening carbon pricing mechanisms. We remain committed to supporting energy sector advancements, including investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure, new green energy generation, and fostering regional cooperation and energy trade," he added.

World Bank's future involvement in Kazakhstan's agricultural sector

As he noted, the World Bank is actively engaged in a policy dialogue with the government of Kazakhstan to enhance the agricultural sector's productivity and competitiveness.

"Recognizing the need for more effective public support, we are advising on the reform of state support mechanisms. Our recommendations, detailed in a policy note completed last fiscal year, suggest a shift from output subsidies to soft lending and matching grants that encourage the adoption of innovative and climate-adaptive technologies. Climate change poses a significant risk to agriculture in Kazakhstan, particularly due to the anticipated increase in temperatures and potential water scarcity. To address this, we have compiled a comprehensive report titled 'Climate Adaptation Options and Opportunities in the Agriculture Sector, which presents viable technologies and agronomic practices that could be adopted with government support," Mikhnev said.

The country manager noted that the World Bank's future involvement in Kazakhstan's agricultural sector, including the possibility of financing investment projects, will align with the government's priorities and external borrowing policies. The World Bank is committed to continuing our technical support and policy advice to advance agricultural development in the country.

Study to enhance Kazakhstan's logistics hub status

As the country manager pointed out, the World Bank acknowledges that Kazakhstan plays a crucial role as a bridge between China, Europe, and the Middle East.

"To capitalize on this strategic position and address the challenges of connectivity that have historically limited the country's development, we have focused our efforts on enhancing transport links. This initiative aims to bridge regional disparities and improve access to employment, education, healthcare, and social services. Our current investment in Kazakhstan's transport infrastructure includes three major projects: the South-West Roads Project, the East-West Roads Project, and technical assistance for the development of the Aktau port. The road projects have successfully financed the construction of over 1,900 kilometers of roads, significantly improving trade routes to the Chinese border and linking economically disadvantaged regions with the country's industrial hubs. These projects have had a transformative impact on the lives of approximately 5.5 million people residing along the Western EuropeWestern China corridor," he said.

He spelled it out that, on top of road construction, the World Bank is lending a hand to beef up the resilience of the Caspian Sea's port infrastructure, shipping, and logistics networks.

"The government of Kazakhstan is particularly concerned about mitigating climate-related risks like the fluctuating water levels of the Caspian Sea. The outcomes of this study are anticipated to be available by summer 2025, offering strategic insights to fortify Kazakhstan's position as a key logistics hub in the region," Mikhnev concluded.

Pulling out all the stops to develop the Middle Corridor

The country manager pointed out that the geopolitical landscape has been turned upside down, with the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia throwing a spanner in the works. However, these challenges have also opened doors for Kazakhstan, making it a key player in the Middle Corridor and boosting its position as a bridge between Asia and Europe.

"Kazakhstan can capitalize on such an opportunity by diversifying trade routes and reducing its reliance on a limited number of partners like Russia and China. The Middle Corridor offers a strategic alternative for trade, potentially increasing the resilience of Kazakhstan's trade and opening up access to new markets in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia," he said.

Andrei Mikhnev pointed out that the World Bank recognizes the transformative potential of the Middle Corridor for Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

"By fostering production agglomerations, these countries can not only increase their export volumes by an estimated 90 million tons by 2030 (with 70 million tons accounting for additional exports from Kazakhstan) but also enhance the value of their exports. This shift towards more complex products and integrated logistics solutions is expected to drive economic development and create higher-value industries," he said.

In his view, to fulfill this potential, it is essential for the countries along the Middle Corridor to continue investing in infrastructure improvements and equipment upgrades.

"A Roadmap has been adopted to guide the expansion of capacity along the corridor. The World Bank has contributed to this effort by producing a report titled Unlocking the Potential of the Middle Corridor with recommendations on enhancing port and railway connectivity, increasing operational efficiency, and adapting to environmental challenges like the falling level of the Caspian Sea. We are actively engaged in discussions with the government of Kazakhstan to determine how best to support the ongoing development of the Middle Corridor," the country manager said.

Promotion of female-owned businesses in Kazakhstan

Andrei Mikhnev noted that the World Bank is committed to advancing women's entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan as part of our broader efforts to close gender gaps in education, employment, and business.

"Our Gender Strategy 202430 outlines an ambitious plan to promote gender equality as a means to end poverty and ensure sustainable development. This is reflected in our Corporate Scorecard, which emphasizes gender equality as a critical objective. In collaboration with the government of Kazakhstan, we are implementing strategies to address gender disparities in the business sector. This includes analytical work to pinpoint barriers women face in business, which will be a key aspect of the second part of our Public Finance Review. Moreover, we have launched a technical assistance project under the World Bank Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) to enhance early-stage financing for women-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kazakhstan," he said.

He brought up an important point: this project is about collaborating with local investors to figure out how to fund small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) run by women. That means making changes to investment procedures and offering training to reduce unconscious bias.

"These initiatives are part of a comprehensive approach involving both public and private stakeholders to build an inclusive business environment that empowers women and contributes to Kazakhstan's economic growth," the country manager concluded.

MSMEs' role in Kazakhstan's economic growth

"The World Bank is keenly aware of the rapid development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kazakhstan, which are essential for economic diversification and job creation. Despite a 7 percent increase in the number of MSMEs in 2023, the sector still grapples with challenges such as low labor productivity and limited workforce expansion. Furthermore, MSMEs in Kazakhstan, 77 percent of which are individual entrepreneurs, are primarily concentrated in the trade and services sectors (69 percent) and construction (10 percent). These enterprises often lack the managerial, technological, and human capital that are more prevalent in peer countries," he said.

The country manager pointed out that to support the development of MSMEs, the Bank is partnering with the government of Kazakhstan on several initiatives.

"We have conducted a comprehensive analytical assessment to identify the barriers to productivity growth at the micro-level, providing the government with evidence-based policy recommendations to enhance productivity. Additionally, our Fostering Productive Innovations Project is designed to bolster high-quality research and the commercialization of technologies. This project supports a range of activities, including grant programs for researchers, the development of an Early-stage Venture fund, and the creation of a technology brokerage ecosystem to help local startups reach international markets. We remain committed to supporting projects that stimulate the MSME sector, fostering an environment where businesses can thrive and contribute to Kazakhstan's economic growth," Mikhnev noted.

World Bank's plans in Kazakhstan for the near future

"The World Bank's strategy for Kazakhstan is to reduce regional disparities by expanding social infrastructure and transport infrastructure. We are focused on the improvement of logistics and the development of multimodal transport to facilitate commerce. We are dedicated to the advancement of effective governance, climate resilience, and safety in the transportation sector, ensuring that infrastructure projects are beneficial to communities, particularly those in remote areas," he said.

As Mikhnev pointed out, shifting from old-school contracts to contracts that are based on results and performance is a top priority to enhance cost effectiveness and risk control, in line with our objective of establishing long-lasting resilience and financial stability in the transport sector.

"The World Bank Group employs the 'cascade' approach, aiming to leverage significant private sector financing in priority areas. Recognizing that the investment needs of Kazakhstan exceed the capacity of the government and international financial institutions alone, we are working to create an environment that attracts private investment by ensuring fair competition and removing market distortions. Currently, we are preparing a new Country Partnership Framework for the upcoming five-year period, and of course we will do it in consultation with all the counterparts, both from the government and non-government sectors," the country manager said.

He pointed out that looking forward, Wolrd Bank's commitment is to develop innovative projects that incorporate global best practices.

"We envision a Kazakhstan where we empower individuals to take risks, start businesses, invest in promising ventures, and seek opportunities to enhance their skills and employment prospects. We anticipate that this dynamic environment will stimulate innovation and productivity in emerging economic sectors. We are looking to support a public sector that fosters ownership and performance, where public servants can exercise discretion and take risks without excessive bureaucracy while maintaining robust, risk-based checks and balances. We see Kazakhstan as a regional and global leader, forging new economic linkages and playing a central role in a cooperative Central Asia. This involves collaborative efforts to enhance connectivity and align regulations, making the region attractive to major investors and establishing dynamic economies of scale and value chains," Mikhnev noted.
The Biden administration is emphasizing the nearness of a Gaza cease-fire amid fears that an expected attack by Iran and its proxies on Israel will push the Middle East into a wider war.

U.S. officials have echoed President Joe Biden's message Tuesday to leaders of key mediators Qatar that talks "have now reached a final stage" and must be brought "to closure as soon as possible."

"We really do think we are in the final stage of agreement on a framework," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters Wednesday.

Analysts say the administration's optimism stands in contrast to increased tensions in the region, where Iran has vowed to retaliate for last week's killing of Ismail Haniyeh. The Hamas leader's assassination in Tehran is widely assumed to have been carried out by Israel.

"We're on the cusp of a major regional war," warned Aaron David Miller, a former U.S. negotiator for the Middle East who is now a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Israel also faces retaliation from Hezbollah in southern Lebanon for its airstrike in the suburbs of Beirut last week. The attack killed Fuad Shukr, a commander of the Iranian-backed group.

"Hezbollah is about to unload  probably in the wee hours of today, tomorrow or the next day  a serious effort to inflict real pain on the Israelis," Miller told VOA.

Other Iran-backed militias have launched attacks on U.S. military positions in Iraq and Syria in recent weeks, U.S. officials said, ending months of relative calm.

Deal or no deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes the assassinations will pressure Hamas to agree to favorable terms for a cease-fire deal, even if it brings the region to the brink, said Mairav Zonszein, the International Crisis Group's senior analyst on Israel.

Biden has publicly and privately rebuked Netanyahu, saying Haniyeh's killing and Israel's new demands at the negotiating table were not conducive to reaching a truce.

Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated Biden's message that all parties "must stop taking escalatory actions and find reasons to come to an agreement, not to look for reasons to delay or say no to the agreement."

Despite U.S. pressure on Israel, "Netanyahu's entire defense establishment has said they don't think he wants the deal that is on the table," Zonszein told VOA.

U.S. officials have engaged in intense diplomacy with allies and partners, in addition to speaking directly to Iran and to Israel, Blinken said.

Biden also spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan on Monday to discuss de-escalation efforts and deployed additional U.S. military assets to the region to moderate Tehran's response.

"The F-22A Raptors jetting to the Middle East are high-tech messenger pigeons carrying a one-word note: 'Don't,'" said Laura Blumenfeld, a senior fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

New Hamas leader

As for Hamas, by naming Yahya Sinwar as Haniyeh's successor, the militant group may be hardening its position.

The appointment of the mastermind of the October 7 attack on Israel solidifies the group's move toward strengthening relations with Iran over other benefactors, said Devorah Margolin, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

It also indicates an "entrenchment towards its original goal: violent struggle against Israel by any means necessary," she told VOA.

White House national security communications adviser John Kirby downplayed concerns that Sinwar's ascension would further complicate cease-fire talks.

"He has always been the chief decision-maker when it comes to negotiations over the course of these now nine months," Kirby told VOA during a briefing with reporters Wednesday. "And as the chief decision-maker, he needs to decide now to take this deal."

Reality, or wishful thinking?

With the Biden administration for months saying that cease-fire negotiations are in the final stages, outside observers are finding it difficult to judge whether the assessment is realistic or wishful thinking, said Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute.

Trying to get the world to believe a deal is at hand "could be the foreign policy equivalent of a Jedi mind trick," Katulis told VOA, referring to the ability of some "Star Wars" movie characters to influence behavior through mental manipulation.

It could also be strategic messaging to incentivize parties, particularly Iran, to act with restraint.

"The U.S. administration is saying, 'We are in the endgame, and if you drop the ball, we will hold you responsible in the blame game,'" John Hopkins' Blumenfeld told VOA.

With U.S. and regional pressure for a cease-fire, overwhelming demand from the Israeli public for a deal to return the hostages, and the Israeli Knesset on a three-month recess, Netanyahu could create political room to maneuver while keeping his coalition intact and make a breakthrough.

"It could go either way, in the coming days  cease-fire or regional wildfire," said Blumenfeld.

Nike Ching and Jeff Seldin contributed to this report.
The two U.S. presidential campaigns crossed paths Wednesday in Eau Claire, a small city of 71,000 in the crucial political battleground state of Wisconsin, which both need to win in the November election.

Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance stopped in Michigan first, then headed to neighboring Wisconsin to talk to workers at a factory. Both states are in the upper Midwest.

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her new vice-presidential running mate, Tim Walz, weren't far behind, staging a raucous outdoor rally ahead of an evening appearance in Michigan.

The two campaigns were in such proximity in Eau Claire that Vance walked over to see Vice President Harris' Air Force Two on the local airport tarmac, quipping to reporters, "We landed about the same time that she did, and I went over there because I thought it might be nice to check out this plane that's going to be mine in a few months."

He also jabbed at Harris, adding, "I want to go and say hello to the journalists who are traveling along with the vice president, because I figured they must be lonely because Kamala Harris doesn't take any questions."

At the factory, Vance accused Harris of dodging reporters' questions for 17 days  ever since President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed Harris to take his place as the Democratic standard bearer against former President Donald Trump.

Earlier in the day, Trump, on a call to the "Fox & Friends" show, described Harris' selection Tuesday of Walz, the liberal governor of another Midwest state, Minnesota, as a "shocking pick."

"I could not be more thrilled," Trump declared. Both he and Vance have characterized Walz and his policies as liberal and out of the mainstream of American politics.

Walz and Harris zeroed in on attacking Trump at their own rally, where the crowd broke into frequent chants of "Kamala" and "VP Walz."

Harris contended that Trump, in a new four-year term starting in January, would cut protections for the country's middle-class families, a demographic she and Walz have been heavily focusing on.

Trump, Harris argued, would cut government-run health insurance and pensions for older Americans, something he has denied he would do, while giving "tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations."

She also attacked Trump for his appointment of three Supreme Court justices who in 2022 helped overturn the nearly five-decade-old constitutional right to an abortion in the United States. Harris said she would sign legislation to restore abortion rights throughout the U.S. if Congress passes legislation to legalize it again.

"Donald Trump intends to take our nation backward," she said, as the crowd chanted, "Not going back."

Six or seven battleground states like Wisconsin are likely to dominate the travels of all four of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates leading up to Election Day on November 5. Early voting in some states starts in the last two weeks of September.

The highly contested states play an outsized role in determining the outcome of the election because the U.S. does not pick its president or vice president by the national popular vote.

Rather, the election is 50 state-by-state contests, with electors for the winning ticket in all but two states casting all of their votes in the Electoral College either for Harris-Walz or Trump-Vance. Electoral College votes are based on population, so the most populous states hold the most sway.

National polls now show Harris edging slightly ahead of Trump, reversing the lead he held over Biden.

But the outcome is highly in doubt.

The closeness of the race was shown by a new poll of Wisconsin voters, with the Marquette University Law School saying that, among likely voters, Harris is the choice of 50% and Trump the choice of 49%.

Wisconsin has 10 of the 270 electoral votes that are needed for victory, while more populous Michigan has 15.
As with any desktop 3D printer, the Vulcan printer pipes layer by layer to build an object  except this printer is more than 45 feet (13.7 m) wide, weighs 4.75 tons and prints residential homes.

This summer, the robotic printer from ICON is finishing the last few of 100 3D-printed houses in Wolf Ranch, a community in Georgetown, Texas, about 30 miles from Austin.

ICON began printing the walls of what it says is the world's largest 3D-printed community in November 2022. Compared to traditional construction, the company says that 3D printing homes is faster, less expensive, requires fewer workers, and minimizes construction material waste.

"It brings a lot of efficiency to the trade market," said ICON senior project manager Conner Jenkins. "So, where there were maybe five different crews coming in to build a wall system, we now have one crew and one robot."

After concrete powder, water, sand and other additives are mixed together and pumped into the printer, a nozzle squeezes out the concrete mixture like toothpaste onto a brush, building up layer by layer along a pre-programmed path that creates corduroy-effect walls.

The single-story three- to four-bedroom homes take about three weeks to finish printing, with the foundation and metal roofs installed traditionally.

Jenkins said the concrete walls are designed to be resistant to water, mold, termites and extreme weather.

Lawrence Nourzad, a 32-year-old business development director, and his girlfriend Angela Hontas, a 29-year-old creative strategist, purchased a Wolf Ranch home earlier this summer.

"It feels like a fortress," Nourzad said, adding that he was confident it would be resilient to most tornados.

The walls also provide strong insulation from the Texas heat, the couple said, keeping the interior temperature cool even when the air conditioner wasn't on full blast.

There was one other thing the 3D-printed walls seemed to protect against, however: a solid wireless internet connection.

"Obviously these are really strong, thick walls. And that's what provides a lot of value for us as homeowners and keeps this thing really well-insulated in a Texas summer, but signal doesn't transfer through these walls very well," Nourzad said.

To alleviate this issue, an ICON spokeswoman said most Wolf Ranch homeowners use mesh internet routers, which broadcast a signal from multiple units placed throughout a home, versus a traditional router which sends a signal from one device.

The 3D-printed homes at Wolf Ranch, called the "Genesis Collection" by developers, range in price from around $450,000 to close to $600,000. Developers said a little more than one quarter of the 100 homes have been sold.

ICON, which 3D-printed its first home in Austin in 2018, hopes to one day take its technology to the Moon. NASA, as part of its Artemis Moon exploration program, has contracted ICON to develop a construction system capable of building landing pads, shelters, and other structures on the lunar surface.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa says he is not extending his presidency beyond the current two five-year terms allowed by the countrys constitution. There are some who have expressed skepticism about his stated commitment to the constitution.

Chants by members of the ruling ZANU-PF party echoed in the air as those gathered at party headquarters awaited the arrival of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. They said Mnangagwa will still be in power in 2030  two years after what the constitution allows him. The slogans were repeated as Mnangagwa arrived and addressed the crowd.

"Besides being a soldier, trained lawyer, I am a constitutionalist. I want our party, our leadership, our people to be constitutionalists. We must abide by the provisions of our constitution to the letter, said Mnangagwa.

In his native language, Shona, Mnangagwa added, When time comes to go home, I will go! Lets follow the principles of the party, gaining more cheers.

After ruling for nearly 40 years, the late Robert Mugabe was removed from power with help from the army and succeeded by Mnangagwa, who became interim president in November 2017. Mnangagwa won a disputed election in 2018.

Kudzai Mutisi, a pro-ZANU-PF political commentator, said he believes Mnangagwa will not be like Mugabe.

What is important here is that he is addressing some of the people who have been lobbying him to stay beyond 2028. So whatever people have been saying or whatever people have been thinking has nothing really to do with him, it is what they, as lobbyists, they as commenters have been brewing their heads and voicing out, but what we heard is the president's voice, the president's position and that's what we should respect and stick to as we go forward, he said.

Some Zimbabweans fear Mnangagwa may change the constitution to seek a third term. This concern comes after the Constitutional Court in 2021 overturned the high court, allowing current Chief Justice Luke Malaba to remain on the job until age 75, instead of being forced to retire at age 70.

Brighton Mutebuka, a lawyer opposed to the views of the ruling party, said he still believes Mnangagwa  also known as ED from the initials of his first and middle names  will change the constitution so that he stands for a third term in 2028.

By coming out publicly to claim otherwise, ED is trying to hoodwink the gullible in his party, the other faction and also SADC. ... And mind you, he has previously himself come out publicly and corralled his Cabinet ministers into pledging loyalty to this 2030 slogan, in Chikomba district, said Mutebuka.

SADC refers to the Southern African Development Community  a 13-nation bloc that looks at how members are abiding by their constitutions.

An SADC observer mission looking into Zimbabwes August 2023 elections said the polls failed to meet the blocs standards. Mnangagwas party criticized the team that compiled the report. Zimbabwe will take over the 12-month rotating chair of the SADC following a meeting next week.
Israel committed a costly "strategic mistake" with its killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week, Iran's acting foreign minister told AFP in an interview on Thursday.

"The act that the Zionists carried out in Tehran was a strategic mistake because it will cost them gravely," Ali Bagheri said one day after attending an extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah.

Although Israel has not commented on Haniyeh's death, Iran has vowed to retaliate, setting the region on edge.

Bagheri accused Israel of wanting "to expand tension, war and conflict to other countries," while asserting it was not in a position to fight Iran.

"The Zionists are in no position to start a war against the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.

"They neither have the capacity nor the strength."

The meeting on Wednesday of foreign ministers from the 57-member OIC produced a declaration holding Israel "fully responsible" for the "heinous" killing of Haniyeh, who lived in Qatar and was a major player in talks to end the war in the Gaza Strip.

The war began with Hamas's October 7 attacks on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Palestinian militants seized 251 hostages, 111 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 39 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 39,699 people, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, which does not give details of civilian and militant deaths.

Hamas's Lebanese ally Hezbollah has also pledged to retaliate for Haniyeh's killing and that of its military commander Fuad Shukr in an Israeli strike in Beirut hours earlier.

rs-rcb/dr
Sick puppy. Photo: Getty Images for Vulture

After winning an Emmy for starring in a critically acclaimed, era-defining series like Succession, whats the best follow-up? All three main Roy siblings (sorry, Connor) have had the same answer: Take it to the stage. Kieran Culkin, best known for playing Roman Roy, is set to be starring in a Broadway revival of David Mamets Glengarry Glen Ross in spring 2025. He follows in the footsteps of his on-screen siblings Sarah Snook, who starred in The Picture of Dorian Gray on the West End and won an Olivier, and Jeremy Strong, who starred in Enemy of the People on Broadway and won a Tony. Plus, hes playing Richard Roma, the part that won Joe Mantegna a Tony when the play premiered on Broadway in 1984 and got Al Pacino an Oscar nomination in the 1992 film adaptation. So, no pressure at all for the youngest boy.

Thank goodness, then, that Culkin has a solid team behind him. His fellow prestige TV mainstay Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) will play Shelly Levene, and comedian Bill Burr is playing Dave Moss. The production will be directed by Patrick Marber (Tony winner for Leopoldstadt). But fans of the film be warned: The famous Always be closing monologue that Alec Baldwin performed in the movie will not be seen onstage  that role was written for the screen. What? You think this is abuse?
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 8. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will sign a number of important documents, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during a narrow-format meeting with his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Astana today, Trend reports via Akorda.

The people of Kazakhstan are paying great attention to your visit, which speaks volumes. In recent years, the atmosphere of relations between our countries has radically improved. We will make every effort to fill our cooperation with concrete content.

This visit is very significant, as we'll sign documents that will define specific areas of collaboration and alliance between our states," he said.

Besides, Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of this official visit to Kazakhstan.

"Today's visit has historical significance. Our meeting will further strengthen the centuries-old bonds of friendship and good neighborliness between our two peoples and elevate our strategic partnership and alliance to a new level," he explained.

During the negotiations, the parties discussed prospects for further strengthening cooperation in the political, trade-economic, transport-transit, investment, energy, agricultural, water, cultural-humanitarian, and industrial sectors. Regional and international agenda issues were also considered.

The presidents expressed satisfaction with the progressive development of Kazakh-Uzbek relations across all areas.

To note, Mirziyoyev set off for an official visit to Kazakhstan on August 7.

The leaders of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan will hold the first meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council in Astana.

The Uzbek leader's visit program also envisages the attendance of the Uzbek president in the new Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the First 'Central Asia + Japan' Dialogue.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
*David Beckham voice* Be honest  Is there anything more thrilling in this life than finding out that one of your friends secretly has beef with someone you never suspected? Picture it: Youre sitting on the couch talking over the TV when you casually mention a shared acquaintance you considered innocuous. All of a sudden, she blurts out, I cant stand that girl! Suddenly, the universe is reconfiguring itself before you. This is as close as youll ever get to peeking inside the Matrix, and more importantly, youve opened up a new gossip portal that could transport you both to a higher plane of mutually petty understanding.

Thats how I felt at first while watching this weeks batch of Love Is Blind: Mexico, when Fernanda skipped out on Silvis birthday party because shes fucking had it up to here with her. But then the show left us all hanging by failing to answer the most obvious question: What the hell did Silvi do?

Before I get ahead of myself, lets close out the tab on last weeks honeymoons  specifically, Leti and Sauls toxic tug-of-war over physical intimacy. As we saw, Letis not ready to be physically affectionate beyond kissing, and Saul apparently thinks that the best way to process that is to stop just short of directly calling her frigid in front of their friends. Obviously, no man should behave this way, but what makes this even more astounding is that Saul has a teenage daughter. So much for the self-aware girl dad. In a move that will surely surprise no one, Leti ditches Saul just moments after they roll their suitcases into whats supposed to be their new apartment. Good riddance!

Now, for that long-simmering beef we all sniffed out: When the surviving couples move into their new digs and finally unbox their phones, Karen discovers that shes got a notification from Irais, who we all remember congratulated her on getting exclusive with Fernando before immediately trying to steal him away. Hmmm 

Irais gave off suspicious vibes from the start, and while I dont think she plans to steal Fernando (if she did, why message Karen and not him?), her return still smells funky. This week, she reconnects with Rene after their disastrous face-to-face meeting to explain why she got them both sent home. You see, she was feeling overwhelmed, so she couldnt give him everything she wanted in that moment. Never mind that she told producers behind Renes back that he looks like a drunk. Because Rene is a beautiful person who sucks at reading the room, he takes Irais back immediately  at which point she gushes to producers about how handsome she suddenly thinks he is.

He dresses so well, she says as her nose slowly stretches out in front of her face. I love his eyes. I love his jawline. The way he walks   [the cameraman steps back as her nose begins to prod his lens]   his facial expression. His hair. The way he smells. I love everything about him. Meanwhile, I cant help but notice that Renes nose ring  the one Irais explicitly told producers she hated  is suddenly gone. Good luck, babes!

One person whos not going to let this go is Karen. When Irais has the nerve to show up at a cast rooftop barbecue with Rene, Karen goes off and says its surprising to see them getting along so well even though he was clearly her second pick. In a move that would make Tim Walz proud, she also labels Renes whole situation weird. Irais, of course, straight-up lies and says that she had already sent Fernando the gifts before she found out he was with Karen.

What is it about Irais? At every turn, shes manipulated situations for her own benefit. First, she turned everyone against Rocio last week. Then, she played the bigger person when Karen said she and Fernando were exclusive, only to stab her in the back. Now, shes twisting her relationship timeline to beat the allegations that shes not a girls girl. Shell pay for all of this during the reunion when producers inevitably roll the tape and expose her.

Fernando doesnt love how forceful Karen is in confronting Rene and Irais, and she does at least apologize to Rene in the end, but in fairness, pretty much everything she said was true. All of that said, I still think Karen and Fernando will say I do in the end. Theyre that chaotic couple that shouldnt work but totally does. He finally meets her daughter, Emi, this week, and she likes him enough to give him a friendship bracelet. In tween-girl world, that means youre in the club. The mom meetings go just as well, and apparently, Karen and Fernando also have some business plans together. As long as Irais stays far away from them, Im guessing theyll be just fine.

The same cannot be said, Im afraid, for Willy and Francesca. I swear I havent forgotten about them, although I wish I could. Willy is one of the worst archetypes in the dating world  someone who boldly declares love and then panics because he doesnt know what he wants. His own sisters think hes too obsessed with what his parents think, and he calls himself a paper boat who follows the wind. Id just love for a stiff breeze to blow him off my screen forever. I tried to curb my suspicions early on, but that was before Willy tried to dump Francesca, only to take it back and say hed see how they felt tomorrow. Willy needs space, Francesca says with the patience of a saint. He doesnt need me bothering him with questions. Yuck!!! Francesca, you deserve better, and so does your daughter, Mila.

Meanwhile, my former favorite couple, Chema and Silvi, are tanking in the rankings  mostly because Chema, a professional poker player, finally showed his hand. For so long, I forgave Chemas self-centered tendencies because he seemed invested in creating a meaningful partnership with Silvi. Yes, Alejandra was also in the mix during the pods, but as Chema and Silvi bonded over the things they have in common  like the devastating losses of their fathers  I saw something beautiful growing.

Then Chema declared in front of everyone at Silvis own birthday party that his first thoughts upon seeing her at the reveal were that he didnt like her dress or her fake eyelashes. Now, Im here to say Fuck. That. Guy.

When called out, he whined that the women and their silly lady brains had gotten all hysterical over something out of context. He apologized multiple times and gave Silvi a genuine, passionless-looking kiss, and she claims theyre all good, but we (Chema and I) will never be good again. Never trust a professional poker player, and especially one who keeps a pile of money under a whale statue in his home. (Seriously, what the hell was that? Send Rachel Coster and the Boy Room squad over to investigate immediately!) To make matters more infuriating, Chemas mom has the audacity to say that Silvis modeling is not a serious profession when her own son is a goddamned  say it with me  PROFESSIONAL POKER PLAYER!!!!! I am royally ready to flush this man and his mother down the toilet.

Appropriately for a Sagittarius (sorry, but yall know this is true), Silvis birthday is drama central  and not just because of Letis extremely disappointing confession that shes reunited with Saul. Beyond her apparent distaste for Silvi, which goes infuriatingly unexplained, Fernanda skips out because shes convinced no one likes her and that they only tolerate her  which is both relatable and heartbreaking because it doesnt seem true. Fernandas confident facade has begun to crumble as she and Gerardo cohabitate, and while Gerardo suspects she has abandonment trauma, he cant quite figure out its source, especially because both Fernanda and her family avoid talking about her fathers death. At the same time, Fernanda continues to show maturity when Gerardo tells her that Mafur, who also fell for him in the pods, chatted him up at Silvis party. In the U.S. version, this would have sparked a serious shouting match, but Fernanda takes it in stride and reaffirms that Mafur is a cool chick. Im really hoping that these two make it (especially after Gerardo showed up to meet Fernandas mom with a whole cake!), but if she cant open up about her dad, Im not sure they will.

Sadly, the couple Im most certain will say yes is Rene and Irais. She clearly wants a wedding, and hes living proof that love really is blind. His family seems to resent both the experiment and Irais (its never a good sign when your sister volunteers to be your divorce lawyer in front of your betrothed), but none of that seems to matter. Iraiss face lit up when she tried on that big, poofy princess wedding gown, and Rene seems gung ho to be her prince charming. Im calling it now: Theyre going to get hitched and then break up before the reunion. That said, one last note on Rene and his family: Its a bold, bold man who tells his grandchild-hungry father that hes had a vasectomy while a reality film crews cameras are rolling.

Speaking of snipping, I think well cut things here for now. But see you next week, as we all take bets on how shittily Chema will handle finally meeting Alejandra face-to-face. Once more for the people in the back: Fuck that guy.

Pod Goss

 Does anyone else find it strange that many of these couples are heading to the altar without having lived with each others kids? I understand that we must protect childrens innocence from reality TV, but how can you merge lives with someone without having really gotten to know their offspring?

 Honestly, the thing that worries me most about Fernanda and Gerardo is their disagreement about how to treat their dogs. He wants them outdoors only, and she wants them inside with the family. Shes right and she should say it, but if he doesnt come around, someone will end up in the doghouse. (Sorry.)

 Did yall hear Rene say during his suit fitting that his longtime friend is also his therapist? It was probably a joke, but still, didnt Carrie Bradshaw already show us the perils that befall anyone who seeks therapy only from their friends?
Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images

Two men have been found guilty on all counts in the 2022 killing of rapper PnB Rock. Freddie Trone was found guilty of one count of felony murder, two counts of robbery, and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, Rolling Stone reported on August 7, for arranging the deadly robbery on the rapper, born Rakim Allen. Prosecutors said Trone gave his 17-year-old son a gun, sent him to rob the Philadelphia rapper and his fiancee of their jewelry, and was the getaway driver. Tremont Jones was also found guilty of two counts of robbery and one of conspiracy, for alerting Trone that PnB and his fiancee, Stephanie Sibounheuang, walked into the Roscoes Chicken & Waffles in South Los Angeles where the killing took place. The jury made the decision in less than four hours on the eleventh day of the trial. Trones defense lawyer argued that his son acted independently. Trones son was also arrested after the murder, but a judge ruled in July that he was not yet competent to remain trial.

PnB Rock had a hit in the song Selfish in 2016, which went triple platinum and earned him a spot in XXLs 2017 Freshman Class. He was 30 when he died. During the trial, Sibounheuang praised his bravery for shielding her from the shooting, calling him a hero. After the verdict, his mother, Deannea Allen, told Rolling Stone she was elated: We got justice for Rakim.
Photo: Xavi Torrent/TAS24/Getty Image

One of Taylor Swifts Eras Tour stops in Vienna was allegedly targeted in a terror attack, per Austrian authorities. NBC News reported two men were arrested on August 7 with specific plans for a terror attack. The shows at Ernst Happel Stadium from August 8 to 10 have since been canceled. Below, what we know about the incident, including Taylors response and how the CIA helped stop the attack.

What happened?

Austrian authorities said on August 7 that they arrested two suspects who had allegedly been planning an attack at one of Taylor Swifts concerts in Vienna. The primary suspect planned to attack fans congregating outside the stadium  where tens of thousands were expected to gather  on August 8 or 9 with knives and homemade explosives, per the Associated Press. ABC News has since reported U.S. intelligence first informed Austria and Europol, the European Unions law-enforcement group, of the threat.

At the time, Viennas police chief, Gerhard Purstl, said the concrete danger has been minimized and the shows would go on. The venue had set additional security plans, including K-9 units and bomb squads. However, hours after the news, promoter Barracuda Music canceled the shows. With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyones safety, Barracuda posted on Instagram. Austrias chancellor, Karl Nehammer, defended the cancellations on X, calling the threats serious in German.

Who are the suspects?

Authorities identified one suspect on August 7 as a 19-year-old Austrian man. Austrias director-general for public safety, Franz Ruf, said the man pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in July. Police found explosives, knives, and chemicals in the home where he lived with his parents, Ruf added on August 8, per the New York Times. Ruf said this suspect confessed to the plan shortly after he was arrested. Officials are unsure if the suspect would have been able to build a bomb in time for the concerts, according to NBC and ABC, though they said he had thorough plans to kill many people.

The second suspect was identified on August 8 as a 17-year-old boy who had started working for an events company that worked with Ernst Happel Stadium. He was arrested at the stadium. Authorities said both suspects had been radicalized online. However, investigators do not believe the Islamic State directed the attack, ABC reported.

An 18-year-old Iraqi man was also arrested on August 8, per AP. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said he was not directly involved in the plan but comes from the social environment of the 19-year-old and also pledged to the Islamic State. Karner told AP his arrest underscores the broad scope of the ongoing investigation.

Ruf said police also questioned a 15-year-old boy, who corroborated much of the 19-year-olds confession. He was not arrested, as police do not believe he was actively involved in the plan.

How has Swift responded?

Swift didnt comment on the planned attack or canceled shows until she finished the European leg of the Eras Tour. Let me be very clear: I am not going to speak about something publicly if I think doing so might provoke those who would want to harm the fans who come to my shows, she wrote on Instagram. In cases like this one, silence is actually showing restraint, and waiting to express yourself at a time when its right to. My priority was finishing our European tour safely, and it is with great relief that I can say we did that. Swift also said canceling the Vienna shows was devastating, but she was grateful to be grieving concerts and not lives.

What else have we learned?

On August 29, it was reported that the C.I.A. provided critical information on the four individuals arrested to the Austrian government. They were plotting to kill a huge number, tens of thousands of people at this concert, I am sure many Americans, the deputy director of the C.I.A. David S. Cohen explained at the annual Intelligence Summit per the NY Times. The Austrians were able to make those arrests because the agency and our partners in the intelligence community provided them information about what this ISIS-connected group was planning to do.

How have fans responded?

After the cancellation news, Austrian Swifties gathered on Viennas Cornelia Street (renamed for the shows in honor of Swifts 2019 song) on August 7. Hundreds of fans traded bracelets and sang Swift songs on the street, as seen in social-media videos.

This happening right now in Cornelia Street. We create our own safe spaces you stupid spider boys can't destroy #WeLoveYouTaylor #ViennaTStheErasTour pic.twitter.com/1TOes0gXcc  Olivia (@gossipverse) August 8, 2024

What will happen to the rest of the Eras Tour?

Tickets for the Vienna shows will be refunded within ten days, but its unclear if the shows will later be rescheduled. Next, Swift is set to return to Florida for three shows in Miami in October after safely performing five concerts in London last week.

This post has been updated throughout.
Theyre no longer kung-fu fighting. Photo: Araya Doheny/WireImage

We were on a break! screamed Ross Geller, but also now Jack Black. After canceling Tenacious Ds tour in July, Black says that he and Kyle Gass are still friends and they just needed a break from the tension. He tells Variety, We need to take a break. Everybody needs a break sometime. And well be back  Yeah, were friends. That hasnt changed. These things take time sometimes  And well be back when it feels right. The tour was originally canceled after Gass made a joke about Trumps assassination at a show in Australia. Black presented Gass with a cake for his birthday onstage, and when asked what hed like to wish for, Gass said, Dont miss Trump next time, referring to Trump narrowly avoiding getting shot in the head. Two days later, Black released a statement condemning Gasss comments and canceling the rest of the tour. Hopefully during their break, Black isnt making music with anyone else. Because theyre on a break and not broken up. Very different things!
Trap is unrealistic, lacking in thrills, and a stunning example of just how masterful the writer-directors twistless storytelling can be. Photo: Sabrina Lantos/Warner Bros./Everett Collection

You could make the case that Trap is unrealistic and lacking in thrills. But why would you want to? M. Night Shyamalans latest is about a police dragnet to ensnare a serial killer (Josh Hartnetts Cooper Adams, a.k.a. the Butcher) in much the same way that The Sixth Sense (1999) was a nuanced portrait of a child psychologist, The Village (2004) was a picture of life in an agricultural commune, and his 2023 hit Knock at the Cabin was an account of missionary work  which is to say that, as in all of Shyamalans movies, to greater or lesser degrees, plot is just a means to an end. The expected genre elements are there to be subverted or flouted, and believability is not high on his list of priorities.

I saw Trap last weekend and have been thinking about it ever since. I couldnt care less whether (to name just a few complaints) the dialogue is sufficiently realistic or the portrayal of serial killers or policework is accurate or if Shyamalan spent too much time spotlighting the burgeoning talents of his daughter Saleka, who plays the pop star Lady Raven, at whose concert the police are hunting for Cooper. To me, the movie is a beautiful object unreeling at its own pace and in its own way  a dream just realistic enough that you think its real until you realize everything is awkwardly askew. Some films of his that I disliked on first viewing, like The Village and 2006s Lady in the Water, I now cherish, mainly because with a bit of temporal distance, I can see that the issue wasnt what they were but what I wanted them to be. I even loved After Earth (2013), which pretty much everybody agrees is bad. In my review, I called it a moral tale disguised as a sci-fi blockbuster.

Thats all of his movies, really; you just swap out the part after disguised as. Shyamalan makes moral tales in the manner of one of his heroes, The Twilight Zones creator Rod Serling, whose work involved overtly clever elements (like a twist ending) that fade from the mind after first viewing and are replaced by deeper pleasures. Take the famous Twilight Zone episode Eye of the Beholder, which is often summed up as a statement on the subjectivity of beauty but is also a metaphor for life in a racist authoritarian monoculture. (They permitted a polyglot, accident-bred, mongrel-like mass of diversification to blanket the earth, yells a piglike leader on a TV in the hospital, to infiltrate and weaken!)

Shyamalans commercial breakthrough, The Sixth Sense  which was released 25 years ago on the directors birthday  is likewise more than the sum of its clever narrative devices. It broke through on the basis of its twist (be warned that after this paragraph, Trap and every other Shyamalan feature will be discussed in detail), but arguably what drove the movie to a nearly $700 million box-office gross was everything else about it, from the sensitive depiction of recognizable lives in someplace other than New York or Los Angeles (Shyamalan shoots in his home city of Philadelphia and/or Pennsylvania whenever possible) to the fantasy that a purehearted child, Haley Joel Osments Cole Sear (who plays King Arthur pulling Excalibur from the stone in a school play), could hear the secret stories of the wronged dead and help them get justice and escape purgatory. Its also a piece about getting so wrapped up in work that you lose perspective: Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) obsesses over helping little Cole because he feels guilty for failing the patient who shot him and for letting his wife, Anna, feel that he put her second to his career.

None of Shyamalans other movies are solely or even mainly about a sequence of plot events. Nearly all are at least partly about how suffering can turn a person into a constructive or destructive force, depending on what else their lives contain. Malcolms devotion to his profession in The Sixth Sense is a means of retreating from the truth of his existence, but he helps Cole recognize why he was put on the earth (another recurring Shyamalan theme is people discovering their hidden purpose) and use the skills he learned from being around Malcolm to help the man confront certain truths about himself (starting with the fact that HES DEAD). The apartment complex in The Lady in the Water is visited by a water nymph, or narf, who is fated to be brought to a higher plane of existence by an eagle, but only if she can avoid the attacks of the scrunt, a wolflike creature made of grass; the hero, the superintendent, tries to assemble a team of prophesied helpers, including The Healer, a role he initially assumes must be played by someone else until he figures out its him (hes been healing the building and its various inhabitants all through the film and he used to be a doctor; of course its him). He ascends to a higher plane of his own when he confesses the depth of his despair over the murder of his wife and child.

Bryce Dallas Howard and Paul Giamatti in Lady in the Water. (Or me, after being in the tank for M. Night Shyamalan.) Photo: Warner Bros.

Sometimes, Shyamalans figurative or symbolic tendencies can be old-fashioned in a problematic way. The so-called Unbreakable trilogy, consisting of Unbreakable (2000), Split (2016), and Glass (2019), got in trouble for metaphorizing mental illness: Samuel L. Jacksons paraplegic, fragile-boned villain Glass is motivated by a desire to learn whether theres somebody out there whos as nigh indestructible as he is brittle, and the title character of Split was fractured into 23 identities by horrendous childhood abuse. Thats why, after he manifests the Beast and goes on a rampage, he spares the movies heroine, who is a survivor of sexual abuse by her uncle and went on to become a cutter. The diagnoses in the films are as DSM-accurate as the rage of the Macbeths or the title character of Alban Bergs opera Wozzeck  or, if you prefer, as accurate as the physics in After Earth or the scientific explanation of what happens to people visiting the beach in Shyamalans 2021 horror-mystery Old.

Who cares about its relative believability? Theres a ghost in The Sixth Sense who cant open a locked door but can throw a rock through a window.

At their most intricately imagined and immaculately executed, Shyamalans films have the sting of a parable and the contradictions of the Mahabharata. Consider The Village, whose ruling patriarch is a Bruce Wayne who retreats instead of fighting: He responds to the murder of his billionaire dad by starting a walled community in the Pennsylvania woods, nestled within a wildlife preserve, modeled on 19th-century agrarian life, held together by a mythology of monster attacks, and protected from outside discovery by bribing the federal government to prevent flyovers. Edward is karmically punished for his hubris and manipulations when the fiance of his blind daughter, Ivy, is stabbed nearly to death by a developmentally disabled young man who was secretly in love with Ivy, necessitating sending her on a journey over the wall to fetch lifesaving medicine. The twist at the end (it was the 21st century the whole time!) is pure Serling, but its less important than the scripts other takeaways: Crime happens in every community, and walls and gates are not the answer; an illusion of safety can be purchased with lies, but they will contort those who live inside them (The Village was written and shot in the aftermath of 9/11 and released a year after the US invasion of Iraq).

Who cares about its relative believability or internal consistency? Theres a ghost in The Sixth Sense who cant open a locked door but can throw a rock through a window. To buy into the plot of The Village, you have to believe that nobody in the title community has ever needed to leave the village before. The Visit is another found-footage horror movie that turns into a conventionally edited horror movie after a certain point, complete with crosscutting; its so tense and unnerving, and so plugged into what its protagonists, a young brother and sister, are feeling, that you probably forget that the movie is violating its own formal conceit.

Shyamalan is not just making narrative features. Hes working very close to his subconscious, making films that play more like remembered and reconstructed dreams with a level of meta-humor and self-awareness. The Visit is as much of a film about a child-prodigy filmmaker as Steven Spielbergs The Fabelmans, and The Lady in the Water  which, no kidding, I think is not only misunderstood but one of Shyamalans richest and most beautiful films  is embedded with so much commentary on the tropes of commercial screenwriting and mainstream film criticism that it becomes a commentary on how savvy viewership can rot the brain and deprive viewers of visceral and emotional pleasures. But his reflections on filmmaking and spectatorship (or, for that matter, his little IMDB in-jokes, like hiring Hayley Mills, star of Disneys original The Parent Trap, to play an FBI profiler coordinating the trapping of a parent) never overwhelm a production to the point where it fails to do justice to its characters and their stories.

I saw Trap at a packed theater in Dallas where viewers were leaning forward in their seats, looking and listening rather than scrolling their phones, mesmerized by Shyamalans ability to cast the right actor in the right role and let them move through a series of situations that are viewed mainly from their perspective. Until a third-act change of perspective, Trap is told from the point of view of Cooper, even in the concert scenes, where the camera views the performances from the vantage point of Cooper and his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) on the arena floor and (briefly) backstage. Much of the films peculiar energy comes from the way Hartnetts smug but anxious serial killer interacts with people who dont know hes the target of the dragnet.

Bryce Dallas Howard in The Village. (Clearly in the tank long before me.) Photo: Touchstone Pictures

I came away from it thinking not of realistic procedurals like Zodiac but examples of a subgenre that critic Anne Billson memorably dubbed the preposterous thriller, where things that simply could not happen occur regularly, and the entire tale unfolds with the feverish matter-of-factness of a nightmare. Gone Girl, Basic Instinct, and a lot of Alfred Hichcock and Brian De Palma filmographies count as preposterous thrillers. Something about Coopers self-satisfied thrill-seeking energy reminded me of Hitchcocks Rope, loosely modeled on the famous Leopold and Loeb case and set in a party at a thrill-kill duos apartment where the buffet table is an antique trunk containing the body of a murdered classmate. I also came away from Trap thinking of Basic Instinct, another movie filled with things that simply could not happen, ever, and that, like Trap, is built around a killer who is pretty close to a demon or devil figure and gets a charge out of seeing how suspiciously she can behave without ending up in the back of a squad car (as when Cooper stumbles upon a room full of police officers and walks right up to the front, pretending to be a stadium employee servicing the beverage table).

Theres a pervasive air of unreality from the start, mostly centered on Coopers facade of normalcy that he wears like a store-bought Halloween mask. Hes so much the stereotypically rugged but pleasant straight white male suburban father that hes like an alien in a science-fiction satire passing for human, or a transplanted Russian agent in an espionage movie pretending to be a Regular American. And there is also, to quote one of my favorite phrases from the movie Bob Roberts, a whiff of sulfur about him. In scene after scene of Trap, characters blatantly hand Cooper information that can help him escape without realizing hes the person the police came there to apprehend. Its as if Cooper has the innate ability to compel people to blurt out secrets.

There are never any mustache-twirling villains in his work, only individuals warped into antagonists of society, but whose motives are understandable once theyre articulated.

When the film moves into its final third, the already-thin tether to reality snaps and were squarely in dreamland, or Hitchcockville. Would a massive police operation to capture a Hannibal Lecterlevel homicidal genius allow for in-the-moment improvisations that could compromise security, such as Cooper wrangling backstage invitations for him and Riley to meet the performer Lady Raven and get closer to the rear exit thats the only way out? Would a performer like Raven, whos presented as a superstar and thus eminently kidnappable, be allowed to leave a concert with two people nobody in her entourage had met previously and without mentioning them to her security detail? Probably not. But I dont think were supposed to be interacting with the film on those terms, any more than wed judge the scene in Silence of the Lambs where Hannibal Lecter escapes a maximum-security facility by murdering a guard and wearing his face as a mask or the scene in the Martin Scorsese remake of Cape Fear where a detective hired to guard the Bowden family household fails to notice that the housekeeper has been replaced by Max Cady in a dress and wig.

The bad guys in the latter films, not coincidentally, are both depicted as being as close to nonhuman as an antagonist can get without crossing over into supernatural horror: Cady hangs beneath a moving car for hours, and Lecter is such a silver-tongued devil that he can hypnotize a man into biting off his own tongue. Cooper is part of that tradition. At times, he seems to owe a bit to Michael Myers (another is-he-or-isnt-he-a-demon) in the original Halloween, with Millss profiler as the pursuing Dr. Loomis and Lady Raven stepping into the main story line as a purehearted, self-sacrificing Laurie Strode type who is mainly interested in protecting women and children against a secret bogeyman. Halloween, of course, owes a huge debt to Psycho, and both films are referenced and conflated in Trap, which gives Cooper a backstory of a domineering mother who recognized his destructive nature when he was very young.

But theres empathy for this devil here, as there always is in Shyamalans thrillers. There are never any mustache-twirling villains in his work, only individuals warped into antagonists of society by accidents of birth or personal experience, but whose motives are understandable once theyre articulated. (Do you know why youre afraid when youre alone? asks Vincent Grey, the patient who shoots Malcolm at the start of The Sixth Sense. I do. I do.) Glasss epic, outer-directed self-loathing and Kevins (played by James McAvoy) toxic desire to control every aspect of his shabby, neglected life are relatable even when the characters loom as threats. Edward, who gaslighted the younger generation in The Village, got the idea for his project while attending group counseling for the bereaved. Covingtons elders all possess locked boxes containing reminders of the violence that drove them from the city and into the country, where theres also violence.

Along those lines, Trap turns out to be as much of a story of a deeply damaged social misfit embracing a caricature of normalcy as Don Draper on Mad Men. The closest Cooper gets to a deep realization is when he registers that as long as he kept his public life as a model employee, husband, and father separate from his secret life as a jailer, tormentor, and murderer of strangers, his life had a pleasing equilibrium, but once he crossed the streams, it was all over. As fascinated as Shyamalan is by matters of nature and nurture, he also demonstrates a pre-20th-century belief that evil is a force, not just an idea, and it can possess people, even good ones. When Dennis channels the black-eyed Beast and starts crawling up walls like a housefly, we dont yet know that were watching a film set in the comic-book-infused Unbreakable universe. But we accept it in-the-moment, if weve seen other Shyamalan films.

You know the Maya Angelou quote, People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel? It explains why Im in the tank, so to speak, for certain storytellers, Shyamalan being an example here. I love the craft and vision that certain artists bring to every project, the themes and motifs they revisit, and most of all how their work makes me feel  in Shyamalans case, unnerved, bothered, occasionally disturbed, but somehow at the same time open-hearted and delighted and inspired.
Trap reminds us that despite the actors teen-heartthrob beginnings, part of his appeal has always been a glimmer of darkness. Photo: Warner Bros.

Spoilers follow for the M. Night Shyamalan film Trap, which opened in theaters on August 2.

Josh Hartnett has a great smirk. Theres something about that face  narrow eyes, a straight brow, the shock of hair nearly always falling across his forehead  thats especially well suited to amplifying expressions of amusement and scorn. Hartnetts serial killer Cooper in Trap isnt in the business of revealing all of himself, not to his family, not to the cops chasing him, and not to the pop star who stands against him. But every time he smiles at all the effort everyone is going through to capture him, he shows a little more pleasure. All this, for me? Cooper lives for this duplicity, and that smirk is his truest declaration.

Hartnetts working-class suburban dad looks like a blandly handsome everyman attending a concert with his 12-year-old daughter, Riley (Ariel Donoghue), and then  bam! His mind is elsewhere as he figures out how to outsmart the cops. He gives everyone he encounters just enough attention to feel seen, but not so much attention that they become curious about him. Hartnetts ability to switch between personalities is what fuels Traps relentless tension, and the fluidity of his performance means you never know exactly what to expect from either Cooper or his serial-killer persona, the Butcher. Hartnett and Trap writer-director M. Night Shyamalan both seem to recognize that despite the actors teen-heartthrob beginnings, part of the his appeal has always been a glimmer of darkness. Those brown eyes can slide very easily from warm and puppy doggish to threatening and smug, and Trap is an exhilarating watch because it allows Hartnett to go full freak.

Sure, Hartnetts played good guys (in 30 Days of Night, he was a sheriff defending his Alaskan town against a vampire invasion); rom-com leads (his performance in 40 Days and 40 Nights is a millennial gay root, as documented by my brilliant colleague Rachel Handler); and outsiders enduring ludicrous circumstances, like aliens infiltrating a high school in the very fun cult classic The Faculty. He does perfectly fine in those roles; hes a serviceable leading man. But when a character allows him to put that whispery voice and that gangly frame to sly, scheming, deceitful effect  to play someone whos already been disappointed by the world and is willing to spread that misfortune around so theyre not so lonely  thats when Hartnett really clicks.

Some of this could be seen in Penny Dreadful, in which Hartnett played a charming, reckless, older-than-his years marksman and secret werewolf who hooked up once with Dorian Gray. (You will not regret consuming this gonzo series.) Some of the most compelling performances of Hartnetts career, though, dip more fully into villainy. He was the school hottie who broke Lux Lisbons heart in The Virgin Suicides; the guy who spread lies and gossip to poison his best friends relationship with his horny snake girlfriend in O; the suave assassin the Salesman in Sin City, who sweet-talks his targets before killing them; an all-American-hero astronaut who murders his colleagues wife and her son when she wont give in to his advances in the Black Mirror episode Beyond the Sea. Many of these roles rely on his ability to seduce people, to get close and secure their trust before betraying them, giving his magnetism a sharply sinister edge.

But Trap gives Hartnett his most comprehensive and multifaceted villain showcase yet, and he uses his whole body for it. He looms, he slows his speech, he stares. He never explodes, but he simmers; hes composed and deliberate, conveying someone who always has the next step of his plan figured out, and hes just waiting to get there.

Cooper performs multiple versions of himself throughout the film, each suited to whatever situation hes in. Once Shyamalan starts splitting Hartnetts face vertically, shoving him to the edge of the frame and dividing him down the middle, those myriad Coopers take more distinctive shape. We see the supportive dad, hugging Riley and smiling at her opportunity to be onstage with her favorite pop star, Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan), only minutes after he lied and said she has cancer to secure that meet and greet. The methodical, dead-eyed problem solver striding through the arena, testing doors and scoping out cameras. The affable, apologizing-for-himself arena employee, confidently making his way through a crowd of cops. The service-minded firefighter, so attractive in his familial devotion that he catches the eye of a flirtatious rapper walking by. The serial killer, dropping his aw-shucks persona to strong-arm Lady Raven into giving him an escape route, practically sneering at her fear. Hartnett crafts each of these Coopers with specific choices: He pitches his voice higher when Cooper talks to Riley, he blinks back tears when pretending to be an overwhelmed concessions worker, he scoffs openly at Lady Ravens attempts to outsmart him once shes bluffed her way into his home.

Along the way, Shyamalan supports Hartnett with compositions that focus on some element of his body or face and then push in, magnifying every choice. The films final sequence, in which a handcuffed Cooper is being driven to jail, might be the films standout display of the characters layers. In the minutes before, it seemed like Cooper had accepted his fate; Hartnett plays him subdued, even remorseful, his shoulders down and his head hung low as he leans over his daughters fallen-over bike, picks it up, and rights it on their front lawn before hes loaded into a transpo van. Here is a man thinking about the past and the future, all hes done and all hes lost. But once Cooper is inside the locked box, a tire spoke emerges from Coopers sleeve. Shyamalan stays on Hartnetts face as he works it on the handcuffs, striving and trying and then, finally, when we hear the click of the handcuffs opening, exalting. He chuckles at how easy this was. When he uses his now-separated hands to smooth his hair back and rearrange his face into a look of readiness, this is Cooper resetting himself, and Hartnett finding another aspect of the character to play. In trying to cage Cooper in, Trap frees Hartnett to be the baddie hes always been.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 8. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan plan to establish a Joint Investment Fund, Trend reports via the press office of Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The fund's creation was announced following President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev's meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana.

"An agreement was reached to expedite the construction of the International Center for Industrial Cooperation in the Syrdarya region, which will house various enterprises. To financially support large-scale projects, the establishment of a Joint Investment Fund will be considered. Discussions also covered providing favorable conditions for transit cargo transportation, building joint logistics complexes, and developing road and rail routes between the two countries," the report states.

It was noted that special emphasis is placed on increasing trade volume, particularly through the creation of mutual markets and reducing reliance on imports from third countries.

"In this context, the governments have been tasked with adopting a program to boost trade turnover to $10 billion by the end of the month. To advance industrial cooperation, a portfolio of new agreements and contracts totaling $7 billion has been prepared for this summit. These include projects in energy, transportation and logistics, metallurgy, textiles, agriculture, construction, and regional cooperation," the report adds.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Sangiuliano is writing book about other people's gaffes.

Italy's right-wing culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano was at the centre of criticism on Wednesday over an erroneous Instagram post involving his home city of Naples.

The post featured a reference to the government's establishment of the Neapolis 2500 committee "to celebrate 2 and a half centuries of Naples", when it should have said 2,500 years.

The Instagram post was taken down within minutes but not before attracting the attention of social media users who scorned the minister for the mistake.

Sangiuliano's staff clarified that the minister "does not manage social media personally" and that "unfortunately a wrong draft" was published on Instagram, stressing that the message was correct on other social networks.

In a subsequent post on X, Sangiuliano blamed the mistake on his social media manger, saying: "That is why I accepted his resignation."

The minister of culture, soon to be author of the book "The Gaffes of Others," Gennaro Sangiuliano, makes another gaffe. Govt. starts a committee to celebrate 2,500 years of Naples, but in his Instagram post he writes "the two and a half centuries" (250 years) pic.twitter.com/P9EPDvetSW  Crazy Ass Moments in Italian Politics (@CrazyItalianPol) August 7, 2024

Sangiuliano is no stranger to gaffes, of the live variety, including saying that "Columbus wanted to circumnavigate the earth on the basis of Galileo's theories" or "When people think about London, they think about Times Square".

Last year the minister raised eyebrows by implying that he had not read the books shortlisted for the Strega Prize, Italy's top literary award, despite having voted, as well as claiming that the mediaeval poet and philosopher Dante Alighieri was the founder of Italian right-wing thinking.

Sangiuliano recently hit back at criticism by announcing that he is writing a book titled "The Gaffes of Others", comprising mistakes made by opposition politicians and journalists.

The centre-left Partito Democratico deputy Piero De Luca on Wednesday stated: "Rather than writing the book of other people's gaffes, Sangiuliano should concentrate on publishing the encyclopedia of his own. It would be a great editorial success."
Bereavement

The death sadly occurred on Thursday, August 1, of Mrs Ann Hearne (nee: Rea), Laurel Park, Cherrymount, Waterford and formerly of St Carthages Avenue, Barracks Street. Predeceased by her son loving Darren, brothers Michael, Paddy, Noel and Gerard, and sister Eileen she is survived by her loving husband Jack, sons and daughters, Ian, Lorraine and Siobhan, daughters-in-law Susan and Kate, son-in-law Robbie, best friend to her sisters Lucy and Maria and was an amazing Nanny to her 14 grandkids. Ann will be sadly missed by all her relatives, extended family, neighbours and friends. Condolences are extended to Ann's family, relatives and friends. May she rest in peace.

Bereavement

The death sadly occurred on Sunday, August 4, of Mr Trevor Walsh, late of Crystal Court, Kilcohan, and formerly of The Square, St. Johns Park, Waterford. Predeceased by his loving parents Eileen and Pat, he is survived by his loving wife Sonja, his beloved daughter Kaitlin, sister Deirdre and brother Derek, aunts Kathleen and Bridget, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, friends. Trevor will be sadly missed by all his family, relatives, neighbours and friends Requiem Mass took place on Wednesday, August 7, in The Sacred Heart Church, The Folly at 2pm, followed by burial afterwards in St. Otterans Cemetery, Ballinaneeshagh. Condolences are extended to Trevor's family, relatives and friends. May he rest in peace.

Be Healed Retreat

The Sacred Heart Church, 'Be Healed Retreat', will run from Friday, August 30, at 9am to September 1, at 3.30pm. It will take place at Glencomeragh House, Kilsheelan, Co Tipperary (E91H584) and will be led by Fr Patrick Cahill. There will be daily Mass, Benediction and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, themed talks, reflection time, prayer ministry, confessions and Healing Service on Saturday night with anointing of the sick blessing. The cost, with full board accommodation will be 270 and bookings can be made through www.holyfamilymission.ie or email info@holyfamilymission.ie. Alternatively, phone 052 613318.

Relics of St Bernadette

A very special event will take place in the Diocese on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 17 and 18, when the relics of St Bernadette will visit the Diocese and a programme of events will be held in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity over the two days. More details to follow.

Charity Bingo

Bingo in aid of the Parkinson's Association will be held every Monday evening in the Butler Community Centre. Eyes down at 7.45pm and the cost will be 8 per book. All are welcome.

Whist Club

A Whist Club takes place at the Butler Community Centre, St. John's Park, on Tuesdays at 7.30pm. They would love to see all their old players and new players go along. The cost is 5 per person.

Basket Weaving

Basket Weaving

Heritage Week runs from August 17 to 25 and in Central Library there will be a craft demonstration featuring Basket Weaving with Cathy Hayden. Find out more about the traditional skill of basket weaving with a demonstration from local Tramore basket maker, Cathy who did her apprenticeship in basketmaking at Shanahans workshop in Carrick-on-Suirs, Chapel Street, in the early 1980s. She has been a Waterford Crafts member for nearly 30 years. From her studio in Drumcannon, in Tramore, Cathy runs basketry workshops for beginners and grows her own willow for all her baskets. The event will take place in Central library on Wednesday, August 21, from 3pm to 4pm. This will be a free event but booking is required. To find out more or to book a place contact Central Library on 051 849975 or email centrallibrary@waterfordcouncil.ie

Blue Plaque Talk

A talk on 'The Heritage Blue Plaques of Waterford City & County', by Marcus Copley, in conjunction with Waterford Civic Trust will take place in Central Library on Thursday, August 22, at 3pm. Join Marcus for a journey through some of the stories behind Heritage Blue Plaque recipients and delve into the rich social and general history of Waterford City and County. It will be a vibrant exploration of our heritage you wont want to miss. This will be a free event but is required through 051 849975 or centrallibrary@waterfordcouncil.ie

Map Making for Children

A Map Making Craft Workshop for children will take place in Central Library as part of National Heritage Week, on Friday, August 23, from 11am. Connect the past, present and future with a fun Map Making Craft Workshop and participants will get to create their very own fold-out map. With lots of inspiration from both old and new maps, you will be able to create a futuristic Waterford City, the setting to your favourite book or imagine up an entirely new place. The event will be suitable for children aged 8 to 10. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Creative Writing

Sacred Heart Family Resource Centre would love you to join us for our Creative Writing Programme starting on Thursday, September 12. The programme will run for 10 weeks and will take place from 11am to 1pm. The programme is free to attend and is funded by WWETB Adult & Community Education, facilitated by Derek Flynn. For more information ring Elaine on 051 306728, however, places are limited so ring to secure your place.

Homework Club

The Shy Project, Waterford & South Tipperary Community Youth Service, are seeking volunteers. All you need is one or two hours weekly commitment to join the club. The club offers homework support for primary school boys on Monday and Thursday afternoons from 2.30pm to 3.30pm. This is an opportunity to develop relationships with the younger generation in your community and make a positive impact on their lives. For further information please contact Rachel on 086 8589871 or Tracey on 086 1831555.
Late Bernard Walsh

On Sunday, August 4, Bernard Walsh, late of Roselawn, Tramore, and formerly of Milltown, Dublin passed away peacefully at University Hospital Waterford surrounded by his loving family. He was predeceased by his loving parents Joseph and Mary and his beloved grand-daughters Gemma and Amy. He will be sadly missed by his heartbroken wife Maudie, his loving children Ben, Barry, Andrew and Paula, his adoring grandchildren Michelle, Emma, Jennifer, Shane, Ciara, Rachel, Sean and David; great-grandchildren Saoirse, Aoife, Rosin and Liam; daughters-in-law Noreen, Trish and Eileen; son-in-law Kevin; his brothers Noel, Dermot and Stephen and their respective wives. He will be forever missed by all his nieces and nephews, relatives, extended family, wonderful neighbours and many friends. Bernard was laid to rest in Fenor Cemetery on Thursday after Requiem Mass at The Church of the Holy Cross, Tramore.

Tramore Allotments

The Tramore Allotments group is thrilled to announce that they have received 80,000 from the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Community Recognition Fund. Over the past 12 years, they have received incredible support and are filled with gratitude towards everyone involved.

The funds will be used for essential drainage, fencing, and preparation work. While there are too many people to thank individually, the group extends special thanks to Cllr Eamon Quinlan, whose unwavering support has been crucial to their success. They also express gratitude to Cllr Blaise Hannigan and Deputy Marc O Cathasaigh T.D. Despite numerous challenges and setbacks over the years, they are elated and almost in disbelief to have reached this milestone. In April 2023, Waterford City and County Council granted planning permission for the development of Tramore Community Allotments in the Riverstown area. With this new funding, they are excited to finally start work and see their vision come to life. Members can now look forward to picking up their spades and contributing to this vibrant community project.

Tramore Races

Looking for a lift to the August festival? A Free Shuttle Buses will be running from Tramore Town, 1hr 30mins before racing and one hour after racing, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, August 15, 16th, and 17. The Pick-up and drop off points are ONeills Bar, Main Street, Victoria House, Queen's St., The Majestic Hotel, Lower Branch Road and The Ritz Bar, Newtown Rd.

Heritage Week

The Promenade Walk in Tramore, with Historian Paul Brent, will take place on Sunday, August 18, at 2pm. Hear about the people, places and events that created the Tramore of today. Walk along the promenade and visit the Men's and Ladies Slips, hear how Victorian modesty segregated the sexes for swimming purposes. Meet at the Old Train Station for a walk-through time. The duration of the walk will be approximately one hour. This is a event free and for further information contact Tramore Library on 051 849594.

Tramore Lifeboat

RNLI volunteers from six lifeboat stations around the Hook Peninsula in County Wexford gathered recently for a special photocall at Hook Lighthouse. Launching authority Brian Kavanagh and helmsman Tom McConnell, were the chosen representatives from Tramore Lifeboat RNLI. They joined volunteers from Dunmore East RNLI, Fethard RNLI Lifeboat Station, Wexford RNLI, Kilmore Quay RNLI and Rosslare Harbour RNLI. The event marked 'One Moment One Crew' for the RNLI's 200th anniversary which fittingly took place at the oldest intact and fully operational lighthouse in the world. The photocall was filmed and will feature on RTE's Nationwide celebrating the RNLI in its centenary.

Also, on August 1, volunteers from Tramore Lifeboat RNLI gathered at Tramore Pier to mark the historic occasion of the RNLI's 200th anniversary. Tramore lifeboat crew joined the operations team and fundraising team for this special photograph taken by lifeboat crew volunteer, Kieran Murphy. President of Tramore RNLI, Frank Nolan captured the significance of the moment in a short speech where he remembered all those who have gone before us and led the way in saving lives at sea in Tramore.

In a similar fashion the local RNLI hopes that others will fill our shoes in the years to come and continue to volunteer with Tramore RNLI. Simultaneously, 238 stations gathered to honour its history, to reflect and stand together united, celebrating the lifesaving mission and inspiring the future generations of lifesavers and supporters.

Tramore AFC

Fantastic news as phase 1 of the Community Recognition Fund was released, with the club awarded 70,000 for clubhouse development. A massive thanks to everyone involved in this process and a huge well done to all the other clubs and societies locally on their funding also. At a recent Premier & Division 1A training session the lads wished AJ Bowman the best as he sets off for his scholarship in the States. Dara O'Brien presented him a jersey on behalf of all the group. During the last few weeks, AJ has trained with Tramore AFC to keep himself sharp for when he lands in America having finished with Cork City recently.

Tramore Comhaltas

With The Fleadh Ceol just finished in neighbouring Wexford, the interest in playing Irish music has never been as high. Tramore Comhaltas Branch are now taking registrations for their September, 2024 classes. There are also a few new exciting classes on offer this year. Classes for the box, concertina, fiddle, tin whistle/flute, banjo/mandolin, dadgad guitar and regular guitar, intermediate/advanced grupa cheoil, junior grupa cheoil, junior choir and senior choir. Classes are for children seven years and older, and adults, but it must be noted that every child must be able to participate in a group learning environment. Classes run every Thursday evening from 5pm to 8pm in Gaelscoil Philib Barun, Crobally Upper (X91 FP29). Registration for September can be done via email Comhaltastramore@yahoo.com of or messenger Facebook Tramore Comhaltas Branch
One of Italy's participants in the Paris Olympics was born in Waterford, with relatives from the Deise having travelled to the French capital to give her their support.

Maggie Pescetto was born in Waterford but grew up in Italy and she is competing in the kiteboarding discipline which made its Olympic debut this year.

Her parents and Sean Pescetto and Aisling Quelly, whose parents are Eileen Queally and the late Peter Queally, from Kill. Peter passed away last year and was one of Waterford's most successful and respected businessmen. His name was synonymous with Dawn Meats, which he set up with his brother John and a business partner in 1980.

Maggie Pescetto is originally from Waterford but is competing for Italy where she grew up.

The Queally's success within the world of business was acknowledged at the Waterford Business Awards while the family remains one of the most respected within the community locally.

Maggie has been involved in kitesurfing since she was a teenager and not one to forget her routes she fondly remembers family visits to Waterford in her younger years.

Speaking to WLR radio, her uncle Cathal revealed that Bunmahon was where Maggie learned to swim. He also said Maggie was named after the family's much loved former housekeeper, the late Maggie Power.

Maggie Pescetto is originally from Waterford but is competing for Italy where she grew up.

The entire area around Kill have been glued to the Olympics to follow the exploits of Maggie who they feel is "one of our own".
Data has revealed that Waterford has one of the worst pass rates for driving tests in the country.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) provided the information to Waterford TD Marc O'Cathasaigh in response to a parliamentary question.

In the first 6 months of 2024, the pass rate for drivers at Waterford's test centre was 42.8%.

There was little improvement in pass rates across the South East.

The pass rate in Dungarvan was 46.9%, Tipperary Town's rate was 46.7%, and 48.7% in Wexford.

In Kilkenny, O'Loughlin Gael reported a high pass rate of 68.4%.

Currently, a test costs 85 to book and drivers have to wait 3-4 months to sit their test.

Learner drivers are not to permitted to drive without an accompanying fully licensed driver.

Thus, many learner drivers have to pay for lessons, even beyond the required 12 lessons with an approved instructor, to maintain competency.
RNLI volunteers from six lifeboat stations around the Hook Peninsula in County Wexford, including two stations from County Waterford, gathered recently for a special photocall at Hook Lighthouse.

Launching authority Brian Kavanagh and helmsman Tom McConnell, were the chosen representatives from Tramore Lifeboat RNLI.

Along with their colleagues from Dunmore East RNLI station, they joined their Model County counterparts from RNLI stations in Fethard-on-Sea, Wexford town, Kilmore Quay and Rosslare Harbour RNLI.

The event was organised to mark the 'One Moment One Crew' campaign in acknowledgement of the RNLI's 200th anniversary. It was very fitting that the photocall took place under the shadow of Hook Lighthouse, the oldest intact and fully operational lighthouse in the world. The event was also filmed and will feature on an upcoming episode of RTE's, Nationwide programme which will celebrate the RNLI on its centenary.

Members of the Tramore Lifeboat RNLI also gathered recently at Tramore Pier to mark the 200th anniversary.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 8. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have adopted a new 10-year Strategic Partnership and Alliance Program, Trend reports via the Uzbek Presidential Administration's statement.

According to the statement, the program was adopted during the first meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council between the two countries, chaired by the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

"It was emphasized that in recent years, Uzbek-Kazakh relations have gained significant momentum. In preparation for the visit, successful meetings of the Intergovernmental Commission and the Business Council were held, along with a business forum, political consultations, an analytical center forum, and intellectual games.

Film days, exhibitions, concerts, and many other events are held. The leaders of the two countries welcomed the adoption of the historic Strategic Partnership and Alliance Program for 20242034, which marks the beginning of a new qualitative phase in Uzbek-Kazakh relations of friendship and good neighborliness," the statement said.

The meeting has also been a hot topic of discussion, exploring the ins and outs of ramping up trade volumes to a whopping $10 billion in the near future.

"For this purpose, a separate program will be adopted by the end of the month. Special attention will be given to mutual market development and the removal of existing restrictions. The leader of our country emphasized the need for a new strategy for industrial cooperation," the statement reads.

The statement pointed out that the parties welcomed the signing of a substantial package of agreements amounting to $7 billion, following the recent business forum and business meetings.

"This involves cooperation in energy, logistics, construction, chemical, electrical engineering, textile, agro-industrial, and other sectors. An agreement has been reached to expedite the launch of the International Center for Industrial Cooperation and to work on creating a joint fund for financial support of promising projects," the statement underscored.

To note, Mirziyoyev set off for an official visit to Kazakhstan on August 7.

The Uzbek leader's visit program also envisages his attendance in the new Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the First 'Central Asia + Japan' Dialogue.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Former Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has had more than $9 million docked from his pay following a board-commissioned review of the airlines management, meaning he will be paid $15 million for his last year leading the company.

The review was led by ex-McKinsey partner Tom Saar and found Joyces 15-year tenure as chief executive directly contributed to the erosion of the airlines relationship with its regulators and customers. It also found the board did not adequately challenge its executives and failed to acknowledge non-financial risks.

Former Qantas chief Alan Joyces final pay packet has been cut dramatically. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

Joyce, who left his role at the head of Qantas in September, will lose $9.26 million, with the review finding the groups management contributed to a string of failures that resulted in considerable harm to its relationships with customers, employees and other stakeholders.

Qantas has been under pressure from politicians, investors, employees and customers to claw back Joyces long and short-term bonuses, about $11 million, after it was forced to settle a court case with the ACCC; rectify low consumer satisfaction; and deal with a recent High Court verdict which found the group illegally sacked 1700 ground handlers.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Matt Damon and Casey Affleck are born and bred Bostonians. Its where they grew up, lived together and then starred in their breakout hit Good Will Hunting (for which Damon won an Oscar with his co-writer, that other Affleck  and Caseys older brother  Ben). But when Damon and Affleck returned to Boston to shoot their new film The Instigators, the reaction from locals was less starstruck and more nonplussed. Its right in the neighbourhood, so you might as well, shrugged one woman, who told local news site boston.com she was a little bit of a Damon fan as she waited to watch filming. Another complained, What a mess. Freakin Boston, you guys. Seems theyre not so much hometown heroes as just inconveniently in the way. Casey Affleck (left) on the Boston set of The Instigators with director Doug Liman (middle) and Matt Damon. Boston has its own tall poppy syndrome, like Australia, you know, its the same thing, says Damon, laughing. Look, its a very blue-collar town. Its like, dont get too big for your britches, you know, stay humble. Dont start thinking youre better than anybody. Thats very baked into the culture and who we are. You know [and here he slips into a peak Boston accent], Youre not better than me. Thats a very Boston thing. Affleck: Matt, you were saying [Chris] Hemsworth has gotten too big for his britches. Damon: Definitely. You gotta cut him down.

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The pair, who I am talking to over Zoom, are sitting next to each other in directors chairs, Affleck wearing a cap and slightly slumped, while Damon leans forward, always eager to keep the conversation flowing, thrilled that Im talking to them from Australia. Are you in Sydney right now? he asks, while Affleck mutters a hey. I am. Oh wow. Thank you so much for getting up for us. (Please, there are few actors I have watched more consistently than Damon, while Affleck is, arguably, a much better actor than his brother.) The Good Will Hunting Crew (from left): Casey Affleck, Minnie Driver, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Cole Hauser. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo The Instigators is Afflecks baby, a darkly humorous crime caper about a desperate father, Rory (Damon), and an ex-jailbird, Cobby (Affleck), who are recruited to rob a local politician on election night. When the plot goes awry, Rorys therapist (Hong Chau) gets caught up in the action as they try to outrun not only the police but also the gangsters who hired them to do the job. Affleck wrote The Instigators with another Bostonian, Chuck MacLean, the showrunner behind the Boston crime drama City on a Hill (sensing a theme here?) because he was nostalgic for the buddy comedies he grew up with.

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I just hadnt seen one in a long time that was really great and I actually had never been able to be in one, he says. Theres a few of them that I watched growing up and then watched with my kids  Midnight Run, even The Sting is kind of a buddy comedy  and theyre some of my favourite movies. I just really wanted to do a good one. He didnt write it with Damon in mind, though  I always send him movies to do as an actor, and he never wants to do them. So I stopped dreaming, says Affleck. He did want Damon to direct, though. But, again, Damon said no. The person who did convince Damon to take on The Instigators was his wife, Luciana Barroso, who stepped in as a producer, along with Damon and Ben Affleck and their company Artists Equity. Hong Chau, Casey Affleck and Matt Damon get moving in the getaway car in The Instigators. I feel like I have to defend myself here, says Damon. I do love Caseys writing, and I love every chance I can to work with him. And then once we started talking about it, and once we got [director] Doug Liman on board  it was really exciting to re-team with people from different parts of my life, and I just had a feeling it was going to be a great experience, and it was. It was Liman who directed Damon in the first of the Jason Bourne films, The Bourne Identity, where he sent him screaming through the streets of Paris in a beat-up Mini. In The Instigators, the action is just as frenetic, but Damons character, Rory, is not as adept at handling the heat as Jason Bourne. Was Damon nervous about being beaten up by Liman again?

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Oh god no, no, no, he says. Doug, I think, has an unfair reputation for being chaotic when he works, but theres a difference. Theres a creative chaos thats really good and that leads to the great movies that he makes. But actually Doug and I and Artists Equity, our company, put our own money up. We were the backstop if the film went over budget. Thats how much I trust him. I was so sure that we were going to come in on budget, and we did, and there was never really a doubt about it. So hopefully, that puts to rest this kind of accusation that Doug is out of control because that is the thing thats been dogging his reputation for 20 years now, I think unfairly. Matt Damon and Franka Potente in 2002s The Bourne Identity, the film in which Damon first worked with director Doug Liman. Affleck, meanwhile, was nervous he wouldnt be able to live up to Limans Bourne standards. Loading If you look at Bourne, Matt is perfect in that movie, says Affleck. And its hard to do. I have more appreciation for it now because you do it in these teeny, tiny little moments. All that action is shot in three-second little bits. Its not easy as an actor, and  at the time [of filming], I was like, I dont know if Im going to be able to pull this off. Ive never done that kind of action, but with a little bit of Matt yelling at me, telling me Im doing it wrong, how to do it better, and Doug being patient, we got there. The Instigators marks the seventh time Damon and Affleck have worked together on screen  from their breakthrough in Good Will Hunting in 1997 through to Steven Soderberghs three Oceans capers, plus Gus Van Sants Gerry and last years Oscar winner Oppenheimer  far more than Damon has ever worked on screen with Ben Affleck.

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They put their partnership down to a 43-year friendship that began when Damon and Ben Affleck met as 10 and eight-year-olds in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just across the Charles River from the city of Boston. The older Affleck then introduced Damon to his five-year-old brother. They all shared the same high school drama teacher, and when Damon and Ben Affleck sat down to write and then shoot Good Will Hunting, Casey was there, too. Geroge Clooney (clockwise from far left), Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Elliott Gould, Eddie Jemison, Matt Damon, Shaobo Qin and Don Cheadle in a scene from Oceans Twelve. I remember how good Casey was in that movie, says Damon. Ben and I always said he was the best actor in the movie. But I do remember the first day of filming, Ben and I were in the front seat of a car, Casey was in the back. We were shooting this scene and Gus [Van Sant, the director] says action, and Casey goes, Can I get a double burger? [Damon does this in a super-broad Boston accent] And I turned around in my seat and looked at him, like, if you mess up our movie, that we spent five years getting to this point, and he just looked at me and he was like, I know what Im doing. Guys, dont worry, I know what Im doing, because we tend to like to do things more naturally, but Casey was taking a big swing, and luckily, it worked. Adds Affleck: From my perspective, up until that point, we had all just been trying to get jobs in other peoples things, more or less. And that was a case of the mountain coming to Muhammad a little bit. It was like, wow, these dudes had written something and gotten a good director, like a real director Id actually worked with before [in 1995s To Die For] and held in very high regard, and now hes coming to do something that they had written. That was a big deal. And I didnt think this [at the time], but looking back, it must have changed my attitude completely about what you can do in the industry. You dont have to just be, you know, hat in hand, door to door, looking for a job. You can make it.

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The kayak cross at the Paris Olympics was exhilarating for two reasons. Firstly, it was introduced to the Games only this year. Secondly, it saw two Australian sisters, who happen to be some of the strongest paddlers in the world, come bow to bow.

On Sunday, Jess and Noemie Fox hit the water to determine who would progress to the quarter-finals the following day. The latter clinched the win, going on to win the gold medal. But despite Noemies victory, practically every headline still mentioned her sister Jess, a three-time Olympic gold medallist.

The kayak cross win by Noemie Fox (left) was described as stepping out of her sister Jess shadow. Why are so many siblings pitted against each other? Credit: AP

Noemie Fox emulates sister Jess by winning Paris 2024 gold with kayak cross victory, The Guardian wrote. Elsewhere, the ABC described Noemies achievement as stepping out of sister Jess shadow.

For those with siblings, this may sound all too familiar. Whether its the fact that your sister owns a house while you rent, or that your brother got promoted at work while you stagnate, sibling rivalry can be as common as it is brutal. Why do so many of us struggle with these feelings of inadequacy, and is there a way to overcome them?
Bangkok: They shrieked and jeered and thrust double-barrelled middle fingers at the livestream. A young woman sobbed into a wall of whirring cameras. Few, however, were terribly surprised.

For the hundreds of orange-clad Thais gathered outside the headquarters of the nations most popular erstwhile political party, the fix had long been in.

Former leader of Move Forward Party, Pita Limjaroenrat, crying as he meets his supporters. Credit: AP

The big screens had on Wednesday broadcast the ruling of Thailands Constitutional Court to dissolve the reformist Move Forward Party.

Top leaders, including the charismatic, young figurehead, Pita Limjaroenrat, were banned from politics for a decade.
Moscow: Russian forces were battling Ukrainian troops for a third day after they smashed through the Russian border in the Kursk region, an audacious attack on the worlds biggest nuclear power that has forced Moscow to call in reserves.

In one of the biggest Ukrainian attacks on Russia of the two-year-old war, around 1000 Ukrainian troops rammed through the Russian border in the early hours of August 6 with tanks and armoured vehicles, covered in the air by swarms of drones and pounding artillery, according to Russian officials.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Credit: AP

Heavy fighting was reported near the town of Sudzha, where Russian natural gas flows into Ukraine, raising concerns about a possible sudden stop to transit flows to Europe.

The incursion has come as a shock to Russia, nearly two-and-a-half years since President Vladimir Putin sent his army into Ukraine in February 2022.
Washington: Vice President Kamala Harris running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, is drawing attention from US Republicans  and within China  for his long history with a country seen as Washingtons greatest economic and military rival.

Attacks from supporters of the Republican presidential candidate, former president Donald Trump, started after Harris announced on Tuesday that Walz  who taught in China after college and has travelled there many times since  was her vice presidential pick.

Democratic vice presidential nominee, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Credit: AP

Communist China is very happy with @GovTimWalz as Kamalas VP pick, Richard Grenell, who served as ambassador to Germany and acting national intelligence director during the Trump administration, said on X.

The Harris-Walz campaign dismissed such criticism, noting Walzs record of criticising Beijings human rights record.
Last week, I found myself engrossed in hours of viral videos featuring Tim Walz. Like countless others, I was captivated by his message and plain-spoken communication style. But unlike the millions hearing him speak for the first time, I had experienced this before two decades ago at Mankato West High School in Minnesota.

Back then, he was my teacher. But the man US Vice President Kamala Harris named as her running mate on Tuesday has not changed one bit.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, at a campaign rally on Tuesday. Credit: AP

Walz and I lived in Mankato, a plain, suburban town of 50,000 people surrounded by corn fields. Our district is home to one of the best hospitals in the world, the Mayo Clinic, and the Jolly Green Giant canned vegetable company. The next city over produces the worlds supply of Spam.

Until our district voted for Donald Trump by 10 points in 2022, I had never been sure if my home town was conservative or progressive; it was the kind of place where it was considered rude to talk about politics or religion with strangers.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 8. A container train traveling from Cihna's Xi'an to Uzbekistan's Tashkent on the China-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan route has arrived in record time, Trend reports via Akorda, the president of Kazakhstan's press service.

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the trains arrival ceremony.

This achievement is the fruit of agreements made in April in Khiva city, where the ball was set rolling for cargo transportation along the China-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan route and the development of the Trans-Afghan direction. These agreements paved the way for expedited delivery, making it a breeze.

The container train covered 4,486 km in just five days, departing from Xi'an's port terminal, passing through Kazakhstan, and arriving in Tashkent.

The record transportation time was achieved through leveraging Kazakhstan's terminal facilities in China and the effective collaboration between the railway administrations of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to enhance border infrastructure.

To note, last year, cargo transportation between these countries exceeded 31 million tons, marking a 17.2 percent increase from 2022.

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Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 8. A number of documents have been signed between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan following the negotiations of the presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Trend reports via the Kazakh Presidential Administration.

The documents include:

- Joint Statement of the President of Kazakhstan and the President of Uzbekistan;

- Decision of the Supreme Intergovernmental Council of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on further development of Kazakh-Uzbek bilateral cooperation;

- Decision of the Supreme Intergovernmental Council of of Kazakhstan and of Uzbekistan on the approval of the Regulations on the Council of Foreign Ministers.

Additionally, within the framework of the state visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan, the following documents were signed:

- Agreement between the Government of Kazakhstan and the Government of Uzbekistan on the regime of the Kazakh-Uzbek state border;

- Protocol on Amendments and Additions to the Protocol to the Agreement between the Government of Kazakhstan and the Government of Uzbekistan on Border Crossing Points at the Kazakh-Uzbek State Border, dated September 4, 2006;

- Protocol on Amendments and Additions to the Agreement between the Government of Kazakhstan and the Government of Uzbekistan on International Road Transport, dated March 20, 2006;

- Action Plan for Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation between the Government of Kazakhstan and the Government of Uzbekistan for 2024-2025;

- Agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan on Cooperation in Agriculture;

- Protocol of Understanding and Cooperation between the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan;

- Protocol on Cooperation in Natural Monopoly Regulation between the Committee for Regulation of Natural Monopolies of the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan and the Committee for Competition Development and Consumer Rights Protection of Uzbekistan;

- Agreement between the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan on Cooperation in Health;

- Protocol of Cooperation between the Agency for Protection and Development of Competition of Kazakhstan and the Committee for Competition Development and Consumer Rights Protection of Uzbekistan in the field of competition policy;

- Memorandum of Understanding between the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan and the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan on the Establishment of the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan Expert Council;

- Agreement of Understanding between the 'OtanDastar' Fund and the Committee for Interethnic Relations and Friendly Ties with Foreign Countries under the Ministry of Culture of Uzbekistan;

- Practical Action Plan (Roadmap) for Expanding Cooperation between Astana and Tashkent City Administrations in Trade-Economic, Investment, and Cultural-Humanitarian Spheres for 2025-2026.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 8. Kazakhstan, the World Bank, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have discussed key priorities for further cooperation, Trend reports, citing the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.

Discussions took place during a meeting between First Deputy Foreign Minister Akan Rakhmetullin and Andrei Mikhnev, World Bank Country Manager for Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, and Zafar Khashimov, IFC Country Manager for Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Rakhmetullin noted that the WB and the IFC are important partners for Kazakhstan.

"Thanks to their support, a number of joint projects are being successfully implemented in the country, which have a positive impact on socio-economic development. In the current conditions, these projects play an important role in supporting the new economic course of Kazakhstan," he said.

The parties confirmed their commitment to implementing ongoing projects in the public and private sectors and also noted the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation and attracting investments to achieve national goals and ensure economic growth.

Mikhnev pointed out that the World Bank's involvement in Kazakhstan will expand as part of the upcoming Partnership Strategy for 20262030, which will identify key strategic priorities. This year, the World Bank approved funding for two projects aimed at ensuring equitable access to quality internet in remote rural areas and supporting policy reforms for sustainable and equitable growth.

In turn, Khashimov noted that the mission of the IFC, as one of the largest development institutions focused on the private sector, is to create new markets and opportunities in Kazakhstan. Since 1993, IFC has allocated more than $2.5 billion to finance various sectors of the Kazakhstan economy.
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Last month, Lough Carra Catchment Association welcomed back students from Texas State University for a second summer to study the unique habitats of Lough Carra.

Joanne McGovern, Education and Awareness Officer with the Lough Carra Catchment Association, said: We were thrilled to host another study visit from Texas State University. Our partnership with Texas State continues to grow, as we exchange knowledge and introduce the beautiful environment of Lough Carra to another group of students.""

Texas State University was introduced to the Lough Carra Catchment Association by Sara Stanton, CEO of Cara Group Travel. Although based in Boston, Sara grew up in the environs of Lough Carra and named her company after the lake. As part of a four-week programme arranged by Cara Group Travel, Texas State has now committed to partnering with the Lough Carra Catchment Association every year.

The students had a packed itinerary whilst visiting Lough Carra, taking part in an immersive day-long Bio-Blitz event, recording and identifying the unique flora found in Lough Carras orchid-rich semi-natural grasslands. They had the opportunity to participate in a series of expertly guided habitat walks around the fragile ecosystems of Clogher Bog and the woodlands of Moore Hall. Finally, Kieran Flynn of the Lough Carra LIFE Project hosted a lively morning of discussions and talks detailing just some of the exciting and innovative conservation work happening in the catchment.

Joanne McGovern said: Lough Carra is a precious jewel, highly valued by the local community. Since 2018, the Lough Carra Catchment Association, which is supported by Mayo County Council, has sought to improve the lakes water quality, restore the Marl Lake habitat and raise the conservation status of species within the lake catchment area.

"We are working closely with local farmers, landowners and community groups to preserve this vital community well, which provides drinking water for more than 1,000 households.

"We were delighted to showcase our work and our ambitions to the students from Texas State University and look forward to continuing this important collaboration. It is just part of our wider educational outreach programme that will involve working with schools across Mayo to highlight the importance of saving this unique lake."
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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, August 8. Turkmenistan is exploring the expertise of Uzbek customs in establishing a customs clearance center, Trend reports.

According to the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan, a delegation from Turkmenistan recently visited Tashkent to study the Uzbek customs system's experience in setting up a customs clearance center and to understand the operational principles of customs posts in Uzbekistan.

During the visit, the delegation toured the Customs Clearance Center, which was established in August 2023 under the Customs Committee of Uzbekistan. The facility includes a data processing center, a remote electronic declaration post, a call center, and departments for targeting and risk management. The information system is integrated with databases from foreign agencies, local ministries, external economic entities, and airlines.

Additionally, the delegation visited the external economic activity posts "Ark Buloq" and "Chukursay Tech Office," as well as the border post "Yallama," to observe the organization and operational principles of these customs facilities.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. All US military equipment and personnel have departed Armenia, the US embassy in Yerevan said in a statement, Trend reports.

Eagle Partner 2024, a peacekeeping exercise designed to increase interoperability between the United States and Armenia, successfully concluded on July 24. We can confirm that all US military equipment and personnel have departed Armenia, said the embassy.

The joint military exercises, Eagle Partner 2024, commenced on July 15.

These exercises, involving servicemen from the US Army in Europe and Africa and the Kansas National Guard, continued until July 24.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Lebanon's Hezbollah could strike Israel in the coming days, regardless of Iran's intentions, sources familiar with the intelligence data say, Trend reports.

According to them, Hezbollah is further along in preparing to attack Israel than Iran and could launch an attack in the coming days.

Iran, for its part, is still developing its response, and it does not yet meet US expectations of a large-scale Iranian attack.
After the conclusion of the 8th China-South Asia Exposition and the 28th China Kunming Import and Export Fair in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Chen Tao promptly returned to her village in the province's Pu'er City.

"Within just three hours of opening our exhibition booth at the expo, we sold 11 scarves and eight aprons. Within three days of the expo's opening, we received orders worth 160,000 yuan (approximately $22,170)," said Chen, who serves as the first secretary of Banmu Village in Ximeng Wa Autonomous County, Pu'er City.

Even before the delegation returned to the village, local villagers had already begun working to meet the orders.

A villager from Banmu Village, Ximeng Wa Autonomous County, Pu'er City, displays the technique of Wa brocade weaving, during the 8th China-South Asia Exposition and the 28th China Kunming Import and Export Fair in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. [People's Daily Online/Hu Zunhui]

"During last year's expo, our exhibition booth covered only 10 square meters, and this year, that area reached 72 square meters," said Chen.

Recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in May 2021, Wa brocade weaving is renowned for its intricate patterns. It is also an important source of income for the Wa ethnic group.

According to Li Keli, deputy director of the Bureau of Agriculture, Rural Affairs, Science, and Technology in Ximeng Wa Autonomous County, women traditionally sit on the ground while weaving Wa brocade products. Crafted with skill and unwavering patience, it takes approximately 10 to 15 days to complete a piece of exquisite Wa brocade product.

In recent years, the county has leveraged Wa brocade to increase income and has established a comprehensive industrial chain centered around this traditional craft. Significant strides have been made in this endeavor.

Photo shows dolls crafted using yarn made from used coffee grounds. [People's Daily Online/Hu Zunhui]

"When the work team visited the village in June 2023, we were impressed by the stunning items crafted from Wa brocade. We realized that these creations had the potential to be turned into merchandise, opening up new avenues for economic prosperity," Chen recalled.

Chen led a delegation comprising village cadres, officials, and artisans of Wa brocade weaving to participate in the 7th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming. The exquisite Wa brocade works garnered significant attention during the event.

"We only brought a limited selection of finished brocade products to the expo, and they received a positive response," said Chen. She further revealed that a villager named Yan Hua managed to sell brocade products worth 16,000 yuan in just five days. "This amount surpassed the average per capita net income of the village in 2022," Chen added.

Photo shows scarves crafted using yarn made from used coffee grounds. [People's Daily Online/Hu Zunhui]

Upon returning from the expo, the work team spearheaded the establishment of the county's first Wa brocade cooperative and registered a trademark for it.

After conducting surveys and market research, the work team discovered that developing new products tailored to the preferences of urban consumers was a key factor in promoting the popularity of traditional Wa brocade.

The team reached out to a tie manufacturer in east China's Zhejiang Province for a partnership in the design and production of ties. Simultaneously, it also established contact with a domestic clothing manufacturer to build a partnership in the design and production of women's business attire.

In March 2024, Chen participated in the Yarn Expo in Shanghai with the aim of addressing yarn-related challenges.

"While attending the expo, I came across two manufacturers that were able to produce yarn from used coffee grounds. This inspired me to explore the possibility of using coffee grounds to create yarn for Wa brocade," Chen explained.

Given that the coffee cultivation area in Yunnan accounts for more than 98 percent of the total nationwide, it can serve as a reliable source of raw material for yarn production.

Upon learning about the demand for used coffee grounds, the Yunnan Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs quickly matched two yarn production companies with coffee enterprises in Yunnan that could supply the needed coffee grounds, solving the raw material issue for coffee yarn production.

In mid-June, the first batch of yarn made from coffee grounds produced in Yunnan arrived in Ximeng Wa Autonomous County, marking the first use of coffee yarn in the crafting of Wa brocade.

Photo shows women's formal attire and aprons crafted using yarn made from used coffee grounds. [People's Daily Online/Hu Zunhui]

"Our exhibition booth at this year's expo showcased the production process of Wa brocade, as well as yarn made from coffee grounds, brocade products crafted using yarn made from coffee grounds, and other handicrafts," said Chen.

The booth, themed "Wearing Coffee," captured the interest of numerous exhibitors and tourists.

"Transforming coffee grounds into yarn not only effectively reduces coffee waste pollution but also allows for resource reuse. This coffee yarn possesses remarkable qualities such as moisture absorption, moisture-wicking, antibacterial property, breathability, warmth, and is even lightweight. It has extensive applications in clothing, shoes, bedding, pillows, and more," Chen said.

(Source: People's Daily Online)

Editor: Wang Shasha
Hu creates her calligraphy works, including writing nyushu characters on folding fans. [China Daily]

Documentary, due to hit nationwide cinemas on Aug 31, weaves a contemporary story around an ancient, mysterious script called nyushu, Cheng Yuezhu reports.

With an origin and history shrouded in mystery, nyushu, a type of phonetic script, was passed down among the women of Jiangyong County, Yongzhou, Hunan Province.

Its name gives away its distinct feature. Literally meaning "women's writing", the script was used exclusively by local women, who expressed or communicated with each other about their own experiences and sentiments.

While it is no longer in use in everyday life, Jiangyong Nyushu was listed in 2006 in the first batch of China's national-level intangible cultural heritage, with women working to pass down this tradition and carrying on the women power it represents.

Hu Xin, an inheritor of the nyushu script, speaks at the Beijing premiere of the documentary, Hidden Letters, on July 28. [China Daily]

A recent documentary film, Hidden Letters, due to hit nationwide cinemas on Aug 31, zooms in on two of these women  Hu Xin, a young inheritor of the writing form, and Wu Simu, an artist aiming to promote its culture.

Instead of approaching the tradition from the aspects of history and inheritance, the documentary adopts a different perspective, by telling their respective life stories.

As a representative inheritor of the script, Hu often travels and attends events to promote the cultural heritage via calligraphy and singsong performances. But growing up and living in Jiangyong, she says she experienced gender discrimination, for example, her own divorce partly because her husband wanted a son.

Wu grew up in an open-minded family to become a musician and artist. She chooses to promote nyushu through her art works. Yet, she enters a relationship that required her to adhere to the social norms attached to being a wife, leaving her depressed and hopeless about the future.

The film hosted its Beijing premiere on July 28, featuring a post-screening Q&A session joined by director Feng Du, co-executive producer Qin Xiaoyu, and the two protagonists  Hu and Wu.

Feng first learned about nyushu in 2005 from the novel, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, by American writer Lisa See, in which two women in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) form a deep relationship and communicate with each other using the script.

"The novel gave me goose bumps. I asked myself, how, as a Chinese woman, I had been unaware of this part of history. The wisdom of the women depicted in the novel was beyond my imagination, so I read a lot of books to research about the texts," Feng says.

"I was deeply struck not only by the creation of a script under such dire circumstances, but also by the sophisticated cultural structure established around the language. At the time, women formed sisterhoods and offered each other assurance and support throughout their lives, so that they could survive, thrive and empower each other."

Prior to this film, Feng had been dedicated to documentary filmmaking, but primarily behind the scenes as a producer. She was able to collaborate with many young women Chinese filmmakers, and was moved by their unique perspectives arising out of observing society and the world.

Nyushu is a traditional script used exclusively by women, mainly in Jiangyong County, Yongzhou, Hunan Province. [China Daily]

In 2017, after the birth of her daughter, she found herself struggling to juggle her many roles as a woman. Feeling overwhelmed, she thought of nyushu and the women behind it.

"Women in the past faced conditions far more difficult than ours, yet they chose a path of wisdom, by creating their own medium to empower themselves, which I think is extraordinary," Feng says.

"So I thought of combining nyushu with contemporary women's stories. Rather than presenting it as an intangible cultural heritage, I want it to stay alive in the present and being integrated into modern narratives. Through the stories of contemporary women, I'd like to explore answers to our universal problems."

While the documentary presents both women's struggles, they are also shown to find empowerment in the script.

Hu forms a close bond with 84-year-old He Yanxin, an inheritor who learned nyushu from her grandmother at the age of 10, and is now known as one of the last users and witnesses of it as a natural language.

"I think true strength is to be able to face everything with a composed and calm demeanor. As an inheritor, my efforts have allowed more people to understand and appreciate nyushu. With the growing attention and recognition received by the script, its strength reflects back on me, empowering me in turn," Hu says.

Artist Wu Simu's representative calligraphy works include "letters in time capsule", comprising a rendition of a historical poem and her own verses in response. [China Daily]

Wu continues to create calligraphy works and host exhibitions, after ending the unpleasant relationship. Her works include what she calls "letters in time capsule", comprising a calligraphic rendition of a historical poem and her own verses as a response. The original poem was: I have no right to be in politics. No girl is allowed in school. Living with bound feet, my husband is arranged by my parents. Only nyushu brings me comfort.

And as a reply, Wu writes: I can feel you from your nyushu. As women our hearts connect. You went through so much pain. Now women have a new voice. We're our own king for marriage. My self-reliance and independence gave me freedom.

She says that this poem was written for those women who practiced nyushu in the past, informing them about the changes in women's life and status in the contemporary era, and also meant for herself, reminding herself to remain spiritually independent and never lose herself.

"Nyushu is a mark of women's history, a constant reminder of a time when women endured such dark times. To me, it serves as a beacon, constantly urging me to move forward," Wu says.

Hu forms a close bond with 84-year-old nyushu inheritor, He Yanxin. [China Daily]

Film distribution platform Elemeet organized themed prerelease screenings to target specific audiences, including women-only screenings and screenings with intangible cultural heritage experiences.

At the Beijing premiere, audience members could choose a sticker with nyushu characters, each of them conveying a positive message, such as freedom, independence, contentment and well-being.

The film had been showcased at various international film festivals, and received or been shortlisted for multiple awards, including being shortlisted for best documentary feature at the 95th Academy Awards in 2023.

"What is interesting is that when we screen the film in different countries, women viewers often approach me afterward and ask, 'Do you think our situation here is different?' The truth is, the struggles and questions are quite similar everywhere," Feng says.

"This is why I feel nyushu is still significant in the modern era. Just like what Simu said, it's like a beacon that illuminates us, not just in China but all around the world."

(Source: China Daily)

Editor: Wang Shasha
Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, rights, walks back from looking at Air Force Two, Vice President Kamala Harris' plane, at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Eau Claire, Wis.
British journalist Robert Jobson, who has written many biographical works about the British royal family, spoke about Kate Middleton 's special attitude towards her family in his book Katherine: Princess of Wales. According to the writer, the 42-year-old monarch, from the very first days of receiving the honorable title, made it clear to the late Queen Elizabeth and her father-in-law, King Charles, that the well-being of her children was more important to her than other responsibilities.

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The writer noted that the Duchess of Cambridge has a rather calm and balanced character, but does not want to miss the opportunity to spend time with her sons Louis and George and daughter Charlotte, Hello writes. Kate Middleton took on the duties of the monarch on her own terms.

"In terms of children, she has made it very clear to both the late Queen and the former Prince of Wales - now the King - that she will not rush into anything she does not want to do. This requires a lot of courage, because she is in a world that is alien to her," the journalist said.

According to the author of the biographical material, Kate Middleton realizes that she has only one chance to spend enough time with her young children, so they should always come first.

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Robert Jobson emphasized that the Princess of Wales is a rather calm personality who always tries to find the right way out of difficult situations and "rise above the surrounding noise and drama."

"The difference between her and other people is that there can be different stages in your work. With her career, things will become more and more official," the writer noted.

As Kate Middleton continues her treatment for cancer, she prefers to give all of herself to family life.

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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker called on Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell to resign on August 7 over his handling of the fatal officer-involved shooting of Sonya Massey  a request Campbell dismissed as political maneuvering during a tragic event.
One of the strongest couples in Hollywood, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds delight fans with their joint appearances on the red carpet. And although the husband and wife have long since proved that the rumors about their separation are untrue, some fans are still worried about their relationship. The actress assures that she will never leave Reynolds, in particular because she loves her mother-in-law too much.

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In an exclusive interview with The Sun, the star of the long-awaited movie Leave Me If You Love me laughingly said that Ryan's mother Tammy is the one who keeps them together. "She's very controlling... No, she's the best. I am so lucky. The only reason I'm with him is because of her," Lively jokingly said.

Tammy has been supporting Ryan and his three older brothers since their father, James Reynolds, passed away from Parkinson's disease in October 2015. Over the years, she has attended many events with her son and Blake.

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Meanwhile, the bond between the couple is growing stronger. The famous couple even recently joked that they are thinking about a fifth child. Ryan and Blake's youngest son Olin is only a year old, and the stars are also raising 9-year-old Inez and 4-year-old Betty.

Reynolds says the secret to their long relationship is that they "genuinely care" about each other. Blake adds: "My husband calls me his knight in shining armor, and I think that's really sweet because we only hear that about men."

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
This article is old - Published: Thursday, Aug 8th, 2024

Wrexham.com has invited local Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in their respective Parliaments and closer to home  you can find them all here. 

In this months column Clwyd Souths Member of the Senedd, Ken Skates writes:

Applications are open for the Welsh Governments School Essentials Grant  which can provide up to 200 to help parents.

The grant is available to families on lower incomes and those who qualify for certain benefits. All looked-after children also qualify and the money can be used to buy school essentials such as uniform and stationery. All children in compulsory school years are eligible and families can claim the grant once per school year per child.

The School Essentials Grant provides 125 per child and 200 for children entering Year 7.

Times are still extremely tough for many families and the cost of living remains a big worry. This grant aims to help take away some of that financial pressure and I would urge everyone who is eligible to apply. If you need any help applying, your local council or childs school can offer support.

If you are entitled to the School Essentials Grant, please make sure you claim it.

The 2024-2025 scheme is currently open and will close on May 31, 2025. Even if your child already receives free school meals, it is still important to check their eligibility. You can do so here.

I would like to congratulate the new MPs elected to represent our local communities.

Following changes to the UKs parliamentary constituencies, the existing Senedd constituency of Clwyd South has been split up and shared between a number of new seats at Westminster.

After the recent General Election Becky Gittins, pictured above, is the Labour MP for the new constituency of Clwyd East, which includes Llangollen and the Llangollen Rural ward.

The northern part of Clwyd South  places like Brymbo, Coedpoeth, Minera and surrounding villages  are now part of Wrexham. The new MP for Wrexham is Labours Andrew Ranger, whose expanded constituency also includes the eastern part of Clwyd South including Bangor-on-Dee and Overton.

Steve Witherden was elected as the Labour MP for another new constituency, Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, which includes the central spine of Clwyd South from Rhostyllen down to Chirk  including Cefn Mawr, Rhos and Ruabon  as well as the Ceiriog Valley.

The communities west of Llangollen such as Corwen, Carrog and Glyndyfrdwy are now part of Dwyfor Meirionnydd. You can check who your MP is and write to them here.

I will remain Member of the Senedd for Clwyd South until the next Senedd election in 2026, when Senedd constituencies will also change to match the UK Parliament and Clwyd South will disappear.

The changes were initiated by the Conservative UK Government in an attempt to secure more seats at Westminster. The final map was confirmed by the Boundary Commission last year.

I am holding an advice surgery with Becky Gittins MP in Llangollen on Friday, August 16. To book an appointment, email ken.skates@senedd.wales / becky.gittins.mp@parliament.uk

An iconic local company which captured the imagination of Wrexham AFC owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds now supports 10,000 jobs across the world.

Based in Corwen, Ifor Williams Trailers has six factories across north-east Wales. As well as employing 650 people directly, it supports an economic ecosystem of contractors, suppliers and distributors. Its a massive anchor company for rural Wales, and its difficult to exaggerate how important the business is to the Welsh economy.

I visited the companys headquarters last month to catch up with some of the management team.

Clwyd South MS Ken Skates at IWTs Corwen headquarters with Managing Director John Williams; Dei Hughes; Iowerth Roberts and Alun Jones. Pic courtesy of Mandy Roberts/Ceidiog Communication.

IWT has sponsored Wrexham AFC since 2016, but its global reputation hit new heights when Rob and Ryan announced their takeover in a viral video featuring a spoof sales pitch for the companys famous horseboxes which has racked up millions of views online.

If you need help or advice, email ken.skates@senedd.wales or call my office on 01978 869058. You can also follow me on Facebook and subscribe to my e-newsletters by contacting my office.
Nightingale House bids farewell to beloved doctor as she embarks on new journey

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Aug 8th, 2024

A doctor who has cared for patients at Nightingale House Hospice for almost two years is embarking on a new chapter in her medical career.

Dr May Khaing, who has been an invaluable member of the hospices medical team, will be leaving her role to pursue GP training, bringing her extensive experience and compassionate care to the wider community.

Originally from Myanmar, Dr Khaing has flourished during her time at Nightingale House, gaining deep insights and contributing significantly to patient care.

Reflecting on her time at the hospice, Dr Khaing said Nightingale House provides more services than people may think to help enhance a patients quality of life.

At the hospice, I have been able to take the time to really get to know my patients, look at both their physical and psychological symptoms through thorough appointments, and refer them to various services across the hospice and externally depending on their needs, she said.

We help patients to live as well as they can, so they have the best quality of life despite their life-limiting diagnosis.

Often, patients are shocked when I tell them we have services like respite care, symptom management, rehabilitation, and the Wellbeing Programme.

Even when we show people around our facilities, patients and their families are often shocked to see how nice the rooms are and the lovely happy staff and volunteers throughout the hospice.

Seeing it in person and speaking to us, they alter their perception of what a hospice is and start to see the benefits using our services could have.

Reflecting on her journey, Dr Khaing expressed her gratitude, stating: I have been very fortunate to be part of a wonderful and supportive team. I have learned so much from the people here and have had many opportunities to grow and learn new skills in my role.

Working in a place where I can follow the patients journeys, get to know them, and help with their clinical needs and wellbeing has been a pleasure. This is one of my favourite things about being a doctor at Nightingale House.

Before beginning her GP training, Dr Khaing said she is forward to taking a few months to travel and recharge.

Melissa Everett, Medical director at Nightingale House, said, As Dr Khaing steps into this exciting new chapter, the entire Nightingale House community wishes her every success, confident that she will continue to make a profound difference in the lives of many as she advances in her medical career.
BTselem, the Israeli human rights group, has published a shocking report revealing that the government has, since October 7, carried out a systemic policy of abusing and torturing thousands of Palestinians in its custody.

The report, Welcome to Hell: The Israeli Prison System as a Network of Torture Camps, cites the testimonies of 55 Palestinians released from Israeli prisons and detention centres over the last few months, almost all without charges: 30 from the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, 21 from the Gaza Strip and four citizens of Israel.

The BTselem report, "Welcome to Hell: The Israeli Prison System as a Network of Torture Camps (screenshot from website) [Photo: btselem.org]

There are currently 9,881 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, up from 5,200 before October 7, of whom 3,432 are administrative detainees held without indictment or trial. In addition, 1,584 are held as Unlawful Combatants under a change in the law following the outbreak of the Gaza genocide. This change authorised the conversion of more than a dozen prisons, both military and civilian, for the purpose of holding Hamas members, including those who took part in the October 7 attack.

The demand for the release of Palestinian prisoners was central to the al-Aqsa Flood operation of October 7, including the release of Marwan Barghouti, the most well-known Palestinian behind bars. An estimated 800,000 Palestinians from the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza have been incarcerated since 1967, which means almost every Palestinian family in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has had a relative imprisoned by Israel. Their only crime was resisting an illegal occupation maintained through savage repression.

The worlds corporate media has largely ignored BTselems report. This is because Israel enjoys the support of all the imperialist powers that are now themselves attacking democratic rights and freedom of speech to suppress opposition to their domestic and foreign policies.

BTselem says the horrific details that have emerged about the abuse of detainees in the Sde Teiman military detention camp are just the tip of the iceberg.

Last month, a far-right crowd along with several legislators broke into the military bases at Sde Teiman and Beit Lid in a violent protest against the arrest of nine soldiers over the rape of a detainee in Sde Teiman detention centre. Tally Gotliv, a Likud Party legislator known for her provocative rhetoric, told the protesters that Israeli troops deserved total immunity, regardless of their actions.

Israeli soldiers gather at the gate to the Sde Teiman military base to protest in support of soldiers being questioned for detainee abuse, July 29, 2024 [AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov]

BTselem said:

Thousands of Palestinians are being held in inhuman conditions and subjected to relentless abuse. Some do not know why they were arrested; many will be released without trial. This is the definition of a torture camp: a place that once you enter no matter who you are or why you were arrestedyou will be subjected to severe, deliberate, relentless pain and suffering.

Their testimonies show that all Palestinians currently held in Israeli prisons are being subjected to harsh and arbitrary violence that includes sexual assault, humiliation and degradation, deliberate starvation, forced lack of hygiene, sleep deprivation, restriction and punishment of religious worship, confiscation of all group and personal belongings, and denial of adequate medical care. The testimonies describe their treatment in horrifying detail and with chilling similarities.

They indicate a systematic and institutional policy of abuse and torture under the direction of the fascist Itamar Ben-Gvir, minister of national security and Jewish Power leader. They are carried out, under orders, in deliberate defiance of international law and constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

According to the report, at least 60 Palestinian prisoners have died since the start of the warlikely a gross underestimateincluding 48 Gazan prisoners who died at army detention facilities and 12 who died in Prison Service custody. Some of the deaths appear to be the result of abuse and/or the withholding of medical treatment. This testifies not only to the brutality of their treatment but also to the utter degradation and moral depravity of the Zionist state and its institutions.

One of the prisoners, Fouad Hassan, 45, from Qusrah in Nablus District of the occupied West Bank, said, We were taken to Megiddo. When we got off the bus, a soldier said to us: Welcome to hell.

The former prisoners encountered, as a matter of deliberate policy:

Overpopulation and crowding in cells

No sunlight or air to breathe

Violent roll calls or cell searches several times a day

Withholding access to the courts, aid agencies and legal counsel

Confiscation of personal possessions

Unrelenting psychological and physical abuse, including the use of pepper spray, stun grenades, sticks, wooden clubs and metal batons, gun butts and barrels, brass knuckles and tasers, attack dogs, beatings, punches and kicks

Sleep deprivation

Sexual violence, strip searches for the sake of humiliation and degradation, cases of gang sexual violence and instances of attempted anal rape

Denial of medical treatment that for some prisoners constitutes a death sentence or permanent disability

Inadequate and rotten food and starvation

Cutting off the water supply and toilet facilities

They described living in constant fear and panic, facing guards who evinced anger and vengefulness.

The Guardian carried out a separate survey, interviewing eight detainees, the majority arrested without charge and released without trial, whose testimonies matched those documented by BTselem. Last week, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights published a 23-page report noting the escalating use of torture by Israel against Palestinian prisoners since October 7.

Ben-Gvir, who as minister of national security is also in charge of prisons and the police, has boasted of transforming the prison system into a network of torture camps. He recently told the Knesset: In Ketziot [prison] they say that I am crazy and I am proud of that. I am proud that we have changed all of the conditions. Ketziot is the prison where jailers hung up a sign in Arabic and Hebrew saying, Welcome to Hell.

Ben-Gvir confirmed in a recent letter to the Supreme Court that food deprivation was ordered from the top, writing, There is no starvation, but my policy does call for reducing conditions, including food and calories.
Ukrainian actor Taras Tsymbalyuk, who has starred in dozens of well-known film projects, has been struck by the way some of his lesser-known colleagues behave at work. The sex symbol of Ukrainian cinema said that he had seen "a million times" when actors were rude to employees at the studio.

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It happened that such "stars" treated Tsymbalyuk himself disrespectfully. He spoke about this in a new interview with Alina Shamanska on YouTube.

The Catching Kaidash star began by saying that the concentration of drama and cinematography in Ukrainian show business is extremely high. He gave an example of how he witnessed on the Dancing with the Stars project that the artists "live in their own movie."

"They have 40 makeup artists. Why are you f***ing around? I would like to ask everyone this. But many people are adequate. When you start talking to them, they become normal people. It's very hard for me to justify when a person f***s up. When he walks around after 2 episodes and says hello to you every now and then. It's just ridiculous," said Tsymbalyuk.

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The conversation was about the demonstrative arrogance and impudence of some celebrities. For example, when a star can afford to insult a makeup artist or another person on the set.

"I've seen this a million times. Some tea was brought, and it was poured into the assistant's face. I was so ashamed," the actor admitted.

He believes that there is no need to hold educational conversations or make comments to artists who have failed. Tsymbalyuk is convinced that they should simply be ignored and not agreed to cooperate in the future.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!

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Hundreds of arts professionals have signed an open letter condemning the decision by the Royal Academy of Arts (RA) in London to remove anti-Gaza genocide works from its Young Artists Summer Show. The letter was published July 29 by Artists for Palestine UK.

As we commented in July, the Royal Academy, giving in to pressure from pro-Israel organizations, took down artworks that condemned the current mass murder of Palestinians.

Young Artists Summer Show

One of the controversial works is merely a photograph of someone holding up a sign reading, Jews say stop genocide on Palestinians: Not in our name. The other, by a 16-year-old, is a charcoal drawing, in the center of which are three screaming women in headscarves, with a swastika above them. The youthful artist explained that he was inspired by the recent conflict in Gaza.

On July 15, Andrew Gilbert, Vice President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, addressed a letter to Axel Ruger, the Royal Academys Chief Executive, which expressed significant concern about three recent works which the RA is exhibiting.

In addition to the two works already referred to, Gilbert complained about a work in the RAs Summer Exhibition 2024, Michael Sandles charcoal drawing, THE MASS SLAUGHTER OF DEFENCELESS WOMEN & CHILDREN IS NOT HOW YOU DERADICALISE GAZA.

Michael Sandle, THE MASS SLAUGHTER OF DEFENCELESS WOMEN & CHILDREN IS NOT HOW YOU DERADICALISE GAZA

The drawing features a pilot in an aircraft, emblazoned with the Star of David, and in the background, a mass of bodies in burial shrouds. Sandle (born 1936) is a member of the Royal Academy and a well-regarded sculptor and artist, known for his anti-war and anti-establishment pieces. He has been exhibited internationally and his works are held by museums and galleries in the US, Brazil, Germany, France, Japan, Australia and other countries, as well as the UK.

Gilbert, in his July 15 letter, observed there was a long and admirable tradition of anti-war art, but claimed that some imagery and content relating works mentioned above comprise antisemitic tropes and messaging as defined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. But there is no hint of antisemitism in these works. Instead, there are strong and legitimate indictments of Israels genocidal policies.

The IHRA definition, however, as we pointed out previously, includes this as one of its contemporary examples of antisemitism: Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis. But the problem here does not lie with the artworks or the artists but with Israeli government policiesaimed according to a UN commissions findings last month at the extermination of the Gazan populationas well as the faulty IHRA definition.

The Royal Academy officialdom, like its counterparts around the world, capitulated immediately upon receiving Gilberts letter, and removed the two youthful works. Sandles remains on display.

In an unprincipled statement, the RA argued that

We recognise that an exhibition for young people and artwork by young people is not an appropriate environment for volatile public discourse.

As we commented three weeks ago,

Heaven forbid that young people should protest against daily atrocities and even exterminationthe deaths of as many as 186,000 people, according to The Lancet, including tens of thousands of women and children.

The recent open letter protesting the RA decision was signed by Royal Academicians Jock McFadyen, Rana Begum, Vanessa Jackson, Tim Shaw, David Nash, Helen Sear, David Mach and Goshka Macuga. The signatories also included more than 100 Jewish creatives and several Jewish organisations.

Photo removed by the Royal Academy

Visual artists Nan Goldin, Rosalind Nashashibi, Adam Broomberg, curators David Campany and Michael Pattison, and writers Natasha Walter, Kamila Shamsie, Sabrina Mahfouz, Fatima Bhutto and Gillian Slovo also signed the public protest.

Other signers include comedian Alexei Sayle, playwright Caryl Churchill, filmmakers Ken Loach and Aki Kaurismaki, writer Laura Mulvey, along with fashion designer Bella Freud (daughter of painter Lucian Freud), directors Mike Leigh, Peter Kosminsky, Asif Kapadia and Farah Nabulsi, musicians Brian Eno, Ana Tijoux and Robert Wyatt, photographer Shahidul Alam and actors Juliet Stevenson, Harriet Walter, Maxine Peake, Alia Shawkat and Adam Bakri.

The July 29 open letter begins,

We artists and human rights defenders, many of us Jewish, condemn the shameful decision of the Royal Academy of Arts to censor artworks by young artists that respond to Israels genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

It goes on,
Thailands Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday to dissolve the main opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) based on trumped-up charges, while banning 11 party leaders from participating in politics for 10 years. The anti-democratic decision exposes the fact that sections of the ruling elite grouped around the military and monarchy continue to exert control over politics despite claims of a return to democracy.

Former leader of Move Forward Party Pita Limjaroenrat, center, waves to his supporters at Constitutional Court in Bangkok, Aug. 7, 2024. [AP Photo/Chatkla Samnaingjam]

The MFP had previously campaigned for reforming Thailands draconian lese-majeste law, known as Section 112 of the Criminal Code. This included during last years general election, which the party won with more than 14 million votes. After months of deliberation, the nine-member court ruled unanimously that its proposed reform amounted to an attempt to overthrow Thailands monarchy through unconstitutional means. It also voted 8-1 that the MFP had taken actions that were hostile to the monarchy.

The court, appointed by the military following the 2014 coup, claimed: Expressions of opinion toward legal amendments (of the lese-majeste law) and the vote campaigns posed significant threats to national security.

The ruling expresses the militarys determination to block any discussion of reforms as the country faces a growing economic crisis. The monarchy serves as the linchpin of Thailands capitalist establishment, amid sharp tensions among the different factions of the bourgeoisie.

The proposed reforms were quite limited. They included an amendment that would allow only the Bureau of the Royal Household to file accusations of lese-majeste. Presently, anyone may file such an accusation. The MFP also called for reducing sentences for those convicted under the law. Nearly 300 people have been charged with violating the law since the 2020 student-led protests that called for an end to military-dominated rule and reform of the monarchy. Conviction comes with a maximum 15-year jail sentence for each charge.

The Constitutional Court opened up the possibility for the MFPs dissolution in January, when it characterised these calls for reform as violating the 2017 constitution written by the military. Wednesdays ruling relied on Section 92 of the Political Parties Act, which states any party supposedly conducting itself in an unconstitutional manner must be dissolved.

Among the party leaders banned from politics are de facto MFP leader and member of parliament Pita Limjaroenrat, who stated after the dissolution order was announced: We have no intention of treason, insurrection, or separating the monarchy from the country.

After his partys election victory last year, Pita was blocked from forming a government by the military-appointed Senate and faced phony charges of ethics violations that led to a temporary suspension as an MP. Formal party leader Chaithawat Tulathon and other executive committee members are now also barred from politics.

The bans cut the number of MFP members in parliament to 142, though it remains the largest single-party bloc in the National Assembly. The remaining members now have 60 days to join another party or face ejection from parliament. While some MPs could defect, a new party is set to be unveiled on Friday with MFP deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun slated to be the new head.

This is not the first time the party has been dissolved. In 2020, the MFPs predecessor, the Future Forward Party, was similarly banned by the Constitutional Court on phony charges of violating the election law on political donations. The ruling helped fuel the student-led protests that year directed against the government of then Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the leader of the 2014 military coup.

Calls for the MFPs dissolution were raised after the party emerged as the surprise winner of the 2023 general election. This victory demonstrated the hostility to the military felt by millions across Thailand after nearly two decades of coups, party dissolutions and violent attacks on protesters. Significantly, the Election Commission, another military-appointed body, last year called the accusations of lese-majeste groundless.

Unable to win an election, the right-wing sections grouped around the military have responded to the electoral success of so-called progressive parties by simply having them declared illegal.

This also extends to parties with which the military has joined in the ruling coalition led by the Pheu Thai Party (PTP). Current Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from the PTP faces removal from office next week in a separate case over bogus ethics violations. The former prime minister and de facto head of the party, Thaksin Shinawatra, a long-time adversary of the military, has also been charged with lese-majeste.

Neither the MFP nor the PTP are genuine defenders of democracy. Srettha has refused to comment on the MFP case, saying on Tuesday, The executive branch is in no position to interfere with the justice process.

Furthermore, the MFPs reform campaign was an attempt to put a progressive face on a thoroughly bourgeois party, in order to corral the votes of people looking for an alternative to the military-backed parties. The latter speak for right-wing and traditional layers of the state, including the bureaucracy and monarchy, with their significant business interests, opposed to competition from newer and emerging sections of the bourgeoisie.

The MFPs reform agenda was not about democracy for the working class, but was meant to decentralise control of the economy that is centered around these traditional layers and thus open up more opportunities for weaker and newer sections of the bourgeoisie.

In the lead up to Wednesdays dissolution, the MFP did everything possible to downplay the significant attacks on democratic rights in Thailand. Claiming little would change if a new party had to be set up, Pita, doing the rounds of the Western media, stated in an interview published August 5 in the Washington Post, Our politics is about substance and not so much about form.

Pita also met on August 2 with diplomats from 18 countries at the German embassy in an appeal for their support, speaking with representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Germany, Japan, and France. Pita no doubt presented himself as a more reliable defender of imperialisms interests. In his Washington Post interview, he declared, Its very hard for the Thai government to have legitimacy to engage Americans and Europeans.

The meeting prompted Prime Minister Srettha to warn against interference, claiming, Thailands judicial process is independent and is in line with international standards. Sretthas response demonstrates the nervousness that exists among the ruling elite that the court case could impact the balancing act Bangkok is conducting between Washington and Beijing.

In fact, there are sharp differences within the ruling class over whether Bangkok orients to China or the US. Washington is placing pressure on countries like Thailand to join in its war drive against Beijing.

The US State Department issued a short statement after Wednesdays ruling, saying Washington was deeply concerned by the decision, which jeopardises Thailands democratic progress and runs counter to the aspirations of the Thai people for a strong, democratic future.

US imperialism has no interest in democracy in Thailand or anywhere else. It has stoked a bloody war against Russia in Ukraine, while enabling Israel through political support and arms to conduct its barbaric war in Gaza. At home, the Biden administration has overseen the smashing of peaceful protests against Israeli genocide with police violence.

The MFPs dissolution is a warning to the working class and genuinely progressive youth. As economic conditions continue to deteriorate and the crisis of capitalism grows, the military will once again increasingly rely more openly on repression. Democratic rights cannot be defended through the Thai state or appeals to imperialism, but only through the fight to abolish capitalism on the basis of a socialist perspective.
Early Tuesday morning, Ukrainian forces launched what appears to be the largest incursion of Russian territory to date in the border region of Kursk. According to Russian military authorities, the attack involved a unit of the Ukrainian armed forces with 1,000 men and 50 armored vehicles, including seven tanks. So far, Kiev has not officially taken responsibility for the attack.

This photo released by the acting Governor of Kursk region Alexei Smirnov's telegram channel shows a damaged house after shelling by the Ukrainian side in the city of Sudzha, Kursk region, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. [AP Photo]

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the attack as a major provocation and said that Ukrainian troops had carried out indiscriminate shooting from various types of weapons, including missiles, at civilian buildings, residential buildings, and ambulances. Footage dated from August 6 and analyzed by the Institute for the Study of War indicates that clashes between Russian and Ukrainian troops took place as far as 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) north of the border.

Unconfirmed reports by Russian bloggers suggested that Ukrainian troops were targeting a gas metering station in the town of Sudzha through which Russian gas that is delivered to Europe flows.

The Russian government declared by Wednesday evening that the attack had been warded off. However, a state of emergency is still in effect in the Kursk region. In the night between Wednesday and Thursday, Russian air defense shot down at least seven missiles by the Ukrainian armed forces targeting the region.

As of this writing, Russian authorities have confirmed that 31 civilians, including six children, had been wounded. No official number of dead has been released but Russian media reported that several paramedics were killed. People across the region have been called upon to donate blood, suggesting that the real number of wounded might be higher. Many residents have complained about problems evacuating, while others reported that they had to hide in churches to escape the shelling.

The scale of the incursion and the fact that it involved the Ukrainian military, which has been armed and trained by NATO, mark a significant escalation of the conflict. Ukraine has launched drone attacks on Russian cities and infrastructure and incursions of Russian territory before. However, previous incursions were carried out by neo-Nazi paramilitary units under the direction of Ukraines military intelligence, not the army.

Predictably, the White House has defended Ukraines incursion as a legitimate act of self-defense. White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby Washington stated that the attack had not violated US policy and that the US would continue to allow Ukraine to use American-supplied weapons to target imminent threats just across the border.

Ukraine launched its biggest incursion of Russian territory to date as the situation at the front looks increasingly desperate for the Ukrainian army. It keeps losing territory to Russian forces after two-and-a-half years of war, which have already claimed the lives of an estimated half-a-million men. On July 16, a new law came into effect, forcing millions of Ukrainian men between 18 and 60 years oldincluding those who fled the countryto update their registration data so that they can be drafted into the army.

The new law has dramatically increased social and political tensions in the country. Even before it came into effect, Ukrainian journalists have relayed to the WSWS that civilians increasingly resist the efforts to violently kidnap men off the streets by recruitment patrols. According to these journalists, there have been several recent incidents of desperate soldiers turning their weapons on their commanders, while desertions of soldiers from the front are growing.

The attack also comes days after a prisoner swap between the US and Russia, which involved the Wall Street Journals Evan Gershkovich and ex-US Marine Paul Whelan. The Putin regime, clearly seeking to assure Washington and openly pro-NATO sections of the oligarchy of its readiness to compromise, also released several of the most high-profile leaders of the NATO-backed opposition in the Russian oligarchy. Among them was Vladimir Kara-Murza, who has extensive ties in Washington, and several members of the team of the late oppositionist Alexei Navalny, long the best-known representative of the US and German-backed faction in the Russian oligarchy and state apparatus. Russia also released Andrei Pivovarov, the former head of the Open Russia organization founded by the prominent anti-Putin ex-oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky. In exchange, the US released a number of criminals and spies.

While the US bourgeois media presented the prisoner swap as a return to diplomacy, the attacks on the Kursk region underscore, yet again, that the growing debacle of NATOs war effort in Ukraine and the overtures by the Kremlin to the imperialist power, if anything, only increase the aggressiveness of the imperialist powers and its proxies in Kiev. Above all, the military defeats on the front have prompted NATO and Ukraine to intensify their efforts to open a second front in the war, within Russia itself.

After multiple political assassinations, drone attacks, including on the Kremlin, and incursions by fascist paramilitary troops in 20222023, this year, these efforts have most notably included the March terrorist attacks on Moscow Crocus City Hall, which have claimed over 140 lives. These attacks are in line with the fundamental aim of the imperialist powers in this war: to bring about the carve-up of the entire region so that its vast raw material resources can be brought under the direct control of imperialism. As part of this strategy, incursions such as the one in the Kursk region are designed not only to divert military resources from the front. They are also intended to destabilize the political situation in Russia and fuel the raging infighting between different sections of the Russian oligarchy and state apparatus in order to create conditions for a regime change operation in Moscow.
Muhammad Yunus, an economist and development banker with close ties to the United States and other imperialist powers, is to be sworn in as head of Bangladeshs emergency interim government at a ceremony Thursday.

Muhammad Yunus speaks to the media in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 3, 2024. [AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu]

On Monday, longtime prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled the South Asian country, which is home to 170 million people, amid a swelling popular upsurge against her Awami League government.

Students launched protests against a regressive, discriminatory government-job allocation regime at the beginning of July. In response to brutal state repression, including the deployment of the anti-terrorism Rapid Action Battalion, the movement broadened, with significant sections of working people joining the protests.

On Sunday, after the bloodiest day of violence to date, students called for a mass march on the prime ministers residence for the next day to press their demand that Hasina go.

Her resignation was announced to the nation by Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman.

According to press reports, the military gave Hasina just 45 minutes Monday to resign, vacate the prime ministers residence and accept the militarys offer of safe passage out of the country. It moved against Hasina, who had led the country for the previous 15 years, because it concluded that her attempt to suppress mass popular opposition had backfired and was destabilizing and potentially imperiling capitalist rule.

Since then, General Waker-Uz-Zaman and the heads of the navy and air force have been holding a non-stop series of meetings with the presidenta largely ceremonial figure under the countrys constitutionopposition politicians, representatives from the Students Against Discrimination, business and so-called civil society groups.

The leaders of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD), the recently-created organisation that led the student protests, have pressed for Yunus, an 84-year-old Nobel laureate who has been living in the West for over a decade, to head the interim government. In Dr Yunus we trust, proclaimed a Facebook posting Tuesday from Asif Mahmud, one of the top SAD leaders.

The SAD leaders have also publicly declared that they will not accept an interim government formed by the military top brass, which has a long, bloody record of coups and dictatorial rule. But otherwise they have cooperated closely with the military, which is leading the process of government formation.

On Tuesday, SAD activists took over directing traffic in Dhaka, the national capital. Following Hasinas ouster, the police, who had played the principal frontline role in the attempt to drown the protest movement in blood, fled their posts as protesters surged through the streets and looted the prime ministers residence, other official buildings, and homes and businesses of some prominent Awami League supporters. Nationwide, dozens or more police stations were torched. The police association said its members would be on strike until their security could be guaranteed.

At least 300 people, the vast majority of them students and other protesters, are said to have died as a result of the Hasina governments campaign of state violence, which included thug attacks organized by Awami League cadre.

When Hasinas government collapsed, Yunus was in Paris acting as an adviser to the ongoing Olympic Games. In an interview with France 24 Wednesday, shortly before beginning his return journey to Bangladesh, Yunus paid tribute to the student protesters and declared the toppling of Hasinas government a Second Liberation Day. This was a reference to December 16, 1971, when Pakistan, in the face of a Bangladeshi insurgency led by the Mukti Bahini and an Indian military invasion, gave up its scorched-earth attempt to thwart Bangladeshs secession. Hasinas father was the principal political leader of Bangladeshs independence struggle and subsequently led its government until his assassination in a 1975 military coup.

In a televised address Wednesday, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman spun flowery democratic phrases. I am certain that he (Yunus) will be able to take us through a beautiful democratic process and that we will benefit from this, declared the commander-in-chief of the state institution that is the bulwark of capitalist rule.

Among the SAD leaders and the university students that defied the Hasina governments repression, there is widespread belief that with her governments overthrow the Bangladeshi state and its institutions can be fundamentally reformed, through free elections and, if need be, further protests. An interim government headed by Yunus is seen as a critical first step in this direction.

We wont betray the blood shed by the martyrs for our cause, declared SADs coordinator, the 26-year-old Nahid Islam, who sprang to national prominence after he was brutally tortured by police last month. We will create a new democratic Bangladesh through our promise of security of life, social justice and a new political landscape.

In reality, the interim government will be a right-wing capitalist regime, beholden to the transnational garment industry giants, other foreign investors and the Bangladeshi bourgeoisie. Its first task will be to restore order and continue the implementation of the austerity measures demanded by the IMF in exchange for the $4.7 billion bailout it provided the Hasina government last year.

It, and whatever government succeeds it, elected or otherwise, will uphold the staggering social inequality that characterises contemporary Bangladesh, with the military remaining the power behind the throne.

Hasina was widely praised by the World Bank and leading business publications for presiding over rapid economic growth. The benefits of this growth flowed, however, almost entirely into the pockets of investors and the Bangladeshi ruling elite, especially a layer of pro-Awami League crony capitalists. A Wealth-X study found that, between 2010 and 2019, Bangladesh saw the number of individuals with a net worth of $5 million grow by more than 14 percent per yearthe highest growth rate in the world. Meanwhile, Bangladeshi garment workers are among the most savagely exploited anywhere in the world, making little more than $100 per month.

Yunus is a thoroughly right-wing figure. An economist and founder of the Grameen Bank, he professes concern for the poor, but promotes as the solution to the mass poverty created by imperialist oppression and capitalist exploitation entrepreneurial development. That is the promotion of micro-businesses financed by micro-credit. His conceptions have been copied by larger financial institutions, resulting in what critics have called a new form of debt bondage.

Yunus is much celebrated in the West. In addition to winning the Nobel Peace Prize, he was awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedom by Obama in 2009 and the US Congressional Gold Medal in 2010.

US officials have been quick to praise the militarys role in the current crisis and to announce their readiness to work with the Yunus-led interim government. No doubt Washington hopes it will be able to leverage its longstanding connections to Yunus to press for Bangladesh to distance itself from China, as part of its all-sided military-strategic offensive against Beijing

That illusions in Yunus, the military and the reactionary Bangladeshi state so dominate among the students is bound up with the pernicious political role of Stalinism. For decades, the various Stalinist parties have revolved around the Awami League and its arch-rival the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). While waving red flags, they are bitterly hostile to the mobilisation of the working class as an independent political force, fighting to rally the rural toilers against capitalism and in the fight for worker power and socialism.

There is mass anger in the working class over sweatshop wages, mass joblessness and political repression. But the unions, whether Stalinist-led or not, strove to prevent the working class from intervening in the mass anti-government movement, using strikes and other class-struggle methods, to assert its own interests and initiate a challenge to Bangladeshi capitalism, through the building of committees of action.

The BNP, meanwhile, is trying to exploit the discrediting of the Awami League to position itself and its allies, most significantly Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist communalist party, to win power in the promised elections.

On Wednesday, the BNP held a mass rally attended by tens of thousands outside its Dhaka headquarters. The rally was addressed by the former BNP prime minister, Khaleda Zia, and her son, the partys acting chairman, Tarique Rahman.

Till Monday, the ailing 78-year-old Zia had been under house arrest following a 2018 conviction on corruption charges. Rahman spoke from London, where he had fled soon after the Awami League came to power. In his speech Rahman demanded elections within three months and claimed the BNP would deliver real democracy. However, in almost the next breath, he said a BNP-led government would establish an Upper House of the Legislature comprised of experts not involved in politics. While he gave no details, clearly this proposal is aimed at insulating parliament and the government from the will of the people and providing the ruling class with an alternate mechanism for imposing its agenda.

Recent days have seen violent attacks on members of Bangladeshs Hindu minority. In response, the SAD has organised student volunteers to defend Hindu temples. The BNP and all the other parties, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, have gone on record as condemning these attacks.

No faith should be given to these pronouncements. As in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, communal attacks in Bangladesh have long been used by the ruling class as a means of diverting social anger along the most reactionary lines.

The critical issue facing workers and youth in Bangladesh outraged by state repression, grinding poverty and mass unemployment is to recognise that their democratic and social strivings will only be realised through the fight for social equality. A frontal assault on the wealth and privilege of the capitalist ruling class must be mounted and socio-economic life reorganised, so that social need, not private profit, is the animating principle. To prosecute this struggle requires the building of a mass revolutionary party of the working class based on the Trotskyist strategy of permanent revolution.
New revelations surfaced on Monday of undisclosed private travel by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas that was paid for by right-wing political activist and billionaire real estate developer Harlan Crow.

The revelations, which were made public in a letter by Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon to Crows lawyer, Michael D. Bopp, cite Customs and Border Protection (CBP) records showing that the judge and his wife, Virginia Thomas, were flown between Hawaii and New Zealand and back in November 2010 on Crows private jet. Crow was also a passenger on the flights.

In this November 10, 2011 file photo, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas laughs while talking with other guests at the Federalist Society's 2011 annual dinner in Washington. [AP Photo/Cliff Owen]

Wydens letter demands that attorney Bopp supply more information about the financial arrangements between Crow and Thomas. To date, Thomas has not responded to requests from news organizations to comment on the latest revelations. None of these trips was included on his financial disclosure forms.

In his letter showing that Justice Thomas and his wife have been travel guests on Crows private yacht and jet, Wyden asserts that lawyer Bopp and his client Crow have engaged in an evasive response to inquiries about the billionaires relationship with the Thomases.

Wyden states that the responses have only heightened my concerns that Mr. Crow and his associates were involved in a scheme to avoid paying taxes by claiming business deductions on personal travel. The letter continues: I am deeply concerned that Mr. Crow may have been showering a public official with extravagant gifts, then writing off those gifts to lower his tax bill.

In other words, Crow has been paying for lavish travel and accommodations for Justice Thomas and his wife and then charging taxpayers for these favors.

As becomes clear from Wydens letter, the method used by Crow is a well-trod tax evasion scheme. The billionaire has been writing off the cost of trips on his yacht called Michaela Rose as personal hospitality paid to a shell company called Rochelle Charter. However, as Wyden writes, Personal trips do not serve as a business purpose, which is required under tax laws to permit costs associated with the trips to be tax deductible.

Although couched in the oblique language of bourgeois politics, Wyden is clearly aware that Crow has been engaging in tax fraud. Wyden writes that according to reports Rochelle Charter reported losses for more than 10 years, each year from 20032015, while it was still organized as an S corporation, racking up $8 million in losses during that period. The losses in his fake travel organization enabled Crow to avoid paying millions in taxes by offsetting his income.

Wyden further exposes the corrupt relationship of Clarence Thomas with Harlan Crow. He makes the point that Justice Thomas failed to disclose the 2010 trip to New Zealand, even though he had previously amended disclosures to reflect other international travel on Mr. Crows private jet.

Wydens letter states that Thomas enjoyed complimentary use of private jets paid for by Mr. Crow on 17 different occasions since 2016, with 9 of those flights coming in the last three years. Even though Thomas admitted to an eight-day voyage aboard the Michaela Rose in Indonesia in 2019, he has not reported other trips, while public reports show that Justice Thomas was a passenger aboard the Michaela Rose in Greece, New Zealand and elsewhere.

Wyden cites a relative of Clarence Thomas as stating that he personally witnessed the judge traveling aboard Crows yacht in the Caribbean, Russia and the Baltics, with the trip to Russia also including helicopter ride(s).

The New York Times reported on Monday that Michael Zona, a spokesperson for Crow, said the billionaires attorneys had already addressed Senator Wydens inquiries, which have no legal basis and are only intended to harass a private citizen. Zona said Wydens inquiry was part of a politically motivated effort to undermine the Supreme Court. He added, We consider this matter settled and refer Senator Wyden to our previous correspondence.

In a response to previous revelations in April of last year of undisclosed travel paid for by Crow, Thomas said he did not need to disclose gifts of personal hospitality from friends who did not have business before the court. He also claimed he was following the advice of colleagues and others in the judiciary on such matters.

Harlan Crow, chairman of Crow Holdings, with $29 billion in assets, has personal wealth of $2.5 billion. He is a well known far-right political activist and has officially donated $5 million to Republican campaigns and conservative groups. Crow is known to have a collection of Nazi memorabilia, including two portraits of Adolf Hitler and a signed copy of the Fuhrers Mein Kampf, at his residence in Dallas, Texas.

In addition to the trips he has taken with Clarence Thomas, Crow has given lavish gifts to the Supreme Court justice and his wife over a period of three decades, including a $19,000 Bible that belonged to Frederick Douglass. According to the painter Sharif Tarabay, Crow gave Thomas a portrait of the justice and his wife. Tax filings show that Crow gave $105,000 to Yale Law School for the Justice Thomas Portrait Fund.

Direct evidence of the political connection between Crow and the Thomases was reported by Politico last September, when documents revealed that Crow had given $500,000 in seed money to establish Tea Party-affiliated Liberty Central, founded by Virginia Thomas. Ginni Thomas played a major role in Donald Trumps conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

The rampant corruption and influence-peddling on the US Supreme Court, of which the relationship of Clarence Thomas and Harlan Crow is but one expression, is bound up with the role of the Court as an instrument of the financial oligarchy, a right-wing bulwark and a standing conspiracy against fundamental democratic rights.
This week, press reports revealed that President Emmanuel Macron is preparing to form a right-wing government, trampling on the results of the July 7 election. Jean-Luc Melenchons New Popular Front (NFP) won the election amid a surge of opposition to Macrons policies and to the far-right National Rally. However, Macron is still considering naming right-wing politician Xavier Bertrand as prime minister.

French President Emmanuel Macron meets police during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in Paris, France, Saturday, July 27, 2024. [AP Photo/Yves Herman]

Yesterday, Le Figaro reported that Macron discussed Bertrand, a former health and labor minister under previous right-wing governments, as a possible prime ministerial choice with close associates sent by Bertrand. How is he? Macron asked them. They replied, He is ready to take up the challenge. Hes prepared.

These plans amount to a conspiracy against the people and, above all, against the working class. They are discussed behind the backs of the masses, with the media almost entirely focused on the Paris Olympics, and at the height of the French summer holidays. But even after Macrons party has been reduced to a small minority in the National Assembly and his policies have been rejected by an overwhelming majority of the French people, moves are afoot to name a government based on the same forces as before the July 7 election.

The main enabler of this conspiracy, however, is Jean-Luc Melenchon and the NFP coalition. The NFP holds the largest single bloc of votes in the National Assembly, after carrying the votes of the bulk of the urban working class in the 2022 presidential and 2024 legislative elections. Yet the NFP has proven itself completely incapable and unwilling to call on its millions of working class voters to mobilize and strike to bring down Macrons right-wing conspiracy.

Instead, the NFP has proven utterly feckless, unable to rouse itself to any action against Macrons reactionary maneuvers. Melenchon has not issued a single tweet or statement on his blog since July. The NFP has left the task of criticizing Macrons maneuvers with Bertrand to the political nonentity it unanimously chose as its proposal to Macron for prime minister, the obscure 37-year-old Finance Ministry bureaucrat Lucie Castets.

By thus abandoning the political field, the NFP is leaving the way open for Macron to plot the installation of what would be an illegitimate, violently right-wing government. Bertrand, a former labor minister under right-wing President Nicolas Sarkozy, would pursue an agenda of austerity, police state repression and attacks on immigrants, while Macron continues to participate in NATOs wars internationally.

Reporting on Bertrands attempts to market himself as a possible prime minister in his back-channel talks with Macron, Le Figaro writes:

[He] recalls that the closure of the Jungle [immigrant camp] in Calais in 2016 took place as he was president of the region, working with [Socialist Party] Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve. So did the cut-off of state contracts to the Averroes Muslim high school. This shows that on military-police issues, he does not promote a weak consensus. He is now making many contacts on the right and left, among business circles and the trade unions.

Macron and Bertrand clearly expect they can rely on the support of parts of the NFP to implement a right-wing agenda. Together, their two parties have only 146 of the National Assemblys 577 seats, well short of the 289 needed for a majority. And so Bertrand is now in talks not only with the union bureaucracies, who backed the NFP in the elections, but also parties that joined Melenchon in the NFPsuch as the bourgeois Socialist Party (PS), the Stalinist French Communist Party (PCF) and the Greens.

The fecklessness of the NFP is exposing the thoroughly petty-bourgeois character of Melenchon and his France Unbowed (LFI) party, the leading force in the NFP coalition. Beyond the NFP, moreover, an entire layer of middle class descendants of renegades from Trotskyism, like Workers Struggle (LO) and the Morenoite Revolution permanente (RP) tendency, which promoted the NFP as a way forward for workers also stands exposed.

Macron, the president of the rich, is despised for ruling against the people, enforcing policies demanded by finance capital but rejected by the international working class. A staggering 91 percent of Americans and 89 percent of West Europeans oppose sending NATO troops to Ukraine to wage war on Russia, which threatens to escalate into nuclear war. Similarly, 91 percent of the French people oppose the pension cuts Macron decreed last year without a vote, in the face of mass protests and strikes, in order to finance the war.

The outcome of the July 7 vote revealed the widespread opposition in France to the xenophobic, anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant policies of both the neo-fascist RN and Macron, as well as deep-rooted opposition to the Israeli regimes genocide in Gaza. However, the NFP squandered this political opportunity, rapidly forming an election alliance.

The NFP and its satellites do not represent the working class. Like allied parties across Europe such as Syriza in Greece, Podemos in Spain and the Left Party in Germany, they represent affluent layers of the middle class in academia, the trade union bureaucracy and the political-media establishment. Tied to the capitalist state machine and the ruling class, they pursue pragmatic maneuvers within a national framework, based on gender and racial identity politics.

The NFP cannot put itself at the head of the overwhelming working class opposition to Macron, because this would rapidly take it much further to the left than it is willing to go. Indeed, the NFP election program that LFI agreed to with the PS called to send French troops as peacekeepers to Ukraine and to strengthen French intelligence and military police internally. The NFP therefore fears a movement in the working class against Macron that would also be directed against its own policies.

Instead, Castets is promoting herself based on her sexual orientation. This week, she gave an interview to lifestyle magazine Paris Match revealing that, in addition to being a Parisian technocrat who oversees the servicing of the capitals 8 billion debt, she is a lesbian with a wife and children. She commented, I want to say who I am.

The decisive question in the political identity of the NFP, however, is that it opposes socialism and blocks the construction of a movement in the international working class against war, genocide and capitalism. The burning question facing workers and youth is what political conclusions must be drawn from the exposure of its counterrevolutionary role.

An explosive confrontation will emerge between the working class and whatever government ultimately emerges from the July 7 elections. However, workers cannot wage this struggle under the control of national union bureaucracies tied to the NFP. It requires the building of independent organizations of struggle in workplaces, schools and working class neighborhoods that can mobilize the vast social opposition among workers and link it to developing struggles of their class brothers and sisters around the world.

Inseparable from this is the struggle to build a new revolutionary leadership in the working class to smash the political obstacle posed by the Stalinist, social democratic and populist forces of the NFP. Only one party warned of the reactionary role of Melenchon and the NFP. That party, which must be built today, is the Parti de legalite socialiste, the French section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, the world Trotskyist movement.
The WSWS recently spoke to Semyon [1], who fled to Germany at the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and is now studying and working in Germany. Due to the recent refusal of the German authorities to extend refugees residence papers, Semyonlike thousands of other Ukrainian refugeesfears being sent back and used as cannon fodder in the war against Russia.

* * *

In the first three months after I arrived at the main station, we were only supported by volunteer organisations. Some volunteers even made part of their flat available to us for a short time. The state hardly supported us at first. In the beginning, neither the authorities, nor the aid organisations, nor we Ukrainians, had any idea what to expect here or what we were supposed to do.

After a few weeks, the bureaucratic mechanism turned round and allowed us to apply for Section 24 almost silently [2]the confusion about this only disappeared after about two months. Most of us have had to learn a lot about German bureaucracy and the welfare system here: its confusing, slow and barely funded. Explanations of how the bureaucracy works come mainly either from the voluntary aid organisations or from us Ukrainians ourselves.

The refugee shelters for Ukrainians were roughly the same in all casesregardless of whether they were financed and set up by volunteers or by the state. When I remember the food in these shelters, what comes to mind are apples and hot dogs. The dormitories, of course, had curtains instead of doors, and in our case only curtains instead of walls.

The German ruling class often talks about the struggle of the Ukrainians, but the working class in Ukraine doesnt want a war against Russia at all. In reality, the German government doesnt give a damn about Ukrainian refugees. It only cares about its imperialist interests and those of its partnersfor example, the US, which has provoked this war since 2014. Who really cared about the Ukrainians were the workers.

I am therefore not very surprised that more and more politicians are now calling for Ukrainian refugees to be sent back to the front. The media, the government and the entire ruling class have never considered the early return to Ukraine to be dangerous. They claim it is reasonable for refugees to travel to Ukraine and fulfill their compulsory military service.

The Ukrainian government does not have enough human materiel to slaughter at the moment. Even in the safe zones, life is not really possible. There is often no electricity and the economy is destroyed. I keep asking myself how the Ukrainians who stay there manage.

However, if you enter Ukrainian soil as a male Ukrainian, you are not allowed to leave againunless you are a minor. Even in that case, things are becoming increasingly dangerous: even 16- and 17-year-olds are now being drafted. Even if you return to Ukraine for just one day, it is not possible to leave the country again in 90 percent of cases.

It is only possible if you are a millionaire, but not for ordinary workers. People are treated differently. Those who are in a position to do so can simply hand over a bribe to leave Ukraine. I have heard from my acquaintances that it is no longer possible to leave Ukraine without risking your life.

In fact, Ukraine, like all states of the former Soviet Union, is known for its corruption. Any law can be circumvented if there is enough money flowing. However, most workers do not have enough money to do so because of the starvation wages.

As in every other country, there is a ruling class in Ukraine that profits from the war. Millionaires and oligarchs are deeply integrated into the state apparatus. Of course, they use various rhetoric to make the working class believe that they are servants of the people. However, the fact that this is a capitalist oligarchyand not a democracyis common knowledge among Ukrainian workers.

The friends and families of Ukrainian soldiers protest forced conscription and the treatment of soldiers by the Ukrainan military.

Of course, opposition to this is developing, but it is opposition under conditions of dictatorship. For example, Bogdan Syrotiuk was imprisoned because of his political understanding and socialist consciousness. The criminal methods used by the SBU [Ukraines domestic intelligence service] and other forces are no longer concealed. It may be unusual for people in the West to see such police state measures being taken, but for Ukrainians and Russians it is part of everyday life.

All state bodies are corrupt. This has been known since the dissolution of the Soviet Union by the Stalinist government. The oligarchy and the state now control all companies that are still in Ukraine in one way or another.

The situation is becoming increasingly fascist. Ukrainian nationalism is becoming a state ideology. Stephan Bandera has been proclaimed a hero and national monuments have been erected in his honour. Ukrainian nationalist paramilitary divisions are being integrated into the state. It can be said that Ukraine is in the process of turning into a complete Nazi dictatorship.

However, there have been few job opportunities for workers for years; the working class has always been in a very difficult situation. Even before the war, conditions were not humane and wages were very low.

The war and fascism made it even worse, although I can hardly imagine how it could get any worse. Public institutions are hardly funded at all.

Democratic rights and the right to strike were completely abolished. Even before the war, strikes were not well regarded, as the police and the state always sided with the employers. When the war started and Ukrainian nationalism rose, this got so much worse that it is now impossible to exercise democratic rights.

In 2014, a coup by Ukrainian nationalist forces took place, and Ukrainian nationalism declared itself the enemy of the Russians from the outset. This was already largely a state ideology in 2014. This has intensified with the war.

Russian is denounced as the language of the enemy. Everything to do with the Soviet Union is also criminalised: Monuments are destroyed and streets are renamed. The unity of the peoples that still existed in the Soviet Union is being destroyed by both Ukrainian and Russian nationalism.

Bogdan Syrotiuk with an image of Leon Trotsky in an old Soviet edition of John Reed's Ten Days that Shook the World, April 2023

The arrest of Bogdan Syrotiuk is deeply unjust and sad. We must fight against it. Trotskyism has declared war on war, the police state and social inequality. Bogdan was arrested because he fought politically against all this. These police state tendencies will intensify as the war develops until there is nothing left of democratic rights.

But of course, it doesnt have to be that way. With the help of the international working class, the Ukrainian working class can take up the fight against it. We must not accept that socialist thinkers and political activists are arrested because of their convictions and consistent political work. These police state measures are also taking place in other countries, for example against Gaza protesters. Strikes and every democratic right are also being violated.

We must also fight against the rise of the AfD (Alternative for Germany). It is being promoted by the German government with its hatred of workers and immigrants. If we build an international workers movement, we can not only free Bogdan Syrotjuk, but also defend our own democratic rights.

The aim of the movement must be for the working class to take power. The ruling class does not want to and will not end the war. It does not want to and will not abolish the police state.

We must demand an immediate end to the war in Ukraine, Gaza and all over the world. We need wage increases for all. But to realise this, the working class will inevitably be driven to take power. It is the only progressive force in society. It must reverse all these imprisonments and only it can solve the worlds problems.

The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei [Socialist Equality Party] and the International Committee of the Fourth International will lead this movement. They present a Marxist, Trotskyist understanding of events, and they will, in my opinion, build and lead this international workers movement.

* * *

[1] Semyon is not his real name. To ensure his safety, no further personal information will be published.

[2] Paragraph 24 of the Residence Act (AufenthG), which provides for temporary protection, is based on an EU decision and was last extended until 4 March 2025.
Ukrainian weightlifter Kamila Konotop was injured during her performance at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Our compatriot, who was considered one of the main contenders for medals, "broke" right on the platform, damaging the back of her thigh.

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Kamila declared the highest weight among all the participants for her first attempt in the snatch  104 kg. Confidently handling the bar, our compatriot broke the Olympic record at the time and topped the overall table.

In her second attempt, the Ukrainian decided to lift the bar by two kilograms. As Konotop started to lift the bar, she felt pain in the back of her thigh in the first seconds and stopped trying to lift the bar.

The 23-year-old from Kharkiv returned for her final attempt after a while but quickly realized that the injury would not allow her to compete for the weight. As a result, it cost Konotop a high place  she finished the snatch competition in fifth place, losing three kilograms to the leader.

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It should be noted that weightlifting competitions at the Olympics are held in two disciplines - the clean and jerk and the shot put, the sum of which determines the medalists.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
Seven-star hotels offer the highest level of comfort. It is the perfect combination of impeccable service, convenience, and luxury. It is important to clarify that the 7-star rating is not part of the official rating system.

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While 5-star hotels represent the pinnacle of luxury, the 7-star term is unofficially used to describe hotels that exceed all expectations. Experts have released a rating of establishments that redefine luxury through unparalleled service, premium amenities and, most importantly, truly extraordinary interior design.

Burj Al Arab, Dubai

The architecture of the Burj Al Arab, like sails rising against the Dubai skyline, is an art in itself. The building has a cascading atrium decorated with Italian mosaics and swirling cloud-like formations made of white plaster. The suites overlooking the Persian Gulf have floor-to-ceiling windows, and the luxurious bathrooms feature whirlpool bathtubs with panoramic views.

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Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi

The sumptuous use of gold leaf, intricate mosaics and handmade carpets create a sense of grandeur and luxury. The public areas have high ceilings decorated with traditional geometric patterns, and the rooms offer the utmost in comfort with luxurious fabrics and handcrafted furnishings.

Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India

Shiny white marble offsets the vibrant colors of traditional Indian art. The courtyards are decorated with various water features, and intricate carved columns create a palatial atmosphere. The suites are an oasis of handmade furniture with exquisite silk, offering a glimpse into the luxurious Indian past.

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Signiel Seoul, South Korea

For a taste of modern Korean luxury, check out Signiel Seoul. The hotel's interiors showcase a masterful play of light and shadow with dramatic black marble walls offset by soft, diffused lighting. The rooms offer stunning views of the city skyline, and the use of modern furniture and artwork creates a sophisticated atmosphere.

Como Laucala Island Resort, Fiji

Como Laucala Island Resort offers a combination with nature. Rustic elegance reigns here, with thatched-roofed villas set amidst lush greenery. Natural materials such as wood, stone and woven fabrics create a sense of organic luxury, while large terraces and private pools immerse guests in an island paradise.

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President Wilson Hotel, Geneva

The President Wilson is the epitome of European grandeur. The interiors exude timeless elegance, featuring rich wicker panels, plush carpets and crystal chandeliers. The rooms offer incredible views of Lake Geneva and the surrounding mountains, and the use of soft neutral colors creates a sense of calm and sophistication.

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The Kremlin has demonstrated a rather contradictory reaction to Ukraine's offensive in the Kursk region of Russia: It is trying to find a balance between presenting a noticeable escalation on the part of Ukraine and avoiding exaggerating the potential consequences. The Russian authorities risk discrediting themselves by dismissing the significance of the attack and calling it just a "provocation."

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This was stated by analysts of the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW). They noted that some Russian military bloggers sharply criticized the Russian military command for failing to prepare and prevent Ukraine's offensive operations in the Kursk region.

Meanwhile, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin accused Ukrainian forces of a "large-scale provocation" in the Kursk region at a meeting with members of the government. Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov also assured that the situation was under control  the Russian Federal Security Service and the Northern Group of Troops allegedly stopped the advance of Ukrainian troops and inflicted significant losses on them.

At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry issued a statement on August 6 saying that the attacking Ukrainian forces were only a sabotage and reconnaissance group and that they had retreated. It seems that the aggressor's defense ministry was afraid of a negative reaction to the obviously false statements about the scale and tactics of the Ukrainian infiltration.

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"The Kremlin is probably trying to balance its messages between two contradictory goals: to discredit Ukraine in the international arena for attacking Russian territory and to avoid stirring up domestic panic about the scale, consequences, and potential outcomes of the Ukrainian operation. However, the Kremlin risks discrediting itself among certain communities by pretending to dismiss the significance of the attack, presenting it only as a "provocation," the analysts write.

Against the backdrop of these events, some military bloggers complained about the inadequate response of the Russian military command. They were outraged by the lack of concern about the accumulation of Ukrainian troops, unrealistic confidence in Russian defense in the border zone, assumptions about the fatigue of Ukrainian troops, and false reports about the situation.

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In addition, Russian "milbloggers" claim that the military command has made "strategic miscalculations" and that nepotism in the Russian army protects ineffective military officials.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

 ISW also claims that Ukrainian troops have already advanced up to 10 kilometers deep into Russia's Kursk region. Defense Forces armored vehicles have taken up positions along the 38K-030 Sudzha  Korenevo highway.

 The Telegraph writes that Moscow fears that Ukraine may use F-16 fighters in the Kursk region. Nevertheless, Russia claims "absolute control over the situation in the region."

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

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Spoilers ahead.

At the end of the third season of The Umbrella Academy, viewers were gobsmacked when Abigail Hargreeves (Liisa Repo-Martell), wife of Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore), had been resurrected from the dead. In past seasons, it was revealed that she had died long before Sir Reginald came to Earth (yes, theyre both aliens), and that her body was being cryogenically frozen on the moon. Reginald sent Luther Hargreeves (Tom Hopper) to the moon to protect her, unbeknownst to Luther, as he thought he was just on the moon for some science experiments. With all these references to Abigail, it seemed clear she had a bigger role in the puzzle. After fans speculated and speculated, her part in the grand unraveling of the universe is finally revealed in the fourth and final season.

Abigail created the substance, called marigold, that caused the Hargreeves biological mothers to give birth after Reginald brought it to the Earth from their home planet. Its also responsible for the kids superpowers. When she made this, she also inadvertently created another potion, durango. When combined, marigold and durango will bring about the Cleanse, which zaps away any additional timelines and returns the world to its correct, original order. Thus, anyone who is not in the correct timeline will not only die but cease to exist.

Netflix

In this seasons timeline, and the one the Hargreeves are trapped in, Abigail finds it to be her mission to help bring about the Cleanse. She knows this timeline where shes alive is not supposed to exist. She is supposed to be dead, and she is resentful to Reginald for bringing her back to life here.

Thus, she poses as Sy Grossman (David Cross), saying she lost her daughter, Jennifer (Victoria Sawal), and encourages the Hargreeves siblings to go to New Grumpson, Maine, to save her. Theres durango in Jennifers system, so if she comes into contact with any of the Hargreeves siblings, the Cleanse will occur. Later, after Jennifer is kidnapped by Jean (Megan Mullally) and Gene Thibedeau (Nick Offerman), she poses as Sy again and convinces Ben Hargreeves (Justin H. Min) to chase after her, making sure that durango and marigold come together.

The Hargreeves children first meet Abigail in her actual form (not as Sy Grossman) at her and Reginalds mansion after they were almost killed by Reginalds militia in New Grumpson, Maine. The militia was protecting Jennifer, and Reginald had set up the village to make sure the marigold and durango never came into contact. The siblings think theyre walking into a fight and dismantled the whole town, however Abigail welcomes them into her home with open arms and plays the violin that was given to Viktor after she originally died. She knows all of the children and their old timelines, who have now settled into this timeline comfortably. Shes also softened Reginald, and convinces him to help them remember Bens death, which is key to understanding the world and whats going on.



Courtesy of Netflix

After she develops relationships with the children and encourages them chase after Ben and Jennifer, she finds Jean and Gene. There, Abigail kills Gene and takes over his skin, hoping to work from inside their cult of followers to bring about the Cleanse even faster.

Jean and Gene (who is now actually Abigail), succeed at bringing Ben and Jennifer together, and thus, no matter the efforts of the Hargreeves children, the Cleanse ensues. Abigail, still dressed as Gene, walks over to Reginald and sits by him as the Cleanse monster, a scary, beast-like creature, eats the whole world. Reginald asks Gene/Abigail if they know what theyve done, and Abigail finally reveals herself, zipping off Genes skin and grabbing Reginalds hand, proud that she ended the world.

Abigail says she had no other choice. When she originally created the marigold and durango, she believed dying was her penance for creating something so deadly, knowing it would not only bring the end of the world, but also the end of a variety of timelines. She asks Reginald why he brought the marigold here from their planet after seeing their own world destroyed, as Reginald knew the marigold could destroy the earth, too. He doesnt have a great answer, and then she asks Reginald why he brought her back to life in this timeline. Reginald says it was an act of love, but Abigail replies, It was hubris. His actions had consequenceswhich led to all of the incorrect timelines being createdand she decided she had to set everything right. Bringing about the Cleanse was the only solution.

Abigail and Reginald are then taken by the monster, giving into the Cleanse. Abigail is the reason the Cleanse happened, and without her work, the Hargreeves children couldnt have brought the world back to its original timeline. Thus, Abigail both ended and saved the world.





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I flew over 15 hours to Vienna for my first Taylor Swift concert. I'm devastated the shows are canceled.

I flew over 15 hours to Vienna for my first Taylor Swift concert. I'm devastated the shows are canceled.

Taylor Swift's three shows in Vienna were canceled after the Austrian police said they thwarted a planned terrorist attack.

Bianca Capazorio flew 15 hours from South Africa for the Swift concert, which would have been her first.

She'd spent more than a year planning the trip.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Bianca Capazorio, a 41-year-old Swiftie based in Cape Town, South Africa. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified her expenses.

I became a Swiftie the way a lot of Swifties became Swifties  through heartbreak.

The first album that introduced me to Taylor Swift was the album "Red." The song "All Too Well" came out during a time when I was going through a massive breakup.

Her lyrics resonated with me so much.

But as much as I was a fan, I've never had the opportunity to go to a concert before. She's never been to South Africa, where I'm from.

So when she announced the Eras Tour, I thought it was the perfect opportunity. Not only would I get to see her perform so many old songs, I'd get to hear her new stuff, too.

My friends and I decided to try to get tickets for the European concerts

My friend and I decided we would go to the first European country where we could score tickets.

A few different sales went live on the same day, and I ended up taking that day off work so I could focus on getting the tickets.

In the end, the day off wasn't necessary. My friend had secured tickets to the Vienna show the day before. It took her less than five minutes to buy the tickets, and we even got great seats in the front standing section.

We were surprised, but it was that quick.

We had a budget in mind that we didn't want to go over. For me, my budget was between 5,000 and 6,000 South African Rand, or about $270 to $326, for a ticket. In the end, each ticket was about $197.

My flight ticket cost 14,828 Rand, or about $800. Since it's a long-haul flight  about 15 hours, including a three-hour stopover in Dubai  my friends and I decided to make a trip out of it. We'll be traveling around Austria for two weeks.

One of my friends made her own outfit, while the other had one made. I, too, bought an outfit for the concert  one of those tassel dresses that looks a lot like the ones Taylor wore in her "Fearless" era. It's blue and sparkly.

Together, the three of us made a whole bunch of friendship bracelets to trade at the show, too.

We heard the news last night

My friend and I were out at dinner when our third friend, who stayed behind in the hotel, called us to say that she saw chatter online about how the concert might be canceled.

Barracuda Music, an Austrian event organizer, had posted a notice about it. We hoped that it was just fake news but when we saw that Taylor Nation , the official social-media account for Taylor's team, reposting it, our hearts sank.

I was devastated. It's been a year in the planning, and I've been looking forward to it for so long.

Additionally, I feel like it's our only chance to see this show because the tour is finishing soon.

At the same time, I accept that the decision was probably not taken lightly. I would rather just be a little bit heartbroken today than be in the stadium if something happened.

We did a few touristy things the past few days, and we ran into a bunch of Swifties around Vienna. We managed to trade a few bracelets, so at least we've had that experience. Hopefully, we'll get the chance to meet more Swifties while we're out and about over the next couple of days.

My friend, because she booked the tickets, received an official email from the ticketing agency saying that our tickets would be fully refunded within 10 days.

Our tickets were for the first show tonight, and although we haven't made any plans yet, we've decided to do something today because we don't want to mope around in a beautiful country.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Jeremy Strong, who has died aged 74, wrote more than 100 novels for children in the exuberantly imaginative comic tradition of The Goon Show and Monty Python, selling more than 1.5 million copies.

His breakthrough was The Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Dog (1996), which won the Childrens Book Award, and begins: Streaker is a mixed-up kind of dog. You can see from her thin body and powerful legs that shes got a lot of greyhound blood in her, along with quite a bit of Ferrari and a large chunk of whirlwind.

Whereas in classic childrens literature the golden rule is get rid of the parents, Strong was unusual in keeping the nuclear family as his backdrop. In Dinosaur Pox, the mother writes to her daughters teacher: Jodie turned into a dinosaur last night but she seems to be quite well in herself.

Strongs highest ambition, he said, was to make you laugh (or at least snuffle). Although he did write a novel called My Brothers Famous Bottom, his comedy was generally more sophisticated and inventive than the scatological gags more usually aimed at children. He relied instead on incongruity, such as a Viking transplanted to the modern day, or the domestic turned demented. A typical Strong villain was Fatbag, a demon vacuum-cleaner bent on devouring the world.

The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog won the Children's Book Award

Strong claimed that any seriousness in his books was fleeting, and he did not succumb to the fashion in 1990s childrens literature for grittiness. In comparison to David Almonds Skellig, about a bin-dwelling angel, Melvin Burgesss Junk, a young-adult drama about heroin, or Jacqueline Wilsons The Story of Tracy Beaker, about a girl in and out of care, Strongs zany farces felt like escapism.

But in their own way, they too helped young readers grapple with real problems. His books are filled with children who feel embarrassed or out of place. Adults let them down. The protagonist of Im Telling You, Theyre Aliens! is a compulsive worrier (as Strong himself was at the age of 10), and his conviction that his next-door neighbours come from space masks his anxiety about the strained state of his parents marriage.

Strong genuinely liked children (not something that can be said of all childrens writers) and described himself as arrested in the mind of a 10-year-old, but this youthful joie de vivre belied a very grown-up sense of responsibility. He was careful to write novels that were dyslexia-friendly, and gently slanted towards boys, because it was more difficult to get them to read than girls.

The Daily Telegraphs critic Dinah Hall admired his deft smuggling of titbits of knowledge within a framework of slapstick and nonsense comedy... Children are naturally suspicious of stealth education  the practice of coating an educational pill in a sugary story  but they are in safe hands with Jeremy Strong.

His stock in trade was incongruity, such as a Viking transplanted into the modern day

For 17 years Strong had practised overt education, as a teacher, ending up as head of a primary school in Kent. But in 1991 he quit because the National Curriculum was coming in and education was moving away from everything I believed in, he said. We were losing the option to seize an opportunity, if something unusual happened, such as a child bringing a rabbit into school. And it has completely wiped out the type of teachers who were so good at inspiring children.

Jeremy James Strong was born on November 18 1949 in New Eltham, south-east London, the second of four children to Charles, a pharmacist, and his wife Una, nee Shaw-Kyd, a teacher. His grandmother, who rode a Harley-Davidson in the 1920s, would inspire his 1997 novel My Grannys Great Escape.

It was a bookish household, and Jeremy began writing seriously at the age of 17. But he was also a gifted violinist, and after Haberdashers Askes Grammar School he went to York University to read music, before switching to English, although he would later play the violin in a rock band called the Inedible Cheese Sandwich.

With a young reader in 2009 - Haider Shah/AFP/Getty

He then spent some time trying to become an overnight success as a writer, as he put it, while working variously as a strawberry-picker, a relief school caretaker and at a bakery, where he would stuff jam into 3,000 doughnuts a night. He described writing novels as putting the jam into stories instead, which he found much more exciting.

He published his first childrens book, Smiths Tail, in 1978, and had 30 titles to his name before he started writing full-time in 1991. He ranged from historical fiction, with his Romans on the Rampage series about a chariot-crazy young Roman called Perilus, to Krazy Kow Saves the World, about a superhero eco-warrior cow with a versatile, Swiss-Army-knife-style magic udder.

Jeremy Strong married, first, in 1973, Susan Noot; that marriage was dissolved and he married, secondly, in 2008, Gillie Dean, who survives him with a daughter and a son from his first marriage.

Jeremy Strong, born November 18 1949, died August 4 2024

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The popular Korean variety show Jinnys Kitchen Season 2 is all set to air a brand new episode 7 this week. The reality show features popular celebrities and actors as cast members who open a Korean restaurant abroad and feed customers authentic Korean food. Season 1 of the series saw the cast in Bacalar, Mexico. Meanwhile, Season 2 landed the cast members in Reykjavik, Iceland, where they opened Jinnys Ttukbaegi (Kitchen) at a higher scale.

Episode 7 of Jinnys Kitchen Season 2 will see the cast tackle a new day of business. The second season features Lee Seo-Jin, Jung Yu-Mi, Park Seo-Joon, Choi Woo-Shik, and Go Min-Si. This week, the team will bring out a new dish to the customers while also celebrating a rather special occasion. It will be interesting to see what the upcoming episode offers its viewers.

Jinnys Kitchen season 2 episode 7: When is the release date?

Jinnys Kitchen season 2 episode 7 will be released on Friday, August 9, 2024. It will air on tvN at 8:40 p.m. KST, 5:10 p.m. IST, and 7:40 a.m. ET. Viewers who dont have access to the television network can stream the variety show episodes on Amazon Prime Video.

This weeks episode will see the cast members celebrating a special occasion. In the preview trailer for the upcoming episode, Choi Woo-Shik celebrates his birthday in Iceland as the cast films for the show. He jokingly asks the team not to prepare cakes or have a celebration when, in reality, he longs for one. However, he remains unaware of the casts plan.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team has a special birthday surprise planned for Choi Woo-Shik. Jung Yu-Mi logs in early to prepare the traditional seaweed soup for his birthday. Park Seo-Joon runs to the store to buy cake. The cast then surprises Choi Woo-Shik with a birthday celebration in the kitchen. The team then prepares for a business day and sells Yukjeon (Korean beef pancake) noodles. Viewers will have to wait and see how the new dish fares.

Where to watch the Korean variety show Jinnys Kitchen season 2 episode 7?

Viewers can tune in to Jinnys Kitchen this week exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. Individuals who dont have access to the same will have to log in to Amazon and subscribe to Prime Video to enjoy watching the Korean variety show. Meanwhile, viewers with access can watch all the previous six episodes available on the platform.

Dont forget to tune in to this weeks Jinnys Kitchen season 2 on Friday at 8:40 p.m. KST on tvN.

The post Jinnys Kitchen Season 2 Episode 7: Release Date & Where To Watch Online? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Laci Peterson's Mom Reveals What She Thought About Scott When Daughter First Told Her About Him

'American Murder: Laci Peterson,' airing Aug. 14, features rare interviews with Lacis mother and Scotts mistress Amber Frey

Courtesy of Netflix Scott and Laci Peterson are the focus of the Netflix docu-series, "American Murder: Laci Peterson"

Scott Peterson sat in an interrogation room with his hands in his jacket pockets as he answered questions about his wife Laci Peterson, who vanished on the morning before Christmas in 2002.

Everythings good? a detective, who was shown on surveillance video, asked Scott. The detective was referencing Scott's marriage to Laci, 27, who was eight months pregnant with their first child, Conner, when she disappeared from their Modesto, Calif., home.

Uh huh, Scott, then 30, answered.

What ensued in the months and years to come became one of the nations most sensational, roller-coaster-rides of a murder case that still holds the nation in thrall  especially now that Scott, 51, is fighting his 2004 conviction for the murders of his wife and unborn baby.

ZUMA Press/ZUMAPRESS.com Laci Peterson in 2002

Now, a new Netflix docuseries, American Murder: Laci Peterson, goes in-depth on the case, providing the definitive examination of the murder of the bubbly and beloved young mother-to-be, Netflix says in a release.

Related: The Laci Trial: Can He Escape His Lies?

Debuting Wed., Aug. 14, the three-part series features a rare interview with Lacis mother, Sharon Rocha, who talks about how she felt when her daughter first started dating Scott and before she had met him herself.

Laci was telling me all these things about Scott, Rocha recalls in a trailer for the docu-series. And I remember saying, as her mother, I hope hes not filling her with crap.'"

Now, she says, I have learned to go with my gut feeling.

The docuseries also features an interview with Amber Frey, who dated Scott beginning when Laci was still alive. Scott had told Frey he was a widower before having an affair with her.

When she learned he was married  and that his wife had vanished  she agreed to work with police on the case and, unbeknownst to Scott, tape intimate phone calls with him.

So what do you want to be together with me? Frey can be heard asking in one call in the docuseries trailer.

For the rest of our lives I think we could care for each other, Scott replies.



Tragic Ending

On April 13, 2003, Rocha, her family and the world were devastated to learn that Conners tiny body had been found on the shores of San Francisco Bay. Lacis badly decomposed remains were found nearby the next day.

Scott was arrested four days later. Though he has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty and claiming he was fishing when Laci vanished, he was convicted in 2004 of two counts of first-degree murder.

Related: Scott Peterson Back in Court After L.A. Innocence Project Claims Evidence Suggests He Didn't Kill Wife Laci

Scott was sentenced to death row in 2005. The death sentence was overturned in 2020, but he remains in prison for life.

He sought the help of the L.A. Innocence project, which took on his case in Jan. 2024, saying in legal filings that "new evidence now supports Mr. Peterson's long-standing claim of innocence."

Related: Why Scott Petersons Former Defense Attorney Thinks He Could Be Exonerated

The docu-series features news clips and interrogation footage as well as interviews with Lacis childhood friends, detectives, reporters, lawyers and the jurors who decided Scotts fate.

Rocha and Lacis childhood friends speak candidly about their memories of Laci, the impact this shocking crime had on their lives, and their hopes that, in coming forward to tell Lacis story for a new generation, they might empower other women experiencing intimate partner violence to escape a similarly tragic fate, Netflix says in a release.



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Read the original article on People.
On August 8, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin had a conversation with the governor of the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, Alexei Smirnov, in connection with the fighting in the Kursk region. During the conversation, the leader of the aggressor country said that Smirnov should be "courageous" in solving "difficult and extraordinary tasks".

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The conversation took place via video link. The recording was published by the Kremlin's press service.

In particular, the dictator noted that Smirnov was "recently" appointed to the post, but life poses "extraordinary, difficult tasks to help people."

"Your professional knowledge, skills, and professional experience, which you certainly have, are not enough here. Today's situation requires courage and concentration in solving the difficult, extraordinary tasks facing all branches of government," the Kremlin dictator said.

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In particular, while speaking to Smirnov, Putin also said that he was aware of the situation in the Kursk region, but that he "would like to hear you assess the situation in the region right now."

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, on August 6, the Russian Federation said that the Ukrainian military broke through the border in the Kursk region, in particular in the Suzhansky and Korenovsky districts.

Local authorities reported that active fighting was taking place on the border in the Kursk region, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, consisting of about a battalion of tanks and armored vehicles, attacked the positions of Russian troops near Nikolaevo-Daryino and Oleshnya along the border.

According to ISW, Ukraine's defenders in the Kursk region have advanced up to 10 kilometers into Russia. Defense Forces armored vehicles reached positions along the 38K-030 Sudzha  Kornevo highway, overcoming at least two defense lines and a Russian occupation stronghold.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

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Lee Kwang-Soo and Hoang Ha will star in a new Korean rom-com film, Dreams of You. The project is a global collaboration between actors from South Korea and Vietnam. The film tells the story of a superstar falling in love in a different country.

Kang Joon-Woo is a top star from South Korea, known as the Prince of Asia. He takes on a role that has to be filmed in Vietnam. He aims for the Cannes Film Festival and is ready to work harder in his new venture. During his shooting, Joon-Woo finds himself in an awkward situation without money. A Vietnamese woman, Tao, helps the actor at the time. The two then begin an unpredictable yet comfortable journey together.

Lee Kwang-Soo & Hoang Ha to appear in Korean movie Dreams of You

Lee Kwang-Soo and Hoang Ha are the lead cast of the forthcoming project, Dreams of You. The Midnight Studio star Eum Moon-Suk has also joined the team.

After a long time, Kwang-Soo will appear in a romantic comedy role. Speaking about the film, he told SBS News, Ill do my best to show a different side of myself through this film. I hope you look forward to it. Its a heartwarming romantic comedy that everyone can relate to, rather than just a dreamlike romance. He currently appears in the Disney Plus series, No Way Out: The Roulette.

Meanwhile, Hoang Ha has done many noteworthy projects in Vietnam. This will be her first time working on Korean content. Furthermore, filmmaker Kim Sung-Hoon (Confidential Assignment) is the director.

Sharing his thoughts about the movie, Sung-Hoon said, Im thrilled to be working with Lee Kwang-Soo again after ten years. Although this is a new type of project for me, Im excited because it involves exceptional staff and actors from both Korea and Vietnam.

Dreams of You will have a global release in the first half of 2025.

The post Lee Kwang-Soo & Hoang Ha To Star in Korean Rom-Com Movie Dreams of You appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Grasshopper Film has announced today its acquisition of North American distribution rights to Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasans mesmerizing documentary Nocturnes, which has picked up prize-wins at Sundance, Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, and Mediterrane Film Festival Malta, in addition to screening at other festivals, including CPHDOX, DOCVILLE, Hot Docs, Sheffield DocFest, Ambulante Documentary Film Festival, Sarasota Film Festival, and Hong Kong International Film Festival. The doc follows the secret lives of moths in the mountains of northern India and was an IndieWire Critics Pick when it debuted at Sundance in January.

Grasshopper will open the film theatrically on October 18 at New York Citys Metrograph and on October 25 at the Laemmle Royal in Los Angeles, followed by other cities. Per its official synopsis, the film is set in the dense forests of the Eastern Himalayas, [where] moths are whispering something to us. In the dark of night, two curious observers shine a light on this secret universe. Together, they are on an expedition to decode these nocturnal creatures in a remote ecological hot spot on the border of India and Bhutan. The result is a deeply immersive film that transports audiences to a rarely-seen place and urges us all to look more closely at the hidden interconnections of the natural world.

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The film is a transportive and immersive wonder, and when this writer reviewed it out of Sundance, I felt compelled to note that its quiet power demands an audiences full attention. Ideally, yes, that means in the theater, exactly where Grasshopper will take it in the thick of fall awards season. As I wrote in January, the film, which follows a pair of unlikely pals and real-life heroes as they study and track elusive hawk moths, lulls its audience back into the task at hand. Its looking and seeing, observing and feeling, and existing entirely in the moment. Time doesnt stop in the world of Nocturnes, but in this introspective and captivating doc, a respite isnt just possible, its imperative.

The deal was negotiated by Ryan Krivoshey, Founder & President of Grasshopper Film, with Dogwoof, who are handling world sales. Nocturnes is an exceptional documentary, said Krivoshey in an official statement. At a time when audiences are seeking something different and distinctive from their local theaters, Anirban and Anupamas beautiful film offers a singular cinematic adventure. It invites viewers on a collective journey into a mysterious and hidden nocturnal world with profound implications for our own. We are delighted to collaborate with Sandbox Films and the entire filmmaking team on the release of this truly special film.

The filmmakers added, We envisioned Nocturnes as a big screen experience that envelopes the viewer with the rich visuals and intricate sounds, immersing them in the breathtaking forest and the unseen beauty of the world of moths. It is a moment of great joy and immense satisfaction that our film is getting a theatrical release in the U.S., and we could not have hoped for a better partner than Grasshopper Film to distribute the film.

The film was produced by Sandbox Films, the Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning doc imprint behind such lauded films as Fire of Love, All Light, Everywhere, and Fireball, and Sandbox head of distribution Patrick Hurley noted, Watching Nocturnes in a theater is a totally unique, mesmerizing sensory experience that we cant wait to offer to audiences this fall. Weve long admired Grasshopper Film for their curation and commitment to championing works of independent, artist-driven cinema and are thrilled to work with Ryan and his team on this release.

The film was directed by Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan. This is their second feature film together. Producers are Metamorphosis Film Junction and Sandbox Films.

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Paddington In Peru's US Teaser Features An Awkward Change Over The UK Version, And Fans Are Sounding Off In The Comments

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Credit: StudioCanal

Friends, citizens, fellow aficionados of marmalade, lend me your ears! Something very interesting has happened in the campaign for the upcoming 2025 movie weve known to be named Paddington in Peru. The brand-new threequel involving the Peruvian bear still looks like a lot of fun in its recently released US teaser, and while theres not a lot of new footage, one particularly awkward absence has been noticed by the fans. That has led to a torrent of rather hysterical, and unsurprisingly polite, comments.

How Paddington In Perus US Teaser Differs From The UK Version

As you can see above, the US teaser released by Sony just seems to have the video listed as Paddington - Official Trailer. Doubling down on this curious chain of events is the lack of a mention for the title in both the video and the official graphic that comes up on screen at the end.

The good news is that Paddington 3s January 2025 release date is still in play, as its included in that final image. So for the moment we shouldnt worry about any delays separating the world any further from Ben Whishaws gentle bear and the quest to his ancestral home.

That being said, the total absence of a title is the ultimate head scratcher, especially when the video could have been labeled with something as innocuous as Paddington 3. StudioCanals official US teaser certainly has the full title listed, even if its absent from the footage. Its a scenario thats as sticky as a marmalade sandwich covered in marshmallow fluff, inspiring these well-played reactions in the comments section of the official trailer on YouTube:

"Ah yes, Paddington, the sequel to Paddington 2." - @midnightcrow2092

"Uhhh.......... did they forget the title of their own movie?" - @samil679

"Maybe they had some licensing issues with Peru" - @5MadMovieMakers

"Finally a prequel to Paddington 2! I always wondered why they started at 2 instead of 1" - @IslaNinja

"Oh okay im down for this Remake! (Someones getting fired)" - @CrazyManhog

While I highly doubt anyone would lose their job over this Paddington in Peru debacle, it does bring up an interesting question. One thats even more interesting to contemplate as were headed towards the November 8th release of this picture in the UK, with its title still seemingly intact in the homeland of creator Michael Bond.

The Brown family stands smiling in their doorway in Paddington In Peru.

Is Paddington 3 Heading For A Surprise Name Change?

One could say that director Dougal Wilsons entry in this beloved series has already seen quite a bit of change in its lifetime thanks to the Paddington 3s cast seeing the role of Mrs. Brown change hands from Sally Hawkins to Emily Mortimer. But the differences in these trailers feels like its indicating that certain branches of international marketing hasnt settled on a replacement.

You can see this on Sony Pictures' YouTube channels in Malaysia and Canada, which are labeled just the same as the US version. Which is weird, considering Sony Pictures India has the Paddington in Peru included in its label. For comparison, please take a look at the previously released UK version of Paddington In Perus teaser :

Whats also interesting is that this fresh look at the project is completely absent of any previous footage showing off the Brown familys inclusion in the adventure. That also feels like a sign of differing advertising strategies between StudioCanal and its international distributor, which only makes the concern of a name change all the more valid. Either that, or the comparisons to Triangle of Sadness are about to become more disturbingly pronounced than we thought.

Admittedly, we may need to wait until Paddington in Peru opens in the UK on November 8th before we see any sort of closure on this matter. If the film doesnt perform as its studio caretakers would like, theres a potential that the name will be altered for another bite at the sandwich throughout the world for the January 17th debut.

Let's hope that the fandom stays as cuttingly kind and polite as they were above, while we wait for further updates. The occasion might be best served revisiting the first Paddington movie (the one actually holds that title), as it's currently available for those with a Netflix subscription or a Tubi account.
A TikToker named Susan Berry has stumbled upon an airline hack that has helped her rake in thousands.

It was a blast, honestly, because I really didnt want to leave Italy, so I didnt care, Berry, who works as a freelance photographer, told the Daily Beast. Plus, it was nice hotels. I met really fun travelers that I became friends with, so I just had a ball.

When asked if shed do it again, Berry said she would in a heartbeat. I would do this forever because Im not going to turn down anything free ever, she added.

In a viral video posted to her account this week, Berry explains that her American Airlines flight from Italy to Philadelphia is overbooked until August 15.

They need someone to volunteer to standby for the flight until then, and every day they get $1200 in travel vouchers, so now Im up to $2400 because I did it twice, Berry said in the video. She then asks her audience if she should stay until the 15th and use the potential five figures to travel the world.

Comments under Berrys post encouraged her to stay and take the vouchers. Yes you should totally do that. It sounds like a much better story, one user chimed in. Yes! If they continue putting you up in a hotel and giving you the vouchers, DO IT!! another wrote.

A caption on one of her updates clarifies that this is not an infinite arrangement: once room becomes available on a flight, she will be taken off standby and has to return home. That said, there is no limit to the amount of vouchers she can collect.

Follow-up videos show Berry snagging more vouchers. In one video update, she refers to her experience as camp American Airlines. She shows viewers her routine of going to the airport, volunteering to be on standby, taking a bus back into Italy, checking into a four-star hotel, and having dinner. In total, Berry scored $3600 worth for the three flights she volunteered to be bumped from.

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A representative for Republican vice presidential contender JD Vance has finally answered the question on everyones minds: Is he wearing guyliner?

Photos of the 40-year-old senator show smoldering cerulean eyes that appear to pop off his face in a way that few people are able to achieve naturally. Previous commentary speculated that, just maybe, he was born with it. An expert suggested to Slate that the shape of his eyelids made the effect especially pronounced.

According to reporting this week from Puck News, the consensus in Washington was indeed that Vances lash line had not been cosmetically-enhanced, although a long-time connection thought he was actually wearing eyeliner.

Finally, the Puck fashion correspondent digging into the matter got a definitive, on-the-record answer.

Theyre all natural, his wife, Usha Vance, wrote in a statement to the outlet. Ive always been jealous of those lashes.

The millennial senators eyelashes have drawn praise from another key admirer: former President Donald Trump. Amid debate about whether the former president could accept a bearded running mate, The Bulwark reported that Trump has repeatedly commented favorably on his beautiful blue eyes and long eyelashes.

Trump, who is known for judging people by the way they look, publicly praised Vances appearance days before selecting him as his running mate.

He looks like a young Abraham Lincoln, Trump said.

The comment on Vances eyelashes came amid other personal commentary Vanceworld has given out to reporters in recent days and seems to fit with a new strategy to soften his image after a rocky rollout.

During a podcast appearance with the Nelk Boys last week, Vance discussed how hes too old to accept invites to Vegas anymore, the awkward VP vetting process he and his wife experienced, and how he told his son to shut the hell up for 30 seconds about Pikachu, when Trump called to offer him a place on the Republican ticket.

He even talked to Semafor about a childhood love of the card game Magic: The Gathering, saying: The big problem with transitioning from being a 13-year-old who likes Magic: The Gathering to being a 15-year-old who likes Magic: The Gathering is that 15-year-old girls do not like Magic: The Gathering.

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Ales Cesen of Slovenia and Tom Livingstone of the UK have summited Gasherbrum III.

There are no details yet on their route, but Cesen told Slovenias Alpine Association that they returned safely back to Base Camp on Tuesday.

The Gasherbrums lie a day away from K2 and Broad Peaks base camps. Image: Google Maps

The pair first tried the mountain in 2022 but failed due to bad weather.

This time, Cesen only posted two updates from the Karakoram, while Livingstone remained silent on social media.

Gasherbrum III is rarely visited and has been only summited twice. At 7,952m, the peak is 48 meters short of 8,000m status, and the approach is long and tricky. It requires climbing the Southwest Ridge of Gasherbrum II, then eventually turning left to Gasherbrum III. The team planned to use this Southwest Ridge to acclimatize before their final attempt.

Gasherbrum III on a windy day. Photo: Ales Cesen

Gasherbrum III was not climbed until a Polish expedition succeeded in 1975. Here, the legendary Wanda Rutkiewicz teamed up with Alison Chadwick-Onyszkiewicz, Janusz Onyszkiewicz, and Krzysztof Zdzitowiecki and climbed via the East Face. Basque climbers Alberto Inurrategi and Jon Beloki made the second ascent in 2004.

The weather awarded the climbers patience, clearing up after constant snowfall and high winds through most of July. August is providing an unusual window for other patient climbers, such as Tracee Metcalf of the U.S., who summited Broad Peak today.

The post Cesen and Livingstone Summit Rarely Climbed Gasherbrum III appeared first on Explorersweb.
Confetti Foundation makes sure kids feel special on their birthdays  even in the hospital

MIDDLETOWN  People care. And they want to help.

One way to tell is to look at the pink-backgrounded counter at the bottom of The Confetti Foundation's home page. The 10-year-old foundation at 212 Old Airport Road, founded and still run by town resident Stephanie Frazier Grimm, provides themed birthday party supply packages to hospitalized children across the country.

As of the writing of this article, the Confetti Foundation happy count, viewable on the website, shared these impressive numbers:

Birthdays celebrated: 19,945

Hospitals partied at: 452

Partying states: 34

Volunteer hours: 126,768

Their current extensive list of hospitals receiving monthly donations includes the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, two Presbyterian children's hospitals in New York City, and the Tomorrow Fund Clinic at Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence.

The Confetti Foundation has donated more than 20,000 birthday boxes to 451 childrens hospitals over the last 10 years.

A graduate of Middletown High School and the University of Rhode Island, Frazier Grimm, 47, is co-owner, along with mother Mary Ellen, of Frazier's Disposal Service, founded by her late father, Walt. Frazier Grimm spent 15 years (2007-2022) in the event-planning business.

The foundation website notes that The Confetti Foundation is funded through private donations, corporate team-building activities, corporate sponsors and small-business sponsors with 100% of donations going to creating, stuffing and shipping birthday party boxes at its location at 212 Old Airport Road.

Confetti Foundation founder Stephanie Frazier Grimm dances with children at a "This is My FIGHT Celebration" event.

Frazier Grimm was kind enough recently to take time out of her busy schedule to share about the Confetti Foundation in our question and answer format.

NEWPORT DAILY NEWS: With the very first child you helped, did you think it was a one-and-done or did you already have a vision of making this a charity?

STEPHANIE GRIMM FRAZIER: There was no doubt in my mind this wasnt going to be an approved charity! Especially after researching and seeing hospitals did not have the resources to host themed birthday parties.

NDN: Why do you think it caught on?

SGF: Everyone has a birthday. We all feel special when we get that call, text or social media shout out on our birthday. Birthdays bring together families, friends and communities. Most people want to give that feeling to someone else, especially a sick child.

NDN: Any hesitancy in building this? Like, what am I getting into?

SFG: No! I saw a problem and I wanted to fix it. I am a fixer by nature. The thought of party planning and helping a sick child has become my mission for everyone to want to be a part of.

NDN: How do the hospitals use the gifts?

SFG: We have donated over 20,000 birthday boxes to 451 childrens hospitals over the past 10 years. Some hospitals have included our boxes in their operating procedures for birthday celebrating among their patients. Some hospitals only use the birthday boxes for long-term patients. Every hospital is different on how they utilize our gift.

First birthdays are some of the most popular boxes the Confetti Foundation offers.

NDN: Was there any one point where something happened that made you think this could be really big?

SFG: Yes, partnering with Mazda to create a commercial and being featured on the "Today" show! This was the national audience every charity/business dreams about! With their support we were able to really launch our donations and get people to really understand our mission and be a part of what we were doing.

NDN: Could you have imagined it being this big? And will it get bigger?

SFG: We are all dreamers, so yes! I always envisioned our gift to be in every childrens hospital in the United States. My hope is to assure every sick child feels celebrated on their birthday, and that we continue to grow.

NDN: You seem to have kept this beautifully simple. Would you agree?

SFG: Yes! I have planned the most elaborate events across the world and I have learned kids just want to feel acknowledged and that can be done with simplicity. I also wanted to make sure communities felt as though they were a part of the process, but also giving respect to hospitals and their patients. 99.99% of the time we do not know who has celebrated a birthday with us.

NDN: Do you contact hospitals? Or vice versa?

SFG: Hospitals contact us to want our gift. Currently we have 100-plus hospitals on a waiting list. Once $3,000 is raised, we are capable of adding a new hospital to our yearly giving.

NDN: How many hands-on people work for Confetti?

We have two! Myself and Ashley [Trifero, program administrator] who works part time. My kids Carter and Ellie help out in the summer as well.

Princess parties are a popular theme for Confetti Foundation birthday boxes. Hospitals incorporate the boxes into their birthday celebrations for young patients.

NDN: What are the current hottest theme trends, for girls, for boys?

SFG: First birthday and toddler birthday boxes seem to be our biggest requests across all hospitals. Some specific themes are always Princess, Barbie, Video Game, Sports, Mickey Mouse, Bluey.

NDN: Who came up with the name?

SFG: I did! I wanted it to have Confetti in the name (party related) and that when you throw confetti you are happy! Foundation made sense because we were building a foundation in communities to celebrate their neighbors but sponsoring and collecting supplies for birthday boxes.

The Confetti Foundation can be reached at (401) 619-4333.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Confetti Foundation: RI charity sends birthdays in a box to hospitals
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A new program in New Mexico aims to make sure new mothers are ready to take on the challenges of parenthood. After serving hundreds of Bernalillo County mothers, the program is getting ready to expand. News 13 spoke with one family who took advantage of the home visitation program.

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They came out here, and they were like, What do you need?' said Maria Luna Montoya, who came into contact with the Family Connects New Mexico program in the hospital shortly after giving birth to her son Christopher nine months ago.

You know, someone that was concerned whether my baby had a safe place to sleep or not, or she said, Do you have enough diapers? Maybe I can bring you some diapers. And thats also really cool because again, I had never encountered something like that, Montoya said.

Chandra Jimenez, RN BSN, is the nurse supervisor for the program, and was the nurse who visited Montoya: She did a house visit I believe about two weeks after Christopher was born and she came and shes like, Well, how can I help you? What can I help you with, what do you need, what resources?

I oversee a team of two nurses, a program support specialist, and a community alignment specialist, Jimenez said. Her team visits moms, babies, and families three weeks post-partum after meeting with them in clinics and hospitals before they give birth. Its an in-between point between mom leaving the hospital and having her six-week post-partum check, Jimenez said.

In those home visits, they do physical assessments of the babies, offer advice and information about how to keep them safe and healthy, and connect them with resources for getting supplies and services they need. Whether thats support with breastfeeding, or maybe the bond between mom and baby or dad and baby isnt going well; maybe theres some insecurities in the home. So, we are a short-term home visiting program so we are offering connections to resources within the community, Jimenez said.

We recognize that it can be a very exciting season, happy time, but its sometimes a challenging season as well, Jimenez said.

Their goal is to offer whatever support they can to new families. 96% of families have a need and were there to meet families where theyre at and offer it universally and normalize home visiting, said. Dominic Rodriguez, Northwest Region Director of the Public Health Division of the New Mexico Department of Health.

The program started in New Mexico in January 2023 and is based on a model out of North Carolina. The model we really want to hit 60 percent of our families in our service area, and we do a really good job getting close and exceeding that, Rodriguez said. Right now, the free program only extends to mothers who use three clinics in Bernalillo County, including Eubank Womens Health, Northwest Valley, and West Mesa; and, give birth at UNM Hospital.

However, just this year, theyve served 400 mothersabout 60% of families in that populationand it was enough to earn them certification from the program, meaning they can expand. As we expand, and now that were certified we can, we will be able to cover all prenatal clinics that deliver at UNM Hospital, as long as the mom and the family or whomever is taking the child home is a Bernalillo County resident, Rodriguez said,

Montoya said having this support was a heartwarming experience: I didnt have this kind of support with my other two kids and I wish I had.

Family Connects New Mexico hopes to expand across the Albuquerque metro area by next year, and is working with the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) to see if they could expand these services across the state.

Whether its their first, second, third child, every family has a need and our team is wonderful and theyll help you navigate this period and have you down the right track, Rodriguez said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Inside the two-member aircraft was a pilot instructor, who was killed, and a U.S. Army student pilot, who was "airlifted" to the hospital, per authorities

Getty An AH 64 Apache military helicopter performing a demonstration flight

A helicopter crash at an Alabama military base has resulted in one persons death and another being injured, during what was described as a routine flight training.

On Wednesday, Aug. 7, around 1:40 p.m. local time, military officials at the Ford Novosel base were notified of a mishap of an AH-64 Apache helicopter conducting routine flight training on Fort Novosel, according to a release shared with PEOPLE from the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Novosel.

Inside the two-member aircraft were a pilot instructor, who was killed, and a U.S. Army student pilot, who was airlifted via Army MEDEVAC helicopter for further medical evaluation, the release said.

Related: 2 National Guard Pilots Who Were Killed in Blackhawk Helicopter Crash on Ala. Highway Identified

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John Cawley, the Dale County Coroner, identified the deceased instructor pilot as Daniel Munger, 46, who was a contractor and retired from the Army, according to The Associated Press.

The identification of the injured student pilot has not yet been released.

Related: Marines Who Died in Helicopter Crash Identified, Including Newlywed: He Was Everything, Says Wife

Our primary concern is the welfare and health of the student pilot and care and concern for the family of the deceased, Maj. Gen. Clair A. Gill, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Novosel commanding general, said in the release following the deadly crash.

Currently, there are no additional details regarding what caused the helicopter crash  but military officials said the mishap is under investigation.

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Read the original article on People.
If the Russian Federation falls, other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States will fall into this vortex, the illegally elected president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has warned. He advised the CIS to stick together because "recent events show that no one needs us."

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The dictator made these remarks on August 8 to the members of the Council of CIS Interior Ministers. Lukashenko said that they could not do without unity.

"And if we don't realize this today, we will be dealt with separately. But if Russia falls, we will all be dragged into this whirlpool," he said.

The politician recalled Russia's "SMO" against Ukraine. He acknowledged that "many leaders and security officials  which should not be the case  have begun to look for some kind of benefit for themselves in this."

"You know, guys, based on my experience, I will say that life is so tumultuous now and very changeable. Many people are looking for benefits, including avoiding our general development trend, created in Soviet times. Some [think]: "Let's stay away from Russia, it's under sanctions. We are somehow afraid of falling under them and so on... We are looking for our own benefit. Don't do this," Lukashenko was worried.

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He said that no one knows "what will happen to us, to our states tomorrow," and that someone may have to come to Russia and ask for help.

"And recent events show that no one needs us. Neither Russia, nor you and me, and so on. We need to stick together," a friend of Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin urged.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
LUCAMA, N.C. (WNCN)  One person is dead after a reported tornado touched down in Wilson County early Thursday morning, ravaging its way through multiple homes and a middle school.

This happened at Springfield Middle School, which is located in Lucama on Wiggins Mill Road.

Photo by Lance Blocker/CBS 17

Photo by Lance Blocker/CBS 17

Photo by Lance Blocker/CBS 17

(Courtesy: Robbie Driver)

(Courtesy: Robbie Driver)

(Courtesy: Robbie Driver)

(Courtesy: Robbie Driver)

(Courtesy: Robbie Driver)

(Courtesy: Robbie Driver)

(Courtesy: Robbie Driver)

(Courtesy: Robbie Driver)

(Courtesy: Robbie Driver)

(Courtesy: Robbie Driver)

(Courtesy: Robbie Driver)

Wilson County Emergency Management Director Gordon Deno confirmed the damage sustained to the school was from a tornado.

Please do not drive to this area, Deno said. Emergency officials are on scene.

ALERT: Debby brings flooding rains, tornado threat today to central NC

According to a social media post from the Wilson County Government, four homes have structural damage near the vicinity of Wiggins Mills Road and Lloyd Road, as well as Friendship Primitive Baptist Church in Lucama.

Superintendent Dr. Lane Mills with Wilson County Schools released the following statement:

We can confirm that there is damage to Springfield Middle School in Lucama. The impact appears to be focused on the 6th and 7th grade halls where sections of the roof and walls are missing or compromised. I headed out to the school right after hearing about the damage and walked the building with members of our local fire departments and maintenance staff. I am thankful that students and staff were not in the building during the time of the storm. Im grateful to our partners with the local fire departments, Wilson County Emergency Management, first responders and Wilson County Sheriffs Office for keeping us informed and for being onsite. This situation will be ongoing and we dont yet know the full extent of the damage, but we will be sharing information and next steps with our families and staff as we can. It was heartbreaking to see the school right after the event, and I want to thank all the caring folks that have already reached out to offer assistance and support.

CBS 17 crew reports that the area near Springfield Middle School is shut down due to downed power lines and damage, while law enforcement are closing roadways across the county.

Officials with Wilson County also confirmed with CBS 17 that one person was found dead inside a home that collapsed due to the tornado. Officials believe that this person was the homeowner.

(Deana Harley/CBS 17)

(Deana Harley/CBS 17)

(Deana Harley/CBS 17)

A tornado watch went into effect for several counties in central North Carolina earlier in the morning.

Click here to follow along with the CBS 17 Storm Team as break down the latest severe weather updates.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
1 person in custody after shots fired at popular Buckhead restaurant

A summer evening for restaurant goers was interrupted after shots were fired in Buckhead.

Atlanta police said they were called out to a shots-fired call at Capital Grille on East Paces Ferry Road.

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At this time, police are still investigating the specifics.

The establishment had minor property damage but no injuries have been reported.

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One person was detained at the scene.

Police do not know what led to shots being fired.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Ten years after Michael Brown Jr. was shot and killed by a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer, sparking outrage and protests around the country, no one has been criminally charged in his death.

In an exclusive interview with "GMA3," Lezley McSpadden, Brown's mother, told DeMarco Morgan that she is still waiting for justice, as she described the range of emotions she has felt over the past decade.

"Emotional, sad, heartbreaking," McSpadden said. "Waiting on the promises that were made by certain officials. And 10 years later those promises have just become broken promises."

PHOTO: Lezley McSpadden (right), the mother of Michael Brown, who was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer 10 years ago, spoke with DeMarco Morgan of 'Good Morning America 3' about her fight for justice for her son. (ABC News)

McSpadden said that Wesley Bell, the St. Louis County prosecuting attorney, promised her he would file charges, but then chose not to pursue an indictment in 2020.

"Wesley Bell promised to review the evidence and would never promise to file charges in any case," Chris King, spokesperson to the prosecuting attorney, told ABC News in a statement. "And he kept that promise by reviewing the evidence and making a public announcement that he would not file charges. At the end of the day, as was concluded by the DOJ and other investigative agencies, there is not sufficient evidence to justify any charges."

Brown, 18, was shot six times by then Ferguson, Missouri, Police Officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9, 2014. The fatal encounter all stemmed from an incident earlier in the day when Brown was accused of stealing a pack of cigarillos from a nearby liquor store.

Brown's death ignited weeks of protests, chaos and unrest in the small town located 15 miles north of St. Louis, putting Ferguson into the public consciousness. Claims of excessive force and racial bias would lead to demonstrations around the country.

"That's kind of like my worst nightmare that came true," Deja Brown, Mike Brown's sister told Morgan. "You always hear about Black males in the world just being killed for whatever reason, like, they don't make it past 25."

MORE: Prosecutor won't charge Ferguson cop who killed Michael Brown

"I was at work," McSpadden said, referring to the day her sister called her to tell her Brown was shot. "She just said to me, 'They shot Mike-Mike' [Brown's nickname]. Those were her only words to me. When I clicked over and say 'Hello,' my heart dropped."

McSpadden immediately received a ride from a co-worker to the scene where her son's body lay in the street for more than four hours.

"I saw an officer standing there," McSpadden said. "He's never seen me. I've never seen him. And I asked him, 'Is that my son? And he say, 'yeah.' And I can't tell you anything that happened after that for probably 72 hours because I died for a second there. I just lost it. I couldn't believe it. Why?"

PHOTO: Lezley McSpadden, mother of slain Michael Brown Jr, is seen during a panel at Politicon in Los Angeles, Oct. 10, 2015. (Mintaha Neslihan Eroglu/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Wilson claimed Brown attacked him and tried to take his service weapon. A St. Louis County grand jury declined to press charges against Wilson in November 2014, sparking more protests, arson and clashes with law enforcement in Ferguson.

"They got out the car, maybe six police officers, and they grabbed their dogs, and I was one of the people who was blocking the street," Deja Brown said when she remembered one particular night of protests. "I felt like I needed to be out there too. You know? Like, us being out here was making a statement."

Wilson resigned from the police force soon after.

The U.S. Justice Department also chose not to indict the former officer in March 2015 due to witness accounts and evidence that claimed Brown attacked Wilson. The DOJ stated that they found no evidence to disprove Wilson's belief that he feared for his safety.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump represented McSpadden and the family right after Brown was killed.

MORE: 5 years after Michael Brown's death, his father is seeking a new investigation

"Everybody to a one in that Black neighborhood said that Michael had his hands up, which is the universal symbol of surrender," Crump told Morgan. "And I don't care what you allege he did. Once he puts his hands up, you don't kill him."

Accounts that Brown put his hands up are "inaccurate because they are inconsistent with the physical and forensic evidence," the DOJ states in its criminal report.

Brown's family received a $1.5 million settlement in 2017 after they filed a lawsuit against the City of Ferguson.

The judge ordered the settlement agreement sealed, writing that its disclosure "could jeopardize the safety of individuals involved in this matter, whether as witnesses, parties, or investigators," according to the Post-Dispatch.

In an exclusive interview with ABC News in 2014, Wilson told George Stephanopoulos during an interview on "Good Morning America" that he wished to see peace in Ferguson in the wake of the civil unrest.

"You can't perform the duties of a police officer and have racism in you," Wilson said. "I help people. That's my job."

PHOTO: Michael Brown is seen in this photo posted to Facebook, May 19, 2013. (Courtesy Brown Family/Facebook)

ABC News reached out to Wilson by phone to request an interview, but he declined to comment.

"I met mothers that didn't look like me that experienced the same thing," McSpadden told Morgan. "And what we did have in common was the communities that we came from. Poverty stricken, low-income housing, people that they think are uneducated. But I will say that it's been outrageously done to those who look like you and I."

McSpadden created the Michael O.D. Brown Foundation in her son's memory after his death. She said the foundation has awarded thousands of dollars to college-bound scholars -- most of the students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

"All of his siblings loved him," McSpadden said as she described how she wanted her son to be remembered. "When it comes to the tech industry, computers, music, he was a lover of all those things. And he was self-taught.  He would have been a great contribution to this world, had his time not been cut short."

10 years after Michael Brown's death, his mom still fights for justice originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers speaks about an 11-state effort to get the EPA to set a national rule on labeling farm chemicals. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers speaks about an 11-state effort to get the EPA to set a national rule on labeling farm chemicals. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

OMAHA  Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird joined two farmers and state agricultural officials Wednesday in drawing a line in fertile soil.

The two ag-led states were among 11 states urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to stop a patchwork of state labeling efforts on farm chemicals.

Attorneys general in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, and South Dakota asked the EPA to issue a new rule on labeling.

Hilgers and Bird said their states typically nudge the federal government the other direction, against national regulation. This time, however, ag states are more worried about regulations being driven by California.

Californias labeling decision

The Golden State has pressed to label the weed-killer glyphosate as a carcinogen, meaning a chemical that can cause cancer. Glyphosate is more commonly known by its trade name, Roundup, a weed killer.

California officials have said the move is based on science. They and others point to a 2015 decision by the World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer labeling glyphosate as a probable trigger of cancer in humans.

States that object to labeling the chemical a carcinogen, including Nebraska and Iowa, say thats wrong. They point to older, longer EPA studies deeming glyphosate safe in agricultural uses as long as people follow the directions for use.

We know labeling, its a nationwide marketplace for this particular product, Hilgers said. The EPA has been given the authority to actually help regulate the labeling in this context.

The goal of the ag-state effort, he said, is to avoid the costs of complying with competing labeling requirements from multiple states, the logistical challenges involved and potential litigation.

Fears of glyphosate

Some academic studies have found that glyphosate has contributed to cancer when people are exposed to too much or apply it incorrectly.

Bayer, which bought Roundup from Monsanto, removed glyphosate from the Roundup spray people use in their homes in 2023 after lawsuits were filed. Some farmers have said they dont want to lose the ability to use the product in their fields.

A University of Washington review of research on the chemical has found that its risks are real, and another study cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found traces of the chemical in the urine of 80% of the 2,310 people surveyed nationally.

Four Nebraska farmers sued Monsanto in 2016 alleging that its use was to blame for their non-Hodgkins lymphoma. They argued the product was mislabeled and should have contained warnings.

Farmers need reliable weed control

Glyphosate defenders say it controls weeds more cheaply and effectively than other options and point to EPA findings that the chemical can be safely used by following directions.

Bird, who said she still lives on family-owned farm ground, said ag faces enough challenges without worrying about whether one state can ban something that farmers in other states rely on to control weeds.

She said her family and Iowa farmers have been using glyphosate for decades without trouble. Bird said if they need to resort to different weed-control options it will add to the costs of farming and food.

It kind of tells you something when, in order to keep on farming, farmers need a lawyer to stand up for them against regulations, and Im very glad to do that, she said.

Asked why companies manufacturing glyphosate and other farm chemicals couldnt just print Californias label and sell the product elsewhere Hilgers said laws in Nebraska and other states prevent deceptive and inaccurate labeling.

Bird and Hilgers questioned what would happen if other states want to attach product labels they disagree with. Bird said its an issue of why one state should dictate to others.

Theres no way that a state like California should tell a farmer in Nebraska or Iowa how to farm, she said. Its not their business, and its not their place as far as the law goes.

Hilgers said farmers might also have to worry about the costs of potential lawsuits if they apply a product labeled as a carcinogen, whether that label is based on science or not.

Ag perspectives

Sherry Vinton, the director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, said farmers cant control the prices that crops and livestock fetch at market, but they try to control input costs.

We dont need to be price-gouged on our input costs from unnecessary government regulation, she said of the California labeling decision, which a court has since halted through an injunction.

Kevin Ross, a farmer from Underwood, Iowa, and a past president of the National Corn Growers Association, said farmers need the EPA to set a national rule for all to follow.

He said glyphosate is one of the most cost-effective tools he has to control weeds. Other options require more expensive chemicals that dont perform as well and might be more harmful, Ross said.

Competition is real

Mark McHargue, president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau and a Merrick County corn and soybean farmer, said there is a limit to the number of tools farmers can use to grow food.

He said American farmers often compete with growers from Argentina and other countries that use glyphosate with fewer restrictions.

McHargue said farmers arent asking to put people at risk. Theyre asking to have consistent rules, grounded in science, that are set at the national level.

There is a growing trend as new herbicides, chemicals and livestock production methods are developed and farmers start using those tools, he said. A movement of certain people, maybe thats not scientifically based, saying, you know, I dont like that.

Hilgers and Bird said it is their job to protect farmers and ranchers from that uncertainty. Hilgers said the ag states want to encourage the EPA to do the right thing and exercise its congressionally approved authority.

If it doesnt, Hilgers said, states are prepared to pursue other options, from trying to address the issue in the farm bill to filing lawsuits. He said glyphosate is that important.

There is no substitute for it, Hilgers said. We dont have a substitute that is as effective and as low cost that exists.

Nebraska Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nebraska Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Cate Folsom for questions: info@nebraskaexaminer.com. Follow Nebraska Examiner on Facebook and X.
12-Year-Old Girl Died of Complications from Diabetes. Why Are Her Parents Charged?

Alice Bredhold was found dead in her home in July following months of allegations from her school that she had high blood-sugar levels, per authorities

browning funeral home Alice Ruby Bredhold

Authorities in Indiana have arrested a couple more than a month after their daughter was found dead on the floor in her bedroom.

Alice Bredhold, 12, was found dead on Thursday, July 4, in her Evansville, Ind., home, Evansville police said, per 14 News, WIBC and the Evansville Courier & Press.

On Wednesday, Aug. 7, her parents Ashley and Brent Bredhold were arrested on neglect charges, according to online case information reviewed by PEOPLE.

Authorities accuse Alices parents of not taking proper care of the child's diabetes, per 14 News, WEVV and the Courier & Press.

A coroner ruled that Alice died from complications related to her diabetes, per the outlets. The coroner said Alice's liver was more than twice the size of an adult woman's and her blood sugar was found to be between four to eight times the average for a person her age, per the Courier & Press.

Vanderburgh County Jail Dad Brent (left); and Ashley Bredhold

Authorities claim the alleged lack of care for Alice's health had been going on for months.

According to unspecified court records cited by the Courier & Press and WIBC, as well as police statements cited by 14 News, Alice's school had claimed to child services that Alice had extremely high blood-sugar levels on several occasions.

A school nurse allegedly claimed her high blood-sugar level was "a chronic issue" per the Courier & Press.

On one occasion, the nurse reported Alice had a blood-sugar level that was "life threatening," according to police and the nurse's complaint that was included in court filings, the Courier & Press and WEVV reported.

Alice allegedly came to school with a high blood-sugar level 34 times since January, per investigators, the Courier & Press reported.

In her interviews, Ashley allegedly said she sent her son to wake up Alice on the afternoon of July 4 when he found her unconscious on the floor, WEVV reported, citing a police report.

The mother allegedly told investigators that she did not check on her daughter until two hours later. After noting an "extremely high" blood-sugar level, she gave her medicine but waited two more hours before calling 911, per the police report.

After noting an "extremely high" blood-sugar level, she gave her medicine but did not call 911 until two more hours later, per the police report."



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Police allege in the report that when they responded to the scene, the home was infested with bugs and had trash bags strewn all around, per 14 News, WEVV and the Courier & Press. Police said they removed two other children from the home.

Ashley and Brent were booked into jail on Wednesday after the month-long investigation and each was charged with a count of neglect of a dependent resulting in a death, according to Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office online records.

Theyre each being held on $100,000 bond, records show. It wasn't immediately clear if they have entered pleas. Attorney information was not available in the online charging records.



If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.



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Like other metro areas across the country, Austin faces major housing affordability and homelessness issues.

On Wednesday, officials marked the planned opening of Balcones Terrace, the latest project seeking to make a dent on both fronts, city leaders and housing affordability advocates say.

With 123 apartment units for low-income residents, people exiting homelessness and others, the housing complex is expected to open next month in a converted extended-stay hotel in Northwest Austin that has been redesigned and renovated.

Mayor Kirk Watson joined Austin-based Foundation Communities, a nonprofit affordable housing developer, the Austin Housing Finance Corp. and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to mark next month's planned opening of the project. It is Foundation Community's 27th affordable housing community in Austin.

A former extended stay hotel in Northwest Austin has been converted into a soon-to-open supportive housing community with 123 units. The complex will offer housing and services for single adults exiting homelessness, as well as individuals with extremely low incomes and fixed incomes such as veterans and older adults.

If all goes as planned, the complex could open in September, pending a certificate of occupancy from the city of Austin.

Located near Loop 360 (Capital of Texas Highway) and MoPac Boulevard in the Arboretum area, the new community is designed for low-income single adults and formerly unhoused individuals.

We are excited to be opening Balcones Terrace, said Walter Moreau, executive director of Foundation Communities. It will provide a home for 123 of our neighbors who have struggled to find housing they could afford in Austin, as well as a supportive community.

Balcones Terrace will provide housing for people transitioning from homelessness, as well as people with extremely low incomes and fixed incomes such as veterans and older adults, city officials said. Permanent supportive housing provides housing assistance, such as long-term rental assistance, and other services to help people get back on stable footing.

More: New projects adding to Austins affordable housing options

Residents will have on-site services and amenities, including case management, a food pantry, community room, a courtyard, community kitchen, exercise room, computer lab and TV room. Fifty project-based vouchers from the city's Housing Authority have been awarded to Balcones Terrace for people who have experienced chronic homelessness.

The apartments at Balcones Terrace range from 388 to 620 square feet. Ninety percent of the units will be reserved for households with incomes at or below 30% of Travis County's median family income, and the remaining 10% for households at or below 50% of the median family income.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Watson said partnerships like the one the city has had with Foundation Communities for some two decades are vital in addressing housing affordability and homelessness. Projects like Balcones Terrace are helping to "create communities like what we have here now for our most vulnerable residents," Watson said.

"We really know thousands in our city are looking for a place to call home," including many who have been chronically homeless, Watson said, adding that Austin "still has a long way to go to answer need for affordability."

"This is not just a roof over a head," Watson said of Balcones Terrace. "It is a new chance. It is hope. It is stability. It's love that otherwise would be lost."

Ninety percent of the units will be reserved for households with incomes at or below 30% of Travis County's median family income, and the remaining 10% for households at or below 50% of the median family income.

Under those guidelines, and depending on the floor plan, monthly rents for an individual with a maximum annual income of $26,500 will range from $575 to $650. For a single person with an annual income of up to $44,100, monthly rents would range from $675 to $750.

The Balcones Terrace units will range in size from 388 to 620 square feet.

Balcones Terrace formerly housed a two-building, four-story extended-stay hotel. The Austin Housing Finance Corp. owns the property and signed a 55-year lease with Foundation Communities to manage and provide services to the community long term.

The conversion of the former hotel at 10024 N. Capital of Texas Highway was made possible with a combination of funding sources. They include $10 million from the city of Austin and $8 million in Community Development Block Grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Along with marking the upcoming opening of Balcones Terrace, Wednesday's event coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Community Development Block Grant program, which has awarded Austin more than $353 million for low-income housing and other economic opportunities since 1975, officials said.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Ribbon cutting marks opening of 123-unit Balcones Terrace in Austin
15-Year-Old Girl Dead After Being Electrocuted by Power Cables and Decapitated by Current: Reports

Debora Rebeca Xi Artola, 15, died after accidentally coming into contact with the cables, according to local authorities

A Guatemalan teenager died after she accidentally came into contact with high-voltage cables and was subsequently decapitated by the current, according to multiple reports.

Debora Rebeca Xi Artola, 15, was on top of a building in the El Centro neighborhood of Alta Verapaz when her tragic death occurred, according to a Spanish-language news release shared by local fire officials.

Yane Valdes/GoFundMe Debora Rebeca Xi Artola, who died in a power line accident in Guatemala in August 2024

The teen seemingly did not notice the wires around her and received an electric shock when she accidentally touched them, fire officials said.

Neighbors claimed a group of teens were practicing dance moves on the roof when Debora slipped and got caught in the cables, according to Spanish-language newspaper El Heraldo.

Related: 3 People Seriously Injured After Hot Air Balloon Strikes Power Lines, Catches Fire and Crashes in Indiana

One clip of the incident, viewed by PEOPLE, seemingly showed the teens on the roof moments before Artola fell onto the power line.

The high-voltage cables sent electricity surging through Deboras body, which led to her decapitation, per El Heraldo and Television Azteca.

Debora was pronounced dead at the scene, according to fire officials. She fell about six meters (nearly 20 feet) to the ground.

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Andrea Xi, Deboras mother, honored her daughter with multiple emotional posts on Facebook, including one with an image of the late teen at her quinceanera in March, according to The New York Post.

I love you forever. My princess, she wrote in one, adding in another that her daughter was her first and great love."

Related: Oregon Teen Relives Moment She Rescued Baby After 3 People Were Killed by Collapsed Powerline

Erik Artola, one of Deboras relatives, also paid tribute to the teen with a special TikTok video featuring clips from the young ladys life. You are in heaven but you deserved to be here longer, he wrote atop the images.

A GoFundMe campaign has been started to assist Deboras family in wake of the tragedy.



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151-Year-Old Banyan Tree Scorched by Maui Wildfires Is Healing Well  See the Remarkable Photos

About 40% of the Lahaina landmark reportedly died after the fires tore through the area in August 2023  but experts say the tree's recovery has been incredible

AP Photo/Rick Bowmer; AP Photo/Mengshin Lin Lahaina banyan tree hawaii in August 2023, and July 2024

The historic, 151-year-old banyan tree that was burned during the Maui wildfires in August 2023 is still healing.

The Lahaina landmark was charred one year ago when the fires tore through the area and killed more than 100 people, per ABC News and The Washington Post.

Duane Sparkman, chair of the Maui County Arborist Committee, said about half of the trees branches died due to loss of moisture, according to the Associated Press.

But with some help, other parts of the banyan tree grew back  and some places are even growing fruit.

You see a lot of long, long branches with hundreds of leaves back on the tree, Sparkman said, adding, Its pretty amazing to see that much of the tree come back.

Mario Tama/Getty The bayan tree in Lahaina in July 2024, nearly a year after the deadly Maui wildfires

The banyan tree was gifted to Lahaina by India in 1873 to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Protestant missionaries arrival in the area, according to the AP.

Since then, the tree has become a popular tourist attraction. Now, thanks to arborists, it is seeing new life after surviving the 2023 fatal fire, though it was heavily damaged in the blaze.

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About 40% of the tree was lost, said Timothy Griffin, the County of Maui arborist, per ABC News. But the tree also made remarkable strides as it healed.

In just three weeks, experts saw the banyan tree make the kind of progress they expected in three months, according to Griffin.

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty The banyan tree in Lahaina that was charred during the Maui wildfires

To track the trees progress, experts use 14 sensors that are screwed into the plant to monitor its health and progress, according to the AP.

There are also plans to implement an irrigation system that would provide water and nutrients to the tree through its vertical roots, Sparkman said.

Related: Lahainas Beloved 150-Year-Old Banyan Tree Sprouts New Life Following Deadly Maui Wildfires

The banyan tree still has much more healing to do. Griffin told ABC News the tree will likely need some sort of reconstructive surgery within the next 10 to 20 years to address what was damaged and dead from the fire. Nonetheless, they maintain that the progress it has made is still incredible.



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The Father Who Sent His 17-Year-Old Son to Kill Rapper PnB Rock Just Received the Ultimate Punishment

Updated on Sept. 24, 2024 at 9:45a.m. ET (Two murder suspects have now been sentenced to prison)

The family of Philadelphia rap artist PnB Rock finally received justice two years after his untimely death. A 42-year-old father was found guilty of murder and sentenced after he sent his 17-year-old son to rob the rapper at a Roscoes Chicken and Waffles in Los Angeles.



Back in August, a jury found Freddie Lee Trone guilty on one count of murder, two counts of robbery, and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, according to the Los Angeles District Attorneys Office. On Monday (Sept. 23) Trone was finally sentenced to 31 years to life behind bars for the crime.

The DAs office also reported a second defendant, Tremont Jones, was also found guilty on two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery. Security footage puts Jones at the scene. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

During the two week trial leading up to the guilty verdicts, both sides admitted the teenager robbed Rock for his jewelry before shooting him in front of his family, per AP News. Although the defendant argued Trone only acted as an accessory to murder after the fact, the jury also held him responsible for sending his son to commit the crime.

In September 2022, the then 17-year-old walked into the Los Angeles restaurant wearing a ski mask. He approached Rock real name Rakim Hasheem Allen his girlfriend, and their now 4-year-old daughter before demanding Allens jewelry, according to BBC. After shooting him multiple times, the teen then stole some of Allens jewelry from his body before hopping into a getaway car driven by his father. The rapper was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Trones son is now 19, but due to his minor status when the murder was committed, his identity has not been released, and he is currently held at a juvenile detention facility. According to the DAs office, he is scheduled for a status conference on Oct. 2.



Today, justice has been served with the sentencing of two men for the tragic and senseless murder of Rakim Hasheem Allen, also known to many as the talented rap artist PnB Rock, said District Attorney George Gascon following the sentencing. I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Rakim Allen. His life was cut short by an act of violence that no family should have to endure.

He continued, I also want to commend the tireless efforts of our Community Violence Reduction Division. Their dedication to this case demonstrates the importance of collaboration between law enforcement, prosecutors, and the community in reducing violence and bringing perpetrators to justice.

Shauntel Trone, the teens step-mother, pleaded no contest in connection with the Selfish rappers death. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 16, 2025, per the DAs office.

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(PUEBLO, Colo.)  A 19-year-old man has been identified as the person found dead in a Pueblo home after barricading himself and firing shots at responding police officers on Tuesday, July 30.

According to the Pueblo County Coroner, 19-year-old James Jaramillo was found dead in a home in the 2100 block of South Drive, on Pueblos north side, following a barricaded suspect situation.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Barricaded suspect found dead after officer-involved shooting in Pueblo

Officers with the Pueblo Police Department (PPD) originally responded to reports of a man armed with what appeared to be an AR-15-style rifle who was firing shots near the intersection of Aztec Drive and Valley Drive. Once officers arrived on the scene, the suspect was seen going into the home on South Drive, and when officers tried to make contact, the suspect fired shots at officers. At least one officer returned fire.

Courtesy: FOX21 Photojournalist Dez Rowe

Courtesy: FOX21 Photojournalist Dez Rowe

Courtesy: FOX21 Photojournalist Dez Rowe

Courtesy: FOX21 Photojournalist Dez Rowe

Courtesy: FOX21 Photojournalist Dez Rowe

After numerous failed attempts to try and communicate with Jaramillo or get him to come out, SWAT Team members entered the home and found Jaramillo dead. No one else was inside the home at the time of the incident, and there were no injuries to officers or bystanders.

The Pueblo County Coroner released Jaramillos identity on Aug. 7.

The 10th Judicial Critical Incident Response Team, led by the Colorado Bureau of Investigations, is handling the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.

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Despite the sanctions and ongoing attempts to bring down Russia's economy, Western companies continue to insure tankers used by the aggressor country to export its oil. It turned out that they rely only on letters in which Russian companies can lie about compliance with sanctions.

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According to Reuters, Western insurance companies covered insurance risks for tankers carrying Russian oil after the G7 set a price ceiling on it. In 2022, to hit Russia's ability to finance the war against Ukraine, Western insurers and ships were allowed to participate in the trade of Russian oil only if it was sold at a price below $60/barrel.

Despite this, Russia banned oil and gas companies from complying with the restrictions and continued to sell raw materials through its ports on the Baltic Sea to Asia. The average price of oil amounted to $69.4 per barrel.

In total, Western insurers have signed contracts with 10 Russian tankers: one vessel was insured by Gard (Norway) and two more by American Club (USA) and West of England (Luxembourg). It is known that they insured Gioiosa and Orion I, which delivered Rosneft oil to China in early 2024.

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The American Club claims that when providing coverage for Gioiosa, they did not have access to information about the price of oil. Gard representatives claim that they relied on confirmation of the price cap and checked additional sources of data and information.

The insurance companies emphasized that they make decisions on which merchant ships to insure based on letters from cargo operators regarding the legality of their operations and compliance with Western sanctions. The journalists' questions about the restrictions were forwarded to the International Group (IG) of P&I clubs, which provides insurance for 90% of the world's fleet.

As previously reported by OBOZ.UA, Russia managed to redirect oil exports to India and China, which allowed it to increase oil and gas revenues in June by more than 50% compared to last year, to 814 billion rubles ($9.4 billion). This demonstrates the effectiveness of Russia's strategy to circumvent Western sanctions.

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Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  An investigation is underway after a violent robbery at a car wash in Antioch Wednesday night.

The robbery happened around 10:45 p.m. at a car wash on Murfreesboro Pike near the Bell Road intersection.

Shooting investigation underway in Lakewood

(Photo: WKRN)

Metro police reported the victim was at the car wash when two men robbed him of his wallet but the victim refused to hand over his phone. One of the suspects beat the victim with a pistol in his mouth and demanded the phone, according to Metro police.

The victim then gave the suspects his phone.

No additional information was immediately released.

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 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

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CHEROKEE, Iowa (KCAU)  Two people were seriously injured in a three-vehicle crash in rural Woodbury County on Wednesday.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash took place at about 12:43 p.m. at the intersection of Iowa Highway 140 and 110th Street, about five miles northeast of Moville.

Union County reducing speed limit around Dakota Valley schools

A 2007 Lexus RX 350 was headed east on 110th Street. The driver, 31, of Storm Lake, reportedly did not stop at the stop sign at the intersection and hit the left side of a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 that was headed north.

A third vehicle, a 1999 Peterbilt 377, was also headed north behind the GMC and hit the left side of the Lexus, the Iowa State Patrol said.

The driver of the Lexus and a passenger, 29, of Storm Lake, were both taken to the hospital. Both had serious injuries, but fortunately, the Iowa State Patrol said both their lives were saved by seatbelts. Their current status is unknown.

The statuses of the drivers of the other two vehicles were not specified.

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A jury has convicted two men of murder in the South-Central Los Angeles robbery of rapper PnB Rock on Wednesday.



Per Rolling Stone, Freddie Trones 17-year-old son was sent to rob the entertainer whose real name is Rakim Allen. Trones co-conspirator Tremont Jones was discovered to be driving the getaway vehicle. PnB Rock was 30.



Trone was found guilty of felony murder, robbery, and conspiracy. The rapper was dining at popular eatery Roscoes Chicken and Waffles when he was robbed and killed by Trones son.



The prosecution based their argument on surveillance footage which shows Trones son getting out of the getaway vehicle that his father and Tremont were in. The cameras also show the 17-year-old grabbing a concealed weapon from his father and entering the restaurant. This directly contradicts a statement Trone gave on the stand during cross-examination prosecution on Mondayhes always pled innocent to all charges.



I understand youre trying to put together your story, Trone said in a Compton, California, courtroom before closing arguments began. I never had nothing to do with it. I wasnt there. I didnt tell nobody to do nothing. I didnt hand nobody no gun.



PnB Rocks mother Deanna Allen found out about court proceedings through social media as we previously reported. She shared her thoughts on the verdict through the press.



Im elated, Allen said. I wanted to jump up and scream, Hallelujah. Im so happy it was quick. We got justice for Rakim. I feel better knowing theyll be in jail for a long time.



Trones sentencing is set for Aug. 27. Well share more on sentencing for others involved as news becomes available.

More from VIBE.com
2 Mobile County murder investigations, MCPSS welcomes students back to school, and a call for crossing guards | Aug. 7, 2024

Editors Note: News 5 Now streams live at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Watch the video above.

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  Welcome to WKRG.coms new streaming show, News 5 Now, where we discuss the days five big stories and interact with you, our viewers.

Top 5 Stories

Its time to count down the Big Stories were following for you.

A mugshot of Jereme Lewis (Mobile County Sheriffs Office)

5. Dauphin Island Murder Investigation

A woman is dead, and her boyfriend is behind bars after a shooting at a home on Chenault Avenue in Dauphin Island.

45-year-old Jereme Lewis is accused of shooting and killing his girlfriend; he is charged with murder in connection to the incident.

Sheriff Paul Burch says law enforcement has been to the home for previous domestic violence-related calls.

Jesse Darrell Brown and Thomas Marshal (Mobile County Sheriffs Office)

4. Grand Bay deadly shooting

A man and woman were shot in their car in what was a second deadly shooting in south Mobile County.

The man and woman drove to the Chevron gas station on Highway 90 in Grand Bay following the shooting.

The man died, and the woman is in the hospital, News 5 has learned.

Jesse Darrell Brown and Thomas Marshal are in custody in connection to the shooting that the sheriff says is domestic-related.

(Getty Images)

3. Mobile County Goes Back to School

The states largest school system, Mobile County Public Schools, welcomed thousands of students back to campus after summer break.

Baldwin County schools are back in session tomorrow.

Florida Panhandle kids get a few more days off.

Escambia County, Florida, Santa Rosa County, and Okaloosa County students return to school on Monday.

(News 5)

2. Crossing Guard Shortage

Mobile County Schools is looking for some more help in making sure students get to school safely.

Officials with the school system said they need more crossing guards.

(News 5)

1. Baldwin County traffic headaches

A Baldwin County construction zone has drivers there honking their horns, scratching their heads, and asking Why now? Here are some answers.

Question of the Day

Vice President Kamala Harris is the new Democratic presidential candidate after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race. She announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her VP pick on Tuesday.

WKRG News 5 asked, What do you think of Kamala Harriss VP pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz?

Here are some of your responses:

Great pick. Hes a really good person who does great things for his constituents. So of course, Republicans will absolutely hate him, Cody Parker said.

The end of our country if they win, Jim Stanton said.

Doesnt matter who her Vice President is going to be I am voting for Trump, Mike Williams said.

They have my vote!! Its time to get rid of hatred! #iunderstandtheassignment, Sonnette Buzbee said.

Im ready for a new generation to move forward. State and local governments included, Todd Mitchell said.

To read more of your responses, visit the WKRG News 5 Facebook page.

Poll of the Day

Global stock markets have been volatile. News 5 asked,  Do you worry about a recession?

Here are the responses.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
2 QCA events recognize emergency responders

Two Quad City area events recognized emergency responders  one who lost his life in the line of duty and another who still is recovering.

One brought out a crowd of people in Rapids City to welcome to welcome home a firefighter who was seriously injured on the job during a recent storm.

The Beyond the Call of Duty End of Watch Ride is a traveling memorial wall with photos of officers who have died on duty. Among those memorialized was Nicholas Weist, a Knox County Sheriffs deputy who was killed in April of 2022.

The memorial was escorted by the Knox County Sheriffs Office. It made a stop in Galesburg to honor Weist.

Knox County officers are grateful for the memorial. Jack Harlan Jr., Knox County sheriff, said Nick was a brother and his family is our family. For them to be able to come here and show that they, no matter where we are in the country, were always going to remember our fallen. I think thats a big importance and significance to Nicks family and to Nicks blue family and to the community.

Weist was 34 when he died in the line of duty trying to stop a fleeing suspect.

Nick is a hero amongst heroes. Nick chose to make the ultimate sacrifice, and I believe a lot of young children are alive today because of his actions.

He would give you the shirt off his back. Nick loved his community, Harlan said. There wasnt anything that Nick would not do for his community. There was nothing Nick wouldnt do for his friends, for his family.

To take the 73 days, over 20,000 plus miles, and to honor all the officers which youve seen on this rolling memorial. Its very heart-touching and we cant thank them enough and we want to thank them for coming and honoring our fallen deputy Nicholas Weist.

The memorial ride will end next Tuesday in Washington State.

A welcome for a Rapids City Firefighter

Mary Beth Eggers was hurt by a falling tree branch during a recent storm. It broke her ribs and shattered her hip and pelvis. She went to Iowa City for treatment. People lined up on Route 84 to show their support for her on Wednesday.

She is just maybe the most positive person that Ive ever met and throughout this entire ordeal has been able to be a beacon of hope and positivity, said Adam Haut, Genesis Ambulance Service director. Shes unlike anybody youve ever met  just always, always, always positive regardless of the circumstances.

She still has about six weeks of recovery to go.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
State Rep. Daniel Grossberg, who is being investigated for alleged inappropriate conduct toward women, wrote a satirical advice column in college two decades ago under the name Sketchy Dan, where he recommended that lonely, horny and creepy young men aggressively pursue women on campus, even if the women werent interested.

The column and its title, in Grinnell Colleges schools humor newspaper, were a play on Grossbergs public reputation for making women uncomfortable around campus, and he doled out advice to fake letter-writers who claimed to have similar experiences.

Readers wrote in letters to the editor published in the campus newspaper that Grossberg made people uncomfortable, and they debated whether his sketchy reputation was fair.

In one of the letters included in a Grossberg column, a writer named Creepy in Clark asked: Dear Sketchy, I think the girls in my hall are scared of me; they always think Im hitting on them. You have some experience in this area. What do you suggest?

Grossberg, as Sketchy Dan, replied: Hold a floor meeting where you threaten to sue anyone who calls you creepy for slander, and proceed to ask each one out individually for a romantic reconciliation dinner at Rubes Steak House, followed by an erotic foot massage.

The column, saved in the schools digitized archives and reviewed by the Herald-Leader, sparked a minor controversy in November 2003 at the Iowa college, where Grossberg was a sophomore.

Due to Dans forward personality, many people, myself included, have at some time felt ill at ease around him. Though this is unintentional on his part, when the slightest rumor of sketchiness is added, it is not difficult to see how peoples perceptions could be altered and how the escalation of such misperceptions could, with time, lead to completely baseless accusations, wrote a supporter, Matthew Phelps.

State Rep. Daniel Grossberg, then a college student using the pen name Sketchy Dan, wrote a humor column in 2003 offering his love advice to lonely, horny and creepy young men at Grinnell College in Iowa.

The column resurfaced this week after Kentuckys Legislative Research Commission, the administrative arm of the legislature, last week launched an investigation into texts Grossberg sent several women who work with lawmakers, commenting on their appearances.

The state probe came after the Herald-Leader reported three women received texts from Grossberg that were creepy or weird and made them feel uneasy.

In response, the Kentucky House Democratic Caucus has temporarily suspended Grossberg from its membership and called for a separate investigation by the Legislative Ethics Commission.

The 45-year-old Grossberg is married to a school teacher. He has denied any impropriety.

On Wednesday, Grossbergs attorney, Anna Whites, again denied Grossberg had acted inappropriately. She said the lawmaker has a neurodivergent diagnosis, placing him on the autism spectrum, which means his brain processes information differently.

For much of his life, Whites said, Grossberg has made people uncomfortable because of behavior like sharing more personal information than others might or communicating with less restraint.

We didnt know what those were 10 years ago, and even today, a lot of those people who have not put in the work and time to educate themselves on autism spectrum-related behaviors are still discriminating against people because we find them weird or creepy, because they dont act like the rest of us, she said.

This is not an excuse for inappropriate behavior or harassing behavior, she said. But what I have seen  having seen very little and just hearing rumors and reading the stories  are people having a general expression that this guy is creepy, this guy is weird, simply because he is different.

As for Grossbergs Sketchy Dan column, Whites added, I think we all said and did things in college that were not always proud of.

The campus humor publication, called The Big and Surly, ran at least one column where Grossberg gave satirical romantic advice to letters that he also wrote, according to digital archives.

In one letter, a fictitious student dubbed Anxious in the Annex wrote: Dear Sketchy, I have been seeing this girl for about a week now and want to kiss her. How long should I wait?

Grossberg replied, A whole week and no play!?!? Shes clearly a prude. Find yourself a new one.

He advised Lonely in Langan to relentlessly pursue a girl in his class, even waiting to surprise her in her dorm room.

E-mail her and tell her you like the perfume she was wearing that day, and tell her you thought her comments in class were insightful, Grossberg wrote.

If you dont hear back in an hour, write her again. Give her another hour, if you still dont hear, try calling. If shes not in, go to her room and wait ... with roses ... and a computer projection of what your children would look like. 

Devan Allen McGranahan was a Grinnell College junior and vice president of the Student Government Association at the time. He wrote a letter to the campus paper saying he found Grossbergs satirical column disturbing because it tried to make light of sexual harassment allegations against Grossberg by others on campus.

The behavior in the article is reminiscent of the patterns described to me, McGranahan wrote two decades ago..

I believe the article only increases the alienation between Mr. Grossberg and a concerned, rumor-addled student body, he wrote.

I perceive the rumors mentioned by (Grossberg), the uncomfortable situations with which he is associated, and the hilarious material he seems to offer as reconciliation to be indicative of a threat to the security of our community.

In an interview Wednesday, McGranhan told the Herald-Leader that around this same time, he spoke with administrators at the colleges Division of Student Affairs about complaints made against Grossberg.

I had been contacted by so many of my female peers that I tried to see if there was anything student government could do to represent their concerns, he said.

McGranahan, now a government scientist in Montana, said Grinnell administrators were sympathetic and aware of the rumored allegations, but ultimately didnt have what they felt they needed to pursue a formal investigation.

A Grinnell spokesperson said Wednesday the college cant comment on student-related matters, beyond confirming that an individual graduated from Grinnell.

Who is Rep. Daniel Grossberg? The liberal voice in KY legislature is under investigation

Kentucky Young Democrats call on Grossberg to resign amid misconduct investigation
A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.

Will They Never Learn?

JD Vance launched a spurious and baseless attack on Tim Walzs military service reminiscent of the Swift Boat attacks in 2004 that targeted one of John Kerrys key political strengths: his heroism and valor in Vietnam. But instead of using the last 20 years to reflect and reconsider the familiar coverage patterns, some political editors still get played like a fiddle when it comes to covering GOP attack lines.

The WaPo was probably the worst culprit, with this headline: Tim Walzs military record, National Guard departure get new scrutiny. It happily launders the Vance attack line without self-awareness or historical understanding of the last two decades of American politics. New scrutiny  like its weasel-word compadres raises questions about and is said to  confers a miraculous virgin birth to scurrilous political attacks even if theyre launched right out in the open.

To its credit, Politico is much more direct and puts the attack in the broader context with a story headlined: Vance runs a Swift Boat attack against Walzs military service. You might quibble with Politicos handling of it, but its clearly not the same laundering operation the WaPo ran on this one.

The irony of the Vance attack and the media coverage of it is that the originator of the Swift Boat attack against Kerry back in the day was Chris LaCivita, who is now a senior Trump campaign adviser.

Cant Memory Hole Project 2025 That Easily!

Further undermining Donald Trumps bogus claims that he knew nothing about Project 2025, the WaPo has discovered a private flight (photo included) that Donald Trump took with Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts in April 2022 to a Heritage conference where Trump seemed to reference Project 2025. The work of Project 2025 has been done under the auspices of the Heritage Foundation.

Meanwhile, Roberts has postponed the launch of his new book  with a foreword by none other than JD Vance himself  until after the November election.

On The Trail

Kamala Harris once again tamps down a Lock him up chant, this time at her campaign rally in Michigan:

Crowd: *chants lock him up*



VP: Hold on. Hold on. The courts are going to handle that. We are going to beat him in November. pic.twitter.com/vOGdJNSj3N  Acyn (@Acyn) August 8, 2024

At the same Michigan rally, Harris also shut down hecklers (yall, that look at the 2:12 mark):

Donald Trump has only one campaign rally this week  and its in the deep-red state of Montana.

Quote Of The Day

The Holocaust is taught too often purely as a historical event, an anomaly, a moment in time. Students understood what had happened and that it was terrible and that the people who did this were monsters. The problem is that relieves us of responsibility. Obviously, the mastermind was sociopathic, but on the scale for it to happen, there had to be a lot of people in the country who chose to go down that path. You have to make the intellectual leap to figure out the reasons why. then-Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN), in a 2008 interview with the NYT, recounting teaching high school students in Nebraska in the 1990s about genocide

2024 Ephemera

WaPo: Trump complains about campaign as advisers try to focus on attacking Harris

NYT: Tim Walzs Sudden Rise in the Democratic Party Was No Accident

WSJ: Tim Walzs and JD Vances Personal Finances Couldnt Be More Different

Biden Warns Trump Wont Lose Peacefully

In his first interview since ending his re-election bid, President Biden says hes not confident at all that there will be a peaceful transfer of power if Trump loses the November election:

Arizona Grand Jury Wanted To Indict Trump, Too

The Arizona grand jury that handed down indictments in the states fake electors probe was interested in indicting Donald Trump, too, but were discouraged from doing so by prosecutors with the state attorney generals office, according to a new filing this week defending against attacks that the prosecution was politically motivated. Attorney General Kris Mayes has not publicly addressed the thinking behind that strategy since the filing.

Jan. 6 Defendant Taken Into Custody After Threatening Posts

Prosecutors moved to revoke bail for a Jan. 6 defendant who allegedly posted online threats against Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Attorney General Merrick Garland, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Georgia Judge Scott McAfee.

The 2020 Election Still Isnt Over In Georgia

The Georgia Election Board voted 3-2 to reinvestigate Fulton Countys handling of the 2020 presidential recount. The three Republican members who voted to ask the state attorney general to reexamine the results yet again have been praised publicly by Donald Trump as recently as this past weekend.

For Legal Nerds 

An unusual sequence of events this week in the legal fight over Texas installation of buoys in the Rio Grande, a move the federal government is fighting but recently lost on at the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. The case is now back to the trial judge. Heres where things get interesting.

After a status conference two days ago, the Texas attorney generals office took the unusual step of racing to the appeals court to tattle, basically, on what the trial judge had said in the status conference. That prompted a swift order from the trial judge hauling the parties back into court yesterday for a second status conference in which he lambasted the attorney generals office.

Politico senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein has some choice excerpts from the transcript of the second status conference.

Astronauts May Be Stranded Until 2025

BOEING STARLINER SPACECRAFT, INTERNATIONAL SPAPCE STATION  JUNE 6, 2024: Amazing Maxar satellite imagery capture of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft docked to the forward port on the International Space Station. This type of satellite collection is known as non-earth imaging or NEI. Please use: Satellite image (c) 2024 Maxar Technologies.

The two astronauts who departed Earth for a planned eight-day mission aboard Boeings Starliner two months ago may not return until 2025 as NASA works on a backup plan to have them hitch a ride on a Space X vehicle. The astronauts have been stuck on the International Space Station because of technical issues with the Boeing craft that have raised safety concerns about using it for the return trip.

Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know!
2024 Perseid meteor shower peaks soon: When to look for one of the favorite shows of the year

The robust and fireball-rich Perseid meteor shower peaks Monday Aug. 12, teasing lengthy streaks of light and color to embellish the night sky.

Early morning hours when the first quarter moon has already set and the sun has yet to rise are the best time this year to view the Perseids, which will also be plentiful on days bookending the annual show stopper.

NASA astronomer Bill Cooke said in a 2023 presentation on the Perseid shower that it is considered one of the best stargazing events of the year because up to 100 meteors per hour may be seen in ideal dark sky conditions. Also, it occurs in summer where residents of more northern climes can comfortably watch in warmer overnight temperatures.

Ideal viewing conditions  generally a dark area away from the urban lights  can be hard to come by in South Florida, but a drive to Lake Okeechobee or even a stroll on the beach may suffice.

"This year is special because the moon will have set by midnight, so its light will not wash out the dimmer meteors," Cooke said in an email. "That means folks will see more  both the bright ones and those that are fainter."

Debris from the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle is the source of the Perseids, which are named after the mythical Greek hero Perseus. The comet orbits the sun in a large cigar-shaped oval, with Earth passing through its rubble stream every year in mid-August.

The Perseids you see in the night sky were ejected form Swift-Tuttle hundreds if not thousands of years ago, Cooke wrote in his 2023 presentation.

Sturgeon moon rises this month: All full moons have names. August's full moon is the sturgeon moon.

While the meteors appear to come from the constellation Perseus, they can be seen in all areas of the night sky. Perseids travel at 132,000 mph.

According to Sky and Telescope, a NASA analysis of all-sky images taken from 2008 to 2013 found the Perseid shower produced more bright meteors than any other annual meteor shower.

Bob King, an amateur astronomer who writes for Sky and Telescope, said this years Perseid shower may include outbursts, which happen when the Earths path crosses areas thick with debris from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. A good time to catch an outburst this year is around 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 12, King said.

There are several apps to help guide your night sky viewing, including Star Tracker Lite, SkyView Lite, and Night Sky.

Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate and how growth affects South Florida's environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Help support our local journalism, subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: 2024 Perseid meteor shower will peak Aug. 12. Best time to watch
2nd District candidate Camp doing better than expected. Yakym will still win, though.

Democratic political candidate Lori Camp, who's seeking the 2nd District congressional seat, speaks at a rally Monday, June 24, 2024, at the Jon R. Hunt Memorial Plaza in downtown South Bend to mark the second anniversary of the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health decision that ended the national right to abortion access created by the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

When Lori Camp filed for Congress at the last minute back at the February deadline, she acknowledged having a one-in-a-million shot in a race with Congressman Rudy Yakym, the entrenched 2nd District Republican incumbent.

Camp hadnt planned to run. She did so only because no Democrat had filed. She didnt think Yakym should run unopposed.

Now, she revises those odds.

When we win, Camp begins hopefully, talking about striving in Congress to restore and protect womens rights in reproductive health care and to protect democracy against dictator threats of Donald Trump.

Colwell: A new choice for voters. The same choice regarding the country's future.

She would like to think the race is moving more into 50-50 at this point.

The odds still are stacked against the candidate who filed to run against Yakym, though with not a cent raised, no organization and no political name recognition. Yakym won in all 11 counties of the district in 2022 and started this year with overflowing campaign finance coffers.

But in one sense, Camp already has won.

Lori A. Camp of South Bend is running as a Democrat for the 2nd District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2024 elections.

She is winning praise from St. Joseph County Democrats, who found that lack of an effective congressional challenger in 2022  no ticket leader to voice issues and build enthusiasm  was a factor in losing control of county government. They had been wondering if this unknown Camp would be any better. She is.

St. Joseph County Democratic Chair Diana Hess says Camp is very much a solid Democrat and is working hard and going everywhere.

Camp says she has put over 42,000 miles on her car, traveling throughout the 11-county district, with most of the campaigning at nights or on weekends. She still is a full-time operations and training manager at Donnell Systems, a South Bend software firm, where her husband also works.

Its amazing to watch her grow and get a real handle on issues, Hess says. Now if she could just get some money.

Campaign finance reports at the end of June showed:

 Yakym raised $ 2,068,157 and had $692,164 cash on hand.

 Camp raised $47,721 and had $23,812 cash on hand.

Money isnt everything, but it is vital in a sprawling district like the 2nd to have at least enough to build vital name recognition, particularly through television.

Camp says she hopes to raise $150,000, providing enough for some planned television buys.

But she wont get any money from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. It helps to fund races in districts where it finds Democrats have a chance to win competitive races important in trying to win back control of the House. Nothing against Camp. They just dont find the 2nd, rated strongly Republican, to be competitive.

Brian Smith, 2nd District Democratic chair, who carried Camps last-minute filing for the Democratic nomination to Indianapolis, says he sees fundraising improving in the district, with enthusiasm growing for Camp. He relates that she received an ovation when she spoke to district delegates at the Indiana Democratic Convention.

I couldnt be more proud of her, Smith says.

Camp expresses no regrets about her surprise candidacy, even with all the travel and realization of the nastiness of politics, brought home by insults shouted at her by people with Trump hats during parades.

We should be lifting people up, not belittling or putting people down, Camp says.

She cites surprise at two aspects of the campaign.

One is that she is receiving support from Republicans who dont like Trump or Yakyms full-throated support for Trump. Her largest contributor is a Republican lawyer.

The other is surprise is that Yakym no longer seems to her to be such a dominating opponent.

In campaigning, Camp relates, she frequently is asked, Whos your opponent? Or if they know, others say they havent seen him and ask, Wheres Rudy?

Well, Yakym is on the ballot, still expected to win. Camp, with her last-minute filing, is on the ballot, too, doing better than expected.

File: colwell mug: ID: 15238226 Placed on page: N Cutline: Jack Colwell With story: 15238186

Jack Colwell is a columnist for The Tribune. Write to him in care of The Tribune or by email at jcolwell@comcast.net.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Democrat Camp doing better than expected against Republican Yakym
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Three people were arrested in northern Nevada after a racist incident was caught on camera during the Hot August Nights Car show in Virginia City, according to the Nevada Attorney Generals office.

Gary Miller faces a charge of violation of breach of peace, Janis Miller faces a charge of battery, and Tiffany Miller faces a charge of obstructing and delaying a peace officer, according to Storey County Sheriffs Office.

Gary Miller, Tiffany Miller, and Janis Miller (Storey County Sheriffs Office)

According to Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, the suspects were caught on camera verbally harassing a Black man and apparently referenced a hanging tree during the aggressive interaction.

Ford released a statement following the incident saying in part,

As Nevadas Attorney General, I wholly condemn their actions. Such hate does not represent the values we hold here in Nevada, and it should not be countenanced. Accordingly, I have reached out to Sheriff Cullen to offer my support in his offices investigation into this matter.

I am proud to be a Nevadan, as are the employees from my office who reside throughout our state, including those living in and around Virginia City. Nevada is rich in diversity, with people from different backgrounds, and I know us to be welcoming and kind. Many have already voiced their disgust in the actions that took place. I encourage others to likewise denounce the racism displayed in the video.

The Storey County Sheriffs Office obtained warrants for Gary, Janis, and Tiffany following the incident that went viral on social media and they were later arrested and booked into the Storey County Detention Center with separate bail amounts, Storey County Sheriffs Office said.

The sheriffs office said it is continuing to look at all the information that was presented and all the information preceding the initial video recording and actions of all parties and witnesses leading to the altercation.

If you witnessed any of these events, you are asked to contact the Storey County Sheriffs Office.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo took to X on Monday saying, Im concerned and disappointed by this incident in Virginia City this weekend. Racism and hate have no place in Nevada  this behavior must be condemned in the strongest terms possible. We take pride in our rich, diverse history, and well always be a place where all are welcome.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
The terrorist country Russia commits war crimes against almost all Ukrainian prisoners of war. According to the UN, Russia has tortured 95% of captured Ukrainians.

ADVERTISIMENT

The practice of torture in Russian prisons is widespread and systematic. This was stated by the head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Danielle Bell, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

Russia tortured 95 percent of Ukrainian prisoners of war held in prisons. The UN also emphasized that the Russian authorities torture Ukrainian prisoners of war, starting from their first interrogations, and characterized the Russian practice of torturing Ukrainian prisoners of war as "widespread and systematic."

Bell noted that the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war is a war crime. In particular, torture of a prisoner of war is a violation of Article 3 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

In addition, the deputy commander of a Ukrainian brigade reported on August 7 that the Russian authorities tortured and brutally murdered a Ukrainian prisoner of war who served in his brigade in a detention center in Rostov region.

ADVERTISIMENT

ISW stated that Bell's statements and previous reports by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine on Russia's violations of the rights of Ukrainian prisoners of war are consistent with long-standing assessments of Russia's systematic violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in the occupied territory of Ukraine and against Ukrainian prisoners of war.

As a reminder, the Russian military and law enforcement have one "favorite" type of torture against captured Ukrainians, and that is sexual crimes. They are difficult to document because many of the victims are men.

As OBOZ.UA reported, according to the OGP, the Russian occupiers executed at least 61 Ukrainian prisoners of war. In total, 2200 victims have been identified who suffered torture and inhuman treatment in Russian captivity.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
3 Arrested After Racist Incident in Nevada Shared in Viral TikTok: 'All of Them Just Ganged Up on Me'

Ricky Johnson recorded a TikTok video featuring the three suspects after he says one of them referenced a "hanging tree" and called him a racial slur

Storey County Sheriff's Office From left: Janis Miller, Gary Miller and Tiffany Miller

Content warning: The following article contains descriptions of racist hate speech.

Three people have been arrested after a White man allegedly made racist comments to a Black man, who partially caught the encounter in a now-viral TikTok video.

TikTok user unclerickyd1 posted the video, which starts with a White man  now identified as Gary Miller  holding up his two middle fingers and smiling in Virginia City, Nev.

"Keep talking," the TikTok user, who has been identified as Ricky Johnson, says, before referencing a threat Miller allegedly made to him involving a "hanging tree."

"And where's the tree at to hang people at? Where is that? Where is the hanging tree at?" Johnson says.

Miller responds: "In your backyard."

Later in the video, after Miller tells Johnson to leave, Johnson says, "Make me leave," to which Miller responds, "I don't make trash, I burn it."



Now, after an investigation, the Storey County Sheriff's Office has announced that Gary Miller, Janis Miller and Tiffany Miller have all three been arrested and charged with misdemeanors in connection with the Aug. 2 incident.

Gary has been charged with breach of peace. Janis, who is reportedly his wife, has been charged with battery. Tiffany, reportedly their daughter, has been charged with obstructing and delaying a peace officer. It is unclear if they've retained an attorney to speak on their behalf.

Storey County Sheriff's Office Gary Miller

Related: Nevada Authorities Investigate Alleged Racist 'Hanging Tree' Rant Referenced in Viral TikTok Video

The five-minute, six-second TikTok video also shows a woman, now identified as Janis, ushering Johnson off of the sidewalk and down the street.

"You're steady touching me, ma'am," Johnson says in the video. "This is assault."



While his voice begins to shake, Johnson says to the crowd of people around him, "Ya'll are going to allow this s--- to happen, like nobody cares?"

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

He is also heard speaking to a younger woman about what allegedly transpired before he began recording, saying: "Your dad just said there's a hanging tree for n------ like me. What does that mean? And I did not disrespect your dad. I asked him nicely, 'Excuse me sir, are you a registered voter?' He said 'No,' I said, 'Thank you,' then he turned around and said, 'There's a hanging tree down the road for n------ like me.'

"And all of them just ganged up on me," Johnson says through tears before the video ends.

According to Fox 11, Johnson was gathering signatures for a proposed Nevada ballot initiative when the incident began.



The incident occurred during a Hot August Nights car show in Virginia City, Nev., on Aug. 2. The organization has since said the people in the video have had their Hot August Nights registrations revoked.

Virginia City has also made a statement in connection with the incident, the Reno Gazette Journal reports.

Earlier this weekend, an incident occurred in which a visitor was harassed during an event and comments were made that were hateful and racist, Virginia City said in the statement. "We want to make it clear on behalf of the Virginia City Tourism Commission that we find this behavior abhorrent and inexcusable.



To help combat systemic racism, consider learning from or donating to these organizations:



Campaign Zero works to end police brutality in America through research-proven strategies.

ColorofChange.org works to make the government more responsive to racial disparities.

National Cares Mentoring Movement provides social and academic support to help Black youth succeed in college and beyond.

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NEW YORK -- Three Columbia University administrators who had been placed on leave over controversial texts they exchanged during an on-campus event about Jewish life at the school have resigned, the school confirmed.

Cristen Kromm, the dean of undergraduate student life, Matthew Patashnick, the associate dean for student and family support, and Susan Chang-Kim, the vice dean and chief administrative officer were initially placed on leave after the texts came to light.

Columbia President Minouche Shafik previously said in a letter the texts were "not only unprofessional, but also disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes. Whether intended as such or not, these sentiments are unacceptable and deeply upsetting, conveying a lack of seriousness about the concerns and the experiences of members of our Jewish community that is antithetical to our University's values and the standards we must uphold in our community."

Word of the resignations comes on the same day a Columbia University official's home was vandalized with red paint and Hamas and Nazi imagery.

One dean will remain

A fourth college dean, Josef Sorrett, will remain at the college. He has apologized, and has committed to fix the damage caused by the texts.

"While not intended as such, some of the text messages exchanged may call to mind antisemitic tropes," Sorett said in a letter previously released to the Columbia College community. "Any language that demeans members of our community, or divides us from one another, is simply unacceptable."

"I am deeply sorry that this happened in a community that I lead, and that I was part of any of the exchanges, and I pledge to spearhead the change we need to ensure this never happens again," Sorett continued. He said "the loss of trust and the pain this incident has caused, particularly to the Jewish members of our community, must be fully repaired."

The text exchange took place during the Columbia's reunion weekend in May at an event called "Jewish Life on Campus: Past, Present and Future." The event was held a month after pro-Palestinian protesters were cleared out of Columbia's Hamilton Hall and an on-campus encampment had to be cleared by the NYPD.

Images of the text exchange were initially published by conservative news outlet the Washington Free Beacon, and their content was released by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

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LEMON GROVE, Calif. (KSWB/KUSI)  Three people were sent to the hospital and a dog is dead after a swarm of bees took over a California backyard Wednesday.

I opened the door and the air is thick with bees. I looked at my right and my dog Kona is already on the floor, panting, Tiffany Ahmu of Lemon Grove recounted to Nexstars KSWB/KUSI.

Ahmu described the scene that unfolded in her familys backyard Wednesday afternoon. She said her kids and family friends were in the pool when the swarm of bees arrived.

As everyone tried to run inside to safety, Ahmu went to rescue their beloved family dog.

Kona is covered. I couldnt even see her coat. I pick her up. Shes already limp. Shes still breathing, but limp. I jump to the pool to dust the bees off and Im covered in bees.

Man who allegedly killed wife with eye drops now accused of poisoning daughter

In the process, Ahmu said she was overwhelmed by bees and stung several times herself. She spoke with KSWB/KUSI over the phone Wednesday evening from the hospital, shortly before being discharged.

I was calling 911 the whole time and they kept repeating themselves. We dont come for a bee sting maam, call an exterminator and Im telling them Im not exaggerating. There are not one or two bees. I am in a blanket of bees. I need help, my skin is burning.

Two other kids were stung about two to three times and taken to the hospital as well, but were quickly released. The other family dog was stung once.

Ahmus father, Jose Hernandez, came home and immediately helped take Kona, the 12-year-old boxer, to an animal urgent care, but the dog ultimately died.

Kona was a rescue and a registered emotional support dog who Ahmu described as having Peter Pan Syndrome and still being as playful as a puppy.

She was so spunky, still super active and hyper, Ahmu said.

Heartland Fire and Rescue responded to try to clear the bees from the area, but no one knows where they came from.

This is just something freaky. I guess nobody knows what to do until it happens to you, Hernandez said.

While its unclear what species of bee swarmed the backyard, honey bees are known to swarm when looking to set up a new hive, according to Michigan State University Extensions Department of Entomology. Before settling on its final destination, the swarm will gather close to the hive and can stay in that location for a couple hours to several days.

The swarm will eventually leave after scout bees have decided on a permanent home for the hive.

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While experts say bees are most docile when swarming, such swarms have been known to delay flights and MLB games, and occasionally cause injuries.

In 2023, a massive swarm of bees in an Encino neighborhood closed multiple roads and sent at least one person to the hospital. Two years earlier, two people at a Southern California mall had to be taken to the hospital after being attacked by a bee swarm.

As Nexstars KXAN reports, experts warn against approaching a swarm of bees. Its also advised to avoid trying to hide in a body of water: According to Texas A&M AgriLife professionals, bees can hover above the surface to attack an animal or person once they emerge.

If caught in a swarm and stung, experts recommend removing the stingers and seeking medical treatment.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Every so often there will be a headline about researchers unearthing new manuscripts, like this one from CBS News: Newly deciphered manuscript is oldest written record of Jesus Christs childhood, experts say.

Without additional context, it can be difficult to know how to contextualize this kind of news. So, how can you peer through the headlines and dig deeper? Lets talk about this news first and then get into some steps you can take when you see news like this.

In this case, the headline referred to the earliest copy of a text called the Infancy Gospel of Thomas. It did not make it into the Bible and no one knows who actually wrote the text. Some manuscripts identify the author as Thomas the Israelite, but the author is still considered unknown.

Several scholars consider the Infancy Gospel of Thomas to have accuracy issues both theologically and historically. Some early Christians took issue with it  Pope Gelasius I placed it firmly outside the biblical canon.

In other words, it is generally considered a literary work, maybe even a way for parents to teach their children. Many scholars consider it theologically inaccurate while still interesting to read and consider.

It is difficult to get beyond the impression that the text seems relatively devoid of theological insight and morally vacuous in its handling of inexplicable miracles, wrote Canadian biblical scholar Markus Bockmuehl in Ancient Apocryphal Gospels. Its intention is evidently to entertain and amuse a fairly unsophisticated, immature audience.

The work is different from the Gospel of Thomas, which is another text that is not in the Bible with an unknown author. Scholars believe the Infancy Gospel of Thomas was written sometime during the second century A.D., according to Oxford Bibliographies.

So, what does this mean?

Well, it is the earliest copy of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas and so it is a significant discovery for scholars. It can help scholars get an accurate picture of what language it was written in  Greek  and it will also be used for research purposes.

Lets take a closer look at what you can do when you see a headline about a new manuscript to help you get more context about what this means.

Figure out what the manuscript is

Most of the time, news organizations will tell you the name of the manuscript. That will be important information for you to know in order to figure out how to approach the manuscript.

Once you know what the manuscript is, try going to Oxford Bibliographies and typing the name in. This website can give a general overview of the text, but also help you find reliable sources to find more information about the work in question.

After you read the overview, Oxford Bibliographies lists a variety of books and articles you could read to find out more information about the text. If you want to go deeper, reading a variety of different sources can be helpful since you will encounter different perspectives.

Not all sources about biblical manuscripts on the internet are accurate. Asking if the source comes from a trusted person or institution with a history of dealing with ancient texts and if the source shows its work by correctly citing other previous works can help you determine a manuscripts credibility.

Ask: The five Ws

The five Ws are: who, what, when, where and why?

There are a couple of ways you can ask these sorts of questions. First, ask who wrote it? Ancient manuscripts do not always have clear authorship, so learning that early on can be important. What is the content of the manuscript? Where was the manuscript written? When was the manuscript written? Why was the manuscript written? Where was the manuscript popular? What is the purpose of the text? Who may have the text been written for? Why may this text have been preserved?

Sources from Oxford Bibliographies may be able to help you answer these questions. Gaining the additional context to these questions will give you may help you better understand how to approach the manuscript.

Recognize differences

Ancient manuscripts offer a window into what kinds of discussions early Christians had among themselves.

As Christianity developed and faced new challenges, some imaginative Christians wrote new gospels to deal with those challenges, to present new theological understandings of Christ, or to address gaps of knowledge in the earliest accounts, wrote Brigham Young University professor Jason Combs in New Testament History, Culture, and Society.

Combs said these writings can be valuable to read regardless of theological differences because reading them can aid in seeing the debates early Christians had and understanding the diversity of thought that existed.

Another area where there may be differences is in the text itself. Sometimes there will be slight word variation from one manuscript to the next because of the transcript process. Studying these differences can spark interest.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  Power Up New England will receive $389 million for its wind power infrastructure project.

Over 6 million gallons of Holyoke wastewater discharged into Connecticut River

Part of the money will be spent on building substations around the coast and powerlines that can handle the surge in electricity.

The grid expansion is part of the Department of Energys $10.5 billion grid resilience and innovation partnerships program. A rep with the Sierra Club explains how wind energy adoption here could impact the rest of the country.

Thats another reason why this funding is super exciting and hopefully, if we can make it work here, if we can show that this will not make peoples bills more expensive, this becomes something thats done all over the East, and West Coast in the US, says Vick Mohenka.

Multi-day battery storage will also be improved as a result of this funding. The goal is to produce 4,800 megawatts of offshore wind energy when the project is complete.

Latest Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  Birmingham police are searching for the suspects responsible for the fatal shooting of a man as he was driving his car nearly two years ago, whose 4-year-old daughter eventually died from her injuries.

Birmingham Police Department reports that Madison David, of Birmingham, suffered a traumatic brain injury in a crash along Arkadelphia Road that killed her father, Demarkus Moss Sr., on September 2, 2022. On June 25, she died while being treated at Childrens of Alabama.

David, alongside her infant brother, was a passenger in a car driven Moss at the time of the crash. Police said Moss was traveling on the 1000 block of Arkadelphia Road around 5:50 p.m. when someone in another vehicle began firing shots into his car. Moss, who police claim was targeted in the shooting, was shot and subsequently crashed into a truck.

Moss, who was the only victim shot in the case, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash and his two children were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The status of Moss surviving child has not been released.

The Jefferson County Medical Examiners Office has since ruled Davis death as a homicide. As of Thursday, no one has been charged in connection with either Moss or Davis deaths.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
Nevada is one of 26 states that charge sales tax on diapers, according to the National Diaper Bank Network. (Getty Images)

Nevadans this year will have the opportunity to exempt diapers from sales tax, something advocates say will bring a little relief to the wallets of parents of young children and adults with incontinence issues.

If voters pass Question 5  the Sales Tax Exemption for Diapers Measure, as it is formally known  this November, child and adult diapers will be exempt from sales tax beginning Jan. 1, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2050.

Nevadas statewide sales tax rate is 6.85%. Counties can implement additional sales taxes, which brings the overall rate to as high as 8.375% in Clark County.

The Nevada Department of Taxation last year estimated the impact of the proposed diaper sales tax exemption to be $25 million in the next fiscal biennium, according to a fiscal note.

Question 5 stems from Senate Bill 428, which the Nevada State Legislature passed unanimously in 2023. The proposal received support from several municipal leaders, including Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve and North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown.

The ballot measure appears to have no formal opposition.

Newborns can require between eight and 10 diapers a day, wrote Kelly Maxwell, executive director of the nonprofit Babys Bounty, in a letter of support to lawmakers last year.

First and foremost, diapers are healthcare, she wrote. They are not a luxury item but a fundamental need for every childs health and development. Without a sufficient supply of clean diapers, babies are at risk for a host of illnesses including skin infections, rashes, urinary tract infections, and viral meningitis.

Babys Bounty is the only consistent diaper bank resource in Nevada, according to its website, and has distributed more than 3.5 million diapers and 7 million wipes to 40,000 families since May 2020. Babys Bounty has setup a dedicated website in support of Question 5.

Millions of adults nationwide deal with incontinence issues that may require diapers.

As of July 2023, 26 states charge sales tax on diapers, according to the National Diaper Bank Network, which advocates for exemptions. The network estimates families spend $1,080 on average per year on diapers.

States that exempt diapers from their sales tax include California, Texas and Ohio, according to the diaper bank network. Exemptions vary by state, with some exempting adult diapers but not child diapers and some exempting only diapers bought with a doctors prescription.

The proposal in front of Nevadans this year would apply to both adult and child diapers. The language of the ballot measure also specifies it applies to disposable diapers.

Myriad other products are already exempt from Nevadas sales tax, which applies to tangible goods.

Nevadans in two 2018 separate ballot measures voted to exempt feminine hygiene products and medical equipment from sales tax. The exemption for the medical equipment passed with 67% support while the feminine hygiene product exemption passed with 56% support.

A Noble Predictive Insights poll of registered voters released earlier this year found 71% support for a sales tax exemption for diapers. Only 13% opposed the proposal, and the remaining 16% said they were not sure or did not have an opinion.

Question 5  or the Sales Tax Exemption for Diapers Measure, as it is formally known  is one of seven statewide ballot questions that will appear on this years general election ballot.

2024 General Election

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

In-Person Early Voting: Saturday, Oct. 19 through Friday, Nov. 1

Mail ballots will be sent to active registered voters by Oct. 16

[Editors Note: This article has been edited to mention a dedicated website in support of Question 5.]
NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KETK)  Three men and four teenagers were charged with capital murder on Thursday in connection to the death of 18-year-old Angel Bonilla.

Prosecutors to seek death penalty for family friend accused of killing Audrii Cunningham

On July 30, the Nacogdoches Police Department said a deceased teenager, identified as Bonilla, was found in a residence in the 400 block of W. California Street after police received reports that the home has been hit multiple times by gunfire.

A total of three individuals are believed to have been struck by gunfire during the homicide, Nacogdoches PD said.

According to officials, the suspects planned to rob the individuals at the home and evidence suggests at at least three of the suspects used firearms during the robbery.

Officials issued capital murder warrants for the following Nacogdoches residents: 20-year-old Raul Molina Lopez, 21-year-old Nathan Joshua Sauceda, 19-year-old Santiago Mendoza, 21-year-old Gerardo Christopher Ocon, 19-year-old Lionso Antonio Torres and 17-year-old Eder Torres. Martin H. Montalvo, 19 of Lufkin, was also served a warrant.

Mugshot of Raul Molina Lopez, courtesy of the Nacogdoches County Jail

Mugshot of Nathan Joshua Sauceda, courtesy of the Nacogdoches County Jail

Mugshot of Santiago Mendoza, courtesy of the Nacogdoches County Jail

Mugshot of Gerardo Christopher Ocon, courtesy of the Nacogdoches County Jail

Lionso Antonio Torres, courtesy of the Nacogdoches Police Department

Mugshot of Eder Torres, courtesy of the Nacogdoches County Jail

Mugshot of Martin Montalvo, courtesy of the Nacogdoches County Jail

POLICE: Alabama man accused of soliciting minor at Mount Pleasant city park

A large number of firearms have been recovered during the initial search warrants that were served and during the execution of todays arrest warrants, the police department said.

Firearms recovered, courtesy of the Nacogdoches Police Department

The Nacogdoches PD with the help of other agencies, the suspects were taken into custody without incident. One of the men was apprehended in Louisiana and the police department said arrangements are being made to bring him back to East Texas.

Nacogdoches officials said they dedicated over 1,534 man hours into the case and believe this murder investigation has the highest number of suspects in the departments history.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Former President Donald Trump (L) and Vice President Kamala Harris (R). Credit - From Left: Brendan SmialowskiAFP/Getty; Justin SullivanPOOL/AFP/Getty

This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox.

If you want to know where both sides think the 2024 election is going to be won or lost, look at where theyre aiming their campaign planes and, perhaps more importantly, their checkbooks.

Every four years we resketch our U.S. electoral maps of the most competitive states. Some states fall out of favor. (Sometimes wrongly. Hi, Ohio and Florida.) Others come online. (Hello, Georgia.) Yet others rekindle their battleground flames. (You up, North Carolina, Virginia, or even New Hampshire?)

Put in the simplest terms: the national election of a President is a series of state-by-state contests. The result is a handful of states have an outsized say in picking the team in the White House, and they often can be grouped into clusters like the so-called Blue Wall or Sun Belt.

At the moment, strategists in both parties identify seven commonly-agreed-upon battleground states, with four more on the margins. Despite an advertising blitz that gives Vice President Kamala Harris campaign a two-to-one advantage on the air in the seven swingiest states through Election Day, former President Donald Trump has a narrow polling advantage in five of those states and holds an average lead of a narrow 1.4 points in those must-win states, according to RealClearPolitics (RCP) tracking system.

Here is a state-by-state breakdown of the seven states that insiders think will decide the resultsand four others that might be worth keeping in mind. First, a crucial caveat: we still have not fully assessed what the swap from President Joe Biden to Harris and the addition of her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will mean as fresh and better polling lands on strategists desks.

Pennsylvania

The biggest prize on the board right now and the most important piece of Democrats firewall against Trump. A combined $211 million of White House-focused messages is set to air in Pennsylvania alone, according to Axios analysis of ad spending, and its the one state where theres relative parity in spending. Democrats campaign and super PACs are set to cover $109 million of it while Republicans efforts will power $102 million in the window between the end of the GOP primary and Election Day, both sides hoping to snag the states 19 electoral votes. Put plainly: its a rare fair fight where Republicans are matching Democrats ad spending, and its the most expensive sandbox for either party.

Polling, too, shows a fierce fight. Trump is ever-so-slightly ahead there by about 2 points, but well within the margins of error in the surveys. Democrats outnumber Republicans in the state by about 4 points, but independents still claim about 11% of voters. Essentially, the state remains a jump ball, and one that is tough to catch and even tougher to hold. To wit: at this point in 2016, Hillary Clinton was up 8 points over Trump and four years later Biden was up by 5 points. Come Election Day, Clinton lost the state to Trump by less than 1 point, and Biden carried it by about the same margin. No one from either party should feel cocky about Pennsylvania.

Wisconsin

The biggest regret for the Democrats in 2016. The last Republican to win Wisconsin before then was Ronald Reagantwicebefore Trump upended Clintons assumptions and carried its 10 electoral votes. Clinton never visited the state as the 2016 nominee. Her team was convinced history would hold and that corner of the Upper Midwest would stay blue. They were wrong, with Trump winning narrowly with just 47% of the vote.

Democrats are not making the mistake again. With $49 million in presidential advertising scheduled this general election cycle, the airwaves in Wisconsin are almost entirely the purview of what is now Team Harris. Trumps media circle has just $15 million tied to the state, and has not matched Democrats aggressive efforts to court Black voters in Milwaukee the way Biden successfully did in 2020. The investments were made even before Harris became the first Black and Asian-American woman to lead a major partys ticket, and Harris could be a changemaker on the political landscape in a locale with one of the better state party organizations in the nation.

Still, its lost on no one that Republicans convened in Milwaukee to officially nominate Trump. The earned-media circus there bombarded local voters, perhaps offsetting the Democrats packaged ads that strategists in both parties concede are mattering less and less (even as the old-school consultants continue to push them).

Michigan

The biggest unknown for either side. Michigan was a reliably Democratic state until 2016. Michiganalong with Pennsylvania and Wisconsineffectively crushed Clintons path to 270 votes and Democrats are determined not to have a repeat of that hiccup. Thats why Harris and Walz parked Air Force Two there on Wednesday night for an airport rally that trolled Trumps favorite tableau. Republicans are trying to make Harris and Walzs support for Israel into a disqualifying factor in the states large Arab-American, Muslim, and young voter populations, but it may end up being more a phenomenon on social media than at the ballot box.

Even so, polling suggests a tight race for the states 15 electoral college votes. A Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll taken after Biden dropped out of the race gave Harris an 11-point advantage, although most polling this cycle has shown Democrats up by a scant two points. At this point four years ago, Biden was up more than 7 points but would win by less than 3 points. Similarly, Clinton at this point in her run was also up almost 7 points and would lose by about one-third of a point. This is a case where more polling needs to be conducted about the Harris/Walz ticket to carry any real weight with donors.

Down the ballot, its a roughly even split in the states $70 million in Senate ad spending. At the presidential level, its less balanced, with about 80 cents of every dollar on ads backing Harris, and the whole White House kitty is about $100 million in Michigan. Democrats brag that theyre miles ahead of Trump when it comes to organizing offices and communities, but that has been the case before to disappointing results.

North Carolina

The Democrats white whale, or the Republicans safety state. Trump enjoys his second-largest lead in polling averages there, but Democrats insist there is still a viable chance for them to make inroads. Only once since 1980 have the states 16 electoral votes gone for Democrats, but that is not stopping Democrats from laying down a $28 million marker to Republicans $4 million ad spending placeholder. Its a similar optimism to 2012, when Democrats nominated then-President Barack Obama for a second term in Charlotte only to see a 2-point defeat.

Still, theres a rational reason for Democrats to focus on this Southern Wall Street: voters who affiliate with neither party are the largest bloc in the state, with almost 37% saying they dont match a Republican or Democratic label. Democrats have a slight, 2 point advantage there, but thats not sufficient to carry the state. This means Democrats are smart to use North Carolina as a proving ground for their efforts to reach persuadable, non-partisan votes. If Democrats can nail North Carolina, thats a solid test kitchen for them to replicate the political cake elsewhere.

Georgia

The newest member of the swingers club. Before Bidens 2020 bid prevailed theremuch to Trumps allegedly criminal objectionsthe last Democrat to carry the states electoral votes was Bill Clinton back when Sony was introducing MiniDiscs in 1992. The rising power of the Black vote and the migration of the film and TV industry to Atlanta shifted Georgia in a major way. Coordinated efforts to empower Black voters yielded an all-blue Senate delegation in 2021 for the first time since 2003, and Democrats remain bullish that they could still throw its 16 electoral votes to Harris.

On the air, Democrats have a clear two-to-one margin in the $87 million general election bookings. On the phones, Democrats have quickly erased what had been a Trump advantage in polling since Harris emerged as the new top of the blue ticket. A week before Bidens calamitous June debate that put in motion the drumbeat that marched him aside, Trump was polling 10 points ahead. That advantage is now less than 1 point.

Without a Senate race and boasting zero competitive House races, the White House race is the whole game in Georgia. That means Harris ability to fire up Black and women voters is where that race hinges there. And, for Trumps campaign, the anecdata does not give reason for much hope. Perhaps that explains why Trump visited Georgia over the weekend and spent much of his time on the ground attacking fellow Republicans and laying the predicate to again claim the state is rigged against him. Trump may have just lost Georgia, a former lawmaker there told my former colleague Greg Bluestein of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution after the rally.

Arizona

The New Colorado. Long a bastion for conservative orthodoxy, the state that sent Barry Goldwater and John McCain to Washington was a consistent gimme for Republicans. Absent the blips of 2020 and 1996, youd have to go back to Harry Trumans 1948 re-election bid to find evidence that its 11 electoral votes were in play. (For the record, Trump still hasnt accepted the results of his narrow loss there in 2020.)

The Democrats ad agencies have logged about $44 million for the general election, lapping the Republicans $17 million. It might be sage restraint from the GOP bookers, though. Trump has consistently polled better in Arizona than his Democratic opponent in all but one public poll dating back to October. Bloomberg/Morning Consult is the lone voice saying Harris is up by 2 points, but thats inside the 3-point margin of error, meaning its another jump ball. On average, Trump is up by about 3 points in the RCP averages. Yet again: more information is needed here.

Down the ballot, the Senate race is tilted heavily in Democrats favor, with about 84 cents of every ad dollar on their side of the ledger. The roughly $65 million-to-$12 million mismatch will certainly help Democrats across the party in a state where two Republican-held House seats are in play. And, no, you didnt read those numbers wrong; spending on Senate ads is outpacing presidential spending in that state so far.

Nevada

Trumps surprising stronghold. Despite his hostile rhetoric toward migrants and immigrants, and a xenophobic patina that has been present since the creation of his political ambitions, Trump is maintaining his most durable lead there. In the RCP poll average, Trump is ahead by about 4 points while incumbent Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen is up by the same margin, perhaps setting herself to be the first incumbent member of the Upper Chamber to split a statewide ticket since Susan Collins did in Maine in 2016. On top of that, there are three House districts that lean Democratic but are far from certain.

On the air, Nevada and its six electoral college votes is the puny pal for the other six main swing states. Democrats have booked a relatively paltry $24 million on the screens, still dominating the $27 million in play. Rosens side has placed about $72 million of the $102 million on the table for the Senate.

The major unknown is what the labor movement will do. Unions were hardcore Biden allies, but the transfer of their loyalty to Harris is expected but not guaranteed. Its why she is heading there on Thursday to start to make sure labor is still with her.

The four fringe states

These are not the big-ticket targets for the campaigns, but some strategists in the statesand some home-state loyaliststhink they were prematurely cast aside.

Ohio has fallen from its once-time legendary status as bellwether bigwig. Trump won its 17 electoral college votes twice with only minimal effort and the state Democratic Party is a far cry from its last heyday during Obamas campaigns. But with a competitive Senate race there drawing $310 million in a roughly even split and on track to be the most expensive airwar in the Senate this cycle, there will be a whole lot of interest in turning out voters in a state that leans red but still gave incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown his last term by an almost 7 point margin in 2018.

Republicans are desperately trying to pitch Virginia as a potential pick-up place for Trump and are trying to build a bare-bones campaign machine there to force Harris to invest. But popular Democratic incumbent Sen. Tim Kaine seems coasting toward a third term. The airwaves for that Senate race are largely empty, although three of the states 11 congressional districts will lack an incumbent seeking another term, meaning there could be some spending in the northern Virginia suburbs around D.C.

Democrats, meanwhile, are trying to make a similar play in Florida. Trump won the state twice, but only by about 3 points in 2020. Yes, its his home state these days, but there is also a Senate race that has some Democrats optimistic that former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell could knock off Republican Sen. Rick Scott, who has never won any of his races with a majority of the vote. Harris is hustling for Floridas 30 electoral votes, especially in South Florida.

Finally, theres always Texas. Democrats for years have said the states changing demographics would decide its destiny. Yes, the population is softening its conservative shell, but its still Texas. Democratic Rep. Colin Allred is posting fine polling but he remains a longshot to bump Sen. Ted Cruz out of Washington. Democrats have parked about $25 million down there for the Senate race, almost entirely unopposed by Cruz and his allies. Most polls have Cruzs advantage in single digits, meaning a late wave of blue energy could shift this long-promised and never-realized realignment of Texas. Texas has a huge load of 40 electoral votes and a massive media landscape, but taking the Lone Star State off the GOP gimme list would be a coup unseen in a generation.

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Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com.
Markus Faber, chairman of the Bundestag's defense committee, sees no problem with Ukraine using weapons provided by Germany in Russia. After the military equipment was delivered to Kyiv, it became Ukraine's weapon, Faber emphasized.

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This was reported by the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. The publication quotes the words of Markus Faber, which he said in an interview with German media.

Thus, Faber believes that Ukraine can use the weapons supplied by Germany, including the Leopard 2 tank, to advance through Russian territory.

"Once transferred to Ukraine, these weapons become Ukrainian. This applies to any means, including the Leopard 2. After Russia attacked Ukraine, the territory of both countries was a war zone. The use of weapons is governed by international law," he said.

The outlet notes that after the Ukrainian offensive near Kursk, Russian propaganda channels published photos allegedly showing German Leopard 2 tanks. The Bild newspaper, citing the Russian Ministry of Defense, wrote that at least three German Marder armored personnel carriers are involved in the Ukrainian army's operation near Kursk. This is allegedly evidenced by the published drone footage.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA:

Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region have advanced up to 10 kilometers into Russia. The armored vehicles of the Defense Forces have taken up positions along the 38K-030 Sudzha-Korenevo highway.

The Ukrainian project "I Want to Find" stated that many Russian occupants were captured in the Kursk region. Residents of the aggressor country, whose relatives have stopped contacting the invaders, were urged to contact the project's chatbot.

Z-publics report on the emergency transfer of Wagnerians from Africa to the Kursk region. They will allegedly immediately get to the battlefield and try to stop the ongoing offensive of Ukrainian forces in the region.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
8 of the best wines to buy at Costco, from a sommelier

8 of the best wines to buy at Costco, from a sommelier

I'm a certified sommelier, and I love shopping for wine at Costco.

I actually recommend the Kirkland Signature Champagne, and it's only $21 a bottle.

The bulk store also has great chardonnay, rose, zinfandel, and sauvignon blanc options.

I don't recall what drove me to get a Costco membership in 2020, but I strolled in one day and signed up. Since the wholesale store has topped the American Customer Satisfaction Index study for the past seven years, I know it wasn't an original siren call.

I'm in a household of two (just me, my husband Aaron, and our two fur babies), so I wasn't sure if I'd get to take full advantage of the bulk retailer. But boy, was I wrong.

Every time I go, I seem to discover something new. And as a certified sommelier, I'm always looking for great wine deals.

In many ways, shopping at Costco helps me be a better sommelier and get people closer to discovering wines that knock their socks off.

Here are some of my favorite bottles at Costco.

Believe it or not, Kirkland's Champagne is a winner.

Kirkland Signature has a pretty good (and legitimate) Champagne. Brianne Cohen

The Kirkland Signature brut Champagne is one of the most lauded Costco wines. Finding another quality bottle of true Champagne  made in the Champagne region of France  for $21 is a futile mission.

I'll cut to the chase here. If you're looking for inexpensive Champagne and don't mind a lighter and fresher style, this is it.

I love the DAOU sauvignon blanc.

The DAOU winery has some affordable wines, including its 2022 sauvignon blanc. Brianne Cohen

Brothers Georges and Daniel Daou, originally from Beirut, fell in love with wine after fleeing to France in the 1970s during the Lebanese Civil War before opening their own winery in California.

DAOU produces incredible wines at varying prices, and the brand's $15 sauvignon blanc at Costco is a sleeper hit.

The wine is the perfect summer sipper. It gives all the "rooty tooty" fresh and fruity vibes and has excellent acidity.

The Fess Parker Winery chardonnay is easily the best value at Costco.

Costco's best wine deal is the $14.59 bottle of Fess Parker chardonnay. Brianne Cohen

Fess Parker chardonnay, priced at $14.59 a bottle, is a product of a third-generation, family-owned business in the Santa Barbara area.

This wine, which wins the title of "best value" at Costco, is not your typical oaky or buttery chardonnay. It offers a fresh and bright experience on the nose and palate, with just a hint of oaky toastiness and a satisfyingly long finish.

But the Bouchaine chardonnay is also great.

I try to support woman-owned wines, like Bouchaine's chardonnay. Brianne Cohen

I love that the Bouchaine chardonnay is a woman-owned and woman-made wine.

The California winery is located in the Carneros area, right on the border of Sonoma and Napa. Its cooler-climate chardonnay brings sophistication and restraint to the glass.

If you're looking for a French rose, grab a bottle of Gerard Bertrand.

Gerard Bertrand's 2022 Cote des Roses rose is delicious. Brianne Cohen

Gerard Bertrand boasts 17 biodynamically farmed wine estates throughout the south of France.

The brand's Cote des Roses 2022 rose brings a bright "joie de vivre." Quaffable, refreshing, and thirst-quenching, the $13 bottle is everything I want in a rose.

Pick up Seghesio Family Vineyards' zinfandel for your next barbecue.

I'll take a $20 bottle of Seghesio 2022 zinfandel any day. Brianne Cohen

Since 1895, the Seghesio family has been making wine in Sonoma County.

The brand's 2022 zinfendel, made from a heritage grape, is bold, juicy, and fruity.

The $19 bottle at Costco serves classic zinfandel flavors of red fruits and heaps of spice notes  all perfect to pair with barbecue fare.

Madame de Beaucaillou's 2019 Haut-Medoc tastes way more expensive than $20.

The 2019 Haut Medoc from Madame de Beaucaillou only costs $20 at Costco. Brianne Cohen

2019 marked the 300th vintage of Madame de Beaucaillou's famed Bordeaux property. And the brand's entry-level red Bordeaux punches way above its price class.

The $20 wine is full of flavors like fresh dark fruit and beautiful tertiary aromas like coffee and dark chocolate. Plus, the smooth-as-silk tannins give it a velvety effect.

You can never go wrong with the Jordan Winery cabernet sauvignon.

I'll happily pay over $57 for a bottle of Jordan's cabernet sauvignon. Brianne Cohen

One of the most reliable and quality-driven California cabernet sauvignons on the market is from Jordan Winery.

Although the bottle is a little pricey by Costco's standards at $57.09, it's the perfect steak wine with all the classic cab-sav notes of dark fruits, cassis, and tobacco leaves.

Click to keep reading Costco diaries like this one.

Read the original article on Business Insider
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Dozens of buildings are set to be razed in the Miami Valley after the state OKd money for the task.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine approved funding to demolish 1,277 structures across Ohio. In the Miami Valley, a combined 85 buildings will be removed across Butler, Clinton, Logan and Preble counties.

College Prep Night returning to Dayton

According to DeWine, the demolition of the various properties are needed to further grow Ohio communities. While a few properties in Fairfield are expected to be erased for commercial redevelopment, a safety concern site in Preble County could be sold and turned into a housing development.

These buildings are standing in the way of progress, so its time to knock them down, said DeWine. Once these structures are gone, we expect to see new economic development opportunities coming into these neighborhoods.

To see all addresses being demolished, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
Abilene man accused of throwing mother dog into dumpster so hard, he kills her indicted

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  An Abilene man accused of throwing a dog into a dumpster so hard, he killed her has been indicted.

Gary Mathews was indicted Thursday on one count of Cruelty to Animals in connection to an incident that took place on the 3300 block of Sherry Lane in April.

Court documents state officers were called to the home to assist animal control and when they arrived, Mathews handed them a newborn puppy.

When asked where the puppys mother was, the documents state Mathews told officers he killed her by throwing her into a dumpster.

Officers found the dog deceased in the dumpster and the documents state they noticed, blood on some of the trash that looked like spatter caused by the dog being thrown with a large amount of force.

The documents state Mathews claimed he threw the dog in the dumpster because she had bitten someone and he also said she was alive and uninjured before he threw her.

Officers interviewed nearby residents, and the documents state one reported Mathews had also killed several puppies.

There was also fresh blood in Mathews apartment when officers went with a friend to retrieve his wallet, according to the documents.

Mathews was released from jail after posting a $15,000 bond.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
'Accusations do not withstand criticism,' Ukraine reacts to Niger breaking off relations

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said on Aug. 8 it regretted the decision of Niger's authorities to break off diplomatic relations and rejected any accusations against Kyiv.

The West African nation of Niger cut ties with Ukraine on Aug. 6, two days after neighboring Mali made a similar announcement.

Mali broke diplomatic ties with Ukraine after it accused the country of backing Tuareg-led rebels that inflicted serious losses on Russian Wagner Group mercenaries and Malian soldiers in recent clashes.

"The accusations against Ukraine mentioned in the statement of the representative of the government of this country (Niger) do not withstand any criticism, are groundless and untrue," the ministry's statement read.

The Foreign Ministry also rejected any accusations of Ukraine's alleged "support for international terrorism, violation of the United Nations Charter, and international law."

Such a decision is a gesture of "solidarity" with those who have chosen to be closer to Russia, which has been waging a full-scale war against Ukraine for more than two years, the ministry said.

The ministry expressed regret that Niger announced the severance of diplomatic relations without investigating the incident in Mali and providing any evidence referring to the reasons for such a move.

Ukraine is determined to continue developing mutually beneficial relations with all African states, the statement read.

The statement was published as Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba continues his African tour, aiming to strengthen ties with African countries. Kuleba has already visited Malawi, Zambia, and Mauritius.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in December 2023 that developing ties with African countries is one of Ukraine's foreign policy priorities for 2024.

Unlike Kyiv, Moscow has long nurtured good relations with the governments on the African continent.

Russia's illicit activities and ties to authoritarian regimes in Africa have been under the public eye for years. Russian mercenaries on the continent, like the Wagner Group, whose operations help to fill Moscow's coffers, have been repeatedly accused of human rights abuses against local populations.

Read also: Nigeria detains tailors who made Russian flags for anti-government protests

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
TUBA CITY, Ariz.  While her visit was short and simple, U.S. Department of Labor Acting Secretary Julie Su, along with Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, wasted no time talking about several possible solutions that could spark an economic spark in the Navajo Nation.

President Nygren met with Secretary Su at the job fair to address worker safety, utilizing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and improving gathering statistics, all of which could aid in economic development.

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WIOA, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education, aims to assist job seekers in securing employment, education, training, and support services necessary for success in the labor market, while also connecting employers with the skilled workforce required to compete in the global economy.

Nygren thanked the Secretary for providing $13 million in funding to the Navajo Nation Department of Workforce Development. He said the funding would be used to help Navajo people living on and off the reservation, looking for employment, or their training and education.

(The) $13 million is gonna go a long way because we know that for our community to stand up and rise, you need strong economic activity, said President Nygren. We need jobs, we need small businesses, we need access to financing, and we need leadership to support and move some of those initiatives.

In the Navajo Nation community of Tuba City, Arizona, Tuba City Chapter Executive Manager Durann Begay said the small town has four primary employers: the Tuba City Regional Health Care, the schools, the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, and the Navajo Nation government. While the workforce might seem strong, the lack of housing has forced employees to find housing elsewhere.

We have a lot of employees that are commuting in because there's no housing available, said Begay. Even in our local hospital, it's very hard for them to employ doctors and nurses. They have to house them in Flagstaff and they commute in.

Tribes have had no luck navigating a complex legal web that has made it nearly impossible to use their trust lands to benefit their people. According to a 1949 federal law, which states all land within the limits of any of the 325 Indian reservations under the jurisdiction of the tribe, allotted lands, and dependent Indian communities, the law has prevented tribes from selling, using it as collateral, or encumbering it for a mortgage.

Overall, tribes exercise their sovereignty over more than 60 million acres of land.

Tuba City Chapter Vice President Myra Begay echoed Begays concerns and said a lack of housing was an issue.

I think housing is probably the biggest obstacle and I think around the entire reservation, the unemployment rate is fairly high, so we do need more jobs, " said Myra Begay.

Secretary Su acknowledged that part of the struggle when jobs were created, the commute was too far for people to make.

Fundamentally, it's about the need for good jobs and investments will help to create those jobs, right? We care not just about the number of jobs that get created, but the quality of those jobs, said Su. A job should lift people out of poverty, allow you to do one job and make a living, and be able to spend time with your children.

Navajo Nation Council Delegate Germaine Simonson addressed another challenge: operating a business with no readily available access to resources, banks, and accountants.

The support systems that help you do business so you can stay focused on the business, we just don't have those. So, it is incredibly difficult, said delegate Simonson.

She suggests that new rules and regulations need to be created that allow a budding business to slowly grow for five years.

It's like an incubation period, like where you're focusing on your business, instead of all the paperwork and other things that come along. I hope we get there sometime soon, she said.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, tribal governments directly supported a workforce of 350,000 jobs, indirectly facilitated an additional 600,000 jobs, and contributed $40 billion annually in wages and benefits, along with an additional $9 billion to state and regional economies, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
KINSHASA (Reuters) - Africa's public health agency is set to declare an mpox emergency as early as next week, saying the viral infection's rate of spread is alarming, as a new variant moves across Democratic Republic of Congo's borders.

Mpox is transmitted through close contact and causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Most cases are mild but it can kill.

The new variant, known as Clade Ib and circulating mostly in Congo, appears to spread more easily through routine close contact, as seems to be the case among children.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Director General, Jean Kaseya, said on Thursday that reported cases in Africa had risen by 79% from 2022-2023 and by 160% from 2023-24.

"This is one of the aspects that is alarming us," he said.

Kaseya added he would have calls with the heads of the African Union (AU) and the African Union Commission on Tuesday to "get their blessing" and guidance to declare a public health emergency - a new power for the continental body. He said that most likely he would make the declaration next week.

Doing so would enable the Africa CDC to better coordinate cross-border responses and would obligate member countries to notify new cases to the continental body, he said.

It would also enable mobilisation of domestic and international resources and accelerate vaccine research and development, Kaseya said, adding he had been in talks with executives of the German drugmaker BioNTech about raising vaccine output after the likely declaration next week.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said Africa is experiencing an unprecedented rise in cases this year.

Congo has seen over 13,000 suspected mpox cases including 503 deaths so far this year, the WHO's spokesperson in Congo told Reuters, taking the total number of cases there since the start of 2023 to about 27,000, with more than 1,000 deaths.

To the east of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya, which were previously unaffected by mpox, have all reported cases of the new variant since mid-July, a WHO statement said.

"Further analysis is required to better understand the patterns of transmission to refine the response to the outbreak," the U.N. agency said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a second health alert on Wednesday to notify clinicians and health departments about the deadly new strain.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has promised to convene an emergency committee to discuss whether the outbreak in Congo represents a public health emergency of international concern.

On Monday, Africa CDC said it had been granted $10.4 million in emergency funding from the AU for its mpox response.

(Reporting by Alexander Winning, Ange Kasongo and Portia Crowe; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian and Portia Crowe, Editing by William Maclean)
Updated Aug 8, 2024, 12:06pm EDT Africa

The News

The World Health Organization called an emergency meeting to discuss the mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the virus appears to have spread to neighboring countries. The WHO is weighing whether it could pose a global threat.

The DRC has reported nearly 27,000 cases of mpox and around 1,200 mpox-related deaths since the beginning of 2023. Around 50 confirmed and more suspected cases have been reported in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda in the past month, the WHO said.

The African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday it was likely to declare an mpox public health emergency as soon as next week.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Infections are spreading more easily in DRC

Sources: United Nations, Bloomberg

Renewed fighting in the DRC has compounded the difficulty of containing the spread of mpox, as displaced people overcrowd what few shelters there are, the UN said. And while recent infrastructure improvements, like newly paved roads, have given some people more access to healthcare, the ease of movement is also helping the virus spread more rapidly, Bloomberg noted: Diseases follow people and people are traveling faster and further than they did in the past In the 1980s you were not seeing motorbikes, or very few, in deeper Congo. Now people mostly travel on them, an infectious disease expert at Doctors Without Borders said.

Sex workers are particularly at risk

Sources: Al Jazeera, Nature, The Lancet

Transmission can occur simply through direct contact with mpox viral lesions, and many of the new infections appear to be spread through sexual contact. That represents a new challenge for controlling the virus, a medical expert told Al Jazeeera. Sex workers are particularly at risk: They accounted for some 29% of confirmed cases of the virus circulating in the DRC between late 2023 and early 2024, according to research published in Nature. The WHOs advice that people at risk should reduce their number of sexual partners is probably not feasible for many sex workers due to their financial constraints, scientists wrote in medical journal The Lancet. Other interventions to give these workers more financial support, for example, may be more effective.

Vaccine nationalism leaves Africa ill-prepared to manage outbreak

Sources: Vox, Euronews

Africa has so far struggled to secure enough mpox vaccines, a repeat of the vaccine nationalism witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Vox noted, whereby some countries stockpiled vaccines at the expense of others, particularly African nations. The problem is partly structural: Because the continent produces only 1% of the vaccines it needs, Africa has to rely largely on donations, which are at the whims of donors, a vaccine expert told the outlet. The WHO doesnt recognize the DRCs medicines regulator as stringent enough, making it more reluctant to provide support, while Africas Center for Disease Control post-COVID framework to improve vaccine access has been sluggish to get off the ground.
For years, the Democrats were defined by the bitter battles of the 2016 election where the feud between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders essentially split the party into a sharply defined progressive and moderate wing. Now, with the new leadership of Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, there are signs the party is entering a new era, where the demons of 2016 have been exorcized.

The 2016 election was one that never seemed to end for Democrats. Thats because it essentially continued for years through a series of intense primary campaigns that functioned as proxy wars for the partys major factions.

In The Truce, the book I wrote with Luppe Luppen that explored the various elements of the Democratic Party heading into this election, we discovered that no less of an authority than former President Barack Obama was convinced the divisions that erupted in the 2016 primary had enabled the rise of his successor, Donald Trump. The split  and the medias obsession with it  was even immortalized in a meme: Democrats in Disarray.

President Joe Biden was quite cognizant of these fissures and he worked diligently to heal them. As we chronicled in our book and here at TPM, Biden and his team worked to cultivate relationships with the Democratic Partys left flank. They ultimately emerged as some of his most reliable allies and partners as he passed an ambitious first term agenda. Thats part of why progressives like Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) were some of Bidens staunchest defenders as he faced pressure to give up on his reelection campaign.

Of course, in the end, Biden made the decision to step aside. He promised to merely be a bridge to the next generation of Democratic leaders as he defeated Trump in 2020. However, Trump did not leave the stage and, though he didnt exactly go willingly, Biden ultimately did. And even though the alliance Biden formed with progressives was a strong one, it had bergun to show strain in recent months, particularly due to his support for the Israeli government and its war in Gaza which has left tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians dead. By January, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), the chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a key Biden administration partner, was warning that his coalition had fractured.

All of that raised the specter that the divide between the partys major poles might have endured. However, in the weeks since Biden ended his second White House bid and endorsed Harris, we have seen clear signs that the alliance he began to build is now, actually, stronger than ever. After Bidens exit from the race, Harris secured the Democratic Party nomination without a serious challenger. While there are still intraparty primary fights, those have largely been fueled by lobbying groups focused on Gaza rather than warring factions within the ranks. And Jayapal and other progressives have expressed optimism about Harris position on Gaza and indicated they believe she is more sympathetic to the plight of Palestinians.

I think that youve already seen that with her language. Even as she was calling for a ceasefire early on, her language was stronger, very empathetic towards the Palestinian people, towards the two state solution, Jayapal said of Harris in a conversation with TPM yesterday. The reality is, she just doesnt have the same sort of relationship with [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the decades of work that the president had done with Netanyahu as chair of the Foreign Relations Committee. And so, I think theres just a lot more openness to potentially re-looking at U.S. policy and making sure that we get to peace that is supportive of Israels right to exist and the Palestinian peoples right to have their own state, their own freedom.

And the Gaza issue isnt the only area where Harris has progressives feeling hopeful. When Harris tapped Walz as her running mate she made a selection that progressives and labor leaders clamored for. In many ways, Walz is a pure manifestation of a fully formed alliance between progressives and the leadership of the Democratic Party.

However, Walz is more than that. While he has championed progressive policies and has progressive support, he is hardly a democratic socialist like Sanders or Ocasio-Cortez. Indeed, in Congress Walz represented a Minnesota district that has since turned red and, as governor, he ran a state that is fairly purple. Walz may be beloved by the left at the moment, but he is not of the left.

Walzs selection drew praise from across the Democratic Party spectrum including from centrist leaders who have been major antagonists to progressives like Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV). It was a vivid indication that, with Harris at the helm, the 2016 era of the party may be over. For now, the Democrats and their new standard bearers are in array.

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In this undated family photo, Venezuelan Edni Lopez, a political science professor and award-winning poet, flashes a vee sign at her home in Caracas, Venezuela. (Courtesy of family via AP)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)  The last time anyone heard from Edni Lopez was Sunday. The 33-year-old political science professor and award-winning poet was preparing to board a flight to Argentina to visit a friend when she texted from the airport that something was wrong with her passport.

Migration took my passport because its showing up as expired, she wrote her boyfriend in the message shared with The Associated Press. I pray to God I dont get screwed because of a system error.

What happened next remains a mystery  one contributing to the climate of fear and repression that has engulfed Venezuela following its disputed presidential election, the most serious wave of human rights abuses since Latin Americas military dictatorships in the 1970s.

When Lopez's mother, Ninoska Barrios, and her friends learned she didnt board the flight, they started frantically combing detention centers. Finally, on Tuesday  more than 48 hours later  they learned she was being held, incommunicado, by Venezuelas feared military intelligence police on unknown criminal charges, unable to see an attorney or speak with her family.

Please, give back my daughter, a sobbing Barrios pleaded Tuesday outside Venezuelas top human rights office in a video that went viral on social media. Its not right that a Venezuelan mother has to go through all this.

Lopez's arrest isnt unique. Since the July 28 presidential election, security forces have rounded up more than 2,000 people for demonstrating against President Nicolas Maduro or casting doubt on his claim he won a third term despite strong evidence he lost the vote by a more than 2-to-1 margin. Another 24 have been killed, according to local human rights group Provea.

The spree of detentions  urged on by Maduro himself  is unprecedented, and puts Venezuela on pace to easily exceed those jailed during three previous crackdowns against Maduros opponents.

Those arrested include journalists, political leaders, campaign staffers and an attorney defending protesters. Others have had their Venezuelan passports annulled trying to leave the country. One local activist even livestreamed her arrest by military intelligence officers as they broke into her home with a crowbar.

Youre entering my home arbitrarily, without any search warrant, Maria Oropeza, an opposition campaign leader in rural Portuguesa state, says in the livestream that abruptly ends after three minutes. Im not a delinquent. Im just an average citizen who wants a different country.

The repression, much of it seemingly random and arbitrary, is having a chilling effect, said Phil Gunson, a Caracas-based analyst for the International Crisis Group.

Its not just discouraging protests. People are scared to go on the streets, period, said Gunson, adding that parents of teenage boys are especially worried. Theres a sense that police have a quota to fill and anyone can be stopped and carted away as a suspected subversive.

The threats start at the top.

Theyre hiding rats but were going to grab them, ruling socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello said about several prominent opponents in an address to the Maduro-controlled legislature a day after the election.

Meanwhile, Maduro has called on Venezuelans to denounce election doubters via a government-run app originally created to report power outages and complaints about state-provided services. He also said the government was refurbishing two gang-dominated prisons to accommodate an expected surge of jailed guarimberos  his dismissive term for middle-class protesters who barricaded themselves in the streets for weeks in 2014 and 2017.

There will be no mercy," Maduro said on state TV.

But complicating efforts to crush dissent is the changing face of the government's opponents.

While demonstrations have been far smaller and tamer than during past bouts of unrest, theyre now more spontaneous, often leaderless and made up of youth  some barely teenagers  from Caracas hillside slums who have traditionally been a rock solid base of support for the government.

I dont care how many people have to die," Cleiver Acuna, a 21-year-old tattoo artist, said at one recent grassroots march where protesters climbed up lampposts to tear down Maduro campaign posters.

What I want is my freedom. My homeland. I want to live in the Venezuela my grandparents once told me about.

Maria Corina Machado, the opposition powerhouse who rallied Venezuelans behind a last-minute stand-in candidate after she was barred from running against Maduro, has also urged restraint, reflecting the fear many feel.

There are times to go out, times to meet, and demonstrate all our strength and determination and embrace each other, just as there are times to prepare, to organize, to communicate and to consult with our allies around the world, which are many, she said in a recorded message posted online Tuesday.

An operational pause is sometimes necessary.

But the swiftness of the governments clampdown does seem to be working. In just 10 days, security forces have rounded up nearly the same number of people as they did over five months in 2017, according to Provea.

Operation Knock-Knock is a prime tool of state terrorism, said Oscar Murillo, the head of Provea, referring to the surprise, middle-of-the-night detentions touted as a scare tactic by Cabello and others.

In the low-income Caracas neighborhood of Catia, once a ruling party stronghold, no one talks politics these days. One woman closed her business when protests began nearby and ran home. Videos of the demonstration flooded her phone over the next several hours, but she deleted them for fear the government was tracking social media posts to identify critics.

I could get arrested just for having them, she said.

The sudden silence is a sharp break from the hopeful mood preceding the election as emboldened opposition supporters confronted security forces who attempted to block anti-Maduro rallies. They served food, lent vehicles to opposition leader and opened their businesses to them despite knowing they would suffer retaliation from the police or have their businesses shut down.

Even before the current unrest, Venezuelas human rights record was under intense scrutiny. Maduro is the target of an investigation by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the past.

Maduro's tactics have been likened to those in Central and South America in the 1970s when military dictatorships rounded up opponents and sometimes innocent bystanders. Many were killed, and in Argentina, some even drugged and dropped from airplanes into the ocean, with no trace of ever having been detained.

Maduros alleged abuses have little in common with those Dirty War campaigns by state security forces.

But the goal of instilling fear is the same, said Santiago Canton, an Argentine lawyer and secretary general of the Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists, a watchdog group.

Canton said Lopez's case reminded him of the disappearance in Argentina in 1977 of a female activist pulled off a plane bound for Venezuela and never seen again. At the time, oil-rich Venezuela was the wealthiest country in South America and a democratic refuge for exiles fleeing military regimes across the region.

What happened 50 years ago is unlikely to occur again, said Canton, who previously led the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. But social media is a multiplier factor that didnt exist before so you can be more selective with the use of force and achieve the same results.

Machado tried Thursday to pressure other nations to help end the oppression. I feel that there has been a lack of firmness from all governments, from all sectors, to demand an immediate end to the madness that is happening, she told reporters.

Meanwhile, Lopez's friends and family are at a loss to explain why she was targeted.

Since 2020, shes been carrying out relief work in poor communities, for which she was honored as one of Venezuelas 100 Protagonist Women by the Netherlands Embassy in Caracas. The work is strictly humanitarian, and Lopez doesnt belong to any political movement.

Her social media profile is void of any anti-government content, consisting mainly of whimsical drawings of butterflies, poems she penned and pictures of beaches and sand dunes from her travels across Venezuela.

Cristina Ramirez, who moved to Argentina from Caracas eight years ago, joining over 7.7 million Venezuelans whove fled the country, said she bought a ticket for Lopez in May so her friend could enjoy a much-deserved vacation.

The two were looking forward to catching up after a long separation and a difficult year for Lopez, whose family is struggling financially. She worries that her friend, who takes medicine for diabetes, is suffering in prison without knowing what led to the nightmare.

It was going to be her first trip outside Venezuela, Ramirez said in a phone interview. Im still waiting for her.

___

Goodman reported from Miami.
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba had a phone conversation with his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide. Among other things, the parties discussed the possibility of expanding the F-16 fighter jet initiative and involving new countries in the "peace formula."

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Kuleba reported this on the social network X. The Ukrainian minister thanked Norway for its contribution to the coalition to provide Ukraine with F-16s and noted that both sides had considered ways to expand this initiative.

"We discussed the expansion of this initiative," he stated.

Further steps to involve new countries in the process of implementing the "peace formula" were also agreed upon.

Kuleba emphasized the importance of Norway's efforts to increase assistance to Ukraine and its decision to take additional steps to strengthen the Ukrainian energy system.

To recap, Norway is allocating an additional NOK 1 billion to finance air defense systems in Ukraine. This amounts to almost $93 million.

It is worth noting that the announcement of the allocation of funds came a day after Norway promised to provide Ukraine with six F-16 fighter jets.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, this fall, Norway and Germany will jointly transfer a battery of IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine. It will significantly strengthen Ukrainian air defense.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Airlines Are Suspending Flights to Israel, Jordan, and LebanonHere's What to Know

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Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, a rapidly expanding list of airlines are canceling flights to Israel as the nation prepares for an anticipated assault from Iran. Air service to neighboring countries, including Jordan and Lebanon, is also being put on hold, as airlines respond to the evolving security situation.

The US State Department issued new Level 4 travel alerts (the highest advisory level) on July 31, warning US citizens not to travel to Lebanon or northern Israel within 2.5 miles of the Lebanese and Syrian borders, citing rising tensions between the Hezbollah militant group and Israel. Jordan remains under a standard Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution alert, which was issued on July 13.

Across the travel industry, air carriers are taking different approaches to the situation. Some have only canceled flights to Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, and other neighboring countries for a few days, while others have put their routes to Israel on a months-long hiatus stretching until next spring. Heres the latest information on popular airlines operating status throughout the region.

Air Canada

In July, Air Canada pushed back the resumption of its Toronto-to-Tel Aviv route to October 15, 2024, due to the ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East. Flights to Tel Aviv out of Montreal wont resume until summer 2025. We continue to closely monitor the situation and will adjust our plans accordingly, the carrier said.

Air France

Air France has canceled all flights between Paris and Beirut until at least August 8, Reuters reports. The resumption of operations will be subject to a new assessment of the local situation," the carrier said in a statement to the newswire.

Air India

In a statement on X, Air India said it has suspended flights to Tel Aviv through August 8. We are continuously monitoring the situation and are extending support to our passengers with confirmed bookings for travel to and from Tel Aviv during this period, with a one-time waiver on rescheduling and cancellation charges, the statement said. Safety of our guests and crew remains our foremost priority.

American Airlines

Earlier this year, American Airlines suspended its flights to Tel Aviv through October 28, 2024. According to a travel waiver on its site, customers who booked a ticket before February 11, 2024, can change the travel dates on their ticket for free or cancel and request a refund.

Cathay Pacific

In July, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv until March 27, 2025, in view of the uncertainty related to the ongoing situation in Israel. Customers booked on the affected flights can rebook, reroute, or refund their travel without the usual fees.

Delta

Updating a previous statement issued on July 31, Delta extended the suspension of its flights between New York-JFK and Tel Aviv through August 31. Delta is continuously monitoring the evolving security environment and assessing our operations based on security guidance and intelligence reports and will communicate any updates as needed, the statement says. Affected customers have been issued a travel waiver.

EasyJet

Although its flights to Israel were slated to resume on October 27, EasyJet has extended its suspension of flights to Tel Aviv until March 29, 2025, a spokesperson for the British budget carrier tells Traveler.

Emirates

Back in November 2023, Emirates suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice. We are closely monitoring the situation in Israel and are in close contact with the relevant authorities, the Dubai-based airlines travel updates page states.

ITA Airways

Italys ITA Airways has suspended flights to Tel Aviv through August 10 due to the geopolitical developments in the Middle East and to ensure the safety of its passengers and crews, a spokesperson tells Traveler.

KLM

Dutch carrier KLM has canceled all Tel Aviv-bound flights until at least October 26, a spokesperson tells Traveler, adding that customers with airline tickets to and from Tel Aviv and a travel date during this period will be rebooked or receive a refund. The airline also issued a voluntary rebooking option for flights to Beirut, which is valid for tickets issued on or before August 7, 2024.

Lufthansa Group

All airlines in the Lufthansa Group, which encompasses Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Eurowings, Swiss, and Brussels Airlines, have suspended flights to several cities in the Middle East until mid-August based on its current security analysis. All of the groups flights to Amman, Beirut, Erbil, Tehran, and Tel Aviv are suspended through August 13.

United Airlines

United indefinitely suspended flights to Tel Aviv starting on July 31, according to a statement from the airline to the Washington Post. It plans to choose when to resume the route with a focus on the safety of our customers and crews.

Virgin Atlantic

Earlier this year, Virgin Atlantic canceled flights between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv through early September. (September 4 for the outbound leg, and September 5 for the return flight to London.) As the dynamic situation evolves, Virgin Atlantics flying programme is under constant review, the airlines statement says.

This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date. This is a developing news story, and we will add more information as it becomes available.

Originally Appeared on Conde Nast Traveler

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Alabama Republican congressional candidate Caroleene Dobson, who has been vocal about her support of school choice on the campaign trail, graduated from a private, so-called segregation academy, in 2005.

Dobson, who is in a heated race in the newly court-drawn 2nd Congressional Districtagainst Democrat Shomari Figures, graduated from Monroe Academy, a private school in the small city of Monroeville.

Schools across the South founded Monroe Academy in the 1960s as a segregation academy in response to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling that said public school segregation was unconstitutional.

Such schools have played a key role in perpetuating segregated school systems across the Deep South. Its unclear if Monroe Academy has ever admitted a Black student, Alabama Public Radio reported, citing a local journalist. The local public schools, however, are predominantly Black.

Monroe Academy did not respond to HuffPosts requests for comment. The school has a non-discrimination policy on its website.

Dobson has openly supported the CHOOSE Act, a tax credit program that allows parents to receive up to $7,000 to offset private or public school costs and instructs the state legislature to appropriate $100 million to fund it, starting in 2026.

Caroleene understands that school choice allows all children regardless of race, income level, or zip code the opportunity to receive a quality education that prepares them for high-paying, 21st century jobs, said Drew Dickson, a spokesperson for her campaign.

But critics of the bill say Black students in Alabama are concentrated in underfunded and underresourced public schools, and that the CHOOSE Act will divert much needed funding away from these schools.

It is problematic when our public schools are in need of more resources that if we take funding away from them, its going to just make it that much harder for teachers to do their jobs, and it really then takes away from the students that are going to remain in those schools, Alabama state Rep. Phillip Ensler told WSFA 12 News after the bill was signed into law by GOP Gov. Kay Ivey.

For others, the effort to defund public schools is reminiscent of how segregation academies like Monroe Academy came into existence in the first place. Historian and Alabama native Steve Suitts told ProPublica that the state was among the first whose elected officials provided state money to white students trying to avoid integration.

Dobson has also expressed support for defunding the Department of Education, a goal listed in Project 2025, the sweeping right-wing playbook for a potential Trump victory.

Much of the $68 billion allocated to the U.S. Department of Education might be better used if given to the states in order to increase teacher salaries, fund school construction, purchase new school buses, and expand educational programs, especially in rural areas like the Second Congressional District, Dickson said.
Alabama IVF clinics ask Supreme Court to take up appeal of state ruling

Two Alabama reproductive health clinics at the center of a legal and political firestorm over in vitro fertilization (IVF) are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take up their case.

In their petition, the Center for Reproductive Medicine and the Mobile Infirmary Health asked the court to find that the case should have been dismissed from the outset, because the initial plaintiffs had no standing to sue.

They also said the ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court, which declared that fertilized embryos are children and protected under the states wrongful death law, violated their due process protections because they did not have fair notice that the state Supreme Court would make IVF illegal.

A response is due by Sept. 4.

The Alabama court violated bedrock fair-notice requirements of the 14th Amendment, the clinics wrote in the petition, because there was no notice that the destruction of unimplanted embryos could subject them to civil liability.

In February, the Alabama Supreme Court declared frozen embryos are entitled to the same protections as humans. Immediately following the decision, multiple clinics in the state paused IVF operations for fear of legal repercussions.

The case became a flashpoint in the abortion debate, as Republicans suddenly found themselves on the defensive about whether they can support IVF while also believing that life begins at conception.

The ruling stemmed from two lawsuits filed by patients  against a hospital and fertility clinic  who underwent IVF procedures to have babies and then opted to have the remaining embryos frozen.

The remaining embryos were destroyed when a hospital patient entered the storage area, removed them from a cryogenic freezer and dropped them on the ground.

The court found that embryos and fertilized eggs are considered children under the Alabama Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, even if they have not been implanted in a uterus.

After widespread bipartisan backlash, the GOP-dominated Alabama Legislature passed a bill to shield IVF providers and clinics from liability, allowing some IVF services to restart.

But the legislation did not address when life begins, which the two clinics at the time said left them open to challenges.

It is standard practice in IVF to fertilize several eggs and then transfer one into a womans uterus. Any remaining, normally developing embryos can be, at the patients request and consent, frozen for later use.

We believe the law falls short of addressing the fertilized eggs currently stored across the state and leaves challenges for physicians and fertility clinics trying to help deserving families have children of their own, Mobile Infirmary Health and the Center for Reproductive Medicine said in a joint statement in March.

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A third Oklahoma murder charge has been filed against an Alabama man who was arrested in Arkansas, according to a prosecutor.

Stacy Lee Drake, 50, was charged Wednesday with murder in the June 14 shooting death of Phillip Emerson at his home in El Reno, Sequoyah County District Attorney Jack Thorp said in a statement.

Drake, whose first name is spelled Stacey in some court documents, was previously charged with murder in the June 18 shooting deaths of Tara Huber Underwood and Taylor Sharp at a business in Gans.

This mans senseless and violent actions have affected people across this state, Thorp said. Those victims and their families deserve justice.

An attorney for Drake declined comment Thursday.

4-year-old girl dies 2 years following drive-by shooting that left her father dead

Drake faces additional charges of robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle and committing a pattern of criminal offenses, which allows Sequoyah County prosecutors to charge him for the slaying in El Reno in Canadian County.

Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, Sheriffs Capt. Jack Kennedy has said Drake is wanted on a murder warrant in that state, but court records do not show the formal charge.

A telephone message seeking comment was left Thursday for a Tuscaloosa County sheriffs spokesperson.

An affidavit in the Oklahoma slayings alleges Drake killed Emerson in El Reno, a western Oklahoma City suburb, and stole his truck. The vehicle was later found near the business in Gans, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) east of Oklahoma City.

Underwoods vehicle, which was taken from Gans, was found June 20 at a motel in Morrilton, Arkansas, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock. Drake was later arrested in a nearby wooded area.

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Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, speaks on the floor of the Alabama Senate on May 6, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

An Alabama senator has prefiled a bill aimed at giving state government more control over the Alabama Department of Archives and Historys Board of Trustees.

SB 5, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, would take appointing power away from the board while expanding it from 16 members to 19 members. It would give the governor, currently an ex-officio member, voting rights. Two of 19 members would be at-large and appointed by the House Speaker and the Senate Pro Temp.

The bill also removes the boards power to appoint its own members (subject to Senate approval) and introduces a rotational system for appointing authorities that includes state officials such as the governor, lieutenant governor, Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate to fill vacancies.

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Messages seeking comment were left with Elliott.

Elliott previously called the board a unicorn that is not accountable to elected officials. The senator was one of several Republicans who attacked Archives for hosting a presentation on LGBTQ+ history in Alabama in June 2023.

Elliott introduced a bill in the redistricting special session in mid-2023 to strip Archives of $5 million, which did not pass.

He then introduced a similar bill for the 2024 legislative session that would have given state officials and legislative leaders the power to appoint board members, while keeping the board size the same. The bill passed the Senate and a House committee but did not reach the House floor.

Mary Amelia Taylor, a spokesperson for the Archives, said in a statement Wednesday the department structure has worked well for 123 years.

A high degree of public trust in the agency can be seen in the positive feedback received from our audiences and in the generosity of donors who share their family treasures with the ADAH for the benefit of current and future generations, Taylor said in a statement.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History currently has two trustees from each congressional district, as well as two additional at-large members and the governor or their designees as an ex-officio member. The law says that the trustees should represent the racial and gender diversity of the state.

Under Elliotts bill, the other 16 members would have a detailed order of appointing authority, aside from the governor and the two at-large members. The governor and lieutenant governor may appoint four members each, the House Speaker and Senate Pro Tem may appoint three each, and the House and Senate Minority Leaders may appoint one each.

The bill also says that aside from racial and gender diversity, the boards composition should also reflect geographic, urban, rural, and economic diversity of the state.

The bill would still require Senate confirmation.

The Legislature will begin its 2025 regular session in February.

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The Alabama State Board of Education votes on a motion during its regular meeting on February 9, 2023.

The Alabama State Board of Education votes on a motion during its regular meeting on February 9, 2023. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

The Alabama State Board of Education unanimously voted Thursday to take over the Bessemer City school system amid allegations of mismanagement by the school board.

State Board of Education Superintendent Eric Mackey said the local school board passed a resolution acknowledging they need state intervention. He said Bessemers school board meetings over about a month but had not been able to get work done due to repeated lack of quorums. Mackey said, they shouldnt be having 90 meetings and that they can accomplish everything in one meeting per month.

Their academic problems are really not about lack of resources, not about lack of commitment on the part of their teachers, but the dysfunction at the top is filtering down, said Mackey.

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Messages seeking comment were left Thursday with the Bessemer City School Board and superintendent.

Mackey said the State Board of Education will begin intervention immediately after voting on the resolution, and he expects the intervention to last a couple of years because the board is not as responsible or effective as it once was.

Once the local school board can be effectively managed independently, Mackey believes academics will improve.

I think were ready to move forward and I dont see a way for Bessemer City to move forward without state intervention, Mackey said.

Mackey also provided an update on the Sumter County schools takeover, which started in 2023. He said there is still much work to be done, and he does not know when the intervention may be lifted yet.

Part of the problem, he said, is that they have four schools that do not have enough students. They have already closed one school and are in the process of closing another before closing a third one.

Sumter Countys population has not grown since the 1940s, and the student body population is shrinking.

Sumter County Schools had about 1,700 students enrolled in the 2014-15 school year, according to the Alabama State Department of Education. In the 2022-23 school year, it had fallen to 990, a 41% decrease. At the Thursday meeting, Mackey said the student population was around 700 for the 2023-2024 school year.

When the student population shrinks, less money comes into the district, leading to schools closures, facilities falling into disrepair and extracurricular activities cut.

Those affected often in the poorest households. In Sumter County Schools, about 89% of students are economically disadvantaged, compared to 65% statewide.

Mid last year, some school system officials welcomed a state intervention, saying problems have been allowed to linger.

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Albuquerque woman pleads guilty for role in gas station murder

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Diamond Salazar, accused in connection to an Albuquerque gas station murder, stopped her trial on Wednesday and pled guilty. In March 2022, Salazar and Caprice Sicilia told Estevan Lucero, Adam Sedillo, and Ty Gallegos that someone inside an SUV at the Maverik gas station on I-25 and Comanche robbed them.

Man sentenced for string of armed robberies in Albuquerque

Luvero, Sedillo, and Gallegos opened fire on the SUV killing Kayla Montano and injuring her fiance.

Salazars trial was scheduled to last until next Tuesday but she stopped the proceeding and pled guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

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(BCN)  A public speaker at the Pittsburg City Council meeting Monday demanded to know why city officials and police had failed to alert the public about an alleged sexual predator at a public pool following an alleged assault on a child more than a month ago. Speaker David Manly said one of his young female relatives had been swimming at the municipal Buchanan Swim Center on the Fourth of July when a man pulled her under the water twice to penetrate the 11-year-old with his fingers.

It appears to me that this has been given a low priority as there was no notification sent to the public. This predator is out there. Hes molesting our children, Manly said to the City Council.

I have to ask, by not going public, whose interest is being protected over the safety of our children? he continued.

Attorney arrested during Oakland homeless encampment sweep

Manly went on to highlight his grievances that no notifications appeared to have been sent out to parents who were at the pool on July 4, nor were any distributed from the city nor the Pittsburg Police Department. A reporters trip to the closed swim center Wednesday confirmed there were no visible notices posted near the pool entrance.

The Pittsburg Police Departments social media accounts had not published any notifications, and no press releases were distributed by the city.

This happened on July 4, and as of today, I dont know if theres been an arrest, Manly added, wondering why its a common practice to warn the public when theres a shark in the ocean but not when theres a human predator at a community pool. Pittsburg City Manager Garrett Evans confirmed Wednesday that the Pittsburg Police Department is investigating the case  interviewing people who were at the pool on July 4, reviewing videotape and cameras.

Were reviewing all of our policies of all of our facilities, Evans said, further noting that he and Police Chief Steve Albanese would meet Thursday to also discuss policies pertaining to communication with the public.

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Stacks of boxes holding cards and letters are seen at the U.S. Post Office sort center December 15, 2008 in San Francisco, California. On its busiest day of the year, the U.S. Postal Service is expecting to process and mail over one billion cards, letters and packages. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The U.S. Postal Service said it shifted the majority of mail in Montana that was going through air to ground transport several months ago, but the chief executive of the air transport company said the federal agency relied on bad data to do so.

Alpine Air CEO Michael Dancy said this week he doesnt believe the Postal Service will be able to meet its own standards for one- or two-day mail either despite its pledges to do so.

I think theyve just decided that its OK to fail delivery standards in the state of Montana, Dancy said.

Alpine Air has worked with the Postal Service in Montana for some 35 years.

A spokesperson for the Postal Service said again that it isnt changing Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express in Montana.

The contract move was simply to transition to more reliable surface transportation, said spokesperson Kim Frum in an email.

Last month, the Postal Service abruptly stopped air service in Montana and then went silent in the midst of air cargo negotiations with Alpine Air despite the companys offer to reduce its contract by $3 million.

The Postal Service has been in financial trouble, and in 2021, it released a plan to get its budget on track and, it said, forge a bold vision for transformation and provide service excellence.

It had projected a loss of $160 billion during the course of 10 years. Its plan, which included reductions in air service and investments in ground transportation, estimated a net income of $0.2 billion instead.

But implementation in Montana has been fraught with controversy.

Both U.S. Sens. Jon Tester, a Democrat, and Steve Daines, a Republican, have urged the Postal Service to reverse course in the decision about air service and have been critical of other effects on Montana.

Once again, it appears that the USPS is turning its back on rural America and attempting to solve its budget woes on the backs of our nations rural citizens, said Tester in a July 18 letter to the Postmaster Louis DeJoy.

But the Postal Service stepped away from negotiations anyway, and Dancy said since then, he took a closer look at the federal agencys plan, Delivering for America. And he said he found it lacking when it comes to information about air transport.

For one thing, he said, the data about air transport reflects information for all air carriers, not just postal carriers, and it doesnt reflect Alpine Airs record in Montana.

The report described air transport as very unreliable, and it said the following: Air transport has major uncertainties and risks (weather, flight delays, etc.) that can drastically impede service performance.

Before the pandemic, it said ground transportation met a 92% on-time performance rate, but air transportation had 89.4% on-time performance.

Dancy, however, said Alpine Air counts a 99% on-time rate, and it produced the same even during the pandemic, when it was deemed an essential service.

The Postal Services plan, however, doesnt make note of the 99% rate. The agency spokesperson said its plan looks at the network as a whole and does not single out specific providers/states.

Dancy also questioned the ability of ground transportation to deliver top service in the winter given Montanas weather and roads, a factor Tester noted in his letter as well.

In its plan, the Postal Service said it will invest another $11 million in vehicles, but this week, the agency did not provide the Daily Montanan performance data for ground transportation related to Montana.

Unfortunately, your request for ground data is not publicly available information, Frum said. However, what I can tell you is in keeping with the DFA plan, the majority of the mail for this contractor, much like others nationwide, was transitioned to existing ground transport several months ago.

The remaining minimal volume wasnt enough to justify continuing the service.

The Postal Service did not directly address whether it can continue to meet delivery standards during the winter months or when mailing distances are on the longer side, such as across the country.

Last week, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester secured provisions for rural postal service in the appropriations package. Those include language directing the Postal Service to provide a briefing regarding the end of air service contracts that affect priority and express mail in Montana and other rural states.

Dancy, for one, is skeptical one- or two-day service is still possible in a state the size of Montana.

Theres just no way they can do that, he said. And they know theres no way they can do that. But thats what theyre representing.
Active hostilities have been taking place in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation for several days. Loud explosions have been heard in Russian border settlements.

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In turn, Kremlin propagandists complain that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have already broken through two lines of defense. Russian Telegram channels write about this.

The Russian media are spreading a map of the fighting in the Kursk region, which allegedly shows the real situation on the battlefield. Based on this information, Ukrainian soldiers have taken control of more than 10 border settlements in the Kursk region.

At the same time, Russian propagandists threw a tantrum and accused the country's military and political leadership of incompetence. The Russians claim that the Ukrainian Armed Forces broke through two lines of fortifications, for which Russian officials spent 15 billion rubles.

There was also information that railroad traffic was partially restricted in the Kursk region. In particular, the stations of Sudzha, Korenevo, and Psyol were temporarily closed.

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As a reminder, active hostilities in the Kursk region came as a surprise to the military and political leadership of the Russian Federation. These events were the first time since World War II that the army of another country invaded Russia.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region have advanced up to 10 kilometers into Russia. Defense Forces armored vehicles have taken up positions along the 38K-030 Sudzha  Korenevo highway.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11)  An American Airlines flight heading to Spain was diverted to John F. Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday due to an overflowing sink in the bathroom, according to the FAA and the airline.

The flight departed from Dallas. It landed in New York around 10:30 p.m. after the crew reported the lavatory issue, per the FAA.

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The passengers were provided hotel accommodations in New York, according to American Airlines.

On Aug. 7, American Airlines flight 36 with service from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Madrid (MAD) diverted to New York (JFK) due to a maintenance issue. The aircraft landed normally and is scheduled to re-depart [Thursday] evening on a new aircraft. We never want to disrupt our customers travel plans and apologize for the inconvenience, an American Airlines spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

The FAA is investigating the incident.

A Delta flight was diverted to JFK Airport in July after passengers were served spoiled food, according to the FAA. Several passengers got sick on board the flight.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

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Like the opening of Pandoras box in ancient Greek mythology, the horrific crimes perpetrated by Hamas on October 7 and Israels brutal and ruthless war of collective punishment in Gaza, with its massive civilian toll and humanitarian disaster, have unleashed a plague of racialized hate in the United Statesantisemitic, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim hate. We have seen violence and death threats against Jews, Palestinians, and Muslims, and against both supporters of Israel and supporters of Palestine. Individuals have been victimized simply because they were perceived to be Palestinian or Jewish. Weve seen vandalism, threats, and the disruption of religious services in synagogues, mosques, and other houses of worship. Demonstrations have targeted private residences, hospitals, museums, restaurants, and other eateries, at times directly intruding into them. Schools and college campuses have been hard-hit by these developments, as they had already been struggling with a sharp rise in the numbers of hate-motivated incidents in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

With passions roiled by events in the Middle East and reactions to them in the United States, a free speech and academic freedom crisis has developed on college campuses, with numerous attempts to censor both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli opinions. Speakers and educational colloquiums relating to the conflict between Israel and Palestine were preempted and censored by school administrations and disrupted and shouted down by hecklers. Since October 7, the libertarian organization FIRE has identified over 60 attempts to deplatform college speakers or events related to this issue, and close to 90 individuals have been affected. Conflicts over the war in Gaza and campus protests have led to suspensions, dismissals, and withdrawals of offers of appointment of college faculty, and to the forced resignations of college presidents. Cooperative academic work among international scholars has been hampered by boycotts of Israeli academics and the destruction of higher education in Gaza. While any attempt to silence speech on campuses must be opposed, it should be noted that the great preponderance of efforts coming from those in positions of powercollege administrations and elected officialsis directed at pro-Palestinian opinion.

Toward the end of the spring semester, campus encampments protesting the war in Gaza were met with heavy-handed police suppression and unnecessary mass arrests. With few exceptions, these encampments did not disrupt the educational functions of the institutions or involve violence and property destruction on the part of the student protesters. The most significant violence that did occur, at UCLA, was perpetrated by outside counterdemonstrators, with administrators and police failing to take action to contain it for hours. Nonetheless, far too many college and university administrations have bowed to pressure from politicians and wealthy donors who oppose the protest message of opposition to the war in Gaza and to the oppression of Palestinians, and they employed procedural pretexts to bring heavily armed police on campus and forcibly end the sit-ins. College after college have now enacted restrictions on free speech and peaceful assembly that are, as a practical matter, viewpoint-based and viewpoint-motivated. In their surrender to outside would-be censors, these university and college administrations have abandoned their duty to serve as guardians of free thought and expression in their institutions.

To make a bad situation worse, the spread of hate speech and incidents related to the Israel-Palestine conflict has been often misrepresented as solely antisemitic, despite the undeniable parallel presence of anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim hate. This misrepresentation has been promulgated and weaponized by members of Congress like New York Republican Elise Stefanik, who are using it in efforts to silence dissenting views critical of the Israeli government, the war in Gaza, and the underlying conflict in Israel and Palestine. It has also been exploited for political advantage, to pursue unrelated political agendas against diversity and equity programs and against higher education in general.

Its challenging to counter these troubling developments because, in addition to the very real expressions of antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim hate, we are confronting unfounded accusations used to parry legitimate criticisms of both the Israeli government and Hamas: criticisms of the Israeli governments ruthless prosecution of the war in Gaza, with its terrible civilian toll; of its ongoing denial of Palestinian self-determination and full civic equality for Israeli Palestinians, and its repression of peaceful Palestinian protest; of its illegal occupation and creeping annexation of the West Bank, with ever-expanding illegal settlements and violent dispossession of Palestinians; and of its far-right, autocratic, and theocratic makeup, with a Cabinet that includes neofascist Kahanists who incite anti-Palestinian racism and call for ethnic cleansing and worse. In some quarters, these criticisms are now dismissed as antisemitic. In other precincts, legitimate criticisms of Hamass horrific crimes on October 7, its targeting of innocent civilians and children, its grotesque use of sexual violence, and its continuing holding of Israelis as hostages; of its theocratic and neofascist politics, and its antisemitism, misogyny, and homophobia; and of its vicious authoritarian rule over Gaza and murder of Palestinian opponents are now wrongly dismissed as anti-Palestinian, anti-Muslim, and racist.

Without question, criticisms of both the Israeli government and Hamas have too often been used as vehicles for circulating dehumanizing and prejudice-filled tropes of an antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim nature. But broad, sweeping characterizations of virtually all criticism of the Israeli government and Hamas as either antisemitic or anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim are not simply wrong; they are too often calculated to preempt much-needed honest and hard conversations about the nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the difficult but necessary road to resolving it.

There are good reasons for Americans to be worried and disturbed by all these developments. As they have grown in number and intensity, manifestations of antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim hate have increasingly threatened the sense of security and well-being of the affected communities. Enmity of this nature is a toxin in a free and pluralist civil society. The duty of citizens in a democracy to actively oppose it is paramount.





Antisemitism on the Left

By principle and out of tradition, the left should not find it difficult to respond to this challenge. In the past, we have viewed racialized hate of all types as contrary to our foundational values of equality, solidarity, and human dignity, and we have recognized that it divides the broad coalitions necessary for progressive political and social change. Historically, it has been the right that either openly embraced or turned a blind eye to such hate, so it could be used instrumentally in the defense of concentrations of wealth and power. Moreover, freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest are core freedoms on which democracyand the leftdepend. In an era when we face the clear and present danger of a far-right authoritarianism that promotes illiberalism and racist, antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim hate, it should be a simple enough matter for the left to oppose all of these expressions of hate, and to separate ourselves, completely and unequivocally, from them; it should not be hard for the left to support universal freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest.

In an era when we face the clear and present danger of a far-right authoritarian that promotes illiberalism and racist, antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim hate, it should be a simple enough matter for the left to oppose all of these expressions of hate.

Yet, in the current moment, there are parts of the American and Anglophone left that are not rising to this challenge. While there has been strong and uncompromising opposition across most of the broad swath of the U.S. left to anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim hate and to restrictions on pro-Palestinian speech and protests, as there should be, this stance has not been accompanied by an equally universal, strong, and uncompromising opposition to antisemitism and attacks on pro-Israeli speech and protests. For some, illiberalism is viewed as a problem only when coming from the right. There is a failure to understand that freedom of expression for those with whom we strongly disagree is the price of that same freedom for our own views. Here I present in detail two illustrative and particularly stark examples.

First, consider the controversy stirred by Verso Books publication of the essay Palestine Speaks for Everyone, by politics professor Jodi Dean of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, or HWS. In the name of radical universal emancipation, Dean enthusiastically embraced the antisemitic, theocratic, and neofascist Hamas, describing images from October 7 as exhilarating and energiz[ing] and declaring that these actions create[d] a new sense of possibility, liberating people from hopelessness and despair. Wielding the cliche that oppressed people fight back against their oppressors by every means necessary, Dean indicated her support not only for the anti-imperialist violence of Hamas on October 7, with its brutal murders, sexual violence, and kidnappings, but also for the hijacking of civilian airplanes and attacks on civilians that had been carried out by other Palestinian organizations in the past. She pronounced Hamas, whose founding charter included lengthy antisemitic attacks on Jews, to be the leader of the struggle for Palestinian liberation and declared that it is the obligation of anti-imperialists in the United States and elsewhere to provide it with unconditional support. (In 2017, Hamas issued a new charter with softer and more oblique language, but its leaders insisted that it was a supplement to, not a substitute for, the original charter.)

Ringing, unqualified endorsements of Hamas and its criminal acts of October 7, especially when proffered by an academic political theorist like Dean, can only be read as a knowing acceptance of the well-known, central features of Hamass political ideologyits theocratic authoritarianism, its antisemitism, its misogyny, and its homophobia. There are reasonable debates over where to draw the line that demarcates justified criticism of Israel from discourse that has crossed over into antisemitism. But Deans essay is not a close call; you cant celebrate Hamas and October 7 as instruments of radical universal emancipation, ignore the many manifest ways in which the group is deeply and violently oppressive, and then pretend that you have not made yourself wholly complicit in these forms of oppression, including antisemitism.

Following the furor caused by the publication of her essay, the HWS administration suspended Dean from teaching. That action should be opposed by all who believe in academic freedom, which must include the ability to engage in political speecheven abhorrent political speechoutside of the classroom without fear of discipline or dismissal by your educational employer. The poorly conceived action of HWS, which has recently been reversed, only allowed Dean to pose as a martyr for free speech. Yet in the same breath that we defend academic freedom against the HWS administration, we must also condemn, with full throat, the contents of Deans essay.

It would be a mistake to view the essay as nothing more than the fulminations of an individual. Dean is a prominent member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, or PSL, a Marxist and Leninist sect of Trotskyist origins. The PSL has a long, dishonorable record of offering apologies and making excuses for bloody dictatorships worldwide: Syrias Assad, Russias Putin, Zimbabwes Mugabe, North Koreas Kim Jung Un, and Chinas Communist Party during the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy protests. Through its front group, Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, or ANSWER, the PSL has been deeply involved in the organizing of pro-Palestinian demonstrations around the United States. It was PSL member Eugene Puryear who, speaking at an October 8 Times Square demonstration, gleefully announced before the hundreds of dead from the Reim music festival massacre had even been buried that there was some sort of rave or desert party where they were having a great time, until the resistance came in electrified hang gliders and took out at least several dozen hipsters. In her essay, Dean makes much of a purported symbolism in Hamass use of hang gliders and kites in its attacks; in an echo of Puryear at the Times Square demonstration and others, she tells us that they represent liberation.

There is a sordid history of alliances like this, of individuals and organizations that purport to be on the left and yet, out of a dogmatic ideological commitment to violent and authoritarian revolution as the only effective means of resistance and change, ally themselves with and support organizations of the extreme right like Hamas, organizations that are racist, misogynistic, and homophobic at their core. For authentic leftists with democratic convictions, there is only one appropriate response: We separate ourselves from being part of such alliances, totally and without qualification.

Second, consider the controversy that has developed from pro-Palestinian students attacks on Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law. Chemerinsky is an outspoken civil libertarian, known nationally as a person of the democratic left. On the record, he has declared: I strongly oppose the policies of the Netanyahu government, favor full rights for Palestinians, and believe that there must be a two-state solution. While criticizing expressions of antisemitism among campus opponents of Israel, Chemerinsky has defended the free speech rights of pro-Palestinian student demonstrators, even when they involved offensive actions directed at him personally, such as the antisemitic caricature of him described below. He has been clear that criticism of the Israeli government is not antisemitism, any more than criticizing the policies of the United States government is anti-American.

With no policy complaint more substantive than Chemerinskys declarations that Israeli Jews have the same right to national self-determination as Palestinians and that Israel has the right to exist alongside a free Palestine, Berkeley Law Students for Justice in Palestine, or Berkeley Law SJP, targeted him with a demonizing, overtly antisemitic campaign. He was accused of participating in a Zionist conspiracy and of supporting genocide. These attacks reached a nadir around a social dinner Chemerinsky hosted for Berkeley law students at his home, an annual spring tradition he had started six years ago when he first came to the law school. With bold letters announcing NO DINNER WITH ZIONIST CHEM WHILE GAZA STARVES, posters distributed in the law school and published on social media declared that the dinner was a prime example of a normalization P.R. event that hopes to distract students from Dean Chems complicity and support for the genocide of the Palestinian peoples, and called for boycotting the dinner until the University of California, Berkeley, divested from Israel. The posters prominently featured a cartoon caricature of Chemerinsky with blood on his lips and blood on a knife and fork in his handsa plain allusion to the age-old antisemitic blood libel myth, which accused Jews of kidnapping and slaughtering Christian children to drink their blood in religious rituals.

If these actions were not disturbing enough, a group of students decided that rather than follow through on their call for a boycott, they would attend the dinner with the intention of disrupting it and promoting their campaign against UC Berkeley and Chemerinsky. At the dinner, Malak Afaneh, then co-president of Berkeley Law SJP, pulled a portable microphone and speaker from her backpack and began addressing the guests; others of her group recorded her speech. Despite several requests by Chemerinsky and his wife, Berkeley law professor Catherine Fisk, to leave their house, and despite explanation that the two were opposed to the carnage in Gaza and had no say in the universitys investments, Afaneh persisted, insisting she had been advised by the National Lawyers Guild that she was engaging in protected First Amendment speech. After several minutes, Fisk grabbed the microphone and put her arm around Afaneh in an effort to usher her out of the house, and the students from her group finally left.

Under any circumstances, such attacks would be indefensible. But what made these attacks especially odious was that they were directed at a person who had a record of support for the struggle for Palestinian human rights. In 2003, a young American pacifist, Rachel Corrie, was crushed to death by an Israeli Defense Forces bulldozer that was illegally destroying Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip; she had attempted to stop the demolition by putting her body in its path. Unable to obtain justice in Israeli courts, Corries parents turned to the U.S. courts. And their chosen counsel? None other than Erwin Chemerinsky, who served as their pro bono lawyer in a lawsuit against Caterpillar, the U.S.-based supplier of bulldozers to the IDF; in addition to Corries family, the suit included five Palestinians families who had lost their kin to Caterpillar bulldozers. Chemerinsky would pay a price for this advocacy; his appointment as law school dean at UC Irvine was later held up, with his representation in the Caterpillar lawsuit looming large in that decision.





The Extent of Antisemitism

There are further examples of discourse in this vein from the precincts of the left where excuse-making for Hamas fades seamlessly into dehumanizing, hateful rhetoric. While it by no means represents a majority or even a substantial minority sentiment on the left, it is not possible to dismiss it as entirely insignificant or isolated. Dean may be an academic of little note, and her PSL a small, fringe organization of the authoritarian far left, but through its front organization, ANSWER, the PSL has been able to parlay itself into a position of inordinate influence in off-campus pro-Palestinian demonstrations, where its members often speak. The Berkeley law student group that attacked Chemerinsky is part of the national Students for Justice in Palestine. Like Dean and the PSL, the national SJP achieved notoriety for its postOctober 7 statements of fervent support for Hamas and its actions, describing them as a historic win for the Palestinian resistance against the Zionist entity. This is what it means to Free Palestine, SJP declared as news of the October 7 massacres was breaking, not just slogans and rallies, but armed confrontation with the oppressors. An SJP tool kit issued shortly thereafter declared that Israeli citizens, whom it called Settlers, were not civilians in the sense of international law, but military assets who were legitimate targets of Hamas and other armed Palestinian organizations. Unfortunately, SJP has been a presence in many of the campus encampments protesting the war in Gazaa minority presence, to be sure, but still a presence.

By contrast, Verso Books, which published Jodi Deans essay, and the National Lawyers Guild, which provided support to Berkeley Law SJP and accused Chemerinsky of complicity in genocide without even the pretense of evidence to support such a charge, are long-standing and influential institutions on the left.

Cheerleading for Hamas and antisemitism does not appear uniformly across the entire spectrum of the left but is heavily concentrated in the authoritarian ultraleft. Indeed, there is a pattern suggesting that the war in Gaza is being weaponized by the ultraleft to mount attacks on leaders of the Democratic left it opposes politically, despite the fact that these very same leaders are forthright critics of the Israeli government. Among these attacks is harsh criticism of Senator Bernie Sandersthe most forceful, consistent, and high-profile critic of the Israeli government in Congress, who is also a Jewish opponent of offensive military aid to Israelfor being insufficiently pro-Palestinian and for supporting the reelection of Joe Biden. Then there was the disruption of a speech on democracy given by progressive Representative Jamie Raskin, a longtime advocate of Palestinian self-determination and a critic of the Israeli government (Raskin was one of two Jewish members of the House to vote against national security supplemental legislation that included offensive military aid to Israel), as well as the Democratic Socialists of Americas withdrawal of its national endorsement of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, driven by the ultraleft and sectarian forces that now control the organization. The justification? She had supported Israels right to exist; signed a statement with other congressional progressives saying she would support defensive, but not offensive, military aid to Israel; backed Bidens reelection; and sponsored and participated in an online seminar on identifying and opposing antisemitism, which DSAs leadership viewed as a deep betrayal.

This campaign fits a well-established pattern inside DSA of ultraleft attacks and the imposition of extreme litmus tests on onetime members who have been elected to Congress and are leading critics of the Israeli government in Congress: on Greg Casar of Texas, over his unwillingness to endorse the boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaign against Israel; on Summer Lee of Pennsylvania; and on Jamaal Bowman of New York, who was the target of a vitriolic campaign of character assassination over his refusal to endorse BDS and his ties to progressives in the American Jewish community and the peace movement in Israel. Incredibly, a campaign rally on behalf of Bowman was met with a protest organized by the group Within Our Lifetime, accusing him, Ocasio-Cortez, and Sanders of being genocide enablers. (Bowman, of course, lost his primary race in June to a more moderate opponent who was financed in part by a super PAC affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC.)

Nor are these ultraleft sallies directed only against elected officials. Despite being one of the first U.S. unions to call for a cease-fire in Gaza, the United Auto Workers and its president, Shawn Fain, have been targets of criticism from those who wanted the union to refuse to endorse Biden, over his Gaza policy. American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten, the Jewish president of the largest union in the AFL-CIO who led it to take a position in support of a cease-fire in the war in Gaza and for humanitarian aid to Gazans, also came under attack. (Disclosure: I have worked for the national AFT for a dozen years and previously served as a vice president of its New York City local.) The surreal quality of these ultraleft attacks is perhaps best expressed in wild accusations of support for genocide being launched at the very members of Congress AIPAC has targeted for defeat because of their criticism of the Israeli government and support of Palestinian rights, and at the very union leaders who have led the American labor movement to call for an end to the war in Gaza.

An ultraleft and authoritarian element can be found in the student encampments, where it has been the source of antisemitic slogans and counterproductive tactics, such as the occupation of a building at Columbia University. To be clear, it is a decidedly minority current; the full panorama of the movement is much broader and more politically diverse. Those who have examined encampments in some detail, such as The New York Times Lydia Polgreen, have found the preponderance of the student protesters to be thoughtful, compassionate, and motivated by their anguish over the war in Gaza. But she also noted the protests were not without troubling chants with connotations of antisemitism. In her reporting, the most explicit expressions of antisemitic hate came not from the students, but from outsiders seeking media attention.





The Challenges in Confronting Antisemitism

Before October 7 and the war in Gaza, the most recent manifestations of antisemitism in the United States were politically uncomplicated for the left: the antisemitic the Jews will not replace us chants at the 2017 ultraright demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Donald Trumps refusal to repudiate the violent fascist demonstrators; Trumps long history of using antisemitic tropes, and his open consorting with some of the nations most notorious antisemites; the fatal mass shootings at the Poway and Tree of Life synagogues, carried out by white supremacists motivated by the fascist great replacement theory that Jews were bringing immigrants of color into the United States as part of a conspiracy to engage in the genocide of white people; the mainstreaming of the great replacement theory by leading figures in conservative media, such as Tucker Carlson and Republican Party leaders such as J.D. Vance, Elise Stefanik, and House Speaker Mike Johnson; and the normalizing of antisemitic tropes throughout the Republican Party. In each of those instances, the antisemitism was emanating from the politics of the authoritarian far right and its white supremacist culture, and vigorous and uncompromising opposition was the obvious and straightforward response.

By contrast, the antisemitism that has appeared over the last eight months is a minority current in a movement whose primary objectiveending the brutal war in Gazais righteous. While Israels initial cause of responding to the crimes of October 7 was unquestionably just, its subsequent prosecution of the war, with the infliction of massive civilian casualties, including a conservative estimate of 8,000 dead children, has rendered the war very clearly unjust. International and Israeli human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam, and BTselem have found evidence that Israel has violated international law with its indiscriminate and disproportionate use of violence and force. There is no more telling indictment of the Israeli governments war of collective punishment than how that war has brought the people of Gaza to the edge of starvation, while the Israeli government has failed to provide desperately needed humanitarian aid to them; particularly obscene is the license the Israeli government has given to neofascist Kahanist settlers to block and destroy convoys of food relief. This failure to provide food aid is not just a violation of international law; it is an affront to the most basic sense of human decency. The fundamental values of the left, starting with respect for human life, require support for a movement to end this war. The urgent tasks of the moment are to stop the bloodshed, feed the children, and free the hostages.

To further complicate the issue, the loudest accusations of campus antisemitism come from three different sources, each one quite problematic in its own way. First, there are those who have their own documented histories of antisemitism, such as Donald Trump, Elise Stefanik, and other MAGA Republicans, making it next to impossible to credit their current professed outrage over campus antisemitism as genuine. Instead, it is clear that they are interested in antisemitism only insofar as they can use it as a wedge issue to their political advantage.

Second, there are those who have adopted an Israel, right or wrong posture, such as AIPAC and Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League, in which the charge of antisemitism is applied loosely and instrumentally to discredit the broadest possible swath of opposition to the Israeli governments conduct of the war in Gaza and its oppressive treatment of Palestinians. In these quarters, unquestioning support for Israel now takes precedence over authentic opposition to antisemitism. In the wake of Elon Musks opening of X (formerly Twitter) to a surge of right-wing, racist, and antisemitic hate speech, and immediately following an overtly antisemitic tweet in which Musk had endorsed the great replacement theory, Greenblatt still found reason to embrace Musk because he vowed to ban the words from the river to the sea and decolonization from X.

Lastly, there is the far-right, autocratic, and theocratic government of Israel itself. In his quest to dismiss all opposition to his governments conduct of the war in Gaza as motivated by antisemitism, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the campus protests, falsely proclaiming without a shred of evidence that they called for death to the Jews, and demanded their suppression. While attempting to deflect an impending International Criminal Court indictment for his governments prosecution of the war in Gaza, Netanyahu has now taken to comparing demonstrations by Israelis calling for a cease-fire agreement that would end the war and return the hostages to what he calls the mobocracies of campus protests in the United States.

All three sources have sought, in an illiberal fashion, to silence pro-Palestinian speech and speech critical of Israel; all three are singularly focused on antisemitism, as if there were not parallel expressions of anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim hate on campus and in the larger society; and all three have exaggerated the extent of antisemitism, with wild accusations that college protests are nascent pogroms reminiscent of Hitler Youth at Nuremberg-style rallies, and that protesters are agents of the Iranian government. The myth that Jewish philanthropist George Soros is the evil, all-powerful black hand behind various left-wing causes has been a staple of the contemporary far rights antisemitic conspiracy theories. Now the same circles are suggesting Soros is responsible for the campus protests against the war in Gaza.





Contesting Antisemitism

On this complicated and contradictory political terrain, fears that forceful public opposition to antisemitism on the left could be exploited to defend the indefensible in the war in Gaza, and thus prolong the long train of horrors that have defined that war, are not unreasonable. For that matter, fears that such opposition could be used to advance the illiberal, repressive agendas of Trump, Stefanik, and the MAGA GOP, of AIPAC, ADL, and the current Israeli government, are not without foundation. Seemingly out of concern about such fears, there are those who have bitten their tongues, and avoided speaking the complicated truth. Some have gone so far as to proclaim that charges of antisemitism are nothing more than a moral panic, manufactured out of next to nothing for the purpose of instituting a new McCarthyism. (This is an argument that rests on a fallacy of composition, in which the claim that charges of antisemitism are generally untrue is based on a demonstration that a limited and discrete number of particular charges are without substance; examples that would contradict this sort of judgment, such as those described in this essay, are simply ignored.)

Tactically conservative thinking like this may be understandable, given the complex political terrain and the high stakes of political interventions, but it is nonetheless seriously mistaken, as a matter of moral principle and as a matter of political strategy. The moral urgency of ending the war in Gaza and bringing essential and desperately needed humanitarian supplies to the people of Gaza demands that we act, but it does not absolve us of the responsibility to choose with deliberate thought and care actions that advance this cause. The lefts choice of silence in the face of antisemitism does a profound disservice to thisto ourcause. If silence on antisemitism prevails, the right will weaponize that silence and gain a free hand to smear as antisemitic all opposition to Israels brutal war of collective punishment in Gaza. Only a left that is morally credible as a principled opponent of antisemitismmorally credible precisely because it has unambiguously and completely condemned and separated itself from the parts of the authoritarian ultraleft that trade in antisemitismwill be in a position to fend off unprincipled accusations and advance the antiwar cause.

When opposition to antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim hate is combined, it eliminates the suspicion that our opposition is little more than special pleading for one side in this conflict, instrumentalized to gain political advantage in a power struggle.

Left-wing politics is not a team sport, where winning is everything and we cheer our side and oppose the other side, no matter the actions taken by each side. What distinguishes a politics as authentically left is a commitment to a set of emancipatory values that together provide a vision of a just society, economy, and polity. We seek power in the service of those values and that vision, and judge our actions against them, not against the deeds of those who do not share our view of the world. The wrongs of the other side cannot provide justifications or excuses for the compromise of our own values. It is not just that opposition to racialized hate is a fundamental moral precept of the leftor that the failure to oppose one of its forms, to pick and choose when and where we honor that principle and for whom, opens us to valid charges of hypocrisy and double standards. Just as importantly, opposition to all forms of racialized hate is the strongest political approach to combating various particular expressions. When opposition to antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim hate is combined, it eliminates the suspicion that our opposition is little more than special pleading for one side in this conflict, instrumentalized to gain political advantage in a power struggle, and it focuses discussion on what is so profoundly objectionable in the hate. It is long past time for all on the left to act on the insight of Edward Saids Orientalism, that anti-Muslim hate is a secret sharer of the same dispositions and prejudices as antisemitism, and to unequivocally oppose both. Moral consistency makes the political case against each particular form of hate that much more powerful.

The same must be said of opposition to illiberal attempts to suppress free political speech and peaceful protest around the issues of Israel, Palestine, and the war in Gaza. Generally speaking, these rights are essential for political democracy, and the lifeblood of left organizing for social and economic justice. The weaponization of antisemitism, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim hate to suppress free speech and peaceful protest, most recently manifest in the misnamed Antisemitism Awareness Act, which targets broad categories of political expression critical of the Israeli government, is best fought when those rights are treated as indivisible. When an opposition to repression of pro-Palestinian speech and protest is combined with calls for censorship of pro-Israeli speech and protest, and vice versa, it reduces the issue to an exercise of brute force; under those circumstances, the left almost always comes away the loser. As Voxs Eric Levitz has argued with respect to the current Israel-Palestine conflict, advocacy for the disempowered is best pursued hand in hand with a vigorous defense of free speech, which must include speech for those with whom we disagree on fundamental questions.

The complications of the political terrain on which we labor require that we act deliberately and with care. The burden of the historical moment places upon us the responsibility to condemn and separate ourselves from those who partake in antisemitism and attempt to suppress the free speech and peaceful protest with which they disagree.
Dona Ana County ask for community input on road safety plan

Dona Ana County ask for community input on road safety plan

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)Dona Ana County is seeking the communitys input on a new road safety plan to reduce fatal and serious injuries on local roads.

The Countys Comprehensive Safety Action Plan aims to improve safety for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists, according to a news release by Dona Ana County.

Dona Ana County Comprehensive Safety Action Plan Study Area. Photo courtesy to Dona Ana County.

Residents can provide input through the following public meetings:

Thursday, Aug. 15

Dona Ana County Government Center, from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. 854 N. Blvd., Las Cruces

Dona Community College East Mesa Campus, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd., Las Cruces



Friday, Aug. 16

Thomas Branigan Library from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. 200 E. Picacho Ave., Las Cruces

Dona Ana Community Center from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 5745 Ledesma Dr., Dona Ana

Mesilla Plaza from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Calle Principal, Mesilla



Saturday, Aug. 17

Ardovinos Market from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1 Ardovinos Drive, Sunland Park

Village Market from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 101 School St., Village of Hatch



Tuesday, Aug. 20

Dona Ana Community College East Mesa Campus from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd., Las Cruces



Residents who cannot attend in-person sessions can submit their inputs on the Countys plan website.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
By Panu Wongcha-um

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Four years ago, when Thai opposition party Future Forward was dissolved by the Constitutional Court for trying to amend a law protecting the powerful monarchy from criticism, supporters took to the streets, triggering months of civil unrest.

A repeat of these mass protests is unlikely, however, even after the same court on Wednesday disbanded Future Forward's successor, Move Forward, because this time the opposition group holds the most seats in parliament and its stalwarts are preparing to fight their cause in the house, and at the ballot box.

"We just went through it four years ago. So we're not new," party leader Pita Limjaroenrat told Reuters before the ruling. "I want to prove to the establishment, and also to the world, that dissolving parties is futile."

Had he not been blocked by the military-appointed senate, Pita would have become Thailand's prime minister after Move Forward, which over the past four years morphed from a youth-driven movement that came in third in the first vote since a 2014 military coup, won last year's general elections.

Even after the ruling, the party remains the largest voting bloc in parliament, and has already said that it would set up a new political vehicle to accommodate its 143 lawmakers.

Under Thai parliamentary rules, these lawmakers can move to any political party of their choice, a defection that its opponents will seek to induce, analysts said.

In 2020, just 10 out of 81 Future Forward lawmakers defected to the conservative coalition that was in power. This time, party leaders say they believe everyone will stay on board.

"We haven't checked the names but we are very confident that everyone will come with us," Move Forward deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakul told reporters on Wednesday.

Move Forward's progressive agenda brought Thailand's influential monarchy into the mainstream political discourse with its campaign promise to reform the strict lese majeste law.

Its 2023 victory at the polls on this agenda built on the easing of taboos around the monarchy that was induced by the 2020 protests against Future Forward's dissolution.

The disbanding of Move Forward is the latest setback for Thailand's major political parties, which are embroiled in a two-decade battle for power against a nexus of influential conservatives, old money families and the royalist military.

Over the last 18 years, four prime ministers have been dismissed by coups and court decisions.

"The decision is not a surprise," said Matthew Wheeler, an analyst at conflict-resolution organisation Crisis Group, about the court ruling.

'PRESSURE COOKER'

In the days ahead of the court ruling, Pita had exuded confidence that both he and the party would win the case, which originated from an election commission complaint over Move Forward's campaign to amend the lese majesty law.

In January, the same court ruled that the party's plan to reform the law was unconstitutional, prompting Move Forward to abandon its campaign promise. Disbanding it was the next step.

Move Forward deputy leader Sirikanya said that the party that will be born out of Move Forward's ashes could do things differently, but the foundation would remain the same: "We will continue the core ideology."

The party had already identified a pool of dozens of candidates from where it can create a pipeline of leaders for multiple levels, ensuring that any new political vehicle that it backs can swiftly ready itself to fight elections, Pita told Reuters last month.

When it was initially formed, Move Forward's main political opposition consisted mainly of military-backed parties that sought to stifle its rise.

Now it is also a threat to the ruling Pheu Thai party, backed by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who made a dramatic return to Thailand last year just as it took power.

"It's a pressure cooker," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. "Because on the one hand, popular support for Move Forward will expand."

"Then the suppression of whatever becomes of Move Forward will also increase," he said, "The ruling elites, they don't seem to care about party dissolutions, military coups ... as long as they can stay in power."

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um, Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal; editing by Miral Fahmy)
LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. (FOX 56)  As a new school year begins, we wanted to shine a light on the men and women who wear many hats in districts across the state, the school resource officers (SROs).

In Anderson County, many of the districts SROs were alumni and/or have kids who attend(ed) one of the schools.

But while most of the students and staff at Anderson County Schools spent the last few months getting some much-needed relaxation, for the SROs, like the SRO Supervisor for the district, Lt. Tony Likins, their summers have included still serving the community they hold near and dear.

This includes working the roads, covering shifts at either the local police department or the sheriffs office, doing vehicle inspections, and more.

Likins and his team also continue to conduct various SRO trainings, as officers never know what each day may bring.

He said they have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

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Likins said one of the most important skills needed for their job is communication.

This doesnt simply include communicating with one another, but with parents and especially students. Being open and willing to listen, Likins said, builds an indiscernible trust between the kids and the SROs and creates a powerful bond.

A girl told me that the reason why she came up and talked to him is because she seen one of her friends talking to me and she seen that I was laughing and she seen that I was smiling and we were having a conversation just like two people would have, not as a SRO and a student, but as two just friendly people and that connection with those kids has made my leadership stronger, Likins described. They dont realize theyve helped me as much as I tried to help them. Its like were our own little team. We call it Team AC.

Unfortunately, while Likins said its great to have this relationship with the students he said every day during the school year, and he looks forward to seeing them once a new school year begins, he recognizes theres a fine balance between being their friend and being an officer of the law having to protect them.

Whether it be an incident outside the school or inside, Likins said he and the rest of the SROs in Anderson County said de-escalation is the number one priority for any situation. This starts with using verbal commands to try to return things to normal.

If the situation continues to escalate, then officers will handle it accordingly, but thats something they want to avoid at all costs.

Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news

Its conflict resolution first, Likins explained. Ive learned a lot about that in schools. Show the kids how to deal with a conflict first and then try your best to resolve it with them by giving them ways to learn first and then look for the way out. Just because were having a conflict doesnt mean that were enemies.

Likins said while he and the rest of the SROs in Anderson County, along with district administrators, always want the schools to be a positive place, theres a dark side to being an SRO and god forbid one of those dark moments happens. Officers will do everything possible to keep students safe.

With Anderson County Schools kicking off the 2024-2025 school year on Thursday, Likins said hes excited to start a new school year and to see how much the students have grown during the summer.

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The news of Kamala Harris vice presidential selection broke on Tuesday morning, but Andy Beshear saw the writing on the wall days before.

When he was not summoned for an in-person interview with the presumptive Democratic nominee last weekend, it meant Kentuckys governor hadnt made the finals.

But in politics, theres always another campaign.

And next to being plucked out of Frankfort and onto the Democratic ticket, Beshears second-fastest stamp to a national political role is likely an appointment inside a potential Harris administration.

For this to happen, Harris needs to win  and Beshear has already signaled his readiness to play the part of loyal partisan soldier for the coming three months.

I plan on being at the convention. I look forward to leading our delegation, Beshear told the Herald-Leader in an interview Wednesday. In the end, I just want this ticket to win. And I dont have an ego about how to help them. If they want me to take a big role in the convention, Im willing. If they have a different direction, as long as it helps them win, Im for it.

Beshear has already spent the summer traversing political terrain far outside of the commonwealth with stops in Iowa, Georgia, Oklahoma and Illinois, where hes made new introductions and connections.

More stops are in the offing, likely in service to the Harris-Walz banner in places like Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia, where he can convey a connection to rural voters.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks with attendees during the Iowa Democratic Partys annual Liberty and Justice Celebration in Des Moines on July 27. Beshear has fans among the partys more liberal and more centrist contributors.

The Democratic National Convention, which kicks off Aug. 19 in Chicago, provides the biggest stage for Beshears career to date.

The assignment inside the United Center will be doing everything to lift up the Harris-Walz campaign, but the opportunity to wow tens of thousands of delegates, activists, donors and media figures is as close to unparalleled in the modern political ecosystem.

And in this sense, Beshears whirlwind two-week experience inside the veepstakes only bolstered prospects for his political future.

Its funny how a totally amorphous process like the VP selection can still result in winners and losers. [Tim] Walz is, obviously, the winner. [Josh] Shapiro is the loser, said Bradley Tusk, a venture capitalist and New York political consultant who has worked for Michael Bloomberg and Chuck Schumer.

Beshear is a winner  he elevated himself, got into the national conversation, didnt face the kind of scrutiny and (opposition research) applied to Shapiro, will get attention at his speech at the convention and if Harris loses, is now clearly in the mix for 2028 and can start raising money pretty soon after the election for it if he wants.

Beshear for President?

In Frankfort, Beshears lofty political ambitions have been an open secret, long prior to President Joe Bidens withdrawal from the 2024 campaign.

Phillip Wheeler, a Republican state senator from Pikeville, said a close friend of his has heard it directly from the governor.

I have a very close friend who is a Republican who supported him, gave him a lot of money. Gov. Beshear flat-out told him and several people that he intended to run for president, Wheeler told the Herald-Leader. I dont think he was intending to run this time. But clearly I think there has been talk.

Everything, of course, depends on what happens in November.

But if Harris won, experts expect her to seek her own two full terms as president, along with a running mate, Tim Walz, whose own ambitions could swell with time inside Washington. If that all happened, Beshears shot at the White House could very well vanish.

With Beshears second term as Kentuckys governor expiring in December 2027, the best case scenario for a presidential run would be in 2028. If Harris is successful, thats when shell be running for a second term, bulldozing the well-laid plans of a generation of Democrats.

Jonathan Miller, a Washington-based Beshear ally who served as Kentuckys state treasurer, has already hoisted a Beshear 2032 signpost.

Though if Harris loses to Donald Trump, recriminations inside the Democratic Party will fling far and wide. Near the top of the post-mortems will inevitably be the question of whether Harris was too liberal a nominee to secure the confidence of swing voters in Middle America, and whether Democrats need to turn back to the center ideologically.

In this scenario, if the answer is yes, the antidote could very well be Beshear.

I dont buy the notion that the Democratic Party is moving left. Bernie Sanders lost to Biden, he lost to Hillary [Clinton]. The Squad seems to be losing members, not gaining them, noted Richard Goodstein, a Democratic lobbyist who attended a Beshear event in Washington this summer.

Talk about swimming against the tide...You have to have special political skills to carry Kentucky as a Democrat for two terms.

Another Bill Clinton?

When Democrats reach for a politician analogous to Beshear, they often cite Bill Clinton.

He is a young Bill Clintonfull of charisma and smart as a whip, said Roy Barnes, a former Democratic governor of Georgia.

Elected president at 46  Beshears current age  Clinton was also a smooth-talking centrist governor from a small state (Arkansas) who defied long odds to widen his partys appeal through his natural connection with working-class people.

He is also the last Democratic presidential candidate to carry Kentucky, which points to a bygone era when the state was competitive at the national level.

Its hard to find a political observer who thinks Beshear could deliver Kentuckys eight electoral votes if he appeared on the ticket. That red state geography is one of the reasons Beshear failed to make it into Harris vice presidential finals.

Or as Barnes explains it, an accident of birth.

As much as Clinton serves as a tempting comparison, it may be obsolete considering how much more ethnically diverse and regionally segregated the Democratic Party is now compared to 28 years ago.

A Pew Research Center study last year found that 44% of Democratic Party voters are Hispanic, Black, Asian or multiracial. Just 11% of Kentuckys voting eligible population are minorities, posing a potential challenge for Beshear in winning over a broader constituency.

I dont know if you can win a Democratic primary as a moderate, said Wheeler, who acknowledged the same assessment could be rendered in his party. I think its tough to be the kid from Arkansas nowadays, kind of the Bill Clinton  I think its really tough to run for president from a smaller state like Kentucky.

Nonetheless, its the veritable, silver-haired Clinton network that Beshear has tapped to make inroads with new potential donors and supporters.

When Beshear sought face time with a cadre of Washington lobbyists and consultants in July, his advisers enlisted David W. Jones, a well-connected lobbyist and member of Hillary and Bill Clintons national finance committees.

Jones drafted former Virginia governor and Clinton confidante Terry McAuliffe as a headliner for the Beshear event in order to guarantee a crowd. It also helped that McAuliffes gubernatorial term overlapped with Andys father, Steve Beshear, who boasts useful cross-country relationships from his two terms in office.

The meetings were deemed a success.

Beshear got in front of several hundred people across multiple events in which he bobbed around questions about Biden, plugged his political action committee and touted his accomplishments in Kentucky.

He doesnt sound terribly partisan when hes talking, even at the events in D.C. A lot of folks are like, I want to learn more, Im interested. I want to meet him, said Mark Riddle, a Democratic political consultant who helped organize Beshears Washington outing.

A TIME FOR SCRUTINY

One of Beshears most striking feats during the volatile veepstakes process was ducking hard-core opposition from the online left, an unorganized army of progressive activists who spend countless daily hours online picking fights and scrutinizing policy records of Democratic politicians.

Beshears willingness to stand up for abortion rights, transgender youth and unions in a red state earned him cache with progressives, who wouldnt be counted on as natural allies.

He has a strong record on the issues that a lot of grassroots Democrats care about these days, including labor rights. I was struck by how he joined the UAW picket line last year, said Mehdi Hasan, the former MSNBC host who now runs his own left-of-center website, Zeteo News.

If he had gotten within a knifes edge of the job  like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro did  that all couldve changed.

But a larger spotlight will mean greater scrutiny.

Some observers have already picked at the coal-state governors position on climate change, acknowledging the reality of the issue, but staying quiet on the thornier questions about how to mitigate it.

Where does he stand on arming Israels enduring war in Gaza? How about the Biden-backed plan to install term limits for Supreme Court justices? Does he think the U.S. Senate should scrap the filibuster?

Beshears mantra  Focus on peoples everyday challenges. Dont get caught up on the issue of the day in D.C,  as he stated in a local television interview in Iowa, works when youre governor. Itll be much harder to stick to that script if he reaches for national office or is tempted by a U.S. Senate seat left open by Mitch McConnell in 2026.

While a Senate seat run is consistently raised as in the realm of possibilities, many Democrats doubt Beshear would risk a defeat in a contest that would be centered on national currents outside of his control.

Hes always downplayed it, but whether its in 26 or the seat opens up early, I think there will be tremendous pressure on him by Democrats in Kentucky and nationally to stay engaged and get in the race, said Kim Geveden, a Somerset-based Democratic political consultant.

Even if it results in a loss, it could be used as a vehicle to stay relevant and buttress his fundraising network to keep his options open for the grand prize.

As he told KCCI-TV in Des Moines, Iowa, Beshear appears eager to showcase his talents outside of Kentucky in the near-term.

I also am a person that listens and can go into any state and talk to folks that are there, he said.

Its not messaging  its purpose.

He can be vice president: Could Andy Beshear be a model for national Democrats?
State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska News Service)

LINCOLN  Frustrations with Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillens push to prioritize the property tax relief proposals he and his hand-picked pod of senators favor over other lawmakers ideas boiled over into Wednesdays floor debate.

State Sens. Danielle Conrad and George Dungan of Lincoln; Megan Hunt, John Cavanaugh, Jen Day and Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha; and Carol Blood of Bellevue questioned the governors approach of trying to wear senators down with an indefinite session.

Conrad took the sessions first real chance to discuss progress toward the governors push for property tax relief to publicly say what many of them had already acknowledged privately  that the governors original proposal was dead on arrival.

She said Pillen stretched the acceptable historical practice of calling a special session only during emergencies by calling one on property tax relief, an issue discussed during nearly every modern regular session of the Nebraska Legislature.

As Nebraskans we have a proud and strong tradition of transparency and thoughtfulness in how we approach our work that has been thrown out the window  and its wrong, Conrad said. Its wrong for this Legislature to facilitate an abuse of power by a governor intent on lining his own pockets.

Pillen owns a massive hog operation based in Columbus, Nebraska. The Lincoln Journal Star and others have calculated that he and his business operations could save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year from any of the property tax relief plans he has supported.

Conrad and Hunt directed some of their harshest criticism at people they called Pillens enablers, including senators in a working group that met with the governor for months before sharing the work product with the wider Legislature.

Targets Pillens enablers

Conrad singled out the Revenue Committee, led by State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha. Some senators are trying to find ways to rescue parts of Pillens plan and shoehorn them into another bill, Conrad said, so the governor can claim victory despite his defeat.

But she noted that lawmakers last session shot down Pillens push to raise sales tax rates and expand the number of items subject to the sales tax, criticizing the plan as regressive and would disproportionately land on the backs of the working poor and elderly.

She and Hunt said Pillens new plan was just a smaller version of the largest proposed tax increase in Nebraska history. Blood said the plan is changing so much day to day that senators often have to read news reports to know whats in it.

Hunt said the Legislature was not treating the issue of property taxes with the seriousness of how they all campaigned on the issue. She said the lack of clear processes and efforts to rush a decision show disrespect for people who want a say.

She said Nebraskans are going to see their cost of living increase by more than most will feel in property tax relief, whether they rent or own homes. She said senators shouldnt try to rewrite the tax code and school funding formula and cut the budget over the span of a week.

How can we expect Nebraskans to take this session seriously? Hunt asked, saying people are worried about getting their kids back to school. We have not had time to deliberate this, and we have had good ideas.

The Revenue Committees chosen vehicle is now Legislative Bill 9, introduced by State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward, which is largely being loaded with pieces of bills from other senators who Linehan has included and negotiated with.

Everything that Ive learned about this special session, I learned from the media, Blood said. (Pillen) gets to do whatever he wants to do when he wants to do it  and quite frankly, I think our governor is a bully.

Process questions

Dungan, who was in the governors working group and serves on the Revenue Committee, said he was no fan of the process that the governor and lawmakers had followed during the special session, saying colleagues and staff said this is not normal.

My understanding is a special session is intended to address a finite issue, he said. Its intended to be constrained as a response to an emergency situation.

Dungan said when he talks to his constituents, they tell him they want property tax relief, too. But, he said, they tell him, Not like this.

Several senators expressed the need for the legislative branch to push back.

Pillens office had no immediate comment on senators remarks. Earlier this week, he pivoted from his own plan to saying he supported the Revenue Committees emerging proposal, which is expected to get voted out of committee Thursday morning.

Supportive senators defend Pillen

Several senators came to Pillens defense, including Linehan, State Sens. Ben Hansen of Blair and Kathleen Kauth of Omaha and Mike Jacobson of North Platte. Jacobson applauded the governor for proposing concrete ways to pay for property tax relief.

Everything youre hearing today is hyperbole, Jacobson said.

Linehan said she is tired of proposing incremental changes without structural changes. She said that in her eight years as a lawmaker, the state has put $1 billion into property tax relief and yet property taxes have increased by $1.3 billion.

If you think were not trying to fix it, thats just false, she said of addressing property taxes. We can come here and do another decrease in the increase. Or we can take on the responsibility of all the kids.

Linehan argued that the committees measure wouldnt increase sales taxes.

It would not raise sales tax rates. However, it would raise more money from sales taxes by expanding the number of goods and services subject to the sales tax, based on the latest version of the proposal and its projected revenue estimates.

Hansen criticized his colleagues for complaining about being called away from their lives and full-time jobs for a special session. He said they need to be there because the issue warrants their full attention, and it needs to be solved.

Focus on the issue

State Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus said senators should focus on why they were called back, because property taxes are too high and theyre out of balance with other forms of state revenue.

Try as they might, he said, there is no way to reduce or offset property taxes without having revenue. That, he said, is the root cause of why senators have talked about the issue for decades and spent millions nibbling around the edges.

Kauth defended the work of the Revenue Committee, of which she is a member. She said the committee has been very deliberative in what it wants to tax. For instance, she said, the committee proposal would tax candy and pop, but not other groceries or food.

She criticized her colleagues for filing a number of motions and efforts to slow down deliberations and filibuster bills.

Stalling an important issue is not ethical, Kauth said.

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(Bloomberg) -- A business-friendly coalition government and plans by Anglo American Plc to spin off one large subsidiary and possibly list another may trigger a sustained rally in South African stocks, the head of the main local bourse said.

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Even with the turmoil currently running through global stock markets, these developments are poised to snap South African equities out of more than a decade of torpor caused by economic stagnation and collapsing power and logistics services, said Leila Fourie, the chief executive officer of JSE Ltd., which runs the exchange.

Three months without the power cuts that have plagued the country since 2008 has improved the economic outlook and Anglos plans will boost trading, she said in an interview on Wednesday.

Weve seen an improved investor sentiment and a shift toward South Africa and that was largely hinged on the macro optimism on political stability and also largely on the stability in our electricity, Fourie said. Investors who were underweight on South African stocks have shifted to neutral and if the new government performs, will upgrade to overweight, she said.

South Africa has its first coalition government since the 1990s after the African National Congress lost the majority it has held in parliament since apartheid ended, in Mays election. That forced the ANC to appoint ministers from other parties including the business friendly Democratic Alliance to the cabinet.

Investors have welcomed the broad coalition, sparking a rally in South African local-currency bonds. They have made dollar returns of 8.25% since the election, the best in a Bloomberg index covering emerging-market sovereign debt. Stocks could follow, especially if the new government pushes ahead with economic reforms, according to Fourie.

We have a number of stocks that are deeply undervalued, she said. Investors are starting to see that opportunity emerging as the government of national unity is stabilizing and building more and more confidence.

Anglo American

Further out, trading could receive a fillip as Anglo, the mining company founded in Johannesburg in 1917 and which once dominated the stock exchange, reacts to a failed takeover bid by BHP Group Ltd. The company plans to spin off its 79% stake in Anglo American Platinum Ltd., a company valued at more than 160 billion rand ($8.7 billion), and is considering an initial public offering, or sale, for De Beers, the worlds biggest diamond mining company.

This could have a very large net-positive effect on the JSEs market cap, our trading value, and diversification opportunities, she said.

Any rally would come after a decade in which the countrys main stock index has lost 7% in dollar terms while key US stock indexes have more than doubled.

Already there are signs that South African stocks are becoming more favored than emerging market peers. On Aug. 5, when stocks sank globally, the FTSE/JSE Africa All Share Index slipped just 1.2% while the MSCI Emerging Markets Index plunged 4.2%.

There is a window of opportunity. I think South African stocks are undervalued, Fourie said. Better sentiment could translate into improved valuations and, of course, higher index values, she added.

More companies are looking to trade on the bourse in Johannesburg, which is adding four listings this year, she said. Another sign of increased confidence is the 79 billion rand companies secured in capital raises in the first six months of this year, compared with 4 billion rand in the same period in 2023, she said.

--With assistance from Gordon Bell, Ana Monteiro, Phil Serafino, Colleen Goko and Joumanna Bercetche.

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Britain was braced for a long night of violent rioting on Wednesday, after a tense week of anti-migrant uprisings swept across the nation.

Around 6,000 specialist officers were deployed by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Stamer to control further attacks on Muslim and migrant communities stirred up by anti-immigration rhetoric and online misinformation after a fatal stabbing of children last week. Police had identified at least 100 targets, including immigration centers across the U.K. Local workers were sent home early, shops were boarded up, and many scared Muslims avoided being outside.

But the riots never fully materialized.

Instead, thousands of peaceful anti-racist demonstrators blocked the streets while chanting refugees are welcome here, and holding placards that said Stop the far-right. Small gatherings of the far-right were observed in Portsmouth, Southampton, and Blackpool, but they were vastly outnumbered by Brits sending a message of acceptance to their local community, according to local news reports and demonstrators who attended. In one of the larger anti-racist demonstrations, in the London neighborhood of Walthamstow, aerial footage shows as many as 8,000 people gathered in solidarity. Similar gatherings took place in Brighton, Newcastle, Oxford, Liverpool, and Southampton.

A number factors likely contributed to the smaller-than-anticipated turnout of rioters, including the significant police presence and the deterrent of fast-tracked court cases for those affiliated with the riots. Starmer, who served as the director of public prosecutions during the 2011 London riots, described the recent violence as far-right thuggery and threatened the full force of the law." So far, more than 480 arrests have been made in connection to the riots, with 149 charges against perpetrators. Nick Lowles, leader of Hope Not Hate, a U.K.-based anti-facism advocacy group, also told the Guardian that the list of targets for Wednesdays riots were compiled by one individual in Liverpool and widely circulated on social media apps, giving the perception of an overestimated threat level.

Read More: How Online Misinformation Stoked Anti-Migrant Riots in Britain

Our aim was to bring people together, says Weyman Bennett, co-convenor of Stand Up To Racism, a British anti-fascist group who helped to organize many of Wednesdays counter protests. Although they are a minority, we recognized that the far-right have got highly paid, well-organized people now, so it was necessary for us to bring all those forces together, Bennett says. Many of the groups elders have long-standing roots in community organizing for anti-Nazi and anti-facist movements, says Bennett, but a lot of people who he saw attending counterdemonstrations this week were newer faces who were horrified by what they had seen on the news.

The first acts of violence broke out after misinformation spread that the assailant behind a mass stabbing that killed three young girls in Southport on July 29, was a Muslim immigrant. On July 30, enraged locals near the scene of the stabbing gathered to throw bricks and rocks at a local mosque. After a U.K. judge lifted an anonymity ban for minors, it was revealed that the suspect connected to the stabbing was Axel Rudakubana, a 17 year old born in Cardiff, Wales, who is not Muslim. Still, the online campaign of misinformation galvanized similar acts of destruction in multiple U.K. towns and cities, culminating in attacks on Aug. 4, at two hotels where asylum seekers are housed. Across the week, scenes emerged of far-right rioters looting, smashing buildings and starting fires, as well as performing Nazi salutes and chanting racist slurs.

Read More: How U.K. Immigration Lawyers Became a Target of Far-Right Riots

Initially as Stand Up To Racism began to organize counter demonstrations for Wednesday, some locals felt anxious about attending. It felt like I could get into a full on scrap, and people were cautious of that but still ready, says Provhat Rahman, a co-founder of Dialled In, an annual South Asian-run music festival which often takes place in Walthamstow.

Rahman, who lives close to Walthamstow, said people were unified in their efforts to make sure no nonsense happened in the area and they chanted together as a community. Rahman added that, as someone with Bangladeshi heritage, he was inspired by student-led protests against Bangladeshs hiring quota system for government jobs, which saw at least 300 people killed and ended the autocratic rule of 76-year-old Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Its a reminder to make sure you stand for the things that you care about, and the places that are close to you, Rahman says.

In Brighton, a seaside resort in southern England, police had to form a protective ring around a handful of anti-immigration protesters after they became outnumbered by peaceful counter protesters on Wednesday. Around 2,000 locals joined together to hold placards reading Love Not Hate, enjoy music from a live samba band, and chant, You can shove your racist bullsh-t up your arse.

One resident who joined the Brighton counterprotest said she felt terrified about scenes she had seen in the past week and wanted to do something about it. Im able bodied and white, and I have all this privilege so I might as well use it for those who cant, says Maddie Cottam-Allan. She hopes that any Muslims, migrants, and people of color who have felt scared this week are reassured that people will fight for their rights. Stand Up To Racisms efforts, for one, arent over: the organization will be hosting a Stop the Far Right London protest on Aug.10.

I haven't had much faith in England for a long time, Cottam-Allan says, but I did yesterday.

Write to Armani Syed at armani.syed@time.com.
The Russian occupation forces are building up their groups in the Kharkiv region, attracting units from other regions. Despite the fighting in the Kursk region, the invaders are pulling up reserves in the direction of Vovchansk.

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This was reported by Vitaliy Sarantsev, spokesman for the Kharkiv operational and tactical group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on August 8 during a national telethon. He noted that in the direction of Vovchansk, the enemy rotated personnel, introducing a new unit from Luhansk region.

The enemy is also carrying out internal rotations, involving personnel who were previously in the reserve. He emphasized that despite active hostilities in the Kursk region, Russian forces continue to attack Ukrainian positions.

"In the direction of Vovchansk, the enemy has already rotated its personnel, it has brought in a new unit from Luhansk region. He also conducts internal rotations, engages personnel who were previously on the second echelon. So despite all the events (in the Kursk region - Ed.), the enemy continues to try to storm our positions," Sarantsev said.

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He added that there is no decrease in the number of personnel.

The occupants' goal remains to capture Vovchansk and further advance. The enemy is trying to expand the area of control in the town and advance from the flanks. At the same time, Russian forces have started to use aviation less frequently, and no air strikes have been recorded over the past day.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region have advanced up to 10 kilometers into Russia. The armored vehicles of the Defense Forces have taken up positions along the 38K-030 Sudzha - Korenevo highway.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

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FILE - Bangladeshi guerrillas beat a victim as they torture and execute four men suspected of collaborating with Pakistani militiamen accused of murder, rape and looting during months of civil war in Dacca, Bangladesh, Dec. 18, 1971. (AP Photo/Horst Faas, Michel Laurent, File)

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP)  Bangladesh has had a turbulent existence since gaining independence in 1971 following a war with Pakistan.

Its first coup occurred in 1975, when President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated. Two more coups that year ended with Ziaur Rahman seizing power. In 1981, Rahman was assassinated by rebels who stormed a government guest house. In 1982, successor Abdus Sattar was overthrown in a coup led by Hussain Muhammad Ershad, who later assumed the presidency.

Power was then traded between two formidable women, Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina. Hasina was toppled this week by a student-led uprising. Her archrival Zia was freed this week from house arrest.

The South Asia nation is densely populated with 170 million people and has been scarred by climate and humanitarian crises. Bangladesh lies north of the Bay of Bengal and is a delta nation lined with rivers. The location, topography and tropical climate mean frequent flooding from cyclones and monsoon rains. A famine in 1974 was one of the worst in the 20th century, with hundreds of thousands of people dying.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Nearly 80 firefighters in Montgomery County responded to the Lockwood Apartments in Silver Spring after a fire broke out on Thursday morning.

Just before 6 a.m., Pete Piringer, a spokesperson with the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS), said crews were dispatched to the apartment complex in the 114000 block of Lockwood Drive for a fire.

Prince Georges County offers free sandbags as remnants of Tropical Storm Debby approach

There, first responders located the fire on the first floor of a three-story building.

Firefighters were on the scene of an apartment building fire on Aug. 8. (Photo Courtesy: x/McfrsPio)

EMS crews helped residents evacuate while firefighters began to extinguish the blaze.

Officials said several people were evaluated by EMS, and one firefighter was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

As a result of the fire, 15 people were displaced and 6 apartments were condemned unsafe, according to Piringer.

The American Red Cross was called to assist families.

Officials said the fire originated in the ceiling between the terrace and a first-floor apartment that was under renovation. During the investigation, officials determined the fire started by accident and caused about $600,000 in damages.

(Photo Courtesy: x/McfrsPio)

(Photo Courtesy: x/McfrsPio)

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Arab governments are urging Iran to rein in its anticipated response to the recent assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. In communications with Iranian officials, Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar have stressed the importance of avoiding escalation with Israel over fears of being dragged into a larger conflict, The New York Times reported. One adviser to an Arab country told the Times that they expect a calibrated response from a smart and cautious Tehran.

Some countries have struck a less diplomatic note: A Saudi minister said Israel must bear responsibility for its crimes of violating Irans sovereignty, while Turkey on Wednesday submitted a bid to join South Africas genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Archaeologists found an ancient bust of the Greek god Zeus in western Turkey.

Located right near the remains of a temple dedicated to Aphrodite, the statue is a remnant of one of the Roman Empires hotbeds of artistry.

The city of Aphrodisias, because of its proximity to marble deposits, was a sculpture hub of the ancient world.



Most human heads, if they were to stand on their own, measure just under 10 inches tall. However, it seems that the ancient Greek god Zeus had a much bigger noggin. The king of the gods head stood 22 inches tall.

At least, a recently discovered marble bust of Zeus did. Archaeologists in Turkey discovered the loose Zeus head on land that now falls in the Western Turkey province of Aydin, but was once the ancient city of Aphrodisias (named for the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite). In the time of Roman rule, the empire looked upon the city with favorJulius Caesar himself claimed to be a descendent of Aphrodite (whom the Romans called Venus). A temple dedicated to the goddess was the first building constructed in what became the center of the city.

Aphrodisias'ta benzersiz bir kesif: Kolosal Zeus Bas!



Yuzyllar sonra gun sgyla yeniden bulusan mermer bas, Yunan mitolojisinde en guclu ve onemli tanr olan Zeusun ihtisamn sergiliyor.



Aphrodite Tapnag'nn 50 metre batsnda bulunan bu onemli eser, sac ve sakaldaki pic.twitter.com/Re0C1JOwS7  Mehmet Nuri Ersoy (@MehmetNuriErsoy) July 30, 2024

According to a statement posted on social media by Turkeys Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the statue head was found 164 feet from the remains of the Temple of Aphrodite, which itself was built in 3 B.C. Experts estimate that the statue of Zeus was built around the same time, if not a little bit later.



With its wide eyes, bushy eyebrows, and mostly missing nose, the marble headwhich has since been cleaned of any remaining ancient dirtis a striking piece of artwork. Unfortunately, however, the rest of Zeus appeared to be on the loose.

With a marble noggin over twice the size of the average humans, it stands to reason the rest of the statue would tower well over 10 feet tall in all its finely hewn glory.

Except the head may have never even had a leg (or neck, or torso) to stand on.

The back of Zeuss marble head appears to be attached to the makings of an architectural consolea decorative bracket used to support a shelf or windowhead. This could mean that, instead of a full representation of Zeus, the unearthed head is just... a head (albeit an exquisitely crafted one). But the quality craftsmanship isnt a surprise, considering its Aphrodisias origins.



The ancient city, which sprung up around 3 B.C., became a hub for sculptors because of its proximity to rich marble quarries. As more and more sculptors went to Aphrodisias to work, more and more finely crafted marble statues (and raw marble) were sent out across both the Roman Empire and the rest of the Hellenistic world. This allowed for the city to amass a great deal of wealth. In fact, according to Arkeonews, The artisans of Aphrodisias portrait sculptures, building facades, and representations of the gods were highly sought-after across the empire as a result of the caliber and sophistication of their craftsmanship.

But, unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Aphrodisias status as an artistic hotbed of the empire was short-lived, and ended around 7 A.D. after an earthquake from which the city never recovered. It was then sacked numerous times and, by the middle ages, Turkey had assumed control.

Still, the recovered Zeus bust serves as a historical reminder of the ancient citys wealth of artistic talent and role in the sprawling empire.

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Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will need to make a play for Maricopa County if they want to win Arizona. ((Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images))

Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota will conduct the next leg of their running mate rollout tour in Phoenix, Arizona. Its part of Harriss increased focus on Arizona. Polling shows she is gaining ground in the state against Donald Trump.

Her campaign has launched a Republicans for Harris event in Arizona already, and Mesas Republican Mayor John Giles has endorsed her.

The Harris campaign says it has almost 100 full-time staff in the state, and will open 18 offices. Those offices will include one in the city of Tempe and one in North Phoenix, both of which are in Maricopa County.

Harriss decision to go all-in on Phoenix, specifically Maricopa County, shows that the campaign knows Arizona will be won there.

Historically, Maricopa County was Republican country. In 1964, when Barry Goldwater was wallopped everywhere except the deep South due to his opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, he narrowly won Arizona because he performed well in Maricopa County.

Then in 2000, four years after Bill Clinton broke a perfect streak for Republicans since 1948, George W Bush put Maricopa back in the Republican column and he won it again in 2004. The states senior senator John McCain won Maricopa by double digits in 2008, which helped him keep Arizona.

While all that was happening, county Sheriff Joe Arpaio was busy earning a reputation as a tough law enforcement officer, forcing inmates whose lives he believed were too comfortable to wear pink underwear and sleep in tents in the sweltering Arizona heat. His crackdown on undocumented immigrants also served as a template for Donald Trumps style of politics.

But 2016 showed signs of change. Trump would only win Arizona by 4.1 points and Maricopa by 3.4 points as the largely suburban and urban county began to turn away from the far-right side of Republican politics. The fact that Trump publicly trashed McCain, a beloved politician in the state who won Maricopa by 15 points, likely did not do him any favors. Indeed, McCain would be the last Republican to win a Senate race in Arizona.

In a sign of things to come, Arpaio would lose his race then, too. He did so partly because he faced a criminal investigation  but Trump would later pardon him.

In 2018, Kyrsten Sinema, running as a Democrat, would flip the Senate seat partially because she turned Maricopa a light shade of blue.

In 2020, Mark Kelly, running to finish McCains term after McCains death, would also flip Maricopa when Joe Biden won the state. Kelly would run up the scoreboard there, beating Blake Masters by 6.4 points in 2022, while Katie Hobbs would beat Kari Lake there in 2022 by 2.4 points for the governorship.

Unsurprisingly, Maricopa has become the focal point of right-wing lies about the 2020 election being stolen. At one point, Republicans even announced they were running an audit where they claimed they were examining for bamboo fibers to determine if China had interfered with the election results. Investigations have shown no evidence of wrongdoing, but that hasnt stopped such falsehoods from proliferating in the state.

Late last month, Stephen Richer, the Maricopa County recorder and a Republican who pushed back on election lies, lost his primary.

At the same time, Maricopa continues to have a strong anti-Trump contingency. In the May 2024 presidential primary, which took place after Nikki Haley had dropped out, she still netted almost 20 percent of Republican votes.

As a westerner herself from neighboring California, Harris knows the importance of Arizona to holding the Sunbelt  and the momentum she has gained in recent weeks has allowed her to put Arizona in play. On Thursday, the non-partisan Cook Political Report moved Arizona from a state that leans Republican to a toss-up.

But if Harris is to have any hope of winning Arizona as a presidential candidate  and if Ruben Gallego has any hope of winning the Senate race against Lake  they will rely as heavily on Maricopa as Republicans of yore did. Harriss campaign movements show shes taking that seriously.
The Arizona grand jury that indicted 18 Republican supporters of Donald Trump who falsely claimed he won the state in the 2020 election wanted to consider also charging the former president, but prosecutors urged them not to, according to court documents filed this week.

The court records filed by Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes office contain exchanges between prosecutors and the grand jurors, who heard 18 days of testimony.

As grand jurors were considering possible charges, a prosecutor asked them not to indict Trump, citing a U.S. Justice Department policy that limits the prosecution of someone for the same crime twice and making a PowerPoint presentation on that policy. The prosecutor, who isnt identified in the records, also didnt know whether authorities had all the evidence they would need to charge Trump at that time.

I know that may be disappointing to some of you, the prosecutor said. I understand.

Ultimately, the grand jury indicted 18 people on forgery, fraud and conspiracy charges, including the 11 Republicans who submitted a document falsely claiming Trump had won Arizona, five lawyers connected to the former president and two former Trump aides.

Although Trump wasnt charged in the Arizona case, the indictment refers to him as an unindicted coconspirator. The former president is charged in a federal case brought by special counsel Jack Smith with plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The filing by Arizona prosecutors also revealed that they had asked grand jurors not to bring charges against a group of Republican state lawmakers for signing a document that urged then-Vice President Mike Pence to accept the Arizona fake electors forged electoral college certificates.

When grand jurors inquired about charging the 22 sitting Republican lawmakers and eight others who had won election but hadnt yet taken office, the prosecutor expressed caution when talking about proving an intent to defraud by all legislators who signed the document.

Earlier this week, attorney Jenna Ellis signed an agreement with Arizona prosecutors who will dismiss charges against her in exchange for her cooperation. She pleaded guilty in Georgia last year to a felony charge over efforts to overturn Trumps 2020 election loss in that state.

Also, Republican activist Loraine Pellegrino, who signed the document falsely claiming Trump had won Arizona, became the first person to be convicted in the states fake elector case. Prosecutors say she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of filing a false document.

The remaining defendants, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Trump presidential chief of staff Mark Meadows, have pleaded not guilty.

Eleven people who had been nominated to be Arizonas Republican electors had met in Phoenix on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign a certificate saying they were duly elected and qualified electors and claimed Trump had carried the state in the 2020 election. President Joe Biden won Arizona by 10,457 votes. A one-minute video of the signing ceremony was posted on social media by the Arizona Republican Party at the time. The document was later sent to Congress and the National Archives, where it was ignored.

Prosecutors in Michigan, Nevada, Georgia and Wisconsin have also filed criminal charges related to the fake electors scheme. Arizona authorities unveiled the felony charges in late April.

The grand jury excerpts were contained in a document in which prosecutors responded to requests by some defendants to dismiss their charges.

Defense lawyers argued their clients actions were based on their constitutionally protected speech rights. They also accused the Attorney Generals Office of bias against the defendants.

In their response, prosecutors said grand jurors are independent and have discretion over whether to bring charges against a person.

In one exchange, a grand juror questioned an investigator about whether Mayes or any member of her staff wanted a specific outcome from the investigation. Absolutely not, the investigator answered.

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Arlingtons annual 9/11 Memorial 5K to be held in Crystal City

ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now)  Arlingtons 22nd annual 9/11 Memorial 5K race is coming to Crystal City next month.

The race is being held on Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel located at 300 Army Navy Dr.

Virginia ice cream shop honors Olympic athletes

Members from the Arlington County Police Department, Arlington County Fire Department, Arlington County Sheriffs Office and the countys Emergency Communications Center will be in attendance.

Those interested in racing will need to register. The race will happen, rain or shine and the registration fee is non-refundable.

For more information, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
MURRAY, Utah (ABC4)  A burglary suspect was safely arrested Wednesday after they allegedly barricaded themselves in a Murray hotel room with a weapon, prompting a SWAT team response, according to the Unified Police Department.

At approximately 6 a.m., police responded to a vehicle burglary in Holladay. Sgt. Aymee Race said the suspect  who appeared to be armed in the video footage  allegedly broke into the vehicle and left the scene.

READ NEXT: Unified Police and Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office set to separate after 14 years of joint service

Race said investigators used GPS technology to track the suspect to a hotel in Murray. Murray police responded to the scene and attempted to contact the suspect, allegedly determining that the suspect was armed.

Officers began pushing in the door, however, the suspect was allegedly barricading themself inside the hotel room prompting authorities to call in the SWAT team.

A burglary suspect was safely arrested Wednesday after they allegedly barricaded themselves in a Murray hotel room with a weapon prompting a SWAT team response, according to the Unified Police Department. (Jeffrey Hunter/KTVX)

After the SWAT team arrived at the scene and began negotiation efforts, two people exited the hotel room and told authorities the burglary suspect was inside the room. A third person then left the room and officers were able to safely arrest the fourth person for the alleged burglary.

Race said the suspect is currently being interviewed by detectives. UPD will release more information  including the suspects identity and charges  after the interviewing process is complete and the charges are determined.

When asked if this was the best outcome possible, Race said the incident turned out well given the circumstances.

Everyone is safe, people will get their items returned, and we have an individual in custody responsible for a crime, Race said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
From a military point of view, it is much easier to liberate Crimea than Donbas. The enemy can be driven out of the peninsula through two key points.

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This was stated by the Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov, answering questions from graduates of the Kyiv School of Economics. Forbes Ukraine published the Chief Intelligence Officer's remarks from a closed meeting with KSE graduates.

Budanov emphasized that the Russians' favorite "parable" about "impregnable Crimea" has nothing to do with reality.

"There are two entry points to Crimea - from the Russian side and from ours: The Crimean bridge and the land isthmus. The issue of recapture is our frontline operations: from the Russian side by destroying communications, from our side by applying pressure. And then that's it - Crimea is isolated," Budanov said.

The head of the DIU turned to history. He reminded that Crimea was conquered several times during many military conflicts. And the states that sought to take possession of the peninsula usually achieved this goal. But they failed to keep it.

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According to Budanov, the main problem of any aggressor whose troops were in Crimea has always been the inability to hold the Perekop Isthmus. And its loss immediately led to the rapid collapse of the invader's defense, followed by its expulsion from the peninsula.

"When I say that we will enter Crimea, we are already there," Budanov summarized his answer.

At a meeting with KSE master's graduates, Budanov also assured that "the war will definitely end" because "this is a natural process. But after that, Ukrainians will face other tasks that are no less important and difficult.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, according to the forecasts of the head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Kirill Budanov, Russia's offensive in eastern Ukraine should decline in a month and a half to two months. He noted that the Ukrainian Defense Forces will not wait all this time, but will influence the further situation by acting proactively.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
(KTLA)  The federal government has backed up California state regulators in ordering the company that bottles Arrowhead water to stop drawing from the San Bernardino Mountains.

Though BlueTriton Brands draws from springs in the mountains that have been used for bottled water since 1906, environmental activists have claimed the removal of that water is harming wildlife, particularly Strawberry Creek.

About a year ago, Californias Water Resources Control Board ordered BlueTriton to stop using the water, which flows through public lands like the San Bernardino National Forest.

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On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reported that the U.S. Forest Service has denied BlueTritons permit to extract water from San Bernardino Mountains springs.

While environmental activists are cheering, BlueTriton released a statement to the Times decrying the decision and claiming its unsupported by facts.

BlueTriton Brands and its predecessors have continuously operated under a series of special use permits for nearly a century,' the company told the Times in an email.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Police arrested a 32-year-old man in connection to several arson incidents in downtown Salt Lake City, according to the Salt Lake City Fire Department.

The fire department announced the arrest of Jacob Constantine Biada, 32, on Wednesday saying he is believed to be responsible for a series of dangerous fires that threatened the safety and well-being of our community.

Officials said Biada is facing several counts of arson as well as a count of theft after he allegedly stole protective equipment from fire personnel. Charges are currently being filed with the District Attorneys Office, the release said.

While the fire department said he is believed to be a suspect in several fires, available court documents detail one alleged arson incident.

On July 8, Biada was seen on video surveillance entering an underground parking garage near 200 East South Temple Street. Salt Lake City authorities responded to a fire in the area shortly after, cutting a metal garage door open to access the fire. When they entered the garage, they say a man fled through the opening.

Investigators concluded the fire was started near a vacuum  or air machine  in the corner of the parking garage, according to documents.

Biada was later taken into custody and allegedly told authorities he started a different fire at Twilite Lounge, a downtown bar, and several other fires of which he did not provide any information.

Biada has an extensive criminal history dating back more than a decade, according to court records. He has previously pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault, damaging property with intent to defraud, and attempted arson.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
LaToya Ruby Frazier's initial encounter with General Motors involved water, not cars.

About five years ago, GM was first to complain that corrosion, caused by high levels of chloride in the Flint water, was rusting engine blocks at its Flint Engine Operations.

"They were immediately shifted off the Flint River to the Flint township water, which was not contaminated," said Frazier, an artist and professor of photography associated with the Art Institute of Chicago who was a 2015 MacArthur fellow. "It made me realize that corporations have access to more basic human rights than people do."

Frazier spent four years in Flint photographing the impact of the bad water on its residents' health.

GM would get her attention again on Nov. 26, 2018. That day, GM said it would cease operations at five of its plants in North America.

"My heart dropped. I immediately became very concerned for those workers and their families," Frazier said. "I felt it was my duty and obligation to be there for the workers."

Ohio plant: GM sells its Lordstown Assembly factory to electric truck start-up

Photographer and artist LaToya Ruby Frazier prepares to fly over GM's Lordstown Assembly Plant to photograph it for a photo essay on GM closing the plant.

Frazier did just that, spending nine months in Lordstown, Ohio, photo-documenting GM's closure of its Lordstown Assembly plant  which GM sold Thursday to an electric truck start-up.

GM did not cooperate with her, but she still managed to capture 67 evocative photos of UAW members that reveal how their lives were forever altered when the last Chevrolet Cruze car rolled off the line in March and GM shut the doors to the plant.

The photos are part of an exhibit called "The Last Cruze" at the Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago. It runs through Dec. 1. Next, it goes to the Wexner Center for the Arts at Ohio State University.

Frazier's ultimate goal is to bring the exhibit to the Motor City, in part because of the rich history of union activism and civil rights here.

"Artists function best at keeping history alive," said Frazier. "This (Lordstown) exhibit is a monument, a testament and a memorial to Lordstown, to UAW Local 1112 and to the United Auto Workers' legacy."

Steel mill next door

Frazier, 37, knows a lot about the power of corporations, the importance of factories to communities' financial bases and the working man.

She was born and raised in Braddock, Pennsylvania, about nine miles east of Pittsburgh. Braddock was supported by the steel industry until the late 1970s and early '80s, when the industry began to crumble.

Frazier came of age amid the industrial decline around her. She grew up poor in the Talbot Towers projects located next to the Edgar Thomson Steel Works factory.

Life next door to the factory made her and her family sick, she said. But in the 1990s, she went to live with her grandmother a couple blocks away from the projects. She was still in the shadow of the steel factory, but she blossomed in her grandmother's care.

"My grandmother taught me to bring home straight A's and instilled in me that education was my way out of poverty," said Frazier.

By age 6, Frazier played the guitar, she said. Soon after that, she learned to play the viola. By her teens, she was interested in plays and the theater.

"My grandmother was the one who supported me in the arts," said Frazier.

Along the way Frazier developed an empathy toward factory workers. Her step great-grandfather, whom she called Gramps, worked at Edgar Thomson Steel Works. He was one of the few black men to retire with a pension. She and her grandmother took care of him until he died in 2004, at age 95, in his bedroom on Thanksgiving day.

"It deeply impacted my life," said Frazier, who wrote about it in her book "The Notion of Family." "To watch a steel mill worker die at home was a rather harsh reality and it taught me about the inevitability of death and also how corporations discard our bodies, and how our elderly care systems have failed us."

On an academic scholarship to Edinboro University in Pennsylvania, Frazier met her mentor Kathe Kowalski, a professor and a feminist version of Frazier's grandmother.

"She had taught me how to take photographs that make a social commentary on a real economic or political situation," Frazier said.

After graduating from Edinboro, Frazier got a master's from Syracuse University in 2007. Now she is a professor of photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Her art exhibits reflect her past, and they definitely have a point a view: "In my photos, the workers are all heroes."

Centered on family

Two weeks after GM announced its intention to idle the five factories, Frazier called The New York Times asking if it would want photos around the shutdown of Lordstown.

She wanted to get the story on a "major platform to change GM's position." Plus, she hoped the Times could convince GM to let her inside the plant. The newspaper agreed to partner with her, but even it could not sway GM to open the plant doors.

Asked why GM declined to allow Frazier to photograph the plant, GM spokesman David Barnas said, Our focus has remained on the impacted employees and our commitment to future investment and job growth in Mahoning Valley and the state of Ohio.

So Frazier next approached the union. In early February, she met with Dave Green, then president of UAW Local 1112 in Lordstown. Green said he was inundated with media requests centered on the politics and business impact of closing the plant. But Frazier's request stood out, he said.

"Once I spoke to her and actually Googled her and saw the work shes done I was taken aback," said Green. "She was trying to tell a story that mainstream media didnt want to talk about, and thats the personal side" of a plant closure.

David Green, UAW Local 1112, President, in his parents' living room with his daughters Alison and Cate, and parents Elaine and Roger, (24 years in at GM Lordstown Complex, Chassis three), Girard, OH, 2019.

Green, 49, took the idea of having her photograph and tell their stories to membership for a vote. The members agreed to let Frazier into the union hall and its meetings.

Family soon became the theme of her photo essay, she said. The workers in the plant viewed each other as a family on the assembly line. At the union hall, the UAW members called each other union brothers and sisters. Finally, there were the workers' real families in their homes.

"That's how I visually navigated it, with exteriors of the plant, then photos at the union hall, then after GM idled the plant, they were home with their loved ones expressing that uncertainty," Frazier said.

Frazier insinuated herself into the union members' lives, some times for a couple of hours, other times for up to 10 hours, talking and taking pictures.

"To say its not an intrusion on your life is an understatement," said Green. "She came to my parents house, with my kids and she was there for six hours. But everybody welcomed her. I chose to let her in. I felt it was important to tell our story.

Dreaded FedEx

Around spring 2018, FedEx trucks became a feared sight in the Lordstown neighborhoods.

GM used FedEx to deliver the letters notifying workers to which plants they had to transfer if they wanted to stay employed. Workers with the highest seniority were offered GM's Arlington Assembly in Texas in the beginning. Upon receipt of a letter, a worker had four days to decide to move to Texas or lose their job.

"There's one thing about being present as an artist and another thing to be present as a human being," said Frazier. "These people were in crisis, I wanted to be there for them. Being an eyewitness is seeing people go into a state of panic when a FedEx truck was coming down the street. It caused stress and anxiety. These trucks would come at all hours and possibly have a 'forced letter' on board."

Vickie Raymond, UAW Local 1112, sitting on her mother Margie's bed in her bedroom, (24 years in at GM Lordstown Complex, trim and paint shop), East Rochester, OH, 2019.

GM's Barnas said that in the end about 1,400 Lordstown workers accepted transfers to other facilities and the company paid up to $30,000 in relocation assistance. Those who chose to not transfer have since been offered buyouts of up to $75,000. Retirement-eligible employees, including those who transferred, can get at least $75,000 if they opt to retire.

Vickie Raymond, 50, had 24 years at Lordstown. She feared being transferred to Texas, but she also didn't want to quit and risk losing her pension. Plus, Raymond came from a GM family. Her father worked at Lordstown and retired from it in 1999, she said.

Raymond had just returned from a six-month unpaid leave of absence caring for her terminally ill mother when, at about 9:30 a.m. Nov. 26, the plant manager called a brief meeting and told the 1,600 workers that GM was not going to allocate new product to the plant.

"I didnt know what that meant. When they said 'unallocated,' we all looked at each other like whats that mean," said Raymond. "They wouldnt say they were closing the doors, but our supervisors said thats what it means. It was a state of shock. I mean 24 years and you get pulled into a couple-minute long meeting..." she trailed off to silence.

Power of art

Raymond was sleeping on her mother's couch helping with in-home hospice care, and she said news of the plant closing further traumatized her mother.

"She worried about me and me taking care of her. She thought that she was holding me back and she said, If you need to transfer, go,'" said Raymond. "It was something that, in her situation, she shouldnt have had to think about.

Raymond used what vacation time she had left to care for her mother until she died on Jan. 22.

Vickie Raymond, UAW Local 1112, at her parents' house and childhood home, (24 years in at GM Lordstown Complex, trim and paint shop), East Rochester, OH, 2019.

About a month later, Raymond said she met Frazier at a union hall meeting. The two struck an instant and deep connection over shared loss.

We clicked like I knew her forever. She was going through a similar situation with family and illness," said Raymond. "Im not one for interviews or to be photographed  there are very few pictures of me even in the family  but I felt Im going to voice my opinion on this matter and tell my story.

Raymond, who moved to Kentucky in September and now works at GM's Bowling Green Assembly Plant, wanted her nieces to know her story and the union's fight. She worries that unions will one day be gone. Also, Raymond wanted people to see "the humanity side of what these corporations do to people.

For Frazier, Raymond's story was the most heart-wrenching and personal of many she heard because of Frazier's own grief over the loss of her grandmother and other loved ones to terminal illness.

"It struck me in a deep, profound way," said Frazier, who photographed Raymond sitting on the bed and recliner that her mother sat on in her final days. "I never had the opportunity to grieve my grandmother's passing. To encounter a woman in northeast Ohio who never had the opportunity to grieve the loss of her mother, we were two strangers grieving and making photographs. We understood each other's humanity. That's the power of art."

A call to action

Frazier's photo series and story ran on May 6 in the Money section of The New York Times.

"I thought maybe (GM CEO) Mary Barra would see the photo essay and rethink what she's doing and give them a product," said Frazier. "She'd see the people behind the political economic decision. You have to hold onto hope."

But on Oct. 25, after a 40-day nationwide strike, the UAW members ratified a new four-year contract that did not include a new vehicle for Lordstown to build.

In addition to selling the plant to an investment group backed by electric truck maker Workhorse, GM said it has plans to build a battery cell manufacturing facility near Lordstown that could create about 1,000 jobs.

More: Strike over! UAW workers ratify contract with GM. Here's what's next

More: GM UAW workers ponder the point of the strike in light of Ford's deal

"The Last Cruze" exhibit opened Sept. 14, the day GM's 2015 contract expired at midnight. Scheduling it that day was deliberate, said Frazier.

"I was in solidarity with the autoworkers," Frazier said. "My goal was to keep their story out there and keep people talking about them."

The Last Cruze exhibit opened on Sept. 14, the day GM's 2015 contract expired at midnight. Frazier said scheduling it that day was deliberate.

Dave Green was at the opening of "The Last Cruze," and it hit him hard.

I became too emotional to look at the faces. I had to step out, said Green. There was a lot more hope in the beginning and knowing the outcome and seeing how some of those people did not fare very well. Others were OK. But the hope was gone."

Raymond has not seen the exhibit yet, which has had about 2,000 visitors since it opened, said the associate curator at The Renaissance Society in Chicago.

Raymond said she's still in disbelief that Lordstown shuttered and she's living far from her brothers and nieces.

It felt like a death to me," said Raymond. "For a lot of us, it felt that way."

Frazier doesn't know where the exhibit will go after the Wexner Center in Columbus. But she said it will never be packed up and put away.

"This is about memory, art and education," said Frazier. "The reason I want it to go to Detroit is because that's where we got our middle class. The reason I want this show to travel is because it teaches the importance of unions. This exhibit is a call to action for all people to unite."

Contact Jamie L. LaReau at 313-222-2149 or jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: The story behind haunting images of GM's Lordstown closing
Wisconsin State Capitol (Wisconsin Examiner photo)

Five Democratic state representatives will face off next week for two Wisconsin Senate seats  one representing parts of Milwaukee County and one representing parts of Dane County.

The competitive primary races for the seats come in a year where Democrats have a path to winning majorities in the next four years. Tuesdays primaries will be decisive as no Republican candidates are running for either seat.

Senate Dist. 4: Drake and Myers go for second round

Rep. Dora Drake (D-Milwaukee) and Rep. Lakeshia Myers (D-Milwaukee) will face off for a second time this year as the lawmakers seek a full term representing the 4th Senate District next week.

The district covers parts of Milwaukees North Side as well as parts of Brown Deer, Wauwatosa, Glendale and Shorewood. It became vacant this year after Sen. Lena Taylor, who had represented the solidly blue seat since 2004, resigned to serve on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

Drake will serve the rest of Taylors term this year, after beating Myers with almost 66% of the vote in a low-turnout special election last month.

Winning the special election, I think, just shows that there has been support, not just for the vision of what I stress to provide for the 4th Senate district, but also knowing that we did the work, Drake said in an interview. As senator for the rest of the year, Im excited to do that work, and I hope to continue that work for the next four years.

Drake said that nothing has changed in her campaign for the full term as she continues door-to-door campaigning along with mailers, phone calls and digital marketing.

Myers told the Examiner she wasnt deterred by losing the special election.

When you look at the outcome of the election, Im not sad about it, Myers said, pointing out the low turnout of the election. I think that was telling. I mean Rep. Drake, by far, sent out more mailers for a four-month seat than I did.

She said she, too, is pursuing the same strategy as in the special election.

Slow and steady wins the race, Myers said. I have not changed anything. Im doing just about every community occasion that has happened, whether its a festival, whether its meeting people in restaurants, whether its having a meet and greet that Ive hosted, or going to senior citizens buildings.

The lawmakers gave similar reasons for running for the seat. Both said they were interested in having the additional staff, resources and time that comes with the Senate seat. They said that it would help them be able to better serve constituents and work on more issues.

Each outlined different priorities for what theyd want to focus on in office.

Drake said that she would want to work on several public safety issues, including addressing reckless driving, improving court systems, decreasing prison overcrowding and investing in diversion programs. She also advocates increased use of red light cameras in public places, calling them the tools that law enforcement can use to go after bad actors, and that would help us identify whos actually doing the crime.

Much of Drakes work in the Legislature has focused on public safety. She identified as one of her greatest accomplishments helping pass Ethans Law, which prohibits the placement of a child in the home of a foster parent convicted of child abuse, even if the conviction has been pleaded down. She said another is a law requiring that when a police officer is hired by another department, the officers employment files must be transferred to the new employer as a way of providing police accountability.

She said her experience before being elected to the Legislature working as a social worker at Justice Point, a nonprofit that works with the criminal justice system, has pushed criminal justice and public safety issues to the top of her priorities.

People deserve a fair second chance, Drake said. People have done their time, and they are trying to give back to the community and do better for themselves, too. We should be making that possible for them, and there are people that do want to do better.

Drake said that she would want to see greater investments in public education, mental health and health equity, including for the state to accept Medicaid expansion, and transit.

Myers said the loss of Taylor was huge for the district, and presents herself as the right candidate to fill the gap. First elected to the Assembly in 2018, and with experience serving as a congressional aide, Myers said her amount of legislative experience sets her apart as a candidate. She noted that she has coauthored four bills that have become law while serving in the minority.

It speaks to the respect that I have of my Republican colleagues, even when we disagree. The ability to have negotiation power, to be able to go directly to the [Assembly] speaker or to other folks and make sure that we have things that are able to pass, Myers said. You have to be effective even when youre in the minority, and Ive been able to do that effectively four times.

Myers said her top priorities for the next legislative session would include addressing the states school funding formula, including increasing the special education reimbursement rate, and Medicaid expansion.

The public is quite frankly pissed off that they continue to have to go to referendum to backfill the negligence of the Legislature, and I think thats something we have to do, Myers said. I also think that we need to look at the special education funding that we give between our choice schools as well as our traditional public schools, which by far educate more special needs students.

Private schools funded by taxpayer dollars under the states voucher systems receive a 90% reimbursement while public schools only receive a 33% reimbursement.

Prior to being elected to the Assembly, Myers worked as a teacher in Milwaukee Public Schools. She also worked as a dean of students at a middle school in Wauwatosa while serving in the Legislature, but she recently resigned after an investigation into complaints from families.

Myers expressed interest in potentially serving on the Legislatures Joint Finance Committee.

Having a strong voice from Milwaukee on the Joint Finance Committee is something that I have wanted to do and do a good job at, Myers said. There is currently one Milwaukee lawmaker on the Joint Finance Committee, Democratic Sen. LaTonya Johnson.

Senate Dist. 16: Three Assembly candidates compete

Three Assembly representatives are running for the open 16th Senate District, which covers parts of Dane, Jefferson and Dodge counties including Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Stoughton and Fort Atkinson. The district is currently represented by state Sen. Melissa Agard (D-Madison), who isnt running for reelection as she seeks the open Dane County executive position.

In interviews with the Wisconsin Examiner, the candidates  Reps. Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg), Melissa Ratcliff (D-Cottage Grove) and Samba Baldeh (D-Madison)  pointed to their varied experiences and backgrounds as what sets them apart from one another.

Anderson, who was first elected to the Assembly in 2016, said his eight years of experience would be essential. The lawmaker turned to public service following a car accident caused by a drunk driver that killed his brother and father and paralyzed him  an experience that showed him first hand all the holes in the healthcare system.

I know how to do this job well. I know how to best serve my constituents. I think that Ive been a pretty effective Assembly person, Anderson said. He also said he thinks its important someone with a disability has an opportunity to still be in the building being able to be a voice for those who often go voiceless.

During his time in the Legislature, Anderson has advocated for himself in the Legislature (once getting into a fight with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos over an accommodation request that Vos denied) and for the consideration of people with disabilities in policies, including pointing out to his colleagues when a bill that would have expanded the use of Uber and Lyft that the app-based rideshares arent legally required to provide a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. Anderson said he hopes there will one day be a disability caucus in the Legislature.

Anderson said health care would continue to be a top priority of his in the Senate, and that Medicaid expansion should be the first step in expanding access to health care in Wisconsin. The state is one of 10 in the country that havent accepted the federal Medicaid expansion, which the Republican majority in the Legislature has repeatedly opposed.

The Medicaid expansion would bring hundreds of millions of dollars back to the state of Wisconsin, money that we sent to the federal government and then ends up being distributed to other states, Anderson said. It doesnt make sense from a conservative standpoint. It doesnt make sense from a liberal standpoint.

Anderson said that improving the states school funding formula and increasing special education reimbursement would be a top priority. He said the states budget surplus makes it unconscionable that so many communities in the state have had to go to referendum and raise local property taxes to cover their needs.

He noted that he has previously introduced legislation to provide a 90% special education reimbursement to schools. At that rate, Anderson said that it would free up a lot of their budgets, and a lot of the budget deficits have to be made up simply by guaranteeing a 90% reimbursement rate for special education, Anderson said. Just by doing that, you kind of level the need that public schools have throughout the state.

Anderson said that the potential for a more evenly split Legislature is one of the reasons that it could be important to have someone with his experience in the seat. Having the years in the Legislature has helped me grow [my] relationships, Anderson said. I know where my lines are in the sand, and I know where my values are, and I know I would never do anything that would be contrary to the interests of my constituents, but would never turn out an opportunity to move forward legislation in a divided government.

Ratcliff, who was first elected to the Assembly in 2022 and is also a member of the Dane County Board of Supervisors, said her first term in office provided opportunities for her to work on issues in a bipartisan way.

With these new maps, with them being more 50-50, we have the opportunity to actually have conversations with our colleagues now, which hasnt really been happening in this very, very gerrymandered Legislature that weve been under, Ratcliff said.

Ratcliff pointed to a bill that she worked on that would have prohibited foreign contributions to referendum campaigns and received a hearing in the Republican-led campaign elections committee.

[It] gained bipartisan support and passed unanimously out of committee. It also had a hearing in the Republican-led committee in the Senate on campaigns and elections, Ratcliff said. Unfortunately, it wasnt able to be brought to the floor because Speaker [Robin] Vos prevents good legislation from coming through at times. I think that shows my ability to form relationships, not only with my Democratic colleagues, but also across the aisle. She would want to bring the bill back if elected to the Senate.

The first bill that should be brought forward in the next legislative session, Ratcliff said, is one to repeal the states 1849 law that was widely interpreted as banning abortion following the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

[We] need to protect peoples right to reproductive health, said Ratcliff, calling it the No. 1 issue that she hears when shes knocking doors. Its not just about abortion. Its about miscarriages. Its about having access to contraception. Its about deciding when you want to have a family.

Ratcliff said other priorities would include improving funding for the states public schools and universities, working to protect the air, water and the environment, preventing gun violence, expanding access to broadband and protecting LGBTQ people. When it comes to the states ongoing budget surplus, she said that she would want to see the state invest in public education and child care initiatives, including Child Care Counts  ongoing state support for better wages for child care workers while holding down the cost of care for parents.

Baldeh said his experience in the state Legislature, where he has served since 2020, and on the Madison City Council for six years, including two as council president, has equipped him to work with an array of people from various backgrounds and helped him be an effective advocate.

I know how to bring people together, Baldeh said. These issues that we talk about and deal with are neither Republican nor Democratic issues in many cases. If the water is polluted, its polluted not only for Democrats or Republicans, its polluted for everybody. When the ground where our food grows is polluted, its not polluted for Republicans or Democrats, its polluted for everybody. When our kids are not educated, they are not just [not] educated for their parents. They are not educated for the United States.

Baldeh is an immigrant from The Gambia and said its also important to continue to have that representation in the state Legislature.

As an immigrant, looking from outside into this country, I understand the importance of this country, not only to its people, but to the globe, the whole world, Baldeh said. With some of the things that are happening, we need to have serious legislators, serious policymakers, to make sure that our democracy is intact, to make sure that we are not losing our future generations to lack of education.

Baldeh said his top priorities would include protecting democracy, ensuring that child care is affordable for families, protecting the environment, especially when it comes to fighting PFAS, increasing affordable housing and access to health care.

When it comes to the states ongoing budget surplus, Baldeh said that he would want some of that to go towards tax relief. I believe in fair taxes, Baldeh said. He noted that millionaires should pay their fair share, but that the tax burden could be lessened for the middle class.

Write a check and say to somebody You paid too much taxes. For one time, we are giving you some back, Baldeh said. We know people are struggling with food, with everything, and so giving them that $1,000 can go a long way in providing food, in making sure their child gets what they need to go back to school.

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Next week New Mexico lawmakers will discuss behavioral health and criminal justice, as well as the next steps for assisted outpatient treatment. (Photo by Anna Padilla for Source NM)

Next week New Mexico lawmakers will discuss behavioral health and criminal justice, as well as the next steps for assisted outpatient treatment.

The Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee will hear updates from Legislative Finance Committee analysts on Monday about criminal justice appropriations and recommendations on behavioral health and criminal justice.

Youll remember that the legislature has passed pretty healthy budget items intended to support both the state and local communities in their crime fighting efforts, said committee chair Rep. Christine Chandler.

Behavioral health and competency are two topics that will lead the discussion throughout the committee meeting.

Weve always intended to continue the conversation, Chandler (D-Los Alamos) said.

On Tuesday, New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Briana Zamora will provide the committee an update on the Supreme Court Commission on Mental Health and Competency. Zamora will be joined by representatives from the Administration Office of the Courts and the Second Judicial District.

New Mexico Chief Justice David Thomson and representatives from the First Judicial District Court are on the agenda to speak later in the day about next steps for the Assisted Outpatient Treatment program.

Competency and assisted outpatient treatment were two topics Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wanted addressed during the July special session, which she called with public safety legislation in mind.

The legislature and governor approved one bill which sent millions in state relief funding for those affected by the South Fork and Salt fires. The bill includes a $3 million appropriation to the administrative office of the courts for assisted outpatient treatment programs and competency diversion pilot programs.

Lujan Grisham criticized the legislature for not doing enough during the special session to address her public safety platform. The governor then took her cabinet and executive staff on a three city town hall tour to pitch the public on the agenda, where she listened to New Mexicans for at least 15 hours about their issues.



Chandler added that she has not heard from Lujan Grishams office about what role they will have during the presentations in the committee next week. At this time there are no members from the governors staff on the agenda to speak either day.

Lujan Grisham is in India until at least Aug. 10, according to her office. This week the governor participated in a roundtable discussion about energy that coincided with the opening of a lithium battery storage system at IIT-Madras Research Park in Tamil Nadu, India.

Back in Santa Fe, Chandler said lawmakers will be prepared to work on the public safety issues for New Mexicans.

Were going to continue to discuss issues that are of significant interest to people in the state, and certainly the ongoing interest in improving law enforcement activities will continue to be on future agendas, I would expect, she said.

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Asst. prosecutor for Ohio county fired after allegedly biting off finger in road rage fight

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  An assistant prosecutor in Ohio has been fired after allegedly biting off someones finger in road rage incident.

Christopher Murray, an assistant prosecutor at the Green County Prosecutors Office, was identified by police as a suspect who was arrested early on June 30 following allegations of that he attacked a motorist.

Around 12:30 a.m. that morning, officers responded to the area of Woodman Drive overpass over State Route 35 on report of a fight, according to an incident report from the Riverside Police Department. When officers arrived, they saw a man standing outside his vehicle with blood on his shorts.

While the man received medical treatment, officers determined that his finger had been bitten off.

Footage shows small plane crash-landing at golf course, narrowly missing man

The man told police that a second person involved in the fight had fled the scene. Officers later located part of the mans finger underneath his parked vehicle.

The man receiving treatment claimed that the altercation began after another man, later identified by police as Murray, did not move his car when a stoplight turned green. The man honked at the unmoving car, at which point Murray stepped out of his car and confronted the other man.

The two became involved in a physical altercation, he told police. He also claimed that, at one point, he got on top of Murray, at which point Murray bit him.

The victim was transported to a hospital for further treatment, according to the incident report.

Murray is now facing charges of felonious assault.

Burger King meal splattered with blood served to 4-year-old, New York mom says

In a statement provided to Nexstars WDTN, Greene County Prosecuting Attorney David Hayes confirmed that Murrays employment at the Greene County office had been terminated.

Hayes also said that Murray had been on leave since July 9.

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Astronauts on eight-day mission to space station could be stuck until 2025

Nasa astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore may have to get used to space for the foreseeable future - Nasa

Nasa astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) after the failure of Boeings Starliner may be stuck there until 2025, the US space agency has admitted.

Commander Barry Butch Wilmore and pilot Sunita Suni Williams arrived at the ISS in June in what was supposed to be an eight-day mission and first human test flight for Starliner.

But after problems with the propulsion system and thrusters, the pair were unable to get home and Nasa is unsure whether Starliner  which remains attached to the space station  can be fixed.

This week, Nasa said it was considering using the upcoming SpaceX Crew-9 mission to bring Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams home.

Under the rescue plan, just two astronauts instead of four would travel to the space station in a reconfigured SpaceX Crew Dragon.

Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams would then travel back in the spare seats, but the return journey is not scheduled until February 2025, leaving the pair facing another six months in space.

No one is quite sure when Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and pilot Sunita 'Suni' Williams will be able to return to terra firma - Nasa

The ISS usually holds a long-term crew of seven, but with Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams on board there are currently nine astronauts crammed into the limited facilities.

Ken Bowersox, Nasas director of space operations, said: At some point we need to bring Butch and Sunny home.

While theyre up there we have extra crew, we have extra hands and they can do a lot more work but theyre also using up more consumables more supplies so we have to maintain that balance. And at some point we need to bring bring those folks home and get back to a normal crew size on the ISS.

We are in a situation where weve got multiple options. We dont just have to bring a crew back on Starliner, we could bring them back on another vehicle.

The Starliner project has been beset with problems from the outset.

After the space shuttle was decommissioned in 2011, Nasa was forced to use the Russian Soyuz to travel to the ISS, and so invited bids for a new all-American crew vehicle.

In 2014, Nasa chose SpaceX and Boeing to design two crew modules capable of ferrying astronauts to the ISS,

But while SpaceX completed the brief in just six years, launching its first astronauts in November 2020, Boeing lagged years behind amid ongoing technical issues.

Numerous test launches were delayed or scrapped at the last minute, and even the inaugural flight with Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams on June 5 was temporarily postponed while engineers dealt with a sticky valve.

When Starliner eventually launched, more helium leaks were detected and five of the 28 thrusters failed as it approached the ISS.

The stuck pair were forced to undertake manual manoeuvres in space in a docking sequence that took an hour longer than planned.

Wilmore and Williams' eight-day mission was plagued with problems early on as they were forced to undertake manual manoeuvres in a docking sequence that took an hour longer than planned - Reuters/Joe Skipper

Nasa is currently troubleshooting the issues at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico and has found that a Teflon seal appears to be swelling and blocking the fuel flow.

But if engineers cannot work out how to fix the leaks and thruster issues they have another problem looming. In order for SpaceX Crew Dragon to dock at the space station, Starliner will need to be detached and return to Earth autonomously, so that the rescue ship can use its vacated port.

The capsule, however, does not have the contingency software needed to undock without crew on board, and if there is insufficient thruster power, there are fears it may not be able to move far enough from the space station to avoid a collision.

Its been a very complicated timeframe

Nasa said it was confident that undocking could be achieved without it hitting the ISS.

Dana Weigel, Nasas International Space Station program manager, said: Weve got sufficient fault tolerance for undocking so were not concerned about the immediate proximity around the ISS.

Even if the vehicle did nothing and just drifted out, its on a safe trajectory for the ISS, so thats an added layer of conservatism. There is a safe complete drift-out trajectory if none of the thrusters were working.

Boeing issued a statement saying it continued to believe in Starliners capability and its flight rationale.

If Nasa decides to change the mission, we will take the actions necessary to configure Starliner for an uncrewed return, a Boeing spokesperson said.

Steve Stich, program manager for Nasas commercial crew program added: I want to reiterate we havent made a decision yet relative to return Butch and Sunny on Starliner or on[Crew Dragon].

Its been a very complicated timeframe and theres been a lot of work with Boeing and the SpaceX team.

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The United States of America commented on the fighting in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation and assured that Ukraine had not notified them in advance of the operation. The U.S. State Department and the White House made the statements.

ADVERTISIMENT

For example, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that Ukraine had not discussed the operation in Kursk Oblast with the United States before it began. Now Kyiv and Washington are already talking about it.

"We are talking to the Ukrainians about this particular operation. I will give them the opportunity to talk about what is there: what operations [they] are conducting and what their goals are," Miller said.

He added that it would be right for Kyiv to comment publicly on this, not the United States.

"It's not surprising that the Ukrainians didn't let us know if they had a precise tactic before they implemented it. This is a war they are waging. We provide them with equipment and advice, but when it comes to day-to-day tactics, sometimes we communicate with them, sometimes we don't. And it is appropriate that they make these decisions themselves," the spokesman emphasized.

ADVERTISIMENT

The State Department spokesman added that Ukraine's decisions on its military operations did not change US policy on strikes with US weapons on Russian territory.

White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre also confirmed that the United States did not know about the operation in the Kursk region of Russia in advance. According to her, the administration will contact Ukraine to find out the details and goals of the operation.

Jean-Pierre emphasized that Ukraine has the right to defend itself against Russian aggression.

"We have to remember that there are Russian troops in this region (Kursk region - Ed.). They are there, attacking Ukraine from this region. We must not forget this," she said.

The White House spokeswoman assured that the United States will continue to support Kyiv, but also clarified that the US policy on the use of American weapons by Ukraine remains unchanged.

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As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the United States and the European Union have responded to the situation in the Kursk region. In their opinion, Ukraine has the legal right to act within its capabilities in the situation.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Astronauts sent on 8-day mission may be stuck in space until 2025: NASA

(The Hill)  The Boeing Starliner crew may have to wait until 2025 to return from the International Space Station (ISS), NASA officials said Wednesday.

The administration suggested at a press conference that they may need to use Boeings competitor, SpaceX, to return astronauts Suni Wiliams and Butch Wilmore back to Earth. The officials said that if Starliner cannot make it back from the ISS, the duo could possibly return on SpaceXs Crew Dragon in February 2025.

We could take either path, Ken Bowersox, the associate administrator for NASAs space operations mission directorate, said. And reasonable people could pick either path depending on where their view is on, on our position and the uncertainty bound that we have for the data that weve got on the thruster system, on the propulsion system.

Powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake hits off southern Japan; tsunami advisory issued

Starliner launched its test crew mission on June 5, after a series of delays caused by leaks and thruster issues. This marked the first time the company launched a crewed mission to space.

While trying to dock at the ISS in June, five of the 28 thrusters went down. The mission was initially supposed to last about 8 days, but there is still no official return date for Wiliams and Wilmore after the issues.

NASA said that they have been in talks with SpaceX for them to leave two vacant seats on their upcoming Crew Dragon launch in September, setting them up for a possible return next year. NASAs commercial crew program manager Steve Stich said the best option is still to return the astronauts on the Starliner.

You know, our prime option is to return Butch and Suni on Starliner, Stich said. However, we have done the requisite planning to make sure we have other options open, and so we have been working with SpaceX to ensure that theyre ready to respond on Crew Nine for a contingency of returning a Butch and Suni on Crew Nine, if we need that.

We have set up the Dragon for Crew Nine to have flexibility, to have only two passengers fly up on that flight, and then we could return four crew members in the February 2025, timeframe, he added.

Stich also noted that no decision has been made yet on how they will return.

The Hill has reached out to Boeing for comment.

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Administrative Specialist - Downtown Los Angeles

Arizona State University

ASU FIDM

Off-Campus: Los Angeles

103477BR



Job Description

ASU FIDM, a school of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, is a community with passion for preparing students for creative careers as fashion industry professionals who practice their craft with a commitment to social responsibility and global sustainability. Under general supervision, the Administrative Specialist performs complex administrative duties of a responsible, sensitive, and confidential nature requiring considerable independence of action in support of the ASU FIDM school director.



Salary Range

$65,000 - $70,000 per year; DOE



Close Date

22-August-2024



Essential Duties

 Manages or assists in the management of the executive's calendar.

 Works closely with other university offices in coordinating the executive's involvement in university events.

 Coordinates and arranges for the executive's travel.

 Coordinates or assists in coordinating events, including arranging equipment and catering; sending invitations and managing RSVPs.

 Compiles, prepares, and maintains background material related to meetings, events and travel; coordinates and tracks follow-up.

 Independently composes correspondence on a variety of subjects requiring judgment, originality, and knowledge of issues involved.

 Provides word processing, and processing of correspondence and e-mail.

 Answers phones, greets visitors, and directs questions to appropriate offices for resolution.

 Schedules and may attend meetings and conferences.

 Maintains files; completes requests, records, submits and tracks all purchase requests/vouchers.

 Provides back-up to other staff in the office.



Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of executive-level administrative support experience; OR, Nine (9) years of executive-level administrative support experience; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or education from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.



Desired Qualifications

 Demonstrated knowledge of fashion

 Experience in a wide variety of administrative functions including calendaring, scheduling, and word processing.

 Experience in dealing with a wide range of topics, including confidential and sensitive information.

 Experience in demonstrating tact and diplomacy and in maintaining effective working relationships.

 Evidence of effective communication.

 Experience in quickly changing priorities which may include and/or are subject to resolutions of conflicts.



Working Environment

 This position is located in downtown Los Angeles at the ASU California Center  Grand (ASU FIDM) building.

 Light travel schedule to the ASU Tempe and Downtown Phoenix campuses may also be required.

 Activities are performed in an environmentally-controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding and manipulating a computer mouse.

 Regular use of standard office equipment including, but not limited to computer workstation/laptop (keyboard, monitor, mouse), printer, fax, copier, and telephone.



Department Statement

The Herberger Institute comprises the School of Art; School of Arts, Media and Engineering; The Sidney Poitier New American Film School; School of Music, Dance and Theatre; The Design School; and the ASU Art Museum. With 130 degree and certificate options, and programs ranked top 20 in art, design, music, theatre, digital culture, film, dance and more, plus a top university art museum, a leading immersive media facility, and national and international partnerships, the Herberger Institute is a powerhouse of art, culture and design.



Our mission is to position designers, artists, scholars and educators at the center of public life and prepare them to use their creative capacities to advance culture, build community and imaginatively address todays most pressing challenges.



The vision of the Herberger Institute is to advance the New American University by embedding designers, artists and arts-based inquiry at its core and throughout the communities it serves locally, nationally and internationally. With 7,000+ students, more than 700 faculty members, and 130 program options, the Herberger Institute is committed to redefining the 21st-century design and arts school.



As part of Arizona State University, the most innovative university in the nation, the Herberger Institute seeks to drive and scale new ways for arts and design to have impact in our world. We invite you to join our work.



Values:

 Creativity as a core 21st-century competency

 Design and the arts as critical resources for transforming our society

 Innovation, enterprise and entrepreneurship

 Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration and research

 Social embeddedness

 Projecting all voices

 Excellence

 https://herbergerinstitute.asu.edu/



Why work @ASU - https://cfo.asu.edu/why-work-asu



Total compensation at ASU is defined as more than the salary paid for the valuable work performed to support the success of our ASU students. It includes:

 Salary and wages paid

 Comprehensive package of affordable benefit plans and programs

 Access to world-class educational opportunities at deeply discounted rates

 ASU's total compensation estimator shows the approximate value of your overall compensation



ASU is a diverse enterprise with a wide variety of work and learning modes, locations and a commitment to sustainability, innovation and employee work-life balance. We are determined to maintain our position as an employer of choice in a competitive labor market.



Flexible work options

 Alternative work schedules can include four, 10-hour workdays in a workweek; a nine-day, 80-hour schedule over two workweeks for exempt employees only; and staggered start and stop times.

 Hybrid work is an arrangement where employees spend a minimum of 60% of their regular workweek at their primary ASU work location. Dean or vice president-level approval is required.



ASU Statement

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions intellectual and cultural diversity, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.



ASU is a tobacco-free university. For details visit https://wellness.asu.edu/explore-wellness/body/alcohol-and-drugs/tobacco



Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.



Notice of Availability of the ASU Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASUs Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf. You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU PD at 480-965-3456.



Relocation Assistance  For information about schools, housing child resources, neighborhoods, hospitals, community events, and taxes, visit https://cfo.asu.edu/az-resources.



ASU conducts pre-employment screening which may include verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications.



Background Check Statement

ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the background check.



Fingerprint Check Statement

This position is considered safety/security sensitive and will include a fingerprint check. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the fingerprint check.



Instructions to Apply

Application deadline is 3:00PM Arizona time on the date indicated.



Please include all employment information in month/year format (e.g., 6/88 to 8/94), job title, job duties and name of employer for each position.



Resume should clearly illustrate how prior knowledge and experience meets the Minimum and Desired qualifications of this position.



ASU does not pay for travel expenses associated with interviews, unless otherwise indicated.



Only electronic applications are accepted for this position.



IMPORTANT NOTE: What is the meaning of equivalent combination in the minimum qualifications? It means one year of higher education or 24 credit hours, is equal to one year of experience. For example, a four year Bachelors degree is equal to four years of experience.



To view full description or to apply please click this link: https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/Home/Home?partnerid=25620&siteid=5494#jobDetails=4983224_5494



@asufidm

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ATM stabbed in Fresno after suspect fails to get cash, police say

ATM stabbed in Fresno after suspect fails to get cash, police say

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  The Fresno Police Department is looking for a person who they say stabbed an ATM after attempting to withdraw cash.

Police say the suspect attempted to withdraw cash on July 5 from the Wells Fargo ATM at 2450 North Brawley Avenue. After multiple failed attempts, police say the suspect produced a knife and repeatedly stabbed the ATM, severely damaging it.

Images from security footage show a person with a bald head wearing sunglasses on the back of their head, with a series of tattoos down their right arm.

According to police, the ATM is valued at over $5000. The extent of the damage to the ATM is unknown.

Anyone with information about the incident or the suspect is asked to contact Detective Cruz at 559-348-3121.

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Cleveland Lamont Waters, 42, of Waxhaw, escaped police custody during an undercover operation on May 31 and is still on the loose, the Monroe Police Department said.

Police search for attempted murder suspect who escaped custody in Monroe

Waters is accused of shooting someone multiple times at about 4:30 a.m. on English Street. The victim ran and collapsed on Winchester Avenue. The shooting victims was taken to a hospital and survived the shooting.

Police identified Waters and tracked him to a home on Locklyn Road in Waxhaw.

They apprehended him and found guns and drugs inside the home.

The suspect told police he knew about a large quantity of illegal narcotics that they could seize.

So, police brought Waters onboard for an undercover operation.

They put Waters, who was handcuffed, in an unmarked car and took him to the area of Carroll Street and Rolling Hills Drive.

The officer began to drive away from a parking lot and Waters tried to escape the unmarked police vehicle.

The officer got out and tried to stop Waters, but the unmarked car hit an unoccupied parked car. Waters managed to successfully flee on foot.

There was a widespread search, but Waters was nowhere to be found.

Monroe police released information that Waters was wanted the day after the escape.

Waters has arrest warrants for attempted first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, among other charges.

If you see him, do not approach him, and immediately call 911.

Call Union County Crime Stoppers at 704-283-5600 and you can remain anonymous.

There is a cash reward when providing anonymous information that helps lead to Waters arrest.
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (KCAU)  After a mental competency evaluation, a Spirit Lake man charged with attempted murder will be able to stand trial.

A competency hearing was held on Monday, Aug. 5, for Caleb Crosby, 19. He was arrested on May 5, 2024, and charged with attempted murder and first-degree theft.

According to the Dickinson County Sheriffs Office, authorities responded to a 911 call on Sunday, May 5 at about 5:18 p.m. The caller reported a shooting in Montgomery, Iowa.

When officers arrived, they found the victim and secured the scene. After a search, Crosby was found at about 9 p.m. Crosby had also allegedly stolen a vehicle. He was booked into the Dickinson County Jail and held on a $2 million bond.

Kim Taylors attorney files argument to appeal conviction

On May 31, Crosby allegedly tried to escape from jail, according to court documents. He was charged in a separate case with escape from custody.

On June 11, Crosby pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder and theft charges.

Crosbys jury trial is set to begin Oct. 15, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.

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Defense attorneys for a group of alleged 9/11 plotters slammed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins decision last week to revoke an agreed-upon plea deal that would spare the men the death penalty.

They accused the Biden administration of making a corrupt move that would bring further chaos to a court proceeding thats already stretched on more than a decade without going to trial.

We have had an unprecedented act by a government official to pull back what was a valid agreement  For us, it raises very serious questions about continuing to engage in a system that seems so obviously corrupt and rigged, Walter Ruiz, defense counsel for Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, one of three men covered by the original plea deal, said in a military court on Wednesday, per CNN.

Another attorney, for alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, said he was gobsmacked by a comment from a government lawyer who requested time to consult with members of the government about legal challenges to the reversal, because the militarys position on the legality of the decision wasnt yet fully articulated.

We should not gratify the chaos that is resulting from this precipitous decision, Gary Sowards reportedly said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revoked a plea deal last week with Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and two other alleged 9/11 plotters to avoid the death penalty (AP2003)

During the hearing, a judge overseeing the 9/11 case against Hawsawi, Mohammed, and a third alleged accomplice, Walid bin Attash, rejected ruling directly on whether Austins decision to cancel the deal was lawful, but allowed lawyers to investigate the circumstances surrounding the decision, according to The New York Times.

On Tuesday, Austin said he didnt approach the decision around the plea lightly.

Not a day that goes by when I dont think of 9/11 and the Americans that were murdered that day, also those who died trying to save lives and the troops and their families who gave so much for this country in the years following, Austin said at a press conference in Annapolis.

The rules also allow a convening authority to withdraw from a pre-trial agreement, a Defense Department told The Independent. The Secretary acted consistent with the law.

The case is set for another round of hearings on September 16.

Families of 9/11 victims criticized the initial decision to reach the plea deal.

Terry Strada, national chairperson of 9/11 Families United, told The Associated Press she wished the case had gone to a full trial.

For me personally, I wanted to see a trial, she said. And they just took away the justice I was expecting, a trial and the punishment.

Any eventual trial will have to contend with evidentiary issues since Mohammed and his associates were tortured for years by the CIA before being transferred to the Guantanamo Bay U.S. military prison.
BATON ROUGE, La. (KLFY)  The 2024-25 school year has officially begun for most Louisiana students, and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is asking parents to be mindful of sharing back-to-school photos.

While parents love to take pictures of their children before their first day, remember not to share too much personal information on the typical back to school signs, as predators can use this information to commit identity theft or earn your childs trust, Murrill said.

Our most precious gifts are our children, and we all want to do everything we can to keep them safe, Murrill said. As a mom, Id urge Louisiana parents to take a few simple steps to make sure their childs personal information never gets into the wrong hands when taking those back-to-school pictures. I hope everyone has a safe and successful school year.

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Here are some tips for keeping your kids safe in back-to-school photos:

Leave off information about your childs school, teacher, age, or grade level

Make sure the background of your photo doesnt include your house number or street sign

Double check your privacy settings

Never accept any friend requests from strangers

For more Educational Resources for parents from the Louisiana Department of Justice, visit CyberSafetyForKidsAndTeens.pdf

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The lead attorney for Bryan Kohberger, the man charged with killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, now will simultaneously lead the defense in a second high-profile North Idaho capital murder case.

Anne Taylor, Kohbergers top public defender, was assigned Wednesday to head up the defense for Skylar Meade, according to court records obtained by the Idaho Statesman. The Idaho prisoner is charged with killing a Juliaetta man in Nez Perce County after escaping from corrections officers at a hospital in Boise during a shootout in March.

Like Kohberger, Meade, 32, faces the death penalty if found guilty by a jury. Kohbergers murder trial is scheduled to start in June 2025, while Meade is set to be arraigned Thursday at the Nez Perce County Courthouse.

Initially, Lewiston-based private attorney Rick Cuddihy was assigned to represent Meade. But Cuddihy is qualified only to act as co-counsel in a death penalty-eligible defense, which required appointing a lead to join him on Meades case.

Taylor is one of 13 public defenders in the state approved by the Idaho Public Defense Commission to work as the lead in a death penalty case. Shes also the only one of the group based in North Idaho.

Taylor left her position last month as chief of the Kootenai County Public Defenders Office and has transitioned into private practice, court records showed. Attorney Jay Logsdon, who is co-counsel on the Kohberger defense team, is now acting as Kootenai Countys interim chief for the Public Defenders Office.

A representative at Taylors office declined to comment when reached by phone Wednesday by the Statesman. Taylor also did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Anne Taylor, left, was appointed to represent Moscow student homicides suspect Bryan Kohberger in his Latah County capital murder case. She is now also assigned to represent Idaho prisoner Skylar Meade in his Nez Perce County murder case.

Earlier this year, Taylor appeared before an Idaho Senate committee to explain how the small group of death penalty-eligible public defenders in the state creates a limit on the number of death penalty cases prosecutors in Idaho can pursue.

Being one of 13 means that I am one of the few in Idaho  Im the only in North Idaho  that can handle a death penalty case, Taylor told the committee in March. Since we can only have two at a time, you can imagine how fast those obligations will fill up.

Taylor was assigned to Kohbergers case in December 2022, after he was arrested. The 29-year-old former Washington State University graduate student is charged in the stabbing deaths of U of I students Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, both 21, and Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20. Prosecutors announced in June 2023 that theyll seek the death penalty for Kohberger if he is convicted.

Investigation ongoing in second death

In March, Meade, who was serving a 10-year prison sentence at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, was taken to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise after prosecutors said he faked an injury. Meade had coordinated a plan to escape from the Boise hospital with the help of co-conspirator Nicholas Umphenour, authorities said.

Umphenour has been accused of shooting two corrections officers while they loaded Meade into the prison van outside of the hospital, according to testimony from law enforcement during one of Meades hearings. The third officer was shot and injured by a Boise officer, the police agency said. All of the officers survived.

The men were able to escape custody and drove six hours to the north, where they encountered 83-year-old James Mauney north of Lewiston while he was walking his dogs, according to Idaho State Police. His body was later found in a desolate area. Meade is accused of shooting Mauney in the head in an attempt to rob him, according to an indictment obtained by the Statesman.

In their filing seeking the death penalty, prosecutors in Nez Perce County alleged that Meade had utter disregard for human life and has exhibited a propensity to commit murder. To have someone receive a death sentence, prosecutors have to prove that there were aggravated circumstances to the killing.

Meade is also a suspect in a Clearwater County killing. Deputies from the neighboring county found the body of Gerald Don Henderson, 72, in his cabin outside of Orofino. Police said shackles that belonged to Meade, along with Mauneys dogs, were found in the cabin.

Meade and Umphenour have been indicted and charged in Mauneys death, but they havent received any charges in the killing of Henderson.

Idaho State Police previously said the case remained under investigation. ISP spokesperson Aaron Snell did not respond last week to an email seeking an update on the investigation.

Both Meade and Umphenour were also charged with crimes in Ada County. Meade pleaded guilty to five charges, three of which were related to the escape, and was sentenced in mid-July to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 35 years.

Umphenour is still facing charges in Ada County and has a jury trial scheduled for October, court records showed.

Kohberger is due back in court on Aug. 29 for a hearing over a potential venue change to move his trial to Boise.

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U.S. Attorney for Montana Jesse Laslovich gives opening remarks and an introduction to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland (left), in Billings on March 5, 2024 (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan).

An attorney who represents a Northern Cheyenne woman raped by a Bureau of Indian Affairs police officer has spent nearly a decade pursuing the officer and the federal government in hopes of some kind of justice for his client.

On Tuesday, Billings attorney John Heenan sent a letter to both U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Secretary of the Interior asking that they come to the negotiating table to end the lawsuit with a settlement for his client, who bore the officers child and is raising it without support.

The case began nearly a decade ago when then BIA officer Dana Bullcoming was called to the victims house. She had been drinking, a violation of the reservations dry laws, and Bullcoming had threatened to take away the womans children unless she had sex with him. He coerced her into sex, and she became pregnant.

The U.S. Attorneys Office started to prosecute him criminally while they also hammered out a civil plea agreement in which Bullcoming admitted to the incident and agreed to more than $1 million of child support. Since then, Heenan said his client hasnt seen a dime from Bullcoming nor a penny from the federal government.

A lawsuit alleges the federal government, as Bullcomings employer, should bear some responsibility for the behavior and supervision of its officer. That court case remains protracted and ongoing, as the government continues to insist it should have nothing to do with the case.

The Daily Montanan sent questions the U.S. Attorney Generals Office in Washington, D.C.

It never responded to the inquiry.

The same set of questions were sent to the U.S. Attorney for Montana Jesse Laslovich, whose office is defending the case. It told the Daily Montanan that it does not comment on currently pending cases.

Heenan explained that since the original judgment against Bullcoming is in excess of $1 million, all negotiations above that have to go through the Attorney Generals Office in Washington, D.C.

There have been multiple mediations over the past several years. I think this obviously would have been better for all parties to resolve, Heenan said.

Heenan has represented his client, suing the federal government, namely the Department of the Interior, which oversees the Bureau of Indian Affairs and its law enforcement efforts. At first, the federal government said that it was immune from prosecution because of the conduct of its employees.

However, after several years of legal wrangling through the state and federal courts, the Montana Supreme Court finally clarified that, as in other states, the federal government could be held in part liable for the conduct of its Montana employees.

Most recently, the Bullcoming case has wound its way through the federal courts, after a hearing earlier this summer at the U.S. Ninth Circuit of Appeals.

There, a three-judge panel said that the federal government can be held responsible for the actions of its employees and granted Heenans request to remove federal judge Susan Watters from the case because she presided over Bullcomings civil arraignment as well as the criminal proceedings. The three-panel appellate court said that Watters cannot be put in the position of evaluating Bullcomings statements when he has given conflicting statements as to whether he was acting purely out of self-interest, or whether he was at the victims house doing his job on the night of the rape.

The case now faces another round of court hearings, this time with a new as-of-yet unassigned judge, as well briefings. Instead, Heenan sent a letter to both U.S. Attorney for Montana Laslovich as well as Garland asking to negotiate a settlement, and end the protracted legal fight.

In a letter this week, Heenan said:

Over the last several years, the United States Attorneys Office has vigorously resisted paying L.B. what the federal judge determined she was owed. It has staked out extreme and offensive positions, including victim-shaming, to avoid paying the judgment. The United States Attorneys Office has expended countless time and resources fighting L.B. over the past several years, which has included two trips to the Ninth Circuit and one to the Montana Supreme Court. Last month, a unanimous Ninth Circuit panel including a Clinton, a Trump and a Biden appointee again rejected the United States position.

Heenan said that even though the case has spanned two presidential administrations from different political parties, the approach to this case has remained unchanged.

But earlier this year, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland came to Montana especially to talk about and tout his offices work with local tribal leaders and law enforcement, and pledged to do more to help curb crime on the reservations. Even as Garland visited, some members of Montanas Indian Country saw the nations top law enforcement officers position undercut by the Bullcoming case. To make matters worse, Heenan said, the BIA, which falls under the authority of the Department of the Interior, is led by Secretary Deb Haaland, herself a Native American woman from a New Mexican pueblo community.

I know that you have each been to Montana recently and visited Native communities. I know that you, Attorney General Garland, came to Billings last year to discuss issues involving crime on Montana reservations. I know that you, Secretary Haaland, were in Bozeman last year to meet with survivors of government-backed Native boarding schools, Heenan wrote. You have both publicly stated your concern and support for Native people. But words, I would submit, are hollow unless bolstered by action. L.B.s child turned 8 years old last month. Every day that this case drags on, L.B. doesnt have the money she needs to raise the child that was conceived the night of her encounter with Officer Bullcoming.

240806. Garland letter final (1)
At Auburn Mall event, Speaker Johnson says CD2 one of the top five races in the nation

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson speaks at the opening of a campaign office for the National Republican Congressional Committee in the Auburn Mall on Aug. 7, 2024. (Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)

Speaking at an event in the Auburn Mall on Wednesday, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson told a packed storefront that they were standing in the best use of an old shoe store hed ever seen.

Shoe store no longer, the space will now serve as headquarters for the volunteers working on Republican campaigns, such as Maine 2nd Congressional District candidate Austin Theriault and others who will appear on the November ballot. It is the 37th so-called battle station that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has opened across the country.

The NRCC is a political committee seeking to grow the number of Republicans in the U.S. House. Currently, Republicans hold a slight 220 to 212 majority over Democrats.

The investments from Speaker Johnson and the National Republican Congressional Committee prove that the pathway to growing the Republican majority in the House runs through Maines 2nd District, said Maine Sen. Jeff Timberlake (R-Androscoggin), who spoke at the opening event Wednesday evening.

Although Theriault said that it can sometimes feel like Maine gets overlooked in the national political landscape, that wasnt the case Wednesday with Johnson in Auburn to rally support for Theriault and other Republican candidates.

Johnson said that he believes Theriaults race against incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden is one of the top five contests in the country.

Everybody is cheering for Maine, Johnson said.

Johnson said hes been talking about Theriault as hes crisscrossed the country campaigning for other Republican candidates. Im talking about Maine everywhere I go, he said.

Of the more than 30 states and almost 150 cities hes visited so far, Johnson said the approximately 400 people who showed up in Auburn was the largest crowd hes seen yet at one of these events.

A number of Republican Maine lawmakers were present, including Assistant Senate Minority Leader Lisa Keim of Oxford, Assistant House Minority Leader Amy Arata of New Gloucester, Rep. Dick Bradstreet of Vassalboro and Rep. Michael Lemelin of Chelsea.

The battle station will be a hub for volunteers like Auburn residents Bruce and Louise Geoffroy who plan to use the space to stuff envelopes and coordinate plans for door knocking. The Geoffroys said they are campaigning for Republican candidates because we need to take our country back. The conservative husband and wife duo listed abortion, immigration and the economy as their top issues for this election.

Johnson said that Novembers election is not just a contest between Republicans and Democrats; its about two different visions for the nation. As Johnson described it, Republicans want to hold steadfast to the countrys founding principles and fight to keep America as the greatest country in the world, but Democrats want a European-style socialist, Marxist utopia.

Though he believes Republicans can win the White House and both chambers of Congress, Johnson said, If we dont fight for this right now, were going to lose it.

A look at the CD2 race so far

Theriaults campaign has received significant support from national Republican leaders.

Between the primary and general election, the Fort Kent native received more than $116,000 from Grow the Majority, the fundraising committee Johnson created to support Republicans running for U.S. House seats.

Theriault was also endorsed by former President Donald Trump via a Truth Social post in late March.

A freshman state legislator, Theriault is challenging Golden, who is running for a fourth term. Throughout the campaign, Theriault has claimed Golden is trying to hide from voters and the press and called the congressman a flip flopper, saying that he has gone back and forth in regards to his stances on border security and guns, among other issues.

The two candidates have said they are willing to debate, but have yet to announce any details on when or where. Before the Republican primary in June, Theriault participated in multiple debates with his opponent, state Rep. Mike Soboleski (R-Phillips), during which he said border security was his top priority.

Theriault wasnt available for questions from reporters during the event Wednesday, but his campaign team confirmed that there still arent any scheduled debates between him and Golden.

Calling for unity for Republican candidates, Soboleski released his first statement of support for Theriault in a news release Wednesday morning. He said he is giving Theriault his complete and total support because Republicans need to be focused on electing Trump and creating a majority in Congress.

As for Wednesdays events, Golden said Theriault was hand-picked by GOP insiders like Mike Johnson because they know hell rubber stamp their harmful, extreme agenda.

Golden went on to list specific policies that may include, such as opposing lower prescription drug costs for seniors, cutting taxes for the wealthy, ending protections for pre-existing health conditions, banning abortion and choosing politics over solutions with the border crisis.

Now, hes kissed the ring, Golden said of Theriault.

Theriault is also part of the Young Guns mentoring program facilitated by the NRCC that provides candidates with tools to run their campaign and sets specific goals for fundraising and communicating with their district.

Emma Davis contributed to this story.

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The city of Sudzha in the Kursk region is the last hub for Russian gas exports to Europe. It is also a transportation hub for the Russian group "Sever": a railway line to Belgorod passes through this city, which is important for supplying troops in the Kharkiv direction.

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This is the opinion of OSINT analyst Intelschizo. He suggests that if Ukraine manages to occupy the entire territory near the town, it will disrupt Russia's military logistics.

There are Ukrainian flags on government buildings in Suzha. And not only there. At least 350 km of the Kursk region is now under the control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, according to Russian propagandists. Their messages, even the most bravura ones, are full of despair. However, none of them knows why Ukraine started "denazification" of Russia in Suzha.

The fact is that it may be difficult to drive Ukrainian troops out of this part of the region. In particular, because the area between the town and the border is on a hill, Intelschizo emphasizes.

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The occupation of the high ground north of the city of Suzha will provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with fire control over the logistics of the occupier's "North" group, the analyst said. In addition to logistics, Ukrainian defenders will disrupt the enemy's GLOC (ground lines of communication).

Intelschizo also points out that several Russian railroads intersect in Suzha. Ammunition and other military supplies are transported through them to Belgorod.

And the third reason is that a Russian gas pipeline passes through Sudzha, which used to transport gas to Europe. Intelschizo points out that although this branch is currently inactive, controlling it is still a "good propaganda move."

In turn, other OSINT analysts draw attention to the obvious reason for the operation in the Kursk region. This is the rear of the Russian army group attacking in the Kharkiv direction. The grouping consists of four units: two attacking Hlyboke and Vovchansk north of Kharkiv, one near Hraivoron, and one near Sudzha.

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In this way, Ukrainian defenders not only disrupt the logistics of the entire group, but actually cut it into pieces.

Meanwhile, the Russians continue to be hysterical over the loss of control over a dozen border settlements in the Kursk region (as you know, Sudzha is already under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces). Russian dictator Putin convened the government for a meeting on this issue, but the only "decision" that was made there was to evacuate the region.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, on August 6, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukrainian units had broken through to the territory of Kursk region in the Suzhansky and Korenevsky districts and gained a foothold in the border villages.

Currently, the occupiers fear that the Ukrainian Armed Forces may seize the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in the city of Kurchatov.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
BOSTON, Mass. (SHNS)The procrastination, upheaval and disappointment that defined the end to formal lawmaking business last week was nothing new, according to the former legislator leading a push to subject the House and Senate to new scrutiny.

Auditor Diana DiZoglio, who is backing a ballot question to explicitly empower her office to audit the Legislature, said the chaos of last weeks all-night session and uncertainty about how Beacon Hill will pick up the pieces has further put on display the need for reforms.

In final appeal, groups blast Healeys shelter changes

Anyone who saw the way this legislative session ended is likely to come to the same conclusion: the Legislature is not supposed to operate the way it has been operating, DiZoglio said in an interview. Not only have people been shut out from the process, but even many of their elected representatives are shut out too. Thats how broken the system currently is. Decision-making is so concentrated in the hands of the Senate president and the speaker and their two or three loyalists that capable legislators, especially legislators whom they cant control, are being locked out of the process.

The Methuen Democrat, who regularly clashed with legislative leaders during her tenure in the House and Senate, called the status quo an authoritarian and dictatorial system of governance that disallows for any semblance of a democratic process.

Dating back to her time on the campaign trail for the auditor position, DiZoglio has been pushing for her office to audit the House and Senate despite objections from top Democrats that doing so would violate constitutional separation of powers.

She and her allies opted to pursue a ballot question explicitly granting the auditors office that ability after all of their other attempts failed to gain traction.

DiZoglio told the News Service that shes been getting a lot of questions since last week about whether the Legislatures failure to find accord on most of its to-do list items during a 22-hour final formal session would become part of her ballot question campaign messaging.

I think what this has done is it has further put on display the need for reforms in our Legislature, for sure, across the board. But I have been talking about this, because this was happening when I was in the state Legislature  the votes in the middle of the night, not getting things done in a timely fashion, everything being late, leadership controlling everything, DiZoglio said. These are issues that Ive been talking about this entire time. Whats happened here is its just become a lot more salient for folks across Massachusetts to be able to witness and experience as well.

After clashing last week over priorities they deemed urgent and essential, House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka have both said they are open to holding a late-term formal session to approve an economic development bond bill on which they failed to reach agreement, and signaled they think other unfinished business can advance through during informal sessions.

In recent days, there are no signs lawmakers are any closer to deals than they were a week ago, leaving many proposals idling.

Mariano and Spilka, as well as their deputies, argue that DiZoglios push to audit them would imbalance power on Beacon Hill. They claim DiZoglio is driven by political motives following her time in the House and Senate, when she often publicly criticized legislative leaders.

A legislative committee tasked with reviewing ballot questions recommended lawmakers take no action on the DiZoglio-backed measure  or any of the other proposals this cycle  in May.

In a representative democracy, power rests with the constituents who elect their Representatives and Senators and hold them accountable, the committee wrote in its review of the auditor question. Rather than achieve its stated goals, the proposed the [sic] Initiative Petition would limit the power of the voters who elect Members of the Legislature by expanding the powers of the Executive Branch; essentially, the Auditor would supplant the people for herself in holding the Legislature accountable.

DiZoglio said Wednesday that an audit run by her office could provide an additional layer of accountability, but on its own would not be able to prevent a repeat of last weeks mishap. Auditors could recommend alternative processes and procedures, or help compare the Massachusetts Legislature to other state legislatures across the country, she said.

The question will be one of five voters decide on Nov. 5.

DiZoglio said she regularly hears messages of support for the proposal. Its not clear if legislative leaders will mount a formal campaign urging their constituents to vote no.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Austin Police Department is investigating an alleged sex trafficking operation at a massage parlor in southwest Austin on U.S. Highway 290.

So far, police have arrested one suspect, who investigators have detailed in court documents as the woman running the operation.

According to the arrest affidavit for that woman, she held employees inside the business 24 hours a day  against their will  and forced them to ask clients if they wanted sexual services at the end of the massage.

Those services, per court records, come at an additional cost, which victims told police the woman running the operation would keep the majority of.

They are a licensed massage establishment with TDLR and a law that went into effect last September gives our executive director the authority to issue a 6-month emergency closure order if there is suspected human trafficking occurring, said Tela Mange with the Texas Department of Licensing and Registration (TDLR).

As part of that order, the TDLR placed the notice, pictured below, on the front door of RS Foot Massage, the business under investigation.

Signage for RS Foot Massage is no longer up on the building. The business was in a shopping plaza. The door was closed and locked when KXAN attempted to speak with someone inside.

Mange said the business had been licensed with the TDLR since 2019 and had no violations in that time. She added that since the legislature granted the agency the power to issue these emergency closures in September 2023, TDLR has issued four across the state. Two others were in the Houston area.

According to APD data, police made five sex trafficking arrests from 2020-2023.

If you see something, let us know, Mange said.

Mange said evidence at massage parlors related to sex trafficking operations often goes unreported. Below is a list of things she advises people to look out for and report to the TDLR:

Signs people live at the business

Condoms

Flavored massage oil

No consultation forms

Having to buzz in to get into the building

Employees not dressed professionally

ATM inside

We are really motivated to eradicate human trafficking in Texas, Mange said.

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The parents of a Kentucky baby who died last fall after drinking bacteria-tainted infant formula are the latest to sue Abbott Nutrition, the manufacturer at the heart of a 2022 crisis that left millions of Americans scrambling to feed their children.

Willow Jade Dellaquila, of Carrollton, Kentucky, was 13 days old when she died on Nov. 5, 2023. She was infected with cronobacter sakazakii, a dangerous germ traced to a can of Similac Total Comfort powdered formula used in the babys bottles, records show.

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They told me she had a stroke on her right side of the brain, Cheyenne Ping, Willows 25-year-old mother, said in an interview. Its really heartbreaking. No one should have to go through this.

Ping and the babys 26-year-old father, Christian Dellaquila, can move forward with a lawsuit against Abbott, an Illinois judge ruled Wednesday.

The couple had previously sought to join a lawsuit with two other families who say their children suffered devastating brain damage caused by cronobacter linked to a different type of Abbott powdered formula, Similac Neosure. Mira White, a Missouri baby, was sickened with cronobacter in March 2023 at age 6 weeks. Ryker Brown, an Illinois toddler, was infected with the bacteria in July 2021, at age 4 weeks. Both survived.

But the judge on Wednesday asked that the three cases be filed separately, leaving open the question of whether they would be consolidated later.

The original lawsuit in December targeted Abbott, whose Sturgis, Michigan, plant was shuttered for months in 2022 after similar reports of infant illnesses and deaths. U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspectors found what agency chief Dr. Robert Califf called shocking conditions, including cronobacter, which led to recalls and sparked shortages that rocked U.S. formula supplies for more than a year.

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Willow consumed formula made at the Sturgis plant and sold at a local Walmart store more than a year after Abbott was placed under court-mandated oversight by the FDA, The Associated Press has learned. The formula Ryker and Mira consumed was made at the companys plant in Casa Grande, Arizona, which was the target of a separate whistleblower complaint about dangerous conditions, according to federal records.

Documents obtained by the AP show that an April 2023 FDA inspection at the Arizona site found lapses in contamination-prevention protocols, multiple detections of cronobacter at the plant and nearly two dozen complaints of confirmed cronobacter, salmonella or other infections in infants who had been fed formula made at the plant. Abbott officials said no link was found between the illnesses and the companys formula, the records show.

The lawsuits accuse Abbott of negligence, fraud and failing to warn parents of potential dangers of powdered formula and demand at least $450,000 per family.

Abbott officials say there is no proven link between the product and any infections, including the cases outlined in the lawsuit. Every can of Similac says that the product is not sterile and should not be fed to premature infants or infants who might have immune problems, unless directed and supervised by a doctor.

No sealed, distributed product from our facilities have tested positive for Cronobacter sakazakii and we dont believe these claims have merit, Abbott officials said in an email Wednesday.

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In a court filing, Abbott officials argued that there was no common connection between the cases, which occurred at different times, in different states and involved two different types of formula.

The fact that each infant experienced a Cronobacter infection (months or years apart) is of no moment, the company said.

The illnesses underscore the difficulty for regulators and health officials to keep tabs on bacteria that are everywhere  but also notoriously difficult to detect and track.

Cronobacter bacteria are common in nature, including in water and soil, and are found in home kitchens, including sinks, counters and even the scoops used to measure formula powder. But they can also be found in large factories, where they lurk on equipment and in the environment.

The bacterias ubiquity can make it hard to determine exactly when it got into the formula cans.

Evidence of cronobacter was found in open cans of Abbott formula in the homes of Willow and Mira and confirmed to be the cause of their infections, documents show. But the same strains of the bacteria were not detected in sealed cans of formula or at the Abbott factories, federal officials said. Its not clear how Ryker became infected.

Read more of the latest sports news

That doesnt prove that the products were free of contamination, said Barbara Kowalcyk, director of the Center for Food Safety and Nutrition Security at George Washington University. Cronobacter cells tend to clump within dry foods like formula and are not distributed evenly, making detection unreliable, if not impossible.

If you get negative test results, it doesnt tell you as much as a positive test result does, Kowalcyk. If you get a positive, youve got a big problem. If you get a negative, you dont know whats going on.

That stymies efforts to detect and stop cronobacter infections, which are particularly dangerous to newborns and babies born prematurely. Such infants are vulnerable to illnesses caused by the germ because their immune systems arent developed enough to fight it off. In those babies, the bacteria can move from the gut to the bloodstream and from there to the brain, where they can have devastating effects.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention typically receives two to four reports per year of infections caused by cronobacter, though officials believe thats an undercount. In 2023, four infections were reported to the agency, records show. They included reports of invasive illness in Mira and Willow and in an unidentified baby in Maryland who was infected with cronobacter and developed meningitis in December after consuming Similac Advance powdered formula made by Abbott.

The CDC began formally tracking illnesses from the germ this year. So far, one confirmed case of cronobacter infection in an infant has been reported, officials said, though they provided no details. Powdered infant formula is the most common cause of cronobacter infections in babies, the agency said.

The 2022 Abbott crisis led Congress and federal investigators to sharply criticize the FDAs oversight of infant formula. In a scathing audit issued in June, federal investigators found that the agency took 15 months to respond to a whistleblower complaint about the Sturgis plant and lacked basic safeguards to prevent dangerous and deadly infections.

The FDA says it has revamped oversight by creating a new human foods program and overhauled the way officials respond to reports of contamination, illnesses and deaths tied to infant formula. The audit represents a snapshot in time, and the FDA continues to make progress, the agency said in a statement.

Jim Jones, head of the program, said inspection issues, consumer complaints and whistleblower reports will now be routed to a single office.

It will make it easier for us to be quicker at identifying a signal, he said in a recent interview.

But for Willows family, such changes come too late. Ping, who received the formula through her states WIC program for low-income families, said she had no idea that powdered formula could contain bacteria that might harm her baby.

She said her family agreed to file a lawsuit to help hold Abbott accountable and raise awareness about the dangers of powdered formula.

Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news

Parents need to know that powdered formula is not sterile, Ping said. It just needs to be out there. It needs to be known.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
Babysitter accused of child sex crimes in Greenville Co.

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  Deputies arrested a babysitter accused of inappropriately touching two children in Greenville County.

The Greenville County Sheriffs Office said 22-year-old Abigail Marie Vinson has been arrested and charged with two counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

Investigators said that Vinson, while babysitting two siblings under the age of 11, touched the victims inappropriately on separate occasions between January 1, 2024 and February 14, 2024.

According to warrants, deputies received audio and video evidence of the crimes.

The sheriffs office said Vinson turned herself in to law enforcement on July 1.

She was booked into the Greenville County Detention Center and has since been released.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK, S.D. (KELO)  Larry Depue of Illinois and Dan Magelitz of Wisconsin navigated Badlands National Park together Wednesday after attending the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Fantastic, Depue said. Here with my best friend. Were having a ball.

Magelitz says riding through the scenery is a blissful experience.

Think of it this way: when you see a dog sticking his head out the window, thats kind of what its like, you know, Magelitz said with a laugh. Thats what they always say, anyway.

Ive never seen nothing like this before, Depue said. I mean, Im from a state that has corn and wheat all over. We dont see nothing like this.

Dan Austin of Montana was riding in the park with his son Andy, also of Montana.

Badlands is surreal, right? Dan Austin said. Its just completely different than the, were from Montana and we have the forests and we have the pine hills  and this is such a stark contrast.

Its so open, and I love just kind of the big wide turns, and Custer State Park is amazing and the Needles Highway but its such tight little turns, so here you can kind of just feel the flow a lot more and kind of go with the breeze, Andy Austin said.

Details scarce on alleged theft of $1.78 million

Their shared experience is a long time coming.

We have talked about doing this forever, and its just a really amazing experience to be able to do this together and kind of finally accomplish this dream weve had, Andy Austin said.

This is our first trip to Sturgis together, and its been on our bucket list for about a dozen years now, and so this year everything lined up well, and we were able to do it together, Dan Austin said. And it was pretty special.

The Badlands are also a shared experience for married couple Alan and Sheri Bouffler of Florida.

Its like a little mini Grand Canyon, Alan said. Didnt know we had that anywhere else.

Its a whole different experience on a motorcycle compared to, like, being in a vehicle, Susanna Matulevich of Michigan said.

For Matulevich, the trip to experience these views was a solo experience.

Ive dreamt about doing this my whole life, and I rode out here by myself from Michigan, and I came out to just see all the beauty of South Dakota, she said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
Balcones Terrace Community one step closer to opening in Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN)  Austin is now a major step closer to opening up a new permanent supportive housing community in north Austin.

The nearly completed Balcones Terrace Community will provide 123 housing units for single adults who are experiencing homelessness or living on extremely low incomes, according to a news release from Foundation Communities.

The development is a newly renovated four-story hotel, and its located near MoPac Expressway and Capital of Texas Highway, the release said.

A ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the planned opening of the Balcones Terrace Community (Courtesy: Foundation Communities)

A ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the planned opening of the Balcones Terrace Community (Courtesy: Foundation Communities)

A ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the planned opening of the Balcones Terrace Community (Courtesy: Foundation Communities)

A ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the planned opening of the Balcones Terrace Community (Courtesy: Foundation Communities)

A ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the planned opening of the Balcones Terrace Community (Courtesy: Foundation Communities)

A ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the planned opening of the Balcones Terrace Community (Courtesy: Foundation Communities)

We are excited to be opening Balcones Terrace, said Foundation Communities Executive Director Walter Moreau in the release. It will provide a home for 123 of our neighbors who have struggled to find housing they could afford in Austin, as well as a supportive community.

A ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the planned opening of the community, and city of Austin Mayor Kirk Watson spoke at the event Wednesday on how the property will changes lives for the better.

This is not just a roof over a head. It is a new chance. It is hope. It is stability. Its love that otherwise would be lost, he said.

People there will have access to an on-site food pantry, community kitchen and case management services, the release said.

Foundations Communities agreed to a 55-year lease for the community, the release said.

City affordable housing initiatives

The city contributed $10 million to the Balcones Terrace Community in 2022. Voters authorized a $350 million bond for affordable housing facilities around the city, including this one.

City will apply for federal $10 million affordable housing grant

Over the past five years, voters have given the green light for the city to use $600 million for affordable housing. Those are all bond dollars, so that gets paid back through property taxes.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG)  Crews from Baldwin EMC returned home on Wednesday afternoon after heading to Florida to assist with power outages from what was once Hurricane Debby.

Talquin Electric Cooperative requested help restoring electricity to about 21,000 homes in Quincy, Fla. after the storm came through the area.

UPDATE: Both suspects in deadly Grand Bay shooting now in custody; victim identified

However, in Quincy, flooding wasnt the issue  it was the tree damage caused by the storm. Knocking down power lines and blocking busy roads, fallen trees were responsible for many of the power outages.

Just a bunch of trees in the roadway was down. Thats mainly what caused the outages in our area that we were at, Baldwin EMC Journeyman Lineman Kenny Foley said.

Foley said that when they arrived, the conditions were pretty bad and the crews were dealing with strong winds, rain and lightning. However, he said that when they were ready to begin working the storm quickly passed.

It was like the lineman gods helped us out and took the rain and stuff out of there for us, Foley said.

A photo of Kenny Foley with his family posing (Baldwin EMC).

Foley said it was hard leaving on Monday morning knowing that he would miss his daughters first day of school. Expecting to be away for up to two weeks, he was excited when his crew returned home in just two days.

I just cant wait to listen to it all when they get back from school and hear about their first day of school and all that, Foley said. Its nice to come home and be with our family.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
(Bloomberg) -- Bangladesh is unlikely to hold the general elections so soon after Sheikh Hasina was ousted, as the caretaker government may look to carry out constitutional reforms first to ensure future polls are tamper-proof, according to a former top diplomat.

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Former Foreign Secretary Shamsher Chowdhury said the incoming interim government under Nobel Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus will want to restore law and order first and bring about changes in the system of government.

The interim government is likely to be around for a longer term because they need to bring about constitutional changes through the president and then have the election, Chowdhury told Bloomberg Television on Thursday. It could be there for at least a couple of years.

Since Hasina fled earlier this week following deadly student-led protests, there have been questions on how swiftly elections will be held in the South Asian country once Yunus takes control. The opposition is already pushing for early elections and President Mohammed Shahabuddin said it will be held as soon as possible.

Bangladesh, born out of an independence struggle against Pakistan about five decades ago, has a patchy record on elections. There are constant reports of election rigging, which has led many in Bangladesh to demand for a non-partisan caretaker government to oversee the polls.

We have seen what happens when elections take place under a particular political party, they end up being rigged, said Chowdhury, who took part in the 1971 independence movement and had a brief stint in politics. The last three elections are a manifestation of that.

Hasina won the elections in January, extending her grip in power for a fourth term in a national vote that was boycotted by the opposition. She had refused to give way to a caretaker government to carry out the elections, saying that a top court in 2011 had declared the institution was an unelected administration.

The main task of the government would be to reform the election process to ensure it is free, fair and non-controversial, Chowdhury said. The only way to ensure that is a non-party caretaker government conducts the election.

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Bangladeshis in Vancouver react to PM's downfall after protests

Members of Vancouver's Bangladeshi community gathered outside the Vancouver Art Gallery Monday, waving flags and cheering to celebrate the resignation of prime minister Sheikh Hasina. (CBC - image credit)

Hope and excitement spread quickly among members of Vancouver's Bangladeshi community on Monday as news broke that the South Asian country's prime minister had resigned amid a mass uprising against her rule led mostly by students.

"We are celebrating our blood-shedded second independence of Bangladesh," said Abdullah-Al Talha, 31, who moved to Canada from his home country in 2006.

Members of the Bangladeshi diaspora took to Vancouver's streets, elated to see the nation's government topple after weeks of turmoil.

The news sparked an impromptu gathering Monday evening, organized by the Bangladesh Student Association Vancouver outside the Vancouver Art Gallery.

News of Hasina's resignation sparked an impromptu gathering Monday evening. Community members say the end of the PM's 15-year-rule marks an important phase for the South Asian country.

News of Hasina's resignation sparked an impromptu gathering Monday evening in Vancouver. Community members say the end of Hasina's 15 years of rule marks an important phase for the South Asian country. (CBC)

"I am literally getting goosebumps," added Talha, who attended the event clad in red and green, his home country's colours.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who led Bangladesh for 15 years, faced increasing criticism after weeks of deadly unrest made her long-running "autocratic" leadership untenable, according to Parboti Roy, a sessional lecturer with the University of B.C.'s department of Asian studies.

"During [the government's] regime, they infringed on people's freedom of expression, and there was corruption," Roy told CBC News. "People were struggling with their everyday lives."

Last month, many frustrated students began to peacefully protest to end the quota system on government jobs, which they said mostly favoured families of veterans who fought in Bangladesh's war of independence in 1971.

FILE PHOTO: Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reviews an honour guard at the Government House, during her visit to Thailand, in Bangkok, Thailand, April 26, 2024. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

Hasina reviews an honour guard in Bangkok, Thailand, during an April visit. (Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)

Rumi Khan, an American analyst and columnist on Bangladeshi politics, told CBC the quotas were discriminatory.

"Bangladesh has serious issues of joblessness. There are hundreds of thousands to millions of students who have no job after graduation," said Khan, who is also a professor of medicine at the University of Texas, Austin.

Attempts to quell the demonstrations with force left hundreds injured and dead, which Khan says fuelled outrage against the government.

"The government tried to crack down on it, they overreacted, and they started killing students."

For the Bangladeshi community in Vancouver, the violent clashes made them fear for their families back home as they watched the situation play out from afar.

"It felt horrible, and it was very hard," said Khairul Hassan, a member of the Bangladesh Student Association Vancouver.

Government-imposed communication outages made it even more difficult to stay in touch.

"Later, people used VPNs to say they were safe or not safe," Hassan added.

Community hopeful for the future

Now, Bangladesh's Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus will head the country's interim government after student leaders proposed he step up.

The announcement on Tuesday came from Joynal Abedin, the press secretary of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, who spoke to The Associated Press over the phone.

Roy views the move as an exciting time for the nation.

"[Yunus] is one of Bangladesh's greatest leaders," she said. "He has made a huge contribution to the micro-credit sector in Bangladesh."

Officials say Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus has been named Bangladesh's interim leader.

Officials say Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus has been named Bangladesh's interim leader. (Mahmud Hossain Opu/The Associated Press)

It's a sentiment echoed by members of the Bangladesh Student Association Vancouver.

"We want Dr. Muhammad Yunus to take over," said Omar Faruk, a long-time member of the association. "He is our international hero."

For Talha, a change in the government for the first time in 15 years means renewed hope for freedom and peace.

"I am beginning to at least have a feeling and the hope that we will have independence and a government without any corruption," he said.
On Thursday, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the Ukrainian army for its ability to "surprise" and achieve results. At the same time, the head of state did not directly mention the offensive in the Kursk region of Russia.

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This was reported by Reuters. According to the publication, the Ukrainian side seems to be adhering to a strategy of strict silence regarding activities in the Kursk region of Russia, where, according to Moscow, fighting has been going on since Tuesday.

"Everyone can see that the Ukrainian army can surprise. And it knows how to achieve results," Zelenskyy said at an event to present a new digital application called Army+ to reduce paperwork for the military.

"This demonstrates the battlefield, where our soldiers not only withstood the superior force of the occupiers but also destroyed it as necessary to protect Ukraine  our state and independence," he said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region have advanced up to 10 kilometers into Russia. The armored vehicles of the Defense Forces have taken up positions along the 38K-030 Sudzha  Korenevo highway.

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As a reminder, on August 6, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukrainian units had broken through into the Kursk region in the Sudzha and Korenevo districts and gained a foothold in border villages.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
A driver hands money to a man panhandling on a median in Jacksonville, Fla., where a ban on panhandling has been challenged in court. Citing public safety, other cities and the state of New Mexico are considering banning pedestrians, including panhandlers, from medians. (Dan Scanlan/Jacksonville Today)

Despite court rulings that soliciting money is protected as free speech, some cities and at least one state are considering new restrictions on panhandling in traffic medians, arguing its a safety hazard.

New Mexicos Democratic governor this year and an Arizona Republican lawmaker last year proposed statewide bans on asking for money on street medians, though neither passed. Wilmington, North Carolina, passed a similar ordinance this year, and Roanoke, Virginia, has stepped up enforcement of a law that has been on the books since last year. Advocates for homeless people have sued over a similar law in Jacksonville, Florida.

A handful of cities are turning to incentives as a solution: Oklahoma City, where courts struck down a panhandling ban, offers city cleanup work to panhandlers. Philadelphia and Fairfax County, Virginia, have similar programs, and Albuquerque, New Mexicos largest city, recently reinstated one.

The efforts have grown amid a nationwide homelessness crisis, with more people visibly soliciting money in the streets, and higher pedestrian deaths compared with before the pandemic. Backers of the bans argue that they promote safety, but opponents say that theres no proof such restrictions protect pedestrians and that they infringe on free speech rights. Court rulings have been mixed.

Many of the newest laws or proposed laws banning pedestrians on narrow medians followed one in Sandy City, Utah, which a federal appeals court upheld in 2019. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2020 declined to take up the case, leaving the law in place. The ordinance makes it illegal for any individual to sit or stand, in or on any unpaved median, or any median of less than 36 inches for any period of time.

In New Mexico  which has the highest rate of pedestrian fatalities of any state, according to a Governors Highway Safety Association report based on 2023 data  Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham this year proposed a state law banning pedestrians on narrow medians. Some cities in New Mexico, including Santa Fe and Espanola, already have such bans. Benjamin Baker, a public safety adviser to the governor, said it makes sense to keep panhandlers and others off medians near cars.

Like other proponents of the bans, Baker acknowledged theres no clear connection between panhandling and pedestrian deaths. But he said it makes intuitive sense to ban seemingly dangerous activities such as standing on narrow medians in heavy traffic.

Exercising free speech is not the issue, said Baker, who added that panhandling from a safe area is fine.

But lawmakers from her own party declined to sponsor Lujan Grishams bill. And during a special session on public safety in July called by the governor, the bills sole sponsor was Republican state Sen. Mark Moores of Albuquerque.

The panhandling just got out of control across New Mexico and primarily Albuquerque, said Moores. Its just unsafe. People are running back and forth through heavy traffic. We have to balance their right to free speech with public safety.

Despite her legislative defeat, Lujan Grisham continued to lobby for her proposed bill in a series of town halls across the state in July, saying she wants a statewide version of the city of Espanolas 2022 law banning loitering on narrow medians.

Efforts elsewhere

The American Civil Liberties Union has opposed a new law in Bangor, Maine, passed in June, that bans pedestrians from medians less than 6 feet wide in high-speed traffic areas.

Everybodys talking about how we have to get rid of these panhandlers, We dont want to see unhoused people, and then they turn around and say this is about safety. Thats not going to fly.

 Scout Katovich, staff attorney, American Civil Liberties Union Trone Center for Justice and Equality

Courts have overturned some similar laws. In 2020, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down an Oklahoma City ban, ruling the city had failed to prove a clear safety problem because of pedestrians in street medians. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the case, leaving the ruling in place.

Scout Katovich, an attorney at the ACLUs Trone Center for Justice and Equality, said pedestrian safety is not a credible motive for the recent legislation.

Everybodys talking about how we have to get rid of these panhandlers, We dont want to see unhoused people, and then they turn around and say this is about safety. Thats not going to fly, Katovich said.

In Roanoke, Virginia, a ban on panhandling on medians less than 4 feet wide has been on the books since last year and enforcement is on the rise, with about a hundred $25 citations issued since spring, said Roanoke Police Capt. Andrew Pulley. Larger fines or jail sentences could follow for repeat offenders, he said.

Police have gotten complaints about panhandlers, and the city tries to respond to them, Pulley said. Issuing citations deters panhandling, he said, but the effect is usually temporary.

Its like speeding. When were there, its better, but you go away and come back and its there again.

In Arizona, Republican state Sen. John Kavanagh, who had sponsored anti-panhandling legislation in 2015, last year introduced a bill targeting panhandling on traffic medians. A committee approved the bill along party lines, but it didnt reach the Senate floor.

A legal challenge

In Florida, the Homeless Voice, a newspaper that employs homeless people to distribute it on the street and ask for donations, sued the city of Jacksonville over its new law banning panhandling in high-traffic areas, which prevented many of its workers from operating in the city.

Workers could make up to about $100 a day, which was often enough to split a hotel room or even pay rent in some areas, said Sean Cononie, publisher of the Homeless Voice.

Were going backwards in this country, Cononie said. People think homeless people are lazy, and they are not lazy. This is hard work.

The Jacksonville Homeless Voice staff is down from 90 recently to eight, he said, as police have warned his workers to stop asking drivers for money on the street.

In the Jacksonville case, federal Judge Timothy Corrigan allowed the city to continue enforcing the law during an upcoming trial, noting that the city offered to suspend enforcement on public sidewalks and enforce it only on medians. Corrigan called it a clash between First Amendment rights and public safety concerns, but did not say how he might rule.

In court papers, Jacksonville defended the ban, saying its motivated by concern for pedestrian safety and that the city respects the Homeless Voices right to ask for money on sidewalks but not in and on the citys busiest roadways without a required permit.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X.

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A driver hands money to a man panhandling on a median in Jacksonville, Fla., where a ban on panhandling has been challenged in court. Citing public safety, other cities and the state of New Mexico are considering banning pedestrians, including panhandlers, from medians. (Dan Scanlan/Jacksonville Today)

Despite court rulings that soliciting money is protected as free speech, some cities and at least one state are considering new restrictions on panhandling in traffic medians, arguing its a safety hazard.

New Mexicos Democratic governor this year and an Arizona Republican lawmaker last year proposed statewide bans on asking for money on street medians, though neither passed. Wilmington, North Carolina, passed a similar ordinance this year, and Roanoke, Virginia, has stepped up enforcement of a law that has been on the books since last year. Advocates for homeless people have sued over a similar law in Jacksonville, Florida.

A handful of cities are turning to incentives as a solution: Oklahoma City, where courts struck down a panhandling ban, offers city cleanup work to panhandlers. Philadelphia and Fairfax County, Virginia, have similar programs, and Albuquerque, New Mexicos largest city, recently reinstated one.

The efforts have grown amid a nationwide homelessness crisis, with more people visibly soliciting money in the streets, and higher pedestrian deaths compared with before the pandemic. Backers of the bans argue that they promote safety, but opponents say that theres no proof such restrictions protect pedestrians and that they infringe on free speech rights. Court rulings have been mixed.

Many of the newest laws or proposed laws banning pedestrians on narrow medians followed one in Sandy City, Utah, which a federal appeals court upheld in 2019. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2020 declined to take up the case, leaving the law in place. The ordinance makes it illegal for any individual to sit or stand, in or on any unpaved median, or any median of less than 36 inches for any period of time.

In New Mexico  which has the highest rate of pedestrian fatalities of any state, according to a Governors Highway Safety Association report based on 2023 data  Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham this year proposed a state law banning pedestrians on narrow medians. Some cities in New Mexico, including Santa Fe and Espanola, already have such bans. Benjamin Baker, a public safety adviser to the governor, said it makes sense to keep panhandlers and others off medians near cars.

Like other proponents of the bans, Baker acknowledged theres no clear connection between panhandling and pedestrian deaths. But he said it makes intuitive sense to ban seemingly dangerous activities such as standing on narrow medians in heavy traffic.

Exercising free speech is not the issue, said Baker, who added that panhandling from a safe area is fine.

But lawmakers from her own party declined to sponsor Lujan Grishams bill. And during a special session on public safety in July called by the governor, the bills sole sponsor was Republican state Sen. Mark Moores of Albuquerque.

The panhandling just got out of control across New Mexico and primarily Albuquerque, said Moores. Its just unsafe. People are running back and forth through heavy traffic. We have to balance their right to free speech with public safety.

Despite her legislative defeat, Lujan Grisham continued to lobby for her proposed bill in a series of town halls across the state in July, saying she wants a statewide version of the city of Espanolas 2022 law banning loitering on narrow medians.

Efforts elsewhere

The American Civil Liberties Union has opposed a new law in Bangor, Maine, passed in June, that bans pedestrians from medians less than 6 feet wide in high-speed traffic areas.

Courts have overturned some similar laws. In 2020, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down an Oklahoma City ban, ruling the city had failed to prove a clear safety problem because of pedestrians in street medians. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the case, leaving the ruling in place.

Scout Katovich, an attorney at the ACLUs Trone Center for Justice and Equality, said pedestrian safety is not a credible motive for the recent legislation.

Everybodys talking about how we have to get rid of these panhandlers, We dont want to see unhoused people, and then they turn around and say this is about safety. Thats not going to fly, Katovich said.

In Roanoke, Virginia, a ban on panhandling on medians less than 4 feet wide has been on the books since last year and enforcement is on the rise, with about a hundred $25 citations issued since spring, said Roanoke Police Capt. Andrew Pulley. Larger fines or jail sentences could follow for repeat offenders, he said.

Police have gotten complaints about panhandlers, and the city tries to respond to them, Pulley said. Issuing citations deters panhandling, he said, but the effect is usually temporary.

Its like speeding. When were there, its better, but you go away and come back and its there again.

In Arizona, Republican state Sen. John Kavanagh, who had sponsored anti-panhandling legislation in 2015, last year introduced a bill targeting panhandling on traffic medians. A committee approved the bill along party lines, but it didnt reach the Senate floor.

A legal challenge

In Florida, the Homeless Voice, a newspaper that employs homeless people to distribute it on the street and ask for donations, sued the city of Jacksonville over its new law banning panhandling in high-traffic areas, which prevented many of its workers from operating in the city.

Workers could make up to about $100 a day, which was often enough to split a hotel room or even pay rent in some areas, said Sean Cononie, publisher of the Homeless Voice.

Were going backwards in this country, Cononie said. People think homeless people are lazy, and they are not lazy. This is hard work.

The Jacksonville Homeless Voice staff is down from 90 recently to eight, he said, as police have warned his workers to stop asking drivers for money on the street.

In the Jacksonville case, federal Judge Timothy Corrigan allowed the city to continue enforcing the law during an upcoming trial, noting that the city offered to suspend enforcement on public sidewalks and enforce it only on medians. Corrigan called it a clash between First Amendment rights and public safety concerns, but did not say how he might rule.

In court papers, Jacksonville defended the ban, saying its motivated by concern for pedestrian safety and that the city respects the Homeless Voices right to ask for money on sidewalks but not in and on the citys busiest roadways without a required permit.
A driver hands money to a man panhandling on a median in Jacksonville, Florida, where a ban on panhandling has been challenged in court.

A driver hands money to a man panhandling on a median in Jacksonville, Florida, where a ban on panhandling has been challenged in court. Citing public safety, other cities and the state of New Mexico are considering banning pedestrians, including panhandlers, from medians. (Dan Scanlan/Jacksonville Today)

Despite court rulings that soliciting money is protected as free speech, some cities and at least one state are considering new restrictions on panhandling in traffic medians, arguing its a safety hazard.

New Mexicos Democratic governor this year and an Arizona Republican lawmaker last year proposed statewide bans on asking for money on street medians, though neither passed. Wilmington, North Carolina, passed a similar ordinance this year, and Roanoke, Virginia, has stepped up enforcement of a law that has been on the books since last year. Advocates for homeless people have sued over a similar law in Jacksonville, Florida.

A handful of cities are turning to incentives as a solution: Oklahoma City, where courts struck down a panhandling ban, offers city cleanup work to panhandlers. Philadelphia and Fairfax County, Virginia, have similar programs, and Albuquerque, New Mexicos largest city, recently reinstated one.

The efforts have grown amid a nationwide homelessness crisis, with more people visibly soliciting money in the streets, and higher pedestrian deaths compared with before the pandemic. Backers of the bans argue that they promote safety, but opponents say that theres no proof such restrictions protect pedestrians and that they infringe on free speech rights. Court rulings have been mixed.

Many of the newest laws or proposed laws banning pedestrians on narrow medians followed one in Sandy City, Utah, which a federal appeals court upheld in 2019. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2020 declined to take up the case, leaving the law in place. The ordinance makes it illegal for any individual to sit or stand, in or on any unpaved median, or any median of less than 36 inches for any period of time.

In New Mexico  which has the highest rate of pedestrian fatalities of any state, according to a Governors Highway Safety Association report based on 2023 data  Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham this year proposed a state law banning pedestrians on narrow medians. Some cities in New Mexico, including Santa Fe and Espanola, already have such bans. Benjamin Baker, a public safety adviser to the governor, said it makes sense to keep panhandlers and others off medians near cars.

Like other proponents of the bans, Baker acknowledged theres no clear connection between panhandling and pedestrian deaths. But he said it makes intuitive sense to ban seemingly dangerous activities such as standing on narrow medians in heavy traffic.

Exercising free speech is not the issue, said Baker, who added that panhandling from a safe area is fine.

Everybodys talking about how we have to get rid of these panhandlers, We dont want to see unhoused people, and then they turn around and say this is about safety. Thats not going to fly.

 Scout Katovich, staff attorney, ACLU Trone Center for Justice and Equality

But lawmakers from her own party declined to sponsor Lujan Grishams bill. And during a special session on public safety in July called by the governor, the bills sole sponsor was Republican state Sen. Mark Moores of Albuquerque.

The panhandling just got out of control across New Mexico and primarily Albuquerque, said Moores. Its just unsafe. People are running back and forth through heavy traffic. We have to balance their right to free speech with public safety.

Despite her legislative defeat, Lujan Grisham continued to lobby for her proposed bill in a series of town halls across the state in July, saying she wants a statewide version of the city of Espanolas 2022 law banning loitering on narrow medians.

Efforts elsewhere

The American Civil Liberties Union has opposed a new law in Bangor, Maine, passed in June, that bans pedestrians from medians less than 6 feet wide in high-speed traffic areas.

Courts have overturned some similar laws. In 2020, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down an Oklahoma City ban, ruling the city had failed to prove a clear safety problem because of pedestrians in street medians. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the case, leaving the ruling in place.

Scout Katovich, an attorney at the ACLUs Trone Center for Justice and Equality, said pedestrian safety is not a credible motive for the recent legislation.

Everybodys talking about how we have to get rid of these panhandlers, We dont want to see unhoused people, and then they turn around and say this is about safety. Thats not going to fly, Katovich said.

In Roanoke, Virginia, a ban on panhandling on medians less than 4 feet wide has been on the books since last year and enforcement is on the rise, with about a hundred $25 citations issued since spring, said Roanoke Police Capt. Andrew Pulley. Larger fines or jail sentences could follow for repeat offenders, he said.

Police have gotten complaints about panhandlers, and the city tries to respond to them, Pulley said. Issuing citations deters panhandling, he said, but the effect is usually temporary.

Its like speeding. When were there, its better, but you go away and come back and its there again.

In Arizona, Republican state Sen. John Kavanagh, who had sponsored anti-panhandling legislation in 2015, last year introduced a bill targeting panhandling on traffic medians. A committee approved the bill along party lines, but it didnt reach the Senate floor.

A legal challenge

In Florida, the Homeless Voice, a newspaper that employs homeless people to distribute it on the street and ask for donations, sued the city of Jacksonville over its new law banning panhandling in high-traffic areas, which prevented many of its workers from operating in the city.

Workers could make up to about $100 a day, which was often enough to split a hotel room or even pay rent in some areas, said Sean Cononie, publisher of the Homeless Voice.

Were going backwards in this country, Cononie said. People think homeless people are lazy, and they are not lazy. This is hard work.

The Jacksonville Homeless Voice staff is down from 90 recently to eight, he said, as police have warned his workers to stop asking drivers for money on the street.

In the Jacksonville case, federal Judge Timothy Corrigan allowed the city to continue enforcing the law during an upcoming trial, noting that the city offered to suspend enforcement on public sidewalks and enforce it only on medians. Corrigan called it a clash between First Amendment rights and public safety concerns, but did not say how he might rule.

In court papers, Jacksonville defended the ban, saying its motivated by concern for pedestrian safety and that the city respects the Homeless Voices right to ask for money on sidewalks but not in and on the citys busiest roadways without a required permit.

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This report was first published by Stateline. part of the States Newsroom nonprofit news network. Its supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X.
Battery fire breaks out at factory in Seneca

(From: City of Seneca Fire Department)

(From: City of Seneca Fire Department)

(From: City of Seneca Fire Department)

(From: City of Seneca Fire Department)

(From: City of Seneca Fire Department)

SENECA, S.C. (WSPA)  A battery fire broke out Thursday morning at the BorgWarner plant in Seneca.

Firefighters were called to the plant on Wells Highway shortly after 8 a.m.

The Seneca Fire Department said a lithium-ion battery caught fire on the assembly line.

It took firefighters around two and a half hours to get the fire under control.

One firefighter suffered minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

According to BorgWarner, the investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

The company also said that there will not be an extended shutdown of the plant.

One shift was shut down out of an abundance of caution but the second shift in another area of the plant is scheduled to begin this afternoon while clean up and assessment of the affected area is commencing, a representative from BorgWarner said. There will be no impact to our customers.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on Aug. 8 that its forces continue to engage Ukrainian troops in the Sudzhansky and Korenevsky border districts of Kursk Oblast.

Ukrainian forces crossed the border into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6, resulting in clashes on Russian soil that were described by Russian President Vladimir Putin as "a large-scale provocation."

Kyiv has largely refused to comment on the operation in Kursk Oblast, which takes place just as Russia is ramping up attacks in Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast.

Russia's Defense Ministry also claimed that "the enemy has been prevented from advancing," echoing Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.

One day earlier, Gerasimov reported to Putin that the Ukrainian military's advance deep into Kursk Oblast had been stopped.

In turn, Russian Telegram channels claimed that fighting had already begun in Sudzha, a town of around 5,000 people located less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border with Ukraine.

Geolocation footage indicates that Ukrainian troops have advanced up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) deep into Russia's Kursk Oblast, passing at least two Russian defense lines and a stronghold, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its Aug. 7 assessment.

Kursk Oblast lies on the border with Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, which has been experiencing daily attacks since Russian troops were pushed out of the oblast and back across the border in April 2022.

The Russian region has a population of around 1 million people, 440,000 of whom live in the city of Kursk, the region's administrative center.

Read also: Ukraines unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast brings war back to Russian soil

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
PANAMA CITY  Bay District Schools and the Bay Education Foundation have announced the launch of the Adrianna Swearingen Teacher Resource Store, located at Rutherford High School.

This store is designed to help new teachers set up their classrooms for the upcoming school year.

According to a press release, each new teacher will receive a $100 coupon on their first day of Foundation Training to use in the store.

The store offers items such as noise-canceling headphones, digital timers, colored paper, wiggle stools, fidget toys, sensory strips, bulletin board supplies, industrial-sized boxes of crayons and a host of other basics.

"We know that setting up a classroom can be expensive, Sharon Michalik, BDS director of communications, said in the release. We want to help our new teachers get the supplies they need without incurring additional costs."

Teachers can earn additional credits to spend on supplies by volunteering at the store.

Eventually, we hope to open the store full-time to serve all BDS teachers every month, but for now, were focusing on starting small and trying to support our new teachers primarily, Michalik said in the release.

The release notes that the store "not only supports new teachers, but also ensures that all BDS teachers have access to the resources they need."

Bay Education Foundation Director Bryan Taylor encourages non-profits and faith organizations to provide resources for the store.

Back to School: When does school start in Bay County, Florida? Get ready for the 2024-25 school year

"This is just another way that the Foundation works to serve the teachers and students in our community, Taylor said in the press release. We're grateful to the donors supporting this effort, the volunteers helping us get this off the ground, and the district for our continued partnership to put the 'A' back in Bay.

For more information about the Adrianna Swearingen Teacher Resource Store or to become a donor, contact foundation@bay.k12.fl.us

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay Education Foundation open teacher resource store in Bay County
Fraud cases involving the elderly are on the rise in Beaver County, according to police.

Channel 11 spoke with a victim who lost $87,000.

The local woman, who is in her 70s, agreed to talk with us if we didnt identify her.

I always thought I could never be a person who got scammed, and I was, she said.

The victim told us she was checking her email when an Apple security alert appeared on her screen and froze her computer.

A phone number popped up, so she called it.

They identified themselves by name and they were from Apple security and they were gonna help me through a process, she said.

The scammers told the woman, her computer was captured by multinationals in the gambling and porn industry. And her banking information was comprised.

Wow I was scared, like I knew I had a good bit of money in there, some saved, she said.

To get her money back, she was told to withdraw money from several bank branches and deposit the cash into an account through a Bitcoin machine.

The men on the phone told her this was a federal government-funded program.

The scammers and fraudsters are targeting those folks in that demographic range because they have the most money, they have a nest egg built up, they have a life savings, Beaver Police Detective James Degori said.

Detective Degori investigates elder fraud cases, which he said are on the rise. He said the most common are phishing, romance and grandparent which all fall under social engineering scams.

And the scammers are typically out of the country. He advises seniors, Dont click on emails, dont answer phone calls, dont give your personal information out to anybody.

Detective Degori is working to get the word out.

Educating the community as best we can is the only way we can stop this. Because fraud and scams are so prevalent right now all across the county let alone western Pennsylvania, he said.

Beaver police, along with the district attorneys office, are holding a summer scam series for senior citizens, but all are invited.

The dates are Aug. 19 and Sept. 23 in the congregate room at Beaver Valley Mall from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

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BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  Beckley Presbyterian Church is celebrating one hundred years in their current building!

Local Beckley church hosts annual back-to-school fest

The congregation has been in the large stone church since 1924, though the official date the church was founded was back in 1872.

Monte Mitchell is the current pastor for the church and said their celebration will honor their church community.

This church helped found the Carpenters Corner down here, the congregate meal site, it helped found Hospice of Southern West Virginia. And so, you know, were celebrating in worshiping God, were celebrating Gods people, and what all they have done and what they have meant to this place over all these hundred years, said Mitchell.

The celebration will be held after normal church services on Sunday, August 11.

Guests are invited to join them in worship followed by a luncheon with a line up for delicious foods that would have been served back in 1924.

Mitchell said he is looking forward to the Waldorf salad!

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
From the Techne on The Dispatch

Welcome back to Techne! Apparently, tumbleweeds are not indigenous to western North America. Russian thistle (Salsola tragus) is actually a highly invasive species of Amaranth, a family that also includes spinach and beets. The plant arrived in South Dakota in the 1870s, which means that tumbleweeds were likely not around during the Wild West era.

Searching for Monopolies

In the groundbreaking case U.S. v. Google, Judge Amit Mehta of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia ruled Monday that the tech giant has been using its agreements with Apple, Mozilla, and wireless companies to become the default search engine, which illegally harms competition. Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one [through exclusive deals] to maintain its monopoly, Mehta declared.

The decision is a major win for the Justice Department (DOJ), which brought the case. It might also show that the judicial winds are blowing in favor of the government and against Big Tech. Apple, Amazon, Meta, and Google have all been slapped with antitrust suits, the result of an agreement brokered under President Donald Trump between high-ranking agency officials. The Google case was just the first one filed and the first to be decided, meaning Big Techs exposure to litigation risk just rose significantly.

Google is likely to appeal, so theres a chance the ruling will be overturned. The case has yet to go through proceedings to determine particular remedies, which might include limitations on the deals, ballot screens like those common in Europe, data sharing, or even breakups. (That last option is highly unlikely given the decision, though.)

Still, the fact that the court sided with the DOJ puts a wrinkle in the broader movement to strengthen antitrust law. Some call it Neo-Brandeisianism, others call it hipster antitrust. Regardless of the name, advocates and policymakers alike have been pressing for stricter antitrust laws. But this decision undermines at least one of the central arguments for change in the law: that existing antitrust enforcement cant be successful against big tech companies.

As is always the case with these rulings, its helpful to reread the initial complaint before reading the courts opinion. What I got from that one-two combo was the sense that this case always contained inconsistencies that were never resolved. I remain unconvinced that there is a problem that needs court intervention.

To understand why, lets dig in.

The decision.

Because U.S. v. Google was the first of the four antitrust lawsuits brought against the big tech companies, and because I find the search market so fascinating, I was following the case from the beginning. As I explained back in 2020, the case was about Googles possession of exclusionary market power:

The exclusionary market power at issue in the DOJ complaint originates from contracts that Google maintains across the software and hardware ecosystem. For example, Google contracts with Apple, ensuring that Google is the default search provider for iPhones and iPads. For Android device manufacturers, in return for the free use of the Android operating system and their app store, Google maintains the Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA). This ensures handset manufacturers dont distribute devices powered by a non-standard version of Android. Google also offers manufacturers that are parties to the MADA the opportunity to enter into revenue sharing agreements (RSAs). Revenue sharing agreements also extend beyond handset manufacturers to both U.S. wireless carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and browser developers such as Mozilla, Opera, and UCWeb. Between its exclusionary contracts, its owned properties (the Android operating system), and its operated properties (the devices that have Google set as the default search engine), the DOJ alleges Google has dominance in 80 percent of the general search queries in the United States and has thus foreclosed competition for internet search. According to the DOJ, the result is that competitors are denied vital distribution, scale, and product recognition  ensuring they have no real chance to challenge Google.

I always felt skeptical about this case but still thought it was on the most solid ground alongside the other Google case from 2023 about the companys advertising technology products.

By and large, Judge Mehta agreed with the complaint but also recognized that Google had been outcompeting everyone:

Google has not achieved market dominance by happenstance. It has hired thousands of highly skilled engineers, innovated consistently, and made shrewd business decisions. The result is the industrys highest quality search engine, which has earned Google the trust of hundreds of millions of daily users. But Google also has a major, largely unseen advantage over its rivals: default distribution. Most users access a general search engine through a browser (like Apples Safari) or a search widget that comes preloaded on a mobile device. Those search access points are preset with a default search engine. The default is extremely valuable real estate. Because many users simply stick to searching with the default, Google receives billions of queries every day through those access points. Google derives extraordinary volumes of user data from such searches. It then uses that information to improve search quality. Google so values such data that, absent a user-initiated change, it stores 18 months-worth of a users search history and activity.

In other words, according to the decision, Google used these exclusive contracts to drive search volumes, which in turn drove user data that helped improve search quality to the detriment of its competitors.

But buried in the decision, Mehta also recognizes that Googles system is better than its competitors. As page 247 notes:

Google has not sat still despite its dominant market share. Search has changed dramatically over the last 15 years, largely because of Google. Its [search engine result page], for example, is different today than it was even five years ago. Moreover, the evidence that Google has left innovative technologies on the shelf, or that its investments in R&D and human capital have fallen behind others in the industry, is sparse. Go Big in Europe is a one-time, discrete episode that is far from robust evidence that Google remains inert absent competition. In truth, Googles penchant for innovation is consistent with the behavior of a monopolist. ([M]onopolists have reason to invest in R&D, as innovation can increase an already dominant market share and further delay the emergence of competition[.]).

The decision also said that Google was able to offer a better deal to Apple. Apple and Microsoft occasionally had talks to make Bing the default search engine in Apple products, but they went nowhere because Googles system was simply better overall. All of this is explained beginning on page 112, which I have lightly edited to remove the in-text citations:

Microsoft thought they had great [search] quality and they said that with [Apples] search volume, they could be even better, but Apple disagreed. Moreover, Apple was concerned that despite the high revenue share percentage, Bing would not be able to bring in sufficient revenues because it was horrible at monetizing advertising. (If you have an inferior search engine, customers wouldnt use it, and so, therefore, I dont know how you could monetize it well.). Apple evaluated the potential financial impact of replacing Google with Bing. The analysis assumed that Microsoft would initially pay Apple 100% of Bings revenue share, while Google would continue paying Apple [redacted %] revenue share if retained as the default. The analysis showed that if Apple extended the [Google deal], it would gain about $40 billion from Google in the next five years, and then $70 billion in the following five years. This was double the $20 billion Microsoft offered Apple for the first five years. (Clearly, Microsoft cant commit to these numbers or even anything close to them.).

While the opinion redacted the number, reports late last year showed that Apple got 36 percent of the revenue from Google for these searches, according to their deal. So, putting all of the pieces together, even when Bing offered 100 percent of the revenue and got a bump in search volume, Microsofts deal would still be just half of what Google was expected to offer at just a 36 percent revenue share. If these deals truly were anticompetitive then the prices shouldnt have differed all that much. But Google was able to offer effectively six times the value for the same referral.

So, something else other than a default is at work here.

The power of default settings.

Both the DOJs complaint and the decision rest upon the notion that search engine defaults afford extraordinary economic power. Some expect that remedies will change these circumstances, but shifting defaults doesnt always mean people will stay with that choice. In fact, there are only some cases where setting the default can move markets. As one study summarized, defaults tend to be powerful only when options are numerous, have complex attributes, or are difficult to distinguish. Thats not exactly whats going on here; people know the difference between Google and Bing.

Besides, Europe has already trudged down this path, with few market results. Because of a 2018 court ruling, Google was forced to unbundle its search products and apps from the Android operating system. The effect was that Google started charging manufacturers anywhere from $2.50 to $40 per device for use of Googles apps. Through the act of unbundling, the EC forced Google to make the value in the contract into an explicit cost because the bargained-for deal was no longer allowed to happen.

Also as part of the ruling, Android smartphones in Europe are now required to prompt users with a screen to choose a search engine. As Spencer Purnell, a tech analyst, pointed out, European data show that search engine market shares remain unaffected by the choice screen. Google has maintained a roughly 92% market share in Europe before and after the European Union mandated the choice screen in Europe. The European case shows that simply changing default settings is insufficient to disrupt Googles dominant market position. It also fundamentally undermines the notion that these contracts are the reason for the companys wide use.

Adding it all up.

Google now faces a trial to determine remedies. A lot of options have been floated, including choice screens like those in Europe, limitations on deals, data sharing, or even forced divestiture of Chrome or Android. But none of the proposed remedies seems all that well targeted, since the courts opinion waffles on the exact harm that Google perpetrated.

Google isnt the only company that will be affected by this decision. Apple supposedly makes $20 billion a year for its contract with Google that is now under threat with this ruling. Mozilla, which maintains the Firefox browser, is largely reliant on the search deal for its income as well. According to the most recent financial statement Mozilla has posted, $510 million out of its $593 million in revenue came from Google. Expect both companies to struggle if the deals are struck down.

The DOJs win also raises the risk of the other pending cases. As I mentioned in an earlier edition of Techne, legal academics have tended to rank Googles cases as being on the strongest legal grounds. Daniel Crane, a law professor at the University of Michigan, reached out to several legal academics and found that they generally agreed:

A clear separation emerges from the raw scores. Google is the consensus choice for the strongest government case; Amazon is the consensus choice for the weakest government case. Indeed, not a single respondent ranked Amazon the strongest government case, and only one ranked Google the weakest.  Respondents were consistently bullish on Google (from the government perspective) and bearish on Amazon. Facebook and Apple were a toss-up in the middle.

There has been a growing chorus of voices calling for stricter antitrust laws. Advocates and policymakers have both pushed for reforms to better tackle the dominance of large tech companies. This decision, however, challenges the notion that existing antitrust laws are insufficient. By achieving a significant victory against Google, the case illustrates that antitrust enforcement can work effectively within the current legal parameters. I suspect that this ruling has weakened the push for legislative changes by showing that we already have available tools to address these complex issues.

Still, I never thought the government had a great argument with this case. My bet was always on the other Google case on advertising products. As the other antitrust cases make their way through the courts, I will be sure to keep you updated.

Next week, I am going to discuss whats happening in geoengineering.

Until then,

 Will

Notes and Quotes

Democratic Sens. Maria Cantwell and Martin Heinrich and Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn have introduced legislation to combat the rise of deepfakes. The COPIED ACT will create transparency standards, put creators in control of their content, and give individuals the right to sue violators.

A federal court blocked the Federal Communications Commission from moving forward with net neutrality rules, which classify internet service providers like AT&T and Comcast as common carriers. The court explained its ruling: The Communications Act likely does not plainly authorize the [FCC] to resolve this signal question. Nowhere does Congress clearly grant the [FCC] the discretion to classify broadband providers as common carriers. The decision is the first to rely on the Supreme Court precedent established in Loper Bright v. Raimondo, which called for courts to exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority.

I enjoyed this thread from Gary Winslett of Middlebury College on 50 ways the world is improving.

Two years ago, the U.S. banned the export of AI chips to China and identified dozens of Chinese countries as national security threats to hamper Chinas ability to develop AI. Today, as Tim Fist notes, a single shipment of smuggled AI chips is worth almost double the Bureau of Industry and Securitys budget for export control enforcement.

Intel announced that it is laying off 15,000 employees, or 15 percent of its workforce. As part of the CHIPS Act, the U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturer received an $8.5 billion grant, a $25 billion tax incentive, and a portion of an $11 billion federal loan program.

A team of researchers discovered a new pathway used by glioblastoma cells to infiltrate the brain. The research also allows them to test a new therapy treatment to target, block, and kill the cancer cells in the pathway. Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of brain cancer, with a five-year survival rate of about 7 percent.

The Justice Department sued TikTok and ByteDance for failing to protect children on the platform. The DOJ claims that TikTok knowingly allowed children to create accounts and share videos and messages without parental consent. It also alleges that TikTok has been collecting childrens personal data.

The hits keep on coming. Boeings Starliner spacecraft continues to face challenges eight weeks into a planned eight-day trip to the International Space Station. While NASA has described testing on the crafts thrusters as helpful, there are concerns about using it to bring home two U.S. astronauts.

DOJ is scrutinizing Nvidias acquisition of AI start-up Run:ai for potential antitrust violations, focusing on Nvidias dominant position in the AI industry. The investigation centers on Nvidias role in the AI stack, which encompasses various components from semiconductors to consumer-facing applications. This comes as the FTC is examining the cloud computing market and AI investments of tech giants Microsoft, Amazon, and Google.

The Senate has passed the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), aiming to enhance online privacy and safety for children. The bill now moves to the House.

AI Roundup

The U.S. Copyright Office released the first in a series of reports on copyright and AI, focusing first on digital replicas. The report explores existing legal frameworks and the need for supplemental federal legislation.

An AI program generated explanations of heart test results that are largely accurate, relevant, and easily comprehensible to patients, according to a recent study.

AI is taking traffic from online knowledge communities. Data from Stack Overflow and Reddit developer communities showed a significant decline in website visits and question volumes.

My AEI colleague Claude Barfield argues that AI concerns are an insufficient excuse for U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tais continued hesitation to join the Trans-Pacific Partnerships digital trade provisions.

A new study explores how aligning large language models with human ethical standards affects their risk preferences and economic decision-making. It finds that moderate alignment improves investment forecasts, but excessive alignment can lead to overly cautious predictions.

From Punchbowl News: A bipartisan group of members unveiled legislation that would direct federal financial regulators to create regulatory sandboxes for financial firms to experiment with artificial intelligence.

California is preparing to enact new AI legislation. This bill tracker outlines each piece of legislations content and status.

A professor at BYU figured out a way to speed up the design and licensing process for nuclear reactors.

Read more at The Dispatch

The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free.
The United States and Australia have condemned Russia's" illegal and immoral" war against Ukraine. They called on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine "immediately, fully, and unconditionally."

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Washington and Canberra also emphasized the need for Russia to compensate Ukraine for the damage it caused during the invasion. This is stated in a joint statement following the ministerial consultations, Voice of America reports.

The Ministers of Defense and Foreign Ministers of the United States and Australia announced their support for the Ukrainian Peace Summit and called on countries that influence Russia to stop supporting the aggressor country's defense industry. This call applies, in particular, to China.

The United States and Australia also paid attention to the DPRK and Iran. They condemned Russia's cooperation with North Korea, and in the case of Tehran, the proliferation of ballistic missiles and the provision of drones to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine, as well as the expansion of Iran's nuclear program.

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During the final press conference, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called Australia the country that helps Ukraine the most among non-NATO members. He praised Australia for the transfer of air defense equipment to Kyiv and assistance in training Ukrainian personnel in the UK.

"We are working together to address common security challenges, from China's coercive behavior to Russia's war of choice against Ukraine, to instability in the Middle East," said US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Australia has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $250 million. This is the largest aid package since the beginning of the full-scale war.

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
ST. LOUIS  In one of the most expensive and anticipated primary races for U.S. Congress this year, challenger Wesley Bell defeats incumbent Cori Bush for Democratic nomination of Missouri Congressional District 1, a seat representing the St. Louis-area.

Bell won nomination to run as the Democratic candidate in the November 2024 general election. Bush has held the seat for the last four years, and her current term will end in January.

Rapper Nelly arrested after casino jackpot win

By winning the primary as a challenger, Bell accomplished something that isnt attained often: A challenger defeating an incumbent for a U.S. Congress seat in a primary election. According to political consulting firm CN4 Partners, historically, only around 6% of Congressional incumbents have lost reelection bids in the U.S. primaries.

A 2018 study released by Brookings Institution, a nonprofit that specializes in public policy research, suggests the odds of unseating a Congressional incumbent in a primary are possibly even lower. Brookings reports that only 4.4% of challengers unseated an incumbent in U.S. House primary elections from 2012 to 2016 and only 2.7% of challengers did so for U.S. Senate primaries in that same time.

When might a rarity become a reality? A 2006 study from Duke University found that factors such as strategic campaigning, increased voter expectations and incumbent shifts to or from moderate policies could all impact a challengers chances of winning a primary election.

Bell held a significant fundraising advantage ahead of the primary. According to software company AdImpact, which tracks campaign spending, the race involving Bell and Bush was the second-most expensive primary in U.S. history, with more than $18 million in fundraising. Justice Democrats, a progressive PAC supporting Bush, reports more than $15 million in outside campaign spending in race, with more than two-thirds of it was spent against her campaign.

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Speaking with FOX 2 on Wednesday morning, just hours after victory, Bell said on the upcoming general election: I want to earn your support. If I didnt get it last time, we need to work together. Im looking forward to working with all of our community, our elected officials, our stakeholders and partners to wake up this sleeping giant that we call Saint Louis.

Bush, speaking after Bells primary victory Tuesday evening, said of the outcome: At the end of the day, whether Im a congresswoman or not, Im still taking care of my people,

Bell will run against Republican candidate Andrew Jones for Missouri U.S. District 1 in the Nov. 5, 2024 election. Bell is considered a heavy favorite for a seat that was last occupied by a Republican in 1949.

District 1 covers all of St. Louis City and several cities in north and central St. Louis County.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Belvedere Park murder suspect arrested nearly six months after deadly shooting

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  Nearly half a year has passed since a deadly shooting in Belvedere Park. Columbus police confirmed on Wednesday a man was arrested and charged with murder in connection to that shooting.

Arrest warrants were issued for Marquis Poole, 19, on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

The next day on Aug. 7, Poole was taken into custody. He is being charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

These charges stem back to Sunday, Feb. 25 at about 1:40 a.m. when Columbus police responded to a scene at the 700 block of Parkview Drive. Police say Earkus Porter Jr., 18, was pronounced dead after being shot.

Poole is set to appear in Recorders Court on Aug. 9 at 8 a.m.

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Social media tributes poured out online as the CrossFit world reacted to the death of a Serbian athlete in Fort Worths Marine Creek Lake on Thursday morning.

The athlete, 28-year old Lazar Dukic, was competing in a running and swimming event when he went missing not far from the finish line, according to eyewitnesses at the scene.

Officials with Fort Worth Fire Department pulled his body from Marine Creek Lake around 10 a.m..

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner later officially identified the body as that of Dukic.

Lazar is a beloved member of our team and has been like family over these years, officials with the European energy drink company FitAid wrote in a statement on Instagram.

On behalf of the entire FITAID Global Team we are beyond devastated, the company said.

FitAid announced that it is collecting donations through a GoFundMe campaign for Dukics family.

The company contributed $15,000 to the fund.

A user on X (formerly Twitter) called the tragedy unfathomable.

Such a tragic and avoidable incident at the #crossfitgames2024 #lazardukic



Unfathomable to think how this was able to happen!  Michael Cade (@MichaelCade1) August 8, 2024

Others blasted CrossFit for its response to the drowning in progress, with a Facebook user writing CrossFit is done.

CrossFit announced that the remainder of Thursdays events, scheduled to take place at Dickies Arena, have been canceled.

We are fully cooperating with authorities and doing everything we can to support the family at this time, CrossFit Games officials said in a statement Thursday. The remainder of todays events have been suspended. The well-being of our competitors is our first priority.

 More top stories from our newsroom:

 Greg Abbott blasts Harris-Walz immigration policy. We check his claims

 Lawsuit: Therapist threw autistic boy against wall

 Mouse droppings, roaches found at Fort Worth restaurants

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President Joe Biden said he was not confident at all that there would be a peaceful transition of power if former President Donald Trump were to lose the presidential election in November.

Biden gave the startling warning during a promotional clip following his first sit-down interview since suspending his reelection campaign on July 21. The full interview with veteran political correspondent Robert Costa will air on CBS News Sunday Morning on August 11.

If Trump wins, no Im not confident at all, Biden told Costa, before quickly correcting himself. I mean, if Trump loses Im not confident at all. He means what he says, we dont take him seriously. He means itall that stuff about if we lose, it will be a bloodbath.

Biden was referring to comments Trump first made while talking about trade policy at a campaign rally in Ohio in March. Now, if I dont get elected, its going to be a bloodbath for the wholethats going to be the least of it. Its gonna be a bloodbath for the country, he said while discussing the domestic auto industry competing with China.

In his first TV interview since exiting the 2024 race, President Biden tells CBS News' @costareports he's "not confident at all" that a peaceful transfer of power will happen in January 2025 if former President Donald Trump loses.



"He means what he says. We don't take him pic.twitter.com/uE4dj5Vzrs  CBS Sunday Morning  (@CBSSunday) August 7, 2024

Although Democrats were incensed by the comments, Trump doubled downinsisting he was only talking about the economy.

The Fake News Media, and their Democrat Partners in the destruction of our Nation, pretended to be shocked at my use of the word BLOODBATH, even though they fully understood that I was simply referring to imports allowed by Crooked Joe Biden, which are killing the automobile industry, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Biden has not sat down for an in-depth interview since he suspended his campaign. In the past, his administration has faced criticism for failing to make him available for television spots, including at major events like the Super Bowl.

In his four years in office, Biden only appeared for 164 press conferences or interviews with journaliststhe lowest number of media appearances of any presidents first four years in recent history, according to data compiled by Axios.

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Biden holds social event with ice cream to thank campaign staff after bowing out of election

President Joe Biden waves from the top of the steps of Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, on his way to Wilmington, Del., to visit with his campaign staff. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP)  Of course, ice cream was involved.

President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, hosted a thank you event on Thursday for hundreds of staffers who worked on the reelection campaign that he chose to exit nearly three weeks ago.

Judging by the security tents, the location offered a dose of political nostalgia: The staffers met with Biden at The Queen, a music venue that played a critical role in his successful race for presidency in 2020, when he often spoke to the public from the theater's stage.

After having dropped out of the race, Biden wanted to show his appreciation for the staff's work over the past year and their continued efforts in support of Vice President Kamala Harris, who succeeded him as the Democratic nominee. That's according to a person familiar with the president's plans who shared details of the events but insisted on anonymity to discuss the arrangements.

The event featured food and, naturally for Biden, his beloved ice cream.

The news media were not invited to attend the event, but a participant, insisting on anonymity to describe the gathering, said that Biden and his wife gave speeches and took pictures with staffers.

The president has kept a lower profile since leaving the presidential race, a response to a loss of confidence in his ability to beat Donald Trump after a disastrous debate on June 27 against his rival.

He has pared back his travel schedule and held more closed-door policy briefings.

Biden still has engaged in some prominent activities such as work toward a prisoner swap involving Russia that resulted in a multinational deal that set two dozen people free.

The Queen, the concert hall in downtown Wilmington where Biden met with staff, played a critical role in the 2020 election as Biden staged events there because the pandemic limited public gatherings and travel. He used the space to hold news conferences and deliver remarks.

The building was originally a 19th Century hotel that was popular among traveling sailors, according to the venue's web site. From 1916 to 1959, it was converted into a movie theater, only to then be abandoned and fall into disrepair over the next 50 years. The Queen reopened in 2011 as a music venue.

Following Bidens appearance, the theater's web site indicates, it will next host on Friday the bands Cobra Whip, The Stone Eye and Dirty House.
Biden 'not confident at all' in peaceful transfer of power if Trump loses election

President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he was not confident about a peaceful transfer of power in the United States if Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump loses the Nov. 5 presidential election.

If Trump loses, Im not confident at all, Biden said in an interview with CBS News when asked whether he thought there would be a peaceful transfer of power after the vote.

He means what he says. We dont take him seriously. He means it. All this stuff about if we lose, thered be a bloodbath, Biden added.

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris walk on the tarmac after welcoming Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on August 1, 2024.

More: 'Wanted to check out my future plane': Vance tries to confront Harris at Wisconsin airport

During a campaign appearance in Ohio in March, Trump warned of a bloodbath if he failed to win the election. At the time, the former president was discussing the need to protect the U.S. auto industry from overseas competition, and he later said he was referring to the auto industry when he used the term.

Trump has falsely claimed victory in the 2020 election against Biden and was criminally charged in Washington, D.C., and Georgia with illegally trying to overturn the results.

The interview is Bidens first since he dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, following pressure from fellow Democrats after a disappointing debate performance against Trump, raising concerns about the presidents age and health.

Biden has since endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who recently won the Democratic nomination. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will join the ticket as her running mate, and together, they will face Trump and his vice presidential candidate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio in the general election on Nov. 5.

According to CBS, the full interview will air on CBS News Sunday Morning on Sunday, August 11.

Reuters contributed to the reporting of this story.

Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at JYurow@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden unsure about peaceful transfer of power if Trump loses election
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Joe Biden said he was not confident at all of a peaceful handover of power to Kamala Harris if Donald Trump loses Novembers election, in an extract of a CBS interview broadcast on Wednesday.

Mr Biden, 81, who dropped out of the White House race in July and was replaced by Vice President Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee, said Trumps hints on the campaign trail about not accepting a defeat should be taken seriously.

If Trump loses, Im not confident at all, Mr Biden told the network in the interview, which was due to air fully on Sunday, when asked if he believed there would be a calm transfer in January 2025.

He means what he says. We dont take him seriously. He means it - all the stuff about if we lose therell be a bloodbath.

In his first TV interview since exiting the 2024 race, President Biden tells CBS News' @costareports he's "not confident at all" that a peaceful transfer of power will happen in January 2025 if former President Donald Trump loses.



"He means what he says. We don't take him pic.twitter.com/uE4dj5Vzrs  CBS Sunday Morning  (@CBSSunday) August 7, 2024

While campaigning earlier this year, Mr Biden regularly brought up the fact that Trumps supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, after Mr Biden beat him in the 2020 election.

Mr Biden also frequently quoted Trump as saying there would be a bloodbath if he lost - although the Republican said he was talking in the context of electric car imports from China.

Trump has maintained his false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him, and in the CBS interview Mr Biden accused the former president of trying to install allies in key electoral positions in US states to manipulate counts if the same thing happened again.

You cant love your country only when you win, Mr Biden said.

The ageing president has long framed Trump as a threat to US democracy.

Ms Harris has sometimes echoed that theme, while focusing more on a positive vision in a campaign that has re-energised Democrats, brought in millions of dollars and helped her nose ahead of Trump in opinion polls.

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A day in July has set the record for the highest average daily temperature on Earth, a figure that takes into account both sea and land temperatures. According to data released by several agencies, such as NASA and Europes Copernicus, and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Earth reached 17.16Celsius. The previous record  17.08 degrees  was set in July 2023, which in turn broke the record from August 2016.

It is only a matter of time before this record is broken again, warns Rebecca Emerton, a scientist at the Copernicus climate change service. As the climate continues to warm, we are set to see new records in the coming years, the question is just how soon it will happen, she explains. This expert, like other climatologists, also points out that, although there are still months to go, 2024 is shaping up to be the warmest year on record, overtaking 2023.

Although the natural variability of the climate system plays a role, the fact that these records are being broken in such a short time is a reflection of global warming, which has been accelerating in recent decades. According to Copernicus, last July was 1.48 degrees above the average estimated for that month in the pre-industrial period (1850-1900)  in other words, before the massive burning of fossil fuels that release greenhouse gases that overheat the Earth.

When we talk about the highest temperatures recorded to date, we generally refer to the second half of the 19th century, when scientific measurements began to be made. But many paleoclimatologists and the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) point out that we have to go back thousands of years to find such high temperatures.

The daily data provided by Copernicus, the Earth observation program funded by the European Union, go back to 1940. These figures record the average air temperature on the planets surface two meters above the ground. And, as explained in its July newsletter, last month the planet experienced its two warmest days on record. The average daily global temperature reached 17.16C and 17.15C on July 22 and 23. But this center clarifies: Given the small difference, similar to the level of uncertainty in the ERA5 data, we cannot say which of the two days was the hottest with complete certainty. The ERA5 system is the Copernicus meteorological model that is developed with observation data from satellites and terrestrial sensors.

NASA, for its part, also announced a few days ago that July 22 was the warmest day on record, according to its own measurements. These record-breaking temperatures are part of a long-term warming trend driven by human activities, primarily the emission of greenhouse gases, it said. Along the same lines, the World Meteorological Organization reported that this record is another unwelcome indication of the extent that greenhouse gases from human activities are changing our climate.

Extreme heat warning for July 19 in Death Valley National Park, California, USA. Apu Gomes

Extreme heat hit hundreds of millions of people throughout July, with a domino effect felt right across society, the WMO said. Widespread, intense and extended heatwaves have hit every continent in the past year. At least ten countries have recorded daily temperatures of more than 50C in more than one location. This is becoming too hot to handle, added WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

2024 on track to be the warmest year on record

For 13 consecutive months (from June 2023 to June 2024), the worlds monthly temperatures have been at record highs. This streak  which is different from the daily record  appears to have ended in July, according to the latest Copernicus data. The average air temperature on the planets surface last month was 16.91C, just 0.04 degrees below the previous maximum, which was set in July 2023. Again, the difference is so small that it is not entirely clear if it broke the record or not. The WMO did not confirm on Wednesday how it will rank July 2024.

In any case, it is to be expected that, after 13 consecutive months of consecutive monthly records, the streak would break, since El Nino  a natural pattern that causes water surface temperatures in tropical areas of the Pacific to rise and with them those of the entire planet  has ended. A return to neutral conditions in the tropical Pacific or a shift to La Nina [the opposite phenomenon] should put an end to this additional increase in global average temperatures, explains Emerton. Although, for the moment, a significant drop in sea temperatures has not been observed either in the Pacific or in other ocean areas.

Despite the expected fall in temperatures in the second half of the year, experts think it very likely that 2024 will go down as the warmest year on record, overtaking 2023. It seems increasingly likely that 2024 will be warmer than 2023, says Emerton. The first six months of this year recorded such high temperatures that temperatures would need to fall drastically in the rest of 2024, which has rarely occurred, adds this expert. Scientist Zeke Hausfather, from the U.S. organization Berkeley Earth, estimated in a recent article that the probability of 2024 surpassing 2023 is 95%. Copernicus reached the same conclusion in its monthly bulletin: it [is] increasingly likely that 2024 is going to be the warmest year on record.

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President Biden in a new interview said hes not at all confident there would be a peaceful transition of power if former President Trump loses the election in November.

Biden sat for an interview with CBS Sunday Morning on Wednesday, his first since he announced in late July he would not seek reelection.

If Trump wins, no, Im not confident at all. I mean if Trump loses Im not confident at all, Biden said in a clip of the interview, initially misspeaking before correcting himself.

He means what he says. We dont take him seriously. He means it. All this stuff about if we lose, itll be a bloodbath,' Biden continued, referencing comments Trump made in March that he and his allies insisted were about the economy.

Biden also argued Republicans were putting officials in place in local jurisdictions to oversee the vote count, suggesting it was setting the table for a contentious election.

You cant love your country only when you win, Biden said.

Trump refused to accept the results of the 2020 election, when he lost to Biden, insisting in the weeks after the vote that it was rigged, fraudulent and stolen. His claims culminated in violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when his supporters clashed with law enforcement and stormed the complex to try and stop the certification of Bidens victory.

Trump has since been criminally charged in Washington, D.C., and in Georgia for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election results.

At rallies during the 2024 cycle, Trump still alludes to the 2020 election being rigged and he urges supporters to vote in droves in November to make his victory too big to rig.

Bidens comments come as Democrats have rallied behind Vice President Harris as the partys new nominee in Bidens place. Polling has shown a neck and neck race between Harris and Trump roughly three months out from Election Day.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Biden acknowledged the one-year anniversary of the deadly wildfire that devastated Maui on Thursday with a promise to continue work to help rebuild the historic town of Lahaina.

The 2023 wildfires killed 101 people and destroyed the old town of Lahaina, which at one time was the center of the Hawaiian Kingdom. A state-led report blamed a local utility and communication failures for the disaster, which caused an estimated $5.5 billion in damages.

The people of Maui will always remain in my heart and prayers. Together, weve made real progress, Biden wrote in a statement. The voices of those who have called the island home for generations will continue to guide the work ahead as we remain focused on supporting their ongoing recovery.

In a letter marking the anniversary of the start of the fire, Biden said his administration remains committed to the islands recovery.

As we remember the tremendous loss and devastation caused by the wildfires, we must also honor the courage and kindness that emerged in the darkest moments, he continued. The first responders who risked their lives to save friends and neighbors, not knowing if their own families had reached safe harbor or if their homes were still standing. The neighbors who offered survivors safe and supportive refuge.

Jill and I will be forever moved by our visit to your island, he continued. Our most fervent wish is that you continue to move forward and heal together, becoming stronger than ever by persevering as a united community.

Biden had a phone call with Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) and Maui Mayor Richard Bissen on Thursday to commemorate the anniversary.

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Joe Biden says he is not confident at all that there will be a peaceful transfer of power if Donald Trump loses the 2024 presidential election (CBS News)

Joe Biden says he is not confident at all that there will be a peaceful transfer of power if Donald Trump loses the 2024 presidential election.

The president said that Trump needed to be taken seriously over his March comments that there would be a bloodbath for the US car industry and country should he be defeated in November.

The White House claimed at the time that the former president was inciting violence, which he rejected.

Biden made the comments to CBS News during his first sit-down interview since officially halting his reelection campaign and handing over the reins of the Democratic party to Kamala Harris.

Asked about his confidence in a peaceful transference of power, he replied: If Trump wins. No, Im not confident at all.

The president quickly corrected himself, saying: I mean, if Trump loses, Im not confident at all.

The president told CBS News that his former political rival needed to be taken seriously over his previous incendiary rhetoric (CBS News)

He means what he says. We dont take him seriously. He means it. All the stuff about if we lose, therell be a bloodbath. [The elections] have to be stolen, look what theyre trying to do now in the local election districts.

You cant love your country, only when you win.

The full CBS interview with the president is due to air in full on Sunday.

On January 6 2021, just three weeks before Biden was due to be sworn in as president, Trump gave a speech to thousands of supporters in Washington DC.

Speaking from behind bulletproof glass he declared that he would "never concede" the election, which he claimed had been stolen from him, criticized the media and called for his own vice president, Mike Pence, to overturn the election results.

Thousands of Trump supporters rushed to the US Capitol and stormed the building on January 6 2021 after the former president vowed he would never concede the election (AP)

Supporters of the former president then marched to the United States Capitol Building and stormed the building, aiming to prevent a joint session of Congress from counting the Electoral College votes to formalize Bidens victory.

Within 36 hours of the insurrection, five people died: one was shot by Capitol Police, another died of a drug overdose, and three died of natural causes, including a police officer. Many people were injured, including 174 police officers.

The FBI says that in the 42 months since the attack on the Capitol, more than 1,470 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach, including more than 530 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  Members of a motorcycle gang were arraigned in court Thursday morning. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation held a press conference announcing the more than a dozen people put behind bars.

TBI Director David Rausch did not mince words when talking about the Pagan Motorcycle Gang.

Let me be clear, they are nothing more than a criminal organization made up of cowardly thugs, Rausch said.

Knoxville police still seeking answers in teens 2021 murder

Fourteen people have been arrested and 15 face felony drug distribution charges related to methamphetamine sales in East Tennessee. Not all involved have a tie to the gang.

Several of those who were in custody appeared in court including the suspected leader of the gang, Richard Carroll Baker. He was joined in court by Deidre Hood, Courtney Lewis, David Maples, LeAndrea Osentoski, Alicia Murphy and Connie High. Rausch said our area is now safer with them off the streets.

They prey on the vulnerable in our communities, he said. Because of the outstanding work of the women and men in policing, the local and state officers involved, our surrounding communities in Knoxville are now safer.

Sheriff: Guns, explosive devices seized during large drug bust in Athens

The investigation started in December of last year as a spin-off of the 313 Initiative, a multi-agency effort to disrupt the supply of drugs from Detroit coming to the region. However, Rausch said investigators believe the narcotics in this case came from Atlanta.

During the course of the investigation, agents learned that members of the Pagan Motorcycle club were involved in this distribution ring, Knox County Attorney General Charme Allen said. In this particular incident, gang members were wearing their cuts and vests while distributing drugs and collecting drug debts here in the East Tennessee area.

Rausch said more charges could be coming as this investigation continues.

These operations always lead to more interest and more information, he said. Theres always potential for more arrests to be made as a result of what we have learned in this case.

 See more top stories on WATE.com

Rausch also told 6 News there were other drugs involved in this investigation. However, Methamphetamine was their drug of choice. Twelve of those arrested have been arraigned in Knox County court. At this time the groups next court date has not been announced.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
A few of the books in the young adult section of the Ozark - Dale County Library Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023 in Ozark, Ala. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector)

A bill that would give local governments the power to fire library board members will go before Alabama lawmakers again in 2025.

SB 6, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliot, R-Josephine, gives either county commissioners or city council members the authority to appoint members to the library board for four year terms and to terminate current library board members by a two-thirds vote.

It was a priority for the Republican Caucus last year, Elliott said during an interview Tuesday. It is listed on the priority sheet in the Senate, and I think it is primed to get passed this year.

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The bill also requires that each library board submit the names of their membership and provide a report describing the library materials that board members reviewed or removed from the collection to the Governors Office, the Speaker of the House, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

Elliot filed the bill last year as SB 10. It passed the Senate and was approved by the County and Municipal Government Committee in the Alabama House but failed to make it through the full House of Representatives.

Free speech groups have criticized the bill.

This is just another extension of the bad-faith attacks on Alabama residents who do not conform to Chris Elliott, (Rep.) Susan DuBose, Clean Up Alabama and Moms for Libertys way of thinking, said Krysti Shallenberger, a member of Read Freely Alabama, a group who opposes the legislation. Our public libraries are institutions that promote intellectual freedom and librarians are trained to curate content from a neutral viewpoint.

County commissions or city council members without a library may contract with another jurisdiction to establish and maintain a joint library and determine the size and make up of the board and assign an authority to oversee the board members. However, they currently cannot terminate board members voluntarily with a two-thirds vote.

Elliotts is the second piece of legislation that was prefiled dealing with libraries. Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs, has refiled a 2024 bill that expands the definition of sexual conduct to include presentations at schools and public libraries.

Both legislators are requesting their colleagues consider their proposals once again, but this time much earlier than in the past. Elliott first filed his bill roughly a month before the start of the 2024 session while Mooney introduced his bill after the session had already started.

Library boards have become a central point of dispute over conservative attacks on content in public libraries and access to books. In Alabama, a battle over the composition of the Autauga-Prattville Public Library began in March 2023 after a parent objected to a book in the librarys collection that had inclusive pronouns.

Two organizations formed amid the controversy. One group, Clean Up Alabama, has urged both local and state officials to place additional restrictions to prevent minors from borrowing materials that members believe are inappropriate. They lobbied the Autauga County Commission to appoint board members largely sympathetic to their cause. The new board members implemented the new policies in the spring.

Clean Up Alabama has also managed to convince state leaders, particularly Gov. Kay Ivey, to recommend changes to the administrative code of the Alabama Public Library Service, the agency responsible for distributing state funding to libraries.

The APLS has since disassociated from the American Library Association and adopted language within its administrative code requiring local libraries to implement policies that restrict library access to minors for materials with content pertaining to sexual orientation, gender identity and sexual conduct.

Another group, Read Freely Alabama, formed in opposition to the new restrictions and filed a lawsuit in May to challenge the constitutionality of the changes at the Prattville library. Members have spoken out against the code changes to APLS and have requested that lawmakers intervene on their behalf to return the APLS rules to status quo.

Supporting them is the Alabama Library Association (ALLA), whose leaders have also opposed the challenges to the materials in the collection.

There is no trust anymore, said ALLA President Craig Scott during an interview Tuesday. Sen. Elliott doesnt trust libraries to run as they have run for decades and eons.

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Its a term familiar among personal injury attorneys, and youll hear it more in the coming months as state officials and lawmakers look for ways to reduce the cost of insurance in Louisiana.

The Housley presumption is frequently mentioned in debates over insurance rates in Louisiana, and opinions are split over whether its actually a factor in soaring premiums for auto coverage and other policies. Those differences of opinion can become heated.

That was definitely the case Wednesday during a meeting of the House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure, whose chairman had to call a brief recess after a state lawmaker heatedly challenged two lawyers who appeared before the committee.

In short, the Housely presumption involves the level of proof needed to blame harm or an injury on an accident or responsible party. The standard is used in auto accidents, medical malpractice, toxic exposure and other types of injury cases.

For example, a plaintiff attorney will put a medical expert on the witness stand who will presume its more than probable that a victims injuries are the result of the defendants actions or negligence, barring a pre-existing condition. The defense will likely counter with an expert of their own if they feel their client is not responsible and the Housley presumption doesnt apply.

The standard has its roots in a 1991 decision from the Louisiana Supreme Court in the case Housley v. Cerise. William and Vickie Ann Housley rented a New Orleans-area townhome from Dr. Elmo Cerise. Vickie Ann Housley was six months pregnant when she slipped on a wet spot on the apartments stairway. A leaking air conditioner Cerise had failed to repair was blamed for the water on the steps.

Housleys water broke four days after her fall, requiring her to undergo an early term cesarean delivery. The final judgment in the case found the Housleys unborn daughters injuries, which have turned out to be lifelong, were more than likely caused by her mothers fall.

Since the 1991 ruling, plaintiffs attorneys have cited the Housley presumption to back their injury claims, especially in cases where a defendant might argue a prior injury or medical condition could have been a factor.

Opponents of the principle favor a new law that would require injury victims to provide more tangible proof of harm. Put another way, rather than say their injury can more than likely be blamed on the defendant, they would need to prove it through a preponderance of evidence  a legal term meaning the claim is more likely true than false.

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Any such shift in the burden of proof will pit personal injury attorneys against insurance companies, with the latter in favor of a stricter standard to limit their exposure to injury claims.

Rep. Michael Melerine, R-Shreveport, an attorney whose clients include insurers, sits on the committee. He challenged plaintiffs lawyers Jared Dunohoe of Natchitoches and Bob Kleinpeter of Baton Rouge about whether the Housley presumption needs to exist at all after both lawyers said its seldom been used in their practices.

Dunahoe said the standard should be available for rare instances such as the Housley childs injury.

Melerine peppered Kleinpeter with questions about his instructions to medical experts before they testify in depositions or at trial, honing in on whether they are told to use legal terms to sway jurors rather than use medical terminology.

The fact that (medical experts) arent trained in legal terms doesnt mean they dont understand English when its effectively communicated to them, Kleinpeter responded

Oh! I understand English  Melerine sharply replied before Rep. Nick Muscarello, the committee chairman, interrupted and told the representative to calm down.

Still emphatic, Melerine insisted that Kleinpeter gave a misleading answer under oath, although legislative committees dont apply that courtroom standard to anyone who testifies.

Theyre arguing out of both sides of their mouth, Melerine told the chairman.

Kleinpeter calmly apologized for any confusion he might have caused during what he called the hurly-burly between him and the legislator. But Melerine soon went on the offensive again, trying to get Dunahoe to admit he has steered clients to specific doctors.

Before Dunahoe could answer, Muscarello called a five-minute recess, after which Melerine apologized to the attorneys.

I got out of order, Melerine said   Yall did not deserve that. I got heated.

The House Civil Law Committee was one of five that convened Wednesday morning and will meet again monthly through December with the goal of crafting legislation to lower insurance costs.

Insurance companies need to take a haircut, lawyers need to take a haircut, medical providers need to take a haircut  everybody whos making money off of this process, Muscarello said. If we dont have uncomfortable conversations and get uncomfortable, we will never move the needle.

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HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Every so often, blood donation organizations issue the alert that there is a blood shortage, and it never seems to go away.

Why are these alerts issued so frequently?

The organizations

The Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center (WKRBC) is an independent community blood center dedicated to providing blood products to three facilities in Hancock, Daviess, Ohio, Muhlenberg and McLean counties in the tri-state area, as well as five facilities in Grayson, Breckinridge, Caldwell, Crittenden, Christian, Lyon and Trigg counties adjacent to the tri-state area. A population of roughly 425,000 relies solely on this center for its blood supply. In addition, there are three Air-Evac Life Flight Teams also supplied by WKRBC in Hardinsburg, Hopkinsville and Marion. WKRBC operates a high-complexity laboratory and can recruit, collect, process, test and distribute a unit of blood within eight hours if it needs to.

Meanwhile, the American Red Cross, often simply referred to as the Red Cross, monitors the blood supply daily and works with hospital partners to prioritize needs. It is a national system and the nations single largest blood services provider. The organization tries to ensure blood products are available for all patients, no matter where or when they need them.

Owensboro Symphony to perform classic television themes at Glema Center

Why is there always a blood shortage?

The WKRBC explains industry veterans have long understood the baby boomer generation was transitioning from donor to more often recipient. According to Americas Blood Centers website, only four percent of the eligible population aged 16-24 donate blood. So there is 4% of a tiny generation responsible for the blood needs of the largest generation in history.

The Red Cross says it continues to face the fewest number of people donating blood in the past two decades. When fewer people donate blood, even small disruptions to the nations blood supply are hard to overcome. Its important to remember that blood is perishable and cannot be stockpiled in advance. The need for blood is constant, and hospital patients are continuously in need of lifesaving transfusions.

Officials with the Red Cross say the blood supply fluctuates as donations come in and go out to help hospital patients every day of the week, and local blood supplies are similarly affected by fewer donations than whats needed. Right now, the Red Cross is facing an emergency blood shortage as the blood supply has fallen by more than 25% since July 1.

Ballistic Buddies donates K9 vests to Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office

Does the national shortage impact local organizations?

According to both the American Red Cross and the WKRBC, the national blood shortage impacts both the national and local levels.

The American Red Cross says the blood supply fluctuates as donations come in and go out to help hospital patients every day of the week, and local blood supplies are similarly affected by fewer donations than whats needed.

The WKRBC says the shortage is a reality locally and therefore nationally.

The Olympians from the Tri-State as of 2024

Whats with the drop in blood donors?

WKRBC says when it comes to recruiting for blood donors, most people dont realize they are in fact being asked to give blood.

WKRBC officials explain in regard to the people it tries to recruit to give blood, The common perception is that we are not talking to them; rather, we are talking to those people who donate. No, we are talking to people who meet the donor criteria.

The Red Cross says only 3% of age-eligible people in the U.S. donate blood annually. The drop in blood donors is likely attributed to the evolution in how people engage in the communities where they live, learn and work. COVID-19 accelerated those changes and significantly impacted the landscape of blood donation in the United States. As more people conduct their lives more remotely, the Red Crosss ability to meet people where they are to host blood drives has become harder.

Officials with the Red Cross say during the height of the pandemic, blood drives sponsored by high schools, colleges and universitieswhere many people made their first blood donationswere put on hold as schools went to virtual learning and pulled back or restricted on-campus activities to protect student health and safety. This was felt in a staggering drop in blood donations from those who may typically give at these drives. About 260,000 donors aged 1824 gave blood to the Red Cross in 2021less than half of what the organization saw just two years earlier in 2019.

Officials with The Red Cross explain, While we experienced a small increase in this age group in 2022, there is still much room for growth to return to pre-COVID levels of young blood donors.

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Has anyone needed to restrict the blood supply due to these shortages?

Both the Red Cross and WKRBC say they have not had to restrict the blood supply due to these shortages.

WKRBC says it has not had to restrict supplies or ask the facilities to restrict services at this point. The organization says it has struggled to fill orders and has worked diligently to ensure the needs are met and that each facility retains a safe supply of blood. Even with a slight advantage, it is a challenge to meet demands. Despite this, WKRBC says it has a full schedule, but fewer people donate blood per drive. Sometimes, the WKRBC says it has as many as four different donation opportunities and the organization may not collect more than 10 donations at each. Five years ago, the organization would have 2025 donors participating in fewer blood drives and still have more blood.

The Red Cross says that it cannot be certain whether any postponed or canceled surgeries are due to the current shortage. However, the organization does know that the supply of type O blood products is so low that hospital distributions of this vital blood type have been reduced below what hospitals need in recent weeks. The organization wants to emphasize that it is doing everything it can to prevent impact to patients. It is working closely with its hospital partners to ensure the blood transfusion needs of patients are met.

Red Cross officials add there is always the chance that a physician could postpone elective surgery if the necessary blood products arent readily available. In a worst-case scenario, a physician may have to forego performing a more serious procedure for a patient because of a shortage of blood.

Why are the northern lights showing up farther south?

What blood types are most in demand?

WKRBC says historically, O-positive, O-negative and A-positive blood are in high demand as the population is greater in these blood types; however, officials have had to request A-negative and B-negative donations recently. It is a supply-and-demand situation that varies. WKRBC says it keeps each facility with a minimum amount on hand and the organization backfills as needed. WKRBC says it must see a steady flow of each type of blood donor.

The Red Cross says Type O is the most in-demand blood group and often the first to be depleted from hospital shelves during a shortage. Type O-negative is the universal blood type and what emergency room personnel reach for when there is no time to determine the blood type of patients in the most serious situations. Type O is the most common blood type and can be transfused to Rh-positive patients of any blood type. More than a quarter of all blood products each year are used in critical care and emergency room situations; those transfusions are only available because of the generosity of blood and platelet donors.

Why are hurricanes named?

Who can donate blood?

The Red Cross says potential donors can use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit this website or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to schedule a blood donation appointment. As for WKRBC, people can find blood drive events here.

The blood donor guidelines for each state include:

Kentucky According to the Kentucky Blood Center: Be in good health. Weigh at least 110 pounds. Have a photo. I.D. Be at least 17 years old. If you are 16 years old, you can donate with a signed parent permission slip, found here.

Indiana Be 17 years and older. Be in good health. This means a potential donor must not be experiencing symptoms of the cold, flu or COVID-19. Donors who are 16 years old may donate with parent or guardian permission. There is no maximum age for donations.

Illinois Be at least 17 years old. Weigh at least 110 pounds. Having a well-balanced meal is recommended within four hours of the donation General good health; feeling well on the day of donation Valid identification such as a drivers license, state identification card, passport, other photo ID, etc.



A spokesperson for the WKRBC says, I ask folks to understand that when they hear of a friend or loved one needing blood, its too late. There isnt time to react then; we already collected, tested, processed, and distributed that blood a day or more ago. [Donating blood at that moment] wont help your friend, but it will help the next person.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The United Arab Emirates introduced a ban on ships bearing the flag of the African nation of Eswatini, signaling further restrictions on "shadow fleet" vessels carrying Russian oil, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 8.

Russia's "shadow fleet" is a group of older and often uninsured vessels used by Russia to ship out its oil while avoiding international sanctions. Ships carrying the flag of Eswatini have transported oil for Russia.

According to Bloomberg, among the 18 Eswatini-flagged ships visible on international shipping data, the ownership of at least 16 ships is unknown. Several of those vessels have reportedly carried Russian and Iranian oil.

The Swedish Navy warned in April that the activities of the "shadow fleet" may go beyond circumventing sanctions, as these vessels may also be conducting espionage in the Baltic Sea.

The EU, the U.S., and other of Ukraine's partners have imposed extensive sanctions against vessels helping Russia to dodge sanctions on oil.

Read also: Opinion: Russias shadow fleet strategy draws from Irans playbook

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Long before cat photos went viral on social media, Japan had a deep devotion to felines, which was proudly reflected in its culture. From folklore legends and anime films to literary classics and traditional poetry, the Asian countrys fascination with cats extends to daily life  statistics confirm that cats are the most popular pet in Japan.

Todays cat culture began with the rise of the consumer society in the 1970s and 1980s, explains literary critic Kai Nagase, who mentions Hello Kitty, the mouthless cat who rivals Mickey Mouse in worldwide sales of licensed products. Hello Kitty helped internationalize the Japanese cultural phenomenon Kawaii, which emphasizes cuteness, as seen in characters with childlike characteristics such as very large eyes and tiny mouths.

Hello Kitty's 45th birthday party at a shopping mall in Berlin, November 14, 2019. Jens Kalaene (dpa / picture alliance / Getty Images)

Nagase confesses that his favorite fictional character is Doraemon, the robot cat from the 22nd century, whose manga and anime stories have been a part of Japanese childhood for five decades. The inspiration to dream that we have received from Doraemon is immeasurable, says the critic, highlighting the soft power of both Doraemon and Hello Kitty. In 2008, Doraemon was named Japans first animation ambassador, and in 2017, Kitty was appointed the Special Ambassador of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism Development.

The popularity of Doraemon and Kitty contrasts with the obscurity of their more cultured predecessor  the protagonist of I Am a Cat  the first novel by the famous writer Natsume Soseki (1867-1916), which is commonly read in Japanese schools. Sosekis cat  which remains nameless throughout the story  is a scathing critic of human selfishness and also satirizes the Westernization of Japanese society at the end of the 19th century. It is not a story about a cat, but a story told by a cat. That makes it unique in modern Japanese literature, and its style has influenced many later creations, says Nagase.

Kittens shipped from China

The most widely cited theory on the origin of Japanese cats suggests that cats sent from China in the 6th century to protect Buddhist scriptures from rats. Japanese folklore is filled with supernatural beings, including many cats. This may be due to the belief in the transmutation of beings and the fact that Buddhism and Shintoism  the religion of Japan  has a strong respect for nature.

Painting from 'The Story of Otomi and Yosaburo' (1860), by Utagawa Yoshiiku, showing kabuki actors dressed as cats.

In his extensive catalog of yokai (supernatural beings), Nagase mentions a giant two-tailed cat called a nekomata, which terrorized the mountains surrounding the ancient capital of Nara in the 12th century. Tales of fantastic cats reached their peak in the Edo period (1603-1868), a period of isolation when the Japanese archipelago was filled with domestic cats. This period also saw the development of some of Japans most enduring cultural contributions, such as kabuki theater, haiku poetry, sushi and ukiyo-e woodblock prints.

Edo printmakers were prolific in illustrating Japans legends about supernatural felines that supplant their masters in festive nocturnal universes. The best-known haiku poet, Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), devoted several works to the observation of feline behavior, including a haiku dedicated to a cat wasted by passion and malnutrition: The she cat / Grown thin / From love and barley.

At the entrance to many shops, figures of cats with a raised paw welcome in customers. This figure  called maneki-neko  also dates from the Edo period, and is venerated in the Tokyo temple of Gotokuji.

Yukio Mishima (1925-1970), an author who loved cats and is remembered for carrying out seppuku  ritual suicide by disembowelment, followed by decapitation with the help of an assistant  uses the death and dissection of a cat for the emblematic scene in his novel The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea.

A girl poses with a Doraemon figurine during an exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore to mark the 50th anniversary of the Japanese animated character. HOW HWEE YOUNG (EFE)

The most popular cat names in Japan have two syllables, like Mimi or Tama. Esteemed Japanese author Haruki Murakami used some of these names in his novel Kafka on the Shore, a story where one of the main characters has the power to speak to cats and another collects cat heads in his freezer.

There are even specialist bookstores on cats. Jieun Yoo, a Korean citizen, is the founder of Necoya Books (which loosely translates to the cat bookshop), located in the Tachikawa district, west of Tokyo. In the 24-square-meter space, she organizes exhibitions, sells illustrated books, essays, language learning manuals with cat characters, as well as stickers, bags and dolls.

One of the reasons I opened my bookstore was to increase the number of cat lovers, she says. The bookseller explains that in honor of the Japanese onomatopoeia for meowing, which coincides with the Japanese phonetics of the number 2, she opened the space on February 22, Cat Day, 2022.

A group of cats on a street on the Japanese island of Aoshima. THOMAS PETER

Cat bookshops join the many cat cafes (neko-cafe) where diners can look at and  depending on the mood of the kitties  touch and hold the animals while they have a drink.

Hayao Miyazaki and his famed anime production company Studio Ghibli have a long list of feline characters, including the Nekobasu (Cat Bus), a fusion of animal and vehicle that plays a supporting role in My Neighbor Totoro.

Japans feline population has been competing with the human population for years, and some remote, depopulated islands, such as Aoshima, are home to 30 times more cats than people. Cats are the most popular pet in Japan, and according to statistics from the Japan Pet Food Manufacturers Association, there were 9.06 million registered cat owners in 2023.

The total number of pets in Japan, including dogs, was 15.9 million, more than the 14 million children under the age of 14 recorded in the census that same year.

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The Accountability and Implementation Board, shown in a May 2023 photo, is responsible for seeing the Blueprint for Maryland's Future to reality. File photo by William J. Ford.

The Blueprint Accountability and Implementation Board has done a remarkably praiseworthy job of fulfilling its mandate to hold state and local educators accountable for carrying out the sweeping demands of the Blueprint for Marylands Future. Do you know who the AIB is not holding accountable? The governor and General Assembly, although it has the power and duty to do so.

Annapolis is ignoring growing evidence that the Blueprint is in deep trouble as a result of inadequate funding. Its not the only implementation problem but it is the one that most endangers the long-run success of the Blueprint.

Funding shortfalls have been obvious for at least three years. They include a lack of funding for classroom essentials, interventions for struggling learners, career and technology education, and special populations, and a crushing burden on local governments. When local education agencies were asked their greatest challenges in implementing the Blueprint, funding was high on their lists.

Yet, the governor and legislators have not confronted the scope and magnitude of the dangers ahead.

Is there anything the AIB can do to prod action (even though its members are appointed by the governor)? The answer is yes. The AIB has a lever to force Annapolis to pay attention  if it has the political courage to use it.

Under the Blueprint, the AIB is charged not just with planning for implementation and exercising oversight. Little-known but crystal-clear provisions in the Blueprint require it to recommend legislative changes, including any changes necessary to ensure that the implementations have adequate resources. A further section requires it to determine whether funds provided by the state and local governments are consistent with the Boards estimate of what is necessary to fully implement the Blueprint.

To track compliance with these (and other) provisions, the AIB must file reports by Nov. 1 each year. Its 2022 and 2023 reports are silent on whether Blueprint funding is adequate. The AIB says its laying the groundwork to do so: It has established benchmarks to measure progress and will use this data over the next few years to assess funding sufficiency.

But thats too late. The evidence of inadequacy is plain and painful to see.

The denial of reality was displayed at a recent joint meeting of the AIB and the state board of education. They were wrestling with setting targets for Blueprint progress, like the numbers of students achieving proficiency in reading and math. The targets were aggressive and ambitious, all agreed.

But questions about whether there were enough resources for the targets to be met were brushed aside without specific answers.

It was evident in two recent meetings of the state board. In one, it was reviewing Blueprint provisions calling for students to meet high career and college standards by the end of the 10th grade. The discussion focused on interventions in the 11th and 12th grades for students who dont meet the standards. Fortunately, state superintendent Carey Wright interjected that a pre-K to 12 strategy is required  we cant wait until high school. In fact, the Blueprint compels intensive interventions in all grades.

At the most recent meeting, the superintendents proposal to retain third graders who dont achieve grade level in reading  a feature of her remarkable success as state superintendent in Mississippi  ran into trouble. Several board members and local educators argued that there was too little funding for interventions in grades K-3 to avoid retention for large numbers of students.

Theyre right. The Blueprint only includes a small amount of money for interventions, mainly for struggling readers, in grades K-3, and that expires in fiscal 2026-2027. And there is no funding at all for interventions for students below grade level in grades 4-12.

Why this disconnect between the Blueprints ambitions and the resources to enable it to succeed?

Of course, the big political reason is the unwillingness in Annapolis to face up to the need to raise taxes to pay for adequacy. This applies even to paying for the current (inadequate) price tag, which rises to $4 billion annually in 2033.

No doubt, raising revenue is harder these days given the states projected budget deficits in the years ahead. Still, theres no alternative if the state is to fulfill its constitutional mandate to provide an adequate education for all our schoolchildren.

And despite Annapoliss reluctance, Maryland has the wealth to raise a lot more revenues if it has the political will.

The steep political climb must begin by telling the truth about the lack of resources. State and local educators shy away from truth-telling because they fear incurring the displeasure of the governor and General Assembly. So its up to AIB to do its statutory duty. It must, without delay, at least sound the alarm over the most obvious and critical fiscal hole in the Blueprint: timely interventions for struggling learners.

At the same time, educators must convince Annapolis and the public that Blueprint money will be well spent. Better management is as important to the Blueprints success as more money. Still, mistrust can be overcome if state and local educators show that current funding is being spent efficiently.

On that score, MSDE is demonstrating a promising new capacity to ensure effective implementation. The AIB, to its great credit, has fully enabled and supported MSDEs renaissance. But now its fiscal crunch time, the ball is in the AIBs court, and it must talk the Blueprint truth to Annapolis power.
GRAND CANYON, Arizona (ABC4)  National Park Service personnel found the body of a missing woman at the Grand Canyon on Tuesday.

On Aug. 6, authorities found the body of Leticia A. Castillo, 20, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, below Twin Overlooks along Desert View Drive at Grand Canyon National Park.

Park rangers found Castillo around 150 feet below the rim, according to a press release from the NPS. Her body was transported to the rim and taken to the Coconino County Medical Examiners Office.

Utahs first execution in 14 years: Recounting Taberon Honies final moments

Courtesy of National Park Service

An investigation into her death, conducted by the NPS and county medical examiner, is underway.

Castillo was believed to have entered Grand Canyon on or around Aug. 3. Park rangers conducted a multi-day search in the effort to find her.

Since July 31, the Grand Canyon Search and Rescue team has handled three technical rescue recoveries.

No further information is available at this time.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Boeing Starliner astronauts might not return to Earth until next year, NASA says

Boeing Starliner astronauts Suni Williams (L) and Butch Wilmore (R), who have spent 63 days at the International Space Station on what had been scheduled to be weeklong test flight, may return to Earth on SpaceX in 2025, according to NASA. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI

Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Boeing Starliner astronauts, stranded at the International Space Station after a weeklong test flight turned into a two-month stay due to thruster problems, may be forced to fly home on SpaceX in 2025, NASA has admitted.

NASA updated reporters Wednesday at a news conference, which Boeing did not attend, on the timeline for crew members Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. The astronauts have been in space for 63 days with no return date in sight.

Wilmore and Williams arrived at the ISS on June 6 on what was the first crewed test flight of Boeing's Starliner capsule. The mission was supposed to be the final step before NASA certified Boeing to fly crews to and from the space station, before faulty thrusters stranded the pair in June.

"We're in kind of a new situation here, in that we've got multiple options," Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA's space operations mission directorate and a former agency astronaut, told reporters Wednesday.

"I would say that our chances of an uncrewed Starliner return have increased a little bit on where things have gone over the last week or two," Bowersox said. "But again, new data coming in, new analysis, different discussion -- we could find ourselves shift in another way."

The Boeing Starliner mission to the space station was supposed to be the final step before NASA certified Boeing to fly crews to and from the ISS in the new vessel. File Photo courtesy of NASA/UPI

"We don't just have to bring a crew back on Starliner, for example. We could bring them back on another vehicle," Bowersox added. The space agency is expected to make a final decision as early as next week.

"Our prime option is to return Butch and Suni on Starliner," Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program said. "However, we have done the requisite planning to make sure we have other options open, and so we have been working with SpaceX to ensure that they're ready to respond."

NASA said it is now considering sending only two astronauts, instead of four, on September's SpaceX Crew-9 mission to leave space for Wilmore and Williams to return to Earth on SpaceX Dragon in February 2025. SpaceX has been transporting astronauts to and from the ISS since 2020.

"We're not ready to share specific crew names for the contingency plan," ISS program manager Dana Weigel told Space.com. "We'll go look at future manifests and just see what makes sense for the overall crew compliments going forward."

On Tuesday, NASA announced SpaceX would delay the Aug. 18 launch of its Crew-9 mission, more than a month, to Sept. 24. The delay will give NASA and Boeing more time to repair Starliner's five of 28 reaction control thrusters which misfired during docking at ISS on June 6.

While NASA said Starliner can safely undock from ISS, there is still uncertainty over how its thrusters would operate during the ride back to Earth.

"Starliner ground teams are taking their time to analyze the results of recent docked hot-fire testing, finalize flight rationale for the spacecraft's integrated propulsion system and confirm system reliability ahead of Starliner's return to Earth," NASA said in a statement Tuesday.

Stich told reporters Wednesday that tests on the ground revealed that a small Teflon seal swells under high temperatures, which could be to blame for Starliner's thruster problems.

"That gives us a lot of confidence in the thrusters, but we can't totally prove with certainty what we're seeing on orbit is exactly what's been replicated on the ground," Stich added.

Despite not attending Wednesday's briefing, Boeing has maintained its confidence "in Starliner's return with crew."

"We still believe in Starliner's capability and its flight rationale," the company said in a statement Wednesday, as it also admitted the possibility that a different vehicle could bring the astronauts home.

"If NASA decides to change the mission, we will take the actions necessary to configure Starliner for an uncrewed return."
Boeing Starliner Astronauts Have Been in Space for Over 60 Days  and Might Not Return Home Until 2025

NASA and Boeing may seek the assistance of Elon Musk's Space X to bring two astronauts home, with the decision coming in weeks

MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams

NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams may be stranded in space aboard the Boeing Starliner until 2025 due to ongoing delays, officials have announced.

On Wednesday, Aug. 7, the agency held a news conference, giving an update on the two astronauts have been in outer space for 63 days  approximately seven weeks longer than expected  following their June 5 launch.

Joe Raedle/Getty NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test Commander Butch Wilmore and Pilot Suni Williams

The initial trip from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Florida's Space Coast was supposed to last no more than eight days, the New York Times said on Wednesday.

NASA and Boeing are currently discussing whether the spacecraft is safe enough to return to Earth, or if they will need to seek assistance from rival Elon Musk by using SpaceX to retrieve and bring Wilmore and Williams home, the Wall Street Journal and CNN reported.

Related: Astronauts Will Be Will Be Stuck in Space for at Least a Week Longer amid Boeing's Starliner Issues

The final decision is expected to be made by mid August," per the WSJ.

I would say that our chances of an uncrewed Starliner return have increased a little bit based on where things have gone over the last week or two, said Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASAs Space Operations Mission Directorate, according to CNN.

His comment referenced NASA's need to complete an internal review before the agency can set a return date for Starliner.

Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images Boeing's CST-100 Starliner launches with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on the Crew Flight Test mission

But again, new data coming in, new analysis, different discussion  we could find ourselves shift in another way.

We could take either path. And reasonable people could pick either path, Bowersox continued.

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Per CNN, as of Tuesday, Aug. 6, NASA had not yet begun its flight readiness review, which would allow the Starliner crew to return from the International Space Station.

During the news conference, Steve Stich, NASAs Commercial Crew Program manager, said uncertainty around the thrusters were one of the concerns currently delaying the return of the two astronauts.

Joe Raedle/Getty Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore

However, ahead of Wednesdays briefing, on Aug. 2 the company said, Boeing remains confident in the Starliner spacecraft and its ability to return safely with crew. We continue to support NASAs requests for additional testing, data, analysis and reviews to affirm the spacecrafts safe undocking and landing capabilities.

Related: Starliner Astronauts Are Not Stranded in Space, NASA Experts Say: Were on a Good Path'

We still believe in Starliners capability and its flight rationale. If NASA decides to change the mission, we will take the actions necessary to configure Starliner for an uncrewed return, a Boeing spokesperson reiterated during the news conference, per the NYT.

During an International Space Station press conference streamed live by CBS News on July 10, Williams said she had "a real good feeling in my heart that the spacecraft will bring us home, no problem."

That date could now be sometime next February, which is when SpaceX is set to return with four crew members, according to WSJ.



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BolaWrap looks like something Batman would use. Now, South Bend Police do.

SOUTH BEND  Wrap, wrap, wrap, South Bend Police Officer Brian Meador yelled out before deploying the department's new non-lethal restraining device, the BolaWrap, on a volunteer.

Two ends of a cord shot out within the blink of an eye while emitting a high frequency sound of 158-162 dB. The ends of the cord wrapped multiple times around the intended subject's legs. Anchors at each end linked together at the end of their rotation.

It looks like something you'd find on Batman's utility belt, but it's a real device used by law enforcement across the country. Now, nine South Bend officers  all certified instructors  have it at their disposal when applying force throughout the three patrol details they cover.

South Bend police officer Brian Meador demonstrates how a BolaWrap would be aimed at a suspect using an on-device laser at the South Bend Police Department on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in South Bend.

A remote restraint device that resembles a stud finder, the BolaWrap can be deployed from 10 to 25 feet away, providing a safe distance between the officer and subject.

A slow-motion video, provided by WRAP Technologies, which developed the technology, shows both ends of the Kevlar cord shooting out of the device at the same time in a parallel trajectory. Once the entire 7.6 feet have exited the device, the cord moves on a horizontal plane, allowing both ends to wrap multiple times around the subject.

The anchors  3.75 grams each  are barbed so as to hook onto the cord but also capped so that they dont penetrate the skin.

This device is designed to restrain the individual, Meador said, to disrupt their actions so that officers can safely place them, whether thats under arrest or detain them momentarily, to forbid them from further action or escalation.

Dust flooded the empty space when Meador deployed the device. The BolaWrap 150 is powered by micro gas generators that create a dust similar to when an airbag is deployed, he said.

The device has multiple lasers showing the optimal strike zones, Meador said, explaining that two main target areas are from the upper thigh to ankle and from the elbow and down.

Areas on the body they avoid to prevent injury are in the head, neck and chest area.

Multiple volunteers reported the effect of the device on them was painless.

A non-lethal use of force alternative

The new BolaWrap device being used by the South Bend Police Department on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in South Bend.

The police department launched its pilot program on July 24 with a demonstration of the device.

Its always a mission of the South Bend Police Department to keep an open mind about tools that we can use on patrol or in our detective bureau to respond to situations and to assess the type of person that we are trying to assist on calls, the departments director of communications, Ashley OChap, said.

South Bend Chief of Police Scott Ruszkowski said he hopes the department never has to use the device, but none-the-less, its a tool they have at their disposal.

We dont want to hurt anyone, and we certainly dont want to get hurt ourselves, Ruszkowski said. This, hopefully, will be yet another tool to avoid someone getting hurt and us getting hurt.

The new BolaWrap device being used by the South Bend Police Department is demonstrated for media on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in South Bend.

Logistics Division Chief Timothy Lancaster was instrumental in getting BolaWrap for the department, Ruszkowski said.

In an effort to constantly evolve as a department, Lancaster said, he looked at different solutions to bring to South Bend to safely assist people or take them into custody.

We did some research for other alternatives to less lethal types of use of force, Lancaster said.

Now a BolaWrap instructor, Meador participated in a three-day training session for the device in Tempe, Ariz., this past winter to effectively learn and teach the device. Hes been wrapped 20 times and has deployed the device countless times in training and instruction.

Meador doesnt see BolaWrap replacing a TASER. He carries both.

Its two totally different tools, he said. The TASER has its use for officers. (The TASER) is a less lethal option for officers to avoid lethal contact. The BolaWrap is a non-lethal option.

As a non-lethal device, BolaWrap delivers minimal pain to the subject. Its an option to use prior to a TASER or use-of-force tactics, Meador said, calling it early intervention.

The BolaWrap is a use-of-force tactic and use of it will be documented the same way the use of a TASER, pepper spray or pepper balls are documented, O'Chap said.

Through research and talking with other departments who used BolaWrap, South Bend Police decided to acquire it. Presently, theyll conduct a feasibility study to test the effectiveness of the device within the department. Afterwards, theyll decide if BolaWrap is something the department can expand upon.

Situations to deploy BolaWrap

The prongs at either end of a kevlar rope that shoots from the new BolaWrap device being used by the South Bend Police Department on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in South Bend.

Wrap Technologies provides examples on its website in which an officer can use BolaWrap:

Emotionally Disturbed Persons (EDP)

Passively resistant and non-compliant subjects

Mildly aggressive non-compliant subjects

Mentally ill subjects

Suicidal subjects/Persons in crisis

Subjects under the influence of alcohol and drugs

Armed (not with a firearm), non-assaultive, non-compliant, non-mobile

SWAT operations

In South Bend, mental health calls for service have grown, increasing from 363 in the police department's Quarter 1 to 412 in Quarter 2.

Thats not the sole purpose of it, Ruszkowski said, commenting on the department's mental health calls. That is just one other avenue that we may be able to use to keep someone from getting hurt or worse.

In an Instagram post, providing facts about mental health awareness, WRAP Technologies said one in five adults in America experiences a mental illness, imploring police agencies to choose the BolaWrap as the "most humane way to de-escalate."

Board of Public Safety board member and Indiana University South Bend's Civil Rights Heritage Center Director Darryl Heller said he supports non-lethal force in almost all circumstances. The board approved the BolaWrap policy on July 17.

But, in regard to WRAP's assertion of being the "most humane," Heller said that it's more humane than shooting someone as the only alternative.

"The example I heard of the homeless man wielding a knife who wasnt affected by a taser is a good one," Heller said in an email. "Rather than shooting him, an alternative would not be more 'humane,' it would simply be more in keeping with the motto to 'serve and protect.' The police should only use their firearm as a last resort and any alternative that gives other options should be considered."

Would the BolaWrap have been a beneficial tool for the department to have during that incident, later ruled as a justified homicide? Ruszkowski said yes.

Ideally, if all the proverbial stars were in alignment, that would have been  it appears from everything that Ive seen  had one (BolaWrap) been there, that would have probably been an opportunity. Whether it would have worked or not, I dont know," Ruszkowski said on Aug. 2.

The subject was wearing six layers of clothing, the joint investigation with St. Joseph County Police and Mishawaka Police departments determined. The prongs from the TASER, after being discharged twice and cycled once, didn't penetrate his skin.

However, at the time of the June 11 incident, the South Bend Police Department hadn't started using the BolaWrap on patrol.

South Bend police officer Brian Meador demonstrates how a BolaWrap would be aimed at a suspect using an on-device laser at the South Bend Police Department on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in South Bend.

The options they had available at the time were what you saw, Ruszkowski told a Tribune reporter.

Ruszkowski said the preferred outcome in any instance is for another person not to get hurt and a police officer not to get hurt.

However, is the BolaWrap the most humane way to de-escalate? Ruszkowski couldn't speculate if WRAP was referring to a specific condition or weapon, but maintained that the most humane way to de-escalate is not through force.

"Verbal is the most humane, he said, before making a slight correction. Not being there at all would be the most humane, so there was no incident there to begin with.

All nine officers currently equipped with BolaWrap are trained to know the right situation of when to deploy them, reacting to whatever the environment and the facts provide at a specific time, Ruszkowski said on July 24.

Every situation is absolutely different when it comes to facts, environment and aptitude of the person we are trying to contain or arrest and/or the officer," he said. "So, theres a whole bunch of different factors that are taken into consideration.

Cost

The new BolaWrap device being used by the South Bend Police Department is demonstrated for media on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in South Bend. This image shows four of the laser points police use to aim the device after the successful wrapping of a volunteer's legs.

A BolaWrap costs $600 to $800 per device, Lancaster said. The department has 12 devices. Each BolaWrap has one cartridge that fires one tether. The cartridges can be replaced.

A successful tool nationwide

The new BolaWrap device being used by the South Bend Police Department on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in South Bend.

BolaWrap is currently deployed in over 900 agencies, nationwide, Meador said, and is in over 59 countries internationally.

Wrap Technologies calls BolaWrap a suitable choice for non-violent conflict resolution, on its website, with the intent of preventing escalation and reducing use of force.

The St. Joseph County Police Department has been using BolaWrap since 2020, with nine officers trained and equipped with the device at the time. By the end of 2021, the number increased to 21. County police now have 30 officers with the device, and the department is working to get more officers trained.

Just this month, the department ordered and received 30 more new devices for a total of 60 Bola Wraps, the departments public information officer, Troy Warner, said in an email. The department is currently working on scheduling training to get those 30 new devices deployed. Each officer equipped with the device must complete a yearly update training.

Warner estimated that county officers have deployed a BolaWrap 12 times this year, through which Sheriff Bill Redman said its proven to be an effective tool.

Bola Wraps have provided our officers an additional option before going hands-on with an individual in non-lethal situations where they need to calm or detain an individual who is physically aggressive or in (the) middle of an unstable mental health crisis, Redman said in a statement to The Tribune. If the device can deter or prevent one situation where a resident or officer is harmed, then they are worth the investment made.

The new BolaWrap device being used by the South Bend Police Department is demonstrated for media on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in South Bend.

The device, taking in account its size, shape and loud trigger, provides a sufficient distraction, Warner said, allowing officers a few moments to restrain someone, even if the wrap was unsuccessful.

Lancaster said South Bend looked to the Los Angeles Police Department's lead regarding its use of the BolaWrap.

Were always taking a look at new innovative ways to progress our department, Ruszkowski said. We like to be the trendsetters, but when it comes to these types of devices, any type of device, we like to wait and see what other agencies have experienced  good, bad or indifferent.

The Tribune reached out to a chief strategy officer at Wrap Technologies for comment on the device but has not yet received a response.

It doesnt matter what the brand is on anything, Ruszkowski said. We need to see, feel, taste, touch, hear, smell all of these things for ourselves.

Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at csarabia@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend police now have a non-lethal use of force device: BolaWrap
A boomer left Florida to live on a sailboat on the French Riviera. He says it's cheaper and calmer than the US.

A boomer left Florida to live on a sailboat on the French Riviera. He says it's cheaper and calmer than the US.

Doug, a computer consultant, has been working from his sailboat in Europe for three years.

He and his wife moved to Europe to explore new destinations without breaking the bank.

They plan to retire in 2026, continuing to enjoy travel while based on the French Riviera.

Doug, 68, has worked for the last 40 years as a computer consultant  the last three from his sailboat traversing Europe.

He's moved a few times throughout his career, living in states such as California, Texas, Indiana, and Massachusetts. As Doug approached retirement age, he and his wife decided to retire outside the US, where prices were climbing, to fulfill their travel dreams  without breaking the bank.

They now live on their boat on the French Riviera, which Doug said is cheaper than living in the US. Both still work, but they plan on retiring within two years. Doug asked to use only his first name because his company doesn't know about his relocation.

"Our lives are much fuller of amazing sites and places to visit, much easier than coming all the way from the US, with castles everywhere, little villages in Provence and throughout Italy, and Michelin star restaurants all over," Doug told Business Insider.

Leaving the US

Doug was born and raised in Boston, where he started his career as a professional photographer. He moved to California to set up his studio but decided to leave the industry to find more stable employment. He saw an advertisement in the paper for a nine-month course reviewing three coding languages.

For the next four decades, Doug worked as a software engineer and consultant for various companies. He moved across the country for work, from Dallas to Indianapolis to Maine. He returned to New England, building his resume and rising the ranks. His income "went through the roof," he said, though he also faced a divorce.

He decided to buy a sailboat and sailed to Fort Lauderdale shortly after 9/11, where Doug continued to work with Fortune 500 clients. He remarried 18 years ago to another engineer and moved to Florida permanently. Doug said the US was getting stale, as they couldn't find anywhere that excited them.

"We were looking for exposure to new things, to new sites, the idea of living your fullest life, exploring the most that you can, rather than getting that one piece of dirt somewhere like a split-level ranch somewhere in a cul-de-sac," Doug said. "We just couldn't accept that as a concept."

Doug and his wife had the idea to give up programming and move to the Caribbean once they were financially stable, but after various trips, they weren't satisfied by any of the islands. They had a strong stock portfolio and some annuities, so they felt they had enough to retire. They set their eyes on Europe instead.

"The goal of why we're here is to be able to explore all these unbelievably beautiful historical areas, as opposed to the original concept of the Caribbean or South America," Doug said. "The Caribbean would have been boring very quickly  but even South America doesn't have anywhere near the quality of life on so many different levels."

Doug traded his sailboat for a 63-foot boat, which he shipped to Italy for $30,000, to start their European adventures in Genoa in July 2021. Doug kept his contract positions, which he completed while sailing the Mediterranean.

"I had thought we were retiring, but I got a call from a headhunter and got an offer I couldn't refuse, so I started doing a contract while we were still in the US, and it carried forward as we moved to Europe," Doug said.

Traveling across Europe

For the first few months, Doug was the sole income source before his wife found more work. He said they were saving more money than they were in the US, even while eating out most nights and staying in upscale hotels.

That first summer, they sailed to Dubrovnik, Croatia, with major stops in Corsica, France, and Elba, Sardinia, Sicily, and Bari in Italy. They stayed at the port for a few days at every stop, exploring each destination in between working hours.

They started staying at a marina in Dubrovnik in October 2021 for $15,000 a year and shipped their vintage car from Fort Lauderdale to Croatia for $5,000. Though Americans are typically only allowed on a short-stay visa for 90 days, they stayed for a year through Croatia's digital-nomad residence permit after proving they had remote jobs and enough money to sustain themselves.

"We noticed our bank account rising faster than it had been in the US from the same income, so prices were clearly lower even though we were traveling a lot," Doug said, adding that they took planes to cities such as London and Istanbul and drove to Vienna and Budapest, Hungary.

They moved to Port Montenegro, a marina in Tivat, Montenegro, about 50 miles south of Dubrovnik, in November 2022. While in Montenegro, they flew to Cairo and visited Athens, Greece. Doug said flights are at most a few hundred dollars round-trip, with some totaling under $100.

Settling on the French Riviera

They sailed for France the following April, stopping in countries such as Malta and Tunisia. Six months later, they settled in Port Grimaud on the French Riviera, where they paid $15,000 a year in marina costs in "rent." They secured long-stay visas, which can be renewed every year until they become permanent in the fifth year.

They each pay $2,000 a year for travel insurance, though they said they're considering getting French tax ID numbers to enroll in the free healthcare system  which Doug said is "unbelievably better than the US." He said his wife had an appointment with a cardiologist, including an EKG and cardiac sonogram, for 95 euros without insurance.

Port Grimaud is located just west of Saint-Tropez, but Doug said this area is less touristy and much quieter. During the week, he works from about 3 p.m. to midnight to match his client's schedule in the US.

Doug said overall costs have been lower in France than in the US. They pay much less for marina fees, like renting a boat slip, than they did in the US, and boat insurance is about equivalent. He said he bought a car in France for the same price as a very similar model in the US  but with twice the miles per gallon.

Doug estimated that food prices were slightly lower than in the US but of far higher quality, adding that the food is often fresher with fewer added chemicals. He said he's gone to Michelin-star restaurants in France for under 100 euros for two people, adding that tipping is rare. He said wine prices at stores and restaurants in France are sometimes three to four times cheaper than what he paid for similar bottles in the US.

He said there aren't many big-box stores near where he lives, adding that the prices for daily expenses may be higher for some items because the quality is generally higher. Still, clothing prices are comparable and better quality than in the US  he said he got a custom-made jacket in France for the equivalent of about $400, whereas a lower-quality jacket at a department store like Macy's could be $700.

He said it's hard to compare housing prices but that comparably sized houses are generally cheaper and sturdier in France.

Doug added that education is typically free or inexpensive in France, and he's noticed many children in the area speak three or four languages.

He said the French locals have been welcoming and helpful and that they've felt safer than in the US. Doug said that in Florida, people would often try to walk on his boat or take photos by the helm; but he's felt much safer protecting his property in France.

Doug said they hope to retire in April 2026 and remain in Europe, as he expects they will still bring in about $80,000 a year from retirement accounts and passive income. Until then, they have trips planned to Majorca, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; and Beijing, Shanghai, and Xian in China.

"We'll be able to yacht here, have our Mercedes here, and still travel all that we feel like doing," Doug said. "We'll still be able to go out to dinner whenever we want, and we're not going to have to follow any tight budget. If we feel like buying an extra bottle of wine or a leather jacket, we'll be able to do it."

Have you recently left the United States for a new country? Reach out to this reporter at nsheidlower@businessinsider.com .

Read the original article on Business Insider
AMES, Iowa  A sting operation helped lead to the arrest of a Boone man who police say planned to meet up with a 13-year-old for sex.

Nigel Baker, 29, is now charged with enticing a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor. Hes being held in the Story County Jail on a $30,000 bond.

One injured in shooting on northwest side of Des Moines

Criminal complaints filed in the case say Baker was arrested on Tuesday at the Super 8 hotel at 1418 S Dayton Place in Ames. Officers with the Ames Police Department took him into custody after being notified by an organization that catches sexual predators online.

The organization had been acting as the 13-year-old decoy who Baker had been communicating with for weeks online. The criminal complaint said Baker admitted to police he shared explicit photos and messages and arranged to meet for sex with someone he thought was 13 years old.

A preliminary hearing for Baker is scheduled for August 19th.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Boston bar where Marine was killed planning to sell liquor license

The owners of a bar in Downtown Boston where a Marine was stabbed to death are planning to sell their liquor license.

The Boston Globe reports the lawyer for Loyal Nine, formerly known as Sons of Boston informed the citys licensing board of the decision on Tuesday.

Alvaro Larramma was working as a bouncer at Sons of Boston on the evening of March 19, 2022, when he stabbed 23-year-old Daniel Martinez in the chest, according to Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden.

Martinez, a Chicago native, was in town visiting friends for St. Patricks Day when they were denied entry at the Sons of Boston bar and had a verbal confrontation with Larrama.

Larrama pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced in April to 20 years in prison.

The bar has been closed and the owner has no plans of reopening.

The proceeds from the liquor license will go to Martinezs family

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In an attempt to optimize traffic signals in one of the worlds most congested cities, Boston is looking to artificial intelligence.

In a new program announced on Thursday the City of Boston, Streets Cabinet, and the Department of Innovation and Technology will partner with Googles Project Green Light team to improve traffic flow.

The technology implemented uses AI to model traffic patterns and creates signal timing recommendations that can reduce stop-and-go traffic and emissions, according to officials.

It provides our traffic engineers with important data to tweak a signal by seconds which can help reduce congestion along a corridor, said Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Chief of Streets. Project Green Light provides a powerful tool that helps us optimize traffic flow on our streets.

For the last 5 months, Project Green Light has analyzed traffic at hundreds of signalized intersections using AI and Google Maps driving trends.

At the intersections of Huntington Ave. & Opera Place and at Amory Street & Green Street, stop-and-go traffic has been reduced by over 50%, according to the city. Bostons Transportation Departments traffic engineers use the data provided by the program to see if the recommendations found can be safely and feasibly implemented.

Mayor Michelle Wu says her administration has been looking at every option to make the citys streets more efficient.

One of the most frustrating parts of living in a major city is traffic, so Boston is taking every step to combat congestion and get people to where they need to go, Mayor Wu said. We often find that small traffic hotspots from mistimed signals or curbside issues can swell into larger congestion, so targeting these micro spots goes a long way. This innovative work with the latest technology from Googles Project Green Light will help relieve the frustrating congestion that so many of our residents face, while helping to reduce emissions and inefficiencies on our city streets.

Once the project is implemented, the engineers will be able to analyze and monitor the affected areas in real-time.

The idea makes some people uneasy.

With all technologies theres def privacy issues so thats def something to take into consideration, said Tia Midro of Boston.

But for others its worth it.

I mean I dont like that I have to be honest but I also hate traffic, said Giordano.

Google says cities around the world that use Project Greenlight have experienced a 10% average reduction in emissions. Boston and Seattle are the only two cities in America to include Project Greenlight in their street programs.

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The scene was like something out of a 19th-century adventure book. French geologist Remi Coltat recalls setting out from the Spanish city of Granada, where he worked at the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences, to embark on an epic journey into the Earths mantle. The U.S. ship JOIDES Resolution set sail from Ponta Delgada, in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, on April 12, 2023. It stopped in the middle of the North Atlantic and began drilling into the ocean floor, just 800 meters from the Lost City, a strange underwater territory where hydrothermal vents have raised ghostly towers. Coltat recalls the screams of joy when, in the ships machinery, rocks from the Earths mantle began to appear: a column of 1,268 meters, the largest sample ever obtained. Coltat says the discovery is a window into the development of life on Earth.

Dutch geologist Johan Lissenberg led the scientific team. One hypothesis for the origin of life is that it depended on reactions between seawater and rocks like the ones we have recovered, explains Lissenberg, from Cardiff University in the United Kingdom. These reactions transform the mineral olivine  predominant in the upper layer of the Earths mantle  into serpentine rocks, in a process called serpentinization. This releases hydrogen and subsequently compounds such as methane, which create the conditions in which microbial life can thrive, says Lissenberg. His expedition was the 399th of the International Ocean Drilling Project Expedition, a 21-country initiative launched a decade ago.

The Lost City is located in the Atlantis massif, an underwater mountain slightly higher than Mount Teide in Tenerife. The conditions there are extreme: temperatures of over 90C and very alkaline waters, with carbonate towers reaching 60 meters. The Earths mantle is at a depth that cannot be accessed with current techniques: normally more than six miles below the Earths crust. But in the Atlantis massif, it is within reach thanks to the separation of two tectonic plates. These are rocks from the mantle that are no longer in the mantle, but that were there recently, explains Lissenberg. The historic hole is called U1601C.

The Dutch researcher believes that the 1,268-meter-long rock column, combined with samples of fluids from hydrothermal vents, is the best window to study this hypothetical origin of life on Earth. The teams microbiologists are determining the quantity and type of microbes in the recovered rocks, as well as the depth at which they are found. We can combine the microbiological findings with those from serpentinization, to understand the factors that control microbial life in rocks derived from the mantle, says Lissenberg. Their results were published on Thursday in the journal Science.

Remi Coltat spent two months aboard the JOIDES Resolution, a 143-metre-long research vessel capable of drilling at depths of over five miles. It is like a small floating village, with more than a hundred inhabitants, including scientists, sailors, cooks and other crew members. The drilling goes on 24 hours a day. We worked in 12-hour shifts. When we finished, we went to sleep and resumed the task the next day. It was very exciting when something new appeared, recalls Coltat, who left Granada a few days ago to join the Institute of Earth Sciences in Orleans, France.

French geologist Remi Coltat, during an analysis of rocks from the Earth's mantle aboard the 'JOIDES Resolution.' Frieder Klein

Coltat, 30, recalls that the previous record was obtained with just a 200-meter borehole in mantle rocks on an expedition led three decades ago by the French geologist Mathilde Cannat. Last year, the scientists on board the JOIDES Resolution never dreamed of going so far. It was incredible when we saw that we could drill so well, recalls Coltat.

Geologist Juan Manuel Garcia Ruiz, from Spains Donostia International Physics Center, has just received 10 million from the EU to investigate the role of silica  a mineral made up of silicon and oxygen  in the appearance of living beings. In his opinion, the most remarkable thing about the new study is not its possible clues about the origin of life, but that it will help to determine the origin of methane in these environments: whether it comes from bacteria or from serpentinization reactions.

German researcher Manuel Dominik Menzel, from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences, points out that understanding the upper part of the Earths mantle is essential to understanding processes such as magmatism and the formation of the continents themselves. Menzel studies how the mantle naturally reacts with water and carbon dioxide (CO). When it interacts, it forms minerals and the CO is fixed, a phenomenon that in the future could serve to capture the gas from the atmosphere and keep it underground.

Menzel applauds the new work, in which he was not involved. It is a great success to carry out such a deep survey. I am very surprised that they have seen so much serpentinization, which is the percentage of water that enters the rock of the mantle, he says. The German geologist points out that in hydrothermal sources there is energy and different chemical compounds, as well as rocks from the mantle and magmatic rocks from the crust  the so-called gabbro , which has another chemical recipe. When they mix, there is more potential to produce very diverse conditions that can give rise to life, he says.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A Boulder woman who confessed to strangling her 2-month-old in June 2023 was sentenced to 40 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections on Wednesday.

According to the 20th Judicial District Attorneys Office, Miles was killed by his mother, Anna Englund, on June 10, 2023. The childs father had been concerned for Englunds mental health after she gave birth to Miles, and had been paying close attention to both mother and baby.

Thornton PD warn of court summons, towing after driver caught at 126 mph

The DAs Office reported that Englund took advantage of Miles father going to the bathroom, taking Miles from the home and driving to a location where she then strangled him. After this, she drove around for hours with Miles body as law enforcement urgently searched for the pair.

Eventually, Englund went to Boulder Community Health with Miles body, where she was arrested. She had been held on a $5 million cash/surety/property bond.

This guilty plea and lengthy sentence is the right result in this very sad case, said 20th District Attorney Michael Doughtery in a release. It is heartbreaking to acknowledge the immense emotional toll on the babys father and family, as well as all the police officers who desperately tried to prevent this tragic murder. Our prosecution team worked hard to ensure that we were able to secure the right outcome for this defendant, which is a very lengthy sentence to state prison.

Englund pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of second-degree murder, and the prosecution dismissed two charges of first-degree murder after deliberation and first-degree murder of a victim under 12 by one in a position of trust. The judge sentenced her to serve 40 years in the Department of Corrections, with credit for the 423 days she has already served.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Bowser calls for unity after defeating senator and rep in most controversial Kansas primary race

Sen. Dennis Pyle, R-Hiawatha, appears with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly as she ceremonially signs a tax cut bill July 2, 2024, in Holton. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)

LAWRENCE  Republican Craig Bowser says it is time for our party to pull together and move forward after defeating incumbent state Sen. Dennis Pyle and Rep. John Eplee in the primary Tuesday night.

Washburn University political scientist Bob Beatty called it the most controversial primary race this year.

Bowser, a U.S. Army Reserve veteran from Holton, won 41% of the votes in a primary filled with drama and PAC spending. Eplee, of Atchison, finished second with 37% and Pyle, of Hiawatha, finished last with 23%.

I want to congratulate my opponents on a hard fought campaign, Bowser said in a statement posted to his campaign Facebook page. Now is the time for our party to pull together and move forward. Were going to do some great things for the district and the state. God bless America.

Pyle upset Republicans in the 1st District, which he has represented for 20 years, when he ran as an independent for governor in 2022. Republicans blame Pyle for splitting the Republican vote and helping Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly win reelection. A TV ad from the Kansas Chamber PACshows Pyle saying I intended to split the vote, and claims Pyle joined Kelly and President Joe Biden in a district where former President Donald Trump won with almost 66% of the vote in 2020 and Kelly lost with almost 40% in 2022.

Constituents were flooded with mailers, advertisements, text messages and calls for months leading up to the primary.

Rep. John Eplee, R-Atchison, appears at a Jan. 17, 2024, news conference at the Statehouse in Topeka.

Mailers funded by Elpee show Bowser as a fake conservative who wants to send our taxpayer dollars to communist Venezuela  just like Joe Biden.

Bowser fired back with a text message blast alleging that Elpees June 10 car crash was a result of intoxicated driving.

This was a very intense race, Beatty said, with quite a bit of negativity.

In an interview Wednesday, Eplee said Kansans made their wish known. But he said the advertisements centered around his crash were unfortunate and false.

Elpee also said he isnt surprised Pyle lost.

The way he voted in the last year was not supportive of the GOP, and leaving the party was a bad move, Elpee said.

Kelly and Pyle went to Holton and Hiawatha on July 2 to promote their bipartisan efforts on the tax reform bill. Kelly talked about her time as a senator and said when she needed a bipartisan cosponsor, she would go to Pyle.

Pyle and Bowser did not respond to requests for comment for this story.
CHICAGO  When Khalil Abu Shaban crossed the international arrival gate at OHare Airport on Wednesday, he was greeted with cheers, hugs and lots of presents.

The 13-year-old, who uses a wheelchair after losing both his legs in a bombing in Gaza, arrived in Chicago to receive medical care at Shriners Childrens specialty hospital, including prosthetic legs that hopefully allow him to walk again one day.

After a 15-hour flight from Egypt with his mom and older sister, he was welcomed by about 50 people who clapped and chanted Khalil, while throwing rose petals at his wheelchair. Khalil waved and smiled while accepting gifts and flowers.

Were very glad we are here in Chicago, said Lulu Abu Shaban, Khalils sister. So many people love Khalil, and encourage Khalil to get his treatment. We are so lucky to be here.

Khalil has faced a long, challenging journey, according to Steve Sosebee, executive director of Heal Palestine, a nonprofit that coordinated his arrival. Khalil and his family were forced to flee northern Gaza to the south, where he lived in a displacement camp, Sosebee said. He was later injured in a bombing near a barber shop he was visiting.

Medical staff in Gaza were able to stabilize Khalil, before he was transferred and hospitalized in Egypt. There, he had surgery on his head, which Sosebee said is believed to be successful. His main reason for being in Chicago is to walk again, Sosebee said.

Were honored to be able to help him, Sosebee said. This is really important for us to give these kids a chance to recover as much as we can considering his injuries, and give him an opportunity at a better life.

Sosebee expects Khalils medical treatment to last months. Hell likely require surgery to lengthen the bone in his leg to fit into the prosthetic limbs, because the amputations were so high up on his legs, Sosebee said.

More than 39,600 people have died in Gaza and there is a mass humanitarian catastrophe, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, since the war began 10 months ago with the Hamas-led attack on Israel. Khalil is the third injured child from Gaza to come to Chicago for treatment through Heal Palestine.

About four months ago, Leyan Albaz, 14, arrived in Chicago from Gaza after both her legs were amputated, also from a bombing. She was the first person to meet Khalil at the airport, which Sosebee said was an important moment to bring Khalil hope. Leyan is now walking with prosthetic legs and crutches.

Hes coming at the beginning of his treatment. Shes at the end of her treatment, Sosebee said. Shes with the same injury that he has, same age, same country, so we wanted him to see hey, she was like me a couple months ago, I can be like her.

Speaking through an interpreter, Leyan said she is very confident that Khalil will walk again, and told him to remain strong. She said her treatment has been excellent and her doctors have been kind. She still attends physical therapy regularly.

Leyans sisters were killed in the bombing that injured her, and her brother was killed a couple months ago, Sosebee said. The rest of her family is still in Gaza, he said, but her host family is helping provide love and support.

It is very hard, Leyan said via an interpreter. I worry about them, but I know Im here to get better.

During treatment, Khalil will live at Sirage Al-Tarifis Chicago home. Al-Tarifi said he found out the family needed a place to stay about 10 days ago, and he and his wife stepped up immediately. He said his home is well equipped since his dad was an amputee, and he also has two children, 8 and 10.

We take it as an opportunity (to host Khalil), and a privilege really, he said, adding that its the least we could do.

_____
Boys and Girls Club opens new center in northeast Oklahoma

FAIRLAND, Okla.  The Boys and Girls Club of America held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday for its newest club.

The Fairland Branch, located west of downtown, is the eighth club to open in the tri-county area of Delaware, Ottawa, and Craig County in Oklahoma.

Hundreds of children, their parents, and community leaders fill the newly renovated Family Dollar store to learn about the new club.

Every day, more kids in our community are seeking places to learn, play, and thrive in a supportive, nurturing environment, said District Judge Jennifer McAffrey. This new facility is a testament to our commitment to providing these essential spaces and opportunities.

This club is a beacon of hope and opportunity for generations to come, said Mackenzie Garst, CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Ottawa County.

Garst said around 100 children are enrolled in the Fairland Club and the organization expects a 40% increase in attendance with the new club.

We already have a waiting list, Garst said.

Garst explained the necessity of the Boys and Girls Club in rural counties, saying, Childcare in rural Oklahoma is a deficitthats why the Boys and Girls Club thrives in rural counties.

Garst praised the Cherokee Nation for investing $5 million in Boys and Girls Clubs across the Cherokee Nation Reservation and Wyandotte Nation and Arvest Bank for their financial support.

The private and public investments will keep the doors of the Boys and Girls Club open for some time, she said.

2023-BGCA-At-a-Glance-FactsheetDownload

One of the components of the organization is the academic foundation, character development, and leadership skills.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  Boys & Girls Clubs of Topeka Director of Events and Alumni Engagement Heather Stults-Lindsay joined the 27 News morning show to discuss current and upcoming events.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Topeka is hosting its ninth annual Stuff the Bus event. Stuff the Bus is an event aimed at providing school supplies to after-school programs for children ages K-12. Since its inception, Stuff the Bus has supported more than 17,000 kids.

Stults-Lindsay said there is still time to donate. A list of needed items can be found on their website by clicking here. A wrap-up event will be held Aug. 15 at 1 SW Security Benefit Pl.

Stults-Lindsay discussed some recruiting for middle and high school students. For adults, the center is hiring for certain positions.

Employees fear for safety of customers at Topeka gas station

If youre looking for anything part-time to full-time, weve got a position thats available for you, Stults-Lindsay said. We have the youth direct services people, so if youre looking for an afternoon job and want to have your evenings free weve got a lot of opportunities for that.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
SAO PAULO (AP)  Brazil's government kicked out Nicaragua's ambassador Thursday in retaliation for a similar move by the Central American country's President Daniel Ortega.

Brazil's foreign ministry said it had decided to expel Nicaraguan Ambassador Fulvia Patricia Castro Matu in "application of the principle of reciprocity to the measure adopted by the Nicaraguan government about the Brazilian ambassador in Managua. The ministry's statement said Brazil's Ambassador Breno da Costa has already left the country.

Nicaragua's government said both the Nicaraguan and the Brazilian ambassadors have left their positions, but did not mention they were kicked out or elaborate on the reasons for those moves.

A rift between Ortega and Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, two former allies, has grown over the last year.

Two diplomatic sources in Brasilia told the AP that Nicaraguas government protested two weeks ago over da Costas absence from celebrations of the 45th anniversary of Nicaraguas Sandinista revolution, opening the way to expel him.

Ortega, whose critics see him as an authoritarian leader, was a guerrilla fighter in that movement.

The sources, who spoke under condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the matter publicly, added that the Brazilian ambassador was following orders from the foreign ministry.

The foreign ministry hadn't previously confirmed local media reports of the Brazilian ambassador's expulsion.

Lula, who previously supported Ortega's presidency, steered away from Ortega after the Nicaraguan leader ignored a request from Pope Francis to stop repression against Catholic clergymen in the Central American nation.

Amnesty International in April said that Ortega's government arbitrarily arrested at least 119 people, including Roman Catholic bishop Rolando Alvarez for alleged conspiracy and dissemination of false information.

Brazil has frozen relations with the Central American country. That means no visits or meetings between leaders and diplomats of the two countries.

Leticia Bessa, an administrative assistant at the Nicaraguan embassy in Brazil's capital, said Matu left the country before Brazil's foreign ministry finalized its decision.

Later, Brazil's foreign ministry added that da Costa is expected to leave Nicaragua at the end of the day. It also clarified that the exit of its ambassador does not represent a total break of diplomatic relations with Managua.

Nicaragua's Vice President Rosario Murillo, who is also first lady and the governments main spokesperson, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the diplomatic spat.

During a news conference with international news agencies in Brasilia on July 22, Lula told reporters that Ortega was not answering his phone calls.

Benjamin Gedan, director of the Wilson Centers Latin America program, said the incident makes Ortega even more of a pariah with few friends in the region.

Lula is a leftist icon, but he does not blindly support all fellow travelers, Gedan said. Two years ago, following Ortegas latest sham reelection, practically no leaders from the region showed up in Managua for his inauguration. The collapse of democracy in Nicaragua and Venezuela has offered the Latin American left an opportunity to prioritize democracy over ideology.

___

Associated Press writer Gabriela Sa Pessoa contributed to this report.
British Airways has announced it will cancel all flights to Beijing until November next year, as the cost of having to avoid Russian airspace has made the route commercially unviable.

The UKs flagship carrier said it would halt flights as of Oct 26, offering affected customers the chance to rebook at a later date or receive a full refund.

It has taken the decision in response to Vladimir Putins decision to shut off UK carriers from Russian airspace, which has forced them to fly longer routes.

It comes a month after rival Virgin Atlantic also revealed its decision to scrap flights to Shanghai in October, after which it will no longer operate any flights to China.

British Airways said it will continue to operate daily flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong.

However, its decision to axe flights to Beijing marks a turnaround after it only resumed the route in June 2023, following a three-year pause during Covid.

At the time, British Airways described London-Beijing as one of our most important routes, although it has since struggled with a slowdown in demand across East Asia.

The cancellation means the market for flights from Britain to Beijing will be dominated by the largest state-owned Chinese carriers, which have not been banned from flying on the shortest routes through Russian airspace and can save on time and fuel.

Russias civil aviation authority first introduced restrictions on UK carriers in February 2022.

This was in retaliation to a British ban on the countrys Aeroflot airline, which was imposed as part of sanctions relating to Putins invasion of Ukraine.

In terms of timing, both British Airways and Virgin have halted flights from October because that coincides with the end of the summer travel season.

It is understood the decision will remain under review.

A British Airways spokesman said: We will be pausing our route to Beijing from October 26, and were contacting any affected customers with rebooking options or to offer them a full refund.

We continue to operate daily flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong.

A Virgin spokesman added: Significant challenges and complexities on this route have contributed to the commercial decision to suspend flying to Shanghai.

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British crocodile expert who raped and tortured dogs is jailed for 10 years

Adam Britton, with Sir David Attenborough filming Life In Cold Blood for the BBC in 2008, had been a globally renowned crocodile expert - BBC

A British zoologist who worked with Sir David Attenborough was jailed for 10 years in Australia on Thursday after admitting to raping, torturing and killing dozens of dogs.

Adam Britton, who once filed documentaries with the BBC and National Geographic, pleaded guilty to 56 charges of bestiality and animal cruelty and four counts of accessing and transmitting child abuse material.

The 52-year-old had been a globally renowned crocodile expert before sadistic videos exposed his secret life as one of the worlds worst animal abusers.

Announcing the sentence of 10 years and five months at court in Darwin, Chief Justice Michael Grant told Britton that his conduct involved a degree of depravity and reprehensibility which falls entirely outside any ordinary human conception and comprehension.

The sheer deviance and brutality of your conduct is not satisfactorily encompassed by the bare description that you killed each animal, he said.

You used weapons extensively in the course of your activity  including knives, wooden clubs, pliers, bolt cutters, hacksaws and axes.

The clear and unalloyed pleasure that Britton derived from inflicting torture was sickeningly evident from videos uncovered during the investigation, the judge said.

The judge said Britton derived 'clear and unalloyed pleasure' from inflicting torture - ABC News

Britton was also banned from buying, or living with, any mammal but because he was charged under Northern Territory (NT) local law, the restriction only applies while he remains in the region.

Charles Giliam, operations manager at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals, said the case showed Australia urgently needed to introduce cross-border legislation so that animal bans were recognised across states and territories.

Brittons lawyer told the NT Supreme Court that a lifetime ban on all animal contact would be extreme given his offending was limited to a particular type of animal.

Breaking his silence for the first time since his arrest in 2022, Britton said he was ashamed and would seek treatment for his sexual interest in dogs.

I take full responsibility for the demeaning crimes that I perpetrated on dogs, he wrote in a letter to the court.

I deeply regret the pain and trauma that I caused to innocent animals and consequently to my family, friends and members of the community that I affected.

I now acknowledge that Ive been fighting a rare paraphilic disorder for much of my life and that shame and fear prevented me from seeking the proper help I needed.

He added that no amount of words can convey how sorry and ashamed I am, adding that he would seek long-term treatment on his path to redemption.

Please give my family the space they deserve to heal, they were not aware or involved in any way, the letter read.

Devious and careful premeditation and planning

Britton grew up in West Yorkshire and obtained a PhD at the University of Bristol before moving to Australia where he met his wife, a fellow scientist. The couple settled in the Northern Territory, where he became a respected academic at the Charles Darwin University.

In public, he was an expert on saltwater crocodiles and appeared on television with celebrities including Sir David and Bear Grylls.

Online, however, Britton was Monster and Cerberus  the provider of images so sickening they would later traumatise investigators and lead a judge to recommend clerks and security leave a courtroom to avoid seeing the unspeakable acts.

I have no emotional bond to them, they are toys pure and simple, he told online followers under his alias, about his images of beaten dogs and puppies, and plenty more where they came from.

Police said Britton would wait for his wife to be away on field trips, before taking dogs and puppies into a torture room he set up in a shipping container next to their rural home near Darwin.

There, he would film himself raping and then beating the dogs to death. Most of the 42 animals he abused he had been given for free from online classifieds site Gumtree after promising their previous owners he would give them a good home.

Your modus operandi was one of devious and careful premeditation and planning, the individuals from whom you procured these dogs thought they were going to a good home and that they would be protected, the judge said on Thursday.

You took videos of the grotesque harm you were inflicting on these animals, you revisited those videos for your own sexual gratification and you shared them for the gratification of other deviants.

The fact that you staged each of these remorseless killings as a production further reinforces the meticulous level of your planning.

Two dogs he attacked  Swiss Shepherds Bolt and Ursa  were the pets he shared with his wife.

Its understood she was disgusted when the crimes were uncovered and has since moved towns, changing her name to avoid any association with the case while continuing to work to promote animal welfare.

Sheer delight you took in the torture of these animals

Britton often filmed his crimes and sent them to like-minded people online and through messaging service Telegram, the court heard. At other times, he would drive the animals to a secluded location and murder them for his own sadistic sexual pleasure.

Police arrested Britton in 2022 after piecing together clues in a video sent to an animal welfare agency. A raid on his property uncovered severed dog limbs, a dogs head and a decomposing puppy. A laptop found at the home featured child abuse images.

Britton was charged with a string of offences relating to bestiality, animal abuse and possession of child abuse material, for crimes dating between 2020 and 2022  but police believe his offending started much earlier.

One of the messages from Monster that formed part of the case, read: I started fence jumping when I was 13 or 14 and molesting horses.

Justice Grant said he believed Britton was likely to commit a further offence in respect of an animal and that risk will continue to present unless you are subjected to effective psychotherapy and antilibidinal treatment.

Im less ready to accept that you are genuinely remorseful, that is particularly so having regard to the sheer delight you took in the torture of these animals and the persistence of your conduct, he said.

And what appears to be your continuing view that sexual interactions with animals short of sadism isnt harmful.

Mr Giliam of the RSPCA likened the NTs animal cruelty laws to a slap on the wrist with a wet bus ticket as he noted the maximum sentence for each offence was two years.

Just about everybody knows his name now  the abhorrence and the disgust is just palpable, he told The Telegraph.

Outside court, protesters holding placards lamented that Britton could be out of jail within four years after time already served since his arrest.

Youll be dead before then, they yelled.

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Tom Doherty, pictured with his wife Anne, has been missing since texting his family on Tuesday to say he had fallen during a hike in the French Pyrenees - FAMILY HANDOUT/PA

A retired British doctor missing in the French Pyrenees texted his family begging for help after he fell over and could not move on a hiking trip.

The family of Tom Doherty, 67, said they lost contact with him on Tuesday evening as they issued an urgent appeal.

Mr Doherty, from St Albans, in Herts, was hiking and camping near Col dEscots when he texted: Ive fallen and cannot [m]ove.

His daughter, Rachel Doherty, said a search party has recovered his tent and car. She said the family had last heard from Mr Doherty at just after 7pm on Aug 6 via WhatsApp.

The WhatsApp messages sent by Tom Doherty that alerted his family to the hiker's plight - FAMILY HANDOUT/PA

Mr Doherty, a grandfather of one who has been described as an avid and experienced walker, set off in the Pyrenees on Saturday Aug 3.

He was sending us a few pictures of the scenery and then on Tuesday afternoon sent us one of clouds coming over the top of a mountain. He said bugger, she said.

We told him to be careful and urged him to come down. The last time we heard from him was Tuesday. He told us he had fallen and couldnt move. Thats all weve had since. The search party has found a tent and his car. Were obviously very worried and extremely concerned for his welfare.

His son, whose Facebook name is Ricardo Zamora, described his father as a 67-year-old Englishman with curly grey hair and glasses.

He fell yesterday Aug 6 at about 4pm, and after he fell he sent me an alert message. His name is Tom/Justin Doherty. His car was found at Col dEscots this morning. Please contact me if you have seen him or have any information.

Tom Doherty with his wife Anne, son-in-law Tim Hughes and daughter Rachel - FAMILY HANDOUT/PA

A search is under way involving dogs and helicopters.

Mr Dohertys wife and one of his four daughters have been at his last known location since Wednesday morning.

Mr Dohertys son told the Telegraph that the search was continuing but declined to comment further.

French police's search for Tom Doherty, with helicopters and dogs, has been hampered by fog - FAMILY HANDOUT/PA

Speaking to France 3 Occitanie, the local television news channel, wife Anne Lyons said: We received photos and messages every day. And then on Tuesday, while we were in England, everyone received messages, help, I cant move. I cant move. And then nothing.

Since then, weve had no contact with him. He doesnt receive any messages. He doesnt reply. So we sounded the alarm from England. Since Wednesday, searches have been carried out in the mountains with dogs and helicopters, but the fog has come in, which has made the operation difficult.

We know hes camping somewhere in the area, but not exactly where. During the day, someone saw him near the car park at the Etang dAube, near the Cirque de Gerarc. He was tired, but wanted to keep going. Later, he was probably injured in an accident.

Weather in the French Pyrenees can be notoriously changeable - even in summer - FAMILY HANDOUT/PA

Were very worried but we havent given up hope. Thats why were appealing for witnesses.

Clare Carlile, a friend of one of Mr Dohertys daughters, posted a missing persons appeal on the climbing and mountaineering website UKClimbing on Tuesday evening.

She said: My friends dad has gone missing in the French Pyrenees. Does anyone know where this image is from to try and help locate him? He sent a message at 4pm this afternoon saying he had fallen while hiking and could not move. We have not been able to get in contact with him since.

He is likely to be in/close to Ariege, in the Occitanie region. His last known location was Etang du Comte, where we have located an image from Sunday.

The image shared is from Saturday  we are trying to work out his direction of travel in case it gives some idea of where he may be now. He sent a message during the day saying he was somewhere near Ax-Les-Thermes. We are in contact with the British embassy for France, who are alerting the police.

Since retiring almost a decade ago, Mr Doherty has spent most of his time in France.

According to his family, the retired doctor was a respected consultant of tropical medicine who worked around the world and specialised in malaria.

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The Mossos dEsquadra, Catalonias regional police force, activated a search-and-detain operation shortly before 10 a.m. Thursday to locate a vehicle in which they suspect that former regional leader Carles Puigdemont fled after delivering a short speech in Barcelona. With an arrest warrant in force against Puigdemont for his part in organizing a referendum on independence in the northern Spanish region in 2017, which was declared illegal by the central government and the Constitutional Court, everything points to the fact that the leader of the Together for Catalonia (JuntsxCat) political formation, who has been in exile in Belgium, has reneged on his promise to appear at the investiture debate to install Salvador Illa as the new regional premier after a deal brokered between the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) and the left-wing Esquerra Republicana (ERC). The Catalan police had been expected to arrest Puigdemont, who has been on the run for seven years, before the investiture. Puigdemonts alleged latest escape act, televised in the presence of a police deployment of over 300 agents in Barcelona, has left the Mossos in a state of stupefaction with commanders themselves describing the incident as an historic ridicule.

The former Catalan leader  who was at the helm of the Generalitat regional administration from 2016 until he was removed from office by the central government after the October 2017 unilateral declaration of Catalan independence  reappeared at around 9 a.m. in Barcelona before a crowd of around 3,500 people gathered at the gates of the regional parliament building. For the last seven years we have been persecuted because we wanted to hear the voice of the Catalan people, Puigdemont said. They have made being Catalan into something suspicious. All people have the right to self-determination. Puigdemont also accused the Spanish authorities of launching a crackdown on the Catalan separatist movement.

The Socialist-led coalition government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pushed through an amnesty bill earlier this year as a way to move past the 2017 secession attempt and to secure the backing of two Catalan separatist parties to form a government after inconclusive general elections in July 2023 turned them into kingmakers. Sanchez has already pardoned nine jailed Catalan independence leaders but the bill is being challenged in the Supreme Court, which argues the pardon does not apply to the charge of embezzlement, which Puigdemont faces. We are not interested in being in a country where amnesty laws did not provide amnesty, Puigdemont said Thursday.

Sources at the Supreme Court explain that the Mossos knew they were under the obligation to arrest Puigdemont. These sources stress that the order of the investigating judge Pablo Llarena, who agreed not to apply the amnesty, was very clear.

Everything now points to the fact that Puigdemont has once again managed to give the Mossos dEsquadra the slip, after he vanished when he was expected to walk to the regional parliament building escorted by the masses of his supporters. The police suspect that Puigdemont is traveling in a white Peugeot, according to sources from the Mossos, who have withheld all official information about their plans to arrest the former Catalan premier.

A Mossos d'Esquadra checkpoint on a highway in Barcelona following the disappearance of Carles Puigdemont. Massimiliano Minocri

The operation has led to serious traffic problems in Catalonia while the police carry out controls in the vicinity of Barcelona, as well as on the main highways, the regions borders, on trains and at the port. A police helicopter has been scrambled as part of the effort to locate Puigdemont. The force does not deserve this embarrassment. The chief commissioner, Eduard Sallent, the general director, Pere Ferrer, and the councilor himself, Joan Ignasi Elena, must all provide explanations, one of the main labor unions representing the Mossos, Sap-Fepol, told EL PAIS through its spokesman, Toni Castejon.

The security services have for weeks been planning Puigdemonts detention after he announced that he would attend the investiture. An arrest plan was outlined, awaiting confirmation of the manner in which Puigdemont would choose to return. Police sources suspect that the former regional leader has been in Catalonia since Tuesday. Unofficially, police force commanders have insisted that their mission was not to track Puigdemonts exact whereabouts 24 hours a day, but to arrest him the moment he emerged in public. There is no active search, they insisted.

During the negotiations over Puigdemonts reappearance, officials from the Mossos contacted the former presidents lawyer, Gonzalo Boye, to discuss the possibility of agreeing on a discreet arrest. Puigdemont rejected the offer. His detention was delegated to a commander of the General Police Station of Information. It would then pass to judicial disposition for Judge Llarena to decide the future of the former regional premier, which could include pre-trial detention or a court appearance and the application of bail conditions. We are being made to look ridiculous, said another commander of the Mossos. This paints us all in a bad light, added another, while the search for Puigdemont remains active.

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Almost four million Brits visited the Balearic islands in 2023 (Getty Images)

Tourists from the UK are cancelling their summer breaks to Mallorca due to dangerous anti-tourism protests, according to a local holiday homes rental company .

Long-standing clients who have been coming to Mallorca for years and had already made their reservation this year have called  after seeing the news  to cancel, Maria Gilbert, manager of the Habtur Balears, told Diario de Mallorca.

She added that the company have frequently been asked if its dangerous to go to Mallorca and if locals are going to hurt us ahead of peak summer season.

Alquilair, another holiday rental specialist, shared similar messages of guests worried about the news of tourism-phobia and a family in Bunyola that found their hire car covered with stickers saying tourists go home.

Anti-tourism protests have swept Spain in recent months including clashes between residents and holidaymakers in Barcelona, Mallorca and Menorca.

Demonstrations with crowds in their thousands have recently taken place in Palma de Mallorca.

Holidaymakers in Barcelona were drenched by disgruntled locals in July (AFP via Getty Images)

Carrying makeshift models of planes and cruise ships, protesters walked through the streets of the capital of Mallorca with posters reading no to mass tourism and stop private jets.

In the Catalan capital in July, thousands of Barcelona residents squirted diners in tourist areas with water during a protest against mass tourism.

The demonstrators chanted tourists go home and Barcelona is not for sale as they marched through the streets, protesting against the soaring cost of living and housing prices they attribute to overtourism in their city.

Video footage showed holidaymakers dining outside popular squares in the city being doused with water pistols and cordoned off using hazard tape by a crowd of almost 3,000.

Jordi Hereu, who previously served as Barcelonas mayor, told reporters that while the demonstrators actions were reprehensible, the incident had been exaggerated by the international media.

Last month, Antoni Costa, a regional government spokesman, urged Spanish locals to treat tourists with respect while protesting.

Costa said: We ask for the utmost respect for those who have decided not to demonstrate and urge those who do protest to do so peacefully and not interrupt other citizens and visitors, reported the Daily Express.

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When London erupted in the summer of 2011, we heard from sociologists, economists and politicians all trying to make sense of the senseless. They tended to use the riots as vindication of whatever theory they had always been advocating  from a fatherlessness epidemic to nascent class war. Mick Jagger was in the city at the time and offered a rather different analysis Theres no warning, he said. But its a regular feature of English urban life, if you think about it. Every ten years, you get some riots.

The Jagger theory  that its hard to assign politics or logic to rare moments of fury  makes more sense than the Britain-at-war narrative peddled by social media and spreading world over.

Elon Musk has been promoting Twitter users who talk of Muslim patrols versus British patriots. Others speak of ethnic minority communities, intimidated and bullied by the far-Right. With arsonists targeting migrant hotels, as happened in Sweden years ago, some see Britain heading in the same direction: towards a two-tier society with a criminal subculture.

But Sweden has the worlds worst record of merging immigrants into the economy. Britain does far better. The riots take place not against a backdrop of racial tension but in a country where, polls show, people are more positive about immigrants than almost anyone else in Europe.

Not so long ago Britain had a Hindu prime minister, a Buddhist home secretary, a Muslim mayor of London, a Muslim first minister of Scotland and a black first minister of Wales. This tends not to happen in countries where skin colour is a serious impediment to progress.

Having a government led by someone called Rishi Sunak is entirely consistent with a country where those of Indian heritage are twice as likely to have six-figure incomes as whites. Kemi Badenoch caused uproar when she said that Britain is the best country in the world to be black, but there is plenty of evidence to support her case. Race riots often come when an ethnic minority has been forced to the margins of society. Thats not really Britains story.

One of Keir Starmers big mistakes was to try to hitch himself to the Black Lives Matter bandwagon and release a photo of him taking the knee. The problem with importing the American theories of white privilege is that its hard, in Britain, to suggest that people of colour are at a serious disadvantage. Here, non-whites are more likely to be in top jobs than whites and there is plenty of evidence of what Michael Howard famously called the British dream. The UKs highest earners are Indians, then the Chinese, then white other.

Take GCSE results, due next week. Passing at least five of the tougher subjects is now called the English baccalaureate.

Some 62 per cent of Chinese pupils took this challenge last year, as did 51 per cent of Asians and 47 per cent of blacks. White pupils finished quite a bit behind at 35 per cent. If you adjust for wealth, by looking at pupils eligible for free school meals, the picture worsens. Some 45 per cent of Asian pupils on free school meals achieve decent grades (grade 5 or higher) in English and Maths as do 40 per cent of black pupils. But just 25 per cent of the white kids do so. In no other ethnic group does poverty seem to have such an impact on academic attainment.

At the last count, 76 per cent of teenage girls with a Bangladeshi background went to university, as did 71 per cent of poor black African girls. But it was just 15 per cent for poor white boys, of whom only 2 per cent went to a top university. (Some 42 per cent of poor Chinese girls did so.) What is it about our social and education model that produces such staggering racial disparities? Why do working-class white boys do so much worse? And why is no one really interested in discussing it?

Letting go of voguish theories about disadvantage can be difficult  but vital, if todays problems are to be addressed. When Rachel Reeves became Chancellor she said it should encourage all girls to shoot for the top. Where, precisely, does she see a lack of young female ambition? Girls are now far more likely to apply to university: its the boys she needs to worry about. The gender gap for uni applications is now almost as big as that between rich and poor.

Instead of American critical race theory, Starmer should look at the work of Angus Deaton, a Nobel laureate who has highlighted what he calls deaths of despair in white Americans.

This phenomenon shows those with low education turning to drink and drugs  and leading to deaths from overdose, liver disease or suicide. They dont riot. But they shouldnt need to, surely, to be taken seriously. Similar trends can be found in Britain, for those who take the trouble to look.

Lets take those who appeared in the dock of Teesside Magistrates Court after the Middlesbrough riot. Each gave their address, from which you can work out neighbourhood deprivation. In the communities the accused came from, some 26 per cent were on out-of-work benefits, on average. More than twice the UK norm. Stacey Vint, accused of trying to ram police with a blazing wheelie bin, is from a Middlesbrough neighbourhood where almost half are on benefits. Quite something, in the middle of a worker-shortage crisis.

The British dream is working for a great many of those who came here to seek it  and we can be proud of that. But the British dream is not working so well for working-class whites and we should be deeply disturbed by that.

Now and again, politicians summon up the courage to talk about this  as Theresa May did when, on the steps of No 10, she spoke of the plight of white working-class boys. But nothing was done. Nothing ever seems to be done.

After the 1981 Toxteth riots, Michael Heseltine famously declared that the inner cities were in urgent need of regeneration and an agenda was born. The 2024 riots may not yield hard conclusions. But as we search for the truth behind claims of British racial tension and inequality, we do see the problem of left-behind whites slowly becoming a crisis. If Starmer wants to pick an agenda from the wreckage of the last few days, he needs look no further.

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WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  A Clay County murder defendant who was convicted of sexually assaulting a child in Wichita County gets more time behind bars after pleading to yet another child sex crime.

PREVIOUS STORY: Rouleau sentenced for aggravated sexual assault of child

Brittany Rouleau pleads guilty to another child sex crime in the 89th District Court (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

Brittany Ann Rouleau, 38, of Petrolia, who was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child in May 2024 and sentenced to 60 years in prison, pleaded guilty on Thursday, August 8, 2024, to a related charge of prohibited sexual contact with an ancestor or descendant.

89th District Court Judge Charles Barnard sentenced Rouleau to an additional 15 years in prison on Thursday morning.

Both child sex crime charges against Rouleau stem from the assault of the boy that happened in 2018 in a house in the University Park addition of Wichita Falls. The boy said the assault took place when he was in the 6th grade when he came out of a bathroom.

The victim said Rouleau told him not to tell anyone or he would get in trouble. Police officers said when they questioned Rouleau, she first denied it but later admitted to it.

READ MORE: Jury reaches verdict in Rouleau trial for child sex crime

Brittany Rouleau pleads guilty to another child sex crime in the 89th District Court (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

A Wichita County jury of nine men and three women found Rouleau guilty on May 24, 2024, after they deliberated for about 23 minutes. The same jury returned a sentence of 60 years in prison the following after about an hour and a half of deliberation.

On July 29, 2024, Rouleaus defense attorney filed a notice that she would be appealing the judgment and sentence, claiming the trial court denied evidence that could have exonerated her, and by doing so, denied her the right to an effective defense.

Rouleau also pled guilty Thursday morning to a charge of possession of a controlled substance, for which she was sentenced to time served.

READ MORE: Woman charged with murder in Clay County

Meanwhile, Rouleau is still awaiting trial in Clay County for murder after she allegedly stabbed 57-year-old Kenneth Douglas in the heart in Petrolia in March 2023.

This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available.

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An illustration shows a neutron star pulsar blasting out fast radio burst. | Credit: Robert Lea (created with Canva)/NASA

Scientists have found more evidence linking rapid blasts of energy that are brighter than entire galaxies to highly magnetic dead stars or "magnetars." These neutron stars would have to possess winds of charged particles strong enough to inflate bubbles of surrounding super-heated ionized gas, or plasma.

Erupting and disappearing in milliseconds, these blasts, or fast radio bursts (FRBs), can emit as much energy in a fraction of a second that the sun releases in three days. Clearly, scientists are keen to determine the source of these powerful explosions of energy, but their origins have been frustratingly elusive since 2017, when the first FRB was found in data from the Parkes Observatory in Australia after being detected in 2001.

This source has been elusive because most FRBs briefly flash once and then vanish. Compounding this mystery is the fact that a very small sample of FRBs erupt more than once, prompting scientists to ask if repeating and non-repeating FRBs can have the same origin or if this is a bifurcated puzzle.

To investigate the mystery of FRB origins, a team of astronomers directed the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile at FRB 20201124A. Originating from a source estimated to be 1.3 billion light-years away, FRB 20201124A is a particularly active radio burst that has experienced several episodes of explosive activity during the past years.

Related: Dead star 'glitches' could reveal the origins of fast radio bursts

"FRBs are among the most violent phenomena in the universe, providing information about physics principles in extreme conditions," team leader Gabriele Bruni, researcher at the National Institute for Astrophysics, told Space.com. "All in all, they can be considered cosmic laboratories to test our theories and discover new physics."

Bruni explained that he and the team could detect the faintest radio continuum emission, electromagnetic radiation over a range of wavelengths, associated with FRB so far. This allowed them to confirm the FRB origin suggested by their "nebular model." Said model predicts that the radio continuum is produced by a bubble of plasma surrounding the central engine responsible for the bursts, inflated by winds of charged particles called the "nebular wind" blowing from that object.



"The discovery allows us to ascribe the origin of the fast radio bursts to the remnant of massive stars," Bruni said. "Our discovery about continuum emission associated with some FRB allows us to better understand the environment of their source, implying that the central engine producing the bursts must also be able to inflate a plasma bubble through winds.

"The best candidate to explain these properties so far is a magnetar, an extremely magnetized neutron star."

Dead stars are blowing bubbles

Magnetars, like all neutron stars, are born when once-massive stars with masses at least eight times that of the sun die. Stellar "death" comes about after stars exhaust their fuel supplies after spending millions or even billions of years burning nuclear fuel in their cores and converting it to heavier elements. That is usually when iron has been forged and fills the core, this being an element no star is capable of fusing into heavier elements.

The end of that fuel supply also ends the outward energy flow coming from the core of the star. This pressure of that outward radiation is what supports a star against the inward force of its own gravity for its entire life, keeping it in a delicate state of equilibrium.

As this equilibrium is shattered, the star's core collapses sending shockwaves into the outer layers of the star. This causes these layers to be blown apart and dispersed in a powerful supernova explosion while the inner core collapses upon itself. The result is a stellar remnant that has between one and two times the mass of the sun squeezed into a sphere with a diameter of just around 12 miles (19 kilometers.)

That is a neutron star.

An illustration of a neutron star undergoing a starquake, a violent event that could cause mysterious fast radio bursts.

Not only does this entire situation create neutron star matter so dense that a teaspoon of it would weigh something like 1 billion tons, but, like an ice skater drawing in their arms to spin faster, the rapidly shrinking radius increases the stellar remnant's high spin rate. As a result, some young neutron stars can rotate as fast as 700 times per second.

The collapse also pushes together the magnetic field lines of the dying star. As the field lines are compressed together, this can create the universe's most powerful magnetic fields. There are neutron stars out there that boast a powerful magnetic field of such strength they qualify for their own category of celestial object.

Those neutron stars are the magnetars.

As mentioned above, magnetars have long been posited as the source of repeating FRBs, but scientists haven't been able to pinpoint just how that is happening. Suggestions have included disparities between the interior and outer crust of a neutron star, causing it to "glitch" or momentarily speed up its rotation, and starquakes rippling through the neutron-rich sea of matter within a neutron star, releasing energy when they break their surface.

hero image for fast radio burst reference page - do not use as hero anywhere else.

"We started observing FRB20201124A in April 2021, and our deep observations with the VLA allowed us to detect its faint continuum emission in the radio," Bruni said. "That allowed us to expand the probed luminosity versus rotation measure, a way to estimate the magnetization and ionization of the medium surrounding the FRB source that is foreseen by the nebular model, confirming its validity."



Thus, this new research suggests there is a link between nebular winds strong enough to inflate bubbles of plasma and the emission of FRBs.

"Our result could prove the 'magnetoionic medium,' the combination of plasma and magnetic fields around the FRB engine, verifying that the continuum emission is produced in its immediate surroundings," Bruni said.

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While providing evidence to strengthen the link between FRBs and magnetars, this model doesn't yet provide an answer to the question of whether repeating and non-repeating FRBs have the same sources.

"This is a question under investigation by the astronomical community, with some indication that all FRBs should be able to undergo repeating episodes of bursting activity, but only the strongest can be observed," Bruni said. "Pushing the VLA to its limit, we could get a feeling about how many more FRB could be investigated with the increased sensitivity of the next generation radio telescopes.

"We have set up a campaign to detect more 'plasma bubbles' surrounding other FRBs, improving the nebula model and constraining their physical properties."

The team's research was published on Wednesday (Aug. 7) in the journal Nature.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  On Thursday, Buc-ees  with endless gas pumps and more than 70,000 square feet of food, drinks and shopping  will break ground in Huber Heights.

But what will it be like once its opened? A 2 -hour trip down I-75 South gives a glimpse. Its gas station meets chaos. Its prom. New Years Eve in Times Square. Black Friday and a zoo.

Every day.

Richmond, Kentucky, just south of Lexington, is home to the closest Buc-ees to the Miami Valley. As every location has since the company began spreading out from its native Texas, it has become a cultural phenomenon, a pit-stop magnet for travelers.

Tracking Buc-ee's

One of the main things Buc-ees is known for is the sheer number of gas pumps. At Richmond, there are a lot of them: 120. However, the Huber Heights store will double that to 240.

To put that number of pumps into perspective: If you fill up your car once a week on a different pump each time, it will take you 4  years to have used each one.

And these are all for normal consumer vehicles, not semis. Despite their size and off-interstate locations, Buc-ees arent actually truck stops.

One couple heading home to Kenosha, Wisconsin, stopped at Richmond for different but equally compelling reasons. Rusty Garrison just wanted a place to fill up on their 12-hour drive and maybe fill up his own tank as well, while Beverly Garrison was in it for the shopping.

Wawa announces Huber Heights groundbreaking date

There is definitely plenty of the latter: Decor for the living room. Sauces for your kitchen. Books and tchotchkes for the kids. Clothes for the whole family. And horns. (The store is from Texas, after all.)

I bought all the stuff, said Mike Tockey from Indianapolis, who was making his second Buc-ees stop of that day.

Buc-ees hats. Buc-ees shirts. Buc-ees mugs. Im working on a big collection.

Tockey said he had been to seven or eight locations, including the original store in Texas.

He admitted that he had the mania. On this day, he was dialed in on Buc-ees famous meat offerings.

Building Buc-ee's

Its hard to beat the pulled pork, said Tockey, but Im trying the three-meat sandwich today.

The pulled pork, three-meat sandwich and brisket are prepared at a hub in the middle of the floor. During the morning, the offerings switch to such delicious breakfast fare as sausage, egg and cheese muffins.

If you are hungry but looking for something less substantial, there are cases loaded with beef jerky, all made on-site. There are also freshly made Beaver Chips, Beaver Nug-ees. Even pickled quail eggs.

New details: Buc-ees groundbreaking planned for August

You can go nuts in there. Oh, the store sells those, too.

Those with a sweet tooth can get a cavity just walking through the store. Buc-ees is its own fudge factory, all made from scratch.

Before you head back out, you should visit one of Buc-ees other claims to fame: What they claim are the cleanest restrooms.

Isnt it kind of like a convenience store meets The Beatles? asks traveler Mike Tockey. I think so. Helter Skelter.

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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  Are your children buckling up before the car is moving? The Colorado State Patrol released a statement recently that many children are not buckling up before the vehicle is moving.

There goes a saying, Safety first, buckle up, it will be a bumpy ride.

According to the Colorado State Patrol, in 2023 there were 1,143 tickets written for children who were not buckled into their seatbelts. And out of more than 5,000 free car seat checks performed in Colorado, there was a 66% misuse rate.

CSP Sgt. Patrick Rice states, Troopers are always on the lookout for unrestrained children that could be everybody from a newborn to 8 years old. And when we see those violations, we take them very seriously. We know that lots of lots of times, children have figured out how to defeat the child restraint system. I think we all know that small children can be fidgety, and they find something on their chest that they can play with. And they unclip that buckle, and that becomes fun and then Mom and Dad tell them to leave it buckled. Now its the fun of defying mom and dad.

Dirk Clingman of the Grand Junction Fire Department tells WesternSlopeNow that about 90% of car seats they see every week are not installed correctly.

Clingman explains, Its very important to understand the size of your child, what type of car seat you have, make sure its an appropriate fit, and how that car seat interacts with your vehicle safety features.

There is a little-known fact about your childs seat that could be surprising.

Car seats do expire. Theyre made out of plastic man-made products that sit in hot cars all day. So, if you have a car seat if you have multiple children and youre using the same car seat for your multiple children, make sure that it is not expired, Clingman said.

Keeping your children safe is a major priority whether you go from point A to point B.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
Bulgaria's Cabinet of Ministers authorized the country's military on Aug. 7 to train Ukrainian soldiers within the framework of the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU).

NSATU was established during the NATO summit in Washington on July 9-11.

The initiative will coordinate the provision of military equipment and training to Ukraine by partners. NSATU aims to support the transformation of Ukraine's Defense and Security Forces, ensuring further integration with NATO.

Sofia said that this decision gives a "clear signal" of its commitment to supporting Ukraine, upholding Euro-Atlantic values, and strengthening allied solidarity in joint efforts to maintain international peace and security.

"Taking into account the proximity of the conflict to our border and its importance for security in Europe, the contribution is in line with the efforts of other allies," the statement read.

The number of Bulgarian troops to be involved is not yet known.

Earlier, Bulgaria sent 50 troops to the European Union's Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM) in support of Ukraine, which also trains Ukrainian forces.

Bulgaria has been providing defense assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, but mostly in secret at first due to internal political differences.

The country became more open in its support after now-former Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov took office in June 2023, officially handing over at least two military aid packages.

According to Euractiv, Bulgaria was one of Ukraine's largest non-public arms suppliers at the end of 2022.

At the beginning of the all-out war, Sofia secretly provided Ukraine with one-third of its ammunition and 40% of its diesel fuel supplies, Die Welt reported in January 2023.

Read also: Poland and Ukraine to form a military unit from Ukrainians in Europe. Will it be effective?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The 14 states that have banned voluntary pregnancy terminations since the Supreme Court struck down the federal right to abortion in the United States two years ago have not been able to break the will of those who want or need the procedure. Since the 2022 ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, the average number of abortions performed each month in the U.S. has been increasing, reaching an average of 98,990 per month between January and March of this year. This represents 14% more than the average for the same period in 2023, or about 12,000 more abortions per month, according to a report released Wednesday.

The data compiled by #WeCount, a research project of the Society of Family Planning, portrays how the country has shifted to either shield or restrict womens reproductive health rights 21 months after the Supreme Court struck down the landmark 1973 precedent and returned power to legislate abortion to the individual states. More than 25 million women now live in abortion-restricted territories and face great difficulty in accessing the procedure. Telecare allows them to access online medical consultations and receive necessary medication.

The report comes just three months before the presidential election that will pit Kamala Harris, a staunch defender of abortion rights, against Donald Trump, who during his previous administration appointed three Supreme Court justices with the express mission of overturning Roe.

It is expected that with Harris installed as the new Democratic candidate after the withdrawal of Joe Biden, abortion will mobilize the Democratic electorate who see in the current vice president a protector of this right. Beyond the Harris-Trump duel for the presidency, abortion will be on at least six state ballots, where voters will have the opportunity to enshrine or reject abortion protection. So far, in the seven states where popular consultations have been held, voters have decided to protect womens freedom of choice.

#WeCount began recording the number of abortions performed nationally and by state after the Supreme Court ruling in June 2022. Since then, the pro-choice initiative has published its findings in quarterly reports. Its latest, with data from the first three months of this year, shows that 102,350 abortions were performed nationwide in January alone, the first time more than 100,000 procedures have been recorded in a single month since the high courts ruling. That figure represents 17,660 more abortions than in April 2022 and 18,280 more than in May 2022, the two months prior to the ruling.

#WeCount point out that this upward trend, despite the avalanche of restrictions against the procedure that occurred in the most conservative states after the courts ruling, is due to the fact that there has been a notable increase in the number of abortions performed remotely, through telehealth. This option has risen from representing only 4% of all abortions performed in the U.S. in April 2022 to 20% today.

Used boxes of Mifepristone abortion pills in a trash bin at a clinic in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in January 2023. EVELYN HOCKSTEIN (REUTERS)

Between January and March of this year, there were around 19,700 telehealth abortions per month, including those performed in physical clinics, virtual clinics and under the protections of so-called shield laws. These laws protect doctors practicing in states where abortion remains legal from potential ramifications for prescribing abortifacient drugs via telehealth to people living in states where the procedure is banned or restricted. In all, six Democratic states  Massachusetts, Washington, Colorado, Vermont, New York and California  have passed shield laws to only one Republican state: Maine.

Thanks to these shield laws, between January and March, 27,660 abortions  9% of the total  were performed through telehealth. And since these laws began to take effect during the summer of last year, more than 65,000 people have been able to access the procedure despite residing in states where abortion is either completely banned or restricted after the sixth week of pregnancy  when most people are unaware they are pregnant  and in states where access to telemedicine is limited.

Telehealth abortion is making a critical difference for people seeking abortion care in this increasingly restrictive environment, Ushma Upadhyay, MD, co-chair of #WeCount and professor of reproductive health at the University of California, San Francisco, said in a statement Wednesday.

Surge in states bordering states that ban abortion

The report reveals that the number of abortions increased in states that border states that ban or restrict the procedure. In part, this increase is because more people are moving from states where they cannot have abortions to territories where they are legal, according to #WeCount. This is the case in Illinois, which is completely surrounded by states that have restricted access to abortion, including three that have banned it altogether: Missouri, Indiana, and Kentucky. In the first three months of the year, Illinois registered the third-highest average number of abortions.

While the volume of abortions has increased, we know that this isnt the full story, said Alison Norris, M.D., co-chair of #WeCount and professor at The Ohio State Universitys College of Public Health. Even as we see the increase in abortion volume nationally, the burden on an individual living in a state with an abortion ban is enormous, especially if they need in-person abortion care.

Abortions have virtually ceased in the 14 states that have enacted bans since the ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. #WeCount estimates that, if these bans did not exist, 208,040 abortions would have occurred in those 14 states in the 21 months since the Supreme Court ruling. In other words, these bans are preventing nearly 10,000 in-person abortions from occurring in those states every month.

The states with the largest cumulative declines in abortion volume since the Supreme Court ruling are Texas (64,710), Georgia (39,245), Tennessee (24,775), Louisiana (16,175) and Alabama (13,335). In four of the five, abortion is prohibited, except in Georgia, where it is prohibited after the sixth week.

Two anti-abortion rights activists argue with escorts at a clinic in Fort Pierce, Florida, in April 2024. Marco Bello (REUTERS)

Florida and the southeastern U.S.

The #WeCount researchers highlight the case of Florida, where until last March the number of abortions performed was on the rise. However, the data handled by the organization does not reflect the change in state legislation: as of May 1, 2024, Florida bans abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy. The so-called heartbeat law amounts to virtually a total ban, as do similar laws in effect in Georgia, Iowa, and South Carolina.

For #WeCount, the Florida law will have repercussions beyond the state, given the relatively high number of abortions that were performed there before the new rule went into effect. After the Supreme Court ruling, Florida had become a recipient of patients from other parts of the southeastern U.S., where there are seven states that have banned the procedure. As of March, the number of monthly abortions in Florida ranged from 6,000 to 8,000.

The future of abortion rights in Florida and in the Southeast in general will be decided later this year. On November 5, the day of the presidential election, the states residents will also vote on a constitutional amendment that, if passed, would legalize abortion up to viability, which is generally considered to be around 23 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. At least 60% must vote in favor to add this measure to the state constitution.

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A Caldwell mother will spend at least the next 10 years in prison after she crashed into several cars while driving intoxicated  and breastfeeding  with her children in the vehicle, according to the Canyon County Prosecutors Office.

Third District Judge Gene Petty sentenced Ryann Holland to 25 years in prison with the possibility of parole after 10 years, officials said in a Wednesday news release. Holland was arrested by the Canyon County Sheriffs Office in December after she was involved in an accident with three vehicles at the intersection of Orchard Avenue and North Fitzwilliam Street that seriously injured an adult and four minors, the release said.

Petty also revoked Hollands drivers license for five years after her release from prison, the release said. And he ordered her to pay $1,800 in court fines.

The sheer recklessness shown by the defendant in this case warrants the lengthy sentence that Judge Petty handed down, Canyon County Prosecutor Bryan Taylor said in the release. Her complete lack of regard for her childrens safety and the other drivers is almost beyond belief. Im hopeful she uses her time in prison to think about the mistakes that she made and get the help she needs.

Holland had a blood alcohol content of 0.271, more than three times the legal limit of 0.08, and was breastfeeding her 6-month-old baby when the crash occurred. Hollands 2-year-old child was in the backseat of the vehicle, according to the release.

Before the crash, the prosecutors office said Holland was seen on traffic cameras driving erratically through Nampa, where she hit another vehicle.

Holland was charged with injury to a child, leaving the scene of the accident and six counts of aggravated driving under the influence  for each person that authorities said was a victim of her actions, according to an amended complaint obtained by the Idaho Statesman. Her charges were pleaded down to five DUIs, with the other felonies and a pair of misdemeanors dropped, court records showed.

One of the most important responsibilities as a parent is to protect your children from danger. Its also a responsibility that we in the law enforcement profession take very seriously, Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue said in the release. This defendant clearly failed to do that by purposely putting her children and others in harms way.
Caleb Harris Family Claims Death Was 'Not an Accident,' Though Police Say They Have No Evidence of Foul Play

The family's claim came a day after an autopsy report stated that his cause of death could not be determined

Caleb Harris/Facebook Caleb Harris

After the release of Caleb Harris' autopsy report, which stated that his cause of death could not be determined with certainty, the student's father said the family believes his death "was not an accident"

In their autopsy report, medical examiners wrote that "while no significant traumatic injuries are identified, the condition of the remains could have obscured subtle injuries and/or additional significant natural disease"

Police, who previously said they had no evidence of foul play and that Harris might have accidentally fallen into a manhole, confirm to PEOPLE that as of Aug. 8 nothing has changed in their investigation

After Caleb Harris' autopsy report was released, which stated that his cause of death couldn't be determined, his family said that they still believe his death was "not an accident." Meanwhile police, who previously said that they had no evidence of foul play, although they hadn't officially ruled it out, confirm to PEOPLE that nothing has changed in their investigation.

In an interview with the San Antonio Express-News published on Wednesday, August 7, Randy Harris, Calebs father, said that the family is continuing to cooperate with authorities amid the ongoing investigation.

"There are no updates at this point, but we fully believe this is a homicide and not an accident," Randy Harris told the outlet, without providing additional details.

Related: Caleb Harris' Family Speaks Out as Police Say Human Remains Found in Well 'Most Likely' Belong to the Student

When reached for comment, Deputy Chief Billy Breedlove of the Corpus Christi Police Department says that "not much has changed" since speaking to PEOPLE in July, after Harris' remains, which were found in a wastewater lift station, were identified.

At the time, Breedlove said that while it was possible that Harris had been "harmed," there was no evidence of foul play, and that it was also possible that an accidental fall could explain how he ended up in the sewer system.

"There's nothing in this autopsy that has given us any more direction to say it was a homicide, nor was there any direction to say it was not a homicide," Breedlove tells PEOPLE on Thursday, Aug. 8.

As for their investigation, Breedlove says that they've "pretty much exhausted all of the digital evidence and different videos" and have "covered everything we can at this point."

He went on to say they're in "weekly contact" with the family, although when asked why the family would say they believe Harris' death wasn't an accident, Breedlove says, "I don't have any way to speculate on that."



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The Nueces County Medical Examiners Office released of its autopsy report on Tuesday, August 6.

The findings, obtained by PEOPLE, stated that Harris remains had already been in an "advanced state of decomposition and skeletonization, which is a reason why his cause of death "cannot be determined with certainty.

While no significant traumatic injuries are identified, the condition of the remains could have obscured subtle injuries and/or additional significant natural disease, the medical examiners wrote, noting that "the exact details leading up to the terminal event and death" remain unclear.

Hence, the cause and manner of death are classified as undetermined at this time," they wote. "If additional information becomes available in the future, the cause of and manner of death can be amended, if needed.

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Harris, 21, was last seen on March 4 near his apartment complex on Ennis Joslin Road in the vicinity of the campus of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where he was a second-year student, according to the CCPD. His disappearance led to an exhaustive months-long search in which authorities said an investigative team executed over 50 digital search warrants, submitted 82 preservation requests, and analyzed over 1500 GB of Data."

On July 17, the CCPD said that human remains discovered on June 24 at the Perry Place wastewater lift station had been positively identified as belonging to Harris. At the time, police said that the remains bore no obvious signs of homicide.

Related: Caleb Harris 'Always Had a Smile on His Face,' Family Says at Memorial Service After His Remains Are Found

Deputy Chief Billy Breedlove previously said that around 3:03 a.m. on March 4, Harris shared a Snapchat photo to a friend showing a small bridge located a few hundred feet away from his apartment complex. About 600 feet away from there, authorities came upon an open manhole  whose cover was knocked aside  in a field.

Additionally, the night that Harris disappeared was one of the foggiest in the area, which may have affected visibility, per Breedlove.

While police are not definitively sure how Harris made his way into the manhole, which measured 25 inches wide and 15 feet deep, Breedlove told PEOPLE they do think that was Harris' point of access into the sewer system.

Related: Missing Student Caleb Harris Remembered at Vigil After His Remains Were Identified: Profound Pain

Two days before the release of her son's autopsy report, Becky Harris, Calebs mother, shared a Facebook post about her late son.

I know that I have a battle in front of me. I hurt. I grieve. I am brokenhearted, not just for me but for those around me who know and love Caleb. This makes me love harder," she wrote. "I will see Caleb again in heaven because of His Amazing Grace.

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Is coastal California doing its fair share to fix the states affordable housing crisis?

Assemblyman David Alvarez, a San Diego Democrat, grew up in the poor neighborhood of Barrio Logan. Despite living a stones throw from Californias coastline, he didnt visit the beach until he was in high school.

Access to the coast is not something I have been able to enjoy, growing up in a very poor part of San Diego, Alvarez told the California Assemblys Committee on Housing and Community Development in June.

Now, the Democrat and former San Diego City councilman who represents the lower-income border towns of Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, and National City in Assembly District 80, is working to make affordable housing more accessible in Californias Coastal Zone, the 800-mile stretch of the states coastline overseen by the California Coastal Commission.

Assemblyman David A. Alvarez, D-San Diego, right, talks with Eduardo Garcia, D-Coachella during session in 2023. Alvarez is working to make affordable housing more accessible in Californias Coastal Zone.

Access is not just about giving someone a chance to go and visit the beach on a Sunday afternoon, Alvarez told The Bee. Its about living there, too. And right now, the coast is very exclusive.

Today, true access to the coast  which also means the opportunity to live on the coast  is very limited unless you are a rich person, Alvarez added.

Alvarez is one of many California legislators working to expand housing density in the Coastal Zone, despite what he and others consider push-back from the Commission and environmental groups like the Surfrider Foundation and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The Coastal Commission serves as the overseer and protector of the coast. Established through the Coastal Act of 1972, the Commissions main function is to protect public access to Californias beaches and its ecosystems from the effects of climate change and overzealous developers. There are 11 commissioners, appointed by various branches of Californias government who have immense power over everything that happens on the coastline  from surf competitions and beach views to apartment buildings and even fences.

Homes along Indio Drive in Pismo Beach are seen in July. The California Coastal Commission has often denied private property owners requests for sea wall construction permits.

What unites critics of the Coastal Commission  including coastal Democrats like Alvarez, rural and inland Republicans like Assemblyman Joe Patterson of Rocklin, and pro-housing YIMBY groups  is the agencys extensive authority, including its ability to slow down much-needed affordable housing developments for violating subjective standards, like being visually compatible with neighborhood character.

It is modern-day redlining, said Patterson.

He represents parts of Placer and El Dorado Counties, and his district encompasses parts of the Eldorado National Forest, the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, hundreds of miles of trails along the American River and the Sierra Nevada foothills, where centuries-old oak trees dot bike baths, creek sides and some of the last remaining agricultural properties in the region.

I dont understand whats more special about the coasts than my communities, Patterson told The Bee. I just think its unfair that my district has to comply but these wealthy coastal cities dont have to.

The Coastal Commission resolutely denies it has contributed to housing inaffordability in the Coastal Zone.

We should be working together to break down barriers to affordable housing, not hurling inflammatory epithets designed to score political points, said Coastal Commission Legislative Director Sarah Christie.

But the lack of affordable housing on the coast affects inland communities, who must meet state-mandated housing demands as their populations grow, ultimately begging the question: Who carries the fair share of addressing the affordable housing crisis in California?

Who carries the affordable housing burden?

Alvarez thinks coastal communities could do more to address the affordable housing shortage in California.

He is approaching the issue by addressing a preexisting Housing Density Bonus Law, which gives private housing developers certain incentives  as in, they can build more units  if they set aside a percentage of units for affordable housing. Alvarezs law would make it possible for developers to apply Density Bonus Law in the states Coastal Zone, but only in areas already zoned for apartment buildings.

Density Bonus Law is about building affordable housing, and affordable housing means people who have low incomes, or people who have middle incomes. And thats equity, in terms of access to the coast, Alvarez said.

Communities outside of the Coastal Zone also grapple with the contentious issue of housing density.

In May, the Placer County Board of Supervisors voted after several contentious hearings to rezone the rural, unincorporated Dry Creek area  where residents have enjoyed decades of no traffic, no stoplights, no sidewalks and proximity to the oak groves  for the development of affordable multifamily homes.

My lifestyle is at stake, said Tammy Riedman of Dry Creek. My sanity is at stake. My safety is at stake.

Tammy Riedman, of Dry Creek, feeds her horse Woody at her four acre ranch in Dry Creek on July 30. Riedman and her husband bought the property 27 years ago so they could have horses and have a rural lifestyle.

Tammy and her husband, Rick, have lived on their Dry Creek property for 27 years. They raised two children there, and hosted every birthday party growing up for their seven grandchildren, giving all the kids a turn to ride horseback on their 4-acre property on Eva Lane and Vineyard Road, directly across from a planned development of 1,900 new homes.

Ive chosen to live a country life, a western life, she said. But if they build over there, why would we stay?

Ive got all the patience in the world for animals, Rick added. But I dont always do well with people. Decades ago, as the then-newlyweds considered their futures, all Tammy wanted was a porch where she can sit and watch her horses.

But with all the prospective new developments, the Riedmans and other citizen activists are concerned Dry Creek will have all of the inconveniences of a city, but, as Rick put it, still have all of the work of being in the country.

Tammy Riedman and her husband Rick work with their horses on on their ranch in Dry Creek on July 30. The couple are worried what the construction of a development on the other side of Vineyard Road will do to their rural life style.

Plus, as longtime resident and vocal critic of new housing developments Laura Bullard said, there are serious concerns about infrastructure. Only one fire station serves Dry Creek. It has no paved sidewalks for children to walk to school, let alone enough classrooms once they get there.

Its a fight playing out in every county in California: an acknowledgment of an affordable housing crisis, distress over the state of people forced to live in encampments and wait years to access shelters, and a constant fight over where, exactly, affordable housing ought to go.

But what inland communities such as Dry Creek do not have that coastal communities do is the power, authority and advocacy of a statewide commission with an explicit mandate to limit development.

Rick Riedman, of Dry Creek, walks his horse Bella as he maneuvers his wheel chair last month. Riedman suffered an injured by a horse in 2005 but is passionate about living on his four acre ranch in Dry Creek.

Checks and balances

Alvarez and the bills co-authors, including Patterson, have had to face off with the Coastal Commission over this bill and others.

They say the Density Bonus Bill wont usurp the Commissions authority over sensitive coastal environments and public beach access. Instead, they say, it will reduce sprawl in coastal areas, and help low- and middle-income earners afford to live where many of them work. The bill has support from various pro-housing YIMBY groups as well as the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation and the California School Employees Association.

The Commission removed its opposition to the bill after Alvarez reluctantly agreed to two amendments.

One of those would restore the Coastal Commissions ability to approve housing policies in the Local Coastal Programs  development plans that coastal cities and counties are required to submit to show their accordance with the Coastal Act.

Since 1980, the Coastal Act has not allowed the commission oversight into housing development. In the new amendment, the Local Coastal Programs would be required to include language on harmonizing density bonus with the Coastal Act.

Critics of the Commission say this is a power grab, essentially handing housing development approval back to the Commission.

The appropriate context for repealing the current prohibition would be as part of legislation that also reintroduces housing policies back into the Coastal Act, said Christopher Pederson, former chief counsel at the Commission, at the California Senate Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Water hearing in late June.

That would allow the Legislature to address policy issues, such as the extent of the Commissions authority to establish inclusionary housing requirements.

The Commission says the amendment is a win-win, and provides local coastal governments their own authority to implement density bonus, while also serving as an important check on the housing industry and ensuring oversight of the coastal environment.

This policy wouldnt give the Commission any additional authority over housing policy, said Christie, the legislative director. It would simply require local governments to affirmatively acknowledge in their LCPs that density bonus projects can get built in the coastal zone, so long as there is no significant harm to coastal resources.

Storm driven erosion in Pismo Beach has ocean front home owners concerned. Some houses have sea walls, others do not. The California Coastal Commission has been slow to issue private property permits for sea wall construction.

Alvarez was visibly uncomfortable as he accepted the amendment.

My goal is to try to move the ball forward and try to create, specifically, affordable housing opportunities in California, Alvarez told The Bee after the hearing.

Anything we can do to create more housing opportunities, Im supportive of those measures.  There are some amendments that I am still unsure of how limiting they might be in terms of achieving that goal.

Other lawmakers concerned about the Commissions authority were less generous.

I never want to see them in another legislative hearing in my life, Patterson said.

It is the job of the Legislature to set policy. It is not the job of the Coastal Commission to set policy.

Calls for Coastal Commission reform

The push-back from the Commission, environmental groups and wealthy coastal neighborhoods such as the City of Del Mar, Carlsbad, and Manhattan Beach has illustrated a growing tension among California legislators, housing groups and the Commission itself, ultimately leading to calls across the aisle for Commission reform.

I think its only a matter of time until theres reforms to the Coastal Commission, Alvarez said. Maybe its not the Coastal Act, but there needs to be a set of principles that are measurable in terms of what we want to protect. It cant just be This beach town is iconic, therefore you cant build anything. Currently, the Coastal Commission believes that it actually has that authority  and we cant have that level of ambiguity.

Many of his fellow lawmakers agree.

Sen. Catherine Blakespear, D-Encinitas, a former mayor of a Coastal Zone city who also has a Coastal Zone housing bill in the Legislature this session, earlier this year called the act and the Commission a bit of a sacred cow and said that reforms are an area of an emerging focus from the Legislature.

Long time Dry Creek resident Laura Bullard said last month she has serious concerns about the infrastructure as the area begins to be developed.

Density Bonus Laws, and the Coastal Zone exemption

The California Legislature passed a Housing Density Bonus Law in 1979, and over the years it has been updated and amended to include very-low-income households, middle-income households, senior citizens and college students. With the density bonus, developers enjoy certain incentives if they set aside a percentage of units for those groups while providing much-needed affordable housing at a lower cost than government affordable housing projects, which can become costly.

Government-built affordable housing is some of the most expensive housing out there, said Alvarez, a former San Diego city councilman. Id rather build affordable housing on the backs of developers than taxpayers, which is what these bills do.

The Coastal Commission and environmental groups say that Density Bonus Law applied in the Coastal Zone simply puts millions in developers pockets, and that politicians like Alvarez, who have received thousands of dollars of campaign contributions from various trade and real estate groups, are serving their interests.

Storm driven erosion in Pismo Beach has ocean front home owners concerned. Some houses have sea walls, others do not. The California Coastal Commission has been slow to issue private property permits for sea wall construction.

Alvarez takes issue with this assertion.

You need to look at my track record before being in the Legislature, he said. I have always been working in a bipartisan fashion to reduce regulatory hurdles that get in the way of building affordable housing.

Pro-housing advocates also say Density Bonus Laws encourage density over sprawl; rather than building outward in inland communities, where new sewage and electrical systems must be built alongside new suburban developments, developers can build more units in areas where counties or cities have already developed the infrastructure for such projects.

The most important way to reduce environmental impact is to increase concentration of people living in existing urban areas that have already built that infrastructure, said Matthew Lewis at CA YIMBY.

There are myriad examples housing projects being held up over zoning and permitting approval processes  ranging from million-dollar estates to buildings for low-income farmworkers, who experience a well-documented struggle to find stable housing.

And while the Coastal Commission does not typically approve or deny housing projects  though it does approve Local Coastal Programs  it serves as something of a court of appeal.

If a developer wants to build an apartment building, resident groups or organizations like Surfrider can file a complaint about a Coastal Act violation to the Commission, who will review it and potentially act on it by serving the developer with cease-and-desist or restoration orders, thus potentially embroiling the project in years and millions of dollars worth of legal delays.

This is another false narrative stemming from a very small set of projects that took longer to approve for a variety of reasons, said Christie, who also pointed out that the Commission has never denied a density bonus project nor an affordable housing project.

But legislators take issue with those claims.

I have heard no one tell me how easy it was in any process that had to deal with the Coastal Commission, said Sen. Kelly Seyarto, R-Murrieta, in the Senate Housing Committee hearing for Alvarezs bill in June.

It was another layer of government that they had to get through and a lot of times couldnt even get through it.

Beach-goers enjoy Victoria Beach in Laguna Beach on June 20.

Housing is a statewide issue

The Coastal Zone stretches from the Oregon border in the north to the Mexico border in the south, from the coast line up to three miles inland  though in many places, such as Huntington and Venice Beach, the Coastal Zone only stretches a few blocks east.

The Coastal Zone does not represent every coastal community in the state  a misconception the Commission is working to fix. The Commission does not oversee development in all of Los Angeles simply because it is a coastal community. Rather, it oversees the parts of Los Angeles that fall in the official Coastal Zone, closest to the actual coast line with the most sensitive natural environments.

Solving the affordable housing crisis in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco or Marin County is a problem far more complex than the Commission itself is prepared, or was created, to address.

But its critics inland, like Patterson, say its pushing the problem into their districts.

Houses are under construction in Dry Creek last month Cook Riolo Road south of Vineyard Road near a proposed 37 acre development.

I understand that there are impacts of development on the coast, just like in my foothill communities. Once its gone, its gone. Once you steamroll a beach or an oak tree, its gone. So I am cognizant of that.

But Californias environment beyond the coast is as precious as the states beaches.

Whenever you see the governor doing some kind of photo op or commercial about the beauty of California, it usually entails something on the coast and something in the mountains, Patterson said.

They are protecting the Coast at the cost of inland communities.
Democratic lawmakers and organizers who once served in the U.S. military characterized GOP attacks on Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's military record as "unfounded" and "morally bankrupt" on a Thursday press call organized by the Democratic National Committee.

Republicans have been pushing the false line that Walz, who served in the National Guard for 24 years, abandoned his unit as it was being deployed to Iraq, with Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, characterizing his service as "stolen valor garbage."

Such attacks don't hold up to scrutiny, according to Rep. Jake Auchinschloss, D-Mass., who pointed out that Walz, who won multiple decorations and received praise from fellow officers, made the decision to retire from the National Guard months before his unit received its deployment notification.

Walz's retirement was finalized in May 2005, two months prior to the deployment notification in July 2005, and nearly a year before his former unit went to Iraq in March 2006. Its probable that he made the decision to retire and filed his paperwork months earlier, having filed his intent to run for Congress back in February 2006.

"Typically, processing time ranges from 60 to 180 days for retirement requests based on the selected date of retirement, said a U.S. Army Human Resources Command official in 2023, discussing such requests from reserve members.

"I think we saw twenty years ago with the swift boating of John Kerry that we cannot presume that unfounded attacks will implode under their own lies, so we have to call out bad faith attacks and show them that we are not going to be pliant about this," Auchinschloss continued. The GOP effort to paint Kerry as a liar about his own military service in Vietnam was headed by Republican operative Chris LaCivita, who is now co-campaign manager in Donald Trump's campaign.

Auchinschloss said that it's especially rich that the attacks would come from Republicans supporting former President Donald Trump, who took five deferments during the Vietnam War and "has a record of disparaging veterans and throwing them under the bus for political gain."

Republicans are also accusing Walz of lying about his record, highlighting a speech in which he expressed his wish to "make sure that weapons of war, that I carried in war, are only carried in war." Walz did not serve in a combat zone, but did provide base protection and participate in training missions and other support operations for the war in Afghanistan while stationed in Europe. If Walz used potentially ambiguous language in that instance, he also on numerous other occasions shared careful details of his service, noting that he did not deploy to Iraq and saying that "there are certainly folks that did far more than I did. I know that."

Veterans now working as organizers for the Harris-Walz campaign said they are angry at these Republican attacks and emphasized that all military service is important and commendable. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colorado, suggested that Trump's allies are disparaging Walz because they "have no ideas and no vision for the future, so all they can do is attack and lie and twist and contort and it shows the country their complete lack of leadership."

The call also discussed President Joe Biden and former president Trump's respective records on veterans affairs, as well as the PACT Act, which Biden signed into law in 2022 and expands the scope of benefits eligibility for American veterans.
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly came to Calumet City Wednesday to deliver a $1.7 million check dedicated to electric bus rollout at Elementary District 157, amid struggles with operations at Joliets electric school bus factory due to complications with federal subsidy rollout.

About 30 people attended the event at Schrum Memorial Middle School and had an opportunity to take a short ride on one of the two vehicles, similar in design to any classic yellow school bus. The difference, as noted by Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones, was in the sound they produce.

I can tell you I cant hear anything! Jones said at a podium set up in front of one of the buses, eliciting laughter from the small crowd. Gone are the days of school buses where you hear all the noise and you hear everything and the school buses coming.

Sure enough, in absence of the whir of an engine, the electric buses are required to project music from exterior speakers so pedestrians and other vehicles can hear them coming. Drivers of the electric buses will have to be trained to get used to some other key differences, including quicker acceleration and braking.

Theyve had to think about scheduling so they can be sure that theyre getting a good charge in between bus runs, said Alfred Saucedo, U.S. EPA region chief of staff. But I think fundamentally, the most important thing is these are buses, drivers can drive them.

The funding granted to Hoover-Schrum Memorial schools through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean School Bus Rebate Program will go toward five zero emission buses from manufacturer Lion Electric, which last week announced 300 layoffs, including some at the Joliet plant.

The five new buses are expected to enter the fleet at Hoover Elementary School and Schrum Memorial Middle School sometime this fall or winter, according to John Benish Jr., chief operating officer for the Cook-Illinois Corporation, the bus contractor for District 157. Two electric buses have already been in use off and on in the district since 2019, he said.

Bloom Township High School District 206 received $10 million in EPA funding last year for 25 electric buses, which are expected to begin use in October, according to Gregory Horak, the districts transportation director.

The electric buses are expected to prevent air pollution caused by emissions from traditional buses powered by diesel fuel. Horak said as someone who helps children board buses at the end of the school day, the immediate effect of that pollution is obvious.

Id be lying if those traditional fuel buses dont pull up, and some of them are riding in the cloud of smoke, Horak said. You can tell that the kids, you know, when theyre getting on there, that look on their face, like, man, the smell of the exhaust  And so hopefully, that cleaner ride has a residual impact on their health and mental acuity walking in the door.

At Wednesdays event celebrating District 157s funding, Kelly, a Democrat representing Illinois 2nd Congressional District, said there is no better investment than prioritizing childrens health in addition to the environment.

According to EPA air quality indicators, Calumet City ranks in the 80th to 90th highest percentile for exposure to air pollution from vehicle exhaust, which is linked to asthma and other health issues, compared to other cities across the nation.

Our children deserve to breathe clean air, Kelly told the crowd. By replacing old buses with electric buses that produce zero tailpipe emissions, our children will be happier and healthier. And so will the neighborhoods the bus drives through.

As part of the federal program, use of the new buses coming to Bloom Township and Hoover-Schrum will be limited to within the dedicated districts for five years.

Representatives from both school districts said they plan to apply for additional funding to increase the number of electric vehicles they use.

All of our students will benefit from this, District 157 Superintendent Dwayne Evans said. The world is changing; we will no longer have carbon driven buses in our students lifetimes.

ostevens@chicagotribune.com
The Navy is advising veterans exposed to contaminated water aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to file their claim by the August 10 deadline.

Veterans can go to https://clclaims.jag.navy.mil to get the claims process started.

This comes two years after President Biden signed into law the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. The legislation included the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which allows those affected by toxic materials at the camp to sue the federal government for compensation.

The PACT Act also provides toxic exposure screenings and follow-up screenings to veterans enrolled in Department of Veterans Affairs health care.

Service members affected by toxic water at Camp Lejeune between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987, are eligible to file a claim.

Camp Lejeune water contamination tied to several cancers, study shows

Veterans and family members who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune are 70% more likely to develop Parkinsons disease than other service members, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Chemicals from an off-site dry cleaning firm leaked into the bases water supply beginning in the 1950s, but the military didnt discover the contamination until 1982.

The Associated Press has also reported that the water at Camp Lejeune accounted for a 20% increase in cancer risk for service members stationed there from 1975 to 1985.
FILE PHOTO: Canada's Minister of National Defence Blair takes part in public hearings for an independent commission probing alleged foreign interference in Canadian elections in Ottawa

FILE PHOTO: Canada's Minister of National Defence Blair takes part in public hearings for an independent commission probing alleged foreign interference in Canadian elections in Ottawa

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada and Australia, expressing alarm at China's claims over the disputed waters of the South China Sea, on Thursday said they would increase their military and defense industry cooperation.

Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair said security in the Indo-Pacific region was being challenged "in a number of significant and difficult ways" and accused Beijing of trying to reshape the international system to advance its own interests.

Blair, speaking after Vancouver talks with Australian counterpart Richard Marles, said the two nations needed to work more closely together to maintain order in the Indo-Pacific.

"We have agreed to pursue closer collaboration by enhancing the interoperability of our armed forces and by deepening our operational cooperation," he told reporters.

The two said they were concerned about what they called Beijing's excessive maritime claims in the South China Sea as well as Chinese military activity around Taiwan.

The Philippines' armed forces and their counterparts from Canada, United States, and Australia this week held joint maritime exercises in the South China Sea.

"Our cooperation is based on seeking to deter. We are absolutely about working with each other so that we can avoid conflict," said Marles, referring to his talks with Blair.

Marles flew to Vancouver from Washington after Wednesday talks in which Australia agreed to begin co-manufacturing guided weapons with the United States next year.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Canada to pull children of diplomats out of Israel, foreign ministry says

By Kanishka Singh

(Reuters) -Canada decided to pull the children of its diplomats and their guardians out of Israel on Wednesday amid fears of a widened conflict in the Middle East, the Canadian foreign ministry said.

Israel's tensions with Iran and Hezbollah have fanned fears of a broader conflict in a region already on edge amid Israel's assault on Gaza which has killed tens of thousands and caused a humanitarian crisis, including widespread hunger.

There has been an increased risk of escalation into a broader Middle East war after the killings of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and of Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut drew threats of retaliation against Israel.

The foreign ministry, in a statement on Thursday, said it had approved temporarily relocating the diplomats' children and their guardians to a safe third country. It added that diplomats stationed in Ramallah in the West Bank and in Beirut do not have dependents living with them.

Canada on Saturday warned citizens to avoid all travel to Israel, saying the regional armed conflict endangered security. It also urges its citizens to not travel to Gaza and the West Bank.

The embassies in Tel Aviv and Beirut and the representative office to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank "all remain fully operational and continue to provide essential services to Canadians," the ministry said in a statement.

The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

The Gaza health ministry says that since then Israel's military assault on the Hamas-governed enclave has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians while also displacing nearly the entire population of 2.3 million and leading to genocide accusations that Israel denies.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Stephen Coates and Josie Kao)
When you have a blank page in front of you, you can fill it with anything you like, be it a poem, a work of art, or a smudge. In political terms, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris new number two on the Democratic ticket for the presidential election, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, is a blank page: a perfect stranger to 71% of voters. As such, the Democratic and Republican campaigns immediately went on the attack to fill in the gaps: Walzs party are presenting him as a former high school teacher and a man of the people with a track record of applying common sense; the Republicans sense an opportunity and are attempting to portray him as a dangerous radical to try and regain the initiative lost with Harris entry into the race.

On Wednesday the Democratic candidates staged their first rallies in the Midwest, the rural America from which Walz hails, in Eau Claire (Wisconsin) and Detroit (Michigan). It was the first test of whether the governors traditional roots, military background and humurous personality will appeal to voters as the Harris campaign hopes, particularly among non-urban white males who are leaning toward Republican candidate Donald Trump in droves.

At both events the Democratic ticket received an enthusiastic response from an audience of over ten thousand people. They presented Walzs credentials, as they had at their introductory rally in Philadelphia Tuesday night. Both recalled that for 12 years as a congressman he represented a Minnesota district that until then had voted staunchly Republican.

As the vice president and her number two began their tour of the swing states, Republican vice-presidential hopeful J.D. Vance was also speaking in Eau Claire. On Tuesday, also in Philadelphia, Vance accused Harris of having bent the knee to the progressive Democratic wing by selecting Walz and on Wednesday he questioned his rivals military record. For his part, Trump called his favorite television network, Fox News, to declare himself delighted that Harris had chosen the governor and to lash out at the former high school teacher with the arguments repeated by his campaign urbi et orbe: that Harris has made a mistake with this shocking selection of a radical progressive who is only a slightly smarter version of herself. They are, the Republicans added on their social networks, the most radical left duo in American history.

Since Walz was announced Tuesday, Republicans have pounced on what they describe as the Minnesota governors fixation with the rights of transgender minors: during his tenure, that state has declared itself a haven for transgender people. They have also reproached him for the state issuing drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. Or the delay in sending in the National Guard during the riots in the city of Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd, an African-American citizen, at the hands of white police officers in 2020. The latter attack, however, seems to have been neutralized with the release of a recording from that time in which Trump, in a phone call with governors, praises Walzs handling of the situation.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz arrives on stage to deliver remarks before Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, at a campaign event, Wednesday, August 7, 2024, in Eau Claire, Wisc. Charles Rex Arbogast (AP)

Unforced error

Republicans are seeking to portray Walz as the first major unforced error of the Harris campaign and a preview of what his governing agenda may be. This is the Dumb and Dumber ticket, the number three Republican in the House of Representatives, Tom Emmer, a Minnesota native, told digital media NOTUS. Hes not good, and hes totally incompetent. Under his leadership, taxes have skyrocketed, Minnesota violent crime is at record highs and Minnesotas families are worse off than they were before he started. So this is consistent with Kamala Harris.

Walz had not featured in the initial Democratic pools for the vice-presidential pick. In his 60s, he harbored no ambitions to go higher and considered himself in the twilight of his political career. But his description of the rival candidates as just weird in a television interview went viral among the party ranks and put him on the radar. A close review by the team charged with vetting the VP hopefuls last Friday added Walz to final shortlist, along with Arizona Sen. and former astronaut Mark Kelly and charismatic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, 51, one of the rising stars of the Democratic Party.

All three, the reports concluded, could help Harris win the White House. Kelly was endorsed by donors; Shapiro by much of the Democratic establishment. Walz was backed by labor unions and his former colleagues in Congress, including the influential former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The final decision rested in the hands of the vice president.

Harris spent Saturday reviewing the reports with her advisers at her National Observatory residence in northwest Washington. The conclusion was the same: all three were excellent, each with distinct strengths and weaknesses. Shapiro could bring in voters in Pennsylvania, the key swing state in the race. Kelly, his compelling personal story and votes in the border states.

Walz perfectly complemented Harris profile: the daughter of academics, of Jamaican-American and Indian descent, raised in progressive California and married to a well-to-do Jewish lawyer. His experience in Congress, where he forged a reputation for building bridges with all parties, compensated for Harris brief two-year stint in the Senate.

The vice president convened the three separately on Sunday at her residence. By then, the consensus on the team was that Kelly  criticized by the unions for his positions on workers rights and lacking the magnetism of his rivals  would only be chosen if none of the other two shone in their interviews.

The presidential candidate reiterated what she had already told her team throughout her two weeks as Joe Bidens replacement at the head of the ticket. That she wanted a running mate who could help her win the election but above all someone who could be a partner in government, contributing ideas and management, but without overshadowing her. And that there would be political chemistry between the two.

Walz, with whom Harris had not had many dealings previously other than as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, passed the test. His plain-speaking, jocular manner endeared him to the vice president. She also appreciated his idea of defending Democratic accomplishments, rather than attacking Republican failures. And, above all, he reiterated from the outset his willingness to be just another member of the team, with no inclination to one day occupy the Oval Office.

The conversation with Shapiro did not flow so well. Harris, some of her advisors told U.S. media on condition of anonymity, wanted a team player. Someone who would stick to the low-key role she herself played during Bidens tenure. Someone who would not overshadow her or become a de facto power, like Dick Cheney in the George W. Bush administration.

Shapiro, who has been compared to Barack Obama for his brilliant oratory and charisma, is not a man who fits that profile. Throughout the process he had made his ambition clear. And pressure from his supporters, which led Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker to briefly release a video endorsement last Friday before withdrawing it, backfired. Both, according to accounts, agreed that it was best to leave things as they were. He called the vice presidents team to admit he was having trouble leaving the governors post.

It was clear that, after the interviews had concluded, she was leaning towards Walz for a host of reasons, probably chief among them rapport, a person close to the vice president told NOTUS. But he was also clear-eyed on the vision.

For the moment, Walzs selection has generated an avalanche of praise from the Democratic hierarchy, in communiques, and from the partys grassroots on social media. One factor is decisive in gauging his popularity among supporters: money. According to the campaign, in the 24 hours since the announcement, over $36 million has been raised. Now it remains to be seen what the former high school teachers impact on the polls will be.

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This image from U.S. Capitol Police video, released and annotated by the Justice Department in the statement of facts supporting an arrest warrant for Bradley Scott Nelson, shows Nelson, circled in red, at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (Justice Department via AP)

A Nevada man awaiting trial on charges that he stormed the U.S. Capitol has been jailed after he allegedly made threats directed at Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett and other public officials.

Bradley Scott Nelson's escalating rhetoric is grounds for keeping him detained until a hearing next week, a federal magistrate judge in Maryland ruled Tuesday.

In July, U.S. District Judge John Bates agreed to revoke Nelson's pretrial release and issued a warrant for his arrest. Bates is scheduled to preside over a hearing next Wednesday on whether to keep Nelson detained until his trial on charges stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump.

Magistrate Judge Charles Austin's order outlines the threats that Nelson is accused of making this year, in social media posts and other statements.

Nelson last month allegedly posted an image of Attorney General Merrick Garland with apparent crosshairs drawn on Garland's head. Special counsel Jack Smith, appointed by Garland, is prosecuting Trump in an election interference case in Washington and a classified documents case in Florida.

In June, Nelson allegedly threatened Barrett approximately one hour after the Supreme Court issued a ruling limiting the application of a federal obstruction law used to charge hundreds of Capitol riot defendants as well as Trump. Barrett cast a dissenting vote in that case. Nelson said he hoped that somebody would cut her throat from ear to ear, according to the magistrate's order.

In February, Nelson allegedly posted an image of New York Attorney General Letitia James with crosshairs on her head and he profanely expressed a desire to see her head explode, or at least the back of her head blowout. That same month, a New York judge ordered Trump to pay $355 million in penalties in a civil fraud case brought by James' office.

Nelson, a long-haul truck driver, also is accused of posting videos in which he expressed hatred for two FBI agents assigned to his Jan. 6 case.

The government describes Nelson as becoming so verbally combative and confrontational towards one agent that a deputy United States Marshal escorted the agent to their car due to safety concerns, Austin wrote in his order.

An attorney who represents Nelson in his Capitol riot case declined to comment.

Nelsons jury trial is scheduled to start Dec. 10. He was arrested in March 2023 on misdemeanor charges, including disorderly conduct. Surveillance videos captured Nelson in the mob of rioters who entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, according to an FBI affidavit.
Whats up with that cartoon billboard on 6th Ave. in Tacoma warning of nuclear weapons?

You might have seen the disconcerting, colorful billboard while driving down 6th Avenue in Tacoma.

The cartoon illustration shows what looks like a scared kid with an ice-cream cone standing next to weapons of mass destruction. On the bottom right, a map displays Tacomas proximity to Subase Bangor, also known as Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor.

Did you know, the billboard reads, were only 34 miles from the largest concentration of deployed nukes in the world! Below that: Lets abolish nuclear weapons.

The billboard, near the Walgreens off 6th and Stevens, is part of an awareness effort by a Washington-based organization advocating for global peace. Finer print along the bottom of the sign reads: Paid for by Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action.

A billboard paid for by Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action, a Washington-based organization, sits on the corner of 6th Avenue and Stevens Street on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024 in Tacoma.

What is the group behind Tacomas anti-nuclear billboard?

Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action was founded in 1977, around the same time as construction of the Bangor Naval Base, according to its website. The organization wants the Earth to be free from nuclear destruction and unjust division of humanity.

Visiting the site, gzcenter.org, reveals that this isnt the first time the group has tried to raise awareness via signage about nearby nuclear arms.

Another billboard nearly identical to the one in Tacoma cropped up in Kitsap County last year. That one pointed out Gorsts 15-mile distance from the base.

Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action noted that the naval base houses eight of 14 Trident nuclear-powered submarines owned by the Navy, the group wrote in an August 2023 news release announcing the Kitsap display. The other six, they said, are deployed at Kings Bay, Georgia.

A single Trident submarine holds the catastrophic power of more than 1,200 Hiroshima bombs, according to the press release.

Pat Moriarty, the comic-book artist behind the billboards cartoon, sounded the alarm about the areas proximity to nuclear weapons.

Id like to think if my neighbors knew, they would be concerned about getting rid of them, he said in last Augusts news release. As a species we need to evolve past this mutual assured destruction mentality.

Its like the scariest staring contest you can imagine.

Ground Zero previously helped raise a different billboard in Tacoma, per the release. The group teamed with the Catholic-peace organization Pax Christi USA on the sign, which featured a photo of a submarine and a quote from Pope Francis: The use  and possession of nuclear weapons is immoral.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., right, arrives at the Albany County Courthouse to fight a lawsuit he falsely claimed to live in New York state, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  A judge is expected to decide soon whether Robert F. Kennedy Jr. falsely listed a New York residence as the independent presidential candidate fights to get on the state ballot in November.

A non-jury trial in Albany over whether Kennedy's New York nominating petitions should be invalidated ended Thursday without Justice Christina Ryba issuing an immediate decision. Any ruling by the trial judge is expected to be appealed.

A voters' lawsuit backed by a Democrat-aligned PAC claims Kennedys state nominating petition falsely listed a residence in New York Citys tony northern suburbs, while he actually has lived in the Los Angeles area since 2014, when he married Curb Your Enthusiasm actor Cheryl Hines.

If Kennedys petition were to be ruled invalid, the New York Board of Elections would remove him from the 2024 ballot, a spokeswoman for the board said. Getting knocked off the ballot in New York also could lead to lawsuits in other states where his campaign listed the same address.

Kennedy, 70, has testified that his move to California a decade ago was only temporary and that he intends to move back to New York, where he has lived since he was 10 years old. He told reporters after the trial ended that people who signed his petitions deserve a chance to vote for him.

Those Americans want to see me on the ballot. They want to have a choice, he said.

Kennedy says he rents room in a friend's home in Katonah, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of midtown Manhattan. However, he testified that he has only slept in that room once, citing constant campaign travel.

In closing arguments, attorney John Quinn said evidence clearly shows Kennedy's home is in Los Angeles and that efforts to establish him as a New York resident were a sham.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Cat-astrophe avoided: A local cat is safe and sound after Austin firefighters and animal control officers rescued it from a drain, the Austin Firefighters Association shared on Facebook Thursday.

Crews responded to a call for public assistance, with the caller saying the cat was stuck in a 4 French drain. After numerous attempts to remove the cat, crews set out food in hopes it would draw the cat out on its own.

Firefighters returned the next day and, using a structural collapse search camera, found the cat was still stuck in the drain. Austin Animal Control officers responded to the scene and had tools available to free the cat.

A local cat is safe and sound after Austin firefighters and animal control officers rescued it from a drain, the Austin Firefighters Association shared on Facebook. (Courtesy Austin Firefighters Association)

A local cat is safe and sound after Austin firefighters and animal control officers rescued it from a drain, the Austin Firefighters Association shared on Facebook. (Courtesy Austin Firefighters Association)

A local cat is safe and sound after Austin firefighters and animal control officers rescued it from a drain, the Austin Firefighters Association shared on Facebook. (Courtesy Austin Firefighters Association)

A local cat is safe and sound after Austin firefighters and animal control officers rescued it from a drain, the Austin Firefighters Association shared on Facebook. (Courtesy Austin Firefighters Association)

When freed, the furry friend was safe and uninjured  and definitely hungry.

[T]he tools we have are useful in many different applications, having multiple fire units in close proximity can usually get the job done, & were proud to work with many other reliable city entities, the post read in part. Thank you for your hard work & relentless problem solving skills!

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
MADRID (Reuters) - Catalonia's parliament on Thursday confirmed Salvador Illa, an ally of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez whose Socialists came first in May's regional election, as head of the Catalan government, ending more than a decade of separatist rule.

However, in a sign of potential further unease, Illa's investiture was upstaged by separatist leader Carles Puigdemont who appeared at a rally in Barcelona, defying an arrest warrant after seven years of self-imposed exile, and then vanished before police could arrest him.

Puigdemont told the crowd he aimed to revive the independence drive that plunged Spain into a deep political crisis seven years ago when Catalonia, under Puigdemont's leadership, tried to secede from Spain following a referendum deemed illegal by courts.

(Reporting by Pietro Lombardi)
The News

Police in Barcelona have launched a search operation to find Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, after he made a surprise return to the city on Thursday after seven years in self-imposed exile.

Puigdemont is wanted on charges of misusing public funds after he led a failed separatist effort in the Catalonia region in 2017.

After addressing a crowd on Thursday, Puigdemont has not been seen. One local police officer was arrested for his alleged involvement in supporting Puigdemonts escape, El Pais reported.

Puigdemonts return will likely rock Spanish politics, the Financial Times noted, as the current Socialist government relies on his partys votes for its parliamentary majority. He could also revitalize the long-standing separatist effort for independence in Catalonia.
Catalan separatist Puigdemont back in Spain after years in exile

Catalonia's exiled separatist leader Carles Puigdemont arrives near the Catalan parliament to take part in the inauguration debate. David Zorrakino/EUROPA PRESS/dpa

Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont returned to Spain on Thursday after almost seven years in exile, despite being wanted on an arrest warrant.

Puigdemont appeared in Barcelona in the morning, accompanied by politicians from his liberal Junts party, and addressed a crowd of his supporters.

"They have been persecuting us for seven years just because we wanted to give a voice to the people of Catalonia," he said.

Puigdemont sought to lead Catalonia to independence in 2017 with a referendum that was declared illegal.

He risks arrest as the judiciary accuses him of personal enrichment.

Puigdemont rejected the police's offer of an arranged and discreet arrest, according to a media report.

Puigdemont plans to be present at the planned election of socialist Salvador Illa in the region's parliament later in the day, though a large contingent of police is on hand seeking to prevent this.

Illa would be the first to hold the post in a long time to oppose Catalonia's secession from Spain.

Illa's party emerged as the strongest force from the snap election in May but needs the support of the left-wing separatist party ERC. He secured this through concessions on financial issues and the promotion of the Catalan language.

The second largest separatist party, Junts, opposed the agreement.

Catalan police officers watch pro-indepedence supporters arrive as hardline separatist scheduled a welcome ceremony for Catalonia's exiled separatist leader Carles Puigdemont ahead of an investiture vote, in front of the Parliament of Catalonia. Kike Rincon/EUROPA PRESS/dpa
(Bloomberg) -- Spanish police are hunting Carles Puigdemont after the former Catalan president briefly appeared at a rally in central Barcelona, returning to Spain following nearly seven years of self-imposed exile despite an arrest warrant against him.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The 61-year-old, whose reappearance could complicate Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezs ability to govern, spoke to around 4,500 people gathered at Barcelonas Arc de Triomf before disappearing into the crowd. Police launched a manhunt across Catalonia, temporarily blocking roads that lead out of the capital to the border with France. One officer was taken into custody accused of helping Puigdemont to flee.

Today I have come to remind you that we are still here, he said in his speech. We are here because we dont have the right to give up. Because the right to self-determination belongs to the people.

After his address, Puigdemont appeared to head toward parliament, where a debate to swear in the next regional president began at 10 a.m. Crowds formed what was effectively a human barrier around him that prevented his arrest.

La Vanguardia newspaper later published a video that showed what looked to be Puigdemont driving away in a white Honda car. According to a police statement, the detained officer was the owner of the escape vehicle.

His return to Spain could pose a challenge for Sanchez, who last year clung onto power thanks to deals with regional pro-independence parties including Puigdemonts Junts.

Puigdemont stands accused of misusing public funds as part of the 2017 independence referendum, which went ahead on his watch despite being declared illegal by Spains Supreme Court.

An amnesty law, approved by Spains parliament in May, was meant to pardon him along with other Catalan separatists. But a court deemed it didnt apply to those accused of embezzlement, or if it affected the European Unions financial interests.

Sanchezs administration relies on the backing of eight parties in parliament and Puigdemonts appearance in Barcelona could mean that the fragile arrangement is in jeopardy.

Junts and its traditional rival in the Catalan separatist camp, ERC, have both lost support since the failure of their push to secede, allowing the Socialists to win the most seats in the Catalan assembly in elections in May.

Sanchez subsequently negotiated a deal with ERC to support Socialist candidate Salvador Illa as the next president of Catalonia.

Puigdemont left Spain for Belgium in 2017, after his attempt to break up the euro regions fourth-largest economy was met with a swift crackdown from Spains central government.

(Updates with details on police search starting in first paragraph)

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Clark County School Board trustees met in a special session on Wednesday to discuss whether or not to close an elementary school at Mt. Charleston.

Earl B. Lundy Elementary was heavily damaged last school year by severe weather following Tropical Storm Hilary.

Wednesday night trustees voted 4 to 3 to explore working with Mt. Charleston Library to create an addition that would house students by spring of 2026.

A vote to repair Lundy Elementary at a cost of nearly $7 million was voted down 4 to 3. The vote means CCSD will demolish Lundy Elementary School in the future.

Trustees absence questioned as CCSD moves to close Mt. Charleston school

The school has been closed since August 2023 after the storm washed out roads, uprooted trees, and devastated homes.

CCSD-LUNDY-ESDownload

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
CENTERVILLE, Ohio (WDTN)  Centerville City Schools will host three community meetings to discuss finances and the levy that will be on the ballot in November.

A 3.9-mill operating levy was approved by the Centerville Board of Education on Aug. 1 to be voted on in November. The levy would generate $11.2 million each year for the districts ongoing operating expenses.

Centerville schools approve levy for November ballot

Financial discussions planned

In order to share more information with the Centerville community, the district will host three meetings to discuss the financial situation. District leaders will share a presentation before opening up the floor to discussion so community members can ask questions and share their feedback.

The meetings will be held at 6 p.m. on the following dates:

Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Stingley Elementary  95 Linden Drive Tuesday, Sept. 24 at Weller Elementary  9600 Sheehan Road Thursday, Oct. 10 at Driscoll Elementary  5767 Marshall Road

District leaders hope the meetings will offer a chance to share more information about funding challenges and the impact of reductions. Two earlier requests for additional funding were rejected by voters, leading to $3.5 million in operation cost cuts going into the 2024-2025 school year.

2024 PRIMARIES: Centerville levy fails, with cuts planned for new school year

Conversations with the community

Superintendent Jon Wesney has also introduced a more informal initiative to strengthen ties between the school district and the Centerville-Washington Township community.

Direct engagement with our community is crucial for the future success of our schools, Wesney said. We need input from our community to accomplish our mission of empowering, challenging, and supporting every learner to grow every day.

Two Elks Connect: Black & Gold Conversations for a Stronger School Community will be held in August:

Thursday, Aug. 8 at 6 p.m.  Divided Ridge Park Shelter, 347 Beck Drive Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 5 p.m.  Primary Village North, 6450 Marshall Road

All are invited to attend the events. Additional dates will be added to the district website as they are planned.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
ILLINOIS (WCIA)  Young photographers across Central Illinois dominated the highest ranks of the statewide Cream of the Crop Photo Contest.

Students ages eight to 18 were able to submit up to two photos to the contest. Judges then reviewed the photographs and selected the winning entries.

The students showed amazing creativity and talent with these photos, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said. The images beautifully capture the wonderful diversity of Illinois agriculture.

Student-led coffee shop in Danville opening new coffee trailer

The nine top-three winners earned Bright Start college savings scholarships and will have their works displayed in the Treasurers Tent at the Illinois State Fair. First-place winners also received $1,000, second-place got $500, and third-place earned $250.

Also at the State Fair, first-place winners will join Treasurer Frerichs at a reception for Agriculture Day on Aug. 9. Additionally, the winning photographs will be featured in Ag Invest marketing materials, like their 2024-2025 calendar.

Here is the list of winners for the 12th Annual Cream of the Crop Photo Contest:

8-10 Age Bracket Winners

11-14 Age Bracket Winners

15-18 Age Bracket Winners

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
KILLEEN, Texas (FOX 44)  Central Texas College (CTC) is starting a new tradition by holding its first-ever summer commencement ceremony.

This event will take place at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Anderson Campus Center on the Killeen main campus. Of the 421 CTC summer graduates worldwide, 59 will participate in the local procession.

CTC says Chancellor Dr. Michele J. Carter will deliver the opening remarks at the ceremony. The commencement address will be delivered by Mr. Clarence Enochs, who is a distinguished Development Consultant with the National Mounted Warfare Foundation and chairperson of the Central Texas College Foundation Board. The College says Enochs has made significant contributions to the Central Texas community, and is a respected leader in his field.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
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Borneo was once covered in lush, dense rainforests, but they are rapidly disappearing. The Southeast Asian island, roughly three times the size of the UK, has lost half its forest cover since the 1930s, destroying precious habitat for wildlife such as the critically endangered orangutan, as well as valuable carbon stores.

A non-profit called Health in Harmony (HIH) is asking farmers to hand in their chainsaws in return for money, and a chance to set up an alternative livelihood.

Borneo is divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, and it is estimated that up to 10% of its land is taken up by industrial palm oil and logging operations. But deforestation isnt just about large-scale tree clearance; some of those behind the logging are small-scale farmers, cutting trees as a sideline to make ends meet.

Buyback and healthcare

HIH launched its chainsaw buyback scheme in 2017, under the groups Indonesian name, Alam Sehat Lestari (ASRI). Farmers who illegally log and sell the wood to timber companies are given around $200 for their chainsaws, as well as up to $450 in financial support for them to set up an alternative, sustainable livelihood, such as opening a shop, organic farming and even beekeeping.

The scheme also involves addressing the root causes of the problem. According to HIH, many of the farmers who turn to logging do so because they need the money for basics like healthcare.

They live far from the healthcare clinics, and they see logging as a place where they can get quick cash, explained Mahardika Dika Putra, conservation program manager at HIH. If they need this amount of money, they cut this amount of trees.

We asked what solutions they think they need to live in harmony with the forest and they said, high quality, affordable healthcare, and training in organic farming.

Since 2017, 279 loggers have handed in their chainsaws, according to HIH, protecting an estimated 107,000 trees. - Health in Harmony

HIH works with communities near the Gunung Palung National Park, in the west of the island on the Indonesian side. The park is protected and logging is illegal, but a door-to-door survey conducted by HIH in 2007 found that around 1,450 households in the area relied on logging as their primary income.

Key to HIHs work is a community-designed program to improve access to healthcare, and in 2007 it opened a medical center near the national park. Putra said that there has been a 67% drop in infant mortality in the area as a result. But the way that people can pay for this care is just as important.

Even if they dont have cash, they can pay with seedlings, manure (and) rice husk, Putra explained. These can then go back into our reforestation program, or our sustainable farming program.

The medical center also offers discounts to villages that show they have reduced their illegal logging.

In 2020, researchers from Stanford University analyzed the impact of the clinic and the accompanying conservation, education and alternative livelihood programs. They concluded that deforestation had fallen by 70% in the 10 years after it opened  equivalent to protecting more than 27.4 square kilometers (10.6 square miles) of rainforest.

Problems with palm oil

Household logging has also reduced by 90%, according to HIH. Since 2017, 279 loggers have handed in their chainsaws, it said, which has protected an estimated 107,000 trees, including 15,000 old growth trees. But the lucrative palm oil industry still poses a threat.

Even after they hand in their chainsaws, Putra said that if loggers give up their trade without a suitable replacement, they may choose to grow palm oil on their own rice paddies without proper knowledge of how to do so.

Despite its potential for high earnings, a lack of expertise can leave those who turn to palm oil with ruined farms and incomes, and it can wreak havoc on the local environment, according to Putra.

The palms need a lot of water, he said. They need quick nutrition, so they use expensive chemical fertilizers.

The water you use from the nearby river, its now impacted by the chemicals  the fish in the river is impacted. Once you plant palm oil, its there for 30 years  and not to mention, there are price fluctuations  its not always high.

Through our community education program, we encourage the community to make a better choice before they change their rice paddy fields to palm oil, he added. Then they still have food to eat, harvest a yield a few times a year instead of waiting five years for palm oil to grow.

By protecting Borneos rainforest, Health in Harmony is preserving the habitat of the animals that live there, including the critically endangered orangutan. Pictured, an orangutan at the Samboja Lestari Orangutan Rehabilitation Center run by the non-profit Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, in East Kalimantan, Borneo. - Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images

In harmony with local communities

In 2022, ASRI won a prestigious Ashden Award for Natural Climate Solutions and in 2023 it was named a top Innovator in the Forest and Health Challenge, run by the World Economic Forums innovation platform Uplink.

Last year, HIH also won the Keeling Curve Prize for Social and Cultural Pathways, run by the Global Warming Mitigation Project. Its founder and executive director, Jacquelyn Francis, says that Health in Harmony demonstrated how valuable rainforests are for indigenous communities. She added: Their name says it all: there is more climate health when it is in harmony with natural systems.

Dr Skylar Hopkins, an assistant professor at North Carolina State University and an expert in ecology and conservation, who is independent of HIH, has researched win-win conservation solutions, which look at strategies to conserve wildlife but also support local communities.

She believes that efforts such as working to improve local healthcare alongside helping the environment can help get buy-in from local communities, as well as attracting investment from donors.

Hopkins said that scientists researching the impact of environmental protection schemes are often unaware of how these programs impact local communities  which is where grassroots NGOs can help.

We (scientists) need to collaborate with these NGOs who work very closely with communities and bridge this disconnect, she said.

For HIH, the focus on working with local communities is key to its work. I think what Im most proud of, working with this organization, is that were not deciding for them (local communities), said Putra. Were changing the way you can support these communities. It means that we recognize their voices and help with what is most needed.

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Last month, the Chamblee Police Department swore in its first female assistant police chief.

Chamblee police swore in Andrianne Byrd on July 25 as she made history.

Byrd, who has spent more than 28 years in law enforcement, spent the majority of her career with the Miami-Dade Police Department.

The department said this is a step towards diversity and inclusion in the police force.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

After 28 and a half years at the Miami-Dade Police Department and two years of retirement, its good to come back and serve the community, Byrd said. As Assistant Police Chief, I am focused on what the needs are of Chamblee and how this community wants to see their community serviced. Its also important that younger women see that they can succeed in this male-dominated field. Its not about your sex, but its about your commitment to what you do. As long as you are committed and knowledgeable in your field, the opportunities are there.

The department says Byrd will oversee internal day-to-day operations and the structure of the staff.

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A drive-by BB gun shooting took aim at a charitable lemonade stand on Monday. We spoke to the Millcreek brothers who were fundraising in memory of their cousin when the incident happened.

The boys are refusing to let that scary incident keep them from doing good. Theyre even bringing back their lemonade stand, and inviting the public to help them raise more money for a cause near and dear to their hearts.

Police searching for remaining car, suspects after 61-mile chase Sunday

Theyre innocent kids trying to do good. Its just disgusting that people could do this to young innocent children, said Chrystie Raymond, the victims mother.

Some say no good deed goes unpunished. That felt like the case for Christie Raymonds two sons Monday afternoon.

For the fourth year running, Carter, age 12, and Grant age 9, set up a lemonade stand in front of their Millcreek house to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Just before 3 p.m., a red SUV slowed to a stop.

But it wasnt a customer.

Take a trip to the Sunshine State thanks to new Erie airport service

They just pointed a BB or Orbi gun at us. It was a *chchchchch* at us then they just drove off, Carter said. Was it scary? we asked. Yes, he answered.

Grant had been hit in the leg. Fortunately, the injury wasnt serious.

I really didnt know what happened I was like what just happened, he said.

The boys were raising money in honor of their cousin, Beth Clark, who theyve never met. Beth sadly passed away at age 11 after a battle with Hodgkins Disease.

She was the first child ever to have her wish granted by Make-a-Wish in Erie.

Her wish was to go to Disney World and it was granted so ever since then this organization has meant a lot to my entire family, Christie said.

As scary as it was, Carter and Grant will be back at it Thursday, resuming the lemonade stand for the cause they care so much about.

Its just a good thing for the community and to make money for make a wish, Grant said.

One person killed in second fatal tractor accident this week

Its not going to stop us from trying to make people happy, Carter went on to say.

The boys lemonade stand will be back in action tomorrow from 4:30 until the lemonade runs out. Theyre hoping to raise record profits for Make-a-Wish so stop by 320 Indiana Drive to support them.

No arrests have yet been made, but Millcreek Police said they have some leads thanks to surveillance video from neighbors.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
A new working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research has provided even more evidence that charter schools can boost students' academic potential when compared to typical public schools.

The paper, which studied a sample of students enrolled in 15 urban and nine nonurban charter schools in Massachusetts, found that students enrolled in the charter schools were significantly more likely to enroll in and graduate from a four-year college than their noncharter peers. What's more, those enrolled in urban charters saw a significant bump in their test scores. Nonurban charter students, however, saw a small decline in their scoresthough not in their college attendance rate.

After two years enrolled in an urban charter school, student test scores increased by almost half a standard deviation in math and 30 percent of a standard deviation in English. For nonurban charter students, their scores actually decreased modestly, declining around 10 percent of a standard deviation in math and English.

However, this didn't seem to hurt their college attendance and graduation rates. Students in nonurban charter schools were 10 percentage points more likely to attain a four-year degree than their counterparts in traditional public schools. Urban charter students saw a 4.1-point jump in attainment.

Why did nonurban charter students not get the same score boost as their urban counterparts? According to the authors, it likely comes down to differences in the student bodies and educational philosophy at urban and nonurban charters.

The urban charter schools most often took a "No Excuses" strategy based in "a culture of high expectations, frequent teacher observations and feedback, data-driven instruction, use of tutoring, and strict disciplinary practices," according to the researchers. Those schools "served a primarily minority and economically disadvantaged population. The nonurban schools did not, embracing alternative charter school models and serving primarily white children. APW find that the different practices and student bodies help account for the different test scores trajectories, aligning with the existing literature on charter schools."

This latest paper mostly confirms what researchers have long known about charter schools. While imperfect, they are a key alternative to public schools. For low-income minority parents, that often means getting their child out of a struggling urban school district. For middle-class parents, in contrast, charters also offer expanded choice, one that allows them to deprioritize pure academic achievement in favor of an alternative educational experience.

The post Charter Schools Boost College Graduation Rates, Study Finds appeared first on Reason.com.
Chicago Family Takes Cavapoo to Vet for Teeth Cleaning and the Unthinkable Happens

It's every dog owner's nightmare. Ashley Martin Jenkins of Woodlawn, Illinois said she sent her Cavapoo Savannah into the vet's office for a routine teeth cleaning. The dog left that day having been spayed.

To Jenkins this wasn't a tiny mistake. A mix-up of this size was something the dog mom never wanted.

Jenkins could not believe what happened at Banfield Pet Hospital on August 5.

"I know mistakes happen, but this was a big mistake," she told NBC 5 Chicago.

Related: Cavapoo Dug Himself to Safety After Nearly 3 Days Spent Stuck in Hole

The dog mom was already worried about the cleaning. "I was nervous, but I knew it was something that needed to be done," she told ABC 7 "I've had Savannah for 10 years, since she was eight weeks old. So yes, she is my baby."

They'd been to Banfield before, which must have been a comfort, but then she got an upsetting phone call a few hours after she dropped the dog off. Banfield said there had been "a slight mix-up."

"Instead of Savannah getting her teeth cleaning, she got spayed, and she said it just like that," Jenkins recalled. "And I'm like... 'excuse me?' 'How did that happen?!'"

Jenkins said she was told that they'd accidentally mixed Savannah up with another dog who looked just like her. It was a message that understandably upset the woman.

"I'm in shock! I'm baffled. I'm confused," she recalled feeling after the call was over. "When I saw Savannah, I had tears. I had tears in my eyes. She looked at me like, you let them do this to me. I'm shattered."

"I'm floored, I'm like flabbergasted. I'm like, 'What do you mean she got spayed?'" she added to NBC 5. "I literally dropped her off for you to be in her mouth, and you took out her uterus and ovaries."

To make matters worse, Jenkins never wanted Savannah to get spayed in the first place.

"I happened to see a dog that just got spayed, and the stitches were like horrendous, like they were big," she explained to NBC 5. "It just looked like the dog was in pain. I was like never, no."

And if they were going to get their dog spayed, it wouldn't be at 10 years old.

"I don't want to put her through any unnecessary stress, surgeries. I would have never done this to her," she told ABC 7.

The news outlet reached out to Banfield, who told them they are looking into how the mistake happened.

"Banfield has existing measures in place to prevent errors from happening and we're thoroughly investigating what occurred," a spokesperson told the news outlet. "All other patients in the hospital received the intended care they were scheduled for. We are taking this matter seriously and working directly with the family to address their questions and concerns, as well as extend our sincere apologies."

Jenkins said that Banfield has since offered to reschedule Savannah for a cleaning, but she's understandably not interested.

"Are you kidding me? You think I would trust you with my dog again?" she told them. "Both of our rights were snatched from us."

The dog mom said she's speaking out about the story so that no other pet owner will go through what her family did. Jenkins and her husband are currently considering legal action against the veterinary clinic.

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 8, 2024 - 19:47 | All, Japan

The number of students attending public elementary to senior high schools who need Japanese language support hit an all-time high at around 69,000 amid a surge of foreigners residing in Japan, the education ministry said Thursday.

Of the 69,123 students who needed extra language support, the highest since comparable data became available in fiscal 1991, 57,718 were foreign nationals, while 11,405 held Japanese nationality as of May 2023. About 10 percent of them have not been able to receive necessary help, such as supplementary lessons.

Since the number of students in need of language support is expected to increase further, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology plans to enhance its efforts, including by securing a sufficient number of Japanese language teachers.

While foreign children in Japan are not obliged to enroll in schools, the ministry has urged local education boards to secure educational opportunities for them.

The latest development came amid Japan opening up to more foreign workers on the back of its rapidly graying population and declining birthrate.

Based on the tally, Chinese was the most common mother tongue among such students with 13,754 native speakers, followed by Portuguese with 12,579 speakers and Filipino with 11,121.

The dropout rate of senior high school students in need of extra language support stood at 8.5 percent in fiscal 2022, 7.7 times the rate for the overall high school student population in the country.

Language barriers seem also to have influenced the career paths of such students after graduation, with the rates of those who become nonregular employees at 38.6 percent, while those without jobs and not going into higher education standing at 11.8 percent. Both figures are higher than the overall high school student population.

"We need to prioritize support for building their careers, in addition to Japanese language support," an education ministry official said.

The number of foreign residents in Japan rose to nearly 3.42 million as of the end of 2023, the highest ever and up 10.9 percent from the previous year, according to the Immigration Services Agency.

Related coverage:

98% with mixed Japanese heritage experience microaggressions: survey

46% in Japan have issues interacting with foreign co-workers: survey
Former state Sen. Ray Holmberg, left, arrives at the Quentin N. Burdick U.S. courthouse in Fargo for a plea hearing in North Dakota U.S. District Court on Aug. 8, 2024. (Dan Koeck/For the North Dakota Monitor)

A former North Dakota lawmaker who pleaded guilty Thursday to a child sex tourism charge believed he wasnt breaking any local laws.

But that doesnt matter under U.S. law, says the CEO of an organization that fights child sexual exploitation.

It is a crime to purchase a childs body anywhere in the world, said Lori Cohen, an attorney who leads the organization known as PACT, or Protect All Children from Trafficking. And U.S. law is very clear about this. There are no exceptions.

Former Sen. Ray Holmberg pleaded guilty to traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, specifically that he intended to purchase sex from minors under 18. Prosecutors allege he took about 14 trips to Prague between 2011 and 2021 to pay for sex acts with boys.

Holmberg said in court Thursday he didnt believe he was breaking any laws in the Czech Republic.

Its important for U.S. travelers to realize that the age of sexual consent in another country does not matter under federal law, Cohen said. In the Czech Republic, the age of consent is 15.

I think people rationalize it and think, Oh, if the age of consent is 15, that means that I can purchase this child, Cohen said. But in fact, the age of consent is a separate issue from the commercial sex trade.

Prostitution operates in a legal vacuum in the Czech Republic, according to the organization ECPAT International, which formerly stood for End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism.

The sale and purchase of sexual services by adult sex workers over 18 are not criminal, however, pimping, trafficking and running brothels are, the organization wrote in a 2019 report about the Czech Republic.

Crackdowns by cities including Prague pushed prostitution off the streets and into erotic clubs or private apartments, the report said. It notes that online advertisements dont require age verification, providing circumstances for minors under 18 to engage in sex work.

The Czech Republic continues to be a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking, with children making up more than half of the identified victims of sex trafficking, according to the organization. The sex trafficking victims identified were most commonly from the Czech Republic or Eastern European countries of Ukraine, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.

Cities, including Prague, are popular with tourists because of the nightlife and boy bars, which are often owned by Czech pornography companies and are locations for shooting erotic videos, according to ECPAT International.

The existence of a growing market for young male sex workers presents a higher risk for SEC (sexual exploitation of children), particularly in light of an increase in the incidence of trafficking of boys into the country, the organization said.

ECPAT International issued a warning that child sexual exploitation through prostitution had reached a new high in the Czech Republic in 2017.

The Czech Republic also was identified as a source of child sexual abuse material, hosting the second largest number of URLs distributing that content in the European Union, according to the 2019 report.

Child sex tourism slowed during the COVID-19 pandemic but has become more prevalent again as people have resumed traveling, Cohen said.

Americans who purchase sex while traveling abroad need to recognize their role in promoting human trafficking, she said.

If U.S. citizens did not travel abroad with the goal of buying young flesh, there would not be this problem of child sex trafficking, Cohen said. We have a responsibility to stop the demand and shut down this market, because as long as its profitable, traffickers will continue to sell childrens bodies.

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FAIRLAND, Okla.  The Fairland Boys and Girls Club now has a new place to call home.

The need is great in rural Oklahoma for programs like this so that families can continue to work and provide for their families, said Mackenzie Garst, Ottawa County Boys and Girls Club CEO.

Fairland residents now have a new option for child care in the area.

Ottawa County Boys and Girls Club CEO Mackenzie Garst says there is a huge need in Fairland for after-school care.

Childcare care is at a deficit, especially in rural communities. A lot of parents have to commute to work from rural communities like this, and so they need a safe place for their kids to go after school until they can get off work, said Garst.

Garst says the new 85 hundred square foot location will be able to help out more children and their families in the area.

Weve always had a boys and girls club in Fairland  but as expected we quickly outgrew the space we are utilizing at the school district. Currently we have about one hundred kids enrolled in the Boys and Girls Club here in Fairland. But due to the size of this new facility, we anticipate being able to increase that by about 40%, said Garst.

Which equals about 75 new families that have been waiting for a spot.

Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Shella Bowlin says its important for parents to know they have a safe spot for their child and their needs.

Growing up, Ive experienced rec centers for the summer. And you do create lasting memories. Its a safe space. Its a place to have a meal. And its just a fun time. Its all you typically have are fun memories from the Boys and Girls Club, said Shella Bowlin, Cherokee Nation Secretary of State.

The new Fairland Boys and Girls Club will officially open on Tuesday, August 20.

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Star Plans

China has deployed its first batch of satellites as it seeks to rival SpaceX's Starlink communications megaconstellation.

As SpaceNews reports, China has successfully launched the first 18 of its initial satellites for its Qianfan or "Thousand Sails" megaconstellation, which were deployed into low-Earth orbit by a Long March 6A rocket on August 6.

Announced on social media by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the successful launch is the first stage of this year's operations for the Long Sails project. The space agency hopes to launch more than 100 communications satellites this year, nearly 1,300 within the mission's first stage, and ultimately around 14,000.

While that final figure is more than double the roughly 6,200 SpaceX currently has in orbit, it's still dwarfed by the 42,ooo the Elon Musk company hopes to deploy. That may be why the other name for the project is the "G60 Starlink Plan," which does seem a bit on the nose.

Friendly Fire

Like Starlink, China aims to provide global internet access with its communications satellite mission  though it remains unclear whether the service it provides will be hamstrung by the same kinds of censorship that Chinese netizens are forced to contend with.

The Musk-owned satellite project is, apparently, the subject of some ire in China.

As Reuters notes, an editorial published by an outlet affiliated with the country's People's Liberation Army described Starlink as a "serious threat to the security of space assets of various countries." Having studied Starlink in-depth, Chinese military officials posited that the country could respond by creating its own satellite constellation.

What exact military capabilities the Thousand Sails mission is slated to provide remain to be seen  but given how Starlink has been used for on-the-ground comms at various points by both Russia and Ukraine during the former country's invasion of the former Eastern Bloc state, it's not hard to imagine what's going through Chinese military minds.

More on satellites: SpaceX's Starlink May Be Keeping the Ozone From Healing, Research Finds
The return of Donald Trumps Jan. 6 prosecution to District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan has ignited a flurry of activity in the once-dormant case, reviving a high stakes court battle after a series of legal wins for the former president.

The case is back in Chutkans hands after the Supreme Court formally sent the case back to the lower courts after handing Trump a victory in determining that as a former president he maintains broad immunity from criminal prosecution.

That ends a roughly eight month pause in the case, and Chutkan has made clear the hiatus is over.

Just hours after the case was handed back over on Friday, she scheduled an Aug. 16 conference to chart the course for handling numerous unresolved issues in the case  likely teeing off a discussion over whether to hold what some have deemed a mini-trial.

And on Saturday, she ruled against Trump on a pending bid to toss the case, determining he failed to demonstrate any prosecutorial bias on the part of special counsel Jack Smith in bringing the case.

She certainly has signaled with her rapid disposition of the selected prosecution motion, with setting a quick briefing schedule and a speedy hearing on the 16th that she wants to keep things moving, and that is how the justice system should work, said Norm Eisen, who served as counsel for Democrats in Trumps first impeachment, told The Hill.

In her order, Chutkan wrote that Trump had again offered an improper reframing of the allegations against him and determined that the former president offered no meaningful evidence that he was unfairly targeted.

Chutkan has consistently offered a contrast with Judge Aileen Cannon, who oversees Trumps Florida-based documents case.

Shes more speedily resolved a number of pending matters in the Jan. 6 case, while Cannons Mar-a-Lago case has plodded along with lengthy hearings on long-shot motions from Trump.

And while Cannon agreed to toss Trumps documents case, Chutkan rejected his effort to do so with immunity claims, teeing up the battle that has now boomeranged back to her courtroom.

In the wake of the high courts decision, Chutkan is now tasked with determining what conduct from Trumps effort to unwind the 2020 election is not immune from prosecution.

The public will get their first look at Smiths thinking on the matter by August 9, when Chutkan has ordered both sides to jointly lay out their vision for how they think the case should proceed.

Its possible Smith could ask for an evidentiary hearing  something some Trump critics see as a mini trial that would allow the public to learn more about the evidence prosecutors plan to offer at trial.

Theres no reason for further delay here. Its already outrageous that the case has been delayed as long as it has. It was supposed to go to trial in March. We should have had a verdict long ago, so the least the judicial system can do is give us a mini trial to  to some extent  air the allegations and offer a determination of whether theyre immune or not, Eisen said.

I think Judge Chutkan will ultimately rule that the majority, indeed the vast majority, of the indictment consists of allegations where immunity does not apply.

The Supreme Courts ruling last month determined that former presidents are immune from prosecution for actions they take in office that are part of their core executive functions while they are presumptively immune for all other official acts.

In doing so they called out one specific element of the indictment, barring use of Trumps pressure campaign at the Justice Department as the basis for any charges.

But its now up to Chutkan to parse out the rest of the indictment and determine where else Trump might be protected from prosecution  and which elements of his plot to stay in power can still land him prison time.

That process could take two routes  arguments on paper or a hearing featuring live witness testimony.

To Trump critics, evidentiary hearings with witnesses would be the closest the country can get to a trial of the former president ahead of the election for his conduct related to Jan. 6.

Its an idea Trumps legal team has expressed opposition to.

Sitting with conservative radio show host Hugh Hewitt, Trump attorney Todd Blanche agreed when the host asked if Chutkan should postpone all of this until after the election, a question that came in the wake of Trumps assassination attempt.

[There are] a lot of others out there that want, still want, nothing more than to see President Trump go down before the election. And thats not who we are as a country. Thats not the way the justice system is supposed to work. Thats not the way its ever worked before. And we can still right this ship, Blanche said.

If you want to beat President Trump, then take your message to the voters and tell them to vote. You should not use the court system, and thats what theyve done.

Shan Wu, a former federal prosecutor and general counsel to former Attorney General Janet Reno, said theres plenty of legal necessity for holding an evidentiary hearing that has little to do with calls to hold Trump accountable ahead of the election.

In such an untested area of law  its the first time that trial court is going to have to try to apply this extremely confusing, ambiguous Supreme Court standard  its really important have a full factual record  evidentiary-wise with live witnesses whove been cross examined  to establish a really good record for what will surely be used in the future for how youre supposed to apply this immunity ruling, Wu said.

So for the first time having a trial court having to apply this brand new ruling, I think legally its really important to have a hearing.

Doing so, he said, also strengthens any ruling from Chutkan, whose work will undoubtedly be reviewed by higher courts as Trump appeals her determination.

If Chutkan made the decision based only on legal briefs, shes entitled to less deference on appeal, because the appeals judges deal with the law and they can second guess the trial court, Wu said.

Since the appeals courts dont hear from live witnesses  judge their demeanor, they dont watch how they react to the cross examination the appellate courts, including the Supreme Court, will be much more deferential to that type of testimony where the judge has had a chance to eyeball the witness and make their own credibility terminations. That kind of evidence doesnt really get overturned on appeal.

Timing, however, could factor in as a concern.

Such a hearing could be done over a few days, but it could also last longer, with Wu suggesting perhaps even a couple weeks.

Those are details that could give Chutkan or even prosecutors some pause, as the Justice Department typically avoids bringing charges in the two months ahead of the election and something they consider even if they seek a hearing.

But in some respects, Chutkan has suggested she cannot consider the election in weighing how to proceed in Trumps case, noting she must treat him like any other citizen.

Shes made clear already that Trump is not going to be treated any differently, nor should he be treated any differently, than any other defendant in her courtroom. Other defendants have jobs, but they have to come to court, Eisen said.

We dont have two systems of law in the United States, one for presidential candidates, one for everybody else.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)The City of El Paso is partnering with two local school districts to celebrate National Professional Engineers Day.

According to the City, Wednesday, Aug. 7, marks the nationwide celebration with Socorro Independent School District and Canutillo Independent School District to honor professional engineers.

The City said its Capital Improvement Department hosted 80 students from both districts to learn about the importance and exciting field of engineering through an interactive exhibit sponsored by La Nube Childrens Museum.

The students received the behind-the-scenes functions of the exhibit from a scientific and mathematical perspective from engineers, the City said.

The event featured local sponsors who donated food, refreshments, and free giveaways to the students.

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Plans to renovate and reimagine Los Angeles Union Station has run into a snag after the city of Vernon voiced its objection to the project.

The city of about 220 residents, according to the most recent U.S. Census, will formally voice its opposition to Link Union Station, a multibillion-dollar construction project that would completely modernize and reshape Southern Californias busiest transit center.

The project would include retooling the existing train platforms, changing them from stub-end configuration to a run-through design which would allow trains to stop at the platform and continue on in the same direction rather than enter the platform and then have to back out.

Link US also calls for a train bridge with multiple tracks that will cross over Highway 101, as well as modernization of the stations interior and improved communication and safety systems.

The project is necessary because Union Station, originally built in 1939, is set to become one of the primary transit centers for the California High-Speed Rail when that service eventually reaches downtown Los Angeles. Its already home to Amtrak, Metrolink and LA Metro trains and buses.

Renderings of the Link US improvement project at Los Angeles Union Station include the proposed train bridge over US 101. (LA Metro via HDR Inc.)

As demand for more passenger rail options continues to rise, Union Station will have more trains arriving and departing, meaning the building will need to be updated for modern use.

Environmental documents for the project were released for public comment in June with a deadline to comment identified for Aug. 9.

On Tuesday, the Vernon City Council met to formally oppose the project, citing concerns from local business leaders earlier this year.

The main issue, according to city leaders, is proposed modifications to the BNSF Malabar Rail Storage Yard located within the city. The storage yard is used by the freight company to store and repair trains and cars when they arent in use.

Link US project plans call for modifications to another BNSF rail yard near Union Station, which will need to be made to accommodate the new plans for high-speed rail. In turn, the Malabar storage yard will need to be renovated so it can house some of those displaced trains and cars which are currently being held near Union Station.

Among the planned changes to the Vernon storage yard is the closure of 49th Street next to the Malabar Yard to make way for more storage, and a dedicated connection on 46th Street to connect the two affected rail yards.

City leaders say they are concerned that closing 49th Street would hurt local businesses, create traffic congestion and negatively impact emergency response times.

The proposed closure of 49th Street and the 46th Street Connector, will cause significant traffic impacts, Vernon city staff wrote. These two streets are heavily used by surrounding businesses and the closure/modifications will result in issues with traffic patterns, on-street and private parking, and access to loading docks, leading to congestion and delays for commuters and local businesses.

The closure of 49th Street alone would create additional blockages on city streets and would have a cascading effect throughout the citys transportation network, city officials say. These closures would negatively impact local businesses and quality of life for the citys sparse population.

Approximately 21 businesses would be directly affected, the city claims, with some buildings likely being demolished according to Metros current construction plans. City officials say they fear existing businesses could be displaced or forced to close due to the proposed changes in and around the rail yard.

An illustration of the proposed improvements at Los Angeles Union Station, including the proposed US 101 Viaduct. (LA Metro)

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn represents the 4th District of L.A. County, which includes Vernon, but shes also the new chair of LA Metro, meaning she has stake in both the Union Station plans and the desires of those affected by them.

She says that Link US, like all Metro projects, cant be successful if they dont have the support of the cities they run through. She told KTLA that it appears Metro had more work to do to address the city of Vernons concerns.

The city said it was in the process of providing written comments to LA Metro before the Aug. 9 deadline.

When reached for comment earlier this week, an LA Metro spokesperson said the transit authority appreciated Vernon voicing its concerns in a timely manner and said it looks forward to engaging all of the projects stakeholders to ensure the Link US project moves forward with full support.

Our goal is to solicit public comment regarding the proposed improvements in the City of Vernon and respond to each and every one of them, the statement reads in part.

The spokesperson added that Metro expects to have these concerns addressed with Vernon and others associated with the project and have a finalized environmental document by spring of next year.

Officials for the city of Vernon did not respond to a KTLA request for comment prior to publishing of this story.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
SEBASTIAN  A civilian-led search effort was underway Wednesday for a missing Kentucky man whose plane never arrived to the Bahamas after departing from Sebastian Municipal Airport over the weekend.

A civilian search effort was underway Wednesday Aug. 8, 2024 for Christopher Moore, 59, of Kentucky following the suspension of the Royal Bahamas Defence search Monday for his single-engine airplane last known to be in flight to Marsh Harbour airport Sunday morning.

The plane was owned and piloted by Christopher Moore, 59, of Louisville, Kentucky, a retired engineer and business owner who was flying to the Bahamas where he owned a home in Little Harbour, said a pilot and friend of Moore.

Cameron Hitchcock, 39, of West Palm Beach, said he met Moore in 2013 when he worked at the time as a personal pilot for Moore.

Hitchcock went on to work as a pilot for a commercial airline and Moore obtained a personal pilots license, but they kept in contact over the years and their families would vacation together. Moore has a wife and two adult children, he said.

On Sunday, Hitchcock said he went over the flight plan with Moore and he said he monitored his flight on a flight tracking website as it departed Sebastian Municipal Airport at 9:19 a.m.

Moore made the flight to a Marsh Harbour airport roughly once a month, he said.

After Moores plane made it over the Gulf Stream, Hitchcock said he stopped actively monitoring on the FlightAware site and said, hes safe, hes on his way.

Plane seems to disappear from radar

With an expected noon arrival, he said calls began around 1 p.m. from people arranged to meet Moore at the airport, saying he had not arrived.

Looking at the flight tracker, Hitchcock said the plane appeared to disappear from radar, which could only occur through a sudden end in communication with the planes tracking devices.

Only something catastrophic could cause a complete electrical failure, but there were no indications of that or a crash, Hitchcock said.

The plane had an emergency locating transmitter, or ELT, which he said would automatically emit a beacon upon impact in a crash, but the transmitter did not activate.

A civilian search effort was underway for Christopher Moore, 59, of Kentucky, Wednesday Aug. 8, 2024 following the suspension Monday of the Royal Bahamas Defence search for his BRM Aero SRO Bristell S-LSA last known to be in flight to Marsh Harbour airport Sunday morning.

Other recorded transmissions also point to the possibility Moores plane continued traveling past the point stated by the Federal Aviation Administration as his last known location, 50 miles northwest of Freeport.

Bahamian authorities shared a ping location Hitchcock said pointed to Moore's possible last known whereabouts as 10 miles southwest of Treasure Cay.

We are hopeful he did not have a catastrophic crash .. hopefully (hes) in the brush somewhere, Hitchcock said. Hopefully, hes still alive.

Radio dispatches of an unidentified person were also heard by three other pilots in the area Sunday of a pilot announcing a final position and intentions to begin a descent to land at the airport around noon.

'Very experienced for a sport pilot'

The Marsh Harbour airport where he planned to land, Hitchcock said, is a very busy, uncontrolled field, whose departures and arrivals were not organized through a central command control tower but instead through radio communications of each pilot by turn.

Moore had flown for eight or nine years, he said.

Hes very experienced for a sport pilot, Hitchcock said.

The BRM Aero Bristell S-LSA flown by Moore was manufactured in 2013 and registered to Avanti LLC, an engineering business listed in state records as owned by Moore in Glenview, Kentucky.

The Bahamian military suspended its search Monday and notified the U.S. Coast Guard around 10 p.m. that night.

The Coast Guard searched by air Sunday, and after a three-hour flight Monday morning had no further involvement in the search.

No physical evidence of the plane or pilot was found in searches by either agency, a Coast Guard spokesperson said.

I, personally, was the first on scene over the northern end of West End (Grand Bahama island around) 3 or 4 p.m. Sunday, Hitchcock said.

Christopher Moore, 59, of Louisville, Kentucky (rear), and Cameron Hitchcock, 39, of West Palm Beach.

The search is now being carried out by private aircraft owners and people in the Abaco (Bahamas) community, he said.

A private air medical service called Tropic Air Rescue in Fort Lauderdale was also participating, but on Wednesday evening the business said no updates were available regarding its efforts.

Hitchcock said those involved in the efforts to find Moore, were now trying to get cell phone tower data from his phone picked up by towers in the Bahamas from the Bahamian government.

He said efforts were made to involve Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell and Florida State Rep. Brian Mast in attempts to get access to the cell tower data and to encourage local authorities to continue (the) search.

Were still encouraging anybody to look in the Treasure Key and Marsh Harbour area, he said.

More: Flying from Fort Pierce airport? Here's what we know about passenger service

More: Vero Beach owner of fake nursing school imprisoned, ordered to pay victims $146,000

Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers. Follow @coreyarwood on X, email corey.arwood@tcpalm.com or call 772-978-2246.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Search continues in Bahamas for missing pilot, plane out of Sebastian
Civitas gets green light for oil and gas plan near Aurora Reservoir

Civitas gets green light for oil and gas plan near Aurora Reservoir

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR)  The Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission approved a proposal that allows Civitas Resources to move forward with its plan to put more than 150 new oil and gas wells on 32,000 acres near the Aurora Reservoir.

The vote was 3-1. Commissioner John Messner voted against approval.

These new Colorado laws go into effect Aug. 7

The Lowry Ranch Comprehensive Area Plan in Arapahoe County was met with great pushback from residents in the area.

It was a little bit concerning, a little bit shocking, said Kevin Chan with Save the Aurora Reservoir, or STAR for short.

The group is concerned about environmental impacts and the proximity to a water source and a Superfund site. Chan said the plan is insufficient.

It did not address the cumulative impacts or the comprehensiveness of whatever is going to happen in Lowry Ranch, he said.

Anti-fracking sign outside of a public hearing

Commissioners approve Lowry Ranch oil and gas plan with caveat

In the meeting, several commissioners said they were concerned about the cumulative impacts but approved the plan with the caveat that all sites use electric equipment.

The next phase of the process could address the specific locations of the well sites.

I believe that approach provides me at least with a comfort level that at the Comprehensive Area Plan stage, this is approvable, Chairman Jeff Robbins said.

In a statement, Civitas Chief Operating Officer Hodge Walker said: This CAP approval is the result of thorough work by the Civitas team and extensive stakeholder engagement to ensure the safe development of Colorados important natural resources, while protecting the environment and minimizing impacts to our communities.

Does Colorado have common law marriages?

In a statement, the American Petroleum Institute said in part:   This decision to approve the Lowry Ranch Comprehensive Area Plan exemplifies that through hard work and due diligence from our operators, Colorado is still open for business  .

The Sierra Club condemned the decision, and the STAR group is now looking at its options moving forward.

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ClackCo Chair: Funds for drug treatment may be too late unless they give it to us now

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Its official: Clackamas County is the only one of almost two dozen counties that applied to be denied state money to set up a deflection program that would give drug users treatment instead of jail time.

On Wednesday, the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission finished approving the plans put forth by each county in compliance with House Bill 4002 when it goes into effect Sept. 1 and recriminalizes the possession of small amounts of hard drugs.

City agrees to buy Moda Center, land for $7.13 million, plans major renovation

Clackamas County first found out their proposal had not been approved earlier this week, effectively ruling it out for state funding. According to the Criminal Justice Commission, the countys plan more closely resembled diversion than deflection.

The committee has since agreed to take another look at the countys plan, though they did not specify when.

Clackamas County Chair Tootie Smith said she is still stunned that their program is the only one denied funding for now, adding that they are running out of time.

We cannot stand this program up by Sept. 1 with the money they gave us, unless they give it to us now, Smith said. If they delay, and they delay, and they delay, our implementation will be delayed.

Missing woman in Clark County presumed dead as detectives seek remains

Smith said she planned to speak with Gov. Tina Kotek on Wednesday.

Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton said he also believes Clackamas Countys program should get funding.

Meanwhile, both Smith and Barton said Multnomah Countys plan to set up a deflection center will be a disaster without enforced requirements for treatment.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue to follow county deflection efforts.

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New Clay Pit Fire sparks in Saratoga Springs, jumps to 200 acres

New Clay Pit Fire sparks in Saratoga Springs, jumps to 200 acres

This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah (ABC4)  A new wildfire was discovered in Saratoga Springs on Wednesday, and it quickly grew in size, according to officials.

Just after 5:15 p.m., Saratoga Springs Fire & Rescue posted on social media to alert residents of a fire in Israel Canyon, and officials asked residents to avoid the area. Evacuation orders were not put in place after the fire began.

READ NEXT: Dry Fork Fire sparks in Rich Co., spreads to 1,140 acres

An image of the Clay Pit Fire on Aug. 7, 2024, which was burning in Saratoga Springs. (Christie Crawford)

An image of the Clay Pit Fire on Aug. 7, 2024, which was burning in Saratoga Springs. (Holly Monsen)

The Utah Wildfire Dashboard initially reported the fire was burning about one acre.

Around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, the Utah Wildfire Dashboard was updated to show the fire  which was later named the Clay Pit Fire  was at a size of 200 acres.

The cause of the fire was undetermined as of Wednesday evening, and the fire was not yet contained.

There is no further information at this time.

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By Toma Mochizuki, KYODO NEWS - Aug 8, 2024 - 21:05 | All, World, Japan

The mayor of the southwestern Japan city of Nagasaki reiterated Thursday that the lack of an invitation for Israel to attend an annual ceremony commemorating the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city was not politically motivated and there would be no change to the decision.

The remarks by Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki came a day after it was revealed that the envoys of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United States and the European Union had sent a letter to Nagasaki in mid-July saying "it would become difficult for us to have high-level participation" in the event if Israel was excluded.

They expressed concerns that the move "would result in placing Israel on the same level as countries such as Russia and Belarus," which have not been invited to the ceremony for a third consecutive year over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Suzuki cited security reasons as behind the decision, including potential demonstrations against Israel's attendance, and told reporters that he hoped the ceremony would be "conducted smoothly under a solemn atmosphere," as aging atomic bomb survivors make great efforts to attend the ceremony.

"I will continue to persevere and ask for understanding of the decision as often as necessary," he said.

The mayor had initially postponed a decision on Israel's participation, before announcing on July 31 that the country would not be invited.

The announcement was followed by envoys pulling out of the event, including U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, who said that Nagasaki's lack of an invite "left me no choice" in a letter sent to Suzuki after attending the Hiroshima peace ceremony on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.

"I believe your decision is a political one and has nothing to do with the security and safety of the event, especially in light of the caliber of attendees," wrote Emanuel.

"I am also confident you are aware that I will not be the only ambassador not attending this year's ceremony in Nagasaki for similar reasons and concerns," he added.

The Canadian Embassy on Thursday said its ambassador Ian McKay would abstain from the ceremony as the lack of an invitation equated Israel with Russian and Belarus, although it said it understood the importance of the event.

The French Ambassador to Japan Philippe Seton will also not be attending, according to the French Embassy.

British Ambassador to Japan Julia Longbottom also expressed her intention earlier this week to skip the annual peace ceremony in response to the city's decision.

The ambassadors that have pulled out are slated to be represented instead by respective ministers and consul generals.

Suzuki said the decision of some ambassadors to pull out of the ceremony was "unfortunate," adding that he hoped that they would participate again from the following year onward.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the central government's top spokesman, declined to comment on the issue concerning Nagasaki at a news conference in Tokyo, saying the city was hosting the event.

Ambassador of Israel to Japan Gilad Cohen expressed gratitude on X, formerly known as Twitter, to the representatives that pulled out of the ceremony.

"I would like to extend my gratitude to all the countries that have chosen to stand with Israel and oppose its exclusion from the Nagasaki Peace Ceremony. Thank you for standing with us on the right side of history," he said.

Israel has come under criticism for the scale of civilian casualties and humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza caused by its assault in response to the militant group Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

Waleed Siam, representative of the Permanent General Mission of Palestine in Japan, said he was "deeply appalled and outraged by the disgraceful decision of the few ambassadors."

Noting the United States dropped the atomic bomb to Nagasaki, Siam said its refusal to participate in the city's ceremony "out of allegiance to a nation currently committing genocidal crime is a profound disrespect to the victims and their families."

While Israel was invited to attend the peace ceremony in Hiroshima, some criticized its inclusion as reflecting double standards given that Russia and Belarus were barred for the third consecutive year over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Palestine was also excluded from the event.

The Hiroshima decision drew protests, including an event attended by around 100 people at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in the evening after the anniversary ceremony was held on the site.

But international concerns have grown over the deaths and injuries of many civilians in the Palestinian enclave, as well as the dire humanitarian situation there.

In Tokyo, dozens demonstrated near the U.S. and British embassies on Thursday evening, protesting their respective ambassadors' decision to pull out of the Nagasaki peace ceremony.

Many called out, "Shame on you" in English and "Stop blackmailing Nagasaki," as they held Palestinian flags and banners.

Koji Sugihara, the 58-year-old head of the Network Against Japan Arms Trade, who organized the protests, said the move by the ambassadors was "outrageous."

"The ceremony is supposed to be an occasion to commemorate the atomic bomb victims and reaffirm the commitment to never tolerate genocide, and I cannot forgive that the United States and other Western democratic nations for skipping it just to show support to Israel," he said.

(Risako Nakanishi contributed to this story from Tokyo)

Related coverage:

U.S., Europe aired concern over no Israel presence at Nagasaki A-bomb event

Activists protest Hiroshima's invitation to Israel to A-bomb ceremony

FEATURE: Nagasaki anti-nuke sit-ins take on new gravity as threat grows
CLEAR FORK, WV (WVNS)  A man was caught allegedly stealing metal from a railroad trestle on the Clear Fork Rails to Trails in Raleigh County in late July, all thanks to a group of neighbors.

Members of the Clear Fork Neighborhood Crime Watch saw a man in a company truck removing the steel last week, Raleigh County Commission President Greg Duckworth said on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.

The suspect is identified as Daniel Frank of Whitesville, according to a criminal complaint.

Clear Fork couple asks community for help repairing an orphan bridge

President Duckworth said neighbors reported that the suspect had covered the trucks company logo before making off with steel from the nearby trestle.

Folks who live down there noticed something that was out of place, said Duckworth. They made some phone calls to police. The police showed up and caught the bad guys. It was the community working together at their best.

Clear Fork residents ask Raleigh County Commission for help with crime

Members of the Clear Fork Neighborhood Crime Watch have told 59News they want more police patrol in their rural neighborhoods.

The director of Raleigh County Parks and Recreation, Molly Williams, said on Tuesday that she was still assessing how the financial loss could impact construction of the trail.

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Press ReleaseJune 15, 2024UPDATE at 3:40PM:Joyce Millette 64 has succumb to her injuries and is now deceased. Anna Millette 23 is being treated at University Hospital for injuries sustained from her auto crash when fleeing. Upon release from the hospital, she will be incarcerated in the Clermont County jail for murder and felonious assault on police officers. This release will be updated soon with a short body cam video that shows the danger the officers were involved in. Mike MillsChief of Police-Miami Township Police Detectives are currently investigating an attempted homicide on Deerhaven Court Officers were dispatch this morning for a domestic situation between an adult daughter and mother. The daughter used a vehicle to pin the mother against the garage wall. As officers arrived, trying to break out the vehicle windows to free the woman, the driver reversed and struck two officers. An Officer was able to pursue her, which ended as the driver crashed on I-275 near Loveland. The officers were able to gain control by tasing the driver and taking her into custody. The officers who were struck sustain minor injuries due to their quick actions. We will not be identifying anyone involved since family members have yet to be notified. Mike Mills Chief of Police Miami Township Posted by Miami Township Police on Saturday, June 15, 2024

A criminal court case in which a woman is accused of killing her mother by pinning her to a garage wall with a car is stalled after a judge ruled that she is incompetent to stand trial Thursday.

Anna Millette, 23, will now be admitted to Summit Behavioral Healthcare to get treatment for up to a year until she is stable enough to stand trial.

The ruling, made in a hearing Thursday by Clermont County Court of Common Pleas Judge Richard Ferenc, says that Millettes mental state prevents her from understanding the "nature and objective of the proceedings against her" and from "meaningfully assisting her defense," according to court records.

The decision takes into account the opinion of Dr. Lora N. Davis of the Southern Ohio Forensic Evaluation Services, who submitted a report summarizing the results of Millette's court-ordered psychiatric examination. Davis' report found that Millette isn't fit to stand trial but could become competent to stand trial within a year of treatment.

Millette was arrested in June by Miami Township Police for trapping her 64-year-old mother, Joyce Millette, between a garage wall and a car, ultimately killing her.

Millette faces charges of aggravated murder and felonious assault in the case.

Julie Pederson, Millette's attorney, did not respond to a voicemail from The Enquirer seeking comment prior to publication.

Miami Township police released body-camera footage of the incident at the time. In the 18-second video, a car horn blares as officers tell the suspect to stop. Millette rapidly drives the car in reverse, hitting two officers, Chief of Police Mike Mills said at the time.

She then fled the scene in the vehicle as officers chased after her. The pursuit ended when she crashed on Interstate 275 near Loveland, Mills said.

Officers took her into custody. Shes been listed as an inmate at the Clermont County Jail since June 19.

The incident in June marked the second time Millette had been accused of intentionally hitting someone with a car.

She struck her boyfriend with a car after he broke up with her in May 2022, leading to charges of felonious assault, according to a complaint filed in Clermont County Municipal Court.

Following that incident, police found the 19-year-old man bleeding heavily from the head, according to court records.

Millette pleaded guilty in that case and was sentenced to jail time in January 2023 and was granted judicial release and placed on probation later that year.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Woman accused of killing mom with car ruled incompetent to stand trial
For the climate conscious among us, concerns about the coastline in this state ramp up with the arrival of tropical storm season each August. You dont have to be a worrywart to wonder how our beloved shore towns will fare in the face of sea level rise or to view disaster films involving floods as reasonable versions of our future.

How Asbury Park, Point Pleasant and other Jersey Shore towns will be faring in the next two and a half decades may not be top of mind for most of us on a calm sunny day in August. But the Union of Concerned Scientists is looking ahead, and theyve recently made a compelling case that everyone else should be, too. In June, the nonprofit advocacy group issued a new report, Looming Deadlines for Coastal Resilience.

The Asbury Park shoreline. Tidal flooding is threatening the infrastructure of towns and cities along both U.S. coasts, scientists say.

What is threatening the Jersey Shore?

Tidal flooding is threatening the infrastructure of towns and cities along both U.S. coasts, the scientists say. Between now and 2050, according to their report, climate changedriven sea level rise will expose more than 1,600 critical buildings and services to disruptive flooding at least twice per year. By critical, the group does not mean your favorite boardwalk taco stand (though that is at risk as well).

They mean the buildings and services that millions of people  especially people already disadvantaged by racism, discrimination, and pollution  depend upon. That includes places like fire and police stations, schools, public housing, and wastewater treatment plants.

The picture is bleak, the report says, outlining a scenario backed by hard data: Fire stations experiencing monthly flood days, saltwater regularly shorting out the power in entire neighborhoods, thousands of residents of subsidized housing being stranded by high tides, and industrial-polluted water seeping into land and soil and spreading toxins throughout residential areas.

New Jersey is second only to Louisiana in the number of coastal assets  like schools  at risk. Scarier still, the scientists may have been conservative in calculating the risks. Flooding in their analysis is driven by changes in sea level and tidal heights alone. Wave dynamics, storm surge, precipitation, river drainage, and groundwater dynamics can and do contribute to coastal flooding too, they note. Some low-lying areas are so vulnerable that in addition to the Department of Environmental Protections Blue Acres Program, which buys properties most at risk, we need additional tools to move people out of harms way, to help them retreat from areas most frequently inundated.

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'We're taking the brunt of things here'

The forecasting of a grim future for our coastline doesnt mean its a foregone conclusion. Capt. Alek Modjeski, the habitat restoration program director for the American Littoral Society, a nonprofit whose mission includes protecting the coast, sees the local fallout of climate change every day.

Because of the geographic location of New Jersey, were taking the brunt of things here, he acknowledged. But he said he feels energized because communities are getting proactive in their approach to sea level rise. We get phone calls all the time from residents and municipalities. Theyre asking, What are our options?

One option, he said, is a living shoreline, a nature-based solution that provides land stabilization and protects against erosion while also creating or enhancing living space. The Littoral Society recently partnered with the shore town of Neptune on just such a project. Sand was added to elevate the shoreline, a dune was constructed, logs made of coconut fibers were installed to trap sediment and raise the marsh, and old pipes were replaced to prevent water backflow.

The things that are happening to our shoreline are happening pretty expeditiously and pretty exponentially, said Modjeski, who goes by Capt. Al. But we have a chance to reduce the rate of erosion if we take a programmatic approach, if we build things over time.

Things can change, Capt. Al added. The Union of Concerned Scientists thinks so, too, though their assessment is alarming.

How much infrastructure will be in jeopardy late this century will depend heavily on the choices countries make about global heat-trapping emissions, its report concludes. Policymakers and public and private decision makers must take immediate, science-based steps to safeguard critical infrastructure and achieve coastal resilience.

The challenges are great because planning in New Jersey happens mostly at the municipal level. We have 564 municipalities. Regional approaches to planning, and projects that span municipal and county lines, are critical to achieving effective solutions. Flooding and storms dont follow human-drawn boundaries. The state Legislature just held a hearing to discuss the threats to our coast and consider possible solutions.

The next time you walk along an ocean boulevard to your favorite ice cream store, imagine the Atlantic being up to your belt buckle at high tide. Drastic reductions in fossil fuel use and switching as rapidly as possible to carbon-neutral energy sources will lessen sea level rise. There is no longer any reason, nor time, to delay.

You can find out more about the work of the American Littoral Society at littoralsociety.org.

And for information about preserving New Jerseys land and natural resources, visit the New Jersey Conservation Foundation website at njconservation.org or contact me at info@njconservation.org.

Alison Mitchell is co-executive director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ coastal resilience: It's past time to take action!
COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  The Colbert County Tourism recently received Organization of the Year by the Alabama State Tourism.

As you cross into Colbert County youre greeted with music, history and more. In 2023, visitors spent over $115 million in tourism and over the past five years, lodging revenue has doubled in the county.

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President Colbert Co. Tourism, Susann Hamlin, says the hotels are the busiest.

The lodging in our hotels are very very good, we have one hotel running at about 94% occupancy which is almost unheard of, and many of them are running in the high seventies, Hamlin said.

Hamlin said the most popular attractions that bring in the most revenue to Colbert County are the Music Hall of Fame and the Hellen Keller Home in Tuscumbia.

We often have group tours here, we of course have a lot of drive-in traffic, coming up from all across the southeast and literally across the nation, and the good news is, we have a lot of international guests too, Hamlin said.

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Data showed that thousands of visitors in the last year were from all over the world and Hamlin said so far this year, they are on track to increase those numbers again, especially with some new features coming to town for guests.

We are also working on a lot of different venues, we want a lot more music venues, live music venues because that brings in overnight stays and thats what brings in and develops our budgets, we are always trying to fill hotel rooms, she said.

Hamlin added that tourism brought 1,524 jobs to the county in 2023, and Hamlin says, it only goes up from here.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)- The College of Charleston has received a large federal grant to help restore some of the last remaining features of a Civil War-era fort on James Island, the National Park Service (NPS) announced Thursday.

The college was awarded $356,934 through the American Battlefield Protection Program to restore and stabilize a powder magazine and two cisterns at Fort Johnson.

Todays grants help create connections to the landscapes that carry our nations history, NPS Director Chuck Sams said. By supporting these local restoration efforts, all Americans will gain the opportunity to learn about history from more than just books, understand the foundation and growth of this country, and enjoy more protected open green space.

The fort was first constructed in 1708 at Windmill Point on James Island, although no remnants of the original structure remain.

In the spring of 1861, a Confederate general ordered a mortar battery at the fort to launch a shell into Charleston Harbor. This shot served as a signal for all southern batteries to open fire on Union troops at Fort Sumter, a bombardment that began the American Civil War.

The tabby fort became a part of the defensive network protecting the harbor from Union attacks before it was eventually evacuated by Confederate troops in February 1865.

After the war, a quarantine station at the site came under joint control by the City of Charleston and the state. The property was transferred to the federal government in 1906 and operations were taken over by the United States Marine Hospital Service.

A quarantine facility continued to operate there until the College of Charleston and the Medical College of South Carolina received title to the property in the 1950s.

A majority of the property was transferred to the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department a couple of decades later, but a small portion of land was retained by the College.

The magazine and adjoining freshwater cisterns are some of the few surviving structures from the Civil War era.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.  A Collinsville, Illinois, man was convicted of child sex crimes on Wednesday following a bench trial in Madison County Circuit Court.

Markki L. Edmonson, 48, was found guilty of four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and one count of criminal sexual assault.

The assaults took place between Jan. 1, 2016, and Feb. 14, 2018, while the victim was between 9 and 13 years of age.

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Prosecutors with the Madison County States Attorneys Office said the victim eventually made a report with a school social worker, culminating in Edmonsons arrest.

Edmonson will be sentenced at a later date. He faces between six and 60 years on each count of predatory sexual assault of a child and four to 15 years for criminal sexual assault. These counts do not allow for probation and carry mandatory consecutive sentences. This means Edmonson faces a minimum 28-year prison sentence.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Colombias President Petro was the target of a possible attack in July, says defense minister

Colombian President Gustavo Petro speaks at the ceremony marking the anniversary of the 1819 Battle of Boyaca that sealed Colombia's independence from Spain, at the Puente de Boyaca Monument in Tunja, Colombia, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  Colombian President Gustavo Petro was the target of a possible attack in July, when he took part in a public event in downtown Bogota, Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez said Thursday, without providing evidence or elaborating further.

There was information about that... an attack, Velasquez said, but declined to provide additional details when pressed by reporters.

Petro participated in the traditional military parade on July 20 to commemorate the 214th anniversary of Colombias independence from Spain, after arriving several hours late to the event.

Petro said at the time that his tardiness was due to information that had to be corroborated with the United States embassy, and a lack of coordination among my security detail.

On Wednesday, Gustavo Bolivar, one of Petros closest allies in his cabinet, insisted to the press that the president arrived late on July 20 because there were security concerns and a warning from the U.S. embassy.

Petro, a former rebel and the first leftist president in the countrys history, has received threats through social media since he took office in 2022, as he himself reported to the prosecutors office. He also received threats during the 2022 election campaign, so it was common to see him surrounded by bodyguards and soldiers when he delivered speeches in public squares.

The minister of defense said this was not the first time his office has received information about a possible attack on the president, adding there is constant intelligence activity in an effort to protect the presidents integrity.

Petro has promoted a plan for total peace that includes negotiating with some of the most powerful armed groups in the country  from leftist guerrillas to smaller trafficking mafias  in an effort to get them to demobilize simultaneously.

But violence continues to be a concern in the Andean country despite the peace talks that the government is holding with armed groups including the National Liberation Army guerrilla group and factions of the FARC dissidents who did not adhere to the 2016 peace agreement.

These armed groups are fighting for territorial control of strategic corridors for drug trafficking and illegal mining. ___

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
(COLORADO)  The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced $1.5 million in planning grants to Colorado through the Federal Highway Administrations Bridge Investment Program.

Colorado is receiving grants for three projects across the state; Highway 96 in Pueblo, Academy Boulevard bridge in Colorado Springs, and Larimer County Road 63E over the Cache la Poudre River.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is getting $760,000 for planning efforts to determine the feasibility of replacing two bridges on Hwy 96. DOT said the bridges are a critical connection for disadvantaged communities in East Pueblo to Pueblos downtown.

The City of Colorado Springs is getting $750,000 to conduct a study to develop plans for the replacement of the North Academy Boulevard Bridge over East Platte Avenue along with multimodal improvements.

Larimer County is getting $64,000 to determine the specifics of replacing a more than 80-year-old bridge on Larimer County Road 63E.

The planning grants announced today will help Colorado prepare critical bridge projects for restoration or replacement before they fall into a state of disrepair, said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. By making historic investments in bridge projects that serve as a vital transportation link in communities nationwide, the Biden-Harris administration is supporting local economies, strengthening supply chains, and promoting resilience and safety in transportation.

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KYODO NEWS - Aug 8, 2024 - 21:32 | Sports, Olympics, All

The Japanese mixed dinghy duo of Keiju Okada and Miho Yoshioka won sailing silver at the Paris Olympics on Thursday, finishing third in the ultimate "medal race" to jump up one place in the standings.

The silver is only Japan's third Olympic sailing medal and its first since a bronze in the men's 470 class in Athens 20 years ago.

"I'm happy, if a little tired," said Okada. "I wanted to run our own race in the medal race, so made sure to choose the wind we wanted."

The Japanese pair, ranked second in the world, started the day on the waters off Marseille Marina third behind Jordi Xammar Hernandez and Nora Brugman Cabot of Spain in the overall standings, but finished 40 seconds and six places ahead in the medal race to relegate the Europeans to fourth.

Anton Dahlberg and Lovisa Karlsson of Sweden also moved past the Spaniards to take bronze.

The Austrian duo of helm Lara Vadlau and crew Lukas Maehr won the gold medal with 38 net points, three fewer than Okada and Yoshioka, with the Swedes finishing on 47.

Okada and Yoshioka, who each finished seventh in the men's and women's 470 class at the Tokyo Games, were in contention from the start of the 2024 Games mixed dinghy competition held in the port city of Marseille in southern France.

The 2023 mixed 470 world champions won the first race and then had consecutive second-place results, with third their best result over the remaining six races. The Japanese sailors' worst finish, a 14th, was struck off as per the scoring system, reducing their equal-best 55 total points to 41 net points.

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DENVER (KDVR)  The Colorado Capitol was closed on Thursday after a sewer line cracked.

According to the Department of Personnel and Administration, a sewer line in the sub-basement of the Capitol cracked and released sewage. While the leak was contained, there was no estimated time for the repair.

Therefore, all events scheduled for Thursday inside the Capitol have been canceled. The only event still taking place is an event for the retirement of Colorado National Guard Colonel Charles Q. Beatty, which is happening in the Old Supreme Court Chambers.

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Anyone attending the retirement event can only enter through the southside entrance.

While the leak is being repaired, bathrooms will be inoperable.

Aside from being home to the Colorado General Assembly and other legislatures, the Capitol offers free guided and self-guided tours for anyone looking to learn more about Colorados government. When the building is open, tours are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a guided tour or guests can self-guide from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Three deans at Columbia University, who sent text messages that the school president described as antisemitic, have resigned from their posts.

The deans resigned after a series of troubling texts came to light that were sent in May during a campus event called Jewish Life on Campus: Past, Present, and Future. The texts were exchanged while Jewish campus leaders shared their concerns about antisemitism at the New York school.

Matthew Patashnick, associate dean for student and family support, resigned alongside Susan Chang-Kim, the colleges vice dean and chief administrative officer, and Cristen Kromm, the dean of undergraduate student life.

This incident revealed behavior and sentiments that were not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes, Columbia President Minouche Shafik said in a statement last month.

Shafik had placed the deans on indefinite administrative leave in July after the messages came to light. A transcript of the messages has since been released by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, which is investigating antisemitism on campuses across the country.

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik pictured visiting Hamilton Hall, which pro-Palestinian protesters occupied in April. Three deans have resigned after sending text messages that Shafik said referenced antisemitic tropes (Getty Images)

He knows exactly what hes doing and how to take full advantage of this moment, Patashnick sent in the group chat, according to the transcript. Huge fundraising potential.

Chang-Kim replied: Double Urgh.

Chang-Kim also appeared to sarcastically describe Columbias Hillel director, Brian Cohen, as our hero. Josef Sorrett, dean of Columbia College, replied with: LMAO.

Sorett, who is tenured, did not resign and will remain in his role. He apologized to the Columbia community last month. I am deeply sorry that this happened in a community that I lead and, that I was part of any of the exchanges, he wrote.

Students fly a banner that reads Hinds Hall out of a Hamilton Hall window on Columbia Universitys campus. Dozens of occupiers were arrested, however, the Manhattan DA has dropped charges against 31 of them (AP)

The messages were sent in the weeks after massive pro-Palestinian protests shook the New York City campus and made national news. These protests inspired dozens of similar demonstrations on campuses across the US.

Dozens of Columbia students and their allies were arrested, particularly after occupying the schools Hamilton Hall and re-naming it Hinds Hall to honor a six-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli troops.

In June, the Manhattan District Attorneys Office said that it was dropping charges against 31 of the 46 people who occupied the hall.

The Independent has contacted Patashnick, Chang-Kim and Kromm for comment.
A Belgian publisher has removed an opinion column that has been accused of dangerously inciting antisemitic hatred, in which the writer said that the humanitarian suffering in Gaza made him want to ram a sharp knife through the throat of every Jew I meet. He later defended his words as being protected under free speech.

Herman Brusselmans, who is known for being controversial, recently wrote a column for Humo, a weekly Dutch-language magazine which, according to its publisher DPG Media Group, provides in-depth background pieces to the news of the day while doubling as a guide to arts and culture.

In his column on Sunday, headlined: The Middle East will explode, a Third World War is coming, Brusselmans described the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a short, fat, bald Jew who for whatever reason wants to ensure that the entire Arab world is wiped out.

He continued: For every Hamas or Hezbollah fighter killed by that sh*tty Israeli army, hundreds of innocent civilians are killed, and we cant help but keep repeating that many of those are children, and that we here in the so-called safe West cannot imagine that the same fate would befall our children.

Brusselmans added: I see an image of a crying, screaming Palestinian boy, completely madly calling for his mother lying under the rubble, and I imagine that boy is my own son Roman, and the mother is my own friend Lena, and I become so angry that I want to ram a sharp knife through the throat of every Jew I meet.

The comments sparked outrage both within and outside the Jewish community, ultimately forcing the publisher to take down the article.

I understand that people who are not sufficiently familiar with HUMO or Herman Brusselmans style and are confronted with this quote without context are shocked. It was of course never the intention to hurt the Jewish community. If that did happen, we would like to apologize for it. That is why we ultimately decided to take the column offline. Anyone who knows HUMO a little knows that it is certainly not an anti-Semitic magazine, Humos deputy editor-in-chief Matthias Vanderaspoilden wrote in a statement.

An incitement to murder

The Brussels-based European Jewish Association (EJA) has described the column as nothing short of an incitement to murder.

In a statement on the EJAs website, its founder and chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin said: We know this is a shock-jock journalist, who pushes the boundaries. But publicly expressing his desire to stab the throat of any Jew he comes across is psychopathic. Given his popularity and infamy, it is also an invitation for others to do likewise. It is completely and utterly out of all bounds. It [is] nothing short of incitement to murder.

In a phone interview with CNN on Wednesday, Margolin said the piece had heightened the fears of an already nervous community.

Jews feel the atmosphere is as it was in the 1940s, he said. Now again Jews are asking themselves: has the time come to run away from Europe when we see this kind of article?

Its clear incitement and part of a very worrying trend in Belgium and all over Europe, of expression of hatred against Jews, Margolin continued.

Others beyond the Jewish community have also reacted with horror. Assita Kanko, a Belgian Member of the European Parliament (MEP), said on X on Tuesday that she was completely flabbergasted and sad after reading the article.

Describing it as pure and open anti-Semitism, she added: This is not about freedom of speech or satire, its a call to violence. Its a call to murder. Why is @Humo even publishing something like that?

Reports of incidents of antisemitism have sharply risen since October.

On October 7, Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took more than 250 people hostage, according to Israeli authorities. Israels military response in Gaza has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians and injured more than 90,000, the ministry of health in the strip says.

Regina Sluszny-Suchowolski, chairwoman of The Forum of Jewish Organisations in Belgium, told CNN Wednesday that the number of antisemitism cases reported to the police have risen more than fivefold in Belgium in the 10 months since the war started. The incidence of actual antisemitic acts may be even higher, however, as research by the European Commission has revealed high levels of under-reporting.

Yohan Benizri, president of the Coordinating Committee of Jewish Organizations in Belgium (CCOJB), the leading representative body of Belgian Jews, compared the article to Nazi propaganda.

Its exactly the same level as Der Sturmer - its the demonization of an entire people, he told CNN, referring to the Nazi-era German antisemitic newspaper.

What has made matters worse, said Benizri, is the response from Humo and Brusselmans to the backlash.

When asked about the reaction to his column by Flemish newspaper Nieuwsblad, Brusselmans said: Incitement to violence? In my column I do a thought exercise about how I would react if it were my loved ones who were affected. In the conditional tense. That sentence about the sharp knife is purely figurative, to emphasize the message. And that falls under the right to freedom of expression.

Policemen close the access of the scene of a shooting near the Jewish Museum in Brussels, on May 24, 2014 which left four people dead. - Nicolas Maeterlinck/AFP/Getty Images/File

Meanwhile in a statement sent to CNN, Vanderaspoilden said: With satirical writers such as Herman Brusselmans, what is written should never be taken one hundred percent literally. That is why the editorial staff did not intervene in the text of our columnist, as we never do.

He added in a separate statement that the magazine was bored with the matter and did not intend to remove the article, a stance that was later reversed.

Brusselmans did not respond to a request for comment from CNN. Vanderaspoilden told CNN that the writer has been overwhelmed by the reactions and hate, so he doesnt want to communicate.

Rick Honings, a professor specializing in Dutch literature at Leiden University in the Netherlands, published a monograph about Brusselmans in 2018 in which he examined his life, work and image.

Honings told CNN that the writer often pushes the limit of what is moral or otherwise.

He described him as a shock author, adding: Brusselmans has been making politically incorrect jokes his entire writing career (since the 1980s), mostly about racist issues, but they are also often jokes about women.

He continued: At the same time, it is mostly meant as satire. In doing so, he manages to draw attention to himself time and again. It is not the first time that he makes jokes about Jews and the Holocaust, but his current comically intended comment goes pretty far even for Brusselmans.

Research carried out by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research in 2022 said that almost half of Jews in Belgium reported that they had experienced antisemitic harassment over the previous 12 months, while around a third said they had experienced antisemitic discrimination over the same period.

In recent years, controversy has erupted over a carnival in Belgium which featured antisemitic imagery on one of its floats. The Aalst Carnival was removed from UNESCOs Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2019 after officials found the recurrence of racist and antisemitic representations to be incompatible with its principles.

In 2014, four people were killed when a gunman opened fire at the Jewish Museum of Belgium in Brussels.

This developing story has been updated.

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Consuming a drink with erythritol  an artificial sweetener used to add bulk to stevia and monk fruit and to sweeten low-carb keto products  more than doubled the risk of blood clotting in 10 healthy people, according to a new pilot study.

Clots can break off blood vessels and travel to the heart, triggering a heart attack, or to the brain, triggering a stroke. Previous research has linked erythritol to a higher risk of stroke, heart attack and death.

What is remarkable is that in every single subject, every measure of platelet responsiveness (clotting) went up following the erythritol ingestion, said lead study author Dr. Stanley Hazen, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Prevention at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute.

Consuming a drink with an equal amount of glucose, or sugar, did not affect blood platelet activity in another group of 10 people, said Hazen, who is also the Jan Bleeksma chair in vascular cell biology and atherosclerosis at the Cleveland Clinic.

This is the first direct head-to-head comparison of the effects of ingesting glucose versus ingesting erythritol on multiple different measures of platelet function, Hazen said. Glucose doesnt impact clotting, but erythritol does.

While small, the study was very intriguing and interesting, said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver.

Im not saying we need to cease using these sugar alcohols immediately, but this line of research certainly begs the question: Are they safe or not? said Freeman, who was not involved in the research.

In response to the study, the Calorie Control Council, an industry association, told CNN that 30 years of science has shown erythritol to be a proven safe and effective choice for sugar and calorie reduction.

Consumers should interpret the results of this pilot with extreme caution. The limited number of participants, a total of 10, were given an excessive amount of erythritol, nearly quadruple the maximum amount approved in any single beverage in the United States, the councils president, Carla Saunders, said in an email.

However, the amount of erythritol used in each drink in the study  30 grams  was the equivalent of what is included in typical sugar-free sodas, ice creams or muffins, of which people often eat more than one, Hazen said.

This research raises some concerns that a standard serving of an erythritol-sweetened food or beverage may acutely stimulate a direct clot-forming effect, said study coauthor Dr. Wai Hong Wilson Tang, research director for heart failure and cardiac transplantation at the Cleveland Clinic, in a statement.

It only takes a tiny bit of artificial sweetener to add plenty of taste, so filler substances such as sugar alcohols are used to create the granules. - HandmadePictures/iStockphoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto

What are sugar alcohols?

Like sorbitol and xylitol, erythritol is a sugar alcohol, a carb found naturally in many fruits and vegetables. The human body also makes erythritol as a byproduct of glucose metabolism but only in small quantities.

Artificially manufactured in massive quantities, erythritol has no lingering aftertaste, doesnt spike blood sugar and has less of a laxative effect than some other sugar alcohols. It has about 70% of the sweetness of sugar and is considered zero calorie, according to experts.

Erythritol is the largest ingredient by weight in many natural stevia and monk fruit products, Hazen said. It looks and tastes like sugar and can be used for baking. It is also a key ingredient in many keto-friendly products including ice cream, Hazen said.

If you look at nutrition labels on many keto ice creams, youll see reducing sugar or sugar alcohol, which are terms for erythritol, he told CNN in an earlier interview.

Youll find a typical pint has somewhere between 26 and 45 grams in it.

Artificially created erythritol, along with its cousins, are considered generally recognized as safe, or GRAS, by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Series of studies show similar results

The new study, published Thursday in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, asked 20 participants to fast overnight in preparation for a morning blood draw. Next, they were given a drink with either 30 grams of erythritol or 30 grams of sugar. After 30 minutes, blood was drawn again.

Levels of erythritol in the blood rose by a thousandfold after the one drink with that substance, while blood sugars rose a small amount after the drink containing glucose. However, it was the change in platelet activity that was startling, Hazen said.

We saw enhanced clotting, using measures of how quickly clots will occlude a vessel or stop blood flow, which is like a model of a heart attack or a stroke, he said.

Similar results appeared in a 2023 study by Hazen and his colleagues in which eight healthy volunteers also consumed the same amount of erythritol and saw a thousandfold spike of the substance in their blood.

(Erythritol) remained elevated above the threshold necessary to trigger and heighten clotting risk for the following two to three days, Hazen said at the time.

That study also analyzed the blood of more than 4,000 people in the United States and Europe and found that those with the highest levels of erythritol were twice as likely to experience a heart attack or stroke.

What were seeing with erythritol is the platelets become super responsive: A mere 10% stimulant produces 90% to 100% of a clot formation, Hazen said.

The studies were done in healthy people without chronic disease; however, the studys findings still apply for the future, Hazen said.

However, if you look at middle-aged America, the average person has two to three risk factors for heart disease, and 70% of us are going to develop heart disease in our lifetime, so maybe we should all be considering action, he said.

When it comes to the risk of cardiovascular disease, occasional sugar-sweetened treats in small amounts may be preferable to consuming drinks and foods sweetened with the sugar alcohols, he said. Thats especially true for anyone at highest risk for clotting, heart attack and stroke  such as those with existing cardiac disease or diabetes.

Cardiovascular disease builds over time, and heart disease is the leading cause of death globally, he said. We need to make sure the foods we eat arent hidden contributors.

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EAST PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  Illinois Central College is offering a remedy for students who need assistance applying for financial aid.

On Monday, ICC began extending its financial aid office hours to better serve students amid application changes and delays. For this week, the extended hours of operation end on Thursday. Next week extended hours are offered Aug 12.  Aug. 15. Each day, staff is available from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Universities ready for students despite FAFSA difficulties

Kyle Rindfleisch, director of financial aid, said it felt like the right thing to do.

Were here to assist. A lot of our student body works so may not be able to fit our normal 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. hours. So, we really to hopefully meet their demands and needs of of availability, he said.

ICC is also offering the help to college eligible students not currently enrolled at the community college. To sign-up for a session click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Providence Mayor Brett Smiley joined 12 News at 4 Wednesday to discuss potential changes coming to the citys waterfront, the future of WaterFire and the closure of Eastside Marketplace.

Watch the full interview in the video above.

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SOMERSET  Two men from Virginia pulled up at the pumps at Turkey Hill Gas Station off Center Avenue in the borough and one went inside while the other stayed with their car. What they didn't know was a local police officer was watching.

Somerset Borough Police Officer J. Clement said he noticed the driver "pick up what appeared to be a wallet, open it up, sort through the contents, and appeared to conceal the item in his pocket, then remove it from his pockets and hide it (in) the front seat."

District Judge Scott Walker's office in Somerset.

It is not clear from the police complaints which one of the men - Ryan Lee Anderson, 44, Beaverdam, Virginia, or Preston Robert Batts, 45, Manassas, Virginia, formerly of Beaverdam at the same address as Anderson - was the driver and which one was the passenger. What was clear from the probable-cause affidavits was that Clement spoke first with the passenger and then with the driver when he returned to the vehicle.

When he approached the passenger, the officer said he "could smell a strong odor of marijuana" on him.

Clement asked the passenger where they were traveling from and he responded, "Pittsburgh from my cousin's hip surgery." He identified the driver who was in the convenience store as his "cousin."

He first denied he had any marijuana in the vehicle when the officer asked him where the marijuana was located. Next the officer told the passenger that he "could smell both burnt and green marijuana" and the odor was "very strong." At that point the passenger said there was illegal marijuana inside the front seat area of the car and that was all he had, according to a probable-cause affidavit.

Other: Second fire consumes a vacant mobile home at Cherry Lane Estates

The driver was walking back to the car when the officer told him that the passenger had said there was "illegal marijuana" in the vehicle. The officer than asked the man how he knew the passenger. The driver responded that he was a friend, he knew him from an old job and they were coming from Chambersburg from finalizing some of his late father's affairs, Clement wrote.

"Due to the inconsistency of stories, I asked the driver about any marijuana inside the vehicle and the driver stated there was none," according to the affidavit.

The officer asked for consent to search the vehicle and driver gave verbal consent.

What was found

"Today, Officers from Somerset Borough Police Department conducted an investigation and seized approximately three pounds of suspected marijuana, suspected cocaine, and packaged THC candies," Somerset County District Attorney Molly Metzgar wrote in a media release.

What resulted

Anderson and Batts were arrested and both charged with felony possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, she wrote.

According to District Judge Scott Walker's clerks, both men were arraigned on charges around lunchtime Wednesday and lodged in the Somerset County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bond. Their preliminary hearing before Walker is tentatively scheduled at 3:15 p.m. Aug. 20.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset police charge 2 travelers with possession of marijuana, drugs
Congolese military court hands down death sentence to leader of rebel coalition and 25 others

FILE - Corneille Nangaa, president of the independent electoral commission, speaks to reporters, Dec. 24, 2018, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nangaa was one of the 25 people sentenced to death by a Congolese military court Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)

KINSHASA, Congo (AP)  A military court in Congo on Thursday sentenced 25 people, including the leader of a rebel coalition, to death after a high-profile televised trial that started late last month.

Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Alliance Fleuve Congo, or AFC, was found guilty of war crimes, participation in an insurrection and treason. Naanga and 19 other defendants sentenced to death were absent from the trial as they are currently on the run.

This nauseating judicial saga reinforces our struggle for democratic normality in Congo, Nangaa told the Associated Press in a text message from an undisclosed location.

The AFC is a political-military movement launched by Nangaa in December with the aim of uniting armed groups, political parties and civil society against Congos government. One of its most renown members is the M23, an armed group accused of mass killings in eastern Congo's decadeslong conflict.

Congo's president Felix Tshisekedi, along with U.S. and U.N. experts, accuse neighboring Rwanda of giving military backing to M23. Rwanda denies the claim, but in February it effectively admitted that it has troops and missile systems in eastern Congo to safeguard its security, pointing to a buildup of Congolese forces near the border.

The court's decision against Nangaa follows the announcement of a cease-fire between Congo and Rwanda last week following talks mediated by Angola. The cease-fire took effect on Sunday but prospects are slim with previous truces not lasting more than a few weeks and fighting having already resumed near the border with Uganda.

The death sentence against Nangaa might be a way to have more leverage in possible future negotiations with Rwanda or the armed groups themselves, Yvon Muya, a conflict studies researcher at Saint Paul University, said.

The decadeslong conflict in eastern Congo has produced one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises, with over 100 armed groups fighting in the region, most for land and control of mines with valuable minerals. Some are fighting to try to protect their communities.

Many groups are accused of carrying out mass killings, rapes and other human rights violations.

The violence has displaced about 7 million people, including thousands living in temporary camps. Many others are beyond the reach of aid.

____

Follow APs Africa coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Congressman Mike Turner visited Springfield on Wednesday to address the need for federal relief  for the citys growing number of Haitian migrants and the lack of resources to deal with that surge.

Some city leaders are calling the influx of nearly 10,000 Haitian migrants to Springfield a burden on resources, saying that the increase in population is not sustainable.

Springfield makes change to funding for the unhoused

You could have an unbelievable crisis here, but we dont because the result of these individuals leadership, Mayor Rues leadership, said Mike Turner on Wednesday.

Urgent requests regarding the increase of Haitian immigrants from Springfield Mayor Rob Rue are now getting federal attention, leading to Congressman Turners visit on Wednesday to offer support and new solutions.

To be able to backfill what is a result of numbers that theyre saying that are not sustainable, said Turner.

Turner noted that Springfield is using more resources than they have to support the growing population. He says the lack of funding is straining the citys tax revenue and putting a heavy burden on healthcare providers. The community agrees.

This year, we are anticipating to close the year at about $450,000, and that is not sustainable, said Dr. Yamini Teegala, Rocking Horse Health chief officer.

Springfield working to support displaced families following shelter closure

The issue has been amplified frequently at city council meetings by community members.

And while some residents are frustrated, others suggest patience and understanding.

Everybody just take a breath, said Lori Clark, a Springfield resident. Well get through this together.

Mayor Rob Rue echoes that sentiment:

The amount of care that the Haitian individuals are receiving should tell them what kind of community theyre in. There is a big hearted community, said Rue.

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By Yukika Saito and Ryo Moriyama, KYODO NEWS - Aug 8, 2024 - 10:34 | Feature, All, Japan

Since 1979, monthly sit-ins by atomic bomb survivors and others in the Nagasaki Peace Park calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons and a world without war have been held on the ninth day of each month as a rallying cry for peace.

Although more than 500 sit-ins have been held to date by hibakusha, or atomic bomb survivors, since they began 45 years ago, nuclear weapons are not only still in existence but have only grown as a threat to humanity.

Sharing in their indignation, participants in the city in Japan's southwestern prefecture -- the site of the atomic bombing in the final stages of World War II on Aug. 9, 1945 -- continue their rallies in front of the Nagasaki Peace Statue in the face of the growing threat nuclear weapons pose to humanity.

For the 500th sit-in held on June 9, which fell on a Sunday, Koichi Kawano, 84, chairman of the Hibakusha Liaison Council of the Nagasaki Prefectural Peace Movement Center, made an appeal to the crowd, describing the devastation wrought by the atomic bomb to about 420 participants -- four times the usual number of hibakusha, high school students and others who attend the monthly events.

The aftermath of the bombing of Nagasaki saw many of the injured survivors wandering the streets "like a parade of ghosts," Kawano told the gathering, quoting what his grandmother had witnessed. "Humanity will perish unless nuclear weapons are gotten rid of," he told the participants.

The sit-ins have their origin in an event that took place on March 16, 1979, by the late Ryoichi Yajima, then chairman of the Council of Labor Unions in Nagasaki Prefecture, and some 30 others to protest a port call by Japan's first nuclear-powered ship, named the Mutsu, in Sasebo, Nagasaki, on Oct. 16, 1978, due to an accidental radiation leak caused by the vessel in 1974.

After the ship embarked from Sasebo Port in 1982, people began gathering for sit-ins on the ninth of each month to remember the atomic bombing of the city and to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Sit-ins in front of the park's peace memorial became the norm following a protest against nuclear tests by hibakusha, including Takeshi Yamakawa, 87, and four other Nagasaki school teachers in 1974.

Yamakawa, who began to fully join the monthly sit-ins after retirement, said, "We can express our opposition to nuclear weapons even through a sit-in of a few minutes. It is a movement that is easy to take part in."

With the exception of Aug. 9, the day that marks the atomic bombing of the city when the Peace Memorial Ceremony is held, the sit-in rallies have continued without fail on the ninth of each month, even on snow days and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While skeptics are doubtful that sit-ins can lead to the abolition of nuclear weapons, Shohei Tsuiki, 97, one of the five school teachers, still finds "meaning in expressing opposition to nuclear weapons."

Tsuiki had taken part in the monthly sit-ins before becoming physically unable to do so a decade ago due to his advanced age.

While nuclear-armed nations, in particular, maintain policies of nuclear deterrence and are not moving toward abolition, there are also moves to push states to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

But the United States as well as other countries with nuclear arsenals have not signed on since the treaty was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in July 2017, citing the fact that it is "not likely to produce any results" as the treaty has not been ratified by any of the states in possession of nuclear weapons.

Though discouraged by nuclear powers and other countries that have so far stuck to a policy based on the promise of retaliation and possibly mutually assured destruction, Tsuiki said, "I feel that anti-nuclear sentiment has spread somewhat compared to when we started our protest movement."

The number of hibakusha, who have led the sit-ins, has decreased significantly, only accounting for some 10 percent of participants in recent years.

But young people have been attending and are ready to pick up the mantle, such as 17-year-old Koharu Osawa, a student at Chinzei Gakuin High School in Nagasaki Prefecture who attended the 500th sit-in.

"I will pass on what I have learned from hibakusha down to my juniors and strive to keep this movement active among future generations," she said.

Related coverage:

Nagasaki mayor says Israel not invited to A-bomb peace ceremony

FEATURE: Nagasaki survivor-doctor works for nuke-free world into his 80s

Hiroshima survivor who broke silence at 70 seeks "blue sky" of peace
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH)  24 cadets graduated on Thursday from the Connecticut State Police Training Academy.

Connecticut State Police partner with businesses to provide safe places to get help

The cadets are the 135th training group for the agency, completing 28 weeks and 1,500 hours of training before graduating in a ceremony at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain.

The training includes physical conditioning, driving, firearms and other specialized areas of police work. Graduates said that the death of Trooper Aaron Pelletier during their training had a significant impact.

No matter where you come from, it doesnt matter the department or the agency, its always a horrific event and a tragedy to see that happen and its something that you never forget, Trooper Kathleen Begley said,

The new troopers will be assigned to posts all across Connecticut.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
Photo illustration by AZCIR Staff

Project 2025, a contentious policy blueprint for the next Republican presidency, seeks to dramatically concentrate power in the White House while fundamentally changing how the federal government operates on nearly every front.

And when it comes to overhauling public education, the sweeping right-wing manifesto borrows heavily from Arizonas playbook.

The roughly 900-page Mandate for Leadershipcrafted by think tank the Heritage Foundation and other conservative heavyweightslays out an aggressive roadmap for dismantling the federal Department of Education, rethinking funding for low-income students and those with disabilities, and broadly diverting public school dollars to less-regulated alternatives like private schools and homeschooling.

Promoting universal school choice as a goal all conservatives and conservative Presidents must pursue, it argues that every parent should have the option to direct his or her childs share of education funding through an education savings account (ESA), funded overwhelmingly by state and local taxpayers.

Thats precisely how school vouchers work in Arizona, a longtime darling of the school choice movement and the first in the nation to offer universal voucher eligibility. Heritage education policy expert Lindsey Burke, who authored Project 2025s education section, references Arizona as a school choice pioneer almost immediately.

Burke also advocates a change to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that would partially redirect IDEA funding to families instead of schools, citing the way in which parents use education savings accounts in states such as Arizona and Florida. And she promotes a funding model in which donors receive tax credits in exchange for contributions to nonprofits that provide private school scholarships, much like Arizonas school tuition organizations, or STOs.

Burke and others from the Heritage Foundation, which declined an interview with AZCIR, use conservative buzzwords like freedom and choice to sell their vision of a new educational landscape that empowers parents to select a set of education options that meet their childs unique needs. But experts in education policy and constitutional law suspect a much different endgame: setting public schools up to fail by stripping their funding while concentrating higher-need, harder-to-educate kids there.

The implications for students and public schools and the communities that rely on them are disastrous, said Jessica Levin, litigation director at the Education Law Center, a nonprofit that advocates for public education. And Arizona, unfortunately, is Exhibit A.

Arizonas initial foray into school choice came in 1994, when the state passed a far-reaching education-reform package that authorized charter schools to operate here. Three years later, the state became the first in the U.S. to establish nonprofit school tuition organizations to fund private school scholarships, offering dollar-for-dollar tax credits to donors.

By 2006, the Legislature had created an explicit school voucher option limited to students with disabilities and those in foster care. The Arizona Supreme Court later deemed that program unconstitutional, because it directly funded private, often religious schools.

Policymakers soon changed course, launching the nations first Empowerment Scholarship Account program in 2011. ESAs, initially available to students with disabilities, similarly diverted state money to public school alternatives, but they circumvented the courts decision by giving the cash to parents to spend. Republican leaders first expanded program eligibility incrementally, then dramatically.

Today, Arizona has the largest share of charter school students in the country. Its STOs rake in hundreds of millions annually, funneling would-be tax revenue to private schools. And its now-universal voucher program enrolls nearly 75,000 students, to the tune of more than $700 million.

The state also has some of the worst-funded public schools in the U.S., ranking 49th on the U.S. Census Bureaus most recent Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Even before the state universalized voucher eligibility, Columbia University researchers who analyzed education budgets from 2008 to 2019 found Arizona was one of the few states where public school spending declined even as enrollment increased. Per-pupil public school spending dropped by 5.7% during that period, according to the analysis, while spending on voucher and tax-credit programs climbed by 270%.

(Arizona) has consistently refused to create quality public schools, and therefore forced peopleand I think thats the key, forced peopleto make other choices, said University of South Carolina Professor Derek Black, who specializes in the intersection of constitutional law and public education.

In other words, the harder you make it for public schools to succeed, the easier it is to sell the alternatives. And there are plenty of well-financed conservative groups working to do just that.

Former U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos American Federation for Children, the Koch brothers Americans for Prosperity and the American Legislative Exchange Council have all doggedly pushed for expansions in vouchers and other school choice programs throughout the country in recent years, using Arizona as a proving ground.

Libertarian think tank the Goldwater Institute, the primary architect of Arizonas ESA program, has repeatedly said it wont stop until parents in every state in the nation are empowered to decide what educational path truly meets their childrens needs, though it declined to discuss the implications of Project 2025s voucher proposal with AZCIR.

Framing education as a consumer product rather than a public good, these groups argue families should have the ability to escape subpar, out-of-touch public schools in favor of private or self-directed options that better serve their kids and more closely reflect their valuesall on the taxpayers dime.

That argument has gained traction amid some families frustrations over how public schools navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as ongoing culture wars over issues of race, gender and sexuality. (Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts writes in Project 2025s forward that the noxious tenets of critical race theory and gender ideology  poison our children.) But in most cases, its Republican lawmakers, not families, who have pushed hardest to make it easier for public dollars to go toward private alternatives.

Every time major voucher expansions have been put to the public, including in Arizona, voters have rejected them.

Project 2025 paints a rosy picture of an educational marketplace where parents hold the ultimate power to customize their childs learning experience. As Roberts puts it in his introduction, Schools serve parents, not the other way around.

Indeed, parents of some public school studentsfrom those with disabilities who needed special instruction, to those from lower-income families who felt trapped at failing or unsafe schoolshave successfully used vouchers to find and afford placements better tailored to their childrens learning styles.

A family may have three children, two of whom thrive at their neighborhood public school, but one struggles, and the parents choose to get ESA funds to send that child to a school that meets his needs, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne said. I believe school choice options should be available to parents throughout the country as decided on a state-by-state basis.

At the end of the day, though, only public schools must be open to all. Private schools can generally pick which students to accept or reject, meaning they ultimately do the choosing, not families.

In Arizona, that has left some parents whove pursued vouchers for children with disabilities unable to find spots for them. Those who do secure private school placements give up certain anti-discrimination and disability protections present at public schools.

These considerations apply to the minority of Arizona ESA recipients whove left district or charter schools in favor of private schools since the state universalized eligibility. Over the past two school years, more than 60% of ESAs went to students who werent previously enrolled in public school, state data shows, indicating families are likely using vouchers to subsidize expenses they had formerly covered.

Rather than saving the state money, as school choice advocates claimed ESAs would, both of these shifts have created budgetary strain. School districts, which rely on consistent enrollment for state funding, have seen cash disappear alongside students, even as fixed costs have remained steady. The state, meanwhile, has taken on hundreds of millions in new spending for kids who were already attending private school, a trend that contributed to a $1 billion-plus budget deficit this year.

Under Arizonas existing laws, its almost impossible to see how students who use vouchers for private schools or homeschooling are performing, since they generate very little data. They dont have to participate in state or national assessments, for instance, and their grades, graduation rates and postsecondary attainment go unreported.

Levin cited a lack of accountability metrics as a key concern if vouchers go national, particularly given the associated price tag. In 2021, National Education Policy Center researchers estimated U.S. education spending would increase by anywhere from $67 billion to $203 billion a year to accommodate universal vouchers, depending on program parameters and enrollment.

Most troubling to experts interviewed by AZCIR, though, were the possible impacts of Project 2025s school choice proposals on student equity.

When the quality and safety of public schools decline, families with the money and resources to leave will often do so. Even with vouchers in play, lower-income families may not be able to fully afford private school tuition, not to mention related costs like transportation and technology.

Further concentrating high-performing, well-resourced students at some schools and lower-performing, lower-income students at others would exacerbate segregation and create a fragmented educational landscape, according to Black, the constitutional law expert. Project 2025s recommendation to phase out Title I funding, designed to close achievement gaps at poorer schools, would only add to the divide.

Such a fractured system would be at odds with the American tradition of using public schools to bring together children of all backgrounds and produce an informed citizenry, Black said.

The people who propose these types of things, in my mind, are either highly ignorant of or highly dismissive of a 200-year commitment to public education with the understanding that democracy itself rests upon it, he said. If Project 2025s vision is brought to life, youve really got to worry about how America moves forward.

This article first appeared on Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
(KTLA/NEXSTAR)  A 26-foot-tall Marilyn Monroe statue, modeled after one of her most famous scenes from The Seven Year Itch, is set to be moved yet again after three years in Palm Springs, California  but this time it wont be going too far.

The statue, Forever Marilyn by Seward Johnson, is currently located in the middle of the pedestrian-only road Museum Way, which is adjacent to downtown Palm Springs and is near the Palm Springs Art Museum. Its been there since June 2021, and has garnered some controversy for its risque nature and for potentially blocking view of the museum.

Protesters gather in front of the Forever Marilyn statue, by artist Seward Johnson, upon its return to Palm Springs, California, on June 20, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

Specifically, critics took offense to the statues placement in front of the museum, with her rear end facing the entrance.

Giant bronze octopus sculpture installed in NYC: What does it mean?

Placing a hyper-sexualized, misogynist statue of Marilyn at the entrance to the elegant Palm Springs Art Museum sends a message to the community, its visitors (especially young, innocent children), and tourists that this somehow represents the real Marilyn, a 2021 Change.org petition urged, after the Palm Springs City Council announced plans to move Forever Marilyn to its current spot.

The organizers of the petition, at the time, further alleged that Monroe herself would not have appreciated the statue, having fought to become more than just a sex symbol during her Hollywood career.

People visit and photograph the Forever Marilyn statue of actress Marilyn Monroe in Palm Springs, California, on August 4, 2012. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

The statue had previously been displayed in downtown Palm Springs between 20122014, before being relocated for exhibitions in other parts of the country, including Chicago, New Jersey and Connecticut. Its temporary placement in the latter  the statue was facing away from a church  also caused a bit of a stir in 2018.

Maybe the city would let us give her some pants? Rev. Dr. Todd Grant Yonkman, the pastor of the church, joked to the Associated Press at the time.

Why are the Oscars called the Oscars?

Before moving the statue back to Palm Springs in 2021, the Palm Springs City Council acknowledged that Forever Marilyn would likely be standing in the new location  on Museum Way  for three years before relocation. Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein confirmed that to be the case last month, saying the city had reached a deal with the hospitality group that licensed the statue and those pushing to move it off Museum Way.

It will soon be moving to nearby Downtown Park, which is adjacent to the pedestrian thoroughfare.

The City Council is very pleased to have found a satisfactory solution to this issue, which has divided so many within our community, the mayor wrote.

More specific details of the future location of Forever Marilyn will be settled sometime this month, the statement explained.

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A new ACLU of Kansas data tool shows ICE removed 43,069 immigrants across the state in 2019, down from 77,858 in 2018. (Getty Images)

Since America was founded nearly 250 years ago, debates about immigration policy have ebbed and flowed. And with crossings at the U.S.s southern border higher in recent years, immigration policy is a key platform in this years elections and a top issue for some Virginia voters.

Virginians views varied on presidential hopefuls immigration stances

Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trumps vision, and the GOPs, has been to continue constructing a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and to ramp up deportations of those whove entered the country illegally. Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, and Democrats, vision has been to enhance pathways to citizenship and address root causes that lead to spikes in migration. Theyve also attempted to work with Republicans on boosting funding for border security, but efforts have failed.

At the state level, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares have been critical of the Biden administrations border policies. Both endorsed Trump when he won primary elections this spring and both joined him when he held a rally in Chesapeake this summer.

Trump has an established history of false claims about immigrants. He alleged without proof that other countries are releasing droves of people from prisons and mental institutions to come into America, among other claims.

That rhetoric is a desperate racist play to bring out white suburban voters, said Del. Alfonso Lopez, D-Alexandria, who is among Virginias delegates who will vote for Harris at the Democratic National Convention this month.

Meanwhile Loudoun County resident and longtime Republican activist Jo-Ann Chase said Trumps hardline stance on immigration is one of the reasons she was excited to vote for him last month at the Republican National Convention as a Virginia delegate.

We are white, brown and Black, Chase said of Latino and Hispanic voters, a group with which she personally identifies. A lifelong Republican, shes spent time working on outreach for the party, particularly to Hispanic and Latino communities. She also served on Youngkins Virginia Latino Advisory Board.

Chase said that she hasnt been bothered by Trumps rhetoric painting migrants from Latin countries with a broad stroke as criminals. In a speech announcing his first presidential candidacy in 2015, Trump said that Mexico isnt sending their best and that immigrants are bringing crime, theyre rapists.

Chase said it never offended her.

I understood that he didnt say that everyone was like that  but there were a lot of people like that, she said. And to ensure that [violent criminals dont enter], he was going to make sure that the individuals coming across the border did it the right way.

Born in Puerto Rico, Chase has always been an American citizen, but shes lived stateside and been active in Republican politics for much of her life. She feels the border policy during the Biden-Harris administration has been rewarding people for breaking the law by entering the country illegally. As shes canvassed on behalf of the GOP over the past few months, a top concern shes heard from potential Republican voters in Virginia is immigration policy and border security, she said.

Former state delegate Elizabeth Guzman, who is originally from Peru, said she is excited to cast her vote for Harris at the DNC this month. Guzman said she thinks her daughters will see Harris candidacy andbelieve that they could be presidents one day, since Harris is, like them, the daughter of immigrant parents.

She and Lopez said that recently, theyve been frustrated by how Republicans are framing their party as soft on the border, because Democrats were working with them on the bill this year to bolster border security.

Lopez alleged that Republicans reneging on the bill  a move that included one of its patrons  allowed immigration to remain a key talking point for Trumps campaign, and that of congressional representative hopefuls, going into November.

Its hypocritical with a capital H for the GOP to say look at all this horrible stuff on the border when they werent following through on a solution months prior, Lopez said

Michelle Mittlestadt, a communications director with the Migration Policy Institute, said the GOP messaging is an expected move given the salience of immigration for the party.

Immigration will continue to be a hot topic, regardless of whether Harris or Trump win the White House or which party controls Congress, Mittlestadt said. But, determining which parts of immigration and border security policy will take center stage is the question.

Continuing challenges, inside and outside the state

Seventy percent of new U.S. citizens last year reside in 10 states, including Virginia, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Democratic lawmakers in Virginia have proposed legislation to support some of its immigrant populations, such as bills this year to allow undocumented minors access to state-funded healthcare and eligibility for careers in law enforcement to certain immigrants. The healthcare bill failed in committee and the law enforcement bill passed with bipartisan support before it was vetoed by Youngkin.

Meanwhile, U.S. immigration policy at the national level has been rather stagnant for decades.

Typically, to become a U.S. Citizen, people have to apply and have met certain criteria to continue the process. That includes having been a permanent resident in the U.S for at least five years  or in other words, have held a green card or special visa for that amount of time.

People in the immigration process can usually apply for special visas through family stateside sponsoring them or being married to a citizen. Others may qualify for refugee status. Some people  like the thousands of migrant farmers employed in Virginia  may hold temporary work visas. Others seek employment-based green cards so they can live and work in the U.S. permanently.

But theres a cap on employment-based green cards at 140,000 per year, a number that hasnt moved in decades.

People that come here illegally do so because they cant come legally, Mittelstadt said.

With an estimated population of 11 million undocumented people in America, she said that is a sign of the fact that the legal immigration system does not match employer, family reunification, and humanitarian protection needs.

Addressing the cap on green card types would be a place to start, she said.

Meanwhile, Guzman noted some other low hanging fruit she hopes federal lawmakers could agree on, like pathways to citizenship for Temporary Protected Status holders and DACA recipients.

TPS holders are people coming from specifically designated countries that are dealing with issues that endanger citizens, such as ongoing armed conflict or environmental disasters.Some of these people may wish to live in America permanently as a result.

DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The roughly decade-old program has allowed for some children of undocumented immigrants to remain stateside, but it doesnt guarantee them the opportunity to become citizens.

Creating the DACA program was the last time Congress really worked on immigration issues successfully, Lopez said.

You have to be able to pull multiple levers at the same time, Mittelstadt of Migration Policy Institute said. It cant just be in border enforcement. It cant just be dealing with root causes in Central America. It cant just be, you know, individual ad hoc actions.

Addressing immigration issues will take sustained collective action by local, state and federal leaders, she said. Until then, she said, one thing remains apparent.

The immigration system that we have today is not firing on all cylinders.

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Vice President Kamala Harris tapped Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to serve as her running mate on Tuesday, but that wasn't the only critical 2024 moment of the day. States from Missouri to Michigan and Washington also held pivotal primary races that could set the stage for November.

Progressive Democrats were handed their second major defeat of the year when Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., lost her St. Louis primary. Anti-Trump Republicans, meanwhile, are trying to notch a victory after one of the few remaining lawmakers who voted to impeach the former president fights to advance to a general election battle against a MAGA-affiliated opponent.

A handful of other House and Senate primaries in Michigan and Washington paved the way for heated matchups that could determine the balance of power in the nation's capital next year.

Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) speaks as she spends the night outside the U.S. Capitol in July 2021.

Here are USA TODAY's top takeaways on how Tuesdays results will influence the 2024 election.

Cori Bush loss marks second blow for the "Squad"

A second-term representative, Bush lost her primary Tuesday to St. Louis prosecuting attorney Wesley Bell. It was a race largely defined by Bush's criticism of the Israeli governments handling of the war against Hamas in Gaza and the way lawmakers have split on the conflict.

Bush was the first member of Congress to call for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, nine days after Hamass Oct. 7 attack on the country. In recent months, she has been one of Israel's most vocal critics in the House and accused Israeli officials of committing genocide.

A super PAC aligned with The American Israel Public Affairs Committee spent millions of dollars against her reelection bid, and Tuesday's Missouri race was the second most expensive House primary in U.S. history.

Her ouster was similar to that of Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., who was defeated during a June primary by a more moderate candidate who received financial backing from similar pro-Israel groups. Bowman during a fundraising call for Bush this week blamed the result of his race partially on low turnout and the influence of special interest groups like AIPAC.

Bush and Bowman both belong to the progressive group of House lawmakers known as the Squad, which now will have less influence in Congress. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., also a member of the group, faces a tough primary race next week with similar challenges.

Will a Republican who voted to impeach Trump avoid defeat?

Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., one of the few Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and still remains in Congress, is still in the running in a nonpartisan primary contest despite challenges from Trump-backed candidates.

Eight of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for alleged "incitement" of a mob attack in 2020 are no longer in office. Four of those members have retired: Ohios Anthony Gonzales, New Yorks John Katko, Illinois Adam Kinzinger and Michigans Fred Upton.

The other four, including Wyomings Liz Cheney, Washingtons Jaime Herrera Beutler, Michigans Peter Meijer and South Carolinas Tom Rice, suffered midterm defeats against more conservative candidates.

Trump aimed to add Newhouse to the list of his detractors he has helped oust from Congress. In a post on Truth Social days ahead of the primary, the former president endorsed both of Newhouse's primary opponents: NASCAR driver Jerrod Sessler and former Senate nominee Tiffany Smiley.

The race still hasn't officially been called as of Wednesday morning, but Newhouse was second in the race behind Sessler. But because of Washington's open primary system, which allows the top-two finishers of the nonpartisan primary to advance, Newhouse could still have the opportunity to go head-to-head with the athlete in November.

The Washington Republican and Rep. David Valadao of California are the only GOP lawmakers who voted to impeach Trump in 2020 still left in the House.

Michigans swing Senate race is set

When Michigan Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, the third-ranking party official in the Senate, announced her retirement last year, the GOP saw it as an opportunity to pick up another seat in the closely divided chamber. Michigan's Senate race is expected to be among the most competitive this year  with the Cook Political Report rating it as a toss-up between Republican and Democrats.

Now the candidates are set, and the winners of pivotal Democratic and Republican Senate primaries in the swing state are gearing up for a tough general election battle.

Democratic Rep. Elise Slotkin, a former intelligence official and acting assistant secretary in the Defense Department who currently represents Michigans 7th Congressional District, will face off against her fellow House member Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, a former law enforcement officer who represents Michigans 8th District.

Slotkin handily beat her primary opponent Hill Harper  an actor known for his roles on shows like The Good Doctor and CSI: N.Y. While Rogers defeated stiff challenges from ex-Congressman Justin Amash and physician Sherry ODonnell.

A Real Clear Politics average of state polls shows Slotkin with a close to 6-point lead over Rogers in the race.

Mike Rogers, Michigan U.S. Senate candidate delivers remarks during the second day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum.

Democrats hold a razor-thin majority in the Senate and the results of the November match-up between Slotkin and Rogers could very well determine which party controls the chamber. Other tight Senate races to watch this fall include the contests in Ohio, Montana and Nevada.

Hotly contested House races

Control of the U.S. House in 2025 and beyond could also rest on just a handful of battleground races in November. And primaries in Washington and Michigan laid the groundwork for a few of those contests.

While Washington leans Democratic overall, some of its more rural areas tend to opt for Republicans. Thats the case for the third district, in the states southwest corner.

During the 2022 midterms, Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez pulled off an upset by winning against Trump-backed candidate Joe Kent in a district that hadnt voted Democratic in over a decade. This years race will be a rematch between the two, and its expected to be a toss-up.

Michigans 8th District race is anticipated to be similarly close. The seat, which represents Flint, became open after Democratic Rep. Dan Kildee announced he was stepping down from Congress after six terms. The district has become more conservative leaning since 2022 redistricting efforts, making this year's race potentially more difficult for Democrats to win. The area is also grounds for a national debate after the 2014 Flint water crisis caused the city's drinking supply to become contaminated with lead from aging pipes

Republican Paul Junge, a former criminal prosecutor, will go head-to-head with Democratic state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet for the seat, which the Cook Political Report has also deemed a toss up as the GOP tries to hold on to their slim majority in the lower chamber.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cori Bush loses Dem race, Michigan matchup set: 4 primary takeaways
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) on Wednesday, voted to replace commissioner Todd Hiett as chairman of the Commission on the heels of sexual misconduct allegations made public.

Everybodys replaceable: OK Corporation Commissioner faces backlash after alleged drunk incident

Hiett addressed the allegations against him, offered to step down as chairman and proposed that Commissioner Kim David take over the chairman role. She agreed and the group voted on that motion.

Read Hietts complete statement below.

A witness, during a trip Hiett took for a work conference in Minnesota, alleged seeing Hiett inappropriately grope a man while drunk in a hotel bar.

Commissioner Bob Anthony continues to ask for Hiett to resign from the commission and so far Hiett has refused.

Past party politics: OK Democratic leader makes case for commissioners impeachment

Anthony issued the following statement after Wednesdays OCC meeting:

My position has not changed. Commissioner Hietts alleged sexual assault against the attorney of a company that appears before this commission is also an assault on this commission.

The only possible remedy to our compromised constitutional legitimacy and judicial integrity is for Commissioner Hiett to resign. It is completely unethical and unacceptable for him

to continue to vote on cases impacting the employer of his victim and/or witnesses, as he did last week. Frankly, it is completely unacceptable for him to continue to occupy a seat on this Commission period. As long as he refuses to resign, the Corporation Commission has an obligation to do everything in its power to limit the further damage Hiett is able to inflict on this agency. Removing him as chairman was an important and necessary first step. Replacing him as the OCCs representative to the Southwest Power Pool (involving regular travel to out-of-state meetings) was another. As OCC chairman, Hietts office controlled the commission calendar and was partially responsible for prematurely posting an order to approve a multi-million-dollar rate increase for a regulated utility that may have direct knowledge of Hietts improper behavior in June. Had a vote been taken on that order today, in my opinion, every party to the case would have grounds to appeal based solely on Hietts participation. Business at the states most economically powerful state agency cannot be brought to a standstill while Hiett is investigated or gets treatment that cannot solve the integrity and credibility problem at this agency that Hiett has created. That said, as long as Hiett refuses to do what is in the best interests of this State and this agency, I will do everything in my power to assure a speedy, thorough, and transparent investigation. It was my hope it would also be independent, professionally led and properly resourced, but if I have to conduct it myself to ensure openness and transparency, I will.

Everybodys replaceable: OK Corporation Commissioner faces backlash after alleged drunk incident

Oklahoma House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson issued a statement after the change in leadership.

I am pleased to see Commissioner Todd Hiett stepped down as chairman of the Oklahoma Corporation Commision. This is a step in the right direction. There is still time for him to remove himself entirely and take full accountability for his actions and the harm and danger they have caused others, said Munson. I once again ask the Governor to issue the call for Special Session and let us begin this work to seek justice and put this situation behind us. Oklahomans deserve answers and action. Oklahomans deserve to know the people in power are committed to keeping them safe and are held to the same standards as everyone else. Commissioner Hiett maintains his work is too important for him to step down entirely. I agree his work is important, which is why he should have thought about that before his harmful behavior. Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City

Todd Hietts Statement from the commission meeting on Wednesday: Before we begin discussion of this item, I would like to make a statement. I recognize that two items on todays agenda are designed to address recent allegations made against me regarding

an incident at a conference where it is claimed I behaved inappropriately.

I take these allegations very seriously. I have publicly apologized for my actions and have taken immediate steps to address the issue by seeking treatment.

I respect the call from my fellow Commissioners for accountability. I have always supported accountability AND transparency as a public servant. I will cooperate fully with any

personnel investigation being conducted by the appropriate body.

I have a long record of public service for the people of our state. I am proud of the work I have been a part of in both the legislative and executive branches.

I would like to propose that Commissioner David take over as

Chair of the Commission at this time, as well as my position on

the Regional State Committee of SPP [Southwest Power Pool]. This would allow me more

time to focus on my recovery, my spiritual healing, my physical

health, and my family.

I remain committed to serving my constituents and to fulfilling my duties with dedication and professionalism. I ask for the publics understanding and patience as any appropriate

investigation proceeds and as I work extra hard to reassure peoples trust in me. Commissioner Todd Hiett

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  Binghamton City Council has passed legislation that would add homeless status to a list of protected classes.

Last night, Council passed a resolution that was submitted by the Fair Housing Advisory Board that would extend protections against discrimination in housing, employment, education and more to the unhoused.

But theres a dispute over whether some changes made to the language of the bill significantly altered it.

Yesterday, Mayor Jared Kraham announced that he was withdrawing his previous opposition to the bill because of the changes.

Kraham says the original version would have hampered the ability of the city and residents to remove homeless encampments from city parks and private property.

He says the revisions signify a victory for concerned residents.

I will credit the downtown small business community and residents across the city who reached out to their council members, who said this is going to be bad for Binghamton. That advocacy seemed to work. While I will certainly say that I was vocal about it and saw a change, I really have to thank the residents and small business community that reached out, said Kraham.

Fair Housing Advisory Board member Rebecca Rathmell, who helped to craft the legislation, says the changes were minor and did not significantly alter the intent of the bill, which was to give homeless people an avenue to address discrimination. She accuses Kraham of misrepresenting the bill from the beginning.

Rathmell says from the beginning the legislation would not supersede laws governing trespass and private property.

Not only did Mayor Kraham have nothing to do with recommending those revisions, but public have come out in the majority consistently since the public hearing was held regarding this legislation to support the expanded protection. Mayor Krahams tendency to spin a narrative in his favor is nothing new, said Rathmell.

Kraham says he still isnt certain whether hell sign the legislation, calling it merely symbolic and unnecessary.

Rathmell points to a letter from the National Homelessness Law Center wrote an opinion urging Council to pass the legislation to protect the homeless from discrimination.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
Court delays mount in Cobb County after new e-filing system fails without warning

The Cobb County court system is grappling with severe delays and confusion after a recent software conversion went awry, causing widespread criticism of Clerk Connie Taylor for her handling of the situation.

Chief Judge Gregory Poole declared a judicial emergency due to the delayed notices and misinformation that followed the transition.

Channel 2 Action News has learned that Taylor decided to change the electronic case management system without notifying judges, lawyers, or defendants beforehand.

Critics argue that her lack of communication has led to significant problems within the court system.

Defense attorney Daniel Crumby, who is also a former federal prosecutor, expressed his concerns, saying, As it pertains to Cobb County, I got grave concerns.

The new system conversion, which began in June, has disrupted the courts efficiency, turning what was once a quick process into months of delays and misinformation.

Its absolutely critical it saves so much time, Crumby said, emphasizing the importance of the e-filing system.

He noted that the issues have been ongoing since before June.

In a court order filed Wednesday, Poole indicated that issues began when Clerk Taylor failed to properly merge e-court records into the new system without warning.

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As a result, there have been significant delays in response times for filings and hearings.

Theres been delays in getting a response with filings, or delays with hearings, Crumby said.

County records indicate that the Clerks office has 43 vacancies out of 107 positions, further complicating the situation as some paperwork now has to be filed manually.

Attorneys have raised concerns about the growing backlog and decreased manpower.

Taylors position is one of four county positions that do not require county board approval.

A spokesperson for Cobb County clarified that while commissioners set the clerks budget, Taylor is authorized to allocate those funds as she sees fit. Currently, trust and confidence in the system are at an all-time low.

Right now, trust in confidence may not be at an all-time high, the spokesperson said.

This is not the first time Taylor has faced controversy.

Since taking office in 2020, she has been criticized for collecting over $425,000 in passport fees as personal income in 2022.

The Georgia Attorney Generals Office began investigating allegations that Taylor instructed employees to destroy records related to her passport fee collection.

Adding to the confusion, Sgt. Eric Smith of the Cobb County Police Department reported that police have been unable to locate protective orders and bench warrants in the Superior Court system.

However, he noted that the police could still act on protective orders if the petitioner provides a copy.

The petitioner which is the person that applied for it has their copy their original copy with them they could actually show that to an officer for them to view and determine what the next course of action would be, Smith said.

Efforts to reach Clerk Connie Taylor for comment were unsuccessful.

William Stephen, a court visitor, summarized the widespread uncertainty saying, Im just waiting to try to figure out whats going on.

Channel 2s Michele Newell and investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln contributed to this article.
TASHKENT, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan is deploying its tourism potential and has developed new historical routes for attracting domestic and foreign tourists, the country's Tourism Committee reported on Wednesday.

"In Uzbekistan, special attention is paid to increasing the internal and external tourism potential, improving the quality of service for foreign and local tourists," the committee said.

According to the report, tourist routes have been developed under the "Tourist Ring of the Golden Valley," which will cover regions of Fergana, Andijan and Namangan in the east of the country, provide opportunities for tourists to get acquainted with the cultural heritage.

Also, under the route of "Ring of Forts" passing through the Khorazm Region and the Republic of Karakalpakstan in the west of Uzbekistan, tourists will be able to visit ancient fortresses of the country.

According to the state statistics agency, 6.6 million foreign tourists visited Uzbekistan in 2023, including approximately 42.5 thousand tourists from China. 
COVID was 10th leading cause of death in 2023, down from 4th in 2022: CDC

COVID-19 has significantly fallen as a leading cause of death in the U.S. for the first time since the pandemic began, according to new provisional data published Thursday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In 2023, the virus was the tenth-leading cause of death among Americans, down from the fourth-leading cause in 2022 and the third-leading cause of death between March 2020 and October 2021.

The report also found that overall deaths fell significantly from 2022 to 2023.

MORE: US life expectancy rose in 2022 as deaths due to COVID dropped: CDC

The report did not go into reasons for why deaths have fallen, but Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer at Boston Children's Hospital and an ABC News contributor, said likely reasons include the prevention of COVID fatalities through vaccines, treatments for early onset illness and a better overall understanding of the virus.

"Being on the other side of the pandemic played a big part in seeing this overall mortality rate go down," he said. 'This is, in large part, related to the public health effort, especially vaccines that, of course, saved so many lives."

PHOTO: Leading Underlying Causes of Death in the United States, 2023 (ABC News, National Vital Statistics System)

For the report, researchers looked at preliminary death certificate data from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics' (NCHS) National Vital Statistics System.

In 2023, there were about 3.09 million deaths in the U.S. with an age-adjusted rate of 750.4 deaths per 100,000 people. This is a decrease of 6.1% from the rate of 798.8 deaths per 100,000 in 2022.

Additionally, death rates were highest among males, older adults and Black Americans, according to the report.

The three leading causes of death in the U.S. were heart disease, cancer and unintentional injury, respectively, which is unchanged from 2022.

Last year marked the first time since the pandemic began that COVID-19 was not one of the top five leading causes of death. Provisional data showed COVID-19 was the underlying cause for 1.6% of all deaths in 2023, decreasing from 5.7% in 2022.

MORE: Why are 1,500 Americans still dying from COVID every week?

The COVID-19 death rate fell from 58.7 per 100,000 deaths in 2022 to 18.2 per 100,000 in 2023, the report found.

The number of COVID-19-associated deaths fell from 2023 across all age groups and racial/ethnic groups.

Death rates from COVID-19 were highest among those aged 75 and older -- highlighting the impact the virus has had on the elderly population. However, the gap between death rates among racial/ethnic groups shrunk from 2022 to 2023.

In 2022, the COVID death rate for white Americans was 58.6 per 100,000 compared to 71.0 per 100,000 for Black Americans. In 2023, the rate was 19.6 per 100,000 for white Americans and 17 per 100,000 for Black Americans.

PHOTO: People visit the 'In America: Remember' public art installation near the Washington Monument on the National Mall on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

"Because of the wide disparities that exist in COVID-related deaths, and we know that COVID deaths were not equal across the population, especially hitBlack populations and other and African American people, it's not surprising that when you overall reduce COVID deaths, that will overall contribute to potentially sort of a closing of the gap," Brownstein said.

He added that there is more work to be done to close the gap even further, including providing access to health care and insurance for traditionally underserved populations.

Brownstein also said he hopes more efforts can be made to reduce deaths from traditional leading causes of death such as heart disease and cancer.

"We've made a big dent in COVID as a result of response efforts," he said. "But now there's still such an important effort to deal with some of these other leading causes of death. These data are important because they can help from an awareness perspective and an allocation of research resources."

COVID was 10th leading cause of death in 2023, down from 4th in 2022: CDC originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The crew on board the Titan sub knew that it was about to implode, $50M lawsuit says

The crew on board the Titan sub knew that it was about to implode, $50M lawsuit says

The family of a French explorer killed on the Titan sub is suing OceanGate for over $50 million.

Paul-Henri Nargeolet died alongside four other people last year when the submersible imploded.

The suit claims the "crew were well aware they were going to die, before dying."

The crew of the ill-fated Titan submersible, a new lawsuit says, knew that the vehicle was about to implode during its descent and suffered "terror and mental anguish."

The allegation was made by the family of the French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who was killed on the sub last year. His family is suing OceanGate, the estate of its CEO, Stockton Rush, and others for more than $50 million.

OceanGate's dive to the Titanic shipwreck on June 18, 2023, killed all five people on board . The sub is believed to have imploded within hours of its descent, which raised concerns about OceanGate's approach to innovation and safety.

The lawsuit says the implosion was the result of the "carelessness, recklessness and negligence" of OceanGate, Rush, and others.

The Titan sub "dropped weights" a little over an hour into its dive, the suit says, adding that indicates the team had attempted to terminate the expedition. "Common sense dictates that the crew were well aware they were going to die, before dying," the lawsuit says.

It adds: "The crew may well have heard the carbon fiber's crackling noise grow more intense as the weight of the water pressed on Titan's hull.

"The crew lost communications and perhaps power as well. By experts' reckoning, they would have continued to descend, in full knowledge of the vessel's irreversible failures, experiencing terror and mental anguish prior to the Titan ultimately imploding."

Nargeolet, nicknamed Mr. Titanic, was hired to help OceanGate during the Titan's trip. But the wrongful-death suit claims that he was misled.

"Mr. Rush confessed to a 'mission specialist' on one Titanic voyage that he had 'gotten the carbon fiber used to make the Titan at a big discount from Boeing because it was past its shelf life for use in airplanes,'" the lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday in King County, Washington, says.

Nargeolet had participated in 37 dives to the wreckage of the Titanic, which the court filing says is the most of any diver in the world. His dives included part of the first expedition to the Titanic in 1987, shortly after its location was discovered.

The court documents describe Rush as an "eccentric and self-styled 'innovator'" who had an "obsession with being remembered for 'innovation' alongside such luminaries as Steve Jobs and Elon Musk."

They also referred to instances such as OceanGate's firing of David Lockridge, which The New Yorker reported came after he raised concerns about the submersible's safety and the fact that the Titan deviated from the industry standard of using titanium for its hull.

"TITAN was and remains the only submersible ever produced with a carbon-fiber hull," the suit says.

The court documents also called out OceanGate's chief engineer, Tony Nissen, saying he had hired a 2017 graduate with "six or fewer years' of relevant work experience" as the lead electrical engineer on the project.

The company has suspended all exploration and commercial operations since the tragedy.

The clerk's office of the King County Superior Court has set the first trial date for August 2025.

Tony Buzbee, one of the attorneys on the case, told Business Insider: "We are hopeful that through this lawsuit we can get answers for the family as to exactly how this happened, who all were involved, and how those involved could allow this to happen."

Matt Shaffer, another attorney representing the Nargeolet family, said: "We have alleged in the lawsuit that had Stockton Rush (OceanGate's CEO and founder) been transparent about all the troubles that had been experienced with the Titan, as well as the previous, similar models, someone as experienced and knowledgeable as Paul Henri-Nargeolet would not have participated.

"The filing asserts that Stockton Rush simply wasn't forthcoming with the crew and passengers about the dangers he and others knew about but the passengers and crew did not."

OceanGate declined to comment for this story.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Crews tackle barn fire for more than 8 hours in Miami Township

Crews tackle barn fire for more than 8 hours in Miami Township

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WDTN)  Firefighters responded to a reported fire at a Miami Township farm Thursday morning.

Montgomery County Regional Dispatch confirmed receiving a call for a reported barn fire at 10:27 a.m. Crews were sent to the 8700 block of South Union Road in Miami Twp.

Miamisburg extends ban on adult-use marijuana businesses

Nearly eight hours after the fire started, it remained an active scene.

Water supply was a concern throughout the day firefighters say, since there is no fire hydrant near the barn. Crews hauled water from other hydrants as well as a pond on the property.

WDTN Photo/Matt Channels

WDTN Photo/Matt Channels

WDTN Photo/Matt Channels

Nine different departments responded to the property, including Carlisle, Germantown, the MVFD and New Lebanon.

No injuries were reported, but witnesses say some animals inside the barn were lost.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  This week on Crime Stoppers, law enforcement needs your help identifying suspects in two thefts and locating an individual wanted on a felony warrant.

If you have information regarding the cases below, call Crime Stoppers of Mid-Michigan at (517) 483-STOP. You can remain anonymous.

Those who contact Crime Stoppers with information can receive up to a $1,000 award.

Darrell Lamon Hursey

Hursey (Courtesy Lansing law enforcement)

Darrell Lamon Hursey, 40, is wanted out of Lansing on a felony warrant for burglary. He is 51 and 196 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes.

Identify Suspect in Car Theft

(Courtesy Lansing law enforcement)

(Courtesy Lansing law enforcement)

(Courtesy Lansing law enforcement)

The Lansing Police Department is asking for any information that could identify an individual who stole a black four-door sedan from the parking lot of a business on the 900 block of Townsend St at approximately 3 a.m. on July 18, 2024.

Identify Suspect in Property Theft

(Courtesy Lansing law enforcement)

(Courtesy Lansing law enforcement)

The Lansing Police Department is seeking information that could identify a man who stole more than $700 worth of items from a business on the 6800 block of S Cedar St at approximately 6:30 p.m. on July 3, 2024. The suspect left in a white four-door SUV.

(WLNS)

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
Crimean Tatar woman detained by Russia for alleged espionage to be judged in Moscow

Crimean Tatar, Ukrainian citizen Leniie Umerova, whom Russia accuses of espionage, has written a letter saying that her court hearing will take place in Moscow in autumn.

Source: Leniies brother Aziz Umerov on Facebook

Quote: "They replaced the investigator in my case and recently took me to meet him. It was nothing important, but he said that the main trial would approximately take place in autumn.

Also, [he said] that I would be prosecuted in Moscow, not in the Caucasus, but I am not 100% sure about this."

Letter from Leniie Umerova

Photo: Aziz Umerov on Facebook

Background:

On 4 December 2022, Russian security forces detained 25-year-old Crimean Tatar woman Leniie Umerova after crossing the Georgian-Russian border when she tried to return to temporarily occupied Crimea to care for her father with cancer. She was accused of allegedly violating the rules of the restricted zone.

The Lefortovo court in Moscow arrested Umerova on charges of espionage.

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A Romanian business magnate facing corruption charges hired Hunter Biden while attempting to influence U.S. government agencies during Joe Bidens vice presidency, prosecutors said in a court filing Wednesday.

Special counsel David Weiss team said a business associate of Hunter Bidens will testify at Hunters upcoming federal tax trial about the deal with Gabriel Popoviciu, a tycoon who allegedly hired the now-presidents son for legal work in 2015. At the time, Popoviciu was facing a criminal investigation in Romania over a government land deal.

Hunter Biden Thanks Dad in Heartfelt Message After His Withdrawal From Race

Prosecutors say theyll bring evidence showing that Hunter Biden and his business associate received compensation from a foreign principal who was attempting to influence U.S. policy and public opinion and cause the United States to investigate the Romanian investigation of [Popoviciu] in Romania, the filing reads.

Popoviciu is only identified by his initials in the paperwork but the details correspond with information previously disclosed about Hunters work in Romania, according to the Associated Press. Popoviciu was convicted of real estate fraud and sentenced to seven years in prison in 2017. He had denied all wrongdoing.

Hunter Biden and his business associate agreed to help Popoviciu fight the charges against him, prosecutors claim. They worried, however, that lobbying work might cause political ramifications for Joe Biden, so the arrangement was structured such that it concealed the true nature of the work he was performing.

The presidents son and two business partners split more than $3 million from Popoviciu between 2015 and 2017, according to the filing.

For years, Republicans have focused on Hunters foreign business dealings as part of investigations into the presidents family. Hunter has consistently denounced the efforts as politically motivated and insisted he never involved his dad in his work.

Hunter Bidens tax trial is scheduled to begin early next month in California. He faces three felony charges and further misdemeanors for allegedly failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2020. The trial comes after he was separately convicted of three felony charges for lying about his drug use when purchasing a gun in 2018.

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Israel has withdrawn the diplomatic status of eight Norwegian representatives responsible for Norway's relations with the Palestinian Territories, the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem announced on Thursday.

The ministry said that Foreign Minister Israel Katz had informed Norway that he was cancelling the diplomatic status of Norwegian representatives based in Israel who dealt with the territories.

In May, Norway, Spain and Ireland decided to recognize a Palestinian state, something that Israel is strongly opposed to.

"Whoever attacks us and pursues a unilateral policy against us will pay the price," Katz said.

"Instead of fighting against Palestinian terror after October 7 and supporting Israel, which is fighting against the Iranian axis of evil, Norway has chosen to give the murderers and rapists of Hamas a prize in the form of recognition of a Palestinian state," Katz continued.

The diplomatic status of the representatives is to be withdrawn within seven days of the notification.

Norway calls Israeli move 'extreme'

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide called Israel's move an "extreme act." According to a statement from his ministry, Eide said that "Norway is a friend of Israel and always will be."

Nevertheless, Norway continues to criticize the occupation, the way in which the war in the Gaza Strip is being waged, and the suffering that the war has caused the Palestinian civilian population, he added.

Norwegian-Israeli relations to change

Eide, at a press conference on Thursday, said he had summoned Israel's diplomatic representative in Oslo to the Foreign Ministry.

Earlier he said Israel's decision will have consequences for Norway's relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government but he did not elaborate

European Union backs Norway

The European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, sharply criticized Israel's actions as contrary to the Oslo Accords, which were supposed to help resolve the Middle East conflict. The agreement, reached after secret talks in the Norwegian capital, was concluded in 1993.

Although Norway is not an EU member, Borrell said in a statement, "This is not a bilateral question between Israel and Norway, but one of interest for all those working for peace and stability in the Middle East."

He has instructed the head of the EU's delegation in Tel Aviv to convey the bloc's position to the Israeli government.

Palestinian official asks for support

Top Palestinian official Hussein al-Sheikh warned on X that the Israeli decision could have dangerous repercussions.

"The countries of the world, especially the European countries, must respond to this measure in the same way, as it constitutes a violation and breach of international norms and laws," al-Sheikh said.
Renowned British-born crocodile expert Adam Britton was sentenced Thursday to more than 10 years and five months in jail in Australia over dozens of cases of sexually abusing dogs.

Britton, who worked with outlets like the BBC and National Geographic, pleaded guilty to 56 charges relating to bestiality and animal cruelty, CBS News partner network BBC News reported.

Britton also admitted to four counts of accessing child abuse material, according to the BBC.

Chief Justice Michael Grant warned the court that the details of Britton's crimes were so "grotesque," that when they were read aloud they could cause "nervous shock."

As they were read out, some people rushed out of the room. Others watching from the gallery mouthed insults at Britton or cried, the BBC reported.

Britton "was sadistic as a child to animals, but I had repressed it. In the last few years I let it out again, and now I can't stop. I don't want to. :)," he wrote in one message in an online chat room that was introduced in court.

He would manipulate his own pets, but "only badly mistreat other dogs... I have no emotional bond to them, they are toys pure and simple. And [there are] plenty more where they came from," he said, according to the BBC.

According to court documents seen by the BBC, in the 18 months before his arrest, Britton tortured 42 dogs and killed 39 of them. He would find animals on the website Gumtree Australia, where many families were often searching for new homes for their pets if they had to move.

Britton would then abuse the animals in a specially designed shipping container fitted with recording equipment on his property. He would upload the material to the internet and was caught because in one clip  where he tortured eight dogs, including seven puppies  an identifying dog leash was visible, and someone turned the clip over to police, the BBC reported.

Britton was arrested in April 2022. Police seized his recording materials and found 15 files containing child abuse material.

"Once respected and esteemed, you're now a disgrace to the scientific community," said activist Natalie Carey said, addressing the zoologist directly outside the court. "No one will ever look at you with admiration again."

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Rep. Cori Bush loses congressional primary, 2nd progressive "Squad" member to lose reelection
CrossFit athlete Lazar Dukic drowned during a competitive swimming event Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas during the CrossFit Games. CrossFit CEO Don Faul (pictured) said during a video press conference he is "gutted" by the tragic death. Photo screenshot from video press conference

Aug. 8 (UPI) -- An athlete in the CrossFit Games competition in Texas drowned Thursday and the rest of the day's competition was canceled.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram identified the drowned athlete as 28-year-old Lazar Dukic of Serbia, described as an accomplished CrossFit champion.

CrossFit CEO Don Faul said during a video press conference, "CrossFit is deeply saddened by the death of one of our athletes during the swim portion of our event this morning. We're doing everything in our power during this tragic time to support the family, to support our community."

Asked how he felt about the tragedy, Faul replied, "Gutted. Really sad."

Kaitlin Pritchard said she saw Dukic round the final corner in the event and heard his name on a loudspeaker. She said it was unclear what had happened during the real-time viewing of the event.

"There wasn't that immediate notification of, oh, someone was missing," Pritchard told the Star-Telegram. "I mean, people were still swimming over him, you know, where he went down."

She said she saw what appeared to be lifeguards on paddle boards but did not see anyone dive into the water try to help Dukic.

A video appeared to show the swimmer struggling in the water.

Fort Worth Fire Department public information officer Craig Trojacek said dive teams and drones responded to a call of a swimmer who went under the water in Marine Creek Lake and hadn't been seen resurfacing.

They were able to recover the athlete's body a little over an hour after divers had entered the water to search.

Fort Worth Police Department Sgt. Leah Wagner said after the fire department recovered the athlete's body the police homicide unit documented what happened and the body was turned over the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office.

Faul said CrossFit had safety personnel on the scene throughout the event Thursday. He said CrossFit is closely cooperating with investigators to determine the facts about what happened and how it happened.

The athlete drowned during an event that included a 3.5-mile run and 800-meter swim.

The swimming portion was being livestreamed, according to Dallas ABC affiliate WFAA.

The CrossFit Games are being held in Texas for the first time in its 18-year history and features thirty competing teams from around the world.
This live blog has been closed and continued coverage of the Crozier Fire can be found here.

(FOX40.COM)  After starting as a 25-acre wildland fire in El Dorado County early on Wednesday morning the Crozier Fire is now among the 10 largest active wildland fires in California.

The fire is burning in the Swansboro/Mosquito area of El Dorado County, about 14.5 miles northeast of Placerville and around 60 miles east of Sacramento.

Wildfire Information

Zonehaven, CAL FIRE and NIXLE: Websites you can use for wildfire information

AlertCalifornia live cams to provide more insight into natural disasters

These are the items to include in your emergency kit in case of a disaster

CAL FIRE and the El Dorado National Forest created a unified command to fight the fire after it moved from state-owned land into the El Dorado National Forest.

Uncommonly strong winds for the area and continued hot and dry conditions have allowed the fire to rapidly grow in size within its first day.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
LONDON, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of anti-racism protesters took to the streets in many cities and towns of the United Kingdom on Wednesday to counter far-right demonstrations after days of unrest following Southport stabbing.

By 11 p.m. (2200 GMT), most of the planned far-right demonstrations, numbering more than 100, didn't materialize after the British government deployed heavy police force to maintain order and large numbers of anti-racist protesters swarmed streets in cities and towns like London, Bristol, Brighton, Birmingham, Liverpool, Hastings and Walthamstow.

Anti-racism protests held placards with words such as "Smash fascism & racism", "Refugees welcome. Stop the far-right" and "Love, not hate." In Brighton, only a small number of far-right protesters turned up and were outnumbered by huge anti-racism crowds.

This came as a relief for the UK after days of far-right protests, targeting Muslims and the immigrant population in general, gripped the country, resulting in police officers being injured, stores being looted, hotels housing asylum-seekers being stormed.

The unrest was sparked by online disinformation that wrongly claimed the suspect who killed three children in Southport, northwest England, at the end of July was a Muslim immigrant. It was a 17-year-old boy named Axel Rudakubana born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents that was later charged with murder.

More than 100 rioters have been charged following the disorder and their cases have been swiftly processed in the court system. On Wednesday, three men were jailed, with one being given three years of prison time. 
Cruise industry to launch monster ships eight times the size of the Titanic

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas  the largest cruise ship to date  features 20 decks, 40 restaurants and seven swimming pools - Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Gigantic cruise ships eight times the size of the Titanic and carrying a population equal to that of a small town will set sail by 2050 as demand for luxury travel booms, a study predicts.

The biggest vessels today are already twice as large as in 2000 and could be a further 40pc bulkier in 25 years time, according to new projections, reaching a massive 345,000 tons.

The Titanic, a monster in its day, weighed in at only 46,000 tons.

The capacity of the largest vessels is likely to increase to almost 11,000 passengers, compared with 2,500 on the doomed liner. Green travel lobby group Transport & Environment (T&E) compiled the study based on data from shipping consultants Clarksons.

Click here to view this content.

Cruising is already the fastest-expanding tourism industry, with enthusiasm for luxury trips on the water accelerating since Covid as passengers splurge on so-called experiential travel.

Jonathan Hood, T&Es UK manager for sustainable shipping, said: With todays cruise ships making the Titanic look like somebodys private yacht, the question is, how much much bigger can these giants get?

The global cruise ship fleet has already increased 20-fold since 1970, when the industry emerged from an ocean liner trade largely killed off by the advent of large passenger jets.

The Icon of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean and the largest vessel to date, made its maiden voyage from Miami in January and is five times the size of the Titanic. It features 20 decks, 40 restaurants, seven swimming pools and can carry 7,600 passengers.

Modern cruising offers far more variety than the early days of the industry, when hours lounging in deckchairs were the order of the day, punctuated by whistle-stop tours ashore. Evenings meant buffets, a cabaret and perhaps a place at the captains table.

Smaller vessels now offer cultural itineraries and wildlife-viewing expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic, accompanied by scientists and natural history experts. Virgin Voyages, launched in 2021, is targeting a less elderly clientele with adults-only cruises advertised as a playground for your inner child.

T&E said that carbon emissions from cruise ships are becoming an increasing issue and are already 20pc higher than in 2019. Cruising is also polluting, it said, with Southampton, the leading UK cruise port, ranking seventh in Europe for sulphur oxide produced by the sector.

MSC Cruises, Europes largest cruise line, aims to cut emissions 15pc with a new tool that will plot routes based on the sequencing of port calls, arrival and departure times, fuel costs and the ships speed, as well as the attractiveness of destinations shore excursions.

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(Bloomberg) -- Advisers to the Biden administration stopped short of making any promises to crypto industry executives who voiced policy concerns, according to a participant on a Zoom call held Thursday.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The White House advisers didnt discuss any policy changes with the group, which included Coinbase Global Inc., Kraken and Ripple Lab officials. An earlier discussion was held in July. A White House spokesperson didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Officials of Coinbase and Ripple have been among the loudest critics of the administrations digital-asset policies and the actions of the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Theyve also been the biggest donors to political action committee Fairshake during the current election cycle.

The campaign of Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump has openly embraced the crypto industry in recent months, promising to support Bitcoin mining in the US and to oppose central bank digital currencies, for example. The Harris campaign hasnt publicly announced her positions on issues important to the industry yet.

The focus is on the future, Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal, said in an interview. Grewal noted that he has talked directly with the Harris campaign several times in the last two weeks, and that Thursdays call stood in marked contrast to my experience with the Harris campaign.

Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed, National Economic Adviser Lael Brainard, Congressman Ro Khanna of California, and Kristine Lucius, a senior adviser and director of legislative affairs for the vice president, were on the call, according to a list seen by Bloomberg. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo attended as well.

Industry participants included Ripple Chief Executive Officer Brad Garlinghouse, Skybridge Founder Anthony Scaramucci, Jeremy Allaire of stablecoin issuer Circle, Hayden Adams from crypto-exchange project Uniswap, Kraken CEO David Ripley and venture capitalists Ron Conway, Chris Dixon and Mark Cuban.

A Ripple spokesperson confirmed Garlinghouse and co-founder Chris Larsen attended the meeting. The Treasury Department declined comment. Other attendees didnt immediately respond to Bloomberg when reached for comment, or couldnt be reached.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) notified the community on Thursday, Aug. 8 of a sexually violent predator who will be released on parole and has moved to an address in Colorado Springs.

Isaac Adam Phifer, 31, is a sex offender whose past behavior has led him to be labeled a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) by the 4th Judicial District Court. CSPD is required by law to inform the community of Phifers status.

Phifer is registered at 2945 East Las Vegas Street in Colorado Springs, he is described as a 31-year-old black man, 59 tall, and weighs 215 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

Phifer was convicted of robbery and Sexual Assault in El Paso County in 2022. His criminal history reveals hes also been charged with criminal mischief, criminal impersonation, possession of an illegal weapon, making a false report, fraud-illegal use of credit cards, and theft twice. His record dates back to 2014 in Colorado.

Other convictions include theft in Illinois in 2013, possession of a controlled substance, and operating a vehicle without owners consent in Iowa in 2019.

Phifer is one of 20 SVPs in Colorado Springs registered with CSPD. Anyone with further questions about this SVP and community notification can contact Detective Nancy Gifford at (719) 444-7672.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 8/7/2024 5:06 p.m.

(COLORADO SPRINGS)  Police remain on the scene of a shooting investigation at the Citadel Mall on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 7, though the mall has reopened to customers.

In an update, CSPD said that the shooting had stemmed from an altercation between two people inside the mall, though it is unclear if the two people knew each other or if they were employees or customers of the mall.

During the altercation, the two people ran into an employee-only area of the mall, and were not in a publicly accessible area when the shooting occurred. At least one shot was fired, hitting an adult man in the leg. The man suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital.

No suspect is in custody, and CSPD continues to encourage anyone who has information on this incident or who is a witness, contact CSPD at (719) 444-7000 or Pikes Peak Area Crime Stoppers at (719) 634-STOP (7867).

ORIGINAL STORY: CSPD responding to shooting at the Citadel Mall

WEDNESDAY 8/7/2024 3:48 p.m.

The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is responding to a reported shooting at the Citadel Mall with at least one person injured.

According to CSPD, the initial report was received just before 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7. CSPD said this does not appear to be an active shooter situation.

Courtesy: FOX21 Photojournalist Cora Mitchell

Courtesy: FOX21 Photojournalist Sean Scott

Courtesy: FOX21 Photojournalist Cora Mitchell

CSPD said one person was seriously injured in the shooting, though the injuries do not appear to be life-threatening. The mall was on a short lockdown, but it has since been secured, according to CSPD.

Police say a suspect is not currently in custody, and the investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information or is a witness to this incident, you are asked to contact CSPD at (719) 444-7000 or Pikes Peak Area Crime Stoppers at (719) 634-STOP (7867).

FOX21 News has a crew on scene and will provide updates when information becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Custodian accused of having gun at King High School near Tampa

Custodian accused of having gun at King High School near Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A custodian is accused of having a gun at King High School near Tampa, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office.

School administration officials notified the sheriffs office Wednesday morning that a gun was found in a maintenance closet.

Clearwater narcotics detective arrested, accused of working with drug traffickers

Detectives traced the gun back to Michael Difabio, 58, who was a custodian at the school, according to the sheriffs office. Difabio resigned at the time of his arrest.

There is no place for weapons on school grounds, Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. Schools should be sanctuaries where students and staff should feel safe and secure. The first day of school is just around the corner, and our message is loud and clear, we will not tolerate weapons on campus for any reason.

Courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office

Difabio was charged with possession of a firearm on school grounds, deputies said.

Difabio had worked at the school since 2023.

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Cyprus rescue coordination centre prepares for possible evacuations amid rising tensions in the Middle East, in Larnaca

Cyprus rescue coordination centre prepares for possible evacuations amid rising tensions in the Middle East, in Larnaca

LARNACA, Cyprus (Reuters) - The Mediterranean island of Cyprus is on standby to assist in the evacuation of Europeans and third-country nationals if conflict in the Middle East deepens, officials said on Thursday.

The European Union's easternmost state, Cyprus has over the past several decades been a sanctuary for thousands escaping war in the volatile region.

Israel's antagonism with Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah movement have fanned fears of a broader conflict in a region already on edge amid 10 months of war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza.

"We are ready, we have activated a specific plan, ESTIA, which has been tried and tested," Cyprus' deputy government spokesperson Yiannis Antoniou said.

"In the event we are asked to assist other countries who may be moving their nationals from the crisis area home, we are in a position to host them for a few days until they are repatriated," he said.

Antoniou told Reuters close to 10 countries had made inquiries on the scheme, but that there had been no specific formal request. If a mass evacuation plan does transpire it would largely be by air, he said.

"We have the capacity, the infrastructure," he said.

The hub of coordination will be the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in the southern port town of Larnaca, near the island's largest airport. It operates around the clock with its primary role to coordinate, control and direct search and rescue operations.

Some tents had been erected in the compound on Thursday, with cots which would be use to process any arrivals, people on the site said.

Cyprus played a crucial role as an evacuation hub for about 30,000 people who left Lebanon during a flare-up in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.

"Historically we have very good relations with all our neighbours, so we try to utilise this special role we have and want Cyprus to be a pillar of safety and stability, and act as a bridge of cooperation and peace," Antoniou said.

(Reporting by Michele Kambas and Marinos Meletiou, writing by Michele Kambas, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Dallas County is getting a new sheriff after primary election on Tuesday

DALLAS COUNTY, Mo.  Darren Cheek beat incumbent Sheriff Scott Rice, obtaining nearly 60% of the votes.

This comes as Sheriff Rice is subject to investigations from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Dallas County Prosecutor.

Election results for August 2024 Missouri primary

Ozarksfirst spoke with Dallas County residents who said they are ready for a change.

I think a lot of people in the county have been thinking its time for a change. And they came out in force yesterday, says Jason Crawford.

Tyler Mease says he is hoping for more transparency from the department,

Transparency within all our offices of power, there is a lot of concern from the public about how things are, and a lot of people just do not know. So, a lot of times were left to speculation.

Dallas County Sheriff-Elect Darren Cheek plans to do just that.

One thing I think the sheriffs office can do to help is be more transparent, more community involvement, says Cheek. Id like to revamp the neighborhood watch program and we really just need to focus on the sheriffs office.

The Dallas County Prosecutor and Highway Patrol confirm there is an investigation into Sheriff Rice but will not say what it is regarding.

Mease says this and other experiences could have turned people to the polls.

Mostly people just getting together, trading their stories, experiences and realizing, hey, weve got to do something about this.

Sheriff Rice declined to speak on camera but did send a statement saying, I appreciate the support I had throughout the county over the past eight years. I will continue to serve and work hard for the citizens until my last shift on December 31st. I wish my successor the best of luck during his term.

Because there was no Democratic Candidate for this position Cheek will be sworn in as Sheriff on January 1st.

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PENFIELD, N.Y. (WROC)  Wednesday, those who live in the Town of Penfield were able to voice their concerns before the Town Board regarding a concept plan submitted to Penfields planning board.

That project concept names Costco as a proposed anchor tenant at the mixed-use development district along the towns Route 250.

New details revealed about proposed Costco development in Penfield

Residents shared with the Town Board environmental, vehicle, traffic, and safety concerns and argued that the project would strain local infrastructure and deplete public resources.

This would damage the entire town, Anthony Perone has lived in Penfield for a while and says he does not want to see a Costco in his area.

Our current financial good health means we dont have to pander to national chains for a few measly tax dollars and a handful of retail jobs, we can afford to invest in something that offers real returns, Perone said.

And many of Anthonys neighbors, agree. If youve driven around the Town of Penfield, you may have seen signs in residents lawns saying no to the addition of a Costco. According to the letter of intent, the proposed development includes that 170,000 square foot store, as well as a pickleball facility, and four apartment buildings.

Judith Dobbles is another long-time resident who says adding a Costco to the area would go against what she feels the town stands for.

Nowhere in the 2023 comprehensive plan or any town document does the town suggest that big box development such as Costco is intended for this region of the town, nor is it suggested to be in line with the towns character and the vision for the towns future, Dobbles said.

Others voiced concerns of traffic.

More than double the cars on Route 250 making it harder to safely travel on 250 and the surrounding streets, one resident said.

And, zoning.

There is a reason that that zoning modification was not considered in the master comprehensive plan that is less than a year old, and thats because it is not in the towns best interest, Spokesperson for Preserve Penfield Jon Getz said.

Before public participation Wednesday, Penfield Town Supervisor Jeff Leenhouts explained more about the towns involvement in the project.

The town and its boards, including this town board, are not involved with any decision on who submits project applications or what type of project application is submitted any planning board sketch, any planning board sketch, plan application is a concept level review, Leenhouts said.

No residents or board members spoke in support of the addition of a Costco. Perhaps, that could be tomorrow, when the conversation continues in Penfield, this time with the planning board. It will hold a public hearing for the concept plan Thursday night and News 8 will be there.

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A trades program at Erie County Community College (EC3) is wrapping up its summer session.

This new program was made possible after legislation championed by Senator Dan Laughlin who got a first-hand look at legislation he fought for at their last Harrisburg session.

New home repair program launches for Erie County residents

If it wasnt for this program, I probably wouldnt be involved with a trade, said Shamel Jones, a student in EC3s construction trades program.

A bill that was passed with the help of Senator Dan Laughlin is now having a direct impact on students in erie county.

$125 Million was put into a program called Whole Home Repair thats intended to assist homeowners make necessary repairs they cant afford.

Part of that funding was available for training, which resulted in a new construction trades program offered by Erie County Community College.

Whole-Home Repairs Program sees massive influx; no more applications accepted

We have roughly five thousand blighted houses and probably double that were approaching that level so the need is great and theres certainly not going to be any shortage of work for these kids once they get out of this program, said Pennsylvania State Senator Dan Laughlin.

Over 15 students took time this summer to learn fundamental skills that are essential for thriving in the construction sector.

Shamel Jones has hopes of being a general contractor and said hes gained skills in communication, teamwork, and material handling.

Construction is something Ive always been passionate about since I was a kid. Im from New York City so construction is something Ive always seen, Jones said.

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Students said this program is an opportunity of a lifetime and has set them up for future success.

Some people might not be able to afford things to do that, so this right here is a perfect opportunity, said Tajz Fowler, another student in the construction trades program at EC3. Thats the whole goal that I came here for to build a better future for me and my kid.

Fowler said meeting the senator was like looking into a lens of future possibility.

Senator Laughlin has worked in construction for over 30 years which drives his dedication for the program.

Seeing the spark in their eye and seeing the enthusiasm that theyre going to be out of here hopefully landing some great jobs and get their lives started, Senator Laughlin went on to say.

LECOM holds ribbon cutting unveiling new Greene Township health clinic

The senator hopes to continue to fight for long-term funding for programs like this across the commonwealth.

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Daniel Simpson Dan Sanders, former president of Exxon Mobil, died Aug. 7 at his Greenville home, just days shy of his 85th birthday, according to his obituary on the Thomas McAfee Funeral Home website.

A 1962 magna cum laude graduate of the University of South Carolina with an engineering degree, Sanders joined Exxon in 1962 and retired as its president in 2004. He began his career as an engineer at the companys Baton Rouge, Louisiana, refinery. In 1998, he was named executive vice president of Exxon Chemical and became president in January 1999. He was named president of ExxonMobil Chemical Co. in December 1999 when the two companies merged.

Sanders was raised in Elberton, Georgia, and graduated from Elberton High School. He married Emilyn Rebecca Childs on June 9, 1962, in Greenville.

Daniel "Dan'' Sanders, former president of ExxonMobil.

Sanders served on the boards of companies, including Celanese and Milliken and Co. He also served on South Carolinas Independent Colleges and Universities and Furman University boards. At Furman, he co-chaired the Parents Council and served on the Advisory Council and the executive committee of the Richard Furman Society. The University of South Carolina named Sanders a winner of its Distinguished Alumni Award in 2004.

Courtney Tollison Hartness, Ph. D., Distinguished University Public Historian and Scholar in Furman University's History Department, remembered Sanders as "a gentle and generous gentleman" who, just weeks before his passing, "invited our 5-year-old son to come to his home and talk about engineering.

''He was generous with his time and resources. He took his philanthropic commitments seriously,'' she said.

Hartness added that after his wife supported his career for decades, ''living in various places throughout the U.S. and in Asia,'' Sanders, in turn, has supported her in leadership roles throughout South Carolina.

When she served as only the second female president of the SC Historical Society, Hartness said, "Dan was always in attendance alongside her. He was also a mainstay at the American History Book Club lectures, which Emilyn founded. Dan and Emilyn could not have been more committed to each other and the family they created. They deeply respected each other and functioned as a team."

The Furman community is deeply saddened by the passing of Dan Sanders. Dan was more than a trustee, he was an integral part of the universitys fabric. He was deeply involved and highly engaged in making sure the university could provide the best experience for our students, parents, faculty and staff, said Elizabeth Davis, president of Furman University.

Dan left an indelible mark on Furman through his service on several leadership committees and in the countless conversations he spent mentoring and advising Furman leaders. Current students and generations to come will benefit from his wisdom, leadership and philanthropy.

Our hearts go out to the Sanders family, who have many connections to Furman, including his wife Emilyn, who also served as a Furman trustee.''

Kevin T. Byrne, chair of the Furman University Board of Trustees and CEO of the University Financing Foundation, said, Dan was unparalleled as a leader, in that he not only had a vision that he could share, but people were ready to fall in and support his efforts. We all benefited from Dans participation, and we all feel his loss.

Sanders is survived by his wife of 62 years; two sons, Daniel S. Sanders Jr. (Suzanne) and John L. Sanders (Suzanne); five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; his sister, Patricia (Kenneth) and brother, Philip (Johnnie) of Elberton, Georgia.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, at Greenvilles Westminster Presbyterian Church.

According to his obituary, Dan requested that memorials be made in the form of donations to Furman University and/or the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities as he spent his life focused on the value of education.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Sanders, former Exxon president, education advocate dies in Greenville
NEW YORK, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Tropical storm Debby made its second landfall in the United States in the early hours of Thursday and continued to move northward, according to the country's National Hurricane Center.

Debby landed near Bulls Bay in South Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane with a maximum sustained wind speed of 50 miles per hour and moved slowly inland with a speed of around 5 miles per hour, said the center.

The tropical storm first landed near the coastal town of Steinhatchee in Florida on Monday and has dumped over a foot of rain over parts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, killing at least six people.

Debby is expected to pick up speed and move across the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Friday and Atlantic Canada on Saturday, according to the latest advisory by the National Hurricane Center.

A large tornado in central North Carolina was confirmed shortly after Debby's second landing.

Debby is expected to dump an additional three to nine inches of rain, and flash flood warnings have been issued for parts of South Carolina and North Carolina until noon on Thursday.

U.S. President Joe Biden has approved disaster declarations for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina to deal with Debby's impacts. 
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  Elon Musk, owner of the social media site X, has filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Texas alleging that the World Federation of Advertisers and some of its member companiesUnilever, Mars, CVS Health and Orstedhave conspired to boycott against his company, robbing it of billions of dollars in advertising revenue.

X CEO Linda Yaccarino said the lawsuit stemmed from evidence uncovered by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee that a group of companies organized a systematic illegal boycott against X.

READ MORE: X sues advertisers over alleged massive advertiser boycott after Twitter takeover

What actually happened at that committee hearing on July 10?

Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, opened the hearing by reading from section 1 of the Sherman Act, which makes it illegal for businesses to conspire or agree to restrict trade or business that harms their competition.

In his opening statements, Jordan claimed that the World Federation of Advertisers, its cross-industry initiative, the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, and the WFAs member companies have conspired to boycott conservative social media sites and news outlets.

The House Judiciary report further states that GARM leader and co-founder Rob Rakowitz engaged in collusion by using the organizations Steer Team and immense influence in the advertising industry to suggest that member companies avoid placing advertisements on sites that conflict with GARMs advertising policies.

In his testimony, Ben Shapiro, conservative commentator and co-founder of The Daily Wire, claimed there is an informal pressure system created by Democratic legislators, [the Biden] White House, legacy media, advertisers, and pseudo-objective brand safety organizations. That system guarantees that advertising dollars flow only to Left-wing media brands.

Christian Juhl, GroupMs Global Chief Executive Officer, testified that the media-buying company helps marketers protect their brands value by ensuring their ads are not placed adjacent to content that could negatively affect their reputations.

Juhl further explained that beginning in 2017, news outlets were reporting that major companies advertisements were appearing next to online propaganda promoting ISIS, Russian propaganda, and content designed to divide Americans in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At that time, GroupM and other marketing companies found that content moderation policies varied widely among social media sites and news outlets.

Therefore, they established GARM to develop standard definitions of content that brands might consider unsuitable so advertisers could use a common language to determine risk levels associated with sensitive content.

Shapiro alleged that GARM acts as a cartel, with its members accounting for 90 percent of ad spending in the United States. According to Section 2 of the Sherman Act, attempts to monopolize any industry or trade are illegal.

In his testimony, Spencer Webber Waller, Director of the Institute for Consumer Antitrust Studies at the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, states that GARMs activities do not appear to be a cartel because the members are composed of a diverse coalition of companies, who for the most part do not compete with each other or the content providers that may be affected by GARMs advertising framework.

Waller further states that cartels normally involve an agreement between competitors to fix prices, rig bids, limit production, divide markets, diminish quality, or interfere with innovation. The House Judiciary report alleges that companies can individually choose to withhold their advertising dollars, but doing so unilaterally would allow their competitors to advertise in their absence.

Justice Dept. says its committed to sharing info about foreign election threats with tech companies

Waller states that GARMs advertising framework does not affect the price or quality of goods and services its members sell. According to him, GARMs policies may most affect advertisers by helping them determine where to place their ads.

The House Judiciary report states that GARM works in content monetization, which is the practice of determining what content ads actually support and the practice of insertion of the ads online. GARM itself has acknowledged that its practice of content monetization is similar to and often overlaps with content moderation, which is the practice of determining what content is appropriate for hosting[,] recommend[ing,] and [making] availab[le] on [a] platform.

However, Juhl stated, It is up to each publisher to decide what policies to implement, what content to moderate, and what information to publish. He explained that GARM implements third parties to determine if a websites content falls under GARMs content monetization risks or other categories that a company has deemed risky to its brand image.

At the July 10 hearing, Shapiro stated that when a conservative competitor to the legacy media arises, members of the legacy media and their political allies rush to paint such competitors as dangerous. He also said that Democrat lawmakers have urged social media platforms to moderate content deemed harmful, or the legislature will step in to do so for them.

Shapiro alluded that social media companies have reacted to such threats from lawmakers by turning to organizations like GARM and adopting their policies for brand safety.

However, Shapiro argues that GARMs policies do not draw the line at legal content moderation standards, such as prohibiting child sex abuse content, and instead go further by recommending advertising companies avoid placing ads next to content that is hate speech, harassment, or misinformation, which have subjective definitions for what content falls under those labels.

On its website, the WFA states membership in GARM is voluntary, and members are free to use voluntary industry standards and implement practices and solutions in a way that makes sense for each individual member. It states it does not sanction any member who does not follow its outlined advertising framework.

During his testimony, the President of Unilever USA, Herrish Patel, stated that Unilever, and Unilever alone, controls our advertising spending. No platform has a right to our advertising dollar.

He further explained that Unilevers advertising attempts to meet consumers where they are. He broke down Unilevers advertising spending, stating that 80 percent of it goes to digital media, mostly on e-commerce sites like Amazon and Target.

UK government calls on Elon Musk to act responsibly amid provocative posts as unrest grips country

Further in his testimony, Waller states that there are First Amendment applications for GARM and member companies that may provide antitrust immunity even if it harms competition. He explains that the Supreme Court has not indicated that the Sherman Act is intended to prevent political conduct, which private companies have the right to perform under the expression guaranteed by the First Amendment.

In conclusion, the Judiciary report claims that the companies associated with GARM have conspired to pull their advertising off conservative social media and news outlets in an effort to limit consumer choice and deplatform conservative voices that might harm brand safety.

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Data shows Rio Grande water shortage is not just due to Mexicos lack of water deliveries

The cracked riverbed lays exposed in El Paso, Texas, on May 23, 2022. The riverbed below Elephant Butte Reservoir is often empty for most of the year, as the river only runs during irrigation season, which is shortened by drought. (Photo by Diana Cervantes for Source NM)

McALLEN  Drought conditions in South Texas have brought increased pressure on Mexico to make good on its commitment to deliver water to the U.S. under a 1944 treaty. But an analysis by the agency that enforces that treaty shows that water from U.S. sources has significantly diminished over the years.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune. It is republished here with permission.

Research that will be shared publicly this week from the International Boundary and Water Commission, the federal agency tasked with overseeing the treaty with Mexico, shows that even without accounting for water deliveries owed by Mexico, the two international reservoirs that supply water to the Rio Grande, were receiving less water than they did during the 1980s.

During the decade from 2011 to 2020, total U.S. inflow into the Amistad International Reservoir was 33% less than the decade between 1981 and 1990, an overall decrease of 4.6 million acre feet, the IBWC research shows. Meanwhile, Falcon International Reservoir received 21.5% less than it did in the 1980s.

IBWC Commissioner Maria Elena Giner said the decline highlighted the need for the region to diversify its water supply, noting that 90% of the regions water supply comes from the Rio Grande.

This is something they really need to look at, as far as how theyre going to build drought resiliency in the region, Giner said.

More local water supply corporations are looking to alternate sources of water as levels at the reservoirs continue to remain low. Currently, Amistad is at 19% of capacity while Falcon is at 12% of capacity.

In a statement, State Rep. Janie Lopez, R-San Benito, said the Texas Legislature needs to focus on common sense and innovative solutions to diversify the water resources available throughout the state and in the Rio Grande Valley.

Lopez also pointed out that during the last legislative session, lawmakers created the Texas Water Fund, a $1 billion resource to help cities upgrade their water systems and pay for conservation projects. The Texas Water Development Board detailed how those funds would be allocated last week.

While the analysis focused on how much water was lost from the U.S.s own tributaries, Giner, the IBWC commissioner, said getting Mexico to comply with the 1944 treaty was still front and center for the agency.

Under the treaty, every five years, Mexico must deliver 1,750,000 acre-feet of water to the U.S. from six tributaries in Mexico, which averages to 350,000 acre-feet per year. In exchange, the U.S. delivers water from the Colorado River to Mexico.

But Mexico is behind on its deliveries by about 900,000 acre-feet in the current five-year cycle, which ends in October 2025.

Mexican officials have cited the countrys own drought conditions to explain the shortage. Nevertheless, U.S. officials have sought to pressure Mexico into complying by proposing restrictions on federal aid.

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, said the IBWCs research supported what local farmers, ranchers and residents have known for years: The region faces an acute water crisis that has been exacerbated by Mexicos water debt.

We must use these findings to build up our water infrastructure and ensure timely water deliveries from Mexico, Gonzalez said in a statement.

The IBWC is continuing talks with Mexican officials about a proposed amendment to the 1944 treaty, referred to as a minute, that would codify work groups to help build new sources of water and push Mexico to release water from its reservoirs instead of relying on water to spill over floodgates when rain is plentiful, and give Mexico incentives to deliver water on an annual basis.

Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  The former elections manager for Mesa County told jurors Wednesday about Tina Peters possible malfeasances after the 2020 election.

Sandra Brown said she was suspicious of the former Mesa County clerk and recorder two days before the trusted build, a planned software update on Dominion Voting Systems machines, on May 25, 2021. She was brought in to meet with who she believed was the new administrative assistant for the Department of Motor Vehicles, Gerald Wood  a software engineer. The man who Peters introduced to her as Wood wasnt him but, in fact, Conan Hayes, a former surfer and election conspiracist.

Brown said Peters allegedly told her the man posing as Wood would be her backup during elections. Hayes introduced himself as Jerry and had a badge with Woods name.

The former elections manager said she didnt know it was actually Hayes until August 2021.

Peters then showed Hayes around and asked him technical questions before he plugged a device in the countys voting equipment, Brown said.

This set off alarm bells for her.

I was a little (wary), she said. I knew that by doing that he was breaking our contract with Dominion. By plugging foreign stuff, it voids the trusted build and breaks our construction (with) the equipment.

Two days later, Colorado Secretary of State and Dominion officials, as well as Peters and Hayes met with Brown for the trusted build. Hayes once again introduced himself as Gerald Wood, the former elections manager testified.

Around this time, Peters allegedly took pictures and video of the trusted build which were later leaked online, the former elections manager said.

Then in August, the Secretary of States office sent out a press release reporting issues with Peters actions after the election. The same day Peters made a conference call with her attorney, Brown, former Mesa County Chief Deputy Clerk Belinda Knisley and Sherronna Bishop  former campaign manager for Rep. Lauren Boebert and Peters ally  about the report, Brown said.

She added she and Knisley were allegedly told to get burner phones.

We were told that our calls and our texts and our communications and whatnot are probably being monitored and to use those phones to talk to our attorneys, to talk to Tina and to talk to anybody else in the group, Brown said.

She also said she and Knisley were allegedly told to not say anything about the investigation, and Peters and her team would take care of it.

The former elections manager testified Bishop told her to remove the election server out of the office before investigators took it. She said she declined to do so.

I thought it would be stupid since it was part of an investigation, she said.

She said she was skeptical of Peters opinion of the 2020 election before the trusted build.

It began after attending a mandatory meeting with Douglas Frank, a science teacher who went around the country showing how the election was allegedly rigged. The meeting  which included other county employees as part of a packed crowd at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel  reportedly showed widespread fraud during the election, Brown said.

She testified she was dubious of the information, adding she believes anyone can get numbers and spread it out enough to make their point seemingly valid.

I thought it was a bunch of malarky, Brown said.

Brown testified as part of a plea agreement to work with authorities in their investigation into Peters. She previously pleaded guilty to one count to influence a public servant, a felony, and one misdemeanor count of official misconduct.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
The discovery emerged last year in an alert at a Southern California crime lab. DNA evidence from decades-old murders in Ventura County suddenly matched that found at the scene of a womans death in North Carolina, authorities said.

Police say it led them to Warren Luther Alexander, 73, of Diamondhead.

That breakthrough prompted the Ventura County Sheriffs Office this week to charge Alexander with the murder of three women killed in 1977 just an hour-and-a-half north of Los Angeles. Alexander, who is also awaiting prosecution for a 1992 alleged murder in Surry County, North Carolina, was extradited on Tuesday and is held in the California jail with no bond. Authorities are now calling him a suspected serial killer.

The day of reckoning, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said, has finally arrived.

Warren Luther Alexander, 73, is escorted by authorities during his extradition from North Carolina to Southern California, where he is charged in the 1977 murders of three women.

In a livestreamed news conference Thursday, Southern California authorities released new details about the man first arrested in Diamondhead in 2022, and the women he is now accused of strangling 47 years ago.

Police are accusing Alexander of killing three women in Southern California: Kimberly Carol Fritz, 18, Velvet Ann Sanchez, 31, and Lorraine Ann Rodriguez, 21.

All three were commercial sex workers who endured violence, trafficking and exploitation, Nasarenko said. Each of the women frequented a Ventura County shopping center known in the 1970s as a center of commercial sex trafficking.

Authorities said all three died of strangulation by a cord or rope.

The Ventura County Sheriffs Office showed images of three women who were murdered in 1977. Warren Luther Alexander, 73, of Diamondhead is now accused in their deaths.

The District Attorney also released new facts about Alexander: He lived in Oxnard, California, in the late 1950s and 1960s. He attended elementary, middle and high school in California, authorities said.

He was a cab driver and electrician with the U.S. Marine Corps. He returned to Oxnard in the 1970s. At several points, he worked as a long haul cross country truck driver, Nasarenko said. He had very minor criminal history in Ventura County, according to authorities.

Alexander was married but it is unclear if he has children, the Ventura County Sun reported. The District Attorneys Office will not seek the death penalty and instead will pursue a sentence of life without possibility of parole, according to the outlet.

It is unclear when or why Alexander arrived on the Mississippi Coast. He was booked into the Hancock County jail in 2022 and accused in the North Carolina murder.

Ventura County authorities also paid tribute to the deceased women. Rodriguez was found on a bridge in the early morning of December 27, 1977, Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said. She had a son and daughter, who was 3 when Rodriguez died. She was a loving and devoted mother who loved spending time with her family, Fryhoff said.

Sanchez worked at the Navy Exchange just before her death on September 8, 1977, Oxnard Police Chief Jason Benites said. She was married but separated and is survived by one of her three children, and a sister.

Fritz attended school in Ann Arbor, Michigan before her death on May 29, 1977. She was one of three sisters and she is survived by her father and one sister, Port Hueneme, California Police Chief Michael Federico said.

Detectives had long noticed similarities across the three cases and believed them committed by the same suspect, the District Attorney said. They collected DNA evidence from each crime scene, but the cases went cold.

During a news conference, the Ventura County Sheriffs Department showed an image of Nona Stamey Cobb, who police say was murdered in 1992 in North Carolina. Warren Luther Alexander, 73, of Diamondhead, is awaiting prosecution in the case.

In 2006, detectives uploaded that evidence into a nationwide database, searching for a match, Nasarenko said. They found it in 2023. DNA evidence from the 1992 strangulation death of a 29-year-old woman named Nona Cobb in North Carolina led police to suspect Alexander in South Mississippi, and in turn matched the evidence found from the crime scenes in California, the District Attorney said.

Alexander faces three counts of first-degree murder. Authorities said they believe there may be more victims in California and other states. The investigation remains open.

Just because a case has gone cold does not mean it should ever be forgotten, Nasarenko said, standing before the projected images of the three women. And while we cannot bring back Kim, Velvet and Lorraine, we can make sure that the person accused of these horrific crimes in Ventura County faces the full weight and force of the law.
Deals to be had ahead of Massachusetts sales tax holiday

Taxachusetts will be taking a break this coming weekend for the sales tax holiday and some shoppers said theyre ready for some savings.

Shareca Limage said shes waiting until this weekend to buy everything she needs for a project shes working on.

Im buying a bunch of t-shirts and materials because Im making some shirts for a graduation thats happening this weekend, the Quincy resident said.

This Saturday and Sunday is the annual Massachusetts Tax-Free Weekend. Bill Rennie, Vice President of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts said theyre expecting more than $500-$600 million in sales.

Furniture, electronics, jewelry, appliances all do very well during the sales tax holiday, said Rennie. Youre looking for items that have a higher ticket our hardware stores tell us they sell more snow blowers in August than they do in December.

Most retail items up to $2,500 will be exempt from the 6.25% tax including online purchases. Some excluded items include cars, meals, gas, and electricity. The holiday only applies to items bought for personal use by residents and doesnt include purchases made by businesses or corporations.

It generates sales that you know that otherwise would no occur, said Rennie.

Some people said they arent saving any purchases for this weekend.

I dont think you get the biggest bargain saving a few bucks, its going to be crazy a lot of people out its not going to be fun, said Joe Fratto from Braintree. Id go to New Hampshire where its tax-free all the time.

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OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON)  An inmate who served three decades on Californias death row has a chance of walking free out of prison. Curtis Lee Ervin, 71, was convicted by an Alameda County jury in the 1990s of murdering his co-defendants ex-wife, Carlene McDonald, in El Sobrante as part of a murder-for-hire plot.

On Wednesday, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price held a news conference to announce that the state attorney general overturned Ervins conviction due to a prosecutors misconduct during jury selection. The conviction has now been vacated, Price told reporters.

Oakland restaurant celebrates 50 years of business

Price said her office must decide within 60 days whether it will prosecute a whole new murder trial for Ervin, or set him free from prison.

According to court documents, Robert McDonald hired Ervin and a second man to kill McDonalds ex-wife in exchange for $2,500. In 1986, Ervin and an accomplice kidnapped the 43-year-old woman from her home in El Sobrante, drove to Tilden Park, and stabbed her to death, court documents show.

During jury selection for Ervins 1991 capital murder trial, a veteran Alameda County deputy district attorney excluded nine Black jurors based on their race, Price told reporters. Ervin is Black.

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price speaks to reporters in Oakland on Aug. 7, 2024.

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They were denied the right to serve. This office had a practice of excluding Black people from juries, Price said.

The district attorney said Mrs. McDonalds family received an apology from her office for its failure in the case. Ervin will remain behind bars until the DAs office makes a decision, Price said. Both of his co-defendants are deceased.

Earlier this year, DAs office began reviewing every death penalty case in Alameda County after it was discovered that Black and Jewish people were excluded from serving on a jury for the 1993 murder trial of Ernest Dykes.

Dykes was sentenced to death for murdering nine-year-old Lance Clark and robbing the boys grandmother, Bernice Clark.

Due to misconduct by prosecutors, Dykes is slated to be resentenced and possibly released on parole next year. He will appear in court for a hearing on August 13, 2024.

So far, five former prosecutors and one current prosecutor have been accused of racist misconduct in the scandal, according to Price. The practice of excluding people from jury service based on their race, religion, or sexual orientation constitutes a betrayal of the publics trust, Price said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Tropical Storm Debby has been dropping rain on South Carolina all week. It lingered over the Charleston coast Wednesday but made its second landfall around 2 a.m. Thursday near Bulls Bay, South Carolina. More rain is still forecast for the Midlands as the storm moves north.

Heres the latest news as Debbys impacts continue:

7 a.m. National Weather Service gives update after Debby landfall

Tropical Storm Debby made landfall at about 2 a.m. Thursday near Bulls Bay, South Carolina. As of 7 a.m., Debby was a 50 miles per hour tropical storm, moving north at about 5 mph. The center of the storm is expected to move through the Pee Dee region Thursday.

Tropical Storm Debby made landfall around 2 AM this morning near Bulls Bay and will continue to move slowly northwestward and away from the area today. The threat for tropical storm force winds has ended.https://t.co/ILhreovFHf pic.twitter.com/PQN83JN1i0  NWS Charleston, SC (@NWSCharlestonSC) August 8, 2024

Wind advisories were in place for parts of the Midlands north of Columbia Thursday morning, with the National Weather Service warning of 50 miles per hour gusts, but that warning has since been lifted. The Columbia area is still forecast to see another 1.5 inches of rain between Thursday and Friday morning, with the area north of Camden seeing up to four inches.

Tropical Storm Debby made landfall near Bulls Bay, SC at 2 a.m. Thursday. The Columbia area is forecast to see another 1.5 inches of rain between Thursday and Friday morning.

Debby returns to SC and the slow-moving tropical storm continues to drench the Midlands

Wednesday evening, state inspects dams

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services Wednesday released the names of 19 potentially shaky dams it raised questions about, including about a half dozen in the Columbia area, as Tropical Storm Debby moved through South Carolina.

Dams of concern identified by the DES include structures at Richland Countys Adams Pond, which was checked because of spillway damage; Lexington Countys Batesburg Reservoir, checked for insufficient spillway capacity; Lexington Countys Whisper Lake, checked for voids; and Calhoun Countys Derrenbacher and Paradise ponds, checked for slope stability and insufficient spillway capacity.

The agency also looked at two Kershaw County dams: the Upper Sunnyhill Dam, where inspections were done for spillway damage, and the Hermitage Mill Pond dam, checked for excessive seepage. Dams of concern also were examined in parts of eastern South Carolinas Pee Dee region, as well as in Orangeburg, Aiken and nearby counties south and west of Columbia.

Officials said their initial worries have been mollified and they have not found heightened safety concerns at the dams. But the department will continue to monitor the dams. The structures were checked because they were in areas expected to receive at least six inches of rain and had known issues before Debbys arrival.

State examined 19 potentially shaky dams as storm approached SC. Heres where they are

Reporters for The State Noah Feit and Sammy Fretwell contributed to this report
As Tropical Storm Debby drenched North Carolina Thursday, it also continued to make a mess of peoples travel plans at Charlottes airport.

On Thursday, 844 flights were delayed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and 33 were canceled at CLT, according to FlightAware, an online website providing real-time information. That makes for a total of 877 disruptions.

Last weekend, CLT had a total of 1,651 flights delayed. Since then and through early Thursday afternoon, the Charlotte airport saw 4,237 delayed or canceled flights.

Tropical Storm Debby: Record Charlotte rainfall leaves thousands without power

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for Mecklenburg County until 2 p.m. on Thursday. A morning alert said the region had already received about 1 to 2 inches of rain.

Duke Energy reported there were more than 24,000 customers without power in Mecklenburg County at one point Thursday, although that number had fallen to about 18,000 by 1 p.m. And thousands of outages in surrounding counties still remained at that time.

Debby had made landfall in Florida as a hurricane around 7 a.m. Monday. It brought 80 mph sustained winds, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The storm was gradually shifting north Thursday afternoon, NWS reported. The main weather risks for Thursday and Friday continue to be flash flooding due to heavy rainfall and also isolated tornadoes. Flood watches and warnings remain in effect from the Carolinas to New Hampshire.

Debby frustrates CLT passengers

Tropical Storm Debby also continued to aggravate passengers trying to catch flights or arrive at Charlottes airport  one of the busiest in the world.

Customers took to social media to complain about their experiences today. One user on X (formerly known as Twitter) wrote on Thursday morning: Those Charlotte cancellations really put a damper on my week. Ended up sleeping in a seedy hotel at the Phoenix airport for three hours.

Another X poster said, Stranded in the Charlotte airport more times than one needs in this life.

And this passenger said on X. that its been a crazy 24 hours. The Charlotte airport was filled with a lot of angry people who were stranded by American. The hotel were at had a two page list of people they were comping stays for (and its just one of three hotels they used). Wild.

Meanwhile an Instagram user weighed in on baggage service on a CLT post for Tropical Storm Debby. Hopefully you can do something about the slowness at baggage claim. Every time I come home its (40-plus minutes) for luggage even when there is not a storm.

There was some cause for optimism Thursday morning at Charlotte Douglas for planes not facing delays or cancellations. But the numbers were growing throughout the day.

American Airlines keeps eye on Debby

American Airlines continued to monitor the storms track and are prepared to manage any potential disruptions at CLT, according to spokeswoman Bri Harper. The company accounts for 87% of all flights out of Charlotte Douglas.

A travel alert is in effect for Georgia and the Carolinas until Friday, Aug. 9.

Customers whose travel plans are affected by Debby may rebook without change fees, according to the travel alert issued by American Airlines. They can reschedule travel at aa.com or by contacting reservations at 800-433-7300 in the U.S. or Canada.

Charlotte Douglas will remain open during the storm for stranded passengers, CLT officials said.

Baggage claim C inside the Charlotte Douglas International Airport on August 5, 2024. The airport is facing many delays and cancelations due to Hurricane Debbys landfall in Florida.
Decades on, Delbert Africas surrender still provides powerful image of US racism and Black victimhood

Forty-six years ago, on Aug. 8, 1978, Philadelphia police surrounded the house occupied by the controversial MOVE organization in Powelton Village with the intent to evict the predominantly Black group.

The result was a shootout that left police Officer James Ramp dead and 18 people wounded.

During the deadly confrontation, MOVE spokesman Delbert Africa was dragged, beaten and kicked by three white police officers. Just prior to the violent attack, Philadelphia Inquirer photographer Jim Domke captured a photograph of the MOVE member. His arms were outstretched as he attempted to surrender.

Africa served 42 years for the murder of Ramp and was released from prison in January 2020. He died six months later. He was 74 years old.

With the exception of news reports of Africas release from prison and subsequent death, Domkes photograph has largely been sidelined to a mere footnote in American history.

A controversial group

Described in the media alternately as a back-to-nature group and a terrorist cult, MOVE defied simple explanation.

Members of the group all assumed the last name Africa. They eschewed modern technology, ate raw foods and advocated for animal rights. They spoke out loudly, often through blaring loudspeakers, against police brutality and other abuses of authority. They had also been cited by neighbors for child neglect and general lack of hygiene.

In short, MOVE was a polarizing entity.

It was not surprising, then, that the image of Delbert Africa surrendering to police would further divide Philadelphians.

Black and white victims

With hair largely covering his face, the shirtless Africa stands in the center of Domkes photograph that evokes the image of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Poised to endure the officers blows, Africa is framed as a victim of police brutality  a message in direct tension with the white officers death.

As a scholar of American memory, I have argued in my research that the death of any police officer challenges the social fabric by underscoring the dangers of law enforcement work. Those deaths also require  for the sake of the larger society  an assurance that they were not in vain.

According to letters from readers printed in Philadelphia newspapers, there could be only one victim.

And that was not Africa.

It is easy to assume that Domkes photograph has been relegated to the recesses of American public memory. Part of the problem is that the 1978 incident became overshadowed by an even more dramatic and violent police confrontation with MOVE that occurred seven years later.

Aerial view of smoke rising from smoldering rubble where about 60 homes were destroyed by Philadelphia police after they bombed a house occupied by the radical group MOVE in 1985. Bettmann/GettyImages

In that 1985 incident, Philadelphia police dropped a bomb on the house occupied by MOVE in West Philadelphia. But instead of extinguishing the ensuing fire, Philadelphia police let the fire burn. Eleven people were killed, 60 homes were destroyed and about 250 people were left homeless.

Yet, it is my belief that further scrutiny of the photograph and its surrounding context can illuminate much about todays ambivalence toward how to interpret visual evidence of Black victimhood.

It is then important to move beyond images that reduce people to either heroes or villains. Domkes photograph of Africas surrender reveals more challenging and nuanced understandings of race, racism and power.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Nicole Maurantonio, University of Richmond

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Nicole Maurantonio does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
DECATUR, Neb. (KCAU)  The public meetings on the Decatur Bridge project have been rescheduled.

The rescheduled dates for these meetings are August 28 and 29.

On August 28, the meeting will be in Onawa at the Onawa Community Center from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. On August 29, the meeting will be in Decatur at the Decatur City Hall from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The meeting will present the opportunity to view meeting materials and a video presentation. The video will be available online at the time of the presentation for those who cannot attend in person.

Boil advisory issued for parts of Onawa

The project is currently in the study phase, according to a release about the project. These meetings will provide information and give the public the opportunity to make comments and ask questions. Information will be provided by the Nebraska Department of Transportation, Iowa Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration.

Comments will be accepted through September 16 and can be made through the Decatur Bridge projects website.

These public meetings were originally scheduled for late June but were rescheduled due to the flooding that affected the Siouxland area around the time these meetings were originally scheduled to take place.

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Tourists visit the Trevi Fountain amid a heatwave in Rome, Italy, July 14, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

July 2024 marked the second-hottest July in history. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for global action to tackle extreme heat, claiming the Earth is becoming "hotter and more dangerous."

BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- July 2024 marked the second-hottest July in history. It also ended the 13-month streak of global heat records, as every month from June 2023 to June 2024, new temperature records were set, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) on Wednesday.

The global average temperature in July 2024 was 16.91 degrees Celsius, just 0.04 degrees below the record set in July 2023. According to Samantha Burgess, deputy director of C3S, this slight difference indicates that "the overall context hasn't changed."

The C3S also noted Thursday that 2024 is still increasingly likely to be the warmest year on record. Global temperatures in 2024 were 0.7 degrees above the 1991-2020 average. This year is unlikely to be cooler than 2023 without a significant temperature drop in the coming months.

Notably, the world registered two consecutive hottest days on record last month: July 21 and 22. On July 25, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for global action to tackle extreme heat, claiming the Earth is becoming "hotter and more dangerous."

The impacts of extreme heat continue after the record-breaking days. South Korea's heat-related deaths rose to 14 on Tuesday. In Japan, a record-breaking 3,647 individuals were hospitalized due to heatstroke in July. The DAK-Gesundheit heat report released on Monday in Germany showed that one in four people in Germany, especially the elderly, has experienced health problems due to extreme heat this year.

Firefighters try to put out a fire in the forest at Keratea, southeast of Athens, Greece, June 30, 2024.

Since the start of the wildfire season on May 1, firefighters are called to handle dozens of wildfires every day across the country. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) stressed that the record-breaking temperatures are not isolated incidents but are linked to climate change and more frequent and intense heatwaves, wildfires and other extreme weather events.

In the United States, the Park Fire in northern California in early August was the fourth-largest wildfire in the state's history, resulting in 4,000 people being evacuated.

In Southern and Eastern Europe, continuous heatwaves have resulted in surging electricity demand and frequent power outages. The overload of air conditioning units and cold water has put unprecedented pressure on electricity and water infrastructures.

C3S senior climate scientist Julien Nicholas urges the world to tackle the main driving force of global warming: greenhouse gases.

"There's been a lot of attention given to this 13-month streak of global records," said Nicolas. "But the consequences of climate change have been seen for many years ... And they won't end because this streak of records is ending." 
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA)  Two locals earned awards from the City of Decatur and National Night Out Committee to recognize their positive contributions to the community.

The 2024 Johnson & Mears Community Service Award was bestowed during Decaturs National Night Out (NNO) event on Tuesday. The award was created in honor of Francie Johnson, a Fansfield Neighborhood member, and Helen Jeanne Mears, a Park City Neighborhood volunteer. Both women were executive members of the Coalition of Neighborhood Organizations (CONO) and were actively involved in the NNO event for many years, with Mears also being a NNO Steering Committee member.

Decatur City Council greenlights tear-down of YWCA, water infrastructure upgrades

This years awards were given to Sue Lawson and Jack and Joyce Keller.

Lawson is the former president of the GM Square neighborhood and CONO. Currently, she is a member of the Beautify Decatur Coalition. By combining her interior decorating business with the power of Decatur youth, Lawsons Inside Out Project has remodeled rooms for local residents. Youngsters in the community have learned handy skills like carpeting and painting along the way.

Sue Lawson with City Economic & Community Development Director Cordaryl Patrick. Photo courtesy of the City of Decatur.

Decatur firefighters put out flames at senior living facility

The Kellers are the founders of the Little Red Wagon Club and the Jesse White Tumblers, granting city kids the opportunity to play and stay active. They also work to prevent community violence through the CeaseFire organization and are advocates for the Old Kings Orchard neighborhood. Additionally, they have served as board members of the Northeast Community Fund and City of Decatur Human Relations Commission.

Joyce Keller with City Economic & Community Development Director Cordaryl Patrick. Photo courtesy of the City of Decatur.

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What are deepfakes and how could they impact election season?

What are deepfakes and how could they impact election season?

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  AI technology is improving, making it easier to spread misinformation  something that could make an intense election cycle even more difficult to navigate.

Knowing what your candidate is fighting for and against is critical to voters, but misinformation is constant and easy to come across, making it hard to determine whats true.

Thats why voters are being warned about deepfake videos; AI content that can help spread misinformation to paint any political candidate in a negative light.

How to spot artificial intelligence-generated content

2 NEWS spoke with a Cedarville University official who has done a deep dive into deepfakes, and says the technology is only getting more advanced.

It starts with, can I believe everything that I see? And I think the answer to that has to be no, said Derrick Green, Cedarville University Department of Communication chair.

Question everything that you see  that is where we are headed when it comes to the rise of deepfake videos.

These videos often use AI and other tools to make it look like a real person is telling you critical information, but of course, the entire video is fake.

And deepfakes are not new when it comes to politics, which is already a delicate tightrope.

A politician that is trying to get elected is going to be very conscious about what they are saying in public. They dont want to anger or alienate constituents, said Green.

You might find these fake videos on social media or on other websites. Green says that its important to know what your candidates messages are in order to not be led astray by fake videos.

If you see things that are really, really off brand for that candidate, really off platform for that candidate, and this deepfake is the only time you have seen them communicate this, that is a red flag, said Green.

And knowing your candidate or politician is key to identifying deepfakes.

According to a study from the Journal of Computer Mediated Communications in 2022 titled, The detection of political deepfakes, they predicted that people who are strongly interested in politics should be able to spot a deepfake.

After the study, they concluded that political deepfakes are a challenge for democracies. But analytical thinking and political interest are associated with identifying deepfakes.

How will deepfake political videos affect elections?

Another red flag is if no reputable news site is reporting what you heard in a video you suspect might be a deepfake.

And given just how much presidential candidates are watched, it is challenging to think that somebody missed something off brand, off platform, that a candidate said, said Green.

Green also says that if you have a gut feeling something is off, that is often all you need to determine if something is a deep fake or not. It is also recommended that you get your news from trusted sources.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
Detroit and Wayne and Macomb counties lagged behind the rest of the state in reporting the results of Tuesday's primary, raising concerns that a similar performance in the Nov. 5 general election could fuel conspiracy theories about election integrity.

State lawmakers recently enacted legislation allowing clerks to begin counting absentee ballots up to a week before the polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. Nevertheless, Wayne, Macomb  and especially Detroit  lagged behind most of the state when it came to posting election results.

"It would have been great to have known the results earlier," said Sam Riddle, an adviser to Mary Waters, who was running for the Democratic nomination in the 13th Congressional District. "You would have thought, given the low turnout  the abysmally low turnout  that we could have had earlier results.

"I dont understand what happens there," Riddle added, "but I dont work in the clerks office."

As of 1:15 a.m. Wednesday, Detroit posted partial vote totals and the clerk's elections website listed 0% for "precincts fully reporting." Vote totals had not been updated since 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Corderro House, of Detroit, left, gets help from poll worker Fatema Sikdar, 18, of Warren, at the Metropolitan Methodist Church during the Michigan primary election in Detroit on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024.

Also around 1:15 a.m., Wayne County, which includes Detroit, posted vote totals for only 2% of its precincts. Macomb County posted vote totals for only 39% of its precincts.

At about the same time, Oakland County reported results from nearly 94% of its precincts, Kent County reported results from 85% of its precincts and Genesee County reported results from 78% of its precincts.

Wayne County Commissioner Jonathan Kinloch, a former member of the county's board of canvassers, which review elections results, said he was concerned about the delay in posting vote totals.

The whole worlds going to be watching us in November, Kinloch said.

Michigan has been in the national spotlight since 2016, when Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton here by about 11,000 votes. Delays in reporting of vote totals, especially in Detroit, left the outcome of the election in doubt until the day after the election. In 2020, after President Joe Biden beat Trump in Michigan by more than 150,000 votes, Trump used the delay in reporting vote totals to allege that the election was rigged.

"Donald Trump has never stopped bashing and insulting Detroit's election processes and questioning the integrity of it," Kinloch said. "With all that, we absolutely understand whats at stake and I have personally been in touch with the elections department and they understand what kind of a microscope theyre going to be under  not just from here, but nationally and, on a broader note, internationally. Because the world is watching us."

Daniel Baxter, a top aide to Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey, told the Free Press at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday that two factors delayed the posting of vote totals for Detroit: An unexpectedly large number of absentee ballots that arrived on Election Day and a computer glitch.

"Tuesday was an unusual day for a primary," Baxter said. "Nearly 10,000 returned their (absentee) ballots today."

He said that was nearly double the number of absentee ballots that typically arrive on Election Day.

Lenon Dodoro, right, of Royal Oak, and her brother Callan Dodoro wait for their mother Melissa Dodoro to fill out her ballot while voting in the Michigan Primary elections at the Royal Oak Farmers Market in Royal Oak on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.

It appears the Detroit totals were not posted until about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. Turnout in Detroit was about 16%  or less than a third of the expected turnout for the Nov. 5 General Election.

Still, Baxter said, the Detroit clerk will bring on additional staff to handle the heavier load.

"We're not overly concerned at all," he said, adding that he was "fully confident" Detroit would report results much faster in November.

Dorian Tyus, a spokesman for Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett, said the delay in posting information from the local municipalities to the county clerk's website was "in part, due to a technical issue. We had a firewall issue within our IT and due to the firewall issue, our municipalities could not transmit the data via electronic means."

He said the townships and cities had to drop off their results at the county clerk's office in downtown Detroit, creating a delay in getting the information up on the county's system and reported out to the public.

Tyus said an audit and assessment of what happened will be done, though he did not know how long that would take. He said officials want to take the correct steps to make sure this doesn't happen again in November.

"We do have backup processes in place, which (were) executed yesterday, to be able to ensure that the results are still coming in and they're accurate and complete," Tyus said. "It's just not as timely due to the fact we could not transmit it via the internet."

Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini said results aren't transmitted electronically because tabulator modems that aren't certified can't be used. He said his office gets computer sticks with the information from the individual communities.

He said "it makes it look like our results are getting in later than they should. ... It makes it look like others are more organized, which, that's not the case," Forlini said, adding that the information just can't be transmitted as quickly.

Forlini said he worked with Sheriff Anthony Wickersham during this election and the prior one to pick up the sticks with data from communities that were willing to partner with them. A sheriff's deputy and a clerk's employee in a squad car picked up the sticks in a secure process. Forlini said four squad cars were out Tuesday in eight to 10 communities that participated.

Forlini said his office had its first results coming in about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday "and actually they did a decent job with those that participated. ... We did get results posted up fairly early compared to the past" through the partnership.

Though Oakland County may have posted more of its results online sooner, Forlini said Macomb County "was at 100% before Oakland County was."

More: Find all 2024 Michigan primary election results here

Forlini said Clinton Township had a problem with absentee voter ballots which had to be resolved. He said there's a "lot of checks and balances in the whole system, so everyone's cross-checking, making sure everything's right."

"We're better this time than we were last time," Forlini said, adding that "we need to do a better job in the fall."

Angela Benander, spokeswoman for Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, said of Detroit and Wayne County: "We believe the city and the county followed proper procedures in handling the unfortunate logistical challenges on Tuesday that prevented unofficial results from being reported more quickly. Clerks and their teams plan for these challenges, put backup systems in place, and quickly shift to those backup systems when necessary."

She said state election officials "will continue to work with local officials to identify additional efficiencies to speed up the process, but we will never do so at the expense of making sure the unofficial count is accurate."

Kinloch, the former Wayne County elections official, said he was not concerned about the Detroit and Wayne county clerks' performances in the primary. He said new technology and equipment was partly to blame for the delay in reporting vote totals.

This was a great test run," Kinloch said. "Hopefully, they took a lot of notes.

Free Press staff writer Christina Hall contributed to this article.

M.L. Elrick is a Pulitzer Prize- and Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and host of the ML's Soul of Detroit podcast. Contact him at mlelrick@freepress.com or follow him on X at @elrick, Facebook at ML Elrick and Instagram at ml_elrick.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Delay in reporting votes in Detroit, Wayne and Macomb raises concerns
A class action lawsuit has been filed against Delta Air Lines, alleging that the company refused to issue refunds after a global tech outage caused thousands of flight cancellations.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday on behalf of Delta customers whose flights were canceled due to the global tech outage. The outage was linked to an update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike that crashed computers running Windows software worldwide.

The lawsuit alleges that Delta was more impacted by the tech outage than other airlines, alleging it refused or ignored customers requests for a refund over their delayed or canceled flights. The lawsuit also said that Delta did not provide impacted customers with vouchers for food, transportation or lodging.

These unfair, unlawful, and unconscionable practices resulted in Delta unjustly enriching itself at the expense of its customers, the complaint reads.

Accordingly, Plaintiffs bring this action in order to secure refunds for each and every similarly situated consumer Delta has wronged by refusing to issue full refunds for flights cancelled or significantly affected as a direct and proximate result of the CrowdStrike outage, the complaint continues.

The lawsuit comes after Delta CEO Ed Bastian said the recent global tech outage cost his company $500 million after the airline suffered major flight delays and cancellations. While many airlines faced issues due to the outage, Delta canceled or delayed thousands of flights in the days following the incident.

Bastian threatened to sue CrowdStrike, which has pushed back on Deltas characterization of the outage. Michael Carlinsky, a lawyer for CrowdStrike, said earlier this week that the company is highly disappointed that Delta has accused the company of acting inappropriately, pointing to CrowdStrikes apology after the outage.

He also questioned why other airlines were able to recover more quickly from the outage, in his letter addressed to Deltas lawyer David Boies. Microsoft lawyer Mark Cheffo asked similar questions in a letter to Boies and suggested that the airlines key IT system is serviced by other companies instead of Microsoft, according to The Associated Press.

The Department of Transportation has also issued an investigation into Delta following the mass cancellations.

The Hill has reached out to Delta for comment.

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Delta flight returns to Logan Airport after odor detected on board, officials say

A flight bound for France had to return to Bostons Logan Airport Wednesday night, disrupting travelers.

According to a Delta Airlines spokesperson, Delta Flight 224, an Airbus A330-900 aircraft heading to Paris, returned to Boston when the crew detected an odor on board.

Officials say the crew declared an emergency as they arrived back to Logan out of an abundance of caution.

The aircraft landed without incident and medical personnel met the flight at the gate. There were no reports of any injuries.

The flight was carrying 263 customers on board at the time, according to airline officials.

Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, a Delta Airlines spokesperson said. We apologize to our customers for the disruption and delay to their travel plans; were working to get them to their final destinations as quickly as possible.

The spokesperson did not say what caused the odor.

Regularly scheduled Delta service from Boston to Paris has since resumed.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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By Doina Chiacu and Trevor Hunnicutt

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Vice President Kamala Harris did not agree to discuss imposing an arms embargo on Israel during an exchange with pro-Palestinian activists who are pushing for changes to U.S. policy toward its ally over the Gaza war, an aide said on Thursday.

The Uncommitted National Movement had said late on Wednesday that Harris, the 2024 Democratic presidential candidate, had "shared her sympathies and expressed an openness to a meeting with Uncommitted leaders to discuss an arms embargo" during the interaction while campaigning in Detroit, the aide said.

The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Harris did not express a willingness to discuss an arms embargo. But a campaign spokesperson said the vice president did tell members of the Muslim and Palestinian community she would continue to engage with them on the war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in Gaza, which local officials say has killed nearly 40,000 people.

"@VP has been clear: she will always ensure Israel is able to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups. She does not support an arms embargo on Israel. She will continue to work to protect civilians in Gaza and to uphold international humanitarian law," Harris's national security adviser, Phil Gordon, said in a post on X.

Two founders of the Uncommitted group, Layla Elabed and Abbas Alawieh, said they spoke briefly with both Harris and newly minted running mate Tim Walz of Minnesota about their concerns about the U.S. supplying weapons to Israel as it wages war in Gaza.

Alawieh said on Thursday that both he and Elabed asked for a meeting specifically to discuss the demand for an arms embargo on Israel, "and in both cases, Vice President Harris expressed an openness to following up."

He said he was very encouraged by his engagements with Harris' office and hoped discussions would continue to be fruitful.

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

Israel launched its assault on the besieged Palestinian enclave in retaliation for an Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel by Hamas militants who killed 1,200 people and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

The Uncommitted political group was organized to oppose President Joe Biden's staunch support for Israel's war, which has displaced nearly 80 percent of Gaza's 2.3 million people and caused severe food shortages.

The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has prompted calls for Washington to put conditions on the billions of dollars in military funding and other assistance it provides to Israel, which has received more U.S. foreign aid since World War Two than any other country.

The United States in May paused a shipment of 2,000-pound and 500-pound bombs due to concern over the impact they could have in Gaza.

The Uncommitted movement amassed sizable vote totals in presidential nominating contests in Michigan, Minnesota and Hawaii, and has won at least 25 delegates. Leaders have said they want to use their influence at this month's Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

In a reminder of how divisive the issue has been for Democrats, a group of pro-Palestinian protesters briefly interrupted Harris' speech in Detroit on Wednesday, chanting, "Kamala, Kamala, you can't hide, we won't vote for genocide."

She paused for a moment, saying she believed in democracy and the importance of every voice, and then added, "But I am speaking now." When the chants continued, she repeated, "You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I'm speaking."

Trump has criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for Israeli security failures that enabled Hamas to carry out the Oct. 7 attack and said he would work to bring about a quick end to the war.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Trevor Hunnicutt; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
In places like Globe, Arizona, voting for Democratic candidates used to be like a breathing reflex. The copper-mining town produced two state governors and a reliable stream of liberal-minded legislators up until about 20 years ago when a shift replicated across rural America changed everything. Now, this is reliable Trump country and almost every local official is a Republican.

The Gila County Democratic Party still exists, but the few times that volunteers have ventured to Globe to knock on the doors of people still registered with the party, they get a customary response: Were so surprised to see you here!

Even though Arizona has become one of six swing states that will decide the 2024 presidential election, the state and national Democratic parties have ignored the rural parts of the state, where 20 percent of the electorate lives outside of an urban area and yet where seven of 15 county committees are either nonexistent or barely functional, according to Tom Prezelski of Rural Arizona Action.

All we have is a handful of old ladies, Gila County Democratic chair Chris Senko told me. We dont have the boots on the ground, or the skills. Nor the candidates. The July 30 primary election featured exactly zero Democrats who ran for any county office.

The ideological turn of rural America toward Donald Trump and the Republican Party has been a pivotal story of national politics for the last eight years, the subject of a shelf of books and the journalistic cliche of asking blue collar workers in Midwestern diners why they went ideologically MAGA. But the less appreciated part of this story is not about ideology, but about tactics. The scythe of Trumpism cut so cleanly through Americas farm and ranch country not so much because voters radically changed their beliefs but because Democrats made the disastrous strategic decision to abandon them.

Of the 3,244 counties in the U.S., slightly more than 300 of them now have active and vigorous Democratic Party committees, according to Cody Lonning of the Rural Urban Bridge Initiative. Most of those can be found in big cities and wealthy suburbs. More than a thousand counties have no structure whatsoeverno meetings, no board, often no local candidates, and some not even showing a listed contact person. The decay in Arizona is entirely typical.

This years presidential elections may play out in the same urban-rural divide for Democrats, but the future could be different if the party is willing to make a course correction.

While the ideological retreat from rural places arguably had its roots in the Democratic turn toward Wall Street and free trade during Bill Clintons presidency, the practical shift can be dated more precisely.

With a squad of youthful volunteers and a deep tranche of computerized block-by-block voter data, the upstart Illinois Sen. Barack Obama pulled off an upset in the Iowa caucus in 2008. He felt, with some justification, that New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and her organization had hardwired the Democratic National Committee and its lower pyramid structure into pre-selecting her as a candidate. Obama and his allies sought to neuter the DNCs power in future elections by starving it of the money and energy it had used to prop up the rural counties. Thats not where the real votes were anyway, to say nothing of donor money. All that, the thinking went, could be found in the Charlotte suburbs, in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street, and in the hip creative cores of revitalized downtowns.

For every blue-collar Democrat we lose in western Pennsylvania, we will pick up two moderate Republicans in the suburbs in Philadelphia, and you can repeat that in Ohio and Illinois and Wisconsin, said Sen. Charles Schumer, then chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, in the lead-up to the 2016 election, in which Hillary Clinton lost three of those four states and two-thirds of the rural vote. This followed an eight-year period in which Republicans flipped U.S. Senate seats in Arkansas, North Dakota, Iowa, Indiana, West Virginia, Louisiana, and South Dakota, among other places, as well as 948 state legislative seats that made gerrymandering much easier.

The Democrats responded by retreating even faster. What former DNC chairman Howard Dean called a 50-state strategy soon became a 20-city strategy. Democratic Party offices shut down in outlying counties, even in swing states. The remaining energy in southern Ohio after Obamas first term, for example, could only be found with the Hamilton County Democratic Party in metropolitan Cincinnati. The Ohio River corridor became a string of melancholy social clubs for retired union laborers who struggled to sell tickets to their dwindling annual banquets, even as more and more of those residents had concluded their interests were no longer represented.

Rural voters who happened to live in one of these places became used to a repeating pattern whenever Washington, D.C., consultants sensed a winnable Congressional race in their area. The Democrats would rent a generic office in a strip mall, tack up a weatherproof banner, and kit the place out with folding tables and chairs. A handful of recent graduates from elite collegesYale, Mount Holyoke, Middlebury and the likewould get assignments as communications director, volunteer coordinator, or campaign manager. They would attempt, hastily, to get to know the local elected officials, as well as introduce themselves to the hardcore apparatchiks who came to the pop-up office with a desire to help and memories of a more permanent structure.

The outside paid staff would direct local volunteers to phone apps that identified the names, addresses and party affiliations of those who had voted in the last several elections, and given pre-formulated scripts telling them what to say to prospective voters about the candidatelanguage that had been massaged down to the letter by inside-the-Beltway political consultants. Those who didnt want to distribute brochures or knock on doors could sit at one of the folding tables and call voters, laughing to each other about the frequent hang-ups.

The election would arrive. There would be a watch party at a local bar that Tuesday night; the candidate would win or not. And without fail, the elite college kids would be gone by Friday. The lease on the popup office expired, a truck came to take the tables and desks away. And thats the last anyone there would hear of the Democratic Party until the next time the district became competitive again, when the whole cycle would renew itself.

To make matters worse, the highly educated campaign workers and script-writing consultants could make it seem like the Democratic Party envisioned its voters as an undifferentiated mass of frightened sheep out there in darkest America. One campaign in particular is instructive.

In 2020, Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine was ripe to be knocked out of office. She had enraged national Democrats with her waffling on Trump, giving him multiple passes for his misdeeds, and voting for Brett Kavanaughs Supreme Court confirmation. Though she had long-standing roots and credibility in her home state, polls indicated a majority of her constituents had tired of her. Democrats found their candidate in Sara Gideon, who had served as the speaker of the Maine House of Representatives and proceeded to blanket local television stations with dawn-to-midnight ads centering on Trumps theatrical awfulness. They raised about $95 million, mainly from alarmed voters outside of Maine eager to get rid of one of Trumps enablers, and the D.C. consultants made sure that every resident received a stack of colorful mailers attacking Collins on a near-daily basis.

Sen. Susan Collins campaigns at Rangeley Lakes Builders Supply on September 18, 2020. (Staff Photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)

Very little of the Gideon campaign concerned itself with the heterodox views of the states many rural residents, who valued the constituent service and federal attention that Collins had brought over the years. Small-town Maine responded to this big-money Washington campaign by handing Collins a 9-point victory. A campaign better in touch with its actual voters would not have lost what was a winnable race; it was another symptom of long-term Democratic condescension. The approach on the ads and campaigning was disgusting enough that I didnt want to vote for the person anymore, even though I agreed with the policy stances, one Mainer told the New York Times.

Theres a fiduciary motivation at play as well. National consultancies based in Washington who get contracts from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, or Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, have a vested interest in big-money television and mailer buys: it ups their rate of commission. Its a 15 percent cut to eight men in D.C., said Teresa Purcell, who ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Washington state legislature in 2016. They are super-hesitant to empower local people. Its a crime.

When local Democratic sympathizers, or even those who are with the party on a single issue like abortion or health care, perceive that their party has retreated to the coasts and into the big money ZIP codes, their willingness to gently challenge their neighbors or engage them with a different opinion become correspondingly weaker. The temptation to join the herda universal human urgeintensifies. Perhaps for this reason, Trump was able to boost his share of the rural vote from 59 percent in 2016 to 65 percent in 2020. The numbers might be even worse this November unless the Democrats make moves to stem the bleeding.

Could the Democrats regain their connection to heartland voters? One obvious place to start is reinvesting in local party offices in red states to keep the Democratic flame burning, emboldening local MAGA skeptics, recruiting candidates, and providing a visible alternative to the extremes of the other party.

Showing up in rural communities after a long absence could also help the Democratic Party with one of its most concerning weaknessesthe bleeding away of the black and Hispanic vote, once reliable blocs who have some within growing skeptical over high prices, a perceived lack of an orderly immigration policy, and some of the fringe ideas of the academic left customarily associated with the Democrats.

Cody Lonning

Pew Charitable Trust polls, for example, show an overwhelming dislike among Hispanics of the term Latinx, seen as an unwanted linguistic imposition made by white progressives. The language policing common at universities also tends to be a conversation stopper in the rural precincts, and not just because of manufactured outrage on cable TV. Yet another stereotype of rural America is that it is populated exclusively by angry white people with guns, a facile impression fueled by unhelpful books like White Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy, by Tom Schaller and Paul Waldman. In reality, 19 percent of rural Americans are people of color, from southern farm towns with majority black populations to western towns like Globe, Arizona, with substantial Hispanic and Native American influence. Theyre less concerned about microaggressions, symbolic gestures, and correct nomenclature and more about kitchen table matters like health care, schools, and jobs.

Perhaps Democrats can bolster their reinvestments in county parties with a shift in rhetorical emphasis, spending less time explaining wonkish policies and more time expressing values. In politics, the details lie downstream from the emotions. There is a way to talk about gun safety, for example, that emphasizes freedomthe freedom to go to public events without fear of a mass shooting. And theres a way to talk about higher taxes on the rich in terms of economic security for the middle classes: as a means of funding good schools and hospitals for everyone. People voting are a lot smarter than the consultants think they are, said Lonning, whose Rural Urban Bridge Initiative advocacy group hopes to reframe the conversation around solutions. They look for people they can trust rather than policy detail.

This means conversations with gun owners at the end of dirt driveways, about supporting candidates who may be pro-life, and finding areas of common ground. It means going back out to the country with open ears and non-judgmentalism instead of sneering from afar. As Patty Cervantez, the chair of the Graham County Democratic Party in rural Arizona, put it to me: Democrats are just so locked into statistics and Zoom meetings that weve lost touch with the people.

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Left: Jacky Rosen telling anyone who will listen that she's really, really bipartisan. Right: Sam Brown on stage at a JD Vance rally, on purpose. (Rosen image from campaign ad; Brown photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

To paraphrase one of the more famous quips of Joe Bidens long career, there are only three things Nevada Democratic U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen needs to make a sentence  a noun, a verb, and bipartisan.

Okay, thats a bit of an exaggeration. A recent (and typical) press release from Rosens office contained 12 sentences, but only used the word bipartisan seven times. Eight if you count the releases headline.

As she seeks reelection this year, Rosens TV ads and other campaign messaging have emphasized her eagerness to break with her party and vote with Republicans, and touted her ranking (from a D.C. group that ranks such things) as one of the most bipartisan U.S. senators.

Rosens opponent, Republican Sam Brown, has not similarly leaned into bipartisan in releases, social media, campaign materials, etc.

The same scenario seems to be playing out in the half dozen or so Democratically held seats nationally that, like the race in Nevada, feature competitive races that will determine which party controls the Senate. From the high desert to the Great Lakes, Democratic U.S. Senate candidates say bipartisan over and over again. Their Republican opponents dont say it much, if at all.

In Montana, Democratic incumbent Sen. Jon Tester is ahead of camera-ready Republican Tim Sheehy in some polls, but behind him in others. Trump won Montana by 16 points in 2020. Testers has always been the most vulnerable Democratically held Senate seat of the cycle. So yeah, Tester is saying bipartisan a lot.

Sheehy isnt. Appealing beyond the Trump base may not be much of a priority for Sheehy, because that base alone might be all he needs.

In the other contests for Democratically held Senate seats, including Nevadas, Democrats have been consistently polling ahead of their Republican opponents, and Republicans dont have the same cushion Sheehy has in Montana (assuming he has it).

Rosen and Tester might say bipartisan a little more than fellow Democratic senators/candidates Tammy Baldwin (Wisconsin), Bob Casey (Pennsylvania), Ruben Gallego (Arizona), and Elissa Slotkin (Michigan). But they all say it quite a bit.

Meanwhile, perhaps the only Republican Senate candidate in a race that is even close (barely) to competitive and who, in a rebranding for the ages, is touting himself as bipartisan is not a challenger but an incumbent, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

There are a lot of reasons for Democrats to campaign as bipartisan-friendly.

For one thing, it might simply be who they are. Rosen could fairly be called a radical centrist, no?

There is also the simple political calculation. Its a hallowed American tradition for voters to blame the White House, and the party that controls it, fairly or unfairly, for anything and everything that displeases them.

The pandemic and subsequent corporate price gouging/fixing combined to reset prices and costs at higher levels, which in turn rendered a significant portion of the electorate authoritarian-curious. So Democrats are saying theyre bipartisan in the hope of localizing their race and quarantining it from Great Big Things that voters dont like.

Another benefit of the Democrats swearing fealty to bipartisanship is it makes Trumpism look petty and morally bankrupt by comparison. One striking example: Early this year the Senate reached a bipartisan deal on an immigration bill, after substantial caving on the part of Democrats to Republican demands. But then Trump, putting his personal interest above all other concerns as usual, ordered Congress not to pass the bill, because Trump was afraid it might deprive him of his favorite issue while making Biden look good.

Holed up in the Trump base

Just as Rosen and other Democrats have sought to demonstrate independence from the White House, might Republican Senate candidates in competitive races also benefit if they were to put some space between themselves and their MAGAlomaniac at the top of the ticket?

We may never know. Brown in Nevada, Sheehy in Montana, Bernie Moreno in Ohio, Kari Lake in Arizona  theyre all doubling down on Trump and Trumpism.

In the weeks and months prior to Biden stepping aside from the presidential race, Rosen could barely bring herself to utter Bidens name.

Sam Brown, by contrast, touts his Trump endorsement every day, and late last month actually got on a stage with JD Vance in Henderson. On purpose.

In addition to providing a little distancing between a candidate and their partys standard-bearer, advertising oneself as bipartisan candidate is also an appeal to the nations fastest growing (and in Nevada, largest) category of registered voters, non-partisans.

Generally behind in polls and saddled with an old, addled, and broadly disliked person at the top of the ticket, youd think Republican Senate candidates would like to reach beyond the Trump base.

Instead theyve holed up in it.

That probably seemed like a good idea three weeks ago.

Then, a lot of voters who cant stand Trump but were also sour on Biden appeared poised to just sit out the election. All the turnout energy seemed to be with Trump and his Republicans.

Now that scripts been flipped.

Brown and other Republican candidates could try to switch gears. They could try to make an attempt to reach beyond the Trump base and connect with nonpartisans and other casual voters of both parties who might be sick and tired of all the anger and hate and animosity  voters who now appear to be warming to the happy happy joy joy vibe of the Harris-Walz ticket.

But Brown and his fellow Republican wannabe senators might have trouble pulling that off. Promising to work across the aisle, to cooperate, to compromise, could turn off the very base theyve been relying on all along.

Trumpism is about many things. Crushing the other side in humiliating defeat. Meting out retribution to all who publicly challenge or criticize Trump. Punishing the unhumans who disapprove of Trump and Trumpism.

One thing that is most definitely not a hallmark of Trumps 2024 campaign, however, is a call for working in a spirit of bipartisanship and good will.
A trio of lawmakers who caucus as Democrats are calling on the Biden administration to bolster and finalize a federal rule utilizing the governments legal authority to seize taxpayer-funded patents in order to combat the high price of drugs, despite Republicans arguing recent Supreme Court rulings supersede such powers.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) and Sens. Angus King (I-Maine) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) signed a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo urging them to quickly finalize guidance on exercising federal march-in rights.

The Biden administration last year rolled out a framework for wielding its march-in rights granted by the the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980. March-in rights have never been exercised before, but the administration warned last year that it would make use of these authorities if drug companies dont sell their products at a reasonable price.

We write to urge you to carry out Congress will as specified in the Bayh-Dole Act by strengthening and quickly finalizing the Draft Interagency Guidance Framework for Considering the Exercise of March-In Rights, the lawmakers wrote. Specifically, we urge you to follow the text and the legislative history of the statute, which clearly authorize expert federal agencies to consider price as a factor in determining whether a subject invention is available to the public on reasonable terms.

Under Bayh-Dole, the federal government has certain rights on any products produced through a public-private partnership using federal funding. The corresponding federal agency that provided the funding for such a product has the right to compel companies to provide a nonexclusive, partially exclusive, or exclusive license to a responsible applicant.

If the company refuses, then the government can grant the license itself.

After the Supreme Court struck down the Chevron doctrine in June, however, Republicans have argued for the authority of federal agencies to be reexamined and reapportioned. Chevron was established by a Supreme Court ruling in 1984, providing federal agencies with the latitude to interpret ambiguous legislation and holding that federal courts should defer to these agency interpretations.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, wrote to Becerra shortly after this ruling to challenge some of HHSs interpretations, including its approach to march-in rights.

HHS has been an active participant in an interagency working group led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology that seeks to reinterpret the Bayh-Dole Acts criteria for the use of march-in rights to apply to drug prices, Cassidy wrote, citing this as another egregious example of unfettered agency power.

Warren, King and Doggett argued Republicans are attempting to radically and incorrectly broaden the scope of the Supreme Court ruling. They noted the courts ruling acknowledged that a statutes unambiguous meaning may well be that the agency is authorized to exercise a degree of discretion.

The Bayh-Dole Act is replete with clear and lawful delegations of regulatory authority. Specifically, this statute delegates discretionary authority to your agencies to march in and reclaim a patent covered by the Act, to set reclamation procedures through regulation, and to determine whether the statutory criteria apply to a specific scenario, they wrote.

According to the Bayh-Dole Act, a federal agency can issue its own license of a taxpayer-funded product if four criteria are met: the current exclusive licensee has not or is not expected to make practical application of the invention, its necessary in order to alleviate health or safety needs, doing so is needed to meet requirements for public use under federal regulations and the product is not being manufactured substantially in the U.S.

The Democratic lawmakers wrote to Becerra and Raimondo that their agencies retained the authority to relicense a drug patent if the drug is not available to the public on reasonable terms.

We urge you not to be deterred by congressional Republicans who are seeking to hamstring your authority to lower drug costs for Americans and we are reiterating the need for your agencies to immediately strengthen and finalize the proposed guidance issued under this statute so that Americans may receive the benefits that Congress intended, they wrote.

The Hill has reached out to HHS and the Commerce Department for a response.

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TEHRAN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani on Thursday congratulated Yahya Sinwar on his appointment as Hamas politburo chief.

He made the remarks in a message published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website after Hamas on Tuesday announced that Sinwar, the group's leader in the Gaza Strip since 2017, replaced its late chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran last week.

Bagheri Kani extended his best wishes to Sinwar for health, success, and strength in pursuing the Palestinian cause, particularly the complete liberation of Palestine.

Sinwar, 61, has spent more than 20 years in Israeli prisons and was released under a prisoner exchange deal with Israel in 2011. He is considered by Israel as one of the main planners of the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Haniyeh, who had been invited to attend Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's swearing-in ceremony on July 30, was killed along with his bodyguard the next day when their residence in Tehran was hit. Iran accused Israel of carrying out the attack and vowed "a harsh and painful response." 
Two decades after false allegations of stolen valor against his opponent helped George W Bush win a second term in the White House, Vice President Kamala Harriss campaign isnt letting the same thing happen to her or her running-mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

The Harris campaign is defending Walz, an Army veteran who spent nearly a quarter-century in the Minnesota National Guard, from Republicans who are claiming he deserted to avoid deployment to Iraq and falsely accusing him of claiming to be a combat veteran.

His GOP opponent, Trump running-mate and Ohio senator JD Vance, made the disturbing allegations during a media availability in Wisconsin ahead of a massive Harris-Walz rally in the Badger State. He told reporters that Walz, who retired from the Minnesota guard after 24 years of service to run for Congress in the 2006 election, had dropped out of the army and allowed his unit to go [to Iraq] without him.

Vance also accused Walz of falsely claiming to have seen combat, citing comments the Minnesotan had made about not wanting weapons of war to be available on American streets.

The Ohio senators accusation that his opponent ditched his guard unit rather than deploy to combat is patently false.

Tim Walz in the military (US Army)

According to military records, Walz officially retired from the Minnesota National Guard in May 2005, two months before his unit received word that it would be deployed, four months before deployment preparations began and ten months before the unit deployed.

In a statement, a Harris-Walz campaign spokesperson strongly pushed back against Vances claim that Walz had dropped out rather than deploy with the men he led, instead accurately describing the governors separation from service as a normal retirement after nearly a quarter-century in uniform.

After 24 years of military service, Governor Walz retired in 2005 and ran for Congress, where he chaired Veterans Affairs and was a tireless advocate for our men and women in uniform - and as Vice President of the United States he will continue to be a relentless champion for our veterans and military families, they said.

According to Army records, Walzs nearly two and a half decades in the Minnesota Guard began at age 17 and ended with him holding the rank of Command Sergeant Major, the highest possible rank for an enlisted soldier.

Like most National Guard soldiers, he was frequently deployed in response to national disasters, but he also was sent overseas to Italy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the US mission to Afghanistan that toppled the Taliban in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

The campaign spokesperson also pushed back on Vances claim that Walz had falsely claimed to have carried arms against the enemy by noting that he never claimed to have seen combat.

The Governor carried, fired and trained others to use weapons of war innumerable times, they said, including by specializing in heavy artillery to the point of suffering hearing damage as a result of exposure to decades of heavy gun blasts. They added that Walz would never insult or undermine any Americans service to this country and said he thanks Vance for having put his life on the line by deploying to Iraq as a public affairs specialist with the US Marine Corps.

The attacks against the governor appear to be the brainchild of Chris LaCivita, one of the two GOP operatives who run former president Donald Trumps 2024 campaign. Twenty years ago, he was one of the consultants who orchestrated a smear campaign against John Kerry, then a Massachusetts senator and the Democratic challenger who sought to deny Bush a second term in the White House.

The campaign was the work of a GOP group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, ostensibly made up of Vietnam veterans who served with Kerry, a US Navy veteran who earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star while commanding small riverine craft in the Vietnamese jungles.

It was 2004, just three years removed from the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, and Kerry was running against Bush  and in opposition to the US-led war in Iraq  by invoking his military service. Opinion polls at the time showed that Americans saw Kerrys record as a positive and put him ahead of Bush after the party nominating conventions that year.

The Swift Boat Veterans group responded by airing television ads in which purported veterans who claimed to have served with Kerry criticized him and accused him of being dishonest about his service record.

It wasnt true. Only one of the people in the ad had actually served alongside Kerry, and the claims they made about Kerrys alleged dishonesty didnt hold up to independent fact-checking. But the damage was done, and Kerry would go on to lose the 2004 election to Bush.

Two decades later, with Trump foundering in the polls against Harris and Walz, LaCivita began telegraphing his intention to dust off his Swift Boat playbook just minutes after Walz was announced as Harriss running-mate.

In response to a post on X (formerly Twitter) noting that Walz  a former Command Sergeant Major in the Minnesota guard  was the highest-ranking enlisted soldier to ever serve in the US Congress during his decade in the House of Representatives, LaCivita wrote that the would-be vice president deserted his men and quit before they went to combat.

A person close to the Harris-Walz campaign told The Independent that the vice president and a host of surrogates plan to push back hard against any attempt to swift boat the Minnesota governor and said LaCivitas playbook will not work this time.

Its a tired, old strategy and the American people are too smart to fall for that, especially from anyone allied with a draft dodger like Donald Trump, they said.

Rick Wilson, a former GOP operative who founded and runs the anti-Trump Lincoln Project super PAC, told The Independent that LaCivitas decision to go after Walzs military record is a sign that hes increasingly desperate and trying to keep from being fired by Trump as the ex-president loses ground to Harris and Walz.

Chris is worried about getting fired right now, so obviously hes going to do everything and can to play the LaCivita greatest hits album. If Donald Trump wasnt bunkered down in Mar-a-Lago hiding like a f*****g psychopath, it might be more effective, Wilson said.

He added that the attacks against Walz have a fat Elvis imitator vibe from some guy playing in a casino/gas station 27 miles out of Elko, Nevada.

Chris and Susie are in real trouble in Trump world, and its not getting any better, he said.

LaCivita did not respond to a request for comment from The Independent.
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa  Charges have been filed against a Des Moines woman for allegedly stealing a West Des Moines police car back in July and leading multiple law enforcement agencies on a high-speed chase across the metro.

Nicole Huffey, 30, is charged with first-degree theft, eluding, assault on persons in certain occupations, assault on persons in certain occupations-bodily injury, second-degree criminal mischief, interference with official acts, and false report-911 call.

The charges are in reference to an incident on July 25th just before 2:00 a.m. that began in West Des Moines. Police told WHO 13 they were responding to a mental health situation in the area of S. 60th and Village View Drive. Criminal complaints filed in the case say Huffey called 911 multiple times and made erratic and unusual statements, as well as threats of violence directed toward her boyfriend.

Boone man arrested on sexual exploitation, enticing a minor charges

The complaint said when officers arrived she rushed at an officer, ran around his vehicle and entered it from the passenger side, locked the doors, and fled the scene.

Huffey made her way onto I-35 northbound and kept going onto I-35/80 while marked law enforcement vehicles with lights and sirens activated attempted to get her to stop. The complaint said she was going 125 miles per hour at one point. During the chase, two sets of stop sticks were deployed and three tires were punctured on the police vehicle.

Huffey exited the interstate in Altoona and stopped the vehicle at the intersection of SW 8th and Hubbell because of damage. The complaint said she had to be forcibly removed from the vehicle.

She was handcuffed but was able to slip out of one of the cuffs and swing it at officers, striking one. According to the complaint, one officer received scratches from Huffey and another was hit in the face.

Sgt. Dan Wade of the West Des Moines Police Department told WHO 13 Huffey would be arrested after her release from the hospital for treatment of mental health issues.

She was booked into the Polk County Jail on Tuesday and granted pre-trial release Wednesday. Huffey waived her preliminary hearing and court records show her arraignment is scheduled for September 27th.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
Editors note: This story has been updated to correct the number of people hospitalized.

DENVER (KDVR)  Colorado health officials are investigating reported illnesses that may be connected to microdosing candies that are laced with a chemical found in mushrooms amid a nationwide recall.

The California company Prophet Premium Blends, LLC announced a recall of all Diamond Shruumz products because they contain a psychoactive chemical that may be connected to the illnesses.

Diamond Shruumz microdosing candies may be linked to a death and nearly 50 illnesses, FDA says

The chemical is muscimol, a psychoactive chemical found in potentially toxic Amanita mushrooms that may be tied to the illnesses, The Associated Press reported.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration is investigating over 100 cases in 28 states in which people reported getting sick after eating the products, including 42 hospitalizations and two deaths that may be associated.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reports that two people in Colorado have become ill after eating the products, which were purchased at tobacco and vape shops in Mesa County and Denver County, and one of them was hospitalized.

People should not eat, sell, or serve any flavors of Diamond ShruumzTM chocolate bars, cones, or gummies, and should discard products that have been purchased, the department said in a release Thursday.

This image provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration shows Diamond Shruumz-brand products which have been recalled in June 2024. At least 48 people in 24 states said they got sick after eating Prophet Premium Blends LLC's products including chocolate bars, cones and gummies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday, July 2, 2024. One death is potentially associated with the outbreak and 27 people have been hospitalized, the agency said. (FDA via AP)

CDPHE noted that the products may still be for sale online or in stores. The FDA has a list of locations known to sell the products.

The department said the two Colorado cases had symptoms similar to those reported by others across the country. Symptoms include seizures, muscle stiffness, tremor, abnormal heart rate, abnormal blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and more.

While Colorado law permits the use of natural medicine, Diamond Shruumz-brand products are not regulated in Colorado and should not be associated with Colorados regulated natural medicine program, CDPHE added.

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Anyone who consumes a Diamond ShruumzTM product and experiences adverse symptoms should immediately get medical help and report their illness to the Rocky Mountain Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.

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Dinosaur-like turtles will return to Kansas soon, what to know

Dinosaur-like turtles will return to Kansas soon, what to know

TOPEKA (KSNT)  Wildlife officials are preparing to reintroduce a locally extinct species back into Kansas waters next month in a bid to restore it to its old habitat in the state.

27 News spoke with Trevor Starks, recovery program coordinator with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), about when locals can expect to see alligator snapping turtles return to the states waters. This big aquatic species has been absent from the states waterways for decades and will be reintroduced soon.

In a previous interview, Starks said these large turtles would be brought in during the fall of 2024. Now, he is giving an update on the reintroduction effort and what it will mean for the Kansas.

When will alligator snapping turtles be released into the wild?

Starks said a batch of around 40 alligator snapping turtles will be restored to their native home range in Kansas on Thursday, Sept. 12. More of the turtles are expected to be released during a follow-up disbursement around the same time next year in the same area.

Theyre [alligator snapping turtles] gonna be spread out, Starks said. The majority will be put in one spot.

Northern Lights build in strength, more activity expected

KDWP staff worked with a private landowner and a local company near the release site at the Neosho Wildlife Area in Neosho County to make the plan happen. The turtles will be put in the waters of the Neosho River near the Neosho Wildlife Areas north unit. Historically, these waters along with the Verdigris River were home to the massive turtles before their total disappearance from the state more than 30 years ago.

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This is a long time coming and a long process for those involved, Starks said. The end goal was to put turtles up these rivers in Oklahoma and then get them back in their ranges in Kansas.

Starks said the turtles will be released at a nearby boat ramp out of individual carrying totes so they can begin re-establishing themselves in the river. Following this release, groups will split off to carry out other disbursements nearby on the same day.

Turtle controversy

Reactions to the news that KDWP staff would be reintroducing alligator snapping turtles back to the state following their long absence from Kansas was met with some controversy. Starks said some people were convinced the species already lived in the state after 27 News first shared the story back in June this year, notifying people of the plan.

Obviously if someone sees an alligator snapping turtle that we dont know about, we want to see it, Starks said.

Black bear sightings are increasing in Kansas

However, upon receiving many of the photos showing evidence of alligator snapping turtles in Kansas, the KDWP verified they were mostly showing the smaller common snapping turtles. A few submissions of alligator snapping turtles later were proven to have been taken outside of Kansas.

Only calls Ive gotten have all been related to people thinking they already have them, and all of those were coming from people far, far outside their range, Starks said.

Starks used the opportunity to explain to Kansas residents the differences between the two turtle species and what the Kansas Aquatic Species Recovery Program is all about. He took another step towards dispelling misinformation on the turtles by creating a one-stop-shop on the KDWPs website to help answer common questions on alligator snappers.

Its a more scary looking animal than a minnow or a buffalo carp, Starks said. Its honestly been really well received, more well received than we expected. It was a chance to talk to people about the differences between the species.

Biologists studying elusive Kansas flying squirrels make surprising discovery

Alligator snapping turtles are typically found in southern states, with Kansas representing the northwesternmost extent of their native range, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife (FWS). The turtles are considered extremely rare or extinct in Kansas and Indiana.

The turtles can appear intimidating with their large, dinosaur-like appearance but usually avoid people by hiding at the bottom of rivers. They stand apart from common snapping turtles due to their impressive size and ridged, alligator-like, shells.

Program hurdles, future outlook

Landowners have mostly been receptive to the program, which will help make releasing and monitoring the turtles easier. Without the permission of landowners along the Neosho and Verdigris Rivers, the plan to return and monitor the alligator snapping turtles wouldnt be possible.

Weve got pretty good protocols for other species, but for alligator snapping turtles youll need to go back out on boats, Starks said. Its a lot more difficult to do that.

Giant killer wasps appear in Kansas, what to know

Starks said the biggest hurdle moving forward will be monitoring the progress of the turtles as they stake a claim on their new home. Staff from Missouri State University will help out with this by fixing tags onto each turtle to help keep track of their progress in the water.

Im feeling very optimistic about this, Starks said. The thought is, if we were going to get any significant negative feedback, wed have gotten it by now.

The turtles are not expected to have a large impact on native wildlife in the waters or cause issues for Kansans. You can learn more about the program or brush up on some frequently asked questions regarding the species by clicking here. To learn more about the Kansas Aquatic Species Recovery program, click here.

Im really, really excited about bringing back a species thats been absent from Kansas for 30 years back to the state, Starks said. Once the turtles get back in the water, itll be really, really great.

Biologists find rare ocean-born fish species swimming in the Kansas River

For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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(Bloomberg) -- Defiant members of a disbanded Thai opposition party pledged to form a new outfit to challenge the conservative establishments grip on power, setting the stage for more political turmoil in Southeast Asias second-largest economy.

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The new party  set to be unveiled on Friday  will fight every election until its able to break the cycle of dissolution of political parties viewed as a threat to the pro-royalist establishment, to achieve true democracy in Thailand, said Pita Limjaroenrat, who is among about a dozen executives of Move Forward Party banned by the court from politics for 10 years.

I understand that youre disappointed, angry, or sad, Pita told hundreds of supporters gathered at the party office in Bangkok late on Wednesday after the court decision. We wont let the anger consume us. We will carry it with us and let it explode at the polling stations in every single election from now.

In a widely anticipated ruling, Thailands Constitutional Court disbanded Move Forward on grounds its poll promise to amend the controversial lese majeste law, which shields the Thai royal family from criticism, had violated election rules. That brought curtains on a party that had rattled the countrys military-backed conservative groups by winning the most number of parliamentary seats in the general election last year and mounted a serious bid to form the government.

But a series of legal challenges were lodged to thwart the Harvard-educated Pitas bid to become prime minister. The conservatives then joined hands with Pheu Thai Party, backed by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatras family, to counter the rise of the reformist party. The deal saw Thaksin, who fled Thailand in 2008 to avoid corruption charges, return home, and his ally Srettha Thavisin being selected as the head of a coalition that included parties backed by former coup leaders.

Premiers Case

Less than a year into the deal, the fate of the former property mogul Srettha hangs in the balance with the same charter court set to rule next week on a petition seeking to oust him for an alleged ethical breach. The court cases, along with a lese majeste indictment of Thaksin, have rattled Thai financial markets with foreign funds pulling out more than $3 billion from the nations stocks this year, among the worlds performers in the past 12 months.

In the near term, therell be nothing but turmoil, said Mark S. Cogan, an associate professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka. It will take a few years for the progressive movement to re-tool. This gives the conservatives time to think, strategize, and mobilize.

The US said the courts move to disband Move Forward and ban its leaders was deeply concerning, and a group of Southeast Asian parliamentarians said the dissolution was an assault on democracy.

With Move Forward bidding to widen its influence under a new name, the conservatives probably erred in pushing for its ban, according to Olarn Thinbangtieo, a deputy dean of Burapha Universitys Faculty of Political Science and Law.

The conservatives decision reflects how its constantly paranoid about Move Forward, every second of every day, and the way to cope with that is to eliminate it from sight, Olarn said. Instead, this is going to give new reasons for people to support and sympathize with Move Forward, helping to boost the movements popularity.

Sretthas struggles to tackle a near-record household debt, high cost of living amid a tepid outlook for the economy helped Move Forward remain as the most popular political party in recent surveys. The partys promise to spread economic activity beyond the capital city Bangkok, dismantle business monopolies and reduce the influence of elites had resonated with the youth and urban population.

And the new party will carry forward the same reform platform, said Sirikanya Tansakun, whos tipped to be the new groups leader. The new group will discuss how to deal with its pledge to amend the royal insult law in the wake of the court rulings, she said.

Dangerous Precedent

While Move Forward has denied the charge that it sought to undermine the monarchy, it questioned the ruling, saying it sets a dangerous precedent and risks damaging democratic principles.

The ultra-royalist Thai Pakdee Party said Move Forwards defiance signaled a rejection of the rule of law and urged the poll agency to probe the behavior of lawmakers and members of the new party being floated.

Under Thai election rules, more than 140 Move Forward lawmakers in the 500-member House of Representatives, must now move to a new party within 60 days to keep their seats.

Thailands charter court has dissolved dozens of political parties and banned hundreds of politicians in the past two decades for minor and major breaches of electoral rules, according to local media.

The new group could run into fresh legal troubles soon. Wednesdays ruling may accelerate a probe by the National Anti-Corruption Commission that could result in a lifetime political ban on about 40 lawmakers who had signed a draft bill to amend the lese majeste law in early 2021.

The dissolution is a full circle for Move Forward, which replaced its predecessor Future Forward when it was dissolved by the same court for breaching election rules for financing in 2020. Its key leaders were also barred from politics for a decade. The ruling then sparked an unprecedented youth-led protest movement that called for the resignation of the then military-backed prime minister and reforms of the monarchy.

Cogan said he expected the disbandment to fan the flame of anger in Move Forwards supporters but their attempts to change Thailand will be a Sisyphean task.

Whatever entity comes forward out of this, theres nothing to prevent a third dissolution, Cogan said, This is akin to Sisyphus pushing the rock up the hill, and falling back down again.

(Updates with details of another probe against lawmakers in 17th paragraph.)

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At the underwater archaeology site of Gran Carro di Bolsena in Aiola, Italy, divers found an ancient clay figurine pegged to be from the 9th or 10th century BC.

The ritualistic-looking item was discovered within what was once the residential area of the stilted town.

Experts hope the rudimentary statuette gives them a better understanding of Italian life in the Iron Age.

A clay figurine has spent millennia incomplete, waiting at the bottom of a lake for its long-dead craftsman to finish the Iron Age-era statuette.

During work at the underwater archaeological site of Gran Carro di Bolsena in Aiola, Italy, researchers pulled the rudimentary clay creation from the volcanic Lake Bolsena. The unfinished clay figure of a woman, dating from between the 10th and 9th centuries BC, looks more like a first draft than a ready-made piece of art. But just because the clay worker didnt fully finish the figurine doesnt mean there arent plenty of clues available to show how it fits into Italian life in the Iron Age.

The feminine-looking, palm-sized statuette is so fresh that it still shows the marks of the fingerprints of its maker, according to a translated statement from the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape, part of Italy's Ministry of Cultural Heritage, and the imprint of a plot of fabric under the chest offers the best sign that the figurine was likely dressed at one point.

Cultural heritage experts say the figurine is reminiscent of something theyd normally discover in funerary finds, but the divers working at the site found this statuette in what was once a residential area. Still, it could have offered ritual uses, whether as a domestic piece or associated with a home of rituals within the residential core.

The Underwater Archaeology Service team gets credit with the discovery, but preserving the find and bringing it back to the surface came thanks to the Italian Cultural Property Restoration team working with government divers.

The volcanic rich area Gran Carro di Bolsena has a bit of an unknown history. Divers have helped to start piecing together that history, which wasnt really on the archaeological radar until 1991 when researchers showed that the pile of shapeless stones that make up Aiola are linked to the presence of hot thermal water springs, and that wooden poles and ceramic fragments on the southwest side of the lake tie to the early Iron Age. There may be at least four other similar, albeit smaller, rock formations in the same lake, showing the power of the springs that spew gas and minerals in temperatures as hot as 40C.

In 2020, experts found a mound of earth under the stones, the same area where the wood and ceramic originate from. That find led experts to determine that Aiola was around during the stilt-house period and was an integral part of the village of the early Iron Age. An additional discovery of coins and pots from the Constantinian era prove that there were inhabitants at the site until late in the Roman Empire.

The Aiola region has plenty more history to offer, and a poorly made clay figurine shows the fingerprints of that work.

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DES MOINES, Iowa  DMACC received a $100,000 Legacy Grant from Prairie Meadows to help fund new DMACC Transportation Institute.

DMACC is opening a new Transporation Institute in north Des Moines. This will allow the college to almost double the number of attendees and provide better learning opportunities for students.

The project involves the construction of a three-story inspection bay, 8,600-square-foot facility with classrooms, and student study spaces. The institute currently has a 12-acre concrete training course, which they will be able to repave.

DMACC President Rob Denson says this wouldnt be possible without their generous donors. In a time where Iowa desperately needs more truckers, Denson hopes that this program will allow more people to enter the program.

Trained truck drivers are in extremely high demand and our DMACC Transporation Institutions graduates are finding themselves more valued then ever in todays job market, said Denson.

DMACCs Transportation Institute is a comprehensive program which guides their students through learning theory, behind-the-wheel driving, and finally, helps them complete their Commerical Drivers License (CDL).

The project is already underway and due to be completed in 2025.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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DNA credited for cracking open three Ventura County murders from 1977

DNA evidence is being credited for cracking open three nearly 50-year-old cold-case murders in Ventura County.

The Ventura County District Attorney's Office announced it had extradited a 73-year-old Mississippi man this week after investigators linked him to the strangulation deaths of Kimberly Carol Fritz, Lorraine Ann Rodriguez and Velvet Ann Sanchez in 1977.

More: Authorities say they have serial killer in three 1977 deaths; more victims possible

Warren Luther Alexander of Diamondhead, Mississippi, arrived Tuesday from Surry County, North Carolina, where he's facing charges in a 1992 cold case murder, according to the DA's office.

Warren Luther Alexander

Alexander appeared in Ventura County Superior Court Wednesday for his arraignment on three first-degree murder charges. The arraignment was continued to Aug. 21. He is currently being held in Ventura County jail without bail.

In February 2023, the Ventura County Sheriffs Cold Case Unit, along with the Oxnard and Port Hueneme police departments, started to re-examine the women's murders. All three deaths had been by strangulation and DNA evidence had been collected from the crime scenes and the victims.

Fritz was 18 when she died in Port Hueneme May 29, 1977. Sanchez, 31, died in Oxnard Sept. 8, 1977.

Rodriguez, 21, was found dead by sheriff's deputies Dec. 27, 1977. Her body was discovered in an unincorporated area of the Oxnard Plains near the Laguna Road Bridge, said Joey Buttitta, a spokesman for the DA's office.

Buttitta also said Alexander was believed to have lived in Oxnard during the time of the murders.

Top law enforcement leaders from the agencies are planning to discuss the case Thursday morning at a news conference.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: DNA credited for cracking open three Ventura County murders from 1977
When does the Florida Python Challenge start? Here's everything to know about this year's competition

Get ready  get ssssSSSssssSSsssset  GO!

The Florida Python Challenge will kick off at midnight on Friday, Aug. 9, with hundreds of hunters setting off into the Everglades to kill the invasive Burmese python.

For the next 10 days, participants will attempt catch the pythons for top prizes. As of Aug. 8, the total number of pythons caught from challenge over the years is nearly 1,000, which does not include the pythons captured by year-round hunters.

Burmese pythons are one of the most destructive foreign animal in the park's history, growing to more than 18 feet and weigh more than 200 pounds.

What is the Florida Python Challenge?

A Burmese python slithers through the Everglades during the Python Challenge in the Everglades.

The Florida Python Challenge is a 10-day competition created by FWC to encourage participants to remove pythons from seven commission-managed lands in South Florida.

The Burmese python is a large, nonvenomous constrictor snake that is an invasive species in Florida. Burmese pythons were introduced to Florida via the pet trade and are now well established in the Everglades, where the snake represents a threat to the ecosystem.

FWC officials claim the intent of the challenge is to not only remove the predators but also to spread awareness of the dangers they pose. The competition also seeks to protect the Everglades habitat and all its native animals by removing the invasive Burmese pythons.

When does 2024's Python Challenge start? How long does it last?

The annual Everglades python hunt starts at 12:01 a.m. Friday, August 9 and ends at 5 p.m. Sunday, August 18.

What are the official rules of the Florida Python Challenge?

Participants must carry a printed or digital copy of their Florida Python Challenge registration notification email while hunting.

Participants must complete required online training and receive a unique completion code.

Only Burmese pythons removed from competition locations are valid entries.

The use of firearms is prohibited during the competition.

The use of dogs or other animals to search, capture, or kill is prohibited.

Air guns and captive bolts are allowed.

Python carcasses must be kept chilled or frozen, then turned into the nearest Florida Python Challenge check station within 24 hours of capture.

Where do I register for the Florida Python challenge?

To register for the Florida Python Challenge, officials ask those to go to FLPythonChallenge.org. The cost to register is $25 and non refundable.

All participants must register individually. Participants who wish to work as a team must register as individuals and each pay the $25 fee.

Can you use a gun to kill Burmese pythons caught in Florida?

Burmese pythons captured in Florida must be humanely killed. While they are not protected in Florida, anti-cruelty law still applies.

Step 1 : The method should result in the animal losing consciousness immediately. These tools should result in the immediate loss of consciousness: Captive bolt Firearms (not allowed in the Florida Python Challenge and otherwise subject to property-specific and local rules) or pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns

Step 2: The animal's brain should be destroyed by pithing which prevents it from regaining consciousness.

Burmese pythons must be killed in a humane two-step process that ends in the snake's brain and brainstem being destroyed after it is rendered unconscious.

What prizes can hunters win during the Florida Python Challenge?

There is $25,000 in prizes up for grabs during this year's hunt. According to the FWC, the top prize of $10,000 goes to the person who catches the most pythons. Those with the most catches in the Novice, Professional and Military categories win $2,500, while runners-up in each group receive $1,500, and $1,000 is awarded for the longest pythons caught.

How many Burmese pythons were collected during the challenge in 2023?

Last year's annual Python Challenge this year had 1,050 participants from 35 states and Belgium remove 209 Burmese pythons from South Florida.

The "Ultimate Grande Prize" went to Tennessee resident Paul Hobbs. Hobbs, with the help of his father and son, took home $10,000 for catching 20 Burmese pythons during the challenge.

Contributing: Kim Luciani, Naples Daily News

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Burmese python Florida hunt: How long it lasts, prize money
ISTANBUL, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 32,000 Syrian migrants have returned from Istanbul, Turkiye's largest city, during the first seven months of the year, the governor of Istanbul said here on Thursday.

In a press briefing, Davut Gul, the governor, highlighted the city's ongoing efforts to manage migration, noting that Istanbul is home to a total of 1.07 million foreigners.

"In the first seven months of the year, 191,716 foreigners left our city due to visa exemptions or the expiration of residence permits, while 31,765 Syrians voluntarily returned to their home country," Gul said.

During the seven-month period, Turkiye conducted inspections on nearly 420,000 foreigners in Istanbul, leading to the discovery of 42,709 irregular migrants, said the governor, adding that 420 suspected human smugglers were arrested in 174 anti-smuggling operations.

Since the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Turkiye has become a major transit point for millions of Syrian refugees seeking to migrate to Europe. According to official data, there are 3.1 million Syrians across Turkiye, with 530,272 residing in Istanbul. 
What does 'woke' mean in politics? How the term is used now is far from its original meaning

The word "woke" is tossed around a lot in political and social debates all around the country. It's ramping up as Election Day draws near.

The term carries different meanings and strong emotional connections for people, and it has changed over the years. So what is the history and the meaning of the word "woke"? And why you can expect to see it become a frequently used term in the presidential election in November?

What is the definition and history of 'woke'?

The term "woke" used to have a different meaning. It was first used by Pan-African activist Marcus Garvey as early as 1923. "Woke" was meant to acknowledge the struggles of African Americans and a word of empowerment for some Black people.

When the Black Lives Matter movement began after the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014, "woke" expanded outside of Black communities into the larger public lexicon and became co-opted or appropriated for various political agendas, the definition of the word has evolved and come to mean different things to different people.

What do conservatives mean when they say 'woke'?

The term woke has been used by conservative figures as pejorative term to describe the following social justice initiatives:

LGBTQ rights: A movement advocating for the equal treatment and elimination of discriminatory policies hurting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, according to Britannica.

Gender-affirming care: Access to services such as mental health, medical, surgical and nonmedical services for nonbinary and transgender people, according to the Office of Population Affairs.

Diversity, equity and inclusion measures: A form of hiring and employee retention meant to reduce biases and improve the accessibility of jobs for disenfranchised minorities. Companies such as Harley-Davidson and Tractor Supply have faced boycotts over these measures.

Critical race theory: A social and intellectual movement that studies the relationship between race, racism and power, as described by theorists Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic in their book, Critical Race Theory: The Cutting Edge.

How is the term 'woke' viewed?

A USA TODAY/Ipsos Poll from March 2023 demonstrates the varying ideas for what 'woke' means among Americans between Republicans and Democrats.

Of those surveyed, 56% percent say the term means "to be informed, educated on and aware of social injustices." That includes not only three-fourths of Democrats but also more than a third of Republicans. Overall, 39% say the word reflects what has become the GOP political definition, "to be overly politically correct and police others' words." 56% of Republicans agreed with this view.

The term will likely continue to be a point of contention heading into the November election.

'Woke culture' decried by Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and Tesla CEO Elon Musk

For years, conservative activists, lawmakers and politicians have used the term "woke" as a slam against progressive values and liberal initiatives.

The woke Lefts agenda has no place in our schools or military.



Wokeness is weakness!  Glenn Jacobs (@GlennJacobsTN) July 9, 2024

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs has previously warned Republicans against allowing a "woke" culture to flourish. He posted on X to say the "wokeness is weakness" and it has no place in schools or military. He didn't detail what he meant.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said his estranged daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson was "killed" by the "woke mind virus" and claimed he was tricked into signing documents agreeing to gender-affirming care procedures for her.

USA TODAY contributed to this report

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: What does 'woke' mean in politics? How the term has changed
DOJ says Hunter Biden work with Romanian businessmen designed to skirt US law

Special counsel David Weiss accused Hunter Biden of working for a Romanian businessman in an arrangement designed to skirt U.S. laws on foreign lobbying and avoid any political ramifications for his father.

The allegation  one GOP lawmakers have long fixated on  comes as part of a broader battle by Biden to bar prosecutors in the case over his alleged failure to pay taxes from using evidence detailing his work for Gabriel Popoviciu.

That Biden had worked with Popoviciu has been publicly reported for years, but the details of the arrangement as described in the Justice Departments filing on Wednesday provided new insight into the alleged arrangement  including an allegation that the deal was structured to avoid the filings required under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

Biden has not been charged with violating FARA in the broader tax case, much to the chagrin of GOP lawmakers who have argued his work for numerous foreign entities amounted to lobbying.

And prosecutors in the filing do not assert that Biden violated the foreign lobbying law. Rather, they argue the details of the deal show Bidens state of mind and intent during the relevant tax years charged in the indictment.

The filing says Biden and an unnamed business associate arranged for Popoviciu to pay the business partners entity, who would pass approximately 1/3 to the defendant as his compensation.

All this was done, Weiss said, because Business Associate 1 and the defendant were concerned that lobbying work might cause political ramifications for the defendants father.

The goal for Popoviciu was to attempt to influence U.S. government agencies to investigate the Romanian investigation into him, paying Biden and his associate more than $3 million to do so.

The filing also includes another detail also aligned with Republican complaints about Bidens work, attacking his deal with Chinese energy company CEFC and Ukrainian energy company Burisma.

The evidence will show the defendant performed almost no work in exchange for the millions of dollars he received from these entities, the filing states.

The DOJ filing, though, does not implicate President Biden in any of Hunter Bidens activities.

But House Republicans, who have opened an impeachment inquiry into President Biden over his familys foreign business dealings, responded to the filing by touting their longtime probes into alleged influence peddling, with a focus on Hunter Biden.

The House Judiciary Committee responded with a two-word post on the social platform X: Told ya.

The Biden familys influence peddling schemes in Romania were documented in @GOPoversights bank records memorandum in May 2023, House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) posted on X in response to the filing.

Bank records dont lie. The mainstream media took their marching orders from the Biden White House & turned a blind eye to public corruption, Comer said.

In a memorandum on Biden family bank records released last year, the House Oversight Republicans detailed funds transferred between Romanian sources and Biden family members and business associates, raising concern about the arrangement occurring as then-Vice President Biden advocated for anti-corruption policies in Romania. The committee said it was investigating Hunter Biden and his business associates engagement with U.S. government officials on behalf of Popoviciu.

The House Oversight, Judiciary, and Ways and Means committees interviewed Rob Walker, a Hunter Biden business associate who worked with Biden and Popoviciu, in January.

Popoviciu, described in court records only as G.P. was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2017 after being convicted of real estate fraud, but that judgment was vacated by a Romanian court last year.

Hunter Biden has filed a series of motions seeking to block evidence he sees as unrelated to a case focused on his failure to pay taxes, arguing they have at best marginal value and risk biasing the jury.

The defendant did receive compensation from a foreign principal to attempt to influence U.S. policy and public opinion, as alleged in the indictment, and this evidence is relevant, Weiss wrote.

Biden has also sought to block Weiss from using evidence related to what the prosecutor has deemed his extravagant lifestyle.

The indictment filed late last year was notable in its heavy focus on details about Hunter Bidens personal life, not shying away from details about his drug use or hiring of escorts, both of which President Biden has acknowledged in his memoir.

Evidence showing the extent of the defendants self-indulgent daily spending on opulent, gratuitous expenditures would greatly help the jury understand his motive to commit the tax crimes charged in the indictment, Weiss wrote.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Donald Trump says he has accepted invites for three September debates with Kamala Harris

In a wide-ranging news conference, Donald Trump said he has accepted debate invites from three networks as he answered questions at Mar-a-Lago for more than an hour Thursday amid his campaign's recent criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee, for not having conducted media interviews.

Trump said the trio of debates next month would be aired by Fox on Sept. 4, NBC on Sept. 10 and ABC on Sept. 25.

"I look forward to the debates because we have to set the record straight," Trump said. "I hope she agrees to them."

Trump, who last week boasted that he had been a better president than Abraham Lincoln for Black Americans, on Thursday claimed he drew more spectators to his Jan. 6, 2021, speech that preceded the violence at the U.S. Capitol than the Rev. Martin Luther King drew to his August 1963 "I Have a Dream" address at the Lincoln Memorial.

"Nobody's spoken to crowds bigger than me," he said. "When you look at Martin Luther King, when he did his great speech, and you look at ours, same real estate, same everything, same number of people if not we had more. And they said he had a million people but I had 25,000 people. But when you look at the exact same picture ... and you look at it, and you look at the picture of his crowd, my crowd, we actually had more people."

Harris campaign slams MLK comments, insists on ABC debate Sept. 10

The Harris campaign took immediate aim at Trump's claim about attendance at King's historic rally 61 years ago this month.

"We worked to pin down reality so Donald Trump, bless his heart, doesnt have to," the campaign said. "January 6th was decidedly nothing like MLKs 'I Have a Dream' speech. And Trump did not get a bigger crowd than Martin Luther King Jr. on that historic day."

In a statement following his remarks, the Harris campaign insisted "the ABC debate is September 10th. Not the 25th," a reference to the previously agreed-to debate between Trump and President Joe Biden before Biden bowed out of the race.

According to CNN reporting Thursday from Detroit, where Harris and her vice president candidate Tim Walz were campaigning, Harris said she agreed to the Sept. 10 debate on ABC. She did not comment further on other dates mentioned by Trump.

Trump restates many stump talking points, falsehoods during Mar-a-Lago news conference

For the most part, Trump restated many of his campaign talking points.

He said Harris "destroyed" San Francisco while she was the chief prosecutor there, claimed that the Biden administration has allowed millions of immigrants to cross the border straight out of insane asylums he described as "mental institutions on steroids." He said Americans cannot afford bacon and also harped on what he describes as the inadequacies of electric vehicles.

He repeated his dystopian future for the country, saying this week's stock market "crash" is a signal of a potential economic "depression" and concerns World War III lies ahead.

"We have a very, very sick country right now," he said.

Trump also incorrectly said "they took the presidency away" from President Joe Biden, although Biden remains as president. And he aired grievances about media reports of the candidate's crowd sizes saying his rallies far outdraw Harris' events.

"Give me a break," he said. "We have the enthusiasm, the Republican Party, and me as a candidate, the Republican Party has the enthusiasm."

Trump also said he will hold a news conference at "an appropriate time" to say how he will vote on Florida's Amendment 4 on reproductive rights, and added his feeling the outcome could be "a liberal" result.

Trump said despite being shot by an assault weapon, he has not changed his views on gun safety issues, saying the toughest firearms control laws are in Chicago and the city was the scene of more than 100 shootings during the July Fourth weekend.

"When I was president, I protected the guns," he said. "Our Second Amendment is a very important right, and it has to be protected."

Trump accused Harris of avoiding media questioning

Trump spoke Thursday as polls showed a tightening race. The Cook Political Report changed its ratings on battleground states Arizona, Nevada and Georgia from "leaning Republican" to "toss-up." The scheduling Thursday of a news conference took place as his campaign seeks to draw a contrast between the candidates.

"It's Day 18 and Kamala Harris is still ducking the media  no press conferences, interviews, or substantive reporter engagement of any kind," Trump-Vance officials wrote in a press statement early Thursday.

The Trump campaign has been emphasizing what it says is a difference between Trump, who frequently answers questions as a candidate as well as when he was president, and Harris.

The vice president's campaign derided the comparison, noting Trump's often controversial pronouncements that Walz went viral with by calling Trump and running mate J.D. Vance "weird."

"The most insecure man in America takes the mic. What could go wrong?" the campaign said in a statement about an hour before's Trump news conference. "Donald Trump is off the campaign trail. Instead of visiting battlegrounds, he is rage-Truthing from his basement. Instead of talking to voters, he is spiraling online."

Donald Trump's running mate J.D. Vance has been critizing Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democvratic nominee for president, for not having conducted media interviews.

After Trump left the podium, the Harris campaign derided what it termed his "meltdown" in front of television cameras.

"He hasnt campaigned all week. He isnt going to a single swing state this week. But he sure is mad Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are getting big crowds across the battlegrounds," Harris for President said in a statement listing more than 30 falsehoods it attributed to Trump during his news conference. "The facts were hard to track and harder to find in Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago meltdown this afternoon."

The anti-Trump group Lincoln Project said the former president was "unhinged and rambling" as he spoke.

You think this is bad? Now imagine him with full immunity and unfettered power," the group said in a statement. "Democrats need to get out and campaign like it's the last election  because if Trump wins, it might be.

Election 2024: Trump credits son Barron Trump for appearance on Gen Z livestream with Adin Ross

How much a distinction over press availability will play with the electorate is unclear. Poll after poll has spotlighted the economy and immigration, generally trailed by abortion rights and worrisome foreign conflicts, as the top concerns on voters' minds in Florida and elsewhere.

Trump's most recent media relations efforts have had mixed results

Trump's recent media appearances have had mixed results.

On Aug. 5, he answered questions from an ally, right-wing streamer Adin Ross, and the Republican nominee walked away with a new gold Rolex watch and a Tesla Cybertruck gifted to him by Ross for appearing on the show.

Trump used the opportunity to reach out to an important constituency for him: young, conservative males, who follow Ross. The 23-year-old streamer in the past has drawn criticism for having aired interviews with white nationalist Nick Fuentes and for seeking out neo-Nazis. He reportedly said he did so to open a dialogue about their views.

But a July 31 moderated discussion at the National Association of Black Journalists in Chicago turned volatile and tense with Trump complaining that the questions were "disgraceful" and that the chat was carried out in a "horrible manner."

He repeatedly lashed out at ABC News reporter Rachel Scott, one of the panelists, and said the network was "fake news" and blamed her for a faulty microphone issue that delayed the start of the interview. He also seethed he had been "invited under false pretenses."

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump press conference draws contrast with Harris on media issue
Former President Donald Trump spoke for over an hour in a rambling press conference on Thursday, making dozens of false and outrageous claims in an effort to wrest the spotlight away from Vice President Kamala Harris surging 2024 presidential campaign.

Addressing reporters at his ritzy Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, the GOP presidential nominee insisted his campaign was the one drawing large, enthusiastic crowds on the campaign trail  even though Harris rallies attracted tens of thousands this week  and claimed that the vice president wasnt smart enough to take questions from the media as he was doing.

Shes not smart enough to do a news conference, Trump said.

Trump also claimed he was willing to do three debates with Harris: Sept. 4 with Fox News, Sept. 10 with ABC News, and Sept. 25 with NBC News (the announcement required a clarification from Trumps campaign regarding the host networks). Both campaigns had agreed to the Sept. 10 debate when President Joe Biden was still the presumptive nominee, but Trump canceled when Harris replaced Biden. Harris campaign hasnt said whether its agreed to all three dates.

Harris, meanwhile, hasnt done a sit-down with reporters since Biden exited the race and endorsed her for the nomination. But shes marginally improved on Bidens position in the polls, and Democrats, at least, appear enthused to have a candidate besides the president.

The honeymoon period is gonna end, Trump said of Harris standing in the race. Shes got a little period, the convention is coming up [...] Everything shes touched has turned bad.

It was the first time Trump took questions from reporters since Harris announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate on Tuesday. Trump called both Harris and Walz too liberal and dangerous to run the country.

She picked a radical left man, Trump said. Hes got things done that hes  he has positions that are just not, its not even possible to believe that they exist. Hes going for things that nobodys ever even heard of, heavy into the transgender world, heavy into lots of different worlds having to do with safety. He doesnt want to have borders. He doesnt want to have walls. He doesnt want to have any form of safety for our country.

Trump said he wouldnt change anything about his campaign or attacks now that hes running against Harris. I havent recalibrated strategy at all. Its the same policies  open borders and crime. I think shes worse than Biden, he said.

During his press conference, which ran just short of 90 minutes, Trump compared the crowd size at the White House on Jan. 6, 2021, to the audience for Martin Luther King Jr.s 1963 I Have A Dream speech on the National Mall, where about 260,000 people showed up.

Nobodys spoken to crowds bigger than me, he said. If you look at Martin Luther King, when he did his great speech, and you look at ours, same real estate, same everything, same number of people, if not, we had more. And they said he had a million people, but I had 25,000 people.

Trump also falsely claimed that nobody died during the attack on the Capitol by hundreds of his supporters seeking to overturn the 2020 election he had lost. At least seven people died in connection to the riot, including several Trump supporters.

Asked why Harris was doing well in the polls, Trump said it is because shes a woman who represents certain groups of people. He predicted her support would drop after people find out about her.

Trump also complained about having to face Harris in the 2024 race instead of Biden, who dropped out last month after his poor debate performance against the former president. Harris, Trump baselessly alleged, was working with the people that wanted him out.

Dozens of Democrats publicly called for Biden to pass the torch to a younger candidate, but theres no evidence Harris was working behind the scenes to push out her boss.

Trump gave a head-scratcher of an answer to a question about whether he believed the Federal Drug Administration should restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone, which survived a right-wing attack before the Supreme Court earlier this year. Some conservatives want the FDA to regulate the pill out of circulation in a future GOP presidential administration.

You could do things that would supplement. Absolutely, Trump said. And those things are pretty open and humane.

He added: But you have to have a vote. The people are going to decide.



Harris campaign responded to Trumps press conference with sarcasm, calling it very good and very normal.

He hasnt campaigned all week. He isnt going to a single swing state this week. But he sure is mad Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are getting big crowds across the battlegrounds, the campaign said in a press release. The facts were hard to track and harder to find in Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago meltdown this afternoon.
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will meet for a debate on ABC on Sept. 10, after the former president said Thursday that he would like to do three debates next month.

Only the ABC debate has been confirmed by all parties. Speaking at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Trump said he would debate Harris on Fox, NBC and ABC in September.

More from Variety

We have spoken to the heads of the networks and its all been confirmed, other than some fairly minor details, he said. The other side has to agree to the terms. They may or may not agree.

ABC News confirmed that both candidates are set to appear at its debate on Sept. 10.

A person familiar with the matter says NBC News has been in touch with both campaigns about a range of dates, including September 25. Fox News did not comment.

Harris has agreed to one debate.

I hear that Donald Trump has finally committed to debating me on September 10, she said on X on Thursday afternoon. I look forward to it.

Trump originally agreed to debate President Biden on ABC on Sept. 10, but withdrew that commitment after Biden dropped out of the race. The Harris campaign charged that Trump was too scared to debate, and said that Harris would show up whether he was there or not.

Since he talks the talk, he should walk the walk and  as Vice President Harris said earlier this week  say it to her face on September 10, said co-chair Cedric Richmond on Aug. 2. Shell be there waiting to see if hell show up.

In a statement on Thursday, ABC said that both candidates are now on board.

ABC News will host qualifying presidential candidates to debate on September 10 on ABC, an ABC spokesperson said. Vice President Harris and former President Trump have both confirmed they will attend the ABC debate.

When he withdrew from the ABC debate, Trump said he would debate Harris on Fox on Sept. 4. In his remarks Thursday, he said he would still do that date, as well as a debate on NBC on Sept. 10 and ABC on Sept. 25.

Harris has not agreed to debate on Fox, and referred to it as a safe space for Trump in a post on X last week.

Trump also floated the possibility of a vice presidential debate on CBS. A person familiar said that the network has reached out to both sides about potential presidential and vice presidential debates, but that nothing is confirmed.

Brian Steinberg contributed to this story.

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Don't destroy the character of Rye Harbor

Aug. 6  To the Editor:

PDA (Pease Development Authority) has certainly helped bring CHANGE to the New Hampshire Seacoast region. Arguably, Portsmouth and its surrounding communities have become more cosmopolitan in large measure because of development at Pease. Currently the PDA, which has authority over Rye Harbor, is moving toward demolishing the small, rustic businesses and the highly local fishing port that define Rye and replacing these with a commercial port project.

When I moved to Rye three decades ago, I volunteered for Rye's Conservation Commission in order to learn more about what makes Rye such an appealing seaside town. Survey after survey have affirmed that the appeal of Rye is its semi-rural character. In many ways Rye's harbor is integral to the town's self-definition. Perhaps most importantly, the harbor reflects Rye's unique history as a fishing village.

Does the PDA care at all about the sentiment of Rye's citizenry? And does the PDA give a damn about the livelihood of Rye's fishing families?

As a Rye resident who has observed the changes in our small village over the last two-three decades, I am profoundly concerned that the PDA would initiate and promote a project that will irrevocably alter the nature of Rye's harbor. Additionally, I think it is outrageous that Rye citizens, most especially the fishermen and their families, and those of us who have worked to preserve the marshlands adjacent to the harbor have had no role in the decisions being made about the harbor we treasure.

Ronna Flaschner

Rye

Owners of the renowned seafood, fishing and whale watching shacks at Rye Harbor are concerned their businesses could be altered or forced to close altogether due to a potential new development.

Don't replace Rye Harbor charm with something that looks like a restroom

Aug. 7  To the Editor:

In reading this morning about the possibility of PDA rebuilding Rye Harbor establishments Im saddened by yet another possible loss of what makes this area unique. We have a quaintness that isnt found in other parts of the country. Its why we are inundated with tourists all year round.

But lately the trend seems to be to eradicate what makes New England and the Seacoast charming. Tear it down and build something new. Portsmouth is becoming increasingly generic. Look at all the hotels being built in the former North End. They look like boxes, there is nothing pleasingly historic in their look. Period houses being torn down and huge houses that require multiple variances put in their place, or worse yet, developments on one housing lot. Now the idea of taking down quaint fishing shacks and putting something that looks like a public restroom in their place. Perhaps someone needs to step back and look at whats happening.

Linda Harville

Eliot, Maine

Chris Pappas fights in Congress for women's reproductive health

Aug. 6 To the Editor:

As a woman who came of age in the 1970s, I thought I would never again see women forced to flee to another state or seek abortions without medical care, but those times have returned. Now, as a grandmother, I worry about the difficult situations my granddaughters may face if they are denied the right to choose their own reproductive destinies.

Since the Dobbs decision stripped millions of women of their most basic rights, politicians have pushed extreme bans on health care, criminalizing women and doctors, and jeopardizing such basics like in vitro fertilization and contraception.

Even here in New Hampshire, far-right state legislators voted on a horrific 15-day abortion ban earlier this year, and in years past they floated a dangerous six-week ban. Thats before most women know theyre pregnant.

A womans right to choose is clearly at stake in this election. Thats why Im voting for Chris Pappas for Congress in the First District.

Chris Pappas is the only candidate who will stand up to extremist abortion bans and protect Granite Staters right to make their own decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures. He has fought to pass the Womens Health Protection Act, the Protecting Reproductive Freedom Act and the Right to Contraception Act, to restore every womans right to choose when and how to create a family and keep politicians out of our doctors offices.

Chris Pappas has been fighting for a womans right to choose for years, and we need him in Congress.

Fran Berman

Portsmouth

Preserve York Cliff Walk

Aug. 7  To the Editor:

Our family has been coming to York for many many years. One of the biggest highlights has been the Cliff Walk. Being able to see and enjoy the beautiful, breathtaking rocky coast of Maine and magnificent ocean views. We loved it so much that we purchased at home at 4 Milbury Lane so we could do the Cliff walk every day for exercise and peace. I believe it's absolutely vital to the community and tourism to rebuild the Cliff Walk.

If it is in fact closed, these views would be locked off to public and non-ocean front millionaires. They certainly made their purchase for the same view we cherish. A view we have shared for many years without incident. Tourists and local residents alike politely climb that Cliff walk every day, making York an even brighter spot in all our lives. Shutting it down would make living not directly on the ocean less desirable, negatively impacting property values and tourism. Both bring in big revenue to York, it's businesses and municipalities.

The Seacoastonline article said the planning commission would seek input from the ocean front property owners. Of course they will say close the walk. You really need to hear from the non-ocean front residents and visitors. The vast majority. They are the ones being hurt here along with the local business owners. Every neighbor and York resident we know feels very strongly the same way. We protect Short and Long Sands, oval beach etc. at any cost. The Cliff Walk is equally as important and more than worthy of required investment . Ogunquit, Wells and Kennebunk are restoring their walks. Why not York?

The Federal Government provided relief funds to directly support repairing damage to the coast. Did York not receive any of this funding? Many articles online including FEMA and the White House attest to the Federal Funds.

I signed up for updates via text and email from Cliff Walk Restoration committee. I hope and pray they will do the right thing for all the residents and visitors. Storms happen, damage happens, it always has and always will be a factor. We fix and rebuild.like we have always done. You will be hearing from many, many residents and visitors.

Daniel Biggs

York, Maine

Send your letters to opinion@seacoastonline.com

Please keep letters to 250 words or less. Submissions must include the writers first and last names, city or town and a daytime telephone number (which is for verification purposes only and will not be published). Send letters or commentaries to opinion@seacoastonline.com. Letters from Seacoast-area writers addressing local topics will be given priority for publication.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Don't destroy the character of Rye Harbor: Letters
(Editor's note: This is the first in a two-part series examining young voters attitudes about the 2024 presidential election.)

With the selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as Harris vice presidential candidate, both parties have finalized their ticket for what polls suggest will be yet another extremely close presidential election. From "kamala is brat" memes to Vance debuting on TikTok with the Nelk Boys, both Democrats and Republicans are pulling out all the stops to convince young voters, a population with historically low turnout, to Pokemon Go to the polls.

As efforts to garner the youth vote gain significant media attention, I have felt skeptical as to whether headlines explaining coconut tree TikToks truly encapsulate what my generation is paying attention to this tumultuous election cycle. Do political memes have that much of an effect on whether Gen Z plans to vote or not? What political issues do young adults in Cincinnati really care about? Curious to learn more about where the youth vote may fall, I decided to ask several young Cincinnatians about their feelings towards the upcoming election.

The sample of Cincinnatians I met with offers only a few of the thousands of voices of young people in our region. Yet, their commentary reflects a national trend: worry about the difficult job market, rising housing costs, U.S. foreign policy and a divisive political climate, only 9% of youth ages 18-29 feel the country is heading in the right direction, according to the most recent Harvard Youth Poll. Yet, while 72% of Gen Zers say they think voting matters, only 28.4% of voters ages 18-24 voted in the 2022 midterms, showing a clear disconnect between what Gen Z believes and what Gen Z does. Can campaigns inspire my generation to show up on Election Day?

Undecided voters diverge on whether they plan to show up Nov. 4

This November will be the first presidential election 17-year-old Mary Rogers is eligible to vote. Having participated in an early college program, Rogers feels grateful she got a huge head start, but worries whether going to school is enough to make sure she can afford the rising cost of living.

Im about to turn 18 in a month, and Im not going to be able to afford a house for like 10 years at the rate its going. Im going to have to go to school, Rogers said.

However, like many young voters, Rogers does not have a plan to go to the ballot box this November.

I dont like the candidates. I dont like either. I dont like the way its going, Rogers said.

Rogers does still plan to register to vote, believing registering as an independent is best so she doesnt have to "pick a side without being educated first."

Anna Olding, 20, plans on voting this November, but is still undecided as of this week. Issues surrounding debt and the economy are of major interest to her.

Other undecided voters I spoke to still plan to show up on Election Day. Growing up in a large family with a wide array of political opinions, 20-year-old Ann Olding feels that her political beliefs dont fit into a simple ideological category. Depending on the issue, my views can vary from conservative to liberal, said Olding.

Until she entered college, Olding thought that most Gen Zers were as politically engaged as she was.

When I got to college, I was very surprised to see that I was in the minority even among other political majors. From talking to my classmates, it was never that they just werent interested, but that they didnt know how to start, said Olding, who noted she felt lucky that her high school offered resources to help students learn to vote.

24-year-old Chris Hellman, another undecided voter, is looking for a candidate to show "professionalism, critical thinking and reliability." He still plans on voting Nov. 6, but if the election were today, "I would not give my vote to either candidate," said Hellman, who worries about the U.S. economy and the U.S.'s role in foreign affairs.

Enthusiastically or unenthusiastically, most Gen Z voters are decided

Among those who plan to vote, undecided voters like Olding are the exception: 72% of people who plan to vote have already decided, according to the national Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll. As 19-year-old Savannah Hugenberg prepares to vote in her first election, she is prepared to vote for Donald Trump.

I feel compelled to vote for Trump because I feel as though having someone who is a businessman and not a politician run the country is smarter economically, Hugenberg said. She supports Trumps strong capitalist ideas, and points out that his "personality alone" is what makes him the best candidate.

He doesnt act with deceitful intent, he doesnt act based off whats going to benefit him the most because like I said, (Trump) runs the country like a business, and businessmen want to do whats best for their company, said Hugenburg. Hugenberg approves of Trump choosing Ohio's J.D. Vance as his running mate, noting Vance is a great person and the perseverance he showed is something truly admirable in a candidate.

Other Trump voters are less enthusiastic. "I'm planning on voting for Trump out of necessity," said 25-year-old Sam Roberts, who feels "restoring common sense" is his main priority this election. Not being a complete psychopath is in my candidate barometer, so neither candidate represents my preferences, but Trump is the least bad option, Roberts said.

Inversely, 21-year-old Angela Galgano is voting for Kamala Harris for similarly obligatory reasons. I dislike some candidates in the election and making sure they dont win, thats a big thing for me, Galgano said.

I dont like to praise political candidates just for the reason that theyre going to have to turn evil no matter how good of a person they are, in a way. Theres always going to be decisions that have to be made that arent in your favor, Galgano explained, noting that the Israel-Palestine conflict, inequality and making sure everyone has a fair shot at the American dream are all important problems that matter to her. Although "Kamala Harris might not be the woman to change that," Galgano feels she "might be better than the other option."

Josh Holman, 20, is an intern at Mayor Pureval's office. He plans to vote for Kamala Harris this November.

Other Harris supporters feel enthusiastic about their choice to vote for the Democratic ticket this November. Josh Holman, a 20-year-old intern at Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Purevals office, feels Harris' entry to the race has been "very reenergizing to both myself and my friends" and that there's really is no doubt she is the better of the two candidates.

While Holman cites climate change, LGBTQ rights, reproductive rights and gun control as issues important to him, his reason for voting Democrat is straightforward: January 6.

No other issue is as important when you have one of the two major political parties actively seeking to put into the presidency of the United States a person who tried to overturn the results of the democratic process, said Holman, noting you have to have a democracy to fix the things he finds important.

Holman is equally interested in local politics this election. I think especially Sherrod Brown, to me, really stands out as someone who cares a lot about issues that are really important to Cincinnati, especially with the opioid epidemic, said Holman, who has written papers on the opioid epidemic as a student in Xaviers Philosophy, Politics and the Public program.

Nick Watts is a student at Xavier University. He plans to vote this November.

In an election cycle marked by political violence, insult-slinging and existential political divisions, not every voter I spoke with felt comfortable saying who theyre voting for. Right now, I would prefer not to say who I am voting for due to the intensely polarized political environment, said Xavier student Nick Watts, noting he does not feel 100% on board with anyone on the ballot."

Watts feels concerned about America's "unsecured border" and America's approach to "assessing and responding to foreign threats." As someone who enjoys studying history Watts says "my political positions have thus been heavily influenced to how we can again unite around the idea that a strong, powerful, impartial, and morally centered America uplifts everyone."

Although the young voters I spoke to had different party backgrounds, their concerns for our future were largely similar. We all want affordable, peaceful and prosperous lives, as promised by the idea of the American Dream. If we want politicians to listen to our ideas, we have to show that, unlike previous generations of youth voters, we are a coalition that will show up in November.

Youth turnout for the 2022 midterm election was 23%, and while thats better than previous generations, we cannot fix the growing apathy among our generation if all of us stay at home and ensure our voices are ignored. Party platforms pander to gerontocracy because older folks reliably show up on Election Day. If younger generations want to see real change, it has to start by going out to the polls.

Meredith Perkins, newsroom intern on the editorial page team, pictured, Monday, June 3, 2024, at The Cincinnati Enquirer newsroom in Downtown Cincinnati.

Meredith Perkins is an intern on the Opinion team at the Enquirer and currently attends Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, studying English and diplomacy. She is a native of Independence, Ky.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Young voters in Cincinnati don't like Donald Trump or Kamala Harris
Dorseyville Middle School in the Fox Chapel Area School District has been recognized among 17 schools nationwide as part of the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) 2024 Schools of Distinction.

AMLEs Schools of Distinction program recognizes exemplary schools, while supporting them through a process of strategic vision setting to help foster ongoing growth and success.

It is a privilege to recognize Dorseyville Middle School as an AMLE School of Distinction. They are truly worthy of this prestigious honor, said Stephanie Simpson, CEO of AMLE.

During the review process, several Essential Attributes were evaluated to ensure that the school provides an education for young adolescents that is responsive, challenging, empowering, equitable, and engaging. Specifically, the evaluation team mentioned young adolescents being the foundation of all decisions made at Dorseyville Middle School, that high expectations are cultivated for the entire school community, that the school facilitates students taking responsibility for their own learning and making positive contributions to the world around them, that the school provides socially just learning opportunities, and that the school atmosphere is motivating for all learners, a press release said.

I am so proud that Dorseyville Middle School is the first school in Pennsylvania to receive this recognition, Dorseyville Middle School Program Principal Dr. Laura Miller said. The evaluation team found in the Dorseyville Middle School community what we see every day  the great work that our students, staff, and entire school community does to make Dorseyville Middle School a great place for students.

Dorseyville Middle School is a joyful place where the entire school community works together to fulfill the districts strategic vision pillars of purpose, passion, care, and community, Fox Chapel Area School District Superintendent Dr. Mary Catherine Reljac said. We are very proud of their efforts and that others recognize the work that happens day in and day out in the school community.

Dorseyville Middle School is the first and only school in Pennsylvania to be named a School of Distinction.

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GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP)  A North Carolina Highway is closed due to downed power lines, according to the North Carolina Department of Transporation.

NC 150/Oak Ridge Road is closed in both directions due to downed power lines.

Duke Energy reports over 22,000 power outages in Triad due to Tropical Storm Debby

The obstruction is near the intersection of Bunch Road.

There is no word on when the road will be cleared.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP.
A child infected with skin disease is pictured in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Layan Mahdi, a four-year-old child, can barely recognize her own face when looking in a mirror, as a rash has spread across her body.

In an attempt to relieve the pain, the blond girl frequently scratches her rash, which only worsens her discomfort, causing her to scream and call for help from her family.

"Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do to make her feel better," Akaber Qudaih, Layan's mother, lamented.

She told Xinhua that her kid was infected with scabies after playing with her neighbors' children in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.

"I went to al-Aqsa Hospital to get medicine for my daughter, but found nothing," Akaber said. "I was forced to use primitive methods to treat my daughter by rubbing her body with cooking oil, but unfortunately it hurts her a lot."

Not only Layan, but her four siblings were also infected with the skin disease, the 38-year-old mother of five complained to Xinhua. "I do not know what should I do to treat my kids. I am afraid of losing them."

Currently living in a tent on the beach of the Deir al-Balah city, Akaber, like most Palestinians in the Strip, was forced to be displaced and move from one place to another to escape from the ongoing Israeli attacks.

"Since I left my home in Gaza City 10 months ago, I have never found a single place that meets basic human housing needs. The worst thing is the lack of water and personal hygiene supplies," Akaber said.

Noaman Nassar, a nine-year-old Palestinian child, suffers from the spread of pimples with white and blackheads all over his body.

"I cannot wear any clothes due to the pain. I cannot help myself scratching my body all the time," the boy told Xinhua. "I go swimming in the sea with my father in a bid to get rid of them, but all the attempts failed, and my pain is increasing day by day."

With limited access to water and sanitation, communicable diseases and skin infections continue to rage across Gaza, according to an update released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs late July.

Overcrowding of displaced people in areas that lack water, hygiene and a sewage system has already led to the spread of diseases, including skin diseases among children, it added.

The World Health Organization said that 103,385 cases of scabies and lice, 65,368 of skin rashes and over 11,000 of chicken pox had already been registered as of June 30.

Marwan al-Hams, director of Naser Hospital in Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip, told Xinhua that "there is a significant increase in the number of people, including children, men and women, who are infected with the skin diseases."

Al-Hams added that the situation is exacerbated by the shortage of treatments for these conditions, increasing the risk of infections being transmitted to those wounded in the Israeli attacks.

"We can say that Gaza now is witnessing a health disaster," al-Hams said, calling on the international community to help people in Gaza by pressuring Israel to allow medical supplies and equipment to enter Gaza as soon as possible." 

A child infected with skin disease is pictured in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Sewage water is pictured in Gaza City, Aug. 12, 2024. With limited access to water and sanitation, communicable diseases and skin infections continue to rage across Gaza, according to an update released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs late July. Overcrowding of displaced people in areas that lack water, hygiene and a sewage system has already led to the spread of diseases, including skin diseases among children, it added.(Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Sewage water is pictured in Gaza City, Aug. 12, 2024. With limited access to water and sanitation, communicable diseases and skin infections continue to rage across Gaza, according to an update released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs late July. Overcrowding of displaced people in areas that lack water, hygiene and a sewage system has already led to the spread of diseases, including skin diseases among children, it added. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)
Dozens gather in Norfolk to protest migrant shelter at old corrections facility: Its not fair

More than a dozen people rallied in Norfolks town center Wednesday, calling on the state to close the migrant shelter that took over the old Bay State Correctional Center.

Its not fair that all our tax money is being spent on people that dont belong here, you know, they came into the country illegally, I do feel bad for them, but its not fair, said Mark Humphrey, who lives in Norfolk.

Hundreds of immigrants now temporarily live inside the old prison, and while most people at this rally say they havent seen any issues with them so far, theyre still against it.

It shouldnt be up to the governor, thats the bottom line, and if anybody thinks its not coming to a town near you, it is, said Lorna Lincoln, whos against the shelter.

Meanwhile, others want to welcome these families.

If thats an available space, thats open and not being used, why not? said Joanna Don, who supports the shelter in Norfolk.

Don says her father runs a Haitian church, and they volunteer to bring some of the migrants there on Sundays.

We started picking up families to come to church because were close by were like 18 minutes away, so its easy for us to pick them up, even if they dont have cars, then bring them, have service and bring them back home, said Don.

While many remain divided on this Norfolk shelter, both sides tend to agree, theyre not happy about the states new 5-day limit on migrant families staying in these shelters, which went into effect August 1.

Where are they gonna put them in five days? said Lincoln.

How are they supposed to know where else to go, like youre not giving them enough time to be in one place to create something for themselves, said Don.

Town leaders say this temporary shelter is expected to remain open for six to twelve months.

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ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A driver accused of hitting and killing a bicyclist in Abilene then fleeing the scene has been indicted.

Luciano Tapia was indicted on an Accident Involving Death charge Thursday in connection to the incident, which took place on the 1600 block of S 14th Street in March.

Police say Tapia allegedly struck a bicyclist, only identified as a 41-year-old male, then fled without rendering aid.



Tapia was later identified by a piece of his vehicle that was left at the scene, according to police. He now remains held in the Taylor County Jail on a $40,000 bond.

No further information is available at this time.

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The oilseed processing plant of one of the largest Ukrainian agricultural holdings, Kernel, in Ukraine's west was damaged by a drone attack carried out by Russia.

Source: statement of the company on the Warsaw Stock Exchange website, which was published on 7 August, Interfax-Ukraine reports

Quote: "Operations at the facility have been suspended, and the fire resulting from the attack has been extinguished. Fortunately, there were no casualties as a result of the attack."

Details: The agricultural holding is currently assessing the amount of damage.

The Kernel management clarified that this is the company's largest plant in the west of the country.

For reference:

The Starokonstiantyniv oil extraction plant in Khmelnytskyi Oblast was the first plant built by Kernel in Ukraine's west.

It began operations in mid-April 2024 with the purchase of sunflower and planned to conduct an experiment in soybean and rapeseed processing.

The launch of this facility allowed the agricultural holding to increase sunflower processing by 10% compared to the same period last year in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024.

Prior to the war, Kernel was the world's leading producer of sunflower oil (about 7% of global production) and its major exporter (about 12%). It is one of the largest producers and sellers of bottled oil in Ukraine. In addition, it is engaged in the cultivation and sale of agricultural products.

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Drug dealer sentenced to two decades for distributing narcotics in Charlotte County

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  The Charlotte County Sheriffs Office says a person has been sentenced to two decades in prison for selling narcotics in the Charlotte County area.

According to the sheriff, 42-year-old Kristin McWayne Greene of Lunenburg pled guilty to nine counts of Distribution of Cocaine and Fentanyl after an investigation by the Tri-County Drug and Gang Task Force.

Greene admitted to selling $10,800 worth of narcotics within 5 weeks during controlled purchases.

Following the operation, law enforcement delivered the substances to the Department of Forensic Science in Richmond, VA for testing. An examination by forensic scientists determined the substances to be illegal narcotics.

Rescued Halifax County puppies catch flight to new life

During two of the controlled narcotics buys, the defendant distributed pills which had the visual appearance consistent with the pharmaceutical preparation for Oxycodone; however, when tested the pills contained Fentanyl, said Charlotte County Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Leslie E. Schneider.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration website laboratory testing indicates 7 out of every 10 pills seized by DEA contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. Let this case serve as a reminder that when you purchase illegal drugs you never know what you are receiving.

During a joint statement released by Charlotte County Sheriff Grissom and Lunenburg County Sheriff Townsend, it was said that this serves as a reminder of the dangers of illegal narcotics and our commitment to enforcing Virginias drug laws.

If anyone has information regarding narcotics distribution in the Charlotte County area, please contact the sheriffs office at 434-542-5141 or the Lunenburg County Sheriffs Office at 434-696-4452.

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SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ)  Two men from West Virginia were arrested in Somerset County after they were caught with approximately three pounds of marijuana.

Preston Batts, 45, and Ryan Anderson, 44, were arrested on Wednesday, Aug. 7. According to Somerset County District Attorney, Molly Metzgar, officers from the Somerset Borough Police Department conducted an investigation and seized the following from the two men:

Approximately three pounds of marijuana

Suspected cocaine

Packaged THC candies

Police: Somerset man stole 400 feet of copper wire, faces felony charges

Photos provided by Somerset County District Attorney Molly Metzgar

Photos provided by Somerset County District Attorney Molly Metzgar

Photos provided by Somerset County District Attorney Molly Metzgar



Both are in Somerset County Prison with bail set at $15,000. Theyre facing felony charges of possession with the intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Aug. 20.

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Durbin admonishes Amtrak for inadequate Quincy-Chicago replacement service

U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) on Wednesday sent a letter to Stephen Gardner, CEO of Amtrak, to express his frustration at the suspension of one of two Amtrak round trips between Quincy, Illinois, and Chicago as a result of equipment shortages, according to a news release from Durbins office.

In the letter, Durbin called on Amtrak to resolve the suspension, which could last up to Aug. 27, as quickly as possible. The affected stops along the partly suspended Chicago-Quincy Carl Sandburg Amtrak route includes Macomb, Galesburg, Kewanee, Princeton, Mendota, Plano, Naperville, and La Grange, Illinois.

I am writing to express my frustration and concern with the way the suspension of one of two round trips between Quincy, Illinois, and Chicago, Illinois, has been handled, Durbin wrote.

As the train service is suspended, Amtrak has offered a bus route as a substitute for riders; however, the bus service adds an hour to riders trips.

While it is understandable that locomotives occasionally require maintenance, the people of Quincy require more adequate notice and better alternatives from Amtrak. The temporary bus route Amtrak is providing between the two cities adds an hour of additional travel time. Such sudden notice of the suspension did not provide these residents enough time to adjust their travel plans accordingly, Durbin wrote.

Durbin concluded the letter by urging Amtrak to provide a nonstop bus option for riders and to quickly resolve the suspension.

I respectfully request that, at a minimum, Amtrak instate a nonstop bus option between Quincy and Chicago to minimize disruptions to the residents travel time, and that Amtrak work to resolve this suspension as quickly as possible through whatever means are available, including replacement locomotives, Durbin wrote.

Here is the letter:

August 7, 2024

Dear Mr. Gardner:

I am writing to express my frustration and concern with the way the suspension of one of two round trips between Quincy, Illinois, and Chicago, Illinois, has been handled.

While it is understandable that locomotives occasionally require maintenance, the people of Quincy require more adequate notice and better alternatives from Amtrak. The temporary bus route Amtrak is providing between the two cities adds an hour of additional travel time. Such sudden notice of the suspension did not provide these residents enough time to adjust their travel plans accordingly.

I respectfully request that, at a minimum, Amtrak instate a nonstop bus option between Quincy and Chicago to minimize disruptions to the residents travel time, and that Amtrak work to resolve this suspension as quickly as possible through whatever means are available, including replacement locomotives.

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Waterways turn red when it rains in southeast Durham. Locals coined the term tomato soup to describe the color of their creeks, which for years have turned red from muddy runoff and sediment pollution from massive construction sites.

As Neuse Riverkeeper with the nonprofit Sound Rivers, Ive spent years monitoring and documenting the impacts of sediment pollution from Durhams development boom.

Through water quality sampling and aerial monitoring of construction sites in southeast Durhams most rapidly developing areas, Sound Rivers has documented sediment runoff from massive construction projects polluting public waterways and resulting in levels of turbidity (a measurement of suspended sediment in a water column) at more than 20 times the states legal standard for surface waters.

Samantha Krop

This is why Sound Rivers filed suit against a multi-state developer in federal court for violating the Clean Water Act. A recent court ruling rejected the corporate developers motion to dismiss and green-lighted the lawsuit to move ahead.

Construction-related sediment runoff causes serious harm to aquatic ecosystems. Sediment muddies our rivers, blocks sunlight needed by plants and fish to survive, chokes out habitat and challenges the very building blocks of aquatic life.

Pathogens and nutrients also piggyback on sediment pollution, which can pose health threats to humans who come in contact with the water.

Most concerning is that construction pollution in southeast Durham not only impacts area creeks, but also Falls Lake  the drinking water source for all of Raleigh and over half a million people in Wake County. Aerial photographs from our watershed monitoring flights show mud from Durham development pouring into Falls Lake.

Still, four of the Durham City Councils seven members continue to deny the reality that sediment runoff from development sites is polluting our waterways. At City Council meetings, large rezoning projects that clear cut and mass grade hundreds of acres of forested land to allow for suburban sprawl are regularly approved in narrow 4-3 votes.

In the recent Virgil Road rezoning case, City Council members downplayed or dismissed the well-documented sediment pollution problem in order to justify the approval of more than 500 acres of single-family homes, against a unanimous rejection of the proposal by Durhams Planning Commission.

These important decisions will shape what Durham looks like for decades. Instead of viewing muddy creeks as the inevitable outcome of growth, Durham residents should speak up about the continued loss of valuable natural lands to unchecked suburban sprawl.

Despite what some Durham elected officials may say, we can have housing development and clean, healthy creeks and surrounding ecosystems. While Durhams sediment-pollution crisis stems from suburban sprawl, the citys new Comprehensive Plan provides a blueprint for walkable, diverse, thriving communities that meet the needs of residents and the environment.

As long as the City Council continues to approve irresponsible development proposals, it fails to implement the Comprehensive Plans vision and fails its people and the future.

We all must demand that Durhams elected leaders protect the citys waterways and communities from irresponsible suburban sprawl.

Samantha Krop is Neuse Riverkeeper with the nonprofit Sound Rivers.
Duval County Public Schools students will have to follow stricter cell phone rules during the new school year.

According to DCPS, phones now have to be out-of-sight and inside bags during class unless a teacher permits cell phone use.

The new policy, which was approved by the School Board on Tuesday, slightly revises the policy from previous years. Before, students could keep their phones in their pockets.

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Additionally, students arent allowed to have any wireless communication auxiliary devices on them. That includes watches and earbuds.

If a students phone is confiscated for a policy violation, the phone can only be returned to the students parent or guardian.

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HAGERSTOWN, Md. (DC News Now)  In Western Maryland, Robert W. Johnson Community Center renovations are building excitement in the Jonathan Street neighborhood.

E.J. Fuller is the centers new executive director. He said the new swimming pool may be the center of attention at the Johnson Center, but he is shaping activities around three main pillars.

Were focused on a workforce development program, a health program and a financial literacy program, said Fuller. Were bringing hope to the community. The Center hasnt been open for a while, and now its back open. Were bringing the pool back. That brings the community together.

West Virginia emergency crews on alert as Tropical Storm Debby approaches

Fuller said he is grateful to the community for their support in making the Johnson Center positively impact Hagerstown.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
"A colorful Member with a fiery temper" is how the U.S. House "History, Art & Archives" describes Matthew Lyon "depicted in this infamous print with Roger Griswold of Connecticut." (Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division)

The first sound bite in American political history was recorded more than two centuries ago in Western Kentucky.

First District Congressman Matthew Lyon of Eddyville, a fierce Jeffersonian Democratic-Republican, used his teeth to detach a detractors digit.

It was self-defense. The constituent was trying to pop the congressmans eyeball out.

Lyon was an Irish-born Revolutionary War veteran whod been a Vermont congressman before he migrated to frontier Western Kentucky and helped found Eddyville on the Cumberland River. (Eddyville is the seat of Lyon County, which was named for his son, Rep. Chittenden Lyon, an Eddyville Democrat who was in Congress from 1827 to 1835.)

Matthew Lyon was elected to the Kentucky legislature in 1802, and he served in Congress from 1803 to 1811.

The coonskin democracy of southwestern Kentucky idolized the Colonel, wrote historian Bernard Mayo in an old article in The North American Review. In all Kentucky there was no candidate so energetic, so colorful. Lyons bag of electioneering tricks, said seasoned observers, was inexhaustible.

Lyon reportedly could out-shout his rivals, drink grog all day long without getting drunk, & tell pretty rough anecdotes.

Lyon said he owed his political success to stationing himself at a crossroads by which everybody in the district passed from time to time  abusing the sitting member, according to Mayos book, Henry Clay: Spokesman for the New West.

One time, abuse came from a man named Cofield. He tried to embarrass his member of Congress by dredging up the story of Lyon spitting in the face of Congressman Roger Griswold, a Federalist foe, during a 1798 House session. Its unclear if the great expectoration was saliva or tobacco juice, but it led to a brawl on the House floor between The Spitting Lyon and Griswold.

A year later, Lyon was briefly jailed under the Alien and Sedition Acts for printing commentary sharply critical of Federalist President John Adams  whom he hated  in his newspaper, The Scourge Of Aristocracy and Repository of Important Political Truth.

Lyon was still behind bars when his Green Mountain State constituents reelected him. After he was released, he returned to Congress in time to help make Jefferson president over Aaron Burr in 1801. The two tied in the Electoral College after the 1800 presidential election. (The Federalist Adams lost.) So the House had to decide who won.

Lyon claimed if it hadnt been for him, Burr might have triumphed. During that long tie-vote contest ending only with the thirty-sixth ballot, a Lyon grim and bold, for desperate warfare famd of old, manfully resisted Federalist bribes and cast Vermonts vote for Jefferson, Mayo wrote in his article.

He also quoted from a New York Herald account of Lyons lively scuffle with Cofield: Mr. Lyon immediately cracked away at Mr. Cofield, but Mr. C so completely defended himself that he parried off the blow, and the scene of action commenced hot and hard.

Cofield finally knocked Lyon flat and prepared to deliver the coup de grace in a backwoods brawl: gouging out an eye with a deft thumb flick.

In the attempt, however, the Herald explained, the honorable gentleman got Mr. Cs thumb in his mouth and completely amputated it at the first joint.

In his book, Mayo wrote that by chomping off Cofields thumb, Lyon helped confirm eastern opinions that Kentucky was truly a paradise for barbarous Yahoos.

Lyon died in Arkansas in 1822 and was buried in Eddyvilles Riverview Cemetery. Neither his epitaph nor a nearby state historical marker mention The Spitting Lyons unique form of hand surgery though it truly was a sound bite.
BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A mainland spokesperson on Thursday slammed Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities for deliberately confusing the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots with a very small number of diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists in an attempt to slander the mainland.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in response to a media inquiry about the DPP's distorted narratives on mainland authorities' recent launch of website sections detailing legal penalties for "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and providing public tip-off channels.

The relevant information is available on the websites of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and the Ministry of Public Security.

Zhu said that compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait strongly support such measures to punish those seeking "Taiwan independence."

Compatriots from across the Strait also understand that the punishment is specifically targeted at the few diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists and their criminal acts of secession, and does not involve the majority of Taiwan compatriots, Zhu said.

She stressed that Taiwan is part of China and that the country will never allow "Taiwan independence" separatist forces to separate Taiwan from China under any name or by any means.

The purpose of rooting out those who undermine cross-Strait relations is to fundamentally safeguard peace and stability across the Strait and ensure the security and well-being of Taiwan compatriots, Zhu said.

An increasing number of Taiwan compatriots are eager to engage in cross-Strait exchanges, she noted, citing data showing 2.083 million visits between the two sides of the Strait from January to June, marking a 99.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Of these visits, 1.928 million were by Taiwan compatriots to the mainland, up 103.2 percent year on year.

These figures clearly demonstrate that the overwhelming historical trend of cross-Strait exchange and cooperation will not be impeded by the lies and deception of the DPP authorities and "Taiwan independence" forces, Zhu said. 
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  In November 2022, ground was broken on a former industrial site in East Providence. The plan was to build a new concert venue on the citys waterfront, with the goal of holding events there by 2024.

But here we are in August 2024, and still the parcel of land sits undeveloped.

However, Mayor Bob DaSilva tells 12 News the project is moving along.

BACKGROUND: New East Providence concert venue could be ready by 2024

DaSilva and other city officials held a meeting last week with the developers and owners of the property which they hope will house a new Live Nation amphitheater by June 2026.

Once complete, the venue will hold up to 5,000 concertgoers and host 40 to 50 shows a year, according to DaSilva.

If people are familiar with Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston, its going to be designed on that model, he said Wednesday. Its going to be very similar to what they have in Boston.

The site is located next to Bold Point Park, where outdoor concerts were held for years. But those stopped in summer 2022 in anticipation of the new venue.

DaSilva said that while hes excited to revitalize the property, those types of developments can come with hang-ups.

These projects, when youre dealing with a site thats a former industrial site, things take time, you know? Permitting, engineering, putting the plan together, getting the approvals, he explained.

The mayor said the amphitheater will be worth the wait since itll bring about a boost to the local economy.

Youre going to be bringing A-list performers to our waterfront, which will attract people from throughout the nation to come and enjoy some live music on our beautiful waterfront, DaSilva said. And those people are going to want to stop in at local restaurants, hopefully here in East Providence.

DaSilva also pointed out that the plans will include sufficient parking to accommodate capacity attendance and traffic studies will be conducted for the surrounding area.

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MARSHALL, Texas (KETK)  One of the earliest events in East Texass history of labor struggles was a violent railway strike that led to nine deaths and the destruction of several locomotives.

Tyler Pipe Co. sued by Department of Labor after allegedly firing employee who raised safety concerns

That strike and the other events covered in KETKs series East Texas Biggest Labor Disputes tell the story of how workers from all different industries fought to keep their jobs, unionize their workplaces, secure wage increases, healthcare benefits and more.

On every Monday and Thursday until Labor Day on Sept. 2, KETK will present one of the eight most consequential chapters in East Texas labor history. Be sure to stay up to date with KETK so you wont miss the next edition of East Texas Biggest Labor Disputes on Monday, Aug. 12.

1886: Marshall

The great railway strike Attempt to start a freight train, under a guard of United States Marshals, at East St. Louis, Illinois / from a sketch by G. J. Nebinger. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Sheet music cover image of the song Come Join The Knights of Labor, or, The Railway Strike Song and Chorus, United States, 1886. Photo courtesy of Sheridan Libraries/Levy/Gado/Getty Images.

The Great Southwest Railroad Strike of 1886 was started by the Knights of Labor in Marshall, Texas at 3 p.m. on March, 1, 1886 after foreman Charles A. Hall was reportedly fired for attending a union meeting on company time.

According to the Missouri Bureau of Labors history of the strike, Halls firing was a violation of a contract between railroad employees and the Southwest railroad system that said no man would be discharged without due notice and investigation.

After a series of failed attempts at negotiating an end to the strike in Marshall, Martin Irons, the leader of the Marshall Knights of Labors District Assembly #101, called for a general strike. That general strike caused thousands of workers across five states to bring the railroad to a grinding halt.

What East Texans think Labor day means while celebrating on Lake Palestine

Businesses in Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Texas were paralyzed. The Knights alliance of Black and white railroad workers began engaging in militant actions like occupying railyards, physically intimidating strikebreakers, taking control of trains and even disabling or destroying the locomotives, according to the Central Arkansas Library.

1886-Great Railway Strike in Texas and Illinois. Top  The citizens committee at Fort Worth, Texas arresting a turbulent striker after the riot of April 3rd. 2)- View of East St. Louis, IL, and the Railway Bridge. Illustration courtesy of Getty.

The violence continued and eventually became deadly when pro-strike crowds and railway company-hired deputies clashed in Fort Worth and St. Louis. At least nine people were left dead and the Knights of Labor ultimately called off the strike. According to the Texas State Historical Association, it was a major defeat for the organization. They never managed to create the one big union of railway workers they had envisioned.

The Missouri Bureau of Labor Statistics history of the strike concluded by saying:

The strike, as senseless as it appears to have been, will not have been without its good effects if it speedily brings about the enactment of laws that will give greater protection to labor and greater security to property against vandalism.

East Texas panel addresses labor shortages

The Texas State Historical Associations history offered a more pessimistic view:

Once again, an emerging labor organization was crushed when competing with powerful, determined and well-organized industrialists in command of nationally based corporations.

As this article shows, East Texas has a deep history of labor activity and because of that deep history this article is not comprehensive. Many labor disputes, even modern ones, are under-reported on, so theyre often only known about by the people who lived through them.

Anyone who would like to tell us about any labor disputes not covered in this series is invited to email newsroom@ketk.com.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Apartments in east Topeka were condemned Wednesday after unsanitary conditions and a carbon monoxide leak were discovered.

The City of Topeka announced it helped 18 residents after finding unsanitary conditions and a carbon monoxide leak at the Timberlee Apartments located at 313 SE Lime St. Topeka Fire Department (TFD) crews responded to the complex just before 1 p.m. on Aug. 7 on reports of a chemical odor.

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One dead, two seriously injured in I-70 wreck near Junction City

Firefighters measured unsafe levels of carbon monoxide and notified the Kansas Gas Service and the Topeka Police Departments Property Maintenance Unit (PMU).

The kids were having headaches, they were drowsy, they were disoriented, so they ended up taking them to the hospital, Kansas Representative John Alcala said. The carbon monoxide level was 250.

One tenant told 27 News she noticed the unsanitary conditions for months and brought her concerns to management.

This has been going on for almost a year, but the bowl movement backup has been going on for like four or five months, if not longer, tenant Robin Brown said. When it first started, I went up there to the management and was complaining, complaining, complaining. Im not happy. Im not happy at all.

Kansas Museum of History gets new look, set to open in 2025

Two juveniles were taken to a local hospital by medical personnel with non-life threatening injuries, according to the city. After the PMUs investigation, raw sewage was found and four apartments have been condemned. An investigation is ongoing at this time.

Topekas Housing Services Division responded and is working with the residence affected to provide relocation assistance.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Homeless people collect personal items as San Francisco city workers remove an encampment in the Bayview neighborhood on Aug. 1. The sweep follows Gov Gavin Newsom's order directing state agencies to remove homeless encampments. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Its been disappointing to see Gov. Gavin Newsom take a hard line on homelessness by directing state agencies and departments to clear encampments on state-owned land, such as freeway embankments, and encouraging local governments to do the same.

Meanwhile Los Angeles city and county leaders continue to do the hard but effective work of reaching out to people in encampments and getting them into temporary and permanent housing even when it takes weeks or months to do so.

Read more: Newsom threatens to take money from counties that don't reduce homelessness

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors last week also rejected any attempt to criminalize homelessness. In a rebuke to Newsom's directive, it voted last week to affirm its position that no one should be jailed simply for camping outdoors.

Mayor Karen Bass's Inside Safe program to move people out of encampments into motel and hotel rooms temporarily has made a measurable difference in the size of street homelessness. In the most recent count, the number of unsheltered homeless people in the city dropped 10.4 % while the number living in shelters rose by 17.7%. And the availability of new city-funded permanent housing units contributed to the 2.2% overall decrease in homelessness in the city.

Read more: Homeless encampment cleanups do little to change numbers of people on the street, study finds

Are homeless people still shooed off sidewalks by clean-ups and law enforcement? Sure. And that's troubling. But Bass has denounced arresting homeless people as a way out. San Francisco's mayor is ready to use it as a tool.

Mayor London Breed has chosen to follow Newsom's example and undertake a "very aggressive" clearing of encampments in which police cite and move people along if they don't take an offer of shelter on the spot. This ignores the fact that there are 8,300 homeless people in San Francisco, but the city's 3,600 shelter beds are nearly at capacity. Breed followed that by ordering outreach workers to offer bus, train or plane tickets out of town to homeless individuals  if they have a connection to the destination  before offering any services such as shelter. This seems less about the mayor aiding homeless people than banishing them as she runs for reelection.

Bottom line, nothing in San Francisco's approach or the governor's executive order will reduce homelessness  and Newsom should know better.

Read more: Editorial: Grants Pass ruling will do nothing to end homelessness

As he himself pointed out in his announcement last month, he has allocated $24 billion in state funds to help cities and counties provide services and house their homeless residents. He created Project Roomkey, the program that cities and counties used to move vulnerable homeless people into empty hotel and motel rooms during the COVID-19 pandemic using federal emergency relief funds. He started the Homekey program that funds acquisition of housing for homeless people. And he made $1.3 billion available in federal funds through the Housing and Homelessness Incentive Program to encourage Medi-Cal healthcare providers to invest in local homelessness programs.

Yet California has the largest number of homeless people in the country. If there are still homeless people here after spending billions on interim and permanent housing, its because the problem is that big and that intractable. Newsom's order and Breed's sweeps come after the recent Supreme Court decision allowing Grants Pass, Ore. to cite and arrest homeless people living outside even if there is no available shelter. But these crackdowns offer only the illusion that homelessness can be resolved at particular sites by moving people along.

Read more: Opinion: I was homeless. Gov. Newsom's order to dismantle encampments is outrageous

Housing is unaffordable, and it's too difficult and expensive to add affordable housing in cities, such as Los Angeles, that protect single-family zoning and limit where apartments can be built. Mass incarceration has led to hundreds of people coming out of jails and prisons without housing. Structural racism has made Black people a disproportionate percentage of homeless populations across the country. Even the 24% of homeless people who say they are suffering from a serious mental illness or the 27% who report substance abuse are, with rare exception, desperately poor. Most can't get the help they need unless they get housed first.

Homelessness is the most stark example of wealth inequality in the country. Its been suggested that some Californians are just tired of seeing it. They have encampment fatigue. Well, no one has more fatigue than the people living in encampments.

Read more: Opinion: Gov. Gavin Newsom is a reactionary on homelessness  and that's a good thing

The solution is obvious  stay focused on getting more housing built, bought or leased. This work of housing homeless people is expensive, and it doesnt happen overnight. Moving people inside can sometimes take weeks of outreach. But it works.

Another thing that has worked: Medi-Cal providers funding homeless services. The County Homeless Initiative has received $114 million in funding from L.A. Care and Health Net to support the countys master leasing program that provides apartments to homeless people. Medi-Cal healthcare providers are also venturing into low-income and homeless housing projects  and we hope this support continues.

It's encouraging that Los Angeles city and county leaders appear to understand what Newsom and San Francisco's mayor seem to have forgotten: Simply pushing people off a sidewalk has never reduced homelessness, and it wont work now.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
He was killed in an Idaho prison eight months ago. Why are there still no charges? | Opinion

By all accounts, Milo Warnock was a hard worker, curious, kind-hearted, funny, intelligent and intellectual, someone who reveled in deep thoughts and deep discussion about deep ideas. He was killed by a fellow prisoner on Dec. 10 at the Idaho State Correctional Center.

Milo Warnock was killed in an Idaho prison eight months ago. The Ada County Prosecuting Attorneys Office still has not filed charges against a suspect.

Whats taking so long?

Justice delayed is justice denied, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote so eloquently.

In Milos case, justice has been delayed far too long.

As a comparison, Junior Garcia, 26, was killed on June 14, 2023, in Idahos maximum security prison in Kuna.

Less than three months later, the suspect in Garcias killing, Juan Santos-Quintero Jr., 27, was charged with one felony count of first-degree murder, and he is currently on trial.

How long will it be before Mike and Kathy Warnock see their sons suspected killer in court?

Kathy and Mike Warnock talk about their son Milo Warnock, who was killed by a fellow prisoner in the Idaho State Correctional Center in December.

Milo Warnock, 45, was beaten to death by a fellow prisoner Dec. 10 in the Idaho State Correctional Center, according to the Idaho Department of Correction.

The suspects name has not been released, nor have circumstances surrounding what happened.

Meanwhile, the family waits for answers. And waits. And waits.

The excruciating wait exacerbates an already-tragic story.

Milo was arrested in August 2021 for driving under the influence, with a blood alcohol content of 0.11, according to the police report. Milo had a previous felony DUI conviction in 2013. With a second DUI within 15 years of the most recent one, it was considered a felony under Idaho law. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Milos court proceedings were delayed until 2023.

During that whole time, Milo rode to work on a bike and stayed sober. He showed up for work every day and showed up for urinalysis. His employer, YMC, an HVAC contractor in Meridian, vouched for Milo during his case.

But the judge still sent Milo to prison for at least two years.

And then it got worse.

Once in prison, Milo was cheeking his medication (pretending to take it but saving it for the morning) because he said it prevented him from sleeping at night.

He tried to request a change in his medication time, but he was never told that the prison was no longer using paper request forms, even though the prison still had the forms and boxes for them around the prison.

Milo got caught breaking the rules and was reclassified as a maximum-level offender, which got him a ticket to Cell Block G of the prison, where more serious offenders were.

There, according to his family, he was placed in a cell with a man who had a history of violence and mental health issues.

Milo had written to his family about problems with his cellmate and efforts he was making to smooth things over with him.

I have tried to help him, so that I can feel good about myself (philanthropy is self centered behavior, as Dickens points out in Bleak House), Milo wrote to his mother Dec. 7, three days before he was killed. I cant help him, tho. .

Its perplexing that its taking this long, when you have a controlled environment and a suspect who already is in custody. Why would it take eight months to investigate and file charges?

So many things went against Milo that his dad called him hard-luck Milo.

That hard luck landed him in court, earned him a prison sentence, put him in a cell block with more dangerous offenders and eventually resulted in Milos death, something that never should have happened.

Milo got himself in trouble, but then it seemed as though the system was working against him every step of the way.

And now, even after his death, the system is still working against him.

The Ada County Prosecuting Attorneys Office owes Milos family justice in this case.

And it needs to be a lot swifter than theyre getting now.

Statesman editorials are the unsigned opinion of the Idaho Statesmans editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members Greg Lanting, Terri Schorzman and Garry Wenske.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  In response to the recent fires and flooding in Ruidoso, New Mexico, El Paso residents and organizations came together to assist their neighbors in need.

On Tuesday, Aug. 6, members of the El Paso Fire Department (EPFD) and the El Paso Firefighters Association Local 51 delivered donations from the community, ranging from essential supplies to clothing and construction materials, directly to Ruidoso, according to a news release sent by EPFD.

The response from our community has been incredible. The generosity of El Pasoans never ceases to amaze me. We are proud to be able to support our neighbors in Ruidoso during this difficult time, Fire Chief Jonathan Killings said.

This is what being part of a community is all about, coming together to help one another in times of need. The donations weve received will go a long way in providing relief to those affected by the fires and flooding in Ruidoso, said Jay Nicholson, president of the El Paso Firefighters Association Local 51.

The El Paso Fire Department and the El Paso Firefighters Association Local 51 extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to this relief effort, read the news release.

For more information about the EPFD, visit elpasofire.org and follow their social media.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Elections 101: Department of State guidance was a 2020 lightning rod. This is how it works

Elections 101 from Spotlight PA protects you against election misinformation and empowers you to make informed decisions. This story is made possible through a collaboration with Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting.

When legislative Republicans urged Congress to reject Pennsylvanias electoral votes for Joe Biden in 2020, they didnt cite voter fraud or illegal activity. Instead, they pointed to something seemingly innocuous: guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of State.

State Republicans including then-state House Speaker Bryan Cutler accused the agency of undermining Pennsylvanias new mail voting law. Jake Corman, then the state Senates majority leader, called on former Secretary Kathy Boockvar to step down, saying, To have this sort of stuff going on at the 11th hour is unconscionable.

Corman was referencing guidance issued by Boockvar the day before the November 2020 election that advised counties to notify voters of fatal defects with their mail ballots and have them vote provisionally at a polling place. Some counties followed the guidance, and some didnt.

Courts did not find merit to the argument that the department had misused its authority, but the narrative that guidance and directives issued late in the election cycle tipped the scales against then-President Donald Trump has persisted on the right since. Republican legislators held a nearly two-hour hearing in 2021 questioning Boockvar about her guidance, and state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin) penned an op-ed during his 2022 gubernatorial run claiming that by using guidance, Democrats had hijacked Pennsylvanias mail voting law.

The department regularly issues guidance and directives to clarify election procedures and state law, such as when there is a new court ruling or Election Day problem the agency hopes to avoid repeating.

The two notices hold different weights. Directives carry the force of law based on the secretary of the commonwealths authority under the Election Code. Guidances outline the departments view of best practices that counties should follow.

As we approach whats expected to be another contentious presidential election, heres what you need to know about directives and guidance:

What is a directive, and when is it issued?

According to the Pennsylvania Department of State, the secretary issues directives when the Election Code  the law that governs voting in Pennsylvania  specifically gives them authority over that area of election procedure.

This means directives have the force of law; that legal authority is always established at the outset of the directive.

An example of this is a recent directive issued on mail ballots. On July 1, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt instructed counties to preprint the full, four-digit year on mail ballot return envelopes.

This was a directive rather than guidance, because the states Election Code authorizes the secretary to determine how that return envelope is configured.

What about guidance?

Guidance is issued whenever it is deemed to be helpful in clarifying rules, procedures, and best practices for the administration of elections, according to a Pennsylvania Department of State spokesperson.

Guidance often follows a particular problem arising in an election, when a lawsuit sets precedent on some aspect of administration, or when several counties have similar questions about an issue.

For example, during the November 2023 municipal election, some Northampton County voters encountered a troubling error with voting machines due to insufficient pre-election testing. To mitigate the issue on Election Day, some polling places had voters use emergency ballots, but polling places had a limited supply, some of which eventually ran out.

In March of this year, the department updated its guidance to recommend that counties stock emergency ballots at a rate of 20% of a voting precincts registered voters.

While guidance may apply to an election process that is required under law, the guidance documents specific recommendations on how to perform that process are not mandatory, as former secretary Kathy Boockvar explained in 2021 testimony to the state House. In other words, the department cant enforce guidance. This leaves counties to decide whether they follow the recommendation.

How will guidance and directives factor into this years election?

When the department issues directives or guidance, it notifies all counties and offers training through its Responsive Training Program for County Election Directors.

A department spokesperson said guidance and directives, which can be found on the state governments website, are regularly reviewed for needed updates. More directives or guidances could be issued before the November election.

Schmidt, who was a city commissioner in Philadelphia during the 2020 election, has said he recognizes the frustration that last-minute guidance can cause for election officials and voters.

In response, he has repeatedly said he will not issue new guidance or directives within 45 days of an election, unless a court decision forces the state to do otherwise.

That possibility is not unlikely, as several important cases are now pending in the courts, and state appellate courts have a history of issuing rulings close to Election Day.

Carter Walker is a reporter for Votebeat in partnership with Spotlight PA. Contact Carter at cwalker@votebeat.org.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  Workers at a north Topeka gas station are worried for the safety of their customers because drivers keep using their property as a shortcut near an ongoing construction zone.

Woodys Gas Express is located at Highway 24 and Kansas Avenue in north Topeka, right across the street from another gas station operated by a national chain. In the few minutes 27 news was there on the morning of Aug. 7, multiple drivers were spotted cutting through Woodys lot to get to the other gas station or back out to the highway.

Employees said the problem started back in April when the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) started construction work on the highway. 27 News spoke with Sara King, a cashier for Woodys, and she said multiple customers and coworkers have been nearly hit.

No one has actually been hit, but there has been several close calls, King said. Ive actually had to stop a few elderly people that have the canes or walkers and stuff to make them stop because there was a truck or car flying through the parking lot about 40-50 miles an hour.

Jefferson County man dies in motorcycle crash: KHP

KDOT said the Topeka Police Department (TPD) is responsible for enforcing traffic at this location. However, employees say despite calls to the police, nothing has been done to stop the problem.

A spokeswoman for the TPD said they are looking into the matter and working to get us answers.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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Estonia has introduced enhanced customs controls on its border with Russia starting from 8 August.

Source: Estonian public broadcaster ERR, as reported by European Pravda

Details: This new measure applies to all border checkpoints on the Estonia-Russia border, including in Narva, Luhamaa and Koidula.

The Estonian government emphasised that this is being done to prevent the entry of sanctioned goods into Russia.

Quote from Finance Minister Jurgen Ligi: "The declared destination is often listed as a third country, but we do not believe this. Practice shows that on the way to the destination, usually located in Asian countries, these goods are halted halfway, somewhere in Russia. Among these goods are many suspicious items, such as military goods, dual-use goods or cash."

He noted that enhanced controls mean that anyone heading to Russia will somehow encounter Estonian state officials.

"This will involve visual inspections and questioning for passengers. If there are any suspicions, additional checks of personal belongings will be carried out, including by using X-ray machines," Ligi said.

"Vehicles will also be inspected, with more thorough examinations if necessary, including the use of X-ray machines. As for goods, documents will be primarily checked and, if needed, additional inspections and X-ray scans will be conducted. In some cases, this may involve unloading, unpacking and counting the goods," he summarised.

Background:

There were reports earlier in July that Estonia may tighten customs controls at the border with Russia due to increasingly frequent attempts to smuggle sanctioned goods, including dual-use goods.

Estonian customs officials said that euros in cash, expensive branded goods, luxury wines and car parts are the most commonly smuggled goods from the EU to Russia.

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U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, speaks during a campaign rally at an airport hangar outside Detroit, Michigan, the United States, on Aug. 7, 2024. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, and her running mate Tim Walz on Wednesday held rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan -- two key swing states Republican nominee Donald Trump's campaign has been aiming to flip this year. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

by Xiong Maoling, Hu Yousong

DETROIT, United States, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, and her running mate Tim Walz on Wednesday held rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan -- two key swing states Republican nominee Donald Trump's campaign has been aiming to flip this year.

"Tim and I have a message for Trump and others who want to turn back the clock on our fundamental freedoms: We're not going back. We're not going back," Harris said at a rally in an airport hangar outside Detroit, Michigan, Wednesday night, sparking the crowd to chant "Not going back."

The campaign said there were 15,000 people at the rally, the largest of this campaign so far. Protesters of Israel's war in Gaza interrupted Harris' speech, before being escorted out.

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow and Governor Gretchen Whitmer were among the speakers at the rally.

"If President (Joe) Biden hadn't dropped out, then we didn't really have a chance against Trump, and now I feel like it has completely energized Democrats and independents," Lynne Burns, who drove two and a half hours from Grand Rapids, Michigan, to attend the rally, told Xinhua.

Earlier in the day, the duo held a rally in the rural area of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, which drew some 12,000 people. At around the same time, Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance spoke at a manufacturing company in Eau Claire.

Wednesday's rallies in the Midwest came just one day after Harris announced that she has picked Walz, six-term U.S. House Representative and two-term governor of Minnesota, as her running mate.

Observers said Walz could help boost support for the Democrats in the Midwest.

"He comes from that part of the country, knows how to talk to ordinary Midwesterners, and talks about ways to boost economic opportunities for the middle class," Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua.

The five-day online voting by thousands of Democratic delegates concluded on Monday evening, and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced around midnight that Harris had received 99 percent of the delegate votes, officially securing the party's presidential nomination.

Walz made debut as Harris' running mate at a rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, which kicked off a multi-day tour hitting multiple battleground states. As the rally concluded, the DNC announced that the two had been officially certified as the party's 2024 nominees.

Vance, who was in Philadelphia shortly before the two arrived, criticized Walz's performance as governor, labeling him "one of the most far-left radicals in the entire United States government at any level."

On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump attacked Walz in a series of posts on Wednesday, lashing out at his "horrible policies" and "extreme record."

The race between Harris and Trump is currently very tight. According to the polling data compiled by the U.S. election information website Real Clear Politics, as of Wednesday, while Harris leads the former president by an average of 0.5 percentage points in national polls, Trump still leads in several key swing states.

In Wisconsin and Michigan, however, Harris leads Trump by an average of 0.5 percentage points and 2.0 percentage points. 

Tim Walz, running mate of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, speaks during a campaign rally at an airport hangar outside Detroit, Michigan, the United States, on Aug. 7, 2024. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, and her running mate Tim Walz on Wednesday held rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan -- two key swing states Republican nominee Donald Trump's campaign has been aiming to flip this year. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)
Freshman enrollment is expected to be higher than last year at some of Oklahoma's public universities. University of Oklahoma freshman attend the OU Welcome Class of 2027 event in August 2023 at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice)

Enrollment at Oklahomas public universities is rebounding, with a growing number of freshmen planning to attend many of the states schools this fall.

The increases are welcomed news for the schools following drops in student enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, enrollment hit new peaks during the 2023-24 academic year. Both universities said Thursday that while they were still calculating total enrollment, they expect additional student growth this school year.

The University of Central Oklahoma had seen enrollment declines since 2019, but had a record increase in the number of freshmen for the 2023-24 school year compared to the year prior. School officials said they expect that to continue into this school year.

Angela Caddell, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, said the states declining enrollment numbers were consistent with national trends. But she said the overall enrollment across the states public institutions has begun trending upward in recent years.

A representative from the school referred to earlier comments OU President Joseph Harroz wrote in an Oklahoman opinion piece. He wrote that he expects enrollment to continue increasing as the schools entry into the SEC may attract students.

Despite a drop in enrollment in 2020, OU has now surpassed its pre-pandemic enrollment levels, reaching over 32,600 students last fall.

OSU has seen a small decline in enrollment in 2021. The student population grew by over 1,600 students between 2019 and 2023.

The school recently broke two of its own enrollment records. It set new a record for freshman enrollment in 2022 and overall undergraduate enrollment in 2023.

A spokesperson for the university said the institution hopes to have another record-setting year in 2024.

UCOs overall enrollment has dropped every year since 2019, but the university saw its freshman enrollment grow in the 2023-24 school year.

The most recent drops in enrollment can be attributed primarily to complications of the COVID-19 pandemic and follow national trends at regional universities, said Adrienne Nobles, a spokesperson for the university. We have also done a lot of work to improve our recruitment, advisement, and enrollment processes.

Oklahomas CareerTech schools also saw a drop in enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic, but have begun to rebound.

Were hopeful enrollments in CareerTech programs will continue trending upward, considering weve added new programs and are modifying graduation requirements to include career training, said Russell Ray, a spokesperson for CareerTech.

While the CareerTech schools have not yet reached pre-pandemic enrollment, Oklahomas career-technical system has increased enrollment by over 34,000 students since 2020 and hopes to continue this trend, according to provided enrollment data.

CareerTech operates on 60 campuses and offers programs and services in areas such as aviation, energy and construction.

Editors note: The graphic showing enrollment at Oklahoma public universities has been updated to correct OSUs total enrollment. The text of the story has been updated to reflect the updated data. The figures initially provided by the university only included students enrolled at its Stillwater and Tulsa campuses.

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ENTERPRISE, Ala (WDHN)  The Mayor of Enterprise is offering condolences to his city and the loved ones of a contracted flight instructor who was killed in a Wednesday afternoon helicopter crash on Fort Novosel.

Enterprise native Daniel Munger, 46, was killed when an AH-64 Apache went down during routine flight training at around 1:40 p.m. near Lake Tholocco on the post.

Our prayers are with the Munger family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. CW3(R) Munger, 46, served his country and upon retirement chose to continue to share his passion with future Army aviators, said Enterprise Mayor William E. Cooper.

Munger, a retired Chief Warrant Officer 3 and flight instructor, was pronounced dead on the scene, and an unidentified U.S. Army student pilot sustained minor injuries and was airlifted via Army MEDEVAC helicopter.

Mayor Cooper says Munger will always be remembered for his service to his country.

This loss will be felt throughout the Wiregrass and beyond. With Fort Novosel serving as the Armys primary training facility for helicopter pilots, may we look toward the sky the next time we hear the sounds of freedom and remember the service and sacrifice of the men and women who choose to put on the uniform and keep them and their families in our prayers, said Mayor Cooper.

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EPCSO: Truck hauling 4 vehicles struck by train in Fabens

EPCSO: Truck hauling 4 vehicles struck by train in Fabens

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A truck hauling several vehicles was struck by a train Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 7 in Fabens, according to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPCSO)

Shortly before 4 p.m. Aug. 7, deputies were dispatched to 250 NE Grace Street in Fabens, Texas in reference to a trailer stuck on railroad tracks.

EPCSO said a truck with a gooseneck trailer attached hauling four vehicles was struck by a train.

The train came to a halt blocking adjacent streets to railroad crossing from NW 3rd St. to Grace St., according to EPCSO.

No injuries were reported, according to EPCSO.

Special Traffic Investigators (STI) were notified and took over the scene.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Parents at Tippin Elementary School in West El Paso are divided over whether its an issue that the school and El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) are charging students who bring their own lunch to school 15 cents for utensils.

The debate sparked online across separate platforms, with one parent taking to an online message board to share her kids experience.

Jenny Solo alternates between packing her two kids lunch or purchasing food at the school. On EPISDs first day of school earlier this week, she said one of her sons misplaced his utensils and when he went to ask for a replacement, the school charged him 15 cents.

While she does have an issue with the charge, she says her bigger concern is the fact that this policy change was not shared with parents.

Kids should not be worried about money for food, right? If they really have to pay 15 cents, it should be communicated through an email, through phone message. But its being communicated directly to my kids, so theres a little bit of a gap in the communications because this should be really between adults, Solo said.

She said her kids have attended Tippin Elementary for four years now, and that its a great school. Her main issue lies with EPISD and their Food and Nutrition Services Department and she believes this policy should be applied to all schools.

Why is this even a policy? If its going to be a policy, apply it across the board to all the schools. So that way parents are not confused because some schools are doing it, and some schools are not. Or two, if youre going to do that and its because of this exclusionary process where its only for adults who are utilizing more than they should, then maybe it should be for staff members, adults, and then exclude the kids, Solo said.

Tippin Elementary is one of seven non-CEP Campuses in the districts, meaning that they do not fall under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The federal program allows for schools in low-income areas to provide all students with free breakfast and lunch.

EPISD is not the only district in El Paso that has multiple campuses that are non-CEP.

On EPISDs website in the Food and Nutrition Services tab, you can locate their Menu Price Items which lists that utensil packs, PC, condiments, six-compartment trays, and ice cups have a 15-cent charge.

Parents at the school were divided over the issue. Some were outright upset at the charge, while for others it was not an issue at all.

Most, however, were not aware of the policy, despite commending the school for its communication with parents.

I have mixed thoughts about the whole thing, said Steven Winters, who said his child already pays for the schools food, but that she was still charged for the utensils. My problem is that if theyre purchasing a lunch, they should be offered a utensil as part of the purchase.

Winters said hes fine with the charge for kids who bring their own packed lunch to account for the schools budget, but if there were a reason for all students to be charged, he would have liked to receive notice.

But to have my child come and tell me? thats kind of crazy, especially when I use the My School Bucks (app) to add money to my kids account, he said.

Despite this, Winters said Tippin Elementary and EPISD have been great about communicating with parents.

We havent received any communication from Tippin regarding the utensils, but with it being the first week of school, I think that there were other issues that were really, really important and I think we need to be a little bit more forgiving as far as this being the first week, Im sure that the communication will go out, said a parent who did not want to be identified, but added that she does not have an issue with the policy.

I just found out about it, and Im not sure that I agree with it, said another parent who did not want to be identified.

I have a kindergartner that is five years old, and I do pack her lunch every day. But someday I could forget to (include) a utensil, and for them to tell her that she has to pay? I dont want her to have to worry about (money). I also would have appreciated a heads up, she said.

KTSM reached out to EPISD regarding the matter and said they are currently looking into it.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
In June, a group of citizens sued Erie County Executive Brenton Davis for allowing Gannon University to lease space inside the countys main public library and begin construction of a new research and education center.

On Friday, Erie County Solicitor Bill Speros, on behalf of Davis, pushed back on the lawsuit.

In a set of preliminary objections filed in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas, Speros stated that the plaintiffs, a protest group called Keep Our Library Public, focused their complaint on Davis, who negotiated the lease, while neglecting to sue Erie County Council or Gannon.

Speros stated that County Council authorized the lease via resolution and that Gannon is the lease holder, making them indispensable parties to the litigation. He argued they should have been included in the lawsuit because their interests will be directly affected by a potential court ruling.

While the lawsuit names Davis and Erie County as defendants, Speros argued the plaintiff's failure to join County Council and Gannon as a party to their complaint should be grounds for dismissal.

When declaratory relief is sought, all persons shall be made parties who have or claim any interest which would be affected by the declaration, Speros stated, citing state law.

No declaration shall prejudice the rights of persons not parties to the proceeding.

Speros added, Pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure, a party may file preliminary objections for a plaintiffs failure to join an indispensable party.

Speros notified the plaintiffs to file a written response to the preliminary objections on or before Aug. 24.

The plaintiffs did not have an immediate comment to the Erie Times-News. The group is represented by Pittsburgh-based law firm Strassburger McKenna Gutnick and Gefsky.

Why are County Council and Gannon indispensable parties?

Speros stated that a party is considered indispensable if his or her rights are so directly connected with litigation that a decree or order would impair their rights

In his first preliminary objection, Speros stated that the plaintiffs are requesting the court to nullify councils Oct. 17 resolution that authorized the lease. If the court granted this request and declared council's actions invalid, it would affect councils interests as a governing body acting within its authority, according to Speros.

In his second preliminary objection, Speros stated that Gannon, by virtue of the lease, holds a leasehold interest.

Because plaintiffs seek to void the lease, Gannon, as the owner of a property interest, possesses a direct and essential interest that will necessarily be affected by any order or declaration of this court, and is therefore an indispensable party, Speros stated.

Whats the lawsuit about?

Gannon seeks to build the Great Lakes Education and Research Center in the Blasco Memorial Library.

The 3,280-square-foot center  a part of Gannons $24 million water sustainability initiative called Project NePTWNE  is to be located on the eastern wing of the librarys first floor and comprise of hands-on exhibits, a NOAA Science on a Sphere and a research and wet lab.

The lease has Gannon paying a flat rent of $7 a square foot for an initial 25-year period.

Opponents have argued the lease is an affront to the library, contending it gives away space from a vital public asset to a private, religiously affiliated university.

Doris Cipolla, a retired Erie public school teacher, is shown protesting Gannon's decision to rent space in Blasco Library at the corner of Peach and 6th streets on Nov. 27, 2023.

Keep Our Library Public, a citizen-led protest group that staged several demonstrations against the lease, filed a lawsuit on June 27, seeking a declaratory judgement to void the lease. The lawsuit contains three primary reasons.

Firstly, it alleges the lease violates the intended purpose of the Blasco Memorial Library property, located at 160 E. Front St. The suit claims the property was specifically donated to the county for use as a public library  not to be leased out to a private institution like Gannon.

Davis, the suit claims, violated the Pennsylvanias Dedicated or Donated Property Act, when he executed the lease without first seeking a court order permitting a modification for a change in use of the donated property.

Secondly, the lawsuit alleges that Davis violated the Erie County Administrative Code by negotiating lease terms that are not favorable to Erie County taxpayers. The suit claims Davis executed the lease without obtaining any other proposals or offers and without any market value analysis.

Thirdly, the lawsuit alleges that Davis breached his fiduciary duty, that he "negligently or intentionally mishandled" donated property in negotiating and executing the lease.

A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow him on X @ETNRao.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County solicitor files objections to Gannon lease lawsuit
Estonian authorities are intensifying checks of individuals and goods at the Estonian-Russian border on Aug. 8 as part of the transition to full customs control.

The measure applies to all three crossings on the Estonian-Russian border: Narva, Luhamaa, and Koidula.

The new measures are designed to prevent sanctioned goods from entering Russia, the ERR public broadcaster reported.

"Declared destinations (of goods) often indicate third countries... but the practice shows that on the way to their destinations  mostly in Asian countries  these goods stop halfway in Russia," Estonian Finance Minister Jurgen Ligi said.

The increased controls will effectively mean that anybody traveling to Russia will encounter a representative of the Estonian state, the minister added.

First media reports emerged back in July that Tallinn might tighten customs controls at the border due to mounting cases of attempted smuggling of sanctioned goods to Russia.

Estonia's already strained relations with Russia have further deteriorated since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Estonia is also ranked first in terms of financial contributions to Ukraine as a percentage of its GDP.

At the same time, Russia has engaged in a number of aggressive actions toward Estonia since February 2022, such as an incident in May in which Russian border guards unilaterally removed border markings from a river that separates Russian and Estonian territory.

Read also: From Estonian university professor to convicted Russian spy: the curious case of Viacheslav Morozov

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European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen speaks at a press conference during the Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels. Aurore Martignoni/European Commission/dpa

Nuclear energy has been drawing new attention in the European Union, as politicians and business view the resource in a new light for its role in adapting to climate change.

"Nuclear technologies can play an important role in clean energy transitions," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the first ever Nuclear Energy Summit in March.

Set up by Belgium and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the summit highlighted the potential of nuclear power to contribute to energy security, climate goals, and the stabilization of energy prices.

However, previous high profile disasters such as the ones at Fukushima and Chernobyl have drastically shaped public opinion in the EU on nuclear energy, mainly regarding safety but also environmental concerns.

Opponents criticize the cost of creating a nuclear energy system, the risks involved in handling and storing nuclear waste, the environmental impact of nuclear pollution and accidents and the large amounts of water required for nuclear plants.

Critics also cite the environmental impact of mining uranium while public safety concerns highlight fears of radiation.

Von der Leyen, a German conservative politician, noted that views differ on nuclear energy, but in the wake of the global energy crisis caused by Russias all-out invasion of Ukraine she said that "many countries are giving a fresh look to the potential role that nuclear might play."

Projections from the IAEA and the commission for 2050 show that nuclear power will grow and function as a complement to renewable energy sources which "will be the backbone of EU power production by 2050," von der Leyen said.

Nuclear energy has declined both in the EU and in the world generally - across the planet it has fallen from 18% of the electricity mix in 1988 to just 9% today.

Von der Leyen positioned herself in favour of extending the life of the nuclear plants currently in use, "provided of course their safe operation", as it is "one of the cheapest ways to secure clean power at scale."

EU member states have included nuclear energy among strategic technologies critical to reducing carbon emissions, however nuclear still does not enjoy the same financial support as renewable energy.

Push for EU investment in nuclear energy

In March, 12 EU member states grouped in the European Nuclear Alliance demanded more financing for nuclear energy and pushed for financial institutions to treat it the same way as renewable energy.

In a statement, the European Nuclear Alliance called on the European Investment Bank (EIB) to invest in nuclear power generation.

The alliance, launched in 2023 and composed of Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Sweden, also committed to "developing access to private and public financing, and exploring the possibilities and benefits of European financing instruments."

By contrast, Denmark, Spain, Luxembourg and Germany oppose nuclear energy.

In Germany, the last three nuclear power plants went offline in April 2023, following a decision taken in the wake of the 2011 nuclear accident at Fukushima in Japan. However, calls for a return to nuclear energy in the country are growing louder.

In December, the Spanish government approved a radioactive waste plan for decommissioning nuclear facilities and set a timetable for the closure of nuclear power plants between 2027 and 2035.

However, there are opponents to the closure, such as the president of Foro Nuclear, Ignacio Araluce. He said that the plants "are necessary for the system" in Spain.

Getting EU support for nuclear off the ground

Small modular reactors are nuclear reactors that are smaller in both power and physical size compared to traditional gigawatt-scale power plants.

The commission wants to support their development to help cut carbon emissions but this is a technological race with China, the United States and Russia that the EU is only just entering.

In February, the commission launched a European Industrial Alliance for small modular reactions to bring together governments and industry players to accelerate the development of the technology.

Innovation in the nuclear sector also extends to waste management. The Dutch start-up Thorizon will receive a 10 million ($11 million) grant from the French government.

The Amsterdam-based company wants to accelerate the development of a small nuclear reactor that uses nuclear waste from regular power plants as fuel.

According to the company, one such plant could provide clean energy to 250,000 households. The new nuclear reactor should be more sustainable, cheaper and safer than conventional nuclear reactors.

The EU commission also agreed to a 2 billion subsidy from the Dutch government for the construction of a new nuclear reactor in the Dutch village of Petten.

The reactor  which won't generate electricity  is intended to develop and store medical radioisotopes for cancer treatment.

Changing times in Franco-Italian nuclear steel agreement

In July, the French electricity group EDF announced a nuclear cooperation agreement with the federation of steel industries in Italy to speed up the decarbonization of the sector in a country that has been nuclear-free for almost 35 years.

The agreement aims at "promoting cooperation in the use of nuclear energy to boost the competitiveness and decarbonization of the Italian steel industry", EDF said in a press release. The steel industry is a major emitter of greenhouse gases.

The deal was signed with Italian energy company Edison, Italian power plant manufacturer Ansaldo Energia, nuclear technology developer Ansaldo Nucleare and Federacciai, the Italian steel industry federation.

Italy has not produced nuclear energy since the 1990s, following the country's decision in a 1987 referendum to withdraw from civil nuclear power after the Chernobyl accident.

On April 26, 1986, reactor four of the then-Soviet nuclear power plant Chernobyl in northern Ukraine exploded. The accident is considered the largest nuclear disaster in the civilian use of nuclear power.

Due to the radioactivity, large areas of land around the nuclear power plant in what is now Ukraine and neighbouring Belarus were closed off and tens of thousands of people were forcibly relocated. Thousands of people died as a result of radioactive contamination.

The content of this article is based on reporting by AFP, ANP, ANSA, dpa, EFE, and Europa Press as part of the European Newsroom (enr) project.
EU recalls Belarus' involvement in war in Ukraine ahead of anniversary of rigged elections

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has affirmed the EU's disapproval of Alexander Lukashenkos regime in Belarus and called for the release of all political prisoners.

Source: a statement by Borrell on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the rigged presidential election in Belarus on 9 August 2020, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The EU's top diplomat recalled the large-scale protests against election fraud in Belarus, to which the Lukashenko regime "responded with a massive campaign of violence and intimidation against its own people".

"There are currently around 1,400 political prisoners in detention. These are only a fraction of the thousands of people who have been imprisoned and released for political reasons since 2020," Borrell recalled, noting that at least six political prisoners have died in Belarusian prisons.

Borrell also noted that Lukashenko's regime is an accomplice in Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, as a result of which "Belarusian sovereignty and identity are increasingly under threat".

The European Union has therefore imposed a number of sanctions against the Belarusian regime and its supporters, which have already been applied to 261 individuals and 37 legal entities.

"The EU remains united in its support for the brave people of Belarus, the Belarusian democratic movement and civil society in their quest for a free, democratic, sovereign and independent Belarus as part of a peaceful Europe," Borrell stated.

After news broke of the historic prisoner swap between Russia and the West, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya drew attention to her associates who are still behind bars in Belarus.

In early July, Belarus announced the release of several political prisoners who are seriously ill.

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"I have seen first-sight by my very eyes, how the life of people has changed." Ambassador of El Salvador to China Aldonov F. Alvarez commended China's adherence to the people-centered approach on its path toward modernization. #GLOBALink
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell speaks during a press conference after the EU Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels. Francois Lenoir/EU Council/dpa

The European Union believes Ukraine's recent incursion into the Russian border region of Kursk is part of the country's "legitimate defensive war," a spokesman said in Brussels on Thursday.

The spokesman for the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell said Ukraine "has the right to defend itself" against Russia, including "hitting the enemy on his territory."

Russia has declared a state of emergency in the Kursk region amid the fighting, with the Defence Ministry in Moscow saying around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers are involved in the offensive.

The EU spokesman reiterated the bloc's "full support for Ukraine in its legitimate self-defence against the aggression" and said it would continue to provide Kiev with "political, financial, humanitarian, diplomatic and military assistance."
The European Union on Wednesday condemned statements by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in which he deplored aid for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and described starvation as morally justified.

"Deliberate starvation of civilians is a war crime," EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.

"Minister Smotrich saying that 'it might be justified and moral' to let Israel 'cause 2 million civilians to die of hunger' until the 'hostages are returned' is beyond ignominious," Borrell continued.

"It demonstrates, once again, his contempt for international law and for basic principles of humanity."

The EU top diplomat went on to call on the Israeli government to "unequivocally distance itself from the words of Minister Smotrich, as well as to establish transparency on the reported acts of torture in the Sde Teiman prison."

According to Israeli media reports, Smotrich recently said it would be "justified and moral" to block aid supplies to Gaza until all hostages seized in the October 7 attacks are released.

Smotrich said such a blockade would be justified even if it entailed the starvation of "2 million civilians" in Gaza, but argued that the international community would not allow such a measure, the Times of Israel reported.

Earlier on Wednesday, Germany and France had also condemned the minister's comments.

"These are completely unacceptable and outrageous statements by the Israeli Finance Minister. We reject them in the strongest possible terms," said a spokesman for the Foreign Office in Berlin.

"It is an imperative of humanity and a basic principle of international humanitarian law that civilians must be protected in war and must have access to water and food," the spokesman added.

The French Foreign Ministry called on the Israeli government to "strongly condemn these unacceptable statements."

"France stresses that the provision of humanitarian aid to 2 million civilians in an absolute emergency, in an area under blockade where access points are controlled by Israel, is an obligation under international humanitarian law, as the International Court of Justice has recalled," the statement said.

The German Foreign Office spokesman also said the comments would be "followed very closely" by international rights courts in The Hague, where Israel has faced allegations of genocide.

Back in May, the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, said he was requesting arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel has been bombarding Gaza since Palestinian militant organization Hamas launched unprecedented attacks on Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking a further 250 hostage into the Gaza Strip.

Israel has come under international criticism due to the high number of civilian casualties and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Ten months on from Israel's air and ground offensive, the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says more than 39,600 people have died in the Palestinian territory.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)  Affidavits for the Evansville parents of a 12-year-old girl who passed away last month provide details that led police to pursue charges against the couple.

Authorities were dispatched to the 500 block of New York Avenue on July 4 after Ashley Bredhold reported that her daughter, 12-year-old Alice Bredhold, was dead in their home. An affidavit lists Alices cause of death as diabetic ketoacidosis.

According to Ashley, the juvenile had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2020, and that a reading of her blood sugar earlier in the day was indicated as extremely high. Despite this, Ashley told authorities that she did not take Alice to a hospital, and just checked on her a few times after she gave her the medicine.

An affidavit notes that Alice had been taken to an emergency room the previous year for acute pancreatitis, hypoglycemia and metabolic acidosis. Notes from the treating physician suggest that the 12-year-old was not getting insulin routinely as prescribed at home, and the parents allegedly admitted they only partially supervised at home for insulin administration.

The affidavit also says the girl had a sensor on her arm that would transmit her blood sugar levels to her parents phones. Despite this, a school nurse said the childs father, Brent Bredhold, sent her to school when her blood sugar was as high as 600 (with normal blood sugar levels being between 80 and 120). On days when the victim was sent home, the nurse suggested the parents take the girl to a hospital if needed.

According to the affidavit, the school nurse contacted DCS in April after recording that the girls blood sugar was greater than 600, but the day after the report, DCS closed an assessment the nurse had made earlier in the year as unsubstantiated. The nurse recorded Alices blood sugar as higher 300 on 34 days and greater than 500 on 13 days.

Authorities say the girl has been using an insulin pump to better control her blood sugar, but Ashley told authorities Alice stopped using it in September because they ran out of supplies. Police say they collected medical supplies from the home, including 27 unused insulin pump pods and two new transmitters for the monitoring device still in the box.

DCS reportedly found that every room in the house was filled with trash and there were insects present. DCS removed two other children from the home due to poor conditions.

Brent and Ashley were arrested on August 7 and charged with neglect of a dependent causing death. They are being held in the Vanderburgh County Jail on a $100,000 cash bond.

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Even in death, Navalny helped Biden and Scholz get to a yes on the prisoner swap

The path to last weeks historic multination prisoner exchange with Russia was made possible by the one man who died before it could be completed: Alexei Navalny.

The prospect of freeing the jailed Russian opposition leader was key to getting Germany to participate in the U.S.-brokered exchange. And Germany  or more particularly the Russian assassin sitting in German custody  was key to getting Russia to agree to release imprisoned Americans.

Throughout 2023, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Joe Biden negotiated directly and through intermediaries to try to find a deal that was palatable on all sides. The desire to free Navalny kept the Germans at the negotiating table.

"With Navalny, we could envision a package deal, a German official said.

A shared sense of the injustice of Navalnys imprisonment helped unite Scholz and Biden as they navigated competing goals regarding both the hostages and Russia.



The story of how Biden and Scholz finally reached an understanding underscores the extent to which Navalny, in life and death, played a role in moving the agreement forward.

Navalnys death in a Russian prison Feb. 16, 2024, forced a reckoning inside the American and German governments about just how much they were willing to give up, and likely eased negotiations with Russia.

"I often ask myself whether the Russians would have agreed to an exchange involving Navalny, the German official said. To be honest: I don't think they would have."

The National Security Council declined to comment.

This article is based on conversations with nearly two dozen officials, diplomats and aides in Washington and Berlin, most of whom were granted anonymity to speak freely about sensitive negotiations. The conversations laid bare how even the most complex diplomatic relationships can lead to history-making deals through a combination of time, opportunity and circumstance.

The people POLITICO spoke to described how politics and national security concerns almost scuttled the efforts to formally negotiate with Russia on the swap. They detailed the inner workings of how two governments  in Washington and Berlin  grappled with the trade-offs that came with trying to make the deal happen even after Navalny died, including how to factor in their own citizens freedoms.

A common enemy

While on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow on Aug. 20, 2020, Alexei Navalny started screaming.

He had been poisoned with a nerve agent known as Novichok, and he was in pain. It was the latest of multiple attempts on the life of the man seen as the leading opposition voice in Russia.

After landing in Omsk, he was transported to Germany for care at the urging of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Scholz, who was finance minister, met with him in the hospital.

"I spoke with him at that time and got to know a courageous man who returned to Russia because he wanted to fight for democracy, freedom and the rule of law," the chancellor would later tell journalists.

The day Navalny was poisoned, Biden was preparing to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee. He didnt mention the events unfolding in Russia, but weeks later he would make a promise to voters: As president, I will do what [former President] Donald Trump refuses to do: work with our allies and partners to hold the Putin regime accountable for its crimes, he said in a statement, calling Navalnys poisoning a brazen attempt on his life.

Biden and Scholz, who have known each other for more than 10 years, dont always see the world in the same way. Scholz started his political career as a member of the Social Democratic Party and reportedly once described NATO as imperialist." Biden, though a Democrat, has long been more conservative than Scholz.

The two countries have largely been on the same page about high-level issues like trying to counter Russias aggression in Ukraine and Africa. But behind the scenes, officials from both countries have been in a tug of war over how to arm Ukraine (Scholz has been slower to approve some weapons packages) and NATO spending (Biden has wanted Germany to spend more).

But Biden and Scholz agreed on the need to stop Russias imprisonment of journalists and dissidents. Navalnys treatment by Russian President Vladimir Putin was emblematic of the kind of bad behavior that would only worsen if the Kremlin were to continue to get away with it.

For his party, Navalny decided that he needed to go back to Russia despite the risks. When he landed in Moscow in January 2021, he was immediately detained. Mass protests broke out across Russia.

Biden, worried about what might come next, warned Putin by phone in January 2021 that there would be severe consequences if Navalny were to die in Russian custody. The U.S. would later levy harsh sanctions on Russia. Several months later, Biden made his warning public in a press conference following the NATO summit.

More and more people stuck behind bars in Russia

Biden also had a bigger priority  freeing Americans unjustly imprisoned by Russia, including former U.S. Marines Paul Whelan and Trevor Reed.

But tensions with Russia had heightened. After the sanctions, Moscow began stopping more Westerners at airports, searching bags, in an effort to take additional prisoners. In February 2021, WNBA star Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia.

By that fall, U.S. intelligence agencies had mounting evidence that Russia was actively planning to invade Ukraine, worrying officials that any potential prisoner swap would have to wait.

Scholz visited the White House on Feb. 2, 2022, and spoke with Biden about the Russian buildup on the border of Ukraine, Navalny and the potential for additional sanctions on Moscow. He met with Putin two weeks later, on Feb. 15, 2022.

Standing next to the Russian leader in a press conference in Moscow after the meeting, Scholz said: A prison sentence in his case goes against legal standards of a state that abides by the rule of law.

On Feb. 24, 2022, Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Even as fighting raged, Washington attempted a number of prisoner swaps with Russia, with some success. In April 2022, the Russians released Reed in exchange for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian drug smuggler. Then, in December 2022, the Biden administration made a tough call: It agreed to release Viktor Bout, a notorious Russian arms dealer, in exchange for Griner.

Attempts to free others, including Whelan, floundered. Navalny, meanwhile, remained in prison, appearing in court in May 2022, saying Putin had started a stupid war. Russia sent him to a high-security penal colony in the northern part of the country. It appeared from his video hearings that his health was deteriorating.

The next year, Moscow arrested more Westerners, including multiple German citizens. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested in March 2023 while on a reporting assignment in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor at Radio Free Europe, was arrested and imprisoned a few months later.

Russias price

Six months after Biden took office, he spoke with Putin at a lakeside Geneva mansion and requested that the two countries maintain a line of communication through the CIA to discuss prisoner swaps.

To many inside the Biden administration, and even to outsiders who had a sense of how Putin operated, it was clear the Russian leader was holding out for one person: Vadim Krasikov.

Krasikov was an FSB colonel who shot and killed a Chechen dissident in 2019 in a Berlin park and was being held in Germany. He was close to Putin and known as one of Russias go-to hitmen.

In the fall of 2022, Putin indicated through various messages that he wanted Krasikov back and indicated Russia might be willing to give up Whelan in exchange.

It was welcome news to the U.S., but also presented a challenge. It would require the sign-off of one person: Scholz. There were already discussions underway  among Navalnys supporters  and inside the U.S. and German governments in Washington and Berlin about multiple variations of prisoner swap deals, including ones that involved Krasikov for Navalny.

It wasnt exactly a novel idea. To anyone who knew the internal workings of both countries political systems and Putins relationship with Krasikov, a trade that included Krasikov for Navalny seemed like a natural strategy.

"The Americans tried to get Krasikov for Whelan and Griner, and they got a no, said investigative journalist Christo Grozev, who worked with U.S. officials to try and free Navalny. That was predictable because the Germans will never, ever, ever hand over a convicted killer for an American because it's political suicide in Germany.

Its unclear when the U.S. and Germany first formally discussed a potential release of Krasikov. There were multiple discussions inside and between governments at the same time  some formal, some informal.

Sullivan broached the idea with his German counterpart in 2022, but Scholzs government refused. Giving up Krasikov, a murderer, was too big of an ask, the chancellor said.

A trade that freed Navalny was the only thing that sounded like it might get Scholz to even consider releasing Krasikov.

Scholz hadnt brought up Navalny in any formal prisoner swap offer or discussion. But he was both personally fond of the Russian dissident, and freeing Navalny would be a massive political win for Scholz, and might be an acceptable trade-off for a release of Krasikov.

But it was far from clear that Russia would even consider releasing Navalny  who was managing to mobilize the Russian dissident community from behind bars.

And getting Krasikov released would be politically complicated for Scholz. The foreign ministry and certain elements of the legal system inside Germany were against it.

Scholz also wasnt sure he was comfortable releasing a person who had so brutally murdered someone on German soil  at a childrens playground, no less.

Scholz started his political career as a left-wing member of the Social Democrat party. And past members of that political faction had in the 1970s vigorously argued against freeing prisoners in Germany who were members of a far-left militant group. Scholz spoke at the funeral of one of those German politicians  former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt  and praised him for his firm stance on freeing terrorists.

For Washington, the deal Germany envisioned wasnt desirable, either.

The U.S. wasnt willing to engage in any formal deal that did not take into consideration its own citizens, a senior administration official said.

There was just no way we were going to do that, the official said. This deal had to work for everyone.

At the end of 2022, the U.S. discussed internally in the White House and State Department a broader proposal: If they could get Germany to agree to give up Krasikov, maybe Russia would greenlight the release of Navalny and the Americans.

Getting the Germans to yes

At the beginning of 2023, Ukraine was failing to hold off Russias advance in the eastern Ukrainian city of Soledar. Kyiv was desperate for new weapons that could help it keep control.

But after almost a year of fighting, European countries were trying to figure out a way to continue funding and supplying Ukraine even as its defense industrial bases were struggling to keep up and their economies were on tilt. The U.S. and Germany were involved in tense discussions over whether to send tanks to Ukraine.

Scholz was not in a good spot politically. His polls were low, and Germanys economy was struggling. His government viewed the freeing of the murderer Krasikov as morally wrong and politically disastrous.

But Scholz didnt shut the door to the idea. He viewed his relationship with the U.S., and Biden in particular, as crucial to his hold on power and his reputation inside NATO. And German authorities took particular care to protect Krasikov, moving him to a new prison for fear he would be killed in the prison in Berlin where he was being held. Several of his fellow inmates were Chechen.

Throughout 2023, the Germans contemplated the proposal, working to figure out how, exactly, they could help their American allies while also keeping Scholz stay afloat. Some of the ideas were about pure political cover  like getting an official request from the U.S. for the release of Krasikov.

During this time, CIA Director William Burns relayed a number of other potential deals to Russia to free the Americans. In November, the U.S. offered Russia several illegals who were detained in Slovenia. Moscow refused, and suggested trading Krasikov for Gershkovich, one of the U.S. officials said.

Sullivan stressed to his German counterpart Jens Plotner that the U.S. did not have the Russians that Putin wanted. It was Krasikov or no deal.

Germany said it needed more time to consider.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt spoke to Biden just after the arrest of Gershovich, saying Germany was amenable, according to an account by The Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens met with Grozev and discussed the Navalny supporters plan  Krasikov for Navalny  that theyd drawn up the year before.

Then, on Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people. The aftermath slowed talks, but in November 2023, Carstens met Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in Israel at a hotel and presented him with a hypothetical: Would Putin agree to trade Navalny for Krasikov?

It was an informal, unsanctioned effort to find out if the other key player in the deal  Russia  would even consider letting Navalny go. If the U.S. had a definitive yes from Moscow, maybe that would convince Germany.

Weeks later, Carstens and other U.S. officials heard back. Putin had agreed. It was far short of an official commitment, and some U.S. officials werent sure that Abromovich was even a dependable interlocutor for Putin. But it was something.

On Feb. 9, Scholz met Biden in the Oval Office to discuss the potential prisoner swap.

It was a tense meeting, another senior administration official said. Washington was on edge, worrying the window for getting Gershkovich and Whelan, and potentially others, out of prison was closing.

But, as Scholz had indicated over the phone to Biden days earlier, hed considered the possibility of releasing Krasikov for months. The Germans were worried about a potential Trump presidency and wanted to move on a deal before the U.S. presidential elections in November.

For you, I will do this, Scholz told Biden. On the condition, of course, that Navalny was part of the deal.

Two days later, Washington sent a formal request to Berlin for the release of Krasikov.

It changed everything

A week later, on Feb. 16, Navalny died in a remote Arctic penal colony.

It changed everything, one of the U.S. officials said. No one knew what was going to happen with the deal.

Navalnys death shook the world, sending mourners in Russia out into the streets. And it shocked the White House, whod held out hope for nearly two years that it would be able to bring Americans home from Russia. Theyd also wanted to try and find away to free Navalny.

On that day, honestly, to be frank with you, the team felt like the wind had been taken out of our sails in terms of our efforts to get Paul and Evan back home, one of the U.S. officials said.

The U.S. hadnt even had a chance to pull together the formal offer to Russia for the deal  one that would have included Navalny, the Americans and Krasikov.

We were already in the early phase of operational coordination with the U.S. But before concrete talks with the Russian side took place, Navalny was dead, the German official said.

Shortly after Navalny died, U.S. officials began getting word from Berlin that Germany was uncomfortable continuing to move ahead with a deal that did not include Navalny.

At the Munich Security Conference in Berlin in the days after Navalnys death, U.S. officials started scrambling for another way to get the Americans out. Vice President Kamala Harris, briefed on the deal, met with Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob.

His country had arrested and detained two Russian spies the U.S. wanted to offer up as part of the agreement. After Krasikov, the pair were seen as two of the most important prisoners that President Putin wanted back. The Slovenians said they would try to help, but the countrys legal system wouldnt make their release easy.

And it was in no way clear that the Slovenian prisoners alone would be seen by Putin as enough to warrant a deal.

The new math

Navalnys death forced the U.S. and Germany to try and find another way forward. In Berlin, it became a question of numbers  enough to justify Krasikov.

Sullivan started looking for another way to balance the scales. He instructed his staff to move forward with a plan to put a proposal together that included the Americans, several Germans and a number of Russians who were detained in various parts of Europe.

We knew that for there to be any chance for Germany to put Krasikov on the table, it would have to be more than just the Americans coming out and Germans coming out. It would also have to involve a significant release, something that would justify and be worthy of the return of Krasikov to Russia, Sullivan said in an interview. We developed the concept that we would combine the Krasikov offer with these additional assets with some Russians in custody for the larger package that was ultimately put forward.

Surprisingly, the Germans didnt end negotiations once Navalny died. We had to first deal with that heavy blow, the German official said. After a few weeks, however, we picked up the ball again."

One factor in the Germans decision-making: They were convinced that Putin felt a Trump presidency would mean no deal, so this might be the best chance to get a large number of people out, according to another German official. They also were worried that Russia would continue to arrest Westerners in an attempt to get more leverage for Krasikov.

But Germany demanded, this time, that whatever form the agreement took, it would have to include multiple Germans held in Russia.

Chancellory basically gave the order: We get a mega-deal for Krasikov or nothing, one of the German officials said.

A kind of posthumous homage

The complex multicountry trade still took months to put together.

Throughout June, U.S. intelligence officials met with their Russian counterparts in Middle Eastern countries. The German security services conducted their own talks.

In July, Sullivan, Blinken and their staff rushed to pull together the logistical details, including getting Slovenia to have its courts sign off on the release of the two spies. It took a call from Biden to Golob to cinch that part of the deal.

On Aug. 1, 24 people were released from prison from seven different countries. The U.S. brought home Gershkovich, Whelan and Kurmasheva as well as U.S. permanent resident Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian opposition activist and columnist at The Washington Post.

The deal took dozens of officials from multiple different countries to pull off. But it was, in large part, Biden and Scholz, who found a way forward.

It struck me that there are larger things that come out of this, in terms of our alliance, in terms of our values, and living them out, Sullivan said. Im pretty overwhelmed.

In the U.S., the news was celebrated. Journalists cheered Gershkovichs release. Television crews waited on the tarmac for the detainees arrival, airing video of the Americans landing and embracing their families.

In Germany, the response was more mixed. Some political factions called out Scholz for releasing Krasikov  criticism the chancellor had anticipated and hoped to avoid.

In the end, Germany brought home five of its citizens who had been wrongfully detained or sentenced to death in Russia and Belarus.

We prevailed against Russia across the board. Members of Navalny's network were freed, one of the German officials said. It's a kind of posthumous homage to Navalny.

Hans von der Burchard contributed to this report.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report mischaracterized a far-left militant group in Germany.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A former 6th grade teacher at Bessie Owens Elementary School has been sentenced to a year in jail for possession of child pornography.

Matthew Carl Ambrose was taken into custody at the end of Thursdays sentencing hearing. He must register as a sex offender and follow other conditions imposed as part of a plea agreement reached last month.

BPD officer accused of ordering K-9 to unnecessarily attack arraigned on misdemeanor charge

Ambrose resigned shortly after prosecutors filed charges, his attorneys said in a written statement. They said he wont be teaching again.

Mr. Ambrose possessed this material inside his personal home on his computer, his attorneys said. He is ashamed and embarrassed by his conduct and has taken every step to accept responsibility and ensure that this behavior will never again repeat itself.

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Ambrose was 59 and working at the school at the time of his arrest in May of last year. Hundreds of files with child pornographic titles were found on a computer at Ambroses home after an investigation linked him to sharing illegal files online, according to a warrant filed by Bakersfield police.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
Former Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara will not face jail time in connection with a crash in 2023, but she must apologize to the woman whose home she barreled into, court records show.

On Wednesday, Lara pleaded guilty in West Roxbury Municipal Court to driving with a suspended license. Judge Kathleen E. Coffey, however, dismissed charges of operating an uninsured car and permitting injury to a child.

Judge Coffey sentenced Lara, 34, to administrative probation and ordered her to pen a letter of apology to the homeowner, Georgia Kalogerakis, within 30 days.

Lara was driving more than double the 25 mph speed limit when she crashed her Honda sedan into a home on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain in June 2023, according to police. Investigators also said that her 7-year-old son was not adequately restrained in a booster seat, and he had to go to the hospital with injuries.

In October 2023, prosecutors agreed to drop initial charges of the reckless operation of a motor vehicle, injury to a child while driving, and speeding.

Four lengthy Boston police bodycam videos showed officers speaking with Lara in the moments after the crash and an interview with a man who claimed the councilor was driving like a bat out of hell before she struck a house on Centre Street on June 30.

Lara has not held a valid drivers license since 2013, yet she regularly drove to work at Boston City Hall in a dark gray Honda Civic, the same make and model of the car involved in the crash, a city spokesperson previously told Boston 25. Lara denied that accusation.

Court records showed that Lara was found to be responsible for not placing a child under 8 years old and under 58 inches in a car seat. She was found not responsible for failure to wear a seatbelt and driving an unregistered motor vehicle.

The charge of negligent operation was continued without a finding.

The high-profile case negatively impacted Laras campaign to be reelected and degraded her perception in the community, her team said as the investigation unfolded.

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Noah Bevin, the son of former Gov. Matt Bevin and his estranged wife, Glenna Bevin, is back in the United States after being abandoned at an abusive school in Jamaica, according to a nonprofit foundation working on the case.

Chelsea Maldanado, a consultant and researcher with 11:11 Media Impact, said 17-year-old Noah, which is a pseudonym, did not come back to Kentucky, but would not reveal where he is due to privacy concerns. He returned to the U.S. in May.

He is currently safe and doing well in his new placement, Maldonado said. I think hes still processing his experiences, but he seems to be doing well and I know hes cared for.

The foundation was founded by celebrity Paris Hilton, a survivor of an abusive youth treatment facility, to bring more attention to the Troubled Teen industry. It has been working with several children who were abandoned at the Atlantis Leadership Academy in Jamaica, which was shut down by authorities in April 2024 after allegations of abuse and neglect, according to a July 13 story in the London Sunday Times.

In April 2024, five employees of the school were charged with child cruelty and assault. Staff were accused of beating children, placing them in stress positions such as a plank for hours at a time, and forcing them to work out until they vomited.

Neither Matt Bevin nor Glenna Bevin has commented on the situation. Noah is one of four children they adopted in 2012 from Ethiopia after the state of Kentucky turned down an adoption request to add to their five birth children. Their experience trying to adopt in Kentucky was a key point of Bevins campaign for governor, and during his four years in office he was a fierce advocate for improving the states adoption and foster care system.

Noah was one of three adopted children left at the school in Jamaica after it closed. They were taken into custody by Jamaicas Child Protective and Family Service Agency, which arranged the new placement, Maldonado said. Only one boy is still in Jamaica.

In March, Jamaican officials held a court hearing for the boys left at ALA. Maldonado said in an interview on Thursday that Noah directly told her and the London Times reporter, Decca Aitkenhead, at the time that he was the son of the former Kentucky governor.

The new placement was arranged by lawyers and Jamaican officials. Maldonado said she believed the Bevins would have had to be a party to the agreement.

It is my understanding that to do the legal paperwork, his (Noahs) parents had to agree to it, said Maldonado, who is herself a survivor of another abusive treatment facility in Jamaica. Otherwise, it would not be enforceable.

Depressed and dejected

Dawn J. Post is an attorney in Manhattan who specializes in broken adoptions. When the news about the ALA school broke, she flew to Jamaica to offer her pro-bono services to the three adopted boys, who signed retainers for free legal advice.

Post said she contacted Glenna Bevin, who told Post that she, Glenna, would have to speak with her husband. During the third court hearing last spring, the ALA attorneys made a complaint about Post on the Bevins behalf, and she was asked to leave the courtroom.

But Post confirmed the Bevins would have had to sign off on a transfer of guardianship for Noah to be moved to the U.S.

This particular young man is the one I was most concerned about immediately after meeting him, Post said in a phone interview on Thursday. In contrast to some of the other boys who were energized to see Americans and get basic necessities even though their parents had not shown up, he appeared to be so depressed and dejected and so hopeless and helpless looking,

Post said she was also told the boy was doing much better now.

She questioned whether Kentuckys child protective services were investigating the case. Officials with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services were not immediately available for comment on Thursday.

Randall Cook, the founder of ALA, who allegedly fled Jamaica last spring, gave a statement to Fox 56 News in which he said all legal obligations had been satisfied.

My physical departure was required in direct proportion to death threats and other received content that came about due to reckless collusion by celebrities, activists and journalists, Cook said. He called the raid an empty, salacious accusation.

Maldonado said Hilton and her foundation will continue to advocate for survivors from such facilities, some of which started abroad as early as the 1950s. As someone went to a foreign program, it is mind-blowing you can have your child forcibly transported out of the country and imprisoned and thats totally legal.
Ex-Indiana policeman tried to set up a fellow officer. Now he's barred from law enforcement

DANVILLE  A former Plainfield police officer has been ordered to spend a year on probation after attempting to lob false allegations of child sexual and physical abuse against a fellow officer in an aim to block his potential promotion, according to online court records.

Thursday, Valentin Khazin entered a guilty plea to official misconduct in connection with the fabrication scheme. As part of his plea filed in Hendricks Superior Court, the state dismissed his false informing charge and second count of official misconduct.

Khazin's sentence of one year in Hendricks County Jail was suspended to a year on probation.

Detectives in an arrest report said the investigation began in June 2023 after a clerk at a gas station frequented by police alerted authorities about being asked to make a false crime report.

The gas station clerk told investigators that Khazin asked him to use an AI program to craft three letters containing false accusations of verbal, physical and sexual child abuse against a Plainfield police sergeant who doubled as a school resource officer.

Khazin wanted to prevent the sergeant from becoming a lieutenant, the same job he wanted, the gas station clerk told police.

He was told to send the false letters to the departments chief, the Plainfield Town Council and the Plainfield Community School Board under the promise the clerk would "benefit in the future with an unspecified, eventual quid pro quo," according to court records.

Following the report, police detectives surveilled the gas station for several weeks. In mid-August 2023, Khazin returned to the gas station and the clerk placed the fake letter on the counter. Khazin is seen looking over the letter for several seconds and saying yeah.

Police in the arrest affidavit said they tried recording a second conversation but were unsuccessful and brought Khazin in for questioning.

The policeman denied the accusations about the letter. When asked about the sergeant, detectives said Khazin replied he hates him and described a contentious relationship that began after the sergeant got into his face and yelled at him during an investigation. Khazin, who resigned Aug. 30 last year, had worked for the Plainfield police department since March 27, 2020.

On Sept. 1, 2023, Hendricks County prosecutors filed charges.

Court records show a judge granted Khazins request to move to Florida while his case remained pending in court.

As part of his probation terms, Khazin was ordered to permanently forfeit his law enforcement credentials in Indiana and is prohibited from applying to become a law enforcement officer in another state.

Contact IndyStar reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Ex-Indiana policeman sentenced after trying to falsely accuse coworker
State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, Revenue Committee chair, leads an afternoon news conference explaining changes to how the state distributes aid to its 244 public school districts. She is flanked by State Sens. Rob Clements of Elmwood, to her left, and Dave Murman of Glenvil. Aug. 7, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  A soon-to-be revamped property tax relief proposal in the Nebraska Legislature would use an existing school aid formula to funnel at least $1.8 billion to the states 244 school districts.

That change would be made largely to replace local property taxes with state funding, dropping maximum school tax rates for operational expenses from $1.05 per $100 of property valuations to a 25-cent lid.

Operational expenses represent about 80% of local school district budgets, the bulk of which Gov. Jim Pillen originally this summer considered having the state assume complete funding authority over.

The existing state equalization aid formula, which is used to give more state investments to schools, would be used as the vehicle to distribute the funds in place of property taxes.

If you dont vote for this, youre voting for an increase in property taxes, State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the Revenue Committee chair, said at a Wednesday news conference. Its clear as day.

More than enough money

Linehan introduced LB 1 on behalf of Pillen, which ultimately did not include any direct language that would change future taxing authority to address Pillens outlined goals.

Instead, State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward introduced LB 9, which would also drop maximum school tax rates to 25 cents per $100 of valuation, but her bill proposed reducing the tax rate gradually over 10 years. She crafted the bipartisan proposal with four lawmakers: State Sens. Tom Brandt of Plymouth, Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, Myron Dorn of Adams and Lynne Walz of Fremont.

Linehan, however, is ushering through the final Revenue Committee amendment to LB 9. She told reporters that the 25-cent tax rate was a result of that bipartisan work and because she asked many school leaders and senators last week what level of taxing authority would satisfy them.

Hughes and other state senators had said some level of taxing authority was needed so districts would not be entirely dependent on the state for funding.

The 244 school districts would retain roughly $1 billion in operational expenses from property taxes. That does not count bonds or two funds that go toward building projects or other specialized needs, which schools could still raise taxes for.

Well have more than enough money to do this, plus some other things for counties, Linehan said.

TEEOSA changes

Linehan said the committee would use LB 9 to significantly modify the existing equalization aid formula  the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act, or TEEOSA, created in 1990, that would also be used to reduce local property taxes.

TEEOSA aid will be determined by the difference between a districts 18 needs and six resources.

Needs include student growth, poverty and English as a second language. Resources include net option enrollment, allocated income tax funds and base aid per student.

Another resource is based on possible property tax collections, assuming a $1 hypothetical tax rate across each school district. That is the amount the state assumes a district could raise if it had that high of a tax rate, based on its annual valuations.

The proposal would reduce that rate to 25 cents, dramatically increasing state aid.

An estimated $501 million in equalization aid is expected for the upcoming school year. The amendment would increase that total to $2.294 billion.

Under the current funding method, for the 2024-25 school year, 75% of school districts likely wouldnt receive equalization aid because their resources outweigh their needs. All school districts do receive some state aid, largely through foundation aid  roughly $1,500 for each student in a district, which was established in 2023.

Hughes, who isnt a member of the Revenue Committee, declined to comment until the committee amendment to her bill was finalized.

Reform needs to be careful

Walz said part of the reason she liked the original LB 9 was it was to be done in phases over a longer term. Every two years, lawmakers would have needed to find additional revenue to continue decreasing school tax rates, beginning at 65 cents per $100 of property valuations, then decreasing by 10 cents every two years.

We were not disrupting services. We were not disrupting peoples lives. We were not creating a panic, Walz said of the original plan. It was a solid plan that could be paid for. We could find the money for that.

Walz, a former chair of the Legislatures Education Committee, said that her constituents want property tax relief and that she does, too. However, most of her constituents want any changes to be made carefully.

LB 9 will be considered by the Revenue Committee for one final vote at a closed-door executive session meeting Thursday morning, which is open to reporters but closed to the public.

I dont want to see reckless property tax relief that hurts Nebraskans, that hurts our education system, that takes away from vital services for people, Walz said. We dont have to do everything today.

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Tourists visit Vanke Songhua Lake Resort in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 3, 2024. In order to further develop tourism industry, ski resorts in Jilin City lay on many outdoor activities, from mountain biking to camping festivals, providing tourists with a good place to cool off in summer. (Xinhua/Li He)

An aerial drone photo shows tourists visiting Vanke Songhua Lake Resort in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 3, 2024. In order to further develop tourism industry, ski resorts in Jilin City lay on many outdoor activities, from mountain biking to camping festivals, providing tourists with a good place to cool off in summer. (Xinhua/Li He)

Tourists camp at Vanke Songhua Lake Resort in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 3, 2024. In order to further develop tourism industry, ski resorts in Jilin City lay on many outdoor activities, from mountain biking to camping festivals, providing tourists with a good place to cool off in summer. (Xinhua/Li He)

A wedding ceremony is held at Vanke Songhua Lake Resort in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 3, 2024. In order to further develop tourism industry, ski resorts in Jilin City lay on many outdoor activities, from mountain biking to camping festivals, providing tourists with a good place to cool off in summer. (Xinhua/Li He)

Children attend a summer camp at Beidahu Ski Resort in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, June 9, 2024. In order to further develop tourism industry, ski resorts in Jilin City lay on many outdoor activities, from mountain biking to camping festivals, providing tourists with a good place to cool off in summer. (Photo by Sun Zhi/Xinhua)

Children attend a summer camp at Beidahu Ski Resort in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, June 9, 2024. In order to further develop tourism industry, ski resorts in Jilin City lay on many outdoor activities, from mountain biking to camping festivals, providing tourists with a good place to cool off in summer. (Photo by Sun Zhi/Xinhua)

Tourists ride cable cars at Vanke Songhua Lake Resort in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 3, 2024. In order to further develop tourism industry, ski resorts in Jilin City lay on many outdoor activities, from mountain biking to camping festivals, providing tourists with a good place to cool off in summer. (Xinhua/Li He)

An aerial drone photo shows tourists attending outdoor activities at Vanke Songhua Lake Resort in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 3, 2024. In order to further develop tourism industry, ski resorts in Jilin City lay on many outdoor activities, from mountain biking to camping festivals, providing tourists with a good place to cool off in summer. (Xinhua/Li He)

Children skateboard at Vanke Songhua Lake Resort in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 3, 2024. In order to further develop tourism industry, ski resorts in Jilin City lay on many outdoor activities, from mountain biking to camping festivals, providing tourists with a good place to cool off in summer. (Xinhua/Li He)

A child skateboards at Vanke Songhua Lake Resort in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 3, 2024. In order to further develop tourism industry, ski resorts in Jilin City lay on many outdoor activities, from mountain biking to camping festivals, providing tourists with a good place to cool off in summer. (Xinhua/Li He)

An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 3, 2024 shows a wedding ceremony held at Vanke Songhua Lake Resort in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province. In order to further develop tourism industry, ski resorts in Jilin City lay on many outdoor activities, from mountain biking to camping festivals, providing tourists with a good place to cool off in summer. (Xinhua/Li He)
Former President Donald Trumps speaking style may reveal signs of cognitive decline, according to psychological experts.

An analysis by STAT - a media organization focusing on health - found that Trumps common pattern of speech called tangentiality  jumping from topic to topic with few if any connections in between  is just one of a number of incoherent speaking habits that appears to have worsened in the last few years.

In 2017, Trumps first year as president, STAT found Trumps speaking style had worsened since the 1980s. In a repetition of that analysis, experts found that since 2017, Trumps way of speaking has deteriorated further. The complexity of his speaking style has decreased and while the experts in memory, psychology, and linguistics who spoke to STAT noted that they couldnt give a diagnosis without conducting an examination, several of them said some of the changes in the former presidents speaking style were possible signs of cognitive decline.

Before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, the 81-year-old Democrats age and mental capabilities received the most scrutiny, particularly after his disastrous debate performance on June 27. But now, as Trump, 78, is running against Vice President Kamala Harris, 59, that focus is shifting towards the former president.

Trump has claimed to have aced cognitive tests and urged all candidates to take them.

I want anybody running for president to take an aptitude test, to take a cognitive test. I think its a great idea. And I took two of them, and I aced them, he told the National Association of Black Journalists last week.

Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, speaks at a campaign rally. Experts are now voicing concern over his congnitive decline. (AP)

During the 2024 campaign, Trump has appeared to mix up the names of Biden and his predecessor President Barack Obama, as well as the former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. But even as those errors received heavy scrutiny, those mistakes arent significant, experts say.

Everyone to some degree has some level of mixing up of names, clinical psychologist Ben Michaelis told STAT.

Psychology professor Zenzi Griffin at the University of Texas at Austin noted that Nikki Haley and Nancy Pelosi are similar-sounding names which makes it an easy error to make.

But when experts viewed clips from 2024 and compared them to clips from 2017, they noted that Trumps speech included more short sentences, a confused order of words, repetition and extended digressions. The causes could vary, some worse than others, including mood changes, trying to win over a certain group of people, natural aging or it could be the start of a cognitive condition such as Alzheimers disease, the experts said.

In an analysis for STAT, fellow University of Texas social psychologist James Pennebaker reviewed transcripts of interviews with Trump from 2015 until 2024. He found a major rise in all-or-nothing thinking which is signified by the use of words such as completely, never and always.

That trend could indicate depression, Pennebaker said, which also connects to his use of fewer positive words than earlier, and also his many references to negative emotions following his departure from the White House.

A rise in all-or-nothing thinking is connected to cognitive decline. Pennebaker told STAT that Bidens all-or-nothing thinking has also increased.

Pennebaker noted that a linguistic metric of analytic thinking reveals that Trumps levels of complexity are remarkably low  most presidential candidates range between 60 and 70 in the metric, while Trump ranges from 10 to 24, something Pennebaker called staggering.

He does not think in a complex way at all, he added.

Several experts said some of the changes in the former presidents speaking style were possible signs of cognitive decline, including a rise in all-or-nothing thinking. (EPA)

Michaelis noted that Trumps digressions have increased since 2017 and that its hard to follow him.

Youd expect some cognitive diminishment, of course, hes 78 years old, he said.

He added that he couldnt give a diagnosis but said that Trumps speaking style is concerning.

Theres reasonable evidence suggestive of forms of dementia, he told STAT. The reduction in complexity of sentences and vocabulary does lead you to a certain picture of cognitive diminishment.

Boston University neurology professor Andrew Budson told the outlet that Trumps digressions are likely connected to the frontal lobe, which is the part of the brain that is most affected by aging. The digressions could also be a sign of ADHD, bad sleep or it could be an indication of Alzheimers.

Budson noted that the repetitions could be a sign of lower efficiency in the frontal lobe but that it could take place with normal aging instead of a condition.

The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.
Project Summary:

This story is part of KXANs Preventing Disaster investigation, which initially published on May 15, 2024. The project follows a fatal car crash into an Austin hospitals emergency room earlier that year. Our team took a broader look at safety concerns with that crash and hundreds of others across the nation  including whether medical sites had security barriers  known as bollards  at their entrances. Experts say those could stop crashes from happening.

AUSTIN (KXAN)  The video is hard to watch.

It looks like it felt, Levi Bernard said. It was really, really, extremely violent and scary.

Six months after a drunk driver sped into St. Davids North Austin Medical Center, newly obtained surveillance footage shows how it all unfolded.

The Bernard family says its important for the public, and policymakers, to see what happened  especially as Austin leaders, other cities, and at least one state senator, consider new hospital safety laws following a KXAN investigation. Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) is even asking for a bollard review of all federal facilities in the southwestern U.S.

Grateful to be alive

Were still very grateful to be alive, said Levis wife Nadia, who is still recovering but no longer needs a wheelchair to get around. Were doing better. Its a slow progress.

The silent surveillance videos, captured by St. Davids cameras, renew questions about how the deadly crash was able to happen.

In a statement, St. Davids asked us not to air the videos, even with faces blurred, citing concerns over the privacy of our patients and employees. A city attorney who released the videos said it is evidence, and now public information, in a closed police case. We have ensured any identities beyond the Bernard family have been concealed.

Levi and Nadia Bernard with their toddlers, Sunny and Rio, left, before being run over by a car in the lobby of St. Davids North Austin Medical Center. (Source: Austin Police Department)

The footage shows a white Acura sedan arriving to the hospital around 4:55 p.m. on Feb. 13  more than 30 minutes before the deadly crash. At 5:34 p.m., video shows the car speeding toward the hospital ER doors. Inside, more than a dozen people are in the lobby waiting room, including all four members of the Bernard family.

The surveillance video shows just how close other patients came to being run over, including one person who jumped out of the way at the last second. Nadia and Levi were standing next to a large aquarium at the time with their two toddlers, whose faces were pressed up against the glass to get a closer look at the fish. In an instant, the car smashes into them, sending water, glass and debris flying everywhere. The car stopped when it crashed into a wall at the registration desk.

The driver, Michelle Holloway, had a blood alcohol level three to four times the legal limit to drive, toxicology results found. She never let off the gas as the car increased speed from 15 to 47 miles per hour, a police investigation found.

KXAN attempted to reach members of Holloways family but were unsuccessful.

EXPLORE: KXAN finds hundreds of hospital crashes, no bollard requirement

The footage is now evidence in a $1 million lawsuit against St. Davids alleging gross negligence for not having security bollards at the time  a security feature in place at its other hospitals. St. Davids North Austin Medical Center installed a dozen bollards after the crash.

Why they waited until afterwards is a question only St. Davids will be able to answer, said the Bernard familys attorney, Sean Breen, with the Austin law firm Howry Breen & Herman. And we are going to get that answer.

KXAN asked Breen if there is any doubt bollards could have prevented disaster.

It is a 100% engineering probability that bollards would have stopped this car, Breen said. And nobody would have been hurt.

(KXAN Graphic/Wendy Gonzalez)

Driving significant, positive change

Three weeks ago, Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly publicly credited the Bernards story  told in a KXAN investigation which found more than 300 crashes involving hospitals nationwide in the past decade  for inspiring her resolution requiring crash-rated security barriers at new hospitals in Austin.

St. Davids has not said whether the bollards it installed are crash-rated to withstand a vehicle impact.

The awareness generated from your experience is driving significant, positive change in your community to prevent such tragedies from occurring again, Kelly said in public remarks directed at the Bernard family.

Nearly six months to the day after the crash, the family is still recovering emotionally and physically. KXAN asked what they think about the impact their story has had in Austin, other cities, and even on a federal level.

Its unfortunate that bollards werent there when this happened to us, Levi said. But were just super glad that our story is being used as a sort of catalyst.

To how things should be, Nadia continued. And that no one else will have to go through what were going through.

This week, Kelly reacted to the surveillance videos.

After viewing the latest footage, there is no doubt in my mind that improving hospital safety standards in Austin was the right thing to do, Kelly said in a statement. First responders and citizens alike have reached out with appreciation, and we all wish something like this had been implemented sooner.

Witnessing what the Bernard Family, and all the others in the video, went through is difficult to watch, she continued. I am grateful for all the heroes that are seen jumping into action to help others, including the doctors, nurses, and other bystanders. Finally, thank you to my colleagues at city hall for cosponsoring and voting yes on my resolution to require crash tested bollards at hospitals and medical facilities. Together, we have made a difference to protect our community.

The Austin City Council will take a final vote in October to approve a hospital bollard requirement.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Veteran character actor Gabriel Olds was arrested in Los Angeles on Wednesday and has been charged with seven felony sexual assault charges, according to the LAPD. The 52-year-old actor who played Pat Robertson in the Jessica Chastain starrer The Eyes of Tammy Faye was taken into custody by West Bureau investigators around 9:40 a.m. near the area of Norway Lane and Norman Place in Brentwood. Olds is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.

Los Angeles Police Departments Operations-West Bureaus Special Assault Section detectives say they are now seeking additional victims and witnesses in a series of sexual assaults in the Los Angeles area that they believe may be tied to Olds, a Yale University alum and son of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Sharon Olds.

On January 19, 2023, a 41-year-old woman told police that Olds raped her at her home in Los Angeles. Two additional adult victims subsequently came forward and made similar reports dating back to 2013. They described consensual dating encounters that descended into violent sexual assault.

On July 19, the L.A. County District Attorneys office charged Olds with seven felony sexual assault charges and the Los Angeles Superior Court issued a warrant for his arrest for $3.5 million.

The New York native, whose credits date back to the 1993 Jason Priestly starrer Calendar Girl and more recently appeared in NCIS: Los Angeles, is also a screenwriter who marched the picket lines last year during the WGA strike. His alleged victims told police that he used his status as an Ivy League graduate with success in the film industry to meet women via dating apps. Police say the three Jane Does reported that Olds lured them into a false sense of security during their initial encounters, then turned violent without seeking their consent.

Investigators have identified two additional women who reported lesser violent sexual conduct. Due to Olds travels as an actor, detectives believe there may be more victims nationwide that have yet to come forward.

We heard the same story again and again, says Det. Brent Hopkins, a Special Assault Section supervisor. Mr. Olds started off charming, but then used brutal violence to carry out these rapes. Some of these survivors suffered in silence for years before finding the strength to speak up. Now that hes off the streets, we want to make sure everyone has a chance to be heard.

Olds has worked for decades in television, appearing in a steady stream of network police procedurals as well as acclaimed series like Boardwalk Empire and Six Feet Under. He also is a mainstay in the New York theater world, with credits that include Arthur Millers A View from the Bridge at the Roundabout Theater.

Olds is represented by Imperium 7 Talent Agency, a boutique agency whose clients include Gina Gershon and Paula Patton. The agency did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

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Update, 2:35 PM: The Eyes of Tammy Faye actor Gabriel Olds is looking at a life sentence if found guilty of raping three women, LA District Attorney George Gascon said today.

Arrested by the LAPD on August 7, the 52-year-old actor is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon out at the Airport Courthouse. The DAs office will ask the court to order Olds be held on bail of $3.5 million.

More from Deadline

Olds is charged with a trio of forcible rape counts in relation to women he had relationships with from 2013  2023. Specifically, those charges are one count of rape of an unconscious or asleep person; one count of sodomy by use of force; one count of assault with intent to commit a felony; and one count of injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiance, boyfriend, girlfriend, or childs parent.

The pain and suffering these victims have endured is beyond words and no one should ever experience such a betrayal of trust. Consent is never optional, DA Gascon stated Thursday as the charges and potential sentence were officially announced. The alleged actions of Mr. Olds are utterly inexcusable and a grave violation of these womens rights. We are steadfast in our commitment to prosecute this case and ensure that the offender is held fully accountable. Our Bureau of Victim Services remains ready to assist the survivors with trauma-informed services as they navigate the difficult road to healing.

Previously, 10:14 AM: Gabriel Olds, the actor who played Pat Robertson in the 2021 feature film The Eyes of Tammy Faye, has been charged with seven felony sexual assault charges in Los Angeles.

The L.A. Superior Court last month issued a warrant for Olds arrest for $3.5 million after the charges were filed. He was taken into custody and booked on August 7. The LAPD is now seeking additional victims and witnesses in a series of sexual assaults in the L.A. area.

According to the charges, Olds, who has made appearances on NCIS: Los Angeles, Amazing Stories and SEAL Team, allegedly raped a 41-year-old woman on January 19, 2023. After the woman reported the rape, two additional adult victims came forward and made similar reports dating back to 2013.

The women describe consensual dating encounters that descended into violent sexual assault. In addition to the three women, two additional women have reported lesser violent sexual conduct by Olds. Detectives suspect there may be more victims nationwide due to Olds travels as an actor.

The women who made the allegations say Olds used his status as an Ivy League alumnus with success in the film industry to meet women to arrange dates. In recent years, several women reported meeting him via dating applications. According to police, Each victim reported that Olds lured them into a false sense of security during their initial encounters, then turned violent without seeking their consent.

We heard the same story again and again, said Detective Brent Hopkins, a Special Assault Section supervisor. Mr. Olds started off charming, but then used brutal violence to carry out these rapes. Some of these survivors suffered in silence for years before finding the strength to speak up. Now that hes off the streets, we want to make sure everyone has a chance to be heard.

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The 'Eyes of Tammy Faye' actor allegedly used his fame and Ivy League education to lure women, authorities say

Paul Archuleta/Getty, Los Angeles Police Department Gabriel Olds

Actor Gabriel Olds has been arrested and charged with seven counts of sexual assault, say police.

The Eyes of Tammy Faye actor, 52, was arrested in Los Angeles, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 7, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement on Thursday.

The Los Angeles District Attorneys Office charged him with seven counts of sexual assault in July and issued an arrest warrant for $3.5 million, per the statement.

Their investigation dates back to January 2023 when a 41-year-old woman reported Olds for allegedly raping her in her home, per the LAPD.

Soon after, police received similar accusations from two other alleged victims; police say these alleged attacks dated back 10 years, per the statement.

The accusers described alleged consensual dating encounters that descended into violent sexual assaults, the LAPD said.

We heard the same story again and again," Detective Brent Hopkins of the LAPD said in the statement, alleging that the actor would present as charming to his alleged victims and then used brutal violence to carry out these rapes.

Los Angeles Police Department Gabriel Olds

Olds, who has made brief appearances on shows such as NCIS and FBI International, allegedly used his Ivy League education and name in Hollywood to meet women and arrange dates, his accusers said, per police.

Investigators allege that several accusers have reported meeting Olds on dating apps in the past few years.

Each victim reported that Olds lured them into a false sense of security during their initial encounters, then turned violent without seeking their consent, LAPD said.

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Authorities have so far looked into three cases of alleged sexual assault and allegations from two women who reported lesser violent sexual conduct, police said. Given his travels due to his work, police believe there may be other alleged victims in other parts of the country who are yet to come forward.

It wasn't immediately clear if Olds has entered pleas or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.



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Read the original article on People.
Hollywood actor Gabriel Olds, who has appeared in dozens of supporting television and film roles over the past several decades, was arrested in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning and charged with seven counts of sexual assault, according to local authorities, who said they are seeking out other possible victims or witnesses in a series of alleged attacks that date back to over a decade ago.

Olds, 52, was taken into custody in the Crestwood Hills area of Los Angeles after the L.A. Superior Court issued a warrant for his arrest for $3.5 million in July. The district attorney had charged him with seven counts of sexual assault after a 41-year-old woman reported that hed raped her in her L.A. home; following the womans report, two other women came forward to police saying Olds had raped them in incidents dating back to 2013, according to a press release from the LAPD.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Charges against Olds include rape, rape of an unconscious person, sodomy, assault with intent to commit rape, and injury on a girlfriend or significant other.

Gabriel Olds (LAPD)

Olds, who recently appeared in the Oscar-winning The Eyes of Tammy Faye, in which he portrayed evangelist and 700 Club founder Pat Robertson, is a New York native who attended Yale University before finding success as an actor. He was cast in one-off roles on series such as JAG, CSI, and Six Feet Under and a variety of lesser-seen films before landing the Robertson role opposite Jessica Chastain.

Police say that Olds used all of these aspects of his life to charm women and lure them into a false sense of security before turning violent. They said that each woman interviewed, some of whom said they met Olds on dating applications, reported the same tactics.

We heard the same story, again and again, Detective Brent Hopkins, who is a Special Assault Section supervisor, said in the LAPDs release. Mr. Olds started off charming, but then used brutal violence to carry out these rapes. Some of these survivors suffered in silence for years before finding the strength to speak up. Now that hes off the streets, we want to make sure everyone can be heard.

In addition, police say they located two more alleged victims who said that they experienced assaults that were less violent than the initial three had reported. Investigators are now seeking more potential victims, the LAPD said, as Olds work as an actor had him traveling frequently.

Police are seeking assistance from members of the public and are asking any victims or witnesses to contact the LAPDs West Division, Special Assault Section.

An email sent Thursday by The Hollywood Reporter to a representative for Olds seeking comment was not immediately returned. Whether Olds has hired an attorney to speak on his behalf was not apparent at the time of publication and no case number for Olds arrest has yet been issued by the LAPD.

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Face torn, all body covered in bandages and blood: Russian propaganda video shows military blogger injured on 7 August

Russian propagandists have released a video featuring Yevgeny Poddubny, one of Russia's most popular military bloggers (milbloggers) and correspondent for the All-Russian State TV and Radio Company. Poddubny was injured on 7 August in Russia's Kursk Oblast, an area currently engulfed in intense fighting.

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency RIA Novosti

Details: The milblogger was taken to the Sklifosovsky Institute for Emergency Medicine by helicopter

The video suggests that the man is in critical condition, with a lacerated and bleeding face, bandaged hands, and his torso and legs also covered in bandages.

The doctors said during the transportation that the milblogger was being taken to intensive care.

Previously: Prior to this, Mikhail Delyagin, a member of Russia's State Duma (the lower chamber of the Russian parliament), and several pro-war Telegram channels reported that Poddubnyi had been killed. Later, RIA Novosti explained that the milblogger had been injured.

Background:

On 6 August, the Russians reported that Ukraine had mounted an attempt to infiltrate Kursk Oblast, Russia. On 7 August, Russian propagandists and milbloggers said Ukrainian forces had gained a foothold in the border area. Russian leader Vladimir Putin termed the situation a "provocation".

Ukraine has not yet officially commented on the events in Kursk Oblast.

On the second day after the border breakthrough in Kursk Oblast, Russia declared a state of emergency in the region.

Having analysed the data collected, experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) confirmed that supposedly Ukrainian forces have advanced up to 10 kilometres into Kursk Oblast.

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US Department of State, has stated that the US had not received any advance notice from Ukraine of any operation in Kursk Oblast. He added that "its not unusual for the Ukrainians not to notify us of their exact tactics before they execute them" and that the Ukrainians "are not violating our policy".

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Claim:

An image being shared online in late July 2024 authentically showed Adolf Hitler posing near-identically to Donald Trump in a separate, authentic photo captured after his attempted assassination.

Rating:

Rating: Fake

In July 2024, social media users shared an authentic photograph of former U.S. President Donald Trump, captured after his attempted assassination in July 2024, alongside a separate, alleged photo of Adolf Hitler. Both men were striking similar poses in the two pictures, leading one X user to say in mid-July that Trump posed "like his idol," the ex-chancellor of Nazi Germany, suggesting both photographs were real.

Another example of the two images being shared together appeared on X later in July, with a Community Note attached claiming the photo of Hitler was AI-generated.

(X user @SandraHarney1)

However, in short, although the Trump image was authentic, the alleged photo of Hitler was not. We concluded it was not AI-generated, but it was, in fact, a composite image created using elements from several different photographs, including a flipped and altered image of Hitler; a photograph of chief propagandist of the Nazi Party Joseph Goebbels; an unidentified woman; and a Nazi flag. Because of this, we rated the image of Hitler as "Fake."

On Aug. 5, 2024, Hany Farid  a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who specialized in digital forensics and image analysis  discussed the Hitler photo on LinkedIn.

Farid said he analyzed the image "with our GetReal Labs model trained to distinguish real from AI-generated images and found no evidence of AI-generation or manipulation." However, he did conclude that the image had tell-tale signs of photo manipulation and was "most likely" created using "an old-school Photoshop manipulation":

Shown below, however, is a visualization of the image/sensor noise in the historical photo. In an ideal imaging device, the pixel values of the digital image would accurately reflect the amount of light recorded by each photo detector. Real devices have imperfections, however, and these imperfections introduce noise in the image. The resulting noise pattern is typically random, fluctuating from image to image but generally uniform across the image. Below you can see a much larger noise pattern (brighter regions) for three main parts of the image (the two people and the flag). This would not happen naturally and is a tell-tale sign of photo manipulation. While I can't say exactly how this image was created, it is most likely that this is an old-school Photoshop manipulation in which several photos were composited together.

(Hany Farid LinkedIn user)

Snopes analyzed all elements of the manipulated Hitler image and found that its primary component, the photograph of Hitler, had been horizontally flipped. Additionally, Hitler's arm had been cropped and repositioned to the opposite side of his body. Below, you can see a comparison between the edited image on the left, and an authentic photograph of Hitler on the right that was published by Getty Images (with the latter flipped horizontally for ease of comparison).

(X user @JaneotN, Getty Images)

The original photograph of Hitler was also available on Alamy, a stock photo website, with a caption reading:

Adolf Hitler speech, leader of the Nazi Party and Fuhrer of Germany making an impassioned speech with his fist clenched, wearing military uniform with Iron Cross and Swastika armband. The day on which he became commander in chief of Nazi Germanys armed forces. Nazi Germany 1934

(Alarmy.com)

The second element in the edited photo was Joseph Goebbels, one of Hitler's closest associates.

(X user @JaneotN, Getty Images)

Below you can see the original photograph of Goebbels that we also accessed via Getty Images:

(Getty Images)

The third figure in the composite image is a woman whose original photograph remains unidentified.

Other rumors Snopes has investigated involving Trump and Hitler include:

Sources:

"Adolf Hitler , German statesman, making a speech." Getty Images, 28 Oct. 2009, https://www.gettyimages.it/detail/fotografie-di-cronaca/adolf-hitler-german-statesman-making-a-speech-fotografie-di-cronaca/92425421.

Emery, David. "There Is No Evidence Trump Ever Read 'Mein Kampf.'" Snopes, 20 Dec. 2023, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/trump-mein-kampf-hitler/.

Eva Braun | Facts, Biography, Picture, & Death | Britannica. 18 June 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eva-Braun.

Hany Farid | UC Berkeley School of Information. https://www.ischool.berkeley.edu/people/hany-farid. Accessed 6 Aug. 2024.

Ibrahim, Nur. "No Proof Trump Said Hitler 'Did Some Good Things.'" Snopes, 10 May 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/trump-hitler-good-things/.

"In a World of Moving Pictures, Photographs Capture Indelible Moments in Trump Assassination Attempt." AP News, 15 July 2024, https://apnews.com/article/trump-photo-flag-iconic-bullet-f668b7dcc7b365a319a5daaac582775d.

Joseph Goebbels | Biography, Propaganda, Images, Death, & Facts | Britannica. 13 July 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Goebbels.

"Joseph Goebbels, German politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda..." Getty Images, 22 Nov. 2016, https://www.gettyimages.it/detail/fotografie-di-cronaca/joseph-goebbels-german-politician-and-reich-fotografie-di-cronaca/624464574.

Liles, Jordan. "Did Trump Echo Hitler with Remark About Migrants, 'Poisoning the Blood of Our Country'?" Snopes, 4 Oct. 2023, https://www.snopes.com//news/2023/10/04/trump-poison-blood-quote/.

Limited, Alamy. Adolf Hitler Speech, Leader of the Nazi Party and Fuhrer of Germany Making an Impassioned Speech with His Fist Clenched, Wearing Military Uniform with Iron Cross and Swastika Armband. The Day on Which He Became Commander in Chief of Nazi Germanys Armed Forces. Nazi Germany 1934 Stock Photo - Alamy. https://www.alamy.com/adolf-hitler-speech-leader-of-the-nazi-party-and-fuhrer-of-germany-making-an-impassioned-speech-with-his-fist-clenched-wearing-military-uniform-with-iron-cross-and-swastika-armband-the-day-on-which-he-became-commander-in-chief-of-nazi-germanys-armed-forces-nazi-germany-1934-image572215816.html. Accessed 6 Aug. 2024.
Claim:

A video from 2017 suggests U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris does not want anyone to say "Merry Christmas," no matter the year.

Rating:

Rating: False

Context:

Former U.S. President Donald Trump made the claim at an Aug. 3, 2024, rally.

With three months to go until the 2024 U.S. presidential election, former Republican U.S. President Donald Trump addressed a campaign rally crowd in Atlanta, Georgia, telling them Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris doesn't want Americans to say "Merry Christmas."

Trump told the crowd at an Aug. 3 rally, referencing Harris, "Ready? The two words are 'Merry Christmas.' She doesn't want anybody saying 'Merry Christmas.' Now she's denying it and then they found the tape last night. She's such a liar."

Basically, the accusation less than five months from the Christmas holiday was that Harris  while setting her sights on the White House  did not want anyone saying "Merry Christmas." However, this broad claim was both false and nothing more than the latest chapter in what's become known as the "War on Christmas"  a familiar theme of seemingly imaginary persecution promoted at past Trump rallies.

Trump's mention of a "tape" referenced the unearthing of a December 2017 video clip first reported by Fox News Digital on Aug. 1, 2024. The article on FoxNews.com (archived) displayed the headline, "Flashback: Harris fumed at Americans for saying 'Merry Christmas' before illegal migrants got protections."

The Fox article began:

Then-Sen. Kamala Harris warned Americans not to say "Merry Christmas" until there was permanent status for some illegal immigrants  amid a Trump-era battle over protections for some illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. "And when we all sing happy tunes, and sing Merry Christmas, and wish each other Merry Christmas, these children are not going to have a Merry Christmas. How dare we speak Merry Christmas. How dare we? They will not have a Merry Christmas," she said at a 2017 press conference, a video of which was obtained by Fox News Digital. Speakers pushed for the passage of the Dream Act, which would grant a pathway to citizenship for some illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as minors, NBC News reported.

According to the NBC News article linked in the Fox News story and a photo posted on the @NBCLatino X account, the video showed Harris speaking at a news conference for a DREAM Act rally at the United Methodist Building near the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 19, 2017.

Fox News shared a nearly 60-second video alongside its Aug. 1, 2024, article, including on FoxNews.com, Facebook and YouTube.

In the video, Harris says the following:

And only when they cleared that vet did we give them DACA status. And now we're talking about taking it away. It is morally wrong. And when we all sing happy tunes and sing "Merry Christmas" and wish each other "Merry Christmas," these children are not going to have a "Merry Christmas." How dare we speak "Merry Christmas." How dare we. They will not have a "Merry Christmas." They don't know if they will be here in a matter of days, weeks and months. Since Sept. 5, over 12,000 have lost their status. Each day, 122 lose their status. Each week, 851 lose their status. Each day matters.

On the day after making these remarks, Harris posted on Facebook, "DACA is an urgent issue and something we must address immediately. Each day in limbo in the life of these young 'Dreamers' is a very long time. We cannot stay silent. We must pass the DREAM Act now." She also published an opinion piece on Elle.com on the same day, titled, "Sen. Kamala Harris: We Must Act to Protect Dreamers Before the New Year."

The Fox News article did not mention a videographer's name credited for recording the video. In our research, we found that immigration organizer and writer Thomas Kennedy possibly captured the clip. A link in the aforementioned NBC News article led to a removed video. That link referenced an account that may have belonged to Kennedy. Reached via a direct message on X, Kennedy told Snopes, "I think thats my old Facebook account that I deleted." Upon asking if he recorded the video, he said, "I was at the rally but have no recollection of the video or remarks."

Harris Campaign Response to Fox News

The end of the Fox News article featured a statement from Harris campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz, in which he commented on immigration policies:

The Harris campaign has pushed back, contrasting her record with Trump's record in office. "The only 'plan' Donald Trump has to secure our border is ripping mothers from their children and a few xenophobic placards at the Republican National Convention. He tanked the toughest bipartisan border security deal in a generation because, for Donald Trump, this has never been about actually securing the border  it's always about himself. He can make up whatever lies he wants, but the fact is there's only one candidate in this race who will fight for real solutions to help secure our nation's border, and that's Vice President Harris," Harris campaign spokesperson said.

We emailed Munoz to ask questions about this matter but did not yet receive a response. Further, we were unable to find a Harris campaign denial of the 2017 video's existence  a matter mentioned by Trump during the Atlanta rally.

Harris' Past Messages of 'Merry Christmas'

In sum, again, the assertion promoted by Trump that Harris "doesn't want anybody saying 'Merry Christmas'" was not true. No evidence included with the unearthed video clip  a clip featuring remarks specifically about seeking to ensure immigrants wouldn't need to worry around Christmastime that the government or law enforcement might force them to leave the U.S.  showed Harris to be against the idea of saying "Merry Christmas" in any year, which online users sharing the clip asserted.

In fact, Harris' X account features several Christmas messages from past years. For example, five days after the recording of the Dec. 19, 2017, video she tweeted (archived) a Christmas Eve message offering sympathy for California fire victims and thanking firefighters for their efforts. Then, on Christmas Day, she tweeted (archived) a message including the words "Merry Christmas!," followed by another tweet (archived) honoring the "brave service-members" serving the U.S. on the Christian holiday.

In the most recent example from 2023, Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff appeared in a Christmas-themed video posted across her social media pages, including on Instagram, in which they honored service members. Again, Harris said "Merry Christmas," just as she wrote in another post also posted on Christmas Day.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1Vp9c5O48o/

As we previously reported about the history of the "War on Christmas" on Nov. 29, 2017  just three weeks prior to Harris' video-recorded remarks about "Merry Christmas" and immigration  the evidence suggests there is no vast conspiracy to erase the Christmas holiday and destroy American civilization in the process, even if some people clearly perceive it to be the case.

Sources:

Emery, David. "A History of the 'War on Christmas.'" Snopes, 29 Nov. 2017, https://www.snopes.com//news/2017/11/29/the-war-on-christmas/.

Gamboa, Suzanne. "'I Feel Desperate': Immigrant Families Ramp up Pressure for Congress to Pass Dream Act." NBC News, 19 Dec. 2017, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/dreamers-immigrant-families-ramp-pressure-congress-pass-dream-act-n831316.

Harris, Kamala. "Sen. Kamala Harris: We Must Act to Protect Dreamers Before the New Year." ELLE, 20 Dec. 2017, https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a14473133/kamala-harris-dream-act-op-ed/.

"'How Dare We Speak Merry Christmas!!'- Sen. Kamala Harris at Dream Act Rally." X, @NBCLatino, 19 Dec. 2017, https://x.com/NBCLatino/status/943161939773083648.

Miranda, Luis. "Get The Facts On The DREAM Act." Obama White House Archives, 1 Dec. 2010, https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2010/12/01/get-facts-dream-act.

Shaw, Adam. "Flashback: Harris Fumed at Americans for Saying 'Merry Christmas' before Illegal Migrants Got Protections." Fox News, 1 Aug. 2024, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/flashback-harris-fumed-americans-saying-merry-christmas-before-illegal-migrants-protections.

"TV News Archive." Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/tv/.

Yee, Vivian, et al. "From Offices to Disney World, Employers Brace for the Loss of an Immigrant Work Force." The New York Times, 9 Jan. 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/09/us/immigrant-work-force-salvadorans-haitians.html.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who was recommended by Bangladeshi student leaders as the head of the interim government in Bangladesh, arrives at the Hazarat Shahjalal International Airport, in Dhaka

By Sakshi Dayal

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Nobel Peace Prize winning economist Muhammad Yunus takes over as the head of Bangladesh's caretaker government on Thursday at a time when the country is facing tough economic challenges.

Here is a look at his economic beliefs as he takes the helm of the South Asian country until elections are held and a new administration is put in place.

SOCIAL BUSINESSES

Yunus advocates "social businesses" that solve problems rather than simply create wealth, with any profit generated being ploughed back to create more value.

Grameen Bank, the microfinance lender he founded, was rooted in this idea and lauded for helping to boost growth and alleviate poverty in Bangladesh.

Yunus was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering work in microfinance which was replicated in other developing countries and led to him being known as "banker to the poor".

POVERTY

Yunus' belief that poverty - which plagued more than 18% of Bangladesh's population in 2022 - is a "threat" and causes problems ranging from terrorism to trafficking, informs most of his work.

"You can't leave people poor and live happily...they are in a desperate situation. When you are desperate, you disturb peace," Yunus told Nobelprize.org in 2006.

It was to solve this problem that he sought to inculcate "sound financial principles" in the poor through his microcredit system.

GLOBALISATION

Yunus has called for "multi-national social businesses" that either give the poor ownership or keep profits within poor countries.

When he dabbled in politics in 2007, he suggested upgrading the Chittagong port to a continental seaport - a plan critics said could endanger national security, jobs and the environment.

Yunus also spoke of a "global civilisation" in an interview with The Indian Express newspaper last week, in which he criticised India for saying the upheaval in Bangladesh was an "internal matter" and warned the chaos could spill over to its neighbours.

"Diplomacy has a much richer vocabulary than saying it is their internal affair," he said.

WOMEN

Yunus emphasises the role of women in building the future and has been part of multiple international commissions catering to them.

Women currently outnumber men in Bangladesh and constitute 97% of Grameen Bank's members.

"Women want to build up something for the future with their money. Men want to spend it enjoying themselves," he told Harvard Business Review in 2012.

(Reporting by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by YP Rajesh and Christina Fincher)
SANAA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military has destroyed two drones and a ground control station, and three anti-ship cruise missiles, in strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in the past 24 hours, said the Central Command on Wednesday.

"These weapons presented a clear and imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region," it said on X, formerly Twitter.

There was no immediate comment from the Houthi group, which controls much of northern Yemen.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Houthis said that they launched drones and missile attacks against two U.S. warships in the Gulf of Aden and another vessel in the Red Sea, claiming the hits were accurate.

The U.S. did not comment on the Houthi claims.

Since last November, the Houthi group has been targeting ships it claims linked to Israel to show solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

In response, the U.S.-British naval coalition stationed in the waters has since January conducted regular air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets to deter the group. 
A view of the area where the main suspect of a planned attack at the venue of three cancelled Taylor Swift concerts lives, in Ternitz

By Michael Georgy

DUBAI (Reuters) - The 19-year-old Austrian suspected of masterminding a planned attack on a Taylor Swift concert had vowed allegiance to the Islamic State militant group's leader, authorities said.

Though largely crushed by a U.S.-led coalition several years ago, IS has managed some major attacks while seeking to rebuild.

They include an assault on a Russian concert hall in March that killed at least 143 people and two explosions in the Iranian city of Kerman in January that killed nearly 100 people.

The Sunni militant group also claimed responsibility for an assault by suicide attackers on a mosque in Oman in July that killed at least nine people, raising fears the group may be attempting a comeback in new territory.

Following are facts about the movement.

HISTORY

At the height of its power from 2014-2017, IS's "caliphate" held sway over a wide area of Syria and Iraq, imposing death and torture on opponents of its radical brand of Islam. Its fighters repeatedly defeated both countries' armies and carried out or inspired attacks in dozens of cities around the world.

Its then leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, killed in 2019 by U.S. special forces in northwestern Syria, rose from obscurity to lead the ultra-hardline group and declare himself "caliph" of all Muslims.

The caliphate collapsed in Iraq, where it once had a base only a 30-minute drive from Baghdad, and in Syria, after a sustained military campaign by a U.S.-led coalition.

The new leader, known by a pseudonym Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, remains shrouded in secrecy, almost a year after he was named to the role.

NEW TACTICS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

IS has switched tactics since the collapse of its caliphate and a string of other setbacks in the Middle East.

Once based in the Syrian city of Raqqa and the Iraqi city of Mosul, from which it sought to rule like a centralised government, the group took refuge in the hinterlands of the two fractured countries.

Its fighters are scattered in autonomous cells, its leadership is clandestine and its overall size is hard to quantify. The U.N. estimates it at 10,000 in its heartlands.

The movement went underground with sleeper cells that launch hit-and-run attacks, according to an Iraqi government security adviser who helps track IS.

All key foreign fighters fled Iraq for countries such as Afghanistan, Syria and Pakistan. Most have joined Islamic State's Khorasan branch (ISIS-K), named after an old term for the region that included parts of Iran, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan

It is active along Iran's borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Sanaullah Ghafari, the 29-year-old leader of the Afghan branch of IS, has overseen its transformation into one of the most fearsome branches of the global Islamist network, capable of operations far from its bases in the borderlands of Afghanistan.

AFRICA

Islamic State - often called ISIS, ISIL, or the pejorative Daesh - has also made its mark in parts of Africa.

In Uganda, militants from IS-connected rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), staged a series of attacks in recent months including a massacre at a boarding school, the murder of a honeymooning couple and, last month, a raid on a village that killed at least three people.

The group, which started as an uprising in Uganda, has largely moved its operations to neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo where it has staged multiple attacks.

Several other groups have pledged allegiance to IS in West Africa and across the Sahel. Affiliates have control of large areas of rural Mali, Niger and northern Burkina Faso and into North Africa.

In January 2023, the U.S. military carried out an operation that killed a senior IS leader in northern Somalia. The U.N. fears militant groups could exploit the political instability in Sudan, which is gripped by a civil war.

OVERALL STRENGTH

The U.S. National Counterterrorism Center has said the threat posed by IS and another militant group al Qaeda "is at a low point with the suppression of the most dangerous elements".

But it went on to warn that half of IS's branches are now active in insurgencies across Africa and "may be poised for further expansion".

It said the group had lost three overall leaders and at least 13 other senior operatives in Iraq and Syria since early 2022 "contributing to a loss of expertise and a decline in ISIS attacks in the Middle East".

(Reporting by Michael Georgy; Additional reporting by Catherine Cartier; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
Family Holds Out Hope Missing Pilot Is Still Alive 4 Days After His Plane Disappeared Off the Bahamas

Chris Moore, 59, took off from Sebastian, Fla., on Aug. 4, but his plane went off the radar two hours later en route to Marsh Harbour

Go Fund Me Chris Moore.

Family and friends of a Louisville, Ky., pilot are holding out hope that pilot Chris Moore is still alive, four days after his single-engine plane went missing off the coast of the Bahamas.

The 59-year-old took off from Sebastian, Fla., en route to Marsh Harbour at approximately 9 a.m. local time on Sunday, Aug. 4, and about two hours later, his plane went off radar near the coast of Grand Bahama, according to CBS affiliate WLKY-TV and NBC affiliate WPTV.

Officials received a report of an overdue aircraft shortly after, and search and rescue teams from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force began looking for Moores Bristell plane, Moores wife, Stacye Love, told Fox affiliate WDRB-TV.

According to Love, her husbands plane disappeared before landing, and at least three other pilots in the area heard Moore on the radio when he was about five miles out from the island.

Related: Calif. Skydiving Student Who Died with Instructor Identified: Family Says She Had 'Boundless Enthusiasm for Life'

But as of Thursday, Aug. 8, there is no trace of Moore, and his family is asking for more resources and help, Love said.

"There is no sign of that plane and it's very shallow waters, it tells me that we are missing something because we should be able to find him, Love said.

Moores friend Cameron Hitchcock told WPTV that he is also looking for answers as to why the experienced pilot has disappeared.

The friends, who met over a decade ago when Moore purchased his first plane and used Hitchcock as a pilot, usually connected at Hitchcocks Lantana home the night before Moore would fly to the Bahamas  something the Kentucky man has done 2030 times.

Related: Six of Nine People Killed in Single-Car Florida Crash Were Younger Than 15: 'Precious Lives Lost'

Due to Tropical Storm Debby, Moore altered his itinerary, but Hitchcock said he was aware of Moores flight plan.

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"He spoke to me in the morning, we went over a briefing of what the flight was going to look like, what the weather looked like, what route he should take and it looked really good," Hitchcock told WPTV.

Related: Student Pilot Was Practicing Emergency Procedures Before Deadly Crash, NTSB Says

He added, "I watch a lot when he goes over the Gulf Stream, and then once he gets over the Bahamas I'm like, 'Okay, he's got it'. 

Authorities in the Bahamas eventually suspended their search for Hitchcock on Tuesday, Aug. 6, according to ABC affiliate WHAS. In addition, the Coast Guard has suspended their search too, according to reports.

However, his daughter Nicole Moore wrote in a GoFundMe post that the family is intent on finding the retired engineer.

"As his child, I cannot do much to help right now, Nicole wrote. By raising funds to buy gas or anything to support the search, it helps feel a little less helpless.



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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Four suspects police claimed were involved in a family drug ring have been indicted in connection to a 13-year-old boys death from a drug overdose in west Columbus.

According to court documents, Ema Loza De-Leon, Jose Garcia Huerta, Lezly Avila and an underage boy, are facing dozens of charges stemming from the boys death on Sept. 5, 2023, in a North Hilltop home. Officers found the child in the 200 block of North Warren Avenue, where he reportedly overdosed on a combination of cocaine and fentanyl.

Unsolved Ohio: Columbus father missing for five years

Police at the scene observed packaged narcotics in plain sight, and detectives obtained a search warrant. They ended up seizing around eight kilograms of drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and crack cocaine. Additionally, two firearms were recovered.

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Detectives, in conjunction with the Ohio Narcotic Intelligence Center, examined several electronic devices, which led to three subsequent drug seizures.

On Nov. 9, a semi-tractor trailer was stopped on its route from California to Ohio. Police said they arrested Israel Garcia after 15 kilograms of cocaine were discovered in the cab of the truck. Garcia told police that he once had delivered 17 kilograms to the fourth underage suspect at the direction of De-Leon.

De-Leon was then arrested on Jan. 10 following a traffic stop. Police said a felony amount of drugs were found in De-Leons possession.

Two weeks later, two kilograms were seized during a search near the 100 block of Dering Avenue in the Far South neighborhood of Columbus.

Investigators said the evidence collected revealed that the suspects were allegedly running a drug trafficking organization. Their charges break down as:

Ema Loza De-Leon is facing 27 felony charges, including involuntary manslaughter and 12 counts each of trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs.

Jose Garcia-Huerta is facing 20 total felony charges, the majority of which are trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs.

Lezly Avila is charged with 14 felony drug charges.

Man who ran school background checks charged with possessing sexual materials

Garcia Huerta and Avilas charges include a second incident from 2022, in which three other suspects are named: Joseph Mercado, Gildardo Sanchez Quezada and Yeslin Melgar Maldonado. All three face similar charges.

The fourth suspect was 17 years old at the time of the boys death. A juvenile warrant was issued for involuntary manslaughter. Now 18, a juvenile prosecutor will ask a judge to transfer the case to Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. Police said that if the motion is granted, the suspect will face similar charges to that of Loza De-Leon.

All suspects have pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include either a firearm specification, a major drug offender specification, or both.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Family of man who died in Titan sub implosion sues OceanGate for $50 million

The estate of the French man Paul-Henri Nargeolet filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit Tuesday against OceanGate, the company that created the Titan submersible that exploded last year.

The lawsuit was filed in King County, Wash., against the underwater exploration company that intended to bring five people to the wreck site of the Titanic at the bottom of the ocean in June 2023.

All five people, including Nargeolet, were killed when the submersible imploded, kicking off a days-long frenzy to find the craft after it lost communication.

The lawsuit alleges serious issues with the submersible and its troubled history.

After the international search-and-rescue mission concluded, OceanGates legitimacy was called into question after reports revealed its CEO, Stockton Rush, who was also killed in the mission, may have cut corners when constructing the submarine.

I think its telling that even though the University of Washington and Boeing had key roles in the design of previous but similar versions of the Titan, both have recently disclaimed any involvement at all in the submersible model that imploded, Tony Buzbee, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said in a statement.

Buzbee said he is hopeful the lawsuit will help the family get answers about what happened and who was involved.

Nargeolet, known as Mr. Titanic, participated in 37 dives to the Titanic site, the most of any diver in the world. He was regarded as one of the most knowledgeable people about the crash and was designated as an employee of OceanGate, The Associated Press reported.

The attorneys argue Rush failed to disclose key facts about the condition of the submersible, which imploded less than two hours after descending.

Previous passengers on the Titan said they knew that an implosion was going to happen at some point because of all the technological glitches the submarine had and pointed to Rush as an overconfident pioneer, the AP reported last year.

OceanGate suspended all operations last July.

A spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit, the AP said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Family of man who died in Titan sub implosion sues OceanGate for $50 million

(The Hill)  The estate of the French man Paul-Henri Nargeolet filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit on Tuesday against OceanGate, the company that created the Titan submersible that exploded last year.

The lawsuit was filed in King County, Washington, against the underwater exploration company that intended to bring five people to the wreck site of the Titanic at the bottom of the ocean in June 2023.

All five people, including Nargeolet, were killed when the submersible imploded after a days-long frenzy to find the craft before they ran out of oxygen after it lost communication.

The lawsuit alleges serious issues with the submersible and its troubled history.

After the international search-and-rescue mission concluded, OceanGates legitimacy was called into question after reports revealed its CEO, Stockton Rush, who was also killed in the mission, may have cut corners when constructing the submarine.

I think its telling that even though the University of Washington and Boeing had key roles in the design of previous but similar versions of the Titan, both have recently disclaimed any involvement at all in the submersible model that imploded, Tony Buzbee, a lawyer for the lawsuit, said in a statement.

Buzbee said he is hopeful the lawsuit will help the family get answers about what happened and who was involved.

Nargeolet, known as Mr. Titanic, participated in 37 dives to the Titanic site, the most of any diver in the world. He was regarded as one of the most knowledgeable people about the crash and was designated as an employee of OceanGate, The Associated Press reported.

The attorneys argue that Rush failed to disclose key facts about the condition of the submersible, which imploded less than two hours after descending.

Previous passengers on the Titan said they knew that an implosion was going to happen at some point because of all the technological glitches the submarine had and pointed to Rush as an overconfident pioneer, the AP reported last year.

OceanGate suspended all operations last July after the implosion.

A spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit, the AP said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
FILE - Cars line the main stretch of Virginia City, Nev., that attracts tens of thousands of tourists. (AP Photo/Gabe Stern, File)

RENO, Nevada (AP)  A Nevada man charged with a hate crime acknowledged he referenced a hanging tree during a verbal altercation with a Black man who was gathering signatures for a proposed ballot measure southeast of Reno, according to a criminal complaint made public Thursday.

Gary Miller, 74, his wife and their adult daughter were arrested Wednesday on various misdemeanors. They posted bail hours later and were released from the Storey County jail, court documents show.

The encounter that the Black man, Ricky Johnson, started recording after the hanging tree comment became heated, with both sides yelling profanities during a classic car show in in Virginia City, an Old West tourist destination. As the video starts, Johnson demands that Miller repeat what he said off camera.

Miller didn't but later told a sheriff's investigator that he told Miller earlier that there was a hanging tree down the road to go hang out there, according to an affidavit attached to the criminal complaint. At one point in the video, Johnson asks Miller the location of that tree and Miller replies in your backyard.

The comments made Aug. 2 drew quick condemnation from local and state officials.

The arrests of Miller, his wife and his daughter Wednesday drew quick praise from Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, who is Black.

The public outcry was heard loud and clear, and steps have been taken to hold these individuals accountable for their racist and unlawful actions, Ford said.

Miller faces charges of noise violation and breach of peace. The latter includes an enhancement because authorities allege Millers actions were motivated by race, according to the complaint filed by Storey County District Attorney Anne M. Langer.

Miller's wife, Janis Miller, who is seen on the video ushering Johnson into the street, faces one count of battery. The Miller's adult daughter, Tiffany Miller, faces one count of obstructing or delaying a police officer.

Its unclear if any of the Millers have a lawyer to speak on their behalf. Each declined a public defender Wednesday. Neither Langers office nor the sheriffs office knew if the Millers had legal representation.

Most of the charges against them carry a maximum penalty of six months in jail if convicted. Messages to a phone number and an email address listed in public records for Gary Miller were not immediately returned Thursday.

Johnson, who lives outside Houston, was hired by a Texas-based firm to gather signatures. He told The Associated Press earlier this week that the encounter with Gary Miller on Aug. 2 became heated after Miller called him a racial slur shortly before he started recording.

Johnson has not responded to multiple requests by email, text and voicemail from the AP for additional comment.

Miller told the investigating deputy that Johnson began yelling at him and going crazy when he told him he was going to vote for Trump, according to the documents. Miller said he then told Johnson there was a hanging tree down the road and to go hang out there.

Deputy Jacob Smiley asked Miller to explain his words, and Miller stated he grew up in different times, the documents say.

Miller did not address the racial slur in the interview with police nor did he say it in the video.

In a hand-written statement to the sheriffs office, Miller accused Johnson of trying to draw a crowd and escalate the situation and, later, of threatening him and his wife with calls at all hours of the night.

Undersheriff Eric Kern said the sheriff's office is investigating at least one act of vandalism at a local business and several threats to businesses and business owners in the community as a result of the video. The office did not immediately respond to a request late Thursday about whether any of those threats were directed at the Millers.

___

Kelety reported from Phoenix. Associated Press reporter Rio Yamat in Las Vegas contributed to this report.
Family praying for big miracles after crash puts expecting mom and baby in ICU

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  What began as a routine pregnancy check-up for an expecting mother turned into a family clinging on for life as a horrific crash has kept them in Portland hospitals for over a week.

The couple was driving on Highway 30 from Astoria to Oregon Health and Sciences University for an appointment, the same hospital where the husband underwent a surgery due to injuries from the crash on Wednesday. The mom and baby are both in critical condition across the Willamette River at Legacy Health.

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The madly in love Jake Kelly and Ashleigh Baumgarden were ready to welcome their baby girl into the world. However, their road to parenthood took a turn their families never expected.

It looked like they were dead, and nobody believed that they survived it, said Mary Davis, Jakes mom.

After the crash on July 30, both Jake and Ashleigh were separately life-flighted to Portland. One of the helicopters could be seen in the photos Mary shared with KOIN 6 News.

They were just looking at four more weeks, five more weeks until they could hold their baby in their arms, Mary said.

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Oregon State Police said a driver crossed into their lane on Highway 30, close to milepost 155 near Rainier, hitting them head-on.

Jake has now had numerous surgeries. Ashleigh gave birth prematurely as the crash happened 23 days before she was supposed to be induced. She and the baby are now on life support.

If everybody could please just keep praying, dont just pray once, pray every day, every day, we need big miracles for those girls, said Mary, who just held her new granddaughter for the first time Wednesday. Shes got a lot of hair, just teeny tiny. It was hard to put her down, I didnt want to put her down.

Ashleigh Baumgarden (left) and Jake Kelly were sent to the hospital after a crash on Highway 30 happened on their way to a pregnancy check-up. August 7, 2024 (courtesy Mary Davis).

A map shows the route Ashleigh Baumgarden and Jake Kelly took on the way to a pregnancy check-up before a crash sent them to the hospital. August 7, 2024 (KOIN).

A crash along Highway 30 sent a young couple to the hospital on their way to a pregnancy check-up. August 7, 2024 (courtesy Mary Davis).

A crash along Highway 30 sent a young couple to the hospital on their way to a pregnancy check-up. August 7, 2024 (courtesy Mary Davis).

A crash along Highway 30 sent a young couple to the hospital on their way to a pregnancy check-up. August 7, 2024 (courtesy Mary Davis).

Ashleigh Baumgarden (left) and Jake Kelly were sent to the hospital after a crash on Highway 30 happened on their way to a pregnancy check-up. August 7, 2024 (courtesy Mary Davis).

Ashleigh Baumgarden (left) and Jake Kelly were sent to the hospital after a crash on Highway 30 happened on their way to a pregnancy check-up. August 7, 2024 (courtesy Mary Davis).

An off-duty volunteer firefighter witnessed the crash and jumped in to help, trying to pull Jake and Ashleigh from the car. He also put the oxygen on Ashleigh.

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Because hes a volunteer firefighter he jumped out and he went and stayed the whole time, Mary said.

The crash has raised safety concerns as neighbors urge the Oregon Department of Transportation to make improvements along that stretch of Highway 30.

Just four days earlier, Oregon State Police said two people died and four others were hurt in a multi-car, head-on crash in the same area.

What next? God only knows, said Bill Davis, Jakes step-dad.

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Jake and Ashleighs family are praying for solutions  and fast  so they dont have to see another tragedy happen to someone else.

Jake is real, real concerned about whats next, How do I make a living now? Hes all busted up, Bill said.

Friends and family are now trying to raise money via a GoFundMe page to help with medical expenses and other financial challenges since the recovery timeframe is uncertain. Mary said its a battle they cant win alone.

Were between grieving and being hopeful and so all the prayers that we can get from everyone, thats what were hoping for, she said.

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ODOT told KOIN 6 News theyre planning to meet with neighbors in the next few weeks about safety improvements along that stretch of Highway 30.

OSP is looking into criminal charges for the other driver.

One glimmer of good news: Jake and his family are scheduled to meet the off-duty firefighter who helped save their lives on Thursday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.


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An Oxford scholar discovered an ancient Roman fort in his hometown in Wales.

The finding could rewrite the known history of the Romans and the Celts in the region.

Satellite imagery originally pushed the scholar to the site, only to find a piece of roofing slate poking out of a field.

A farmer in Wales had a field that just made life too difficult. He was continually hitting slate and stone. It turns out, there was a good reason for all the struggle: a buried Roman fort.

Mark Merrony of Wolfson College, Oxford, discovered pieces of the fort, which he claims is from the first to third century (thanks to a little bit of homegrown knowledge). The find could rewrite our understanding of the state of relations between the Romans and the Celts of the time.

It is a humongous fort, Merrony told The Guardian, an incredible find of national importance. Believed to be five to seven acres in sizeplenty big enough to house 500 soldiersthe fort find came as a double surprise.

It is a rare discovery in this part of the world, Merrony wrote on a GoFundMe webpage trying to raise money to professionally investigate the discovery further, adding it is significant to our current understanding of the Romans in this region of Britain.

The Romans and Celts were believed to have been friendly, in part because of the lack of Roman forts discovered in Wales. But that may simply be from a dearth of searching. I now dont think they were pro-Roman at all, he said, but that the Romans were hitting the area with an iron fist.

The fort has been dated to around the time that the Celtic Demetae tribe occupied southwest Wales. This is a pretty hardcore military site, Merrony told the BBC. If archaeologists are afforded the resources, Merrony believes more Roman forts will pop up throughout Wales.

I wasnt expecting to find something like this, Merrony told the BBC, its one thing finding a villa or a road, but to find a military site like this is [on] a very different scale altogether really.

A local of the area, the long, straight road had always lured Merrony into wondering if it was a Roman road. He investigated satellite imagery and set his sights on a large, overgrown field to see if he could find further evidence of Roman occupation. When he went to the field, he stumbled upon a triangular piece of Roman roofing slate. Flip it upside down and you can see underneath a diagonal line where it was grooved to fit into the one that was underneath it, he told The Guardian. Its a real beauty.

When Merrony approached the farmer about the potential of the fort, the farmer said hed been hitting slate and stone for years. That suggests theres a lot of material under the ground, Merrony said. Thats because theres obviously several collapsed buildings here. The slates are left, the timbers have rotted.

Merrony wrote that the fort occupied a strategic locationit would have had a view overlooking a river valley, nearby springs to feed water to the site, and a slope that put it in an advantageous position.

The well-preserved auxiliary fort was likely built by soldiers attached to the Second Augustan Legion at Caerleon in Gwent, Merrony noted, adding that it is a remarkable stroke of luck that the site was left largely untouched by farming.

With the hallmarks of the classic Roman fort in the playing card style (with rounded corners, banks, and ditches) and a nearby Roman road having now both been discovered, there may be plenty more Roman era finds to add to the mix.

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VIENNA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Austria's foreign trade continued its lackluster performance in May, with the exports dropping by 9.9 percent year-on-year and imports declining by 13.3 percent, Statistics Austria said on Thursday.

The country's exports in May stood at 15.31 billion euros (16.74 billion U.S. dollars), logging a monthly trade surplus of 2.5 million euros.

The country's four most important export products -- machinery and vehicles, processed goods, chemical products and other manufactured goods -- showed an annual decrease of 8 percent in their combined export volume in May.

Tobias Thomas, director-general of Statistics Austria, noted that despite the continued weak performance in foreign trade volume in May, the country's trade balance has been positive for the eighth consecutive month.

In the first five months of this year, Austria's imports slumped by 12.6 percent and its exports declined by 5.2 percent compared to the same period last year. The country's trade surplus stood at 2.56 billion euros from January to May, in contrast to a deficit of 4.32 billion euros in the same period last year. (1 euro = 1.09 U.S. dollar) 
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Republican-endorsed challenger Royce White chat with event staff before a panel at Farmfest on Aug. 7, 2024. Photo by Madison McVan/Minnesota Reformer.

MORGAN  At the big agriculture trade show here known as Farmfest, members of Congress have a key factor working in their favor as they sit next to their challengers: years of firsthand experience working on federal farm policy, which can be technical and wonky.

While some challengers appeared flustered or gave vague responses when asked about their stances on farm programs, the Minnesota incumbents serving on agriculture committees  Sen. Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad and Rep. Angie Craig  articulated their positions on topics including farm labor, government response to animal disease and the farm safety net, which includes crop insurance and subsidy programs.

How would you support, and would you support, the growth and sustainability of renewable fuels? the moderator asked the candidates, referencing Minnesotas growing ethanol industry. Around one-third of the corn produced in the state last year was used in ethanol production.

Renewable energy is okay. The question is, is it going to work? Hows it going to work? Whos going to run it? GOP-endorsed Senate candidate Royce White said. He continued by railing against China, garnering cheers from his supporters in the audience: (Democrats) are selling you out to China every chance they get. And theyre proud of it. They brag about it. They admit it. Theyre not hiding it.

(Its unclear what he was talking about.)

When asked the same question, the Democrat Klobuchar pointed to her bipartisan work on ethanol: securing funding for ethanol infrastructure at gas stations and pushing for the year-round sale of E15 fuel  gasoline mixed with up to 15% ethanol.

Hanging over the incumbents heads, however, is the lack of a Farm Bill.

The every-five-years legislation, which funds cornerstone agriculture programs like crop insurance, subsidies and government-backed farm operating loans, was supposed to be renewed last year. The version of the bill approved by the Republican-controlled House Committee on Agriculture differs in key areas from the Democratic Senates version; neither has come to a floor vote, and politicians are pointing fingers over who is to blame for the lack of a resolution.

During a panel of congressional candidates, Craig, Democrat of the 2nd District, and Finstad, Republican of the 1st, highlighted their work on agriculture, occasionally pointing out the policy stances where they agreed.

Trade has been nonexistent in this administration, said Finstad, who previously worked in the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Trump administration. So in the Farm Bill, we have doubled the (Market Access Program) and (Foreign Market Development) program, and we need to get to the table with new trade negotiations, new trade deals. We have to make sure agriculture is at the front of all those trade negotiations.

Craig said she was similarly disappointed in the Biden administrations approach to selling American agricultural products abroad  one of several criticisms she levied at Biden in front of the mostly rural, conservative audience. She pointed out that she was among the first Democratic members of Congress to ask him to step aside, and in a live radio interview after the panel, criticized his handling of the southern border.

Republican challenger Joe Teirab touted his connections to rural Minnesota and repeatedly pointed out that Craig voted against the House version of the Farm Bill in committee.

I think the Farm Bill that came out of committee is a good bill, Teirab said. Its a bill that strengthens crop insurance, strengthens the farm safety net, improves voluntary conservation programs, improves investment in our communities.

Commodity groups and trade organizations like the American Farm Bureau Federation have called on the House to pass its version of the bill, and encouraged the Senate to take action on its end of the process.

Democrats oppose a mechanism in the House bill that would place limits on the formula that calculates benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, the food aid program formerly referred to as food stamps.

A trio of conservative groups and a liberal group also opposed the House version.

Heritage Foundation, National Taxpayers Union and Taxpayers for Common Sense, along with the Environmental Working Group, united to oppose the legislation, which they characterized as a government giveaway to favored special interests. The groups argued the legislation would spend tens of billions of dollars in subsidies that would overwhelmingly go to a relatively small number of farmers who grow certain commodity crops.

As the Senate candidates walked off the stage, a man in the back of the crowd shouted to the scattering audience:

Amy Klobuchar supporters, your bus to the city is leaving soon!
The rapper was shot and killed while eating lunch with his girlfriend at a Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles restaurant in Los Angeles in September 2022

Theo Wargo/Getty; Los Angeles Police Department PnB Rock, Freddie Trone

A California father has been convicted for the 2022 murder of PnB Rock after he instructed his then-17-year-old son to rob and kill the rapper while he was eating lunch with his girlfriend. PnB Rock, born Rakim Allen, was 30.

Following a two-week trial and four hours of deliberation, a jury in Los Angeles County found Freddie Trone, 42, guilty of one count of murder, two counts of robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office and the Associated Press.

Prosecutors argued during the trial that Trone sent his teenage son into Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles in South Los Angeles to commit the crime and later served as an accessory after it was finished, according to the AP. Trone's son has not been named publicly due to his age at the time of the murder.

Related: Fat Joe on PnB Rock's 'Traumatizing' Death: 'That Incident Changed My Life'

Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images PnB Rock in New York City in February 2020

In surveillance footage, Trone was seen in the parking lot a half hour before Allen was murdered. A man named Tremont Jones was also present and in the video, gave Allen a fist bump. At the time, the "Selfish" rapper was wearing expensive jewelry on his wrist, the AP reports.

Jones is accused of telling Trone about the rapper being there and the luxury items he was wearing. He was convicted of two counts of robbery and one count of conspiracy for his involvement in the Philadelphia native's death. His attorney, David Haas, said he will appeal, per the AP.

While on the witness stand, Trone confessed he was in the parking lot to find customers for his nearby beauty shop. However, he denied any connection to the killing. Instead, he agreed that the murder was "heinous" and described his son as "dangerous," according to the outlet.



Related: PnB Rocks Girlfriend Says Shes In the Deepest Depression Since His Death: I Will Push Thru

Trone's son is now 19 and has been charged with murder. However, he is still in a juvenile detention center and a judge determined he is not competent to be put on trial, reports the AP. The L.A. District Attorney's Office noted that a minor will undergo "mental competency proceedings" on Aug. 28.

On Sept. 12, 2022, Allen was eating lunch with his girlfriend Stephanie Sibounheuang, with whom he shares a now 4-year-old daughter, when they were approached by an individual who "demanded" Allen give him his jewelry. He later shot Allen several times before stealing some of his belongings.

Trone, his wife, Shauntel Trone, and his son were charged roughly two weeks later, after fleeing to Las Vegas. It's not clear the role Shauntel had in the robbery and murder. She pleaded no contest to accessory after the fact in July and will be sentenced on Jan. 16, 2025.

Bennett Raglin/Getty PnB Rock in New York City in February 2020

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Trone and Jones are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 27.

Today, justice has been served for Mr. Allen and his family who have endured unimaginable pain losing a loved one to such senseless violence, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said. We extend our deepest sympathies to them and the entire community. Thank you to my offices Community Violence Reduction Division for their unwavering commitment to seek justice for Mr. Allen and hold Mr. Trone and Mr. Jones accountable for their actions. Let this serve as a clear message to anyone who threatens the safety and well-being of our community: our office will relentlessly pursue charges and work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice.

PEOPLE reached out to Freddie's attorney, Winston McKesson for comment, but did not immediately hear back.



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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Area law enforcement agencies gathered on Thursday morning to announce progress in the joint efforts to reduce violent crime in Shreveport.

Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil, U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown of the Western District of Louisiana, and eight state and local law enforcement agencies provide data related to the Violent Gun Reduction Interdiction Program (VGRIP), which is part of the U.S. Department of Justices Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces or OCDETF.

OCDETF investigates and prosecutes major drug trafficking, money laundering, and other high-priority transactional organized crime activity.

VGRIP is a planned cycle of enforcement activity with directed patrols, probation and parole sweeps, and more, said FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil.

OCDETF provides the money to pay overtime to participating state and local agencies.

VGRIP started in July, August, and September of 2021, resulting in 114 arrests, 13 firearms seized, and the seizure of various narcotics.

More: Local News

Round two of VGRIP, which occurred on September 8 and 21, 2023, resulted in 30 arrests, 9 firearms seized, and additional seizures of narcotics.

The latest program activity was over a seven-day period in May and June, which resulted in 61 arrests, 17 firearms seized, and various narcotics.

Combined, more than two-hundred violent offenders have been arrested with thirty-nine guns seized and multiple amounts and types of illegal drugs taken out of commerce. Every single action taken by our partners is an ongoing effort to dismantle violent enterprises and reclaim our communities, said Myrthil.

The results of VGRIP efforts speak for themselves, said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. Partnership is key and when you look at the statistics, this is a huge win for our community. This program has been successful because of the outstanding collaboration between these law enforcement agencies and their dedication to reducing the number of violent offenders and holding those accountable who illegally possess firearms in this district. Thwarting the conduct of violent crime organizations requires collaborative investigations. We look forward to continuing these partnerships and the hard work needed to make our communities a safer place to live and raise our families.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT)  The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) is gathering information on a chain of drug treatment centers in Kentucky. The agency is looking into the possibility of Addiction Recovery LLC.s involvement in healthcare fraud.

According to a press release by the FBIs Louisville division has spent the last week looking for people who believe they may be a victim.

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ARC has over 30 licensed addiction treatment centers across the state that provide residential treatment, outpatient treatment and medical detox.

Its Owensboro location was previously known as the Yellow Banks Recovery Center.

When asked for comment, ARCs Director of Communications Kyle Collier began by acknowledging healthcare as one of the most highly regulated fields in the country. He also states that addiction treatment is among the most highly scrutinized healthcare services.

ARC is a trailblazer in the field of addiction services. We are confident in our program and in the services we offer. We, and our legal counsel, are cooperating fully in the investigation, says Collier.

ARC declined to answer most of our questions, but shared it is continuing to provide the same services and comprehensive care at all facilities

The federal agency did not give specifics on what allegations it is investigating, but it says ARC is not currently facing criminal charges. The FBI shares it is legally mandated to identify victims of federal crimes it investigates.

The agency is asking people who feel they have valuable information to fill out a short form.

The form inquires about whether the person is a patient or employee, if their time with the center falls between January 2019 and the present, and for a list of any medical procedures or exams the person believes were not medically necessary, properly provided or billed appropriately.

Anyone interested in filling that short form out can find it here.

The FBI says all responses are voluntary and the identity of all victims will be kept confidential.

Federal officials say based on the responses provided, the FBI may reach out for additional information.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
FBI probe of Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles is serious. District 5 voters don't seem to care

The FBI confiscated incumbent District 5 U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles phone the day after he won the Aug. 1 Republican primary election.

Two things can be true:

First, Ogles should not be presumed guilty of anything. This is an investigation, not a trial, and the congressman said in a post on X that he plans to cooperate with authorities.

I am confident all involved will conclude that the reporting discrepancies were based on honest mistakes, and nothing more, he said.

It has been widely reported for months that my campaign made mistakes in our initial financial filings. We have worked diligently with attorneys and reporting experts to correct the errors and ensure compliance going forward. Last Friday, the FBI took possession of my cell phone.  Congressman Andy Ogles (@AndyOgles) August 6, 2024

Second, this investigation does not mean that the Biden Administration singularly targeted Ogles for political purposes despite speculation about a deep-state conspiracy theory from his supporters on social media.

Republican politicians, including Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, have accused the White House of engaging in lawfare, or using the power of the government to go after rivals including former President Donald Trump.

No other Tennessee member of Congress is being probed by the FBI

Nevertheless, this inquiry is incredibly serious and it is important to note that none of Tennessees other members of Congress, all Republicans except one  two senators and eight representatives besides Ogles  have had their property seized by law enforcement.

U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles addresses his supporters after winning the Republican nomination for a second term at an election night returns party at Ludlow & Prime in Franklin, Tenn., Thursday night, Aug. 1, 2024.

Not Senators Marsha Blackburn or Bill Hagerty. Not Republican U.S. Reps. Diana Harshbarger (District 1), Tim Burchett (District 2), Chuck Fleischmann (District 3), Scott DesJarlais (District 4), John Rose (District 6), Mark Green (District 7) or David Kustoff (District 8). Not Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen (District 9).

Trump-backed Ogles filed articles of impeachment against Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

However, Green, in District 7, successfully led the effort in the U.S. House of Representatives to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, though the Senate did not convict the Cabinet secretary.

Trump calls Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee a phony Republican. This deserves a response.

This goes to show that political disagreements and rhetoric do not lead to lawfare.

Ogles has faced campaign finance problems since he was elected

Ogles said in his post that he believes the FBI is investigating him over campaign finance filing irregularities.

The District 5 congressman, who was elected in 2022, has faced campaign finance problems for the last two years.

The Tennessean reported that he was required to pay $5,750 in civil penalties for violations during the 2022 election cycle.

A $320,000 loan to himself, which was reported as cash to the Federal Elections Commission, turned out to be just a pledge for the 2024 election, Ogles recently admitted.

Voters in District 5, which includes all or parts of Davidson, Wilson, Williamson and Maury counties, knew this information.

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In fact, Ogles GOP opponent Courtney Johnston ran a better-financed campaign exploiting these irregularities.

But the 54.8% of voters who backed Ogles on Aug. 1 did not know or did not care.

Will District 5 voters think Ogles or Abolfazli is a better fit?

The FBI will not comment on the investigation, but the Department of Justice typically does not overtly take investigative action against candidates 60 days prior to an election, The Tennessean reports.

Maryam Abolfazli

Now, the news is out and voters in the Republican-leaning district  which was created in a 2022 gerrymander that diluted Nashville-Davidson Countys vote  will have to decide if the phone seizure is relevant.

Ogles faces Democrat Maryam Abolfazli in the Nov. 5 general election.

In a statement Tuesday, she said, The FBIs execution of a search warrant and confiscation of Andy Ogles cell phone is deeply upsetting, especially given an ongoing pattern of misappropriated funds and falsehoods regarding his education and work history.

Johnston could not make the case that this mattered to the majority of voters in District 5.

Will the FBIs phone seizure make a difference in November?

The question voters should ask themselves at the polls is which candidate will best represent their values in Congress.

The answer on Nov. 5 will be incredibly revealing.

David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocast and curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or find him on X at @davidplazas.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Republican Congressman Andy Ogles faces FBI investigation
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  Union representatives of Local #404-FCI-Beckley have reported that the medium-security mens federal prison is understaffed.

Charlie Turner, president of the union, and executive vice-president Brad McDaniel both said pay for federal corrections officers has not kept pace with pay increases for local and state agencies.

As a result, they said, federal corrections officers sometimes work three straight shifts because of understaffing, which creates a danger for themselves and others at the facility.

We just cant perform the way we need to be performing with the numbers we have, and the way our guys, our guys and girls, are being overworked, and its just not a safe environment, Turner said on Wednesday, August 8, 2024. Its just not.

FCI-Beckley family group wants inmate reports investigated

FCI-Beckley is in Beaver in Raleigh County, where the average entry-level pay for an officer is around $52,500, based on data from Beckley Police Department, Raleigh County Sheriffs Office and West Virginia State Police.

The average entry-level pay of a federal corrections officer in West Virginia is $48,034, based on statistics at the job sites indeed.com and ziprecruiter.com.

A family group comprised of mothers, wives and others who have loved ones incarcerated at FCI-Beckley reached out to 59News in late July to report they had serious concerns about the safety of those incarcerated at the prison.

They said that understaffing at the prison was one factor in their concerns.

A spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Prisons provided data in late July to 59News which showed FCI-Beckley staffing is at 90 percent across the facility, with corrections jobs filled at 86 percent, a report Local 404-FCI-Beckley union leaders said is inaccurate.

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According to the most recent numbers weve received from the agency itself, thats not accurate at all, McDaniel said. Its more like 78.6 percent staffed.

They said they have contacted U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and U.S. Sen. Shelly Moore-Capito (R-WV) to urge the senators to create higher pay for corrections officers, in an effort to address the staffing shortage.

Turner said federal corrections officers at FCI-Beckley are local people, and he urged those in the community to contact their national representatives to request competitive pay for federal corrections officers.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
RANTOUL, Ill. (WCIA)  A Champaign man was indicted by a federal grand jury after a robbery of a credit union earlier this summer.

Suspect arrested after armed robbery in Effingham leads to police chase

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Central District of Illinois announced a federal grand jury indicted 41-year-old Troy Burke Tuesday for robbing the Community Plus Federal Credit Union in Rantoul back in June. Burke was previously charged by the Champaign County States Attorney with aggravated robbery and financial institution robbery according to Champaign County court records.

Burke robbed the credit union on the afternoon of June 20. Bank employees said while he did not show any weapon, he implied he had one. When apprehended by police, Burke was found to have a large amount of cash in possession.

The Rantoul Police Department; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office and the Champaign County States Attorneys Office are also assisting in the investigation.

Burke faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine if convicted. He remains in custody.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Protesters rally and march at Red Arrow Park for Dvontaye Mitchell and Sam Shorte on July 18 in Milwaukee. (Photo | Isiah Holmes)

The Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office has filed a criminal complaint charging four Hyatt Hotel staff in Milwaukee with felony murder in the death of 43-year-old DVontaye Mitchell. In late June, according to police reports, hotel security staff beat, dragged, and held down Mitchell while trying to remove him from the hotel.

The charges were filed Tuesday against Todd Alan Ericson, 60, Brandon LaDaniel Turner, 35, Herbert T. Williamson, 52, all of the city of Milwaukee; and Devin W. Johnson-Carson, 23, of the city of South Milwaukee.

Arrest warrants were issued for the four, but as of Wednesday night, according to online records, none appeared to be in custody at the Milwaukee County jail.

A rally and march held at Red Arrow Park for Dvontaye Mitchell and Sam Shorte. (Photo | Isiah Holmes)

Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Mitchells family along with attorneys William Sulton and BIvory Lamarr, said the charges mark a significant step towards justice for the family of DVontaye Mitchell.

He added that the evidence, including security footage and witness statements, paints a disturbing picture of a man in distress who was met with excessive and lethal force. The fact that DVontaye was held face down on the pavement for eight to nine minutes  just like George Floyd  is a sobering reminder of the urgent need for accountability and justice.

Erickson and Turner were employed as hotel security, Williamson worked as a bell driver door attendant for the Hyatt, and Jonson-Carson as a front desk agent, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Mitchells death occurred a couple of weeks before the Republican National Convention (RNC) was held in the downtown area of Milwaukee. During the convention, protesters drew attention to the Mitchell case, and Mitchells family and other supporters questioned the lack of action on the case while the convention was in town.

The Hyatt straddled the conventions hard-security footprint, and was the site of one protest demonstration during the convention.

According to early news accounts about the incident, when police arrived at the Hyatt on June 30th following a report of a disturbance, Mitchell was already unresponsive. The criminal complaint states that video shows Mitchell running across the hotels lobby in what appears to be a frantic manner, entering a gift shop and then a womans bathroom.

Mitchell allegedly tried to lock himself in the bathroom while two women were also inside. Seconds later, the Journal Sentinel reported, one of the women hurried out of the bathroom.

A rally and march held at Red Arrow Park for Dvontaye Mitchell and Sam Shorte. (Photo | Isiah Holmes)

According to the criminal complaint, when the woman left the bathroom, Turner entered and pulled Mitchell out by the shirt. Video shows that as Mitchell was dragged out of the front lobby, hotel staff punched him, with one staff member hitting him with a broom. Staff continued to punch Mitchell once he was on the ground, according to the complaint.

According to the criminal complaint, detectives described Mitchells behavior as erratic and confusing and said that he resisted the hotel staff. The detective also noted that Mitchell did not instigate any violence or display any obviously aggressive or threatening behavior while on the hotel premises, the complaint states.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner report listed the cause of death as asphyxia. The medical examiner also determined that Mitchell had drugs in his system, according to the report. A metal pipe, consistent with cocaine use, was allegedly recovered from Mitchells left shoe, as was a glass pipe from his anus, the complaint said.

Mitchells family members have said he was a fun, caring, loving person who liked to cook and did it well.

This case underscores the critical need for comprehensive training and oversight of security personnel to ensure that they are equipped to handle situations without resorting to excessive force, said Crump in a statement. The charges filed today are an important step, but they are just the beginning. DVontayes life mattered, and his story will not be forgotten.

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AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 44)  Texas residents who were affected by the storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding from last spring have until August 15 to apply for FEMA disaster assistance.

FEMA says homeowners and renters in Anderson, Austin, Bell, Calhoun, Collin, Cooke, Coryell, Dallas, Denton, Eastland, Ellis, Falls, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Henderson, Hockley, Jasper, Jones, Kaufman, Lamar, Leon, Liberty, Montague, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Panola, Polk, San Jacinto, Rusk, Sabine, Smith, Terrell, Trinity, Tyler, Van Zandt, Walker and Waller counties designated for federal disaster assistance and who incurred storm-related loss or damage between April 26  June 5 have one week left to apply.

To apply for FEMA assistance, homeowners and renters can:

Go online to disasterassistance.gov/

Download the FEMA App for mobile devices

Visit a Disaster Recovery Center

Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. CT. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.

FEMA says disaster assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster. The assistance is intended to meet basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts. FEMA assistance is unable to duplicate benefits offered through insurance, state or other programs. However, if your losses or damage go beyond disaster assistance available from other sources  or include items or categories not covered by other assistance  you might be eligible for additional funds from FEMA. Even if you have already registered for the State of Texass disaster program, you must also apply to FEMA to learn if you may be eligible to receive additional funds.

Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administrations (SBA) are another important form of federal disaster assistance. These loans are not just for businesses  homeowners, renters and private nonprofit organizations can also apply. Residents and businesses referred by FEMA to SBA must also complete their loan application by the August 15 deadline.

For more information, you can visit sba.gov/disaster, call SBAs Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. You can also go online to SBAs secure website: disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/

For more information about Texas disaster recovery, you can visit fema.gov/disaster/4781. To view an accessible video about how to apply, you can watch Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance  YouTube.

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SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Four domestic and foreign automakers in South Korea will voluntarily recall some 172,000 vehicles for manufacturing defects, the transport ministry said Thursday.

BMW Korea will recall 113,197 units of 98 different models, including BMW 320d, for faulty airbag module inflator, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

A wiring error of the second-row seats prompted a recall on 43,926 units of two models, including Santa Fe, from Hyundai Motor.

Kia Corp. will repair the poor durability of the hydraulic electronic control unit (HECU) in 15,763 units of Soul model.

KGM Commercial will take corrective actions on 52 units of Smart 110E electric bus model due to defective steering system.

Vehicle owners can visit repair and service centers to replace the faulty parts free of charge. 
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) on Wednesday pushed back on reporting that he and his team raised concerns about Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) to Vice President Harriss team during the vetting process for her running mate.

No, I never directed anyone on my team or anyone to do that, Fetterman told Ali Vitali on MSNBC, when asked whether he and his team had concerns about Shapiro that he took to the Harris team.

So thats just, its just not true, Fetterman added.

Politico reported on Saturday that Fetterman was concerned about Harris potentially picking Shapiro, his home state governor, and that the senators advisers privately relayed that to Harriss campaign.

Harris ultimately selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), but Harris and Walz heaped praise on Shapiro during their first rally together in Philadelphia this week. Shapiro, who was reportedly the other top contender for the ticket, spoke before Walz and Harris.

Fetterman on MSNBC did not deny he and Shapiro have had issues in the past, but he said any issue that ever existed with the current governor has nothing to do with anything thats been talked about or any kind of public baggage.

Fetterman instead pointed to the Politico reporting suggesting the underlying disagreement between the two men stemmed from their time serving together on the states Board of Pardons.

As Vitali pressed Fetterman on the riff between the Pennsylvania heavyweights, the senator tried to shut down further discussion on the topic, saying, I thought I was here to talk about, you know, where were at now.

I just dont understand why were talking about a choice that was already made. I was very clear that the vice president is perfectly capable of picking whoever they want. They have effectively unlimited funding. She has access to every Democratic expert, and she made her choice, and thats where were at right now, and hes right out on that stage right now in Wisconsin, Fetterman said in the interview on Wednesday.

And why are we talking about this weird stuff? I dont understand that, Fetterman added.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  Alabamas largest celebration of Hispanic culture, Fiesta BHAM, and heritage has announced that its scholarship application process is now open.

Heat and humidity continue through Friday, cold front brings less humid air this weekend

Applications will be accepted online from July 15 through Aug. 31. Students interested in applying for a Fiesta scholarship can click here. Fiesta will award five $5,000 scholarships at its event on Saturday, Sept. 28. Fiesta will award a specialized $5,000 scholarship to a Latina student studying in the culinary, hospitality or restaurant management fields.

Fiesta was created to provide educational scholarships to deserving Hispanic students in our state and in our 22nd year as a festival, we are delighted to be providing $25,000 in Fiesta Scholarships, stated Teresa Zuniga Odom, Fiesta Advisory Board Scholarship Chair.

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PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  The Filipino American Association of Bay County is hosting its largest annual fundraising event of the year on Sunday, August 11th beginning at noon at the St. Peter and Paul Vietnamese Catholic Church in Panama City.

Their Barrio Fiesta is free to attend and will run until about 5 p.m.

It will feature authentic cuisine, traditional attire, and dance performances from the associations members.

Showcase your talent at auditions for Panama City play

This event is held annually not only for the public to come out and enjoy but also for the older generations to pass down Filipino culture and traditions to the younger generation so they can keep them alive.

Thats one thing we as an older generation can give back to the younger generation, said Filipino American Association of Bay County Choreographer Marissa Madriaga. This is a continuous process, and we would like this to continue for new generations to come. Thats why we keep doing this by showing our culture and our traditions, so our kids can learn from it.

The money made from Sundays festival will be donated to organizations including the American Red Cross, United Way, and Tuberculosis Foundation.

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BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  A pioneer filmmaker is being honored with a mural in his hometown of Binghamton.

Charlie Ahearn was the inspiration for the new mural located at 41 Prospect Avenue.

Ahearn is known for directing and producing the cult classic film Wild Style which shows the beginnings of underground hip-hop in the Bronx.

The mural is based off of a portrait of Ahearn from his personal collection. It was created by New York City artist Muck Rock. Using only spray paint, it took her less than two hours to complete.

Curator Erica Stella says Ahearn has seen the mural and he approves of the work.

Stella says when choosing what do to with the space, honoring Ahearn and his work was the obvious choice.

We just want to celebrate the movie and really bring awareness to the people of Binghamton that someone from this area created something so special, said Stella.

This is the second mural Stella has overseen in our area, the first one being located on the former CinemaSaver building in Endicott.

Ahearn is 73 years old and currently resides in New York City. In addition to filmmaking, he is known for his work as an author, artist, and radio host.

His film Wild Style can be found on the Tubi app.

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Finland has completely ruled out hosting a peace summit between America and Russia, distancing itself from any Donald Trump plan to swiftly end the war in Ukraine if he is re-elected.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Elina Valtonen, Finlands foreign minister, said she would not host any peace talks in the capital, which was the venue for the Cold War-era Helsinki Accords of 1975 and more recently the 2018 Trump-Putin summit.

She said Finland was fully in support of Ukraines peace objectives and would only host a summit if Russia showed it was willing to negotiate in good faith, which at this stage looked highly doubtful.

Like almost everybody else in Europe, we dont have any political dialogue with Russia at the moment and we are not looking to open any dialogue either, for as long as Russia keeps invading sovereign nations in its neighbourhood, Ms Valtonen said.

So that would be the answer in this situation, I would completely rule out such discussions taking place in Helsinki, if there wasnt a significant move from the side of Russia showing that they want to go back to valuing and respecting international law.

From left; Harold Wilson with then US president Gerald Ford, Valery Giscard d'Estaing, the French president, and Helmut Schmidt, the German chancellor at the 1975 security and cooperation conference in Helsinki - AFP/GETTY

Trump has repeatedly claimed he could end the Ukraine war in 24 hours if he is re-elected, but so far not elaborated on what his peace plan entails.

Ms Valtonen added: We only support solutions that are based on international law and the UN charter. And so far, I havent seen any proposal on a peace treaty draft, other than that of President Zelensky. So that is the foundation we are happy to build on.

In 1975 the Helsinki Accords, a major international treaty involving 35 countries  including the US and the USSR  were signed at the end of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

The agreement helped to ease tensions between the West and the Soviet Union in the late 1970s, turning a page on the Cuban missile crisis and Americas humiliation in the Vietnam war.

Helsinki also hosted a summit in 1990 between US president George Bush Sr, and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev which mainly discussed the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

George Bush Sr and Mikhail Gorbachev met in Helsinki for talks in 1990

When it was announced that Helsinki would be the venue for a major Trump-Putin summit in 2018, it raised hopes that a significant thaw in Russian-US relations might be on the cards.

Trump and Putin were praised at the time for committing to cooperate on tackling terrorism and global cyber-security, as well as securing Israels border with Syria.

As major nuclear powers, we bear special responsibility for maintaining international security, Putin said then, in a far cry from his rhetoric about global nuclear warfare since his invasion of Ukraine.

Finland, which shares a lengthy and porous land border with Russia, joined Nato as a direct response to Putins invasion of Ukraine and remains one of Kyivs strongest supporters in the EU.

Since joining Nato, alongside Sweden, Finland has also signed a security pact granting the US broad access to its military bases  a move that Russia has said it will not leave unanswered.

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TechCrunch

U.S. public utility giant American Water says it has disconnected some of its systems after discovering that hackers breached its internal networks last week. American Water, which supplies drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people across the United States, confirmed the security incident in an 8-K regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday. The New Jersey-based company said in its filing that its water and wastewater facilities are "at this time" not affected and continue to operate without interruption, though the company noted that its currently unable to predict the full impact of this incident.
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  The fire broke out at a local company that does a lot of road work in the area. The fire started around 10:30 a.m. Thursday morning at the CW Roberts contracting business off Center Avenue in Millville.

Panama City fire officials said an asphalt container and conveyor belt caught fire. That sent a huge plume of black smoke into the air.

Firefighters responded and had it under control quickly. That black smoke plume turned to white. There are no reports of any injuries.

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First cases of Oropouche detected in Europe after two deaths in Brazil

The first cases of Oropouche have been detected in Europe, days after two women died in Brazil after contracting the virus that is spreading rapidly in Latin America.

Two people who had recently travelled to Cuba reported to hospitals with symptoms of Oropouche disease on their return to Italy, the Lancet reported.

The first patient, a 26-year-old woman, suffered fever and diarrhoea after returning to Verona on May 26 from a 2-week trip to Cubas Ciego de Avila province.

The second traveller, believed to be a 45-year-old man, who travelled to Havana and Santiago de Cuba in early June, quickly developed symptoms before seeking medical help in Fori, northern Italy, on June 7.

The Department of Tropical Infectious Diseases and Microbiology of the Scientific Research Hospital Sacred Heart Don Calabria, north of Verona, carried out tests which showed the presence of Oropouche in the patients blood.

Both travellers made a full recovery.

It is the first time an Oropouche infection has been diagnosed outside of Latin America. The virus, which is spread by infected midges and mosquitoes, has already been linked with stillbirths and birth defects, raising fears of a repeat of the Zika virus outbreak that swept the continent beginning in 2015.

We should definitely be worried. Things are changing and may become unstoppable, Dr Danny Altmann, a Professor of Immunology at Imperial College London, told The Telegraph.

Oropouche is part of the arbovirus family that includes the Zika virus and Dengue and is usually recorded in the Amazon rainforest.

Infected individuals typically develop a fever three to eight days after infection. Common symptoms include rashes, headaches, and muscle or joint pain. Some individuals may also experience gastrointestinal symptoms and sensitivity to light.

So far, the majority of cases have been reported in Brazil, but the virus has also been detected in Bolivia, Colombia and Peru.

Cubas Ministry of Public Health of Cuba first reported Oropouche cases on May 27. Since then a total of 74 cases have been confirmed  the majority of them in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Songo La Maya.

The Lancet warned that the true number of infections could be much higher than has so far been reported, particularly as Ciego de Avila province, where one of the travellers had been, was not among Cuban areas where World Health Organisation reported Oropouche virus at the time the diagnosis.

The Lancet also expressed concern about the number of travellers flying between Cuba and Europe during the summer, which could reach up to 50,000 people in August alone.

There are also fears that rising global temperatures could bring more humans into contact with viruses like Oropouche.

Arboviruses such as Oropouche fever, Dengue, Zika, or Chikungunya, constitute one of the public health emergencies we must get used to living alongside, said Dr Concetta Castilletti, head of the Virology and Emerging Pathogens Unit at the hospital outside Verona.

Climate change and the increase in the movement of human populations risk making viruses [that were] once confined to the tropical belt endemic even in our latitudes, she said.

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Late last month, Brazil reported the worlds first deaths from the virus after two women in their twenties succumbed to the illness in the northeastern state of Bahia.

Before the deaths, which came just days after the women reported symptoms, there had been no report in world scientific literature on the occurrence of deaths from the disease, the Brazilian Ministry of Health said.

The two women, aged 21 and 24, suffered severe abdominal pain, bleeding and hypotension, and were reported dead on July 25. A third potential Oropouche death  of a 57-year-old man  is under investigation.

We dont know enough yet about Oropouche to know what surprises it may hold, said Dr Altmann. But two deaths of a relatively small number of infections sounds rather worrying.

Brazil has recorded 7,284 cases of Oropouche this year, up from 832 in 2023.

Brazils health ministry has reported four cases of microcephaly  where a babys head is much smaller than expected  in newborns of mothers infected with the virus, as well as the death of a foetus.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security

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BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative and State Councilor Shen Yiqin will attend the closing ceremony and other events of the 33rd Olympic Games in Paris from Aug. 9 to 11, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Thursday.

At the invitation of the government of Serbia, Shen will also visit Serbia from Aug. 12 to 14, Mao said. 
Xin Bao, one of two giant pandas sent from China to the San Diego Zoo, arrived in late June and has been getting acclimated to her new home. (Ken Bohn / San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)

Californias state animal might be the grizzly bear, but today is another bear's big moment to shine.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared Aug. 8, 2024, to be California Panda Day  a playful (but also politically significant) nod to Thursdays public debut of two giant pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, at the San Diego Zoo.

The pandas, in a gesture of goodwill from China, are the first to be sent to the United States in more than two decades.

"We hope that the newly arrived panda 'envoys of friendship' will lead to further exchanges and cooperation between California and China," Newsom wrote in his official proclamation of California Panda Day.

Read more: Panda diplomacy? China to send pandas to the San Diego Zoo for the first time in years

The idea of pandas not just as a source of cuteness, but also as a demonstration of unity and goodwill was shared by many Thursday morning, as the zoo's latest residents were officially unveiled.

"California has not only welcomed pandas with great warmth, but also set the pace for friendly exchanges and cooperation with China," said Xie Feng, China's ambassador to the U.S.

"We hope that the arrival of the pandas will inject fresh impetus into exchanges between China and California, and help stabilize the broader bilateral relationship, as well," Feng said.

Newsom echoed the ambassador's sentiments.

"This is about exchange, this is about understanding, this is about something much deeper, much richer than just two pandas we celebrate," he said. "It's about celebrating our common humanity."

Yun Chuan and Xin Bao arrived in San Diego in June after a collaborative conservation agreement reignited a "panda diplomacy" between China and the U.S. that had appeared to falter for a few years.

For more than five decades, beginning in 1972, China has lent pandas to zoos across the U.S. as "envoys of friendship," but doubts about the future of these loans grew in 2019 after the San Diego Zoo returned its last giant pandas to China. The Memphis Zoo and the Smithsonians National Zoo also have sent back several pandas in recent years, when their multiyear agreements were up.

Read more: Editorial: Are pandas headed back to California to work their diplomatic magic?

San Diego is a particularly meaningful place to ring in this next era of panda diplomacy. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance was the first organization in the nation to establish a cooperative panda conservation program, and researchers there have since made significant contributions to our scientific understanding of how to nurture such a keystone species.

Through a decades-long partnership, the alliance and the China Wildlife Conservation Assn., have been able to boost the survival rate of giant panda cubs from less than 10% to more than 90%, said Paul Baribault, president and chief executive of the alliance.

One of the new pandas, Yun Chuan, in fact, is the son of Zhen Zhen, a female panda born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007.

At almost 5 years old, Yun Chuan is identifiable by his long, pointy nose. He has an active personality, but he is also known to be gentle and sensitive to others. Hes serious about his bamboo but will always let other pandas go first, according to his wildlife care specialists.

Xin Bao, the smaller of the two, has a large, round face and big, fluffy ears that help set her apart from other pandas. She is almost 4 years old and naturally playful  her caretakers have said she is witty and curious, and has proved to be an excellent climber and will even roughhouse a bit with other pandas.

Their new home, the newly expanded "Panda Ridge" at the San Diego Zoo, has been designed to reflect the sweeping mountains, canyons and cliffs of China's Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. Four times larger than the zoo's previous panda habitat, this reimagined space also features shade trees for climbing and rolling hillsides for Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to explore.

People wishing to see the new pandas can do so in several ways: Obtain a complimentary timed ticket on the day of your visit, join a standby line in person, or reserve an exclusive 60-minute "Early Morning With Pandas Walking Tour." Additional information can be found on the zoos website.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
First giant pandas sent from China in decades make their debut at San Diego Zoo

First giant pandas sent from China in decades make their debut at San Diego Zoo

Two giant pandas sent from China earlier this summer made their debut at the San Diego Zoo on Thursday morning as officials welcomed the public into their new habitat.

Four-year-old Yun Chuan and three-year-old Xin Bao, who arrived in the US in June, are the first pandas China has sent to the US in over two decades. The adorable duo will reside at the California zoo for the next ten years.

The debut ceremony featured music, dance performances and speeches before local officials cut a ribbon and welcomed the public into the pandas new home.

Watch the livestream of the giant pandas here

The pair have spent the summer acclimatizing to their 6,000ft private habitat, known as Panda Ridge. Giant Pandas last resided at the San Diego Zoo in 2019.

Yun Chuan is recognizable by his long, pointy nose while Xin Bao is known for her large, round face and big, fluffy ears, the zoo said.

Xie Feng, ambassador to the US from China, was among the speakers.

Two little panda fans from California wrote several letters to me proposing giving China grizzly bears to get pandas, he told the crowd.

Yun Chuan, pictured on August 8, is one of two giant pandas now living at the San Diego Zoo (EPA)

I am most happy to tell them, after eight months of joint efforts, we have finally brought Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to San Diego. Your dreams have come true, even without giving us grizzly bears, he joked.

California Governor Gavin Newsom praised the pandas arrival, calling it a moment of pride and excitement.

In politics, you can't legislate pride, Newsom said. There's no bill you can sign. You can't legislate spirit. It manifests, and it manifests in moments like this. So I hope we can lift that up. I hope we can appreciate and embrace that at a moment like this.

Yun Chuan and Xin Bao were born at the Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base in Sichuan, China. Yun Chuans mother, Zhen Zhen, was born in San Diego in 2007 before returning to China in 2010.

Xin Bao, pictured on August 7, arrived from China alongside Yun Chuan in June. She can be identified by her fluffy face and ears (REUTERS)

His grandmother, Bai Yun, lived in the San Diego Zoo for 23 years. Bai Yun and her partner, Shi Shi, arrived in 1996 and were the first pandas sent to California.

Governor Gavin Newsom declared August 8 California Panda Day to honor the duos debut.

Giant pandas are beloved around the world and their conservation story is an inspiring example of strong partnerships and innovative strategies to protect the worlds natural heritage, Newsom said.

The bears arrival in San Diego came after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi promised the country would send giant pandas before the end of the year, the Associated Press reports. Chinese President Xi Jinping made a similar promise after meeting with President Joe Biden last year in California, calling the pandas envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.

Their arrival marks a return of panda diplomacy, a method used often by Beijing officials to soften Chinas image in the US, the Associated Press reports.

The US received its first-ever pair of giant pandas in 1972 at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC after President Richard Nixon made a diplomatic visit to China.
First invasion of Russia since World War II: Bloomberg reacts to hostilities in Kursk Oblast

Bloomberg has called the Ukrainian breakthrough of the Russian border in Kursk Oblast the first case since World War II when the army of another country invaded Russia.

Source: Bloomberg

Details: According to Bloomberg, up to a thousand Ukrainian troops have entered Kursk Oblast. This is the first time since World War II that the troops of another country have entered Russia.

Bloomberg also reports that Putin summoned his subordinates to explain the situation recently. And Russian milbloggers accused the officials of incompetence.

The news agency also suggests that this situation is likely to reinforce Kyiv's argument that American and European allies should not be afraid of the Kremlin's threats of escalation but instead should allow Ukraine to fight in any way it can to speed up the end of the war.

Bloomberg believes that this episode has exposed the fragility of Russia's border defences, undermined the Kremlin's image of Putin as a protector of ordinary Russians and boosted Ukrainian morale.

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WASHINGTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  Last week we told you about the Chipley church congregation trying to restore their bell tower. On Wednesday, the First Presbyterian Church took a major step in preserving that piece of its history.

Wednesday is the first time people have seen the historic church bell since 1938. The bell first rang out in 1904, the original has been ringing from the original First Presbyterian Church in Chipley.

When the current church was built in 1938, church members moved the old bell to the new bell tower. After all these years, the bell tower is no longer structurally sound.

Chipley First Presbyterian Church undergoing restoration for its bell tower

Theres a lot of old engineering in here. I think this things a hundred years old. So all the bell is supported in the brick, and theres just no way we could fix it now. So we had to kind of build a whole new structure in the structure to support the mill, contractor Stephen Yates said.

Contractors lifted the bell out of the tower to begin the repairs.

The bell will stay on the ground until they rebuild it. Tear the floor. That hole currently holds the bell and then rebuild it according to the specs that the structural engineer provided and then put the bell back in, church member Cheryl McCall said.

Once theyre completed, church members believe the bell will ring for another hundred years. They said its a staple for the community.

I think its just something that the community is involved in, and they want to see the bell preserved and taken care of as well. The bell is a very important part of the church and the church life, just like most churches that still have bells. And so its very important to the congregation that it be stabilized.

The bell will continue to be displayed in front of the church until the project is completed.

Once theyre finished, the bell will be re-hung in the tower.

The $25,000 bell tower renovation will take a little more than a week for contractors to complete.

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For the first time ever, the CDC is pushing for pain management for IUD insertion procedures

Finally, finally, doctors are starting to take women seriously when we talk about the pain of an IUD insertion. If youve had the procedure, you know firsthand. If you havent, youre probably already aware, either from talking to other women who have or from seeing social media videos that have gone viral where women share experiences they describe as agonizing. It is downright barbaric that for decades, women have been expected to bear this pain with little to no pain management, while men are given anesthesia and opioids for vasectomies.

But thanks to a groundswell of women speaking out about the issue, federal health officials are finally officially recommending to doctors that they counsel women about pain management for IUD insertions. The updated guidance came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this week.

The CDC guidance offered two major changes in pain management recommendations:

That doctors offer lidocaine as a numbing agent (via injection or topical gel) to numb the cervix That Misoprostol is not recommended for routine use for IUD placement, except in certain circumstances (i.e. patients with a recent failed placement).

Womens pain and womens experiences have been downplayed throughout medicine, Dr. Beverly Gray, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Duke University, told the New York Times. This is really validating that for some people, this can be a really painful experience.

After the fall of Roe v. Wade, the number of women seeking out reliable, long-term contraception like IUDs has risen. But so too have calls for doctors to stop dismissing the pain that many women experience during the insertion procedure. Its been described by some women as the worst pain imaginable and compared to a hot knife slowly stabbing them throughout the process.

Whats worse is that effective pain management strategies absolutely exist, but studies show that doctors simply rarely offer them to their patients. A 2019 survey showed that less than 5% of doctors offered an injection of local anesthesia, instead telling their patients to use over-the-counter pain medications. One study of 200 women found that while most women said the pain was about a 65 on a scale of 100, most physicians ranked it as a 35.

I think it is a significant change, Dr. Eve Espey, chair of the obstetrics and gynecology department at the University of New Mexico, said about the new CDC guidance for doctors. She added that anxiety about pain may have dissuaded women from seeking IUDs, which are a safe and highly effective form of birth control. The guidance on this topic has gone from a more provider-centered focus to a more patient-centered focus.
Screenshot of Orange County Democratic Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis on Zoom call on August 7, 2024.

Florida Democrats have been giddy since Kamala Harris succeeded Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee. But while most neutral observers dont believe the shift will harm Donald Trumps chances of winning Florida in November, some Democratic lawmakers contend it can help their down-ballot candidates.

We are taking Florida back, Tampa Bay area Democratic House member Michele Rayner asserted this week. I feel it so strongly because we have the ticket that we have, that were going to see Yes on 4. Were going to see the Legislature a little bit more blue than it is red.

Amendment 4 would restore abortion rights through viability and will be on the November ballot.

Republicans hold supermajority leads over Democrats in both chambers of the Legislature and are fighting to maintain that advantage.

Rayner was one of a group of Black female state Democratic lawmakers who appeared during an organizing Zoom call held on Wednesday night by the Florida for Harris campaign, during which it was announced that more than 17,000 people have volunteered to work on the presidential campaign here.

Before touting the newly formed Harris-Tim Walz Democratic ticket, both Rayner and Orlando Democratic Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis paid tribute to Joe Biden, who remains president but has rarely appeared in news coverage since he announced on July 21 that he would not run for re-election.

I must give a shoutout to President Joe Biden for showing the world what a patriot looks like and how you need to put country first, Bracy Davis said.

Trump won Florida by a little bit more than 1 percentage point in 2016 over Hillary Clinton and more than 3 percentage points over Biden in 2020. His polling lead over Biden this year in Florida was 6 points, and two surveys comparing Trump to Harris show the former president with an 8-point lead, both according to RealClearPolitics.

Miami-Dade County Democratic Rep. Ashley Gantt said on the call that while she often hears that Florida is now a red state, Florida is an apathetic state above all and anything else. People are not voting. And so, when I say that I mean we have to tap on the shoulders of the people that we love and even the people we dont love, and we have to tell them, Hey, I need you to get into this election. To get engaged. To actually filling out your ballot and returning it or going to early voting or whatever.'

Low turnout

Democratic voter turnout was down significantly in the 2022 midterm election, leading Ron DeSantis to win his re-election bid by 19 points and Marco Rubio another term in the U.S. Senate by 16 points.

Matthew Isbell, a data consultant who primarily works with Democratic candidates, reported that Republicans outpaced Democrats in turnout in 2022 by nearly 15 percentage points. That election was the first held in Florida history in which Republicans led in voter registration (a margin that the GOP has increased this year to nearly 1 million voters, according to the state Division of Elections website as of July 12).

Speaking of filling out ones ballot, Thursday is the last day that voters intending to vote in the Aug. 20 primary can request a vote-by-mail ballot. Early voting began in several Florida counties earlier this week, and all 67 counties will have polling stations open to vote this Saturday.
I flew business class for the first time with KLM. My 7-hour flight with the Dutch airline even ended with an amazing free gift.

I took my first business-class flight with KLM from Amsterdam to New York City.

My ticket gained me access to the KLM Crown Lounge in Amsterdam as well as priority boarding.

I loved having a lie-flat seat and access to great food options.

As someone who's traveled to more than 40 countries, there was one thing I never checked off my travel bucket list: flying business class. I always walked past the lie-flat seats and dreamed one day I would be able to.

Last year, I finally made this dream a reality by taking a seven-hour KLM business-class flight from Amsterdam to New York City, and it was worth all the hype.

I purchased my ticket using a Chase 25% transfer bonus, totaling 56,500 miles and $313.50 USD. I've seen similar flights sell for thousands of dollars, so I felt as if I got a good deal, which made the experience all the more enjoyable.

Here's what my experience flying in KLM's business class was like.

I had access to the KLM Crown Lounge in Amsterdam.

I was able to find a quiet spot in the lounge. Dasha Kofman

My trip started with a trip to the KLM Crown Lounge in Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, which was included in the price of my business-class seat.

Though packed with people, the lounge was so large that travelers could find many places to sit quietly.

As a Priority Passholder through my Capital One Venture X card, I've been to my fair share of lounges, but nothing has topped this experience: This lounge had an outdoor terrace, juice bars, and work areas. Showers and sleeping cabins were also available to book at a fee.

The breakfast buffet had everything I could imagine  it even made me forget I had a whole three-course meal waiting for me on the plane.

Entering the business-class cabin was a real pinch-me moment.

I was very excited about my lie-flat seat. Dasha Kofman

I took advantage of the priority boarding, which was very convenient. When I entered the cabin, my first look at the lie-flat seat was definitely a pinch-me moment.

But I was most excited about the noise-canceling headphones I had access to during the flight.

I was impressed by the selection of food I received.

I received lots of food throughout my flight. Dasha Kofman

From the moment I sat down, I was offered Champagne or juice and got to pick between cheese and nuts.

The cheese was delicious, but what made it better was the ceramic dish and white tablecloth it came on. I couldn't believe this was what I was missing out on during economy flights.

The first meal consisted of carrot-ginger soup and salmon. Next time, I'd skip the salmon and opt for either the chicken or steak instead.

I then got to pick out some chocolate, which was shaped like a Dutch house. The chocolate also came with a cup of tea and some other baked goods.

I was most impressed, however, by the meal I received before landing  pumpkin curry, a salmon poke bowl, and a cake that tasted like a Ferrero Rocher.

The best part of the KLM business-class experience was the parting gift I received.

KLM's collectible ceramic Dutch houses are replicas of historical buildings. Dasha Kofman

At landing, the flight attendants brought out KLM's collectible ceramic Dutch houses, which are given to business-class passengers. Each house is a replica of a historical building and is filled with Dutch gin.

There are more than 100 to collect, which gives me another reason to fly in KLM's business-class cabin again.

The business-class experience allowed me to feel refreshed at landing.

Overall, I had a great experience in KLM's business-class cabin. Dasha Kofman

At landing, I felt refreshed, which is something I don't usually experience while traveling. I found the business-class experience removed a lot of the most common stressors I typically encounter.

If I had the means, I'd definitely fly this way again, even at full price.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Florida physicians are coming out in support and in opposition to abortion-rights amendment

The number of women getting abortions grew during the first three months of 2024 compared with before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, reflecting expanded access in Democratic-controlled states. (Getty Images)

There is perhaps no more intense and emotional issue on the ballot his fall in Florida than Amendment 4, the proposal to enshrine in the Florica Constitution the right to an abortion up until the point of viability.

The ballot summary for the amendment says that no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patients health, as determined by the patients healthcare provider.

The emphasis on health care has emboldened medical professionals to organize themselves both in support and opposition to the measure.

Dr. Alexandra Levy is an OB/GYN in South Florida and one of more than 100 health care providers  including physicians, nurses, and other clinicians  who have signed a letter posted on the Yes on 4 website voicing support for the proposal.

You do not want the government and politicians making any decisions about your health care, Levy told the Phoenix on Thursday. You want that decision to be made between you and your doctor.

Levy is critical of the states recently implemented six-week ban on most abortions in the state, with exceptions for rape and incest up until 15 weeks. She calls it essentially a total ban.

Its just a more palatable way to phrase it, she said. A six-week ban is dangerous and there is no way to legislate medical exceptions.

Floridians Protecting Freedom, the advocacy group formed to get Amendment 4 on the ballot and ultimately passed, collected signatures of physicians supporting the ballot initiative. Levy acknowledged that everyone has concerns putting themselves in this process but that ultimately she had no choice but to go public.

Unfortunately, there are people who use fear to scare people from speaking out, but I think this is probably the most important issue of my time, so I will be speaking out, she said.

A group of physicians who oppose the proposal has also formed.

Florida Physicians Against Amendment 4 is led by Dr. Richard Sandler, a pediatric gastroenterologist in Orlando. He said the group consists of a few hundred physicians with hopes of building up to a few thousand.

Our stance is to lead a physicians voice to help Vote No on Florida and Do No Harm Florida and the governors group  to provide a physicians voice, he said, referring to some of the political committees formed to raise money against the amendment.

The groups website leads with the argument that Gov. Ron DeSantis and other critics of the proposal have considered their most effective talking point: the allegation that the measure would permit abortion through all nine months of pregnancy.

To me, the most powerful [argument] is abortion until birth, because even the pro-choicers are typically not in favor of that, Sandler told the Phoenix. And certainly, the majority of voters are not in favor of that, thats clear. But theyre not reading this amendment to realize this is whats being allowed. Its not explicitly whats in there. You have to read between the lines a little bit, which makes it harder to explain, but its there.

Deceptively worded

Sandler, like other critics of the proposed amendment, argued it is very deceptively worded, and contends that too many terms in the ballot language are ambiguous.

Its so brief. Its so vague. So many terms undefined, he said. And there is so much money and deception that is behind it.

Levy calls such criticisms unscientific fear mongering. She insists the term viability is complicated but that ultimately a determination that needs to be left up to patients and their doctors  adding that a health care provider is a specific term for a physician, nurse practitioner, or physicians assistant.

Sandler intends for his group to produce billboards with a photo of physicians promoting a No on 4 vote, messaging through social media, and reaching out to churches to get parishioners to register to vote and understand what the group argues the ballot measure would do, because still most people will vote yes on this if they dont know any better, if they dont know whats in it.

Meanwhile, a report released this week showed that the number of women getting abortions actually went up in the first three months of this year compared with before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, with Florida leading the way. That was before the six-week ban took effect, as reported by the Associated Press.
Last week, officials ordered several public universities in Florida to examine courses for "antisemitism or anti-Israeli bias," reported The Chronicle.

The directive, issued on Friday, ordered the leaders of 12 public universities in the State University System of Florida to provide the system's board of governors with a list of "related instructional materials" for any course whose description or syllabus contains the keywords Israel, Israeli, Palestine, Palestinian, Middle East, Zionism, Zionist, Judaism, Jewish, and Jews.

In a follow-up email sent later that day, the system's chancellor, Ray Rodrigues, clarified that schools should instead have a faculty committee "review relevant course resources such as textbooks and test banks for either antisemitic material and/or anti-Israeli bias before the beginning of fall semester," according to The Chronicle.

Rodrigues added that the goal was to "look at courses on terrorism, Middle Eastern studies, religion, and government," using a keyword search method to "ensure that all universities are reviewing the same courses, and nothing falls through the cracks." Faculty are expected to review the course content, "flag all instances of either antisemitism or anti-Israeli bias identified, and report that information to my office."

According to The Chronicle, "Rodrigues's email did not say how the faculty review should be carried out, how 'antisemitism' or 'anti-Israeli bias' would be defined or assessed, or what will happen to courses that are deemed to include such content. It's also unclear who or what began this process."

The directive highlights the intense pressure university officials are facing to stamp out disfavored views on Israel, even months after controversial anti-Israel demonstrations swept many American college campuses. It is also unsurprising that this kind of speech-quashing order came from Florida, considering Gov. Ron DeSantis' attempts to censor disfavored views on race, gender, and other controversial subjects in a doomed provision of the Stop WOKE Act.

The order, in addition to being obviously unconstitutional, puts universities in a particularly nasty bind. If schools complyand especially if they end up forcing professors to change the content of their courses over allegations of anti-Israel bias or antisemitismthey're likely to face lawsuits from censored professors.

The post Florida Public Colleges Ordered To Check Courses for 'Anti-Israel Bias' appeared first on Reason.com.
People pose for photos with a giant panda mascot at the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California, the United States, Aug. 7, 2024. To celebrate the highly anticipated public debut of two giant pandas -- Yun Chuan and Xin Bao -- at the San Diego Zoo on Thursday, California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday proclaimed Aug. 8 as California Panda Day. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

SAN DIEGO, the United States, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- To celebrate the highly anticipated public debut of two giant pandas -- Yun Chuan and Xin Bao -- at the San Diego Zoo on Thursday, California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday proclaimed Aug. 8 as California Panda Day.

The two iconic black and white bears landed in California from China on June 27 for 10-year international giant panda protection cooperation with San Diego Zoo, marking a new round of such collaboration between the two nations.

Newsom called the newly arrived panda pair "envoys of friendship" in a statement, wishing the beloved bears would lead to further exchanges and cooperation between California and China.

He pointed out that San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance was the first organization in the United States to establish a cooperative panda conservation program with China.

"Their innovative conservation science has advanced efforts to protect and care for giant pandas around the world," explained the governor, noting that as a testament to its success, Yun Chuan, the five-year-old male panda was the son of Zhen Zhen, a female panda born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007.

Newsom said the conservation collaboration is part of California and China's long history of working together toward shared goals, adding that the Golden State, the largest economy and most populous state in the United States, and China have enjoyed "strong foundation of partnership and deep cultural and economic ties."

The governor also pointed out that giant pandas are beloved around the world and their conservation story is an inspiring example of strong partnerships and innovative strategies to protect the world's natural heritage.

"As the San Diego Zoo welcomes visitors to Panda Ridge this week, I encourage Californians to take this unique opportunity to appreciate one of the most iconic wildlife species and recognize the important partnerships at work to help them thrive for generations to come," he concluded.

San Diego Zoo is one of the most visited zoos in the United States. Located north of downtown San Diego in Balboa Park, it is home to more than 12,000 animals representing over 680 species and subspecies. 

People with panda headbands pose for photos at the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California, the United States, Aug. 7, 2024. To celebrate the highly anticipated public debut of two giant pandas -- Yun Chuan and Xin Bao -- at the San Diego Zoo on Thursday, California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday proclaimed Aug. 8 as California Panda Day. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
Multiple northeast Florida school districts have come up with a plan to address substance abuse incidents happening across campuses.

 WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS

The effort includes the 7th Circuit State Attorneys Office.

Volusia, Flagler, St. Johns, and Putnam counties will execute a three-pillar approach that includes education, awareness, and accountability.

READ: Orange County school bus drivers shift into gear ahead of new school year

State Attorney RJ Larizza has been meeting with the four school districts in his circuit and families for almost a year to create a plan for students.

This will be achieved through focus groups and added to students curriculum. In Volusia County last school year alone, 30 vapes were taken from children, six of those tested positive for fentanyl.

Superintendent Carmen Balgobin explains the punishment pieces already exist through partnerships with law enforcement but adds whats missing is finding out why the child turned to the substance in the first place.

We want to make sure they understand truly what are some of the resources available to them. We can talk about counseling. We can talk about mental health, said Balgobin.

A public service announcement is already being sent to families now. Full release here:

State Attorney Larizza, Four Superintendents Launch Seventh Circuit Initiative BUNNELL  Seventh Judicial Circuit State Attorney R.J. Larizza in partnership with Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore, Putnam County School District Superintendent Dr. Rick Surrency, St. Johns County School District Superintendent Tim Forson and Volusia County Schools Superintendent Dr. Carmen Balgobin announce the launch of Safety First, Success Always.

READ: School leader describes impact of engagement zones in wake of student cellphone ban

The initiative was created to help better address substance use (vaping/THC/fentanyl) and violence (fighting/threats/guns), which are happening in our schools and communities circuitwide. For almost a year, the five Seventh Circuit leaders and members of their staff have been working on a proactive, collaborative approach, which focuses on three pillars: education, awareness and accountability.

State Attorney R.J. Larizza in partnership with @FlaglerSchools Supt. LaShakia Moore, @PutnamSchoolsFL Supt. Dr. Rick Surrency, @SJCSD Supt. Tim Forson and @volusiaschools Supt. Dr. Carmen Balgobin announce the launch of Safety First, Success Always. pic.twitter.com/ex6anqNGLb  State Attorney, Florida's Seventh Judicial Circuit (@SAO7FL) August 8, 2024

Stakeholder meetings were also held in May with parents and students from each school district to get their feedback. The following is a breakdown of the initiatives three pillars.

1. Education: All four school districts will implement circuitwide curriculum on substance use and violence in the five hours of Character and Life Skills through Resiliency Education, which is required to be provided monthly to public school students grades 6- 12. A video component from State Attorney Larizza will also be included, which will teach students what consequences they could face if they break the law. Additionally, assembly presentations will be brought to all school levels circuitwide in an effort to be more proactive and give some early education about substance use and violence to younger students.

2. Awareness: Public service announcement videos regarding substance use and violence will be distributed into the community by the school districts and state attorneys office to raise awareness of the risks and consequences.

3. Accountability: All four school districts have identified circuitwide, age-appropriate and meaningful consequences and a required education component related to substance use and violence that will be applied consistently through each districts Student Code of Conduct.

We are excited to announce this Seventh Circuit initiative, which is a first of its kind in Florida, the group said in a joint statement.

READ: OCPS eyes contingency plans in case two schools dont open

Safety is our top priority. It is critical we partner together to create a strong response to substance use and violence. We are confident the Safety First, Success Always initiative will change the script from substance use and violence to empowering our students and community to help us foster a safe environment for success.

As the Seventh Circuit initiative gets underway during the 2024-2025 school year, the school districts and state attorneys office will be looking to include other circuit leaders who can aid them in accomplishing the three pillars.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Florida Teen Who Attacked Teachers Aide for Taking His Nintendo Switch Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison

Brendan Depa has autism, and his mother criticized the sentence, saying her son is "going to be taken advantage of or harmed" in prison

WKMG Orlando

The Florida teenager who was caught on video assaulting a teachers aide after she took away his Nintendo Switch was sentenced to five years in state prison, according to news outlets.

Brendan Depa, 18, who has autism, was sentenced on Tuesday, Aug. 6, to five years in prison and 15 years probation, according to sentencing documents from the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court in Flagler County obtained by NBC News, WKMG-TV and The Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Judge Terence Perkins also ordered the Department of Corrections to conduct a full mental health assessment on Depa and to create a care plan for him, and ordered the teenager not to have any contact with the teachers aide, Joan Naydich.

Perkins said during the sentencing, per the Daytona Beach News-Journal, that Brendan had not expressed any remorse for his actions, and also noted Brendans history of violence in the past.

The 18-year-old pleaded no contest to one count of aggravated battery on an elected official or education employee in connection with the incident, which occurred in February 2023 at Matanzas High School, according to the outlets.

Video shown in court showed the employee, Naydich, taking away Brendans Nintendo Switch before he charged at her, knocked her to the ground and began kicking and punching her. The video showed the woman going unconscious as he continued to attack.

Naydich testified in court that the incident had a significant impact on her mentally as well as physically, saying she now has anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result.

My life will never be what it was before, she said in court, per NBC News and WKMG-TV. Brendan Depas actions that day [have] caused me to lose a job that I had for almost 19 years, lose my financial security, lose my health insurance.

gofundme A photo of Joan Naydich.

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However, Brendans mother, Leanne Depa, criticized the sentence, saying, "They are punishing that he is Black, they are punishing that he is large and they are punishing his disability," per NBC News and the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

She added that the school failed in making sure the behavioral plan developed for her son was followed, and said that she thought her son needs help, not to to be put away in a prison where he's going to be taken advantage of or harmed."

Perkins said in court that the 18-year-old would be able to appeal his sentence.



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Read the original article on People.
Insights from Financial Times, Le Monde, and DW

Updated Aug 9, 2024, 10:54am EDT

The News

An alleged terror plot aimed at Taylor Swifts concerts in Vienna this week is the latest in a slew of foiled attacks across Europe recorded in recent months.

On Friday, Austrian officials detained an 18-year-old Iraqi national in connection with the plot. It came after authorities earlier this week arrested an Austrian citizen who is suspected of pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group and planning the attack.

European security officials have warned of a growing risk of terrorism across the continent, as the Islamic State regains influence and the war in Gaza amplifies existing tensions.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Islamic State regaining strength after US withdrawal from Afghanistan

Sources: CNN, Financial Times, Stimson Center

The teenage terror suspects in Austria were radicalized by the internet, local police said, and Islamic State propaganda was found at one of the suspects homes. The Islamic States influence is rising, as the 2021 US retreat from Afghanistan has allowed one of its factions, ISIS-K, to regroup despite a Taliban counterinsurgency. Suspected ISIS-K members have been arrested in Germany, Turkey, and the Netherlands in recent months, and people affiliated with or inspired by the group carried out successful terror attacks in Iran and Russia earlier this year. Germanys domestic intelligence chief said ISIS-K operatives have infiltrated Western Europe under cover of the refugee exodus from Ukraine, and warned the group is using online propaganda to encourage supporters to attack targets in Europe.

War in Gaza radicalizing new generation

Sources: The Local, Reuters, Crisis24, Lawfare, The Soufan Center

European security officials have warned the growing terrorism threat may be fed by the increased tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict. Austria, Spain, Portugal, and Slovenia have all increased their threat levels due to the crisis in the Middle East, while antisemitism and Islamophobia on the continent have surged, raising concerns that the conflict could radicalize new extremists. Global terror groups are likely to use the conflict to recruit and mobilize, two European counterterrorism experts wrote in Lawfare. In France, schools have received more than 800 bomb threats since Hamass October 7 attack last year, and several terrorist attacks have been foiled.

Paris Olympics have been the biggest security concern for European officials

Sources: Le Monde, Reuters, France24, DW, The New York Times

Europes biggest security concern has been the Paris Olympics, which come to an end on Sunday. French officials warned that both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State wanted to target the Olympics, and France has deployed tens of thousands of additional police officers in Paris. French security services arrested a teenager suspected of plotting a suicide bombing inspired by Islamist militants, as well as a far-right extremist who planned an attack. So far, high-speed rail lines and internet cables appear to have been sabotaged, although they were quickly repaired. While the perpetrators remain unidentified, French officials have hinted that an anticapitalist ultraleft group may be the culprit, The New York Times reported.
BINGHAMTON, NY (WIVT/WBGH)  A Binghamton man has been charged with multiple criminal possession offenses as well as resisting arrest after trying to flee Binghamton Police.

On Wednesday, August 7, according to BPD, 31-year-old Matthew Carrasquillo, of Binghamton was seen walking in the roadway on Hawley Street, which is a violation of New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law when a sidewalk is provided.

Once officers attempted to stop Carrasquillo, he fled and officers were forced to chase him down on foot. Once he was apprehended, Carrasquillo allegedly resisted and officers detained him.

Once he was taken put in handcuffs, officers found a loaded defaced .38 Smith & Weston Special Revolver and a loaded 9mm handgun magazine.

Carrasquillo was arrested and charged with the following:

Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd degree, a class C felony

Three (3) counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd degree, class D felonies

Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a class E felony

Obstruction of Governmental Administration 2nd degree, a class A misdemeanor

Resisting Arrest, a class A misdemeanor

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
The National Park Service said Thursday that it cited three German tourists for firing paintball guns throughout Joshua Tree National Park earlier this month.

On Aug. 4, a park ranger patrolling the Jumbo Rocks Campground saw fresh yellow paintball splatter on structures and signs, park officials said. Law enforcement rangers responded to the campground to investigate further, and saw a slingshot inside a vehicle in plain view.

Three individuals visiting from Germany were questioned and admitted firing paintballs with a compressed paintball gun, known as a paintball marker, and slingshots the night before. Rangers searched their vehicle and recovered three slingshots, a paintball marker, paintballs, and other related equipment.

Joshua Tree paintballs

Park officials said paintball markers and slingshots are legally considered weapons, and are thus prohibited in National Park Service-administered lands.

A further search of the park revealed bathrooms and dumpsters and been shot with yellow paintballs, as well as at least 11 road signs along Park Boulevard from Jumbo Rocks campground to the Maze Trailhead.

Law enforcement rangers issued each of the visitors a federal violation notice for vandalizing, defacing, or destroying property. They each face a maximum penalty of up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

Defacing or altering the NPS landscape, no matter how small, is against the law, Joshua Tree National Park Acting Chief Ranger Jeff Filosa said in a statement. It diminishes the natural environment that millions of people travel the world to enjoy. The park is regularly tasked with removing graffiti of all types, using time and resources that could be better dedicated to other priorities.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
HAIKOU, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- On a vast salt pan in Yinggehai Town, located in Ledong Li Autonomous County of Hainan Province in Southern China, a massive array of 434,000 photovoltaic (PV) panels generates a continuous supply of clean energy.

This is the largest centralized PV base in Hainan. The recently completed facility can generate about 720 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, saving 288,000 tonnes of standard coal, and reducing carbon emissions by 715,000 tonnes each year.

"The salt pan area is very rich in solar energy resources, and the average annual evaporation is twice as much as the rainfall, which has significant PV development value," said Wang Jiaping, project manager from Hainan Holdings Energy Co., Ltd.

Wang also noted the challenges in building a PV power plant on a salt pan. The silt layer reaches 7 to 8 meters, necessitating precision construction management to ensure that each pipe pile error remains within two centimeters. Technicians used satellite positioning and drone measurements, to tackle more than 60 key technologies such as water operations and intelligent inspection.

China's mainland coastline stretches about 18,000 kilometers, offering vast potential for marine PV development. Experts believe that offshore PV has numerous advantages over traditional land PV.

"PV power generation consumes a lot of ground space resources, and the available land for PV development is limited," said Cui Lin, deputy secretary-general of the Special Committee on Offshore Photovoltaic System, China Photovoltaic Industry Association. "Offshore PV, however, offers wider deployment space for larger-scale applications."

Offshore PV modules, positioned close to or partially immersed in seawater, also benefit from enhanced cooling and heat dissipation, improving power generation efficiency, Cui added.

Meanwhile, other coastal areas in China are also embracing offshore PV projects. In east China's Fujian Province, over 30,000 PV panel pipe piles have been installed in the seawater for the region's first offshore PV project. Once completed, it will generate an average of 300 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, saving 90,200 tonnes of standard coal per year.

Another offshore PV project is currently underway at Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province. The China National Nuclear Corporation's 2 million kW PV demonstration project integrates PV and nuclear power, which can effectively reduce the negative impact on the marine ecosystem and supply more clean energy to neighboring cities.

Off the coast of Haiyang, east China's Shandong Province, the country's first pile-based fixed offshore PV demonstration project is operating smoothly in waters with an average depth of 7 meters. These offshore PV power stations are assembled on land before being transported offshore and installed underwater, requiring higher efficiency to reduce costs and strong, crack-resistant components.

As China expands its renewable energy infrastructure, projects like these are setting new benchmarks for clean energy production. These initiatives, which focus on innovation, efficiency and environmental protection, are crucial steps towards a more sustainable and energy-secure future.

In September 2023, the National Energy Administration proposed supporting pilot offshore PV projects in areas with favorable solar energy resources and construction conditions, such as salt pans.

China also encourages the integration of photovoltaics with other industries. A white paper released last month promoted the co-development of PV projects and marine aquaculture.

In the future, offshore PV can be integrated with offshore wind power, marine ranching, seawater desalination, and offshore hydrogen production, sharing space and facilities to achieve large-scale offshore clean energy development, Cui said.

Despite advances, technological issues persist. Anti-corrosion measures and preventing marine organisms from attaching to equipment are significant challenges, Cui said.

"Moreover, intelligent operation and maintenance after large-scale offshore deployment is a technical bottleneck, as offshore installations cannot be easily dismantled and replaced like on land," he added.

Experts urge enterprises to invest in research and development, promote technological innovation, and enhance the offshore PV industry's competitiveness. 
Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan encouraged Minnesotans to file their taxes, highlighting the states new child tax credit at the nonprofit Prepare + Prosper on Feb. 5, 2023. Photo by Michelle Griffith/Minnesota Reformer.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz really, really likes maps.

The former Mankato geography teacher, now a vice presidential candidate, identifies as a GIS nerd and proclaimed November 15, 2023 as Geographic Information Systems day, writing that an understanding of maps and data helps community leaders and government officials make data-driven decisions governing important policy issues like education, public safety and the environment.

Over the past several years Walz has given several addresses at conferences hosted by ESRI, the company that makes leading GIS software ArcGIS. Part stump speech and part GIS infomercial, the talks underscore how maps shaped Walzs understanding of the world as a young educator and member of Congress, and how he now relies on them as the tools to implement the ambitious policy agenda crafted by Minnesotas DFL trifecta this term.

The end product of these maps is a more sustainable economy, a more sustainable environment, and lifting up of peoples lives in a way that they can thrive, he said as part of the keynote of an ESRI conference in mid-July.

Geography in the classroom and in Congress

Walz said he was an early adopter of GIS software in the 1990s, using it, among other things, to teach high school students about the Holocaust.

He had his students build maps of the contemporary world using different layers of data that scholars believed could factor into modern-day genocides. They started looking at food insecurity, potential drought, just like the UN was doing around famine early warning, Walz said.

In 1993, he asked his sophomores where they thought the next genocide might happen, based on the geographic data. They pinpointed Rwanda. The following year, the Rwandan Genocide occurred. The New York Times interviewed some of the students involved in the project in 2008, when Walz was a U.S. congressman.

Walz also criticized his former congressional colleagues for their lack of knowledge about global geography. He spoke of blank stares in an Armed Services Committee hearing when he brought up the Durand Line, referring to the often disputed border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

A geographically illiterate member of the United States Congress is a very scary proposition, he said.

All the governors maps

Walz says that he now relies heavily on maps to both share information with constituents and to target policy interventions.

As a governor, the ability to use what I knew about mapping and the visual display of data to convey complex issues, to affect change amongst people, is really important, he said. The early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when maps of case counts and geographic spread were a ubiquitous part of newscasts and policy discussions, underscored this point.

GIS helps build trust, he said. Conveying data to people in a complex way helps to build trust.

Walz also boasted about St. Pauls map of lead pipes that allows homeowners to look up their addresses and schedule service to get the pipes replaced. This is the interaction between your map and policies, and a united world and good outcomes for people, he said.

Walz also says maps help implement the nitty-gritty details of otherwise abstract policy. You have to have a plan for how were doing power and economic justice and environmental justice, he said. The tools for that plan are GIS. Those tools transfer a vision of a fair society into one that actually has results.

At the keynote, Walz shared something called the Minnesota Executive Map Portfolio, a collection of online maps showing data on some of his policy priorities: children and families, the climate and the economy.

He spoke at length about a map of peat bogs (Minnesota has the second most of these only behind Alaska); one showing child tax credit filing versus eligibility (we had to get out there and find out whos not filing for taxes and break it down to the street level); and a map of youth job skills training rates (matched up with the employers who are there, overlaid with our high school graduation rates, means fewer students drop through the cracks.)

Walz also has strong feelings about maps hes not particularly fond of. In 2023, he told an ESRI audience that we need to find the first person who put that red-blue map up and beat the hell out of them for putting that on, because it divided the country. And it did not show the nuance that GIS shows.

Those red and blue maps were the subject of off-the-cuff remarks that became infamous among Walzs Republican opponents. In 2017, he was speaking at a candidate roundtable on comedy show T2P2 when he brought up the urban-rural partisan divide.

You see those maps. Red and blue and theres all that red across there. And Democrats go into depression over it. Its mostly rocks and cows that are in that red area because of demographics, he said. Im a geographer. But it doesnt change the fact that moving toward an urban population left a lot of areas where they were wondering, Where was the person speaking for them?

Republicans circulated an abbreviated clip of the rocks and cows comment and turned it into an attack line.

But overall, Walz tends to speak rapturously about the power of good maps to bring about social change. I know Im preaching to the choir, but the choir needs to sing, he told ESRI in 2024. This stuff works. This stuff makes a difference. The map is wonderful to look at. Its exciting.

As an ESRI executive put it while introducing Walz to the crowd of GIS enthusiasts and map nerds: Hes one of us.

This story was first published by the Minnesota Reformer, which like NC Newsline, is part of the national States Newsroom network.
Former Ky. Gov. Matt Bevins son back in U.S. after being removed from abusive facility

Former Gov. Matt Bevin, shown at a campaign rally for then U.S. President Donald Trump on Nov. 4, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Bryan Woolston/Getty Images)

The adopted son of former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin is back in the United States  after he was removed earlier this year from an allegedly abusive Jamaican youth facility and left in care of that countrys child welfare system.

The boy, 17, is in a placement worked out with help of Jamaican childrens authorities after his adoptive parents, Matt and Glenna Bevin, did not immediately respond to inquiries about his situation, said advocates working behalf of him and seven other boys removed from the facility in February.

He is safe, said Rebecca Growne, a representative of a child advocacy foundation created by hotel heiress Paris Hilton, who has used her celebrity to shed light on conditions in so-called troubled teen facilities.

He is in an appropriate placement.

The Bevins, Growne said, are not involved in the matter.

Hiltons foundation, 11:11 Media Impact, is a non-profit organization which advocates on behalf of children in allegedly abusive residential settings.

Hilton herself traveled to Jamaica in April to meet the boys and offer her organizations support, a visit she mentioned in June testimony before Congress over her concerns about such residential programs.

Hilton said she, as a teenager, was placed involuntarily in several such facilities she said were highly abusive.

The Bevins did not respond to repeated queries about their son as officials and advocates sought to find a custodian for him, according to advocates with the Hilton foundation. As a result, he was placed in custody of the Jamaican child welfare system.

They were not communicating with us, said Chelsea Maldonado, also with the Paris Hilton foundation, who went to Jamaica to assist in the case. Everyone has tried. No one has had success.

Neither Matt Bevin, who served as Kentucky governor from 2015 through 2019, nor his lawyer responded to a request for comment.

Glenna Bevin, who is seeking a divorce from her husband, did not respond to a request for comment through her lawyer.

Matt Bevin, a conservative Christian, ran a campaign based in part on improving adoption services in Kentucky and reducing the number of children in foster care. In a 2017 interview on KET he called his desire to reform the system the driving reason I made the decision to run.

The Bevins are the parents of five biological children and four children they adopted from Ethiopia in 2012, including the youth who was sent to the Atlantis Leadership Academy in Jamaica last year.

Matt Bevin often cited the adoption in his political campaign and after he was elected in calling on members of Kentuckys faith community to provide adoptive homes for children in need.

The perfect location for healing

On its website, the Atlantis Leadership Academy describes itself as a the perfect location for healing, and an ideal place for youths who have cycled though other treatment programs without success.

But on Feb. 8, officials with the Jamaican Child Protection and Family Services Agency found otherwise when they conducted an unannounced welfare check on the eight teenage boys, ages 14-18, all U.S. citizens, according to a press release from the agency.

During this visit, signs of abuse and neglect were observed, leading to the immediate removal of the teens from the facility for their safety, it said.

The U.S. Embassy, in a statement, said it takes the welfare of U.S. children abroad very seriously and works closely with Jamaican child protection officials in such matters.

The Jamaican childrens agency did not elaborate on the abuse it observed at the academy but a lengthy story July 13 in the Sunday Times of London said the teens removed from the academy described beatings, violent treatment, isolation, lack of food, filthy, unsanitary conditions and cruel punishments such as being forced to lie face down on the floor for hours.

Id rather die than go back, one boy said, according to the Sunday Times.

The case was also referred to criminal authorities which resulted in charges of assault and child cruelty against five former staffers.

He was just so dejected

The removal of the teens from the academy set off a flurry of activity to identify the boys and find their families.

Dawn J. Post, a New York lawyer who specializes in family law and failed adoptions, was among lawyers who traveled to Jamaica to volunteer their help with the boys cases.

The U.S. embassy and child welfare officials were able to confirm the identity of the youths and begin searching for relatives who might take custody of those under 18, she said. Representatives of Hiltons foundation joined the effort.

The 18-year-old, no longer in the family courts jurisdiction, was returned to the United States in coordination with the U.S. Embassy and the youths family, the childrens agency press release said.

Custody arrangements were made for four more.

Ultimately, three boys ended up in the custody of Jamaica child welfare when no relatives stepped forward, Post said.

Post said she was able to meet and speak with the boys, who signed agreements to accept her voluntary legal services  including the Bevins son.

This young man was the one I was most worried about, she said. He seemed the most dejected, with very little belief that anyone was coming for him or even knew he was missing. He was just so dejected and depressed after everything he had gone through.

Post said she was able to make telephone contact with Glenna Bevin once, who said she needed to consult with her husband before discussing her sons care. Post said Glenna Bevin cut off contact after that. The Bevins son returned to the U.S. in May.

One of the eight boys remains in Jamaica as officials and advocates try to work out arrangements for his return to the United States, Growne said.

The Atlantis Leadership Academy was closed in March by officials, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy. It was not licensed as a school and had moved locations several times, finally to a small, two-bedroom cottage, the Sunday Times story said.

Most youths got classes online, intermittently, Maldonado said.

Families paid $8,000 to $10,000 a month in fees, she said.

Terrifying, clickbait headlines

Atlantis Leadership Academy has not responded to requests for comment through its website and a toll-free line it lists is not accepting calls.

The Sunday Times story said its founder and director, an American named Randall Cook, did not appear at court hearings over the facility and is believed to have returned to the United States.

Meanwhile, the academy, though closed, appears to be pushing back on some of the allegations.

On its website, under the heading Media and FAQ, it accuses some outlets of terrifying clickbait headlines with horrific, pre-determined narrative attacks.

Its comments do not directly address the allegations but rather, question the media outlets that reported them.

Do you feel as though what you receive from the media is a narrative or genuine, honest reporting? it asks. It is no surprise that as a direct result of lazy reporting, half-truths and craving for sensationalism above dignity and the public common good, most media houses have continued losing massive amounts of trust among their consumers.

It also defends parents who place their children in facilities that purport to help difficult youths, saying they in most cases are well-meaning individuals, desperate for help.

Parents are in a place of devastation, the academy website said. There is virtually no compassion for a parent that is experiencing this situational trauma in their home and lives.

Going forward, Growne said Hilton and the foundation remain focused on advocacy meant to bring awareness of the proliferation of such facilities, both in the United States and abroad. Their foundation currently is looking into conditions at another facility in Jamaica that houses more than 150 youths.

It also is looking for stronger federal and state laws regulating such facilities and more resources to help children in the community, rather than institutions.

Childrens residential facilities, including those promising help for troubled teens, have become a multibillion-dollar industry, often with little oversight, Growne said.

Marketing often is aimed at parents of adopted children and may paint a glowing picture of substandard facilities that some parents send children to sight unseen, Growne said. Some parents use transport teams, hired workers, to collect their children and take them to a facility, she said.

I think it needs to be well-known that these facilities are out there, she said. The marketing does not live up to the reality.
Former Lee sheriff's deputy arrested, accused of firing into Lehigh Acres jewelry

Michael Soto, 37, faces several charges after authorities say security footage captured him shooting into a Lehigh Acres jewelry on June 30, 2024.

A former Lee County sheriff's deputy faces several charges after authorities say they linked him to a breach at a Lehigh Acres jewelry store.

Michael Soto, 37, faces one count of discharging a firearm in public from a vehicle within 1,000 feet from a person and one count of shooting into an unoccupied building.

According to his arrest 10-page affidavit, shortly before 2 a.m. June 30, the sheriff's office was alerted of an alarm that went off at Gold Forever Jewelry, 904 Lee Blvd., in Lehigh Acres.

When deputies arrived at the business, the report says, they found a shattered front glass door. The affidavit says a representative for the establishment provided authorities with security footage.

Sentenced for shooting seniors: Cape Coral teen who shot Lehigh Acres seniors towing boat last year gets 17 years

The heavily redacted report indicates that through the footage they matched a Ford F-150 pickup on scene to Soto's.

When sheriff's deputies took him into custody, documents say, Soto refused to speak without a lawyer present.

According to documents provided by the sheriff's office, Soto began his employment as a sheriff's deputy in Lee County in May 2018.

Soto was released Wednesday afternoon on $100,000 bond. His arraignment is scheduled Sept. 9.

He is one of three Lee County sheriff's deputies arrested in the past two weeks.

Two other LCSO deputies arrested in the last two weeks

Bryon Haycook, 51, of Cape Coral, faces one count of transmission of material harmful to a minor. He was booked into the Lee County Jail on Thursday.

In May, the sheriffs office received a cybertip about a man communicating online with a 17-year-old girl. The conversations contained explicit content and photos.

He was arrested nearly a week after Tyrese Jackson, 37, who faces one count of scheme to defraud and two counts of official misconduct in a public agency. Jackson was booked into the Lee County Jail on July 28 and released the following day on $7,500 bond.

Court documents list nine victims throughout seven encounters with Jackson between Jan. 2 and Jan. 22. The 25-page report says Jackson targeted Hispanic motorists, "with little to no valid identification" and a language barrier.

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

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Lee sheriff's deputy accused of shooting into Lehigh Acres jewelry
Chicago viewers will have a familiar face to guide them through the historic political drama set to unfold this month at the Democratic National Convention inside the United Center.

Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a key architect in promoting and bringing the DNC back to Chicago, has been hired by CBS 2 to provide analysis of the four-day event, where Kamala Harris is expected to formally accept her nomination as the Democratic presidential nominee.

While the process is ceremonial  Harris was officially nominated by a majority of delegates during a virtual roll call that concluded Monday  the convention spectacle will likely bring rousing speeches, protests, thousands of visitors and a massive media scrum to the Near West Side.

The DNC expects 15,000 media members to descend on Chicago during the convention, with Lightfoot now numbered among the press corps she once jousted with as mayor.

Lightfoot, known for her sometimes combative exchanges with journalists while serving as Chicagos mayor from 2019 to 2023, will provide analysis, interviews and insight for CBS 2 viewers throughout the convention, the station said.

I look forward to giving a behind-the-scenes look at the DNC, and helping viewers understand this moment and what it means for us, collectively, Lightfoot said in a news release. Im glad to collaborate with CBS and to contextualize this historic convention for Chicagoans.

As Chicagos first Black female and openly gay mayor, Lightfoot presided over the city during a tumultuous term marked by pandemic disruption, civic unrest and growing concerns about violent crime. She became the citys first incumbent mayor in 40 years to lose her reelection bid when she failed to qualify for the April 2023 runoff won by Brandon Johnson.

But in addition to launching NASCARs Chicago Street Race, selecting Ballys Chicago to be the citys first casino and other signature initiatives, Lightfoot can also take some credit for luring the DNC to return to Chicago and the United Center for the first time since the Clinton-Gore ticket was nominated for reelection in 1996.

In 2022, working with Gov. J.B. Pritzker and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Lightfoot and the city were all in on the effort to get the 2024 convention, looking to boost tourism and Chicagos image as it emerged from the pandemic.

Mayor Lightfoot brought the DNC to the city of Chicago, Jennifer Lyons, president and general manager of CBS 2 Chicago, said Thursday. She knows the inner workings of the city better than anyone else  and so her expertise will be invaluable.

Lyons said adding the former mayor to CBS 2 coverage of the DNC is a different way of handling it, but she expects it to make for good local TV viewing during the citys moment in the national spotlight.

Since leaving office, Lightfoot has joined Charles River Associates, which works with law and accounting firms, corporations and governments, as a consultant to the firms forensic services practices. A former prosecutor, Lightfoot was engaged in April by trustees in south suburban Dolton to investigate Mayor Tiffany Henyard amid accusations she improperly spent village funds.

The convention runs Aug. 19-22 at the United Center and is projected to bring 50,000 visitors, 15,000 members of the media and 5,000 delegates to the city, according to the DNC. It is also expected to draw a lot of TV viewers nationwide.

The final night of last months Republican National Convention in Milwaukee averaged 25.4 million viewers, according to Nielsen audience data.

rchannick@chicagotribune.com
The OKCPD is investigating a former state employee who has been charged with embezzlement.

OKLAHOMA CITY  A former state employee was charged with embezzlement for allegedly stealing money from a foundation he helped oversee.

Heath Hayes, 40, of Oklahoma City, was charged in Oklahoma County on Monday with one felony count of embezzlement in excess of $1,000, according to court records.

Hayes, the former director of communications and deputy commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, is accused of embezzling $17,500 from Healthy Minds Healthy Lives while serving as a board member of the foundation that works to end untreated mental illness and addiction in Oklahoma, according to an affidavit released by the mental health department.

Court records show that Hayes had not been taken into custody as of Wednesday afternoon and has a bond set at $3,000. He had no lawyer listed online.

According to the affidavit, Hayes endorsed three cashiers checks totaling over $145,000 in January and deposited the money into a Bluevine bank account.

When confronted, Hayes did not deny the transactions, but made excuses for them, according to the affidavit. He provided bank statements, returned the money other than a few dollars, and resigned from the agency, according to the affidavit.

More: This company promised to improve health care in Oklahoma jails. Patients in its care have died

Officials were concerned that other donations to Healthy Minds Healthy Lives totaling thousands of dollars had not reached the foundation, according to the affidavit.

The Oklahoma City Police Department investigator wrote in the affidavit that he obtained records from Bluevine Bank for an account listed under the foundations name with Hayes listed as the owner. The records contradicted the fake bank statements Heath had provided to the state mental health agency, according to the affidavit.

Records from Bluevine Bank, obtained by OKCPD, revealed amounts matching the cashiers checks and three of the four missing donations, according to investigators. Debits from that account appeared to be for personal use and were transferred to other accounts in Hayes name, the detective wrote in the affidavit.

Once these allegations surfaced, the department immediately retained an outside investigator to look into the matter  This alleged wrongdoing was caught early, and the department has undertaken a comprehensive review of internal processes to ensure that this does not happen again, Sasha Teel, chief of staff for the Mental Health Department, said in a statement Wednesday.

If convicted, Hayes could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000 and have to pay restitution.

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions:info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice onFacebook andTwitter.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Department of Mental Health employee charged with embezzlement
Former North Dakota lawmaker pleads guilty to traveling for sex with children

Former state Sen. Ray Holmberg arrives at the Quentin N. Burdick U.S. Courthouse in Fargo for a plea hearing in North Dakota U.S. District Court on Aug. 8, 2024, (Dan Koeck/For the North Dakota Monitor)

FARGO  Ray Holmberg, once a powerful state legislator, admitted in federal court Thursday he took multiple trips to Europe with the intent to pay for sexual contact with children.

The boys rent at around $60 (sex is extra), Holmberg wrote in an email to a friend using the alias Sean Evans, according to prosecutors.

Holmberg, who served in the North Dakota Senate for 45 years, pleaded guilty to repeatedly traveling from Grand Forks to Prague, Czech Republic, for the purposes of engaging in commercial sex with adolescents under age 18.

In U.S. District Court on Thursday, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl said Holmberg traveled to Prague 14 times between 2011 and 2021 to purchase sex with boys.

At least some of the trips Holmberg took to Prague were subsidized with taxpayer money, records indicate.

Holmberg, 80, a Republican from Grand Forks, resigned from the North Dakota Legislature in 2022 after rising to the powerful position of Senate Appropriations Committee chair.

He had become the subject of a federal investigation into child pornography and traveling for sex with children. A search warrant was executed at Holmbergs home on Nov. 17, 2021.

Summarizing the evidence against Holmberg, Puhl said investigators found an email account Holmberg used to arrange trips to Prague and describe his conduct there. He often visited a place called Villa Mansland and a nearby park where she said there were known young sex workers, she said.

The age of sexual consent in the Czech Republic is 15, but Puhl said that has no bearing on the U.S. law that forbids travel for sex with adolescents under age 18.

Holmberg told U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Hovland that he broke no laws in the Czech Republic. He said he did like getting massages and they sometimes included sexual contact.

Puhl said that paying for a massage was code for sex at the Villa Mansland.

Holmberg also said it was sometimes hard to tell the age of the person giving the massage.

Asked by Hovland how many times he had sexual contact with someone under age 18, Holmberg said not much.

Puhl read an email in which Holmberg said, No one is ever too young remember Prague.

The criminal indictment lists two aliases he used as Sean Evan and Sean Evans. Puhl said he was known as Sean at Villa Mansland.

Holmberg described Villa Mansland as seedy and not a place he would stay. Prosecutors called it a brothel.

Holmberg admitted in court there was evidence to support the charge and Hovland accepted the guilty plea.

A sentencing date has not been set. Hovland ordered a pre-sentence investigation, which is expected to take several months.

Holmberg will remain out of custody on GPS monitoring and other conditions while he awaits sentencing.

Asked by Hovland how he fell into that lifestyle, Holmberg said it began after he retired in 2002 from his career as a counselor at Grand Forks Central High School when he was 58.

Holmberg was linked to Nicholas Morgan-Derosier of Grand Forks, who, in May, was sentenced to 40 years in prison on child pornography charges.

Puhl said an employee of Morgan-Derosiers business had sex with Holmberg in exchange for a contract to work at Holmbergs condo association.

She said the employee also saw Holmberg and Morgan-Derosier view child pornography together.

Under Holmbergs plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to dismiss a charge of receipt and attempted receipt of child pornography. Prosecutors also agree to seek a sentence on the low end of sentencing guidelines.

Hovland said that federal sentencing guidelines for the charge would provide a range of between three and four years in prison.

The maximum sentence for the charge is 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a lifetime of supervised release.

Holmberg also will have to register as a sex offender.

Holmberg has waived his right to appeal the guilty plea, even if the sentence is longer than expected under the guidelines.

He was indicted on Oct. 26, 2023, and was released a few days later.

Legislative travel

Some of Holmbergs visits to Prague were subsidized by state money. Holmberg was a repeat participant in Global Bridges, an international cultural exchange program based in Germany.

North Dakota teachers and state lawmakers went to Europe for Global Bridges between 2007 and 2017. The trips were approved by the Legislature and organized by the School Boards Association.

Travel records provided by the North Dakota School Boards Association suggest Holmberg went to Prague during Global Bridges trips in 2011, 2018 and 2019.

The documents dont provide a full itinerary of Holmbergs trips, so its difficult to pin down the exact dates when he visited the city. They also dont show how much the state spent on Holmbergs flights to or from Prague.

Friese said he didnt have detailed information about how all of Holmbergs trips were funded.

Holmberg said in court that his visits to Prague usually lasted five or six days.

Jon Martinson, a former executive director of the association who also helped organize North Dakotas participation in Global Bridges, declined a North Dakota Monitor request for comment.

He previously told The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead that he approved state reimbursement for at least some of the trips, including some of Holmbergs travels to Prague.

I am totally responsible. It was my mistake, Martinson told The Forum in a November 2023 story. Although this was a trip approved by Global Bridges, I should not have approved his (Holmbergs) side trip. Thats on me.

The state set aside $830,000 in taxpayer money in Department of Public Instruction budgets for the program between 2007 and 2017, according to data provided by Legislative Council. The Schools Boards Association in January returned about $142,000 previously budgeted for Global Bridges trips to the Department of Public Instruction, the agency told the North Dakota Monitor previously. The Department of Public Instruction has since given the money back to the state general fund.

The North Dakota School Boards Association cut ties with Global Bridges in June after a complaint against the association was filed with the North Dakota Ethics Commission. The ethics complaint, which is confidential under state law, is now closed.

Holmberg traveled more than any other state lawmaker between 2013 and 2022, The Associated Press reported in 2022. He was reimbursed for $126,000 in travel expenses. Holmberg was able to approve some of his own reimbursements because of the leadership position he held, the AP reported.

Holmberg said he traveled to other countries including France and Kosovo, but the Czech Republic was the only place where he engaged in sexual activity.

I was comfortable in Prague, he said.

Release an exception

Hovland said a person pleading guilty on a charge of traveling for sex with a minor would usually be detained immediately.

However, Puhl said Holmbergs multiple health issues were cause for an exception.

Hovland agreed but expressed some concern for Holmbergs behavior while on release.

A report filed with the court Aug. 2 said Holmberg violated the terms of that release, including using alcohol, accessing the internet for unapproved reasons and visiting the adult novelty store Romantix in Grand Forks.

Hovland cited a report that said Holmberg had used a smart TV to access YouTube videos with titles that included terms such as boy toy.

Holmberg admitted during the hearing to having a glass of wine at a celebration.

North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley said in a statement Thursday the plea hearing was an important step toward justice. The state Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted federal agencies in the investigation.

Former State Senator Ray Holmberg has admitted his heinous crimes and now stands convicted of conduct that fuels the domestic and global sexual exploitation of children, Wrigley said.

Reporter Mary Steurer contributed to this report. This story was updated with additional reporting.

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Polish authorities detained former Open Russia activist Igor Rogov on charges of preparing an explosion. Rogov will reportedly face three months of pre-trial detention.

The former activist was initially arrested on July 19 in the Polish city of Katowice, where he was studying on scholarship, local media reported.

If convicted, Rogov could face up to 10 years in prison for public endangerment with the use of an explosive and up to eight years if found guilty of "creating an immediate threat" of public endangerment.

Rogov previously worked as a deputy coordinator of Alexei Navalny's headquarters in Saransk and a coordinator of Open Russia in Mordovia. He was also detained in August 2020 during protests in Belarus.

Polish officials have not yet publicly commented on the case, and further details are not yet available.

Read also: Poland arrests 18 over half a year for suspected sabotage plans on behalf of Russia, Belarus

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Former Penn State wrestler Aaron Brooks out of gold medal contention  heres how it happened

Former Penn State wrestler Aaron Brooks lost to a last-second move and is no longer in gold medal contention at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The former Nittany Lion led Bulgarias Magomed Ramazanov 3-2 with less than five seconds left, when Ramazanov earned two exposure points by turning Brooks to his back, earning the 4-3 semifinal win at 86 kg. Brooks led the match 3-0 after the first period.

He earned his spot in the Olympics by knocking off fellow former Nittany Lion David Taylor at the Olympic Team Trials in the Bryce Jordan Center in April. He won his first two bouts in Paris, defeating No. 1 seed Azamat Dauletbekov of Kazakhstan, 4-3, in the first round and Japans Hayato Ishiguro in the quarterfinals by technical superiority, 11-1.

Brooks, who won four national titles and four Big Ten titles at Penn State, was not the only former Nittany Lion who wrestled Thursday, with Roman Bravo-Young representing Mexico at 57 kg. Bravo-Young fell to Armenias Aarsen Harutyunyan, who then lost in the quarterfinals  eliminating Bravo-Young from being pulled back in via repechage.

Brooks will wrestle for a bronze medal Friday against a to be determined opponent.
Former De Soto paraprofessional charged for alleged relationship with student

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A former De Soto, Kansas paraprofessional now faces charges in Johnson County for an alleged relationship with a student.

Kassidy Alexander, 27, is accused of unlawful sexual relations.

Rapper Nelly arrested in Maryland Heights Wednesday morning

Alexander used to work at Lexington Trails Middle School.

The school district said it learned about the allegations against Alexander and a high school student on May 14. That led to Alexanders suspension and resignation.

The school district said the sheriffs office asked it to not release any information during the investigation.

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Alexander is currently being held in jail on a $75,000 bond. An arraignment is set for Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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MOSCOW, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and some others injured in a Ukrainian attack on Russia's Kursk region, which began on Tuesday, local media reported Thursday citing regional authorities.

No deaths have been reported so far among hospitalized patients that were wounded in the attack, acting Deputy Governor of the Kursk region Andrei Belostotsky was quoted as saying.

Ukraine launched a massive attack on the defense positions in Russia's Kursk region at 8 a.m. local time (0500 GMT). Up to 300 soldiers from Ukraine's 22nd Mechanized Brigade, supported by 11 tanks and over 20 armored combat vehicles, attacked the Russian border defense positions near the settlements of Nikolaevo-Daryino and Oleshnya, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

Russian forces are currently "conducting active operations in the Sudzha district" pushing troops away from the Russian border, Belostotsky added. 
Former Utah Attorney General's Office staffer Ida Lorenzo has pleaded no contest to a reduced class B misdemeanor charge of sexual battery. The plea will be held in abeyance. (Getty Images)

A southern Utah woman who leaned on her position as a state employee in a confrontation with a young woman whose skirt she thought was too short has now resolved the criminal charge against her.

Ida Lorenzo, 49, of Santa Clara, faced a class A misdemeanor charge of sexual battery following the April incident at a St. George restaurant. She entered a plea in abeyance July 30, pleading no contest to a reduced class B misdemeanor charge that will now be held with no sentence for one year so long as she complies with the terms of the agreement and commits no new offenses. After that, the case can be dismissed.

According to a record of the hearing, the young woman in the case supported the agreement. As part of the plea, Lorenzo is to have no contact with the victim.

The case around Lorenzo exploded when a video showing her confronting the young woman, who was out to dinner with a group of friends, went viral on TikTok.

A caption on the video claimed Lorenzo was upset my friend is wearing a mini skirt, so she aggressively yanks it down and says youre probably underage, you probably shouldnt be wearing that then causes a scene in a busy restaurant.

Lorenzo can be seen in the video wielding an employee badge and telling the young woman and her friends I happen to work for the state, and if I have to see your a** cheeks hanging out again, I will call CPS, a reference to Utahs Child Protective Services office.

After seeing the video online the next day, Lorenzo contacted St. George police to report that the young woman had no underwear on under her mini skirt, which exposed her genitalia to children, so Lorenzo pulled her skirt down to cover her, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in support of Lorenzos arrest.

However, officers questioned why Lorenzo had touched the woman, especially after Lorenzo said she believed the young woman was a minor, the affidavit shows.

The young woman in the video and seven witnesses also contacted police. The woman reported that Lorenzo approached her from behind with no warning, saying she felt cold hands go up her skirt, touching her buttocks before she felt her skirt being pulled on, according to the affidavit.

The officer wrote that he confirmed the woman had been wearing both underwear and shorts beneath the skirt, which the woman said would make any inappropriate exposure impossible.

On the day charges were filed a termination letter was sent to Lorenzo from the Utah Attorney Generals Office, where she had been working as a legal secretary for less than two months, dismissing her from the job because she had not passed your probationary employment period successfully.

The brief letter cited your non-compliance with policies and standards related to performance.

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A Fort Worth police captain is suing the city, alleging she was harassed, humiliated, retaliated against and demoted by police Chief Neil Noakes.

The suit was filed Wednesday in a Tarrant County district court. The plaintiff, Capt. Paula Conaway, accuses the city of violating the Whistleblower Act due to illegal retaliation and unlawful employment practices under the Texas Labor Code.

The alleged retaliation against Conaway began after she was told by others in command to let things go and not to rock the boat, according to the lawsuit.

Conaway refused and insisted on the accountability of the officers she commanded, according to the suit.

She is by the book and believes it is important that the police departments officers follow laws as well as departmental policies and procedures, the suit states. When officers fail to meet these standards, it is imperative that they are held accountable.

Noakes and the police department declined to provide comment on the lawsuit. The city of Fort Worths legal team has not yet responded to the Star-Telegrams request for comment and has not yet filed a response to the suit.

The claims made in the lawsuit go back to when Conaway was assigned a case in February 2021, where she was to close an internal affairs investigation on a police officer. The investigation began as a result of the officer punching a driver in the face while conducting a traffic stop, according to the lawsuit.

A grand jury declined to indict the officer and the police department had 45 days to complete an internal investigation. The 45 days expired before the case was assigned to Conaways chain-of-command for reviewing, the suit states.

Conaway issued a written reprimand to the officer and closed the internal investigation on March 2, 2021.

She was then falsely accused of targeting officers after filing the reprimand, the lawsuit says.

From February to June 2021, Conaway received several reviews of incidents committed by another officer who repeatedly displayed questionable conduct. As a result, Conaway recommended the officer to attend retraining in several courses, according to the suit.

When she was told that the officer refused to attend a training session and welcomed an internal affairs investigation, she asked her supervisors to place the officer on desk assignment until completing the training courses.

Several employees began to complain about Conaway to Noakes as well as the Police Officers Association, according to the lawsuit account.

On May 13, 2021, the POA sent an email to its members alleging a fishing expedition type of body cam audits conducted on certain sides of town, referencing the South Division where incident reviews were coming from to Conaways desk.

The officers were unhappy that ... Conaway was doing her job and holding them accountable, the suit states.

Noakes then asked Conaways supervisor to investigate the claims made against her. The supervisor intended on sending Noakes an email to correct the accusations, saying there was neither targeting or fishing from Conaway, but it was never sent, according to the suit.

After requesting to meet with Noakes to discuss the matter, the meeting was canceled with no explanation, according to Conaways account, the lawsuit says.

In June 2021, after the canceled meeting, Noakes told Conaway that her supervisor communicated that the findings on reviewing cases did not constitute targeting.

This is when Noakes began retaliating against her, the suit states.

Later that month, Noakes informed Conaway that she was being moved to another department. With Conaway being several months into her pregnancy, Noakes said it would be less stressful in a slower command, according to the suit.

She questioned the move and expressed that it felt as if she was being disciplined and punished even though she did nothing wrong, the suit states.

The lawsuit further states that Conaway was humiliated and embarrassed during a Women in Law Enforcement Conference in September 2021. In that conference, Noakes acknowledged the female officers who were present, but not Conaway.

While on maternity leave in January 2022, Conaway virtually attended a meeting where transfers for captains and lieutenants were discussed. Noakes waited after the call and went around the room asking each deputy chief which command they wanted to work in.

It was clear that Chief Noakes intentionally waited until [deputy chief] Conaway disconnected to ask the male [deputy chiefs] this question, the suit says.

On June 29, 2022, Conaway questioned an approval form she received from a detective who worked 10 hours of overtime. She began looking into the case because executive staff were expected to be judicious with spending, according to the suit. She discovered detectives and members of the departments SWAT team used force on a woman in that case, seized her phone without a warrant, and arrested her without probable cause or a warrant, violating the womans constitutional rights, according to the lawsuit.

In response to the questioning, Conaways chain-of-command officers complained about her to Noakes, the POA, and the Denton County district attorney.

They went after Conaway in retaliation, the suit states.

The suit says that in a written complaint made by the president of the POA on July 25, it contained lies about Conaway and claimed she interfered in the investigationThe complaint was sent to Noakes.

This was discussed in internal affairs meetings, where assistant chiefs explained to Noakes that Conaway was following policy regarding her inquiries into the case, according to the suit.

In a meeting in Sept. 2022, Noakes reportedly made a statement to Conaways subordinates that he would have to either transfer or demote her, according to the suit.

The lawsuit states that Noakes publicly snubbed and humiliated Conaway a second time at a dinner in late October when she was nominated for Commander of the Year for 2022.

Conaway later discovered Noakes had opened an Internal Affairs investigation on her regarding the case she was inquiring about, according to the suit. On Jan. 9, 2023, her first day back from maternity leave, she was issued a complaint form for alleged policy violations regarding her oversight of the case.

Internal Affairs informed Conaway that they were told by Noakes to investigate her, despite the police departments failure to file a complaint within 180 days after the alleged conduct, which policy calls for, according to the suit.

The retaliation from Noakes continued and was she ultimately demoted from deputy chief to captain in July 2023, the suit says.

In a meeting, Noakes said she was being demoted because no one wanted to work for Conaway out of fear that she would target them, the lawsuit states.

Noakes sent an email announcing Conaways demotion saying she was not operating effectively in her position, according to the lawsuit.

The suit describes Conaway as a hard working and dedicated employee. She worked her way from officer to several ranks, including corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, commander, captain and finally deputy chief of police, according to the suit.

The lawsuit states that Noakes had a history of retaliating against command staff who tried to hold officers accountable.

Conaway seeks monetary relief between $250,000 to $1 million and to be reinstated as a deputy chief.
Four facing attempted murder charges after firing gunshots in Dillon County, deputies say

DILLON COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Four men are facing attempted murder charges after firing gunshots along E. Dargan Street in Dillon County late last month, authorities said.

Tyzavion Kwaliqu Norris, 19, 22-year-olds Zaire Emani McNeill, Traevon Kristyl McNair and Jaylin Jayvahn Revels, 21, all of Laurinburg, N.C., remain in custody at the Dillon County Detention Center.

Deputies responded to the area on July 29 after reports of gunshots. Authorities located a white Jeep a short time later that matched a vehicle description.

One of the suspects had an AK-47 rifle between his legs and spent shell casings in his lap. Deputies seized two pistols, the AK-47 and two AR-15 rifles.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
After touting her familiarity with Minnesota, Ingraham incorrectly implied that it's home to Wisconsin's largest city

Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Laura Ingraham seen speaking during the American Conservative Union's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill, MD

Laura Ingrahams attempt to criticize Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's home state backfired when she confidently mixed up her Midwest geography.

On Wednesday, Aug. 8, Ingraham made a distracting error while trying to argue that Minnesota has gone downhill under Walz's leadership. Walz, who was recently selected as Kamala Harris' 2024 running mate, was elected governor in 2018.

If you know Minnesota  and I know it well  especially Milwaukee, its changed, the talk show host said.

"It has never recovered from 2020 and it is not the same place, she added. And Tim Walz was empathizing with all the DEI initiatives that were swirling about the controversies."

Ingrahams error was promptly pointed out on social media as viewers noted that Milwaukee is in Wisconsin, not Minnesota.

Related: Tim Walz Joins Kamala Harris on Stage Hours After Hes Named Her 2024 Running Mate

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Ingraham and her panel had been speaking about Walzs stances on diversity, equity and inclusion when the flub dominated viewers' attention.

Related: Laura Ingraham Dismisses John Eastmans 2020 Election Fraud Claims: I Havent Seen That Evidence

Andrew Harnik/Getty Kamala Harris and Tim Walz at a campaign rally in Philadelphia on Aug. 6, 2024

Walz is an Army National Guard veteran and former educator who turned to politics in 2006 when he was elected to Congress in a conservative district. Since he was chosen as the Democratic vice presidential candidate, Republicans have begun poring over his legislative record in an attempt to portray his stances as radical.

Some allies of Donald Trump began calling the governor "Tampon Tim," in reference to an education bill he signed into law that called for public schools to provide menstrual products to girls between 4th and 12th grade.

Related: Why Are Tim Walz's Critics Calling Him 'Tampon Tim'?

Harris, meanwhile, has continued praising her VP pick on the campaign trail, as the pair tours through the seven battleground states this week.

"One of the things that stood out to me about Tim is how his convictions on fighting for middle class families run deep. It's personal," Harris said in a statement explaining what drew her to Walz. "We are going to build a great partnership. We start out as underdogs but I believe together, we can win this election."

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  Residents throughout Central Illinois are welcome to drop off their household hazardous waste for free at Champaigns State Farm Center on August 17.

The collection will last from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the arenas southwest parking lot, located at 1800 South 1st Street. While online pre-registration is now full, those who still wish to throw away items can call 1-217-403-4780 to be put on a waitlist.

TODAY: Salvation Army of Champaign Co. giving away free school supplies

This is a great opportunity for Champaign County residents and those in surrounding areas to dispose of old and unwanted hazardous waste in a responsible way, State Senator Paul Faraci (D-Champaign) said. Its important to discard of hazardous waste in a safe and correct manner so we can protect the environment and safeguard public health.

The event allows Illinois residents to toss:

Antifreeze

Chemical cleaners

Gasoline

Insecticides and pesticides

Kerosene

Old or outdated medication

Motor oil

Oil-based paints

Thinners

Weed killers

Similar hazardous household products

Unacceptable items include latex paint, explosives, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, agricultural chemicals and business wastes.

Im so tired: Champaign community attends gun violence response meeting

To safely get household hazardous waste products to the collection site, state officials suggest:

Packing the items in a disposable box to avoid spilling.

Keep similar chemicals together and separate unlike ones.

Secure lids and make sure containers are not leaking.

Place boxes of hazardous items in the empty trunk of the vehicle, away from passengers.

Stay in the car while at collection site. On-site workers will remove the waste from the trunk of the vehicle.

Further questions can be directed to the Waste Reduction Unit of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency at 217-524-3300.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
French defence ministry says Kursk Oblast operation is being conducted by Ukraine and has met with some success

The French Ministry of Armed Forces, commenting on developments in Russia's Kursk Oblast, has stated that this is a Ukrainian operation which has had "some initial success".

Source: European Pravda, citing a brief report on the subject released on the evening of 8 August

Details: France's Armed Forces Ministry claims that the operation is being conducted by Ukrainian forces, although neither Ukrainian military command nor Kyiv has issued any direct statements on the matter.

#Ukraine

- Loffensive des FAU (Forces Armees Ukrainiennes) dans la region de Koursk, beneficiant de leffet de surprise et opposee a des forces moins preparees que sur le front Est, semble avoir rencontre un certain succes initial. Cette attaque pourrait obliger les FAFR pic.twitter.com/7TLnzOtvcP  Ministere des Armees  (@Armees_Gouv) August 8, 2024

"The offensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kursk Oblast, leveraging the element of surprise and facing less well-trained forces compared to those on the Eastern front, seems to have met with some initial success. This attack could compel Russian forces to redeploy troops from other parts of the war zone and thus ease local pressure in areas where the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been struggling," the report said.

The French Ministry of Armed Forces notes that both sides are conducting deep strikes, with Ukrainian forces continuing to target Russian airfields and energy infrastructure.

Background:

Russian leader Vladimir Putin called the situation in Kursk Oblast a "provocation". The US Department of State has pointed out the irony of Putin's statement.

Ukraine has not yet officially commented on the events in Kursk Oblast. However, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, posted a photo "at the starting point", and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening address that he had received three "productive" reports from Syrskyi which are "exactly what our country needs now".

Zelenskyy noted that "achieving goals at war was not Ukraines choice"  Russia brought the war and "should feel what it has done".

Peter Stano, the European Commissions spokesperson on foreign policy issues, said that Ukraine has the right to defend itself and can strike Russian territory.

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Fulton County leaders cut the ribbon on the first of its kind center in the county.

The Fulton County Behavioral Health Crisis Center opened on Thursday off Metropolitan Parkway. Channel 2 Action News got an exclusive tour with county leaders back in June.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The center is 23,000 square feet and includes 24 beds, an observation area with chairs where patients can stay up to a day, to a lower level just called a living room.

It includes details to make it seem as safe as possible from the doors to mirrors, to security and monitoring.

I believe we have a demonstrated need for three, but one is better than none, said Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts.

He was blown away by the facility during the June tour. The county used $15 million in federal American Rescue Plan dollars to build it, and the state will pay to operate the center through Grady Health.

Its not unique to Fulton County, but were being very aggressive with our partners the state of Georgia and Grady Hospital to address this need, said Pitts.

The crisis center will deal with everything from suicide prevention to drug overdoses and ultimately save lives.

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Paraguay says it wants the US ambassador to leave the country in apparent protest over sanctions

ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP)  The government of Paraguay on Thursday effectively ordered the U.S. ambassador to leave the South American nation, escalating tensions between the allies in the wake of the Biden administration's sanctions on a tobacco company linked to the country's powerful former president.

In a dramatic statement that took diplomats aback, the Paraguayan Foreign Ministry asked the U.S. government to accelerate the departure process of Ambassador Marc Ostfield, a career diplomat appointed by President Joe Biden in June 2021.

Ostfield's expedited departure, the ministry said, would avoid the loss of confidence in a person damaging the relationship that we have historically maintained.

The request appeared to be in protest against the White House's latest move to tighten its sanctions against Horacio Cartes, one of Paraguay's wealthiest people who served as president from 2013-18, owns dozens of lucrative businesses and retains considerable influence over the country's ruling Colorado party. The U.S. government first sanctioned the cigarette tycoon last year, accusing him of significant corruption.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on Tabacalera del Este, a large tobacco producer that the U.S. government accused of illegally funneling millions of dollars to Cartes, its former majority shareholder. The company, also known as Tabesa, has angrily rejected the accusations and referred to the sanctions as an abuse of power" by the U.S. government. Cartes has denied all allegations of corruption and said he no longer owns nor is directly involved in Tabesa's operations.

The U.S. Embassy in Paraguay confirmed that the Foreign Ministry had summoned Ambassador Ostfield for a meeting Thursday, saying only that they had a good discussion and talked about the sanction announcement as well as other topics. Summoning a foreign ambassador for explanations is tyipcally intended to express protest on the part of a host country.

The U.S. Embassy did not comment on Paraguay's demand that Ostfield leave on an accelerated timeline.

It was immediately clear when the ambassador would leave. Ostfield's successor has been named but the Senate has not started the confirmation process, which could take anywhere from a few months to a few years.

In a news conference, Paraguayan Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano said the government objected to the media coverage and politicization of the administrations sanctions.

The direct or indirect intervention of any state in the internal affairs of Paraguay compromises our independence and sovereignty," he said.

His remarks seemingly referred to a news conference called by Ambassador Ostfield earlier this week in which he stressed his commitment to anti-corruption reforms in Paraguay, saying that the Biden administration was prepared to use the range of relevant tools to combat corruption, including visa restrictions, designations, financial sanctions and extradition.

Although standard language in diplomacy, the mention of extradition nonetheless raised alarms and stirred frantic debate in Paraguay, where Cartes' loyalists have a majority in both houses of Congress. In a show of support and defiance  and a display of Cartes' enduring influence  dozens of lawmakers from the conservative Colorado party showed up to Cartes' mansion in the capital of Asuncion on Tuesday after the sanctions announcement.

Notably absent from the photo that surfaced showing a crowd of smiling politicians surrounding Cartes on his pool deck was President Santiago Pena, a key ally and political protege of Cartes.

Pressure was building on Pena to defend the former president, observers say, even as credit agencies warn that concerns about corruption continue to weaken investor confidence in one of Latin America's fastest-growing economies.
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), the Democratic nominee for Senate in the Grand Canyon State, excoriated the Biden administration Thursday for what he called insufficient federal support on extreme heat.

Gallego issued the statement the day after Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra called extreme heat a public health crisis in Phoenix before meeting with Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D). The Biden administration in July proposed heat protections that would mandate employers provide indoor or shaded rest areas, drinking water and breaks once temperatures surpass 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once again, the Administration is all talk, no action when it comes to extreme heat in Arizona  calling on Arizonans to do more yet refusing to take an active role or acknowledging the work that Arizonas federal leaders, including myself, have already done, Gallego said. When hurricanes or tornadoes hit, federal officials offer resources, but with heat they just offer advice.

The Arizona Democrat is a longtime proponent of federal worker protections for the effects of extreme heat, including co-sponsoring a bill to require a permanent Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard. He has also introduced legislation that would add it to the Federal Emergency Management Agencys (FEMA) major disaster qualifying events.

A spokesperson for the lawmakers office specifically clarified Gallego was calling for the passage of his legislation, but also pointed to past comments by FEMA officials indicating the agency already has the power to add extreme heat to its list of qualifying events.

A Labor Department standard for heat protections has been in the works since 2021 and have been vocally opposed by local business groups. Earlier this summer, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed legislation banning local and municipal governments from imposing their own standards. A federal standard would supersede any such laws.

Gallego said at the time that the proposed rules will save lives in Arizona, and he praised FEMAs inclusion of extreme heat in its latest round of Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities funding, saying the announcement proves that FEMA can act on matters of extreme heat, and I will continue pushing them to do more.

Extreme heat kills an estimated 1,220 people a year in the U.S.

In a statement to The Hill, a FEMA spokesperson said, As with all severe weather events, FEMA works with communities on a case-by-case basis. If there were to be a scenario where an extreme heat incident potentially exceeded state and local capacity, and a request for either an emergency or major disaster declaration was submitted, it could be considered and if approved it could reimburse the state for eligible costs  [b]ut generally, compared to other hazards, the response costs related to extreme heat incidents are generally low.

 Updated August 9 at 12:09 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on Thursday launched here a policy brief and a tool to leverage big data and artificial intelligence for mapping vulnerability in Cambodia.

Cambodia has significantly reduced its poverty rate from 26.3 percent in 2014 to 17.8 percent in 2019, according to its Ministry of Planning.

The UNDP's 2023 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index report said that the incidence of multidimensional poverty in Cambodia decreased from 36.7 percent in 2014 to 16.6 percent in 2021, with one in five Cambodians moving out of poverty in just seven years.

"However, various segments of the population, especially those living in remote rural areas, remain vulnerable to economic shocks," the UN agency said in a news release. "Around 47 percent of the population is vulnerable as they hover around the poverty line."

The COVID-19 pandemic could reverse many development gains, particularly affecting the poor and vulnerable populations. However, the lack of updated, granular, and accessible data hampers efforts to track and evaluate the full extent of this impact.

"To address these challenges, UNDP has developed the Cambodia Poverty/Vulnerability Mapping tool which uses Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to track real time geographical spread of vulnerability," the news release said.

This tool provides policymakers with comprehensive, multidimensional information on poverty and vulnerability, integrating various datasets to understand patterns and interactions of overlapping deprivations often missed by traditional analyses.

The policy brief highlights key insights and reflections on the use of this tool for policymaking, planning, and budgeting, and its complementarity with traditional data sources, the news release said.

The launch event gathered policymakers, data scientists, and development practitioners to discuss the potential utility of the tool in Cambodia's ongoing efforts to eradicate poverty.

"The integration of Big Data and AI in poverty mapping marks a leap forward in our ability to understand and combat poverty in Cambodia," Shakeel Ahmad, deputy resident representative of UNDP Cambodia.

"This innovative tool will help equip policymakers with crucial insights, enabling them to make informed decisions and implement targeted interventions," he said.

"Our goal is to ensure that everyone benefits from Cambodia's progress toward sustainable development, leaving no one behind," Ahmad added. 
Palestinians inspect the destruction after an Israeli attack on the Al-Zahraa School in the east of Gaza City. Hadi Daoud/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

At least 15 people were killed and dozens more injured in Israeli attacks on Thursday on two schools in Gaza City, the Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza said.

The Israeli army confirmed the attacks on the schools, saying they were aimed at terrorists from the Palestinian Islamist Hamas militia, who operated command centres in the area of the two schools.

It said it had taken "numerous steps" to "mitigate the risk of harming civilians," including using precise weapons, surveillance and other intelligence, the army said.

The information could not be independently verified.

After the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7, school operations in the sealed-off coastal area were suspended. Most schools now serve as emergency shelters for war-displaced people.

Around 85% of the population of the Gaza Strip has been forced to flee as a result of the war. Hamas, on the other hand, often uses schools and hospitals to set up command centres and store weapons.

Cyprus ready to help with evacuation from Lebanon

Meanwhile in Cyprus, officials said the country stands ready to assist with the evacuation of foreign civilians from Lebanon, in the event of an escalation in the brewing conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militia.

"We are ready to help if necessary," government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou told dpa on Thursday.

The embassies of numerous European Union member states have already contacted the Cypriot government to discuss details of possible evacuations, Antoniou said.

Cyprus - the EU member state located nearest the Middle East - has repeatedly served as a hub for aid and evacuation operations during crises in the region.

The flight time from Lebanon to Cyprus is around 35 minutes.

Ferries could also be used to take people wishing to leave the country to the Cypriot ports of Limassol or Larnaca. People have been brought to safety on these routes several times in recent months.

The evacuation plan, known as Operation Hestia, reportedly provides for aeroplanes from EU states and non-EU countries to pick up their own citizens and family members from Lebanon or Israel and bring them to Larnaca or Paphos.

The plan also sets out in detail where the evacuees would be temporarily housed until they can fly on to their home countries.

Fears have recently increased that a major war could break out in the region after the targeted killings of a top Hamas leader and of a top Hezbollah commander last week, prompting Iran and its allies to threaten retaliation against Israel.

Palestinians inspect the destruction after an Israeli attack on the Al-Zahraa School in the east of Gaza City. Hadi Daoud/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Palestinians inspect the destruction after an Israeli attack on the Al-Zahraa School in the east of Gaza City. Hadi Daoud/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
The author says Gov. Roy Cooper's directive that individuals living on death row in Raleigh's Central Prison be afforded an opportunity to pursue a GED has been thwarted. (Photo of Central Prison by Clayton Henkel)

[Editors note: After this commentary was published, the Department of Adult Correction provided a response to this commentary, relevant parts of which appear below.]

Nearly a year ago, Gov. Roy Cooper responded to a death row prisoners plea for access to a GED program. Ordinarily, people incarcerated in the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) are required to attend a GED program if they do not possess a high school diploma or GED. The NCDAC Mandatory Education policy applies to all intellectually capable residents in the state prison system, except those housed on death row. Moved by the letter, Gov. Cooper directed Secretary of Prisons Todd Ishee to make a GED program available to death sentenced prisoners housed at Central Prison in Raleigh.

Establishing a GED program on death row became the responsibility of NCDAC Director of Education and Rehabilitative Services, Dr. Brooke Wheeler, and Central Prisons warden, Jamel James. From the beginning, both prison officials expressed enthusiasm about bringing more educational programs to Central Prison. They secured the necessary books and laptops for GED instruction, and even designated a cell block to be converted into an education center, with the hope that if one program succeeded, more would follow. When a GED sign-up sheet was posted, more than thirty prisoners put their names on it, eager to prove themselves capable of change.

Months passed.

On January 29th, 2024, Gov. Cooper signed Executive Order No. 303, which aims to strengthen education, rehabilitation, and reentry services for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in North Carolina. In the midst of signing the order, Cooper stated that everyone deserves the chance to be redeemed.

However, just as suddenly as the prospect of a GED program on death row unfolded, it quietly disappeared beneath delays and excuses for more delays. An instructor could not be found. Wake Tech Community College no longer provided the service as it once did. A regional director of prisons refused to let the warden clear out a cell block and use it as an education center because there were too many prisoners and not enough bed space. In April, a minimum custody prisoner, who should not have been housed at Central Prison, died at the hands of a maximum custody prisoner. When asked about the delays and whether the GED program on death row would ever happen, the warden still seemed interested, but it was further down a list of management priorities.

The usual gamut of excuses for denying yet another program on death row held the undertone of lesser than and undeserving  a stigma that is sometimes bluntly stated by prison administrators: you are not here to be rehabilitated.

Despite Gov. Coopers order, and the claim that everyone deserves a second chance, that sentiment is not shared by everyone that works for the NCDAC. This group is apathetic toward change and uninterested in supporting rehabilitative programs. They are of the general belief that people in prison should suffer, and people on death row should die. Learning is irrelevant.

I was exposed to this anti-intellectualist belief system on my own educational journey. Since 2004 I have enrolled in privately funded college correspondence courses. The courses provided me something productive to do while the state carried out executions. Over time I earned an associates degree and worked toward completing my bachelors. My access to higher education was an anomaly though, one that was resisted by some staff for the same reason the GED program now seems to have been scuttled. Throughout my journey, I was at times told I did not deserve an education, that the privilege was wasted on me. Some prison administrators tried to undermine and even stop my access to these courses for no better reason than they did not want me to learn. Fortunately, I persevered and there were enough staff supportive of prison education to help mine continue.

When Marcus Mitchell wrote his letter asking Gov. Cooper if he would support a GED program on death row, it was out of frustration, not any belief he would receive a positive outcome. Mitchell tried and failed a number of times to get the Central Prison Programs Department to extend the mandatory education policy to death row. He had friends on the outside research GED and HSE correspondence course programs. When one was found, it was around the same time then director of Rehabilitative and Educational Services Sophia Feaster (Dr. Wheelers predecessor) restricted access to correspondence courses for people on death row: only one per prisoner, per year. It made earning a diploma or degree unlikely.

Mitchell, who has been on death row twenty-five years, cited some important facts in his letter to Gov. Cooper:

Since 1977, approximately 71 percent of all North Carolina death sentences have been reversed on appeal due to constitutional rights violations; the overturned sentence usually resulted in life imprisonment or less.

Since 1973, 12 people have been exonerated from North Carolinas death row.

Once removed from death row and placed in the regular prison population, they would be required to attend a GED program anyway.

Whether preparing to reenter society or another prison, attaining an education is a critical step in the rehabilitative process, one that begins with a GED.

When asked what most undermines rehabilitative programs in North Carolinas prisons, those staff I have asked  people who generally support constructive, pro-social activities  typically give the same answers. They blame poor training, low wages, low morale, a hostile work environment, and poor leadership. Maybe most importantly, NCDAC leadership, disconnected from its rank-and-file officers and the prison population, make decisions contrary to the needs of the system. The nearly year-long delay of the death row GED program is yet another example. Leadership and effective communication are what it will take to carry out Governor Coopers Executive Order No. 303 in every North Carolina prison.

For now, the GED program on death row is a dream deferred. Maybe soon, NCDAC leadership will awaken to its responsibilities and fulfill the Governors order, and their promise.

===

The Department of Adult Correction offered the following response:

The NCDAC Education Services team was planning a high school equivalency (HSE) program with Wake Tech, when Wake Tech officials informed us they could not proceed with such a program on death row due to federal regulations regarding Title II education funding. Community College HSE programs are funded with US Dept. of Education Title II funds. When used in a correctional setting, federal regulations prioritize Title II funds for preparing people returning to the workforce and for those within five years of release. People on death row do not meet those requirements. We confirmed those regulations with NC Community College system officials.

However, there is another path for people on death row to earn their HSE  through self-study on the electronic tablets provided within the state prison system. There is a robust offering of high school level courses in science, social studies, math and English (more than 50 online courses) available on the tablets, along with many test prep videos and practice exercises.

The Department also provided the following list of what it said were inaccuracies in the commentary:

The Governors Office has not directed a high school equivalency program to be implemented on death row.

The incarcerated person killed at Central Prison in April was classified in medium custody and was properly housed at Central Prison. (This event is not at all related to death row educational programs.)

People on death row may enroll in one correspondence course at any given time. (Not one course per year.)

Sophia Feaster has not served as education director and did not precede Dr. Brooke Wheeler in that position.
A Georgia corrections officer was arrested on Wednesday for domestic violence, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The GBI said it arrested 52-year-old Ronnie Banks of Bowersville, who had been working at Jackson County Jail.

On April 29, the Jackson County Sheriffs Office responded to an assault at a home in Pendergrass.

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Banks is being charged with aggravated assault and battery.

Banks was booked into Jackson County Jail.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Jackson County Sheriffs Office at 706-367-8718 or 706-367-3784 (for anonymous tips) or the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Athens, GA at 706-552-2309. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

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Georgia man drives through fence at elementary school, calls the police on himself

A Georgia man drove through a fence at an elementary school, but must have felt guilty because he called the police on himself.

Just after 1 a.m. on Sunday, Giovanni Torres damaged G.O. Bailey Elementary School in Tifton, according to WALB-TV.

Tift County Schools told Channel 2 Action News that Torres drove over a fence near the playground area at the school. School officials said he also busted 13 windows and then entered the school building.

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No items were taken from the school, the district said.

School officials went to the site immediately after this incident and began cleaning up the damage Torres caused.

WALB-TV said that Torres is a graduate of Tift County High School.

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The Georgia school superintendent announced Wednesday that he will add Advanced Placement African American Studies to the course catalog, enabling it to receive state funding, after declining to recognize the class last month over a law on teaching race in the classroom.

Superintendent Richard Woods turnaround on the nationally debated course comes two weeks after he faced backlash over his decision not to place it on the state catalog, citing H.B. 1084, which prohibits teaching on "divisive" racial concepts. Woods said the state attorney general recently clarified that the law did not restrict local school systems from adopting college-level classes, including AP African American Studies.

"As I have said, I will follow the law," Woods said. "In compliance with this opinion, the AP African American Studies course will be added to the state-funded course catalog effective immediately."

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr's letter cited by Woods and obtained by USA TODAY was sent to state Rep. William Wade  who sponsored H.B. 1084  in response to the Georgia Republican's inquiry about whether the law applies to college-level courses.

AP African American Studies has been at the center of a nationwide political tug-of-war over teaching race in schools since its pilot in 2022. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blocked the course in the Sunshine State in 2023, and officials in Arkansas said last August that students wouldn't receive high school credit for the class.

'African American history is my history' Is new AP African American Studies course too woke? We attended class to find out.

Superintendent: 'Disclaimer' will be added to AP classes

The Georgia law cited in Wednesdays announcement passed along party lines in 2022 and labeled nine concepts around race and racism as "divisive," effectively banning them from any curriculum, classroom instruction, or mandatory training program.

The attorney general's Aug. 2 letter to Wade, which Carr said he received Tuesday, ascertains that the law doesnt restrict local school systems from adopting any AP, IB, or dual enrollment class. Such courses are exempt from the law's restrictions as long as they are implemented "in a professionally and academically appropriate manner and without espousing personal political beliefs," Carr wrote, quoting H.B. 1084.

Woods noted in his announcement Wednesday that a "disclaimer" will be added to all AP classes in the state course catalog, which will note they are "solely owned and endorsed by the College Board," and have not been reviewed or approved by the states education department.

As with any curriculum, school districts should use a process for reviewing, approving, and adopting AP courses and instructional frameworks that engages students, parents, educators, and community stakeholders, the disclaimer reads, in part.

AP African American Studies course piloted in 2022

The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia commended Woods' decision Wednesday while noting the politically-motivated ordeal around the course also shined a light on the effects of H.B. 1084, and students who don't take college-level classes will still face barriers to inclusive education.

Georgias students should be able to learn about African American Studies the same way they learn about math and chemistry  as accurately as possible, wrote Andrea Young, executive director of ACLU Georgia.

AP courses are college-level classes offered to high schoolers that are developed by the College Board, a nonprofit education organization that has been around for over a century. High school students can earn college credits by taking AP classes.

The College Board piloted the AP African American Studies class in 2022 after more than a decade of development. It covers the origins of the African diaspora from about 900 B.C.E. up until the 2000s.

A USA TODAY analysis earlier this year of email correspondence from education officials in some red states showed staffers hesitancy to embrace the course because of the optics. The AP class could continue to face headwinds in the coming years as proposed bans targeting critical race theory (CRT) and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) turn up on legislative agendas.

Contributing: Alia Wong and Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Georgia will fund AP African American Studies in sudden turnaround
Georgia Department of Education superintendent Richard Woods on Wednesday rescinded his recommendation that an Advanced Placement African American Studies course not be added to the states curriculum offerings, citing a legal opinion from Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr.

Woods announcement effectively ended a furor of protests that arose from political leaders among Democrats and Republicans, as well as educators, two weeks ago, when Woods announced his decision against adding the AP course, which was piloted by several school districts during the 2023-24 academic year.

Last week, Woods clarified his recommendation by asserting that a portion of the course curriculum in his judgment violated the controversial divisive concepts law the General Assembly passed in 2022. The Republican-backed bill, which passed along party lines, prohibits teaching U.S. history in a way that might make any student feel guilty or that they are superior or inferior to anyone else based on their race.

At the time, Woods indicated he was seeking a legal opinion from the attorney generals office. State Rep. Will Wade, R-Dawsonville, the divisive concepts bills chief House sponsor, also sought Carrs input on whether the laws provisions apply to AP, International Baccalaureate and dual enrollment courses.

The attorney general responded with a letter to Wade explaining that the law exempts those types of courses.

The law shall not be construed or applied to prohibit the full and rigorous implementation of curricula, or elements of a curriculum, that are required as part of advanced placement, international baccalaureate (IB), or dual enrollment coursework; provided, however, that such implementation is done in a professionally and academically appropriate manner and without espousing personal political beliefs, Carr wrote, quoting language from the bill.

Opponents of Woods original decision complained that doing away with AP African American studies would have meant failing to teach Georgia students the full history of the state and the nation, both good and bad.

In light of Wednesdays announcement by Woods, any AP, IB or dual enrollment course a local school district develops will be automatically adopted within the state-approved course catalog. It will not have to receive a recommendation from either the state school superintendent or the Georgia Board of Education.
Georgia superintendent confirms public funding can be used for AP African American Studies course

Georgia Schools Superintendent Richard Woods said Wednesday that public funds would be used for the Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course in state schools, after weeks of confusion.

After confirmation from the states attorney generals office, Woods said, It has been determined that this law shall not restrict local school systems from adopting any AP, IB, or dual enrollment course. Each such course will be exempted from the provisions of the divisive concepts legislation, so long as these courses are implemented in a professionally and academically appropriate manner and without espousing personal political beliefs.

As I have said, I will follow the law. In compliance with this opinion, the AP African American Studies course will be added to the state-funded course catalog effective immediately, he added.

Woodss concern the class would go against the states divisive concepts legislation did not line up with the exemption that was made for concepts that are covered in AP courses.

The state superintendent said he was blocking the approval of the AP course in July, with some schools canceling their plans to have the class and others planning to ignore the state and teach the topics anyway.

The debacle comes as numerous Republican-led states have debated whether the material in the AP African American Studies course is appropriate for their schools.

The debate came to a head last year when the College Board, which runs the course, changed the material numerous times and got into a back and forth with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) over what should be taught in the class.

So far, Florida and Arkansas have completed nixed the course.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian army, appears to have ignored intelligence warnings that Ukraine's Armed Forces were gathering near the border of Kursk Oblast, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 8, citing a source close to the Kremlin.

Ukrainian forces crossed the border into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6, resulting in clashes on Russian soil.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on Aug. 8 that its forces were fighting Ukrainian troops in two districts near the border with Ukraine.

Gerasimov and top officials "seemingly dismissed intelligence warnings that Ukrainian soldiers were gathering near the border with Russias western Kursk region as much as two weeks before they began the assault," Bloomberg said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was also not briefed on the troop buildup, the unnamed source reportedly told Bloomberg.

The source indicated that "while Gerasimov is unlikely to be removed in the short term, patience in the Kremlin over his handling of the war is running out," Bloomberg added.

Putin held a meeting with Gerasimov and other top officials on Aug. 7, during which Gerasimov told Putin that Ukraine's "advance in the Kursk direction was halted."

Putin described the incursion as a "large-scale provocation" and claimed that Ukrainian soldiers were carrying out attacks on civilian infrastructure. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the Russian government's claims.

Kursk Oblast lies on the border with Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, which has been experiencing daily attacks since Ukraine pushed Russian troops out of the region and back across the border in April 2022. The two regions share a 245-kilometer (152-mile) border.

"Russia brought war to our land, and it should feel what it has done," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Aug. 8, which avoided a direct mention of the ongoing fighting in Russia's Kursk Oblast.

Read also: Ukraines unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast brings war back to Russian soil

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Police vehicles are parked near the tarmac at Frankfurt Airport. Air traffic has been temporarily suspended due to an action by climate activists. Mike Seeboth/TNN/dpa

A German airport group offered to hold talks with the Last Generation climate activism group on Thursday, after a demonstration brought flights to a standstill at the nation's busiest airport, saying such protests do not contribute to a solution.

In an open letter, the Airport Association (ADV) acknowledged that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of modern times.

The association said it wanted to inform climate activists about the latest climate policy and measures airports are taking, in a conversation. The ADV also seeks to discuss the impact of runway blockades on airport safety, it said.

The offer comes after Last Generation activists managed to breach security at Frankfurt, Cologne/Bonn and Leipzig/Halle airports. The activists managed to halt air traffic by glueing themselves to runways.

The offer also came as police raids targeted the protesters involved in the Frankfurt demonstration.
German defence committee on Ukraine's use of German weapons in Russia's Kursk Oblast

Marcus Faber, the head of the German Bundestags defence committee, does not consider the possible use of German weapons by Ukrainian forces in the fighting in Russias Kursk Oblast to be a problem.

Source: Faber in an interview with the Funke Mediengruppe media outlet, as quoted by AFP and European Pravda

Details: Faber noted that German weapons become Ukrainian weapons after being supplied to Ukraine, and this applies "to all weapons", including Leopard 2 battle tanks.

"Because of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the territory of both states is a war zone. The use of weapons is subject to the provisions of international law," he explained.

Background:

Russian media reported that since Tuesday, Ukrainian forces have advanced deep into Russian territory in Kursk Oblast.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has called the situation in Kursk Oblast a "provocation". The US Department of State pointed out the irony of Putins statement.

Ukraine has not yet officially commented on the events in Kursk Oblast.

Peter Stano, the European Commissions Lead spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy, said that Ukraine has the right to self-defence, including strikes on Russian territory.

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HONG KONG, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Seven chambers of commerce in Hong Kong have jointly held a seminar to study the spirit of Chinese President Xi Jinping's reply letter to representatives of Hong Kong entrepreneurs of Ningbo ancestry in East China's Zhejiang Province.

Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said at the seminar that Hong Kong's business community should assume the roles of a stakeholder, trailblazer, contributor and innovator, mindful of Hong Kong's mission and responsibilities in further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese-style modernization.

Financial Secretary of the HKSAR government Paul Chan said the HKSAR government will strive to unite the strengths of patriotic, Hong Kong-loving and hometown-loving communities, and give full play to their respective advantages to integrate into national reform and development.

Ningbo is well-known for its large numbers of overseas Chinese entrepreneurs like Pao Yue-kong and Run Run Shaw. Descendants of the pioneering generation of Ningbo-born Hong Kong entrepreneurs including Pao Pui-hing and Chao Kee-Young recently wrote to Xi to report on their efforts to support national development and express their commitment to the motherland's modernization drive.

"Hong Kong's prosperity and stability rely on the support of the motherland. We must bear in mind President Xi's entrustment and make new contributions to realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation," said Pao Pui-hing.

Representatives of seven chambers of commerce, including the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association and the Hong Kong Chinese Importers' and Exporters' Association, said they will study and implement the spirit of the reply letter, grasp opportunities and play their part in the country's continued reform and opening up. 
Airbus A400M transport aircraft of the German Air Force park at Wunstorf Air Base in the Hanover region. Due to the feared escalation in the Middle East, the Bundeswehr is ready for a major operation to evacuate German citizens. Moritz Frankenberg/dpa

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that security authorities in the country are on high alert due to the tense situation in the Middle East.

"We are monitoring very closely how possible further escalations will affect the security situation in Germany," Faeser told the Rheinische Post regional newspaper on Thursday.

Faeser said the risk of further escalation in the Middle East was high, describing the situation as "extremely dangerous."

The German government, along with its international partners, was working hard to de-escalate the situation, Faeser said.

"Since the terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Gaza war, there has been a drastic increase in anti-Semitic crimes," Faeser said.

"Our security authorities are doing everything they can to break the spiral that leads from violence in the Middle East to even more repugnant anti-Semitism here," she added.

Faeser also noted that authorities are taking decisive action against the Islamist scene, citing the ban on the Islamic Center Hamburg and its branches across the country in late July.

Additionally, she mentioned previous bans on the Palestinian militant group Hamas and the pro-Palestinian network Samidoun in Germany.

Faeser expressed her "sincere gratitude" to the federal states for their ongoing efforts to protect Jewish and Israeli institutions in Germany through the deployment of strong police forces.

Airbus A400M transport aircraft of the German Air Force park at Wunstorf Air Base in the Hanover region. Due to the feared escalation in the Middle East, the Bundeswehr is ready for a major operation to evacuate German citizens. Moritz Frankenberg/dpa
Planes are seen on the runway at Beirut Rafiq Hariri International Airport. A growing number of flights have been canceled or suspended at Beirut's only commercial airport, as the US, UK, Australia, Sweden, France, Italy, Canada, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan urge their citizens to flee Lebanon as soon as possible as fears of an all-out war between Israel and pro-Iranian Hezbollah grow. Marwan Naamani/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

The German Foreign Office has again warned all German nationals remaining in Lebanon to leave the country or make urgent preparations, amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran - and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman in Berlin said on Thursday that another letter has been sent to Germans telling them to leave Lebanon without delay, as the world waits for Tehran's response to the killing of two leading Israeli opponents, including a Hezbollah commander.

Those who remain in the country "may have to fend for themselves in the crisis area for a longer period of time," the message said.

"The embassy has urgently called on people to stock up on food, water, medicine and cash for several weeks," the spokeswoman continued.

At the start of the week, 2,100 German citizens were still in Lebanon.

The German embassy in Lebanon said the cancellation of commercial flights, the temporary closure of the airport, or a halt to other departure options would not automatically trigger an immediate evacuation operation by the German government.

The embassy also cited other hurdles, even if an evacuation were to take place.

"It is not possible to be picked up from home; even in the event of an evacuation, you must make your own way to the specified departure point. Participation in an evacuation is not free of charge. All visa requirements remain in place, travelling is only possible with complete and valid travel documents," it added.

German security authorities on high alert at home

In Berlin, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that security authorities in the country are on high alert due to the tense situation in the Middle East.

"We are monitoring very closely how possible further escalations will affect the security situation in Germany," Faeser told the Rheinische Post regional newspaper on Thursday.

Faeser said the risk of further escalation in the Middle East was high, describing the situation as "extremely dangerous."

The German government, along with its international partners, is working hard to de-escalate the situation, Faeser said.

"Since the terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Gaza war, there has been a drastic increase in anti-Semitic crimes," Faeser said.

"Our security authorities are doing everything they can to break the spiral that leads from violence in the Middle East to even more repugnant anti-Semitism here," she added.

Faeser also noted that authorities are taking decisive action against the Islamist scene, citing the ban on the Islamic Centre Hamburg and its branches across the country in late July.

Additionally, she mentioned previous bans on the Palestinian militant group Hamas and the pro-Palestinian network Samidoun in Germany.

Faeser expressed her "sincere gratitude" to Germany's federal states for their ongoing efforts to protect Jewish and Israeli institutions in Germany through the deployment of strong police forces.
By Jorge Garcia

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - Two Chinese giant pandas are now California residents as their enclosure at the San Diego Zoo opened to the public on Thursday in an international ceremony.

The pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, are the first to enter the United States in 21 years and were welcomed by California Governor Gavin Newsom and the Chinese ambassador to the United States Xie Feng.

Yun Chuan, a 5-year-old male is easily recognized by his long, slightly pointed nose, while Xin Bao is a 4-year-old female with big fluffy ears whose name means a "precious treasure of prosperity and abundance."

Yun Chuan's name means "big river of cloud." His mother, Zhen Zhen, was born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007.

The zoo is working closely with Chinese experts to help with the adaptation period and understanding of the needs of the two pandas. The pair are enjoying a variety of fresh bamboo and a local adaptation of "wotou", a traditional Chinese steamed corn bread that's also called "panda bread".

"The arrival of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, as we celebrate the 45th anniversary of our diplomatic ties, has sent a clear and important message," said Ambassador Xie Feng.

"China-US cooperation on panda conservation will not cease. Our people to people exchanges and sub-national cooperation will not stop and once opened, the door of China-U.S. friendship will not be shut again."

Newsom said the new pandas were about "celebrating our common humanity. It's about celebrating the things that bind us together."

"And so, for me, this spirit of pride that is associated with this opening today with the experience that so many will have, that we just had at Panda Ridge, is about a deeper meaning," Newsom added.

Visitors of all ages to Panda Ridge on Thursday were exuberant about the pandas' cuteness.

"I have never seen a panda before, I've only seen them on TV and nature documentaries," said Kobi Davis from Michigan. "They are super cute. They just kind of laze around, you know, there's charm in that."

Keena Butcher from Canada called them "quiet, thoughtful creatures and just realize we can have hope for our future if we can conserve them."

China's Communist government has long used "panda diplomacy" to enhance the country's soft power, lending the large but cuddly-looking black-and-white bears to zoos in various countries over the decades as goodwill animal ambassadors.

In late 2023, Washington's National Zoo said goodbye to its beloved giant pandas, which were returned to China amid heightened tensions between the two global superpowers.

In May this year, the National Zoo said China would send two young pandas to Washington by the end of the year.

(Reporting by Jorge Garcia in San Diego; Editing by Mary Milliken and Sandra Maler)
Amid a summer of wild political turns, the fight for Wisconsins 10 electoral votes is seemingly back to where it was six weeks ago  a jump ball, according to a new statewide poll by the Marquette Law School.

But under the surface, there are some striking signs of change.

Chief among them: Enthusiasm of Democratic voters has soared in the wake of President Bidens withdrawal from the race and Vice President Kamala Harris emergence as the partys new candidate against Republican former President Donald Trump.

Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education

Democrats were chronically downcast about the 2024 election while Biden was the partys presumed nominee. That resulted in a large and persistent enthusiasm gap between the parties that raised obvious questions about Democratic turnout in November.

In a series of surveys stretching back to last fall, only about 40% of Democrats in Wisconsin described themselves as very enthusiastic about voting for president in this election, compared to almost 60% of Republicans.

There was no precedent in Marquettes many years of polling for an enthusiasm gap that big between the parties. We saw nothing like it in 2014, in 2018, in 2020 or in 2022. (The question wasnt asked in 2016).

And there was no precedent for voters in either party to be this tepid about an election. Democratic enthusiasm was so low that at one point it lagged behind enthusiasm among independent voters, which rarely happens because independents are much less engaged in politics than voters who identify with one of the two major political parties.

As Marquette pollster Charles Franklin put it Wednesday, that lingering lack of enthusiasm among Democrats turned to near depression after Bidens shaky performance in the June presidential debate.

More: Marquette poll takeaways: Kamela Harris campaign rejuvenates Wisconsin Democrats

But in the new poll of 877 registered voters, taken July 24 to Aug. 1, Democratic enthusiasm has soared by more than 20 points. And the enthusiasm gap has almost entirely disappeared: 62% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say theyre very enthusiastic about voting, compared to 64% of Republicans and Republican leaners.

Before Biden withdrew, Democrats had huge qualms about their candidates age: about 7 in 10 agreed with the statement that he is too old.

In the new poll, 91% of Democrats in Wisconsin agreed with Bidens decision to withdraw and 95% said theyd be satisfied with Harris as the nominee.

What does this mean for the outcome of the election?

It certainly doesnt tell us who is going to win.

The poll shows a 50/50 race, which is roughly where the race was in June, April, and last fall, when earlier Marquette polls in Wisconsin were conducted.

A lot has happened since the previous poll: Bidens disastrous debate; the attempted assassination of Trump; Trumps selection of Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his running mate; the GOP convention in Milwaukee; a mushrooming debate among Democrats over whether Biden should stay in the race; and, finally, Bidens departure from the race.

More: Kamala Harris and Tim Walz sweep into Wisconsin seeking to build momentum

Its quite possible these events produced shifts in the race for Wisconsin as they were happening. Some state polls suggested as much. National polls suggest Trump did make gains in the wake of the June debate and the attempt on his life, but then Democrats made gains after Bidens departure from the race and Harris became the de facto nominee.

In the latest Wisconsin survey, this leaves us with a race that appears to be just as competitive as it was before all these events occurred.

At the same time, its not quite the same race, the polling suggests.

The disappearance of that large and persistent enthusiasm gap could leave the parties on a more equal footing when it comes to turnout this fall. In earlier polls, Trump led Biden in Wisconsin by more than 20 points among the most enthusiastic voters. In the new poll, that lead is down to 5 points.

If this pattern holds, then mobilizing their own voters might no longer be the huge challenge that it was for Democrats in a Biden-Trump race. Instead, the central task for Harris may be persuasion  winning over the relatively small segment of swing voters out there that are still in play.

But this isnt the only way in which this poll looks different from previous Wisconsin polls.

The decline in 'double-haters'

The number of double-haters in the electorate has shrunk. These are the voters who dislike both major candidates, forming a critical and unpredictable segment of the electorate. That group made up 17% of voters in June when it was a Trump-Biden matchup. In the new poll, it comprises 11% of voters in a Trump-Harris matchup.

Why are there fewer double-haters?

One reason is that Trumps negatives are a little lower and his positives a little higher. In June, 41% of voters viewed him favorably and 57% viewed him unfavorably. In the new poll, 44% view him favorably and 54% unfavorably, suggesting a small bump related to the attempt on his life, or his response to it, or the GOP convention itself.

The other reason is that Harris has lower negatives in this poll than Biden had in previous surveys. In June, 57% of voters viewed Biden unfavorably. In the new poll, 51% view Harris negatively.

That number could increase, of course, in the remaining weeks of the campaign, especially as Republicans step up their criticism of her. Since she is a first-time nominee, and a very late-breaking one, views of her are not as fixed as they are of Trump or Biden and will be shaped by her effectiveness as a candidate and the effectiveness of the GOP campaign against her.

But at a minimum, the new survey suggests that Harris probably has a higher political ceiling than Biden did at the time he dropped out. When Wisconsin voters were asked how they would have voted had Biden remained in the race, they favored Trump by 5 points, compared to the roughly 50/50 split in the Trump-Harris matchup.

The poll also suggests that Harris starts out free of some of the same baggage that burdened Biden.

For example, 12% say the 59-year-old Harris is too old, compared to 76% for the 81-year-old Biden (and 59% for the 78-year-old Trump); 37% say Harris has behaved corruptly, compared to 46% for Biden.

Harris also scores a little better than Biden did for sharing your values and having the right temperament to be president.

Trump still enjoys an edge over Harris on the issues of the economy and immigration, as he did with respect to Biden, though the edge is smaller.

Harris enjoys an edge over Trump on health care and abortion, as Biden did.

The fact that the overall shape of the horse race is so similar to where it was before all the drama and change of this summer is a testament to the deep-seated divisions and fundamental partisan balance in Wisconsin.

But now we suddenly have a new Democratic candidate, part of the same administration, but with a different background and different strengths and weaknesses, free of the overriding political liability that doomed Bidens candidacy (the widespread view he was too old for the job), and free of the unique morale problem that posed for Democratic voters.

Its the same 50/50 battleground, but a different battle.

Craig Gilbert provides Wisconsin political analysis as a fellow with Marquette University Law School's Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education. Prior to the fellowship, Gilbert reported on politics for 35 years at the Journal Sentinel, the last 25 in its Washington Bureau. His column continues that independent reporting tradition and goes through the established Journal Sentinel editing process.



Follow him on Twitter: @Wisvoter.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Marquette poll shows striking changes in Wisconsin race
Girl, 4, dies in India after golden retriever falls on her from fifth floor of building

The girl was walking with her mother when the dog fell on her in Mumbra, Maharashtra (Screengrab/Sirajnoorani)

A four-year-old girl died in India after a dog fell on her from the fifth floor of a building, police said.

The incident, captured on CCTV, occurred in Mumbra, 30 km from Mumbai, in the western state of Maharashtra state at around 4.30pm on Tuesday.

The girl was walking with her mother in a busy street lined with vendors when a golden retriever fell down on her.

The girl, walking between two women, was immediately picked up. The dog remained still on the ground for a few seconds before gathering the strength to stand up.

The child was taken to a local private hospital and later transferred to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The dog suffered multiple fractures and was sent to a rescue shelter for treatment.

It was unclear how the dog fell. Police said they were investigating the incident.

The girls uncle, Asif Rangrez, said the resident of the apartment the dog fell from kept multiple canines on the terrace allegedly without permission, the Economic Times reported.

"The incident occurred just because of the dog owners negligence. Police should take suitable action, he said.

Mr Rangrez said the girl was a single child to her parents who had struggled to conceive for about eight years.

Kshama Shirodkar, a veterinarian with the Thane Municipal Corporation, said they would investigate the allegations against the dog owner and verify whether there were incidents of animal cruelty.

Police were separately investigating whether the dog owner violated any rules and trying to establish the circumstances that led to the dogs fall.

The childs funeral was performed on Wednesday.
Girl who survived Lawrence County crash that killed her dad, siblings released from hospital

A young girl is out of the hospital less than three weeks after surviving a crash that killed her father, brother and sister in Lawrence County.

The Beaver Falls community came together to welcome Aubrey Bogacki, 10, home from the hospital on Thursday afternoon.

PHOTOS: Welcome home parade held for girl who survived Lawrence County crash that killed her dad, siblings

Channel 11 was there as a long line of fire trucks and police cruisers made a welcome parade for Aubrey and neighbors cheered her on.

Aubreys prognosis was not good after the crash. She suffered a number of injuries including a fractured neck and brain bleed.

She defied expectations to make a miraculous recovery.

>> Girl who survived Lawrence County crash that killed her father, siblings makes miraculous recovery

The recovery has been very quick like I said, we went from not knowing she was ever going to survive, to not knowing if she was ever going to walk to 20 days later shes walking and shes coming home, said Amy Hepak, Aubreys aunt.

Fundraising efforts are still going on for Aubrey and her mom.

A GoFundMe account has raised more than $170,000. Click here to donate.

A softball tournament is also scheduled for Sept. 14 and 15 at multiple locations.

For registration or more information, you can contact Henry Frengel at thefrengels@yahoo.com.

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BRUNSWICK, Ga. (WSAV)  A man accused of leading Glynn County police on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle Wednesday was finally apprehended on the rooftop of a home.

According to the Glynn County Police Department (GCPD), the incident unfolded when Officer Annalyse DeBruijn passed the possibly stolen vehicle in the Altama Avenue area.

As she attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver sped away, reportedly reaching up to 90 mph before crashing into a telephone pole near Wolfe Street.

GCPD said the driver, now identified as 18-year-old Jason Middlebrooks, ran away from the crash and climbed onto the roof of a house on Albany Street.

Police: National fugitive arrested in Glynn County

Jason Middlebrooks (Glynn County Detention Center)

DeBruijn was able to take Middlebrooks into custody by leaping onto the rooftop from the roof of a neighboring home.

GCPD said DeBruijn confirmed the vehicle had been reported stolen earlier in the day.

Middlebrooks now faces charges of felony theft by receiving, fleeing and attempting to elude, along with multiple traffic-related charges.

Anyone with further information on this case is asked to call GCPDs non-emergency line at 912-554-3645 or to Silent Witness at 912-264-1333.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
Jeff Gray, pictured in a screenshot from his video he posted on his YouTube channel @TheFIREorg, is arrested in Alpharetta, Ga., after holding a sign and reading out loud "God bless the homeless." | Youtube.com/@TheFIREorg

The city of Alpharetta, Georgia, must pay a man $55,000 and amend its panhandling laws as part of a settlement in a faith-related free speech case, per The Christian Post.

Demonstrator Jeff Gray had been arrested in 2022 and charged with panhandling while carrying a sign reading God bless the homeless vets.

With the help of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, Gray fought back against the charge, arguing that the citys panhandling rules violated free speech protections.

Even if Gray was panhandling, it is clearly established that the First Amendment protects speakers asking others for help, his legal complaint said, according to The Christian Post.

Jeff Grays history of social advocacy

The 2022 incident was not Grays first run-in with the law.

The longtime street demonstrator has previously been involved in lawsuits dealing with rules governing parades, protests and demonstrations, per The Christian Post.

In July 2023, in response to (Grays) lawsuit against (the Blackshear, Georgia, police chief), the Blackshear City Council agreed to amend their Parades and Demonstrations Ordinance so individuals do not have to get advanced approval from city officials to demonstrate on public streets and sidewalks, the article said.

After his 2022 arrest in Alpharetta, Gray spoke about the incident on his YouTube account.

He denied actually asking passersby for money, telling authorities that he instead just stood by city hall with his sign. The video shows a police officer first telling him to leave, then putting him in handcuffs.

VICTORY: Alpharetta, GA., revised its panhandling policies and will give police officers First Amendment training after FIRE sued the city on behalf of veteran Jeff Gray, who was arrested for holding a sign saying God Bless the Homeless Vets. pic.twitter.com/QGc97uu93F  FIRE (@TheFIREorg) August 5, 2024

Free speech settlement

The Alpharetta lawsuit was settled earlier this summer.

According to the agreement, the city agreed to amend its rules on panhandling to protect First Amendment rights and provide training for law enforcement to respect said rights, The Christian Post reported. Additionally, Alpharetta agreed to pay $55,000 in legal fees and other costs, $41,250.00 of which will go to Gray, and the remaining sum will go to The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which represented Gray.

Grays legal team has praised him for raising awareness of challenges facing homeless veterans.

(Gray) goes out and gets to do two things, said Grays attorney Adam Steinbaugh, per Yahoo News. One is, he gets to spread a message that he believes in, which is that homeless veterans are important and overlooked in our society. And two, he gets to see and show the public how police treat people.

Panhandling is asking people for money, its asking people for help, and thats protected by the First Amendment, Steinbaugh added.
Each summer, nearly 25,000 acres (10,000 hectares) of rice is cultivated in the Florida Everglades Agricultural Area, a roughly 1,100-square-mile (2,800-square-kilometer) area south of Lake Okeechobee.

Farming here requires a delicate touch. The area has lost nearly 6 feet (1.8 meters) of soil in the past century through a process called subsidence.

One way to slow down this subsidence and preserve the nutrient-rich soil is to flood the area during Floridas rainy season and use the fields to grow rice. The fields are flooded using water from adjacent canals. Once the water dries up or seeps away, the rice is harvested.

The Conversation asked Associate professor Jehangir Bhadha, an expert in soil sustainability at the University of Florida, how the university got involved with growing rice and what environmental benefits its produced.

What is the history behind growing rice in the Everglades?

Rice was grown in the Everglades Agricultural Area for a brief period in the 1950s, but it was limited to about 2,000 acres (800 hectares).

Then came the discovery in Florida of a rice virus called hoja blanca, or white leaf, which stunts the plants or even kills them. This virus was first reported in the late 1950s in Colombia and Venezuela.

Rice made a comeback in Florida in 1977 after growers in the Everglades Agricultural Area demonstrated that it could be grown in sugarcane fields during the summer fallow period from May to August  when it is too hot and wet in South Florida to grow vegetables. By this point, the hoja blanca disease was under control, and new resistant varieties of rice had been developed.

During late spring and summer, more than 50,000 acres (20,000 hectares) of fallow sugarcane land in the Everglades Agricultural Area is available for rice production. In 2023, about half of these acres were planted with rice. The remaining land either remains fallow or is flooded but bears no rice  a practice commonly referred to as fallow flooding.

On average, each acre that is cultivated yields about 2 tons (1,800 kilograms) of rice.

What makes rice cultivation in this area different?

Rice cultivation in the Everglades Agricultural Area area does not require any starter nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium fertilization because the regional soils are highly organic and rich in nutrients.

The area is comprised of nearly 450,000 acres (180,000 hectares) of organic soils known as Histosols. These soils contain up to 80% organic matter, making them unique to the region and a vital resource to its vibrant agricultural economy. Histosols are also sometimes called bog or peat soil.

The Histosols of South Florida formed over a period of several thousand years when organic matter built up faster than it could decompose in the flooded sawgrass prairies that flourished in the area south of Lake Okeechobee.

But since the land here was drained for crop production in the early 1900s, organic material has been decomposing faster than it is replaced. This is primarily due to microbially mediated oxidation. It happens when organic matter is slowly disintegrated and consumed by microbes. This results in the gradual loss of soil and lowering of the surface elevation.

The soil depth in this area varies between a few inches to up to 5 feet. Under the Histosols lies hard limestone bedrock that is not conducive to farming. In many places, the limestone bedrock gets exposed at the surface, or pieces of it get incorporated into the soil.

What does growing rice do for the soil health there?

By flooding these fields for prolonged periods, growers suppress both the microbial activity that causes oxidation and the hatching of pest insects. It also increases the water-holding capacity of the soil, which allows for more moisture retention during drier periods of the year.

The improved soil health benefits the sugarcane crop and maximizes the longevity of the soil.

Growing flooded rice has also proved to attract wading birds like great white heron, snowy egret and glossy ibis.

What work is your team doing now?

Over the past 15 years, more rice and more varieties of rice have been planted. While only two dominant varieties were planted in 2008 across about 12,000 acres (4,800 hectares), more than 10 varieties were planted across 23,000 acres (9,300 hectares) in 2023.

To provide a continual supply of new varieties, researchers and others at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, along with Florida Rice Growers Inc., conduct annual rice variety trials to rate new or existing varieties in South Florida. The trials aim to identify high-yielding, disease-resistant rice varieties that are compatible to the areas subtropical climate and highly organic soils.

Every summer, the University of Florida IFAS Extension and research faculty conduct a rice field day dedicated to showcasing their current research.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Jehangir Bhadha, University of Florida

Read more:



Jehangir Bhadha receives funding from NSF, USDA, FDACS, Florida Rice Growers Inc.
County officials can certify election results only after a reasonable inquiry ensures theyre accurate under a controversial election rules change the Republican-dominated Georgia Election Board narrowly approved Tuesday.

The change, which passed 3-2, essentially does away with a provision in current state election law that says county election superintendents shall certify election results by the Monday following an election, making certification a non-discretionary function.

Its guardrails to make the point that what we are doing is very important and not to be taken lightly, said Michael Heekin, a Republican member of the Fulton County Board of Elections, who proposed the rules change.

The Georgia Election Boards Republican members argued that its common sense to expect local elections officials to want to make sure votes have been counted accurately before they sign legal affidavits certifying the results.

Board member Dr. Janice Johnston dismissed arguments that the 142 hours after an election local officials are given to certify results is not enough time to do anything but rubber stamp them.

An election like that is no better than an election in Venezuela or Russia, she said. Were not asking a board to do a full audit, just a reasonable inquiry.

But Democrats accused Republicans of rushing the rules change through just 90 days before the November elections to give local elections officials leeway to potentially delay certification and throw results into question, a tactic former President Donald Trump used four years ago with a flurry of lawsuits after Democrat Joe Biden carried Georgias 16 electoral votes.

Board member Sara Tindall Ghazal, a Democrat, said the term reasonable inquiry is too vague,

The definition, the way its stated, allows exploitation, she said.

Nikhel Sus, deputy chief counsel for the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said the Georgia Election Board doesnt have the legal authority to let local election officials turn certification into a discretionary act.

No statute gives county election superintendents discretion to conduct a free-roaming inquiry prior to certification, he said.

But board member Janelle King, a Republican, said local election superintendents should not be expected to certify results if theyre not confident theyre correct.

You dont get to tell people to sign a legal document theyre not comfortable with and stand by it, she said.

Board Chairman John Fervier, who joined Ghazal in opposing the change, said he received a series of emails from Democratic state lawmakers urging the board not to approve it. One suggested setting a time frame for how long a reasonable inquiry could last, while another argued giving local election officials such discretion over certification decisions could overwhelm them.

They make some really good points, Fervier said.
ADEN, Yemen, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni government on Thursday called for international support to help address the damage caused by recent heavy rains and floods in its key provinces.

There is significant damage to displacement camps and mud houses as a result of the heavy rains, threatening the lives of residents and exposing their property to danger, the state-run Saba news agency reported, citing the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.

"The perilous situation resulting from the low pressure system necessitates immediate and comprehensive intervention to confront the repercussions and alleviate the suffering of the affected citizens," the report said.

The government called upon all partners to respond swiftly and provide urgent support in all forms to offer relief to those impacted, rehabilitate critical infrastructure, and prevent further loss of life and property, it said.

The government affirmed commitment to facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to those most in need in the affected areas.

Local health authorities reported Wednesday that heavy rains and floods killed at least 39 people in northern Yemen over the past 24 hours, including 30 in the province of Hodeidah and nine in Taiz.

Hundreds of families have been forced to flee their homes, they said.

Yemen's National Center of Meteorology has issued a warning of possible continuing rainstorms across the country, advising people to keep away from flood paths.

Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating conflict since late 2014 when the Houthis seized control of the capital, Sanaa, and large swathes of the country. A UN-brokered truce in April 2022 led to a significant reduction in hostilities, but the country has continued to grapple with severe economic challenges and political divisions.

The latest natural disaster is said to compound the challenges faced by a population already struggling with widespread poverty, malnutrition, and limited access to basic services. 
Santa Clarita Congressman Mike Garcia says his job is to keep U.S. from becoming California

There was a bogeyman at Republican Rep. Mike Garcia's town hall in Santa Clarita this week: the state of California.

Onstage at the Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons, Garcia spoke in front of a large screen projecting the red-lettered words: "My mission is to prevent the U.S. from adopting California's extreme policies."

Garcia blasted California's gasoline prices, its homelessness crisis, housing costs that are about double the national average. And he blamed it all on the Democratic supermajority in Sacramento.

I want to be very clear, because this has been misinterpreted in the past: I love California," Garcia said. "Its why Im here. Its where Ive raised my family. Its where I was raised. I have no intentions of leaving California, but, boy, does Sacramento make it hard to stay in California."

Then, he added: "My job is to prevent the country from turning into what California has become."

The packed auditorium burst into applause.

Decrying the cost of gas and housing in the Golden State is a potent message in Garcia's sprawling district in northern Los Angeles County. Many residents here endure two-hour commutes to jobs in Los Angeles because they had to relocate to the high desert to find a home they could afford.

On Tuesday night, Garcia, a thrice-elected Republican running for reelection in one of the state's most competitive congressional races, held court for more than three hours during his town hall. Because he was there in his official role as a congressman, Garcia did not speak directly about the election. His spokespeople have not responded to multiple requests from The Times to discuss the campaign.

In a lengthy question-and-answer session, constituents at the forum made their concerns clear: public safety, the cost of living, better health benefits for veterans, and the culture wars in California's public schools, especially regarding gender identity issues.

Garcia, a former Navy pilot, is facing a tough reelection bid to represent the 27th Congressional District, where Democrats hold a significant advantage in voter registration.

The race between him and his Democratic opponent, George Whitesides, a former NASA chief of staff under President Obama, will be crucial in determining whether Republicans maintain their narrow majority in the U.S. House. The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper, calls this years race a toss-up.

"Some of you want me to be further right. Some of you want me to be further left. I am who I am, and I believe what I believe," GOP Rep. Mike Garcia told a packed town hall in Santa Clarita. (Hailey Branson-Potts / Los Angeles Times)

The once staunchly conservative district stretches from Santa Clarita to the Kern County line and includes Lancaster and Palmdale. With its proximity to Edwards Air Force Base, it has deep ties to the military and aerospace industry.

Just over 41% of registered voters are Democrats, and about 30% are Republicans. More than a fifth are independents.

Garcia, 48, first won his seat during a 2020 special election to replace former Rep. Katie Hill, a young Democrat who resigned amid a sex scandal. It was the first time the GOP had flipped a California district from blue to red in more than 20 years.

Garcia retained the seat in two subsequent elections. And he won last springs three-way primary election with 55% of the vote, while Whitesides got 33%, setting the stage for the top two vote-getters to face off in the November runoff.

Whitesides, a former chief executive of Mojave-based Virgin Galactic, is a first-time candidate who has blasted Garcia's vote against certifying the 2020 presidential election results after the Jan. 6 insurrection, and his 2021 co-sponsorship of the Life at Conception Act, which would have amounted to a nationwide abortion ban with no exceptions for rape, incest or threats to the mother's health.

Read more: Can Democrats unseat a thrice-elected GOP congressman in this battleground L.A. County district?

Onstage Tuesday, Garcia said, "In terms of party affiliation, I am in the minority  I understand that ... Some of you want me to be further right. Some of you want me to be further left. I am who I am, and I believe what I believe.

Garcia is the son of a Mexican immigrant who moved to the U.S. in 1959. He said that his late father "came here legally" and "did it right" and that illegal immigration is one of the nation's biggest threats. In Congress, he voted against creating a path to citizenship for so-called Dreamers who were brought to the U.S. as children.

Garcia called for higher pay and more leave time for members of the military  drawing cheers from a crowd filled with veterans.

"You've got to pay them better. You've got to lead them better, and you've got to invest in the military industrial complex that supports them and gives our war fighters the ... advantage that they, frankly, deserve overseas and at home," said Garcia, a former executive for defense contractor Raytheon.

"As people who have a heart for patriotism and a love of this country," one woman asked Garcia, "what can we do to restore patriotism in our schools?"

Garcia, a father of two, said politics needed to stay out of public schools and blasted a new state law that bans schools from enacting policies that require teachers to notify parents about changes to a student's gender identity  for example, if they ask to be called by a different name or pronoun.

"For every bill like this one in Sacramento, theres an ugly twin sister in Washington, D.C.," he said. "And my job is to make sure that twin does not get allowed to be signed into law and that California doesnt effectively become the norm throughout the entire country."

The evening did include one tense exchange. Garcia had told the crowd that he co-sponsored a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, a landmark 1994 law providing aid for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

This is a big deal. Not very many Republicans are on this Violence Against Women Act, and Im proud to be a co-sponsor," Garcia said.

But in 2021, Garcia voted against the reauthorization measure passed by the House majority, as conservatives protested provisions that expanded protections for LGBTQ+ people and tightened gun access for people convicted of abusing or stalking a dating partner.

Instead, Garcia co-sponsored a failed Republican-led stopgap measure to renew the act for one year, minus the new provisions. He was not a co-sponsor of the legislation that was ultimately signed into law the following year as part of a broader spending package.

Megan Johnson, an 18-year-old from Santa Clarita who will be voting for the first time this fall, called out the discrepancy.

"You voted against renewing the act. Is this the same act you talk about co-sponsoring in your slideshow?" she asked him.

Garcia said that he supported "a pure version" of the Violence Against Women Act, and that the version he voted against "ended up unintentionally depriving other people of their constitutional rights as a result of the protection of women who have been the victims of violence."

Dan Gottlieb, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, described Garcia's representation of his vote as "a new low."

"The truth Mike Garcia apparently can't bear to admit is that he voted to block the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2021  a move that risked gutting funding to improve criminal justice responses to sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking, and cutting the availability of services for victims and survivors across California," Gottlieb said.

Outside the auditorium, Johnson, a registered Democrat, said that the congressman did not fully answer her question and that she would be voting for Whitesides.

In addition to women's safety and reproductive rights, she said she cares most in this election about gun reform, an issue that hits close to home in Santa Clarita: In 2019, a student at Saugus High opened fire in a crowded quad, killing two classmates and injuring three others before killing himself.

"Growing up in the generation that had to do active training shootings ... it's caused, honestly, a lot of fear," she said. "I have nightmares about mass shootings."

As she left the auditorium, Trish Lester, a spokeswoman for the Santa Clarita Valley Republican Women, said she respected Garcia for explaining his vote to Johnson and liked everything he had to say.

Wearing a shirt that said, "My Governor is an Idiot," Lester said she agreed with Garcia that California has become too extreme and too expensive.

Lester and her husband, an Army veteran, "supported his campaign from the very first day," she added. "It was obvious that he was a class act, that this was a man who was a real patriot, with his military service and his business experience."

"I'm very pleased with Mike," she said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Gov. Kemp extends state of emergency through next week for all of Georgia

Gov. Brian Kemp has extended the State of Emergency for all 159 counties in Georgia until August 15.

The decision follows the impact of Tropical Storm Debby, which has caused significant rainfall and flooding across multiple states.

Although Savannah avoided the catastrophic flooding initially feared, the area still experienced substantial rainfall.

According to Severe Weather Team 2, the storm dumped nearly a foot of rain on Monday and Tuesday in Southeast Georgia.

Debby, a slow-moving system, lingered over Georgia and the Carolinas this week after making landfall in Florida on Monday as a minimal Category 1 hurricane.

The storm flooded low-lying communities and left thousands without power, not just in the Southeast but as far away as Ohio and New York City.

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At least seven people have died due to the storm, with fatalities resulting from falling trees and flooded roadways.

The extended State of Emergency allows state agencies to respond swiftly to citizens needs, reassign personnel, and deploy vehicles and equipment to address the situation.

Debby made landfall for a second time early Thursday near Bulls Bay, South Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm is expected to continue moving inland, spreading heavy rain and potential flooding through the mid-Atlantic and Northeast by the weekend.

As the storm impacts North and South Carolina, its also predicted to cause heavy rainfall and flooding across portions of the mid-Atlantic states and the Northeast through Saturday morning.

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Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen hosts an afternoon news conference about public safety exemptions related to local property tax collections. Aug. 5, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen pushed back Thursday against recent legislative criticism of his approach and process for pursuing his favored property tax relief proposals.

In a statement, the governor thanked state senators he said have worked hard to find ways to deliver the transformative property tax relief he and others have sought.

He applauded them for resisting pressure from groups protecting sales tax exemptions on various items from the proposals he supports.

These senators, who represent all political stripes and all corners of our state, are doing right by their constituents by engaging in tough negotiations, good faith exchanges of ideas, and collaboration with their colleagues to forge a compromise that will work for Nebraska, Pillen said.

Calls tactics obstructionist

He criticized a small minority of senators who called him out Wednesday on the floor of the Legislature. Its a group likely to filibuster the Pillen-favored bill, which most vote-counters say is still short of the needed 33 votes.

Pillen said those senators should end their obstructionist rhetoric, stop their time-wasting tactics, and engage with their colleagues to craft a bipartisan consensus solution.

Pillen said Nebraskans who want property tax relief are watching carefully and will hold senators accountable, hinting that those who fail to act will pay at the ballot box.

He also condemned baseless personal attacks alleging that he and his hog operation based in Columbus would benefit significantly from the tax relief he supports.

He repeated his stance that Nebraskans want a broader sales tax base, a cap on government spending and lower property taxes. He acknowledged that the plan continues to change.

I know that any plan passed by the Legislature will be a hard-fought compromise and that it will not include every provision I believe in and am fighting for, Pillen said. Doing nothing is not an acceptable option for Nebraskans.

Some senators disagree with his funding sources

State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln and several others vented their frustrations Wednesday about the ways Pillen and others in his camp had handled the special session and his favored proposals.

After the governors statement Thursday, she said she welcomed his right of free speech and said she would not be bullied or silenced in my good faith efforts to represent my district.

She and others who criticized Pillen for including only certain senators in early planning for tax proposals said they cannot justify raising sales taxes on everyday items that people need.

Conrad and George Dungan of Lincoln; Megan Hunt, John Cavanaugh, Jen Day and Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha; and Carol Blood of Bellevue questioned the governors approach from the floor.

Conrad said she would keep fighting against Pillens misguided tax plan that would hurt working families, seniors, local businesses and our schools to benefit large wealthy landowners.

She said average Nebraskans should not pay more. And she pushed to include other revenue options, such as gambling and legalizing marijuana, in any package to offset costs.

I have enjoyed working with the governor on many issues, Conrad said. We simply have a principled disagreement about how to pay for our mutual goal of property tax relief.

Hunt shared Pillens statement in a tweet Thursday and wrote, Governor Pillen is calling upon all of us to stop being mean. State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar called him King Jimmy.

King Jimmy is very angry senators are fighting his scheme to raise taxes on working Nebraskans. We should be expanding homestead exemptions, freezing valuations and capping spending, but those ideas are being ignored, she tweeted.

Pillen doesnt profit enough from those, Slama tweeted.

Linehan says property tax war is not easily won

One of the lawmakers working closest with the governor, State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha, echoed his defenders on the legislative floor on Wednesday.

She credited Pillen for being willing to put everything on the table and take every political hit there is out there. She pointed to a bunch of senators saying hes the problem.

Linehans Revenue Committee postponed a couple of attempts at holding an executive session Thursday to vote out the committees new version of Legislative Bill 9, the latest vehicle for its tax proposals.

The eight-member committee was supposed to meet Thursday morning and early afternoon to vote out an amended LB 9, but significant technical changes needed to be made to a draft amendment.

That included clarifying how the state would capture the local slice of sales taxes from new items covered by the state sales tax and specifying how the state would revamp school funding.

Linehans group was waiting on fixes that several senators on her committee and beyond have sought from a draft amendment Wednesday evening. In total, more than 120 motions and 80 floor amendments have already been filed that will likely prevent changes on the floor.

Linehan said she understands raw politics and the fight ahead. She said her side needs to know that battle is just battle and that they have to win the war.

Thats why its got to be perfect, Linehan said of the bills language. We wont even get to an amendment that changes a comma thats in the wrong place.

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Gov. Greg Gianforte addresses the first meeting of his newly created property tax task force on Feb. 14, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

The centerpiece of Gov. Greg Gianfortes Property Tax Task Forces 12-piece proposal could cut taxes by 15% to 20% for about 345,000 homeowners and long-term renters, as well as 32,000 small business owners, according to tax force estimates.

The package of proposals is tentatively set to be finalized and submitted to the governor next week in a report, and the primary proposal is a homestead-comstead exemption that members believe is the most effective proposal they could achieve by the deadline in order to shift the property tax burden away from primarily the middle class and small business owners.

The task force has spent the past seven months working to develop proposals for bills that could alleviate the property tax increase felt by Montana homeowners last year due in part to the legislatures failure to lower the property tax assessment rate last session as had been recommended by the Department of Revenue to keep tax increases down for homeowners.

During two meetings in July, the task force, which was split into subcommittees focused on education, local government, and tax fairness, agreed to submit 12 different proposals in the final report, which will likely be presented to the governor on Aug. 15, the task force said in its last meeting on July 30. The task force released a draft proposal that members agreed to move forward.

The homestead-comstead proposal to reduce property tax rates for many

The most discussed proposal at those meetings, the homestead-comstead exemption, is perhaps one of the widest ranging out of the dozen that the task force plans to propose for bills next session and is a similar type of proposal that Democrats said in early July they will bring forward next year as well.

But the two differ in terms of who will see tax breaks and who will likely see property tax increases again as the tax burden shifts between single-home homeowners, owners of second homes and short-term rentals, and commercial business of various classes.

The share of residential property taxes and how rates could change under the task force's proposal for a homestead exemption. (Courtesy Governor's Property Tax Task Force)

The task forces proposal aims to cut the tax rate for primary residences and long-term rentals worth up to $1 million to 1.1%, saving each homeowner about 18% on their tax bill compared to current law. The tax rate would move to 1.9% for homes above that market rate under the proposal.

For Class 4 commercial properties, the tax rate would be 1.5% for properties valued up to six times the median value and 2.1% for properties above it. The draft report to the governor said commercial properties worth $2 million and under would see estimated tax cuts of about 23%, while a commercial property worth $5 million would see a 4% reduction. A $10 million commercial property would pay 2% more in taxes, according to the task forces estimations.

The task forces draft report and members said the idea behind the shifting of the property tax burden is meant to focus on providing relief to Montanans and not out-of-state homeowners, as they generally do not contribute to Montanas income tax base and Montana does not have a sales tax.

One of the key messages from Gianforte at the outset of the task forces work was he wanted to see no sales tax proposals, meaning changes will have to be shifted between property taxes and income taxes.

The Montana Department of Revenue reported 21% of Montanas residential taxable value is billed to out-of-state addresses for people who use community resources without paying for them.

Potential changes to commercial property taxes under the task force's proposal for a comstead exemption. (Courtesy Governor's Property Tax Task Force)

Since a statewide sales tax is consistently unpopular, a higher tax rate on properties not occupied by Montanans for at least 7 months out of the year represents one of the few ways to tax out-of-state residents to offset taxes on Montana residents, the draft report says.

There is still some question about how much the tax burdens will shift because the Department of Revenue is still figuring out the full scope of the types of properties, based in part on the rebate checks homeowners have been applying for and also depending on its appraisals that will come out later this year. The DOR would also likely need to add staff to complete the assessment of whose rates would change and how, according to the report.

If you are going to rearrange the chairs and youre going to try to capture some out-of-state, without a doubt theres a shift. Thats impossible to avoid. The other shift is to shift it to income tax, and we all know Montanans pay the income tax, the outside dont, Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, and the chairman of the tax fairness subcommittee, said at the meeting in early July. I do think this is, as we currently sit, the most equitable one weve been able to arrive at yet.

Education subcommitee proposals center around levies

The education subcommittee, led by Rep. David Bedey, R-Hamilton, put three proposals into the final report. The first seeks to replace school district BASE levies with a countywide levy, which the task force believes would reduce property taxes for poorer school districts and shift the burden onto wealthier districts.

Gov. Greg Gianforte speaks to the property tax task force on what he wants to see in a report later this year. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

Bedey said he believed the proposal would fix what he called wide discrepancies in mandatory mill levies in districts across the state and that a countywide levy would be more equitable in distributing the states obligation to adequately fund schools.

The second aims to set the state mill levy at a fixed 95 mills and leave in place House Bill 587 last year, which took that funding and separated it out from the General Fund and which Jones, the sponsor, said would allow districts to levy lower local taxes.

The third seeks to apply either a turnout requirement or a supermajority requirement in mill levy elections, like are in effect for some bond elections at the local level. The task force members said requiring a higher threshold for school levies would ensure that more voters within a district or county were participating in an election to raise taxes for the jurisdiction.

Local government subcommittee proposals

There are eight proposals coming from the local government subcommittee, which was led by Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson.

Four of them concern mill levy elections and go somewhat hand-in-hand, as Hertz explained he believes the proposals would keep local mills from constantly increasing in some communities when not everyone is on board with paying more.

The first would require new voter-approved levies to get 60% of the vote in order to pass, while another would require mill levy elections to have the questions worded in dollar amounts instead of mills in order to have mills automatically adjust to what voters have approved money-wise.

Another proposal seeks to sunset all voter-approved levies except for bond levies after 10 years so they dont run in perpetuity and so local voters can decide whether to extend levies, the task forces idea being that would also keep property taxes from consistently going up.

During the July discussions, there was concern voiced by Montana School Boards Association Executive Director Lance Melton that sunsetting some levies, and putting additional requirements on voted levies when they have increasingly failed to pass in recent years, could kneecap districts if voters do not want to raise their taxes to pay for education services.

The fourth aims to modify the statute by which levies are calculated based on last years Senate Bill 511, sponsored by Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings, which died in a 25-25 Senate vote last session.

Potential effects of a proposal to change the procedure for calculating levies, according to the task force. (Courtesy Governor's Property Tax Task Force report)

The proposal would require some newly taxable property to be included when setting mill values so existing property owners wouldnt feel as much of the burden and taxing authority would not automatically grow, according to the task force. The draft final report notes some members of the task force felt the statutory mechanism already works fine as is.

Another proposal is to reform Tax Increment Financing laws (TIFs) so that the economic development districts do not add to the communitys tax burdens, and the group also wants lawmakers to come up with a study bill to look at ways to limit the growth of special districts, which the task force says accounts for about 10% of property taxes paid statewide but the state has limited information on them.

The final two proposals include one to adopt parts of Utahs Truth in Taxation law, which would force taxing jurisdictions to only raise taxes above the prior years budget when excluding new taxable property if they hold an advertised hearing on the matter then put the question to a vote.

The other would look at changes to Montanas Property Tax Assistance Program, especially surrounding who qualifies for assistance, and consideration of an asset-based test in order to qualify.

Hertz said at the early July meeting he was unsure how many people might fall into a theoretical he posed about a person having $1 million in a 401(k) plan, is collecting Social Security, has a paid off house, and is receiving PTAP.

Which, you know, thats not what its designed for, not that particular person, Hertz said. So, I think that was some of the thought there, but how many of those are there? We just dont know.

The task force at its previous meeting set a meeting for Aug. 15, next Thursday, to deliver the report to Gianforte. His office confirmed late Wednesday afternoon the meeting was still on for that date.

But the subcommittee chairs and the chair of the task force, Office of Budget and Program Planning Director Ryan Osmundson, said at the July 30 meeting they are pleased with their work and happy with the report.

It looks like weve accomplished pretty much everything we wanted to do, Osmundson said.  I really appreciate everybodys time and work in this, because I think this is going to be a very good document going into session. Its going to give the legislature some great ideas that they can put into practice.

PropertyTaxTaskForce20240730ReportDRAFT
Grand opening of Texas waterpark descends into chaos as 16 workers are hospitalized in hazmat incident

Improperly mixed chemicals causes a hazardous chemical reaction at the Great Wolf Lodge resort in Webster, Texas (Great Wolf Lodge)

More than a dozen waterpark resort workers in Webster, Texas were rushed to a hospital after improperly mixed pool chemicals caused a hazardous chemical reaction, interrupting the celebration of its grand opening.

On Tuesday, the opening day of the Great Wolf Lodge in Webster, a third-party contractor at the resort improperly mixed pool chemicals, causing a chemical reaction, prompting 16 employees and contractors working in the immediate area to be transported to hospitals, city officials said.

The Webster Fire Chief Dean Spencer told the Chron that a contractor had mixed sodium hypochlorite and sulfuric acid  two unlike chemicals.

The incident occurred in an isolated building separate from the hotel and waterpark, officials added. The Webster Fire Department isolated the tanks, monitored the area, and confirmed no chemicals were detected in the hotel or waterpark.

The situation was quickly contained and will not affect the Lodges operations today, city officials said. An environmental company is working with Great Wolf Lodge and the contractor to clean the tanks safely.

A Great Wolf Lodge spokesperson told The Independent in a statement that all workers taken to the hospital were released on Wednesday.

The safety and wellbeing of our guests and pack members is always our primary focus, the spokesperson continued. We want to again express our gratitude to the Webster Fire Department for their quick action, which provided a positive outcome to the situation. We also appreciate their thorough review of our facility prior to providing the all-clear for us to proceed with the opening of our resort yesterday.

The Webster resort marks the waterpark chains 22nd location in North America and the second in Texas.

The new resort boasts 532 rooms and features a 95,000 square-foot indoor water park and a 58,000 square-foot Great Wolf Adventure Park, according to its website.
I grew up in a union family in Detroit. Health insurance, food on the table, roof over our heads  as kids we took these for granted, but history tells us they were not easily earned, and work stoppages are perennial reminders that they are also hard to keep. As children we were unaware of the constant tension between labor and capital. All we knew was sometimes we ate at Red Lobster on Sundays, and sometimes we were lucky if we ate at all.

That is what greeted Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz when they landed at the Detroit airport on Wednesday for a rally with the United Auto Workers: the hopes and struggles of the Midwests working class. The campaign believes there are an estimated 2.7 million union members in the battleground states.

Harris and Walz will be here often.

Michigan just flipped back to middle-class workers, said Jonathan Smith, a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers union, at the event. Were not going back.

In 2013, the Republican governor, Rick Snyder, made Michigan a right to work state , allowing people to work in union-represented roles without paying into the union. He promised this would bring more jobs, but the move faced huge protests  and over the next decade, we learned who was right.

Read more: Granderson: Picking Tim Walz, Harris shows how she aims to win

Michigan workers saw a decline in their way of life, but not the rise in jobs that was promised. In 2023, the Democrat governor, Gretchen Whitmer, corrected her predecessors error. She, like many of the speakers who took the stage at the Detroit rally, made sure to thank union leaders for organizing the huge crowd. Led by members of the United Auto Workers, who wore red, the thousands corralled in and around an airport hangar included a number of brightly colored union T-shirts.

With fewer than 90 days to go before the election, what better way for Harris to kick off the first full day with her new running mate than with voters she knows are used to fighting? And she isnt new to this bloc or their causes.

Read more: Opinion: Republicans' 'Tampon Tim' joke about Walz is already backfiring

In 2018, as a senator, Harris showed her support for the striking University of California employees by withdrawing as Berkeleys commencement speaker. In 2019 she joined a UAW picket line in Nevada. The Biden administration transition team included Teresa Romero from the United Farm Workers and Lonnie Stephenson from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Harris is not just comfortable in this setting. The faces in the crowd shape her policy proposals and inform her messaging. Her selection of Walz reiterates her commitment to labor and the working class.

Read more: Granderson: Top Republicans know better than to back Trump

As for her opponent, former President Trump purports to be pro-labor, but his businesses have left a trail of aggrieved and unpaid workers over the decades , including union members. Were talking carpenters, electricians, plumbers. In fact, his enterprises racked up more than 20 violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act for not paying overtime or minimum wage. As president, he flooded the National Labor Relations Board with known union-busters. In 2004, he crossed a picket line to appear on The Apprentice. His current campaign chose not to hire union stagehands  and ended up with a poorly hung sign that appeared to be endorsing Harris for president .

Last fall Trump held a rally in Michigan at a nonunion plant while the UAW was fighting for a living wage. At that event Trump bashed the Biden administration for pushing automakers toward electric cars, claiming the shift would decimate the Detroit economy. Then Elon Musk endorsed him. Now Trump says he has no choice but to like electric cars because of it. So much for EVs destroying the city, right?

When union families in the Great Lakes region were fighting to put food on the table, they got support from Biden and Harris. Trump just came looking for votes.

I was satisfied with Biden at the top of the ticket, but with Kamala Harris there is a real excitement, Detroit native Shana Norfolk told me on Wednesday. She understands what its like to live paycheck to paycheck because shes been there with us. I believe she is going to fight for civil rights, womens rights, worker rights, equity and inclusion  because she gets it.

Thats how Harris has been able to build so much momentum organically. She is relatable to many different kinds of Americans because she speaks to values needed for the coalition. And it starts with compassion.

At one point, Walmart workers who relied on public assistance cost taxpayers more than $6 billion a year . At the same time, the company and its shareholders enjoyed nearly $8 billion in tax breaks and subsidies. Now even though Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said after the Jan. 6 attack that Trumps big lie was to blame for the division in the country, Walmart continues to donate to Republicans who were election deniers. Presumably for the tax breaks.

Earlier this year the NLRB accused Walmart of illegal tactics to prevent employees from unionizing in Eureka, Calif . Clearly the tax breaks are not enough. Project 2025, the playbook conservatives want to employ on Day 1 in a possible second Trump term, includes initiatives to erode organized labor.

Health insurance, a roof over their childrens heads, food on the table  under Trump, all the staples of the middle class would be left to the whims of the 1%. No wonder there was such a passionate crowd filling the hangar at the Detroit airport for Harris and Walz: The 99% hope that this new Democratic presidential ticket can stop that from happening.

@LZGranderson

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Great white sharks split into 3 populations 200,000 years ago and never mixed again  except for one hybrid found in the Bermuda Triangle

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Great white sharks are at high risk of extinction. Scientists are studying their distinct populations in different oceans to assess any potential for interbreeding. . | Credit: Allan Davey via Getty Images

Great white sharks split into three distinct groups about 100,000 to 200,000 years ago and seldom mingled, a new study shows. The findings suggest that if one of these populations goes extinct, it cannot be replaced, the study authors said.

In the study, published July 23 in the journal Current Biology , scientists sequenced the genomes of 89 great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) sampled worldwide. Their results pointed to three distinct groups that diverged over time and did not interbreed. These groups are found in three locations: the North Atlantic/Mediterranean, Indo-Pacific and North Pacific oceans.

"Now we understand that if you wipe out sharks in a particular area, they're not going to be repopulated by sharks from another lineage," study co-author Leslie Noble , a molecular evolutionary ecologist at Nord University in Norway, told Live Science. "The so-called global population of white sharks has now shrunk to these three very discreet units. And it's really quite concerning."

Like salmon, female sharks always return to their birth site to drop their pups, Noble said. This means that the sharks' mitochondrial DNA, which they inherit only from their mothers, "is a bit like a passport  it shows exactly where they come from," Noble said. Earlier studies have looked at white sharks' mitochondrial genome to study their genetic diversity. However, a portion of this maternal DNA is prone to mutation, making them unreliable references for tracing the lineage divergence.

In the new study, Noble and his team sifted through hundreds of thousands of genetic markers by analyzing variations of white shark DNA at a single nucleotide level  its basic building block.

The scientists laid out the whole genome information of 89 white sharks sampled worldwide and grouped related genetic sequences using a statistical algorithm. They found that the sharks were segregated into three distinct populations.

The team traced the history of these sharks by identifying when the genetic makeup of a shared ancestor began to diverge. These analyses suggested that the shark lineages split about 100,000 to 200,000 years ago during the Penultimate Glaciation Period  an ice age that saw sea levels fall up to 490 feet (150 meters) lower than current levels.

It is still unclear why these populations split in the first place. Noble suspects the drop in sea level and changes in ocean currents and temperature may have created a biogeographical barrier for these sharks.

World map showing the distribution of three distinct white shark populations

"We don't find genes moving across those [geographical] boundaries," Noble said. "That to us suggests that there must be some sort of a selection, which is making those different lineages adapted to the particular areas they're in."

Mysteriously, the only evidence of interbreeding was the presence of a hybrid shark  a mix of the Indo-Pacific and the North Pacific lineage  in the Bermuda Triangle. It is possible that more instances of interbreeding have occurred but that the offspring of these hybrids were lost through natural selection, Noble said.

Related: Great White Sharks Gather in Droves in the Middle of Nowhere, But Why?

The International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers the great white shark vulnerable to extinction. These sharks lost about a third of their population between 1970 and 2018, but thanks to global protection efforts, their populations are slowly increasing .

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To Noble, the existence of three lineages means conservation efforts should focus on maintaining each unit of the white shark population. If one population starts to stray into another's territory, interbreeding could occur and produce offspring that may not survive.

The disappearance of these apex predators would also have huge implications for humans. "Our fate is intimately bound with the great whites because we get about 20% of our protein from marine ecosystems, which the great whites keep healthy," Noble said. "So [if] we lose the great whites, we might lose a lot of our protein from these ecosystems."
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  An assistant Greene County prosecutor has been fired after an alleged road rage incident.

According to an incident report from the Riverside Police Department, Christopher Murray was arrested early June 30 on allegations of felonious assault related to the incident.

Around 12:30 a.m. that night, officers responded to the area of Woodman Drive overpass over State Route 35 on report of a fight. When officers arrived, they saw a man standing outside his vehicle with blood on his shorts.

As the man received medical treatment, it was determined that his finger had been bitten off.

The man told police that a second person involved in the fight had fled the scene. Officers later located part of the mans finger underneath where his vehicle was parked.

Death row inmate granted new trial for decades old case

The man reported to police that the fight occurred after the other man, later identified as Murray, allegedly failed to drive as the light turned green, leading to the man honking his horn.

Murray allegedly exited his vehicle and proceeded to confront the man, wanting to fight.

The man told police that he opened his driver-side door to respond, since his windows were inoperable. After the two began fighting, the man got on top of Murray, which is when Murray allegedly bit him.

In a statement to 2 NEWS, Greene County Prosecuting Attorney David Hayes confirmed that Murrays employment at the Greene County office has been terminated.

Hayes also said that Murray has been on leave since July 9.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Gresham police arrested a man accused of trying to intentionally crash a car he was riding in, stabbing a member of his family, and stealing a minivan.

According to Gresham police, it happened Wednesday night when Samuel Pablo De Jesus was in the car with his family and attempted to grab the steering wheel and try to crash the vehicle.

The driver managed to avoid crashing but then, according to authorities, Pablo De Jesus stabbed another family member.

Family praying for big miracles after crash puts expecting mom and baby in ICU

Police were called to Mt. Hood Medical Center where they said they learned that Pablo De Jesus had stolen a silver 2022 Kia Carnival, and fled the scene.

Pablo De Jesus was arrested shortly before noon Thursday, police said.

Stay tuned while we bring you more information on this story.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Raise the Wage AZ announced Thursday morning it would withdraw its submitted signatures for a planned ballot measure to boost the state's minimum wage  just prior to a judge's ruling it would not qualify for November's ballot.

Several hours after the group released a statement about its intentions, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney ruled against the measure in a consent decree both parties agreed to.

The judge's ruling came after attorney Kory Langhofer filed a proposed judgment to Blaney in the Arizona Restaurant Association's lawsuit challenging the signatures collected by Raise the Wage AZ for the measure. The lawsuit alleged the group didn't submit enough valid signatures based on the association's own investigation, as well as documents it obtained from the Secretary of State's Office indicating problems with the signatures, Langhofer told The Republic.

Minutes after Langhofer spoke with The Arizona Republic about the new court filing, an email from Blaney's judicial assistant indicated the judge agreed with the filing and signed the proposed judgment.

J.P. Martin, spokesperson for the Secretary of State's Office, said the office would stop its evaluation of the signatures, ending the effort to put the measure on the ballot.

One Fair Wage announced it would halt campaign before judge's ruling

The local campaign, part of the national One Fair Wage organization, said in an email sent just after 9 a.m. it would "pivot" away from its ballot measure and instead focus on planned legislation by Democratic Rep. Mariana Sandoval of Goodyear to achieve its goals. Such legislation is unlikely to pass next year unless Democrats this fall win control of the Arizona Legislature for the first time in more than 60 years.

Raise the Wage AZ's planned measure sought to boost the state's minimum pay from the current level of $14.35 an hour to nearly $18 an hour by 2027, with further annual cost-of-living increases. It also sought to eliminate Arizona's tipping credit for employers that allows them to pay less than minimum wage to workers who receive tips.

The group will also campaign against the legislative referral known as the Tipped Workers Protection Act, passed by four Democratic House members and all Republicans in the Legislature earlier this year and supported by the Arizona Restaurant Association.

That measure, which didn't require Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs's signature to make the ballot, would allow employers to reduce tipped workers' pay by 25% below minimum wage if the workers' base salary and tips for a given pay period equals whatever the current minimum wage is, plus $2 an hour extra. Arizona law currently lets employers reduce pay by up to $3 an hour below minimum wage as long as workers make more than minimum wage. The proposal will be on November's ballot as Proposition 138.

Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage, told The Republic the group believed it was possible its signature effort would come up short, leading to its decision to curtail the effort in order to stop using up resources to defend the court challenge.

But she said the group is "not deterred at all" in its longer-term effort to pass a statewide law, help defeat the legislative referral and target cities for local minimum-wage increases. The Raise the Wage AZ campaign recruited hundreds of local workers  whom the group paid $25 an hour  to help gather signatures and help the effort in other ways.

"We are determined some people are going to get raises regardless of this," she said, adding that low-wage workers in Arizona are "really struggling" because they don't make a "living wage" in the state.

Heat, other factors led to signature problems

Jayaraman and the group's supporters held a news conference in June about its lawsuit against the legislative ballot referral, claiming Arizona voters would be deceived by its title and alleged benefits. The group wanted the court to strike the measure from the ballot.

But on Aug. 6, Maricopa County Judge Peter Thompson ruled against the lawsuit, pointing out the name of the Legislature's proposal wasn't its official title and writing in his order that the proposal was "neither misleading, deceptive nor fraudulent."

After publication of this article, the Arizona Supreme Court released an order accepting an expedited appeal by Raise the Wage AZ in that case. Because the ballot printing deadline is Aug. 22, the court ordered the Secretary of State's Office to advise it of the last day it could make a decision on the appeal.

The court also gave each side deadlines ahead of the ballot printing deadline to file shortened briefs with their legal arguments. The court said it will consider the matter without a hearing with oral arguments.

Jayaraman said the ruling played a role in the decision to pull out, saying with the potential for both measures to be on the ballot, there was "always that risk" that their effort would fail to gain enough votes in November.

The group estimated it submitted 354,278 valid voter signatures  more than the 255,949 needed to qualify to appear on November's ballot. The Arizona Restaurant Association's lawsuit challenged the official paperwork accompanying the signatures, saying the group failed to disclose whether its collectors were paid, didn't include accurate dates for their work and had other problems. The signatures themselves included duplicates, unregistered voters and incorrect or missing signatures dates, according to the lawsuit.

The group's signature-gathering effort began over a year ago, but supporters said in June it still needed to collect tens of thousands more. The rush to gather more before the July 3 submittal deadline could have affected the quality of the signatures, she said.

Many supporters withered under Arizona's extreme summer heat as they gathered signatures.

"We had a lot of people get sick  you know, heat stroke," she said, though she didn't know if any had been hospitalized. She and two other workers also came down with valley fever, she said.

One Fair Wage's overall efforts won't stop

Despite the decision in Arizona, the national group is still on a "high" over its recent win in Michigan, Jayaraman said.

The Michigan Supreme Court ruled late last month that the state's formerly Republican-dominated Legislature wrongly tampered with the group's successful ballot measure there in 2018. She said the group also hoped to see its provisions enacted in Massachusetts and Illinois.

The "silver lining" in Arizona, she said, is that One Fair Wage is creating an "infrastructure" of supporters to further its future goals in Arizona. The group and UnidosUS, formerly known as the National Council of La Raza, would try to "flip the Legislature" Democratic and "put the same initiative on spring 2025 ballots in several cities and counties across the state."

She declined to say which cities it would target first.

Supporters of Legislature's ballot measure urge voters to pass their proposal

The heads of the Arizona Restaurant Association and Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Steve Chucri and Danny Seiden, respectively, condemned One Fair Wage's plan after its announcement and claimed the Tipped Workers Protection Act would prevent layoffs and "costs" to state residents.

"The radicals who want to force a new pay structure down the throats of Arizona small businesses and tipped workers were never honest about their true motivations, so Im not surprised they also lied about their number of signature petitions for the ballot," Chucri said in a written statement. "Without passage of Prop 138, you can bet the imposters behind One Fair Wage will be back with future attempts to install a California-style pay system in Arizona. That means lower tips for workers, lost jobs for employers and higher costs for everyone."

Seiden wrote that "it is absolutely critical that voters support Proposition 138 this November to protect tipped workers, save jobs and keep costs down for Arizona families.

Supporters of Raise the Wage AZ, had argued the legislative proposal would reduce wages for tipped workers, in part because they believe the proposal didn't force employers to add an extra $2 to workers' wages.

Reach the reporter at rstern@arizonarepublic.com or 480-276-3237. Follow him on X @raystern.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Judge strikes down AZ minimum wage measure after group halts campaign
BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chen Yuxuan, a high school graduate from east China's Zhejiang Province, recently made headlines by choosing to attend a vocational university rather than a general university, despite scoring 602 points, 110 points above the provincial university admission threshold.

Chen's unconventional decision to choose vocational education, which has long been stereotyped or even stigmatized in China, has sparked widespread debate on Chinese social media. Some people questioned whether this was a "waste" of her high college entrance test score.

However, Chen had a good reason for the choice. As China has been facilitating the development of its vocational education in recent years, vocational universities have emerged as an increasingly popular option for students by providing practical career-oriented training that brings broader job opportunities.

In 2019, China's Ministry of Education unveiled the first batch of 15 vocational universities, all upgraded from vocational schools. Currently, the country boasts over 50 vocational universities qualified to award bachelor's diplomas equivalent to degrees issued by general universities.

In 2023, China's vocational universities enrolled 89,900 students, a 17.82 percent increase from the previous year, accounting for about 1.6 percent of the total enrollment of higher vocational education institutions nationwide that year.

According to Zheng Bing, executive president of Hainan Vocational University of Science and Technology, the university has seen increasing enrollment since its bachelor programs began to recruit students in 2019, with relatively high entry scores for vocational education.

Chen, who has joined Zhejiang Polytechnic University of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, said her choice was based on her future career considerations. The rail transportation equipment and control technology program she selected boasts a graduate employment rate of over 98 percent in recent years, with some alumni securing positions at leading enterprises like CRRC Corporation Limited.

"I considered other universities but was ultimately drawn to Zhejiang Polytechnic University of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering due to strong job prospects," Chen said.

In the current tough labor market, vocational universities are highly attractive due to their high graduate employment rates, driven by career-oriented courses and majors that meet social and industrial demands.

Zhang Youneng, a teacher at the School of Mechanical and Electrical Technology of Guangdong Industry Polytechnic University, noted that over 50 percent of the courses are practical, focusing on problem-solving, fostering collaboration and innovation.

Mao Liangyu, a student majoring in big data technology and application at Hainan Vocational University of Science and Technology, said practical training and internship weigh more than theoretical study in his program. He noted that over 90 percent of the 57 students in his class have already secured jobs.

Founded in June this year, China Civil Affairs University, affiliated with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, is China's first university offering undergraduate studies in the civil affairs sector. It will enroll students in five majors including marriage services, elderly care and funeral management, aiming to meet the rapidly growing demand for social services.

Guangdong Industry Polytechnic University began enrolling undergraduate students for its newly established modern logistics management major. Han Baoguo, a faculty member at the university's School of Finance and Trade, said the new major is designed to train logistics project planners and data analysts who are crucial for the digital transformation of the logistics industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

According to a set of guidelines on promoting the high-quality development of modern vocational education released in 2021, China expects to see the enrollment of vocational universities accounting for no less than 10 percent of the total higher vocational education enrollment by 2025.

Experts emphasize the need to enhance teaching standards, course design and internships to ensure the steady development of vocational universities in China. However, some caution that vocational institutions might risk losing their practical focus if they begin to emulate general universities.

According to Zheng Bing, vocational universities need to develop and refine mechanisms linking employment, training and enrollment while developing collaborative talent training plans with enterprises to ensure high-quality employment outcomes for graduates. 
A group of people reenact the Battle of Musgrove Mill in Laurens County. (Provided/Laurens County Chamber of Commerce)

When Molly Fortune moved to Newberry in 2015, she had no idea the street in front of her house was historic.

It wasnt until 2022, when she became executive director of the commission tasked with celebrating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, that she learned Main Street was a thoroughfare for troops traveling between Ninety Six, site of two major battles, and Winnsboro, home to a British encampment.

People just dont realize it, Fortune said. Everywhere you go, youre right on top of what happened here in South Carolina.

The states American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission is working to preserve and educate people about the hundreds of sites statewide tied to America winning its independence. While more Revolutionary War battles and skirmishes were fought on South Carolina soil than in almost any other state, even most South Carolinians dont know that.

Legislators created the commission in 2018 to help change that as the nation observes the 250th anniversary of its birth (though they didnt put any money toward it until 2021).

The first few years were spent planning and getting counties on board, Fortune said.

The last four state budgets, including the one that took effect July 1, have collectively provided the commission more than $15 million to collaborate with counties to buy and restore historic sites, educate students with hands-on lessons, and hold events leading up to the anniversary of the July 4, 1776, signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Since launching its grant program in 2022, the commission has awarded more than 90 grants ranging from $3,000 for planning assistance to $160,000 toward digitizing and publishing the papers sent to and from Brig. Gen. Francis Marion, nicknamed the Swamp Fox.

Amounts in between include $124,000 to help buy property at the Battle of Eutaw Springs in Orangeburg County and $20,000 for archeology nearby, according to its list of grant recipients.

Grants for the 2024-2025 fiscal year opened last month. Applications for larger grants are due Sept. 26.

While most peoples attention goes to the 2026 anniversary, the real work is in preserving the states history, Fortune said.

The commissions work will continue through 2033, the 250th anniversary of the Treaty of Paris that formally ended the war.

Of course, that doesnt mean the state will ignore the big date, she added.

In South Carolina, there are actually two of those a week apart the 4th of July and Carolina Day, which celebrates when South Carolina troops defeated the British Royal Navy in the Battle of Sullivans Island.

That battle on June 28, 1776, marked the Patriots first decisive win, thanks partly to Fort Sullivans construction of palmetto tree trunks and sand. Cannon balls bounced off the walls or embedded in the sand. The flag that flew at Fort Sullivan became the basis of the Palmetto State flag. (The original indigo flag shot down during the bombardment lacked the now-iconic tree in the middle.)

Exactly how that anniversary will be celebrated statewide is still in the works. As with most of the commissions work so far, counties will have a big say in how they celebrate, Fortune said.

We want to know from our counties and from the people that live in those counties, what does that celebration look like for you? Fortune said. And it could be different in Newberry than Calhoun than Marion, but were all going to celebrate Carolina Day.

Historical tourism

In December 1780, Patriot troops led by Brig. Gen. Daniel Morgan attacked loyalists who had been plundering families in what is now Laurens County. The Patriots killed or injured more than 100 men, taking 40 prisoners, without losing a single man of their own, according to the American Battlefield Trust.

When British Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton heard the news, he assembled his troops and went after Morgan. The two clashed in the Battle of Cowpens, where the Patriots pulled off a surprising victory credited with turning the tide of the war and setting the groundwork for the British defeat at Yorktown, Virginia, nine months later.

It really is a chain that tells the role that the Southern campaigns and South Carolina, particularly, played, said Heather Hawkins, the commissions grants manager.

The commission has spent $97,000 in grants to study and preserve the site of that battle, known as Hammonds Store. The biggest chunk of that money, $87,000, went toward buying the 30-acre piece of land in 2023. The state Conservation Bank chipped in an additional $80,000 toward the cost.

Now, the commission, working alongside the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust, is working to finish up a series of trails with signs that tell the story to the public, Hawkins said.

That battle exemplifies much of what the commission is looking for when it chooses which places to award grants, she said.

With hundreds of battles and skirmishes in the state during the war, its impossible to save every piece of land.

Most of the more major battles have some sort of recognition already. Cowpens, for instance, is designated a national battlefield through the National Park Service.

The commission wants to tell the stories that marked a turning point of some kind but dont have that sort of national recognition, she said.

In particular, the commission is focused on smaller, more rural areas, Fortune said. Charleston is often a go-to for tourists looking to learn a bit of history, but rural areas are rich in stories, too. They just dont have the same resources to tell them, she said.

Theres so much out in the back country where a lot of this took place, Fortune said. Were looking all over the state and trying to spread the wealth to all the counties.

All told, commission grants totaling $486,000 have gone to help buy seven historical sites, according to the commissions website. Six grants have funded research on sites. Another five have gone toward renovating land already open to the public.

More people are already visiting Laurens County and asking about the history, said Christian Taylor, tourism marketing manager for the countys Chamber of Commerce. The county is working to create a trail visitors can bike or drive along, with historical stops along the way, to appease people asking for tours, she said.

We get a lot of people here for historical reasons, Taylor said. It blows my mind every day.

Education

The commission also focuses on telling stories that have historically been underrepresented, such as those involving women, children, African Americans and Native Americans, Fortune said.

For instance, the commission is working to trace the path Catawba tribe members would have taken to travel through the state, Fortune said. A $15,000 grant is helping a research group write a paper on how the Revolutionary War led to some slave owners deciding to free their slaves.

Other counties have paid for education in a more traditional sense, by finding new ways to teach about the war in classrooms.

The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce sponsored essay and art contests for children to write about important revolutionary figures and draw what they think the county would have looked like during the war, Taylor said. That came from a $6,000 grant.

Its bridging that gap to get the information to our students, Taylor said.

Other education initiatives have included $10,000 for a Kershaw nonprofit to create a history club for fourth- through 12-grade students, $10,000 for Anderson County to rent traveling trunks filled with replica Revolutionary War clothes and items, and $20,000 for a historian to create a series of comic books based on the war.

The commission also funds what Fortune calls accidental tourism, such as adding signs to what are already popular destinations telling people about the battles that happened there.

Chester County, for example, is working to put up a plaque telling the story of Brig. Gen. Thomas Sumters half-naked escape after the British attacked his troops while he was napping beside Fishing Creek.

Those are fun projects, where its like, Wow, you really thought outside the box, Fortune said.

The stories Fortune really wants to tell, she said, are those about the people involved. When she visits historical sites, she often thinks about the people who died and were buried there, especially the ones no one knows about, she said.

These people are still here, and we owe them those stories, Fortune said. We owe it to all of our underserved communities to tell those stories that arent (told).
In this May 10, 2018, file photo, students walk past Sather Gate on the UC Berkeley campus in Berkeley. (Ben Margot / Associated Press)

Police are looking for a suspect who reportedly opened fire at UC Berkeley on Thursday morning, the school announced.

The UC Berkeley Police Department responded to a report of gunshots at 7:40 a.m. at the university's Clark Kerr and Hill campuses. Local media outlets said the shots were reported near the campus track.

No injuries have been reported, the school said.

The suspect, who has not been arrested, was described as a man with "bleached" hair with red or orange highlights carrying a red backpack and wearing a black shirt and black pants, police said.

The university said that people should avoid the Clark Kerr and Hillside campuses and stay indoors if they are in the vicinity.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SAYRE, Pa. (WETM)  Williams Subaru team members delivered blankets and messages of hope to Guthrie Center patients in their fight against cancer.

We are proud at Williams Subaru to support LLS for our 8th year. Most importantly, taking some time to step away from our dealership, visit patients in our community and understand what they are going through and doing our part to help. Our team is full of passionate and caring people and initiatives like this are so important to us. We are grateful and proud of this partnership with Guthrie and LLS, said Dalton Williams, Vice President of Williams Auto Group.

The company was able to give out 80 blankets. The Guthrie Clinic is a non-profit multispecialty health system integrating clinical and hospital care along with research and education. Headquartered in Sayre, Pennsylvania, the Guthrie Clinic stands as one of the nations longest established group practices, founded in 1910 by Dr. Donald Guthrie.

For more information about Guthrie Clinic, you can visit www.Guthrie.org.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The terror group Hamas has a new leader, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he has the power to make a ceasefire deal happen.

Yahya Sinwar is replacing the leader who the group says was killed in Iran last month by an Israeli airstrike.

He continues to be the person that calls the shots for Hamas, said Matthew Miller, a U.S. State Department spokesperson.

Miller said Sinwars new role doesnt really change anything. He has been the terror groups top leader in Gaza and masterminded the Oct. 7th attacks in Israel.

Sinwar is a brutal terrorist with blood on his hands, including the blood of American citizens, Miller said.

However, Miller said Sinwar is the key to getting a ceasefire and hostage agreement.

We are in the final stages hopefully of a ceasefire deal, he said.

Thats the most optimistic U.S. officials have been of the deal, but they also warn escalation in the region could derail any progress.

No party should take any steps to escalate this conflict, Miller said.

Tensions in the Middle East have intensified, following Israels assassinations of top leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, which are proxies of Iran.

Not going to speak for what Iran will or will not do, said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

White House officials said Wednesday the U.S. and its allies are engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts to try to avoid an all-out regional war.

Urge de-escalation, Jean-Pierre said. Thats what we want to see.

The U.S. recently increased its own military presence in the region, including moving a fighter jet squadron and maintaining an aircraft carrier there.

Gaza continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis as the war limits access to critical medical supplies, food and water. The Health Ministry said the death toll there is nearly 40,000, but it doesnt distinguish between military and civilian deaths.

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Hamden police arrest a man wanted by at least 3 different police agencies

HAMDEN, Conn. (WTNH)  Hamden police arrested a man on Wednesday that was wanted on active warrants from at least three Connecticut police agencies.

New Haven police investigating three shootings that left seven people injured

Derrick Gillam, 29, was allegedly wanted by the East Haven police for domestic violence charges in their town. The Hamden Police Department were told that Gillam was spotted in the area of Hamden Plaza. When they found him and attempted to take him into custody, Gillam allegedly bit, scratched and attempted to punch members of the Hamden Police Department.

It was later learned that Gillam had 13 additional active arrest warrants from other police agencies in the state, including the New Haven Police Department, who was looking to arrest him for charges that include kidnapping.

He was turned over to the New Haven police.

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Taylor Swifts Eras tour is currently in progress with ongoing shows in Europe. This weekend, on August 8, 9, and 10, there were three scheduled shows in Vienna, Austria. However, they have now been canceled, and ticketholders have received refunds.

Lets take a look at what exactly happened and why the Eras tour concert shows in Vienna were canceled.

Why was Taylor Swifts Vienna concert canceled?

Taylor Swifts Vienna concert shows were canceled after two suspects were arrested for allegedly planning a terror attack.

Three scheduled shows of Taylor Swifts Eras Tour in Vienna had to be canceled. This happened after the confirmation from government officials about a planned terror attack in Vienna. The police also arrested two suspects on Wednesday in relation to the same matter. A 19-year-old Austrian citizen and another suspect were arrested in the morning and afternoon, respectively.

Franz Ruf, the director-general for public safety in the Ministry of the Interior, spoke at a press conference. He mentioned that the suspects allegedly radicalized themselves online and that Vienna was the target of their attack. Additionally, he said Swifts concert was the primary target of the 19-year-old. As per ABC News, sources told them that in early July, U.S. Intelligence found at least one of the suspects pledged to ISIS-K on Telegram, the messaging platform.

After the cancellation, Barracuda Music posted a statement on Instagram that read, With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyones safety. All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.

As a result, all three shows in Vienna remain canceled, and refunds have been initiated. Taylor Swifts next three shows will take place in London on August 15, 16, and 17. These London shows will conclude the European leg of the Eras tour.

The post What Happened With Taylor Swift? Vienna Concert Cancelation Explained appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walzs debut ad as the Democratic ticket  titled Determination  was released Wednesday and targets Latino voters, emphasize Harris' own background as the child of immigrants.

The minute-long video showed features photos and clips of the vice president, including as a child, sharing the story of how Harris went from working in McDonalds to prosecutor, state Attorney General, U.S. Senator, and our Vice President  in only one generation. Harris' mother is originally from India while her father was born in Jamaica.

In a press release, the Harris-Walz campaign explained that the ad is part of a historic, two-week, seven-figure paid media blitz targeting Latino voters." It is scheduled to run in both English and Spanish in battleground states.

As the daughter of an immigrant mother, like our community, Vice President Harris knows the power of determination, Harris-Walz campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz said in a statement. Vice President Harris will use that same determination to beat Donald Trump, who is proudly running on an anti-Latino platform that demonizes immigrants, raises costs, and would make our communities less safe.
Mitch Landrieu, co-chair of Vice President Harriss presidential campaign, slammed former President Trumps decision to elevate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) to his running mate, saying in a Thursday interview the senator is not ready for office.

The fact of the matter is, Donald Trumps character is right where it needs to be, Landrieu said on MSNBCs Morning Joe. And people can never forget of all the things that have happened to him and whether or not hes fit for office, he also has a vice-presidential candidate thats not right, hes not ready, and hes, hes not real.

So, I put Tim Walz and Kamala Harris against those two guys any day of the week, he added.

Landrieu also took aim at the Trump campaigns messaging since President Biden withdrew from the race and later endorsed Harris, suggesting the former president is having trouble targeting Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D)  who she tapped as her vice presidential pick earlier this week.

Hes still unfit for the presidency, and he is really grabbing for straws right now and trying to find a way to make Kamala Harris and Tim Walz look bad, but theyre having a hard time doing it, he said.

The Harris campaign has gone on the offensive against Trump and his running mate, calling them weird. Vance has faced scrutiny in the weeks since joining the Republican ticket, especially since his previous comments about childless cat ladies resurfaced.

Some Republicans have even questioned the former presidents decision to select Vance as his running mate, with the Harris campaign suggesting Trumps team has buyers remorse over the choice.

The Ohio senator has defended himself amid the criticism and slammed Harris since she became the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, saying the vice president is a million times worse than Biden.

Vance trolled Harris as he approached Air Force Two to check out the plane after both he and the vice president landed at the same airport Wednesday in Wisconsin. The Harris campaign responded by calling him weird and by posting an edit of his plane arriving on TikTok.

I figured that I would come by and get a good look at the plane because hopefully its going to be my plane in a few months, Vance said in front of Air Force Two. I also thought you guys may get lonely, because the VP doesnt answer questions from reporters.

Luke Schroeder, a campaign spokesperson for Vance, took aim at Harris over border security and Walz over his military record when reached for comment by The Hill.

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are weak, failed, and dangerously liberal. Harris is responsible for the worst border crisis in modern history and the skyrocketing inflation thats crushing American workers and families. Walz is a far left radical who abandoned his military unit before they deployed to Iraq so he could launch his own political career. President Trump and Senator Vance are ready on day one to deliver peace and prosperity for the American people, Schroeder said in a statement.

The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.

Updated at 1:42 pm.

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CANBERRA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Australia's national science agency has called on citizens to record koala sightings to help build the most accurate national population count of the iconic marsupial.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) on Thursday encouraged Australians across the country to actively take part in koala conservation by recording sightings on the Koala Spotter smartphone app.

The koala was listed as endangered by the federal government in the east coast states of New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland as well as the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in 2022 due to the impacts of habitat loss from land clearing and mining, disease and the growing frequency of droughts and bushfires.

In September 2022 the government committed 10 million Australian dollars (6.5 million U.S. dollars) in funding over four years for the National Koala Monitoring Program (NKMP), a collaborative program led by the CSIRO aiming to build an accurate estimate of national koala numbers to aid recovery and management efforts.

Andrew Hoskins, a CSIRO Quantitative Biologist, said on Thursday that a range of technologies and methods are needed to count koalas, calling for citizen scientists to help deliver the most precise population estimate to date.

"To count the species, scientists have been using thermal drones to spot koalas from above, deploying acoustic recorders in the field and detection dogs, conducting scat analysis, while also carrying out systematic visual surveys and data integration from previous and historic sources," he said in a media release.

"We need as many different eyes as possible to help paint the most accurate picture of koala numbers and distribution across the country."

The latest NKMP report, which was released in March, estimated that there are between 224,000 and 524,000 koalas in Australia. It will deliver its next estimate in March 2025.

It estimated that there are between 95,000 and 238,000 koalas in Queensland, NSW and the ACT and between 129,000 and 286,000 individuals in South Australia and Victoria.

Koalas are not native to Western Australia, the island state of Tasmania or the Northern Territory. 
The Harris campaign argued in a memo Thursday that union workers would help drive the Democratic tickets success in November ahead of a meeting in Detroit with United Auto Workers (UAW) members.

Vice President Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), were set to meet Thursday afternoon with UAW members for their second campaign stop in as many days in the crucial battleground state of Michigan.

In a memo obtained first by The Hill, the Harris campaign highlighted the duos record of support for organized labor and asserted that the backing of major unions would be especially beneficial in a fractured media environment.

The Trump-Vance record of attacking and undermining unions at every turn is toxic to working families, Harris campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez wrote in a memo. Vice President Harris and Governor Walz have spent their entire career delivering for unions and American workers, and now the nations leading unions are putting the full strength of their organizing prowess along with hundreds of millions of dollars to send them to the White House and defeat Trumps anti-worker agenda.

Chavez Rodriguez noted that while unions have historically played a pivotal role in blue wall states like Michigan and Pennsylvania, they are just as important in Sun Belt states like Nevada and Arizona.

In a fragmented media environment, union leadership is uniquely effective at breaking through to their members and are one of the most trusted institutions among their members, she wrote. There are 2.7 million union members in the battleground states. That means something when roughly 45,000 votes in key states decided the election four years ago.

She added that the campaign and organized labor groups would combine to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to reach and turn out union voters this November.

The memo also highlighted Harriss record of supporting unions, citing her work as attorney general and in the Senate, where she walked the picket line in 2019 with striking UAW and McDonalds workers in Nevada.

Chavez Rodriguez also highlighted that Walz, a former teacher, was a union member as part of the National Education Association and has signed pro-worker legislation as governor.

Harris has earned the support of several major organized labor groups since she replaced President Biden atop the Democratic ticket, including the UAW. Harris has signaled she will carry on with much of the same labor policies as Biden, who often touted himself as the most pro-union president in history.

Former President Trump has repeatedly argued that union members will back his campaign even as he spars with union leadership, most notably UAW President Shawn Fain.

Trumps allies have argued that peeling off even some of Bidens support among organized labor could make a difference in what is expected to be a close election. The former president lost union members by 14 percentage points in 2020 against Biden.

Teamsters President Sean OBrien spoke at the Republican National Convention after Trump met with the group earlier this year to court an endorsement. The Teamsters union has not formally endorsed a candidate in the presidential race.

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As Vice President Kamala Harris and her newly-minted running mate Tim Walz embark on their late summer swing-state circuit, their campaign is setting up infrastructure and testing messages that they think can appeal to rural voters and shave away the GOP's statewide margins across the Midwest and Rust Belt.

According to a strategy memo sent out Wednesday afternoon, Walz, who grew up in a small Nebraska town and represented a red-tinted rural House district in Minnesota, will be the face of this new effort.

"He is a historically popular leader who consistently outperformed national Democrats in his House district, including in counties that have supported Trump, offering a blueprint for how to cut margins in rural areas across the country," the memo states. "In Wisconsin specifically, many voters we need to reach already know him, since roughly 400,000 Wisconsinites see him every day on local television coming in from Minnesota."

Democrats appear conscious of their limitations in rural areas. Rural voters have broken for Republicans for many decades now, and urban voters for Democrats, with the divide widening more with each election cycle. A Pew Research Center analysis of the 2022 elections found that 69% of rural voters cast ballots for GOP candidates and only 29% for Democrats.

That same election cycle, Democrats lost several key rural House seats they had held for years, including Wisconsin's 3rd District, which runs up the state's western border. In 2018, Walz left his own rural congressional seat in Minnesota to run for governor; a Republican won the election to replace him. In his 2022 re-election bid, Walz roughly matched Biden's 2020 performance statewide and in Minnesota's rural counties, albeit while battling a relatively moderate Republican opponent who did not join his colleagues in some of their more inflammatory statements and positions. After winning three of Iowa's four House seats in 2018, Democrats have been pushed out of all federal and statewide offices in a state that voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic primary and general election, the latter by a nearly 10-point margin.

Obama's 2008 campaign, the most decisive electoral college victory for a Democratic candidate since 1996, won in part by rebuilding Democratic strength in rural areas and outperforming Sen. John Kerry's 2004 showing. Although Obama was never going to win rural America outright, his improvements there paved the way for urban and suburban voters to tip statewide elections and some House elections in favor of Democratic candidates.

In a sign that they are seeking to emulate parts of Obama's strategy, the Harris campaign has hired David Plouffe, the former president's 2008 campaign manager, as a top advisor.

"We have invested in campaign infrastructure across Wisconsin and are competing everywhere because we know we need to narrow the margins in rural areas to win," the Harris-Walz campaign memo states. "Our campaign will continue to go everywhere, and Governor Walz will be a key messenger in these rural areas where were focused on limiting Republicans margins," it said later, referring to Pennsylvania.

It's an apparent contrast to some past Democratic campaigns, which relied on turning out urban voters or converting as many voters as possible in suburban areas, which are often tightly contested, rather than setting foot into more inhospitable territory. Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign, for example, lost all three blue-wall states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin that Biden recaptured in 2020, in part by trimming Trump's margins in Republican counties.

The Harris campaign believes they've identified the issues they need to pick up rural voters.

"We are campaigning on the issues that matter to voters in these areas, including lowering health care costs, protecting abortion access, and strengthening local infrastructure," the memo states. "Democrats have a track record of performing well in critical rural counties like Iowa, Sauk, and Green [in Wisconsin] in recent elections  winning all three in 2020  and our massive coordinated campaign is poised to build on that energy in the lead-up to November."
Kamala Harriss campaign has tweaked information about Tim Walzs military record on its website after questions were raised about her running mates career with the US Army National Guard.

The website switched language describing Walz as a retired command sergeant major to rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major, Politico reported.

The Independent emailed a spokesperson for the Harris campaign for comment.

Walz, who Harris announced as her running mate on Tuesday, enlisted in the National Guard at 17 and served for 24 years, the website states. Throughout his life, he also served as a high school geography teacher and football coach before being elected to the US House of Representatives in 2006.

In 2018, Walz became Minnesotas governor. He was reelected in 2022.

The campaign website for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz reportedly changed a description of Walzs military service this week (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Republican opponent JD Vance has claimed that Walz lied about his military record by referring to himself as a retired command sergeant major and accused him of stolen valor.

Walz served as a command sergeant major but retired as a master sergeant for benefits purposes because he hadnt completed the required coursework, according to said Army Lt. Col. Kristen Auge, the Minnesota Guards public affairs officer.

When the US Marine Corps asked me to go to Iraq to serve my country, I did it, Vance said during a rally this week. When Timz Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, he dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him. I think thats shameful.

At a campaign rally this week for Walz and Harris, Walz referred to Vance as creepy and weird.

Vance wasnt the only person this week to dispute Walzs military service record. The Minnesota National Guard told Just The News that Walz did not hold the rank of command sergeant major when he retired.

A section of the Minnesota governors website still states he retired command sergeant major.

According to Army records, Walzs nearly two and a half decades in the Minnesota Guard began at age 17 and ended with him holding the rank of Command Sergeant Major, the highest possible rank for an enlisted soldier.

Like most National Guard soldiers, he was frequently deployed in response to national disasters, but he also was sent overseas to Italy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the US mission to Afghanistan that toppled the Taliban in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

According to military records, Walz officially retired from the Minnesota National Guard in May 2005, two months before his unit received word that it would be deployed, four months before deployment preparations began and ten months before the unit deployed.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to reproductive rights supporters on June 24, 2024, the second anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. Photo by Danielle J. Brown.

Advocates from both sides of the abortion debate say Vice President Kamala Harris sudden emergence as the Democratic presidential nominee has breathed new life into what has been a low-key battle for reproductive freedom in Maryland.

The question is whether voters will feel the same on Election Day.

The whole world has changed. Even in Maryland, where were safe and were working hard to get the amendment, the excitement level is like on steroids. Its like everybody came to life, said Sharon Blugis, deputy director of Reproductive Justice Maryland.

The amendment she is referring to is a Maryland ballot initiative to enshrine reproductive freedom in the state constitution. While it is a high-profile fight in other states, advocates and political analysts consider Maryland a safe bet for reproductive rights, with a majority of voters expected to approve the measure protecting the right to an abortion in the state.

Despite the long odds, abortion opponents have been fighting the proposal. And they say Harriss nomination intensifies their effort to combat the ballot referendum.

I think weve seen a renewed activism on this ballot question, said Jeffrey Trimbath, president of the Maryland Family Institute, which is against abortion. We think thats going to motivate folks to get more engaged on the other side of this question.

On July 16, Secretary of State Susan Lee certified the ballot language for the Right to Reproductive Freedom referendum on the Nov. 5 ballot:

The proposed amendment confirms an individuals fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including but not limited to the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue or end the individuals pregnancy, and provides the State may not, directly or indirectly, deny, burden or abridge the right unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means.

Voters will choose between For the Constitutional Amendment, Against the Constitutional Amendment, or leave the question blank.

Even though she just launched her campaign for president, Harris has been a vocal supporter of reproductive freedom since well before her presidential campaign began.

In June, Harris visited Ritchie Coliseum at the University of Maryland, College Park, on the two-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision that overturned federal abortion protections under Roe v. Wade.

At the time, President Joe Biden was still the presumptive Democratic nominee for president and Harris was his running mate. One of her primary roles in the campaign was to assure Democratic voters that the Biden-Harris ticket supported restoring abortion protections granted under Roe.

This is a fight for freedom. The fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not having her government tell her what to do, Harris said at the Ritchie Coliseum event.

She reiterated those sentiments again Tuesday evening, when she introduced her own running-mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), touting him as the first governor to protect abortion rights in his state following the Dobbs decision. In 2023, Walz signed legislation to create a statutory right to reproductive freedom in Minnesota, including ones fundamental right to continue the pregnancy and give birth, or obtain an abortion.

Despite Harris prominence on the issue, Jacob Rubashkin, deputy editor for Inside Elections, is skeptical that her presence as the presidential nominee will have a significant impact on the outcome of Marylands ballot initiative.

Im not sure that Harris at the top of the ticket changes the outlook in any significant way for this ballot measure in Maryland  It was always going to outperform the Democratic ticket. I think there are voters who are going to vote Republican but also support this ballot measure, he said.

A 2022 poll from the Baltimore Sun, in partnership with the University of Baltimore, reported that 71% of voters at the time would be supportive of changing the state constitution to guarantee a right to abortion.

For pro-abortion access advocates like Blugis, the Harris campaigns full-throated support of reproductive freedom is preferable to Biden, who was less engaged with the issue when he was the candidate.

Biden was OK  I think he was a little uncomfortable about the word abortion, Blugis said.

I think shes (Harris) the one from Bidens administration that has spoken out about this the most. You hear a full-throated abortion rights for people, full bodily autonomy,' Blugis said. She understands it in a way only another woman, and particularly a woman of color, understands what this means.

Blugis said that as soon as Harris launched her presidency, Reproductive Justice Maryland saw in increase in people calling in interested in volunteering opportunities to push the ballot initiative.

Our phones are ringing off the hook. People are going to our info email: We want to volunteer,' she said. Its good problem to have, but my heads about to explode.

Even before she was the presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris made reproductive rights a focus of the Democratic campaign. Photo by Danielle J. Brown

Trimbath agrees that Harris has made a much stronger vocal commitment to restoring abortion protections under Roe v. Wade than Biden. But he believes there are some pro-reproductive rights voters who may be uncomfortable with the lack of restrictions that the ballot initiative could have on abortions in the state, and they might be swayed to vote against the referendum.

Biden has the legacy of being seen as a more moderate Democrat, at least while he was in the Senate. That changed, of course, the closer he got to the White House  Kamala Harris has never really had that moderation when it comes to this issue, he said.

Trimbath said that as Election Day gets closer, anti-abortion organizations will increase messaging efforts against the ballot referendum in hopes of capturing undecided voters.

Rubaskin said its not clear whether Harriss candidacy will sway undecided voters one way or another.

An April poll from Goucher College, in partnership with the Baltimore Banner, said 60% of Maryland voters said a candidates position on abortion would be a major factor in determining their vote during the primaries. Among Democrats surveyed, 70% said abortion would be a major factor in the primary, compared to 47% of Republicans and independent voters.

The jury is still out on undecided voters, low information voters, less engaged voters, as to whether this is something thats going to push them to the polls in a way they werent going to prior to the switch, Rubashkin said.

That said, Rubashkin noted that abortion is a winning ticket item for Democrats, and there was a there was a lack of enthusiasm for the election prior to Biden bowing out of the race.

Data and polling and election results we have indicate that abortion is one of the best, if not, the best issue for Democrats in elections in this current moment, he said.

What that means  is that Democrats have gone from their standard bearer and their leader of the party being someone who did not like talking about abortion and could not talk about abortion access with any particular fluency in Joe Biden, he said, to a candidate that has made it one of her top priorities to talk about abortion rights and reproductive health care.

And that in my mind is a significant shift, he said.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Pro-Palestinian protestors are pressing Vice President Kamala Harris for a meeting. The group representing hundreds of thousands of uncommitted voters is hoping for a more compassionate foreign policy in Gaza in exchange for their support.

In a video posted to X, Layla Elabed who leads the Uncommitted National Movement expressed hope a Harris administration could be a fresh start. She says she spoke with the VP ahead of a campaign rally in Michigan.

I said Michigan voters right now want a way to support you, but we cant do that without a policy change that saves lives, said Elabed.

During the speech, Harris patience appeared to run thin, she faced off against pro-Palestinian protestors, who repeatedly interrupted her speech.

You know what if you want Donald Trump to win say that otherwise Im speaking, she said.

Edward Ahmed Mitchell with CAIR Action, the largest Muslim advocacy group in the country criticized Harris tone towards protestors.

You can tell she was frustrated by being interrupted but I hope the vice president understands that those protestors are frustrated by seeing video footage of men women and children being killed every single day, he said.

The death toll in Gaza is nearing 40,000.

Mitchell is encouraging her to engage with all groups advocating on behalf of Palestinians. He notes Harriss rhetoric on the matter has shifted.

George Washington University political analyst Todd Belt says especially in battleground states like Michigan, Harris cant afford to ignore any sector of the Democratic base.

She needs every vote she can get. Shes surging in the national polls so of course we go state by state and we know in 2016 it was decided by 73,000 votes and 2020 41,000 votes says Belt.

Belt says like President Joe Biden, who faced his fair share of antiwar protests, Harris must walk a delicate line ahead of the election.

Former President Donald Trump continues to accuse Democrats of being anti-Israel.

During a campaign press conference at Mar-a-Lago Thursday, Trump told reporters Jewish Americans or anyone who loves Israel but votes for Harris, should have their head examined.

In a statement the Harris campaign said, The Vice President has been clear: she will always work to ensure Israel is able to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups. The Vice President is focused on securing the ceasefire and hostage deal currently on the table.

The Vice Presidents office has also outright rejected the Uncommitted National Committees call to pause weapons transfers to Israel.

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(Bloomberg) -- Vice President Kamala Harris doesnt support halting arms shipments to Israel as a way to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus administration over the war in Gaza, a top aide to the Democratic presidential challenger said on Thursday.

Most Read from Bloomberg

She does not support an arms embargo on Israel, Philip Gordon, Harris national security advisor, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. She will continue to work to protect civilians in Gaza and to uphold international humanitarian law.

Activists and progressive Democrats have tried to pressure Harris into taking a more assertive stance than President Joe Biden on the war now that Biden has abandoned his reelection effort and Harris is the Democratic presidential nominee.

Some see an opportunity to influence a new Democratic leader after Biden refused to stop weapons shipments to Israel as the war continued  with the exception of blocking one order of 2,000-pound bombs in an effort to shape Israels military campaign in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

At a news conference Thursday at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, Republican nominee Donald Trump repeated his assertion that Harris has been very, very bad to Israel, and shes been very bad to Jewish people. Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, is Jewish.

But while Harris has occasionally used more forceful-sounding rhetoric than Biden on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the vice president hasnt deviated from the administrations broader effort to support Israel against Hamas, which started the war with an attack on Oct. 7 that killed some 1,200 Israelis. Israels subsequent offensive has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to health officials in the territory run by Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the US and European Union.

At a campaign rally on Thursday in Detroit, Michigan, Harris was heckled by a group who chanted: Kamala, Kamala, you cant hide  we wont vote for genocide. Michigan is the US state with the highest percentage of Arab-Americans, many of whom hold deep anger over the administrations Gaza policy.

Harris put down the hecklers forcefully.

You know what, if you want Donald Trump to win, then say that  otherwise, Im speaking, she said, to loud applause.

--With assistance from Akayla Gardner and Hadriana Lowenkron.

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Many on the left were elated when Vice President Kamala Harris announced on Tuesday that she had selected Tim Walz as her running mate, with progressives citing the Minnesota governors support for strong labor protections, climate solutions, and a cease-fire in Gaza. Yet if Israel pulls the United States into a war in the Middle East, the Democrats are almost certain to lose the election regardless of whom Harris selected.

Voters are tired of unnecessary wars. In November, Quinnipiac found that 84 percent of Americans feared being dragged into war in the Middle East. According to a new poll by the Chicago Council, a majority opposes sending U.S. troops to defend Israel. Yet there is a real danger of that happening, given the Biden administrations unrelenting support for Netanyahus aggression toward Palestinians, Lebanon, and Iran. And Harris risks being branded a warmonger by association, while Trump portrays himself as the dealmaker who started no new wars during his term.

If the U.S. is at war in the Middle East, Harris may find herself in a similar position to Hillary Clinton, whose foreign policy hawkishness may have contributed to her loss in 2016. But Harris has a chance to chart a different path with the war-weary public. While Clintons pugnacious image reflected her core beliefs, Harris could choose to make clear that shes opposed to unnecessary wars. She could show that she will not send U.S. soldiers to die so that Netanyahu can stay in power, thereby siding with the 72 percent of Israelis who want him to step down. And she could demonstrate that she will no longer subsidize a military that is intentionally killing women and children, according to Israel Defense Forces whistleblowers.

While Americans are distracted by the veepstakes, the Middle East is facing an escalation of violence after Israeli attacks killed Hezbollah military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran within 12 hours last week. In a televised speech on Tuesday, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah said that Netanyahu was seeking a broader war yet remained dependent on the U.S. to conduct it. Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that because the Israeli attack occurred on Iranian soil, avenging the death of Haniyeh was Tehrans duty. Throughout Israels war in Gaza, Hezbollah and Iran had repeatedly avoided escalation, even in the face of provocations from Israel. But the assassinations of Haniyeh and Shukr appear to have finally pushed them too far.

Government officials across the Middle East have shuttled between capitals, hoping to prevent the worst. In a rare move, Jordan, a close U.S. partner, sent its foreign minister to Tehran to call for restraint, but newly inaugurated Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday called Israels attack a major mistake that would not go unanswered. Qatar, another U.S. partner, spoke with officials in the U.S., Egypt, and Jordan about how to de-escalate. According to a statement from Jordans Foreign Ministry, Jordanian Prime Minister Ayman Safadi and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani agreed that the first step would be to end Israeli violence against Gaza. If Israel wished to defuse tensions, agreeing to a cease-fire would clearly do so.

Israel instead dropped more bombs on Gaza, including on several United Nations Relief and Works Agency schools serving as temporary shelters, in what the U.N. described as yet another violation of international humanitarian law: Israel bombed 17 UNRWA schools in the month of July. Israeli Finance Minister and right-wing extremist Bezalel Smotrich stated on Monday his desire to starve the two million people trapped inside Gaza to death. Israel then closed the Kerem Shalom border crossing, the only entry into southern Gaza. And Israels premier human rights organization, Btselem, released a shocking report on the systematic rape and torture of Palestinians detained by Israel.

Many Americans are enraged by Bidens blind support for Netanyahu and the war crimes that Israel is committing against Palestinians in Gaza. For those who oppose sending billions of dollars and weapons to Israel every year, Harriss selection of Walz appeared preferable to some of the other contenders. Progressives dreaded the possibility of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who had condemned college students for protesting in support of Palestine, comparing them to the KKK. Some commentators opined that Shapiro may have been the first American politician to pay a price for being seen as too pro-Israel. But many advocates for Palestine remain skeptical that Harris and Walz, even though theyve expressed more empathy for Palestinians than Biden has, will significantly alter U.S. policy.

Unless Harris signals clearly that she will no longer bankroll Israeli aggression against Palestinians and its regional neighbors, Netanyahu will continue to push the region toward war. He has been trying to provoke Hezbollah for months. Since October, Israel has launched 83 percent of all munitions across the Israeli-Lebanese border, with Hezbollah accounting for the other 17 percent. Israels attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus in April prompted a carefully choreographed Iranian response that did little damage. By killing Shukr and Haniyeh, Netanyahu appears to be doing everything possible to provoke a large-scale retaliation.

If Hezbollah and Iran oblige Netanyahu, Bidens past decisions suggest that he could commit U.S. troops on Israels behalf; the U.S. is already moving additional military assets into the region. U.S. troops on the ground would give Netanyahu exactly what he wants: America fighting a war to keep him in power, and Trump back in the White House. So if Harris and the Democrats want to win in November, they need to convince Biden to tell Netanyahu that the U.S. will not fight this war for himand to put all additional security assistance on hold until the prime minister agrees to a full cease-fire in Gaza.
BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A mainland spokesperson on Thursday slammed Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities for deliberately confusing the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots with a very small number of diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists in an attempt to slander the mainland.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in response to a media inquiry about the DPP's distorted narratives on mainland authorities' recent launch of website sections detailing legal penalties for "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and providing public tip-off channels.

The relevant information is available on the websites of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and the Ministry of Public Security.

Zhu said that compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait strongly support such measures to punish those seeking "Taiwan independence."

Compatriots from across the Strait also understand that the punishment is specifically targeted at the few diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists and their criminal acts of secession, and does not involve the majority of Taiwan compatriots, Zhu added. 
Vice President Kamala Harris tackled the angst within her own party over the conflict in Gaza head-on at a campaign rally in Detroit Wednesday night, moving quickly to shut down protests interrupting her event.

Because we believe in democracy, everyones voice matters, but I am speaking now, she said as a group of about eight women interrupted the event with pro-Palestinian messages.

As the shouting continued, Harris grew blunter, saying, If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, Im speaking.

The episode highlights how Harris is navigating the complex dynamics of the Israel-Hamas war on both the diplomatic level and a political one as she now leads the Democratic ticket.

The conflict in Gaza has proven to be a key issue for progressive and young voters as well as Arab American and Muslim communities. That includes those in the critical battleground state of Michigan, which is home to significant Arab American and Muslim communities including in cities like Dearborn.

Backstage in Detroit Wednesday, Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, briefly met in a photo line with the two leaders of the Uncommitted National Movement, an effort aimed at mobilizing voters during the Democratic primaries to show discontent with President Joe Bidens handling of the conflict in Gaza.

Layla Elabed and Abbas Alawieh, the co-founders of the group, expressed to Harris and Walz their concerns about the US supplying weapons to Israel and the plight of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, according to a statement from the group.

The VP was receptive. I thanked her for the attention her staff is giving to our request for a meeting about an arms embargo. She thanked me for being there and for my work, Alawieh, who is an uncommitted delegate to the Democratic National Convention, told CNN. It feels fruitful; were hopeful that she will engage substantively with our request for an arms embargo that stops sending bombs to kill people we love.

While the group is calling for a meeting, a source familiar with the conversation said Harris did not express openness to an arms embargo when she spoke with the groups leaders on Wednesday.

@VP has been clear: she will always ensure Israel is able to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups, Harris national security adviser Phil Gordon posted on X Thursday. She does not support an arms embargo on Israel. She will continue to work to protect civilians in Gaza and to uphold international humanitarian law.

A Harris campaign spokesperson said in the brief encounter that the vice president reaffirmed that her campaign will continue to engage with Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian community members about the war in Gaza.

The Vice President has been clear: she will always work to ensure Israel is able to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups, the spokesperson said. The Vice President is focused on securing the ceasefire and hostage deal currently on the table.

As she has said, it is time for this war to end in a way where: Israel is secure, hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinian civilians ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, freedom, and self-determination, the spokesperson added.

Like Biden, Harris is confronting a political and diplomatic tightrope not entirely in her control. While the White House holds out hope for a hostage and ceasefire deal that would bring an end to fighting in Gaza and lower regional temperatures, the power to reach such an agreement rests with Hamas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  neither of whom has given final sign-off.

American officials have grown frustrated that progress toward a deal appears stalled, despite what they say are only narrow differences between the two sides on paper. The recent assassination of a top Hamas leader in Tehran, believed to be conducted by the Israelis, further hampered progress toward an agreement.

That has left the US with diminishing options for bringing the humanitarian crisis to an end, despite the potential political fallout for Harris in November.

Pro-Palestinian protesters have pressed for the United States to wield pressure on Israel using arms sales and other assistance as leverage  decisions that, for now, are not Harris to make. While Biden has said he would withhold some weapons shipments to Israel, he has so far stopped short of major steps that would cut off American assistance to its ally.

Shes Joe Bidens vice president and right now, national security is being run out of the White House, said Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell, who attended Harris rally in Detroit on Wednesday and who has been outspoken about the necessity of addressing the Gaza issue head-on in her state.

I think they want to see and understand that she cares, and what the Middle East strategy is going to be. And she is walking a very delicate line there. But I do believe that her understanding of this community and reach-out is critical, Dingell told Kasie Hunt on CNN This Morning.

Biden has included Harris from the beginning in his dealings with Netanyahu, and she was present this week in the White House Situation Room for a meeting of top national security officials to discuss escalating Middle East tensions.

In substance, her positions have not been at odds with Bidens. Behind the scenes, however, she has advocated for a more empathetic approach to the Palestinians and in public has sometimes struck a more forceful tone than Biden when discussing the situation in Gaza.

We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering, and I will not be silent, she said last month after meeting Netanyahu in Washington.

When she briefly spoke with Harris on Wednesday, Elabed broke down in tears and said, Michigan voters want to support you, but we need a policy that will save lives in Gaza right now. I meet with community members every day in Michigan who are losing tens and hundreds of family members in Gaza. Right now, we need an arms embargo.

The uncommitted movement has requested a meeting with Harris about their policy demands, as well as speaking time at the Democratic National Convention and language in the party platform supportive of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo on Israel.

The Listen to Michigan campaign launched an effort to urge Democrats to vote uncommitted in the states Democratic presidential primary. The effort mobilized more than 100,0000 people to cast uncommitted votes and won more than 57% of the vote in Dearborn, home to large Arab American and Muslim communities, to Bidens 40%.

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud told CNN last week that he and other leaders in the Uncommitted movement were eager to hear more from Harris and cautiously optimistic with her at the top of the Democratic ticket.

Im hopeful that Vice President Harris will chart a new course, Hammoud said. I think if shes able to chart a new course, there can be a meaningful conversation about what happened to the broader uncommitted movement come November.

Assad Turfe, the chief deputy county executive of Wayne County who supported the uncommitted movement during Bidens candidacy, told CNN Thursday he is now endorsing Harris, saying she represents the true spirit of our nation and values.

As someone who has been closely monitoring the war in Gaza, I firmly believe we need a permanent ceasefire now. When making decisions, I rely on the information available, and right now, Vice President Harris gives us the best chance of achieving peace in that region moving forward, Turfe said in a statement to CNN.

Moreover, she provides communities of color with the best opportunities for creating success here in America.

CNNs Ali Main contributed to this report.

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Vice President Harris on Wednesday was interrupted at a campaign rally by individuals protesting the war in Gaza for the first time since she launched her presidential campaign.

Demonstrators in the crowd at Harriss Detroit rally repeatedly shouted out as the vice president spoke to an airplane hangar packed with supporters, Kamala, Kamala you cant Hide, we wont vote for genocide. The crowd booed and drowned out the protesters with chants of Kamala.

Im here because we believe in democracy. Everyones voice matters, but I am speaking now. I am speaking now, Harris said to applause.

As protesters continued to interrupt, Harris delivered a more blunt warning.

You know what, if you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, Im speaking, she said.

Michigan is home to a particularly high Arab American population, especially in the Detroit suburbs. Some Democrats have worried the Biden administrations handling of the war in Gaza could cost them votes in the state in November.

Demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza had for months followed President Biden on the campaign trail, carrying signs and shouting out in the middle of his speeches with chants such as blood on your hands, genocide Joe and cease-fire now.

The war in Gaza has divided some Democrats dating back to October, when Hamas killed roughly 1,200 Israelis and took more than 200 hostage. Israel has responded with a military campaign in Gaza that has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians.

Harris has been aligned with Biden in vowing ironclad support for Israel, and she has stressed that the way Israel carries out its war against Hamas matters and that more needs to be done to protect civilians in Gaza.

Ive said it many times, but it bears repeating: Israel has a right to defend itself, but how it does so matters, Harris said following a meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month.

What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating, Harris added. The images of dead children and desperate hungry people fleeing for safety, sometimes displaced for the second, third or fourth time. We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering, and I will not be silent.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walzs addition to the Democratic ticket is stoking optimism among critics of the Biden administrations handling of Israels war in Gaza, but without alienating pro-Israel supporters.

When it comes to perhaps the partys trickiest foreign policy issue, Walz is supported by a number of pro-Israel groups opposed to conditioning any U.S. aid to Israel, but has also raised hopes from groups demanding the U.S. take a harder line toward Israel to end the war.

Adding Walz to the ticket gives Harris a seasoned running mate with some real anti-war credentials, wrote Daniel Larison, a columnist for the online magazine of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.

How much Walz will influence Harriss own foreign policy views remains to be seen, but on many of the important foreign policy issues of the last two decades Walz has been on the side of diplomacy rather than war.

Walz has spoken favorably about the uncommitted movement, the project born out of opposition to President Bidens handling of Israels war against Hamas.

These folks are asking for a change in course. Theyre asking for more pressure to be put on [Israel], Walz said of the uncommitted movement in an interview with MPR News in March.

Nearly 400,000 people voted uncommitted in Democratic primaries between January and March, with more than 100,000 uncommitted voters in Michigan, a key swing state.

In Minnesota, about 46,000 people voted uncommitted during the Democratic primary. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won Minnesota against Donald Trump by about 43,000 votes, underscoring the importance of every vote.

Elianne Farhat, senior adviser to Uncommitted and executive director of Take Action Minnesota, described Walz as having a remarkable ability to evolve as a public leader and challenged him to take a harder stance on Israel.

As Harris vice presidential pick, its crucial he continues this evolution by supporting an arms embargo on Israels war and occupation against Palestinians in an effort to unite our party to defeat authoritarianism in the fall, Farhat said in a statement.

Walz is seen as having expressed more sympathy for the plight of Palestinian civilians than Biden, but he also has expressed support for Israels right to defend itself. While in Congress, Walz voted for U.S. economic and military assistance to Israel and expanding the strategic partnership.

In a way his foreign policy views have been a little bit more anti-war than other Democrats, said Lama El Baz, research assistant for public opinion and U.S. foreign policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

I think the choice of Walz definitely does appeal more to a younger, more pro-Palestinian crowd.

Harris picked Walz over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who was seen as a finalist for the position. Shapiro had faced opposition from some on the left for his own criticisms of pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

As a candidate for the House in the 2006 midterms, Walz won over a Republican district with a campaign critical of the U.S. war in Iraq. He cited his 24-year career in the Army National Guard and time spent as a teacher  where he did a stint abroad in China at the time of the Tiananmen Square massacre  as informing his views of standing up for human rights while also keeping the U.S. engaged in the world.

In Congress, he voted to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq; sought to end U.S. assistance for Saudi Arabias war in Yemen; and opposed unilateral strikes against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He supported the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran, which Trump withdrew the U.S. from in 2018.

Now that she is atop the presidential ticket, Vice President Kamala Harris must define her own approach to the world. The choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate might help, wrote Mark Hannah, a senior fellow at the Institute for Global Affairs, and Rachel Rizzo, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Councils Europe Center, in an essay for Foreign Policy.

Walz may help Harris reinvest in diplomacy and abandon Americas reflex for world-saving military interventionism.

Walz is seen as having appeal on these issues to young voters and voters of color, two key demographic that helped push Biden over the finish line in 2020 in battleground states, El Baz said.

I think Harris and Walz are fighting on two fronts. There are the more centrist people, on-the-fence on who to vote for, whos party lines are a little blurred these days, and uncommitted Arab-American, Muslim-American voters in these key battleground states.

While Walz appears to have an appeal for a more empathetic U.S. policy toward Palestinians, his record in Congress  and his support as governor on other key policy issues like Ukraine and Taiwan  demonstrate a balance between holding back American troop engagement and deepening engagement with countries on the front lines of aggression.

At a time when Republicans are increasingly opposed to sending U.S. economic and military aid to Ukraine, Walz as governor has expressed solidarity with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and deepened economic ties between Minnesota and Ukraine.

In February, Walz signed a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation between Minnesota and Ukraines Chernihiv Oblast. Minnesotas 5th District, represented by Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, is home to production of weapons manufacturers that send munitions to Ukraine.

On Taiwan, the democratic, self-governing island that China claims as its own, Walz has encouraged increased trade and investment between his state and Taipei. Theres generally bipartisan backing for the U.S. to express strong support for Taiwan in the face of Chinese aggression, but Trump is increasingly staking out a position of criticizing Taipei as too dependent on U.S. security.

When it comes to Walz, the lines are a bit blurred for his anti-war and anti-intervention because he does still support sending economic and military aid, to Israel in particular, while still opposing sending troops, El Baz said.

And while foreign policy is not usually a priority motivator for voters, El Baz said younger voters and voters of color are increasingly focused on what Americas role in the world should be.

Were seeing young Americans are less likely to say that the United States should play an active role in world affairs, which, at first glance, thats kind of shocking. But when weve looked at other data points, weve seen that actually, they oppose sending troops in a wide range of circumstances, but at the same time, they support a lot of international agreements, she explained.

And so I think young Americans, especially, are sort of straying away from U.S. foreign policy that emphasizes military engagement and are kind of pivoting towards more diplomatic engagement internationally.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
After Harris selected Walz as running mate, a look at the 2 men who came closest to being picked

When Gov. Josh Shapiro took the stage ahead of the newly minted Democratic ticket of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday night in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he told the crowd -- made up of thousands of his constituents -- how much he enjoyed being their governor.

"I want you to know, every single day, I go to work for you," he said to loud cheers.

Shapiro, who had been informed hours earlier he would not be Harris' running mate, expressed the same sentiment in an earlier post on X after Harris announced her selection of Walz.

MORE: In Tim Walz, Harris tries to check all the boxes in a running mate: ANALYSIS

Indeed, Shapiro -- whose strong popularity in a critical swing state made him an instant front-runner to join the Harris ticket -- had concerns about leaving his role as governor, which he assumed just last year, a person familiar with the vetting process told ABC News.

The person cited Shapiro's "love" of the job and, notably, of being in an executive role, suggesting that playing second fiddle to Harris may not have been a good fit.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro delivers remarks during a bill signing event at Cheyney University, an HBCU in Cheyney, Pennsylvania, U.S., August 2, 2024. (PHOTO: REUTERS/Bastiaan Slabbers) (Bastiaan Slabbers/Reuters)

As it happens, Shapiro appeared to turn off Harris and her vetting team by inquiring too much about the specific roles he would play in an administration, according to reporting from CNN and the New York Times, an approach seen as too ambitious.

In a condensed vetting process to find Harris' running mate, in which the vice president's team looked into roughly a dozen candidates, just three ended up holding in-person meetings with Harris and her team Sunday in Washington, D.C.: Walz, Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.

MORE: How Kamala Harris decided on her running mate, Tim Walz

Kelly met with Harris for roughly an hour and "walked out of it feeling really good," a person with knowledge of his vetting process told ABC News, though Harris quickly appeared to narrow her options to Walz and Shapiro by Sunday night.

The near immediate emergence of Kelly's name as a possible running mate surprised his team, and the opportunity "fell out of the sky" for a former astronaut who had not run for elected office until 2019, the person said, adding that Kelly was "playing with house money."

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) speaks with reporters at the Capitol on July 30, 2024, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

That's not to say the senator appreciated being passed over, someone who knows him well told ABC News.

"He's a very competitive guy," said the person, who said they hadnt spoken to Kelly since the Walz selection, but spoke out of familiarity with the senator on a personal level.

"He doesn't like losing."

MORE: Election 2024 updates: Harris leads Trump among likely voters nationally: Poll

During the two-week sprint to find Harris' running mate, the final vice presidential hopefuls received praise from Democratic strategists and elected officials -- but each endured negative headlines.

Shapiro received the brunt of negative attention when progressives attacked him relentlessly for what they perceived to be a lack of empathy toward pro-Palestinian campus protestors this spring. Shapiro, who is Jewish, encouraged University of Pennsylvania officials to disband a pro-Palestinian encampment this spring, though he has also been critical of Israel, calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "one of the worst leaders of our time."

The governor was also challenged over his support for school vouchers and a nearly $300,000 settlement his administration entered into to resolve a sexual assault complaint against an ex-aide, who thereafter resigned.

After Harris selected Walz as running mate, a look at the 2 men who came closest to being picked originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Protesters appearing to support Palestine interrupted Vice President Kamala Harris campaign speech in Detroit, Michigan, Wednesday night, the second of the days campaign rallies for the Democratic presidential ticket in two crucial Blue Wall states.

Just after 7 p.m. local time, as Harris was outlining what her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, plans on enacting during a second termHe intends to surrender our fight against the climate crisis, and he intends to end the Affordable Care Acta group of protesters in the audience in front of Harris chanted, Kamala, Kamala, you cant hide. We wont vote for genocide.

Harris then deviated from her prepared remarks to address them.

Wow, Kamala Harris just destroyed a heckler pic.twitter.com/TRYwapgEr9  Acyn (@Acyn) August 8, 2024

You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, Im speaking, Harris said to applause.

Before taking the stage, Harris spoke with the co-founders of the Uncommitted National Movement, which advocated against a vote for Joe Biden in the Democratic primary due to his support for Israels war effort in Gaza, The New York Times reported. (In Michigan, the number of uncommitted voters surpassed 100,000.)

Abbas Alawieh and Layla Elabed requested a meeting with the VP to try to get her to support an arms embargo, and Harris signaled a willingness to do so, according to the publication.

Whether the protesters were affiliated with the Uncommitted National Movement is unclear.

Harris, in her first visit to Michigan since launching her presidential campaign, contrasted Trumps vision with her own.

When Im president, it will be my Day One priority to fight to bring down prices, to take on the big corporations that engage in illegal price-gouging, to take on corporate landlords that unfairly raise rents on working families, to take on Big Pharma and cap the cost of prescription drugs for all Americans, she said.

Protestors shouting about genocide in Gaza interrupt rally. At first @VP waits patiently and talks about democracy. Then she gets fed up and says this: "You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that, otherwise I'm speaking." pic.twitter.com/yCh6aL4ist  Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) August 8, 2024

Harris was joined not only by running mate Tim Walz but United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, who delivered a sharp rebuke of scab Donald Trumps campaign.

Which side are you on? Fain asked the crowd, the size of which the Harris campaign once again highlighted in social media posts. (15,000 filled the venue, according to a campaign aide.)

On one side, youve got a billionaire that serves himself and his billionaire buddies. And on the other side, weve got a strong, intelligent andIm just going to put it bluntlya badass woman who stood with us on the picket line.

Earlier in the day, the Democratic ticket stopped in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, for a rally, drawing some attendees from Walzs home state of Minnesota, just an hours car ride away.

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Less than three weeks after emerging as the de facto Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris has opened up a double-digit lead over former President Donald Trump in Miami-Dade County, according to a new poll from a top Miami Democratic consultant.

The survey, released Thursday by Democratic strategist Christian Ulvert, a top campaign adviser to several Miami-Dade candidates including Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, shows Harris notching the support of nearly 54% of Miami-Dade likely voters. Trump, a South Florida resident with an outsized business presence in the county, has just under 40% support. The polls margin of error is 4.6 percentage points.

The poll of 1,071 of likely general election voters in Miami-Dade County, conducted over the first five days of August by Plantation-based MDW Communications, is likely to be touted as a sign of improving fortunes for Democrats, who have faced an increasingly difficult political terrain in Florida in recent years. Trump carried the state in both 2016 and 2020, while the 2022 midterm elections saw Republicans win supermajorities in both chambers of the state Legislature and clinch every statewide elected office.

Gov. Ron DeSantis won reelection that year by 19 points statewide, while also carrying Miami-Dade, Floridas most populous county and a part of the state that Democrats long relied on to deliver them hefty sums of votes.

Thursdays poll found Harris winning several key voting blocs in Miami-Dade, including 55% of women and 52% of men. Among non-Cuban Hispanic voters, 58% said they plan to support Harris compared to 38% who are backing Trump. Trump still holds the lead among Cuban Americans, who have historically backed Republican candidates; 61% said they will vote for the former president, while 33% plan to support Harris, according to the poll.

While hes already widely expected to win Florida overall in November, speculation has swirled among both Republicans and Democrats about whether Trump might be able to capture Miami-Dade. A survey commissioned by Ulvert last November found Trump leading President Joe Biden by 11 percentage points in the county.

But Bidens sudden exit from the presidential race last month has upended the political playing field and given Democrats a jolt of momentum, both in key battleground states and nationwide. In a polling memo shared with reporters on Thursday, Ulvert wrote that the newfound enthusiasm has extended to Miami-Dade County.

With 90 days until Election Day, the Vice Presidents lead in the largest Hispanic majority county in the state of Florida affirms the coalition of voters who are excited to look ahead rather than go backwards, Ulvert wrote.

Yet a 14-point lead in Miami-Dade likely wouldnt be enough to put Florida in play for Harris. In 2016, then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton beat Trump in the county by about 30 percentage points  nearly 300,000 votes  but failed to win the statewide vote in Florida.

The poll still offers some positive signs for other Democrats running in Miami-Dade. In a hypothetical general election matchup between county sheriff candidates James Reyes, a Democrat, and Rosie Cordero-Stutz, a Trump-endorsed Republican, Reyes leads by 10 percentage points, according to the survey, though roughly a quarter of voters remain undecided in that race.

The poll also shows Democratic candidates leading Republicans in the races for Miami-Dade clerk of courts and comptroller, tax collector and supervisor of elections.

Theres also broad support for Amendment 4, a proposed state constitutional amendment that would guarantee abortion access before fetal viability  generally understood to be around 24 weeks of pregnancy  or if deemed medically necessary by a patients doctor. Sixty-six percent of voters surveyed said they plan to vote in favor of the measure compared to only 22% who said they will oppose it, according to the poll. The proposed amendment will need to win at least 60% of the statewide vote in November to pass.
Harris, Vance, Walz and Air Force Two share a tarmac in Eau Claire, Wisconsin: 'It's gonna be my plane in a few months'

The incumbent vice president and the man vying for the position shared a tarmac in Eau Claire Wednesday.

Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, deboarded his plane and made a beeline for Air Force Two in an attempt to confront Vice President Kamala Harris.

Harris and Vance were in western Wisconsin Wednesday, each holding dueling campaign events. Harris named Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz her running mate on Tuesday. Both Harris and Walz spoke at Wednesday's rally just north of downtown Eau Claire.

Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, arrive at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport on Wednesday in Eau Claire.

Once across the tarmac, Vance, R-Ohio, approached reporters to say he wanted to get a "good look at the plane because hopefully it's gonna be my plane in a few months." He and Harris never spoke.

"I also thought you guys might get lonely because the vice president doesn't answer questions from reporters," he added.

Vance and his supporters accuse Harris of running a "basement campaign" by avoiding media interviews.

Harris did not attend the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, did go to the convention and took questions from reporters for 35 minutes in an event that made headlines after Trump questioned when Harris began identifying as Black. He suggested that she had decided to turn Black only recently for political gain.

Harris, whose mother is Indian and father is Jamaican, said she would hold an event with NABJ at a later date.

At his campaign event in northwestern Eau Claire, Vance continued to accuse Harris of refusing to answer questions from the media.

"Now, it's well known of course, that President Trump and I will go anywhere, will answer any question because we respect the American people enough to actually ask them for their vote rather than sit in front of a teleprompter, read scripted lines and run away from every reporter and every actual citizen who's going to decide this election," he said.

"I think it's a scandal, and I think the vice president should be ashamed of herself."

The Harris-Walz campaign in a statement said Eau Claire voters would see "the split screen for themselves between the forward-looking vision of Harris-Walz and the divisive agenda of Donald Trump and JD Vance."

The campaign also responded with a video edit that featured voiceover from Abby Lee Miller of "Dance Moms" fame.

A Marquette Law School poll released Wednesday found Harris and Trump in a statistical dead heat in Wisconsin.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: JD Vance, Kamala Harris, and Tim Walz share a tarmac in Eau Claire
Harris-Walz camo hat is having a moment. Could it be bigger than MAGA red?

When Kamala Harris picked up the phone and asked Tim Walz to be her running mate on Tuesday morning, Minnesotas governor was sitting on a wicker chair in his St. Paul home wearing khakis and his customary camouflage hat.

I would be honored, Madam Vice President, replied Walz, a former high school football coach who hunts and fishes in his free time.

Soon, his Midwestern dad vibe was fueling social media memes comparing him to pop music star Chappell Roan, who has a Midwest Princess camo hat in her official merch line-up.

Riffing off the memes, the Harris campaign designed and produced a prototype within hours. By that evening in Philadelphia, Walz had the soon-to-be-viral hat in hand and tweeted a photo wearing it.

The $40 Harris Walz hat  union-made by New Jersey-based manufacturer Unionwear  was an instant hit.

The initial run of 3,000 hats sold out in less than 30 minutes, and the campaign has rung up more than $1 million in hat sales since the merch dropped Tuesday. Thousands more hats are on back-order until October. Sales of the hats benefit the Harris Victory Fund.

Is this real, Roan wrote on X over side-by-side images of her Midwest Princess hat next to the new Harris-Walz camo hat.

Mitch Cahn, Unionwears CEO, said he has sold about 100,000 Kamala hats for the campaign, the Democratic party, the Democratic convention and other merchandisers since Harris launched her campaign on July 21.

About a quarter of those, according to Cahn, are the camo hats.

Cahn said he expected a bump in sales after Biden dropped out of the race last month. But getting absolutely crushed with business was a surprise.

We are going to have to add a second shift and work weekends at least for the next two months with the demand that we anticipate, he told USA TODAY.

Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz walk out on stage together during a campaign event on August 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Campaigns often sell branded camo hats to appeal to red-state voters. These days, Carhartt-inspired camo has urban crossover appeal, as in vogue in New York cafes as it is on deer hunts in Minnesota. But can this upstart headpiece topple the undisputed king of campaign merch Donald Trump?

Campaign merch can generate "significant dollars," said Bruce Newman, founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Political Marketing and a professor of marketing at DePaul University.

Spending on promotional products during the 2024 election is expected to reach $115 million, a 34% increase from the 2020 election, according to PQ Media, a market research firm based in Stamford, Connecticut.

"Its definitely not at the top of the pyramid, but it pays some of the bills," Newman said. "Its also a marketing tool. Youre telling the world who you are and what youll do for them."

A soda sip-off or an election? Tim Walz, JD Vance fight over the 'Mountain Dew Belt'

Trump is in a class of his own when it comes to capitalizing on campaign merch, from golden sneakers to perfume. His iconic red MAGA hat is the stuff of merch legend.

Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner wrote in his memoir that the Make America Great Again hat brought in up to $80,000 a day during the 2016 presidential run, covering most of the campaigns overhead costs.

"Trump wore the hat on his visit to the southern border, and it became the hottest thing on the internet," Kushner wrote in Breaking History.

US President Donald Trump throws MAGA hats to the crowd as he holds a Make America Great Again campaign rally at Lancaster Airport in Lititz, Pennsylvania, October 26, 2020.

No one has mastered the meme-to-merch pipeline quite like the MAGA universe, which milks political highlights to market T-shirts and trinkets.

Even Trumps scowl in his booking photo made its way onto mugs and NFTs in his campaign store. After he was taken into custody, the campaign sold bumper stickers and beverage coolers with the tagline: NEVER SURRENDER! Trump also sold pieces of the blue suit and red tie he wore in the mugshot.

A man wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat waits for President Donald Trump to arrive for a campaign rally at Williamsport Regional Airport on May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa.

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said the former president raised more than $4 million the day after he was booked at an Atlanta jail, at the time the highest-grossing day of the campaign.

The MAGA merchandise cottage industry roared into overdrive after Trump survived the assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, hawking products featuring the bloodied but defiant former president clenching his fist.

From T-shirts emblazoned with the rallying cry Fight! Fight! Fight! to "You Missed" shot glasses, the merch was a hot seller online and at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

"Make America Great Again" hats sit on a table during a campaign rally for former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Sunset Park in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 9, 2024.

Will the camo hat be more than a folksy flash in the pan?

Unionwear hasnt produced merch for the Trump campaign in the last two election cycles, but Cahn said the initial Kamala-Walz hat demand exceeds the initial demand for the MAGA hats his company made in 2016.

It's not clear exactly how many MAGA hat sales are sold today. The Trump campaign did not immediately return a request for comment, and Cahn estimates that "most" MAGA hats are not sold by the campaign but by online and street vendors.

Kamala has just completely taken everybody by surprise on this, Cahn said. We've seen so many units sold in such a short period of time. And as the merchandise gets out there, as more people see it, I think it's really going to take on a life of its own.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harris-Walz camo hat brings Chappell Roan into merch wars
TEHRAN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani said that the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh was not possible without U.S. green light and intelligence support.

He made the remarks at Wednesday's extraordinary ministerial meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to discuss Haniyeh's assassination, among other things, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Bagheri Kani described the Hamas chief's assassination as "only one instance of Israel's terrorist crimes," saying it was a "flagrant aggression against Iran's national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

He called on the UN Security Council to hold Israel accountable for such violations, and bring those responsible to trial and punishment.

Bagheri Kani said the U.S. responsibility as Israel's main supporter should not be overlooked in the "heinous crime," whose perpetration was not possible without the U.S. green light and intelligence support.

He said in the absence of any appropriate action by the UN Security Council, Iran had no other alternative but to use its "inherent right to legitimate self-defense in the face of Israel's aggressions."

Bagheri Kani emphasized that such an action by Iran was necessary to prevent further "aggressions" by Israel against Iran's sovereignty, people and territory, and would be taken at the "required time and in a proportionate form."

Haniyeh, who had been invited to attend Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, was killed along with his bodyguard early Wednesday when their residence in Tehran was hit. Iran accused Israel of carrying out the attack and vowed "a harsh and painful response." 
A day after firing up a boisterous crowd at a Detroit Metro Airport hangar, Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, rallied UAW members at a union hall described as ground zero for last years auto strike against the Detroit Three and the subsequent contract ratification.

They preached a message of unity and highlighted their connections to union members and the union movement.

The rally Thursday afternoon at UAW Local 900 in Wayne allowed the pair to focus their message on a union crowd made up of UAW members who had walked the picket line outside Fords Michigan Assembly Plant on the other side of Michigan Avenue, among other sites. Michigan is a key battleground state in this years presidential race between Harris, the Democratic nominee, and her Republican challenger, former President Donald Trump. The union vote, powered by a recent UAW endorsement of Harris, could prove significant for the outcome.

The Detroit-area stops for the Democratic ticket were expected to be followed by visits to Arizona and Nevada, two other important states in this presidential contest. The more intimate union hall setting, with a limited number of people in a cooler space, avoided the medical issues experienced by some attendees of the Wednesday event at the airport.

Harris touts 'noble concept behind collective bargaining'

Speeches by UAW President Shawn Fain, Walz and finally Harris emphasized the connections between the Democratic standard bearers and working class men and women. And they painted Trump as someone who only cares about himself, in contrast to the Democrats, who, they said, are focused on service.

Harris said the true measure of a leaders strength isnt by who you beat down, but by who you bring up.Its about the collective, she said, No one should ever be made to fight alone.

And she pointed to her understanding of the noble concept behind collective bargaining. In a negotiation, the outcome should be fair, she said.

Were saying we just want fairness, we want dignity for all people, Harris said, also noting that the United States is a work in progress worth fighting for.

We love our country. We believe in our country. We believe in each other. We believe in the collective. Were not falling for these folks who are trying to divide us, trying to separate us, trying to pull us apart.

Walz warns of consequences of a second Trump term

Walz noted the short time before Election Day, with 89 days to make Kamala Harris the next president of the United States.

U.S. Vice President and democratic candidate for U.S. President Kamala Harris takes the stage with her VP pick Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as UAW President Shawn Fain speaks at the UAW Local 900 during a campaign stop in Wayne on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.

She stands on the side of the American people and the American worker, Walz said, noting that shes the one that stands up against the billionaires and corporate greed.

And he urged the union members to action.

This is a bit of preaching to the choir, but the choir needs to sing right now, he said, warning of what would happen if Trump wins.

This time it will be far, far worse and (hell) make sure we cant organize collectively to improve our lives, he said.

Fain, in his introduction, talked up Harris and Walzs support for unions, saying they have working-class roots.

Fain: 'This is a which-side-are-you-on moment'

Whats at stake in this election?  Everything is at stake. Its about  whether we continue forward or whether we go back, said Fain, who has frequently highlighted his disdain for Trump. Trump in turn has called for Fains firing.

The messages resonated with members of the crowd, who answered with chants of Were not going back and waved blue signs with the UAW logo and vote 2024.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and pick for VP stands at left as UAW President Shawn Fain hugs U.S. Vice President and democratic candidate for U.S. President Kamala Harris speaks at the UAW Local 900 during a campaign stop in Wayne on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.

Fain said this is a which-side-are-you-on moment and said Harris and Walz are one of us.

In highlighting Harris support for workers, Fain pointed to 2019 when she walked a picket with workers on strike against General Motors.

Trump's line of attack

But Trump has also encouraged workers to support him, and it's likely he will have at least some support among union members. A statement from his campaign following the UAW endorsement of Harris also sought to portray the vice president as supporting policies that would hurt workers and played to concerns from some autoworkers about electric vehicles.

"Union workers and all the nation's working families are paying the price for dangerously liberal Kamala Harris' failed economic policies. Kamala Harris' radical electric vehicle mandate will destroy the livelihoods of countless U.S. autoworkers while sending the U.S. auto industry to China," according to the statement. Although the Biden administration doesn't have a formal EV mandate, the administration's policies have been supportive of EV adoption.

UAW workers' views

Dwayne Walker, president of Local 900, which represents the bulk of the almost 6,000 auto workers at the plant that produces the Ford Bronco and Ranger, noted the significance of the location in a conversation before the rally.

We are battle-tested, thats for sure, he said, noting that it looks like we have a battle here. in reference to the presidential race.

Asked how his membership has been feeling, he said the union has its naysayers, but they know we rise and fall together.

Members, however, were excited, he said, by the change at the top of the Democratic ticket, when President Joe Biden stepped aside and endorsed Harris.

U.S. Vice President and democratic candidate for U.S. President Kamala Harris, left, is announced to the podium by her VP pick Minnesota Governor Tim Walz at the UAW Local 900 during a campaign stop in Wayne on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.

Thats an opportunity for them. You have a chance to have a lady at the top of this ticket, he said, noting that he grew up with strong women in his life.

More: Fain: UAW members 'won back our dignity' in strike against Ford, GM, Stellantis

The enthusiasm was evident among the invited guests at the hall, which notes a maximum capacity of 368 but was set up to allow for several rows of seats and a large area for journalists in the back of the room.

Shauna Lewis, 49, of Ypsilanti, a skilled trades toolmaker at the plant and a trustee on the locals executive board, called it a great honor to have Harris at her local. She said she was pleased by the switch so we can move forward and keep Trump out of office.

Its a good look, having a Black woman at the top of the ticket, Lewis said, noting that she had been a bit worried about President Bidens health previously.

U.S. Vice President and democratic candidate for U.S. President Kamala Harris speaks at the UAW Local 900 during a campaign stop in Wayne on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.

They made a great move now, she said, describing her top issues as health care, especially for retirees, Medicaid and Medicare, and college tuition expenses.

Renea Forrest , 57, of Clawson, is a registered nurse at the plant as a member of UAW Local 600. During the strike, she noted that she and other nurses staffed a medical table at the Local 900 hall.

Forrest said shed been in a funk and in a depression before Biden dropped out the race, but is now feeling rejuvenated. Shed been hoping that he would and said he stepped aside for the good of the country.

God, bless him, she said.

Forrest called the selection of Walz very cool because hes a union man, related to his time as a high school teacher.

But Forrest said shes thrilled by Harris, who she said has a basis in law and order and wont undercut womens rights.

Shes not going to take us back, she said, noting that Harris wouldnt shift us back to the 1920s.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Harris, Walz rally UAW members at union hall near Ford plant
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Vice President Kamala Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, continue to hit the campaign trail. They held rallies in two battleground states Wednesday, while former president Donald Trumps running mate did the same.

Harris and Walz are headed out west to the crucial state of Arizona Thursday where voters there say one of their concerns is immigration.

Wednesday it was all about the Midwest for both the Harris and Trump campaign.

Harris and Walz rallied supporters in Michigan.

Do we believe in freedom? Harris asked.

Protesters attempted to interrupt Harris during her campaign rally in Michigan.

If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, Im speaking, Harris said.

Earlier the Harris-Walz campaign were in Wisconsin talking to voters about what they believe are key to this election.

I dont need you telling me about our health care. I dont need you telling us who we love, said Walz.

Trumps running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance took a similar path through the Midwest with his campaign.

We just need better leadership. It is so simple, said Vance.

Vance even walked from his plane over to Air Force Two, Vice President Harriss plane on the tarmac in Wisconsin.

I just wanted to check out my future plane, but I also wanted to go say hello to the vice president, said Vance.

He pushed back on the Harris campaign for calling him elitist.

If he wants to criticize me for getting an Ivy League education, Im proud of the fact that my Mamaw supported me. That I was able to make something of myself, said Vance.

The Harris-Walz campaign said it raised $36 million in the first 24 hours after she announced Walz as her running mate.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
According to new research out of the Technical University of Denmark in Kongens Lyngby, certain types of paper are more dangerous to your unsuspecting fingers than others. | Adobe.com

Paper cuts are an unexpected  and painful side effect of handling paper. But there may be a way to minimize the risk.

According to new research out of the Technical University of Denmark in Kongens Lyngby, certain types of paper are more dangerous to your unsuspecting fingers than others.

In a paper published in the journal Physical Review E, physicist Kaare Jensen and her colleagues explain how they conducted experiments on ballistics gelatine  a gelatin replica of human skin  using various types of paper products to see which type was most likely to cause a paper cut.

The researchers found that if a piece of paper was too thin, it would buckle against the skin before it could cut; if it was too thick, however, it would only indent the skin.

Paper at a thickness of around 65 micrometers was found to be the most likely to lead to paper cuts. Dot matrix paper, then, is the most hazardous, according to the researchers.

Luckily, that type of paper is rarely used today, per Science News. Magazine paper was the second most dangerous type of paper.

The angle is also important. Paper that moves straight down into the skin is less dangerous than paper that is moved across and down the skin.

The researchers used this new knowledge to create an experimental Papermachete, a 3D printed knife that uses paper as the blade. The single-use blade can cut into cucumbers, peppers, apple and even chicken, according to Science News.

Jensen also told Science News that future research would involve more finger-shaped materials to test paper against.

Ideally you would want some test subjects, but its hard to find volunteers, she said.

Why do paper cuts hurt so much?

A 2014 published in the National Library of Medicine found that fingertips more than any other part of the body have the highest spatial acuity, for both pain and touch.

Healthline describes tactical spatial acuity as the the ability to perceive the sense of touch, including pain. This means the fingertips, due to the high concentration of nerve endings, are more sensitive to pain than other parts of the body, which is why paper cuts can hurt so much.

How to avoid paper cuts

If avoiding papers of specific thicknesses isnt possible, Healthline provides some tips for potentially minimizing the potential risk of paper cuts when handling paper products.

Moisturize your hands.

Wear gloves.

Pick up paper slowly.

Use letter openers.

Use an envelope moisturizer.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Big Island Police filed a last-minute motion with the Hawaii Supreme Court Wednesday morning, saving detectives from sharing its latest findings in the Dana Ireland case  for now.

Judge Peter Kubota seemed frustrated by the move. And for the first time, made his opinion very clear.

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So Ill ask you this, what further investigation does the police conduct with a guy whos now deceased? said Judge Kubota. You can get all the information and all the evidence, but what are you gonna do with that? Are you gonna prosecute this dead guy?

Lawyers for Albert Ian and Shawn Schweitzer have been requesting all information on the Hawaii Police Departments investigation on Albert Lauro Jr. Hes the man recently identified as the unknown male in connection with Irelands murder in 1991.

Detectives interviewed him, but Lauro killed himself days later.

We have the police going on and defending their actions in this case repeatedly from the very start when they could not find a suspect, said Keith Shigetomi, attorney for Shawn Schweitzer. When they get in bed with convicted felons, and then when they finally botch it up and then they let the real guy get away, its just preposterous.

The Schweitzers were convicted for the murder. Albert Ian served more than 23 years in prison before being exonerated and released earlier this year.

The original proceedings, large as they are, large as they are, do not override the compelling government interest to protect the integrity of an ongoing criminal investigation, said Britt Bailey, Deputy Corp. Counsel.

The only legitimate interest they have is protecting themselves from further liability, but theyre just making it worse for themselves, said Shigetomi.

Police maintain the investigation into Lauro isnt done yet.

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It can go on as long as you want to delay this, but the problem I have here is these guys were convicted 23-years ago, and theyre seeking a determination of actual innocence, said Judge Kubota. And in my view, justice delayed at your behest is justice denied.

Judge Kubota ruled that he will await the ruling from the supreme court before taking any action.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
Two men are facing felony charges in Maui for allegedly stealing a pig from a local animal sanctuary and staging a fake hunt for it on social media. The men then entered the 250-pound pig named Eddie into a local hog hunting contest in May and won it, according to the pigs owner Sarah Haynes, who described Eddie as a gentle giant who was trusting of humans.

They both hogtied him and dragged him  alive  out the hole in our fence, and down deep into the Gulch, Haynes wrote in a Facebook post, referring to the trespassers who cut open the pigs fence on May 11. They then used Eddie to stage a fake hunting video with their dogs. They killed him, gutted him, and transported him to a contest in Makawao that they had entered the night before.

Haynes, who operates Kitty Charm Farm in Haiku, explained in a follow-up post that the two men were arrested in July. Jayden Jarnesky-Magana, 18, of Wailuku, and Krys-Ryan Saito Carino, 20, of Waiehu, have since been charged with felonies for animal cruelty and theft of livestock, along with misdemeanors for criminal property damage, according to court documents obtained by Maui Now.

The pet greets a visitor at Kitty Charm Farm. Photo via Facebook

Haynes explained that she was initially tipped off by other hunters. She said that after she made a social media post calling attention to Eddies disappearance, several hunters shared with her the staged video that had been submitted to contest officials. It was through watching this video that she was able to identify her pig.

The hunters were skeptical apparently from the minute the pig arrived, because hes neutered and was 250 pounds, usually the winning pig is 150, Haynes told Island News. The two men and their friends that showed up at the competition, they couldnt pick him up off the back of the truck, he fell to the ground.

Although Haynes did not reveal the name of the hunting contest or any participants, she claimed that the two men won the top prize of $1,000. Its unclear if the men were disqualified, or if the tournament organizers have pushed for additional charges related to fraud in the time since theyve been charged.

There has been plenty of outrage in response to Haynes posts, with many users furious about the allegations. Some have also questioned why the men went out of their way to steal and kill a pet pig when the Hawaiian islands are already full of (and in some areas, overrun with) wild hogs. These overpopulations of feral pigs are wreaking ecological havoc, as they are in many other states, and Hawaiian wildlife managers encourage their harvest through regulated hunting.

Read Next: 6 Louisiana Men Arrested for Allegedly Cheating in Two Hog Hunting Contests

Haynes has also said that she doesnt want hunters to be vilified because of what the two men allegedly did to her pig. She added that she is grateful for the local hunters who helped with the investigation by calling out unethical behavior and sharing evidence with authorities.

Hunters have a code of conduct, Haynes wrote on Facebook. These young men broke all the rules The hunting community will need to reassess contests in general, and incentives that attract illegal behavior. But they did not commit the crimes against Eddie, she continued. This is about stealing a pet, putting that pet through tremendous trauma. Its also about fraudulently entering a contest to win money.

Maui News reports that Carino entered a plea of not guilty during his arraignment on Aug. 1, and that Jarnesky-Maganas arraignment was scheduled for Aug. 6. Its not immediately clear if Jarnesky-Magana entered a plea and the prosecuting attorney was unavailable to provide clarification.
Hawkeye Community College will expand its pre-apprenticeship and employment training programs with a $1.5 million grant. (Photo courtesy of Hawkeye Community College)

Hawkeye Community College will expand its efforts to lower barriers to employment with a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The YouthBuild grant, developed by the Department of Labor to strengthen the U.S. workforce through apprenticeships and other training for young workers, will be put toward the colleges WE Build program, according to a news release. YouthBuild grants totaling $98 million were provided to 72 organizations.

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The WE Build program provides training in skills including team building, interviewing, resume writing and personal development, as well as career counseling in the construction industry. Participants also receive construction training through a pre-apprenticeship program in which they construct or rehabilitate a home which will later be sold to a low-income family, according to the programs website.

Hawkeye Community College will utilize the grant dollars to create a new WE Build track, according to the news release, focused on 16-24 year-olds without a high school diploma. An instructor will work in this track to help students earn their high school equivalency, and additional support will be available.

The grant will also go to developing robotics and automation pre-apprenticeship programs, according to the release.

This grant will greatly enhance our capacity to support young people in our community, said Todd Holcomb, President of Hawkeye Community College, in the release. By expanding the WE Build program, we will equip our youth with high-demand skills and help them earn their high school equivalency, paving the way for better employment opportunities and a stronger workforce for our local employers.

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BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital employees stuffed a school bus with a variety of supplies Wednesday morning for Bay District school students in need.

Its an opportunity for us as a hospital in the community to support our kids and our educators going back to school and starting the school year, HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital CEO Chase Christianson said.

Walton County spring tourism numbers reveal decline in activity

The bus is packed with school supplies and much more.

Youve got school supplies, youve got home goods whether it be hygiene or shoes or some new clothes for the school year on top of some of the school supplies like crayons and pencils and any number of things around notebooks and pieces of paper and stuff like that, Christianson said.

Bay District Schools Superintendent Mark McQueen said the donations will have a big impact on the students who will receive them.

Whether its a box of crayons, pencils, paper, or whatever it is, these are the tools that are essential to learning. What we see is not only learning taking place, but imagination and creativity taking place. What eventually happens is we have a more well-rounded student and a better-educated citizen, McQueen said.

Showcase your talent at auditions for Panama City play

McQueen also added that properly equipping students is crucial to their academic success.

Itll help motivate them to stay in school, and as a result, theyll perform better going through this experience. It all starts with something as small as a box, crayons, a box of pencils, paper, and backpacks, whatever it is, its all designed to invest in our students, McQueen said.

You can also donate supplies to the new Adrianna Swearingen school resource store at Rutherford High School. The store is a new project that will initially support new teachers to equip their classrooms and get supplies to students.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Andrii Yermak, Head of the President's Office of Ukraine, has described the "frank conversation" that he had with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto during the latter's visit to Uzhhorod, Ukraine, in January 2024, which resulted in Budapest presenting its demands regarding the rights of the Hungarian minority.

Source: Andrii Yermak in an interview with European Pravda

Details: Yermak said that he and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had a "very frank conversation".

"We said: look, you want to return as far as possible to the legislation that was in place a few years ago. We have a clear understanding of the issues where this is not possible. But please explain what you see as the problem now. And we are prepared to look for a way out, while at the same time, we are aware that the Hungarian community in Zakarpattia Oblast is mostly Ukrainian citizens," he added.

Yermak said that Szijjarto was also assured that Ukraine is ready to make progress with Hungary in issues where it sees no risks and is prepared to offer compromise solutions in other areas.

"To do this work, we have set up a group that all the relevant ministers will attend. They are discussing it, and the work is ongoing. And I know that Prime Minister Viktor Orban noted at a meeting with the Ukrainian president that he welcomes the way this conversation is going," Yermak concluded.

He added that the only red line in these talks with Budapest is "our national interests".

Background:

At the end of January, during the visit to Uzhhorod, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto handed the Ukrainian side a list of 11 demands intended to guarantee the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. These requirements were included in the negotiating framework for Ukraine's accession to the EU.

European Pravda has analysed the list of these demands in detail, including some that are categorically unacceptable to Ukraine, such as the recognition of all of Zakarpattia Oblast as "traditionally Hungarian".

Read more in detail: Orban's 11 demands: How Hungary crossed red lines again in blackmailing Ukraine on its path to the EU

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This photo taken on April 29, 2024 shows an exhibition hall of the Dayuanxiang Museum in Bishan District, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Xinhua)

CHONGQING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Despite its secluded mountainous location, far from the hustle and bustle of the city, the Dayuanxiang Museum in Bishan District in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, continues to draw visitors from across the country.

The private museum, transformed from the former Tianfu bowl factory, houses over 100,000 artifacts that reflect the ancient Bashu culture, including wooden carvings, stone statues and various other historical items.

"I was intrigued by the online images of a wall filled with Buddha statues. So, I took the opportunity of the holiday to visit Chongqing with my family," said Zhang Wenyi, a tourist from south China's Guangzhou.

"Beneath the museum's unassuming exterior lies a profound depth. As I walked through the exhibition halls, I could feel the aura of the Bashu people's past lives and catch a glimpse of the folk customs and culture of that era," Zhang added.

Spanning 50 mu (about 3.33 hectares), the Dayuanxiang Museum features eight massive exhibition halls converted from spacious workshops, with collections meticulously displayed by category.

According to experts, the museum's collection of ancient architectural elements is sufficient to reconstruct hundreds of traditional residential courtyards. Upon entering one of the exhibition halls, visitors are greeted by wooden doors, windows and plaques from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), all neatly arranged and displayed.

Liu Niu, the 25-year-old curator, took over the reins from his father after graduating from university in 2021 to manage the museum's daily operations.

"These ancient architectural components, once scattered across the world, embody culture, art, family tradition and human values. Now, these relics carry forward the rich regional characteristics and ethnic memory of the Bashu area," Liu said.

Liu recounted that his father, a former real estate developer, was deeply saddened by the destruction of traditional houses and the abandonment of ancient building components. "My father cherished traditional culture, and whenever he found old objects that appealed to him, he would purchase and bring them home."

Liu's father amassed an ever-growing collection of old objects until there was no more space to store them. To accommodate these treasures, he purchased the abandoned Tianfu bowl factory in 2013 and transformed it into the museum's storage and exhibition space.

"This private museum aims to showcase 'home culture.' You can see the living spaces of our ancestors in Chongqing and Sichuan, the furnishings in their homes and the life philosophies of that time," Liu explained.

The museum displays not only various collections but also depicts the spirit of migration, reproduction, labor and struggle of the ancestors, all of which are integral to Bashu culture, according to Liu.

During every holiday, the Dayuanxiang Museum hosts a series of themed activities. Visitors can explore the collections, savor local farm cuisine, participate in engaging courses, and purchase a variety of cultural and creative products, fully immersing themselves in the ancient cultural charm. 

Tourists visit the Dayuanxiang Museum in Bishan District in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, April 29, 2024. (Xinhua)
Andrii Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian President's Office, is convinced that Donald Trump will ensure further support for Ukraine if he wins the US election.

Source: Yermak in an interview with European Pravda

Details: Yermak noted that a recent phone call between Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had reaffirmed "good relations" and Trump's respect for Ukraine and its president, with Trump "listening attentively" to explanations about the situation in Ukraine.

Yermak confirmed that Trump had indeed told Zelenskyy not to listen to rumours about his supposed willingness to make concessions to Putin against Ukraine's interests in order to end the war quickly.

"Yes, he did say that. [Trump stressed] that we should pay no attention to the fake news circulating about this, that he clearly understands what kind of war this is, and that the US has supported and will continue to support Ukraine. And this is very important," the head of the President's Office said.

Asked about Trumps vice presidential candidate, JD Vance, using talking points favourable to Russia, Yermak responded that "we need to work and change this stance".

"And what I've seen in the media in recent days shows that even JD Vance's rhetoric is changing," he added.

Yermak added that in general, he does not believe the United States could have a president who failed to understand the threat posed by Russia and opposed supporting Ukraine.

"There have been historic changes between the US and Ukraine. We have become partners; indeed, we have a robust allied relationship. And I don't believe that any subsequent president of the United States will be different," Yermak said.

Asked about the likelihood of Trump visiting Ukraine during the election campaign, Yermak said that Trump "has received an invitation" but he is unsure whether he will accept it, noting that arranging such a visit would be challenging.

However, Yermak believes it is more likely that the winning candidate  whether Trump or someone else  will come to Ukraine before the inauguration.

He also confirmed that Kyiv is in communication with both parties and both candidates headquarters, as bipartisan support is of utmost importance to Ukraine.

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A heat dome is settling over Texas. How high will temperatures reach?

Large portions of Texas are seeing the hottest week this summer as temperatures climb into the triple digits. North Texas may get temporary relief over the weekend before the heat turns up again next week, when a heat dome is predicted to settle over the region.

What is a heat dome, and how might it affect Texas? Here's a breakdown.

People are also reading: Summer heat can raise risk of contact burns. What are the types and degrees of burns?

Thursday: Heat dome triggers advisories across Texas

This week will be the hottest in Texas this year  until next week, that is. Another heat dome is settling across the Lone Star State.

The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories for most of Texas, which are scheduled to expire at 9 p.m. Thursday. Excessive heat warnings, characterized by temperatures of 105 to 107, are in effect for Young, Jack, Stephens and Palo Pinto Counties. Some of these counties could be hit with "feels-like" temperatures in the 110s.

Hottest of the year (for now).

In Texas, it's a phrase we utter every summer. 

Just under records today (rec=106) with a heat index up to about 107. Pretty rough.

Heat ADVISORIES have returned... But we should lose them Friday and this weekend as we drop back into the 90s. pic.twitter.com/YQuYp2tLHQ  Dan Henry (@Fox4Weather) August 7, 2024

Heat dome building across Texas and will bring triple digits regionally. @KHOU pic.twitter.com/lFkYy73TQM  Chita Craft (@chitakhou) August 7, 2024

A weak cold front will sweep through North Texas early Friday morning, dropping temperatures back into the 90s. The slightly cooler temperatures will linger through the weekend before reaching triple digits again on Monday.

The heat dome will bring consistent triple-digit temperatures to Texas next week, forecasters say.

More on Texas heat: 'Torturous for everybody': Texas prison head shifts blame to lawmakers for high temps

What is a heat dome?

A heat dome occurs when a persistent region of high pressure traps heat over an area, according to William Gallus, professor of atmospheric science at Iowa State University.

"The heat dome can stretch over several states and linger for days to weeks, leaving the people, crops and animals below to suffer through stagnant, hot air that can feel like an oven," Gallus said in an article in The Conversation.

.

Heat index chart: Danger of extreme heat

The National Weather Service warns that "extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities."

This chart shows how hot it feels when humidity and high temperatures are combined:

Heat safety tips

The National Weather Service strongly encourages those experiencing dangerous heat to do the following:

Never leave people or pets alone in a closed car.

Drink plenty of water, even if you don't feel thirsty.

Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing.

Spend time in air conditioning or in the shade.

People are also reading: Most Texans set their AC thermostat to this temperature, poll shows. Do you agree?

MAP: Texas watches and warnings

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas heat advisories spurred by heat dome bring soaring temperatures
Six candidates are challenging Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who is seeking a second term in a nonpartisan Aug. 20 primary election.

Levine Cava was among four mayoral candidates who attended an interview with the Herald Editorial Board. The others were Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid; Shlomo Danzinger, the former mayor of Surfside who lost reelection this year; and trapeze school owner Miguel Quintero.

Not in attendance were Carlos Garin, Eddy Rojas and demagogue Alex Otaola, who has a Spanish-language program on YouTube that rails against communists and bizarrely characterizes Levine Cava as one.

All three challengers attacked the tenure of Levine Cava, a former county commissioner and nonprofit founder elected in 2020.

Danzinger said the county lacks coordination with municipalities and that, as Surfsides mayor, he cut expenses while lobbying Tallahassee for more state dollars.

Quintero, whos running a symbolic campaign, complained about what he described as lack of transparency within county government.

Cid is Levine Cavas strongest challenger and has clearly done his homework. He said there is a war on the middle class and wants to cut the countys property tax by 10%.

Cid, a former legislative aide and restaurant owner, touted his experience writing laws in Tallahassee and his 12-year tenure in Miami Lakes, where he said he helped guide a small city plagued by the indictment  and later acquittal  of its former mayor on corruption charges to a city thats flourishing with infrastructure investments.

Levine Cavas vision for the county and her achievements can prepare Miami-Dade for a more sustainable future both in environmental terms as well as in trying to combat the regions affordability crisis. At the same time, shes had noticeable missteps  take that 2022 trip to Qatar paid for by the countrys oppressive regime, which at the time also employed her closest political adviser.

Levine Cava touts her efforts to cut tax rates, replace more septic tanks  which pollute Biscayne Bay  the HOMES Plan that provided subsidies for workforce housing and qualifying renters and homeowners, her staunch support for law enforcement and the countys decreased crime rate. She also highlighted $100 million the county recently got from the federal government to restore the Venetian Causeway.

She displayed leadership and empathy after the Surfside building collapse in 2021. Her administration in 2021 wisely added the position of chief heat officer to prepare Miami-Dade for extreme heat, a position that Cid said he would eliminate. Last year, and after a decade of federal monitoring because of poor inmate treatment, the county jail met demands set by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Among the low points of her administration was her teams 2023 failure to renew a local gas tax, costing the county $17 million, which she then tried to sell to the public as a tax holiday before suspending her budget director. She also suspended her transit director after a Herald reporter inquired how much a temporary pause in fares would cost taxpayers (she said at the time the plan had not been cleared by leadership). Deferred maintenance at Miami International Airport and unhappy travelers continue to nag her legacy.

County budget attacks

Levine Cavas ambitious agenda has also helped grow county bureaucracy. Her proposed 2024-25 budget would have 2,600 more county staff positions compared to 2020-21, county documents show, mainly in fire rescue, public works, social services and the department that oversees building inspections. She said many of the new positions directly impact citizen services.

Our current mayor has hired a huge staff around her to insulate herself from every single crisis on the county level, Cid rebutted.

Levine Cava approved two consecutive cuts to the countys property tax rate, and next year she wants to keep it flat. Her opponents criticized her because, thanks to skyrocketing property values, tax bills have still increased. For homeowners with homestead exemptions, however, that increase is capped thanks to state law.

Manny Cid, current Miami Lakes mayor, left, speaks while Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava listens during the Miami Herald Editorial Boards meeting with candidates for upcoming Miami-Dade mayor election on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at the Miami Herald office in Miami.

Big promises

Cids 10% tax cut proposal might entice voters, but it deserves scrutiny. It would have to be approved by the County Commission and requires eliminating thousands of unfilled government jobs, he said. There are questions about its long-term impacts on services and whether it would be sustainable when the economy slows down and Miami-Dade needs revenue for basic operations.

Cid said he would have signed off on a controversial proposal to convert 380 acres of farmland into an industrial and logistical center near Homestead that required the county to expand the Urban Development Boundary, which serves as a buffer between urban sprawl and environmental and rural lands. Developers said the project would create thousands of jobs, but critics questioned those figures.

Levine Cava rightfully vetoed the UDB expansion  but was overridden by the commission  because of its impacts on Biscayne Bay restoration. In March, a Tallahassee judge ruled that the county broke the rules when it approved the project.

I think [the project] was basically a land grab, and it was also in a critical area for water conduit from the Everglades to the Bay, and, from an environmental perspective, it was a disaster, she said.

Cid is impressive and has a future as a public servant, but as mayor of a town of just over 30,000 residents, running a county of 2.6 million would be a big leap. In Miami Lakes, the mayor does not manage the citys operations, whereas the Miami-Dade mayor is the countys top administrator.

In the end, Miami-Dade needs a leader who will balance our economic, social and environmental needs.

The Herald Editorial Board endorses DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA for Miami-Dade County mayor.
If you've been concerned about the recent recall of Palmer Candy products and other major food recalls, you may have stumbled upon some confusing terminology. In May of 2024, the Food & Drug Administration issued a recall for a number of Palmer products that were sold at Walmart, HyVee, Target, Dollar General, and other retailers in 17 states for potential contamination with Salmonella and risk of infection. The potential contamination came from a liquid coating supplier that had provided a product for the white coating on some of Palmer's confections.

The products potentially contaminated include various snack mixes, coated pretzels, and cookies. The full list of products can be found on the FDA website. After this alert, Palmer suspended production while the company and FDA investigated the contamination. However on August 6, months after the initial recall in May, the FDA updated the recall to class I, the organization's highest level of alert.

If you've never heard of FDA recall classes before, you're not alone. A class is not always issued for each recall at first because it takes time to learn how serious the issue is. The FDA also does not usually issue public warnings for risk classes below I, as they represent a lower level of potential harm. Beyond class I, the FDA also issues class II and III recall levels for food and medical products. But what do those levels actually mean? And how worried should you be when you see them?

Read more: What Happens If You Accidentally Eat Mold?

What Is An FDA Class I Recall?

FDA building sign - Tada Images/Shutterstock

Class I is the highest level of danger for a recall, and also the one that you're most likely to see as they usually result in public announcements warning consumers. According to the FDA, a class I recall is defined as "a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."

Salmonella, like in the current Palmer Candy recall, is one of the more common causes of class I recalls because it can cause serious gastrointestinal illness and fever and even death in vulnerable populations like children and the elderly. Other common threats that cause class I recalls include E. Coli on ground beef and leafy greens, Clostridium botulinum, also known as Botulism, in canned food, and unlisted allergens like peanuts that could cause life-threatening reactions.

Class I recalls can also trigger the FDA's authority to call for mandatory recalls. Another term the FDA uses is SAHCODHA, which stands for "serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals," and is used to determine if a mandatory recall is needed. This means that contaminated pet food can also fall under class I, as can products that are not contaminated but represent a choking risk to infants and children. Because these recalls present the most risk, the FDA will issue public statements, which should be taken very seriously.

What Is An FDA Class II Recall?

woman holding stomach near bread - Kmpzzz/Shutterstock

Class II is the middle level of warning for the FDA and still represents some level of risk to consumers. The FDA classifies a recall as class II when using or being exposed to a product can cause medical conditions that are temporary or reversible, and where more serious outcomes are unlikely. Some cases that fall into class II include norovirus in shellfish and seafood, more serious levels of mold or yeast contamination, and the unconfirmed risk of botulism.

FDA class II recalls see variation in how they are publicized, and not all are serious enough to rise to the level of a public warning. In these cases, the FDA is working from a preventative standpoint to stop a situation from potentially getting worse. The administration will work with the affected company to form a plan to get the product off of shelves.

Some class II recalls do rise to the level of public warnings because they represent some threat to health, and these are usually related to unlabeled ingredients that could trigger common food allergies. For class II, these would most likely be lower levels of allergens like wheat that are not life threatening but could still harm people. According to a report by Sedgwick, allergens represented the most common cause of food recalls by far, making up almost half of all recalls in recent years.

What Is An FDA Class III Recall?

woman and child checking label - D3sign/Getty Images

As the lowest level of warning, an FDA class III recall represents a product that does not pose serious harm to the public. In this case, exposure to a product is not likely to cause any illness but does violate some kind of FDA regulation. Very similar to class III recalls are actions called market withdrawals, where the infraction causing the recall is usually something minor that is corrected by companies before the product is returned to shelves.

A common cause of class III recalls is incorrect labeling that does not risk anyone's health. This could be an incorrect weight listed on packaging or non-organic food being labeled organic. Slightly more alarming class III recalls can include food that was placed in unsanitary conditions and is decomposing or non-bread foods that contain less serious levels of yeast or mold contamination.

Because class III recalls don't rise to the level of public alerts, you're unlikely to hear about them, but they still help the FDA to be proactive and keep your food safe. At the end of the day, even with all of the different classes and definitions, the level of risk for your food is subjective, so you shouldn't judge a recall on its class level alone. The most important information is listed on the FDA's public list of recall announcements, which contains specific guides on the level of threat and the actions that should be taken.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, delivers a televised speech at a memorial ceremony for Fuad Shukr, the Hezbollah commander - Wael Hamzeh/ EPA/Shutterstock

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said in an interview published Thursday that he was sorry that Hamas was able to carry out its October 7 attack, without explicitly taking responsibility.

Mr Netanyahu, who has resisted making an apology for security failures over Israels worst-ever breach, was asked if he would apologize during an interview with Time magazine.

Apologize? he was quoted as replying. Of course, of course. I am sorry, deeply, that something like this happened. And you always look back and you say, Could we have done things that would have prevented it? he said.

Mr Netanyahu is Israels longest-serving prime minister and has long billed himself as a staunch protector of Israels security. Shortly after the October 7 attack, Mr Netanyahu posted on social media that intelligence services had failed to anticipate the Hamas operation and warn him.

He deleted and apologised for that post after numerous Israelis accused him of deflecting blame and jeopardising national unity.

03:39 PM BST

Thats all for today.

Thanks for following the Telegraphs live blog. Well be back tomorrow with the latest updates on the conflict.

03:22 PM BST

Yemens Houthis leader to coordinate attacks on Israel with axis

Yemens Houthis will coordinate with other members of the Axis of Resistance in any joint operation, the groups leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said on Thursday, using the name that Iran and its regional allies use for groups aligned with Tehran.

He said any decision to respond to Israeli attacks would be made by the axis as a whole.

03:03 PM BST

Netanyahu sorry October 7 attack occurred

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said in an interview published Thursday that he was sorry that Hamas was able to carry out its October 7 attack, without explicitly taking responsibility.

Mr Netanyahu, who has resisted making an apology for security failures over Israels worst-ever attack and focused on destroying Hamas, was asked if he would apologize during an interview with Time magazine.

Apologize? he was quoted as replying.

Of course, of course. I am sorry, deeply, that something like this happened. And you always look back and you say, Could we have done things that would have prevented it? he said.

02:56 PM BST

Yemens Houthis say retaliation for Israel port strike inevitable

The leader of Yemens Houthis said on Thursday that retaliation for an Israeli strike on a port under the control of the Iran-backed rebels was inevitable.

The response to the July 20 attack that targeted fuel storage tanks in Hodeida harbour is inevitable and will come, Abdul Malik al-Huthi said in a televised speech, adding that the battle with Israel was at its zenith.

02:37 PM BST

Conflict in Pictures

A man in Tehran flashes the victory sign as he rides a bike past a billboard of Masoud Pezeshkian (R), the Iranian president, and slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh - AFP

Lakenheath, 08/08/2024 F-22 stealth fighter jet Raptors at RAF Lakenheath - Toby Shepheard / Story Picture Agency

Over a dozen aircraft depart to the Middle East amid rising tensions in the region - Toby Shepheard / Story Picture Agency

02:09 PM BST

IDF strikes Hamas command centres embedded near schools

The Israeli military said on Thursday it had struck Hamas command centres embedded in the areas of two schools in the Gaza Strip, which were used to carry out attacks against Israeli troops.

Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, surveillance, and additional intelligence, the military said.

The school compounds were used by Hamas terrorists and commanders as command-and-control centres, from which they planned and carried out attacks against Israel Defence Forces troops and the state of Israel, it said.

It comes as the Hamas-run Palestinian civil defence service said on Thursday that twelve people were killed in Israeli strikes on two schools in eastern Gaza.

01:44 PM BST

There is a price for anti-Israel behaviour, Israel tells Norway

Israel Katz, the Israeli foreign minister, said on Thursday the diplomatic status of Norwegian envoys to the Palestinian Authority would be revoked over Oslos anti-Israel behaviour since the Gaza war began in October.

Norway has long been a facilitator in the Middle East peace process, particularly leading to the 1993 Oslo Accords, and it swifty reacted to Mr Katzs announcement which Oslo said will have consequences.

The Israeli minister said he ordered the termination of any representation on behalf of the Norwegian Embassy in Israel vis-a-vis the Palestinian Authority, which has partial administrative power in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

There is a price for anti-Israel behaviour, Mr Katz added in a statement, citing Norways recent recognition of a Palestinian state and backing of a pending International Criminal Court case implicating Israeli leaders in alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

01:14 PM BST

Israel steps up attacks in central Gaza

Israeli forces stepped up strikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing at least 25 people, Palestinian medics claimed, in further battle with Hamas-led militants as Israel braced for potential wider war in the region.

Israeli airstrikes hit a cluster of houses in central Gazas Al-Bureij camp, killing at least 15 people, and the nearby Al-Nuseirat camp, killed four, medics said. Nuseirat and Bureij are among the densely populated enclaves eight historic camps and seen by Israel as strongholds of armed militants.

Israeli aircraft also bombed a house in the heart of Gaza City in the north, killing five Palestinians, while another airstrike in the southern city of Khan Younis killed one person and wounded others, according to medics.

12:49 PM BST

Tehran: Israel made strategic mistake assassinating Haniyeh

Israel committed a costly strategic mistake with its killing of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas political leader, in Tehran last week, Irans acting foreign minister told AFP in an interview on Thursday.

The act that the Zionists carried out in Tehran was a strategic mistake because it will cost them gravely, Ali Bagheri said, and accused Israel of wanting to expand tension, war and conflict to other countries.

12:19 PM BST

Italy extends suspension of flights to Israel

Italys ITA Airways further extended a suspension of its flights to and from Tel Aviv until August 10 due to the geopolitical developments in the Middle East and to ensure the safety of its passengers and crews, the company said on Thursday.

On Tuesday, the airline had extended the interruption of its connections with the Israeli capital until Aug 8, from a previous date of Aug 6.

12:05 PM BST

Watch: Harris scolds anti-Israel protesters

Kamala Harris warned anti-Israel hecklers at a Democrat rally they risked handing Donald Trump victory in the presidential election.

The vice-president was speaking in Detroit on Wednesday night when the pro-Palestinian activists interrupted her.

Kamala! Kamala! You cant hide! We wont vote for genocide! they chanted.

You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, Im speaking, Ms Harris scolded.

Before shutting down the hecklers, the Democrat presidential nominee said: Im here because we believe in democracy. Everyones voice matters, but I am speaking now.

11:47 AM BST

Oslo: Israel revoking Norwegian diplomat status will have consequences

Israel has given notice it will no longer accredit Norwegian diplomats serving the occupied Palestinian territories, Norways foreign ministry said on Thursday, calling it an extreme act by the Israeli government.

Norway is now considering its response to the situation, Espen Barth Eide, the Norwegian minister of foreign affairs, said in a statement.

This is an extreme act that primarily affects our ability to help the Palestinian population ... Todays decision will have consequences for our relationship with the Netanyahu government, he said.

11:25 AM BST

UK records record level of anti-Semitism in first half of year

Britain saw almost 2,000 anti-Semitic incidents in the first half of 2024, a record figure for the first six months of any year, a Jewish advisory body said on Thursday.

The Community Security Trust (CST), which advises Britains estimated 280,000 Jews on security matters, said more than half of the incidents recorded were related to Israel, Gaza, Hamas or the current conflict in the region.

The disgraceful surge in British anti-Semitism is further evidenced by these latest figures, said Mark Gardner, the CST chief executive . It happens across society, including in schools, campuses, places of work, public transport and on the streets.

11:04 AM BST

Air France extends Beirut flight suspension until Sunday

Air France has extended the suspension of flights between Paris and Beirut until at least Sunday due to the security situation in Lebanon.

The resumption of operations will be subject to a further assessment of the local situation, Air France said in a notice on its website posted late on Wednesday.

10:47 AM BST

Israel to revoke diplomatic status of Norwegian envoys

Israel Katz, Israels foreign minister, said on Thursday the diplomatic status of Norwegian envoys to the Palestinian Authority would be revoked over Oslos anti-Israel behaviour since the Gaza war began in October.

I ordered the termination of any representation on behalf of the Norwegian Embassy in Israel vis-a-vis the Palestinian Authority, Mr Katz said in a statement.

There is a price for anti-Israel behaviour, the top diplomat added, citing Norways recent recognition of a Palestinian state and backing of a pending International Criminal Court case implicating Israeli leaders in alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

A separate statement mentioned serious statements by senior Norwegian officials that the foreign ministry viewed as anti-Israeli.

10:29 AM BST

Conflict in Pictures

Mourners carry the coffin of Amin Badreddine, a Hezbollah fighter - Reuters/Alkis Konstantinidis

Photos of people killed in the Oct 7 attack on the 'Nova Festival' hang at a memorial site - Amir Levy/Getty Images Europe

Israeli soldiers in a tank as it drives along the border with the Gaza Strip - Amir Levy/Getty Images Europe

10:11 AM BST

Pro-Israel groups topple second Democrat Squad member

A second member of the Democrats Left-wing Squad in Congress has been ousted after a $9 million campaign by pro-Israel groups, writes Rozina Sabur, Deputy US Editor.

Cori Bush, a vocal critic of Israels war in Gaza, lost the Democratic primary for her seat in St Louis, Missouri, to Wesley Bell, a local prosecutor, by 46 per cent to 51 per cent.

The district is staunchly Democratic and Mr Bell is expected to hold it in Novembers election.

Read the full piece here.

09:52 AM BST

US strikes Houthi targets in Yemen

US military forces have struck at targets in Houthi-controlled Yemen in the past 24 hours, destroying two drones, a Houthi ground control station, and three anti-ship cruise missiles, the US Central Command (Centcom) said.

Earlier, the Iran-aligned Houthi movement said it had attacked a container ship in the Red Sea and two US destroyers in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday.

Centcom said in a statement on the US strikes: These weapons presented a clear and imminent threat to US and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region.

It said this reckless and dangerous behavior by the Houthis threatened regional stability, but it gave no further details and did not confirm that any US vessels had been attacked.

09:33 AM BST

Israel vows to eliminate Yahya Sinwar

Israel has vowed to eliminate new Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, the alleged mastermind of the October 7 attack, with regional hostilities threatening to boil over as the Gaza war enters its 11th month.

The naming of Sinwar to lead the Palestinian militant group came as Israel steeled itself for potential Iranian retaliation over the killing of his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh last week in Tehran.

Speaking at a military base on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was determined to defend itself.

We are prepared both defensively and offensively, he told new recruits.

09:14 AM BST

World Central Kitchen says Palestinian staff member killed in Gaza

The World Central Kitchen (WCK), a US-based, non-governmental organisation, said on Thursday that a Palestinian staff member had been killed in Gaza.

The WCK identified the person as Nadi Sallout and said it believed he was killed while off duty on Wednesday near Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza. The WCK said it was still seeking further details.

The Israeli military said it did not know of any such incident, adding it had been in contact with WCK.

08:52 AM BST

Watch: Israeli strike wounds dozens in central Gaza

08:33 AM BST

Canada to pull children of diplomats out of Israel

The Canadian government said on Wednesday it has decided to pull the children and guardians of its diplomats out of Israel, amid fears of a widened conflict in the Middle East, the Canadian Press reported.

Israels tensions with Iran and Hezbollah have fanned fears of a broader conflict in a region already on edge amid Israels assault on Gaza which has killed tens of thousands and caused a humanitarian crisis, including widespread hunger.

There has been an increased risk of escalation into a broader Middle East war after the killings of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader, in Iran, and Fuad Shukr, the Hezbollah military commander, in Beirut, drew threats of retaliation against Israel.

08:12 AM BST

Nagasaki mayor defends Israel snub at A-bomb memorial

Nagasakis mayor said on Thursday it was unfortunate that US and British ambassadors have refused to attend a ceremony marking the 1945 atomic bombing of the Japanese city because Israel was snubbed.

But he defended the decision not to invite Israel to Fridays annual event, repeating that it was not political but to avoid possible protests related to the Gaza conflict.

It is unfortunate that they have communicated to us that their ambassadors are not able to attend, Shiro Suzuki told reporters.

We made a comprehensive decision not for political reasons. We want to conduct a smooth ceremony in a peaceful and solemn environment.

On August 9 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, killing 74,000 people including many who survived the explosion but died later from radiation exposure.

07:55 AM BST

British planes told to avoid Iran and Lebanon

Britain and Egypt asked their airlines on Wednesday to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace amid growing fears of a possible broader conflict in the Middle East.

There has been an increased risk of escalation into a broader regional war after the killings last week of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas leader, in Iran and Fuad Shukr, Hezbollahs military commander, in Beirut drew threats of retaliation against Israel.

Britains advisory to its airlines to avoid Lebanons airspace came hours after Egypt instructed all of its airlines to avoid Irans airspace for three hours in the early morning on Thursday.

Many airlines globally are revising their schedules to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace while also calling off flights to Israel and Lebanon.

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Hezbollah fighters stand behind the coffin of Fouad Shukr, the terror group's number two - Hussein Malla/AP

Hezbollah is poised to attack Israel even if Iran chooses to avoid direct retaliation for the killings of Ismail Haniyeh and Fuad Shukr, US officials say.

The terrorist group, based in Lebanon and backed by Iran, is said to desire further revenge for Israels assassination of Shukr, its number two, and could strike without warning.

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, feels compelled to avenge the death of his close adviser, said Sima Shine. Mr Shine is a former officer in Mossad, the Israeli security agency, and the head of the Iran program at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.

Hezbollah is more committed to attack, Mr Shine said, as Nasrallah personally feels obliged to his friend and colleague for so many years.

A protest in Tehran after the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas commander - Vahid Salemi/AP

The news that Hezbollah might attack Israel independently and ahead of Iran was first reported on Thursday by CNN, which said its sources were familiar with the intelligence.

One US military official told the channel that Iran had made some of the preparations needed to launch an assault  but not all of them.

A second source said Hezbollah could act with little or no notice, given the short distance between its missile launchers and Israel.

Two assassinations

Both Hezbollah and Iran have said they will retaliate for the killings  but not how.

Haniyeh, the leader of the Hamas terror group, was assassinated in Tehran as he visited for the inauguration of Irans new president. Hezbollah, of which Shukr was a founding member, is an Iranian proxy group.

Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, leads prayers over the coffins of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader, and his bodyguard - AP

While any further response Hezbollah makes to the death of Shukr is likely to be co-ordinated with Tehran, the terror group is still capable of acting independently at times, analysts noted.

Nasrallah said in a speech on Tuesday that the ambiguity around its response was part of the punishment for Israel, which has seen hundreds of international flights cancelled and a marked downturn in social and economic activity.

The little anxieties pool together like beads of water on a tabletop, said Linda Dayan, a journalist with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, of the mood in the country on Thursday.

Iran has said it will retaliate at the right time but officials have also stressed it is not seeking to escalate matters to a full-scale war.

A billboard in Tehran shows Haniyeh, the late Hamas leader, with Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president - Getty/AFP

In April, it launched more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel a full two weeks after an Israeli strike on its embassy in Damascus.

General Mohammad Baqeri, Irans armed forces chief of staff, told state TV on Thursday: How Iran and the resistance front will respond is currently being reviewed... This will certainly happen and the Zionist regime [Israel] will undoubtedly regret it.

The countrys supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hard-line Islamist but has long embraced a policy of political expediency or heroic flexibility when it comes to international relations.

On Thursday, US officials indicated Iran was once again telegraphing its intentions ahead of time, giving the US time to to manoeuvre defensive military assets including aircraft carriers into position.

The leader of Hezbollah addresses supporters in Lebanon on Tuesday - Mustafa Jamalddine/AP

Iran understands clearly that the US is unwavering in its defence of our interests, our partners and our people. We have moved a significant amount of military assets to the region to underscore that principle, a senior Biden administration official told the Washington Post.

Much to lose

In recent years, Iran has developed important diplomatic and trading relationships with China, Russia and Saudi Arabia in a bid to counter US and Israeli influence in the region and has much to lose if it calibrates its response poorly.

Some analysts believe that despite tactical military wins, including the recent assassinations, Israel is losing the strategic battle in the region and that Iran does not want to disrupt that trajectory.

This view is rejected by many in the Israeli defence establishment and the countrys political Right.

They want our blood and their honour back, said Assaf Orion, a retired Israeli brigadier general and a fellow of the The Washington Institute, of the likely response to the killings.

By desert rules, if you cant protect your guests, youre good game.

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Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple speaks at the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana candidate's forum April 27, 2023, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge.

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple speaks at the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana candidate's forum April 27, 2023, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

With Louisiana residents facing sky-high auto insurance premiums, state lawmakers are scrutinizing a state law that many say has prevented full transparency in jury trials on personal injury cases.

Five legislative committees with oversight of insurance and lawsuits met Wednesday as part of a series of hearings to research the causes and potential solutions to the states insurance crisis. Legislators are expected to hold a special session on insurance issues next year.

Auto insurance rates in Louisiana are among the highest in the nation and have been for many years. One recent analysis ranked the state as the eighth most expensive for vehicle premiums.

Speaking to lawmakers on the House Insurance Committee, Commissioner of Insurance Tim Temple said Louisiana has double the national average of auto insurance claims with bodily injury.

Why Louisiana has so many more bodily injury claims  and to what extent that impacts insurance rates  is among the myriad issues legislators are investigating.

Temple said he is looking to Florida as an example, where its lawmakers recently passed a series of laws with industry support that limit the options of policy holders.

The factors driving those high premiums have been the subject of debate for years. Insurance companies have typically been unwilling to share all the variables that go into their formulas for calculating auto premiums. As a result, lawmakers have had to rely on information from lobbyists and lawyers.

Insurance companies blame the high rates on state laws they say have incentivized accident victims to file lawsuits against them. They have long called for tort reform or measures that limit the ability of persons injured to seek remedy and the amount of damages they might receive in court.

Proponents of tort reform direct their ire at trial attorneys, whom they refer to as TV lawyers or billboard attorneys and what they call their opportunistic clients.

I think there was a mentality of its an opportunity to get a quick influx of money, so many people that probably could have not gone to the doctor and been fine in a couple of weeks immediately go to an attorney, Rep. Brian Glorioso, R-Slidell, said. The TV lawyers drive that industry, and thats where the costs are.

Personal injury lawyers who represent accident victims blame the high rates on a multitude of factors. Sen. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans, who is a personal injury lawyer, cited corporate executive salaries, marketing costs and poorly maintained roads as factors driving premiums.

The Senate Insurance Committee heard testimony regarding how medical expenses are handled during jury trials on personal injury lawsuits.

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Doran Drummond, a Louisiana attorney who specializes on the topic on behalf of insurers, discussed a state statute that prevents juries from receiving evidence that shows the actual costs of a victims medical expenses. The jury is only allowed to see evidence from the plaintiff regarding the billed amount for a medical expense.

The problem, Drummond said, is that the billed amount can be artificially inflated beyond the amount actually paid for medical treatment.

Personal injury lawyers often have standing agreements with doctors to whom they send their clients to for medical exams and procedures. Rather than collecting immediate payment from the accident victim, the doctors create artificially inflated invoices for the lawyers to use as evidence at trial, according to Drummond.

The jury ends up awarding a high amount based on those billed amounts, and the lawyers eventually give some of that back to the doctors. But its still well below the artificial amount on the invoice, Drummond said.

The plaintiffs, themselves, are unaware of how everything is being paid and are simply following the direction of their attorneys, he said.

Think about how this plays out over time in thousands and thousands of cases, Drummond said.  How does that not drive everyones auto insurance up?

Sen. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, suggested legislation that would either get rid of the statute that shields actual medical costs or amend it to allow juries to see evidence of the amounts billed as well as the amounts actually paid for medical expenses.

Sen. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge (Elizabeth Garner/LSU Manship School News Service)

Under questioning from Duplessis, Drummond revealed that he came to testify at the request of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.

LABI was responsible for spearheading the tort reform legislation in 2020. At the organizations urging, lawmakers enacted changes that similarly took away legal tools that accident victims had to fight insurance companies in court. LABI promised the changes would reduce auto insurance rates quickly and significantly, by as much as 25%.

Not only did those discounts fail to materialize, but insurance rates actually increased, and lawmakers have made no significant efforts to roll back the changes.

Duplessis said Drummonds arguments were based on anecdotes. Lawmakers have yet to see any causal evidence or actuarial data that indicates whether personal injury lawsuits or anything else are to blame for high premiums in the state, the senator said.

Talbot said the hearings have only just begun and suggested such evidence could surface at a later date. The Senate Insurance Committee plans to meet every month until next years regular session, he said.

The current law makes Louisiana an outlier among most other states, according to Talbot.

Alabama has full transparency when it comes to the medical billing evidence juries get to see, he said. Talbot also noted Tennessee allows defendants to present evidence of the average or reasonable costs of medical procedures in a particular ZIP code, a concept the law calls usual and customary costs.

Louisianas liberal attitude toward distracted driving is also a problem, several lawmakers and advocates noted during the House Insurance committee.

Conservative lawmakers have repeatedly rebuffed attempts to pass legislation prohibiting the use of hand-held devices such as cellphones while driving. According to data presented to the committee by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, distracted driving was a factor in more than 30% of crashes in Louisiana from 2021-23.

I personally believe that it contributes to [accidents], Temple said. If youre looking at your phone, youre not looking at the road.



Correction: A previous version of this story stated lawmakers had passed several tort reform bills in 2020. Only one was enacted. The story has been updated to reflect this.


NEW YORK  A high ranking NYPD official is among several defendants in a lawsuit accusing him of body slamming a woman to the pavement in lower Manhattan during a May 2023 protest. The lawsuit says the encounter left her with a broken eye socket and a laceration to her forehead, but police sources say the woman was not injured by cops, but ran into a pole.

Kaz Daughtry, the Police Departments deputy commissioner of operations, and two senior commanders are accused in the lawsuit filed against the city last week by Shakim McKnight of tackling and pinning her to the ground on May 8, 2023, near Crosby and Houston Sts. while she says she was filming a vigil for Jordan Neely, the homeless man killed during a scuffle a week earlier aboard the F train with former Marine Daniel Penny.

While its unclear what prompted police officers at the scene to pursue McKnight, her lawyer, John Paul De Verna, said his client was crossing the street to get away from the crowd when Daughtry darted across a traffic divider and grabbed her, slamming her to the ground. Other officers including an inspector and a deputy chief put their knees upon [McKnights] back, piled on top of [McKnight] while kneeing them and grabbing and twisting their ankle, the lawsuit says.

About a dozen people were arrested during the chaotic protest at the Broadway-Lafayette subway station. The chokehold death of Neely touched off a series of protests and vigils in the days following the episode.

The pictures and video speak for themselves; Ms. McKnight was brutally assaulted while exercising her constitutional right to film during the remembrance vigil. Her grave and serious injuries were compounded by a delay in medical attention, De Verna said. To make matters worse, to my knowledge, no disciplinary action was taken against Kaz Daughtry or any other of the officers involved.

A police source who requested anonymity said that this individual did not get hurt from physical contact with Kaz Daughtry. This individual ran into a pole. A video obtained by the News appears to show McKnight hitting a pole just before Daughtry grabs her.

Video and photos show Daughtry chasing down and tackling McKnight to the ground, and McKnight being loaded into a police van with blood on her face. Verna said McKnight suffered a sprained ankle and wrist, a forehead gash and a broken eye socket. He said she spent hours in a precinct without medical attention before she was finally placed on a stretcher and taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment.

He said she was only charged with disorderly conduct for failure to disperse, which is a noncriminal violation. A copy of the summons states, [She] was with more than two other people in a public street and refused to comply with multiple lawful orders to disperse.

Cops gave her a desk appearance ticket at the hospital, Deverna said. She went to two court dates before the disorderly conduct violation was dismissed two months later on July 11, 2023. Because of the dismissal, the original arrest records are sealed.

I have never experienced something like this in my life. Im still hurt emotionally and physically, McKnight, 29, a Brooklyn resident, told the Daily News. For weeks afterward I could not even leave the house. Now, when I leave the house, anytime I see a cop, Im scared that something else is going to happen to me.

McKnights lawsuit also names John Corbisiero, an NYPD inspector in Manhattan South who signed the summons, John Dadamo, a deputy chief assigned to the Strategic Response Group, and Frank Russo, a cop assigned to a Community Response Team.

McKnight was one of about a dozen people arrested during the vigil, which also included veteran photojournalist Stephanie Keith. Keiths work has appeared in the New York Times and Reuters. The NYPD said they found a Molotov cocktail at the scene of the vigil and Mayor Adams, at the time, defended the police actions.

The vigil took place one week after the deadly encounter between Penny and Neely, who scuffled on a subway train heading toward the Broadway-Lafayette station May 1, 2023, after Neely became aggressive. Penny placed Neely in a chokehold and Neely passed out and died.

Neelys death was ruled a homicide, and a Manhattan grand jury indicted Penny on second-degree murder charges in June 2023. The case is pending.

Daughtry was a detective at the time of the encounter with McKnight, his official bio states. In July 2023, he was named a civilian assistant commissioner, then a deputy commissioner in February, according to the bio.
High-speed rail agency in California gets new CEO. What experience does he bring?

A transportation executive with experience in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America has been named to be the new chief executive officer for the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

Ian Choudri, currently a senior vice president with transportation firm HNTB, was appointed by the state rail agencys board at its meeting Thursday in Sacramento. He will succeed Brian Kelly, who is retiring after six years as head of the authority.

HTNB is one of many companies contracting with the state rail authority as it moves slowly toward the development of a bullet-train system. The companys three current contracts amount to a total of more than $261.1 million, including almost $139 million for project and construction management for work already underway on a segment of the route from the Tulare-Kern county line to the city Shafter, northwest of Bakersfield.

Tom Richards, chairman of the rail agencys board of directors and a Fresno developer, said Choudris strong understanding of complex transportation projects will help build on the progress weve been making and lead the organization forward on a path to passenger service.

Construction in the San Joaquin Valley is ongoing for what is billed as an initial 171-mile operating route between Merced and Bakersfield, with a goal of having electric-powered trains carrying passengers at up to 220 mph by between 2030 and 2033.

The authoritys announcement following a closed-session meeting of the board states that Choudris experience in transportation includes work on high-speed rail projects in France and Spain.

Im humbled by todays Board of Directors decision, Choudri said in a statement released by the rail agency. This is a once in a lifetime project that has the attention of the nation. I look forward to joining the ranks of the dedicated employees at the Authority, rolling up my sleeves and working collectively to make our mark on high-speed rail in California.

Ian Choudri, left, senior vice president for transportation engineering firm HNTB Corporation, has been appointed as the new CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority to succeed retiring CEO Brian Kelly, right. The agency announced the appointment on Aug. 8, 2024.

High-Speed Rail Authority CEO work history

As senior VP at HNTB since mid-2016, Choudri has been the companys national business development director for transportation infrastructure, according to his LinkedIn profile. The rail authority reports that Choudris work in California has included developing connections in Southern California between Ontario International Airport and the future Brightline West high-speed rail project.

From 2013 to 2016, he was a vice president and operations manager in western North America for Parsons Corporation, which has previously been a contractor for the California rail authority.

Choudri also worked as a senior project director for Bechtel Civil Infrastructure, dealing with rail and port projects; and for Alstom, a French multinational company whose business includes building high-speed trains, as a commercial director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Gavin Newsom and states bullet train plan

California Gov. Gavin Newsom praised Choudris selection. Ians deep experience and get-it-done attitude are impressive, and hes taking control at an important moment for this project, Newsom said. Over the next few years, the dream of high-speed rail in California will become a reality, as we begin to lay track, design and build stations, and buy trains. Ian is the perfect steward for the next phase of high-speed rail.

The states high-speed rail program has been beset by an array of challenges for more than a decade, from lawsuits to schedule delays to escalating cost projections. Along the way, the scope for the first operating line was scaled down by Newsom from a proposed San Joaquin Valley-to-Silicon Valley line from Bakersfield to San Jose to a Merced-Bakersfield segment because of limitations on the money available for construction.

What was envisioned in 2008 as a statewide system linking San Francisco and Los Angeles at a cost of about $43 billion by the early 2020s was hit by cost estimates that skyrocketed in 2011 to nearly $100 billion.

The current plan for Merced-Bakersfield would not be extended to either the San Francisco Bay Area or Los Angeles until firm sources of money can be identified for that work.

In the meantime, the California High-Speed Rail Authoritys 2024 Business Plan now forecasts the cost for the planned 171-mile stretch from downtown Merced to downtown Bakersfield within a range from $26.2 billion to almost $33 billion. Construction in the Valley began in 2013 on the first of three contract sections between Madera and Shafter.
LA PAZ, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Bolivian President Luis Arce on Wednesday said the armed forces need to undergo a "profound transformation," including updating military doctrine, to avert further attempted coups.

"We have come to the conclusion that the institutional strengthening of the armed forces is necessary, promoting a profound transformation that includes the definition of new institutional objectives and strategic actions with a vision of the future in the short, medium and long term," he said in a speech marking the 199th anniversary of the Armed Forces in the city of Trinidad, in northeast Beni department.

Recently, "there have been two critical moments of rupture or anti-democratic crisis by a few bad soldiers who were seduced by personal interests and power groups. Given these facts, it is imperative to find solutions to prevent these moments of crisis from being repeated," Arce stressed.

The existence of traces of foreign interference is still evident, particularly in the pre- and post-graduate training of military personnel, under the guidelines of the "anachronistic national security doctrine" imposed on the continent by the United States, he said.

The goal, said the president, is to have a modern and professional military committed to strengthening democracy. 
Damaged riot gear of security forces is seen next to a burnt vehicle outside a police station, in Dhaka

By Ruma Paul and Krishna N. Das

DHAKA/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Hundreds of Bangladeshi Hindus have tried unsuccessfully to flee to India this week after many homes and businesses of the minority community were vandalised following the overthrow of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council said that 45 out of 64 districts in the country had seen the targeting of mostly Hindu homes, businesses or temples this week. A school teacher had been killed and 45 other people hurt, it said.

Hindus make up about 8% of Muslim-majority Bangladesh's 170 million people and have traditionally largely supported Hasina's Awami League party, which identifies as largely secular, instead of the opposition bloc that includes a hardline Islamist party.

Hasina has taken refuge in India after fleeing the country on Monday in the face of mass protests against what critics called her authoritarian rule - provoking anger among some Bangladeshis towards their neighbour.

Many living close to India are trying to flee but facing resistance from both sides, local people said. Both countries have said they have stepped up border patrolling since the violence.

Mohammad Rakibul Hasan, a local government official in Thakurgaon district in northwestern Bangladesh, said around 700-800 Hindus tried to flee to India around Wednesday evening after some of their houses were attacked and looted.

"They returned home after we provided protection," Hasan told Reuters. "Border guard troops are patrolling the area. Everything is fine now with no further reports of violence."

Early on Thursday, about 300 Bangladeshis had assembled at a border point near India's Jalpaiguri district but dispersed later. Indian media showed Indian border troops around a group of people there.

A Hindu goldsmith in the Narsingdi area, about an hour from Dhaka, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said two youths demanded protection money of 1 million Bangladesh taka ($8,550) and relented only after they agreed to pay 100,000 taka.

Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, who returned to Bangladesh on Thursday to head an interim government following Hasina's departure, said attacks on minorities could have been part of a conspiracy. He did not say who was behind the conspiracy.

"Our job is to protect all of them," he said on arrival in Dhaka from Paris.

"If you have faith in me and trust me, please ensure no one is attacked in the country. If you cannot listen to me on this, I have no use being here."

The two countries have longstanding cultural and business ties and India played a key role in the 1971 war with Pakistan which led to the creation of Bangladesh.

India, which has a Hindu majority, has said it was worrying that minorities, their businesses and temples had been attacked in many places.

"It is the responsibility of every government to ensure the wellbeing of all its citizens," India's foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, told a press conference.

"We hope for the early restoration of law and order in Bangladesh. This is both in the interest of the country itself and the larger region."

Bangladesh's Hindu community leaders urged other communities to look after the religious minorities.

"I call upon the conscientious people of the country to forget all differences and stand unitedly by the side of the affected people and build social resistance," said Moyna Talukdar of the Bangladesh Hindu Law Reform Council.

($1 = 117.0000 taka)

(Editing by Angus MacSwan)
What officials are saying: Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui stressed the need to reject the reliance on military force to resolve international issues. Our unity will move leaders now relying on nuclear deterrence to shift their policies, he said at the memorial. Hiroshima Gov. Hidehiko Yuzaki echoed this sentiment, warning, As long as nuclear weapons exist, they will surely be used again someday. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reiterated Japan's commitment to nuclear disarmament. The calamities that struck Hiroshima and Nagasaki 79 years ago and the suffering endured by the people must not be repeated, he said.
Holt man who led police on chase through swamp after domestic incident sentenced

CHARLOTTE  A Holt man who ran from police following a domestic incident in Eaton Rapids in January, prompting school children to shelter in place, has been sentenced to probation.

Jesse Wayne Babcock, 33, pleaded guilty in April to resisting or obstructing police and three other charges in connection with the incident with an agreement he would receive no upfront jail time, court records indicate.

On Thursday, Eaton County Circuit Judge Kelly Morton placed him on probation for 18 months and assessed more than $860 in fines and costs, according to online records.

The incident in January started with a 911 call about an intoxicated and possibly suicidal man who had threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend. Police spotted the suspect in the area of West Vermontville Highway and North Bradley Road and chased him through a swamp and the river.

MORE: Man who killed Lansing teen, dumped her body near Ann Arbor sentenced

Michigan State Police troopers in a small watercraft eventually pulled Babcock from the Thornapple River east of Vermontville after authorities had asked area residents to shelter in place. Maple Valley Schools placed its elementary school under a shelter-in-place order but lifted it after Babcock was caught.

Babcock was taken to a hospital for treatment of hypthermia before being lodged in the jail, police said at the time.

Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on X @KBPalm_lsj

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Holt man who led police on chase through swamp after domestic incident sentenced
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)HOME, a developer of affordable housing in Texas, has been awarded $16 million to help fund the South Mesa Hills Development project.

The $16 million is a nine percent tax credit by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), according to a news release sent by HOME.

The South Mesa Hills Development project will include a 104-unit apartment complex that will help provide high-quality and affordable housing in the community, according to HOME.

HOME understands the critical need for more affordable housing options in El Paso. The Mesa Hills Development is a testament to our commitment to meeting this need. With $16 million in tax credits and an additional $7 million in funding, we can create a thriving community that supports working families, older people, and veterans. Importantly, this project does not utilize taxpayer money, showcasing our dedication to responsible and impactful development, said Gerald Cichon, CEO of HOME.

Residents in the Coronado and Mesa Hills area have filled out a petition with over 600 signatures to vote against the affordable housing development.

West El Pasoans oppose low-income housing project

As weve previously reported, residents said they felt there was not transparency with District 8 Rep. Chris Canales.

West El Paso residents are also calling for the removal of City Rep. Canales by filling a petition to City Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

El Paso residents call on District 8 Rep. to be removed

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
The Cleveland Police Department announced on Wednesday that it made an arrest in a homicide that happened at a home on Johnstone Road.

Rowan Co. Sheriffs Office welcomes first therapy dog to K-9 force

Stephan Eric Buchanan was charged with homicide, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and four counts of obtaining property by false pretense, police said.

Law enforcement arrested Buchanan in South Carolina on outstanding warrants.

He is being held at the York County Detention Center where he awaits extradition to Rowan County.

No other details were released.

The Cleveland Police Department and the SBI are continuing the homicide investigation.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  City employees are sharing frustration, confusion and fear Wednesday evening, as questions about the ransomware attack against the City of Columbus almost three weeks ago go unanswered.

The Rhysida ransomware group claimed responsibility for the hack on Columbus systems, and while the mayor said IT staff were able to stop them from encrypting and locking employees out, he admitted that the hackers accessed and may have taken personal data. Rhysidas onion site on the dark web advertises it stole 6.5 terabytes, including passwords and copies of the citys servers and databases.

Multiple cybersecurity experts confirmed for NBC4 that Rhysida is holding an auction asking for 30 bitcoin  or $1.7 million  that ends at 5:35 a.m. Thursday. The contents of the data are something the city said it wont reveal, to protect the integrity of an investigation involving the FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Rhysida restarted an auction for stolen City of Columbus data on the groups dark web onion site. (Courtesy Photo/Daniel Maldet)

After at least a dozen Columbus officers reported their bank accounts were tampered with, the city announced free credit monitoring services for its employees. Officials noted they should be receiving enrollment instructions in the mail on Wednesday, hours after the auction was originally supposed to end. The enrollment instructions also may arrive only hours before Rhysidas extended deadline, but the local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police said its members hadnt seen anything arrive yet.

They have announced intent, but no pathways to sign up at Columbus citys expense, said Executive Vice President Brian Toth.

Man who ran school background checks charged with possessing sexual materials

One of those cybersecurity experts, CMIT Solutions Daniel Maldet, showed NBC4 Investigates the Rhysida groups site on the dark web. Screenshots showed filenames hinting they contained pay grade rates, addresses, and employee Social Security numbers. Rhysida also claims it has city video cameras, databases and servers.

Almost like a shopping website, Rhysida advertises other organizations that have been hacked in a list. Some victims information was sold, while others that never secured a bidder were publicly dumped.

NBC4 Investigates spoke with the New Mexico Public Defenders Office, which was also hacked by Rhysida. He said Columbus is a big get for this group, but its by no means the first.

While it is not a whole city, the office said it has taken weeks to recover. They have entered their seventh week working to pick up the pieces.

Rhysida begins leaking stolen data from the City of Columbus on the groups dark web onion site. (Courtesy Photo/Daniel Maldet)

Rhysidas dark web onion site shows a dead page after clicking the link to access leaked data from the City of Columbus. (Courtesy Photo/Daniel Maldet)

The Columbus auction was previously supposed to end at 5:35 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to NBC4s cybersecurity sources. When that timer ran out, the group started to upload the stolen data as a public leak. But all of a sudden, Rhysida extended the auction and the link to the data was never made available.

Maldet shared why he thinks the Rhysida group is giving buyers more time.

Maybe they feel that there is an opportunity to sell it, Maldet said. Even though it didnt sell up until this point, we dont know what kind of offers it may have gotten. So Im guessing that they do have some valuable data there and they feel that its worth selling versus releasing.

NBC4 Investigates reached out to multiple city officials, each one directed back to the mayors office, who said he would make time for an interview once they had their arms wrapped around the situation.

Big Lots stores in Ohio among 315 locations closing as bankruptcy looms

In some cases, organizations that are hacked pay the ransom to recover their data, but Maldet said thats not a good idea.

The general suggestion is to never negotiate with the threat actors, never pay a ransom, Maldet said. We know that it happens, though, and businesses do that because thats the easy way out. Thats the way to get back in business quickly, especially if theyre not prepared beforehand for something like this.

He noted every city employee or resident who has a city account should change their passwords immediately and set up two-factor authentication.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Microscopic wormholes may be driving the accelerated expansion of the universe, scientists say. These tiny wormholes are constantly being born from the vacuum of space due to subtle quantum effects.

If confirmed through experiments and observations, the wormholes could become a valuable source of information on quantum gravity  a theoretical unification of the fundamental forces of the universe, often considered to be the Holy Grail of theoretical physics.

Numerous astronomical observations show that our universe is expanding at an ever-increasing rate . However, Einstein's general theory of relativity states that if the universe contains only the species of particles and radiation we know, such behavior of the fabric of space is impossible.

To reconcile the observations of universe expansion with this theory, scientists have proposed that space is filled with an enigmatic entity that can't be detected in ground or space-based experiments.

This mysterious substance, called dark energy , interacts very weakly with other types of matter and fields, so, there is currently no reliable information about its structure or origin.

In a recent study published April 5 in the journal Physical Review D , researchers proposed a bold new candidate for dark energy: subatomic-size wormholes  or tiny tunnels connecting disparate points in space.

Related: Wormholes might bend light like black holes do  and that could be the key to finding them

According to the authors, these wormholes are constantly being born and destroyed in the vacuum of space due to quantum effects . This is similar to how particles are produced near the event horizons of black holes , leading to Hawking radiation ; or how electron-positron pairs are generated by a strong electric field  a phenomenon known as the Schwinger effect .

However, the creation of these wormholes is somewhat different from those other phenomena because their mathematical description requires quantum effects in gravity to be accounted for  a task that's much more complicated and poorly understood.

These difficulties in calculating quantum gravitational phenomena prevented the authors from accurately deriving the wormhole birth rate. However, using an approach known as Euclidean quantum gravity, they showed that if about 10 billion wormholes are spontaneously created per cubic centimeter per second, the energy they generate would be sufficient to explain the currently observed rate of the universe's expansion.

"Although our result was derived on the grounds of Euclidean quantum gravity it is likely that our modification may hold for other quantum gravity theories as well," study co-author Stylianos Tsilioukas , a doctoral student at the University of Thessaly and National Observatory of Athens, told Live Science via email.

Moreover, the team's analysis showed that their model of dark energy is even better observationally than the most widely accepted theory, known as the Standard Cosmological Model , which posits that dark energy has a time-independent energy density.

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Are some black holes wormholes in disguise? Gamma-ray blasts may shed clues.

Black hole singularities defy physics. New research could finally do away with them.

Dark energy could lead to a second (and third, and fourth) Big Bang, new research suggests

"According to our proposal dark energy can change as time flows," Tsilioukas said. "This is a major advantage because recent observations suggest that the rate of expansion of the universe is different in recent times than it was in the early universe."

However, no matter how successful the researchers' model is at explaining the general properties of dark energy, the validity of any physical theory must be tested with experimental data. And for now, the theory remains untestable.

In the future, the ever-increasing accuracy of space experiments and observations should enable astronomers to deduce the universe expansion rate in more detail, as well as to measure other observable manifestations of dark energy. This could enable researchers to test whether this newly proposed model of dark energy is correct.

In the meantime, the authors plan to further improve their theoretical analysis. "We are working right now on a model which calculates the rate of wormhole formation. " Tsilioukas said. "The research seems promising and we hope to publish the results very soon."
URUMQI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A new airport began operations on Thursday in Qitai County in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, bringing the number of civil airports across the vast region to 26.

The maiden flight to Qitai Jiangbulake Airport landed on Thursday morning after a nearly two-hour journey from an airport in Kashgar in western Xinjiang, according to China Express Airlines, the flight's operator.

The new airport is expected to handle an annual passenger throughput of 470,000 people and a cargo and mail throughput of 1,000 tonnes, with six flight routes now operational to connect Qitai with eight cities both in and outside Xinjiang.

With its vast territory and rich tourism resources, Xinjiang has the highest number of airports in China. The region aims to increase the total number of civil airports to 33 by the end of 2025. 
Hundreds of thousands of voters have already cast their ballots in Florida

Early voting for Floridas primary elections is underway, and hundreds of thousands of voters have already cast their ballots.

The Florida Division of Elections said more than 762,000 residents have already voted.

Early voting started Monday for some counties and will go statewide on Saturday.

Watch: Early voting underway in Orange, Osceola counties, more open this week

Election officials said increased flexibility in voting is everything.

With early voting and vote-by-mail, spreading it out across those just gives everybody a better opportunity to make it fit into their schedules. I think it really improves turnout, said Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley.

Read: Hear from patient whose medical records got leaked in Florida health department data breach

Early voting continues statewide until Aug. 17.

The primary is on Aug. 20.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Hunter Biden was hired by Romanian businessman trying to 'influence' US agencies, prosecutors say

WASHINGTON (AP)  Hunter Biden was hired by a Romanian businessman accused of corruption who was trying to influence U.S. government policy during Joe Biden's term as vice president, prosecutors said in court papers Wednesday.

Special counsel David Weiss' team said Hunter Biden's business associate will testify at the upcoming federal tax trial of the president's son about the arrangement with the executive, Gabriel Popoviciu, who was facing criminal investigation at the time in Romania.

The allegations are likely to bring a fresh wave of criticism of Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings, which have been the center of Republicans' investigations into the president's family. Hunter Biden has blasted Republican inquiries into his family's business affairs as politically motivated, and has insisted he never involved his father in his business.

An attorney for Hunter Biden didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Prosecutors plan to introduce evidence that Hunter Biden and his business associate received compensation from a foreign principal who was attempting to influence U.S. policy and public opinion," according to the filing. Popoviciu wanted U.S. government agencies to probe the Romanian bribery investigation he was facing in the hopes that would end his legal trouble, according to prosecutors.

Popoviciu is identified only in court papers as G.P., but the details line up with information released in the congressional investigation and media reporting about Hunter Biden's legal work in Romania.

Popoviciu was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2017 after being convicted of real estate fraud. He denied any wrongdoing. An attorney who previously represented Popoviciu didn't immediately respond to a phone message Wednesday.

Prosecutors say Hunter Biden agreed with his business associate to help Popoviciu fight the criminal charges against him. But prosecutors say they were concerned that lobbying work might cause political ramifications for Joe Biden, so the arrangement was structured in a way that concealed the true nature of the work for Popoviciu, prosecutors allege.

Hunter Biden's business associate and Popoviciu signed an agreement to make it look like Popoviciu's payments were for management services to real estate prosperities in Romania. However, prosecutors said, That was not actually what G.P. was paying for.

In fact, Popoviciu and Hunter's business associate agreed that they would be paid for their work to attempt to influence U.S. government agencies to investigate the Romanian investigation," prosecutors said. Hunter Biden's business associate was paid more than $3 million, which was split with Hunter and another business partner, prosecutors say.

The claims were made in court papers as prosecutors responded to a request by Hunter Biden's legal team to bar from his upcoming trial any reference to allegations of improper political influence that have dogged the president's son for years. While Republicans investigation has raised ethical questions, no evidence has emerged that the president acted corruptly or accepted bribes in his current role or his previous office as vice president.

Hunter Biden's lawyers have said in court papers that he has been the target of politically motivated attacks and conspiracy theories about his foreign business dealings. But they noted he has never been charged with any crime relating to these unfounded allegations, and the Special Counsel should thus be precluded from even raising such issues at trial.

Hunter Biden's trial set to begin next month in Los Angeles centers on charges that he failed to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes over four years during a period in which he has acknowledged struggling with a drug addiction.

Prosecutors say they won't introduce any evidence that Hunter Biden was directly paid by a foreign government or evidence that the defendant received compensation for actions taken by his father that impacted national or international politics.

Still, prosecutors say what Hunter Biden agreed to do for Popoviciu is relevant at trial because it demonstrates his state and mind and intent during the years he's accused of failing to pay his taxes.

"It is also evidence that the defendants actions do not reflect someone with a diminished capacity, given that he agreed to attempt to influence U.S. public policy and receive millions of dollars" in the agreement with his business associate, prosecutors wrote.

The tax trial comes months after Hunter Biden was convicted of three felony charges over the purchase of a gun in 2018. Prosecutors argued that the presidents son lied on a mandatory gun-purchase form by saying he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs.

He could face up to 25 years in prison at sentencing set for Nov. 13 in Wilmington, Delaware, but as a first-time offender he is likely to get far less time or avoid prison entirely.
My husband and I thought we wanted 2 kids, but having an only child made more sense for our family

Jen Hyde and her husband thought they wanted two kids, but they realized that having an only child works well for their family. Photo Credit: Kimberly Pascale

My husband and I both thought we wanted two kids.

However, after our son was born, we realized that a family of three was the right size for us.

Though we still sometimes think about the path we didn't take, we love our small family.

When I was young, I used to pretend I was a mom to twins. Alexander and Alexandria had faces I couldn't quite envision, but I shuttled them from one place to another in my bedroom. Back then, I knew a family of four was the cultural norm, even though I was an only child.

My parents had a good reason for our family size. I was born with congenital heart disease and had expensive open heart surgery as a toddler. We were a one-income family, so they fully invested in me. As a teenager, I traded playing house for summers at art camps in New York and the UK, where I wrote poetry and painted still lifes in oil. I learned to dream big and entered adulthood thinking I could be anything  an artist, a mother, anything. It was all on the table.

I met and married another artist. Although we worried about how parenting would alter our career goals, I couldn't imagine not having children with him. But if we started a family, he told me he wanted two kids. At first, the thought of having my childhood fantasy come to life felt like dumb luck. Yet, days after our son was born, I feared I could never love another child as deeply as I loved him. I told my husband, "I'm not sure I have the space in my heart for two."

Parenthood altered my relationship with my husband

When my son was a newborn, I had postpartum depression. By the time he was 1, the depression still hadn't subsided. My husband started an intensive project that provided significant financial stability. As a college professor, my summers, once reserved for creative projects, were reallocated to childcare.

I developed a deep knowledge base of kid-friendly activities and reigned over our domestic sphere. I felt like I'd traded my ambition for motherhood, and I resented the satisfaction my husband gained from his work even though it provided financial security for us.

When we initially discussed having two kids, we talked about having them three years apart, but by my son's 2nd birthday, this idea no longer appealed to me. I started to realize that while I originally worried about not having space in my heart for more than one child, it might be more accurate to say that more than one child might not leave me enough room to still love myself.

Jen Hyde says that having an only child gives her family more time to spend together. Courtesy of Jen Hyde

We have so much as a family of three

Around my son's 3rd birthday, my best friend asked if we would have a second child. Whenever people asked this, I gave a pragmatic answer, citing financial constraints. But I knew she craved a deeper truth. "Being a trio is actually perfect," I said, unsure at first if I believed myself.

While the previous answers I'd given to this question had a ring of truth to them, they also weren't truly mine. They felt off-the-rack; they'd do in a pinch, but they weren't made for me. This answer felt tailor-made, and it fit perfectly. My son would start preschool in the fall, and I would regain time. I needed this time to nurture my ambition. I knew that growing into myself would make me a better partner and mother.

Later, I told my husband. He revealed he'd been working toward the same realization, though for him, it seemed like a more painful dream to let go of. He'd truly envisioned a future with two children, whereas, for me, it had been more abstract. Still, he said it before I could: "What we have is just as good."

The three of us have so much. We have the financial ability to pay for summer camps and vacations, invest in college savings, and buy a Bay Area home. We have time to work on our relationship and the capacity to help each other grow into ourselves for the rest of our lives.

This doesn't mean we don't mourn the path we didn't follow. Every artist knows you finish a piece because it is time to be done, not because it is perfect. There will always be some kind of void in our lives, but building around it together deepens our relationship. What we have to work with is becoming just as wonderful and big.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Defense technology contractor Anduril has announced plans to build a novel hyperscale production facility that will be able to churn out significant numbers of different military products, including uncrewed combat aircraft and autonomous underwater vehicles. The project closely aligns with the Pentagons aim of securing the ability to manufacture at scale, to meet future demands, especially for uncrewed systems that would be critical in potential peer-state conflicts.

Defense technology contractor Anduril has announced plans to build a novel hyperscale production facility that will be able to churn out huge numbers of different military products, including uncrewed combat aircraft and autonomous underwater vehicles. The project closely aligns with the Pentagons aim of securing the ability to manufacture at scale, to meet future demands, especially for uncrewed systems that are increasingly seen as being critical in potential peer-state conflicts.

The California-based company announced today that it will build the first so-called Arsenal facility in the United States, using funding from a recent $1.5-billion Series F investment round. In a document titled Rebuilding the Arsenal of Democracy, Anduril lays out plans for the manufacturing facility, which will measure more than five million square feet and, once up and running, will be able to produce tens of thousands of autonomous weapons systems addressing the urgent needs of the United States and our allies.

A rendering of Andurils stealthy Fury drone, in U.S. Air Force markings. Anduril

Anduril says it sees a need for a new paradigm in defense production, in which the defense industrial base is configured to provide the quantities of autonomous systems, weapons, and munitions needed to achieve affordable mass. This means that the defense industry across the board will need to produce orders of magnitude more than it is currently producing today.

The company identifies what it sees as key limitations in the traditional defense industrial base, in particular how it struggles to scale production to meet demands.

Slow and low production rates, inflexible processes, and the development of exquisite, defense-specific, bespoke systems have hindered the ability to respond quickly to need, Anduril says. Lead times to replenish key weapons and munitions average two years.

These problems have been brought into sharper contrast by the war in Ukraine, in which the U.S. manufacturing base has been unable to keep up with demand, both to arm Ukraine but also to replenish its own stocks after the transfer of weapons to Kyiv.

A good example of this is the significant difficulty in replenishing stocks of Stinger air defense missiles supplied to Ukraine, an effort that has been estimated to take two to three years and which would be impossible without experienced workers being brought out of retirement.

Green Berets deploy FIM-92 Stinger missiles in defense of the highly strategic Shemya Island during a recent exercise. NORAD NORAD

In a major conflict, use of weapons and munitions would quickly exceed supply, Anduril continues, predicting that the United States would run out of weapons in the first few weeks of a peer-state war. A conflict with China, meanwhile, would see U.S. weapons expended after less than a week of fighting, the company predicts.

In particular, the company points to the different numbers of weapons to be procured in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget request, including 118 Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM), 39 Standard Missile 3s (SM-3), 125 Standard Missile 6s (SM-6), 34 Tomahawk cruise missiles, and 550 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles  Extended Range (JASSM-ER).

Launch of a Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) from a U.S. warship. U.S. Navy USN

As well as costing several million dollars apiece, the United States currently lacks the capacity to ramp up production of such weapons. As a result, the United States and its allies would run out of these and other critical munitions in a matter of days in a war against China and then struggle to replace them on a relevant timeline.

Anduril sees the solution in adopting the same kinds of agile, rapid, and scalable processes found in the commercial manufacturing sector, but which have typically been absent from the defense industrial base.

At the center of the companys ambitions is the Arsenal facility, described as a software-defined manufacturing platform optimized for the mass production of autonomous systems and weapons. To ensure that the manufacturing plant can achieve hyperscale, it will rely on four principles: designs that are optimized for simplicity and scale; a resilient supply chain; software-defined production; and the central infrastructure itself.

To start with, Anduril will build Arsenal-1, suggesting that ultimately the plans are for a chain of similar production enterprises across the United States, and potentially elsewhere too, dependent on requirements. According to reports, the location of the flagship U.S. plant is yet to be determined.

Currently, Anduril has major production facilities in California, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Georgia, and Sydney, Australia.

Andurils Roadrunner: A novel missile-like air vehicle, with high degrees of modularity and autonomy, that can be readily reused. Anduril A roadrunner comes in to land. Anduril

As to the actual products that will come out of the Arsenal-1 facility, Anduril says that nearly 90 percent of its designs are compatible with manufacturing at hyperscale, using commercially available components and materials.

Leveraging existing capabilities in the commercial sector will also see Anduril look to recruit personnel from there, as it builds toward hyperscale production.

Were taking many of the people who lead those processes at some of these world-leading commercial companies that have achieved this type of hyperscale production before and were bringing this into the defense industrial base to fundamentally transform how we build weapons, how we design weapons, Chris Brose, Andurils chief strategy officer, said.

Its also worth noting that Anduril is not the only U.S. defense contractor looking at the potentially transformational value of new, purpose-designed production facilities. Two of the more established U.S. aerospace players have also recently announced plans to set up new manufacturing facilities for advanced programs.

Boeing has invested around $1.8 billion in a new manufacturing center in St. Louis, Missouri. This is optimized for the production of advanced combat aircraft, is due to be completed in 2026, and would likely manufacture the crewed fighter component of the U.S. Air Forces Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative, if the Boeing bid is successful. Lockheed Martin, too, has opened a new cutting-edge manufacturing facility at its campus in Palmdale, California, described as a factory of the future. The facility, which is part of the famed Skunk Works advanced projects division, is intended to accelerate and optimize the designs and production of advanced aerospace vehicles, including stealth fighters, drones, and hypersonic missiles. You can read more about it here.

A robot works on the wing of the X-59A experimental supersonic aircraft in a Lockheed Martin Skunk Works production facility. Lockheed Martin

Notable programs and products in Andurils portfolio include the Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous undersea vehicle (in partnership with Australia), the Roadrunner reusable missile-like air vehicle, and the Iris family of passive infrared sensors. The company is one of two vendors building aircraft for the first increment of the U.S. Air Forces Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) advanced uncrewed aircraft program and is also understood to be developing technology for the Replicator low-cost drone effort, more on which later.

The prototype Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous undersea vehicle (XL-AUV), which is being developed for Australia. Anduril Australian Defense Force

While these involve cutting-edge technologies and high-end capabilities, Anduril is confident these systems can be produced rapidly and in large numbers.

The company draws a parallel with the U.S. defense manufacturing effort in World War II, in which Ford assembly lines, for example, were repurposed to produce B-24 bombers without great difficulty. Today, it would be impossible for the Ford plant in Detroit to build B-21 stealth bombers  or most other advanced military platforms, for that matter  a problem that Anduril thinks it can help to resolve through its hyperscale production plans.

A view of the production line of B-24 Liberator bombers at Fords Willow Run plant, Michigan, during World War II. Photo by PhotoQuest/Getty Images PhotoQuest

The idea of the U.S. defense production model trading traditional complexity for more simple designs, with the minimum of unnecessary materials, parts, and specialized processes, combined with software-based production is hardly a new one. It has previously been pitched as the answer to the demand for defense equipment that can be produced rapidly and in mass, while at the same time offering the potential to quickly adapt products in response to emerging requirements.

For Arsenal, Anduril highlights what it describes as a unified system to integrate the design, development, and mass production stages for all Anduril products. Arsenal consists of a common enterprise resource planning system and a proprietary manufacturing execution software system to integrate threat-based operational analysis, modeling, simulation, drawing, testing, bill of material management, work orders, production, and data management across the product lifecycle.

Overall, the concerns that Anduril identifies are very much already driving different U.S. efforts to field thousands of uncrewed vehicles, including the aforementioned Replicator program.

As you can read about here, Replicator has been very squarely set up to counter Chinas rapid military progress and plans to rapidly field thousands of attritable autonomous platforms that will be characterized by being small, smart, cheap, and many. As in Andurils vision, Replicator seeks to harness U.S. innovation as a way to counter the mass of Chinas armed forces, while relying heavily on uncrewed systems.

Anduril Fury. Anduril

Anduril

Then there is the Air Forces CCA, also based around highly autonomous drones, which will work closely together with crewed combat jets. The service plans to acquire 100 CCAs under Increment One, while Increment Two will build toward an ultimate goal to acquire and field 1,000 CCAs, and perhaps many more. Central to CCA is the requirement to accelerate development timetables, and then quickly ramp up large-scale production of finalized designs, very much at the core of Andurils plans.

Anduril and its Fury design are currently competing against a rival General Atomics drone, which uses components originally made for the MQ-9 Reaper. There are suggestions, however, that both types could eventually enter service as a complementary team.

Another Air Force project that parallels Andurils vision is the Enterprise Test Vehicle (ETV) program, which aims to explore the potential of low-cost air vehicles that could be turned into cruise missiles, but which could also undertake electronic attack missions and other roles. In this case, the service is looking at how the available industrial base could be optimized to produce greater numbers of more affordable weapons, again with the demands of a future high-end conflict, such as one against China, at the forefront. Anduril is one of the companies that has been selected to design, build, and flight-test an ETV concept.

Although not from Anduril, this rendering shows one of the design concepts under development as part of the Enterprise Test Vehicle (ETV) program. Integrated Solutions for Systems, Inc. via DIU





Ultimately, Anduril is also banking on the U.S. military and its allies making a dramatic shift away from heavily focusing on exquisite weapons toward cheaper, more autonomous, mass-producible ones.

The kinds of weapons that currently fall into this category, however, are chiefly smaller, tactical, shorter-range systems of the kinds now familiar from the war in Ukraine, as well as other combat theaters. For the future, these systems will not only have to be more affordable, autonomous, and be produced in large quantities, but they will also need to be bigger and more capable, offering greater range and payload, as well as enhanced survivability. This is especially important for future contingencies across the vast expanses of the Indo-Pacific region.

Anduril admits that its vision of hyperscale defense production might seem fanciful, but the company is confident it can be achieved. Anduril argues that by harnessing the existing raw materials, technology, and personnel, its ambitious targets can be met, and the U.S. defense industrial base overhauled to meet future demands. The key thing, the company believes, is the political conviction to change the way things are done.

That will likely prove easier said than done, but the software-driven Arsenal facility is, at the very least, a compelling argument for doing things differently. Whether its the whole solution to a growing problem or a part of it, remains to be seen, but its very clear that the drive toward scaling production  especially of uncrewed systems and weapons  is currently a key concern across the Pentagon.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) believes that intense fires near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is temporarily occupied by Russia, pose a risk for its external power supply.

Source: IAEA website, as reported by Ukrinform

Quote: "On several occasions over the past week, the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhya (ISAMZ) observed several fires at various distances from the ZNPP and nearby villages. Over the weekend, the IAEA experts observed smoke coming from an area to the north of the ZNPP near the Zaporizhzhya Thermal Power Plant (ZTPP) inlet channel."

Details: The agency noted that the fire was underneath the remaining overhead power cables that supply power to the plant.

Quote: "As the summer heat continues, such fires along the pathways of the two remaining lines place the ZNPP at risk of loss of external power. While there was no disconnection of either line on this occasion, the situation highlighted the fragility of off-site power at the ZNPP."

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Skylar Meade, the prisoner charged with murder in the death of a North Idaho man, stood silent as 2nd District Judge Michelle Evans asked him how he pleads.

Evans entered a not guilty plea for the first-degree murder charge on Meades behalf Thursday afternoon.

The 32-year-old was accused of killing 83-year-old James Mauney, of Juliaetta, while he was on the run after ambushing a Boise hospital. A grand jury indicted both Meade and Nicholas Umphenour, who police said helped him plan the ambush, on the murder charges in June. Police said the two suspects were involved in a second homicide in North Idaho, though no charges for that death have been filed yet.

Skylar Meade attends a hearing at the Ada County Courthouse. Hes now facing the death penalty in Nez Perce County after prosecutors charged him with the first-degree murder of an 83-year-old Juliaetta man.

Mauney was last seen walking his dogs and was shot in the head, according to Idaho State Police and a recently unsealed indictment obtained by the Idaho Statesman. His body was later found in a desolate area near Leland, about 30 miles northeast of Lewiston.

The Nez Perce County Prosecutors Office intends to seek the death penalty against Meade if hes convicted. In their filing, prosecutors said Meade had utter disregard for human life and has exhibited a propensity to commit murder. To have someone receive a death sentence, prosecutors must prove that there were aggravated circumstances to the killing.

Meade was accused of either directly committing the offense or aiding and abetting, according to the indictment. In Idaho, someone can be charged with first-degree murder even if they werent the one to commit the offense.

Mr. Meade, I just want to make sure that you do understand that this particular offense that you have been charged with carries with it a maximum penalty of up to life in prison, Evans asked Meade on Thursday. In this case, given what the state has requested, it could involve the imposition of the death penalty.

Yes, maam, Meade responded.

Hes being represented by Anne Taylor, a Coeur dAlene-based attorney who is also representing another high-profile suspect Bryan Kohberger. Taylor has been representing Kohberger, accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students in 2022, and was appointed to lead Meades defense Wednesday.

Anne Taylor, the lead attorney for Bryan Kohberger, is now also represening Skylar Meade, the Idaho prisoner who took part in the ambush of a Boise hospital to escape custody. Meade, along with his alleged co-conspirator Nicholas Umphenour, are also accused of killing two North Idaho men by police.

Initially, Lewiston-based private attorney Rick Cuddihy was assigned to represent Meade, but hes only allowed to act as co-counsel in death penalty cases. Taylor is qualified to work as the lead attorney.

Meade pleads guilty to escape charges

Last month, Meade was sentenced in Ada County for five felonies, three of which were related to his escape. Umphenour pleaded not guilty to the seven charges against him for his part in the ambush and is expected to face a jury in October, court records showed.

Meade was serving a minimum 10-year prison sentence at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution near Kuna in March when he was taken to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise for self-inflicted injuries. There, he and Umphenour ambushed three correctional officers in a coordinated plan to break Meade out of custody, according to law enforcement.

Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Heather Reilly said Meade feigned his medical injuries by claiming that hed swallowed someone elses medication, swallowed razor blades and injured his hand. But once at the Boise hospital, Meade refused treatment from the medical staff because he knew Umphenour was outside.

Around 2 a.m. March 20, after the three correctional officers escorted Meade outside of the hospital to the ambulance bay, where the prison van was parked, Umphenour shot two of the officers from behind, Reilly said. The other officer was accidentally shot by a Boise police officer. All three of the officers survived.

Umphenour and Meade fled in a vehicle, and law enforcement found them 36 hours later in the Twin Falls area.

Nicholas Umphenour and Skylar Meade have been indicted by a grand jury on first-degree murder charges for 83-year-old James Mauneys death. Police have also accused them of killing Don Henderson, another North Idaho man, but havent been charged in his death.

This truly was an ambush, Reilly said during Meades sentencing on the escape charges last month. An Ada County judge sentenced Meade to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 35 years.

Police allege another homicide in North Idaho

Before Meade and Umphenour were captured in Twin Falls, the men drove six hours up to northern Idaho, where local and state law enforcement agencies said they killed two men, including Mauney. He was last seen in the early morning of March 20.

That same day, the Clearwater County Sheriffs Office found the body of Gerald Don Henderson in his cabin outside of Orofino. Police said shackles that belonged to Meade, along with Mauneys dogs, were found in the cabin.

Henderson, remembered by his partner as a quintessential mountain man who made his life an adventure, had a brief acquaintance with Umphenour a decade ago.

Meade and Umphenour havent yet been charged for Hendersons death. Idaho State Police spokesperson Aaron Snell told the Statesman in an email Friday that the case remains under investigation as they are processing evidence and information. Once the case is completed, it will be forwarded to prosecutors, Snell said.

Unfortunately, there is no timeline for completion, but the case continues moving forward, he added.

With Umphenours case still pending in Ada County, he hasnt been transported up north to face the first-degree murder charge in Nez Perce County.

Twelve witnesses, many of whom are members of law enforcement, were called to testify in front of the Nez Perce County grand jury in June, according to the indictment. Grand jury proceedings are sealed, even to those accused of the crimes, and give prosecutors a way to charge someone while bypassing a public preliminary hearing.

His next hearing is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. PST Thursday, Sept. 5.

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FORT CAVAZOS, Texas (FOX 44)  The III Armored Corps and Fort Cavazos welcomed new commander, Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, while bidding farewell to Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe during a change of command ceremony at the III Armored Corps headquarters on Wednesday.

According to the Fort Cavazos Media Center, the change of command ceremony is a tradition during which the outgoing commander symbolically relinquishes command and authority by passing the units colors to the presiding officer. The presiding officer will hand the colors to the incoming commander, thus beginning a new era of leadership for the incoming commander and the unit.

Admiral was promoted to lieutenant general in a ceremony before the change of command.

U.S. Army Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, U.S. Army Forces Command commanding general, receives the corps colors from U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, outgoing commander of III Armored Corps, during a change of command ceremony at Fort Cavazos, Texas, Aug. 7. The change of command ceremony marks the official transfer of command authority between incoming and outgoing commanders. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Donovan Patterson)

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, the outgoing commander of III Armored Corps, gives his final speech to the corps Aug. 7. on Fort Cavazos, Texas. The change of command ceremony recognizes Bernabes accomplishments at the unit, as well as welcomes Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral as the incoming commander of III Armored Corps. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathan Morse)

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, the incoming commander of III Armored Corps, receives the corps colors from Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, the commanding general of Army Forces Command, Aug. 7 on Fort Cavazos, Texas. The change of command ceremony recognizes the accomplishments of the outgoing commander, Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, and welcomes Admiral as the incoming commander of III Armored Corps. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathan Morse).

U.S. Army 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, Charlie Battery, fires cannons during Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admirals change of command ceremony at Fort Cavazos, Texas, Aug 7. Cannons are fired to render honors to distinguished participants in the ceremony. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Donovan Patterson)

As Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command, bid farewell and thanked Bernabe for his leadership, he welcomed Admiral, expressing confidence in his ability to lead the III Armored Corps to new heights.

The Media Center says Admiral takes the reins of Americas only armored corps following his command of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Cavazos. Commissioned as an armor officer from the University of Kansas in 1994, he is no stranger to The Great Place. Most recently, he led the U.S. Army Task Force Pegasus, operating across Poland and the Baltic States.

The ceremony represented the end of Bernabes 22 months in command of the corps. During his remarks, he took the time to thank the corps and the community.

The Media Center says that under Bernabes guidance and leadership, the corps conducted myriad operations across the globe to include rotations to Europe, the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East. Bernabes next assignment is the deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa in Germany.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Officials say for those who plan to head out to enjoy the Illinois State Fair, people should take a moment to review some tips for the best experience.

Grandstand

Officials say if anyone purchased mobile tickets, be sure to download the tickets to their Ticketmaster app, prior to arriving at the Fairgrounds. This will ensure visitors have a consistent and reliable wifi signal to minimize any delays getting into the concert.

According to Illinois state officials, for the safety of artists and their audiences, no outside drink containers will be allowed inside the Grandstand during concert events. This includes, but is not limited to:

Bottles Cans Reusable cups Refillable souvenir cups

Officials say additionally, all beverages sold within the Grandstand will be opened at the time of sale. Drinks sold on the track, in the standing room only section, will be poured into a plastic cup. No bottles or cans will be allowed on the track.

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Weather

Illinois state officials say all Grandstand concerts are rain or shine. The decision to cancel a concert due to severe weather is rarely made in advance, as weather conditions rapidly change. A concert cancellation is a last resort and made at the very last minute. If the headliner performs, there will be no refunds. Rain alone does not constitute cancellation. Watch the Illinois State Fair Facebook page for the latest updates.

Trams

Officials say trams  which are the most requested ride at the Illinois State Fair  are returning this year. Two complimentary trams will operate on a dedicated route during the 11 days of the fair thanks to sponsorship from the IL Corn Growers Association.

State officials say the trams will run continuously throughout the day. Maps showing the tram routes will be displayed on the fairgrounds. Stops include the Campground/Arena entrance, 4-H Road at the 8th Street, entrance to Conservation World, Goat Barn at Grandstand Avenue, South End of the Half-Mile Track near Gate 4, State Fair Security Office and the Hobbies Arts and Crafts building.

Wheelchair and Scooter Rentals

According to Illinois state officials, wagons, wheelchairs and electric scooters will be available to rent daily 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Grandstand Avenue near the Goat Barn. They will be available at the IL Building from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Friday to Sunday. Drivers license will be required for deposit on all rentals. All rentals must be returned to the same rental location to retrieve drivers license.

Officials say these are the rental rates:

Wagon/Stroller Combo $20

Wheelchairs $25

Single scooter $60

Double scooter $110

State officials say rentals are on a first come, first serve basis. There are no reservations.

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First Aid

Illinois state officials say volunteers from SIU Medicine operate a First Aid Station in the Emmerson Building Annex, across from the Dairy Building on Central Avenue. These volunteers are trained medical personnel who are experienced in treating injuries or sudden illness before the arrival of EMS personnel. The State Fair First Aid Station is designed to provide free, immediate, and temporary care for injuries and sudden illnesses.

Hours are from 8:30 am to 7 pm daily. A second First Aid station will be established nightly on Grandstand Avenue, inside the Illinois State Police Building, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

App

Officials say before anyone heads to the fair, they should download the Illinois State Fair app, which is free for Apple and Android devices. The app offers a daily schedule of events, including a convenient way to plan a trip with built-in scheduling and alert features. The popular Food Finder allows people to search by food type and vendor. A map of the fairgrounds is also available in the app.

A spokesperson for the state of Illinois say, Plan ahead for the Illinois State Fair and make memories that will last a lifetime!

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
Two weeks ago, I wrote about the dangers of idolizing Kamala Harris and dismissing her critics following her bid for president. Harris is not a perfect presidential candidate. This is a truth many knew but were avoiding in the excitement of the new Democratic ticket. The honeymoon is over.

At Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walzs, joint rally in Michigan on Wednesday, a group of pro-Palestine protesters began chanting Kamala, Kamala, you cant hide, we wont vote for genocide, while Harris spoke about freedoms Americans would lose under another Trump presidency. She snapped at the protesters, conflating their demonstration with wanting Trump to win the election.

If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that otherwise, I'm speaking, she told them.

This response lacks critical thinking and is also wildly insensitive while having a rally in Michigan of all places, the state with the largest Arab American population by density.

Democrats are divided on Israel-Palestine

Michiganders and other pro-Palestine Democrats genuinely want to support Harriss presidential campaign.

Supporters applauds as result of over 30,000 uncommitted votes have been reported at 10 p.m. from the Michigan Democratic primary during Listen to Michigan's election night gathering at Adonis in Dearborn on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024.

Members of Michigans uncommitted movement, a grassroots effort, encouraged voters to withhold support for Biden during the primary election in February due to the Administration's policies on Israel and Palestine. The group held a press conference the same day as the Harris-Walz rally, and is asking for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo on Israel. The uncommitted movement is withholding an endorsement for Harris until they learn more about her position.

Abbas Alawieh, a co-founder of the movement and a Democratic National Convention delegate told the Detroit News, I want to be there, right there with my fellow Democrats, with the energy as we're getting exciting updates about the president's vice presidential pick."

But Alwaeih and others cannot do that if they know their vote will result in further atrocities in Gaza. Thats not an unreasonable ask.

Beyond what is happening overseas, many have rightful concerns over the influence Israel, a foreign government, has over United States politics.

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Missouri, who has been openly critical of Israel, lost in the primary to her opponent Wesley Bell. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a pro-Israel lobbying group, boasted their contribution to the loss on X. AIPAC has been spending millions to push Bush and other critics of Israel out of Congress in order to replace them with pro-Israel Democrats, according to reporting from The Washington Post.

AIPACs influence over the United States government cannot be understated, with 194 members of the House and 22 members of the Senate receiving donations during the 2024 cycle according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks campaign finances and lobbying. President Biden has been lauded by AIPAC for his commitment to U.S.-Israeli relations.

Harris must be receptive to criticism to win the election

Ive said it before, and Ill say it again: Harris needs to be receptive to criticism if she wishes to differentiate herself from the Biden administration and strengthen her chances of winning this election. Imprudently, she has yet to provide a solid policy agenda and mostly positioned herself as an alternative to Trump.

Vice President Kamala Harris leaves Nashville, Tenn., after speaking at Fisk University on Friday, April 7, 2023. At the school she met with Justin Pearson, Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville.

Compromise and understanding can only serve to help her campaign. The Harris-Walz ticket is balancing on a very delicate unity that left-leaning and moderate Democrats have formed over the last few weeks. Every move from Harris and Walz is precarious and should be handled with the utmost care. Popping off at the mouth at pro-Palestine protesters in Michigan? Not the smartest move.

There are inherent flaws to single-issue voting, and a lot is a lot at stake with this election  reproductive rights, health care and protections for transgender youth just to name just a few  but this is a red line I will never fault one for making. As we inch closer to election, she will find that it is an issue she will increasingly not be able to brush off like she did at Wednesdays rally.

If Harris continues this lack of willingness to take criticism it could be her downfall, and I would sincerely like to avoid that possibility.

Elena Wilson is a summer intern on The Tennessean's opinion and engagement journalism team. She is a rising senior and journalism major at University of Missouri.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Harris was wildly insensitive to protesters at Michigan rally
* The Middle East has been bracing for escalating tension amidst Iran and its allies' threats to avenge the killings of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders last week.

* Experts believed that a potential escalation of tension would severely undermine previous efforts to promote regional peace, dampen the chances of a ceasefire in Gaza, and plunge the Middle East into a real danger of a full-scale conflict.

* Nobody is interested in a regional war, and nobody is going to gain anything from a regional war, experts said.

CAIRO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Middle East has been bracing for escalating tension amidst Iran and its allies' threats to avenge the killings of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders last week.

While Israel and its Western allies are on high alert for the retaliatory attacks they deem imminent, the fear for a spillover of the Gaza conflict has prompted many countries within the region and beyond to cancel flights and update travel advice concerning those countries in the whirlpool of regional tensions.

Experts believed that a potential escalation of tension would severely undermine previous efforts to promote regional peace, dampen the chances of an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and plunge the Middle East into a real danger of a full-scale conflict.

The relevant parties should stop any provocative actions and work together for de-escalation, so as to pull the region back from the brink, they suggested.

Supporters attend the funeral of Fouad Shokor in Beirut, Lebanon, Aug. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

LOOMING REGIONAL ESCALATION

On July 30, Hezbollah senior military commander Fouad Shokor was killed in an attack on Beirut's southern suburbs.

A day later, Hamas Politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was in the Iranian capital of Tehran to attend the inauguration of Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, was killed alongside his bodyguard when their residence was struck.

Israel has claimed responsibility for the killing of Shokor, but has not commented on the assassination of Haniyeh, which Hamas and Iran have attributed to Israel.

Right after the killing of Haniyeh, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed a "harsh punishment" for Israel. Earlier this week, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani vowed to take serious and deterrent action against Israel with "strength and decisiveness," and rejected calls for negotiation. President Pezeshkian also said Israel would definitely receive the response to its "crime and insolent" move.

As for the death of Shokor, Hezbollah Leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Tuesday vowed an "impactful and strong" retaliation. "We may choose to retaliate in cooperation with other resistance powers in Iran and Yemen or separately."

"The war has entered a new phase," Nasrallah said earlier, adding that the upcoming campaign will involve Iran, Yemen and Iraq, in addition to Gaza and Lebanon.

Hezbollah supporters listen to a televised speech given by Hezbollah Leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah during an event commemorating late military commander Fouad Shokor in Beirut, Lebanon, Aug. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

On Aug. 1, Yemen's Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warned that the Houthi group will "inevitably" mount a military response to Israel's recent escalation.

For the expected retaliatory attack from Iran and its allies, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the Israeli forces were preparing for "a swift transition to offense." The Israel Defense Forces stated that Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi has approved "operational plans for various scenarios."

More American forces were moving to the region to bolster defenses in and around Israel. The United States was deploying additional warships, including a guided missile cruiser and missile destroyer, as well as another squadron of fighter jets, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported, adding that Britain is also expected to help protect Israel in case of an attack.

Tit-for-tat attacks between Israel and Hamas-backed armed groups remained intense and heavy following the death of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least eight Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a vehicle carrying aid in central Gaza on Monday, and two more were killed and three others injured by the Israeli forces' bullets near the northern West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday.

People take part in a protest against the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh in the West Bank city of Hebron, July 31, 2024. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

Meanwhile, Israeli sources said a drone attack launched on Tuesday from Lebanon by Hezbollah forces injured six people in northern Israel, including one in critical condition.

Negativity has already seeped into various facets of people's lives in the Middle East due to the prolonged regional conflict. The war-torn Gaza and southern Lebanon have been in the throes of a deepening water and electricity crisis.

With the Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip nearing 40,000, the crossfire between relevant parties spreading from Gaza into the West Bank, and Iran and its allies' retaliation for Israel being touch and go, fears and anxiety among citizens of regional countries have mounted even more.

Sonic booms on Tuesday caused by Israeli warplanes breaking the sound barrier over Lebanon's capital of Beirut have prompted local residents to start packing and seek shelter in mountainous areas.

Israeli troops are seen during a military operation in Kafr Qud, near the West Bank city of Jenin, Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

Concerning the deteriorating regional security situation, Turkiye, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Croatia, Slovenia, Norway and Sweden have all advised their citizens to leave Lebanon. Several French and Polish airlines have suspended flights to Lebanon.

Meanwhile, a growing number of airlines, including Ryanair, Wizz Air, Lufthansa, Easyjet and Air India, have suspended flights to Israel due to concerns over instability.





REGIONAL WAR BENEFITS NOBODY

Regarding the heightening tension in the Middle East, Eyal Zisser, vice rector of Tel Aviv University and an expert on Middle Eastern Affairs, said the Iranian attacks would be "limited" and are not intended to start a regional war.

"Nobody is interested in a regional war. Nobody is going to gain anything from a regional war," he said.

"But once you start with retaliation, and you retaliate to the retaliation, and so on and so forth, the result can be that you lose control, and we eventually can find ourselves in a regional war. But that's not what all parties want right now," he noted. "When you set up a fire, it's sometimes very difficult to keep the fire on a low level."

Israeli police work at the scene of a drone attack in northern Israeli city of Nahariya on Aug. 6, 2024. (JINI/Handout via Xinhua)

"Iran wants to respond to Israel's strikes, systematic assassinations, and the resumption of the assassination policy by Israel, but I think Iran does not want to expand the scope (of the conflict)," said Hamid Faris, a professor of international relations at Egypt's Misr University for Science and Technology.

Nimrod Goren, a senior fellow for Israeli affairs at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, said, "The fact that a regional war may be averted does not ensure that an Israel-Hezbollah flare-up will be prevented, and such an escalation will cause much damage in Israel and Lebanon, even without a regional war."

"Diplomatic efforts should be stepped up to find an off-ramp soon to the situation along the Israel-Lebanon border," he said.

Abdullah Mahmoud, a Cairo-based researcher in Iranian affairs of the Middle East Forum for Strategic Studies and National Security, said, "The attack this time will be a collaboration of attacks by different resistance movements."

"Hezbollah and Houthis will join the attack. I think there will be a high level of coordination among the resistance movements," he said.

Ten months after the outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, escalating tension shows no end in sight. The spiral of violence has deeply undermined confidence in achieving peace.

However, Goren believes "achieving peace is possible, but is a longer-term goal."

"In the short term, a ceasefire and hostage release deal should be brokered between Israel and Hamas, then leveraged for defusing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, advancing the two-state solution, and promoting Israel-Saudi Arabia normalization," he said.

(Video reporters: Guo Yage, Tian Ye, Wang Zhuolun, Yao Bing, Nick Kolyohin, Zhang Xin, Sadat; Video editors: Zhang Yichi, Liu Xiaorui, Liu Ruoshi, Mu Xuyao, Wang Han)
DENVER (KDVR)  Residents of an Aurora apartment building on Nome Street must find another place to live after being ordered to vacate their units in less than a week.

FOX31 obtained video and photographs from the city of Aurora revealing filth and disrepair inside several areas of the Nome apartment building near Colfax Avenue and Nome Street.

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City inspectors discovered piled-up trash, bug infestations and sewage backups in addition to a lack of heat and electricity.

Officers went door to door on Wednesday, posting notices to alert residents that they had to leave the premises by Tuesday  when the city will shut off the water, board up the building and fence off the property.

Apartments at 1568 Nome St. in Aurora

Herman Jones lived at the building in 2021 but moved out the next year. He told FOX31 the conditions were unsafe.

Multiple pieces of the building falling apart. At one point a part of the building almost hit my wife and children in the head, he said.

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Jones said his heart goes out to residents who must now find another place to live on short notice.

It just disgusts me to see anybody live like this, whether theyre an immigrant, local, native, doesnt matter. Everybodys lives matter, he said.

Nome Street apartment investor, property management respond

FOX31 spoke to a property investor who wanted to remain anonymous but claims the real issue in the 99-unit building is Venezuelan gang violence keeping everyone in a state of fear.

Its inappropriate of the city to be blaming an issue that has to do with law enforcement and gangs and violent gangs taking over the building and trying to use it as a scapegoat, that it has to do with code violations and repairs that werent done in apartments, he said.

The investor told FOX31 that the management has not ignored complaints.

Whatever the city has asked us to fix, we have fixed it and signed it off. Last year it was signed off, the investor said.

A spokesperson for CBZ Management told FOX31 that police reports confirm gang-related crime at properties in the area.

The Problem Solvers found that in 2022, officers responded to 41 crime complaints at the building, including robbery, drugs and aggravated assault. That number rose to 84 in 2023, with the city declaring the building a criminal nuisance property.

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A city spokesperson told FOX31 that CBZ Management has hired a team of attorneys and a public relations firm to fight the decision.

The city issued a statement explaining that it will work with law enforcement to investigate any occurrence of gang activity, but that is separate from the issue of code enforcement at the building.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Police officers stand on duty during a counter-demonstration to an anti-immigration protest called by far-right activists in Westcliff, eastern England on August 7, 2024. Credit - STFAFP/Getty Images

On Monday, Harjap Singh Banghal got an unexpected call from the police, who warned him that he had become the target of far-right activist groups amid ongoing riots across the U.K. A renowned immigration lawyer whose offices in London and Birmingham regularly assist asylum seekers with their claims, Banghals work landed his name on a listwhich includes up to 60 names of individual lawyers, law offices, immigration centers, and refugee sheltersbeing circulated on social media platforms with the phrase, no more immigration.

The 49-year-old lawyer from Romford, Essex, says he shut down his offices on Tuesday after the police advised him to stay home. Its been a mixture of anxiety and concern for my employees because our company feeds 15 families, he says. Theres also concern for my clients, who are coming into the office with their children, so I didn't want anything happening to any of them.

The U.K. is facing its worst riots in 13 years as far-right groups lead anti-immigration uprisings across the country, sparked by the spread of misinformation that a Muslim asylum seeker had stabbed three young girls in Southport on July 29. A U.K. judge eventually revealed the suspect as Axel Rudakubana, who is not a Muslim, but by Monday night, a Telegram group had grown to 15,000 members, with the lawyer hit-list reposted several times since.

Read More: How Online Misinformation Stoked Anti-Migrant Riots in Britain

More than 400 rioters have been arrested in connection so far. On Tuesday, authorities braced for more violence with police chiefs saying they would deploy an extra 2,200 riot-trained officers to combat any unrest spreading across the country. Those targeted on the list have been offered extra security measures to prevent potential attacks, particularly in instances where offices are based inside residential homes.

Immigration has become a heated debate in the U.K. after it was reported that almost 45,000 people crossed the English Channel in 2022the highest number since the government began collecting data in 2018. In response, the Conservative Party-led government under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak engaged in a prolonged but unsuccessful battle in the courts and in Parliament to pass legislation that would allow the country to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. The plan cost nearly 220 million, but no migrants were ever deported to the East African country. Since coming into power in July, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated he plans to curb small boat arrivals to the U.K. by taking tougher measures to "smash" criminal people-smugglers.

Read More: How Online Misinformation Stoked Anti-Migrant Riots in Britain

Banghal, the immigration lawyer, says that comments made by members of the last government have nevertheless contributed to the far-right threats he now faces. Last August, former Home Secretary Suella Braverman vowed to root out crooked immigration lawyers in response to reports that some law firms were offering to submit false asylum claims for a fee.

The last government was very clear that it was anti-immigration lawyers, and when you start validating that, it becomes an unsafe zone, says Banghal. Im just doing my job, just like doctors, nurses, and teachers are doing theirs.

One immigration lawyer on the hit-list was repeatedly threatened and eventually forced to take her website down and cancel all her face-to-face appointments. People have been calling up my office to threaten and insult me, she told the BBC.

The Law Society of England and Wales said it was continuing to support any members on the target list to ensure their safety after its president, Nick Emerson, wrote to Starmer, Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood, and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to express concerns.

These threats against our legal profession were an attack on our democratic values, Emmerson said in a statement to TIME. Now is the time for our country and our leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the rule of law. They must ensure that all those who have committed crimes in recent days face swift justice.

Another professional association, the Law Society and Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA), released a statement saying it had personally contacted all the organizations on the target list to make them aware of recommended safety measures, including working from home where possible.

The planned targeting of immigration lawyers, and the individuals they represent, is the natural inheritance of a climate of hostility fuelled by divisive, anti-migrant, and populist rhetoric from senior politicians in previous Governments and certain parts of the media, upon which the far-right have latched, ILPA Legal Director Zoe Bantleman said.

On Tuesday, Starmer convened a second Cobra crisis response meeting to take all necessary action to end the unrest spreading across the country after the government set up overnight courts to deal with the flood of cases arising from the riots.

Banghal, who reopened his legal offices on Wednesday morning, says the riots seem like a way to play off marginalized people against each other to suit a narrative. But he adds that he has also received a wave of support from the local authorities and his community. Im cautious and alert, but Im not going to live my life in fear for doing my job, he says.

Write to Astha Rajvanshi at astha.rajvanshi@time.com.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Kansas officials are spreading awareness Thursday of a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) order on a dangerous pesticide.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) is warning people to stop using all pesticide products which contain the active ingredient dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA). The EPA previously approved of pesticide products containing DCPA to help control weeds in agricultural and non-agricultural sites.

The EPA issued an emergency order to stop the use of DCPA on Aug. 6, citing it as an imminent health hazard. The greatest danger associated with DCPA is associated with babies whose mothers were exposed to the pesticide ingredient during pregnancy.

DCPA is so dangerous that it needs to be removed from the market immediately, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff said on Aug. 6. Its EPAs job to protect people from exposure to dangerous chemicals. In this case, pregnant women who may never even know they were exposed could give birth to babies that experience irreversible lifelong health problems. Thats why for the first time in almost 40 years, EPA is using its emergency suspension authority to stop the use of a pesticide.

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The KDA said Dachtal Flowable Herbicide is the only pesticide product containing DCPA that is approved for use in Kansas. While the product was mostly used in commercial operations, the KDA warns that some people may have purchased it as a general use product.

If you are in possession of Dacthal Flowable Herbicide, you are advised to cease use of that product and contact the manufacturer for details on the return procedure. Retail or wholesale businesses must remove the products from their sales inventory and contact the manufacturer for details on the return procedure. Do not dispose of the product by any means until you are provided with instructions by the manufacturer. Kansas Department of Agriculture press release statement excerpt

Unborn babies exposed to DCPA in the womb are at risk of permanent and irreversible health risks, according to the EPA. For more information on the emergency order and the dangers of DCPA from the EPA, click here.

For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
INDEPENDENCE, Mo.  Independence voters were pretty evenly divided on Election Day on whether changes should be made to the Independence City Charter. Four of the five questions asked of voters when rounded to the nearest percentage came out to 50-50 results.

The only question approved, Question 1, passed by the slimmest of margins; just 24 votes out of more than 17,000. Three other questions failed by about 100 votes each.

Independences charter has been around for a long time. So long ago, one of the men who wrote it is now 97.

State commission orders Jackson County to correct property value assessments

A citizens committee spent 600 hours reviewing changes that should be made for the first time in 40 years to put it in compliance with state law. This work was also to remove antiquated references from the 1961 60-page document. Those include taxes and fees we found the council could choose to levy on blacksmiths, goldsmiths, hawkers, hucksters and peddlers, palm readers and fortune tellers.

We had lots of discussions about how to put this to the voters considering there were 40 years to catch up on changes, Independence City Councilmember Bridget McCandless said.

We could have done one question, but that didnt feel like people would get to see the changes. You could have put on 400 changes that wouldnt have been practical either.

They settled on 5 questions. A little less than 50.1 percent of voters approved changes that will now allow the city to move records online. Currently, they also have to be maintained in paper form and city legal communications have to be published in the newspaper. But several other groups of changes narrowly failed by less than one percent.

Mayor Lucas says election was good for Chiefs, Royals staying in Missouri

Question 3 where 50.3 percent of voters said no, asked Shall Articles 2, 3, 8, 9, and 10 of the Charter of the City of Independence be amended to provide that prior to the sale of a public utility, the City Council shall, by ordinance, call for an election of the registered voters of the City to determine whether the City shall sell such public utility; to make changes regarding City departments, offices, and agencies, and the coordination of emergency preparedness, but to leave the fire and police departments in the Charter; to provide requirements for the City budget, budget transfers, and financial policies; to remove penalties for City officers and employees who enter into contracts on behalf of the City without authority to do so; to provide processes for incurring debt and the issuance of bonds and notes; to clarify that the City may license, tax, and regulate all businesses, occupations, professions, vocations, and activities as allowed by State law; to remove Sections 9.1 through 9.5; and to remove Article 10?

Question 4 where 50.4 percent of voters said no asked Shall Articles 6, 7, and 13 of the Charter of the City of Independence be amended to remove example election forms; to provide that council districts are established by ordinance; to clarify election processes; to remove a provision regarding political designations in campaigns; to provide that candidates shall be disqualified if they are in arrears to the City for fees or taxes, are delinquent in paying State income taxes, or have unresolved municipal warrants; to clarify the referendum process; to remove required ballot language; and to clarify that franchises and utilities are subject to State laws?

Question 5 where again 50.4 percent of voters said no asked Shall Articles 11, 12, and 14 of the Charter of the City of Independence be amended to make changes relating to public improvements, special tax bills, and special assessments; to amend provisions related to the Planning Commission, the planning director, the Board of Adjustment, and the Comprehensive Development Plan; and to provide that the City Planning Commission shall have all powers proscribed in Chapter 89, RSMo.; to make changes to provisions relating to lawsuits against the City; and to provide that meetings, records, accounts, and votes of the Council and the City shall be open as required by State law?

This means rules governing the likes of special codes for dairy farms remain on the books in Independence.

Suspect in Ralph Yarl shooting files motions for witnesses, jury to be sequestered

I dont know those sections got affected so we still have some antiquated language that needs attention and I dont think anybody disagrees that the charter needs some love, McCandless said.

We just need to find a way that we can get the electorate to come along to see our vision of this forward-looking city and the rules that we need to get there.

There are no automatic recounts in Missouri. Independence City Council would have to request and pay for it themselves.

FOX4 couldnt find a fortune teller or palm reader here in Independence to tell us what will happen for certain, but since the city doesnt currently have any council meetings scheduled within the window to request the recount unless they call a special session, it looks like the results of those close votes will stand.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
India says up to Hasina regarding her future plans

Sheikh Hasina, the newly elected Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of Bangladesh Awami League, gestures during a meeting with foreign observers and journalists at the Prime Minister's residence in Dhaka

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's foreign ministry said on Thursday that it is up to Bangladesh's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to "take things forward" regarding her future plans, adding that it had no update on the matter.

"It is not appropriate to talk about her plans," spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, in a post on X earlier in the afternoon, said he had spoken to Britain's foreign secretary and discussed "the situation in Bangladesh and West Asia".

Hasina fled to India after stepping down as prime minister on Monday following violent protests demanding her resignation, and has since been sheltering at an air base near New Delhi.

(Reporting by Sakshi Dayal; editing by Jason Neely)
The textile manufacturing hub of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, has taken steps to improve its sustainable energy infrastructure with the installation of a new solar power plant.

Developed in partnership with Longi, a China-based maker of solar panels and power systems, along with engineering, procurement and construction firm Viridis Engineering, the plant features high-efficiency Hi-MO 5 solar modules that offer high power output, low degradation and high durability.

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The project, which was carried out in two phases this year, has improved the areas power generation capacity, translating to a savings of more than $225,000 per year. The plant has a daily power generation of 6 units (or kilowatt hours) per day.

According to data from The Energy and Resources Institute, an India-based nonprofit research organization, energy usage accounts for 15 to 20 percent of total textile production cost in India. Reductions in energy bills for India-based textile makers could potentially lead to lower costs for brands further down the supply chain, as India holds a 4-percent share of the global trade in textiles and apparel, and accounted for $44 billion in exports between 2021 and 2022.

But cost savings wasnt the only impetus driving the Tamil Nadu regionwhich is home to more than 1,000 textile millsto invest in solar power. As sustainability and transparency become more important to brands and consumers, reducing emissions and the reliance on fossil fuels has become a priority for many in the textile industry.

And according to the most recent data from the International Energy Agency, the majority of Indias energy comes from fossil fuels, with coal accounting for 45 percent of the countrys total energy supply. Wind and solar only accounts for slightly more than 2 percent of the countrys power production.

But the Tamil Nadu state stands as a bit of an outlier when it comes to energy in India. Wind power has long been a part of Tamil Nadus energy production, and more recently, solar power has become more of a priority. According to reporting in The Hindu, the state has a total green energy capacity of 34,700 megawatts, accounting for more than 50 percent of its energy mix. Of that total, wind energy accounts for 10,500 megawatts while solar accounts for more than 7,300 megawatts.

Tamil Nadu has welcomed private companies in both the wind and solar sectors, such as Longi, to help expand its clean energy production.
First-term Indianapolis Councilor Jesse Brown called for Mayor Joe Hogsett to resign Wednesday evening over allegations that his former chief of staff pressured at least three subordinates into sexual relationships.

IndyStar first reported the women's accusations against Thomas Cook in July  accusations that were echoed in a Mirror Indy story Wednesday.

Joe Hogsett knew about Cooks predatory behavior by May 2017 (at the latest), yet he continued to employ and empower Cook for six more years, Brown said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. As a direct result of Hogsetts complicity, Cook went on to sexually abuse at least two more subordinate City employees.

The women accuse Cook of abusing his power for nearly a decade while he worked for Hogsett, both as a key campaign aide and as the city's chief deputy mayor. The Hogsett administration says it conducted three investigations into Cook's relationships. Cook resigned from his city position and joined a law firm after the second investigation, but led Hogsett's 2023 mayoral campaign in an unpaid capacity until the third investigation, when he was also removed from that role.

Cook said in a statement to IndyStar that he "had consensual relationships that violated a trust" but denied using his position to further those relationships. He has not been charged with a crime.

Brown, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist who has previously butted heads with Democrats, also accused Hogsett of dodging discussions about the issue with council members.

When Councilors demanded a meeting with Hogsett to have their questions answered, only Hogsett attorneys and a silent, junior staffer attended the call, Brown said in his statement.

The citys ethics committee is slated to meet Thursday, according to Indianapolis City-County Council spokesperson Sara Hindi. The recent revelations should be discussed there, Brown said.

"I call on leaders from across the political spectrum to insist that covering up sexual abuse and predation is intolerable in our democracy," he said. "Joe Hogsett should resign immediately. A full investigation  not one conducted by major Hogsett donors  must be conducted to determine who else in the administration and city leadership was aware of this behavior and stood by doing nothing."

A Hogsett spokesperson hadn't responded to a request for comment as of late Wednesday evening.

Michael McDaniel is city hall reporter for IndyStar. Follow him on X/Twitter at @themikemcdaniel or email him at mmcdaniel@indystar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Councilor calls on Mayor Hogsett to resign over handling of accusations
The Manhattan Madam best known for her part in the downfall of New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer says shes now got a new jobgiving comms advice to presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr.

Kristin Davis, 46, became famous for running a high-end New York prostitution ring busted by the feds in 2008 that counted Spitzer among its prominent clients. She later served four months in Rikers Island for promoting prostitution.

Her involvement with Kennedys presidential tilt was revealed on Wednesday by Radar Online. I have been a head advisor for a PAC supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr., driven by my deep belief in his vision and potential as a candidate, she told the website.

But Davis appeared to take exception with Radars description of her as a notorious NYC madam, taking to Instagram after publication of the article to complain that she was being tarred with a very old brush.

Im notorious! she wrote. My past should not distract from the message of #rfkjr campaign.

Ive spent the last 15 years working behind the scenes in politics, and in my journey, Ive encountered my fair share of grifters and scammers. Bobby Kennedy is the real deal. His authenticity and unwavering commitment to battling Big Pharma and Big Tech are unmatched.

With RFK Jr.s campaign languishing in the single digits after a series of weird or damaging storiesthe most recent involving the candidate dumping a dead baby bear in Central ParkDavis appeared to recognize that the 70-year-old Kennedy scion is not going to win the presidency.

But she said he could help Donald Trump do so, and in return put in him charge of the Department of Health & Human Services.

If Trump truly wants to win this election and bring real change, he must join forces with Bobby and make him head of HHS, she wrote.

Imagine the power of a Trump-Kennedy alliance campaigning under the banner of national unity and genuine change. Picture Bobby Kennedy at the helm, cracking down on Big Pharma, halting the reckless promotion of unsafe vaccines, and overhauling the vaccine schedule to safeguard our childrens health.

Bobby is in it to win it, is Trump?

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Austrian authorities are releasing new information about the suspects arrested in connection with a planned terror attack targeting Taylor Swift's Vienna concerts, causing the Eras Tour stops originally scheduled for Aug. 8 through Aug. 10 to be canceled altogether on Aug. 7.

On Thursday, investigators reported that the two unnamed suspects (who remain anonymous due to Austrian privacy laws) in the "foiled plot," both Austrian citizens aged 17 and 19, were seemingly inspired by the Islamic State group (ISIS) and al-Qaida, according to the AP. Bomb-making materials were found in the 19-year-old main suspect's home and officials confirmed he had confessed to a plan to "kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue. He reportedly began planning his attack in July and intended to use knives and/or homemade explosives to target fans outside the stadium.

The 17-year-old, who was arrested near the stadium, had been employed by a company that provides unspecified services at the concert venue just days earlier.

Austrias interior minister, Gerhard Karner, said that the attack was intended to be carried out on one of the first two of three days of shows in the capital city, which could have affected any number of the expected 65,000 ticketed fans and up to 30,000 ticketless Swifties gathering outside to listen each night.

The situation was serious, the situation is serious," he told reporters. "But we can also say: A tragedy was prevented.

Later on Thursday, a third teenager was arrested in connection with the plans: an 18-year-old Iraqi citizen who had been in contact with the main suspect and also pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group. In a statement, Karner said the third teenager comes from the social environment of the main suspect, but he has not been directly linked to the plot.

Instead, the 18-year-old's arrest "underscores the broad scope of the ongoing investigation," Austrian officials explained in a statement shared with the outlet. "Authorities are taking decisive action against anyone who might be involved in terrorist activities or exhibits radical tendencies. Police said they also questioned a 15-year-old, but they were not arrested.

Initially, officials had beefed up planned security measures for the venue and other major events in the city, warning incoming fans to allow themselves more time to arrive and get inside before organizers ultimately decided to cancel the shows for the safety of everyone involved.

While fans were understandably devastated by the move, they were also very understanding. They banded together to comfort those affected by the news, gathering together to enjoy Swift's music throughout the city on Aug. 8 and enjoying the sweet deals some local businesses have set up for those affected. Many have even taken it upon themselves to try to get as many Austrian fans as possible tickets to Swift's final few days in London later this month.

As of writing, those shows are still moving forward as scheduled.

Next: Fans Praise Swifties Incredibly Kind Fiance for Selfless Gesture After Vienna Eras Tour Cancellation
Inmate pleads guilty to assault on officers, extending his sentence

WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Trumbull Correctional Institution inmate will be spending more time behind bars after admitting to a crime he committed while in prison.

Jawan McClendon pleaded guilty to two counts of assault Wednesday.

Prosecutors say in March McClendon assaulted two corrections officers while incarcerated at TCI.

McClendon was sentenced to nine months in addition to the sentence hes currently serving for charges out of Franklin County.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- An air cargo route linking Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Hungarian capital Budapest was launched on Thursday, said SF Airlines.

One to two round-trip flights are initially scheduled to shuttle between Urumqi and Budapest every week on this route, said the air cargo carrier.

This route will mainly carry imported and exported cargoes, such as e-commerce goods and specialty products.

It is expected to add vitality to China-Europe trade and commerce via reliable and efficient air logistics, said SF Airlines.

Xinjiang now serves as a comprehensive logistics hub connecting Europe and Asia.

Operating 87 freighters, SF Airlines is China's largest air cargo carrier in terms of fleet size. The company is committed to launching more routes and enhancing the international cargo transport capacity to provide sustained support to the country's economic growth and the Belt and Road Initiative, said SF Airlines. Prior to the latest route, a cargo route linking Urumqi and the Georgian capital Tbilisi was launched in July. 
Instead of debating climate change, we need solutions for it

Photo illustration via Madartzgraphics (Pixabay | Public domain)

Were past the time to debate climate change, its real  and its a problem. We need Congress focused on bi-partisan solutions for addressing it.

We need to be solving it so we can live in a stable climate and not enduring the climate-driven extreme weather events  wildfires, droughts, heatwaves, and the resulting low flows and warming water temps in our rivers and reservoirs. 2023 was the hottest year since records have been kept and 2024 is likely to beat it. Besides rising global temperatures, were seeing all sorts of other negative impacts, like more frequent and extreme droughts, floods, and severe, dangerous storms.

However, since the debate seems to keep cropping up, Id like to remind my fellow Montanans that there is overwhelming consensus within the scientific community on these fundamental points regarding human-induced climate change:

Earths global average temperature is increasing; Due to our burning of fossil fuels, human emissions of greenhouse gasses, especially carbon dioxide, are the main cause of the warming; International, independently derived research results all pointing towards the same finding provide a high degree of confidence that climate scientists are on the right track. The scientific community continues to add new findings and knowsthat many details about climate interactions arent fully understood and require significant, additional, continued research.

Climate defines the range in temperature and precipitation patterns making up our weather. Since the 1800s, the climate has warmed. Since World War II, the dominant contributor has been the burning of fossil fuelscoal, oil and natural gas. All contain carbon. When burned, they emit potent gases, mostly CO2, into the atmosphere. These emissions act like a down blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the suns heat and thus raising temperatures, and creating droughts. As more water evaporates into the atmosphere, it provides fuel for storms and more intense rainfall.

Nearly 100% of climate scientists are now convinced, based on the evidence, that human-caused global warming is happening. Still, the general public perceives there is significant debate among scientists  why?

A campaign of obfuscation regarding climate change science has been underway since the late 1980s, funded in large part by the fossil fuels industry (quite similar to what the tobacco industry did 30 years earlier regarding the correlation of tobacco use and cancer prevalence).

In the early 1990s, the Western Fuels Association (with funding from Exxon and others), conducted a massive public relations campaign to reposition global warming as a theory (not fact), using dissenting scientists (industry funded), to create the impression of ongoing scientific debate.

My brother spent 40 years as an engineer working in the coal side of ExxonMobil (Exxon is now 100% divested of its coal portfolio). Hes helped educate me to the fact that for the first 30 years of his career, Exxon was invested in climate change denial; within the past 15 years, Exxon has pivoted and is now fully on board with the Paris Climate Agreement.

Scientists do not disagree about whether climate change is human-caused. There are only a very few, and even fewer with scientific backgrounds relevant to climate science, who promote debate. Many individuals who pose as experts in media sources are not scientists at all, or else have no real background in actual climate science.

People from all walks of life and all political stripes care about climate change and want to see the problem fixed as soon as possible.

To leave a healthy, stable world for future generations, we need to act now, get creative, and work energetically together.

Jim Edwards is retired, lives in Helena and is a member of the Citizens Climate Lobby.
An international company is moving manufacturing from Europe to the region.

SECO/WARWICK group is expanding its manufacturing capacity at a facility in Crawford County Business Park.

The group is the parent company of SECO/VACUUM and SECO/WARWICK corporation, who is a leading vacuum furnace manufacturer producer around the world.

The new facility is being supported by a $2 million grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, which covers 50% of their investment.

Take a trip to the Sunshine State thanks to new Erie airport service

We have a very strong and rich history of repurposing for best and greatest reuse locations like this, said Brent Vernon, executive director of the PA governors action team.

The company already has an office in the business park, but in order to improve response to their customers needs in North America, the president said it was a must to move into the United States from Europe.

We needed a production facility which was not easy to find to be honest. We were looking around in Crawford County, we looked in Erie Countyand then they showed us this building, said Piotr Zawistowski, president of SECO/VACUUM technologies & SECO/WARWICK corporation.

Zawistowski went on to say they plan on beginning construction in the next couple of weeks and hopes to have the facility up and running by June of next year.

Abandoned Crawford County nursing home getting revitalization effort

He explained the most difficult part of the search was finding a warehouse that is able to handle their production.

We have to be able to not only build it but also connect it and heat it up to its full temperature, which is up to 2000 F or even more. We need enough energy, we need to compress air, nitrogen and all the gasses needed is the biggest part of the investment, Zawistowski said.

Slawomir Wozniak, CEO of SECO/WARWICK, that they have already invested $10 million in their company in Buffalo, New York, and the Crawford location is their next step.

We see a growing market of opportunities and customer expectations to get American-made equipment, said Wozniak.

The governors action team along with local representatives were in attendance to view and tour the warehouse, which will be the only facility in Pennsylvania.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
A cross-functional panel of leaders will tackle topics such as C-suite innovation, AI, and worker wellness.

This article is part of " Workforce Innovation ," a series exploring the forces shaping enterprise transformation.

The pressures and opportunities changing the workplace are universal. No industry or employee level is untouched by the transformative impact of artificial intelligence, the enduring balancing act between worker well-being and productivity, and the evolving nature of leadership.

Business Insider created this Workforce Innovation series to dig into these topics. As Tim Paradis wrote in the series' inaugural article, "Work doesn't work like it used to."

To help us, BI has convened a Workforce Innovation board. Representing a range of enterprise functions and industry verticals, the people on this board will participate in six roundtable conversations focused on the four key themes of the series: AI, C-suite transformation, worker wellness, and DEI.

The role of the Workforce Innovation board is to help us identify the most important changes and trends emerging in the workplace and to offer insights from their own experiences managing the office revolution.

We're excited that so many great leaders have dedicated time in their busy calendars to helping us tell these stories, which will help business leaders make better decisions, improve productivity, and drive growth.

Anant Adya, executive vice president, service offering head, and head of Americas delivery, Infosys

Infosys Cobalt

Adya works with global enterprises to build their cloud strategies and drive digital transformations including investments in cloud technology and AI to enable business innovations.

The company developed a generative AI tool called Infosys Topaz, which provides AI-based services and platforms to clients across industries. One of the communication technologies Adya and his team are developing is a natural-language processing engine designed to facilitate better human-computer conversations.

"I believe advanced natural language processing will fundamentally transform how humans interact with technology, unlocking new possibilities," Adya said in an interview with Authority Magazine. "By enabling truly conversational AI, we can make virtually any interface more intuitive and accessible."

Jack Azagury, group chief executive for consulting, Accenture

Accenture

Azagury leads a global team of more than 47,000 people across Accenture's strategy and consulting services and is a member of the company's global management committee. His remit spans industry and enterprise functions as well as applied intelligence, innovation, and corporate strategy practices.

In January, Accenture published a "Pulse of Change" index suggesting business leaders anticipated unprecedented change in 2024  much of it related to talent and workers' expanding tech skills.

"We believe that the companies that will succeed in the next decade are those that embrace a strategy of continuously reinventing every part of their business using technology, data, and AI," Azagury said in a statement, "including harnessing the power of generative AI, and ensuring their people are at the center of their transformations."

Lucrecia Borgonovo, chief talent and organizational effectiveness officer, Mastercard

Mastercard

Borgonovo leads Mastercard's workforce strategy to attract, develop, and retain talent as the company's chief talent and organizational effectiveness officer. In her role, Borgonovo integrates workforce skills building, engagement, and culture with Mastercard's business goals. She previously worked for global brands in financial services, apparel, and pharmaceuticals.

In 2022, Mastercard launched Unlocked, an AI-based "internal talent marketplace" that allows employees to look for short-term projects, learning pathways, and mentorship opportunities that align with the skill sets they want to build. The company said in May that 90% of its workforce was on the platform.

"AI and emerging technologies almost always spark questions, curiosities, concerns  even fear," Borgonovo said in an article written with Anshul Sheopuri. "We recognize the best way to build trust is to bring our employees along with us on our AI journey, ensuring they are made aware of and educated about our commitment to responsible and ethical AI  in addition to the benefits that AI can bring to their day-to-day experiences and overall career path."

Kenon Chen, executive vice president of strategy and growth, Clear Capital

Clear Capital

Chen leads Clear Capital's corporate strategy at the intersection of its executive, product, marketing, and sales teams. Previously he was the director of technology at Roundpeg.

Chen seeks to approach real-estate transactions with progressive technology solutions. At Clear Capital, he developed and launched ClearCollateral, an automated underwriting and appraisal-review system, and ClearProp, a tool for property analysis and valuation.

"As we move forward, it is imperative to approach AI adoption with a balanced perspective, emphasizing rigorous training, testing, accountability, and continuous improvement," Chen wrote in an article for HousingWire. "By doing so, we can dial down the fear knob and pave the way for responsible and beneficial integration of AI into mortgage lending practices, ultimately enhancing efficiency while preserving trust and confidence in the lending process."

Chris Deri, president, corporate advisory businesses, The Weber Shandwick Collective

Weber Shandwick Collective

Deri leads a team of over 600 professionals to advise C-suite leaders on organizational strategy, societal engagement, and public positioning. Previously he served as the president of Teneo and WCG.

Deri has advised leaders in markets across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East on issues such as public diplomacy, digital strategy, and sustainability in an evolving corporate sphere. He cowrote an article for USC Annenberg arguing that companies need to evolve to respond better to reputational threats.

"If companies want to deliver effective messaging to build their reputations, they must adopt a more fluid organizational structure capable of responding to the competing demands of their stakeholders in real-time," the article said, adding that "real change requires a radical rethink of organizational structure, necessary data, community tech, conversational computing, and immersive experiences."

Maggie Hulce, chief revenue officer, Indeed

Indeed

Hulce leads Indeed's global revenue organization, including sales, client success, go-to-market acceleration, and marketing teams.

Prior to her current role she was the executive vice president and general manager for Job Seeker at Indeed, where she led product, engineering, design, strategy, and operations teams. Before that, Hulce served as general manager of enterprise research and development and vice president of global sales strategy. She has also held positions at Google and McKinsey and is a board member of Social Venture Partners and a member of the Connecticut Governor's Workforce Council.

Hulce has been at the forefront of Indeed's rollout of Smart Sourcing, an AI-powered suite of products that aims to help companies have better outcomes and experiences in the hiring process. "AI can and will make hiring way simpler and faster," Hulce said in a recent statement. "But together, we can ensure the 'human' is always at the heart of hiring."

Francine Katsoudas, executive vice president and chief people, policy, and purpose officer, Cisco

Cisco

Katsoudas' broad remit at Cisco spans people and communities, sustainability, social impact, government affairs and policy, workplace resources, and digital acceleration.

A 27-year veteran of the company, Fran has been a driver of organizational transformations, large-scale growth, and the building of an employee-first culture.

In April, Cisco  along with Accenture, Eightfold, Google, IBM, Indeed, Intel, Microsoft, and SAP  announced the formation of a workforce consortium focused on upskilling and reskilling roles that could be affected by AI.

"AI is accelerating the pace of change for the global workforce, presenting a powerful opportunity for the private sector to help upskill and reskill workers for the future," Katsoudas said in the announcement. "We look forward to engaging other stakeholders  including governments, NGOs, and the academic community  as we take this important first step toward ensuring that the AI revolution leaves no one behind."

Shane Koller, senior vice president and chief people officer, Ancestry

Ancestry

Koller previously led Ancestry's talent operations, management, and development initiatives as the vice president of people. He also held HR roles in tech, healthcare, and medical-devices industries, including leadership at Domo and Banjo to grow their company scales, before joining Ancestry in 2020.

In talking about Ancestry's work-from-anywhere approach, Koller described a connection between workplace flexibility and the company's ability to recruit top employees from a range of locations. "By no longer being limited to the boundaries of our office locations, we can broaden our hiring capabilities to reach more underrepresented talent and provide a level playing field for equitable participation of talent," he said in an interview with The Washington Post.

Neil Murray, CEO of Work Dynamics at JLL

Work Dynamics at JLL

Murray serves as a member of JLL's global executive board and a global sponsor for JLL's corporate client advisory board. With a specialization in real estate, Murray's team advises global Fortune 1000 companies on adapting to the future of work.

JLL's 2024 Global Occupancy Planning Benchmarking Report indicates space planning and management for a hybrid workforce have become critical for businesses since the pandemic.

With health and well-being becoming important priorities for workers, "the forward-looking organizations will be those who acknowledge these new workforce expectations through an in-depth rethinking of their approach to working styles and the workplace," Murray said in an article for the magazine Chief Executive, adding, "The office of the future must be human-centered, where employee-centric solutions that value health, wellbeing, choice and flexibility will be the fundamental framework to optimize both employee experience and performance."

Justina Nixon-Saintil, vice president and chief impact officer, IBM

IBM

Nixon-Saintil leads IBM's career-readiness initiatives, education partnerships, and curricula. Her global team provides access to coursework on subjects including AI, environmental sustainability, and professional workplace skills through IBM SkillsBuild, the organization's free education program.

This year, IBM SkillsBuild partnered with Usher's New Look to offer training and customized learning plans on AI for thousands of students across the country, including high schoolers and college-age youth from communities traditionally underrepresented in technology. The curriculum seeks to equip students with knowledge about evolving technological innovations to help prepare them for a competitive workforce.

"As AI continues to be a driving force in the workplace, we believe that IBM SkillsBuild is well-positioned to help students develop the technology skills they'll need to succeed," Nixon-Saintil said in a statement about the collaboration.

Alicia Pittman, global people team chair, BCG

BCG

Pittman is the global people team chair at Boston Consulting Group, where she also serves on the firm's executive and operating committees. She was previously the North America consulting people team chair and head of Women@BCG for North America, leading initiatives to upgrade compensation and benefits and expand the company's DEI agenda.

Consulting firms themselves have seen a lot of change in the workforce. Over the past decade, BCG has widened the roles and areas of expertise it draws from, including climate scientists, IT architects, UX designers, and data engineers.

"The depth of breadth of expertise that we have has changed," Pittman said in an interview with Business Insider, adding that generative AI was a notable area of growth for the firm.

"It's going to change the mix of people and expertise that we need," she said.

Marjorie Powell, chief HR officer and senior vice president, AARP

AARP

Having had senior and executive roles at universities and major nonprofits, Powell is experienced in HR disciplines including organizational strategy, talent management, and executive compensation.

In her role, Powell navigates the needs and expectations of AARP's multigenerational workforce, which has an average age of about 50. The company has implemented benefits like childcare, including after-school programs and tutors; eldercare; and caregiving leave.

"Our benefits and programs are based on the lifecycle of an employee," Powell said in an interview with Fortune last year, adding: "Whenever we roll out a benefit, we ask whether we're looking at it from a spectrum of ages. That's why we encourage other employers to add age to their diversity metrics."

Purvi Tailor, vice president of human resources, Ferring Pharmaceuticals USA

Ferring Pharmaceuticals USA

Tailor oversees Ferring US's human-resources strategy and is a member of the global HR leadership team. Before joining Ferring, Tailor led HR teams in the pharmaceutical and financial-services industries, including Johnson & Johnson's North America Commercial Medical Devices and the Strategic Customer Group, American Express, and JPMorgan Chase.

In 2022, Ferring launched its Building Families at Ferring package, which offers unlimited financial support for family-building care and 26 weeks of paid parental leave. Tailor described the package as changing how companies approach employee benefits and demonstrating that investing in benefits can drive engagement, boost business performance, and attract and retain talent.

"Gone are the days when employers had the luxury of not thinking about what can help drive retention in the workforce," Tailor said in a recent podcast interview with Progyny, the provider of the benefits package for US-based employees, adding that "it's important to look at your workforce, see what you believe would benefit them the most."

Sharawn Tipton, chief people and culture officer, LiveRamp

LiveRamp

Tipton heads LiveRamp's strategic initiatives in areas of human capital, including talent development and acquisition, workforce productivity, and DEI. She also serves as the board president of Fair Pay Workplace, supporting companies in achieving equal pay for their employees and mitigating risk.

Previously she was the chief diversity officer at Micron Technology where she established global DEI strategies across the US, EMEA, and APAC. Before LiveRamp and Micron, she was an HR leader at Flex, Gensler, and Safeway.



For Tipton, efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion start internally  analyzing the foundations of HR processes, policies, and company culture to ensure that these initiatives are a business imperative. "If you look at every process you have within HR  from hire to fire  and you look at it through a DEI lens and reengineer it, that's going to create equality within your company," she said in an interview with Business Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Detectives thought there was a link between the rape of a teenage girl and the murder of a young woman within months of each other in 1987.

Both victims were attacked on a walking trail in Summit County, bound by shoelaces and sexually assaulted by a man with a knife.

The detectives were right  and that connection proved to be the key to solving these two cases 36 years later.

Through a process that included DNA testing and an exhumation, investigators determined that Thomas Collier Jordan was responsible for the rape and slaying of Janice Christensen, 31, in August 1987 and the rape of a 17-year-old girl in May of that year.

Jordan died in 2009 in Yuma, Arizona, at the age of 83.

The need for answers does not dwindle with the passage of time, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said Thursday in a news release.

Christensens slaying was the first case featured in Unresolved, a collaboration of the Beacon Journal and the Ohio Mysteries podcast that has explored unsolved homicides and missing person cases in the Akron area over the past four years.

Yosts Cold Case Unit worked on the Christensen investigation with Cuyahoga Falls and Hudson police.

Through our teamwork and modern technology, we have resolved these long-standing cases, said Hudson Police Chief Perry Tabak. I hope this brings closure to the victims and their families, helping them heal after years of seeking answers.

Janice Christensen walks with her dog, Wolf. Christensen was killed on the Bike and Hike Trail in Hudson in Aug. 1987. This picture was taken nine months before she was killed.

The revelation of the person responsible for these attacks so long after they happened came as a shock to Michelle Puett-Howard, the teen who was raped in 1987.

Im happy and thrilled and grateful the police did not give up on my case, Puett-Howard said.

Puett-Howard, who is now 55 and living in Oklahoma, agreed to her name being used.

Yosts office has provided information about this investigation to law enforcement across the country in case they might be able to tie Jordan to other cold cases.

Christensen is slain while on a morning run

Janice Christensen went for a jog on the morning of Aug. 10, 1987, on a Bike & Hike Trail in Hudson.

A family photograph of Janice Christensen, who was murdered on the Bike & Hike Trail in Hudson in August 1987.

Ken Christensen, her husband, reported her missing when she didnt return to their Cuyahoga Falls home that night and took their dog to the trail to look for her the next morning. Rather than finding his wife alive, he found her body.

You could see she was bloody, the husband said in a video shared Thursday by the Attorney Generals Office. I touched her hand  and she was cold.

The Summit County coroner ruled that Christensen had been raped and stabbed to death. Police found footprints around her body and a pair of shoelaces that werent Christensens.

These shoelaces were found near the body of Janice Christensen when she was murdered on the Bike & Hike Trail in Hudson in 1987.

Christensens murder was the first in a string of slayings of four young women in Summit County, leading to concern that a serial killer might be on the loose. An arrest was made in one of those cases, but the other two remain unsolved.

Cuyahoga Falls detectives arrested James Zastawnik of Cleveland in May 2020 in the slaying of Barbara Blatnik, 17, of Garfield Heights. She visited friends on the night of Dec. 19, 1987, and called home to say shed be there shortly.

The next morning, her body was found in a wooded area of ONeil Road near Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls. She had been raped and strangled.

Detectives were able to zero-in on Zastawnik using DNA and forensic genealogy. Zastawnik died in August 2021 before he could stand trial.

Christensen's case gets another look

The break in Blatniks case prompted Hudson detectives to dust off the Christensen file.

They hoped some of the same techniques might be used to identify a suspect in her case.

The detectives reached out in June 2020 to the states Cold Case Unit, which was started with the goal of helping local law enforcement use modern tools to crack cold cases.

More: Now You Know Akron podcast: 'Unresolved' crimes featuring Ohio Attorney General David Yost

The unit helped the Hudson detectives digitize and organize the Christensen file and review their evidence. The unit also tested evidence in the case.

Hudson detective Brian Kozel told Beacon Journal reporters in early 2021 that no one had been ruled out as a suspect, including the man who assaulted 17-year-old Puett-Howard but was never identified.

Puett-Howard was raped at knifepoint on May 25, 1987, on a secluded path in Hampton Hills Park in Cuyahoga Falls. She helped police create a composite of her assailant, and police collected DNA evidence from her.

Detectives were struck by the many similarities in the two cases, including how the attacker bound both victims hands with shoelaces and took their car keys.

Kozel said he thought it was more likely that this or another sexual assault case could be linked to Christensens murder than to the other womens slayings in 1987.

If someones committed a sexual assault, hes done it before or after, Kozel said.

How the cases were tied together and solved

The Cold Case Unit in the state crime lab did two rounds of DNA testing in the Christensen case but got no results.

Investigators developed a full DNA profile with DNA from Puett-Howard's case and submitted it to the FBIs Combined DNA Index System database or CODIS. The DNA matched the profile of Jordan.

In April, investigators exhumed Jordans body from an Arizona grave to obtain DNA. Testing confirmed a link between Jordan and Christensen's and Puett-Howard's cases, according to the Attorney Generals Office.

Thomas Collier Jordan, who died in 2009, was identified through DNA as the person responsible for the rape of a teen in 1987 and the sexual assault and murder of a woman later that year.

Investigators found that Jordan, who was born in Cleveland in 1926, had an extensive criminal record. This included being:

Sentenced to prison in 1959 in Trumbull County for grand larceny.

Convicted of burglary in 1961 in Cuyahoga County.

Convicted of malicious entry in 1972 in Geauga County.

Convicted of rape, stabbing and burglary in 1976 in Geauga County, which kept him in prison until 1985.

Jordan is known to have ties to several states besides Ohio, including Arizona, Nevada, California, Louisiana and Michigan, investigators said.

Ken Christensen said in the attorney generals video that he hopes other departments look at this investigation and see if Jordan was involved in other unsolved cases.

It would be nice to give other people that feeling of, Its closed. Its done, he said.

Puett-Howard said she thinks there may be other victims, which is why she agreed to talk to investigators and reporters and not shield her identity.

I am so hopeful there are families with cases not solved who will see it is possible and to not give up hope, she said.

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

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: DNA used to solve 1987 slaying of Cuyahoga Falls woman
Iowa and California, which have warred over the coastal state's regulations on pork and egg production, are girding for battle again, this time over the Californias efforts to require warnings labels on a popular weed killer.

Iowa, Nebraska and nine other states filed a petition Wednesday with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, asking it to adopt a rule preventing states like California from adding warning labels to chemicals that exceed the federal agencys findings about their potential hazards.

The EPA regulates the use of chemicals, often requiring labeling that directs farmers on when and how products such as herbicides can be used, among other precautions. In its last review, the EPA determined that one of the most common herbicides., glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup and similar products, does not pose a cancer risk to people.

A tractor works a field in rural Macksburg in southern Iowa.

More: With thousands of Iowa jobs already cut, how deep will the farm downturn go?

Iowa and Nebraskas petition was prompted by Californias efforts to add warning labels to glyphosate products, saying the chemical is known by the state to cause cancer. Bayer, whose Monsanto unit makes Roundup, has paid billions of dollars to resolve lawsuits making that claim,. and it maintains Roundup is safe, getting regulatory approval worldwide, including from the EPA.

Theres no way that a state like California should tell a farmer in Nebraska or Iowa how to farm, said Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, who filed the petition along with Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers.

Calling the labeling misleading, Bird, a Republican, said the petition seeks to protect Iowa and other farmers right to farm. She and Hilgers held a news conference in Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday. to announce the move.

Heres what to know about the petition.

Whats California's beef with glyphosate?

The International Agency for Research on Cancer identified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic in 2015. California listed the chemical two years later as cancer-causing under its Proposition 65, which requires makers of hazardous products to warn consumers about exposure.

The requirement was challenged in court, and in November, a federal court sided with a district courts permanent injunction preventing the warning label, saying it was unconstitutional. The 2015 IARC conclusion is not shared by a consensus of the scientific community, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit wrote in its opinion.

Why do farmers need glyphosate?

Bird, who grew up on an Iowa farm, noted that glyphosate not only kills weeds, which compete with crops for water and nutrients, but helps reduce erosion since farmers dont have to till the soil to kill weeds. Tillage stirs the soil, making it more vulnerable to wind and soil erosion.

More: 'War on breakfast': Will California proposition improve care of pigs, or just raise ham and bacon prices?

Sherry Vinton, Nebraska's director of agriculture, said glyphosate has provided a cost-effective way to control weeds, especially at a time when prices for corn, soybeans and other crops are below the cost to grow them.

These crops are important to our economy," Vinton said. When farmers do well, Main Street does well and all our communities do well.

Kevin Ross, who farms in Underwood in western Iowa, said using glyphosate allows farmers like him to avoid employing harsher chemicals. It also helps them lower their carbon emissions when growing corn, which helps California consumers maintain access to low-carbon fuel like the ethanol that much of Iowa's nation-leading corn crop is used to produce.

It doesnt make sense that California is trying to push regulations on other states, said Ross, past president of the National Corn Growers Association, adding, Im glad that out attorney generals in these two states are pushing back.

Also joining the petition: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina and South Dakota.

Iowa and other states have tried to protect glyphosate use. Last year, the Iowa Senate passed a bill that would help shield Bayer from lawsuits stemming from failure to warn users of potential health risks.

What else is Iowa and other states battling with California over?

Iowa also has been involved in a squabble with California about its treatment of sows and hens. The battle over breakfast, as U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, dubbed it, centered on California's voter-approved Proposition 12, which sharply increased the amount of space sows, laying hens and calves must be allotted on farms whose pork, eggs or veal are marketed to the nearly 40 million residents of California, the most populous U.S. state.

Last year, about 30% of U.S. egg producers complied with California's prohibition on caging laying hens. But less than 5% of hog operations can meet Proposition 12's requirement that a pregnant sow have at least 24 square feet of space to move around in.

Hog farmers in Iowa, the nation's largest pork and egg producer, said it would cost them millions of dollars to meet the requirement and do little to improve animal welfare. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the states animal welfare law last year., as U.S. producers struggled with record losses.

Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com or 515-284-8457.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa, 10 other states, want EPA to strike California labeling rule
Iran mulls scrapping plans to take revenge on Israel in exchange for a Gaza ceasefire

The Middle East, and indeed much of the world, is bracing for Iran to carry out a revenge attack on Israel over the assassination of Hamas political leader. But could Tehran instead be prepared to pull back in exchange for progress on Gaza peace talks? That was the hope among regional leaders gathered at an emergency summit in Jeddah.

It was Wednesday and the world was on edge. Flights across Iran and its neighbors were cancelled amid fears that missiles could fly any moment, triggering a much-feared escalation of Israels war in Gaza.

With his country on the brink of triggering a regional war, Irans Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri whispered to an aide bending close to catch his words.

Cameroons foreign minister sat to Bagheris right, Yemens to his left, along with a room full of other foreign ministers from Muslim-majority countries, all there to help prevent the situation from spiraling into a wider conflict.

Since Hamass political chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran last week, the Islamic Republics leaders have vowed vengeance against Israel, whom they claim was responsible. Israel hasnt confirmed or denied responsibility.

The unassuming venue for such a last-ditch effort to quell Irans seething rage was the headquarters of the Organization of Islamic Cooperations (OIC), modest by Saudi Arabias rapidly modernizing and glitzy standards. It sits in a dusty, nondescript corner of the Red Sea city of Jeddah.

The play in the room, if it can be called that, was carefully articulated to CNN by Jordans foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, who stepped out of the high stakes talks to promote the initiative his vulnerable kingdom is championing: The first step toward stopping the escalation is ending its root cause, which is the continued Israeli aggression on Gaza.

The thrust, to convince Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to soften his stance in ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, isnt new. But the payoff this time may be much more attractive than previous attempts.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the US and its allies have communicated directly to both Israel and Iran that no one should escalate this conflict, adding that ceasefire negotiations have entered a final stage and could be jeopardized by further escalation elsewhere in the region.

Safadi was in Tehran over the weekend and met both Bagheri and Irans new President Masoud Pezeshkian, and appears to believe that Iran may be looking for an off ramp to escalation.

Iran needs diplomatic cover to back away from its hasty threats against Israel in the immediate aftermath of Haniyehs killing: a Gaza ceasefire that would allow Tehran to claim it cares more for the lives of Palestinians in the Palestinian enclave than it does for taking revenge would fit the bill. But the payoff needs to be big enough for Iran as its honor and deterrence are at stake.

Frances President Emanuel Macron is adding his diplomatic heft, declaring in a phone call with Pezeshkian Wednesday, retaliation against Israel has to be abandoned.

Pezeshkians response suggests he is listening. If America and Western countries really want to prevent war and insecurity in the region, to prove this claim, they should immediately stop selling arms and supporting the Zionist regime and force this regime to stop the genocide and attacks on Gaza and accept a ceasefire, he said.

Could Hezbollah act alone

Nearly ten months since Israels war in Gaza, triggered by Hamas brutal October 7 attack which saw around 1200 people in Israel killed and at least 250 others taken hostage, almost 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Palestinian health officials - and there is still no end in sight to the conflict

The catch in the Gaza ceasefire escalation off-ramp play is that it is heavy on hope and short on substance.

For it to work, Netanyahu will have to buy in to it too.

Hamas just made this harder by replacing Haniyah with his tougher counterpart inside Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, an architect of the October 7 attacks, and anyway, right now they are in no mood for meaningful talks.

The change, if its going to come, according to the consensus at the OIC has to be from the outside, from the only person who remotely has the clout to temper Netanyahu  US President Joe Biden.

Iranians attend the memorial procession of assassinated Hamas chief, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran, Iran, August 1, 2024. - Majid Asgaripour/Reuters

But almost a year into the conflict, Biden refuses a showdown with Israels most hardline, right-wing government in its history, that also adding to the frustrations in Jeddah.

Riyad Mansour, Palestines Permanent Observer at the UN, was in the room with Bagheri and the others.

The region does not need escalation, he said What the region needs is a ceasefire. What the region needs to address legitimate rights. I have a feeling that Prime Minister Netanyahu wants to drag President Biden into a war with Iran

What Bagheri did get in Jeddah was the kind of diplomatic support intended help get them off the ledge, with Mansour saying With regard to what Iran wanted about, you know, the respecting its territorial integrity and its sovereignty, there was, you know, a strong support to this sentiment.

As the acting Iranian foreign minister left for Tehran following the four-hour emergency meeting, focus shifted slightly back to Irans Lebanese proxy Hezbollah, which is also intent on retaliation for the assassination of its top military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut hours before Haniyehs killing.

One US official and one western intelligence official told CNN that fears are higher now about Hezbollah taking action than Iran, raising the prospect that the Lebanon-based militia group may act without them.

For Netanyahu this may look like semantics intended to blunt Israels desire for an overwhelming response against either aggressor.

He views Iran and Hezbollah as different hands of the same theological head.

With the exception of direct IranianIsraeli exchange of fire in April, Hezbollah has always landed the punches on Israel Iran hesitates to take, and may this time throw a double blow, one for Shukr and one for Hamass Haniyeh.

Were that the case Israels retaliation against Hezbollah could just as quickly become the regional escalation dragging in Iran that everyone fears.

What is clear, the Jeddah meet and the back channel diplomacy buys diplomatic space and time to develop an off ramp that has a least a little traction for now.

Both Iran and the US, to a degree, are buying in to it.

Whether this fizzles out to another false horizon is with Bagheri and his president.

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Disturbing talk from Tehran: "The Zionist regime [Israel] will soon receive a strong and definite response, and there is no doubt about it," said Abdolrahim Mousavi, the chief commander of Iran's army, on Wednesday. "It is clear that they themselves have realized the speed of their own destruction, and by doing so, they want to save themselves from the quagmire, but they definitely cannot save themselves from annihilation."

Iranian officials said similar things back in April, before Israel and Iran exchanged strikes which did little damage and seemed more symbolic than designed to spiral into war. But right now the entire regionspecifically, Iran and its proxiesappears to be on the brink of retaliation directed toward Israel, which took out Fuad Shukr, one of Hezbollah's top military commanders, and Ismail Haniyeh, one of Hamas' top political leaders. Israel claims it assassinated Shukr in retaliation for a rocket attack from Hezbollah that killed 12 kids. (The killing of Haniyeh probably needs no explanation, given the events of October 7, in which Hamas came into Israel and murdered 1,200 in the single most brutal day of carnage Israel has ever seen.)

Airlines will divert some of their routes around both Iranian and Lebanese airspace, with Egypt instructing all of its airlines to avoid Iranian airspace early this morning local time.

Israel's security cabinet plans to convene tonight to prepare for the nation's defense in the event of an attack from Iran and/or its proxies. And, on Friday, the U.S. reported that it had "ordered more combat aircraft and warships capable of shooting down missiles and drones to the Middle East in response to the threats from Iran and its allies," reports The New York Times.

Internally, Hamas has replaced Haniyeh with Yahya Sinwar, one of the chief architects of the horrific October 7 pogrom. Sinwar is believed to be hiding in the tunnels below Gaza and has arguably been more influential in crafting Hamas' strategy than Haniyeh was.

Ukrainian troops get into Russia: Ukraine's military has advanced six miles into Russia, capturing a few small border settlements and leaving their aggressors scrambling.

Russia instigated the war in Ukraine, which has been raging since February 2022. It's the third time Ukraine has progressed into Russian borders, but it appears to be the largest so far (though the military itself has released no information about the assault, and reporters are mostly relying on intelligence analysts assessing photos and videos of the region).

"The fighting was intensive enough for the acting governor of the Kursk region in Russia, Aleksei Smirnov, to declare a state of emergency late Wednesday in order to 'liquidate the results of an incursion into the region's territory by enemy forces,'" reports The New York Times.

Tim Walz misunderstands free speech: "There's no guarantee to free speech on misinformation or hate speech and especially around our democracy," Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who Kamala Harris recently picked as her running mate, told MSNBC back in December 2022, in a clip that's been resurfaced given his newfound prominence.

That's not true. Spreading "misinformation"however you might define that pesky wordis absolutely free speech. Ditto for "hate speech," which may be defined differently depending on who you ask. And the "especially around our democracy" part is extremely concerning as well, like he's alluding to the idea that there's some sort of more-punitive carve-out for political speech, that type of speech that's so extremely important to permit and protect.

Walz is not alone in misunderstanding free speech; these types of mischaracterizations are commonly aired among the MSNBC set. And it probably doesn't matter, because vice presidents don't matter (until they do!). But it bears noting wherever it crops up, since free speech must be valued and secured in order to have a healthy political culture, and since power seekers of all stripes ought to understand such things lest they trample on them.

Scenes from New York: A fun and beautiful story from Tablet about how bananas and cream originated as a nostalgic food, beloved by American Jews, in part because of Eastern European immigrants' fondness for sour cream, and delight at bananas, a fruit that had not been available in the Old World.

QUICK HITS

In a first-of-its-kind lawsuit, Planned Parenthood is being sued for medical malpractice by detransitioners who claim the organization inadequately assessed plaintiffs' mental health prior to providing cross-sex hormones. The Free Press has more.

"I'm at the end of 12 years as a critic who ate in and reviewed restaurants constantly," writes The New York Times' Pete Wells, in his last review. "Of those years, I probably spent two solid months just waiting for the check. I ought to be in favor of anything that speeds up the end of the meal, but Blackbird's new checkless exit gives me the creeps. It is just the latest in a series of changes that have gradually and steadily stripped the human touch and the human voice out of restaurants. Each of these changes was small, but together they've made going out to eat much less personal. Meals are different now, and our sense of who we are is different, too."

"There is still a propensity for a further selldown if there is more signals that the US economy is screeching to a halt," notes Marcus Wong to Bloomberg. "While there is hardly a consensus in the market that the US economy is headed into a recession this year, investors are so jittery that even 'small speedbumps' in the economy now could be another reason to sell." Also some interesting insight into how central banks have handled this week's economic news, and which rate cuts might happen for the remainder of the year.

Good insight from an X follower, summing up my own tweets more concisely than I ever could:

"Aw shucks" socialism is a Trojan Horse for government expansion, control and debt.  Calmer than you are (@1100RS) August 7, 2024

"China has long invested heavily to push its athletes to triumph against the West, as a way of highlighting the merits of the Communist Party," notes Bloomberg. "These Olympic Games are no different, but for one key aspect: Citizens are openly questioning why Beijing is spending so much money on a sporting event when many at home are facing bleak economic prospects."

"I think that there's more than one way to populate the planetif not with children, then with other things," writes Kat Rosenfield on J.D. Vance's (quite rude) "childless cat ladies" line. "With invention and discovery. With art and beauty. With lovely things that keep blooming, long after we've left the world behind."

The post Iran Speaks of Israel's 'Annihilation' appeared first on Reason.com.
(Bloomberg) -- Irans president told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron the US and Europe must urge Israel to accept a truce in Gaza to reduce tensions in the Middle East.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Masoud Pezeshkians comments on a call with Macron on Wednesday hint at a diplomatic path to de-escalation as Israel braces for retaliation after the killing of a top Hamas leader in Tehran.

The call was the latest in a flurry of diplomatic activity by Western and Arab states to try to ensure Iran tempers its response. Israel has said it may react disproportionately to any attack from Iran or its proxy militia groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

If the US and Western countries really want to prevent war and insecurity in the region, they should convince this regime to stop the genocide and attacks in Gaza and accept a cease-fire, Pezeshkian told Macron, a statement on Irans official government website said.

Macron, according to the French presidency, said Iran should not retaliate against Israel and warned that further violence would cause long-term damage to the prospects for regional stability.

The Islamic Republic, Hamass main backer, has repeatedly vowed to avenge the killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week, while saying it doesnt want to spark a region-wide war. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for Haniyehs death.

Hezbollah, Irans main proxy militia group, has also threatened a major attack on Israel after the Israeli military killed a senior commander, Fuad Shukr, in Beirut just hours before Haniyeh died.

Hezbollah and Israel have already been exchanging fire regularly since October, when the Israel-Hamas war erupted in Gaza.

The only path forward is to bring about an immediate cease-fire that will help deescalate the regional situation and will save the region from the abyss of further conflict, Jordans foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, told CNN on Wednesday. Safadi made a rare trip to Iran over the weekend as part of the coordinated efforts by the West and Arab states to lower tensions.

Hamas and Hezbollah are designated terrorist organizations by the US.

Hamas started the war when its fighters swarmed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking around 240 hostage. Israels subsequent offensive on Gaza has killed almost 40,000 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the Palestinian territory.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Iran warns airlines to avoid its airspace for 3 hours on Thursday over military drills, Egypt says

Iran warns airlines to avoid its airspace for 3 hours on Thursday over military drills, Egypt says

Egyptian airlines were ordered to avoid Iranian airspace for three hours on Thursday after a notice from Tehran to do so because of military drills, according to Egypts Civil Aviation Ministry.

The warning came amid skyrocketing regional tensions following the assassination of Hamas leader in Tehran last week.

Egypt said the caution came in the form of a notice sent by Iran to all commercial airlines.

The ban from Iranian airspace will reportedly last for three hours  from 4:30 am to 7:30 am on Thursday. Irans warning also covered three hours earlier on Wednesday, the Egyptian ministry added.

Speaking to Irans ISNA news agency, the head of the Iranian international airport in the capital city of Tehran Saeed Chalandari denied reports of a warning against entering western Iranian airspace, though it was not clear whether that applied to the entire country.

Israel has been bracing for an attack by Iran and its allied militias over the assassinations in Tehran of Hamas top leader Ismail Haniyeh, as well as the assassination of a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.

Both Iran and Hamas blamed Israel for the explosion that killed Haniyeh, but Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.
BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) has called for an independent investigation into the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for its serious breach of the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code) and cover-up of anti-doping rule violations.

The statement was made after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) revealed that since 2011, there have been at least three cases where athletes who had committed serious anti-doping rule violations were exonerated by USADA and allowed to continue to compete without sanctions for years, while they acted as the so-called undercover agents for USADA. WADA wasn't informed of the practice until 2021.

CHINADA pointed out that such practice constitutes a serious violation of the Code and USADA's own rules, causes severe damage to the rights and interests of clean athletes and to the fair play principle in sport, and shows a profound lack of transparency in USADA's anti-doping work.

While the CEO of USADA claimed that the practice was "an effective way to get at these bigger, systemic problems", CHINADA asserted that it was, in fact, a cover-up of anti-doping rule violations.

CHINADA further added that such remarks reflected "the arrogance of the USADA CEO and his contempt for international rules."

"Moreover, it has further added evidence to the larger-scale, organized, and systemic doping problem in U.S. sports," the statement read, noting that the U.S.'s tolerance of its own long history of problems stands in stark contrast to its attempt to exercise jurisdiction over other countries.

It "clearly exposed to the international community its trick of a thief crying 'stop the thief' and the double standards behind its logic," according to CHINADA.

CHINADA called for an independent investigation into USADA, demanding that details of relevant cases be disclosed and that USADA respond to the concerns about its own problems raised by the media and the general public.

It also urged the U.S. Congress and the USADA Board of Directors to face up to the grave problem of doping within the U.S. itself and the serious governance flaws within USADA.

While calling for tighter supervision and regulation of USADA, and stronger anti-doping measures within the U.S., CHINADA urged the U.S. to stop "despicable attempts of 'long-arm jurisdiction' and gross meddling in the work of anti-doping organizations in other countries."

CHINADA also called on USADA to truly implement the principle of transparency "to which it has repeatedly claimed to adhere in its statements." 
Walloped by bogus claims for the pandemic-era Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERC), the IRS says its ramping up audits and criminal investigations of suspected fraud.

The IRS has sent out 28,000 rejection letters to businesses in recent weeks that could prevent up to $5 billion in improper payments, the agency said in a Thursday release. So far, 460 criminal cases have been opened against suspected fraudsters.

The IRS is committed to continuing our work to resolve this program as Congress contemplates further action, both for the good of legitimate businesses and tax administration, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in a statement.

Werfel said Thursday that the IRS was still getting upwards of 17,000 ERC claims per week  the same amount as in June  even though the program expansion had originally been intended for pandemic relief.

Earlier in the year, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said hed been told by an IRS whistleblower that as many as 95 percent of ERC claims were fraudulent.

Despite all the fraud, the IRS says its moving now to start processing new claims after having enacted a moratorium.

Previously, the agency was not working on claims that were submitted after Sept. 14, 2023, but will now start processing ERC claims filed between Sept. 14, 2023, and Jan. 31, the IRS said.

Congress recently considered doing away with the ERC program altogether and using its cancellation as a way to pay for an expansion of the popular child tax credit, along with business credits and an agreement on double taxation between the U.S. and Taiwan.

Despite passing the House with broad bipartisan support, Senate Republicans blocked the proposal from moving forward last week, saying it amounted to a show vote put forward by Democrats.

The new moratorium end date lines up with the proposed cancellation date for the credit outlined in the failed child tax credit deal.

Financial fraud related to unemployment programs set up during the pandemic has been a concern among various federal agencies for the last few years, with agencies such as the Labor Department and Justice Department working to go after abusers of pandemic relief programs.

In 2022, the Labor Departments inspector general announced more than 1,000 individuals had been charged with crimes relating to unemployment insurance fraud since the beginning of the pandemic.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Islamic States genocide was not limited to killing and enslaving Yazidis, Christians and other communities  it also erased their heritage

August 2024 marks the 10-year anniversary of the Islamic State groups genocide, in which thousands of people from Iraqs marginalized communities, including Yazidis, Christians and Shiite Muslims, were killed in Iraqs second-largest city, Mosul, and the surrounding areas.

The Yazidis, who follow a monotheistic religion, in which the Peacock Angel is chief among seven divine beings, and have been persecuted periodically in the past, suffered gravely. From 2014 to 2017, at least 5,000 were brutally killed, while 6,000 women and children were enslaved; hundreds of thousands were displaced from Sinjar and the Nineveh Plains, near Mosul.

Iraqs Assyrian Christians, who belong to a native Mesopotamian community consisting of early converts to a Syriac form of Eastern Christianity, also suffered under IS. In Mosul, IS marked Christian homes and forced them to either pay jizya, a tax historically levied upon non-Muslims, leave or be killed.

Even Muslims, particularly Shiites, whom IS deemed heretical for their adherence to forms of Islam beyond the narrow version of Sunni Islam the group espoused, were killed. While Shiite Muslims are a majority in Iraq, they are a minority in Mosul and the north, which is dominated by Sunni Muslims.

Iraq is the land where I was born. During a visit in the summer of 2016, I was able to see IS men from an ancient monastery atop a mountain near Mosul, which was especially troubling. Although IS was mostly defeated by Iraqi forces, in combination with a broader international coalition led by the United States, the consequences of the genocidal violence it perpetrated are ongoing.

In particular, Yazidis and Christians continue to suffer marginalization, the regions they inhabit remain unstable, and their heritage is subject to ongoing destruction. As a scholar of Iraq, I have a particular concern about the loss of intangible heritage such as prayers, songs and historic narratives  which I am now working to preserve.

Historical significance

Since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, political parties in power have operated on a sectarian basis to marginalize minorities such as Christians and Yazidis.

The number of Christians in this area has dwindled from 1.5 million in 2003 to a few hundred thousand today. Other Islamic fundamentalist groups such as al-Qaida also targeted Christians, before IS did. The Alliance for Iraqi Minorities, a nonprofit based in Iraq, reported that 1,200 Christians were killed from 2003 to 2014.

Part of the reason for their suffering is that the region they have historically occupied, especially the Nineveh Plains, is coveted for its resources. It is rich in oil and also holds some of the most significant heritage of Iraqs early, pre-Islamic cultures.

Yet, it also holds special value for Iraqs Assyrian Christians. Nineveh and surrounding areas such as Nimrud and Alqosh have important artifacts, monasteries and church complexes, which date to Christianitys earliest periods. These areas were once part of Mesopotamia, a crucible of civilization, and contain a rich legacy of medieval literature, preserved in valuable manuscripts dating as far back as the fifth century.

Also adjacent to the Nineveh Plains is Lalish, the holiest sanctuary of the Yazidis. Within it lies the 12th-century shrine of Sheikh Adi, who is revered as an influential holy figure in the Yazidi faith.

These communities draw their cultural identity from this history. For the Assyrians Christians, the ancient Mesopotamian inheritance, including Christianity, is intertwined with a unique oral heritage that includes songs, folktales, recipes and tools for crafts preserved for centuries by local villagers as part of their now endangered Aramaic language and culture.

The language of farming used by these communities retains some influences from the Akkadian language used by the ancient Mesopotamian empires. For instance, in the dialect of the town of Baghdeda, in the Nineveh Plains, the word for storeroom of grains is bakhshima in Aramaic, which is a close descendant of the bet hashiimi in Akkadian for barn.

Preserving heritage

Even before the emergence of IS, rural and ethno-religious communities that did not occupy a central position of power were subject to the states neglect and inadequate preservation of their heritage. In particular, Arab nationalist governments such as the Ba'ath, which held power in Iraq from 1968 to 2003, destroyed the villages of Assyrian Christians, forcing their displacement to large urban majority centers in Iraq. The Yazidis were similarly targeted.

Throughout the 20th century, Iraqs national libraries and museums have shown scant interest in representing the heritage of provincial and rural communities.

IS brought more destruction. Churches and shrines, cultural institutions and ancient heritage  including the city of Nimrod  were destroyed by IS. Those charged with preserving the heritage, along with other community members, were displaced from their towns and villages or killed. Some 400,000 Yazidis and about 200,000 Christians were expelled from the region between 2014 and 2017.

In the process, IS also erased memories of communities that would be passed to future generations. The damage was particularly severe for the Yazidi community, as it lacks textual scriptures; and for both communities, many traditions were passed down orally by men and women  often themselves illiterate  in the many languages of the region.

The aim of IS, as my colleagues and I found, was to erase not only these communities themselves but also the forms of intercommunal coexistence that had characterized northern Iraq historically. Many of the religious sites IS targeted were revered by multiple religions. For instance, Mosuls Mosque of Nabi Yunis was built on the site of a Christian church believed to be the shrine of the biblical Prophet Jonah. According to the Bible, Jonah was instructed by God to save the Ninevites. ISs destruction of this site revealed an Assyrian palace underneath the church-turned-mosque, which was dedicated to Jonah.

The path forward

Our current project documents the intangible and textual heritage of both Yazidis and Christians. The oral heritage often uses ancient languages and dialects  especially the endangered Near Eastern neo-Aramaic dialects spoken by Christians. We also document the Kurmanji version of Kurdish spoken by Yazidis.

The memories and narratives are significant not only for Yazidis and Christians but for the pluralistic history of the northern region and of Iraq as a whole. One example is Dazike Batzmie, or the Blessing of the String  a sacred white-and-red string spun from wool and worn by Yazidis for good luck.

Another is the pokhin  a mixture made from seven grains plus salt, eaten during the conclusion of the Rogation of Ninevites, a fast by Assyrian Christians in remembrance of Jonah and their repentance before God. It is believed that those who fast will have prophetic dreams, and the salty pokhin mixture will help thirsty single people to dream of their future soulmates.

Such rituals are passed down from elders and associated with the lands these communities connect to.

Today, these communities remain dispersed, and their suffering continues. Many of the locals involved in our project, including colleagues who have acted as defenders of their culture, have given up  often leaving the region, preferring to become refugees in unfamiliar lands with unknown futures. Younger generations may not appreciate the depth of connections between religious practices and community legends that oral history ties together.

The intense political and economic pressures and the insecurity they continue to feel are behind their reasons to leave. But as someone who knows the region deeply, I believe ensuring the continuation of the regions traditions and cultural diversity through preservation efforts can give hope and provide a path forward.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Alda Benjamen, University of Dayton

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Alda Benjamen is currently a research director on a USAID funded Cultural Heritage & Education project focusing on native and ethno-religious communities in Iraq.
Officials: Suspects in foiled plot at Taylor Swift shows hoped to kill as many people as possible

VIENNA (AP)  Both suspects in a foiled plot to attack Taylor Swift shows in Vienna appeared to be inspired by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida, Austrian authorities said Thursday, and investigators found bomb-making materials at one of their homes. Officials said one of the two confessed to planning to kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue.

Three sold-out concerts were canceled a day earlier because of the plot, devastating Swifties from across the globe. Many of them had dropped thousands of euros (dollars) on travel and lodging in Austrias expensive capital city to attend the Eras Tour shows at the Ernst Happel Stadium, which sat empty Thursday morning as media filmed outside.

Concert organizers said they stood behind their decision, saying they expected up to 65,000 fans inside the stadium at each concert and as many as 30,000 onlookers outside, where authorities said the suspects planned to strike.

Officials told reporters that the main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian, began working on his attack plans in July, and just a few weeks ago uploaded to the internet an oath of allegiance to the current leader of the Islamic State group militia. He planned to use knives or homemade explosives.

He wanted to carry out an attack in the area outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using the knives or even using the explosive devices he had made, said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, the head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, citing the 19-year-olds confession.

He was clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels, Haijawi-Pirchner added.

The foiled attack was planned for Thursday or Friday, according to Austrias interior minister, Gerhard Karner. Neither suspect appeared to have a ticket to any of the shows.

During a raid of the main suspects home in Ternitz, south of Vienna, investigators found chemical substances and technical devices that indicated concrete preparatory acts, said Franz Ruf, Director General for Public Security at the Ministry of the Interior.

Authorities also found Islamic State group and al-Qaida material at the home of the second suspect, a 17-year-old Austrian. He was employed a few days ago by a company providing services at the venue for the concerts, and was arrested by special police forces near the stadium.

Both teens were arrested Tuesday. Neithers name was released in line with Austrian privacy rules.

No other suspects are being sought, Karner, the interior minister, said. However, a 15-year-old, who had been in contact with both suspects, was also interrogated by police.

The situation was serious, the situation is serious. But we can also say: A tragedy was prevented, he said.

Concert organizers, Barracuda Music, said in an Instagram post late Wednesday that we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyones safety. It cited government officials confirmation of a planned attack at the stadium.

Swift and her team have not spoken publicly about the plot or canceled shows. Her Instagram page reposted Barracuda Musics announcement in a story, which only last 24 hours.

Last month, an attacker in England killed three girls and wounded 10 other people in knife attack during a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class. Swift at the time said she was completely in shock' over the attack.

Europe is enamored with the American superstar, with the German town of Gelsenkirchen renaming itself Swiftkirchen before its mid-July concerts.

Austrias Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler wrote on social platform X: For many, a dream has been shattered today. On three evenings in Vienna, tens of thousands of #Swifties should have celebrated life together.

I am very sorry that you were denied this. Swifties stick together, hate and terror cant destroy that, Kogler added.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer posted on X that the cancellation of the Taylor Swift concerts by the organizers is a bitter disappointment for all fans in Austria.

The situation surrounding the apparently planned terror attack in Vienna was very serious, he wrote. But he added that, thanks to intensive cooperation between police and Austrian and foreign intelligence, the threat could be recognized early on, tackled and a tragedy prevented.

Barracuda Music said that all tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days. The same wording was posted under the Vienna dates on Swifts official website.

The Vienna stadium had been sold out for the planned concerts, APA reported, with an estimated 170,000 fans expected for the concerts in Austria. Some who posted on X lamented months of now-wasted efforts to make friendship bracelets and pick out fashionable outfits for the performance.

Swift is expected to perform at Londons Wembley stadium in five concerts between Aug. 15 and 20 to close the European leg of her record-setting Eras Tour.

In 2017, an attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, killed 22 people. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi set up a knapsack bomb in Manchester Arena at the end of Grandes concert as thousands of young fans were leaving. More than 100 people were injured. Abedi died in the explosion.

An official inquiry reported in 2023 that Britains domestic intelligence agency, MI5, didnt act swiftly enough on key information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the bombing, the deadliest extremist attack in the United Kingdom in recent years.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Natural Log

An isolated tribe in the Amazon rainforest used bows and arrows to head off loggers who were, Indigenous advocates say, likely encroaching on their land.

As the Associated Press reports based on statements from the Federacion Nativa del Rio Madre de Dios y Afluentes (FENAMAD) Indigenous rights group, the Mashco Piro people who live in the Peruvian Amazon fought back against the loggers, one of whom was wounded.

The activist group, which represents 39 tribes in the region, said that it was likely the loggers were operating illegally in the area.

"It is presumably illegal because the area where the incident occurred is a forestry concession that belonged to Wood Tropical Forest until November 2022," a FENAMAD representative told the AP, "and we are not aware of a concession that has requested or granted enabling rights in the same area."

Permanent Emergency

News of the seemingly defensive violence comes just over a month after another Indigenous advocacy group, Survival International, published photos of Mashco Piro tribe members on a beach in the nearby village of Yine, which hosts a population more assimilated into modern society.

As the group noted back in June, the appearance of Mashco Piro members in Yine suggests that their territory, which the Peruvian government has been reticent to protect, has been increasingly encroached upon by logging companies.

"This is irrefutable evidence that many Mashco Piro live in this area, which the government has not only failed to protect, but actually sold off to logging companies," another FENAMAD spokesperson told Survival International earlier this summer of the photos. "The logging workers could bring in new diseases which would wipe out the Mashco Piro, and theres also a risk of violence on either side, so its very important that the territorial rights of the Mashco Piro are recognized and protected in law."

Given that at least one logger has now been injured and that others have died before when allegedly encroaching upon Mashco Piro land, that warning now seems all the more prescient.

Survival International considers the Mascho Piro the largest voluntarily isolated tribe in the world  and we are not using the term "uncontacted" here because it's steeped in colonialism and virtually no humans on the planet are still fully untouched by the modern world  and has long advocated for greater government protections for the group.

"This is a permanent emergency," SI researcher Teresa Mayo told AP after the more recent encroachment. "For the last month, we have been seeing the Mascho Piro every two weeks at different points, and in all of them they are surrounded by loggers."

In the Amazon region, logging companies are known for their illegal encroachment and enjoy overt government support in doing so  which makes the seeming self-defense of the Mashco Piro people all the more justified.

More on the region: Remote Amazon Tribe Finally Gets Internet, Gets Hooked on Porn and Social Media
The Israeli military has ordered another mass evacuation in large areas around Khan Younis in southern Gaza, saying its forces will soon operate there in response to Palestinian rocket fire. Gazas second-largest city, Khan Younis suffered widespread destruction during air and ground operations earlier this year.

Israeli forces have repeatedly returned to heavily destroyed areas of Gaza where they had fought earlier battles against Hamas and other militants since the start of the 10-month-old war.

Gaza faces a severe humanitarian crisis with Israeli restrictions on aid and ongoing fighting limiting access to crucial medical, food and other supplies. The Health Ministry in Gaza says the death toll in the territory is nearing 40,000.

Regional tensions have soared since Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed July 31 in Iran by a presumed Israeli strike. Retaliation has been expected.

World leaders have been pushing for a cease-fire in Gaza. On Thursday, the foreign powers involved in brokering a possible deal  the U.S., Egypt and Qatar  issued a joint statement calling on Israel and Hamas to resume stalled cease-fire talks on Aug. 15.

___

Heres the latest:

Israel confirms it will send negotiators to resume indirect cease-fire talks with Hamas

JERUSALEM  Israel has confirmed it will send negotiators to resume indirect cease-fire talks with Hamas next week in response to a proposal by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Thursday that the government would heed the call by foreign mediators to revive negotiations aimed at halting the fighting in Gaza after 10 months of devastating war and bringing home Israeli hostages still captive in the enclave.

The statement said that on August 15, at a place to be determined, the parties would hash out the implementation of a framework agreement that has already been finalized. The mediators said the talks would take place either in Qatars capital of Doha or Egypts capital of Cairo.

There was no immediate response to the offer by Hamas. Last weeks killing of its top political leader in Tehran raised tensions across the region, an escalation widely seen as a blow to cease-fire talks.

U.S., Egypt and Qatar urge Israel and Hamas to return to the negotiating table

WASHINGTON  The foreign powers involved in brokering a possible cease-fire aimed at halting the fighting in Gaza and releasing Israeli hostages have jointly appealed to Israel and Hamas to return to the negotiating table next week.

The statement issued Thursday by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, the three mediators in the monthslong Israel-Hamas war, called on the parties to resume stalled cease-fire talks on Aug. 15 in either Qatars capital of Doha or Egypts capital of Cairo.

There is no further time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delay, it said, adding that the negotiators have already finalized a framework for the deal. All thats left to hammer out, it said, are the details of implementation.

The statement, signed by U.S. President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said the mediators were prepared to present a final compromise that resolves the remaining implementation issues in a manner that meets the expectations of all parties. It did not elaborate on what that would look like.

There has been a flurry of diplomacy in recent days after the assassination of Hamas political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, prompted fears of a wider regional war.

Hamas this week announced that Yahya Sinwar, one of the architects of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, would replace Haniyeh as the leader of Hamas political wing. Haniyeh previously served as the key interlocutor in the indirect cease-fire talks with Israel.

U.S. diplomats said the negotiations had been approaching a breakthrough just before Israels assassination of a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut and the killing of Haniyeh in Tehran brought vows of retaliation from Hezbollah and Iran and left the Middle East on edge.

Israeli airstrike injures 4 Syrian soldiers

BEIRUT  Four Syrian army soldiers were injured in an Israeli airstrike Thursday, Syrian state media reported.

Syrian state news agency SANA, citing an unnamed military source, said strikes targeted a number of military points in the central region.

The UK-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported explosions near a military airport in the countryside of Homs province that were likely caused by an Israeli targeting of weapons storage warehouses.

There was no immediate statement from Israel, which frequently targets the sites of the Syrian army and Iran-backed groups in Syria but rarely announces the strikes.

Detention extended for 5 Israeli soldiers accused of sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee

JERUSALEM  An Israeli military court Thursday extended the detention of five soldiers who allegedly sexually assaulted a Palestinian detainee in a detention facility.

The military said there is reasonable suspicion that the soldiers committed the acts they are accused of and extended their detention until Sunday.

Its the latest in a case that has stoked divisions between hardliners in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus governing coalition and the military establishment. New information about the case has recently surfaced in Israeli media, including a video purporting to show the alleged attack and testimony from Dr. Yoel Donchin, who saw the detainee afterward and reported the case to Israeli authorities.

Donchin confirmed in an interview with Israeli media that the detainee had fractured ribs, showed signs of beating and bore evidence of being sodomized, leading to a tear in the lower part of the intestines.

Rights groups say the case is just the tip of the iceberg and are petitioning Israels highest court to shut down the Sde Teiman facility, where the attack allegedly occurred.

Thousands of Palestinians in southern Gaza evacuate ahead of Israeli strikes

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip  Thousands of Palestinians in eastern Khan Younis in southern Gaza began evacuating to other areas Thursday afternoon after the Israeli military ordered another mass evacuation.

The orders cover large areas in and around Khan Younis, Gazas second-largest city, which suffered widespread destruction during air and ground operations earlier this year. The Israeli Defense Forces said they plan to launch operations there in response to Palestinian rocket fire.

Associated Press footage shows crowds walking down a dusty road filled with piled-up trash and rubble on the side. A few Palestinians are seen using cars, bicycles, donkey carts, and motorbikes to relocate, while many others, including children and elderly, are evacuating on foot.

Those evacuating carried essential items such as small gas cylinders, mattresses, tents, backpacks and blankets, as well as plastic containers and buckets, which are often used to fill up water.

Ghazi Abu Daka, one of the evacuees, told the AP that he and his family have been displaced four times from the eastern part of Khan Younis.

Every day there is war. Every day there are rockets. There is no safe place in the eastern area. Now, we are displaced in the streets and dont know where to go, he said as he carried his son and had a piece of cloth on his head apparently to protect him from excruciating heat.

Yasser Abu Alyan, another evacuee, said he was displaced around six times from the Beni Seheila area east of Khan Younis. He said he took nothing with him except his two little girls: Everything is gone.

There is no safe place. The last time they ordered us to go evacuate to Muwasi and then struck us there, evacuee Ahmed al-Rakab said as he carried heavy belongings on his back.

US Air Force sends F-22 Raptor fighter jets to Mideast from a base in Britain

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter jets have arrived in the Mideast from a base in the United Kingdom, authorities said Thursday.

U.S. Central Command posted images online of the fighters, saying their presence in the region was to address threats posed by Iran and Iranian-backed groups.

The F-22s come after what Iran has described an Israeli assassination operation that killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week. Israel has not acknowledged carrying out the killing, which has inflamed regional tensions and comes after the Israelis also recently killed a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon.

Central Command did not identify where the fighters landed, likely out of deference to the host country amid the regional tensions.

Italy's Meloni adds her voice, urges Iran's president to push for a de-escalation

ROME  Italys Premier Giorgia Meloni talked with Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone on Thursday, stressing the need to avoid an expansion of the ongoing conflict in Gaza" and de-escalate the Israeli-Lebanon border exchanges.

Meloni also urged the Iranian leader to intensify efforts to prevent a further escalation and to reopen the path of dialogue.

Meloni reiterated Italys constant commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region through the necessary achievement of a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, the release of hostages held by Hamas and the strengthening of humanitarian aid to the civilian population in the battered coastal territory.

Netanyahu's office says he met with West Bank settlers over their concerns about international sanctions

JERUSALEM  The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he met with West Bank settler leaders to address their concerns about international sanctions against them.

From the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel, Netanyahu on Thursday spoke with the heads of various Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and said he takes very seriously the financial and travel sanctions against those accused of attacks on Palestinians.

We are working to stop it, Netanyahu said of the high-level sanctions imposed earlier this year on violent settlers and settler organizations by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom and Canada.

This is a matter for the entire State of Israel and not just the settlements council, he added.

Netanyahus office said that the Jewish settlers expressed strong support for the prime minister and gratitude for his firm stand in the face of domestic and foreign pressures.

Israel seized the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war and has occupied it ever since. Some 500,000 Israelis, who consider the land their biblical birthright, have settled in the territory. The international community largely considers their presence illegal. But under Netanyahus government coalition, settlement expansion has been turbocharged.

Israeli strikes on 2 Gaza schools serving as shelters kill at least 16 people, Palestinian agency says

JERUSALEM  The Palestinian emergency response agency says Israeli airstrikes on two schools functioning as shelters in Gaza City have killed at least a dozen people, the latest in a string of attacks on Gaza schools that Israel says provide cover to Hamas fighters.

The Israeli military said it had targeted Hamas command and control centers hidden within the Zahraa and Abdelfattah Hamouda school compounds in eastern Gaza City. It said it had taken numerous steps to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, such as by precision munitions, surveillance and intelligence, but did not elaborate on how it had done so.

The Palestinian Civil Defense, which sent crews to recover bodies from the scene, said 16 people were killed in the two school compounds in eastern Gaza City and several more were still missing under the rubble. It was not clear if any of those killed were militants.

The latest strikes add to the mounting Palestinian death toll in Gaza, which is now nearing 40,000 according to the the Palestinian Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilian and militant deaths.

A recent assessment by the United Nations found that nearly 85% of schools in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged by the war.

Israeli military orders another m ass evacuation in southern Gaza

JERUSALEM  The Israeli military has ordered another mass evacuation in southern Gaza, saying its forces will soon operate there in response to Palestinian rocket fire.

The orders announced Thursday cover large areas in and around Khan Younis, Gazas second-largest city, which suffered widespread destruction during air and ground operations earlier this year.

Associated Press video captured loud blasts and smoke rising over the city on Thursday.

Israeli forces have repeatedly returned to heavily destroyed areas of Gaza where they had fought earlier battles against Hamas and other militants since the start of the 10-month-old war. The military ordered an evacuation of much of Khan Younis in early July. The vast majority of Gazas population of 2.3 million people has been displaced in the war, often multiple times, and hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid tent camps.

Others have remained in their homes despite being ordered to leave, saying nowhere in the isolated coastal territory feels safe.

Israel will no longer facilitate Norwegian diplomats to work in Palestine,' Norway's foreign minister says

COPENHAGEN, Denmark  Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said Thursday that the Scandinavian government was told that Israel "will no longer facilitate Norwegian diplomats to work in Palestine.

This is an extreme act that primarily affects our ability to help the Palestinian population, Barth Eide said, adding that it showed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government "actively opposes the work for a two-state solution.

He said at a news conference that it meant that Norway can no longer work from its representations in the occupied territories. Its representation in the West Bank town of Al Ram was opened in 1995.

Thursday's decision will have consequences for Norways relationship with the Israeli government and they are considering the next steps, he said.

In May, Norway  together with Spain and Ireland  announced they would recognize a Palestinian state.

Rights group says Israeli soldiers killed at least 7 people sheltering in a Gaza City home

JERUSALEM  Human Rights Watch says Israeli soldiers killed at least seven people and severely wounded two, including a 5-year-old, when they attacked a home in Gaza City where a Palestinian family was sheltering in December.

The New York-based rights group released a report Thursday based on interviews with two members of the al-Khalidi family who witnessed the attack, and video footage released by the Israeli military that placed forces in the vicinity of the home at the time.

The family members said there were no militants or weapons inside the house, and that the family had no connection to any armed group. They said the troops barged in without warning, hurling grenades and opening fire.

A pregnant woman was among those killed, and the 5-year-old is being treated for severe injuries in Qatar.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, and Human Rights Watch said the army had not responded to detailed questions sent in July.

Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians as it seeks to destroy Hamas following the militant groups Oct. 7 attack into Israel, which triggered the ongoing war. But Israels relentless aerial bombardment and ground operations have wiped out entire Palestinian families. The International Court of Justice is investigating allegations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, something Israel has adamantly denied.

Saudi Arabia condemns the killing of Haniyeh in Iran as a flagrant violation of international law

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  Saudi Arabia has condemned the targeted killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran as a flagrant violation of international law.

The statement issued early Thursday by Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed ElKhereiji came after the Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the largest bloc of Muslim countries, issued a similar statement following a high-level meeting the day before.

Iran has vowed to avenge the July 31 explosion that killed Ismail Haniyeh, which was widely blamed on Israel, raising fears of a regional war. Israel has not said whether it was involved.

ElKhereiji said the killing of Haniyeh was a flagrant violation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and constitutes a threat to regional peace and security.

The statement did not directly blame Israel but referred to Israeli attacks against Palestinians inside and outside the Palestinian territories.
Mourners react as they gather around the bodies of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip

Mourners react as they gather around the bodies of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

CAIRO (Reuters) - Israeli forces stepped up airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing at least 40 people, Palestinian medics said, in further battle with Hamas-led militants as Israel braced for potential wider war in the region.

Israeli airstrikes hit a cluster of houses in central Gaza's Al-Bureij camp, killing at least 15 people, and the nearby Al-Nuseirat camp, killed four, medics said. Nuseirat and Bureij are among the densely populated enclave's eight historic camps and seen by Israel as strongholds of armed militants.

Israeli aircraft also bombed a house in the heart of Gaza City in the north, killing five Palestinians, while another airstrike in the southern city of Khan Younis killed one person and wounded others, according to medics.

Later on Thursday, 15 Palestinians were killed and 30 injured in Israeli bombings of two schools east of Gaza City, the territory's Civil Emergency Service said in a statement.

The Israeli military said it struck Hamas command and control centres embedded in the Abdel-Fattah Hamouda and Al-Zahra schools in the Tuffah neighbourhood of Gaza City, where Hamas militants were operating.

It accused Hamas of exploiting civilians and civilian properties for military purposes, an allegation Hamas denies.

Footage circulated on social media, which Reuters could not immediately verify, showed casualties being brought to a hospital on donkey carts.

The armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they were firing anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs at Israeli forces operating across Gaza, causing deaths and injuries among them.

Israel's military said it had struck dozens of military targets across Gaza over the past 24 hours, including rocket launching pads.

Hamas-led militants set off the Gaza war on Oct. 7 last year with a shock, cross-border rampage into Israeli communities, killing 1,200 Israelis and foreigners and seizing some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, at least 39,699 Palestinians have been killed, including 22 within the past 24 hours, and 91,722 injured in Israel's devastating air and ground war in Gaza, the Gaza health ministry said in an update on Thursday.

The ministry in the Hamas-run territory does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its death lists.

As Gaza's war churns on, Israel has been battening down for another attack expected in the coming days following vows from Iran and its Lebanon proxy Hezbollah to retaliate for the assassinations last week of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.

A relatively contained conflict between Israel and Hezbollah along its northern border, a spillover from the Gaza fighting, now threatens to spiral into an all-out regional war.

MORE BURIALS IN GAZA

On Thursday dozens of Palestinians rushed into Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis to bid farewell to slain relatives before carrying them away for burials.

Reuters footage showed relatives moving out the bodies of their loved ones in plastic bags with names written on them, and holding special prayers before the funerals.

The Israeli military renewed evacuation orders to Palestinian residents in several districts in eastern Khan Younis, saying it would act forcefully against militants who had unleashed rockets from those areas.

The army posted the evacuation order on X, and residents said they had received text and audio messages.

Residents said dozens of families had begun to leave their homes and head west towards Al-Mawasi, a humanitarian-designated area but one that is overcrowded by displaced families from around the enclave.

On Thursday, the World Central Kitchen (WCK), a U.S.-based, non-governmental humanitarian agency, said that a Palestinian staff member, Nadi Sallout, had been killed while apparently off duty on Wednesday near Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza. The WCK said it was seeking further details.

The Israeli military said it did not know of any such incident, adding that it had been in contact with WCK.

In April, seven WCK employees were killed in an Israeli airstrike, spurring it to suspend operations for nearly a month.

Israel said then its inquiries had found serious errors and breaches of procedure by its military, and that two senior officers had been dismissed and senior commanders reprimanded.

(Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi; additional reporting by Ali Sawafta in Ramallah; editing by Mark Heinrich)
The News

Lebanon-based Hezbollah will likely strike Israel ahead of Irans expected retaliation for the killings of high-profile militant leaders, reports said. Israels security council met Thursday night to prepare for Irans response, heightening fears of a wider war in the region.

The anticipation of a full-blown conflict is also weighing heavily on both Israelis and Lebanese, who have been stockpiling food and supplies in preparation. One mall-goer in Beirut, weary of the waiting and watching, told the Financial Times: I kind of just want the war to start so we can get it over and done with.
Palestinians inspect the site of Israeli strikes on a school sheltering displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. Hadi Daoud/Zuma Press/dpa

Israel has withdrawn the diplomatic status of eight Norwegian representatives, it was announced on Thursday.

The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem said that Foreign Minister Israel Katz had informed Norway that he was cancelling the diplomatic status of Norwegian representatives based in Israel who were responsible for the Palestinian territories.

In May, Norway, Spain and Ireland decided to recognize a Palestinian state, something that Israel is strongly opposed to.

"Whoever attacks us and pursues a unilateral policy against us will pay the price," Katz said.

"Instead of fighting against Palestinian terror after October 7 and supporting Israel, which is fighting against the Iranian axis of evil, Norway has chosen to give the murderers and rapists of Hamas a prize in the form of recognition of a Palestinian state," Katz continued.

The diplomatic status of the representatives is to be withdrawn within seven days of the notification.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide called Israel's move an "extreme act." According to a statement from his ministry, Eide said that "Norway is a friend of Israel and always will be."

Nevertheless, Norway continues to criticize the occupation, the way in which the war in the Gaza Strip is being waged, and the suffering that the war has caused the Palestinian civilian population.

The Israeli decision will have consequences for Norway's relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, Eide added, without saying what those consequences would be.

The Palestinian Authority was founded on the basis of the so-called Oslo Accords, which Israel and the Palestinians concluded in 1993 after secret talks in the Norwegian capital. The Scandinavian country has played an important role in the region ever since.
Israel has withdrawn the diplomatic status of eight Norwegian representatives responsible for Norway's relations with the Palestinian Territories, the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem announced on Thursday.

The ministry said that Foreign Minister Israel Katz had informed Norway that he was cancelling the diplomatic status of Norwegian representatives based in Israel who dealt with the territories.

In May, Norway, Spain and Ireland decided to recognize a Palestinian state, something that Israel is strongly opposed to.

"Whoever attacks us and pursues a unilateral policy against us will pay the price," Katz said.

"Instead of fighting against Palestinian terror after October 7 and supporting Israel, which is fighting against the Iranian axis of evil, Norway has chosen to give the murderers and rapists of Hamas a prize in the form of recognition of a Palestinian state," Katz continued.

The diplomatic status of the representatives is to be withdrawn within seven days of the notification.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide called Israel's move an "extreme act." According to a statement from his ministry, Eide said that "Norway is a friend of Israel and always will be."

Nevertheless, Norway continues to criticize the occupation, the way in which the war in the Gaza Strip is being waged, and the suffering that the war has caused the Palestinian civilian population.

Norwegian-Israeli relations to change

Eide, at a press conference on Thursday, said he had summoned Israel's diplomatic representative in Oslo to the Foreign Ministry.

Earlier he said Israel's decision will have consequences for Norway's relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government but he did not elaborate

Top Palestinian official Hussein al-Sheikh warned on X that the Israeli decision could have dangerous repercussions.

"The countries of the world, especially the European countries, must respond to this measure in the same way, as it constitutes a violation and breach of international norms and laws," al-Sheikh said.

The Palestinian Authority was founded on the basis of the so-called Oslo Accords, which Israel and the Palestinians concluded in 1993 after secret talks in the Norwegian capital. The Scandinavian country has played an important role in the region ever since.
BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- July 2024 marked the second-hottest July in history. It also ended the 13-month streak of global heat records, as every month from June 2023 to June 2024, new temperature records were set, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) on Wednesday.

The global average temperature in July 2024 was 16.91 degrees Celsius, just 0.04 degrees below the record set in July 2023. According to Samantha Burgess, deputy director of C3S, this slight difference indicates that "the overall context hasn't changed."

The C3S also noted Thursday that 2024 is still increasingly likely to be the warmest year on record. Global temperatures in 2024 were 0.7 degrees above the 1991-2020 average. This year is unlikely to be cooler than 2023 without a significant temperature drop in the coming months.

Notably, the world registered two consecutive hottest days on record last month: July 21 and 22. On July 25, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for global action to tackle extreme heat, claiming the Earth is becoming "hotter and more dangerous."

The impacts of extreme heat continue after the record-breaking days. South Korea's heat-related deaths rose to 14 on Tuesday. In Japan, a record-breaking 3,647 individuals were hospitalized due to heatstroke in July. The DAK-Gesundheit heat report released on Monday in Germany showed that one in four people in Germany, especially the elderly, has experienced health problems due to extreme heat this year.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) stressed that the record-breaking temperatures are not isolated incidents but are linked to climate change and more frequent and intense heatwaves, wildfires and other extreme weather events.

In the United States, the Park Fire in northern California in early August was the fourth-largest wildfire in the state's history, resulting in 4,000 people being evacuated.

In Southern and Eastern Europe, continuous heatwaves have resulted in surging electricity demand and frequent power outages. The overload of air conditioning units and cold water has put unprecedented pressure on electricity and water infrastructures.

C3S senior climate scientist Julien Nicholas urges the world to tackle the main driving force of global warming: greenhouse gases.

"There's been a lot of attention given to this 13-month streak of global records," said Nicolas. "But the consequences of climate change have been seen for many years ... And they won't end because this streak of records is ending." 
The Russian town of Sudzha. Screenshot: video from open sources

Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), having analysed the data collected, have confirmed the advance of Ukrainian troops up to 10 kilometres deep into Russias Kursk Oblast.

Source: ISW

Quote: "Ukrainian forces have made confirmed advances up to 10 kilometres into Russia's Kursk Oblast amid continued mechanised offensive operations on Russian territory on 7 August."

Details: It is noted in the review that geolocation footage released on 6 and 7 August shows that Ukrainian armoured vehicles have supposedly moved into position along the 38K-030 motorway, approximately 10 kilometres from the Russian-Ukrainian border.

The scale and location of the Ukrainian advance in Kursk Oblast confirmed so far indicate that the Ukrainian troops have broken through at least two Russian defence lines and a stronghold.

Quote: "The Kremlin's response to Ukrainian offensive activities in Kursk Oblast has so far been contradictory, as Russian officials are attempting to balance presenting the effort as a notable Ukrainian escalation with avoiding overstating its potential implications and risking domestic discontent."

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 7 August:

Ukrainian forces have made confirmed advances up to 10 kilometres into Russia's Kursk Oblast amid continued mechanised offensive operations on Russian territory on 7 August.

The Kremlin's response to Ukrainian offensive activities in Kursk Oblast has so far been contradictory, as Russian officials are attempting to balance presenting the effort as a notable Ukrainian escalation with avoiding overstating its potential implications and risking domestic discontent.

Select Russian milbloggers heavily criticised the Russian military command for not detecting preparations for or preventing Ukrainian offensive operations into Kursk Oblast.

Ukrainian forces reportedly used a first-person view (FPV) drone to down a Russian Mi-28 helicopter over Kursk Oblast, indicating that Ukrainian forces continue to successfully adapt their drone capabilities.

Ukraine's Defence Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov assessed on 7 August that Russian offensive potential will culminate within one and a half to two months, generally consistent with ISW's assessment on current Russia's offensive capabilities.

Danielle Bell, Head of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), stated that Russia has tortured 95% of Ukrainian prisoners-of-war (POWs) in Russian detention.

The Moldovan Central Electoral Commission (CEC) announced on 7 August that it would not register the pro-Kremlin Victory electoral bloc in the October 2024 Moldovan presidential election and referendum.

A Russian court sentenced Andrei Kurshin, administrator of the Moscow Calling Russian ultranationalist milblogger Telegram channel, to six and a half years in prison on 7 August for publishing "fake" information about the Russian military.

Ukrainian forces recently regained positions south of Chasiv Yar, and Russian forces advanced northeast of Siversk, southwest of Donetsk City, and in the Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia Oblast border area.

Russian Army Combat Reserve (BARS) units continue recruitment efforts.

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Italian Village bar closing after 11 years as new owners take over and make changes

Italian Village bar closing after 11 years as new owners take over and make changes

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  An Italian Village bar thats been open for over a decade will soon be closing its doors as new owners take over the space.

Little Rock Bar, at 944 N. Fourth St., will have its last day of business on Sunday, Aug. 18, owner Quinn Fallon said on social media. Fallon said it was time for him to step out from behind the bar while expressing his gratitude for Little Rock in the post.

I will always cherish the great times at Little Rock, where the lines between friends, family, patrons and staff have blurred so beautifully, Fallon said. Ive made so many lifelong friends here that its impossible to name them all.

Big Lots stores in Ohio among 315 locations closing as bankruptcy looms

The drink menu at Little Rock featured cocktails, wine and beer. Food was also offered at the bar, including pizza, subs and appetizers like egg rolls, pretzel bites and evil bread.

Fallon confirmed the bar was purchased by new owners, saying he would remain as landlord. Changes are expected to come with the new ownership. Fallon teased tweaks and updates but said itll stay the neighborhood bar youve come to know and love.

The new owners will make their announcement for whats to come on their own, Fallon said, but he confirmed they hope to keep several of Little Rocks staff onboard.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
By Marta Di Donfrancesco

ROME (Reuters) - The Italian parliament has approved a law to improve conditions in the country's overcrowded prisons amid a spike in suicides among inmates.

Chronic overcrowding and understaffing have combined with stifling summer heat to create prison conditions in which 65 inmates have taken their own lives so far this year, with the most recent suicide on Wednesday, compared with 70 in the whole of 2023.

Italy is not the only European Union country with a prison problem. With economies weak and budgets tight, penal systems often struggle for funding even as more and more people find themselves incarcerated.

Jails in France, Greece, Romania and Cyprus all have more inmates than their official capacity, Eurostat data shows.

The Italian government's decree hires more prison personnel, allows inmates to make more phone calls, simplifies procedures for them to obtain early release and boosts community care facilities once they are outside.

It was passed in the Chamber of Deputies by 153 votes to 89 late on Wednesday. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio told reporters the aim of the legislation was "what we could call prison humanisation".

Patrizio Gonnella, president of the prisoners' welfare organisation Antigone, said the legislation was "minimalist" and did far too little to address the key problem of overcrowding.

Italy's prisons housed about 61,000 inmates at the end of June, some 10,000 more than the official capacity, according to data from Antigone. At the same time there is a consistent shortfall of almost 7,000, or 16%, in the prescribed workforce of guards, exacerbated in the summer due to staff holidays.

The problems have been compounded by a heatwave which has seen temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius (95F) in many Italian cities in recent weeks, leading to a spate of prison protests.

"We haven't seen tensions like this since the COVID-19 epidemic," said Claudia Clementi, director of Rome's Regina Coeli jail which has housed over 1,100 prisoners since 2023 against a capacity of 628 and, like many other Italian jails, has no air conditioning.

(Editing by Gavin Jones and William Maclean)
Lalocracio

The pain associated with having an IUD inserted is now part of viral internet lore, after more and more people come forward with their stories. For the first time, federal health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended that physicians counsel patients about pain management before the procedure.

Before IUD placement, all patients should be counseled on potential pain during placement as well as the risks, benefits, and alternatives of different options for pain management, the CDC memo released this week states. A person-centered plan for IUD placement and pain management should be made based on patient preference.

The CDC guidance offered two major changes in pain management recommendations: that doctors offer lidocaine as a numbing agent (via injection or topical gel) to numb the cervix, and that Misoprostol is not recommended for routine use for IUD placement, except in certain circumstances (e.g., in patients with a recent failed placement).

Back in 2022, Teen Vogue spoke with some of the doctors and patients who were beginning to share their experiences with the invasive procedure.

The pain was horrific. Ive had multiple surgeries and hospital visits in my life, but the IUD insertion was something else. It was like a white, hot lightning pain and then I passed out on the table, Millie Peacock, 30, shared with Teen Vogue.

Its just one of countless stories shared to social media platforms like TikTok and X about pain and pain management when navigating through the insertion of an intrauterine device.

Unless youre living under a rock, youre aware of the issue, Dr. Beverly Gray, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Duke University told The New York Times.

The report, published Aug. 8 in the CDC publication Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, further focuses on a patient-centric approach, detailing that patient concerns about anticipated pain represent a barrier to IUD use. The CDC also noted that individual factors influenced by previous experiences including trauma and mental health conditions may also impact pain experienced by the patient.

This updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may lead clinicians to take the pain more seriously and to consider using anesthetics more often, the New York Times reports.

Dr. Eve Espey, chair of the obstetrics and gynecology department at the University of New Mexico, told the Times she felt the change was significant, saying "The guidance on this topic has gone from a more provider-centered focus to a more patient-centered focus."

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Stop us if youve heard this one before: U.S. Sen. Jack Reed doesnt want to be the next defense secretary.

On Wednesday, the news outlet Axios published a report speculating that Vice President Kamala Harris might tap Reed to lead the Pentagon if she wins the White House, citing the five-term Rhode Island Democrats deep expertise in military affairs.

Reeds name has been floated for the job many times before, and every time he has been emphatic in his insistence that he doesnt want the job and wouldnt take it if offered.

On Thursday, Reed said he hasnt changed his mind. Asked if he had any interest in the job, Reed told 12 News, No. Not really.

The 74-year-old senator, first elected in 1996, doesnt need to switch jobs to have major influence over American defense policy. He currently serves as chairman of the powerful Armed Services Committee, and will still be major player on the panel even if Republicans retake the Senate in November.

I am in a very critical role, I believe, as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Reed said. Ive learned a great deal over the years. I think as a legislator I can do more for the nation and more for Rhode Island, and hopefully I can continue in that role.

Reed is up for reelection in 2026 and has indicated he plans to run again. Polls consistently rank him as Rhode Islands most popular elected official.

Its not only national service, but also service to the state of Rhode Island, he said. I want to continue to do both.

Reed acknowledged that he has been asked to serve as defense secretary by previous presidents and vice presidents, but said, Ive made it clear that I think I can contribute more as a member of the United States Senate. He said he would recommend more appropriate candidates than himself if Harris approached him.

Still, Reed described the position  currently held by Secretary Lloyd Austin  as a challenging and crucial one.

It is extremely important, particularly now, he said. Were at a point where its probably the most dangerous time since World War II, with conflict in the Middle East, in Europe  China is increasingly antagonistic and aggressive.

The job of defense secretary requires management skills, since the Pentagon is the largest bureaucracy in the federal government, and also political skills to deal with Congress, Reed said. Finding that combination is rare, but I think there are people who have it, he said.

Ted Nesi (tnesi@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter and 12 News politics/business editor. He co-hosts Newsmakers and writes Nesis Notes on Saturdays. Connect with him on Twitter, Threads and Facebook.

Tim White (twhite@wpri.com) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  With school back in session in the capital city, Jackson police are continuing to highlight youth crime in the city.

Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said crime amongst the youth trend downward as the school year kicks in. He said the city experienced many property and violent crimes by teenagers this summer.

Wade wants to continue to challenge the community to work hand in hand with them to solve the issue. He said bad parenting is a major vessel for youth committing bad acts.

JPD launches new initiative to crackdown on violence at gas stations

If you have a 14-year-old committing capital murder; first of all, that 14-year-old has been failed on so many levels here, his now his life has been impacted and changed forever. But they have been failed on so many levels. As to how did they get to this point that they think its okay to kill someone, to take someones life? Where did he get a gun from? What oversight has been in that childs life. Is that child registered to attend school? Is that child attending school? You know, we have got to create pathways to success, the police chief stated.

Wade said the Jackson Police Department (JPD) is working closely with the Jackson Public School District (JPS) to ensure safety for students and to help prevent violent crimes happening on school grounds.

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A team of scientists used the James Webb Space Telescope to peer through the veil of dust surrounding a faraway supermassive black hole, revealing that energy around the hole comes from jets of gas colliding together at near light speed.

The Webb telescope, the most powerful ever, targeted the giant black hole at the center of a galaxy known as ESO 428-G14 about 70 million light-years away, according to Space.com.

As with our home galaxy, the Milky Way, a supermassive black hole sits at its center, gobbling up any matter in its path. A black hole is an area with such strong gravitational pull that nothing, not even light, can escape the hole's grasp.

The team turned the telescope toward a hot cloud of dust and gas swirling around the black hole. What they saw revealed that energy in the cloud was generating jets of gas crashing into each other at light speeds, heating up the veil of dust. Dust near the black hole spreads out along the gas jets, which may be responsible for the shape of the dust that scientists see around the black hole, the team found.

Jets of gas surrounding a supermassive black hole can stretch anywhere from a few light-years across to beyond the reaches of their home galaxy, according to the Webb telescope's findings.

The James Webb Space Telescope captured images of the galaxy 70 million light years away.

Scientists earlier had thought the energy heating the dust clouds came from radiation caused by the black hole itself.

"We did not expect to see radio jets do this sort of damage. And yet here it is!'' David Rosario, a senior lecturer at Newcastle University who co-wrote the study, said in a news release from the university on Tuesday.

The discovery came from a project called the Galactic Activity, Torus, and Outflow Survey (GATOS) that aims to uncover the secrets of the supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies. The team published its findings in the science journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society on Tuesday.

Never seen before images: NASA releases eye-popping images of nebulae, galaxies in space

Supermassive black holes at center of almost all galaxies eat planets, stars

Almost all galaxies have supermassive black holes, also called active galactic nuclei, or AGN, lying at their center, scientists now believe. These black holes grow as they consume planets, stars, gas and even other black holes that lie in their path.

Supermassive black holes also feed on the cloud of spinning particles and gas surrounding them, also called an accretion disk.

Light can't escape a black hole, making it impossible to get a direct view through a telescope. But scientists can learn about a black hole by turning their sights to these clouds of gas.

The Webb telescope uses infrared waves to pick up information on these clouds and allows scientists a glimpse through them at the galaxy's center.

Can you fall into a black hole? NASA simulations provide an answer

Supermassive black holes, the largest type of black holes, have a mass more than 1 million times that of our sun, according to NASA. Researchers think they may form alongside their home galaxy. The first supermassive black holes likely formed soon after the big bang gave birth to the universe.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: James Webb Telescope reveals mystery about energy around a black hole
A Jan. 6 defendant was taken into custody this week after allegedly making social media posts threatening people involved in former President Trumps legal battles, and FBI agents who investigated the defendants case.

Prosecutors say Bradley Nelson, who was originally charged in March 2023, also allegedly threatened Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett and Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Charles Austin, a federal magistrate judge in Maryland, ordered Monday that Nelson be detained, court documents show. He is due to appear in court next week to determine whether the detention will continue until his December trial.

While there is no history of prior release violations, these statements evidence an actionable threat to the community  at the least, law enforcement involved in the investigation, Austin wrote in his order.

Prosecutors said Nelson over the past year has posted images of Garland, New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) and a Georgia state judge with apparent crosshairs drawn on their heads.

The Georgia judge appears to be Scott McAfee, who has been overseeing Trumps Georgia election interference criminal case.

Court documents indicate the post about James, who brought a major civil fraud prosecution against Trump that led to a $464 million judgment, also included a threatening comment: give every [expletive] thing I have to watch that [expletive]s head explode, or at least the back of her head blowout.

And in June, prosecutors say Nelson made a threatening post about Barrett, Trumps final appointee to the Supreme Court.

The post was allegedly made roughly an hour after the Supreme Court narrowed the use of an obstruction charge levied against hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants, including Nelson. Barrett wrote the dissent, siding with prosecutors alongside two of the courts liberals.

I pray to God with all my [expletive] heart that somebody cuts your [expletive] throat from ear to ear you worthless piece of [expletive], Nelsons comment read, according to court documents.

The magistrate judge, however, raised greater concerns about the defendants alleged posts about two FBI agents involved in his case. Nelson allegedly posted two videos directing angry and threatening comments toward the agents, including offering to get into the MMA ring with them.

The Court does not, in any way, disregard or minimize statements concerning state and federal judges and attorneys general, the judge wrote. Those comments and rhetoric are even more offensive and violent than the agent-focused statements. Moreover, they support concerns that Nelson might resort to violence in the future.

The judge added, Yet, the Court is mindful of its directive to consider not only the nature of any alleged threats but also Mr. Nelsons resources and capabilities.

In connection with the Jan. 6 riot, Nelson faces charges including obstruction, entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct. Prosecutors say Nelson in the lead-up to Jan. 6 expressed a desire to commit violence against then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and others. He pleaded not guilty.

A court docket shows Nelson is due to appear in court next Wednesday in Washington, D.C., before the judge who has been overseeing his Jan. 6 case to determine whether to keep him behind bars until his trial, which is scheduled to begin Dec. 10.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
MEXICO CITY, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Wednesday that 16.8 billion U.S. dollars were invested in a new refinery operating in southeast Mexico, with most of the funding derived from combating fuel theft.

At his regular daily press conference, the Mexican president said the Olmeca refinery, located near the port of Dos Bocas in his native state of Tabasco, is already producing about 150,000 barrels of gasoline per day since production was launched on Aug. 3.

According to the government, the refinery, one of the main infrastructure projects of the Lopez Obrador administration, is expected to produce 340,000 barrels of fuel per day by mid-September.

"We are going to be producing, in this refinery alone, 20 percent of all the gasoline we consume," Lopez Obrador told reporters, noting that a new refinery had not been built in Mexico since 1980.

Lopez Obrador and his successor, President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, visited the refinery over the weekend to see the start of production.

Fuel theft, known as "huachicol" in Mexico, was so pervasive that up to 80,000 barrels of gasoline were being siphoned off daily, according to Lopez Obrador. Shortly after the president took office in December 2018, the Mexican government launched a crackdown on fuel theft. 
New Japanese-inspired bar with world class whisky opens in lower level of the Book Tower

A Japanese-inspired bar has quietly opened in downtown Detroit featuring nods to world-class, rare whiskies, a striking atmosphere and pays homage to David Bowie.

The Aladdin Sane is a new, hidden spot inspired by traditional Japanese cocktail bars in Tokyo, with bars and tables at the same height. On the lower level in the historic Book Tower on Washington Boulevard, the cocktail bar is from Method Co., the same owners of nearby Hiroki-San.

The Aladdin Sane, a Japanese-inspired bar is now open in the lower level of the Book Tower.

Aladdin Sane gets its name from legendary late musician David Bowies 1973 album. Its bar menu features signature cocktails inspired by album tracks such as "Watch That Man" and "Panic in Detroit."

Panic in Detroit cocktail at the Aladdin Sane on the lower level in the Book Tower building in downtown Detroit.

While Aladdin Sane has a cocktail menu with house creations, including takes on classics, according to a news release, this bar houses a collection of rare whiskies, including the rare Yamazaki 18 100th Anniversary Edition and the only bottle of Glenfiddich 29 Year Grand Yozakura available in a Michigan bar.

More: Popular Pierogi Festival coming to Sweetest Heart of Mary, Detroit's oldest church

On its spirits menu is a vast collection of Japanese whisky, single malt Scotch whisky, rye whisky plus Bourbons, agave, brandy and liqueurs.

Stokes Architecture + Design designed the bar's interior featuring a heavy nod to dark woods, including a single-piece mahogany slab and leather tones, according to a news release, lending upscale aesthetics. This spot is intimate with just nine seats at the bar and 23 lounge seats.

The Alladin Sane, 1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit, is open 5-11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 5 p.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday. For information thealaddinsane.com.

Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.

.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Aladdin Sane bar opening in Detroit a nod to whiskey, David Bowie
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  The Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) introduced its K9 unit to the public during Thursdays Community Roundtable event.

During the event, community members were able to interact with the K9s of the JCPD and see demonstrations. Officers detailed all the training that goes into K9 units, their work in the field and what its like to be a K9 handler.

Photo: WJHL

Photo: WJHL

Photo: WJHL

Lieutenant Jeff Legault of the JCPD said the department hopes the community sees the K9 units as positive tools of public safety.

They are there to get bad people off the streets, get drugs off the streets, sweep bomb materials off of festivals, Legault said.

Johnson City to open reservations for Candy Land Christmas trees Aug. 19

Legault told News Channel 11 that the K9s can be a valuable asset in several scenes.

One of their houses may be broken into, Legault said. Im sure theyd want to know that its cleared out pretty well, and sometimes humans can miss things. Well, dogs arent going to miss. They are not going to miss; theyve trained to smell things so we can send them in this persons house, and if they are in there, were going to know about it.

The Community Roundtable meets on the second Thursday of every month at 11:30 a.m. at the Langston Centre. All community members are welcome to attend the meetings, which aim to create a better relationship between the JCPD and city residents.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
JD Vance Says That 'Hopefully' Air Force Two Will Be His Soon

Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) said Wednesday that hopefully Vice President Kamala Harris Air Force Two will be his soon.

Vance, Donald Trumps vice presidential running mate, landed at Wisconsins Chippewa Valley Regional Airport around the same time as Harris, prompting him to walk over to the area near her plane. He told reporters that his intent was to speak to the Democratic presidential nominee, but that he did not see her as her motorcade was departing.

I figured Id come by and, one, just get a good look at the plane because hopefully its going to be my plane in a few months, but I also thought you guys might get lonely because the vice president doesnt answer questions from reporters and hasnt for 17 days, Vance told the press near Harris aircraft.

Have they given you guys an explanation for why she wont take questions from reporters?

Harris has answered few questions from the press since President Joe Biden stepped down from the 2024 White House race in July.

Id love her to just answer what she wants to do and also explain why every single position she has has changed, Vance said. She pretends to be a tough-on-crime prosecutor, and yet here she is wanting to defund the police. Shes the border czar, yet shes opened up the American southern border.

This is a person who has to answer questions from the media and its disgraceful that she runs from you guys. Its also insulting to the American people.

Harris, a former prosecutor and attorney general of California, has previously said that she supported reimagining how much money went to police departments compared with education, housing and health care.

Defund the police, the issue behind it is that we need to reimagine how we are creating safety, Harris said in a 2020 interview amid the Black Lives Matter movement. And when you have many cities that have one-third of their entire city budget focused on policing, we know that is not the smart way and the best way or the right way to achieve safety.

Biden announced in 2021 that Harris would take a leading role on immigration, and that same year she told migrants in Guatemala, Do not come.

Though Vance criticized Harris for flip-flopping on issues, he himself has changed his political views. Vance was once a critic of Trump, even saying that he might be Americas Hitler.

Related...
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo.  The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged a House Springs woman with piercing another woman in the throat with a knife.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriff, Melissa M. Herrmann (age not provided) approached the woman from behind and used an edge weapon to lacerate her throat.

Police said Herrmann and the woman were socializing behind a business in the 1000 block of Crossroads Place in High Ridge, Missouri, on July 7. The woman had bent down to zip up a bag when Herrmann approached her with the weapon.

According to the police, there was no prior argument, fight, or provoking that led to the assault.

Video surveillance from the business shows the woman bleeding from her neck and leaving her bag behind as she moved toward the entrance of the business to call 911. Hermann followed the woman and threw the knife at her, but missed as the victim watched the knife strike the ground near her.

The victim left the business on foot and was found by a Jefferson County Sheriffs Office deputy, who found her bleeding from the neck. The woman later received stitches for the lacerations.

While being interviewed by police, Herrmann denied being involved with the assault.

Herrmann was arrested on July 10 following an additional stabbing on July 8. Police say a Jefferson County man woke up to Herrmann stabbing him in the chest with a pocketknife.

The man was taken to the hospital to receive stitches for the wound to his left pectoral and a laceration on his right hand.

The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorneys Office has charged Herrmann with second-degree assault and armed criminal action for the stabbing on July 7. She was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action for the July 8 stabbing.

Herrmann is being held without bond. After a preliminary hearing on August 7, Herrmann will wait for a case review hearing on October 17.

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JEFFERSON PARISH (WGNO)  Jefferson Parish residents are feeling the heat, literally. After reports of what seems to be increased power outages during the summer months, they want answers.

Why are we being gouged? Something needs to be done and something needs to be done today.

The parish council met with Entergy Louisiana, as well as the public service commission, asking and answering dozens of lingering questions.

Round two of Jefferson Parish home repair program open for applications

Just because a pole is leaning, doesnt mean its a bad pole, Michelle Bourg, president of customer service for Entergy Louisiana said. Were turning our focus to making our system a more resilient system. We recognize weve got 30% of our customers live below the poverty line. We cant build a system that people cant pay for.

The council passed a resolution, allowing third party to provide oversight on how Entergy Louisiana is operating.



Fresh eyes are always good to take a look at the situation, to see what can be done better and what may be done, not as well as it should be, Councilman Scott Walker said.



No word on how soon that could come. Walker says he wants to hire someone as soon as possible.



The Louisiana Public Service Commission approved a resiliency program for Entergy Louisiana that will run over the next three to four years.



Its a specific program with we know weve got infrastructure that cant withstand 140 and 150 mile per hour wind loading. The next time something like Ida comes around, we want to proactively replace those poles so that next time were challenged with a hurricane, the scale and the strength of an Ida or lora, we know that any infrastructure that we proactively replace that will be installed with a new design basis and be able to withstand that very powerful storm, Bourg said.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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This mosaic depicts a traditional Nativity scene. While scholars are divided on the actual date of Jesus' birth, they're pretty sure it was not Dec. 25. Philippe Lissac/Getty Images

Around the world, Christians anxiously await the arrival of Christmas, a joyous day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. But more than two millennia after Jesus' momentous ministry, even Christians can't agree on an exact date of birth. So when was Jesus born?

In Catholic and Protestant traditions, Christmas is celebrated Dec. 25, while Orthodox Christians in countries like Russia, Greece and Egypt celebrate on Jan. 6 or 7.

Yet, according to historians and biblical scholars, those dates that have become common in Christian tradition are debatable. The Bible's most detailed account of the Nativity is in the New Testament's Gospel of Luke, but even that "orderly" narrative  complete with highly specific references to rulers from the Roman Empire and a worldwide census  fails to name a day, month or year for Jesus' birth.

Jesus Wasn't Born in 'Year 1'

Before we even get to the month and day debate, historians generally agree that we've got the year of Christ's birth all wrong. How can that be, though, if "year 1" on the Gregorian calendar was based on the year that Jesus was born?

The short answer? The man who invented the idea of anno Domini (shortened to A.D.), or "Year of Our Lord," was off by several years.

Even Pope Benedict XVI agreed in a 2012 book that Dionysius Exiguus, the sixth-century monk who first calculated the year of Jesus' birth, miscounted, and that Jesus was likely born between 7 B.C. and 2 B.C. (Note that modern writers often use "C.E." for "Common Era" instead of "A.D." and "B.C.E." for "Before Common Era" instead of "B.C." or "Before Christ" to be more inclusive and avoid religious references when denoting years.)

One compelling reason for an earlier birth year is that the Bible mentions in several places that Jesus was born when Herod the Great was king of Judea.

However, according to Flavius Josephus  the famed Roman-Jewish historian who lived in the first century C.E.  King Herod died in 4 B.C.E.

If we take Josephus' word for it, Jesus must have been born at least four years earlier (probably more) than our calendar says.

The Birth of Jesus: A Centuries-long Debate

"We have this modern obsession with dates and chronological order, but the gospel writers were much more interested in theology than chronology," says Ian Paul, a theologian, biblical scholar and author who blogs at his website Psephizo.

That said, Paul's best guess for the true date of Jesus' birth is somewhere in September, based on a complex set of calculations related to the birth of John the Baptist, also mentioned in Luke.

A fall date for Christmas makes sense when you consider that the shepherds were in the fields tending their flocks, a sign of mild weather. Paul says that by December, the Judean foothills outside of Bethlehem are cold enough to get snow.

Ultimately, whether the life of Jesus began in December, September or March doesn't change the true meaning of Christmas. Still, the debate over Jesus' "real" birthday shows just how difficult it is to place specific dates on events in ancient history.

How December and January Became the Traditional Months for Christmas

The popular theory that Christians chose Dec. 25 to co-opt the pagan solstice festival of Sol Invictus is not based on strong evidence but on the margin scribblings of an unnamed Syrian monk in the 12th century.

Rather than accusing Christians of stealing the holiday, he was offering a theory for why Western churches "moved" Christmas from January to December, only days away from the winter solstice.

In fact, the first mention of a date for Christmas was around 200 C.E., and the earliest celebrations date back to 250300 C.E., "a period when Christians were not borrowing heavily from pagan traditions of such an obvious character," according to the Biblical Archaeology Society.

Connections to Easter

For centuries after Jesus' death, people of the Christian faith didn't pay much attention to his birthday. In those days, early Christians were persecuted and even martyred for their beliefs, which led them to put an emphasis on Easter, when they believe Jesus was martyred on the cross but overcame death and was resurrected.

It wasn't until the third and fourth centuries C.E. that early Christian writers and theologians put forth possible dates for Jesus' birth. Even then, those dates were related to Easter. In ancient times, Paul says, there were traditions that the lives of great men were connected to specific times of the year.

Heroic figures often died in the same month and on the same day that they were born (years apart, of course). In Jesus' case, it seems that ancient sources believed he was either born or divinely conceived during Passover, the springtime Jewish holiday during which he was later crucified.

Christians who believed Jesus was conceived around Passover/Easter counted nine months ahead to identify his birthday. In Rome and other Western locales, they calculated Passover in the year that Jesus died as occurring on March 25.

Eastern Christian communities used a Greek calendar that placed the same Passover on April 6. Add nine months, and early Christianity came up with two traditional Christmas dates: Dec. 25 and Jan. 6.

The September Theory of Christmas

So why do biblical scholars like Ian Paul believe that the actual traditional date for Christmas ought to be in September? This theory comes from a close reading of the clues left behind in Luke, particularly what the gospel's authors had to say about the timing of the birth of John the Baptist in relation to Jesus.

This 17th-century painting by Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione is titled "Angel Appearing to the Shepherds." Since the Bible says the shepherds were watching the sheep in a field at night, scholars assume this event took place in a warmer time than December. Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images

Luke's version of the Christmas story doesn't begin with Mary and Joseph. Instead, it starts with another couple, Elizabeth and Zechariah, who were older and childless.

Zechariah, a priest, was visited by the angel Gabriel in the temple. Gabriel told him that his wife would have a son named John, who would prepare the world for the coming of the Lord.

Zechariah doubted Gabriel's message and was struck dumb. But when his service in the temple was over, the priest went home, and Elizabeth soon became pregnant.

As it turns out, the angel Gabriel also visited Mary to tell her she was going to conceive and give birth to baby Jesus, the Son of God, even though she was a virgin. Luke tells us that this second visitation to Mary happened "in the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy."

With that key fact, it's possible to deduce that Jesus was conceived six months after John. But that only helps us if we know when exactly John was conceived. And how would we know that?

More Biblical Clues

Again, the Bible provides more clues. Luke tells us that Zechariah "belonged to the priestly division of Abijah." Each division of priests took turns performing sacrifices and other services in the temple. In 1 Chronicles 24, the order of temple service is laid out by divisions numbering one through 24, with Abijah listed as eight in the rotation.

As Paul calculated on his blog, if each priestly division served for one week, with the first week of the ecclesiastical calendar landing in late March, that would put Zechariah in the temple in early June. If Elizabeth conceived soon after the angel visited Zechariah, and Mary conceived six months later, it places Jesus' birth in September of the following year.

Paul likes the September theory of Christmas for several reasons, including the shepherd idea mentioned above. Would Luke have placed shepherds in the fields in the middle of winter?

However, there are also some holes in this theory.

The biggest problem is that each priestly division served more than once a year in the temple. What if Gabriel appeared to Zechariah during his second stint in the temple six months later? That would place Jesus' birth in March, which Paul admits is a distinct possibility.

Ultimately, how important is it to solve the mystery of Jesus' actual birth date?

Thomas Wayment is a professor of classical studies at Brigham Young University who has written about the competing theories regarding the timing of Jesus' birth. He finds the debate over his birthday to be intellectually fascinating and worthy of discussion, but he also thinks it misses the point spiritually.

"Maybe, just maybe, we're better leaving it open in a sense," he says. He has seen early Christian references to Jesus' birth in April, May, and December and January. "We're celebrating an event, not a day."

We updated this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.

Now That's Interesting



You may have read that Jesus' birth, according to Luke 2, took place when Caesar Augustus sent out a decree that "all the world should be taxed" (later translations called it a census). And that this was the first census to happen while Quirinius was governor of Syria. However, according to Josephus, Quirinius took the first census of Judea in 6 or 7 C.E., much later than the biblical account. Theologian Ian Paul says it could be a translation error  the verse could be translated from the original Greek as: "This census became most prominent when Quirinius was governing Syria." Or maybe Josephus just got the date wrong. "If you think that Josephus is infallible, then you haven't read Josephus," says Paul.

Original article: When Was Jesus Born? It Wasn't Actually Dec. 25

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Jim "The Shark" Dreyer, the accomplished ultra-distance swimmer attempting to swim across Lake Michigan for the second time in his life this week, called off the swim and returned to shore in his home state of Michigan on Thursday after swimming for just over two days consecutively.

"In the end, I believe it was something as simple as two AA batteries that prevented me from successfully completing a self-sufficient swim across Lake Michigan," Dreyer said in a statement released Sunday. "It was an accident, but it was my fault. This is a tough pill to swallow."

Dreyer, 61, aimed to swim from Grand Haven's City Beach to Milwaukee's McKinley Beach beginning Tuesday morning. He expected the journey of at least 83 miles to involve swimming for 72 consecutive hours. Dreyer began swimming around 8 a.m. on Tuesday, pulling a 225-pound supply raft around his waist. He sought to mark the 25th anniversary of his 1998 swim across Lake Michigan from Two Rivers, Wis., to Big Sable Point, Mich.

Dreyer stopped swimming Thursday just before noon near the Wisconsin-Michigan maritime boundary. He boarded a boat from his Raven Strategic Group rescue team and arrived on land around 2 p.m., according to an online GPS tracker fans could use to follow the swim.

"Things were going so well," Dreyer said, as he began the second day of his swim. Then, at some point Wednesday morning, he noticed the batteries in the GPS on his supply raft were dying. When he went to his raft to retrieve the replacement AA batteries, he was shocked to find that the batteries were gone.

"I tore that supply craft apart looking for them, but to no avail. Somehow the bag of batteries must have been pitched overboard," he said. He attempted to continue the swim using a compass on his wrist, the directions of the waves and the sky when it was clear. However, he no longer had "the luxury" of checking his position on the GPS to make course corrections.

This resulted in Dreyer swimming in the wrong direction and "in circles" as he experienced hallucinations on the swim's second night. Dreyer mentioned before this latest swim that he typically hallucinates on the second night of his long-distance, open-water swims, and he trains himself to determine what's real and what isn't. This time, one hallucination stood out in particular.

"Then, there was the wall. This may have been kind of symbolic. A large wall suddenly rose up from Lake Michigan right in front of me," he said. "I could see it vividly. It was made of large steel girders with a metal mesh in between. It's as if some force was saying, 'You will not pass.'"

The next morning, Dreyer said he felt "rejuvenated." But, when his support crew came to check up on him, they informed him that, for about the past day, he'd been swimming in the wrong direction. Due to this mistake, he still had 47 miles to go, rather than the 23 he believed to have left. Furthermore, Dreyer's crew informed him that there would be 9-foot waves in the marine forecast on the fourth day he'd now need to add to make up for the navigational error.

"The reality was that I was a little less than halfway across the lake after already swimming 60 miles," Dreyer said.

"I felt good physically and thought I still had a chance to survive the beating promised for the rest of the swim. However, there would certainly be a fourth night  possibly a fifth. It was hard to imagine how my brain could have survived that, when I was already having such wild hallucinations and difficulty in processing thoughts. Swimming is second nature to me, but would there come a time when my brain would stop telling me to roll my head out of the water to breathe?"

Jim "The Shark" Dreyer has swum across all five Great Lakes. On Aug. 6, 2024, he set out on an attempt to swim across Lake Michigan from Grand Haven, Mich., to Milwaukee.

Dreyer originally intended to swim from Milwaukee to Grand Haven but decided to reverse the route last minute due to extreme wind and high waves in Milwaukee's maritime forecast on Tuesday.

Dreyer completed his first swim across Lake Michigan in 1998 when he completed a 65-mile trip from Two Rivers, Wis., to Big Sable Point, Mich., near Ludington, in just under 41 hours. He went on to swim across all five Great Lakes between 1998 and 2005.

In 2023, he set out to mark the 25th anniversary of his first Lake Michigan swim  and his 60th birthday  by undertaking the same journey along a route a symbolic 25 miles longer. He tried to make the swim from Milwaukee to Grand Haven twice last year but was forced to abort the first attempt after just over 12 miles because his support crew boat kept getting swept off course. To avoid these issues, Dreyer made his second attempt solo, pulling an inflatable supply raft around his waist. However, over 25 hours of constant 8-foot waves damaged his boat and equipment, forcing him to call for rescue after 27 miles.

Next year, Dreyer will direct the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim, where up to 68 swimmers will mark the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald's sinking with a 17-stage, 411-mile relay swim from Lake Superior to Detroit, the intended route of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975.

He hopes to attempt a swim across Lake Michigan again but said he doesn't know when since he'll be busy organizing the memorial swim.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why did Jim Dreyer call off his attempt to swim across Lake Michigan?
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  It may not be an official historic landmark, but Johns Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria in Rockford has been a mainstay in the city since the 1970s.

The popular eatery is celebrating its 50th year in business this month.

Johns started in 1974 as a takeout place near the corner of 11th Street and Harrison Avenue. Five years later, it moved to its current location at 2914 11th St.

When I was at the little place over there, I had people come in, and the little menu that I had over there, pizza was $3 for a large cheese and sausage, said owner John Frisella.

A native of Sambuca, Sicily, Frisella says although food is the foundation of his operation, the people who hes served it to all these years are why hes still in business.

You become friends with the customers, and you have fun, hes aid. And thats what I love. I go to every table, and I make sure theyre happy and everything. Thats my job.

Frisellas 50-year journey actually began in 1972, when he married his wife, Maria.

Me and Maria, he said. We started together. And its been 52 wonderful years.

John and Maria are still involved in the business, along with their two children, Joe and Nadia, who were literally raised in the restaurant.

Most people dont get to work with their families all their lives, but I get to see them every day. Its a good balance, Joe Frisella said.

John is now retired from the kitchen. At 74, he can now be found in the front of the house.

I like to be with the customers, he said. I talk to them, Hows the family? I know everybody.

Johns will host a 50th anniversary celebration on Aug. 31. The public is welcome.

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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  After-school programs are seeing an uptick in attendees as back-to-school season is in full swing. These programs have different ideas as to the reasoning behind this, including need, a growing population, convenience, and the closure of Girls, Inc.

The Boys and Girls Club of Johnson City/Washington County has information advertised on its sign about after-school program registration. President and CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Johnson City/Washington County, Robin Crumley said those applications have come in quickly within the last week.

After-school care is booming, said Crumley. We have over 100 [kids], but we have people coming in every day.

Boys and Girls Club of Johnson City/Washington County advertises open after-school registration. (Photo: WJHL).

Crumley said staff members are welcoming a lot of familiar faces back to the program, but are seeing some new ones too. She believes part of this is because of the areas growing population.

Were seeing a lot of kindergarteners coming in, a lot of new people coming to the community, coming in from all over the United States, not just different school systems, Crumley said.

Girls, Inc. of Johnson City/Washington County used to be an affordable option, but after about a weeks notice, closed its doors around the end of July.

PREVIOUS: Parents scramble to find after-school care after sudden closure of Girls, Inc.

Families from that program have shown interest in the Boys and Girls Club, along with another after-school program, Coalition4Kids, as they try to find a new affordable option.

Coalition4Kids has a waiting list as an option that could provide free care to kids depending on their socioeconomic status.

Compared to this time last year, applications to Coalition4Kids are 35% higher right now. Thats with 225 kids with applications in the system, according to their executive director, Randy Hensley.

Hensley said one less option for families is concerning.

Theres a sense in the community that this is a big deal, that a non-profit serving kids is no longer serving, whos been around for decades is no longer here, Hensley said. Thats a big deal. And, weve got to pay attention because these are all our kids and its up to us to take care of all these kids.

EduCare is another option for families, offered through Johnson City Schools. The fee changes depending on factors such as the school and time period of care.

There are other after-school programs in the area, but not all of them are offered at the school, said Melissa Stukes, supervisor of special programs and attendance for Johnson City Schools. So, for a lot of parents, its more convenient too to have them right at the same school.

Johnson-City-Schools-EduCare-Fee-list-24-25Download

Hensley said the organizations board is going to look at more ways to provide more openings to families. All three of the available services have opportunities to increase staffing and/or are fully staffed to accommodate higher numbers.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Johnson denies trying to help company shield itself from existing Roundup cancer lawsuits

U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, greets attendees at the Sioux Empire Fair in Sioux Falls on Aug. 7, 2024. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, greets attendees at the Sioux Empire Fair in Sioux Falls on Aug. 7, 2024. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, denies allegations that a provision he helped insert into a draft of the federal farm bill would protect the maker of Roundup from pending lawsuits claiming that frequent use of the herbicide causes cancer.

Our legislation doesnt do anything in the courts, Johnson said Wednesday in an interview with South Dakota Searchlight at the Sioux Empire Fair in Sioux Falls. If somebodys got a legitimate claim in court today, there isnt anything that we would do to adjust their claim from a backward-looking perspective.

Questions remain about the forward impact of the legislation. The Washington Post reported in June that Bayer, the manufacturer of Roundup herbicide, is seeking a blockade against future lawsuits.

More farm bill news

The Post also reported that Bayer helped Johnson and Rep. Jim Costa, D-California, draft a measure thats since been included in the House version of the farm bill. Johnson declined an interview request from the Post.

On Wednesday, South Dakota Searchlight asked Johnson if he worked with Bayer on the legislation.

Listen, anytime youre writing legislation, you need to be talking to a broad cross-section of stakeholders, Johnson said. Shame on any member of Congress who thinks they have all of the answers and just goes in and tries to make law for the whole country without talking to people who were affected.

The measure would affirm federal authority over warning labels, which Johnson said would ensure a science-based, evidence-based approach aligning with federal guidelines.

He also said a national standard is necessary to prevent a patchwork of state regulations. He highlighted California as a state that has enacted its own labeling requirements.

We cant have effective interstate commerce if we have every single state doing their own label on these herbicides, pesticides, Johnson said.

Attorneys general in 11 states, including South Dakota, took a similar position Wednesday by asking the Environmental Protection Agency to stop a patchwork of state labeling efforts. The attorneys general of Nebraska and Iowa announced the effort in Omaha, along with two farmers and state agricultural officials.

The Posts June story cited legal experts who said the farm bill provision could effectively shut down some lawsuits against Bayer. The measure would prohibit state and local governments from penalizing or holding companies liable for pesticide warning rules that differ substantially from the federal governments. Currently, the EPA does not recognize glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, as a carcinogen.

Roundups uses range from residential weed control to large-scale farming. Bayers Roundup Ready Corn, for example, is genetically modified to tolerate applications of Roundup for weed control in fields.

A 2019 report from Investigate Midwest said farmers used an estimated 287 million pounds of glyphosate in 2016. Nearly 6% of that estimated usage  about 17 million pounds  was in South Dakota.

Critics of Johnsons legislation, including environmental groups, argued in the Post story that the legislation undermines state autonomy and public health protections. They fear that by creating a single federal standard, the bill could limit the ability of plaintiffs to argue that they werent adequately warned about the dangers of Roundup.

Bayer has faced expensive litigation from plaintiffs alleging links between Roundup and cancer. In 2020, the company agreed to pay approximately $10 billion to settle lawsuits involving roughly 125,000 claims, without any admission of wrongdoing.

According to Open Secrets, a nonprofit that tracks money in politics, Bayer has spent $9.7 million on lobbying during the current election cycle. Open Secrets also reports that Johnsons campaign committee received $1,000 from political action committees affiliated with Bayer in each of 2020 and 2022.

The House has not yet scheduled a vote on the 1,000-page farm bill. The current version of the bill expires Sept. 30.

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People fetch water from a water tank at a relocation site for flood survivors in Firoz Koh, Ghor province, Afghanistan, July 27, 2024. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

by Xinhua writer Zhao Jiasong

FIROZ KOH, Afghanistan, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- It took Mohammad Hassan three arduous days, trudging in a pair of worn-out sandals, to reach a relocation site after a catastrophic flood ravaged his village.

Hassan, the sole provider for his 10-member family, hails from the remote Ghor province in central Afghanistan. The province was struck by flash floods in mid-May, resulting in at least 50 fatalities and the destruction of more than 2,000 homes, according to the local disaster management authority.

"Heavy rains-triggered flash floods washed away everything -- houses and farmland; there was no place left (for us) to live; 600 families lived in our village, among whom 500 families were affected severely," Hassan recounted. "We were forced to leave our village and relocate here," he told Xinhua, standing on a mesa scattered with camps, about 8 km away from Firoz Koh, the provincial capital.

Some of the tents of varying sizes were distributed by the local government, while others were purchased by the flood survivors with borrowed money.

More than two months since the disaster, around 600 families from 10 different villages, all either destroyed or heavily damaged by the floods, are striving to rebuild their lives. Living in one of the most isolated parts of the impoverished country, they face the urgent challenges of finding new homes before the harsh winter sets in, accessing clean water and ensuring their children return to school.

Since May, Afghanistan has endured several deadly floods, causing over 400 deaths nationwide, with the northern Baghlan province drawing the most attention due to its highest number of casualties. For both local officials and flood-affected residents, the mountainous Ghor province has been largely overlooked.

Mullah Mohammad Mauoz, the provincial director for the disaster management authority of Ghor province, explained that initial assistance came from neighboring Herat province, an economic hub in western Afghanistan, followed by over 80 tents and other supplies from the national disaster management authority. "A mere amount of food and cash have been distributed to the affected people," Mauoz noted.

He did not shy away from criticizing the scant international attention and attributed it to the poor road conditions leading to the province. "Neither organizations nor people will bother themselves to travel in the province to check the problems people face here," he said.

However, a United Nations flash situation report released after the Ghor flood on May 20 noted that the World Health Organization had "transported a consignment of essential medicines, medical kits, tents, and 300 solar lights to Ghor province" and sent medical teams to the flood-affected areas. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also said in June that it had reached 100 families with emergency tents and 349 with clothing.

Some local businessmen from Ghor have also stepped in to assist, renting water tanks to supply the displaced villagers with water from a nearby river, for drinking and other daily needs.

Despite concerns over its safety, the river water remains the only option for them. "The water we use daily is the water of the Hari River. It is not drinkable, but unfortunately, now we drink this water," said Burhanuddin Nazari, another flood-affected villager.

"People need drinking water, food and clothing," Nazari said, noting that the aid is woefully inadequate both at their relocation site and in other areas teeming with flood survivors.

Hassan also highlighted the destruction of the only two high schools and several primary schools in his hometown. According to the provincial education department, 62 schools across the province suffered severe damage during the floods.

"I was studying in fifth grade in Jandak village, but flash floods destroyed our school and we came here," said Mohammad Jan, a young boy from Hassan's village.

Having lost all his schoolbooks to the flood, the boy now spends his days passing time with other displaced children. He missed the end of last semester and faced uncertainty about the upcoming school term. 

A girl stands in front of water barrels at a relocation site for flood survivors in Firoz Koh, Ghor province, Afghanistan, July 27, 2024. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

A girl carries a water barrel at a relocation site for flood survivors in Firoz Koh, Ghor province, Afghanistan, July 27, 2024. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

Children with water barrels are seen at a relocation site for flood survivors in Firoz Koh, Ghor province, Afghanistan, July 27, 2024. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, left, is sparring with his Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce, right, over the timing and format of debates in their U.S. Senate race. (phots by Drew Angerer/Getty Images and Madeline Carter/Missouri Independent).

The question of when  or whether  Missouris U.S. Senate candidates will debate opened up the fall campaign, with incumbent Republican Josh Hawley challenging Democratic nominee Lucas Kunce to an outdoor clash without moderators and Kunce calling for five televised events.

Kunce, who is making his second run for the Senate, easily won the Democratic primary on Tuesday, while Hawley was unopposed for a second term as the Republican nominee. There will be an independent candidate, Jared Young, on the ballot under the Better Party label, as well as Libertarian W.C. Young.

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In a social media post right after the Democratic primary was called for Kunce, Hawley called on his Democratic rival to meet him Aug. 15 after the Governors Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair.

No fancy studio or moderators, Hawley wrote. Just the two of us on a trailer. Lincoln-Douglas style. Ill bring the trailer. Ill even let Kunce go first.

Kunce did not accept the challenge but he did not refute it, either. In a response, Kunce called on Hawley to accept a debate invitation from Fox News and commit to five televised debates in all.

Connor Lounsbury, a senior adviser to Kunces campaign, said there is only one condition for Kunce to debate  that it be televised.

Were fine being on a trailer, Lounsbury said. Lets just make sure a TV station can capture it.

On Wednesday, Kunce publicly accepted an invitation from KSDK in St. Louis and KSHB in Kansas City for a moderated debate at 7 p.m. Aug. 15 at the fairgrounds in Sedalia. He also agreed to participate in a debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Missouri in partnership with Gray Media, owner of television stations in Cape Girardeau, Kansas City, Springfield, St. Louis and Quincy, Ill.

Lounsbury said Kunce intends to take part in the debate being staged Sept. 20 by the Missouri Press Association at its annual convention in Springfield.

The press association traditionally invites all candidates who will be on the ballot but whether any of the televised debates will include candidates other than Hawley or Kunce is uncertain. The League of Women Voters news release about the invitation states that it was sent to candidates who won the August primary and received more than 100,000 votes.

W.C. Young received only 2,421 votes. Jared Young is on the ballot after petitioning to form a new party and loaning his campaign $765,000 and raising another $164,000.

But his totals are only a fraction of what both Kunce and Hawley have raised. Kunce has raised $11.2 million since launching his campaign early last year, more than Hawley has raised since the start of 2023. Banked funds from earlier years gave Hawley the edge in available cash at the last report, $5.7 million to $4.2 million on hand for Kunce.

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Kunce was the first candidate at any level in Missouri to buy air time for the November election. On Tuesday, his campaign spent $100,000 for a weeks worth of ads in the Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield markets. That is in addition to $265,000 in ads during the final week of the primary.

Hawley responded with ad purchases Wednesday in central Missouri, Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield. The total was not available Thursday morning.

The KSDK/KSHB offer had a 7 p.m. Wednesday deadline for acceptance, Alicia Elsner, general manager of KSDK wrote to the Hawley and Kunce campaigns. The stations needed the time to make scheduling changes and promote the debate, she wrote.

Kunce sent his acceptance, Elsner said in response to an email from The Independent. Hawley had not yet sent a response as of 7:45 p.m., she said.

I remain hopeful both candidates will accept by tomorrow morning, Elsner said.

At his general election kickoff event in Ozark, Hawley accused Kunce of being afraid to debate outside a television studio without moderators.

The State Fair debate would be with no fancy studios, no moderators, just you and me, man, mano-a-mano, Lincoln-Douglas style, Hawley said.

The Lincoln-Douglas debates are among the most consequential events of the years immediately preceding the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln, a one-term former congressman representing the new Republican Party, debated U.S. Sen. Stephen Douglas, a Democrat, on seven occasions in 1858 as they contested Douglas Illinois Senate seat.

One of the candidates would open with a one-hour speech, followed by 90 minutes for the opponent and concluding with 30 minutes more for the candidate who went first.

Lincoln lost but the election made him a national figure and helped propel him to the presidency two years later.

Hawley, in Ozark, said Kunces record is nutty and he cant cope with an in-depth discussion.

Come defend it in front of the people of Missouri, Hawley said. Dont be afraid. Dont be afraid. Dont hide behind the cameras.

Kunce isnt afraid, Lounsbury said. He just wants to debate in a format where voters statewide can see it, he said.

The KSDK/KSHB offer can achieve that and what Hawley wants  a debate before a State Fair audience, Lounsbury said.

Hawley gets the location he wants and if he wants to do it on a flatbed, have at it, Lounsbury said.

This article has been updated to correct that Gray Media and the League of Women Voters offered to sponsor one debate.

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JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  Jackson State University (JSU) hosted its 2024 Fall Faculty and Staff Convocation on Wednesday in order to inspire and energize teachers and staff for the new academic year.

JSU President Dr. Marcus Thompson addressed faculty and staff and emphasized the universitys strive for continued excellence.

This institution has proven that is an it is an academic force of cultural and intellectual enlightenment that uplifts the community for which it serves. None of this would be possible without the ideas, without innovation and creativity you bring to this campus every single day, stated Thompson.

When do 2024 college classes start in Mississippi?

This year, there are a lot of fresh faces on the administration team, who are ushering in new, innovative ideas and policies. Though they are new to the job, theyre not new to the university.

Im excited about being back at Jackson State. Its an opportunity for me to see growth and changes that have occurred from 30 years ago when I was here, said Denise Jones Gregory, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at JSU.

Students will begin moving in to their dorms on Saturday, August 10.

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Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey speaks on the floor of the Missouri House of Representatives in 2023. Bailey was granted a motion to dismiss in his lawsuit against Jackson County before he was expected to sit for a scheduled deposition in the case. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey narrowly avoided being questioned under oath about his contact with a Jackson County official when he was granted a motion to dismiss his lawsuit against the county on Thursday.

Bailey, who filed suit against the county late last year over its property tax assessment process, was ordered by the judge in the case to sit for a deposition regarding communication with Jackson County Legislator Sean Smith which appeared to violate legal ethics rules.

According to court filings, the deposition was set for Thursday morning.

But after a series of legal maneuvers to avoid the deposition failed, Bailey asked the judge to dismiss the entire case. In the filing, he said it was no longer necessary because the State Tax Commission issued an order instructing Jackson County to roll back the property assessments.

Jackson County officials cried foul Thursday, arguing in a press release that the tax commission is being used as a shield for Attorney General Bailey, who is trying to escape accountability after lying and realizing he was losing the case.

Jackson County noted Bailey less than a month ago called the case one of the most important pieces of litigation to reach a Missouri courtroom in decades.

Yet after only three days of trial, he chose to drop the case entirely, the county said. This abrupt reversal exposes the lawsuit for what it truly was: a politically motivated tactic that has cost Missouri taxpayers countless dollars and eroded public trust.

Baileys spokeswoman, Madeline Sieren, said were it not for the commissions order, the attorney general would have pushed the lawsuit forwardand we would have won.

Pushing the lawsuit forward could have jeopardized the much needed relief offered in the Tax Commissions order and would be counterproductive for Jackson County taxpayers, Sieren said in an email.

At issue in the case was Jackson Countys 2023 property assessment process, which, according to Baileys original lawsuit, resulted in an average 30% increase in values across hundreds of thousands of properties. The higher property values mean some homeowners will see their property tax bill increase.

Baileys lawsuit accused the county of violating a law requiring it to offer physical inspections before increasing a propertys value by more than 15%.

The county argued Bailey waited too long to file the lawsuit as property tax bills had been paid and money distributed to government departments. And, the county said, the attorney general couldnt file a case unless the State Tax Commission had first attempted to resolve the issue.

Bailey and a deputy then came under scrutiny for meeting with Smith. Under Missouri Supreme Court rules, attorneys are not to communicate about a lawsuit with individuals represented in the case by another lawyer without the consent of the other lawyer.

Bailey maintained that his meeting with Smith amounted to nothing more than a campaign meeting with little discussion of the lawsuit. On Tuesday, Bailey won the GOP primary for attorney general. Smith ran unopposed in the Republican primary for 5th District Congressional seat and will face incumbent U.S. Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver, II in the general election in November.

Jackson County attorneys sought sanctions against Bailey, and Clay County Circuit Judge Karen Krauser granted them permission to take his deposition.

Baileys office tried several times in July to get out of the deposition. Then on Tuesday, Bailey appealed the judges decision. A Missouri Court of Appeals judge denied that on Wednesday.

Later on Wednesday, Bailey filed a motion to dismiss the case outright, citing the Missouri State Tax Commission order.

Krauser granted that motion Thursday morning and dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning Bailey cant refile it.

Bailey said the State Tax Commission used information his office gathered in the discovery process for the lawsuit.

Jackson Countys press release called officials estimate of what rolling back the property assessments would cost devastating. The county said schools and libraries would lose $86.3 million in funds theyve already received, budgeted and spent. Cities and fire districts, the county said, would lose almost $20 million.

Jackson County firmly believes that fairness will prevail once again, the county said, and we will not allow our community to be sacrificed for political gain.

This story was updated at 2:45 p.m. with reaction from Jackson County officials and a response from Baileys office.
Judge hears suppression motion in case of woman accused of pepper spraying clerk during robbery

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A judge in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court held a suppression hearing Thursday for a woman accused of pepper spraying a clerk during a robbery at a Boardman store.

Ariel Daniel, 32, of Youngstown, is charged with robbery, a second-degree felony; and theft, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Her attorney, Mark Carfolo, is trying to get a photo identification of his client thrown out. Judge Maureen Sweeney held a hearing on that motion Thursday.

Daniel is accused of spraying a clerk at a Boardman store in the face with pepper spray on Jan. 22 as he tried to stop her from going out a door with several items from the store she is accused of taking.

A co-defendant, Brittany Thomas, 35, was arrested Feb. 15 and charged with theft, a fifth-degree felony; and two counts of misdemeanor theft. She managed to post bail but there is a warrant for her arrest now after she skipped a pretrial hearing in common pleas court.

Daniel was arrested March 22, four days after the clerk identified her in a photo lineup after Boardman Police Detective Richard Romeo, the lead investigator on the case, had gotten a tip from other customers that Daniel was involved.

Daniel testified he had another detective show the clerk a photo lineup, or a group of photos of people who matched Daniels description, and the clerk picked her out of the lineup.

Carfolo pointed out under cross-examination that a description of the person who sprayed the clerk said the suspect was 511 and Daniels is only 52.

Romeo also said the first time he interviewed the victim on Jan. 26 the victim did not know who the person was who sprayed him.

Judge Sweeney said she will rule on Carfolos request at a later date.

Just before the hearing, Daniel turned in a plea bargain from the state where she would plead guilty to the robbery and receive a three-year prison sentence. However, Assistant Prosecutor Kyle Hilles said that prosecutors would not oppose an issue for early release after two years.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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TIVERTON, R.I. (WPRI)  A Newport County Superior Court judge has blocked a Fall River funeral home director from building a crematorium in Tiverton.

Associate Justice Jeffrey Lanphear determined last week that Tivertons Planning and Zoning boards were justified in rejecting Sakonnet Partners LLCs plan to construct a crematorium and chapel on Main Road.

Lanphear noted in his ruling that Sakonnet Partners LLC did not submit a completed application to the Tiverton Planning Board, in turn leaving them with more questions than answers.

It is the applicants burden to submit a completed application upfront  not to place the administrative officers in awkward positions when the information is complete and not to take offense to the local boards when they reasonably request complete information, Lanphear wrote. It is the local board which is the finder of fact and initial decisionmaker  it is critical that it be equipped for the task.

The Tiverton Planning Board hosted five hearings regarding Sakonnet Partner LLCs proposal, during which residents expressed environmental and safety concerns.

Although owners, engineers, and architects were present, simple questions concerning smokestack heights, the septic disposal system, and emissions were left unanswered, Lanphear continued. It is unfair to expect the Planning Board (or the public participating at the hearing) to be satisfied by summary of the report when they have requested the whole.

SEE ALSO: Tiverton rejects proposed crematorium

Sharon Kurose, who helped found Tiverton Residents Against Crematorium (TRAC), applauded the judges decision.

In our gut, we knew that a crematorium was bad, Kurose said. The nearest home is just 60 feet away.

This piece of land is right on Main Road,  TRACs Linda Plazonja added. It should be used for anything that is not a crematorium.

Sakonnet Partners LLC has repeatedly argued that, since the site sits in a general commercial district, crematoriums are allowed by right.

But Lanphear stressed that the Tiverton Planning Board needed to consider the health and safety components of the application, and cannot ignore the overarching purpose of the zoning ordinances.

It is important to note that the Planning Board may not act with blinders and is not required to approve an application solely because it is use permitted under the zoning ordinances, he added.

TRACs Ryan LePage said residents main concern was the height of the crematoriums smokestack.

In an area that has the topography that this area does, where its on a large hill, that smoke would have been going into backyards, LePage explained. Thats crucial information for something like this to be passed, and for them to not even deliver that to us it still astounding to me.

I think in the end, thats what bit them in the foot, Kurose concluded.

12 News reached out to the attorney that represents Sakonnet Partners LLC regarding what happens next but has not heard back yet.

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Polar bears cool down in ice that was brought to their enclosure on a hot and sunny day at the Prague zoo, Czech Republic, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Earths string of 13 straight months with a new average heat record came to an end this past July as the natural El Nino climate pattern ebbed, the European climate agency Copernicus announced Thursday.

But July 2024 s average heat just missed surpassing the July of a year ago, and scientists said the end of the record-breaking streak changes nothing about the threat posed by climate change.

The overall context hasnt changed, Copernicus deputy director Samantha Burgess said in a statement. Our climate continues to warm.

Human-caused climate change drives extreme weather events that are wreaking havoc around the globe, with several examples just in recent weeks. In Cape Town, South Africa, thousands were displaced by torrential rain, gale-force winds, flooding and more. A fatal landslide hit Indonesias Sulawesi island. Beryl left a massive path of destruction as it set the record for the earliest Category 4 hurricane. And Japanese authorities said more than 120 people died in record heat in Tokyo.

Those hot temperatures have been especially merciless.

The globe for July 2024 averaged 62.4 degrees Fahrenheit (16.91 degrees Celsius), which is 1.2 degrees (0.68 Celsius) above the 30-year average for the month, according to Copernicus. Temperatures were a small fraction lower than the same period last year.

It is the second-warmest July and second-warmest of any month recorded in the agency's records, behind only July 2023. The Earth also had its two hottest days on record, on July 22 and July 23, each averaging about 62.9 degrees Fahrenheit (17.16 degrees Celsius). Copernicus had previously identified July 21 and 22 as the hottest days, but changed that based on updated data.

During July, the world was 1.48 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer, by Copernicus measurement, than pre-industrial times. That's close to the warming limit that nearly all the countries in the world agreed to in the 2015 Paris climate agreement: 1.5 degrees.

El Nino  which naturally warms the Pacific Ocean and changes weather across the globe  spurred the 13 months of record heat, said Copernicus senior climate scientist Julien Nicolas. That has come to a close, hence Julys slight easing of temperatures. La Nina conditions  natural cooling  aren't expected until later in the year.

But theres still a general trend of warming.

The global picture is not that much different from where we were a year ago, Nicolas said in an interview.

The fact that the global sea surface temperature is and has been at record or near record levels for the past more than a year now has been an important contributing factor, he said. The main driving force, driving actor behind this record temperature is also the long-term warming trend that is directly related to buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere."

That includes carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.

Julys temperatures hit certain regions especially hard, including western Canada and the western United States. They baked, with around one-third of the U.S. population under warnings at one point for dangerous and record-breaking heat.

In southern and eastern Europe, the Italian health ministry issued its most severe heat warning for several cities in southern Europe and the Balkans. Greece was forced to close its biggest cultural attraction, the Acropolis, due to excessive temperatures. A majority of France was under heat warnings as the country welcomed the Olympics in late July.

Also affected were most of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and eastern Antarctica, according to Copernicus. Temperatures in Antarctica were well above average, the scientists say.

Things are going to continue to get worse because we havent stopped doing the thing thats making them worse, said Gavin Schmidt, climatologist and director of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, who wasnt part of the report.

Schmidt noted that different methodologies or calculations could produce slightly different results, including that July may have even continued the streak. The primary takeaway, he said: "Even if the record-breaking streak comes to an end, the forces that are pushing the temperatures higher, theyre not stopping.

Does it matter that July is a record or not a record? No, because the thing that matters, the thing that is impacting everybody," Schmidt added, "is the fact that the temperatures this year and last year are still much, much warmer than they were in the 1980s, than they were pre-industrial. And were seeing the impacts of that change.

People across the globe shouldnt see relief in Julys numbers, the experts say.

Theres been a lot of attention given to this 13-month streak of global records," said Copernicus' Nicolas. "But the consequences of climate change have been seen for many years. This started before June 2023, and they wont end because this streak of records is ending.

___

This story has corrected the day of the agency's report to Thursday, to conform to the time of its release in Europe.

___

Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate solutions reporter. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at ast.john@ap.org.

___

The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Earths string of 13 straight months with a new average heat record came to an end this past July as the natural El Nino climate pattern ebbed, the European climate agency Copernicus announced Wednesday.

But July 2024s average heat just missed surpassing the July of a year ago, and scientists said the end of the record-breaking streak changes nothing about the threat posed by climate change.

The overall context hasnt changed, Copernicus deputy director Samantha Burgess said in a statement. Our climate continues to warm.

Human-caused climate change drives extreme weather events that are wreaking havoc around the globe, with several examples just in recent weeks. In Cape Town, South Africa, thousands were displaced by torrential rain, gale-force winds, flooding and more. A fatal landslide hit Indonesias Sulawesi island. Beryl left a massive path of destruction as it set the record for the earliest Category 4 hurricane. And Japanese authorities said more than 120 people died in record heat in Tokyo.

Those hot temperatures have been especially merciless.

The globe for July 2024 averaged 62.4 degrees Fahrenheit (16.91 degrees Celsius), which is 1.2 degrees (0.68 Celsius) above the 30-year average for the month, according to Copernicus. Temperatures were a small fraction lower than the same period last year.

It is the second-warmest July and second-warmest of any month recorded in the agencys records, behind only July 2023. The Earth also had its two hottest days on record, on July 22 and July 23, each averaging about 62.9 degrees Fahrenheit (17.16 degrees Celsius).

During July, the world was 1.48 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer, by Copernicus measurement, than pre-industrial times. Thats close to the warming limit that nearly all the countries in the world agreed to in the 2015 Paris climate agreement: 1.5 degrees.

El Nino  which naturally warms the Pacific Ocean and changes weather across the globe  spurred the 13 months of record heat, said Copernicus senior climate scientist Julien Nicolas. That has come to a close, hence Julys slight easing of temperatures. La Nina conditions  natural cooling  arent expected until later in the year.

But theres still a general trend of warming.

The global picture is not that much different from where we were a year ago, Nicolas said in an interview.

The fact that the global sea surface temperature is and has been at record or near record levels for the past more than a year now has been an important contributing factor, he said. The main driving force, driving actor behind this record temperature is also the long-term warming trend that is directly related to buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

That includes carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.

Julys temperatures hit certain regions especially hard, including western Canada and the western United States. They baked, with around one-third of the U.S. population under warnings at one point for dangerous and record-breaking heat.

In southern and eastern Europe, the Italian health ministry issued its most severe heat warning for several cities in southern Europe and the Balkans. Greece was forced to close its biggest cultural attraction, the Acropolis, due to excessive temperatures. A majority of France was under heat warnings as the country welcomed the Olympics in late July.

Also affected were most of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and eastern Antarctica, according to Copernicus. Temperatures in Antarctica were well above average, the scientists say.

Things are going to continue to get worse because we havent stopped doing the thing thats making them worse, said Gavin Schmidt, climatologist and director of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, who wasnt part of the report.

Schmidt noted that different methodologies or calculations could produce slightly different results, including that July may have even continued the streak. The primary takeaway, he said: Even if the record-breaking streak comes to an end, the forces that are pushing the temperatures higher, theyre not stopping.

Does it matter that July is a record or not a record? No, because the thing that matters, the thing that is impacting everybody, Schmidt added, is the fact that the temperatures this year and last year are still much, much warmer than they were in the 1980s, than they were pre-industrial. And were seeing the impacts of that change.

People across the globe shouldnt see relief in Julys numbers, the experts say.

Theres been a lot of attention given to this 13-month streak of global records, said Copernicus Nicolas. But the consequences of climate change have been seen for many years. This started before June 2023, and they wont end because this streak of records is ending.

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GAZA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli attacks that targeted two schools in Gaza City, Palestinian security and medical sources said Thursday.

Palestinian medical sources in Gaza City told Xinhua that at least 15 Palestinians were killed and tens of others were wounded by the Israeli airstrike and were transferred to local hospitals.

The Palestinian Civil Defense said in a press statement that Israeli warplanes attacked the Al-Zahraa secondary school and its nearby school of Abdel Fatah Hamouda with missiles, killing and wounding tens of displaced people living inside them.

There are others still trapped under the rubble who have not yet been rescued.

Locals inside the Al-Zahraa school told Xinhua they were shocked when the Israeli army attacked the schools, adding that all the residents of the schools were innocent people.

Also on Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that the Israeli Air Force conducted an intelligence-based strike on Hamas command and control centers.

"The command centers were embedded in the areas of the 'Abdelfattah Hamouda' and 'Al-Zahra' schools in Daraj Tuffah," it added.

Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 were taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 39,699, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday. 
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A Clark County jury returned a guilty verdict against a man who repeatedly threatened his ex-wifes attorney.

Michael David Harris, 65, was convicted of stalking and violating an extended protective order on August 2.

Harris, a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma sent his ex-wifes Las Vegas attorney, Rachel Tygret, threatening and harassing emails starting on January 27, according to a Las Vegas Metro police arrest report.



Tygret told the 8 News Now Investigators she is relieved Harris had his day in court and that the jury was equally outraged by his actions.



This entire ordeal has been deeply distressing and traumatic, not just for me, but for my family and colleagues as well, Tygret said. I faced stalking, harassment, and violent threats, all for doing my job. Its a sobering reminder that no one, regardless of how thick-skinned their profession requires them to be, should have to endure such treatment.



Tygert said she hopes Harris receives the mental health care and support he needs.



Harris sent a total of eight emails within five days, police said.

You think youre protected by qualified immunity? It does not protect you from me, Harris emailed Tygret, the report stated. I can complicate your life. Let me walk through the emotional processI will ruin your life. Vegas is my town.

Harris then resorted to sexual intimidation, police said.

Your fortunes will go sideways so fast youll wear your panties outside your pantsuit, Harris emailed, according to police. There are more efficient ways to settle disputes than the judicial process. I know them all. Theyre certainly more satisfying.

Police said the threats escalated within the email.

A more productive approach would be to ruin your life, counselor. I would certainly have fun thinking of new ways to torment, Harris emailed, according to the report.

Harris then stated he would nail Tygret to a tree referring to Revolutionary War torture tactics, police said.

The following days, the attorney received another email in which Harris referred to associations of subjects with ill repute, according to police.

They have never forgotten the caliber of my work product and value of a man whose motto is keep the peace or spread the pain. The common shared sentiment is Im too principled to look out for myself. My colleagues are anxious to do it for me, Harris emailed, according to the report.

The next day, Harris referred to violence against his ex-wife, police said.

On January 30th, Harris threatened violence against a witness who would be present and a violent encounter like theyve only seen in the movies, according to the report.

Police said Harris then stated, Im prepared to hurt anyone who interferes with me.

The emails continued the next month.

Harris referred to his ex-wife stating he would burn her to the ground and also threatened violence against Tygret, police said.

You prepared to see me get my hands dirty? Harris emailed, according to the report.

Tygret filed a protective order against Harris on February 1st.

Police said Harris emailed Tygrets partner, Your partner is terrified of my emails. Imagine what Im like in person.

He later emailed the partner, Ill reach down your throat and pull your balls through your mouth, police said. What protects you from me?

Police arrested Harris on March 12th after Tygret reported that her client, the ex-wife of Harris, was being followed.

Harris was scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 9 and remained in custody in the Clark County Detention Center.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
A 23-year-old Detroit, Michigan, man will soon learn whether hell go to prison on a felony charge accusing him of spitting on police and deputies during a fight at Wilberforce University and scuffle minutes later in a hospital emergency room.

>> Prosecutor accused of biting off finger of foe in road rage fight loses his job

Shawn Whitfield was convicted Aug. 6 by a Greene County Common Pleas jury of harassment with a bodily substance, the county prosecutors office said in a statement to News Center 7 on Wednesday. Whitfield was a Wilberforce University student at the time of the incident that began Jan. 13 at the Living Learning Center on campus and continued that same day at the Greene Memorial Hospital emergency room.

WU police dispatched to the LLC contacted Whitfield, who appeared to be highly intoxicated, according to the trial evidence.

After numerous attempts to calm Whitfield, he became disruptive and was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct. Whitfield began fighting with the WU police officer, who asked for additional police. Officers from Central State University, Xenia Police Division, Greene County Sheriffs Office, and Cedarville Police Department responded.

Whitfield continued to fight officers -- the prosecutors office said more than 10 officers were involved -- and threatened to spit on them and commit physical violence.

Officers decided to take Whitfield to the hospital to ensure any medical needs were addressed. He continued to fight officers while in the ER. Hospital staff restrained him, and staff and officers attempted to verbally de-escalate Whitfield on numerous occasions, without success, according to the prosecutors office.

While officers were walking out of Whitfields hospital room, he sat up and intentionally spit at officers standing several feet away. The spit landed on one Xenia police officers mouth and lip area. That officer has not been identified by name.

Whitfield, at trial, told the jury he was too intoxicated to recall even being at the hospital.

After the jury delivered its verdict in Judge Michael Buckwalters courtroom, county Prosecutor David Hayes said, Police officers should not have to deal with this sort of nonsense.

This incident took over ten officers from five different police departments off the streets. This may not seem serious to some, but it is a felony offense, and the Greene County Prosecutors Office takes it very seriously. Police officers deserve our respect and not our contempt, Hayes said.

Whitfield remained in the county jail Wednesday night, and sentencing had not been scheduled.

We will update this story when sentencing does occur.




A Los Angeles County jury found businesses that make or distribute engineered stone at fault Wednesday for the suffering of a 34-year-old stonecutter afflicted with an incurable disease.

In a decision watched closely by silicosis experts and the stone industry, jurors deliberating at Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown L.A. decided largely in favor of Gustavo Reyes Gonzalez, who was diagnosed with silicosis and had to undergo a double lung transplant after years of cutting engineered stone countertops.

The decision followed deliberations that spanned five days of the multi-week trial. Before the verdict, the two sides in the case had agreed that economic losses for Reyes Gonzalez exceeded $8 million.

The jury decided that other damages  which could include physical pain, mental suffering and emotional distress  amounted to more than $44 million. However, because the jury did not deem the defendants wholly responsible for those damages, they will not be collectively liable for the full amount.

It concluded that Caesarstone USA bore 15% of the responsibility, Cambria 10% and Color Marble 2.5%. The court will ultimately determine how much each defendant must pay.

Reyes Gonzalez is among scores of California countertop cutters who have sued companies like Caesarstone and Cambria after falling ill with silicosis, which is caused by inhaling tiny particles of crystalline silica.

Read more: Engineered stone counter tops are killing workers at high rates. What can consumers do about it?

His case was the first to go to trial, according to his attorneys. It tested whether companies that manufacture or distribute slabs of artificial stone, commonly marketed as quartz, could be held responsible for the ravages of silicosis, an ancient disease now emerging among countertop cutters barely in middle age.

Scientists have linked the eruption of silicosis cases among stonecutters to the booming popularity of engineered stone, which is typically much higher in lung-scarring silica than natural stone such as granite or marble. In California, more than a dozen countertop cutters have died of silicosis in recent years. In a recent study of the emerging cases and fatalities, researchers found the median age at death was 46.

Attorneys for Reyes Gonzalez argued that the companies had failed to provide sufficient warning about the dangers of cutting the slabs and that the risks far outweighed the benefits of their products. Gilbert Purcell, one of his lawyers, told the jury that engineered stone has "nasty, nasty risks" that had not been properly disclosed.

"A company should never needlessly cause risk to others," Purcell said, "and that's what they did."

For instance, Purcell argued, Cambria had failed for a decade and a half to warn that silica dust could be an invisible hazard. How can workers avoid breathing dust, he argued, "when you can't even know you're breathing it because it's invisible?"

A cloud of dust envelops a countertop fabricator cutting engineered stone at a Sun Valley shop last year. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Lawyers representing companies that make or distribute engineered stone argued that the operators of the Orange County workshops where Reyes Gonzalez worked were to blame. If they had used the proper protections, he would not have gotten silicosis, said Peter Strotz, an attorney representing Caesarstone USA.

"They knew what they had to do. They didn't do it. ... Worst of all, they deceived Mr. Reyes Gonzalez. They led him to believe he would be protected when he was not," Strotz told the jury. He argued Caesarstone USA had done its part by providing safety information and should not be blamed for the "misuse" of its products.

Cambria attorney Lindsay Weiss said the company had provided warnings, including labels on the slabs themselves, and offered free training to the "fabricators" who cut, grind and polish the material to shape it into countertops.

She held up a sample of its quartz surfacing material to the jury, telling them it was safe. "The problem is when people don't follow the law when they handle this product," Weiss said.

And Color Marble, a distributor, argued there was no proof that Reyes Gonzalez had cut or polished slabs sold by its company. The jury found Color Marble liable for negligence  as it did Caesarstone USA and Cambria  but did not deem it liable for other claims for product liability as it had for those firms.

Read more: Doctors said cutting countertops destroyed his lungs. He had to fight for workers' comp

The lawsuit initially targeted a long list of companies, but all but three  Caesarstone USA, Cambria and Color Marble  were dismissed or settled before the jury reached a verdict. Attorney James Nevin, who represents Reyes Gonzalez, said most had "resolved the case pursuant to confidential agreements."

Strotz, representing Caesarstone USA, declined to comment on the verdict.

Weiss said her client, Cambria, disagreed with the decision. "We think this is not a product issue. It's a workplace safety issue," she said. "This is handled safely every single day."

Raphael Metzger, one of the attorneys representing Reyes Gonzalez, called the decision "a win for public health and occupational safety."

He grew emotional as he praised the jurors for their work. "Only in America," he said, "can Hispanic immigrants come here and receive justice  as they have."

Read more: California could require licenses for stonecutting shops amid deaths of young workers

The trial, which stretched more than a month, spotlighted the dangers facing workers like Reyes Gonzalez, who testified that he came to the U.S. from the Mexican state of Veracruz as a teenager to escape poverty. For years, he worked from morning to evening cutting slabs for countertops.

Dust was rampant in the Orange County workshops where he labored, Reyes Gonzalez testified, at times so much that it looked like fog. His mask would grow filthy. Even when he used water while cutting, he said, "a lot of dust would come off" when the liquid had dried.

His wife, Wendy Torres Hernandez, said that when Reyes Gonzalez got his diagnosis, he called her crying. "He was told that there was no cure for it. There was nothing that he could do," she said.

"I told him we would figure something out to help him, because I couldn't just let him die," she testified. Despondent, he told her "that he was going to start planning for his funeral."

Reyes Gonzalez ultimately became so sick that both his lungs needed to be replaced in a transplant. The surgery may afford him only six more years to live before he needs another set of transplanted lungs  and a doctor testified that if that did happen, he would be unlikely to get a third transplant because of his age.

He will have to take a host of medications and carefully monitor his health until he dies. Because of the medicines he takes, Reyes Gonzalez said he cannot have children, which pains him because his wife adores them. Doctors might find a way for them in the future, he said, but cannot guarantee it.

Lawyers for Caesarstone and other companies focused much of their questioning on members of the Silverio family, who paid Reyes Gonzalez for his work in a string of Orange County workshops. When a co-worker named Guillermo Mora de los Santos took the stand, a defense attorney questioned him about whether the Silverio shops had ever provided trainings on workplace safety or had any "silica control program."

Mora de los Santos said no. "We didn't know about that  about that disease," he said about silicosis.

Weiss, representing Cambria, stressed to the jury that Reyes Gonzalez had described sweeping up dry dust and using compressed air to clean  practices that send dust into the air  and that he wasn't provided with an adequate mask. Nor was water used properly, she said.

In court, one of the Silverios denied having seen safety information from Caesarstone that included a video on silicosis risks, despite having signed a form saying he had received such materials.

Purcell, in his closing remarks, argued that whatever the Silverios had done or not done could not absolve the defendants. "This chain of safety starts with them."

In its verdict, the jury had the opportunity to assign a percentage of the total responsibility to "others" besides Reyes Gonzalez and the engineered stone companies. Jurors assigned 70% to "others" and 2.5% to Reyes Gonzalez himself.

The Silica Safety Coalition, an industry group that maintains that engineered stone can and should be cut safely, said the 70% fault attributed to "others" was an acknowledgment of the unsafe practices at his workplace.

"We think the California jury was wrong to blame the slab suppliers for any of Mr. Reyes-Gonzalez's injuries from his unsafe workplace condition, and we anticipate the verdict will be appealed by one or more parties," the coalition said in a statement.

Juror Laura Miller, who said she disagreed with most of her fellow jurors in finding the companies liable, said after the verdict that she felt the blame lay with the Silverios. To reach their decisions in the civil case, at least nine of 12 jurors had to agree on the verdicts.

"The employer was using no precautions," Miller said.

Nevin, one of Reyes Gonzalez's lawyers, said in a statement that the jury had "rightly rejected" efforts to blame "unsophisticated hirers" who had not been warned of the dangers themselves.

His firm, Brayton Purcell LLP, now represents more than 150 countertop cutters with silicosis who labored at more than 350 shops, it said in a statement. "The problem is the products, not the shops."

Much of the court case revolved around the kinds of measures needed to protect workers from silica dust from engineered stone, as a string of experts testified about the risks of cutting such slabs. Among them was Dr. Kenneth Rosenman, who testified that Reyes Gonzalez got silicosis despite having used some tools that dispense water because they were "not sufficiently protective."

"They do not lower the dust level low enough to prevent this severe disease," said Rosenman, chief of the division of occupational and environmental medicine at Michigan State University.

Another witness for the plaintiff, industrial hygienist Stephen Petty, said that N95 masks would be "bottom of the barrel" protection for engineered stone dust. Even the most protective respirators, which use a tank of clean air, are not a "permanent solution" because workers tend to adjust them, breaking the seal, he said.

Defense attorneys turned to other witnesses, including industrial hygienist Brian Daly, who said that engineered stone can be cut and polished safely. Reyes Gonzalez "would not have developed silicosis had his employer had a program that was protective" and followed workplace safety regulations, Daly testified.

Judge William F. Fahey had excluded testimony that attorneys representing Reyes Gonzalez had sought from Georgia Tech scientist Jenny Houlroyd, saying her study was based on data that were not provided to the court, among other issues. Her analysis had concluded that it wasn't economically feasible to employ the measures needed to safely cut engineered stone, especially for small workshops.

Artificial stone is "a uniquely toxic product," and neither "wet methods" nor wearing a mask would make it safe to cut and grind, Houlroyd wrote in a prepared list of her opinions.

Read more: Long, frustrating waits for home care persist despite California expanding program

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BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN)  A furniture store in Boardman is helping victims of the Realty Building after Mays explosion in downtown Youngstown through a partnership with the Persayus Way Project.

Read next: Watch live as Realty Building demolition continues in Youngstown

Workers at Ashley Furniture and those from the Persayus Way Project helped load up donated beds, frames and pillows on Thursday for the displaced Realty Building tenants on Thursday.

The partnership came about when the furniture was approached by the Persayus Way Project.

The heads at Ashley Furniture responded within hours and decided to donate the much-needed beds.

If buildings explode in your own backyard, I think you have a responsibility to help those people, said Tyler Edwards of Ashley Furniture. When youre displaced from your home, you dont have room for every different type of furniture but one thing that everybody needs is sleep and thats one thing that we could provide. And so we thought if we can give them a little bit of rest, then so be it, you know what I mean? We just need to help these people.

Those from the Persayus Way Project approached several businesses in the area to see who would be willing to step up and help. They say help is going to be needed for a long time.

Were going to be here for quite some time because these people have nothing. Theyve lost everything. Until the need is met, said Rosa Baker-Shaw of the Persayus Way Project. These people need everything. A lady told me I just need dish detergent and detergent to wash me and my sons clothes. You know, thats humbling. So for the community to come together to help these tenants, I just think its amazing.

If you would like to donate to the victims of the downtown Youngstown explosion through the Persayus Way project, you can call Rosa Baker-Shaw at (330) 518-2192 and visit them online.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Various rifles are for sale at Gun Crafters on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Salem, Ore.

Statement: Kamala Harris supports mandatory gun confiscation.

Former President Donald Trump told supporters in Georgia that Vice President Kamala Harris will take away their guns and leave them "totally defenseless in your house."

"She supports mandatory gun confiscation," Trump said Saturday at a campaign rally in Atlanta. He added sarcastically: "Would anybody mind if they came into your house and took away your gun?  She's for taking away all of your guns."

In July, we saw similar statements about Harris gun record from the NRA, Gun Owners of America and Dave McCormick, a Pennsylvania Republican running for U.S. Senate.

The phrase "gun confiscation" is broad and could lead voters to think that Harris wants to confiscate all guns from law-abiding owners. Thats not what she has said.

Further, those rights are constitutionally protected by the Second Amendment. In the U.S. gun buybacks are programs organized by local police departments that voluntarily allow people to turn over their guns in exchange for something, such as a gift card.

While running in the presidential primary in 2019, the then-California senator said she supported a "mandatory gun buyback program" for assault weapons. It did not apply to all guns, and she no longer holds that position.

The Trump campaign did not respond to our request for comment.

Harris has supported gun buybacks and other measures

Harris addressed gun buybacks several times during the 2019 campaign.

During an October 2019 gun control forum in Las Vegas, Harris joined two primary rivals in supporting the mandatory buyback of assault weapons.

"We have to have a buyback program, and I support a mandatory gun buyback program," Harris said. "Its got to be smart, we got to do it the right way. But there are 5 million (assault weapons) at least, some estimate as many as 10 million, and were going to have to have smart public policy thats about taking those off the streets, but doing it the right way."

Assault weapons are not the majority of guns sold in the U.S. Handguns are the most popular. A 1994 federal assault weapons ban, which expired in 2004, barred the "manufacture, transfer, and possession" of about 118 firearm models and all magazines holding over 10 rounds. Harris has supported renewing the ban throughout her career.

In November 2019, NBC News also reported that Harris then supported a "mandatory gun buyback." Harris told the interviewer that "there is no place" for assault weapons on the streets.

Kamala Harris

NBC News Harry Smith asked Harris, "So, say youve got a couple hundred thousand off the streets, I mean, isnt that just a drop in the bucket?

Harris said: "Well, what well do is have an incentive for people to turn them in and buy them back. But when we`re talking about weapons of war, I mean, it literally is this simple. Five million assault weapons on the streets of America, period."

The Trump campaign in an X post highlighted Harris response to a college students question in a September 2019 episode of "The Tonight Show."

One student asked Harris, "Do you believe in mandatory buy back of quote unquote assault weapons and whether or not you do, how does that idea not go against fundamentally the Second Amendment?"

In its video clip of Harris, the Trump campaign included a couple of sentences of Harris remarks. We put the parts that the Trump campaign included in the video in bold:

Harris said: "I do believe that we need to do buybacks." Then she described assault weapons as "weapons of war." She vowed if elected to "ban on the importation of assault weapons" and said the U.S. will have to deal with the assault weapons that are already in the country.

"And, so, a buyback program is a good idea, now we need to do it the right way and part of that has to be buy back and give people their value the financial value of what they have and not just take things from people that have value without compensating them. We need to do it the right way," she said.

During an April 2019 CNN town hall, Harris referred to her time as state attorney general and said law enforcement was permitted to confiscate guns from people who were found by a court to be a danger to themselves or others.

"I have to stress, lawful gun ownership, that is one thing," Harris said. "Were talking about something else, and we have to stop conflating and blending all these issues."

In April 2019, Harris told reporters in Iowa: "We are being offered a false choice. Youre either in favor of the Second Amendment or you want to take everyones guns away. Its a false choice that is born out of a lack of courage from leaders who must recognize and agree that there are some practical solutions to what is a clear problem in our country."

We asked the Harris campaign whether she still supports mandatory assault weapons buybacks. She does not. A campaign spokesperson pointed to a comment the campaign gave to The New York Times that, like President Joe Biden, Harris wants to ban assault weapons but not require people to sell them to the federal government.

We found no statements by Harris during calling for mass gun confiscation during her vice presidency.

As vice president, Harris has urged states to pass red flag laws and supported federal gun safety legislation that included funding for mental health and school security resources. None of that is akin to gun confiscation.

PolitiFact's ruling

Trump said that Harris "supports mandatory gun confiscation."

While running in the 2019 presidential primary, Harris said, "I support a mandatory gun buyback program" for assault weapons. This would not cover all guns; handguns, for example, are the most popular.

Trump used the present tense when he said that Harris "supports mandatory gun confiscation." The Harris campaign told The New York Times that she supports banning assault weapons but not a requirement to sell them to the federal government. We could find no examples that she currently supports mandatory gun confiscation.

The claim contains an element of truth about her past position on assault weapons, but it leaves a misleading impression about her platform in 2024. We rate this statement Mostly False.

Our sources

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Kamala Harris no loner backs mandatory assault weapons buybacks
Kamala Harris slams protesters disrupting Detroit rally: If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that

Vice President Kamala Harris pushed back against pro-Palestine protesters in Detroit, her first major hurdle amid an otherwise positive rollout of her presidential campaign.

Harris was visiting Detroit as part of a tour with her newly-minted running mate Tim Walz. The two had held a large and raucous outdoor rally in Eau Claire, Wisconsin earlier in the day.

But Michigan, which has a large Arab-American population located in Dearborn outside of Detroit, has long been a hotbed of criticism for the Biden administrations support for Israel in its war against Gaza. Earlier this year, roughly 13 percent of the people who participated in the states Democratic primary voted uncommitted to send a message to the Biden administration.

During the rally, which also featured Walz and Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Harris faced chants from pro-Palestine protesters.

Kamala Kamala you cant hide, we wont vote for genocide, some of the protesters yelled as Harris delivered her stump speech.

Vice President Kamala Harris takes the stage for a rally in Detroit where she faced heckles from pro-Palestine protesters. (Getty Images)

Initially, Harris tried to brush off the protesters while attendees chanted as a way of drowning out them out.

Im here because I believe in democracy, Harris said. I believe everyones voice matters. But Im speaking now. I am speaking now.

As protesters continued, Harris eventually pushed back.

If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I'm speaking, she said to huge applause.

Harris continued her normal stump speech that she has given several times and includes many lines that have previously gone viral.

We are joyful warriors, because while fighting for a brighter future may take hard work, we all here know hard work is good work, she said. Our work is good work.

Harris rattled off a series of policies she would sign, such as the PRO Act that would make it easier for people to join a union. Shawn Fain, the head of the United Auto Workers, attended the rally and delivered a speech. Harris also pledged to sign legislation to restore abortion and voting rights.

She made some jabs at Trump, including over his calls to terminate the US Constitution.

Let us be very clear, someone who suggests we should terminate the Constitution of the United States should never again stand behind the seal of the president of the United States, she said to cheers. Never again.

Harris has in recent months sought to forge her own path on Israel and Palestine separate from President Joe Biden, a longtime supporter of Israel going back to his early days in the Senate.

She chose not to sit behind Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he delivered a joint address to Congress last month and said she would not be silent about the devastating humanitarian conditions in Gaza amid Israels onslaught. Similarly, Harris has also said the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating.

At the same time, Harris met with Netanyahu separately and said she has a had an unwavering commitment to the existence of the State of Israel, to its security and to the people of Israel.

Michigan is a must-win state for both Trump and Harris. Trump became the first Republican presidential nominee to win the state since 1988 in 2016, when he won by 10,704 votes. Biden, with Harris on his ticket, flipped Michigan back in 2020 by 154,188 votes.

In addition, Senator Debbie Stabenow, who is retiring at the end of the year, attended the rally. Representative Elissa Slotkin won the Democratic primary on Tuesday in the race to replace Stabenow as Democrats hope to keep their majority.
Kamala Harris Stops Rally Crowd's 'Lock Him Up' Chant With Perfect Reminder About Trump

Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday stopped her campaign rally audience in Wisconsin from taunting her Republican 2024 election rival Donald Trump, who is a convicted felon, with the chant, Lock him up.

Well, hold on, hold on, hold on, said the Democratic nominee.

You know what? Here, hold on. Heres the thing, the courts are going to handle that part of it. Were going to beat him in November, Harris explained, earning massive applause.

Were going to beat him in November. Well beat him in November, well handle that, she added.

Crowd: Lock him up!



Vice President Harris: The courts are going to handle that. Were going to beat him in November pic.twitter.com/VxeTl2pAp8  Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) August 8, 2024

Trump was found guilty in May on all 34 counts in his New York hush money trial. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 18.

The lock him up chant is a spin on Trump supporters cries of lock her up during the 2016 election, which called for the jailing of his then-Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Its broken out at Harris events before.

Also on Wednesday, at a rally in Detroit, Harris tackled hecklers shouting what CNN reported sounded like pro-Palestinian messages.

You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise Im speaking, said Harris, prompting massive cheers.

Wow, Kamala Harris just destroyed a heckler pic.twitter.com/TRYwapgEr9  Acyn (@Acyn) August 8, 2024

Related...
(Bloomberg) -- Vice President Kamala Harris will return to the city where her political career started to introduce her new running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to many of the San Francisco Bay Areas wealthiest Democratic donors.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Aug. 11 fundraiser will follow a multi-day swing state tour where Harris and Walz have drawn tens of thousands of supporters across several campaign stops.

California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, a Harris ally and donor, said she received $600,000 in commitments within 24 hours of sending an email to her network about the event. Access to the fundraiser at San Franciscos Fairmont Hotel starts at $3,300 per guest, according to an invitation. For $50,000, attendees can get a photo with the candidate and for $500,000 donors can chair the event. As of Thursday morning, the event only had $250,000 or $500,000-level tickets remaining.

Major Democratic donor and venture capitalist Reid Hoffman is expected to attend the event, according to his spokesperson.

I feel great energy from people stretching to do their part, Kounalakis said in an interview.

The Harris campaign did not respond to a request for comment about the event.

The money here in the Bay Area has been a prime source of strength for her in her political career, said Andrea Dew Steele, a Democratic strategist who has been raising money for Harris since her first race as district attorney of San Francisco in 2003.

An Aug. 17 fundraiser with tickets starting at $250 is also being planned in Mill Valley, a wealthy enclave near San Francisco that will feature musical performances. Harris and Walz arent scheduled to attend that event.

Since emerging as the partys nominee after President Joe Biden stepped down as the candidate, Harris has out-raised Donald Trump. In July, the combined Biden-Harris campaign said it raised $310 million. Trump raised $137 million during the same period, according to his campaign.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Vice President Kamala Harris campaign team quietly tweaked running mate Tim Walzs biography on Thursday in a bid to kill off scrutiny on his military rank.

The campaign website converted his official Army National Guard title from retired command sergeant major to served at the command sergeant major rank, a minor but relevant change that Walz has been called out for before.

Walz failed to complete the required coursework for the higher rank of command sergeant major when he retired, knocking him back down to master sergeant.

He served in the Army National Guard for 24 years and retired two months before the unit he commanded received notice that they would soon be deployed to Iraq. Walz later said he left his post to focus full-time on running for Congress, which is why he never served with his unit in a combat zone.

JD Vance, Donald Trumps running mate who was deployed in Iraq with the Marines, accused Walz of being dishonest with Americans by lying about his credentials during a rally on Wednesday.

Other veterans have asked Walz to update his military credentials as well, including when he ran for governor in 2018. Two retired command sergeants major wrote a lengthy letter on Facebook criticizing the then-governor candidate for embellishing his career.

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Reality Check is a Bee series holding officials and organizations accountable and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email realitycheck@sacbee.com.

Will subbing Vice President Kamala Harris in for President Joe Biden at the top of the ticket boost Democrats in competitive California congressional races?

Yes, nonpartisan analysts said, if her campaign keeps its momentum going through November.

The election has been upended from sea to shining sea, said Jacob Rubashkin, deputy editor of nonpartisan analyzer Inside Elections.

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California congressional contests will help decide whether Democrats or Republicans control the House of Representatives in 2025. Several of the states races are high priorities for national Democrats and Republicans in November, and some in the Central Valley are especially crucial.

Its hard to tell whether Harris  a former San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general and U.S. senator  would have an extra effect on candidates in her home state. That may not matter so much as the general energy shes infused into the party nationwide, said Erin Covey, an analyst at the nonpartisan election-forecasting Cook Political Report.

Ten California House races are on analysts watch lists.

Two of the most competitive congressional races in the nation are in the Central Valleys 13th and 22nd Congressional Districts, with others mainly in Southern California. The 13th and 22nd feature rematches from 2022, the year when California helped secure a razor-thin House majority for Republicans.

Currently, there are 220 Republicans, 212 Democrats and three vacancies in the House. Two of those empty seats were held by Democrats, one by a Republican. The number for control of the chamber is 218, meaning Democrats need to flip four seats nationwide to win control of the House.

How the top of the tickets perform heavily affects downballot candidates, Rubashkin said, especially with the nationalization of local races and the decline of split-ticket voting, where someone picks candidates for separate offices from a different parties on the same ballot.

Biden had been trailing former President Donald Trump nationally and in key swing states whereas in a little over two weeks, Harris energized Democrats and donors, Rubashkin said.

Harris ability to keep up the enthusiasm and keep up her ability to win over moderates and Independents is going to be crucial for these downballot candidates, he said.

The Central Valley seats are a little more working class where Democrats have kind of struggled particularly there in the past couple of election cycles, Covey said. I dont know if she (Harris) has as much of a boost there as she does in places like LA and Orange County, which are a lot more suburban and have voters who are more likely to be excited by the change at the top of the ticket.

The Democratic presidential candidate is a strong favorite to win California. The last time a Republican won the state was 1988, when former President George H. W. Bush prevailed.

Both Rubashkin and Covey were direct about whether a vice presidential candidate would have downballot effects: No.

Harris announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate this week. Trump picked Ohio Sen. JD Vance.

Theres a ton of data that shows that typically, vice presidential picks dont have huge impacts on the outcome of the presidential race, said Covey, and that extends to these downballot races as well.

These nonpartisan organizations and others, including Sabatos Crystal Ball, rate competitive elections on a scale from likely to leans to toss-up for either party. Inside Elections also rates races as tilts, which are close to toss-ups.

Many analysts have not updated their ratings since Biden dropped out, waiting for more polling. Ratings will likely shift at least once between now and November.

Here are 10 California congressional races to watch, according to the experts, in numerical order. Not all the analysts agree on exactly how to rate each race, so the ratings below are a consensus of the three organizations.

3rd Congressional District

Likely Republican

Freshman Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Roseville, competes with Democrat Jessica Morse, a wildfire resiliency specialist, in November. The district stretches from the northern Sierra Nevada along the Nevada border into Death Valley.

Kileys seat is trending left slowly, Rubashkin said, but he doesnt expect it to become closer this cycle.

9th Congressional District

Likely Democratic

Rep. Josh Harder, D-Tracy, faces Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln. The San Joaquin County district centers around the Stockton.

Thats one that I think Republicans are really bullish on, and I can definitely see that becoming more competitive, Covey said.

Rubashkin said that Bidens drag could have made the elections grow tougher for Harder in the 9th and for Democratic Rep. Mike Levin in Californias 49th Congressional District: But with Harris at the top of the ticket, I think that they are both a little bit more comfortable.

13th Congressional District

Toss-up

In 2022, farmer-turned-eventual freshman Rep. John Duarte, R-Modesto, beat then-Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced, by fewer than 600 votes. It was the second-closest U.S. House race in 2022.

The rematch is considered one of the most competitive races of 2024.

The district, which includes all of Merced County and chunks of Madera, Stanislaus, Fresno and San Joaquin counties, would have voted for Biden in 2020 by 11 percentage points had current legislative maps been in place. It has more registered Democrats than Republicans.

Anything thats good for Democrats is going to have an outsized effect on Duarte simply because hes the less-tested candidate, Rubashkin said. Plus compared to other Republicans on the ballot in the 13th in 2022, Duarte underperformed, he said.

He can also be more easily roped into the national Republican party because he hasnt had as much time to show voters that hes not like other Republicans, Covey said of Duarte.

22nd Congressional District

Toss-up

Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, and former Assemblyman Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield, are also set for a November rematch.

The 22nd, which has more registered Democrats than Republicans and would have picked Biden by 13 points in 2020, includes most of Kings County and parts of Tulare and Kern counties.

Both the 13th and 22nd, Latino-majority voting districts, tend to have very low turnout, meaning older, white, conservative voters disproportionately weigh in on elections there.

Where I would kind of differentiate between the Valadao seat and the Duarte seat is that Valadao has demonstrated ability to win over Democratic voters, Rubashkin said, adding Inside Elections rates this race as tilting in Valadaos favor. He is a survivor, and hes been able to win elections when the top of the ticket is breaking against him.

Valadao has been in the House since 2013, but he lost his seat in 2018 before winning it back in 2020.

27th Congressional District

Toss-up

Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, represents the northern Los Angeles County district and faces a new 2024 challenger: Democrat George Whitesides, former CEO of Virgin Galactic.

Places like Californias 27th District, I think, which is a pretty diverse district where Biden was not doing well at all last month, Covey said, having her (Harris) there definitely rejuvenates the base.

Since he entered Congress via a special election in 2020, Garcia has had the same challenger until this cycle: former Assemblywoman Christy Smith.

He was very good at running against Christy Smith, but I think Whitesides presents a much different type of candidate for Democrats in that seat, Rubashkin said.

40th Congressional District

Likely Republican

Rep. Young Kim, R-La Habra, who has represented this area since 2021, faces Democrat Joe Kerr, who served as an Orange County firefighter for over three decades.

The 40th holds parts of Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

41st Congressional District

Toss-up or leans Republican

Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, and Democrat Will Rollins, a former federal prosecutor, meet again in this Riverside County district this November.

The congressman, first sworn into office in 1993, had his closest House race in over a decade against Rollins in 2022, winning by less than 4 percentage points.

This is a district that is moving in Democrats direction and its just a question of is this the moment, Rubashkin said.

45th Congressional District

Leans Republican

Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Seal Beach, holds the 45th, which takes in parts of Orange and Los Angeles counties. The two-term congresswoman will vie with Democrat Derek Tran, a lawyer.

47th Congressional District

Toss-up or leans Democratic

Republican Scott Baugh, an attorney who ran here in 2022 and was once the Republican leader in the California State Assembly, and State Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvine, will battle in November to succeed Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine.

Porter is leaving the Orange County seat after a failed U.S. Senate bid.

We have it rated as tilt Democratic, Rubashkin said. Candidly, I dont know if itll remain that way for the duration of the cycle, he added, saying that it would likely become more competitive.

Dave Min has a lot of work to do in terms of replenishing his coffers and kind of moving on from the very bruising primary and obviously the DUI and all that entailed, he said.

49th Congressional District

Likely Democratic

Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, and Republican Matt Gunderson, a business owner, are on the November ballot.

The 49th covers northern coastal areas of San Diego County. Levin has held congressional office since 2019.
VIENTIANE, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Laos on Thursday celebrated the 57th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 27th anniversary of the country's accession to the regional bloc.

In a speech delivered to mark the two anniversaries, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith said Laos has the honor of assuming ASEAN chairmanship for the third time under the theme "ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience."

Laos' leadership has elevated its regional profile, fostering collaboration among member states and external partners. The Lao government extends gratitude to all supporters, expressing confidence in a successful ASEAN chairmanship, according to the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

The theme of "ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience" reflects Laos' ambition to transform from a land-locked nation into a regional connectivity hub while aligning with ASEAN's goals to build a more interconnected and integrated region capable of addressing emerging challenges in an ever-changing global landscape.

ASEAN, established on Aug. 8, 1967, is a diverse inter-governmental regional organization united by a common goal, to maintain peace, stability and cooperation for regional prosperity. 
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announces he is suing Pfizer during a June 17, 2024, news conference at the Statehouse in Topeka

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, in concert with 14 other state attorneys general, filed a federal lawsuit challenging the President Joe Biden's plan to expand health insurance access to DACA recipients. The lawsuit seeks to block implementation of the rule on Nov. 1. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach filed a lawsuit Thursday on behalf of 15 states in an attempt to stop President Joe Biden from expanding health care access to DACA recipients by making them eligible for participation in the Affordable Care Acts insurance marketplace.

Kobach, a Republican who built a political career concentrated on legal issues tied to undocumented migrants, was joined in the federal lawsuit by attorneys general in Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Virginia.

Kobach challenged the federal rule issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that would make people who arrived in the United States as children, sometimes known as Dreamers, eligible for taxpayer-subsidized health plans under the ACA. The Biden administrations initiative would enable DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, to be part of the health insurance marketplace on Nov. 1.

The lawsuit urged the federal court to postpone the effective date of the HHS rule pending completion of the case. It also sought to vacate the rule as both contrary to law and unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious.

Illegal aliens shouldnt get a free pass into our country, said Kobach, using an offensive term for undocumented residents. They shouldnt receive taxpayer benefits when they arrive, and the Biden-Harris administration shouldnt get a free pass to violate federal law. Thats why I am leading a multistate lawsuit to stop this illegal regulation from going into effect.

Kobach said in the U.S. District Court complaint filed in North Dakota that the administration of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris intended to violate a federal law forbidding government benefits from flowing to people who werent citizens of the United States or were otherwise unlawfully in the country.

He said Congress limited eligibility for federal public benefits to certain qualified aliens in 1996. DACA recipients werent included in the definition of qualified immigrants, he said. In addition, Kobachs filing said Congress restricted eligibility to participate in the ACAs qualified health plans to citizens or nationals of the United States or aliens lawfully present in the United States.

Indeed, eligibility for DACA requires unlawful presence in the United States, Kobachs petition said.

Xavier Becerra, the secretary of HHS, said when the final DACA rule was published in May the change could lead to 100,000 previously uninsured DACA recipients enrolling in health coverage through the marketplaces.

HHS is committed to making health coverage accessible for DACA recipients  Dreamers  who have worked hard to live the American dream, Becerra said. Dreamers are our neighbors and friends. They are students, teachers, social workers, doctors and nurses. More importantly, they are fellow Americans.

Kobach asserted the HHS rule would make as many as 200,000 DACA recipients eligible for health insurance through the marketplace. His total of DACA participants included 4,350 in Kansas and 2,550 in Missouri. In terms of other plaintiff states, the numbers ranged from 7,810 in Virginia, 7,450 in Indiana, 6,360 in Tennessee and 4,840 in South Carolina to 220 in New Hampshire, 130 in North Dakota and 80 in Montana.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said extending health insurance through the ACA to 3,460 DACA recipients in Alabama represented a new assault on the American worker.

First, this administration is demanding that hardworking Americans pay for someone elses college degree, then it forces them to pay for medical procedures that violate their beliefs, and now they want to dictate paying for health care for people who shouldnt even be in this country, Marshall said.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said the lawsuit was necessary to derail the Biden administrations unconstitutional move to broaden the reach of Obamacare.

Im sympathetic to these people who didnt choose to be brought here, Wilson said. However, this is yet another example of the Biden administration trying to do something it doesnt have the authority to do.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  A Chautauqua County resident recently captured video of a timber rattlesnake moving along the outside of their home.

The timber rattlesnake is just one of 42 different species of snakes that live in Kansas. Most of them are harmless.

Of the nearly 4,000 known species of snakes, sneks, danger noodles, spicy noodles, nope ropes, whatever your preferred term is for them, only around 200 are dangerous to humans. There are six venomous snake varieties in Kansas, and one of those is the timber rattlesnake.

According to Fort Hays State Universitys Kansas Herpetofaunal Atlas, the snake has been observed the most in Douglas County, with 105 confirmed sightings, 71 confirmed sightings in Franklin, 49 sightings in Chautauqua, and 45 reported in Johnson and Miami counties. Those numbers dont compare to those of other venomous snakes in Kansas.

The eastern copperhead has been spotted 1,312 times, mainly east of U.S. Highway 77. The Western Massasauga has 1,182 confirmed sightings all across the state, except for northwest Kansas. The prairie rattlesnake has nearly 1093 sightings, nearly all west of U.S. Highway 281. The broad-banded copperhead has 318 confirmed sightings, but only in Butler, Cowley, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Montgomery, Wilson, and Woodsen Counties. The northern copperhead has only four confirmed sightings in far southeast Cherokee County.

Kansas Museum of History gets new look, set to open in 2025

The large number of sightings of the timber rattlesnake in northeast Kansas makes sense because of the regions larger population and the increased housing and business development in that part of the state. More people means more encounters are possible, especially in once-rural areas.

According to the latest census data, the current population of those four northeast Kansas counties totals 800,018, which means there are many more opportunities to encounter the snake. Chautauqua Countys current population is just 3,415, so why so many sightings?

It is likely due to the fact that the county is not only rural, but it has the perfect habitat for the timber rattlesnake. According to the Kansas Herpetofaunal Atlas, it lives in rugged terrain along heavily vegetated, rocky outcrops on partially forested hillsides.

The area with the most sightings in Chautauqua County is in a geological area called the Chautauqua Hills. It is part of a larger region called the Cross Timbers ecosystem, a mixture of prairie grasslands and ancient hardwood timber forests that stretches from southeast Kansas through central Oklahoma and north-central Texas.

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The Herpetofaunal Atlas describes the timber rattlesnake as a shy species that mainly seeks food during the day in spring and fall and at night in summer. It prefers temperatures between 80 and 90F. The rattlesnakes spend most of their time coiled, waiting for prey.

What is important to remember about snakes is that although some are venomous, most are not. You should not fear snakes because, as the Humane Society points out, they avoid humans as much as possible. Snake encounters in the wild are extremely rare, and even more so with venomous snakes.

According to the University of Florida, youre more likely to be bitten by a spider, a dog, or stung by a bee, wasp, or hornet than you are to be bitten by a venomous snake. Youre nine times more likely to be struck by lightning.

If you encounter a snake, leave it alone unless it is inside a home or business or is venomous. Contact your local animal control or 911 to have it removed.

The Humane Society has more tips on what to do in case of an unexpected snake encounter.

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Kansas Gas Service customers could see an average $3.83 increase on their bills each month under an agreement the company reached with state regulators. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas Gas Service agreed to impose a smaller rate hike on customers, increasing bills by an average of $3.83 per month, state regulators announced Thursday.

The deal, which the company and state regulators struck last week, needs approval by the Kansas Corporation Commission. The state agency announced Thursday it would hold a hearing on the proposal next week.

Kansas Gas Service, which serves almost 650,000 residential customers, filed its periodic request with the KCC to increase rates this spring. The KCC, which regulates monopoly utilities, has been hearing testimony from the company, regulatory staff and consumer advocates.

The company initially asked to create a two-tiered rate system based on how much gas customers used. Customers who used less than 73,000 cubic feet of gas would have seen a 10.41% hike, which would represent an average increase of $6.71 per month. Kansas Gas Service proposed a smaller rate hike of 8.25% on larger customers. The company said that would result in an average $9.48 increase in monthly bills for major users.

KGSs agreement with regulators would not impose a second rate tier, but rather impose the average $3.83 increase for all customers.

The hikes KGS requested would have brought in $58.1 million annually for the company from customer bills. But KCC staff argued the company could only justify a $31.7 million increase in customers rates. The Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board, which advocates for residential and small commercial customers, recommended only a $10.7 million rate hike from customers bills.

In a statement, KGS spokeswoman Dawn Tripp said the company is committed to keeping rates as reasonable as possible.

This request is necessary to recover the investments made to maintain a safe and reliable pipeline system, Tripp said. Thanks to consistent long-term investments, we have a 999% reliability rate, which means our customers can depend on natural gas for their daily needs, even during challenging weather.

Commissioners will hear testimony on the proposed agreement Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the KCC office in Topeka. They can approve, reject or modify the agreement and need to issue an order on natural gas rates by Oct. 25.
Kansas veteran working to help others with mental struggles

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  At just 17 years old, Sgt. John Nordquist enlisted in the Army, ready to serve right after graduation. He headed to boot camp at Ft. Jackson, following in the footsteps of several family members already in the Army.

John Nordquist

I didnt think it was that hard because I worked out constantly before I went to basic training, so physical fitness-wise, I thought it was a cakewalk, Nordquist said of basic training.

He decided he wanted to be a chaplains assistant because he wanted to help soldiers.

I chose that because I wanted to help soldiers.

Thats when his pace of training picked up.

I thought my job training was harder physically because they wanted to break that stereotype that chaplain assistants are lazy in the Army.

His training included learning about different religions and how to set up memorial services in the field or in a chapel. He learned hed be the one to carry a weapon if put in a combat scenario since the chaplain is non-combative. But he wouldnt get the chance to serve in that role in his deployment.

I was deployed as an extra body, so I was used for anything and everything, he said. I just did what I could to help them, like if theyre doing manual labor.

He served in Kuwait, Iraq and Syria. He continued training while overseas and was promoted while deployed.

The civilians in Syria were very happy to see us  roll through because we were getting rid of ISIS in that fight, Nordquist said. Even though there was a lot of damage from artillery strikes to get rid of ISIS members, they were very happy to see us because they were getting liberated.

His mission to help soldiers would become a reality as he gained the trust of fellow soldiers.

I felt a greater sense of brotherhood in my unit after that point, and I felt like they could really rely on me, and I could really rely on them, Nordquist said.

WWII veteran, nearing 100, served as B-17 waist gunner

He put his chaplains assistant training to work as someone who was there to listen and provide guidance when he could.

They just wanted to vent or talk about their problems.

When he returned to the United States, he worked in recruiting. But the injuries from the hard labor during his deployment persisted.

I just put it off, going to the doctor. It was a big stigma. You dont go to sick call or go see a doctor.

What he initially thought were minor injuries turned into serious back and hip issues.

It hurt to walk, hurt to stand, hurt to sit down, he said. I had to have surgery on both my hips before I was even 23.

He realized his goal of serving 20 years like his father would not be possible. He was medically discharged.

Despite health complications, Marine Corps veteran wouldnt give up his time in service

I had a lot of depression issues at that point and dealing with some PTSD, Nordquist said. I kind of struggled a lot at that point, and, luckily, the VA really helped me. The behavioral health department really helped me a lot through that.

The support of his fiancee in getting him to appointments and helping him through difficult times was also key.

Using the VAs Chapter 31 program on Veteran Readiness and Employment, hes now working on his bachelors degree in psychology.

Then, Im going to get my masters in social work with an emphasis on mental health and trauma, and I want to be a therapist in the VA to give back to that program that helped me so much.

When not working on his degree, Norquist works with Midwest Battle Buddies, a nonprofit that provides service dogs to veterans at no cost. His passion is to give veterans the attention they deserve.

The government puts a lot of time and effort in their training when theyre in. I think we should put that much effort into them when theyre out.

Nordquist says hed sign up again in a heartbeat, knowing it would put him on a path to help soldiers.

I still have that passion to help soldiers, and now, Im gearing it towards veterans when they get out.

If you want to nominate a veteran for our Veteran Salute, email KSN at news@ksn.com.

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The Karen Read murder case will return to court on Friday as Judge Beverly Cannone is expected to hear arguments on a motion to dismiss two charges that have been called into question in the weeks after the Mansfield womans high-drama trial ended with a hung jury.

Reads defense has stated in multiple court filings that five jurors have come forward to tell them that the jury agreed Read was not guilty of two of the three charges against her in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend John OKeefe: second-degree murder and leaving the scene with injury or death.

Reads defense team states it received unsolicited communications from jurors who deliberated in her first trial, indicating in no uncertain terms that the jury had a firm 12-0 agreement that Ms. Read was not guilty of two of the three charges against her, including the charge of murder in the second degree, court documents filed days after the mistrial stated.

The filing also stated that the jury unanimously believed that Read was not guilty of count three, which is leaving the scene of a fatal crash.

The jury was only unable to agree on the manslaughter charge that Read also faces in connection with OKeefes death in Canton in January 2022, according to the defense.

Cannone declared a mistrial after the jury sent her a note indicating they were at an impasse and future deliberations would be futile. It was the third note the jury sent stating they could not reach a unanimous decision during the five days of deliberations.

The defense has since filed three memorandums in support of dismissing the two charges, with the most recent coming on Monday. That memo stated that the jury had determined that even if Read hit OKeefe with her Lexus SUV, she did not realize that she did.

Reads legal team hopes to keep their client from being tried again on the same charges.

The defense respectfully renews its contention that the jury acquitted Ms. Read on counts 1 and 3, or alternatively, there was no manifest necessity for a mistrial as those counts, and therefore the Double Jeopardy, Reads legal team stated in Mondays filing.

Prosecutors in the murder case previously filed documents in opposition to the defenses post-trial motions to dismiss Reads criminal charges, calling the claims made by Reads attorneys unsubstantiated and sensational.

Karen Read, left, calls towards supporters while arriving at Norfolk Superior Court for a hearing, Monday, July 22, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Karen Read, center, is flanked by security as she arrives at Norfolk Superior Court for a hearing, Monday, July 22, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

FILE - Karen Read waits for her court case to resume at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., on June 28, 2024. Read returned to court Monday, July 22, for the first time since her murder case ended in a mistrial. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool, File)

All stand as the jury files out to the courtroom, to start their fifth day of deliberations in the murder trial for Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Monday, July 1, 2024. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Karen Read jurors tell judge theyve been unable to reach unanimous verdict

Day 3 of jury deliberations finishes without verdict in Karen Read trial

Karen Read awaits the juries verdict in her murder case at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 26, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP)

Defense attorneys in Karen Read murder trial argue with judge over jury verdict slip

Some witnesses are in the courtroom on Tuesday include Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Jennifer McCabe.

Karen Read

Karen Read, center right, is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Karen Read is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Karen Read

Karen Read smiles after listening to her attorney Alan Jackson during her trial at Norfolk County Superior Court, Friday, May 17, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)

Karen Read

Karen Read

Karen Read sits with her legal team team in court Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool)

Karen Read sits with her legal team team in court, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool)

Defense attorneys said in a follow-up filing that the retrial of Read should not be allowed, calling the states continued push for a conviction in the death of OKeefe grossly unfair.

Cannone then indefinitely extended an order impounding the jury list from Reads trial, citing one jurors credible and reasonable fear for their safety.

Read is accused of killing OKeefe by striking him with her SUV and leaving him in a snowstorm in Canton in January 2022.

Prosecutors said Read and OKeefe had been drinking heavily before she dropped him off at a party at the home of Brian Albert, a fellow officer. They said she hit him with her SUV before driving away.

The defense sought to portray Read as the victim, saying OKeefe was actually killed inside Alberts home and then dragged outside and left for dead.

Cannone has tentatively scheduled Reads retrial for Jan. 27, 2025.

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Kari Lake decides if she can't beat Ruben Gallego, she'll copy him

I suppose on a basic level, U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego should take what Kari Lake is doing as a kind of  compliment. A sign of admiration. Grudging respect. Envy, even.

Its the old saying put to political action: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Earlier this week, Gallego, as part of his U.S. Senate campaign, held an event at which he announced the endorsements of 40 longtime Republicans and independents.

That event followed by a day or so the announcement that Republican Mesa Mayor John Giles would co-chair a new Arizona Republican task force to support Vice President Kamala Harris.

Giles said, As a lifelong Arizonan and longtime Republican, I strongly believe in defending democracy and standing up for our personal freedoms. Donald Trump and J.D. Vance represent the greatest threat to American values and institutions that I have seen in my lifetime  and thats why I am committed to defeating him in November.

Republicans are stepping up for Gallego, Harris

Giles was at the Gallego event as well.

There is a national group now called Republicans for Harris, including former officials in Donald Trumps White House, governors, former cabinet secretaries and many former GOP members of Congress.

All this has sent Trump into a gopher hole at Mar-a-Lago while his cat lady-averse running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, scurries around the country behind Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

It has left Republicans who were hoping to get pulled along on Trumps coattails  like former news reader and Republican senate candidate Kari Lake  scrambling to get noticed.

Kari Lake lost a major GOP backer's confidence

Unfortunately for Lake, the only attention shes gotten lately has been bad.

Really bad.

Not too long ago, for example, one of the most well-known, most generous and most plugged-in Republican financial backers in Arizona, Randy Kendrick, wife of the Arizona Diamondbacks owner, told a great big bunch of her GOP pals that Lake cannot win.

And she did so in writing.

Ousted GOP recorder: Must back Democrat in his race

Her email said, I have tried to help (Lake) and worked on this, and apparently cannot overcome it. There is no time for blame or analysis. These are just the facts.

And they're borne out by a new statewide poll by HighGround Public Affairs, which not only shows Harris slightly leading Trump in Arizona, but shows Gallego with an 11-point lead over Lake.

Oof.

Why attract Democrats if the GOP isn't with her?

Given all that, Lake apparently has decided that since she cant beat Gallego, she might as well join him.

So, she is planning to copy Gallego with an event she calls Democrats/former Democrats for Kari Lake & America First.

She said on X, formerly Twitter, I promise this will be eye-opening.

OK. Although, the last eye-opening thing Lake did, near as I can recall, was her ham-handed attempt to say she was only joking when she derided the late Sen. John McCain and told any of his supporters in the room where she was speaking to get the hell out.

McCains daughter Megan was having none of it, writing on social media, No peace, (expletive). We see you for who you are  and are repulsed by it.

Since nothing Lake or her strategists do seems to be working, I guess mimicking Gallegos campaign seemed worth a try.

Although, it seems kind of silly to phony up a Democrats for Lake event when she seems to be having so much trouble attracting Republicans.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kari Lake copies Ruben Gallego's campaign strategy, as if it will help
Katie Price has been arrested at Heathrow Airport after failing to attend a bankruptcy court hearing.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told Sky News: A 46-year-old woman from Surrey was arrested at Heathrow Airport at 19:45hrs on Thursday, 8 August for failing to appear at court.

She has been remanded in custody at a west London police station to appear at the Royal Courts of Justice tomorrow, Friday, 9 August.

The former glamour model, 46, was scheduled to appear at a London court on 30 July over an unpaid tax bill of 760,000 but failed to attend as she was having cosmetic surgery in Turkey. A warrant was subsequently issued for her arrest.

Writing on her Instagram Story on Thursday, Price anticipated her arrest at Heathrow. I would just like to thank everyone that has been showing support and compassion to my situation this week with my pending arrest. Despite what has been misreported I am now in route back from filming my documentary, she wrote.

I was never just abroad being ignorant to whats going on and I stand by the facts, which is that there has been miscommunications here between a number of people here to do with my bankruptcy.

A warrant for Prices arrest was issued last week (PA Wire)

However now I am returning home from work, & I am aware that I am about to be detained at the airport which is obviously what the courts feel is necessary. I do hope of course for my sons sake who is with me that they will allow some dignity and protection for at least his sake as this will be extremely disturbing for him to see.

Whilst I understand the importance and severity of the matter I do feel like I am being treated like a criminal. I would like to point out once again that this is to do with a very unfortunate financial circumstance which as hard as it has been does not make a criminal or bad person. Millions of people suffer losses and go through bankruptcys, through many different reasons and mine was due to serious mental health issues and breakdowns from PTSD.

Whilst its been hard, I repeatedly will stand by the fact that I am not embarrassed or ashamed that this has happened to me. People loose their lives every day over the embarrassment and fear of these situations and the public bullying Ive endured on this matter is simply not ok. I will continue to speak out on this and not be ashamed.

I will address this with the police and courts when I land and I ask for my son Harveys sake its handled with care and compassion. I am after all only a human being. I appreciate all of you that continue to show me love it means a lot.

Price (also known as Jordan) was due to face questions about her finances in the specialist bankruptcy court from barristers representing the trustee of her two bankruptcies.

Insolvency and Companies Court judge Catherine Burton said on 30 July: It is in my judgment necessary that the court issue a warrant for Ms Prices arrest.

She has no real excuse in failing to attend todays hearing. The reason for her absence today is irrelevant.

Barrister Darragh Connell added: Her liberty is on the line, but unfortunately we are at the end of the road in relation to this matter.

Price first declared bankruptcy in 2019 over unpaid debts, then again in March of this year over the unpaid tax bill.

In February, Price, who also found fame as a reality TV star, was ordered to pay 40 per cent of her earnings from subscription social platform OnlyFans to the trustee over her first bankruptcy for the next three years.
Stephen Miller tried to invent a new, outrageous attack against President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, calling them the number one traffickers of girls into sex slavery on planet Earth on MSNBC Wednesday night.

On The Beat With Ari Melber, the former White House adviser and Trump campaign surrogate went into a rant after Melber questioned Miller about the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.



A lot of innocent people have been persecuted by a corrupt system! Miller shouted. What kind of corrupt system throws Republican lawyers in jail for offering good, sound legal advice but does nothing with secretaries of state who plainly violate their own state laws and constitutions? How many people are in jail right now?

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the number one traffickers of childrengirls into sex slavery on planet Earth! How many people are in jail for that? Miller added, before Melber stepped in to cut him off.

Weve gone this farweve gone. Weve gone this far in an exchange, were not doing just anything you want to rip off the internet thats false. And were not doing defamation here! Melber replied. As you know, theres other Trump allies whove got a lot of trouble with that. Were not doing that here.

Trump Pal Stephen Miller Gets Smacked Down Live On Air By MSNBC's Ari Melber: 'We Are NOT Doing Defamation Here!' https://t.co/fM0qPVBDdM via @mediaite pic.twitter.com/aiGrVwoZOC  Tommy moderna-vaX-Topher (@tommyxtopher) August 8, 2024

The exchange was a small part of a 30-minute interview Melber conducted with Miller, who has not reacted well to Biden stepping away from the 2024 election and Harris taking his place. He freaked out the day the news was announced, loudly complaining on Fox News.

They held a primary! Miller lamented at the time. Peoplethey had ballots! They filled out circles that went to the voting booths! They spent money on advertisements, and as President Trump said, the Republican Party spent tens of millions of dollars running against Joe Biden.

Miller has spent his postWhite House career concern-trolling, from TV appearances attacking Democrats over immigration policies or spreading lies about Hunter Biden, to fake, culture-war-driven lawsuits over stuff like allegedly gay Pop-Tarts. His latest rant proves that the architect of the Muslim ban is a professional troll now, and will take on that role again if Donald Trump returns to the White House.


BUJUMBURA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Burundi has approved a six-month contingency plan for its response to an mpox outbreak, the health minister said.

"The contingency response plan against mpox is costly, that is, around 42 billion Burundi francs (about 15 million U.S. dollars)," Lydwine Baradahana, minister of public health and fight against AIDS, told a workshop with international partners Tuesday evening.

"This document will allow us and international partners like the World Health Organization to mobilize necessary resources for the response to the disease" caused by the monkeypox virus, she said.

Baradahana said Burundi has recorded 55 mpox cases, but "no deaths related to mpox have so far been reported."

The minister said that mpox cases have been reported in 23 of the country's 49 health districts, with the district of north Bujumbura being the most affected. She urged people to visit nearby health facilities when they encounter suspected symptoms of the viral disease, stressing that mpox is highly contagious.

Mpox treatment will be provided free of charge, the minister said.

"This national contingency response plan against mpox also provides the fight against the mpox viral disease in domestic animals, Baradahana said. "That's why we will get in touch with livestock ministry officials to cut the contamination chain both in animals and humans."

Burundi announced its first confirmed mpox cases on July 25.

Mpox symptoms include an unexplained acute rash and back pain, swollen lymph nodes, acute onset of fever, headache, muscle and body aches, and low energy.

On July 16, a child with symptoms similar to monkeypox died at a health facility in Mugamba, in Bururi Province in southwestern Burundi.

Neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported an "exponential increase" in the number of mpox cases. Cases have also been reported in other African countries such as South Africa, Kenya and Uganda. 
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)- While election day is still a few months away, it still takes a lot of effort, to have a successful experience.

Kentucky Secretary of State, Michael Adams Office has fired up a statewide poll worker registration portal as work gets underway to prepare for election day.

Free legal services offered for survivors of KY storms

Becoming a poll worker requires half a day of training, which usually takes place in October. Poll workers are required to work at least one 8-hour early voting day or the 12-hour election day. Election officers must be a registered voter, and cannot serve if they are a candidate or the spouse, parent, sibling or child of a candidate who is to be voted for in that precinct.

Adams says that if youre interested in becoming an election officer, that it is most practical to sign up by September. This can be done by signing up on the web portal or by going to a local County Clerks office.

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Kentucky poll workers will be needed on Election Day: How to sign up

LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56)  Election Day is still a few months away, but the effort it takes to pull one off requires a lot of boots on the ground.

You cant have an election without election workers. It takes an army of volunteers, roughly 15,000, to open up all of our voting locations in Kentucky, Secretary of State Michael Adams told FOX 56 News.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

Adams office has fired up a statewide poll worker registration portal to get the work started, partly to assist smaller counties in recruitment and ensure there are enough workers available by the big day.

We take your informationyour name, your number, your email. We dont maintain that. Were not going to call you. Well give that to your county clerk, and then your county clerk will have that available to contact you closer to the election, Adams said.

The commitment is a simple one. It requires a half-day of training, usually in October, and working at least one 8-hour early voting day or the 12-hour election day itself, the day Adams said requires the most workers. And it is paid work, although in most communities its roughly $100.

Weve seen counties increase that to 200 or even $300, which is a big jump. You know, candidly, people dont do this to make themselves millionaires. Theyre doing this because they care about their country, Adams said.

This will be the first presidential election that all registered voters in Kentucky are eligible to be poll workers, regardless of party. In 2021 the law was changed from only allowing registered Republicans and Democrats. Being registered to vote is the only necessary qualification.

LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS:

Theres no hard deadline to volunteer. Well take you is as often as we can get you. But realistically, if we get too close to the election, the county clerks have made their plans. Theyve decided how many machines to make available, how many sign-in stations, and so forth, Adams said.

Adams says for people interested in giving their time to operating the election this year its most practical to sign up by September, either on the SOS web portal or with the local county clerks office.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
Kenya police use tear gas to clear pockets of protesters in Nairobi

By Nelson Aruya

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Police fired tear gas to clear pockets of anti-government demonstrators from the centre of Kenya's capital Nairobi on Thursday, as their protest movement sought to capitalise on earlier concessions and compel President William Ruto to resign.

The "Nane Nane" march, meaning "eight eight" in reference to the date, follows weeks of similar pro-reform protests that saw Ruto scrap planned tax hikes and overhaul his cabinet.

The youth-led nationwide protests began peacefully in June before turning violent, and more than 50 people have been killed.

Shops were shut and streets left deserted after riot police set up road blocks and threw tear gas canisters to disperse handfuls of protesters across Nairobi's financial district. Police fired tear gas at one group of a dozen protesters chanting "Ruto must go", a Reuters journalist reported.

The police arrested 174 people across the country including 126 in Nairobi, acting inspector general Gilbert Masengeli said in a statement.

At least three journalists were wounded when police fired tear gas canisters close to them, the International Press Association of East Africa, which represents hundreds of journalists in the region, said on X.

Police also raided the home of opposition financier and presidential hopeful Jimi Wanjigi, his lawyer Willis Otieno told Reuters in a message.

"He seems to have been placed under house arrest illegally," Otieno said.

Masengeli said officers had discovered teargas canisters and communications equipment in a car at Wanjigi's home. He did not say whether Wanjigi was amongst those arrested, or explain how the raid was linked to the protests.

In what has been the biggest crisis of his two years in office, Ruto bowed to pressure and shelved the new taxes in June after some demonstrators briefly stormed parliament.

Ruto fired his entire cabinet apart from the foreign minister last month, a victory for activists and protesters who had demanded sweeping changes.

Ruto then named opposition members to his cabinet, but activists criticised the move as a corrupt deal and reiterated demands that he resign. They called for far-reaching reforms to tackle corruption and for regional county and national governments to improve service delivery.

Ruto has said the new cabinet reflects national unity and will address the demands of the protest movement. He has promised to investigate alleged abuses by the police during demonstrations but has broadly defended their conduct.

Ruto's reconstituted cabinet was sworn in on Thursday.

"Where Kenya is today, while competition is healthy and good, there is a moment where the interest of a nation is greater than the interest of a political formation," he said in a speech after the ministers were sworn in.

The protests have no official leaders and have been mostly organised online.

Ruto has stepped up criticism of them after initially praising demonstrators for being peaceful.

"We are a proudly democratic country, based on the firm foundation of the rule of law. There is no room for anarchy, chaos and violence," Ruto said in Embu County on Wednesday.

The Kenyan police asked people to avoid crowded areas ahead of Thursday's protests and said it was deploying adequate personnel across the country.

(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya, Humphrey Malalo, Nelson Aruya and Jeff Kahinju, Editing by Hereward Holland, William Maclean and Tomasz Janowski)
Kenyan youth call for mother of all protests as president swears in new cabinet

Young protesters in Kenya returned to the capitals streets for an eighth week of demonstrations on Thursday as President William Ruto swore in a new cabinet.

Police fired tear gas at protesters in Nairobi city center as many businesses remain closed. Widely shared posters on social media called for the mother of all protests dubbed the Nane Nane March after the Swahili translation of the days date  August 8.

We shall march for our rights and tomorrow, we shall liberate this country, Kasmuel McOure, one of the most prominent young protesters, told reporters on Wednesday.

The demonstrations started nearly two months ago, with mostly Gen Z Kenyans organizing on social media against a now withdrawn Finance Bill. They persisted as more citizens joined a largely leaderless movement against corruption, the high cost of living, and police brutality.

Violent police crackdown

At least 61 people have been killed in the protests nationwide, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said, accusing police of using excessive force and live rounds on mostly peaceful protesters.

Another prominent protester, Shad Khali, called Thursday the third liberation of the country, saying it was the climax of one and a half months of Kenyans demanding for accountability and governance by the rule of law on his X account. Many young people have criticized the label of anti-government protests used by the media, insisting that they are marching for their rights as guaranteed in the constitution.

Police warned that criminals planned to infiltrate Thursdays protests to commit crimes, promising to deploy adequate security personnel. Acting police chief Gilbert Masengeli advised members of the public to take extra caution while in crowded areas that are likely to turn riotous.

President Ruto dismissed his cabinet last month after public pressure but reappointed about half of the ministers, drawing fresh outrage. Lawmakers rejected only one of the 20 names the Kenyan leader submitted to parliament for vetting, including several opposition politicians.

I am convinced that this moment to build a strong team of rivals. With the formation of this broad-based government that brings together former political rivals into one selfless patriotic team, we will unlock the potential of our country that has long been denied us by factional and sectarian competition, he said at State House Nairobi.

The protests in Kenya have inspired similar demonstrations in Uganda and Nigeria.

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CORRECTION: A previous version of this article said that Harry Grossman retired last month. Grossman retired in June. This article has been corrected. Originally moved Aug. 8.

- - -

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SPRING VALLEY, N.Y. - When the state of New York became the first in the nation to require all public schools to test their drinking water for lead in 2016, Keyry Broncano learned that water drawn from 68 different taps at her high school contained dangerously high lead levels.

Then Broncano, at the time a high school junior, discovered that the water shed been drinking since kindergarten in the East Ramapo Central School District, about an hour north of New York City, probably contained elevated lead levels: Water from 23 taps at her elementary school was found to contain at least 15 parts per billion of lead. At her middle school, 85 taps had high lead levels.

I was like, I think Ive been drinking poison, Broncano said, recalling rushing home to explain the news to her mother, a Guatemalan immigrant.

Its an experience that has been repeated in schools across the country since 2014, when a crisis involving lead in the water in Flint, Mich., prompted some states to adopt new testing requirements for schools and day-care centers.

Whenever states, counties or school districts have decided to test the water in their schools, lead has often been discovered.

Many school buildings have aging infrastructure that is more likely to leach lead into the water. And children are the most vulnerable to the harmful effects of lead poisoning. But despite an increased awareness of the danger posed by lead in water, there is no national mandate that requires testing drinking water in schools and child-care facilities. As of 2021, a report found that only 18 states and the District of Columbia had some kind of requirement for school testing.

Lead is one of the most common and best-known contaminants found in drinking water, particularly in cities where pipes made of the substance were not widely phased out until a 1986 ban. While some cities have embarked on massive programs to replace lead pipes that connect to homes and businesses, there has been less attention on schools.

Experts and advocates said that by not solving the problem of lead in drinking water in schools, government has failed at a core responsibility: providing its most vulnerable citizens with clean, safe drinking water.

Schools are places for learning and not places for kids to end up with a substance that is going to damage their ability to learn and grow, said Cyndi Roper, a Michigan-based senior policy advocate at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group. We can do better. We must do better.

Still, the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to release a new rule in October requiring utilities to test at all the elementary and child-care facilities they serve and offering to test at middle and high schools within the first five years. The rule would not require schools to fix the water if the testing reveals elevated lead levels in it, said Bruno Pigott, the acting assistant administrator for the EPAs Office of Water, who said federal law does not give the agency authority to order schools and child-care facilities to clean up their water unless they have their own water systems.

After the high lead levels were discovered in 2016, East Ramapo Central School District shut down taps in all of its schools. Some water fountains were covered up with trash bags and tape. Children began bringing water bottles from home, and standing jugs of filtered water were placed in hallways along with cone-shaped paper cups for drinking.

Eight years later, the district has still not fixed its taps. Harry Grossman, a former school board member who retired in June after 10 years on the board, said the district did not have enough money to fix them and instead provided bottled water.

Anthony DiCarlo, who became superintendent of the East Ramapo Central School District in July, said that he plans to make the health and well-being of the school community his first priority. He said 18 lead-free water fountains and bottle filling stations are now being installed for the coming school year.

But the public school community has been skeptical; families said they have been told for years that the taps would get fixed. And many worry the damage from lead has already been done to their children.

Ultimately, I dont know if the lead affected my brain, said Broncano, 23. I dont know the damage the school has done to me, and unfortunately I dont think Ill ever fully know.

- - -

Setting children up for success

Long-term lead consumption can have debilitating and lifelong effects on children, including brain and nervous system damage, slow development, and hearing, speech and behavior issues, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Lead exposure also poses risks during pregnancy because the highly toxic contaminant can pass from mother to fetus, seeping into the placenta and the fetuss growing bones and teeth, permanently affecting development.

Depending on state law, children are typically checked for blood lead levels at 1 and sometimes at 2 years old at annual doctors checkups but not afterward. But blood tests dont always tell the whole story: Because lead moves from blood into the bones within weeks, blood tests can identify recent lead exposure but not long-term damage.

Banku Jairath, a Pennsylvania-based pediatrician who has studied the effects of lead poisoning on children, said too many children suffer from the effects of lead. She pointed to a 2009 study that showed 20 percent of ADHD cases in U.S. children can be attributed to lead poisoning. In Flint, where roughly 100,000 residents were exposed to lead-contaminated water, a study published this year found an increase in special needs and decrease in math achievement in the children following the lead-tainted water scandal, as compared with similar children in other Michigan schools.

Health and environmental experts say fixing the water in schools is one of the most efficient solutions to lowering the dangers of lead. The water in one school building can affect hundreds or thousands of children, the segment of the U.S. population that is the most vulnerable to lead poisoning, in a place where they spend a significant amount of time as they grow up.

In Chicago, a study published in March found that more than two-thirds of children under 6 years old are exposed to lead in their drinking water. And in New Jersey, more than 2,800 children under 6 years old had blood lead levels above the state standard in 2022.

Lead seeps into water from pipes, plumbing and fixtures made at least in part of lead. The more corrosive the water, the more likely that it will erode the pipes, picking up more lead from them.

In 1986, Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act to ban the use of lead pipes in further construction but did not require that lead pipes be replaced, leaving many existing homes and buildings vulnerable to toxic water. Studies show the communities that bear the brunt of lead-filled water are disproportionately low-income and non-White, concluding that the distribution of lead in drinking water is a product of systemic racism.

Two years later, Congress mandated that states set up lead testing and remediation programs for schools, but the NRDC soon concluded that few states were complying and fewer than 1 percent of child-care facilities had tested their water. The mandate was found to be unconstitutional by a federal appeals court in 1996.

Congress has subsequently considered adopting a requirement but instead passed legislation that included only funding for voluntary testing of school water.

The Biden administration last year proposed replacing all remaining lead pipes in the United States - estimated at more than 9 million pipes - within 10 years, with some exceptions.

But lead service lines, which are a frequent cause of lead-filled water in homes, are often not the main source of lead in school water. In schools, lead often lurks in the buildings plumbing and faucet fixtures, tainting the water long after it leaves the public water utilitys treatment centers.

Despite all of the evidence, encouraging schools to test for lead is often a challenge. Many schools that do test often find lead and face blowback from the parents and community, disincentivizing testing, said David Masur of PennEnvironment, an arm of the nonprofit and advocacy group Environment America.

A Government Accountability Office report from 2018 found only 43 percent of school districts across the country had tested for lead in their water in the previous two years.

When Houston tested every school last year, the school districts contractor found nearly a third had water samples with above 15 ppb lead.

In New York, testing found that 82 percent of New York schools had at least one tap containing 15 ppb lead or more, which is considered a dangerously high amount that requires treatment, according to a 2018 NRDC analysis.

In North Carolina, a testing effort from 2020 to 2021 of more than 4,000 child-care facilities in the state found some child-care centers were more likely than others to have positive lead tests in their water: those with old infrastructure, those that rely on private well water, and those that housed Head Start programs - a federal program for underserved children.

The revelations led to a state law last year requiring that schools test their water for lead, too.

When theyre in school and supposed to be learning, we dont want the water theyre drinking in school to be contributing to potential cognitive and behavior difficulties, said Jennifer Hoponick Redmon, a senior environmental health scientist at RTI, a nonprofit research institute that is operating the states school testing mandate.

The patchwork of state testing has led some advocates to push instead for a national filter first policy, in which initial mass testing is skipped in favor of installing lead-filtering taps in schools en masse. They argue it is the quickest, cheapest way to ensure children get clean water, avoiding millions spent on testing and replacing plumbing. Michigan became the first state to adopt a filter-first policy in 2023.

If I could instantly impose a new law and say every state had to take that route, I would do it, said Jim Elder, a former head of the EPAs drinking water office, known in the 1990s as the Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water, who believes the EPA should adopt a national testing mandate for schools.

But others worry that filters would not be maintained and periodically replaced, as is necessary for them to be effective. Christina Hecht, a senior policy adviser at the University of California Nutrition Policy Institute, said she also worried a filter-first approach might convince children and their parents to avoid drinking water as dangerous, even when - depending on the severity of the lead level - it may still be a healthier option than carbonated beverages.

Schools that receive federal funds to provide children free or reduced-price lunches have been required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture since 2010 to provide potable water during meals, but the agency hasnt addressed lead as part of the requirement. USDA said in a statement that the EPA is in charge of the issue.

The EPAs new proposal has been met with mixed reaction. While advocates said they were glad the federal government was taking steps to address the issue of water in schools, many said the new rule doesnt go far enough because it would require testing only once within five years of adoption and only from five taps per school and two at day-care facilities.

It makes me so upset, said Danielle Land, a postdoctoral research associate at Michigan State University who studies the issue and works with Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician who helped expose the Flint crisis. Theres a lot of loopholes.

The EPA says it disagrees that sampling requirements should be expanded, saying the program would be designed to be a preliminary, not comprehensive, screening for lead.

- - -

East Ramapo

Ana Maeda, a parent chaperone of the East Ramapo Central School Districts marching band, said she was struck by a moment at an April performance for the American Cancer Society in Orangeburg, N.Y. After the performance, a small group of middle and high school students in the band spotted a water fountain. They gathered around it.

How do you use it? she remembered one student asking. Dont touch it; youll break it, said another. What do I press? she remembered a third chiming in.

They acted like a cave person that just discovered fire, said Maeda, 30.

Their schools have not had working water fountains for the eight years since lead was found in the water, and the children were unfamiliar with how to use one.

The school district has 9,800 students - 96 percent of them Latino or Black - attending public schools, while an estimated 30,000 other children from an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community attend private religious schools.

Public-school parents have complained that parents who send their children to private schools won election to the school board and then starved the district of necessary funds. The school district has a state monitor, but the public school parents and advocacy groups have called for a broader intervention.

Nancy Bermon, a local Jewish resident who has advocated on behalf of the public-school families, called the water situation only one piece of the larger problem. Its a symptom of neglect, she said.

A state-mandated survey of the condition of East Ramapo schools completed last year found that all 13 district schools had water taps that were nonfunctioning.

Many of the school buildings also dont have central air conditioning, some parents said, so classrooms can get hot, making it even more important that students stay hydrated. Families described buying water in bulk so their children can take multiple bottles to school at a time, a heavy expense in their budgets. Some said their children had moments of lightheadedness in school, often after gym class when the school jugs were out of water.

Water seems like such a basic human right, said Kayla Hoke, 23, who attended the district from first grade through graduation. She said ceiling tiles sometimes fell down during class at schools with worn textbooks and equipment. When we learned there was lead in the water it was kind of like 'Okay, this was bound to happen. '

Documents show the district is using federal funds to renovate buildings and plans to replace all water fountains, though it is unclear whether the renovations will include lead filters. DiCarlo, who responded to a request for comment after this story was published online, said the district is spending $1.2 million in federal funds on the drinking water issue and also received a donation of 20 additional lead-free water fountains.

Terry Rodriguez, whose three children attended public schools in the district, said she felt as though she were living back in the Martin Luther King days.

Were being discriminated against, she said.

Rodriguez said she was concerned enough over the issue that she had her childrens blood tested for lead several years ago. The tests revealed that her middle child, who is now 18, had elevated lead levels in her blood, though, she said, not so high as to be a serious worry.

How many years and generations down did this lead problem persist? Rodriguez said. How many children actually have lead poisoning in their body and dont even know it?

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KINGSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Kingston police are asking for public help in the search for a man wanted.

The Kingston Borough Police Department say they are searching for 41-year-old William John Fox who has an active warrant out for his arrest.

Man charged after crashing UTV with 6-year-old

Police did not give details on what Fox is wanted for.

Anyone with information on Fox is asked to contact Detective Anthony at 570-714-0377 or the Kingston Borough Police Department at 570-288-3674 ext 405.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz's military record has come under scrutiny since he was announced as Kamala Harris's running mate.

Walz's Republican critics accused him of intentionally avoiding combat in Iraq by resigning from the National Guard months before his unit was deployed there.

In August, the Harris campaign separately acknowledged that Walz had "misspoke" in 2018 when he said he carried assault weapons "in war".

Weve looked into Walz's record.

Did Walz tell the truth about experiencing combat?

Minnesota Governor Walz served for 24 years in the Army National Guard, a military force that is usually deployed within the US to respond to events such as natural disasters, but is also part of the US Army reserve.

In August, Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance accused Walz of "stolen valour".

Vance referred to a video promoted by the Harris campaign which featured a comment made by Walz in 2018, while he was advocating for gun control.

In the clip, Walz said he had "carried weapons in war".

This was not true. Walz went to Italy with the National Guard in 2003 as part of support for the US war in Afghanistan but he was never deployed to an active war zone.

On 9 August, the Harris campaign issued a statement saying that in making the case for why weapons of war should never be on our streets or in our classrooms, the Governor misspoke.

Why did Walz retire from the military?

In August Vance claimed: When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, you know what he did? He dropped out of the army and allowed his unit to go without him.

Several former National Guard colleagues have previously publicly voiced frustrations at Walzs decision to leave their unit before deployment to Iraq but others have rejected assertions that he retired to avoid combat duty.

In February 2005, while he was still in the National Guard, Walz filed an application to run for election as a member of Congress from Minnesota.

The following month it was announced that there would be a possible partial mobilisation of roughly 2,000 troops from the Minnesota National Guard to Iraq within the next two years, according to a 2005 press release from Walzs congressional campaign.

In the statement, Walz said: I do not yet know if my artillery unit will be part of this mobilisation.

He added: I dont want to speculate on what shape my campaign will take if I am deployed, but I have no plans to drop out of the race."

Walz retired from the National Guard in May 2005, which he later said was so he could focus fully on running for Congress.

His National Guard unit received orders to mobilise for Iraq in July 2005, and was sent there in March 2006, according to the battalions history page.

On 13 August 2024, Mr Walz responded directly to his critics, recalling that he'd joined the National Guard aged 17: "I served for the next 24 years for the same reason all my brothers and sisters do, we love this country. Then in 2005 I felt the call of duty again, this time giving service to my country in the halls of Congress."

Did Walz mislead about his rank?

The Trump campaign has accused Walz of lying about having retired as a command sergeant major.

His official biography on the Minnesota state website says: Command Sergeant Major Walz retired from the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in 2005.

He did reach the rank of command sergeant major near the end of his service, but he would have had to serve in that role for three years to retire at that rank officially, says the National Guard.

Personnel files show Walz was reduced one rank - to master sergeant - after retiring for benefits purposes.

Kamala Harris announced Tim Walz as her running mate on Tuesday [Getty Images]

Gov. @Tim_Walz: I spent 25 years in the Army and I hunt. Ive been voting for common sense legislation that protects the Second Amendment, but we can do background checks. We can research the impacts of gun violence. We can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, pic.twitter.com/3IVaXi2RP2  Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) August 6, 2024

What about Vance's military record?

Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance [Getty Images]

Vance served for four years in the US Marine Corps.

He was deployed to Iraq for about six months in 2005 as a military journalist, although he didn't experience combat.

I was lucky to escape any real fighting, he said in his 2016 memoir.

He left the Marine Corps in 2007 as a corporal to attend Ohio State University.

This article, first published on 8 August, was updated to reflect a statement on 9 August from the Harris campaign on Mr Walz's comment that he carried weapons "in war". It was further updated to add comments on his military service from Mr Walz on 13 August.

[BBC]

What do you want BBC Verify to investigate?
What to know about Walz's military record and Vance's accusations of 'stolen valor'

Republican JD Vance is alleging Democrat Tim Walz is guilty of "stolen valor" -- an explosive allegation that supporters of Walz say goes too far.

The allegation also has legal implications. It's against federal law to lie about military service to try to defraud people.

While there's no evidence that Walz is guilty of such a crime, there are questions about how Walz has talked about his service, including claims that he carried a gun "in war," when he never saw active combat.

The Harris-Walz campaign issued a statement saying that "in his 24 years of service, the Governor carried, fired and trained others to use weapons of war innumerable times. Governor Walz would never insult or undermine any American's service to this country -- in fact, he thanks Senator Vance for putting his life on the line for our country. It's the American way."

On Thursday, while speaking with reporters in Detroit, Michigan, Harris said, "Listen, I praise anyone who has presented themselves to serve our country. And I think that we all should."

Heres what to know:

Walz retired from the Army National Guard as the crisis in Iraq was growing to run for political office.

By 2005, Tim Walz had logged 24 years with the Army National Guard and earned the rank of command sergeant major -- the highest enlisted rank for his unit and one with considerable responsibility.

MORE: Despite new criticism, Trump told Walz in 2020 he was 'very happy' with his handling of George Floyd protests

It was possible his unit would be sent to war, as Pentagon officials hoped the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq would protect the new coalition government and prevent a civil war.

Walz, a vocal critic of the Bush administration's war policies and father of a 4-year-old girl at the time, opted to file his retirement papers that May and run for public office instead.

Walz won, successfully flipping a Minnesota House seat from red to blue for the first time in years and becoming the highest-ranked enlisted veteran to serve in Congress.

PHOTO: Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz delivers remarks before Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, at a campaign event, Aug. 7, 2024, in Eau Claire, Wisc. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)

According to records by the National Guard, the 1st Battalion of the 125th Field Artillery received an alert order on July 14, 2005,  two months after Walz retired. The mobilization order came in August and the unit mobilized in October.

Joseph Eustice, another retired command sergeant major who served with Walz, tells ABC News that while there was speculation of a deployment around that time there was no firm indication that Walzs unit would be sent to Iraq until that July alert order.

Eustice says he remembers Walz struggling with the timing of wanting to serve as a lawmaker but also avoiding asking for a deferment so he could do so.

"He had a window of time. He had to decide. And in his deciding, we were not on notice to be deployed. There were rumors. There were lots of rumors, and we didn't know where we were going until it was later that, early summer, I believe, Eustice told ABC News.

Vance said Walz as a command sergeant major at the time shouldnt have allowed his unit to deploy without him.

"I think it's shameful to prepare [a] unit to go to Iraq to make a promise that you're going to follow through and then to drop out right before you actually have to go. I also think it's dishonest, Vance said.

PHOTO: Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, speaks at a campaign event at Wollard International, Aug. 7, 2024, in Eau Claire, Wis. (Alex Brandon/AP)

MORE: Tim Walz was the safe VP pick

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre said his record as someone who enlisted at age 17 and spent more than two decades in the Army National Guard "speaks for itself.

Walz served as command sergeant major but didn't stay in that role long enough to keep it in retirement.

There's no evidence Walz broke any rules by retiring when he did. After more than 20 years of service with the National Guard, a person can retire at any point, regardless of where they are in their contract, according to the National Guard.

Walz had joined the Nebraska National Guard at age 17, later transferring to the Minnesota National Guard, spending a total of 24 years in the service.

According to experts, Walz's retirement would have to have been approved by his commander. Officials say retirement requests can be denied if a Guard unit is mobilized, though the ultimate decision is up to the unit commander.

What is noteworthy is that Walz still uses the rank of command sergeant major on his website.

Walz indeed achieved that rank in service in September 2004. But he would have had to serve in that particular role for three years to retire as one officially, according to the National Guard.

PHOTO: Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gorvernor Tim Walz speak at Temple University's Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 6, 2024. (Matthew Hatcher/AFP via Getty Images)

"After 24 years in the Army National Guard, Command Sergeant Major Walz retired from the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in 2005, according to the governor's website.

Walz said he carried a gun "in war, but he also has acknowledged he was never in direct combat.

In a video clip tweeted out by the Harris campaign on Tuesday, Walz tells an audience that he carried guns "in war while trying to make the case for restrictions on gun access.

"We can make sure that those weapons of war, that I carried in war, are the only place where those weapons are at," Walz said.

Walz would have carried a gun during his service when the U.S. was at war following the 9/11 terror attacks, including a deployment to Italy in 2003 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

But there is no evidence that Walz was ever engaged in active combat, and he has acknowledged as much, according to a 2018 interview with Minnesota Public Radio.

"I know that there are certainly folks that did far more than I did. I know that," Walz said. "I willingly say that I got far more out of the military than they got out of me, from the GI Bill to leadership opportunities to everything else."

Still, Vance insists Walz's comment about carrying a gun "in war and not "during war is tantamount to stolen valor.

"What bothers me about Tim Walz is the stolen valor garbage. Do not pretend to be something that you're not, he said.

Vance is a former Marine who served in Iraq but wrote in his memoir that he was "lucky to escape any real fighting.

"I served in a combat zone. I never said that I saw a firefight myself, but I've always told the truth about my Marine Corps service. That's the difference," Vance said Wednesday.

ABC News' Isabella Murray and Alex Presha contributed to this report.

What to know about Walz's military record and Vance's accusations of 'stolen valor' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  A Knoxville man is facing at least 12 to 20 years in prison after he was convicted of sexually abusing two children, despite the defenses argument calling the victims devils of deception, according to the Knox County District Attorneys Office.

DA Charme Allens office released on Thursday that Ray Gene Elliott, III, 35, was convicted of three counts each of rape, statutory rape by an authority figure, and aggravated sexual battery, as well as one count of attempted aggravated sexual battery and sexual activity involving a minor.

Hit-and-run at Knox County school bus stop under investigation: Sheriffs Office

During a three-day trial, prosecutors told the jury that on January 14, 2021, Knox County Sheriffs Office detectives were notified that a 14-year-old victim disclosed that Elliott had sexually abused them the previous day. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation testing revealed Elliotts DNA was found in the victims underwear, the DAs office said. The releases added that the victim also disclosed prior instances of sexual abuse during a forensic interview conducted by ChildHelp.

In addition, investigators identified a second child victim who had been abused by Elliott, Allens office explained.

During the trial, the defense argued that the teenage rape victims were  devils of deception, according to the DAs office. The jury convicted Elliott of all counts.

TBI, Attorney General discuss Knoxville area motorcycle gang drug ring

Given the multiple victims in this case, we will seek an enhanced punishment at sentencing, said Allen.

Elliotts sentencing is scheduled for September 20. The DAs office said he is facing 12 to 20 years in prison on each count of rape, statutory rape by an authority figure, and aggravated sexual battery

He has four felony prior convictions for selling marijuana in a drug-free school zone.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  As Tropical Storm Debby is making its way through the southeastern coast, the American Red Cross has continued to help.

Knoxvilles Mary Powell, who is part of the special public outreach team, has been on the ground helping those in need since the hurricane hit Florida.

Inspector finds several hygiene violations at Mexican restaurant in Halls

Right now, I am in Columbia, South Carolina, which is part of our headquarters for the operations serving Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina and I have been here now for the last few days as we were watching kind of the secondary impacts of Debby as shes now made a second landfall, said Powell.

Starting in Tallahassee, Powell has been on the ground assisting communities since Saturday.

As the weather shifts and the impacts shift, we shift right along with it, its very interesting because this is such a large response area right now, she said.

Because she has followed the storm, she said it has been interesting to see the need shift from place to place.

Hit-and-run at Knox County school bus stop under investigation: Sheriffs Office

In North Carolina, were still waiting to see what the impacts are going to be and waiting to know if more devastation is going to occur as this moves up the East Coast. But in Florida, were starting to stabilize, and we have feeding routes out, servicing folks and are starting to even do damage assessment, said Powell.

Between the hurricane and recent tornadoes, Powell said the biggest concern for residents along the coast is repetitive loss.

I talked to a woman who had just been impacted by the tornadoes that went through Tallahassee back in May. She actually still had tarps wrapped around her home and was still waiting on repairs as Hurricane Debby was coming in, she said.

With Debby making its second landfall in South Carolina Thursday morning, she said the biggest concern right now is flash floods.

Theres been a lot of flash flood warnings involved with these systems. Weve seen tornadoes touch down with this system. So even if you arent in a low-lying area, theres still cause for concern and absolutely want to be weather aware and then utilizing shelters and resources if necessary to make sure you have a safe place to be, said Powell.

Knoxville Fire Dept. sending team to South Carolina ahead of tropical storm impact

While she has been deployed, Powell said she has seen a variety of agencies across the nation come to aid those in need, and she has no clue where the storm will take her next.

It really does take a united and collaborative effort to ensure people have the resources and materials that they need to shelter safely, but then also ultimately recover from this disaster and be able to get back on the other side of it even stronger, hopefully, said Powell.

She said if you are interested in assisting the Red Cross in their effort to help those impacted by the storm to volunteer at your local branch or donate to their Hurricane Debby fund.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
TEHRAN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani and Saudi Arabia's Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed bin Abdulkarim al-Khereiji met in Jeddah on Thursday to discuss the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh and to review bilateral relations.

Their meeting took place a day after the Saudi Arabian port city hosted an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) focused on Haniyeh's assassination, according to a statement released by Iran's Foreign Ministry.

Bagheri Kani condemned Israel for what he called the "crime" of assassinating Haniyeh, who had been visiting Iran as an official guest, and said that such actions had deepened Israel's "political isolation."

He said relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia were moving in the right direction, expressing hope that bilateral ties would continue to strengthen under the new Iranian administration.

The Saudi minister said all countries participating in the OIC meeting had voiced support for Iran in condemning the recent Israeli "crime."

The Saudi diplomat highlighted his country's principled position against any terrorist actions and violation of other countries' national sovereignty and security.

He added that relations between Riyadh and Tehran were progressing favorably, stressing that his country attached special importance to the expansion of bilateral ties.

During the meeting, the two officials also discussed consular affairs, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Haniyeh, who had been invited to attend Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's swearing-in ceremony on July 30, was killed along with his bodyguard the next day when their residence in Tehran was hit. Iran accused Israel of carrying out the attack and vowed "a harsh and painful response."

At the end of its extraordinary meeting on Wednesday, the OIC issued a statement holding Israel fully responsible for the "heinous attack" and the "serious infringement" of Iran's sovereignty. 
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has filed a lawsuit against the Biden-Harris administration to stop people living in the U.S. illegally from getting Obamacare.

The complaint challenges a rule expanding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) definition of individuals lawfully present in the United States to include Deferred Action for Childhood (DACA) arrivals.

The Biden-Harris Administration believes health care is a right, not a privilege, and that extends to DACA recipients who have built their lives in the United States, said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. Todays rule reduces barriers for DACA recipients to obtain health care coverage and is a vital step toward making certain that it is available and accessible to all Americans.

Kobach is being joined by state attorneys general from Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Virginia. According to the press release from Kobachs office, more than 200,000 DACA recipients, including 4,350 recipients in Kansas, would be eligible for taxpayer-subsidized health plans.

Illegal aliens shouldnt get a free pass into our country, Kobach said. They shouldnt receive taxpayer benefits when they arrive, and the Biden-Harris administration shouldnt get a free pass to violate federal law. Thats why I am leading a multistate lawsuit to stop this illegal regulation from going into effect.

Employees fear for safety of customers at Topeka gas station

The complaint filed by the attorneys general claims federal law prevents giving public benefits to people living in the U.S. illegally. They say it violates the language in the Affordable Care Act and under Obamacare.

In the ACA, Congress limited eligibility to participate in a qualified health plan through a subsidized health exchange to citizens or nationals of the United States and individuals lawfully present in the United States, the complaint reads.

You can read the full complaint by clicking here or checking out the document below:

Daca Obamacare Complaint 8-8-24 by Matthew Self on Scribd

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For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Kremlin orders its media to compare events in Kursk Oblast to 1943 Battle of Kursk

The Vladimir Putin administration has spent nearly three days deliberating on how the Russian media should cover the military operation in Kursk Oblast. They have decided to draw comparisons to the 1943 Battle of Kursk and to reassure the public that Putin "will not leave anyone in trouble". [The 1943 Battle of Kursk was a decisive World War II battle between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, marked by the largest tank battle in history and a significant Soviet victory that halted German offensives on the Eastern Front - ed.]

Source: Meduza, a Latvia-based Russian media outlet

Details: Meduza has found that the Kremlin ordered state-run and loyal media outlets "not to escalate the situation" around the Kursk Oblast raid.

Two employees of such media outlets told Meduza about this. The media are advised to avoid discussions about the opening of a "new front" and to compare what is happening to the 1943 Battle of Kursk during World War II.

Additionally, journalists have been instructed not to mention the potential advance of Ukrainian troops towards the city of Kurchatov, where the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant is located, to prevent public concern over a "nuclear threat".

Instead of mentioning the nuclear power plant, the media should talk about the "successes of Russian forces", which are supposedly preventing Ukrainian troops from advancing deeper into Kursk Oblast. Journalists are advised to focus on "Ukrainian attacks on civilians" and emphasise that "children were injured" during these bombardments.

Another suggested focus for news stories is the "unity and cohesion of people" who are visiting blood donation centres and accommodating evacuated residents from the Sudzha district of Kursk Oblast.

However, journalists are advised to emphasise the "efforts" of the federal authorities, Vladimir Putin, and the government, highlighting that they "do not leave anyone in trouble".

Meduza sources in pro-Kremlin media outlets note that they received the order only on Thursday afternoon, almost three days after the start of the Kursk Oblast raid. They assume that the Kremlin did not fully grasp the scale of the situation, so they could not draw up the guidelines more quickly.

Background:

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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  A popular grocery store in south Shreveport held a grand re-opening.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday morning at the Camp Forbing Kroger to celebrate the newly remodeled store.

Store manager John McNeil cut the ribbon and thanked the employees for their efforts each day.

First and foremost, I want to thank our associates, said McNeil. We have 175 great associates in this building, and we couldnt do it without you. So thank you very much.

Shreveport mayor Tom Arceneaux was there and offered praise for Krogers investment in south Shreveport.

Kroger is such a great corporate citizen of Shreveport. And, of course, all the Kroger associates are great citizens of Shreveport and northwest Louisiana, said Arceneaux. This is a major accomplishment for this store. And a major accomplishment for Kroger is to make sure that this store, even though it is only eight years old, has been completely restored.

Kroger also donated $58,000 to the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana, which is taking additional steps to help end food insecurity in the area.

As part of our Kroger Zero Hunger Zero Waste social and environmental impact plan, we donate the food that we dont sell, said John Votava, Director of Corporate Affairs for Kroger. And this store last year donated more than 10,000 pounds to the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana to help feed our neighbors that are in need.

There will be plenty of specials due to the reopening, including .20 cents off per gallon of gas at the fuel center this weekend with a Kroger rewards card.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Kyle Police Department said it arrested three Austin men Tuesday in connection with the burglary of multiple vehicles.

KPD said officers responded to a call shortly before 4 a.m. near the 100 block of Bunton Creek Road.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

According to police, officers found the vehicle connected with the suspects as they were leaving the scene, and during a police chase into Austin, the vehicle crashed into a light pole, where the suspects then abandoned the vehicle and ran away.

KPD said officers were able to detain three of the four suspects.

The suspects were identified as 27-year-old Carlos Moreno-Ramirez, 25-year-old Kevin Moreno-Ramirez and 31-year-old Edwin Escobar-Alvarez. Police said the men were all residents of Austin.

Mugshot of Carlos Moreno-Ramirez (Kyle Police Department photo)

Mugshot of Kevin Moreno-Ramirez (Kyle Police Department photo)

Mugshot of Edwin Escobar-Alvarez (Kyle Police Department photo)

According to police, officers found two stolen handguns and narcotics inside the suspect vehicle.

KPD said the suspects face several charges, including:

burglary of a vehicle

engaging in organized criminal activity

theft of a firearm

evading arrest detention

Police said Escobar-Alvarez, who was the driver of the vehicle, was additionally charged with evading arrest detention with a vehicle and reckless driving.

KPD said charges for a fourth suspect remain pending.

Police said anyone with information should contact the Kyle Police Department at 512-268-3232 or, submit a tip anonymously to the Hays County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-324-TIPS (8477), online at callcrimestoppers.com, or by using the P3 Tips app on your smartphone.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Local hospitals have regularly used the media as a tool to identify patients and get them in contact with their loved ones, but often the names of the patients remain a mystery until someone comes forward.

Its a different story for 71-year-old Daisy Verdugo who has been hospitalized for six weeks after suffering a stroke.

A woman, believed to be 71-year-old Daisy Verdugo, has been hospitalized at a Torrance hospital and attempts to contact her loved ones have proven unsuccessful. (Providence Health & Services)

Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center, a hospital in Torrance, has been searching for the womans family without success, adding that the patient is unable to participate in her care.

Officials say she was brought to the Torrance hospital after initially being treated at Los Angeles General Medical Center in Boyle Heights.

Attempts to contact her loved ones have failed, which led Providence hospital officials to reach out to the media for help. A spokesperson for the hospital said nearly always the publicity has resulted in families being reunited.

They believe the woman is named Daisy Verdugo with a possible birth date of March 13, 1953. She is Hispanic, about 5 feet tall and weighs about 148 pounds. She has graying brown hair and brown eyes, officials said.

A woman, believed to be 71-year-old Daisy Verdugo, has been hospitalized at a Torrance hospital and attempts to contact her loved ones have proven unsuccessful. (Providence Health & Services)

A woman, believed to be 71-year-old Daisy Verdugo, has been hospitalized at a Torrance hospital and attempts to contact her loved ones have proven unsuccessful. (Providence Health & Services)

A woman, believed to be 71-year-old Daisy Verdugo, has been hospitalized at a Torrance hospital and attempts to contact her loved ones have proven unsuccessful. (Providence Health & Services)

A woman, believed to be 71-year-old Daisy Verdugo, has been hospitalized at a Torrance hospital and attempts to contact her loved ones have proven unsuccessful. (Providence Health & Services)

The severity of her condition was not released and patient confidentiality laws restrict the amount of information hospital officials can provide. But her caretakers hope that someone might recognize her and help contact any friends or family who will be able to help in her healing process.

Anyone with information about the woman believed to be Daisy Verdugo is urged to call 310-425-5749.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Ksenia Karelina, an American-Russian amateur ballet dancer accused of committing treason against Russia for donating a little more than $50 to a Ukrainian charity in the US, has admitted guilt in her case, according to Russia state news agency TASS.

Karelina, 33, is a dual national American and Russian. She was detained in Yekaterinburg earlier this year while she was in the country visiting her grandparents. Recently-released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was also arrested on espionage charges while he was visiting Yekaterinburg.

Russian officials accused the dancer of donating $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity while she was in the US. She made the donation the day that Russia invaded Ukraine.

Prosecutors want to jail her for 15 years, accusing her of collecting money for Ukraine to use to purchase tactical military supplies. The organization Karelina donated to  Razom for Ukraine  is based in New York and is a non-profit group that provides non-military aid to Ukraine.

Karelina's lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, said a 15-year sentence  which would place her in a penal colony  was too severe for the nature of her infraction, and argued her cooperation in the investigation should earn her some good will in the court.

Ksenia Karelina, a dual U.S.-Russian national detained on suspicion of treason, attends a court hearing in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on June 20 (via REUTERS)

The announcement comes on the heels of the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War. Karelina was prohibited from participating in that exchange because a final ruling had yet to be made in her case.

Mushailov told reporters on Thursday that once a verdict was reached her legal team would begin working toward including her in a future prisoner swap.

Karelina lives in Los Angeles and works at a spa and as an amateur ballerina. She became a US citizen in 2021. Since her arrest, her partner, Chris Van Heerden, has been campaigning for her release.

"I believe America will bring her back to me," Van Heerden told CNN earlier this year.

The couple had been vacationing in Istanbul just before her trip. Van Heerden returned to the US, while Karelina continued to Russia to see her family.

I thought it might be dangerous for her to go, with everything going on with the war in Ukraine, but she reassured me that she was Russian and that everything would be fine." he told the Los Angeles Times in February. So, for her birthday in December, I bought her a ticket. She was so excited. Now, I am hitting myself over the head about it.

US officials did not learn of her arrest until February 8.

Karelina detainment and trial coincides with Russian President Vladimir Putin's latest efforts to crack down on dissent within his borders.

In April, Putin signed a decree increasing the maximum sentence for treason charges to life in jail. Previously the most anyone could serve for treason was 20 years.
Los Angeles Spectrum News 1 is making alterations to its anchor lineup, moving Giselle Fernandez to a new three-hour weekday program The Rush Hour starting Aug. 19.

Fernandez previously served as the host of Your Morning on Spectrum News 1. The morning program will now be anchored by Kelvin Washington, who previously anchored Your Afternoon on Spectrum News 1. Amrit Singh will replace Washington on the midday program.

Spectrum Networks launched Spectrum News 1 in Southern California with the goal of transforming the news landscape in L.A., meeting our audience where they are, rising to viewership from over 1 million households per month, just six years later; The Rush Hour is the next step in that journey, vice president of original programming and on-air talent development Carter Lee said in a statement.

Lee added that the program will feature breaking news and weather along with Spectrum News 1s signature coverage of local news, prioritizing community-based storytelling.

Giselle will ascend to this role and continue to delve deeper into stories impacting Angelenos, Lee continued. Supported by a team of journalists reporting from the field, Giselle will provide viewers access to objective local news that affects their everyday lives. The additional moves for Kelvin and Amrit will allow them each to bring their signature styles to other dayparts.

The move was made as internal research showed that there is a significant growth opportunity in the 4-7 p.m. timeframe for news programs, dubbing it a new primetime for viewers.

I take great pride in what we have built at Spectrum News 1 in the L.A. market over the last six years, Fernandez said. We have remained committed to bringing unbiased, trusted and hyperlocal coverage to the Southland at a time when comprehensive contextual storytelling should be at the forefront. While its hard to say goodbye to the great morning team, I am eager to expand our mission of great storytelling in an exciting and fast-changing new television landscape.

Just last month, Your Morning on Spectrum News 1, won the L.A. Area Emmy Award for morning newscast. The network as a whole scored 17 nominations at the 2024 L.A. Emmys.

Fernandez, who has been awarded nine Emmys, also hosts the award-winning weekly series L.A. Stories. She is also a three-time recipient of the L.A. Press Clubs Journalist of the Year award.

The post LA Spectrum News 1 Revamps Anchor Lineup, Giselle Fernandez to Move to 3-Hour Afternoon Slot appeared first on TheWrap.
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)  The Lafayette Police Department is asking for your help in identifying the subject of a robbery caught on surveillance video.

The suspect broke into Nemos Mini Mart, located at 403 N. Bienville in the early-morning hours of July 31, authorities said. The suspect entered the business by breaking a side window and stole cash and cigarettes. Video surveillance captured images of the suspects hands, which have distinct tattoos.

If you know the identity of this subject or have any information in reference to this incident, please call Lafayette Crime Stoppers at (337) 232-TIPS or by downloading the P3 TIPS Mobile App or by dialing **TIPS (**8477) on your mobile device. All callers remain anonymous.

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Healing Lahaina

When Laurel Tamayo was growing up on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, some of her favorite memories included visiting her extended family on Maui. They would stay at the beach all day, talking story (a Hawaiian expression for passing the time chatting), swimming in the sparkling ocean, eating Spam musubi, and drinking passion fruit juice under the coconut trees.

But when she came back from college to visit in the summer of 2022, things felt different. That particular day, the heat was so intense that when she got out of the water after snorkeling, her plastic iced coffee cup had melted and morphed on the sand. I remember in that moment thinking, Wow! Tamayo recalls, with a strained smile, revealing her braces. This beautiful place that I imagined taking my future kids and future grandkids to one day, may be a place that's too unbearably hot to enjoy as the effects of climate change get worse.

And it's sad because I had no idea when I was having that moment, that a year later the deadliest wildfire in modern US. history would happen, and take the home of my grandparents, auntie and uncle, and cousins, she adds.

The Lahaina wildfire, which started one year ago on August 8, 2023, and killed 102 people, is the subject of Tamayos first professional documentary film, Healing Lahaina. It is set to debut later this year. The short film features Tamayos family and neighbors telling a story of loss, resilience, mutual aid, and, she says, the Aloha spirit.

*Healing Lahaina*

Tamayos life has prepared her in an almost eerie way for this project. It all started her senior year of high school when she picked what she thought would be an easier Advanced Placement class. It's funny 'cause at my school AP environmental science was considered the slacker AP [course], she recalls. That class changed her life when her teacher showed a documentary film called Racing Extinction. It showcased the fate of a bird native to Kauai, another Hawaiian island, called the oo.

There's a scene where a man was playing a bird calland he says [something like], This is a mating call, but it's one that will never be answered because he is the last of his species, Tamayo says. And I remember I was like, that's so sad. How have I never heard of this bird before, being born and raised in Hawaii? And why didn't anyone do anything about it?

Tamayo became a vegetarian and then a vegan. She started reading everything she could about climate change and she headed to Chapman University in California, where she majored in environmental science and policy and minored in documentary film.

But in college, her life vision of being an environmental filmmaker had a little cold water thrown on it. We kept having guest speakers in our class that were talking about how they're broke and their films took 10 years. And I was like, Oh, man, maybe I'm not cut out for this life. While studying in New Zealand, she met a woman who worked on the parallel path of impact producing: organizing screenings, producing social media, creating resources, and more to amplify the social message of a film. That woman helped connect Tamayo with opportunities and while still in college she worked on the impact campaign for I Am Greta, a documentary about the Swedish youth climate activist, Greta Thunberg.

Directing a film for the first time outside of a college class was a far-off notion when Tamayo woke up early one morning last August at home in Los Angeles and grabbed her phone to check Instagram. She saw that someone had posted to Stories about the Lahaina fire and Tamayo immediately texted a family group chat to check in. The next few days were nerve-racking. The fire destroyed fiber optic lines, causing cell towers to fail. In the chaotic process of evacuation and taking shelter, occasionally her relatives were able to catch a signal by going onto the beach, but in between, the rest of the family had no news at all.

*Healing Lahaina*

The different evacuation sites on the island were posting [photographs of] sign-in sheets, to help people locate missing friends and family, Tamayo says. And I remember scrolling through pictures of those, trying to look for [my relatives] names, and not finding them and just being so stressed. It was scary to be so far away and not know what was happening. Her aunt, uncle, and cousin had taken shelter at the Hyatt Regency, where her uncle and cousin worked as security guards. Her grandparents spent the first night in their truck in the parking lot of a supermarket, then joined the rest of the family at the hotel.

Tamayos family history is intimately connected with the economic decisions and the ecological ripple effects that contributed to the fire. Her grandfather came to Maui from the Philippines in the 1960s to work on a sugarcane plantation. When those plantations were largely abandoned by the 1990, invasive grasses replaced them. And with the increasing heat and drought of climate change, the grasses quickly dry into tinder that fuels bigger, faster-spreading fires.

A few months after the fire in Lahaina, one of Tamayos friends, Tehya Jennett, asked if she was going to tell her familys story. Tamayo thought about it later that night: She didnt want to harm her community by being exploitative and she didnt feel ready to be a director. There was so much she didnt know. But then she thought about how this project was the intersection of all her passions and how, just maybe, the pain her family and their community had gone through could serve a broader purpose. She could show the way the community had swiftly come together in mutual aid and recovery. Maybe it could give some hope to others.

Her friend became her producer. Tamayo raised half her budget through crowdfunding and won a $25,000 award for Gen Z advocates. They shot the film over four days.

Amia Voluntad

One of the heroes of the film is Jona Versola, who stayed in town and sprayed water to put the fires out and save his and his neighbors houses. There are things I think we could learn from Hawaii, says Tamayo, and how they reacted so quickly to bring aid to people. Tamayo also filmed people tending new plantings and teenagers doing disaster preparedness training, learning search-and-rescue skills, and practicing firefighting.

There are a lot of people wanting to tell a story about the Lahaina fires. And probably most of them aren't people who have direct connections to the island or to the people who were impacted. So I feel like it's the perfect project for her, says Tamayo's friend and mentor Meghan Welsch, who has worked as an impact producer on films like The Social Dilemma. She's being very intentional too, about how she's engaging the community[for example], by having an entirely local crew, which I feel speaks so much to who she is as a person Shes just one of the most passionate people that Ive had the pleasure of knowing.

In a scene from an early cut of the film, Tamayo and her aunt Miriam don bright-white Tyvek suits. They stand out against the blue sky, a backdrop of gray rubble, and a single, struggling palm tree. They are sifting through the ruins of Tamayos grandparents home for anything salvageable. They come upon a small, bent, metal photo frame in the shape of a treea family tree. The photos it once held were incinerated. Literally, we have nothing, says Miriam in an interview. Three days later, when we went to check it out, it was smoldering. It was heartbreaking to see that.

*Healing Lahaina*

Tamayos great-grandfather, grandfather, and great-uncles built the house with their own hands. It was home to three generationsgrandparents, aunt, uncle, cousins. After the fire, they all lived in three rooms at the Hyatt for roughly 10 months. Now they are staying nearly an hours drive away.

Another underlying theme of the film is Mauis dependence on tourism. Its in direct opposition to locals needs for affordable housing and other basic resources, and exacerbated by the recovery. Maui is working toward banning thousands of short-term rentals to open up more housing for people who live and work on the island.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has ended its program to house fire victims in hotel rooms. There have been some complaints about the Direct Lease program, which is intended to shelter people in more long-term units for up to two years. Some people are being served foreclosure notices on homes charred to ruins. Tamayos father is an architect and working on plans to rebuild their home, but many other families dont have access to that kind of help.

Returning home is still a far-off dream for many folks. For Tamayos grandfather, it will never happen. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2024 and died one month later.

While unstinting on what was lost, Healing Lahaina also shows hope. The people of Lahaina, they are great, says Miriam Tamayo. The kindness that so many people showed was overwhelming. So many people came together, even people who lost their homes, they were there for each other, and they helped each otherjust without even saying words. Just a hug was helpful, you know, to know that we're gonna be okay.

Tamayo hopes that others will not only be inspired to support Maui but also become more prepared for disasters that may hit closer to home as climate change gets worse.

*Healing Lahaina*

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Lara Trump has responded to Joe Bidens comments that he was not confident at all that there would be a peaceful transition of power if former President Donald Trump were to lose the 2024 presidential election.

The president made his concerns known in an interview with CBS News Sunday Morning, of which a preview clip was aired on Wednesday. The interview is the Bidens first sit-down since he announced on July 21 he was quitting the 2024 race.

If Trump loses Im not confident at all, Biden told political correspondent Robert Costa, while referring to comments made by the former president at a campaign rally in Ohio in March. He means what he says, we dont take him seriously. He means itall that stuff about If we lose, it will be a bloodbath.

President Joe Biden said that he has little faith that Donald Trump will commit to a peaceful transfer of power, should the former president lose the election a second time. @LaraLeaTrump, the co-chair of the Republican National Committee, tells #CUOMO that "there will be no pic.twitter.com/DLqZlBQk4A  NewsNation (@NewsNation) August 8, 2024

Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee who is married to Donalds third child, Eric, appeared on NewsNation Wednesday night to assuage those fears.

We believe if every legal vote is counted, come November 5, Donald Trump will be president. There will be no problem, she told host Christopher Cuomo on Cuomo.

It is my job to make sure that people who are voting for Trump feel like their vote matters. And I can assure you, if he does not legally and legitimately win this election, there will be no problem.

In May, Lara declared on Newsmax that the former president had accepted the 2020 election results, claiming: Its pretty obvious... even despite the fact that it was a very questionable election in 2020.

The comments were met with criticism by DNC Rapid Response Director Alex Floyd, who said in a statement: The American people are not falling for Lara Trumps sad and desperate attempts to whitewash Donald Trumps election denialism as he actively continues to push baseless lies about his loss by over 7 million votes in the 2020 election while refusing to commit to accepting this Novembers results. Trump is still the same dangerous election denier he always has been  and continues to make it clear that democracy is on the ballot in this election.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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DAMASCUS, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A series of successive explosions were heard in the al-Shayrat area in the eastern countryside of Homs province on Thursday night, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Initial reports suggested that the explosions were caused by an Israeli airstrike targeting weapon storage depots in the al-Hamarat regiment near the al-Shayrat military airport.

The Syrian Defense Ministry said in a statement that around 8:55 p.m. local time (1755 GMT), the Israeli army launched an aerial attack from the direction of northern Lebanon, targeting several military points in the central region.

The attack injured four soldiers and caused some material damage, according to the statement. 
UPDATE: The Topeka Police Department (TPD) says officers arrested a 26-year-old Topeka man following a standoff.

According to a press release, TPD officers responded to a traffic-related call in southwest Topeka. They identified the 26-year-old man as a suspect in an aggravated burglary and auto theft investigation. Officers tried to initiate a car stop, but the man did not comply. More officers arrived to help.

The 26-year-old man was arrested without further incident on the following charges:

Aggravated burglary

Misdemeanor theft from a Building

Felony theft of a motor vehicle

Criminal use of a financial card

Criminal Trespass

Felony obstruction; interference with a Law Enforcement Office

TOPEKA (KSNT)  A large police presence was in a southwest Topeka neighborhood Thursday.

A 27 News reporter was at the scene of Southwest 31st Court and Southwest Oakley Avenue on Aug. 8 where multiple police vehicles were seen near an apartment complex. A standoff was in progress but ended peacefully after police, including SWAT, responded to the scene.

(Photo Courtesy/Gabriel Johnson)

Kansas soldier sentenced to 23 years for sex crimes involving 13-year-old New Mexico girl

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Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
The latest on COVID-19: New symptoms, new strain, new vaccine.

Social distancing, remote working and public masking are now distant memories for most people.

But SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the pandemic, is still around. It is still changing, still making people sick and still keeping health professionals on their toes.

The virus is showing up in wastewater at higher levels than it did at the same time last year. About 128 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Wisconsin hospitals in the last seven days . That may not seem like a large number, but COVID hospitalizations increased 32% last month, according to data collected by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

As of Thursday, COVID-related hospitalizations across the state were up between 20-30%. The only exception was in the state's southeast region, which includes Milwaukee County, where no significant increase was reported.

Dr. Mary Beth Graham, medical director for infection prevention and control at Froedtert Hospital, also saw a rise in hospital patients testing positive for COVID in July.

But this is nowhere near what we were seeing when we were at the height back in 2020, said Graham, also associate chief of the division of infectious disease with the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Not a cause for alarm, but a reminder of the need for continued vigilance.

SARS-CoV2 is not going anywhere. Graham said. It's here. It has changed, but  you can't just say, 'Oh, well, it's no big deal.'"

Here are a few things you should know.

DuAnne Hagerty, 69, left, receives the COVID-19 vaccine from Pharmacist Marwa Bakr at Infinity Pharmacy in Milwaukee on Jan. 21, 2021.

Who is showing up in the hospitals?

People testing positive in hospitals are going there with respiratory infections, Graham said.

The infections she is seeing now are much less severe than they were in the beginning of the pandemic, she said.

"It is more of an upper respiratory tract infection than lower respiratory tract infection. Graham said.

There are also better treatments available. That means outcomes are much better.

It is rare for someone to end up in the intensive care unit like we were seeing in 2020, Graham said.

Most of the people who test positive will likely not have a serious enough condition to go to a hospital. They may take a test at home. However, a positive result taken at home does not automatically get registered in public databases, meaning there is likely a lot more COVID-19 out there than is being captured by hospital records, Graham said.

Why are vaccinated people getting sick?

Most of the people Graham is seeing in her hospital are immunocompromised and have had at least one round of the vaccine.

But the virus has evolved to escape the vaccine.

The three major strains of the virus showing up in Wisconsin wastewater are Omicron JN.1.11.1, Omicron JN.1 and Omicron KP.3. These strains did not exist when the last round of vaccines were rolled out in the fall of 2023.

That may explain why vaccinated people still got sick, she said.

Dr. Mary Beth Graham is Froedtert Hospital's medical director for infection prevention and control and the Medical College of Wisconsin's associate chief of the infectious disease division.

Here's why people should get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Even people who are vaccinated can get seriously sick. But the vaccines do mitigate the worst impacts of the virus especially for those who are immunocompromised. They can also limit the spread of the virus.

In Wisconsin only 18.5% of people eligible took at least one round of vaccination, Graham said. Breaking that down, people 70 years or older or 18 years and younger got vaccinated at higher rates.

In between those age groups people tend to be healthier and less likely to seek out vaccines.

To people between 18 and 65, reluctant to take the vaccine, Graham said, Its not all about you.

Unless you are someone who has absolutely no contact with someone who is at higher risk, I would recommend you think about what youre doing to protect others. she said.

Graham expects the new vaccine to protect people from the prevalent strains of the virus to be available by September.

Here's what to consider about wearing a mask.

As a health professional who regularly comes into contact with immunocompromised people, Graham wears a mask at work, but does not usually do so outside.

But, she said, if you are at high risk of complications from respiratory viruses and if youre going to an area where you might get exposed, like an airplane or the state fair exhibit building, then you could mitigate some of your risk.

Masks are not foolproof, but they also offer a certain amount of protection for people who feel like they need it. It doesnt have to be an N95 mask, Graham said.

Here are common ways doctors are treating COVID-19.

Paxlovid is the first choice because "you can get a prescription, you can get it at home. You don't have to come in for an intravenous treatment, Graham said.

Those with more severe symptoms may be given Remdesivir, which is an intravenous drug administered at a clinic.

Molnupiravir is the third choice, but there are some other potential issues with regards to women of childbearing age, Graham said.

Most of the people who are taking those medications are usually somebody who is at higher risk. So it's the people who are 60-65 and older, those with comorbid conditions like asthma, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, etc,  she added.

A health care professional communicates with a passenger in a vehicle before administering a drive-through test for COVID-19 at Ascension Southeast Wisconsin hospital Saint Joseph campus on West Chambers Street in Milwaukee on Monday, April 27, 2020. Ascension Wisconsin offers drive-through testing for coronavirusEat six sites in southeastern WisconsinEfor people who have been pre-screened and approved to be tested. Photo by MIKE DE SISTI / MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL

Will there be another pandemic?

In the short term, it doesnt look like it. Long term, the world will have to learn to live with some of these viruses.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has changed its approach to COVID-19 since March 2024. It now takes a unified approach to respiratory viral illnesses including COVID, flu and respiratory syncytial virus.

Being airborne, these viruses can spread quickly. Some of them, like COVID and the influenza virus, also mutate very quickly. And with low vaccination rates, the virus gets more opportunities to spread and mutate.

There will likely be a new vaccine for COVID every year for the foreseeable future.

It also means public health experts will continue monitoring the constellations of viruses showing up in wastewater and in hospital patients for signs of larger outbreak-like conditions.

For now, Graham is not too concerned about the present rise in COVID-19 cases, she said.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The latest on COVID-19: New symptoms, new strain, new vaccine.
The Latest: Trump and Harris to debate on ABC News in September

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

With both major party tickets now decided, the campaign is set to play out as a 90-day sprint, and the Rust Belt and the Sun Belt are prime fronts. Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have agreed to a Sept. 10 presidential debate on ABC, setting up a face-off between the Republican and Democratic nominees.

Vice President Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz showed their support for organized labor by appearing at a United Auto Workers event in Detroit.

Meanwhile, former President Trump held a news conference Thursday at Mar-a-Lago, making his first public appearance since Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee and selected Walz as her running mate.

Follow the APs Election 2024 coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024.

Heres the Latest:

Harris agrees to debate Trump

The ABC debate will take place on a day her campaign has long stuck to as the Republican nominee waffled on his commitment.

I hear that Donald Trump has finally committed to debating me on September 10, she wrote on the social media site X. I look forward to it.

Earlier Thursday, Trump recommitted to the Sept. 10 debate  which had been arranged when Biden was still in the race  and proposed additional debates on other networks. The Harris campaign has not responded to Trumps proposal of more debates.

The second gentleman rallies donors at a Paris fundraiser

Vice President Kamala Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, has rallied a group of enthusiastic donors in Paris, France, telling them his wife is ready and heaping praise on her newly minted running mate, Gov. Tim Walz.

The private fundraiser held in the French capitals tony 16th arrondissement was hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkens mother, Judith Pisar, the widow of Holocaust survivor Samuel Pisar, who died in 2015. Organizers said it had raised $285,000.

Emhoff, who took time out of his Olympic duties as head of the U.S. delegation to the closing ceremony in Paris, was quick to highlight her choice of Walz, saying she made the right choice and touted the governors resume.

Emhoff also said he cannot wait to see his wife debate former President Trump, but urged the friendly crowd not to get too comfortable in the 89 days before the presidential election.

Trump suggests presidents should exert more power over the Federal Reserve

The former presidents statement on the Fed during his news conference earlier Thursday was a direct challenge to the U.S. central banks political independence. Most economists say the country is well-served by having the Fed make choices to address inflation without the risk of political interference, which could lead them to make policy mistakes by focusing instead on a presidents electoral goals.

Trump said he felt he had better instincts on the economy than Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who hiked a benchmark interest rate to help lower inflation after it spiked in 2022 to a four-decade high.

In response to a July question about whether the Fed should coordinate more with the White House, Powell said, People have learned that a central bank thats independent of political consideration does a better job of getting inflation under control, and that is now the accepted wisdom in all advanced economies around the world.

Harris addresses United Auto Workers

Kamala Harris is tying her Oakland, California, upbringing by a single mother with running mate Walzs childhood in small-town Nebraska in an address to United Auto Workers.

The same people raised us, good people, hardworking people, people who had pride in their work, she says in the Detroit union hall. People who had pride in knowing we were a community of people who looked out for each other.

No one should ever be made to fight alone, she said. We are all in this together.

Walz speaks at Detroit union hall

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was sounding a little hoarse after his third day on the campaign trail.

This is a bit of preaching to the choir. But the choir needs to sing. The choir needs to sing, right now, Walz, Harris new running mate, told a room full of United Auto Workers union members in a Detroit union hall.

The rasp in Walzs voice didnt stop him from joining in the chants that have become a regular part of Harris rallies, Were not going back! Were not going back! Were not going back!

Harris and Walz will speak at a Detroit union hall

The vice president and her Democratic running mate are set to play up their support for organized labor during an appearance at a Detroit-area union hall.

The two are on stage, waiting to speak to several dozen United Auto Workers members at Local 900 Hall, which represents Fords Michigan Assembly Plant.

Those members were the first Ford workers to strike in 2023 when the unions contract with the company expired. Workers at the assembly plant went on strike Sept. 15 and remained on the picket lines until Oct. 25, when the union announced a tentative agreement with Ford.

Trump attacked Harris intelligence, claims he hasnt recalibrated his campaign

Trump said he has not recalibrated his campaign despite facing a new opponent, a dynamic some Republican strategists have quietly complained about.

Trump continued to criticize Biden, against whom he has been running since before the 2020 election, during his press conference at his home in Palm Beach, Florida, all while hurling personal insults at Harris, the new Democratic nominee.

When asked what assets Harris possessed, Trump said, Shes a woman. She represents certain groups of people.

Four times he questioned the intelligence of Harris, a former California attorney general and former U.S. senator.

He said the strategy for the campaign would not change because its not about Harris, its about the policies of the Biden-Harris administration that will decide the election.

Trump said abortion has become much less of an issue

During his news conference, the former president suggested that abortion has become much less of an issue since the Supreme Court ended the federal right to abortion services and returned control of the matter to state governments.

Trump argued that Democrats, Republicans and everybody is pleased with the results of the 2022 ruling that overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

Trumps actions within the GOP, however, suggest he knows that Democrats have already capitalized on Republican opposition to abortion rights and could do so again this fall. Trump single-handedly ensured that the Republican Party platform adopted at the 2024 convention in Milwaukee does not call for a national abortion ban, and he has said repeatedly that hardliners in the party could cost the GOP in November.

The courts decision, issued months ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, is widely cited as a reason why Democrats fared much better than expected in House and Senate contests. And Democrats have hammered Trump on paid advertisements blaming him and the justices he appointed for ending Roe.

Trump and Harris campaigns have agreed to a Sept. 10 debate

ABC News says both the Trump and Harris campaigns have agreed to a Sept. 10 debate. That was the date Trump had initially agreed to debate President Biden, before Biden dropped out of the race.

The assassination attempt hasnt changed Trumps mind on gun control

Trump says almost being assassinated by a gunman has not changed his position opposing any new federal regulations or restrictions on weapons.

People need the guns for protection, he said, pointing to U.S. cities that have attempted local gun restrictions and still see violent crime.

Trump accused Harris of wanting to take away everyones guns.

Harris proposals call for universal background checks and a ban on certain near-military grade weapons like those that were banned from 1994 until a decade later, when then-President George W. Bush and Republicans on Capitol Hill allowed the ban to expire.

Fact Check: Trump claims nobody was killed on Jan. 6

Trump has falsely claimed that nobody was killed on Jan. 6, the date in 2021 when pro-Trump rioters breached the U.S. Capitol amid Congress effort to certify Democrat Joe Bidens 2020 election victory.

Five people died in the riot and its aftermath, including Ashli Babbitt, a Trump supporter shot and killed by police, and Brian Sicknick, a police officer who died the day after battling the mob.

Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from San Diego was shot and killed by a police officer as she climbed through a broken part of a Capitol door during the violent riot. To be sure, Trump has often cited Babbitts death while lamenting the treatment of those who attended a rally outside the White House that day and then marched to the Capitol, many of whom fought with police.

Federal prosecutors had weighed charging the officer involved in the shooting but opted not to file charges.

I think those people were treated very badly when you compare it to other things that took place in this country where a lot of people were killed, Trump said Thursday.

Trump repeats falsehoods about his 2020 election loss

Trump misrepresented the realities of the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the Capitol and the electorates of several Southern states as he repeated the lie that President Joe Bidens victory in 2020 was due to fraud.

He insisted there was a peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 election. Certainly, Biden was inaugurated on schedule. But Washington was on lockdown that day, with the streets patrolled by military personnel and domestic police two weeks after Trumps supporters had attacked the Capitol as Congress convened to certify Bidens win.

Trump, meanwhile, argued, You dont win Alabama and South Carolina by records and lose Georgia. It doesnt happen.

Except Alabama and South Carolina are overwhelmingly Republican and Georgia has been trending toward a two-party battleground for years.

Alabama and South Carolina have about 5 million residents and heavily Republican electorates. Georgia, driven by decades of growth in metro Atlanta, now has about 11 million residents -- and 5 million presidential voters.

As a comparison, Barack Obama lost Georgia by about 5 percentage points in 2008 without spending significant resources in the state. That same year, he lost Alabama by more than 22 points and lost South Carolina by 9 points.

Trump attacks his present (and former) rivals

Trump began his press conference with a three-pronged attack on Harris, her new running mate Gov. Walz of Minnesota and even President Biden, who has been out of the presidential race for weeks.

Trump began the event with a statement before calling into question Harris legitimacy as the nominee. We have somebody who hasnt received one vote for president, he said. Harris was nominated by virtual roll call by the Democratic National Committee on Tuesday.

He called Walz a radical left man, adding that he has positions that its not even possible to believe they exist.

And he said the presidency was taken away from Biden, whom Trump has spent years focusing on, even as he said he did not plan to recalibrate his campaign, in light of a new opponent.

Trump offers to debate Harris

Trump suggested he would participate in as many as three debates against Harris. He said hes willing to appear separately on Fox, NBC and ABC, all spread across September.

The former president has been inconsistent in recent weeks about his debate preferences, and Harris has not committed to any of Trumps more recent ideas. Trump had agreed previously to a debate against President Biden on ABC in late September but then he pulled out of that commitment and called on Harris to join him in a Fox News debate.

ABC has said it would continue its regularly scheduled event and host whichever of the candidates shows up. Trump was noncommittal when asked if he would move forward if Harris only agreed to the ABC debate.

Trump opens press conference with dark portrait of America

Trump has opened a press conference at his home in Palm Beach, Florida, his first since Vice President Harris announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate on Tuesday.

He warned of World War III, a depression of the 1929 variety and a nation overrun with migrants from south of the U.S.-Mexico border.

I think that our country is right now in the most dangerous position its ever been in, from an economic standpoint, from a safety standpoint, he said, adding that President Joe Biden is the worst president in the history of our country and that Vice President Kamala Harris also ranks at the bottom of the people to hold the No. 2 spot.

Trumps supporters typically hear his America First and Make America Great Again rallying cries as a fundamentally optimistic vision for fixing deep-seated problems. The question is whether more moderate voters hear the same message or are turned off by such sweeping, often-hyperbolic critiques of the country.

Harris' husband to lead U.S. presidential delegation to Paris Olympics' closing ceremony

Vice President Kamala Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, is leading the U.S. presidential delegation to the Paris Olympics closing ceremony Sunday, cheering on with American athletes over the next few days and holding events such as a UNESCO roundtable to discuss combating antisemitism.

At the roundtable Thursday, Emhoff said the Biden administration is working with Congress to support a $2.2 million grant for UNESCOs international program on Holocaust and genocide education.

UNESCO plays a vital role in ensuring that Holocaust education is taught and used to combat antisemitism all around the world, he said. And in the wake of the horrific Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack against Israel where hostages were taken, this work has never been more urgent.

President Joe Biden and his wife to meet with campaign staffers in Delaware

President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, will meet with campaign staffers in Wilmington, Delaware on Thursday, using the time to thank them for their hard work over the past year and their continued work in support of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. Thats according to a person familiar with the presidents plans, who insisted on anonymity to discuss plans that are not yet public.

The event at a local venue in Wilmington will feature food and, naturally for Biden, ice cream.

The president exited the presidential race two weeks ago and wanted to say hello to the hundreds of staffers expected to attend.

-Josh Boak

Pelosi on Trump: My goal in life was that man would never step in the White House again

Nancy Pelosis influence can be seen all across the Democratic Party shakeup that in a few short, agonizing weeks has reengineered the 2024 presidential ticket and the race for the White House.

It was Pelosi who publicly encouraged President Joe Biden to make a decision about his reelection campaign when he had already insisted he had no plans to step aside. Once he exited and endorsed Kamala Harris atop the ticket, it was Pelosi who was a big fan of her future running mate, Tim Walz.

For the House speaker emerita, the upheaval is less about Biden, a friend of 40 years, and more about Republican Donald Trump, the former president she refers to as Bozo, a snake-oil salesman, whats his name and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

How can I say this in the nicest possible way: My goal in life was that man would never step in the White House again, Pelosi said, slapping the table with every word.

Pelosi spoke Wednesday with reporters and columnists about her new book, The Art of Power, My Story as Americas First Woman Speaker of the House, which calls for an end to political violence in the U.S.

Michigan county official endorses Harris, saying she embodies the America we deserve

Deputy Wayne County Executive Assad I. Turfe, the highest ranking Arab American official in Michigans largest county, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris campaign for president shortly after she gave remarks just outside Detroit on Wednesday.

Turfe told The Associated Press he spoke with Harris backstage at the event prior to his endorsement.

Kamala Harris embodies the America we deserve  an America that stands for strength, inclusivity and unwavering commitment to justice, Turfe said in a statement. I wholeheartedly endorse Kamala Harris, as she represents the true spirit of our nation and the values we hold dear.

Metro Detroit, home to one of the largest Arab American populations in the United States, has become a focal point of tension and unrest due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Harris speech outside Detroit was interrupted for several minutes Wednesday by a small group of pro-Palestinian protesters yelling.

Turfe also pressed the need for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, but said Harris gives us the best chance of achieving peace in that region moving forward.

Trump will hold a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida

The Thursday news conference would be his first public appearance since Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee and selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.

The former president announced the 2 p.m. EDT news conference on his Truth Social network and then posted he was eager to debate Harris. He had teased an announcement on the presidential debate earlier this week after pulling down from the scheduled ABC News debate. Trump had said he would rather the debate be on Fox News, but on Wednesday was showing willingness to reconsider ABC News.

I will expose Kamala during the Debate the same way I exposed Crooked Joe, Hillary, and everyone else during Debates, he said on Truth Social. Only I think Kamala will be easier.

Trumps running mate JD Vance has criticized Harris for not conducting news conference or sitting down for interviews since President Joe Biden stepped aside and she launched her presidential bid. Harris sometimes answers shouted questions while boarding or leaving her plane for campaign stops.

Secretaries of state urge Elon Musk to fix AI chatbot spreading election misinformation on X

Five secretaries of state are urging Elon Musk to fix an AI chatbot on the social media platform X, saying in a letter sent Monday that it has spread election misinformation.

The top election officials from Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Washington told Musk that Xs AI chatbot, Grok, produced false information about state ballot deadlines shortly after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race.

While Grok is available only to subscribers to the premium versions of X, the misinformation was shared across multiple social media platforms and reached millions of people, according to the letter. The bogus ballot deadline information from the chatbot also referenced Alabama, Indiana, Ohio and Texas, although their secretaries of state did not sign the letter. Grok continued to repeat the false information for 10 days before it was corrected, the secretaries said.

The letter urged X to immediately fix the chatbot to ensure voters have accurate information in this critical election year. That would include directing Grok to send users to CanIVote.org, a voting information website run by the National Association of Secretaries of State, when asked about U.S. elections.
COVID-19 has spiked in Boston for the summer according to the latest wastewater data.

The Boston Public Health Commission says the average level of SARS-CoV-2 is 163% higher in the July water samples compared to the citywide average in May.

Similarly, in July, hospitalizations increased by 62% as compared to hospitalizations in May.

The wastewater levels are currently classified as high or very high in Roxbury, Mattapan, Allston/Brighton, Back Bay, and Roslindale/West Roxbury.

Tracking wastewater is one of the best tools that we have to monitor spread of viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2, in our neighborhoods in Boston, said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, the Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. Respiratory viruses continue to be a serious concern, so we suggest that residents monitor their risk, follow recommended precautions and get the updated vaccinations when they are available.

Although SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater was exceptionally high for the summer months, the Boston Public Health Commission says the numbers are trending downward.

Health officials recommend the following precautions to protect yourself against the disease:

If you develop symptoms of respiratory viral illness like fever, chills, cough, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, stay home and away from others.

Wear a mask if you must leave the house while sick.

Continue masking for 5 days after your symptoms have improved and have no fever for 24 hours.

Wear a mask If you are at high risk of severe illness.

Have COVID-19 rapid test kits available at home to test if you have symptoms of COVID-19. Pharmacies are currently the best place to purchase COVID-19 rapid test kits.

The Boston Public Health Commission tracks COVID-19, influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in wastewater and makes the reports available online twice a week.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Laura Ingraham claims Milwaukee is in Minnesota and is roasted online for the gaffe

Fox News host Laura Ingraham, who claimed to know Minnesota well, confused it with neighboring state of Wisconsin when criticizing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

On her Wednesday night show, Ingraham homed in on the record of Kamala Harris vice presidential pick.

Ingraham said Walz has a tiny brain and slammed his handling of the chaotic aftermath of George Floyds murder in his state. Ingraham then said: Sure, Tim Walz was a popular teacher but listen to him for five minutes on YouTube and you realize why so many high schoolers dont know much about the constitution. They learn from people like Walz.

Ironically, Ingraham seems to not know much about the US states. Later in the show, she told two panelists: If you know Minnesota well, and I know it well  especially Milwaukee  its changed.

Her confusion may have stemmed from the fact that Harris and Walz held a in Eau Claire, Wisconsin on Wednesday.

It didnt take long before social media users started roasting Ingraham.

Laura Ingraham: If you know Minnesota well, and I know it well -- especially Milwaukee -- it's changed. pic.twitter.com/2L0HvrHMo6  aliciasadowski (@aliciasadowski6) August 7, 2024

Laura knows Minnesota so well that Milwaukee is six hours away in a different state called Wisconsin, one X user wrote. Geography is not her friend.

If Laura Ingraham knew Minnesota at all, shed know that aint where Milwaukee is, another wrote.

Does Laura Ingraham know where Milwaukee is on a map, yet another remarked.

A Trump parody account sarcastically wrote: I will only debate Kamala on Fox News and the only fact-checker allowed will be Laura Ingraham!

Another joked that Ingraham may as well have said: Ah yes, the Windy Apple of Brotherly Love that never sleeps. I know it like the back of my hand.

The Fox News hosts came amid complaints about Walzs response to the unrest following Floyds killing. Ingraham and other conservatives, including Donald Trump and his running JD Vance, have been slamming Walz over his handling of the crisis.

They make an interesting tag team, because of course, Tim Walz allowed rioters to burn down Minneapolis in the summer of 2020, JD Vance, Walzs rival on the GOP ticket, told Fox News on Tuesday.

For his part, the former president took credit for the governors swift response to the unrest, telling the network on Wednesday: I helped him very much during the riots because his house was surrounded by people that were waving an American flag.

In reality, in May 2020, protests erupted in Minnesota  where Floyd was killed by police  and across the country. Two people died and 600 people were arrested in Minneapolis alone. As some of the protests became violent, Walz mobilized the Minnesota National Guard three days later to help calm the situation.

Despite conservative recent attacks of Walzs response, then-President Trump actually called Walz to praise his efforts: What they did in Minneapolis was incredible. They went in and dominated, and it happened immediately.
Fox News Laura Ingraham got a bit confused while lamenting how much Minnesota has changed, confusing Milwaukee for one of the states cities.

These are just facts  If you know Minnesota well, and I know it well  especially Milwaukee  its changed, Ingraham said.

Laura Ingraham: If you know Minnesota well, and I know it well  especially Milwaukee  it's changed. pic.twitter.com/2L0HvrHMo6  aliciasadowski (@aliciasadowski6) August 7, 2024

Apparently, Ingraham doesnt know the state well enough to know that Milwaukee is actually located in Wisconsin.

The apparent confusion occurred as a Fox News panel dissected Kamala Harris newly minted running-mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The chyron on screen during the segment read, All fluff, no substance from Harris and Walz, following their joint appearance in Eau Clair, Wisconsin.

Kamala Harris named Walz as her running mate on Tuesday, choosing the governor from a shortlist that also included Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.

Walz is considered relatively moderate with progressive leanings, who has made state-funded school lunch his signature achievement. The governor also served as a representative for Minnesota from 2007-2019.

Other Walz accomplishments include expanding voting rights for formerly incarcerated residents, protecting LBGTQ+ rights with gender-affirming care and banning conversion therapy  and starting the summer trend of calling Republicans weird.

The post Laura Ingraham Laments How Much Minnesota Has Changed: Especially Milwaukee appeared first on TheWrap.
HOLTON (KSNT)  Multiple law enforcement agencies gathered at the Jackson County courthouse in Holton for a community engagement event.

National Night Out is an annual event nationwide that promotes polices partnerships with the communities they serve.

See What to know about Polk-Quincy viaduct construction in 2025

Jackson County Sheriff, Tim Morse, said it was the countys fourth year celebrating and that its a great way for law enforcement to spend time with the community.

Jackson County is a great place, Morse said, so, if you want a job in law enforcement this is a good place to be. Just because our public, they back us. Theyre very good to us and they appreciate us here.

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New Massachusetts law financially supports first responders severely injured in the line of duty

BOSTON (WWLP)  Last week, Governor Healey signed a bill allowing first responders who suffered a serious injury on the job to be fully compensated until they reach mandatory retirement age.

Once these affected first responders reach mandatory retirement age, which is usually 65, they will continue to receive 80% of their annual salary.

Mass. legislature passes HERO Act for veteran support

This promise of 100% of their annual salary applies to police officers, firefighters, public and municipal EMTs, and licensed health care professionals who sustained a life-threatening or life-altering permanent bodily injury on the job that makes them unable to continue to perform their jobs essential functions.

Secretary of Public Safety and Security, Terrence Reidy, says this new policy gives back to the first responder community. We depend on our emergency responders to bravely run toward danger when others are running away, said Reidy. This legislation is representative of our deep commitment to the health and wellbeing of our first responders.

John Nelson, representing the Massachusetts Coalition of Police as their vice president, also supported this bill. He added that it is a last resort. While we hope this new law does not have to be used often, it will help those who have sacrificed more than anyone will know, said Nelson.

The law is of particular interest to western Massachusetts in the wake of the shooting of police officer Nestor Santos, who was on his way to work when he was seriously injured.

This new law also provides permanently injured first responders access to health care, including mental health care, and critical incident stress management programming.

Latest Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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Rep. Mike Lawler proudly brandishes his bipartisanship while on the stump, reminding voters that hes ranked the fourth most bipartisan member of Congress by Georgetown Universitys Lugar Center, based on all the bills he has co-sponsored with Democrats.

Its an essential in the 17th Congressional District, where Democrats outnumber Republicans and Conservatives by 71,000 voters.

Rep. Mike Lawler speaks with Political Reporter Chris McKenna in The Journal News/lohud office in West Harrison May 21, 2024.

That bipartisanship spirit, however, can get tossed out the window when Lawler speaks at partisan gatherings, such as a fundraiser for former President Donald Trump in Deal, New Jersey on July 28. There, Lawler, R-Pearl River, was among the Republicans who warmed up the crowd before the GOP candidate for president spoke to a throng of donors.

He spoke before a podium with a Trump-Vance campaign sign, backed by a line of American flags.

This election is a choice, said Lawler in a recording of the speech obtained by the USA TODAY Network. A choice between a candidate for president who loves this country, who cares about this country, who believes in this country, versus a party that hates this country. This is a choice.

Mike Lawlers team says statement was meant to discuss things he saw from far-left activists

When asked how his speech fit under the bipartisan umbrella, Lawler spokesman Chris Russell said Lawler regretted the depiction of the Democratic Party. Russell acknowledged that painting Democrats at large as haters of the United States of America was a step too far.

"Congressman Lawler regrets his recent comments, which lacked proper context and painted with too broad a brush, said Russell. His intent was to condemn the virulent antisemitism and anti-American hatred he personally witnessed from far-left activists recently in Washington D.C., during Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's visit and this summer at Columbia and other college campuses.

Lawler, said Russell, believes that a goodly chunk of Americans cherish our nation.

Sadly, there are elements on the fringes of both parties who would rather tear America apart than bring us together, Russell said. For his part, Congressman Lawler has always believed that the vast majority of Americans  regardless of party  love our country, even if they disagree on its direction.

Russell added that Jones has used what he calls hateful rhetoric throughout his political career.

Mondaire Jones, on the other hand, has repeatedly doubled and tripled down on hateful rhetoric smearing law enforcement, border agents, and Republicans in the most vile and divisive way," said Russell.

More: Mondaire Jones won't apologize for calling Trump, Vance threats to democracy

Mondaire Jones replies to statements about Lawler, himself

Jones, in an interview said that Lawlers remarks revealed how the Congressman felt comfortable making such remarks when speaking in his safe space, surrounded by Republicans.

Mike Lawler finally got to be himself, said Jones. He got to be the MAGA extremist that I and others who follow him know him to be. This came out when he thought the cameras were off. He stood in front of a sign for Trump-Vance and said that Democrats hate America.

Noting how Lawler suggested he could incite violence when by criticizing the Republican attack on democracy just days after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, Jones said Lawlers sharp critique in Deal was far worse.

This is a guy who just a few weeks ago, said we need to turn tone down the rhetoric after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, said Jones. But when the cameras are off, Mike Lawler shows that he is the one responsible for turning up the rhetoric and inciting the kind of violence that you could expect from someone saying that an entire political party hates the United States of America.

Former Rep. Mondaire Jones, D-Sleepy Hollow, spoke at the opening of Democratic headquarters in Carmel on July 20.

Bipartisanship and today's rhetoric

Interviews with Republicans and Democrats in the district found voters with a heart for bipartisanship but an ear for whats heard in the political arena.

Don Scott, a Bedford Republican and member of a national bipartisan group called Braver Angels, likes to promote civil discourse in the public sphere through his weekly column at Halstead Media publications.

In a recent column, Scott observed that there were twice as many swing districts in the U.S. 25 years ago  164 to 82 today. The 17th District in the Lower Hudson Valley is one of those swing districts.

He said Lawler's comments were the kind of sharp critiques that can flow when an elected official meets with the party faithful. But he said it might hurt Lawler among Democrats.

That was raw meat for the partisans, which everybody engages in, said Scott, a former Bedford Town Board member and former president of the Katonah-Lewisboro school district. Im sure we have that on both sides. The rhetoric that says the other side hates this country is not helpful when you want to reach across the aisle.

Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson, D-Nyack, said she hoped Lawler didnt mean it when he said that all Democrats hate the nation.

I hope thats not what the Congressman really meant  that the 41% of his constituents who are registered Democrats, including teachers, police officers, firefighters, veterans, and active service members, hate our country, she said. I work with Republicans at every level of government in Rockland, including Congressman Lawler. I would never say any of them hate America."

More: Mondaire Jones loses Working Families party primary to mystery Rockland man in final count

At the Croton River rally on Monday, Yorktown Democrat Mark Lieberman said that Lawler, a former political consultant whose company earned $4 million from a Trump-aligned political action committee in 2020, questioned the candidate's approach at the Deal fundraiser.

"With his Trump buddies, his path to the future, was he saying what he really feels or is he a man of no principles, who goes along to get along?" said Lieberman.

Up on Capitol Hill, Lawler is a superstar at the Lugar Center, which keeps tracks of bipartisan cooperation and gave Lawler his coveted 4th place ranking. While not addressing Jones' remarks, Lugar Center Policy Director Dan Diller said that Lawler has regularly reached across the aisle to work with Democrats.

One doesn't score that high accidentally, Diller said. It takes deliberate effort and a decision by the member and his/her staff to prioritize that approach."

But maintaining that approach can be tricky when you need to energize your base while maintaining decent relations with the opposing party, especially in today's world, where most everyone has a mobile phone with a camera.

"Remarks that you make in another state to a particular group can easily be used against you," said Jeanne Zaino, a professor of political science at Iona University. "The trick is to maintain your base and not take actions that offend the other side, to cobble together enough of a bipartisan majority to keep or take the seat. You look at Westchester, and voters are more willing to cross party lines."

What Mondaire Jones said about his own past statements

The comments noted by Russell date back to 2020 through August 2023. Almost a year ago, Jones said in an interview that to run for Congress as a Republican in 2023/24 is to knowingly and deliberately accept the fact that you are part of a fascist movement in the United States of America.

Russell also noted a comment Jones made in Teen Vogue in 2020, in which Jones called the Immigration Enforcement and Customs agency "a racist institution."

"Mr. Jones has made a career out of saying outrageous and hateful things about people and groups he doesn't like," said Russell. "Jones has likened police officers to white supremacists; he said anyone who belongs to or supports the Republican Party today is a fascist; and he said that the brave men and women who enforce our immigration laws are racists."

Jones recalled that his characterization of ICE came in January 2021 when ICE was deporting undocumented immigrants to Haiti and Cameroon, in defiance of an executive order. At the time, he championed the case of Paul Pierrilus, a man born to Haiti parents in the Leeward Islands who emigrated to the US at age 5, who worked as a financial advisor in Spring Valley.

Jones does not shy away from his statements about Republican flirtation with elements of fascism. He notes that former President Trump played a role in attempting to overthrow the results of the 2020 presidential election and has threatened revenge on his political opponents if he is victorious in November.

Donald Trump doesnt regret trying to overturn the last presidential election and says he wants to go after his political opponents, said Jones. He has said he wants to suspend the Constitution and be a dictator on Day One. Those are real threats to democracy.

Sign up for Wilson's weekly newsletter for insights into his Tax Watch columns.

David McKay Wilson writes about tax issues and government accountability. Follow him on Twitter @davidmckay415 or email him at dwilson3@lohud.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Mike Lawler regrets saying Democrats 'hate this country' at Trump event
BEIRUT, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib on Thursday slammed "Israel's deliberate targeting of civilians in its attacks on Lebanon," according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants.

Bou Habib made the remarks during a phone call with his Norwegian counterpart, Espen Barth Eide, during which they discussed the latest efforts to spare the region from a comprehensive war amid Israel's escalation in Lebanon and Iran, as well as its ongoing military operations in Lebanon and Gaza.

During their talks, Bou Habib denounced Israel's actions as "a flagrant violation of international laws."

For his part, the Norwegian foreign minister stressed that his country is seeking to de-escalate the situation and "prevent events from getting out of hand."

He said that protecting the interests of the Palestinians and achieving a ceasefire in Gaza requires efforts to avoid igniting a war in the region.

Tensions are high in Lebanon following Israel's killing of a Hezbollah senior military commander Fouad Shokor last week. Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has threatened retaliation. 
These laws seek to simplify the wheelchair repair process in Wisconsin. How do they work?

For years, disability advocates and people who use wheelchairs and other mobility equipment have complained that Wisconsin law makes it unnecessarily hard to repair their devices. But in the past year, two bills passed by the state Legislature have sought to address delays to the repair process.

Act 83 eliminates the requirement for Medicaid prior authorization and doctors prescriptions for wheelchair and complex rehabilitative technology repairs.

Act 182 increases the reimbursement rate for complex rehabilitative technology and accessories.

Here's what you need to know about the new laws.

What is causing wheelchair users in Wisconsin to face delays in getting repairs?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain delays have contributed to longer wait times to repair wheelchairs and other mobility devices.

According to a 2023 report by the National Disability Rights Network, staffing cuts at manufacturing companies, slowed shipment of repair parts and a diminishing number of local repair shops have contributed to longer wait times. Advocates believe delays are at least partially caused by the desire of companies to maximize profits.

People who use mobility devices face weekslong or monthslong repair processes as a result.

Prior to Act 83, Wisconsin's prior authorization requirement also meant that a person had to get a prescription from a medical provider and approval from Medicaid to initiate a repair of wheelchair or scooter, a process known as prior authorization.

Manufacturers said the process was tedious and time-consuming.

More: She waited over a year to get her wheelchair. In Wisconsin and elsewhere, that's typical.

How long does prior authorization for wheelchair repairs take?

According to National Seating and Mobility, one of the country's primary wheelchair manufacturers, the wheelchair repair process takes approximately six to twelve weeks.

It can take between one to three weeks for repairers to collect medical information and complete the necessary documentation for a client's insurance company or alternative funding source, and one to three weeks to get the coverage approved.

Wisconsin state law requires the Department of Health Services to make decisions regarding prior authorization within 10 days of receiving a repair request.

What was the purpose of Act 83?

With the passage of Act 83, you no longer need prior authorization from Medicaid or a doctors prescription to get your wheelchair or mobility device repaired.

Sen. Mary Felzkowski, a co-author of Act 83, said the elimination of pre-authorization should speed up the repair process for wheelchair users.

"Most of the people that are in these wheelchairs, they have quality of life issues and mobility issues," she told the Journal Sentinel in March. "They're in the workforce, and we're taking all that away from them if we have to wait six weeks for an authorized repair."

Wisconsin state Sen. Mary Felzkowski, R-Irma, debates the local government funding bill in Madison during the Senate session in June 2023.

Who is covered by Act 83?

According to representatives from the Department of Health Services, Act 83 only applies to Medicaid members with fee-for-service coverage, not those covered through managed care.

If you have a fee-for-service coverage plan, otherwise known as a traditional insurance plan, then suppliers are reimbursed for services provided.

The new rules do not apply to managed care plans like Family Care, Family Care Partnership, or Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).

How quickly is Act 83 being implemented?

The Department of Health Services officials said the new regulations and the removal of the Medicaid prior authorization requirement for repairs are being implemented throughout the summer of 2024.

As of August 2024, the ForwardHealth website states that prior authorization is not required if:

Wisconsin Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus purchased the equipment;

The equipment is more than one year old; and

The charge is: $50 or less for home health durable medical equipment indicated in the Durable Medical Equipment Index, $150.00 or less for manual wheelchairs or power operated vehicles, or $300.00 or less for power wheelchairs.

What does Act 182 do?

Wisconsin Medicaid reimburses providers for fixing members' wheelchairs and other types of complex rehabilitative technology. Act 182 increases the amount of that reimbursement, which providers have long said is too low.

The law also sets a limit on how much Medicaid can charge patients. With the passage of Act 182, Medicaid can only charge a maximum copayment of $3 for complex rehabilitative technology, according to the Department of Health Services. However, many members, like children and pregnant people, are exempt from Medicaid copayments.

Who is covered by Act 182?

Unlike Act 83, Act 182 applies to managed care programs like Family Care, Family Care Partnership, or Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).

What is the process for initiating a wheelchair repair in Wisconsin?

The process for starting a wheelchair repair depends on how the repair is discovered. According to DHS, most repairs follows these steps.

A person or their caregiver identifies a needed repair. They contact their durable medical equipment vendor, who evaluates the system in-person or virtually. The repair company collects medical information and completes related documentation to submit to the insurance company. DHS makes decisions about prior authorization for the repair within 10 days of receipt. Replacement parts are purchased and shipped to the repairer. The wheelchair user schedules an appointment with the repairer to complete the repair. In some cases, clients leave their device with the vendor for repair or goes to the repair shop to have their device fixed on-site.

Are there any scenarios in which a repair would be denied?

All repair requests undergo a "medical necessity review."

In Wisconsin, Medicaid does not reimburse for "excessive repairs," according to the Department of Health Services. Instead of repeatedly repairing a badly damaged or ineffective device, it is often recommended that a person be issued a new device.

For example, "if the member has continual repairs for the joystick of their power wheelchair, the drive mechanism of the wheelchair may need to be reconsidered for the members safety and longevity of the equipment," a DHS spokesperson said.

Similarly, Wisconsin Medicaid will not approve the purchase of a new item if only small repairs are necessary to fix a device.

Providers are not allowed to deny service to a Medicaid member because of an inability to pay the Medicaid copayment.

Can you rent or borrow a wheelchair or mobility device if yours breaks?

If you are a fee-for-service Medicaid member, the vendor making the repair can likely provide a temporary device to use. Durable medical equipment vendors are reimbursed for rental wheelchairs while maintenance is being performed.

According to representative from National Seating and Mobility, one of the largest complex mobility technology suppliers in the country, not all commercial insurance plans cover loaner chairs, but, some companies provide them for a small cost. The inventory of chairs can change week-by-week, so availability is not always guaranteed.

Managed care organizations also often cover the cost of a temporary piece of mobility equipment or support while a member waits for a repair.

Where can I find more updates about Wisconsin's wheelchair repair policies?

ForwardHealth communicates with providers about coverage policies, including rates, through ForwardHealth Updates.

Coverage policy changes that are announced in ForwardHealth Updates are then incorporated into the ForwardHealth Online Handbook on the ForwardHealth provider portal.

Tamia Fowlkes is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at tfowlkes@gannett.com.

This story was published with the assistance of the Journalism and Women Symposium (JAWS) Health Journalism Fellowship, supported by The Commonwealth Fund. The organizations played no role in the reporting, editing or presentation of this project.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New Wisconsin laws aim to address delays in wheelchair repair
Layla Merrifield, current executive director of the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association, will take over as president of the Wisconsin Technical College System on Sept. 9, 2024.

Layla Merrifield, the executive director of the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association, is leveling up to become president of the state's largest public higher education system. Her appointment was announced Thursday.

Merrifield, 46, will begin the presidential role Sept. 9, earning an annual salary of $230,000.

As president of the Wisconsin Technical College System, Merrifield will run the state's public system of 16 two-year colleges that together receive more than $625 million in annual state funding. Last year they educated nearly 288,000 students. By comparison, a fall 2023 headcount of University of Wisconsin System students was 162,500.

Merrifield has been executive director of the district boards association since 2015. Before that, she was a fiscal analyst for the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau and technical college policy adviser.

The 13-person, mostly governor-appointed public board overseeing the state's technical colleges conducted final interviews with Merrifield and the only other final candidate, Robert Griggs, on Wednesday. Griggs is president of Southeast Technical College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Merrifield will replace Morna Foy, who announced her retirement in March after serving as president for 12 years. Foy has been with the technical college system in various roles since 1998.

The board overseeing the search for Foy's replacement advertised the position nationally, but did not contract with an executive search firm. It drew a pool of 30 applicants.

Layla has been a fierce advocate for Wisconsins technical colleges for many years, and her knowledge of WTCS, our colleges and Wisconsins legislature makes her the perfect candidate to fill this role," reads a prepared statement from Mark Tyler, chair of the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.

Cleo Krejci covers higher education, vocational training and retraining as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at CKrejci@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @_CleoKrejci. Support her work with a tax-deductible donation at bit.ly/RFADonation.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Layla Merrifield named president of Wisconsin two-year college system
At the Indiana Republican Partys convention in June, ultra-conservative pastor Micah Beckwith was nominated for lieutenant governor, running alongside Sen. Mike Braun. Beckwith, a fervent Trump supporter, is known for his anti-woke stances and, more troubling, his endorsement of Christian nationalism.

Beckwith frequently merges his conservative politics with his faith, notably claiming in a social media video that God "sent those riots to Washington" following the Jan. 6th insurrection. This perspective, embraced by many white Christian nationalists nationwide, is alarming for someone potentially serving as Indiana's next lieutenant governor.

Briggs: Mike Braun deserves every minute of his new political hell

As a Christian and leader of a Black congregation in Indiana, I am deeply troubled by the rise of white Christian nationalism. This movement hijacks our faith for political purposes, manipulating followers to pray for their agenda while steering them away from true biblical teachings. This exploitation undermines our religion and furthers divisive and hateful policies.

Polling by PRRI reveals 10% of Americans adhere to Christian nationalism, with 19% sympathizing with its values. In Indiana, 40% of Hoosiers support Christian nationalism and 42% identify as white Christian nationalists. This group has a significant influence on the states politics and distorts the image of Christianity for their gain, such as nominating Beckwith as their standard bearer.

Christianitys core narrative is one of oppressed people seeking liberation. From Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt to Jesuss acts against the Roman Empire, our faith is rooted in building a world that does not exclude or oppress. My historically Black church embodies this narrative, focusing on liberation and equity.

However, in Indiana, Christian nationalists twist this tradition. They use Christs teachings of love and hospitality to justify hate and exclusion. Jesus extended respect and dignity to the marginalized, such as prostitutes and tax collectors  qualities Beckwith and his supporters deny to those who disagree with them.

For over a decade, Ive pastored my congregation with a message of love. We support a womans right to control her own body, in contrast to Beckwith, who celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade as a victory in the broader struggle for the soul of our nation.

Micah Beckwith is the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor.

If Beckwith were truly pro-life, he would advocate for stricter gun laws and universal health care. His focus is on restricting womens rights, not addressing broader issues like gun violence reduction or tempering big pharmas power in our healthcare system.

Beckwiths calls to ban abortion as an extension of Gods will fall flat as the Bible rarely mentions abortion, much less restricts it. Women seeking abortions in Indiana have faced humiliation and threats, which contradicts the respect and dignity Jesus showed to marginalized individuals, such as the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. In contrast, white Christian nationalists like Beckwith perpetuate exclusion rather than the inclusivity Jesus embodied.

We, as Christians, should also extend respect and dignity to immigrants and those seeking better lives. Members of the LGBTQ community should be accepted and not shunned.

Beckwith, meanwhile, has pushed to deny non-citizens education, supported hateful conspiracy theories like the "great replacement theory" and advocated for book bans targeting literature on the Black and LGBTQ experiences. This opposes biblical teachings, where the People of God are reminded to welcome outsiders and embrace those who are different from us.

Christian nationalism is not new; it resurfaces each generation, requiring those who understand Jesuss teachings to confront it. Last century, it justified the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. Today, it supports a new movement. Alt-right politicians use it to rally Christians based on fear, pushing for unpopular abortion restrictions, anti-immigrant policies, book bans and even violence against political opponents. These beliefs are not biblical and are not shared by the Black church.

Dr. Martin Luther King once said, The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. The Black church must keep this tenet in mind and reject extremists like Micah Beckwith who claim to speak for us.

Darrell Brooks is the pastor of New Liberty Missionary Baptist Church in Indianapolis as well as a co-chair of the Black Church Coalition, a group focused on mobilizing Black communities to build political power and drive social change in Indiana.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Micah Beckwith's white Christian nationalism puts politics over faith
The leader of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement reflects on a year since the Lahaina fire

Kuhio Lewis, CEO of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, stands for a portrait between two under-construction modular housing units at the Ke Ao Maluhia housing development, Monday, July 8, 2024, in Kahului, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

KAHULUI, Hawaii (AP)  On a Monday morning in July, 11 months after the devastating Lahaina fires, the Kakoo Maui Resource Center was still busy.

Sunlight poured through big windows. A young man with a white flower tucked behind his ear sat behind a desk near the door, smiling as he greeted visitors. Hawaiian music played overhead, and a television screen looped images of colorful hibiscus and bright beaches. Two men were talking story in the waiting area, trading stories of what they each lost in the fire, as they waited their turn to receive the essential services offered here.

This converted storefront inside a Kahului strip mall is the hub of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, or CNHA, a 23-year-old organization that has become a crucial leader in Mauis recovery from the devastating fires that killed at least 102 people and displaced 12,000.

The center is divided into stations that address various needs: housing, financial assistance and mental health support. There are FEMA and Red Cross tables, but everything that happens here is led by locals. The staff themselves are Lahaina survivors, some of whom lost their own homes.

We created this center as a way to culturally approach the disaster recovery, said Kuhio Lewis, the councils CEO. The concept here is come in, feel the spirit of aloha, see somebody that youre familiar with, so we can help you through the process.

More than 6,000 families have been helped at the center, but this is only one piece of CNHAs robust recovery project. It financially supports families who take in displaced loved ones, leases apartments for survivors, runs workforce development programs to train people for cleanup and construction jobs, and builds temporary housing for families.

Its work has helped fill the gap between Maui residents and federal and nonprofit agencies from the continental United States who struggled to grasp Hawaiis landscape, culture, and the historical trauma its people already bore.

We understand the needs of the community a lot better, said Lewis.

The Associated Press spoke with Lewis a few weeks before the one-year anniversary of the Aug. 8, 2023 fires. He discussed what it was like to suddenly receive support from all over the world, how CNHA became one of the most crucial providers of housing for survivors, what hes most proud of, and what still worries him about Mauis long recovery.

His answers have been edited for clarity and length.

_____

Q: The flood of donations to Maui broke records. What was it like to receive such a sudden rush of support?

A: Weve had over 22,000 donors from all over the world. They were small  as little as $5. There was a kid from another state who sent us a letter in the mail with $12 cash. He said he recycled cans and wanted to support. Thats the stuff you dont forget. Maybe you got a $100,000 check earlier in the week, but that $12 meant a lot for that kid.

The in-kind donations must have been in the millions. All of the shipping costs for the building supplies. The stoves and microwaves and AC needed for the homes were building. The warehouse space for donations. School supplies. Everybody is throwing in.

Between the money weve raised, the money that weve gotten from Hawaii Community Foundation, which has been very supportive of our work, and the money weve gotten from the government, its over $40 million.

Its getting harder to raise money. Were still living off of what we raised in the first five months or so. But the moneys going to run out at some point. Which is partly why weve pivoted to housing. It has a longer lifespan.

_____

Q: Some of CNHAs most innovative programs have centered on housing. How did you craft your strategy?

A: When we first launched our resource center, the community was telling us, We need housing. There were 12,000 individuals that were displaced. That was around 9,000 families that needed someplace to go.

Many survivors were already staying with friends and family. Thats very normal in a Hawaii community, where you lean on your friends and family. So we came up with our first program, which was the Host Housing Support Program, where we provided financial help to those that were caretaking for survivors. That was unique.

As things started to progress, we started renting homes under our organization and subletting them to survivors to minimize the amount of back and forth that would have been required between survivors, who were already going through a lot, and landlords.

Over longer periods of time, the rental market is just too much to sustain. We ultimately landed on, we just have to start building houses. Were building over 60 temporary two-bedroom units. These will serve as dwellings for at least five years.

The strong community sentiment was that they wanted to stay in West Maui, and they wanted to raise their kids in West Maui. Its all towards the end of helping them repopulate back in Lahaina. While youre going through the steps of rebuilding, at least you have someplace to live. But the idea here is to get them back to full normalcy.

_____

Q: CNHA wasnt founded as a disaster recovery organization. Have you worried about straying too far from the councils mission?

A: Our mission is to advance  culturally, politically, economically  Native Hawaiians. And we are doing that, because Native Hawaiians are leading this recovery.

It hasnt taken us away from our mission, because at the end of the day, were for a thriving Hawaii. In this moment, I see our organization as Hawaiians helping to uplift Hawaii. This is our homeland. If were native to this place, we have a responsibility to take care of the people that live here, regardless of their ethnic background.

Sometimes we get too caught up in how to serve ourselves in our ethnic groups. Thats not who we are as a people, as a culture. Its always been inclusive. And so this has returned us to that. We help everybody. Its the spirit of aloha.

_____

Q: In many ways, Maui is only at the beginning of its recovery. At this stage, what worries you most?

A: One of the key things that Im most concerned about is Hawaiis fabric.

What makes Hawaii unique, compared to anywhere around the world, is the culture. And when you start to see mass exodus of the people, you start to change the fabric of Hawaii. Thats whats at stake is the future of who Hawaii is as a people, as a place.

Weve lost thousands already to this fire. Theyve moved off island, to other states. Even before the fire, we were seeing a mass exodus of families leaving for stability outside of Hawaii because the cost of living was just too high.

We need to address the housing situation on Maui. And in the end, what happened here has actually fast-tracked that conversation. Now youre starting to see the policies to shift that trajectory.

We need people to stay home in Hawaii.

_____

Q: What are you most proud of?

A: It meant a lot to hand keys over to this young family that lost everything. I went up (to the 50-unit development being built in Kahului) the other day to check on the progress of the homes, and the kids were playing in the yard. They made their own little makeshift pool using a tarp, and they were just playing water.

Weve been able to give keys to a number of families at this point, and well continue to give those keys.

_____

Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
A proposal to prohibit Metro Nashville Police officers from associating with hate groups was introduced to the Metro Council in July, following a recent rash of neo-Nazi gatherings in downtown Nashville and triggering a debate over free speech rights in the face of racist and antisemitic rhetoric.

The bill, which would disallow MNPD officers from any kind of association with hate groups and paramilitary gangs, including prohibiting display of any tattoos or "posts, 'likes,' jokes, memes, retweets, and other statements that advocate racism, violence, misogyny, homophobia, or other kinds of hate or discrimination," was filed by District 25 Council Member Jeff Preptit.

At the meeting when it was introduced, Preptit said that many hate groups intentionally recruit from law enforcement, though there is no evidence the recent neo-Nazi activity is related to law enforcement. The bill was deferred for weeks after multiple council members brought up concerns regarding First Amendment infringement.

Efforts such as Preptits to address the recent neo-Nazi demonstrations in Nashville have spurred mixed responses and discussions from city and state lawmakers over how to uphold First Amendment rights while also buffering residents from hate speech and activity.

City, state response mixed on how to approach free speech

A fence surrounding a late July peace rally at Bicentennial Park provided a perfect view of the literal and metaphorical divide between the two extremes that have walked city streets over the past month.

On one side of the fence, community members gathered on amphitheater steps with music, dance and a plethora of signs declaring love for Nashville and those in it. Community leaders ranging from Mayor Freddie OConnell to Jewish Federation President Leslie Kirby and local advocacy leaders for myriad issues mingled under the goal of reinforcing peace and community in a city that has worked so hard to cultivate it.

Mere feet over the fence, however, arguments broke out between attendees and a small group of neo-Nazis. With sweat dripping, masks slipping  and in the case of one man, a mohawk drooping in the heat  the neo-Nazis held aloft tiny pamphlets scrawled with antisemitic messages and wielded livestreaming iPhones.

The event marked the most notable public acknowledgement by the city of the sudden uptick in neo-Nazi activity.

Those who abuse the powers of the First Amendment for the powers of hatred and fear are not entitled to tolerance and acceptance, OConnell said at the event. We will continue our efforts to ensure they confront ongoing difficulty when they try.

Just days prior, the Metro Council strongly rebuked another crowd of neo-Nazis who had signed up to speak at their meeting.

Wearing shirts emblazoned with swastikas and the words whites against replacement, the demonstrators lined the back of a decidedly diverse council room that was none too friendly to their presence.

I want to say to all these visitors from out of town: Youre not welcome here, At-Large Council Member Zulfat Suara said, kicking off the announcements phase of the meeting. You have the right to march, but there is no room for hate here."

As Suara spoke, the Nazi group jeered and heckled from the back of the room, yelling racist expletives, pornographic allegations and mocking comments.

Metro Nashville Police keep counter protesters and out-of-state neo-Nazi group members separated while the neo-Nazi members leave after a heated exchange with counter protesters in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The exchange was following a Metro City Council meeting.

At another gathering just days after that, a member of one of the neo-Nazi groups said they visited Nashville because "it's the only place that respects freedom of speech," when confronted by a NewsChannel5 reporter.

Despite the relatively uniform response from city leaders both condemning hatred and upholding the First Amendment, messaging from state lawmakers and officials regarding the free speech rights of neo-Nazis has been mixed.

Shortly after the peace rally, the same group of neo-Nazis went on to harass children busking in downtown Nashville, prompting further outrage from Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville.

At a news conference regarding the harassment, Jones said the incident was not about freedom of expression when asked how he intended to address the rise in hate groups while also upholding First Amendment rights in cases that are not blatant harassment.

Hate speech is not free speech, he said.

Hate speech is indeed protected under the First Amendment, while clear cases of harassment and threats of violence are not.

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, through his communications director, declined to comment for this story.

Over in a Davidson County General Sessions courtroom a week prior, Assistant District Attorney General Joey Clifton argued on behalf of the city against Ryan McCann, a 29-year-old Canadian member of the Goyim Defense League, one of the neo-Nazi groups involved in the recent demonstrations.

A fight between an employee at a local bar, Deago Buck, and several members of an out-of-state neo-Nazi group spills out into the streets downtown on Broadway in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, July 14, 2024.

McCann was accused of using a flagpole to beat a downtown bartender who had just been involved in a physical altercation with members of the neo-Nazi group on July 14. He faces a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

Clifton argued McCanns words did not count as protected speech because the very words inflicted harm.

As your honor knows, you can't yell 'fire' in a crowded theater, and your honor also can't say words in somebody's face that the very utterance inflicts injury or tends to incite immediate breach of the peace, he said.

McCann sat in the courtroom beside his attorney, quiet without his jeering compatriots. His case was bound over to a grand jury, which is expected to be scheduled in the coming months. The bartender involved in the altercation, Deago Buck, was initially charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The charges were dropped on Aug. 6.

Hate speech must be fought with free speech, says First Amendment advocate

The confusion and hesitation exhibited by leaders regarding First Amendment boundaries is not surprising because the topic is rarely a clear-cut issue, said Nadine Strossen, a professor of law emerita at New York Law School with a specialty in First Amendment issues and a former president of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Strossen said the issue lawmakers face when confronted with situations like the one in Nashville is the frequent misunderstanding of what hate speech is actually protected.

Hate speech is sometimes protected and sometimes unprotected, she said. It is very fact specific and very contextual, taking into account not only the message of the speech, but also all the facts and circumstances in which it is uttered.

Strossen said that the line between legal and illegal hate speech usually rests on two core principles: viewpoint neutrality principle and the emergency principle.

Government may never suppress speech solely because of disapproval of that viewpoint, she said. That is for us as individuals, and acting through our democratic sovereignty, to decide what we want to listen to, what we don't want to listen to, what we want to refute, what we want to ignore, and so forth.

Some hate speech, however, enters the realm of the second principle: the emergency principle.

This is speech that imminently threatens or directly causes specific serious harm, she said. This speech can and should be restricted, and the Supreme Court has recognized several categories of speech that satisfy this context-based concept of an emergency.

Examples of this include the concept of a true threat, when a speaker specifically threatens an individual that either intentionally or recklessly instills a reasonable fear on the part of the audience members that they are going to be subject to a violent attack, according to Strossen.

The law does not require that the speaker intend to actually carry out the violence because the harm is already done, she said. If you have a reasonable fear that you're going to be attacked, that already hampers your own freedom of speech, not to mention your freedom of movement and your privacy.

Detonio Wilson, 10, Xavior Jackson, Rotaries Wilson, 14, show Rep. Justin Jones, D- Nashville how to drum on buckets following a press conference hosted by Rep. Justin Jones, D- Nashville, at the Tennessee Capitol, in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, July 24, 2024. The press conference was concerning an incident where the group of boys were verbally harassed with racial slurs by an out-of-state neo-Nazi group when the boys were downtown Nashville while drumming buckets on the street.

Based on these principles, Strossen said, the majority of the recent neo-Nazi demonstrations  clearly barring the harassment of the five children and the physical altercation with the downtown bartender  fall under protected hate speech.

If they're expressing an idea, even a loathsome idea, rather than targeting a particular individual passerby, that is likely to be protected speech, she said.

Strossen recommends local leaders respond through enforcement of already-established rules, rather than new measures that could infringe on free speech. Rules dictating required permits for large gatherings, for example, in addition to noise ordinances, rules on sound amplification and more go a long distance in dampening the impact of ill-meaning demonstrators, Strossen said.

Most importantly, she said, cities need to educate law enforcement on the boundaries of free speech.

Make absolutely sure that law enforcement is prepared to intervene, to prevent and if necessary, to punish somebody whose conduct does go beyond protected free speech to either become a form of punishable speech, or worse yet, some kind of assault or other law infraction, Strossen said.

Lastly, Strossen said lawmakers need to resist the urge to censor offensive speech.

We should resist hate speech with free speech, not censorship, she said. At best, it's ineffective, and at worst, it's counterproductive.  Punishing expression is not an effective way to change people's minds. It will harden people in their attitudes. It will turn them into free speech martyrs. It will gain them attention and sympathy that they otherwise never would have received.

If your goal is to deny them the oxygen and attention that they're seeking, then you absolutely have to oppose any kind of censorship, because that's exactly what they are hoping you will do  censor them.

Tennessee offers a unique environment for extremism, expert says

The discussion of hate speech as a part of free speech is nothing new, especially as the number of hate groups rises across the United States.

But Tennessee, it seems, has a particularly strong relationship with the issue.

When asked whether neo-Nazi demonstrations are happening more in other places as compared to Nashville, Jeff Tischauser, a researcher at the Southern Poverty Law Center who focuses on hate groups, said that the quick answer is no, but that circumstances in Nashville make it a particularly fertile place for that type of demonstration.

A fight between an employee at a local bar, Deago Buck, and several members of an out-of-state neo-Nazi group spills out into the streets downtown near Broadway in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, July 14, 2024.

He said three of the main Nazi groups the center monitors  Patriot Front, the Blood Tribe and Goyim Defense League  have all targeted other cities, but what's odd is all three of them have targeted Nashville. All three groups have demonstrated publicly in Nashville this year.

There's clearly something going on in the movement that sees Nashville as a place to get media attention and to try to circulate a message, he said.

Tischauser said he can see a few reasons for this, which all focus on a specific theme: Nashville being a Democratic stronghold in a majority Republican state.

These groups perceive that even though Nashville is a blue place, they know it's a tourist attraction and they know that people from across political ideologies go there, Tischauser said. And these groups think that they could try to reach members of the conservative movement, or who they think are part of the conservative movement.

According to Tischauser, many of these groups take credit for legislation recently passed by the Republican supermajority at the state level, especially regarding anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

They see the bills being passed by the state GOP in Tennessee  and these groups will argue to themselves on these forums that they're the ones pushing the GOP, that they're the ones on the street, showing people what these degenerate groups are doing, Tischauser said. And then they give themselves a round of applause.

While Tischauser acknowledges these groups have First Amendment rights, he recommends that city and law enforcement officials become more knowledgeable on where the line should be drawn.

I would encourage policymakers to think about that line between what's protected and what's unprotected speech, he said. And if there are law enforcement officers following these groups around, which they should be, then they need to be really trained on when that line is crossed, so that they could stop  these racist maniacs from escalating a situation.

Statehouse reporter Vivian Jones contributed to this report.

The USA TODAY Network - Tennessee's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners.

Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@gannett.com, by phone at 931-623-9485, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville fights with neo-Nazi, white supremacist, free speech problem
At least 9 Russian kamikaze drones flew into Belarus in July, monitoring project says

At least nine Russian Shahed-type kamikaze drones flew off course and entered Belarus during Russia's attacks on Ukraine in July, the Belarusian Hajun monitoring group reported on Aug. 8.

Of the nine drones, seven flew back into Ukrainian airspace, while one was downed over Gomel Oblast in Belarus after flying for more than 400 kilometers (248 miles). The fate of one other drone is unknown, the monitoring group said.

The drone flew into Belarusian airspace on the night of July 13, traveling more than 350 kilometers (217 miles). According to Hajun, the drone reached Vitebsk in northeast Belarus and then disappeared.

The monitoring group noted that "despite the massive and regular flights of UAVs into the airspace of Belarus," Minsk made "practically no comments" on the situation.

Belarus did, however, start sending Su-30 fighter jets to fly to the south of the country during Russian attacks on Ukraine, Hajun noted.

The largest entry of Russian drones into Belarus' airspace took place overnight on July 31, when Russia launched 89 Shahed-type attack drones at Ukraine. Ukraine's Air Force said that all the drones were downed.

At least five drones crossed into Belarus during this attack, marking the largest single entry of Russian drones into Belarus's airspace since the start of the full-scale invasion, Hajun said.

While most of the drones almost immediately exited the country into Ukrainian airspace, one of them traveled more than 260 kilometers (around 161 miles) over Belarus, reaching the town of Stolin in Brest Oblast.

Read also: Ukraines unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast brings war back to Russian soil

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Lebanon, NH.  The Lebanon Police Department and the New Hampshire Drug Task Force arrested a woman on Wednesday for possessing cocaine and fentanyl.

Police claim that Casey Goodrich, 29, of Lebanon, was found possessing drugs and other related paraphernalia during a traffic stop on Mechanic Street. Officers recovered roughly half an ounce of fentanyl, a large amount of U.S. currency, and various items consistent with drug distribution.

Goodrich was also in violation of release conditions from her arrest last month, on July 18th. She has been arrested and charged with a class A misdemeanor, possession of controlled drugs, and both class A and class B felonies.

Goodrich was held at the Grafton County House of Corrections, and expected to appear in court at the 2nd Circuit Lebanon District Court on August 8th.

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A aerial view of the State House complex with the south entrance of the Cross Building highlighted. (Screenshot)

A unanimous vote from Maines Legislative Council Wednesday advanced plans to improve State House security, an increasing concern following several threats in recent years as the political climate has intensified.

The vote was solely to approve the use of an old cafe space near the State House entrance to build a new screening area, but it is a key piece of a broader project that had been approved by the 130th Legislature in 2021.

The project centers around security concerns with the Cross Building, which currently lacks any regular security screenings or controlled access points, unlike the State House.

Located adjacent to the State House and connected to it via an underground tunnel, the Cross Building houses nine of the Legislatures 15 joint standing committees as well as the offices of the Maine Attorney General, the Department of Administration and Financial Services, the State Treasurer, the Department of Education and part of the Secretary of States offices.

As part of the 2021 law, a security study found that visitors could enter the Cross Building via the State House without having to go through the State House security screening, said Tyler Barter of Oak Point Associates, the contractor for the project.

The Legislative Council, which is made up of the ten elected members of legislative leadership, on Wednesday approved the new screening space to alleviate this loophole. The project will also add a screening area at the south entrance of the Cross Building.

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Additional security measures will be added outside of legislative buildings, as well. Access to leadership parking lots and the loading dock of the Cross Building will also be restricted by adding gates. A new antenna will also be added to the Cross Building to improve police communications.

Outside of the secure entrances, the remaining State House and Cross Building entrances will be locked to the public but accessible to those with security clearance who have key cards.

Credentialed people who can open doors to the public will always be a weak link, Barter said, which is why the project also involves the relocation of police at entrances.

Overall, the project is expected to cost close to $7 million, with funding already allocated through bonds from the Maine Governmental Facilities Authority and additional ongoing costs for added police positions allocated in the last budget.

The targeted completion for the whole project is December 2025, with bidding and contracts expected to be awarded this fall.

While Wednesdays vote was unanimous it came after several lawmakers voiced concern about the projects price tag.

House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) objected to the focus on infrastructure rather than personnel changes to address security concerns.

I would feel much safer with the kind of money that was just spoke of there being put into law enforcement salaries and paying for additional law enforcement around here, Faulkingham said.

Assistant Senate Majority Leader Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland), who serves on the State House Facilities Committee, said the infrastructure changes are intended to be made in conjunction with an eventual increased police presence.

One of the things thats incumbent on Leg Council is we want to make it clear that we want to recommend to the next Legislature that we do that, but I also know that a lot of the infrastructure changes that are in these plans have been asked for by our law enforcement folks, Daughtry said.

Elaine Clark, deputy commissioner of operations for the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, said her department has been working closely with the Department of Public Safety on the project. Clark noted that the Cross Building is the only building occupied by state employees and legislators that has zero control over access by anyone, so it is not a good situation.

Lawmakers agreed with the need for change, pointing to specific situations last session when legislators were directed to the unsecure Cross Building after having to evacuate the State House.

It was completely absurd, said Assistant House Minority Leader Amy Bradstreet Arata (R-New Gloucester), so I agree that we need to do something I am just very protective of taxpayer dollars and the $7 million price tag makes me feel like were being taken advantage of, but I understand that ship has sailed.

Given financial concerns, lawmakers asked Clark to provide a detailed overview of the budget at a future Legislative Council meeting.

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By Catarina Demony and Marissa Davison

LONDON (Reuters) - Anti-racism activists say they acted quickly to get people to come together to stop days of far-right rioting in Britain but that the main test for their fight against hate lies ahead.

Jo Cardwell, 51, is a volunteer at Stand Up to Racism, which was behind many of the counter-protests challenging the racist violence that has shaken communities in recent days.

After more than three decades of activism, she knew the movements had to activate national anti-racism networks fast when far-right groups opposed to immigration and others began targeting Muslims, Black people and asylum seekers last week.

"In many places, we were ready but we need more people all the time," said Cardwell, who was chief steward at Wednesday's biggest anti-racism protest in Walthamstow, north London. "This is a scale of attack that we have never seen before."

In scenes echoed across the country, crowds holding banners and chanting 'Refugees are welcome here' gathered outside an immigration advice centre in Walthamstow that had appeared on a list of far-right targets posted online, fending off potential threats. Officials said strong policing also put off the rioters.

"Our society is richer because of multiculturalism, it is richer because of the people who have come here," Cardwell said ahead of the protest. "These are things that should be celebrated and fought for, not things to be feared."

The riots began after a wave of false online posts wrongly identified the suspected killer of three young girls in a knife attack on July 29 in Southport, northwest England, as an Islamist migrant.

An estimated 25,000 people joined counter-protests across Britain on Wednesday alone, largely outnumbering the far-right, thanks partly to well-established contacts with trade unions, religious groups and the labour movement, Cardwell said.

Peter Achan, an activist who also attended the Walthamstow protest, said it was crucial for communities to continue to come together to "stop the hate".

"If we don't stand up against it, there is more chance this hate will continue to grow," Achan said.

Both the far-right and those opposing them have been using social media to share information about gatherings and events.

Telegram is known to be the far-right's go-to platform, but counter-protesters are also active on it, with one of their main groups having more than 3,000 subscribers. Other platforms, such as WhatsApp and Tiktok, are also key.

"Social media has changed some of their (far-right) organising models so we have to be on top of that: where are they organising, who are their organisers and what are they planning," said Asad Rehman, chair of anti-racism organisation Newham Monitoring Project.

With immigration lawyers and mosques reportedly on far-right hit-lists and some people targeted just for looking or sounding different, the 57-year-old said the work of anti-racism groups includes ensuring they are equipped to send immediate support to the scenes of racist incidents or places under attack.

'TIDE OF HATRED'

In Walthamstow and at other counter-protesters across the country, many pro-Palestinian activists turned up with flags and signs saying "Make love not war".

Among the disparate groups attending the counterprotests were some wearing facemasks while others were filmed carrying bats and other such weapons, prompting organisers to urge attendees to behave.

At demonstrations in the past, there have been violent clashes between far-right groups and counter-protesters, with both sides blaming the other for starting the trouble.

Cardwell said migration policies introduced by the former Conservative government, including a much-criticised scheme to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, had made people more aware of the need to fight far-right narratives. The Conservatives have condemned both far-right narratives and the latest violence.

Both Cardwell and Rehman said it was important to tackle the "roots" of the upsurge in far-right violence which they argue lie in years of wrongly blaming migrants and other ethnic groups for falling living standards, by some media and politicians.

"Politicians are telling us to worry about the people (arriving in the UK) in small boats," Cardwell said. "(But) it is the people in private jets and superyachts I'm worried about."

Further counter-protests and far-right riots are expected in upcoming days, with authorities remaining on alert.

(Reporting by Catarina and Marissa Davison; Editing by Philippa Fletcher)
KUWAIT CITY, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Kuwaiti AlNajat Charity Society Foundation announced on Thursday that it will send urgent aid to people affected by the torrential rains and severe floods in northern Yemen, according to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

The relief aid, consisting of food, water, and shelter supplies of tents, blankets, and mattresses, is estimated at 50,000 Kuwaiti dinars (about 164,000 U.S. dollars), aiming at helping 1,000 affected families, according to the agency.

Abdullah Al-Shihab, head of the media sector at the foundation, was quoted as saying, "This urgent aid is at its first stage and is a continuation of the humanitarian and relief efforts undertaken by the association in various countries, especially sister countries, in light of crises and disasters."

The Kuwaiti government also affirmed its commitment to facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need in the affected areas.

The Yemeni government on Thursday called for international support to help address the damage caused by recent heavy rains and floods in its key provinces.

Local health authorities reported Wednesday that heavy rains and floods killed at least 39 people in northern Yemen. While the World Health Organization in Yemen announced on Thursday that severe floods have resulted in 30 fatalities and five missing persons.

Yemen's National Center of Meteorology has issued a warning of possible continuing rainstorms across the country, advising people to keep away from flood paths.

Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating conflict since late 2014 when the Houthis seized control of the capital, Sanaa, and large swathes of the country. A UN-brokered truce in April 2022 led to a significant reduction in hostilities, but the country has continued to grapple with severe economic challenges and political divisions.

The latest natural disaster is said to compound the challenges faced by a population already struggling with widespread poverty, malnutrition, and limited access to basic services. 
PUKALANI, Hawaii (KHON2)  The Maui Fire Department said in a social media post at 5:20 p.m. that forward progress of the Pukalani fire has been stopped and crews are making good progress in the steep terrain.

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MFD also said they anticipate the evacuation orders will be lifted soon.

The Maui Police Department started going door-to-door to notify residents at 3:20 p.m. to evacuate homes on Akalani Loop and Kalialani Circle. There were no other evacuations, according to MEMA, but residents near Palalani Street were urged to stay vigilant and to avoid the area, if possible.

Maui residents prepare for first anniversary of Lahaina wildfires

Evacuees were directed to the Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani.

Hawaiian Electric told KHON2 that 2,500 customers were affected by a non-PSPS outage in the Pukalani area.

A secondary outage, affecting 2,000 customers, was in effect in Makawao, Kula and Olinda/Piiholo area. The secondary outage was at the request of first responders as part of their response efforts. Power was restored to the area at 4:50 p.m. according to a Hawaiian Electric post on social media.

The fire was initially reported at 2:55 p.m. in a gulch off Palalani Street. MEMA partially activated the EOC at that time.

MFD is fighting the fire with three engines, one wildland engine, one tanker and two aircraft.

Crews were getting a handle on the fire, according to a 3:45 p.m. MFD post to social media but said that the fire was in a deep gulch with very steep access.

As of 5:41 p.m. however, the fire was reportedly 100% contained. Officials said the preliminary estimate of the size is two acres.

Crews will stay on scene for some time to mop up the fire and residents have been allowed to return home.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  As anticipation builds for Alyssa Crosbys live music festival, News 34 is getting to know the acts.

Five performers will be featured during Live From Binghamton: A Block Party, all of whom were fellow contestants with Crosby on Season 25 of The Voice.

Promising to deliver a sassy and honest performance is California native Dani Stacy.

Inspired by Destinys Child and The Chicks, Stacy fell in love with music at a young age but didnt start pursuing it until she was around 22.

Like Crosby, Stacy was a member of Team Chance. Stacy says she and Crosby connected immediately.

Live From Binghamton: Jackie Romeo

She says she cant wait to find a new audience in Binghamton.

Its a great opportunity for me to meet new people and just be able to share what I love to do. I hope that Binghamton will feel the same way and I hope theyll feel inspired for whatever it is that theyre working towards. And I hope they just have a good time, said Stacy.

Live From Binghamton: A Block Party will take place from 4 to 10 p.m. on Saturday.

Tickets are still on sale. To purchase, visit livefrombinghamtonblockparty.com.

For more on Stacy, search @Dani_Stacy on social media.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
'Our lives are on the line': Why many LGBTQ+ people hope for a Harris win

For the record:

11:06 a.m. Aug. 8, 2024: An earlier version of this article referred to an event in San Francisco as a celebration of Transgender Pride Month. The celebration marked Transgender History Month.



At a recent celebration of San Francisco's vibrant transgender past, one speaker after another directed the crowd's attention to a worrisome future, casting November's presidential election as a turning point for the LGBTQ+ community and the nation as a whole.

"This election will determine our fate," said Sofia Sabina Rios Dorantes, deputy director of El/La Para TransLatinas, a local advocacy organization. "It will determine whether we continue to face discrimination and marginalization at [a] disproportionate rate, or whether we can continue walking toward the recognition and respect we deserve."

Last week's third annual kickoff to Transgender History Month  the first to be recognized at the state level as well  was a chance to celebrate the advances of the transgender community in one of the nation's most enduring havens for LGBTQ+ people, with champagne served beneath the ornate dome of San Francisco City Hall. It was also a show of defiance at a dangerous time for queer folks nationally.

Thousands participate in the All Black Lives Matter solidarity march to mark LGBTQ Pride Month along Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood in 2020. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

In three months, Americans will choose between Vice President Kamala Harris, who is a Bay Area native and longtime LGBTQ+ ally, and former President Trump, who has a long record of attacking queer rights and has aligned himself with some of the nation's most virulently anti-LGBTQ+ political groups.

In chats with family and on nights out with friends, at gay bars and organizing meetings and on a virtual call of some 20,000 queer people last month, many LGBTQ+ Americans are making it increasingly clear that they view Trump and the broader Republican agenda as an existential threat.

Read more: Our Queerest Century

"It is not an exaggeration to say that our lives are on the line," said Honey Mahogany, executive director of the San Francisco Office of Transgender Initiatives. "It's whether or not we can survive  or will be in a position where we are in fear for our lives."

The candidates' positions

In advance of the 20,000-strong call hosted by the Human Rights Campaign last month, the group released a letter endorsing Harris from more than 1,100 LGBTQ+ leaders, organizers and celebrities.

The letter praised Harris for her decision as California attorney general to not defend Proposition 8, a state ballot measure that barred same-sex marriages, and for her support for the federal Equality Act, which would prohibit anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in employment, housing and other areas.

Vice President Kamala Harris makes a surprise appearance at Capitol Pride DC in Washington in 2022. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

The letter heaped praise on the Biden-Harris administration as "the most pro-LGBTQ+ administration in history," noting its support for anti-discrimination policies and LGBTQ+ healthcare protections in the U.S. and its defense of LGBTQ+ rights globally.

On the call, Mawuli Tugbenyoh, senior co-chair of the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club in San Francisco, said Harris has been a queer ally since before her first election as San Francisco district attorney in 2003 and is genuine in her allyship.

"Vice President Harris has always been there for us and fought for our community every step of the way," Tugbenyoh said.

On Tuesday, queer rights groups also hailed Harris' selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. They noted Walz has a record of allyship going back to the 1990s  when as a teacher he served as an advisor to his school's gay-straight alliance  and as governor has signed bills banning so-called conversion therapy and protecting gender-affirming care.

Read more: News Analysis: In choosing Walz, Harris seeks an everyman appeal without giving up progressive agenda

The same organizations have called Trump a major threat to queer families.

Trump appointed anti-LGBTQ+ officials throughout his administration. His Department of Education revoked school protections for transgender students, while his Justice and Health and Human Services departments rescinded anti-discrimination protections for transgender people, including in healthcare settings.

Trump appointed a slate of judges viewed as anti-LGBTQ+ and banned transgender people from serving in the military  a policy President Biden reversed. In more recent years, Republicans aligned with Trump have introduced a flood of anti-LGBTQ+ bills at the local, state and federal levels, prompting the Human Rights Campaign to declare a "state of emergency" for queer Americans last year.

Concerns have only increased since Project 2025, a blueprint for a second Trump term produced by a host of former Trump aides, the Heritage Foundation and more than 100 other conservative groups, came into focus. The plan  which Trump has tried to distance himself from despite having close ties to its authors  challenges the existence of transgender people, calls the rainbow flag a "divisive symbol" and demands a "biblically based" definition of marriage and families.

Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, who also has close ties to Project 2025 authors, has attacked LGBTQ+ rights and mocked queer people. Vance has opposed protections for same-sex marriage, LGBTQ+ workers and gender-affirming healthcare, called LGBTQ+ activists "groomers" and held up the confirmation of overseas diplomats by questioning their support for LGBTQ+-friendly initiatives.

Trump also has outlined various anti-LGBTQ+ policies in "Agenda 47," his plan for a second term. It says Trump would end all federal programs "that promote the concept of sex and gender transition at any age," withhold Medicaid and Medicare funding from hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to children, ensure "severe consequences" for teachers who acknowledge transgender students' identities and revoke federal funding from their schools.

He concludes a campaign video about the plan with the demonstrably false assertion that the existence of transgender children "was never heard of" until "the radical left invented it just a few years ago."

'We're not going back'

Not all LGBTQ+ people support Harris. Stephen Schumacher, a gay 33-year-old political consultant, helps lead the Detroit chapter of Log Cabin Republicans, an organization for conservative LGBTQ+ people. He supports Trump.

Schumacher pointed to the Republican Party taking its long-standing opposition to same-sex marriage out of its platform this year  after Trump ordered the document be slimmed down  as proof the party is coming around on the issue. He said Log Cabin events he attended at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last month were well received.

"I feel like my rights are protected," Schumacher said.

Richard Grenell, a gay Trump loyalist and former acting director of national intelligence in the Trump administration, once called Trump "the most pro-gay president in American history" and this week predicted the GOP nominee will "win 50% of the gay vote."

Grenell, of California, has railed against transgender youth rights and the Equality Act and been flagged as anti-LGBTQ+ by queer rights groups. On Wednesday he took up a Republican talking point about Walz, saying that Minnesota protections around sexual orientation somehow benefit pedophiles.

Across the country, many queer people find such beliefs flabbergasting  if not repugnant.

Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the 2015 Supreme Court case that won same-sex couples the right to marry nationally, said it's obvious that LGBTQ+ rights  including the right to marry  are under threat.

Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in Obergefell vs. Hodges, the Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, arrives for a news conference on the steps of the Texas Capitol in Austin in 2015. (Eric Gay / Associated Press)

"The Republican Party has made clear through statements, through policies, through basically everything they have done, that they do not believe that queer people deserve the same rights, the same respect, the same dignity," Obergefell said.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), who is gay and serves as chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, said LGBTQ+ people have watched in recent years as Republicans have launched one attack after another on gender-affirming care, Pride flags, drag queen story hours, queer books and the mere mention of being gay in schools, and know it will only get worse under Trump.

Read more: Pride as resistance: LGBTQ+ people struggle against right-wing war on their legal rights

"In the Republican Party, there is a real regression when it comes to equality, and I could see almost anything being pushed forward," Pocan said.

Among those attending the Transgender History Month celebration in San Francisco was state Sen. Scott Wiener, who is gay. "We know that there are forces in this country  and we're seeing it more broadly now with Project 2025  [who] have never gotten over the fact that we're no longer in 1950 or 1850 or whatever it is that they want to bring us back to," he said. "They've never gotten over that, and they want all of us to go away."

"Of course," Wiener said, "we're not going anywhere."

Donna Personna, a 77-year-old transgender attendee who has lived in San Francisco since her teens, said Trump and other Republicans pretend people such as her never used to exist because they don't want to acknowledge that the American past they wish to see returned was a harsh and unjust place for so many.

By contrast, Harris has made "We're not going back" a campaign slogan, Personna noted. "And I'm with her on that."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BINGHAMTON, NY (WIVT/WBGH)  Local governments in Broome County are receiving over $11 million in the state budget, which is a 7% increase from last year.

State Senator Lea Webb and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo announced an increase to the states Aid and Incentives for Municipalities or AIM funding.

Senator Webb says AIM is the primary source of unrestricted state aid for local governments, that funds essential services like EMS and infrastructure like garbage and snow removal.

Webb says herself and Lupardo have co-sponsored a bill that is looking to update the formula that calculates AIM funding, which in turn, would give smaller, upstate communities, like Binghamton, more money.

For the last 15 years, AIM funding from the state has been flat. And so, we are excited to share today that in this budget session, we were finally successful in getting a long overdue increase to AIM funding, says Webb.

The Town of Union is receiving over $326,000, the Village of Endicott is getting over $334,000, nearly $200,000 to Johnson City, and over $170,000 for the Town of Vestal.

The City of Binghamton is receiving more than $10 million, which is over an 11% increase to last years budget.

Webb says AIM funding is only available to municipalities in upstate.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  An indictment unsealed in federal court Thursday charges a city man with robbing a postal worker, taking a postal key and taking a postal vehicle.

Joseph Grove, 36, faces charges of robbery or theft of mail or property of the United States; theft of a postal key; mail theft; and bank fraud.

The indictment in the U.S. Northern District Court of Ohio was issued Tuesday.

Grove is in the Mahoning County jail on unrelated charges. He is expected to be arraigned Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carmen E. Henderson.

The indictment in the case accuses Grove of robbing a postal worker March 13 and taking a key the postal worker carried. He is also charged with possessing an article of mail April 9 as well as trying to cash a stolen check the same day at a local bank.

The March 13 robbery took place on Hilton Avenue on the South Side, where the victim told police a man told him, Dont die for a key, bro, showed a gun in his waist, and forced the mail carrier to give him his arrow key.

The arrow key is a type of key that allows letter carriers access to different types of boxes or containers that hold mail.

The indictment does not say where the April 9 crimes took place.

Postal workers also reported robberies in 2023 on Kensington Avenue in Youngstown and Melbourne Avenue in Boardman.

Grove has been in the county jail since April 12, when he was arrested on a parole violation. He has a pending receiving stolen property case in Mahoning County Area Court in Boardman for which he is being held. He also has two other cases with the same charge that have been bound over to the Mahoning County grand jury.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Local non-profit to host fundraiser for good cause in Clovis

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Centro La Familia is hosting a Fiesta Night fundraiser in September.

The event will be on Sept. 27, the funds raised during the event will support their services including health and wellness, family strengthening, victim advocacy, and immigration services.

Centro La Familia is a non-profit organization that provides direct advocacy and intervention services in both rural and urban areas of Fresno County.

The Fiesta Night is an opportunity to not only raise critical funding but also celebrate Centro la Familias 52 years in Fresno.

Event organizers say the event will be an unforgettable night of merriment with live music and dancing, delicious food, auctions, and great prizes.

The event will be at the Regency Event Center located at 1600 Willow Ave., in Clovis. The event will be from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Tickets to the event can be purchased here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
From left: State Board of Election Commissioners director Chris Madison, Saline County Clerk Doug Curtis, County Election Coordinator Allison Cain and County Judge Matt Brumley address the Arkansas Legislature's Joint City, County and Local Affairs Committee at the Hot Springs Convention Center on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

Saline and Garland county officials told Arkansas lawmakers Wednesday that they have full confidence in the way they conduct elections, specifically the use of voting machines instead of hand-counted paper ballots, and decried the right-wing talking point that any elections have been stolen.

The Joint City, County and Local Affairs Committee continued a discussion started by the Joint Performance Review Committee in June, in which Searcy County election officials said they had learned from the problems that arose from their first time hand-counting paper ballots in the March primary elections.

Searcy, Saline and Garland counties were among the 15 the State Board of Election Commissioners randomly selected to audit from three pools of counties based on population, and Searcy County was the only one where auditors found problems with the way elections had been conducted, board director Chris Madison said.

Auditors found discrepancies between the numbers of ballots counted by hand and those tabulated by the voting machines, Madison wrote in a June memo to lawmakers. Additionally, some ballots from one precinct were included in a pile with ballots from another precinct, and other ballots were printed on the incorrect type of paper and would not scan through the voting tabulator, he wrote.

Saline County officials repeated their statements from June that using machines to count votes leads to more accurate and secure results than hand-counting ballots.

I find myself a little embarrassed [about] how much time is spent trying to project what a slower, less efficient, more expensive and less accurate system would cost our taxpayers and the security of the elections of the people of our state when we have one that is evidence-based to be 100% [accurate] and fiscally responsible, Saline County Judge Matt Brumley said.

When you insert more and more human beings, youve just got to understand what your tolerance for error is going to be. Ours is zero percent.

 Saline County Judge Matt Brumley

Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, represents part of Saline County and is both co-chair of the Joint Performance Review Committee and a member of the City, County and Local Affairs Committee. Hammer asked both state and county election officials if they were aware of any stolen elections in their professional experience, and he said a billboard in Saline County raises this suspicion.

Saline County Clerk Doug Curtis said elections have absolutely not been stolen and a billboard should not be casting doubt upon elections. He said he was thrown out of the Saline County Republican Party for defending the integrity of the current election process.

Its time to end this bull, Curtis said, receiving applause from the audience.

Madison, SBEC election administration supervisor Charlie Morris and Garland County Election Coordinator Gene Haley all agreed that elections have not been stolen.

The Donald Trump-connected Arkansas Voter Integrity Initiative has been engaged in ongoing efforts to convince counties statewide to trade voting machines for paper ballots. Cleburne County agreed to do so in January 2023 but later reversed the decision.

In April, the Arkansas Supreme Court upheld a lower courts dismissal of a lawsuit filed by AVII and its CEO, Conrad Reynolds, that argued voting machines do not comply with state law.

Logistical issues

Brumley and his Garland County counterpart, Darryl Mahoney, both said it would be difficult to find enough people to hand-count ballots in their respective counties.

When you insert more and more human beings, youve just got to understand what your tolerance for error is going to be, Brumley said. Ours is zero percent.

He also said the cost of renting space and providing tables, food, and ballot printers for the team of people counting ballots would be prohibitive.

Act 350 of 2023, which Hammer sponsored, requires counties that switch to paper ballots to pay the associated costs themselves.

The Searcy County Quorum Court voted in late 2023 to hand-count ballots, though voting machines are still available for voters with certain disabilities or for anyone who wants to use them, county election commission Chairwoman Laura Gross said in June.

Gross said computers in voting machines could be hacked and manipulated, but Jon Davidson, SBECs educational services manager, said this is not true.

Gross and other Searcy County election officials also said the cost of repairing or replacing faulty voting machines would be too high for the county in the long term.

The Secretary of States office maintains a contract to fix election equipment so counties do not have to foot the bill, said Leslie Bellamy, the offices director of elections.

Bellamy told lawmakers Wednesday that she contacted all 75 counties after the June legislative hearing to make sure all election officials were aware that they are not responsible for repairing election equipment.

One of the changes Searcy County officials will make to its ballot-counting process in upcoming elections is that they will base the hand count on the data tallied by voting machines, which they did not do last time, Madison said Wednesday.

Voter turnout is expected to be higher in November than it was in the primaries, and Rep. Howard Beaty, R-Crossett, said Searcy County needed to keep this in mind.

Im all for the local option and the decision of the county and the residents as far as how they conduct their elections, but my concern is, with the paper ballot side those procedures are going to have to be tightened up and those errors cant happen, Beaty said.

Brumley said Saline County citizens have been enthusiastically concerned about election security since shortly after he took office in 2023, and he told people when and where the states audit earlier this year would take place so they could witness the process firsthand.

One person showed up, and hes testifying in front of you today, Brumley said.

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Johnson City, Tenn. (WJHL)  Tri-Cities tourism leaders say the newly announced Office of Outdoor Recreation in Tennessee is likely to make a big impact on the Northeast area of the state.

Governor Bill Lee announced the creation of the office, which will operate under the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, to improve access to the states natural resources as well as improve conservation efforts.

This office will help us leverage Tennessees unparalleled natural resources and beauty to improve our quality of life and create lasting memories for Tennessee families and visitors, Lee said in a statement.

One day into the job, the offices executive director, Brian Clifford, said he was ready for cities and counties to reach out for help.

Local state park to begin its Birding in the Gap series on Saturday

We will be a resource for communities across the state to help them better leverage their outdoor spaces to grow tourism, improve their economy, and improve their quality of life, Clifford told News Channel 11.

Northeast Tennessee tourism leaders said theyre on board with that mission and that the office could be a great help to an already important industry.

Outdoor recreation and just the environment in which we live in is one of the main reasons folks come to visit, said Alicia Phelps, director of Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association. So its a huge component of our industry thats almost $1 billion in Northeast Tennessee alone

Though our area is already making great use of its outdoor resources through greenways like the Tweetsie Trail and events like the Meet the Mountains festival, Phelps is eager to see how much further our region can go.

Once this department is fully put together and were rolling on the ground with, you know, feet on the ground with what we can see happen as part of it, it will be really exciting, Phelps said.

The new offices focus is on creating more blueways, or river access corridors. Luke Freeman, Carter County and Elizabethton tourism director said this aligns well with his goals and projects like Surf Betsy.

The great thing weve got the Doe River right here and of course, the Watauga River as well, which are very popular for paddle sports, fishing, all that kind of thing, Freeman told News Channel 11. I think having additional support from the state as we try and market those as well as just as what locals enjoy on is a great thing.

The office will also provide grants and strategic planning assistance for communities around the state.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah praised the collective achievement of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Thursday in his message on ASEAN Day.

The ASEAN Day falls on Aug. 8. The Sultan said "Over the past five decades, ASEAN has demonstrated remarkable resilience, adapting to numerous challenges while steadfastly committing to regional progress."

"At the same time, ASEAN member states have worked closely together and with our external partners to foster development across the region," the Sultan said.

The Sultan emphasized that "Brunei Darussalam stands ready to work closely with other member states to ensure that we can together build a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centered ASEAN." 
How long do couples have to be together to be considered married in Colorado?

DENVER (KDVR)  Some states require that all couples do things like say I do, or sign papers in order to be considered married. This isnt always the case.

Colorado is one of only a handful of states that fully recognize what are known as common-law marriages. This is where a couple can be considered married without signing any papers or having a formal or informal ceremony. There are a few stipulations, however.

What are common-law marriages in Colorado?

Common-law marriages are considered just as valid as ceremonial marriages in Colorado, meaning couples can do things like file their taxes jointly. These marriages can also only be ended the same way as ceremonial marriages, through divorce or death.

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There is no time requirement for the relationship, meaning a couple can be together for any period of time, as long as they fulfill some requirements, such as referring to each other publicly as a spouse.

The main requirement is that both people can legally get married. Already being married to someone else and being younger than 18 years old are things that would bar someone from being able to enter into a common-law marriage.

The rules are not definitively set out in Colorado law and are instead set out as guidelines in Colorado Supreme Court cases.

Essentially, there are a few things that courts can use as proof that a relationship was indeed a common-law marriage if its disputed. Determinations are done on a case-by-case basis by the courts, with no set list of things to check off.

Before 2021, there were more stringent requirements for what counted as proof for a common-law marriage.

These new Colorado laws go into effect Aug. 7

In order to be more inclusive, the Colorado Supreme Court decided to make requirements more vague. For example, certain things like someone taking their partners last name can be used as proof of a common law marriage, but a couple opting not to do that cant be used as proof that there wasnt one.

In some cases, the absence of something, such as living together, can be used as proof against it being a common-law marriage. However, just the fact that two people did live together isnt necessarily an important factor.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Long Island principal arrested for harassing ex, threatening to fk up her new boyfriend

A Long Island principal was arrested for harassing his ex and threatening to fk up her new beau during disturbing outbursts outside her Manhattan home last month, prosecutors said.

Shannon Burton, the principal at Milton L. Olive Middle School in Wyandanch, called his former gal pal and allegedly seethed, Ill fk up your boyfriend. Wait until I catch him. How can you do this to me? Youre fing this guy, on July 25, according to a criminal complaint.

Burton made 15 other calls to his ex and rang her doorbell multiple times over several hours  after creepily tracking down her address, according to the Manhattan District Attorneys office.

Shannon Burton, the principal at Milton L. Olive Middle School in Wyandanch, LI, was arrested for harassing his ex and threatening to fk up her new beau during disturbing outbursts outside her NYC home. News 12 Long Island

The former couple split at the end of 2023.

In one phone call, the accused creep said, I just saw you leave your apartment as she headed out the door with her boyfriend.

Burton, 44, also allegedly keyed the womans car and repeatedly banged on the door of her Upper East Side apartment.

Prosecutors said during the frightening episodes, she called the cops several times but when they got there, Burton fled.

When her lover left for work in the morning, Burton allegedly cornered him on the street.

Did you just leave her apartment? Are you guys fking? I just need to have a conversation with her, Burton demanded during the hair-raising encounter  leading his frightened ex to call the cops.

Since his arrest, Burton has been reassigned to work from home while the school district conducts an internal investigation, the outlet reported. Facebook/Milton L Olive MS PTA

When police arrived, Burton allegedly ran from them and crawled under cars before finally getting cuffed.

While he was arrested, he blurted out, How would you react if you saw your girlfriend with another man? to one of the cops as he admitted he messed with his ex all night, according to prosecutors.

Burton, of Yonkers, was charged with aggravated harassment and ordered by a Manhattan judge to stay away from his ex.

He was previously the subject of a grade-fixing probe, according to News 12 Long Island.

Burton was reinstated at the school just last month, the channel said.

Since his arrest, Burton has been reassigned to work from home while the school district conducts an internal investigation, the outlet reported.

Burton could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.
This Is How Long Youll Probably Test Positive for COVID, Say Infectious Disease Docs

While COVID-19 never fully went away the way many of us hoped it would when we were embracing Zoom happy hours and worked from home in March of 2020, ramped-up testing efforts have made it easier to answer certain questions (Is it COVID or allergies?), however, certain questions about the virus remain, like: How long can you test positive for COVID? Experts share that understanding the nuances of COVID tests and how long you will be contagious remains important.

"Knowing how long you will test positive for COVID-19 is crucial for patients as it provides clarity on the duration of their isolation, helping to prevent the spread of the virus to others," says Dr. Swapnil Patel, MHCM, FACP, of Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

You'll unlikely still be testing positive after 10 days, but it's possible. Does that mean you're still contagious? Experts say it depends. With the FLiRT strains driving a summer surge, LB.1 emerging and peak upper respiratory on the horizon, doctors share it's time for a refresh on COVID testing and protocols. Here's what to know about the typical timeframe to expect to test positive for COVID and what to do if you exceed it.

Related: 'No One in My Family Has Ever Gotten COVIDHere's Exactly What We Do'

How Long Will I Test Positive for COVID?

The answer is complicated. "It may surprise many people to know that now, over four years after the onset of the COVID pandemic, it is impossible to state precisely how long people remain infectious (and will test positive) after the onset of COVID," says Dr. David Cutler, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician at Providence Saint Johns Health Center. One reason is that it depends on the test you take, PCR or antigen.

"The PCR test detects the virus's genetic material and can stay positive for up to 90 days, even if youre no longer contagious," explains Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, a quadruple board-certified physician and medical reviewer for NCOA. "You usually shouldnt retest with a PCR test within those 90 days. The antigen test checks for a protein on the virus and needs a certain amount of the virus to show a positive result. It typically turns negative within five to 14 days after infection."

Also, COVID affects people differently, and this applies to how long they will test positive as well.

"You can test positive for a very variable length of time depending on your immune status," says Dr. Linda Yancey, MD, the director of infection prevention at the Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston.

You may feel symptom-free and test negative within a week. Soon after, you test positive for COVID again. What gives?

"When people get a recurrence of COVID symptoms after complete resolution of symptoms, the possibility exists of a 'rebound' infection," Dr. Cutler says. "If they tested negative at some point after their initial infection, a 'rebound' most likely exists. However, if they never tested negative, it is uncertain whether this might be a rebound or persistent infection from the original illness."

It can be confusing, especially if you're trying to determine whether you're contagious. We've got you covered there, too.

When to Take a COVID Rapid At-Home Test

COVID test kits are available online, in retail stores, and at local pharmacies. Dr. Patel suggests taking one if you display signs of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, chills or shortness of breath.

The CDC also recommends testing for COVID and other respiratory illnesses:

Before gatherings

If respiratory illness rates are high where you live

If you or anyone around you has been exposed to, are sick with or recovering from a respiratory illness

If you or someone around you is at an increased risk for severe outcomes from a respiratory illness, such as due to age or underlying health conditions

Related: 'I'm an Infectious Disease Expert, and This Is the Most Commonly Overlooked COVID Symptom Right Now'

What To Do If You Test Positive For COVID-19 On An At-Home Test

First, your best bet is to believe the test is correct. "Rapid at-home tests produce results within 10 to 15 minutes," Dr. Patel says. "If you test positive, they are very accurate and should proceed with isolation protocols."

Dr. Patel provided a quick refresher on what those protocols mean.

"To protect yourself, you should mask at all times and avoid contact with others, especially those who are at a higher risk of infection," Dr. Patel says. "You should practice good hand hygiene as well to prevent further spread of COVID."

There's light at the end of the tunnel, though

"Once [a rapid test] turns negative, you are no longer contagious," Dr. Yancey says.

Are You Still Contagious After 7 Days Of COVID?

Maybe, but probably not. "It is very rare to be contagious for more than seven days after having COVID," Dr. Yancey says. The vast majority of people will not be able to spread the infection." Dr. Yancey says most people are only contagious for five days. However, not everyone will be. Tune into your body.

"You may still be contagious after day seven if you are still experiencing symptoms," Dr. Patel says. "The CDC recommendation is that your isolation should continue after five days until your symptoms are improving and you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medications."

Related: 'COVID Tongue' Is Definitely a ThingHere's What It Is and How to Know if You Have It

What If Youre Still Testing Positive After 10 Days?

It's rare for people to test positive beyond the 10-day mark.

"The real question is, 'Why are you still testing positive after 10 days?'" Dr. Dasgupta says. "If your COVID-19 symptoms have cleared or are getting better, you usually dont need to retest. However, you might still test positive for a while, especially with PCR tests, which can stay positive for up to 90 days."

Also, sorry to disappoint you, but: "Its also possible to get reinfected during this time, so it can be hard to tell if a new positive test means a new infection," Dr. Dasgupta says.

When in doubt, call your doctor. Also, regardless of how long it's been since you tested positive for COVID: "If symptoms worsen or persist, consultation with a physician is important regardless of whether COVID tests are positive or negative," Dr. Cutler says.

Next up: 'I Almost Died of Liver Failure At Age 50This Is the First Sign I Wish I'd Paid Attention To'

Expert Sources
Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio, who took over during a tumultuous time for county government and later guided it through a global pandemic, will retire next year after more than a decade in her post.

Diorio, who has led the county since 2013, will depart July 1, the county said in a news release Thursday. Thats after the end of the current budget year. The Board of County Commissioners learned about the decision in a closed session during its Wednesday meeting, according to the release.

It has been the honor of my life to serve the residents and employees of Mecklenburg County, Diorio said in the news release. When I took this role, I wanted to make sure the County was always at the table to discuss issues, find solutions, and improve lives for our residents. I have always believed that to serve our community, we must be bold and have a vision of how things could be. We needed to see what is possible, and how best to help people.

County commissioners will appoint a search committee to find her replacement, according to the release.

Board Chairman George Dunlap described Diorio, Mecklenburgs first female county manager, as a visionary.

I am sad this day has come, but she has earned this time for herself, and I wish her and her husband all the best. I know we will find a new County Manager, he said. But there will only be one Dena.

Who is Dena Diorio?

Diorio, now 62, first arrived in Mecklenburg County in 2007 as the countys chief financial officer.

She grew up in New York Citys suburbs, The Charlotte Observer reported in 2014. She studied social work at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh and began her career working with children whod been abused and neglected.

That work sparked an interest in public policy, and she started working for the city of New York in 1988 after getting her masters degree at Columbia University.

By 1995, she was director of city legislative affairs for then-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. After stints in city leadership in Connecticut, she pursued the Mecklenburg finance director job.

Her late husband, Robert, recalled in a 2014 story when then-County Manager Harry Jones called to offer her the job. Jones told the couple, Not only did I find a finance director. I found the next county manager.

From dark-horse candidate to change agent

Longtime commissioner Pat Cotham told the Observer Thursday she also knew Diorio had a bright future from the moment they met  in 2012 when Diorio gave a presentation to newly elected commissioners. Cotham, whose background is in executive recruiting, recalled pulling Diorio aside to praise her.

I could make a lot of money off of you, pitching you to some county to be the county manager, she said she told Diorio. ... She laughed. But she really did impress me.

Those high expectations didnt mean Diorio vaulted to the top of the list when commissioners in 2013 fired Jones, who faced controversy over property revaluation and social services, Cotham said. But when Diorio interviewed for the job, she wowed the board, Cotham recalled.

She was labeled by several commissioners as a change agent, the Observer reported at the time.

It is clear to us that Dena has her own ideas about how things ought to be done, then-board Chairman Trevor Fuller said when Diorio was hired as manager. She articulated a vision for the organization that was consistent with the vast majority of commissioners  shes willing and able to make the changes that need to be made.

Diorio pledged to increase transparency and improve communication between county staff and commissioners when she took office in December 2013.

Weve had some missteps over the past few years, she said at the time. I want residents to have a high degree of confidence that what we do is efficient and effective  and above board all the time.

Diorio ascending to such a powerful role was meaningful for other women to see, Commissioner Elaine Powell said.

When I was growing up, it was completely different. It was so rare to see a woman in leadership, she said.

At-large commissioner Leigh Altman said Diorio has a really strong leadership style  one that Altman has deeply appreciated.

Im going to miss her a great deal, Altman told the Observer. She has been a phenomenal county manager, and were very blessed to have someone like her want to serve the public and devote all of her talents to improving the quality of life for all of our residents.

Board Vice Chairman Mark Jerrell described Diorio as somebody who is great at what she does.

Shes always well prepared. Shes a straight shooter. She is extremely knowledgeable, he said. ... She can take complex information and synthesize it in a way where you understand the decisions that need to be made and the implications of those decisions.

The boards feelings about her performance reflected in Diorios compensation, which has more than doubled from a yearly package of $248,000 when she was hired to $505,841.75 after her most recent raise in 2023. Commissioners also approved a $25,000 bonus for Diorio last year.

At eventful decade-plus in Mecklenburg

Diorio arrived in Mecklenburg in time to guide the county through the 2008 financial crisis as finance manager, the countys Thursday statement noted. And her time as manager included the COVID-19 pandemic.

Powell said the pandemic highlighted Diorios ability to think strategically, react quickly to evolving situations and her compassion rooted in a social work background.

Altman, who chairs the Metropolitan Transit Commission, said Diorio has been instrumental in helping advance Mecklenburg Countys interest around transit.

Diorios also helped launch the MECK PreK program to provide free education to 4-year-old children, two Community Resource Centers and a partnership with Community Land Trust on affordable housing.

Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones, who often works with Diorio on issues, called her a strong advocate for Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

I want to congratulate Dena on an amazing career and share my appreciation for her service and dedication ... I appreciate her partnership, leadership, and determination as we have worked together to address some of the most important issues our community has faced, he said in a statement to the Observer.

In the countys statement, Diorio pointed to the recent news of Charlotte moving up from No. 50 to No. 38 in economic mobility among 50 U.S. cities as a point of pride.

I have been steadfast in facing challenges while ensuring fiscal responsibility and security. My goal was to leave Mecklenburg County a better place than when I arrived, and I believe I have accomplished that, she said ... I know the County made great efforts to do our part in moving that needle in the right direction.

Whats next for Mecklenburg County?

Diorio will help commissioners search for her replacement.

Cotham would like to see candidates with experience managing a large organization and who, like Diorio, are willing to go out into the community and talk to residents. Shed also like to see someone who prioritizes building relationships with the leaders of all of Mecklenburgs municipalities and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Theyre part of the team, you know, for the betterment of Mecklenburg County, she said.

Altman described Mecklenburgs deputy county managers as fantastic and said shed like to see them apply in addition to a nationwide search. She said all candidates need to understand the scope of the services the county provides  from public health and social services to funding for schools and parks and recreation.

Its going to have to be someone with an incredibly strong skill set, both in terms of the substance of the work we do and the leadership skills we need at this level, she said.

Jerrell said commissioners are still shaping the process to replace Diorio but believes Mecklenburg is very fortunate as the county to have some phenomenal, phenomenal internal staff who could be considered.

Regardless of who is hired, Cotham believes Diorio is leaving Mecklenburg in a good place.

I think that whoever takes hold of the big ship, takes control of the county will be fortunate, she said. They will inherit an awesome group of dedicated employees.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  The public was presented with a plan Wednesday evening to fix the problem of stormwater runoff in Mill Creek Park: the Interceptor Sewer Project.

Read next: Watch live as Realty Building demolition continues in Youngstown

For over 100 years, stormwater runoff has been mixing with sewage in the underground pipes around Mill Creek Park  and during heavy rains, the mix ends up in Mill Creek.

Youngstowns Director of Public Works Chuck Shasho was among those this evening at the West Side Library explaining the details in a public open house of the Mill Creek Interceptor Sewer Project.

Its going to go out probably all the way to 2028, Shasho said.

The project will take three years to complete at a cost of $70 million.

The first part will be Price Road. Well then move on to west Glacier Drive, then at that point, well leave the roadway area and then well come around up Glenwood Avenue, Shasho said.

In July 2015, persistent heavy rain pushed so much raw sewage into Mill Creek that fish were killed and the parks three lakes were closed.

Lyn Andersons house overlooks Lake Glacier  where occasionally theres the smell of sewage.

It gets especially bad in the summer when it is very dry, Anderson said.

The EPA ordered Youngstown to fix the Mill Creek overflow problem 20 years ago. Finding the $70 million for the work delayed the project. The city will now borrow the money from the EPA and increased sewer rates will help pay for it.

Its not a significant amount of money for rate increases but youll be seeing that in front of city council within the next couple of months, Shasho said.

Austintowns Don Clowes walks Mill Creek Park on most days.

Read next: Tornado documented in Mercer County

Ive seen the damage that these overflows do. Ive seen the debris that comes out of the sewer hanging in the trees, clinging to the bank, turning the water gray. Its disgusting, Clowes said.

So I hope this is it. I hope this solves it, said Anderson.

Shasho said its exciting to be the generation handling this.

18 overflows in the park are going to be eliminated. Its very exciting, he said.

Before the sewer project begins, wildlife studies will be completed so that harm can be minimized to all the existing ecosystems.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
The U.S. Supreme Court. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

Civil rights attorneys want the U.S. Supreme Court to slow Louisianas use of a quick clock on bringing police brutality cases to court  a statute of limitations thats out of step with federal law.

The Institute of Justice, a Virginia-based public interest law firm, has attached briefs to two Louisiana lawsuits that are in federal court  Brown v. Pouncy and Monroe v. Conner  that both involve incidents of police brutality against plaintiffs accused of non-violent offenses.

In both cases, the plaintiffs, who the Louisiana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union represents, brought suit against law enforcement agencies within two years of the incidents, which the Institute of Justice said is a typical statute of limitations period.

However, both cases were dismissed at the district court level, and an appeals court upheld both dismissals because Louisiana, at that time, was one of just four jurisdictions with a statute of limitations of one year for bringing such Civil Rights Act claims to court. In June, Louisiana lawmakers extended that timeframe to two years.

The Institute of Justice argues that such short limitations harm victims of police brutality and prevent justice for a broad variety of legal claims.

Louisianas use of incredibly short statutes of limitations in cases  goes against the statutes purpose of creating a meaningful way to remedy violations of individuals constitutional rights by abusive government officials, Institute of Justice senior attorney Anya Bidwell said in a news release. Without a reasonable statute of limitations that allows victims to properly prepare for a lawsuit by, for example, fleshing out their legal claims, the remedies  are rendered useless.

Brown v. Pouncy stems from a Sept. 27, 2019, incident in which deputies with the DeSoto Parish Sheriffs Office attacked Jarius Brown without provocation while he was in their custody for traffic offenses. The attack left Brown hospitalized with a fractured nose and eye socket and abrasions to his face, according to the Institute for Justice.

The U.S. Justice Department filed criminal charges against the two deputies involved, one of whom, Demarkes Grant, has pleaded guilty, according to the ACLU. Brown filed his lawsuit two years after the event.

Monroe v. Conner deals with a Nov. 29, 2019, traffic stop in Bossier Parish. Three Louisiana State Police troopers allegedly beat Anthony Monroe, who suffered a heart attack and other life-threatening injuries, according to the Institute of Justice brief. Monroe filed his lawsuit one year and 11 months after the incident.

While the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower courts dismissal in both cases, it did so because it felt only the U.S. Supreme Court could address the issue, according to the institutes brief. Appellate Judge James Ho, a federal court appointee of former President Donald Trump, noted that precedent on this issue makes little sense.

You would think the last thing Congress would want is 50 different limitations rules, Ho said during oral arguments, according to the news release.

The judge encouraged Brown to seek a review of his case from the Supreme Court, the Institute of Justice said.

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Luther Memorial Church has been part of Eries landscape since the mid-1800s.

It was originally called the first English Lutheran Church, established for the second generation of Eries German immigrants.

It was the children who were speaking English in everyday life and wondering why they were still speaking German in church, so they started the first English Lutheran Church, said Reverend Jay Mitchell, Luther Memorial pastor.

Theres a lot of history in this church. One example of this is this very unique stained glass window. It depicts Martin Luther and was originally created to hang over the altar.

We decided that maybe having a German on a wall wasnt the best idea, Mitchell said.

Luther Memorial Church & Academy is this weeks winner of Loving Giving Local

Instead, a handmade tapestry has been here for more than 100 years.

The West 10th Street church partners with many local organizations and supports their ministries.

It also has its own, like the Bethany Outreach Center and Luther Memorial Academy celebrating 49 years of educating children grades K-8.

I call it the hidden gem in downtown Erie. It truly is a special place. We celebrate diversity and inclusiveness at our school, so Im happy to be a part of that, said Michelle Thom, the academys principal.

This weeks Loving Giving Local donation will be used by the school to help support its PBIS initiative.

And PBIS stands for Positive Behavior Intervention and Support and making sure we have clear expectations for our students so they become a positive asset to our community, she added.

Our funds are going to an initiative to commend great behavior, thats what Loving Giving Local is all about and theyre doing a great job here at Luther Memorial and were happy to be here, said Joe Askins, sponsor, Auto Express Resale Center.

Learn more about the academy at a block party on Sept. 7 from noon to 4 pm featuring carnival games, face painting, raffles, music and more!

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Lykens man accused of threatening to shoot woman with AK47: You will never walk again

DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  A Dauphin County man is in jail with bail denied after he threatened a woman by pointing an AK47 rifle at her and telling her that  you will never walk again, State Police said.

Parker Webster, 25, of Lykens, said to State Police that he allegedly did point his AK47 at her, according to a criminal complaint.

The woman came into the State Police station on Aug. 2 to report two prior incidents with Parker, the charges show.

Troopers were told that Parker picked up a metal chair and rocks, and threw them at the woman while the two were outside arguing. When she tried to go inside, Troopers were told that Webster grabbed her and pushed her into a wheelbarrow, the complaint says.

After getting inside the home, located along S Crossroads Road in Washington Township, Webster got his rifle and threatened to shoot the dog, and then turned it on the woman and said he was going to shoot her, State Police said.

The woman was able to get the gun away from Webster who then took out a utility knife and threatened her with it but she was able to get away, State Police said.

In the other incident, Webster is accused of choking the woman when the two were arguing.

In an interview with State Police, Webster said he told the woman he was going to blow your ******* legs off and that he went crazy, the complaint reads. After he was taken into custody he threatened that if he was going to get out he would make it worthwhile, State Police said.

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Webster faces multiple charges that include felony counts of strangulation and aggravated assault, along with misdemeanor charges of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and terroristic threats. He also faces a summary charge of harassment.

Webster is locked up in Dauphin County Prison with his bail denied and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 14.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Im going to look out for them: The Graceful Baker will donate 10% of proceeds to Southampton Co. Fair

FRANKLIN, Va. (WAVY)  The Graceful Baker will donate 10% of all bakery proceeds to help rebuild the Franklin-Southampton County fairgrounds following damage to the site from a Sunday evening storm.

NWS: Straight-line winds caused damage to Southampton Co. Fairgrounds

Just days ahead of the fair, straight-line winds snapped several trees that damaged buildings, according to the National Weather Service Wakefield.

Wednesday was scheduled to be the first day of the fair, but the board was forced to cancel the annual event and instead was meeting with an insurance adjuster.

The good Lord saved us. Were all OK Franklin-Southampton County Fair canceled following Sunday storm

Tiffany Rutledge, owner of The Graceful Baker, shared on Facebook that she will donate a portion of her bakery sales to help the fairgrounds.

Everybody is so close knit, Rutledge said. When something like this happens, everybody just pulls together. Its insane how such a small community can just feel like a huge community when its needed. Ive known a lot of people that work at the fairgrounds since I was little.

Inside of her bakery at 309 North Main Street in Franklin, she sells several items from local small business owners.

My motto in the very beginning was, I will give back to the community when I can,' Rutledge said.

A customer that stopped by the bakery told 10 On Your Side the mom of four was a wonderful woman with a heart of gold. However, not everyone understands why she is raising money.

Ive had people reach out to me and [write], They dont really need the money to rebuild. Insurance is going to cover it. Its deeper than that, Rutledge said. These people have put in the hard work. Theyve taken off of their regular job to go out there. There is money that has been spent that theyre not going to get back from insurance. Its the little things that people dont see behind the scenes that I only know because I know some of the workers. There is money that has been spent that theyre not going to get back from insurance. Its not going to cover that stuff.

Rutledge said she is friends with the mom and daughter that were inside of this building when the door was ripped off.

[It] scared them to death because they had no idea what was going on, she said. They heard the rain, they heard the wind, and then the next thing they know  the door was peeled off.

Rutledge has worked the fair for several years.

The building that got the door ripped off, I was going to be in there, at that end, Rutledge said.

While her husband is among the 379 employees set to lose their jobs in December with Keurig Green Mountain plant closing in Windsor. Rutledge remains faithful that everything will work itself out.

Previously: Keurig Green Mountain plant in Windsor closing; 379 employees impacted

Im not worried about it because Gods got us either way, she said. We are going to be just fine. Everybody was just reaching out. They were like, I heard about your husband. Yall going to be, OK? Do you need anything? I was like, no, were going to be fine. If you know of any jobs hiring, we can use that.'

Staying true to her business motto, she will continue to help others by sharing a portion of her proceeds to help rebuild the fairgrounds.

People looked out for me when I opened this [bakery] to make sure that I stayed in business, Rutledge said. Im going to look out for them. Thats like family to me. Im going through my own personal things, yes. Is it going to hurt me to where I cant give back when I know my community needs it? No, its not.

In two days, she raised over $200.

Anything on my bakery side, lunches, cakes that I do, 10% of that goes to the fairgrounds, Rutledge said. Im going to do that through all of September because we have a huge fall festival thats coming up in the end of September. I want to take the sales from that and be able to contribute to them.

The outpouring of support from the community has been strong.

There are people coming here that Ive never seen before, she said. I get people all the way from Franklin, Southampton County, Suffolk, Carolina, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach. I get them from all over. I had a couple people that called yesterday. They made a donation over the phone. They dont live around here, but theyve seen the Facebook post.

LeeAnn Williams, a longtime Franklin-Southampton fair board member, was asked on Tuesday what it meant to her when Rutledge said she was going to donate to the fairgrounds.

We cried a lot, Williams said. The community  they know how hard we work. The community has been great. Because its a small community, everybody comes [to the fair]. The week of the fair, things shut down and you come to the fair, thats what you do. Its been such an outpouring from other fairs that have been through things like this, and the state of Virginia has been great.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said Thursday the opposition is willing to offer guarantees and incentives in negotiations with the countrys strongman, Nicolas Maduro, if he recognizes the results of the July 28 presidential elections showing that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez won.

Machado, who won the opposition primaries but was not allowed to run by Venezuelan authorities loyal to Maduro, said the opposition has four points in a potential negotiation.

One: We start from the recognition of the results of July 28, she told reporters from Mexican outlets in a video call Thursday. Two: It is a negotiation for an orderly and stable democratic transition in Venezuela. Three: We are going to provide guarantees, safeguards, and incentives so that it takes place as soon as possible. And four, it has to be a negotiation in which the people of Venezuela, the leaders that the people of Venezuela trust and the sectors of civil society are represented.

Machado said efforts by Brazil and Colombia to open a communication channel between Maduro and the opposition are positive, but she stressed that the opposition would not negotiate Gonzalezs electoral victory, which has been confirmed by data collected by the opposition and independently verified by experts, media outlets and foreign governments..

We are not going to negotiate the elections results, she said. We are not going to accept a power-sharing scheme where Maduro remains in power, and some spaces are given [to us] because that would be ignoring the publics will.

Machado told Colombian television channel Caracol that any offers to deal with the Maduro regime are in too much of a preliminary stage to say that a negotiation exists.

There is no evidence that the Maduro regime is willing to negotiate with the opposition. The regime, which has faced massive protests in the aftermath of the election, maintains it won the vote and has threatened to jail opposition leaders on charges of encouraging an insurrection.

A U.S. congressional source said the Mexican government is the least involved of the three countries seeking a dialogue between the Maduro government and the opposition. Machado told Mexican reporters she has not been in contact with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

After the Maduro-controlled National Electoral Council declared him the winner of the July 28 elections with numbers widely seen as fraudulent, the opposition quickly gathered paper tallies that verified about 80% of the votes cast and showed Gonzalez had won in a landslide with 67% of the vote.

U.S. officials have said the paper trail presented by the opposition was irrefutable evidence that Gonzalez won. Independent analyses by the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN and the Carter Center, one of the few independent electoral observers allowed in Venezuela for the election, reached a similar conclusion.

Jennie Lincoln, the head of the Carter Centers delegation that monitored the election, told the news agency Agence France-Presse that the center ran the same numbers from the data gathered by the opposition and confirmed Gonzalez defeated Maduro, winning more than 60% of the votes. She also said the center found no evidence of hacking on election day, as Maduro has contended.

Maduro said the alleged hacking prevented the electoral council from releasing its voting data, as many governments around the world have urged. He then requested that the countrys Supreme Court, also under his control, audit the results in a move that many fear could be another trap for Gonzalez and his movement.

Francisco Santos, a former Colombian vice-president and ambassador to the United States, said Maduro would use the legal maneuver to validate fake results presented by the electoral council, discredit the data presented by the opposition and eventually arrest Gonzalez and Machado.

U.S. supports negotiations with Maduro but wont call opposition winner president-elect

On Thursday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the U.S. is engaging with partners in the region and ready to support an inclusive Venezuelan-led process to re-establish democratic norms.

The Biden administration has acknowledged Gonzalezs electoral victory but has not officially recognized him as president-elect. Miller declined to say if the administration is engaged in talks with Maduro. Last year, the administration held secret negotiations with Venezuela in Qatar that paved the way for the elections and the lifting of some U.S. sanctions against the Maduro government.

Secret deal: Biden offered normal relations with Venezuela if Maduro agreed to elections

Florida Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who has been involved for years in policies toward Venezuela, called the administrations unwillingness to refer to Gonzalez as president-elect disgraceful.

The Biden-Harris Administration claimed concessions to the Maduro regime would secure a free and fair election process in Venezuela, yet we all know it was a farce, he said in a statement. The strategies presented by this administration have done nothing but empower narco-dictator Maduro and his thugs. Our nations message must be clear: We stand for freedom, we recognize Edmundo Gonzalez as the president-elect, and that Maduros illegitimate reign must come to an end.

In a call hosted by the Washington think tank Atlantic Council on Thursday, Frank Mora, the U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States, said he understood the frustration of those calling for bolder action from the United States, given the Maduro regimes crackdown on protesters, members of the opposition and journalists. However, he said it was important to give initiatives such as those initiated by Brazil, Colombia and Mexico space to move forward.

He said the U.S. is working to continue diplomatic pressure on Maduro and pass a resolution at a OAS meeting next week condemning the violence and calling on Maduro to release vote tallies. A similar effort to pass such a resolution at the OAS failed last week after several countries abstained or were absent.

We will not abandon the Venezuelan people, Mora said.
NAIROBI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Anti-government protests returned to the streets in Kenya on Thursday, resulting in injuries and more than 170 arrests.

The demonstrations, though smaller in scale than previous ones, were marked by youthful protestors who marched through streets in six of Kenya's 47 counties, chanting anti-government slogans and displaying placards with various messages.

In the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, normal business was disrupted in the central business district (CBD) as shops remained closed, and office workers avoided the area. Public transport was largely halted as minibus operators, known as matatus, withdrew their vehicles for safety reasons. Security officers engaged in running battles with protestors, using teargas and live ammunition to disperse them.

"We are fighting for a better Kenya. All we want is for our issues to be addressed, including increased unemployment among youth," a protestor said.

Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli cautioned protestors against unlawful activities. "Every Kenyan, as per the law, has the liberty to demonstrate, picket, and assemble according to the law. But where the privilege of one ends is where that of another starts," he said.

Masengeli assured that the government is addressing grievances from previous protests and warned that criminal elements would be dealt with firmly.

To prevent protestors from reaching the CBD, the police set up roadblocks on major routes and inspected passenger vehicles, which caused delays for commuters, as described by Henry Mulei, a resident stuck in traffic for hours due to a roadblock.

"I was heading to town from Ruiru in a public service vehicle, but we found a roadblock along the Thika superhighway. I sat in traffic for hours and had to return home," Mulei said.

Protests also occurred in towns such as Karatina in central Kenya and Machakos in the southern part of the country. Other major hotspots like Kisumu and Kisii, where violent scenes had been reported in the past, remained calm. Some residents chose not to participate in the protests, expressing satisfaction with President William Ruto's recent Cabinet changes.

In the recent changes, Ruto included opposition members in his newly reconstituted Cabinet, which he swore into office on Thursday morning in Nairobi. This move is part of his efforts to reset his administration following a period of intense public dissatisfaction.

In July, Ruto dismissed nearly the entire Cabinet in response to widespread protests. He now appeals to Kenyans to allow the new Cabinet members the opportunity to fulfill their roles and address the concerns that fueled the unrest, which was sparked by controversial new tax measures introduced in June.

"I am persuaded that this moment in the life of our nation calls on us to build a strong 'team of rivals' to give our transformation agenda the best chance of success and to enhance inclusivity in national development," he said.

Since the protests began on June 18, over 50 people have died and 400 others have been injured, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. The protests initially focused on tax increases but evolved to address broader issues of governance and government spending.

In response to widespread public outcry, the president dissolved his Cabinet in mid-July following a series of anti-government demonstrations led by young protestors in June. These protests were triggered by the Finance Bill 2024, which aimed to raise an additional 346.7 billion Kenyan shillings (about 2.7 billion U.S. dollars) through new taxes.

The bill, which has since been withdrawn, included provisions that would increase taxes on essential goods and services, such as bread, and on mobile money transfers. 
Dunkin Donuts is facing a boycott from prominent MAGA figures after Rumbles CEO claimed the chain wont advertise on his video sharing platform due to divisive right-wing content.

The grumbling began Wednesday when Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski posted what appeared to be a snippet of an email from Dunkins parent company, Inspire Brands.

I would be opposed to showing up on the current version of the platform, the email read. The right wing culture of the site is too polarizing from a brand sustainability standpoint today.

The sender added that Inspire Brands would be open to revisiting the matter as the site evolves.

Rumble hosts programming from controversial right-wing fabulists including Alex Jones, Nick Fuentes and Tucker Carlson.

Social media MAGA influencer Catturd expressed outrage over Dunkins choice on X  another online platform struggling to attract advertisers because of its far right-wing content.

So, companies like POS @dunkindonuts are boycotting Rumble, and X, unless they drop all the truth tellers, the online personality wrote Wednesday night to his 2.7 million followers. Im calling on everyone to BudLight @dunkindonuts.

Bud Light took a financial blow in 2023 after it launched a promotion featuring transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. The campaign offended MAGA loyalists including musician Kid Rock, who filmed himself shooting at several cases of beer.

Right-wing pundit Steven Crowder, who has 2.2 million followers on X, praised Pavlovskis decision to target potential advertisers that choose to avoid content they find objectionable. He also encouraged his supporters to exercise their freedom to boycott such companies.

This is the power that YOU have, he wrote on the platform Thursday. When you dont Kowtow to the woke mob, you win.

Crowder was one of several activists who celebrated Wednesdays New York Times report that the Global Alliance for Responsible Media  an organization being sued by Rumble and X  was suspending operations amid antitrust allegations. The nonprofit group said it cant afford to fight back.

Inspire Brands, which also operates Arbys, Baskin Robbins and Buffalo Wild Wings, hasnt responded to a request for comment.
Mail delays postpone the start of pre-Election Day voting in parts of rural Alaska

An early voting station is set up in the atrium of the State Office Building in Juneau, Alaska on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, the first day of early voting for the 2024 Alaska primary election. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

An early voting station is set up in the atrium of the State Office Building in Juneau, Alaska on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, the first day of early voting for the 2024 Alaska primary election. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Early voting opened Monday for Alaskas Aug. 20 primary election, but ballots headed to many rural Alaska polling locations failed to arrive in time due to delays in the mail, the director of the Alaska Division of Elections said Wednesday.

Thats left some rural voters waiting to cast their ballots, and the delay has caused some Democrats to cry foul.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, the official in charge of the elections division, is running as a Republican candidate in the U.S. House race, seeking to defeat Democratic incumbent Mary Peltola.

Peltola is Alaska Native, and in her 2022 campaigns for office, she earned a significant amount of support from the states rural Native villages.

Robyn Burke is a Democratic candidate for the Alaska state House and tried to vote on Tuesday in Utqiagvik because shell be traveling on the primary election day.

She went to an early voting site, and they handed me an absentee ballot application. Like to request a mail-in ballot. And I said, Do you not have absentee ballots?

As it turned out, they did not  and neither did over a dozen other rural towns.

Burke posted about the issue on social media, which drew further comments from voters who had been likewise affected.

Alaska has only a handful of true early voting sites that are set up like Election Day polling places. In smaller communities, the state distributes blank absentee ballots and allows voters to cast absentee in person votes that are then mailed through the normal absentee ballot process.

In places where mail delivery is often slow, its frequently a faster way to vote before Election Day.

But this year, some absentee ballot packages were delayed getting to their final destination. In Bethel, ballots didnt arrive until Tuesday afternoon. In Utqiagvik and Kotzebue, they arrived Wednesday.

Altogether, eight communities didnt receive their packages until Monday, nine got them on Tuesday, and as of Wednesday afternoon, 14 communities were still waiting for their ballots, said Carol Beecher, the division director.

That figure changed throughout the day as more information arrived.

In some cases, the delays were due to bad weather. In others, the person designated to pick up the mail from the airport wasnt answering the phone.

Among the affected towns and villages were Atka, Nikolski and Akutan in the Aleutians, Sand Point on the Alaska Peninsula, and Shaktoolik and Koyuk on the western coast.

Burke, whos previously voiced concern about voting access in rural Alaska, said shes concerned by the delays.

A large part of Mary Peltolas voting base is Alaska Native, but we dont have the ability to vote, or the timeline that we have to vote is shortened. With people being turned away, who knows if theyll go back? she said.

Lindsay Kavanaugh, director of the Alaska Democratic Party, said she also saw Burkes comments and that the issue is Dahlstroms responsibility.

If she is unable to put in the work to ensure eligible voters are able to cast a ballot no matter where they reside in the state, one can easily conclude she will not be an effective advocate in Congress, especially not for rural Alaskans, Kavanaugh said.

Dahlstroms campaign declined to comment on the issue. Beecher, a Dahlstrom appointee, said by email that nothing untoward is happening.

I can assure you that this had nothing to do with anything political. The (lieutenant governor) has delegated all election responsibilities and is not involved in the operations of the division. The delays are due to mailing issues, and some of the challenges we encounter with these remote locations, she said.

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Maine Gov. Janet Mills spoke at rally in Portland on June 24, the two year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision, which ended the legal right to abortion. (Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)

Providers of reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare in Maine will have added protection starting Friday should they face civil or criminal challenges from states where such care is illegal.

These added protections come from Maines shield law, one of numerous laws set to take effect Aug. 9 that the state Legislature passed this past session.

We arent anticipating changes in the sort of standard operating procedure in accordance with the law, either at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, or among our peers, said Lisa Margulies, vice president of public affairs for PPNNE, the largest reproductive health care provider in the area. Thats the point. This is really to preserve both the care that were able to provide and our healthcare infrastructure on the ground.

The law shores up protections for providers of healthcare that is already legal in Maine, including abortion and gender-affirming care, as well as protects patients by safeguarding records of legal medical care they receive in Maine from out-of-state subpoenas.

The law also expands a program to allow providers of protected healthcare to make their addresses confidential amid rising threats of violence against them across the country.

Such threats and tensions were born out in the State House during consideration of Maines shield law. The law spurred some of the legislative sessions most heated debates (often riddled with false information). A bomb threat, ultimately deemed a hoax, targeted the legislators who sponsored the proposed law, the State House and the Maine Democratic Party. Leaders from Republican-led states also threatened legal action against Maine should the law pass  though have not acted on the threat since the laws enactment.

Here is what is changing  and whats not  as Maines shield law takes effect, as well as how state leaders and healthcare providers view the safeguards it provides.

Added legal protections

The law offers an affirmative defense for providers of both reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare in Maine, which has codified the right to such healthcare into its state law, while other states have restricted or banned access in recent years.

Maine joins a growing number of states that have enacted shield laws. It is among 14 states, and Washington D.C., that have shield laws protecting transgender healthcare, and 18 states with shield laws protecting reproductive care.

This isnt shielding anyone from poor care or negligent care or anything else, but its just saying you cant single out this reason, of providing these types of care, for taking disciplinary action, said Mary Bonauto, GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders senior director of civil rights and legal strategies.

The shield law does not change what type of healthcare is legal in Maine.

Maine has some of the least restrictive abortion laws in the country, though protected reproductive healthcare under the shield law includes more than just abortion, Bonauto pointed out, such as fertility treatments and contraception.

The transgender healthcare permitted in Maine also does not change under the shield law. This care differs for adults and minors, who largely need parental consent. A law in Maine passed in 2023 allows for people who are at least 16 years old to receive non-surgical gender-affirming hormone therapy  not gender reassignment surgery  without a parents consent, but only under a set of specific circumstances.

Concerns about states trying to impose their laws on one another are not abstract. Bonauto pointed to attempts by the Texas attorney general to obtain medical records of Texas minors receiving gender-affirming healthcare in Washington state, where the care is legal. The parties reached a settlement in which the attorney general agreed to drop the request and the hospital agreed to withdraw its business license in Texas.

Given how new Maine and other states shield laws are  as they have popped up in reaction to the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022  it remains to be seen how they will hold up in court.

During consideration of the law this spring, 16 Republican state attorneys general sent a letter threatening to sue Maine if it passed its shield law, calling the measure unconstitutional. Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey dismissed the claims as meritless and an attempt to intimidate proponents of the law.

That letter sort of proved the point of why Maine needed a shield law, Bonauto said.

The AGs Office declined to say whether its staff is doing anything to prepare for the shield law to take effect, but special assistant to the Attorney General Danna Hayes said the office has not received any further contact from other states about the issue and that she is not aware of any direct legal challenges to Maines healthcare laws at this time.

While the law is largely focused on protecting healthcare providers, it does offer some protections to patients by way of protecting their medical records.

Specifically, the law directs courts to deny subpoena requests that seek records related to protected medical care in Maine.

Expanding address confidentiality

Another component of the shield law is an extension of the states address confidentiality program to providers of legally protected healthcare in Maine, including abortion and gender-affirming care.

Many states have address confidentiality programs, though the specifics of each program and who administers them vary. Maines program was established in 2001, originally designed to protect survivors of domestic violence and last extended in 2022 to survivors of human trafficking as well.

The actual addresses of the participants in the program are not listed in voter registration files, the driver license system and other public data records, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows explained. Instead, her offices address is listed for them, and on the back end, her office ensures the participant is registered to vote in the right jurisdiction.

At the start of this week, there were 228 address confidentiality program participants, according to the Secretary of States Office.

If we want to continue to be able to take care of our population, we need to have these protections in place. We need to be able to provide the care that is safe and legal and medically necessary.

 Stephanie Small, regional clinical director of medical services at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England

Bellows said there are limitations to the program given the many ways an address can be divulged. Our work is not retroactive, Bellows said, adding that the program is therefore most useful for people who are changing addresses. We recognize our program is one tool in the toolkit of protecting the privacy and security of participants.

Under the program, the Secretary of States Office also trains and collaborates with address confidentiality program assistants. These assistants are not employed by the state but by organizations through which the people seeking protection are receiving or administering care  historically, organizations related to sexual assault and domestic violence. There are currently 191 program assistants.

Bellows said her office has reached out to Planned Parenthood, which has locations in Biddeford, Portland, Sanford, and Topsham, as well as Mabel Wadsworth Center, which is located in Bangor, to inquire about training more assistants with topical experience that aligns with the program expansion.

Given limitations with changing historic address information, Bellows said the one-on-one support assistants can provide is a crucial component as they can offer additional guidance.

Many of those administering reproductive and gender-affirming care in Maine, as well as those in public facing roles for organizations that do related work, already took security precautions before the expansion of this program.

For example, Aspen Ruhlin, community engagement manager of Mabel Wadsworth Center, subscribes to a service that scrapes their private information from the internet.

Privacy and security are things that are unfortunately realities you have to consider, Ruhlin said.

Were going to just keep taking care of people

Representatives of Maines largest providers of reproductive and gender affirming care said they have not necessarily had to do anything to prepare for the law to take effect, given that it does not alter the healthcare they provide. However, they are noticing a difference in how providers and patients are approaching healthcare decisions.

Since the overturn of Roe, Stephanie Small, a nurse practitioner in Topsham who is also regional clinical director of medical services at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, said shes seen fearful patients coming to Maine to get abortions after their home states banned the procedure.

In the 2023 fiscal year, 8 percent of PPNNEs abortion patients traveled 100 miles or more to access care, with 7 percent coming from another state.

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Small said she also has patients who are worried about their continued ability to get birth control, given the changing national landscape, who are opting to get longer-acting intrauterine devices for contraception.

That unknown is fearful, Small said, adding that the shield law will now eliminate some unknowns in Maine. Were going to just keep taking care of people, just as weve always done for anyone who needs it. We dont need to change what we do. We can just feel a little more comfortable.

Small also sees Maines shield law as a way to help create a more reliable healthcare workforce, given that data shows providers and medical residents are leaving states with abortion and gender-affirming care bans.

If we want to continue to be able to take care of our population, we need to have these protections in place, Small said. We need to be able to provide the care that is safe and legal and medically necessary. Im hopeful that our state will continue to be a safe harbor in the midst of a national storm.

Before the shield law, Gov. Janet Mills had issued an executive order in 2022 to similarly ensure clinicians who treat patients coming from states where abortion is banned wouldnt be penalized for providing care, though an executive order is impermanent by nature and not enshrined in state statute. Ruhlin from the Mabel Wadsworth Center sees the law as a more sure protection.

Weve had some protections around this already in the form of executive orders. Its more of just being able to breathe a little bit easier, having more protection there that is a little bit sturdier, Ruhlin explained. Thats really what I have heard from providers. We already had these protections in place. It is that these protections we know can be longer lasting now.

Eyeing future changes

The longevity of these protections will, however, be dependent on election outcomes, cautioned Margulies from Planned Parenthood.

As campaigning has ramped up for the November elections, Maine Democrats have focused on the stakes for reproductive care. While Maine passed a number of laws in recent years to protect access both to abortion and gender-affirming care, elected officials caution state statute doesnt insulate Maine from potential changes on the national level, or from changes that newly elected state legislators could adopt.

All the laws we have are tenuous, Margulies said, also pointing to the fact that the Maine Legislature currently has a Democratic majority, not a supermajority, which has hindered recent lawmaker efforts to pass an amendment to enshrine the right to reproductive care in the state Constitution.

We have work to do to ensure that these rights cant be taken away session to session, Margulies said.

Ruhlin from Mabel Wadsworth also said the legal protections the shield law affords are only a component of being able to access reproductive care in Maine.

Located in Bangor, Mabel Wadsworth is the northernmost clinic in the state that provides the in-clinic abortion procedure, so the center often has people driving several hours one way to get the procedure, Ruhlin said.

Margulies and other representatives of local Planned Parenthood offices also warned last week of a multi-million dollar deficit over the next few years and called for state funding to offset what they anticipate will be a reduced ability to provide free and reduced price care in the future.

Ruhlin added that financial barriers are compounded by barriers from a lack of cultural acceptance.

We have really good protection laws for abortion in Maine, Ruhlin said. We also have MaineCare coverage of abortion now, which is huge, but if you are someone who doesnt have a vehicle, doesnt have someone who you can safely talk to about your need for abortion care, you live in a rural community and you are nowhere near a clinic and youre facing unprecedented levels of stigma for what is, frankly, very normal health care  how much does the law matter?

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Majority of US adults say euthanasia should be allowed by law: Gallup

Americans views on euthanasia have remained largely unchanged over the last decade, with most people believing doctors should legally be allowed to end a patients life, a new Gallup poll shows.

A little more than 7 in 10 Americans think doctors should, by law, be able to end a patients life by some painless means if the patient and their family ask for it, according to the poll.

A smaller majority of Americans are supportive of physician-assisted suicide, or when patients end their own lives with the help of a doctor.

Gallup found that 66 percent of Americans believe doctors should be allowed by law to assist the patient commit suicide for terminal patients with severe pain who request it.

The debate over whether doctors should be able to actively assist patients in ending their lives is long-standing, but a growing number of states are considering bills that would allow physicians to prescribe life-ending drugs to terminally ill patients.

While most Americans think doctors should be allowed to assist a patient in ending their life, only about half of Americans think that it is morally OK to do.

Gallup found that 53 percent of Americans think physician-assisted suicide is morally acceptable and 40 percent think it is wrong.

Americans who identify as religious and attend religious services regularly are more likely to think that the practice is morally wrong compared to nonreligious or non-service-attending adults.

Most Americans who attend a weekly religious service  66 percent  think doctor-assisted suicide is wrong, while 48 percent of Americans who attend a service almost weekly or monthly think the same.

Meanwhile, 28 percent of Americans who rarely or never attend a religious service think the practice is wrong.

Gallup measured approval for doctor-assisted suicide among three faith groups: the religiously unaffiliated, Protestants and Catholics.

The overwhelming majority of Americans without a religious affiliation  77 percent  think legal euthanasia is morally acceptable, while 46 percent of Protestants and 44 percent of Catholics think the same.

Democrats, at 69 percent, and college graduates, at 67 percent, are more likely to support doctor-assisted suicide than Republicans and those without a college degree.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  The State of Hawaii is taking significant steps to improve its correctional system, focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into the community.

KHON2.com was able sit down with Tommy Johnson who is the Director of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He shared insights into these efforts and the ongoing projects aimed at creating a safer and more effective system.

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In Hawaii, the state operates both jails and prisons, unlike on the continent where counties manage jails and states oversee prisons.

Hawaii has five jails, known as community correctional centers, and three prisons. Director Johnson explained, We have the Halawa Medium Security Facility, the Kulani Correctional Facility on the Big Island, and the Waiawa Correctional Facility on Oahu.

A significant focus has been on the Womens Community Correctional Center (WCCC), which will soon house all female offenders from Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC).

This change is expected to improve safety and provide better facilities for female inmates. Its safer to have all the female offenders in one facility on Oahu, Johnson said.

The upgrades at WCCC include a new dormitory, an administration building, an intake service center, and enhanced security systems.

Rehabilitation is a key goal. WCCC offers various programs, including work furlough, substance abuse treatment, and therapeutic living. Director Johnson believes these programs are essential for reducing recidivism and helping inmates reintegrate into society.

Its important to provide evidence-based programs and wraparound services so that we can help change the trajectory of these peoples lives, he noted.

Hawaii faces challenges with overcrowding in its correctional facilities. To manage this, some inmates are housed in private prisons on the mainland.

Currently, about 1,000 inmates are there, but this number will reduce to approximately 700 once repairs at Halawa are completed.

We wish we had the room to keep them here, but we just dont have the bed space in Hawaii, Johnson explained.

The department is also addressing staff shortages. With a vacancy rate of about 28%, they are recruiting actively, conducting job fairs, and advertising in movie theaters and on public transportation.

Weve increased the number of classes for recruits from two to six this year, Johnson said. They are also reaching out to military transition centers and universities to attract new hires.

Beyond infrastructure and staffing, the department emphasizes the importance of humane treatment and effective rehabilitation.

Johnson stressed, 95 to 97% of those incarcerated will eventually be released one day. It would be better for the state to have an effective humane correctional system that provides evidence-based programs and wraparound services.

The ultimate aim is to reduce recidivism and ensure that inmates can become productive members of society.

If were able to do it upfront, we can save the state tens of millions of dollars on the back end in services, prosecution, court costs, police costs, attorneys fees and all these other things, Johnson said.

These efforts reflect a commitment to transforming the correctional system from a punitive model to one focused on rehabilitation and positive outcomes.

Director Johnson and his team are dedicated to overcoming challenges and creating a system that benefits both inmates and the broader community.

You can click here to learn more about employment opportunities. You can click here to learn more about what its like to work for the State of Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

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As Hawaii continues to improve its correctional facilities and programs, the hope is to provide inmates with the tools and support they need to successfully reintegrate into society, reducing the likelihood of reoffending and contributing to a safer community for all.

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Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry prepares to deliver his address to state lawmakers on opening day of the regular legislative session, Monday, March 11, 2024, at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry prepares to deliver his address to state lawmakers on opening day of the regular legislative session, Monday, March 11, 2024, at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge. (John Ballance/The Advocate, Pool)

The Louisiana Board of Ethics expects the state will have to spend $50,000 to more than $100,000 to accommodate four more board members in its meeting room in Baton Rouge.

In January, the ethics board will grow from 11 to 15 members at the behest of Gov. Jeff Landry. The Republican is in an ongoing dispute with current board members over his failure to disclose flights he took on a political donors private plane while he was attorney general.

They decided to pass this legislation, but yet they want us to pay the cost, ethics board chair La Koshia Roberts said Friday during a board meeting.

The ethics board monitors elected officials, political candidates and public employees for potential violations of state ethics laws, including conflicts of interest and campaign finance reporting failures.

The boards public meeting room is on the ground floor of the LaSalle Building on North 3rd Street, but the dais doesnt have enough microphones for 15 people. Money is needed to reconfigure where the members sit for their monthly meetings.

Board members suggested the governor and legislators pay for the renovation and directed staff to send a letter to the Landry administration requesting the money come from somewhere other than the ethics boards budget. If they dont get the funding, one board member joked they could find other, inconvenient workarounds to the upgrades.

I guess we can take a vote and whoever gets appointed last should have to sit at the kids table, said member Alfred Butch Speer, who was the clerk of the Louisiana House of Representatives.

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Other public comments from current board members over the past two months suggest they are skeptical of the new law that changes the way the board operates. An expansion of the ethics board will give the governor and his allies in the Legislature more control of the board next year, even as legal negotiations over potential fines and penalties continue among the board, Landry and Stanton Aviation, a company that Landry political donor Greg Mosing owns.

Along with Landry, Mosings aviation company has also been charged with breaking state ethics laws because it also did not report providing Landry with private plane flights in 2021. A Mosing plane took Landry to and from Hawaii for a nine-day trip that partially coincided with a conference for states attorneys general.

Maybe we should get Mr. Mosing, you know, to donate the $100,000 to accommodate the new ethics board members, Speer said sarcastically at the boards Friday meeting.

The ethics board agenda indicates members discussed Landry and the Mosing flights at a private meeting Thursday, but no public update has been given on the case in almost a year. Ethics Administrator Kathleen Allen said Friday she wasnt able to disclose where the negotiations stood because of legal restrictions.

Under the previous law, Landry would only have been able to replace about a quarter of the ethics board, three of its 11 members, at the beginning of 2025. But the new law allows him and legislative supporters to swap out nearly half  seven out of 15 members  in January.

Landry and lawmakers will also be able to pick the ethics board appointees with far less input from outsiders. The old law required the governor and legislative leaders to select ethics board members from a list of nominees leaders of Louisianas private colleges and universities submitted.



Under the new law, Landry and legislative leaders dont have to consult with outsiders over who to appoint. The law suggests they pick five retired judges, five retired elected officials and five people who have never held office, but its not required.

Other law changes that took effect this month already make it harder for the ethics board to operate.



Roberts said the board was unable to refer 13 cases for investigation during its meeting Thursday because it didnt have enough members present. Landrys new law requires 10 members to be present for an ethics investigation vote. The previous threshold was eight.

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Man, 2 teens charged in connection to fatal shooting in Prince Georges County

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Prince Georges County Police said a man and two teens were charged in connection to a fatal shooting that happened on Tuesday afternoon in Camp Springs.

Police said that at about 2:35 p.m., they responded to the 4300 block of Ridgecrest Drive for a shooting. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man who had been shot. He died at the hospital.

About two hours after the shooting, police were called for the report of an armed carjacking on Fisher Road. While there, officers saw the carjacked car driving alongside another carjacked car on St. Barnabas Road.

Police attempted a traffic stop on both cars, but neither stopped. Officers started a short chase, which ended when one of the carjacked cars crashed at St. Barnabas Road and Wheeler Road.

The driver, a 16-year-old, was taken into custody. Police recovered a gun from the crash.

Illinois man arrested for targeting elders in gold bar scheme, Montgomery County police say

Officers continued to follow the second car, which later crashed in D.C. Officers found another gun in that car.

During the investigation, police determined that the people involved in the carjacking were also responsible for the fatal shooting in Camp Springs.

Police identified the suspects as 25-year-old Deandre Boyd of Washington, D.C., and two 16-year-old boys from Washington, D.C.

Boyd and the two teens are being charged with first and second-degree murder, carjacking as well as additional charges.

Both teens are being charged as adults.

Silver Spring doctor sentenced for raping, assaulting patients

Police believe the suspects shot the victim during an attempted armed robbery. They believe the victim and suspects were not known to each other.

One teen was being held at the Prince Georges County Department of Corrections on no bond.

Boyd and the other teen were in custody in D.C., awaiting extradition to Prince Georges County.

Anyone with information on this case should call police at 301-516-2512.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A 30-year-old man was shot to death in back of a Brooklyn rowhouse, police said Thursday.

Chad Lewars was shot multiple times in the torso during a confrontation behind a brick two-story home on E. 84th St. near Foster Ave. in Canarsie about 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, cops said.

Medics rushed Lewars to Brookdale University Hospital but he could not be saved.

There were no immediate arrests.

Lewars was born in Jamaica and immigrated as a child to New York where he works in international shipping at his fathers business, the victims uncle, Roderick Lewars, told the Daily News.

The victims parents were in Jamaica celebrating their home countrys 62nd Independence Day when their son was killed, according to Lewars uncle, who said his brother informed him of his nephews murder in a tragic call late Wednesday night.

When he called me last night at 3:20 a.m. the first words was Chad is dead, hes been shot,' Roderick Lewars recounted. We were on the phone for 10 minutes and I could not get another word out of him. He was just crying.

Lewars parents were expected to return to the city Friday in search of answers regarding their sons senseless killing.

We dont know if its a robbery, we dont know if somebody set him up because hes in the business, said Roderick Lewars. Thats why hes coming back tomorrow, and trying to get back as soon as possible.

The victim was known to wear fine clothes and drive luxury cars, according to his uncle, who fears the victims taste for the finer things might have attracted unwanted attention.

Hes kind of a flashy guy, said Roderick Lewars. He dresses well, he drives expensive cars. Somebody might see him and think he has money.

Roderick Lewars described his nephew as hardworking. He leaves behind one child.

I dont know why this happened, the grieving uncle said. It should have never happened.
BEIRUT, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) spokesman Andrea Tenenti said on Thursday that families of the peacekeepers working with the agency must leave the country, Elnashra news website reported.

"Many families have left, even though some remained in Beirut where the situation was calmer," the spokesperson said. "The new measure concerns them as well, and it is temporary."

Tenenti's remarks coincided with the recent conflict escalation between Hezbollah and the Israeli army on the border in southern Lebanon.

Tenenti added that the measure is expected to last "at least until the end of August," noting it cannot be described as "an evacuation but rather as a relocation."

Several countries have issued urgent calls for their nationals to leave Lebanon in recent days, while several airlines have delayed or suspended flights to Beirut.

Anticipation and caution have been prevailing in Lebanon following Israel's recent attack on Dahieh in Beirut's southern suburbs, which killed Hezbollah senior military commander Fouad Shokor and seven civilians.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah threatened a definite and painful response to the Israeli raid at the appropriate time and place.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas's attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. 
Man Accused Of Planning To Kill And Dismember Teen Weeks Before Their First Date

A Wisconsin man accused of killing and dismembering a 19-year-old college student after their first date had told a friend about his plot to kill her weeks before she was reported missing, according to a newly unsealed court document.

A confidential informant reportedly told Milwaukee police that 33-year-old Maxwell Anderson said he intended to kill Sade Robinson by pulling a handgun on her and leading her to his basement, according to a search warrant obtained by Fox affiliate WITI and other Milwaukee news outlets.

Anderson has been charged with offenses including murder and mutilating a corpse in connection with the death of Sade Robinson, whom he allegedly met up with on April 1. Anderson has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He also faces a wrongful death lawsuit filed in June by Robinsons family.

Wisconsin college student Sade Robinson, 19, is thought to have been killed and dismembered after meeting with someone at a Milwaukee restaurant for a first date. GoFundMe

Police said Robinsons last Snapchat activity revealed that on the night of April 1, she went to a local bar where Anderson had previously worked, according to a complaint obtained by HuffPost.

A review of Robinsons phone records indicated she and Anderson had messaged each other about meeting at the bar on April 1, and a bartender who was working that night confirmed that the two dined together, according to the complaint.

The bartender told police officers that Anderson referred to the meeting as a first date.

Since Robinson was reported missing by a friend on April 2, body parts identified as hers have been found scattered across the Milwaukee area.

A leg later determined to be Robinsons was discovered on April 2 at Warnimont Park, on Lake Michigan. Her car was found in flames about nine miles away that same day. Detectives who searched the car found remnants of her phone along with the clothes shed reportedly worn the night she met with Anderson, authorities said.

Anderson was taken into custody on April 4, and a search of his home allegedly found blood on a bed and on walls leading toward the basement, where police found multiple containers of gasoline.

However, DNA tests on the blood recovered at Andersons home did not match Robinsons, prosecutors said. Its unclear whose blood was found at Andersons home.

On April 15, the confidential informant told police that they had been at Andersons home in early March, according to the warrant obtained by WITI. They told police that Anderson showed them the basement, which contained a sink and where a plastic tarp was taped to the floor and ceiling, covering the walls.

The informant told police Anderson planned on shooting Robinson and then dismember her body in the room before disposing Robinsons body throughout the city, WITI reported.

Andersons home was sold in May, for $195,000, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Andersons attorney, Anthony Cotton, addressed the new allegations in a statement to WISN-TV in Milwaukee, saying information provided by people who refuse to identify themselves and wish to be labeled confidential informants is often false and exaggerated.

While we have not been provided with the name of this individual, the information provided by him or her is completely untrue, and there is no physical evidence to support these baseless assertions, the statement said. This is another example of someone choosing to spew misleading information on this case, which is unfortunate for all parties involved.

A final pretrial hearing is the case is set for Sept. 13.

Robinson had been expected to graduate from Milwaukee Area Technical College in May. Her family attended the commencement to accept her degree in criminal justice studies in her honor, according to WISN.

Related...
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A North Las Vegas man was arrested after police said he stabbed a man with a knife at a bus station in downtown Las Vegas.

Jimmie Lee Greer, 61, faces a battery charge following the Aug. 5 incident near 3rd Street and Bonneville Avenue, according to a police arrest report obtained by 8 News Now.

Officers arrived at the scene on Aug. 5 shortly after 7 p.m. after reports that a man had been stabbed by another man at the Bonneville Transit Center.

Security personnel described the suspect to police and stated that he had been walking a dog at the time, according to the report.

Police eventually found the man who had been stabbed sitting on a bench at the bus station. The man was given medical assistance for a single penetrating chest wound. Officers noticed the man starting to lose consciousness and stopped the police interview. The man was then taken to a nearby hospital.

According to the report, officers then found Greer walking nearby and took him into custody. Greer told officers he was at the bus station asking employees to break a large dollar bill amount to pay his fare for a bus ticket. He then told police that someone approached him offering an extra ticket for $2, which Greer said he agreed to pay. However, Greer then told police the person offering him the ticket then asked for more money, to which Greer told him he did not have enough money and the person then asked to have his dog instead, according to the report.

When Greer refused to give up his dog he told police the person offering the ticket got upset and abruptly kicked Greer in the chest, according to the report. After officers read him his Miranda Rights Greer continued to tell officers that after he was kicked by the person he defended himself but would not comment further on the details of how he defended himself, according to the report.

Police said evidence at the scene included a 9-inch fixed blade knife, surveillance video that appeared to show the fight between the two men escalate into a stabbing, and a bloody white t-shirt worn by the man who had been stabbed, all of which were recovered from the scene.

The man stabbed had non-life-threatening injuries but was in surgery for an hour to treat those injuries, police stated in the report.

Greer is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 12.

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Man Who Allegedly Had Intimate Relationship With Neurosurgeon Charged With His Murder

A Michigan man who was in an alleged intimate relationship with a Detroit neurosurgeon was charged with murder more than a year after the surgeon was found fatally shot in his own home, authorities said.

Desmond Burks, 34, was charged with offenses including premeditated murder, felony murder and larceny in the death of Dr. Devon Hoover, 53. Prosecutors accused Burks of killing the neurosurgeon last year and robbing him of thousands of dollars along with his luxury watches, the Wayne County Prosecutors Office announced Wednesday.

The investigation began on April 22, 2023, when Detroit police received a call about a parking violation. Officers found Hoovers white Land Rover blocking a driveway, and inside the vehicle, they discovered what appeared to be blood.

Detectives investigating the car went to Hoovers home that evening to find the driveway gate wide open. No one responded when detectives knocked on the front and back doors.

The next day, police received a call from Hoovers family requesting a well-being check at his home after he did not show up to visit his mother in Indiana as planned, according to prosecutors.

Dr. Devon Hoover, 53, was found dead in the attic crawl space of his home last year. GoFundMe

Officers returned to Hoovers home and noticed what they believed to be blood at the back entrance, prosecutors said, and they went inside.

Hoover was found dead in the attic crawl space, wrapped in a blood-soaked carpet, according to prosecutors. At the time of discovery, police noted that the doctor had gunshot wounds to his head and was only wearing socks.

The medical examiners office determined that Hoover was shot twice in the back of the head, and ruled his manner of death a homicide.

Detectives learned that Hoovers cellphone, wallet, money, credit cards and designer watches were missing from his home, according to prosecutors. Multiple fraudulent financial transactions were also made from his bank accounts in the days following his death.

Forensic analysis of Hoovers phone records revealed text messages between him and Burks indicating that the two were in an intimate relationship, according to prosecutors. Phone records also allegedly showed that Hoovers phone was taken to Burks neighborhood on the day he was killed, but the device was never taken back to Hoovers house.

Burks home was near where Hoovers car was found parked, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said detectives also found surveillance footage that showed Burks parking Hoovers car in the driveway and limping away with a backpack. Detectives who searched Burks home allegedly found one of Hoovers Cartier watches there.

Another one of Hoovers watches was found in April 2024 at a separate location connected to Burks, prosecutors said.

Burks was eventually arrested on May 15, 2024, following an unrelated road rage incident that allegedly occurred a few weeks before. In that incident, authorities alleged that Burks punched a 67-year-old man and left him unresponsive on the ground, the Detroit Free Press reported. The man died, and Burks was charged with second-degree murder.

At the time of Burks arrest, he was under investigation for Hoovers killing, but prosecutors said the case was nowhere near ready, according to the Free Press.

An attorney for Burks did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment on Thursday. Burks is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 15.

In a statement shared with the Free Press, Hoovers family said they felt relief that Burks was charged with his murder.

He was an exceptional man  a doctor, brother, son, uncle, and friend who invested in our lives with unwavering kindness and generosity, the statement read. Although nothing will ever reverse our loss, we are grateful that someone will be held accountable for Devons death. We continue to rest in faith that Gods goodness will prevail over this tragedy.

Related...
Man barricaded inside home with family gets shot, killed by GA deputies

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into an officer-involved shooting in west Georgia.

The Sumter County Sheriffs Office said a man identified as 45-year-old Jamie Lynn Still of Americus, was barricaded inside a house on South Georgia Tech Parkway in Americus when deputies arrived at his home.

Deputies tried to negotiate with Still but he refused to drop his gun, according to the GBI. Then, Still came outside and pointed his rifle at deputies, the GBI said.

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A deputy then shot Still, killing him.

Deputies then went inside the home to clear it and said no one inside was injured.

The GBI is continuing to investigate this shooting.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Ahmir Lavon Merrell, 22, was sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison for bringing a gun to the grounds of the Capitol last fall.

Merrell pleaded guilty in April to one count of illegal receipt of a firearm, after he brought an AR-style pistol and 73 rounds of ammunition to the Capitol in November 2023, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.

In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper today ordered Merrell to serve three years of supervised release, the DOJs statement said.

A citizen approached a U.S. Capitol Police officer on Nov. 7 to report a man who appeared to be holding a gun on Capitol grounds.

Capitol Police officers arrived at the park across from Union Station and demanded Merrell drop the gun. When he refused, Capitol Police said one officer used a stun gun on the man. He fell to the ground and was arrested.

Original reporting said Merrell was born in Atlanta, but Merrells legal team said he moved back and forth between Georgia and Washington, D.C., with his mother.

At the time of his arrest, Capitol Police said Merrell had a warrant for a probation violation out of Georgia.

Before he was tased by Capitol Police, Merrell said words to the effect of [for] you to get this gun from me, you are going to have to kill me, the DOJ said.

Straightforward as this case may appear at first blush, however, in many ways this is a unique gun possession case. The facts and circumstances clearly show that Mr. Merrell did not possess a firearm in order to commit any other crimes, said A.J. Kramer, Merrells public defender. He did not possess it to threaten or harm anyone. Tragically, the only person he wanted to harm that day was himself.

Kramer said Merrell welcomes the opportunity to receive mental health treatment during his supervised release period. They originally sought a 12 month and one day sentence.

We are proud of our police officers who quickly responded and safely stopped a man with a loaded gun from getting near the Congressional Buildings, Assistant Chief of Police for Uniformed Operations Sean Gallagher said in a statement to The Hill. This arrest, including the strong investigative work by our Special Agents, is a great example of the work that our brave women and men do day in and day out to keep the Capitol Grounds safe.

Updated at 3:57 p.m.

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Man charged in 1977 strangulations of three Southern California women after DNA investigation

This 2024 photo provided by the Ventura County District Attorney's Office shows Warren Luther Alexander. (Ventura County District Attorney's Office via AP)

VENTURA, Calif. (AP)  A 73-year-old man has been charged in the strangulation deaths of three Southern California women in 1977 after cold case detectives obtained a DNA match, authorities said Thursday, adding they believe there could be more victims.

Warren Luther Alexander of Diamondhead, Mississippi, made his first court appearance Thursday but arraignment on three counts of first-degree murder was postponed to Aug. 21, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office said. He remained jailed without bail.

Alexander's case was assigned to the county public defender's office. A telephone message was left at the office seeking comment on the case.

Alexander was extradited to California on Aug. 6 from Surry County, North Carolina, where he is awaiting prosecution for a 1992 cold case killing, the office said.

All the California victims were killed by ligature strangulations, District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said at a news conference. All were sex workers in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles, and frequented an area known for sex trafficking, he said.

Kimberly Fritz, 18, was found dead in the city of Port Hueneme on May 29, 1977. Velvet Sanchez, 31, was found dead on Sept. 8 that year in the city of Oxnard, followed by Lorraine Rodriguez, 21, on Dec. 27 in an unincorporated area.

While believing these three crimes were indeed connected, leads ran cold and detectives were unable to identify who was responsible for these horrific murders, Nasarenko said.

The DNA match to Alexander occurred last year when DNA evidence was uploaded into a national database, the district attorney said. Investigative genealogy had identified Alexander as a suspect in the North Carolina case of 29-year-old Nona Cobb, whose body was left along Interstate 77, he said.

A 2006 query of the database had failed to find a match.

North Carolina news media reported that Alexander was arrested in the Cobb case in March 2022. That case had yet to proceed to trial, said Joey Buttitta, spokesperson for Ventura County prosecutors.

Alexander lived in Oxnard in the late 1950s and '60s, attending elementary, middle and high schools, and returned in the 1970s, Nasarenko said.

From the 1970s into the early 1990s Alexander was a long-haul, cross-country truck driver, Nasarenko said.

We believe there may be additional victims both locally and other states, he said. This is an ongoing investigation, and we will continue to pursue all leads that become available. This is not in any way closed.
Man charged after being accused of escaping from federal detention facility in Wichita

A man accused of escaping from a federal detention center in Wichita in July has been charged.

A federal grand jury in Wichita has returned an indictment charging Lee Owen Hallford, 42, with one count of escaping from prison.

Hallford is accused of unlawfully leaving the custody of the Bureau of Prisons while at the Residential Reentry Center  Correctional Solution Group, LLC in Wichita, according to a news release Wednesday from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Kansas.

A criminal complaint filed last month shows that Hallford escaped from the detention facility on July 15.

Hallford was initially sentenced in December 2021 to serve four years at a detention center in Pekin, Illinois for his conviction of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm in Oklahoma.

On May 20, 2024, Hallford was furloughed from prison and was told to report to a detention center in Wichita by 2 p.m. May 21 to serve the remainder of his sentence. He failed to report, according to a criminal complaint.

A furlough is an authorized temporary release granted to a prison inmate who is being transferred to another facility, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

On May 22, the facility in Illinois reported Hallford as an escaped federal prisoner. The next day, he reported to the Wichita facility and his escape status was withdrawn.

On July 15, Hallford got into an altercation with his case manager at the Wichita facility and left without permission.

Court documents did not say when or how he was found and taken back into custody.

It is requested that the trial be held in Wichita, Kansas, Wednesdays news release said.

If convicted, Hallford faces up to five years in prison with three years of supervision after being released and a fine of up to $250,000.

One man dies, two others hospitalized after mobile home fire in south Wichita

Man who died in parking lot shooting involving police shot himself first, sheriff says
BARDSTOWN, Ky. (FOX 56)  One of the three men charged in the Crystal Rogers case reportedly fired his lawyer in court on Thursday.

Steven Lawson appeared before a Nelson County Judge on Thursday afternoon for a hearing intended to decide if the statements made in the 2023 interviews would be included in his trial, per court documents.

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FOX 56s sister station, WDRB, was at the hearing and reported that as it began, Lawson raised his hand and requested a new attorney. Prosecutors backed Lawsons request, stating that they have serious concerns about whether Mr. Lawson has had conflict-free counsel in his representation.

Lawson is currently represented by Ted Lavit.

On Aug. 5, Lawson allegedly called his family from the Nelson County Detention Center and claimed to have fired Lavit. WDRB reported that Lawson fired Lavit due to the fact he allegedly had a meeting with co-defendant Brooks Houcks attorney behind his back.

Prosecutor Teresa Young cited peculiarities dating back to March, per WDRB, regarding the similarity of language and evidence used in motions filed on behalf of Lawson and Houck.

It defies reason where they would be exactly the same, Young said. I dont know whats going on here.

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Lavit claimed that Lawson never brought up issues regarding his defense or previously requested a new attorney. WDRB reported that he went on to say he believed Lawson was aware of whats been happening.

I have done my best at this point in time without any conflict whatsoever regarding my client, Lavit said. I believe Mr. Lawson has been aware of what Ive been doing on his behalf.

WDRB reported that Judge Charles Simms III ordered the public defenders office to appoint Lawson a new attorney by Aug. 22.

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Lawson was arrested in December 2023 for his alleged involvement in Rogers 2015 disappearance. According to an indictment, Lawson allegedly agreed to aid one or more persons in the planning or commission of the death of another and then destroyed, mutilated, concealed, removed or altered physical evidence on July 3 or July 4, 2015, when Rogers disappeared.

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Man charged with murder in connection with 3 strangulation deaths in Southern California in 1977

A Mississippi man authorities are calling a suspected serial killer has been charged in connection with the 1977 strangulation deaths of three women in Southern California, prosecutors in California said August 7.

Warren Luther Alexander, 73, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and also faces special allegations of multiple murders, according to a news release from the Ventura County district attorneys office. He was extradited on August 6 from Surry County, North Carolina, where he was awaiting prosecution in connection with a 1992 homicide, according to the release.

In February 2023, the cold case unit of the Ventura County Sheriffs Department started re-examining the killings of Kimberly Carol Fritz, 18, Velvet Ann Sanchez, 31, and Lorraine Ann Rodriguez, 21, officials said.

All three victims were sex workers and all died by strangulation, said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko in a news conference on August 8. Prosecutors believe Alexander initially picked each of the women up for sexual activity. Although detectives saw similarities among the crimes, the cases went cold.

Just because a case has gone cold, does not mean it should ever be forgotten, said Nasarenko, adding that although they cannot bring back the victims, law enforcement can ensure the suspect will face the full weight and force of the law.

Officials also believe there are additional victims, both nationally and locally, according to Nasarenko.

Port Hueneme Police Chief Michael Federico, from left, Oxnard Police Chief Jason Benites, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko and Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff take part in a joint news conference Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, at the DA's office in Ventura. - Juan Carlo/The Star/USA Today Network

Advances in DNA technology and well-preserved evidence led investigators to Alexander, according to Nasarenko and Ventura County Sheriff James Fryhoff.

It is the matching of our evidence against the North Carolina one that led us here today. The 1992 murder in North Carolina occurred also through strangulation, said Nasarenko, adding that forensic evidence was collected from the bodies and clothing of the three women.

Alexander pleaded not guilty to all charges at his August 21 arraignment, a spokesperson for the Ventura County District Attorneys Office said. He is being held without bail, according to county jail records.

Alexanders defense attorney, Rebekah Mathis, told CNN on August 21 she had no comment at this time.

The killings happened over the span of seven months in three different jurisdictions of Ventura County, according to the news release.

Prosecutors have decided not to seek the death penalty against Alexander due to the age of the witnesses and evidence and in an attempt to move through the trial process more quickly and efficiently.

CNNs Devon Sayers contributed to this report.

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DETROIT (AP)  Authorities filed charges Wednesday in the 2023 homicide of a beloved Detroit doctor whose body was found wrapped in carpet and stuffed in an attic crawl space at his home in a historic neighborhood.

Dr. Devon Hoover, a neurosurgeon, had an intimate relationship with Desmond Burks, who was charged with first-degree murder, larceny and other crimes, prosecutor Kym Worthy said.

Burks, 34, has been in custody since May in an unrelated case. Hes charged with second-degree murder in a road rage confrontation.

There was no immediate response to messages seeking comment from Burks attorney. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.

The nature of Hoovers death 16 months ago shocked his patients and others in the Detroit-area medical community who described him as a skilled, compassionate caregiver. Some patients publicly shared photos taken with him after surgeries.

The loss of Dr. Hoover remains a tragedy that has left a void in our community, police Chief James White said Wednesday.

Hoover, 53, was found shot in the back of the head and stuffed in a third-floor crawl space. Police went to his home in the citys Boston-Edison neighborhood after family in Indiana said he hadnt visited his dying mother, Worthy said.

She said Hoovers phone records showed thousands of communications with Burks.

Almost immediately following Dr. Hoovers murder, multiple fraudulent financial transactions were made from his various financial accounts, the prosecutors office said.

Worthy declined to publicly disclose a motive for Hoovers death. She described the investigation as a massive undertaking that involved five states, two other countries, luxury watches, the doctors Range Rover and terabytes of digital data.

Burks spent nearly nine years in prison after a 2011 arson conviction, records show. He was discharged from parole supervision in 2022.

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ISTANBUL, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Three people were injured on Thursday in Istanbul, Turkiye's largest city, during a gunfight that broke out between two groups, local media reported.

According to the Demiroren news agency, the incident occurred in the Avcilar district on the European side of the city.

A dispute between two individuals escalated into a physical altercation and later evolved into an armed clash as more people arrived, intensifying the situation, Demiroren said.

The police and emergency medical teams were dispatched to the scene and the injured people were rushed to nearby hospitals.

Demiroren also aired a video showing the altercation and multiple individuals fleeing the scene, while police teams arrived as the armed confrontation continued. The police have initiated an investigation into the incident. 
Andrew Lester, the man charged in the shooting a Kansas City teen who said he went to the wrong front door, asked a Clay County Judge last week to sequester the jury and witnesses in his upcoming trial.

Ralph Yarl, 17, was shot in the head on April 13, 2023, when he rang Lesters doorbell; he was supposed to pick up his brothers at a nearby home in the Northland.

When he saw Yarl, then 16, on his doorstep, Lester, then 84, is accused of shooting Yarl twice within seconds, once in the head and once in the arm, according to court documents.

After he was shot, Yarl, running from Lester, told detectives he heard Lester say, Dont come around here.

Lester was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action, according to court records. The first charge could carry a sentence of up to 30 years in prison.

Lester, who is white, told police he feared for his safety when he saw Yarl, who is Black. The shooting prompted national outrage, with many raising outcry about the shooting being racially motivated.

In May 2023, a Kansas City judge agreed to grant a protective order on request from Lester, who said he had faced harassment as details of Yarls ordeal went public. The order sealed all new discovery in the case from the public, though residents and members of the media will still be allowed to attend Lesters trial.

When charges against Lester were announced, Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson told The Star that race factored into the charges, but declined to elaborate. Lesters attorneys cited this in their motion for jury sequestration, writing that Lesters case has a pervasive racial component and jurors should be sequestered due to unsupported emotional fervor.

Lester posted bond five days after the shooting, prompting wider conversations about bond reform in Kansas City. He pleaded not guilty at his August 2023 arraignment.

According to court documents, Lesters attorney compared his case to Missouri cases where juries are sequestered because the defendant is eligible for the death penalty, arguing the stakes in both situations were similar.

Lesters attorney also argued that the amount of media attention the case has received would make it necessary for jurors to be sequestered.

This case has pervaded: local network media, national network media, local print media, national print media, local and national news magazine shows, social media, and international coverage, the Aug. 2 motion read.

The Clay County judge overseeing the case has not yet ruled on whether jurors and witnesses will be sequestered.

Lesters jury trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 7.

Meanwhile, Yarl recently graduated from high school as he continues to heal from his traumatic brain injury, which left him with debilitating headaches alongside physical and emotional scars.

While thrust into the national spotlight as an advocate for gun violence survivors, the bass clarinetist and National Merit Commended Student has said hes working to enjoy a normal life. Yarl will attend Texas A&M University in the fall, where he plans to study chemical engineering.
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  A man was found guilty in connection to a fatal shooting at a Jackson gas station.

Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens said Shydarius Williams was convicted of first-degree murder in connection to the shooting death of Marcus Moore.

Williams accomplice, Lashundra Bass, pled guilty to second-degree murder before her trial started in March 2024.

Suspect killed, two officers injured in Summit shooting

Police said Williams shot Moore in the back of the head as he sat inside a vehicle in the parking lot of the Fuel Time gas station on Bullard Street on June 4, 2022. Moore died at the scene.

Investigators were able to identify Williams on surveillance video entering the victims car, sitting in the back seat and then exiting the vehicle with a firearm. Williams was 17 when the crime occurred.

Williams faces up to 40 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC). He will be sentenced on August 22 at 9:00 a.m.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man drowned in Horseshoe Lake Park very early Thursday morning while fleeing a patrol officer in the area, according to Woodland police.

Authorities say an officer on the scene reported seeing the man in the park shortly after midnight after the park had closed. When the officer flashed his patrol lights, he reported seeing the man flee deeper into the park and toward the lake.

Family praying for big miracles after crash puts expecting mom and baby in ICU

According to police, the officer found the man swimming halfway across the lake about 10 minutes later.

It was at this time the subject began to ask for help saying he was unable to swim anymore, police said.

The officer called for rescue assistance and jumped into the water with a life jacket in an effort to help the man in the water, but he went under the surface and divers were unable to locate him.

Washington, Oregon officials to make major funding announcement for Interstate Bridge replacement

Due to the length of time the male had been in the water it was determined the event would no longer be a rescue mission but a recovery mission, police said.

A dive team discovered the mans body about five hours later, according to police. His identity has yet to be shared with the public.

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Man Found Guilty Of Using Son To Carry Out Deadly Robbery Of PnB Rock At A Roscoes Chicken & Waffles

Man Found Guilty Of Using Son To Carry Out Deadly Robbery Of PnB Rock At A Roscoes Chicken & Waffles | Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

A man was found guilty on Wednesday of sending his 17-year-old son into Roscoes Chicken & Waffles in South Los Angeles to rob and kill rapper PnB Rock.

A Los Angeles County jury took less than four hours of deliberation and found Freddie Trone, 42, guilty of one count of murder, two counts of robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office and The Associated Press.

During the two-week trial, both parties agreed that the teen entered the South Los Angeles restaurant on Sept. 12, 2022, shot the 30-year-old Philly rapper, born Rakim Allen, and stole his jewelry as he ate with Stephanie Sibounheuang, the mother of his 4-year-old daughter.

Blavity reported that she had taken a photo of her food and shared it to her Instagram story, mentioning that she and Allen were dining at Roscoes Chicken & Waffles. Shortly after, the rapper was gunned down inside the popular eatery.

Prosecutors argued that Trone had deliberately told his son to carry out the deadly robbery, but the defense pushed back against their claim. They said the father had nothing to do with the crime, and that he only served as an accessory after the fact, per AP.

Trones son has not been named since he is a minor involved in a crime. However, the now-19-year-old is charged with murder but is in the custody of the juvenile system, and the presiding judge found him incompetent to stand trial.

A second man, Tremont Jones, was convicted of two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.

Surveillance footage shows Trone in the parking lot of the establishment a half hour before Allen was killed. The video also captures Jones giving Allen a fist bump and, according to prosecutors, tipping off Trone about the expensive jewelry on the rappers wrist, per AP.

Jones lawyer plans to appeal and Trones lawyer will file a motion for a new trial, stating that his client had nothing to do with the murder. The 42-year-old reiterated his statement as he took the stand on Monday.

I never had nothing to do with it, Trone said during trial, per AP. I wasnt there. I didnt tell nobody to do nothing. I didnt hand nobody no gun.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon issued a statement following the guilty verdict of the two men involved in the incident.

Today, justice has been served for Mr. Allen and his family who have endured unimaginable pain losing a loved one to such senseless violence, Gascon said in a news release statement. We extend our deepest sympathies to them and the entire community. Thank you to my offices Community Violence Reduction Division for their unwavering commitment to seek justice for Mr. Allen and hold Mr. Trone and Mr. Jones accountable for their actions. Let this serve as a clear message to anyone who threatens the safety and well-being of our community: our office will relentlessly pursue charges and work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice.

Variety reported that Allens mother, Deanna Allen, was pleased about the news and happy that her son finally received justice.

Im elated, she told the outlet. I wanted to jump up and scream, Hallelujah. Im so happy it was quick. We got justice for Rakim. I feel better knowing theyll be in jail for a long time.
Waco, Tx (FOX 44)  A 19th District Court jury has delivered the maximum sentence of life in prison for 41-year-old William Douglas Odell, who is accused of aggravated sexual assault of a young girl.

The trial that began Monday wrapped up Wednesday, with a guilty verdict on both the sexual assault charge and an additional indecency with a child by contact charge. First Assistant District Attorney Ryan Calvert said after the guilty verdict, the same jury quickly turned around during the punishment phase and returned both the life sentence and a 20-year sentence on the second charge.

Odell was arrested by McLennan County Sheriffs deputies in February of 2023 after the victim made an outcry about the incidents which occurred in May of 2019. At the time of his arrest, the location of the incidents was not released.

Person of interest in Killeen homicide in custody

An arrest affidavit filed at the time stated that following the outcry the victim gave detailed information during a forensic interview.

Odell would have to serve 30 years before becoming eligible for parole.

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BEAVERCREEK, Ohio (WDTN)  An 18-year-old has been charged with vandalism following an incident in April.

The Greene County Grand Jury indicted Shaun Halderman, 18, of Beavercreek with felony vandalism. On April 27, the restrooms and concession area at Rotary Park were heavily damaged, with sinks destroyed and mirrors shattered.

One-man wrecking ball: Man indicted on 63 charges related to vandalism

Just a month after the vandalism, community members came together to repair the broken facilities. Two individuals covered the cost and repaired the restrooms while the Youth Softball Association donated money to repair the concession stand windows.

Since April, detectives have followed several leads and worked to identify Halderman as the suspect. The Grand Jury charged him on Aug. 5.

Halderman is expected back in court on Sept. 6.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Homicide detectives say community members and witnesses have helped them identify someone they want to talk to following a deadly shooting on Thursday morning.

Kansas City police say officers were sent to a house near the intersection of Bannister and Troost at about 10:15 a.m. where they found an adult man near a doorway who had been shot.

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Officers and then emergency responders tried to save his life, but he was declared dead at a hospital. KCPD hasnt identified him yet.

While investigators have an idea of a potential suspect, right now police dont have anyone in custody. This is a developing story that FOX4 will update as we confirm more details.

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UPDATED, 1:25 PM: Freddie Lee Trone, 42, has been sentenced to 31 years to life for the 2022 shooting death of PnB Rock. He was convicted last month in the robbery and murder of the rapper (real name Rakim Allen) at a South Los Angeles restaurant, after sending his teenage son inside to rob the victim.

Rock was eating lunch with his girlfriend at Roscoes House of Chicken & Waffles when he was approached by Trones 17-year-old son, who demanded the rappers expensive jewelry, which prosecutors say was worth about a half a million dollars. When Rock refused, prosecutors say, Trones son  who has not been IDd publicly because of his age  shot the victim once in the chest and twice in the back before taking his jewelry and leaving the restaurant.

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The son, now 19, is charged with murder but remains in juvenile court while he undergoes treatment to determine if he can be found mentally competent to stand trial.

PnB Rock, from Philadelphia, gained initial recognition for his double-platinum 2016 single Selfish. Read more details of the case below.

Tremont Jones, 46, who was found guilty of two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of

conspiracy to commit robbery but was not charged with murder in the case, received a 12-year prison sentence.

PREVIOUSLY, August 7: A jury in Compton, CA, today found Freddie Lee Trone guilty of murdering rapper PnB Rock two years ago during a robbery at a Roscoes House of Chicken & Waffles restaurant.

The jury deliberated for less than four hours, according to the Los Angeles County district attorneys office. Trone and another defendant, Tremont Jones, were also convicted of two counts of robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.

PnB Rock (real name Rakim Allen) was wearing several hundred thousand dollars worth of jewelry on the day he was murdered, prosecutors said, and had flaunted it online the day of his death.

Jones noticed, and notified Trone, who then sent his 17-year-old son, armed with a gun and a ski mask, to steal Allens jewelry, prosecutors said.

The masked teen walked up to Allen while he was seated at a table, pulled a gun and demanded his valuables.

When Allen refused, prosecutors said, the teenager shot him first in the chest and then twice more in the back. He then stole several pieces of jewelry from Allens body before fleeing the restaurant with his father, according to a criminal complaint filed against the boy weeks after the killing.

The teen has not been identified because of his age when the crime was committed.

PnB Rock was taken to a hospital, but died of his injuries. He was 30 at his death.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Timothy Richardson emphasized during the trial that even someone who doesnt pull the trigger can be guilty of felony murder when they are a major participant who acted with reckless indifference to human life. That led to Lee Trones conviction, even though his son did the shooting.

Lee Trone and Tremont Jones will both be sentenced on Aug. 27, and the teenager is scheduled for a mental competency proceeding on Aug. 28.

Another defendant, Shauntel Trone, pleaded no contest to accessory after the fact in July and is scheduled to be sentenced in January.

PnB Rock moved to L.A. from Philadelphia after signing a record deal with Atlantic Records following his 2014 debut mixtape. His stage name refers to a street corner in the Philly neighborhood where he grew up, Pastorius and Baynton.

PnB Rock collaborated with such artists as Ed Sheeran, Chance the Rapper, Wiz Khalifa, and 2 Chainz.

PnB Rock is survived by his two daughters, Milan and Xuri, who he shared with his fiance.

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RAMALLAH, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian officials condemned on Thursday Israel's decision to revoke the diplomatic status of eight Norwegian representatives to the Palestinian Authority.

Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary general of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said on the social media platform X that the decision "has dangerous dimensions and carries major repercussions."

Al-Sheikh added that countries of the world, especially the European countries, should also condemn Israel's decision, as it constitutes a violation and breach of international norms and laws.

The Palestinian National Council considered the decision a "violation" of international law and diplomatic treaties, and another step towards Israel's disregard for and nullification of all agreements made with Palestine, reflecting Israel's lack of respect for international order and will.

The council called on world countries to recognize the State of Palestine and stop the "bloodshed and ongoing genocide."

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said the Israeli decision is a "dangerous precedent and a direct threat" to all countries, influencing their just positions on the occupation's violations against the Palestinian people.

The ministry praised in a statement the bilateral relations between Palestine and Norway, and emphasized the importance of Norway's diplomatic representation to the State of Palestine.

The ministry rejected and condemned Israel's attempts to "pressure countries and international institutions that assist the Palestinian people and contribute to diplomatic and legal pressure to stop Israeli crimes and violations" against the Palestinian people, according to the statement.

On Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced that he had ordered the cancellation of the diplomatic status of eight Norwegian diplomats working at their country's embassy in Israel, who were responsible for relations with the Palestinian Authority, and not to renew it once it expires in a week.

The move came after the Norwegian government announced it formally recognized Palestine as a state in May. 
WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI)  A former Woonsocket man has pleaded guilty to recording an 11-year-old Norfolk girl as she was undressing her in bedroom more than three years ago, according to acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy.

Jacob Guerrero, 26, of Woodland, California, was convicted Thursday of sexually exploiting a child.

Guerrero reportedly climbed on top of a garage attached to the the victims home to record her changing through her bedroom window back in March 2021, according to Levy.

He also staked out the victims house for two weeks and took diligent notes on his phone regarding the time of day she and her siblings arrived home, showered and changed clothes each night, Levy added.

Investigators later discovered Guerrero had similar notes on his phone for other Massachusetts residences.

Detectives discovered the recording after Guerrero was arrested for wearing a wig and sneaking into a womens bathroom at the Wrentham Outlets. Levy said Geurrero was caught trying to secretly record young girls in bathrooms and changing rooms through pen cameras affixed to his shoes.

Guerrero moved to California a couple of months after his initial arrest, despite being ordered not to leave Massachusetts. He was taken back into custody there in April 2022 after detectives found the Norfolk recording on his phone.

Guerrero is a predator who targeted young children by tracking their moves. Worse, he violated a young girls privacy while she was in the safety of her own home, all for his own sexual gratification, Levy said. We are grateful  that Guerreros disturbing behavior was stopped and no other children were victimized.

Guerrero is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 14. He was also facing 12 counts of possessing child pornography in connection with the Wrentham case, but Levy said those were dismissed once he was charged federally.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  A man pleaded guilty in federal court today who posed as a member of the United States military to defraud Fort Leonard Wood service members of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Court documents show that Steven Christopher Gibson pleaded guilty under a plea agreement to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft on Aug. 8.

Dallas County is getting a new sheriff after primary election

Plea agreement documents show that the U.S. Armys Criminal Investigations Division was told in 2022 that trainees at Fort Leonard Wood were being targeted for fraud. In one instance, one victim told investigators that he had been contacted by an unknown First Sergeant, who claimed there was a payment issue that caused the victim to be owed back pay. The First Sergeant, later determined to be Gibson, told the victim he needed to send money through CashApp to fix the payment issue.

Investigators discovered that the CashApp account the victim had sent money to belonged to Gibson, who deposited the money in bank accounts outside of Missouri. Further investigation found Gibsons connection to several personal bank accounts with other individuals who were allegedly involved in the scam.

Documents say that additional records revealed that Gibson had defrauded or attempted to defraud over 2,000 service members of approximately $800,000, either through himself or his co-conspirators, in the same manner that was successfully carried out against [the victim].

Gibson has been ordered to pay $300,000 in the case and could face prison time.

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  A man with 30 prior felony convictions has been sentenced to 15 years in prison without the possibility of parole.

Larry Lynn Ray, 50, was convicted of aggravated assault, which is a Class C Felony, in May 2024. In July, Judge Steve Sword sentenced him to 15 years to serve in the Tennessee Department of Correction without the possibility of parole.

TBI, Attorney General discuss Knoxville area motorcycle gang drug ring

During the trial, prosecutors told the jury that on September 24, 2023, Knox County Sheriffs Office deputies responded to an assault call in South Knoxville. The victim told deputies that he and another person were parked in the driveway of a residence on Tipton Station Road when Ray opened the drivers side door and put a gun to the back of the victims head, the DAs office said. A release from the DAs office stated that Ray then pistol whipped the victim, striking him with the handle of the weapon. After that, the victim drove away and called 911.

I created the Career Gang Unit to aggressively prosecute cases involving defendants whose record of criminal activity is extensive and who have devoted their lives to criminal acts, said DA Charme Allen.

Reports: Checks stolen from Maryville mail used to steal $81,000

According to the DAs office, Rays 30 prior felony convictions were in Knox, Union, and Sevier counties and federal court for especially aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, weapons, theft, and drug trafficking cases.

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Man sentenced for having more than 25 stolen firearms, pipe bomb

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  A man who was found with more than 25 stolen firearms and explosives has been sentenced to two years in federal prison.

Tommy Gretillat, 44, of Corwith, Iowa, was sentenced on July 31 and received the prison term after a Feb. 5 guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon, according to a press release.

Sioux City woman put on probation after pleading guilty to arson

Evidence in the case revealed that when Hancock County Sheriffs deputies searched Gretillats residence related to an investigation concerning multiple burglaries in the Humboldt County area, Gretillat was found to have had more than 25 stolen firearms, explosives or destructive devices, a pipe bomb, and other stolen property.

Gretillats criminal history also showed several burglary convictions and a previous conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon.

He was sentenced to 24 months in prison. He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. The federal system does not allow for parole.

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(FOX40.COM)  A man precariously positioned on a signal tower in Fairfield caused a police officer to borrow a ladder from the Fairfield Fire Department on Tuesday.

Fairfield Police Department officers responded to the railroad tracks near 2200 Huntington Drive after reports came in of a man climbing a nearby signal tower.

The man, 50-year-old Christopher Hood, refused the officers commands to come down from the tower.

After securing the area, police continued negotiating with Hood even when he began throwing rocks at officers.

Tip leads to weapons bust and arrests in Sutter County

The officers realized they would need to get on the platform to detain Hood. With a call to the Fairfield Fire Department, a ladder truck was provided to assist the officers.

With a plan in place, the officers scaled the ladder and gained access to the platform where they were then able to continue negotiating with Hood.

Hood eventually decided to climb down and surrendered peacefully to the officers.

Hood was found to be under Post Release Community Supervision and was booked into the Solano County Jail.

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Man under investigation in Spain for pouring water on ancient cave paintings to get a sharper photo

Spanish authorities are investigating a man who allegedly damaged cave paintings that are thousands of years old by pouring water on them in order to take better photos for social media.

A 39-year-old man from Los Villares, in Jaen province in Andalucia, southern Spain, uploaded photos of the wet paintings to Facebook, according to a statement from the Guardia Civil published on Saturday.

The paintings affected, which are in various locations in the Sierra Sur de Jaen mountain range, are protected on the countrys heritage register, and the man is under investigation for a crime against historical heritage, said the statement.

A member of Spain's Guardia Civil at one of the caves. - La Guardia Civil

Officers from the Guardia Civils nature protection service (Seprona) launched an investigation in May after seeing the photos online.

The photographs show that water has been poured onto the cave paintings, wetting them in order to see them better and capture a clearer image, the statement reads.

The cave paintings were made on limestone, which contains water-soluble salts. When water is poured on the paintings, these salts dissolve and then come to the surface when the water evaporates, leaving a crust that causes irreparable damage to the paintings, according to the Guardia Civil.

The law enforcement agency, which is responsible for protecting Spains historical heritage, called on residents to report any signs of damage or vandalism to cave paintings.

Reports of damage to historical objects have also been reported in Italy.

In September, a 22-year-old German man was detained in Florence accused of damaging a statue in the 16th-century Fountain of Neptune in the Piazza della Signoria, city authorities said in a statement.

The tourist, who was not named, scaled a protective barrier around the monument in the early hours of Monday and posed on the statue while two friends, who remained on the other side of the barrier, took photos of him, the city statement said, citing police officers who witnessed the event on surveillance footage.

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Man wanted for Monongalia County murder turns himself in

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  The man wanted for murder after a shooting that happened on Mountain Valley Drive last month has turned himself in.

Arnold Johnson III, 19, of Montgomery Village, Maryland, turned himself in to the Monongalia County Sheriffs Office without incident at around 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday, according to a press release posted on the sheriffs offices official Facebook page.

Arnold Johnson III

Marion County Sheriffs Office warns of K-9 donation scam

The shooting happened just before 1:45 a.m. on Thursday, July 11.

Johnson and Rashad Malik Alton, 21, of Morgantown, were in a verbal argument before Johnson pulled out a gun and shot twice at Alton, striking him once in the chest, according to a criminal complaint.

Alton was taken from the scene to Ruby Memorial Hospital, where he died from his wounds.

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Editors Note: This story has been updated to include information from a criminal complaint 12 News obtained after publication.

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Man, woman arrested for distributing crack in Northwest DC, police say

WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said it arrested a man and woman for selling narcotics in the Northwest D.C. area.

Police said concerned community members reported ongoing suspicious activity.

Arlington police used TASER on boy during burglary incident

On Wednesday, just after noon, MPD arrested 55-year-old Senetra Ann Partee and 56-year-old Wilber Gilbert Carpenter III in the 13009 block of Perry Place NW.

They were both charged with Distribution of a Controlled Substance (Crack Cocaine), while Carpenter was additionally charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (Crack Cocaine).

Anyone with a tip can contact MPD at (202) 727-9099 or text the departments tip line at 50411.

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A popular heritage festival is returning to Little Italy and organizers are preparing for their big weekend ahead.

The Saint Paul Italian Festival celebrates the culture and contributions of Eries Italian community.

Cinemark taking their shows back to 1984s this week to celebrate 40 years

Saint Paul has three days filled with music, dancing, and great food including their traditional spaghetti dinners.

This event is the churchs largest fundraiser, Chairman Ron DiVecchio said it keeps their parish afloat. He added they have been preparing for this event for months.

LECOM holds ribbon cutting unveiling new Greene Township health clinic

Weve got veteran workers here and theyve been doing it a long time so were proud to put it out, he said. All of these recipes came from our families from years ago.

The festival begins tomorrow at 5 p.m.

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Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine took his first official step this week to run for city comptroller in 2025  a move that paves the way for a competitive Democratic primary for the fiscal watchdog post.

Incumbent Comptroller Brad Lander, a progressive Democrat, announced last month hes mounting a challenge against Mayor Adams next year, potentially leaving Landers post vacant for the primary elections set for next June. Lander has left open the possibility he could shift gears, though, and run for reelection.

Levine signaled his interest in the comptrollers job by filing paperwork with the city Campaign Finance Board Wednesday, switching his Manhattan beep reelection fundraising account to become a comptroller account, a source close to Levine confirmed to the Daily News.

The fundraising flip, first reported by Politico, allows Levine to accept larger contributions from individual donors, as borough president accounts are only able to take in a max of $1,600 per person while comptroller accounts can accept upward of $2,100. Levine, a former City Council member, is able to also funnel the nearly $263,000 he has in his beep account into his new comptroller war chest.

The source close to Levine said the filing shouldnt be interpreted as meaning he is officially running for comptroller, noting he could change his mind down the line and run for reelection as borough president.

Still, Levine, who has been a prominent name in Manhattan politics for over a decade with an established fundraising base, could cause other potential candidates for comptroller, such as Council Finance Chairman Justin Brannan and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, to reconsider entering the race.

A spokesman for Levine declined to comment Thursday.

One local politician who has already announced shes running for comptroller in 2025 is Queens Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, an ally to Mayor Adams whos known for frequently appearing alongside him at press conferences across the five boroughs.

Rajkumars first comptroller campaign fundraising filing, submitted last month, shows she has a long way to go, with an estimated balance of -$19,435.

The assemblywoman, who was at a press conference with Adams on Thursday that Levine also attended, told The News she welcomes the borough president to the comptroller battle.

I welcome the challenge because we live in the worlds greatest democracy, one that my immigrant parents left everything for to be a part of, Rajkumar said. Everyone should be able to run.

In addition to setting the stage for a potential showdown with Rajkumar, Levines filing could put pressure on Lander to not change course and run for reelection instead of continuing his bid against Adams. In a recent interview with The News, Lander notably declined to rule out that prospect.

A Lander spokeswoman didnt immediately return a request for comment on Levines filing.

Also exploring 2025 runs against Adams are former Comptroller Scott Stringer and Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie.
Chinese FM calls for intl community to unite behind cease-fire in Gaza

09:10, August 08, 2024 By Liu Xin ( Global Times

Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi has held phone conversations with the foreign ministers of Egypt and Jordan, condemning the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, calling for efforts by different parties to prevent further escalation of conflicts and urging countries to form a joint force to help achieve a cease-fire in Gaza.

Hamas named Yahya Sinwar, who is seen as representing Hamas' hard-liners, as successor to Haniyeh. Arab countries, in a dilemma and feeling more anxious, hope that China can play a positive role in deescalating the situation as they recognize China's efforts and capacity in regional reconciliation, analysts said.

But the complexity of the situation requires joint efforts from all parties to address the current crisis, especially the US and Israel, to avoid escalation, they said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday released information on Wang's phone conversations with Badr Abdelatty, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates and with Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi, which took place on Tuesday. During both conversations, Wang said that China resolutely opposes and strongly condemns the assassination of Haniyeh.

While talking with Abdelatty, Wang said that retaliatory action leads to a vicious cycle, and violence begets more violence, exacerbating conflict. China will strengthen solidarity with Arab countries, and work with all parties to avoid further escalation and deterioration of the situation.

In talking with Safadi, Wang said that the key to avoiding the deterioration and escalation of the situation is to achieve a full and permanent cease-fire in Gaza as soon as possible and the international community should make a more consistent voice on this issue and form a joint force.

Liu Zhongmin, a professor from the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that Egypt and Jordan are neighbors of the parties in conflict. Both countries established diplomatic relations with Israel early and have upheld a cautious approach to the situation involving Iran.

At this complex and critical juncture, they seek to engage with China given China's previous role in brokering reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia and among various Palestinian factions, Liu said.

Fourteen Palestinian factions signed the Beijing Declaration on July 23, seen as a positive move toward ending division and strengthening Palestinian national unity.

The conflicts in the Middle East not only relate to the Palestinian-Israeli issue, but also result from the US' long-term partial policies toward Israel and Iran's diplomatic inclinations, Liu said, therefore joint efforts from all involved parties are needed to address the crisis.

Simmering escalation of tension

With Iran's retaliation against Israel looming after Haniyeh's assassination, regional countries and major players have been actively engaged in diplomacy to avoid an all-out regional war. Jordan's Foreign Minister Safadi made a rare visit to Iran on Sunday and Russian media reported that Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu also visited Iran on Monday.

US President Joe Biden called Jordan's King Abdullah II on Monday and spoke with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt on Tuesday to discuss efforts to deescalate regional tensions, the White House said.

The US is indeed the instigator of the situation which has been spiraling out of control in the Middle East, Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times.

"If the US had managed to restrain Israel and allow a cease-fire in Gaza earlier, the situation would not have escalated to this extent. Also it is the US' repeated obstruction at the UN Security Council on cease-fire proposals that has led to the current situation," said Sun.

Unlike Haniyeh, Sinwar represents hard-liners in Hamas, Sun said, adding that Hamas' past approach of "fighting while seeking negotiations at the same time" may likely shift to "survival through combat."

Sun said that Hamas would also seek to form an alliance with Iran, the Houthis and Hezbollah, while trying to gain international support.

Iran did not immediately retaliate after the assassination but tried to tell the world that it is Israel that has infringed international norms and violated Iran's sovereignty, which has forced Iran to respond. The appointment of Sinwar could be a critical moment when Iran might take action, Sun said.

Liu said Iran is likely to continue missile attacks on Israel and mobilize other militia groups in skirmishes with Israel. However, given Iran's current domestic and international situation, it is unlikely to engage in a large-scale conflict with Israel at the expense of the nation's interests.

No matter how the crisis unfolds, the hatred between Iran and Israel will accumulate, and the escalating cycle of retaliation and counter-retaliation between them will worsen regional diplomatic relations, said Liu.

In past decades, the vicious cycle in the Middle East has repeated with no country emerging as a true winner, and if the cycle continues, none of regional countries can have substantial security, analysts said, adding that as China and many other countries have advocated, negotiation and political settlement is the only way out.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Liang Jun)
ADEN, Yemen, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Thursday that it received a report of a vessel attack occurring approximately 45 nautical miles south of the Yemeni port city of al-Mukha.

According to the UKMTO, the master of the vessel reported that a rocket-propelled grenade exploded near the vessel. The attack originated from two small boats, one white and one black, each carrying four individuals wearing white and yellow raincoats.

The vessel and its crew are reported to be safe, and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call.

Authorities are still investigating the incident, said the UKMTO.

The Houthi group, which has previously claimed responsibility for attacks on commercial shipping in the region, has not yet issued any statement regarding the incident. 
Catalonia's exiled separatist leader Carles Puigdemont delivers a speech on stage as his JxCAT party has scheduled a welcome ceremony, ahead of an investiture vote at the Parliament of Catalonia. David Zorrakino/EUROPA PRESS/dpa

A huge manhunt is under way for Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, who returned to Spain on Thursday after almost seven years in exile despite being wanted on an arrest warrant.

Puigdemont appeared in Barcelona in the morning, accompanied by politicians from his liberal Junts party, and addressed a crowd of supporters.

"Today I have come here to remind you that we are still here because we have no right to give up," he said of the fight for Catalonia's independence from Spain.

"They have been persecuting us for seven years just because we wanted to give a voice to the people of Catalonia," he continued.

"We have no interest in living in a country where amnesty laws do not grant amnesty," Puigdemont added, referring to the refusal of the judiciary to apply an amnesty law for secessionists to him.

The police, who were on site in Barcelona with a heavy presence, did not intervene to arrest the 61-year-old.

Mystery over Puigdemont's whereabouts

But after Puigdemont was able to make an exit from the scene without catching the attention of police, a huge manhunt was launched for him.

Roadblocks have been set up on all major roads leading out of Barcelona. Police officers checked every vehicle trying to leave the city, images shown on state broadcaster RTVE showed.

In some cases, the boots of cars were checked and motorcyclists had to remove their helmets. A search was even carried out at the border with France in case he wanted to leave the country again. Thousands of vehicles were stuck in lengthy traffic jams in the summer heat.

The relevant security forces had prepared for all possible developments, except for another escape by Puigdemont after he had voluntarily entered Spain, wrote the newspaper La Vanguardia, citing police sources.

All members of the Catalan police unit Mossos d'Esquadra, a kind of national police force that was responsible for Puigdemont's arrest, were shocked by the failure, it reported.

Policemen suspected of helping escape is detained

Later, Spanish police detained two of their colleagues on suspicion they helped Puigdemont go into hiding in Barcelona, local media reported.

An officer provided a white car in which Puigdemont is said to have escaped after a short speech to supporters in the city centre, the El Pais and La Vanguardia newspapers reported, citing police sources. A white car was being searched for, El Pais reported.

Puigdemont sought to make Catalonia independent of Spain

Puigdemont sought to lead Catalonia to independence in 2017 with a referendum that was declared illegal.

He risks arrest as the judiciary accuses him of personal enrichment.

Puigdemont rejected the police's offer of an arranged and discreet arrest, according to earlier media reports.

Catalonia to elect new leader

Puigdemont said he planned to be present at the election in parliament of Socialist Salvador Illa as Catalonia's next leader.

Illa, who is believed to have enough backing from Catalan lawmakers, would be the first head of the Catalan government in decades to oppose the region's secession from Spain.

His party emerged as the strongest force from a snap election in May but needs the support of the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), a left-wing separatist party. Illa secured a cooperation deal through concessions on financial issues and the promotion of the Catalan language.

The second-largest separatist party, Puigdemont's Together for Catalonia party (Junts per Catalunya, or commonly Junts) opposed the agreement.

Accusations of enrichment against Puigdemont

The latest developments in Catalonia follow an amnesty bill passed in the Spanish parliament earlier this year. It ended legal action against Catalan separatists, but cases of personal enrichment are not immune from prosecution.

Puigdemont is wanted on embezzlement charges. He is accused of using public funds for illegal political aims in the 2017 independence referendum, which the Spanish judiciary said was tantamount to personal enrichment.

Catalonia's exiled separatist leader Carles Puigdemont arrives near the Catalan parliament to take part in the inauguration debate. David Zorrakino/EUROPA PRESS/dpa
Police in Spain were searching for former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont after he returned to Spain after spending seven years in exile. Photo by Alberto Estevez/EPA-EFE/

Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Spanish authorities launched a manhunt for the wanted separatist former leader of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, after he popped up to address a rally of his supporters Thursday near the Catalan Parliament in Barcelona seven years after he fled abroad -- and then promptly vanished.

Police set up roadblocks in the capital of the autonomous region and on routes out of the city after Puigdemont, who has been living in exile in Brussels for most of the time since being charged with rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds in 2017, slipped away by car with Spanish media reporting he was helped by a police officer.

Officers were also stopping and searching vehicles near the French border after the Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police force, confirmed one of its officers has been arrested in connection with the investigation into Puigdemont's getaway.

The officer was alleged to be the owner of a car that Puigdemont used to escape.

The then-Catalonia President was removed from office when Madrid imposed direct rule in October 2017 after the Catalan Parliament declared independence from the rest of Spain four weeks after Puigdemont and his Junts Party administration won a referendum held despite Spain's constitutional court ruling it illegal.

Puigdemont appeared at Thursday morning's event ahead of the swearing-in of the new leader of the province's government, telling supporters he wanted to let them know the nationalist movement had not gone away.

"We are still here because we do not have the right to resign," he said in a speech to about 3,500 people," the El Pais newspaper reported.

"Holding a referendum is not a crime and never will be."

El Pais, one of Spain's newspapers of record, expressed incredulity that Puigdemont had slipped through the grasp of police despite appearing at a public event where hundreds of officers were present and his return to Spain being reported by the media and widely telegraphed on social media.

However, political backers accused the police of doing the bidding of the central government.

"Hundreds of policemen encircle Barcelona to arrest President Puigdemont. A hunt paid with public money to please the powers in Madrid. This is not what a democracy does," Aleix Sarri, former adviser and Junts' secretary for international affairs, wrote on X.

In 2021, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez approved pardons for nine separatists imprisoned in 2019 for their part in the Catalonia independence movement, commuting their prison sentences and banning them from public office.

Sanchez said the pardons were aimed at trying to heal the rift between Spain and those in autonomous Catalonia who wanted to secede, but the move satisfied no one.

The conservative People's Party slammed Sanchez for appeasing the Catalan Republican Left Party, accusing him of pardoning those who had mounted an illegal coup who had not asked to be pardoned, were not sorry and had threatened to do it again.

Pro-independence politicians were unhappy because pardoning the secessionists, instead of overturning their conviction and declaring an amnesty, meant Puigdemont and several others who fled Spain after warrants were issued for their arrest remained wanted men.

The row rumbled on, culminating in huge People's Party-organized demonstrations in September and November to try to force Sanchez to resign over an amnesty deal proffered in exchange for the support of Catalan Independence parties after he failed to win a majority in a July 2023 snap general election.
Celenia Gutierrez and her children, Anthony Sanchez, 19, left, Brandon Sanchez, 13, and Christopher Sanchez, 24, at the Ramon Garcia Recreation Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 3, 2024. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Almost as soon as President Biden announced a sweeping executive action in June to set more than 500,000 people on a path to U.S. citizenship, immigrants who won't qualify under the plan began pushing to be included.

The new policy  unveiled before Biden dropped out of the presidential race as he was attempting to shore up progressive credentials  would shield from deportation undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens if they have lived in the country for the last decade, don't have any disqualifying criminal convictions and pass a vetting process to ensure they pose no threat to public safety or national security.

The program would allow these spouses, many with children here and deep roots in their communities, to remain in the U.S. and work legally. They would also be allowed to access immigration benefits available to spouses of U.S. citizens. Biden cast the change as a moral imperative to keep families together, as well as an economic benefit to bring more workers out of the shadows.

Read more: Immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens protected from deportation under Bidens latest action

Formal regulations to implement Biden's policy could be released any day, with applications expected to open later this month.

But Biden's proposal leaves out many people who immigration advocates say are equally deserving of protection, but fall short of the proposed criteria. That includes spouses who followed the current rules and voluntarily left the country to apply for reentry, and are now outside the U.S. A Biden administration official said last month that the issue was under review.

Other immigrants would be barred from participating in Biden's plan due to decades-old border offenses or because they did not pass a U.S. consular vetting process.

Christopher Sanchez, 24, shows a picture of his father, Isaias Sanchez Gonzalez, who was denied a visa in 2016. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Advocates for such families estimate that more than 1 million people married to U.S. citizens are unable to access the pathway to citizenship for various reasons.

Adriana Gutierrez, 41, and husband Jose, 43, are among those who fall through the cracks of Biden's program, which relies on an authority known as "parole in place."

Jose, who asked that his last name not be used, entered the U.S. illegally more than 20 years ago. He met Gutierrez almost immediately. They married and now live in the Sacramento area with their four children.

They've lived a quiet, law-abiding life. But attorneys advised them to not apply for a green card because they may bring unwanted attention to Jose's situation.

That's because shortly before the couple met, Jose had attempted to cross the border illegally using a cousin's U.S. birth certificate. He was caught, deported and punished with a lifetime reentry ban. A few days later, he crossed back into the U.S. illegally.

"We're together, but we're living in this shadow," Gutierrez said. "It seems unfair that we're having to pay such a harsh price for something that he did over 20 years ago."

Others won't receive protection under Biden's plan because they tried to follow the previous immigration rules.

Immigrants who enter the country lawfully and marry U.S. citizens can obtain legal residency and, later, U.S. citizenship. But as a penalty for skirting immigration law, those who enter illegally and get married must leave the country in order to adjust their immigration status and usually wait at least a decade before being allowed back. In practice, many receive waivers that permit them to speed up the process and be reunited with their families.

Celenia Gutierrez (no relation to Adriana) said her husband, Isaias Sanchez Gonzalez, left their Los Angeles home and three children in 2016 for a visa interview in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. He assumed he would be quickly readmitted and reunited with his family.

Instead he was barred from returning because, after the interview, a consular officer suspected he belonged to a criminal organization, a claim he denies.

"I dedicated myself to acting right. I never had any problems with the law or police," Sanchez Gonzalez said. He believes the consular officer may have suspected his tattoos  of the Virgen de Guadalupe, comedy and tragedy theater masks, and the Aztec calendar  were gang-related.

"I like tattoos, but if I had known the problems they would cause, believe me, I wouldnt have gotten them, he said.

After the denial, his wife, who was studying to be a nurse, was forced to defer her schooling and get a job to provide for two households while battling depression.

Sanchez Gonzalez, 46, now lives in Tijuana. His wife and children visit one or two weekends a month.

Celenia Gutierrez, 41, believes her husband could have qualified for Biden's spousal protections had he simply remained in the U.S. instead of attempting to rectify his legal status.

Celenia Gutierrez shows a picture taken in June with husband Isaias Sanchez Gonzalez, second from left, and their children Christopher Sanchez, 24, far left; Brandon Sanchez, 13 and Anthony Sanchez, 19. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

"We decided to get married so we could get his papers," she said. "We didnt want him to get deported. We tried to do everything good, and it still happened."

Just before Biden announced the program, his administration fought a legal battle against a U.S. citizen from Los Angeles who similarly became separated from her husband after he went to El Salvador for a visa interview and was rejected, despite his assurances of having a clean criminal record.

The government alleged  based on his tattoos, an interview and confidential law enforcement information  that Luis Asencio Cordero was a gang member, which he denied. In June the Supreme Court's conservative majority ruled against the couple, finding that Asencio Cordero's wife, Sandra Munoz, had failed to establish that her constitutional right to marriage extends to living with him in the U.S.

Read more: A Los Angeles man was denied a green card over his tattoos. The Supreme Court might take up his case

Due to the uncertainty of reentry, many immigrants have opted to stay in the U.S. and continue risking deportation.

American Families United, established in 2006 to advocate on behalf of U.S. citizens who are married to foreign nationals, is urging the Biden administration to offer a review of more complicated cases, including those of immigrant spouses in the U.S. who know they would face reentry barriers, and those who already left the country for a consular interview and were denied while abroad.

The group believes the vetting process and interviews by consular officials can be too subjective and unaccountable. Such decisions are rarely reviewable by federal courts, though immigrants denied while in the U.S. can appeal.

"We're asking for discretion," said Ashley DeAzevedo, president of American Families United. The organization has a membership list of nearly 20,000 people, most of whom are families with complex cases. "It's very hard to have 10 years' presence in the United States, be married to a U.S. citizen and not have some form of complication in your immigration history."

In an interview last month with The Times, Tom Perez, a senior advisor to the president, said the administration has contemplated what to do about immigrants who attempted to legalize their immigration status and ended up separated. It's unknown how many such families exist, he said.

"How do we deal with folks who actually followed the rules in place and are in Guatemala or wherever they might be?" he said. "That is an issue that is squarely on the table."

Al Castillo, 55, a Los Angeles man who asked to be identified by his middle name, has been separated from his wife for two years, after she left the country to apply for permanent residency in accordance with the rules.

She hasn't been denied reentry, but has found the bureaucratic process so complicated and nerve-racking that she's unsure whether she will be allowed to return or would qualify for protection under Biden's program. Afraid to take the wrong step, she now finds herself in limbo, her husband said.

The rule, "unless its written in the right way, won't be able to help us," Castillo said.

When Biden announced the program, he said he wanted to avoid separating families.

"From the current process, undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens must go back to their home country ... to obtain long-term legal status," the president said. "They have to leave their families in America, with no assurance theyll be allowed back in.

Shortly after Biden announced the program, former President Trump's reelection campaign slammed it. In a statement, the campaign's national press secretary Karoline Leavitt called it "mass amnesty" and claimed it would lead to a surge in crime, invite more illegal immigration and guarantee more votes for the Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now running against Trump, issued a statement calling the action "a significant step forward" and saying those who will benefit deserve to remain with their families.

On a call with DeAzevedo and other advocates last month, Rep. Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) said that protecting immigrants who are married to U.S. citizens is an economic issue as much as it is about being on the right side of history.

Rep. Lou Correa and wife Esther, far right, along with U.S. Senate candidate Loretta Sanchez, greet supporters in Santa Ana. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

"You want to keep the American economy strong?" he said. "We need more workers. And what better worker could you bring into the mainstream than those that have been here 10, 20, 30 years working hard, that have children, grandchildren, have mortgages to pay, have followed the law, paid their taxes?"

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
"Many" Russian soldiers were captured in Russia's Kursk Oblast after the incursion of Ukrainian forces, Ukraine's state project "Khochu nayti" ("I want to find") said on Aug. 7.

Among the captives are both conscripts and contract soldiers, according to "Khochu nayti," the project launched in January 2024 by Ukraine's military intelligence for relatives of the Russian military captured in Ukraine.

"There is also information about the dead whose bodies were not taken away by their comrades-in-arms during the retreat," the statement read.

The project published drone footage of what it presented as 32 captured Russian soldiers, adding that eight more did not fit into the frame. The Telegram post did not specify whether this was the overall number of Russian troops captured so far.

The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify the claims.

Ukrainian forces crossed the border into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6, resulting in clashes on Russian soil that were described by Russian President Vladimir Putin as "a large-scale provocation."

Kyiv has largely refused to comment on the operation in Kursk Oblast, which takes place just as Russia is ramping up attacks in Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast.

On Aug. 7, an emergency state was declared in Kursk Oblast, according to the acting governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov.

The Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, reported to Putin that the Ukrainian military's advance deep into Kursk Oblast had been stopped.

In turn, Russian Telegram channels claimed that fighting had already begun in Sudzha, a town of around 5,000 people located less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border with Ukraine.

Kursk Oblast lies on the border with Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, which has been experiencing daily attacks since Russian troops were pushed out of the oblast and back across the border in April 2022.

The Russian region has a population of around 1 million people, 440,000 of whom live in the city of Kursk, the region's administrative center.

Read also: Ukraines unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast brings war back to Russian soil

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
All Systems Go

Robert Zubrin, president and founder of the Mars Society, is arguing  as always  that humanity shouldn't settle for just the Moon.

Instead, NASA should be laying the groundwork to bring astronauts to the Red Planet now, he said in an interview with Forbes last week, and believes that SpaceX's massive Starship will play a key role in fulfilling that dream, along with the enterprising know-how offered by other space companies.

"They are now creating the capabilities that will allow human Mars missions in the relatively near future," Zubrin said, per a video of the interview.

Lost Time

The way Zubrin sees it, we're years behind schedule. He's adamant that humans would have already gotten to Mars by now  if that old villain President Richard Nixon hadn't axed the Apollo program, and with it NASA's hopes of getting to Mars by 1981, he told Forbes.

We can make up for that, though, by going all in on Mars and bypassing NASA's much hyped Artemis missions, which are anticipated to bring astronauts back to the Moon for the first time in over fifty years.

Starship plays a big role in this proposed Mars speedrun, as it indeed does with the Artemis missions.

If SpaceX gets Starship operational to orbit this year or early next year, Zubrin told Forbes, then NASA could use its resources to immediately send a huge, $10 billion robotic mission to the Red Planet with dozens of rovers and helicopters aboard the rocket.

Once there, a built-in lab inside Starship could analyze thousands of pounds worth of Mars samples collected by the robots.

The ramped-up exploration and additional data gathered from this mission would help prepare for eventual human missions in the future, Zubrin said, perhaps by assisting the development of spacesuits and rovers capable of carrying humans.

Starry-Eyed

Zubrin's idea is exciting. But in practice, it faces considerable hurdles.

The obvious one is the status of the pivotal Starship, which is still under development and is yet to successfully land back on Earth after flying to orbit.

Recent orbital test flights have been more promising, however, with the latest proving that the rocket could  more or less  survive reentry. But while NASA reportedly still intends for Starship to land astronauts on the lunar surface as part of its Artemis III mission, multiple setbacks in the rocket's development have raised doubt as to whether it will be ready in time.

NASA's tough budget situation would also pose problems. As it stands, the space agency may not even have enough money to carry out its highly anticipated Mars Sample Return mission. Getting funds for a Starship mission on top of that wouldn't be easy, and diverting them from existing lunar missions probably won't happen, either, since the Moon has more strategic value to the superpowers vying to get a foothold on its surface.

But hey: a man can dream.

More on Mars: Crew Who Spent a Year in Simulated NASA Mars Base Say They Spent a Lot of Time Watching TV
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said officers arrested a man in connection to a fatal shooting that happened in Southeast D.C. earlier this year.

MPD said that at about 5:12 p.m. on Jan. 16, officers responded to the 2400 block of S Street for the report of a shooting.

When police arrived at the scene, they found a man who had been shot. He died there.

Virginia ice cream shop honors Olympic athletes

The victim was identified as 23-year-old Javonni Coleman, of Southeast, D.C.

On Aug. 7, police arrested 21-year-old Karim Ibrahim of Oxon Hill, Md.

Authorities charged him with Second Degree Murder while Armed.

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Whenever the city council of Boston meets, a speaker gives opening remarks: sometimes a sermon, sometimes a poem  but usually a prayer, as the majority of the speakers come from Christian organizations.

In 2016, the free speech group that styles itself the Satanic Temple asked to be included, offering to give an invocation. When it was denied, the group sued the city, arguing religious discrimination under the first amendment.

On Tuesday, an appeals court ruled against it, on the basis that the speakers usually have an established relationship with a council member and are deeply involved in their community, which the Satanic Temple  based in Salem, Massachusetts  did not show.

Not every religious organization performing charitable work in any portion of the Boston community would receive an invitation to speak, the court added.

The judges did, however, offer a cautionary note to the city council. Although it rejected the Satanic Temples claims, it is clear that Bostons customary invocation speaker is admittedly meant to serve the interest of incumbent city councilors.

Those interests could in the future lead to councilors favoring invitations only to those representing religious electoral majorities and explicitly proselytizing for those views or disparaging minority or unpopular groups, the judges warned.

Lucien Greaves, co-founder of the Satanic Temple, told the Boston Globe that the ruling was a flagrant disregard for fundamental constitutional principles.

The courts now tell us that technicalities permit public officials to stand outside of the law, and that religious liberty is dependent upon official support from corrupt public office holders, he said.

The Satanic Temple was founded in 2013 as a group to fight the religious right and intolerance. It has filed lawsuits fighting prayer in the classroom, religious holiday displays and distribution of Bibles in schools. It has also advocated for abortion rights. Members say they do not believe in Satan in the literal sense but use Satan as a symbol against authoritarianism.
A copy of "The Bluest Eye," by Toni Morrison, sits on a shelf in the Juneau Public Library downtown on August 7, 2024. The book was taken from school library shelves in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District after parent and community complaints in 2023, but must be returned before the start of the 2024-2025 school year. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

All but seven of the 56 books the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District removed from school libraries must be reshelved by next week, pending a trial next year, ruled U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason on Tuesday.

The banned books, including well-known titles like Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye, Kurt Vonneguts Slaughterhouse-Five and Khaled Hosseinis The Kite Runner, were removed from schools last year without individual consideration of their content after parents and community members complained of LGBTQ themes or sexually explicit content in district meetings.

Gleasons order said the districts action violated students constitutional rights and raises the specter of official suppression of ideas. That caused irreparable harm, and would continue to do so if they stayed off library shelves until trial, her order found. The order is a preliminary injunction; the books ultimate fate will be determined in a trial scheduled for April of next year.

The district released a statement on Thursday that said the order is in line with work the school board has undertaken in the last year, which includes reviewing the books and returning some to library shelves. The Courts decision directs the District to report on what it has already done including the reshelving of books as directed by the Board , the statement said, in part.

Savannah Fletcher, the attorney for the plaintiffs with the Northern Justice Project, said the courts ruling shows that the Constitution doesnt allow the government to remove books without a compelling reason for an indefinite period of time.

The Constitution doesnt allow the government to remove ideas simply because some people disagree with them, she said.

I think its a really great reminder during this time of tension around our schools, around students rights and parents rights and the protection of teachers and educators, that there is a baseline we all have to follow, and our Constitution is going to protect that. It really reaffirms the rights of students to access ideas, to access information.

The case comes against the backdrop of a national reckoning about which books and what kind of material should be available to students. Fletcher said the Alaska case is unique because the district removed such a large quantity of books without individual review.

This has never been written about by a court before. It is kind of a novel spin on it, Fletcher said, adding that the lack of precedent presented a challenge when briefing the court.

Meanwhile, some books have already been approved to go back to library shelves by the community. After the district removed them, it established a library committee, a majority of whose members were selected by the school board. The committee was tasked with determining whether the books were criminally indecent and it allowed more than a dozen books to return to schools, according to court filings. Another 14 titles were referred to the district for a final decision; others were not reviewed or found to be out of circulation or missing entirely. The courts decision overrides these determinations, unless the school administration or board provides the court with a compelling reason to remove a specific title.

Scott Adams and his wife Dawn were plaintiffs in the case with their middle school-aged daughter, who he said is an avid reader and fan of the Harry Potter series.

He said he joined the lawsuit because the family felt the districts action was a violation of the First Amendment and he was ecstatic with Tuesdays order.

I took an oath when I joined the military over 30 years ago. And the oath  to support and defend the Constitution  doesnt end when you leave the military, he said.

He said he wants to see a better process for deciding which books should be in the library, and said teachers and librarians should be trusted with those decisions.

The seven books that will remain off the shelves for indecency in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough school district are Call Me by Your Name, Verity, It Ends with Us, Ugly Love, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Silver Flames and You Their removal will be reviewed with the others in the trial next year.

This article has been updated with a statement from the school district on Aug. 8, 2024.

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LONDON, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The social unrest gripping the United Kingdom (UK) following a stabbing in the northwestern city of Southport is now at a "turning point," said the chair of the country's policing body on Thursday, who nevertheless advised against "complacency."

The UK had a relatively quieter night on Wednesday as heavy police presence and a huge turnout of anti-racism protesters in many UK cities and towns, as well as the courts' swift sentencing of rioters, deterred far-right protesters, who initially planned more than 100 gatherings across the country.

"They've certainly been deterred. They've certainly received a message from communities," said Gavin Stephens, chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council.

"We've seen many convictions come in through the courts already, tough sentencing," he said. "And I think that was one of the reasons last night that we saw a turning point in some of the violence from the last week."

Almost 500 people have been arrested and over 100 have been charged over the disorder and unrest. Around a dozen people have been jailed, with the longest sentence being three years.

"But there's no complacency at all in our mind that we need to be prepared for the days and particularly the weekend ahead," Stephens said. "So the policing posture remains the same."

Far-right protests, targeting Muslims and the immigrant population in general, have rocked the UK since last week, resulting in police officers being injured, stores being looted and hotels housing asylum-seekers being stormed.

The unrest was sparked by online disinformation that wrongly claimed the suspect who killed three children in Southport at the end of July was a Muslim immigrant. However, it turned out to be a 17-year-old boy named Axel Rudakubana born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents, who was later charged with murder.

In an emergency meeting held on Thursday night, the third of its kind since the unrest, UK Prime Minister asked police forces to "remain on high alert" for possible further riots.

Earlier in the day, Starmer's Labour Party suspended Ricky Jones, a local councilor in Dartford in Kent, from the party after he was allegedly seen in a video calling for far-right protesters' throats to be cut. He was later arrested on suspicion of "encouraging murder." 
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) said Wednesday that she believes the Harris-Walz campaign can be a transformational boon for America, adding that the duo is already removing the cloud over this country.

[Walz] mentioned the word joy, and I thought to myself, you know, that hit a spot. Because I was feeling that there was a cloud over this country, Waters told NewsNations Chris Cuomo, referring to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walzs (D) speech earlier this week at rally in Philadelphia, his first event as Vice President Harriss running mate.

It was a feeling of people that something has gone wrong with our democracy, and the democracy is at stake, and more than just a few people were beginning to think about our democracy under attack, she said.

I do believe that there is some joy in the belief that we have an opportunity for transformation, Waters added.

Walz sent a positive message when he first addressed the country Tuesday, thanking Harris in his introduction for bringing back the joy.

The North Star State governor also laid into former President Trump and his own running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), doubling down on labeling his opponents weird as hell. That moniker has been adopted by much of Harriss campaign as a label for Vance and the former president.

Her team has quickly drummed up enthusiasm from Democrats, breaking fundraising records and packing supporters into rallies across the country. The vice president has also nearly eliminated the lead Trump held over President Biden, who dropped out of the race last month, with the candidates about even in most recent polls.

A campaign rally in Detroit on Wednesday evening was the largest of the campaign so far, Harriss team said. It raised more than $36 million in the 24 hours after Walz was tapped to be the Democratic vice presidential nominee.

Trump holds a slim lead over Harris nationally  47.4 percent to 47.2 percent  according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ average of polls.



NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

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Congressman Matt Rosendale (right) talks with gun store owner Tommy VanHoose, who has been accused by the federal government of pocketing hundreds of thousands in tax money, by misreporting gun sales at his Great Falls store (From Matt Rosendale Twitter).

There is something about guns that make us lose our damn minds.

I dont think we love knives the same way. Or cannons. Or grenades. But as one social commentator pointed out: One particular political partys response to the mass shooting of children at school is not moments of profound self-reflection or sadness, but pledging more guns.

Thats kind of like saying that the pain of DUI accidents would sure be eased by a nip of whiskey.

Sounds stupid in some other context, right?

But our fealty to guns makes us crazy.

Even the people we should trust to help provide the facts and temper our knee-jerk reactions were racing like the Three Stooges to see which could clobber the IRS fastest after it had the audacity not only to raid a gun store in Great Falls in May 2023, but not give out details because the investigation was ongoing.

The irony is so overwhelming its almost paralyzing: For most of Montanas Congressional delegation crying about not getting responses is rich seeing how theyve grown content to only answer the public or medias questions when they consider it in their interest.

For a group of people who cant seem to get enough guns, it was stunning how quickly those same people raced to try making it illegal for the IRS to carry  or even purchase  guns. The logic goes something like this: Arm teachers in elementary schools to make schools safer, but pull guns from the IRS.

A momentary scandal in Montana  Horror! A gun store getting raided turned out to be a well-founded concern about a gun store owner who has been accused by the U.S. Attorneys Office of skimming hundreds of thousands off the books without paying taxes or reporting the income.

The very notion of the federal government raiding a Montana gun store seemed to be Montana politicians worst nightmare come to life. And yet, if theres any place a federal agent of any kind of law enforcement officer should be armed, it would seem to be at a gun-and-ammo store with an owner who has everything to lose.

Its odd that our Congressional delegation seems fine with everyone else owning a gun, but gets worried when we start arming accountants. Some might even go so far as to call their response weird.

Last week, when the indictment against the Great Falls gun store owner was unsealed, what the rest of the world saw was a man accused of diverting hundreds of thousands from his business, while the rest of us are stuck paying taxes. If theres a better use of IRS time and money, I havent seen it.

Politicians, namely Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Matt Rosendale got way, way out ahead of themselves, and now look foolish.

Daines pounded on the IRS:

On June 14 of 2023 heavily armed, in fact, 20 heavily armed IRS agents entered the Highwood Creek Outfitters store in Great Falls, Montana, and seized boxes of ATF forms 4473. Let me say that again. Twenty heavily armed IRS agents entered a business, Highwood Creek Outfitters, and seized ATF forms 4473. Its unclear how these forms pertain to the IRS as they are not a financial document.

Well, it turns out the IRS wanted those forms not to build a secret database to weaponize the government, as Daines implies, but rather because it had purchase data and information that helped the government figure out how much the owner is alleged to have bilked.

These actions show the IRS isnt going after wealthy tax cheats, they are going after main street businesses, Daines said.

Yet, when the indictment was unsealed, the raid didnt happen because the gun store was a part of Main Street America; it was an example of the IRS going after wealthy tax cheats  to use Sen. Daines own words.

Meanwhile from Rosendale:

The weaponization of our government must be STOPPED, which is why I sent a letter to ATF Director Dettelbach and IRS Commissioner Werfel demanding answers about this outrageous attack and have used every tool available to me to remove funding for the 87,000 additional IRS agents!

So, as a reward for doing its job, according to Rosendale, hell support defunding IRS agent positions.

Not only is it embarrassing that some of Montanas Congressional delegation rushed to judgment before having the facts, its no less galling that they happened to do it repeatedly and publicly.

Remember, though, that they are employees and leaders of the federal government. But they were outraged, even ready to defund the government, before they had the facts. Yet, I cant imagine anyone would be happy if the IRS just let people walk away with hundreds of thousands just because the money came from gun sales.

In a day when voter and citizen distrust is still at a high, its doubly disappointing that the very leaders who should be a conduit of information about what the federal government is doing, are, instead, ginning up outrage against their federal colleagues.

Theres already a somewhat misplaced perception that nothing in the federal government works and it all needs to be privatized. But the incident in Great Falls shows just the opposite: The IRS made sure everyone, even gun store owners, pay their taxes.

I would expect an apology from Rosendale and Daines about as quickly as I expect theyll reverse course and support funding for more IRS agents.

But if our own federal leaders demonstrate that Washington, D.C., is nothing more than a punching bag to take out misplaced frustrations, then prepare for more gridlock. And folks like Rosendale and Daines can only undercut the very institutions theyre a part of for so long before residents will jump to the same ill-informed opinions about them.

But I get it: The rush to judgment sounds so much better when you say youre defending the Second Amendment rather than youre defending an alleged tax cheat.

Maybe next time, lets not use the ready-fire-aim approach.
McCook Lake victims still in the dark, waiting for FEMA help nearly seven weeks after flood

Morgan Speichinger works to clean up her home near McCook Lake on July 3, 2024, after a June 23 flood. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Morgan Speichinger works to clean up her home near McCook Lake on July 3, 2024, after a June 23 flood. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Nearly seven weeks after the devastating June 23 flood at McCook Lake, victims are still in limbo about the possibility of federal aid, and some feel abandoned by government officials.

Renae Hansen is a flood victim and works with the McCook Lake Izaak Walton League, which has tried to fill some of the leadership and organizational gaps in the flood response.

We have no idea whats happening or what to expect, Hansen said. It feels like were being kept in the dark.

The flood destroyed or severely damaged at least 40 homes and some infrastructure in the McCook Lake area. Some flood victims  including some who lack flood insurance  are staying in hotels or with family or friends as they wait for news about possible help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Hansen also described the confusion and lack of coordination on the ground in McCook Lake, noting that the Izaak Walton League was filling recovery roles beyond its expertise because no other institution was doing it. She recently moved away from that effort to resume handling the organizations primary obligations.

We were just trying to help, she said. But we didnt have any official support or direction. We had volunteers trying to log damages without any guidance from the city or state.

FEMA wait explained

Some residents expressed their frustration about the wait for federal assistance on Monday during a North Sioux City Council meeting. More than a month passed between the flood and Republican Governor Kristi Noems July 26 request to the president for a major disaster declaration, and there has been no word yet on a presidential declaration that would trigger FEMA aid.

Hansen wants to know why it took that long and is calling for more state action.

We have residents on the brink of homelessness, Hansen said. We need answers, but we also need support.

In Iowa, which also experienced flooding from the same historically heavy rainstorms in late June, President Joe Biden approved that states disaster declaration on June 24. However, Iowa had already been working with FEMA regarding other storms that began on June 16.

Tony Mayne is a media relations specialist with the FEMA Region 8 Office. He said South Dakota took the standard route for its disaster declaration, and Iowa chose the expedited route.

South Dakota determined the process that would be best for the state, he said.

Mayne said the expedited route is for disasters where officials are confident they know the extent of the damages  because if an overestimation is submitted, the state pays the difference. Mayne did not speak for the state of South Dakota but said flood damage across the 25 affected counties varies widely in comparison to McCook Lake.

Sure, damage to that one area is obvious, he said. Its not just that one area.

In response to questions about the process from South Dakota Searchlight, Noems spokesman, Ian Fury, pointed to a previous press release comment by Kristi Turman, director of the Division of Emergency Services at the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.

This thorough damage assessment was normal protocol for a presidential disaster declaration, Turman said, and its an important part of the process to make sure all eligible counties and citizens are included.

As flood victims wait on assistance, some contractors who assisted with the flood preparations and response are being paid. During the North Sioux City Council meeting, council members approved several pay requests for the flood, including a $59,000 payment to The Blue Cell, a contractor based in Colorado. North Sioux Citys mayor said state officials advised hiring Blue Cell to help manage the disaster. Todd Manns, Blue Cells owner, did not respond to an interview request.

Noem: Everything we can to help

Hours before the McCook Lake flood on June 23, Noem held a press conference in North Sioux City where neither she nor any of the other public officials in attendance expressed any grave concerns about McCook Lake, even though a record crest was already projected on the nearby Big Sioux River.

The main focus of the press conference was a voluntary evacuation order for nearby Dakota Dunes and the construction of a temporary levee, which neither Noem nor anyone else at the press conference clearly explained was intended to divert water toward McCook Lake. Authorities hoped water wouldnt reach the lake and assumed that if it did, the lake would swell manageably, and excess water would drain toward the Missouri River. Instead, floodwaters slammed into the lake on the evening of June 23 and caused catastrophic damage.

Following the June 23 afternoon press conference, Noem flew to a speaking engagement for a county Republican Party fundraiser in Tennessee while the floodwaters ravaged McCook Lake that night.

From June 23 to 27, Noem shared over a dozen posts on her personal X (formerly Twitter) profile, mostly about the southeastern South Dakota flooding. Two linked to videos of press conferences that have since been deleted. Posts show she visited the region in that timeframe.

My heart goes out to the families on McCook Lake whose homes were destroyed by this flooding, she shared. Well keep doing everything we can to help with the situation.

Everything did not include deploying the National Guard, which Noem declined to do.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell joined Noem in McCook Lake to survey the devastation days after the flood. I am going to do everything I can to get assistance to our communities ASAP and help these families start to recover their lives, Noem wrote in posts featuring photos with Criswell.

South Dakota U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson told South Dakota Searchlight on Wednesday that he thinks FEMA aid will be approved soon.

This is a no-brainer, said Johnson, a Republican. This is not a close call. This was a devastating event.

However, Mayne, the spokesperson for FEMA, said the agency cant do much for the people who lost their homes. FEMAs Individual Assistance program is designed to meet basic needs and help households recover, but it typically covers only essential expenses such as temporary housing and minor repairs.

Were not going to make you whole, were not going to rebuild your house, he said, advising residents to turn to local organizations and nonprofits.

U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, said its unlikely the congressional delegation will be able to secure federal funding beyond the FEMA aid.

Well look at what other options might be out there, but its going to be challenging, he said.

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ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  McIntosh Elementary School has recently announced a new program for the 2024 school year highlighting Park District employees through leadership opportunities.

Rockford Public Schools held a committee meeting last night where the Mentorship Program was first introduced.

The program is designed to provide consistent faces in the halls throughout the school year. Employees will be hired through the Park District and trained by McIntosh. The schools principal Erin Salberg said its a great way to combine community and education.

Weve been looking for ways to create community partnerships within our schools so that the community sees us as an opportunity of help and support and then to grow leaders within our school and our community, so thats a big part of it, Salberg said.

Salberg said her staff has been training six to seven employees over the past few weeks. Staff will be able to lead students through lessons such as social media training and piecing together the schools newspaper. These employees will have a consistent 7-3:30pm schedule so that the students get used to having them around.

One of the areas thats always a struggle for us is hiring breakfast and lunch, Salberg said. We wanted to look for ways that we could have consistent staff that would provide a sense of belonging for our students and they would see them throughout the day and that they would be regulars here at the building.

Besides breakfast and lunch, mentors will be assisting at recess, supervising students before classes begin and riding the bus home with them to ensure bus safety. These are all areas Salberg said need some extra help.

In the past, McIntosh partnered with the Park District and had employees assist with after-school activities. Because of that programs success, Salberg said this idea was created and has been three years in the making.

We have had a really great partnership with the Park District through our after-school program, which is not currently running for this school year, Salberg said. We wanted to look at how can we continue that partnership but create more opportunities throughout the day.

Salberg feels confident in the future success of this program.

We really just want the kids to feel like this is their second home, Salberg said. This is a place that they can come and know that there are people, no matter what time of day, that love and support them. It really does build that community and sense of belonging. The Park District is perfect for that because we have that relationship with them already.

The program will be officially voted on later this month at the Rockford Public Schools board meeting on August 20.

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PROVIDENCE  Rhode Island's chronic student absence rate fell 4.2 percentage points last school year  the second consecutive decline since a wave of truancy swept across the nation at the end of the COVID pandemic, the state Department of Education said Tuesday.

During the last academic year, 32,939 students were chronically absent, 24.7% of those enrolled, which was 5,955 fewer students than in the 2022-2023 school year, according to the new state figures.

Students who miss 10% of school days per year, or two days per month, are considered chronically absent.

Chronic absenteeism led to Attendance Matters RI campaign

Chronic absenteeism peaked in Rhode Island in the 2021-2022 school year, when 46,328 public school students  more than a third of those enrolled  missed more than 10% of the year.

The severity of the problem convinced Gov. Dan McKee to make school attendance a top priority. "Attendance Matters RI," a public awareness campaign with a statewide leaderboard to track which schools were doing better, or worse, launched in the fall.

"We can have a sense of pride in the state that progress is being made," McKee said Tuesday at a State House news conference to tout the new numbers. "Please know that missing two days of school a month may not seem like much, but it is everything for your child. It is a 10% reduction in learning."

Rhode Island Education Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green called the decline in chronic absenteeism "big news."

"Everyone is looking at Rhode Island," Infante-Green said. "Because we are moving forward ... and that is not happening everywhere."

Did McKee's Attendance Matters fix absenteeism?

But while the decline in chronic school absence is encouraging, the role state policy played in it is less clear, as is how Rhode Island compares to its neighbors and the rest of the country.

Most other states have not publicly reported absenteeism statistics for the most recent school year, making it impossible to prove the claim, at least at the moment, that Rhode Island is a national leader on the issue.

Massachusetts' most recent figures, for example, are from the 2022-2023 school year.

Nationally, chronic absenteeism rose during the COVID shutdowns of 2020 before really taking off in the 2021-2022 school year  just as school systems attempted to return to normalcy.

And now, despite turning around in most states, they are still above pre-pandemic levels.

The number of chronically absent Rhode Island public-school students from 2017 to 2024.

That's true in Rhode Island where, despite the two years of declines, there were still 6,000 more chronically absent students last year than 2018-2019, the last academic year unaffected by COVID.

It's possible Rhode Island's absentee rate is simply returning to pre-COVID normal.

How does RI's absenteeism rate compare with other states?

One reason Rhode Island's absenteeism numbers have come down significantly is that they were high in the first place, including before the pandemic.

When the Ocean State's absentee rate peaked at 34% in 2021-2022, it was the seventh highest in the nation. It improved to 28.9% in 2022-2023, or 12th highest in the nation, according to figures compiled by the FutureEd think tank.

By contrast, when Connecticut's chronic absenteeism rate peaked in 2021-2022, it was at 23.7%, lower than Rhode Island's is now.

Connecticut's chronic absentee rate for last school year was 17.7% compared with 24.7% in Rhode Island.

McKee and state education officials made the case Tuesday that Rhode Island having a statewide online school-level public absenteeism dashboard that other governments are looking to copy shows it is ahead of the curve.

"So maybe some of it is a natural decline, but what we have seen is that as we've surveyed parents, they're telling us: yes, we see this, we are understanding," Infante-Green told The Journal on Tuesday after the news conference when asked if the Attendance Matters victory lap was justified. "It was clear to us that parents should understand the impact of missing those days and for us to be able to correlate achievement data and absenteeism."

"So we think that the efforts are working; we see it. We are just going to keep moving forward, and only time will tell if what you're asking is the direction that we're going in. But our goal is to get lower than pandemic numbers," she said.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Is Gov. Dan McKee's plan to get kids in school working? Look at the numbers.
McLaren patients say they can't get cancer treatments, heart tests in wake of cyberattack

Cindy Pitcher's radiation treatments for throat cancer are indefinitely postponed along with a bronchoscopy procedure to check a suspicious growth in one of her lungs. For Shianne Wiles, who has had heart palpitations and fainting spells, cardiac testing scheduled for later this week was canceled.

Both are caught up in the fallout from the latest tech troubles at McLaren Health Care, which confirmed Wednesday that a second major cyberattack in a year has caused new disruptions to its computer platforms and telephone systems.

The cyberattack crippled McLaren's computer networks starting early Monday morning and continued Thursday to cause delays in treatment and diagnostic testing for patients like Pitcher and Wiles. It has disrupted care at all 13 McLaren hospitals in Michigan, along with its network of 113,000 medical providers throughout Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.

McLaren Flint is seen on Monday February 22, 2016 in Flint.

"Our information technology team continues to work with external cyber security experts to analyze the nature of the attack and mitigate the impacts of the threat actors," McLaren said Wednesday in a statement sent to the Free Press. "At this time, we have not determined if any patient or employee data was compromised."

Cancer patients can't get treatment: 'It's just been terrible'

The Grand Blanc-based health system says on its website that it "operates Michigans largest network of cancer centers and providers, anchored by the Karmanos Cancer Institute."

Karmanos treats 14,000 new cancer patients  like Pitcher, 64, of Chesterfield Township  each year whose health hangs on the line when cybercriminals hobble access to medical records, prescriptions, doctors' orders, imaging and other test results.

Pitcher is a dialysis nurse who wasn't feeling well in the spring. She had a sore throat that lasted for weeks. Initially, her doctor suggested allergies could be causing her symptoms.

"I said, 'Mom, something's not right,' " said her daugther, Tiffany Goebel, who works as a respiratory therapist for another health system. Goebel had nagging concerns about her mother's symptoms and previous smoking history, and urged her to keep asking questions.

Cindy Pitcher, 64, of Chesterfield Township, left, snuggles in close with her daughter, Tiffany Goebel, 43, of Trenton. Pitcher has throat cancer, and her radiation treatments were postponed because of an Aug. 5, 2024, cyberattack at McLaren Health Care.

In May, an ear, nose and throat specialist identified the source of the problem: Pitcher had a large squamous cell tumor in her throat.

She underwent six weeks of chemotherapy and her oncologist then ordered 35 targeted radiation treatments to follow at the Karmanos facility at McLaren Macomb Hospital in Mt. Clemens.

Almost every weekday since June 18, Pitcher has gone to Mt. Clemens for radiation treatments, said Goebel, 43, of Trenton.

But this week, her medical team could not access Pitcher's electronic records, physician's orders or imaging scans because of the cyberattack. Goebel said her mother's appointments were canceled because without that documentation, they couldn't safely deliver her targeted treatments.

"I feel helpless," Goebel said. The mother she described as "spunky" before her cancer diagnosis now feels defeated.

"This is so discouraging."

She recalled that when Pitcher's treatment regimen was established in May, her mother "was afraid she wouldn't be able to tolerate it all. The doctors were like: 'There's a specific reason why we have to be so aggressive. There's a reason we do that.'

"Before, they said we couldn't miss a single day. So now what? You can't just stop it."

There was no timeline for when McLaren's tech systems will be restored, so Pitcher doesn't know when she will be able to resume treatments; her last one was Friday.

Pitcher's oncologist suggested Wednesday evening that she might need to restart chemotherapy because she has missed so many radiation treatments, Goebel said.

"It's just been terrible," Goebel said. She worries about how the pause in radiation treatments will affect her mother's outcome.

"Does this affect someone's life expectancy?" she asked. "What about your quality of life? And the mental health stuff? Cancer treatment is bad enough. ... I'm sick thinking about this."

Echoes of previous cybersecurity breaches

This isn't the first time a cyberattack at McLaren has had ripple effects that disrupted patient care.

Last August, a ransomware gang known as BlackCat/AlphV claimed responsibility for another attack on McLaren, posting online that it stole 6 terabytes of data, including the personal information of 2.5 million patients.

The health system reported at the time that it had shut down its own computer networks "out of an abundance of caution" after its information technology security team found suspicious activity during routine monitoring.

McLaren spokesperson David Jones did not answer questions this week from the Free Press about whether the latest cyberattack involves ransomware, but told the Free Press on Thursday that it is not connected to the previous breach.

He said he "will share updates as they become available" regarding the cyberattack and referred to the health system's statement:

"Immediately after becoming aware of the attack, our hospitals and outpatient clinics instituted downtime procedures to ensure care delivery within our facilities. Several information technology systems continue to operate in downtime procedures while we work to fully restore functionality to our system. We have policies and procedures in place and train for information technology disruptions."

It went on to say that McLaren's facilities are "largely operational. ... Our emergency departments continue to be operational, most surgeries and procedures continue to be performed, and our physician offices continue to see as many patients as possible. During this time of limited access to our systems, and out of an abundance of caution, some non-emergent appointments, tests, and treatments are being rescheduled."

On Thursday afternoon, in response to questions from the Free Press about the delayed cancer treatments for Pitcher and cardiac testing for Wiles, Jones issued a new statement on behalf of McLaren:

"We deeply regret the impact this disruption has had on our patients, including those patients whose appointments have been rescheduled. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this cyber attack has caused.

"We are grateful for the dedication displayed under demanding circumstances by our various teams as we respond to this cyber attack. Our clinical staffs have demonstrated a true commitment to their patients and communities they serve, treating as many patients as possible as information technology specialists continue to make progress toward bringing systems back online."

Uncertainty surrounds upcoming appointments

Shianne Wiles is worried about her heart.

"I am having a lot of heart racing episodes and palpitations, things like that," said Wiles, who is 33 and lives in Pellston in the northern lower peninsula. "They just want to figure out what's going on because I have been passing out a lot."

It took her more than a month to book appointments for this Friday to get a cardiac halter monitor, an echocardiogram and a mammogram all on the same day at McLaren's hospital in Petoskey.

Shianne Wiles, 33, of Pellston is uncertain whether the cyberattack at McLaren Health Care will lead to the cancellation of medical tests she'd scheduled for Aug. 9, 2024, at the health system's Petoskey hospital. She was told to call back the morning of the appointments to find out whether the computer networks have been restored.

Consolidating the appointments so they take place on one day matters because Wiles has seven children and has to drive 45 minutes each way and arrange for child care and time off work from her job at a fast-food restaurant.

When Wiles learned of the cyberattack, she called to confirm her appointments, but got an unsettling response on Wednesday: "They can't see any appointments" because the scheduling system is entirely online, Wiles said. "They can't see the schedule to even call anyone to reschedule anything.

"They told me to call them on Friday morning to see if their systems are back up or not. But the last time their systems were down, they said they were down for a month. So they're not anticipating their systems to be back up for at least another week or two."

Thursday afternoon, Wiles got two calls from McLaren. She said she was told all three appointments had been canceled, and she said, the health system will be unable to reschedule until its computer systems are back up and functional.

"I imagine, with at least a week's worth of appointments being lost, ... it'll take a while for them to call everyone and will take forever to get in. I hate that they made such a vague Facebook post about it, saying almost everything is functional because nothing is.

"Doctor's appointments are up, but any testing of any sort, like labs, urine, imagine, heart monitors, etc., is down. They could at least do a morning update post to say: 'These services are down today.' "

McLaren Northern Michigan

The delay in Wiles' tests is likely to create a domino effect, she said. She is supposed to have a cardiac stress test later this month along with surgery to remove her wisdom teeth in September.

"They wanted to have all the testing done beforehand to make sure I'll be good for the anesthesia," Wiles said. "I've been waiting since March to have this surgery done.

"It's really just delaying care at this point and pushing back my entire life."

In the meantime, Wiles said she's concerned about her chances of surviving a medical crisis. That's because both of the hospitals nearest to her home are McLaren properties  the Petoskey hospital is about a 45-minute drive and the Cheboygan hospital is about 35 minutes away.

With the cyberattack affecting both of them, she'd need to go south to Munson Medical Center, about 90 miles from her home, to ensure she could get the care she needed.

"They'd have to life flight me to Traverse City, is what they told me," she said.

More: McLaren confirms cyberattack across its 13 Michigan hospitals, physician network

More: Increasingly common, health care cyberattacks now even target patients with ransom

Thinking about it all is stressful, she said, and frustrating.

"There's not much I can do about it," Wiles said. "I don't have a choice."

Cyberattacks in health care are a growing problem

The volume of cyberattacks in the health care sector is growing quickly, said Kaustubh Medhe, vice president of research and threat intelligence at Cyble, an Atlanta-based cybersecurity firm.

Initially, cyberattackers targeted banking, finance, payment service providers, large IT and retail companies. But as those industries tightened up security measures, cybercriminals turned to other sectors, including health care, which "may not have the similar levels of cybersecurity maturity or similar levels of expertise or technology to be able to detect and prevent some of these attacks," Medhe said.

"They know how to penetrate networks," he said. "They know how to compromise access to critical applications and business systems. A lot of this data is sold or traded on the dark web and used in multiple attacks.

Kaustubh Medhe, vice president of research and threat intelligence at Cyble, an Atlanta-based cybersecurity firm.

"There have been several instances where the same victim has been attacked multiple times. ... If a company faces a ransomware attack, and if they've not been careful enough or thorough enough in sanitizing their environment, or identifying and eliminating all the traces or the footprints of that attacker, there is a chance that the attacker may still have access to that network remotely and may be able to activate it or sell it to some other group at a later point in time, which then could be used to carry out a second or repeat attack."

When malware is deployed across computer networks, it can encrypt or destroy not only the original data, but backup systems, too. In those cases, Medhe said, companies are unable to restore all the data that was lost in a ransomware situation.

"These are some of the techniques to pressurize these victims into paying, and especially with health care because it's such a time-sensitive industry where patients (need) medical assistance. Any type of downtime or outage really spoils the whole experience for the patient and also sometimes causes medical complications."

Last year alone, 725 data breaches were reported to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights and more than 133 million records containing protected health data were exposed, according to the HIPAA Journal.

A cybersecurity breach in May that struck all 140 Ascension hospitals in the U.S., including in Michigan, forced the Catholic, nonprofit health system to postpone or cancel some appointments, divert ambulances to other hospitals and cut off electronic access to medical records, lab test results, radiology imaging and even impaired the ability for doctors to issue medical orders.

More: Ascension nurse: Ransomware attack makes caring for hospital patients 'so, so dangerous'

More: Fallout from Ascension cyberattack continues: Michigan pharmacies can't fill prescriptions

Also in May, the personal information of more than 56,000 people  including names, medical record numbers, addresses, dates of birth, diagnostic and treatment information, and health insurance details  was compromised in a cyberattack at Michigan Medicine, the academic medical center of the University of Michigan.

One of the largest cybersecurity incidents in the industry struck Change Healthcare in February, shutting down its computer networks and leading to widespread disruptions for patients who tried to fill prescriptions or who needed verification of insurance benefits and claims for treatment.

The company acknowledged personal data for "a substantial proportion of people in America" was compromised and the American Medical Association reported that the cyberattack caused financial strain for physicians. As many as 80% reported losing revenue from unpaid claims.

A 2021 study from Proofpoint and the Ponemon Institute found that among 641 organizations that provide IT for health care companies, 89% had experienced at least one cyberattack in the previous year. Of them:

64% said ransomware attacks caused delays in procedures and tests that resulted in poorer outcomes, including an increase in the severity of illness for patients.

59% said patients had to stay longer in the hospital as a result of ransomware attacks.

24% said ransomware attacks caused an increase in the hospital's mortality rate.

Ripple effects of tech disruptions

The health impacts of tech disruptions are what have patients like Pitcher and her daughter most worried.

Not only has Pitcher missed radiation treatments because of the latest McLaren cyberattack, but a procedure to examine a suspicious spot on her lung to determine whether it might be cancerous also was canceled this week, Goebel said.

A pulmonologist had planned to do the procedure Wednesday using a bronchoscope, which is a thin, flexible tube with a camera attached that is guided through the nose or mouth, past the throat and into the airways.

Cindy Pitcher, 64, of Chesterfield Township, undergoes treatment for throat cancer at the Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Macomb Hospital in Mt. Clemens.

Pitcher already had a CT scan at McLaren to prepare for the bronchoscopy, but the images from that scan are no longer accessible because of the tech disruptions, Goebel said.

The physician suggested Pitcher could have the bronchoscopy at a Henry Ford Health site later this month, but she'll need a repeat CT scan first.

"He said, 'You don't want to wait around for things like this,' " Goebel said. "He has her scheduled at Henry Ford on the 21st," but she'll need "another CT scan with more unnecessary radiation exposure.

"The pulmonologist is trying to get this going, but is the insurance company going to pay for this?"

How to protect yourself from health care cyberattacks

Although much of health care has moved in the direction of digital charts and online patient portals, test results and scheduling, in this era of cyberattacks and technology disruptions, Medhe said it is smart to have paper copies of your records.

"People need to have backup plans in place if their health care provider is breached, which means they can no longer rely on computer systems to hold all their data and information about their condition, their prescriptions, their medical problems," Medhe said.

"It's always better ... to have paper records of their conditions, their test results, doctors, prescriptions, their medical history. In case there is an emergency at their health provider, they can still access this information easily and go to some other health provider to get access to care.

"That's an important takeaway. ... Also have an understanding of or have a copy of their medical insurance (information). What is their coverage? What are the limits, emergency contact details and stuff like that. Maintain personal files, if possible, so that in such situations when they are logged out of the system or their service provider websites are down, they are still able to walk to an alternate health care provider and seek medical assistance."

Padlock with Keyhole in data security on Converging point of circuit. Cyber data and information privacy. Future technology security, Network protection, and Modern safety digital Concept. 3D render.

Additionally, Medhe said, consumers must be vigilant when it comes to watching for suspicious activity consumers with their health data, bank accounts, insurance plans and other service providers.

"Be aware," he said. "Do not reveal sensitive information to strangers over phone or on social media. Do not reply or respond to suspicious links or click links on your phones or on your laptops. That is a good way to reduce the chances of data (being) compromised or a phishing attack."

He recommends using multi-factor authentication on all of your accounts, and make sure you are updating your devices regularly for security patches and upgrades.

If a breach happens and your data is compromised, Medhe said it's a good idea to sign up for the credit monitoring services that often are offered free in the aftermath.

"Definitely take advantage of that. To stay secure, they can always use dark web monitoring tools, which are available and alert you whenever your usernames and passwords have been put up for sale or exposed on the dark web."

Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Free Press.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: McLaren cyberattack fallout: Canceled cancer treatments, cardiac tests
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD)  McLean County Coroner Dr. Kathleen Yoder has released the name and cause of death of the man killed on I-55 on Tuesday.

According to a McLean County Coroner news release, 27-year-old Jacob Shaw of Kenosha, Wisconsin likely died from multiple blunt injuries from his car striking a parked utility truck parked on the shoulder.

It isnt known why Shaw left the roadway near mile marker 158 before striking the truck. But a fire broke out after the crash. It was extinguished in only a few minutes.

The truck driver was taken to local hospital for injuries. It isnt known how serious they are.

Person dead after two-vehicle crash near Bloomington

Toxicology is pending.

The crash is still being investigated by McLean County Coroners Office and Illinois State Police.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
Mecklenburg County commissioners passed a resolution Wednesday recognizing Charlotte Pride and Charlotte Black Pride, weeks after a spat among commissioners derailed a previous resolution.

Some county commissioners attempted to pass a resolution recognizing Pride in June, but it was blocked over a dispute over procedural issues. Members of Charlottes LGBTQ+ community expressed frustration at the time, saying they were tired of being politicized.

Proclamations typically pass unanimously and without debate, recognizing causes, awareness of illnesses or social issues and holidays. Commissioners have passed Pride Month proclamations in previous years.

On Wednesday, LGBTQ+ leaders expressed gratitude they finally got their resolution this year.

Honestly, June was a tough month  Wrongs were righted today, said Liz Schob, communications manager for Charlotte Pride.

Pride Month is observed nationwide in June, but Charlotte Pride is in August. Charlotte Black Pride was in late July this year.

Tension over Pride proclamation at past county meeting

At the June county commission meeting, commissioners were in agreement about publicly supporting Mecklenburgs LGBTQ+ community. But a squabble over rules derailed the typical proclamation.

Commissioner Pat Cotham tried to get it on the June agenda but was denied. Board Chairman George Dunlap said everyone on the board supports the LGBTQ+ community, but that Cotham failed to follow a rule that requires agenda items to be filed with the County Clerks Office at least 11 days before a meeting.

Their failure to know and follow the rules does not fall on me, Dunlap said previously.

Cotham tried to get the proclamation added to the agenda at the June meeting, but adding an item to a meeting agenda at the meeting requires a unanimous vote. Dunlap and Commissioner Elaine Powell voted against Cothams motion.

Hes just trying to follow the process, Powell said of Dunlap at the time.

Cotham in June rejected the notion she was late in trying to get the proclamation added to that meetings agenda. She said for the decade-plus shes been on the board, commissioners have been allowed to file items with the clerk as late as the Friday before a meeting.

We have more than 100,000 residents in our county who are LGBTQ. They need to know that we have their backs and we honor them, she said.

LGBTQ+ advocates: Support, recognition matter

Commissioner Leigh Altman, who introduced the new resolution, said at Wednesdays meeting there was a stampede of support among the board when the proclamation came back up for the August meeting.

We had so many people who immediately rushed because we do stand so strongly with you, she told the LGBTQ+ community leaders gathered to accept the proclamation.

Rayvon Moore, chaplain for Charlotte Black Pride, attended the meeting and said it was an emotional experience to be recognized alongside his community for their full authentic selves.

Never in my life would I think I would be standing here in this room, looking at all these wonderful faces and (seeing) someone taking a moment in time to recognize, just to let us know that we are seen, he said.
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, has stated that the war should take on an "openly extraterritorial nature" after Ukraine's Armed Forces' attack on Kursk Oblast. He has also threatened "retaliation", adding that the Russian government will only stop when it deems it necessary.

Source: Medvedev on Telegram

Quote: "The reasons and objectives of the Ukronazi terrorist (one of the ways the Russians describe Ukrainian nationalists or the Ukrainian government  ed.) operation in Kursk Oblast have been detailed and objectively analysed. A serious lesson must be learned from what happened and what Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the Russian General Staff, promised to the supreme commander must be fulfilled  to mercilessly defeat and destroy the enemy.

The special military operation should take on an openly extraterritorial nature from this moment on. This is no longer just an operation to reclaim our official territories and punish the Nazis. It is possible and necessary to advance on the lands of the currently existing Ukraine. To Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv. To Kyiv and beyond."

Details: Medvedev claimed that Ukraine's actions in Kursk Oblast should "remove any taboos" on the topic of Russian occupation of Ukrainian territories and that it "can and should be talked about openly, without shame and diplomatic courtesy".

He also issued threats to Ukraine and its partners in his typically aggressive manner.

"Let everyone understand this, including the English bastards: we will stop only when we deem it acceptable and advantageous for ourselves," Medvedev emphasised.

Why this is important: Russia invaded Ukraine and occupied Ukraine's Crimea and part of Donbas in 2014. The Russian Federation commenced a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, launching missiles and bombs on civilian settlements across the country overnight. Notably, in the early days of the full-scale war, Russian propagandists extensively disseminated claims that "Russia will take Kyiv in three days", while Russian soldiers marching on Kyiv carried their ceremonial uniforms to parade down Kyiv's central Khreshchatyk Street.

Nevertheless, Ukraine's Armed Forces expelled Russian troops from Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts and continue to hold back the Russians on other fronts.

Realising that it would be impossible to achieve victory with force, Russia started to promote the idea of alleged peace talks through which it would seek to retain all the occupied territories. At the same time, the Russians are continuing to terrorise Ukraine, striking energy and civilian infrastructure and residential buildings. They often do so during the night.

Russian forces are suffering heavy losses regardless of their vast number of weapons and hardware. Russia has failed to achieve even the most minor strategic victory, such as reaching the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as of early March 2024, after over ten years of war and more than two years of full-scale invasion. Fighting for every street and house is ongoing in the cities and villages of Ukraine's east. Russia has been trying to find weapons and mercenaries in other countries.

Putin, in his speeches and statements, continues to distort reality, attempting to portray Russia as a victim while seeking support from China and North Korea. Specifically, Russia is purchasing missiles from North Korea, which are then launched at peaceful civilian areas in Ukraine.

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Meet the Wisconsin State Fair's police department: 'There's only a few of us in the country.'

For 11 days a year, the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds is flooded with over a million visitors. It's one of the busiest events in the state  and it's the busiest time of year for the state fair police department that is tasked with policing the area year-round.

It's a big task for the snug department.

The Wisconsin State Fair Park Police Department has only five full-time officers and a budget of about $3.5 million. To manage, the department brings in civilian help and nearby departments assist in policing the event.

The Wisconsin State Fair Park Police oversees public safety for the state fairgrounds year-round. The department has five full-time staff, in addition to 43 part-time officers.

Theres only a few of us in the country, said the Wisconsin State Fair Park Police Chief Ken Pileggi. Obviously our mission directive is a bit different than a typical police department.

The department was formed in 1907 and is overseen by the State Fair Board of Directors. The chief said there was a brief period from 1999 to 2006 when the Wisconsin State Capitol Police handled the law enforcement duties, but the state fair police returned the following year.

More: This Wisconsin transgender police officer wants to create bridges between police and the Black and trans communities

Heres what you should know about the Wisconsin State Fair Park Police.

Families attend the Wisconsin State Fair on Aug. 1 in West Allis.

Only a tiny fraction of state fair attendees are arrested

Last year, the state fairs police arrested 36 people, Pileggi said. Thats only a fraction of the roughly one million attendees and it's partly by design.

Since he took the role of chief in 2022, Pileggi said he has pushed for a wider breadth of discretion in how they handle incidents. This approach has pushed the department to largely focus on ejections from the state fair, rather than arrests.

Last year, the department removed about 365 people from the fairgrounds.

Honest to goodness, if its someone who is getting boisterous, thats someone who just needs to go, that doesnt need to be arrested," Pileggi said. "Thats my mantra."

The department has five full-time staff, but plenty more help too

Pileggi, who previously served as Jefferson Police Department chief, said the state fair police department is like any other, aside from its unique role in policing the state fair.

One key difference? It's an improbably small department for the 11 days out of the year the fair comes.

The department has 43 part-time officers who work weekend shifts and assist in specialty roles. Those part-time officers make up the following roles in the department: five bike officers; eight mounted horse officers, of which four are sworn officers and four civilian reserves; and six detectives.

The department is further assisted by 30 civilian members. They handle things like first aid, lost-and-found and dispatch operators. The state fair police department also has its own fire marshal.

The department also has a civilian public safety team, called its public safety department. During the state fair, the team jumps to over 475 volunteers assisting under the departments umbrella.

The state fairgrounds, located between Milwaukee and West Allis, get help from both of those municipalities departments and the Wauwatosa Police Department. In total, about 35 officers from those cities assist during the fair, Pileggi said.

In return, the State Fair Park police assist those departments through mutual aid agreements.

"They actually provide us with officers on the grounds during the fair, Pileggi said. We aspire to a good neighbor policy here. We work together. Its not just about what happens in our grounds proper.

Those officers will frequently help as the primary backup in situations like a burglary or other incidents that require heavier police presence, the chief said.

Pileggi said the department also has a dispatch center, though it does not take 911 calls from the public.

The department's pay for its officers is based on various factors, including part- to full-time and civilian or sworn. Pileggi provided the pay range for the department's roles:

Police part-time officers are $26.00 to $37.50 hourly

Police full-time officers are $30.00 to $55.15 hourly

Police civilian reserve officers are $16.50 to $18.50 hourly

Public safety civilian officers are $15.75 to $22.00 hourly

They keep busy even when the fair isnt going on

Pileggi said the state fairgrounds are usually quite peaceful, especially during non-state fair days. But the department is kept busy by other large events like the Wisconsin Greek Fest in June and IndyCar races later in the summer.

When there are no events to monitor, the officers take on a security role for the grounds. That means monitoring potential break-ins, assisting unhoused people and the occasional dangerous situation.

The officers can do anything a normal police officer can do, Pileggi said. We dont have the volume of calls of West Allis or Milwaukee, but were kept busy enough.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Meet the Wisconsin State Fair's police department
CAIRO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Hisense Group, a Chinese multinational major appliance and electronics manufacturer, in partnership with the United Arab Emirates' FBB TECH company, signed on Thursday a land lease contract with Egypt-TEDA SEZone Development Company to build a new factory in the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone.

The signing ceremony was attended by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Suez Canal Economic Zone (SEZone) Chairman Waleid Gamaleldien, and other senior Egyptian officials.

The project is planned to cover an area of about 13 acres (about 5.26 hectares) with an investment of 38 million U.S. dollars, said Ou Yang, president of Hisense International Middle East and Africa Region, noting that it will be put into production in the second quarter of 2025.

Ou said that after the completion of the first phase of the project, 1.5 million high-quality screens will be produced annually.

Most of the products will be exported to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, which will create foreign exchange income of about 100 million dollars for Egypt each year and directly provide employment for about 400 people after the project reaches full production, Ou said.

For his part, Gamaleldien said in a statement that the contract matches SEZone's commitment to supporting Egyptian exports through cooperation with the largest international commercial brands that seek to expand their activities in global and regional markets.

He reiterated that cooperation with Chinese investments helped in building new partnerships, noting that the efforts of localizing industries and reducing the importation bills are the priorities of luring investments.

The project will play a significant role in boosting employment, upgrading industrial technology, and increasing Egypt's foreign exchange earnings, according to Cao Hui, executive director of Egypt-TEDA SEZone Development Company.

As of June 2024, the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone has attracted over 160 companies with investments exceeding 3 billion dollars. 
Members of Congress undermine the country  and their own legitimacy  with antidemocratic rhetoric

Blame was cast far and wide after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Obviously, the shooter was to blame, but depending on your perspective, you also blamed Democrats, Republicans or both for the highly charged partisan rhetoric that has heated up American political life and, for at least some people, made violence seem like an option.

While the event was shocking, the underlying mood has been building for quite a while. The political times Americans are living through are increasingly described as a crisis of democracy. Much has been written about growing polarization, reduced public trust in small-d democratic institutions and long-standing principles of behavior often thought of as democratic norms, and increasing levels of public support for autocratic ideas and leaders.

Differences over politics and policy have a long history of being divisive, of course. But its one thing to disagree over substantive matters such as tax rates or foreign aid and something very different to undermine the legitimacy of your opponents.

Its the difference between framing those who disagree with you as fair and equal competitors or as enemies who must be defeated. In that context, attempts at cooperation and compromise can be perceived as betrayal, and it becomes easier to rationalize ways that long-standing norms  including but hardly limited to the peaceful transfer of power  and even laws can be ignored or subverted.

As a scholar of American politics and policy, Ive studied the causes and effects of trends like these, which make it increasingly difficult even for the most dedicated public officials to govern effectively. Its no secret that Congress has been growing more dysfunctional and less productive for many years.

But how much are members of Congress themselves contributing to these problems with their own public rhetoric?

As it turns out, quite a lot.

Members of Congress are contributing to political division and dysfunction. Here, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., heckles President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address on March 7, 2024. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Pushback against democracy

These antidemocratic trends arent limited to the U.S., but when they are observed here, the first recourse of many commentators is to attribute them to Trump. Scholars such as Kathleen Hall Jamieson have identified distinctive characteristics in the former presidents public rhetoric that spurn expectations, dodge accountability and violate democratic norms.

Trump has attempted to cast doubt on  and overturn  the results of a national election and more recently has been attempting to undermine confidence in the justice system.

However, no one person is solely responsible for these trends. Shifts like these are shaped by the tone and content of public rhetoric from many sources  prominent among them, other political leaders.

Over the years, many scholars have studied how candidates and officeholders communicate with the public and found patterns of negativity, incivility and irrational language. You could call this politics as usual, but together they are critical components of a larger shift toward antidemocratic rhetoric, the kind of language that leaves policy and ideology behind and risks turning politics into blood sport.

I worked with a colleague to find a way to identify and measure this kind of language among members of Congress.

All the tweets

We gathered every official tweet  more than a million overall  from members of the 117th Congress from the beginning of 2020 to the middle of 2022. This spanned the 2020 presidential campaign year, the election and its aftermath, on through the beginning of the midterm cycle.

A computer can read text faster than any human, but it takes human awareness to identify phrases such as count every legal vote as provocative rather than innocuous. We built a lexicon to identify antidemocratic rhetoric, and our computer-aided analysis of the tweets revealed four key types of words and phrases that do not involve any substantive argument over policy or governance but do include one or more of the following:

Our analysis found the use of antidemocratic rhetoric increasing steadily over time throughout our study period, with a significant increase following the 2020 election.

And while some observers hoped that the aftermath of Jan. 6, 2021, might provide an opportunity to cool political tempers, that didnt happen, at least in Congress. Instead, antidemocratic rhetoric increased again after the attack on the U.S. Capitol and continued at high levels thereafter.

A classic example:

U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, a Republican from Alabama, posted that tweet on Dec. 10, 2021, pulling off a hat trick: delegitimization, ethno-nationalism and conspiracy theory all in a single tweet.

Congress at odds with itself

This kind of language wasnt being used by every member of Congress, of course. In fact, only 41 members of Congress used identifiable antidemocratic rhetoric very frequently  more than 300 times per member over 2 years.

But thats enough to warrant attention.

While members from both parties used antidemocratic rhetoric in their tweets, Republicans used it more frequently, by a ratio of more than 4 to 1. GOP members appeared to be targeting precisely the kind of voters to whom such language appeals strongly.

Male lawmakers also used antidemocratic rhetoric nearly twice as frequently as female members of Congress.

There wasnt much variation between the Senate and the House, however, even though the House has developed more of a reputation for volatility in recent years.

Twitter has never been the entire political universe, and were still working to analyze more traditional forms of political communication, such as press releases and op-eds. Our early findings show trends similar to those found in the tweets.

None of this should be taken to denigrate Congress as a whole. But whats clear  and unusual  is that many members of Congress have embraced styles of communication that effectively undermine not just their opponents but the very democratic systems that give legitimacy to their own positions of status and power.

This is not normal politics. It is not mere divisiveness, although American politics has indeed been growing more divisive for 30 years and more.

Antidemocratic rhetoric transgresses long-standing norms both of political tolerance and of constitutional limits on power. Without these norms and limits as guardrails, democracy is not likely to be self-sustaining.

Such rhetoric not only makes it more difficult for political officials to serve the public good, but by excluding from the political process those participants deemed unworthy, it negates the very idea of a shared public good thats worth serving.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Christopher Miller, University of Richmond

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Christopher Miller does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) has been hailed by progressives  and lambasted by Republicans  for his purported liberal-left positions.

A look at his overall record reveals a more nuanced picture.

Walz hewed to more moderate views during his 12 years representing a predominantly rural House district in southern Minnesota. Even during his first term as governor  he was first elected in 2018  Walz was constrained by a Republican majority in the state Senate.

Democrats won full control of the state government in 2022, however, and Walzs second term has been marked by a full-bore pursuit of progressive priorities.

The seeming schism in Walzs ideological history has become a point of red-hot political debate since he was revealed as Vice President Harriss running mate Tuesday.

Walz was the clear preference of progressives within the Democratic Party, and Harriss decision to choose him was welcomed by key figures on the left including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.)

Yet Walz also gained plaudits from centrists including Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.), the longtime conservative Democrat who left the party in May and is now an independent.

Manchin said Walz would bring normality back to the most chaotic political environment that most of us have ever seen.

Republicans are portraying Walz as representing anything but a return to normalcy.

Former President Trump described the selection of the Minnesota governor as a shocking pick during an appearance on Fox & Friends on Wednesday, terming Walz a very liberal man.

Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley contended Harris and Walz together make up the most radical, far-left ticket in the history of our country.

On social media, conservatives have rushed to label Walz as Tampon Tim over a bill he signed as governor which went into effect at the start of this year. It requires menstrual products, including tampons, to be provided in both boys and girls public school restrooms in Minnesota.

That kind of position seems to sit incongruously with Walzs record during his years in Congress.

During his final term, the GovTrack website rated Walz the 12th most politically right member of the House Democratic Caucus. The website noted he was in the 94th percentile of his caucus in terms of his closeness to the political center.

That rating appears to be partly a result of Walzs willingness to back legislation that had bipartisan or mostly Republican backing. Almost half the bills Walz sponsored in his final term in Congress originated with non-Democrats.

Walz also chose to focus on some areas that are, by their nature, not particularly partisan. GovTrack notes that one of his points of focus was bills on agricultural issues including farm soil health.

Walz, who served in the Army National Guard, also put a lot of emphasis on veterans issues. His legislative record includes sponsorship of bills intended to speed up the delivery of veterans benefits and to direct the secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a registry pertaining to exposure to toxins.

His relative centrism was sometimes more controversial, however. He backed an extension of then-President George W. Bushs tax cuts while in Congress. Even more unusually, he was among just 17 Democrats who voted to hold then-Attorney General Eric Holder, an appointee of then-President Obama, in contempt of Congress in 2012. At issue was the Department of Justices failure to submit documents to Congress relating to Operation Fast and Furious.

Walzs positioning while in Congress was, to be sure, a reflection of his district. He came to Congress in 2006 by defeating a six-term Republican incumbent, Rep. Gil Gutknecht.

Some of his reelection victories were uncomfortably tight. He ground out a 5-point victory in 2010 and, in his final House campaign in 2016, held off Republican Jim Hagedorn by less than 1 percentage point. Hagedorn won the seat two years later and held it until his death in 2022.

Walzs overall political positioning changed markedly as governor, especially once Democrats claimed control of the state Senate in 2022.

Last year, Walz asserted the purpose of winning elections was not to bank political capital but to burn political capital and improve lives.

That attitude  and the fact that he was presiding over a left-leaning state rather than representing a right-leaning district  fueled a succession of progressive moves.

He has opposed many restrictions on abortion. He has backed the legalization of marijuana for personal use. He signed into law a bill providing free school meals for children at public schools, regardless of means. He has also supported automatic voter registration.

Other measures Walz has backed provide more ammunition for Republican opponents in the nations culture wars, even as they delight liberals.

In March 2023, he signed a bill making migrants living in the country illegally eligible for drivers licenses. He has also supported making his states low-income health insurance program accessible for all residents, regardless of immigration status. And he has favored so-called sanctuary laws where local law enforcement does not inform federal authorities of the immigration status of people they encounter.

Walz has also expanded voting rights for felons, basically by restoring the right to vote to people who have completed a period of incarceration, rather than requiring them to wait until their probation period is also over. Coincidentally, the Minnesota Supreme Court upheld this change Wednesday.

The governor also has ordered state officials not to cooperate with subpoenas and other legal requests from elsewhere in the nation seeking to penalize gender-affirming care. Walz first enacted that policy via executive order, though similar measures were later reaffirmed by legislation.

Trump seems destined to seize on that issue, in particular.

Anything transgender he thinks is great, and hes not where the country is on anything, Trump said of Walz on Wednesday.

Thats one battle in a much wider war  to define Tim Walz and, by extension, Harris, in a very tight White House race.

The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A 34-year-old Memphis man was convicted Wednesday on several charges including child rape.

David Pruett was found guilty on the charges of rape of a child, especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Woman wanted for kidnapping of child in Shelby County arrested in MS

Officials with the district attorneys office said Pruett photographed a minor performing a sexual act in 2019. The images were found on a hard drive, they said.

A jail informant disclosed the location of Pruetts hard drive to authorities.

Records show Pruett was indicted by a grand jury in 2022. He faces sentencing on the charges Sept. 16.

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NEW YORK  Accused Mexican drug lord Ismael El Mayo Zambada Garcia, who co-founded the Sinaloa cartel, will be tried in the same Brooklyn courthouse where Joaquin El Chapo Guzman was convicted in 2019.

Two sources familiar with the case against the 76-year-old cartel leader confirmed that Zambada will be headed to Brooklyn Federal Court after his arrest last month in Texas.

Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of El Chapo, were busted by U.S. authorities after they landed in El Paso on July 25. He was lured onto the small, private plane and believed he was traveling somewhere else, The Associated Press reported.

In a statement to CNN, Zambadas lawyer, blamed El Chapos son for the arrest.

Joaquin Guzman Lopez forcibly kidnapped my client. He was ambushed, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed by six men in military uniforms and Joaquin. His legs were tied, and a black bag was placed over his head, attorney Frank Perez said in the statement.

He was then thrown into the back of a pickup truck and taken to a landing strip. There, he was forced onto a plane, his legs tied to the seat by Joaquin, and brought to the U.S. against his will. The only people on the plane were the pilot, Joaquin and my client.

Zambada and Guzman have allegedly overseen the trafficking of tens of thousands of pounds of drugs into the United States, along with related violence, FBI Director Christopher Wray said shortly after his arrest.

The U.S. government was offering a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to Zambadas capture.

El Chapo was convicted and sentenced to life plus 30 years in 2019, after a blockbuster trial in Brooklyn. The jury found El Chapo trafficked more than 150 tons of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana into the U.S. while generating billions in profit and conspiring to commit murder.

_____
NORWALK, Conn. (WTNH)  The alleged founder of a violent gang in Mexico is now facing charges after selling cocaine out of a liquor store in Norwalk, according to police.

Felix Galindo-Castilla, 48, also known as Cocchie, founded the Los Vagos gang. He had an active federal arrest warrant out at the time for illegal re-entry into the U.S. The bond for that charge has been set at $1 million.

His new charges include sale of a narcotic, conspiracy to commit the sale of a narcotic, possession of a narcotic and conspiracy to commit/possession of a narcotic. Hes been assigned an additional $55,000 bond.

Norwalk officers executed a search warrant Wednesday at Cocchias Liquor Store, where they found several bags of cocaine in the walk-in beer cooler, thousands of dollars hidden in liquor bottles, two fake guns and seven full-size gambling machines, according to police.

Police also arrested 44-year-old Jose Gerado Fuentes-Lima, and charged him with possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit/possession of a controlled substance, illegal gambling, sale of a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit sale of a narcotic substance. His bond has been set at $55,000.

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  New Mexicos Office of Housing is looking to fill several positions, including the position of Director of Statewide Homelessness Initiatives. The newly created office aims to improve housing availability and affordability across the state.

Santa Fe residents on edge after 83-year-old man shot and killed outside Best Buy

The office is also tasked with creating a coordinated response to the growing number of unhoused individuals. There is no single way to address the issue of homelessness but continuing down a path that has led to record increases in homelessness is simply not an option, said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in a news release. The Director of Statewide Homelessness Initiatives will be an integral part of my administration as I do all I can to help provide housing to those who need it.

The Office of Housing is seeking people with experience in housing development, programs, policy, regulatory frameworks, data, and demographics, among others.

The Office of Housing is led by Daniel Werwath, who joined the Governors office in January 2024 after having served on the Governors Housing and Community Revitalization Investment Council the previous year.

The housing landscape has changed monumentally in the last few years, and its time for new models and new levels of coordination, Werwath said in the news release

The Director of Homelessness Initiatives job posting can be found at: https://www.nm.gov/app/apply.html?jobId=95

The general job posting for the Office of Housing can be found at: https://www.nm.gov/app/apply.html?jobId=97

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Mexico's ruling party looking at changes to judicial reform to calm markets, sources say

FILE PHOTO: Mexico's President Obrador hands over Mexican flag to athletes ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Mexico City

By Diego Ore

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's ruling party is considering changes to a proposed judicial reform in a bid to calm market concerns, including making the election of judges a staggered process over many years to reduce fears of a political takeover of the judiciary, sources familiar with the discussions said.

The original proposal by outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador rattled investors on concerns the changes would weaken Mexico's checks and balances by introducing the election of nearly 1,600 judges - including to the Supreme Court - by popular vote.

President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, who takes office in October, also of the ruling Morena party, has defended the proposal, saying she believes judges should be elected.

Morena, however, will adjust the reform so that the election of judges is staggered and participants are selected by a technical committee after undergoing suitability tests, said four party sources with knowledge of the discussions.

In addition, the sources said, the lucrative trust funds of judicial workers will be protected. Last year, Mexico's Senate voted to terminate 13 trusts held for the judiciary, ratcheting up tension between the government and judicial authorities, though the Supreme Court later reversed the decision.

Mexico's peso plummeted 8% the week after the June 2 elections, which also ushered in a super-majority in the lower house of Congress for Morena.

Lopez Obrador has denied that the market volatility is linked to the judicial reform.

The outgoing president has pushed the reform, which also proposes reducing the number of Supreme Court judges to nine from 11, as a necessary transformation of a justice system which he said "is not at the service of the people."

Critics argued the election of judges by popular vote would politicize the justice system in favor of Morena and its allies.

Spokespeople for Lopez Obrador, Sheinbaum and Morena did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

TRADE PACT WORRIES

The four Morena sources said the new modifications also considered an upcoming 2026 review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the trade pact which took effect in 2020.

The popular election of judges without strict conditions, as originally proposed, was seen by the sources as a potential stumbling block to the functioning of Mexico's labor courts which were created to comply with swift resolutions of labor-management conflicts under the USMCA.

Legislators decided to adjust Lopez Obrador's reform so that it does not affect the "clear, transparent and predictable" legal and commercial framework, as stipulated in the USMCA.

Senator Ricardo Monreal, who is expected to lead Morena in the lower house when the new Congress begins in September, said it was the role of legislators to incorporate "issues that can improve, enrich or modify the presidential proposal."

"We will respect all expressions, points of view; we will resist internal and external pressures, and we will maintain our principles and our commitments," Monreal said in an interview.

(Reporting by Diego Ore in Mexico City; Writing by Cassandra Garrison; Editing by Ana Isabel Martinez and Matthew Lewis)
From Michigan Corrections Organization on August 8, 2024:

The Corrections Officers working at the Chippewa Correctional Facility, a multi-level state prison, are suffering badly from the impacts of a severe staffing crisis. The vacancy rate for officers is now up to a dangerous 27%. This results in constant mandatory overtime and unsafe working conditions. Officers are forced to work 16 hour shifts multiple times per week, frequently on back-to-back days with no relief in sight. Every day, the prison runs with far less officers than is required. Officers are exhausted and are missing time with their families, they need help from Michigans elected officials to find solutions to the years long staffing crisis.

It is time for the public and our elected officials to be made aware of what is really happening in Michigans state prison system. This series of reports will pull back the curtain for everyone to have a glimpse of what its like to work in these short staffed prisons. From July 1 through July 31, 2024, the officers worked 1,948 overtime shifts. Of those, 1,168 were mandatory overtime, which means the officers were forced to do a 16 hour shift that day. There were 248 violations of the MDOCs 32-hour rule, which is a policy designed to protect officers from excessive overtime. These officers need immediate relief.

The following is a summary of events just from July 1 through July 31, 2024, that occurred at the multi-level Chippewa Correctional Facility:

7-3-24  Officers had to use tear gas to control a disruptive prisoner in a segregation unit. The prisoner assaulted one of the officers with a weapon during the incident.

7-4-24  Officers broke up 2 prisoners fighting on the Level 4 yard.

7-4-24  Officers broke up 3 prisoner fights on the Level 4 yard involving 6 prisoners. Tasers and tear gas were used to stop the fights. An officer was assaulted by one of the prisoners that was being restrained. The Level 4 unit was placed on lockdown status due to the multiple fights.

7-5-24  Officers broke up 2 prisoners fighting in the Level 4 housing unit.

7-6-24  Officers broke up 3 prisoners fighting in a Level 2 housing unit. While an officer was attempting to restrain one of the prisoners, another prisoner assaulted the officer by pushing her back and then began assaulting the prisoner who was being restrained.

7-6-24  An officer was punched in the face several times by a prisoner in a Level 2 housing unit. The officer suffered a fractured orbital bone in his face.

7-7-24  Officers broke up 2 prisoners fighting with weapons in a Level 2 housing unit. Tasers and tear gas were used to stop the fight.

7-9-24  An officer was assaulted when a prisoner spit in his face after being restrained for refusing a shakedown. The prisoner had to be placed in a restraint chair to be controlled.

7-12-24  Officers broke up 4 prisoners fighting with weapons in a Level 2 housing unit. Tasers were used to stop the fight. 7-13-24  Officers broke up 2 prisoners fighting with weapons in a Level 2 housing unit.

7-14-24  An officer was assaulted by a prisoner that was being restrained in a Level 2 housing unit.

7-14-24  A disruptive prisoner charged at officers in a Level 2 housing unit. A taser and restraint chair were used to subdue the prisoner.

7-15-24  Officers broke up 3 prisoners fighting in a Level 4 housing unit. Tasers were used to stop the fight.

7-15-24  Officers broke up 3 prisoners fighting in a Level 2 housing unit.

7-16-24  An officer was assaulted by a prisoner that was being taken to segregation. A restraint chair was needed to control the prisoner.

7-17-24  Officers broke up 2 prisoners fighting in a Level 2 housing unit. Tasers were used to stop the fight.

7-20-24  A disruptive prisoner exited a Level 2 housing unit going towards the security fence. Officers utilized a restraint chair to control the prisoner.

7-20-24  A disruptive prisoner in a Level 2 housing unit assaulted multiple officers while being restrained. A restraint chair was used to control the prisoner.

7-22-24  Officers broke up 2 prisoners fighting in a Level 4 housing unit. Tasers were used to stop the fight.

7-21-24  A disruptive prisoner punched a hole in the ceiling of a holding cell unit and climbed into the ceiling. Officers formed a cell extraction squad and used pepper ball launcher to secure the prisoner.

7-23-24  Officers broke up 2 prisoners fighting in a Level 4 unit. Tasers were used to stop the fight.

7-24-24  Officers broke up 2 prisoners fighting in a Level 2 unit. Tasers were used to stop the fight.

7-25-24  Officers broke up 2 prisoners fighting in a Level 2 unit.

7-27-24  Officers broke up 2 prisoners fighting in the Level 4 housing unit.

7-27-24  2 prisoners were found in possession of weapons in a Level 2 housing unit.

7-27-24  A prisoner assaulted another prisoner in a Level 2 housing unit.

7-27-24  Officers restrained a disruptive prisoner who punched a hole in the glass inside of a Level 2 housing unit.

7-28-24  Officers broke up 2 prisoners fighting on the Level 2 yard.

7-29-24  Officers restrained 3 prisoners that assaulted another prisoner with weapons in a Level 2 housing unit.

7-30-24  Officers broke up 2 prisoners fighting with weapons in the Level 4 housing unit.

7-30-24  Officers restrained a prisoner who assaulted another prisoner in a Level 2 housing unit.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJMN - UPMatters.com.
RAMALLAH, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Palestine condemned on Thursday Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's remarks about starving Gaza people.

Smotrich's statement is "an explicit admission of adopting the policy of genocide," the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said in a press statement.

The statement said what was issued by the Israeli minister was a "flagrant violation" of the rules of international law and a direct disregard for international legitimacy resolutions.

It called on the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant and bring Smotrich for adopting "the policy of genocide" and imposing more collective punishment on Palestinian civilians.

Smotrich, a right-wing minister known for his hostile ideas toward Palestinians, considered preventing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip "justified and moral."

"We are bringing aid to Gaza because there is no other choice," he said at a conference hosted by the Israel Hayom newspaper Monday, according to Israeli state-owned Kan TV news.

"We cannot, in the current global reality, conduct a war. No one will allow us to cause the death of two million civilians from starvation, even if it is morally justified in order to return our hostages," he continued.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 39,699, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday. 
MIAMISBURG, Ohio (WDTN)  Though recreational marijuana sales are up and running in many Ohio communities, several others continue to enact bans on adult-use operators.

This includes the city of Miamisburg, whose city council elected to extend its moratorium for an additional 12 months. Officials cited the Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3780 in its decision.

Harrison Twp. joins list of jurisdictions prohibiting cannabis sales

City council members say they need to continue studying whether adult-use cannabis operators should be entirely prohibited or allowed with limitations.

Miamisburg previously enacted an adult-use cannabis moratorium on Dec. 5, 2023, which was to be in effect for nine months.

The extension goes into effect on Sept. 5.

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From Michael Brown to Sonya Massey, a decade of police antiblack violence causes grief, worry and coping for Black parents

A decade ago, Michael Brown Jr., an unarmed Black 18-year-old, was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis.

The fatal incident began when the officer, Darren Wilson, saw Brown and a friend walking down the middle of a street. Wilson claimed that Brown refused to obey his order to get off the street and a fight ensued. The shooting, Wilson alleged, was in self-defense  a claim that officers have used nationwide to justify antiblack racial violence.

Browns death on Aug. 9, 2014, occurred just eight days after his high school graduation and triggered nearly a year of protests across the country. Three months later, a grand jury in Ferguson refused to indict the police officer, a decision that set off more protests and demands for racial justice in policing.

Nearly 10 years later and less than 90 miles away from Ferguson, Sonya Massey, an unarmed, 36-year-old Black woman and mother of two children, called local police on July 6, 2024, to investigate mysterious sounds outside of her home near Springfield, Illinois.

Instead of helping, one of the white officers, Sean Grayson, shot and killed Massey. As her son Malachi told reporters, the officer showed little regard for her humanity during the slaying that was captured on body-camera footage. At the officers request, Massey had taken a pot of hot water from the stove. Minutes later, she was killed when Grayson fired three bullets, including one that hit right below her eye.

Unlike Browns case in Ferguson, Grayson was fired from the Sangamon County Sheriffs Office and charged with first-degree murder. Similar to Darren Wilson, he claimed he acted in self-defense.

These two instances of police violence highlight the cyclical nature of police violence against Black Americans  and the growing mistrust among Black Americans for local police.

From 2009-2019, at least 179 people have been killed by police or while in jail within four counties of the St. Louis region near where Brown died.

These local statistics mirror nationwide patterns of police violence in the U.S. and reveal that Massey and Brown were not exceptions to the norm  but, rather, representative of the everyday racism that pervades American society.

As we have learned through our research of racist violence in Black communities, developing ways to cope is often a necessary reality of living in the United States.

What is racial grief?

With every new incident of racial violence committed by a police officer, Black people tend to experience a collective sense of racial grief.

That grief is defined by the U.S. National Institutes of Health as an individuals cognitive, emotional, physical, and spiritual responses to loss due to racism and intersectional violence.

In addition, many Black parents experience a type of anticipatory grief and stress due to the potential racial violence their children may encounter in their lifetime.

For instance, in a 2022 study, researchers found Black pregnant women experienced feelings of fear, stress and anxiety about police brutality toward their children  before their children were born. Even mothers who reported positive experiences with police officers anticipated negative treatment toward their children based on their race.

Racial grief can represent a coping response that allows Black parents to emotionally and cognitively process incidents of racial violence in community with others.

In our 2022 study, one mother told us:

I cant watch the videos anymore. It is a living nightmare, and I do not need those images, because they cannot be unseen. It takes a heavy toll on me. I cope with it in therapy. I cry. I give myself space to feel my feelings. I talk with my partner about it. It gives me a sense of pain and purpose at the same time.

How do Black parents respond to racial violence

When parents think about how they can prepare their children for the racial discrimination they may encounter in their daily lives, many use what is known as racial socialization to improve they and their childrens adaptive coping responses in response to racial bias and discrimination.

Demonstrators gather in Ferguson, Mo., to remember Michael Brown in August 2014. The Washington Post/Getty Images

Racial socialization refers to the process by which parents instill race-related messages and values in their children. It is considered by psychologists to be one of the most critical developmental processes for Black youth and includes both implicit and explicit practices.

For instance, some parents monitor the content of their childrens social media and limit their exposure to racial violence. Other parents balance messages on racial discrimination with affirmations that their children are loved, worthy and valued.

Common racial socialization messages include statements such as: You should be proud to be Black. A message on racial bias might involve: You may be evaluated by higher standards than your white peers.

Overall, these messages are intended to elicit racial and cultural pride, while also encouraging Black youth to be cautious and aware of the ongoing realities of racial violence.

In a forthcoming study we have on how Black parents in Missouri talk to their adolescents about race, one mother shared:

Like with the Sonya Massey thing, my daughter saw the video and she was like  but she didnt do anything wrong. Thats usually what happens. Like I told her, she called the police for help and they end up killing her. It happens sometimes because they act like theyre scared of Blacks for some reason. I feel like we are not progressing in America with this racism thing.

While Black parents and their children continue to resist racial discrimination through their everyday practices of care, love and joy, there remains a critical need to invest in the health and well-being of Black communities through structural policy changes in education, health care and local government.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Seanna Leath, Washington University in St. Louis and Sheretta T. Butler-Barnes, Washington University in St. Louis

Read more:



Seanna Leath receives funding from the National Science Foundation, Russell Sage Foundation, and the Society for Research on Child Development.

Sheretta T. Butler-Barnes receives funding from the National Science Foundation.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced Wednesday it is granting $3.5 million to multiple Nonpoint Source (NPS) pollution treatment and prevention programs throughout the state.

According to the EPA, nonpoint source pollution is, caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, depositing them into various bodies of water.

The $3.5 million is split between seven different programs seeking to address runoff pollution.

According to the EGLE, the purpose of these grants is to implement priority recommendations in approved watershed management plans developed to restore impaired waters and protect high-quality waters by reducing NPS loads of sediment, nutrients, bacteria, and other contaminants.

A view of Lake Michigan from a Grand Haven beach in March 2024. The Great Lakes account for 21% of the worlds fresh surface water. (WLNS)

The grants were received by the following organizations:

Legacy Land Conservancy, Ann Arbor  $363,341

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, Galesburg  $424,645

Ottawa Conservation District, Grand Haven  $568,928

Isabella Conservation District, Mt. Pleasant  $335,000

Shiawassee Conservation District, Owosso  $594,083

Van Buren Conservation District, Paw Paw  $568,618

The Watershed Center, Traverse City  $591,047

The grants were funded by the Renew Michigan Fund and the Environmental Protection Agency under section 319 of the Clean Water Act. The funds will be used for the following:

Addressing bacteria from human sources in the Middle Chippewa River watershed. This includes educating homeowners on the importance of septic system inspection and maintenance. The project will also implement a septic inspection program on tribal lands with cost share for repair or replacement.

Replacing a misaligned and undersized road-stream crossing in the Grand Traverse Bay watershed to restore natural flow and protect fish and wildlife.

Implement agricultural best management practices and replace failing septic systems in the Mid-Shiawassee River, Sand Creek, and Crockery Creek watersheds to address sources of sediment, nutrient, and coli issues.

Implement outreach and education efforts that will lead to the installation of agricultural best management practices in the Paw Paw River watershed to address sources of sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus as well as reduce pathogens.

Protect approximately 130 acres in the Upper River Raisin watershed and 163 acres in the Augusta Creek watershed with water quality-based permanent conservation easements. Combined, these easements will protect over a mile of shoreline and more than 100 acres of wetlands.

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A Michigan judge is going viral again for the way he handled an unruly defendant who nearly descended his courtroom in chaos.

Judge J. Cedric Simpson from Washtenaw County was met with disdain by 45-year-old defendant Darrell Lester Jarrell during a pre-trial hearing for a trespassing case on Wednesday.

Because Jarrell does not have email or a phone number and is only able to be contacted by P.O. box, Simpson offered to move back his court date to give him more time to talk to his public defender. However, Jarrell got angry at the prospect of prolonging his case, saying he was ready to leave this state as soon as possible.

Angered, Jarrell asked Whats the hold up? He added, Its trespassing. I can technically leaveand you guys can issue a warrantas long as I dont return... kiss my ass.

To which Simpson responded, No. No. No. You dont come up in here.

F--- you, Jarrell interrupted. F--- you.

Simpson said Jarrell was in contempt of court and sentenced him to 93 days in jail as he kept swearing at the judge.

Thats another 93 days. Thats another, said Simpson.

By the end of the proceeding Jarrell had been issued with 558 days in jail.

After being contacted by the Daily Beast for comment on the courtroom eruption, a spokesperson for Simpson said he does not publicly comment on cases currently pending before his court.

Yet this isnt the first time Simpsons courtroom has gone viral. On May 15, a 44-year-old Corey Harris virtually joined Simpsons courtroom for driving on a suspended license.

When Simpson asked if he was driving, the man responded: Im pulling into my doctors office, actually. He added, Just give me one second. Im parking right now.

I dont even know why he would do that, said Simpson before sending Harris to jail.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Palantirs software has reportedly been used to suppress dissent and gather information about immigrants.

Microsoft is teaming up with secretive data analytics company Palantir, which has been accused of (among other wretched acts) enabling the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to operate as a domestic surveillance agency. Bloomberg reports that Palantir will integrate its products with Microsofts government cloud tools, including the Azure OpenAI service, in a bid to sell software to US defense agencies. Oh, joy.

The pair will reportedly focus on products for US defense workers to handle logistics, contracting and action planning. But given the secretive nature of Palantirs work, those generic and seemingly non-threatening terms dont necessarily say much.

Palantirs software has been used to track and suppress dissent. The company was founded by Peter Thiel, who supports and funds far-right causes and has a political philosophy his biographer described as bordering on fascism. In Thiels Stanford classes and his book Zero to One, the Silicon Valley billionaire gushed over how much better companies are run than governments because they have a single decision-maker. A dictator, basically, Thiels biographer told Time in 2021.

Thiel also wrote the words, I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible.

In 2018, Palantir claimed in The New York Times that it doesnt work with ICEs deportation squad, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). This contradicted a report from The Intercept revealing a 2016 Homeland Security disclosure showing ERO used Palantirs software to gather information for both criminal and civil cases against immigrants.

In 2020, Amnesty International warned about Palantir, We could close our eyes and pretend that contrary to all the evidence, Palantir is a rights-respecting company or we can call this facade what it is: another company placing profit over people, no matter the human cost.

Bloomberg reports that Palantirs newest AI software requires a large language model. Now, in classified government environments, Palantir will combine its powers with those of Microsofts Azure OpenAI, which includes GPT-4o, GPT-4 Turbo with Vision, GPT-4, GPT-3.5 and more.

What could possibly go wrong?
The Middle Georgia Community Food Bank received over $3 million in grants from local and state American Rescue Plan funds, officials announced Thursday morning.

The grants helped renovate, expand and improve accessibility in the warehouse, which feeds thousands of families per week in 24 counties, according to Kathy McCollum, president and CEO of the food bank.

The cramped office space did not allow for appropriate work, collaboration and meeting areas, and limited our effectiveness to operate programs, McCollum said at a ribbon cutting ceremony. The new space would also allow the facility to grow staff and increase training.

Preisdent Joe Bidens Rescue Plan was made to relieve communities of economy challenges after the COVID-19 pandemic and any future threats to the well being of our citizens, McCollum said.

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs awarded Bibb County $2,318,898 as part of a Community Block Grant. Then the county matched it with $993,814 of its own Rescue Plan funds, according to Mayor Lester Miller.

When we got our allocation of the American Rescue Plan fund ... our instruction was to use it as quickly as possible ... to help the people that need it most, Miller said. ...Those funds initially come from the people that live and reside in our community.

The funds added 4,594 square feet for the lobby and administrative space, and renovated 3,249 square feet of existing administrative space.

The food bank has collaborated with over 200 retail and community partners on backpack donations, soup kitchens, shelters and after school programs.

McCollum said the funds would help our neighbors thrive by providing equitable access to nutritious food with community partners.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  At the edge of the San Diego Harbor in Barrio Logan, over 100 immigrants have camped out at Cesar Chavez Park for months.

Dozens of young children play on the jungle gym just outside their tents.

This week, Harbor Police, acting on a complaint, have now given warning the encampments will be taken down and migrants waiting for their asylum cases will have to find a new place to call home.

On Wednesday night, roughly half of the immigrants rolled up their belongings and left the waterfront park. Where they will end up is anyones guess.

The county was given millions of dollars from FEMA to assist with organizing migrants stuck in limbo, but the countys plan forward is unclear.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
MILESBURG, Pa. (WTAJ)  After months of turmoil surrounding Milesburgs government, one resident has filed a formal complaint against the borough and its members.

J. Bryce Taylor has been criticizing Milesburgs borough council for months, claiming that there have been multiple violations of the Sunshine Act and municipal law. He filed a Writ of Summons in May, but it was not until Aug. 7 that he filed the full complaint.

Centre County churches in court as congregation seeks to disaffiliate

In the complaint, Taylor says that after several council members resigned earlier in 2024, their replacements were not legally appointed. With several members gone, the council would not have quorum  meaning that the council would not have the power to make decisions. He is now asking the court for an injunction to keep those members from participating in any further borough actions and to invalidate any decisions made by the council from April 8 onward.

Taylor said his main goal in all this is to restore the communitys faith in their government, something he feels has been lacking in recent months.

Thats ultimately the outcome Im looking for, Taylor said. To get people to re-engage with their local government to see that it matters and to understand what they can do to be a part of it and help us all move forward.

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Taylor said he is still new to the legal process, so he will continue to take everything one step at a time. As of the day of filing, there is no court date set for this case.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
Crimea easier to retake than Donbas 'from a military perspective,' Budanov says

Liberating Crimea would be easier than retaking Donbas due to the peninsula's strategic features, Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said in comments reported by Forbes Ukraine on Aug. 7.

Russia has occupied Crimea and part of the eastern Donbas region since the start of its aggression in 2014.

"From a military perspective, it is much easier to retake Crimea than Donbas, which has a front longer than 1,000 kilometers and a depth of over 200 kilometers," Budanov said during a speech at the Kyiv School of Economics.

"Crimea has two entry points. One from the Russian side and one from ours: the Crimean (Kerch) Bridge and the land isthmus."

Through the combined pressure by Ukrainian troops and the destruction of Russia's communication links, the peninsula can be easily isolated, he explained.

Russia's key connection to the peninsula has been the Kerch Bridge, connecting eastern Crimea to Krasnodar Krai. The bridge itself and the nearby ferry crossing have been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian forces, disrupting Russian military logistics.

Budanov hinted last week that Ukraine is working on a "complex solution" that could destroy the Kerch Bridge in the coming months.

To reduce their dependency on the bridge, Russia has been constructing railway connections linking the peninsula to Russia through territories in southeastern Ukraine occupied after 2022.

Budanov said that the Isthmus of Perekop, a narrow strip of land connecting Crimea to Ukraine's Kherson Oblast and currently fully in Russian hands, is the region's key vulnerability. Should Russia lose the isthmus, Crimea's defenses will quickly collapse, he added.

The intelligence chief rejected Russia's claims that the peninsula is impossible to retake, reminding that it has been conquered several times in history during various conflicts.

Ukraine has repeatedly said it aims to liberate all of its Russian-occupied territories, including Crimea.

Kyiv's forces have been mainly on the defensive in recent months, however. The Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2023 achieved only incremental and often temporary gains, while Russia has ramped up pressure in the east, capturing villages and key strongholds in Donetsk Oblast.

Earlier this week, Ukraine has gone on the offensive in at least one sector, reportedly launching cross-border incursions into Russia's Kursk Oblast.

Read also: Ukraines unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast brings war back to Russian soil

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz may soon visit Rhode Island for Democratic fundraiser

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks at a Biden-Harris campaign and DNC press conference on July 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The press conference was held to address Project 2025 and Republican policies on abortion. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)

Before he accepts his partys official nomination in Chicago, Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz may be stopping in Rhode Island for a major fundraiser.

The potential visit was first reported by WPRI-12, which said Walz is expected to appear in Newport on Friday, Aug. 16. Rhode Island Democratic Party Chairwoman Liz Beretta-Perik confirmed Wednesday we are hoping to host the governor over the next few weeks.

However, we do not have a confirmed date or location, she said in a text message. Very exciting time.

Vice President Kamala Harris selected Walz as her running mate Tuesday. Walz, a former Army National Guardsman and teacher, has served as Minnesotas governor since 2019.

Last August, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff visited Block Island for a fundraiser supporting the campaign of the-presidential candidate Joe Biden.

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BRUSSELS, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- At Pairi Daiza Animal Park in Brugelette, Belgium, twin giant pandas Bao Di and Bao Mei celebrated their fifth birthday on Thursday as they bid farewell to visitors before their scheduled return to China this autumn. Their older brother, Tian Bao, will accompany them on the journey.

Pairi Daiza, which has been home to giant pandas since 2014, has emerged as a major global attraction, partly due to its involvement in China's giant panda conservation program.

Central to this initiative are Xing Hui and Hao Hao, a panda pair on loan from China, whose offspring - Bao Mei and Bao Di - were born on Aug. 8, 2019. The twins have captivated thousands of visitors from both Belgium and abroad, contributing to the park's status as one of Europe's most visited zoos, drawing millions each year.

China's conservation efforts, in collaboration with institutions like Pairi Daiza, have played a crucial role in boosting the wild panda population from just 1,200 in the 1980s to 1,864 today. Pairi Daiza has further supported these efforts by aiding in the establishment of a 27,000 square-kilometer nature reserve across the Gansu, Shaanxi, and Sichuan provinces, dedicated to enhancing the genetic diversity of giant pandas.

According to the agreement governing the pandas' stay in Belgium, all offspring must be returned to China by a certain age to contribute to species conservation. The farewell celebration at the park was an emotional event, with the pandas enjoying specially prepared treats from their keepers while visitors captured lasting memories at a photo booth near the park's entrance. 
The Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a 2023 law allowing people convicted of felonies to vote once they are released from prison, a ruling that could impact more than 50,000 Minnesotans just a month before early voting for the November election is set to begin in the state.

The court rejected a challenge from the conservative Minnesota Voters Alliance, finding it lacked standing and failed to prove that the law overstepped the state Legislatures authority.

The 2023 law expands voting rights to people convicted of felonies who are on probation and parole, about 55,000 people in the state. Previously, convicted felons must have completed probation or parole before being able to vote.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) lauded the ruling, noting he first introduced a measure to expand the voting rights of people with felonies when he was in the state House in 2003.

This is an extremely important decision. Its a democracy decision. Its an inclusion decision, and I couldnt be happier, Ellison said in a video message Wednesday.

So we have a big election coming up on Aug. 13. We have an even bigger election coming up on Nov. 5, and you can participate in it, he continued. You can vote, and you can make your mark and give your say so on the governance of our society. And thats a big deal.

So a 20-year battle, year-and-a-half court battle, but it proves that if you stick to it, you can win, he added. So, get out there and vote and tell all your family members to vote. This is a great day. Today is a day of liberation and emancipation, and its cause for celebration.

With the Wednesday ruling, about half of the country, 23 states, allow people convicted of felonies to vote as soon as they are released from custody, according to the Movement Advancement Project. Two states and Washington, D.C., allow them to vote while in prison.

Multiple states have expanded voting rights of people with felonies in the last year, including a judge in April striking down a North Carolina law that made it difficult for them to vote. Similar legal challenges in Mississippi and Nebraska went the other way, however, upholding laws placing restrictions on their voting rights.

Surveys taken since former President Trump was convicted of felonies earlier this year have found the idea of people with felonies voting and being able to hold office more popular than before.

Fifty-eight percent of GOP voters said in a June survey that people convicted of felonies should be allowed to become president. Just 17 percent of Republicans held that opinion in April.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A mix-up between a Texas middle school and its district led to the implementation of a new dress code policy that prohibits students from wearing all black, as explained in a statement from the district.

The El Paso Independent School District said in a statement that miscommunication between Charles Middle School and the district is to blame after the school adopted a new dress code policy that bars students from wearing all-black.

"The campus initiated a dialogue with the community in April, and after careful consideration, the recommended adjustments were approved at the campus level," the statement read.

Charles Middle School Principal Nick DeSantis announced the decision ahead of the school year. In a letter, the school mentioned prohibiting all-black attire due to its association with depression and mental health issues and/ or criminality, KFOX-TV and CBS4 reported.

In the district's statement, EPISD recommended adjustments, including substituting color options for students, mandating safe footwear, and eliminating sweatshirts with hoods and pockets to reduce opportunities for hiding, using, and distributing prohibited items.

While these recommendations were supported by the school, the campus must get the required approval at the district level, EPISD wrote.

"Unfortunately, the campus prematurely communicated the dress code change as a final decision rather than a recommendation. We regret the miscommunication, particularly the intent behind the changes," the statement said.

More: Nearly two dozen new principals will lead El Paso schools in 2024-2025 school year

Community criticism

The El Paso community criticized the new dress code online, questioning how the color of clothes impacts the childrens emotional well-being.

Making students wear a different color isnt going to magically make them a completely different person, one person, Alexis Contreras, commented, per the outlets.

Some parents like Fabiola Flores, who already did school shopping, wish they were asked about the change before it was implemented. "We already bought the black pants, so we have to buy again, the pants. They should ask, they do like a hey what do you think? like were thinking about it, according to KDBC.

More: Back to school: First days through the years in El Paso County

USA Today contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Texas school supported new dress code, but needed district approval
Missing 16-Year-Old Boy Found Alive After Trying to Do a 'Challenge' on Family Camping Trip

The teen said he wanted to do a challenge that involved walking to the other side of the lake, but then things turned out bad

Yuba County Sheriff's Department Mikhael Nazorov

A boy who went missing while on a camping trip with his family in California was found alive, police said.

Mikhael Nozarov, 16, was last seen in the early evening of Tuesday, August 6, at Camp Far West Lake, the Yuba County Sheriff's Department said in a news release.

The juvenile was camping at the lake with family when he and his older sister took a walk around the lake, said the department. At some point, authorities said the two got separated" and that he was last seen that day around 7:00 p.m. local time.

"His family immediately contacted the authorities, and the search was initiated," authorities added.

Related: Missing Swimmer Left By Friends Found a Day Later, Didn't Realize Search Helicopters Were for Him

Authorities described Nazorov as 5 feet and 8 inches tall with brown hair and blue eyes. He wore black shorts and slide sandals and had no shirt at the time of his disappearance.

The following day, the Yuba County Sheriffs Department shared an update that Nazorov was found alive and well.



Per NBC affiliate KCRA, Nazorov was found 5 miles from where he was last seen.

PEOPLE reached out to the Yuba County Sheriffs Department for additional information on Thursday, August 8.

Related: Search Suspended for Boy, 15, Who Vanished While Swimming with Friends Off Calif. Beach: 'Our Hearts Ache'

As for what led to his disappearance, the teen told KCRA he "wanted to do a challenge where you have to walk to the other side" of the lake. However, when he got to the other side he "decided to walk around the whole lake, and that turned out bad."

Additional details about what kind of challenge he was attempting were not publicly shared.

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I had a feeling he was doing a challenge, the boys mother, Lyudmila Nazorov, told the outlet, adding, "Im so glad it turned out to be okay. I hope were done with challenges like this.

Related: 3 'Distressed Swimmers' Die in Hospital After 2-Hour Rescue in Panama City Beach: 'Such a Tragedy'

In a Facebook reel, the Yuba County Sheriffs Department wrote: A huge thank you to the many agencies who assisted in our search. Fortunately, this story has a happy ending.

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Read the original article on People.
NATCHITOCHES Parish, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  The Natchitoches Parish Sheriffs Office is investigating after the body of a missing man was found on a deer lease north of Campti.

The NPSO said they received a call regarding a suspicious vehicle on Aug. 3 when a white Ford passenger car was found abandoned on a private deer lease road north of Campti. They determined the vehicle belonged to Larry E. Page of Goldonna and made contact with his wife, who went to Dufrene Rd. to retrieve it.

Body of missing man found in Natchitoches Parish (Source: Natchitoches Parish Sheriffs Office)

Deputies reportedly told her that she could file a missing person report if she believed he was in danger. Authorities said Mrs. Page believed he was working in New Mexico and had received a text from him last week. She opted not to file a missing person report at the time. Mrs. Page told authorities that he would sometimes go off and return days later and provided them with additional information.

However, when she returned home, she found Pages wallet and cell phone in the vehicle. Authorities said she contacted his co-workers, who told her that Page had already left the job. She became worried and reported him missing Wednesday afternoon.

Returning to the scene on Dufrene Rd. where Pages vehicle had been discovered, deputies looked for clues as to his whereabouts and contacted the landowner. They began canvassing the area when they smelled a foul odor.

Shreveport man still wanted in deadly Milam Street shooting

After a search of the area, they recovered Pages body and other items of evidence in a partially cleared wooded area approximately 50 yards off the private deer lease road.

Sheriff Stuart Wright, Chief Deputy Darrel Winder, Natchitoches Parish Coroner Steven Clanton, NPSO Criminal Investigations detectives, and deputies assigned to the NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau responded to assist, photograph, and process the scene.

The coroner identified Pages body, which was then sent to Shreveport for an autopsy. Clanton stated that foul play is not suspected at this time.

Although no foul play is suspected, the investigation remains active and ongoing pending the autopsy. Anyone with information on Pages disappearance and death is encouraged to contact Major J. Byles, Detectives E. Mogridge, or M. Giannone at 318-357-7830.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
A 26-year-old man is accused of driving to Michigan to pick up a 13-year-old girl and bringing her back to his Washington home where they attempted to pursue an in-person relationship.

Benjamin Michael Wier of Spanaway was charged Tuesday with second-degree kidnapping with an emphasis on sexual motivation. Pierce County prosecutors allege that Wier took the girl July 31 after communicating with her on Snapchat.

A plea of not guilty was entered on Wiers behalf during his arraignment Tuesday. Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Philip Thornton set Wiers bail at $150,000, court records show.

The 13-year-old girls mother wrote in a victim-impact statement that she requested a protection order for her family against Wier.

This man had taken my child from the front yard of my home in Michigan, the statement said. All I know is my 13 year old daughter was missing for 6 days and harmed while with him. I dont know any more details. I just know if hes release he could come after her again.

Charging details

Pierce County deputies were contacted by a detective sergeant with the Mecosta County Sheriffs Office in Michigan regarding a runaway teenager Monday. The sergeant said she was possibly at a residence in Pierce County, according to charging documents.

The 13-year-old girl tried to run away a few weeks ago, but Mecosta County deputies found her. Pierce County deputies learned that Wier allegedly was sending the girl illicit messages and photos through Snapchat. Wier allegedly stated he wanted to have sex with her, documents show.

The Mecosta County detective sergeant said he believes the girl packed a bag July 31, and Wier picked her up from her home, documents show.

A missing-persons alert was posted on the Mecosta County Sheriffs Office Facebook page informing the public of the girls disappearance.

When Pierce County deputies arrived at Wiers home in Spanaway, his grandmother answered the door. She said Wier and the girl were at the house and was puzzled as to why the deputies were looking for them.

The grandmother said she did not know the girl was a teenager. When the grandmother asked the girl how old she was, the teenager would not answer her. The grandmother described Wier and the girl as being tight-lipped about their relationship, documents show.

Deputies told the teenager she was going with them and asked her to grab her belongings. They went to Wiers bedroom, and the girl said she had been sleeping on the floor. Deputies noted there were no signs that someone was sleeping on the floor. The girl told deputies that Wier did not hurt her, documents show.

Wier allegedly told deputies that he did pick up the girl from Michigan and brought her back to his house. He said the teenager told him over text that she was unhappy and did not like her parents.

Wier was booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of second-degree rape of a child and second-degree kidnapping, document show.

He said he knew she was 13 years old and that it was wrong. He allegedly admitted to having sex with her. Wier also told deputies he was in love with the teenager, court documents show.

Deputies asked the teenager for her phone, and she refused. They noticed a Pierce County Parks identification card that fell out of her pocket. Her first name was on it and her last name was listed as Wier.

The teenager was taken to the Parkland/Spanaway precinct of the Department of Child Youth and Family services. While there, the girl told deputies that Wier initiated contact with her on Snapchat. She said they had been talking about four months prior to him picking her up from Michigan, documents show.

The girl said she did not get along with her father and felt that Wier was the only one who would listen to her. The girl was later cleared from her missing-person status after her family was informed.

Deputies learned that Wier was listed as a suspect in a child pornography case.
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  A recent report lists Mississippi as one of the best states for Black-owned businesses.

According to B2B Reviews, the state is the fifth-best state for Black business. Mississippi also has the 3rd highest percentage of Black businesses nationally, with roughly 29% of small businesses being black-owned. Mississippi has the highest percentage of Black residents in its overall population.

The site revealed that Mississippi saw a 5.62% increase in the number of Black businesses from 2022 to 2023. B2B ranked Mississippi as having the 12th highest amount of Black employers. A LendingTree report from February revealed that African Americans in and around Jackson owned businesses at the fifth-highest rate among all U.S. metro areas.

Here are the major companies based in Mississippi

The B2B report revealed some stark statistics for the Magnolia State. The growth of Black business from 2022-2023 was the third lowest nationally. The survival rate of these businesses was the second lowest nationally. Lastly, the median household income for Black families is 68.13% of the states median income, according to B2B.

Some programs exist to address these racial disparities. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce has a grant program that targets women and minority-owned small businesses. The Mississippi Kiva Loan Hub organization routinely offers funding to Black business owners.

Black representation and outcomes have received scrutiny outside of the business arena in recent months. In July, a federal court told the state that its current legislative districts dilute Black voting power and must be redrawn. A separate federal lawsuit currently seeks to compel Mississippi to redraw its state supreme court districts for similar reasons.

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HINDS COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  A Mississippi attorney was arrested on Thursday, August 8 for allegedly trying to introduce contraband into a correctional facility.

Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones announced Daniel Sidney Dale was charged with two counts of conspiracy and three counts of introduction of contraband to a correctional facility.

Man convicted in fatal shooting at Jackson gas station

The sheriff said Dale was posing as legal counsel for some Hinds County detainees and was allegedly smuggling cellphones and other contraband during visitations.

During a visitation on Thursday, Jones said Dale was found to be in possession of several items of contraband and cellphones. He was detained, questioned and later charged.

Daniel Sidney Dale (Courtesy: Hinds Co. Sheriffs Office)

A Mississippi attorney was arrested on Thursday, August 8 for allegedly trying to introduce contraband into a correctional facility. (WJTV)

Attorney Dale, in a trusted position responsible for the constitutional rights of arrested suspects, jeopardized the safety and integrity of the Hinds County Detention Facilities and the public. This investigation is ongoing and more charges and/or arrests are possible, said Jones.

Dale made his initial appearance in court on Friday, August 9. His bond was set at $75,000.

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Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at RealityCheck@kcstar.com.

As Thursday approached, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey reached into a grab bag of legal tactics to avoid answering questions under oath about a meeting with Jackson County Legislator Sean Smith.

He succeeded  but his resistance could eventually affect Jackson County homeowners.

In recent days, Bailey tried to get the Jackson County Legislature dismissed from a lawsuit he filed last year alleging county officials illegally increased property assessments, in turn driving up property tax bills. He asked a judge to set aside her order requiring Bailey to answer questions; she refused. He wanted an appeals court to intervene, with no luck.

On Wednesday afternoon, Bailey moved to dismiss the whole lawsuit  less than 24 hours before a deposition that could have forced Missouris top law enforcement official to answer questions about what, exactly, he discussed with Smith, a fellow Republican and a defendant in the lawsuit. Bailey faces criticism over the ethics of the encounter.

A judge dismissed the case, amid an ongoing bench trial, on Thursday morning. It cannot be refiled.

Without the lawsuit, Jackson County homeowners now have one less avenue to fight the assessments, which have roiled local politics and angered an array of residents.

In justifying the dismissal, Bailey pointed to a Missouri State Tax Commission order issued Tuesday  Election Day  mandating that the county roll back the assessment values on 75% of its more than 300,000 property parcels due to alleged errors by the countys assessment department. He said information obtained from his lawsuit helped lead to the tax commissions order, which became public on Wednesday.

Now we have all of our eggs in one basket, Preston Smith, a former member of the board that oversees Jackson County homeowners assessment appeals and who has pushed to overturn the 2023 assessments, said on a local conservative podcast on Thursday.

Before we had two paths  the trial, which I thought was going pretty good  and now we just have one, the State Tax Commission order, said Preston Smith, who supported Baileys opponent in Tuesdays Republican primary election.

Jackson County Executive Frank White, a Democrat, and Assessor Gail McCann Beatty are expected to fight the tax commissions order. They have called it politically motivated and based on inaccurate information, as well as a litigation tactic.

Sean Smith, with the support of four other Jackson County legislators, said he will offer legislation to block the county attorneys from using taxpayer money to fight the state order. If all of those legislators maintain their position, they would have enough votes to pass a bill but not enough to override a veto from White.

A sign marking the location of the Jackson County Assessment Offices property valuation review process is seen outside the south entrance to 1300 Washington in downtown Kansas City on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

Why did he do it yesterday?

But if White and McCann Beatty successfully block the tax commissions order, Preston Smith and other frustrated homeowners wont have Baileys lawsuit to fall back on. He has totally screwed this whole case up, Preston Smith said.

Democrat Elad Gross, who is running against Bailey in the November general election, attacked the attorney generals decision. Bailey had gotten the attention he wanted from the case and was now done, he said. Bailey on Tuesday won the Republican primary for attorney general; he had faced Will Scharf, a former federal prosecutor who had attacked Baileys competence.

He just happens to move to dismiss it right before hes supposed to sit for a deposition, Gross said. I dont think thats a coincidence at all.

Baileys office didnt directly answer a question about the impending deposition on Thursday, saying that the attorney general motioned to dismiss the lawsuit because of the tax commissions order.

We would have pushed the lawsuit forward if not for the order, and we would have won, said Bailey spokesperson Madeline Sieren. She argued that the evidence in this case was overwhelming.

Pushing the lawsuit forward could have jeopardized the much needed relief offered in the Tax Commissions order and would be counterproductive for Jackson County taxpayers, she said.

Sieren did not respond to questions about whether the lawsuit was politically motivated and how much communication Baileys office had with the tax commission before it issued its order.

Chuck Hatfield, a Jefferson City-based attorney who previously worked for a Democratic attorney general, questioned the decision to immediately dismiss the lawsuit. Bailey, knowing about the order, could have waited another few weeks to see how the lawsuit developed  or asked for a stay in the case, he said.

Whether you agree with the decision or not, why did he do it yesterday? Hatfield said.

Sean Smith, the Jackson County legislator, said dismissing the lawsuit was the right decision because if the judge had issued a different order than the State Tax Commission, the county would have had to go through a process to reconcile the two decisions.

By dismissing that case, I believe what theyve done is streamline us toward getting to a resolution, Smith said.

Sean Smith, a Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in Missouris 5th District, speaks to members of the Jackson County Republican Party about the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. He spoke during a GOP ice cream social in Kansas City on Sunday, July 14, 2024.

Soaring property assessments

Bailey filed the suit against Jackson County amid outrage after assessments jumped significantly last year. Residential property values increased by roughly 40% overall since the last assessment in 2021, according to county data.

The attorney general filed the suit in December alongside the tax commission. The lawsuit came just one day after Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, a Republican, alleged Jackson County used a flawed and inadequate property assessment process that violated state law, affecting up to 200,000 homeowners.

Property assessments had long been a source of controversy in Jackson County. Many homes were undervalued for years, county officials have said, until they began raising valuations in 2019. The recent uproar even prompted lawmakers to consider legislation this year that would make the countys assessor an elected position.

A bench trial in the case was scheduled to resume on Friday but was canceled after Clay County Associate Circuit Judge Karen Krauser granted Baileys motion to dismiss the case.

Before Fridays trial, Bailey was scheduled to answer questions under oath about his meeting with Sean Smith, the county legislator, an encounter that could have violated legal ethics rules.

Krauser had ruled last month that Bailey could be deposed about his communications with Sean Smith. She also found that Travis Woods, an attorney in Baileys office, violated court rules by holding a separate virtual meeting with Smith.

The judges order focused on two separate meetings while the litigation against Jackson County was ongoing. One was an in-person meeting between Bailey and Sean Smith, a Republican who is running for Congress, on April 27. The other was a virtual meeting between Woods and Smith after Smith was deposed in the lawsuit against Jackson County.

Woods meeting with Smith violated a Missouri Supreme Court rule that bars attorneys from communicating about the case theyre working on with another person represented by a lawyer in the same case, Krauser said.

While Krausers order did not say that Baileys meeting with Smith also violated court rules, it allowed attorneys for Jackson County to question him under oath about the nature of the contacts, who was present for the contacts, and what was discussed during the contacts.

The Missouri Attorney Generals Office is not exempt from the requirements of the state ethical rules, Krauser wrote in the order.

Sean Smith said Thursday that he had no concern about what Bailey would have said if he had been questioned. He said during a campaign meeting at his home, Bailey stopped by but emphasized that the encounter was brief.

We never sat down, we never got out of basically the foyer of my house, Smith said. I said, these are my people and introduced them. I said, thank you for pursuing the tax matter and I took a picture and posted it, which is what politicians do.

Rolling back values?

The State Tax Commissions order requires Jackson County to roll back the assessment values of 75% of the countys more than 300,000 properties, citing errors by the countys assessment department.

Specifically, the county violated a state law that requires a physical inspection of all properties when the assessed value is raised by more than 15%, the commission said. The order forces Jackson County to cap increases at 15% since it didnt inspect all the required properties.

The State Tax Commission, in a statement released by its chief counsel, Gregory Allsberry, said the order was approved at a regularly-scheduled meeting on Tuesday. The statement noted that the Jackson County Board of Equalization, which oversees assessment appeals, is required to complete its business by Aug. 24 and that the commission recognized it was critical to issue the order before the county finalized its assessed values for 2024.

The Commission reached its decision to issue an Order after examining a substantial amount of information which it has acquired over the last few months, including but not limited to County assessment records and sworn statements of County officials which it obtained through discovery in its lawsuit against Jackson County, the statement says.

Official minutes show commissioners met on July 23 for a presentation from the Missouri Attorney Generals Office. Preston Smith also participated, and he said during Thursdays podcast that he had given a detailed slide presentation about the assessments.

County officials on Thursday slammed the order, saying that it would have disastrous consequences for county services and school districts, which rely on funding from tax assessments.

The county estimated that schools and libraries could immediately lose more than $86 million in money they had already received and spent due to the order. And cities and fire districts could lose nearly $20 million, the county said.

This order is not just bad for our taxing jurisdictions; its bad for our taxpayers, said White, the Jackson County executive. The process to fix decades of mismanagement and unfairness hasnt been easy, but we are committed to doing what is right for our community.

Beatty, the Jackson County assessor and a former Democratic lawmaker, said the issue was about fairness.

The only way to ensure fairness is to assess all properties at market value, as required by state law, she said. Weve seen that many homes have been undervalued for years, forcing others to overpay. We cannot stand by and allow this injustice to continue.

But Missouri lawmakers, including some members of both parties, appeared to mostly celebrate the order, pointing to the outcry from property owners over the increases.

House Majority Leader Jonathan Patterson, a Lees Summit Republican, on Thursday called on Jackson County to follow the ruling and make this right with the taxpayers.

This order by the Tax Commission confirms what the citizens of Jackson County have been saying for years now, that the assessment process has been unfair, and even unlawful, he said.

However, some Democrats were quick to question the motivations behind Baileys decision to try to dismiss the lawsuit just before he was scheduled to be deposed.

Timing, you know, I think played a big part in it, said Rep. Michael Johnson, a Kansas City Democrat.
Attorney General Andrew Bailey speaks at a press conference in the Missouri House Lounge, flanked by House Speaker Dean Plocher, left, and state Rep. Justin Sparks (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey wants to dismiss his lawsuit against Jackson County a day before he was set to answer questions under oath about a potential ethical breach in the case.

Bailey, who is suing the county over its property assessment process, on Tuesday asked the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District to overturn a circuit court order in the case allowing Jackson County attorneys to take his deposition.

The appeal was denied Wednesday morning.

Hours later, Bailey filed a motion in Jackson County Circuit Court to dismiss the entire case.

In the motion, Bailey says the litigation is no longer needed after the Missouri State Tax Commission issued an order on Wednesday rolling back most property value increases. In a press release, Bailey said the order relied on information obtained through the discovery process in his lawsuits against the county.

This is a huge win for every property owner in Missouri, but especially in Jackson County, said Bailey, who on Tuesday won the GOP primary for a full term as attorney general.

Bailey was scheduled to sit for a deposition Thursday to be questioned by Jackson Countys attorneys about his meetings with a county official that they argued violated ethical rules for lawyers. The trial over the property assessment process was expected to resume Friday.

At issue were meetings that both Bailey and a deputy had with Jackson County Legislator Sean Smith. Under Missouri Supreme Court rules, attorneys are not to communicate about a lawsuit with individuals represented in the case by another lawyer without the consent of the other lawyer.

Baileys office maintained his meeting with Smith amounted to nothing more than a campaign meeting with little discussion of the lawsuit. But Jackson County attorneys filed a motion for sanctions, and Clay County Circuit Judge Karen Krauser gave the county permission to question Bailey as a form of sanction.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and his office have exhibited a blatant disregard for the Rules of Professional Conduct in this case, the motion filed by Jackson County says, and their actions are sanctionable. Based on what we know so far, their actions were not innocent mistakes.

Baileys office tried to persuade Krauser to reconsider, but she declined.

The ethics dispute comes in Baileys case accusing Jackson County of failing to comply with the law when it assessed properties in 2023, resulting in an average 30% increase in value across hundreds of thousands of properties. The lawsuit says more than 90% of residential properties saw an increase in property value, and values increased by at least 15% for three-quarters of properties in the county.

The increase in property value means some owners will have to pay more in property taxes each year.

In defending the case, Jackson County said Bailey had waited too long to file the lawsuit since tax bills have already been paid and money distributed. Beyond that, the county argued, the attorney general cant file a case unless the State Tax Commission attempted to first resolve the issue.

The State Tax Commission weighed in Wednesday, saying the county had failed to follow proper procedures, including performing physical inspections, before increasing property values more than 15%.

The commission issued an order claiming widespread and systemic failures by Jackson County and ordered officials to roll back the assessments on 75% of properties.

In a statement, Jackson County called the State Tax Commissions order inaccurate and dangerously politicized, arguing that it was a desperate, last-minute maneuver before Baileys litigation concludes.

This reckless order is harmful to not only taxing jurisdictions, but also taxpayers, said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. While fixing decades of mismanagement hasnt been easy, we are committed to fairness and will continue working every day to achieve it. Actions like this do immense harm to our communities.

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CAIRO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States on Thursday urged Israel and Hamas not to waste more time to finalize a ceasefire agreement and resume talks on Aug. 15.

The three countries invited Israel and Hamas "to resume urgent discussion on Thursday, August 15, in Doha or Cairo to close all remaining gaps and commence implementation of the deal without further delay," according to a joint statement released by the Egyptian presidency.

The statement noted that the ceasefire agreement "is now on the table with only the details of implementation left to conclude."

"There is no further time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delay. It is time to release the hostages, begin the ceasefire, and implement this agreement," said the three mediators in the statement.

Cairo, Doha, and Washington mediated a week-long truce between Israel and Hamas that ended in late November 2023, which included a swap between Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages and more humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza. Yet, later mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement have not been fruitful.

Over the past 10 months, the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian Gaza Strip has killed so far 39,699 Palestinians and injured 91,722 others, according to an update released by Gaza's health authorities earlier Thursday. 
A new Missouri bill signed into law this week significantly expands eligibility for the senior property tax freeze program, which rolled out earlier this year in counties across the state.

Under the new rules, all homeowners over the age of 62 are eligible to have their property taxes frozen at 2024 levels starting in 2025  and their tax amount will automatically decrease if home values drop in the future.

The updated guidelines in Jackson County also remove the previous home value limit and the requirement for seniors to re-apply every year to remain enrolled in the tax freeze program.

This new legislation simplifies the application process for our senior residents, making it easier for them to access available property tax relief assistance, Jackson County Executive Frank White said in a Monday news release.

While Missouri recently ordered Jackson County to decrease property values following a contentious property assessment season last year, the changes to the senior tax freeze program apply to every county that has adopted it across the state.

Heres everything to know about the changes to the property tax freeze program for seniors.

Who is eligible for the senior property tax freeze?

Any homeowner aged 62 and above who is responsible for paying property taxes on their home is now eligible for the tax freeze program at their primary residence, the new law states.

Homeowners do not have to be eligible for Social Security retirement benefits to apply, as some counties required before the new rules were passed. That means seniors with pension plans, like teachers and federal government employees, can now apply to the program.

Do I have to reapply every year to remain enrolled in the tax freeze program?

Eligible seniors in Jackson County only need to apply for the tax freeze program once to enroll. Under the former guidelines, participants needed to reapply every year to prove their eligibility  but thats no longer the case.

If you meet the eligibility requirements in Jackson County this year, your property taxes will be frozen at the 2024 level starting in 2025. That means youll see the first change on your tax bill next year.

Other counties may implement their freezes differently, depending on when and whether they adopt the tax freeze program. Visit your countys collection department website for more information about your local guidelines.

What happens if my home value increases or decreases?

If your home value increases while you are enrolled in the senior property tax freeze program, you will remain eligible for it in Jackson County regardless of the assessed value of your home.

While Jackson Countys old guidelines removed homes from the program if their values rose above $550,000, this home value cap has now been removed. However, other counties may implement their own requirements, including home value or income level caps.

If your home value decreases while you are enrolled in the senior property tax freeze program, state law now specifies that your tax amount will automatically decrease to correspond with the new, lower value. The wording is a little confusing, but stay with us:

If in any tax year subsequent to the eligible taxpayers initial credit year the eligible taxpayers real property tax liability is lower than such liability in the initial credit year, such tax year shall be considered the eligible taxpayers initial credit year for all subsequent tax years, the law states.

Translation: If the tax amount you have to pay decreases, your tax bill will drop and re-freeze at the new, lower amount. Even if your home value rises again in subsequent years, that new amount will remain.

Basically, your frozen tax amount can decrease, but can never increase.

How do I apply to Jackson Countys senior property tax freeze program?

Eligible Jackson County seniors can apply for the program online through the countys assessment department website. They can also download and print the application or email SeniorApplication@jacksongov.org to request an application be sent to them.

Jackson County homeowners must provide three documents with their applications:

Proof of Jackson County primary residence (like a utility bill or ID with your address on it)

Proof that you are age 62 or older (like any government-issued ID or document with your date of birth on it)

Proof that you are responsible for paying property taxes on your home (like the deed to the home or a trust or operation agreement)

Once you have filled out your application, simply submit it online through the web form, email it to SeniorApplication@jacksongov.org or return it to either collection department office location listed below. You can mail in your application, drop it off in person during business hours or leave it in the 24-hour drop box outside each building.

Jackson County Courthouse:

415 E. 12th St. Suite #100

Kansas City, MO 64106

Historic Truman Courthouse:

112 W. Lexington Ave. Suite #114

Independence, MO 64050

The deadline to apply for the program each year is Dec. 31, and applications are reviewed as they are received. You will be notified by email or postal mail if you are accepted into the program.

If I already applied for the tax freeze program under the old rules, do I have to reapply?

If you applied to the senior property tax freeze program in Jackson County, you do not have to reapply.

While state law has mandated changes to our program, residents who have already applied for the property tax credit do not need to re-apply, said Scott Lakin, the director of Jackson Countys collections department.

I am proud to announce that our team is fully staffed and ready to administer the program efficiently.

Do you have more questions about the changes to Missouris property tax system? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
Missouri state Sens. Denny Hoskins, left, and Rick Brattin, center, confer with Freedom Caucus Director Tim Jones, right. Hoskins and Brattin are Republicans and members of the State Freedom Caucus Network, which aims to push the party further to the right (Elaine S. Povich/Stateline).

The right-wing Freedom Caucus fared well in Missouris GOP primaries Tuesday, grabbing its first statewide nomination and displaying the reach of its message in other races.

State Sen. Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg emerged from an eight-person field to get the Republican nomination for Secretary of State.

Freedom Caucus member state Sen. Bill Eigel finished second to Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe in the race for the Republican nomination for governor, garnering 32% of the vote and placing ahead of Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, son of former U.S. Attorney General, U.S. senator and Missouri Gov. John Ashcroft.

State Sen. Rick Brattin, a founding member of the Missouri Freedom Caucus, defeated well-funded primary challenger Dan Houx by a wide margin. And candidates endorsed by the caucus won the GOP nomination in four of the five state Senate races they contested.

With crowded primary fields for a number of the statewide seats, the caucus members were able to garner 25% to 30% of the vote, enough to boost Hoskins to victory and bring Eigel within striking distance of the winner. In Missouri in recent years, winning the Republican nomination for statewide office has been the key to general election triumph.

Hard-right conservatives have been a thorny issue for Senate Republican leaders for several years. What was considered to be a gentlemans agreement to work together in the 2021 legislative session failed to appease the conservatives, who eventually announced they were joining the Freedom Caucus for the 2024 legislative session.

The Freedom Caucus is a national organization, with members in Congress and in state legislatures across the country. The mission of the Freedom Caucus is posted on its website: We need patriots who will serve in our state capitals to fight federal overreach and stand firm against those  in both parties  who prioritize seizing political power over representing constituents.

In the Missouri Senate this year, the five members of the Freedom Caucus frequently separated themselves from the other 19 Republicans over legislative priorities, creating a dynamic that led to record-breaking filibusters but not major policy wins.

For example, the Freedom Caucus members refused to approve a historically large state budget. That empowered Democrats beyond their 10-seat Senate membership as Republican leaders needed their votes to pass the budget.

Nonetheless, the primary results show that the Freedom Caucus vision remains powerful among many Missouri conservative voters, even with establishment Republican headwinds.

Its unclear how many will be in the Senate Freedom Caucus when the legislature convenes in January, but if every candidate they endorsed joined, their caucus would have five members. Jim Lembke, a former state senator who works closely with the caucus, said they will be targeting more senators to expand their presence.

We certainly have to deal with the idea that the status quo still firmly has a grasp, with Mike Kehoe potentially being the next governor, Lembke said. Theres still a fight to be fought, but I think we did make great strides.

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The election cycle furthered strained an already battered relationship between the Freedom Caucus and Senate leadership. A PAC connected to incoming President Pro Tem Sen. Cindy OLaughlin of Shelbina spent $100,000 on ads targeting Eigel.

Lembke said OLaughlin and state Sen. Jason Bean, whos running to be the next majority floor leader, worked to keep Freedom Caucus candidates from being elected.

A PAC that supports Bean gave $15,000 to Susan Haralson, a primary challenger to Freedom Caucus endorsed state Sen. Mike Moon, who ended up winning. Moon has not joined the caucus but frequently participates in their filibusters.

I dont think that (leaderships work against Freedom Caucus candidates) will be forgotten, so theres going to have to be, an olive branch, put out to the conservatives if leadership wants to accomplish conservative things, Lembke said.

Neither OLaughlin or Bean could be reached for comment.

Its not just Senate leadership that has shown discontent with the Freedom Caucus. State Sen. Jill Carter, a Republican from Granby, announced that she was leaving the caucus earlier this year after a 41-hour filibuster yielded no results.

Over the past few months, it has become increasingly clear that the values and priorities that some current members of the Missouri State Freedom Caucus profess to champion are not reflected in conversations, behaviors or their strategy, Carter said on her reasoning for leaving the group in a May post on the social media platform X.

State Sen. Doug Beck, a Democrat from Afton, said he would never go after colleagues as OLaughlin and Bean did in supporting primary challengers. He added that Democrats dont even advocate for conservative colleagues to be ousted in a primary.

Beck said he thinks the Republican Party has been moving far to the right and that the Freedom Caucus isnt ideologically far from establishment conservatives. He thinks the Freedom Caucus will cause another session of inaction next spring where Democrats have to provide the deciding votes on key bills like the budget.

This story originally appeared in the Columbia Missourian. It can be republished in print or online.
FILE - Missouri State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, stands alongside Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R- Platte County, during the pledge of allegiance at the state of the session, April 8, 2020, at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo. (Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP, File)

Missouri voters have once again passed a constitutional amendment requiring Kansas City to spend at least a quarter of its budget on police, up from 20% previously.

Tuesdays vote highlights tension between Republicans in power statewide who are concerned about the possibility of police funding being slashed and leaders of the roughly 28% Black city who say it should be up to them how to spend local tax dollars.

In Missouri, we defend our police," Republican state Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer posted on the social platform X on Tuesday. We dont defund them.

Kansas City leaders have vehemently denied any intention of ending the police department.

Kansas City is the only city in Missouri  and one of the largest in the U.S.  that does not have local control of its police department. Instead, a state board oversees the departments operations, including its budget.

We consider this to be a major local control issue, said Gwen Grant, president of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City. We do not have control of our police department, but we are required to fund it.

In a statement Wednesday, Mayor Quinton Lucas hinted at a possible rival amendment being introduced that stands for local control in all of our communities.

Missouri voters initially approved the increase in Kansas City police funding in 2022, but the state Supreme Court made the rare decision to strike it down over concerns about the cost estimates and ordered it to go before voters again this year.

Voters approved the 2022 measure by 63%. This year, it passed by about 51%.

Fights over control of local police date back more than a century in Missouri.

In 1861, during the Civil War, Confederacy supporter and then-Gov. Claiborne Fox Jackson persuaded the Legislature to pass a law giving the state control over the police department in St. Louis. That statute remained in place until 2013, when voters approved a constitutional amendment returning police to local control.

The state first took over Kansas City police from 1874 until 1932, when the state Supreme Court ruled that the appointed boards control of the department was unconstitutional.

The state regained control in 1939 at the urging of another segregationist governor, Lloyd Crow Stark, in part because of corruption under highly influential political organizer Tom Pendergast. In 1943, a new law limited the amount a city could be required to appropriate for police to 20% of its general revenue in any fiscal year.

There are things like this probably in all of our cities and states, said Lora McDonald, executive director of the Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity, or MORE2. It behooves all of us in this United States to continue to weed out wherever we see that kind of racism in law.

The latest power struggle over police control started in 2021, when Lucas and other Kansas City leaders unsuccessfully sought to divert a portion of the departments budget to social service and crime prevention programs. GOP lawmakers in Jefferson City said the effort was a move to defund the police in a city with a high rate of violent crime.
MNPD seeks to outsource testing for sexual assault kits, aim to cut down on backlog

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) seeks to outsource some of its rape kit testing to work through a backlog.

MNPD has gotten permission from Metro Council to apply for grant money that would pay outside companies to process rape kits. Each of those applications asked the Justice Department for $250,000 to help reduce the backlog in Metros crime lab.

One application stated that by outsourcing, kits could come back in a timely fashion and potentially eliminate the backlog altogether.

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Advocates with the Sexual Assault Center said that waiting for kit results is a difficult part of the healing process for some survivors. News 2 spoke with Vice President of community relations Lorraine McGuire about how that affects the legal process as well.

Part of what theyre waiting for is the evidence, sometimes, for whether or not their case is going to be picked up for prosecution, McGuire said. Nobody likes to wait to get information, especially when it is such a deeply traumatic and personal thing. It makes it hard.

MNPD aims to outsource 180 kits with an estimated turnaround time of 90 days for results.

This wouldnt be the first time this method of cutting down a backlog on testing is used in the state. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) began outsourcing testing to a private lab after getting a $1.5 million federal grant last year.

The TBIs turnaround time for all combined sex offense requests peaked in August 2022 at roughly 45 and a half weeks. Following that grant, data showed that in June 2024, the turnaround time was roughly 18 and a half weeks.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Advocates like McGuire told News 2 that speeding up testing could help some survivors. However, she said that there is still a long way to go, noting that many survivors dont report because the process is so difficult.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  A clinic on wheels helped alleviate restriction to medical access for some in Peoria on Wednesday.

Molina Healthcare of Illinois brought its mobile clinic to the Dream Center to offer free school physicals and wellness check-ups for parents and babies.

Molina says Peoria has a higher rate of poor physical health compared to the national average. To combat the statistic, the clinic offered free physicals, wellness exams, baby wellness exams, prenatal and postpartum care, and blood pressure screenings to the community.

Molina says they want to help families during the busy school season. Today, we know its back to school season, so we really wanted to make sure we were reaching out to the communities and offering those back to school physicals so that families and children are prepared for a school season, said Molina mobile healthcare program manager, Rebecca Kidd.

The big focus is that people cant really focus on health care if they are concerned with having a ride or if they have issues accessing food or other types of services, Kidd said. So what we try to do is find a location where we know that people are going to come and get more than one service and just kind of take some of that burden away.

Molina Healthcare is continuing to use its mobile clinic throughout the state of Illinois.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
New footage reveals moment local cops spotted Trump shooter  and the chaos that followed

New footage reveals moment local cops spotted Trump shooter  and the chaos that followed

New body cam footage shows the moment when a police officer climbed up on the roof where the Trump gunman was perched, moments before the shooting began during the July 13 rally in Pennsylvania.

Separate footage also shows local police officers complaining that they told the Secret Service days earlier to place officers near the building which gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks used to take aim at former President Donald Trump.

The newest footage was released by Pennsylvania authorities as both state and federal authorities continue to investigate the July 13 rally shooting that injured the former president and two spectators, and left one man dead. Crooks fired from an unsecured rooftop about 500 feet from the former president. Trump turned his head just in time to avoid a significant injury.

Secret Service officials have admitted a failure in the shooting and making sure the area was secure. On Thursday, investigators released new body camera footage showing Butler County police confronting Crooks moments before the shooting, but unable to stop him before he shot at the rally.

Police get ready to climb a roof after Thomas Crooks opened fire on former president Donald Trump during a Pennsylvania rally. New body cam footage shows police confronting Crooks before the shooting and the chaotic scene in the aftermath. (Butler Township Police)

Some of the footage shows the local officer being hoisted up onto the roof by another cop and then quickly dropping down again after he spots the shooter. The released footage was muted so no audio could be heard.

The officer later revealed to his fellow cops that Crooks pointed the gun at him before he hopped down and ran towards his car, eventually getting a rifle.

About 40 seconds after the encounter, Crooks turned back towards Trump, firing eight shots and striking Trump in the ear. Crooks was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper seconds later.

F****** this close bro. Dude, he turned around on me, the officer who spotted Crooks tells a fellow officer.

When one officer asks where the shooter is located, the officer says Hes straight up.

Whos got eyes on him? He was right where you picked me up, bro. He was on that left side, the officer says.

A voice can then be heard coming from a radio, saying We have two civilians  tending to them. I need an ambulance in the back.

Trump was wounded in the shooting. One spectator was killed, and two more were hurt in the attempted assassination. (AFP via Getty Images)

Another video, shared by Butler police, shows one officer telling colleagues shortly after the shooting that he had told the Secret Service to place officers at the building that Crooks used to take aim at Trump.

I f****** told them they need to post the guys f****** over here, he says. I told them that, the f******, the Secret Service, I told them that f******* Tuesday. I told them to post f****** guys over here.

One officer responded, saying that he wasnt even concerned about it because I thought someone was on the roof. I thought thats how we  how in the hell can you lose a guy walking back here?

I talked to the Secret Service guys, they were like, Yeah, no problem, were going to post guys over here, the first officer adds, in the footage.

An officer describes via radio a suspicious person who had been lost by law enforcement as a gentleman with a flat face that we were looking for earlier. He was creeping people out.

He was watching people out in the woods by the water tower. Im not sure he is the gentleman down or not, he adds.

Shortly after the shooting, another officer arrives at the warehouse and tells a colleague, I thought you guys were on the roof. I thought it was you. I thought it was you.

The officer explained that no officers were on the roof.

What the f***, the first officer says. Why were we not on the roof? Why werent we?

Police officers search after Crooks opened fire at a Trump rally and get ready to climb a roof to find the shooter dead. (Butler Township Police)

Federal officials have said that the Secret Service thought that Butler County Emergency Services Unit snipers would be covering the rooftop from where Crooks took aim. However, a local official previously said that tactical team leaders told the Secret Service their snipers would be inside the building on the second floor.

The Butler team didnt want snipers on the roof because of the heat exposure. The official added that the sloped roof would have obscured a number of vantage points.

The Secret Service had limited contact with local police on the day of the rally.

Many politicians and Americans have questioned the Secret Service and the police actions on that day. Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned in the wake of the shooting, and after her disastrous congressional testimony amid the federal investigation.

During a press conference on Friday, acting Secret Service director Ronald Rowe said we should have had more of a presence at the building, which was just outside of the security perimeter set up ahead of the rally.

This was a Secret Service failure, he added. That roofline should have been covered. We should have had better eyes on that.
HRC

This article contains descriptions of fatal violence against a Black trans woman.

Monique Brooks, a Black transgender activist and hair stylist remembered as the life of the party, was shot and killed in Orlando, Florida on July 19. She was 49 years old.

Brooks, also known as Jade-Monique Thomas, was found with a gunshot wound in the parking lot of The Florida Mall at around 3:50 a.m., according to FOX affiliate WOFL. She was taken to a hospital, where she died from her injuries, law enforcement told the network. Information about what happened prior to the shooting remains scarce this week, as police have now asked the Orlando community to contact them with any information.

If anybody anywhere hears anything, sees anything, even just that inkling of anything, please reach out to law enforcement, Brooks sister Lecia Paul told WOFL. Please, please. This didn't have to happen.

Paul described her sister as fun-loving, brilliant, and a person who lived her life out loud. According to social media posts from Brooks and her community, she was also a talented hair stylist, a digital content creator, and an activist who held annual fundraisers on her birthday for nonprofit organizations, including PushBlack and the National LGBTQ Task Force. Brooks was also involved with Divas in Dialogue, an Orlando community group for trans women of color. A celebration of her life was planned for August 2.

Monique was one of the sweetest souls Ive ever known, Mulan Montrese Williams, executive director of Divas in Dialogue, told the Human Rights Campaign late last month. She has always been the life of the party and willing to help anyone in need. She will be truly missed. Her kindness and outgoing spirit will never be forgotten.

Tori Cooper, executive director of the HRC Foundations Transgender Justice Initiative, also mourned the loss of yet another Black trans woman to gun violence last month, and called for local authorities to thoroughly investigate her killing.

Monique was a gem of a person who should be with us today, Cooper wrote. We call on Orange County to exhaust all possible means in securing justice for Monique. As a community, we grieve Monique and know that her bright spirit will live on through her loved ones.

Brooks is one of at least 13 Black trans women in the U.S. who have died violently this year, according to a list of such deaths maintained by HRC. She is also the third known trans person to be killed in Florida in 2024, making it the most deadly [state] so far this year for transgender or gender expansive people, HRCs memorial for Brooks noted. In the wake of her death, other activists condemned Florida Republicans anti-trans propaganda and the normalization of gun violence in the U.S. for contributing to Brooks killing.

Violence against trans people in the US disproportionately impacts Black trans women, and is fueled by hateful, discriminatory anti-LGBTQ+ policies and rhetoric, wrote representatives for Everytown for Gun Safety on Threads earlier this week. Monique should still be alive. We are holding her and her loved ones in our hearts.

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Originally Appeared on them.
More than $4,000 in fuel nearly stolen from Pennsylvania Turnpike

BEDFORD COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ)  Quick action from a companys security team prevented more than $4,000 in diesel fuel from being driven off with, Pennsylvania State Police report.

Duniesky Rojas Vidaurreta, 40 (Bedford County Prison)

Troopers were called to N. Midway Plaza on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, located in Bedford, Aug. 8 at 2:22 a.m., for a report of a theft of fuel by a man with a white box truck and wearing a white Adidas hat and a navy blue shirt with home run king printed on it, the criminal complaint shows.

Upon arrival, troopers came across the described truck and man who was identified by his international drivers license as 40-year-old Duniesky Rojas Vidaurreta, of New Jersey, according to charges filed. Vidaurreta was in the process of pumping diesel fuel.

Pennsylvania woman pulled over on her way to drug deal, charges show

Trooper said they spoke with a 7-Eleven corporate investigator who said they were remotely watching cameras when they spotted the white box truck and Vidaurreta get out and talk to someone in a parked vehicle. According to the complaint, the investigator told police the parked car was involved in other known fuel thefts. The investigator said he watched Vidaurreta enter the store and then leave and begin to fill multiple inlets in his truck.

The investigator claimed their report showed that even though Vidaurreta prepaid $400, he pumped $4,199.85 worth of gas  915 gallons.

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Vidaurreta was arraigned and placed in Bedford County Prison with bail set at $150,000.

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More than half in Pew Research poll have unfavorable view of Supreme Court

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts (L), along with Associate Justices (L-R) Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh stand before President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., in March. The Supreme Court is at its lowest approval rating in recent history, according to polling. File Pool Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI

Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Public opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court continues to erode, with more than half of respondents in a recent poll expressing an unfavorable view of the high court, according to data released from the Pew Research Center.

Favorable ratings of the court have fallen to historic lows.

Recent high-profile Supreme Court rulings on issues including presidential immunity, government regulation of business, abortion and more have generated interest. While support for the high court is low, the numbers remain largely unchanged from last year.

"Fewer than half of Americans (47%) now express a favorable opinion of the court, while about half (51%) have an unfavorable view," the Pew report said.

Only a quarter of Democrats report having a favorable view of the Supreme Court, a number that has fallen sharply since 2021, when more than two-thirds had a favorable impression. That was prior to the court's ruling in the so-called "Dobbs case," which effectively eliminated the federal right to an abortion.

Sixty-three percent of Americans say they support the right to an abortion, a slight uptick over last year's numbers, the Pew polling shows.

Nearly half of Americans see the Supreme Court as conservative, 42 percent see it as "middle of the road," and 7 percent label the court liberal.

"Public perceptions of the Supreme Court's ideology have not changed much in the past year. Since 2020, however, the share of Americans saying the court is conservative has increased 18 points," Pew said." That year, 56% said the court was middle of the road, while 30% viewed the court as conservative and 12% said it was liberal."

Recent rulings by the justices have called their question into power, including one that would give president's largely unquestioned immunity and been referred to as the King's Act. Democrats reacted to counter that action.

Justice Sonya Sotomayor opposed giving a president such widespread immunity.

"In every use of official power, the president is now a king above the law," she told the media.

The private business and personal dealings of Justice Clarence Thomas also have continued to raise questions.

Thomas allegedly continues to conceal international travel covered by a wealthy Republican donor, a top Democratic senator said as he revealed a previously undisclosed trip the Supreme Court justice and his wife enjoyed more than a decade ago aboard conservative billionaire Harlan Crow's private jet.

Citing U.S. Customs and Border Protection records, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon said in a letter Monday that Thomas and his wife, conservative activist Ginni Thomas, flew round trip aboard Crow's private jet from Hawaii to New Zealand in November of 2010.

The letter was addressed to Crow's lawyers in demand of financial and travel records concerning their client to see if personal trips involving Thomas were being used to evade paying taxes.

"I am deeply concerned that Mr. Crow may have been showering a public official with extravagant gifts, then writing off those gifts to lower his tax bill," Wyden said.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  A new species of mosquito has been discovered in the Grand Valley  the Aedes Aegypti.

Grand River Mosquito Control District Manager Tim Moore tells WesternSlopeNow only two of these mosquitos were found in Grand Junction last year, and this June, three CMU students found several more  12 adults and 150 eggs. Officials are not sure if theyre permanently established.

The Aedes Aegypti will live its whole two-to-four-week lifespan within 50 feet of where it hatched, unlike the Culex mosquito commonly seen here in Mesa County, which will travel miles over its lifetime.

Moore suspects they may have made it to Grand Junction by hitching a ride through cars from nearby areas, like Moab, that have an established population.

Why is this such a big deal? These insects can transmit diseases that are not seen in Mesa County or even the United States currently on a regular basis.

Mesa County Public Health Epidemiologist Kathleen Satterfield says Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya and Yellow Fever can be transmitted by this breed. Colorado has seen cases of Dengue this year, but not in Mesa County.

Out of the roughly 20 species in the Grand Valley, only one, the Culex, can transmit West Nile. This would make two.

Unlike most mosquitos, these will be more active in the day and hunker down at night. They like small amounts of standing water in places like a bottle cap or cup. This breed will stay low to the ground and are commonly referred to as ankle biters. Moore says they like people a lot more than other mosquitos, and youll feel when one bites you.

Satterfield advises using bug spray with DEET, wearing long pants and shirts at dusk and dawn and draining standing water.

Again, this species is not for sure established in the Grand Valley, and officials say they will continue extermination efforts.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
TEHRAN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday discussed the expansion of bilateral relations.

In a phone call, the two sides explored ways to enhance ties between Tehran and Rome, according to a statement published on the website of the Iranian president's office.

They also addressed key regional and international issues and discussed ways to ensure peace, stability, and security, the statement said. 
I moved from the US to Spain, where life is more affordable and relaxed. I finally feel like I belong.

Cepee Tabibian, 44, wasn't interested in marriage, motherhood, or climbing the career ladder.

In 2015, Tabibian moved from Houston to Spain to have greater control over her future.

In Spain, she's happier, enjoys less expensive healthcare, and has started her own business.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Cepee Tabibian, a 44-year-old from Houston who moved to Spain in 2015, later founding She Hit Refresh, a company that helps women move to Europe. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

I'm originally from Texas. I lived in Houston through college, up until I was 26, and then bounced around a bit.

My first international trip was when I was 17. For my birthday, I begged my parents to send me to the Netherlands to visit my best friend. I got bit by the travel bug.

Every year after that, I worked year-round to pay my way to Europe for the summer.

I first visited Madrid in 2001 when I was 21. Madrid is a city that never sleeps, so it felt like the first time I really had a taste of freedom.

It was really fun to go out, meet people, enjoy the nightlife, and experience the city's vibrancy.

I always say that that trip to Spain was my Goldilocks moment: I finally found where I belonged. And once I had seen the world, I never really wanted to return to the US.

It took years before I moved to Spain

In my 20s, I didn't see a clear path to living in Spain. I was in college, and back then, there weren't many options for Americans who wanted to move abroad.

At 26, I moved to Spain to teach English for a year but then returned to Texas. When I was 29, I moved back and received my master's, but eventually had to return to the States.

In America, I struggled to follow the traditional path of success. I never felt like I fit into the box  climbing the career ladder, getting married, having kids, working until retirement, and keeping up with the Joneses.

Tabibian in Marbella, Spain. Courtesy of Cepee Tabibian

For a while, I lived in Austin. As a child-free woman in my mid-30s, I sometimes felt like the oldest person in the room when I went out.

I never felt that way when I was in Madrid. I noticed it was quite normal to be a single, child-free woman. In fact, many of the people I met when I went out were my age or older. I knew it was in Spain where I truly belonged.

At 35, I decided to give it one more shot. I felt that if I didn't, I might regret it. In 2015, I moved there for the last time.

Nine years later, I'm still here and am now a citizen.

There are many reasons to live in Spain

I received my citizenship at 42, so it took just over 20 years from when I first visited Spain.

It was a two-year process in total, from the time I started gathering the paperwork to the moment I finally had the passport in my hand.

Becoming a citizen felt like a major achievement because I had dreamed of living in Spain since I was 21.

Tabibian out and about in Spain. Courtesy of Cepee Tabibian

I think what attracts a lot of people to Spain is the Mediterranean climate. Coming from Texas, I need sun and warmth, and Spain offers plenty of both.

Spain's affordable cost of living compared to the US, high-quality healthcare, and low crime rates also draw people to the country. The vibrant culture and warm, inviting people make it appealing.

It was difficult to find my footing at first

Getting established in the country was thrilling but also terrifying.

When I first moved to Spain, I lived in Madrid for five years. Now, I've been in Malaga for almost four years.

Madrid is like the New York City of Spain  bustling, big, and very international, with many cultural events.

Malaga, on the other hand, is a coastal town with a more relaxed beach vibe. It's a smaller city that is slower-paced, yet it still retains an international feel.

A waterfront in Malaga, Spain. Courtesy of Cepee Tabibian

I would say I adapted pretty quickly to living in Spain since I had visited in the past. However, settling in and building a routine and community took a few years.

I love living here, but if I had to point out one thing I personally complain about, it would be the lack of diversity.

I recognize that I came from Houston, one of the most diverse cities in the US, so it's not a fair comparison. However, the lack of diversity does affect a few things, like the availability of high-quality international restaurants.

Fortunately, I can easily satisfy my craving for international cuisine by flying to Berlin, London, or Paris.

It can be difficult to find a place to live

Finding long-term housing in Spain has been a challenge, even more so now due to housing shortages.

I know housing prices have increased globally over the years, but Spain has been hit particularly hard.

For example, in Malaga, where I live now, prices have increased by about 20% to 25% in the last year alone for both rentals and purchases.

If you want to move to a popular city like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, or Malaga, a one-bedroom apartment starts at around 1,200 to 1,300 (about $1,310 to $1420). This may seem inexpensive compared to American standards, but for many Spaniards, that's their monthly salary.

However, Spain remains affordable if you live outside the major cities, where reasonable prices are still available.

It's not always easy getting a work visa

Before moving to Spain, I worked in social media, and my background was in marketing.

When I came to Spain, my entry point was teaching English, which wasn't something I wanted to do. But I was aware that I needed to find a way to support myself financially and obtain a work visa to live here.

Being American, it's very difficult to get sponsorship in Spain. Even if you have the necessary skills, you need to prove that you possess a unique skill not available within Europe.

I sent out resumes everywhere. I was very lucky. A Spanish startup was looking for an American with a background in marketing, and I happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Tabibian during a day out in Spain. Courtesy of Cepee Tabibian

While working for the company, it took me a year to start my own business.

I'm the founder of She Hits Refresh, a community-based business that helps women move abroad. Specifically, we assist women from the US who want to relocate to Europe, but we also serve women from Canada and the UK.

We launched our Facebook group in 2017. In 2019, we officially registered as a company.

Our community includes 14,000 Facebook members and 30,000 Instagram followers. We also offer a premium, non-Facebook subscription membership program.

We offer members resources and support through two programs: a four-day master class, where participants learn what they need to do to move abroad, and a paid membership program, which guides them through the entire moving process from start to finish.

Many of the women who turn to our company have three main concerns: career, community, and whether they are making the right decision.

I always tell my clients that, just like life, there are no guarantees. You can't know if it will work until you try it. But you can do your due diligence and have a plan before you move to better set yourself up for success.

I should have moved sooner

There are definitely aspects of living in the US that I miss, such as friends, family, and, sometimes, the culture.

For instance, when I'm on TikTok and see a cultural reference or inside joke, I miss having that connection with people who understand it.

I also miss the culture of convenience in the US, like 24-hour businesses and the level of customer service.

I miss driving, too, though I don't drive in Spain. I haven't needed a car since everything is very walkable and public transportation is well-connected.

Tabibian visiting Lake Como in Italy. Courtesy of Cepee Tabibian

A move abroad is more than just changing locations  it's about transforming your life.

Many women fall into paths they didn't choose or find themselves in situations they don't want to be in. Moving across the world offers an opportunity to reinvent ourselves and build the life we want.

Living in Spain has brought me happiness and ease. Life here feels simpler, and I've alleviated some of the stressors I faced in the US, like the pressure to measure success through job titles and salaries.

I've freed myself from those expectations and redefined what success means to me.

My only regret is not making the move sooner.

Read the original article on Business Insider
How much of East Texas is owned by foreign entities?

TYLER, Texas (KETK)  As concerns about national security grow, data shows that nearly 10% of East Texas land is owned by foreign entities, sparking Texas legislators to restrict such ownership.

Capitol riot defendant jailed over alleged threats against Supreme Court justice and other officials

According to the U.S. Department of Agricultures data for foreign holdings of U.S. agricultural land, 9.54% or 1,204,734 acres of East Texas land is foreign-owned with Polk County having the largest amount of acres owned by foreign entities at 49.68%.

A foreign entity is any corporation, business association, partnership or any other group that is not organized to do business in the United States. Those listed as owners of East Texas agricultural land can be individuals, owners of a company or have invested into the company making them part owners or partnerships.

From data collected in 2021 by the USDA, KETK has found how much of East Texas is foreign owned:

Anderson County

The county is 6.92% or 47,080 acres foreign owned with entities from Canada, Egypt, Lebanon, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Venezuela. A majority of the land is owned by corporations including Puzzlewood Ranch (7,160 acres) and Threetree Southern Growth (34,877 acres).

Angelina County

The county is 21.46% or 109,587 acres foreign owned with entities from Canada, Ireland and Sweden. A majority of the land is corporation and partnership owned by Crown Pine Realty (771 acres) and Crown Pine Timber (100,011 acres).

Bowie County

The county is 4.22% or 23,900 acres foreign owned with entities from Switzerland, China, the the Netherlands, Liechtenstein, Germany, Canada, Austria, Sweden and Canada. The land is primarily owned by corporations or individually owned including Texarkana Riverbend Plantation (5,294 acres) and Belltown Farms 31 (3,564 acres).

Camp County

The county is .14% or 175 acres foreign owned with entities from France. The 175 acres is owned by Tokasha Holsteins, a corporation.

Cass County

The county is 12.44% or 74,592 acres foreign owned with entities from Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Cayman Islands, Sweden and Canada. It is primarily owned by partnerships including Red River Texarkana I (40,015 acres).

Cherokee County

The county is 13.34% or 89,900 acres foreign owned with entities from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, United Kingdom and Sweden. A majority of the land is partnership owned by Red River Nacogdoches I, II and Trs. (53,781 acres).

Franklin County

The county is 4.01% or 7,299 acres foreign owned with entities from Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Canada and Italy. A majority of the land is corporation owned by Jersey Miniere Zinc Company (1,400 acres) and Stockyard Solar Project (1692 acres).

Gregg County

The county is .66% or 1,155 acres foreign owned with entities from Germany and the United Kingdom. A majority of the land is owned by a corporation under Ralf Kuenhoeffer (1,068 acres).

Harrison County

The county is 2.35% or 13,538 acres foreign owned with entities from United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, Cayman Islands and Sweden. A majority of land is owned by Nordic Texarkana (4,204 acres).

Henderson County

The county is 1.11% or 6,207 acres foreign owned with entities from Switzerland and the Netherlands. A majority of the land is owned by corporations including Davin Inc. (5,401 acres) and Golden Keys Farms (1,050 acres).

Hopkins County

The county is 2.68% or 13,162 acres foreign owned with entities from the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Belgium, Mexico, Germany, Nepal, Portugal, Hong Kong, Italy and Venezuela. A majority of the land is individually owned.

State of Texas: Harris sends a message in Houston, amid criticism from state leaders

Houston County

The county is 3.81% or 30,017 acres foreign owned with entities from Canada, South Korea, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, the Netherlands, Sweden and Germany. A majority of the land is owned by corporations or partnerships including Threetree Southern Growth (11,168 acres) and Puzzlewood Ranch Company (4,710 acres).

Marion County

The county is 24.73% or 60,286 acres foreign owned with entities from Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden, Cayman Islands, Canada and Singapore. A majority of the land is owned by MWF IV Texarkana (12,256 acres) and Red River Texarkana (32,335 acres).

Morris County

The county is 1.6% or 2,580 acres foreign owned with entities from the Netherlands, Ireland, United Kingdom, Cambodia, Canada and Sweden. A majority of the land is owned by Invenergy Solar Project Development (1,648 acres).

Nacogdoches County

The county is 15.01% or 90,905 acres foreign owned with entities from Canada, Sweden and Germany. The land is owned by corporations and partnerships including Crown Pine Timber (32,383 acres) and Red River Nacogdoches II (37,920 acres).

Panola County

The county is 14.21% or 73,792 acres foreign owned with entities from Canada, Denmark and Cayman Islands. The land is mostly owned by partnerships including the Red River Nacogdoches I and Red River Nacogdoches II (61,100 acres).

Polk County

The county is 49.68% or 336,075 acres foreign owned with entities from Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Luxembourg. A majority of land in the county is owned by corporations and partnerships including RMS Texas Timberlands (150,131 acres) and Tamarack Timber Co. (69,081 acres).

Rains County

The county is .16% or 231 acres foreign owned with an entity from Luxembourg, the Trans-Atlantic Consultants, a corporation.

Rusk County

The county is 1.87% or 11,061 acres foreign owned with entities from Canada. It is primarily owned by partnerships including the Crown Pine Timber (4,827 acres).

Sabine County

The county is 1.38% or 4,343 acres foreign owned with entities from Canada. A majority of the land is owned by partnerships by the Red River Louisiana Trs (3,546 acres).

San Augustine County

The county is 20.24% or 68,745 acres foreign owned with entities from Canada and Denmark. A majority of the land is owned by corporations including Crown Pine Timber I (50,749 acres).

Shelby County

The county is 8% or 40,735 acres foreign owned with entities from Belize, Canada and Denmark. The land is primarily owned by partnerships including Red River Nacogdoches I (26,705 acres).

Smith County

The county is .39% or 2,300 acres foreign owned with entities from Guatemala and United Kingdom. A majority of the land is owned by Prins Ranch Properties, a partnership (2,071 acres).

Titus County

The county is .25% or 650 acres foreign owned by individuals from South Korea and the Netherlands.

Trinity County

The county is 19.46% or 86,409 acres foreign owned with entities from Canada, Denmark and the Netherlands. The majority of owners are partnerships and corporations including RMS Texas Timberlands I (21,583 acres).

Upshur County

The county is .74% or 2,761 acres foreign owned with entities form Canada, Sweden and the Netherlands. A majority of the land is owned by individuals.

Van Zandt County

The county is .44% or 2,373 acres foreign owned with entities from India, China, Switzerland, Cayman Islands, Mexico, Canada and New Zealand. A majority of the land is owned by individuals or partnerships including McQuinn Limited (1,081 acres).

Wood County

The county is 1.18% or 4,873 acres foreign owned with entities from the Netherlands, Switzerland and United Kingdom. The land is primarily owned by individuals or corporations including Prins Ranch Properties (3,702 acres).

Texas Legislators Address Foreign Ownership Concerns

In recent years, Texas politicians have sounded the alarm on hostile foreign organizations and have tried to stop them from owning land and assets in the state.

Filed in November 2022, Senate Bill 147, aimed to prohibit certain foreign individuals or entities from purchasing or acquiring the title to real property including governmental entities, companies or citizens of China, Iran, North Korea and Russia that made no exception for dual citizens or visa holders.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott blames VP Harris for open border policy

AALC holds Houston Anti-Racism Rally Against S.B. 147 and S.B. 552 on February 11, 2023.

The Asian Americans Leadership Council, a non-partisan nonprofit organization, called the bill anti-immigrant and classified immigrants from the four countries as a security threat, ignoring that these individuals left their home countries in search of the American Dream.

However, District 18 Sen. Lois W. Kolkhorst said S.B. 147 was needed after more Texans had been alarmed by the increased acquisition of land by primarily Chinese interests.

The growing ownership of Texas land by some foreign entities is highly disturbing and raises red flags for many Texans, Kolkhorst said. By comparison, as an American go try to buy land near a Chinese military base and see how it works out for you. It would never happen there and it shouldnt happen here. Passing this law delivers some basic safeguards to ensure Texans remain in control of Texas land.

Foreign Ownership in East Texas by Hostile Countries

According to the Foreign Holdings of U.S. Agricultural Land, foreign entities reported holding approximately 40 million agricultural acres in the U.S., of that, Chinese entities own less than 1% or around 384,000 acres. In Texas, Chinese entities own about 162,000 acres.

In East Texas, KETK found only Bowie and Van Zandt counties have Chinese individuals who own agricultural land totaling 2,580 acres, or about .214% of that owned by all foreign entities. Using data from the USDA, no Russian, Iranian or North Korean entities own agricultural land in East Texas.

Chairman Rep. Cole Hefner takes initiative to ban foreign land owners

However, Rep. Cole Hefner, a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from Mount Pleasant, which has no hostile foreign countries owning land, is the chairman for the newly formed House Select Committee on Securing Texas from Hostile Foreign Organizations.

The committee met for the first time in late July where Hefner said they discussed the main goal to ban the Chinese Communist Party and other adversaries from owning land in Texas.

The committee will also recommend policy changes that will mitigate the risks posed by ownership of Texas assets, examine rates of intellectual property theft and identify industries impacted.

To watch the full video from the committees first meeting, visit the Texas House of Representatives website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Bangladesh's figurehead President Mohammed Shahabuddin administers the oath of office to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, right, as the head of Bangladesh's interim government, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar)

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP)  Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took the oath of office as head of Bangladeshs interim government Thursday after protests forced out former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina this week.

The key tasks for Yunus now are restoring peace in Bangladesh and preparing for new elections following the ouster of Hasina, who fled to India after weeks of student protests over job quotas grew into an uprising against her increasingly autocratic 15-year rule.

The figurehead President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to Yunus for his role as chief adviser, which is the equivalent to a prime minister, in the presence of diplomats, civil society members, top businessmen and members of the former opposition party at the presidential palace in Dhaka. No representatives of Hasina's party were present.

The 16 other members of the interim Cabinet were drawn mainly from civil society and include two of the student protest leaders. The Cabinet members were chosen in discussions this week among student leaders, civil society representatives and the military.

The protests began in July against a quota system for government jobs that critics said favored people with connections to Hasinas party. But she resigned and fled to India on Monday after the protests coalesced into a movement against her government and more than 300 people including students and police officers were killed in the spiraling violence.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his best wishes to Yunus in a statement on social media platform X, and alluded to reports that Hindus in Muslim-majority Bangladesh had been targeted during the violence.

We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities, Modi said. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development.

Yunus, who was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his work developing microcredit markets, was in Paris for the Olympics when he was chosen for the interim role. He called for calm and an end to partisan violence before he returned home earlier Thursday.

In his first comments after his arrival, he told a news briefing that his priority would be to restore order. Bangladesh is a family. We have to unite it, Yunus said, flanked by student leaders. It has immense possibility.

Yunus has been a longtime opponent of Hasina, who had called him a bloodsucker allegedly for using force to extract loan repayments from rural poor, mainly women. Yunus has denied the allegations.

On Wednesday, a tribunal in Dhaka acquitted Yunus in a labor law violation case involving a telecommunication company he founded, in which he was convicted and sentenced to six months in jail. He had been released on bail in the case.

The president had dissolved Parliament on Tuesday, clearing the path for the interim administration.

The quick move to select Yunus came when Hasinas resignation created a vacuum and left the future unclear for Bangladesh, which has a history of military rule and myriad crises.

Hasinas son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who acts as an adviser to his mother, has vowed that his family and the Awami League party would remain engaged in Bangladeshs politics despite what he said have been attacks on the Awami League party over the past week. Many observers see Joy as Hasinas successor in a dynastic political culture that dominates the South Asian nations politics.

If we want to build a new Bangladesh, it is not possible without the Awami League, he said. The Awami League is the oldest, democratic, and largest party in Bangladesh."

Hasina, 76, was elected to a fourth consecutive term in January, but the vote was boycotted by her main opponents, thousands of opposition members were jailed beforehand, and the U.S. and U.K. denounced the result as not credible. Hasina's critics say her administration increasingly was marked by human rights abuses and corruption.

The chaos on Bangladeshs streets continued after her resignation on Monday. Dozens of police officers were killed, prompting police to stop working across the country. They threatened not to return unless their safety is ensured.

Overnight into Thursday, residents across Dhaka carried sticks, iron rods and sharp weapons to guard their neighborhoods amid reports of robberies. Communities used loudspeakers in mosques to alert people that robberies were occurring, and police remained off duty. The military shared hotline numbers for people seeking help.

Many have feared Hasinas departure could trigger even more instability in the nation of some 170 million people, already dealing with high unemployment, corruption and a complex strategic relationship with India, China and the United States.

China and the United States have both welcomed the new government.

We think the interim government will play a vital role in establishing long-term peace and political stability in Bangladesh, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters. He also reiterated that the government's decisions "should respect democratic principles, rule of law, and the will of the Bangladeshi people.

China said it stood ready to work with Bangladesh to promote bilateral cooperation and advance their strategic partnership. "We respect Bangladeshs independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and the development path independently chosen by the Bangladeshi people," the Foreign Ministry statement said.
The Milwaukee man accused of killing and dismembering 19-year-old Sade Robinson allegedly plotted the grisly crime weeks before it happened, according to an informants letter filed in court.



In April, Milwaukees authorities were notified of a series of body parts along the shores of Lake Michigan. The Lake County, Michigan Coroners Office linked the remains to Robinson shortly after their discovery. Weeks into the investigation, 33-year-old Maxwell Anderson was arrested as the prime suspect in the killing.

He pleaded not guilty to first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and arson of property, court records show. However, in a confidential informant note filed in court, obtained by FOX6 News, it is alleged that Anderson fully thought out a plan to kill Robinson.

Read more from FOX 5 Atlanta:

The informant told police they were at Andersons home on March 5, according to court filings. Anderson showed the informant his basement, the informant said, including a plastic tarp that covered a sanitation sink, ceiling, floor and walls. According to the informants statement in the court filings, Anderson told the informant he intended to kill Sade Robinson  using a gun to get her down into the basement. The informant said Anderson then said he planned on shooting Robinson and then dismember her body in the room before disposing Robinsons body throughout the city. The information told police they saw three saws in the basement and believed those were the saws Anderson intended to use, per the court filings. The court records obtained Wednesday also indicate another woman went on a date with Anderson in February. That woman said Anderson asked her back to his home and believed he drugged her drink.

Authorities previously stated Anderson and Robinson met on a dating app and went out for drinks the evening of April 1 at Twisted Fisherman. According to Robinsons phone location, the two went to another bar and ended the night at Andersons home.

Footage from Warnimont Park around 4:30 a.m. the next morning showed a figure walking back and forth from the bluff to a parked Honda Civic, later identified as Robinsons vehicle. Three hours later, the car was seen burnt to a crisp and Robinsons belongings were found inside.

The new court filing did nothing but intensify the emotions of Robinsons family.

After the fact doesnt do me any justice, because it doesnt bring my daughter back. Why would this guy feel comfortable to tell you his plans in the first place? said Robinsons father, Carlos, to FOX 5 Atlanta. This fuels my rage knowing that somebody else could have stopped this, and they didnt.

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Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul discusses the new missing child alert, which expands the criteria for issuing alerts for missing children.

A new missing child alert system  different from the Wisconsin AMBER alert  was announced Thursday by Attorney General Josh Kaul.

The bill, known as the Prince Act, is named after 5-year-old Prince McCree, who went missing in Milwaukee in 2023. His body was found the next morning after being beaten to death.

The act was also created in response to the disappearance and death of 10-year-old Lily Peters from Chippewa Falls in 2022. Lily went missing around 9 p.m. one evening and was found dead shortly before 9 a.m. the next day. When Lily went missing, the Chippewa Falls Police Department said her case did not meet the criteria for an AMBER alert.

The killings of Prince and Lily exposed holes in Wisconsin's AMBER alert system.

To issue an AMBER alert, a child must be 17 years of age or younger, in danger of serious bodily harm or death and the initiating agency must have enough descriptive information about the child, the suspect and/or the suspect vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast alert will help locate the child.

Without a description of the suspect or suspect's vehicle, requests for alerts are often denied. This is what occurred in Prince's case. Runaway children cannot qualify for AMBER alerts, either.

State Sen. LaTonya Johnson lived five houses away from Prince. She heard about his disappearance even before the police arrived. His parents were going door-to-door in their neighborhood, asking if anyone had seen their son.

Balloons are included in makeshift memorial on a dumpster near North Hawley Road and West Vliet Street where a 5-year-old Milwaukee boy, Prince McCree, who was found dead last October. Milwaukee police said they've opened a homicide investigation to determine the circumstances leading to Prince's death.

When Prince went missing, the Milwaukee Police Department twice requested an AMBER alert, but the request was denied by state officials. Johnson said she was present when Prince's parents were told he didn't qualify for an AMBER alert.

"To hear the reason for the denial by the state really hit home hard for me, because I knew that at five years old, there was no way (Prince) could be self-sufficient or take care of himself," she said.

Johnson co-authored the bill, along with Sen. Jesse James, Rep. Shelia Stubbs and Rep. John Spiros. The missing child alert was created when Gov. Tony Evers signed the bill into law in April.

The first new missing child alert was issued earlier this week for a missing child in Milwaukee, Kaul said. The child was recovered safely.

"My son always wanted to be a hero, he wanted to be Spiderman. Now, his name is saving lives," said Darron McCree, Prince's father.

The Prince Act allows the Silver Alert system to apply to certain children by expanding the definition of "person at risk." That system was aimed at seniors who have dementia or are otherwise cognitively impaired.

Now, missing child alerts can be sent for missing children under 10 years of age or missing children under the age of 18 who do not otherwise qualify for another alert and are believed incapable of returning home without help because of a physical or mental condition.

Kaul said while the geographical focus is narrower for missing child alerts, the urgency is the same. AMBER alerts are sent out statewide, while these alerts will be sent to the phones of anyone within five miles of where the child was last seen.

Iliana Peters

"But in any of these cases where somebody is getting an alert, we encourage members of the public to take them incredibly seriously," he added.

Like a Silver Alert, requests for missing child alerts are made within 72 hours of the individual's disappearance. The missing child alerts will be disseminated through the Wisconsin crime alert network, as well as a wireless emergency alert sent to mobile devices within a 5-mile radius between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.

If your child is missing, Kaul said parents should contact law enforcement right away. Local law enforcement will coordinate with the Wisconsin Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation, who ultimately issue the alert.

While he could not provide an estimate of how many missing child alerts would be issued, Kaul said he anticipates the number of alerts in Wisconsin to "meaningfully increase." Right now, only three employees handle all the alerts at the Division of Criminal Investigation.

"Having a few more folks who can make sure that system is operating and is able to run effectively ... is something we'll be hoping to work with the Legislature on in the upcoming budget because we don't want to have a circumstance where we have more requests for alerts coming in than our staff is able to handle," he said.

Even though AMBER alerts have narrow criteria, many counties had their own system for alerting the public about a missing child.

In Milwaukee, the critical missing alert was often sent over television and radio when a child disappeared. However, Johnson said, most people aren't watching television and radio all day, making those alerts easy to miss.

The new missing child alert standardizes the system across Wisconsin.

"This alert system provides all the counties the same resources," Johnson said. "In many cases, people think that urban and rural areas have nothing in common. This bill shows that they do ... and helps to unite the state."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin launches new missing child alert, addresses AMBER alert gaps
Nancy Pelosi Says Republicans Privately Told Her That Democrats Have to Beat Donald Trump so GOP Can Start Fresh

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the Republican Party 'a cult' under former President Donald Trump's leadership

Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claims that members of the Republican Party have told her they want to see Donald Trump and J.D. Vance defeated in the 2024 presidential election.

According to Pelosi, some Republicans have approached her and said, "You have to beat them in the general because we can't beat them in the primary. And then we will come back to our debate on the issues."

The California congresswoman, 84, made her comments during an Aug. 7 interview with MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell.

"The Republican Party has been hijacked, and its now a cult, and they should take it back because a republic needs a strong Republican Party," Pelosi told Mitchell, adding the GOP had previously done "great things" for the country.

"So, in any event, we just have to win the election," she concluded.

SCOTT APPLEWHITE/POOL/AFP via Getty

Pelosi  who is seeking reelection to the House in 2024  endorsed Kamala Harris for president on July 22, calling her "a champion for working families, notably fighting for a woman's right to choose."

"Politically, make no mistake: Kamala Harris as a woman in politics is brilliantly astute, she continued. And I have full confidence that she will lead us to victory in November."

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Pelosi has been speaking with media this week promoting her new book, The Art of Power, which covers her political career and offers her perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, and the distressing home invasion that took place in her San Francisco home back in 2022.

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Read the original article on People.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, waves as she arrives for a campaign rally in an airport hangar outside Detroit, Michigan, the United States, Aug. 7, 2024.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris have agreed to a Sept. 10 debate on ABC, the network said on Thursday.

Both Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, and Harris, his Democratic counterpart, have confirmed their participation in the debate, said the network in a statement. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

NEW YORK, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. President Donald Trump and incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris have agreed to a Sept. 10 debate on ABC, the network said on Thursday.

Both Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, and Harris, his Democratic counterpart, have confirmed their participation in the debate, said the network in a statement.

The 90-minute debate is expected to be held in Philadelphia, and the ABC anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis will serve as moderators, according to The New York Times. The debate will probably be held without a live audience, but the exact format and ground rules are still being determined, the report said, quoting two people with knowledge of the plans.

The announcement followed a Trump news conference in Palm Beach, Florida, during which he proposed three debates with Harris. Trump had previously agreed to debate President Joe Biden on Sept. 10, but pulled out after Biden withdrew from the Democratic ticket.

Trump also said that he would debate Harris on two other occasions, at events hosted by NBC News and Fox News. But the Harris campaign has not agreed to those debates, which were not part of the original debate schedule that Biden and Trump had agreed upon in May.

At this year's previous debate in June, Biden's shaky and diminished performance set off a panic among Democrats that ultimately led to the president ceding his spot atop his party's ticket. 

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, attends a campaign rally in an airport hangar outside Detroit, Michigan, the United States, Aug. 7, 2024.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris have agreed to a Sept. 10 debate on ABC, the network said on Thursday.

Both Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, and Harris, his Democratic counterpart, have confirmed their participation in the debate, said the network in a statement. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, speaks during a campaign rally in an airport hangar outside Detroit, Michigan, the United States, Aug. 7, 2024.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris have agreed to a Sept. 10 debate on ABC, the network said on Thursday.

Both Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, and Harris, his Democratic counterpart, have confirmed their participation in the debate, said the network in a statement. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)
Nancy Pelosi says she's 'never been that impressed' with Biden's political operation

Nancy Pelosi says she's 'never been that impressed' with Biden's political operation

Pelosi reportedly played a major role in urging Biden to withdraw. She keeps downplaying it.

But she's not hiding her skepticism of his campaign.

"I've never been that impressed with his political operation," she said.

In recent days, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi has begun to open up about her views on President Joe Biden's decision to step aside.

That includes a rather blunt assessment of his political operation, despite her decades of friendship with the president.

"I've never been that impressed with his political operation," she told The New Yorker. "They won the White House. Bravo. But my concern was: This ain't happening, and we have to make a decision for this to happen. The president has to make the decision for that to happen."

It's been widely reported that Pelosi played a major role in Biden's decision to withdraw from the 2024 race. The New York Times has reported she told him directly that he had little path to victory following his disastrous debate performance and that Biden himself viewed Pelosi as a "main instigator" of the effort within the party to persuade him to step aside.

But Pelosi has downplayed all that, declining to speak about her private conversations with Biden while insisting that she did not coordinate any broad effort.

What's clear is that Pelosi did make at least one fateful move: In a "Morning Joe" interview, she said Biden had to make a decision about continuing his campaign, even after he had already said he would remain in the race. That interview reopened a conversation within the party that seemed to have been clamped down on just one day earlier.

"I didn't plan to do that," Pelosi told The New Yorker. "In fact, if I did, I probably would've worn a different suit or something because I didn't look too professional."

Pelosi also said she hoped her relationship with Biden, which has spanned over 40 years since she was the chair of the California Democratic Party, could remain intact in the wake of Biden's decision.

"I hope so," Pelosi said. "I pray so. I cry so."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Narcan training can help you save someone from dying of a drug overdose

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)- August is overdose awareness month, and in the Valley, there have been more overdoses so far than days in a year.

Mental health and recovery boards are trying to bring awareness to overdoses. Having Narcan on hand can save a life.

Hundreds in our communities struggle with mental health and drug addiction every day. This month highlights those who lost their lives and have survived drug overdose. County boards are trying to highlight that drug addiction is a mental health condition and overdoses are preventable.

In Mahoning County at the end of July, the Mental Health and Recovery Board recorded almost 300 overdoses. There have been 54 fatal and 230 non-fatal overdoses. In Trumbull County since August 1, there have been 242 non-fatal and 30 fatal overdoses.

Associate director of the Mahoning County Board Brenda Heidinger says those numbers have been consistent after the the pandemic and that fentanyl is still the leading drug in most overdoses.

Oftentimes, what we see is the person using the drug didnt realize how much fentanyl was in it or how much something they werent expecting was in their drugs, said Heidinger.

Heidinger says Narcan can save lives and prevent overdoses. This month there will be events to train people on how to use that lifesaving drug and where they can get it.



Narcan can reverse an opioid drug overdose. Associate Director of the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board Brenda Heidinger says fentanyl is still present in the majority of overdoses. The Mahoning County Public Health Board states 40% of overdose deaths a bystander was present and could have saved a life if Narcan was available.

Its like having a first aid kit in your car. youre just stopping to offer first aid to help a person until a paramedic can get there, Heidinger said.

This month there will be three opportunities for individuals to get training and receive free Narcan. The first is this Friday at the Mahoning County Public Health building in Austintown from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
NASA still hasn't decided whether to send its two stranded astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, back from the International Space Station on board Boeing's plagued Starliner.

The pair's trip to the orbital outpost has repeatedly been extended thanks to glaring technical issues affecting Starliner's propulsion system.

For now, NASA is keeping all of its options open as it studies several contingency plans. Perhaps the most discussed plan is to have Wilmore and Williams return on board SpaceX's Crew-9 spacecraft early next year.

But in case things didn't go according to plan, NASA has also been considering a far more eccentric option: stuffing Wilmore and Williams into SpaceX's already fully occupied Crew-8 spacecraft, which delivered a crew of four to the ISS in early March and is still currently docked to the ISS alongside the troubled Starliner.

"We have a task order in place to allow up to three crew members on the cargo pallet using the foam configuration in the Crew-8 Dragon," the head of NASA's commercial crew program Steve Stich revealed during a conference call today.

In other words, if push comes to shove, NASA would consider cramming Williams and Wilmore into the negative space surrounding the four occupied seats  highlighting the lengths the agency is willing to go to ensure its astronauts' safe return.

Having a crew of six climb into SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft isn't quite as outlandish as it sounds. The space company originally designed the capsule to house up to seven passengers, but NASA has opted to send crews of four to the ISS since its first official crew rotation mission involving the spacecraft in November 2020.

Since at least 2022, NASA has been assessing how to accommodate up to seven crew members in the capsule, an investigation spurred by Russia's Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft springing a leak and spraying coolant into outer space.

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, who launched to the ISS in July 2022 on board the leaking capsule, had his stay on board the ISS extended considerably due to the leak, consequently breaking the record for the longest spaceflight by an American astronaut.

At the time, NASA floated the idea of moving his Soyuz seat to SpaceX's Crew-5 Dragon in case of an emergency, increasing the number of occupants from four to five. Rubio, however, returned to Earth on board a substitute Soyuz capsule that was sent to the space station in October.

During today's conference call, ISS program manager Dana Weigel recalled the event to discuss the option of having Wilmore and Williams return in an already full-up Dragon spacecraft.

"We put in place a capability that allowed for a five crew return with the Dragon," she said. "When we did that, we used the seat liner as the cushion on the Dragon cargo pallet for Frank [Rubio], and what we realized after that is ideally we wouldn't be taking the Soyuz seat liner and moving it. It is vulnerable to damage."

As a result, NASA had to come up with an alternative that involved "using a different foam basically for the cushioning and didn't require us to move the seat liner."

"That's actually the generic contingency configuration that we plan to use for all of our Soyuz crew members if we ever encounter a Soyuz vehicle issue and need to use the Dragon," Weigel said.

In the case of an emergency, this same plan could be applied to Williams and Wilmore's makeshift seats on board Crew-8.

In July, NASA awarded SpaceX a $266,000 task order to examine whether it could fit more than four crew members on Crew Dragon. At the time, NASA claimed the order was related to the Soyuz coolant leak, not Starliner.

NASA has yet to make an official call. Task order or not, the two far more likely outcomes are for NASA to either risk sending Williams and Wilmore back home on board Boeing's leaking spacecraft or  in a vote of no confidence  delay their return by securing two seats on Crew-9 and sending Starliner back to Earth without a crew.

The space agency isn't exactly in an enviable position, and officials will likely spend the next few weeks or so poring over the data NASA and Boeing have collected so far.

The agency is giving itself until "mid-August" to make a decision, according to today's call.

More on Starliner: Stranded Astronauts Could Be Stuck on the Space Station for Another 5 Months, NASA Says
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  NASA leaders said theyre trying to plan for alternatives, if they dont feel confident astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams can return on the Boeing Starliner space capsule, at a press briefing on Tuesday.

Williams and Wilmore are 63 days into their test flight on the Boeing Starliner. The mission was originally slated for a minimum of eight days.

Among the options, according to NASAs Steve Stich, bringing the astronauts down on a SpaceX Dragon Capsule. A mission with four astronauts is slated for September. NASA said, if needed, two astronauts would go to the International Space Station, instead, and Williams and Wilmore would return with them, next year.

NASA pushed the launch of the next SpaceX Dragon crew back to September

Stich and Ken Bowersox from NASA said some at NASA are at odds with Boeing about whether the astronauts should return on the Starliner. In an online post last week, Boeing said it is confident the Starliner can return safely with crew. Some at NASA disagree.

They would recommend that we avoid coming home because we have another option, said Bowersox.

Engineers at Boeing and NASA are still trying to figure out what caused a helium leak in the propulsion system and why thrusters stopped working while the Starliner was trying to dock with the International Space Station.

I think the NASA community, in general, would like to understand a little bit more of the root cause and the physics, Stich said.

Stich said NASA engineers are worried about both the helium leaks and the thrusters failing at the same time, which would make it difficult to control the Starliner.

NASA said it hopes to make a decision by August.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
The Nassau Humane Society is providing free spay-neuter services to its community partners to help combat animal overpopulation.

Since May, the NHS Mobile Clinic has been providing services to Cats Angels, Nassau County Animal Services, and Saving Animals from Euthanasia (SAFE) in St. Augustine.

A grant from the Florida Animal Friend license plate program helps fund the program.

The grant will come to an end at the end of August but our work to reduce the overpopulation of animals and homeless pets will continue, Chantel Scherer, Executive Director of the Nassau Humane Society, said in a news release.

Starting in September, the society will provide low-cost healthcare services like spay-neuter, vaccinations, and microchipping. Procedures will be done in the new cutting-edge, self-contained, mobile veterinary clinic.

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Our new clinic has been made possible by our generous donors, but to reach our goal of providing low-cost healthcare to the animals who need it most, we need continued support, Scherer said.

NHS is setting up a fund to finance the operation. You can contribute here.

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Navalny's wife says he should have been part of historic prisoner swap

By Mark Trevelyan

LONDON (Reuters) - Alexei Navalny's wife Yulia said on Thursday that she felt both joy and bitterness over a Cold War-style prisoner swap that saw the release of leading Russian dissidents last week, nearly six months after he died in an Arctic penal colony.

Yulia Navalnaya said her husband, had he lived, was meant to be part of the deal in which Russia handed over the dissidents, along with U.S. and German nationals, in return for convicted Russian assassin Vadim Krasikov and other Russians held in Western jails.

Navalny's supporters said shortly after he died on Feb. 16 that he was on the point of being exchanged for Krasikov, a member of Russia's FSB security service who was serving a life sentence in Germany for murdering a former Chechen fighter.

"At that time many people thought it was impossible, that we had made it up. But now everything is extremely obvious," Navalnaya said in a YouTube video.

"Putin really did agree to give up political prisoners in exchange for spies and murderers, and this happened. But not for Alexei."

Putin has said he was willing to release Navalny, a charismatic anti-corruption campaigner who had built up a national movement that was banned on grounds of "extremism", on condition that he never returned to Russia.

The Kremlin denies accusations by Navalny's family and supporters that Putin had him killed in prison because he could not bear to see him go free. Navalny's death certificate said the 47-year-old died of natural causes.

Navalny's movement has said it will provide proof of the allegation, but has yet to publish evidence. Navalny, who survived a poisoning attempt in 2020, had endured harsh prison conditions and spent long periods in solitary confinement.

In her video, Navalnaya celebrated the Aug. 1 release of the eight Russian dissidents but said she also felt sadness.

"I hadn't felt such relief and happiness for a long time. But at the same time I felt very, very bitter."

She said the exchange involving the U.S. and Germany had shown that Russia's opposition could engage with world leaders, who "haven't given up on Russia".

But she named at least 15 prisoners still held on politically related charges, including Navalny's TV technician Daniel Kholodny, three of Navalny's lawyers, and other politicians, activists and journalists.

Oleg Orlov, a rights campaigner among those freed last week, said on Wednesday there was already talk of a possible follow-up exchange. He did not say who was involved in such discussions.

The prisoner swap also saw the release of leading dissidents Vladimir Kara-Murza and Ilya Yashin, meaning that all the Kremlin's most prominent opponents are now based outside the country. Navalnaya is also unable to return, as a court this week upheld a decision that means she would be arrested for involvement in an "extremist" group if she set foot in Russia.

It remains unclear how effectively they and others in Russia's quarrelsome opposition will be able to work together and what they can achieve, given Putin's total hold on power.

Navalnaya said it would take enormous effort and sacrifice, but the prisoners' release offered hope.

"Just a week ago they were in prison, locked behind iron doors ... Today they are free people," she said.

"Some day, the same thing will happen to our country."

(Reporting by Mark Trevelyan, Editing by William Maclean)
NC man with blue crab logo on hat attacked police officers during Jan. 6 riot, feds say

A 51-year-old Western North Carolina man was arrested and charged Wednesday with assaulting law enforcement officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots, prosecutors said.

Gregory Charles Peck Jr. was charged with one felony count of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers using a deadly or dangerous weapon and one felony count of civil disorder.

Peck also faces several misdemeanor charges, including disorderly conduct offenses and engaging in physical violence on Capitol grounds with a dangerous weapon.

FBI agents arrested Peck in Connelly Springs, a small town west of Hickory, according to a Wednesday press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

According to the release, Peck was seen on a body-worn camera using a flagpole to hit a Metropolitan Police Department officer. Later, Peck sprayed an officer with an orange substance, prosecutors allege.

Peck then headed to the Lower West Terrace Tunnel on Capitol grounds, where he grabbed an MPD officers jacket collar and pulled, causing the officers head to jerk back. Others told Peck to let go of the officer, who appeared to have trouble breathing, according to the release.

Members of the U.S. House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack found that former President Donald Trump provoked his supporters to violence through his false allegations of fraud in the 2020 election.

More than 1,488 people have been charged in the breach of the Capitol in the ongoing investigation, the Justice Department said.
The number of completed health screenings seriously declined in some local school districts last school year after the passage of Senate Bill 49, but others saw little change.

This school year could be a different story though, one head school nurse says, since some districts squeezed in health screenings under the old rules before the law officially took effect at the start of 2024.

Senate Bill 49  branded by Republican proponents as The Parents Bill of Rights  became law in Aug. 2023 after the North Carolina General Assembly overrode Governor Roy Coopers veto. The controversial law created provisions related to the kind of student information parents in North Carolina have access to, including health records, library logs and changes in a childs pronouns or nicknames used at school.

It also required parents opt in if they want their children to receive health screenings at school, including routine hearing, vision and dental screenings. Previously, students received such screenings by default unless parents chose to opt their child out.

Public health officials have called the decrease in screenings concerning.

The numbers

For some Charlotte-area counties, declines were staggering. Vision screenings plummeted by over 93% across all three school districts in Catawba County  from 8,546 total screenings in the 2022-23 school year to 548 in the 2023-24 school year. Hearing screenings declined by 34%  from 491 screenings in the 2022-23 school year to 322 screenings last year.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools had a decline in vision screenings of nearly 65% between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years, county health department data show. The decline was steeper  82%  when it came to dental and hearing screenings.

Gaston County Schools saw vision screenings decrease by 48%. The district does not offer hearing screenings.

Declines were smaller in other local districts. Vision screenings fell by 28% in Union County Public Schools  from 20,873 to 14,949. Hearing screenings declined by 27%, from 7,688 to 5,623. In Cabarrus County Schools, hearing screenings dipped by just 2%. The Charlotte Observer is still awaiting data on vision screenings from the district.

While Senate Bill 49 was passed last August, school districts had until Jan. 1 to comply. This allowed some districts to complete health screenings during the fall 2023 semester under the old rules.

I can tell you (the 2022-23 and 2023-24 screening numbers) were compatible because we got them in before the Parents Bill of Rights went into effect Jan. 1, said Karen Kerley, the Iredell-Statesville lead nurse whos since retired. Iredell-Statesville Schools has not yet provided official totals requested by The Charlotte Observer.

Kerley says she suspects districts that did not experience drops in screenings last school year will see them when classes resume this month. Thats because Senate Bill 49 is now in full effect.

I will be surprised if the numbers arent lower this year, she told The Observer.

The Observer also requested health screening numbers from school districts in Lincoln and Rowan and counties but has not yet received them. Statewide data for the 2023-24 school year is not yet available.

Role of screenings

Local school and public health leaders have expressed concern over the drop in preventative screenings for young students, saying school screenings are often how children first learn they have an issue with vision or hearing that could affect their ability to perform in the classroom.

We know that screenings are crucial because they not only provide a platform for early detection of potential health issues, but access to these screenings is also crucial for academic performance and learning, said Kimberly Scott, Mecklenburg County assistant health director.

North Carolina law requires all students entering public school to receive a health assessment from a physician or health department at least 12 months prior to starting school for the first time. After that point, further health assessments are not required.

Kids can often get preventative health screenings at their pediatricians office, but Scott also says she encourages families who find themselves without resources to contact their local health department for services.
DRACUT, Mass. (WWLP)- Dozens of guinea pigs were found abandoned in the eastern part of the state.

Deadly crash shut down I-91 south in Springfield

Dracut police say 49 guinea pigs were found left on a small trail near Beaver Brook in a lethargic and poor condition. Now police are searching for the owner.

Police said it was obvious they had been intentionally left, with no way to fend for themselves or escape. They say the animals arent available for adoption because of their condition.

It was evident that the guinea pigs had been intentionally disposed of in a location where they had no means to fend for themselves or escape their dire situation, said Animal Control Officer Colleen Morse. Given the abundance of resources available for the care and rehoming of animals, such neglect and abandonment are unacceptable. This situation indicates a serious lapse in responsibility and compassion.

If you have any information contact the Dracut Police Department at 978-957-2123.

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WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called on the international community to strengthen solidarity and intensify cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

"At present, terrorism continues to pose a threat to international peace and security," said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, at the UN Security Council briefing on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

Noting that the threat posed by Daesh, Al-Qaeda and its affiliated terrorist organizations continues unabated, Geng warned that as the new round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict continues to escalate, its spillover effects are constantly emerging, leading to a surge in hate crimes and an increased risk of terrorist attacks in many countries.

"These developments are a source of deep concern and disturbance," he stressed.

While underscoring the importance of cooperation in the fight against terrorism, the envoy said counter-terrorism "should not become a tool for major power rivalry, a bargaining chip in geopolitics, or a pretext for interfering in other countries' internal affairs."

"All countries should uphold the concept of common security, abandon ideological bias, eradicate double standards or selectivity in counterterrorism efforts, and effectively respect and protect the security of each and every country," he said.

Geng called on the international community to adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold and practice true multilateralism, and effectively play the central coordinating role of the United Nations in international counter-terrorism efforts.

He also urged the full implementation of UN resolutions on counter-terrorism and the UN Global Counterterrorism Strategy, and jointly combatting all terrorist organizations and individuals listed by the Security Council.

Geng stressed the importance of cooperation at the national, regional and global levels, the collective counter-terrorism mechanism, counter-terrorism cooperation efforts in areas like early warning, financing and border control, as well as in-depth research on the impact of emerging technologies on the international fight against terrorism.

Calling for prioritizing counter-terrorism efforts and optimizing the allocation of resources, he said the United Nations and the international community should, based on the counter-terrorism needs of the countries concerned, allocate more resources to help strengthen the legislative, judicial, and law enforcement capabilities of the countries concerned and enhance their comprehensive counter-terrorism and de-radicalization capabilities.

"It has been proved many times that terrorism cannot be completely eliminated purely through military means," the ambassador emphasized, adding that "Only by upholding a systematic concept, focusing on the long-term and on the root causes and taking a multifaceted approach in economic, political, social, cultural, and religious fields, can we eliminate the root causes, and ultimately achieve victory in the fight against terrorism."

Geng noted that while countering terrorism, regional countries should focus on eradicating poverty, improving education, employment, and economy, and further explore a development path in line with their national conditions.

"The international community should increase development assistance, support and help the countries concerned to resolve their debt and financing problems and enhance their capabilities for sustainable social and economic development," he said.

He stated that it is essential to promote a political settlement of regional conflicts and hotspot issues, improve the humanitarian situation in conflict areas, and prevent terrorist forces from taking advantage of the chaos.

"In this connection, I would like to make a special appeal to the international community to make concerted efforts to promote a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible, to ease tensions in the region as soon as possible, and to spare no effort in preventing further escalation of the conflict and confrontations, which could lead to even greater casualties and catastrophe," Geng noted.

"In the face of the new situation and new challenges, China will continue to work along with all parties to uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, so as to further contribute to effectively addressing the threat of global terrorism and creating a world of lasting peace and universal security," he stressed. 
HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT)  A duo from Newburgh will be spending a combined 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine into Evansville.

Michael Jimenez was sentenced to ten years and Jordan Jimenez was sentenced to 15 years. Authorities say they were uncle and nephew.

Anonymous tip leads to drug arrest in Dubois County

According to court documents, between May and July 2022, Michael and Jordan worked together to buy and sell large quantities of meth in southern Indiana. Officials state Jordan obtained pounds of meth from his source of supply then fronted a portion of that meth to Michael, who would repay Jordan upon reselling the meth to his own customers. Officials say the pair often acted as a joint business, sharing a customer base and coordinating drug quantities and prices.

Officials state on July 15, 2022, officers with Evansville Police stopped Jordan for speeding, and a K9 indicated the presence of illegal drugs in the car where a search turned up a grocery bag with about five and a half pounds of meth.

Officials also state a search was conducted of Jordans home where officers found a Taurus 9mm semiautomatic pistol, an Andro .223 rifle, ammunition and a digital scale.

Officials say over the course of the operation, the duo was responsible for the distribution of at least 20 pounds of meth.

The methamphetamine ravaging our families and neighborhoods doesnt come from thin air, said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. Drug traffickers like the two men convicted in this case bring this poison from thousands of miles away and pump it onto our communities. We will continue to work with our partners at the DEA, the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force, and the Evansville Police Department to dismantle these meth trafficking conspiracies and hold these criminals accountable for the harm they cause.

U.S Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case.

Officials state after release, the duo will be under supervised release for five years.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
The far right is attempting to smear Governor Tim Walz by claiming that he replaced the old Minnesota state flag with one that is designed to resemble the flag of Somalia.

The Guardians Ben Makuch reports that racist and xenophobic attacks against Walz have spread since Vice President Kamala Harris named him as her running mate Tuesday. The claim that Walz deliberately chose a flag design close to Somalias national flag has been echoed on X (formerly Twitter) by right-wing accounts including End Wokeness and Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams. Fox Newss Jesse Watters also picked it up on Tuesday.

Watters: This guy changed the flag of the state to look more like Somalia. pic.twitter.com/Zx3pXXuziD  Acyn (@Acyn) August 6, 2024

But the claim isnt true. Both the fact-checking website Snopes and The Washington Post have debunked it, showing that the flag went through a long redesign process following complaints that the old flag, which contains the state seal, was offensive to Native Americans. In 2023, the Minnesota state legislature created a commission to redesign the flag and seal and received more than 2,500 new proposals.



The commission narrowed the flag submissions to six, and then three, before selecting a base design created by Andrew Prekker, which received slight modifications. After 10 attempts, the final design passed both the Minnesota House and Senate and was flown for the first time on May 11, 2024. The commission also released a report breaking down the process for the redesign.

The new flag bears very little resemblance to Somalias flag, though both use shades of blue and a star. The star on Minnesotas flag has eight points compared to Somalias five-pointed star, and the shades of blue are different.

Glad to see the weirdos are back to claiming the flag of Minnesota is the flag of Somalia. Sure. Totally the same. pic.twitter.com/UymJJ5r3AX  Darkest Timeline (@darkesttimline) August 6, 2024

The far right seems to think that Walz is kowtowing to Minnesotas 60,000-strong Somali American community, the largest in the U.S. But a member of the Minnesota Historical Society, which took part in the redesign, told conservative website The Dispatch that the designer isnt Somali, included the star to represent the North Star, and incorporated the shape of the state into the flag design.



This noncontroversy joins the many weak attacks against Walz and Harris from the right, including shots at his military record, baselessly accusing the campaign of antisemitism, or calling him far left. Maybe one day theyll come up with one with substance.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has officially proclaimed California Panda Day in honor of two giant pandas at the San Diego Zoo who will make their first public appearance Thursday.

Yun Chuan and Xin Bao arrived at the San Diego Zoo earlier this year  the first panda bears to enter the U.S. in more than two decades.

Theyve been spending the last several weeks getting acclimated to their new surroundings but on Thursday, theyll make their official debut.

Pandas were a longtime symbol of the San Diego Zoo, and Newsoms office says the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance was the first organization in the country to establish a cooperative panda conservation program.

The successful conservation and breeding program at San Diego Zoo brought several more pandas into the world and helped secure a continuing future for the beloved keystone species.

Five-year-old Yun Chuan is actually the son of Zhen Zhen, a female panda born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007.

But the most recent pair of San Diego pandas, Bai Yun and her son Xiao Liwu, left the zoo in 2019 when the conservation program came to an end and returned to China as per the terms of their loan agreement. All of the worlds giant pandas are considered to be the property of the Chinese government.

San Diego Zoo wasnt alone. In recent years, all U.S. zoos that hosted giant pandas have had to return them to China. Before the new pandas arrived at the San Diego Zoo, the only pandas left in the U.S. were at the Atlanta Zoo. However, those pandas are also scheduled to leave by the end of the year.

Softening tensions between the U.S. and China could bring the animals back to American zoos again as the two nations renew the panda diplomacy efforts theyve enjoyed for decades.

This conservation collaboration is part of California and Chinas long history of working together towards shared goals, Newsom said in his proclamation. We hope that the newly arrived panda envoys of friendship will lead to further exchanges and cooperation between California and China.

Newsom traveled to China last year to discuss climate change, economic opportunity and see the countrys robust public transportation projects in action. The visit, Newsom said, helped build upon the strong foundation of partnership and deep cultural and economic ties between the two regions.

The governor encouraged Californians to make it a priority to see the pandas once they return to the public eye, although San Diego Zoo officials say visitors should be aware that their return will likely bring heavy traffic and large crowds, according to FOX 5/KUSI.

KTLAs sister station in San Diego says there are three ways that zoo visitors can see the giant pandas when they make their debut, including standby tickets, timed return tickets and a 60-minute paid walking tour.

Giant pandas are beloved around the world and their conservation story is an inspiring example of strong partnerships and innovative strategies to protect the worlds natural heritage, Newsom said. Take this unique opportunity to appreciate one of the most iconic wildlife species and recognize the important partnerships at work to help them thrive for generations to come.

To read the governors full proclamation, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a ceremonial proclamation declaring Thursday as Panda Day, in honor of the long-anticipated debut of the San Diego Zoos new giant pandas  the first to arrive in the country in over 21 years.

The panda duo, Xin Bao and Yun Chuan, entered the U.S. after a long journey from China on June 27, much to the excitement of locals and visitors alike. Since then, they have since been acclimating to their new home at the San Diego Zoo, called Panda Ridge.

Newsoms proclamation, issued less than a day before their first public appearance, expressed pride that Southern Californias premier zoo was the first to receive another set of the beloved bears from China, who have long utilized them as envoys of friendship aboard.

Debut date announced for pandas at San Diego Zoo, along with video

The last pandas to reside in Americas Finest City were sent back to China about five years ago.

The bear has long held pride of place in California as a symbol of our states spirit and strength, from our state flag and seal to its enduring significance for Native American tribes across the state, the proclamation read. This week, California is proud to celebrate another iconic bear as a pair of giant pandas make their public debut at the San Diego Zoo.

It went on to tout the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliances enduring commitment to conservation efforts as the first zoological organization in the country to establish a cooperative program with the goal of preserving, caring for and growing the giant panda population.

Yun Chuan, one of the two pandas loaned to San Diego, is a testament to these efforts, Newsom said. The four-year-old males mother, Zhen Zhen, was born in Americas Finest City back in 2007.

Giant pandas are beloved around the world and their conservation story is an inspiring example of strong partnerships and innovative strategies to protect the worlds natural heritage, Newsom said in the proclamation.

As the San Diego Zoo welcomes visitors to Panda Ridge this week, he continued, I encourage Californians to take this unique opportunity to appreciate one of the most iconic wildlife species and recognize the important partnerships at work to help them thrive for generations to come.

The full text of the governors proclamation can be found here.

Newsom is also expected to travel down to San Diego on Thursday for grand opening of Panda Ridge, San Diego Zoo officials said. Public viewing will officially begin at noon after a special opening ceremony.

San Diego Zoo officials confirmed in February that they would be the first American organization to receive pandas after Chinese President Xi Jinping signaled plans to renew their use as diplomatic symbols of friendship with the U.S.

The San Diego Zoo was one of several wildlife groups that were gifted a pair of pandas by China over the years since 1972, when Beijing and Washington, D.C. entered into a loan agreement amidst normalization efforts between the two nations.

The loans were later expanded to help breeding and conservation efforts. In the 30 years pandas resided at the San Diego Zoo, care teams made great strides studying how to protect and recover the giant panda population, as well as the bamboo forests they rely on.

Through these efforts alongside other conservation groups, the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List downgraded the giant panda from Endangered to Vulnerable in 2021.

In anticipation of the bears arrival, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance made major upgrades to its existing panda enclosure, expanding it to around 6,000 square feet in size, according to an application submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Alliance. The guest viewing capacity was also doubled from about 80 people to 173 people.

While Panda Ridge will be able to accommodate more people, both the zoo and San Diego officials are still expecting quite a bit of pandemonium with their official return.

The zoo is offering three ways for guests to experience the giant pandas: through the complimentary Giant Panda Timed Ticket, a standby line, and a paid 60-minute experience, Early Morning with Pandas Walking Tour.

Traffic and parking is also likely to be impacted around Balboa Park, where the zoo is located. For those headed to the debut, tips about how to get around can be found here.

Panda-monium at San Diego Zoo: parking tips and how to view bears

Meet the Pandas

Yun Chuan, a four-year-old male, was described as mild-mannered, gentle and lovable. He also already has ties to the San Diego Zoo: His mother, Zhen Zhen, was born at the zoo back in 2007. His grandmother, Bai Yun, lived at the San Diego Zoo for 23 years.

He is identifiable by his long, slightly pointed nose, according to the Wildlife Alliance. He also appears to be quite comfortable both exploring on the grass or climbing trees.

Xin Bao, a three-year-old female, was described as an introvert who is gentle, but witty. She has a sweet round face and big, fluffy ears. Zoo officials said her name means new treasure of prosperity and abundance.

Since arriving in San Diego, she has become known for quietly sunbathing and focusing while munching on her favorite foods.

Xin Bao plays in his private enclosure at the San Diego Zoo. (Courtesy of the San Diego Wildlife Alliance)

Yun Chuan sits in her private enclosure at the San Diego Zoo. (Courtesy of the San Diego Wildlife Alliance)

Both pandas were born at the Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base in Sichuan, according to the zoo.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
By Lisandra Paraguassu

BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazil and Nicaragua expelled each other's ambassadors on Thursday in a tit-for-tat retaliation as relations deteriorated between two formerly allied leftist governments.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva decided to expel Nicaragua's ambassador in Brasilia after Daniel Ortega's government ordered Brazil's envoy in Managua to leave the country, Lula's chief of staff said.

The spat confirms declining relations between Brazil's Lula and some of the other Latin American left-wing governments that have increased with division over Venezuela's contested presidential election. Lula has criticized the Venezuelan government for not releasing the vote tallies.

"In diplomacy there is reciprocity," Chief of Staff Rui Costa told reporters. "As the Brazilian ambassador there was asked to leave the country, reciprocity in this case means that the ambassador here also left."

He said Brazil wants peace and good relations with everyone, but cannot accept its ambassadors being harassed.

Nicaraguan diplomat Patricia Castro Matus was told to leave Brazil because her government expelled Brazilian Ambassador Breno de Souza da Costa after threats to do so three weeks ago, according to a Brazilian official.

Nicaraguan Vice-President Rosario Murillo later confirmed that Brazil's ambassador had left the capital Managua earlier that day and the Nicaraguan diplomat in Brazil would return for a post in the Central American nation's economy ministry.

Last month, Brazil's ambassador angered the Nicaragua government by not attending celebrations of the 45th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution, leading to threats of expulsion and diplomatic rupture, which is now expected to happen.

Relations between Brazil and Nicaragua have been deteriorating since Lula tried to broker the release from jail of Catholic bishop and vocal Ortega critic Rolando Jose Alvarez last year at the request of Pope Francis.

Lula told foreign reporters recently that he had tried to call Ortega last year, after the pope asked him to intervene, but the Nicaragua president did not accept the call.

Since then, Brazil's foreign ministry has kept relations with Nicaragua at a bare minimum, only to deal with the needs of Brazilian citizens in Managua.

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia and Ismael Lopez in San Jose; Writing by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Nice try, New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham, but respectfully, no thank you

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's clever ad campaign to lure Texas physicians and health care workers to New Mexico was creative, but it misses a few key points.

Texas doctors know there are many reasons why record numbers of physicians flock here year after year to practice medicine. Texas doesnt need to advertise our many strengths.

First, Texas medical liability laws help ensure good physicians caring for Texans can practice without constant fear of a frivolous lawsuit ruining their career.

Second, our state recognizes patients deserve physician-led care.

Additionally, increasing numbers of quality medical schools and residency programs provide outstanding educational opportunities for aspiring physicians.

Admittedly, our state has issues to address regarding the confusion and controversy over some laws governing health care delivery. The Texas Medical Association will continue to work with state leaders to address those for patients and physicians.

But for the reasons above and more, I must say, Thanks, but no thanks, to your gracious invitation, but we hope youre OK with us coming to vacation in the Land of Enchantment from time to time.

Dr. G. Ray Callas, Texas Medical Association president, Austin

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Nice try, New Mexico governor, but Texas doctors know better
The detective had followed the homicide suspects trail for a year when he knocked on a door in Pinellas Park.

Moments later, the suspect plunged from a second-floor window in the back of the apartment and landed in a dirt pile.

He just came out like Superman, the detective later said in a deposition. When he landed in it, he disappeared. It was like thick, thick dirt. And so they had to pull him out of that.

The arrest helped stanch nearly 18 months of anguish for the family of Arnieceia Milton, who had been shot and killed by a man in a car during a block party in St. Petersburg in November 2020.

The man who jumped out the window, Tyree Bell, had been publicly named as a suspect a day after the shooting. Several witnesses said he pulled the trigger. But he went into hiding.

After his arrest 17 months later, Miltons family waited another two years for trial.

But witness memories apparently had faded. Miltons boyfriend at the time, who police believed was the shooters real target, took the stand and said he didnt see the gunman in the courtroom.

After a weeklong trial last month, Bell was found not guilty.

No ones telling the truth, Miltons mother, Angela Wheeler, said. Theres no justice.

We thought we had it

On Nov. 15, 2020, Milton and her boyfriend, Antonio Swain, were at an outdoor gathering on 16th Street South in St. Petersburg, a regular venue for block parties.

Investigators say Bell and Swain had gotten into an argument at another location earlier that evening. Police believed he fired shots at the couple from a moving car, killing Milton.

The young mother was an innocent bystander, the St. Petersburg Police Department said in a news release at the time of his arrest.

When prosecutors tried Bell nearly four years after Miltons killing, they were confident about the evidence.

Going into the case, I thought we were going to get a guilty verdict, said Assistant State Attorney Robert Bruce. Even trying the case, I thought that the jury would come back guilty.

The not-guilty verdict marked the first time Bruce had lost a homicide case in 22 years as a Pinellas prosecutor.

It was a tough one, he said.

Whats worse, Bruce said, was not bringing justice to Miltons family. He never got the chance to speak with them after the case. Moments after the verdict was read aloud, Miltons family quickly filed out of the courtroom.

Family members, St. Petersburg police and the Pinellas state attorney all believe Bell got away with murder.

Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bruce Bartlett said prosecutors were surprised by the jurys decision.

This one, we thought we had it because we had the eyewitness testimony, Bartlett said.

Bartlett said witnesses memories faded as the years passed between the shooting and trial.

The longer the case dwindles in the system, the less firm their testimony becomes, Bartlett said. Every now and again you get one like that. Sometimes you just got to go to the jury and let them decide.

Bells lawyers exploited inconsistencies in key witnesses testimonies, he added.

John Nohlgren, Bells attorney, said the states case was almost entirely built on the testimony of several closely related family members, particularly two cousins who were friends of Milton and her boyfriend.

There really wasnt anything else tying Tyree to the crime, he said. That evidence, especially in this day and age, is insufficient for a conviction, certainly not truth beyond a reasonable doubt. And I think the jury got it right.

He said the states witnesses likely appeared unreliable to jurors.

One witnesss description of the shooter didnt match Bell, even misidentifying his hairstyle. Another, who fired bullets in retaliation to the shooting and accidentally struck Milton, denied shooting her, despite forensic evidence, Nohlgren said.

Hes very, extremely relieved, Nohlgren said of his client. Obviously, its a tragic case, but he maintained his innocence throughout, and is looking forward to a second lease on life.

A family denied closure

Wheeler, Miltons mother, was too distraught to attend Bells trial last month, she said.

I did not even want to look at his face, she said. I couldnt bear it, deal with the autopsy showing.

Her sister, Andrea Proctor, called Wheeler from the courthouse with the verdict just before 10 p.m. on July 19.

It just felt like a slap in the face. I waited so long. All this praying I did  it just made me feel so down, Proctor said.

Wheeler doesnt understand how witnesses to her daughters killing could speak with such detail about what they saw that day, then, years later in a courtroom, change their story, she said.

Maybe prosecutors mishandled the case, she said. She worries they hadnt brought enough evidence for a conviction.

After four years, Wheeler said, it just seems like everything changed.

Lisa Wheeler-Bowman, Miltons cousin and a former St. Petersburg City Council member, said she first heard about the acquittal in her family group chat: It was just another heartbreak, she said.

St. Petersburg police have closed the case. Investigators will not be searching for another suspect in Miltons killing, an agency spokesperson told the Tampa Bay Times.

Wheeler is now raising her grandchildren in her daughters place. The two half-siblings, although a decade apart in age, are close.

Ariana is 3 years old and remembers her mother only by the photos Wheeler displays all over the home. Sometimes she addresses Wheeler as Grandma and other times the girl calls her Mommy.

K.J., now 12, was turning 9 when Milton was killed.

Wheeler says she noticed an immediate shift in his behavior after his mother died. His grades plummeted. He was suspended from school for a year for fighting. He told his grandmother he was being bullied about not having a mother.

She reminds him to keep his side of the street clean: Even schoolyard brawls risk retaliation that could put him in serious danger, she said.

I tried to talk to him. I said, You cant be mean to people. Look what happened to your mom, Wheeler said, choking up. I know youre mad, you just, you cant be mean to people.
No, Rachel Scott Has Not Been Fired by ABC, but What Happened? Backlash Explained

Many people want to know if ABC News fired Rachel Scott following her interview with Donald Trump at the NABJ convention. Her incisive questioning of the former president has sparked significant controversy and speculation about her job status. Scotts interactions with Trump have become a focal point of discussion among political observers and media critics.

So, did ABC News fire Rachel Scott? Those interested in the details of this controversy and Scotts current status can find all the information here.

Has Rachel Scott been fired from ABC News?

No, ABC News has not fired Rachel Scott. She continues to serve as the senior congressional correspondent for the network.

Scott recently received death threats after her interview with Donald Trump at the National Association of Black Journalists convention, which garnered significant attention. Despite this, ABC News has not issued any official statement about her termination.

Backlash over Rachet Scott and Donald Trumps interview explained

Rachel Scott has faced significant backlash following her interview with Donald Trump at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention on July 31, 2024.

The ABC News senior congressional correspondents piercing questions led to a contentious exchange where Trump called her rude and labeled her questions as nasty (via The Guardian). This interview has reportedly resulted in Scott receiving death threats, highlighting the risks journalists face when engaging with controversial figures.

The interview centered on Trumps past inflammatory comments about Black people and his stance on Vice President Kamala Harris. Scott questioned Trump on why Black voters should trust him and whether he believed Harris had risen to the top of the Democratic ticket solely because she is a Black woman.

Trumps responses, which included derogatory remarks about Harriss racial background, drew widespread criticism. He claimed not to have known Harris was Black until she happened to turn Black, leading to further backlash from the public and media.

The NABJ defended its decision to invite Trump, emphasizing the importance of questioning national political figures despite the controversy it generated. Ken Lemon, NABJs president, reiterated the organizations commitment to journalistic integrity and the need to hold political leaders accountable.

However, this decision faced internal conflict. Washington Posts Karen Attiah resigned as co-chairperson of the conventions organizing committee in protest. The exchange between Scott and Trump has polarized opinions. Some praised Scott for her tough questioning and holding Trump accountable. Others criticized her approach.

Fox Newss Harris Faulkner, who co-moderated the event, felt the interview started on an overly emotional note. She believed that the interview should have shown more grace to Trump, especially after his recent assassination attempt. Faulkner felt the interview was too confrontational and believed a more measured approach would have suited the circumstances better.

The post No, Rachel Scott Has Not Been Fired by ABC, but What Happened? Backlash Explained appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
No threat to the City of Odessa: OPD debunks false claims of active shooter

ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  Claims of an active shooter being made on social media are leading to calls and concerns being made to the Odessa Police Department.

OPD said in a statement on Thursday that the claims being made on social media have been found to be false. OPD said there is currently no active shooter and no threat to the City of Odessa.

We will continue to provide updates if and when more information becomes available.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
HANOI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's pepper export earnings surged 40.8 percent year-on-year to 764.2 million U.S. dollars in the first seven months of this year, Vietnam News reported Thursday, citing the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association.

Rising global pepper prices primarily drove the remarkable growth, said the report.

During the cited period, the country exported 164,357 tons of pepper, comprising 145,330 tons of black pepper and 19,027 tons of white pepper.

The association forecast that pepper export revenues will hit 1 billion dollars this year. 
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  A candidate for Delhi Township Board of Trustees advanced in Tuesdays primary, despite being under a No Trespass order from the township and facing criminal charges in another incident.

Unofficial results from Tuesdays primary show Patrick DeRosa received 1,763 votes, coming in third out six candidates for four available seats. Documents provided by Delhi Charter Township Manager Tracy Miller show the township sought and obtained a no trespassing order against DeRosa in September 2023.

During a visit to Township offices in September 2023, Patrick DeRosa acted in a threatening manner toward staff. To ensure the safety of our employees, the Township issued DeRosa a No Trespass Notice on Sept. 21, 2023, Miller tells 6 News in an email. DeRosa returned to the Township offices despite the order and court records indicate that he plead guilty to violating the No Trespass Notice in the 55th District Court on April 29, 2024.

(file/WLNS)

An email sent to township staff Wednesday from Miller noted the ongoing order against DeRosa, but also expressed concern his electoral win could embolden him and increase the likelihood him attempting to gain access to the building.

Delhi Township Clerk Evan Hope says DeRosa had sought, in early July, to have his name removed from the ballot. But Hope was unable to comply with the request because the deadline for removing or adding candidates to the ballot had already passed.

DeRosas request to be removed from the ballot followed a June 17, 2024 incident on Eifert Rd. Documents related to the incident obtained by 6 News show Ingham County Sheriff Department officials responded twice to a home in the 1300 block of Eifert Rd. for a call to check on the welfare of a possible suicidal person.

Deputies cleared the scene after the subject, identified as DeRosa, refused to leave the home. Deputies were called back to the scene about 20 minutes later because DeRosa allegedly had a knife. At that point, DeRosa locked himself in a vehicle, with the knife, and threatened to ram surrounding vehicles.

For nearly 50 minutes, responding law enforcement attempted to coax DeRosa from his vehicle, until they finally found the passenger side door unlocked. Deputies opened the door and deployed gas twice in order to subdue and take DeRosa into custody.

He was transported to McLaren Hospital. Then to the Ingham County Jail.

The following day, DeRosa was charged with assaulting a police officer in 55th District Court, records show. He was given a $15,000 personal recognizance bond. He is scheduled to be in court again Sept. 13, with a jury trial scheduled to begin on Sept. 16, 55th District Court records show.

Emails to DeRosas email address listed in campaign filings bounced back to 6 News.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
CHICAGO  With a big bright smile on his face, a 13-year-old boy who survived a gruesome bombing attack in Gaza arrived in Chicago on Wednesday to receive medical treatment.

A crowd of supporters gathered outside Gate A in Terminal 5 of Chicagos OHare International Airport to welcome Khalil to his new temporary home.

The 13-year-olds older sister, Lulu, spoke on his behalf to WGN News.

Khalil, 13, lost both of his legs in a bombing in Gaza (Photo: HEAL Palestine)

Khalil, 13, lost both of his legs in a bombing in Gaza (Photo: HEAL Palestine)

He wanted to thank all the people who came here to encourage him and support him, she said. We are very thankful.

Ducks, ducks, loose: Annual Chicago Ducky Derby benefits Special Olympics Illinois

Khalil, who lost both of his legs in a bombing in April, is the third injured child from Gaza to receive care in Chicago through the nonprofit HEAL Palestine.

He will get medical care that hopefully will enable him to walk again, said Steve Sosabee with HEAL Palestine.

Fourteen-year-old Layan was the first to greet Khalil upon arrival. She said she hopes to inspire Khalil by showing him that he, too, can walk again. A few months ago, Layan faced a similar situation, having been flown to Chicago for medical treatment after surviving a devastating blast that destroyed her home in October.

The explosion claimed the lives of her two sisters and left her severely injured, leading to the amputation of her legs without anesthesia.

She knows hes going to do well because she wasnt able to walk in, but now shes able to walk. So shes very, very confident hes going to be OK as shes doing OK as well, Leyan communicated through an interpreter, Siraj Altarifi, who will host Khalils family during treatment.

These are children from Gaza. This is the least we can do, Altarifi said. These are the guests of God, not our guests, the Guests of God and this is the least we can do for the sake of God, really.

Supporters hope their presence will reassure Khalil and his family that they wont face this journey alone.

Itll feel like a piece of him in a way. Its not like he left everything behind. He has us and other family Palestinians, said supporter Dunia Daifllah.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

Nonprofit organizers say Khalil will be in Chicago for an extended period. Following surgery, Khalil will be fitted with prosthetic limbs. The recovery process will be lengthy, as he will require significant time to relearn how to walk, but organizers add that such efforts are crucial to improving his quality of life.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Nonprofits unite to combat rent and food insecurity in Harlem

HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11)  As families struggle to pay their rent and buy groceries, several non-profits are stepping up to fight both battles.

An annual housing conference called Demystifying Housing, hosted by a non-profit called Palante, brought city agencies, and non-profits together.

More Local News

Sharonne Salaam from Harlem is on a fixed income, a retired foster care advocate, she says every day is a struggle to pay her rent and feed herself. Salaam is one of more than 600 people who attended a special housing conference in Harlem. There was a resource fair.

Elsia Vasquez is the president and founder of the non-profit called P A.L.A.N.T.E which is hosting the event. Palante stands for People Against Landlord Abuse and Tenant Exploitation. Now on the front lines of keeping people in their homes, Vasquez says its not just housing but families struggle to have food for their families.

She partners with a non-profit called Nine Million Reasons to feed hundreds of families in need each week. They converted their headquarters on Amsterdam Ave in Harlem into a free bodega on Fridays located at 1411 Amsterdam Avenue.

More Monica Makes It Happen

Salaam just found out about bodega Fridays at Palantes annual housing conference. This years conference is called Demystifying Housing. Pux11s Monica Morales served on a panel and was part of the resource fair, listening to your housing horror stories and trying to provide solutions.

Its a 3-day City-wide event with free legal Seminars and 65 workshops covering a range of housing topics.

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GASTON COUNTY, N.C. (WJZY)  A North Carolina man already accused of fatally poisoning his wife is now facing new charges.

Joshua Lee Hunsucker, 39, was arrested on Tuesday by Gaston County Police and is charged with four counts of felony intimidate witness and four counts of misdemeanor obstruct justice. According to court filings, Hunsucker is accused of repeatedly intimidating his now-former in-laws and poisoning his 11-year-old daughter.

A motion to revoke his bond for the 2018 murder case of his wife was also filed.

Hunsucker, a former Gaston County paramedic, was previously accused of poisoning his wife, Stacy, with eyedrops that she reportedly ingested without her knowledge.

Suspects in foiled plot at Taylor Swift shows hoped to kill as many people as possible: officials

Stacy Hunsuckers death was originally reported to be a heart attack. She had a history of heart issues, and her husband was supposed to be caring for her, authorities said.

Blood from Stacy Hunsuckers autopsy later revealed the presence of tetrahydrozoline, the active ingredient found in eye drops, in her body. She reportedly had very high levels of the chemical  considered harmful and potentially fatal if ingested  in her body at the time of her death, according to authorities.

In December 2019, Hunsucker was charged in connection with Stacy Hunsuckers death. He was also given a $1.5 million bond at that time, which he later posted.

Prosecutors previously said they believed Stacy Hunsuckers life insurance money  her husband collected $250,000 after her death  was the motive for the crime.

Later, in March 2021, Joshua Hunsucker was charged with intentionally starting a fire inside an Atrium Health helicopter during a flight, forcing it to land in the middle of the night in November 2019, according to a police report. Hunsucker had been a paramedic for Atrium Healths MedCenter Air. In early February 2023, Hunsucker entered a not guilty plea in the case.

Now, Stacy Hunsuckers parents, John and Susie Robinson, are calling for Joshua Hunsuckers bond to be revoked.

According to the motion, Joshua Hunsucker is accused of filing a false report of a kidnapping and assault in February 2023 and pinpointing John Robinson as the suspect.

He reported that he stopped to change a flat tire and was pistol-whipped in the head multiple times. His hands were then zip tied and he was injected with an unknown substance, according to the report.

The defendant reported that Mr. Robinson was the person who attacked him. An investigation by the Mount Holly Police Department found no evidence to support this claim and that this was done to shift responsibility from the defendant to the Robinsons for his wifes death, the report stated.

PREVIOUS: Judge grants gag order in eye-drop murder case

The motion also states that in February 2023, Hunsucker allegedly poisoned a drink for his daughter by putting the same substance that killed his wife, tetrahydrozoline, into a beverage bottle which was consumed by (his daughter).

The motion said that a urine sample revealed traces of the chemical in the 11-year-old girls system and that she had to be treated for symptoms associated with tetrahydrozoline poisoning at two local hospitals.

The poisoning of (Hunsuckers daughter) was once again done with an attempt (to) implicate Mr. and Mrs. Robinson in the death of his wife and remove the Robinsons from the lives of his daughters, the motion said.

The motion also goes on to detail several incidents where Hunsucker would routinely take video or pictures of the Robinsons, in some cases with Hunsuckers daughter; making obscene gestures at them in public places; sending them mail demanding that the case be dismissed; following them in his vehicle; and routinely driving by the Robinson residence.

The case involving the death of Stacy Hunsucker still has yet to go to trial.

Prosecutors said Hunsucker will likely face a hearing on the new charges within the next few days, which could include having his bond for the 2019 charges revoked.

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A North Korean village at the edge of the DMZ near the Imjingang and Hangang rivers is seen from Odusan Unification Observatory near Paju, South Korea, on Saturday, June 24, 2023. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI

SEOUL, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- A North Korean defector crossed to the South across neutral waters separating the two Koreas, Seoul's military and local media reported Thursday.

"Our military has secured an unidentified individual, presumed to be from North Korea, and has handed him over to the relevant authorities," South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to reporters.

"The details regarding the process of moving south and whether he defected are currently being investigated," the JCS said.

"There have been no unusual movements by the North Korean military as of now," the statement added.

News agency Yonhap reported that the individual crossed the Han River estuary and arrived at South Korea's Gyodong Island early Thursday morning, citing multiple military sources. The waters of the estuary are a neutral zone west of the inter-Korean border.

The individual arrived at the island on foot during low tide and expressed the intention to defect, according to the sources.

Thursday's incident comes after four North Korean defectors crossed the eastern maritime border in a small wooden boat last October.

Direct defections by sea have been historically rare, with most escapees crossing overland via the border with China. Defectors are granted citizenship and receive financial support and training after being vetted by South Korean intelligence agencies.

Over 34,000 North Koreans have defected to the South to escape dire economic conditions and the country's brutally repressive regime. However, the number of arrivals has plummeted after Pyongyang sealed its borders and ramped up security in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some 105 defectors arrived in South Korea over the first half of the year, a slight uptick from 99 over the same period last year.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Nashville man was arrested Thursday for his efforts to generate revenue for the Democratic Peoples Republic of Koreas (DPRK) illicit weapons program, including weapons of mass destruction (WMD), the Department of Justice (DOJ) reported.

According to court documents, 38-year-old Matthew Isaac Knoot participated in a scheme to obtain remote employment with American and British companies for foreign information technology (IT) workers, who were actually North Korean actors.

Knoot allegedly helped them in using a stolen identity to pose as a U.S. citizen; hosted company laptops at his homes; downloaded and installed software without authorization on those laptops to facilitate access and perpetuate the deception; and conspired to launder payments for the remote IT work, including to accounts tied to North Korean and Chinese actors.

As alleged, this defendant facilitated a scheme to deceive U.S. companies into hiring foreign remote IT workers who were paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in income funneled to the DPRK for its weapons program, said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the DOJs National Security Division. This indictment should serve as a stark warning to U.S. businesses that employ remote IT workers of the growing threat from the DPRK and the need to be vigilant in their hiring processes.

Voters have a right to know: Experts react to the FBIs seizure of Rep. Ogles phone

North Korea has dispatched thousands of highly skilled information technology workers around the world to dupe unwitting businesses and evade international sanctions so that it can continue to fund its dangerous weapons program, stated U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee. Todays indictment, charging the defendant with facilitating a complex, multi-year scheme that funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to foreign actors, is the most recent example of our offices commitment to protecting the United States national security interests.

As todays charges demonstrate, the FBI will relentlessly pursue those who aid the North Korean governments illegal efforts to generate revenue, Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBIs Cyber Division, said. Where illicit proceeds may be used to fund the regimes kinetic capacity, we will prioritize our work to disrupt that flow of money. This indictment should demonstrate the risk faced by those who support the DPRKs malicious cyber activity.

The DOJ said the DPRK has dispatched thousands of skilled IT workers to live abroad, primarily in China and Russia, in order to deceive American businesses and other businesses worldwide into hiring them as freelance IT workers as a way to generate funds for its WMD programs. DPRK IT worker schemes reportedly involve the use of pseudonymous email, social media, payment platform, and online job site accounts, along with false websites, proxy computers, and witting and unwitting third parties located in the U.S. and elsewhere.

As described in a May 2022 tri-seal public service advisory released by the FBI, the Department of the Treasury, and the Department of State, these IT workers have been known to earn up to $300,000 each annually, generating hundreds of millions of dollars collectively each year on behalf of designated entities, like the North Korean Ministry of Defense and others directly involved in the DPRKs UN-prohibited WMD programs.

TBI, Attorney General discuss Knoxville area motorcycle gang drug ring

Based on the indictment unsealed on Thursday, Aug. 8, in the Middle District of Tennessee, Knoot allegedly participated in a scheme to help overseas IT workers to obtain remote IT work at U.S. companies that believed they were hiring American-based personnel. According to the DOJ, the IT workers  who were actually North Korean nationals  used the stolen identity of a U.S. citizen, Andrew M., to obtain this remote IT work.

Officials said the scheme defrauded American media, technology, and financial companies, ultimately causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.

According to court documents, Knoot ran a laptop farm at his Nashville residences between approximately July 2022 and August 2023. The victim companies shipped laptops addressed to Andrew M. to Knoots residences. Following receipt of the laptops, and without authorization, Knoot logged on to the laptops, downloaded and installed unauthorized remote desktop applications, and accessed the victim companies networks, causing damage to the computers. The remote desktop applications enabled the North Korean IT workers to work from locations in China, while appearing to the victim companies that Andrew M. was working from Knoots residences in Nashville. For his participation in the scheme, Knoot was paid a monthly fee for his services by a foreign-based facilitator who went by the name Yang Di. A court-authorized search of Knoots laptop farm was executed in early August 2023. The overseas IT workers associated with Knoots cell were each paid over $250,000 for their work between approximately July 2022 and August 2023, much of which was falsely reported to the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration in the name of the actual U.S. person, Andrew M., whose identity was stolen. Knoot and his conspirators actions also caused the victim companies more than $500,000 in costs associated with auditing and remediating their devices, systems, and networks. Knoot, Di, and others conspired to commit money laundering by conducting financial transactions to receive payments from the victim companies, transfer those funds to Knoot and to accounts outside of the United States, in an attempt both to promote their unlawful activity and to hide that transferred funds were the proceeds of it. The non-U.S. accounts include accounts associated with North Korean and Chinese actors. DOJ press release

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Officials said Knoot is charged with conspiracy to cause damage to protected computers, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, intentional damage to protected computers, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to cause the unlawful employment of aliens. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison, including a mandatory minimum of two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft charge.

Under the Department-wide DPRK RevGen: Domestic Enabler Initiative, launched in March 2024 by the National Security Division and the FBIs Cyber and Counterintelligence Divisions, Department prosecutors and agents are prioritizing the identification and shuttering of U.S.-based laptop farms  locations hosting laptops provided by victim U.S. companies to individuals they believed were legitimate U.S.-based freelance IT workers  and the investigation and prosecution of individuals hosting them, the DOJ said in Thursdays statement. Todays announcement follows successful action taken by the Department in October 2023 and May 2024, which targeted identical and related conduct.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Kurtzman for the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Greg Nicosia of the National Security Divisions Cyber Section are reportedly prosecuting the case, which is under investigation by the FBI.

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NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (KLAS)  A judge released the woman accused of driving impaired and crashing her car  which killed her 9-year-old niece  from custody as prosecutors had yet to file a formal criminal complaint against her.

Christina Sorensen, 61, faces charges of DUI resulting in death, reckless driving and child abuse, records said. North Las Vegas police arrested her after the crash on Saturday, Aug 3., at the intersection of Ann Road and Simmons Street.

Sophia Sandoval, of Porterville, California, died in the crash. Police said Sorensens demeanor at the crash site appeared to be emotionless, documents said. A breath test revealed no breath-alcohol content, though police suspect Sorensen was driving under the influence of narcotics.

Sorensen consented to a blood draw at the scene, which was taken to a lab.

The blood results had not returned as of Thursday morning. During a hearing Thursday, prosecutors asked North Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Kalani Hoo for a 120-day extension to file their formal criminal complaint, records said.

Because no formal complaint was filed, Hoo had no choice but to release Sorensen with no conditions and void her bond. Prosecutors must file charging documents within a reasonable amount of time for a judge to hold a person on those charges or set bail, according to state law.

A representative from the Clark County District Attorneys Office said the case remained under investigation.

Law enforcement has not received the final toxicological analysis of Ms. Sorensens blood, which is required to determine what substances, if any, were present, a spokesperson for the office said in a statement. Accordingly, the District Attorneys Office is presently unable to file a criminal complaint. It would be a violation of our prosecutorial ethics to file charges while the matter remains under investigation. Law enforcement does not expect to receive the toxicology results from the out-of-state laboratory for several months.

Hoo scheduled Sorensens next court date for Dec. 10.

The delay in receiving blood results in Clark County is not uncommon. In 2022, prosecutors waited weeks to file formal charges against a woman accused of her then-seventh DUI because of delays in testing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 8/7/2024 6:35 p.m.

(PUEBLO, Colo.)  According to COTrip, northbound I-25 has reopened between 29th Street and Eagleridge Boulevard.

ORIGINAL STORY: Northbound I-25 closed north of Pueblo

WEDNESDAY 8/7/2024 5:06 p.m.

Northbound lanes of I-25 are closed just north of Pueblo due to a crash.

According to COTrip, northbound I-25 was closed around 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7, due to a crash between 29th Street and Eagleridge Boulevard.

Courtesy: Colorado Department of Transportation

Courtesy: Colorado Department of Transportation

Courtesy: Colorado Department of Transportation

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) said a detour is in place, and heavy delays are expected during rush hour. Drivers are urged to use caution and plan alternate routes.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Wildlife officers are warning the public about bears becoming more habituated and losing their natural fear of humans in Colorado.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife said bears avoid humans and homes unless they learn to view humans as a source of food.

CPW concerned about increased bear conflict, asks public to do their part

Then they become aggressive and potentially dangerous, CPW said in a post on X. They will go up to a house, rip open windows and doors to get food. This is not natural bear behavior.

Some ways that bears become habituated is when humans provide them with food, or when humans fail to properly secure trash that can attract bears.

The warning comes just over a week after CPW said it was concerned about increased human-bear conflict well ahead of hyperphagia. Along with the warning, CPW shared photos of what can happen when bears get habituated:

A habituated bear broke into a garage near Colorado Springs and made a mess in search for food. (Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

A habituated bear broke into a garage near Colorado Springs and made a mess in search for food. (Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

A habituated bear broke into a garage near Colorado Springs and made a mess in search for food. (Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

A habituated bear broke into a garage near Colorado Springs and made a mess in search for food. (Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

Black bear shows up at Colorado Renaissance Festival

The agency said a habituated bear broke into a garage in a neighborhood near Colorado Springs, damaging two garage doors. CPW added that once a bear learns how to enter a garage or home, it becomes an immediate threat to human health and safety.

The bear was also caught on camera searching a nearby barbeque grill, grabbing the cover with its mouth and dragging the grill on its side.

We urge everyone to bring in bird feeders each evening, secure garbage, pet food and other attractants away from animals. Clean your barbecue grills after each use. Bears have powerful noses and are extremely strong animals, CPW said in a post on X.

Doing bear things: Bear caught on camera wandering through Highlands Ranch

Keep bears out of the house with CPWs bear-proofing tips:

Close and lock doors and windows

Bearproof trash cans

Guard windows with bars

Keep garage doors closed

Have an unwelcome mat

Keep car doors and windows closed and locked

Remove tree limbs near decks and windows

Install round door handles

Play talk radio when you leave home to deter bears

More bear safety and bear-proofing tips can be found on the CPW website.

CPW said storing food, dog food or bird feed in the garage can also attract bears, as well as anything with an odor in cars or garages, including (but not limited to) scented candles, air fresheners, soaps, lotions and lip balms.

If you spot a black bear near your home, you can call your local CPW region or submit a form online.

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After more than 30 years, the United States Postal Service has given its blessing to a not-so-new neighborhood name in Clay County.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

According to Congressman Aaron Beans office, the post office will allow people who live in the Clay County portion of the 32234 zip code to list their address as Clay Hill.

Until now, people in Clay Hill used a Jacksonville address.

Clay County District 4 Commissioner Betsy Condon had the following to say regarding the new address:

This is a really big deal for our Clay Hill community. After many commissioners and Congressional Representatives worked on this project for many years, I am honored to be a part of being able to truly recognize this community as Clay Hill, Florida. I appreciate the strong partnership with Congressman Bean and look forward to partnering on other projects to serve our constituents but for now, we celebrate with our residents!

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TRIPOLI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Thursday that it helped 292 migrants return from Libya to their home countries.

"On Aug. 6, 2024, the first charter flight from Sabha carried 163 migrants from Brak Alshati and Sabha (Southern Libya) to Lagos, Nigeria," the IOM said in a statement.

"On Aug. 7, 2024, a second flight carried 129 migrants to Mali, including 23 women and 19 families," the statement added.

Libya has been a popular transit point for some African migrants who attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores.

So far this year, a total of 12,584 migrants have been intercepted and returned to Libya, while 411 died and 512 others went missing off the Libyan coast, according to the IOM. 
When you think of Idaho, the first thing that comes to mind is agriculture. It is the backbone of our states economy and identity. From barley and wheat to beef and milk, the farmers and ranchers of southern Idaho are the reason so many of us have quality food on our tables.

There is one key ingredient needed by every agricultural producer, no matter the location: water. Unfortunately, it appears some have forgotten that eastern Idaho is not the only recipient of this essential resource from the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer  all southern Idaho farmers rely on that same water.

Now, nearly 200,000 acres of productive farmland in Twin Falls County are seeing a shortfall of critical water due to the unlawful actions of a few groundwater districts in eastern Idaho.

As elected representatives for Twin Falls County, it is our job as county commissioners to protect the best interests of our constituents. And in our county, most of our citizens are involved in the agriculture industry. It is truly the lifeblood of our region. But southern Idaho is also a desert, so it is thanks to our efficient irrigation systems that our agricultural producers can utilize the dry climate to grow the best crops.

This is why the disagreement in eastern Idaho over Idahos water right laws and mitigation plans is so disheartening; those junior water right holders are not fighting back against overreach from the governor or the Idaho Department of Water Resources, and theyre not taking water back from corporations or politicians like they say they are. What they are advocating for is taking water that is legally owed to our senior water right users in Twin Falls County, while at the same time mining water from the severely declining the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer.

No one wants to see a single piece of Idaho farmland dry up. But the fact is, eastern Idaho junior water users are refusing to adhere to the court-approved mitigation plans and orders that aim to recharge and recover our Aquifer. The ESPA provides drinking water for 300,000 people and irrigation for over two million acres of farmland. Junior water rights holders do not have priority under our state constitution, not on a river, not to the aquifer. Yet that is the result some users are championing: to turn the prior appropriation doctrine on its head.

Our southern Idaho farmers, including those with senior water rights, need water too. And right now, they are seeing a very real shortage that is putting their family farms in danger.

It is time we stopped making the governor and IDWR the boogeyman. Under Idahos Constitution, water is allocated conjunctively by first in time, first in right. Thus, those who hold earlier water rights are dubbed as senior and are to be granted access to their share of this finite resource first. The governor and IDWR must follow the law that says if a shortage is calculated that would injure a senior water right user, junior users must mitigate to make up for it. The 2016 mitigation plan was agreed to by all groundwater users and has effectively provided safe harbor to groundwater users who comply with their mitigation plans. It has been approved by IDWR and upheld by the district court.

It is disappointing that so many are unjustly upset with our state leaders for doing their job: following and upholding Idaho law. It is also disappointing that certain groundwater districts prefer to litigate rather than find solutions for their members.

The other major concern here is the lack of regard for the health of our aquifer. The ESPAs levels are at an almost record low, levels we havent seen since 1916. We have all witnessed the severe drought in our region these last few years; were seeing less rainfall and reduced spring runs to the Snake River from the lack of snowmelt, all of which is directly hurting the ESPA. The Aquifer lost over 1,000,000 acre-feet of water from 2022 to 2023 alone.

If we want our future generations to have access to clean drinking water and enough water to continue fueling all of eastern and southern Idahos farms, we need to support our governor, IDWR and our senior water right users for working to replenish the ESPA and uphold the law of the land.

Eastern Idahos farmers are not the only ones who need water  our southern Idaho farmers deserve the water they are entitled to under their senior rights. We believe the junior water users should step up to the table with the senior right holders to find a sensible and efficient path forward that benefits all present and future farmers.

We must protect the Eastern Snake River Plan Aquifer, and we need to support all the farmers of Idahos agriculture industry.

Don Hall, Jack Johnson and Brent Reinke are the commissioners of Twin Falls County.
The head of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) took aim at Boeing for a lack of answers connected to a midair blowout involving a Boeing 737 Max earlier this year.

A door plug on an Alaska Airlines flight earlier this year blew off while in flight, prompting investigations into how the plug was able to tear off the Boeing 737 Max. In a preliminary report released earlier this year, the NTSB said four bolts meant to help secure the door plug were missing after it was opened for rivet repair work in September.

The NTSB has said that no records about how the door was installed have been turned over to investigators. Boeing has said there is no documentation of the door plug being installed.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy expressed frustration with Boeing for its lack of answers during a public hearing Wednesday, according to multiple reports.

We dont know and neither do they, and thats a problem, she said to reporters, according to CNN.

She asked Boeing executive Hector Silva whether an issue like this could happen again, CNN reported. He answered no when asked whether he was 100 percent sure a defect will not occur tomorrow and whether he was 100 percent sure there will never be an unauthorized removal of a door plug.

Homendy told reporters that an incident like this should not have happened, according to Reuters.

This should have been caught years before, she said.

There have been numerous, numerous Boeing audits, [Federal Aviation Administration] audits, compliance reviews, compliance actions plans, noting a history of an unauthorized work, unauthorized removals, she added.

In the first day of the NTSBs public hearing Tuesday, Boeing factory workers said they felt pressured to work fast and to complete jobs that they did not feel they were qualified for, The Associated Press (AP) reported. One of the workers on the door crew said they received no special training for the door plugs, according to the AP.

The AP also reported that the Alaska Airlines co-pilot described the flight as chaos to investigators during Tuesdays hearing as he recounted when the door plug blew off.

The Hill has reached out to Boeing for comment.

The Associated Press contributed.

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CHICAGO  One suspect allegedly held two guns and fired 69 shots when an armed robbery attempt didnt go his way. The victim was off-duty Cook County corrections deputy Rafael Wordlaw, who managed to get off a shot of his own before being killed.

Deputy Wordlaws murder underscores a troubling trend in Chicago. Data compiled by Crosstown and analyzed by WGN Investigates show there were 5,610 reported armed robberies in Chicago last year, a 109% increase from 2019.

Equally concerning is the fact more robberies are being committed with a gun: 34% in 2019 compared to 50% in 2023, according to Crosstowns data analysis tool.

A criminal was hesitant in the past to use a gun because of the enhanced charges that are attached to using a weapon in the commission of a crime, said recently retired Chicago police detective Chuck Hernandez.

He said the man accused in Deputy Wordlaws murder is a prime example of problems in the criminal justice system. Cordarrow Thompson was convicted twice of unlawful use of a weapon. In 2020, he received an eight year sentence on the most recent conviction was released in January 2023 after serving half the time due to good behavior behind bars.

Related: Man charged in killing of off-duty Cook County Sheriffs deputy is a convicted felon, authorities announce

The consequences are just not there right now, Hernandez said.

Law enforcement leaders offered a united front when they announced charges in Deputy Wordlaws murder earlier this month. We must do more to prevent situations such as this, said Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx. Chicagos top cop chimed in by saying: We need tougher gun laws  we need more accountability when it comes to people committing acts of violence.

Foxxs office has faced criticism for her progressive politics and a perception that her prosecutors dont always go for the maximum charge. However, Foxxs team pushes back by saying just 4% of reported armed robberies last year resulted in an arrest. In 2023, 83% of all armed robbery with a gun convictions ended with the defendant being sentenced to prison with an average sentence of a little more than 9 years, according to Foxxs spokesperson.

Data from the states attorneys office online portal shows of the 6,866 unlawful use of a weapon cases resolved last year, 74% resulted in a conviction. Defendants pled guilty in all but 80 of the convictions. However, data also show her office dropped charges in 22% of the gun cases resolved last year.

WGN Investigates: Investigating public corruption, crime & fraud

A study of gun-related prison sentences by Loyola Chicagos Center for Criminal Justice recently while the number of defendants sent to prison for other crimes has declined in Illinois, gun-related sentences have increased in recent years.

The total number of prison sentences for illegal possession of a firearm increased by 57% between 2019 and 2023, driven by increased arrests, researchers reported. The study also found the number of people sent to prison for illegal possession of a firearm in 2022 and 2023 was the highest ever seen in Illinois.

Researches said the average sentence was between 1.5 to 5.3 years in prison for felony firearm possession offenses.

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BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL)Almost a year after speed-zone cameras were installed in Bristol, Virginia, the Bristol Virginia Police Department (BVPD) released the number of violations the cameras picked up.

The cameras were set up at St. Annes Catholic School, Virginia Middle School and the former Stonewall Jackson Elementary School.

According to the final numbers, the cameras were concluded to have reduced speeding in those areas.

Sullivan County makes progress toward 15% teacher pay raise

As far as overall, we had a 92% reduction in speeding in School Zones, said BVPD Major Darryl Milligan. Which is quite a significant deal for us.

Prior to the school school year, a speed study was conducted around the school. The study gathered the number of vehicles speeding through the school zones over a five-day period.

BVPD reports that:

St. Annes Catholic School : 380 speeding vehicles

Stonewall Jackson Elementary School: 1,088 speeding vehicles

Virginia Middle School: 277 speeding vehicles

The study was followed by a 30-day warning period before citations were issued. At the end of the school year, each school saw a significant reduction in speeding vehicles:

St. Annes Catholic School : 97% reduction

Stonewall Jackson Elementary School: 81% reduction

Virginia Middle School: 99% reduction

According to Milligan, the results show how much the public prioritizes the safety of their students.

It means the public are paying attention, said Milligan. It means drivers are paying attention more or avoiding the area altogether during school times and making better choices.

While a 99% reduction might raise questions, Major Milligan said the department took extra precautions to make sure there were no errors when issuing citations.

Once [the camera] checks a vehicle and it checks that its speeding, said Milligan. It is sent to the company we contract with that manages this, and then it is sent to a police officer the next day.

Citations were issued for vehicles clocked at 11 miles over the speed limit.

At the end of the school year, the school system closed Stonewall Jackson Elementary School in anticipation of its new intermediate school.

Bristol Virginia Public Schools superintendent Dr. David Scott said he hopes the results theyve seen will continue despite the location change.

Im encouraged by the results that weve seen near Virginia Middle School with the same awareness will carry over to the primary school and the intermediate school.

Both Scott and Milligan said they plan to look into the possibility of a speed study at other schools in the system.

The cameras will resume operation when classes start on August 14.

The report from the BVPD can be found below:

Bristol, VA 23-24 School YearDownload

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Jewish leaders in New York fumed that Josh Shapiro was vilified in an ugly, antisemitic campaign as Vice President Kamala Harris whittled down her veep contenders  ultimately passing over the Pennsylvania governor in favor of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Shapiro, who is Jewish, faced more scrutiny and criticism than other contenders because hes pro-Israel, they claimed.

No one should dismiss that Gov. Shapiro was subjected to an ugly, antisemitic campaign to delegitimize him, said Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York and a former Brooklyn councilman.

New York Jewish leaders blamed an ugly, antisemitic campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris passing over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro for her presidential ticket. AP Photo/Joe Lamberti

No one should take the Jewish communitys vote for granted.

Treyger, the son of Ukrainian Jewish refugees and grandson of Holocaust survivors, said Shapiro was unfairly targeted because of his stance.

There was not much daylight between Josh Shapiro and the other contenders on policy. But he was singled out, he was vilified, Treyger said.

Maury Litwack, the founder and CEO of the Teach Coalition, a group that works with Jewish voters, noted, You can be excited about the Walz pick but also be sad that an outright antisemitic campaign was waged against Shapiro.

Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, said that Shapiro was vilified for being Jewish. ZUMAPRESS.com

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik called criticisms of Shapiro disheartening. Paul Martinka

Leftist Democrats and Israel critics labeled Shapiro genocide Josh for his support of Israel amid the war with Hamas in Gaza. The left-leaning magazine Jacobin even railed in a headline, Josh Shapiros Palestine Record Should Disqualify Him as VP.

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis, said the chatter about Shapiros viability as a vice presidential candidate was poor commentary.

The fact that some people are talking about whether a proud Jewish, pro-Israel candidate can be on the ticket is very disheartening, he said.

The Harris campaign said her selection of Walz was not a knock on Shapiro and denied that his Jewish identity was a factor in the decision. Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, is Jewish.

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-Manhattan/Brooklyn) slammed the public antisemitic campaign from some within the Democratic Party against Shapiro as unacceptable and regrettable  but was persuaded by Harris campaign that it did not influence her VP pick.

Pro-Israel Republicans, including Jewish politicians, sought to turn Shapiros rejection into a campaign issue.

Antisemitism is un-American. Not picking Gov Shapiro because he is observant Jewish is wrong, said Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is also Jewish.

If Harris boycott of Prime Minister Netanyahus address before Congress left doubts about Harris contempt for Jews and Israel, the dismissal of Governor Shapiro from Vice Presidential consideration should eviscerate those doubts. Shame on Kamala Harris for bending to the extreme anti-Semitic forces in her Party, he said.

Rep. Dan Goldman said that there was an antisemitic campaign from within the Democratic party against Shapiro. Gabriella Bass

But New York State Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs accused Republicans of engaging in gutter politics.

That the Vice President did not select a qualified, excellent Governor from the state of Pennsylvania, who is an observant Jew, but chose someone else who is not, does not justify the conclusion that it was BECAUSE of his religion, said Jacobs, who is Jewish.

Does Donald Trumps decision to skip over Tim Scott, a black Republican when selecting J.D. Vance as his VP nominee mean that Trump is a bigot or that he was caving in to the growing bigotry in the Republican Party? Nonsense!
NEW YORK  New York City Department of Correction staff claimed in official records that sick people held in the jails refused to go to medical appointments when those detainees didnt even know the appointments had been scheduled, a new legal filing alleges.

The filing also claims staff leaned on detainees to sign medical refusal forms or caused detainees to miss appointments because of lockdowns or searches that were later falsely recorded as refusals.

We have strong evidence that numbers are being falsified, said Alyssa Briody, a senior attorney with Brooklyn Defenders which filed the motion with the Legal Aid Society and Milbank LLP.

Someone with DOC will ask them to sign a refusal form when there is no escort or the officer doesnt want to take them. There is an inherent power imbalance. They dont want to upset a correction officer, Briody said.

The motion filed Thursday in Agnew v. Department of Correction asks a Bronx judge to hold the city in contempt for failing to provide medical treatment to detainees and fine the city $250 per day per missed visit  which could total in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The filing argues the citys failure has caused people held in the jails to miss thousands of appointments from June 2022 to the present. Medical care in the jails is overseen by Correctional Health Services and the Correction Department.

Statistics cited in the lawsuit claim even after the city was previously held in contempt, detainees, for example, werent brought to visits 11,696 times in April 2024 compared to 7,671 times in October 2021.

As a result of missed visits, ripple effects abound: delays and denials beget more infections, more maladies, and more pain, resulting in chronic illness, permanent disability, and, in some cases, death, the legal papers allege.

Those overall numbers have increased at such a high rate, said Veronica Vela, a supervising attorney with Legal Aid. Now were looking at refusal numbers that are larger than the total non-production numbers were when we filed the case in 2021.

The motion is built around the affidavits of 34 people held in the jails during the period, who allege in part that Correction staff tried to pressure them into signing refusal of medical treatment forms even though they didnt actually refuse treatment.

Even when nursing staff escalate a request  ask a DOC supervisor to produce the detainee  the request is ignored or delayed, the motion alleges.

The city has maintained the vast majority of missed medical appointments took place because detainees refused to go. But so-called refusals rose in August 2023 to 9,419, far higher than the 6,792 recorded in January 2022. Over the past 12 months, the number of refusals has averaged 7,555 a month, the lawsuit states.

In one affidavit after another, the detainees say records which claim they refused to go to a medical visit are in fact wrong.

One detainee, Kevin Gamble, 62, was recorded as refusing 44 medical visits over seven months. He was shocked when he saw his medical records that showed the missed visits.

DOC had apparently told CHS that I refused 44 of these appointments. I did not refuse any of those appointments, he wrote. I assume that DOC officers marked me down as refusing services so that they would not be blamed for failing to bring me to my appointments.

In all, Gamble missed 212 visits within 195 days from Jan. 1, 2023 to July 15, 2023. That is more than one missed appointment per day, he wrote.

Theodore Gallo, 47, wrote he noticed rib pain and a lump in 2022. He was slated to see a doctor at Bellevue to examine it but it took DOC 71 days to arrange transport to the hospital.

On the day of the appointment, Sept. 13, 2022, a jail guard told him the visit had been rescheduled and ordered him to sign a form that read refusal of treatment, he alleges.

I told the officer I would not sign it because I had not refused the appointment, Gallo wrote.

The next day, he wrote, a doctor told him if he didnt sign the refusal form, he wouldnt get a new appointment. Eight days later, he hadnt signed the form and was still waiting for a rescheduled visit.

Larry Anderson, a diabetic with a hernia and mental health issues, wrote he had long suspected DOC was not taking him to his appointments, but was still shocked when he saw records showing he had missed 97 of them between August 2022 and November 2023.

On Nov. 2, 2023, for example, DOC wrote Anderson refused to go to a visit.

That is preposterous, he wrote. I need medical treatment. I did not refuse. DOC simply made it up.

Anderson wasnt taken to so many appointments, CHS stopped scheduling them  a practice known as sick call closeout which is done after a detainee misses three or more visits, the motion states.

Anderson hurt his ankle in October 2022. DOC didnt take him so CHS rescheduled him four times then closed out the complaint, Anderson alleges.

After another missed visit for Anderson on Sept. 18, 2023, a CHS clinician wrote DOC did not give a reason. I have told DOC that delays to care could result in poor health outcomes, the clinician wrote.

I hope to be sentenced soon so I can get out of these jails and into some place that will allow me access to medical care, Anderson wrote on Nov, 20 2023.

Matthew Claire wrote in his affidavit he was slated to visit Bellevue for treatment of a collarbone injury but he was told there was no driver. Then a correction officer insisted he sign a refusal form. Claire declined.

He knew that I did not refuse and that the only reason I was not being taken to Bellevue was because DOC did not make a driver available to take me there, Claire said. I did not sign the refusal form. I did not refuse medical treatment.

Keith Ellis was recorded as missing 34 visits in the 135 days between Jan. 25, 2023 and June 8, 2023.

I would never refuse an appointment with my CHS mental health professionals, and I have never done so, Ellis wrote. When reviewing my records, I was surprised to see that DOC had so often failed to take me to medical appointments. I did not know that CHS had scheduled so many appointments for me.

Vela, the Legal Aid attorney, said that They are spending more money to litigate than it would to fix it. I think its just a culture of apathy toward the humanity of our clients.

The DOC did not immediately return a request for comment.
OFallon, Missouri scam artist on the run; believed to be in Florida

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo.  Nearly three months after the St. Charles County Circuit Court filed a warrant for his arrest, an OFallon, Missouri, man accused of scamming a disabled elderly woman out of tens of thousands of dollars.

According to a probable cause statement filed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), between July 2022 and January 2023, James D. Hughes, 59, took advantage of medical and psychological issues affecting the victim by convincing her to sell her home and place the money in a revocable trust and name Hughes the trustee of said funds.

Hughes transferred the money from the revocable trust into his own account and used the funds for his own benefit, DHSS said.

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According to investigators, Hughes swindled the victim out of $76,363.76. When the money was gone, Hughes asked to be removed as trustee and is believed to have relocated to Florida.

On May 9, 2024, the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Hughes with two counts of stealing  $750 or more and two counts of stealing  $25,000 or more.

Anyone with information on Hughes whereabouts is asked to contact the countys Fugitive Apprehension Unit at 636-949-3000 (ext. 2633) or via email at ndolin@sccmo.org.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  On this day one year ago, lives changed, lives were lost and as remembrances are being held across the impact zone on Maui, the Honolulu community shows their support from afar.

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Leaders from across Oahu are set to hold a healing vigil to pay tribute to the victims of last years Maui wildfires and share their continued support for the people of Maui.

Mayor Blangiardi, members of the Honolulu City Council, HFD Chief Hao, HPD Deputy Chief Horikawa, Honolulu Emergency Services Departments Dr. Ireland, Ocean Safetys Acting Director Lager, Emergency Management Director Toiya, Honolulus Medical Examiner Dr. Kobayashi and AMRs Danny Kao will join Kumu Mehanaokala Hind in the ceremony.

Iconic Lahaina Banyan Tree being cloned

In addition to the vigil, state leaders also issued statements.

Speaker Saiki issued the following statement on behalf of the House of Representatives:

One year later, our hearts remain heavy as we remember the lives lost, the families impacted, and the communities affected by the devastating August 8 wildfires. The House stands committed to supporting ongoing recovery efforts for our Maui ohana, and our shared dedication to prioritizing the needs of Maui residents remains unwavering.

Displaced Lahaina resident finds new hope and home

While Representative Kyle Yamashita (D-12 Upcountry Maui) said:

From the August 8 tragedy, one truth has emerged: our Maui community is resilient and strong. We are deeply grateful to our state, county, and federal partners for their steadfast support throughout this past year.

As we continue wildfire recovery efforts, we know there is much more work to be continued. Prioritizing the rehabilitation of our communities, restoring shelter for local families, providing economic support, ensuring safe drinking water, and addressing the mental health needs of our communities is imperative.

The vigil will be held at Noon and will be streamed live on KHON2.com.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
Oakland father of 2 shot in head while sleeping fighting for his life in hospital

(BCN)  A 33-year-old father of two is fighting for his life in a hospital after being shot while taking a nap in his East Oakland home last week. Last Thursday, Run Hua Kuang had just come back from his job as a delivery driver when he laid down to take a nap.

Then, at a little before 5 p.m., someone fired a bullet that penetrated the wall of his apartment in the 2200 block of East 19th Street. It went through a headboard and then through his head and out his left eye, according to an account of the shooting posted on GoFundMe by his sister.

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Kuang was taken to a hospital where he endured a seven-hour surgery and is now in the ICU, according to his sister, Jasmine Kuang. A spokesperson for the Oakland Housing Authority, which is in charge of the investigation because it manages the apartment building, said they dont have a lot of details yet and are still looking for a suspect.

Jasmine Kuang said her brother immigrated to the US from Taishan, China in 2005 searching for the American Dream for his family and is the sole provider for his wife, his 7-month-old and 3-year-old daughters and his parents.

Kuangs GoFundMe page can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-huas-fight-for-life-after-tragic-shooting and had raised more than $262,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.

Anyone with information is asked to call the OHA police dispatch number at (510) 535-3100 or the crime tip line at (510) 535-3155.

Copyright  2024 Bay City News, Inc.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
This photo taken on Aug. 7, 2024 shows a scene at the signing ceremony between Africa Bio Chem, a Chinese pharmaceutical firm, and the Zanzibar government in Zanzibar, Tanzania. (Africa Bio Chem/Handout via Xinhua)

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's Zanzibar government on Wednesday signed agreements with two Chinese-funded companies to boost the development of the country's health and energy sector.

Africa Bio Chem, a Chinese pharmaceutical firm, signed an agreement with the local government to produce advanced innovative medicine and bio-vaccine production base.

ABC Power Tech Ltd., another Chinese firm that deals with photovoltaic power generation, has also partnered with the Zanzibar government to produce 200 megawatts of electricity in the industrial park.

Tanzania's Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi witnessed the signing of the investment agreements between the Zanzibar government and the Chinese companies, noting that the two Chinese companies will station in the newly launched Dunga-Zuze industrial park.

"We hope to have more investors coming from China to support our industrialization drive," said Mwinyi.

"The Chinese have brought in a lot of medicines, they have trained our people, they have built the capacity of our people, so we are very thankful for that, and we are hoping to continue this cooperation," he added.

Noting that Zanzibar has a population of 1.9 million people, Mwinyi stressed that the government would like to achieve what the Chinese government has achieved for its people, especially helping get people out of poverty.

Speaking on Wednesday after the signing of investment agreements, Yang Chen, chief scientist advisor for Africa Bio Chem, said his company has decided to join hands with Zanzibar to build this advanced innovative medicine and bio-vaccine production base, contributing its strength to improving the healthcare level of the local area and the entire African region.

"At the same time, we will actively participate in the construction of the local public health system, providing the people of Zanzibar with more convenient and efficient medical services," said Yang.

Du Gongming, chief executive officer of ABC Power Tech, said photovoltaic power generation was an outstanding representative of clean energy that not only reduced dependence on traditional fossil fuels but also effectively reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Du said the cooperation between ABC Power Tech and the government of Zanzibar will not only bring stable and reliable power supply to local residents but also promote the rapid growth of Zanzibar's economy, improve the quality of life of residents, and bring new vitality to the social progress of Zanzibar. 

This photo taken on Aug. 7, 2024 shows a scene at the signing ceremony between ABC Power Tech Ltd., a Chinese firm that deals with photovoltaic power generation, and the Zanzibar government in Zanzibar, Tanzania. (ABC Power Tech Ltd./Handout via Xinhua)
ODON, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) An Odon man was taken into custody in the early hours of Thursday after allegedly breaking a no-contact order related to an ongoing case.

According to Sgt. John Davis of the Indiana State Police Jasper Post, Matthew Cornelius, of Odon, was taken into custody shortly after midnight Wednesday. Sgt. Davis stated that a warrant was issued for Cornelius late Wednesday night. Davis said ISP showed up shortly after the warrant was issued to take Cornelius into custody.

Court Docs: Odon man stalked victim with cameras, GPS tracking

In April Cornelius home was the subject of a massive police search. After that search, he was charged with a variety of crimes including drug possession, stalking, domestic battery, and violation of an emergency protective order.

Corneliuss new warrant charges him with 12 counts of invasion of privacy. He has a current court case he was set to appear at Friday morning. Sargeant Davis said they also obtained a search warrant as well and found a small amount of drugs.

According to the probable cause affidavit (PCA) officers were informed by a relative of one of the victims under protective order that Cornelius had received a burner phone to contact the victims. The PCA also stated that Cornelius used multiple aliases to arouse less suspicion and referred to himself in the third person to avoid detection while contacting the victims. Cornelius had also shown up in person to multiple locations where he knew the victims would be and that was what caused alarm and eventually brought police back into the situation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com.
(L-R) Director General for Public Security, Franz Ruf, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and DSN Director Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, arrive for a press conference to comment on the arrest of a 19-year-old Islamist who has been arrested wanted to cause a bloodbath at a Taylor Swift concert in Austria. Alex Halada/APA/dpa

A 19-year-old who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State militant group has confessed to plotting an attack on the Vienna leg of Taylor Swift's Eras tour, a top Austrian security official said on Thursday.

He had wanted to use homemade bombs and knives to kill people during Swift's performance, said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, director of state security and intelligence in the Austrian Interior Ministry.

The 19-year-old did not have a concert ticket, but wanted to strike in the vicinity of the Ernst Happel Stadium. He was part of an Islamist network and already on the police's radar, the official said.

The suspect had looked up online about how to build bombs and told investigators in his confession that he had intended to "kill himself and a large crowd of people either today or tomorrow," Haijawi-Pirchner said.

The shows had been scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. All three were cancelled on Wednesday night by the organizer.

The 19-year-old and a second person, aged 17, were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of plans to attack major events in Vienna, including Swift's concerts. A 15-year-old was also questioned as part of the investigation. Both had been in contact with the main suspect.

The 19-year-old had quit his job on July 25 and said that he had big plans coming up, according to a police account.

Police said he had begun thorough preparations for the attack and that he had recently sworn an oath of allegiance to the current leader of the Islamic State group.

Franz Ruf, director general for public security at the Austrian Interior Ministry, said chemical substances and bomb-making equipment were seized from the 19-year-old Austrian's home in Ternitz, south of Vienna.

No one else is wanted in connection with the alleged plot, officials said.

Haijawi-Pirchner said it was the concert organizer's decision to cancel the shows, not Austrian police, but described the choice as understandable.

Swift played shows in Warsaw earlier this month and is scheduled to play five dates in London starting next week.

"A tragedy was prevented," Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said, adding: "The situation was serious, the situation is serious."

A view of the Ernst-Happel Stadium following the arrest of two terror suspects who may have been planning an attack on the upcoming Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna, the organizer cancelled the concerts in the Austrian capital on Wednesday evening. Florian Wieser/APA/dpa

Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner speaks at a press conference to comment on the arrest of a 19-year-old Islamist who has been arrested wanted to cause a bloodbath at a Taylor Swift concert in Austria. Alex Halada/APA/dpa
Officials address condo insurance crisis. But is it too late?

HONOLULU (KHON2)  Insurance premiums are skyrocketing for condo owners with no relief in sight. Now the state is taking some action. But will it be enough?

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We are doing everything we can to help stabilize the market, State Insurance Commissioner Gordon Ito said.

He said insurance premiums for homeowners have spiked in large part due to increased costs of repairing and replacing losses linked to natural disasters including the Lahaina wildfires.

One year in numbers and people as Lahaina moves forward

Representative Scott Saiki (D), is part of a joint task force put together by the governor to tackle the problem. He said condominiums are being hit particularly hard.

In some cases youve seen the cost of insurance go from $200,000 a year to over $1 million, Saiki explained.

And condo owners are forced to pay the difference.

Kona Classic is coming to Hawaii Island: How, where to join the fun

The problem that condo buildings are facing now is that there are only three property insurers doing business in this state and those companies are not insuring buildings at full value and 100% of the building, which is why condo buildings have to go out and piece together layers of insurance coverage to make sure they can fully insure, they can fully cover the buildings, Saiki explained.

He said thats driving up the costs and if buildings arent fully insured it creates a domino affect.

Mortgage lenders are not willing to write or issue mortgages on those buildings that are not fully insured, Ito explained. So thats having a negative ripple effect, not only on the mortgage bankers or the financial institutions, but also with respect to real estate.

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Anyone looking to purchase a condo in a building not fully covered, would have to pay cash for it.

On Wednesday, Governor Josh Green signed an emergency proclamation to create more hurricane coverage options for condominiums.

However Ewa resident Jason Lee Hoy said more needs to be done to solve the problem for all home owners.

Its just, its terrifying to think what is this going to do to Hawaii in 10-years, Hoy said.

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He said the insurance for his town home community jumped from $149,400 last year to over $733,447 this year so hell have to fork up an extra $4,500 to cover his unit.

How it would increase by 400% just to cover the roofs and the exterior of the building, it doesnt make sense, Hoy said.

That doesnt even include his HOA fees or the additional insurance hes required to purchase to cover his townhome itself.

Saiki said he understands the frustration and sees the need for change moving forward.

Were going to have to rethink this whole model of property insurance: How its provided, how its paid for, what it covers, Saiki added. Especially since natural disaster risk doesnt seem to be decreasing.

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The state insurance commissioner said homeowners need to review their policies to make sure they are properly insured. One thing he said they noticed after the Lahaina wildfires is that many home owners were underinsured and didnt have enough insurance to cover their losses.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
A Canadian nature conservancy has purchased an island in British Columbia's lower Fraser River that helps protect salmon and other river wildlife.

The 248-hectare (612-acre) Carey Island, previously used as farmland, is positioned in what many call "the Heart of the Fraser," said Steven Godfrey, a program director at the Nature Conservancy of Canada, according to CTV News.

Salmon are important to cultures and economies up and down the Pacific Coast. The Fraser River happens to be the biggest salmon producer in Canada, so protecting one of its fragile freshwater riverbeds is a victory across the board.

"It's something we've had our eye on for a while," Godfrey told CTV News, "and have been seeking to build relationships in the area to understand what are the big pieces that would be a big win for conservation, and Carey Island is one of them."

Buying the private island wasn't easy  it cost around $8 million. Environment and Climate Change Canada, a federal government department, was able to cover almost half the price, and the Nature Conservancy of Canada handled the rest, with contributions from foundations and private donors.

With some of the last undeveloped shoreline in the area, Carey Island creates the habitat salmon need to complete their life cycle. Full of gravel beds, calm pools, and side channels, they can lay their eggs in peace and safely hatch months later, supporting a healthy and diverse ecosystem from the Fraser to the Pacific.

Similar efforts for salmon in other rivers have shown initial successes. Carey Island also provides refuge for endangered sturgeon, giving officials and conservationists all the more reason to celebrate.

First Nations have partnered with conservation groups like the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance and Watershed Watch Salmon Society. They're looking ahead at how to continue this work throughout the region.

"We have a golden opportunity to collaborate with others to undertake this work for the benefit of current and future generations," said Eddie Gardner, Sto:lo Nation elder, in a statement given to CTV News.

Mark Angelo, a respected river conservationist, also advocates for the importance of the Fraser River.

"The acquisition of Carey Island by the Nature Conservancy of Canada is a major step forward to better protect the heart of the Fraser, one of the most productive stretches of river on the planet," said Angelo.

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Officials raise concerns after drone technology threatens coastal birds: 'There are birds on this beach that are highly endangered'

In New York City, an unlikely battle between drones and birds is afoot, and wildlife experts are concerned about how the animals will fare.

What's happening?

The Associated Press reported that in May 2024, New York City started using drones on Rockaway Beach to patrol for struggling swimmers and sharks. However, the city has had to adjust its flight plans after angry birds started swarming the drones in an effort to protect their chicks from what they perceive as predators.

Why is bird-drone conflict concerning?

So far, no birds have been hurt, though there have been a few close calls. That's good news because the primary species involved  the American oystercatcher  is considered to be of "high conservation concern" by federal authorities.

However, David Bird, a professor of wildlife biology at McGill University, told AP that the drones could also cause a stress response in the birds, prompting them to flee the beach and abandon their eggs.

Oystercatchers are not the only animals in danger from drones. They share the beach with other birds, including multiple tern varieties and the piping plover, a federally designated endangered species.

"We don't know a lot about what sort of distance is required to protect the birds," Bird told the AP. "But we do know there are birds on this beach that are highly endangered. If they abandon their nests because of the drones, that would be a disaster."

Shorebirds like oystercatchers are important because they facilitate energy and nutrient exchanges between land and sea, supporting the health of these ecosystems, which support local economies through fishing and recreational opportunities. Plus, three billion people across the world rely on wild-caught and farmed seafood as a significant source of animal protein, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Meanwhile, some shorebird populations have declined by 70% over the last half century as they face challenges like habitat loss and degradation, direct harvest, and the effects of a warming world.

What's being done about drones?

After concerns were raised about how the drones were impacting Rockaway Beach's birds, the city's drone operators agreed to fly the devices further from oystercatcher nesting areas, according to the AP article. The involved departments have also started holding briefings about the issue.

New York City is not the only place struggling with conflict between drones and local animals. For example, researchers in Australia found that approaching drones can cause dolphins and whales to lash out. However, several Australian states have implemented regulations on how far drone operators must keep their devices from marine animals, with harsh fines imposed on lawbreakers in some locations.

Meanwhile, drones are helping to solve important issues. Rockaway Beach's drones have the capacity to drop inflatable life rafts for struggling swimmers, the AP reported. Plus, some critically endangered orcas are benefitting from drone technology, which enables veterinarians to assess the animals for bacterial and fungal infections.

Drones are also being used by one startup to deliver seeds to hard-to-reach areas of Brazil's Amazon, aiding in reforestation efforts.

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Officials searching for men who broke into two power substations, stole thousands of dollars in copper wires

UTAH COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  Officials are seeking help from the public regarding two men who broke into several Rocky Mountain Power substations and stole thousands of dollars worth of wires.

Both the Utah County Sheriffs Office and the Springville Police Department posted photos of the suspects to ask for assistance searching for them.

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The photos of the suspects were shared in a Blues Clues-inspired post (hence the blue paw prints on the photos) with a description of the men.

Disheveled skinny guys who dont care about other peoples property, the police department said. One with high cheek bones, that make his beard pop and one who could maybe use a visit to the chiropractor.

According to the sheriffs office, the men broke into a Rocky Mountain Power substation in Vineyard before 4 a.m. on Aug. 3. From the Vineyard substation, they reportedly stole $8,000 worth of copper grounding wire.

The Springville Police Department said the pair also broke into a substation on 1600 South in Springville. The suspects reportedly cut the fence to get into the substation before cutting A LOT of copper wire from the ground at the substation, police said.

The suspects caused thousands of dollars in damage, according to officials.

If you have information about the men in regard to the incident at the Vineyard substation, the Utah County Sheriffs Office asked that you call Detective Holm at (801) 851-4013.

If you have information regarding the incident at the Springville substation, you are asked to contact Detective Wilding at cwilding@springville.org and reference case number 24SV05565.

There is no further information at this time.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Experts came together Thursday to discuss the recent outbreak of measles across three Oregon counties.

During the press conference, OHAs medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations Paul Cieslak, M.D., and Sarah Present, M.D., health officer at the Clackamas County Public Health Division, discussed the recent outbreak as well as the rise in unvaccinated children.

According to Cieslak, there has been a steady increase in unvaccinated children since 2000 when 1% of kids claimed exemption from vaccination.

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As of the 2023-2024 school year, Cieslak said that 8.8% now claim exemption.

The last measles outbreak in Oregon happened in 2019 when 28 people got measles. Before that, there hadnt been an outbreak since the 90s.

The doctors warned that measles is one of the most contagious diseases and it can be spread up to four days before the trademark rash appears.

OHA keeps track of locations where people could have been exposed to measles; a list is available on the OHA website.

So far, there have been 25 cases in Oregon across 3 counties, all unvaccinated.

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Supporters of reproductive rights protested outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, as justices heard oral arguments over access to mifepristone, one of two pharmaceuticals used in medication abortion. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)

New data studying state funding for anti-abortion centers showed Ohio provided more than $22 million to groups in the state since the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 Dobbs decision overturned national abortion rights.

Since 2013, the state has fed more than $35.5 million to anti-abortion funding, according to Equity Forwards newest study of state-by-state funding for centers who are also called crisis pregnancy centers, and are often religiously affiliated facilities that provide services like ultrasounds and pregnancy tests, but have also reportedly provided outdated or debunked information about pregnancy.

The organization looked at 23 states allocating public dollars to anti-abortion centers since 1995, the year they say had the first verifiable instance of funding, and up to July 23 of this year.

AACs use public dollars to fund tactics and programs that not only aim to delay, deceive and discourage those in search of abortion care but also act as an unnecessary barrier to pregnant people looking for other medical care and support services, the report stated.

In 22 states, the analysis found that more than $489 million has been allocated to anti-abortion centers since Dobbs was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022.

Ohio has sent $35,583,939 to facilities in the state, with that total including public funding going to Alternative to Abortion programs, funding from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, and other miscellaneous sources, the study stated. Specifically, $17.8 million from the TANF program went to centers since 2013, according to Equity Forward. The study reported a total of nearly $200 million in TANF funds used for anti-abortion centers in nine states.

TANF is a program designed to help low-income families with children achieve economic self-sufficiency, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, though states have discretion when it comes to using the federal funding, along with the state contribution to the fund.

As part of Gov. Mike DeWines Office of Faith-Based Community Initiatives received $13.5 million for fiscal year 2024 in TANF Block Grant earmarks as part of the most recent state operating budget and funds grants through TANF. According to the offices website, the purposes of TANF include preventing or reducing the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies, encouraging the formation and maintenance of two-parent families and ending the dependence of parents in need on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work and marriage.

The state also has a Parenting and Pregnancy Program through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, for which $14 million was set aside in the last budget, $7 million per fiscal year, according to the Legislative Service Commissions breakdown of the state budget.

Organizations that receive money through the PPP must promote childbirth, rather than abortion, through counseling and other services, including parenting and adoption support, according to the state. Those entities are expressly banned from being involved in or associated with any abortion activities, including providing abortion counseling or referrals to abortion clinics, performing abortion-related medical procedures, or engaging in pro-abortion advertising.

The state is still funding entities in this way despite a ballot initiative that constitutionalized reproductive rights including abortion last year, with the approval of 57% of voters. A spokesperson for DeWine has been asked multiple times if language would be changing within the PPP to reflect the language of the amendment, but he has yet to give a response.

Ohio legislation in the last year seeks to further the support of anti-abortion groups, through possible tax credits, as another Republican bill seeks to keep state funds from benefitting abortion-related services.

Its not clear whether those bills will succeed during this General Assembly, which ends in December, but they could be reintroduced next year even if they fail to see a vote or passage.

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BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN)  Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno was in the Valley Wednesday evening.

His statewide bus tour took him to Boardman for a rally at the Mahoning County Republican Headquarters.

About 140 people came to hear Moreno speak.

After an introduction from Representative Michael Rulli, Moreno talked for about 50 minutes. His speech covered the border, Ukraine, and bringing manufacturing back to the country and Valley.

Thats coal, natural gas, oil so we can make steel here again by American companies, make cars, car parts  not batteries that people dont want but real manufacturing here. So somebody can graduate with a high school degree and live a good American life with a good job. Thats what were going to do to the Valley, Moreno said.

He said if hes elected, his Day 1 issue is to secure the border. Moreno wants people to come to the country on our terms.

Protestors from the Ohio Democratic Party were just outside the headquarters, calling Moreno out for stiffing workers.

In a release sent to First News, the Ohio Democratic Party said, in part:

From stealing his employees wages and shredding evidence to try to get out of paying them, to lying about selling Chinese-made cars at Ohio workers expense, Ohioans see that Moreno wont fight for them because hes only out for himself.

WKBN

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According to a press release from the Ohio Democratic Party, Ohioans in Youngstown were protesting Morenos record of refusing to pay his employees.

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NAIROBI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) said on Thursday that it is expanding the continent's early warning system in order to improve stability in the region.

Neema Nicholaus Chusi, head of the AU Peace and Security Council Secretariat, told journalists in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, that additional investments are earmarked to strengthen the observation and monitoring unit to ensure timely response to crises.

"A well-functioning early warning system will prevent violent conflicts in Africa," Chusi said during the third edition of the stakeholders' data for governance alliance conference.

The five-day event brought together AU officials as well as senior government officials and policymakers from across the continent to enhance the rule of law in Africa.

Chusi revealed that the African Peer Review Mechanism, a voluntary governance self-assessment by African countries, is expected to provide interventions before political crises emerge.

She added that the continent will also strengthen its early warning systems through increased cooperation with international organizations such as the United Nations. 
On the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for the Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original story.)

Ohio State University hired a conservative law professor who was the driving force behind bringing intellectual diversity centers to a handful of Ohio universities.

Lee Strang was recently hired as the executive director of the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society at Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs. This is one of five intellectual diversity centers that were propped up after Gov. Mike DeWine signed the state budget into law last summer.

Leading the Chase Center is an opportunity to be part of the solution to how Americans of all backgrounds and viewpoints, together, will renew our common civic life, Strang wrote in an email to the Capital Journal. The Chase Center will do so by focusing on what unites usthe historical ideas, traditions, and texts of our common constitutional heritageand do so in a wayfree, open, and rigorous intellectual inquirythat guides Americans to see each other as civic friends, united in the collaborative project of securing the common good for us all.

President of the Ohio State chapter of the American Association of University Professors Pranav Jani is critical of the decision to hire Strang.

I think it does very little to inspire confidence that the center is going to be a space for intellectual diversity and free inquiry on campus, he said. I would say that Strangs appointment confirms that S.B. 117 is going to produce the centers exactly as intended, which is a center for partisan thought and conservative thought.

Strang will oversee the hiring and appointment of the centers faculty, develop curriculum, and deliver academic programing, Ohio State Spokesman Chris Booker said in an email.

Senate Bill 117

The centers started in Senate Bill 117 and initially only included Ohio State and the University of Toledo. Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, and Sen. Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, introduced the bill in May 2023 and then Miami University, Cleveland State University and the University of Cincinnati were later added to the bill as well.

The bill was eventually woven into the states budget and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed the budget into law last summer. Cincinnati was later removed from the legislation and the money was appropriated to Wright State University.

Ohios budget allocates $24 million for the centers  $5 million each fiscal year to Ohio State, $1 million each fiscal year to Toledo and $2 million each fiscal year for each center at Miami, Cleveland State and Wright State.

Lee Strang

Strang worked with McColley on creating the bill and Strang was first director of Toledos intellectual diversity center  the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership located in the college of law.

He first had the idea for the center back in 2019 after visiting the Georgetown Center for the Constitution and Princeton Universitys James Madison Program.

Strang helped back the failed effort to raise the minimum threshold for constitutional amendments that was voted down last summer during Ohios special election. He has previously supported banning abortion care.

(Strang) kind of hides his political motivations for taking these undemocratic legal positions, and that doesnt really inspire confidence for someone whos going to be open minded and interested in intellectual diversity, Jani said.

Strang also helped found and serves as the board president of the Toledo charter school Northwest Ohio Classical Academy  which offers classical education for K-12 students.

Ohio State

The tentative plan is for the Chase Center to start offering classes next fall, Strang said in an email.

The Chase Center will offer courses that will help students in two different ways, Strang said.

They will provide students with knowledge of Americans common civic heritage, he said in an email. For example, a course on the American Civic Tradition would cover the important people, history, documents, and institutions that all American citizens should know. Second, courses will help students hone the skills they need to flourish as citizens in our pluralistic Republic. For instance, a course on civil discourse would expose students to the arguments and ideas surrounding important issues of law and policy, while equipping students with the habits of productively arguing across differences with fellow citizen.

The Chase Center will have at least 15 tenure-track faculty members.

University of Toledo

Toledos Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership began offering classes last summer and will offer a mix of undergraduate and law classes to students this fall  including American Liberalism, Democracy in America, Lincolns Statesmanship, the Ohio Constitutional Law and the death penalty.

The center will add a major and a minor in the next couple of years, Strang said.

In Strangs absence, the executive director of the institute Michael Gonzalez will be the interim director while a nationwide search is conducted for a new director.

The institutes seven-member academic council will conduct the search and submit a list of finalists to the university president, who will appoint the new director.

Cleveland State University

Since Cleveland State is still in the early stages of creating the center, they do not know when or what kind of classes will be offered, university spokesperson Reena Arora said in an email.

The center will be in the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education and the legislation calls for having at least ten faculty members.

The Ohio Senate recently approved seven members of their Academic Council in June who will make recommendations for an executive director to their President Laura Bloomberg. However, three of the members are from out-of-state and one wrote a 2011 article titled Straight Is Better: Why Law And Society May Justly Prefer Heterosexuality.

Miami University

No director has been named yet for Miamis intellectual diversity center which will be housed in the College of Arts and Science.

Whoever is the director will be able to hire faculty for the center and come up with classes that will be offered, university spokesman Seth Bauguess said in an email.

Wright State

Wright States Board of Trustees appointed six members to the centers Academic Council in June.

Follow OCJ Reporter Megan Henry on Twitter.

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Oklahoma is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from stripping the state of federal family-planning grants because officials refuse to refer pregnant women to abortion counseling services.

The state on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to intervene after the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 in July that HHS was allowed to withhold funding because the state did not meet the conditions for participation in the grant program.

Title X grant funds previously held by the state health department were transferred to community organizations, and the state lost about $4.5 million.

Most Title X clients are young and have low incomes; through the program, they receive low-cost, or no-cost, family planning and reproductive health care services.

Title X says grants cannot be used in programs where abortion is a method of family planning, and a 2004 appropriations rider called the Weldon Amendment bars discrimination against state agencies that decline to provide referrals for abortions.

But the Biden administration in 2021 required that state-funded providers who want to receive money from the Title X program give patients neutral, factual information and nondirective counseling about all their options, including abortion, followed by facts about where the service could be obtained, if asked.

Oklahoma banned nearly all abortions in the wake of the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. Last year, the state refused to give Title X patients the phone number for a national hotline because it said the hotline was an abortion referral.

The appeals court ruled that the national hotline did not encourage abortion merely by presenting it as an option.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond (R) said HHSs actions violated the Weldon Amendment because it punished the state for declining to refer for abortions, even though that wasnt a condition of the funding.

The application was sent to Justice Neil Gorsuch, who by default handles emergency appeals arising from the 10th Circuit. He could act on the request alone or refer it to the full court for a vote.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Oklahoma State University students Zara Hull and Jake Snider were on vacation with friends at a resort in Cancun, Mexico when things took a near-deadly turn.

They arrived Thursday, August 1. The next day, they were up early to go to the pool.

LOCAL NEWS: Edmond woman hopes someone will recognize man suspected in hit-and-run

Zara and her friend Kaylie swam up to the bar to get water. Shortly after taking a few sips, they both collapsed.

Zaras mom shared this photo.

Within seconds, at the same time, our heads hit the pool bar, Zara Hull says.

Unsure of what happened, Jake took Zara back to their hotel room.

Zara adds, I was like basically paralyzed in the corner of the room and I couldnt move.

At that point she says she was completely unconscious. She was then taken to nearby private hospital.

Jake never left her side and kept their parents updated on what was going on.

It was scary. I was on the phone with parents, everybody, for the whole time I was there, Jake Snider says.

After paying thousands of dollars for Zara to be treated at the hospital and released, they were flown back to the United States.

Zara says doctors dont know what her and Kaylie were given.

We think it was possibly synthetic fentanyl, says Hull.

News 4 spoke with Doctor Randall Herrin, the Director of OU Healths Edmond Emergency Department.

He says when ingesting something like Fentanyl, The onset can be quite rapid and quite debilitating, so people wont necessarily have symptoms that tell them theyre about to pass out.

Also adding, If the suspicion is fentanyl, then Narcan if thats available, says Dr. Herrin.

Zara says she is glad to be back in the U.S., and thankful her and Kaylie made it back alive.

Her family has a GoFundMe page setup to help with medical expenses.

You can donate to their page here.

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Tired of 100-degree days yet? Relief is on the way.

According to the National Weather Service, a cold front will push into the state on Thursday, bringing Oklahoma City's high temperatures down below 90 degrees by Friday.

The forecast shows OKC could reach just 84 degrees on Saturday, which would be the lowest high temp in weeks.

A cold front will bring cooler weather Thursday into Friday. Rain chances will also increase, especially across the northern half of Oklahoma. #okwx #texomawx pic.twitter.com/RBwlNtrAdh  NWS Norman (@NWSNorman) August 7, 2024

Immediate relief won't come to the entire state, though. While northern Oklahoma will cool down on Thursday, the weather service predicts that areas south of the front likely will be issued another heat advisory.

The front is expected to push through the rest of the state later this week.

More: How much damage can extreme heat do to your body?

Luckily for dry parts of the state where wildfire remains a serious threat, there will be a chance of showers (and storms) after the front moves through.

"Although the specific track of these areas of storms is difficult to pinpoint too far out, the storm chances do look to be increasing somewhat, especially across northern Oklahoma," the weather service wrote in its Wednesday forecast.

By next week, though, the heat will return.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma forecast this week includes cold front, rain
UPDATED, with CNN comment: Oliver Darcy, who has been the top media reporter for CNN and author of its Reliable Sources newsletter, is departing the network and launching his own newsletter.

In an email sent out today, Darcy introduced Status, which will land in inboxes each evening.

More from Deadline

Drawing on a deep well of sourcing and industry expertise, Status delivers hard-hitting reporting and unflinching analysis on the Fourth Estate, Hollywood, and Silicon Valley, Darcy wrote. There will be no sugarcoating, no pulling punches, no sparing sensitive egos  just the unvarnished truth about the companies and individuals who shape our world.

The newsletter will be a subscription offering but also seeking advertising support. Status is proudly independent and relies on its readers for support, the email read.

In nearly a decade on the beat, seven years of which were for CNN, Darcy has built a reputation for consistently delivering consequential scoops and must-read insight that pulls back the curtain on the industry, the email read. His work is well-read by those who make up the industry, and for news chiefs, Hollywood bosses, tech executives, top political figures, and all those who seek a deeper understanding of the media landscape.

Darcy, who joined CNN in 2017, became the key media reporter at the network and author of the Reliable Sources newsletter after the departure of Brian Stelter. Then-CNN CEO Chris Licht had canceled Stelters Sunday show, Reliable Sources. Darcys reporting at times took on the editorial decisions of his own bosses, including Lichts decision to host a town hall with former President Donald Trump and, more recently, the decisions to give Trump uninterrupted airtime where he could spread misinformation.

Darcy was previously the politics editor for Business Insider and deputy managing editor of The Blaze.

The CNN newsletter will go on a break but will return in the fall with a new writer, the network said.

CNN Worldwide CEO Mark Thompson said in a statement, Oliver has established himself as a tough but scrupulously fair leading voice in media reporting and commentary  never afraid to call it as he sees it. He has been a great shepherd of CNNs Reliable Sources newsletter, and we wish him every success in his new entrepreneurial adventure.

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Update: One dead in shooting near SC Bojangles during Tropical Storm Debby. Victim named

One person is dead and another is injured after an afternoon shooting at a Bojangles in Loris, said Loris Police Chief Gary Buley.

The shooting happened around 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 7 at the Bojangles in downtown Loris, 4207 Main St. The injured person was taken to the hospital.

Kenasia Martin died of injuries sustained near Walnut Street, according to an email from Horry County Deputy Coroner Michelle McSpadden. Martin, 22, was from Greensboro, North Carolina.

Feleshisa Goodman will be charged for the shooting, Buley said. She is in custody in North Carolina as the Loris Police Department waits to extradite her.

The shooting happened during Tropical Storm Debby, which dumped around 15 inches of rain on the area.

Other details about the shooting were unavailable, including what happened to cause the shooting.
One killed, another injured in Apache helicopter crash in Alabama

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

A helicopter crash at a military base in Alabama on Wednesday afternoon killed one person and injured another, military officials said.

An AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed during routine flight training on Fort Novosel Army base, about 94 miles south of Montgomery, according to a statement from the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Novosel.

Army pushes more safety training as helicopter crashes spike

The crash killed the flight instructor, according to the statement. An Army student pilot was airlifted to a hospital for additional evaluation.

Dale County Coroner John Cawley identified the deceased instructor pilot as Daniel Munger, 46, a contractor and retired service member.

Military authorities did not immediately provide information about the circumstances of the crash. The statement said the accident is under investigation.

Our primary concern is the welfare and health of the student pilot and care and concern for the family of the deceased, Maj. Gen. Clair A. Gill, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Novosel commanding general, said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press.

In April the Army ordered a six-month aviation safety stand up requiring additional aviation training across the force. That move followed a dozen mishaps  resulting in 10 fatalities  in the first six months of the fiscal year, Army Times previously reported.

Weve seen a troubling trend with our accident rates, Maj. Gen. Walter Rugen, director of Army aviation, said on a call with reporters in April. Certainly, any loss of life is 100% unacceptable and obviously when we have [an] accident where we lose the aircraft or severely damage the aircraft, we consider that unacceptable, too.

A Class A mishap, under Army definitions, is any which results in the loss of life or the loss of equipment totaling more than $2.5 million. The service records the rate of Class A mishaps per 100,000 flight hours.

The rate as of April was 3.22, more than double the highest rate of any fiscal year in more than a decade, according to readiness center data.

The AH-64 Apache is a two-person aircraft. Fort Novosel was previously known as Fort Rucker. It is the Armys primary training facility for helicopter pilots.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.
HOUSTON (Nexstar)  Thursday marks one month since Beryl hit Houston, initially cutting power to more than two million Texans. While power has been restored for CenterPoints customers, the energy monopoly behind the outages and recovery effort is working to comply with the states new demands after allegations of improper preparation.

Gov. Greg Abbott set a July 31 deadline for CenterPoint to provide specific actions to address issues like vegetation removal, reducing future outages, prestaging workers for hurricane season, fixing poles and maintaining power at senior living facilities.

This is unacceptable: CenterPoint CEO testifies before Texas House Committee on State Affairs

After the deadline passed, CenterPoint responded to all demands in a letter, which Abbott found insufficient. He has now imposed new deadlines with additional requirements to follow up on these issues.

Abbott said last week he spent two and a half hours with CenterPoint CEO Jason Wells and their regulatory director Jason Ryan, directing them to adequately better prepare for the next severe weather event in Southeast Texas by improving their preparation and response practices.

CenterPoint has contributed at least $1.4M to Texas lawmakers since 2022

Ed Hirs  an Energy Fellow at the University of Houston  compares the response to power outages post-Beryl to other hurricanes that decimated Texas in the past.

After every hurricane, after every major storm event, not only in Houston but up and down the coast, everyone knows they need to do something to harden the local grid, Hirs said. To replace the wooden utility poles with something stronger, to move some lines underground, if they can, to strengthen the connections above ground, and, most importantly, just clear the vegetation away  None of this is new. Every government official knows this.

Hirs does not believe that Abbotts demands will be effective.

The governor really is in no position to dictate to CenterPoint his team on the Public Utility Commission, Hirs said. None of them have ever been in utility management. Theyre bureaucrats and political appointees. And you know, to his credit, Chair Gleason last week said, the Public Utility Commission bears some blame with us.'

Breaks your spirit: Houstonians exhausted by frequent disasters

Texans are no strangers to weather-related power failures. Hirs noted the legislative changes after the February 2021 winter storm and questioned their impact on future events.

We barely got by with the Winter Storm Elliot, just a year and a half ago, Hirs said. In terms of hardening the Coastal Grids against these storms, everybody knows this has to happen.

Because of this historic lack of action, Hirs said the responsibility to fix Houstons power infrastructure falls on CenterPoint rather than the legislature.

I dont know that the legislature can actually act in a positive fashion, Hirs said. CenterPoint Energy needs to exercise executive leadership and get the job done. Send out crews, clear the lines, clear the areas, replace the poles.

CenterPoint announced its new Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative on Monday. According to a press release from CenterPoint, the initiative reflects direct feedback from Abbott and includes more than 40 actions the energy company will take to meet Abbotts requirements on an accelerated timeline.

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One year in numbers and people as Lahaina moves forward

HONOLULU (KHON2)  Today, Aug. 8 marks one year since we all woke up to unnerving news. Devastating wildfires ravaged the Lahaina and Kula communities on Maui.

These fires resulted in the tragic loss of 102 lives and deeply impacted thousands more.

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As we remember those lost and affected, the Department of Human Services (DHS) reflects on their ongoing efforts to help the community heal and recover.

Immediate and long-term support

Soon after the fires began, DHS was on the ground providing aid and resources. Over the past year, they have launched innovative programs dedicated to housing, mental health services, food, financial support and comprehensive recovery efforts.

How, where to get your free SPAM musubi across the U.S.

DHS Director Ryan Yamane, along with Deputy Directors Joseph Campos and Trista Speer, emphasize the importance of these programs in helping survivors rebuild their lives.

Key recovery statistics and efforts:

Housing assistance: In the two weeks following the fires, DHS helped 976 survivors move from shelters into hotel rooms across Maui. In total, 7,796 survivors were relocated to hotel rooms, with an additional 662 survivors housed in donated Airbnbs.

Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP): Hawaii quickly applied for federal aid and launched an interim program to expedite assistance. To date, the DCMP has served over 3,500 individuals.

Puuhonua o Nene Facility: This facility was created to help those who were unhoused before the fires, providing shelter and support to 390 individuals.

Nutrition Assistance: DHS expanded access to food support through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP), aiding over 3,200 households, and the Maui Relief Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Program, which provided more than $11 million in crucial support.

Rental Assistance Program (RAP): This innovative program utilized the local short-term rental market to secure longer-term housing for 302 households, totaling 842 individuals.

Ka Lai Ola Housing Project: This project is the first government housing solution on Maui to break ground. It will house up to 1,200 survivors in temporary units for up to five years.

Community and government collaboration

The efforts to rebuild and recover have been a collaborative effort involving local, state, and federal partners.

Meghan Statts, DOBOR Administrator, noted the significance of reopening the fuel dock at Lahaina Small Boat Harbor, a key step in restoring the communitys infrastructure.

This important step to rebuild infrastructure and resources at the harbor, for Lahaina and West Maui residents, will hopefully aid in the sense of overall recovery, she said.

The reopening of the fuel dock, which cost over $750,000, is vital for both commercial and recreational boaters who rely on this facility.

Pacific West Fuels President Gary Strutz expressed the emotional and logical challenges faced during the rebuild but highlighted the communitys determination to recover.

We wanted to be part of the Lahaina recovery effort. By being the first burned business to rebuild, we hope to inspire others to do the same, Strutz said.

Moving forward

As the community commemorates the one-year anniversary of the fires, DHS remains committed to supporting survivors and aiding in the long-term recovery of Lahaina and Kula.

For more information or to speak with DHS officials about the ongoing recovery efforts, click here or contact their offices directly.

Local lawmakers weighed in on the anniversary:

One year later, our hearts remain heavy as we remember the lives lost, the families impacted, and the communities affected by the devastating August 8 wildfires.The House stands committed to supporting ongoing recovery efforts for our Maui ohana, and our shared dedication to prioritizing the needs of Maui residents remains unwavering.  Resonated Speaker Scott K. Saiki who issued this statement on behalf of the House of Representatives

From the August 8 tragedy, one truth has emerged: our Maui community is resilient and strong. We are deeply grateful to our state, county, and federal partners for their steadfast support throughout this past year.  Representative Kyle Yamashita (D-12 Upcountry Maui)

Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8

The comprehensive report detailing their efforts over the past year is available on the DHS website, providing updated statistics and insights into the recovery process.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  Like many other counties across Eastern NC, Onslow County is under a State of Emergency ahead of Debbys arrival.

Beach accesses and parks are closed in the county as the State of Emergency went into effect Tuesday at 10 p.m. The state of emergency allows employees of the county and fire departments to go onto private property to remove debris or anything clogging drains.

It also suspends regulations for safety and emergency workers like fire, rescue, EMS and law enforcement. Onslow County Emergency Services Director Norman Bryson said the biggest concern is flooding around the New River and Bridgetown Road.

The flood stage for the New River is around 13 feet and its currently at eight. If you do see flooded areas and roadways, dont drive through high water, turn around, dont drown, because you dont ever know whats underneath the road, Bryson said. Could have washed out underneath of it or there could be potholes. Just need to be careful if you cant see the road underneath, you dont drive through high water.

The state of emergency will remain in place until Saturday at 10 p.m. Bryson said people should keep looking at the forecast to know whats going on and remain prepared.



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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.
ABUJA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 people were killed after a wooden boat exploded in the Bayelsa waterways of the southern region of Nigeria, police said Thursday.

The wooden boat, carrying more than 64 passengers and crew, burst into flames along the rural Ezetu 1 community in the Southern Ijaw local government area Wednesday, Musa Mohammed, spokesman for the police in Bayelsa, told the media.

Twenty bodies were recovered following a rescue operation launched Wednesday, Mohammed said, noting the operation by the marine police was still ongoing.

He said the ill-fated boat was also laden with farm produce from the rural Ezetu 1 community, en route to a local market in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa.

He added that an investigation has been launched to ascertain the cause of the explosion. 
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- OPD is asking all podcast listeners to tune in after Odessas Police Department Cold Case detective sat down with international hit podcast, The Deck, to discuss the unsolved case of Eula Kay Miller, in hopes of reaching justice.

According to OPD, in 1970 on Thursday, July 16, 26-year-old Eula Kay Miller was found stabbed to death in her Odessa apartment.

For the last 54 years, the case has remained unsolved- but now, the Eula Kay Miller case can be heard by all podcast listeners after Odessa PDs Cold Case Detective sat down with international hit podcast, The Deck, to tell the story of Kayss investigation.

The podcast episode was released on Thursday, August 8, and can be listened to here.

Credit: OPD Facebook Page

26-year-old Eula, who most people knew as Kay, was a strong and independent woman. She lived her life to the fullest  working hard and playing harder. But in the summer of 1970, that would all change when someone took her life  and that someone is still out there The Deck podcast description states.

OPD asked the public to listen and share the episode with family and friends in hopes that investigators can get any tips they need to solve this case.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to submit an anonymous tip to Odessa Crime Stoppers by calling 432-333-8477, or the Odessa Crime Stoppers website and reference case number 70-54054.

You can also submit tips at Odessa PDs website, or call Detective Gonzales at 432-335-4926.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
Voters in Juneau come out of the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall voting location on Nov. 8, 2022. (Photo by Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)

Voters in Juneau come out of the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall voting location on Nov. 8, 2022. (Photo by Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)

Ranked choice voting elections have been advancing and retreating since first developed in Denmark in the 1850s. The method was explored in Australia, Ireland, and, in the early 20th century, the U.S. After waxing and waning here during the 30s and 40s, since the 1960s, the ranked voting process has slowly spread. As reported by Fairvote.org tracking, ranked choice voting in the U.S. occurs in 2 states, 3 counties, and 45 cities. Now, according to rankedvote.co, a software company, the method is on the 2024 ballot in Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, D.C.

In Alaska, the states open primary and ranked choice system will also be on the ballotfor repeal, unless a Supreme Court appeal prevents it.

One argument Republicans make for repeal is that their party cannot field its own candidates. This is not exactly true as nothing prevents a party from sponsoring or endorsing candidates. What Republicans want in general is a return to the party-controlled, closed system of voting that helped it dominate Alaska election outcomes.

Under the former election process, the Republican Party, Alaskas largest, controlled a single Republican candidate for each elective office, usually against a Democrat from Alaskas second largest party. Other parties could field candidates, but with the vote usually trapped between candidates from the two largest parties, elections generally went to Republicans. This was despite being a sizeable minority among Alaska voters overall.

The Alaska Department of Elections, according to its most recent listings, reports 605,892 registered voters and counts them in 17 registered groups.

Republicans account for 144,363 registrations, one-quarter of the total, while Democrats with 73,963 members account for one-eighth. These two largest parties with their 218,326 registered voters make up one-third of Alaskas electorate. The majority two-thirds comprise 387,566 registrations, outnumbering Democrats and Republicans by 169,240 Alaska voters.

In 2020, open primaries and ranked choice voting narrowly passed. It probably did so with considerable help from members of Alaskas 15 other registered voter groups. In 2022, open primaries and ranked choice elections showed these groups that the new system increased their electoral influence. If members of these groups want to keep this gain, they should vote to reject a repeal.

Alaska voters are loyal to independent political thinking. Some of the 15 groups beyond Republicans and Democrats are small like the Owl and the Clowns parties with 103 and 215 members respectively. Larger parties like the Alaskan Independence Party, with 18,853 members, field candidates but are not usually competitive in general elections. The case is the same for the Green and Progressive parties with their 1,521 and 260 members.

Nonpartisans, the group Im in, number 84,333, but the largest group by far is Undeclared. It numbers 272,530, or 44.98% of Alaskas voters.

Open primaries tend to shape the positions, preferences, and values of candidates as determined by the whole electorate, not the largest parties. When voters in 2020 chose open primaries and ranked choice voting, they changed the rules of participation on the electoral field of play. Instead of 75% of voters having little to no chance of their values and positions being heard and represented, the new system increased the need for candidates to pay attention to all of Alaskas diverse electorate.

If repeal appears on the ballot, Alaskas voters will have the chance to reaffirm their 2020 choice. A no vote on repeal will keep electoral power where it belongs, with the diverse majority of Alaska voters.

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When the controversial owner of X (formerly Twitter), Elon Musk suggested that civil war was inevitable in response to false claims about the recent UK riots, he sparked a diplomatic firestorm. The British government condemned his comments, with one official complaining that Musk was accountable to no one.

But the incident also highlighted a troubling reality: as the owner of a major social media platform, Musk wields immense power to spread incendiary contentand almost any traditional way of trying to stop him would inevitably backfire.

Riots have been happening across the UK recently, following the stabbing deaths of three children by a teenager at a dance and yoga event. Extremist agitators used channels on the social media app Telegram to stir up hatred and anger, mostly by falsely claiming that the teenager was a Muslim refugee.

Elon Musk Deletes X Post After Falling for Fake News Story Created by Far-Right

Since then, the riots have expanded, even as the original claim was debunked. Many are blaming social media apps for exacerbating the violence and calling for the UK government to crack down on the platforms for allowing incendiary speech. The UK only recently passed its Online Safety Act, which empowers the UKs telecom regulator, Ofcom, to combat disinformation online.

However, the law is not fully operational yet, so Ofcom has merely published a pleading open letter to social media platforms asking them to follow codes of practice to minimize harm.

That all sounds well and good in a world in which the platforms want to minimize harm. But what happens when one platform, X, is run by a guy like Elon Musk who seems to be actively and excitedly fanning the flames of harm?

Last weekend, as the riots were increasing, Elon tweeted civil war is inevitable in reply to a tweet falsely claiming that the UK riots were the effects of mass migration and open borders. The UK government hit back at Musk, saying there is no justification for comments like that.

Musk seemed unbothered. A video featuring British Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson, saying people sharing material deemed likely to incite racial hatred could be prosecuted, which was posted by the account End Wokeness was retweeted by Musk, with his added caption, Woke Stasi.

However, as The Daily Beast reported Thursday, Musk seems to have recognizedat least for oncea mistake on his own part, deleting one of his own posts based on a fake news story about sending prisoners to emergency camps on the Falkland Islands. He had posted a two-word caption to his 193 million followers: Detainment Camps. Musk deleted the post after 35 minutes, presumably after realizing he had been pranked.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Times newspaper, UK Secretary of Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle complained separately that Musk was accountable to no one. He further argued that the UK and other governments now feel as though they need to treat the various large tech companies as if theyre governments themselves.

So, the relationship we have with some of these companies is much more akin to the negotiations with fellow secretaries of state in other countries, simply because of the scale and scope that they have.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks to faith and community leaders at the Arden Academy in Solihull, West Midlands, Britain August 8, 2024. Joe Giddens/Pool via Reuters

This is hardly the first time arguments like this have been made. Last year, the New Yorker had a feature article by Ronan Farrow detailing how the US government struggled to work with Musk, which made similar arguments.

And its become a common rhetorical point to argue that these companies are larger than nation states.

But its important to remember that private companies and nation states are different in important ways. Treating one as if it were the other leads to very bad outcomes. Nation states can trade with one another. Or not trade. Or create trade barriers, such as tariffs. They can bar or allow travel. Or put conditions on it. They can sign treaties.

And the interactions between nation states and private organizations (and individuals) are quite different as well. They can levy taxes or issue fines for legal violations. They can arrest and imprison people. They can deny entry via visas. The tools are different and the impact is different.

The different realities and the different ways that nation states and private entities can and do interact lead to very different affordances and very different outcomes.

Also, most of the interactions over the past decade were along the lines of: you need to be better about limiting the spread of content designed to incite violence. Often, these are situations where the companies agree and want to limit the spread of such content for their own reasons, but may just disagree on how to do so.

Its entirely different when one of the companies is owned and operated by an individual who himself is one of the leading spreaders of that kind of content.

Most companies dont want to be spreading that kind of information because its bad for their own reputation and the willingness of both advertisers and users to continue to use the platform. But, in Elons case, there appear to be extraordinarily different incentives at play.

People gather against an an anti-immigration protest, in Liverpool , Britain, August 7, 2024. Yves Herman/Reuters

Treating X and Elon as being in the same boat as some other companies, or believing that they can be influenced or persuaded in the same manner as a nation-state, seems like a dangerous move that wont end well for anyone.

Elon relishes fighting with certain governments (so long as theyre not run by his ideological kindred spirits among right-leaning authoritarians). Pushing or threatening Elon over this is likely to just lead him to playing free speech martyr as hes done in the past. And, to some extent, he wouldnt be wrong.

The real complaint here is with Elons speech. In an ideal world, Elon would have enough understanding of how things work to recognize that his speech could incite increasing violence and decide to stop. But if the U.K. keeps pushing him, hes only likely to dig in and act as if hes the victim.

The real issue shouldnt be the UK government and Elon fighting at all. It should be how we avoid ending up in such a position in the first place. How can we better educate the public not to fall for this kind of incendiary nonsense? How do we make it so that Elons ignorant brainfarts dont have the widespread impact that is causing messes like this today? In Elons own words, he should have freedom of speech, but that doesnt grant him freedom of reach.

Having more places that people can speak and communicate with each other means that any particular platform would have less power. It also means that anyone who controls an individual platform would have less impact as well. The real goal shouldnt be dealing with large companies as if they are nation statesit should be making sure no company is ever powerful enough to be mistaken for one.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The Latin American left has a decision to make about Venezuela: Oppose Nicolas Maduros totalitarian bid to remain in power indefinitely or enable it. Efforts to constrain Maduro may not succeed. But giving in to him will destabilize neighboring countries  with consequences for the United States  while undermining the lefts claims to respect democracy and possibly costing its leaders political support.

According to an Associated Press review of about 80% of Venezuelan voting machines paper tallies provided by the opposition, Maduro lost the July 28 election to opposition coalition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia by a more than 2-to-1 margin. Rather than acknowledge it, however, Maduro simply announced that he had won and blamed an unsubstantiated cyberattack by Elon Musk for his inability to prove it.

Maduro's blatant steal marks a dark new chapter in Venezuela. Until July 28, the country was authoritarian with a patina of democracy, holding periodic unfree, unfair elections. Now that Maduro knows he lacks the popular support to win even on a tilted playing field, he is scrapping the facade and going full totalitarian, exceeding even his previous crackdowns.

Read more: Opinion: Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro could lose a landslide election. But will it matter?

Maduros government has arrested more than 2,000 people without trial since election day; deployed Russian Wagner Group mercenaries , Cuban secret police and other forces; and promised to send critics to reeducation camps. At least 24 people have been killed since election day.

Venezuelas descent into authoritarianism and a coinciding economic collapse in the 2010s pushed about 8 million Venezuelans into exile abroad, more than half a million of whom came to the United States; fueled Colombias internal armed conflict by providing rebels with a haven on Venezuelan territory; and polarized Latin American politics into pro- and anti-Venezuela camps.

The lurch toward full-fledged totalitarianism could prove even more destabilizing. Preelection polls suggested about 3.7 million additional people planned to migrate if Maduro remained entrenched. Given Venezuelas abundance of armed groups and Maduros naked lack of legitimacy, its not hard to imagine his government losing control as warring forces vie for territory.

Read more: Opinion: Mexico's election of Claudia Sheinbaum is historic. But should we be celebrating it?

Can anything hold Maduro back? Barring an improbable uprising within his security forces, further mass protests seem unlikely to rein him in. The United States could tighten its sanctions, but Maduro and his inner circle already know how to live under them, having forged ties with other pariah states during their years of isolation dating to the Trump administration.

If anyone outside the country has any leverage, its those often seen as Maduros friends: the leftist presidents of Brazil, Mexico and Colombia.

These leaders have taken Maduros side at times, but Colombias Gustavo Petro and Brazils Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have criticized him more recently. They even dissuaded Maduro's government from disqualifying opposition candidate Gonzalez  as it had opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and the first candidate chosen to replace her. Since the election, Mexicos Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has joined Petro and Lula in demanding the release of voting tallies.

The three presidents arent pushing Maduro to honor the results and concede outright, which would risk rupturing their ties with Venezuelas ruling party and upsetting pro-Maduro hard-liners in their own. Given that Maduro threatened to move troops through Brazilian territory to invade Guyana last year, Lula might also fear what he could do if he were even more isolated and vengeful. But the presidents of Brazil and Colombia have said publicly that they are eager to avert mass bloodshed. Brazil is also keen to prevent China and Russia, which quickly recognized Maduros win, from becoming more involved in the hemisphere and increasing geopolitical tensions, the newspaper O Globo reported.

Given their preference for behind-the-scenes diplomacy  and the risks of burning bridges by publicly slamming Venezuela's government  if the three leaders are seeking to sway Maduro or his inner circle, it's happening behind closed doors.

That could produce a range of outcomes. Endorsing another election with a weaker opposition figure on the ballot would amount to propping up Maduro. If the leftist leaders pursue that course or simply do nothing as Maduro's crackdown proceeds, they will enable another exodus, more economic chaos and further isolation while discrediting themselves.

Pushing Maduro toward a power-sharing deal and giving his opponents control of some government institutions  as the U.S. government envisioned in 2020  could move Venezuela closer to democracy and increase the opposition's leverage. The alternative  hoping mass protests push security forces to break with Maduro  looks increasingly unlikely.

Petro, Lula and AMLO don't have to be idealists to act. They should see the parallels between what's happening in Venezuela today and the repression the left suffered under their own countries' authoritarian regimes decades ago. But they also have self-interested reasons to get involved. Many of the voters and allies the leftist leaders need to win elections and implement policy will be alienated if they ignore or embrace Maduros totalitarian turn.

Their response will also send an important signal about the health of their own democracies, which are home to nearly 60% of Latin Americans. Colombia's and Mexicos presidents are pushing for major institutional changes; Brazils president took office only after a failed coup plot. Government critics in all three countries allege, with varying amounts of evidence, that they will roll back democracy or are already doing so. Standing aside as Maduro crushes his opponents would not convince anyone otherwise.

Hopes (including mine) that an overwhelming opposition victory would produce fissures within the Maduro government and enable a transition were not borne out. If there is any hope for such an outcome now, it rests with Venezuela's neighbors.

Will Freeman is a fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Hungarian governments arguments against Ukraines sanctions on Russian oil company Lukoil are falling apart.



Hungary accused Ukraine of blackmail and endangering its energy security after Ukrainian sanctions blocked Lukoil, Russias second-largest oil company, from transiting crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline in June.



Hungary and Slovakia were exempt from the EUs Russian oil sanctions in 2022, which made up 65-70% of supplies to Hungarian oil refiner Mol and its Slovakian subsidiary Slovnaft in May 2024.

But Hungarys panic-imbued rhetoric has fallen flat as country fails to find supporters. Even Russia, Hungarys ally, has remained quiet despite a phone call between Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov to discuss options.

The European Commission concluded there was no immediate threat to Hungary and Slovakia in a preliminary analysis after Budapest reached out to Brussels for help. Ukraine battered away the accusations, noting that Russian oil transit through Druzbha did not drop last month. Lukoil is instead selling its crude to non-sanctioned Russian companies like Rosneft and Tatneft.

Another nail in the coffin was Hungarys Mol calling for calm and said that a shortage is unlikely during a conference on Aug. 5. CEO Zsolt Hernadi told the audience that the company has enough reserves for 90 days and pointed towards alternative routes for Russian crude.



Mol did not reply to the Kyiv Independents request for comment.



The outrage is more likely related to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans relationship with Moscow, energy experts told the Kyiv Independent. Orban and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico previously held up fiscal and military support for Ukraine, while Orban angered Kyiv and Brussels last month by meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a peace mission.

The scandal is artificially created by Orban and Fico. They are executing an order from Moscow, said Sergiy Makogon, former head of Ukraines gas transport operator.



Hungarys dependence on Russian oil, nuclear, and hydrocarbons, used for fuel and plastic production, leaves it vulnerable to blackmail, said Wojciech Jakobik, a Warsaw-based energy analyst. Russia could paralyze Hungarys economy if it acts against Moscows interest, he said.



Hungary and Slovakia threaten retaliation unless Ukraine lifts the sanctions, including suspending diesel and electricity imports. The threats hold little weight in Ukraine, which would likely purchase diesel to fuel its military from other countries like Poland, said Makogon.



Likewise, he said both countries could face repercussions for stopping electricity imports. Ukraine doesnt buy Hungarian electricity, but electricity from other countries that is sold on the Hungarian market. Foreign companies could sue Hungary for blocking electricity to Ukraine, according to Makogon.



Hungarys Foreign Ministry did not reply to the Kyiv Independents request for comment.

Fuelling Russias war

Kyiv has not publicly explained why the expanded sanctions just target Lukoil and not other Russian oil companies. The Presidents Office did not reply to the Kyiv Independents request for comment.



However, the ban could set the precedent to block the route to more Russian companies, said Jakobik. Kyiv has not announced plans for further action.



Russia currently transits over 1 million metric tons of crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline monthly, lining the pockets of Russian companies. Lukoil sends 2 million metric tons annually to Mol, making up nearly a third of Hungarys supplies and 45% of Slovakias, according to Szijjarto.



Lukoil did not reply to the Kyiv Independents request for comment.



Targeting Russias second-largest oil company will limit its profits and the taxes it pays to the Kremlin, Jakobik said. The company earned a total of $13 billion in profits last year. In total, Russias oil sector earned $180 billion from exports, fuelling Moscows war machine.



Brussels urged both parties to find alternatives, particularly Croatias underutilized Adria pipeline which has the capacity for 14.3 million metric tons annually. But Budapest complained that Adrias transit fees are too high.

Protestors gather near the Lukoil headquarters to call to boycott the Russian oil company in Brussels, Belgium on May 13, 2022. (Kenzo Tribouillard /AFP via Getty Images)

Nevertheless, Hernadi said that Croatia is a viable option, although he also insisted on keeping Druzbha open, Reuters reported. Mol and Slovnaft plan to increase oil imports via Croatia from 30% this year to at least 60% next year, former Slovakian Economy Minister Karel Hirman told the Kyiv Independent.



Sanctions against Lukoil are not a drama for the Mol group, Hirman said, adding that Lukoil only makes up 20-25% of Mols oil supplies.



The Lukoil sanctions could be Kyiv flexing its muscles to its reluctant and hostile European neighbors, said Oleksandr Kharchenko, managing director of the Kyiv-based Energy Industry Research Center. Kyiv has drone-bombed oil facilities across Russia, including Lukoils, in response to Moscow circumventing Western fuel sanctions.



We have to defend our national interests. We have to show that Ukraine also can be strong in some direction. Hungary depends on Ukraine as Ukraine depends on Hungary, he said.

Lack of political will

Hungary, Slovakia, and Czechia were exempt from the EUs Russian fuel embargo in 2022 after Viktor Orban argued that the landlocked countries needed more time and money to adapt their infrastructure to non-Russian crude.



Over two years into the war and sanctions, Hungary and Slovakia have not weaned themselves off Russia, unlike Czechia. On top of Orbans close relationship with Moscow, energy experts accuse Budapest of prioritizing cheap Russian oil over genuine energy security.

You can see a long-term policy of pro-Russia energy and climate policy in Hungary. You can see similarities in Slovakia, said Jakobik.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Moscow, Russia, on July 5, 2024. (Prime Minister Viktor Orban/X (Twitter))

It could be the easiest way to get a cheap resource but you pay for this with insecurity of supply, which is happening right now.



The Russian oil sector has taken a hit in recent months. Exports dropped to 620,000 barrels, 30,000 less than last years average, and drilling fell by 2.3% y-o-y in the first half of 2024, according to Bloomberg.



While not related to the sanctions on Lukoil, the decline is likely due to decreased production in line with OPEC+ commitments, increased refining which decreases the amount to be exported, and broken infrastructure, according to Jakobik.



The Druzhba pipeline is a precarious option for Budapest, explained Makogon. Oil transit through Ukraine relies on electricity which is vulnerable to Russian strikes. If a Russian attack hits an energy facility, then the oil transit could be cut off, he explained.



Changing to a more reliable source, like Croatia or Polands Gdansk ports, is simply down to political will, Jakobik believes. It is safer to move to non-Russian oil imports, even if the process is more expensive, he added.

Feud in the Adriatic

Mol and Croatia have a checkered past after a Croatian court found Henadi guilty of bribing ex-Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader in 2008. His charge was later cleared by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), a Washington DC-based court of arbitration.



Nevertheless, Mol is open to expanding operations with Croatian oil transit company Janaf. Both companies tested Adrias transport capacity in February 2023. They concluded that the pipeline could cover all of Hungary and Slovakia with a capacity of 1.2 million metric tons of crude per month, according to Janaf.



But Budapest continues to turn its nose up at Croatia. On Aug. 2, Szijjarto accused Janaf of raising transit fees far higher than the market average and prohibiting long-term transport capacities with Mol.

A petrol station of Russian multinational energy corporation Lukoil, on the M7 motorway near the village of Tarnok, Hungary on Aug. 25, 2022. (Attila Kisbenedek / AFP via Getty Images)

Janaf fired back at both claims, saying the company is ready to accommodate Hungary and Slovakia. Fees are calculated by distance, the level of capacity utilization for the specific pipeline section, and the negotiation process, Janaf said in a press statement.



We are convinced that the price of transportation is not a factor in the matter, the company said.



Mol signed a one-year contract with Janaf in 2023 for 2.9 million metric tons of crude to Hungarian and Slovak refineries. But Hernadi is also keen to keep the Druzhba pipeline flowing, saying it's better to have two supply routes rather than one.



Hungary has pledged to provide detailed explanations to the EC on why it will not fully switch to the Adria pipeline or other options, an EC spokesperson told the Kyiv Independent.



The objective of diversification away from Russian fossil fuels should be actively pursued, the EC said.

Read also: Western companies continue insuring Russian oil tankers in spite of potential price cap violations, Reuters says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Counties across the state are sending applications to the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to get funding for their programs that could give drug users a choice between treatment and jail time.

Washington Countys deflection plan was approved early Wednesday morning, which will deflect drug users from the criminal justice system in compliance with Oregons new drug law, House Bill 4002.

DONT MISS: Missing woman in Clark County presumed dead as detectives seek remains

The law will effectively recriminalize the possession of small amounts of hard drugs starting Sept. 1 in a stark shift from the previously approved Measure 110, which legalized drug possession in 2020.

Until then, counties have developed their deflection plans  with some finding more state support than others. Washington Countys plan did pass with enough votes, but one member was concerned that the requirement to qualify was too strict and voted against it.

Frankly I would not be eligible for this program because of a conviction 34 years ago for a robbery in the second degree charge, Paul Solomon of the Criminal Justice Commission said. I think thats problematic.

Oregon agencies review death of foster child who died of suicide in states care

Another commission member said they were worried about tracking the large administrative cost. Washington County is expected to receive $1.5 million for the program.

Marcia Hamden countered that commissioners have to be careful not to get too far in the weeds on what we think will work, and not work and give them a chance to get something workable off the ground.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue to follow county deflection efforts.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon's 5th Congressional District listens as the House of Representatives votes for a new speaker of the House on Oct. 17, 2023 in Washington, DC. On Oct. 25, 2023, she voted for Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana after rejecting Ohio's Jim Jordan. Both share the same conservative views. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer continues to walk a fine line between appealing to labor unions and business interests that typically back Republicans.

In July, she became only the third Republican member of Congress to cosponsor the sweeping pro-union bill called the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, and she has courted union endorsements in her reelection campaign while talking about her fathers experience as a member of the Teamsters union. But when her fellow Republicans on the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee held a series of union-bashing meetings over the past year, Chavez-DeRemer didnt show up and join Democratic representatives in speaking up for unions.

Chavez-DeRemer spokesman Aaron Britt didnt say why she missed those five meetings but defended her record on labor issues in a statement.

Loris opponents are trying to attack her undeniably strong pro-labor record because they are terrified of the independent coalition of support she has worked hard to build throughout her first term, Britt said. Theres a reason Lori has collected endorsements from nearly a dozen labor unions  she has worked tirelessly to earn their trust by fighting for registered apprenticeships, fair wages, safe working conditions and much more.

Chavez-DeRemers 5th Congressional District seat could be pivotal to control of the House and is being targeted by national Democratic and Republican groups. Labor unions also are likely to influence the outcome. They are a powerful force in Oregon politics  each election cycle, they pour millions of dollars and thousands of hours of volunteer work to help primarily Democratic candidates get elected. As she fights to keep her seat in the closely divided district with more Democratic voters than Republicans, Chavez-DeRemer has made entreaties to organized labor.

She counts endorsements from at least 10 unions, including the 20,000-strong Teamsters Joint Council No. 37, which represents workers in various industries across the northwest and hasnt supported a Republican congressional candidate in more than two decades.

The states largest unions, meanwhile, are starting to line up behind Democratic nominee Janelle Bynum, a state representative and owner of several McDonalds franchises in the Portland area. Bynum last week announced that she received an endorsement from Oregons Service Employees International Union, SEIU, which represents 72,000 public sector employees and caregivers across the state. The states largest private sector union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, has more than 30,000 members and gave Bynum and her primary opponent their greenlight stamp, a non-exclusive indication that a candidates values align with the unions.

Renato Quintero, a longtime leader for SEIU Local 49, said in a statement provided by the Bynum campaign that the health care and building service workers represented by the union support lawmakers who support working people.

Janelle Bynum is the clear choice in this race  she has been with us on the picket line and in crafting policy at the Legislature, Quintero said. She has shown with her actions she is the working peoples candidate.

Chavez-DeRemer backs some union priorities, misses meetings

Chavez-DeRemers July 15 endorsement of the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act, which would weaken state right-to-work laws to allow unions to collect dues from all employees, increase penalties for employers who violate labor law and strengthen employees legal rights to join a union, came more than a year after the bills introduction and likely too late to make much of a difference. Republican leaders in the House have not granted it a hearing, and between an August recess, a month-long break before the election and holidays, the House has mere weeks left to work on legislation in 2024.

She was the only Republican to vote against House Resolution 3400, or the Small Business Before Bureaucrats Act. The measure proposed by Virginia Republican Rep. Bob Good would increase tenfold the amount of revenue required before the National Labor Relations Board gets involved in labor disputes.

She also cosponsored bills supported by pilot and flight attendant unions and railroad unions, as well as a bill to allow workers to receive tax deductions for union dues. And she has written or signed onto several letters supporting unions in their negotiations, urging the Port of Portland to end restrictions on picketing at the Portland airport and asking for increased funding for the National Labor Relations Board.

But when other Republicans on the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee scheduled six meetings that devolved into union-bashing, Chavez-DeRemer did not attend and publicly support labor.

She missed a June 12 meeting, titled NLRB Overreach: Trampling on Workers Rights and Fostering Unfairness, which Good began by decrying big labor bias and saying that the American working class knows that unions are a tired, outdated remnant of yesteryear.

She wasnt there for a May 22 meeting, Big Labor Lies: Exposing Union Tactics to Undermine Free and Fair Elections, during which Republicans on the committee claimed that unions are formed by a minority of workers and outside agitators overriding the will of the majority of workers.

She also missed a March meeting, Safeguarding Student-Athletes from NLRB Misclassification, a December 2023 meeting, Protecting Workers And Small Businesses From Bidens Attack On Worker Free Choice And Economic Growth and a November meeting about which Good said the committee had a mandate to stand up for Americas workers and fight back against the agenda of radicalized unions.

Good began a May 2023 meeting about union elections by criticizing President Joe Biden for following through on his promise to be the countrys most pro-union president, saying Bidens federal bureaucrats regularly fall in line to promote union interests over workers and job creators.

Democrats on the subcommittee spoke up for unions at each meeting. In May, an exasperated Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Georgia, noted that it was the fifth anti-union hearing over the past year.

This is the fifth anti-union and anti-worker hearing that the majority has held this Congress, and its no coincidence that these are coming at a time when unions are successfully organizing and negotiating in some of the most difficult places in the country, she said. Instead of addressing the working conditions and the wages that are driving this wave my colleagues would rather change the rules, now that they feel that they arent getting their desired effect of suppressing union membership.

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SALEM, Ohio (WKBN)  A special program through the Brightside project received a big boost Wednesday.

A $30,000 grant from the Ruth Beecher Charitable Trust was awarded to the Brightside Project to help fund the Food for Kids program.

The program provides essential resources, including food, hygiene items, and literacy materials to kids in Columbiana and Mahoning Counties.

The Food for Kids program is held twice monthly. Its open to all children aged 3-18 in Columbiana and rural Mahoning County, and is especially focused on children who have experienced trauma

Food for Kids takes place the first and third Thursday of each month from 4-6 p.m. at Brightsides location at 483 E. Pershing St., Salem.

For more information, visit The Brightside Project website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
VIENNA (AP)  Organizers of three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna this week called them off on Wednesday after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the concerts.

Swift was scheduled to play at the Austrian capitals Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as part of her Eras Tour.

Event organizer Barracuda Music said in a post on its Instagram channel late Wednesday that we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyones safety. It cited government officials confirmation of a planned attack at the stadium.

Earlier Wednesday, authorities said they had arrested two suspected extremists, one of whom appeared to be planning an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the upcoming concerts.

The 19-year-old main suspect was arrested in Ternitz, south of Vienna, and the second person in the Austrian capital.

Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austrias interior ministry, said authorities were aware of preparatory actions for a possible attack and also that there is a focus by the 19-year-old perpetrator on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna, the Austria Press Agency reported.

Ruf said the 19-year-old had pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group.

The Austrian citizen is believed to have become radicalized on the internet. Ruf said that chemical substances were secured and were being evaluated. He didnt give more details.

The cancelation came hours after authorities said security measures for the Swift concerts would be stepped up. Ruf said that there would be a special focus among other things on entry checks and concertgoers should plan a bit more time.

Vienna police chief Gerhard Purstl said at the same time that, while any concrete danger had be en minimized, an abstract risk justified raising security.

Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said after the cancelation that the countrys police and intelligence service had contributed everything to ensure safe events and that the organizer made the decision to cancel the concerts, APA reported. He said there had been close networking with foreign security authorities.

Barracuda Music said that all tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days. The same wording was posted under the Vienna dates on Swifts official website.

The Vienna stadium had been sold out for the planned concerts, APA reported, with an estimated 170,000 fans expected for the concerts in Austria.

Swift fans took to social media to express their devastation at missing out on one of the superstars shows. Some who posted on social network X lamented months of now-wasted efforts to make friendship bracelets and pick out fashionable outfits for the performance.

In 2017, an attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England killed 22 people. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi set up a knapsack bomb in Manchester Arena at the end of Grandes concert as thousands of young fans were leaving. More than 100 people were injured. Abedi died in the explosion.

An official inquiry reported last year that Britains domestic intelligence agency, MI5, didnt act swiftly enough on key information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the bombing, the deadliest extremist attack in the U.K. in recent years.

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Chinese Economic and Commercial Counselor in Uganda Wang Jianxun speaks at the handover ceremony of 10,000 trees and fruit seedlings, donated by the NGO Save the Wild Fund (SWF) to the Lake Victoria Region Local Authorities Cooperation (LVRLAC), in Kampala, Uganda, Aug. 7, 2024. (Photo by Wang Jingjing/Xinhua)

KAMPALA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan Minister of State for Local Government Victoria Rusoke Businge has praised the contributions of the Chinese government and a Chinese non-governmental organization (NGO) for their conservation and forest restoration efforts in the country.

Businge made these remarks while handing over 10,000 trees and fruit seedlings, donated by the NGO Save the Wild Fund (SWF) to the Lake Victoria Region Local Authorities Cooperation (LVRLAC), in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, Wednesday.

The state minister highlighted the long-term partnership between local government authorities, such as Entebbe Municipality, and the Chinese city of Wuhan in areas including infrastructure development and environmental support.

"I tasked LVRLAC to work with Save the Wild Fund and the Chinese government to venture into more capacity-building programs and other joint ventures that our communities can gain more from," she said.

She also noted that China has made significant strides in natural resource management, sustainable and eco-friendly production, smart cities, urban planning, modern transportation, and green technology, calling for deeper cooperation between Uganda and China in these sectors.

Chinese Economic and Commercial Counselor in Uganda Wang Jianxun said at the ceremony that SWF is a representative organization of Chinese communities in Uganda, fulfilling social responsibilities and promoting environmental protection. He noted that the organization had previously donated 10,000 tree seedlings to LVRLAC in 2017.

Wang said that China has now embarked on a new journey to build a modern socialist country, including environmental protection, and encouraged more Chinese firms to participate in environmental conservation and corporate social responsibility programs.

Wu Ruize, chairman of SWF, said that the donated lemon, mango, orange, avocado, and African cherry trees would be planted around Lake Victoria, calling on more people to join the Fund's efforts and to pay greater attention to the issues caused by climate change and deforestation.

SWF was registered in 2017 by several Chinese students who had previously volunteered in Uganda. The fund aims to raise money to protect wildlife in the East African region and conduct related educational outreach activities. LVRLAC, established in 1997 by the municipal authorities of major cities around Lake Victoria, focuses on the sustainable utilization of resources in the Lake Victoria sub-region. 
Most teenagers dont spend their free time collecting trash or calling bingo for the elderly.

But Angela White-Jones was raised to volunteer, so she helped clean up her neighborhood and did an unpaid stint at an assisted living facility. They took their bingo very seriously, she said.

As an adult, her passion for volunteering remains, and it led her to the Junior League of Greater Orlando, a 77-year-old club dedicated to public service.

This summer, White-Jones, 42, was elected president of the Junior League, the first Black woman in the Orlando clubs history to hold that role.

While Im the first, I do not believe by any stretch that Ill be the last, said White-Jones, a lecturer in nonprofit management at the University of Central Florida. This league is a league now that mirrors the look and feel of the Central Florida community.

The club formed in the 1940s as a chapter of the global organization Junior League International. By the 1980s, the Orlando group was one of the largest Junior League chapters in the country. Now, it has about 450 women as members, who volunteer at food banks, advocate for Central Florida women at the Florida Legislature and educate girls on issues like domestic violence.

White-Jones presidency is significant because the Junior League was slow to welcome Black women into its chapters, said Kimberly Voss, a UCF journalism professor who writes about womens clubs. The first Black president to serve the national league, she said, was elected in 2000.

The womens clubs, and specifically the Junior League, did amazing things for their communities and thats for all members of their communities, Voss added. Even though they were elite, often white women, they did try to help everybody, and while it did take a while to diversify their membership, theyre there now.

White-Jones was elected president of the Orlando chapter in June and will serve until May 2026.

She said she learned the importance of public service from her parents, who she witnessed lending their time to churches, nonprofits and political campaigns while growing up in Milwaukee.

In 2006, she moved to Florida to work at the accounting organization KPMG after earning her masters degree in public administration from Ohio State University. Through an acquaintance, she discovered the league in 2015 and has been a member since.

I was looking for  being in a new city  places and organizations and groups that met my needs and my desires of civic engagement and volunteerism, she said. The Junior League of Greater Orlando was one of those organizations.

While in Orlando, she pursued her doctoral degree from UCF and, in 2017, joined the university as a lecturer and director of a masters program in the universitys school of public administration.

Victoria Wright, a UCF graduate, said she valued what she learned in White-Jones classes and thinks shell be an asset to the Junior League.

Its something that Angela is really proud to be a part of, and shes very passionate about the mission and the work, Wright said. I think that shes going to be a great representative for them.

White-Jones said the most important part of volunteering is ensuring the work aligns with what the community needs. One of the most meaningful activities shes done with the league, she said, was educating girls in foster care about how they could become leaders in their community.

White-Jones is married and has two sons. The oldest, 13, is now volunteering, too.

Hes actually come to a couple of our meetings when he was really young, and then he helped us out by working at the food pantry earlier this spring, White-Jones said, so I do try to model that volunteerism spirit with my kids and I do hope they hear me.

The other women in Orlandos league, she said, will help make her two years in office successful.

I am the president, but I am also someone who really kind of shies from the spotlight, she added. This is wonderful to talk about, but the league itself is what I think has truly been awe-inspiring.
In our Reality Check stories, Idaho Statesman journalists seek to hold the powerful accountable and find answers to critical questions in our community. Read more. Story idea? Tips@idahostatesman.com.

In the months since a hangar collapsed at the Boise Airport, theres been a question of blame.

Federal investigators in late July pinned the fault on Big D Builders, the contractor for the project. Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors accused the Meridian-based company of showing an appalling disregard for safety standards at the Jackson Jet Center hangar before the structure caved in. Three men died.

In the months since an airplane hangar under construction at the Boise Airport collapsed, theres been a question of blame.

But the hangar was being built on city-owned land, and like any project in the city, its plans had to go through city review before construction could begin.

So could the city be liable for the collapse?

The short answer, according to Boise development attorney Geoffrey Wardle, is no.

Generally speaking, he said, government entities in Idaho that issue permits or conduct inspections face limited liability, thanks to the Idaho Tort Claims Act. Government entities and employees are largely off the hook in claims resulting from a flawed inspection or wrongly issued permit, so long as they acted without malice or criminal intent and without gross negligence or reckless, willful and wanton conduct, according to the state law.

Thats a really high burden, a really high threshold to cross, Wardle told the Idaho Statesman.

Boise owns the land on which the Boise Airport sits, but the airport acts as a landlord with private businesses at the site, like the Jackson Jet Center, Shawna Samuelson, a spokesperson for the airport, told the Statesman in an email.

While every lease at the airport is unique, she said, tenants are responsible for managing their own construction projects. They complete city-required design reviews and select their own construction vendors. The city did not select the contractor or pay for the project.

The hangar that collapsed near the Boise Airport in January was being demolished in June.

Hangar plans modified without Boise approval?

In any private construction project in Boise, builders must get approval, permits and inspections from the citys Planning and Development Services Building Division.

Enrique Serna, a lawyer representing the families of two workers killed in the collapse, sued the companies involved in the project  Big D Builders, Steel Building Systems, Inland Crane and Speck Steel  in July over the collapse.

In a May tort claim filed against the city and AHJ Engineers, a precursor to the lawsuit, Serna accused AHJ Engineers, a firm the city hires on contract to review structural plans, of approving flawed plans. But in the July lawsuit, Serna excluded the firm and the city as defendants. Serna said during a news conference that after reviewing public records, his firm decided no lawsuit against the company  or the city  was warranted.

Instead, he accused the construction companies involved of modifying the plans that had already been reviewed without seeking the citys approval for the changes.

David Haugland, president of AHJ Engineers, called the allegations in the tort claim a premature engineers story that is filled with errors, guesses and false information. He told the Statesman in an email that his company had no part in this tragic event.

OSHA declined to say whether its own investigation found the construction firms had changed or failed to follow the approved plans, citing Sernas ongoing lawsuit.

Hangar workers flagged problems  but not to city

In the days before the hangar collapsed, several workers at the site told their supervisor that they had noticed bending beams, snapped cables and other structural issues, the Statesman previously reported.

But no one reported these concerns to the city, said Maria Weeg, a spokesperson for the city, which meant there was little officials could do.

Once a project has gone through the plan review process and the permit is issued, the city goes out on inspections when requested by the contractor or if a complaint is received, she told the Statesman in an email.

Wardle said thats typical. He added that the citys code enforcement responds to complaints and conducts building code inspections that usually occur on a defined schedule, requested by the builders as they complete various phases of their project.

I think there is this expectation and belief among people that there are building inspectors that are just running around, popping in and looking at things, and thats not how it works, he said. When you get inspections done, its because youre at a point of the work where you need to have approval.  You have to make appointments. You have to get the inspector out there to see certain things.

How can we prevent another Boise hangar collapse from happening? Listen to workers | Opinion

Warning signs ignored: 5 things investigators say went wrong before Boises hangar collapse

Investigators find appalling disregard for safety before deadly Boise hangar collapse
Not enough Oklahoma adults who hold at least a bachelors degree is holding the state back economically, and part of the issue is the quality of students coming out of the states common education system, University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz said Wednesday.

Speaking during the Greater Oklahoma City Chambers annual State of the Schools event  along with new Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Jamie Polk  Harroz said while the state is positioned geographically for growth, its total education system, including higher education, needs to drive that growth by constantly striving for improvement.

There are a lot of headwinds that still exist, Harroz said. We look at it, and our students, as theyre coming out of common education  although its being remedied, I can tell right now  the numbers are a problem. When you look at those students that are qualified under the ACT standards, that are college-ready in all four ACT subjects, its not a good picture. Of those students, were 43rd in the nation. Weve got a long way to go in making sure our students are ready to come.

Harroz said the state of Oklahomas common education system is a hindrance as OU seeks to recruit faculty, staff and students. The leader of that system, state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, was not in the room at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, although high-level members of Walters staff at the Oklahoma State Department of Education did attend.

University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz Jr., speaks Wednesday during the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber's State of the Schools luncheon in Oklahoma City.

Families don't want to see drama in Oklahoma's education system, OU president says

Since he took office in January 2023, Walters often has put a spotlight on cultural issues he sees in Oklahoma schools  most recently, he issued a mandate that the Bible be taught in all Oklahoma classrooms.

Harroz didnt mention Walters specifically in his comments Wednesday.

Were trying to attract world-class talent to come to OU, and faculty and staff, they look at the education system here in K-12 for their families, Harroz said. They dont want to see drama, and they dont want to see an education system that doesnt give their kid the best opportunity to be successful.

As most in the crowd applauded, Harroz added, The outcomes matter dramatically.

Harroz said 28.5% of Oklahoma adults own a bachelors degree, while the national average is 35.7%.

"Thats the one thats holding us back, he said. Attracting those companies and those enterprises, weve got to be closer to the national average in order to attract those employers with that kind of top talent.

Harroz said when he became OUs president in May 2019, the universitys research was languishing and improving the amount of federal research dollars coming into OU became a high priority. He said that during the past year, OU had about $390 million in total research expenditures and our hope is to get that to a billion dollars over the next several years.

Another goal for OU is to join the elite American Association of Universities, which has 71 members that are considered North Americas top research universities. Five of OUs Southeastern Conference counterparts  the University of Texas, the University of Missouri, the University of Florida, Texas A&M University and Vanderbilt University  are current AAU members.

In our sights is being an AAU-level research institution, which is the core of being a great public research university and at the core of being a true economic engine, a part of that engine for the state, and its critically important, Harroz said.

He said OUs current Live On, University fundraising program  which had a goal of raising $2 billion  has passed $1.1 billion and should reach its target before it ends in June 2027.

The new Oklahoma City Public Schools superintendent, Jamie Polk, speaks Wednesday during the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber's State of the Schools luncheon.

OKCPS working on 'key progress indicators'

Polk, who moved into the Oklahoma City Public Schools top job on July 1, succeeding Sean McDaniel, spoke about the efforts shes making early in her tenure to deal with issues within the district.

Polk said shes working with local leaders, including Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna, Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn, Oklahoma City Community College President Mautra Staley Jones and others, to develop solutions to problems with key progress indicators, including chronic absenteeism, postsecondary preparation, English language learning, academic achievement, academic growth and graduation rates, among other items.

Those six indicators are how were measured in the state and across the nation, Polk said. Those are the six things that we must move the needle on, and move it quickly.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Harroz, Polk talk about improving Oklahoma education at chamber event
Owner of GAs first weed dispensary charged with child molestation

The owner of the north Georgia cannabis dispensary that claims to be the first in the state is now facing child sex crime and drug charges.

Robert Joshua Garrison is the owner of Alpine Dispensary in Helen. Police say he was planning on expanding his business with a location in Athens near the University of Georgia.

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Garrison was arrested on Tuesday morning and charged with child molestation, sexual battery, four counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of a Schedule I with intent.

Its unclear what led to his charges.

Alpine Dispensary is described as the first cannabis dispensary to open in the state of Georgia in April 2019 and currently has two locations in Helen.

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He is being held in the White County Detention Center without bond.

Channel 2 Action News is working to obtain a copy of Garrisons booking photo.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Pa. man sentenced to over 2 decades in prison to producing child pornography

A former Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, resident has been sentenced to over two decades in prison for producing and possessing child pornography.

Andrew Kalyl Foxx, 43, will be incarcerated for 23 years followed by 15 years of supervised release related to the sexual exploitation of a minor.

Police searching for remaining car, suspects after 61-mile chase Sunday

Court information states Foxx secretly recorded himself sexually abusing a minor around March 3, 2023, and was found with video of the act in his possession on March 9 that year.

Foxx, who is also known as James Andrew Liles and Andrew James Liles, previously pleaded guilty to the crime on May 15, 2024, and was sentenced on Aug. 6.

One person killed in second fatal tractor accident this week

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Pittsburgh Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, Allegheny County Police Department, and Mt. Lebanon Police Department were commended for their investigation in this case.

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I paid $50 to take a boat tour around a beautiful island in Virginia filled with wild ponies. It should be on everyone's bucket list.

I spent $50 to take a boat ride around Chincoteague Island. Ruben Lopez

I recently visited Chincoteague Island in Virginia and went on a boat tour.

I paid $50 for a two-hour tour and saw a lot of wild ponies and other wildlife.

Though it rained during the tour, it was a great experience that I'd definitely do again.

I love exploring places that fulfill my desire to get away without depleting my bank account. Eager to enjoy the outdoors after a chilly spring, I decided to book a trip to Virginia's only resort island, Chincoteague Island.

The 7-mile island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia is best known for its beaches, unspoiled nature, and proximity to herds of wild ponies on Assateague Island. The area's annual pony swim from Assateague to Chincoteague islands attracts about 50,000 visitors each year.

Though we didn't head to Chincoteague Island for the pony swim, I still wanted to see some of the estimated 150 ponies on the nearby Assateague Island via a boat tour. So, I booked a $50 boat ride to see the area's wildlife and the ponies.

Here's what my experience taking a boat tour around Chincoteague Island was like.

I registered for a boat tour around Chincoteague Island for $50 a person.

I booked a boat cruise with Captain Dan's Around the Island Tours. Tess Lopez

Research led me to Captain Dan's Around the Island Tours, which offers two-hour public and private cruises around Chincoteague Island.

Reviews raved about pony sightings in the mornings, so I booked a 10 a.m. public tour for my husband and me for $50 each. Though the ponies are located on Assateague Island, passengers can see them from the boat circling Chincoteague Island.

We drifted around Chincoteague Island through Chincoteague Bay and close to the shore of Assateague Island near the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

We arrived at the docks in Chincoteague before our departure time.

The docks were pretty empty when we arrived. Tess Lopez

We arrived at the docks on Chincoteague Island 10 minutes before our boarding time, per the booking instructions.

One of the company's captains, Doug, was aboard a pontoon boat idling at the dock, chatting with a couple who'd already arrived. An ominous forecast threatened our trip the night before, but the morning gave way to an overcast sky that the captain deemed safe.

The earlier forecast must've deterred other guests because we scored a semiprivate tour with a total party of six and enough seating for 10, with plenty of room to get comfortable.

Our small group boarded the boat and cruised down the Chincoteague Channel.

I boarded the pontoon boat with five other passengers, including my husband. Tess Lopez

Doug welcomed us aboard the boat, briefly stopping each passenger to confirm their registration.

After a rundown of the tour, during which he described the route we'd be taking and when we could expect to see the ponies, he steered the boat into the Chincoteague Channel.

The captain told us about the area's local history and wildlife as we drifted along.

We saw a lot of wildlife just a few minutes after leaving the docks. Ruben Lopez

Six minutes in, a passenger pointed out a bald eagle perched on a nearby dock. We motored past osprey, dolphins, and friendly fishermen as the captain recounted how recent storms have affected the local landmarks.

We saw the wild ponies just a few minutes into our boat ride.

We were super excited to see the ponies. Ruben Lopez

Doug slowed down as we neared part of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge located on Assateague Island. He explained that two herds of ponies on Assateague Island travel in bands  smaller groups typically led by a stallion.

A band of 13 horses grazing along the bank came into view as if on cue. The captain idled the boat so passengers could take pictures and ask questions.

We even saw a second band of horses.

The second band of wild horses grazed in front of Assateague Lighthouse. Ruben Lopez

We then drifted toward Assateague Channel, the site of the famed pony swim. Doug explained that the ponies are paraded down Chincoteague's main street after crossing this body of water.

Then, the foals are auctioned off to control the population's size. The ponies take less than 30 minutes to cross the channel, yet the event draws tens of thousands of spectators annually.

We soon rounded the bend where the historic red-and-white Assateague Lighthouse appeared above towering pines. The lighthouse has warned passing ships of the area's shallow waters since its reconstruction in 1867. As captivating as it was, the two dozen horses in the marshy foreground stole my attention.

I felt extremely lucky to see the area's beautiful animals during the boat ride.

The horses seemed content with us watching them from a distance. Tess Lopez

Doug steered us near the bank and said he couldn't remember the last time he'd seen the horses in front of the lighthouse, which made me feel lucky to be there that day.

We snapped countless photos, then continued past Chincoteague Island's northern tip.

Dark clouds rolled in while we were on the boat  and then it started raining.

The waters of the Chincoteague Bay marsh were peaceful before the storm rolled in. Tess Lopez

Dark storm clouds quickly rolled in. The captain lifted the seats and pulled out raincoats for everyone. It soon began to pour.

I'm usually averse to rain, but I couldn't help but smile. We'd seen more than I expected  not only two groups of ponies but a part of Virginia filled with vast marshlands and a coastal village spirit that felt worlds away from the urban scramble of home.

Chincoteague Island is a dreamy destination, and I'd go back in a heartbeat.

I had such a wonderful experience that I'm already planning a return trip. Ruben Lopez

My husband and I began talking about our next trip to Chincoteague Island before we'd even left.

Spending the morning in the presence of this charming, unspoiled area while seeing Assateague Island's iconic wild horses felt like a premium opportunity that I'd pay $50 to experience again.

These islands are now some of my favorite places  and I can't wait to return.

Read the original article on Business Insider
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A woman who was entrusted to help an elderly woman pay her bills is accused of stealing $419,000 from her bank account over a two-year period.

The victims son said Lee Anne Harris assumed power of attorney for his mother in 2019. He claims between April 2021 and December 2022, Lee Anne and her husband Henry took the money without his mothers knowledge. He said his mother was in her late 80s at the time.

Police say the victims son did not realize money was missing from her account until he began looking into his mothers finances and noticed that $675,000 had been spent over the two years.

Lee Anne Harris, 60, and Henry Harris, 41, were arrested and booked in the Shelby County Jail Wednesday for theft of property greater than $250,000, identity theft, financial exploitation of an elderly person, and forgery greater than $250,000.

Investigators said bank records showed Lee Anne and Henry used the victims debit card and PIN to make $93,489 worth of ATM withdrawals and wrote checks in the victims name totaling $84,710.

The victims son said he and his mother also discovered the pair used $240,784 of her money to make purchases at several places, including Amazon, Uber Eats, Lowes, and Home Depot.

The victims son said there was never an agreement to pay either one of them for assisting his mother.

The pair is accused of stealing just under $419,000 from the victim.

Lee Anne and Henry Harris are being held on $50,000 bonds. They are scheduled to appear back in court on August 15.

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The defense startup Anduril raised $1.5 billion in a round led by Founders Fund and Sands Capital.

It said it planned to use the investment to "rebuild the arsenal of democracy."

Anduril is planning a 5 million-square-foot factory to "hyperscale" defense manufacturing.

Anduril, the defense-tech startup founded by Palmer Luckey, raised $1.5 billion in its latest funding round as it strives to transform the defense landscape.

The Series F round, led by Founders Fund  Peter Thiel's venture-capital firm  and Sands Capital, valued the company at $14 billion, up from $8.5 billion last year.

Rather than futuristic flying weapons, Anduril's priority is the assembly line.

The autonomous-weapons maker announced that it would invest "hundreds of millions" of dollars in the development of a 5 million-square-foot factory named Arsenal-1.

"With Arsenal, Anduril's goal is to manufacture and produce tens of thousands of autonomous weapons systems addressing the urgent needs of the United States and our allies," the company said in a press release.

It said the factory would be built at an undisclosed location in the US and be capable of producing all Anduril's devices except energetics.

The company said its goal with Arsenal-1 is to "hyperscale" defense production and "rebuild the arsenal of democracy."

"The bottom line is America and our allies don't have enough stuff," Chris Brose, Anduril's chief strategy officer, said.

He described legacy defense procurement as slow and the results as so complex that they are "effectively irreplaceable."

Brose argued that if the US wants to deter its biggest rivals or win a war against China, scalability is crucial.

Anduril's Arsenal facility aims to break the mold of defense manufacturing. Anduril

The company said Arsenal-1 would prioritize simplicity, modularity, and adaptability to cope with fluctuations in demand.

"Having all of that under one roof allows us to very flexibly move those around and reallocate them to take into account changes in products that we're going to need to make quickly," Brose said.

Anduril said that wouldn't be possible with resources spread across a wide area.

It said the facility would be based on an AI-powered software platform.

If the plans seem reminiscent of Tesla's revolutionary approach to manufacturing, that's no coincidence. Anduril hired Keith Flynn, a former Tesla manufacturing lead, last October.

Applying principles followed by companies such as Tesla and Apple, Anduril is focusing on software optimization, centralizing operations, manufacturing-friendly product designs, and scalability.

Even the factory is designed to be copied and placed anywhere, Brose said, adding, "Our belief is that this is eminently possible in defense because it's been done in the commercial world."

Anduril's push to scale up production capabilities marks another step in its efforts to compete with big legacy defense contractors. The startup, which Luckey founded in 2017, recently won major contracts for the US Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program and Australia's Ghost Shark program.

But as Anduril pressures the defense sector to modernize, some analysts have described the narrative about external threats as overhyped and overblown.

Roberto Gonzalez, a professor of cultural anthropology at San Jose State University who wrote the book "War Virtually," told Business Insider that China didn't necessarily pose the existential threat that many in the defense and VC communities sometimes claim.

"Is the rhetoric and the hype getting so great that China feels the need to respond and feels that kind of existential threat themselves?" Gonzalez said. "Once you're in that situation, what you're doing is reliving the Cold War days."

Read the original article on Business Insider
COLOMBO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Another 590,000 U.S. dollars with the Children of Gaza Fund were officially handed over to the Palestinian government, Sri Lanka's President's Media Division (PMD) said in a statement on Thursday.

The handing over of the cheque took place on Wednesday at the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka, the PMD said.

The fund was established by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to provide for the basic needs of children displaced due to the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Earlier, 1 million dollars were donated to the Palestinian government on April 1, the PMD said. 
Palo Alto woman goes missing for second time in 2 days

UPDATE: Wendy has been found safe.

(KRON)  A Palo Alto woman who went missing Tuesday and was safely located has gone missing again, according to the Palo Alto Police Department. The 56-year-old woman, who was identified only as Wendy, is considered at-risk due to mental illness, police said.

She went missing on Wednesday again at 4:30 a.m. when it was discovered she had left her home in the 3000 block of Cowper Street. She was last seen wearing a navy long-sleeved shirt and gray pants, and may not be wearing shoes.

Attorney arrested during Oakland homeless encampment sweep

Wendy is on foot and has no vehicle, police said.

Wendy went missing under similar circumstances on Tuesday when she was discovered missing from her home at 9 a.m. She was located safely around 3:45 p.m. Tuesday and reunited with her family temporarily.

Anyone with information on Wendys whereabouts is asked to contact Palo Alto PD at (650) 329-2413.

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For the first time in 21 years, pandas have been sent to the U.S.

The San Diego Zoo formally welcomed two new furry friends on Thursday: two giant pandas sent from China.

Yun Chuan, a 5-year-old male, and Xin Bao, a 4-year-old female, have been in the United States since early summer  making them the first giant pandas to enter the country in 21 years  but they were Introduced to the public for the first time on Thursday. Members of the media were able to take photos of the the fluffy black-and-white animals eating bamboo and tumbling around in their new home early on Wednesday.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed Aug. 8, 2024, as California Panda Day and said the arrival of the pandas is part of California and Chinas long history of working together toward shared goals.

Giant panda Xin Bao in her habitat at Panda Ridge during a media preview at the San Diego Zoo on Aug. 7. (Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

While stateside, Yun Chuan  whose parent, Zhen Zhen, was born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007  and Xin Bao will live in the zoo's Panda Ridge area. Zoo representatives say the habitat has been newly renovated and is four times Its previous size. "It is inspired by famous geological formations in China, emulating mountains, canyons, and cliffs, according to the zoo.

Before the pandas arrived this summer, the U.S. was on the brink of having no large pandas for the first time in over 50 years. Pandas are only native to China, but the country has loaned out the beloved animals to American zoos for decades  part of so-called panda diplomacy. The practice started in 1972, when China gave two pandas to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. But since 2023, most of the pandas have been sent back to China or are scheduled to return this year.

Yet, in 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping signaled that new pandas would be sent to the states to serve as envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.

These pandas are of course diplomats. Ive learned that going to China to accept them in their farewell ceremony, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said as the pandas made their debut on Thursday. I recognize that they symbolize hope and the promise of additional work together for peace and for harmony.

Xin Bao in the expanded Panda Ridge habitat. (Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

Yun Chuan eats bamboo. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

Visitors take photos of giant panda Xin Bao at San Diego Zoo. (Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

Xin Bao at Panda Ridge. (Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

Xin Bao is observed by a visitor, reflected in the glass surrounding Panda Ridge. (Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

Visitors wearing panda headbands take photos of the newly arrived pandas. (Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

Xin Bao eats bamboo. (Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

Xin Bao explores Panda Ridge. (Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

Yun Chuan chews on bamboo at the San Diego Zoo. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)
The parents of three students killed and a student injured during the Parkland mass shooting that left 17 people dead  sending shockwaves throughout South Florida and the nation  reached a multi-million dollar settlement with the shooter.

The parents of 15-year-old Luke Hoyer, 14-year-old Alaina Petty and 18-year-old Meadow Pollack agreed to a $50 million settlement with the mass murderer, court records show. Maddy Wilford, who was among the 17 wounded as the rampage unfolded more than 6 years ago at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, reached a $40 million settlement.

READ MORE: A remembrance of the victims from the Parkland shooting  as told by their classmates

Also part of their settlement agreement filed in late July, shooter Nikolas Cruz transferred the rights to his name, which allows it to be used in media, including a production, movie or book. Additionally, he agreed to be forever barred from giving interviews or making statements about the massacre without the consent of the families or Wilford.

Court documents show Cruz will turn over most of his share of his adoptive mothers insurance policy, valued at more than $400,000.

Mourners bring flowers as they pay tribute at a memorial for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018 during an open house as parents and students returned to the school for the first time since 17 people were killed in a mass shooting at the school in Parkland on Feb. 14, 2018.

A former student at the high school, Cruz opened fire in two hallways with an AR-15-style rifle, slaying 14 students and three educators on the campus on Feb. 14, 2018. Seventeen other people were injured in the attack.

On Feb. 14, 2022, Ali Dangelo and her service dog, Strudel, attend a community commemoration event for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting victims at Pine Trails Park in Parkland.

In 2022, the shooter was sentenced to life in prison after a three-month death penalty trial ended with three jurors voting against sending him to death row. At the time, Florida law required that jurors must be unanimous in their recommendation for execution.

In June, the mass murderer reached a similar agreement with Anthony Borges, who was severely injured in the attack. Under that settlement, he agreed to donate his body to science after his death and participate in any scientific studies of mass shooters.

Former Broward Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Scherer, who presided over the Parkland case, ordered at the shooters sentencing that any commissary funds in which he received would be garnished to pay the restitution and court costs.

A hearing in the civil case is scheduled for Sept. 5 before Broward Circuit Court Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips.
Paris police searching for unidentified person of interest accused of stealing vehicle on Castle Boulevard

PARIS, Ky. (FOX 56)  Paris police are asking for help identifying a man in connection with an investigation into a stolen pickup truck.

The Paris Police Department posted on Facebook just after 2 p.m. on Thursday asking the public to look at the photo below, which was included in the post.

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Authorities said the person in the photo is a person of interest in connection with an investigation into a stolen vehicle in the area of Castle Boulevard in Paris.

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Anyone with information that could help identify the person is asked to call the Paris Detective Bureau at (859) 707-5585.

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The Park Fire is tearing through some of Californias last wild habitat for threatened salmon

The devastation caused by wildfires extends far beyond human homes. Northern Californias Park Fire has burned through some of the Central Valleys last wild salmon habitat, dealing a blow to an already struggling iconic fish species.

Its unclear how much damage the fire has done to the Mill and Deer creek watersheds. But scientists fear that spring-run Chinook salmon, a once abundant California fish, could take another step toward extinction amid dangerous levels of population decline.

Last year Californias Department of Fish and Wildlife counted only 167 of the fish in the Central Valleys Sacramento and San Joaquin river systems that were home to tens of thousands of them as recently as the early 2000s.

You have this wildfire impacting, potentially greatly impacting their habitat at a time when their numbers are extremely low, said Matt Johnson, a senior environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Will that be the final death blow to the species? Probably not, but its another setback, especially if its a high intensity burn.

The Central Valley is home to four major runs of Chinook salmon that are genetically different from one another, specifically in the gene that controls the timing of their migratory life span.

They were once extremely abundant, but Mill and Deer creeks are some of the last spawning habitat for spring-run Chinook salmon. Scientists and experts attribute population declines over the last century to a combination of factors.

Dams on most of Californias major rivers have blocked their passage to reach high-altitude spawning grounds, water diversions for agriculture and cities have narrowed their available habitat, and severe droughts worsened by climate change play a role.

Now spring-run salmon in the Central Valley rely mainly on Mill and Deer creeks, which are respectively being burned and under threat of burning in the states fourth-largest wildfire on record.

After a few mellow days, the Park Fire picked up in intensity in some areas this week including in the Mill Creek Canyon near Mineral in Tehama county. The blaze has burned across a 420,000 acre perimeter and is now 34% contained.

Hotter and drier conditions fueled the fire, which was sparked by alleged arson, deeper into the northeast portion of the fire over the last 48 hours, said officials.

The salmon that arrived this spring are likely swimming in deep pools along the creeks, where they are expected to spawn and lay their eggs in gravel underneath clear, cold stretches of water in late September and October.

These particular fish, which authorities havent yet been able to observe, are no strangers to adversity. They were hatched during the last years of the states most recent severe drought and have returned back to fresh water after maturing in the ocean.

Spring-run Chinook were listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1999. Scientists worry that this latest blow, depending on the fires severity, could push them over the edge to endangered.

So many of our species are isolated in these stronghold pockets. When theyve been depleted down to these ultra low levels, then youre looking at vulnerability to an extinction event, said Andrew Rypel, a professor of fish ecology and director of UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences.

Regardless of the outcome of this fire, he hopes those who arent anglers or wildlife enthusiasts recognize the value of this species. They were central to the lives of both Indigenous people and European settlers of the state, he said, feeding us with marine derived nutrients and fertilizing the forest.

I dont think people realize just how important this run of salmon was to the history of California, Rypel said. We are very close to losing this species

He and other experts are holding their breath until they can assess the damage to the creek from the fire, which could be moderate or severe. While low intensity fires can bring ecosystem benefits, a destructive blaze would send harmful ash and soil into the creeks.

California Fish and Wildlife scientist Johnson called for more prudent and robust forest management. This particular fire could have been thwarted, experts said, if the city of Chico had enough resources to execute one last prescribed burn.

The salmon are adapted to survive through Californias natural cycles of fire, but their already low numbers combined with bigger, more destructive fires now make for a potentially lethal mix.

These are wildfire ecosystems, Johnson said. Fish have evolved with wildfire but we have extreme wildfire now. We have to accept that and figure out ways to really mitigate it.
People watch as crews begin to demolish the building where seventeen people were killed during the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on June 14, 2024. - Credit: Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images

The families of three students killed in the Parkland, Florida, school shooting reached a $150 million settlement with the perpetrator of the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

The parents of Luke Hoyer, Alaina Petty, and Meadow Pollack  who were all killed by Nikolas Cruz on Feb. 14, 2018  all agreed to $50 million each as part of the settlement, while Maddy Wilford, a student who was wounded in the shooting, settled her lawsuit against Cruz for $40 million.

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However, an attorney for the families acknowledged that theyre unlikely to receive any significant money as a result of the settlements. The chief rationale for the judgment amounts is simply in the event that the killer ever comes into possession of money, we could execute on the judgments and obtain it, thus preventing him from buying any creature comforts, attorney David Brill said (via the Associated Press).

Florida law already ensures that inmates cannot profit off of their crimes, and Cruz already previously agreed to hand over the rights to his name and likeness to former Marjory Stoneman Douglas student Anthony Borges, the most seriously wounded of Cruzs victims; as part of that agreement, Cruz cannot conduct any interviews without Borges permission.

Borges also has the right to a $400,000 annuity Cruz was set to receive prior to the Parkland shooting that killed 17 people; Brill is contesting that aspect of the agreement, arguing that the families he represents should also get a split of that annuity, which they would then donate to charity.

When Cruz was sentenced to 34 consecutive life sentences  but not the death penalty  in November 2022, the judge ordered that any money deposited into his commissary must also go towards restitution for his victims.

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A scene after a fallen cornice killed one man during a thunderstorm in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (Pragues Fire Rescue Department via AP)

PRAGUE (AP)  Part of a cornice that fell from a building in downtown Prague hit a tram stop, killing one person, officials said Thursday.

Television footage showed a hole in the roof of the stop. The victim was not immediately identified.

The accident took place on Lazarska street before noon, police said. They said the street would be closed for traffic for two hours. Several tram lines use the street.

At the time of the accident, the Czech capital was hit by a thunderstorm.

Firefighters said that after the accident they removed about 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of unidentified material from the top of the building that could possibly fall later.

Authorities were investigating further.
WARE, Mass. (WWLP)  Crews worked to put out a garage fire on Church Street in Ware on Wednesday.

According to the Ware Fire Department, at around 12:30 a.m. a 911 call was received for a report of fire and smoke in the area of Church and Highland Street. Upon arrival, firefighters could see a large amount of fire coming from a garage at 121 Church Street.

Fire under porch of apartment building on Main Street in Holyoke put out

Due to the low water pressure in the area, a water supply and additional crews were called in to assist. The fire was contained to the garage within 20 minutes, with minimal damage to the outside of the home.

No injuries were reported however, the residents inside the home were unaware of the fire. The Ware Fire Department thanks the caller who reported it. In addition to Ware firefighters, crews from Barre, Belchertown, Bondsville, Brimfield, Hardwick, Ludlow, National Grid, Palmer, PM Construction, Ware DPW, Ware Police, State Fire Marshalls, Warren, Wilbraham, West Brookfield Rescue Squad, West Brookfield, and Westcomm Regional Dispatch assisted.

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WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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ROME, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Regional and municipal governments across Italy have been declaring states of emergency as the country's extremely hot and dry summer continues.

On Thursday, Sassari in Sardinia became the latest local administration to declare a state of emergency due to oppressive drought conditions and record-high temperatures. Sassari in the northern part of the Italian island has freed up extra cash to help local businesses hurt by the severe weather.

Earlier, Calabria, the southern region at the toe of Italy's boot-shaped peninsula, asked the central government to declare a national state of emergency, a status that would release emergency funds and allow for local governments to set up rationing schedules to conserve water.

In Sicily, local governments have also declared an emergency. In the southern Italian region, some parts of the island have gone weeks without regular water supplies, and the same situation has been observed in Apulia, on the heel of the Italian peninsula.

In Lucani, a belt that runs through the central part of southern Italy, known as one of the main olive oil producers, the Lucanian Olive Producers' Organization said their olive oil production will shrink 95 percent this year.

Italy's national farmers' union Coldiretti said earlier this month that this year's national production of tomatoes and berries would be "severely" limited by the unusually hot and dry weather.

According to the meteorological data site Il Meteo, temperatures are expected to reach as high as 43 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit) in some parts of the south and the island regions.

The lack of rainfall has exacerbated the heatwaves, causing severe water shortages, localized rationing for families and businesses, and big problems for farmers.

According to the Italian Ministry of Health, the number of cities under "orange" or "red" alert is set to rise. By Saturday, 20 of the country's 27 largest cities, including Rome, Florence, and Palermo, will fall under an "orange" or "red" alert. 
Pelosi says its her life goal to ensure that man Trump never steps in the White House again

WASHINGTON (AP)  Nancy Pelosis influence can be seen all across the Democratic Party shakeup that in a few short, agonizing weeks has reengineered the 2024 presidential ticket and the race for the White House.

Democratic Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi speaks at the North Carolina Democratic Unity Dinner fundraiser in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

It was Pelosi who publicly encouraged President Joe Biden to make a decision about his reelection campaign when he had already insisted he had no plans to step aside. Once he exited and endorsed Kamala Harris atop the ticket, it was Pelosi who was a big fan of her future running mate, Tim Walz.

For the House speaker emerita the upheaval is less about Biden, a friend of 40 years, and more about Republican Donald Trump, the former president she refers to as Bozo, a snake-oil salesman, whats his name and the creature from the Black Lagoon.

How can I say this in the nicest possible way: My goal in life was that man would never step in the White House again, Pelosi said, slapping the table with every word.

Pelosi spoke Wednesday with reporters and columnists about her new book, The Art of Power, My Story as Americas First Woman Speaker of the House, which calls for an end to political violence in the U.S. But its this final unwritten chapter of Pelosis career that shows the soft power she still wields that can change the course of history.

Over and again, Pelosi declined to detail her conversations with Biden during this tumultuous period, or if the conversations happened at all. The two have not spoken since he bowed out of the race.

At some point, I will come to terms with my, to peace, with my own role in this, she said.

I think that part of all of our goals in this was to preserve his legacy, a fabulous legacy, that would go right down the drain if Bozo got elected to the White House.

In a 2020 flashback, Georgias GOP-aligned election board wants to reinvestigate election results

Some details, though, have come into view as Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries all had private talks with Biden as he made his historic decision to end his campaign.

Pelosi said it was not her intention to put Biden on the spot when she showed up on his favorite morning news program in early July, after his dismal debate with Trump, and suggested he make a decision about his reelection bid.

Biden had just written a letter to Congress, insisting he was pressing on after a number of rank-and-file Democrats started saying publicly he should bow out of the race. It was not well received, she said.

Not only the White House but control of Congress is at stake this November. Pelosi had been hearing from worried lawmakers and she herself did not see a path to victory for Biden.

I was really asking for a better campaign, she said.

But, she acknowledged about his options ahead, it was open, in my view.

Pelosi had told Biden early on she didnt want him on the debate stage with Trump. She thought it was beneath him to stand alongside Trump, who had declined to debate his own Republican colleagues during his primary sweep to the GOP nomination. And she knew Trump would use the venue to be telling all his lies unchecked.

I just thought itd be like doggy-doo and youre going to get it on your shoe and youre all going to smell like him, she said.

But she said Biden was very confident and assured her he could handle Trump on stage. I know you can handle it, she told him. But why?

On debate night, Pelosi settled in at her apartment in Washington to watch and as soon as Biden walked onstage it was disconcerting, she said.

I was shocked.

Pelosi said she had never seen Biden like that.

Pelosi explained her longstanding advice for debating: Clear your mind. Dont bog yourself down with details. Rest up. Be yourself.

Whatever the question is, you respond whatever way you want. You own it.

It was clear none of that happened with Biden.

Hes the president of the United States, a person who for decades has understood a vision of our country based on values, knowledge, issues, therefore judgment about all of it, with more empathy in his heart than anyone, she said. Who needs to prep him?

Pelosi said publicly at the time that she wanted to know if this was an episode with Biden, or a condition?

She made it clear she wanted a more aggressive campaign so people could see his strength.

Simply rehashing past accomplishments as Biden was doing is important, she said, to show voters you know how to accomplish goals. But elections are really about what youre doing next.

Elections are about the future, she said. Finish the job.

None of this rematch with Trump would have been possible if the Senate had voted to convict, rather than acquit, him on the impeachment charge of inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, because it would have made him ineligible to seek the White House again. Pelosi blames that outcome on Senate Republican leadership and calls it shameful.

As crowds surge to rallies this week for the new Harris-Walz ticket in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan, Pelosi marvels at the energy and enthusiasm flowing to Democrats, particularly from young people.

Pelosi said she thought any of the potential vice presidential contenders would have been great choices. But she has made no secret of her enthusiasm for former House members  which Walz is  to counter the way she believes White House administrations tend to be more deferential to the Senate.

While some were calculating which vice presidential hopeful would best help Democrats in the swing states, Pelosi said the question for Harris was: Who will help you govern? She said she did not put in a good word for Walz, but put in a good word for all the contenders.

Asked if Democrats would win control of the House, she said, Thats the plan.

Asked if her book title was an intended nod at Trumps The Art of the Deal, she said, Nothing that I do has anything to do with him, except his downfall.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Pennsylvania officials have announced a $22 million investment to eliminate student loan debt for hundreds of graduates.

The Shapiro administration says approximately 400 practitioners within the Substance Use Disorder treatment, prevention, case management, and recovery support services workforce will be eligible.

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Those working in rural communities that are impacted by workforce shortages, as well as those who provide services in underserved minority populations, will be prioritized

According to the programs criteria, awardees must have the capacity to continue to deliver SUD treatment, SCA-funded prevention, case management or recovery support services at an approved practice site(s) for a two-year period. Qualifying professions include, but are not limited to:

Physicians

Psychiatrists

Registered Nurses

Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners

Certified Addictions Registered Nurses

Licensed Social Workers

Certified Clinical Supervisors

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors

Counselors

Case Managers

Prevention Specialist/Managers

Administrative Staff

Grant agreements will be awarded based on the availability of funding. The funding amounts will be up to $75,000 for full-time professionals and $37,500 for half-time professionals. Final award amounts will be determined based on the amount of grant assistance being requested and additional criteria.

The Shapiro administration hopes the investments will help retain workers in the Substance Use Disorder services industry. Since 2021, Dauphin Countys Drug and Alcohol Services saw 16 people resign, most of whom worked in case management and prevention.

For me, as Attorney General, one of the best ways we could try and save lives was by holding the people accountable who were poisoning our communities, said Governor Josh Shapiro. The reality is, this epidemic were facing, is as a result of the greed and the lies of the pharmaceutical executives and a handful of pharmaceutical companies who said these painkillers werent addictive. I was one of about four attorneys general in the whole country that led an effort to hold these companies finally accountable for what they did. They have paid billions of dollars to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to support people who are in recovery. The supports are only as good as the staff and the team who are available to deliver them. One of the first issues we diagnosed was that we just didnt have enough people doing this work. We were able to use a good portion of that money to provide loan forgiveness for people who were doing the important work in helping those in recovery, helping them on their road to recovery.

Previously, in 2022, more than 270 practitioners were awarded funding totaling nearly $19 million.

Both rounds of grants were funded through the McKinsey Opioid Settlement Fund and Pennsylvanias Medical Marijuana Program Fund.

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BETHLEHEM, Pa. (WHTM)  A Pennsylvania city celebrated Wednesday its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The City of Bethlehem in the Lehigh Valley was one of four locations designated to the list last month as part of the Moravian Church Settlements.

Ten acres in downtown Bethlehem  nine structures, four ruins, and a cemetery  are included in the site. The preserved structures are significant as an outstanding example of Moravian architecture and town planning.

The long-lost rock of Little Round Top

It is Pennsylvanias third site on the list and city officials said it puts the city alongside global landmarks such as Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Giza and the Statue of Liberty.

The effort to have the site recognized dates back 20 years, Hank Barnette, vice chair of the Bethlehem World Heritage Commission and Council, said Wednesday.

It is about the buildings, and it is about what our ancestors built 280-some years ago, but its also about the idea that this is about the future, Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds said. Its about honoring those ideals of humanity, the ones that we honored when we were in India, that the world has looked upon us for.

The Moravian Church is considered one of the oldest protestant Christian denominations, with roots in the 15th century.

In addition to Bethlehem, three other Moravian settlements are included: Herrnhut, Germany; Gracehill, Northern Ireland; and Christiansfeld, Denmark. The latter had already been added to the World Heritage List in 2015.

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Bethlehems addition was the result of a decades-long effort by Bethlehem Area Moravians, the Central Moravian Church, the City of Bethlehem, Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites, Moravian University, and more.

City officials hope the addition boosts cultural tourism to the Lehigh Valley.

It is the 26th World Heritage site in the United States and the third in Pennsylvania, joining Independence Hall in Philadelphia County and Frank Lloyd Wrights Fallingwater house in Fayette County.

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MAHWAH, N.J. (PIX11)  A Pennsylvania man is accused of extorting a person for nude photos through social media and texts, according to the Bergen County Prosecutors office.

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Officials announced on Thursday that back in April, the Mahwah Police Department started looking into a pattern of messages that started on Snapchat and eventually texts from an unknown person to the victim. The investigation tracked the numbers and accounts to 24-year-old Jourden Battle of Tobyhanna, Pa.

Battle was taken into police custody on Wednesday in Pennsylvania as he waits for extradition to Bergen County from Monroe County Jail. Officials said Battle is being charged with theft by extortion in the second degree.

Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in New York City and Washington, D.C. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here, and follow him on X and Facebook @OfficialRizk. Get in touch at jonathan.rizk@pix11.com.

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CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ)  A Pennsylvania man is facing charges after he allegedly fled from police after they pulled him over for driving under the influence.

Christian Hauser, 49, of Cherry Tree is facing DUI charges after he allegedly drove off during a traffic stop, according to a criminal complaint. On Aug. 4, police were parked along Penn Street when they recognized a green Subaru. They noted in the complaint that they knew it was Hauser because he was arrested for a DUI the week before and had a suspended license.

Police wrote that they pulled out behind him and observed Hauser hitting both the yellow and white fog lines multiple times as he was driving toward Loretto. Officers then turned on their emergency lights and attempted to conduct a traffic stop.

More than $4,000 in fuel nearly stolen from Pennsylvania Turnpike

According to the affidavit, officers approached the vehicle, asked for his ID and asked where he was coming from. Hauser allegedly handed over his ID and told them he was coming from the Penn Avenue Bar. He then reportedly told officers that he had five beers. Police noted he had slurred speech and smelled strongly of alcohol.

When police asked Hauser to step out of his car he then allegedly put it into drive and fled. He drove onto Plank Road and into Cresson Borough. Police noted he was traveling at high speed fluctuating between 70 and 40 mph. Hauser continued to flee from officers and reached speeds of over 100 mph.

Police eventually chased him to a parking lot on Beaver Valley Road, where he then came to a stop. Units surrounded the vehicle to prevent him from fleeing again and ordered him to get out of the vehicle. Hauser allegedly refused and had to be tased twice. Once police were able to get him out of the vehicle he was arrested. Police noted they could see an open Busch beer can in his vehicle.

Police also noted that during the pursuit, Hauser swerved all over the road, sometimes left the roadway entirely, passed multiple vehicles unsafely and failed to stop at stop signs or use turn signals.

Hauser was cleared by EMS and was then taken to Miners Hospital for a blood draw. Hauser gave consent for the draw and he had a BAC of .19%, according to the affidavit.

He is in Cambria County Prison with bail set at 10% of $50,000. Hauser is facing charges of fleeing, DUI, resisting arrest, recklessly endangering another person and multiple summary driving offenses.

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A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 20.

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The Pentagon has chosen systems for the second tranche of Replicator  an initiative to quickly field thousands of drones to counter China in a future conflict.

Doug Beck, director of the Defense Innovation Unit, told reporters Thursday the program has awarded contracts for some, but not all, of the systems it will buy in the second phase of the program.

Speaking at the National Defense Industrial Associations emerging technologies conference, Beck declined to confirm how many platforms the Defense Department selected but noted that since the programs inception, DOD has awarded contracts for 30 different hardware and software efforts with more than 50 major subcontracts to a range of different companies.

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks unveiled the departments plans for Replicator nearly one year ago. Since then, the Pentagon has selected its first tranche of capabilities, crafted acquisition strategies and concepts of operation, trained units to use the initial systems and secured nearly $1 billion for the effort in fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

Although we have lots more work to do, we are on track to meet Replicators original goal of multiple thousands in multiple domains in 18 to 24 months  that is, by end of August 2025, she said.

DIU is taking the lead on helping vet the hardware the Pentagon will buy through Replicator and is working closely with the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, or CDAO, to identify the digital backbone that will enable those systems to work together.

CDAO is setting up an AI hub for Replicator and its Alpha-1 capability set  which the office rolled out earlier this year and is being used by the Navy and Marine Corps  will provide tools to help DIU validate that systems are performing as expected.

Asked what companies have been selected to support the digital elements of Replicator, Beck said the department isnt ready to discuss that piece in detail.

We are well down the races, and we have hundreds of companies that are involved in pitching against that, he said.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  Peoria non-profit, Crittenton Centers is fighting a shortage of baby formula.

Crittenton Centers says more and more families are coming to them for help, and their stock is running low. Crittenton Centers is in need of Enfamil Gentle Ease formula, which is in a purple can, and the regular Enfamil in a yellow can.

The Crittenton Centers CEO and President, Jeff Gress, says they are asking for the communities help to donate smaller cans of these formula so they can provide families with what they need.

Gress believes the rise of prices for formula is hard financially for most families. The overall cost of food, The overall cost of other items has gone up so much, he said.  I think were all experiencing that a little bit. Those funds are shrinking a little bit in our budgets, and so it gets more and more challenging. And so we just want to make sure that were there to be able to provide that for them.

Gress says families come into the center asking for formula every single day. A lot of our grants dont pay for those kinds of items. And so we kind of hit that place where were scrambling around a little bit, looking for other grants or looking for opportunities.

He says the community has always been supportive of the Crittenton Centers. We just really want to kind of put a play out there to see if people would be willing to step up and help us feed the kids. 

If you are interested in donating formula to the Crittenton Centers, Gress says you can drop donations off at anytime. The Crittenton Centers is located on West John H. Gwynn Avenue.

Crittenton Centers also has a registry of items in need if the community wants to donate other items.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
One of the top astronomy events of 2024, second only to April's total solar eclipse, is about to put on a dazzling display in the night sky as the weekend comes to a close.

The Perseid meteor shower peaks on Sunday night into early Monday morning and will boast up to 100 meteors per hour.

"This meteor shower is perhaps the most popular as it is active during the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere," the American Meteor Society (AMS) explained on its website. "There are stronger meteor showers but they appear during the colder time of year in the Northern Hemisphere when conditions are less inviting."

The best time to view the Perseid meteor shower will be after 2 a.m., local time. However, some people may start to see shooting stars sizzle in the sky not long after nightfall.

The frequency of meteors will be slow at first, particularly during the early part of the night when moonlight will overshadow some of the fainter meteors. However, as the night goes on, observers should be able to spot dozens of meteors per hour, especially from dark locations.

The Perseid meteor shower above Alberta, Canada. (Getty Images/ Nick Fitzhardinge)

Moreover, the Perseid meteor shower isn't limited to just one night. While the peak will occur from Sunday night into Monday morning, skywatchers can enjoy a good number of shooting stars throughout the entire weekend and into the first half of the new week.

A common misconception about meteor showers is that you need to focus on a specific part of the sky to see shooting stars. However, for many events, including the Perseids, having a wide-open view of the sky offers the best chance to enjoy the spectacle.

"Perseid meteors can be seen in all portions of the sky," the AMS said, adding not to look straight up as more meteors will be visible lower in the sky.

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Additionally, folks should head to a viewing location far away from light pollution to see more meteors. Allow time for your eyes to adjust to the dark and avoid looking at sources of light, such as a cell phone screen.

"The more stars you can see, the more meteors will also be visible," the AMS said.

Many meteor showers throughout the year feature around 10 to 20 meteors per hour, but the Perseids far exceed this benchmark.

The only other meteor shower that outshines the annual August display is December's Geminids, which in recent years have amazed stargazers with 120 to 150 meteors per hour.

However, 2024 will be a challenging year for the Geminids, as its peak coincides with a full moon, significantly reducing the number of visible shooting stars. Because of this, the Perseids claim the title of the year's best meteor shower.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  An effort to bring a hospital back to West Dayton will not be on the ballot this November unless 1,250 new signatures are collected by the end of the month.

A local group tried to petition for the issue to be included in the coming election but failed to get the required number of signatures. City leaders voted at a city commission meeting Wednesday night against adding the levy to the ballot.

Habitat for Humanity breaks ground on new home for single mother

Doctors, community members engineers, and election officials all spoke at tonights meeting. City leaders heard what the potential public hospital would cost when it comes to building and maintenance.

After the closing of the Good Samaritan Hospital in 2018, the community has been left without needed healthcare options. In response, the Clergy Community Coalition started the petition in an effort to restore accessibility. They needed 1,250 signatures but fell short by 488 signatures.

The Montgomery County Board of Elections examined the signatures and only found 874 were valid. The coalition was hoping the city would make an exception and allow the public to vote on the hospital come November.

But the city says what the coalition is asking is invalid and insufficient  simply due to not meeting the signature requirement.

The Buc-ees experience: Gas station meets chaos

Leaders of the coalition say the health disparities in the community are a serious issue and its time something is done.

Its not going to go away. Were not going to give up on it. Too many people need it. Chronically ill people that had that hospital when it was a public hospital when it was first built, was in their community. Now they have nothing, said Bishop Richard Cox, President of the Clergy Community Coalition.

The coalition now has 20 days to submit 1,250 new signatures.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
MOSCOW, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Russian forces have repelled Ukrainian attempts to advance deeper into the Kursk region, the Russian defense ministry said on Thursday.

"Over the past 24 hours, border defense units along with border guards, reinforcement units and recently arrived reserve forces have prevented the enemy from advancing with the use of air and missile strikes and artillery fire," said the ministry.

It noted that "attempts of separate units to penetrate deeper into the Kursk direction were foiled," and air strikes were carried out against approaching Ukrainian reserve forces on the territory of the Sumy region.

"Units of the Sever Group of Forces along with units of the Russian Federal security forces are continuing to eliminate the armed formations of the Ukrainian armed forces in the Sudzha and Korenevo districts in the Kursk region," according to the defense ministry.

Since the beginning of Kiev's large-scale incursion into the Kursk region, Ukrainian losses have amounted to 660 soldiers, and 82 units of armored equipment, it said.

Acting deputy governor of the Kursk region Andrei Belostotsky said on Thursday that Russian forces have halted Ukrainian advances.

"Since this morning, our aerospace forces and our armed forces have been actively working. The enemy has not advanced a single meter and ... is retreating," he said, adding that "the enemy's equipment and combat forces are being actively destroyed."

In a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the acting governor of the Kursk Region Alexei Smirnov said that all people are actively being evacuated from the region and receiving necessary assistance.

According to preliminary information, 5 people have died following the attacks, and a total of 34 people have been injured, including 5 children.

Ukraine launched a massive attack on the defense positions in Russia's Kursk region at 08:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT). Up to 300 soldiers from Ukraine's 22nd Mechanized Brigade, supported by 11 tanks and over 20 armored combat vehicles, attacked the Russian border defense positions near the settlements of Nikolaevo-Daryino and Oleshnya, according to the Russian Defense Ministry on Tuesday. 
After a nationwide search, two Miami natives are taking the reigns of the citys premier poetry nonprofit.

O, Miami, which organizes poetry programming and hosts an annual poetry festival in April, announced Melody Santiago Cummings and Caroline Cabrera will lead the organization as executive director and artistic director, respectively. The co-directors succeed the organizations founder and former executive director P. Scott Cunningham, who stepped down from the role earlier this year.

P. Scott Cunningham, the O, Miami founder and executive director, speaks in front of a billboard the organization purchased for its poetry contest.

Theres no one better than Melody and Caroline to lead O, Miami into a new phase of growth, Cunningham said in a statement. Theyve each been instrumental in building O, Miami into the organization it is today, and Im thrilled to support them as they guide us into the organization well need to become tomorrow.

Ever since O, Miamis first festival in 2011, the group has expanded its reach with yearround programming, educational opportunities and book publishing. O, Miami is perhaps best known for its goal of making sure every person in Miami-Dade County encounters a poem during the month of April, or National Poetry Month. That includes poetry on fake parking tickets, billboards and fruit stickers in grocery stores. In March, the group published its first photo book on Miamis ventanitas featuring poems from residents of all ages.

Daniela Perez Miron had to live far from Miami, when she was studying for a masters degree in London, so that her interest turned to the ventanitas.

Cummings joined O, Miami in 2013 as the organizations first full-time employee. She worked as the Senior Director of Operations and Technology before serving as interim director since May. Cabrera, a writer and instructor, was first introduced to O, Miami in 2012 when she read her poetry at one of the groups events. After volunteering with the organization, she was hired as the groups education coordinator in 2020 and has served of Director of Education since 2022.

The O, Miami board of directors unanimously approved Cummings and Cabrera as co-directors in June after a monthslong national search, the organization said. The two officially began their roles July 1.

Were really excited to be leading this organization shoulder to shoulder and to have this forward-looking, collaborative co-directors model, Cabrera said. Coming from inside this organization, we know what it takes to make the organization run well, and were excited to put together our shared institutional knowledge and work as a dynamic duo.

Cabrera and Cummings said their main goals for the organization include rejuvenating the groups educational initiatives in and outside of school classrooms and expanding its publishing division. The co-directors plan to lean in on programming throughout the year and then celebrating the groups work during the April festival.

They want to make sure O, Miami addresses the needs of the city and a broader audience, Cummings said. That includes creating job opportunities and providing resources for local creatives, poets, teachers and teaching artists amid South Floridas affordability crisis.

We really are proud to have O, Miami serve as a resource for creatives, young creatives and people looking for not just validation, but for ways to make this part of their career choice, Cummings said.

Melody Santiago Cummings and Caroline Cabrera take the helm of poetry non-profit O, Miami as co-directors after years of working in the organization.

This fall, O, Miami will launch its first audio book and publish first childrens book in time for the Miami Book Fair in November. Next spring, the group will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Zip Odes, an annual open call for Miamians to submit five-line poems in the form of their Zip Codes. O, Miami is working with 100 South Florida photographers to release a 10-year Zip Ode retrospective book.

This work has been such a passion project, Cummings said. To be able to steward [O, Miami] into its next chapter, it just feels like it was written all along.

This story was produced with financial support from individuals and Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
The District Attorney of Philadelphia withdrew first-degree murder charges against former Philadelphia Police Officer Mark Dial on Thursday, according to court documents obtained by CNN.

Dial is accused of killing Eddie Irizarry a year ago this month during a traffic stop. Dial was originally charged with first-degree murder as well as other charges, but soon after the case was thrown out by a local Philadelphia judge and the defendant walked free.

Then a month later, a Common Pleas Court judge reinstated the charges and the case proceeded, with Dial returning to jail.

The case was notable in that police initially told reporters Irizarry lunged at the officers while outside his vehicle, only to later admit that video disproved that assertion.

According to the initial police statement, two officers saw a man driving erratically, and when the man pulled into a parking spot, they approached the vehicle. Seconds later, one of the officers fatally shot Irizarry.

Police initially told reporters that the officers gave the man multiple commands to drop a weapon while he was outside his vehicle and that Irizarry had lunged at the officers.

However, two days later, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said the shooting happened while Irizarry was inside the vehicle, citing body worn camera footage. The video made it very clear what we initially reported was not actually what happened, Outlaw said.

At a scheduling conference Thursday, the DAs office withdrew the first-degree murder charge, according to court documents.

Dial remains charged with third-degree murder and several other felonies related to Irizarrys killing.

When asked by CNN why the first-degree murder charge was dropped, a spokesperson for the DAs office said, We are not permitted to comment on this case per the court.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, prosecutors were effectively forced to (drop the first-degree murder charge) by a judge after failing to tell Dials attorneys about a key piece of evidence they intend to use against him at trial.

The evidence  per the Inquirer  centers around an expert witness who prepared a report for prosecutors.

Now that the first-degree murder charges have been withdrawn, Dial is eligible for bail.

CNN has reached out to Dials attorneys for comment and confirmation if Dial intends to post bail.

CNNs Jessica Xing and Eric Levenson contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
TechCrunch

At the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) on Wednesday night, new technology allowed fans to shop their favorite artists' styles as they appeared on the screen. Thanks to a partnership between Paramount and technology company Shopsense AI, viewers had the opportunity to purchase similar outfits from the service's suggestions. Launched in January, Shopsense AI offers software that allows viewers to capture images of their preferred looks as they appear live on screen and then explore comparable options suggested by Shopsense's detection model.
Are pieces from broken wind farm blade washing up in RI? These beaches are being checked

Chunks of debris from an offshore wind turbine blade that fell into the water off the coast of Massachusetts more than three weeks ago may now be starting to wash up on shores from Little Compton to Cape Cod, leaving the wind farm's owners to survey local shorelines for additional debris.

The blade was part of an offshore wind turbine manufactured by GE Vernova for the Vineyard Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts. The manufacturers preliminary analysis suspected insufficient bonding on the blade was the reason for the break, according to Reuters, and the company plans to reinspect all offshore wind blades as a result.

A splintered turbine in the southwest section of the Vineyard Wind offshore wind farm.

Residents of Nantucket began reporting remnants of the blade washing ashore just five days after the blade fell into the water. Weeks later, residents in Little Compton discovered chunks of mostly polystyrene foam, like Styrofoam, on their beaches as well, East Bay RI reported.

Debris has not been reported in Newport so far, director of communications Tom Shevlin told the Newport Daily News on Wednesday. However, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management public affairs officer Evan LaCross said Vineyard Wind has been surveying several Rhode Island beaches, including Second Beach in Middletown, to recover any additional debris that may wash up there. Along with Little Compton, Vineyard Wind has been surveying beaches in Point Judith, Matunuck, Narragansett and Block Island.

While the initial break and subsequent debris caused beaches to close on Nantucket, LaCross said there is no similar concern along Rhode Island's shoreline.

The material is not considered hazardous, LaCross said. DEM advises the public to leave any found debris in place and report it so that it can be tracked appropriately and be properly disposed.

A Vineyard Wind turbine at the far southwest section of the offshore wind farm, 22 miles south of Martha's Vineyard. One of the turbine's blades failed in July, splintering and sending debris into the sea that has washed up on area beaches.

Those who find debris they suspect may be from the turbine project can contact the farms cleanup contractor at (833) 609-5768 or through an online form at tinyurl.com/4w24r9yb. Additionally, Newporters can report on the citys online 311 portal ReportIt!Newport at cityofnewport.com.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Vineyard Wind monitoring RI beaches for broken wind turbine debris
From a pig as political candidate to a breakout speech for Obama  Democratic National Convention often leaves its mark on history

If the Yippies  a group of young activists known for political dissent  had their way, Americans would have elected a 145-pound pig named Pigasus as president in 1968.

The Yippies were famous for their unconventional tactics and were at the heart of the 1960s counterculture movement in the U.S. They demanded that Pigasus be treated as a legitimate candidate with Secret Service protection and foreign policy briefings.

Police arrested several Yippies for disorderly conduct after they paraded Pigasus outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Pigasus was taken into protective custody by police and eventually wound up at a farm.

Since the first Democratic National Convention in 1832, the event has had a long and storied history with headline-grabbing moments  some of which have left a mark in politics.

The Democratic Party will next converge at its convention in Chicago, Aug. 19-22, 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will officially accept their partys nomination as the Democratic candidates for president and vice president.

As a scholar of the presidency, I think it is useful to remember that national political conventions often function like pep rallies, leading up to the big game of the general presidential election. These conventions can be places where new faces are launched, or they can be so dull that the country is functionally put to sleep. Here are a few of the more memorable moments to emerge from a Democratic National Convention.

The Yippies gather with a pig named Pigasus outside the Democratic National Convention in August 1968 in Chicago. Bettmann/Getty Images

A first lady steps into the spotlight

In 1940, Eleanor Roosevelt became the first first lady to ever address the Democratic National Convention.

Democrats at the convention were divided over both the U.S.s participation in World War II and the prospect of nominating Franklin Delano Roosevelt, or FDR, as he was known, to a third term. No president had served more than two terms at this point. It was about a decade before the 22nd Amendment was ratified and became part of the Constitution, restricting presidents to two terms in office.

FDR was trying to break a two-term presidency tradition that started with George Washington.

Eleanor Roosevelt got up in front of the contentious and squabbling convention and said, This is no ordinary time. No time for weighing anything except what we can do best for the country as a whole, and that responsibility rests on each and every one of us as individuals.

Eleanor Roosevelts influential speech helped reframe the first lady as a powerful advocate for the president, without being simply a mouthpiece for him. Her depiction of 1940 as no ordinary time helped people accept that the country was facing an extraordinary moment in history that needed consistent leadership.

Roosevelt won another two terms and went on to serve as president until his death in 1945 during his fourth term.

Eleanor Roosevelt addresses the Democratic National Convention in July 1940, becoming the first first lady to speak during a national public convention. Bettmann/Getty Images

A fresh vision

Years later, when John F. Kennedy accepted the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in 1960, he said that voters needed to choose between national greatness and national decline. Kennedys speech, known as the New Frontier, helped show voters that a Kennedy presidency could overcome problems with a forward-looking vision.

Today our concern must be with that future. For the world is changing. The old era is ending. The old ways will not do, Kennedy said.

Kennedy also called for a new America that was not weighed down by nostalgia.

Texas politician Ann Richards also supercharged her career with a Democratic National Convention keynote address in 1988. Her speech, funny and sharp, was also a commentary on the growing role of women in politics  and what an achievement it represented.

In her opening words, Richards talked about Fred Astaire, one of the most famous Hollywood movie stars in the 1930s, as well as Ginger Rogers, his co-star and dance partner.

Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels, Richards said.

Richards skewered the perception that Astaire was the bigger star by pointing out Rogers was every bit as capable and talented  and even did it in uncomfortable shoes.

At the time, Richards was the treasurer of Texas. But her witty speech propelled her into the national spotlight and helped her become governor of Texas in 1991.

The introduction of hope

In 2004, Barack Obama, then a 43-year-old Illinois state senator, launched himself on the national scene with his speech at the Democratic National Convention.

Obama gave a passionate speech paying tribute to his background, stating, I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story, that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me, and that, in no other country on earth, is my story even possible.

And he offered a self-deprecating observation, saying the country embodied the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too. The audacity of hope! These ideas of hope and unity later became key hallmarks of Obamas 2008 presidential campaign.

Obamas speech outshone the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry, and helped position him as the partys rising star. News commentator Chris Matthews noted after Obamas speech, Weve just seen the first black president.

Michelle Obama addresses the Democratic National Convention in August 2008. Associated Press

A political blunder

Some speeches are so memorable, they are even recycled.

Michelle Obama, the wife of then-Sen. Barack Obama, memorably stressed the importance of dignity and hard work in her speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention  the convention at which her husband was formally nominated for president. Obama said that she and Barack were raised with the same values: That you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say youre going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect even if you dont know them, and even if you dont agree with them.

Melania Trump heavily paraphrased this speech in her 2016 Republican National Committee speech. She, too, said that her parents raised her with values  that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond and you do what you say and keep your promise, that you treat people with respect.

Trumps speechwriter, Meredith McIver, took responsibility for the blunder, since she thought the draft speech shared with her contained Melanias words. But in reality, Trump had given her Obamas speech as an idea for what she wanted incorporated in her own speech.

Potential for magic

I believe that national party conventions matter only for moments of mistake or magic. While these events are supposed to motivate voters and help reach out to the undecided, modern conventions more often are uninspired echo chambers of blather.

They do little to sway swing voters and only offer confirmation to voters already committed to their choice. Everyone in the audience is there to cheer and be energized by their home team.

Moments of greatness are far and few between at national conventions. But when lightning strikes, it can turn a phrase into an iconic moment that encapsulates an entire era.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Shannon Bow O'Brien, The University of Texas at Austin

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Shannon Bow O'Brien does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Pioneer wildfire near Lake Chelan is now burning inside the Stehekin city limits.

Fire information officer Brad Bramlett said the current size of the fire is 37,000 acres.

Firefighters are dealing with temperatures in the 90s and theyre keeping an eye on the winds, which tend to shift over the lake in the afternoon.

Part of the day they will have uplake wind and then it will shift to downlake, Bramlett told KIRO Newsradio. As it goes downlake, those winds tend to be a little bit higher.

Level 3 get out now evacuations have been issued, but many of the 80-or-so full-time residents are refusing to leave.

Many of those folks did stay, but were going to do what we feel we have to do and do our firefighting efforts safely and as aggressively as possible, Bramlett said.

In addition to ground crews, helicopters dropping water and an air tanker loaded with fire retardant will help attack the flames.

They have what they call containment lines where they go in and rake around structures, Bramlett explained. Theyve got sprinklers set up. They have some hoses laid in there as well.

Bramlett explained that fire is going to move uphill more quickly than it is going to do downhill.

It sort of went up behind Stehekin, behind the ridge and then its been steadily moving down the ridge towards the community, Bramlett said.

The Department of Natural Resources has issued a statewide burn ban restricting the use of outdoor burning, campfires, the use of charcoal briquettes, and prescribed burns on all forest lands within DNRs fire protection, including all Washington State Parks.

Heather Bosch is an award-winning anchor and reporter on KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of her stories here. Follow Heather on X, or email her here.

Contributing: Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest




Plea: Man studying for priesthood had videos of children being sexually abused

Broderick Witt walks out of Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Jennifer Branch's courtroom after pleading guilty to eight counts of possessing child sexually abusive material on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.

A man who was studying to become a Catholic priest at a Mount Washington seminary has admitted possessing multiple images and videos of children being sexually abused.

Broderick Witt, a former seminarian at Mount St. Mary's Seminary and School of Theology, pleaded guilty Thursday to eight counts of possessing child sexually abusive material.

The images and videos were found on his cellphone, Hamilton County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Lipps said during Thursday's hearing before Common Pleas Judge Jennifer Branch.

Witt, 29, spoke calmly and did not show emotion as he pleaded to the charges. He faces a maximum possible sentence of 12 years in prison, Branch said. He is currently free on a $50,000 bond, and Branch continued that bond Thursday.

Sentencing is set for Sept. 5.

Witt ceased being a student at the seminary after he was arrested in February at his residence, officials have said.

The investigation into Witt began after the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a national consortium of internet crime investigators, relayed a tip to a regional task force. The tip involved information about uploads to a Google drive of multiple files, Lipps said. The uploads began in November 2023, he said.

Videos described in court documents involved girls.

Witt grew up on the Ohio and Indiana border and attended Catholic churches in the archdiocese throughout his childhood, according to an article published two years ago in The Catholic Telegraph. He entered the seminary in 2022.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Plea: Aspiring priest had videos of children being sexually abused
Rakim Hasheem Allen aka PnB Rock, June 2021 (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

A man was found guilty of felony murder in connection with the fatal 2022 shooting of rapper PnB Rock at a Los Angeles restaurant. After deliberating for four hours, a Los Angeles County jury declared Freddie Lee Trone, 42, guilty of one count of felony murder, two counts of robbery, and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, after he sent his then-17-year-old son to kill the rapper, the Los Angeles County district attorneys office said in a news release.

During the trial, both the defense and the prosecution agreed that Trones son walked into the South Los Angeles Roscoes Chicken and Waffles, shot PnB Rock, and robbed the Philadelphia rapper of his jewelry while he ate with the mother of his four-year-old daughter. The prosecution claimed the teenager was following out orders from his father, while the defense said that Trone was only an accessory after the fact. The now-19-year-old was charged with murder, but remains in custody in the juvenile system and a judge found him to be not currently competent to stand trial.

There was no evidence produced that he conspired to commit murder. Theres no evidence there was a conversation about murder, no evidence there was a conversation about a gun, Trones lawyer, Winston McKesson, told The Associated Press. There is no evidence he gave his son a gun, and no evidence he told him to shoot the guy. The only evidence the jury found is that he dropped him off and picked him up.

PnB Rocks mother, Deannea Allen, said in an interview that she was shaking and elated when the verdict was read, reports The New York Times. I just said, Hallelujah, thank God, said Allen. Justice has been served.

A second defendant, Tremont Jones, was convicted of two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery. Both Jones and Trone are scheduled to be sentenced on August 27.

PnB Rock, whose real name was Rakim Hasheem Allen, was shot and killed on September 12, 2022 during that robbery at Roscoes Chicken & Waffles in Los Angeles. Ten days later, Philadelphias city council passed a resolution to honor the late rapper.

Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas (KETK)  An Alabama man is accused of soliciting a minor and was arrested at a Mount Pleasant city park, the Mount Pleasant Police Department said.

Prosecutors to seek death penalty for family friend accused of killing Audrii Cunningham

Mugshot of Irvin Shell, courtesy of the Mount Pleasant Police Department

Officials said on Wednesday night, an officer with the Mount Pleasant PD was patrolling through a city park. The officer made contact with a vehicle that was at the park after it had closed. The officer spoke with the occupants who were identified as Irvin Shell of Mobile, Alabama, and a male juvenile.

It was reported that the officer believed the juvenile was the victim of a criminal act.

An investigation into the incident led to the arrest of Shell who was booked for sexual assault of a child, online solicitation of a minor and solicitation of a prostitution of a minor.

Mount Pleasant PD said the case is under investigation and additional charges are expected.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
A police scenes of crime officer works at the scene in Southport, Merseyside

A 55-year-old woman has been arrested after allegedly spreading false information on social media about the identity of the Southport attacker.

Cheshire Constabulary said the woman, from near Chester, had been arrested on Thursday on suspicion of publishing written material to stir up racial hatred and false communications.

The woman is being held in police custody.

False claims that the person responsible for fatally stabbing three young girls and wounding nine other children was an asylum seeker on an MI6 terror watch list had erupted on social media shortly after the attack last week.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, who was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents, has been charged with the murders of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine.

He has also been charged with the attempted murder of nine other children and two adults.

Chief Supt Alison Ross said: We have all seen the violent disorder that has taken place across the UK over the past week, much of which has been fuelled by malicious and inaccurate communications online.

Its a stark reminder of the dangers of posting information on social media platforms without checking the accuracy.

It also acts as a warning that we are all accountable for our actions, whether that be online or in person.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
In 2021, Charlie Munger Told Warren Buffett It Was A Mistake To Sell Apple Shares. Will He Be Right Again?

In investing, Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger are household names, synonymous with success and financial wisdom. But even the best can sometimes have doubts, as evident during Berkshire Hathaways 2021 annual meeting.

Buffett, often regarded as one of the greatest investors of all time, made headlines when he decided to sell some of Berkshire Hathaways Apple shares despite them being described as Berkshires fourth jewel alongside their insurance operations, BNSF Railway and the Berkshire Hathaway Energy subsidiary Buffett chose to reduce their stake.

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This decision confused many people, including a shareholder from Switzerland who asked why Buffett would sell Apple shares if the company was so important to Berkshires portfolio.

Why Did Buffett Sell?

Buffett explained that Berkshire owns 5.3% of Apple, a stake that increased due to share buybacks by both Berkshire and Apple. This strategy allowed Berkshire to increase its company share without spending more money.

Trending: Heres the AI-powered startup that turns traders into influencers achieving 12% monthly growth  invest in it at only 10 cents per share.

He elaborated on Apples extraordinary business model, its massive fan base, and the fantastic manager at its helm, Tim Cook. Buffett praised Cook by saying, He's handled that business so well ... he couldn't do what Steve Jobs obviously could do in terms of creation, but I don't think Steve Jobs could do what Tim Cook has done in many respects.

However, despite all the praise for Apple, Buffett admitted to selling some shares, which he later regretted. In his words, That was probably a mistake.

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Charlie Munger's Input

Charlies way of pointing out mistakes is less dramatic but no less effective. According to Buffett, Charlie, in his usual low-key way, let me know that [he] thought it was a mistake too.

He continued talking to Munger on stage, I could only do so many things that I can get away with Charlie. I used them up between Costco and Apple ... and suddenly, he probably very likely was right in both circumstances.

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Buffetts choice to sell some of Apples shares might seem surprising, especially since he really admires the brand. He likened the value of Apple products to that of cars, suggesting that some people might even choose their Apple devices over their vehicles. You know, a car costs $35,000, and I'm sure with some people if you ask them whether they had to give up their Apple or their car ... who knows what theyd do, he quipped, reflecting the deep loyalty of Apple users.

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Buffetts 2024 Apple Stock Sale: Another Mistake?

At the beginning of August 2024, Buffett sold a big chunk of Berkshire Hathaways Apple shares, cutting their investment in half. Berkshire sold off $76 billion worth of stocks, making a massive after-tax profit of $47.2 billion and boosting Berkshire's cash reserves to an all-time high of $277 billion.

Although this is probably very far from a mistake, it also makes one wonder if they might be missing out on the long-term value of holding onto the stock. Naturally, Apples stock took a hit after the fact but remains a key part of many investment portfolios because of its strong market position.

The decision to sell could be seen as contradictory to the confidence he expressed in the companys future prospects at its annual meeting just a couple of months ago, when he said, "Unless something dramatically happens that really changes capital allocation strategy, we will have Apple as our largest investment."

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Forces across the UK are braced for more violent disorder - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Police fear 20 further riots will break out on Thursday night.

Forces are braced for more violent disorder after thousands of officers were deployed on Wednesday to quell far-Right demonstrations.

The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) said 5,000 specially trained officers remain ready to tackle any unrest and that they will remain in place over the next few days.

It comes after the total number of arrests made by law enforcement rose to 483 following a series of morning raids, a police spokesman said.

The policing body said 149 offenders have already been charged in court after dozens of cases were fast-tracked through the criminal justice system. It has been suggested that the swift action and severe sentences being handed down have acted as a deterrent to would-be rioters, according to Dame Diana Johnson, the Home Office minister.

Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, the NPCC chairman, said: Police action continues at full speed today as the number of arrests and charges in relation to the disorder reaches the hundreds.

Officers and police staff are working flat out to progress investigations, acting on the mountain of intelligence and evidence gathered over the last week to secure convictions.

Thousands of specially trained officers were deployed throughout England and Wales in response to planned demonstrations last night, and those officers will remain in place over the coming days. We are continually gathering and reviewing intelligence to ensure that officers are in the right place to protect communities.

Despite fears of there being more than 100 far-Right demonstrations planned on Wednesday, just 36 gatherings took place with minimal disorder and only a handful of arrests, the NPCC said.

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Sir Mark Rowley said on Thursday that police and community presence had scared rioters off after far-Right demonstrators were left outnumbered owing to thousands of counter-protesters crowding them out in towns and cities across England.

It is estimated that 104 officers have been injured while policing the riots since the Southport killings on July 29, with many hospitalised due to the extent of their injuries.

Additional funding has been made available to Oscar Kilo, the national police wellbeing service, to support forces in giving those injured, physically and psychologically, the best chance of a swift recovery after having been subject to such ferocious violence.

Police Federation England and Wales acting national chairman Tiffany Lynch said: Our colleagues across the country have exhibited they are the most professional in the world, and they will continue to uphold the law despite all the challenges. I sincerely hope that not a single officer in the country is now targeted, and the offenders continue to face the full force of the law.

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Carles Puidgemont disappeared into the crowd, shortly after delivering his speech in Barcelona. - MANAURE QUINTERO/AFP

Spanish police have launched a manhunt for Carles Puidgemont, the Catalan separatist leader, after he returned from exile and gave a speech in front of thousands before disappearing into the crowd.

Mr Puigdemont has been living in Belgium for almost seven years since he fled Spain in October 2017. He left to avoid prison for spearheading an illegal attempt to create an independent Catalonia.

The 61-year-old spoke in Catalan to a crowd of supporters under Barcelonas LArc de Triomf monument on Thursday and was expected to walk to the nearby Catalan parliament to attend a debate on the selection of a new president for the region.

Were still here! Were still here! Mr Puigdemont said as he criticised what he called Spains ferocious repression of the separatist movement.

Pro-independence supporters and fellow members of Mr Puigdemonts Junts party had assembled close to the stage to escort the former Catalan president through the crowds.

But Mr Puigdemont vanished in the melee.

Mr Puigdemont criticised what he called Spain's 'ferocious repression' of the Catalan separatist movement. - ANGEL GARCIA/BLOOMBERG

Catalonias police force had orders to arrest Mr Puigdemont, who is accused of embezzling public funds in the run-up to the unlawful referendum and subsequent declaration of independence in Oct 2017.

Nine people, including several members of Mr Puigdemonts Catalan government, spent more than three years in prison for their part in the illegal secession bid. They were then pardoned by the Left-wing government of Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish Prime Minister, in 2021.

Catalonias Mossos desquadra police has set up a search operation to try to locate Mr Puigdemont, including checkpoints on major road exits from Barcelona.

Lluis Llach, the Catalan activist, said on X on Thursday night that he had been in touch with Mr Puigdemont, who has asked me to tell you that hes safe, sound and, above all, free.

Spains conservative and Right-wing opposition parties reacted with fury to the latest escape by the former European MP, who has previously been arrested in Germany and Italy  without being extradited to Spain.

Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the conservative Peoples Party, said the events in Barcelona on Thursday morning were an unbearable humiliation and accused Mr Sanchez of bearing ultimate responsibility.

Mr Puigdemont is accused of embezzling public funds in the run-up to the unlawful Catalonia referendum of 2017. - DAVIDE BONALDO/SOPA IMAGES/SHUTTERSTOCK

The hard-Right Vox party described as a bloody disgrace that a coupmonger and fugitive from justice is able to enter Spain without anyone stopping him.

Catalonias parliament is currently debating whether to elect Salvador Illa, an ally of Mr Sanchez, as the regions new president after his Catalan Socialist Party won the most seats in an election held in May.

Mr Sanchezs minority Spanish government crucially won the support of Mr Puigdemont after negotiating and approving an amnesty law scrapping criminal procedures against Catalan separatists.

It stated that Mr Puigdemont and others should not face charges if they did not make personal financial gain.

But in a controversial decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the amnesty did not cover the offence of embezzling public funds. It argued that the unlawful use of public money to organise a referendum constituted a personal benefit for Mr Puigdemont.

The former regional leader insists the vote was not illegal and therefore the charges linked to it have no basis.

A country where amnesty laws do not [mean] amnesty has a democratic problem, Mr Puigdemont said in his speech before he left the stage and melted into the crowd.

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Police in Kenya fire tear gas at protesters as new Cabinet ministers are sworn in

People take part in a protest rally against hunger in Nairobi, Kenya, Thursday Aug. 8, 2024 (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku)

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  Kenyan police on Thursday fired tear gas at protesters in Nairobi calling for the president's resignation as a new Cabinet was being sworn in, the latest in the deadly turmoil that has gripped the East African nation over the summer.

Protests in Kenya first erupted in June, with initial calls for legislators to vote against a controversial finance bill that was proposing increased taxes amid high cost of living. Antigovernment protesters stormed the parliament on June 25, drawing police fire after legislators voted to pass the bill.

More than 50 people have died since the demonstrations began, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

On Thursday, businesses in the city were closed and public transport vehicles remained out of the central business district. Police also set up roadblocks on major roads to Nairobi. President William Ruto's office, where the new ministers were sworn in, also remained cordoned off.

Police said 174 protesters were arrested Thursday and that protest organizers did not notify them of their intention to demonstrate.

We ensured adequate deployment of security personnel and cautioned members of the public to avoid crowded areas that were likely to turn riotous, Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli said.

The protests were organized by activists upset with Ruto even after he dismissed almost all of his ministers and added opposition members to what he called a broad-based government.

However, other major urban centers, including the lakeside city of Kisumu  an opposition stronghold that has previously witnessed protests  remained calm with some residents telling reporters they were not protesting because the opposition members had been incorporated into the new Cabinet.

Civil society groups, along with the Law Society of Kenya, called in a joint statement for the upholding of human rights during demonstrations and urged police to refrain from deploying nonuniformed officers and using unmarked vehicles.

We reiterate constitutional protection of all persons to peaceably and unarmed to protest, picket and to present petitions to the authorities, the statement said.

Nicole Awuori, said she was demanding for justice for those killed during previous protests.

I am protesting for the people who have missed out on so many opportunities because of broken systems, she said.

Another protester, Emmanuel, who used only one name because he feared for his safety, said he would keep rallying until the president resigns.

We are here to force him to leave office and go home, Emmanuel said.

Police surrounded the home of Jimi Wanjigi, a prominent businessman with political aspirations who has also been calling for Ruto's resignation.

Police chief Masengeli said tear-gas cannisters and phones were recovered from a vehicle at Wanjigi's home.

Ruto on Wednesday condemned the protests and urged Kenyans to stay away from them, saying those who want change can vote him out of office in the 2027 elections.

Activists who had planned an 8/8 Liberation March on Thursday said the day before that demonstrators would treat nonuniformed police officers as criminals.

We shall march for our rights, activist Kasmuel Mcoure said.

After the bill was passed in June, Ruto declined to sign the legislation and sent it back to parliament, saying he had heard Kenyans who wanted nothing to do with the bill but warned there would be revenue and expenditure consequences.

Protests continued with calls for Ruto's resignation over bad governance, corruption, the incompetence of his Cabinet and lack of accountability. Ruto then dismissed all but one Cabinet minister but the protests continued.
A man has died after a shooting in Winton Hills early Thursday morning, according to Cincinnati police.

Officers responded around 3:30 a.m. to the 5300 block of Bettman Drive for a reported shooting when they found 44-year-old Victorio Johnson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, police said in a news release.

First responders performed life-saving measures on Johnson and took him to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where he died.

Police have yet to provide information about a possible suspect in the shooting.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact the Cincinnati Police Department's homicide unit at 513-352-3542.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati police ID man killed in Winton Hills shooting
Authorities are investigating the shooting of a man who was found Wednesday evening near a shopping center off Texas 360, according to Arlington police.

At around 8:50 p.m., officers responded to the parking lot of a shopping center off 360, near the intersection of East Arkansas Lane and South Watson Road, after receiving a report from a 911 caller that their friend had been shot.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found an adult male with multiple gunshot wounds, police said. He was taken to a local hospital.

His condition is unknown, according to police.

Police said they do not believe the shooting happened where first responders found him. His friend drove him to the shopping center parking lot, according to police.

Arlington police are working with neighboring agencies, including Grand Prairie police, to determine where the shooting occurred.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Memphis Police are investigating an overnight shooting in South Memphis Thursday.

A little after 12:30 a.m., officers responded to a shooting in the 1100 block of Willie Mitchell Boulevard.

A man was found and taken to Regional One in non-critical condition.

A neighbor told us she was sleeping when she heard several gunshots.

It was like twelve to fifteen shots going off and I just stretched out and I didnt move, she said.

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Bullet holes could be seen in three nearby cars and all around the victims home. We asked the neighbor if she could tell us anything about the house where the shooting occurred.

Several people stay there. Its like a rooming house, she said.

This is an ongoing investigation, police say.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
MORRIS, Ill.  A man is dead and another was injured following a shooting Thursday afternoon in Morris.

Authorities received a call at around 12:05 p.m. from a concerned family member in Southern Illinois.

Shortly after the call, police responded to a report of gunshots fired at Canal Port Plaza, located at Illinois and Fulton.

Officers at the scene located two men suffering from gunshot wounds. One was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was transported to a local hospital and then transported to another one.

A weapon was recovered at the scene and police believe the shooting was a domestic incident.

Both of the men are from outside of the Chicago area, according to police.

Illinois State Polices crime lab is involved with the investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A police presence is on scene of an incident in Trotwood.

According to Montgomery County Regional Dispatch, officers were first called out to the area of Little Richmond Road and Wolf Creek Pike around 3:30 p.m.

Plumes of black smoke fill Hamilton sky

Dispatch says law enforcement was initially called out to look for a male subject.

Police have blocked off Wolf Creek Pike from State Route 49 to Little Richmond Road with cars and police tape.

2 NEWS crews on scene spotted Trotwood vehicles alongside Dayton police.

2 NEWS is working to learn more information.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
Emergency vehicles from the police, fire department and airport security are parked on the apron of Frankfurt Airport, where two activists have taped themselves up. Several demonstrators had forced their way onto the airport grounds early in the morning and stuck themselves there. As a result, air traffic was temporarily suspended. It has since been partially resumed. Arne Dedert/dpa

Police searched the homes of members of the Last Generation climate protest group in Berlin following disruptive actions at several airports in Germany, a police spokesman told dpa on Thursday.

Last Generation said searches were also carried out in Freiburg, Halle, Leipzig and Mannheim. In total, homes of "peaceful protesters" were searched, and DNA samples were taken at eight locations in Germany, the climate group said.

The measures are being taken "at the instigation and on the application of the Frankfurt public prosecutor's office," the Berlin police spokesman said. He did not provide any further details and referred to the public prosecutor's office in the state of Hesse, where Frankfurt is located.

According to the climate group, the raid affected the eight members of Last Generation who were involved in a disruptive protest at Frankfurt Airport on July 25.

The demonstrators stopped operations at the airport for several hours with some members gluing themselves to the runways. According to previous statements from the police in Frankfurt, four men, two women and two non-binary individuals aged between 20 and 44 took part in the protest.

A German airport group offered to hold talks with Last Generation on Thursday, saying their protests do not contribute to a solution.

In an open letter, the Airport Association (ADV) acknowledged that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of modern times.

The association said it wanted to inform climate activists about the latest climate policy and measures airports are taking, in a conversation. The ADV also seeks to discuss the impact of runway blockades on airport safety, it said.

The offer comes after Last Generation activists managed to breach security not only at Frankfurt, but also Cologne/Bonn and Leipzig/Halle airports. The activists managed to halt air traffic by gluing themselves to runways.
22-Year-Old Inherits $1.5 Million, Asks The Ramsey Show If She Should Get A Prenup, Dave Recommends Pre-Marriage Counseling

In a recent episode of "The Ramsey Show," 22-year-old Molly from Austin, TX, called in with a pressing question. She recently received a $1.5 million inheritance and plans to marry in November. She wanted to know if she should get a prenuptial agreement. Dave Ramsey, traditionally not an advocate of prenups, provided some insights that extend beyond the financial aspects of Molly's situation.

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Molly's significant inheritance is a sum of cash, stocks, and business notes from her grandfather's business. Before that, she only had $10,000, so she is relatively new to handling large sums of money. On the other hand, her fiance does not have significant financial resources and was planning to take over his parents' Mosquito Joe's franchise.

"Hes done some work to start it up, but Im just a little concerned that the inheritance has made him less  or its created less pressure for him to work," Molly said.

Ramsey immediately responded, "Thats a different question than Do I need a prenuptial? OK? That is, you need premarriage counseling."

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He emphasized, Money does not cause people to have problems. It exposes their problems. It magnifies the good and the bad in you and in him. He suggested that the real issue at hand was not the prenuptial but the relationship dynamics and underlying issues that needed to be addressed through intensive premarital counseling.

Rachel Cruze, co-host of The Ramsey Show, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of transitioning from a high school romance to a marriage. She recommended that Molly and her fiance seek professional counseling to address their concerns and prepare for the significant life changes ahead.

Ramsey did acknowledge that prenups can be beneficial in certain situations. He explained, "The reason I would tell you yes on a prenuptial is not because of what youre concerned about with him. Its because any time there is a great disparity, like a huge pile of money like youve got versus no money like hes got, it brings out weirdness in the extended family."

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He elaborated that a prenuptial could help manage the potential influence of the extended family on Molly's fiance and help set clear boundaries regarding her inheritance. However, he stressed that while a prenuptial can be helpful in her situation, it is not a way to "fix" her future spouse, nor is it a solution to relationship issues.

Daves advice draws attention to the broader implications of financial disparities in relationships and the importance of addressing these issues head-on. Money can exacerbate and create new problems, making open communication and professional guidance an important step.

In light of this discussion, it's wise for couples facing similar situations to seek comprehensive financial and relationship advice. Roughly 73% of married or cohabitating Americans experience relationship tension from money decisions. Ramsey's advice of speaking with a counselor can help couples navigate how finances impact their relationships and find the best ways to resolve money-related concerns.

Consulting a financial advisor can be invaluable for personalized advice tailored to financial concerns, ensuring that your financial strategies align with your long-term goals.

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(FOX40.COM)  The Sacramento Police Department is looking for the suspect who fled a shooting Wednesday morning.

According to police, officers responded to a report of a shooting near Wah Avenue and 27th Street.

Police said the officers found a man with at least one gunshot wound. The man was taken to the hospital.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at RealityCheck@kcstar.com.

Republican office-holders blasted Kansas Citys Democratic mayor when he told Bloomberg News in April that the city would welcome an influx of new immigrants with work permits to boost the areas economy.

We need a lot more employees, Quinton Lucas said. If there are people who are willing and able to work, then I believe that there could be a place for them.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey pounced, claiming the mayors remarks were a reflection of the Biden administrations radically progressive agenda. Then like others, he falsely accused Lucas of promoting illegal immigration.

Also joining in was Mike Kehoe, the states lieutenant governor who this week won a Republican primary for governor where immigration was a central issue. He called Lucas invitation crazy.

But Lucas was merely restating the views of the Greater Kansas City Building & Construction Trades Council and the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, which has a long-running campaign aimed at encouraging more immigration to help the local economy called Welcoming KC.

Why? Because the region needs more workers, especially construction workers to help support a building boom that continues unabated, says Ralph Oropeza, business manager for the building and construction trades council who was born in this country to immigrant parents.

I think we have over $50 billion worth of work on the books right now to go into Kansas City, in our metro, not just Kansas City, he said, referring to both public and private projects. And so, how are we going to do that, you know? I mean, theres not a lot of people lining up to want to do construction, right?

Skilled trades jobs for electricians, carpenters and plumbers can be filled with union workers who travel from city to city, he said. But its a different story for jobs requiring fewer skills that the industry relies on to get roads, bridges and buildings built.

Its really hard to line up and want to do cement mason work or block layer work or roofing work or just general labor work, and so they need help, Oropeza said.

Rather than back down in response to the anti-immigrant rhetoric that grows ever more heated in this fractious political year, Lucas and the Kansas City Council have committed themselves to developing multiple pro-immigrant initiatives. While lauded by some key business leaders, the efforts have also created some confusion and controversy, with some accusing the city of becoming a sanctuary city while others say the steps dont go nearly far enough to truly help those newly arriving to the area.

World Cups impact

For more than a year prior to the uproar over his comments, Lucas got almost no pushback for promoting initiatives to help immigrant workers assimilate in the area.

He has also long supported efforts aimed at welcoming visitors from all over the globe, which is especially important now as Kansas City prepares to host six mens World Cup matches two summers from now.

Its especially important we foster a welcoming and inclusive community ahead of the World Cup, when thousands of people from all over the world, from different cultures and ethnicities, will be traveling to our community for the first time, Lucas spokeswoman Jazzlyn Johnson said.

As we continue to build international relationships, the World Cup will be their first impression of our community and its vital we ensure they feel welcome and are able to move around and seek services around our community easily, especially if they dont speak English.

But the sentiment hasnt come without its share of pushback.

At a council committee meeting last spring, several residents testified in support of a resolution from Councilman Nathan Willett declaring that Kansas City was not going to become a so-called sanctuary city.

But Willetts measure died after Lucas stressed that it was a meaningless gesture, because its already illegal for cities in Missouri to shield immigrants without legal status from the enforcement of immigration laws.

While the citys state-controlled police department does not proactively enforce federal immigration laws, it is compelled to cooperate with state and federal agencies and officials on matters pertaining to enforcement of state and federal laws governing immigration.

Alongside Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and Missouri Governor Mike Parson, right, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas spoke about the importance of welcoming immigrants at a news conference last year regarding FIFA World Cup 2026 games in Kansas City.

We are welcoming to everyone

Earlier this year, the council ordered the creation of an Office of Language Access, which will make it easier for those who speak little or no English to use city services. With an annual budget of $900,000, that office is now hiring staff while many of the citys public documents are already being translated into multiple languages online with the click of a mouse.

We can say that were going to be a welcoming city until the cows come home, Councilman Jonathan Duncan said when the ordinance creating that office was passed earlier this year. But this is real action that shows that we are welcoming to everyone regardless of the language you speak.

Separately, the Mayors Commission for New Americans, which Lucas appointed last fall, is working on a report that will suggest how another new department, the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, will operate once it, too, is up and running.

What it should look like, how it should be staffed, what issues it should care about? are the questions the commission wants answers to, commission chair Bridget Romero said at a recent fact-finding meeting at the North-East Branch of the Kansas City Public Library.

Access to affordable housing, protections from unscrupulous landlords and fair wages were at the top of the list among the immigrants who gave testimony that night.

An immigrant without legal status from Mexico named Laura told the commission through an interpreter that she and her family have struggled to find decent places to live during the five years they have resided in the United States.

When we first arrived we would live in some of the cheapest apartments we could find, she said. There were six of us in a two-bedroom apartment and we paid $700 a month sharing this space with rats and cockroaches.

Others described the difficulties that language barriers present in accessing health care and the need for affordable legal help in their asylum cases and other matters.

Lisandra Rodriguez, a staffer at Della Lamb Community Services, the second largest refugee resettlement agency in the area, said many of the immigrants she works with have professional credentials and degrees earned overseas that arent recognized here, causing hardship.

I have a lot of my clients that are engineers, doctors, nurses, psychologists that I literally almost cry because I know there are places that can benefit from them, she said. And because we cant validate them, they cant get the job.

How the citys new immigrant and refugee services office will be able to help with that is unclear, but the chamber of commerce supports licensing and recredentialing for immigrants and refugees who have credentials from outside the United States.

Chamber of commerce support

Thats one of the goals in a report the chamber published four years ago that both inspired Lucas remarks to Bloomberg and a number of public policies growing out of the reports celebration of the regions growing diversity.

Welcoming KC, which is both the reports title and the name of the pro-immigrant advocacy group that sprung from it, was the product of 18 months of work by 40 local organizations whose efforts were supported by the chamber.

Its main message was that the Kansas City region needed more immigrants and refugees to help fill jobs and grow the economy.

There is a workforce shortage in Greater Kansas City, Joe Reardon, chamber president and former mayor of Kansas City, Kansas, wrote in the reports introduction.

Thats why the KC Chamber and the members of Welcoming KC are working to make KC a designated welcoming city. We know by using all the assets across our entire community, we can welcome immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers to grow the regions globally competitive workforce.

The report noted that the immigrant population here has grown at a much faster rate than the general population overall. According to the Welcoming KC report, the number of recent immigrants in the region stood at 33,000 in 1990. By 2018 it was 150,000 and growing.

Without the contributions of our immigrant neighbors, the city will not continue to grow, said Greg Valdovino, who co-chaired the committee that drafted the Welcoming KC report and serves on the mayors New Americans Commission.

At the library meeting in July, Valdovino said that he, too, is an immigrant and understands the need to help people who arrive here from other countries in need of support.

My family immigrated to Kansas City, when I was just a young kid. We moved from Mexico to the United States. And it was through the services of the community where we live that really helped us acclimate to the country, he said.

Ongoing gaps

While he appreciates that sentiment, the mayors invitation for workers to come here and the citys new initiatives in support of that, Trinidad Raj Molina worries that Kansas City does not have enough support services in place to accommodate a surge in immigrant workers.

Between the lack of emergency housing for newcomers and an immigration court that rejects more than 80% of asylum claims from refugees seeking permanent legal status, Kansas City is not as welcoming as its leaders would like to think, says Molina, accompaniment coordinator at Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation.

The city tries to get people to come here to a place where theyre not going to have a great chance winning asylum, he said.

While he has no statistics to rely on, Molina says hes noticed a surge in asylum seekers coming to Kansas City this summer on the promise that its a welcoming community only to feel disappointed.

Its like, every week right now, when they get off at the Greyhound, theyre on the streets, he said. And they feel misled, because they thought theyd heard there was housing here. And it turns out, theres no infrastructure here.

While it may be under construction, he said, theres clearly a long way to go.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy. (Photos viaJennifer Shutt, States Newsroom and Sheehy campaign)

Montanas Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy slightly leads Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in the race and has picked up more undecided voters than the three-term incumbent during the past five months, but the contest is still within the margin of error, according to a new Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey of 1,000 likely voters conducted this week.

The poll, conducted Aug. 5-6 and released Thursday morning, is also the first conducted in Montana since Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee, and shows she trails Republican former President Donald Trump in Montana by 15 percentage points in both a head-to-head matchup and when third parties are accounted for.

The survey shows that there is a wide split between men and women in Montana in terms of who they plan to support in the Senate race, that Harris has quickly garnered the favor of college-educated voters over Trump and is more favorable to voters than President Joe Biden, and that Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte maintains a neutral approval rating.

Emerson College Polling/The Hill has conducted surveys of Montana voters last October, in March this year, and now Aug. 5-6. The most recent poll is the first from the group to show Sheehy with any lead in the race against Tester.

The Bozeman businessman now leads Tester 48% to 46%, with just 5% of voters undecided, but within the 3% margin of error. In the March poll, following Rep. Matt Rosendales departure from the Republican primary, Tester led Sheehy 44% to 42%, with 14% of respondents undecided. Last October, Tester led Sheehy 39% to 35%, with 21% undecided.

Women support Tester over Sheehy 53% to 41% in the survey, while men support Sheehy over Tester 56% to 40%.

The graphic shows the changes in polling between Sheehy and Tester done by Emerson College Polling and The Hill since last October. (Image courtesy Emerson College Polling/The Hill)

Emerson College Polling Executive Director Spencer Kimball said the poll shows more undecided voters have recently been choosing to support Sheehy over Tester.

The share of undecided voters has decreased from 14% to 5% as November draws closer, and Sheehy has benefitted with a six-point increase in support, while Testers support has only increased by two points, Kimball said in a statement.

Gianfortes approval rating remains virtually tied, at 41% who said they approve of the job hes doing as governor compared to 40.7% who disapprove of his work. Eighteen percent of respondents were undecided, according to the survey. But it did not include questions about Gianfortes matchup this November against Democrat Ryan Busse and Libertarian Kaiser Leib.

The economy is the most important issue facing Montana, according to 40% of the people polled. Coming in behind that were housing affordability (27%), threats to democracy (10%), immigration (6%), healthcare (4.5%), abortion access (4.3%), and education (2.5%).

In a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, Trump leads Harris 55% to 40% in Montana, and among the 5% of undecided voters who were polled, there is a 50-50 split between the candidates.

When accounting for those leaning undecided voters, Trump leads Harris in Montana 57.5% to 42.5%, according to the survey. And when factoring in third-party candidates like Robert Kennedy Jr., Trump leads Harris 53.5% to 39%, while Kennedy received 4.6% in the poll. Three other candidates had one respondent each say they would support them.

About 55.5% of respondents voted for Trump in 2020 and about 39.5% voted for Biden, which mirrors Trumps 16-point victory in Montana that year. Trumps margin over Harris of 15 percentage points is similar.

But Harris favorability is better than Bidens approval ratings among those surveyed. About 31% of respondents said they approve of the job Biden is doing as president, compared to 60% who disapprove.

For Harris, 42% of people surveyed have a somewhat or very favorable view of her, compared to 57% who have a somewhat or very unfavorable view of the vice president.

About 55% of respondents have a favorable view of Trump, compared to 45% who view him unfavorably, according to the poll.

Kimball said since March, Trumps support has fallen by a percentage point, while Harris improved by 5 percentage points over where Biden stood in March and changed the support of voters with college degrees.

Harris has picked up ground among women voters  47% support Harris compared to 40% who supported Biden, while Trump maintains around 61% support among male voters, Kimball said. Voters with college degrees have also flipped; in March, they broke for Trump by seven points, now breaking for Harris by seven.

U.S. Senate polls conducted in Montana since June have found largely either a statistical tie between Sheehy and Tester or a slight lead for Sheehy, while Trump had maintained a lead over Biden of at least 16% until he dropped out of the race, according to a FiveThirtyEight roundup of polls.

Trump is set to campaign alongside Sheehy at a rally in Bozeman on Friday night after not campaigning for most of the week since Harris picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate. He is expected to host a news conference Thursday afternoon in Florida.

The survey was conducted Aug. 5-6 with a sample of 1,000 likely voters weighted by gender, education, race, age, party affiliation and region based on 2024 voter registration and turnout modeling, according to the firms. The data was collected via cell phone polling and an online voter panel, and the margin of error is 3% with a 95% confidence interval.
Portland-area Fred Meyer workers will vote on whether to authorize strike

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Portland-area Fred Meyer staff are planning to vote on whether to authorize a strike against the grocery chain.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 announced on Wednesday that the affected employees will begin casting their votes Tuesday, Aug. 13.

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The union consists of over 35,000 workers in Oregon, Southwest Washington and Idaho, including 4,500 members who work at Fred Meyer. Although a yes vote wouldnt immediately launch a strike for all employees, it would allow union leaders to call a strike if they fail to reach a deal with the company.

UFCW 555 alleged Fred Meyer has committed multiple unfair labor practices.

Fred Meyer continues to violate the law and their commitments made to Local 555, President Dan Clay said, in part, in a statement. The most outrageous examples include refusing to provide essential information for current negotiations and refusing to process grievances, despite a longstanding history of doing so over the many decades between Fred Meyer and Local 555.

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According to Clay, the union has already filed a federal lawsuit urging the company to adhere to the terms of its contract.

Local 555 will continue negotiating with the grocery chain on Aug. 14 and 15.

In a statement, Fred Meyer spokesperson Tiffany Sanders said the company is actively engaged in the negotiations. She also said leaders are confident that the unions allegations against the company will be unsubstantiated.

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We are committed to continuing negotiations in good faith and encourage the union to do the same on behalf of our dedicated associates, Sanders added. Our goal is to ensure our hardworking associates receive fair compensation, industry-leading healthcare, and a secure pension for their retirement. We value their contributions and are focused on rewarding them.

The union has not selected a date for the potential strike.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  The audit for 2024 Primary Election has started across the Sunflower State.

KSNT 27 News was there as the State began the formal process on Wednesday, Aug. 7. Election workers randomly selected races to audit in each of the states 105 counties. That includes one federal, one statewide and one local race in each county. This process requires counting the votes by hand, regardless of the method of voting, in one% of all precincts.

Whitney Tempel, the Kansas Secretary of States Director of Communications, told 27 News about the next steps in the process.

Emporia to host video game tournament at the Lyons Den

We receive that information now that we are doing, Tempel said. Well send it to the counties and then from there, the counties will draw their 1% of their precincts to be audited.

The audit is done after every election to promote the reliability of results. Race results will be official by Sept. 1.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Claim:

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris wore a $62,000 necklace while recording a video in which she asked people to donate to her 2024 presidential campaign.

Rating:

Rating: Research In Progress

Context:

While it's true that a Tiffany & Co. necklace that resembles the one worn by Harris exists and is listed for purchase at $62,000, and Vogue at one point reported that she was wearing a Tiffany & Co. necklace, there was no definitive evidence to confirm, nor deny, that Harris was wearing the $62,000 version of the gold chainlink necklace. We're waiting to hear back from Tiffany & Co. and Harris' camp, and will update this article if we receive a response.

On Aug. 1, 2024, an X user posted a claim that U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris  the Democratic Party's nominee for the 2024 U.S. presidential election  was seen wearing a necklace worth more than $60,000 in a video soliciting donations for her campaign.

The X post, which had garnered more than 10.5 million views as of this writing, read:

Kamala Harris allegedly got caught wearing a $62,000 necklace while asking people to donate. This image has been surfacing on social media. What do you think?

The post included a split-screen image, with a screenshot of the video on the left purportedly showing Harris wearing the expensive jewelry and a screen grab on the right showing a Tiffany & Co. website page where the alleged necklace was available for purchase.

(DramaAlert/X)

In sum, social media users spreading the claim suggested the necklace was an 18-karat, yellow-gold piece from Tiffany & Co.'s HardWear line, specifically the "Bold Graduated Link Necklace," which cost $62,000.

While it's true that a Tiffany & Co. necklace that resembles the one worn by Harris exists and is listed for purchase at $62,000, and Vogue at one point reported that she was wearing a Tiffany & Co. necklace, there was no definitive evidence to confirm, nor deny, that Harris was wearing the $62,000 version of the gold chainlink necklace while soliciting for campaign donations.

Snopes reached out to Harris' team asking to establish whether social media users had correctly identified the necklace as the piece from Tiffany & Co.'s website, but the campaign did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

We also reached out to Tiffany & Co.'s public relations office to see if the company could confirm, or deny, whether the in-question necklace was its product. We and will update this article if we receive a response.

What We Know About the Necklace

The screenshot on the left of the split-screen image was taken from a video posted on Harris' Facebook account on July 25, 2024. The caption read: "Donate now. Election Day will be here before we know it. Can I count on you to make a donation today while there's still time?"

https://www.facebook.com/KamalaHarris/videos/803155411943719

In the 35-second video, Harris asked for donations "today" to support her 2024 presidential election campaign: "Not tomorrow, not next week. Today is the day I hope you will donate to support our movement. Because the truth is, time is running out. We're in the final lap of this race, and Election Day will be here before you and I know it."

That was not the first time Harris wore what appeared to be the necklace in question. On June 27, 2024, she wore the piece (or one that looked similar to it) during a broadcast interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper:

She also wore the style months earlier, on March 7, 2024, during President Joe Biden's State of the Union address. In March, the same day that the State of the Union (SOTU) took place in Washington, D.C., fashion and style magazine Vogue reported the necklace Harris wore during the SOTU was indeed a Tiffany & Co. piece. Vogue's reporting did not specify the necklace's style or price.

It was unknown whether the necklace Harris wore at the SOTU  a piece Vogue said was Tiffany & Co.  was the same piece she wore in the in-question video soliciting donations for her presidential campaign. From photos and still images of the video, they looked similar, if not nearly identical.

The Tiffany & Co. product is not the only necklace with the same chain-linked design, however. Snopes found similar-looking pieces through a Google search using the Tiffany & Co. description of "Bold Graduated Link Necklace." For example, an 18-karat, gold U-link chain hardware necklace is for sale for a fraction of the Tiffany & Co. price on various websites. Another such necklace retails for $35:

(1oaks)

Despite Vogue reporting in early March that Harris wore a Tiffany & Co. necklace that looked similar to the one seen in the July 25 video, many facts were unconfirmed, including whether they were the same necklace. If so, it was also unknown whether they were purchased from Tiffany & Co. for $62,000. Therefore, until further information is provided by Harris' team or Tiffany & Co., we have rated this claim as "Research in Progress." We will update this report as more information becomes available.

Snopes has previously reported on rumors about eye-catching jewelry, including whether rapper Ice Spice wore a "satanic" cross at the 2024 Super Bowl and the false claim that Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska spent $1,100,000 on Cartier jewelry during a visit to the U.S.

Sources:

- YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMBmrW6LzV0. Accessed 6 Aug. 2024.

"Bidens Report Nearly $620K in Income, Harris and Her Husband Report More than $450K." Fox 59, 16 Apr. 2024, https://fox59.com/news/national-world/bidens-report-nearly-620k-in-income-harris-and-her-husband-report-more-than-450k/.

Castro, Danilo. "Kamala Harris Net Worth, Salary, Cars and Property Details 2024." CA Knowledge, 24 July 2024, https://www.caknowledge.org/kamala-harris-net-worth-salary/.

Cooper, Leah Faye. "At the State of the Union, the Fashion Spoke Volumes." Vogue, 8 Mar. 2024, https://www.vogue.com/article/at-the-state-of-the-union-the-fashion-spoke-volumes.

"Did Kamala Harris Wear $62,000 Necklace While Asking For Donations? Video Sparks Row." Times Now, 5 Aug. 2024, https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/did-kamala-harris-wear-62000-necklace-while-asking-for-donations-video-sparks-row-article-112274074.

"Did Kamala Harris Wear $62,000 Tiffany Necklace While Asking for Donations?" The Times of India, 5 Aug. 2024. The Economic Times - The Times of India, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/did-kamala-harris-wear-62000-tiffany-necklace-while-asking-for-donations/articleshow/112292968.cms.

MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/did-kamala-harris-wear-62000-tiffany-necklace-while-asking-for-donations/ar-AA1ogogX?ocid=BingNewsVerp&apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1. Accessed 6 Aug. 2024.

Tiffany HardWear Bold Graduated Link Necklace in Yellow Gold | Tiffany & Co. US. https://www.tiffany.com/jewelry/necklaces-pendants/tiffany-hardwear-bold-graduated-link-necklace-72741978/. Accessed 6 Aug. 2024.
US security officials are on alert for possible retaliatory attacks against Democrats following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, according to a new intelligence report obtained by CNN.

The threat assessment  prepared jointly by the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and other agencies, including local police in Illinois  outlines various potential security concerns surrounding the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

The FBI and DHS remain concerned about the potential for follow-on or retaliatory acts of violence following the 13 July 2024 assassination attempt on (Trump) particularly given that individuals in some online communities have threatened, encouraged, or referenced acts of violence in response to the attempted assassination, the assessment says, noting agencies have not identified any specific and credible threats.

Despite several conspiracy theories that appeared online after the attack blaming Democrats, there is no evidence the shooter was motivated by politics. A review of public records suggests he may have had divergent political leanings, and registered to vote as a Republican while also making a small donation to a Democratic-leaning group.

While the motive of the gunman who fired on Trump remains a mystery to investigators, the bulletin says politically and socially divisive topics have prompted violence in the past, and adds that some extremists will view political and social tensions as an opportunity to use or promote violence to further their ideological goals.

The intelligence assessment is common for major gatherings deemed national security special events by the DHS secretary, and it includes many of the security concerns outlined in a joint report federal law enforcement issued last month ahead of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

The United States is in a heightened threat environment, and regularly updates law enforcement and other partners, DHS told CNN in a statement Thursday. There is no verified, specific reporting to indicate a threat to the Democratic National Convention at this time, but we note the risk that the event may be viewed as a target. We urge the public to stay vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activity to local law enforcement.

The Democratic convention kicks off August 19 and is expected to draw over 50,000 visitors to downtown Chicago, including numerous high-profile individuals such as President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and a host of elected leaders nationwide.

It starts in the wake of numerous recent troubling security incidents involving mass gatherings of people worldwide, including the attack on Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, that killed an audience member and wounded others, including the former president. That incident prompted bipartisan criticism of the Secret Service and the failure to properly secure a building near the large gathering used by the gunman to fire down into the crowd.

On Wednesday, authorities in Austria announced the arrest of three suspected ISIS sympathizers who were allegedly planning a suicide attack on a Taylor Swift concert. Security officials believe the individuals were radicalized online, and concerns over event safety prompted the cancellation of three Swift concerts.

In their intelligence assessment for the Democratic National Convention, the FBI and DHS say the most significant terrorism threat facing the event stems from extremists including lone offenders, who engage in violence to advance a broad range of anti-government, political, racial, ethnic, religious, societal, or personal ideological beliefs and grievances. The agencies note that groups like al Qaeda and ISIS have encouraged attacks against the West and leveraged social media to amplify their messaging to inspire attacks in the Homeland.

I think everyone has a sense that the threats are real. This is not an academic exercise that were running through. We are planning for real-world possibilities, Jeff Burnside, the Secret Service coordinator for the Democratic convention, said previously about security preparations.

Middle East tensions following last years Hamas terrorist attack on Israel could also fuel public safety concerns at the upcoming convention in Chicago, the assessment states.

Since the October 7 attack, law enforcement has observed an increase in threats to Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities in the US, including reports of physical assaults, bomb threats, and online calls for mass casualty attacks, the threat assessment says. As violent rhetoric and misinformation associated with the conflict are shared online, we continue to be concerned about the potential for reportable targeted violence motivated by grievances exacerbated by the conflict.

As CNN has reported, recent demonstrations across the country against the Biden administrations support for Israels war in Gaza have raised the specter of a replay of the 1968 Democratic convention, which saw violent clashes between Chicago police and anti-Vietnam War protesters.

With the start of the convention just over a week away, law enforcement agencies in Chicago have been holding drills on a wide range of potential scenarios  including violent protests, extracting individuals from hostile crowds, medical emergencies and more.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Sean Lyngaas, John Miller and Casey Tolan contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A bill that would give local governments the power to fire library board members will go before Alabama lawmakers again in 2025.

SB 6, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliot, R-Josephine, gives either county commissioners or city council members the authority to appoint members to the library board for four year terms and to terminate current library board members by a two-thirds vote.

It was a priority for the Republican Caucus last year, Elliott said during an interview Tuesday. It is listed on the priority sheet in the Senate, and I think it is primed to get passed this year.

The bill also requires that each library board submit the names of their membership and provide a report describing the library materials that board members reviewed or removed from the collection to the Governors Office, the Speaker of the House, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

The Autauga - Prattville Public Library in Prattville, Ala., on Tuesday March 19, 2024.

Elliot filed the bill last year as SB 10. It passed the Senate and was approved by the County and Municipal Government Committee in the Alabama House but failed to make it through the full House of Representatives.

Free speech groups have criticized the bill.

This is just another extension of the bad-faith attacks on Alabama residents who do not conform to Chris Elliott, (Rep.) Susan DuBose, Clean Up Alabama and Moms for Libertys way of thinking, said Krysti Shallenberger, a member of Read Freely Alabama, a group who opposes the legislation. Our public libraries are institutions that promote intellectual freedom and librarians are trained to curate content from a neutral viewpoint.

More: Alabama bill would extend legal protections for nursing mothers at work

County commissions or city council members without a library may contract with another jurisdiction to establish and maintain a joint library and determine the size and make up of the board and assign an authority to oversee the board members. However, they currently cannot terminate board members voluntarily with a two-thirds vote.

Elliotts is the second piece of legislation that was prefiled dealing with libraries. Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs, has refiled a 2024 bill that expands the definition of sexual conduct to include presentations at schools and public libraries.

Both legislators are requesting their colleagues consider their proposals once again, but this time much earlier than in the past. Elliott first filed his bill roughly a month before the start of the 2024 session while Mooney introduced his bill after the session had already started.

Library boards have become a central point of dispute over conservative attacks on content in public libraries and access to books. In Alabama, a battle over the composition of the Autauga-Prattville Public Library began in March 2023 after a parent objected to a book in the librarys collection that had inclusive pronouns.

More: Autauga-Prattville Public Library settles claim with former director

Two organizations formed amid the controversy. One group, Clean Up Alabama, has urged both local and state officials to place additional restrictions to prevent minors from borrowing materials that members believe are inappropriate. They lobbied the Autauga County Commission to appoint board members largely sympathetic to their cause. The new board members implemented the new policies in the spring.

Clean Up Alabama has also managed to convince state leaders, particularly Gov. Kay Ivey, to recommend changes to the administrative code of the Alabama Public Library Service, the agency responsible for distributing state funding to libraries.

The APLS has since disassociated from the American Library Association and adopted language within its administrative code requiring local libraries to implement policies that restrict library access to minors for materials with content pertaining to sexual orientation, gender identity and sexual conduct.

More: Two prefiled Alabama immigration bills draw criticism

Another group, Read Freely Alabama, formed in opposition to the new restrictions and filed a lawsuit in May to challenge the constitutionality of the changes at the Prattville library. Members have spoken out against the code changes to APLS and have requested that lawmakers intervene on their behalf to return the APLS rules to status quo.

Supporting them is the Alabama Library Association (ALLA), whose leaders have also opposed the challenges to the materials in the collection.

There is no trust anymore, said ALLA President Craig Scott during an interview Tuesday. Sen. Elliott doesnt trust libraries to run as they have run for decades and eons.

Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, an independent nonprofit website covering politics and policy in state capitals around the nation.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Prefiled bill would let local officials fire library board members
Organizers said on Wednesday evening that three Taylor Swift's concerts in Vienna this week were canceled after Austrian authorities announced arrests over a planned terrorist attack on the events.

"With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone's safety," the event organizer Barracuda Music said on Instagram.

Earlier Wednesday, Austrian authorities said they had arrested two people suspected of plotting attacks on the concerts. A 19-year-old suspect was arrested Wednesday morning in Ternitz, south of Vienna, Austrian news agency APA quoted Franz Ruf, public security director of Austria's interior ministry, as saying. The other was arrested in Vienna Wednesday afternoon.

Swift was scheduled to play on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as part of her widely popular Eras Tour. An estimated 170,000 fans would have attended the three concerts, according to APA.
Russian authorities have rejected Anadolu Efes move to buy Anheuser-Busch InBevs stake in their Russian joint venture.

A statement from the Efes Pilsen producer today (8 August) indicated it had received a notification on 7 August indicating the Russian regulatory authorities have not approved the current structure of the transaction.

AB InBev's statement, also issued today, noted that approvals were not obtained.

Anadolu Efes said that it would now be reviewing the authorities' decision together with the Leffe brewer and that further updates will be duly announced.

Both companies confirmed that in the meantime, the venture would continue to be managed by Anadolu Efes.

Anadolu Efes declined to speak further on the issue. Just Drinks has also approached AB InBev for comment.

News of the rejection first emerged on Tuesday (6 August) from the Russian newspaper RBC.

A government commission, chaired by finance minister Anton Siluanov had been said to have stopped the deal from being passed in a meeting on 20 June.

Sources close to the matter did not specify the reasons for the refusal to RBC.

In an official statement at the time, Anadolu Efes said it had received no official response as such.

Agreed last December, the deal would see Efes Brewing International, a subsidiary of Anadolu Efes, snap up AB InBevs 50% share of their AB InBev Efes venture.

When the deal was first agreed, AB InBev said no amount will be paid on closing but added: Any payments received by ABI after completion will be subject to additional regulatory approvals and are expected to be not material.

In a separate filing, Anadolu Efes indicated a valuation had been set at between $1.1bn and $1.3bn. According to Bloomberg, the valuation had been set by KPMG following a request from Anadolu Efes.

AB InBev and Anadolu Efes formed their joint venture in 2018. The business has 11 breweries in Russia, selling beer under brands including Klinskoe and Spaten.

In April 2022, weeks after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Hoegaarden brewer announced its plan to sell its stake in the venture and the beginning of negotiations with Anadolu Efes. In light of the talks, production and sales of AB InBev's flagship brand Budweiser, marketed as Bud in Russia, ceased.

AB InBev recorded a $1.1bn non-cash impairment charge in the non-underlying share of results of associates as part of its results for the first quarter of 2022.

"AB InBev, Anadolu Efes confirm Russian block of JV stake sale" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand.

Story continues







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A new pharmacy contract is expected to save the state money, but not nearly as much as officials had hoped. Photo by Getty Images.

An effort to save the state hundreds of millions in employee prescription costs will yield only modest amounts for the foreseeable future, Maryland Budget Secretary Helene Grady said Wednesday.

Her comments came at a Board of Public Works meeting at which the three-member board unanimously approved a contract that will pay San Diego-based MedImpact Healthcare Systems more than $1.3 billion to administer pharmacy benefits for state employees, retirees and welfare benefits plans.

The contract comes with two optional two-year extensions that could bring the full seven-year agreement to more than $2.4 billion.

The contract was bid under a reverse auction process in which bidders compete against each other to provide what the state requested. The winning bidder is typically the one who is willing to accept the lowest amount.

Similar processes have been used in other states to lower the costs of prescription plans for government employees.

In Maryland, however, the auction attracted only two qualified bidders.

Maryland Budget Secretary Helene Grady. File photo by Bryan P. Sears.

When compared to the current contract, we estimate the MedImpact contract is expected to save the state modest amounts in the initial years, starting with about a million dollars in calendar year 2025, $12 million in calendar year 2026, and $22 million in calendar year 2027, Grady told the board. The projected savings increase in the outer years of the contract term.

The current contract holder, CVS Caremark Health, filed an appeal with the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals when it failed to retain the contract. But last week, the contract board dismissed the appeal, not on the merits of the case but because Caremark filed its appeal late.

State law allows for an appeal to be filed within 10 days of a decision. The deadline includes Saturdays but not Sundays or legal holidays. Caremark officials said they initially believed there was precedent that would let them file on Monday.

Obviously we regret that decision at this point, but it was in our effort to ensure we had the most detailed and accurate information to present to the board of appeals, said Cheryl Byron, vice president of sales and account services for CVS Caremark.

Byron asked the board to remand the contract for a rebid.

We believe that the states rollout of its new reverse auction procurement process led to a situation in which competitive bids were not objectively compared to each other, Byron said. There is too much of a stake for the contract to be rushed through when so many questions remain.

Byron said her company was prepared to continue the current contract but offer lower prices contained in their bid for the new contract.

Our offer, as I indicated, was highly competitive, and were prepared to offer  our first year, price points that would provide the state with more than $100 million in savings in value in the first year, Byron told the board.

Comptroller Brooke Lierman (D) said she was concerned that Maryland, which used the reverse auction process for the first time since the law was passed in 2020, had not maximized the potential savings.

Comptroller Brooke Lierman (D). File photo by Bryan P. Sears.

I do believe that the reverse auction process is the right process, Lierman said. Its yielded major savings in other states, like New Jersey, where they are projected to save about two-and-a-half billion dollars in drug spending over a certain number of years.

I think that the challenge here that I have  and that I hope will be remedied the next time we do this  is that we only have two bidders. You really just dont accrue the savings that theyre supposed to in a reverse auction when you only have two bidders, she said. And I dont even know that it totally fulfills the legislatures intent to utilize this aggressive reverse auction process to ensure the savings.

Lierman said she believes the state should attempt to rebid the contract at the end of the initial three-year term.

I dont think it should be a given that these renewal options will happen, she said. Its certainly not a given in my book, given that there are only two bidders.

Crossing Ts and dotting Is on port assistance

The board also approved an $800,000 modification to a contract intended to set up a system for issuing supplemental loan checks for federal workers affected by an anticipated government shutdown last fall and this spring. That never happened, but the program was converted this spring to administer payments to port workers after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

That shift concerned Lierman and another board member, Treasurer Dereck Davis (D).

Davis said he was fully on board with assisting port workers but questioned the mechanism, comparing it to a practice no longer used in the legislature in which a bill would be stripped and repurposed.

The attorney generals office ultimately told us that we couldnt continue doing that, that it was unconstitutional, said Davis. I use that to say that the vehicle that were using was originally for the federal shutdown, which was an emergency procurement, but nothing else between what were doing today and that are similar, other than it was just an emergency procurement.

Davis asked if state administrators sought an opinion from the Office of the Attorney General before moving ahead.

Maryland Treasurer Dereck Davis (D). Photo by Bryan P. Sears

So how confident are you all that this will hold up to scrutiny? Davis asked. We took a procurement contract that wasnt related to the Key Bridge, but the federal shutdown, and were basically stripping all of that out and putting this in, and then going forward without having to do a procurement.

Labor Deputy Secretary Jason Perkins-Cohen sidestepped the question, telling Davis he believed there were a lot of similarities between the port emergency and a potential government shutdown.

In both cases, were asking to build an externally facing portal for workers in the state of Maryland who didnt have the opportunity to work, through no fault of their own, Perkins-Cohen said. And in both cases, the expectation was that it would be of a relatively short duration, and that they would be able to go back to their jobs once that crisis was averted, whether it was a shutdown or the bridge, and that, because it was essentially the same overarching requirements, we thought it made sense.

The state sent out roughly 44,000 bridge relief checks totaling $55 million to affected workers and businesses, through various programs created after the March 26 collapse of the bridge that killed six people. Those payments include assistance to about 3,300 workers who were affected by the temporary closure of the port while crews worked to clear the federal shipping channel in the Patapsco River.

Even so, Lierman said the treasurer and I have had concerns about this particular contract over the last six months, and so I appreciate the challenging situation that the department found itself in and would just ask sort of in the future that we make sure that were crossing Ts and dotting Is with our AGs before doing this type of substitution.

Ultimately, Davis and Lierman joined Gov. Wes Moore (D) in approving the modified contract.

 This story was updated on Friday, Aug. 9, to correct Jason Perkins-Cohens title in the 26th paragaph. He is deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor.
The highway deck plaza/park proposed to be built over Interstate 10 in Downtown El Paso, tied to the planned expansion of the highway, would cost almost $207 million, a new study estimates.

The 8.5-acre plaza, smaller than initial plans, would go from Santa Fe to Kansas streets, and include spaces for parks, stores, restaurants, food trucks, other amenities, and possibly a 37,000 square-foot fieldhouse for sports, said Tracy Yellin, who oversees the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation.

The deck would be done in conjunction with the Texas Department of Transportations (TxDOT) planned $1.2 billion expansion and rebuilding of a 6.1-mile segment of Interstate 10, from Executive Center Boulevard to Copia Street.

The cost estimates and proposed designs from the recently completed $1.35 million study are important because those will help figure out how to pay for the project, said Yellin, chief executive officer of the Paso del Norte Community Foundation. It formed the Deck Plaza Foundation to help government agencies and private organizations develop the project.

Rendering of how proposed Downtown El Paso deck plaza/park over Interstate 10 may look.

Governments, donations may fund park

The idea is to get as much state and federal funding as possible and then fill funding gaps with a mixture of money from local government agencies and private funds raised by the Deck Plaza Foundation, Yellin said.

Joaquin Rodriguez, the citys director of grant funded programs, said in an email that the El Paso City Council and other local elected officials will ultimately have to decide if they want to move forward with this project by identifying sources of local funds to go along with possible state, federal, and private funding.

The Texas Department of Transportation does not provide funds for highway deck plazas. Dallas has one with others planned, and Houston and Austin have decks in planning stages, Yellin reported.

TxDOT would pay for the retaining walls necessary to support the deck, she said.

Rendering of what one park may look like in proposed Downtown El Paso deck plaza/park over Interstate 10. This is the so-calle City Gardens area between Santa Fe and Oregon streets in the proposed first phase.

$1.35M study proposes two phases

The costs, estimated in 2027 dollars, and the first renderings of how the plaza/park may look were released at a July 30 public meeting attended by more than 100 people, most of whom were excited about the proposed project, Rodriguez said.

The study was funded by a $900,000 federal grant and $450,000 in private funds raised by the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation. It was done by Santec, a global engineering and architectural firm based in Canada.

The study proposes possibly building the plaza deck in two phases. The first phase would be from Santa Fe to Mesa streets and cost an estimated $105.3 million. The second phase from Mesa to Kansas streets would cost an estimated $101.5 million.

A schematic drawing on how the proposed Downtown El Paso deck plaza/park over Interstate 10 may be designed.

The focal point of the proposed I-10 expansion is the sunken portion of the highway through the middle of Downtown, from Campbell to Santa Fe streets, which includes several street bridges, which will have to be demolished and remade. The deck plaza would go on a portion of that stretch.

Widening the sunken portion of the highway will result in TxDOT buying buildings in the area for demolition.

Successful Dallas deck park is model

The 12-year-old, 5.2-acre Klyde Warren Park deck in Dallas is a model for the El Paso project, Yellin said. It helped spur development in Downtown Dallas, she said.

The park is over the eight-lane Woodall Rodgers Freeway (Spur 366) in Downtown Dallas. It cost $112 million to build. It was funded with $56.7 million in government funds and $55.7 million in donations, according to the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation, which manages the park.

The park soon will undergo a $100 million expansion, including $60 million for a pavilion. It was picked as the fifth best city park in the 2024 USA Today 10 Best Readers Choice Awards.

Rendering of what so-called Backyard Games area between Mesa and Stanton streets may look in proposed Downtown El Paso deck plaza/park over Interstate 10.

Phoenix has deck park over I-10

If El Paso's highway deck plaza/park gets built, it won't be the first one over Interstate 10. The 32-acre Margaret T. Hance Park was built atop the I-10 tunnel in Downtown Phoenix more than 30 years ago.

A multi-phase, $100 million park revitalization project began in March 2020 and is being funded with government and private money, according to information on the city of Phoenix website.

More: Industrial space developer begins work on 23-acre office park in West El Paso

What's status of TxDOT's plan?

The Texas Transportation Commission has approved $388 million in state and federal funding for the first phase of the proposed I-10 expansion and is expected to approve another $112 million in funding at its Aug. 22 meeting, Jennifer Wright, a spokesperson for TxDOT's El Paso office, said in an email.

TxDOT is expected to release the project's final environmental impact statement, or EIS, in spring 2025.

TxDOT officials will present their recommended design for the project at the public hearing for the final EIS, Wright said.

The sunken portion of Interstate 10 in Downtown El Paso with several bridges, looking west from Campbell Street, where the proposed deck plaza/park would be built over an expanded highway.

TxDOT officials expect to complete property acquisitons needed for the project between 2025 and 2026, and start construction in 2025 with an estimated completion date in 2031, according to a TxDOT project update published in May 2024. Construction can begin before all properties are acquired because the projet may be phased, the report stated.

The proposed expansion has run into opposition from El Paso County Commissioner David Stout and the Sunset Heights Neighborhood Association. The El Paso County Commissioners Court in January 2023 sent a letter to TxDOT as part of the agency's environmental assessment process asking that two earlier alternatives for the project be considered. The City Council in March 2022 approved a resolution asking TxDOT to look at alternative designs for the expansion.

The agency had several public meetings to get comments on several proposed designs. Agency officials appear to be headed toward a design that would widen the highway and remake the sunken section of the highway in Downtown where the deck park/plaza is proposed.

Vic Kolenc may be reached at 915-546-6421; vkolenc@elpasotimes.com; @vickolenc on Twitter, now known as X.

Rendering of what so-called Multicultural Forum space may look in proposed Downtown deck plaza/park over Interstate 10.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Cost revealed for proposed Downtown El Paso deck plaza/park over I-10
CHIPPEWA COUNTY, Mich. (WJMN)  The Michigan Corrections Organization (MCO) has released a third list of incidents occurring inside an Upper Peninsula prison as the union continues to highlight dangers faced by prison guards amid statewide job vacancy issues.

The Corrections Officers working at the Chippewa Correctional Facility, a multi-level state prison, are suffering badly from the impacts of a severe staffing crisis, said a spokesperson for the MCO.

The Chippewa Correctional Facility houses mostly Level II prisoners, with approximately 1,800 beds available across multiple units. The prison also hosts one unit of Level IV prisoners and one unit of Level I prisoners, with 192 and 120 beds in each.

According to a spokesperson for the MCO, the vacancy rate there is now at 27%. Previously, the organization said the prisons in Baraga and Marquette counties were operating with vacancy rates above 30%.

In the Chippewa prison, the MCO said officers worked 1,948 overtime shifts, with over 50% of those being mandatorywhich means officers had to work 16 hour shifts multiple times per week, frequently on back-to-back days with no relief in sight, said the spokesperson.

Officers are exhausted and are missing time with their families, they need help from Michigans elected officials to find solutions to the years long staffing crisis, reads the latest report.

In the report sent to Local 3, over 17 fights were broken up by corrections officers, with some involving prisoners fighting with weapons. On July 6, the MCO reports an officer was punched in the face several times by a prisoner while in a Level II housing unit, suffering a fractured orbital bone.

Across the incidents, stun guns and tear gas were used several times.

This comes over a month after the president of the MCO said they sent an unanswered letter to Governor Whitmer asking for help from the National Guard to alleviate problems caused by low staffing.

Last week, U.P. legislators urged both immediate action from the leader of the Michigan Department of Corrections. We have an MDOC statement in response in our previous reporting.

For those who are interested, we have also made available the full MCO report on the Chippewa Correctional Facility.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJMN - UPMatters.com.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) has called for the resignation of a sheriff in his state following the killing of Sonya Massey in July after she called 911 for assistance.

I called for the sheriffs resignation because the sheriff has failed, Pritzker said at a bill signing Wednesday of Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell. He has failed to explain how he ended up hiring this deputy sheriff who has been fired from other departments. He failed to put forward reforms that clearly need to be made, training and other reforms. And, still, has failed to meet with the Massey family.

Pritzkers press office later said in an email to The Hill that the Illinois governor misspoke on the comment about the sheriffs deputy being fired from other departments.

What he meant to say was resigned from other departments, the office said.

Massey, a 38-year-old Black woman, could be seen in body camera footage being shot three times in her home by Sean Grayson, a Sangamon County sheriffs deputy. The incident sparked outrage among many, including Vice President Harris, who said that Massey deserved to be safe in a previous statement.

After she called the police for help, she was tragically killed in her own home at the hands of a responding officer sworn to protect and serve, Harris said. [Second gentleman Doug Emhoff] and I send strength and prayers to Sonyas family and friends, and we join them in grieving her senseless death.

The vice president also pushed for Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

Our thoughts are also with the communities across our nation whose calls for help are often met with suspicion, distrust, and even violence. The disturbing footage released yesterday confirms what we know from the lived experiences of so many  we have much work to do to ensure that our justice system fully lives up to its name, she said.

Pritzker called not meeting Masseys family outrageous at the Wednesday bill signing.

At a minimum, listen to them, Pritzker said. Hear them, and then, hopefully, take action.

Campbell said in an emailed statement to The Hill that he has requested to meet with the Massey family through intermediaries designated by the family four times.

I was overwhelmingly elected to lead the Sheriffs Office through both good times and bad, the sheriff wrote. I am fully prepared to continue leading my office and serving the residents of Sangamon County through this difficult period, ensuring we learn from this tragedy and work toward a better future.

In a separate email, the Sangamon County Sheriffs Office said that Grayson was not fired from a previous law enforcement job, which is verifiable through a review of his personnel file and documents and statements provided to Sangamon County by his previous employers.

Updated Aug. 8 at 12:40 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Taylor Swifts heavy carbon footprint from her private jet-setting lifestyle adds 8,293 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (CO 2e ) for 170 flights in just seven months. Thats according to Yard, a PR firm that crunched stats from the now-suspended Celebrity Jets page on X.com. Its over 500 times the yearly carbon footprint of most Americans for all activities.

Then theres rapper Jay-Z with 6,981 tons of CO 2e from 136 flights.

Not to be outdone, celebs like Kylie Jenner, Oprah Winfrey, Drake, and Floyd Mayweatheralong with billionaire Elon Musk and other wealthy eliteshop on their private jets for short-haul flights of 15 minutes or less because, well, a 45-minute car ride would just be too long.

While some of the super rich brag about all the trees theyve paid to be planted to offset their jets carbon emissionsa scam in most casesthe truth is that private jet impacts on the environment arent easily erased.

Environmental Impacts of Global Aviation

On a global basis, aviation as a whole contributes only 2.5% to carbon emissions fueling the climate crisis.Thats the equivalent of roughly one billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO 2e ) every year. Private jets contribute a fraction of that.

Yet, aviation is responsible for 4% of the global rise in temperature since pre-industrial times. How can this be if the CO 2e percentage is so small?

The reason is that aviation produces other gaseous pollutants that contribute to global heating. Water vapor exhaust from aircraftthose visible white sky streaks called contrailsis the major culprit. Plus, there are other air contaminants from aviation, like soot and sulfur aerosols, that harm the environment and human health.

Environmental Impacts of Private Jets

What makes the environmental impacts of private jets so pronounced is their disproportionate effect on carbon emissions. This means luxury jets produce more emissions per person compared to commercial flights carrying hundreds of peopleeven though commercial flights use more fuel per hour. Carbon emissions are 5-14 times greater for private jets per passenger compared to those attributable to commercial plane flyers.

Another way of putting it is that luxury jets emit roughly two tons of carbon dioxide during a single hour in the air. For comparison, the average person in the US causes roughly 16 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from all of their activities annually. Roughly half of them take to the skies at least once per year.

The disproportionate impact on the environment from private jets is also due to the extremely short distances traveled since most pollution is emitted at takeoff and landing. Flights of just seven miles have been documented, although most are a few hundred miles in length.

Considering all the airborne contaminants produced by aircraft, private jets are responsible for at least 10 times more pollutants than commercial planes per passenger and up to 50 times more than trains.

Private Jet Owners

The ultra-rich and famouscelebrities and CEOs, mostly older white men in banking, finance, or real estateown private jets, and theyre buying more and more of them. A recent report states the global private jet fleet grew a whopping 133% in just two decades from under 10K in 2000 to over 23,000 by mid-2022. Jet maker Honeywell Aerospace forecasts a 10% increase in sales for 2024 over last year. The US has more private jets than any other country with 69% of the global fleet.

Covid and Environmental Impacts from Private Jets

Fears of Covid transmission fueled the growth in private jet ownership. A 2022 study determined the number of private aviation flights rose 20% beginning in early 2020, resulting in a 23% increase in CO 2e emissions by private jets. This translates into just 1% of all people causing 50% of global aviation emissions.

Although total CO 2e emissions from private jets is relatively smallapproximately 1.3% of all transportation emissions in the USit is bound to increase over time. Unfortunately, since major international treaties, such as the Paris Agreement, exclude private jets from their consideration, the oversized impacts on global heating from luxury jets will continue unabated unless something changes.

Green Air Travel and Private Jets

Private jet owners could lead the way in green air travel if they spearheaded investments in carbon-free fuels like hydrogen, or in zero-emissions travel by electric jets. They certainly have the cash. But will they?

Lacking enforceable emissions regulations and given the abundance of cheap fossil fuels, its unlikely the ultra-rich will save the planet (and the rest of us) from climate apocalypse. As a report by the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) and the nonpartisan organization Patriotic Millionaires states, Considering the disproportionate emissions that private jets produce, it would be folly to ignore private aviation as a significant driver of the climate crisis. The US needs to pass policies to disincentivize the use of private jets.

For starters, a hefty jet fuel tax would help, but we need climate leaders in government to make that happen. Since one out of every six flights handled by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is private, the ultra-rich should pay more than just the measly 2% of taxes they currently pay to fund the FAA.
Ukrainian law enforcement officers in Zakarpattia Oblast have detained a member of Chyhyryn City Council (Cherkasy Oblast) from the banned Opposition Platform for Life party, known for its pro-Russian stance. Prior to this, the detainee had been served with a notice of suspicion on charges of justifying Russia's war crimes and denying its armed aggression against Ukraine.

Source: Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) Office in Cherkasy Oblast

Quote: "As a result of comprehensive actions, a member of the Chyhyryn City Council from the banned OPFL party has been detained while attempting to unlawfully cross the Ukrainian border into Slovakia."

Details: It is noted that the SSU served the politician with a notice of suspicion in March 2024 on charges of justifying Russian war crimes and denying armed aggression against Ukraine. The investigation revealed that the suspect has been publicly supporting the Kremlin's actions since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. He disseminated pro-Russian narratives about the socio-political situation in Ukraine among his own circle. He shared videos, reels and messages containing overt Russian propaganda and psychological operations in his correspondence.

The politician in question being detained.

Photo: SSU

Additionally, law enforcement officers discovered that the suspect had been in contact with Volodymyr Oliinyk, a former member of the Ukrainian parliament from the now-banned Party of Regions, who fled to Russia to evade justice.

The detainee spread disinformation about Ukraine's security and defence forces in frontline areas during his correspondence with Oliinyk, aiming to discredit the Ukrainian military.

The politician attempted to flee abroad while under nightly house arrest. Following his detention, the court imposed a stricter measure of restraint, placing him under round-the-clock house arrest and requiring that he wear an electronic tag.

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Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts, who penned the foreword for the groups Project 2025, is pushing back his book release until after the election, in an attempt to cool negative chatter around the sweeping far-right policy playbook.

The move comes as Republican Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance, the author of the books foreword, attempts to distance himself and his running mate from the proposal, which the Harris campaign has dubbed Trumps Project 2025. Vances foreword in Dawns Early Light: Taking Back Washington to Save America was noted last month when product details appeared on Amazon.

Theres a time for writing, reading, and book tours  and a time to put down the books and go fight like hell to take back our country, Roberts wrote in a statement to Real Clear Politics. Thats why Ive chosen to move my books publication and promotion to after the election.

Roberts, a key organizer of his organizations Project 2025 initiative, charges institutions including Ivy League colleges, the FBI, the New York Times, the Department of Education, BlackRock, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and others with pushing corrupt ideology in the books listing, an idea Vance endorsed in the foreword described by The New Republic as violent.

Vance, who previously wrote a foreword for Jack Posobiec  a far-right political figure linked to neo-nazi ideology  and his book, which described leftists as Unhumans, is deeply tied to a multitude of Project 2025s authors and the Heritage Foundation, previously praising parts of the proposal.

The policy manifesto, which presidential candidate Donald Trump previously attempted to distance himself from, has faced significant public scrutiny and internal turmoil since Democratic figures amplified its contents, resulting in Project 2025s director stepping down last week.
Georgians with school-age children and who attended college with the help of federal student loans routinely interact with the U.S. Department of Education without realizing it. Thats because its among the many federal bureaucracies that, unless theres a major hiccup, does most of its work in the background.

But if Republicans take control of Congress and the White House in November, the Department of Education could disappear under a proposal outlined in the conservative policy blueprint called Project 2025. Vanishing a federal agency would require a battle in Congress and perhaps even the courts. But if the plan succeeded, its impact on vulnerable students and families who rely on funding and civil rights protections from the agency would be stark and obvious.

Its just [about] the enforcement of laws, protecting students of color, said Preston Green, a professor of law and educational leadership at the University of Connecticut and a national expert in school vouchers and school desegregation. For instance, if there is this sort of disparate impact on students of color, the federal government could become involved. Without that department, you would be removing that level of oversight and protection.

Capital B Atlanta is analyzing parts of Project 2025, a 900-page document compiled by conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, to assess its potential impact on the lives of Black Atlantans. Former president Donald Trump has disavowed any connection to the plan, even though much of it was written by former officials of his administration. It contains calls for major policy revisions that would allow Trump, if re-elected, the ability to remake every part of the federal government.

That includes eliminating the Department of Education altogether. The Department of Education oversees federal education policies, programs, and funding from K-12 to postsecondary institutions, administers federal financial aid programs, collects data, and ensures compliance with federal laws regarding civil rights and equal access to education.

For parents, students, school administrators, and student loan borrowers, that would mean a cascade of potential consequences, from slashing critical dollars for under-resourced schools to jeopardizing critical financing options for higher education and disappearing standards for curricula and educational quality. Policy experts say that state and local school departments would lose vital federal oversight, creating a void where the governing body once enforced and created laws that promoted the protection of student rights, administered federal funding for college, and streamlined educational practices.

How Project 2025 could impact public school funding in ATL

If adopted, Green said, states like Georgia would lose critical funding for underfunded, overwhelmed public school districts across the country. And in Atlanta Public Schools, where over 70% of the student population are economically disadvantaged, that could be catastrophic.

There are historic disparities in funding in urban areas, and certainly in areas in the South, Green said. We have been pushing for the Department of Education to become involved in that and to try to resolve those problems  but that will be gone. The hope of them actually doing this would no longer be there.

Julian Vasquez Heilig, a professor of educational policy studies at the University of Kentucky, said a vanishing education department would greatly affect Title I-designated public schools, or those that receive additional federal funding to help close educational and resource gaps. More than 50 of Atlanta Public Schools 83 learning sites were Title-I designated schools in 2022.

Title I is considered the federal governments single biggest K-12 education program, which is part of what makes it a target of conservatives. But Project 2025 wouldnt immediately eliminate the program and its $18 billion budget. Instead, the document calls for the program to be transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services, which in turn would distribute that money to states in the form of block grants, with little regulation or oversight on what happens to the money after that.

Some argue that means giving states the flexibility to offer tailored and innovative approaches to supporting children in low income districts. But Helig said theres reason to be concerned that the money wouldnt end up supporting vulnerable students at all.

Theres no guarantee that Title I funds that are supposed to be spent on low-income schools will continue to go to low-income schools, Helig said. The challenge is that when funding is logged at the state and local level, its done in an unequal way.

Lax oversight of block grants could allow states yet another way to funnel dollars from underfunded public schools to chartersmuch like a controversial school choice bill passed in Georgia earlier this yearor even to religious-based educational institutions, said Janel George, an associate professor of law at Georgetown University and the founding director of its Racial Equity in Education Law and Policy Clinic.

What were seeing before Project 2025 also is these recent court decisions, is that youre basically rewriting our educational system, she said.

How Project 2025 will impact funding for higher education

The document also calls for privatizing student loans and potentially cutting federal higher education grants like the Pell Grant, which benefits low-income citizens interested in attending college.

Ashley Young, a higher education policy analyst for the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute, said that decentralizing the regulation of college financial aid, would deprive students of vital support in earning degrees and in paying the loans back once they are finished.

Federal funding for higher education is very important, Young said. Project 2025 doesnt actually go too in depth about the Pell Grant or trying to eliminate that program specifically, however, it did touch on a lot of policies regarding debt relief.

Also at risk: programs like the Biden administrations Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) and Income Driven Repayment programs.

The SAVE plan, particularly, has been highly contested and even blocked in federal court as it attempts to provide more generous terms than past income-based repayment plans, lowering monthly payments for eligible borrowers and allowing those with original principal balances of $12,000 or less to have their debt forgiven after 10 years.

What is important to note here is that Project 2025 wants to eliminate income-driven repayment plans, which are helpful for students  for borrowers, rather  who are struggling with paying their loans back, and they want to end the loan forgiveness program, Young said.

But George says, for Black voters, its important to look to the past for context.

So much of this is repetitive, George said. We shouldnt be surprised by Project 2025. Its the same effort to maintain racial inequality.

The post Project 2025: What Could It Mean for Education in Georgia? appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
The new leader of Project 2025 is delaying the publication of his forthcoming book until after Novembers election.

Kevin Roberts, the president of the Heritage Foundation, suggested that he will focus on electing conservatives down the ballot instead of pushing forward his book, Dawns Early Light.

The Democrat establishment is more radical than ever, and Kamala Harris promises to advance their destructive agenda of high inflation and open borders for four more years. We cant let that happen. Theres a time for writing, reading, and book tours  and a time to put down the books and go fight like hell to take back our country. Thats why Ive chosen to move my books publication and promotion to after the election. In the coming weeks, conservatives are fully committed to focusing our efforts on helping defeat the left at the ballot box and securing a resounding victory for the American people, he said in a statement.

RealClearPolitics was the first to report on the delay.

The New York Times and The Associated Press (AP) noted that the book was initially supposed to be released in September. The release date is now Nov. 12, according to the publishers website.

Project 2025 has attracted national attention in recent weeks for its right-wing policy proposals, which Democrats and Vice President Harriss campaign have now launched efforts against. Roberts announced last week that the leader of Project 2025 would be stepping down from his role and that he would be taking over.

Republicans, including former President Trump, have tried to distance themselves from the policy book in recent weeks as Democrats continued to target them over it.

The Associated Press reported last week that Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) wrote the foreword for Robertss forthcoming book. The Republican vice presidential candidate praised the conservative vision laid out by Roberts in his foreword, according to AP.

Never before has a figure with Robertss depth and stature within the American Right tried to articulate a genuinely new future for conservatism, Vance writes in his foreword. The Heritage Foundation isnt some random outpost on Capitol Hill; it is and has been the most influential engine of ideas for Republicans from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump.

A spokesperson for Vance told AP that the foreword had nothing to do with Project 2025.

Senator Vance has previously said that he has no involvement with it and has plenty of disagreements with what theyre calling for, Vance spokesperson William Martin wrote in an email to AP. Only President Trump will set the policy agenda for the next administration.

The Hill has reached out to Broadside Books for comment.

The Associated Press contributed.

Updated at 12:30 pm on Aug. 8.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Over the last year, a good number of insiders have significantly increased their holdings in AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (NYSE:AMN). This is encouraging because it indicates that insiders are more optimistic about the company's prospects.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

View our latest analysis for AMN Healthcare Services

AMN Healthcare Services Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider sale was by the Chief Information & Digital Officer, Mark Hagan, for US$1.1m worth of shares, at about US$67.92 per share. While we don't usually like to see insider selling, it's more concerning if the sales take place at a lower price. The silver lining is that this sell-down took place above the latest price (US$60.03). So it is hard to draw any strong conclusion from it. Mark Hagan was the only individual insider to sell over the last year.

Happily, we note that in the last year insiders paid US$2.0m for 34.98k shares. But insiders sold 16.00k shares worth US$1.1m. In total, AMN Healthcare Services insiders bought more than they sold over the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

AMN Healthcare Services is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of under-the-radar companies with insider buying.

Insider Ownership

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. AMN Healthcare Services insiders own about US$17m worth of shares. That equates to 0.7% of the company. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.

So What Do The AMN Healthcare Services Insider Transactions Indicate?

The fact that there have been no AMN Healthcare Services insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Insiders own shares in AMN Healthcare Services and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing AMN Healthcare Services. For example - AMN Healthcare Services has 2 warning signs we think you should be aware of.

Story continues

But note: AMN Healthcare Services may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Prominent Russian propagandist and pro-Kremlin TV reporter Yevgeny Poddubny was severely injured during a drone attack on Russia's Kursk Oblast on Aug. 7, Russian state media agency Rossiya 24 claimed.

Poddubny, 40, is one of Russia's leading pro-Kremlin propagandists having covered Russian conflicts in Syria, Georgia, and Ukraine. Poddubny previously filmed footage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including fighting at the Hostomel airport in Kyiv Oblast in the first days of the war, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

Russia's Health Ministry said Poddubny was conscious and "in intensive care" in a local hospital following the alleged Ukrainian drone strike.

The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify the claims and Ukraine's military has not commented on the alleged attack.

The alleged drone strike occurred as Poddubny was reporting on Ukrainian forces' incursion into Kursk Oblast. According to Russian state-run news agency TASS, Poddubny filed his last piece on the incursion hours before being injured.

The incursion, which began on Aug. 6, has thus far has resulted in clashes on Russian soil that were described by Russian President Vladimir Putin as "a large-scale provocation." Kyiv has not yet commented on the fighting in the area.

The Kursk region lies on the border with Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, which has been experiencing daily attacks since Russian troops were pushed out of the oblast and back across the border in April 2022.

The Kursk region has a population of around 1 million people, 440,000 of whom live in the city of Kursk, the region's administrative center.

Russia's Investigative Committee said it would investigate the circumstances of the alleged attack, and that Poddubny would be presented with an award.

At least 17 Ukrainian journalists have been killed covering the war, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Read also: Ukraine brings war back to Russian soil with unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal relief funds helped small businesses that temporarily closed amid fears of the spreading coronoavirus. (Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner)

My name is Chef Evan Dannells and I am an owner of Cadre restaurant and Lolas Hi/Lo Lounge in Madison, Wisconsin. My businesses are my passion, the culmination of my lifes work.

From the moment I started cooking as a teenager in the 1990s to the opening of my first full service restaurant, all I ever wanted was my own business. I worked long hours, missed innumerable holidays, saved every dollar I could and waited for the right moment for over 25 years. Finally, the stars aligned and I was able to open Cadre in the fall of 2019. Little did I know, the health crisis of the century was not far behind.

Less than five months after opening, while watching reservations rapidly decline in fear of the pandemic, we made the decision to close our dining room for the safety of our staff and customers. It was the hardest decision Ive ever had to make, but I still had a business to run and people who depended on me to provide a workplace where they could make their living.

During those early days of COVID-19 I wasnt sure how wed operate, if I could make payroll or if my dream was going to die. It was stressful beyond measure, constantly wondering what would go wrong next and having no idea when the crisis would end.

Thankfully, Gov. Tony Evers was able to take the swift action needed to get financial support to businesses across the state.

Wisconsin led the country in support for small businesses like mine, spending $1.6 billion on economic revitalization. This was made possible because our state laws were written to allow governors to act quickly to get support to Wisconsinites who need it most, whether for issues like COVID, flooding or other natural disasters. This fast action saved my restaurant more than once over the course of a pandemic that had no concrete end in sight.

Now the Republican-led Legislature wants to change the rules to give themselves more power and gain control over these federal dollars designed to respond to emergencies.

A proposed amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution would require all funds the state spends to go through the state Legislature for approval, and would prevent the Legislature from delegating its spending authority. Voters will be asked two questions on the ballot next Tuesday:

Shall Section 35 (1) of Article IV of the Constitution be created to provide that the Legislature may not delegate its sole power to determine how moneys shall be appropriated? Shall Section 35 (2) of Article IV of the Constitution be created to prohibit the governor from allocating any federal moneys the governor accepts on behalf of the state without the approval of the Legislature by joint resolution or as provided by legislative rule?

The Wisconsin Republican lawmakers who voted on this language claim it is to provide oversight and transparency over these dollars. However, during the pandemic the Legislature had the opportunity to help, but chose to be out of session for most of a year.

During that time, they didnt do a single thing, even using the states dollars, to support small businesses like mine. Had Questions 1 and 2 been in effect it is likely that federal support would have been delayed, or even denied, leading to thousands of Main Street businesses across Wisconsin permanently closing.

You dont have to take my word for it: Back during the pandemic Republican lawmakers tried to cut $400 million in small business grant programs to bankroll a property tax break that would have largely gone to the very wealthy. Ive got the receipts.

If Questions 1 and 2 pass it would upend our states constitution and tie the hands of either Evers or any future governor as they respond in times of emergency. When the next crisis occurs, Wisconsins leaders will keep the dreams of small business owners like mine alive through swift, executive action for the good of our state.

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Prosecutors claim Hunter Biden once agreed to lobby US on behalf of Romanian businessman

Federal prosecutors alleged in a new court filing Wednesday that Hunter Biden agreed to lobby US officials on behalf of a Romanian businessman facing criminal investigations back home.

The new accusation came from special counsel David Weiss, who is prosecuting Hunter Biden for alleged tax evasion. The case, scheduled for trial in September, touches on many of Hunter Bidens controversial foreign business dealings, sometimes while his father was in office.

However, prosecutors havent charged Hunter Biden with any foreign lobbying crimes, though they investigated him for years on that front. They signaled in the new filing that they want to introduce new testimony about the alleged lobbying agreement as evidence in the tax case.

Weiss team said Hunter Biden agreed to attempt to influence U.S. public policy by lobbying US agencies and officials to look for improprieties with the Romanian governments investigation of a wealthy Romanian businessman identified in the filing by the initials G.P.

Justice Department special counsel David Weiss, center, accompanied by federal prosecutors, speaks at a news conference, June 11, in Wilmington, Delaware. - Matt Slocum/AP/File

Weiss further claimed Hunter Biden did reach out to government officials in the US, including at the State Department, though prosecutors did not elaborate on the details of those communications.

Prosecutors say one of Hunter Bidens business partners is prepared to testify at trial that they were concerned that lobbying work might cause political ramifications for Joe Biden, so they concealed the true nature of the work and claimed it was real estate management instead of lobbying.

But in the new filings, prosecutors also made clear that the witness has not said that the defendant engaged in improper political influence.

House Republicans previously scrutinized, as part of their inquiries into the Biden familys finances, payments made to Hunter Biden from a Romanian business associate.

Prosecutors, however, have never publicly backed up Republicans most explosive unproven claims that Hunter Biden engaged in corrupt foreign business deals with his father, or that Joe Biden abused his government powers to enrich his family.

Prosecutors also said Wednesday their side does not intend to reference allegations that the defendant violated FARA or improperly coordinated with the Obama Administration, referring to the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires people who lobby on behalf of foreign clients to register beforehand with the US government.

We do not intend to introduce evidence/argue that (Hunter Biden) was trying to funnel money to Joe Biden, prosecutors wrote.

Hunter Biden has never been charged with violating foreign lobbying laws. His team denies that he ever did any undisclosed lobbying for foreign clients. A spokesperson for Hunter didnt comment on the new filings, and his attorneys didnt immediately respond to CNNs request for comment.

Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to the tax charges. He has argued that Weiss, a Republican and Trump appointee, is prosecuting him due to political bias against his family.

The trial is scheduled to begin on September 5 in Los Angeles. His sentencing in a separate criminal case, in which he was convicted of three gun felonies, is slated for November.

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BOSTON (SHNS)  The day before dozens of families are scheduled to be evicted from Massachusetts shelters, protestors plan to hold a vigil at the State House Thursday over new restrictions Gov. Maura Healey made to the family shelter system.

Nearly 50 Guinea Pigs found abandoned in Massachusetts

Healeys latest shelter policies limit families to spending a maximum of five business days at overflow sites and makes those people ineligible for longer-term emergency family shelter system stays for at least six months.

The new rules took effect Aug. 1 and also create a prioritization system for long-term family shelters that favors Massachusetts residents over recently arrived immigrant families.

Anti-homelessness and immigrant advocacy groups strongly oppose the new regulations. Thursday afternoons State House rally comes after a full week of smaller demonstrations in front of the governors office; the release of a letter signed by dozens of advocacy groups, medical professionals, and social workers; and another well-attended rally last week where protestors called the new guidelines cruel.

House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka have both said they stand behind Healeys decision.

The administration has notified 57 families, who arrived prior to Aug. 1, that they will have to leave by Friday. Some of these families have been reticketed, a term the administration has used to describe paying for plane tickets out of Massachusetts.

Because of the circumstances and really our capacity here, we had to make some changes to policy. But, you know, Ive said from the beginning that we are going to continue to triage this, Healey told reporters Wednesday.

During their daily standouts in front of Healeys office, advocates have held signs that said Gov Healey: Dont Put Children on the Streets and Housing is a Human Right.

Protestors chant outside of Gov. Maura Healeys office on Tuesday, Aug. 6, rallying against restrictions the governor made to the family shelter system. The protest came a few hours after Healey signed a housing bond bill.

One of the organizers, Carolyn Chou of Homes for All Massachusetts, said it was hypocritical for Healey and lawmakers to be celebrating the signing of a new housing bond authorization earlier at a press conference this week, as families pack up their items to leave shelters.

I was at Wollaston Station on Friday night and there were a dozen children sleeping on the street. It certainly feels at odds for the state to pat itself on the back, given the situation folks are in, she said.

Healey held a celebratory bill-signing event on Tuesday with hundreds of attendees, where she, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Housing Committee co-chairs Rep. Jim Arciero and Sen. Lydia Edwards touted the bill as historic, but also a first step in addressing the states housing crisis.

We dont forget people sleeping outside. We dont forget about the people at Mass. and Cass. We dont forget about the people who are at the airport. We dont forget about people working two or three jobs and watching their rent go up. We have not forgotten you. And thats  I dont want anyone to see this crowd of people celebrating and think the mission is accomplished. Absolutely not, Edwards said during her remarks at the bill signing.

Chou said the crisis of high-demand for emergency shelter is caused by the lack of affordable and available housing in Massachusetts, and that putting tighter restrictions on shelter doesnt create new housing options for families.

This is a housing crisis, and we know that part of the reason folks are in shelter for so long is because they cant find an affordable place to rent. We certainly are disturbed by the news of officials chipping away at the right to shelter. And its disappointing for the state to be touting its work over days and nights of working on this bill when more and more children are sleeping on the streets, Chou said.

As of Wednesday, there were 7,396 families in the emergency family shelter system and 271 families in overflow shelters, according to a Healey spokesperson. The five-day policy will be implemented on a rolling basis, so not all families at the sites will be asked to leave at once.

Since their announcement of the restrictions, the Healey administration has updated the guidance to allow providers to extend a familys stay by up to a month. A fact sheet released by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to shelter providers notes that providers will be able to issue administrative extensions for families who meet designated criteria for up to 30 business days.

Were focused on families that weve done case management with, that we can most quickly exit, Healey said Wednesday. Working hard to get people work permits, get them English classes.

While in the overflow sites, which the administration is now calling temporary respite centers, families will be able to access a host of services. They can work with attorneys to get authorizations to legally work in the U.S., access health care services, and get HomeBASE rental assistance. HomeBASE, however, can only be used to help families pay for rent if they are able to find a unit in the first place.

The administration said that housing assistance, work authorization applications, job placements, English classes and reticketing has led to an uptick in the number of families leaving shelter over the past few months, with over 600 families leaving between June and July.

We need to make space available for families here in Massachusetts who come on hard times, maybe have a medical injury in their family that keeps them from work and keeps them from being able to pay rent, and therefore they become homeless. I think about victims of domestic violence who are fleeing with their kids and need a place to go, Healey said. Im trying to manage this as best I can to make sure that we are dealing with the capacity constraints and also prioritizing the most vulnerable among our families.

The governors press team shared a statement that once again continued the message she has been pushing for the last few months: Theres no more room in Massachusetts.

This new policy will help open up space at temporary respite centers so that families have a place to stay while they work with case managers to identify alternative housing, the statement says. Massachusetts is out of shelter space and cannot continue to afford the size of this system.

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WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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Protesters fight to prevent illegal construction on the Una, one of the most unique Balkan rivers

Protesters fight to prevent illegal construction on the Una, one of the most unique Balkan rivers

Protesters are blocking the construction of a small hydroelectric plant in Croatia that they say threatens one of the Balkans' most unique and sacred rivers.

The source of the Una River is one of the deepest karstic springs - where water flows up from conduits in the bedrock - on Earth. Running from Croatia into Bosnia and serving as a natural border, it carries major cultural significance and represents the shared heritage between the two countries.

The river is also home to 17 threatened species, and campaigners say the construction work puts this protected waterway at risk of serious environmental damage downstream.

The entirety of the small streams and sources that birth the river is protected under the Natura 2000 network - an EU initiative to preserve habitats and species of European importance.

The source of the Una River in Croatia. - Ray Demski/Patagonia

Around 150 metres of its stream have been designated a hydrological monument of nature since 1968.

As the Una River runs into Bosnia and Herzegovina, parts of it are also protected as part of a national park.

Despite these protections, construction recently began on a hydropower plant just downstream of the rivers source which protesters say is being carried out without valid permits or regard for the sites protected status.

Construction has left local residents without water

The rapid development of the project has locals and environmental groups alarmed - not least because many residents, especially in Bosnia, rely on the river for drinking water and other resources. Some say they were left without drinking water for several days at the height of one of this summer's heatwaves.

Local NGOs say they dont just fear for the Una, however, but the precedent that this crime on nature sets for other rivers around Europe. They question how the developer obtained a permit from Zadar County to build the plant, claiming it was approved without an assessment of its environmental impact.

Protesters gather at the source of the Una River. - Joshua D Lim

It isnt just local residents that have objected to the construction of the hydroelectric dam either. The protest on Friday was backed by outdoor clothing brand Patagonia. More than 14,000 people have signed a petition to back the local objection to the project.

Numerous public figures and organisations from Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia have also supported the protests.

"The construction of the plant threatens not only the ecological integrity of the river, but also the way of life of people who have been tied to its banks for centuries. Una is threatened with devastation that will have long-term consequences for the environment and the communities that depend on it," Eko BiH, an environmental network from Bosnia and Herzegovina, said in a statement.

The first of several major protests. - Joshua D. Lim

Construction has already reportedly resulted in damage, however, with the original pathway to the source razed to make room for machinery.

While the construction permit is technically still 'valid', activists say it should not have been issued without assessment of the impact of the plant on the environment and the assessment of the impact of the plant on the ecological network.

Officials have been assessing the legality of the work

Following protests and objections from public figures, the authority in charge of managing the Natura 2000 ecological network in the region requested an assessment of whether the construction had the correct permits.

Police arrive on the scene of the protest. - Ray Demski/Patagonia

In late July, officials from Croatias Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition decided to examine the legality of the work.

While they found that the building permit was valid, they also determined that some documentation was missing from what is known as the location permit. The inspector found that before this permit was amended, an opinion was not requested from the right ministry on the need for an environmental impact assessment.

Citizens and officials from the three countries united on Friday to stand against the building work.

They managed to secure an agreement to temporarily halt work until 5 August. Work was due to resume on 6 August as the state inspectorate didn't issue any suspension documents which would prevent it from continuing while the review was ongoing.

Campaigners say these findings only confirm their concerns. Ongoing protests aim to put pressure on authorities to suspend construction while the documents are reviewed. They are also urging Croatia's Prime Minister to step in and intervene.
From left, Deacon Mike Bulson, Michelle Beasley, of Sandy, and Father John Evans pray the Rosary with others during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

A crowd of about 30 people gathered outside in the dark on a back road nearly two miles outside the Utah State Correctional Facility late Wednesday night. Beginning at 9 p.m. and going past midnight, the crowd  ranging from young children to the elderly  was protesting the execution of death row inmate Taberon Honie, who was executed by lethal injection shortly after midnight on Thursday.

Honie received the death sentence on May 20, 1999. He is one of six inmates on death row in Utah and was found guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriends mother, Claudia Benn, in July of 1998.

It is the first execution in the state of Utah since 2010, when Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed by firing squad. Now, 14 years later, his brother, Randy Gardner, stood with protesters Wednesday night to oppose Honies capital punishment.

Im here tonight because I dont believe in capital punishment whatsoever, Gardner told the Deseret News. I think the state has no right in executing our own citizens. He added that its a moral issue and quoted the moral imperative of the Sixth Commandment in the Bible, Thou shalt not kill.

Losing a family member to capital punishment is definitely a club you dont want to belong to, Gardner said when asked what advice he would give to the Honie family as they go through this experience. Its a terrible thing to go through. After his brothers death, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

I probably had it from Day 1 (after Ronnie died). I thought I was really tough and could fight it off  I didnt. I finally had to seek out help and had to go to therapy for a couple years just to get rid of the dreams and the nightmares. ... Its a terrible thing. Its so close to my heart, matter of fact, its close to my brothers heart.

Gardner is on the advisory committee of Death Penalty Action, a nonprofit organization trying to abolish the death penalty in America, and a member of Journey of Hope from Violence to Healing.

Nicholas Cote, western regional organizer of Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty, prays during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Religious leaders advocate for compassion before execution

About 30 minutes before the execution, Deacon Mike Bulson of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City led the crowd in the Hail Mary Prayer.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Father John Evans, vicar general and moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Salt Lake City, held a poster in his hand that read, Life is precious. He told the Deseret News that to keep society safe, rather than killing criminals, we should be granting them restorative justice.

The criminals have to pay their debt to society, as its so commonly said, but they also have to live with the mistakes theyve made, and hopefully move to wanting forgiveness, wanting healing, not just for them, but for the victims and their families, Father Evans said. So theres a hope that we can do better here and work for that as a society and not just be punitive.

He added that capital punishment is like returning evil for evil.

The whole idea that people want the death penalty (because) its out of vengeance, sometimes its out of a woundedness, but it doesnt bring healing.

Michelle Beasley, a parishioner at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Salt Lake City, has been volunteering at Catholic services in prisons and jails for nearly 10 years. She said she helps with gospel lessons and communion with the inmates centered around Christ.

There are so many times in that chapel that those men and women will say that thats where they find peace. Thats the one time out of the week where they find joy and acceptance and love and thats why they keep coming back, and the reason Beasley said she continues to go after so many years.

We all screw up, and theyre human, she said. They just want to be loved and accepted and forgiven. ... If theyre guilty, they have to still face the consequences. But death should not be one of them.

Nicholas Cote, western regional organizer of Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty, prays during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Abraham Bonowitz, with Death Penalty Action, shows a livestream audience the scene during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Karla Williams, right, from Vineyard and Terry Maio, left, from South Jordan, pray the rosary during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

Michelle Beasley, of Sandy, hugs Randy Gardner, of Taylorsville, during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Abraham Bonowitz, with Death Penalty Action, speaks during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Michelle Beasley, from Sandy, closes her eyes and quietly awaits the announcement of Taberon Honies execution during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City during the execution of Taberon Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

From right, Deacon Mike Bulson, Randy Gardner, the brother of Ronnie Lee Gardner, who was executed by the state of Utah in 2010, Michelle Beasley, from Sandy, and Charles Keith, from Canton, Ohio, await the announcement of Taberon Honies execution during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City during the execution of Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

Jennifer Herron, of Erda, holds a sign during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Terry Maio, of South Jordan, prays the rosary with others during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Rony Charles, of Salt Lake City, holds a sign as he looks in the direction of the Utah State Correctional Facility during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Protesters against the death penalty walk with signs during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

SueZann Foster, right; Randy Gardner, center; and Abraham Bonowitz, left, all work to assemble a protest sign during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. Gardner is the brother of Ronnie Lee Gardner, who was executed by the state of Utah in 2010. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

Randy Gardner, the brother of Ronnie Lee Gardner, who was executed by the state of Utah in 2010, carries a sign with Death Penalty Action during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

Janell Wilson, of Layton, holds a sign during a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

The sun sets as a police vehicle is stationed at a gathering held in a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Frances Perkins was inspired into activism by witnessing the deadly Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in New York in 1911.

Frances Perkins was inspired into activism by witnessing the deadly Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in New York in 1911. Photograph: London Express/Getty Images

Joe Biden has been asked to designate a national monument to the former US labor secretary, Frances Perkins, by members of Congress and groups including the National Park Conservation Association.

Perkins, who served three terms under Franklin Delano Roosevelt from 1933 to 1945, was the first woman to be appointed to a presidential cabinet and the longest-serving secretary of labor in US history.

In 1911, Perkins was a witness to the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in New York City, which killed 146 people, mostly young women, and was one of the deadliest industrial disasters in US history. The tragedy greatly affected Perkins and helped inspire her labor activism in the subsequent decades.

She said of her position: I came to Washington to work for God, FDR and the millions of forgotten, plain common workingmen.

Related: Unlikely Heroes review: the advisers who helped FDR shape America

As secretary of labor, Perkins was one of the driving forces behind Roosevelts New Deal policies and pushed for many longstanding labor policies including a 40-hour work week, a federal minimum wage, unemployment compensation, workers compensation, the abolition of child labor, and social security. The New Deal began on March 25, 1911. The day that the Triangle factory burned, Perkins said.

The Frances Perkins Center in Newcastle, Maine, has offered to donate a portion of the 57-acre farm where Perkins spent much of her life from childhood to adulthood to the National Park Service.

In 2014, the homestead of Frances Perkins in Maine was designated a national historic landmark. The national monument designation would put part of the site under federal control through the National Parks Service.

Frances Perkins made her home in Maine. She was a trailblazer, the first female presidential cabinet member, the mother of the modern labor movement, and a pioneering advocate for social justice, economic security and workers rights. By designating the Frances Perkins Homestead national historical landmark as a national monument, more people could learn about this incredible woman and the power of government to be a force for good, said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree of Maine.

As ranking member of the House appropriations subcommittee that oversees the Department of the Interior, I fully support this effort and hope to see a national monument designation move forward.
BOSTON (WWLP)  Back-to-school season is ramping up in western Massachusetts, leaving high schoolers with a burning question, will they need to hit a minimum MCAS score to receive their diplomas?

Parent, teacher featured in new MCAS ads

As it currently stands, high schoolers in Massachusetts need to achieve a minimum score on MCAS standardized testing to graduate. Each year, however, 700 Massachusetts high school seniors are unable to graduate solely because of this requirement.

A November ballot question looks to change this standard. The Massachusetts Teachers Association, which submitted the ballot question, looks to assess students understanding of state-mandated material by looking at the full year of classroom work, tests, and teacher evaluations, as opposed to just one test.

We have a moral responsibility to educate all children. And there is a certain learning profile every single year that is being harmed, said Massachusetts Teachers Association Vice President Deb McCarthy. They are so much more than a one-time score.

The ballot question is not without opposition. Governor Healey says the MCAS is a necessary tool to assess high schoolers. The governor voiced her concerns on a radio show in March.

Weve got to find a way to take care of those young people, get them what they need, and see them through, said Healey. But I think that its important to maintain the ability to assess our young people.

Supporters of the ballot question maintain that the MCAS is not an accurate representation of what high school students are capable of. This issue is especially crucial for western Massachusetts, as Holyoke and Springfield have some of the highest failure-to-pass rates in the state.

Those who want to vote on this ballot question will need to register by October 26, ahead of the November 5 state election.

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WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Residents who have been displaced by the ongoing fighting in Russia's Kursk Oblast will be paid 10,000 rubles ($115) each as compensation, President Vladimir Putin said on Aug. 8.

In a video conference with Alexey Smirnov, the acting governor of the oblast, Putin said that it would a be one-time payment to "citizens who need it." He added that "other damage will also need to be assessed."

Ukrainian forces crossed the border into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6, resulting in clashes on Russian soil that were described by Russian President Vladimir Putin as "a large-scale provocation."

Kyiv has largely refused to comment on the operation in Kursk Oblast, which takes place just as Russia is ramping up attacks in Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast.

Much of the fighting is reportedly taking place around Sudzha, a village with a population of around 5,000 people located less than 10 kilometers (six miles) from the border with Ukraine. The city of Kursk lies 85 kilometers (53 miles) to the northeast of Sudzha.

According to Russian media, several thousand people have been reportedly evacuated from Kursk Oblast.

The state-owned train operator Moscow Railway said on Aug. 8 that the railway stations in Sudzha, Korenevo, and Psel are "temporarily closed to passengers."

Read also: Ukraines unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast brings war back to Russian soil

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Key Insights

Ashtead Technology Holdings' estimated fair value is UK12.03 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Ashtead Technology Holdings is estimated to be 33% undervalued based on current share price of UK8.04

Our fair value estimate is 42% higher than Ashtead Technology Holdings' analyst price target of UK8.45

Does the August share price for Ashtead Technology Holdings Plc (LON:AT.) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

See our latest analysis for Ashtead Technology Holdings

Step By Step Through The Calculation

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK28.1m UK36.5m UK42.3m UK47.3m UK51.5m UK55.0m UK58.0m UK60.5m UK62.6m UK64.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x5 Analyst x5 Est @ 16.09% Est @ 11.84% Est @ 8.87% Est @ 6.79% Est @ 5.33% Est @ 4.31% Est @ 3.60% Est @ 3.10% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 7.2% UK26.2 UK31.7 UK34.4 UK35.9 UK36.4 UK36.3 UK35.7 UK34.7 UK33.6 UK32.3

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK337m

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.9%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.2%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2034  (1 + g)  (r  g) = UK65m (1 + 1.9%)  (7.2% 1.9%) = UK1.3b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK1.3b ( 1 + 7.2%)10= UK627m

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is UK964m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of UK8.0, the company appears quite good value at a 33% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

Important Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Ashtead Technology Holdings as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.082. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Ashtead Technology Holdings

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Trade Distributors market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the British market.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.

Looking Ahead:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Ashtead Technology Holdings, there are three important aspects you should further examine:

Risks: Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Ashtead Technology Holdings , and understanding it should be part of your investment process. Future Earnings: How does AT.'s growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every British stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Aug. 8 expanding the list of "undesirable" organizations to include those funded by foreign states, which then are subject to bans.

The law on "undesirable" organizations has existed since 2015 and has been used to target perceived opponents of Putin's regime, including NGOs, independent media outlets, human rights groups, and others.

There are currently almost 200 organizations deemed undesirable by Russia's Justice Ministry.

"Undesirable" organizations are banned from operating in Russia, and it is illegal for individuals or other media outlets to share their content. Leaders of such organizations can be face up to six years in prison, and members could receive prison sentences of up to four years.

The bill is designed to combat "sanctions, blocked investment projects, training agents of influence, interference in Russian elections, incitement of ethnic hatred, and much more," said lawmaker Vasily Piskarev when the legislation was first introduced in February.

Under the expanded law, foreign state-funded organizations, such as media outlets like the BBC or Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), could be labeled as "undesirable" and banned.

Read also: Russian users say YouTube inaccessible amid complaints of massive outage

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Alexei Smirnov (left) and Vladimir Putin (right). Photo: Screenshot from video by RIA Novosti

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has held a video meeting with Alexei Smirnov, the acting Governor of Kursk Oblast, stressing that the situation in the region requires courage and composure.

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency RIA Novosti

Quote: "Life poses extraordinary, challenging tasks of helping people. While you certainly have the necessary professional knowledge, skills, and experience, they alone are not enough. In todays circumstances, you need a certain level of courage and composure"

Details: Putin further indicated that he was "generally aware of the situation in the region", though he would like to hear more details from Smirnov. In addition, Putin asked the acting governor to estimate the damage caused to the region by the hostilities.

Smirnov claimed that everything was "fine", noting that the operational headquarters were functioning, the population evacuation was in progress, and the number of hospital beds had been increased.

Background:

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Donald Trump is not the unprincipled, narcissistic boor the mainstream media would have you believe. In fact, he is a hero who spent his presidency battling a shadowy cabal of liberal elites who control our political and cultural institutions and who abuse children and drink their blood. Or so believe adherents of QAnon, a conspiracy theory that began on obscure message boards in 2017 and has since exploded into the national consciousnessand even the halls of Congress.

In her new book The Quiet Damage: QAnon and the Destruction of the American Family, journalist Jesselyn Cook examines the profound damage that belief in QAnon can have on personal relationships. Cook intended the book, as she puts it, to give the reader a nuanced understanding of belief in the unbelievable and to spotlight how obsession with conspiracy can lead to QAnon believers families being torn apart at the seams. But while the book is a thoroughly reported and sympathetic portrait of its subjects, it undercuts the solutions it offers by denying the QAnon adherents full agency over their beliefs.

The book grew out of a Huffington Post article Cook published in 2021 detailing how the children of QAnon believers were desperately trying to deradicalize their parents. After its publication, Cook says, she got hundreds of emails from people in similar predicaments.

But The Quiet Damage is not the book Cook set out to write. At first, she was convinced that a greed-corrupted information ecosystem warped by profit-maximizing social media algorithms, media personalities and online influencers, and a growing faction of the nations leaders was to blame for the rise of QAnon. Cleaning up the polluted information environment, she thought, involved regulating tech companies, teaching people how to tell real information from fake, and countering the latter with fact checks.

She soon learned that the problem was much more complex. Believers in QAnon and other conspiracy theories were not motivated by a desire to be accurately informed, but a need to be internally comforted. This realization had profound implications for how to prevent people from believing in conspiracy theories in the first place, which, she became convinced, required ensuring that their material and emotional needs were met. And it also dramatically altered her prescription for how to help people break away from conspiracy theory thinking. She came to believe the optimal solution was gently chipping away at the fantasy while helping the person reach a point at which they can begin to rewrite their story.

The Quiet Damage tells the stories of five pseudonymous subjects, each of whom came to believe fervently in QAnon: Emily, a successful attorney from rural Tennessee; Matt, a producer at an evangelical radio station in Missouri; Doris, a retiree living in a college town in Alabama; Alice, a middle-aged hippie from the Bay Area; and Kendra, a lower-class woman living in Detroit.

The book convincingly presents the circumstances that made them vulnerable to conspiracy theories in the first place. That said, it stumbles when identifying how these individuals came to believe in QAnon. The portions that address this issue read much more like the book Cook initially intended to write, with her subjects belief in QAnon portrayed as an evil that has been visited upon them by malevolent outside forces rather than something over which they have meaningful control.

Outsiders who found a community.

Social scientists have repeatedly found that people who are marginalizedor believe themselves to be soare substantially more vulnerable to conspiratorial thinking. The reason is straightforward: It can be comforting to believe that your difficult circumstances are the result of powerful outside forces conspiring to keep you down. And of course, just because youre paranoid doesnt mean theyre not out to get you.

Marginalization can take on many forms, and the books subjects, each of whom had faced profound difficulties, demonstrate the range of circumstances that can make a person vulnerable to belief in conspiracy theories. For instance, Emily became a single mother when her gambling-addicted, philandering husband killed himself. She repressed her grief and focused on raising her children, but when they grew up and moved away, she was left with virtually no social circle and unresolved resentment at her husband. Matt had disabling pain that made it difficult for him to contribute around the house, straining his marriage. Doris was an elderly woman confronting increasing isolation when a cancer misdiagnosis led her to alternative medicine and, as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, to Q.

In QAnon, each of the five found an explanation for why things werent quite right in their lives. Perhaps even more importantly, each found a community of other believers who helped them feel welcomed, special, and important. As their mania grew, validation from fellow believers became increasingly importantespecially as their own friends and family began to distance themselves or cut off contact altogether.

But vulnerable circumstances alone arent enough to make someone a conspiracy theorist. Ultimately, people choose what they believe, and many people in dire straits never fall into conspiratorial thinking.

Choice versus exploitation.

Its important to understand how peoples circumstances and choices (emphasis mine) lead them to believe in conspiracy theories such as QAnon, Cook explains in the books prologue. Why? Because only by recognizing adherents fundamental humanness is it possible to truly consider what real solutions could look like.

Yet in Cooks telling, her subjects arent responsible for their belief in QAnon. Rather, it is an evil that has been visited upon them by the right-wing media, unscrupulous tech companies, and cynical influencers. The author describes profit-seeking creators whose content was artificially recommended to users by social media giants whose hidden hand works to warp individual users perceptions of society . . . in pursuit of corporate profit.

The trouble with this framing is that most people in vulnerable circumstances do not end up believing that a cabal of satanist pedophiles is ruining the world for profit and pleasure. In the book, Kendra and her sister Tayshia both grew up in violent neighborhoods and faced racism from the white students at the private school they attended on a voucher. Yet Tayshia finds productive outlets for her trauma in advocacy and community organizing, and she is able to see her sisters conspiracy theories for what they are. Much as she wants to fight what she views as fundamental injustice, she never falls down the QAnon rabbit hole.

Cook never accounts for why people in similar circumstances to QAnon obsessives are never tempted by the conspiracy theory. Thats an important question for understanding how conspiracy beliefs propagate, but it is obscured by the books implication that outside actors bear the lions share of the blame for people taking up such beliefs.

Nor is this simply a question of understanding how people come to believe in conspiracy theoriesit also has significant implications for how we assess QAnon believers moral culpability for the impacts of their obsession with the conspiracy world. Doris and Alice imply or outright accuse their partners of being abusive for questioning their beliefs; Matt spends so much time researching QAnon on the internet that his wife feels abandoned. The notion that they cant be held fully responsible for what their beliefs lead them to do, and the impact this has on their loved ones, is a patronizing approach that unnecessarily excuses behavior that is the believers fault.

Returning to reality.

Even more significantly, denying QAnon adherents agency over their beliefs undercuts the books conclusion about how to most effectively prevent people from buying into conspiracy theories and breaking them out of a conspiratorial worldview.

Experts in deradicalization and conspiracy theory deprogramming have come to recognize that many of the favored strategies for responding to conspiracy theories, such as expert fact-checking or labeling false information on social media, serve only to drive people further into their conspiratorial beliefs. After all, if the powerful elites are trying to suppress the information youre sharing about them, surely you must be onto something.

Instead, the most effective way to bring people back to reality is for individuals they trust to engage with them in good faithto show interest in their beliefs, to ask questions, to find common ground, and to calmly identify why there are points of disagreement. The key is to treat ones interlocutor with dignity, even when they express views that are outlandish or obscene. It is an approach that requires an enormous amount of patience, empathy, courage, and most of all, respect.

The Quiet Damage illustrates this approach to deprogramming in highlighting how Alices father and fiancee engage with her belief in QAnon. Rather than trying to confront her or cut her out of their lives entirely, as other subjects family and friends did, the two listen to her attentively. They set strict boundaries (her fiancee limits their discussion of what he calls politics to one night a week) and are careful never to feign agreement where none exists, but they treat her as a whole person whose views are worthy of consideration.

In response, Alice opens up to the possibility that her beliefs might be wrong and that the hours a day she spends researching and sharing them might not be worth it. These realizations come gradually as her loved ones use parallel techniques to help her probe the limits of her faith in QAnon.

In his conversations with her, Alices father employs motivational interviewing, a strategy which asks her to consider whethereven if everything she had learned about QAnon was trueher research and posts were likely to make any difference or were worth the terrible damage they had wrought on her relationships. At the same time, her fiancee used Socratic questioning, a process by which a person asks open-ended questions that probe why someone believes somethingand whether those beliefs are grounded in fact.

Gradually, these approaches worked on Alice. She began to question her beliefs and pull back from her research and posting. And while she clearly missed the community she had with other QAnon adherents, she began to slowly try to repair the real-world friendships that she had destroyed.

Pulling someone out of conspiracy theory beliefs requires treating the conspiracy theorist with respect. But this respect is impossible if one insists on infantilizing believers in QAnon or other conspiracy theories by treating them as if their beliefs come from malevolent outside actors rather than their own choices. Indeed, if outside actors are to blame for conspiracy theories as damaging as QAnon, then censorship and fact checking are legitimate, perhaps necessary, responses.

Because conspiracy theorists have a remarkable resistance to facts that are inconsistent with their worldview, trying to hide information from them or confront them will typically lead to them becoming even further entrenched in their views. It is the exact opposite of the strategy needed, as Cook recognizes. But it is nonetheless the strategy that her books discussion of how its subjects came to QAnon suggests.

The Quiet Damage is an admirable projectan earnest attempt to see the humanity in people with a deeply disturbing worldview. To the extent it falls short, it does so largely out of sympathy for its subjects. But in failing to treat them as people with agency over their beliefs, the book does them and other conspiracy adherents a disservice by obscuring the conditions necessary to bring them back to reality.

Read more at The Dispatch

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When the longtime political chief of Hamas was assassinated in late July 2024, it didnt just leave the entire Middle East on edge. It also created a political headache in Qatar.

Thats because the death of Ismail Haniyeh, the result of an apparent Israeli operation, struck a blow to Dohas already sputtering diplomatic efforts in the Middle east.

The Gulf state has long been the staging ground for negotiations involving Israelis and Palestinians, including Haniyeh, who lived in Qatar. But recent criticism from the U.S. and Israel for, in their view, failing to put enough pressure on Hamas had led Qatars leaders to question its role.

And then came Haniyehs death.

How can mediation succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on the other side? pondered Qatars prime minister and top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Israel is widely believed to be behind the assassination, although no claim of responsibility has been made.

As an expert on Gulf politics, I believe bin Abdulrahmans question is a valid one. As the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack in Israel approaches, Qatari officials face a challenge. Mediation has produced diminishing returns  both for the warring parties and for Qatar itself. But moving away from mediation would represent a seismic shift for Qatar, which has put it at the heart of its foreign policy for decades.

Diplomacy as policy

Qatar is a small state in a volatile neighborhood. Over the past 45 years, the region has experienced multiple interstate wars and periods of revolutionary upheaval. Throughout that time, successive generations of Qatari leaders have looked toward diplomacy and mediation as a way to advance the countrys interests.

Indeed, Qatars constitution, in effect since 2004, requires a foreign policy based on the principle of encouraging peaceful resolution of international disputes.

Such a formal commitment to dispute resolution marks Qatar as distinct from most of its Gulf peers. But the approach is rooted in a pragmatic calculation of how and where a small country can best exercise leverage in regional and foreign policy.

In this way, Qatari officials have worked as mediators for two decades.

Initially, they found success, helping resolve in 2008 a particularly intractable political crisis in Lebanon, which appeared to be heading to civil war. The breakthrough in Lebanon and a two-year stint on the United Nations Security Council in 2006 and 2007 helped put Qatar on the diplomatic map.

But Qatars negotiating efforts havent always worked out. Qatari officials failed to facilitate breakthroughs between warring Sudanese factions in Darfur in 2011 and between the Houthis and the central government in Yemens decadelong civil war since 2014.

Much of the early mediation efforts were led by the veteran foreign minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, who was also appointed prime minister in 2007.

Bin Jassim engaged in a personalized style of policymaking based on his vast range of international contacts and his ability to lean on Qatari entities, such as the Qatar Investment Authority, in his diplomatic efforts.

Evolving policy

Bin Jassim stepped down as both prime and foreign minister in June 2013 as part of a carefully planned handover of power to the current emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

By this time, the Qatari leadership was facing a backlash from neighbors such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over what they viewed as Qatari support or sympathy for Islamist movements during the multinational series of uprisings known as the Arab Spring.

In 2017, the Saudis and Emiratis, along with Bahrain and Egypt, cut diplomatic ties with Qatar and accused Doha  without evidence  of supporting regional terrorist groups.

But such criticism didnt deter Qatar from its policy of mediation as diplomacy. Rather, in the decade since the 2013 political transition in Doha, Qatari mediation has evolved and expanded. In 2023, a new position of Minister of State for International Cooperation was created within the Foreign Ministry, giving greater institutional depth and professional capability to policymaking.

Qatars mediation efforts have also evolved away from the unilateral actions involving Islamist groups that raised regional concerns during the Arab Spring.

Instead, Qatari officials have acted at the request of other countries to serve as potential mediators.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Oct. 13, 2023. Jacquelyn Martin/AFP via Getty Images)

In this way, the Gulf state worked intensively with the U.S. and representatives from the Taliban in a process that culminated in the 2020 Doha Agreement that set a timeline for U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

It similarly worked with Israeli officials to facilitate financial and humanitarian support for the Gaza Strip in the five years prior to the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7.

Hamas retreats to the tunnels

But since that assault and the Israeli operation in Gaza that followed, Qatari mediation has had only limited success.

It was instrumental in negotiating the temporary cease-fire in November, but fighting quickly resumed and the devastation of Gaza intensified soon after.

Meanwhile, both U.S. and Israeli politicians have attacked Qatar for continuing dialogue with Hamas.

That criticism led the Qatari prime minister to warn in April that Doha may reassess its role in Gaza as a result.

Four months on, the killing of Haniyeh has narrowed still further the pathway for further diplomacy. Haniyeh, like his predecessor as head of the Hamas Political Bureau, Khaled Mashal, had a base in Doha.

The man appointed to succeed Haniyeh in that role, hardliner Yahya Sinwar, is believed to be in a tunnel in Gaza and cannot reasonably hope to be in Doha given the current circumstances.

Following Haniyehs death, the White House did reach out to Qatar to thank the nation for its mediating efforts, but its increasingly difficult to see how Qatar can broker any breakthrough.

Talks will continue. Israeli and Egyptian officials met in Cairo on Aug. 3, after Haniyehs assassination, without Qatari representation. But negotiations broke down after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly imposed new demands.

De-escalating Iran tensions

With the dominant view in Doha that Israeli leadership simply isnt willing to engage in good-faith talks, still less reach a cease-fire deal, officials in Qatar are likely to focus on mitigating any Iranian response against Israel. This began with an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference members, including Iran, in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on Aug. 7.

With no viable political strategy for a Gaza cease-fire currently in place, de-escalating tensions involving Iran  rather than trying to broker peace between Palestinians and Israelis  will dominate Qatars approach in the days and weeks ahead.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Rice University

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Kristian Coates Ulrichsen does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
SOUTH OZONE PARK, Queens (PIX11)  Drug overdose continues to be a public health emergency in New York City. According to statistics from the health department, opioids were involved in more than 87% of overdose deaths.

There were more than 3,000 deaths in the city last year from people overdosing on opioids, most of them from fentanyl.

More Local News

Alarmed by the rising number of deaths, State Senator Joseph Addabbo of Queens has been conducting training sessions for community residents, teaching them how to save a life if they see someone in the throes of overdosing.

Addabbo is passionate about his mission. Those 3,000 New Yorkers not here today could possibly be here today if someone had one of these, and now you do, he declared at the opening of the session.

Residents of the South Ozone Park community were provided overdose rescue kits containing Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, an antidote for opioid overdoses that can temporarily reverse the effects of the drug. The medication only works on opioids.

Each kit contains two four-milligram nasal sprays of Narcan, a spray that could be administered to someone who has overdosed.

New drug more deadly than fentanyl surfaces in New York

A strong voice bellows in the room, So were walking down the street and we see someone on the floor unresponsive.

The audience listened intently as the senior administrator of the Acacia Network Luis Laboy demonstrated how to administer Narcan. Leaning over a volunteer, he shouts, I say, sir, sir, are you okay. Only if he does not respond, you put your hands on his chest to determine if hes breathing. First thing I do is dial 911. he then demonstrates how to place the Narcan inhaler into the drug abusers nose and spray.

It should take less than a minute for the antidote to take effect and bring the overdosed back to consciousness. Dr. David Collymore warns that the drug abuser might be more agitated when they come to, but at least they are alive.

In cases where the person is not immediately responsive to the Narcan antidote, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is suggested. The training session lasted a little over an hour but those who attended found it well worthwhile.

I learned it takes two seconds to save a life administering Narcan, said Queens resident Paul Cordero.

It was beneficial, said Sarikia Laljie who is visiting New York. I didnt realize how high the overdose deaths are and how important it is to have hands-on training. Its very important to know.

Bronx BP Gibson on tackling the opioid crisis

The overdose rescue kits are available free of charge from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as well as many participating pharmacies in the area. Just remember, right place, right time, and you just could save a life.

Rescue kits can be obtained free of charge from these participating pharmacies:

CVS at 282 East 149th Street, Bronx

CVS at 1916 Williamsbridge Road, Bronx

CVS at 341 9th Street, Brooklyn

CVS at 115 West 125th Street, Manhattan

CVS at 1361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island

Walgreens at 35 East 170th Street, Bronx

Walgreens at 755 Broadway, Brooklyn

Walgreens at 10540 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Queens

Walgreens at 7001 Amboy Road, Staten Island

Rite Aid at 182 Smith Street, Brooklyn

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Former President Trump arrives for a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate Thursday. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)

Slipping in the polls, Donald Trump agreed Thursday to a Sept. 10 debate with Vice President Kamala Harris and upped the pressure on his Democratic opponent to answer questions from the media.

"She's barely competent," Trump said of the vice president at a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach, Fla., estate. "She's not smart enough to do a news conference."

In a rambling 65-minute exchange with reporters, the former president lobbed a string of insults at Harris, repeated wild and misleading claims and portrayed the U.S. in stark, apocalyptic terms: "We could literally be on the throes of the Depression," he said. "We are in great danger of being in World War III."

Trump accused Harris of destroying California and San Francisco. "Everything she's touched," he said, "has turned to bad things."

The GOP nominee  who has long engaged in a contentious relationship with mainstream media outlets he dubs fake news  challenged reporters to do a more thorough job of interrogating Harris.

I just hope that the media becomes more diligent, more honest, frankly  because if theyre not going to be honest, its going to be much tougher to bring our country back, Trump said. We have a very, very sick country right now.

Read more: 'Our lives are on the line': Why many LGBTQ+ people hope for a Harris win

As Trump answered questions from reporters, ABC confirmed on the social media site X that the two presidential nominees have agreed to a debate next month. Trump told reporters he was also willing to participate in additional September debates with Fox News and NBC.

In response, Harris said on X: "I hear that Donald Trump has finally committed to debating me on September 10. I look forward to it."

After a campaign rally in Michigan, Harris told the media pool Thursday afternoon that she was ready for a sit-down interview. "I want us to get an interview scheduled before the end of the month," she said.

Trump relied on many familiar GOP talking points as he cast Harris as a "radical leftist" and a "loser" who is weak on crime and border security. He questioned the manner in which she had become the Democratic nominee after President Biden ended his reelection campaign, noting that she dropped out early in the 2020 presidential primary contest.

"She was the first loser," he said of Harris, who bowed out in 2019 after former U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania and former Montana Gov. Steve Bullock. "The fact that you can get no votes, lose in the primary system ... and then be picked to run for president seems to be actually unconstitutional."

In criticizing Harris' intelligence, Trump made the misleading claim that she "couldn't pass her bar exam." Harris failed Californias bar exam on her first attempt in 1989, but passed in 1990, a year after her graduation.

"Nobody was killed on Jan. 6," he said. In fact, several people died in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, including a Trump supporter who was fatally shot by the Capitol Police.

"Were leading Georgia by a lot," he said the same day that the nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted its ratings for Georgia, Arizona and Nevada from "lean Republican" to "toss up."

As the race becomes more competitive  Democrats are seeing a swell of grassroots enthusiasm and polls show Harris gaining ground  Trump told reporters his strategy had not changed.

I havent recalibrated strategy at all, Trump said. Its the same policies: open borders, weak on crime.

Asked about abortion, he said it was "much less of an issue" in the campaign.

Harris, he said, was "worse than Biden." He compared her unfavorably with his 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton: "In terms of intelligence," Trump said, "Hillary was far superior."

Former President Trump speaks to reporters during Thursday's news conference at Mar-a-Lago. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)

After the news conference, the Harris campaign delivered a withering review to reporters in an email titled: "Donald Trumps Very Good, Very Normal Press Conference."

The subheading: "Split Screen: Joy and Freedom vs. Whatever the Hell That Was."

"Donald Trump took a break from taking a break to put on some pants and host a press conference public meltdown," the Harris campaign wrote before running through a long list of his false claims. "He hasnt campaigned all week. He isnt going to a single swing state this week. But he sure is mad Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are getting big crowds across the battlegrounds."

The former presidents campaign momentum has lagged since Biden abruptly ended his reelection bid and endorsed Harris last month. National polling shows Trump's lead among likely voters falling away in crucial battleground states as Harris has dominated news coverage over the last week, formally securing the Democratic presidential nomination and naming Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate.

On Thursday morning, Trump attempted to counterattack, assailing Harris on his social media site, claiming she has failed to engage with the media and arguing her policies on immigration, the environment, LGBTQ+ issues and the Middle East were CATASTROPHIC.

Kamala refuses to do interviews because her team realizes she is unable to answer questions, much like Biden was not able to answer questions, but for different reasons, Trump wrote. He is just plain 'shot,' and she is just plain 'Incompetent.'

Read more: Harris has ushered in a new 'F' word for Democrats: Fun

If she is Elected, our County, and indeed the World, will suffer a 1929 Style Great Depression, Trump added, misspelling "country."

Harris  who secured her party's nomination without the scrutiny of a public primary campaign or debate  has not engaged in any substantial on-the-record interviews with reporters in the 18 days since Biden withdrew.

Over the last week, the vice president has crisscrossed the country, delivering slightly different versions of the same stump speech in battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia and Wisconsin. Last week, she responded briefly to a question from the media as she and Biden welcomed freed American prisoners home from Russia.

Trump vowed on social media Thursday to expose the vice president the same way I exposed Crooked Joe, Hillary, and everyone else during Debates - Only I think Kamala will be easier!

Over the last few days, Trump has posted a flurry of false claims and fanciful speculation on social media. On Tuesday, he claimed that Biden would show up at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and attempt to reclaim the nomination from Harris. He feels that he made a historically tragic mistake by handing over the U.S. Presidency, a COUP, to the people in the World he most hates, and he wants it back, NOW!!! Trump wrote.

Trump also asserted Thursday without evidence that journalists underreport the size of the crowds at his rallies.

Just weeks ago, Trump was viewed by many political observers as being well-positioned to defeat Biden after he survived a July 13 assassination attempt at a rally, leaping up and hoisting his fist in the air.

But over the last two weeks, he has invited a string of negative publicity. On July 31, he engaged in a hostile back-and-forth with Black journalists in Chicago, drawing outrage for falsely accusing Harris of shifting the way she talked about her racial identity.

On Saturday, Trump drew criticism from fellow Republicans after picking a fight at an Atlanta rally with a popular GOP figure, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, blaming Kemp for Trump's 2020 loss to Biden.

Hes a bad guy. Hes a disloyal guy. And hes a very average governor, Trump said of Kemp, who won reelection against Stacey Abrams in 2022 by 7.5 percentage points.

GOP strategists have characterized the recent uptick in Democratic enthusiasm as a fleeting "Harris honeymoon." But polls show Harris gaining ground on Trump nationally and in several battleground states.

State polling averages compiled by FiveThirtyEight.com show significant movement toward Harris in the blue wall states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin from July 21, when Trump was leading by 2 to 4 points. Harris now has a slight lead, within the margin of error, in those states of 0.7 to 1.6 points.

Three weeks ago, Donald Trump was leading President Joe Biden in the Cook Political Report national vote tracker by about 2.5%, Amy Walter, Cooks editor in chief, wrote Thursday. Today, Kamala Harris leads Trump by less than one point, a shift of more than three points in Harris direction.

Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Benjamin Netanyahu during an interview with TIME in the Prime Ministers office in Jerusalem on Aug 4. Credit - Paolo PellegrinMagnum Photos for TIME

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sat down for a wide-ranging interview with TIME on August 4 at the Prime Ministers Office in Jerusalem.

Over the course of the interview, Netanyahu discussed the possibility of all-out war with Iran and Hezbollah, his handling of Israels war against Hamas, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the prospects for an Israeli-Saudi normalization deal, the U.S.-Israel relationship, and the future of Israel and the Middle East.

Below is a transcript, lightly edited for clarity, of the interview between Netanyahu and TIME Correspondent Eric Cortellessa.

Thank you. I appreciate your doing this. Looking forward to having this conversation about Israel's war against Hamas, broader regional threats, and the future of the world's only Jewish state. I want to start with the news. As we speak, the IDF is on high alert for awaiting an Iranian attack. Can Israel simultaneously defend itself against Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran?

Yes.

If Iran directly attacks Israel and launches a war against it, would you ask for the United States to come to your defense?

I always appreciate American support, and uh, I'd appreciate it in every case. It's already been demonstrated in the April 14th attack. But I'm not going to get into our defensive preparations, or, for that matter, our offensive preparations. Well do what we need to do to defend ourselves.

Photograph by Paolo PellegrinMagnum Photos for TIME

Do you think the Biden administration is sending a strong enough force posture against Iran to deter it from attacking Israel or launching an all-out war against it?

The less daylight there is between Israel and America, the more effective the deterrence on Iran and its proxies. I appreciate the fact that President Biden sent battle groups, carrier groups here at the first part of the war. I appreciate the fact that he's doing it now.

In recent years, Iran has gotten closer to a nuclear weapon. As you know, it's now enriching uranium up to 60% purity, according to the IAEA, which suspects it could develop two nuclear weapons if the uranium is enriched further. What steps is Israel taking to stop this?

Well, weve been taking steps, I think the actions we took over the years have delayed Iran's enrichment, but it didn't stop it, and they're now close to being a threshold state, a nuclear state, when it comes to enrichment. There are other components of, other elements of making a nuclear weapon that they're still further away from. But I've committedIve said it again and againwe'll do whatever we're able to do to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons. It would not only threaten us with destruction, I think it would threaten the peace of the entire world.

Is full-on war with Hezbollah inevitable?

Well, I think that Hezbollah has to consider the consequences of attacking Israel and uh, opening a wider war with it. I think if they're contemplating it, they should think twice.

If you don't deal with them now, are you worried that you could repeat a mistake with Hamas, where they gain even more in strength and capabilities and then catch you off guard years later?

Its very much on our minds, especially after October 7th. We're facing not merely Hamas. We're facing the broader Iran terror axis that includes Hamas, the Houthis, Hezbollah, the militias in uh, the Shiite militias in uh, Syria and Iraq and also the efforts that they're trying to do to create another front in uh, the West Bank, in Judea and Samaria. So we're facing a full-fledged Iranian axis, and we understand that we have to uh, to organize ourselves for a broader defense, which affects not only us but every country in the region, including our Arab uh, partners.

So if it doesn't happen now, do you think it will happen later?

Nothing is predetermined. I think the stronger you are, the stronger your alliances are, the less likely you'll have to take military action, but in order tobut the Romans were right, you know, if you want peace, prepare for war.

When will people in the north be able to return home?

I can't quite say, to put a date on it, but that's a goal. One of our main goals is to make sure that the 60,000 or so Israelis who have been who have evacuated their homes can come back and live in their communities in peace and security. That's still the goal that we have to achieve.

In retrospect, do you think it was the right decision to evacuate those communities in the north?

I think at the time, we were concerned that what we had in Gaza, that is a ground invasion and massacres, would be replicated in the north. And uh, I think that right now, our concern is how to make sure that they can come back with security.

Read More: Inside the Israel-Hamas Information War

I want to transition to the world before October 7, and I want to give you a chance to respond. Why did you and your government allow the Qataris to bankroll Hamas?

Well, its not only my government. It's the previous government, the government before me, and the government after me. It wasn't bankrolling Hamas. It was, in fact, supporting the civilian administration that was run by various officials, many of them non-Hamas. But the reason that successive governments agreed to that is that we wanted to make sure that Gaza has a functioning civilian administration to avoid humanitarian collapse. For example, having money to run the sewage, to the water supply, the education system, you name it. I mean the whole thing would have, could have collapsed, and we could have epidemics. We could have many other problems that we wanted to make sure that we avoid.

I want to read something that you said

But Ill add to that. That didn't prevent me from conducting three full-fledged military campaigns against Hamas in which we killed thousands of terrorists, eliminated some of their top military leadership and sought to prevent them from having the capacity to attack us. One thing we didn't do was we didn't come out to eradicate Hamas completely, because that would require a full-scale ground invasion for which we had no internal legitimacy or international legitimacy. Look at the problem we have with legitimacy now, after they conducted the worst terror onslaught on the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

Well I want to come back to that in a second, but I also want to ask you about something you said in 2019 at a Likud Party meeting. I want to read it for you. Anyone who wants to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state has to support bolstering Hamas and transferring money to Hamas. This is part of our strategyto isolate the Palestinians in Gaza.

Thats a false statement. I never said that.

You never said that?

Never said that. Among the many mis-quotes that are attributed to me. This doesn't quite top the list, but it's close.

Others in your government I've talked to have said you wanted to give Hamas something to lose so that they didn't want to attack Israel.

No, it just didnt have the capacity. I never had any illusions about Hamas. When I resigned from Sharons government before he left Gaza, I said, What will happen is that youre going to get Hamistan. You're going to get an Iranian backed terror state right at the outskirts of Tel Aviv. In 2014 I called Hamas Daesh and ISIS, and I said, what we have to do is constantly cut back and destroy their military capacities. But we didn't go to thewe sort of cut the weeds, but we didn't come in to uproot them completely until October 7th. October 7th showed that those who said that Hamas was deterred were wrong. If anything, I didn't challenge enough the assumption that was common to all the security agencies.

Looking back, was it a mistake to allow the Qataris to transfer money into Gaza?

I don't think it made that big a difference, because the main issue was the transfer of weapons and ammunition from the Sinai into Gaza. That's what made themit wasn't so much a question of money. It was a question of availability, and that's why I insist now on cutting off this supply route for the, uh, in the post-Hamas period, so you don't have to resupply the resurgence of terror.

Why didnt you take out Hamas earlier? You could have gone all the way in 2014.

No I couldnt. I don't think there wasthere wasn't a consensus. There was, in fact, a consensus among the military that we shouldn't do it. But more importantly, you can overrule the military, but you can't, you cant act in a vacuum. There was no public, no domestic support for such, for such an action. There was certainly no international support for such an action, and you need both in order toor at least one of them in order to take such an action. I think that became evident right after the October 7th massacre.

Protesters demanding a hostage-release deal outside Netanyahus Jerusalem residence on Aug. 3. Paolo PellegrinMagnum Photos for TIME

Israels military and intelligence services warned that your judicial overhaul was dividing Israel, and that Hezbollah and Hamas saw it as weakening Israel's deterrence. Why didn't you listen to them?

They actually made a point to say that that's not the case in Gaza. They said that it might affect the community overall, other parts of the Middle East, but they were quite specific that it didn't, didn't affect Gaza. But the more important thing is, I think that what really affected them, if anything, was the idea of someone refusing to serve. The refusal to serve because of an internal political debate. I think that, if anything, that had an effect, as it turned out, and I said this before the October 7, make no mistake, when the moment comes, we'll all be there, all factions, all factions in a domestic dispute would unite to fight as one against an attack.

Do you think that they saw this as an opening, the fact that your society was so ruptured and divided?

I don't think that was the key determinant. They're determined to wipe us off the map anyway. It's been Hamas's position throughout, and the plans for this attack actually preceded the judicial reform by, let me check that, but I think it's about a year.

President Trump told me you've been rightfully criticized for October 7th. Is he wrong?

I wont get into an argument, but I would say thatcriticized for what?

That it happened on your watch.

Well, you know, when it happens on your watch, I suspect that I felt the same thing that President Roosevelt felt after Pearl Harbor, and President George W. Bush felt after 9/11. It happens on your watch. You try to see how it could it have been prevented. But right now my responsibility is what? To win the war, to make sure it doesn't happen again, to destroy Hamas's military capabilities so it doesn't happen.

Did you discuss this with Trump at all at Mar-a-Lago?

No, but I won't get into our discussions.

The heads of the IDF and the Shin Bet apologized for October 7. When you apologized, it was for a social media post blaming the military and security establishment. Why have you not apologized to the Israeli people for October 7?

I've said that following the end of the war, there'll be an independent commission that will examine everything that happened before, and everybody will have to answer some tough questions, including me.

Will you do it right now? Will you apologize?

I dont think we can do it right now in the middle of a war. Apologize? Of course, of course. I am sorry, deeply, that something like this happened. And you always look back and you say, could we have done things that would have prevented it? You'd have to behow could you not?

Sure, but what is your accountability for it?

I think we'll examine all that, that question, and examine it in detail, exactly what happened? How did it happen? How did this failure of intelligence, operational capability and other policies that contributed? There'll be enough time to deal with it. But I think that dealing with it now is a mistake. We're in the midst of a war, a seven-front war. I think we have to concentrate on one thing: winning.

After the assassinations of Shukr in Beirut and Haniyeh in Tehran, do you think there's still a chance for a hostage release deal?

Yes, I think that. I think they've actually been increased because some of thebecause I think that some of the more extreme elements that oppose the deal are no longer with us.

I know that Israel has not claimed responsibility for the Haniyeh assassination, but President Biden says that killing Haniyeh was not helpful for ceasefire talks. How do you respond?

I've said that we're not going to comment on that, and I havent changed my views.

The U.S. assessment is that it was Israel.

As I said, no comment.

U.S. officials and the hostage families fear that you're escalating tensions in the region to sabotage the ceasefire deal. What do you say to that?

Thats not true. We're faced with a noose of death that Iran is trying to place around our neck, and I think the message we're sending, 360 degrees, is that we're not going to be lambs led to the slaughter. Israel is not, is not a sacrificial lamb for the Iranians or for their proxies.

There are more than 100 hostages still held in captivity. How many do you believe are still alive?

Well, not all of them unfortunately.

Do you have any basis to believe a certain number?

I'm just not going to do that.

You have vowed total victory against Hamas, which, above everything else, means ending its rule of the Gaza Strip. Is removing Hamas from power a higher priority than returning the hostages?

I think they're actually complementary goals. They're not mutually exclusive. The more military pressure we apply, the more we get closer to achieving both goals. One, releasing hostages. It's pureit's totally a function of the pressure we put on Hamas, and secondly, it advances our goal to destroy Hamas' military capabilities and make sure that it doesn't run Gaza.

Are you willing to accept a deal that would release all of the hostages, but that wouldn't end Hamas's control of the Gaza Strip?

No, I don't think that. And I think there's a vast consensus in Israel that if we did that, we'll just have a repetition. Therell be future hostage taking, there'll be a future October 7, and actually worse things that could happen. So we have to achieve both goals, achieve the release of all the hostages and win the war. And I believe it's possible. By the way, we've already released, we've already achieved the release of more than half, as you know, and insisted, when the deal came forward that we increased the number, actually by 30. We went from 50 to 80 on that particular release and had others released as well in rescue operations. But I'm committed, fully committed, to releasing all the hostages. And in fact, I think that the way that we're going about it is the only way that we'll achieve that goal.

Your own security chiefs in recent days have said that your demands, including for Israel to be able to resume fighting after a ceasefire hostage deal, are crippling chances of the deal. How do you respond?

Well, Im not going to get into what theyre exactly saying. They're not saying that, and some of the security chiefs are saying Im flipping. But ah, ultimately, this is a country with an army, not an army with a country. Ultimately, the responsibility of making the decision is with the political echelons of the political leaders. That's the way it works in a democracy. And sometimes you agree, sometimes you disagree. Most of the time, by the way we make decisions and with consensus, but not all the time. That applies to the United States as well. I mean, remember that I think that most of the security chiefs and the military chiefs said to President Obama that he shouldn't take out bin Laden and he decided otherwise. That happens here on occasion.

But I'll say this, that I believe the way that I'm seeking to to, to ah, achieve this deal is a way that will maximize the number of hostages that are released in the first phase, living hostages that are released in the first phase, but also that would make sure that Hamas cannot take over Gaza after the deal. That is something that would run against everything that we were talking about. It also would not secure the release of all the hostages. And I'm committed to doing that.

Netanyahu in his Jerusalem office on Aug. 4. Paolo PellegrinMagnum Photos for TIME

A lot of Americans want you to end the war. Can you explain to them why it is so imperative, in your view, that the consequence of October 7 is that Hamas loses Gaza?

I want to end the war. Id end the war tomorrow, if I could. And by the way, if Hamas laid down its arms, surrendered, went into exile, the war would be over immediately. And why do we need that? Because Hamas, the Hamas enclave, the Iranian terrorist enclave, is 40 miles from Tel Aviv, okay? To leave them in place not only means that they would have the ability to repeat the savagery of October 7, but go well beyond that. When they act in unison with the Iran terror axis, with Hezbollah in the north, with the Houthis and others who are firing at us simultaneously, that's something that is unacceptable.

Can Israel restore its deterrence without achieving that outcome?

No, I think thatI think it's important to achieve it, not only because we eliminate that front so close to the center of our country and to, to ourall the strategic facilities that we have, but also to send a message to the other elements of the Iran terror axis: You know, if you do this horrible savagery, the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust, we'll take powerful action against you, and you will not be around to try to repeat it.

Mr. Prime Minister, obviously, we should have no illusions about the enemy you face and the tactics they use. Hamas deliberately embeds its military infrastructure and weapons depots inside densely populated civilian areas. And of course, this all started on October 7. But in your estimation, how many Gazans have been killed in this war, and how many were civilians versus combatants?

Our best assessment is about a one-to-one ratio, but it's been going down naturally. One-to-one ratio in probably the most difficult urban warfare conditions is an amazing achievement for the Israeli government. Any civilian casualty, I've said, and I'll say it again, is a tragedy.

How many have there been?

Well, if it's about half. So we're talking about what 15,000, more.

The number is 40 [40,000] right now so youre saying 20 [20,000]?

It's hard to say the exact number of civilian casualties or military casualties, but its about40 is everybody. Its about half and half. Our best assessment is one-to-one. But interestingly enough, that number has been coming down, coming down precipitously, and the place where the civilian casualties have been lowest is in Rafah. We were told by the international community and by the United States, don't go into Rafah because you'll have thousands. In fact, some people said 20,000 casualties, because there were 1.4 million people in Gaza and where would they go? Well, it turns out they all went. They all left to the humanitarian zone we designated two miles from Rafah, and the number of civilians killed in, the number of terrorists we killed in, that were killed in Rafah, exceeds now 1,500. The number of civilians killed is a few dozen, most of them in a by a small diameter bomb that hit a Hamas weapons depot that killed, they say, around 40 people in Rafah, probably half of them terrorists. So the number of civilian casualties in Rafah there was supposed to be this humanitarian and civilian casualty catastrophe has turned out to be exactly the opposite, because we take action, because we tell the people to leave, because we tell them, we text message them, we send leaflets, we phone them, we tell them to leave, and they did leave, and I'm glad to see that number coming down.

Read More: Inside Rafahs Last Operating Maternity Hospital

Do you agree, though, that

By the way, we'd have nothing. None of them would come down if it wasn't fornone of them would be actually, because you practically had no significant casualties in Gaza, if you had a condition that doesn't exist in Gaza but exists in all other urban warfare theaters where the numbers are actually higher, and that is because Gaza is locked, because the people cannot go into the Sinai. If they could, then they'd leave, completely, the war theater and Israel would not have to take the action that it takes. This is what happened in Syria. This is what happened in Iraq. This is what happened in Yemen. People leave. In Gaza, they can't leave, and we're faced with the tremendous task of making sure that we relocate them within a very narrow space. But we've done that, and I'm glad to see that we've succeeded. As we go along, we succeed better and better on thisin Rafah, almost 100%.

But do you agree that by any estimation, this war has brought a tragic cost in human lives?

Of course. Look, anytime you have civilians killed, you haveyou see. Look, I know the horrors of losing people. I know the horrors. War is hell. I think Sherman said it, and I'll tell you, it really is hell. When you lose your own soldiers, when you lose your own people, and when you see civilians killed on the other side, it's something you want to avoid. And I've been taking, and Israel has been taking, unusual methods that no military has taken in history to avoid those casualties. That's why the ratio is relatively low. Ratio is a number, obviously. To any civilian killed, to any family of a civilian killed, the statistics dont count, but looking at it in broad terms and historical terms Israel has done here under impossible conditions, impossible conditions, I think, an exemplary effort of avoiding civilian casualties or minimizing them.

Dennis Ross said after October 7 that you needed to create humanitarian corridors at the very beginning of the conflict to prevent civilian casualties. Why didn't you?

We did. That's completely contrary to the fact. Of course we did. We created humanitarian zones and safe zones right away and people moved there.

There have been multiple reports of Palestinian civilians who died because they couldn't get access to medical care. Why didn't you set up field hospitals for Gazans the way you did for Ukrainians and Syrians?

First of all, we did. I mean, we asked others to do it because we weren't in the safe zones. We wanted them to go to the safe zone. But we enabled the Emiratis to create the field hospitals. We enabled others to do the same, and they were working hospitals. The problem is that a lot of the Palestinian hospitals in Gaza weren't hospitals at all. They became command posts for Hamas. We went into these hospitals. You barely found patients. You found terrorists. You found weapons depots. You found communication centers, military communication centers. You found tunnels leading in and out of the hospitals. That's one of the problems we had to contend with.

Israel reportedly used AI systems called Lavender and Where's Daddy? to identify Hamas targets and bomb them in their homes. Is that true?

I'm not going to get into our intelligence gathering capabilities.

Senior Israeli officials confirmed the program to multiple reports. Are they lying?

They may have, I don't.

More than 2 million people in Gaza face food insecurity. The U.N. has warned of a famine in Gaza, and more than 30 children have reportedly died of malnutrition. The U.N. says you are using starvation as a weapon of war. How do you respond?

Thats not true. We've gone out of our way to enable humanitarian assistance since the beginning of the war, we enabled some 40,000 aid trucks to come in. That's 500, half a million tons of food, okay, half a million tons. We paved roads to enable those trucks to go in. We opened land crossings to enable those trucks to go in. We allowed airdrops. We allowed sea transport. And in fact, the calorie count right now, the average calories that every man, woman, and child in Gaza could reach, could have, is about, is over 3,000 calories, which is well, well beyond subsistence levels. We take hundreds, thousands of prisoners, thousands of prisoners, Palestinian prisoners. The first thing we do is to make sure that they don't have suicide belts, suicide vests on. So we ask them to take their shirts off. Find me one example, one, of an emaciated person, you won't find even one. Sometimes you find the opposite. That's simply not true. So these reports are not reliable. The markets in Jabalia, in other parts of Gaza, are full of food and so on. That doesn't mean that there weren't stoppages in food. There were, but it's not because Israel didn't enable the supply. It's not because Israel blocked the supply of food, but because Hamas stole it. That's the problem.

Well, on that note, Hamas loots the aid. Everyone knows that. But you're not using the IDF to secure distribution of the aid. You've got your forces in Gaza. You could prevent looting. Why aren't you doing that?

That is a very important debate that is happening within our own quarters. Because the way you could do it is actually to put in a lot more military force, actually occupy Gaza and run Gaza. And we'd like to avoid that. We'd like to have, to take out Hamass military, but have a civilian administration, a civilian Gazan administration run this. So far. And we're working on how to do it. The less I speak about how we're going to do it, the more likely

So its possible you will start using

Its not a possibility. Its a goal.

Youre going to try to do it at some point soon?

Were working on it.

Do you have a goal in terms of a timeline?

The sooner the better but one of the things we try to do is recruit local Gazans to do exactly what you said, to distribute the food. And the first thing that happened is Hamas murdered them. So we're working on other possibilities. But again, the less I talk about it, the more likely that it will materialize.

Why have none of the Israelis who destroyed food supplies for Gazans been prosecuted?

They have. I don't know. I don't know that they're not prosecuted. My instructions were, and the cabinet's instructions were, to take all the actions, the legal actions that are required, the law enforcement action to stop these people from blocking the roads. And they tried. They did, but I think we generally put a stop to that.

The groups that have done this are still eligible for tax-deductible donations. Would you get rid of that for them?

I have no idea who's doing what. I've asked the police, the law enforcement agencies, to do what they need to do to prevent this. And they are. In fact, I think most of it has stopped.

As Prime Minister and as head of the war cabinet, do you accept responsibility for the treatment of Palestinian prisoners?

Yeah, of course. We think this iswe're a country of laws. You have to obey the laws, the laws of war. It means that if there are any transgressions, they have to be investigated, if necessary, prosecuted. It's not a question.

Sir there have been reports by the U.N. and other watchdogs that Israeli military forces have abused Palestinian prisoners, including through sleep deprivation, waterboarding, dog attacks, even sexual assault. What are you doing about this alleged abuse?

We have our own independent agencies, our own independent means to monitor any, any transgressions of this kind. Israel, I think, is famous for that. It has what is called a proper judicial system, both inside the military and outside the military. In fact, it's about, it probably has the most independent legal system on the planet, so the argument that we're not investigating this is ridiculous.

Well, speaking of those who are being investigated, I want to ask you about what happened at Sde Teiman. After a Palestinian detainee was rushed to the hospital with severe wounds to his anus after being sexually assaulted with a pole, far-right protesters, including some lawmakers, stormed a detention center to protest the arrest of nine alleged suspects. How will they be held accountable?

Nobody can storm into a military base, nobody can interfere, should interfere, with the law enforcement agencies. That's a critical position that I've held, and I don't care if it comes from the right or from the left. In fact, one of the things that I think we need to do is to make sure that law enforcement is uniform and tough, and it hasn't always been, but it should be.

When you condemned this riot, you said we don't storm detention centers, and you said we also don't block roads, referring to the hostage protesters and the judicial reform protesters. Why would you equate those two?

I also said that there was a case where protesters, where a leading protester, was taken into a military police station and then into a court, and thousands stormed the police station, and I believe the court as well. And actually it was released under that kind of pressure. That was wrong then, they may have set an example of somebody else that was wrong, and this is wrong. I don't accept either one.

Has Ben Gvir created an atmosphere of permissive violence against Palestinian prisoners? Should he resign or be fired?

I don't believe that we should allow any of that to happen. That's not the policy of the government, and I don't think that anybody seriously believes that we won't enforce the laws. We do enforce them. We did in this case, we did. We should in all cases.

What do you say to your detractors who argue that your prosecution of the war in Gaza is creating a new generation of terrorists and thereby jeopardizing Israel's security instead of ensuring it?

I think this is absurd. We have a terrorist enclave, an Iranian backed terrorist enclave committed to the destruction of Israel. The more they believe that they can achieve it, that's how you're going to get more terrorism um in the future. The only way that you destroy these people, who as I say committed the worst outrage against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, is to make sure that they're defeated. It's like, would you say that the allies action against Nazis created more Nazis? Of course not. You had to destroy that regime. Doesn't mean that there aren't neo-Nazis today in Germany, but for the last 80 years, Germany has not had a Nazi regime and has had a democratic regime. I don't know if we can achieve a democratic regime in Gaza, but we have to make sure that this Hamas and their ilk do not run Gaza, and that's the only thing that will create hope for a new generation of Palestinians, as long as they believe that Gaza is going to be run by Hamas, you're not going to get a new generation of people that can live in peace with Israel.

I want to shift to your vision for a post-war Gaza. You've described total victory as achieving three things: Number one, destroying Hamas's military infrastructure and removing it from power. Number two, liberating the hostages. Number three, installing a new civilian Palestinian governing entity that can rule over Gaza and not threaten Israel. The Israeli military has a plan for number one. Everybody knows the basic outlines for number two, but what is your plan for number three?

Well, it involves two basic things, demilitarization and de-radicalization. Demilitarization means that you have to make sure that Hamas is destroyed, but also cannot recover itself. And that means, first of all, preventing the smuggling of weapons and terrorists from the Sinai into Gaza. That's why I insist on control, continued control of the Philadelphi corridor between Egypt, between the Sinai and Gaza. But it also means that for the foreseeable future, until another force emerges, Israel will have to have the job of actually, the overriding security responsibility of taking action against any attempt at terrorist resurgence. Second thing is, I'd like to see a civilian administration run by Gazans, perhaps with the support of regional partners, that runs the civilian administration in Gaza. Demilitarization by Israel, civilian administration by Gaza.

Tell us the details.

And of course, also changing what is taught in schools, what is taught in the mosque. This is essentially what the United States did in the post-war period in Germany and Japan. It did demilitarization and it did de-radicalization, and those countries have been in peace with the United States for close to a century now.

To an outside observer, that sounds like something that would take a generation to achieve. Could you provide specific details of a plan that the Israeli people, the Americans, and the rest of the world can view as a credible way to get there?

I don't think it's instantaneous. I think it will take some time to do, but I think that's the only reasonable thing to try to do, unless you want a repetition of what happened.

How long do you think it will take?

I think we should start as soon as we can. And that's what we're working on right now.

What Arab countries are you talking to about the creation of such a Palestinian government?

The less I talk about it, the more likely that we'll have some success.

Well, reportedly, you're talking to Egypt, the UAE and Jordan. Is that right?

Youre a reporter. You're free to ask anyone you want.

I mean, are these nations really going to want to come in riding on the backs of Israeli tanks?

Ill say this, look, I think that everybody understands, even though they don't say it publicly, that the defeat of Hamas not only serves Israel's purpose, it serves also the interests of peace and security in the entire region, whether they openly admit it or not. They certainly told that to us in private conversations.

In the past, you had talked about state minus for Palestinians, or autonomy plus. But can you explain why the end point to resolving this conflict is not a Palestinian state?

I've always said that my vision for an arrangement, a long-term arrangement, with the Palestinians would mean that they should have all the powers to govern themselves but none of the powers to threaten us. That means that the overriding security responsibility will be left in Israel's hands, and that's a detraction of sovereign powers. There's no question about it. That's the only reasonable arrangement that we could have. In fact, when we left areas adjacent to Israel and relinquished our, that power, we had an immediate entry and takeover by Iran's proxies, Hezbollah in Lebanon, when we left Lebanon, Hamas when we left Gaza. So I don't think we should repeat that mistake. We have to have the capacity to ensure overall security by Israel. That means that any arrangement with the Palestinians would have those powers that they need to govern themselves, but not the powers that could threaten us. Chief of themsecurity.

But even if you maintain security control, the U.S. has bases in South Korea, in Japan, in Germany. They've got a presence everywhere. I mean, could you not maintain some level of security, or the security control you need, even though it's less sovereignty than other countries, and allow them to have a state of their own?

Well, I dont get into the labels. I get into the content, and the content is again, the critical powers that relate to security must rely, must rest in Israel's hands, until you prove to me that there's another force that could take over, and I don't see that in the immediate future, although if you did show me that, I would consider it.

President Biden told TIME last spring that people should have every reason to believe that you are prolonging the war for your own political self preservation. How do you respond?

That's simply not true. I don't need to. I'm not concerned with my political preservation. I'm concerned with my country's preservation, and right now, I'm not prolonging it. I would end it as quickly as possible. In fact, the more assistance we have, the faster we will solve it. That's what I said in Congress. I paraphrased Churchill. He said, Give us the tools and we'll do the job and we'll finish the job. I said, Give us the tools faster and we'll finish the job faster. And that remains my position.

Your critics here in Israel and abroad say you don't want to end the war because you will be voted out and then have to face possible sentencing for charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust. I know the trial has been ongoing as Prime Minister, but how do you respond to those charges?

Well, firstly, that. I mean, there's nothere's this canard, this narrative that I'm prolonging the war is false. I'm trying to bring the war to as speedy an end as possible. Second, my trial is proceeding in Israel. The political leaders have no immunity from prosecution or legal procedures. In fact, my trial has been going on for three years. It's totally independent of what is happening on the outside, just because Israel has an independent judiciary. Its not subject to the whims of any political leader. And by the way, that trial is unraveling now. You don't hear about it very much, but it's really unraveling. So this is totally not the issue. It's a bogus issue. I'm surprised sometimes when senior journalists, not like yourself, actually write op-eds in the world's leading papers explaining that I'm trying to prolong the war to prevent my going on trial.

I cant imagine who youre referring to.

Hello! Ive been on trial for the last three years!

Before October 7, you were on the cusp of a Saudi normalization agreement. I know it's not over. But Ghazi Hamad of Hamas, I talked to him last fall, said that Hamas attacked Israel with the goal of not only trying to stop the deal, but to trigger an Israeli response that would turn the world against you. Take what he says with a grain of salt. But to that end, haven't they succeeded?

No, I think that they won't succeed, because once we win, I think things will fall in place, and actually, the Saudi deal will become more likely. In any case, I haven't given up on the deal. I was

But the world has treated Israel as a global pariah over the last 10 months.

That says something about the world, not about Israel. Here's a democracy fighting against the worst savagery that we've seen on the planet for many decades, and the fact that democratic governments are subjected to internal pressure from fringe groups and do not support Israel completely or are willing to accommodate these extremists should be leveled at them, not at Israel.

Are you worried that this is shaping the perception of Israel for the next generation of not only Americans but everywhere, and that this will have long-term implications for your security?

Yes, but being destroyed has bigger implications about Israels security, so I'd rather have bad press than a good obituary.

The Saudis say they want a Palestinian state, or at least they want you to be moving toward one eventually. How is it possible to strike a Saudi normalization deal when you have Ben-Gvir and Smotrich changing the conditions on the ground to rule out a Palestinian state, or even state minus as youve called it?

Look, all Israeli governments have been based in parliamentary systems [and] are based on coalitions. Everyone's done it. Previous governments even made a coalition with a party that is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and rejects the very survival of Israel. I didn't hear any criticism about that. But one thing I can assure you, I run the show, I make the decisions. I formulate the policy.

So I understand what goes into cobbling together a coalition, and it was hard the last couple of years.

Well you lived here.

And there were a lot of elections in a short period of time. But why did you give Ben-Gvir and Smotrich such positions of power?

Well, I think that's a natural allocation. That's what the voters decide. And also some of the parties who could have joined me decided not to join me, some of the other parties. And I was very glad when one of them joined our coalition at the beginning of the war, and I was sorry to see them leave. It's their decision. So I think you should askthat's the way the democratic cookie crumbles.

What other coalition could they have been a part of?

They could have joined my government.

No, I'm talking about Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.

No, I'm saying that the other parties refused. You need a government. You need a majority to govern, okay? When parties who refuse to join the coalition means that Israel is left without a government.

Did you have to put them in those positions?

I won't get into coalition negotiations. Maybe they wanted an even more influential job. And that's fine. I mean, that's okay. But ultimately, I think we decided, I think what, what the people of Israel decided in free, democratic elections.

Smotrich once said that you are, as he said, with us full on when it comes to his West Bank annexation plans. Is he wrong?

I dont know if he said that, but if he said this, it's not true, because I've not sought annexation. I've explained that our goal is to achieve a negotiated solution. So far, it hasn't happened, and I hope it will happen one day, but I can't see it happening without some substantial change in the Palestinian Authority. They teach their children basically the same thing that Hamas teaches them: that Israel has to be destroyed, it has to be dissolved. They glorify suicide bombers. They pay for slay, the more Jews you kill, more they give the families of these murderers, or the murderers themselves. This doesn't bode well for peace. But I think that many of our Arab neighbors understand that, except they won't say it openly.

Will you commit to not going forward on West Bank annexation, right here and now?

That is not where we're going.

Part of what the U.S. is offering for Saudi-Israel normalization is support for their nuclear industry. Are you worried that Saudi Arabia is heading toward nuclear weapons status and that that will lead to nuclear proliferation in the Middle East?

I think that we'd be concerned with anything that had that possibility. I'm sure the United States is concerned with that too.

I want to talk about the U.S.-Israel relationship. There may be two things that are most essential for securing Israel's long-term survival. First and foremost, the will and the resilience of the Israeli people. Second, sustained bipartisan support for Israel in Washington. There have been periods of bipartisan fracture over Israeli security in the past, with Eisenhower, George Herbert Walker Bush, Obama, but what worries Israel's supporters

President Johnson.

President Johnson, for sureis the generational change that comes with the passing of a generation that lived through the Holocaust and its aftermath. They worry that a fragmentation of support for Israel in this era and beyond is fundamentally different than it was 20 or 50 years ago. Are you worried about that?

Yes. I still think Israel enjoys the broad support of the broad swath of the American people. And that's been brought up by one poll after another, but youre quite right. In the Harvard-Harris poll, 80% of Americans consistently asked, when they ask, Would you support Israel or Hamas? They support Israel, but 20% support Hamas. And when you look at it, that's not very dissimilar from the 20% who say bin Laden was in the right and America was in the wrong. So something fundamental is going on in America. I don't think that the much-reported erosion of support among some quarters of the American public is related to Israel. It's more related to America. What is happening in America itself? America is undergoing significant internal changes. I hope that, and I believe that it will, it will maintain its position as the defender of liberty and the defender of democracy in the world. I fully agree with that, but I don't think it's Israel. Israel hasn't changed its policies. It's not that. It's that, in many ways, the United States is undergoing change, and I hope that the bipartisan support, which youre right is essential for Israel, remains intact.

Well, I mean, Smotrich, at least, under his remit, is approving these unauthorized outposts. He's streamlining the settlement approval process. He's changing the bureaucratic process to advance his ideological agenda. Is that not a change in policy?

No, I don't think so. I think that this is way overblown. It doesn't fundamentally change the footprint of the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, the West Bank. I mean, just take a photo, you know, take a satellite photo and compare it, and you see that there hasn't been that change that people are talking about. But we are committed. It's part of our homeland. We intend to stay there. We're not going to do ethnic cleansing of Jews anymore than we're going to do ethnic cleansing of Arabs.

You got 57 standing ovations last week, but nearly 130 Democrats skipped your speech, including Kamala Harris, who's one of two people who will be the next president. Why should Israelis trust you to maintain bipartisan support for Israel in Washington?

Well, I'm doing everything I can to do it. And I don't come to Washington as a Republican or as a Democrat. I come as an Israeli. I seek agreement wherever I can, but I also stand up for Israel wherever I must. And I've done that not only with Democratic presidents or Democratic administrations. I opposed some of the policies of George H.W. Bush, a Republican. I opposed the policies of George W. Bush on Operation Defensive Shield, when he said Israel has to leave right away. And I came out against that. And I spoke to 50 senators at the time against the policy, which I thought was inimical to Israel's interest, and by the way, I thought to America's interest, too. So I do what I can to stand up for Israel when I can. The Israeli prime minister has to be able to say two things. He has to say no when he must and yes when he can. And that's what I did.

A number of decisions that you made in recent years have alienated Democrats. The perception that you supported Mitt Romney over Obama in 2012, your attempts to prevent the Iran nuclear deal, and your most recent address to Congress against originally the wishes of Joe Biden. Why would you want to risk removing that strut of bipartisan support at a time like this?

I don't want to risk bipartisan support. I want to, uh, in fact, mobilize it, as I tried to do in the speech, in order to, in this speech and in previous efforts, in order to mobilize bipartisan support, even at the face of a changing electorate for Israel's vital goals of survival. That's what I do. And in any case, I don't intervene. Contrary to reports, I don't intervene in American politics, and I expect others not to intervene in ours.

American college campuses were overtaken this spring with protests against Israel's war in Gaza. Polls find that young people sympathize more with the Palestinians. Are you losing the support of the next generation of Americans, including Jews?

Well, I think we have a big job to do. I'm concerned with it. It's not something that I think is, I don'tI'm not facile about it. I don't say, well, it doesn't concern me. Of course it concerns me. But I think it should concern America too. Because when the young generation supports these murderers, these rapists, these beheaders of women, these burners of babies, then there's a problem that America has. It's not a problem that Israel has.

But what are you going to do to repair this? This is a gathering storm.

Try to speak the truth, as I did last week in Congress, and I was glad about the reception that it received. It was very broadly received, by the way, well received across the partisan line, not everyone, but I was very gratified to see the reaction in a very broad audience in America, and by the way, around the world. People heard the truth. It's hard to [unintelligible] truth because you have the preponderance of hostile elements because of numerical superiority. And in social media and in some instruments of it is, in particular, and it shapes the minds of young people who use that social media. That's a big problem. We should all be concerned with that, and not just about Israel.

What threatens you most with young people?

Threatens me most with young people?

Not you personally, but Israel.

Well, I think the factignorance. More than anything else, ignorance. The lack of knowledge. Some of these people who are protesting have no idea what they're protesting. They still don't believe that Hamas actually committed these outrages.

You recently met with Vice President Harris. Where do you think she stands on Israel and on the current situation in the Middle East?

First of all, I was very glad to have the opportunity to speak with her, as I did with President Biden and with President Trump. She spoke about her support for Israel. That doesn't mean that we don't have disagreements. I've had disagreements with the American presidents. I have had many agreements with them at the same time.

Why did your office criticize her remarks following the meeting? You may need her in the coming years.

I simply said, and I said this in the meeting with her and with the President, as well, and with President Trump, that the closer Israel, at this crucial time, the closer America, the American and Israeli positions are, the more it achieves a positive result. People always look for daylight. But in times of war, they look through a microscope. And we have a common goal. We want the release of the hostages. We want peace restored. I want it after an Israeli victory, so the more were aligned the better we are.

What was the daylight on?

Well, I hope there isn't any.

Polls show that 72% of Israelis think you should leave office either now or when the war is over. Do you intend to remain Prime Minister when the war is over?

I will stay in office as long as I believe I can help lead Israel to a future of security, enduring security and prosperity. But it doesn't only depend on me. We're in a democracy, the decision of who stays in office and who's not is ultimately dependent on people. I've been re-elected six times. I lost twice. That can happen in a democracy.

Should you remain Prime Minister?

Well for the moment, I think that I'm leading the effort that protects the country and assures its path to victory, which I think is getting closer.

If an opposition leader presided over the worst security failure in Israel's history, would you say they should stay in power?

It depends what they do. What do they do? Are they capable of leading the country in war? Can they lead it to victory? Can they assure that the post-war situation will be one of peace and security? If the answer is yes, they should stay in power. In any case, that's the decision of the people.

What do you have to do to earn the ability to remain Prime Minister after this?

I don't care about remaining Prime Minister. I care about preserving thewe're not talking about my future. We're talking about the future of the country. I've dedicated my adult life, first as a soldier and then as a diplomat and then as a political leader, to assure the survival and security of the State of Israel and its prosperity, by turning, basically liberating its economy. And as long as I feel I can contribute to that, I'll do it. And as long as the people feel it. This is notwe don't live in a monarchy. We live in a democracy.

Well, thats right. And youve been Prime Minister for, what, roughly 18 years now?

Not yet but

Almost, almost there. Almost 18 years. What other leaders of democratic countries or democratic societies have been in power for that long?

Well they tried.

Do you think it's good for a democracy to have the same leader in power for 18 years?

I think it depends on the people. They choose, and they decide who really works for them. But its not a personal decision. I don't dictate it any more than people think that I dictate everything that happens, even in the military. Usually, it's done by consensus for those decisions. But yes, ultimately the responsibility is for the Prime Minister and the cabinet, and it's the people who decide who will be the Prime Minister and the cabinet. This is, you know, this is notthe people decide that. It's not. It's not something that is governed by rules. If you ask me, when is the last time that somebody did that? I think it's more than half a century ago, I dont know, in Canada or Australia or something, but politics, you know, it's not because I exactly have exorbitant powers. I don't control the press or the judiciary or the other institutions. It's the people who decide in free democratic elections, and I'm glad Israel has them.

You certainly don't control the press here in Israel, I know that.

You sure?

Well there are some, there are some.

The picture that is given is that I'm some kind of, you know, I have these fantastic powers that somehow ensure that I govern. In fact, I don't. The people have the power they decide.

I know were coming to the end. I want to get to the last few questions. Former Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, Ehud Barak, even Ariel Sharon, all said that Israel needed to allow for the establishment of a Palestinian state to preserve the Zionist ideal of remaining a Jewish-majority democracy. Do you agree with that?

Well, I agree we should maintain a Jewish majority, but I think we should do it in democratic means. I also think that the, and I don't want tothat's why I don't want to incorporate the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria as citizens of Israel. I think there's a potential solution there. And again, I think it means that they should run their own lives. They should vote for their own institutions. They should have their own self-governance. But they should not have the power to threaten us.

And I understand and appreciate that. But can Israel remain a democracy if it continuously, perpetually rules over the millions of Palestinians?

I don't. We don't rule their land. We don't run Ramallah. We don't run Jenin. But we go in and take action when we have to prevent terrorism. It's a question ofI think it's a conceptual trap that people are locked in. They think that the only possibility is complete, unabridged sovereignty. That doesn't happen in the economic field. Right now, you have countries that are subservient to larger institutions, external institutions, that govern, for example, in the E.U. you have that, okay, you have that. But not only there, you have it in many other places. The idea that the one thing that we should do is forfeit our security by giving absolute sovereignty to the Palestinians in the future without having the ability to prevent the emergence of terror or other security threats from adjacent areas is nonsensical. It doesn't bode well for peace. It guarantees that you won't move towards peace. You move towards war, which is what happened time and again, when we left, when we took out the military control from territories adjacent to us. Just think about that. I mean, you come from New Jersey, right?

Well, I lived there at one point.

Close to New York, right? Can you imagine? I said this to one of my interlocutors. Can you imagine that you would enable the establishment of a state committed to the destruction of America across the Washington Bridge? I mean, that's not going to happen. That's what people are asking Israel to do. The distances are so tiny, Israel would potentially be so fragile and unable to defend itself. And those who say to us, just give them a state five meters away, not thousands of miles away but a mile away, and relinquish the power to intervene militarily in such a state if it becomes, as it is, hostile to you, it doesn't make sense.

Dont you think it's the duty of a responsible Prime Minister to preserve the conditions for an eventual two-state outcome?

I don't call it, I don't label it, but I said before, I don't wish to govern the Palestinians, but I certainly would not let them threaten the existence of the one and only Jewish state. So there will have to be a division of power.

A lot of Israelis and American Jews worry that Zionism, as I just described it, will not survive this war. What do you say to that?

Well, it will, if we win. And if we don't, our future will be in great jeopardy. So we have to win, and it requires resolution. It requires looking both at the military actions, but also looking at the larger picture of the Iran axis working discreetly with Arab partners to shape the post-war period, the post-war Middle East, which we're doing and seeking to maintain, and in fact intensify the support of the United States and other democracies. It doesn't happen in the heat of war. I can understand that as far as Western public opinion, but when the dust settles, I think people will see that we waged the essential war, not only for our defense, but for the defense of the West and civilization against barbarism.

Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your time. I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
A major retailer announced hundreds of closures throughout the country including in the Miami Valley.

As reported on News Center 7 at 5:30, more than 300 Big Lots stores across the nation are headed for closure, including the Centerville location and the one in Saint Marys.

>> RELATED: Big Lots to close as many as 315 locations, not 35

The company has more than 1,300 stores in 48 states, News Center 7 previously reported.

Im really sad about, it because like said, I shop here a lot but I knew it was coming, said Sue, a longtime Big Lots shopper.

She even worked for the chain for more than a year. She fears this is just the beginning for a company that announced a 10 percent decrease in sales in the first quarter of this year.

Ill just have to find some place else, she said.

According to the Big Lots website, the following Ohio locations are closing:

Centerville: 359 Miamisburg Centerville Road

Saint Marys: 1170 Indiana Avenue

West Chester: 7779 Tylersville Road

Defiance: 1620 N Clinton Street

Springdale: 11372 Princeton Pike

Cincinnati: 9690 Colerain Avenue

Sandusky: 410 East Perkins Avenue

Toledo: 4925 Jackman Road

News Center 7 reached out to Big Lots management in Columbus and is awaiting a response.

We will continue updating this story.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The El Paso Police Department has started a DWI Friday series where they post mugshots of individuals who were recently arrested for driving while intoxicated on their social media.

The mugshots displayed below are those who were arrested from Friday, July 26 through Thursday, Aug. 1 for allegedly drinking while intoxicated.

Felipe Ramos arrested on July 26 for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

Ryan Miller arrested on July 26 for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

Isaac Valenzuela arrested on July 26 for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

Gabriel Alvarez arrested on July 27 for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

David Ortega arrested on July 27 for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

Carolina Arredondo arrested on July 27 for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

Edith Hernandez arrested on July 27 for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

Thomas Gutierrez arrested on July 27 for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

Zaira Castillo arrested on July 28 for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

Ramon Ponce arrested on July 28 for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

Nick Chavez arrested on July 28 for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

Luis Corona Quezada arrested on July 28 for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

Oscar Granados arrested on July 28 for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

Emily Diaz arrested on July 31 for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

Miguel Armendariz arrested on July 31 for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

Luis Moreno arrested on Aug. 1 for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

The Police Department says those who go out and decide to drink should use a ride-share service or a designated driver.

DWIs are 100 percent preventable, the Police Department said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Bernie Sanders Says If Congress Can Bail Out 'Wall Street Crooks,' They Can Surely Support Secure Retirement For Working Class

Theres been a lot of chatter about what presidential candidates plan to do for the economy, and Bernie Sanders has been particularly vocal about advocating for the working class. Back in March, he proposed a 32-hour workweek and now he's focusing on Social Security and the retirement crisis many Americans face.

Don't Miss:

In a recent op-ed for Fox News, Sanders laid out his vision for addressing what he calls a disaster for working people. The Vermont senator proposes a major overhaul of the retirement system, emphasizing expanding Social Security benefits and ensuring its long-term solvency.

Sanders isnt one to hold back, especially regarding Wall Street. He stated, If Congress can bail out the crooks on Wall Street, please do not tell me that Congress cant support a secure retirement for working Americans. This quote captures the urgency of his argument for reform.

See Also: Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg?  How does it compare to the average?

At the heart of Sanders plan is the Social Security Expansion Act, which he reintroduced to Congress in February 2023. This bill aims to increase recipients Social Security benefits by $2,400 yearly, a significant boost considering the average monthly check.

In a February news release, he wrote: "More than half of older Americans have no retirement savings. More than 50 percent of our nation's seniors are trying to survive on an income of less than $30,000 a year."

Trending: Will the surge continue or decline on real estate prices? People are finding out about risk-free real estate investing that lets you cash out whenever you want.

To fund these expansions, Sanders proposes lifting the cap on Social Security payroll taxes for high-income earners. Currently, earnings above $160,200 are not subject to Social Security taxes, which Sanders describes as absurd and unfair.

According to Sanders, the Social Security Administration estimates his proposed legislation would make the program solvent for the next 75 years, extending well past 2096. This is particularly significant given recent warnings that the Social Security Trust Fund could be depleted by 2033 without intervention.

See Also: IRS Finalizes 10-Year Rule For Retirement Withdrawals, Making Things Even More Insanely Complicated

Story continues

Sanders approach to Wall Street reform has been consistently tough. In a 2016 speech, he declared, The reality is that fraud is the business model on Wall Street. It is not an exception to the rule. It is the rule. This hard-line stance has been a hallmark of his political career and continues to shape his policy proposals.

While Sanders ambitious proposals face significant hurdles in a divided Congress, Republicans control the House and many advocate for different approaches to address Social Securitys funding issues, such as raising the retirement age.

As the debate over the future of Social Security continues, one thing is clear: Bernie Sanders is determined to keep the issue of retirement security at the forefront of the national conversation. Whether his proposals gain traction or not, theyre certainly sparking important discussions about ensuring dignity and financial stability for Americas retirees.

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This article Bernie Sanders Says If Congress Can Bail Out 'Wall Street Crooks,' They Can Surely Support Secure Retirement For Working Class originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Recounts finalized in races that were never in doubt

State Board of Accounts counsel Kendra Leatherman, State Recount Director Phil Sicuso, and attorneys Matthew Kochevar and Brad King, (left to right) review the results of the House District 40 race recount. (Mia Hilkowitz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

The Indiana Recount Commission on Wednesday confirmed the initial results of two contested House primary races, finding only two miscounted ballots out of thousands.

The recount efforts  which prohibited Secretary of State Diego Morales from certifying the entire states May 7 primary election results until they concluded at Wednesdays meeting  finalized vote totals in House District 40 and House District 49.

The commissions decision comes three months after the primary for the races despite large margins of victory.

The recount efforts stem out of two Republican primaries for House District races in Hendricks and Elkhart County. Republicans Brian Paasch  who ran against incumbent Rep. Greg Steuerwald for Indiana House District 40  and Cindi Hajicek  who ran in House District 49 against incumbent Rep. Joanna King  filed recount petitions for their races on May 15. They both filed before election officials in Hendricks and Elkhart counties had finished counting provisional and absentee ballots.

The initial results reported on the Indiana Election Division website show Hajicek got 35% of the vote (2,047 votes), and her opponent received 65% (3,805). After the recount, the State Board of Accounts (SBOA) found only two more votes for Hajicek, bringing the final primary vote to 2,049-3,803.

Additionally, the Indiana Election Division initially reported in May that Paasch received 36.8% of the vote, or 2,050 votes, while his competitor received 63.2%, or 3,519 votes. This number did not change after the recount.

Samantha DeWester, a lawyer representing King and Steuerwald, asked the commission to certify the votes so we can move forward into November.

There werent any abnormalities, there werent issues, there werent stolen ballots, there werent any harvested ballots, anything like that, DeWester said. We have a very fair election system in Indiana, and I thank everyone whos recognized that.

Toward the end of the meeting, commissioner Michael Claytor said he believes the state recount commission needs to meet quicker after a recount is filed.

I hope to God we dont have to get together in November, Claytor said. I dont want that to happen. All candidates out there  either lose big or win big. Thats all Im asking.

Michelle Harter, a lawyer representing Hajicek and Paasch, told the Indiana Capital Chronicle she had no comment about the outcome of Wednesdays recount commission meeting.

Hajicek wrote in a Facebook post on July 13 that she would discuss election integrity concerns after the August Recount commission meetings.

Theres a misconception that a recount is called only for a close race, Hajicek wrote in the post. In my case, the recount provided the legal mechanism to obtain information and resolve irregularities.

Impact of recount efforts

In Indiana, any candidate or state/county political party chairman can file a recount petition, but do not have to meet any conditions. Twelve other states require candidates to be within a specific margin of votes to request a recount, while other states recounts are automatically triggered if results are within a specified margin. Indiana does not have this recount trigger.

While Harter went into Wednesdays meeting with 41 challenges for ballots in Hajiceks race, she withdrew all of these challenges before the commission had even started reviewing the exhibits. Harter said Hajicek challenged 38 of the ballots because they lacked full clerk initials but acknowledged that Indiana code states ballots without initials can be counted if there is no evidence of fraud, tampering or misconduct.

Reviewing the challenged ballots I do not see any evidence of such misconduct on the face of the ballots, Harter said.

DeWester, a lawyer representing King and Steuerwald, also withdrew two challenges in Hajiceks race.

Harter did not challenge any ballots in Paaschs race.

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Indiana Code requires candidates who file for a recount to pay for all costs of the recount, including a cash deposit or bond of at least $100. Additionally, because the number of votes cast for the winning candidates and candidates who filed recounts was more than 1% of the total votes cast, if more than 10 precincts needed to be recounted, that bond can increase by $100 per precinct. These payments are deposited in each countys general fund and cover costs such as paying additional employees and recount commissioners.

State recount director Phil Sicuso said during Wednesdays meeting Hajicek deposited $2,600 because she contested every precinct. Paasch deposited $100 because he only challenged 10 precincts.

The petitioners can receive partial or full refunds of these deposits if the recount showed significant changes or if election officials determine the petitioner has been nominated or elected. But since neither of these conditions were met, the commission voted to deny the return of these cash deposits to the candidates.

DeWester urged the commission to send these bonds back to the tax funded entities that performed the recounts. That includes the Indiana State Police, Indiana State Board of Accounts, the commission and local clerks.

Im still scratching my head at both of these recounts that were won by nearly 30 points in both of them, that the taxpayers have now spent three months waiting on the finale and have funded, DeWester said during the meeting.

Additionally, the commission voted to allow the Indiana State Police to release all election material it had impounded since the primary for these races.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the 2024 primary election results for races across the state were not available on the secretary of states website.

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Christian Horner has continued in his role as Red Bull F1's CEO and team principal - Getty Images/Mark Thompson

Red Bull have dismissed the appeal of the female employee at the centre of allegations of controlling behaviour aimed at F1 team principal Christian Horner.

The employee in question was suspended by Red Bull Racing on full pay earlier this year after her initial case was dismissed by the teams Austrian parent company.

That followed an internal grievance procedure carried out by a specialist external barrister.

The employee appealed the result of that verdict.

The outcome is not a huge surprise. It is understood the appeal was a necessity the complainant had to take to get to an employment tribunal, which her lawyers have always maintained is the next step in the process.

Tania Goodman, a partner and the head of employment at the law firm Collyer Bristow, told The Telegraph when the grievance case was first dismissed that it would be very unusual to overturn the findings of a KC.

Horner, 50, who has always denied the claims made against him, has continued in his role as Red Bull F1s CEO and team principal.

Red Bull GmbH said in a statement: Earlier this year a complaint raised against Christian Horner was investigated. That complaint was dealt with through the companys grievance procedure by the appointment of an independent KC who dismissed the grievance.

The complainant exercised the right to appeal, and the appeal was carried out by another independent KC. All stages of the appeal process have now been concluded, with the final outcome that the appeal is not being upheld.

The KCs conclusions have been accepted and adopted by Red Bull. The internal process has concluded.

The company respects the privacy of all its employees and will not be making further public comment on this matter at this time.

Red Bull is committed to continuing to meet the highest workplace standards.

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Distributions of certain blood types are being reduced as the national inventory plummets

PhotoAlto/Odilon Dimier/Getty Stock image of a person donating blood.

The American Red Cross has announced a blood shortage, stating the national inventory has plummeted more than 25% in July.

On August 5, the agency said that blood drives have been impacted due to record-setting heat, in a time when summer vacation and other seasonal activities often impact the turnout in drives.

As a result, due to the supply of type O blood being so low, the organization has had to reduce distributions of this vital blood type in recent weeks to below hospital comfort levels, the agency announced in a press release.

That blood type is crucial, the agency says, as Dr. Barry Siegfried, medical director of the Red Cross Michigan Region explains in a release: Its critical that hospitals have both type O positive and O negative blood ready to go for patients in the most life-threatening situations.

Jon Cherry/Getty Stock image of a blood donation drive.

Related: Mom with Hyperlactation Breaks Record for Breast Milk Donated. But She'll Need Double Mastectomy to Stop (Exclusive)

Type O is especially important for people injured in accidents and other trauma who receive emergency care. Donors of all blood types can help ensure hospital shelves are restocked to prevent patient care from being impacted.

The agency stressed that donors are urgently needed now.

As the Red Cross explains, Type O negative blood has no antigens, so it won't trigger an immune response, even if the recipient has a different blood type.

Dr. Baia Lasky, division chief medical officer for the Red Cross, said in a statement, "for trauma patients, each minute of delay can increase the chance of death by 5%."

However, only 7% of the population has this type of blood.

Anastassiya Bezhekeneva/Getty Stock image of a person getting a blood transfusion.

Related: Grandfather Who Donated Blood For 60 Years Retires After Saving 2 Million Babies

In January, the Red Cross faced a similar shortage, when the nonprofit said theyd experienced the lowest number of people giving blood in the last 20 years.

There are eligibility requirements for blood donation, but for the most flexible type of donation  whole blood donation, the type most commonly solicited at blood drives  donors need to be at least 16 years of age, and weigh a minimum of 110 lbs.

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These donations take about an hour.

Those looking to make a donation can make an appointment or search for a nearby blood drive, on the Red Crosss website, or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.

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Read the original article on People.
With Vice President Kamala Harris choosing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, the now finalized tickets for this Novembers presidential election are comprised of candidates who span the Christian spectrum.

With Walzs ascendancy to VP candidate, theres been hype around the moniker Minnesota Lutheran Dad to describe Walzs religious and cultural values. The religious profile of the other candidates on the Democrat and Republican tickets are totally different and just as interesting.

Heres what to know about the Democrat and Republican candidates religious backgrounds and how it affects voter sentiment.

What religion is Kamala Harris?

Harris is Baptist and considers Third Baptist Church of San Francisco her home church and the churchs pastor, the Rev. Amos Brown, a close friend and mentor. The church and Brown are affiliated with the Nashville-based National Baptist Convention, USA, which is the nations largest Black Baptist denomination. Harris addressed the National Baptist Convention, USA, at its 2022 annual session.

For me and President Joe Biden, faith guides our work every day, Harris said in her address. We know deeply that when people of faith come together, anything is possible.

What is Tim Walz's religion affiliation?

Walz is Lutheran and has referred to Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St. Paul as my parish, a congregation affiliated with the more progressive mainline Lutheran denomination called the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, according to Religion News Service.

Deseret News reported that not only has Walzs religion informed his policy positions on various social and political issues, but that his faith is also significant because it's representative of a unique faith-based culture in Minnesota defined by its Lutheran roots and popularity.

What is Donald Trump's religion?

Former President Donald Trump is a non-denominational evangelical Christian, an identifier he started using in 2020 that deviated from his previous self-described Presbyterian affiliation. The congregation that confirmed Trump as a child is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), a more progressive mainline Protestant denomination that even at one point publicly challenged its ties with Trump. Yet, Public Religion Research Institute and Pew Research reports in 2020 and 2024 said most Americans dont see Trump as especially religious himself.

Former President Donald Trump and Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024.

What religion is JD Vance?

Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance is Catholic, a tradition he converted to in 2019 and that has since been a defining feature of his public image. The Washington Post reported Vances conversion to Catholicism is part of a larger trend among some on the right who have been drawn to Catholicisms rigid order. Vance is associated with a conservative Catholic movement that supports Christianity taking a more active role in influencing society, according to Religion News Service.

How will the candidates' religious background impact the presidential race?

A candidate's specific religious background helps explain their views, but it has little effect on determining voters support.

Instead, enthusiasm within a faith group for one candidate versus another is based on broader ideological alignment. A candidate's position on issues that that fit within a religious group's set of values determines how members of that religious group vote.

According to most recent data from Pew Research in an April report, theres support for Trump among 81% of white evangelicals, 61% of white Catholics, and 57% of white Protestants who are not evangelical.

On the other side, Pews report said 77% of Black Protestants supported President Joe Biden, who was still a candidate at the time of the survey. But now that a Black woman whos open about her Baptist faith is running in place of Biden, that latter statistic is unlikely to suffer.

Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on social media @liamsadams.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What religion is Tim Walz, JD Vance? Will background impact voters
We should remember that Russia attacks Ukraine from Kursk Oblast  the White House

The White House has reiterated that Russian occupation forces are attacking Ukraine from the territory of Kursk Oblast, where Ukrainian troops are allegedly conducting an operation.

Source: This was stated by White House spokesperson Karin Jean-Pierre during a briefing, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Jean-Pierre confirmed that the US side would contact Ukrainian partners to get more details about the alleged operation.

Quote: "But we are  generally speaking, as you know, we have been supportive of Ukraine as they are  as they are defending themselves against Russias aggression. We think that is obviously important to do, as we talk about democracy and freedom. And so, were going to continue to do that," Jean-Pierre said.

The White House spokeswoman declined to answer the question of whether US weapons were used in this potential operation, saying only that US policy remains unchanged.

Quote: "We have to remember that  obviously, in this region [Kursk Oblast  ed.], that theres Russian troops there. They are in a region of Russia. And theyre in that region attacking Ukraine. And so, we cant forget that," she added.

Jean-Pierre stressed that the United States will continue to support Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression.

Background:

Since Tuesday, 6 August, the Russians have been reporting on Ukraine's attempts to break through into Kursk Oblast. Russian propagandists and milbloggers are claiming that Ukrainian forces secured a foothold in the border area.

Russian ruler Vladimir Putin called the situation a "provocation". The US State Department pointed out the irony of Putin's statement.

Ukraine has not yet commented on the events in Kursk Oblast.

Peter Stano, the European Commission's spokesman on foreign policy issues, has stated in response to the events in Russia's Kursk Oblast that Ukraine has the right to self-defence and can strike the Russian territory.

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Faye Yager, the founder of the underground network Children of the Underground, passed away on August 3 at her Sandy Springs home, surrounded by her family. She was 75 and had been battling metastatic colon cancer, her son Joshua Yager said.

Yager, who was a fixture on television talk shows during the late 1980s and early 1990s, created Children of the Underground to shelter and save children from sexual abuse. The clandestine network had safe houses around the nation and world, offering refuge to those in dire need.

Born in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Yager was one of twelve children and grew up in Mabscott, West Virginia, where her father supervised a coal mine.

Yager initially garnered attention when she accused her first husband of molesting their young daughter. Despite being dismissed and her ex-husband receiving custody of the child, he was later sentenced for molesting several children in Florida. This vindication propelled Yager to establish Children of the Underground, aiming to prevent other mothers from experiencing similar anguish.

TRENDING STORIES:

After divorcing her first husband, Yager married Dr. Howard Yager and began a new chapter as an interior decorator and mother. In the late 1980s, she started her underground network, counseling families on how to protect their children. She candidly warned them that violating court orders would make them criminals and might force them to create new identities and move to different places, sometimes even other countries.

Yager faced legal challenges, including a 1992 Cobb County trial where she was acquitted of charges related to kidnapping and cruelty to children. She was also sued by several men whose children and spouses had disappeared into her network.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Yager was caught up in the satanic Panic sweeping the nation, with many of her cases involving claims of satanic abuse of children.

By 1998, Yager stepped back from her network work and, along with her husband, purchased a historic inn in Brevard, North Carolina. Built in 1885, the Inn at Brevard is on the National Register of Historic Places. Yager enjoyed cooking for and engaging with the inns many guests.

Faye Yager is survived by her husband Howard, her son Joshua, her siblings Judith Ray, Bonnie McPeake, Mary Simpson, Florence Lively, Gaston Wisen, Fred Wisen, and Don Wisen; her children Zachary, Heather, Janelle, and Michelle; 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The funeral will be held at H.M. Patterson and Sons-Arlington in Sandy Springs at 2 p.m. on Thursday, August 8, with burial at Arlington Cemetery in Sandy Springs. The public is invited, with a reception to follow at the funeral home.

IN OTHER NEWS:
Reminders to keep students safe as theyre traveling to and from school

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  With school soon to be back in session, the American Red Cross of Utah is sharing reminders to help keep students safe as theyre on their way to class.

According to the American Red Cross, over 25,000 children are injured nationwide while commuting to school each year.

Data from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows an 11% rise in child pedestrian fatalities since 2013, despite an overall decrease in pedestrian deaths over the past 30 years.

The increase can be seen the most in 10 to 14-year-olds and 15 to 19-year-olds, who often walk or bike to school.

Students walking to school may be distracted by technology like smartphones, social media and earphones, tuning out their surroundings, said Jeremiah Lafranca, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Utah Greater Salt Lake Chapter. Its crucial for drivers to stay aware of children walking to school with these distractions. In todays fast-paced and tech-focused world, safeguarding the well-being of students walking or biking to school is essential.

As more than 670,000 Utah students will be back in school starting next week, the Red Cross wants to share what to be aware of to prevent accidents.

Safety tips from the Red Cross

Arrive early and stand clear of the curb while waiting for the bus.

Board the bus only after it stops completely, following the drivers instructions.

Stay visible to the bus driver and never walk behind the bus.

Cross the street only at corners, obey traffic signals, and stay in the crosswalks.

Never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

Everyone in the car should use a seatbelt; younger children should use car seats or booster seats.

For teen drivers, wear seat belts, dont use phones, and avoid eating or drinking while driving.

Students riding bikes to school should wear helmets and ride on the right side, in the same direction as traffic.

Students walking to school should cross streets at intersections, preferably those with crossing guards.

Parents should walk with young kids and those on new routes or at new schools for at least the first week and have students walk together.

When it comes to drivers, the National Safety Council offers tips for sharing the road with students. When it comes to drop off, it recommends you dont double park, and dont load or unload children across the street from the school. The council also recommends carpooling to reduce the number of vehicles around the school.

Research from the National Safety Council found that most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are around 4 to 7 years old and walking.

The organization said the students are hit by the bus or a motorist illegally passing them. Heres what the council says to keep in mind to prevent these situations.

Dont block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn, forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic.

In a school zone when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.

Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign.

Take extra care to look for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas.

Dont honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way.

Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.

Always use extreme caution to avoid striking pedestrians wherever they may be, no matter who has the right of way.

Never pass a bus from behind  or from either direction if youre on an undivided road  if it is stopped to load or unload children.

If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop.

The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus.

Be alert; children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks.

In a school zone when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
MADISON, Miss. (WJTV)  U.S. Representative Michael Guest (R-Miss.) spoke to supporters in Madison on Wednesday, August 7.

Guest shared his experiencing visiting Butler, Pennsylvania, where an assassination attempt was carried out against former President Donald Trump.

Mississippi leaders react to Harris VP pick

The congressman visited the site of the Trump rally alongside his fellow House Homeland Security Committee members. They were given a tour of the location, including where the gunman assumed his position on a rooftop just a few hundred feet away from Trump.

I will tell you, colossal failure. It was a failure in planning, a failure, an execution failure and communication between the different agencies. There was a failure in resource allocation, and there was a failure in leadership. I was surprised when I was there on the scene that the site from where the shooter was located was not in the security perimeter. It is a strategic location, an elevated location, direct line of sight to where the president would have been standing at the time that he was shot, said Guest.

The congressman has called for more members of the Secret Service to be relieved of their duties. Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on July 23.

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Repairs to clifftop estate could cost Pismo Beach millions. Is it worth it?

The Pismo Beach City Council is facing an important decision on one of the citys beloved landmarks.

At its Tuesday meeting, the Pismo Beach City Council heard a report on its options for what to do with the Chapman Estate, a large bluffside property overlooking the Pacific Ocean that was gifted to the city by resident Clifford Chapman upon his death in 2012.

Since then, the property has been operated by the city and the Chapman Estate Foundation, which manages the private events held at the estate that make up most of the propertys revenue.

The estate consists of the Chapman House, green space, a swimming pool and Gull Cottage, which sustained heavy damage in a winter storm in early January and sparked discussions of how to approach maintaining the property.

The damage to the property has yet to be fully addressed for several reasons, including insurance claim disputes, high repair costs and the unique circumstances of how the cliffside property was damaged that make repairs more expensive  leaving the City Council with several options on how to proceed with the property.

Garing, Taylor & Associates consultant Ron Reilly presented the council with several options, including making repairs, improving the property, redeveloping it or selling it outright.

Several Pismo Beach residents asked the City Council to continue supporting the estate, which has been a fixture of the community since its construction in 1930.

Former Pismo Beach Mayor Shelly Higginbotham said while the costs to repair the property were substantial, she hoped the city would continue to invest in the property.

In 2010 my telephone rang, and it was Clifford Chapman, she said. I really didnt know him, and he said, Shelly, I want to give the city my home. When later we spoke, I asked him, Why the city? And he said he trusted the City Council, and he trusted the city.

The Chapman Estate was gifted to the city of Pismo Beach in 2013 by the Clifford Chapman Trust. Concern about the erosion of the ocean bluff are the subject of scheduled City Council sessions.

City Council evaluates potential outcomes for bluff property

Reilly and assistant city manager Mike James presented the council with a set of options that could be approved at a later meeting.

Reilly said under the no change scenario, the city would continue to pursue insurance claims on Gull Cottage to repair winter storm damage.

The property carries a $100,000 insurance deductible, but that may not be able to cover the unique damage the cottage suffered from the winter storm, which was a rare weather event that may not be included in the insurance policy.

As is, the property currently costs around $65,000 a year in maintenance and operations costs, Reilly said.

To bring the estate up to code and make it usable long-term for the city, minimum repairs to the cottage would need to include building inspection repairs, fire safety improvements, Americans with Disabilities Act-related accessibility features and substantial repairs to the propertys seawall repairs, including filling in the caves beneath the bluff, Reilly said.

These minimum repairs would cost the city around $6.8 million in total  at least $3.9 million of seawall and cave infill work, $525,000 in foundation repairs and $330,000 fire and electrical work, with the rest going to other refinishing and repair efforts.

There should be additional consideration thats taken into account to take another look at the foundation of the building in and of itself, and as well as just the general hardening of the exterior to hopefully prevent another type of storm from occurring, James said. Some of those costs, I will add, may not fall within the range of being covered by the insurance claim because it will not be restoring it back to pre-storm condition  itll be enhancing it.

The Chapman Estate was gifted to the city of Pismo Beach in 2013 by the Clifford Chapman Trust. Concern about the erosion of the ocean bluff are the subject of scheduled City Council sessions.

Reilly said the city could also look into investing more money into the property to make it safer and more profitable in the long run.

This option would cost up to $8.8 million, incorporating the minimum repairs and making improvements such as ADA-compliant parking, pathways and an exterior elevator. Improving the property could also include filling and repurposing the pool area and installing a commercial kitchen for larger event use, Reilly said.

The city could also choose to redevelop the property entirely for use as a recreational, commercial or mixed-use space, but this option is made far more expensive and time-intensive, Reilly said.

Redeveloping the lot would cost $12.9 million, and would take five to seven years to entitle, permit and build something new. Construction setbacks introduced since the property was initially developed have also shrunk the amount of usable land by around 100 to 150 feet from where it is now along the bluff edge.

Reilly said the city could also choose to sell the property outright, either as is or with minimum repairs, which could be valued between $13.5 million and $17 million depending on the extent of repairs.

The Chapman Estate was gifted to the city of Pismo Beach in 2013 by the Clifford Chapman Trust. Concern about the erosion of the ocean bluff are the subject of scheduled City Council sessions.

Can the Chapman Estate sustain itself?

As it stands, the city has spent just under $2.3 million on the Chapman Estates operating expenses since acquiring the property more than a decade ago, subsidizing the property to the tune of an annual average of $65,000, according to the staff report.

Because the Estates revenue primarily comes from events, Reilly said the city would likely need to consider increasing event fees, increasing the number of events it can host each year and adding more staff for these events to make the project sustainable.

The estates unique status as a property gifted to the city also means the city will need to work around several of the terms established in the original property transfer, including the fact that the city is prohibited from profiting from the propertys use or sale.

Selling the property would only allow the city to recoup the money it has put into the property so far, and would need to review the agreement terms to make a determination on where the remaining funds would go.

My basic understanding is that any leftover funds would go to a mutually agreed-upon non-profit, involving the Chapman Estate Foundation, any remaining descendants and the city, Reilly told The Tribune in an email.

Additionally, if the city chooses to redevelop the land, it may have to contend with the Surplus Lands Act, which prioritizes using offloaded municipal property as space for affordable housing development or use as public park space.

The Chapman Estate was gifted to the city of Pismo Beach in 2013 by the Clifford Chapman Trust. Concern about the erosion of the ocean bluff are the subject of scheduled City Council sessions.

That said, making repairs to the propertys seawall may prove to be the most difficult aspect of maintaining the estate, Pismo Beach Public Works director Ben Fine said.

Fine said the citys most recent assessment of the seawall in June showed a section of the wall has failed, and will likely continue to worsen over time from erosion.

Both the seawall and pool area will likely require additional studies to understand the extent of necessary repairs, Fine said.

Of course, as most coastal Shell Beach homeowners would tell you, repairing a seawall is a difficult prospect no matter how deep your pockets are because of the California Coastal Commissions veto power over any significant changes to the coastline.

Reilly said repairing the seawall would require a coastal development permit from the Coastal Commission, though the commission is usually more receptive to repairs to public lands than it is private properties.

The City Council has a six-month timeline to study the potential outcomes, with the next major decision likely coming in the spring of 2025, Reilly told The Tribune in an email.

Chapman House - Pismo Beach

Where is the Chapman Estate in Pismo Beach?

The city of Pismo Beach is currently debating whether to fix, sell or update the Chapman Estate property after it sustained damage from winter storms.

Map created with the assistance of ChatGPT.
Today is Kelly Ortbergs first day as CEO of Boeing (BA). Hes already winning praise  for his work location.

Ortberg has decided he will work out of Boeings offices in Seattle, which had been the companys home for its first 85 years before it moved its corporate headquarters to Chicago in 2001.

The new CEO said in a memo to staff Thursday that he decided to work 2,300 miles from the companys current corporate offices in Arlington, Virginia, to help restore trust in the companys commercial aircraft business.

Because what we do is complex, I firmly believe that we need to get closer to the production lines and development programs across the company, Ortberg said in the letter. I plan to be based in Seattle so that I can be close to the commercial airplane programs.

Ortberg said hed be on the factory floor in Renton, Washington, Thursday, where the company makes its troubled 737 Max line of planes.

Boeing critics say moving headquarters away from its factories in the Puget Sound area more than 20 years ago underscored the companys focus on financial results instead of production processes.

A Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is shown on the assembly line at the Boeing facility in Renton, Washington. - Jennifer Buchanan/Pool/The Seattle Times/AP

But Boeing has been plagued by serious quality issues in recent years, problems that resulted in two fatal crashes, deep losses and terrifying incidents, including a door plug that blew off the fuselage on a January 5 Boeing 737 Max flight operated by Alaska Airlines.

Richard Aboulafia, managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory and a long-time critic of Boeing management, praised Ortbergs choice of office location.

Its incredibly promising, he said. It shows that hes not afraid to go where the problem are and to put in some serious hard work solving them. The other great virtue of showing up is that you get an accurate picture of the situation, rather than news filtered through what people think you want to hear. He continues to look like the exact opposite kind of leader than the ones that plagued Boeing.

Boeing previously insisted that moving headquarters was in the companys best interests, noting Boeing builds products other than commercial aircraft, including from its defense and space business. And the executives in charge of commercial airplanes have always been based in Seattle, even if the corporate headquarters was elsewhere.

The company said it had no comment whether it is considering moving its entire headquarters back to Seattle along with Ortberg.

Ortberg will have his hands full, no matter where his office is located. The company has had almost nothing but problems for more than five years. A design flaw in its best selling 737 Max resulted in fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, followed by a 20-month grounding of the jet. That in turn kicked off years of financial losses that topped $33 billion in core operating losses in the most recent quarter.

Story continues

In January a door plug blew off the side of an Alaska Airlines flight as it approached 16,000 feet, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the plane and bringing new attention to its production problems. Since that time it has agreed to plead guilty to deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration, a plea that will require it to work under the supervision of a court-appointed monitor.

It faces a series of other federal probes, including one by the National Transportation Safety Board, which just concluded two days of public hearings on the Alaska Air incident. Boeing executives admitted there they still dont know how the plane in the door plug blowout left Boeings Renton, Washington factory without the four bolts needed to keep the door plug in place.

We dont know and neither do they, and thats a problem, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters during the hearing.

Ortberg, in his letter, acknowledged Boeing needs to do better.

While we clearly have a lot of work to do in restoring trust, Im confident that working together, we will return the company to be the industry leader we all expect, he said.

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BRIDGETON, Mo.  A new report says that a government agencys report helped downplay the dangers of radiation at a St. Louis County landfill.

Uranium processing in the St. Louis area was crucial in developing nuclear weapons during World War II and the Cold War, but it has left the region with environmental and health impacts. Decades after Mallinckrodt Chemical Works began processing uranium near downtown St. Louis, the federal government continues to clean up nuclear contamination sites, including a creek and a landfill.

The West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton, Missouri contains tons of radioactive waste from the Manhattan Project. The landfill was declared one of the nations most contaminated sites in 1990, but the waste remains there today. In 2012, a fire at the landfill brought the issue to public attention, as nearby residents reported health problems like high cancer rates.

The report from Reuters says that a government agency tasked with evaluating the health risks, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), has consistently minimized the risks. The ATSDR has issued reports declaring the landfill safe, contradicting findings from other experts. According to Reuters, this allowed the landfills owner, Republic Services, to argue for a less extensive and costly cleanup.

The government has compensated many former Mallinckrodt workers or their survivors for cancer linked to radiation exposure, and residents near the waste sites suspect their rare cancers are also related. But, compensation for many St. Louis-area victims of radioactive contamination is unlikely. Congress did not reauthorize the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act earlier this year.

The EPA is actively planning the cleanup of the Westlake Landfill site, gathering data, and testing soil over the past four years. The excavation process is more difficult because the area that radiologically impacted materials affect is larger than initially thought.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Kroger eggs labelled farm fresh do not mean or imply they are cage-free, a Chicago judge ruled Tuesday, according to Reuters.

U.S. District Judge Charles Kocoras made the distinction in his decision to dismiss a consumer lawsuit claiming the marketing term was misleading.

Consumer Adam Sorkin sued Kroger last year claiming the label applied to eggs he bought in a Chicago area Marianos store (a Kroger subsidiary) meant the eggs were laid by uncaged hens living on farms, with open green space, according to the news report. He added he would not have paid the extra money for the eggs or maybe not bought them at all, had he known they came from caged hens on an industrial farm.

Judge Kocoras disagreed the term was misleading. The eggs came directly from a farm, just not one Sorkin approved of.

"No reasonable consumer would plausibly spin free-roaming hens on a grassy, open field from the term 'farm fresh,' " Kocoras wrote in his decision. " 'Farm Fresh Eggs' means precisely what it says: the eggs are fresh from a farm," he added. "It is about origin and timing, nothing more."

Kroger officials declined to comment on the decision.

In addition to Kroger stores, the grocer operates several regional supermarket chains in 35 states, including Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter, Ralphs, Mariano's, Fry's, Smith's, King Soopers, QFC and others. The company has more than 2,700 stores and employs almost 414,000 workers.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Report: Judge dismisses lawsuit against Kroger's 'farm fresh' eggs
A Louisville man who went missing in the Bahamas while flying a private airplane has been found dead, according to a report from WHAS-TV.

The pilot, 59-year-old Chris Moore, was found inside his airplane Thursday, four days after he took off from a Florida airport.

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force had been looking for Moore after he was reported missing on Sunday. Both authorities suspended their searches by Monday.

Nicholas Strasburg, Coast Guard spokesperson, said District Seven watchstanders received reports of an overdue aircraft traveling from the Sebastian Municipal Airport to the Bahamas early Sunday morning and immediately began a search.

Crews from the Coast Guard Air Station Miami and Air Station Clearwater searched around 1,760 square miles with negative results and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force took over the investigation later that day. Miami conducted a light search Monday morning with no results and no further assistance was requested of the Coast Guard.

The Rohal Bahamas Defense Force informed the Coast Guard of a wreckage matching the plane's description around at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

Moore's wife, Stayce Love, reportedly told WHAS-TV that Moore died on impact in a marsh less than three miles away from an airport runway and was found by private searchers.

This story may update.

More: Crystal Rogers defendant Steve Lawson fires attorney in court

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville pilot Chris Moore found dead in Bahamas
BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)  Residents and businesses are encouraged to report damage from Tropical Storm Debby to assist with assessment and recovery efforts.

Kim Stinson, the director of South Carolinas Emergency Management Division, said during a press conference this week that more than 60 homes had suffered damage from the storm in Berkeley, Charleston, and Colleton counties  but that number could increase.

Residential and business damage can be reported online or by calling the countys Citizen Call Line at 843-719-4800. Leave a detailed message.

Officials say damage reports will help staff gauge the extent of damage and report findings to state and federal officials. Those reports will determine appropriate federal and state funding for damage caused by Debby.

The storm made landfall near Bulls Bay in Charleston County early Thursday morning after dumping heavy rain and causing flooding throughout the week.

How to report structural damage in Dorchester County

Berkeley County officials say they are monitoring areas most affected by the flooding, including the Cainhoy and Huger communities. They ask people to stay away from flooded roads and remind drivers to never go around or move barricades.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
Assistant Cincinnati Police Chief Lisa Davis was recently appointed to become the next chief of the Austin Police Department.

A longtime assistant Cincinnati police chief will lead the police department of Texas' capital city.

Lisa Davis will be the second woman to serve as chief of the Austin Police Department, according to a report from the Austin Chronicle, which noted that Davis' appointment was unanimously approved by the city council on Tuesday.

Davis was previously in the running to become Cincinnati's police chief before the job went to Chief Teresa Theetge, who replaced former Police Chief Eliot Isaac after his retirement in 2022. She was also a finalist for the job of top cop in Oakland and had applied to become chief of the Toledo Police Department.

Davis grew up in Lower Price Hill and joined the Cincinnati police force in 1992, right after she left the Navy.

She rose through the ranks at the department, working in Districts 1, 3, 4 and 5, the major offenders and community-oriented policing units, and served as a district commander before being promoted to assistant chief in 2020.

Davis has worked to combat the steep rise in domestic violence homicides Cincinnati endured during the COVID-19 pandemic. Davis and her officers have arrested spree killers and tackled gun violence in the city as it declined before the pandemic and rose again during it.

"I want the city of Austin to know that anything I implement, any strategy that is implemented, will be done through the lens that it has to be effective, it has to be equitable, and it has to be ethical," she told Austin news media.

She's expected to begin her new role sometime in early September.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: High-ranking Cincinnati officer to lead Austin Police Department
Catalonia's exiled separatist leader Carles Puigdemont arrives near the Catalan parliament to take part in the inauguration debate. David Zorrakino/EUROPA PRESS/dpa

Spanish police have detained one of their colleagues on suspicion of helping Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont to go into hiding in Barcelona, local media reported.

The officer provided a white car in which Puigdemont is said to have escaped after a short speech to supporters in the city centre, the El Pais and La Vanguardia newspaper reported, citing police sources.

A huge manhunt for Puigdemont is under way, with checkpoints set up on all major roads leading out of Barcelona and police searching vehicles.

Puigdemont returned to Spain on Thursday after almost seven years in exile, despite being wanted on an arrest warrant.

He briefly addressed a crowd of pro-independence supporters on Thursday morning in Barcelona, but was then able to flee from police in a white vehicle before getting arrested.

Catalan police officers watch pro-indepedence supporters arrive as hardline separatist scheduled a welcome ceremony for Catalonia's exiled separatist leader Carles Puigdemont ahead of an investiture vote, in front of the Parliament of Catalonia. Kike Rincon/EUROPA PRESS/dpa
Republicans No Longer Have the Advantage in 3 Key Battleground States

Arizona, Nevada and Georgia have been re-categorized as toss-up states by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

The Republican White House ticket reportedly no longer has the advantage in three key battleground states that could decide the 2024 presidential election.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report published an amended analysis of the presidential race on Thursday, Aug. 8, stating that Arizona, Nevada and Georgia have been re-categorized as "toss up" states after previously being thought of as "leans Republican."

The three Sun Belt states carry a combined total of 33 Electoral College votes that are considered Donald Trump and J.D. Vance's most likely path to victory in November.

Brandon Bell/Getty Donald Trump

Cook Political Report Editor-in-Chief Amy Walter credited the recent shift in polling averages with changing her battleground forecast, as the new Democratic White House Ticket continues to build momentum after the selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as Kamala Harris' running mate.

"Things look a lot better for Democrats today than they did a few weeks ago, but Trump is looking stronger now than he did in 2020," Walter said, according to Newsweek. "This is a toss up."

Related: Tim Walz and His Wife, Gwen, Open Up About Son's Non-Verbal Learning Disorder: 'His Secret Power' (Exclusive)

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Kamala Harris and Tim Walz appear for the first time as 2024 running mates during a Philadelphia campaign rally on Aug. 6, 2024

According to Cook Political Report's current projections, all six of the main swing states are now considered toss-ups: Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. North Carolina, which Democrats have hoped to turn competitive this year, still leans Republican on the chart.

The independent political analysis website currently has 226 electoral votes leaning toward the Democratic ticket, and 235 leaning toward Republicans. If accurate, that leaves a total of 77 Electoral College votes up for grabs.

A total of 270 votes are needed to win the presidency.

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Read the original article on People.
Rescue operation looking for two Germans on Mont Blanc called off

Climbers on their way to Mont Blanc on the French-Italian border. Sachelle Babbar/ZUMA Wire/dpa

The search for two Germans missing after a fall from a block of ice on Mont Blanc has been suspended, the French news agency AFP reported on Thursday, citing the local deputy public prosecutor.

Jean Ailhaud said there was no longer any point in searching for the two mountaineers.

The climbers had spent the night on Monday in a mountain hut when blocks of glacial ice broke loose in the Mont Blanc du Tacul area at 4,100 metres above sea level, according to reports. Such ice towers are called seracs.

A total of 15 people were nearby when the masses of ice, snow and debris fell, AFP reported. A French man died and four people were injured in the accident on the highest mountain in the Alps, it said.
In Israels northern city of Nahariya, a sense of anxiety lingers among residents as they struggle to maintain daily life with the threat of war with Lebanons Hezbollah edging closer to their doorsteps.

The coastal city of 77,000 residents sits just 6 miles (10 kilometers) from the border with Lebanon, where the Israeli army and Hezbollah fighters have been exchanging fire for nearly 10 months.

Unlike many other communities at the Israel-Lebanon border that have become ghost towns since October, Nahariya stands out as one of the cities that has not been depopulated as it doesnt fall within the evacuation zone.

Almost 62,000 residents of border communities have been displaced since Hezbollah and Israel started exchanging fire in October after Israel launched its war in Gaza. Forty-three Israelis have been killed and another 250 injured, according to the Israeli prime ministers Office.

Across the border in Lebanon, at least 400 people have been killed since October 8 and more than 94,000 have been displaced, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.

Though life continues in Nahariya, streets are less busy than usual, locals told CNN. While pedestrians and motorists are present, the atmosphere contrasts sharply with Tel Aviv 80 miles down the coast, where bars, beaches and restaurants remain bustling.

Tommy Lowenstein, 67, said the situation is tense in the north. We feel it. We see it in the streets, we see less people.

Nahariya has declared a state of emergency, according to an official at the citys municipality. Residents can hear everything from outgoing artillery fire over the border to rockets that land nearby on a daily basis, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The sound of rockets that fall in nearby towns and kibbutzim (agricultural communes) are regularly heard in Nahariya.

On Tuesday, an Israeli interceptor missile malfunctioned amid a Hezbollah drone attack, causing an impact on the Route 4 highway near Nahariya. Several people were injured, according to the IDF.

While the citys residents have been accustomed to cross-border attacks, the conflict has escalated in recent days after Israel assassinated Hezbollahs top military commander Fuad Shukr on July 30.

The next day, former Palestinian prime minister and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran in an attack Iran blamed on Israel. Israel hasnt confirmed or denied involvement.

Israel has been anticipating a retaliatory attack from Iran and its regional proxies. But two sources familiar with the intelligence told CNN on Wednesday that it looks increasingly likely that Hezbollah may strike Israel independently of Iran.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said Tuesday that the group will attack Israel but is keeping the country waiting as part of the punishment.

Feels like war is getting closer to us

Liz Levy, 40, lives in Nahariya with her three children and says the war is taking a mental toll on her family.

Two days ago, I had a panic attack, she told CNN. Every three days, theres a siren. Its very scary.

Levy said she worries about bringing up her children in a climate of war, adding that her children cry whenever they hear blaring sirens warning of incoming rockets.

My daughter, she is 7 years old, and she also had a panic attack, she said.

Residents of the north say their experience with the conflict in the north is very different from other population centers that have been largely spared. While those living in Tel Aviv experience sporadic attacks, in the north thats a daily occurrence, they say.

Were on the frontline. They (Hezbollah) are pointing at us, Shira Jorno, 23, told CNN. We feel it getting closer to us.

The Nahariya municipality has added more than 40 new shelters in the city since the war began and has conducted multiple training sessions to prepare medics and emergency workers for an attack, the municipal official said.

Asked whether the city will have to evacuate if the conflict escalates, the official said there is nowhere to move such a large population.

Nahariya has not been evacuated as a decision that was taken together with the army because there is nowhere to go, the official told CNN, adding that as the conflict zone expands in the north, it is difficult to keep moving people south. Now they (Hezbollah) say Haifa (will be attacked), after Haifa it will be Tel Aviv. Where do we go? To the Negev? he said, referring to the desert region in the south of the country.

CNNs Dana Karni, Alex Marquardt and Katie Bo Lillis contributed reporting

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By Medha Singh

(Reuters) -Bumble shares slumped nearly 36% to a fresh record low after the women-centric dating app slashed its annual sales growth forecast and paused some revenue-generation efforts, turning the spotlight on the pace of a turnaround.

Last trading at $5.11, the $1 billion company was set to lose more than $350 million in market value. The fortunes of Bumble have turned since its $14 billion blockbuster Nasdaq debut in 2021 dating app operators grapple with a post-pandemic decline in growth.

The company now expects its full-year revenue to grow between 1% and 2%, compared with an earlier forecast of 8% to 11%. It also missed expectations for second-quarter revenue.

Bumble will slow down certain monetization efforts, such as the expansion of its Premium Plus subscription offering originally planned for the second half of the year.

The forecast reset raised concerns about uptake following the recent relaunch of Bumble's eponymous app and a refresh of the Premium Plus offering as it faces sluggish user spending.

Bumble "has gone back to the literal drawing board on product development to drive better virality, user experience and ultimately monetization," RBC analysts Brad Erickson and Logan Reich wrote in a note.

While the app relaunch improved engagement and the women's experience, it did not have the desired impact on attracting new users and monetization, analysts at J.P. Morgan said, downgrading Bumble to "neutral" from "overweight".

Turnaround efforts usually take time, they said.

The Austin, Texas-based company's total average revenue per paying user decreased to $21.37 in the second quarter from $23.23 a year earlier.

"We aren't sure how long this new strategy will take to play out, which could face even more headwinds if consumer spending slows," said Piper Sandler analyst Matt Farrell, nearly halving Bumble's price target to $7.

At least eight brokerages trimmed their price target on the stock after results. The average rating of 23 brokerages covering the stock is "buy" and their median price target of $12.50 implies a 55% upside in the next 12 months.

Bumble's price-to-earnings ratio, a key metric in valuing stocks, was 7.91 times, much lower than rival Match Group's 15.15 multiple.

(Reporting by Medha Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath and Alan Barona)
Responders rescue three trapped after vehicle hydroplanes, flips over into creek

BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  The Virginia State Police and Boutetourt County Fire Department responded to an overturned vehicle accident in Fincastle that sent three people to the hospital on August 8.

According to police, a 66-year-old man was driving on Route 220 North with a 10-year-old female passenger when the vehicle hydroplaned. The car went off the right side of the road and flipped over into a creek, trapping three people inside.

One injured after transformer explosion in Lynchburg

VSP and emergency responders with Botetourt County Fire arrived on the scene and were able to rescue the two victims.

They were both taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

WFXR News will update you with more information as it becomes available.



Photo Credit: Michael Doti

Photo Credit: Fincastle Volunteer Fire Department  Company 4

The Virginia State Police and Boutetourt County Fire Department responded to an overturned vehicle accident in Fincastle that sent two people to the hospital on August 8. (Photo Credit: Michael Doti)

Photo Credit: Fincastle Volunteer Fire Department  Company 4

Photo Credit: Michael Doti

Photo Credit: Fincastle Volunteer Fire Department  Company 4

Photo Credit: Michael Doti

Photo Credit: Michael Doti

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
A recent string of Charlotte restaurant closures continued into July.

Two SouthPark restaurants  Harpers Restaurant at Sharon Corners Shopping Center and The Fox & Falcon by David Burke at Sharon Square  both closed for good last month. Harpers is set to be razed and replaced by a Chase Bank branch , while chef Burke told CBJ in July that The Fox & Falcon never got off the ground. Harpers had been in business for 37 years. The Fox & Falcon was open for less than a year.

Charlotte breweries face rising rents and other costs

Another Charlotte restaurant to call it quits in July was littleSpoon in Myers Park . That eatery, one of the first in Charlotte to offer brunch, had been open for 10 years.

It wasnt just restaurants that closed last month  a couple of breweries did as well. Devils Logic Brewing in the midtown area and Frothy Beard in South Ends Gold District both shuttered in late July.

In other moves, popular South End nightclub Lost & Found has closed for a full makeover and rebrand, and the Pub at Gateway is relocating a block away from its current uptown location after 17 years.

Despite the closures, Charlotte welcomed several new establishments to its dining scene in July.

For a closer look at last months industry news, check out CBJs latest installment of Restaurant Bites here.

VIDEO: South Charlotte restaurant closing its doors




Far-right riots across England have been fuelled by online disinformation ever since a group sprang up on an app owned by Russian exiles to exploit a tragedy in which three children were killed.

Police are working to prevent more disorder, with over 400 people arrested and dozens of officers injured in cities all over the country.

More far-right action was planned for Wednesday, with immigration law firms targeted, but mobs failed to appear and instead tens of thousands of anti-racist counter-protesters took to the streets.

The first riot took place in Southport on 30 July in response to the deaths of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine. They were attending a dance class in the town the day before when they were killed in a multiple stabbing which left eight other children injured.

Axel Rudakubana, who has been charged with their murders, was not initially named due to being 17 when he was arrested. This is when misinformation about the suspect became rife online, with many claiming that he was a Muslim and asylum seeker  both untrue.

Following the killings, a broadcast channel on messaging app Telegram was set up, titled Southport Wake Up. It would remain open for nearly a week, amassing over 13,000 members.

Police officers push back anti-immigration protesters outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotheram, August 4, 2024 (Getty)

The earliest messages in the channel were used to organise and mobilise the far-right rioters in Southport on 30 July who attacked a mosque. It remained open, sharing locations for rioters to mobilise over the weekend, with some of the plans resulting in widespread disorder and destruction of property.

Founded in 2013 by Russian -born brothers Pavel and Nikolai Durov, Telegram is an instant messaging service that has a range of social media features. It allows users to set up channels  large public groups which can broadcast messages to up to 200,000 people. Many of these can be searched for on the platform, others require a link.

After more plans were shared for Wednesday, The Independent approached Telegram to ask if it planned to remove the channel. The following day, spokesperson Remi Vaughn said: The channels publishing calls to violence have been removed.

He added: Telegrams terms of service explicitly forbid calls to violence. Moderators use a combination of proactive monitoring of public parts of the platform and user reports in order to remove content that breaches our terms of service.

Each day, millions of pieces of dangerous content are removed before they can cause harm.

Despite this, dozens of large channels which routinely share far-right content on the app remain open. Many of these have continued to share details of plans for Wednesday.

At 9am that day, four separate channels reshared the full list of locations for far-right action. They had a collective membership of just under 200,000 users, with the message receiving a shared 13,000 views.

The list of targets continues to be shared on far-right Telegram channels (Telegram screenshot)

In a disclaimer to the message, the original poster cites freedom of the press, adding: This list does not constitute an endorsement of any protest action that may lead to violence.

Replies to the message would suggest it was interpreted otherwise, with users sharing rioting tactics, discussing how to start a revolution, and mocking police for preventing them from [stopping] children getting stabbed. In these comment sections and across all the channels, anti-Muslim rhetoric, racist memes and racial slurs are used casually.

Telegram is the transnational far-right extremist platform of choice, says Professor Matthew Feldman, a specialist on right-wing extremism who teaches at the University of York.

Fascists, neo-nazis and the broader far-right have truly found a home there because theyre not being deplatformed or removed. Their content is safe, secure and they can continue to, more or less, say what they like.

Prof Feldman points out that the apps moderation team is less than a dozen, compared to Facebooks tens of thousands of moderators.

Telegrams privacy policy says it would provide information about anonymous posters to authorities if asked to do so, but claims it never has been. Telegram currently operates out of Dubai.

When joining a far-right channel on the app, users are presented with a box making them aware of similar channels. This makes it very easy for someone exposed to one source of far-right misinformation to quickly gain access to many more. Users are limited to seeing nine recommendations but can see an unlimited amount if they pay 34.99 for a year of Telegram Premium.

The Telegram app operates out of Dubai (Telegram screenshot)

Cross-posting between channels is common, allowing users to trace some messages back to their origins. Even if a message has been deleted or has disappeared from its source channel, it will remain live in channels to which it has been forwarded.

Some of these are run by well-known individuals such as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, or former BNP leader Nick Griffin.

But most operate under pseudonyms, sharing conspiracy theories, fascist or nazi rhetoric, and racist content. It seems they operate with near-impunity on the platform as they share cherry-picked news stories to their large audience, often alongside quotes from figures like Adolf Hitler or Oswald Mosley, and Islamophobic misinformation.

Telegrams approach to anonymity, privacy and verification makes the platform very attractive for far-right users. The app offers end-to-end encryption, making it near-impossible for anyone but the sender and the recipient to see messages. Regular users can decide their own screen name and change it regularly, without needing to prove their identity.

Prof Feldman, who has worked with the CPS on far-right terrorism, said: You have to look really hard for fascist and neo-nazi extremists who are minded to engage in political violence and not on Telegram.

He says there is a network of far-right groups on the platform who go by the collective name Terrorgram. The group was listed as a proscribed terrorist organisation by the government in April 2024.

A police van is seen parked near Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau, which has been boarded up as a protective measure against damage from riots, August 7, 2024 (Reuters)

Although moderation is lacking on Telegram, this does not mean illegal activity is permitted on the app. Director of public prosecutions Stephen Parkinson has said he is absolutely seeking to prosecute people for online offences related to the rioting.

He added: If youre engaged in that activity, then you can be prosecuted for the substantive offence that you have caused [due] to what youve been doing using the internet.

On 6 August, Jordan Parlour became the first person to be convicted of stirring up racial hatred online in connection to the riots. In that case the 28-year-old had made online comments advocating an attack on a hotel in Leeds.

It remains to be seen whether the government will call on Telegram to release information about users, which the companys policy indicates it would comply with.

A government spokesperson said: We expect social media companies to take their responsibilities seriously and that includes countering the misleading and inflammatory material hosted on their platforms.

People already being charged for illegal online activity should serve as a warning to anyone who intends to use any platform to incite hatred.

Ofcom has released an open letter to online service providers, requesting they take steps to prevent the spread of harmful video material stemming from the recent events.

Group director for online safety Gill Whitehead said: We expect continued engagement with companies over this period to understand the specific issues they face, and we welcome the proactive approaches that have been deployed by some services in relation to these acts of violence across the UK.

Under the Online Safety Act, passed last year, the telecoms watchdog will be given greater powers to enforce the systematic removal of illegal content from social media platforms operating in the UK. Ofcom says this will happen by the end of the year, while experts including Prof Feldman predict that early 2026 is more realistic.

A Telegram spokesperson claimed moderators had removed any calls to violence in its channels.

They added: Telegram is used by people on both sides of the political spectrum, including Black Lives Matter protestors, pro-democracy movements in Belarus and Hong Kong and normal people living under authoritarian regimes.
RFK Jr. defends bizarre wildlife hobbies, pet emu at trial accusing him of lying about living in NY to get on ballot

ALBANY, N.Y.  Falcons, and ravens and emus, oh my!

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended his wildlife hobbies  including falconry, training ravens and keeping a pet emu  on the stand Wednesday as he continued battling claims he lied about living in New York to get on the presidential ballot.

The Kennedy family scion, 70, has listed a Katonah, NY address on records over the last decade all while hes lived in California with his wife Cheryl Hines, an actress on HBOs Curb Your Enthusiasm.

During questioning by Keith Corbett  a lawyer for the Biden-aligned Clear Choice PAC  which is suing to keep Kennedy off the Empire State ballot  the independent presidential candidate admitted most of his personal effects, as well as an emu, his dogs and two ravens he is trying to train are at his LA home.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. admitted he only slept at his Katonah, NY property once. AP

Corbett grilled Kennedy about carrying on with his animal interests while living in California, including by pulling up a 50-second TikTok video of a tanned Kennedy feeding the birds from his LA balcony.

Corbett also confronted Kennedy with his California Falconry License dating back to 2015, while his New York fishing and marine license in New York only dated July 9.

Kennedy, an avid falconer, responded from the stand in Albany Supreme Court that it wasnt his signature on the falconry license and he occasionally lets other people sign documents for him.

He testified that he never intended to practice falconry in California and keeps his falcons in Goshen, NY.

Wearing a black suit, light blue shirt and a narrow tie, Kennedy returned to the stand for the second day in a row to defend himself against claims he has been falsely claiming to live in New York in order to get around a quirk in the US Constitution that would bar him and his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, from both winning the electoral college vote in California.

But while Kennedy sounded quite authoritative on the topic of corvids and falconry, he struggled to accurately name the addresses and dates of the places hes lived and admitted hed only stayed one time at his Katonah residence.

Kennedy said he has an emu, ravens and dogs at his Los Angeles home. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

I only slept there once, he said of the house thats in foreclosure and legally owed by Barbara Moss, the wife of his dads longtime pal Timothy Haydock, a Westchester doctor.

He used the Katonah address on his voter registrations to cast his ballot for primary and general elections going as far back as 2008 and as recently as 2020.

Kennedy testified that because of his secret service detail he usually has to stay in hotels since the officers wouldnt comfortably fit at the Westchester house.

I have spent very little time in either California or anywhere, any one place, Kennedy said. Im usually in a hotel every night. I have a security detail that needs to stay with me and the security detail is not going to be comfortable at 84 [Croton Lake Road]. They dont like it.

At trial the judge was shown a Tik Tok video of Kennedy feeding ravens at his L.A. home. RFK Jr./Instagram

The security detail makes the arrangement where I stay, which is usually a hotel, he added.

Kennedy maintained he always planned to moved back to New York once Hines retired from acting.

My intent was to return to New York, which is all I need for residency. Kennedy said.

He also went into detail about his training of the two ravens he keeps in LA, testifying that he can teach them to come when called, put a poker chip in a persons pocket and even talk.

They can talk like a parrot, testified Kennedy, who said he once headed the New York Falconry Association, wrote the exam taken to become a falconer and helped pen falconry laws in the state.

How long would it take you to teach a raven to talk? Corbett asked.

Kennedy claims while he has a home in L.A. he also has a residence in New York and always planned to moved back to the Empire State. AP

It takes about a year, Kennedy replied.

He said he first learned about training hawks at 14 when he started attending a Millbrook, NY boarding school that had a zoo  following the assassination of his dad Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.

Im a New Yorker. My drivers license is here mighty. My car is registered here. Ive always voted here. Ive never voted anywhere else. I pay income taxes here, my law office here, my law license is here, he said on his way out of the courthouse.

The animal-focused testimony comes just days after Kennedy copped to being responsible for a black bear cub carcass ending up in Central Park a decade ago.

Kennedy recently admitted being responsible for a bear carcass in Central Park. Robert F. Kennedy

In a social media video, Kennedy laid out his bizarre stunt to skin and use the bear for meat after finding it dead during a falconing trip in Goshen.

He said he put the bear in his trunk and drove it to New York City, where he had a dinner but ended up having to ditch the carcass so he could catch a flight.

Ive been picking up roadkill my whole life. I have a freezer full of it, Kennedy told The Post with a laugh while leaving court Wednesday. A thousand cubic foot freezer full of roadkill.
A New Jersey election law has accused Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of having flouted the states Sore Loser law by seeking the White House as an independent. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

New Jersey Secretary of State Tahesha Way said Wednesday that Robert F. Kennedy will appear on the ballot as an independent presidential candidate in Novembers general election.

Ways ruling ends a months-long effort by election attorney Scott Salmon to keep Kennedy from appearing on the ballot this fall. Salmon accused Kennedy of having flouted the states Sore Loser Law, which prohibits candidates who unsuccessfully seek a political partys nomination from running as an independent for the same office.

Salmon has argued that because Kennedy announced a bid to seek the Democratic nomination for president, raised money for that effort, and even opened a campaign office in New Jersey before deciding to seek the White House as an independent, he is not eligible to run for president as an independent. But Ways 8-page decision says the legislative intent of the 1998 law is to prevent candidates who run in a primary election and lose from then launching a third-party bid for the same office.

There is no record evidence that Kennedy, Jr. expended significant resources to appear on the ballot in the Democratic Primary in New Jersey  as opposed to nationwide efforts  prior to his abandoning efforts to seek (the) Democratic nomination, wrote Way, who is also lieutenant governor.

Salmon said that while he still believes Kennedy should be barred from the ballot, he is pleased Way clarified when the Sore Loser Law applies and put reasonable guardrails in place. Ways decision says candidates are subject to that law if they file petitions to seek a partys nomination or if they engage in an active write-in campaign.

I view this decision as a major victory for our understanding of New Jerseys election laws, and for that, it was well worth the effort, he said.

Salmon originally filed his complaint about Kennedys eligibility in Mercer County Superior Court, where a judge dismissed the matter and told Salmon his challenge should have gone to the secretary of states office.

Salmon filed that complaint last week, and it was heard by Administrative Law Judge Ernest M. Bongiovanni, who said Tuesday that Kennedy had not formally filed to run as a Democrat in New Jersey, and thus was not subject to the states Sore Loser law. Bongiovanni also said Salmons challenge of Kennedys nominating petitions should have been filed in June.

Way rejected Bongiovannis contention that Salmon filed his complaint late.

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Rheinmetall CEO Says Arms Boom Is the Biggest Hes Ever Seen

(Bloomberg) -- Rheinmetall AG is seeing record growth because of Europes defense ramp-up in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, with annual jumps in revenue expected for years to come.

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We have never seen such growth, Chief Executive Officer Armin Papperger said Thursday. The supercycle is clearly accelerating.

For the coming years, the German maker of Leopard tanks and ammunition expects an annual surge in sales of about 2 billion ($2.2 billion) after massively investing in additional capacity as well as making acquisitions since Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014. For 2024, Rheinmetall sees revenue rising to around 10 billion.

The company is also building new plants in countries like Lithuania, Hungary, Romania and Ukraine.

Rheinmetall is among a number of European weapons contractors that has seen sales surge amid the growing threat from Russia and questions around the US commitment to the NATO military alliance. Its order backlog came in at 48.6 billion at the end of June and is expected to swell to as much as 70 billion by the end of this year.

The results are solid, with very strong operating free cash flow and confident messaging from management on reaching targets for this year and beyond, Morgan Stanley analysts led by Marie-Ange Riggio said in a note.

Operating profit more than doubled to 270 million in the second quarter, outpacing a rise in sales. The company will likely reach the upper end of its full-year margin guidance of 14% to 15%, Papperger said Thursday on a call with analysts.

Rheinmetall shares rose as much 2.6% in Frankfurt. Theyre up 75% this year.

The manufacturer, which plans to build an ammunition factory in Ukraine, has had a turbulent few weeks after reports in July that American and German security services foiled a Russian plot to assassinate Papperger. He has been given special protection as a result.

Rheinmetall and Leonardo SpA in July said theyll work together developing and selling a new main battle tank and platform for an armored infantry combat vehicle to the Italian Army.

(Updates with analyst comment in sixth paragraph.)

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St. Johnsbury, VT  The Rhode Island man who Vermont State Troopers say shot at them after fleeing multiple states appeared in court for the second time this week. He was arraigned in New Hampshire on Wednesday on a fugitive from justice charges before being extradited to Vermont.

On Thursday, Brenden Sackal, 30, from Hopkinton, RI, pleaded not guilty to 17 charges stemming from his altercation with Vermont State Police on July 14 in Burke. Sackal faces multiple counts of attempted aggravated murder, attempted aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, reckless endangerment, and possession of large-capacity firearm magazines among other charges.

Sackal was ordered to remain in custody without bail until his trial is complete. An evidence hearing was scheduled to take place roughly a month from Thursday, but a date has not been set.

19-year-old hospitalized after Brattleboro shooting, no arrests made

Sackal is being held at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield. He was arrested Monday at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, where he had been recovering from injuries he sustained in the July 14 shooting.

After being medically cleared, Sackal was arraigned in New Hampshire on a fugitive from justice charges and extradited back to Vermont. Sackal was wanted by police in Rhode Island for possessing illegal high-capacity firearm magazines, and when authorities could not find him at his home they altered New Hampshire and Vermont law enforcement.

Sackal drove to Pittsburg, NH where US Border Patrol Agents recognized his truck and pursued him to the Vermont state line on Route 114 in Canaan. Authorities laid out a spike strip to stop Sackals vehicle, but he continued driving over fifty miles on Route 114 to Burke, where he eventually lost control of his truck before state troopers say he opened fire on them.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Writers in Rhode Island can now apply for $30,000 grants being distributed by the Rhode Island Foundation.

The Foundation said its looking to help emerging and mid-career authors focus on the creative process and push their work to the next level.

This support will enable local writers to focus on their work rather than trying to make ends meet. Offering the financial support they need in order to advance their craft is an investment in them, and in nurturing Rhode Islands vibrant arts sector, R.I. Foundation president and CEO David Cicilline said in a press release.

Up to three grants will be awarded through the Robert and Margaret MacColl Johnson Fellowship Fund. The grants are among the largest no-strings-attached awards available to authors in the United States, according to the Foundation.

Sept. 4 is the deadline to submit an application. Learn more about whos eligible and how to apply here.

MacColl Johnson Fellowship Fund: Learn more and apply

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A surge in arrests following far-Right riots across the UK is placing additional strain on Britain's criminal justice system - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

After nine days of violence and looting across the country, rioters are beginning to learn what it means to feel the full force of the law.

So far, more than 400 have been arrested and 140 charged. More are expected in the coming days.

Sir Keir Starmer has called for more police forces to use facial recognition technology to compare footage from CCTV, body-worn cameras and smartphones against images of suspects and offenders held on police databases.

It means that rioters can be tracked and arrested long after they leave the scene of the crime.

However, the potential influx of hundreds of offenders has sparked fears that it will overload the countrys crumbling justice system.

On Monday, Nick Emmerson, president of the Law Society of England and Wales, said that significant neglect over the last decade has severely damaged the criminal justice system which remains blighted by case backlogs.

He added: The criminal defence profession is also depleted and overworked and the goodwill of the solicitors who are being called on to work additional anti-social hours is fast running out.

Many remain alarmed at the Prime Ministers proposal to introduce emergency 24-hour courts to rapidly sentence offenders.

The idea was raised in emergency talks between the Ministry of Justice and senior members of the judiciary last weekend amid pressure to crack down on riots that spread after the killing of three children in a Southport knife attack.

It came after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that it deployed an extra 70 lawyers working out of hours to charge arrested rioters.

However, Labours proposal frustrated many overworked and underpaid criminal defence lawyers who argue that Britains decrepit courts and overcrowded prisons lack the capacity needed to immediately charge and remand hundreds of rioters.

Criminal lawyers say the plan just isnt practical. Barristers often use their evenings after court preparing for the next day.

Earl Pinnock, a criminal barrister at No5 Chambers, says: When everyone else is sitting down and watching Corrie, barristers are working on their cases because theres no point in turning up in court the following morning unless youve done the work  and that takes place overnight.

Introducing 24-hour courts risks leaving prosecutors and defence lawyers no time to prepare for their cases, not least sleep.

Pinnock adds: This is just not compatible with a system of justice which is supposed to be careful and cautious and meticulous in ensuring that justice is done, whether its done to victims of crime or to the perpetrators of crime.

Lawyers arent the only ones affected. Judges, court clerks and ushers, security staff, probation officers, prison workers and van drivers transporting offenders would all need to work extra hours to keep courts running all day.

It presents an employment law headache as previous governments have discovered after plans to extend court operating hours have been accused of discriminating against those with caring and family responsibilities.

I know that a lot of people at the criminal bar will just simply not work overnight, says one criminal barrister with two young children. You need to double the workforce.

Overnight courts were last used during the 2011 London riots triggered by the death of Mark Duggan, when Sir Keir was Director of Public Prosecutions.

Around 3,000 people were arrested with more than 2,000 facing criminal charges and prison sentences linked to the violent riots, which later spread from the capital to other cities across the UK.

Sir Keir at the time claimed that it was the speed rather than severity of sentences given to those convicted of violence, looting and arson attacks which prevented reoffending and brought the chaos under control.

However, lawyers argue that chronic underfunding and legal aid cuts under successive Conservative governments mean that Sir Keirs swift justice tactics would not fly today.

The shortage of judges, criminal lawyers, court staff and courtrooms will inevitably see the influx of riot arrests worsen the existing backlog of around 450,000 court cases in the crown courts and magistrates system.

Daniel Bonich, chairman of the Criminal Law Solicitors Association (CLSA), told the Ministry of Justice in an open letter published on Monday: This is not 2011. Since 2011 more than a third of criminal legal aid solicitors have left the profession and a third of firms have closed.

According to Bonich, Labour did not consult the CLSA or other solicitor representative groups before suggesting the overnight courts.

Some also criticise the cheek of Sir Keir to expect further sacrifices from lawyers and judges who have been vilified and attacked by the former Conservative government.

Indeed, violent threats against immigration lawyers over the past few days show the real-world dangers of the anti-lawyer attitudes prevalent in the UK.

Abimbola Johnson, a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, says: They [criminal lawyers] felt very deliberately undermined by the previous government. But now in the time of crisis, its the lawyers who are asked to come and sweep up the mess.

Youre going to see a lot of black and brown lawyers who potentially could have been the exact people that were attacked by the clients that they are going to be representing  It relies on us as lawyers setting aside our own characteristics to fiercely represent our clients.

Some are hopeful that the justice systems ongoing role in restoring order will be rewarded with gratitude and even investment, especially as many charged rioters rely on legal aid to cover their court costs.

Sailesh Mehta, a criminal barrister at Red Lion Chambers, is sceptical.

We have been at this precipice of hope many times before. I dont think it will happen, he says. The Government has other priorities, including doctors and nurses. From the public point of view, the criminal bar and criminal solicitors will be the last in the line to receive their adequate wage.

A spokesman from the Judicial Office said: There are contingency measures in place across the criminal justice system, to handle any unexpected and exceptional increases in demand on the magistrates courts.

This includes additional sittings of courts during regular hours which is happening now. At present no emergency protocols have been activated and this remains under review.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said introducing overnight courts is a decision ultimately made by the independent judiciary and local police forces.

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Another rodent heavy week at the Sick and Shut Down List, but one featuring a local and two national chains.

So, lets get our list of South Florida restaurant inspection failures. First, some quick reminders:

This covers Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties, but not every county has restaurants failing inspection every week.

We dont decide who gets inspected nor do we do the inspecting. Both are done by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation from customer complaints and a schedule of routine inspections.

We do this without passion or prejudice, but with a little humor and judgment.

In alphabetical order:

Champet Restaurant and Bar, 7920 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines: Complaint inspection, 10 total violations, five High Priority violations.

One dead roach on the wall above the employee rights poster.

Two live roaches made their way across a backroom ceiling.

Stop Sales crashed down on 54-degree cooked sausage and 50-degree shredded lettuce that needed to be cooled to 41 degrees after a night in the cooler and cooked chicken at 80 degrees an hour after it needed to be cooled to 70 degrees.

In a cooler, marinade in a large bucket container was left uncovered.

And, who was supposed to be watching the small child walking through the kitchen area when food is being prepared? Management was told to keep the kid away from the prep area.

Inspection was passed the next day.

Diner By-the-Sea, 215 Commercial Blvd., Lauderdale by the Sea: Routine inspection, 14 total violations, three High Priority violations.

Guess the mice (or whatever) here like getting down, seeing as how about 24 rodent droppings were on a kitchen shelf containing audio equipment.

Maybe they were in charge of the tunes for the rodent party that left 12 rodent droppings under a microwave on a kitchen shelf, four under and behind a steam table and two on top of the dishwasher. For those of you who dont want to do the math, thats 42 rodent droppings in the kitchen. Another two were in a rear storage area.

Next to that, three dead roaches  one of which was next to the stove, another on a front counter shelf  doesnt seem so bad, does it?

Youd think a place with By-the-Sea as part of the name would know how to store fish. Alas, the two reduced-oxygen packaged mahi mahi bearing a label indicating that its to remain frozen until time of use were taken out of the freezer the previous day and thawed overnight. Stop Sale on the fish.

Diner By-the-Sea, 215 Commercial Blvd.

Accumulation of debris on the exterior of warewashing machine.

There was standing water behind an ice machine.

The Diner got scuttled on Saturdays re-inspection by four rodent droppings under a pipe along the front counter.

Finally, after taking a few days, there was a passed inspection Wednesday, barely  Follow up Inspection Required.

IHOP, 1503 Belvedere Blvd., West Palm Beach: Routine inspection, five total violations, five High Priority violations.

The former International House of Pancakes was the International House of Rodents during this inspection, with rodent nesting materials (chewed/gathered insulation/debris) in the kitchen behind the water heater.

Thats Mickey and Minnies living room. As for where they marked their toilets, it was the kitchen floor next to the walk-in cooler (two droppings), under the dishwasher (three), in dry storage (three), and near the food expeditors line (three).

An employee cracked raw shell eggs, then (touched) a clean plate to serve a cooked omelette without washing hands.

IHOP was back pushing pancake pigs in a blanket after re-inspection the next day.

Islands Roti Delight, 1480 S. Military Tr., Unincorporated Palm Beach County: Complaint inspection, three total violations, one High Priority violation.

Time for another Which is Worse?

About 26 live roaches in the kitchen, including two crawling out of a kitchen paper towel dispenser and 20 crawling around the water heater in the kitchen?

Or, a whole mess of dead roaches, as in 100-plus ... throughout the establishment?

Islands took two days and passed the callback inspection.

Quarterdeck Seafood Bar & Grill, 12310 W. Sunrise Blvd., Plantation: Complaint inspection, six total violations, four High Priority violations.

A favorite place for fans of the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers (feels good to say that) to kill pregame and/or postgame drinks and chow since the team moved from the Miami Arena to Sunrise got put in the penalty box.

Six live roaches crawling on a storage rack and syrup boxes.

In the main grills cooling drawer, chicken breast cooked the day previous (or before that) measured 47 degrees when it needed to be at 41 or under to keep from being a bacteria breeding ground. Stop Sale on the chicken.

Quarterdeck got released from the inspection sin bin after Tuesdays re-inspection.

Quates Mexican Restaurant II, 9858 Clint Moore Rd., Unincorporated Palm Beach County: Complaint inspection, six total violations, one High Priority violation.

One dead roach on a dining room table.

Well take a brief break from the roaches to tell you about the stained/soiled cutting boards that had cut marks and were no longer cleanable.

Back to the bugs. Five dead roaches were on the kitchen floor, near a linen washing area. Another quintet were inside of a device at the bar. A dining room beverage station shelf and a liquor storage room shelf each had a legs up roach.

As for the roaches legs down and running, they were ubiquitous.

Five on the underside of a beverage station table. One on the floor at the beverage station. One on an electrical cord behind the beverage station. One on a kitchen cookline dry storage shelf. Five in a cookline coolers gasket. Five inside the door jamb to a liquor storage room. Two on on a table top at the food expediters line in front of the cookline.

The inspector counted 34 living roaches.

Quatas passed inspection the next day, but with Follow-up Inspection Required not Met Inspection Standards.

Stoners Pizza Joint, 1509 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale: Routine inspection, 11 total violations, two High Priority violations.

Earlier this week, we detailed the smells and the poop pellets that helped the pizza chains Fort Lauderdale location face plant on a trio of inspections.

READ MORE: A stink, standing water and rodents at Stoners Pizza Joint

A fourth inspection just hours after 10 rodent droppings caused Stoners third inspection failure got the restaurant open for Friday family pizza night and the rest of the weekend business.

Tacos Al Carbon Bar and Grill, 2161 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., West Palm Beach: Routine inspection, nine total violations, eight High Priority violations.

The individual area with the most rodent poo pieces was the kitchen floor in liquor storage (seven), followed by kitchen shelves over the prep table and sink (six). The prep area floor had four as did the tops of food storage containers near the microwave. There were another three in a kitchen prep sink and three in dry storage on top of single service article boxes.

An employee handled soiled dishes while carrying them to the dishwashing area, then returned to the cookline and began preparing food without washing hands.

Putting the cooked beans in the walk-in cooler overnight shouldnt leave them at 46 degrees or five degrees too warm for survival. Stop Sale on the beans.

Also, tossed via Stop Sales were raw beef (50 degrees), raw chicken (49) and cut tomatoes (46). The inspector noticed though theyd been in the cooler overnight, they also were overfilled in pans, which doesnt allow for proper cooling.

Tacos were being served again after Fridays re-inspection.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP)  Police launched a manhunt in Barcelona on Thursday for fugitive Carles Puigdemont, a celebrated campaigner for Catalan independence who made a sensational return to Spain and an equally sensational getaway from a speech in the city with the alleged help of local police officers.

The events took place nearly seven years after the ex-Catalonia leader fled Spain after a failed independence bid, with an outstanding arrest warrant pending against him.

Puigdemont had previously announced his intention to be in Spain on the day that Catalonia's parliament proclaimed a new president. The 61-year-old initially lived in Belgium after bolting from Spain in 2017, but his latest place of residence wasn't known.

Puigdemont kept his travel plans secret before setting out to the wealthy Catalan region in northeastern Spain. He gave a speech in front of a large crowd of supporters in central Barcelona under the noses of police officers, who made no attempt to detain him.

After his speech, in a cloak-and-dagger moment, Puigdemont went into an adjacent marquee tent. There, he hurried out of an exit and jumped into a waiting car that sped away, according to an Associated Press photographer who witnessed his departure.

Catalan police arrested two of their own officers for their alleged involvement in Puigdemonts getaway, suspecting that the former leader used the private car of one of them, the forces press office told The Associated Press. No further details were available.

After Puigdemont vanished, Catalan police  called Mossos dEsquadra  checked vehicles across the city of around 1.6 million people and others heading on highways to neighboring France in an effort to nab him. The checks were called off hours later.

Puigdemont shared later a video of his speech on Instagram with the message Were still here. Long live free Catalonia."

Officers initially held back from swooping to arrest Puigdemont out of concern the move might cause public disorder, a police statement said. Officers tried to stop the fleeing vehicle, but were unable to do so, it said, though it added that further arrests were expected. The statement didn't elaborate.

The Catalan police force operates separately from Spains Policia Nacional. At the time of the 2017 ballot, the Spanish government suspended the Mossos chief and placed the force under investigation for failing to stop the vote. The chief and his staff were eventually exonerated.

Puigdemont faces charges of embezzlement for his part in an attempt to break Catalonia away from the rest of Spain in 2017. As regional president and separatist party leader at the time, he was a key player in the independence referendum that was outlawed by the central government but went ahead anyway.

Story continues

Those events triggered a political crisis that roiled Spain for months.

Puigdemonts appearance in Barcelona, Catalonias capital, and his game of cat-and-mouse with police, stole the show on a day when a new president was being proclaimed at the regional parliament.

Local police were deployed in a security ring around a section of the park where Catalonias parliament building is located behind walls, and where Puigdemont was expected to go after his speech. Meanwhile, the politician, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and tie, walked with supporters to the nearby stage where he gave his speech.

Addressing the crowd in the park and at times pumping his fist, Puigdemont accused Spanish authorities of a crackdown on the Catalan separatist movement.

For the last seven years we have been persecuted because we wanted to hear the voice of the Catalan people, Puigdemont said. They have made being Catalan into something suspicious.

He added: All people have the right to self-determination.

The gripping turn of events, broadcast live on Spanish television channels, was likely to bring political recriminations.

The leader of the Popular Party, the main opposition to Spains left-of-center coalition government which has long rebuffed Catalonias independence movement, condemned Puigdemonts return. Alberto Nunez Feijoo posted on X that Puigdemonts reappearance was an unbearable humiliation that damaged Spains reputation.

Spains government encouraged a deal brokered after months of deadlock between Salvador Illas Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) and the other main Catalan separatist party and left-wing Esquerra Republicana (ERC). That deal ensured just enough support in Catalonias parliament for Illa to become the next regional president Thursday with 68 votes in the 135-seat chamber.

Illas new government is the first non pro-independence government in 14 years, since the PSC last held power.

Speaking to Catalan lawmakers before the vote, Illa called for reconciliation and respect for a controversial amnesty bill that could eventually clear Puigdemont of wrongdoing but which is being challenged in court. He vowed to govern for all Catalans after years of bitter divisions between those in favor of independence and those against it.

Puigdemont has dedicated his career to carving out a new country in northeast Spain, and has often thumbed his nose at authorities. His largely uncompromising approach has brought political conflict with other separatist parties as well as with Spains central government.

The contentious amnesty bill, crafted by Spains Socialist-led coalition government, could potentially clear hundreds of supporters of Catalan independence of any wrongdoing in the 2017 ballot. Spain's central government and the Constitutional Court declared at the time that the referendum was illegal.

But the bill, approved by Spains parliament earlier this year, is being challenged by Supreme Court judges who say its provisions should not protect Puigdemont from prosecution over embezzlement charges that have been lodged against him.

Puigdemont could be placed in pretrial detention if he is arrested.

___

Hatton reported from Lisbon, Portugal. Associated Press photographer Emilio Morenatti in Barcelona and writer Teresa Medrano in Madrid contributed to this report.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has submitted more than enough valid petition signatures to have his name on the Nov. 5 Texas ballot as an independent presidential candidate, the Texas Secretary of State's Office announced Thursday.

"After review, your application has been accepted. Your name will appear on the ballot for the 2024 General Election as an Independent candidate for the Office of President of the United States," Christina Worrell Adkins, the state's elections director, said in a letter to Kennedy, the nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy. "Nicole Shanahan will also appear on the ballot as the Vice-Presidential candidate."

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., waves to the crowd at a campaign rally at Brazos Hall Monday May 13, 2024.

According to state law, an independent candidate for president in 2024 must submit a petition with 113,151 signatures from Texans who are both registered to vote and did not vote in the March primary elections. Kennedy's petition contained 122,513 valid signatures, the Secretary of State's Office said.

More: RFK Jr. posts video admitting to dumping dead bear in NYC's Central Park in 2014

Kennedy and Shanahan were in Austin for a rally in May after they hand-delivered their petition signatures to the Texas Capitol. Kennedy, whose father, U.S. Sen. Robert Kennedy of New York, was gunned down in June 1968 while seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, invoked the imagery of his uncle and father during the Austin appearance and said it pained him to abandon the party of his family.

Many still-living members of the extended Kennedy family have made clear they do not support Kennedy's independent run for president.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. qualifies for Texas ballot as independent
Robert Telles murder trial set to begin Monday; judge questions whether it will stay on schedule

Robert Telles murder trial set to begin Monday; judge questions whether it will stay on schedule

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The trial of a disgraced public official charged with the revenge-killing of an investigative newspaper reporter is expected to begin Monday after almost two years of procedural delays, legal maneuvering and an ongoing, fierce in-court dispute over the First Amendment, according to lawyers trying the case. Unless, of course, it doesnt.

While jury selection in the murder trial of Robert Telles, the former Clark County public administrator charged with the stabbing death of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German in September 2022, is slated to start Monday afternoon, the judge overseeing the proceedings questioned whether that schedule is realistic.

Doesnt look like were starting it on Monday, Judge Michelle Leavitt said in court Wednesday.

A delay, if it occurs, would stem from the yearslong endeavor to cull electronic files from Germans phones and laptops. Since the time of Telles arrest, prosecutors, attorneys for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and lawyers for the newspaper  not to mention Telles, who represented himself until February  litigated extensively over who owns those devices.

In May, the parties agreed that the newspaper would review the devices in advance of the trial, which has been postponed multiple times since the original date of April 17, 2023. The trial was delayed multiple times for multiple reasons, not the least of which was the First Amendment issues tied into ownership of Germans electronic devices, which made its way before the Nevada Supreme Court.

Further delay ensued when Telles moved to remove Leavitt from the case. He also fired several attorneys over the course of the last two years.

Now, Telles, who says he was framed for Germans murder despite overwhelming evidence against him, wants to testify on his own behalf.

He anticipates on telling his story, Robert Draskovich, the experienced criminal attorney Telles hired in February, said on Wednesday.

Draskovich says he plans to call 12 witnesses in Telles defense, compared to 20 witnesses prosecutors plan to call in their case-in-chief against Telles.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday afternoon. A panel of potential jurors already exists because they received and filled out questionnaires ahead of time, the lawyers said.

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Lawyers for Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein  who are running against each other to be the next North Carolina governor  are exchanging letters over a Stein campaign attack ad against Robinson.

Heres what you need to know about the ad and where things stand.

Steins ad, which is still airing, focuses on the former childcare center owned by Robinsons wife, Yolanda Hill, where Robinson also worked.

Lawyer letters

As of Thursday, three letters have been exchanged: one to the Stein campaign from Robinsons campaign lawyers, a response from Steins lawyers, and a third from Robinsons campaign lawyers in response.

In the first letter, attorneys from the Dickinson Wright law firm ask the Stein campaign to stop airing the ad, saying that the ad includes false attacks and that continuing to air the ad will be considered malicious. Moreover, failure to comply with the demands in this letter will force our clients to seek legal recourse to the fullest extent of the law.

The center of the dispute is the ads claim that the childcare center was unsanitary and endangered children, and the use of video that is not from the actual daycare.

The second letter, from the Elias Law Group on behalf of Steins campaign, defends the ad and says the accusations have no merit.

As of Monday, the latest letter, from Robinsons lawyers, describe Steins lawyers response as legal caterwauling.

The letter also says the Robinson campaign renews our demand that Stein and his campaign cease and desist from these knowingly false attacks, or as they say, dramatic visualizations, referring to the video used during descriptions of the daycare.

What the DHHS records show

The ad takes some information from findings from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education.

In documents previously reported by The News & Observer and other news outlets, Precious Beginnings Child Development Center in Greensboro had several violations in 2005, 2006 and 2007 after visits from DHHS officials.

Records show that Precious Beginnings was notified of problems ranging from not having enough caregivers present for the required ratio of staff to children, not having accessible employee records, not labeling and refrigerating all formula and other beverages for children, not complying with rules about types of food served, an infant not placed on its back to sleep, and no dolls and other appropriate books and toys provided for younger children. Even with demerits issued during compliance reviews, the daycare still received a superior rating in at least one report.

In a 2005 unannounced follow-up visit from DHHS, documents show that several problems had been corrected, including staff-to-student ratios and supervision, but the center was cited for some employees not having records of required training. The report also says the operator made attempts to falsify information related to the training.

What Robinson, Stein say

In July, Robinson told WFAE radio in Charlotte that there were not problems with the daycare and that people are slinging mud at the wall.

Robinson told WFAE that we simply sold it because my wife got burned out and decided to move on and do something else.

In a statement to The N&O, Steins campaign manager, Jeff Allen, defended the ad.

The ad is factually accurate, based on publicly available information, and, to date, the Robinson campaign has yet to provide any new factual information to refute the ads claims. Mark Robinson may want to hide his record from North Carolina voters, but the voters deserve to know it, Allen said.

What else to know

The letters also bring up a situation from the 2020 election for attorney general, when Stein defeated Republican Forsyth County District Attorney Jim ONeill. That dispute was also over an attack ad from Steins campaign, and led to an investigation by the Wake County DAs office that was eventually resolved by the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2023, the Associated Press reported.

In an interview this past spring, ONeill said hes still shocked by Steins lawsuit during the investigation, saying that his own record stands for itself, speaks for itself. And (Stein) was not able to attack me on my record.

Steins campaign spokesperson said Thursday that the ONeill ad was true. The State Board of Elections agreed and recommended the matter be closed.

ONeill ran in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor this year, resulting in a second primary, which he lost to candidate Hal Weatherman.

It is also true that Mark Robinson cant run a daycare and we cant let him run our state, said Kate Frauenfelder, Steins spokesperson.

As of Thursday afternoon, neither the Stein nor Robinson campaign has taken any additional action about the ad.

NC Reality Check is an N&O series holding those in power accountable and shining a light on public issues that affect the Triangle or North Carolina. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email realitycheck@newsobserver.com
(KRON)  A man climbed to the top of a railroad signal tower in Fairfield, hurled rocks at officers, and refused to descend back down, police said.

At 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, officers found 50-year-old Christopher Hood perched precariously on the tower spanning above railroad tracks along Huntington Drive, the Fairfield Police Department wrote.

When officers tried negotiating with Hood, he threw rocks at them, police said.

(Photo courtesy Fairfield Police Department)

A police sergeant called in the fire departments ladder truck as backup. He and several officers then formed a plan to use the ladder truck to gain access to the towers platform, FPD wrote.

Officers climbed up to the man and were able to convince him to return to the ground and surrender. Hood was on Post Release Community Supervision at the time of the tower incident.

Death penalty conviction overturned in Alameda County

Hood was booked into the Solano County Jail on new charges, including trespassing and obstructing a law enforcement officer.

(Photo courtesy Fairfield Police Department)

Police thanked firefighters for teaming up to handle the unique incident. Fairfield Fire personnel did not hesitate to rush to our aid  quickly giving our officers training on how to safely use the Ladder Apparatus on the truck and providing safety belts, the police department wrote.

The combined efforts by both Fairfield Fire and Fairfield PD resulted in the man being taken safely into custody, FPD wrote.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
NEW CITY  Dependents of Rockland volunteer first responders would become eligible for benefits of up to $1 million if volunteers are killed in the line of duty.

The 17-member Legislature voted unanimously on Tuesday night to create the Rockland County Volunteer Benefit Act, which would cover families of firefighters, EMS and auxiliary police.

Firefighter John Segalbacher, left, and Legislator Paul Cleary, D-Haverstraw, in Rockland Legislature chambers on Aug. 6, 2024. The Legislature approved line-of-duty death benefits for volunteer firefighters, EMS, and auxiliary police.

The benefits program recognizes the importance of the volunteers and their service to the overall community and would provide financial assistance to dependents to honor their loved ones commitment and sacrifice.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day said he will sign the adopted resolution into law.

Legislator Paul Cleary, D-Haverstraw, introduced the program after seeing announcements for fundraisers, such as GoFundMe campaigns, to help deceased volunteers families pay their bills. Cleary said he spoke with members of the firefighting, emergency medical services, and auxiliary police communities, along with the County Executives Office.

I was just flabbergasted and then appalled to see that the families of these volunteers, who give so much to our communities, were struggling to pay their mortgage or rent, or even to put food on their table because their breadwinner had died while in service to the community, Cleary said in a news release. Helping out these families as they struggle to rebuild their lives is the least that we can do.

The law is not retroactive, and will take effect after its filed with the New York Secretary of State's Office.

Deaths in the line of duty have not been commonplace for Rockland volunteers, though fatalities have occurred over the years  especially among firefighters.

The most recent death occurred on March 23, 2021, when Spring Valley Fire Department Lt. Jared Lloyd, 35, died helping to evacuate residents of the Evergreen Court Home for Adults on Lafayette Avenue in Spring Valley. Parts of the massive building collapsed on top of Lloyd, the father of two young boys. Evergreen Court resident Oliver Huested, 79, died in the inferno. Both families have pending lawsuits against the owners of the burned-out facility and others.

What would Rockland Volunteer Benefit Act provide for families?

The Rockland County Volunteer Benefit Act would provide financial payments to the married spouse, children, and qualifying relatives. The benefit is capped at $1 million, and would be paid directly to each beneficiary. Each payment will be 10% of the total due to each beneficiary, with payments disbursed annually for up to 10 years.

Beneficiaries must be designated by the volunteer before the time the volunteer was killed in the line of duty.

Beneficiaries would have up to one year to apply for a grant to the Rockland Department of Insurance and Risk Management. Applications will be reviewed and approved by a panel consisting of the Legislatures Public Safety Chair, the County Executive or his representative, and the Rockland County Fire Advisory Board Chair.

Funding for the grants will be provided through the appropriation of funds from the Countys general fund.

Of interest: Rockland wants Evergreen Court owners to clear the wreckage from fatal fire

Benefit program draws bipartisan support in Rockland

The law drew bipartisan support from the governing body's 12 Democrats and five Republicans.

Among those applauding the law was Frank Bifulco, who chairs the Rockland County Fire Advisory Board.

I was proud to be included on the team that helped develop the criteria for this benefit," Bifulco said in the news release. "Though we hope that this benefit will never have to be initiated, this law will be a great financial support to a family in distress due to the line of duty death of their family breadwinner.

County Executive Day, a Republican and retired NYPD lieutenant commander, said the bill honors the county's volunteers.

As a former first responder, above all, I recognize the courage and sacrifice of our volunteer first responders and am proud to support this new bill for those killed in the line of duty, Day said. This tribute ensures loved ones of our heroes are cared for while reflecting our deep gratitude for their service and dedication.

Rockland County Legislator Will Kennelly, R-Clarkstown, a freshman lawmaker and retired NYPD officer, said he felt honored to support the law.

This is a message to all first responders that we appreciate you and thank your families for all you do to keep the residents of Rockland County safe," Kennelly said. "You are the real heroes.

Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal

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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland NY to adopt benefit program for families of volunteers killed
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A 14-year-old who was reported missing earlier Wednesday afternoon was found and reunited with his family, the Round Rock Police Department said.

The teen had not been seen since around 3 p.m. in Round Rock, police said.

No other details were released Wednesday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
HRSA Roundtable in Louisville (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

LOUISVILLE  Maternal health is complicated, and reducing mortality around birth takes a comprehensive approach, advocates from across Kentucky said at a Thursday roundtable moderated by Carole Johnson, the administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration for the Biden administration.

During the roundtable, which took place at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Louisville, Johnson said Kentucky is now eligible for more than $8 million in federal funding through the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program. Kentuckys version of this is called HANDS (Health Access Nurturing Development Services), which is a voluntary service that offers parenting guidance to new or expecting parents.

We are thrilled to be here, Johnson said to a room full of parents, medical providers and other maternal health advocates. Were thrilled to put these resources on the table but we know that what it takes to actually execute on them is all the work that happens by all of you around this room.

She also praised Rep. Kim Moser, R-Taylor Mill, who spearheaded Kentuckys move to pass a maternal health Momnibus bill during the 2024 legislative session and was present Thursday.

Momnibus, which made pregnancy a qualifying event for insurance coverage in Kentucky, among other things, was a big bill. It was a big lift, said Moser, who chairs the House Health Services Committee. Im excited to see how it gets implemented.

What is working for maternal health in Kentucky?

Kentucky has dismal maternal mortality rates, which is worse for women of color than white women.

The 2023 March of Dimes report showed the state once again had high maternal mortality, which was worse for Black Kentuckians. The state has a maternal mortality rate of 38.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, higher than the national rate of 23.5 deaths per 100,000 live births.

A 2023 state report on maternal mortality also showed substance use disorder contributed to nearly 60% of all maternal deaths. Most maternal deaths in Kentucky  88%  are preventable, that report from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services said.

Advocates around the table Thursday said improving maternal health has to involve a comprehensive approach that looks at physical and mental health as well as social determinants of health, like reliable transportation, safe housing and clean water, among other things. Several shared the work theyre doing to meet those needs.

Bethany Wilson, who is in long term recovery and now works at the University of Kentucky to treat substance use disorder during and after pregnancy, said shame, lack of transportation and lack of education were all barriers she faced when pregnant.

While in addiction, I was, of course, unengaged in the healthcare system altogether, despite having serious medical conditions, she said. But when I learned about my pregnancy, so many emotions came  just embarrassment, fear, guilt, sadness.

Now she shares her story and information about resources with UK patients to promote harm reduction and health education.

Word of mouth is a huge piece, she said. The word-of-mouth patients that have engaged in our program will tell other people in their community through them knowing that its a safe place to come.

Capric Walker, who heads the University of Louisvilles 550 Clinic to provide care for HIV-positive people in seven counties, including Jefferson, said she focuses heavily on educating patients that HIV is no longer a death sentence.

HIV can pass to a fetus during pregnancy and birth, though treatment can lower the chances of that happening, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

We do a lot of education for them to help them understand what their full options are because mental health and depression and substance use are real concerns for many of them, Walker said. Our populations really have high instances of depression because of the history and the stigma around this diagnosis.

Her programs retention among patients after delivery is around 90%, she said.

Where are the gaps?

Kentucky needs more resources for first-time fathers, said Lance Newman, who works with Black Birth Justice in Louisville to offer just such support in a program hes still developing.

We talk about maternal health, and we dont really speak about how important the father is, he said. Fathers need job placement help, they need that workforce help. They need that substance abuse help. They need a lot of advocacy.

The National Institute for Childrens Health Quality backs that up, saying fathers positive involvement throughout pregnancy and beyond can have a positive health impact on mother and baby.

Josh Hawkins, a Louisville father, said he needed mental health and job resources when his daughter was born and believes other fathers need support too.

We can  certainly help with maternal and infant mortality rates and alleviate some of that as well, he said. We want to be involved, too. We really do.

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DENVER (KDVR)  An additional $23 million of funding has been allocated for RTDs Bus Rapid Transit project on East Colfax Avenue, which aims to bring faster bus service between Denver and Aurora.

The Federal Transit Administration notified the Regional Transportation District last week about the funds. That brings the total federal funding to $150 million, which is the maximum allowed in the discretionary grant category.

State audit of RTDs budget finds areas to improve financial oversight

RTD is working with the cities of Denver and Aurora to bring the new transit option to East Colfax. The project will create a 9.9-mile corridor from Denvers Union Station to Colfax Station, near Interstate 225 in Aurora, where the BRT will connect to the R Lines light rail service.

A rendering of a station for the East Colfax BRT project

What is the Bus Rapid Transit system planned for East Colfax?

BRT is designed to increase capacity and shorten travel times. It will use a center-running lane from Civic Center Station to Yosemite, existing bus lanes in Downtown Denver and existing mixed-traffic lanes in Aurora. The service is designed to make service more reliable and timely, giving the buses priority at intersections and in some areas.

In allocating the maximum funding allowed for this grant opportunity, our federal partners are signaling their confidence in our ability to deliver Denvers first bus rapid transit line, Amy Ford, executive director of Denvers Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, said in an RTD release.

Were ready to make travel by bus along East Colfax safer, faster and more convenient and further our citys climate protection goals by offering an attractive option to single occupancy vehicle use, Ford said.

These Denver-area streets are on track to get Bus Rapid Transit

The funding will help advance the high-frequency bus service and is aimed at jumpstarting Colfax Avenue corridor development.

Expanding bus rapid transit on urban arterial roads like Colfax, Federal and Colorado is a foremost priority in CDOTs ten-year plan and in our strategy for working with partners to provide more sustainable choices to citizens, CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew said in the RTD funding announcement.

East Colfax BRT has gotten $280M for the project

The total project funding received is about $280 million, with the local portion consisting of $88 million from Denver, $28.4 million from the Denver Regional Council of Governments and $14 million from Aurora.

The Colfax corridor leads directly into the Anschutz Medical Campus and Fitzsimons Innovation Community, the backbone of Auroras  and Colorados  thriving bioscience industry employing nearly 30,000 people, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman said in the RTD release. Increased mobility options for our residents and workers are critical to the areas ongoing success.

Free RTD fare is now permanent for people 19 and younger

The next steps for the project include asking Denver City Council for approval on the BRT construction contract and a groundbreaking event for community partners along Colfax this autumn.

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Rush hour crash blocking traffic on eastbound lanes of I-630 in Little Rock

Rush hour crash blocking traffic on eastbound lanes of I-630 in Little Rock

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A Wednesday evening crash is tying up traffic on Interstate 630 in Little Rock.

According to a report from the Arkansas Department of Transportations iDriveArkansas system, the crash happened near Exit 3 and is impacting all but the left lane of eastbound traffic.

The initial ARDOT crash report states that there were no injuries caused by the crash.

ARDOTs iDrive map shows traffic backed up from the Woodrow Street exit to just past the University Avenue exit.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

For the latest road conditions in the area, visit our Traffic page.

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Compania de Cervecerias Unidas (CCU) has posted much weaker results in its second quarter due to soft demand and currency depreciation in Chile and Argentina.

For the period ended 30 June, the Chile-headquartered beverage group posted a 12.7% drop in consolidated volumes compared to the same period a year ago, sinking to 6.01 million hectolitres.

Net sales tumbled 8.6% to 524.6bn pesos ($555.3m) while EBITDA fell 17.8% to 38.7bn pesos.

However, excluding the non-recurring gain from the sale of a portion of land in Chile, EBITDA stood at 10.05bn pesos, a 78.7% decrease.

Chief executive Patricio Jottar said: In the second quarter of 2024 CCUs financial results were much weaker than last year, as they were heavily impacted by two effects; a particularly difficult context for demand in Chile and Argentina, and the depreciation of our main local currencies.

In Chile, the industries of our core categories decreased, largely explained by adverse weather conditions, with unusual low temperatures and record rain-fall during the quarter.

In Argentina, we faced a sharp contraction in the economy and in the beer industry, associated with a challenging context for consumption.

He added that it is important to mention that we maintained overall market share in both countries.

CCUs portfolio includes beers, soft drinks, hard seltzers, bottled waters, nectars, wines, pisco, rum and cider. It has operations in Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Net income stood at a gain of 5.04bn pesos. Excluding the gain from the sale of land in Chile, net income was a loss of 15.89bn pesos, versus a loss of 3.9bn pesos last year.

Jottar said in a statement that the Chilean and Argentine peso depreciated 16.8% and 255.1% respectively against the US dollar throughout 2024 compared to 2023.

In this scenario, under our regional plan HerCCUles, further actions in terms of revenue management and costs and expenses control are currently in place. These actions, in a more normalised context for volume growth, should help us to return to the profitability path, he added.

Despite the plummeting figures, CCUs share price maintained its position at the close of trading in Santiago yesterday.

This was partly due to the groups wine division, which continued in a recovery trend, with revenues expanding 12%, driven by 11.9% higher average prices.

Volumes showed a strong recovery in exports from Chile, which expanded 9.1%, while the Chile domestic market was down 5.4%.

"Chiles CCU sees profits, volumes plummet in second quarter" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand.

Story continues







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
By Guy Faulconbridge

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian forces were battling Ukrainian troops for a third day on Thursday after they smashed through the Russian border in the Kursk region, an audacious attack on the world's biggest nuclear power that has forced Moscow to call in reserves.

In one of the biggest Ukrainian attacks on Russia since the war began in February 2022, around 1,000 Ukrainian troops rammed through the Russian border in the early hours of Aug. 6 with tanks and armoured vehicles, covered in the air by swarms of drones and pounding artillery, according to Russian officials.

Heavy fighting was reported near the town of Sudzha, where Russian natural gas flows into Ukraine, raising concerns about a possible sudden stop to transit flows to Europe.

The incursion has come as a shock to Russia, nearly 2-1/2 years after President Vladimir Putin sent his army into Ukraine.

Putin has cast the Ukrainian offensive as a "major provocation". Sergei Mironov, the leader of a Kremlin-loyal political party, called it a "terrorist attack" and "the invasion of an internationally recognised foreign territory".

Kursk's regional acting governor, Alexei Smirnov, said thousands of residents had been evacuated.

The White House said the United States - Ukraine's biggest backer - had no prior knowledge of the attack.

Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said Ukraine's move on the Kursk region was consistent with U.S. policy.

"They are taking actions to protect themselves from attacks that are coming from a region that are within the U.S. policy of where they can operate, our weapons, our systems, our capabilities," Singh told reporters.

She said Ukraine's move was not escalatory because "Ukraine is doing what it needs to do to be successful on the battlefield."

Russia's defence ministry said on Thursday that the army and the Federal Security Service (FSB) had halted Ukraine's advance and were battling Kyiv's units in the Kursk region.

"Units of the Northern group of forces, together with the FSB of Russia, continue to destroy armed formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Sudzhensky and Korenevsky districts of the Kursk region, directly adjacent to the Russian-Ukrainian border," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian military has remained silent on the Kursk offensive, though President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised the Ukrainian army on Thursday for its ability "to surprise" and achieve results. He did not explicitly reference Kursk.

Some Russian bloggers said Ukraine's forces were pushing towards the Kursk nuclear power station, which lies about 60 km (37 miles) northeast of Sudzha.

Yuri Podolyaka, a popular Ukrainian-born, pro-Russian military blogger, said that there were intense battles about 30 km from the Soviet-era nuclear plant, which supplies a large swathe of southern Russia with power.

CRITICAL JUNCTURE

Ukraine's energy minister said gas transit via Sudzha was functioning, despite reports of hostilities there. Most EU nations have reduced dependence on Russian gas, but Austria still receives most of its gas via Ukraine.

The Center for Information Resilience (CIR), a non-profit open-source analysis organisation, said it was unable to visually confirm any damage to the gas metering station as a result of the incursion, but had verified significant damage to the border checkpoint about 500 metres (550 yards) to the south.

"This, combined with footage verified by CIR of several Russian soldiers surrendering to Ukrainian soldiers near the entrance of the gas metering plant, makes it likely that the plant has been affected by the Ukrainian incursion, however, the level of damage cannot be verified at this time," it said.

The battles come at a crucial juncture in the conflict, the biggest land war in Europe since World War Two. Kyiv is concerned that U.S. support could weaken if Republican Donald Trump wins the November presidential election.

Trump has said he would end the war, and both Russia and Ukraine are keen to gain the strongest possible bargaining position on the battlefield.

Ukraine wants to pin down Russian forces, which control 18% of its territory, though the strategic significance of the border offensive was not immediately clear.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the Ukrainian attack was an attempt to force Moscow to divert resources from the front and to show the West that Ukraine could still fight.

As a result of the Kursk attack, Medvedev said, Russia should expand its war aims to include taking all of Ukraine.

He said Moscow's "Special Military Operation" should acquire an "openly extraterritorial character", with Russian troops moving on Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolayiv, Kyiv "and beyond".

(Additional reporting by Eleanor Whalley in London, Anastasiia Malenko in Kyiv, and Steve Holland, Idrees Ali in Washington; Editing by William Maclean, Jonathan Oatis and Jamie Freed)
Sudzha, Korenevo, and Psel stations in Kursk Oblast are "temporarily closed to passengers," Russian state-owned train operator Moscow Railway said on Aug. 8, as Russia claims ongoing battles in the region.

Ukrainian forces crossed the border into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6, resulting in clashes on Russian soil that were described by Russian President Vladimir Putin as "a large-scale provocation."

Kyiv has largely refused to comment on the operation in Kursk Oblast, which takes place just as Russia is ramping up attacks in Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast.

Much of the fighting is reportedly taking place around Sudzha, a village with a population of around 5,000 people located less than 10 kilometers (six miles) from the border with Ukraine. The city of Kursk lies 85 kilometers (53 miles) to the northeast of Sudzha.

Korenevo is located around 32 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of Sudzha, while Psel station is located in the village of Peschansky, 25 kilometers (15 miles) southeast of Sudzha.

"The stations at Sudzha, Korenevo, Psel are temporarily closed to passengers," Moscow Railway said.

Train services are being carried out as normal in Kursk Oblast with the exception of the Sudzhansky and Korenovsky districts, the company said.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on Aug. 8 that its forces continue to engage Ukrainian troops in these two districts.

"To ensure traffic safety, additional inspections of the infrastructure and briefings for personnel are carried out," Moscow Railway added.

The company reported later in the afternoon that an additional train to Moscow will leave Kursk railway station at 3 a.m. on Aug. 9 "to meet the demand for passenger transportation."

The number of carriages on a regularly scheduled train from Kursk to Moscow "has been temporarily increased to 10," Moscow Railways added.

According to Russian media, several thousand people have been reportedly evacuated from Kursk Oblast.

Read also: Ukraines unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast brings war back to Russian soil





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(Bloomberg) -- Russian army chief Valery Gerasimov faces growing criticism after Ukrainian troops mounted their biggest incursion into Russian territory since the Kremlin started its war more than two years ago.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Gerasimov and top officials seemingly dismissed intelligence warnings that Ukrainian soldiers were gathering near the border with Russias western Kursk region as much as two weeks before they began the assault, and nobody briefed President Vladimir Putin, according to a person close to the Kremlin. Defensive forces inside Russia were caught off guard and offered little initial resistance to the Ukrainian advance.

While Gerasimov is unlikely to be removed in the short term, patience in the Kremlin over his handling of the war is running out, the person said, asking not to be identified as the matter is sensitive.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov didnt respond to a request to comment.

Russia declared a state of emergency in the Kursk region as it battles for a third day to repel the invasion by what Gerasimov said was as many as 1,000 Ukrainian troops backed by tanks and armored vehicles. He told Putin at a televised meeting Wednesday that Russia has deployed troops, air strikes and artillery to try to stop the advance.

Gerasimov, 68, has been Russias Chief of the General Staff since November 2012 and was kept on by Putin in May during a shuffle of military and security officials after his inauguration for a fifth presidential term. Economist Andrey Belousov became defense minister in place of Putins longserving ally Sergei Shoigu, who moved to Russias security council.

Gerasimov oversaw Putins full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 that was meant to last for days and is now deep into its third year with huge Russian casualties. The Ukrainian breakthrough into Kursk comes as fighting along the frontline in eastern and southern Ukraine is mostly at a stalemate, though Russian forces have made some recent advances.

Ukrainian troops progressed as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles) into Kursk amid ongoing mechanized offensive operations as of Wednesday, according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War.

Putin spoke by videolink Thursday with acting Kursk Governor Alexey Smirnov, saying the situation presented extraordinary challenges to all levels of Russias government. Of course, I know the situation as a whole, but nevertheless, I would like to hear your assessment, Putin said.

The president summoned Gerasimov and other top defense and security officials to a meeting Wednesday to brief him on the effort to repel the incursion. Officials in Kyiv have declined to confirm or comment on the operation, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appeared to offer approval on Thursday.

Everyone sees that Ukraines army is able to surprise and to achieve results, Zelenskiy said at the presentation of a new military app in Kyiv, without specifically referring to Kursk.

Ukraine has targeted positions and energy assets well within Russian territory  and has staged incursions involving anti-Kremlin volunteers into the neighboring Belgorod region. But this weeks operation would be the first of its scale to involve Ukrainian military units.

European natural gas traded at the highest levels this year on disruption fears, with benchmark futures making their biggest gains since December.

The fighting took place near a key natural gas transit intake point close to the town of Sudzha. Gas flows via Ukraine to Europe are continuing, even if they remain near their lowest levels so far this year, Russias gas exporter Gazprom PJSC said in a statement Thursday.

Ukrainian forces seized the Sudzha border checkpoint and gas-distribution station, ISW said, citing a source within Russia and reports among military bloggers.

Several Russian military bloggers that follow the conflict reported on Ukrainian advances and criticized Moscows defense command for failing to prepare adequately for such an operation.

--With assistance from Aliaksandr Kudrytski and Volodymyr Verbianyi.

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Ukraine turned the tables with attack on Russia, says Volodymyr Zelensky

A house is left damaged after shelling by Ukraine as troops captured the village of Sudzha - Governor of Kursk region telegram channel via AP

Volodymyr Zelensky hailed Ukraines capture of 350 sq km of Russian territory on Thursday, saying his forces had turned the table on the Kremlin and brought war to its land.

Kyiv sent in reinforcements, began mining the main roads Moscow could counter-attack down and bolstered air defences to solidify its surprise gains after three days of brutal fighting.

Carefully coordinated electronic warfare jamming by Ukrainian forces left Russian units unable to communicate, Russian military bloggers said.

Some compared the turmoil to the 2022 Ukrainian rout of Russian forces in occupied Kharkiv, when Kyivs troops advanced more than 50 miles in a single armoured thrust.

Russian sources warned the scale of the crisis is expanding as Ukrainian units moved at high speed, bypassing Russian fortifications and attempting to expand the newly-formed bridgehead.

Ukrainians know how to achieve their goals. And achieving the goals at war was not our choice, Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address.

Russia brought the war to our land, and it should feel what it has done.

Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said the cross-border incursion into Russia would strengthen Kyivs hand in any future peace talks with Moscow.

When you increase Russian losses... when you ramp up their war costs, such as destroyed military equipment, lost territory, lost people, will this affect how they perceive their war? Without a doubt, he said.

Ukraine sprung the surprise assault into Kursk early on Tuesday morning, with what Russia described as a 400-strong reconnaissance and sabotage group.

Battlefield footage showed Russian strikes on columns of armoured vehicles, disabled Russian tanks, destroyed helicopters, damaged buildings and dead soldiers.

Russian fighter jets were seen swooping low over areas and video showed dozens of Russian prisoners of war being marched away under armed guard by Ukrainian forces.

Moscows defence ministry even edited a social media post that claimed it had defeated the Ukrainian assault, which it said had beaten a hasty retreat after coming under Russian fire.

Russian military bloggers with links to the Kremlin leapt on the post, and accused the ministry of trying to cover-up the extent of the unfolding crisis.

Valery Gerasimov, Russias top general, claimed that Ukraine had sent about 1,000 troops into the fight.

The Russian defence ministry said Kyiv had lost about 600 troops and almost 100 armoured vehicles in the battles.

But by Thursday, Ukraine had committed a much larger force of at least four elite brigades equipped with American Stryker and German Marder fighting vehicles seen on Russian soil.

Russia called up its own special forces as it attempted to stage a fight-back against the shock strike before Ukrainian troops had the chance to dig in.

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Videos circulated by Russian social media accounts purported to show Wagner Group troops confirming they had been sent to secure and stabilise the Kursk region.

The Russians are making very stupid errors and its all down to their corrupt top-down management which prioritises good news over the truth, a Ukrainian intelligence source told The Economist.

Russia was trying to prepare a solid position but now they are f----- because they cant protect their own terrain, the source added, referring to Russias gains in Ukraines eastern Donbas regions.

Ukrainian forces captured the Kursk town of Sudzha, a key Russian logistics hub six miles from the border, and Korenevo, almost 10 miles inside of Russia.

The Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, said it had geolocated footage of Ukrainian armoured vehicles advancing on the 38K-030 Sudzha-Korenovo highway.

Pro-Kremlin military bloggers said Ukraine was also trying to skirt around those settlements to make gains deeper inside Russian territory.

Local residents were evacuating the town of Lgov, more than 10 miles north of Korenovo, video circulated on social media showed.

Vladimir Putin promised one-off payments of 10,000 rubles (90) to Kursk residents to assist with evacuations, after talks with local officials.

Rybar, an authoritative Russian military blogger, wrote on Telegram: Ukrainian formations have already begun digging in at the achieved lines, introducing a second echelon.

The capture of Sudzha has become an inspiring factor for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which they are now trying to use to offset their losses and demonstrate that the game is worth the candle.

The biggest problem in organising defence in the Kursk tactical direction remains the disunity of units and the lack of the required number of forces, which are now allegedly being withdrawn from other directions.

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Russia 'should feel what it has done' to Ukraine, Zelensky says

"Russia brought war to our land, and it should feel what it has done," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Aug. 8, which avoided a direct mention of the ongoing fighting in Russia's Kursk Oblast.

Kyiv has so far maintained a policy of silence since reports of a Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast emerged on Aug. 6. Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the situation as "a large-scale provocation."

Kursk Oblast lies on the border with Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, which has been experiencing daily Russian attacks since the liberation of its parts in April 2022.

Much of the fighting is reportedly taking place around Sudzha, a village with a population of around 5,000 people located less than 10 kilometers (six miles) from the border with Ukraine.

Zelensky did not refer to the situation in Kursk explicitly in his evening address, but said that "Ukrainians know how to achieve their goals," and achieving the goals of war "was not our choice."

"We strive to achieve our goals as soon as possible in peacetime  under just peace conditions," Zelensky added.

At the same time, Russia is ramping up attacks in Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast, particularly in the direction of Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and Chasiv Yar.

Zelensky said he was grateful to "each soldier and commander who ensures the defense of our Ukrainian positions and the fulfillment of our defensive tasks."

Read also: Ukraines unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast brings war back to Russian soil

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Russia fires 4 missiles and 4 attack drones overnight; 2 missiles and all drones downed

An air defence system. Stock photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Russian forces attacked Ukraine with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, two Kh-59 air-to-surface missiles and four Shahed attack drones on the night of 7-8 August; two missiles and all drones were destroyed.

Source: Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of the Air Force, on Telegram

Quote from Oleshchuk: "As a result of combat efforts, mobile firing groups of the Ukrainian defence forces and anti-aircraft missile units and electronic warfare units of the Air Force shot down two Kh-59 guided missiles and four attack UAVs in Odesa, Kherson and Kirovohrad oblasts."

Details: He clarified that the Russians had launched Iskander missiles from Russias Belgorod Oblast; these missiles hit Kharkiv Oblast.

The Kh-59 missiles were fired from the airspace over the Sea of Azov, and the Shahed drones were launched from the Russian city of Yeysk.

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Russian forces attacked the city of Nikopol with artillery on Aug. 8, damaging a hospital and killing a 50-year-old man, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

"Doctors fought for his life to the last. Unfortunately, they failed to save the wounded man," Lysak wrote on his Telegram.

Garages, cars, and power lines were also damaged in the strike, according to the governor.

Nikopol, just across from Russian-occupied Enerhodar and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, is a regular target of Russian attacks.

On Aug. 1, a 40-year-old woman and her 72-year-old mother were killed during a Russian artillery attack.

The Russian army regularly fires on the civilian infrastructure of Ukrainian cities, targeting hospitals, among other facilities.

A recent Russian missile attack on Kharkiv damaged the clinic, killing one person and injuring 12 others, including an eight-month-old baby.

Read also: Ukraines unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast brings war back to Russian soil

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Russia attacked a border village in Sumy Oblast on Aug. 8 with KAB bombs, killing a 22-year-old man and his 6-year-old sister, Governor Volodymyr Artiukh said on television.

Sumy Oblast suffers Russian cross-border strikes on a daily basis. The attacks have only intensified this week after Ukraine launched an incursion from there into Russia's Kursk Oblast.

The airstrike targeted the village of Mohrytsia, which lies some 6 kilometers (almost 4 miles) southwest of the border with Kursk Oblast.

The victims were killed in a school yard, Artiukh said, adding that their family refused to leave the village just one day earlier. Two other people were injured.

Sumy Oblast authorities announced mandatory evacuations of some 6,000 residents on Aug. 7 as Russia increased aviation activity near the border areas.

"Smy Oblast has never seen such a number of aistrikes per day," Artiukh said, calling the number of attacks "unprecedented."

Russia launched an invasion into Sumy Oblast in early 2022, but Ukraine pushed Moscow's forces already by April of that year.

Read also: Ukraines unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast brings war back to Russian soil

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A Russian glide bomb attack on the town of Selydove in Donetsk Oblast killed two civilians and injured 11 others, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported on Aug. 8.

The front line has inched closer to Selydove since Russia took Avdiivka in February and continues its advance towards the nearby city of Pokrovsk. Selydove is currently located less than 10 kilometers from the front line.

Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office said that Russian troops used a FAB-500, an air-dropped bomb weighing 500 kilograms, at around 6 p.m. local time. Two men died of their injuries.

The attack damaged 20 high-rise buildings, six administrative buildings, and three businesses. A child born in 2019 was among the wounded, Filashkin said.

A pre-trial investigation has been opened into a violation of the laws and customs of war, the Prosecutor General's Office said

An earlier guided aerial bomb attack on Selydove killed two people and injured three others on June 21. Heavy fighting continues in Donetsk Oblast as Russia seeks to occupy the entire region.

Read also: Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 2, injure 15 over past day

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Zelle users would have increased protections against scams under a proposed bill in Congress. Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Lawmakers introduced a new bill that could give peer-to-peer payment app users more protection.

The bill aims to increase banks' liability for helping consumers resolve fraud disputes.

This comes after lawmakers' increased scrutiny of Zelle and several banks' approach to fraud cases.

Consumers defrauded while using Zelle or other peer-to-peer payment apps might have increased reimbursement protections under a new bill introduced by Democrats in Congress on August 2.

Zelle partners with over 2,100 financial institutions and is used by major banks like Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase to facilitate direct money transfers between accounts. Consumers and small businesses sent $806 billion across 2.9 billion Zelle transactions in 2023, both up 28% from 2022.

Meanwhile, apps like Venmo  which is owned by PayPal  also provide quick ways to send money electronically. Over 2 million merchants accept Venmo, and there are over 90 million user accounts, according to the company's website.

Zelle and other payment app transactions are typically irreversible, meaning if someone accidentally sends money to a scammer, they can't always get it back. Consumers reported losing $210 million to scams across all payment apps in 2023, according to data from the Federal Trade Commission.

Fraudsters often use methods like email phishing links or posing as bank employees and calling users to get them to send money via payment apps.

The Protecting Consumers from Payment Scams Act, proposed by Rep. Maxine Waters, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, aims to increase financial institutions' liability for helping consumers resolve instances of fraud disputes.

"Fraudsters are using every trick in the book to steal money from hardworking consumers through payment apps like Zelle, Venmo, or old-fashion bank wire transfers," Waters said in a statement. "That's why it is absolutely critical that we move quickly to modernize our consumer protection laws to reflect the realities of today's payment systems."

Protecting consumers against fraud

Under existing federal law, consumers are reimbursed for unauthorized transactions, like purchases on a stolen credit card. However, getting money back that was sent through Zelle or other payment apps is much more difficult.

That's because when money is voluntarily sent, even accidentally, it's classified as an authorized purchase. For example, Zelle says to treat the service like how you would give someone cash, and to only send money to people you trust.

Story continues

The new bill aims to amend the law to make banks more liable for all financial transactions, whether they're authorized or unauthorized.

Specifically, the proposed bill would update the 1978 Electronic Fund Transfer Act, which regulates electronic money transfer protections. It would require financial institutions to share liability when consumers are defrauded and clarify consumer protections for bank wire and electronic transfers.

Zelle is coming under increased scrutiny

The bill comes after lawmakers' increased scrutiny of Zelle and several banks' approach to fraud cases.

In recent months, Blumenthal led a Senate investigation into how Zelle, Bank of America, JPMorgan, and Wells Fargo handled fraud cases.

The investigation's report found that in 2023, JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo reimbursed consumers for 38% of fraud disputes, leaving over $100 million unreimbursed. That's less than the 62% of fraud disputes the banks reimbursed in 2019, according to the report.

On July 23, executives from Zelle, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and JPMorgan defended their fraud dispute policies and testified before the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which is chaired by Blumenthal.

Cameron Fowler, the CEO of Early Warnings Services, the company that owns and operates Zelle, said that reports of fraud on Zelle decreased between 2022 to 2023 while the platform increased the volume of transactions.

Over 99.95% of all Zelle transactions in 2023 were completed without instances of fraud, according to Zelle.

"Although we're proud of our efforts, we can't do it alone," a spokesperson for Early Warning Services said in a statement to Business Insider. "We encourage lawmakers to do more to support law enforcement and efforts to educate consumers to reduce financial crime."

In an August 2 SEC filing, JPMorgan said it is responding to inquiries from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau about payments through Zelle. A spokesperson for JPMorgan told Business Insider it was considering its options against the CFPB's inquiries, including litigation.

On August 5, Blumenthal announced that he was calling on the CFPB to investigate Zelle, JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo for their practice of resolving fraud disputes.

"The three banks' circuitous answers to questions regarding whether they have ever had a third-party review of their dispute resolution processes further increased our concerns that, not only has such a review never occurred, but that the opaque processes applied by these banks are being used to deny rightful claims," Blumenthal wrote in a statement.

It is now up to the CFPB to decide whether or not to investigate. The CFPB declined to comment on Blumenthal's announcement.

In the meantime, the Protecting Consumers from Payment Scams Act will go to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs for review.

Have you been the victim of a scam through Zelle or another payment app? Were you reimbursed? This reporter wants to hear your story. Please reach out at jtowfighi@businessinsider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day killed at least two people and injured 15, including a child, regional authorities said early on Aug. 8.

Overnight, Russia launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, two Kh-59 guided air-launched missiles, and four "kamikaze" attack drones against Ukraine.

Both Kh-59 missiles and all four drones were successfully intercepted, Ukraine's Air Force said.

Russian attacks against the Nikopol district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast injured two men aged 37 and 66 on Aug. 7 and a 12-year-old boy overnight on Aug. 8, Governor Serhii Lysak said.

A high-rise residential building, houses, 12 solar panels, and other civilian property were damaged.

A "targeted" Russian drone attack also struck a department of the State Emergency Service in Nikopol, damaging a service car and the fire station but inflicting no casualties, the Interior Ministry said.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks killed two people in Mykhailivka and injured four in Novohrodivka, Orlivka, Pleshchiivka, and Promin, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

Russian attacks against Kherson Oblast injured eight people over the past day, Oleksandr Prokudin said. A critical infrastructure facility, a school, nine high-rise buildings, 11 houses, and other buildings were damaged.

An oilseed processing plant of one of the country's largest conglomerates, Kernel, was damaged in a Russian drone attack in western Ukraine, the company said.

Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts also came under attack but no casualties were reported.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russian offensive expected to wind down; more battles in Russias Kursk region reported

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Russian energy giant Gazprom may use fighting near Sudzha in Kursk Oblast as pretext to stop gas transit  Reuters

Hostilities near the Sudzha gas station in Russias Kursk Oblast, a transit point for Russian gas flowing through Ukraine to the EU, have sparked concerns about a potential sudden stop in supplies before the end of the deal with Russian energy giant Gazprom.

Source: Reuters

Details: There is a risk that Gazprom may use the fighting as a pretext to cut off gas supplies, said James Waddell, head of European gas and LNG at consultancy Energy Aspects.

Meanwhile, Gazprom announced it would continue transporting gas through Ukraine, and the Ukrainian gas transmission system operator confirmed that operations were proceeding as usual, Reuters noted.

Russia could also lose about US$4.5 billion in annual revenue if exports stop.

Background:

Russia's Gazprom announced that it continues to supply gas to Europe through the Sudzha station, while the transit flow of Russian gas through Ukraine has dropped by 12%.

On 8 August, the transit of Russian gas through the Ukrainian gas transmission system dropped to 37.25 million cubic metres.

In comparison with 7 August, the amount of transited gas fell by 6%. This is the lowest transit index since 1 May 2023.

Earlier, the Ukrainian Gas Transmission System Operator reported that the transit of Russian gas was running as usual.

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The aftermath of the Russian attack on Nikopol. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

The Russian military launched a drone attack on the territory of the State Emergency Service (SES) unit in the city of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on the morning of 8 August. The attack caused damage to equipment and the fire station building, but resulted in no casualties.

Source: SES on Telegram

Quote from SES: "Russian troops targeted the territory of the SES unit in Nikopol with a UAV in the morning. Fire station windows were smashed and rescue equipment was damaged as a result of the strike."

The aftermath of the Russian attack on Nikopol

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Details: The SES stressed that the personnel at the fire and rescue unit were not injured.

The aftermath of the Russian attack on Nikopol

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

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Russian gas transit through Ukraine declines after prices in Europe rise

The transit of Russian gas through the Ukrainian gas transmission system dropped to 37.25 million cubic metres on 8 August.

Source: the confirmed nominations of the Ukrainian Gas Transmission System (GTS) Operator at the Sudzha entry point, ExPro reports

Details: Transit volumes decreased by 6% compared to the previous day. This is the lowest transit value since 1 May 2023.

Usually, the volume of Russian gas transit through Ukraine was about 42-42.4 million cubic metres per day.

The reasons for the reduction in transit are currently unknown.

The Ukrainian GTS Operator recently reported that the transit of Russian gas was going on as usual.

On Wednesday, 7 August, Telegram channels reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had taken control of the Sudzha gas metering station in Kursk Oblast, Russia.

There was later unconfirmed information that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had taken control of the village of Sudzha.

The Sudzha gas distribution station is a key facility for the supply of Russian gas to Europe through Ukraine. Currently, Sudzha is the only point through which Russian gas enters Ukraine for further transportation to European customers.

Against the backdrop of the military operation in Kursk Oblast, natural gas prices in Europe rose sharply on Wednesday 7 August to 38.75/MWh (+5.7%), the highest since December 2023.

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FILE - Ksenia Karelina, also known by the last name of Khavana, sits in a defendant's cage in a court in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo, File)

MOSCOW (AP)  Russian prosecutors on Thursday asked for a 15-year sentence in the treason trial of a Russian-American woman, who has pleaded guilty, Russian news agencies reported.

Ksenia Khavana, whom Russian authorities identify by her maiden name of Karelina, was arrested in Yekaterinburg in February, accused of collecting money for Ukraines military.

She pleaded guilty in the closed trial on Wednesday, news reports said, and the Interfax news agency on Thursday quoted her lawyer Mikhail Mushalov as saying prosecutors called for 15 years in prison. The sentencing is expected on Aug. 15, Mushalov was quoted as saying.

Khavana reportedly obtained U.S. citizenship after marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles. She had returned to Russia to visit her family.

The rights group The First Department said the charges stem from a $51 donation to a U.S. charity that helps Ukraine. Russia's Federal Security Service claims she proactively collected money in the interests of one of the Ukrainian organizations, which was subsequently used to purchase tactical medical supplies, equipment, weapons, and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces.

Since sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has sharply cracked down on dissent and has passed laws that criminalize criticism of the operation in Ukraine and remarks considered to discredit the Russian military. Concern has risen since then that Russia could be targeting U.S. nationals for arrest.

In the largest Russia-West prisoner exchange since the end of the Cold War, Russia last week released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and American corporate security executive Paul Whelan, both of whom were imprisoned on espionage convictions, and U.S.-Russian dual national Alsu Kurmasheva, a Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe journalist sentenced to 6 1/2 years for spreading false information about the Russian military.

Russia also released several prominent opposition figures who were imprisoned for criticizing the Ukraine military operation.
Thousands of Russian users complained about a massive outage of the YouTube hosting service on Aug. 8, saying they could not access the website from Internet browsers or phones, according to local media.

This is only the latest in the series of reported YouTube outages across the country amid fears that the authorities may block the website entirely.

The sboy.rf monitoring service has recorded around 11,500 complaints at the time of the publication, with 20% of them recorded in Moscow and 8% in Saint Petersburg, the country's two largest cities.

Some commentators on the DTF platform reported that videos also do not load on YouTube mobile apps and Android.

The state-owned news agency RIA Novosti wrote that when trying to access YouTube, the browser displays a notification about a lack of connection.

It remains unclear whether the outage was a direct result of an intervention by Russian authorities.

The independent outlet Meduza wrote earlier this week that the Russian government informed the country's telecom operators that YouTube will be slowed down to 128 kilobytes a second.

For now, authorities have decided "not to turn off (YouTube) completely, but to slow it down significantly," Meduza's source said at the time.

The Russian pro-state outlet Gazeta.ru reported in July that the Russian government plans to block YouTube entirely in September, but Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied the supposed plans.

With 93 million Russian users, YouTube has been dubbed the country's "last bastion of free expression and information" amid a sweeping government crackdown on the information space.

Read also: Russia reportedly begins slowing YouTube speeds amid censorship spat with Google

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The Russians attacked Sumy Oblast 26 times over the past 24 hours, launching guided bomb airstrikes on four hromadas. (A hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village, or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.)

Source: Sumy Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "[A total of] 61 explosions were recorded. Sumy, Khotin, Yunakivka, Krasnopillia, Vorozhba, Nova Sloboda, Esman and Seredyna-Buda hromadas came under attacks."

Details: The Russians used three air-dropped mines to attack Seredyna-Buda hromada. They also launched artillery attacks and an FPV drone strike (nine explosions).

Krasnopillia hromada was also attacked with FPV drones, mortars and grenade launchers (15 explosions).

The Russians attacked Nova Sloboda hromada with guided bombs (two explosions).

Esman hromada came under mortar attacks (four explosions).

Yunakivka hromada came under guided bomb attacks (12 explosions) and an FPV drone strike.

Khotin hromada also came under guided bomb attacks (nine explosions).

Artillery attacks were recorded in Vorozhba hromada (two explosions).

Sumy hromada came under guided bomb attacks (four explosions).

In addition, Ukrainian defenders destroyed two Russian UAVs on 7 August.

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A house that was damaged in the Russian attack. Photo: Lukashuk on Telegram

Russian troops attacked Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on the night of 7-8 August and on the morning of 8 August; two houses were damaged and a child was injured in Pokrov hromada [an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.].

Source: Mykola Lukashuk, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Council, on Telegram

Quote from Lukashuk: "The occupiers did not leave Nikopol district alone. At night and in the early morning, they attacked the town of Nikopol and the hromadas of Myrove and Pokrov.

A 12-year-old boy was injured in the latter attack, sustaining shrapnel wounds. Two houses were damaged."

A house that was damaged in the Russian attack

Photo: Lukashuk on Telegram

Details: Lukashuk also added that the Ukrainian defenders shot down a Russian missile and a reconnaissance UAV in the skies over Dnipropetrovsk Oblast at night.

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Russian troops have bombarded the centre of Kherson and hit a high-rise building there on the morning of 8 August.

Source: Kherson Oblast Military Administration on Telegram; Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "The Russian army has been attacking Kherson since the morning. A high-rise building in the central district of the city was hit."

The aftermath of the Russian attack on Kherson

Photo: Kherson Oblast Military Administration

Details: It is reported that a Russian projectile hit one of the apartments.

The aftermath of the Russian attack on Kherson

Photo: Kherson Oblast Military Administration

As a result of the attack, the building was completely destroyed; no one was living there, so no one was injured.

Prokudin reported that the settlements of Romashkove, Kizomys, Mykhailivka, Novoberyslav, Chornobaivka, Stanislav, Antonivka, Kachkarivka, Veletenske, Tiahynka, Lvove, Oleksandrivka, Kalynivske, Blahodativka, Prydniprovske, Sadove and the city of Kherson came under Russian fire and airstrikes during the previous day.

He said the Russian forces had targeted critical infrastructure, an educational institution, office buildings and a public catering facility. Residential areas in the oblast were also hit, including 9 apartment buildings and 11 houses. In addition, the Russians damaged a gas pipeline, outbuildings and cars. Eight people were injured as a result of the Russian attacks.

Ukrainian air defence forces downed a Shahed-131/136 drone over Kherson Oblast during a nighttime attack.

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Russian forces struck the village of Mohrytsia in the Sumy district with guided aerial bombs (GABs) on Thursday, 8 August, hitting a village school, claiming the lives of a 22-year-old man and a 6-year-old girl.

Source: Interfax-Ukraine news agency, citing Volodymyr Artiukh, Head of Sumy Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "Sadly, fatalities have occurred. Following an air raid on the village of Mohrytsia, a GAB strike was conducted, resulting in the deaths of two people, including one child."

Details: Artiukh added that the deceased were a brother and sister, aged 22 and 6, who were in the schoolyard at the time of the strike.

He noted that the Russians had dropped 56 GABs on the settlements across four border districts of Sumy Oblast over the past 24 hours. Two more civilians have been injured, though Artiukh did not specify where exactly.

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Close to one dozen crypto executives attended a video call with top White House officials Thursday, bringing up a series of concerns with how the current administration has treated the industry.

Their larger goal was a reset of relations with Democrats after a rocky few months as they try to set up crypto as an issue that can be bipartisan  both for the remainder of the 2024 campaign and into 2025, no matter whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins.

"It's not too late," Coinbase Global chief legal officer (COIN) Paul Grewal told Yahoo Finance after attending the call. "There's certainly an opportunity, even over the next 90-some days, and in this legislative session, for there to be a real reset moment."

The gathering is just the latest in an attempted thaw between the two sides. According to one participant, it was the crypto executives' side of the virtual table that did most of the talking while White House officials mostly listened.

The executives discussed what they viewed as a lack of coherent regulation of crypto, and, in one case, even broached the removal of SEC Chair Gary Gensler, a persistent foe of the industry.

Thursdays meeting was, according to a sources familiar with the situation, organized by Dem Rep. Ro Khanna of California and featured a range of top Biden administration advisors from National Economic Council director Lael Brainard to White House deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed.

Harris had a voice in the room with Kristine Lucius, the vice president's domestic policy advisor, in attendance, according to the people familiar with the situation.

National Economic Council director Lael Brainard speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in January. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) (SAUL LOEB via Getty Images)

The gathering also included an array of crypto-world figures  Skybridge founder and managing partner Anthony Scaramucci, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire, Kraken CEO David Ripley, and others.

The White House declined to provide a readout of Thursdays meeting, saying it was private.

White House assistant press secretary Robyn Patterson told Yahoo Finance that President Joe Biden has offered a comprehensive approach to digital assets and that "the Biden-Harris administration will continue meeting with a range of stakeholders and working with members of Congress to develop safeguards that are necessary to harness the potential benefits and opportunities of crypto-asset innovation."

The wish list articulated Thursday appears largely in line with what the wider crypto community has been agitating for for months: more favorable regulation from the next US president.

The list ranges from tax cuts and stablecoin legislation to rules that distinguish which crypto tokens are securities and, therefore, fall under the scrutiny of the SEC.

Story continues

The crypto world also wants the SEC and its chairman, Gensler, to curtail an aggressive crackdown on the industry via enforcement actions and lawsuits.

On Wednesday a federal judge delivered what appeared to be an industry-friendly ending to one of those major cases.

XRP issuer Ripple Labs Inc. was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $125 million for improperly selling its XRP token to institutional investors. The sum was far smaller than the SEC had sought.

A larger outreach to Kamala Harris

This week's gathering is presumed to be one of several attempts over the coming weeks to strengthen the connections between Democrats and the crypto community.

Less than 20 days into her campaign as the presumptive Democratic nominee, Vice President Harris hasnt given details as to whether crypto will be a significant part of her platform, though some industry players have remained hopeful.

A newly formed group called Crypto4Harris is organizing a virtual town hall next Wednesday that will seek to connect Democratic lawmakers and industry officials.

Snickerdoodle Labs CEO Jonathan Padilla is helping to organize those efforts. The former head of blockchain strategy at PayPal has posted on social media that the speakers next week will range from investor Mark Cuban to Scaramucci to Crypto Council for Innovation CEO Sheila Warren.

Others in the industry, however, have been deeply critical of the US governments approach to crypto under the Biden administration, with Grewal and others describing the industrys many confrontations with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an outright battle.

Cameron Winklevoss, one of Biden and Gensler's fiercest critics in the community, recently called the outreach efforts "the Big Bluff."

Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris arrives to speak during a campaign rally in Eau Claire, Wisc., on Wednesday. (KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images) (KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI via Getty Images)

The Thursday call comes after the Republican party has made a sweeping effort to seize crypto support.

Former President Donald Trump and a parade of Republican politicians traveled to Nashville last month to address the crypto world during the Bitcoin 2024 conference.

In his speech at the conference, Trump laid out a plan to make the US "the crypto capital of the planet and the bitcoin superpower of the world."

That included making a number of promises to the industry if elected in November, including appointing a crypto Presidential Advisory Council; firing Gensler; ushering in more friendly regulation for crypto token issuers, operators, and bitcoin miners; and banning central bank digital currencies.

Along with Independent party candidate Robert Kennedy Jr., who also spoke at the conference, Trump made a commitment to order the US government to begin hoarding bitcoin.

This post has been updated.

David Hollerith is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance covering banking, crypto, and other areas in finance. Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance.

Click here for politics news related to business and money

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Aftermath of Russian attacks on the city of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Photo: Telegram of Serhii Lysak

One civilian was killed as a result of Russian attacks on the city of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on the morning of 8 August.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Tragic news from Nikopol. The Russians struck the territory of a hospital, killing a 50-year-old man. Medics fought for his life until the end. Sadly, they didnt manage to save the injured man."

Details: Lysak added that as a result of the strike the building of the hospital, garages, a car and a power line had been damaged.

Background:

On the morning of 8 August, the Russian military launched a drone attack on the territory of a Ukrainian State Emergency Service (SES) unit in the city of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The attack caused damage to equipment and the fire station building, but resulted in no casualties.

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Russians try to advance near Chasiv Yar, while storming Pokrovsk front

Over the past day, Russian forces have concentrated their attacks near the city of Chasiv Yar on the Kramatorsk front and launched assaults on the Pokrovsk front near 10 settlements, with a total of 96 combat clashes occurring.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 08:00 on 8 August

Details: On the Kharkiv front, the number of attacks increased to three. Ukraines defence forces repelled Russian assaults near the settlements of Vovchansk and Tykhe.

On the Kupiansk front, the Russians tried to advance near the settlements of Petropavlivka, Kolisnykivka and toward Novoosynove five times.

On the Lyman front, the Russians attacked near the settlements of Novoserhiivka, Makiivka, Nevske, Torske and Serebrianka Forest 12 times.

On the Siversk front, Ukrainian defenders repelled six Russian assaults near the settlements of Spirne, Verkhnokamianske and Pereizne.

On the Kramatorsk front, the Russians launched seven attacks, concentrating their efforts near the city of Chasiv Yar. They also conducted two airstrikes with unguided rockets there.

On the Toretsk front, the Russians conducted 11 attacks near the settlements of Pivnichne, New-York, Zalizne and Toretsk. In addition, they launched 19 airstrikes on the city of Toretsk and its surrounding areas, dropping over thirty guided bombs.

On the Pokrovsk front, Ukrainian defenders repelled 28 Russian assault attempts near 10 different settlements. The Russians focused their main efforts near the settlements of Vozdvyzhenka, Zhelanne, Karlivka and Hrodivka. The soldiers, supported by aircraft, attempted to push Ukrainian units out of their positions.

On the Kurakhove front, Ukrainian forces stopped five Russian attacks near the settlements of Krasnohorivka, Kostiantynivka and Paraskoviivka.

On the Vremivka front, Russian forces made two attempts to advance from the side of Volodymyrivka.

On the Orikhiv front, one combat clash occurred near the village of Robotyne.

On the Prydniprovske front, all four Russian attacks were unsuccessful.

On the Volyn and Polissia fronts, there is no evidence of the formation of offensive Russian groups there.

On the border with Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts, the Russians are attacking settlements from the territory of the Russian Federation and launching airstrikes.

Ukrainian forces continue to inflict significant losses on Russian troops in both manpower and equipment, depleting Russian forces along the entire line of contact and in the rear.

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President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Cabinet members in Moscow on Wednesday hours before Russia declared a state of emergency in its western Kursk region amid an ongoing troop incursion led by Ukraine's 22nd Mechanized Brigade. Photo by Aleksey Babushkin/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool/EPA-EFE

Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Russia declared a state of emergency in the Kursk region after Ukraine forces made an incursion into the country and Kyiv acknowledged their offensive for the first time.

Ukraine's cross-border advances killed five civilians and injured 30, including six children. Russia's regional governor Alexey Smirnov ordered an evacuation from the Ukraine border.

"The root cause of any escalation, shelling, military actions, forced evacuation and destruction of normal life forms, including within [Russia's] own territories like Kursk and Belgorod regions, is solely Russia's unequivocal aggression," Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X, justifying the attack.

"This includes attempts to seize foreign territories and disregard for international law norms that clearly uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity. The architect behind the 'self-destruction of Russia' concept is well-known -- none other than the entity Putin himself."

Russian military bloggers have reported that Ukraine has control of the western part of Sudzha about six miles into Russia. Fighting has also occurred on the highway east of Korenevo, 13 miles north of the Russia-Ukraine border.

The decision to issue a state of emergency Wednesday night was taken to deal with the fallout from a major cross-border raid launched by Ukraine the previous evening, said regional governor Alexey Smirnov after earlier ordering the evacuation of thousands of residents from the region's border with Ukraine.

"In order to eliminate the consequences of enemy forces entering the region, I have decided to declare a state of emergency," Smirnov wrote on social media.

"We are beginning to provide assistance to the border area of Kursk region where our military is fighting off attacks by Ukrainian militants. Thanks to our neighbors, the first batch of humanitarian aid has already been collected and is on its way," he said in a post accompanied by a video showing boxed goods, generators and other supplies being loaded onto trucks.

Smirnov said the shipment included washing machines, refrigerators and microwave ovens for temporary accommodation centers being set up for 600 people displaced by the fighting with a second food aid shipment of water, canned food and other goods planned for Friday.

Russia said Tuesday that as many as 1,000 Ukrainian troops supported by 11 tanks and more than 20 armored combat vehicles had crossed into Russia near the town of Sudzha.

Fighting was reported in villages along the border with authorities canceling all public events and instructing residents to stay home. Air raid warnings were issued and video circulating online showed warplanes above the region and palls of smoke.

President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of a "large-scale provocation" but the state-run TASS news agency claimed that despite a "massive attack from Ukraine" the attempt to "break through the state border was thwarted."

"Russian air defense forces shot down 26 Ukrainian drones and several missiles over the region," TASS reported.

The agency also said General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, had promised Putin that the Ukrainian troops would be defeated and control of the border would be regained.

The Ukrainians had already lost 315 people, with at least 100 killed, along with 54 units of equipment, including seven tanks, Gen. Gerasimov was quoted as saying.

However, the Institute for the Study of War said that its latest analysis showed Ukrainian forces had made confirmed advances of at least 6 miles into Russia's Kursk province as of Wednesday amid continued mechanized offensive operations.

"Geolocated footage published on Aug. 6 and 7 shows that Ukrainian armored vehicles have advanced to positions along the 38K-030 route about 10 kilometers from the international border.

"The current confirmed extent and location of Ukrainian advances in Kursk Oblast indicate that Ukrainian forces have penetrated at least two Russian defensive lines and a stronghold."

It also cited Russian sources saying Ukrainian forces had captured 17.4 square miles of territory and 11 settlements inside Kursk, all within a five-mile zone on the Russian side of the border with Ukraine's Sumy province.

Ukraine has yet to officially comment on the claim but Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Honcharenko said the Ukrainian army captured a natural gas hub in Sudzha -- a major facility exporting Russian gas to the European Union via a pipeline across Ukraine -- and was retaking the initiative.

He said the lack of response from Moscow proved there was nothing to fear from taking the fight to the Russians.

"I have an important message for our allies. We are already taking the initiative, we are already showing how powerless Putin is. We are changing tactics," he said in a post on X.

"The U.S. position on the war in Ukraine needs to be clearer. We are fighting for our existence, and you are our main allies. There is no time for checks, action is needed."

The White House said it was in contact with Kyiv to establish what their objectives were but that it had not been notified prior to the launching of the incursion.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre would not specify whether any U.S.-supplied arms may have been used in the operation and, if so, whether it could lead to further escalation between Russia and Ukraine.

"I'm not going to get into hypotheticals. Let us do our outreach to the Ukrainian military," Jean-Pierre told a briefing Wednesday.

"We have to remember that, obviously, in this region, that there's Russian troops there. They are in a region of Russia. And they're in that region attacking Ukraine. And so, we can't forget that.

"But our policy has not changed. We are going to continue to stay focused on making sure they have what they need to defend themselves against Russia's aggression," said Jean-Pierre.
The saga involving a Black Texas high school student who filed a civil rights lawsuit against his school district, the district superintendent, his principal, Texas Gov. Greg Abbot, and Attorney General Ken Paxton took a bad turn for the young Black man.

On Tuesday, a federal judge dismissed most of Darryl Georges claims that school officials were discriminating against him because of his race and gender, according to NBC News.

Going back to September 2023, George, who just finished his junior year in high school, had been suspended multiple times because he refused to cut his dreadlocks shorter. Every time he returned to school from a suspension, Barbers Hill High School in Belvieu, Texas would almost immediately issue a disciplinary notice.

Ironically, George was initially suspended the same week Texas CROWN Act, a law that prohibits race-based hair discrimination, went into effect.

As a result, George and his family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Barbers Hill school district and other state officials, alleging that the suspension of the then-17-year-old was a violation of the states law.

More from NBC News:

The ruling was another victory in the case for the Barbers Hill school district near Houston, which has said its policy restricting hair length for male students instills discipline while teaching grooming and respect for authority.

The Barbers Hill Independent School Districts dress code specifically states, Male students hair will not extend, at any time, below the eyebrows or below the ear lobes. Male students hair must not extend below the top of a t-shirt collar or be gathered or worn in a style that would allow the hair to extend below the top of a t-shirt collar, below the eyebrows, or below the ear lobes when let down.

Essentially, the locs themselves are not considered a violation, the length of his hair is. In response, George would tie his hair in a ponytail, but it was still considered a violation of district policy.

While U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown dismissed most of Georges claims; he did let the allegation of gender-based discrimination stand due to the districts lack of clarity on why girls could have long hair but not boys, according to NBC News.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The Salem Fire Department is moving forward with plans to become the citys ambulance service provider.

In an email sent to KOIN 6 on Monday, Deputy Chief Of Administrative Services Brian Carrara confirmed that SFD is set to take control of emergency medical transports in Salem on July 1, 2025.

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Salem City Council first approved this decision in spring.

Fire Chief Mike Niblock expressed his concerns with Falck Northwest, the current service provider, at a meeting in March. He said the company hadnt fulfilled its contractual obligations in 52 weeks, forcing his department to subsidize its system and require employees to work overtime.

Salem Professional Firefighters President Matt Brozovich also said Falck Northwest meets contract standards about 39.5% of the time  and according to Carrara, these issues have spanned for more than just a year.

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We have partnered with them for the last nine years, with this current year marking our tenth and final one, Carrara wrote. Nineteen years ago, we contracted with a private contractor to provide ALS Transport in response to rising EMS costs and insufficient reimbursement. Over the past two and a half years, Falck has struggled to meet the contracts requirements and has not been able to provide the mandated services.

In response to Salems proposal to take over the ambulance, Falck noted a paramedic shortage occurring at the national and local level.

American Medical Response was under fire for its slow response times in Multnomah County throughout 2023. County officials fined the company $513,650 in November for failing to respond to some calls within eight minutes.

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It wasnt until earlier this month that both entities reached a tentative agreement, which requires the county to waive AMRs fines if the company adheres to a 12-month staffing plan.

In Salem, officials have started to form an external committee that will oversee SFDs transition into an ambulance operator.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A new study from scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego could be a gamechanger for researchers looking to better treatments for pain-based neurological disorders like post-traumatic stress and anxiety.

The study looked to better understand how neurons are informed about perceived threats in the outside world  processes in the brain that have never been fully understood, as Dr. Sung Han, associate professor at Salk Institute, explained to FOX 5/KUSI.

What they found, he said, offers a new avenue for drug developers and other clinical researchers to make medical interventions for fear-based neurological disorders more effective, while also mitigating bothersome side effects.

This is a great first step, Han said of the findings, which were published in Nature Neuroscience back in January.

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In the study, Han and his team zeroed in on a type of protein in the brain called a neuropeptide, looking at what their role is in the specific circuit guiding physical, metabolic and emotional responses danger in the outside world.

For humans, these responses triggered by this circuit are often just the symptoms associated with a panic attack: sweaty palms, shortness of breath, or rapid heart rate.

According to Han, it was long believed that the smaller neurotransmitters  another type of chemical messenger in the brain  were a main player within this circuit, with most medical interventions for fear-based neurological conditions being designed to block their release.

Scientists had presumed neuropeptides, which are larger in size than neurotransmitters, operated in a similar way to communicate between neurons, but their role had not been extensively studied because researchers did not yet have the tools to analyze their behavior.

When I started the lab, I decided to develop tools to address that question, Han said. We genetically engineered to make the protein that detects the release of the neuropeptide  and we made another tool that can block the release of the neuropeptide so that we can test whether this neuropeptide is really important for certain roles in the brain.

In the case of the circuit that guides responses to external threats, Han and his team found that neuropeptides were actually the main messenger between neurons, not neurotransmitters as previously believed.

As he explained, they came to this determination by using the new tools to see the response of mice to a mild electric shock. When the mouse was shocked, the researchers sensors picked up the release of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, leading to fear-based behavior changes.

They then tested what would happen by blocking one of the two messengers. When neurotransmitters were blocked, the mice responded in the same way to the shock. Testing it the other way around, where the neuropeptides were blocked, was a different story.

We basically made the animal insensitive to the threats, Han said. We concluded that the glutamate, conventionally accepted as the classical neurotransmitter, doesnt do anything at least in this circuit.

Thats where Han says the new frontier for drug research comes in. Medications and other interventions prescribed to treat disorders that impact the brains response to fear or pain, like PTSD, anxiety or fibromyalgia, often target this classical neurotransmitter system.

However, these neurotransmitters, like glutamate, can be found in circuits all over the brain, so its not as effective as an intervention.

Thats the reason why people taking benzodiazepines have so many side effects, for example, Han said. By targeting the neuropeptide, I think we may be able to develop side effect-free medication for such disorders.

Some drug companies have attempted clinical trials for such interventions to no avail, Han noted. Although he said these novel pain intervention trials have failed mostly because they were attempting to block just one neuropeptide, not several.

Another discovery made by Han and his team was that a single neuron can release multiple neuropeptides in response to a certain trigger  it was previously assumed that a single neuron expresses a single neuropeptide.

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Yet this method, which has not been widely utilized in the development of interventions targeting pains pathophysiological mechanisms, is something that is already being used in treatments targeting other parts of the brain, such as anti-obesity drugs.

What we suggest to the drug companies is that we may need to think about targeting multiple receptors at the same time to efficiently block, for example, pain or sensation of a threat, Han said. I think this concept should be applied to drug development in pain  the analgesics  or PTSD and other fear-related disorders.

Whether it will ultimately be effective in patient tests as it was in animal trials remains to be seen.

At least in an animal model, we were able to reverse the animals traumatic experience by blocking certain neural pathways, Han said. Hopefully this may apply to the human conditions, but we are not sure unless we test in a human patient.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
[Source]

San Francisco's plan to create a bike lane through Chinatown has been halted after strong opposition from community leaders.

The San Francisco MTA proposed protected bike lanes, but business leaders, including Edward Siu of the Chinatown Merchants United Association, rejected the idea due to congestion and parking concerns. Siu contacted Mayor London Breed's office, leading to further discussions and the eventual suspension of the bike lane plan. While some appreciate the quick response, bike advocates are disappointed, arguing it contradicts the city's traffic reduction and bike lane goals. Mayor Breeds office says it is working to improve communication for future projects.

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(KRON)  A food festival promising bottomless beer tastings and samples from taco vendors has abruptly postponed its San Jose event later this month after a reportedly disastrous San Francisco event. The West Coast Taco and Beer Festival posted on social media Wednesday that it would be postponing its Aug. 31 San Jose event due to overwhelming amounts of feedback for its SF event last weekend.

The Aug. 3 San Francisco event which took place at Midway SF near Dogpatch was billed as an epic day of tacos & bottomless beer/seltzer/cider tastings. However, according to social media posts from people who attended the festival, it did not live up to its billing.

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According to one poster on Reddit, problems with the festival began as soon as they arrived with an insane line stretching almost all the way around the venue with only one person checking IDs.

By 2:45 p.m., all of the taco vendors were reportedly out of food and everything else inside had to be paid for with no bottomless taco samples or unlimited sample pours as advertised. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, another attendee said the event featured fewer than 10 vendors, with only two cooking fresh meat for tacos.

In its social media post, West Coast Taco and Beer Festival, which calls itself the largest touring taco & beer festivals on the West Coast, said it would be reaching out to people who bought tickets about next steps and refund.

No new date was provided for the San Jose event which was due to take place at History San Jose.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Saudi king allows cabinet to meet without him or crown prince

DUBAI (Reuters) -Saudi Arabia's King Salman issued a royal decree that allows the cabinet to convene in the absence of both himself and the prime minister, his son Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, state media reported on Thursday.

The 88-year-old king of the world's biggest oil exporter, and a major U.S. ally in the Middle East, received medical care for lung inflammation in May that prompted Prince Mohammed to later postpone an official visit to Japan due to the king's health.

The king chaired a cabinet meeting a week later, with state TV broadcasting footage of him leading the meeting via video conference.

Prince Mohammed, 38, has been the de facto ruler of the OPEC leading country since his father named him as heir in 2017, in a move that cut hundreds of veteran princes out of the line of succession and tore up the unwritten rules of the ruling family's dynastic politics.

The king named him prime minister in 2022.

In the absence of the king, the crown prince or his deputies, the cabinet would be chaired by the eldest member of the cabinet who is a descendant of Salman's father, founding King Abdulaziz Al Saud. Cabinet decisions issued would be signed by the chairman, the royal decree added.

The cabinet includes two of King Salman's sons, Defence Minister Prince Khalid and Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz.

(Reporting by Nayera AbdallahEditing by Andrew Heavens, Peter Graff, William Maclean)
Icebergs that calve off the Jakobshavn Glacier can be the size of skyscrapers - Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Every year in the remote reaches of Greenland, between 30 and 50 billion tons of ice breaks off the Jakobshavn Glacier and plunges into the sea.

The largest icebergs can be a kilometre in height  much taller than the Burj Khalifa  and they crash into the deep fjord with enough force to trigger earthquakes, before drifting west and eventually melting in the North Atlantic.

Jakobshavn is one of the worlds fastest-moving glaciers. It alone accounted for a significant chunk of the increase in the rate that sea levels have risen over the 20th century. The 110,000-square-kilometre glacier likely holds enough ice to push sea levels up by at least another foot, should it continue to melt.

The rapid deterioration of glaciers like Jakobshavn has kick started a race to save them and avert a global catastrophe.

The stakes could hardly be higher. Almost 900 million people living in coastal areas around the world  including in major cities like Shanghai, Mumbai, Los Angeles, New York and London  are threatened by rising sea levels, according to the United Nations.

Ice can break away from a glacier with enough force to trigger an earthquake - Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP

But scientists and engineers have dreamed up bold plans to slow the rate at which glaciers are melting.

They range from building vast underwater barriers to keep warmer water away from the ice, to drilling deep into glaciers to remove meltwater flowing beneath them to try and pin them in place.

The schemes are part of a wave of so-called geoengineering projects, which were once considered scientific taboo but are now increasingly being touted as vital tools to combat the worst consequences of climate change.

The battle has been likened to the Second World War  a global struggle that prompted major technological and scientific breakthroughs, from the Manhattan Project and radar to jet engines.

We need to take on the urgency of developing knowledge and techniques for coping with danger as if we were in a conflict like World War One or World War Two, said Douglas R. MacAyeal, Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago, who along with other glaciologists outlined the daring plans in a white paper.

So what are the plans and, more importantly, will they work?

Seabed curtains

Somewhat counterintuitively, the waters where glaciers meet the Arctic and Antarctic oceans are warmer closer to the seabed.

The deeper water comes from tropical oceans where there is more evaporation than precipitation making the water saltier and therefore more dense, causing it to sink to the bottom.

The surface waters near glaciers are also made less salty and lighter by all the freshwater from melting ice.

The deep water can be between 2 degrees Celsius and 4 degrees Celsius above the freezing point of seawater, and these natural currents melt the ice sheets of glaciers like Jakobshavn from below. They are also an especially powerful force in Antarctica, where rising ocean temperatures are a greater threat than warmer air.

Professor John Moore of the University of Lapland, an author of the white paper, had an idea: what if these currents of warmer water could be blocked from reaching the ice entirely?

He proposed installing a 100-kilometre-long curtain anchored to the seabed, hundreds of metres below the waves, to create a barrier between these warmer waters and the ice.

One set of interventions would be to try to engineer some kind of a barrier to ensure that that heat is kept away from the near ice environment, he said. If you turn down the blowtorch, then, of course, the ice doesnt melt as fast, and it gets thicker.

Initial designs for these removable sheets were to be made of plastic, but now natural fibres like canvas and sisal are being considered to address pollution concerns.

We want to find a natural solution, a biodegradable material. The materials might be canvas or hemp and perhaps even woven seaweed, said Professor Moore.

There are concerns that an underwater curtain could interfere with wildlife around the glaciers - Aningaaq Rosing Carlsen

Keeping the warmer water away from the ice would slow down the calving of icebergs, holding up a glaciers gradual slide towards the sea and helping it to become thicker and more resilient.

Preliminary modelling suggests that installing these curtain barriers to rise from the sea floor off western Antarctica could decrease glacial melting by up to tenfold in certain regions.

Professor Moore said that, while many of the potential side-effects of the plan wont be clear until it can be put into action, there are concerns about how the curtains would impact local marine life.

The curtains will affect the local water circulation by design, and so that might have some impacts in the Amundsen sea  but these risks have to be weighed against the changes that will occur when the ice shelves collapse, he said. There is no prospect of things remaining as they are now.

Drilling for meltwater

The meltwaters that flow beneath glaciers can act as a lubricant, helping it to slide over the bedrock.

As global temperatures rise and glaciers melt, more of this water is accumulating under the ice, accelerating the glaciers descent into the waiting ocean.

A natural process observed in the past has inspired a potential intervention. Over 200 years ago, the Kamb Ice Stream in West Antarctica suddenly stopped shifting when the water flowing beneath it suddenly began to dry up.

With less water, friction between the ice and the bedrock increased, firming its foundations.

The process eventually halted the ice stream, leading to increased freezing and creating a self-reinforcing cycle that further slowed the glacier.

Scientists are now exploring ways to replicate this effect.

If we can eliminate that lubrication, its like glueing the glacier back to the bed, said Professor MacAyeal.

One proposed method involves drilling deep holes through kilometres of ice to remove water or pockets of warmer air from beneath, potentially stabilising the glacier.

Professor Moore said it would be like putting the brakes on but warned that such a plan would be difficult to pull off.

The problem is that its a bit dangerous, and the ice is moving very fast, so you drill a hole and you dont know what youre drilling into, he said. You might drain something the size of a bathtub, or you might drain something the size of a small town  you dont know.

Engineers would have to drill through ice that could be several kilometres thick in places - Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Surface cleaning

As the sun beats down, shimmering pools of meltwater often form on the surface of glaciers and ice sheets.

While these glassy ponds may seem harmless, they can pose a serious threat to the stability of the ice around them.

When the water seeps into cracks in the ice it can, over time, create deep tunnels into the glacier, potentially leading to fractures that could become catastrophic.

Scientists have proposed a novel solution: a meticulous cleaning service to remove the meltwater and clean the surface of the glacier.

This approach could involve drilling small holes in the ice to allow the water to drain away  an idea Professor MacAyeal likened to draining a bathtub.

One day, robots powered by AI could even be working in shifts to clear away the surface water, he said.

Tranquil pools of meltwater that gather on top of glaciers mask a hidden threat - Sean Gallup/Getty Images

It is hoped the removal of surface water will prevent the ice from fracturing - Sean Gallup/Getty Images

The removal of the water aims to reduce the risk of fractures and increase the stability of the ice.

According to Professor MacAyeal, there are zero risks with cleaning the meltwater off the tops of ice shelves, as we would be returning the system to its basic state as of 25 years ago.

Although the robots dont exist yet, he anticipates that they are within reach of current technology.

The robots dont exist yet, but I anticipate the technology in todays world could create them, test them, and manufacture a fleet of, say 25 of them, in a time scale of 5 years, he said.

Snow fences

Not all of the ideas being cooked up by the geoengineers are so high-tech, however.

In Antarctica, roughly half of the snow that falls like a blanket on ice shelves and glaciers is swept away by the wind and carried out to sea.

One idea being touted by geoengineers is to save this snow and use it to create a protective barrier, insulating the glacier from the sun and helping it to grow thicker.

To do this, a series of snow fences  a common sight in regions that experience heavy snowfall  would be installed across the width of a glacier or ice sheet.

As the wind sweeps snow towards these fences, it would pile up in front of the barrier and provide extra protection for the ice, said Prof Moore.

The snow fence could also thicken some damaged areas because the snow eventually solidifies to ice, he said, adding that the extra weight of the snow could help ground a glacier and slow it down.

Strategically placed fences could also be used to glue damaged sections together, he said.

Scientists like Professor Moore are itching to start putting their ideas into action, and the fences would be a relatively cheap solution, especially when compared with the cost of inaction.

The sheer costs of rising sea levels  a billion pounds per inch per year  means that spending a little on researching the viability of stabilisation methods has a huge payoff, Professor Moore said.

For around 50 million we could find out if any were feasible within a decade, and the savings when they are implemented can run into trillions over the rest of this century and next.

Making clouds

Scientists also proposed a plan to cool the ice around Greenland by creating clouds.

This could be achieved by spraying tiny sea salt aerosols into the air  similarly to how snow machines create fresh powder for ski slopes.

These clouds, brightened by the salt, would reflect more sunlight away from the Earths surface, resulting in a cooler environment.

And then, as the temperature drops, the increased cloud cover could lead to more snowfall, increasing the cooling effect and helping to preserve Greenlands ice.

The ice sheets are both the canary in the coal mine and a vital part of the earth system, said Professor Moore. They are unfortunately one of the first things to be irreversibly lost as temperatures climb, and we know from the geological record that they take tens of thousands of years to grow back but collapse in centuries once they start to go.

An aerial view of Greenland's Russell Glacier - Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Geoengineering projects that have proposed altering the weather are controversial to many because of the potential unintended consequences they may bring about.

But they are not without precedent.

Professor Moore said similar schemes had helped Australia protect the Great Barrier Reef and are regularly used in China to prevent hail stones from damaging crops.

Its more of a psychological issue, he said of the taboo surrounding geoengineering, adding that the scepticism was driven by fears of altering the air.

Can it be done?

The would-be geoengineers argue that saving the worlds glaciers is vital if we are to avoid a looming disaster and insist that we cannot afford to wait any longer for carbon dioxide emissions to fall.

But are their quick-fix solutions practical?

The white paper evaluated all the proposals on a scale of 1 to 3, with higher scores indicating greater potential.

The plan to manufacture cloud cover earned a score of 2.27, while the curtain on the seafloor received a rating of 2.10. But no option ranked higher than 2.5.

These things are realistic, and we could deploy them, but there have to be big scientific and humanistic efforts taken, said Professor MacAyeal.

Saving the worlds glaciers and staving off a massive sea level rise will require a herculean effort on a scale not seen since the Second World War, he said.

We cannot vet the specific approaches yet until more research is done: and I mean expensive, hard research  research like the Manhattan Project back in the 40s.

With ice in polar regions disappearing at record rates, it remains to be seen whether the geoengineers will be successful in their efforts to save the worlds glaciers. But Professor MacAyeal is confident.

The world will be changed by glacial research, he said.

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Young musicians perform at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, the United States, Aug. 6, 2024. Over 100 musicians from Beijing Youth Orchestra pay a week-long visit to New York during World Orchestra Week. These young Chinese musicians jointly performed with members of the National Youth Orchestra of the USA on Tuesday under the auspices of the Chinese Consulate General in New York. Nearly 300 young musicians and 100 guests attended the event. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Scores of young musicians from the Beijing Youth Orchestra of China and the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America jointly staged a concert on Tuesday.

Young American musicians started the concert with A Western Fanfare by Eric Ewazen, followed by their Chinese counterparts' performance of the ancient Chinese tune A Moonlit Night on the Spring River.

Then, young musicians jointly presented Goin' Home, based on Antonin Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 and Octet in E-flat major, Op. 20 IV. Presto by Felix Mendelssohn.

The concert concluded with You and Me, the official theme song of the 2008 Beijing Olympics composed by Chen Qigang, to pay tribute to the Olympic spirit, the shared emotion of human beings and the power of unity.

The joint performance under the auspices of the Chinese Consulate General in New York marked an in-depth exchange between young Chinese and U.S. musicians, who joined others in World Orchestra Week (WOW!) organized by Carnegie Hall.

As many as 700 young musicians from five continents presented their respective performances at Carnegie Hall, had a massive "play-in" at the Javits Convention Center and participated in peer exchange workshops at New York University.

The young musicians would remain connected and friends for life thanks to their experience at World Orchestra Week, said Sir Clive Gillinson, executive and artistic director of Carnegie Hall, before the start of the concert.

"We cherish the friendship with U.S. counterparts in the field of culture and arts ... I'd like to work with Sir Clive Gillinson in the future to turn more beautiful ideas into reality, enhance Sino-U.S. cultural exchanges and better connect peoples of the two countries," said Wang Ning, president of China's National Center for the Performing Arts in a video message.

Beijing Youth Orchestra is a new ensemble jointly curated in June by China's National Center for the Performing Arts and the Beijing Municipal Education Commission.
How does US Social Security compare with retirement systems around the world?

Dating back to 1935, Social Security has become a popular, ubiquitous safety net for retirement-age Americans and their families. In fact, it's indispensable. Yet this high-priority federal budget item stymies senators and congress members of every stripe. Theyre reluctant at best to tinker with it, even though its funding is projected to run out by 2037.

To put the numbers into perspective, $1.5 trillion in Social Security benefits are to be paid out monthly to roughly 68 million Americans and more than 67 million beneficiaries in 2024, under a $14.2 billion operating budget. The Social Security Administrations Program Operations Manual System alone has more than 20,000 pages, making it a proverbial third rail in American politics.

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In the quest for reform, some Republicans have suggested bumping up the full retirement age from 67 to 70. Meanwhile, democrats want the wealthy to help fund more of Americans Social Security benefits.

Given the disparity of views, it could be worth looking at how other worldwide retirement systems compare.

United Kingdom: National Insurance system

Introduced in 1912, the UK's National Insurance system  also referred to as social security  is administered by the nation's Department for Work and Pensions. As of 2021, it oversaw spending of 220 billion pounds (roughly $280 billion U.S. dollars), making it the nation's largest government program.

Salary contributions by both employers and workers total a minimum of 8%. That's significantly less than the amount contributed in the United States, which stands at 12.4%. The UK's current state pension age is 66 but will rise to 67 between 2026-2028 and could hit 68 depending on how lawmakers in Parliament proceed over the next few years.

For those eligible to collect the full amount, the UKs State Pension pays out 221.20 pounds per week or more than $1,125 U.S. dollars monthly. Whereas, if you were to retire at age 70 in 2024 in the United States, the maximum you can earn is $4,873 U.S dollars per month  significantly more.

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India: Employees Provident Fund

Employees and employers each contribute 12% of the workers salary to the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). Though the process seems to raise many questions, given the astounding 427 questions on its FAQ page. If you took 5 minutes to read each answer, it would take you more than 35 hours.

Indias Employees Provident Fund covers only a small portion of the organized workforce  namely, those who have a direct and regular employer-employee relationship. That translates to just 35 million out of a labor force of 400 million people with old-age income protection, according to Dezan Shira and Associates.

But if you are eligible, you can collect benefits as early as age 50, with the full pension available at 58. As of 2023 employees get around 38% of their last salary as a pension, according to Reuters.

Canada: OAS and CPP

Retirement contributions in Canada equal 11.9% of a salary, split between employee and employer. Canada financially assists retirees through two programs: Old Age Security (OAS) and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).

The OAS is a monthly payment you can get if you are 65 and older and is based on the number of years you've lived in Canada after age 18. If you're 65 to 74, your maximum OAS monthly payment is $718.33 Canadian dollars and $790.16 for those 75 and over (about $518 and $570 U.S. dollars).

The CPP is a monthly, taxable benefit that replaces part of your income when you retire and lasts for the rest of your life. While the standard age to start a pension is 65, you can receive it as early as 60 or as late as 70. In 2024, the maximum monthly amount you can receive if you start your CPP pension at 65 is $1,364.60. However the average monthly payment as of April was $816.52 ($984 and $589 U.S. dollars respectively). Thats still less than the maximum in the United States.

What are the potential reforms?

One possible solution for the United States  not so far-fetched given the track records of other nations  is to simply raise the retirement age. Thats whats happening in Denmark where the country plans to increase the current retirement age from 66 to 68 by 2030 and 69 by 2035. Germany will also bring theirs up to 67 by 2031.

Still theres no clear answer as to how lawmakers can remedy a depleting Social Security fund and the resolution may not please everyone. Benefit cuts and decreasing expenditure can result in a lower quality retirement, while increasing funds by way of increasing taxes for those in certain tax brackets also isnt great news to bear. But one thing is for sure  no plan at all over the next decade is likely to cause some concern over a not-so-safe safety net for those approaching retirement.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



Futurists have long debated the arrival of the singularity, when human and artificial intelligence will merge, a concept borrowed from the world of quantum physics.

American computer scientist and futurist Ray Kurzweil has long argued that the singularity would likely occur around the middle of the 21st century, and with the rise of AI, his predictions are gaining more credence.

In his new book, The Singularity is Nearer, Kurzweil doubles down on those predictions and details how humanitys intelligence will increase a millionfold via nanobots (among other things).

You dont exactly become a world-renowned futurist by making safe predictions. And while some of these past predictions havent exactly come to pass (Back to the Future Part II, specifically), these ideas help expand our thoughts on what exactly the future might look like.

And no one makes futuristic predictions quite like Ray Kurzweil.

An American computer scientist-turned-futurist, Kurzweil has long believed that humanity is headed toward whats known as the singularity, when man and machine merge. In 1999, Kurzweil theorized that artificial general intelligence would be achieved once humanity could achieve a technology capable of a trillion calculations per second, which he pegged to occur 2029. Experts at the time scoffed at the idea, figuring itd be at least a century or more, but with Kurzweils timeline only a few years offand talk of AGI spreadingthat decades-old prediction is beginning to loom large.

Now in his new book published last month, The Singularity is Nearer (a play on his 2005 book of the same name minus an er), Kurzweil doubles down on these ideas in the modern era of artificial intelligence. Not only is he "sticking with [his] five years prediction, as he recently said in a TED Talk, Kurzweil also believes that humans will achieve a millionfold intelligence by 2045, aided by brain interfaces formed with nanobots non-invasively inserted into our capillaries.

Were going to be a combination of our natural intelligence and our cybernetic intelligence, Kurzweil said in an interview with The Guardian, and its all going to be rolled into one. We are going to expand intelligence a millionfold by 2045, and it is going to deepen our awareness and consciousness.

While this idea subscribes to a merger more akin to physical intervention to bridge the gap between man and machine, other philosophers and AI experts agree that some form of merger is likely inevitable, and in some ways, is already beginning. In July, Oxfords Marcus du Sautoy and Nick Bostrom both expounded on the hopeful and harrowing possibilities of our AI future, and for both of them, a kind of synthesis appeared inevitable.

I think that we are headed toward a hybrid future, Sautoy told Popular Mechanics. We still believe that we are the only beings with a high level of consciousness. This is part of the whole Copernican journey that we are not unique. Were not at the center.

Of course, this Brave New World of a hybrid AI-human existence brings with it a plethora of issues both political and personal. What will humans do for jobs? Could we possibly live forever? Would that change the very idea of what it means to be human?

Kurzweil, like many other futurists, are relatively optimistic on this front. In that same interview with The Guardian, Kurzweil highlights the idea of a Universal Basic Income as a necessity rather than a fringe idea currently supported in more progressive circles, and AI will bring unprecedented advancements in medicine, meaning the very idea of immortality isnt out of the realm of possibility.

In the early 2030s we can expect to reach longevity escape velocity where every year of life we lose through aging we get back from scientific progress, Kurzweil told The Guardian. And as we move past that, well actually get back more years. It isnt a solid guarantee of living foreverthere are still accidentsbut your probability of dying wont increase year to year.

Just like Back to the Future Part II predicted flying cars, so too could these technology-fueled utopias crumble to dust as these dates inch closer and closer. But 25 years ago, Kurzweil predicted wed be rapidly approaching a major moment in humanitys technological history at the tail end of this decade.

Currently, no evidence suggests the contrary.



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A gunfire salute and then, with the flick of a switch, Scituate Light is back on.

Taken down two years ago after corrosion threatened to topple it, this historic beacon was completely renovated. So that now from its white base to its copper-cladded light, it glimmers once again.

Scituate Light is iconic. It is Scituate, said Bob Chessia, who is President of the Scituate Historical Society.

People love lighthouses and this one is actually accessible  you can actually drive up to it, he said.

From the air, its clear why this light is an iconic landmark.

Chessia took Boston 25 News to the top, up more than 30 winding stairs that lead to a ladder revealing an unsurpassed view of the Atlantic.

Chessia says this is the latest of many rebuilds.

In 1930 during the Depression, they rebuilt the lantern room and did the lighthouse over, he said.

Bob Gallagher is the lighthouse keeper.

Lighthouses tell us something about a deep-seated commitment, a commitment to safeguard a community of neighbors and strangers alike, he said.

People who live here are thrilled the light is back on.

It really means a lot to the merchants here because its a draw and people come from all over to see it, said Brian Elsden of Scituate.

So, once again Scituate Light is shining brightly  its beacon welcoming everyone.

Its one of those markers whether youre on land or coming in on a boat that you know youre home youre in Scituate, said Diana Dunphy of Scituate.

The lighthouse is open to the public on certain dates but you can walk by anytime to take in the incredible view and best of all  its now lit up at night once again.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Tropical storm Debby is making its way into northeastern Pennsylvania. Counties and communities are now bracing for the potential of heavy rainfall, on Friday.

Memories of the severe flooding on September 9 are still fresh for those who live and work in the city of Scranton.

Theyve taken that devastation as a way to hone their skills for faster response times and expand their resources.

Weve been tracking what their prediction and modeling is for this upcoming storm, weve been watching it since about the weekend, said Chief John Judge from the Scranton Fire Department.

As Scranton braces for downpours, the city has storm preparations underway to avoid severe flooding as much as possible.

Shapiro reminds residents to use caution during Debby

DPW has been in storm mode pretty much all week, theyve been tending to the storm basins and have had the street sweeper and the flood crews out, and their also getting preparations for the different flood pumps they use across the city, says Chief Judge.

While the flooding last September 9 struck swiftly and unexpectedly, it has allowed critical services to better prepare for subsequent storms like Debby.

Its about being able to expand rapidly and get our resources in quicker, I think DPW and the fire department and all of our services in the city are looking to kind of streamline that a little bit quicker, that has always been one of our goals. Were also updating an internal document on a daily basis from those national weather services on what our contingency plans are going to be here in the city of Scranton, explained Chief Judge.

City workers are out in force, ensuring that storm drains are clear and sandbags are readily available for those in flood-prone areas

We know just from experience our low-lying areas. In those low-lying areas, we do our best to keep the storm drains open and thats one of the things DPW has been working on all week, added Chief Judge.

When Debby strikes, the Scranton Fire Department is ready to respond.

From the fire department end, depending on what it looks like, well start to notify our boat team, and members who are trained in water rescue, we may bring in extra staffing depending on what the modeling looks like, because we know were going to be dealing with trees down, wires down, lot of people are going to have flooded basements, stated Chief Judge.

28/22 News did speak with Scrantons DPW director, and he said they are more prepared than they were last September.

As a reminder, if you have to drive during the storm, use caution and avoid driving through standing and running water.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
Search for girl, 10, who went under in Germany's Elbe River

Emergency services from the fire department, police DLRG and other organizations search for a missing child in the Elbe on the Falkensteiner Ufer. Christian Charisius/dpa

A 10-year-old girl went under in the Elbe River in the northern German city of Hamburg on Thursday afternoon right in front of her parents.

Rescue teams were continuing to search for the child in the evening with a large-scale operation. "We are not giving up hope," a fire brigade spokesman told dpa.

He said the search was expected to continue until around 8 pm (1800 GMT).

A rescue helicopter was circling over the river.

"This is a particularly terrible operation for us," he said. The girl's parents were being supported by emergency counsellors.

Police were alerted shortly before 4 pm. They were informed that a child was at risk of drowning in the Elbe.

Around 50 personnel searched the area around the accident site, the fire brigade reported.

Due to the Elbe's current, the search radius was extended up to 500 metres, the fire brigade spokesman said.

Fire brigade and Germany's DLRG, which says it is the largest volunteer water rescue organization in the world, were deployed with boats and divers. Drones and sonar equipment were also used.

Emergency services from the fire department, police DLRG and other organizations search for a missing child in the Elbe on the Falkensteiner Ufer. Christian Charisius/dpa
Search unsuccessful for girl, 10, who went under in Germany's Elbe

Emergency services from the fire department, police DLRG and other organizations search for a missing child in the Elbe on the Falkensteiner Ufer. Christian Charisius/dpa

A 10-year-old girl went under in the Elbe River in the northern German city of Hamburg on Thursday afternoon right in front of her parents.

A large contingent from the emergency services searched for hours for the child, unwilling to give up hope.

"This is a particularly terrible operation for us," said a fire brigade spokesman. The girl's parents were being supported by emergency counsellors.

At around 8:50 pm (1850 GMT), the rescue workers called off the search. The spokesman assessed that it would not be resumed on Friday. One must assume that the child had drowned, he said. "We are all very upset."

Police were alerted shortly before 4 pm. They were informed that a child was at risk of drowning in the Elbe.

Around 50 emergency personnel searched the area around the accident site, the fire brigade reported.

Due to the Elbe's current, the search radius was extended up to 500 metres, the fire brigade spokesman said.

Fire brigade and Germany's DLRG, which says it is the largest volunteer water rescue organization in the world, were deployed with boats and divers. Helicopters hovered over the Elbe, and drones as well as a special sonar boat were also used.

Emergency services from the fire department, police DLRG and other organizations search for a missing child in the Elbe on the Falkensteiner Ufer. Christian Charisius/dpa
A 31-year-old Kansas City man is the second person to be charged in a fight where a man was stabbed on a RideKC bus in Kansas City, prosecutors announced Thursday.

The Jackson County prosecutor on Wednesday charged Mohummad S. Baker with one count of first-degree assault for his role in the fight and stabbing that occurred Aug. 5 on a RideKC bus in the Midtown area of Kansas City.

Earlier this week, prosecutors charged 31-year-old Shaunte L. Washington with one count each of first-degree assault and armed criminal action.

According to court documents, the stabbing took place about 1:30 p.m. aboard the bus near 31st Street and Troost Avenue.

The victim, whose name was redacted from the charging documents, told police that he was riding the bus when Washington boarded the bus. She was talking to herself and became loud and was cussing. Washington got into an argument with another female rider.

According to court documents, the victim intervened so that Washington wouldnt harm the other rider.

Baker then became involved, saying he wouldnt let the victim hit Washington. Baker and the victim argued while Washington confronted the other rider.

The fight escalated, and Washington allegedly pulled out a knife and threatened to kill the female rider. The victim told police he pulled out a baton, and Baker started hitting him with closed fists. Washington allegedly began stabbing the victim, according to court documents.

When the victim dropped the baton, Washington allegedly picked it up and started hitting him with it while she continued to stab the victim.

The victim suffered wounds to both thighs and his right arm. During the stabbing, a femoral artery was struck.

A Kansas City Area Transportation Authority security officer boarded the bus after the stabbing and ordered Washington at gunpoint to drop her weapons, according to court documents. She dropped the baton but allegedly placed the knife back in her bra.

The security officer handcuffed Washington to a railing in the bus.

When questioned by police, Baker allegedly told them he had recognized his friend, Washington, arguing with another female rider on the bus. Baker told police police that he got into an argument with the stabbing victim after believing he was going to strike Washington. Baker, who said he wanted to protect Washington, said the victim spat in his face.

After the victim allegedly pulled out a baton and struck Washington, Baker said he hit the victim multiple times. Baker said he believed that the victim was the one armed with the knife, not Baker. Baker allegedly later admitted that Washington was the one with the knife and had pointed it at the female rider.

Baker was being held in Jackson County jail on a $50,000 bond. Washington was also held in Jackson County jail on a $75,000 bond.
Second-strike inmate who walked away from CDCR camp located hundreds of miles away

A man who walked away from a conservation camp in Inyo County Tuesday morning was apprehended more than 350 miles from the facility, corrections officials said.

According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Ashiel Bahar was discovered missing from the Owens Valley Conservation Camp at 3 a.m. Tuesday.

Staff immediately launched a search of the camp buildings and grounds, officials said, but they were unable to find him. After he walked away, the CDCRs Office of Correctional Safety, Cal Fire and local law enforcement agencies were all deployed to search for Bahar.

Just over a day after he originally walked away from the camp, the 37-year-old second-striker was found in San Diego at 8:10 a.m. Wednesday, CDCR stated.

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While the exact location in San Diego was not released, navigation system data indicates that it would take over six hours to drive from the Owens Valley camp  near the city of Bishop  to downtown San Diego.

How Bahar was able to get to San Diego and the circumstances surrounding his apprehension are not known.

The 37-year-old was sent to the camp from San Diego County on Nov. 1, 2023, to serve a four-year sentence for first-degree burglary, using the ID of another person to obtain personal identifying information, grand theft firearm, grand theft exceeding $950, and evading or attempting to evade a peace officer while driving recklessly, according to CDCR.

Owens Valley Conservation Camp is jointly operated by the CDCR and Cal Fire, according to the corrections departments website.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Second teen arrested in 2023 Clayton murder case after nine-month search

Second teen arrested in 2023 Clayton murder case after nine-month search

CLAYTON, Mo.  Authorities have arrested a second teenager in connection with a mans murder in Clayton, Missouri last year, nearly nine months after his death.

The Clayton Police Department announced the arrest of 19-year-old Darrion Johnson on Thursday. Authorities issued an at-large warrant for Harris arrest on December 5, 2023.

Johnson and another teenager, Trenell Johnson, are accused in the death of Joshua D. Harris on November 13, 2023. Police say they are not related, despite the same last name. Both face charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action amid the investigation.

All police aint bad!  Ferguson chief vents frustration after officer suffers brain injury during protests

According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Harris was fatally shot after he confronted a group of people who were allegedly breaking into cars. At the time, Harris, his wife and his baby had recently moved to the St. Louis area.

Trenell Johnson was arrested three days after the death of Harris.

The Clayton Police Department says Darrion Johnson was able to evade arrest for nearly nine months until early Thursday morning. The U.S. Marshals Service assisted Clayton police detectives in finding and apprehending Darrion near the 4100 block of Beachwood Avenue in St. Louis County.

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Darrion is being held at the St. Louis County Justice Center on a $500,000 cash-only bond, according to Clayton police.

Trenell Johnson has a jury trial scheduled for April 14, 2025.

Investigators say there is no indication of any other suspects involved in the investigation.

NOTE: Video from FOX 2s coverage in December 2023.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Image source: The Motley Fool.

Dutch Bros (NYSE: BROS)

Q2 2024 Earnings Call

Aug 07, 2024, 5:00 p.m. ET

Contents:

Prepared Remarks

Questions and Answers

Call Participants

Prepared Remarks:





Operator

Greetings, and welcome to the Dutch Bros' second quarter 2024 conference call. [Operator instructions] As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. It is now my pleasure to introduce your host, Paddy Warren, director of investor relations and corporate development. Please go ahead.

Paddy Warren -- Director of Investor relations and Corporate Development

Good afternoon, and welcome. I'm joined by Christine Barone, CEO and president; and Josh Guenser, CFO. We issued our earnings press release for the quarter ended June 30th, 2024, after the market closed today. The earnings press release, along with the supplemental information deck have been posted to our investor relations website at investors@dutchbros.com.

Please be aware that all statements in our prepared remarks and in response to your questions, other than those of historical facts, are forward-looking statements and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that may cause actual results to differ materially. They are qualified by the cautionary statements in our earnings press release and the risk factors in our latest SEC filings, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. We will also reference non-GAAP financial measures on today's call.

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As a reminder, non-GAAP measures are neither substitutes for, or superior to, measures that are prepared under GAAP. Please review the reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to comparable GAAP results in our earnings press release. With that, I'd now like to turn the call over to Christine.

Story continues

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Thank you, Paddy. Good afternoon, everyone. Our results demonstrate the long runway of growth that lies ahead for Dutch Bros. as we once again combined strong revenue growth with expanding profitability.

During Q2, we drove a 30% revenue increase and a 34% adjusted EBITDA increase compared to the same quarter last year, resulting in $325 million of revenue and $65 million of adjusted EBITDA. We are very pleased with how our customers are responding to our recent innovations, our expanding Dutch rewards program and our brand awareness building efforts. Given the intense external promotional backdrop and a tough Q2 lap, our focus on delivering innovative products and incredible service is paying off. Same-shop sales rose 4.1%, and AUVs were $2 million, which is in line with the record we posted last quarter.

In Q2, we opened 36 new shops marking the 12th consecutive quarter of 30 or more new shop openings. We also reached another milestone this quarter, having opened our 900th shop in Frisco, Texas. Despite an evolving and uncertain consumer environment, our exceptional first half results, including strong new shop performance, give us the confidence to raise both our revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance for the year. Josh will share more context and detail on our financial results in a few minutes.

But first, I'd like to walk you through an update on our business. We began any discussion of Dutch Bros with our fundamental differentiator, our people. Our exceptional culture, cruise and service resonate with customers of all ages and backgrounds. Our talented Brois and the service they provide drive our growth and set us apart from competitors.

Our people pipeline includes over 400 operator candidates with an average tenure of more than seven years. Each person in the pipeline is ready to lead a market as an operator. When these new operators get the call, we invest in their success and the success of the market by assuming our experienced opening team. These teams work alongside our new operators to lay a strong cultural foundation and ensure our new Brois are empowered to be highly successful.

This powerful combination of experience, energy, and teamwork helps us consistently deliver an exceptional customer experience focused on speed, quality, and service. We continue to be pleased with our shop level turnover indicators, which are in line with our expectations. Our best people are staying and growing with us. The expansion of our support center in Arizona, which we announced earlier this year remains on track, and we continue to hire great people to support our growth.

We are eagerly awaiting the move into a larger permanent location in the first half of 2025. Our leadership team transition has been seamless. Josh Guenser officially assumed his role as CFO earlier this quarter, while Charley Jemley remains a strategic advisor. Sumi Ghosh, our president of operations; and Jeff Enquist, our chief people officer, have spent their first several months in the shops, learning our systems and processes.

This experience is important as it gives our leaders a unique perspective on the business and helps inform our key initiatives. Sumi is taking his in-shop learnings and applying them to his initial focus areas of real estate and throughput. Jeff is focused on building on the strength of our people system. The remaining members of our senior leadership team have all spent time in the shops as well and are all certified Broistas, which we believe is critical in our ability to support the field as we grow.

Last year, we outlined a multipronged plan to drive traffic, which includes an enhanced focus on innovation, increased paid advertising designed to build brand awareness, and more targeted rewards program efforts. Despite the macro environment noise and aggressive price promotion for many peers, we haven't felt the need to fundamentally adjust our strategy. We remain pleased with our progress and how our efforts are working together to drive momentum. Innovation is a key driver within the beverage market.

We also believe innovation plays a foundational role in Dutch Bros' next stage of growth by building sales layers and deepening our competitive moat through category-defining products. Earlier this year, we demonstrated our advancing innovation capabilities through the launch of boba and protein belk, which were both extremely successful. Our customers love these products, and we decided to add them to the permanent menu. Our strawberry boba performed so well that we experienced product outages through much of April and May.

I'm happy to report that by June, we restored supply across most of our system. In April, we brought back Mangonada Rebel and added two new drinks, churro freeze and watermelon fizz. With Mangonada and churro freeze, we maintain a dual focus on energy and coffee. With watermelon fizz, we highlight the breadth of our menu, which includes an array of refreshing soda, tea, and lemonade based beverages.

With our deep pantry of flavors and toppings, we give our customers tens of thousands of ways to enjoy their favorite drink. Paid advertising. We are beginning to see the impact of increased investment in paid advertising particularly in newer markets with lower brand awareness. We were encouraged by the initial results, which were higher than our expectations.

In these DMAs where we have incrementally upsized paid advertising, sequential traffic growth is outpacing the system. Based on these results, we have decided to make further investments. Dutch Rewards is a cornerstone in our traffic driving strategy and allows us to interact directly with our customers. Through this communication channel, we introduce customers to new innovative products, communicate special promotions like surprise sticker days and merch drops, and incentivize visits across key customer segments, geographies, and dayparts.

In Q2, approximately 67% of our transactions are attributable to Dutch Rewards members, which we believe is truly incredible given the growth in our business and our status as a relative newcomer in many of our markets. We focused our promotional efforts in the industrial rewards channel and elected to not repeat several of our broader-based promotions. We have found that our increasing sophistication in our Dutch Rewards program enables us to efficiently and effectively target our large existing customer base. That said, we believe broad-based promotions are particularly effective at introducing new customers to Dutch Bros, especially in new markets.

We continue to make progress with our order ahead capabilities and we remain on track with this initiative. We expanded the scope of the test to about 40 shops in Arizona, California, and Texas as of June 30th and have rolled out the capability to approximately 200 shops as of the end of July. We are increasingly optimistic that mobile order capabilities will be available in the majority of our shops by the end of 2024. We are encouraged by some of the structural advantages we believe we enjoy with this channel, including our approximately 67% Dutch Rewards penetration starting point.

Additionally, many of our shops have double drive-thru setups that include an escape plane, which could be utilized for mobile order. After checking in, our mobile order customers can be directed to the right-hand lane, where a runner can bring their drink if it is ready before the customer reaches the window. The customer can then escape using that open lane to their right, eliminating a potential bottleneck at the window. We already use this operational tactic in many of our locations.

We also see an opportunity for mobile order to improve the utilization of our walk-up window, which currently makes up about 10% of our business. Early mobile order data suggests a majority of mobile order customers choose to use our walk-up window. Our existing kitchen display nets are compatible with the system, leading to streamline integration. Based on learnings from competitors, we recognize the importance of capacity planning and setting customer expectations.

We intend to throttle orders where necessary to maintain high levels of customer service across our channels. That said, we believe many of our shops are capable of significantly higher throughput given the volume of some of our most productive shops. These high throughput shops have the same footprint as our standard prototype, which makes up much of our existing portfolio. We are excited to continue learning from this rollout and we look forward to sharing feedback on adoption and potential incrementality as we observe customer behavior over a longer period of time.

Since our IPO in September 2021, new shop development has been a consistent bright spot for our business, having almost doubled our shop base from 503 to 912 as of the end of Q2 2024. We currently have nearly 200 shops in Texas, which is remarkable given the market opened a little over three years ago. We have learned a lot from our entrance into Texas. As a reminder, we have updated and recalibrated our models over the past 18 months, helping refine our approach to real estate.

We are using these insights combined with an enhanced market planning effort to drive better revenue performance in new shops. As part of this work, we have removed sites for our pipeline that under our recalibrated modeling would not meet our investment objectives. We began these refinements in mid-2023 and have continued to reassess site quality of our pipeline regularly since then. Rapidly bringing forward learnings into the pipeline process has had two main impacts.

First, we have begun to see stronger revenue performance in our portfolio of new shops, which is giving us the confidence to raise our total revenue guidance for the full year 2024. Second, as we have focused on higher AUV potential sites it is now more likely that we will land toward the lower end of our development range of 150 to 165 new shops in 2024. As a reminder, we have opened 81 shops already through the first half of this year. Additionally, we are attempting to rebalance our pipeline back toward more capital-efficient lease arrangements.

It will take time for these refinements to make their way through the real estate pipeline and we will likely begin seeing an impact in 2025. That said, we are encouraged by the improvements in new shop productivity, which are beginning to be felt now. Let me conclude with two items that relate to our corporate structuring. This quarter, affiliates of TSG consumer partners fell below the thresholds required to nominate a director to our board of directors, maintain elevated voting rights and after the SEC waiting period call for a registered offering under our registration rights agreement.

TSG played a foundational role in preparing Dutch Bros to be a fast-growing, high-performing public company. On behalf of the entire Dutch Bros family, we would like to formally thank TSG for its support over these past six years. In Q2, we added two independent directors to our board of directors, G.J. Hart, and Todd Penegor.

G.J. has extensive industry expertise and is presently the CEO of Red Robin and the former CEO of Texas Roadhouse, California Pizza Kitchen, and Torchy's Tacos. G.J. chairs our compensation committee, which is now independent.

Todd also has extensive industry experience and was just appointed president and CEO of Papa John's and a member of Papa John's Board of Directors earlier this month. Previously, Todd served as the CEO of the Wendy's company. He joined Wendy's in 2013 as senior vice president and chief financial officer. Prior to his tenure at Wendy's, Todd served in various roles at TeleNova and Ford Motor Company.

We look forward to G.J. and Todd's contributions in our boardroom as we navigate the next phase of our growth story. We are pleased with an excellent start to 2024, and we continue to build a strong foundation for growth. We have terrific customer engagement through our rewards program and are excited about opportunities in front of us to further accelerate this platform.

We have top-tier growth. We delivered 30% year-over-year revenue growth in Q2 and yet another quarter of at least 30-plus new shop openings. We have excellent shop margins, delivering this top-tier growth profitably. We are well-capitalized.

We believe we have plenty of flexibility upon which to execute our growth plan and capture a considerable white space. Most importantly, we have great people anchored by outstanding engaged raises and a strong pipeline of operators ready to grow with us. With that, I'll turn it over to Josh to review our financials and give more details on our guidance.

Josh Guenser -- Chief Financial Officer

Thanks, Christine. We delivered outstanding financial results in Q2 and thank our entire team for their great efforts. Once again, our performance was headlined by a combination of strong revenue growth, which was driven by positive same-shop sales growth and increasing new shop productivity alongside strong margin flow through. Here's a brief recap.

Revenue growth was 30%. System AUVs were $2 million, in line with last quarter's record. Systems same-shop sales growth was 4.1%. Company net sales grew 34% with 36% growth in company-operated shop contribution.

Four-wall productivity remains strong with company-operated shop contribution margin reaching 30.8%, a 50-basis-points increase year over year. Adjusted SG&A was 14.6%, 100 basis points lower than Q2 of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA increased to $65 million, growing 34% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 20.1% is up 70 basis points over Q2 last year.

And we continue to close the gap between cash flow from operations and investments in new shops, as we work toward achieving and sustaining self-funded growth. The 50 basis points of margin expansion in our company-operated shops was primarily driven by sales leverage, partially offset by increased labor costs. Cost of goods sold decreased 130 basis points year over year, driven by strong ticket growth. We continue to keep a close watch on key commodity costs, including the elevated coffee commodity price, which may become a factor in 2025.

Labor costs increased 60 basis points year over year, driven primarily by wage growth. On April 1st, our starting wage in California increased about 25% year over year. Occupancy and other costs increased 20 basis points year over year. Preopening costs as a percentage of company-operated shop revenue were approximately flat.

For the quarter, SG&A was approximately $58 million, which includes about $7 million in organizational realignment and restructuring costs and $3 million in stock-based compensation. With the exclusion of these items and other non-recurring expenses, adjusted SG&A was approximately $48 million, falling to 14.6% of revenue, compared to 15.6% in Q2 last year. We are pleased with the leverage we saw in adjusted SG&A in the quarter, which partially benefited from timing of hiring for support roles as we transition people to our Arizona office. Regarding our balance sheet and liquidity, as of June 30th, we had approximately $660 million in total liquidity, compared to approximately $662 million at the end of Q1, and we believe that we have sufficient liquidity at our disposal to support our current growth plans.

As of June 30th, that liquidity was comprised of the following elements; $261 million in cash and cash equivalents, $349 million in undrawn revolver, and $50 million in undrawn delayed draw term loans. In the quarter, interest expense net declined $2 million from one year ago to $7 million. The decline is primarily driven by income received on our investments in marketable securities and reductions in interest paid on outstanding balances in our credit facility, which together amount to a $3.4 million reduction in interest expense net. This was partially offset by an increase in interest expense related to finance leases of $1.4 million, which rose from $4.1 million in Q2 2023 to $5.5 million in Q2 2024.

As of June 30th, we had $382 million in finance lease liabilities and $285 million in operating lease liabilities. During the quarter, we added $3.5 million in finance lease liabilities to our balance sheet and $49 million in operating lease liabilities, which included $18 million for our new support center office. Regarding cash flow and capital expenditures, we continue to move toward having a self-funding business, which we believe will provide us maximum optionality in our long-term capitalization. We expect the combination of an expanding base of profitable shops a rebalance toward more capital-efficient lease arrangements and control over adjusted SG&A will move the business toward this goal.

The growth of our company-operated shop base continues to expand our cash flow from operations. In Q2, we generated $60 million, up $17 million from Q2 of last year. This compares to $64 million in purchases of property, plant, and equipment this quarter, which was $5 million more than Q2 of last year. As noted, we look to reduce the business' capital intensity through blending down new shop development costs on a per-unit basis.

This process will take time, and there's more work to be done. That said, we believe that in 2024, per unit new shop capex may represent a high watermark. Given the continued strength of our business performance, we are updating guidance for the balance of the year. Total revenues are now projected to be between $1.215 billion and $1.23 billion or an increase of $15 million from our updated guidance from last quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA is now estimated to be between $200 million and $210 million or an increase of $5 million from our updated guidance from last quarter. We now expect adjusted SG&A to be between $190 million and $200 million, up from the prior range of $183 million to $189 million, as we invest in driving the business forward with upsized paid media to build brand awareness in new markets and hiring to support our expansion in Arizona, as well as increased performance-related compensation. Total system shop openings are projected to be near the bottom of our previously provided range of $150 million to $165 million. As a result, capital expenditures are now estimated to be in the range of $270 million to $290 million.

There are no changes to our original guidance as it relates to same-shop sales growth. Same-shop sales growth expectations for the year remain in the low single-digits. As a reminder, we're rolling off approximately 450 basis points of pricing action from last summer. And while we remain confident in our traffic-driving initiatives, we will be navigating through an uncertain consumer environment in the near term.

In summary, we continue to be pleased by the results of our performance in 2024. Thank you, and now, we will take your questions. Operator, please open the lines.

Questions & Answers:





Operator

Thank you. [Operator instructions] First question comes from Sharon Zackfia with William Blair. Please go ahead.

Sharon Zackfia -- Analyst

Hi. Good afternoon. Thanks for taking the questions. I guess, first question is just a clarification.

I think, there's some concern that the comp guidance might imply negative comps in the back half of the year, so maybe if you could address that? And then, separately, on mobile ordering, I think one of the ideas of mobile ordering was potentially redeploying some labor. And I'm curious if that is happening at the locations where you have mobile ordering? And if so, are you seeing improved customer satisfaction and/or throughput? Thank you.

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Yes, absolutely. So I'll start with mobile order, and then, Josh and I will tackle the same-shop sales question. So thanks, Sharon. On mobile order, it's really early days, so it's really in just about 40 shops for a longer period of time.

And from a redeployment of labor, what we're incredibly focused on is customer service is really our differentiation. And so, it's ensuring that as we roll out mobile order that our teams are really focused on still providing that incredible connection that we have with our customers. So making sure we have the time both at the window and in the drive-thru for those mobile order customers. And so, in thinking about kind of what -- what happens with the transaction, it's really what's happening is that taking the order itself, which is actually the least interactive part of our interaction with our customers.

That goes away and move to your phone and so what happens is we can redeploy that labor to have a conversation to make sure someone's day is going great. And so, all of those things we believe, are starting to happen. And I think our Broistas are really excited just by how seamless the initial operational experience feels with mobile order. And then, moving on to the same-shop sales question.

Just to address the quarter first. So we're really pleased with first half of the year and this quarter and what we're seeing from our customers in general. We were comping over a number of large-scale promotions that we decided not to repeat this quarter just based on things we were seeing and the strength that we're seeing in our rewards program, the strength that we're seeing and the innovation that we see and the strength that we're seeing in the paid advertising. I'll hand it over to Josh to kind of deconstruct that second half of the year for you.

Josh Guenser -- Chief Financial Officer

Yes, Sharon. So maybe just to decompose Q2 for a moment, the four -- roughly 4 points of comp included about 7 points of price, and that was partially offset by about 1 point of mix. And then, we saw sales transfer come in the lower end of our range of 2 to 3 points. So as we think about that carrying forward we are rolling off, as mentioned, rolling off about 4.5 points of price going into Q3.

We replaced that with a little bit more than a point of price in Q3 as well. But we would expect, as we are heading into the balance of the year, we're going to increase some investments in promotional activities, which ends up showing up in discounts here, but would put a little bit more pressure on that side of the house. So if you just were to kind of build back down the rest of the year based on Q2's performance, that's how we're thinking the rest of the year will shape up.

Sharon Zackfia -- Analyst

Thank you.

Operator

Next question, Andrew Charles with TD Cowen. Please go ahead.

Andrew Charles -- Analyst

Great. Thanks. I wanted to ask about the guidance as well for same-store sales. Does that contemplate the potential lift for mobile order I know that, obviously, you ended the quarter with around 40 stores, but now that you're at 200, you're nearly 25% of the store base here.

So does the guidance reflect potential benefit from mobile order? And just a related question there. I mean, how quickly are you seeing this? I know you're not giving numbers at this point, which is fine, but just from a qualitative perspective, how quickly do you see mobile order typically kick-in in terms of the lift to sales of incrementality when you introduce it to new stores?

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Yes, absolutely. So as you know, with mobile order, we're still in the very early innings of what's happening there. From an operational perspective, which is where we're most focused right now, is it's really actually the best for our stores that it happens gradually. So as we roll out these capabilities and new shops, we are doing very limited sharing that it's actually available.

So you can certainly see that it's available on the app, but we're being very thoughtful to make sure that our shops actually have time to kind of get used to this new functionality. They get to see how it flows through their orders and all of those things. And then, as far as going forward, we continue to believe that this is gonna be a larger driver in 2025 given the thoughtfulness that we are rolling this initiative out with.

Andrew Charles -- Analyst

Thank you.

Operator

Next question is John Ivankoe with J.P. Morgan. Please go ahead.

John Ivankoe -- Analyst

Hi. Thank you. The question is on unit development, and there's a couple of different places I want to go with this. Firstly, lower end of your guidance for the year, we get that.

I mean, it does imply slowdown in the second half relative to what we were previously thinking. So of course, I have to ask what this means for 2025. Do the brakes go on further or will 2024 be a trough year in 2025 to pick up? That's the first part of the question. Secondly, you did mention Sumi's focused on real estate and throughput, might he be working on or looking at kind of a Dutch Bros of the future, if you will, location, maybe design that could just allow the box to be even more productive than it previously was.

Thank you.

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Yeah, absolutely. So first, I'll talk about unit development. So really, I think there's two primary dynamics to pay attention to here. One, we are seeing higher new shop AUVs this year.

And that is one of the main reasons we felt very comfortable raising that revenue guidance. And as we look at the long term, we believe, again, we're in the very early innings of building this brand and building our long-term potential. And so, having that long runway in front of us, we are super focused on the returns on our new shops, the productivity of our new shops in the AUVs of our new shops. So we are super encouraged that some of the market planning activities that we've been working through really over the last 12 months or so are really beginning to bear fruit.

So as you look at that, I think that that's the primary piece is that as I look at kind of the productivity and what we're seeing from new shop AUVs. We're really encouraged with what we're seeing. From a development and a number of units as we work through that market planning work, as we've shared before, we're really doing two shifts. So one, we are recalibrating our models and ensuring that we have the most recent data as far as what our predictability of what our AUVs will look like when they open, and that's a continuous exercise that will be ongoing.

And again, very pleased with early results. The second piece that we're looking at is trying to bring down the overall per unit shop capex as we go forward. And it's really the combination of shifting those two things where, as we look ahead, at the potential that we have, there's a lot of great shops we have in front of us. And so, we're kind of in a temporary time period here where we're adjusting a strategy where we decided it made sense given how many great high AUV shops we have in front of us to potentially take down a couple of shops this year to make more room for those.

John Ivankoe -- Analyst

And if I'm still on, as it relates to 2025 specifically, I understand that you're trying to get some costs out of the box, but is there potentially some redesign of the box as well to increase its throughput. And then, secondly, you made, I think, two separate times comments about your desire to be a self-funding business. What year do you expect Dutch Bros to be a self-funding corporation? Thank you.

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Great. And then, on the redesign and Sumi's focus on throughput, I think we're still in the very early days. Sumi spent much of his first couple of months in shops and working on the bar. And so, I do believe that we have -- we do have opportunities in throughput, but I wouldn't share that we have something that we would share at this point as far as what Dutch Bros of the future might look like.

Josh Guenser -- Chief Financial Officer

Yes, John, and then, on your question on self-funding, I think there's two points I'd want to make. As we comment on driving down the capital or contributing to new shops is really a function of how we negotiate the lease and structure those leases. So we're driving down the amount of capital that's Dutch is contributing to the cost of the build. It's less about the full redesign of a shop.

Now as we think about this going forward and the factors that are going to lead to eventually getting to cash flow breakeven are gonna be continuing to drive margin growth and strong EBITDA performance. And then, it's gonna be a function of the rate at which we can start shifting the reduction in our overall capital that we are contributing to these sites and the pace at which we're opening in shops. So for now, we're not commenting on when that is, as I spend some more time getting into the business and developing our longer term model, it's certainly something I'd like to be able to update with you guys here in the future.

John Ivankoe -- Analyst

And it sounds like since I asked twice, 2025 development, we're not going to discuss on this call. Is that -- I'm kind of making fun of myself a little bit now. Is that what you want to communicate?

Josh Guenser -- Chief Financial Officer

Not on this call.

John Ivankoe -- Analyst

Thank you.

Operator

Next question, David Tarantino with Baird. Please go ahead.

David Tarantino -- Analyst

Hi. Good afternoon. First, I just wanted to clarify, Josh, the second half commentary on the guidance for comps. So were you -- I guess, all the moving pieces there, were you indicating expectations for average check growth to kind of settle into the flattish range and that maybe you would extend the traffic ex the cannibalization that you saw in the second quarter, which I think was flat.

Correct me if that's wrong. So that then the net of that would be that comps would be flattish in that scenario. Is that the right way to think about it?

Josh Guenser -- Chief Financial Officer

Yeah, I think you're getting the math about right. The way I would describe it is we'll have about 4 points of -- around 4 points of price that would be offset by some mix and increased promotional investments that increased discounts. And then, we'd have the underlying sales transfer that we referenced that would drive it down with not any meaningful changes on the underlying traffic.

David Tarantino -- Analyst

Got it. OK. And then, I guess, one follow-up to that. Is that sort of what you're already seeing? Or is that what you expect to see as you move forward? I guess, what I'm trying to get at is this already the run rate that you're seeing in July or the third quarter, and that's informing your guidance? Or are you may be factoring in some uncertainty in the outlook from here?

Josh Guenser -- Chief Financial Officer

Yes, what I say is we've -- certainly, we're aware of what's going on in July has factored into the guidance that we're providing. So not commenting specifically on the performance here. What I'd say is there's nothing jumping off the page for July that would cause us to think differently about the guidance we're providing.

David Tarantino -- Analyst

Great. Thank you very much for that.

Operator

Next question, Andy Barish with Jefferies. Please go ahead.

Andy Barish -- Analyst

Yeah, hey, guys. I guess, just one more thing on the consumer and the environment. You noted a volatile consumer backdrop. How is -- I guess, how is that being witnessed in your business, which on the surface appears really, really solid?

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Yes, absolutely, Andy. So I do think we feel really good about our performance in Q2. And if you think about just that meaningful step-up in year-over-year comp between Q1 and Q2 of 2023, we feel really good about where Q2 came in. We also -- I think as we went through the quarter, felt comfortable just with the playbook that we've got in place, we are continuing to see great returns from innovation.

As you know, we kept strawberry boba. We kept protein on the menu. Those continue to do well throughout the quarter, especially when we had boba actually back in stock. We are also continuing to see really nice performance in building brand awareness and our newer markets with that paid advertising, so we'll look to make additional investments as we go through the year.

The neat thing about that is we can watch those returns pretty quickly as far as what it's driving. And so, make decisions on what we're seeing from a return basis on that advertising as we go through the year. And so, as far as the customer, what we're feeling right now is that think broadly that there's -- of what's going on with our customer. We have always been a very generous brand.

I think that that generosity is important right now. Our medium size is 24-ounce drink. We're doing a lot of ice business right now. Over 90% of the business in the quarter is in the ice space.

We give out a lot of top cups and even try to make the dogs happy. But I think I think that the way that we're really responding right now is, as we always do, we are super empathetic with where our customer is and what they're thinking about. And I think our goal is to stay ahead of what's happening right now and continue with that generosity that we've got in our rewards program and continue with the generosity that our Brois delivered to our customers every day.

Andy Barish -- Analyst

Yeah, makes sense. And then, just, Josh, on the discussion on the seat price on coffee, maybe looking out to 2025, anything in the back half been discussion around dairy and cocoa and sugar. Anything you're seeing that would be material in terms of the cost of goods line? Or you feel pretty comfortable with that?

Josh Guenser -- Chief Financial Officer

Yeah, I'd say, the way we are thinking full year, we'd expect it to be still fairly flat for us. We did see through the quarter a little bit of increase in dairy costs, but nothing significant that we're expecting for the full year for the balance of the year.

Andy Barish -- Analyst

OK. Thank you.

Operator

Next question, Sara Senatore with Bank of America. Please go ahead.

Sara Senatore -- Analyst

Thank you. I just had a quick clarification. In terms of -- you mentioned refinements in your process. I guess, are you talking about applying that to Texas? Or is it new markets? I'm just trying to understand kind of how broad this approach is? And I assume, as you said, it doesn't change how you think about the ultimate TAM.

It's more about this year kind of a one-time adjustment, I guess, is I want to make sure that I'm understanding that correctly, a one-time change in your process. And then, I do have a question about your underlying business. I understand all the desire to be generous with customers, but it looks like actually it was pretty stable sequentially. If I try to control for all the different compares and that kind of thing.

So I'm curious given all the drivers that you have, why you wouldn't expect if price rolls off and you're more promotional that you would get an offsetting benefit in traffic? Thanks.

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Yes. So I'll start with the real estate process there. So I do think that there are some changes in our real estate process that we've noted previously, which I'll go through that are more of like a one-time shift. And then, there's other things that are gonna be continuous and ongoing, those learnings from what we learn as we enter new markets and from all of our shops.

So I think that more of what is happening this year and more of one-time or some of those shifts from -- we mentioned going wider versus deeper and so one of the things that we are -- as we incorporate more data, in particular, because we just opened so many shops in Texas, a lot of that data is coming from Texas is that we just have more refined data on what we look like, how we ramp in a new market. We have more refined data now on sales transfer and what that looks like under various different types of scenarios. And as we enter big new markets like Florida, we are using all of that data to really refine our approach so that we can bring up the average AUV of a unit. That's the goal of that process.

And what it has led to is we have a very refined real estate process now where we're looking site by site at each site what all of those impacts look like and feel like we have a higher level of confidence in what our AUVs will look like as we open in new markets. And so, what that leads to is us feeling that going forward, we're excited about the pipeline that we're building right now because of that increased confidence in the estimates that we have as we go forward. The second part of the refinements that we're making is really moving the amount of money that we spend at Dutch Bros on a site. And so, I think, we've talked previously about ground leases and build-to-suit.

A lot of what we're seeing right now in the market is a hybrid mix between those two and so as we've shared, we believe 2024 could be that high watermark for the ground leases, which is the most expensive way for us to spend money to get a shop out of the ground. And we are refining that back toward build-to-suit and what we are finding in the market that a number of developers are looking for some level of contribution. So ending up in some of that hybrid space, so that's the other piece that we are working on as well. I think, the other dynamic that we're starting to see in the market, I think, has as there might be others out there that maybe aren't pursuing sites as aggressively as they were or might be looking to find someone else to take a site is that we believe that there's -- that we could be entering a new kind of scene in the market where we might actually have some more attractive sites available.

And so, again, all of these things, the refinements in our real estate process we're feeling really good about the direction that we're going there. And then, as far as your comment around pretty stable, like I would echo that comment that when you move from Q1 to Q2 with all of the underlying drivers, what we are seeing is a pretty stable environment.

Josh Guenser -- Chief Financial Officer

That's right. And Sara, maybe just to answer your question prior on the TAM, we certainly don't see any shift in that as well. I think, you highlighted that, but I just wanted to confirm that we still feel very confident about the long-term potential of this business.

Sara Senatore -- Analyst

Right. OK. And then, just on the environment, I guess, question was why wouldn't you get then better transaction growth if your ticket is coming down because of less price and promotions, why wouldn't you assume there'll be some payoff in higher transactions?

Josh Guenser -- Chief Financial Officer

I think we certainly wanna be mindful of the environment that we're operating in. I think, we're seeing around us, there's an increase in concern in the consumer space. We want to make sure we're very thoughtful about how we are positioning ourselves going forward.

Sara Senatore -- Analyst

Got it. Thank you so much.

Operator

Next question, Chris O'Cull with Stifel. Please go ahead.

Chris O'Cull -- Analyst

Yeah, thanks. I just had a follow-up and a clarification regarding that question. You mentioned plans to increase that promotional activity in the third quarter, which is going to impact the mix. Is that related to the competitive environment? Or is it related to the rollout of mobile order and pay? Or what's the what's the impetus behind increasing that promotional activity?

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Yes. So really, it's more of a comment on year over year. So as we've changed the rewards program in Q1 of 2023, as we were kind of ramping up our ability to segment the offers on our ability to know which offers were most effective, we had a little bit of a lighter kind of environment in the rewards program in Q3 of 2023. And so, looking in this year, I think, again, staying ahead of our customer really staying on the same pace that we've been on.

We believe it's really important to continuing to have the great reaction that we're seeing right now from our customers.

Chris O'Cull -- Analyst

OK. And then, Christine, you mentioned plans to make additional investments in paid advertising. Can you quantify that investment? And then, how are you thinking about budgeting advertising going forward? I'm just wondering if you'll be able to try to keep it as a percentage of sales so that it will grow with unit growth and comps as you look out in the next few years?

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Yes. So what I can share is that there's increased advertising -- the increased advertising spend is included in our guidance. And as we go forward, I think we are still in that learning phase of where can we maximize building brand awareness and helping to drive new customers into the brand. And so, I think we are still learning where that right amount of advertising spend is ultimately going to land.

I think, the good news right now is with the returns that we're seeing, we're not quite there yet with where we believe we can really continue to drive the business in a profitable way with paid advertising.

Chris O'Cull -- Analyst

OK. Thanks.

Operator

Next question, Dennis Geiger with UBS. Please go ahead.

Dennis Geiger -- Analyst

Great. Thank you. I want to ask one more on promotions and really just following-up on your comments about the increasingly, I believe it was increasingly intense promotional environment. Anything to add there on sort of where that increased intensity maybe is coming from, how it's impacting your business, if that's been a change relative to prior quarters?

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Yeah, I mean, as far as where it's coming from, I do think that just in general in the market, there's a lot more promotional activity than there has been historically. And so, certainly kind of watching that really across the beverage space and even broader than the beverage space. And then, from what we're seeing, we, again, believe our best strategy is to really understand our brand and our customers really well and what's going to work within our shops. And so, in Q2, what we really found most effective was to continue with the strategy that we've been deploying for the last several quarters, which is that focus on innovation really after our core customer, things that are fun, oftentimes need to market ensuring that we have that dual focus now on coffee and on energy given how important the energy business is to our growth.

I think, we've talked a lot about paid advertising and what we're seeing there. And then, again, we are compared to others, I think, in the early stages of what we can do with the rewards program. And so, each quarter, it's a little bit of a march ahead and figuring out how to segment, which offers our customers are most responding to. What are other things we can do extra sticker drops other merch drops, things like that that really make sense and resonate with our customers.

So I think that we are being thoughtful about the environment that we're working within. And what we're seeing at the same time is that a focus on our strengths within our brand and with our service are really what's paying off for us.

Dennis Geiger -- Analyst

That's very helpful, Christine. Just one more as it relates to Florida and sort of any incremental thoughts to share there based on sort of early days observations? Thank you.

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Yes. We are really pleased with how the Florida rollout is going so far. I think, it just reflects the strength of our brand that our customers will drive so far to come to our shops to potentially waiting some lines that we have in Florida. And again, we -- I think we're very thoughtful about not projecting what Florida is going to look like from just a couple of shops.

But certainly, the initial shops are performing really well.

Dennis Geiger -- Analyst

Thank you.

Operator

Next question Brian Mullan with Piper Sandler. Please go ahead.

Brian Mullan -- Analyst

Thank you. Just wanted to ask a question on California. Can you just talk about the dynamics in that market since April 1st? Remind us how much maybe incremental price you took there? And what are you seeing from a consumer response perspective in regards to traffic in California, if anything?

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Yes. So in California, we had about a 25% wage increase. California, holistically is about 20% of our shop base. So we've been watching really carefully.

As far as pricing, we took about what would end up being about a 1.5% weighted on the system in California. And as far as what we're seeing, we're watching kind of that overall P&L. We're watching some of the new shop openings in California of which we actually had two of our very top first week performers in California in the first half of this year. And I think we continue to be very bullish on our prospects in California and continue to look for sites and we'll continue opening shops in California.

Brian Mullan -- Analyst

OK. Thank you. And then, just a follow-up on the mobile order pay testing. You referenced some excitement around better utilizing the walk-up window, which was interesting.

Are you doing anything in these tests to proactively direct to consumers to the walk-up window? Or is that occurring naturally? And do you have an actual preference what they do? Just curious to get your take on that part.

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Yes. So given it's still early days of the testing, we really want to understand what our customer preferences are and how they work. There are unique situations in our shops where it's better for us direct to one place or another just because of either parking or because of how the line works, all of those things. But what we are seeing kind of early on is customers choosing more to come to the walk-up window, I think that might be more typically of how they're picking up their mobile orders at other places and so kind of repeating that behavior with us.

One of the things for us that's nice about that is we have two bars, one is the drive-thru window and one at the walk-up window, and then, in high-volume shops, we put in additional bars. And so, the new thing, I think, with mobile order and that preference for the walk-up window is it really is balancing out some of that volume. So typically, if you've got much more of that volume coming out of the drive-thru window, what we're doing is we are actually walking drinks from the walk-up window side over to the drive-thru window side. And so, that ability to actually make the drinks where they're being handed out, is a nice thing that we're seeing, again, very early on in the mobile order testing.

Brian Mullan -- Analyst

Thank you.

Operator

Next question Jeff Farmer with Gordon Haskett. Please go ahead.

Jeff Farmer -- Analyst

Thank you. I apologize for continuing to harp on the 2024 same-store sales guide. But I guess, in an effort to get everyone on the same page, is the implied same-store sales guidance for the back half of the year could we consider it flattish? Is it slightly negative or somewhere in between? Do you guys have anything you can offer on that?

Josh Guenser -- Chief Financial Officer

Yeah, I mean, I guess, all I would offer is similar to what I provided in the past. We're not giving specific guidance on the back half of our quarterly guidance. But as you think about the rollover from -- the best way to think about it would be the rollout from Q2 into Q3, where we had four comps for Q2, we'll be rolling off about 4.5 points of price. We replaced about a little more than 1 point of that back in price and we'd expect slightly higher promotional activities driving some discount and mix.

So I think you guys can do the math to get to what that would imply then for Q3 and Q4, but I put that into the full year guide as well.

Jeff Farmer -- Analyst

OK, I'll leave that alone. And then, just the follow-up. So just drilling down on your own customers. You guys have talked about it on this call, but in terms of just the competitive intensity picking up, consumer headwinds picking up.

How does that manifest itself in terms of your customers' behavior? And I guess, wondering about that, do you see sort of reduced frequency or check management? What happens when these headwinds arise, that's the first question. And secondly, do you think we are sort of absorbing the peak of these headwinds? Or is this something that's continuing to intensify as we get through 2024, the headwind perspective?

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Yes. So there's a number of different things that we are looking for as we look for potential things that we could be seeing. We do track a constant cohort of rewards members. I recall that behavior we're seeing there is stable.

And so, nothing really there. We also look at add-ons, modifier usage, things like that. Again, we're not really seeing anything in the data that would indicate anything there. And I do think it's part of what we're looking at is just, hey, if the overall environment, clearly, everyone's customers is feeling something.

And so, how do we stay ahead of that. And I think that that's what we've done a really good job of thinking through in this type of environment, what do our customers most want and how do we continue to deliver that. So that we don't end up seeing some of those things that might start to show some cracks. And so, right now, we're really very pleased with what we're seeing and how our customer is holding up.

Jeff Farmer -- Analyst

Appreciate it. Thank you.

Operator

Next question Nick Setyan with Wedbush Securities. Please go ahead.

Nick Setyan -- Analyst

Hi. Thanks for the question. The increased SG&A guide, can we just kind of parse out all the different drivers of that uptick?

Josh Guenser -- Chief Financial Officer

Yeah. Happy to walk through without giving specific dollar amounts, what we've got in there is increased investments both in paid media, as well as in our support center roles as we've made the transition. Certainly, there was a bit of a slowing in the first half as we were transitioning folks to this office, we are ramping up those efforts here in the back part of the year. That's gonna be the good size of that increase, and then, the balance being is we've had a very strong year, increased performance-related compensation.

So those are the three biggest pieces that I'd highlight for balance year.

Nick Setyan -- Analyst

OK. And I think just to clarify, you guys said you're not too worried about the dairy or coffee impact in the second half, is that fair?

Josh Guenser -- Chief Financial Officer

That's right, yeah, we don't have anything significant in there, obviously, keeping an eye on it. We will follow all that closely, but currently aren't anticipating any impact.

Nick Setyan -- Analyst

OK. And then, is it kind of fair to say that given sort of the increased ad spend, lower cannibalization because you're being more selective from unit openings, increased promotional activity are basically putting that all those headwinds into the comp, but you're not necessarily taking credit for any kind of incremental transaction growth that those things might result in?

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Yes. Look, I think that we are taking the things that we know today into our guide, and that's how we would think about it. As far as the sales transfer comment, I do want to just comment specifically on that that we are still quite like from a business perspective, from a strategic perspective, we do believe that there is a healthy level of sales transfer and feel very comfortable having that. I mean, when we put a new shop in is more convenient for someone who loves Dutch Bros and they decide to go to that more convenient shop.

We're really -- that makes a lot of sense for us. And so, that is not a number that we're really actively trying to guide down. We just want to make sure that we have a very thorough understanding of what it will be and what it will look like as we open new shops. And so, we did want to comment specifically on that.

Nick Setyan -- Analyst

OK. Thank you very much.

Operator

Next question, Jeffrey Bernstein with Barclays. Please go ahead.

Jeffrey Bernstein -- Analyst

Great. Thank you very much. Just curious on the rewards program. I think, you said it's now 6% to 7% of transactions.

Just wondering what are you seeing in terms of average check and frequency of those consumers seemingly or I think they spend more and come more often, which would be both net positives. But any statistics you have around rewards versus non-reward members and how they use the brand?

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

We don't break that out right now. But what I can share is one of the things we've been really focused on is given what we do see in the rewards program, we are excited to bring more customers into that rewards program. I do think that it's something that if someone comes to experience our brand. We have very high customer satisfaction ratings at that first visit, and so, we truly believe that we have high conversion rates.

And so, I think, one of the important things we did with the rewards program was to reinstate the free drink welcome awards. And that has really allowed us to kind of keep that penetration up even as we're entering many new markets. But again, really, really pleased with what we're seeing. And then, I also think, given that 67% of our transactions are going through our rewards program, we do believe that that is gonna be something that's gonna be very helpful as we roll out mobile order.

So mobile order is really just an update to the app, and that functionality becomes available on the app that you're already using to get your rewards.

Jeffrey Bernstein -- Analyst

Understood. And then, the mobile just because you mentioned it, I guess, the 40 units where you have several weeks' worth of data. I'm just curious, like, how would you define success? It sounds like you're happy with it in the early days. But is there any kind of metrics you're looking for or a sales lift or anything along those lines as you know, you're pushing that 200 and you're gonna be across most of the system by the end of the year.

So just trying to gauge what you're looking for to view as overall success?

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Well, we are looking at a lot of metrics, I would say that really the most important one right now are the operational pieces and how does this work for our Broistas because I do think that in the early stages of a rollout, our Broistas are the ones who are having our conversations with our customers. And if they really feel like mobile order is easy, they feel like it's helping their customers and providing them something that really works that's actually the most important thing that we are looking for right now. And kind of what we're seeing initially is we really believe we're on track there and feeling good about what we're seeing initially on mobile order.

Jeffrey Bernstein -- Analyst

Thank you.

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Thank you.

Operator

Next question Gregory Francfort with Guggenheim Partners. Please go ahead.

Gregory Francfort -- Analyst

Hey. One is just the technical -- Josh, when does that pricing roll off in the quarter? Was that at the beginning of the quarter? And then, one have a question.

Josh Guenser -- Chief Financial Officer

Yeah, at the start of the quarter.

Gregory Francfort -- Analyst

OK. And then, just on the NSP improvements, are there any themes to that? Is that rolling some of the Texas openings out of new stores into the comp base, you think is getting advertising right in some or all of your new markets? Is there any regionality? Just any other thoughts on -- it seems like it's been a big improvement?

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Yes, absolutely. So I think as we look at improvements there, I think it's a number of different levers. I do think the recalibration of our real estate process, the strength that we have in market planning is likely the primary driver right now of that new shop performance and productivity. I do think we are also learning a lot from the paid advertising.

The paid advertising is really concentrated on our new markets and in building brand awareness. But I think that what we are seeing is very intentional from the actions that we are taking from a real estate process and strategy perspective.

Josh Guenser -- Chief Financial Officer

I mean, Greg, maybe the final piece I'd add to that is it's a big function of why we're taking our total sales guide up is that we're seeing really strong performance there. It is a function of all the great things that Christine highlighted and the comp base grew as well from a productivity perspective. So we're seeing this really good strength possibly.

Operator

I would like to turn the floor over to Christine for closing remarks.

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Thanks for your questions. On May 17th, we held our annual drink one for dane day. Our customers and crews came together to honor our co-founder, Dane Boersma, who passed away in 2009 following a battle with ALS. This is one of the most meaningful days of the year for Dutch Bros.

And since our IPO, we have donated more than $7 million to the Muscular Dystrophy Association to help find a cure for ALS. The impact Dutch Bros is making in our communities and the lives of our Broistas continues to grow. We are pleased with our results in Q2 and believe our business is in a position of strength. I want to thank all of our teams that create this exceptional performance by connecting with our customers and communities every single day.

Thank you.

Operator

[Operator signoff]

Duration: 0 minutes

Call participants:

Paddy Warren -- Director of Investor relations and Corporate Development

Christine Barone -- Chief Executive Officer and President

Josh Guenser -- Chief Financial Officer

Sharon Zackfia -- Analyst

Andrew Charles -- Analyst

John Ivankoe -- Analyst

David Tarantino -- Analyst

Andy Barish -- Analyst

Sara Senatore -- Analyst

Chris O'Cull -- Analyst

Dennis Geiger -- Analyst

Brian Mullan -- Analyst

Jeff Farmer -- Analyst

Nick Setyan -- Analyst

Jeffrey Bernstein -- Analyst

Gregory Francfort -- Analyst

More BROS analysis

All earnings call transcripts

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Dutch Bros (BROS) Q2 2024 Earnings Call Transcript was originally published by The Motley Fool
DENVER (KDVR)  Pioneer Elementary School in Parker was temporarily placed on secure status Wednesday after a suspicious device was reported in the parking lot, according to the Parker Police Department.

As of 3:24 p.m., the school was no longer in secure status. The reported device was determined to contain spent smoke grenades, police said.

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The Douglas County Bomb Detection K-9 Team was used alongside Parker police drones to investigate the device.

Police said in an earlier statement that students would be released when they normally are.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Sedgwick County is moving forward with plans to build a state mental health hospital in south Wichita.

Commissioners approved an agreement with Lange Community Foundation, which donated just under 12 acres near Meridian and MacArthur.

HumanKinds emergency winter shelter being demolished

Sedgwick County Commissioner Sarah Lopez says the South Central Regional Psychiatric Hospital will provide a much-needed service. Its one of several currently in the works.

Its a desperately needed resource in this community. Its not going to fix all of our problems, but there is so much happening at the same time, whether its the Biomed campus or an expansion of Comcare to the MAC, said Lopez.

The county expects construction to start in February.

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Central Florida deputies rescued a missing autistic boy from a pond in Deltona on Tuesday night.

His father said the 5-year-old ran out of a door and set off an alarm.

Volusia County deputies searched the home and yard with no luck.

Autistic kids face a greater risk of drowning due to a behavior known as elopement, a tendency to wander off. The National Autism Association said they are 160 times more likely to drown than other children.

The deputies then started searching nearby bodies of water after a sighting from neighbors.

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The moment they found the boy was caught on body-worn camera video.

Missing child rescued in pond: 8/6/24 Let's hear it for Deputy Wes Brough, who found and rescued a missing child in a pond last night in City of Deltona, Florida! Deputies responded to a report of a missing child around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at a home on Valmont Lane, Deltona. The boy's father told deputies his 5-year-old son escaped the house through a second-story door, which set off an alarm. The family immediately began looking, asked neighbors for help, and called 911. Deputies searched the house and the immediate area with no luck. But knowing that the 5-year-old had autism and was attracted to water, deputies began checking bodies of water near the neighborhood. Deputy Brough and others headed for a pond a few blocks away behind Toluca Court. Around 7:48 p.m., Deputy Brough heard a voice and spotted the boy out in the water, hanging onto a log. Deputy Brough jumped into the pond and carried the boy to dry land, where he was medically cleared and returned to his family. It was confirmed the family had taken several measures to secure the house, including the alarm on the door that immediately alerted them the boy had gone missing. Like all VSO deputies, Deputy Brough has received Autism Awareness Training to help prepare for a wide variety of calls involving people with autism, including missing children. Great job to all involved on this call! Posted by Volusia Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, August 7, 2024

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VSO said that around 7:48 p.m., Deputy Wes Brough heard a voice and spotted the boy out in the water, hanging onto a log, our sister station WFTV in Orlando reports.

He was holding on to a dead tree stump, barely sticking out of the water, I was able to run out to the water and grab him, and when I did, the tree stump broke in half. Im glad we were out there when we did, Brough said.

Brough jumped into the pound and carried the boy out of the water, where he was medically cleared and returned to his family.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Five Franklin County school districts will offer free lunch and breakfast to all students this year, regardless of family income.

Groveport Madison, Pickerington and Canal Winchester will all offer free meals for the first time this upcoming school year. Columbus City Schools and Whitehall will continue pre-existing free lunches.

All five districts are eligible for free lunches through the Community Eligibility Provision of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. The program, often known colloquially as CEP, is free for eligible public school districts.

Districts apply through the state, which involves calculating a percentage who are identified as eligible for school meals for any reason other than a free and reduced student meal application. If the percentage is 25% or higher, the district is eligible.

Canal Winchester said around 45% of students are eligible for free and reduced lunches, which allowed the district to be approved for CEP participation. According to the district, students can still bring their own lunches and there will still be a la carte items and snacks available for purchase.

This is typical of schools within the program. All of the districts also automatically opt students into the program, with no additional paperwork necessary.

Schools that are accepted into the CEP program are reimbursed based on the percentage of eligible students multiplied by 1.6, according to Chief Communications Officer and Press Secretary for the Department of Education Lacey Snoke. All other costs are the districts responsibility.

Ohios trans healthcare ban to go into effect, judge rules

According to data from the Ohio Department of Education, Columbus City Schools have a district-wide percentage of eligible students of 61.95%. Interim Executive Director of Communication Jacqueline Bryant said the district has been participating in the program for over a decade.

Pickerington City Schools has a percentage of 32.38% eligible students and Groveport Madison has a percentage of 54.9%, according to state data. Whitehall has a percentage of 68.52% and has participated in the program since the 2017-2018 school year.

This initiative supports our students well-being, ensuring they have the nutrition they need to stay focused and succeed in the classroom, Canal Winchester Superintendent Kiya Hunt said.

The average cost for elementary school lunches this year for Franklin County public schools that are not in CEP is $2.88. The average middle school lunch is $3.17 and the average high school lunch is $3.62.

School bus schedules: What to know in Franklin County

The average cost for a school breakfast is $1.45. Most schools maintain the same pricing for different grade levels breakfasts, but some do change the price based on grade.

Although Bexley City Schools prices its lunches relatively high  $3.70 for elementary schoolers and $3.95 for middle and high school  this will be the districts second year offering free breakfast. Bexley does not qualify for CEP, but the district allocated $100,000 from its general fund to provide breakfast for students.

Meals for under $4 are becoming rarer, but those numbers add up. The average high schooler would owe over $650 if they bought lunch every day at school.

By removing the barriers of food insecurity, we are creating a more equitable learning environment and easing the financial burden of families, Hunt said.

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See the hundreds of sea drones the US Navy is experimenting with overseas

Sea drones are reshaping naval warfare.

Ukraine, Houthi rebels, and Israeli forces are using sea drones for military operations.

The US Navy is looking to deploy sea drones to expand its hybrid fleet at a fast pace and low cost.

Cheaply made but relatively effective, sea drones are reshaping naval warfare tactics in conflicts around the globe.

Ukraine's navy turned the tide in the Black Sea, taking out Russian frigates and minesweepers with remote-controlled Jet-Ski-style speed boats loaded with explosives.

Houthi rebels are targeting commercial vessels and US warships in the Red Sea with bomb-laden drone boats, though many of the drones have been intercepted by the US and allied forces.

Israel's navy deployed unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), including a 30-foot rigid-hulled inflatable boat called the Protector, to intercept enemy boats and protect its coastline.

The US Navy is jumping in too.

The service is experimenting with sea drones in combat environments to expand its hybrid manned-unmanned fleet at a faster pace and lower cost. Each naval drone costs between $1 million and $3 million.

Sea drones in action

Ocean Aero's Triton naval drone can operate both on the surface and underwater. Ocean Aero

Sea drones are deployed in combat to gather intelligence, conduct surveillance and reconnaissance, sweep mines, and protect critical underwater infrastructure.

Coming in a variety of designs, sizes, and capabilities, military sea drones can range from armed speedboats to minehunting miniature submarines. They can be equipped with high-definition cameras and advanced sonar to help them navigate murky depths.

Sea drones also protect crewed vessels in the fleet like aircraft carriers and submarines, acting as a first line of defense in hostile territories.

The Pentagon's Replicator initiative

Two Ocean Aero sea drones float near each other in sailing mode. Ocean Aero

Through the Pentagon's Replicator initiative announced in August 2023, the US Department of Defense plans to field thousands of low-cost drones over the next two years to counter threats on land, in the air, and at sea.

Replicator is a fast-track effort to field and deploy thousands of combat drones within two years and at a scale that could threaten an adversary like China.

"Ukraine has shown how effective they can be and how they can be employed in current operations," Bryan Clark, a former US Navy officer and advisor on autonomous craft, told Reuters.

Clark, a senior fellow at the Washington, DC-based think tank Hudson Institute, added that the Navy "needs to embrace that lesson" and field combat sea drones "right away."

He estimated that the US is operating about 200 sea drones in counting  100 small drones on the surface and another 100 underwater.

Putting sea drones to the test

Two US Coast Guard vessels and a naval drone transit the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. US Navy

For more than three years, the Navy has been studying the integration of autonomous vessels in its fleet through a handful of task forces, notably Task Force 59, the first naval unmanned and artificial intelligence task force.

TF 59 has "tested, upgraded, evolved, and operated with more than 23 different unmanned systems," according to the Navy, integrating them into maritime operations in the Middle East.

As the Navy continues to test sea drones' operability with its crewed fleet, the US has already been deploying drone boats to monitor adversaries. In October 2023, a dozen different unmanned and manned vessels participated in an operation that tracked Iranian warships and gunboats in and around the Strait of Hormuz, US Naval Forces Central Command said at the time.

The Navy used a fast-interceptor USV called the Arabian Fox MAST-13 to capture photographs of the Iranian boats, drones, and helicopters that were harassing commercial vessels and American military vessels transiting in Middle Eastern waters.

Ocean Aero's Triton

The Triton naval drone is the world's first and only autonomous underwater and surface vehicle. Ocean Aero

The US Navy is experimenting with several different drones, including the Triton, a drone built by marine engineer Ocean Aero and backed by Lockheed Martin.

As the world's first and only autonomous underwater and surface vehicle (AUSV), the Triton can operate in sailing mode or submarine mode with its interchangeable sail.

The 14.5-foot drone can sail at about 6 mph and submerge up to 328 feet deep. The Triton is powered by rechargeable batteries fueled by solar and wind power, allowing the drone to operate autonomously for as long as three months.

While the Navy is largely experimenting with sea drones in the Indo-Pacific and Middle East, the service has also been studying the integration of the Triton in the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Guinea.

Saildrone's Surveyor, Explorer, and Voyager

The first 72-foot Saildrone Surveyor launched in San Francisco Bay. Courtesy Saildrone

Saildrone, a California-based ocean drone manufacturer that builds autonomous vehicles by the same name, has three drone variants under contract with the US Navy.

With a length of 65 feet and a weight of over 33,000 pounds, the Saildrone Surveyor, which was built specifically for the Navy, is the world's largest autonomous ocean-mapping vehicle class in operation. The diesel-powered drone employs an advanced radar and camera system, echo sounders, and sensors to map and monitor its environment, remotely transmitting the data with advanced machine learning anywhere in the world.

Late last year, the US Navy also deployed 10 Saildrone Voyagers as part of its efforts to build a hybrid fleet. Powered by solar and wind energy, the Voyager is designed to be an environmentally friendly, midsize autonomous platform, clocking in at about half the size of the Surveyor. It is equipped with a suite of sensors and instruments, like smart cameras, digital radar, and subsurface passive acoustics.

With a hull length of 23 feet, the Saildrone Explorer is the smallest USV built by the company but can still carry an array of advanced sensors and radars to collect high-quality data at sea.

HII's Remus 300

A rendering shows the REMUS 300, an unmanned underwater vehicle built by Huntington Ingalls Industries. Huntington Ingalls Industries

Military shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries developed a minehunting drone known as the Remus 300. This small, portable unmanned underwater vehicle can be launched like a torpedo from a ship or submarine.

The Remus 300 can reach depths of up to 1,000 feet and operate for up to 30 hours on missions including reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare, as well as minesweeping.

Last October, the Navy awarded a $347 million contract to HII to develop drones for its Lionfish program, which is focused on deploying autonomous craft in the Indo-Pacific. The initial purchase late last year was for nine small underwater drones  worth about $19 million  with the potential acquisition of up to 200 over the next five years.

MARTAC's T38 Devil Ray

The Devil Ray T38, built by Maritime Tactical Systems, sails near a warship in open waters. Maritime Tactical Systems

Naval drones are known for their effectiveness in surveillance, but Navy officials are also attempting to boost their lethal capabilities.

In an exercise last November, the Navy said it fired live weapons from unmanned surface vessels in international waters near the Arabian Peninsula  the first time lethal munitions were launched from American drone boats in the Middle East.

The Navy equipped a T38 Devil Ray USV, a speedboat-like drone developed by Florida-based manufacturer Maritime Tactical Systems, with a loitering precision-guided lethal system known as a Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile (LMAM). The 38-foot unmanned boat has a payload capacity of 4,000 pounds and travels at speeds of 80 to 115 mph, making it one of the world's fastest-known attack boats.

With a human operator ashore controlling the USV, the T38 targeted and engaged with target boats simulating hostile forces at sea and "successfully scored direct hits each time," NAVCENT said in a statement.

Marine Robotics' WAM-V 16

A WAM-V 16 autonomous surface vehicle, built by Marine Robotics, is seen near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Ocean Power Technologies

Sea drones can operate with varying levels of autonomy, from having a human operator at the wheel to using artificial intelligence and smart technology to carry out tasks.

Produced by Ocean Power Technologies, Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel, or WAM-V, is an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) that uses suspension technology to collect data with a low carbon footprint.

The ultra-light, modular ASV has a spider-like chassis mounted on two pontoons that give it a shallow draft of just under two feet, allowing it to operate in areas where traditional survey vessels are too large to reach.

The WAM-V is equipped with side-scan sonar, a 180-degree camera, and a multibeam echo sounder, capable of remote observation, systems delivery, and infrastructure inspection.

'An unmanned hellscape'

The Triton sea drone can lower its sail to operate underwater in submarine mode. Ocean Aero

Sea drones could be key in the US efforts to deter a Chinese invasion of self-ruled Taiwan, which China views as a breakaway province that should be under Beijing's control.

As the largest drone producer in the world, China is likely to employ autonomous warfare amid heightened tensions with Taiwan. But experts speculate a potential conflict in the South China Sea could differ from what is happening in the Red and Black Sea.

In 2022, China's People's Liberation Army Navy launched the world's first high-tech unmanned carrier. The Zhu Hai Yun is capable of deploying dozens of aerial and maritime drones that can scout for and target US warships and submarines aiding Taiwan.

The PLA Navy could also deploy decoys throughout the South China Sea to "make it difficult for American missiles and submarines to distinguish between high-value ships and worthless uncrewed commercial vessels," according to a report from the Center for a New American Security, a DC-based wargaming think tank.

Nonetheless, the top US admiral in the Pacific said the US Navy is prepared to deploy an unmanned fleet of its own if China invades Taiwan.

Adm. Samuel Paparo, the commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, told The Washington Post in June that he wants to "turn the Taiwan Strait into an unmanned hellscape" to fight Chinese invading forces.

"I can make their lives utterly miserable for a month, which buys me the time for the rest of everything," Paparo said.

Challenges in creating a hybrid fleet

The 14.5-foot-long Triton naval drone by Ocean Aero is powered by wind and solar energy supplied by solar panels on its body and sail. Ocean Aero

The Pentagon's Replicator program aims to match China's naval power as the PLA's autonomous fleet continues to grow. However, the ambitious US initiative has its own obstacles.

Plagued by a defense budget that is already stretched thin, the US Navy budgeted $172 million to acquire small- and medium-sized sea drones in 2024 and just over $100 million in 2025  not to mention the research, development, testing, evaluation, and crew training involved in addition to procurement, Reuters reported.

The Pentagon also has to rely on American or non-Chinese drone manufacturers to build its autonomous fleet, which could take longer given China's dominance in the commercial drone market.

"It can be fast, cheap, or good," Sam Gray, a retired Navy officer who now serves as executive director of the Silicon Valley Defense Group, told Defense News. "Pick two."

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A self-defense claim in a July shooting that claimed the life of a 16-year-old is being investigated, according to Metro Police.

Jawaun Jones was shot and killed with his own gun on July 6 after a fight on Antioch Pike, officials said. On Wednesday morning, officers arrested 19-year-old Misael Garcia.

PREVIOUS: Teen shot, killed with own gun during fight along Antioch Pike, police say

Garcia was recorded by a surveillance camera jumping a fence following the shooting, police said. He was seen walking on Antioch Pike Wednesday morning when South Precinct officers recognized him. Garcia reportedly admitted to being involved in the shooting.

In an interview with homicide detectives, Metro police said Garcia claimed that he shot Jones in self-defense. However, that assertion is under investigation by both Nashville police and the District Attorneys office.

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Garcia was charged with evidence tampering after admitting to discarding the pistol following the fatal shooting. As of publication, he is being held on a $3,200 bond.

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Senate Dems campaign arm rolls out first TV ads of the cycle

Senate Democrats campaign arm is rolling out its first independent expenditure advertisements for several candidates this week as it prepares for the fall election.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) is launching ads in several key battleground states that will likely determine which party wins control of the upper chamber in November. The ads released Wednesday target Arizona GOP nominee Kari Lake, Michigan GOP nominee and former Rep. Mike Rogers, Pennsylvania GOP nominee Dave McCormick, Wisconsin GOP candidate Eric Hovde and Montana GOP nominee Tim Sheehy.

The ads are part of a $79 million advertising plan that the DSCC announced in the spring for 2024, which includes television, digital and radio advertisements.

They were initially reported by Politico.

Independent expenditures specifically advocate for or against a certain candidate but are not made in coordination with any campaign.

Meanwhile, the Senate Republicans campaign arm released its first TV ad in Michigan to go after Rep. Elissa Slotkin, the Democratic nominee for Senate running against Rogers.

The moves signal that the race for the Senate is heating up with Election Day now less than three months away.

Democrats, including independents who caucus with the party, currently hold a narrow 51-49 majority in the Senate, but Republicans are hopeful that the map of Senate seats up for election this year will give them a strong chance of taking back control.

The GOP has several more pickup opportunities in the Senate this year with more vulnerable Democratic incumbents seeking reelection and retiring Democrats in battleground states than Republicans. But polls have shown Democratic candidates mostly with an advantage in match-ups with their Republican opponents and had been showing them outperforming President Biden in their states while he was still in the race.

A few early polls have shown a similar trend with Vice President Harris at the top of the ticket.

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People with symptoms of Long COVID attend a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on Long COVID in January. A group of senators is now urging the Social Security Administration to grant greater access to disability payments for people with Long COVID symptoms. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Several U.S. senators have called on the Social Security Administration to take steps to make it easier for people with Long COVID to access disability benefits, actions that disability rights advocates and patients say are desperately needed.

Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) signed athe letter released on Monday. They said the agency should make the process more transparent, track and publish data on Long COVID applications, and consider expanding the listing of impairments the SSA considers in applications for benefits.

In some situations, these symptoms can be debilitating and prevent an individual from being able to work, take care of their family, manage their household, or participate in social activities, the senators wrote to SSA Commissioner Martin OMalley.

Long COVID is a chronic health condition, which often includes fatigue, brain fog, and shortness of breath, following a COVID-19 infection. About three in 10 American adults have had Long COVID at some point according to KFFs April analysis of Long COVID data. About 17 million people had it in March 2024. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released guidance on Long COVID as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Kaine has been outspoken about his own experience with Long COVID and Sanders introduced legislation this month to provide $1 billion in funding each year for 10 years to support Long COVID research by the National Institutes of Health.

Lisa McCorkell, co-founder of the Patient Led Research Collaborative, a group of Long COVID patients and patients with associated illnesses, told States Newsroom, Creating a ruling or listing would be a huge improvement  having that specific guidance for how to document Long COVID, its related diagnoses, and its associated impairment wo in uld assist physicians who may not be as knowledgeable about Long COVID.

The SSA administers disability benefits through Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income programs. The former program requires past employment payment into Social Security. The latter one does not have those restrictions and is based on financial need but to receive benefits, applicants have to prove they qualify as having a disability. The average monthly disability benefit for Social Security Disability Insurance is $1,538.

Long COVIDs economic cost

Researchers and economists are still trying to understand the full impact of COVID-19 infections and Long COVID on the workforce. A 2023 study estimated that COVID-19 brought down the labor force by 500,000 people and that the average loss of labor is equivalent to $9,000 in earnings. More than 25% of people with Long COVID said their condition had an impact on their employment or work hours, according to a 2022 Minneapolis Fed paper.

Long COVID is not going to go away, particularly as government protections on the federal, state, and local level to reduce the spread of COVID are severely lacking, said Marissa Ditkowsky, who serves as the disability economic justice counsel at the National Partnership for Women & Families, an organization focused on health, economic justice, and reproductive rights for women and families.

While COVID continues to be a reality, we know that COVID disproportionately impacts women, disabled folks, and people of color, and the folks who are most impacted already have issues with access to appropriate health care, access to employment, and access to equitable wages, said Ditkowsky, who has Long COVID herself. A lot of folks might be working in low-wage jobs where theyre in the service industry and constantly out there and more likely to contract COVID. It starts not just with the programs for how to deal with folks with Long COVID, but how to prevent people from getting Long COVID.

In the meantime, she said people with Long COVID, as well as other people with disabilities, would benefit from the changes senators are advocating, such as restoring the treating physician rule, which was repealed in 2017. The rule allowed the agency to give greater weight to medical evidence from a physician who treated a patient for years compared to, say, a doctor who examines a patient once.

Giving your own doctor the weight [they] deserve is huge, Ditkowsky said.

Mia Ives-Rublee, senior director of the disability justice initiative at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, said there is an opportunity for the Biden administration or the next administration to revamp how the agency administers disability benefits. She said that given the aging population, there is more reason than ever for the agency to make significant improvements to the application process. Advocates for people with disabilities say its also imperative to boost funding for the agency.

Not only are we seeing an increase in disability in younger folks, but were also looking at the big boomer generation getting older  Were going to see a huge pressure on the [SSA] and we need to see real changes and funding and think of ways to manage the wide variety of experiences that people have in order to deal with differences in applying for these benefits, she said.
Two senators urged Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday to accept documentation and testimonies from the public during the Pentagons review of Medals of Honor that were awarded to U.S. troops for their actions at Wounded Knee.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Michael Rounds, R-S.D., members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote to Austin and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, whos helping to run the review.

The Pentagon announced July 24 that it would create a special panel to determine whether to retain or rescind the medals. The panel is expected to submit a report to Austin by Oct. 15 with recommendations for each recipient. Austin will then take those recommendations to President Joe Biden.

According to the Defense Department, 20 Medals of Honor were awarded to U.S. troops for their actions at Wounded Knee in 1890, when soldiers killed and injured between 350 and 375 Lakota men, women and children.

Austin ordered the U.S. Army to hand over all historical documentation about the massacre, including personnel files for the awardees, by July 26. Warren and Rounds argue in their letter that the deadline was too early for Native American tribes, families of victims, historians and academic institutions to share information that should be considered.

In a letter, they asked that the panel accept information from the public on a rolling basis.

Stakeholders ... possess a wealth of information that is critical for the panels consideration, Warren and Rounds wrote. Much of that information may take more than just a matter of days to gather. Additionally, many critical stakeholders may not have the resources to operate on an overly compressed timeline.

The killings, referred to as the Wounded Knee Massacre, occurred Dec. 29, 1890, near Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. It was part of a larger effort by the U.S. government to repress Native American tribes of the Great Plains and eradicate a religious movement known as Ghost Dance.

Reports about the Ghost Dance movement prompted the U.S. Army to guard reservations. On Dec. 29, 1890, troops from the 7th Cavalry were confiscating weapons from Lakota people when a struggle with a reportedly deaf man sparked a chaotic one-sided firefight. When the smoke cleared, dozens of cavalry troopers were wounded or killed by friendly fire  likely from their artillery  and hundreds of Lakota were dead.

A Pentagon memorandum issued last month lists 20 troops who were awarded the Medal of Honor, the nations highest military honor, for their actions that day. One citation says a recipient showed distinguished conduct in a battle with hostile Indians. Another says one man voluntarily led a party into a ravine to dislodge Sioux Indians concealed therein.

A few citations said troops had rescued their fellow soldiers, and some said only that the men exhibited extraordinary gallantry.

Congress officially apologized for the massacre around its 100th anniversary in 1990, but it did not rescind the medals then. In 2022, Congress encouraged the Pentagon to review the awards.

The panel reviewing the Medals of Honor will comprise five experts, including two from the Department of the Interior, the Pentagon memo states. When reviewing the awards, panelists will consider the context at the time and use the militarys 1890 standards for awarding the Medal of Honor, rather than todays standards.

Panelists will determine whether any of the soldiers did anything disqualifying them from the award, which includes intentionally directing an attack against someone who surrendered in good faith, murdering or raping a prisoner or engaging in any other act demonstrating immorality, Austins memo reads.

In their letter, Warren and Rounds applauded the review and described it as long overdue. They asked Austin and Haaland for transparency throughout the process.

We ... hope this collaborative process includes DOD and DOI providing easy, mutual access to the records each agency receives, the senators wrote. We are greatly interested in seeing a review process that is informed by stakeholders documentation and testimonies.

The Pentagon noted in July that this isnt the first time Medals of Honor have come under scrutiny. In 1916, Congress ordered the Army to review all Medals of Honor awarded since the Civil War. At that time, a panel of five retired generals decided to rescind 911 of the awards. Six of those medals were later reinstated.

This story was produced in partnership with Military Veterans in Journalism. Please send tips to MVJ-Tips@militarytimes.com.
A Uniper flag in front of the Scholven coal-fired power plant in Gelsenkirchen. David Young/dpa

The energy group Uniper, which was rescued by Germany with billions of euros in state aid during the energy crisis, intends to repay more than 3.4 billion ($3.7 billion) to the government in the spring.

The sum consists of a provision paid last year with a value of 2.9 billion. The remaining approximately 540 million is mainly money that Uniper withheld in August 2022 in the course of the gas dispute with the Russian group Gazprom.

Following an arbitration judgement, the company is now allowed to offset the money against claims for damages against Gazprom and hold it ready for repayment to the federal government.

"The exact amount of the payment obligation will be determined once the business figures for 2024 are available," chief financial officer Jutta Donges said on Thursday in Dusseldorf, where the company is based. The repayment is in compliance with an EU requirement.

Uniper got into difficulties in 2022 after Russia first reduced and then stopped its gas supplies to Germany following its invasion of Ukraine. Replacement purchases cost billions. To prevent Uniper from collapsing, the German government became the majority shareholder with a stake of over 99%.

The government is obliged to reduce its holding to a maximum of 25% plus one share by 2028. "It is to be expected that the federal government will generate further proceeds from the sale of its shares in Uniper in particular," Donges said.

Uniper chief executive Michael Lewis expressed his satisfaction with business so far this year. "The course has been set for a successful future for Uniper. We are ready to make our contribution to accelerating the energy transition," he said.

Uniper does not supply private customers but is Germany's biggest gas trader.
Senior Planet North Country, New York State, and The National Guard have all teamed up to provide a training course in disaster preparedness.

This training session was on Wednesday afternoon at the Senior Planet in Plattsburgh. The course covered preparation measures for events like biological disasters, house fires, earth quakes, and of course flooding.

The name may suggest that senior populations were the target audience for this course, but Jessica Fortin, Senior Trainor at Senior Planet North Country, said that everybody can benefit from this kind of education.

Fortin also said that this sort of training is important because  these different scenarios, how to handle it, what to do, just how to be prepared and better take care of ourselves and those around us.

Anyone! If you are living and breathing and have any responsibility for anything, then I think this is a good thing to take, because you never know.

We forget a lot of these things when we dont use them. And then in the panic moment, its good to have that refresher so you know what to do. You remember what to do and you can handle it.

Senior Plant North Country hopes that Wednesdays course was just the first of many to come.

You can check out their full line-up of courses on their website.

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SEQUOYAH COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR)  A 50-year-old murder suspect who was arrested in Arkansas in connection to three murders across two Oklahoma counties is now facing additional charges.

On June 20, Stacy Lee Drake was arrested in Morrilton, Ark., after being identified as a person of interest in a Sequoyah County double murder case two days prior.

Shortly after his arrest in Arkansas, Drake was booked into the Sequoyah County Jail on two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Tara Underwood, 35, and Taylor Sharp, 30, in addition to one count of robbery for allegedly stealing Underwoods car.

TIMELINE: Breaking down Oklahoma double homicide suspects criminal history

Drake is also accused of murdering 56-year-old Phillip Emerson, who was found dead in Canadian County on June 14.

On August 7, the District 27 District Attorneys Office filed a third first-degree murder charge against Drake for his suspected role in Emersons death, two additional counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon for allegedly stealing Emersons car and Sharps wallet, one count of possession of a stolen vehicle and one count of pattern of criminal offenses.

Drake has previously served time in prison after being convicted in Arizona and Alabama.

The date for Drakes initial court appearance is currently unknown.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
A jet ski pulls in buoys from the CrossFit Games at Marine Creek Lake, where Lazar Dukic died Thursday while competing in a swimming event in Fort Worth, Texas. (Amanda McCoy / Star-Telegram via Associated Press)

An athlete died Thursday while swimming in a lake on the first day of competition at the CrossFit Games in Fort Worth, Texas, organizers of the international event said.

The Tarrant County medical examiners office identified a body recovered from Marine Creek Lake as Lazar Dukic, 28, of Serbia. No cause of death was given.

"CrossFit is deeply saddened by the death of a CrossFit Games competitor during the swimming portion of Individual Event 1 at the 2024 CrossFit Games," the organization said in a statement. "We are fully cooperating with authorities and doing everything we can to support the family at this time. The remainder of today's events have been suspended. The well-being of competitors is our first priority and we are heartbroken by this tragic event."

A Fort Worth Fire Department official said during a news conference that the department was asked to assist police at around 8 a.m. because there was a participant in the water that was down and hadn't been seen in some point in time. The official said it took the department's dive team about an hour to find the body.

Read more: Billy Bean, former Dodger and MLB ambassador, dies at 60

CrossFit CEO Don Faul and Fort Worth Police Department Sgt. Leah Wagner also spoke at the news conference. Wagner stated the name of the victim was being withheld at that time out of respect for the family.

"CrossFit is, as you know, in some ways like a family," said Faul, whose organization first held the CrossFit Games in 2007. "People care a lot about each other. There's a lot of people in the community that are hurting right now, that are really sad, that knew the athlete well, that loved, respected this person."

Dukic's Instagram bio states that he was a "4x CrossFit Games Athlete."

According to his bio on the 2024 CrossFit Games website, he ranked as Serbia's No. 1 CrossFit athlete every year from 2017-2021 and ranked at No. 3 in the country this year  one notch below his brother, Luka Dukic, 25, who is also listed as a 2024 CrossFit Games competitor.

Read more: Reyes Moronta, former Dodgers and Angels pitcher, dies in vehicle crash

Another 2024 CrossFit Games competitor Cole Learn told WFAA-TV in Dallas-Fort Worth that he had only met Dukic once, but that meeting left a lasting impression.

The only thing I remember about him was just how nice he was," Learn said. "He didnt know who I was, but he took the time to talk to me, talked about the competition and how it was going for him. ... Ive always cheered for him just because of that moment.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Branko Filipovic

GORNJE NEDELJICE, Serbia (Reuters) - Zlatko Kokanovic, a 48-year-old Serbian farmer, and fellow villagers have sparked nationwide protests to stop the building of Rio Tinto's first European lithium mine, warning it would pollute their land and endanger public health.

Last month, Serbia reinstated Rio Tinto'a license to develop what would be Europe's biggest lithium mine in the Jadar region of western Serbia, two years after it was annulled due to protests by environmental groups.

Warnings about the damaging effect of mining by Kokanovic and his neighbours in the village of Gornje Nedeljice motivated thousands of people to protest against the Rio Tinto project in dozens of cities around Serbia over the past month.

The protesters gave the government until Aug. 10 to pass legislation banning lithium exploration. The government regards the project as a key way to bolster Serbia's troubled economy and has not so far considered that demand.

Kokanovic, a father of five who farms 30 hectares of land and produces up to 100,000 litres of milk a year, warns that substances including arsenic and sulphuric acid used in processing lithium, as well as dust, will cause grave pollution.

"(The mine) would be the destruction of Serbia at the expense of our health to free the European Union from reliance on China (for lithium), so (the EU) can have healthy lives and their children can breathe healthy air," Kokanovic said.

"Now I can say: There will be no mine here."

Serbia is not a member of the EU, where environmental regulations are stricter.

Kokanovic said the protests would escalate if the government did not back down, with further moves to be announced at a rally scheduled in the capital Belgrade for Saturday.

If implemented, the $2.4 billion Jadar lithium project in western Serbia could cover 90% of Europe's current lithium needs and make Rio Tinto one of the world's leading lithium producers.

Lithium is a key component in batteries for electric vehicles and mobile devices.

Kokanovic's neighbour, Marijana Petkovic, said her community is so alarmed by the Rio Tinto project that it is prepared to physically stop machinery from constructing the mine.

"We will defend our homes, our land, our church and our cemetery. Further radicalisation will be the next step (if necessary)," she said.

In June, Rio Tinto said newly published environmental studies showed the project would be safe for local communities.

In an effort to allay fears of deadly pollution, the Serbian health ministry on Tuesday formed a commission tasked with studying the impact of lithium mining on human health.

"There will no digging for two years, so...stirring up panic makes no sense," President Aleksandar Vucic told reporters on Wednesday evening.

On July 19, Vucic, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and EU energy Commissioner Maros Sefcovic signed a deal that would grant producers from EU member state access to raw materials mined in Serbia, which would include lithium.

The deal is meant to reduce the EU's dependency on imports from America and Asia.

In the central Serbian town of Kragujevac, protesters signalled they would not relent in the dispute over the lithium mine as they packed its main square on Wednesday evening.

"We do not want lithium in Serbia. If the damage to the environment is higher than the economic benefit, then it is clear (why the project is not good)," demonstrator Aleksandar Jankovic said.

(Reporting by Branko Filipovic; writing by Ivana Sekularac; editing by Mark Heinrich)
An outburst of flooding from a glacier brought severe flooding to Alaska's capital, with more than 100 homes experiencing damage.

The glacial outburst flood from the Mendenhall Glacier began Monday, causing water levels to reach up to 16 feet in Juneau by Tuesday, according to city officials. There have been no reports of injuries in the city of about 32,000 people as of Wednesday.

The glacier's Suicide Basin began to peak on Aug. 1 after July saw twice the amount of rain the area usually receives, Juneau officials confirmed in a news release. Officials say that water from Mendenhall Lake significantly poured into the Mendenhall River by Sunday, leading to evacuation warnings for residents Monday. The lake's water levels declined over 400 feet from the outburst primarily between Monday and Tuesday, officials said.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy declared a state disaster emergency Tuesday, increasing emergency response efforts and allowing communities to reimburse emergency response costs and repair damaged infrastructure.

"I am grateful no one has been injured or killed by this mornings outburst flood. Emergency responders and managers have done an outstanding job keeping their residents safe," Dunleavy said. "In addition to the Disaster Declaration, I have directed all state agencies to support the community as they deal with this major flooding."

Cars are seen flooded in Juneau, Alaska after the Mendenhall glacier began overflowing on August 1, 2024.

A rise in glacial lake outbursts since 2011

Glacial lake outbursts like this are spawned when basins drain rapidly, something Juneau officials compared to "pulling out the plug in a full bathtub."

Since 2011, the state has seen more outbursts primarily due to climate change, a University of Alaska Southeast environmental science professor Eran Hood told The Associated Press last year. A rise in global temperatures generated by fossil fuel pollution is resulting in glaciers like the Mendenhall and Suicide.

Glacier melt in a major Alaskan icefield has accelerated and could reach an irreversible tipping point earlier than previously thought, according to a scientific study published in the peer-reviewed British journal Nature Communications last month. The state is home to some of Earth's largest icefields, and their melting is a major contributor to sea-level rise slowly putting some of the world's coastal areas underwater.

"Its incredibly worrying that our research found a rapid acceleration since the early 21st century in the rate of glacier loss across the Juneau icefield," study lead author Bethan Davies, a glaciologist in the United Kingdom's Newcastle University, said in a statement.

The Mendenhall River caused severe flooding in the Mendenhall Valley in Juneau, Alaska after the river overflowed the Mendenhall Glacier early on August 6, 2024.

Juneau experienced destructive flooding last August

Juneau's troubles come a year after the city grappled with destructive flooding that collapsed at least two homes into the waterway and prompted evacuations. Water levels from this year's outburst reached more than a foot higher than last year's.

Officials noted that last year's glacier outburst and flooding was notably quicker than previous ones.

Similarly, water from the Suicide Basin gushed into Mendenhall Lake, down the Mendenhall River and flowed into the city.

Contributing: Doyle Rice

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Glacier outburst flooding damages over 100 homes in Juneau, Alaska
Sex offender said Jesus chose him to set fire to LDS church in Mississippi, records say

A convicted sex offender was motivated by his disdain for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when he vandalized and attempted to burn down the LDS Church in Wiggins, according to court records.

A federal grand jury has indicted Stefan Pete Day Rowold on two counts of arson, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Rowold is accused twice in July of malicious destruction of religious property through the use of fire explosives and other means, according to FBI Special Agent Stephen N. Fortunato. The crimes occurred on the Fourth of July and two days later on July 7.

Church members discovered the vandalism when they arrived for Sunday services on July 7.

After his arrest, Rowold attempted to defend his actions, the agent said. Rowold, he said, claimed he had been reborn to Christ and felt called to action because he believes LDS is responsible for trafficking and molesting children, the agent said.

Rowold told the agent Jesus chose him to do his will on Earth...

According to Fortunato, Rowold first broke into the church on July 4 by smashing a glass door with a cinder block. Once inside, the agent said Rowold graffitied the walls with hateful messages like Child Molesters, Cowards, and False Prophets.

Afterward, Rowold gathered up hymnals and paintings, put them in a room, set them on fire, and unsuccessfully attempted to get the fire to spread to burn down the building. The fire burned out on its own.

Rowold returned to the church later on July 7 and attempted to burn the church down again by attempting to set fire to a wall, the records say.

Wiggins police first took Rowold into custody after noticing him near the church. Initially, Rowold was held for failure to register as a sex offender, but police later tacked on additional state charges of burglary and arson.

According to the National Sex Offender Registry, Rowold was convicted of molestation in 2020 in Michigan and had repeatedly failed to register as a sex offender in Mississippi and elsewhere.
A 60-year-old man in Riverside County, described by authorities as the religious leader of a shamanistic community, was arrested after several people accused him of sexual assault, authorities announced Wednesday.

According to a news release from the Riverside County Sheriffs Department, multiple victims went to the Moreno Valley Sheriffs Station on Aug. 1 to report that they were sexually assaulted by Ricardo Flores at a residence in the 26000 block of Sandi Lane.

During their investigation, RCSD detectives said they learned the alleged assaults occurred in multiple locations in Riverside County.

Ricardo Flores

The 60-year-old, a resident of Rialto, was arrested on Aug. 7 at the U.S. border as he was attempting to return to the States from Mexico.

Hollywood actor arrested amid allegations of violent sexual assault

Flores was transported back to Riverside County and booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center for sexual assault and child sexual abuse, the release stated.

Investigators believe there may be other victims and are encouraging anyone with additional information on this case to contact RCSD Lead Investigator Acevedo at 951-486-6700.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) Governor Shapiro (D) has advised residents to use caution with Tropical Storm Debby expected to hit early Friday morning.

Heavy rainfall is anticipated to blanket Pennsylvania all day Friday due to Tropical Storm Debby.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Center want to remind Pennsylvanians to exercise caution during extreme periods of rain, and be aware of possible flooding on roadways and low-lying areas.

The rain is expected to begin after midnight and continue all day Friday, wrapping up early Saturday morning. The heaviest rain is expected to hit central Pennsylvania, but it is expected to impact all areas across the Commonwealth.

Flash flooding may cause roadways to become impassable.

Our crews have been preparing for days by clearing out debris around drainage inlets and under bridges while readying equipment, said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. With the forecast amount of rain, we remind the public to not drive on roads that are covered with water because even shallow, swiftly flowing water can wash a car from a roadway.

Motorists are advised to watch for ponding and flooding in poor drainage areas while driving.

We are working with our state agency partners to be ready with any state resources that are needed to support county and local response to this storm, said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. This is the time for everyone at home to make sure theyre ready by reviewing their family emergency plans, making sure they have multiple ways to get severe weather alerts, and avoiding any unnecessary travel as conditions get worse.

PennDOT warns motorists not to drive across roads covered with water because even shallow, swiftly flowing water can wash a car from a roadway. Also, the roadbed may not be intact under the water. Never drive around barricades or signs on closed roads  Turn Around, Dont Drown.

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Before she exits, Roy Coopers quiet chief of staff has something to say about his success | Opinion

Gov. Roy Cooper, limited by law to two terms, will leave office to applause after eight years of legislative battles, a pandemic, hurricanes, the states economic success and his long-sought expansion of Medicaid.

But Kristi Jones, his chief of staff and a key manager throughout the ups and downs of Coopers time in office, will leave quietly this month for a job in the private sector.

Thats just how Jones wants it. She has what Louis Brownlow, an adviser to FDR, said presidential staffers should have  high competence and a passion for anonymity.

Im not a well-known figure and Im not supposed to be. People didnt vote for me. People put their trust in Roy Cooper and my job was to help him accomplish those goals that he promised people he would, she told me this week. I love it when people dont know me.

While few North Carolinians know Jones, she knows a lot about North Carolina, especially its government and its governor.

A native of Wilson County, Jones, 57, is a graduate of N.C. Central University and the UNC Law School. In addition to serving as the governors chief of staff, she was Coopers political adviser and chief of staff during his four terms as attorney general.

Managing a governors staff isnt just a job for Jones. Its a life. Most days, she gets up at 4:30 a.m., starts work early and never really leaves the job. I am available 24/7, 365 days a year, she said. This week her job included coordinating the states response to Tropical Storm Debby.

Dont look to Jones to talk about the behind-the-scenes struggles and intrigues she has witnessed while working for Cooper. She values confidentiality as much as anonymity.

What Jones will gladly talk about is how well she gets along with the governor. Their only disputes are about Duke (her team) and UNC (Coopers).

We never disagree. I always felt comfortable giving him my opinion, my perspective from the seat I sit in, she said. Its just been a wonderful experience  otherwise I wouldnt have stayed for 25 years.

Cooper is equally effusive about Jones. In a statement, he said, Her hard work and genuine care for people have helped us navigate challenging times with a positive, can-do spirit. She is one of the very best people I have ever known.

While Cooper and Jones are in sync, theyve both had to work through conflicts with a Republican-controlled legislature that has overridden dozens of Coopers vetoes.

The Republican resistance has angered Jones, but she said Cooper taught her to focus on the issue, not the opponent.

One of the greatest lessons Ill take away from him is to take personality out of the way of politics, she said. When I wanted to just be frustrated and mad and throw in the towel, the governor was like, You cant give up, youve got to go back. From that Ive learned and had some very good and meaningful relationships with folks from both sides of the aisle.

The only instance in which Jones made herself part of the story occurred when she revealed this year that she had given a kidney to a stranger. She didnt discuss her donation publicly for 13 years, but spoke about it to the media when a friend needed a kidney. She hopes her story will encourage others to become donors.

When I gave the kidney, I started the process with somebody I knew, we didnt match, she said. Somebody still needs a kidney, you just give it. Thats what my parents taught me, to give.

Now Jones is moving on. She will be vice president for public affairs and sustainability at NiSource, an Indiana-based natural gas and electric utility company.

But she may not be done with working for Cooper. The governor may run for U.S. Senate in 2026.

Asked if she would come back, Jones referred to the response gymnast Simone Biles gave when asked if she will compete in the 2028 Summer Olympics at age 31. Simone Biles said this morning, Never say never. So Ill say never say never.

Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-404-7583, or nbarnett@ newsobserver.com




She Was Found Decapitated and Left in Trash Bags in 1999. Police Just Arrested Her Husband

Melissa Wolfenbarger's mother last heard from her daughter months before her remains were found

Atlanta Police Department; Fulton County Sheriff's Office Melissa Wolfenbarger, left, and Christopher Wolfenbarger

An Atlanta man has been charged with his wifes murder  25 years after her body was found in multiple trash bags.

In April and June 1999, human remains were found in separate locations in Atlanta, Ga., and were misidentified, Atlanta police Lt. Andrew Smith said at a press conference on Wednesday, Aug. 7. 11Alive reported that the remains were found in trash bags, and the victim had been decapitated.

Melissa Wolfenbarger had last been in contact with her mother on Thanksgiving Day 1998, the outlet reported. Her mother, Norma Patton, reported her missing in January 2000, Smith said. Melissas husband, Christopher Wolfenbarger, never did.

Finally, in 2003, Melissas remains were properly identified. But it would take another 21 years until someone was arrested in connection with her murder.

During the investigation, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that police learned early in the investigation that Melissa hadnt been in contact with her husband since December 1998. In 2000, according to reports from the Journal-Constitution and 11Alive, Wolfenbarger allegedly told police that he had seen Melissa walking down the street in March or April of 1999.

Christopher was arrested on Tuesday, Aug. 6, police said, and charged with murder. He is currently in custody in Fulton County Jail, online records indicate.

During the press conference, police did not say what led them to arrest Christopher, citing the integrity of the investigation. Det. Jarion Shephard said during the press conference that after he took over the investigation in 2021, witnesses were reinterviewed and evidence was reexamined, but he declined to single out a specific piece of evidence. The detective also noted that Christopher was considered a person of interest from the beginning.

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Shephard said he did not know the specific motive, but said he believed the case was domestic violence-related. Christopher was found hiding behind a dryer in his home when he was arrested, according to Shephard.

Melissa mother and sister appeared alongside police during the announcement and spoke to reporters.

Finally, hopefully, we can get justice for Melissa, Tina Patton said. Melissa didnt deserve what she got.

Tina and Norma said that they never heard from Christopher during the period when Melissa was missing and the subsequent years after her remains were identified.

Norma said that in the summer of 1998, Melissa had briefly moved in with her before going back to Christopher that same year.

She loved her kids, and theres no way on this earth that she would leave them, Norma said. Thats why she went back to him. Thats why she kept going back to him.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.



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Equinor, alongside ExxonMobil, has transferred its ownership in a deepwater exploration block off the coast of Suriname to Hess, reported Reuters.

This move marks Equinor's exit from the South American nation, aligning with its strategy of focusing on core production areas.

ExxonMobil, the former leader of the consortium, has handed over Block 59s operation to Hess in a non-monetary transaction.

In an email, an Equinor representative said: We have decided to withdraw from the deepwater Block 59 exploration license in Suriname and we do not intend to seek further exploration opportunities in the country.

Despite this transfer, ExxonMobil maintains its presence in Suriname through Block 52.

"We fulfilled all our work commitments for the block and continue to progress the evaluation of our Suriname exploration acreage," an ExxonMobil spokesperson said.

Hess now holds full ownership of the licence, with no financial exchange reported between the companies, as per Equinor.

Over the past six years, Equinor has withdrawn from approximately 20 countries, focusing its operations on exploration.

The company's departure from Russia in 2022 due to the conflict in Ukraine, and its recent decisions to divest from Nigeria and Azerbaijan, are part of this strategic retraction.

Upon completion of ongoing deals, Equinor's international presence will be limited to fewer than ten countries outside Norway.

This strategic shift contrasts with the global expansion initiated by Equinor's former CEO, Helge Lund, now the chair of bp.

The change in direction occurred after Equinor, previously known as Statoil, partially privatised in 2001.

In 2023, Equinor reported that 34% of its oil and gas production was from international operations, with the US being the largest contributor outside Norway, followed by Angola, Brazil and Algeria.

Despite shrinking its geographical footprint, Equinor plans to increase its international production by 15% from 2024 to 2030, targeting 800,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

This growth is expected to come primarily from new fields in Brazil, the US and the UK.

In addition to its oil and gas ventures, Equinor is exploring renewable energy opportunities in new markets including Japan, with a particular interest in offshore wind projects.

"Equinor and ExxonMobil transfer Suriname exploration block stakes to Hess " was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
She waited over a year to get her wheelchair. In Wisconsin and elsewhere, that's typical.

Raquella Freeman couldn't bear dealing with another broken mobility device. Her food delivery had just arrived, and she was crawling down the hallway of her apartment with menstrual pads duct-taped to her knees.

It had been 24 hours since a screw had fallen out of her scooter's steering column on her way back from a work conference in October, leaving the machine unable to move forward or backward. Now, Freeman was getting crafty about getting around her apartment.

"You can leave it on the ground," Freeman called out to the delivery person, letting a few moments pass before she reached for the door handle and grabbed the Jimmy John's bag. She placed the rim of the bag between her teeth before crawling over to her couch to eat.

After dozens of calls to Milwaukee repair companies, most said ordering the parts to fix her scooter would take a week to a month. Only Mobility Plus of Greater Milwaukee had responded to the 32-year-old's inquiry with a more reasonable wait time of 48 hours.

In the meantime, Freeman was stuck.

Without her scooter, and with several months left before the arrival of her new power wheelchair, Freeman's circumstance reflects a common challenge for people with disabilities: A long, painful wait to get their mobility devices, and even more delays to have them repaired.

Raquella Freeman in her apartment in Milwaukee on Friday, Jun 14, 2024.

On average, power wheelchairs can take a year to assemble, and repairs can take six weeks or more. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, severe manufacturing backlogs have further slowed down the shipment of parts.

Despite nationwide efforts to try to speed up the process, legislation has not fully addressed the all-encompassing challenges facing the mobility device industry. In addition to supply chain issues, suppliers have also complained about Wisconsin's complicated prior authorization process, while advocates have blamed the role of private equity and the industry's profit motives.

As a result, people like Freeman are left in uncomfortable and occasionally dangerous situations.

Growing up with cerebral palsy, Freeman spent most of her life relying on a combination of walkers and mobility scooters to get around. Every two to four years, her scooters malfunctioned and needed to be fixed or replaced. On average, each replacement cost her family up to $4,000, she estimates.

As an adult, the costly machinery was becoming more of a burden than an asset. Freeman had no means to get around, few options to seek a repair and no backup device to support her mobility.

"Repairers have a bunch of people that they're supporting who have things that break," she said. "And if you're on the bottom of that list, you could be left waiting."

Seeking an alternate solution with an even longer wait time

At the time that Freeman's mobility scooter broke last October, she was riding out her final months with the year-and-a-half-old machine while awaiting the arrival of her new wheelchair.

In order to get a power wheelchair, people are required to first obtain a doctor's prescription, one of many reasons why the process takes so long. After Medicaid receives the prescription, it must deem the wheelchair medically necessary  a process known as prior authorization.

Freeman began the process almost a year prior, in January 2023, when she contacted her doctor to request a power wheelchair prescription.

At the appointment, Freeman's doctor tested her mobility and asked her to detail why she would benefit from a customized power chair.

The doctor also peppered Freeman with questions about customizations. Ideally, Freeman wanted tools like front and tail lights for traveling alone at night, or a lift that would allow her to reach higher places. But she was surprised to learn how difficult the additions were to justify to Medicaid.

"They're like, 'Yeah, that's nice, but that's not enough,'" she said. "The only way I could get insurance to cover the chair lifting was because I said I needed to be able to raise myself so I can get into bed independently."

Though Freeman's doctor issued a prescription shortly after the evaluation, it took almost a year for Medicaid to approve the wheelchair and for National Seating and Mobility, one of the nation's two major wheelchair suppliers, to assemble it. The approximately $60,000 power wheelchair needed to be customized with special padding and frames to support her body.

The wheelchair arrived in April 2024. After three days of use, the headrest fell off.

Several weeks later, as Freeman rolled down North Humboldt Avenue on her way to work, the chair's footrest collapsed from under her, clanging onto the pavement just moments before she mounted Milwaukees Green Line bus.

"My feet were dangling, just kind of floating in the air, like when you're getting to like a toddler sitting on the potty kind of thing," she said.

After a week of trying to screw the parts back on herself, a friend helped Freeman duct tape the footrest back onto the chair.

Upon calling National Seating and Mobility, Freeman was told there was no warranty for the headrest. Replacing it would cost her more than $414 and take several weeks to repair.

Raquella Freemans wheelchair in her apartment in Milwaukee on Friday, Jun 14, 2024. Freeman is keeping the apparatus supporting her legs together with duct tape.

Wheelchair repair process is slow and cumbersome

Similar to the long process of getting a wheelchair, the journey toward initiating a repair includes a long list of steps for the machine's owner.

In Wisconsin, wheelchair users have to get their device inspected and the repair company has to complete documentation to share with the insurance company before replacement parts can be ordered. Each device must also be tested before being returned to the owner.

With many mobility device manufacturers based in Canada and Europe, suppliers sometimes wait days or weeks for parts to be shipped or flown to repair shops.

Brad Holz, a Milwaukee County resident, waited almost two months for his wheelchair to be repaired by National Seating and Mobility after his control board died.

Though Holz said the National Seating and Mobility team was great to work with and responsive to his concerns, "it took forever to get parts in."

Holz said it took four weeks to diagnose the problem with his chair, several days to get a mechanic to look at it, and two weeks to submit the repair to his insurance company and get approval to order the parts. Then, it took a week for the parts to ship and an additional two weeks before he could get on the schedule for an appointment.

At Independence First, a social service organization for individuals with disabilities in Milwaukee, staff members field daily calls from people who are waiting on repairs.

Cindi Pichler, the organization's director of assistive technology, said the prior authorization process makes getting a wheelchair repair unnecessarily complex.

"People are having health complications from being stuck in bed because they can't get up, so we're seeing blood clots," Pichler said. "We're seeing pressure sores in people who didn't have those issues before, simply because of inactivity or being unable to get good personal care staffing."

Some advocates point out that both National Seating and Mobility and Numotion, the two largest suppliers of mobility devices in the country, are owned by private equity firms.

The nonprofit Private Equity Stakeholder Project, which aims to "bring transparency and accountability to the private equity industry," released a report last November about private equity's takeover of the medical equipment industry.

Eileen O'Grady, director of programs at the nonprofit, said firms' goals to double or triple their investment in a short period of time have led to staffing cuts, minimized wages, low-quality equipment and slow wait times.

"There are only so many ways to cost cut without having trickle-down effects on patients, on workers, and on communities that are served by these companies," O'Grady said.

According to O'Grady, suppliers like National Seating and Mobility usually have multiple locations in each state staffed by two to four repairers who serve customers within a 50 to 150-mile radius. O'Grady said current staffing isn't enough to accommodate the needs of most communities.

"[The companies] grew potentially too fast, and they're not able to pay staff competitive wages because of that," O'Grady said. "They're losing technicians and they're not able to respond to service requests in a timely manner."

However, National Seating and Mobility told the Journal Sentinel that private equity investment has helped the company better serve clients.

"[It] allows us to continue to invest in resources focused on repair services, including remote service technologies, the expansion of in-stock inventory, technician and customer service staff recruitment and comprehensive training," a spokesperson said.

National Seating and Mobility also said that simplifying the prior authorization process could shorten wait times.

"This is one of several issues with insurance providers that slows down the ability to provide clients what they need for repairs," the spokesperson said.

States introduce 'right to repair' legislation

On both a local and national scale, the effort to reduce long repair wait times has been hard fought and difficult to solve.

Sixteen states have sought to address concerns by introducing or expanding "right to repair laws" to include power wheelchairs. These laws offer consumers the ability to fix cars, tractors and other equipment by themselves or through third-party repairers without manufacturers voiding their warranty or insurers penalizing them.

In 2023, Colorado lawmakers successfully passed a bill that requires manufacturers to provide consumers or third-party repairers the parts, software, tools and documentation needed "to diagnose, maintain or repair" power wheelchairs.

The same year, Connecticut lawmakers established a Wheelchair Repair Task Force that helped pass a bill requiring mobility device companies to complete repairs within 10 business days if replacement parts are available and insurance authorization is obtained.

Other states have struggled to pass laws. Since 2021, disability advocates in Massachusetts have pushed legislators to extend the wheelchair repair warranty to two years and require suppliers to provide loaner chairs to those waiting on repairs. Lawmakers also proposed requiring suppliers to cover some costs for damage or malfunction.

According to Massachusetts disability advocates, private equity companies have often resisted those proposals and cited prior authorization as the root of the repair delay problem.

In 2022, industry leaders wrote a letter of opposition to one such bill because it "would place unreasonable burdens on wheelchair providers and manufacturers."

In the letter, the organizations wrote that the types of repairs that would be covered under warranty were too broad, leaving too much room for manufacturers and suppliers to bear the cost of regular wear and tear.

Though the legislation passed in the state Senate in January, it stalled in the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing this spring. Now, advocates are pushing lawmakers to take up the bill during an informal session that ends in December.

"It's like a traffic jam, a legislative traffic jam," said Kay Schoucair, a disability advocate and staff member at the Boston Center for Independent Living. "It's hard to tell what exactly is the reason why it's been so slow."

In Wisconsin, two new laws attempt to address wheelchair repair delays

In 2023 and 2024, two proposals to address barriers to wheelchair repair landed on the floor of Wisconsin's Legislature with the help of state Sen. Mary Felzkowski and state Rep. Jon Plumer.

Act 83 and Act 182, which passed this spring, eliminated Wisconsin's prior authorization process for wheelchair repair, as well as the requirement to get a doctor's prescription for repairs.

Lawmakers also increased the reimbursement rate for such repairs, seeking to address long held concerns that the amount of money paid by insurance companies for parts and labor was inadequate.

Felzkowski said the idea for the bill came from conversations with former Wisconsin Assembly member Joel Kleefisch.

"I just think that people aren't aware of things that don't directly affect them, and if they were, they'd be outraged," Felzkowski said in a March interview with the Journal Sentinel.

The bill sponsors did not raise concerns about private equity's role in the repair process and said that lower quality products and shipment delays were common across industries.

"It's just supply chain, it's bad, and I do think quality is not where it was. I have no idea where these parts are coming from," Felzkowski said.

Wisconsin state Sen. Mary Felzkowski, R-Irma, debates the local government funding bill in Madison during the Senate session in June 2023.

Even with the new legislation in place, advocates say many people who use wheelchairs could still face challenges.

A primary issue is a lack of loaner chairs while people undergo the repair process.

Since its establishment, Independence First has offered an array of walkers and manual wheelchairs for people to borrow, but it does not provide power wheelchairs because it is too difficult to replace the batteries. In addition, most power wheelchairs are intricately customized to accommodate a person's specific health needs, so it can be dangerous or painful to put people in a different chair.

"It's not a matter of 'Oh, your power chair's out, then just transfer into a manual chair and have someone push you around until your chair is fixed,'" said Gerald Hay, the organization's executive director of independent living services.

Even with the new laws, Hay said the organization recognizes that it cannot fill critical systemic gaps in mobility resources.

"It's really an inventory thing," Hay said. "The fact that you have to wait eight weeks just get the part, that's a huge thing you can't legislate."

National Seating and Mobility said not all commercial insurance plans cover loaner chairs, but the company tries to provide them when possible.

"Maintaining such an inventory is not always feasible," the spokesperson said.

The journey to repair

On the morning of Freeman's wheelchair repair appointment, she woke up at 5 a.m. to make her trip to the Milwaukee branch of National Seating and Mobility, a 15-minute walk and hour-long bus ride from her apartment.

It was a rainy Thursday morning. She had opted for an in-person appointment to get one of the earlier spots on the calendar, but couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret.

Raquella Freeman waits for a repair person to fix her chair at the Milwaukee branch of National Seating and Mobility.

She anticipated the steady drizzle outside would slow her commute, so she dressed, ate breakfast, and wrapped her wheelchairs joystick in a plastic bag to avoid any damage.

Her commute required transferring buses two times. To arrive on time, she planned to leave her home at 7:15 a.m.

"I dont know if you get there 15 to 20 minutes late if they give your spot away to the next person," she said. "If they say, 'Sorry youll have to try again in two weeks,' Ive already adjusted my whole schedule. I dont want to have to do this journey again.

In preparation for the appointment, Freeman had ordered the parts for her missing headrest weeks earlier. A shipping mishap resulted in the headrest cushion  but none of the required hardware  plopping onto her doorstep in May.

The error had already caused her to delay her appointment once. By June, her hips and back were starting to hurt from not having a place to rest her feet.

Freeman clocked extra hours at work the night prior to accommodate for her absence. Even so, during the bus ride, she shot off texts and emails to coworkers and tried her best to plan ahead for the afternoon.

With dampened clothes and foggy glasses, Freeman arrived at her appointment an hour early, just as staff members were unlocking the doors to the National Seating and Mobility repair center.

I've spent a lot of time waiting, waiting for places to open, waiting outside, and when I arrive, they are like, 'Why are you here so early?'" she said with a laugh.

After waiting about 40 minutes in an examination room, a repairer came to pick up Freeman's chair, asked some questions about the broken headrest and footplate and whisked the machine into the repair center.

Freeman sat for nearly two hours before he returned. She sat perched on the edge of the room's medical examination bed.

"For your leg rest, the screws that go into the side were loose, so I just tightened them," the repair person said. Freeman nodded. She figured that rolling over uneven sidewalks had done a number on her machine.

"The base of the headrest attachment was bent," he continued, explaining how the team of repairers who attempted to place a new headrest in the frame earlier couldn't get it to fit. With the part replaced, the new headrest should remain sturdy.

But overall, the news was good: The repairs were done and Freeman was good to go.

Following her appointment, National Seating and Mobility even reimbursed Freeman for the headrest and provided a credit to her account for the shipping mistake.

The next bus was an hour delayed, so Freeman decided to take her wheelchair down a different route, a 20-minute walk and a 46-minute ride back home.

After nearly two months of waiting to get her wheelchair fixed, Freeman was relieved to have the process over with.

"Without this, I have no legs," Freeman said. "Most people, when they break their legs, they have options. Once you break these legs, I have no choice but to depend on a bunch of people."

Tamia Fowlkes is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at tfowlkes@gannett.com.

This story was published with the assistance of the Journalism and Women Symposium (JAWS) Health Journalism Fellowship, supported by The Commonwealth Fund. The organizations played no role in the reporting, editing or presentation of this project.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Inside the monthslong wait for wheelchair repair in Wisconsin
Residents in a small New Hampshire town are being asked to shelter in place amid a police investigation Thursday evening.

State and local police are investigating on Sullivan Drive in Allenstown, State Police said on social at 5:30 p.m.

The town has requested nearby residents to shelter in place. #NHSP has not received any information indicating an imminent threat to public safety, State Police said.

Allenstown is located northeast of Manchester and is home to a little over 4,000 residents.

The @NH_StatePolice is assisting with an active & ongoing investigation on Sullivan Drive in Allenstown. The town has requested nearby residents to shelter in place. #NHSP has not received any information indicating an imminent threat to public safety. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/qE7qNxNKHp  New Hampshire State Police (@NH_StatePolice) August 8, 2024

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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Kamala Harris has pulled ahead of Donald Trump, according to a major national poll released Thursday.

A Marquette Law School Poll found Harris up, 52 percent to 48 percent, in a survey of registered voters. Among the Americans likely to actually cast ballots, her lead grew to six points: 53 percent to 47 percent, demonstrating just how successful her campaign rollout has been.

With third-party candidates added to the mix, Harris remained ahead, leading with 47 percent compared to Trumps 41 percent and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s 9 percent.

The survey is far from definitiveit was conducted between July 24 and August 1 and has a margin of error that would erase the gap between the two candidates. But Harris performance is a huge improvement on President Joe Bidens.

In a May survey, Marquette found Biden and Trump tied at 50 percent among registered voters, with Trump outperforming him slightly among likely voters. Come July, nearly 9 out of 10 Democrats said that Biden made the right decision by withdrawing, and the same share said they were satisfied with Harris as the nominee.

The new poll puts hard numbers on the Kamalamentum the vice president has seen since launching her presidential bid. For nearly three weeks, Harris has been met by cheering crowds and positive media coverage. At her rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday, a line of supporters wound all the way around the block hours before she was set to speak; 14,000 people eventually showed up.

Marquette also found that voters are finding Harris more likable. Although 50 percent of registered voters still had an unfavorable view of her at the end of July, that number fell from 59 percent back in May.

Furthermore, the poll showed Harris had advantages when it comes to her relative youth, her temperament, her absence of corruption, and the perception that she shares voters values. Trump had the edge when it came to his record of accomplishments and his strength as a leader.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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(WJW)  The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, along with the Attorney Generals Office and local law enforcement, announced Thursday that a suspect has been identified in two brutal attacks in 1987 that left one woman dead.

According to a news release, Thomas Collier Jordan, who died in 2009, is linked to both cases.

Flooded bridge in Huntersville closed indefinitely

Hudson Township killing

On Aug. 10, 1987, Janice Christensen went for a jog at a Summit County Metro Parks bike path in Hudson Township.

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She never returned home and was reported missing.

The following day, her partially naked body was found with five stab wounds, according to a news release.

A pair of shoelaces were found next to her body. She had also been sexually assaulted, according to investigators.

Christensens car and car keys were missing. The car was later found abandoned in Bedford.

Investigators now believe that Jordan was responsible for the killing.

They have also linked him to the rape of a teenager in Cuyahoga Falls that happened two months before Christensens murder.

Cuyahoga Falls sex assault

Michelle Puett-Howard, who was 17 at the time, reported a sexual assault at Top of the World Park on June 16, 1987.

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The teen was walking alone on a trail when a man armed with a knife grabbed her, bound her hands and ankles with shoelaces and sexually assaulted her, according to a press release.

The suspect took her underwear and the victims car and car keys.

Firefighters injured in Mooresville arson, suspect arrested: Sheriff

DNA evidence was obtained in both cases, according to a press release, but the case grew cold, due to a lack of DNA technology, investigators say.

That DNA evidence was resubmitted to BCIs laboratory in 2022.

The DNA matched the offender profile of Jordan, who was born in Cleveland in 1926 and died in 2009 in Yuma, Arizona, at the age of 83.

BCI agents traveled to Yuma in April 2024 to exhume Jordans body and obtain his DNA.

DNA testing confirmed the link between Jordan and the crimes against Christensen and Puett-Howard.

Thomas Collier Jordan

BCI says Jordan had an extensive criminal history.

He was sentenced to prison in 1959 in Trumbull County for grand larceny; sentenced in 1961 in Cuyahoga County for burglary; sentenced in 1972 in Geauga County for malicious entry; and sentenced in 1976 in Geauga County for rape, stabbing and burglary and was imprisoned until 1985.

Tracking Debby: Flooding and damage from downed trees around Charlotte

Investigators believe Jordan was responsible for both crimes and likely other sex assaults.

Jordan is known to have had ties to Ohio, Arizona, Nevada, California, Louisiana and Michigan. BCI is sharing information about the case to law enforcement nationwide, in hopes that additional cases might be solved.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Coroner identifies woman killed in shooting near Loris Bojangles; suspect arrested in North Carolina

LORIS, S.C. (WBTW)  The Horry County Coroners Office has identified a woman killed and a suspect remains in custody in North Carolina after a deadly shooting Wednesday afternoon near the Bojangles restaurant in Loris.

Kenasia Martin, 22, of Greensboro, North Carolina, died in the shooting, Deputy Coroner Michelle McSpadden said.

Another woman was injured and taken to a local hospital, Loris Police Chief Gary Buley said. It happened at about 2 p.m.

Authorities have not released the name of the suspect, who was arrested in Columbus County, North Carolina. Buley said police are working on extraditing the suspect to Horry County to face charges.

This is a developing story. Count on News13 for updates.

* * *

Dennis Bright is a Digital Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
Hagerstown City Council members agreed Tuesday to schedule a series of meetings with the appropriate agencies to address issues of opioid addiction and crime within the city.

Those meetings could begin as early as next week.

The request, floated last week by Councilman Kristin Aleshire in an interview with The Herald-Mail, follows growing concerns after recent shootings, two of them fatal, and complaints about the extent of drug-related activity in the city.

Kristin Aleshire is sworn in for another term as a Hagerstown City Councilman by Mayor Emily Keller Monday night.

A letter from state Sen. Paul Corderman, R-Washington/Frederick, addressed to the mayor and council but also released publicly, highlighted those issues, and drew reaction throughout the city.

As reported last week, Councilwoman Tiara Burnett had also called for a public meeting separate from a regular work session and bringing in partners to discuss issues related to crime as a whole. Councilman Matthew Schindler had suggested a violent crimes task force.

Hagerstown officials talk about steps to address violent crime, drug epidemic

A senator's open letter turned up the volume

At Tuesday's council work session, Aleshire brought up Corderman's letter "encouraging the city to acknowledge the crime-related and social, specifically drug-related, issues that we have in the city."

"I don't think any of us at this table are either blind to that reality," Aleshire said, or abdicating "our responsibilities to work to address it. However, I must admit that there was some confusion on my part, because the various points  in this letter, that was sent just to the mayor and council, include or are the responsibilities and authority of any number of our various governmental, county, state-agency, private nonprofit entity partners."

Sen. Paul Corderman, R-Washington, speaks during a legislative update breakfast meeting Tuesday at Hagerstown Community College. The event was sponsored by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.

Aleshire's response to the letter, published in The Herald-Mail last week, suggested a public meeting with all those agencies to discuss the matter.

Corderman's emailed response, which he has shared with The Herald-Mail, thanked Aleshire for his "willingness to address these concerns.

"I welcome the opportunity to meet with you and the other stakeholders you have included  I look forward to the City organizing this Public Safety Summit and sharing some dates in the near future."

Aleshire reiterated Tuesday that he wants a series of meetings on the issues of opioids and related crimes.

"I know that when such occurrences happen, there is this reaction to sort of one, to organize, you know, this singular, large-scale setting of all the partners, and I think that in the past, on other efforts of a similar nature, that just leads to, one, these tangential conversations that dilute our objective to find resolution specifically with each partner.

"And those types of efforts are often done outside of the plain public view. We set a day, we go over, we get tons of people that are invested in the issue, and we meet in that setting. It's typically during the day."

Aleshire said when he read the letter, "I said, you know, you're right. I don't know exactly what the State's Attorney's Office does when such criminal activities occur, and they've got to take that action through the court system.

"I don't know what limitations exist in that office. I don't know how plea bargaining in that setting works in each of those instances, I don't know what parameters the state directives have. I don't know what constraints judges may have in that process, because I don't work in that venue every day."

But he said he also recognized that courts are a state responsibility. "And so for me, I think we absolutely should have a conversation in this plain public setting here with that entity to explain to the public and to us, one, how those things work, number one, and two, what exactly is our role in that process? Because trying to govern those types of discussions via social media isn't where it's happening. It just isn't."

"I absolutely concur with that," said Councilman Peter Perini.

"I 100% agree," Schindler said. "I know that there's a huge concern as far as questions and wanting to know things as regards to public safety. So I'd like to see that soon and later."

"Let's start next week," Perini said.

"I think that's a great path forward," Schindler said.

"I'm on it," said Mayor Tekesha Martinez.

Aleshire noted that Sheriff Brian Albert had agreed to participate, and State's Attorney Gina Cirincione had also accepted Corderman's invitation to take part.

Hagerstown Police Chief Paul Kifer said Tuesday that he, Albert and Lt. Brian Kloos, commander of the Maryland State Police's Hagerstown barrack, have agreed to meet with the mayor and council. A date was being finalized.

Burnett had asked for such a meeting.

Burnett and Councilwoman Shelley McIntire were not present at Tuesday's work session.

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A second letter seeks the governor's help

But as that conversation was going on at City Hall, Corderman released a second letter Tuesday, addressed to Gov. Wes Moore and co-signed by a former resident, Sen. Joanne Benson, D-Prince George's, seeking state aid to form a violent crimes task force "as our beloved home community is in crisis and under siege."

The letter asked for "the assistance of the Maryland State Police, The Governors Office of Crime Prevention & Policy, and the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network  It is our request that these entities provide resources and emergency funding, and work in immediate coordination with the Hagerstown Police Department and Washington County Sheriffs Department to establish a Violent Crimes Task Force to address this public safety crisis."

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Corderman told The Herald-Mail on Wednesday that he had not consulted with anyone from the city government before sending the letter, and said he hadn't heard more from the city since Aleshire's initial response. That, he said, was why he contacted the governor.

His letter to the governor noted that "shootings this year are expected to rise nearly 70% from 2021" in the city, a statistic Corderman said was provided by Hagerstown Police.

The number of shootings in 2021, which totaled 13, could have been artificially low because of pandemic lockdowns, according to Kifer, who provided The Herald-Mail with figures from 2021 through the first seven months of 2024.

Here are the number of shootings for each of those years, from Jan. 1 through Aug. 6, according to HPD:

13 in 2021

36 in 2022

28 in 2023

26 in 2024

Kifer told The Herald-Mail that Corderman had not been in contact with him.

Staff writer Julie E. Greene contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown council plans meetings to plot strategy against crime
Have a silly roadside stop off I-80 between Sacramento and the Bay Area? Please tell me

As those of us who use Californias highway system know, the freeway is often the site of misery. Tormented commuters are snarled in congestion and horrific crashes wreak havoc. In its finest moments, when traffic flows easily, the freeway is merely a place where cars cough toxic pollution into the air.

Sometimes, you just need a break from the road.

That is why The Sacramento Bee is now asking you, our readers: What delightful roadside attractions should draw us off I-80 between the capital city and the Bay Area?

Is there a particular nut stand with cant-miss pistachios? A rock store in Vacaville? A toad tunnel in Davis? The largest brackish marsh on the West Coast?

We are working on a list of the silliest, most fun and totally unexpected roadside stops between Sacramento and the Bay Area. Please help us by filling out the form below and letting us know what has lured you off the freeway. You can also email suggested stops or poems about the hay bale Minions in Dixon to me  Ariane Lange  at alange@sacbee.com.

Well follow up with a story that highlights the best picks.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  A doctor at Advanced Walk-In Urgent Care in Silver Spring was sentenced on Wednesday for raping and sexually assaulting his patients.

Dr. Ishtiaq Malik, 60, of Lanham, Md., was found guilty on Jan. 26 of two counts of second-degree rape and two counts of fourth-degree sex offense for assaults on two of his patients, according to the Montgomery County States Attorneys Office.

According to court documents, one of Maliks victims went to the urgent care on Sept. 7, 2022, for a medical clearance to have an elective surgery. When she told him about the surgery, Malik said she should have a procedure to enhance her breasts.

Illinois man arrested for targeting elders in gold bar scheme, Montgomery County police say

He then groped her while she was on the exam table and, after she was told to remove her clothes, was not given a medical gown to cover herself. Instead, Malik locked the door of the exam room and then sexually assaulted her with his fingers.

She told the receptionist what happened, who told her to report him to the police.

Just over a month later, on Oct. 14, 2022, a second victim went to the urgent care for a sciatic nerve issue that was radiating pain to her foot. When Malik entered the exam room, he checked her lungs and feet before asking if she had pain anywhere else on her body.

She told him she felt pain in her vagina and he removed her clothes without asking for her permission. As with the first victim, Malik did not give the second woman a medical gown to cover herself. Malik then sexually assaulted her with his fingers.

Frederick County man charged for assaulting officer while wielding flagpole in Jan. 6 Capitol riot

After about 15 minutes, the woman clothed herself and Malik groped her. She told him to stop and he asked her not to call the police.

She reported the assault in early November.

After being found guilty on Jan. 26, Malik pleaded guilty to a separate case on Jan. 29. He pleaded guilty to eight counts of fourth-degree sex offense  one for eight additional victims.

He was sentenced on Aug. 7 and will spend 24 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised probation after his release.

Malik will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

The judge issued a sentence above the Maryland State Sentencing Guidelines which is entirely appropriate in this case. Ishtiaq Malik took advantage of his position as a medical professional and violated these women who trusted him with their care, said States Attorney John McCarthy in a news release.

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Sioux City to host Restaurant Week: Lunch Edition in a month

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  One month from now, 15 downtown restaurants will be participating in Restaurant Week Lunch Edition.

According to a Facebook post from the Sioux City Downtown Partners, the participating restaurants have not been announced yet but will be soon!

The City of Sergeant Bluff to host its 49th Pioneer Valley Days

The Restaurant Week: Lunch Edition will occur on Tuesday, Sept. 3 through Saturday, Sept 7.

For information on where to find lunch spots, click here.

For more information about Restaurant Week, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
By Nidhi Verma and Arathy Somasekhar

NEW DELHI/HOUSTON (Reuters) - India's Reliance Industries plans to use naptha supplies as partial payment for crude purchases from Venezuela after the refiner obtained a U.S. approval last month to resume oil trade with the sanctioned producer, three sources aware of the contract terms said.

One source said Reliance will pay dollars for the balance of the crude purchase. The company was forced to stop direct purchase from Venezuela in April due to a re-imposition of sanctions but in July, Washington authorized Reliance to import crude from Venezuela. Reliance had re-submitted a request to the U.S. in May.

Reliance, which operates the world's biggest refining complex, plans to supply naphtha, a refined product, from the U.S. to partly pay for its Venezuelan oil purchases, the sources said. The arrangement is similar to past Reliance trades with Venezuela's state company PDVSA, according to PDVSA's exports and imports records. Venezuela needs naphtha as a diluent for its heavy crude.

Reliance's two refineries in western Gujarat state can process about 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil. The complexity of these plants allows the refiner to process cheaper and heavier crudes such as Merey from Venezuela.

The sources declined to provide details regarding volumes and duration of the authorization given by the U.S. for Reliance's Venezuelan oil purchase. Washington could impose fresh sanctions on the South American country following a disputed election, but U.S. officials have said individual oil licenses are not expected to be modified or withdrawn for now.

Reliance did not respond to a Reuters email seeking comments.

The U.S. last year granted a broad license to Venezuela's oil industry allowing state-run PDVSA to freely export to its chosen markets, which boosted demand for Venezuela's oil and pushed up the country's fuel imports through swaps.

But Washington in April re-imposed sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector in response to President Nicolas Maduro's failure to meet election commitments, granting instead some individual licenses to trade and operate in Venezuela's energy sector.

Loading schedules at Venezuelan ports have been overbooked, one of the sources said, which has caused delays in Reliance's resumption in taking the oil. Several sources cited similar problem for other Asian buyers.

Venezuelan production did not increase quickly enough to meet contracts negotiated with existing as well as new customers, leading to more delays to deliver cargoes since early this year. Delays reached up to 60 days in some cases, affecting importers of Venezuelan oil in Asia.

Story continues

The Indian refiner had limited direct loadings of Venezuelan crude earlier this year over worries that the license could be pulled at anytime, one of the sources said. That could impact vessels in transit or at Venezuelan ports, the person added.

Reliance's refinery last received 2 million barrels of Venezuelan oil in June, Kpler data showed. It was not immediately clear who the supplier was.

(Reporting by Nidhi Verma in Delhi and Arathy Somasekhar in Houston; Additional reporting by Marianna Parraga in Houston; Editing by Florence Tan and David Gregorio)
A federal grand jury in South Florida on Thursday indicted Venezuelan-American executive Roger Pinate, founder and president of the voting-machine company Smartmatic, on charges of involving a bribery and money-laundering scheme used to secure elections contracts in the Philippines.

According to federal prosecutors Pinate, 49, a Boca Raton resident, along with Jorge Miguel Vasquez, 62, of Davie, and others others were involved in the payment of a $1 million in bribes to the former chairman of the Philippines Commission on Elections, Juan Andres Donato Bautista.

These bribes were allegedly paid to obtain and retain business related to providing voting machines and election services for the 2016 Philippine elections and to secure payments on the contracts, including the release of value added tax payments, the U.S. Justice Department said in a press release.

Officials said the alleged co-conspirators financed the bribes by over-invoicing the cost per voting machine for the elections. To conceal the operation, the co-conspirators used coded language to refer to the slush fund used to make the illicit payments and caused the creation of fraudulent contracts and sham loan agreements to justify transfers, the Justice Department said.

The co-conspirators then allegedly laundered funds related to the bribery scheme through bank accounts located in Asia, Europe, and the United States, including in the Southern District of Florida, the department added.

Bautista, Pinate, Vasquez, and Elie Moreno, 44, a dual citizen of Venezuela and Israel, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of international laundering of monetary instruments.

If convicted, Bautista, Pinate, Vasquez and Moreno each face a maximum penalty of 20 years for each count of international laundering of monetary instruments and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Pinate, alongside Venezuelans Antonio Mugica and Alfredo Jose Anzola, founded Smartmatic in 2000, and gained notoriety after the company was chosen by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez to replace the countrys voting machines in 2004. The company grew by acquiring the much larger Sequoia Voting Systems in 2006, though the company later announced that it had divested its stake in that company.
HURON COUNTY, Ohio (WJW)  The Ohio State Highway Patrol announced that an OVI checkpoint will be held Friday evening.

The checkpoint is planned for Huron County. According to a Friday morning press release, the checkpoint will be held from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on US 250.

Mega Millions winner sold at local gas station

Based on provisional data, there were 672 OVI- related fatal crashes in which 725 people were killed last year in Ohio, Lieutenant Jordan L. Schwochow, commander of the Norwalk Post, said. State troopers make on average 25,000 OVI arrests each year in an attempt to combat these dangerous drivers. OVI checkpoints are designed to not only deter impaired driving but to proactively remove these dangerous drivers from our roadways.

The OVI checkpoint is funded by federal grants.

In addition, motorists can expect nearby saturation patrols to aggressively combat impaired driver-related injury and fatal crashes.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
People on social media watched Donald Trumps decidedly weird press conference Thursday and concluded that the ex-president is massively overconfident, incoherent, and one egg short of an [omelet].

In his rambling remarks, Trump aired his usual grievances and falsehoods to reporters, lied that that presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris would force Americans to buy electric cars, and charged that the vice president wasnt smart enough to do a news conference.

Oh, and he also claimed that his speeches attracted more people than civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have A Dream speech.

If you look at Martin Luther King, when he did his speech, his great speech, and you look at ours, same real estate, same everything, same number of people  if not, we had more.

Not surprisingly, Trumps antics got a lot of attention on X, formerly Twitter, where one person called his press conference bad improv.

It's like bad improv at this point. Not funny, not present, doesn't understand the word the audience just tried to prompt him with... but massively overconfident in his skills. https://t.co/zl11V0kyu8  Sean Casten (@SeanCasten) August 8, 2024

If watching Trump's public meltdown at Mar-a-lago right now, you think he's stable and cognitively able enough to entrust with the lives of our Troops and the lives of your families, we don't know what to tell you. The old man is one egg short of an omelette.  VoteVets (@votevets) August 8, 2024

Let's be honest: the guy looks terrified, with all sorts of weak body language. He also looks worn down physically.  Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) August 8, 2024

I find this man super weird and I did a love scene with a duck. #trumpmeltdownhttps://t.co/66oMePXbBn  Lea Thompson (@LeaKThompson) August 8, 2024

This is the day the Trump campaign died.



It's over.  Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) August 8, 2024

But that doesnt mean people want him to stop.

Please do this every day as an in-kind contribution to the Harris campaign. That was completely insane.   Dr. Jessica Smock (@schoolofsmock) August 8, 2024

Please God let him do this every day for three months  Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) August 8, 2024

Watching Trump



The decision to have this undisciplined press conference is 10 times worse than the decision to pick JD Vance.



This is driving away everyone except MAGA dead-enders.



He gained zero but gave Harris another polling bump & hours of sound bites.  Patti Lyles (@dmills8) August 8, 2024

And some people wondered when the media would fixate on Trumps cognitive abilities and his fitness for office.

Compare the tame (fearful?) behavior of reporters in Trump press conference to reporters behavior in Biden White House press briefings.



Trump has been given special treatment by media from day one and still gets it.  Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) August 8, 2024

Press should report this as incoherent, displaying mental deterioration. He is unwell. The refusal to explain how unhinged he is and instead to normalize is reprehensible  Jen "We aren't going back " Rubin  (@JRubinBlogger) August 8, 2024

Ok so the entire media said Biden was too old after he stumbled on a few sentences at the debate but Trump can say he had bigger crowds than MLK? pic.twitter.com/taPqEoqMwr  Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) August 8, 2024

It's peculiar that Trump can drone on and on, repeating what he thinks is his greatest hits & the media never question his fitness for office or emphasizes his pending court cases that would disappear if he were elected. Remind us once in a while, okay? @msnbchttps://t.co/cf7r4gkjTv  debraj1121 on Threads: debraj112expand (@debraj112) August 8, 2024

Kudos to @CNN & @MSNBC for breaking away for instant fact checking of the sociopaths lies. The list was long&they only touched the tip of the iceberg of his multitude of blatant lies. Wait until the diapered felon sees the footage of the fact checks.Ketchup! "Watching Trump"  bmichael (@brolivor) August 8, 2024

Former Trump press secretary Anthony Scaramucci said the whole crazy event suggested to him that Trump is frightened.

Trump is frightened.  Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) August 8, 2024

And others expressed their emotions with visuals.

Related...
THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11)  Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Dr. Ramon Tallaj arrived in the United States in the 90s to complete a residency at St. Lukes Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City.

I wanted to open a place to work in Washington Heights, which I did and since then, I started organizing the physicians, he said.

More Local News

While working at his practice, Tallaj said he realized there was a greater need to provide accessible health care to the Latino, Asian, African American and immigrant communities.

We call it value base care based on keeping the community healthy, he said.

SOMOS Community Care, established in 2014, is a non-profit, physician-led organization of over 2,500 independent healthcare providers serving over 1 million Medicaid and Medicare patients.

In this project, we decreased 35% emergency visits, 30% avoidable admissions, we decreased 30% dialysis in people with diabetes or 25% amputations or loss of eyesight, Tallaj said.

Somos means we are in Spanish. The community care has 900 medical offices in the city and Nassau County, serving 30,000 patients daily.

During the COVID pandemic, SOMOS became a greater resource for testing and getting families vaccinated, Tallaj said. SOMOS even partnered with Marvel Comics on a vaccination campaign, distributing a limited edition comic book that taught kids why it was important to get vaccinated.

We were able to vaccinate 20,000 kids because of the book, Tallaj said.

Primary care is what SOMOS has been delivering for over a decade, but Tallaj wanted to take one step further and expand the model of care  focusing on social issues and behavioral problems. Thats why widespread patient mental health screenings are being implemented to determine depression, anxiety or suicide, he said.

Behavioral health issues, according to Tallaj, may be due to some social factors:

Housing problem, job problem, food insecurity, transportation that is very difficult in our community, he said.

If those issues are tackled by connecting patients to the resources needed, then patients conditions and lives are improved to avoid diseases, Tallaj said.

We are carrying a new way of seeing health care is keeping people healthy, Tallaj said.

If youd like to find out more info about SOMOS Community Care, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Sonya Masseys Death Could Have Been Prevented With Better Police Culture, Experts Say

The police shooting death of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman in Springfield, Illinois, renewed a call from elected officials for police reform legislation and ignited ongoing demonstrations demanding police accountability nationwide.

Former Sangamon County Sheriffs Deputy Sean Grayson, who fatally shot Massey, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder. But to prevent cases like this from happening in the future, experts argue more pressure needs to be put on law enforcement to change police culture.

This woman needed help. She was scared. And rather than de-escalate the situation, [Grayson] escalated the situation by pulling out his gun and barking orders, Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, told HuffPost.

But unfortunately, in some police departments, those tactics are still used, Wexler continued. And if we are going to change, if we are going to learn from tragedies like this, we have to not just select different officers but change the tactics they use.

In 2021, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed a criminal justice legislation package that included reforms and accountability for officers. That bill included mandatory training for officers, including use-of-force and de-escalation tactics to prevent or reduce the use of force.

The unfortunate thing about legislation is that just because it exists does not mean that anyone will abide by it, said Miltonette Craig, a criminal justice professor at Sam Houston State University.

The 2021 legislation also established a duty to intervene for law enforcement officers in cases where excessive force is exhibited by their partner.

Jillian Snider, a policy director on criminal justice and civil liberties with the R Street Institute and a retired officer with the New York City Police Department, said that in the Massey case, both deputies  Grayson and his still-unnamed partner  made errors during the fatal encounter.

There are many agencies like the NYPD where we have this duty to intervene in training, and that was a post-George Floyd training. So if you see another officer doing something that you know is absolutely wrong, you are responsible both legally and departmentally to intervene in that situation, to try and diffuse it, Snider told HuffPost. We did not see that in this case at all, we just kind of saw this officer go with whatever Grayson was doing.

HuffPost reached out to Pritzkers office for comment as to whether the other deputy failed to intervene, but his office did not provide comment. The sheriffs office did not respond to requests for comment.

In this image taken from body camera video released by Illinois State Police on Monday, July 22, 2024, former Sangamon County Sheriffs Deputy Sean Grayson, left, points his gun at Sonya Massey, who called 911 for help, before shooting and killing her inside her home in Springfield, Illinois, on July 6, 2024. via Associated Press

When the two deputies walked into Masseys home, Grayson told her to turn off a stove that had a pot of boiling water on it. As she went into the kitchen to handle the pot, the other deputy stepped back, saying he was moving away from your hot and steaming water.

Massey replied, I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.

Moments later, Grayson pointed his gun toward Massey and threatened to shoot her if she did not put the pot down. Im sorry, Massey said, and she crouched down to the floor. Grayson shot her three times and said there was no need to get a medical kit because she was shot in the head.

In Graysons field report, he wrote that he was in fear for his and the other deputys lives and that I fired my duty weapon.

Firearms are not proportional to boiling water, under any circumstance. And it would have been great had the other officer realized a firearm was not necessary and having two drawn is even more over the top, Craig said.

Hans Menos, vice president of public safety innovations at the Center for Policing Equity, said while officers may have training to de-escalate interactions with civilians, especially those with mental health, some officers tend to escalate the encounters anyhow.

Menos said neither Grayson nor the other deputy needed to go inside Masseys home and described the decision as escalation, which led to Masseys fatal shooting. Menos said the officers were looking for more than the actual reason they were called to Masseys home.

This is escalation. They dont need to be there, he said. What we fail to realize is that police officers are not only failing to de-escalate, but they are often escalating. They are bringing things to a point that they do not need to be at. Ultimately, if they would do less and do what they were called for, Sonya Massey may be alive today.

Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell condemned Graysons actions during the shooting and described him as a rogue individualwho did not use proper policing tactics. Records from Graysons personnel files show he received training in areas such as crisis intervention, civil rights and de-escalation. Graysons checkered history of being discharged from the Army for violations, shuffling through six departments in four years and multiple law enforcement agencies citing in his workplace positioned him as a possible red flag in hiring.

In a recent interview with CBS, Campbell doubled down on Graysons training, saying he received even more on when and when not to use lethal force.

He had all the training he needed, Campbell said. He just didnt use it.

Pritzker called for Campbells resignation on Wednesday for hiring Grayson, not meeting with Masseys family and failing to bring in reforms to his police department.

He failed to put forward reforms that clearly need to be made  training and other reforms, Pritzker said during a press conference.

Bree Spencer, a justice senior program director for the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said her organization welcomes the reintroduction of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a federal bill designed to improve police training, practices and transparency following the 2020 murder of Floyd by ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. But she still believes there are policing issues that legislation can overlook.

In order to find a solution, Spencer argued Congress needs to address policing reform in a step-by-step process.

There are problems in policing that are not being addressed by any of the current legislation, or by any current policy. And what it really comes down to is the culture of policing, the culture of sheriffs departments, Spencer said.

Related...
The family of Sonya Massey is calling for sweeping police reforms in the wake of her death, advocating for greater accountability to prevent officers involved in cases like Masseys from moving between departments without consequence. During her funeral last month, the 36-year-olds father spoke firmly to one lawmaker about proposed changes.

Illinois can be No. 1, State Senator, James Wilburn, Masseys father, said to State Senator Doris Turner of Springfield, according to the Chicago Sun Times and WBEZ. Introduce the bill tomorrow, that when you [resign] in lieu of being fired from a police department, you dont go on to the next one. You can call it the Sonya Massey Bill.

As Blavity reported, Massey was shot and killed by former Sangamon County Sheriffs Deputy Sean Grayson inside her home on July 6. The deadly incident occurred after she called 911 to report a possible burglar at her residence. When they arrived, both Grayson and his unidentified partner spoke with Massey before things escalated between both parties.

Body camera footage captured Massey saying, I rebuke you in the name of Jesus, while Grayson demanded she put down a pot of boiling water, per ABC News. He then responded by threatening to shoot you right in your f**king face if she did not comply, The Guardian reported. Shots were fired, with a bullet striking Massey in the face. Grayson now faces first-degree murder and other charges in the case.

His law enforcement background has raised concerns, particularly among Masseys family. According to the Times, Sangamon County is the sixth police department where he has worked in the past four years. He has faced multiple complaints for inappropriate conduct, being verbally aggressive, and other issues. Masseys loved ones believe that had a law like the one they are proposing been in place, it might have prevented her death.

Turner, who has known Massey and her family since moving to Springfield in 1981, was devastated by her death but has expressed caution about the proposed legislation her family is advocating for in the state.

Before we file any new legislation, we always look at whats currently on the books, Turner said, according to WBEZ. Weve been looking closely at the SAFE-T Act.

Before Doris Turner joined the General Assembly in February 2021, Democratic state lawmakers enacted the SAFE-T Act, a comprehensive criminal justice reform package. This law expanded the grounds for decertifying law enforcement officers in Illinois, preventing them from working in any other police departments or agencies within the state.

According to Graysons record, he did not have any complaints or misconduct that would have led to automatic decertification. However, under the new discretionary decertification process introduced by the SAFE-T Act, complaints are subject to review.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul echoed Turners reservations, highlighting that police departments across the state do not all operate under the same standards.

There are hundreds of law enforcement departments within the state of Illinois, and theyre not all the same, Raoul said, per WBEZ. Theyre not of the same quality in terms of their capacity to make sure that they have good policy, implementation and adequate training.
Fit for office?

To the millions of voters out there who are planning to hand the keys to the greatest country on earth over to Donald Trump, I have a question for you. If he were a plumber by trade, and you did your due diligence and did a background check and his criminal record came up, would you let this man in your house and around your family to fix your leaky faucet? I bet not.

Enough

Im not a Never-Trumper, I voted for him twice. But, Ive decided that even these Communists on the left cant be as bad as he is. The moral decline, the damage to political discourse, and, something we ultra-conservatives dont discuss much, the environmental damage. We know he will roll back environmental protections that may do irreparable harm to our planet.

Whos the boss?

The shameful plea deal offered to some of the Gitmo detainees to avoid the death penalty was agreed upon without President Bidens knowledge, according to the White House and Defense Department spokesman. How is that possible? Is Biden president until the election or not?

Race

Why is it OK for Simone Biles to say she is happy it was an all-Black Olympic podium? If a White person said that, it would be called racist and all over the news.

Poor representative

When you put the name of your business or the name of your alma mater on your vehicle or your clothing, then go out in public and drive or act like a jerk, nobody is going to want to do business with your company or you have represented your school poorly.

Avoid a war

Im praying that Israels Benjamin Netanyahu doesnt lead us into a war with Iran. Since we are their allies, we may have to take sides.

No lions den

The Lions den that Donald Trump voluntarily went to was not liberal journalists. A FOX News journalist was also at the NABJ Convention. Trump was not attacked, he was asked truthful questions about awful things he has said about Black people and why he thinks they should vote for him. He did not answer questions truthfully, he lied and went off on rants. If Trump would attend the debate he had agreed to, then both candidates will have to answer tough questions for all to see.

Send your Sound Offs to soundoff@sunherald.com.
(Bloomberg) -- South Africa is intensifying its work to address shortcomings in tackling illicit financial flows so that it can exit a global dirty-money list, a top official at the nations financial regulator said.

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Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has ramped up efforts to co-ordinate the government response to problem areas identified by the Financial Action Task Force to ensure the nations removal from its so-called gray list by a June deadline, said Farzana Badat, deputy commissioner of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority.

There has to be a demonstration of political will  that is something that FATF looks at very seriously, Badat said at a Bloomberg event Wednesday. While South Africa is not lacking on that, it might not always be visible.

I think weve gotten that and in fact, the finance minister has over the past few months actually increased the impetus in getting more ministers together to demonstrate the will, she said.

South Africa has until February to address 22 key factors FATF identified to get off the list. It has only completed eight of the action items and the nation has two reporting cycles  due in September and January  to address outstanding issues.

FATF added South Africa to its list in February last year, denting the countrys reputation as investors grew wary of an economic outlook already dimmed by sluggish growth, crime and corruption.

The move followed an era of endemic government corruption  known as state capture  that started under former President Jacob Zuma and gripped the country for years.

The nation will likely struggle to exit the dirty-money list because we havent sent anyone to jail for state capture, Busisiwe Mavuso, chief executive officer of private-sector lobby Business Leadership South Africa, said at the same event.

FATF is questioning that  youve had money stolen for more than 15 years and you havent put a single person in jail, she said. Clearly that just shows how weak our system is and how we dont have controls in place to detect, identify and prosecute those that have been involved.

While the financial system hasnt felt an immediate impact, a protracted stay on the list could raise costs for the country as it dents its reputation as an open and free economy, Bongiwe Kunene, managing director of the Banking Association South Africa, said at the same event.

If we do not exit the gray list then there is that heightened vulnerability, she said.

South Africa aims to complete nine of the action items by September, with the rest due in January. It needs to get all of them done by February in order to exit the list by June.

The country is on track to address all the outstanding action items, but it will be challenging to do so by the February deadline, the National Treasury said in a statement in July.

If we continue on the trajectory that we are on right now and based on the reporting, the probability is very good that we will get off, but anything can happen, Badat said. Whats important is to have contingency if we dont get off.

(Updates with Treasury assessment in penultimate paragraph.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
By Rich McKay and Brad Brooks

ATLANTA (Reuters) -Tropical Storm Debby was downgraded to a tropical depression on Thursday after leaving at least seven people dead in its wake across the U.S. southeast this week.

Debby is currently spiraling northward toward Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York, where it's forecast to spawn a few tornadoes and threaten more flash flooding on some already soaked patches of the U.S., forecasters said.

The National Weather Service said in a bulletin that while Debby would continue to weaken through Sunday, "heavy rain, flash and river flooding effects will continue over the next two days as the storm begins its northeastward acceleration."

Debby made landfall on Thursday for a second time this week, arriving on shore again near Bulls Bay, South Carolina, three days after slamming into Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 1 hurricane, then traveling across northern Florida and Georgia to the Atlantic Coast.

Debby could spawn a few tornadoes in North Carolina and Virginia later Thursday and early Friday, including in the vicinity of Washington, D.C., the NWS said.

Debby was forecast to bring another 3 inches (7 cm) of rain on Thursday to parts of eastern South Carolina, the National Hurricane Center said, with total amounts in some spots exceeding 25 inches (64 cm) since Monday. Rainfall totals could reach 15 inches (38 cm) in southeastern North Carolina and 10 inches (25 cm) in parts of Virginia.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said there had been no storm-related deaths in his state as of Thursday afternoon, but he urged residents to remain cautious about venturing out as the state faces the threat of river flooding.

"It's not over yet. We've passed some dangers, but there are still plenty, so don't let your guard down yet," McMaster said at a press conference.

More than 45,000 customers were without power in North Carolina and Virginia Thursday night, according to the tracking site, Poweroutage.us.

A tornado killed one man when his house collapsed as it tore through eastern North Carolina and damaged at least 10 houses, a church and a school in Wilson County, North Carolina, early on Thursday, county officials reported on social media.

By the weekend, Debby could produce up to 6 inches (15 cm) of rain from Maryland into northern Vermont. But New York City will avoid the worst of the storm, said Josh Weiss, a forecaster with the weather service.

In Bulloch County, Georgia, about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Savannah, four dams burst on Wednesday as a result of floodwaters, and officials warned the Cypress Lake Dam was at risk of failure on Thursday.

That forced the evacuation of local residents after homes were flooded and roads made impassable as lakes and creeks overflowed, the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office reported.

(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta and Brad Brooks in Colorado; additional reporting by Swati Verma; editing by Miral Fahmy, Bernadette Baum, Jonathan Oatis, Aurora Ellis and Michael Perry)
A Sioux Falls resident votes in the city and school board election at Southern Hills United Methodist Church on April 9, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

A Sioux Falls resident votes in the city and school board election at Southern Hills United Methodist Church on April 9, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

The executive board of the South Dakota Democratic Party voted on Thursday to oppose Constitutional Amendment H, a ballot measure that would open up primary elections to all voters regardless of party affiliation.

Currently, Democrats and Republicans conduct their own party primaries to choose their nominees for the general election. Democrats allow independents to cast ballots in their primaries; Republicans do not.

If passed Nov. 5, Amendment H would allow all voters to vote in primary contests that include all candidates, regardless of party. In races where one winner is chosen on the general election ballot, the top two vote-getters in the primary would advance. In races with two general election winners, such as races for state House of Representatives, the top four would advance from the primary.

The state Republican Party came out against open primaries in 2023, GOP Chairman John Wiik told South Dakota Searchlight. Party leaders refer to it as a jungle primary and say it stands as an attempt to let those outside the party influence candidate selection.

Democratic leaders have voiced concerns, as well. The state Democratic Party Executive Director Dan Ahlers and its Chairman Shane Merrill told The Dakota Scout newspaper in June that the measure would hurt the minority party by making all-Republican general election contests more likely.

On Thursday, the partys leadership agreed, formally placing Democrats on the opposing side of the measure. A press release on the executive committee vote points to all-GOP ballots as a reason for its opposition to Amendment H.

California and Washington state have open primaries, the release said, and the minority parties in those states are regularly absent from general election ballots as a result.

Backers pitch Amendment H as a move to get South Dakotans to the polls in primaries, but state Democrats say it wont work and point to 2022 as an example.

In 2022, California and South Dakota had the same primary turnout at 29%, the press release reads. Wyoming, which has a closed primary, had 42% voter turnout.

Joe Kirby, the Sioux Falls civic activist who leads the Amendment H charge, told South Dakota Searchlight that the news of party opposition is further evidence that the parties are more concerned with holding power than empowering voters.

Party bosses like Ahlers and GOP Chairman John Wiik, Kirby said, dont like Amendment H because it would take political power back from them and return it to the voters where it belongs.

South Dakota voters are tired of unfair elections where few voters turn out to vote, like the recent state primaries, Kirby said over email. Open primaries will allow all voters to participate, including the 150,000 independent voters who currently have little to no voice in hiring the people who govern the state.

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ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) is one of the largest oil producers in the world. Its oil and gas business is a big moneymaker; the company earned $12.7 billion from its upstream operations during the first half of this year. So it can be easy to miss that Exxon is more than just an oil and gas company.

At its core, ExxonMobil is an innovative technology company. That means the Exxon of tomorrow isn't likely to look like the company of today, which looks much different from the one that started over a century ago. Exxon is investing heavily in building new businesses, which provides it with lots of optionality and avenues for profitable growth in the coming years.

ExxonMobil, the technology company

ExxonMobil doesn't see itself as an oil company. CEO Darren Woods described the company on its recent second-quarter conference call:

As a technology company that transforms molecules to meet society's needs, we're not defined by our existing product suite. We began as a maker of kerosene for lamps. Today, no one thinks of ExxonMobil as a kerosene company serving the lamp industry. In the future, ExxonMobil will be defined by the technologies and products it is producing to meet the world's future needs, as always, by drawing on our unique combination of competitive advantages.

As Woods noted, Exxon has evolved over the years. It has gone from supplying kerosene for the lamp industry to a globally integrated energy company. Exxon doesn't just produce oil and gas like many others in the sector; it transforms those hydrocarbon molecules into higher-value refined products and petrochemicals in its downstream operations.

Exxon's ability to adapt in the past bodes well for its future. The company continues to innovate at the molecular level. That has enabled it to launch new technologies and products that could help fuel its growth in the coming years.

Turning innovation into growth drivers

Woods highlighted two of its recent advancements on the second quarter call that have significant market potential: Proxxima and carbon materials. He noted, "With Proxxima, we transform lower-value gasoline molecules into a high-performance, high-value thermoset resin that can be used in coatings, light construction materials, and advanced composites for cars and trucks, including battery boxes for electric vehicles." Proxxima is lighter, stronger, more durable, and produces fewer emissions than the current alternatives.

The company is already turning Proxxima into a commercial product. It's investing in projects in Texas that should start up next year and significantly expand its Proxxima production capacity. Exxon believes the total addressable market for this product will reach 5 million tons and $30 billion by 2030. Meanwhile, it sees demand growing faster than the economy and that its investment returns should exceed 15%.

Story continues

Woods also noted the sizable opportunity Exxon sees ahead for carbon materials. The company is "transforming the molecular structure of low-value, carbon-rich feeds from our refining processes into high-value products for a range of applications." He said Exxon is targeting high-margin markets that are growing faster than the economy, such as carbon fiber, polymer additives, and battery materials.

The company is looking to lean into opportunities by developing plans to accelerate the growth of both businesses, which it expects will be very profitable. Woods hopes the company can ramp up its investments to turn them into meaningful contributors soon. That would help further diversify its earnings and help grow value for shareholders significantly in the future.

Proxxima and carbon solutions are just two of the many examples of the company's innovation. They help drive its belief that Exxon will be able to "grow profitably far into the future across a wide range of scenarios, including a rapid energy transition," where oil demand dries up faster than the company currently anticipates.

Exxon's evolution puts it in a strong future position

Exxon views itself as a technology company that transforms molecules into higher-value products. The company's investments in innovation are yielding results, as Proxxima and carbon solutions could soon become meaningful growth drivers. The company's innovations position it to continue growing no matter what happens in the energy markets, making it a compelling long-term investment opportunity.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  Fire officials are celebrating this week after voters passed tax issues for Monett Rural, Pierce City, and Logan-Rogersville fire protection districts.

We had some people who said theyre going to vote no, and we understood completely why they didnt want it. We had people that fully supported it, Assistant Fire Chief Nicholas Mercer said. There was a relief off our shoulders. You know, we had several big projects that the tax might be used for, so having that relief of now, we dont have to do one project a year or wait several years to do a project.

Mercer says firefighters are grateful.

We really, really want to thank our citizens for allowing us to do this, Mercer said.

Mercer says the money will applied to a litany of issues in Pierce City.

Its going to go to a new roof at our station, which leaks. The next one was for station three out in the village of Wentworth, theyre going to get a water supply for that station, Mercer said. We got two trucks that are over 30 years old that are front lined still that need to be replaced. Another component of the stats was daytime staffing four days a week.

Monett Fire Chief Brandon Pennington sent OzarksFirst a statement in reaction to the vote, saying:

The Monett Rural Fire District is thrilled to announce that the voter turnout for the August 6th election was impressive, with a total of 878 voters participating. The proposition received 499 YES votes and 379 NO votes (Lawrence Co) 135 YES & 95 No. (Barry Co) 364 YES & 284 NO. Now that the tax levy has been passed, the fire district is committed to delivering on its promise to the taxpayers by initiating various projects to upgrade and replace its fleet and equipment, enhance local communications, and improve safety gear and training facilities. The first major project is to secure 2-3 acres of land to build a new station #4 in Lawrence County, which will help lower ISO insurance ratings for homeowners and businesses. The district will review and prioritize the listed items based on their significance and necessity for ensuring the safety of both the community and firefighters. The Monett Rural Fire District is grateful for the support and trust placed in us. Thank you for voting YES and shaping the future of the Monett Rural Fire District. Your support means everything to us, and we will continue to serve our communities with pride and dedication. Brandon Pennington

Richard Stirts, Logan-Rogersvilles Fire Chief says it was agonizing for new firefighters to watch the results trickle in.

We had a watch party and people were very excited and a lot of hard work done by a lot of people, not only firefighters but our community and its exciting. We have a lot of room to grow in the next several years and it is exciting, Stirts said. You usually dont know by 10:00, and for a lot of the new guys and people thats got their heart and soul invested, it was agony for those guys to see those results come in (at) the pace that they came in.

Stirts says he understands there were going to be people opposed to more taxes, even for the fire district.

Taxes is a hard issue, and we still got to answer to people that have questions, Stirts said. Theres no problem in that.

Looking forward, Stirts says once the board certifies the vote, theyll look at assessing the districts LAGERS program for current and future staff.

The incoming tax revenue is expected to add $1.6 million to the departments budget for 2025.

The number one priority is employee retention, which includes wages, benefits and new employees. Were going to hire four new employees over a time, and the second priority would be phasing out some of our older equipment, our ladder truck from 2001, Stirts said. [Wed like to] remodel our station headquarters, where firefighters are also housed, along with the fire chiefs, and make it more accommodating and modern and to be able to help hold more people.

Stirts, like Pennington and Mercer, says theyre thankful for the support.

Thanks everybody for having confidence in your fire district and the management staff and your board of directors, Stirts said. Its been an honor to serve you and we appreciate the positive vote and positive reflection of what weve done for you.

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SpaceX to build three new rocket landing zones on Space Coast as Starship planning proceeds

SpaceX plans to construct three new rocket landing zones on Florida's Space Coast, upping the number of missions the company can launch in the coming years  and presumably able to accommodate Starship-Super Heavy mega-rocket systems.

Thursday morning, the Space Florida board of directors briefly discussed the $27 million SpaceX undertaking, which was listed on the agenda as Project Liftoff. Construction will occur at the company's two rocket sites: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

"The project will enable higher cadence of flights, reduce pad down time, and enable job growth. Without these improvements, flight cadence at launch complex 39A and 40 would remain capped at current rates," Howard Haug, Space Florida executive vice president, treasurer and chief investment officer, told board members.

Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA rocket launch schedule from Florida

Haug said the project is estimated to create 300 jobs with average annual wages of $89,000. The project also includes "resiliency enhancement" such as corrosion protection, structural improvement, fire protection upgrades and environmental mitigation, he said.

The project is slated to be completed by the end of 2026, and the Florida Department of Transportation and SpaceX will each contribute more than $13.3 million, Space Florida spokesperson Alayna Curry said in an email.

SpaceX lands boosters at land, sea

Today, SpaceX operates Landing Zones 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. That's where Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy boosters descend for landings after some missions  generating sonic booms across Central Florida.

SpaceX boosters also land atop the drone ships Just Read the Instructions and A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean, most frequently during the company's numerous Starlink missions.

SpaceX has sent up 51 of the 55 rockets launched thus far this year from the Space Coast, with United Launch Alliance accounting for the other four. That pace should surpass the short-lived annual record of 72 launches, which was just set last year.

To that end, back-to-back SpaceX launches are scheduled for Friday and Saturday mornings, an Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory shows. The 4-hour launch window for Friday's Starlink 8-3 mission from KSC extends from 8:13 a.m. to 12:43 p.m., while Saturday's Starlink 10-7 mission window from Launch Complex 40 lasts from 7:21-11:51 a.m.

Starship-Super Heavy coming to Space Coast

In an email, Curry said the uses for SpaceX's three future rocket landing zones have not been specified. However, SpaceX has altered and enlarged its Starship operational plans at KSC since NASA released an environmental assessment five years ago.

"SpaceX now proposes to construct additional launch infrastructure not previously contemplated in the 2019 EA; launch an advanced design of the Starship and Super Heavy vehicle; operate at a projected higher launch tempo; and land the Super Heavy booster at LC-39A in support of the reusability concept. Starship landings are no longer proposed to occur at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station," an FAA website said.

Now, the FAA and other agencies are conducting an environmental assessment of SpaceX's plan to launch Starship-Super Heavy missions up to 44 times per year from pad 39A. SpaceX officials want to build a Super Heavy catch tower at the pad, along with onsite facilities for propellant generation and storage, a cooling tower, air separation unit and deluge system, an FAA fact sheet shows.

In tandem, SpaceX officials hope a Starship-Super Heavy launch complex becomes operational by 2026 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The U.S. Air Force is preparing a Starship environmental impact statement in conjunction with the FAA, NASA and U.S. Coast Guard.

SpaceX competitors, Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance, raised concerns as part of the FAA review, warning the rocket is too untested, too potentially dangerous and too disruptive. Brevard residents have also expressed concerns ranging from the environmental impact to the impact on local communities, fishing families and tourism.

For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space.

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX plans $27M project to build 3 Florida rocket landing zones
In a Wednesday court filing, special counsel David Weiss office accused Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, of taking cash from a Romanian oligarch who aimed to influence U.S. policy.

The court filing in a California tax case against the presidents son alleges that Bidens work on behalf of Romanian Gabriel Popoviciu in 2015, while Joe Biden was vice president, was an attempt by Popoviciu to sway government policy, for which Biden and associates were paid more than $3 million.

The government will introduce the evidence ... that [Hunter Biden] and Business Associate 1 received compensation from a foreign principal who was attempting to influence U.S. policy and public opinion and cause the United States to investigate the Romanian investigation of [Popoviciu] in Romania," prosecutors wrote in Wednesday's filing, per ABC News.

Prosecutors also alleged that Biden and associates concealed the nature of the business relationship and that Biden engaged in a lobbying capacity on behalf of Popovicius interests, to avoid political ramifications for the defendant's father.

The special counsel's office, which was tasked by President Bidens Attorney General Merrick Garland with taking over a probe into Hunter Biden, has launched several separate investigations into the presidents son.

Biden, who filed a motion to remove the special counsel after Judge Aileen Cannons ruling deeming Trump special prosecutor Jack Smiths appointment unconstitutional, was found guilty in a Delaware court in June on a variety of gun charges.

A trial for the California case is set for early September, while President Biden has committed to denying his son a pardon if found guilty.
Members of the Colorado Senate work on the last day of the 2024 legislative session, May 8, at the Colorado Capitol. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline)

The whole heft of Colorado state government seems to be no match against corporate bullies when they decide to throw their weight around.

Were reminded of this imbalance almost every legislative session or election, and the latest sign of it emerged this week when CPR reported Gov. Jared Polis might call a special session of the Legislature to pass more property tax cuts, even though lawmakers already passed substantial cuts only three months ago.

Though those cuts were part of a bipartisan bargain that was widely praised, they were partly the result of strong-arm tactics by conservative special interests. Yet those groups arent satisfied, and an appeasement mentality among state officials has taught the groups how readily their ransom demands will be met.

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They abuse the citizen initiative process to extract concessions, and they scoff at compromise. Elected officials at the Capitol should not tolerate this perversion of lawmaking, where shadowy political operatives and profit-minded business executives are permitted to co-opt state government as a subsidiary. They must reclaim their authority, and if the governor calls a special session of the General Assembly, members should decline to participate.

Coloradans in recent years have seen their property taxes increase with rising home values. A pair of deep-pocketed groups, Advance Colorado and Colorado Concern, exploited this problem to back ballot measures that would impose draconian tax cuts. Facing the prospect of financial devastation to education, fire protection and other local services across the state, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle produced a celebrated legislative achievement, a bill that enacted a revenue cap and an assessment rate cut. Crucially, the bill also ensured local services could be maintained.

The people won. But outside meddlers wanted more.

Advance Colorado and Colorado Concern have continued to pursue Initiative 50, a severe cap on property tax revenues, and Initiative 108, a bluntforce cut of assessment rates. These measures will destroy funding at the state level, and local governance, Scott Wasserman, former president of the Bell Policy Center, told Newsline in May.

Elected officials at the Capitol should not tolerate this perversion of lawmaking, where shadowy political operatives and profit-minded business executives are permitted to co-opt state government as a subsidiary.

Instead of standing up for communities that would be harmed, elected state officials are bending to the will of bad actors. Polis and top state lawmakers are considering a deal that could result in lawmakers returning to the Capitol and passing another round of property tax rate cuts this month, in exchange for the groups pulling the November ballot measures, CPR reported.

This is like negotiating with hostage-takers. And the same principles advise against doing it  theyll learn that the practice works, and the hostage-taking will never end. Those who could be most hurt by the ballot measures understand this.

We have little faith that an agreement will prevent the proponents from future proposals to cut taxes even more deeply, Ann Terry, CEO of the Colorado Special District Association, wrote in a letter to lawmakers, according to Colorado Politics.

In fact, the property-tax drama at the Legislature this year closely resembled a similar game of chicken in 2022, when Colorado Concern used the threat of a property-tax ballot measure to push the whole state Capitol around.

Advance Colorado is a conservative dark money nonprofit, and theres no transparency on the motivations of its anonymous supporters. Colorado Concern represents top business executives and was founded by Larry Mizel, a high-profile fundraiser for former President Donald Trump. Its very hard for them to claim to be acting on behalf of the people.

The citizen initiative process is supposed to give Coloradans a way to bypass representative institutions when they become unresponsive to the peoples preferences. But groups like Advance and Concern turn this ideal on its head. They leverage ballot measures to overrule responsive government policy that their supporters happen to dislike. Since it can cost up to $2 million to gather enough petition signatures for a ballot measure, private wealth has an overwhelming advantage over individual citizens, who are mostly priced out of the process. And conservatives understand that bad-faith tax cuts are easy to sell at the ballot box while the actual business of governing involves tradeoffs and thoughtful analysis.

Lawmakers should stop letting themselves be usurped. If Polis calls a special session, they must meet, but they dont have to go along with it. Under the Colorado Constitution, they can simply adjourn without taking up any property tax issues.

That might not avert the placement of policy bombs on the ballot. But at least lawmakers can say they refused to be manipulated under threat of destruction.

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Giselle Fernandez is about to reset her alarm clock. Los Angeles Spectrum News 1 is set to announce that the broadcast news vet will anchor a new three-hour weekday program on Los Angeles Spectrum News 1 dubbed The Rush Hour starting Aug. 19.

Fernandezs move to afternoons is part of an anchor shift at the local cable news outlet. Fernandez had previously hosted Your Morning on Spectrum News 1; now those duties will be handled by Kelvin Washington, whos moving from midday. Taking over Your Afternoon on Spectrum News 1 is anchor Amrit Singh, who will also continue to host the political interview show Inside the Issues.

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Spectrum News 1 said it was making the shift after recent research showed an increased interest in the 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. daypart for local news  which it has dubbed a new primetime.

Spectrum Networks launched Spectrum News 1 in Southern California with the goal of transforming the news landscape in LA, meeting our audience where they are, rising to viewership from over one million households per month just six years later; The Rush Hour is the next step in that journey, said Cater Lee, Spectrum News 1s vice president of original programming and on-air talent development.

The Rush Hour will feature breaking news and weather along with Spectrum News 1s signature coverage of local news, prioritizing community-based storytelling, she added. Giselle will ascend to this role and continue to delve deeper into stories impacting Angelenos. Supported by a team of journalists reporting from the field, Giselle will provide viewers access to objective local news that affects their everyday lives. The additional moves for Kelvin and Amrit will allow them each to bring their signature styles to other dayparts.

The shift comes as the Fernandez-led Your Morning on Spectrum News 1 just won the L.A. Area Emmy award for morning newscast last month. Overall, Spectrum News 1 scored 17 nominations  up from 14 last year  at the 2024 L.A. Emmys, making it second only to PBS SoCal this year.

I take great pride in what we have built at Spectrum News 1 in the LA market over the last six years, said Fernandez. We have remained committed to bringing unbiased, trusted and hyperlocal coverage to the Southland at a time when comprehensive contextual storytelling should be at the forefront. While its hard to say goodbye to the great morning team, I am eager to expand our mission of great storytelling in an exciting and fast-changing new television landscape.

All three anchors have been with Spectrum News 1 since its 2018 launch. Fernandez, who has won nine Emmys, also hosts the Emmy award-winning weekly series LA Stories and is a three-time recipient of the LA Press Clubs Journalist of the Year award (receiving the orgs Presidents Award in 2023.)

Washington, who won a Golden Mike award in 2021, hosted Spectrum News 1s 50 Years of Hip Hop: From the Westside and is a frequent contributor on Spectrum News 1s LA Times Today. Singh has hosted Spectrum News Challenge and the Golden Mike-winning limited series Music Diaries.

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Springfield man sentenced to 28 years for murdering his wife in 2022

Update 8-30-24: According to the prosecuting attorney, Jacob Hodgkins was sentenced today to 28 years in prison25 for murder and three for armed criminal action, to run consecutively.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  A man from Springfield has pleaded guilty to murdering his wife in 2022.

Jacob Hodgkins changed his plea to guilty of second-degree murder and armed criminal action following the shooting death of Ada Hodgkins.

Jacob Hodgkins, charged in his wifes death, surrendered to police in Utah

On May 28, 2022, Springfield police responded to South Glenview Avenue to investigate a shooting and found Ada with a gunshot wound to the chest. She later died at the hospital.

Jacob was later arrested in Utah and transported back to Missouri.

His sentencing is set for Aug. 27 at 3:30 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
Whether they're "stranded," "stuck" or simply enjoying an extended stay in orbit, one thing is certain: Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been in space for much, much longer than they were supposed to be.

When the two NASA astronauts arrived June 6 at the International Space Station, they thought they had merely a week or so ahead of them before they would return to Earth on the Boeing Starliner that brought them there.

But that was more than two months ago. And not only are Wilmore and Williams still on the space station, but it may not be until next year that they return.

NASA announced Wednesday that if the troubles ailing the beleaguered Starliner capsule  built with the intention of running crews and deliveries regularly to the station  are not remedied to satisfaction, its two-person crew may instead come home in February aboard a SpaceX Dragon.

If it comes to that, Wilmore and Williams are perfectly safe and capable of hanging out in orbit for the long-haul, NASA officials assured reporters during a Wednesday news conference. In fact, such lengthy stays are not only common on the space station, but the pair of astronauts would hardly be the first whose scheduled return date to Earth was postponed.

Here's what to know about at least one other astronaut whose stay aboard the International Space Station was significantly lengthened, and how long the orbital stints typically last.

NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts (from top) Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams inside the vestibule between the forward port on the International Space Station's Harmony module and Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.

Starliner timeline: 2 months after Starliner launched, astronauts still havent returned

What other astronauts have been 'stuck' in space?

Astronaut Frank Rubio made history in September when his 371 days in orbit made him the American with the record for the longest spaceflight.

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio gives a thumbs up as he is carried to a medical tent after his landing in September in a remote area of Kazakhstan. Rubio logged 371 days in space aboard the International Space Station, the longest single spaceflight by a US astronaut.

But it was a record that Rubio, then-47, never expected to break when he and two cosmonauts launched Sept. 21, 2022 from a site in Kazakhstan. Rather, Rubio and crew thought they'd return to Earth the following March after just six months.

And the culprit behind the crew's unanticipated extended stay? Just like for the Starliner crew, it was trouble with same capsule meant to ferry them back to Earth.

When the Russian Soyuz capsule sprang a coolant leak in 2022 after it was pierced by a piece of space junk, a new spacecraft was rushed to the orbital outpost so the stranded spacefarers could make it back to Earth. Rubio's time in space came to an end Sept. 27 when the Army doctor and helicopter pilot landed with the Russians in a remote area of Kazakhstan in the replacement Soyuz that had only reached them two weeks prior.

On the plus side, the unanticipated stay helped Rubio etch his name in the record books as the American with the most consecutive days spent in space. Rubio, a Salvadorian-American born in Los Angeles, surpassed by more than two weeks the previous 355-day American endurance record set in 2022 by astronaut Mark Vande Hei.

All told, Rubio and his fellow crewmembers logged more than 157 million miles and orbited Earth 5,963 times, NASA said.

How long do astronauts stay on the International Space Station?

In this NASA handout photo astronaut Robert L. Curbeam, Jr., STS-116 mission specialist, prepares to replace a faulty TV camera on the exterior of the International Space Station during the mission's first of three planned sessions of extravehicular activity (EVA) on Dec. 12, 2006 while in flight.

Most stays aboard the International Space Station don't last quite so long.

Astronauts with missions aboard the space station are generally gone for about six months, making Rubio's year-plus in space a notable exception, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Designed and operated thanks to a global partnership of space agencies, the International Space Station has been home to crews of astronauts, cosmonauts and plenty of others since November 2000, NASA says. While there, the spacefarers spend their time conducting a variety of scientific experiments while doing work to maintain and improve the station's operations.

As of now, the Starliner astronauts are living among the seven members of Expedition 71 who arrived in April.

Of those in Expedition 71, four are part of the SpaceX Crew-8 mission that was slated to depart the station in August after six months in orbit. Because of the troubles the Starliner has faced, those four spacefarers will have to be in space about a month longer than intended while NASA and Boeing figure out the size of the Crew-9 mission that will replace them.

What happened with Boeing Starliner?

Whether four astronauts or two astronauts head up to the International Space Station for the six-month Crew-9 rotation depends on what happens with Starliner.

After several delays over the course of about a month, the Boeing Starliner finally launched June 5 atop an Atlas V rocket.

The mission marked the first crewed demonstration of the spacecraft, which is intended to be approved to make routine trips to space on behalf of NASA. The partnership marks a shift in recent years for the U.S. space agency, which has pivoted to paying private companies for missions it once would carry out itself as a way to cut costs.

Certifying the Starliner for such missions would provide NASA with a second operational spacecraft to carry astronauts and cargo to the space station after it shelled out billions of dollars to both Boeing and SpaceX to develop the vehicles.

But Boeing has lagged behind SpaceX, which has already begun reliably transporting astronauts and supplies since 2020 to the space station aboard its Dragon. Hopes were high that a successful Starliner launch  its first demonstration with a crew aboard  would get Boeing on track.

Wilmore and Williams were only slated to spend a little less than a week at the International Space Station before returning for a parachute-assisted landing in the Starliner. However, once the Starliner docked at the space station, engineers discovered a slew of helium leaks and problems with the craft's propulsion system that hampered its return to Earth.

Now, NASA is considering a plan to undock the Starliner without its crew aboard to make way for the since-delayed SpaceX Crew-9 to arrive in September. If that were to happen, only two Crew-9 astronauts would then arrive to relieve the Crew-8 astronauts, who have been at the space station since March.

That way, Wilmore and Williams would have room to hitch a ride home on Feb. 25 on the Dragon once the Crew-9 team completes its shift.

NASA officials could not say for certain Wednesday whether Starliner could still be certified for crewed rotation missions if the capsule returns without its crew.

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stuck in space? Starliner crew aren't first to have return delayed
(Bloomberg) -- Keir Starmers favorability rating dropped to a level last seen before last months general election as a plurality of Britons believe the new prime minister did a poor job handling riots that have spread around the UK over the past 10 days.

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Some 53% of Britons polled by YouGov August 5-6 said they have an unfavorable view of the Labour premier, compared to 37% holding a favorable view, the polling company said on Thursday in a statement. That gives him a net favorability score of minus 16, close to the minus 18 he logged immediately before the election on July 4, and down from a post-vote high of zero.

The survey suggests the rioting that swept the country in the wake of the murder of three girls in Southport, northwest England on July 29, has damaged the new premiers standing among the electorate. A separate YouGov survey earlier this week found 49% of Britons think Starmer has handled the matter badly, with 31% saying hes done well.

In the wake of the Southport attack, online misinformation, including that the perpetrator was Muslim, led to a wave of far right-fueled violence from Plymouth to Sunderland, including attacks on mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers.

Starmer on Thursday vowed to maintain a crackdown on violent protesters after the UKs worst outbreak of rioting in over a decade. The prime minister said he would convene another emergency meeting with law enforcement officers and plan for the days ahead. Its important that we dont let up here, he told broadcasters.

Read: UK Riots  Why Violence Erupted After Girls Murders: QuickTake

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Anyone who claims not to have taken something from work is lying, even if it is only a paperclip, says Anna, not her real name.

She has run her own businesses, worked as an auditor at others, and was employed by a number of big businesses throughout her decades-long career. And even she is among the growing number of profligate employees who have stolen from their workplace.

Some 38pc of British workers have taken pens or pencils from their office, 22pc have siphoned off notepads, while 18pc have taken a pack or two of printer paper home, according to a 2018 YouGov survey. But 50pc of people found the theft of the latter a serious matter.

In July, a manager at one of Teslas gigafactories in Germany brought a meeting with the trade union representing workers at the 12,000-strong factory to a halt with a rant about the levels of petty theft allegedly taking place at the site. The manager moaned that 65,000 coffee mugs had gone missing  enough for every employee to take home five each, he claimed.

The problem of pilfering employees is one that blights businesses everywhere. Reports of employees cheating their workplace, known as insider threat, rose 14pc last year, according to Cifas, a fraud prevention service. Around half of these were employees stealing devices for their own use or to sell on to others for profit.

It also included polygamous working, where employees have a second job that they do at the same time as their main one on work time. The increasing preponderance of working from home means some people have realised they can work two full-time jobs at the same time, through careful management of their calendars.

Others have managed to work remotely abroad, effectively going on holiday without taking annual leave. One employee secretly worked from Spain for a month earlier in the summer.

As the uncertain economic climate and cost-of-living pressures continue to create financial challenges, some employees are being driven to commit dishonest conduct, says Duncan McLellan, senior fraud intelligence analyst at Cifas.

Its the way we work, too  and the lack of oversight as a result of changing work patterns. Coupled with hybrid working  which can make supervision difficult for employers  these factors provide enticing opportunities for individuals to exploit the companies they work for, adds McLellan.

Anna recalls working at an advertising company where theft was rife. We had so much champagne in stock that if we wanted a bottle, we took one home. If we wanted to spend some holiday money, we may take foreign petty cash to help with our trip.

Given the scale of petty theft going on, the idea of borrowing stationery from the businesss communal cupboard, then, was small fry. It was no issue if we wanted a fancy lunch, we would expense it, Anna recalls.

As Anna left to set up her own business, she continued the same attitude  even when it was her company footing the bill. Business owners can be the worst, as they know where to hide things, she says.

Her company credit card used to have a 4,000 per month limit on it  far more than her personal account  so Anna would combine the two to take advantage of the larger credit limit. I included some of the cost of a 10,000 birthday trip to New York for my sister through my business, as we did business in New York, she adds.

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Her actions ramped up over time. While working as a teenager at a bakery, she and her co-workers would encounter unusually large numbers of broken or damaged baked goods while on shift. The company had a rule that any imperfect items couldnt be sold, but could be eaten or taken home by staff. Any link between the policy and the increasing number of broken biscuits and fat rascals was simply a coincidence, recalls Anna.

It starts with a few Biros, but then it becomes something bigger, says Peter Taylor, a fraud investigator and consultant.

He helped investigate a case of a worker in charge of his companys stationery orders. He started stealing paper, pens and ink cartridges for himself, then began ordering additional ones for his friends. Then he started ordering equipment that the business never had, and never would use, specifically to sell on online marketplaces.

He was basically doubling his income every month with his cottage industry stationery suppliers, says Taylor.

Most employees arent exploiting their workplace to that extent, but many are happy to keep schtum if a business overlooks something to their benefit.

Sarah, who also asked to use a pseudonym for fear of being caught, used to work at home in the mid-2000s. Her employer let her take an office chair home. Two years later, she left the company, and 18 years later, still uses the chair, which her firm never asked for back.

While she didnt deliberately hide the fact she possessed the chair, she didnt shout loudly when leaving the business  rationalising that if the business cared about it, it would ask her.

Tackling the issue is a tricky one for businesses, says Rachael Tiffen of Cifas. You need to think about what people have access to when youre employing them. If you decide not to screen the cleaner because theyre not in charge of public funds, grants or budgets, fine  but cleaners have access to the building when everyones gone.

Stealing usually happens for a reason. We talk about a triangle of fraud, adds Tiffen. You have to have the motivation. You have to have the opportunity. And then you have to have the rationale for it.

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FAIRLEA, WV (WVNS)  The State Fair of West Virginia is a huge event, which calls for lots of security across the board.

How safe are the rides at the State Fair?

They employ their own private security company and they also have the West Virginia State Police on the fairgrounds to ensure a safe fair for everyone.

They also will be using metal detectors at the gate entrance.

Kelly Collins, the CEO of the State Fair told 59News how they are approaching fair week.

We want to make sure that we are checking everyone thoroughly, but at the same time we want to get them into the gates fast. So, we work every year we try to improve the ingress into the fairgrounds and just make sure that we are getting folks in here fast, but safe as well, said Collins.

Large bags are subject to search, as they do not enforce a clear bag policy.

Collins also said that they will try their best to get people off the road and into the fair as fast as they can, but she urged fairgoers to be patient.

Greenbrier East music boosters will be helping get everyone parked as fast and smoothly as they possibly can.

Exhibitor, workers, countdown to State Fair of West Virginia

There will be a high volume of traffic entering and exiting the fairgrounds.

She also informed 59News they will still be offering their own free parking.

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By Roushni Nair and Yantoultra Ngui

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore's DBS Group has appointed Tan Su Shan, currently its institutional banking group head, as CEO from March, replacing Piyush Gupta, who has led Southeast Asia's biggest bank for 14 years.

She will be the bank's first female chief executive and also the first to be appointed from within the ranks of the bank.

Here are some facts about Tan.

TAN'S CAREER TRACK

Tan, 56, is Singaporean and an Oxford University graduate. She has 35 years of experience in consumer banking, wealth management and institutional banking.

Tan began her career at ING Baring Securities in institutional equity and derivative sales. She joined Morgan Stanley in 1997 as an executive director before becoming Citigroup's regional head for Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore in 2005. She then returned to Morgan Stanley in 2008 as head of private wealth management for Southeast Asia.

Tan joined DBS in 2010, where she spent the first three years building the bank's wealth management business.

She subsequently spent roughly equal lengths of time managing DBS's consumer banking, wealth management and institutional banking businesses.

She served as a nominated member of parliament in Singapore from 2012 to 2014 - a position appointed by the president to bring more independent views to parliament.

Tan sits on the advisory board of the family office of James Dyson, the founder of home appliance maker Dyson. She is also a member of the board for Singapore-listed real estate investment trust Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust.

WHAT'S EXPECTED?

Tan's immediate focus will be DBS's tech capabilities. The bank has had multiple service disruptions, leading to regulatory penalties and pay cuts for senior management including Gupta.

"We've been heavily engaged in a tech resiliency program over the last 12 to 15 months," Gupta said in a briefing announcing Tan's appointment on Wednesday evening.

"Su Shan has been involved with that, but in the coming months, I expect her to be able to get even more deeply immersed in things around technology," he added.

Analysts say they don't expect major changes in strategy for DBS, which on Wednesday lifted its full-year earnings guidance to record levels.

"The appointment signals continuity and stability given she is already a major contributor to the Group's current culture and business mix," Thilan Wickramasinghe, an analyst at Maybank Investment Banking Group, said in a note to clients.

INTERESTS

Story continues

In her youth, Tan was passionate about tap dancing, seeing it at one point as a potential career path, according to media interviews. She is also an avid piano player.

Tan has expressed her admiration for the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher numerous times.

"I think she was so single minded in pursuing what she thought was right. She became deeply unpopular during Englands conservative years but she didn't care one bit about popularity. She cared only about doing the right thing," she said of Thatcher in a 2015 interview with Tatler Asia.

($1 = 1.3245 Singapore dollars)

(Reporting by Roushni Nair in Bengaluru, Yantoultra Ngui in Singapore and Selena Li in Hong Kong; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
Thirteen states and three major cities are taking added steps to protect and promote immigrant students educational rights in direct response to an undercover investigation by The 74 that revealed rampant enrollment discrimination against older newcomers.

Senior reporter Jo Napolitano spent nearly a year and a half calling 630 high schools in every state plus Washington, D.C. to test whether they would admit a 19-year-old Venezuelan transplant who spoke little English and whose education was interrupted after ninth grade. Using her own name, she told school officials the new arrival was her nephew, that he had recently moved to their district and was eager to resume his studies.

Hector Guerrero, a stand-in for others like him, was refused 330 times, including more than 200 denials in states where he had a legal right to attend according to his age. Many schools, including those that reluctantly accepted him, tried hard to steer Hector to GED programs, adult education or community college  anything but public school.

Related

Hundreds of High Schools Wrongfully Refused Entry to Older, Immigrant Student

The 74s investigation, which exposed a pervasive hostility and suspicion toward older newcomers, proved enrollment for this group is arbitrary across the map, with little consistency within states, counties or school districts: Staffers within the very same building sometimes disagreed.

And those answering these high-stakes enrollment questions  from temporary office workers to school principals  often provided bad information.

Almost all 50 states and D.C. have laws establishing a maximum age for public school enrollment. In 35 states and the District of Columbia, general education students can attend high school to at least 20  often to 21.

The 74 reached out to 25 states and the U.S. Capitol where Hector was within the maximum enrollment age but faced a high volume of rejections to alert education department officials to our findings.

It is very concerning that there is confusion among school districts about this issue, said Jackie Matthews of the Illinois State Board of Education. We are updating our enrollment and registration guidance to clarify the maximum age of enrollment and are issuing additional guidance to address specific questions about enrolling newcomer students. We hope to bring greater clarity to the field.

Illinois, where students can stay in high school until age 21, had among the highest refusal rates of any state in the country  25 out of 32 schools turned Hector away.

Nonprofit Hope Chicago tells 1,700 Benito Juarez Community Academy students in 2022 that it has raised funds to cover their college tuition. (Benito Juarez Community Academy)

In Chicago alone, he was rejected by seven out of eight high schools  and was likely to be refused by one other. Among the rejections: Benito Juarez Community Academy, founded in 1977 when a group of Latina mothers demanded a bilingual high school in their neighborhood.

We are concerned anytime we hear reports that a prospective student and/or family member may have been turned away from their right to a free public education, a spokeswoman for the citys public schools, which serve 323,251 children, wrote in an email. We have shared the findings on specific schools and are doubling down on our efforts to ensure those particular schools  and all staff  understand the law and our own CPS policies.

The school system, like many other districts and state education departments around the country, noted it has long taken steps to educate staff about newcomers rights. Chicago Public Schools, which at the district level has publicly welcomed immigrant families  many arriving to the city after being bused from southern states  called it a matter of rightful presence.

The New Mexico Public Education Departments general counsel drafted a memorandum to all districts and charters outlining their legal obligations to these and other students. A spokeswoman there confirmed the action is in response to The 74s findings. The memo was sent out in early August.

School districts and charter schools have a responsibility to educate these students regardless of their relative academic ability or likelihood of success, it reads. They are entitled to receive as much education as other students, until graduation or equivalent, or aging out of the public school system.

State education officials in Michigan say they need additional legislative action to guarantee students rights. Spokesman Bob Wheaton said current state law is silent on whether districts must enroll prospective students who will turn 19 or 20 during the school year  even though the law states such students are eligible to attend and school districts receive state aid for supporting them.

State law says these students are eligible to attend but doesnt say schools must enroll them, Wheaton wrote. Thats why we support legislation to change that.

Hector was turned down by 11 of 16 Michigan high schools with one other saying it would likely refuse him. Wheaton said a team of staffers within the department is working to explore and recommend a change to the statutes language.

He said The 74s investigation shines a light on the need for states to improve not just their policy in this area but the implementation of their policy.

Officials in D.C., where Hector was rejected by 6 out of 7 schools, also vowed to take action on the issue before the start of the academic year. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education will ensure staff consistently share key resources and information with any student or family that contacts a school about enrollment, so that the correct process can be followed and the student enrolled, a spokesman wrote.

The 74 called 20 high schools in Georgia, where students have a right to attend until age 21, and received 14 refusals and two likely rejections. The state education department did not pledge to take any additional steps to ensure immigrant students rights based on our findings  but the Atlanta Public Schools had a starkly different reaction.

A district administrator who works with multilingual learners reached out to The 74 two days after our story published and said the 50,000-student school system had been diligently educating our registrars to ensure no eligible student is denied enrollment in our district. She said it intended to take further steps based on our findings.

State education department officials in Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Mississippi and South Carolina said they will reach out to all of the individual schools that refused Hector  in addition to numerous other measures  while Colorado said it will contact the districts as a whole.

Colorado will also advise school superintendents of their responsibility toward these students at upcoming presentations and conferences, a spokesman said. It will highlight enrollment in the commissioners monthly communication to superintendents for August and include periodic reminders throughout the school year.

Your reporting showed that a number of our school divisions could use a refresher on the current enrollment requirements. Virginia Department of Education official

Virginia, where Hector was accepted by just 1 out of 11 schools, also pledged to act on our findings.

Your reporting showed that a number of our school divisions could use a refresher on the current enrollment requirements, so we are using the start of the school year as an opportunity to remind all divisions of the obligations involving enrollment, state education officials said. It is not something we would usually send.

The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction holds an annual workshop in the summer for school administrators, typically in August, to help prepare for the new school year. At this years gathering, a spokesperson said, the department will remind administrators of the state law about maximum age for school admittance  and ask that they ensure staffers who handle enrollment are made aware of it.

North Dakota must admit all students who have not turned 21 by Aug. 1 of that school year.

This reminder will certainly be verbal and I suspect there will also be a written reminder as well, the spokesperson said. Im sure your story will be mentioned.

The department has also reached out to the two high schools that refused Hector.

The 74 contacted a minimum of five high schools in each state. Napolitano then added hundreds more in various locations across the country based primarily on the number and percentage of Hispanic and immigrant residents living there. The calls, which numbered in the thousands, were made between February 2023 and May 2024. They were recorded in those states that allow for one-party consent.

Roughly 1.1 million people ages 18 to 20 entered the United States between 2012 and 2021, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

Related

How We Did the Story: The 74 Probes Enrollment Discrimination at 630 Schools

The 74 aimed to expose how schools handle enrollment requests for older immigrant students in this openly xenophobic era, one in which the southern border has become a hate-fueled political weapon and more and more Americans say they no longer view immigration as good for the country despite the economic boost newcomers bring.

Conservative forces have been trying to bar undocumented children from school for several years. They now want schools to collect information on students immigration status when they enroll and charge tuition for undocumented children or the children of undocumented parents. Such steps would defy  and potentially set the stage to overturn  Plyler v. Doe, the landmark 1982 Supreme Court ruling that a child cannot be denied a public education based on immigration status.

Related

Denying Education to Immigrant Children is Morally Wrong  and Practically Dumb

Texas, which has some of the most restrictive immigration laws in the nation and is constantly pushing for even more draconian measures to keep new arrivals out, had among the worst acceptance rates in the nation: 18 of 29 schools refused to admit Hector. Two others said they were likely to turn him away.

The Texas Education Agency said it shared The 74s findings with the states Special Investigations Unit. Its unclear what action may be taken. In Texas, where roughly 1 in 6 residents is an immigrant, students can remain in high school until age 21 and, if a school district accepts them, up to age 26.

State education officials in Alaska, Hawaii and Maine  where Hector was denied by 16 of 27 total schools  did not respond to repeated calls and emails asking for comment.

Educators and advocates from across the country reached out to The 74 on their own shortly after our June 17 investigation was published to report that these discriminatory enrollment practices were widespread  sometimes involving immigrants as young as 17.

Executive Director of World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Several said they were heartened to hear at least some states are moving quickly to re-enforce the law.

I believe that when people are reminded of the facts and stop to think about the importance of allowing all students to pursue an education, they will push for positive change, said student immigration advocate and policy expert Timothy Boals.

Adam Strom, of Re-Imagining Migration, said immigrant students still face barriers once they enter school, but getting through the door is a crucial first step.

That work begins, but does not end, with ensuring that all eligible students have unfettered access to education, he said. There is more work to be done to ensure equitable educational opportunities, however this is a hopeful start.
Carmen Lopez works at Berts Pharmacy in Elizabeth, N.J., in May. In recent years, all 50 states have enacted laws designed to lower prescription drug costs by curbing the power of pharmacy benefit managers, intermediaries in the drug supply chain that manage prescription drugs for health plans. But a federal law has limited such efforts. Shelby Lum/The Associated Press

Oliver Lackey opened a pharmacy in his hometown of Fairview, Oklahoma, so he could provide the best patient care. He set up shop a decade ago in the local grocery store with zero prescriptions. Before long, business took off  yet he was still struggling.

I was getting more patients and was filling more prescriptions, Lackey told Stateline. But as I grew in revenues, my reimbursement from the insurance companies and PBMs every year was getting worse.

PBMs are pharmacy benefit managers, the intermediaries in the drug supply chain that manage prescription drugs for health plans. PBMs determine which drugs are available under a persons insurance plan, set copayments and decide how much pharmacies must pay to acquire drugs.

PBMs argue that they use their bargaining power to negotiate lower drug prices for consumers and pharmacists. But critics say PBMs, some of which are owned by the largest health care corporations in the nation, engage in anticompetitive practices that lead to higher prices and drive independent pharmacies like Lackeys out of business.

In recent years, all 50 states have enacted laws designed to lower prescription drug costs by curbing the power of PBMs, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy, a nonpartisan research group. But thanks to a 50-year-old federal law called the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, better known as ERISA, almost none of those measures applies to the 65% of Americans who work for large employers that cover their workers through so-called self-funded health care plans.

That could change if the U.S. Supreme Court upholds a PBM law enacted by Lackeys home state of Oklahoma.

What is ERISA?

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA, was signed into law in 1974. It is meant to protect participants in employer-sponsored retirement and health plans by setting uniform standards for how the plans operate.

Five years ago, Oklahoma tried to rein in PBMs by approving a measure barring them from forcing pharmacies to pay certain fees or requiring patients to use PBM-owned or -affiliated pharmacies. The law also prohibited PBMs from giving more generous reimbursements to their own pharmacies or arbitrarily booting pharmacies from their preferred networks.

It was the most aggressive, broadest PBM enforcement legislation in the country, Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready, a Republican, told Stateline. And it was immediately challenged.

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, a trade association representing PBMs, sued to invalidate the law. In August of last year, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that ERISA, the federal law, prevented Oklahoma from applying much of its law to self-funded health care plans.

Greg Lopes, the trade groups vice president of public affairs, said the Oklahoma law would raise costs for health plans and consumers in the state.

Oklahomas law would devastate employer, union, and Medicare plan sponsors as well as hundreds of thousands of their beneficiaries, who would experience higher costs and reduced benefits, Lopes said in an email.

But in May, the state pushed back: Oklahoma appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the decision. In June, 32 state attorneys general and five pharmacist trade groups joined the lawsuit.

The Supreme Court hasnt decided whether to take the case. If the high court eventually rules in favor of Oklahoma, legal experts say, it could establish an important precedent by allowing states to regulate the health plans that provide coverage to the majority of Americans, instead of being limited to regulating individual and group health plans and Medicaid programs.

But if the high court declines to hear the case or rules against Oklahoma, states will continue to have a hard time applying any state regulations to self-funded plans.

Whatever the outcome, it will come too late for Oliver Lackey. He was in business for six years but had to shutter his pharmacy in 2020, he said, because PBMs werent paying him enough for the drugs he was selling. He now works as the pharmacy director for the nonprofit Great Salt Plains Health Center, which serves patients in five Oklahoma locations.

I had lots of patients who, when I announced that I was closing, came in crying, he said. It was a really tough time to go through that, because youre essentially telling your family or your patients that you cant afford to take care of them anymore.

Origins of the law

The goal of ERISA, which President Gerald Ford signed into law in 1974, is to protect participants in employer-sponsored retirement and health plans by setting uniform standards for how the plans operate. The rules are designed to ensure that plan administrators run them in the interest of participants and beneficiaries, solely to provide benefits and cover expenses.

Congress approved ERISA in response to high-profile cases of underfunding and fraud in pension plans, said Elizabeth McCuskey, a professor of health law policy and management at the Boston University School of Public Health and School of Law.

They made a lot of protections for employees, to make sure that the benefits promised to them by their employers were not being fraudulently reduced or squandered, McCuskey said.

Under ERISA, large employers with thousands of employees in multiple states must abide by a single set of federal standards in their retirement and health benefits, rather than having to follow many different sets of state rules.

Companies want to offer benefits, and they want to offer very good health plans for their employees, said James Gelfand, president of the ERISA Industry Committee, a trade group representing large employers covered by the law. However, it would not be possible to do that if they had to follow different rules in every state, every city or every municipality.

Having to follow state-specific regulations  such as the ones in the Oklahoma law  likely would make it more expensive for large employers to provide health care coverage to their employees, Gelfand said. In response, he suggested, employers might stop offering certain benefits.

Weve also said to states, you know, if you pass a law that violates federal law, we will consider legal action, because our companies are not going to be able to offer benefits if they have to have a different plan in California and Texas and Maryland and Massachusetts, he said.

At the time ERISA was approved, McCuskey explained, the main concern was pensions, not health care plans. But it has this tradeoff, she added, because the thing that states want and need to regulate over the past 50 years has been their health care markets.

Legal confusion

ERISA can be triggered fairly easily, so states must be careful when they try to regulate their health care markets, according to Joanne Roskey, an attorney at Miller & Chevalier, where she specializes in ERISA cases. As a result, their legislative efforts typically dont apply to the nearly two-thirds of people enrolled in self-funded plans.

In 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court opened the door to at least some state regulation of PBMs in self-funded plans when it upheld a more limited Arkansas law. But the constant threat of ERISA-related lawsuits makes it challenging for legislators to do more to curb prescription drug costs, an issue that ranks high on voters lists of concerns, experts said.

Its so broad, and its so muddled, and theres billions of dollars at stake, Boston Universitys McCuskey said.

McCuskey and other legal experts say a ruling on the Oklahoma case could clear the way for more action. Mulready, the states insurance commissioner, hopes they are right.

We just need clarity on the issue, he said. Thats whats needed by lots of folks across the country as theyre watching this or have watched this play out.

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(Bloomberg) -- Steel and aluminum producers in Canada are urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government to swiftly impose new tariffs on Chinese products, saying metals from the Asian powerhouse are flooding the Canadian market and threatening local jobs.

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Catherine Cobden, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Steel Producers Association, told a news conference in Ottawa on Thursday that the US and Mexico are already working to boost levies on Chinese aluminum and steel.

China does not play by the rules. Government should be under no illusion that they do. And I think the steel industry is a very poignant example of this, she said. We have been feeling the devastating effects of Chinese overcapacity for over a decade.

Canada wrapped up a 30-day consultation on measures to restrict Chinese electric vehicle imports earlier this month, including a review of higher tariffs meant to align policy with the US and European Union. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland met with steel and aluminum makers during the talks and appears to be mulling levies beyond just those on EVs.

Imports of Chinese steel, iron and aluminum products totaled around C$5.6 billion ($4.1 billion) in 2023, according to Bloomberg calculations on Statistics Canada data. While thats a decrease from the nearly C$7.2 billion imported in 2022, its nearly 70% more than the average between 2010 and 2020.

On a quantity basis, the amount of the metals imported from the Asian powerhouse in 2023 was more than double the average between those years, the data show.

Cobden said the amount of Chinese steel pouring into Canada has grown even though there are already multiple direct tariffs in place  a signal that the current approach isnt working. Doing nothing is not an option. Failure to act risks good jobs in steel and aluminum communities right across this country.

Jean Simard, president and chief executive officer of the Aluminum Association of Canada, said at the news conference that the actions by the US and Mexico leave Canada as the sole tariff-free point of entry for China into North America.

In doing so, we expose ourselves to becoming a source of entry for Chinese products that will cause harm to our most important trading partner, the US, throughout our value chain and will eventually harm us.

Western democracies are increasingly concerned about Chinas overproduction of key goods, seeing it as an effort to dominate supply chains and undercut their own industries. Freeland has accused China of having an intentional, state-directed policy of overcapacity.

The government is reviewing the results of the consultations and has not said when it will announce a decision. Imposing tariffs will risk reprisal from China, its second-largest trading partner. China previously banned Canadian canola for three years after Canada arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a US extradition warrant.

--With assistance from Jay Zhao-Murray.

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More storms and heavy rain returns to parts of New Mexico Thursday. This will bring back a threat of burn scar flash flooding through Friday.

Storms developed Wednesday afternoon across northern and western New Mexico thanks to northerly winds drawing down more moisture into the state today. Storms also developed over the Sacramento Mountains. Its also been hot today, with temperatures climbing into the mid and upper 90s for many, and widespread triple-digits in eastern New Mexico. Showers and thunderstorms have been wrapping up this evening, but a few storms are still moving through central and western New Mexico tonight.

A backdoor cold front will start moving into northeast New Mexico tonight, pushing up against the east slopes of the Sangre de Cristo, Sandia, and Manzano Mountains by Thursday morning. This will bring an increase in low level moisture, and bring the threat of heavy rainfall, especially to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains Thursday afternoon. Heavy rainfall will likely cause burn scar flash flooding. Flash flooding in the Ruidoso area will also be possible. Scattered to widespread showers and storms will also develop across the rest of northern, western, and central New Mexico Thursday afternoon. High temperatures will be a couple degrees cooler. Some showers and storms may stick around through late Thursday night.

Another push of moisture will move west across New Mexico Friday morning. This will again set the stage for more widespread to scattered showers and thunderstorms by Friday afternoon. There will once again be a threat of heavy rainfall, which could lead to flash flooding, especially over burn scar areas.

Drier air quickly returns Saturday, shifting rain chances to mainly far northern New Mexico. Temperatures will start heating up again this weekend. However, another plume of monsoon moisture will start moving into New Mexico again on Sunday, bringing back chances of storms to western New Mexico. More monsoon moisture will continue to move into the state early next week, bringing more afternoon storm chances into the middle of next week.

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After string of child deaths in Kansas City, why is the public still in the dark?

Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at RealityCheck@kcstar.com.

Three children, ages 4 to 6, died gruesome deaths in Kansas City the past 2 1/2 years.

One was decapitated. Authorities said another died of malnutrition, and the third fell 17 floors from an apartment window. Since their deaths, three more younger children in the area have died, including an Independence boy who fell from an eighth-floor window last week.

Officials with the Missouri Department of Social Services have not released information about any of these children. No details on whether their families were ever reported for abuse or neglect or if they received any state services.

And because of Missouri law, they dont have to.

Unlike other states, such as Kansas where laws in recent years have ensured more transparency after a childs death from abuse or neglect, the release of information in the Show-Me State is at the sole discretion of the DSS director after reviewing whether the information could harm siblings.

And Robert Knodell, who has been in the top post since the fall of 2021, said information is not released until investigations are complete. In some cases, that can take years, leaving the public in the dark about whether Missouris child welfare system designed to protect the states most vulnerable children did everything it was supposed to do.

Teresa Woody is litigation director for Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, a nonprofit that has been among the groups fighting for more transparency in the neighboring Sunflower State. Its very surprising, she said, that Missouris law is so limited.

Unfortunately, after a death, theres nothing you can do (for) that child, Woody said. The whole point of the information being released is so that you can try to take steps to keep that from happening to other children in the future.

Thats always the goal, to have as much transparency around child welfare as possible.

But that hasnt been the case after a child dies in Missouri. Thats why some think its time for lawmakers to champion a change in the current law, which went into effect more than two decades ago.

As for Knodell, hes become known for his transparency when it comes to struggles inside his agency. Hes spoken openly about the need for more resources to address high turnover and rising caseloads.

He launched an investigation after former students of a southern Missouri boarding school said hotline calls alleging abuse had been made over the years but nothing came of them. And after 43 children in Missouri  from babies and toddlers to older teens  died of fentanyl in 2022, Knodell appointed a subcommittee to analyze those deaths.

Then, earlier this year, he released that groups report which showed the states child welfare agency missed warning signs and failed to protect dozens of children from dying of the illicit drug.

In a letter accompanying that report, Knodell said: It is imperative that we collectively strive for improvement on both a personal and communal level.

Yet when it comes to child deaths, Knodell has drawn a hard line. He told The Star in an email that after a childs death that his department is not in a position to release any information until a final conclusion has been entered.

... Accountability and continuous improvement are paramount priorities here at DSS and within our Childrens Division, as well as doing our part to aid in the proper administration of justice for victims, he said. We must also weigh the privacy protections afforded by statutes to surviving, innocent children and other innocent, immediate relatives, who sometimes live in communities that are marginalized.

Protections that should receive the same consideration as those for more privileged members of society.

Still, Woody and other child advocates say Missouris law needs to allow for more information to be shared. Similar to what happens in states like Kansas.

In 2018, Kansas lawmakers passed legislation that required the Secretary of the Department for Children and Families to release certain information when a child dies of abuse or neglect. That information includes the age and sex of the child and a summary of previous reports received by the agency and services that were provided to the child.

This past session, lawmakers increased that transparency requiring the secretary to release information sooner in some cases. As of July 1, the DCF secretary doesnt have to wait until an investigation finds the child died of abuse or neglect. The secretary is now required to release information when related criminal charges are filed and the kid was involved in the child welfare system.

To have one person who has the power to either make it public or not  thats very troubling, Woody said. Agencies have a proclivity to protect themselves.

  Obviously, children have confidentiality privileges, just like anybody does, but you know, when you have something like this happen, you really need to figure out what happened. Was it just something (that) couldnt have been foreseen? Was it, you know, something that somebody should have noticed?

Karvell, Ivy and Grayson

Karvell Stevens, 6, was found on Feb. 15, 2022. Police responded to his mothers home in the 7300 block of Indiana Avenue on Kansas Citys southeast side after a woman called and said the devil was trying to attack her.

Officers found Karvells decapitated body inside the home.

His mother Tasha Haefs, 35, was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action and is set to go to trial in April of next year. Authorities allege she admitted to killing her son  a student at Spring Valley Elementary School in Raytown  in a bathtub.

The Star requested information shortly after Karvells death and renewed its request for information three months ago and received a standard response:

DSS has checked into the status of this investigation and at this time, it remains open., the response said. ... DSS records of child abuse and neglect are generally closed and confidential by law and not subject to release.

The Director can consider whether it is appropriate to release information or findings about the case after the investigation is concluded and the Department has had the opportunity to consider the impact of the release of information on other children within the immediate family, the criminal investigation, or any legal proceedings arising out of the case in the manner required by law.

Nine months after Karvells death, police responded to an apartment along St. John Avenue in northeast Kansas City and found Ivy House dead inside a bedroom. Wrapped in blankets, her malnourished body was already decomposing. In just six days she would have turned 5.

Ivys surviving twin sister, identified in court records as AH, suffered severe malnutrition and dehydration. The living 5-year-old weighed no more than a 20-month-old girl when she was found, court documents said.

Charging documents indicated that Fish had previously lost custody of the girls, but regained it in 2019.

Again, DSS did not answer questions about Ivys family. The girls mother, Adair Fish, is scheduled for a jury trial in February.

Then in late November of last year, police responded to an alley near the Grand Boulevard Lofts, where a 911 caller had found Grayson OConnor, a 5-year-old boy. Officers noticed an open window on the 17th floor and questioned his mother, Corrinne OConnor, in her apartment. She allegedly told police her son had gone out the window, according to court documents.

Authorities said she didnt call 911 to report his fall. OConnor allegedly removed safety devices from the window of her apartment that wouldve prevented the window from opening more than a few inches, according to an eviction petition from the apartment building.

Neighbors told The Star they reported their concerns for Graysons welfare to Missouris Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline.

Eight months after The Star asked for information and records, the state recently provided an update on your request.

At this time, investigations have been closed on this case, the email said. DSS is now currently conducting a final review on your request to decide if any action may be taken. As this process may take some time, we appreciate your patience and understanding.

DSS anticipates the new estimated earliest date responsive records may be available is August 29, 2024.

Child tragedies have continued after Graysons death.

In February, prosecutors charged a Kansas City mother with endangering the welfare of a child after she told police that she mistakenly placed her 1-month-old baby in an oven instead of her crib, according to court documents. The child died.

And in mid June, Kansas City Police discovered a 7-month-old baby unresponsive at a home in the 5300 block of Olive Street, near Blue Hills Park. The baby, Giovanni Carr  known as Gio  died a few days later of injuries consistent with serious abuse.

A relative of the baby told The Star that the little boy was in the care of his godmother at the time he was allegedly injured. The godmother was, at the time, the best friend of Gios mother and had watched the baby before, but never by herself, the relative said.

DSS has not provided The Star with any information on those two babies.

After a childs death, Missouri has an internal crucial event review process, Knodell said, where a group of workers from Childrens Division and DSS review any prior history in the case. The purpose of the review process, he said, is to ensure that policies and procedures were followed and to identify trends that the two departments could respond to in order to better practice.

When asked if all policies and procedures were followed in the cases of Karvell, Ivy and Grayson, Knodell declined to say.

At this time, he said, the Department is unable to comment on the cases identified due to the investigation remaining open and/or the impact to other children within the immediate family, the criminal investigation or other legal proceedings being impacted.

Corrinne OConnor appeared in Jackson County Court Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, for a bond hearing. The 27-year-old mother has been charged with a felony count of child endangerment resulting in the death of her 5-year-old son Grayson OConnor, who fell from the 17th floor of a downtown Kansas City high-rise in November 2023. OConnor allegedly removed safety devices from the window of her apartment in the Grand Boulevard Lofts at 10th Street and Grand Boulevard

A little bit suspect for me

Last week, a 3-year-old child died after falling from an apartment window at Independence Towers. Police still have not released his name.

Prosecutors charged the boys father, Moses Bass, and his fathers girlfriend, Destiny Randle, each with one count of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. The other children in the home were placed in state custody, court documents said.

According to an Independence police report from July 22  a week before the boys death  another child who lives at the home was found wandering outside at 7 a.m., in the morning. The 5-year-old was found at a gas station just north of the apartments after police received a report of a lost child in the area of Jennings Road and U.S. 24 highway.

An officer took the child, wearing only shorts and flip flops, back to police headquarters. The department then made a social media post with a photo of the boy in an effort to reunite the child with his family. Police eventually pieced information together and went to an Independence Towers apartment where Randle opened the door.

The officer wrote in the report that the states Department of Social Services was notified about the incident.

It is not clear if the department followed up on the report.

Baylee Watts, a DSS spokeswoman, said information related to specific child abuse and neglect investigations is closed and confidential under Missouri law, except under very limited circumstances.

The Department of Social Services strongly encourages anyone who suspects child abuse or neglect to call our toll-free hotline at 1-800-392-3738, she said in the email. The Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline is answered 24-hours a day, every day, all year round.

In wake of this recent death in Independence and the others since February 2022, some hope lawmakers revisit what DSS can release and when. As well as whose decision it should be.

I think its a really good question to be exploring, for sure, said Rep. Ingrid Burnett, a Kansas City democrat, who is termed out and wont be in office next session. Burnett served on the Children and Families Committee.

I have to say, the sole discretion of the departments director for anything is a little bit suspect for me, because I think there is an opportunity there to be influenced by factors other than whats best for the child, or whats best for the family or whatever service youre delivering.

That rings a little alarm bell for me.

Burnett was quick to say that shes been impressed with recent changes inside the child welfare system and the focus on family preservation under Knodell and Childrens Division Director Darrell Missey. Her issue, she said, is not with who is in charge, but the law itself.

And whether the system is adequately funded to protect children.

In my mind, yes, we need to know, are they doing theyre job appropriately? she said. But do they also have the resources to do that job? Im going to suggest they dont. ... And what do we need to do to get them the resources if they dont?

I think its important for the public to know was the division involved? Were they aware that there were concerns with this family?

Reporters Nathan Pilling and Bill Lukitsch contributed to this report.

A 3-year-old boy suffered critical injuries after falling about eight stories out of an apartment window at the high-rise Independence Towers, 728 N. Jennings Road in Independence.
diane555 | Liz Coulbourn

Trans healthcare  and life in general  have been the subject of countless headlines and several hundred examples of proposed legislation since the last presidential election. In advance of the 2024 Harris-Trump matchup, digital healthcare service FOLX HEALTH offered Teen Vogue exclusive access to their new polling on how trans and nonbinary Americans are feeling about the political climate.

The survey got the perspectives of over 1,500 trans people, half of whom resided in states that voted Red in 2020, the other half in states that went Blue. I wont mince my words. Our community, myself included, is concerned about the increasing attacks on LGBTQ+ rights," FOLX CEO Liana Douillet Guzman tells Teen Vogue.

In the last year, 1 in 5 trans people surveyed lost access to healthcare as a result of anti-LGBTQ policies and laws and 58% of respondents considered moving to a different state ; respondents in states with more anti-LGBTQ policies reported higher rates.

55% were unable to access mental health treatment when needed, primarily due to difficulties in finding LGBTQ-affirming providers. 2 in 3 respondents experienced frequent mental health distress this past month, which is higher than reported national estimates.

9 in 10 believe the 2024 election will have a major impact on access to healthcare for LGBTQ people nationwide. 67% have made or are planning to make changes to their use of gender-affirming care due to concerns about the election.

92% are anxious about the presidential election. According to FOLX, Enthusiasm and hopelessness about the presidential election remain low, but have increased three to four times since Biden left the race.

When it comes to Harris vs. Trump, only 8% believed that Trump addresses LGBTQ concerns very much so, versus 28% for Harris.

90% are registered voters. The top three issues in order for the trans adults surveyed were LGBTQ+ issues, including healthcare access; threats to democracy; and the war on Gaza.

FOLX Health

FOLX Health

FOLX Health

FOLX Health

FOLX Health

The majority of respondents reported feeling consistent negative impacts on their mental health and well-being, their relationships, and fear for their own or familys safety due to the prevailing political discourse; just under 60% reported regular instances of either IRL or online bullying related to politics.

Perhaps unsurprisingly given all this, three-fourths of respondents told FOLX they were taking preventative measures in advance of the elections potential outcomes, ranging from stockpiling gender-affirming medication, expediting or renewing passports, and updating other documents.

Adds Guzman, "We are paying attention to the candidates in the race, and we will not stop advocating for our members until we achieve our goals of equitable health care and social acceptance for all queer and trans individuals.

Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
Researchers believe AI could soon help some people with bowel cancer avoid unnecessary chemotherapy. Joerg Carstensen/dpa

Artificial intelligence (AI) could help doctors identify early-stage bowel cancer patients who are most at risk of the disease coming back, a study has found.

It could also help some people avoid unnecessary chemotherapy, according to researchers.

For the study, academics from the University of Leeds used an AI algorithm to determine the level of CD3  a type of immune cell  in early-stage bowel cancer tumours.

After analysing tumour tissue samples from 868 patients taking part in the Quasar trial, the algorithm developed what researchers describe as a CD3 Score, which is based on the number of cells in different areas of the tumour.

Those with a high score had a lower level of CD3 cells, while those with a low score had higher levels.

From the 868 samples, researchers identified an 8.5% chance of bowel cancer returning within two years of surgery and chemotherapy.

AI was able to identify low-risk patients, whose chance of cancer returning was 3.8%, or 6.6% in cases where they did not have chemotherapy.

The algorithm also found those in the high-risk group had a 23.5% chance of their cancer returning in two years without chemotherapy, which fell to 14.3% with treatment.

Lead author Dr Christopher Williams, Cancer Research UK clinical trials research fellow at the University of Leeds School of Medicine, said: Current methods for deciding which patients with early-stage bowel cancer need chemotherapy and which do not are unreliable.

Many people receive chemotherapy when they dont need it, and unfortunately some of the people who are not offered chemotherapy go on to experience cancer recurrence.

It is very difficult to decide whether people with stage II colon cancer in particular need chemotherapy after their surgery as there is generally a lower risk that this cancer will come back.

The assessment method we trialled gave a stronger indication than any feature we currently assess as to whether a stage II cancer might come back.

This is very useful information for doctors and their patients facing difficult decisions about whether or not to proceed with chemotherapy after surgery.

Dr Williams added that the CD3 Score test has the potential to be the most important test patients with early-stage bowel cancer ask for.

Its fast, accurate and simple, and we hope it will make conversations about chemotherapy after surgery much more straightforward for patients and their doctors, he said.

Kandavel Shanmugam, clinical research lead at Roche Tissue Diagnostics, which has patented the CD3 Score, worked with the research team from Leeds.

He added: Our study underscores the potential importance of the CD3 Score test to bowel cancer patients, providing a critical insight to physicians in driving chemotherapy options for their patients.

Genevieve Edwards, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said: This could be a really positive step for our bowel cancer community.

Were keen to see new ways to predict treatment response and improve the guidance clinicians can give patients and will follow the progress of this test with interest.
A new meta-analysis of 148 studies estimates that 9.3 percent of patients who receive opioid prescriptions for chronic pain experience "dependence" or "opioid use disorder" (D&OUD). The authors, Kyla Thomas and six other researchers at Bristol Medical School in England, also calculated prevalence rates for "signs and symptoms" of D&OUD (29.6 percent), "aberrant behavior" (22 percent), and those deemed "at risk" of D&OUD (12.4 percent). They conclude that "problematic pharmaceutical opioid use appears to be common in chronic pain patients treated with opioid analgesics, with nearly one in 10 experiencing dependence and opioid use disorder, one in three showing signs and symptoms of dependence and opioid use disorder and one in five showing aberrant behaviour."

Thomas et al. think opioids are overprescribed, and they imply that their results reinforce that assessment. But these numbers are not as alarming as they might seem, and they do not support the connection that the authors misleadingly draw between medical use of opioids and escalating drug-related deaths.

The study, published in the journal Addiction on Wednesday, is the largest meta-analysis of research on this subject so far. But Thomas et al. warn that "the findings should be interpreted with caution" given the "high heterogeneity" of the results produced by the underlying studies, most of which (115) were conducted in the United States. That is not the only reason for caution.

Stefan Kertesz, a University of Alabama at Birmingham pain and addiction specialist, thinks the study is "not bad" but says it is "important to understand what it says." He notes that most of the studies in the meta-analysis "focus on 'prevalence,'" as opposed to "new-onset incidence." Prevalence rates "may tend to overestimate the likelihood of new-onset problems" that begin after opioids are prescribed, he says. Incidence studies, by contrast, "carefully rule out anyone with a prior diagnosis," which is "incredibly hard to do."

Another issue is whether the authors of the underlying studies properly applied diagnostic criteria. "Whenever someone drags through large data records for the existence of a diagnostic code, when the folks applying those codes are mostly not trained in addiction, we can't take the code's presence at face value," Kertesz says. And even if the diagnoses are accurate, they are based on criteria that vary from study to study, depending on the definition used. "The diagnostic codes are irregular," Kertesz says, and "there are many papers that show they are applied with poor fidelity."

The studies covered by the meta-analysis, which did not include cancer patients or people who take opioids for acute pain, defined what Thomas et al. call "D&OUD" in various ways, spanning two versions of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and four editions of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Keeping in mind the potential pitfalls, Kertesz says, "I would not discount or rule out" the estimate that 9.3 percent of chronic pain patients taking opioids fit one of D&OD labels.

That estimate, Kertesz notes, is similar to the results of "carefully collected prevalence studies using high-quality diagnostic interviews," such as this 2015 study reported in Lancet Psychiatry. That study generated various prevalence estimates, including 9.1 percent based on DSM-5 criteria that excluded "tolerance" and "withdrawal" (because those are predictable consequences of regular, long-term opioid use that do not necessarily signify a serious problem), 11.6 percent based on those criteria without the exclusions, and 8.5 percent based on the ICD-10 criteria for "dependence."

The estimate "goes way up" to 18.6 percent, Kertesz notes, "with what they describe as ICD-10 use disorder," which is "not much used." Under DSM-IV, the prevalence estimates were 8.9 percent for "dependence" and 10.1 percent for "abuse," which is "kind of odd," he says, since the latter category describes a much broader range of behavior.

Kertesz also wonders whether prevalence estimates from older studies, conducted at a time when prescribing practices were looser, accurately reflect the current situation. "Today's prescribing is much more carefully regulated," he says, "and actual U.S. opioid prescribing is downto levels per capita last seen in 1992 or a bit before then. So if we adopt analyses that involve lots of U.S. data from our high-prescribing [period] and assume it also characterizes prevalence after prescribing went down so much, we might just be wrong."

Most of what Thomas et al. describe as "problematic pharmaceutical opioid use" falls short of behavior that would qualify as "dependence" or "opioid use disorder." That wide net is consistent with the concern they express about using opioids to relieve chronic pain.

"Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP), defined as pain which is not cancer-related and which lasts for longer than 3 months, is one of the most common causes of disability globally," Thomas et al. write. "Population-based studies have reported that almost one in five US adults and as many as one in two UK adults suffer with the condition, which is often managed in primary care settings. Despite limited evidence of long-term clinical benefit of opioids for CNCP and guidelines advising against their use for many pain conditions, opioid analgesics continue to be widely prescribed." And that, as Thomas et al. see it, is a problem that can be counteracted by looking at broader measures of "problematic pharmaceutical opioid use."

This anti-opioid bias is apparent in the authors' alarm at the rates they calculated, which are not very different from the numbers that Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and A. Thomas McLellan, former deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, presented in a 2016 New England Journal of Medicine article. "Although published estimates of iatrogenic addiction vary substantially from less than 1% to more than 26% of cases," they wrote, "part of this variability is due to confusion in definition. Rates of carefully diagnosed addiction have averaged less than 8% in published studies, whereas rates of misuse, abuse, and addiction-related aberrant behaviors have ranged from 15 to 26%."

In general, Volkow and McLellan noted, "addiction occurs in only a small percentage of persons who are exposed to opioidseven among those with preexisting vulnerabilities." Yet Thomas et al. describe their similar numbers as evidence of a problem that "appears to be common," which is more a matter of spin than a product of new information revealed by the meta-analysis.

The "confusion in definition" that Volkow and McLellan mentioned remains a challenge. DSM-5, for example, combined what were previously two labels, "substance dependence" and the less serious "substance abuse," into the broad category of "substance use disorder" (SUD). SUD, which is one of the diagnoses that figures in Thomas et al.'s calculation of D&OUD prevalence, spans a wide range of cases, including many that would not fit the old definition of "substance dependence" or what Volkow and McClellan consider "carefully diagnosed addiction."

Moving beyond D&OUD magnifies the difficulty of assessing the seriousness of the problems reflected in Thomas et al.'s numbers. They concede, for instance, that the "aberrant behavior" measure, which 79 of the studies included, is iffy.

"Although aberrant behaviours may indicate a problematic relationship with prescription opioids, other contextual factors may influence the likelihood of these behaviours," Thomas et al. write. "For example, missed clinic visits, no-shows or no follow-up may be associated with other social issues or disability, and not reflect POU.Other aberrant behaviours, such as early refills or multiple prescriptions, may be indicative of inadequate pain control. Despite these shortcomings, we felt that it was still important to include a prevalence estimate of aberrant drug-related behaviours to aid understanding of the extent of the problem of POU in this cohort of patients."

Forty-four of the studies reported results for "signs and symptoms" of D&OUD. This is a broader category that encompasses patients who did not qualify for any drug-related diagnosisnot even the commodious "opioid use disorder" label. Thomas et al. say it requires "the clear presence of behaviours such as craving, tolerance, withdrawal or a loss of control over use (for example continued use despite psychological or physical harm or use which takes priority over usual obligations)." But some of these things are not like the others. While "continued use despite psychological or physical harm" is bad by definition, for example, "tolerance" and "withdrawal" are suspect when applied to chronic pain patients, which is why the Lancet Psychiatry study included a DSM-5 estimate without them.

The "at risk of D&OUD" category, which was based on eight studies, includes patients who "exhibit characteristics which may increase their risk of developing opioid dependence or opioid use disorder in the future" but "do not show aberrant behaviour or meet criteria for dependence or opioid use disorder." Thomas et al. say "studies which used a high score ( 8) on the Opioid Risk Tool (ORT) to define [problematic pharmaceutical opioid use], and which were originally classified as misuse by study authors, were included in this category." But they note that "it is likely to be a very weak indicator of actual [problematic pharmaceutical opioid use] or D&OUD."

Thomas et al. complain that opioids are "widely prescribed" for chronic pain, a practice they suggest is not supported by scientific evidence or by "guidelines advising against their use for many pain conditions." That is worrisome, they say, because "long-term opioid prescribing has been associated with many harms, including accidental and fatal prescription opioid overdose." They add that the United States is experiencing "a public health emergency" due to "overdose deaths caused by prescription opioid analgesics, illicit opioids such as heroin and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl."

Thomas et al. cite a 2022 editorial in The Lancet about "the opioid epidemic," which it described as "one of the worst public health disasters affecting the USA and Canada." That epidemic, the editorial said, "involves both prescribed opioids such as oxycodone and illicit drugs such as heroin."

These descriptions are highly misleading. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 90 percent of opioid-related deaths in 2022 involved "synthetic opioids other than methadone," the category that includes illicit fentanyl. Less than 15 percent involved "natural and semisynthetic opioids," the category that includes "prescribed opioids such as oxycodone," and some of these deaths also involved black-market drugs. The hazard that Thomas et al. cite as a reason to worry about the use of opioids to treat chronic pain, in other words, has little to do with medications prescribed for that purpose.

The CDC's data do not tell us how often the opioids that worry Thomas et al. were prescribed for the people who died after using them. But a 2019 Massachusetts study of opioid-related deaths found that decedents had prescriptions for the opioids that showed up in toxicology tests just 1.3 percent of the time. The risk of a fatal overdose for bona fide pain patients seems to be very small: A 2016 study of opioid-related deaths in North Carolina found just 478 fatalities among 2.2 million residents who were prescribed opioids in 2010, an annual rate of 0.022 percent.

A 2021 European Psychiatry study of "19 European countries and the United States," Thomas et al. note, "found that the United Kingdom had the highest consumption of prescription opioids." Yet while Scotland had the highest opioid-related death rate, England and Wales ranked seventh, far below the United States. "Scotland was a clear outlier, with more opioid-related overdose deaths than in the US during the entire observation period," the authors reported. "Heroin and methadone were the main drugs involved in opioid-related mortality in Scotland." Again, this does not look like evidence that prescribed pain medications like oxycodone and hydrocodone are playing an important role in opioid-related deaths.

In the United States, those deaths overwhelmingly involve illicit fentanyl, and they rose at an accelerated rate even as opioid prescriptions declined substantially. That was entirely predictable, since the crackdown on prescriptions drove nonmedical users toward black-market substitutes that are much more dangerous because their composition is highly variable and unpredictable. Meanwhile, pain patients suffered needlessly as the medications that made their lives bearable became increasingly difficult to obtain. Yet Thomas et al. invoke "the increase in opioid-related fatalities" as a reason for doctors to be even warier of those medications.

The "big picture," Kertesz says, "is that if you prescribe chronic opioids for pain, you are inducing dependency with the hope it will be therapeutic. There is always risk of some kind involving misuse, and you have to inform the patient." Although estimates vary, he says, "the likely risk of inducing a new-onset addiction or new-onset problematic behavior is non-trivial." But exaggerating that risk, as Thomas et al. do by linking pain treatment to "the increase in opioid-related fatalities," poses a different sort of danger, as patients across the country have discovered during the last decade.

The post A Study of 'Problematic' Opioid Use Among Pain Patients Is Less Alarming Than It Seems appeared first on Reason.com.
The bill for Cloviss explosive, unshackled growth has come due.

One guess whos being asked to pay.

What kind of place do we want to live in? Clovis Mayor Lynne Ashbeck asked Monday evening before she and her city council colleagues placed a 1% sales tax on the November ballot. Were at a crossroads.

Ashbeck was using crossroads as a figure of speech, but its an apropos choice of words.

Opinion

Because in essence, this is about crossroads. Crossroads of actual streets that kept moving farther east and north over the past two decades as Clovis leaders gave the nod to large-scale residential tracts away from the established core.

And guess what? Suburban sprawl doesnt pay for itself. Oh sure, the permit fees and utility charges are nice. So too are increased property taxes. But even those things, combined, dont cover the long-term fiscal responsibility for public safety, water delivery, sewage treatment, road maintenance, solid waste pickup and other services.

Thats what city leaders have come to realize  and why this group of unabashed conservatives is now pushing for a tax hike.

Along with its borders, Clovis population has grown by nearly 40% since the recession. In the meantime, though, staffing for public safety and other services were stagnant. The city employs roughly the same number of police officers and firefighters in 2024 as it did in 2007, resulting in small upticks in crime (shhh not so loud) and emergency response times that are increasingly substandard.

The proposed 1% sales tax would focus on police and fire but also support other city departments. Without it, city manager John Holt forecast a $14.4 million general fund operating deficit by 2028-29.

We have insufficient resources to maintain our current operations, Holt told the council.

Village Green is a 7-acre park in the Loma Vista area of Clovis that has been planned for more than two decades. City officials envision the Village Green as a new community hub for special events. The space features a clock tower, a grass amphitheater, food truck spaces, a water feature, trellises, evening lighting, walking paths, bike racks, restrooms, drinking fountains and seating areas.

Dire times indeed for a city that likes to boast about how its the safest and most desirable place to live in the San Joaquin Valley.

Which apparently isnt as safe, or as desirable, as it used to be. As was strongly implied by police and fire leadership.

I have called Clovis home for nearly four decades, said Jordan Hunter, president of the Clovis Police Officers Association. This is not the Clovis I grew up in.

Clovis Firefighters Association President Trent McGill bemoaned how it took until 2022 for the city to open a fire station in Loma Vista, where new houses have been under construction since the mid-2000s. Emergency response times for newer outlying subdivisions exceed 10 minutes, according to a graphic he showed the council, nearly twice as long as established neighborhoods.

The Clovis way of life is not just a slogan, its a standard, McGill said. Decide if you want to keep Clovis, Clovis.

Sprawl is a financial drain

Mondays meeting was heavy on gloom and doom but light on introspection. None of the five council members, or the city manager, cared to offer any insight as to how Clovis found itself in such a sinkhole that it requires a $28 million per year helping hand from taxpayers.

Heres a hint: Building new subdivisions in almost every corner of the city on what used to be ag land or open fields is a financial drain. Unless youre the homebuilder, of course.

Dont take my word on that. I suggest reading a recent study by the Urban Institute that analyzed the prior 80 years of fringe development in the Fresno area.

We demonstrate that land development has occurred at a faster rate than population growth, resulting in an increasingly sprawling, low-density metropolitan area, the authors wrote. This development has displaced agricultural land and destroyed natural areas; undermined the viability of city center-adjacent neighborhoods, whose residents are disproportionately people of color; and made it challenging to provide effective public transportation service.

The population growth in Clovis, from 90,000 to 2006 to 124,500 in 2024, speaks for itself. But it doesnt take into account how eager city leaders were for that to happen.

Village Green is a 7-acre park in the Loma Vista area of Clovis that has been planned for more than two decades. City officials envision the Village Green as a new community hub for special events. The space features a clock tower, a grass amphitheater, food truck spaces, a water feature, trellises, evening lighting, walking paths, bike racks, restrooms, drinking fountains and seating areas.

In 2007, Clovis went so far as to accept a $230,000 advance from national homebuilder Lennar so that the citys consultant could complete the master plan for two communities within Loma Vista. The city council voted 4-1 to approve the deal with Ashbeck the lone dissenter.

Ashbeck expressed concerns Lennar would expect favors down the road as Loma Vista grew but was reassured by then-city manager Kathy Millison, who told the council that creative financing arrangements are required given the current budget constraints.

Clovis faced budget constraints in 2007? Huh. Just wait a year or two  or 17.

This is a vision of what is to come, Millison told the council.

Not sure if Millisons vision of the future included a time when Clovis residents would be implored to extricate the city from its sprawl-induced bind.

But here we are.
NEW CITY  Ken Zebrowski continues to expand his resume since leaving the New York State Assembly in July.

Zebrowski parlayed his political career into a partnership with Brown and Weinraub Advisors, an Albany-based law and lobbying firm, He just added becoming president of the Rockland Business Association to his post-Assembly responsibilities.

New York Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski celebrates the passing of a bill which will allow monitors to oversee the East Ramapo School District, during a press conference to outside the Martin Luther King Multi Purpose Center in Spring Valley on Friday, June 11, 2021.

More: Ken Zebrowski leaves Assembly seat, takes job with law, lobbying firm

Zebrowski said his work with the RBA comes in "conjunction with my new role as senior advisor for Brown and Weinraub."

"Both roles should work seamlessly together," he said on Thursday. "My position at Brown and Weinraub will open the RBA up to the personnel and services of the state-leading lobbying and public affairs firm."

The longtime business association announced that Zebrowski will work with longtime CEO Al Samuels and the Board of Directors "on a reorganization effort to better serve its members and sharpen its economic advocacy for the future."

Samuels, Zebrowski, and staff will work with the board, several strategic committees, and additional partners to chart a new path for the organization, the RBA release said.

The RBA plans to unveil numerous new events, collaboration and growth opportunities, important news, and other updates that affect economic activity and various business services.

Kens involvement with the RBA will be giving me more time to devote to key areas of special concern: advocacy, public policy, and economic development, Samuels said.

Zebrowski said they are looking at "a top-to-bottom review of the organization with an eye toward increased advocacy and strategic connections that are a value add for our members."

He said the RBA will benefit from his relationships with business organizations across the state and they have already started to audit programming. He said RBA members will be polled for ideas and suggestions to allow the association to provide the most effective services for their business goals.

Zebrowski said the goal is for the RBA to take a significant leadership role in our local and regional economies,

The business and economic climate is changing at lightning speed and the RBA will present a renewed focus to advance the business interests of our members and foster a better economic climate for Rockland County and the Hudson Valley, Zebrowski said.

Zebrowski ends his Assembly career

Zebrowski, a Democrat, served Rockland in the Assembly for 18 years, and announced in January he would not seek a 10th, two-year term in November. His 96th District  once the 94th  includes Clarkstown and Haverstraw, with Nyack and South Nyack in Orangetown.

Story continues

Zebrowski, first elected at age 26, is a son of the late Rockland Legislator Kenneth Zebrowski, who chaired the county governing body. He made an unsuccessful Democratic primary run for Rockland district attorney in 2019. His sister, Kristen Zebrowski Stavisky, served as a Rockland Democrat elections commissioner and party chair. She is now co-executive director of the New York State Board of Elections.

During his Assembly tenure, Zebrowski pushed for legislation strengthening building code enforcement and stringent penalties for illegal housing and violations of the state fire and safety codes. He advocated for the state to deputize the county government to take over of the Spring Valley Building Department. He also advocated for monitors to oversee the East Ramapo School District. His advocacy for stricter code enforcement and school monitors cost him Orthodox Jewish voters in Ramapo when he ran for district attorney.

Zebrowski fought for added benefits for volunteer firefighters, among other first responders, and environmental protections.

Zebrowski told The Journal News/lohud in January when he announced he wouldn't seek reelection that the decision was a tough one. He is married with young children and had to commute to Albany.

"I've had the great fortune of representing the community I grew up in and I live in now," he said. "I think it's the right decision, but I will be personally sad when I walk out of the chambers for the last time."

Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal

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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Ken Zebrowski becomes president of Rockland Business Association
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Stay up to date on the latest headlines in todays Sunrise Smart Start for Thursday, August 8, 2024.

Clouds overhead this morning are increasing and will eventually spit out rain showers as we go through this afternoon. The remnants of Debby will be heading this way tonight.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) is backing former Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) over former state Senate President Chuck Morse (R) in the GOP gubernatorial primary.

Kelly understands that with strong fiscal responsibility, limited government, and local control, New Hampshire has set the Gold Standard for the rest of the country to follow, Sununu said in a statement shared through Ayottes campaign Wednesday.

Kelly connects with people and has always put individuals and families first. Shes the Republican who will win in November and hit the ground running in January. Count me in as an enthusiastic supporter of Kelly Ayotte for Governor!

Ayotte and Morse are among a handful of Republicans looking to get the GOP nod to replace Sununu as governor.

Three Democrats are also running to replace him: former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington and restaurant owner Jonathan Kiper.

Sununu, whos in his fourth term, opted against running for another term. The primaries for the New Hampshire gubernatorial race are Sept. 10.

The former senator said in a statement she was proud to have the popular Republicans endorsement. Ayottes campaign said she would campaign Thursday with Sununu in the state.

Under Governor Sununus leadership, New Hampshire is the best place in the country to live, work, and raise a family, and when Im Governor, I will work tirelessly to keep us moving in the right direction, Ayotte said.

The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the race a toss up.

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This file photo shows a worker on a roof. The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division has fined a Wisconsin-based supply company $92,226 after an inspection of a Salem job site found the company repeatedly failed to protect workers from potential hazards, the agency said in a news release.

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division has fined a Wisconsin-based supply company $92,226 after an inspection of a Salem job site found the company repeatedly failed to protect workers from potential hazards, the agency said in a news release.

Inspectors of the Salem site found two employees using a conveyor system to transport roofing materials at a house. One employee on the ground loaded the conveyor while the other employee placed the materials on the roof.

The inspection found the employee placing the materials on the roof was exposed to a potential fall of up to 18 feet with no fall protection system in place.

Oregon OHSA conducted the inspection of ABC Supply Co. Inc., a distributor of roofing supplies based in Beloit, Wisconsin, as part of a prevention-based program.

The citation marks the third time since July 2022 that inspectors found the company violated fall protection requirements in Oregon, according to a news release.

Any job task where an employee is assigned to work at heights must be taken seriously by employers. Our fall protection standards are there to safeguard workers each step of the way, from supply and distribution to finishing the project, Renee Stapleton, administrator for Oregon OSHA, said in the release.

Our standards are clear and practical," Stapleton said. "Repeatedly failing to follow them is unacceptable.

A spokesperson for ABC Supply Co. Inc. said in an email Thursday to the Statesman Journal that the company is taking the situation seriously.

"ABC Supply is aware of the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administrations concerns and can assure you that the safety of our associates and customers is of the utmost importance," spokesperson Katie Goodale said. "All of our associates  including drivers and material handlers  take part in mandatory ongoing safety and delivery training programs so that they know proper roof delivery procedures."

Isabel Funk covers breaking news and public safety for the Statesman Journal. Funk can be reached at ifunk@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @isabeldfunk

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Wisconsin company fined over exposing workers to hazards
The entrance to the Utah Supreme Court inside the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City is pictured on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

The Utah Supreme Court unanimously decided a sexual assault lawsuit filed by 94 patients against a Utah OB-GYN shouldnt be judged as medical malpractice, reviving the legal challenge previously dismissed by a lower court.

Justices concluded the patients didnt allege injuries related to the health care that David Broadbent, a Provo doctor then practicing at Utah Valley Hospital, provided. The injuries were caused by actions that were not medical treatment and had no medical purpose.

The patients alleged instances of sexual assault between 1979 and 2021 during their medical appointments, with many describing feeling distraught, terrible and violated, according to the suit.

Now, the patients are able to pursue the lawsuit introduced to a district court with claims of sexual battery, sexual assault, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The point of their claims is that his actions were not really health care at all. And the fact that Broadbent committed the alleged sexual assaults during medical appointments or examinations does not bring that conduct within the Malpractice Acts definition, the Supreme Court wrote in its opinion.

The court also mentioned SB247, a bill the Utah Legislature passed in 2023, which made changes in malpractice statute clarifying that health care doesnt include acts that are sexual in nature even if the act was committed under the auspice of providing professional diagnosis, counseling, or treatment; or at the time the act occurred, the victim believed the act was for medically or professionally appropriate diagnosis, counseling, or treatment.

The bill was brought by Sen. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, after the lawsuits initial dismissal. Though the defense argued the bill confirmed the case fell under the previous version of the Malpractice Act, justices disagreed and said the act had been clear before the changes.

Attorneys representing Intermountain Health, which runs Utah Valley Hospital, didnt have any comment on the decision and Broadbents attorneys werent available to discuss the allegations.

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Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner speaks at a press conference to comment on the arrest of a 19-year-old Islamist who has been arrested wanted to cause a bloodbath at a Taylor Swift concert in Austria. Alex Halada/APA/dpa

A 19-year-old man who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State militant group has confessed to plotting an attack on the Vienna leg of Taylor Swift's Eras tour, Austrian security authorities said on Thursday.

He had wanted to use home-made bombs and knives to kill people during one of Swift's performance, said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, director of state security and intelligence in the Austrian Interior Ministry.

The 19-year-old did not have a concert ticket but intended to strike near the Ernst Happel Stadium. He was part of an Islamist network and already on the police's radar, the official said.

The suspect had searched online about how to build bombs and told investigators in his confession that he wanted to "kill himself and a large crowd of people" at a Swift show on either Thursday or Friday, Haijawi-Pirchner said.

Her performances had been scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. All three were cancelled on Wednesday night by the organizer. Around 170,000 fans were expected to attend over the three nights.

The 19-year-old and a second person, aged 17, were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of plans to attack major events in Vienna, including Swift's concerts, said Franz Ruf, director general for public security in the Interior Ministry.

No further terror suspects are currently being sought, but the investigations surrounding the duo are continuing at full speed, said Ruf.

A 15-year-old who had been in contact with the main suspect was also being questioned and was in custody. He is said to have been aware of the 19-year-old's terror plans, but the extent to which he was involved remains the subject of investigation.

"A tragedy was prevented," Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said, adding: "The situation was serious, the situation is serious."

Chemicals and bomb-making equipment seized

The 19-year-old had quit his job on July 25 and said that he had big plans coming up, according to investigators.

He had begun "concrete preparatory acts" for the attack and had recently sworn an oath of allegiance to the current leader of the Islamic State group, Ruf said.

Ruf said chemical substances and bomb-making equipment were seized from the Austrian's home in Ternitz, south of Vienna.

A blue police light and a police siren were also found. They were possibly intended to help the suspects get to the crime scene or flee from it.

Second suspect worked at the stadium

The 17-year-old was employed by a company that caters for spectators at the Ernst Happel Stadium.

The arrest took place on Wednesday when the teen was on his way to the stadium. He was apprehended by a special police force just outside the venue.

According to the authorities, he had separated from his girlfriend in preparation for the attack.

Fans bitterly disappointed

Haijawi-Pirchner said it was the concert organizer's decision to cancel the shows, not Austrian police, but described the choice as reasonable.

On Wednesday, after the two arrests were announced, but before the organizer decided to call off the shows, police had outlined a series of security measures intended to keep people safe.

Tens of thousands of fans of the 34-year-old megastar, some of whom had travelled from as far away as the United States and Canada, expressed disappointment to Austrian media about the concert organizer Barracuda Music's decision, but said they understand why it was made.

Swift played shows in Warsaw earlier this month and is scheduled to play five dates in London starting next week.

(L-R) Director General for Public Security, Franz Ruf, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and DSN Director Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, arrive for a press conference to comment on the arrest of a 19-year-old Islamist who has been arrested wanted to cause a bloodbath at a Taylor Swift concert in Austria. Alex Halada/APA/dpa
CHULA VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  A suspect has been arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of a man in his Chula Vista apartment last month, police said Thursday.

Authorities arrested Jesus Salas Medina, 44, of San Diego Monday around 3 p.m. following an extensive investigation.

According to police, Medina was identified as a suspect in the murder of Rodolfo Duron Jr., 49, which happened on July 19th at the Terra Vista Apartments, located in the 1400 block of Santa Lucia Road.

Nine charged in connection to 30 San Diego home burglaries

After 8 p.m. on July 19, Duron Jr. was found unresponsive with stab wounds in his apartment. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Preliminary information gathered after speaking with witnesses suggested the suspect broke into Duron Jr.s apartment wearing a mask, stabbed him and then fled the scene. Police said he may have escaped on a motorized scooter.

It is unclear what led to the stabbing.

Police are still asking anyone with information about this incident to contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or submit tips anonymously online or through the P3tips mobile application.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  A 19-year-old is now charged in a second homicide case that took place in Birmingham earlier this year.

Jaiden Davis of Center Point is identified as a suspect in the death of Keenetheen Royall, according to the Birmingham Police Department. Royall was shot and killed in the Bush Hills neighborhood on March 16.

Birmingham police investigating homicide after man shot during assault

On July 29, BPD homicide detectives presented case information to the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office which issued a warrant for Davis arrest.

Davis is still in the custody of the Jefferson County Jail after being arrested in April for the murder of Jerry Edward Lewis, Jr. He is now being held on no bond for both charges.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 51-year-old man has been charged in connection to a homicide Sunday night in Kansas City, Missouri.

Jackson County prosecutors this week charged Alfred Leon Minor with abandonment of a corpse.

According to court documents, just before 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 4, Kansas City police officers responded to the area of 35th and Askew on reports of a body.

When officers arrived on scene they found a man, identified as 59-year-old Anthony Handcock, inside a house  He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Missing 65-year-old man last seen walking dog found dead: KCPD

Detectives spoke with a neighbor who stated the day before, the victim was barbequing and a person named Leon who does work for the victim, and a woman were all present. The victim mentioned he was having issues with Leon and was going to have to evict him, according to court documents.

Court documents say the neighbor located the victim inside the house the following day and notified police.

Detectives obtained a search warrant and found the victim laying in the doorway of a bedroom when apparent blood on his clothing and around him.

Court document say the bedroom appeared to have been disturbed as if an altercation had happened inside. Items were seen knocked over, including a broken lamp and lamp shade on the ground.

The victim appeared to have trauma to his head, including bruising, swelling and a laceration to the back of his head. Court document say the victim also appeared to have a large laceration to the back of his right hand and a wound to his left bicep. All the victims pockets in his shorts were pulled inside-out.

Minor was located and interviewed by detectives on Tuesday, Aug. 6, who stated he was paying the victim rent. Minor said the victim got upset with him and threw a lighter at him. A couple hours later, the victim came inside an d kicked down the door to the room Minor stays in.

Minor told detectives he was concerned Handcock was going to get rid of him and an altercation began.

Minor said the victim picked up a knife but he then hit him with a can of soup which caused him to drop the knife. He stated he picked up a lamp and hit the victim several times and the victim started to bleed.

The suspect says the victim eventually lost consciousness in the doorway to his room and he got up and left.

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Court documents say when detectives asked Minor if he checked the victims pockets, he stated the victims wallet was in his bag, When asked why, he stated he grabbed the wallet that was on a table after the fight. He said he knew it was the victims wallet, but said he took it so he could do research and find out who the victim was.

Minor is being held in the Jackson County jail with a bond set at $75,000. He had an initial court appearance on Thursday.

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DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)  A possible suspect has been identified in a nearly 30-year-old Dothan cold case murder.

Dothan Police tell WDHN a warrant has been obtained for Christopher Conrad in the 1997 murder of Vernon North.

North was found dead by a co-worker in his Winnebago parked behind a since-closed hobby shop on Ross Clark Circle.

According to Dothan Police, in 2014, Conrad was arrested on an unrelated forgery crime and, while in custody, made incriminating statements and admitted to taking part in a robbery that ended with North being killed.

Conrad was charged with robbery in connection with the case and was sentenced to a 35-year sentence in Bullock Correctional Facility, where he is currently being held.

Lt. Scott Owens says that in reviewing the case, investigators determined Conrads statements in 2014 and connection to the case were enough to charge him with Norths murder.

These statements included specific details of the crime that could only be known to a person intimately involved in the crime. Conrad admitted to taking part in the robbery of North, which ultimately ended in Norths death, said Lt. Owens in a release to WDHN.

Dothan Police will release additional information on Thursday.

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BERLIN (Reuters) -German defence group Rheinmetall will at the very least hit its full-year sales and earnings targets after a strong first half as demand for weapons in Europe remains unabated after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

"We have never seen such growth," said Chief Executive Armin Papperger, reportedly the target of a Russian assassination plot for his role in supporting the West's efforts in Ukraine.

"After six months of the 2024 fiscal year, Rheinmetall is confirming at least the sales and earnings forecast for 2024," said the maker of Leopard 2 tanks.

It has guided for record sales of 10 billion euros and an operating profit margin of 14-15% this year.

Papperger said on Thursday that Rheinmetall now expects annual sales growth of around 2 billion euros in coming years.

Sales rose nearly 50% in the second quarter, to 2.23 billion euros, the company said, confirming preliminary results released last month that also saw operating profit double in the quarter and reported earnings after taxes at 79 million euros.

Its backlog, which includes potential orders from contracts with civilians and call-offs expected from framework agreements with military customers, was up 62% to 48.6 billion euros ($53.12 billion) in the first half of this year, it said.

($1 = 0.9148 euros)

(Reporting by Miranda Murray, Editing by Rachel More)
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB)  The man involved in a shooting late Tuesday night at an apartment complex in Panama City Beach has been arrested.

According to the Bay County Sheriffs Office, 37-year-old Ricardo Golden was arrested for accessory to murder.

One dead, one injured in shooting at apartment complex

Authorities said Golden picked up Jermaine Ranglin and Devaughn D. Jones from a waffle house in Panama City Beach. Golden then admitted to deputies that Raglin stated he had shot a man and a woman, and despite this, Golden drove Ranglin and Jones to the Holiday Inn in Bonifay.

Deputies said that Ranglin gave Golden a car key to deliver to his girlfriend, and once the car key was delivered, she was going to send $4,000 via Venmo to Golden.

Deputies said knowing Ranglin shot two people, Golden still aided them in driving to motels and handling the money transfer.

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Suspect in Ralph Yarl shooting files motions for witnesses, jury to be sequestered

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A Northland man accused of shooting a teenager whod gone to the wrong address has filed two motions ahead of his jury trial next month.

Andrew Lesters lawyer filed two motions on Aug. 2 to sequester witnesses and the jury at the trial.

Lester is charged in the April 2023 shooting of Ralph Yarl, who had knocked on the wrong door to pick up his brothers. Yarl survived.

A pre-trial date has been set for September 6, 2024. A jury trial for this case is set for October 7, 2024.

Former De Soto paraprofessional charged for alleged relationship with student

The 85-year-old is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the shooting of Yarl.

Yarl previously testified that he went to pick up his siblings on April 13 last year, but he didnt have his phone. He went to the wrong address by mistake.

Yarl said after he rang the door bell, and he said Lester shot him, telling him, dont come here ever again.

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Lesters attorney is arguing self-defense, and Lester has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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"His aim was to kill himself and a large number of people during [Swift's] concert either today or tomorrow," one official said

Aldara Zarraoa/Getty Taylor Swift on July 5, 2024, in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Austrian officials are revealing more information about the alleged terror plot that canceled all three of Taylor Swifts planned Eras Tour concerts in Vienna over the weekend.

Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of Austria's Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, shared in a news conference on Thursday, Aug. 8 that the 19-year-old Austrian suspect they detained admitted to intending "to carry out an attack at Swifts concert using explosives and knives," according to NBC News, CNN and Le Monde.

"His aim was to kill himself and a large number of people during the concert either today or tomorrow," he added, according to Le Monde. The Grammy winners concerts were originally scheduled to take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.

Haijawi-Pirchner said, per NBC News, that investigators found items including hydrogen peroxide, detonators, detonator cables and homemade explosives that were already assembled at the mans apartment.

Related: Taylor Swift's 3 Eras Tour Shows in Vienna, Austria Canceled After Being Targeted in Alleged Terror Plot

The 19-year-old was "clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State (IS), officials said at the news conference, adding that large concerts are often a target of Islamist attacks, according to NBC News.

Authorities noted that two other suspects, who were in contact with other individuals who knew about the plan, were detained, per CNN.

This included a 17-year-old who worked at a facility management company that would have provided services to the Ernst Happel Stadium, which was Swifts concert venue, and a 15-year-old who had been in the stadium area when he was detained. They noted that the 15-year-old refused to speak with authorities so far.

Aldara Zarraoa/Getty Taylor Swift on July 5, 2024, in Amsterdam, Netherlands

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Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said that a foreign intelligence agency tipped officials off to the scheme, according to CNN. A source previously told the outlet that U.S. agencies were the ones that alerted the Vienna government.

The situation was serious, the situation is serious. But we can also say: A tragedy was prevented, Karner said at the press conference.

Noam Galai/TAS24/Getty Taylor Swift performs onstage on July 9, 2024, in Zurich, Switzerland

Related: Taylor Swift Concerts in Austria Were Allegedly Targeted in Terror Plot Involving 'Chemical Substances,' 2 Arrested

This came hours after it was announced that Swift canceled all three of her Vienna shows. A promoter post re-shared on the official Taylor Nation account's Instagram Stories said the concerts were canceled for safety reasons.

"With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyones safety," a message originally shared on the Barracuda Music page noted, adding that all tickets purchased by fans "will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days."

Swift's next set of Eras Tour concerts are still scheduled in London from Aug. 15-20.



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This is a locator map for Yemen with its capital, Sanaa. (AP Photo)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Two suspected attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted a ship in the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait that links the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, authorities said Friday.

The Houthis did not immediately claim the assaults, though they follow a monthslong campaign by the rebels targeting shipping through the Red Sea corridor over Israels war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

After a recent two-week pause, their attacks have resumed following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, the Houthis main benefactor, amid renewed concerns over the war escalating to a regional conflict.

The operations are ongoing  our operations toward occupied Palestine to target the Israeli enemy, our operations at sea, the inevitable forthcoming response, as well as coordination with the axis in any joint operations, warned the Houthi's secretive leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi. "The decision to respond is a collective decision, at the level of the entire axis and at the level of each front individually 

In the first attack, a rocket-propelled grenade exploded close to the ship Thursday, according to the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. Two smaller craft, with men aboard wearing white and yellow raincoats, launched the RPG, the UKMTO said.

The second attack came early Friday, with a missile exploding in close proximity to the vessel, the UKMTO said. The vessel and crew are reported to be safe.

The private security firm Ambrey, which said the vessel had a private security crew onboard, described the ship as being hit by a drone that caused no injuries or physical damage.

The vessel was assessed to be aligned with the Houthi target profile, Ambrey said. The vessel was assessed to have been targeted earlier in the day.

Though the Houthis did not immediately claim the attack, it sometimes can take hours or even days to acknowledge their assaults, while claiming others that apparently haven't happened.

The Houthis have targeted more than 70 vessels with missiles and drones in a campaign that has killed four sailors. They have seized one vessel and sunk two in the time since. Other missiles and drones have been either intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition in the Red Sea or splashed down before reaching their targets.

The rebels maintain that their attacks target ships linked to Israel, the United States or Britain as part of the rebels campaign they say seeks to force an end to the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the war  including some bound for Iran.

Since November, Houthi attacks have disrupted the $1 trillion flow of goods passing through the region annually while also sparking the most intense combat the U.S. Navy has seen since World War II.

The Houthis also have launched drones and missiles toward Israel, including an attack on July 19 that killed one person and wounded 10 others in Tel Aviv. Israel responded the next day with airstrikes on the Houthi-held port city of Hodeida that hit fuel depots and electrical stations, killing and wounding a number of people, the rebels say.

After the strikes, the Houthis paused their attacks until Saturday, when they hit a Liberian-flagged container ship traveling through the Gulf of Aden.

Meanwhile on Thursday, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter jets arrived in the Mideast from a base in the United Kingdom, authorities said Thursday.

U.S. Central Command posted images online of the fighters, saying their presence in the region was to address threats posed by Iran and Iranian-backed groups.

The U.S. has declined to say where the aircraft landned due to host nation sensitivities.

Central Command later said it destroyed two Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles and one Houthi ground control station, as well as a drone boat in the Red Sea.
A man from Mississippi has been arrested in connection with the strangulation murders of three women in Ventura County nearly half a century ago.

In February 2023, the Ventura County Sheriffs Cold Case Unit began re-examining the deaths of the three women  Kimberly Carol Fritz, Velvet Ann Sanchez and Lorraine Ann Rodriguez  each of whom was killed in 1977, the Ventura County DAs Office said.

While the exact circumstances surrounding the womens deaths were not disclosed by the DA, an article published in 1978 in the Utah publication The Daily Herald stated that the three women were prostitutes who were strangled with their own underwear.

Sanchez was 31 when she was found dead in an Oxnard motel on Sept. 9, 1977, the Daily Herald reported; the 18-year-old Fritz was found in a motel room on May 29 of that year and Rodriguez, then 22, was found dead near a highway in Oxnard on Dec. 27, but the Herald reported that investigators believed she was also killed at a motel and dumped there.

Man found guilty in rapper PnB Rock murder trial

After decades and decades of investigation, detectives were eventually able to identify the suspect as Warren Luther Alexander, a resident of Diamondhead, Mississippi.

Alexander was extradited to Ventura County and arrived on Tuesday from Surry County, North Carolina, where he was awaiting prosecution for a 1992 cold case murder.

The 73-year-old, who made his first appearance in Ventura County Superior Court on Wednesday, had his arraignment continued to Aug. 21. He is currently being held in the Ventura County Jail without bail.

A joint news conference hosted by Ventura County DA Erik Nasarenko, Sheriff Jim Fryhoff, Oxnard Police Chief Jason Benites and Port Hueneme Police Chief Michael Federico will be held on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. to discuss the case.

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A suspected serial killer already in custody in North Carolina for a cold case murder has been charged in the slayings of three women who were strangled to death in 1977 in California, authorities said.

Kimberly Carol Fritz, 18, was killed in May 1977; Velvet Ann Sanchez, 31, was strangled to death in September 1977; and Lorraine Ann Rodriguez, 21, was killed three months later in December, according to authorities in Ventura County, California.

The victims were all sex workers who frequented local hotels, authorities said.

PHOTO: An undated photo of Kimberly Carol Fritz, 18, who was killed in May 1977. (Ventura County District Attorney's Office)

PHOTO: An undated photo of Velvet Ann Sanchez, 31, who was killed in September 1977. (Ventura County District Attorney's Office)

Police immediately believed the strangulations were linked, but the cases went cold, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said at a news conference Thursday.

PHOTO: An undated photo of Lorraine Ann Rodriguez, 21, who was killed in December 1977. (Ventura County District Attorney's Office)

In 2006, detectives uploaded DNA evidence collected from the scenes into CODIS -- the nationwide law enforcement DNA database -- but didn't find a match, Nasarenko said.

Last year, "a breakthrough emerged" when detectives again uploaded DNA to CODIS and found a match to 73-year-old Warren Luther Alexander, Nasarenko said.

PHOTO: An undated photo of Warren Luther Alexander from the 1970's. (Ventura County District Attorney's Office)

MORE: Veteran actor lured in women, sexually assaulted them: Police

Alexander's DNA was in the system because in 2022 he was arrested in North Carolina in connection with a 1992 cold case murder, Nasarenko said.

The North Carolina victim, 29-year-old Nona Cobb, was also strangled to death, Nasarenko said. Alexander is still awaiting prosecution in that case, authorities said.

Alexander was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and was extradited from North Carolina to California on Tuesday, authorities said.

PHOTO: Warren Luther Alexander, 73, of Diamondhead, Mississippi, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder. (Ventura County District Attorney's Office)

"The day of reckoning in Ventura County has finally arrived," Nasarenko said.

Alexander made his first court appearance in Ventura County Superior Court and is being held in Ventura County Jail without bail, authorities said. His arraignment is set for Aug. 21.

MORE: Taylor Swift concert terror plot suspect sought to kill self and 'as many people as possible,' officials say

Alexander lived in Ventura County in the late 1950s and 1960s and he returned there in the 1970s, Nasarenko said. He was a long-haul cross-country truck driver from the 1970s to the 1990s, Nasarenko said.

Nasarenko said authorities believe there are more victims and said investigators are working with the FBI to try to solve other cases.

Suspected serial killer charged in 1977 cold case murders of 3 young women: Authorities originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Two suspects in a foiled plot to attack Taylor Swift shows in Vienna confessed to planning to kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue, and appeared to be inspired by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida, according to Austrian authorities.

Investigators also discovered bomb-making materials at the homes of one of the suspects.

Three of Swifts sold-out shows in Vienna have been canceled as a result. The pop megastar was due to perform at the citys Ernst Happel Stadium on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Austrian government authorities said on Wednesday that they had arrested two suspected extremists: a 19-year-old, who was arrested in the town of Ternitz, south of Vienna; and another person who was apprehended in Vienna, the Associated Press reported.

Officials told the press that the main suspect started planning for the attack in July, uploading an internet oath of allegiance to the current leader of the Islamic State group militia, just a few weeks ago. Additionally, reporting suggests that the plan was to use knives and homemade explosives to carry out the attack.

He wanted to carry out an attack in the area outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using the knives or even using the explosive devices he had made, said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, the head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence.

He was clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels, Haijawi-Pirchner added.

Authorities also found Islamic State group and al-Qaida material at the home of the second suspect, a 17-year-old Austrian.

The post Suspects in Foiled Taylor Swift Concert Terror Plot Confess, Appear to Be Islamic State-Inspired appeared first on TheWrap.
A student heads to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Waukesha campus in Waukesha on Monday, March 11, 2024. The Waukesha campus will close at the end of the spring 2025 semester, eliminating an educational option that has been around since 1966.

In a vote that puts University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee faculty at odds with their chancellor, the Faculty Senate rejected a proposal to lay off nearly three dozen tenured professors from the institution's two branch campuses next year.

The vote is advisory and largely symbolic, aiming to pressure UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone to back off his plan relieving professors who work for UWM's Washington County and Waukesha campuses of their jobs.

"I'm wondering how comfortable we feel ... with being pioneers in mass firings and undermining the circumstances by which all of us have come to have job security that we call tenure," UW-Milwaukee history professor Rachel Buff said during the Wednesday meeting at the campus. "I think it's a mistake to think we are insulated, those of us who are not (on the branch campuses), because what they can do to one person, they can do to anyone."

The West Bend campus closed at the end of this school year. The Waukesha campus is slated to shutter after the spring 2025 semester. Faculty working at the two campuses are housed in an academic unit called the College of General Studies, which Mone proposes shutting down.

Two dozen professors voted against Mone's plan while 11 voted in favor of it. Even so, Mone can still move his proposal to the UW Board of Regents. If approved, it would mark the state's largest layoffs of public university professors in recent memory.

For decades, UW tenured faculty could only be laid off if the entire university declared a financial emergency. But the Republican-controlled Legislature stripped tenure protections from state law in 2015. The regents wrote a weaker version into policy that expanded the reasons tenured faculty could be laid off to include elimination of an academic program.

Tenure is a job protection some professors earn after several years on probationary status. They can only be dismissed with just cause or laid off through the policy. The purpose is to protect academic freedom, the principle that professors creating knowledge and expressing ideas should be free to do so without the threat of intimidation or retaliation.

The layoff policy has been applied just once before to a single professor. This time around, 35 tenured jobs are on the chopping block.

Unlike other UW institutions, all UWM branch campus faculty work in a separate unit

When UWM absorbed the Washington County and Waukesha campuses in 2018, it created the College of General Studies to house branch campus faculty. There was a reason behind this arrangement: UWM is a research institution, which has different expectations of its professors in terms of teaching and scholarship to be able to earn tenure.

Keeping the branch campus faculty separate ensured they remained eligible for tenure under their old rules, UWM argued.

But Washington County and Waukesha faculty said the siloed setup fostered feelings of resentment and neglect.

It also made their job security much more precarious compared to faculty at most other branch campuses. These faculty have been fully integrated into departments on the main campus and can move there when their own campus closes, an arrangement that has saved the jobs of UW faculty at the Richland Center, Marinette, Fond du Lac and Fox Cities campuses.

UWM cites declining enrollment, 'unsustainable' funding model

UWM makes a largely enrollment-driven case to close the College of General Studies. Both the Washington County and Waukesha campuses have lost more than half of their students since joining UWM.

Nearly half of the College of General Studies' budget comes from state taxpayer money while less than a third does for UWM's main campus units, according to the Mone's closure proposal. Because of declining enrollment, the subsidizing of the branches would need to increase in the future. UWM said it could not afford to do so and would come at the expense of the main campus.

The proposal also cited increased competition from technical colleges, which recently began offering associate degrees.

About 64 branch campus employees who do not have tenure protections have already received layoff notices.

"I'm sorry we're at this point," Mone said during the Faculty Senate meeting. "This is not something that any of us would like to be in this situation."

A small group of UWM professors known as the University Committee, all of whom work on the main campus, recommended Mone's proposal move forward.

Retaining the 35 professors would require $3.65 million, an amount that would increase about 4% each year, the report said. Most of the professors teach subjects that would place them in the College of Letters and Science. This college has its own financial problems, running its budget in the red for about 15 years because enrollment has declined 41% over the past decade.

The report also blamed the state Legislature for failing to invest more money in public universities.

Together, these circumstances "leave UWM with no clear feasible options for retaining these positions without risking greater campuswide financial instability," the report said.

Is a college a 'program'?

Most of the speakers at the meeting cast doubt on Mone's proposal and the University Committee's report in support of the plan.

One argument made multiple times questioned whether the College of General Studies is a program that would even fall under the policy allowing for layoffs. UWM websites place the college on its list of schools and colleges but not on its list of academic programs.

The university said in its report "there is no question that a college, as a recognized academic unit, is a program," which UWM chief legal counsel Joely Urdan reiterated during the meeting.

"False!" Tait Szabo, an associate professor of philosophy for the branch campuses, responded. "There is reasonable disagreement about this interpretation, so maybe we shouldn't lay off faculty until that is settled."

Those against the proposal also highlighted UWM's plan to close the college yet keep some of its programs, move them to main campus and rely primarily on non-tenured instructional staff to teach.

"How can we invoke this regents policy for program closure to justify the layoff of faculty when all the programs that these faculty have been working in are being retained and just the division is being closed?" asked Stephane Scholz, a branch campus professor. "Is that not a misuse and misinterpretation among that regents policy?"

The plan calls for cutting three departments within the college and an online associate degree program but would keep a flexible associate degree program and a bridge program for students who do not meet admissions requirements at the main campus.

UW-Milwaukee proposal to lay off faculty could head next to UW Board of Regents

Will the Faculty Senate's vote sway Mone from sending his plan to the board? He was unavailable to speak after the meeting and his spokesperson said the process was still underway.

"The Faculty Senates vote was not surprising given the impact of the proposal upon faculty and other (branch campus) staff," the university statement said. "UWM made this proposal in full recognition of that unfortunate impact but faced with the realities of higher education today."

The regents policy says layoffs should be invoked only "in extraordinary circumstances and after all feasible alternatives have been considered."

Mone said there was careful consideration of UWM's ability to absorb 35 professors. Many at the meeting, however, questioned the extent of the exploration.

"We talk a lot about best practices in education," UW-Milwaukee Waukesha professor Ellyn Lem said. "Firing tenured professors without making every effort for thoughtful re-employment is never going to be a best practice."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UW-Milwaukee Faculty Senate rejects Waukesha, West Bend layoff plan
By Deena Beasley

(Reuters) -Gilead Sciences on Thursday reported second-quarter profit that handily beat Wall Street estimates, driven by lower operating expenses and higher product sales, and the drugmaker raised its outlook for full-year earnings.

The Foster City, California-based company posted a quarterly profit of $2.01 per share excluding items, on revenue of $7 billion, up from $1.34 a share and revenue of $6.6 billion in the year-ago quarter.

Wall Street analysts had expected an adjusted profit of $1.60 per share on revenue of $6.72 billion, according to LSEG data.

It was a "mixed albeit solid quarter unlikely to dramatically change perceptions," RBC Capital Markets analyst Brian Abrahams said in a research note.

He said Gilead's solid tumor oncology franchise continues to face commercial and developmental challenges, but HIV remains steady and the success of long-acting agents has lifted sentiment.

Gilead shares, which rose 2% in regular Nasdaq trading on Thursday, were little changed at $75.60 after hours.

It was a very strong quarter of commercial execution," CEO Daniel O'Day told Reuters in an interview, citing recent data showing that the company's long-acting injectable drug lenacapavir was more effective in preventing HIV infection in women compared to a daily pill.

He said the company also looks forward to a potential U.S. launch of seladelpar, a liver drug acquired with Gilead's purchase earlier this year of CymaBay, for primary biliary cholangitis. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is slated to decide on the drug's approval by next Wednesday.

Quarterly sales of HIV drug Biktarvy rose 8% to $3.2 billion, which was in line with analysts' estimates. Sales of its COVID-19 treatment Veklury fell 16% to $214 million, but still came in well above Wall Street expectations of $190 million.

Oncology sales rose 15% to $841 million, while sales of liver disease drugs rose 17% to $832 million.

For full-year 2024, Gilead said it still expects product sales of $27.1 billion to $27.5 billion, but raised its adjusted profit estimate to $3.60 to $3.90 a share from a previous $3.45 to $3.85 a share.

Analysts have projected 2024 earnings per share of $3.75 on revenue of $27.58 billion.

(Reporting By Deena BeasleyEditing by Bill Berkrot)
WMAR

This article contains descriptions of fatal violence against a Black trans woman.

Tai'Vion Lathan, a Black transgender woman remembered as a kind and joyful person, was shot and killed in Baltimore, MD on August 4. She was 24 years old.

Lathans body was discovered around 10 a.m. in an alleyway in West Baltimore, CBS affiliate WJZ reported. Desire Bandz, drop-in center coordinator for the trans outreach nonprofit Maryland Safe Haven, told ABC affiliate WMAR that Lathan had been shot five times and covered in a blanket in the alley. [T]hat shows the inhumanity that the person who killed her has, Bandz said.

Few details about Lathans life were publicly available this week. Her friends and family described her as an outgoing and affectionate person who lived life unapologetically as herself.

She was very loving. She loved everybody. She was very funny, Lathans friend Koryne Davis told NBC affiliate WBAL. Carla Stokes, Lathan's aunt, told CBS affiliate WJZ that her niece was just who she was, a very outgoing person, a sweetheart.

According to the 2023 Maryland Trans Survey, which recorded data from 750 trans and gender-diverse people across the state, more than 46% of respondents had experienced physical violence or sexual assault in their lifetime. Maryland Safe Haven staff told WMAR that they have seen at least 28 similar killings of trans women in Baltimore over the past five years.

It really hurts to know that this is another one, Bandz told WJZ. It should not be another one. We really need support right now. Maryland Safe Haven executive director Iya Dammons agreed, telling WMAR that Lathans death was an injustice for her and all of us.

Her story is our story so we want to make sure that her story is being told, Dammons added, in that law enforcement is doing the correct things to make sure that her murder is solved.

Police have not yet released details about any possible suspects in Lathans killing. In statements to WMAR, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott vowed on behalf of the police department to track those people down and do their due diligence. Scott also blamed what he called a culture of violence for Lathans death.

"Kansas City Black Trans Icon" and "Very Sweet Soul" Kita Bee Killed in a Hit-and-Run

The Kansas City Police Department initially misgendered Bee. Her friends and family confirmed her identity.

This is what you hear me talking about when you talk about that culture of violence," Scott told WJZ. We have to think about that in its completeness, for everybody in the city of Baltimore  including members of the transgender community.

Dammons and Maryland Safe Haven are currently fundraising to help Lathans family pay for funeral costs, raising $2,000 out of a $6,000 goal at time of writing. A vigil is planned for Friday, August 9 at 1927 W Lafayette Ave in Baltimore. Mourners are asked to bring pink balloons and pictures of Lathan.

Lathan is one of at least 13 Black trans women who have died by violence in the U.S. this year, according to a list of deaths maintained by the Human Rights Campaign. Even if police identify Lathans killer, the shock has already scarred her grief-stricken community, as friends and family struggle to come to terms with her violent death.

I cant take no more. Im tired of losing my people. Im tired of having to be scared to be myself, Koryne Davis told WBAL. Im tired of having to walk on eggshells because I am who I am. She didnt deserve that. She didnt deserve to not be here.

Get the best of whats queer. Sign up for Thems weekly newsletter here.

Originally Appeared on them.
Police fire tear gas at protesters demonstrating against the official election results declaring President Nicolas Maduro's reelection, the day after the vote in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)  The last time anyone heard from Edni Lopez was Sunday. The 33-year-old political science professor was preparing to board a flight to Argentina to visit a friend when she texted from the airport just before 10 a.m. that something was wrong with her passport.

What happened next remains a mystery  one contributing to the climate of fear and repression that has engulfed Venezuela following its disputed presidential election, the most serious wave of human rights abuses since Latin Americas military dictatorships in the 1970s.

When Lopez's mother, Ninoska Barrios, and her friends learned she didnt board the flight, they started frantically combing detention centers. Finally, on Tuesday  more than 48 hours later  they learned she was being held, incommunicado, by Venezuelas feared military intelligence police on unknown criminal charges, unable to see an attorney or speak with her family.

Please, give back my daughter, a sobbing Barrios pleaded Tuesday outside Venezuelas top human rights office in a video that went viral on social media. Its not right that a Venezuelan mother has to go through all this.

Here are some of the takeaways from the APs exclusive report on Lopez's arrest and President Nicolas Maduros efforts to crush dissent.

How bad is the crackdown?

Lopez's arrest isnt unique. Since the July 28 presidential election, security forces have rounded up more than 2,000 people for demonstrating against Maduro or casting doubt on his claims that he won a third term despite strong evidence he lost the vote by a more than 2-to-1 margin.

The spree of detentions  urged on by Maduro himself  is unprecedented and puts Venezuela on pace to easily exceed those jailed during three previous crackdowns against Maduros opponents.

Those arrested include journalists, political leaders, campaign staffers and an attorney defending protesters. Others have had their Venezuelan passports annulled. One local activist even livestreamed her own arrest by military intelligence officers as they broke into her home.

The repression, much of it seemingly random and arbitrary, is having a chilling effect, said Phil Gunson, a Caracas-based analyst for the International Crisis Group.

Its not just discouraging protests. People are scared to go on the streets period, he said. Theres a sense that police have a quota to fill and anyone can be stopped and carted away as a suspected subversive.

What does Maduro say?

The threats start at the top. Maduro has called on Venezuelans to denounce election doubters via a government-run app originally created to report power outages. He also said the government was refurbishing two gang-dominated prisons to accommodate an expected surge in jailing of opponents.

There will be no mercy, Maduro said on state TV.

But complicating efforts to crush dissent is the changing face of the governments opponents.

While demonstrations have been far smaller and tamer than past bouts of unrest, theyre now more spontaneous, often leaderless and made up of youth  some barely teenagers  from Caracas hillside slums who have traditionally been a rock solid base of support for the government.

Is the repression succeeding?

The swiftness of the governments clampdown is staggering. In just 10 days, security forces have rounded up nearly the same number of people as they did over five months in 2017, according to Provea, a local human rights watchdog.

Operation Knock-Knock is a prime tool of state terrorism, said Oscar Murillo, the head of Provea, referring to the middle-of-the-night detentions touted as a scare tactic by officials.

In the low-income Caracas neighborhood of Catia, once a ruling party stronghold, residents are even deleting videos of the demonstrations from their smartphones for fear the government is tracking social media posts to identify critics.

The sudden silence is a sharp break from the hopeful mood preceding the election when emboldened opposition supporters confronted security forces at anti-Maduro rallies. They served food, lent their vehicles and opened their businesses to opposition leaders knowing they would suffer retaliation from the police or see their businesses shut down.

What is Venezuela's human rights record?

Even before the current wave of unrest, Venezuelas human rights record was under intense scrutiny. Maduro is himself the target of an investigation by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the past.

Maduros tactics have been likened to those used in Central and South America in the 1970s by military dictatorships that forcibly disappeared opponents and sometimes innocent bystanders. Many were killed, and in Argentina, some even drugged and dropped from airplanes into the ocean, with no trace of ever having been detained.

Maduros alleged abuses have little in common with those Dirty War campaigns carried out by state security forces.

But the goal of instilling fear is the same, said Santiago Canton, an Argentine lawyer and secretary general of the Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists, a watchdog group.

What happened 50 years ago is unlikely to occur again, said Canton. But social media is a multiplier factor that didnt exist before so you can be more selective with the use of force and achieve the same results.

___

Goodman reported from Miami.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  The former Carl G. Lauro Elementary School may continue to sit vacant, as a proposal to utilize the building for temporary classrooms has not made any headway, Target 12 has learned.

Superintendent Dr. Javier Montanez in June wrote Providence City Council President Rachel Miller to ask the city to return the building to the Providence Public School District (PPSD), which is back in session on Sept. 3.

By means of this letter, we formally request that the Carl Lauro facility be temporarily returned to PPSD for three years, to help expedite the construction plan, increase the value of property, avoid escalation costs and minimize disruption to teaching and learning, Montanez wrote.

Mayor Brett Smiley told Target 12 on Wednesday that no progress has been made with the conversation.

Im waiting on PPSD to decide if they still want it, Smiley said.

At the time of Montanezs letter, the council was mulling a proposal from the Smiley administration for the city to enter into a 30-year lease agreement with two charter schools  Achievement First Rhode Island Inc. and Excel Academy Rhode Island  and move them into the former school at 99 Kenyon St.

The lease would have asked the charter schools for $1 per year to use the building, and also stipulated the schools make a minimum of $14.3 million worth of capital improvements to the property. But councilors voted to reject the lease in a 10-4-1 vote.

Smiley said it would have been a great deal for Providence.

It was philanthropic dollars to repair a school building to educate public school students that are sitting on a waitlist, Smiley said. So I thought that that was in the best interest of kids in our city; the City Council saw otherwise.

The district shuttered both Carl Lauro and Alan Shawn Feinstein at Broad Street last year, estimating that it would cost $95 million just to renovate the aging schools.

If its going to be swing space, someones got to tell me where the repair dollars are coming from because they are not currently in our budget, the mayor added.

A PPSD spokesperson told Target 12 in a statement on Wednesday that using Lauro as a swing space is a critical component of a facilities plan that will ensure 100% of students are in new or like-new buildings.

While we havent received a direct response back from the city yet, we look forward to continued collaborative conversations with the city on how we can collectively make this transformational plan a reality for Providences students, the district said.

Will the state-run school district return to local control?

The district is separately awaiting the results of an interim assessment that could mean one of three things: a renewal of the existing turnaround action plan, the creation of an entirely new plan, or a proposal to transition control back to the city.

Both Smiley and the R.I. Department of Education told Target 12 that report is not in hand yet.

Ive been told that it hasnt been finalized, Smiley said. So were waiting anxiously to see that report.

City continues to seek feedback about school system

The city is pushing for more community members to take its Return to Local Control Survey.

Smiley said on Wednesday that the city had gathered 300 to 400 responses since the survey opened in May and is hoping for continued engagement.

Its really important that parents, students themselves and community leaders feel that they are part of this process, Smiley said.

Providence will also host two in-person community conversations about education in September and December.

The first Mayors Community Conversation on Education will be held on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Providence Career & Technical Academy.

We will be asking anybody who attends to help give their own personal feedback to the schools and provide feedback around the eight metrics that we pulled out of the turnaround plan as focus areas, about how we can make progress on those metrics, Smiley said.

Participants will have an opportunity to share feedback on education opportunities, learn more about supports the city is focused on and find out how community members can get further involved in improving performance on critical metrics.

Anyone interested in attending should sign up in advance online. The event is free and Spanish interpretation services will be provided.

A follow-up conversation will be held on Saturday, Dec. 14.

Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook.

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Taylor Swift, July 2024 (Thomas Niedermueller/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

Taylor Swift has canceled her three Eras Tour shows in Vienna after Austrian police arrested two men who are accused of plotting a terrorist attack. The concerts had been scheduled to take place on August 8, 9, and 10 at the citys Ernst-Happel-Stadion. Nearly 200,000 people had been expected to attend the concerts. The New York Times reports. And, according to the Austrian concert promoter Barracuda Music, all tickets for the Vienna shows will be automatically refunded.

Both suspects had become radicalized on the Internet and had taken concrete preparatory actions for a terrorist attack, reads a German-language press release from the Austrian interior department. Based on current assessments by the State Security and Intelligence Directorate regarding terrorist and extremist acts, the Vienna State Police Directorate has increased security precautions, particularly at major events. The terror alert level in Austria remains high and is continuously evaluated.

Swift is nearing the end of the European leg of the Eras Tour. She recently played three shows in Warsaw, Poland, and she will perform five concerts at Londons Wembley Stadium. She returns to North America in October and plans to finish the tour, in Canada, in December.

Review: The Secondhand Thrills of Taylor Swifts *Eras Tour* Concert Movie

Taking in the nearly-three-hour spectacle alongside gaggles of Swifties posing for selfies with their branded popcorn buckets.

Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
All three of Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour" Vienna concerts have been canceled due to a planned terrorist attack. The prime suspect has disclosed details of his planned attack.

News of the cancellations came Wednesday night, mere hours after the local government disclosed suspicions of an attack planned at the event. Swift was scheduled to perform in Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Austria's largest stadium, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Over 170,000 fans were expected to attend the three nights of concerts.

Vienna Federal Ministry of the Interior officials confirmed the arrest of two individuals who are "suspected of having planned attacks at major events," including Swift's scheduled concerts in Vienna on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. An investigation is ongoing.

I CANT BELIEVE THIS  pic.twitter.com/gW3uJPq5z3  The Eras Tour (@TSTheErasTour) August 7, 2024

People are also reading: Taylor Swift cancels Vienna Eras tour concerts after two arrested in alleged terror plot

Prime suspect had knives and explosives, Austrian officials report

A 19-year-old identified as the prime suspect confessed plans to bring knives and explosives to Taylor Swift's Vienna concert, NBC News reports. The man intended to kill a large number of people before killing himself, according to Austrian officials.

Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of Austria's Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, released some details of the planned attack at a news conference. The prime suspect, who has North Macedonian roots, had downloaded manuals for building bombs. Officials also found hydrogen peroxide, homemade explosives, detonators and detonator cables at his apartment, he added.

The situation was serious, the situation is serious. But we can also say: A tragedy was prevented, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said at the news conference.

General view outside Happel stadium after Taylor Swift's three concerts this week were canceled after the government confirmed a planned attack at the stadium in Vienna, Austria, August 8, 2024.

Another suspect radicalized by ISIS, al-Qaeda

Omar Haijawi-Pirchner said a search of another suspect's apartment turned up Islamic State and al-Qaeda material. The 17-year-old is an Austrian citizen with Turkish and Croatian roots. Officials also found videos and screenshots of home laboratories, which are believed to have been distributed by ISIS and al-Qaeda.

A third suspect, 15, is also an Austrian citizen with Turkish roots. As of Thursday morning, he was still being questioned by law enforcement.

Austrian officials do not believe anyone else was involved in the terrorist plot.

Attacks at Taylor Swift-related events

This is the second Swift-related violent incident in just over a week. On July 29, three children  ages 9, 7 and 6  died after a mass stabbing that injured 10 others in Southport, U.K., during a Taylor Swift-themed class meant for children.

A 17-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said at the time, noting that he will be interviewed by detectives.

Swift spoke out on the incident the following morning, saying she was "at a complete loss."

"The horror of yesterday's attack is washing over me continuously and Im just completely in shock," she wrote on her Instagram story.

First cancellation of the 'Eras Tour'

This is the first time any of Taylor Swift's concerts have been canceled since the "Eras Tour" began in March 2023. Two of the global pop star's shows have been postponed due to inclement weather, one in Brazil and one in Argentina. Both were rescheduled for shortly after the initial concert dates.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Taylor Swift Vienna 'Eras Tour' shows canceled due to terrorist plot
BERLIN (AP)  Organizers of three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna this week called them off on Wednesday after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the concerts.

Swift was scheduled to play at the Austrian capitals Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as part of her Eras Tour.

Event organizer Barracuda Music said in a post on its Instagram channel late Wednesday that we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyones safety. It cited government officials confirmation of a planned attack at the stadium.

Earlier Wednesday, authorities said they had arrested two suspected extremists, one of whom appeared to be planning an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the upcoming concerts.

The 19-year-old main suspect was arrested in Ternitz, south of Vienna, and the second person in the Austrian capital.

Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austrias interior ministry, said that authorities were aware of preparatory actions for a possible attack and also that there is a focus by the 19-year-old perpetrator on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna, the Austria Press Agency reported.

Ruf said the 19-year-old had pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group.

Steve Martin responds to calls for him to play Walz on SNL

The Austrian citizen is believed to have become radicalized on the internet. Ruf said that chemical substances were secured and were being evaluated. He didnt give more details.

The cancelation came hours after authorities said security measures for the Swift concerts would be stepped up. Ruf said that there would be a special focus among other things on entry checks and concertgoers should plan a bit more time.

Vienna police chief Gerhard Purstl said at the same time that, while any concrete danger had been minimized, an abstract risk justified raising security.

Barracuda Music said that all tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days. The same wording was posted under the Vienna dates on Swifts official website.

The Vienna stadium had been sold out for the planned concerts, APA reported, with an estimated 170,000 fans expected for the concerts in Austria.

In 2017, an attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England killed 22 people. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi set up a knapsack bomb in Manchester Arena at the end of Grandes concert as thousands of young fans were leaving. More than 100 people were injured. Abedi died in the explosion.

An official inquiry reported last year that Britains domestic intelligence agency, MI5, didnt act swiftly enough on key information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the bombing, the deadliest extremist attack in the U.K. in recent years.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Three sold-out Taylor Swift concerts in Austria planned for this week have been cancelled after a terrorist attack threat.

Authorities arrested two suspects and are sharing more about their motivations.

Officials say the suspects involved were inspired by the Islamic state group.

They say a 19-year-old man confessed to wanting to kill as many people as possible outside the stadium.

Its a sad day for Swiftys, like 17-year-old Anna Marie from Bulgaria.

I just couldnt stop crying, she said.

Austrian officials say a tragedy was prevented when concert organizers cancelled the concerts.

Officials arrested two men believed to be behind the plot.

The main suspect: a 19-year-old Austrian who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic state group online. He also confessed plans to carry out the attack with knives or explosives.

Investigators say they found bomb making materials at his home.

We do commend the very swift action that they took to disrupt what could have quite obviously been a very serious incident, said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller

State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said the U.S. is in touch with the Austrian government and is leaving the investigation to them.

I think we know all too well the threat of ISIS, said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh.

The Pentagon says the U.S. works with its allies to fight ISIS, but the CIA declined to say if U.S. intelligence played a role in the investigation.

Concert organizer Barracuda Music said it stands by its decision.

They expected 65,000 fans inside the stadium for each concert and as many as 30,000 outside.

Barracuda Music says all tickets will be refunded.

The show will go on for Taylor Swifts Eras tour in Europe. Her next stop is in London next week, where the mayor says the city will be on alert.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A fan arrives to buy souvenirs outside the Ernst Happel Stadium before Taylor Swift's concert. Eva Manhart/APA/dpa

Taylor Swift's three performances in Vienna have been cancelled, organizers said late on Wednesday, after two suspects were arrested for allegedly plotting terrorist attacks.

The decision to scrap the US pop icon's shows this coming Thursday, Friday and Saturday was announced by Barracuda Music in a message on Instagram.

"With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone's safety," Barracuda Music wrote.

Hours earlier Austrian law enforcement announced that two individuals had been taken into custody on suspicion they were planning attacks in the Vienna area, including on Swift's shows.

Franz Ruf, director general for public security at the Austrian Interior Ministry, said chemical substances were seized from a 19-year-old Austrian.

The police, concerned about possible explosives, had pre-emptively evacuated houses and part of a nursing home.

The young man had become radicalized on the internet and reportedly pledged allegiance to the leadership of the terrorist organization Islamic State a few weeks ago, said Ruf.

Ruf said that police had "established" that the 19-year-old had focused his attention on the Swift shows.

According to police, he was arrested Wednesday morning in the town of Ternitz, 75 kilometres south-west of Vienna.

A second person was arrested in the afternoon in Vienna.

The police provided no further details, including the relationship between the two or whether they were searching for accomplices.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer called the cancellation of the concerts a "bitter dissapointment" for fans, though he added that "the situation surrounding the apparent planned terror attack in Vienna was very serious."

"Thanks to the intensive cooperation between our police and the newly established DSN [Directorate of State Security and Intelligence] with foreign services, the threat was recognized early on, combated, and a tragedy was prevented," Nehammer said on social media platform X.

"We live in a time when violent methods are used to attack our Western way of life," Nehammer said.

"Islamist terrorism threatens the security and freedom of many Western countries. That is why we will not give up our values of freedom and democracy but will defend them even more vehemently."

Austrian Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler wrote on X: "Terrorists want to scare us and drive us apart. We will not allow our way of life to be destroyed."

Some 65,000 people were expected to attend each of the three concerts at the sold-out Ernst Happel Stadium, as well as around 20,000 fans who would have travelled to the arena without tickets to listen to their idol's music from afar, said Vienna Provincial Police Chief Gerhard Purstl.

"The findings of the investigation give cause for increased police surveillance," he said a few hours before the concerts were ultimately cancelled by the organizer.

The police could not on their own cancel Swift's shows, he had said in response to a question from a journalist.

But Purstl said that special anti-terrorist forces, including plainclothes officers and those with special training and service dogs, would be able to secure the concerts. They had also planned surveillance of the airspace.

A fan of the US singer Taylor Swift with a t-shirt reading the "Taylor Swift The Eras Tour" is seen at the Vienna Prater. Eva Manhart/APA/dpa
Taylor Swift is "devastated" and reeling from the horrifying terror plot that forced her to cancel the Austrian leg of her Eras Tour.

The singer has reportedly promised her fans in Vienna that she will return "as soon as possible." Her concert promoter, Barracuda Music, informed fans about the cancellation and promised refunds.

Meanwhile, three teenagers have been arrested in connection with the attack and allegedly planned for it. Their plans included driving a car into groups of Taylor Swift fans outside the concert, and they also had homemade explosives.

Taylor Swift Is 'Devastated' About Canceling Part Of Her Tour After Foiled Terror Plot

MEGA

Swift was forced to cancel the Austrian leg of her Eras Tour after Austrian authorities uncovered a terror plot for her concerts. She was scheduled to perform on August 8, 9, and 10 at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna but ultimately canceled the show.

Sources told the Mirror that Swift was "horrified" by the possibility of a terror attack at her shows and couldn't take the risk.

They said, "Taylor has been devastated by this. She is devastated for the fans who have been waiting for years to see her. But the thought of what could have happened if the concerts had been targeted by a terror attack is horrifying, and she would never risk the safety of her fans."

Despite the shocking incident, Swift reportedly intends to return to Vienna to hold replacement shows.

"But she has told her team that she wants to try to return to Vienna as soon as possible in the future," the source noted. "She is very conscious of how disappointed her fans in Austria are."

Three Teens Planned An Attack For The Concert

MEGA

According to the Daily Mail, the director-general for public safety, Franz Rufhas, held a press conference where he revealed information about the three teenagers who have been arrested in connection with the foiled terror attack.

He shared that the main suspect, a 19-year-old, was arrested in Ternitz, which is south of Vienna.

The second suspect, a 17-year-old, was arrested in the Austrian capital. An intelligence official also revealed to Reuters that the third suspect, a 15-year-old, was questioned by the authorities.

Rufhas shared that the suspect took "preparatory actions" for the attack and was focused on Swift's shows.

He further explained that the 19-year-old's plans included quitting his job and telling people he had "big plans" for the day of the show.

The 17-year-old also recently split from his girlfriend, and the two boys had a "clear social change," including significantly changing their appearance.

The Suspects Planned To Drive A Car Into Groups Of Taylor Swift Fans

MEGA

Austrian media have also revealed more details about the teenager's alleged plans for the terror attack.

It reportedly included driving a car into groups of Swift's fans waiting outside the concert stadium and attacking the mostly young fans with knives and machetes.

According to security officials, the 19-year-old has fully confessed to the terror attack plans.

Rufhas also revealed that the teenager had manufactured explosives at his home and stole the chemical substances to build the bomb from his workplace.

Police Found Blank Ammunition And Fake Money

MEGA

Police also found blank ammunition, 21,000 worth of counterfeit money, and a blue police flashing light and siren at the teenager's home, which he planned to use to aid his transport.

All three suspects have remained unnamed, but the 19-year-old has North Macedonian roots, while the others have Turkish heritage.

According to reports, they had all pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group (ISIS) in early July.

The head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, also shared that the teens were "clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State and think it is right to kill infidels."

The Promoter Of Taylor Swift's Concert Announced The Cancellation And Promised Refunds

MEGA

The promoter of Swift's concert in Vienna, Barracuda Music, issued a statement last night informing fans about the canceled concerts.

When the news broke on social media, thousands of fans expressed disappointment at being unable to see Swift at the sold-out show.

The statement read, "With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone's safety. All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days."
Every day, the Kung Fu Daoxiaomian restaurant, located next to the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, draws long lines of visitors looking for a serving of its daoxiao mian, or knife-cut noodles  a dish that bears testimony to the rich culinary heritage of North China's Shanxi province and the region's generations of skilled noodle masters.

Many residents and tourists are curious to have a taste of this special variety of Chinese noodles, making the restaurant a popular check-in spot in the French capital amid the Olympic Games. Even two-time Olympic flyweight champion Zou Shiming visited.

Little wonder that the restaurant's 36-year-old owner, Guo Zhanglong, has nearly 10 million followers on Chinese social media platforms, including Douyin, Kuaishou and Xiaohongshu.

"I truly want to promote the excellence of traditional Chinese cuisine and culture in Europe, and a bowl of noodles is more than delicious food. It also signifies mutual recognition, understanding and inclusivity," he said.

Guo, who was born in Yantai, East China's Shandong province, studied in France as an exchange student in 2011.

"I was both studying and working part time, while seeking business opportunities in Paris. I tried various odd jobs, including washing dishes in restaurants and delivering parcels," he said.

In 2012, Guo met a Chinese woman from Shanxi in Paris and they fell in love. The couple tied the knot in 2015.

"We went through some hard times together. We tried several businesses to improve our life  tourism, foreign trade, catering  but the situation didn't change much," he recalled.

At the end of 2019, Guo caught the rising wave of homemade short videos and established his own social media account. He began recording his experiences in France. His early content described the delicious food he was tasting, and followers came on board fast.

At the beginning of 2020, Guo's mother-in-law, Sun Shenglin, came to France for a visit from Datong, Shanxi. She could not return to China as scheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and her rich experience in the catering industry brought Guo luck.

Sun, a skilled knife-cut noodles master, won great praise from her son-in-law's friends and neighbors in Paris.

During Spring Festival in 2022, Guo organized a celebration that attracted more than 200 people. "We prepared a lot of Chinese dishes, but it wasn't enough, so my mother-in-law filled the gap by making some knife-cut noodles."

That was the start of a small Chinese miracle in Paris.

To Guo's surprise, his mother-in-law sliced more than 100 kilograms of dough and yet demand exceeded supply. As they watched Sun cut the dough at high speed and send the pieces flying into a pot, the guests likened her to a kung fu master.

At a friend's suggestion the next day, Guo completed the necessary procedures for setting up a stall to sell knife-cut noodles at an outdoor market in Paris. He decorated it with elements of Chinese culture, quickly making it the most eye-catching stall in the market.

In October last year, Guo opened an authentic Shanxi knife-cut noodles restaurant in central Paris and named it Kung Fu Daoxiaomian. In March, his restaurant opened a second outlet next to Notre Dame, attracting many Chinese and native Parisians.

"In the beginning, we were worried that foreigners might tire of the flavor, and wondered whether we should adjust and improve it slightly," Guo said.

"But my mother-in-law said the noodles have been around for 850 years and are already perfect, so there is no need for any improvement or innovation. We took her suggestion and gained acceptance beyond our imagination."

This year, in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations and the Paris Olympics, Guo was invited to several exchange activities where he shared his story.

"Currently, our knife-cut noodles have a very promising future in France. They embody the full charm of Chinese cuisine. Two more restaurant sites are undergoing renovations and are expected to open in the near future," he said.

"I hope to promote Chinese cuisine on the global stage. I also believe that with the help of short videos, more talented creators will join us to help Chinese culture go global," he added.
(Reuters) -General Motors said on Thursday it was committed to building a profitable and self-sustainable operation in China, despite facing stiff competition from local brands.

Shares of GM rose more than 4%.

"We're committed to maintaining cash stability there at a point where it's self-sustaining. That means not needing any capital from outside," GM CFO Paul Jacobson said at an auto conference organized by J.P. Morgan.

Global automakers have struggled to make headway in China as local manufacturers continue to release feature-packed affordable models.

GM has also been facing increasing investor scrutiny on its China operation, which in the past decade has shifted from being a profit engine to a drain on the company's finances.

The Detroit automaker said last month that it would work with its joint-venture partner in China to restructure its business and that it planned to cut spending there.

Jacobson on Thursday said that GM operations in China could be a good asset but reaffirmed the need for some restructuring.

"I don't necessarily accept the notion that we're struggling to make money there," Jacobson said.

A leading automotive analyst in June also called on the Detroit Three to withdraw from China to save cash to spend on costly EV production.

GM recorded a $104 million loss in China during the second quarter, a disappointment after executives said they expected to be profitable in the region.

(Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru and Ben Klayman in Detroit; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
Barracuda Music have cancelled three shows for the public's safety. - Thomas Niedermueller/GETTY IMAGES

Two people have been arrested and three of Taylor Swifts concerts in Vienna were cancelled after police said they had disrupted an Islamist plot to attack the venue she was set to play at.

Many people in the small community of Ternitz had to be evacuated as one of the suspects, aged 19, was arrested. The other suspect was detained in Vienna.

Reports said local authorities acted after receiving a tip off from another countrys intelligence services. The teenager is said to have recently sworn allegiance to the Islamic State.

With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyones safety, Barracuda Music, an event organiser in the city, posted on Instagram on Wednesday evening.

Swift was scheduled to perform in front of 60,000 fans at the Ernst-Happel Stadium in Vienna on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the international leg of The Eras Tour.

Many Swift fans found out about the cancellation on social media

Speaking at a press conference in the capital, police said the two men were sympathisers of the Islamic State.

The two suspects became radicalised by the internet, a 19-year-old citizen of Lower Austria made an oath of allegiance to the current leader of IS at the beginning of July, police said, according to the Associated Press.

It is DEL the ED said the teenager was an Austrian citizen of North Macedonian descent.

Officials said the two suspects had undertaken concrete preparatory measures for a terrorist attack after police suspected explosives were stored at the home of the suspect in Ternitz.

Police also said that chemical substances were secured at the home of the teenager and were being evaluated.

From the current standpoint of the investigation we assume that the target of the attack were events in the Vienna region, police added.

In the US, officials who had been briefed on events said the authorities in Austria were looking for an additional individual or individuals who may have some knowledge of this planned attack.

Reports suggested the plot was stopped and the teenager arrested after a tip-off from foreign security authorities.

One extremist had been looking at the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna as one of the potential targets. - Thomas Niedermueller/GETTY IMAGES

Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austrias interior ministry, said that authorities were aware of preparatory actions for a possible attack and also that there is a focus by the 19-year-old perpetrator on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna, the Austria Press Agency reported.

News that the concert could have been a target for terror sparked outrage among leaders in Austria.

It is incredibly sad and bitter that the concerts had to be canceled. We must not let ourselves be intimidated by madmen, Christoph Wiederkehr, the deputy Mayor of Vienna wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Chancellor Karl Nehammer also wrote on social media, saying the situation was very serious.

Thanks to the intense cooperationthe threat was recognised early and a tragedy was averted. Islamist terrorism threatens our security and freedom in many Western countries.

Meanwhile the news sparked a flood of disappointment from fans of the star.

One fan, Chiara, 19, who is from Vienna, told local media: Its so sad that theyre trying to use the concert for their agenda. Taylor Swift and the community stand for love, friendship, and support.

Another fan, Hanna, 30, also from Vienna, added: I want the money back, I want to see Taylor. Ive been looking forward to this for a year. Why do people have to ruin something so innocent?

The cancelation of the concerts, part of a global phenomenon that has seen the 34-year-old American star pack stadiums around the world, came hours after authorities said security measures for the Swift concerts would be stepped up. Mr Ruf said that there would be a special focus among other things on entry checks and concertgoers should plan a bit more time.

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After canceling three concerts in Vienna targeted by a thwarted ISIS-connected terrorist plot, Taylor Swift is still due to perform at Wembley Stadium in London for five more dates in August, Variety has confirmed.

As of Thursday morning U.K. local time, the shows had not been canceled.

More from Variety

Sources tells Variety Swifts team are currently working closely with both tour promoter AEG and Wembley to review the situation, including any additional security measures that may be implemented.

When reached by Variety, AEG declined to comment.

Set for Aug. 15-20, the London concerts are the last dates on the international leg of her Eras tour before returning to North America. Wembley Stadium is in the process of beefing up security measures for Swifts concerts, according to a hospitality staffer at the concert venue. Details on the ramped up security protocol will be communicated later.

U.K. policing minister Diana Johnson has said Scotland Yard is evaluating intelligence ahead of Swifts London concerts. Clearly, the police will be looking at all the intelligence and making decisions, they risk assess every event that happens in this country, and thats something for the police, Johnson told LBC Radio. The minister also said that there is a provision to invoke Martyns law, which is about making sure that those venues which could be subject to terrorist attack have in place everything that they need in terms of keeping people safe, and that will be brought forward by the government shortly.

Londons Metropolitan Police added that there was nothing of note to report regarding the Swift concerts and promised updates.

Swift previously announced that her five London shows will each feature a high-profile special guest, including indie pop star Sofia Isella, Holly Humberstone, Suki Waterhouse and Maisie Peters. Like her June playdates in London, all the shows are sold out.

There have been heightened fears around concert venues since the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017, when an Islamic terrorist detonated a suicide bomb during an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 people and injuring over a thousand others, most of the children and teenagers. (Following the bombing, legislation called Martyns Law was introduced in the U.K. requiring public venues to implement security measures relating to terrorist threats.)

Two years earlier Islamic terrorists stormed the Bataclan Theatre in Paris during a performance by Eagles of Death Metal, killing over 90 people inside the venue and injuring hundreds more. A further 40 people were killed in co-ordinated attacks taking place in other parts of Paris on the same evening.

In 2019, Swift wrote a piece for ELLE magazine saying an attack during one of her concerts was my biggest fear. After the Manchester Arena bombing and the [2017] Vegas concert shooting, I was completely terrified to go on tour this time because I didnt know how we were going to keep 3 million fans safe over seven months.

There was a tremendous amount of planning, expense, and effort put into keeping my fans safe, she continued, adding that her fear of violence led her to always cary army grade bandage dressing for gunshot or stab wounds wherever she goes.

The law and order situation in the U.K. appeared to have calmed on Wednesday night after thousands of anti-racism protesters took to the streets, countering a week of anti-immigrant rioting and disorder. Riots ravaged the country over the past week, following the killing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on July 30. Swift expressed her shock at the murders.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, has been charged with the murders of the children and 10 counts of attempted murder. Initially, his identity was withheld due to U.K. law granting anonymity to minors in court proceedings. This led to a spread of misinformation online, with false claims about the suspects background going viral and inflaming far-right sentiment. Gangs attacked immigrants and minorities and looted shops. More than 400 arrests have been made.

Theres also been swirling rumors about Swifts participation in the closing ceremony of the Olympics on Aug. 11 in Paris. While the events organizers have not confirmed Swifts involvement, a source close to Paris 2024s organizing committee said the security protocol for these Olympics, including the closing ceremony at the Stade de France, is already at its highest level. France has increased its security alert to the highest level since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel and the deadly attack at a Russian concert hall in March which was claimed by ISIS. Organizers of the Olympics ceremonies, including Thomas Jolly and Thierry Reboul, have also filed a complaint after receiving death threats, some of which cited verses of the Quran, saying that the Allahs punishment will fall down on the organizers in Saint Denis. The Stade de France is located in Saint-Denis, according to Le Parisien newspaper.

Swift was scheduled to perform today, Friday and Saturday nights at Viennas Ernst Happel Stadium as part of her Eras Tour but canceled the shows after learning from government officials of a planned terrorist attack. According to international reports, two suspects were arrested, including a 19-year-old suspect who pledged his allegiance to ISIS and was living with his parents in the town of Ternitz, and another man with whom he was in contact. Both were arrested on Wednesday after police raided the 19-year-olds home and found various chemicals and substances. Residents of Ternitz were allegedly evacuated and roads were closed during the raid.

In a post from Austrian concert promoter Barracuda Music, organizers wrote that they had no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyones safety.

Best of Variety

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Scotland Yard will assess all the intelligence before Taylor Swift returns to the UK for a series of concerts later this month, the policing minister said on Thursday.

The US singers three performances in the Austrian capital Vienna were cancelled on Wednesday night over an apparent plot to launch a terrorist attack at her concert venue in the city.

Swift was set to perform at the Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the international leg of her Eras Tour. Her sold out shows in the Austrian capital were set to attract more than 200,000 fans.

She is next scheduled to perform five dates at Londons Wembley Stadium between August 15 and August 20.

When asked on LBC about the arrests of suspected extremists in Vienna and what this could mean for the final leg of Swifts UK tour, policing minister Diana Johnson said: Clearly, the police will be looking at all the intelligence and making decisions, they risk assess every event that happens in this country, and thats something for the police.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: There is nothing to indicate that the matters being investigated by the Austrian authorities will have an impact on upcoming events here in London.

As always, we will continue to keep any new information under careful review.

The Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna where Taylor Swift had been due to perform three shows - MAX SLOVENCIK/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

It comes as the main suspect arrested on suspicion of plotting the attack has confessed to planning to drive a car into a crowd of ticketless fans outside the arena and attack them with machetes.

The 19-year-old Austrian citizen, identified as Beran A, had recently sworn an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State online and intended to kill as many people as he could, security officials said.

He was clearly radicalised in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels, said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, director of Austrias domestic intelligence agency.

Beran A, who confessed to the plans shortly after being arrested, wanted to kill himself and a large crowd either today or tomorrow, Mr Haijawi-Pirchner added.

A search of his parents home south of Vienna uncovered homemade explosives, detonators, machetes and knives.

Beran A has now been pictured, bearded and posing with knives, as his neighbours revealed he had dramatically changed his appearance recently.

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is the highest grossing concert tour of all time, according to Rolling Stone - Noam Galai/TAS24

A 17 year-old was also arrested on Wednesday accused of being the suspects accomplice. The teen, who has Turkish and Croatian roots, had just started a job at the Ernst Happel stadium days before the event was cancelled over the terror threat, officials said.

Police also questioned a 15 year-old boy, who confirmed many details of the main suspects confession, but is not believed to have taken an active part in the plot.

With all the suspects in custody, Franz Ruf, the head of public safety in Austria, said there was no longer an imminent threat.

Investigators revealed that Beran A, whose parents come from North Macedonia, stole chemicals from his former metalworking company to build a bomb to murder spectators.

Police cordoned off and partially evacuated the area around the suspects house in Ternitz, a small town at the scenic foot of the Alps in Lower Austria. Around 100 people, including residents of a retirement home, had to be evacuated.

Residents of Ternitz told Austrian media that the suspect used to be a harmless boy from next door who wore jeans and trainers.

But his neighbours noted that he had recently changed his appearance, growing a long beard and was often seen wearing a long-sleeved cotton shirt.

Taylor Swift fans gather in Vienna despite the Austrian leg of her tour being postponed - Heinz-Peter Bader/AP

Local authorities are said to have acted after receiving a tip-off from another countrys intelligence services about a suspected terror cell. CBS News reported it came from the US Secret Service.

The suspect had recently declared his allegiance to an Afghanistan-based splinter cell of IS, known as Khorasan Province (ISKP), according to Austrias broadcaster Oe24.

The terrorist outfit is responsible for the massacre at a concert hall in Moscow in March, which killed some 150 people, and for launching threats to attack stadiums in Dortmund, Munich and Berlin during the Euro football championships this summer.

Investigators said they also found extensive material related to the Islamic State group and al-Qaeda at the home of the second suspect.

Fans gather at Corneliusgasse near the stadium where Taylor Swift had been due to perform - Louisa Off/Reuters

Karl Nehammer, the Austrian chancellor, said in a statement on Wednesday, that the cancellation of the Taylor Swift concerts by the organisers is a bitter disappointment for all fans in Austria.

The situation surrounding the apparently planned terror attack in Vienna was very serious, he said. But he added that thanks to intensive co-operation between police and Austrian and foreign intelligence, the threat could be recognised early on, tackled and a tragedy prevented.

Austrias interior minister has criticised the fact the country had to rely on foreign intelligence to foil the terror plot.

We are dependent on foreign intelligence services because we do not have the legal means to monitor messenger services on which potential offenders communicate today, Gerhard Karner said.

We dont want or need mass surveillance, but rather modern tools for the police so that they can do their job for the safety of the population.

Dominik Nepp, the leader of the far-Right Freedom Party in Vienna, seized the moment to criticise the governments immigration policies.

Taylor Swift can play all over the world, but not here! Vienna is really different! My daughters and I have been looking forward to this for a year! he wrote on social media.

Only because we have this IS riff-raff in our country thanks to the uncontrolled welcome culture!

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Taylor Swifts three concerts in Vienna were canceled Wednesday after Austrian government officials announced the arrest of two individuals suspected of plotting a terrorist attack at the stadium.

The concert organizer announced the cancellations in a post on Instagram and said all tickets would be automatically refunded within 10 business days.

With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyones safety, Barracuda Music said in the post Wednesday.

Franz Ruf, the director general for public security, announced the two arrests at a press conference earlier Wednesday, including one 19-year-old Austrian citizen, who was arrested in Ternitz, and a second suspect who was arrested in Vienna.

Both suspects had been radicalized on the internet, Ruf said, and they had taken concrete steps to prepare for the terrorist attack.

He said the main suspect had sworn an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State on the internet. Ruf said authorities found chemical substances at his home while executing a search.

At the press conference Wednesday, Ruf announced steps that state security officials had in place to prepare for big events, naming specifically the scheduled concerts of Taylor Swift. Later, the organizer announced the concerts would be canceled.

By Wednesday evening, Swift had not commented publicly on the canceled concerts. On her website, however, the three concerts  listed for Thursday, Friday and Saturday  all included notices about ticket refunds.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
People walk past a mural by Murwalls of U.S. musician Taylor Swift outside the Phoenix Hotel, in Liverpool

By Paul Sandle and Millie McCaughan

LONDON (Reuters) -British police said there was nothing to indicate that a planned attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna would have any impact on her return next week to Wembley Stadium, London, for her five final shows in Europe.

Swift's three concerts in Vienna, expected to draw 195,000 people, were cancelled this week after police there said they had foiled an attack by a 19-year-old Austrian who was intent on attacking fans with a bomb or knife.

Her record-breaking Eras tour came to Britain in June, with shows in Edinburgh, Liverpool and Cardiff, before she visited London for three nights, with the now-prime minister, Keir Starmer, and members of the royal family in the crowd.

She will return to Wembley on August 15 for five nights before heading back to North America for her final dates of Eras, which has become the highest grossing concert tour of all time, according to reports.

"There is nothing to indicate that the matters being investigated by the Austrian authorities will have an impact on upcoming events here in London," a spokesperson for London's Metropolitan Police said.

Austrian police detained two people on Wednesday on suspicion of plotting attacks on concerts. They said one, a 19 year-old suspect, had a particular focus on the Swift concerts in Vienna.

London's Met Police said millions of visitors had a safe and enjoyable experience at high-profile events in London every year, with Bruce Springsteen playing at Wembley in July.

"The Met works closely with venue security teams and other partners to ensure there are appropriate security and policing plans in place," the spokesperson said.

"As always, we will continue to keep any new information under careful review."

The foiled plot was a reminder however of past attacks at concerts and stadiums, including the bombing of Manchester Arena in May 2017, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had performed.

FANS' DISMAY

Katie Su, president of the University of the Arts London Taylor Swift society, has attended previous dates on the tour, including in London, and has tickets for next week

"I'm a bit scared but I'm still going to go," she said.

"Compared to when I was in another city for the Eras tour, the Wembley security is more strict."

Other fans turned to social media to express their dismay over the Vienna cancellations, their fears that the London nights could also be cancelled, and to ask for tickets.

"If anyone is selling 2 tickets for Taylor Swift for ANY night in London Wembley pls pls message me, from a very desperate and devastated girl in Vienna x x," a user called Haz said on X.

Tickets to see Swift sold out rapidly as fans battled to see the most high-profile tour in years. A general admission standing ticket for Wembley cost 110.40 pounds ($140).

The same tickets were available on resale websites such as Viagogo and StubHub for more than 1,200 pounds each on Thursday.

Police in Britain are already on high alert after racist riots broke out, targeting immigrants and Muslim communities following the murder of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, northwest England, on July 29.

"These were just little kids at a dance class," Swift said the day after that attack.

Policing in Britain has been stepped up since the violence erupted and large anti-racist counter-demonstrations thwarted further violence on Wednesday.

($1 = 0.7888 pounds)

(Reporting by Paul Sandle, Michael Holden and Sachin Ravikumar, Writing by Paul SandleEditing by Alistair Smout and Gareth Jones)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the 6th Judicial District Attorney Generals Office held a news conference Thursday morning in Knoxville regarding a drug ring led by an outlaw motorcycle gang.

TBI Director David Rausch and District Attorney General Charme Allen clarified that they had made arrests and were charging people believed to be associated with the Pagan Motorcycle Club, which they believe was distributing methamphetamine throughout East Tennessee.

NEW: Biker gang bust marks latest success in East TN drug crackdown

The investigation into the Pagan Motorcycle Club began in December 2023. A total of 15 people, whom were indicted by a Knox County grand jury in July, are facing years in prison related to the felony drug distribution charges.

Bear euthanized after getting into Blount County rental, cubs brought to rescue

The drug trafficking investigation was said to be an offshoot of the East Tennessee 313 Initiative. Rausch said that most of the drug trafficking in this case, however, was out of Atlanta.

There are additional arrests expected as part of the ongoing investigation.

EDITORS NOTE: This story has been updated.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
Students are taught how to sound out letters during a phonics lesson at Ferguson Elementary School in Klamath Falls on April 7, 2023. (Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

CORVALLIS  More than 700 teachers from across Oregon have spent the last two days in classrooms and lecture halls at Oregon State University in Corvallis to tackle post-pandemic learning gaps.

With $7 million in federal COVID relief money, the Oregon Department of Education and the university launched in late 2023 the Equitable Accelerated Learning Project, which culminated in the two-day summit Tuesday and Wednesday. The project goal was to bring teachers from around the state together to address gaps and inequities exacerbated by the pandemic through better instruction.

Among the issues teachers are dealing with are chronic absenteeism; low reading and writing proficiency; middling math skills; and growing achievement gaps among students with disabilities, students from low-income families, rural students and English-language learners. The project aimed to get teachers to research instructional methods that can help close those gaps, said Angelica Cruz, director of literacy at the Oregon Department of Education.

It also was designed to help teachers learn from one another about how to better instruct struggling students, she said.

Teachers discuss instructional techniques for English language learners at a statewide summit at Oregon State University on Aug. 7, 2024. (Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

She said the gathering focused on ways to invest in teachers and encourage leadership. Those who participated are expected to return to their districts and share takeaways.

The state launched the Equitable Accelerated Learning Project in December, asking teachers to join workgroups to hone in on pervasive education issues exacerbated by pandemic school closures. In all, more than 550 teachers in 89 districts joined 16 work groups to come up with projects and solutions for improving Oregons schools. They also looked at solutions to absenteeism and teacher shortages and improving student mental health and well-being.

In October, the Oregon Education Department will create materials and professional development sessions for teachers statewide, based on the workgroup findings and suggestions.

The money spent on the project is the last of the more than $112 million the state education department received from the nearly $1.6 billion that the U.S. Department of Education sent the state and its 197 school districts between 2020 and 2021. The Oregon Department of Education and the districts have until September to use up all the money.

Proposed solutions

There were no silver bullets proposed at the Oregon State University summit, but teachers discussed methods for math instruction that rely less on formulas and more on questioning and inquiry. They also looked at assessment techniques that ensure all kids are getting the same amount of class time and exposure to content even as they learn at different speeds. Some ideas were as simple as getting parents to read to their kids by ensuring everyone in the family has a library card, or organizing parent nights at schools, where teachers model for parents what good reading instruction looks like.

Some of these parents have never been read to as a child. They dont own books. They dont know what that looks like, said Elaina Lambert, an English-language development teacher in Medford.

A major focus of the education departments Equitable Accelerated Learning Project has been getting Oregon teachers exposed to the states new literacy framework adopted in May 2023.

The 100-page guideline is an attempt to move instructional standards away from reading instructional methods that have been found to be detrimental to kids, such as using pictures or guessing at words based on the first letter or sentence context, and instead preparing teachers to instruct kids to read and write according to proven methods. The science of reading encompasses a large body of cognitive and neuroscience research and evidence that has shown that the human brain does not learn to read or write naturally, but relies on instruction in specific skills. Everyone needs these skills to read, but they learn them at different speeds.

Some suggested year-round school would be a positive development. The common challenge teachers expressed at the conference, and one that has also gotten worse since the pandemic, is a lack of time. At 165 days, Oregon has one of the shortest school years in the country. Teachers expressed a growing desire for year-round school.

I feel like we have kids, especially because we have these summers, these long summers, if they dont have the automaticity of their letters by the end of kindergarten, they come back in the fall and theyve forgotten all of their letters, Alice Williamson, a reading specialist in the Eugene School District, said.

Williamson and others expressed enthusiasm about the work groups they participated in, and especially about statewide investments in teacher reading instruction and literacy. Many are training in how to teach reading with the $90 million from the Early Literacy Success Initiative that was passed by the state Legislature in 2023. The money was meant to fund teacher training, tutors and curriculum rooted in the science of reading.

Several teachers described graduating from their teacher degree programs in Oregon and Washington without having received any training in teaching literacy.

I did not know how to teach kids how to read when I went into my first teaching job teaching first grade, said Beth Brex, who has been teaching for 18 years and currently teaches kindergarten in Eugene. This year shes been taking specialized reading training paid for by the district with state literacy funds, and is trying to get other teachers at her school to take it as well.

Closing gaps

Even before the pandemic, many Oregon students and students across the U.S. were struggling with proficiency in core subjects. The pandemic made this worse.

In 2022, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the nations report card, showed that proficiency in math of American students in fourth, eighth and 12th grade fell for the first time since results were published in 1973. Those results also showed the largest decline in reading proficiency nationwide since 1990.

Oregons results reflected the nationwide trend.

Over the last 25 years, nearly two in five Oregon fourth graders and one in five eighth graders have scored below basic on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, often referred to as the nations report card. That means they struggle to read and understand simple words.

The most recent annual state assessment data, from 2023, shows that the average proficiency in math and reading among most Oregon students remained about 10% below prepandemic levels in 2019, though the gap between 2022 and 2023 outcomes shows declines are beginning to level off.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Police have arrested a teen in connection to a shooting that happened in downtown Salem in late June, authorities announced on Wednesday.

According to the Salem Police Department, 19-year-old William Jonah Wilson was arrested this week and is accused of being involved in the shooting that caused a 16-year-old boy to be sent to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the neck.

Read More: Marion County

On June 29 at 9:20 p.m., Salem police responded to the 400 block of Mill Street SE on reports of a juvenile lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound. The boy was sent to the hospital after officers gave him medical aid until paramedics came.

According to a Salem police release, The investigation by Violent Crimes Unit detectives determined two groups of people had gathered at the Pringle Plaza Parkade, at 399 High ST SE, when a dispute ensued between them, and gunfire erupted leaving the victim with a gunshot wound to the neck.

Details emerge of missing womans presumed death

On Tuesday afternoon, Salem police detectives and the Strayton Police Department arrested Wilson in Strayton outside a residence in the 200 block of North 4th Avenue.

Wilson is being lodged in the Marion County Jail and faces second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault. He was slated to appear in court Wednesday afternoon.

The shooting at Pringle Plaza Parkade came just days after Salem community members endured a rash of shootings within a single day in three different areas of the city. The shooting also happened a couple of days before a Community Violence Reduction Initiative listening session was held. A similar community meeting to address gun violence happened in March.

Report: Oregon infrastructure requires attention

This type of violence will not be tolerated in our community, and offenders will be held accountable, Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack said in a statement. I also want to highlight the tenacity of our investigators who work diligently to bring criminal cases to resolution. And I want to recognize the strong partnerships with our regional law enforcement agencies who share in our commitment to violence reduction.

An effort also went underway in late June between local law enforcement and the FBI to reduce violence in young adults and teens in Salem.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Hallador Energy (NASDAQ:HNRG) Second Quarter 2024 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: US$90.9m (down 44% from 2Q 2023).

Net loss: US$10.2m (down by 160% from US$16.9m profit in 2Q 2023).

US$0.27 loss per share (down from US$0.51 profit in 2Q 2023).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Hallador Energy Earnings Insights

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 7.5% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 1.8% growth forecast for the Oil and Gas industry in the US.

Performance of the American Oil and Gas industry.

The company's shares are down 29% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

We should say that we've discovered 2 warning signs for Hallador Energy that you should be aware of before investing here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
GENEVA (AP)  A Chinese American teen is vying to become the youngest person to fly solo to all seven continents in a quest that also aims to drum up donations for research into childhood cancer.

Ethan Guo, who turned 19 last month, began his quest in May in Memphis. He made multiple overnight stops and visited seven countries to get to the Swiss city of Geneva on Tuesday, before jetting off toward Heraklion in Greece.

The plan is to cover 50,000 miles over 100 days with stops in 60 countries. He hopes attention to the journey will drum up donations and raise up to $1 million for cancer research, an ambition born of the Stage-4 blood cancer diagnosis for a cousin of his.

That prompted the tousled-haired teen to reach out to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital based in Memphis.

St. Jude commits billions to fight childhood cancer in Memphis

We came up with the idea of  how we can work on this together, Guo said, how we can make this world a better place.

So far, he has raised about $20,000, but hes convinced he will draw more donations.

A press handler for Guo showed The Associated Press an email exchange with an official at Guinness World Records Ltd. about the teens hope to become the youngest person to fly solo to seven continents. The London-based company did not immediately respond to an email from the AP seeking comment.

Guo started learning to fly at age 13, and four years later had his pilots license, but insurance companies balked at covering a minor for his adventure, so he had to wait. He has clocked 700 flight hours and flown to all of the 48 contiguous states in the U.S.

On the tarmac near Geneva airport, Guo said only about one in 10 of the companies he pitched to become sponsors actually came through.

Logos of companies large and small adorn Guos modified four-seater Cessna 182. Visitors can track his progress on the website flightagainstcancer.com.

Born in Tianjin, China, and currently living in West Palm Beach, Florida, Guo said he wanted to become a pilot to challenge himself. He foresees a career in business and tech, not aviation.

Guos parents were worried about his project and actively tried to stop him, forcing him to do it on his own with help from volunteers, sponsors and other supporters, he said.

He understands the risks.

Through my experiences  like an engine failure on the very beginning of the trip  I was forced to face the fact that I could die at any point of the trip, he said.

Hes made preparations like stocking the plane with cold-weather gear for Antarctica, a survival kit if he gets stranded in the desert, and an inflatable raft if he lands in an ocean.

Ill be lying to tell you if I wasnt scared, Guo said. But every day I reaffirm myself. I say This is what I believe in. () So Im going to fight on until the very end.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police arrested a 16-year-old for fatally shooting a man back in June.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said officers responded to the shooting on June 15 at around 9:40 p.m. in the 1400 block of Howard Road in Southeast D.C. There, officers didnt find a victim but did see evidence that a shooting did happen.

Frederick County man charged for assaulting officer while wielding flagpole in Jan. 6 Capitol riot

Later, officers from the Prince Georges County Police Department in Maryland responded to a multi-vehicle crash in the 2400 block of Southern Avenue in Southeast D.C. They found a man who had been shot and was unconscious and not breathing.

The man died there.

He was identified as 19-year-old Demetrius Creek. Police determined that he was involved in the shooting on Howard Road.

On Wednesday, MPD arrested a 16-year-old who was charged as an adult for first degree murder while armed (premeditated.)

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
LONE PEAK, Utah (ABC4)  A 17-year-old was taken to the University of Utah Burn Center early Thursday morning after he crashed his vehicle, causing it to burst into flames while he became trapped inside, according to Lone Peak Fire.

Shortly after midnight on Aug. 8, a Lone Peak Police officer had just checked off duty and was driving home when he came across a vehicle going well above the speed limit, heading west on Canal Blvd. in Highland, authorities said. The officer turned on his emergency lights and made a U-turn to attempt a traffic stop.

The vehicle proceeded to accelerate through a red light on Alpine Hwy. and failed to navigate the bend in the road, Lone Peak Police said. The vehicle reportedly went off the road and crashed into a tree at Windsor Meadows Park.

Layton Hills Mall purchased by Florida-based investment firm, plans for renovation

The vehicle burst into flames while the 17-year-old was trapped inside.

The officers reportedly reacted quickly, freeing the victim enough to protect his airway even though he was still trapped.

They eventually were able to get the door open and the victim out, Lone Peak Fire said. Fire units quickly started working on helping the victim and extinguishing the fire simultaneously.

The 17-year-old was then flown by helicopter to the burn center. His condition is unknown at this time.

Footage of the fiery wreckage can be seen here.

No further information is currently available.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  The U.S. Attorney for Maryland said a Temple Hills man pleaded guilty to possession of firearm and ammunition.

Officials said that on June 6, 2023, a police officer with the Seat Pleasant Police Department who who had suspicions that Dozier had shoplifted from a store in Oxon Hill, approached Dozier after seeing what looked like a gun in his pocket.

The officer then searched Dozier and felt what seemed to be a gun.

Soon after the police officer requested backup before attempting to handcuff Dozier.

Arlingtons annual 9/11 Memorial 5K to be held in Crystal City

Dozier then tried to flee.

Officers from the Seat Pleasant Police Department and the Prince Georges County Police Department were able to arrest Dozier and recover a gun with an extended magazine.

Officers said Dozier knew he couldnt have a gun and ammunition due to a prior conviction.

Officials said 26-year-old Christian Dozier, of Temple Hills, Maryland pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Temple officer uses Taser on man feared to be jumper

Temple, Tx (FOX 44)  UPDATE: The man a Temple police officer used a Taser on in order to prevent a suspected suicide attempt has been identified and arrested.

Laquinton Lamont Owens was arrested by the Bell County Sheriffs Office on Wednesday, September 11.

This comes after a Temple police officer originally deployed a Taser against Owens on August 7, fearing he was going to jump onto the Interstate in a suicide attempt in the 3600 block of South General Bruce Drive.

Owens fell a short distance off the landscaped portion of the interstate and was transported to a hospital with suspected broken ribs. A police statement said at the hospital Owens gave a statement about using PCP.

An Internal Affairs investigation of the incident was ordered, and the officer involved was placed on administrative leave with pay.

Temple Police released a timeline of the events that the statement says was preliminary:

On August 7th, 2024, at approximately 8:10 p.m., units with the Temple Police Department were dispatched to the 3600 block of S. General Bruce Drive on a welfare concern. Multiple callers advised of a naked man in the area. Callers advised the following information to the dispatch center.

That the subject was walking in front of cars.

That the subject was completely naked.

That the subject is screaming at the top of his lungs.

That the subject looks like he is on something.

That he was walking around and putting body parts on cars.

That the subject was screaming at the top of his lungs.

That the subject was screaming at cars.

As the call progressed additional information, was passed on to officers which included the following:

That the subject was on the bridge.

That the subject was standing on the railing.

That he is on the edge of the bridge.

That the male appeared to look like he is about to jump.

That he is trying to jump

At approximately 8:18 p.m., the call was upgraded to a potential jumper. Officers arrived around that time and attempted to make contact with the male subject, identified as Owens, who was naked and blocking traffic at the traffic light.

Suspect in Killeens 15th murder of 2024 in jail

Officers began talking to Owens, telling him to come to them away from the interstate. He then began to proceed towards the interstate. An officer drew his Taser and continued to attempt to get Owens to come to them. He refused and continued toward the interstate.

Owens then jumped a guard rail and officers continued to try to get him away from the interstate, but he continued toward the side of the highway. The officer, suspecting Owens was going to attempt to kill himself by jumping onto the interstate, deployed his Taser. Owens fell off the side of the landscaped portion of the interstate onto the roadway. He was not on the bridge or the overpass.

Emergency Medical Services was already called to stage for the incident and responded to Owens where he fell. Officers also responded to help him. Owens was described as alert, and officers said he appeared to be under the influence of a substance believed to be PCP.

The police statement said Owens could be facing charges of evading officers on foot.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
Tennessee man arrested for allegedly using IT worker scheme to raise money for North Koreas weapons program

A Tennessee man has been arrested for allegedly working to raise money for North Koreas weapons program, the Justice Department said on Thursday.

Matthew Isaac Knoot, 38, is accused of helping North Korean workers pose as a US citizen as part of a scheme to gain employment at American and British tech companies, and of conspiring to launder money earned by the workers to financial accounts tied to North Korean and Chinese individuals, the Justice Department said.

Knoot also allegedly ran a laptop farm from his residences in Nashville that granted the North Koreans access to US internet connections to make it appear as if they were logging into work from the US rather than China, where they were based, according to prosecutors.

The scheme defrauded unnamed US media, tech and financial companies, ultimately costing them hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages, the department said.

Knoots case is allegedly just the latest example of a phenomenon that US national security officials have been trying to thwart for years: Thousands of North Korean overseas IT workers are trying to subvert sanctions and send hundreds of millions of dollars back to Pyongyang each year.

Some of those IT workers work closely with North Korean hackers, who are also a rich source of revenue for the regime, according to experts. About half of North Koreas missile program has been funded by cyberattacks and cryptocurrency theft, a White House official said last year.

The IT workers associated with Knoot were paid over $250,000 for their work between about July 2022 and August 2023, much of which was falsely reported to the IRS and the Social Security Administration in the name of another persons stolen identity, the Justice Department said.

CNN could not immediately identify an attorney for Knoot.

Its the second time in three months that an American has been charged with allegedly helping facilitate a wide-ranging North Korean fraud scheme. The Justice Department in May charged an Arizona woman with participating in a similar scheme that helped foreign IT workers pose as Americans and earn $6.8 million in revenue that could benefit the North Korean regime.

North Koreas sanctions-evasion schemes are rampant, according to experts, and thwarting them has become a national security priority for the Biden administration.

A previous CNN investigation found that the founder of a California-based cryptocurrency startup had unwittingly paid tens of thousands of dollars to a North Korean engineer. The entrepreneur was unaware of the situation until the FBI notified him, he said.

And North Korean illustrators and graphic designers appear to have helped produce work for US animation studios unbeknownst to those companies, independent researchers told CNN in April. The researchers discovered a trove of cartoon sketches on an open computer server on the North Korean portion of the internet.

North Korean IT workers play an important role  in not just revenue generation but also  cyber operations for the North, Cynthia Kaiser, deputy assistant director of the FBIs Cyber Division, told CNN in an interview this week.

The FBI continues to see North Korean IT workers applying for jobs at US companies and the bureau is working with job-posting websites to flag suspicious activity that might be tied to the North Koreans, Kaiser said.

She described North Korea as a semi-criminal state who is also a capable nation-state adversary within cyberspace that  is causing and has the potential to cause greater harm to America.

Last month, KnowBe4, a prominent Florida-based cybersecurity company, announced that it had unknowingly hired a North Korean worker who used a stolen identity and an AI-enhanced photo to apply for a software engineering job at the company.

We sent them their Mac workstation, and the moment it was received, it immediately started to load malware, KnowBe4 said in a blog post about the incident, which the company said it contained before the North Korean worker was able to do any damage.

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Tennessee is grappling with an unsettling statistic: We rank third in the nation for reports of anxiety and depression, especially among our youth. Data show that nationally more than 57.8 million Americans are affected by mental illness, with 50% of all mental health problems appearing by age 14 and 75% by age 24.

It is evident that mental health issues begin early and can affect educational outcomes and overall quality of life. The urgency for a shift in our mental health strategy is palpable.

Recently, the Belmont Data Collaborative explored existing research and debuted a new report and Mental Wellbeing Index at a mental health symposium titled Connecting The Dots: Mental Health And Student Success In Tennessee.

We partnered with the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) and NashvilleHealth to elevate innovative programs and initiatives and encourage discussion on additional ways to promote student well-being.

Community factors impact students well-being

The symposium brought to the forefront our need to address how broader community factors impact our students mental well-being. Our current mental health care paradigms predominantly focus on treating individuals.

Jeremy Lawry, left, laughs with other servers Keith Josiah and Nevy Nouanemany at Noko before the restaurant opened for the evening Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. Noko provides employees paid benefits and a positive work environment, which includes sharing what they are grateful for each day.

However, as an epidemiologist, I am compelled to argue that mental health conditions should not only be viewed from the individual perspective. Our research shows external socioeconomic and environmental conditions equally play a substantial role in shaping mental health outcomes.

Social determinants of health  a concept widely recognized but underutilized in mental health strategies  include factors such as employment, income security, education and living conditions. For instance, structural stressors like poor air quality and economic instability are considerable contributors to mental health vulnerabilities. This perspective is foundational to understanding why certain communities bear a disproportionate burden of mental health challenges.

Why we are reporting on mental health and the criminal justice system

The Belmont Data Collaborative has applied this understanding through the Social Determinants of Mental Health framework to develop a Mental Wellbeing Index across Tennessees 95 counties. This analysis reveals that both rural and urban areas face distinct challenges that contribute to mental health disparities.

Rural and urban students face different challenges

In areas like Hancock County in the Appalachian region, schools and the surrounding community often struggle with limited access to mental health resources. High poverty rates and limited health care services exacerbate these challenges, impacting student attendance, engagement and achievement. The lack of local mental health professionals means schools often lack the support needed to address these issues effectively. Key drivers of mental health vulnerability for rural communities include socioeconomic factors such as income, poverty, education and job opportunities.

Tennessees urban areas  Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga  exhibit lower vulnerability at the county level; however, ZIP code-specific analysis shows pockets of high vulnerability. Urban schools and communities deal with the effects of higher crime rates, limited green spaces and socioeconomic disparities. These factors can lead to increased stress and anxiety among students, affecting their mental health and educational outcomes.

A new approach is necessary

Given these insights, it is clear that Tennessee cannot rely on a uniform approach to address these disparities. Instead, targeted strategies that consider the unique challenges of each community are essential. Together, we must adopt:

Tailored local strategies: Understanding and addressing the specific vulnerabilities of each county, city and school district is crucial. This means deploying resources and interventions that align with the unique socioeconomic conditions and cultural contexts of the communities.

Community and policy-level interventions: Shifting from a solely individual-focused approach to one that includes community-wide health determinants can have a more substantial impact. This includes enhancing access to quality education, improving job opportunities and ensuring equitable distribution of health care services.

A collective impact model: No single entity can tackle the complexities of mental health alone. A collaborative effort involving schools, government agencies, health care providers, nonprofits and community organizations is necessary to drive significant change.

The data compel us to rethink our approach to mental health in Tennessee. By adopting a strategy that considers the broader determinants of health, we can begin to address the root causes of mental health disparities and move toward a healthier, more resilient future for all Tennesseans.

Marquinta Harvey

Marquinta Harvey, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of epidemiology in the Public Health Program at Belmont University.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Mental health in Tennessee: Community and targeted approaches are key
Tennessee should not be able to discriminate against LGBTQ+ adoptive parents and children

Cursed is he who perverts the judgment of the stranger, the orphan, and the widow. And all the people shall say: Amen! -Deuteronomy 27:19

Nashville  known as both Music City and the Buckle of the Bible Belt  is the hometown of country music and the birthplace of bluegrass. Rabbis like me, who find themselves serving Jewish communities in places like Tennessee, respect that our neighbors take both their music and their religious values seriously. And one of the principles that many religious leaders share is the notion that we should protect the vulnerable.

As our governor and state senators continue to pass legislation discriminating against the LGBTQ+ community, we have joined child welfare advocates and religious and secular communities around the country in sounding the alarm and calling yet again for passage of the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act, which will ensure that no taxpayer-funded child welfare agency can turn away qualified prospective parents or mistreat youth in foster systems because of who they are, whom they love, or what they believe. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, recently reintroduced the bill, and U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis, D-Illinois, plans to reintroduce it in the House.

Laws are discriminating against prospective parents and also children

Congregation Micah is a Jewish community that adopted the words of the civil rights advocate and biblical prophet as our message of equality and welcome for all: Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God. (Micah 6:8) This calls us to fulfill our synagogues mission, as we are committed to building community and repairing the world.

The state's adoption bill allows agencies to discriminate against LGBTQ couples; similar legislation has been passed by other states across the country.

Our community is living its values as we are now part of the national movement to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people who are eager to provide safe and loving homes for vulnerable children in foster systems. I am a proud member of the Interfaith Coalition for Childrens Rights, established in 2019 by Childrens Rights and a group of faith leaders.

We work on behalf of children in foster systems nationwide to combat proposed discriminatory legislation that expressly allows taxpayer-funded child welfare agencies to discriminate, based on their religious beliefs, against potential foster or adoptive parents  specifically LGBTQ+ couples. Some of the bills even permit discrimination against children. Using religion as justification, these efforts can deprive so many of the hundreds of thousands of foster children among us of the chance to be welcomed into the homes they so desperately need.

This threat to children culminated in a June 2021 U.S. Supreme Court decision holding that the city of Philadelphia could not bar a Catholic child welfare agency that refused to work with same-sex couples from screening potential foster parents. The ruling allows that specific agency to use taxpayer funds to discriminate against LGBTQ+ couples in its work in Philadelphia.

We were relieved that the decision did not give a broad license to discriminate to all agencies across the country, and, instead, confined its holding to the particular facts of that case. It was, however, deeply hurtful nonetheless, sending a message to LGBTQ+ children and adults that their rights are not protected, and their identities are not valued. Unfortunately, other jurisdictions also grant licenses to discriminate to child welfare agencies.

More: Judge blocks Title IX rules protecting LGBTQ+ students in Tennessee, five other states

All citizens join together to fight against taxpayer-funded discrimination

The Supreme Courts ruling drives home why we need federal laws to provide consistent anti-discrimination protections for all LGBTQ+ people.

As Jews, we must speak out against any attempt to use a religious litmus test to undermine LGBTQ+ rights, and we call for permanent legal protections to secure those rights.

Reflecting on the meaning and promise of our youth, I invite all of us to work together with and on behalf of LGBTQ+ individuals to fight back against taxpayer-funded discrimination.

Lets work together to pass the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act. To paraphrase the words of the immortal Sly Stone, we can make it if we try.

Rabbi Philip Flip Rice is the co-senior Rabbi of Congregation Micah in Brentwood, Tennessee. A community leader of interfaith dialogue, he also lectures at Belmont University. Congregation Micah works with the Religious Action Center teaching youth to advocate on their own behalf and is a proud member of the Interfaith Coalition for Childrens Rights.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: LGBTQ adoption: End the practice of taxpayer-funded discrimination
WAYNE, Mich. (AP)  Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, played up their support for organized labor at a Detroit-area union hall on Thursday, with the Democratic nominee saying we're all in this together as the new ticket lavishes attention on a crucial base of support.

Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, and Walz, who joined the ticket on Tuesday, spoke Thursday to about 100 United Auto Workers members at Local 900 Hall, which represents Fords Michigan Assembly Plant. The stop occurred shortly after Republican nominee Donald Trump held a press conference in Palm Beach, Florida.

As she proclaimed that it was good to be in the house of labor," Harris described the value of unions, saying they were about understanding that no one should be made to fight alone and that hard work is good work.

We have fun doing hard work, because we know what we stand for, she said. "When you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for. We know what we stand for, and we stand for the people and we stand for the dignity of work, and we stand for freedom. We stand for justice. We stand for equality.

She continued: And so we will fight for all of it.

Walz, riffing off a favorite line of President Joe Biden, told the labor crowd that "we know that unions built the middle class.

The rest of America has to, Walz added.

The members at Local 900 were the first Ford workers to strike in 2023 when the unions contract with the company expired. Workers at the assembly plant went on strike Sept. 15 and remained on the picket lines until Oct. 25, when the union announced a tentative agreement with Ford.

After President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign last month and endorsed his vice president, organized labor quickly rallied around Harris. The AFL-CIO endorsed her after having first backed Biden. The UAW formally backed her last week.

Harris and Walz have been highlighting their support for working people during their first joint appearances this week in some of the most closely contested states that will help decide whether she becomes the first female U.S. president or whether Trump returns to the White House and brings along Sen. JD Vance of Ohio as his vice president.

Trump, Vance and other Republicans have increasingly criticized Harris for not engaging extensively with journalists and taking questions during the early days of her candidacy. In a brief exchange with reporters before leaving Michigan, Harris said she has talked with her aides and wants to schedule an interview before the end of the month.

Story continues

She also re-confirmed that she would participate in a Sept. 10 debate on ABC News  which Trump had backed out of before recommitting to it earlier Thursday during his Palm Beach press conference  and said she would be happy to discuss subsequent debates after that one occurs.

The Democrats visited Wisconsin and Michigan on Wednesday, hoping to shore up support among the younger, diverse, labor-friendly voters who were instrumental in helping Biden get elected in 2020.

Two new polls of likely voters in Wisconsin and Georgia, another key state, show close races in both. Several Georgiapolls conducted earlier in the summer found Trump slightly ahead in the state, which Biden won narrowly in 2020.

UAW President Shawn Fain told The Associated Press last week that Harris' leading the Democratic ticket boosts the party's chances of winning Michigan and keeping the White House in November. Fain said Trump is beholden to billionaires, knows nothing about the auto industry and would send the labor movement into reverse in a second term.

On Thursday, Fain welcomed the ticket to labors house and rallied the union crowd by exclaiming: Kamala Harris is one of us. Gov. Tim Walz is one of us" and praising their pro-labor records.

This isnt about opinions. This election is not about party politics, Fain said. All we have to do is look at these candidates in their own words and actions. Thats all the facts we need.

Fain also spoke Wednesday at Harris campaign rally at a Detroit-area airport hangar. The UAW leader has become a top nemesis of the Republican presidential nominee, who frequently rails against Fain at rallies and in speeches.

Vance made his own stops in Michigan and Wisconsin on Wednesday, intent on showing that Republicans will compete in the blue wall of Midwestern states. He called Walz a crazy radical and said that Harris' decision to pick him as a running mate shows that she bends the knee to the far left of the Democratic Party.

As Harris spoke to an estimated 15,000-person crowd at the airport, she was interrupted by protesters opposed to Israels war in Gaza with Hamas. At first, Harris said to those trying to disrupt her, I am here because I believe in democracy, and everybodys voice matters.

But Harris lost patience as the shouting continued, with protesters accusing her of supporting genocide in Gaza. That led her to deliver a sharper rejoinder.

If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that, she said, talking over the protesters. Otherwise, Im speaking.

Metro Detroit, home to one of the largest Arab American populations in the United States, has become a focal point of tension and unrest due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Shortly after her remarks Wednesday, Harris won the backing of Assad I. Turfe, the deputy Wayne County executive, who is the highest-ranking Arab American official in Michigans largest county. Turfe told The Associated Press he spoke with Harris backstage at the event before his endorsement.

Kamala Harris embodies the America we deserve - an America that stands for strength, inclusivity and unwavering commitment to justice, Turfe said in a statement. I wholeheartedly endorse Kamala Harris, as she represents the true spirit of our nation and the values we hold dear.

Turfe also pressed the need for a cease-fire in Gaza, but said that Harris gives us the best chance of achieving peace in that region moving forward.

Union members attending the rally said they supported Harris.

Jeanne Ruff of Livonia, Michigan, whose husband is a longtime UAW member, said she hoped Harris would visit a union shop in Michigan to show her support.

I want her to make sure skill trades are back in schools so that the next generation can understand what unions are about. What solidarity is and how strong we can be together, working as one, Ruff said.

___

Cappelletti reported from Lansing, Michigan, and Kim from Washington. AP Auto Writer Tom Krisher contributed to this report.
U.S. Rep.Andy Ogles. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Columbia Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles has made over two dozen corrections to his campaign finance disclosures since his first run two years ago, and a review of his most recent disclosure shows his donations and spending still dont add up.

From April 2022 to July 12, 2024, Ogles amended campaign finance reports show he raised around $2 million, while his expenses show he spent around $1.4 million, a Lookout analysis of his campaign finance records shows.

Ogles should have around $600,000 in cash available. His disclosure shows he has just over $300,000 in cash in his campaign account, leaving another $300,000 unaccounted for.

The discrepancy between cash on hand and reported expenses has been an issue for Ogles since he launched his candidacy in April 2022.

The Federal Election Commission sent Ogles three letters a month ago regarding this mismatch.

This discrepancy could be a reason FBI agents executed a search warrant on Ogles last week, following his victory in a Republican primary to retain his Middle Tennessee U.S. House seat.

After NewsChannel 5 reported on the search warrant, the congressman took to Twitter to say they had seized his phone.

It has been widely reported for months that my campaign made mistakes in our initial financial filings, Ogles said in a post on X. We have worked diligently with attorneys and reporting experts to correct the errors and ensure compliance going forward.

Last Friday, the FBI took possession of my cell phone. It is my understanding that they are investigating the same well-known facts surrounding these filings. I will of course fully cooperate with them, just as I have with the Federal Election Commission. I am confident all involved will conclude that the reporting discrepancies were based on honest mistakes and nothing more.

The Lookout reached out to Ogles office and had not received a response by the time of publication.

When Ogles started his campaign, he misled the public by stating in a news release that he raised around $450,000 without loaning his campaign any money. In reality, Ogles raised around $250,000 and claimed to loan his campaign $320,000.

He then amended two years of campaign finance reports earlier this year, stating that he had only loaned $20,000 to his campaign.

Ogles said in a May news release that the additional $300,000 was in a joint account he shared with his wife. He claimed he only learned after the fact that this wasnt allowed and said his campaign never used the cash.

Ogles actions drew a complaint from the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan government watchdog. On top of campaign disclosure issues, the group said Ogles also failed to disclose a $700,000 line of credit he opened following his primary win in 2022.

The organization compared Ogles to former New York Republican U.S. Rep. George Santos, who, among many charges, is alleged to have falsely claimed he loaned $500,000 to his campaign in an attempt to pay himself from donations.

Ogles loan also helped him during the crucial early phases of his 2022 campaign, when he faced a crowded primary field that included former Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell.

He went on to win the primary and defeat Nashville Democratic state Sen. Heidi Campbell in the Republican-tilted seat.

Metro Council member Courtney Johnston challenged Ogles in the primary this year. She tried to attack him over these financial discrepancies and other ethical concerns. But Ogles handily defeated her and is favored to win the seat in the November general election when he faces Democrat Maryam Abolfazli.

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Terribly frightening: NH man charged after pointing airsoft gun at 5-year-old, others, police say

A New Hampshire man was arraigned Tuesday after allegedly pointing a fake rifle at several people in Mattapan, including a small child.

50-year-old Salvador Maldonado of Manchester is charged with three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.

According to Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden, Boston police received a report of a person with a gun on Morton Village Drive just before 7 p.m. on Monday.

A woman reportedly told police she was stopped at a red light on Corbet Street when she saw Maldonado in a dark-colored SUV next to her with what looked to be a brown shotgun. Maldonado then allegedly pointed the gun at the victim and her 5-year-old daughter.

The victim immediately fled the scene and reported to police the vehicle had an out-of-state license plate.

As officers were gathering information, another call for a person with a gun was received on Burt Street.

The victim in that incident told police that a man, later identified as Maldonado, was walking up and down the street with a rifle, according to authorities. The caller allegedly reported hearing three popping sounds and people yelling in the area before Maldonado allegedly pointed the rifle at her.

According to investigators, Maldonado took off in a blue Honda Pilot with New Hampshire tags that was located a short time later.

Officers say they found a brown Sig Sauer MCX 177 airsoft rifle on the vehicles front passenger seat. He was promptly arrested.

To be going about your daily routines and then see someone point a gun at you is a terribly frightening experience, Suffolk County DA Kevin Hayden said. Im very proud of these victims for immediately contacting police and providing them solid identifying information.

Maldonado was arraigned in Dorchester Boston Municipal Court where Judge Vanessa Velez set bail at $1,500 and revoked his bail on a pending case out of Lowell. Details of that case were not immediately available. Judge Velez also ordered Maldonado to be evaluated by a court clinician, who determined that hospitalization was unnecessary.

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Fans of Taylor Swift, gather in the center in Vienna, Austria, after her three scheduled concerts were cancelled following the arrest of an Islamic State sympathiser in connection with an attack plot - Credit: ROLAND SCHLAGER/APA/AFP/Getty Images

Beaded friendship bracelets hang from the branches of the trees and bushes lining Corneliusgasse, a street in Vienna. Hundreds of Taylor Swift fans have been passing through the narrow area in the lead-up to the Eras tour touching down in Austria this week. Its been dubbed a version of New Yorks Cornelia Street  a staple location in the Swift-ian Universe  and quickly became a must-visit spot for both native and visiting fans, stopping in to leave and pick up bracelets. Today, there was a swarm. Swifties were hoping to be singing, dancing, and trading friendship bracelets just a few miles away at Ernst Happel Stadium  but all three Eras tour performances scheduled in the city were canceled after authorities arrested two Austrian teenagers accused of planning to execute a terror attack at the venue. In a moment of fear, fans turned the trading tree into a centerpiece for finding community.

I already knew about Corneliusgasse in Vienna and I had planned to go and see it before the show. Never had I imagined this would be my only chance to trade friendship bracelets, Swift fan Emilia Striano, 23, tells Rolling Stone. On Tuesday, Striano flew into Vienna from Milan for the tour and was in her hotel room when she received news that the shows had been canceled. I was getting ready for bed, and I kept getting messages from friends saying to watch out and be careful, she recalls. At first, I didnt believe what was happening: I had been waiting for more than a year and had everything planned, outfits ready and friendship bracelets made.

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Cornelia Street friendship tree 

Packed with fans  pic.twitter.com/ujRDRcPOJh  monica  Stockholm N1, London N2, Vienna N1 N3 (@mizmoni) August 8, 2024

Striano felt a mix of sadness and disappointment but also a sense of relief that the plot was discovered before anyone could be harmed. The 19-year-old and 17-year-old suspects who were arrested were allegedly planning to carry out an attack on either Thursday or Friday, the first two days of the Eras tour in Vienna. Materials that could be used to build a bomb were uncovered at the home of the 19-year-old, who authorities say was inspired by ISIS. Per the Associated Press, Austrias head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, stated: His goal was to kill himself and a large crowd of people. Just as Swifties were making plans for months leading up to their shows, the suspects reportedly began crafting their own plans in July.

I was angry because I was looking forward to the concert for one year and it definitely would have been one of the highlights. Then two young, hateful adults come and decide to attack our values that this community has been building up for decades: the freedom to be who we want to be, the confidence to fight for the rights of women, queer people, and minorities in general, says Tobias Euler-Rolle, 23, who also gathered at Corneliusgasse earlier today. The concert itself and the community are such a safe space for everyone  What this experience also taught me [is] that nothing should be taken for granted. Within hours, everything can change, and that is why we should enjoy and celebrate every moment we have.

This seems to have been the ethos driving Swifties, who sought community with one another in the streets of Vienna following the cancellation. Videos shared across social media capture hundreds of fans clustered together, singing songs from throughout Swifts discography with the same passion they planned to exhibit in the stadium. I went in the afternoon, and I didnt think this would be a real and proper event: Swifties everywhere, music blasting, and a lot of good energy  just what everyone needed after such sad news, Striano shares. Being there with fans was an amazing feeling, and it truly encapsulates what being a Swiftie really means. The crowd spanned fans of all ages, including kids and even grandfathers, Euler-Rolle notes. It felt like a mini version of the Eras tour, although it is a poor consolation, he notes.

Theres also the factor of the impromptu gathering  which began, in part, late Wednesday night in the hours after news broke of the cancellation  not being a regulated event. For fans and spectators alike, the decision to congregate in hundreds-deep crowds less than 24 hours after being informed of a thwarted terrorist attack seemed illogical at best and incredibly dangerous at worst. I have to be honest: I was a bit scared at first, but seeing police everywhere made us feel safer, Striano says. Of course, there still was a chance of risk, but it was what everyone needed in that moment  especially people coming from all over the world.

Taylor Swift fans gather in Vienna to sing together after Eras Tour shows were cancelled due to a now-foiled terror plot. pic.twitter.com/p6EhzSRQt1  Pop Crave (@PopCrave) August 8, 2024

Silvia Sena, 37, arrived in Vienna this week from Seattle, more than 5,000 miles away. Already an avid traveler, she saw the show as a chance to see Swift but also explore a city she hadnt yet visited. Sena initially considered attending the Eras tour in Warsaw, Poland, last week but chose Vienna because it seemed safer. She lets out a laugh at the irony of the statement. I came here by myself, she says. Its super safe, but danger doesnt know boundaries. When people have you targeted, it does not matter.

As a Vienna native, Euler-Rolle cant recall many times when he felt concerned about a threat of this level in the city. But the closest incident he can remember occurred just last year. In June 2023, Austrian authorities arrested three suspects allegedly connected to the extremist Islamic State group who were planning an attack on Vienna Pride. Although Im of the opinion that we shouldnt be afraid and limit our lifestyle  because thats exactly what they want  and we should still go to concerts like this, it feels scary that it almost happened, Euler-Rolle says.

The Eras Tour may not be happening in Vienna anymore but thats not stopping the Swifties from bringing it to the streets  #TSTheErasTourVienna pic.twitter.com/7MfX2plQze  Elie Fares (@eliefares) August 8, 2024

Swift has yet to publicly comment on the incident. Videos from the Vienna gathering are being tagged on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok with the hashtag #WeLoveYouTaylor.

In the meantime, Swifties are coming together to overcome fear and find community. I feel thankful to be in such a loving and strong community that does not get intimidated by what happened. I think this is a powerful message to send out to the world: we wont change ourselves or what matters to us, we wont change our values and our favorite artist, Euler-Rolle adds. We wont let this discourage us. We show the world that we come back stronger in unity and love by supporting each other through these tough times.

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Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) is locked in a tight race in Montana as former President Trump boasts a wide lead over Vice President Harris in the state, polling shows.

A new Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey puts Trump-backed Republican Tim Sheehy with a 2-point lead over Tester, 48 percent to 46 percent. Another 5 percent were undecided.

Tester is one of the most vulnerable incumbents this cycle, a rare Democrat holding office in a state Biden lost back in 2020, and his race could determine which party ends up controlling the upper chamber.

The poll also marks a shift from March, when the same pollster found Tester up by 2 points over his Republican challenger.

Because the gap falls within the surveys 3-point margin of error, the race remains a potential tie between the two Senate race rivals.

The share of undecided voters has decreased from 14% to 5% as November draws closer, and Sheehy has benefited with a six-point increase in support, while Testers support has only increased by two points said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.

This week, Tester launched a Republicans for Tester group to rally support from across the aisle as he braces for a competitive November contest.

At the top of the ticket, Trump is a whopping 15 percentage points ahead of Harris, but the vice presidents 40 percent support is a notable 5-point improvement from the 35 percent President Biden garnered back in March.

Trump held the support of 55 percent of Montana voters, with another 5 percent undecided.

Harris has picked up ground among women voters  47% support Harris compared to 40% who supported Biden, while Trump maintains around 61% support among male voters. Voters with college degrees have also flipped; in March, they broke for Trump by seven points, now breaking for Harris by seven, Kimball said.

When undecided voters were asked whom they lean toward, Trump jumps to 58 percent, and Harris ticks up slightly, to 43 percent.

Third-party candidates, though, are a drag on the Democratic nominee. With them added into the mix, Trump brings in 54 percent, while Harriss support drops to 39 percent. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. brings in 5 percent, and another 3 percent were undecided.

The survey was conducted Aug. 5-6 among 1,000 likely voters in Montana, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday ordered Texas hospitals enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program to report the costs they incur for treating undocumented immigrants.

In a news release that contained a link to his executive order, Abbott blamed the Biden administration's immigration and border security policies for any health care-related costs that are passed on to taxpayers.

Due to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris open border policies, Texas has had to foot the bill for medical costs for individuals illegally in the state, Abbott said without directly pointing out that Harris is now the presumptive Democratic nominee for president. Texans should not have to shoulder the burden of financially supporting medical care for illegal immigrants."

Abbott's order provides no clear guidance on how hospitals must ascertain patients' immigration or citizenship status, and his office did not respond to an American-Statesman email seeking additional information.

Gov. Greg Abbott is ordering Texas hospitals enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program to report the costs they incur for treating undocumented immigrants.

The Texas Hospital Association is reviewing the order as quickly as possible," association spokeswoman Carrie Williams said.

"Right now, hospitals dont ask about patient immigration status as a condition of treatment," she said. "Hospitals are required by law to provide life-saving treatment to anyone, regardless of ability to pay or status.

The Republican governor's order also appears to undercut the message in the Texas Department of State Health Services now-deleted "Immigrant Rights Healthcare Factsheet" that says people who need medical treatment should not refrain from seeking it because of concerns about citizenship.

"Health care workers should not ask for immigration status information," says the brochure that was available online Thursday afternoon but taken down after the American-Statesman had linked to it. "Hospital emergency rooms must help anyone that needing emergency services. The same applies to community health centers. Having insurance, money or immigration documents does not matter.

"If someone asks you about health insurance, you can say 'I am not eligible for health insurance and do not want to apply.'"

The department of Health and Human Services said it "will implement Governor Abbott's executive order and will provide guidance to hospitals in the coming weeks."

Some Democratic lawmakers painted Abbott's order as only an attempt to score political points.

"Republicans have no game except punching down at immigrants," state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

State Rep. Gene Wu, D-Austin, posted on X: "Texas has the HIGHEST uninsured healthcare in the nation. Texas has the WORST mental health care in the nation. Texas has one of the worst maternity (mortality) and infant mortality rates in America. But these are the Republicans priorities."

According to Abbott's order, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which oversees the Department of State Health Services, must:

Direct hospitals and additional identified providers to collect information regarding the cost of medical care provided to undocumented immigrants, beginning by Nov. 1.

Direct covered hospitals to report such data to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission quarterly, with initial submissions due March 1.

Direct those hospitals to inform the patient that federal law mandates that any response to such questions will not affect patient care.

Report annually, beginning Jan. 1, 2026, to the governor, the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House on the preceding years costs for medical care provided to undocumented immigrants.

Undocumented immigrants are ineligible to apply for coverage under the Affordable Care Act. According to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, undocumented immigrants may be eligible for Medicaid coverage for emergency treatment, but only under narrowly defined circumstances.

According to Teaching Hospitals of Texas, uncompensated charity care cost Texas hospitals around $7 billion in 2021, the latest year for which the data were available. The costs are not broken down by citizenship or immigration status.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Abbott says hospitals must report undocumented immigrants' care costs
A mix-up between a Texas middle school and its district led to the implementation of a new dress code policy that prohibits students from wearing all black, as explained in a statement from the district.

The El Paso Independent School District said in a statement that miscommunication between Charles Middle School and the district is to blame after the school adopted a new dress code policy that bars students from wearing all-black.

"The campus initiated a dialogue with the community in April, and after careful consideration, the recommended adjustments were approved at the campus level," the statement read.

In the district's statement, EPISD recommended adjustments, including substituting color options for students, mandating safe footwear, and eliminating sweatshirts with hoods and pockets to reduce opportunities for hiding, using, and distributing prohibited items.

While these recommendations were supported by the school, the campus must get the required approval at the district level, EPISD wrote.

"Unfortunately, the campus prematurely communicated the dress code change as a final decision rather than a recommendation. We regret the miscommunication, particularly the intent behind the changes," the statement said.

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Recommended all-black clothing ban tied to mental health concerns

Before Charles Middle School kicked off the school year Monday, Principal Nick DeSantis sent out a letter regarding the new dress code policy recommendation. The reason behind the proposed ban involved the association between all-black attire and "depression and mental health issues and/or criminality."

Norma De La Rosa, president of the El Paso Teachers Association, clarified with USA TODAY on Wednesday that the middle school did not ban the use of the color black.

"Charles MS students wear a uniform and one of the school colors is black," De La Rosa said in a statement. "They are allowed to wear black. The change was to not allow students to wear completely black from head to toe."

"The intention is to ensure the physical and mental safety of their students and was initially initiated due to concerns observed by teachers at the end of the last school year," she continued.

What they are not allowing is for students to wear clothing that is black from top to bottom, De La Rosa said. They can wear black shorts to go to PE. They can wear it on free dress day, but they just cannot wear it from top to bottom.

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Community pushes back on new dress code policy

The El Paso community criticized the new dress code online, questioning how the color of clothes impacts the childrens emotional well-being.

"Making students wear a different color isnt going to magically make them a completely different person," Alexis Contreras told KFOX-TV.

Some parents like Fabiola Flores, who already did school shopping, wish they were asked about the change before it was implemented, "We already bought the black pants, so we have to buy again, the pants. They should ask, they do like a hey what do you think? like were thinking about it, according to KDBC.

Back-to-school shopping: Texas' tax-free weekend 2024 is Aug. 9-11. See list of qualifying school supplies

El Paso school officials respond to community's concerns

Parents who are upset by the school's new dress code policy need to read it "very, very carefully," Norma De La Rosa says.

So, the colors are not so much to prevent or stop mental health issues. You can have the most colorful dress on and still be suffering through depression, she said.

The El Paso Independent School District said in a statement that the middle school is updating its uniform policy to enhance students well-being and sense of pride. Schools in the district are allowed to create their own dress code.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas middle school all-black dress code ban needs district approval
ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN)  Its the first-of-its-kind in the state. A new place for startups focused on the life science and medical fields is coming to the Texas State University (TXST) Round Rock Campus.

I think having this life sciences incubator on our campus will attract more companies to the region and really elevate that area for success, Dr. Julie Lessiter, vice president of the school, said.

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Its a rapidly growing field, according to the university. More than 300 life science, and upwards of 1,000 healthcare-related startup companies call Central Texas home. TXST Round Rock Campus wants to add to that.

Were trying to be innovative, were growing our enrollment, we really want to be a part of this community, which means giving back, Lessiter added.

What is it exactly?

Its everything from pharmaceuticals, to gene therapy, to medical devices, Seth Lane explained. Hes with Concept Companies, which is helping design the new space for the school.

The incubator hopes to reduce some of the frustrations, challenges and obstacles that new startups face.

These types of companies that are pursuing those types of technologies need facilities like this, they need the academic support of the research institution, Lane added.

The school said there will be labs, offices, administrative support and plenty of areas to collaborate.

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When you do that, out of that comes novel ideas, innovation, entrepreneurship. And when you have that in a community, thats really going to raise the profile of the community, Lessiter said.

Helping bring the tomorrow to today.

The school said it hopes to have the incubator open by the end of 2025. You can read more about its plans here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A casino worker handed over $750,000 in cash to a person she believed was the hotels lawyer in what police suspect is part of a larger theft operation, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.

Las Vegas Metro police arrested Rosa Barria, 36, last weekend on a theft charge, records said.

Early on the morning of June 8, 2023, a person called an employee working in the Sams Town cashier cage, claiming to be a lawyer for the casino, documents said. The caller said there would be a delivery from UPS and the delivery person would need to be paid. While on the phone with the scammer, the employee was also receiving messages on her phone.

The employee gathered $750,000 and drove to a North Las Vegas business eight miles away, documents said. There, two people collected the money, including the person she believed to be the lawyer.

Once the employee returned to the casino, she informed a supervisor that she believed she may have just fallen for a scam, documents said.

As part of the investigation into the June 8 theft, police noted a similar scam that occurred months later and involved the delivery of money to a business. In that case, Barria allegedly asked another woman and a man to pick up a similar package.

It was unclear whether police suspect Barria was the caller, though police allege she deceived the employee. Police did not name any other suspects in court documents.

A representative from Sams Town did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This most recent case is similar to a scheme involving different casinos, leading to at least one conviction.

Last year, Clark County District Judge Jasmin Lilly-Spells sentenced Erik Gutierrez Martinez, 25, to one year in the Clark County Detention Center after tricking a different casino employee into handing over $1 million. Lilly-Spells sentenced Gutierrez Martinez to a 36-to-96-month suspended sentence, meaning if he violates his probation upon his jail release, he will go to prison. Gutierrez Martinez remained in jail as of Wednesday.

As the 8 News Now Investigators first reported in June 2023, Metro police searched Gutierrez Martinezs home, finding bundles of money from Circa Hotel & Casino, which they believe were part of a scam to defraud the business of more than $1 million, documents said.

Documents the 8 News Now Investigators later obtained in the case revealed the allegations involved thefts at Circa, Eureka Casino Resort in Mesquite and the Golden Nugget in Laughlin  as well as federal investigators, including the U.S. Secret Service. Gutierrez Martinez was never charged with the allegations involving the Laughlin casino.

In March 2023, a casino cage supervisor at the Eureka casino removed $250,000 from the property and drove to Las Vegas to deliver the money to a person she believed was owed money for hand sanitizer. The person investigators believe the employee met with at a gas station parking lot was Gutierrez Martinez, documents said.

On June 17, police responded to Circa for a report of a similar scam, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported in June. A person from the hotels security office told detectives an unknown person had contacted the casino cage claiming to be the owner of the hotel and asking for $320,000 for an emergency payment to the fire department, police wrote in court documents.

Police interviewed the cage supervisor, who said she received a phone call from a person who claimed they were the hotels owner. The person, who was not the hotels owner, said the fire department needed to do a check on the fire extinguishers and they would need a payment for further safety devices, documents said.

The cage supervisor brought the money in four installments to the unknown person at different off-site locations, documents said. The payments totaled $314,000, $350,000, and $500,000, plus three smaller deposits, resulting in a loss of $1,170,000 to the hotel, documents said. The employee believed she was on the phone with the hotels owner and texting with her manager, police said.

Barria remained in the Clark County Detention Center as of Wednesday on $30,000 bail. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Aug. 20.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Homebuyers Have Gained $1,000 Every Day In Purchasing Power Over The Last Month As Mortgage Rates Fall To 16-Month Lows: 'Now Is The Time'

Homebuyers purchasing power increased by about $1,000 per day over the past month as mortgage rates tumbled to their lowest levels since April 2023.



According to a new Redfin report, the move down is injecting optimism into a market grappling with affordability challenges. A prospective homebuyer with a $3,000 monthly budget can now afford a $466,000 home at the current average mortgage rate of 6.35%. This represents an increase in purchasing power from just a month ago, when the same budget would have stretched to only a $437,250 home at the then-rate of 7.15%.

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Mortgage rates are falling further and faster than expected due to last weeks soft jobs report and mounting recession fears, Daryl Fairweather, Redfins Chief Economist, was quoted in the report. The unexpected rate dip has effectively added nearly $30,000 to buyers budgets in weeks.

For those eyeing the median-priced U.S. home  which currently sits at around $443,000  the monthly mortgage payment has dropped by almost $200 compared to a month ago. That reduction in monthly carrying costs could be the catalyst that brings hesitant buyers off the sidelines.

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The chief economist advised potential homebuyers to act swiftly. For house hunters who have been waiting for rates to fall before they buy a home: Now is the time, she urged. She reasons that while rates may continue to decline throughout the year, the drops will reignite competition and drive home prices higher, potentially negating the savings from lower mortgage rates.

Current market conditions present a unique opportunity. Buyers can potentially capitalize on improving affordability and an inventory of homes that have been on the market for extended periods. Redfin economists anticipate an increase in new listings in 2025 as move-up' buyers attempt to leverage lower rates. Still, they warn that demand could outstrip supply, leading to faster sales and more above-list-price transactions.

Story continues

However, despite any improvements, housing affordability remains challenging for many Americans. Home prices continue to hover near record highs, and even with the recent decline, mortgage rates are still "more than double pandemic-era lows," Redfin noted.

See Also: Will the surge continue or decline on real estate prices? People are finding out about risk-free real estate investing that lets you cash out whenever you want.

Is The Downswing Enough To Bring Buyers Back?

While the recent drop in mortgage rates has undoubtedly improved affordability, some industry experts argue that more reduction is needed to reinvigorate the market.

Nick Gerli, CEO of Reventure Consulting, says that the current improvements, while welcome, may not be enough to spark a resurgence in buyer demand. In reality, we need to get to $2,100-$2,200/month payment for a real bounce back in buyers, Gerli said on X, formerly Twitter.



He said achieving that level of affordability would require mortgage rates to fall to 5.5% (from the current 6.35%) and a 15% drop in home prices.

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Even with the recent declines in mortgage rates, Gerli notes that the ratio of house payments to income is still around 40%, higher than at the peak of the 2006 housing bubble. That payment ratio needs to drop significantly  down closer to the long-term average  before demand returns, he argues.

Recent data shows a disconnect between current market conditions and what some experts believe is necessary for a full recovery. The mortgage application index, a key indicator of buyer demand, remains at its lowest level in 30 years, down 13% year over year and nearly 50% from pre-pandemic levels.

Potential buyers face a decision. On one hand, recent improvements in affordability present an opportunity that hasnt been seen in over a year. On the other hand, some experts warn that the changes may not be enough to address the underlying affordability crisis in the housing market.

For now, Redfins economists advice is clear: Those who have been waiting for rates to drop should consider acting quickly.

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This article Homebuyers Have Gained $1,000 Every Day In Purchasing Power Over The Last Month As Mortgage Rates Fall To 16-Month Lows: 'Now Is The Time' originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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This image released by the Food Safety and Inspection Service, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, shows the product label for Boar's Head Virginia Ham meat, one of 71 products recalled as an investigation into a deadly listeria outbreak. The popular deli meat company is recalling an additional 7 million pounds of ready-to-eat products made at a Virginia plant as the investigation continues, U.S. Agriculture Department officials said Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (FSIS/USDA via AP)

Three people have now died in a listeria food poisoning outbreak linked to Boar's Head deli meats, federal food safety officials announced Thursday, and the overall number of people sickened rose to 43.

The additional death happened in Virginia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a news release Thursday. The other two deaths were in New Jersey and Illinois. The CDC also said nine more cases were reported since a July 31 release about the outbreak, which started in late May.

Boars Head recalled 7 million pounds of deli meats on July 30, expanding an initial recall on July 25 after a liverwurst sample collected by health officials in Maryland tested positive for listeria. The CDC said Thursday that a New York health officials tested a liverwurst sample and confirmed the same strain of listeria.

The recall includes more than 70 products  including liverwurst, ham, beef salami and bologna  made at the company's plant in Jarratt, Virginia.

Boars Head already faces two lawsuits over the outbreak, one in a Missouri court and the other a class action suit in federal court in New York.

The meat was distributed to stores nationwide, as well as to the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama. Consumers should not eat the recalled meats and should discard them or return them to the store for a refund. Listeria bacteria can survive and grow in the refrigerator, so officials say people who had recalled products should thoroughly clean and sanitize the fridge to prevent contamination.

The CDC estimates 1,600 people a year get listeria food poisoning and about 260 of those people die.

The most common symptoms include fever, muscle aches and fatigue, though infections may also cause confusion and convulsions. Infections are most dangerous for people older than 65, people with weak immune systems and pregnant people. Symptoms may not appear for weeks after eating contaminated food.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Third person sentenced in email scam that nearly cost city of Lexington $3.9 million

A New Jersey man who took part in a scheme that nearly cost the city of Lexington $3.9 million has been sentenced to six years in federal prison.

Jean Mejia-Garcia also is required with two other defendants to repay $4.6 million under the sentence.

People involved in the scam posed as non-profit organizations or vendors and contacted cities, businesses and individuals and tricked them into sending payments, according to court records. The tactic is known as a business email compromise scheme.

Lexington was able to recoup the money it wired to scammers, but dozens of other government agencies and businesses across the country couldnt.

Those losses are the basis for the $4.6 million restitution order.

After the victims wired payments to accounts controlled by people involved in the scam, the leader, Nana Kwabena Amuah, notified others in the conspiracy to move it out, according to the court record.

The ring victimized Lexington in August 2022, impersonating someone from the Community Action Council, which was working with the city on a housing project.

The scammer got a city employee to wire $3.9 million that the city owed the non-profit.

The employee wired the money to a Truist Bank account the scammers controlled, but the bank and the city got it back.

Mejia-Garcias role in the scheme was to obtain identifying information on real people, use it to set up bank accounts for shell companies, and then move the money once it came in from victims, according to a sentencing memorandum from Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn M. Dieruf.

Mejia-Garcia, of North Bergen, N.J., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and aggravate identity theft.

He played a key role in the conspiracy because the availability of money launderers in the United States willing to steal identities, deceive financial institutions, and receive and transfer proceeds enables the proliferation of this type of fraud, perpetrated by individuals sitting behind a keyboard or on a telephone thousands of miles away, targeting American businesses, Dieruf said in the sentencing memo.

U.S District Judge Karen K. Caldwell sentenced Mejia-Garcia Tuesday in federal court in Lexington.

Amuah and a Texas woman, Shimea McDonald, also pleaded guilty in the case.

The judge sentenced Amuah to seven years and two months in prison and McDonald to six years and eight months, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

They also are liable with Mejia-Garcia for the $4.6 million in restitution.

Federal authorities identified more than 70 victims who wired money to the network of scammers. About 60 lost money to the scheme, according to the prosecution memo.

The prosecution memo cited one business that had to close because of the losses, and said another victim had to take $200,000 from a retirement account to repay a vendor that the scammers impersonated.

One woman paid $57,000 she thought was going toward her stepmothers care at a retirement home, but after the scammers took the money, she had to go to court to keep her stepmother from being evicted because the payment was still outstanding, according to the memo.

A list of victims in Amuahs case did not publicly identify any others in Kentucky.
What are those floating barriers along the Oklahoma River?

What are those floating barriers along the Oklahoma River?

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Those large barriers along the Oklahoma River serve an important purpose.

According to the City of OKC, the big barriers keep garbage from getting to the main waterway. Thats just one of the ways Storm Water Quality and the city help the environment.

Barriers collect garbage along Oklahoma River.

Barriers collect garbage along Oklahoma River.

Honestly, the river is pretty much the heart of Oklahoma City, said Michael Adams, Environmental Technician. I mean, its right in the middle for a reason.

LOCAL NEWS: Oklahoma State Fair announces new attractions for 2024

Officials say the barriers collect trash and debris as it floats down the river. There are also ring nets placed on the end of drainage pipes that also collect trash after storms and storms drains with inserts that collect garbage before it gets into the water.

Ring net on the end of a drainage pipe.

Insert inside of storm drain.

Adams says most of the garbage collected cannot be recycled due to contamination, or it has been broken down to the point where it is unable to be recycled.

According to the city, enough trash is collected every year to fill around 10 garbage trucks. Residents are encouraged to pick up at least one piece of trash every day, as it helps the hidden heroes that keep the Oklahoma River clean.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Firefighters have been seen using drip torches to burn vegetation, while trying to stop the Park Fire - NOAH BERGER/AP

Thousands of firefighters continue to battle a huge wildfire in northern California, after the weeks-long blaze reawakened on Monday.

The Park Fire had shown signs of calming last week but regained strength and continued to grow owing to the dry and hot weather, scorching 11,000 acres in two days.

It is Californias largest wildfire so far this year and the fourth largest in the states history, having consumed over 425,000 acres by Wednesday night.

In just two weeks, the fire has burned some 414,042 acres (167,557 hectares) - JOSH EDELSON/AFP

Firefighters have been trying to help control the Park Fire in the Mill Creek area of California - JOSH EDELSON/AFP

Photographs show columns of firefighters heading into thick orange haze near the Mill Creek Canyon area, where the fire is moving with intensity. Helicopters are pictured swooping overhead, dousing the forests with pink chemicals to slow down the flames.

More than 6,600 personnel, 30 helicopters and 500 engines have been working to contain the fire  which has destroyed more than 630 residential and commercial buildings so far.

Authorities have confirmed the Park Fire was started by arson on July 24, after a now-arrested suspect pushed a flaming car down a hill outside the Sacramento Valley city of Chico.

An air tanker was seen dropping retardant  while trying to keep the Park Fire from spreading in northern California - AP/NOAH BERGER

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PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB)  The Panama City Beach Police Department has announced the arrest of three individuals in connection with the murder at an apartment complex in Panama City Beach on August 6th.

Andre Jermaine Ranglin, 23, a Jamaican national residing in Panama City, has been arrested and charged with an open count of murder, attempted capital murder, three counts of attempted second-degree murder, firing a deadly missile into an occupied dwelling, and attempted armed burglary.

Devaughn Devante Jones, 23, a Jamaican national from Panama City Beach, was arrested and charged with accessory after the fact to murder and destruction of evidence.

Suspect involved in Panama City Beach shooting arrested

Ricardo Everton Golden, 37, also a Jamaican national, is charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

We went from a body on the ground with little to no witnesses. Some were very uncooperative, which could have been potential witnesses. And 15 hours later we have a person, three people in custody for this, and that could not have been done without the hard work and dedication of our local law enforcement, Panama City Police Chief J.R. Talamantez said.

Talamantez said Ranglin and McDonald were co-workers. The other two suspects allegedly got involved after the shooting.

According to Panama City Beach Police, Ranglin walked to the 10X complex with a handgun and fired several shots at ONeil McDonald before chasing him through a parking lot and shooting him ten times ultimately killing him.

Ranglin then shot at the female victim when she tried to enter her apartment, striking her through the door. Officials said their investigation uncovered an ongoing dispute between ONeil McDonald and Ranglin.

Ranglin and Jones are being held in Houston County, Alabama awaiting extradition. Golden is in the Bay County Jail. This is an ongoing investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.
KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE)  Three people from Knox County and a Georgia man are facing federal drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Tennessee, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.

In a release on Thursday, the DOJ shared that Mark ONeil Robinson, 41, of Atlanta, Georgia, Christopher Harold Roberts, 57, of Knoxville, Brian Kirksey, 44, of Knoxville, and Donnie Lee Oliver, 55, of Powell, were indicted in July on charges of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

Hit-and-run at Knox County school bus stop under investigation: Sheriffs Office

Robinson was also charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, including a firearm equipped with a silencer, and Roberts was charged with possession with the

intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking.

All four have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them during initial appearances in Y.S. District Court in Knoxville between July 22 and August 6. The case is set to begin trial on September 24, 2024.

TBI, Attorney General discuss Knoxville area motorcycle gang drug ring

If convicted, Robinson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 60 years to life; Kirksey and Oliver face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life, and Roberts faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years to life.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
All three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna cancelled after police foil terror plot

All three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna cancelled after police foil terror plot

All three upcoming Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna have been cancelled after Austrian authorities arrested two men for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack during the events.

The concerts were planned at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as part of her Eras Tour which has been travelling across Europe, having recently visited Germany.

"Due to confirmation by government officials of a planned terrorist attack ... we have no choice but to cancel the three planned shows for everyone's safety," the event's organisers said in a statement shared on Instagram.

Earlier on Wednesday, authorities in Austria arrested a 19-year-old man in the Austrian capital.

The man was previously known to authorities as a suspect of terrorism and was arrested following a large police operation with over 100 nearby residents evacuated, according to local media.

The arrested 19-year-old, whose identity was not revealed by the authorities, had allegedly pledged an oath of allegiance to the so-called Islamic State group and had been radicalised on the internet.

A second person was also arrested in Vienna, who was believed to be in contact with the first suspect.

Police are looking for a further three people in combination with the attack.

Authorities were tipped off about the attack by a foreign security service.

Austria's top public security chief, Franz Ruf, said that authorities were made aware of preparations for such an attack and that the suspect's focus had been the upcoming concert.

In total, the concerts sold out 65,000 seats for each of its days visiting Austria, with an additional 20,000 fans expected to be present outside the venue.
Reports have shed light on the arrest of two teenagers allegedly involved in drafting a terror plot to take place at a Taylor Swift concert in Austria, resulting in the cancelation of three Swift concerts for safety precautions.

During a press conference on Thursday, Austrian law enforcement officials stated that one of the men confessed that the plan was to kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue," The New York Times reported. After the arrest of a 19-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy, authorities said that the older suspect, who was radicalized online by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida, had given police a detailed account of his plot to kill concertgoers using explosives and weapons.

In addition to the explosives, authorities searched the older man's home and found timers, machetes and knives. Police also said the 17-year-old suspected accomplice had recently begun a job as an events service working at the Ernst Happel Stadium, where Swift was set to perform. He was arrested at the stadium on Wednesday. Another teen was brought in for questioning, who authorities said was not an active part of the plot but knew of the details. Authorities also said since the suspects are in custody, there is no longer an immediate threat.

Following the exposure of the thwarted attack, Swift's three sold-out concerts were canceled Wednesday, a blow for Swift's Austrian and global fans, who The Associated Press had reported spent thousands of euros on travel and lodging in Vienna. The concert's organizers said that the stadium was expecting about 65,000 Swifties and 30,000 people gathered outside the area which is where the suspected planned to attack. According to Austrias interior minister, the plan was to be executed on Thursday or Friday.

Despite the legion of upset fans, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer stood by the decision to cancel Swift's concerts. Nehammer said that the arrests of the suspects happened too close to the scheduled concert dates.

I understand very well that those who wanted to experience the concert live are very sad, Nehammer explained. Moms and dads are looking after their daughters and sons, who were full of enthusiasm and anticipation for this concert. But its also important that in such serious moments as now, its inevitable that safety comes first.

Concerts have been at the center of violent attacks in Europe before. In the U.K. a suicide bombing at a 2017 Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, killed 22 people. Earlier this year, four men killed 100 people at a concert venue in Moscow. The New York Times reported that these attacks "were carried out by men who were inspired by or linked to the Islamic State."

While three of Swift's shows have been canceled, she will still scheduled to perform in London at Wembley Stadium on Aug. 15-20, which will be the last concerts on the international leg of the Era tour before she makes her return to North America, Variety reported.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan told Sky News he understands the precautions Austria had to take but added, Were going to carry on. . . . We have a huge amount of experience in policing these events, were never complacent. Many lessons were learned after the awful Manchester Arena attack."

Additionally, U.K. police will increase security, and law enforcement will continue to evaluate intelligence. Swift and her representatives have not commented on the plot or canceled shows except for an affiliated account reposting that the shows had been canceled in Austria.

Several years ago after the Manchester bombing, Swift said in a piece for ELLE that an attack during one of her concerts was "my biggest fear." She wrote, "I was completely terrified to go on tour this time because I didnt know how we were going to keep 3 million fans safe over seven months."
Tickets available for Flutes and Flavors fundraiser to benefit West Springfield Boys and Girls Club

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Tickets are now available for a popular fundraiser supporting the West Springfield Boys and Girls Club.

Flutes and Flavors is an annual event that offers multiple food and alcohol vendors, a silent auction with dozens of prizes, as well as music and dancing.

Chicopee boy granted wish of an honorary police officer

The gala event is being held on Friday, September 6 from 6-11 p.m. at the Springfield Country Club at 1375 Elm Street, West Springfield. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased online, in person at the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club, or through a board member. As space at this event is limited, it is recommended to buy tickets in advance.

Food vendors this year include Ks/Crazy Seafood, Classic Burgers, The Sugar Chalet, Wood-N-Tap, and Nadims, and alcohol vendors include Stateside Vodka, Two Weeks Notice, Skyline Beer Company and Quality Beverage, and more.

The Sen. John Velis and State Rep. Michael Finn duo will return to auction off prizes such as a foursome at Springfield Country Club, dinner for 10 at the West Springfield Fire Department, Taproom Party at Two Weeks Notice, dining experiences, hotel stays, and more.

Go to the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club website to learn more about their programs and other ways the public can provide support.

Latest Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
(Reuters) -Embattled Chinese property developer Shimao Group said on Thursday a Hong Kong court had adjourned a winding up petition against the company to Dec. 16, allowing Shimao more time to work with creditors on a revised restructuring proposal.

Since the Chinese property sector plunged into a debt crisis in 2021, numerous developers, including major players like China Evergrande Group, have been hit with liquidation lawsuits from creditors, with some firms already ordered to dissolve.

The high court has postponed the liquidation petition against Shimao for the third time, following previous adjournments on July 31 and June 26 this year.

The petition was filed in April by China Construction Bank (Asia) over non-repayments of about $200 million worth of loans.

Shimao, a property developer based in Shanghai, failed to meet its offshore debt obligations totaling $11.5 billion in 2022.

In response to creditors' opposition to its initial restructuring plan presented in March, the company recently released an improved version of the proposal.

These terms aim to gain more support from the creditors for the company's debt restructuring efforts.

(Reporting by Roushni Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema)
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A Tualatin High School student has filed a $3.7 million lawsuit against Tigard-Tualatin School District, claiming the district was negligent for not doing more to prevent her from being assaulted on campus during school.

The lawsuit, filed July 31, claims the student was sexually assaulted and raped in the schools gender-neutral bathrooms by another student in 2023, as first reported by The Oregonian.

The lawsuit argues the school has a responsibility to keep students safe, noting the district should have been aware of the accused students behavior leading up to the incident and failed to supervise him.

Family praying for big miracles after crash puts expecting mom and baby in ICU

According to the complaint, many students, including the student accused of the assault, were allowed to venture Tualatin High School hallways unsupervised the day of the alleged incident.

This comes as Oregon is among the highest-ranking states for rape or attempted rape at school, the complaint said, citing the United States Department of Education.

KOIN 6 News reached out to the Tigard-Tualatin School District and has not heard back. This story will be updated if we receive a response.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Tim Walzs military record is coming under renewed scrutiny after a CNN fact check concluded that the new Democratic vice presidential nominees claim that he carried weapons in war was absolutely false.

CNNs Tom Foreman said the quote was misleading because Walz, 60, was never in combat in a war zone.

The check came after Walzs GOP counterpart J.D. Vance accused Kamala Harris running mate of stolen valor for claiming in a recently resurfaced 2018 clip that he carried weapons of war in war.

Gov. @Tim_Walz: I spent 25 years in the Army and I hunt. Ive been voting for common sense legislation that protects the Second Amendment, but we can do background checks. We can research the impacts of gun violence. We can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, pic.twitter.com/3IVaXi2RP2  Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) August 6, 2024

Walz did make a comment speaking to a group, hes done it a couple of times, where he has used language that has suggested that he carried weapons in a fighting situation, Foreman told CNN host Brianna Keilar.

I know from coming from a military family there is a difference between being in a combat area, being involved at a time of war, and actually being in a position where people are shooting at you, he added.

There is no evidence that at any time Governor Walz was in a position of being shot at, and some of his language could easily be seen to suggest he was, so that is absolutely false.

Keilar commented: The quote was, We can make sure that those weapons of war that I carried in war is the only place where those weapons are at, and certainly for someone who wasnt familiar with their record, they might draw a different conclusion.

Vets Group Calls BS on GOP Attacks of Tim Walzs Military Service

Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard at 17 and served for 24 years before leaving to run for Congress. He retired just before his unit deployed to the Iraq War in 2005. That same year, Vance went to Iraq as a military journalist, but did not go into combat, according to the Guardian.

Vance, 40, a former marine, attacked Walz the day after he was unveiled as Harriss number two, saying: Well, I wonder, Tim Walz, when were you ever in war? When was this? What was this weapon that you carried into war, given that you abandoned your unit right before they went to Iraq, and he has not spent a day in a combat zone?

What bothers me about Tim Walz is the stolen valor garbage. Do not pretend to be something that youre not Id be ashamed if I was him and I lied about my military service like he did.

In his fact check, CNNs Foreman said there was no evidence to back Vances assertion that Walz ducked out of his deployment as he left the guard two months before his unit got orders to go to Iraq.

In 2018, Walz reportedly told Minnesota Public Radio: I know that there are certainly folks that did far more than I did. I know that. I willingly say that I got far more out of the military than they got out of me, from the GI bill to leadership opportunities to everything else.

The Harris-Walz campaign released a statement defending Walzs record, saying: After 24 years of military service, Governor Walz retired in 2005 and ran for Congress, where he chaired Veterans Affairs and was a tireless advocate for our men and women in uniformand as Vice President of the United States he will continue to be a relentless champion for our veterans and military families.

Governor Walz would never insult or undermine any Americans service to this countryin fact, he thanks Senator Vance for putting his life on the line for our country. Its the American way.

The targeting of Walzs military service has raised the specter of the GOP swift boat attacks on John Kerry over his service in Vietnam that was credited with harming his losing 2004 presidential campaign against George W. Bush, who did not serve.

The operative credited with masterminding the attacks, Chris LaCivita, is now one of Donald Trumps top advisers.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A longstanding connection: Walzs connection with China dates back to 1989, when he taught English and American history at Foshan No. 1 High School under a Harvard University program. He described his decision to teach in China as one of the best things I've ever done. Walz and his wife Gwen Whipple, a fellow teacher, spent their honeymoon in the country. They also started a company organizing educational trips to China for U.S. students, which ran from 1994 to 2003. Over the years, Walz has visited China at least 30 times and has spoken positively of the Chinese people. They are such kind, generous, capable people, he said upon returning to the U.S. in 1990.
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Tim Walz has come under fire for claiming he carried weapons in war after the Democratic vice-presidential candidate was accused of shirking a deployment to Iraq.

The Minnesota governor faces claims by Republicans that he exaggerated his military record since he was unveiled as Kamala Harriss running mate this week.

His roughly 24-year military service is part of a personal biography that the Harris campaign hopes will appeal to the American heartlands where the Democrats are trying to reclaim ground.

Tim Walz in basic training in the US Army in the summer of 1981

Mr Walz pictured on the day he joined the military

But a campaign video in which Mr Walz frames his support for gun control legislation within the context of his army background has further fuelled claims he misrepresented his military service after retiring before a deployment to Iraq.

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Mr Walz said: I spent 25 years in the Army and I hunt. Ive been voting for common sense legislation that protects the Second Amendment, but we can do background checks.

We can research the impacts of gun violence. We can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, are only carried in war.

While Mr Walz would have carried a gun during his deployments, he does not appear to have ever seen active combat.

In a 2018 interview, he conceded: I know that there are certainly folks that did far more than I did.

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However, his use of the phrase in war triggered a fierce backlash, with fellow service members accusing Mr Walz of abandoning his US Army national guard unit by retiring shortly before it deployed to Iraq in 2005.

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The big frustration was that he let his troops down, Doug Julin, a retired soldier who worked with Mr Walz, told the Washington Post.

The Harris campaign told the newspaper that Mr Walz carried, fired and trained others on how to use weapons of war innumerable times, but declined to address why he claimed to have done so in war.

Retired Command Sergeant Major Thomas Behrends claimed Mr Walz was fabricating his record to advance his political career.

A portion of a letter written by retired Command Sergeant Major Thomas Behrends, titled 'The truth about Tim Walz'

Mr Walz has not responded to the recent attacks, but has previously said of Mr Behrendss comments: I dont know if Tom just disagrees with my politics or whatever, but my record speaks for itself.

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Mr Behrends also took issue with Mr Walz describing himself as a command sergeant major in campaign promotional material despite quitting before serving the full period required to officially retire at the rank.

Mr Walz earned the promotion - one of the top ranks for an enlisted soldier - in September 2004 but retired in May 2005.

Donald Trumps running mate JD Vance, himself a military veteran, accused Mr Walz of stolen valour.

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Mr Vance, an Ohio senator, said: When the US Marine Corps asked me to go to Iraq to serve my country, I did it.

When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, he dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him. I think thats shameful.

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However, another retired command sergeant major who served with Mr Walz said there was no firm indication that the unit would be deployed to Iraq before his departure.

There were lots of rumours, and we didnt know where we were going until... early summer, I believe, Joseph Eustice told ABC News.

According to national guard records, Mr Walzs battalion was alerted about deployment in July 2005, two months after he retired and around five months before he filed paperwork to run for Congress. The battalion deployed in 2006.

There is no evidence that Mr Walz left to avoid a wartime deployment, and experts suggest his retirement would have to have been approved by his commander.

Mr Eustice said he remembered Mr Walz struggling with the timing of his run for office, weighing up his desire to serve in Congress with his wish to avoid asking for a deferment to do so.

He had a window of time. He had to decide. And in his [time spent] deciding, we were not on notice to be deployed, he said.

Mr Walz has also been accused of being misleading about his involvement in Operation Enduring Freedom, a US military operation centred on Afghanistan.

Photographs have emerged of Mr Walz, a critic of President George W Bushs handling of the Iraq war, holding an Operation Enduring Freedom veterans for John Kerry poster during the Democrats 2004 presidential run.

In '04, I worked for the MNGOP. President Bush visited Mankota on August 4, 2004, and I took pictures of protesters outside the event. Tim Walz (pictured on the far-right) protested Bush's visit to Minnesota. The thread below from Walz about his role at Bush's event is dishonest. https://t.co/rEpzoF0yE9 pic.twitter.com/ygLiIEG4p1  Michael Brodkorb (@mbrodkorb) August 17, 2020

While Mr Walz was deployed between 2003 and 2004 to Norway and Italy in support of the operation, he was never deployed to Afghanistan.

Footage has since emerged of veterans of the operation confronting Mr Walzs political staff in 2009 and suggesting his description of his record gave the false impression he had served in Afghanistan.

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The Trump campaign has relentlessly attacked Mr Walz over his military record in the last few days amid a shift in the polls which has seen the former presidents lead narrow in several battleground states.

Chris LaCivita, a senior Trump adviser, who led an effort to aggressively attack Mr Kerrys military record in the 2004 election to great effect, said Mr Walzs record would be vigorously scrutinised.

Nothing regarding his lies has been weaponised in a political sense. Thats about to change, Mr LaCivita told Politico.

However, the strategy carries risks for Republicans given Trumps own Vietnam-era military deferment.

Some GOP strategists also believe the campaign should expend their efforts attacking Ms Harris governing record rather than focusing on Mr Walz, a relative unknown to the American public.

Leading Democrats have hit back at the attacks on Mr Walz. Mark Kelly, an Arizona senator and combat veteran, said: Dont become Donald Trump. He calls veterans suckers and losers and that is beneath those of us who have actually served.

A post on social media by Mark Kelly in defence of Mr Walz

Pete Buttigieg, the US transportation secretary, said the GOP attacks were strategic.

Mr Buttigieg tweeted his support for Mr Walz

Team Trump needs us tied up in debates over pre-retirement conditional rank promotions because they are desperate NOT to discuss their (unpopular) policies, like tax cuts for the rich and banning access to abortion, he said.

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When Alabamas high court earlier this year ruled that frozen embryos are people, temporarily halting in vitro fertilization treatments at some clinics, Democrats turned it into political gold.

Tim Walz gives them an opportunity to do it again.

At a Tuesday rally in Philadelphia, the Minnesota governor for the first time on a national stage shared how he and his wife, Gwen, struggled to conceive. And by Wednesday, he had cemented the story as part of his stump speech.

This is very personal for my wife and I, Walz told a crowd of 12,000 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. When Gwen and I decided to have children, we went through years of fertility treatments. I remember each night praying that the call was going to come and it was going to be good news. The phone would ring, tenseness in my stomach, and then the agony when you heard the treatments hadnt worked.

That a 60-year-old man running to be vice president would share such an intimate anecdote on the campaign trail is a cue of how central reproductive health care has become in American politics and how much the electoral landscape has shifted in the two years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Walz isnt talking about IVF as a womens issue that men should care about on behalf of their wives and daughters. Hes framing its importance as a man and a father, underscoring Democrats argument that men should care about reproductive health care because it affects them, too.

Walzs story offers the Harris campaign a vehicle to drive home the point that former President Donald Trump is responsible for the fall of Roe and its ripple effects, from the near-total abortion bans in effect in more than a third of the country to the Alabama Supreme Courts February ruling on IVF. It also opens a window for the campaign to needle Trumps running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, over his vote against advancing a Democratic-sponsored bill to establish a nationwide right to IVF and other fertility treatments.

That we are here in 2024 and this may be an issue that helps to swing an election shows what a problem Republicans have in the family planning realm, said Barrett Marson, a GOP strategist in Arizona.

After the Alabama decision, President Joe Biden used his State of the Union address to highlight an Alabama woman who had to pause her IVF treatment because of the states ruling, and called on Congress to guarantee a right to the procedure.

Trump and nearly all Republicans have stressed their support for IVF in recent months. But the most socially conservative portion of their base, including members of the Southern Baptist Convention, has serious religious and ethical concerns with IVF as currently practiced in the U.S. and has been pushing lawmakers to see the issue more like they do abortion.



Democrats have used abortion to help secure victories in key gubernatorial, Senate and state legislative races for the last two years, and Republican strategists say IVF is another  and even more popular  arrow in their reproductive health care quiver.

Polling shows that IVF remains broadly popular across the political spectrum. A July AP-NORC poll found that about three-quarters of Democrats and 56 percent of Republicans favor preserving access to the procedure. And data from the Pew Research Center released last fall show that four in 10 adults in the U.S. have used or know someone who has used fertility treatments, up from 33 percent five years earlier, as the average age women give birth here continues to rise.

Republicans have spent much of the last several months assuring voters that they do, in fact, support IVF. After the Alabama courts decision resulted in clinics suspending IVF services over legal uncertainties, the states GOP legislature quickly passed legislation to let treatments resume. Trump, like many other Republican elected officials, voiced support for IVF, and the GOP platform approved last month specifically affirmed support for IVF and other fertility treatments.

Some Republican strategists argue those moves are enough to neutralize the issue of IVF on the campaign trail and that Walzs personal story doesnt make it any more salient.

Republicans have made it clear that they support IVF  the vast majority of Republicans have. There's no effort to roll back IVF, said Mark Graul, a GOP strategist in Wisconsin. I think it's part of just the broader strategy to, from the Democratic perspective, put the spotlight on abortion as much as possible, this just being a piece of that puzzle.

Senate Democrats in June forced a vote on legislation putting Republicans like Vance on the record opposing nationwide protections for IVF. While all but two Senate Republicans voted to block the legislation, saying it went too far, threatened religious freedom, or was unnecessary, most insist they support broad access to fertility treatments. And some are pushing alternative legislation sponsored by Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

Walz, in a preview of whats to come on the campaign, called out Vance in a July tweet on World IVF Day for opposing the miracle of IVF, saying its a direct attack on my family and so many others. Vance in a letter with other Senate Republicans has said he supports continued nationwide access to IVF.

The preferred outcome of the next 90 days for Donald Trump and JD Vance is to never have to talk about this. But what is clear, last night and in the commitment that both Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz have, and in their personal connection to this, is that they're not going to let the Republicans get away with that, said Ryan Stitzlein, vice president of political and government relations at Reproductive Freedom for All. They're going to continue to bring this issue to them every single day between now and November.



Anti-abortion groups are dismissing the appeal of Walzs story. Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life Action, said that the Minnesota governors abortion mindset taints that story, pointing to the fact that his state was the first to enact statutory protections for abortion after the fall of Roe.

All children need to be welcomed into the world. All children deserve hope and a future, Hawkins said.

The challenge for Republicans is the anti-abortion movement, including Hawkins group, has made clear that securing personhood rights for fetuses and embryos is its next frontier, which has broad implications for IVF. Already, more than a third of states consider fetuses or embryos to be people at some point during pregnancy, a potential problem for fertility care given that clinics during the IVF process typically create more embryos than someone plans to implant, with the rest donated, stored or destroyed.

Many Republican-controlled legislatures continue to pursue legislation that gives embryos and fetuses the same rights as people at the moment of conception, which medical professionals argue could limit their ability to provide certain kinds of fertility treatments like IVF and open them up to liability for any accidental destruction of embryos. More than two dozen bills that the abortion-rights-focused Guttmacher Institute considers as establishing fetal personhood were this year introduced in state legislatures, though many were scuttled after the Alabama court decision gave lawmakers cold feet.

The Southern Baptist Convention, the nations largest and most politically powerful Protestant denomination, voted in June to oppose IVF, signaling the beginnings of a conservative sea change on the issue.

And anti-abortion groups cheered the inclusion of 14th Amendment language in the Republican platform this year as a path to an eventual Supreme Court ruling they hope will say that life begins at conception and should be protected as such, something they have long pushed and hoped for.

The RNC can say whatever it wants, or Trump can, and [Speaker Mike] Johnson  you can get them all on the same page, and then the South Carolina State House passes a bill, and all of a sudden, that drives the conversation, said Douglas Heye, a GOP strategist. You have state legislatures that are sort of legislating out loud, and make it very hard for the party, even on something like this, to have a cohesive message.
Controversy has continued to mount over the past year, after Sacramento State officials discovered what the campus president called total financial mismanagement at Capital Public Radio.

It started with news of staff layoffs at CapRadio in response to financial strains and its newly hired interim general manager saying the the nonprofit media organizations financial problems were severe. Former employees and then managers directed the blame at three costly construction projects, combined with falling revenue.

The bad news got worse only a month later, when Sac State officials announcing they were taking over CapRadio after a California State University audit found huge lapses of accountability in the stations finances. That was followed a few days later with the campus officials announcing CapRadio would run out of money in a few months if something wasnt done.

A second audit, by an accounting firm Sacramento State hired, was released this week  months later than university officials initially planned  and included information about hundreds of thousands of dollars in unsupported credit card payments.

Here is a timeline of key events in the turmoil surrounding CapRadio, starting with an announcement five years ago that pointed to a much brighter future  but a decision even CapRadio itself more recently acknowledged as playing an instrumental role in the radio stations financial downfall.

April 30, 2019: Downtown headquarters

CapRadio announced it had leased property at Eighth and J streets downtown that would become its new headquarters and performance space, bolstered by a $2.25 million investment from Sutter Health.

Rick Eytcheson was then CapRadios president and general manager, before he he was named president emeritus in July 2020 to continue fundraising efforts to finance the stations move to downtown Sacramento.

The station then announced it was leasing a second building at Eighth and I streets to house the headquarters, in a separate location that would provide more security for its journalists.

The station, at the time, also was in the middle of a 15-year, $2 million radio tower relocation project to improve audio quality and reach more listeners.

Sac State owned the central license for CapRadios two powerhouse stations  KXJZ-FM (90.9) and KXPR-FM (88.9)  though CapRadio operates a total of seven FM frequencies and six FM translators that repeat the signals for those news and music stations. CapRadio also operated North State Public Radio, two stations owned by Chico State.

Capital Public Radios new performance space, CapRadio Live, at the corner of Eighth and J streets in downtown Sacramento is pictured on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. The station has not yet moved from its offices at Sacramento State.

Aug. 30, 2023: Staff layoffs

CapRadio management announced staff layoffs, 12% of its workforce, in response to financial strains. Three-quarters of those laid off were part-time employees. CapRadio laid off 15 employees and cut four music shows, according to previous reporting by The Sacramento Bee.

The finances are pretty severe right now for CapRadio. We owe a lot of money to vendors. We barely have enough cash to keep us going right now, said Tom Karlo, then interim general manager, in a Sept. 5, 2023, interview on CapRadio. We are making payroll. Its just been a very, very tough time. We have no reserves.

Karlo, a longtime Southern California public broadcasting executive, started at CapRadio eight days before the layoffs. He had been brought in by his friend Luke Wood, the then-new president of Sacramento State.

An Aug. 30 budget presentation to CapRadios executive board showed the station owed vendors $3.3 million in unpaid bills from the previous two fiscal years. Not included in that deficit was the rent it owed Sacramento State for its East Sacramento headquarters, which had been unpaid since September 2022.

CapRadios revenue had been in a decline since 2021, the stations financial committee reported. In the fiscal year before the layoffs were announced, corporate fundraising fell short, and the board predicted declining member support in the upcoming fiscal year.

Sept. 27, 2023: Sac State takes over

A 33-page audit of CapRadio released last September found significant financial problems that led Sacramento States president to announce the university was assuming operational control of the National Public Radio-affiliated station.

Wood said CapRadios accounting, endowment and financial operations would be overseen by the university rather than CapRadio management and its board of directors.

The CSU audit was initiated by former Sacramento State President Robert Nelsen in 2022 after a Sac State official noticed discrepancies in financial statements.

A position of chief content officer would remain to oversee CapRadios programming will remain a CapRadio employee, ensuring CapRadios journalistic independence, university officials said.

In a written statement at the time, Wood said the financial implications of CapRadios mismanagement have significant consequences for Sacramento State. He also said the operational changes at the station should make donors feel confident moving forward that their generous contributions will be well stewarded.

The audit found that more than $1.1 million in studio equipment and furniture loans were taken out by CapRadios executive vice president and general manager without written approval by CapRadios board.

Credit card charges were not properly reviewed and, in some cases, late fees and charges over the card limit were incurred, the audit found, along with CapRadio accepting gifts without written approval from the campus president and processing an $85,000 gift-in-kind that actually was a discounted purchase of a piano that was then placed in storage.

The audit also found the operation didnt have written agreements with either of the two entities that handled vehicle donations to CapRadio as a fundraising device, and CapRadio wasnt doing enough to involve students in its operations, a traditional educational byproduct of campus broadcast operations.

Also, an $8 million loan from the university to CapRadio was not properly executed, and CapRadio had fallen behind its repayment schedule by $1.8 million as of July 2023, according to the CSU audit.

Sept. 30, 2023: CapRadio projected to be insolvent

Three days after the CSU released its findings of widespread financial mismanagement, Sacramento State announced CapRadio was expected to be insolvent by January 2024 and was placing a new administrator in charge. Wood appointed Jonathan Bowman, then Sacramento States vice president for administration and business affairs and its chief financial officer, to oversee CapRadio.

As a nonprofit auxiliary, CapRadio cannot file for bankruptcy, and any debt accumulated is the ultimate responsibility of Sacramento State, its fiduciary, Sac State officials said in a written statement.

Sac State said Bowman was the official who noticed inconsistencies in CapRadios financial reports and operations in 2021, a discovery that led to the audit. Bowmans accounting and financial team assumed control of CapRadios finances in August 2023.

What happened is total financial mismanagement, Wood told The Bee in an Oct. 4 interview.

Oct. 4, 2023: Mass board resignation

A week after the CSU released the scathing audit of CapRadios finances, more than half of its board of directors resigned over what they said was a failure by Sacramento State leadership to engage with the board in good faith.

In a brief resignation letter addressed to Wood, 13 of the board members  including prominent business leaders and lawyers  said they were leaving over disagreements on how to respond to CapRadios financial woes.

Sacramento attorney Roger Dreyer, one of the 13, said in an interview that he believed the radio operation could have been saved if the university had worked collaboratively with the board. He said efforts to do so were rejected.

A 14th board member, treasurer Bena Arao, resigned in a separate letter.

Capital Public Radios current offices on the campus of Sacramento State on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. The NPR-affiliated broadcaster announced layoffs in September.

Oct. 24, 2023: CapRadio website goes down

CapRadios website went down temporarily because of difficulties finding a way to pay its domain fee to GoDaddy.com. Sacramento State officials said the website was back online after quickly resolving a payment authorization issue that caused website and content streaming to go down.

The missed payment was not caused by a lack of funds. Sac State has said GoDaddy required payment by credit card and, as CapRadio worked to recover its financial health, it did not use credit cards to make payments.

The Sacramento State president responded with a note to the members who resigned, thanking them for their service and dedication to public broadcasting and accepting their resignation.

The university looks forward to working to ensure a stable future for Capital Public Radio, Wood wrote in the note.

Those who resigned claimed that any financial inconsistencies were not shared with the Board of Directors, and had they been, they couldve acted immediately to avoid the financial crisis.

Feb. 15: Interim general manager leaves

In a closed emergency board of directors meeting, Karlo abruptly announced he was stepping down from his interim role as CapRadios president and general manager. CapRadios director of technology, Frank Maranzino, was announced to take over as interim leader.

This moment is bittersweet for me, Karlo said in the statement. CapRadio is in a much better place than it was six months ago, but there is still a long road ahead for the organization.

CapRadios announcement that Karlo was leaving lauded his progress in stabilizing core business operations, but added that CapRadio is still in a precarious financial position due to its debt obligations and two 15-year leases at the yet-to-be-occupied new headquarters and events venue in downtown Sacramento.

Karlo, who had been summoned by Wood to stabilize CapRadio days before the August 2023 layoffs, replaced Jun Reina, who had served as general manager and vice president since July 2020 as the operation continued its expansion efforts.

Before then, Reina had worked as CapRadios chief operating officer and chief financial officer. Reina left the station in March 2023 after 15 years with CapRadio.

When he took over at CapRadio, Reina replaced Eytcheson, who had led the station since 2006.

March 29: CapRadio tower donated to KVIE

The Capital Public Radio Endowment, a group seeking to have KVIE public television take over control of CapRadio, announced that it donated a tower it owns  and that CapRadio uses to transmit its signals  to the PBS affiliate.

A resolution from the endowment board said the action was being made in part because of a resolution from the board stating that it has been recently advised that CapRadio desires to terminate its relationship with CPRE.

A letter from the endowment to Sac State says it allows CapRadio to use the transmission tower without charge, something it values at $65,000 annually, and that CapRadio is allowed to collect rental income of $126,000 each year from other tenants using the tower in Elverta. The endowment group has asked Sac State to sell its broadcast license to KVIE and allow the PBS affiliate to take over the radio operation.

KVIE General Manager and President David Lowe said at the time the donation would have no immediate effect on CapRadios ability to transmit its radio signals.

Sac States president has continually said he wants CapRadio to remain with Sac State and continue to offer news and programming to Northern California. Sac State has said the tower that is used to broadcast CapRadio news over KXJX-FM is owned by CapRadio, an auxiliary of California State University, Sacramento.

We do not believe it could be gifted because it wasnt the endowments to give, Sac State spokesman Brian Blomster said in April. Thats the position of CapRadio, the CapRadio board and the advice of our attorney.

KVIE General Manager and President David Lowe said at the time the donation would have no immediate effect on CapRadios ability to transmit its radio signals. A few weeks later, Lowe said in a statement that KVIE is aware that CapRadio has made a claim that it owns the tower only. We are conducting our own due diligence on the claim, Lowe added.

Sacramento State President Luke Wood talks about Capital Public Radios financial situation Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023.

Aug. 5: Forensic report on CapRadio released

A new forensic review of CapRadios finances found over $774,000 in spending  including at least $460,800 linked to an individual without corresponding evidence of expense reports and/or receipts. That person, who was not identified in the report, had at least some influence over the stations finances, according to the review conducted the accounting firm CliftonLarsonAllen.

A report on the forensic reviews findings also offered additional details on potential conflicts of interest surrounding contracts and the lease of a downtown Sacramento headquarters. The names of individuals identified in the firms report were redacted.

The Bee was able to determine the identities of all five board members noted in the audit as having possible conflicts of interest, two of whom were identified in The Bees reporting from 2023.

Wood said in a Sac State campus email the names in Mondays audit were redacted to avoid jeopardizing a related investigation by the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies began investigating financial improprieties months ago, said Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a spokesman for the Sheriffs Office. He declined to say who was included within the scope of the investigation.

The Bees Stephen Hobbs, Ishani Desai and Sam Stanton contributed to this story. Stanton retired in May after 33 years with The Bee.
Controlled blast of rail bridge over Big Sioux River to now take place on Aug. 19, BNSF says

NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. (KCAU)  UPDATE (6:17 p.m.): BNSF has rescheduled the controlled blast of the collapse rail bridge on the South Dakota side of the Big Sioux River.

It will take place at 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 19, BNSF said in a Thursday evening update. Below is an expected timeline of events for the morning of the controlled blast.

8:45 a.m.  Check points are established and roads closed within the 1,000-foot perimeter in North Sioux City and Sioux City

8:55 a.m.  All personnel are in safe locations and public is out of perimeter. Five-minute warning siren sounds

8:59 a.m.  One-minute warning siren sounds. All Clear check from all check points confirmed

9:00 a.m.  If All Clear, then 10-second count down to the blast

9:05  9:15 a.m.  Blasters conduct post-blast inspection

9:15 a.m.  If the All Clear has been given from post-blast inspection, the perimeter is reopened to the public.

The controlled blasting operation for the second span is still planned to take place on Sep. 6. Work on the removal of the collapsed bridge spans is expected to take several weeks. The rail bridge collapsed the night of June 23 during the record flooding that hit Siouxland.

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BNSF provided the reschedule as they said they received the necessary permits from the the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The permit now allows them to start the work needed so the company can remove the failed railroad bridge spans over the Big Sioux River at North Sioux City and Sioux City.

The update also stated that the safest way to remove the bridge spans is through controlled blasting operations. Roads within a 1,000-foot perimeter of the site will be closed to the public during that time. The company will provide more information regarding the road closures once plans are finalized.

While BNSF works to keep on schedule to make the Aug. 19 blast date, work on the project site starts Friday, Aug. 9 and crews will work double shift Friday, Saturday, and possibly Sunday.

The company said in its update that it apologizes for any inconvenience to the local communities and asks for the publics cooperation to ensure a safe and efficient execution of the demolition plans.

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-

NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. (KCAU)  UPDATE(4:03 p.m.): BNSF said it doesnt yet know when the blast will occur.

That was the companys response to KCAU 9 when asked if the dates controlled blasts have been canceled.

A company spokesperson said it is still waiting to get the permit returned from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps told KCAU 9 Thursday morning that the permit is still being processed.

On Tuesday evening, BNSF said it was planning in the coming weeks two controlled blasts of the bridge as part of the bridge removal. The first blast would have been on Aug. 16 would be on the South Dakota side of the bridge and then on the Iowa side on Sep. 6. The permit from the Corps had not been approved at that time either.

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The BNSF spokesperson said the company will be able to confirm more specifics about the timing of the controlled blasts when it gets the permit.

BNSF has not answered other questions regarding the controlled blasts.

KCAU 9 is also awaiting a response from Ames Construction.

-

The dates for controlled blasts of the collapsed rail bridge over the Big Sioux River between Sioux City and North Sioux City have been canceled.

According to an updated post on the Union County Emergency Management Facebook page, the dates for controlled blasts have been canceled.

These dates have been cancelled at this time, the post stated.

KCAU 9 reached out to Union County Emergency Manager Jason Westcott for comment but he was not available.

KCAU 9 has also reached out to BNSF and Ames Construction multiple times and not received a response.

-

There is a new time set for the controlled blasts of the collapsed rail bridge over the Big Sioux River between Sioux City and North Sioux City.

According to a post on the Union County Emergency Management Facebook page, both controlled blasts will take place at 9 a.m. on Aug. 16 and Sep. 6.

BNSF confirms plans for 2 controlled blasts of collapsed rail bridge

BNSF confirmed to KCAU 9 on Tuesday that they were planning two controlled blasts of the bridge as part of the bridge removal. The first blast on Aug. 16 would be on the South Dakota side of the bridge and then the Iowa side on Sep. 6.

The Facebook post from Union County Emergency Management says that residents, businesses, and everyone else within 1000 feet of the clast should remain indoors from 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

Security checkpoints will also be established. The flyer appears to show that those security checkpoints and road closure will be located in North Sioux City on Military Road, Main Street, and River Drive. On the Iowa side of the river, there will be checkpoints on Military Road, Home Street, and also near the Sioux City Railroad Museum.

BNSF General Director Public Affairs Lena Kent told KCAU 9 that while a demolition wont occur until after they get a permit secured through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps told KCAU 9 Thursday they are still processing the permit.

Kent said BNSF was beginning door-to-door contacts with residents and businesses within a 1,000-foot perimeter of the area this week. The company also said it started communicating with local law enforcement to ensure public safety.

USACE began seeking public input on the removal of the bridge in July with the input window having closed Monday. The train bridge collapsed in the overnight hours between June 23 and June 24 during the record flooding that hit Siouxland.

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As officials work out the details of the controlled blasts, some groups have not yet learned their roles in the situation.

A spokesperson with the City of Sioux City said that there are many conversations happening as they work to finalize plans. Meanwhile, the Sioux City police are unaware of any plans.

Union County Emergency Manager Jason Westcott said they are in the loop. Woodbury County Emergency Management Coordinator Michael Montino said he is aware but details of the event are still fluid.

As of Tuesday, multiple local officials KCAU 9 spoke with said they were unaware of the controlled blast.

KCAU 9 reached out to BNSF with further questions Wednesday and again Thursday but did not receive a response.

This is a developing story. KCAU 9 will update as we learn more.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
Belinda Knisley, former deputy clerk of Mesa County, answers questions from the witness stand during a criminal trial of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, at Mesa County District Court on Aug. 6, 2024. (Screenshot from KREX News 5 livestream, pool/Courtesy KREX News 5)

Belinda Knisley, the former Mesa County chief deputy clerk, testified Wednesday that her former boss, then-county Clerk Tina Peters, repeatedly told her, Im going to go to jail over this, regarding a security breach in the elections office she oversaw in 2021.

Peters apparently believed she was going to be arrested, after learning that computer system images she assisted in obtaining had been posted online, according to Knisleys testimony. The computer and password photos were allegedly taken during a May 2021 Mesa County elections software update, also known as a trusted build. In August 2021, Peters learned that the images had been made public while attending a cyber symposium in South Dakota, organized by elections conspiracy theorist and My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell.

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At first, Knisley didnt believe her friend Peters had done anything wrong. But that changed after Knisley learned more details about unusual events in the elections office in 2021, she said. Knisley was charged with lesser crimes for her own part assisting Peters in the scheme.

I believe actions taken after the fact, and the lying is what has caused her to be in trouble, Knisley told jurors.

In 2022, a Mesa County grand jury charged Peters, a Republican, with three felony counts of attempting to influence a public servant, three felony counts of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation and one felony count of identity theft. She also faces three misdemeanor charges of official misconduct, elections violations and failure to comply with the Colorado secretary of states office  actions allegedly committed during a quest to prove Mesa Countys election tabulating machines were somehow faulty.

I can only tell the truth

Peters told Knisley Im f***ed, after learning the images she captured were posted on a conspiracy website, Knisley testified.

I had no idea what she was talking about, Knisley said.

Prior testimony established that those images were stored on a hard drive and mailed to Conan Hayes, a former professional surfer in California whom Peters is said to have secretly hired as a consultant.

Knisley testified that during the trusted build Peters had videotaped secretary of state passwords and other sensitive information, and the information was then mailed to a man that she now knows was Hayes. Hayes was also said to be present at the trusted build. Peters told Knisley that she and Hayes had taken pictures during the trusted build to preserve records she believed the secretary of state would delete.

The passwords were made public at the time of the symposium in South Dakota, while an investigation of Mesa County elections office was already underway, said Knisley.

One of Peters criminal charges stems from the alleged identity theft of a Fruita man  Gerald Wood  who Peters hired as a temporary consultant, or administration assistant, which required he get a criminal background check. Wood testified earlier in the trial that he received a badge that allowed access to secure election areas. A few days later he was asked to return the badge to Peters. He was never called in for work.

Peters then used that security clearance to give Hayes, known for his ties to election fraud conspiracies, access to secured elections areas.

Knisley testified that it wasnt until months later that she learned Hayes true identify.

One of the mysteries yet to be answered during the trial is why Peters friend, right-wing activist Sherronna Bishop, had any say in giving orders to Peters support staff.

Bishop is a former campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert. Knisley testified Wednesday that once it was known that the Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold was investigating the Mesa County elections office, Bishop instructed Knisley to go to the elections department and retrieve a computer before secretary of state officials seized it.

I said, I could not do that, Knisley testified. She was not my boss and I wasnt going to take orders from her.

During this time, Peters instructed Knisley to purchase  with cash  two disposable phones, one for herself, and one for then-back office manager Sandy Brown. Peters didnt want their communications traced on the county-issued phone, Knisley said.

Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters outside the Mesa County courtroom where her criminal trial got underway on July 31, 2024. (Sharon Sullivan for Colorado Newsline)

Both Knisley and Brown testified against Peters this week, as part of a plea deal they accepted surrounding their own charges related to the case. Knisley was ultimately charged with three misdemeanors. Brown served 30 days in jail after being charged with one felony and one misdemeanor for her role.

A former friend of Peters, Knisley told the court that it wouldnt make a difference whether she was testifying for, or against Tina Peters.

I can only tell the truth, and thats what Im doing today, she said.

One defense attorney tried to cast doubt on Knisleys memory due to an illness, while another defense attorney suggested that Dominion Voting Systems  the company contracted by Mesa County to supply its voting machines  had a financial incentive for decertifying the machines. Mesa Countys election equipment was decertified by the secretary of state after it was discovered the machines had been compromised. Election equipment cannot be used after its been decertified. New equipment must be purchased at taxpayers expense.

Defense attorney Amy Jones tried to bring up that Peters son died in an accident while serving in the military  but the topic was quashed for lack of relevance.

Judges frustration

Mesa County District Court Judge Matthew Barrett, who is presiding over the case, has several times expressed frustration that proceedings have been delayed, due in part to attorneys questions he deemed irrelevant to the case. Barrett has also expressed annoyance at several outbursts coming from the defense side of the room.

We are way behind. We keep getting sidetracked with arguments previously decided, Barrett said.

At one point, Robert Shapiro, first assistant Colorado attorney general for special prosecutions, said that this is a simple case and that defense attorneys have turned proceedings into a circus.

Brown was present during the trusted build in May 2021. She was asked in court about security protocols in place at the time. She reiterated that badge access was required to enter the tabulation room, and that anyone else must be accompanied by a staff member, and sign in and out. She said taking cell phone photos is not allowed.

Brown testified how she attended a meeting on April 23, 2021, in Peters office, which included Peters, Bishop, Knisley, attorney Maurice Emmer, and mathematician Douglas Frank, a national election denier on Lindells payroll. Elections manager Brandi Bantz and front office manager Stephanie Wenholz were also asked to attend. Discussion centered on Franks theories, such as inflated voter rolls and phantom voters.

Brown testified that when Peters noticed that Bantz was uncomfortable with the discussion taking place in her office, she, Wenholz and Brown were all dismissed from the meeting.

Peters mandated that her staff attend Franks seminar expounding on these theories at a presentation that evening at a Grand Junction hotel.

I thought it was a bunch of malarkey, Brown said of Franks presentation.

Tensions have been palpable surrounding the trial, which has seen increased law enforcement presence. Outside the courtroom in the hallway of the Mesa County Justice Center, Peters supporters physically block Peters from being photographed by journalists, while the supporters themselves take multiple photos of reporters in an apparent attempt to intimidate. While many of Peters entourage are men, an apparent young girl at one point moved in quickly to block view of Peters on one of the trial days. The girl wore a shirt that said When tyranny becomes law rebellion becomes duty  along with a picture of the American flag and an assault weapon.

Among those who have attended some of the trial to support Peters are Arizona politician and election denier Mark Finchem, and Richard Mack, president and founder of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, a group the Southern Poverty Law Center said has shown an abject disrespect for the rule of law.

Peters, 68, faces the possibility of 20 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

The prosecution plans to wrap up its case this week.

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On August 7, 2024, Carmen Bozic, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, sold 2,280 shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:VRTX) as reported in a recent SEC Filing. Following this transaction, the insider now owns 23,259 shares of the company.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:VRTX) is a biotechnology firm that focuses on developing and commercializing therapies for the treatment of cystic fibrosis and other severe diseases. The company's strategy includes a continuous investment in a robust pipeline of drugs, some of which are at different stages of clinical development.

Over the past year, Carmen Bozic has sold a total of 47,585 shares and has not made any purchases of the company's stock. This recent transaction is part of a broader trend observed at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc, where there have been 68 insider sells and no insider buys over the past year.

On the date of the latest transaction, shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc were trading at $476.75, giving the company a market cap of approximately $120.27 billion. This valuation reflects a price-earnings ratio, price-sales ratio, price-book ratio, and price-to-free cash flow that align with the industry's competitive landscape.

According to the GF Value, the intrinsic value of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc is estimated at $377.06 per share, suggesting that the stock is modestly overvalued with a price-to-GF-Value ratio of 1.26.

The GF Value is calculated based on historical trading multiples, an adjustment factor from GuruFocus based on the company's past performance, and future business performance estimates provided by Morningstar analysts.

Insider Sale at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (VRTX) by EVP and CMO Carmen Bozic

Insider Sale at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (VRTX) by EVP and CMO Carmen Bozic

The insider selling trend and the current stock valuation provide critical data points for investors monitoring Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc's stock performance and insider activities.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The office of Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is appealing the Davidson County Chancery Courts ruling on the law that would have reduced the size of the Metro Council.

According to Nashville Metro Councilmember At Large Delishia Porterfield, the AG filed a notice of appeal with the Tennessee Court of Appeals. Porterfield shared a screenshot of the notice of appeal submitted by the AGs office on social media, stating State filed the appeal.

State law reducing Metro Council size ruled unconstitutional

The Nashville Court ruled the law, dubbed the Metro Council Reduction Act by Metro Legal, unconstitutional. Specifically, the court ruled the law violated the local legislation clause of the Home Rule Amendment of the Tennessee Constitution.

The clause states laws that are local in form and effect cannot be passed by the legislature unless also approved by the local governing body. Because House Bill 48 bypassed the Metro Council entirely and did not provide for any local ratification, it was a constitutional violation.

Section 1(a) is not a statute of statewide application; indeed, its application to a lone county in the clearest possible example of local in effect, the three-judge panel ruled on the issue. The Court concludes that Section 1(a) is local in form and effect and designed to apply to Metro.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The AGs office released a statement on Thursday, Aug. 8, confirming the appeal had been filed.

My office filed an appeal yesterday in the case regarding the size of metropolitan governments, said Skrmetti. We look forward to presenting our arguments to the Court of Appeals.

Follow this link to read the filed appeal.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
On Aug. 8, 1945, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan and invaded Manchuria.

Earlier in the spring, Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies, bringing an end to the conflict on the European front of World War II. But even after the Americans dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan refused to surrender.

The Japanese did not expect to engage the Soviets. The two Asian powers had a neutrality pact for much of the war. But as part of the Yalta Conference, Stalin agreed to enter the Pacific War within months after the surrender of Nazi Germany.

Finally, the Soviet Union invaded Japanese-occupied Manchuria with a force of more than one million soldiers against Japans 700,000. The Japanese were defeated quickly, which would strongly influence Japans decision to surrender.

According to the National Archives, At 10:00 on 14 August 1945, as the situation deteriorated, the Emperor declared before his cabinet at the Imperial conference: The military situation has changed suddenly. The Soviet Union entered the war against us. Suicide attacks cant compete with the power of science. Therefore, there is no alternative but to accept the Potsdam terms.

Following the war, the two countries failed to sign a peace treaty, although the Soviet-Japanese Joint Declaration of October 1956 formally ended hostilities and opened diplomatic relations between the two sides. The declaration also annulled previous Soviet claims of war reparations against Japan and provided for two disputed territories  Habomai and Shikotan  to be returned to Japan following the conclusion of a formal peace treaty.

Featured Image: U.S. and Soviet sailors in Alaska celebrate VJ day. (U.S. Navy image)
Top US health official acknowledges more federal money for utility help is needed for extreme heat

JP Lantin, right, owner of Total Refrigeration, and service tech Michael Villa, left, work on replacing a fan motor on an air conditioning unitas temperatures are expected to hit 117-degrees Wednesday, July 19, 2023, in Phoenix. Most of the Maricopa County's 645 heat-related deaths last year were outdoors, but 156 people died in their homes. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

PHOENIX (AP)  Visiting Phoenix amid triple-digit temperatures, the U.S. government's top health official acknowledged on Wednesday that a federal program that helps low-income people pay their utility bills needs to focus more on cooling homes in the summer instead of overwhelmingly on wintertime heating.

What were beginning to see is the prominence of extreme heat and no longer just the issue of extreme cold and the weather effects that come from snowstorms and heavy rains, flooding, hurricanes, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said. Today it is things that happen as a result of the heat  heat exposure, the need to deal with growing numbers of wildfires."

Becerra said it is up to Congress to allocate more money for such measures but that his agency is committed to working with lawmakers and states to alleviate the effects of extreme heat.

People are dying on our streets because of extreme heat. These are incidents that were not occurring a generation or so ago. Becerra said, adding, The climate change that we are experiencing cannot be denied. It has created, has led to a public health crisis.

Arizona's Maricopa County, which encompasses Phoenix, saw a record 645 heat-related deaths last year. County public health officials say 66 heat-related deaths have been confirmed this year as of Aug. 3, with another 447 deaths under investigation.

Three-quarters of the 156 people who died indoors in Maricopa County from heat-related factors last year had an air conditioner, but in at least 20 of those cases, it was not turned on or there was no electricity to power it, underscoring the financial inequities around energy and cooling units that people on fixed incomes can have problems paying.

Federal data shows Arizona was awarded nearly $31 million of $3.6 billion allocated nationwide for utility assistance this year. Nevada got $15 million, while California received more than $227 million, more than any other state.

The executive director of a policy organization for state officials overseeing federal funds distributed through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program told a House subcommittee in May that 85% of that money is targeted for heating homes.

As temperatures rise, there is also an increased need in summer months to help families avoid the effects of extreme heat, Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, told the subcommittee.

Wolfe said Wednesday that his organization asked for $6 billion for the assistance programs in the upcoming 2025 fiscal year, plus another $1 billion in contingency funds, but so far the House has agreed to $4 billion and the Senate to $4.1 billion. Final budget approval isn't expected until later this year.

I'm sure the administration would give more if it could, but then you have to get it through Congress, he said.

___ This story has been corrected to show the name of the program is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, not the Low Income Energy Assistance Program.
On August 8, 2023, an out-of-control wildfire fueled by winds from Hurricane Dora ripped through the town of Lahaina on Mauis west coast.

Ua Aloha Maji, a lifelong Lahaina resident, was at his house in Lahainaluna, about a mile inland of the town center when the fire began.

From his perch on the hillside, he watched in disbelief as the flames set off small explosions and devoured houses and cars, taking with them many of his friends, community members and childhood memories.

I grew up in Lahaina; Ive been here my whole life, Maji said. I was trying to hold it all together.

Maji did what he could to help those around him. With the power out, he went house-to-house with a generator, cycling to neighbors refrigerators to keep their food fresh as well as to charge phones and power medical devices.

But there was nothing he could do to save Lahaina. The fast-moving fire took the lives of at least 100 people and destroyed more than 2,200 structures, including homes, apartments and historical buildings.

In a relative blink of an eye, Lahaina, one of the most historic towns in Hawaii, was gone.

What followed were days, weeks and months of community organization and support. In the past year, hotels in West Maui have housed more than 7,000 displaced residents. Grassroots organizations  official and unofficial  have done countless hours of selfless work.

Maji said there were three community hubs in his neighborhood alone.

Everyone really stepped up and helped each other on a level we havent seen before, Maji said. This was an elevated sharing of kokua, the Hawaiian concept of help or selfless giving.

Yet a year later, long-term stability for Maui remains elusive. Despite challenging times and some complicated feelings, the island is urging visitors to come back and be a part of the recovery as residents and businesses continue to struggle economically.

The immediate task before us is clear: Let visitors know that its a great time to return and rediscover the island of Maui, said Ilihia Gionson, public affairs officer for the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Challenging times: Can tourism help?

People gather along Kaanapali Beach on August 5, 2024, near Lahaina. In the first half of 2024, Maui saw a 23.8% decrease in visitor arrivals from the same period last year. That's slowing down the economic recovery on the island. - Mario Tama/Getty Images

In the immediate aftermath of the fire, tourism to the entire island was suspended for about two weeks so that resources could be dedicated to the recovery effort. West Maui remained closed to visitors until November.

At that time, tourists were asked to return to the island, but it was a soft sell, because thousands of displaced residents were still living in hotel rooms.

In recent months, the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) has begun to restress the importance of welcoming and encouraging visitors as part of the larger recovery effort.

Our aim is to ensure that residents have the jobs and financial opportunities to heal and thrive, said Mufi Hannemann, HTA Board Chair. Job and financial security are directly tied to housing and food security, which are vital to physical and psychological recovery. Its our sincere hope to restore a sense of security and normalcy to Maui residents after theyve faced such extreme loss and uncertainty.

The impacts of the economic downturn were highlighted last month in a study conducted by the Hawaii State Rural Health Association. It found that a significant number of Maui County residents are suffering from mental health issues and financial strain. Many are thinking about leaving the island because of the poor economic conditions after the fire.

Maji said he knows many people who fit this description. Economically, he said he saw his cost-of-living expenses go up by $1,500 a month in the wake of the fire, with his bills now totaling $4,000 a month.

And thats on the low end of what people are paying [in housing costs and bills], Maji said.

In March, the HTA launched a recovery campaign called Makaukau Maui, which means Maui is Ready. The idea was to help revitalize Mauis economy, get people back to work and signal to potential visitors that they are welcome.

But so far, visitors havent got the message in the numbers the island needs, and the economy remains behind.

In the first half of 2024, Maui saw a 23.8% decrease in visitor arrivals from the same period last year, and a 24% drop in visitor spending. The average number of daily visitors on Maui was down 22% in June 2024 when compared with June 2023.

Don Prestage, president of Sail Maui, said that two of his boats were moored off Lahaina Harbor the day of the fire but were far enough offshore to avoid damage. Still, the fires and subsequent downturn in tourism has had a significant effect on the company, including a full halt of business in the weeks after the fire and then the logistics of moving their operations from Lahaina to Maalaea, which took several months to arrange permitting.

He said the worst part has been watching some of his employees leave Maui because of the economic downturn.

Thats been one of the harder things to see, Prestage said. People that havent been able to stay in the community  people left [Maui] because they couldnt work.

Complicated feelings

An aerial view on August 4, 2024, of Maria Lanakila Catholic Church, which was spared by the wildfire. How to rebuild Lahaina best is a question on the minds of many residents. - Mario Tama/Getty Images

The recovery of tourism was slow and difficult in the beginning because of the immensity of the devastation. Now, the recovery is still slow and difficult, and theres no singular explanation for why.

But one reason might be that complicated feelings about the appropriate time to engage in carefree leisure activities as the local population struggles to rebuild are getting passed on to potential visitors.

Prestage said many of his customers at Sail Maui over the past year have expressed that they were hesitant to visit Maui because they werent sure whehter it was appropriate to come and have fun, especially in the early days when thousands of residents still lived in hotels.

Protests back in the fall also undoubtedly shaped public opinion, although those protests were more about the housing crisis than being anti-tourist.

People I talk to say, We were nervous to come and afraid we werent welcome or wanted,  Prestage said.

Maui residents have had the tough task of balancing the local recovery effort and ongoing housing crisis with the economic recovery effort for the island as a whole. Prestage said that business owners are in the awkward position of having to move on more quickly than most.

We need to be respectful for so much devastation and loss, Prestage said. But on the other hand, people need to work, and there are people supporting other family members on the island.

He said people should remember that most visitors are respectful and come because they truly love Maui.

Ben Shank, general manager of the Four Seasons Resort in Wailea, said that Mauis initial message asking tourists not to come immediately after the fire was appropriate but has managed to stick around, hurting the economy and continuing the residual impact of the fire.

Making sure visitors know they are welcome back to the island is crucial to improving the economic situation, which is key to how the island thrives, he said.

Obviously, there are people who have been dramatically affected, but theres also a huge population of folks who help take care of one another, Shank said. By supporting the island and having people come and enjoy it, that fuels the entire island.

How to visit Maui

A visitor walks by photos of victims of the August 2023 wildfire at a memorial near the Lahaina Bypass highway on July 6, 2024. Tourists are grappling with how to respectfully visit the area where so much devastation and loss occurred just one year earlier. - Lindsey Wasson/AP

Maji is ready to welcome back visitors.

As a cultural practitioner for the local nonprofit Kipuka Olowalu and a gigging local musician, he enjoys sharing his homeland with visitors and believes they should be welcomed in the old Hawaiian way.

In Lahaina, our elders were always graceful, he said. They had empathy and love for perfect strangers, and they never judged them.

When visiting, Maji advises against staying at an Airbnb or vacation rental at this time because of the ongoing housing crisis. (Many vacation rentals have been converted to long-term housing for displaced residents, with more changes possibly on the way).

Instead, he recommends staying at one of the many beautiful Maui hotels that employ locals, and to seek out small shops and restaurants.

Dont just stay at an Airbnb and shop for groceries at Walmart, he said. Come out and see us.

When visiting establishments and meeting local people, Maji said not to pry about the fire.

If someone wants to talk, they will, he said. A lot of people are really traumatized, so dont ask, and dont stick your finger in the wound. Dont demand to know what a persons experience was.

When choosing activities, Ashley Roussel, sales manager at Sail Maui, said visitors should seek out local companies who are promoting Hawaiian values in their programming, prioritizing environmental awareness, using local catering and instilling a sense of place in their employees and clientele.

Visitors should not be afraid to vet companies before giving them their money.

I think theres an opportunity for visitors to be selective about the way they participate with providers here, Roussel said. Choose vendors that show an extra layer of mindfulness of the cultural environment.

If you want to take things a step further and take direct action in the local communities, the HTA has ongoing volunteer programs that can also earn you discounts on your stay. Many hotels also offer such packages. Be sure to inquire when booking.

For love of Lahaina

In a sign of renewal and hope, fresh leaves grow on the beloved banyan tree in front of the remains of the Old Lahaina Courthouse, built in 1859. - Mario Tama/Getty Images

Along with residential homes, most of the historic district of Lahaina, including Front Street, was destroyed by the August 8th wildfire.

The rebuild and future of this area is still being discussed. Some have proposed rebuilding as it was; others have suggested a complete change to protect it from rising sea levels and to restore some of its original, native landscape and Hawaiian cultural sites.

Rebuilding the historic district could be done in a variety of ways because of the many lives Lahaina has lived.

Originally called Lele and known for its abundance of breadfruit (ulu) trees, the area didnt begin going by Lahaina until the 17th or 18th century.

The name Lahaina translates to cruel sun. In the Hawaiian language, place names are used to describe the conditions and personality of an area, so one could know what to expect before arriving.

Lahaina served as the royal capital of Hawaii from 1802 to 1845 before it was moved to Honolulu on Oahu.

During this time, Lahaina was also a busy port, providing a place of refuge for international ships exploring the worlds largest ocean. It was also the epicenter for the Pacific whaling industry.

In 1820, the missionaries arrived and took up a presence in Lahaina. The Baldwin Home, built in 1834 and referred to as the missionary compound, was Mauis oldest home before it burned down in the wildfire.

In the mid-19th century, Lahaina became a plantation town during the sugarcane era. The Pioneer Mill Co. smokestack, established in 1860, was one of the few historic landmarks to survive the fire.

More recently, Lahaina became a hub of activity and tourism, with restaurants, shops and tour operators.

Almost everything in this area has been destroyed. But one thing that still remains is Lahainas famous banyan tree, which was planted in 1873. It was badly damaged in the fire but has shown signs of life in the past year.

The spelling of the place name Lahaina was the subject of a recent public discussion. Previously, you may have seen it spelled Lahaina, but language experts now say that Lahaina is the proper way of spelling it, according to historical records.

Lahaina is beloved by many who have visited Maui, but most of all by its local population. Maji said he sends his gratitude to all who have helped his community in the past year.

Every single person that helped, I thank them personally and am grateful for them, he said.

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Pro-Palestine and anti-Zionist graffiti was discovered on the outside of the Starbucks coffee shop on Town Center Parkway in Jacksonville Wednesday morning.

When two Starbucks employees arrived at work just before 5 a.m., they noticed their building, located at 4474 Town Center Parkway, had been spray-painted with various Gaza-related phrases, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

After getting out of their cars to further inspect the vandalism, the report said they notified their store manager.

The sheriff's office was also contacted and a responding officer made note of a half-dozen pro-Palestine phrases painted on the building.

Overhead lights, front doors, windows, the drive-thru menu and two display signs were also spray-painted red. The store's manager told police the spray paint was not there when the store closed at 10 p.m. the night before.

Additionally, the word "Gaza" was drawn on the side of the building that belongs to Mattress Firm.

The Starbucks manager estimated it would cost about $1,500 to repair the damages, according to the police report. The manager also estimated a loss of business of about $1,200 due to having to close during the investigation.

Rabbi Shmuli Novack, co-director Chabad of Jacksonville Town Center and UNF, said he's confident city leaders will condemn the vandalism and JSO will hold those responsible accountable.

"These acts of hate only strengthen the Jewish community's resolve to stand together with pride in our heritage and determination for our future," Novack said.

Since the start of the war in Gaza, protests from pro-Palestinian voices have been organized against companies, including McDonald's and Starbucks, for what they describe as corporate support for Israel.

Starbucks has a page on its website dedicated to its sentiment toward the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

"Despite false statements spread through social media, Starbucks has never contributed to any government or military operation in any way," the statement reads.

"What we do fund is food aid for communities in need. The Starbucks Foundation, along with global licensee partners, have provided over $3 million to World Central Kitchen to provide more than 1 million meals to families in Gaza."

This story was first published by First Coast News.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Starbucks vandalized with Gaza-related graffiti
ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Daniel Schwarz, an Odessa man who is facing multiple charges after he and his convicted wife were accused of murdering their adopted child in 2020- will be heading to court for a status hearing.

The investigation began on August 29, 2020, when OPD was called to Ashley and Daniel Schwarzs home for a medical call- where they discovered their adopted 8-year-old daughter, Jaylin, had died.

After further investigation, OPD learned the child had been punished, was not allowed to eat breakfast, and was allegedly forced to jump on a trampoline without stopping. The autopsy reports showed that Jaylin had died from dehydration, despite Ashleys testimony in 2023 that stated she had fed and given water to both Jalylin and her sister.

Ashleys 2023 trial ended with her conviction and was charged with 3 life sentences.

Now, almost a year after Ashleys conviction, Daniel Schwarz will attend his status hearing, where he is reportedly facing the same charges of Capital Murder, as well as Injury to a Child Intentionally Causing Serious Bodily Injury and Injury to a Child Intentionally Causing Serious Bodily Injury by Omission.

The status hearing, according to the Ector County Court Portal, will take place at 10 a.m., on Thursday, August 8th with judge of the 358th Judicial District Court in Ector County, John Shrode.

The trial date remains unknown. We will provide updates regarding this story as they are made available.

To learn more about this case, visit the related stories listed below in chronological order (least to most recently published news.)

Related Stories: Odessa couple charged in childs death

Related Stories: Woman accused of killing a child by forcing her to jump on trampoline heads to court

Related Stories: Odessa woman found guilty in death of young girl following trampoline punishment

Related Stories: Ashley Schwarz charged with 3 life sentences

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
DENVER (KDVR)  A train collided with a car at 1st and Terry streets on Wednesday afternoon in Longmont, police reported.

The agency said the intersection of Main and 1st streets was closed, along with the intersection of Ken Pratt Boulevard and Nelson Road. A Longmont Public Safety public information officer told FOX31 there were no serious injuries.

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Longmont Public Safety reported the crash at about 4 p.m., but the crash happened at some point before then. There was no timeframe for when the train may begin moving again, but the agency updated its post at 5:15 p.m. to say the train is moving.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The agency told motorists in the area to use an alternate route to avoid the area or to expect extended delays.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A trans woman fired by Liberty University last year is speaking to ABC News about the recently filed lawsuit alleging the university let her go for being transgender.

Ellenor Zinski was hired by the university to work at its IT Helpdesk in 2023. According to the complaint, her performance was assessed as above average within a few months, and she was told she was on the path to success by a supervisor.

She told ABC News she didnt talk openly about her identity at work. She was raised in the Christian denomination that most aligns with Liberty University, and said she had hesitations about how open she could be in the workplace.

There was office talk that would kind of bring me down, and I knew I couldn't say anything out loud, but I was able to make some friends, said Zinski. There were some people that I did feel comfortable coming out to in private, but in public, while I was working, I was just there to work, and I was not going to try and express my identity at all.

PHOTO: Ellenor Zinski worked at the IT Helpdesk at Liberty University. (ACLU of Virginia)

MORE: After decades of fear, some transgender elders celebrate freedom and progress

Zinski knew working at Liberty University might present some complications. However, as a Christian herself, she had hoped that God's love and acceptance would shine through.

Unfortunately, that did not happen, Zinski said.

On July 5, 2023, shortly after her performance review, she sent an email to the Human Resources department at the university noting that she identified as a transgender woman, had been undergoing hormone replacement therapy and would be legally changing her name to Ellenor, according to the complaint.

She said she stressed that the change would not impact her performance and did not request any accommodations.

About a month later, on August 8, 2023, the complaint reads she was called into a meeting and given her termination notice  which is not yet public record and has not been obtained by ABC News. According to the ACLU, the letter cited that the denial of her biological and chromosomal sex assigned at birth was in conflict with the universitys Doctrinal Position.

On its website, the university states that among behaviors considered sinful acts prohibited by God is the denial of birth sex by self-identification with a different gender."

PHOTO: Ellenor Zinski, a trans woman, said she hoped that 'God's love ... would shine through' when she took the job at the university. (ACLU of Virginia)

I started crying. It was awful, said Zinski. It's really hard to be rejected for something that you can't change about yourself, for who I am on the fundamental level.

Liberty University told ABC News it does not publicly comment on legal matters or personnel matters.

On July 29, 2024, the ACLU of Virginia and Butler Curwood filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Zinski, who argues that her termination is in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin.

PHOTO: After Ellenor Zinski disclosed her identity as a trans woman, she was fired from her job at Liberty University. (ACLU of Virginia)

MORE: New Title IX regulations intensify fight over transgender youth restrictions in schools

While in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, the Supreme Court ruled that firing individuals because of their sexual orientation or transgender status violates Title VIIs prohibition on discrimination because of sex. The court did not address whether there is an exemption for religious employers.

"The big thing is: being Christian is a choice that I made with my heart, but being transgender is who I am," said Zinski. "There's no conflict between my faith and my identity."

News of her firing comes amid a national rise in anti-transgender sentiment and legislation. The ACLU has recorded more than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills nationwide in 2024, many of which affect restrictions on someone's preferred pronoun and name in schools and the workplace, access to gender-affirming care, and more.

"This is absolutely a time of crisis for transgender people in this country," said Wyatt Rolla, senior transgender rights attorney at the ACLU of Virginia. "There is an unprecedented onslaught of legislation in nearly half the states in in the U.S. targeting particularly trans young people, but also Increasingly trans adults. And that's the context in which Ellenor experiences being terminated just because of who she is."

Trans woman fired by Liberty University speaks out originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A precursor "Wave Brush" ExoForm reef made of dredged sediments from the Port of Baltimore. The ExoForm is undergoing a drop test onto a steel plate to gauge its strength. (Leonard Nelson/Natrx)

In 2022, RISE, the Norfolk-based nonprofit that creates challenges seeking innovative solutions to the climate crisis, issued a call for new approaches to dealing with mud, the spoils of dredging.

Virginias Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission and the Eastern Shore had $20 million in ready projects, the challenge noted, which would yield an enormous amount of spoils (one study concluded there will be 100,000 cubic yards of dredging material annually in coastal Virginia). While there is an overwhelming demand for clean sand from dredging to replenish beaches, the dirtier spoils dominated by clay have been considered worthless and expensive to dispose of.

RISE asked competitors to re-imagine how that material could be recycled in economically sustainable ways.

Leonard Nelson, co-founder of Natrx, a technology company focused on coastal resiliency, thought he had the answer: examine how the mud could be used as a concrete substitute for printing barriers to protect the shoreline or create oyster reefs. But when the Raleigh-based company began using the $200,000 grant funded through RISE by Go Virginia to analyze the mud in the Middle Peninsula, they found it was rich in clay, too rich to be used in that way.

For an answer, the company turned to the wisdom of the ancients  the recipe for Roman concrete.

Converting clay to concrete

In recent decades, researchers have probed samples from Roman concrete structures like tombs, aqueducts, and breakwaters to uncover why they endure when modern concrete may crumble after only a few decades. They havent been successful, but they have developed an understanding of its composition, which includes clay.

Natrx tested and validated converting the clays from dredging in the York River into a substitute for some of the cement in concrete, lowering its carbon footprint by nearly half and the cost by nearly two-thirds. Not only is it cheaper, but it is also stronger than traditional concrete.

Nelson and Natrx co-founder, Matthew Campbell, collaborated with an East Carolina University researcher to publish a paper earlier this year with the proof. Two other studies previewed their findings.

This process has been around for a long time and unfortunately hasnt been industrially adopted, said Nelson, who has a chemical engineering degree.

The solution, Nelson noted, is an opportunity for cash-strapped rural areas which may have to pay a tipping fee to landfills to deposit the spoils, which could cost millions of dollars.

Natrx plans to supplement the concrete with dredging spoils in its patented custom ExoForms, structures that protect shorelines from erosion and create a habitat for oysters and fish.

The Raleigh-based company won a 2020 coastal resilience competition through RISE for a $280,000 loan to purchase a 3-D printer to create the forms, which can be fabricated in a variety of shapes and sizes. They have been deployed in two dozen projects from the Chesapeake Bay to the Gulf of Mexico.

In contrast to walls or riprap, they can be installed in days instead of months. They use about one-tenth the tonnage of traditional riprap transported from inland at less than 45% of the cost, according to an economic analysis commissioned by the company. Creating the concrete supplement locally would decrease the need to import cement; the United States is by far the worlds largest cement importer.

Theres an obvious circular economy play there to replace some of that imported, high transportation-intensive cement thats high carbon with a low-carbon clay that is derived from these dredge sediments, Nelson said.

The recipe for modern concrete created two centuries ago in Great Britain is a mix of several materials: water; fine aggregates or sand; coarse aggregates or gravel; chemical additives; and Portland cement, which binds the ingredients. Creating that cement requires using fossil fuels to heat a clay and limestone mixture to more than 2,500 degrees, releasing about 1,300 pounds of carbon dioxide for every 2,200 pounds produced.

Modern concrete production is second only to water as the worlds most consumed material and studies show it accounts for about 7 % of greenhouse gas emissions.

Supplementing concrete with dredge spoils fights climate effects in multiple ways. The Natrx concrete process reduces emissions, which slows global warming. Deploying the material in ExoForms helps protect shorelines and slow erosion heightened by the climate crisis. Reducing erosion and the resulting sediment disposition could save rural communities millions by extending the years between dredging.

The ExoForms imitate nature, providing structure for grasses and habitat to develop, unlike floodwalls.

We are big advocates in Virginia, in particular, for building with biomimicry, Nelson said. We should build lighter, smarter, more biological. And the public sector, in particular, shouldnt be doing these giant monstrosities (like riprap and walls).

Lewie Lawrence, the executive director of the Middle Peninsula Planning District, learned about Natrx at a climate conference some years ago and realized the company had a cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing solution to slow flooding and reduce the costs of dredging, an economic lifeline helping to keep the local fishery industry healthy.

He shepherded a project on the East River to protect a private residence with custom ExoForms that used a 3-D simulation created with a drone so the homeowners could envision the result. Then he collaborated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Fish and Wildlife Administration to fund a much larger $1 million project protecting Hog Island in Gloucester, which NOAA had targeted for habitat restoration.

For Hog Island, Natrx custom designed 972 feet of interlocking ExoForms for high-wave energy areas and 122 feet for low-energy oyster reefs, providing surface area for potentially 14 million oysters. The company said the project will prevent 40,000 tons of eroding sediment from flowing into the Bay.

This video shows an ExoForm breakwater at Hog Island (Mobjack bay / York River), a project in partnership with Biogenic Solutions Consulting LLC. Hog Island and the surrounding area is a critical habitat that protects the middle Penninsula from large storms, and also protects and supports one of the largest fish nurseries and submerged aquatic vegetation beds in the United States. (Leonard Nelson/Natrx)

While those forms were manufactured with traditional concrete, Natrx is moving forward with plans to mass-produce concrete with the dredging spoils. Its looking to build plants and is partnering with Titan America, a Norfolk company that recently was awarded a $61.7 million grant by the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a plant outside Roanoke using clay dredging spoils to manufacture the more environmentally-friendly cement.

Its great when you can find the win, win, win, said Troy Hartley, director of the Virginia Sea Grant program, which partners with RISE and has been working with Natrx.

Looking ahead

Hartley sees the market for dredging concrete limited only by imagination. It could be used to 3-D print the walls of buildings to grow plants, cooling urban heat islands. Builders could print the foundation of a raised house with the expectation it will be moved in a couple of decades as sea levels rise. When that happens, the foundation left behind would become an oyster reef.

Its that forward-thinking innovation about future opportunities with this technology thats got to be the core of our innovation ecosystem, he added.

Bringing Natrxs green concrete to the Middle Peninsula and elsewhere, though, will require navigating the maze of manufacturing and permitting.

The company has raised $6.2 million from investors, including a seed round led by Ponderosa Ventures, a firm co-founded by former presidential candidate and hedge fund manager Tom Steyer.

Were well capitalized. Were growing relatively quickly, Nelson said. Weve got just shy of 50 projects in the water.

Nelson envisions a series of plants creating concrete with spoils near where dredging takes place and shoreline resilience is needed. He pictures one on the site of the Middle Peninsula Regional Airport in West Point.

To promote that project, the company commissioned a feasibility study by Mangum Economics. Natrx, its employers, and suppliers would support 183 jobs, over $10 million in pay and benefits, and almost $107 million in economic activity in the Middle Peninsula, according to the report. Because Natrx plans to purchase supplies from Virginia companies, it would also support an additional 89 jobs, more than $10 million in pay and benefits, and more than $34 million of economic activity in Virginia, beyond the Middle Peninsula.

Our next step is we need to resource a study to figure out how long is this going to take, Nelson said, noting the process that will likely span years.

For Lawrence, who has been working on the airport site project, Natrx fits into the planning districts Fight the Flood program and the goal of turning flooding threats into economic opportunity as a laboratory and landing spot for innovative companies. Turning trash into treasure by converting spoils into useful material is symbolic of that mission.

For years, it has always been referred to as a waste product, he said. And now its not. Its a raw material with incredible value.





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Transgender Americans are more enthusiastic about Novembers presidential election now that President Biden, who last month announced he will not seek a second term, is no longer the expected Democratic nominee.

Enthusiasm about the election soared among transgender adults after Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Vice President Harris, according to a survey published Thursday by FOLX Health, a digital LGBTQ health care service.

Thirty-two percent of the more than 1,200 trans adults surveyed by the group in mid-July said Bidens announcement made them more enthusiastic about Novembers election, compared with just 8 percent who said they felt enthusiastic during his candidacy. More than half of respondents  53 percent  said they were hopeful about the election following Bidens decision to drop out, compared with 14 percent who said they were optimistic about the elections outcome while he was still running.

That uptick partially reflects optimism that Harris, who has now secured the Democratic presidential nomination, will better protect and advance transgender rights, though thats not the only explanation, said Haley Everheart, vice president of marketing for FOLX.

She said it also reflects that those polled think Harris has a better chance of defeating former President Trump than Biden.

The deep fear is primarily about Trump winning, and theres a sentiment that its more likely that Trump will not win post-Biden dropping out and Harris taking over, she said. Thats what looms largest in peoples minds, I would say, more than sort of Bidens personal record or Harriss personal record, although people do overall see her as supporting LGBTQ policies more [than Biden].

Biden, who frequently touts his administration as the most pro-LGBTQ in history, expanded federal nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ Americans and condemned attacks against the transgender community while in office. In 2022, he signed legislation safeguarding marriage equality.

The president has, however, faced some criticism from the transgender community for not doing enough to protect access to gender-affirming health care, and the White House in a controversial statement last month said it does not support transition surgeries for minors, angering some of its LGBTQ allies. The White House later clarified that while it believes surgical procedures should be reserved for adults, it does not support laws or policies that ban them.

Harris, a longtime LGBTQ rights advocate, has also faced some backlash for her past actions regarding transgender rights. As California attorney general in 2015, Harris worked to block a transgender woman in a state prison from receiving gender-affirming surgery, though she later apologized for her role in that case.

Eighty-three percent of respondents in Thursdays survey said Trump, the Republican nominee for president, does not address the communitys concerns at all, and 89 percent said they are extremely concerned about a second Trump term.

I am fearful for another Trump presidency. I feel my life and the lives of others are at stake, said one respondent from California. I wonder daily if I need to flee or hide.

Trump has promised to enact at least a dozen policies targeting members of the LGBTQ community if he is reelected in November, including nationwide bans on gender-affirming health care for minors and transgender student-athletes. His running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), sponsored bills in Congress to make providing gender-affirming medical care to trans minors a felony, punishable by more than a decade in prison, and ban the use of X gender markers on U.S. passports.

A majority of respondents in Thursdays survey  92 percent  said they are anxious about the upcoming election, unchanged from when Biden was still in the running. Interest in the race nearly doubled, however, following Bidens exit.

The stakes feel really high, Everheart said. The sense that, very swiftly, things could go from challenging to impossible and downright scary is really there for us in our community.

Survey respondents overwhelmingly said they believe the outcome of this years presidential election will have a significant impact on LGBTQ Americans access to health care; 43 percent of transgender voters aged 18-34 said LGBTQ issues, including access to gender-affirming care, is their top voting issue. Sixty-three percent of trans adults older than 35 said the same.

Sixty-seven percent of respondents said they have taken, or are planning to take, at least one action to protect their access to gender-affirming medical care  including expediting or delaying doctors appointments and stockpiling medications  because of concerns about the election and future policy changes that could restrict care.

While gender-affirming health care for transgender minors is not banned at the federal level, half of states since 2021 have enacted laws that ban treatment for people younger than 18. Measures adopted in states including Florida and Missouri also limit access to care for some trans adults. The Supreme Court will determine during its next term whether bans on gender-affirming health care, which is endorsed by major medical organizations, are constitutional.

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On August 6, 2024, Jack Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer of Sprouts Farmers Market Inc (NASDAQ:SFM), executed a sale of 11,428 shares of the company. The transaction was filed on the same day with the SEC. Following this transaction, the insider now directly owns 228,146 shares in the company.

Sprouts Farmers Market Inc operates as a retailer of fresh, natural, and organic food in the United States, offering a range of products focusing on health and wellness. The company's stores provide fresh produce, bulk foods, vitamins and supplements, grocery, meat and seafood, bakery, dairy, frozen foods, body care, and natural household items catering to consumers' health-conscious lifestyles.

Over the past year, Jack Sinclair has sold a total of 162,429 shares and has not made any purchases of the company's stock. This recent sale is part of a broader trend observed within the company, where there have been 48 insider sells and no insider buys over the past year.

Shares of Sprouts Farmers Market Inc were trading at $95.61 on the day of the transaction. The company's market cap is approximately $9.429 billion. The price-earnings ratio stands at 29.78, which is above both the industry median of 16.455 and the company's historical median.

The stock is currently considered Significantly Overvalued according to the GF Value, with a price-to-GF-Value ratio of 2.3. The GF Value of $41.55 suggests a substantial premium compared to the current trading price.

Insider Selling: CEO Jack Sinclair Sells Shares of Sprouts Farmers Market Inc (SFM)

Insider Selling: CEO Jack Sinclair Sells Shares of Sprouts Farmers Market Inc (SFM)

This insider selling activity might be of interest to investors tracking ownership changes and evaluating the stock's current valuation metrics, including the price-sales ratio, price-book ratio, and price-to-free cash flow.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11)  On a soggy Wednesday afternoon zipping around the Upper West Side with Sheriff Anthony Miranda as his teams inspected 14 stores, one thing quickly became clear: Gone are the days of unregulated weed brazenly being sold on the shelves around the city.

When we first began, we found most of this outright, and it was very evident what was going on, Miranda said. Now, in this stage, people are aware were closing them down.

More Local News

It has forced a new level of sophistication and deception that PIX11 saw firsthand when Mirandas deputies raided a shop off Amsterdam Avenue near 81st Street.

Mayor Eric Adams joined Miranda on-site, and investigators took both leaders into what was technically a legal CBD store. Behind the counter and in the back of the storeroom, they removed a shelf to reveal a trap door.

As a bodega cat roamed the back room, the sheriffs investigators explained how the door led to an entire apartment filled with illegal marijuana products. Someone would sit just inside the door all day to pass on the illegal goods, investigators said.

The mayor and sheriff walked around the corner, zigzagging through a narrow alleyway, into a utility room and eventually a flooded-out flophouse.

In the apartment, the illegal marijuana was processed in a small room in the back  and unregulated marijuana was everywhere. The room smelled of mold and marijuana.

A narrow staircase led up to the other side of the trap door. There was a pillow for someone to sit on and products  pre-rolls, gummies, chocolates, and oils  ready to pass.

The NYC Sheriffs Office has padlocked more than 850 stores, issued $70 million in fines, and seized $40 million in products during the past few months.

Miranda said most of the raided stores stay closed because local NYPD precinct cops keep an eye on them, and landlords generally evict following a raid because they dont want the headache  although a few raided shops have tried to reopen only to be shut down again.

Over 1,000 illegal weed stores shut down in New York: Hochul

An emerging trend, according to the sheriff, is bad operators folding up on their own, realizing the free-for-all of the last two years is over thanks to stiffer fines and more padlock enforcement.

Adams pushed for those changes to the law because many illegal smoke shops market their products to children and have become a magnet for criminal activity.

We saw the robberies, we saw the shootings, we saw the erosion of the quality of life inside out communities, and the communities had enough, Adams declared last week while celebrating the padlocking of smoke shops.

Often, harder drugs, even guns, are found during raids like the one PIX11 witnessed, but that was not the case on the Upper West Side Wednesday.

Councilwoman Gale Brewer also participated in the raid in her district. She said the sophisticated setup shows the unique emerging challenge the city faces as the crackdown continues.

On many levels, its unhealthy, unsafe, and its obviously illegal, Brewer said. This combination is horrific, in my opinion.

Miranda said his officers have done more than 3,000 inspections so far but he knows there is more work to be done, especially as the illegal activity evolves.

Illegal cannabis activity in New York City can be reported online.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Travis Co. ESD 12: Crews battling large trash fire off Decker Lane

AUSTIN (KXAN)  Crews are battling a blaze in east Austin, and crews will be out at the scene for awhile, a Travis County ESD 12 spokesperson told KXAN Wednesday.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

In addition to Travis County ESD 12, Travis County ESD 2 and Austin-Travis County EMS responded to 10506 Decker Lane. The call came in for a trash fire, and now the fire is large, the spokesperson said.

Firefighters tackle a large trash fire off Decker Lane in Austin. (Photo: Travis County ESD No. 2)

Firefighters tackle a large trash fire off Decker Lane in Austin. (Photo: Travis County ESD No. 2)

Firefighters tackle a large trash fire off Decker Lane in Austin. (Photo: Travis County ESD No. 2)

Firefighters tackle a large trash fire off Decker Lane in Austin. (Photo: Travis County ESD No. 2)

Firefighters responded to a trash fire near Decker Lane Aug. 7, 2024 (Photo: Oliver Friedheim/KXAN ReportIt)

Firefighters responded to a trash fire near Decker Lane Aug. 7, 2024 (Photo: Lauren Moore/KXAN ReportIt)

Firefighters responded to a trash fire near Decker Lane Aug. 7, 2024 (Photo: Lauren Moore/KXAN ReportIt)

The Austin Fire Department also confirmed on social media about receiving an influx of calls about the fire. ATCEMS medics said on social media those call are not necessary, as crews continue to battle the fire.

ATCEMS medics said on social media no patients or injuries were reported at this time but will update if that changes.

Crews are battling a large trash fire on Decker Lane in northeast Austin (Frank Martinez/KXAN News)

Crews are battling a large trash fire on Decker Lane in northeast Austin (Frank Martinez/KXAN News)

Crews are battling a large trash fire on Decker Lane in northeast Austin (Frank Martinez/KXAN News)

Crews are battling a large trash fire on Decker Lane in northeast Austin (Frank Martinez/KXAN News)

No injuries were reported at this time, but medics said they will update that if anything changes.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Trees are a source of pride in Sacramento. But are they also a source of shame? | Opinion

Trees are good for Sacramento.

The spaces they hold act as buffers for pedestrians on sidewalks and the pollutants they absorb make the air we breathe cleaner.

City officials are well aware of this and hope to add more healthy trees to our canopy, starting with the Sacramento Urban Forest Plan. The main goal of the plan is to increase citywide tree canopy. There are currently 1 million trees within the city limits. The Sacramento Urban Forest Plan calls for the citys tree canopy by 35 percent by 2045. To do that, the city would need to plan 25,000 trees per year until 2045. The city has a $2 million grant but thats not nearly enough and the city is facing budget deficits. To make this plan a reality, city leaders need to find partnerships and pots of money elsewhere.

Its an important issue because if there is one thing Ive noticed in my time in Sacramento, the tree canopy gracing our beautiful city is also an indicator of inequity.

For instance, affluent areas like Land Park enjoy luscious tree canopies missing in low- to moderate-income areas like Meadowview, Del Paso Heights, Parkway and Valley Hi, where there is far less shade and where summer heat is felt more intensely.

A map created by the Sacramento Tree Foundation charting the tree canopy in terms shows stark shortages of trees in neighborhoods where larger numbers of people of color live. This disparity has evolved over decades.

In 1960 the city began mandating that trees be planted in new subdivisions. But in 1979, Proposition 13 was passed and reduced the amount of tax dollars that could be used for government services, such as maintaining trees that were both public and private. At that point, individual neighborhoods were burdened with the upkeep of these trees.

When these trees died, neighborhoods lacking the resources to plant trees didnt. Neighborhoods that could afford to plant trees, did.

A simple trip to Franklin Blvd in South Sacramento demonstrated to me that not every part of the city lives up to the nickname City of Trees.

Opinion

Equity with Trees

I live in midtown and trees are planted everywhere. Every sidewalk, park, and street is blessed with their presence.

The sun hits the trees just right in Sacramento, I think to myself every day I ride my bide down 26th street to work. I pass parks where unhoused people take advantage of the trees and sleep under them. They are more than just an accent to the landscape. They are the main attraction.

Sadly, its an attraction that not everyone in the city can experience often.

Walking along Franklin Blvd one thing was clear: its damn hot. Yes, lately, its been hot everywhere in Sacramento. But the lack of a tree canopy to support people out in the heat only magnifies it. The cement sidewalk collected all the heat from the sun, turning the pavement into a heat source that might have been tempered by shade.

During my walk in the neighborhood off Franklin Blvd, I came across a couple of vendors, each using the only two trees in the area as shade. Further down Franklin, I saw Curtis Valencia out on his front porch with his grandson. Providing shade for him and his grandchild is a Chinese Camphor that grows right dab in the middle of his front lawn. As a retired state worker, Valencia knows about the importance of trees, recalling the windstorm that happened in February that ripped 325 trees from their foundations.

Valencia lives in a tree desert, a part of the city with relatively few trees and low-income households.

In the area where Valencia lives, 67% of residents are nonwhite and the median income is a little more than $39,000. That average income is 27,000 less than the average salary in the entire city, according to statistics from ZipRecruiter.

With maintaining more than 100,000 of the millions of trees, the city relies on nonprofits and homeowners to grow the entire canopy.

Sacramento depends on trees

Equity can not be lost in the movement to increase to plant more trees in Sacramento. A November 2023 survey conducted by housing website Redfin showed that Sacramento was the most popular place for homebuyers looking to relocate. More people means more trees. This movement to enlarge our canopy is great but as our city grows, our city should not forget people like Valencia and his grandson, who want to live a good life in this city. But they cannot without a healthy, robust and diverse tree canopy.

Trees are Sacramentos unsung heroes. They are the backdrop to an Instagram-worthy picture, and even just the sight of them can ease someones stress.

Just like the trees spread across our beautiful city, equity is rooted in the foundation of our community.

Our future efforts must be dedicated to seeing that those roots stay strong.
Trial of former officer accused of rape pushed back

WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  The trial against a former Warren police officer accused of sexually assaulting six women on the job has been rescheduled.

Attorneys representing Michael Edwards, Jr. asked Judge Cynthia Westcott Rice for some extra time.

Edwards is charged with two dozen counts including rape, gross sexual imposition, extortion, theft in office, and dereliction of duty.

Edwards trial was scheduled to start September 4, but Attorney Dave Betras asked for it to either be pushed back or moved up a day to allow for the trial while also accommodating Judge Rices schedule.

I just dont want to be rushed because this man is facing the rest of his life in prison, Betras said.

Edwards trial is now scheduled to begin on September 16.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Tropical Depression Debby is causing flooding across Eastern NC. What places are at risk?

As Tropical Depression Debbys rain bands passed through North Carolina, they caused widespread flooding with emergency officials warning that the threat could linger.

Bladenboro was one of the places that saw significant flooding, with the National Weather Service issuing a flash flood emergency for the area just before 2 a.m. Thursday.

The NWS warning said 4 to 7 inches of rain had fallen quickly, cutting Bladenboro off from the rest of the county and leaving 2 to 3 feet of standing water in parts of the town.

Video shared on social media showed sandbags lined in front of the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy on Bladenboros Main Street, with someone sloshing through ankle-high water as they checked on the store.

At 8:55 a.m., the National Weather Service issued a new flood warning for Bladen County, northern Columbus County and southeastern Robeson County based on reports of flooding across that area.

Despite the heaviest rain coming to an end, previously flooded areas are draining into nearby creeks and swamps, the warning said.

Starting Wednesday evening, the Brunswick County Sheriffs Office was sharing photos of road flooding throughout the county. Those updates continued as the sun rose Thursday, with flooded roads including low-lying parts of N.C. 133, which parallels the Cape Fear River.

As of 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Debby had brought more than 8 inches of rain to a State Climate Office weather station near Whiteville, with another 7.36 inches falling in Castle Hayne. Other significant rainfall totals included more than 5 inches in Clinton and Kinston.

The flooding threat was making its way northwest Thursday morning, with the National Weather Services Raleigh office warning that significant runoff from the storm could mean a flash flood threat through at least Friday night.

In Harnett Countys Lillington, for example, the Cape Fear River had been 2.2 feet at midnight Thursday. By 8 a.m., the river had risen 4 feet, according to data from the N.C. Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network, and it was expected to rise to 21.3 feet by 2 p.m. Thursday.

A rain gauge on the Lumber River at Pembroke in Robeson County had recorded 4.36 inches of rain over the last day as of 9 a.m. Thursday. Downstream, the river was starting to swell, rising from 11.4 feet at 7 p.m. Wednesday to 14.4 feet as of 7 a.m., according to FIMAN.

Lumberton, NC, in Robeson County, is dealing with flash flooding from Tropical Storm Debby. This file photo of downtown Lumberton was taken during Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

At 8:30 a.m., emergency management officials in Lumberton reported a flash flood, with 2 to 3 feet of water spilling out of Meadow Branch and into North Roberts Avenue, rendering the road impassable.

Debby was downgraded from a tropical storm to a depression late Thursday afternoon.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This story was produced with financial support from the Hartfield Foundation and Green South Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work. If you would like to help support local journalism, please consider signing up for a digital subscription, which you can do here.
Soldiers of the South Carolina National Guard and first responders prepare themselves and their equipment in order to perform rescue operations during Tropical Storm Debby in Greenville on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (U.S. Army National Guard/Sgt. 1st Class Roby Di Giovine)

COLUMBIA  As Tropical Storm Debby headed into North Carolina, officials in South Carolina fanned out from the Midlands to the coast to assess the damage left in the storms wake so far.

That does not mean the storms impacts are over, as rivers will continue to rise, Gov. Henry McMaster reiterated Thursday afternoon.

Those of particular concern include the Little Pee Dee River near Galivants Ferry in Horry County, which is already flooding and could hit major flood levels Sunday afternoon. Also topping its banks is the Edisto River at Givhans Ferry in Dorchester County. It could keep rising until Tuesday, but the latest predictions from the National Weather Service have it staying just below major flood levels.

The Great Pee Dee River is also expected to flood. At Cheraw, it could crest early Sunday at moderate flood levels. But downstream, the waters will keep rising. Near U.S 301 east of Florence, the river is expected to be near the major flood stage next week.

After the flooding is over, we will have a lot of cleaning up, McMaster said at his fourth and possibly last public briefing on the storm.

There were still no reported fatalities or injuries as of Thursday afternoon. But the governor warned people not to relax too early.

We want to remind everybody out there that its not over yet. Were past some dangers, but theres still plenty, so dont let your guard down yet, he said.

The storm hit Florida about 7 a.m. Monday and worked its way out to the Atlantic across Florida and Georgia.

Then it moved slowly up the South Carolina coast, dumping rain all the way, before making landfall again about 2 a.m. Thursday near Bulls Bay in northern Charleston Count, said John Quagliariello, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

As of Thursday afternoon, the storm was sitting on the border of South Carolina and North Carolina east of Charlotte, he said.

Employees of the South Carolina Emergency Management Division were assessing damage in nine counties on Thursday, said Director Kim Stenson.

Across Berkeley, Charleston and Colleton, 70 homes had some damage, including one destroyed and 15 with major damage, according to preliminary reports. In those three counties and Horry, 16 businesses also experienced some damage, Stenson said.

The heavy rain in the Pee Dee region and the Charlotte suburbs in York and Lancaster counties brought the total number of roads closed to 111 as of Thursday afternoon, said Transportation Secretary Justin Powell, adding that is a number in flux. Already 69 roads closed due to the storm had been reopened.

Powell said that 33 bridges have been closed due to flooding, and bridges are inspected after the flooding recedes. So far, no bridges have had to remain closed after an inspection, he said.

Dam inspectors with the Department of Environmental Services have already conducted about 40 post-storm assessments without identifying any major issues. On Friday, teams will begin evaluating erosion damage from the storm along the coast, said the agencys interim director, Myra Reece.

A slide showing the location and speed of confirmed tornadoes spun off from Tropical Storm Debby (Provided by the National Weather Service)

Some of the areas inspected for erosion are locations where tornadoes spawned by the storm touched down. The National Weather Services lists seven confirmed tornadoes from Debby, several of which did significant damage to some businesses and residences. Edisto Beach got hit with two.

Almost 8,000 people were without power as of Thursday afternoon, according to Andrew Bateman, acting director of the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff. Spartanburg and York counties had the most storm related outages as of 1 p.m., he said.

Additional rain is likely to bring total rainfall to 20-25 inches in the eastern part of the state, according to the National Hurricane Centers Thursday afternoon update. Most of the state is now at a slight risk of flash flooding, with at least a 15% chance.

As of Thursday morning, Summerville had received the most rain with over 18 inches since Saturday. Mount Pleasant, Edisto Beach and Beaufort all had over 15 inches.
Debby spreads torrential rain and tornado threat north as it rapidly accelerates toward the Northeast

After causing at least six deaths in the Southeast, Debby weakened to a tropical depression Thursday but remained a dangerous storm as it picked up speed, spreading its torrential rain and tornado threat north.

The center of the system was 45 miles east of Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday afternoon, but its impacts stretched from the Carolinas to southern Pennsylvania and New Jersey as it accelerated toward the Northeast.

A tornado watch was issued for parts of North Carolina to the DC-Baltimore region. Several tornado warnings were hoisted Thursday evening as the system triggered thunderstorms with embedded rotation, including one for an observed tornado near Wilmington, Delaware.

Flood watches and warnings were plastered up and down the Eastern Seaboard as downpours developed over areas already drenched by Debbys multi-day rains. Flood warnings extended to the US-Canada border, with forecasts calling for several inches of rain in upstate New York, Vermont and New Hampshire through Saturday.

Debbys shift to the Northeast comes after its death toll rose to six Thursday when a destructive tornado killed a man in Lucama, North Carolina. The tornado damaged homes and a school in the area, which is around 35 miles southeast of Raleigh.

Track the storm: Debbys path

Since crashing into Florida as a Category 1 hurricane on Monday, Debby has dumped more than a foot of rain over parts of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The deluges have engorged rivers, flooded roadways and trapped people in cars, homes and boats  and potentially dangerous heat is expected across the region in the coming days, threatening to complicate the recovery process.

Parts of Springfield Middle School lay on the ground after being ripped off by a tornado, spawned by Debby, in Lucama, North Carolina, Thursday. - Makiya Seminera/AP

Even more chaos is on the horizon as the storm, a reflection of the amplifying consequences of human-fueled climate change, heads toward the Northeast. Heres the latest:

 Debbys death toll climbs: One person is dead after a tornado spawned by Debby tore through part of North Carolinas Wilson County in the earliest hours of Thursday morning, leaving behind damage to a middle school, a church and multiple homes. A man was killed after his home in the town of Lucama collapsed, a county spokesperson told CNN. At least four people in Florida and one in Georgia were also killed by Debby.

 At least a dozen tornadoes confirmed: Debby has whipped up at least a dozen tornadoes as of Thursday that have roared through parts of Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. A tornado in Snow Hill, North Carolina early Thursday was described as large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly. A tornado watch is in effect through 8 p.m. ET for 6.8 million people in parts of eastern North Carolina and southern Virginia, including the cities of Raleigh, Virginia Beach and Richmond.

 Debbys current path: The system will pick up speed as its center moves north and its impacts push into the Northeast. Debby will accelerate through Pennsylvania and New York Friday and move through New England by early Saturday afternoon, bringing heavy rain and flash flooding to a region drenched by storms earlier this week.

 Disaster declarations across the Southeast: President Joe Biden has approved disaster declarations for Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas  all of which have been pummeled by Debby this week. More than 700 Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel have been deployed to the Southeast, and search and rescue teams are on standby to assist as needed, the agency said Wednesday.

 Flash flood emergency: Debbys torrential rainfall cut off one North Carolina town from its surrounding areas after up to 8 inches of rain fell in just a few hours Wednesday night, according to a rare flash flood emergency issued by the National Weather Service. Officials in Bladenboro  located in the southern part of the state  reported 3 foot deep floodwater.

 Triple-digit heat coming for Southeast: Potentially dangerous heat has been hovering over the Southeast in Debbys wake and is expected to persist through the weekend as storm recovery continues. While high temperatures in the upper 80s and lower 90s are expected, the heat indices  how the body feels under combined heat and humidity  could exceed 110 degrees, including in Steinhatchee, Florida, near where Debby made its first landfall.

A dog sits Wednesday on the front stoop of a home in Statesboro, Georgia, where many homes are cars have been flooded due to excessive rains. - Megan Varner/Getty Images

Its like National Geographic in our backyard

Debbys deluge has been a clear illustration of the impact of global warming caused by fossil fuel pollution, which is causing storms to get wetter and strengthen more quickly. Debby, for instance, tracked through near-record warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, which helped it rapidly intensify before making landfall as a hurricane in Florida.

As Debby has churned through the Southeast, the storm has left behind disastrous scenes. Homes have been shredded by winds and swamped by floodwaters, and roads have been washed out or submerged, creating hazardous conditions for impacted communities.

Three children were rescued by emergency crews from a flooded Marsh Creek in Raleigh after getting stuck while trying to cross the water on Thursday, CNN affiliate WRAL reported.

The children were part of a group of five who were riding bikes when they said they came across the creek. The children said the creek appeared to be calm, and so they attempted to cross it  two made it across, when suddenly the last three got caught in the surging waters.

An 11-year-old held onto a tree branch with his 8-year-old sister and their 10-year-old friend as they waited for rescuers, WRAL reported. They were rescued within five minutes of rescuers arrival, the station reported.

In South Carolinas Lowcountry, a home in Bluffton has become an alligators paradise as floodwaters turned Adrienne LeBlancs yard into an inviting swampland.

Though LeBlanc is no stranger to alligators  often seeing them sunbathing in the distance  she was surprised to wake up after heavy rains Wednesday to discover her backyard had been invaded by alligators.

Its like National Geographic in our backyard right now, LeBlanc told CNN. She counted eight alligators swimming around her house and saw a few of them wrestling.

Adrienne LeBlanc snapped a picture of an alligator in her flooded yard in Bluffton, South Carolina, on Wednesday. - Adrienne LeBlanc

Jokingly I told my husband, When I wake up tomorrow that bad boy is going to be in our bedroom, LeBlanc said.

After 17 years of living in Bluffton, LeBlanc said she has experienced this level of flooding once  when Hurricane Matthew made landfall in the state in 2016.

South Carolina hasnt seen a named storm make landfall on its shores since Hurricane Ians arrival in 2022 as a Category 1 storm. The last named storm to track across the state in any fashion was Tropical Storm Idalia in August 2023.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

CNNs Andy Rose, Sharif Paget, Kara Mihm, Christina Zdanowicz and CNN meteorologist Taylor Ward contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
(KRON)  Cal Fire firefighter Judah Collins, 21, had his truck stolen from him while battling the Park Fire  one of Californias largest wildfires recorded to date. Community members now gather in hopes of getting Collins his truck back, which took some work for him to afford.

Victim in MUNI bus fight wrongfully jailed, San Francisco public defender says

Before saving for his truck, Judah rode his bike to work for two years. Rain, shine, he pedaled away. He was so proud to buy his truck with his own money back in February, Katherine Poirer, Collins GoFundMe organizer, said.

Poirer says that due to having minimal insurance, Colins truck theft was not covered.

Collins pictured battling the Park Fire. Photo: GoFundMe

Last week, Collins got pulled out of the Park Fire for medical reasons. According to Poirer, his feet got really nasty and bloody; he was walking around using his axe as a crutch before his supervisor forced him to take a break.

Collins pictured battling the Park Fire. Photo: GoFundMe

Collins is described as being a loyal friend, family member, and to even those he doesnt know He feels for the hurting and helps anyway he can, even to the point of eating tortilla shells as it was after he gave away money he shouldve spent on food, Poirer said.

Growing up, Collins attended military school before firefighting, doing missions from California to Oregon. As of this report, Collins has recovered from his injuries and is back to battling the Park Fire.

Collins pictured battling the Park Fire. Photo: GoFundMe

The pages fundraising goal is $10,000. Donations can be made here. As of this report, the Park Fire has burned over 410,000 acres and is 35 percent contained.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
(Bloomberg) -- Canadas independent business advocate says Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus plan to reduce temporary immigration risks dire economic consequences, underscoring the pressures the government is facing as it tries to slow population growth.

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Nancy Healey, who holds a government post knows as commissioner for employers, penned a letter to three of Trudeaus cabinet ministers warning that a plan to cut temporary residents by 20% over three years is likely to make it harder for firms to grow.

In the context of the current and future labor shortages that Canada will experience, it is crucial not to reduce the labor pool, she said in the Aug. 1 letter, which was signed by business groups including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Such a reduction would have catastrophic economic consequences for companies and limit their growth potential.

A surge in temporary residents  including international students, foreign workers and asylum seekers  pushed Canadas population growth rate to 3.2%, one of the worlds fastest. The influx of new arrivals exacerbated a housing shortage and helped sink Trudeaus popularity.

The government is already implementing a cap on student visas, and businesses fear the government will next shrink the program that allows them to bring in temporary employees, said Healey.

Indeed, Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault told business groups on Tuesday he intends to limit their use of temp workers  a program that has drawn mounting criticism for allowing fraud and abuse.

The number of temporary foreign workers in Canada has continued to grow even as the unemployment rate rises  it reached 6.4% in June, 13.5% for the youngest workers. Temporary foreign workers have increasingly been recruited for low-wage, unskilled jobs, including in retail stores and restaurants.

Healey defended the program in the letter, calling it much maligned despite the rigor that has characterized it for many years, driven by unsubstantiated anecdotes. The system requires employers to advertise jobs to Canadians before seeking a foreign worker, to pay market wages and to take part in a compliance regime that protects against abuse, she said.

She urged the government to maintain the number of workers admitted under the program, speed up approval times and avoid increasing the C$1,000 ($727.5) fee for permit applications, already costly for small businesses.

Business groups have long raised alarm about Canadas aging population and low birth rates, a phenomenon experienced by many advanced economies. Healey pointed to a Royal Bank of Canada report that said 46% of projected structural labor shortages are in occupations that dont need a university or college education, but instead require occupation-specific or on-the-job training.

We need better paths for newcomers to come and stay in Canada, Healey said in the letter. It is clear that immigration streams that attach a job offer to the application result in improved outcomes.

While business groups have a right to lobby the government, whats good for businesses isnt necessarily good for the economy, said Mikal Skuterud, a labor economist at the University of Waterloo.

Labor shortages are challenging for firms, but they can spur competitive wages and investments in equipment and technology  which is particularly important as Canada grapples with poor productivity, he said.

Im not saying its not difficult for businesses sometimes  for sure it is, he said. But the idea that this is some kind of an economic crisis the government has to respond to is really economic nonsense.

--With assistance from Randy Thanthong-Knight.

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign appearance on July 31, 2024, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

I regret to inform you that our friend David French is trending on Twitter again.

His latest affront to American populists is an eight-sentence account of why hes supporting Kamala Harris this year despite his disappointment that she didnt choose a more centrist running mate. If conservatism is going to have a viable future, then Trump has to lose, he writes at one point, justifying his decision. Hes draining the entire right of any meaningful ideology or ethos.

Thats a seductive argument, one well come back to later.

I think the case for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz can be summed up in a line. When one candidate on the ballot has tried to stage a coup and the other hasnt, you choose the latter. Period.

But if thats not enough to persuade you, theres a second reason that David didnt mention. After eight exhausting years, it would be wonderful not to have to worry day-to-day about the presidents mental health.

The mood beat is how reporter Mark Leibovich defined the practice among political journalists during Trumps first term of analyzing events through the presidents state of mind. They had no choice. When the country is led by a figure as emotionally unstable and monarchical by temperament as Trump, how hes feeling on a given day might mean more for the course of American policy than the considered advice of his deputies.

Electing Joe Biden was supposed to mean the end of the mood beat, but Bidens own precarious cognitive stability forced voters to once again pay more attention to the daily workings of the presidents brain than theyd prefer. As we sit here in 2024, the last time Americans didnt need to worry whether the commander in chief might suffer a breakdown of one sort or another was the last year of Barack Obamas second term.

For all her faults, theres no reason to believe Kamala Harris would have a breakdown in office. Judging from his behavior over the last month, however, her opponent looks to be having one right now.

Cope and seethe.

This is what you would call a public nervous breakdown, a former Trump appointee turned Republican strategist told Politico of his old boss maneuverings of late.

Anyone who recently escaped being murdered by millimeters is entitled to more emotional dysregulation than usual, but its not the attempt on his life that appears to have sent Trump spiraling. He seemed like his old selffrankly, too much like his old selfduring his acceptance speech at the Republican convention, a few days after he was shot.

No, it was Bidens departure from the race days later and the shocking euphoria with which Harris was greeted that discombobulated Trump. Not only has she erased his longstanding lead (and then some) in national polling, the excitement around her so far exceeds anything seen at one of Trumps rallies this year. Shes even begun to taunt him about drawing bigger crowds.

Both experiences are new to him despite the fact that this is Trumps third run for president. Never before had he reliably led his Democratic opponent in surveys, and never before had he suffered an enthusiasm gap with the other side.

Oh, and never before has the outcome of an election determined whether he might go to prison. Three weeks ago, his scheme to win reelection and place himself above the law was working to perfection, better than he could have dreamed. Three weeks later, hes watching the polls and wondering how many times hell be facing a jury next year.

That would be head-spinning and unsettling even for a normal person. For someone whos unstable even on his best day, his difficulty coping is destined to play out in ill-considered or even embarrassing ways. Trump is flailing strategically right now because hes seething at seeing the race slip through his fingers and lacks the self-control to channel his anger more productively.

Take his new nickname for Harris. Trump has always been cunning in his juvenile habit of demeaning opponents with memorable taunts: Low Energy Jeb Bush and Little Marco Rubio still carry those monikers around eight years later. Lately, though, hes taken to referring to his opponent as Kamabla, a name so inscrutable that even his own aides cant (or wont) explain it.

Maybe its an awkward combination of her name with Obama. Or, being a poor speller, maybe Trump means to imply that shes bland and misspelled blah. But I tend to think that because hes old and his brain doesnt work as well anymore, hes sating his anxiety about her by reverting to the sort of nonsensical mockery a school-aged bully would use to assert his dominance over a classmate. Calling Ron DeSantis DeSanctimonious is of a piece with it. It doesnt make sense. It doesnt really mean anything. Its just Trump, feeling threatened, throwing a tantrum like the child he is.

There have been a lot of tantrums lately.

His race-baiting diversion last week had the feel of one despite the fact that there may be some strategic logic to it. He could and should spend the campaign attacking Harris for her dubious left-wing policy record, as theres no shortage of material to work with. Instead, in his panic about his declining electoral chances, he indulged his demagogic instincts by immersing himself in the question of black or Indian?

Challenging Harris to a debate on Fox News before a live arena crowd also smelled like panic, blatantly enough that the Drudge Report mocked Trump for it: Rattled Trump Only Wants Safe Fox Debate, the site blared in screaming red font. Harris adviser David Plouffe flagged the fear factor as well, saying of Trumps proposal that he seems only comfortable in a cocoon, asking his happy place Fox to host a Trump rally and call it a debate. (Hes not the only candidate in a cocoon right now, it should be noted.) A child who feels insecure will reach for a security blanket. Same here.

Things didnt get genuinely weird until Tuesday night, though, when Trump uncorked this doozy on Truth Social:

What are the chances that Crooked Joe Biden, the WORST President in the history of the U.S., whose Presidency was Unconstitutionally STOLEN from him by Kamabla, Barrack HUSSEIN Obama, Crazy Nancy Pelosi, Shifty Adam Schiff, Cryin Chuck Schumer, and others on the Lunatic Left, CRASHES the Democrat National Convention and tries to take back the Nomination, beginning with challenging me to another DEBATE. He feels that he made a historically tragic mistake by handing over the U.S. Presidency, a COUP, to the people in the World he most hates, and he wants it back, NOW!!!

Theres zero chance of that happening, as everyone in the universe except him understands. Harris is officially the Democratic nominee; her surge in the polls and blockbuster fundraising are such that no one outside the immediate Biden family would prefer to have Joe back at the top of the ticket. The very idea of it is so stupid that were again left grasping for psychological explanations in lieu of strategic ones. Perhaps Trump was simply projecting onto Biden what he would do in Bidens position. But, more likely, hes so grieved to have lost the president as an opponent that he cant help fantasizing about the race as it stood three weeks ago.

This is what it means to be on the mood beat, where nothing makes sense without entering the hall of mirrors in Trumps mind. Leaping to celebrate Mondays stock-market downturn as a KAMALA CRASH!!! was idiotic given the likelihood that stocks would quickly rebound, discrediting his financial acumen. But as a psychological matter, it makes sense that a narcissist who believes all positive developments are somehow owed to him would rush to declare that all negative ones are somehow owed to his enemies.

This is the sort of analysis we have to look forward to, day by day and hour by hour, for four years if hes reelected.

The scapegoats cometh.

Cringy expressions of anxiety over his declining electoral fortunes are one half of Trumps breakdown. The other half is related: He and his diehards have begun scapegoating Republicans ahead of a potential defeat.

On Saturday night, Trump held a rally in Georgia, a state that was trending solid red this year when Biden was leading the ballot and is now within a point since Harris replaced him. If she ends up winning it, therell be no mystery as to why. By boosting enthusiasm among young and black voters, and with help from Stacey Abrams formidable turnout operation, Harris could plausibly duplicate Bidens narrow victory in 2020.

Trump is worried about it, and he should be. And so, with no time to waste, hes begun a soft launch of Stop the Steal 2.0: At his rally, he told the crowd that he believed Gov. Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad RaffenspergerRepublicans bothwant us to lose.

Hes a bad guy, hes a disloyal guy, and hes a very average governor, he said of Kemp, who crushed Trumps handpicked challenger in the 2022 gubernatorial primary. The state has gone to hell on the governors watch, he added. Georgians, for their part, dont seem to agree, having sent Kemp to an easy 7-point reelection win over Abrams two years ago in a cycle that was bad for Republicans across most of the national map.

Then, for good measure, Trump attacked Kemp on Truth Social, taking care to mention that Kemps wife has said she wont vote for him this fall and doubtless knowing what that will mean for the Kemp household. (Because he hopes to lead the Republican personality cult someday, the governor responded pitifully by emphasizing his commitment to defeating Kamala Harris.)

As a matter of strategy, none of this makes sense. Trump needs every bit of help he can get from Kemps organization to get Georgia Republicans to the polls. And the governor has enough admirers on the right, locally and elsewhere, that belittling him will alienate more of those voters than it will impress. One of my own Trump-supporting relatives, an avid Fox News watcher, told me he turned off the networks coverage of the Georgia rally because he was annoyed at Trump for attacking Kemp.

Im sitting here scratching my head, Kemps former campaign manager told Politico of Trumps outburst. If we want to actually unite, ask for the support of the guy who beat your endorsed primary opponent by 52 points and handily defeated Stacey Abrams. Right, that would be the logical thing to doif youre trying to win.

But Trump is increasingly scared that hes going to lose, and thats led to a shift in priorities. Instead of maximizing his chances of victory by making nice with Kemp, hes maximizing his chances of avoiding blame for another defeat by setting Kemp up as the fall guy in another rigged election conspiracy. If Georgia turns blue again this year, Republicans will be primed to scapegoat the governorwho wants us to loseinstead of blaming Trump himself.

Anxiety and narcissism, not logic, have dictated his strategic choices. Again, you cant understand why the man does what he does unless youre following the mood beat.

Anxiety probably also explains his odd remark last week that vice presidential candidates historically have no impact on the outcome of elections. Hes not wrong, but thats a strange thing for a candidate to say so soon after anointing young J.D. Vance as his running mate and heir apparent. It stinks of buyers remorse and annoyance at the bad press Vances mutterings about childless cat ladies have brought the campaign. Ill be surprised if Harris shrugs off Tim Walzs nomination similarly at any point by insisting that VPs dont matter.

Trumps comment is a hint that Vance too might eventually be designated as a scapegoat for their defeat, especially if the ticket falls short in the Midwest. Insofar as the rigged election spin is insufficient to explain the campaigns underperformance, Trump will offer Vance as a sacrifice to the disappointed MAGA hordes rather than accept blame himself.

Look closely online and youll find Trump loyalists with a media presence also growing testy as his long lead in the polls collapses. Last week, Kyle Rittenhouse, a MAGA celebrity since he was acquitted of homicide charges after killing two people during the 2020 Kenosha riots, declared that he couldnt vote for Trump given his misgivings about some of the candidates positions on guns. Rittenhouse was attacked with so much vitriol that within 12 hours he had publicly recanted and professed his support for Trump anew in a sort of right-wing version of a struggle session.

No one cares who Kyle Rittenhouse is or isnt voting for, and no one should. But watching a right-wing folk hero abandon the cult leader at a moment when the election seemed to be slipping away obviously touched a nerve among the faithful. When youre having a breakdown about the polls and you cant safely blame Trump or swing voters for it, youre stuck demagoguing C-list right-wing personalities for disloyalty instead.

The search for scapegoats has even reached Chris LaCivita, one of Trumps top advisers.

Along with Susie Wiles, LaCivita has professionalized Trumps operation and imposed enough discipline on the candidate to give him, at least on paper, his best chance in three tries of winning the presidency. He didnt start out as a MAGA guy, but hes one of the more effective operatives whos ever worked for Trump.

Everything was hunky dory between him and Trumps fansuntil the polling began to go south. Last month, Democrats began raising alarm about Project 2025, the think-tank initiative to build a nationalist policy and personnel program for Trumps second term. Those attacks didnt sting so long as Joe Biden was treading water at the top of the ticket, but once Harris took over and closed the gap, LaCivita and Wiles determined that Project 2025 was a liability the campaign couldnt afford.

News came last week that the head of the program was suddenly stepping down. Reports of Project 2025s demise would be greatly welcomed, LaCivita and Wiles said in a statement.

MAGA influencers went ballistic, furious that the best laid plans of nationalist chuds would be disclaimed so lightly by the campaign. Fingers pointed at LaCivita, now under suspicion because his career in Republican politics began during the ancien regime, before the revolution of 2016. (LaCivita pointed a finger backliterally.) Sources told CNN this weekend that Trumps allies want a campaign shake-up, citing in part the need for more original 2016 Trump loyalists to be involved.

Someone needs to be the focal point for populists nervous breakdown as Harris surges and it sure as shinola isnt going to be Donald Trump. Chris LaCivita will join Kemp, Vance, and a hundred others as scapegoats in November if the election turns out badly. Anything to spare populists from having to reckon honestly with the reality that Americans dont like Trump or his brand of politics, that his electoral strength in 2016 and 2020 was mostly a function of facing weak Democratic opponents, and that the right would fare better in elections if it went in a different direction.

Mood, not logic or strategy, will determine how they process defeat. How do you think we got here in the first place?

Learning the wrong lessons.

All of this explains why Im less optimistic than David French that defeating Trump will pry the conservative movement away from a deranged man who will sacrifice any person or any principle for the sake of power.

Defeating him is a necessary condition for that to happen, I agree. But unfortunately not sufficient.

Time, not defeat, will pry the right away from Trump. Hell be 80 in less than two years; even if he wants to run again in 2028, circumstances may conspire to make even cultists leery of the prospect. America is probably done with him as a candidate, at long last, after November.

The trick is prying the right away from Trumpism. Theres nothing in evidence to suggest that losing this election will cause them to doubt its political appeal. (Or, contra what I said earlier, that coup plotters will be punished mercilessly by voters.) Theyll probably react the way radicalized partisans usually do, by conceding that the messenger was flawed but insisting that the message itself is pristine and inerrant.

Trump had too much baggage, they might allow. But postliberalism? Hardly. Were one DeSantis or Tucker Carlson away from making all of our authoritarian dreams come true.

Populists wont learn their lesson from losing because the problem isnt the supply of Trump, its the demand for him. Civic-minded people should unite to defeat him without being naive about whether defeat might inspire the right to reform in the near term, just as we shouldnt be naive about how much worse the collective nervous breakdown thats playing out right now might get if Harris extends her lead.

The rot is too deep for hope. At least for now.

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Republicans are attacking Tim Walzs response to unrest in Minneapolis in 2020, but at the time, then-President Donald Trump said he fully agreed with how the Minnesota governor handled rioting in the aftermath of George Floyds murder, undercutting a key line of GOP attack this week after Walz was named Vice President Kamala Harris 2024 running mate.

I fully agree with the way he handled it the last couple of days, Trump said of Walz on a June 1, 2020, call during which he also described the Democratic governor as an excellent guy.

The call was led by Trump, who was joined by then-Attorney General Bill Barr, then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper, and included a series of governors as protests across the country, some of which devolved into violent rioting, were breaking out following the police killing of Floyd on May 25.

Details from the call, during which Trump implored governors across the country to dominate protesters, have previously been reported, and CNN published the calls full transcript the day it happened in 2020.

Its not uncommon for even the most bitter of political rivals to offer tempered praise toward one another in the aftermath of a natural disaster or serious nationwide crisis  especially ones that require cooperation in responses between state and federal governments. But more than four years later, Trumps praise for Walz takes on new meaning as the GOP nominee and his allies have sought to jolt Americans memories of the nationwide unrest that summer, linking Walz to pictures of Minneapolis engulfed in flames and the aftermath of the destruction.

Youve got a big National Guard out there thats ready to come in and fight like hell. I tell you, what they did in Minneapolis was incredible. They went in and dominated. And it happened immediately, Trump told the governors. Tim Walz. Again, I was very happy with the last couple of days. Tim, you called up big numbers and the big numbers knocked them out so fast it was like bowling pins.

The call took place a week after Floyd was killed. At the time, and in the years since, Republicans publicly criticized Walz over whether he waited too long to call in Minnesotas National Guard.

Trumps 2024 campaign, responding to CNNs request about his 2020 praise for Walz and the details of the call, said that he was only complimentary of the Minnesota governor given that by June 1, Walz had acted. They argued, however, that Trump had always been frustrated that Walz hadnt taken more action sooner.

Walz first activated the Guard on May 28, three days after Floyd was killed, and the same day protesters lit the outside of the Minneapolis Police Departments Third Precinct on fire.

The important thing here is the timing and context for these remarks. He was complimenting a governor that finally, after days of madness, had finally done something. So it wasnt in real time. It was after Walz finally did something about it, a senior Trump campaign adviser told CNN.

A second Trump adviser reiterated the point, telling CNN the call came in the context of what President Trump encouraged a lot of these governors and local leaders to do, in finally stopping or doing something about these riots. It had been seven days, or however long, days that Minneapolis had been burning, where President Trump, is essentially saying, finally, you guys, finally, the burning and looting and rioting have stopped.

Allies close to Trump echoed the advisers sentiment, noting the panic among government officials at the time on how to curb the riots, and the urgency to reach across the aisle to stop the violence.

During the 2020 call, Walz also offered some words of thanks for the Trump administrations response, thanking Esper for his strategic guidance. He also asked the Trump administration to help with messaging surrounding the role of National Guard troops.

But in the hours after Walz was announced as Democrats vice presidential candidate on Monday, Republicans attacked his tenure as governor  with much of the criticism focused on the timing of his decision to call in his states National Guard. Trumps running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, told reporters earlier this week that Walz allowed rioters to burn down Minneapolis in the summer of 2020.

Walz sat by and let Minneapolis burn, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on X. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott echoed that accusation. Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton said Walz could have stopped the rioting, if he wanted to, while the Republican Partys research arm accused Walz of fleeing like a coward while Minneapolis burned.

A spokesperson for Cottons Senate campaign said Walz should have immediately sent in the Guard, the state police, and restored order instead of letting violent criminals destroy a huge portion of the city, before they were bailed out of jail by Kamala Harris, alluding to a tweet Harris posted in support of a Minnesota bail fund.

As Tim Walz has admitted, his handling of the riots was an abject failure, Cottons spokesperson said, referencing remarks the governor made about the citys response to the riots. Spokespeople for Abbott and DeSantis did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.

Even before Harris selected Walz, Trump criticized the governor on the subject.

Every voter in Minnesota needs to know that when the violent mobs of anarchists and looters and Marxists came to burn down Minneapolis four years ago  Remember me? I couldnt get your governor to act, Trump told the crowd at his rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota, last month, before falsely claiming that he, not Walz, activated the National Guard in response to the unrest.

I sent in the National Guard to save Minneapolis, while Kamala Harris sided with the arsonist and rioters and raised money to bail out the criminals, Trump said.

Walz, who first activated the Guard after peaceful protests had devolved into instances of rioting, looting and violence, said in 2020 he did so in response to requests from the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

During the June 2020 call, Trump said he had directed Walz to call in the National Guard, before lauding the way the officers performed.

I said you gotta use the National Guard, Trump said, referring to Minneapolis. They didnt at first, then they did, and Ill tell you thats true, I dont know what it was  those guys, third night, fourth night, they walked through that stuff like it was butter. They walked right through and you havent had any problems since.

The governor faced some bipartisan criticism for the timing of his order to activate the Guard. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat who was facing scrutiny over chaos in his city, said in August 2020 that he had verbally asked Walz on the evening of May 27 to send in the Guard but that the governor hesitated. Walz refuted Freys account at the time, saying the ask did not constitute an official request, which he said came the next day. The Minneapolis police chief also sent an email on the night of May 27 to the states public safety commissioner that included an attachment asking for Guard assistance, according to The Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Some of the most notable instances of violence in Minneapolis, including the ransacking and burning of a city police precinct, took place the night of May 28  after Walz had already activated a portion of the Guard. Walz and Trump spoke the same day. The governor activated the entire guard on May 30.

In the June 1 call with Walz and the other governors, Trump seemed to acknowledge that he was satisfied with how the state Guard responded to the protests: Yesterday and the day before, compared to the first few days, was just  never seen anything like it, Trump said. Walz responded: Absolutely.

A lot of people dont understand who the National Guard is and you need to get out there, from a PR perspective, and make sure that its not seen as a occupying force, but its their neighbors, school teachers, business owners, those types of things, Walz said on the call.

Trump said he believed that was a good idea, though he added he thought that the people wouldnt have minded an occupying force.

I wish they had an occupying force in there, Trump added.

Later that day, federal law enforcement would forcibly clear peaceful protesters from a park outside the White House, making way for Trump to cross the park and pose for a photo op with a Bible outside St. Johns Church.

CLARIFICATION: This story has been updated to clarify that the Minneapolis police chief sent an email asking for Minnesota National Guard assistance on the night of May 27.

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Trump agrees to Sept. 10 debate with Harris, claims two more upcoming

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Feb. 24, 2024 in National Harbor, Maryland. Trump said Thursday he would debate Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris on Sept. 10. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Thursday he has agreed to debate Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Sept. 10, a reversal from his position last week that he would not participate in the ABC News event.

During a press conference at Trumps Mar-A-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, the former president said he had also agreed to debates on Sept. 4 and Sept. 25.

The first debate would be hosted by Fox News, he said.

He initially misspoke and said the Sept. 10 debate would be on NBC, with ABC hosting the debate on Sept. 25. His campaign later clarified the ABC News debate would be Sept. 10, the date Trump and President Joe Biden agreed to with ABC before Biden dropped out of the race, with NBC hosting the final debate.

ABC News confirmed that Trump and the Harris campaign have agreed to the networks debate.

I think its very important to have debates, Trump said.

He then quickly moved on to disparaging Harris.

The Harris campaign, Fox News and NBC did not respond to States Newsrooms requests for comment.

In a press release, the Harris campaign called Trumps press conference a public meltdown, but did not mention if Harris would participate in the Fox News or NBC debate.

Biden was the presumptive Democratic nominee but dropped out of the race following a disastrous performance at the first 2024 general election debate on June 27.

Following Bidens withdrawal, Harris quickly clinched the nomination and kicked off a campaign tour with her newly tapped running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Peaceful transfer of power

During Thursdays press conference, a reporter asked if there would be a peaceful transfer of power if Trump lost the election.

Of course, therell be a peaceful transfer and there was last time and therell be a peaceful transfer, Trump said. I just hope were going to have honest elections.

The 2021 transfer from the Trump to Biden presidencies was among the most chaotic and violent in the countrys history.

On Jan. 6, 2021, a group of pro-Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an effort to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 presidential election results. Congress impeached Trump for a second time due to his role in inciting the insurrection.

In September of 2020, Trump didnt commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he lost that election.

Trump said that the hundreds of people the U.S. Justice Department has charged and convicted in their role in the Jan. 6 attack, were not being treated fairly.

Nobody was killed on January 6, Trump said, which is not true. I think that the people of January 6 were treated very unfairly.

Two police officers, Howard Liebengood of the U.S. Capitol Police and Jeffrey Smith of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, died by suicide after Jan. 6 that were ruled a line of duty death. A woman, Ashli Babbitt, was shot and killed by a Capitol police officer as she tried to breach the Speakers Lobby adjacent to the U.S. House floor.
Trump agrees to Sept. 10 debate with Harris, claims two more upcoming

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on February 24, 2024 in National Harbor, Maryland. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Thursday he has agreed to debate Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Sept. 10, a reversal from his position last week that he would not participate in the ABC News event.

During a press conference at Trumps Mar-A-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, the former president said he had also agreed to debates on Sept. 4 and Sept. 25.

The first debate would be hosted by Fox News, he said.

He initially misspoke and said the Sept. 10 debate would be on NBC, with ABC hosting the debate on Sept. 25. His campaign later clarified the ABC News debate would be Sept. 10, the date Trump and President Joe Biden agreed to with ABC before Biden dropped out of the race, with NBC hosting the final debate.

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ABC News confirmed that Trump and the Harris campaign have agreed to the networks debate.

I think its very important to have debates, Trump said.

He then quickly moved on to disparaging Harris.

The Harris campaign, Fox News and NBC did not respond to States Newsrooms requests for comment.

In a press release, the Harris campaign called Trumps press conference a public meltdown, but did not mention if Harris would participate in the Fox News or NBC debate.

Biden was the presumptive Democratic nominee but dropped out of the race following a disastrous performance at the first 2024 general election debate on June 27.

Following Bidens withdrawal, Harris quickly clinched the nomination and kicked off a campaign tour with her newly tapped running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Peaceful transfer of power

During Thursdays press conference, a reporter asked if there would be a peaceful transfer of power if Trump lost the election.

Of course, therell be a peaceful transfer and there was last time and therell be a peaceful transfer, Trump said. I just hope were going to have honest elections.

The 2021 transfer from the Trump to Biden presidencies was among the most chaotic and violent in the countrys history.

On Jan. 6, 2021, a group of pro-Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an effort to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 presidential election results. Congress impeached Trump for a second time due to his role in inciting the insurrection.

In September of 2020, Trump didnt commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he lost that election.

Trump said that the hundreds of people the U.S. Justice Department has charged and convicted in their role in the Jan. 6 attack, were not being treated fairly.

Nobody was killed on January 6, Trump said, which is not true. I think that the people of January 6 were treated very unfairly.

Two police officers, Howard Liebengood of the U.S. Capitol Police and Jeffrey Smith of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, died by suicide after Jan. 6 that were ruled a line of duty death. A woman, Ashli Babbitt, was shot and killed by a Capitol police officer as she tried to breach the Speakers Lobby adjacent to the U.S. House floor.

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Former President Donald Trump on Thursday repeatedly demeaned opponent Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her barely competent, and made a string of false and often confusing claims about her new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

He has positions that its not even possible to believe they exist. Hes going for things that nobodys even heard of. Heavy into the transgender world, heavy into lots of different worlds, Trump told reporters gathered for his first news conference since Harris announced Walz as her vice presidential pick.

Over about an hour, the former president fielded a variety of questions and swerved into familiar talking points, from criticizing Democrats over immigration and the economy to a rant accusing the party of conspiring against President Joe Biden. He insisted that his campaign strategy is unchanged now that Harris is his opponent and said he preferred running against her, at one point speculating that his performance with White male voters would go through the roof.

I havent recalibrated strategy at all. Its the same policies: open borders, weak on crime. I think shes worse than Biden, Trump said. Because he got forced into the position. She was there long before.

Asked about his light campaign schedule, Trump dismissed the question as stupid before saying that hes been busy taping commercials, talking on his phone, the radio and on television programs. He noted, too, that he was holding a news conference, his first in months, before saying Harris is not smart enough to do one of her own. His last campaign event was over the weekend, when he rallied with running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance. Vance, for his part, has campaigned in the same states as Harris and Walz this week.

Trump also spent considerable time on Thursday complaining about media coverage of his campaign rallies, claiming at one point that the audience for his remarks on January 6, 2021  shortly before the riots at the US Capitol  was his biggest ever and, in an absurd turn, compared favorably to the turnout for Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have a Dream speech at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

If you look at what Martin Luther King, when he did his speech, it was a great speech. And you look at ours, same real estate, same everything. Same number of people, if not, we had more, Trump said. And you look at it, and you look at the picture of his crowd and my crowd. We actually had more people. They said I had 25,000, and he had a million people and Im OK with it because I like Dr. Martin Luther King.

Trumps rambling monologues cut a sharp contrast again the newly minted Democratic ticket, which is younger and, in its few appearances so far, more focused on its preferred issue set. The former president, meanwhile, seemed inclined to comment  often with lies or misleading claims  on every matter under the sun, from polling (really good) to the prospects of a new world war (very close).

His forays into more mainstream criticisms of Harris and the state of the country under President Joe Biden struck some familiar, if occasionally head-scratching, lines of attack.

Now you have millions and millions of dead people, and you have people dying financially because they cant buy bacon, they cant buy food, they cant buy groceries, Trump said of Americans. They cant do anything. Theyre living horribly in our country.

Largely, though, Trumps remarks were a rehashing of old grievances and a ramping up of newer, often insulting charges.

Jewish Americans supporting Harris, Trump said, should have their head examined.

Shes been very, very bad to Israel and very bad to Jewish people, he added. He did not specify how, nor that Harris is married to a Jewish man, second gentleman Doug Emhoff.

He went on to downplay the impact that abortion rights will have on the coming election, calling it a very small issue and not a big factor anymore, before falsely claiming  again  that Democrats support abortion even after birth.

The race for the White House, Trump added later, would not be competitive  so long as the election was fairly conducted, again falsely suggesting that past votes have not been.

The (MAGA) base is 75% of the country, Trump said, far beyond the Republican party.

In a minor reversal from past remarks, when he suggested he might not debate Harris at the previously appointed dates and times, Trump on Thursday announced that he had agreed to meet her on three occasions.

I think its very important to have debates, and weve agreed with Fox on a date of September 4. Weve agreed with NBC. Fairly full agreement subject to them on September 10. And weve agreed with ABC on September 25, the former president said.

A senior Trump adviser and an ABC source familiar with the matter both said that the correct dates Trump has agreed to with networks are: September 4 with Fox News, September 10 with ABC and September 25 with NBC.

Trump said minor details were still being worked out, including audience and locations.

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Jerrod Sessler, left, is running for a seat that U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, right, has held since 2015. (Photos courtesy of campaigns)

Jerrod Sesslers lead over Congressman Dan Newhouse grew Wednesday, but Newhouse remained in a position to advance to the general election in November.

Sessler, a Republican endorsed by former President Donald Trump, had 31.2% of the vote as of 5 p.m. on Wednesday. The Associated Press called the primary in Sesslers favor about an hour earlier but still hasnt confirmed Newhouse will get through.

Newhouses share of the vote stands at 24.6%, down slightly from 25% on Tuesday. Tiffany Smiley, another Republican, was in third with 19%, with her share of the vote also slipping by about half a percentage point compared to a day earlier.

If Newhouse makes it out of the primary, hell have a tough path keeping the House seat hes held since 2015.

Hes one of 10 GOP House members who voted to impeach Trump in 2021 and one of only two still serving in the chamber. Thats made him a target for the former president. Trump endorsed both Sessler and Smiley and has attacked Newhouse.

The 4th district covers much of central Washington, from the Canadian border to Oregon, and including the Yakima Valley, the Yakama Indian Reservation, the Tri-Cities, Moses Lake and parts of the North Cascades and the Colville Reservation.

Sessler is a Navy veteran and businessman. He ran for the seat two years ago, garnering 12% of the vote that time around.

In that election cycle, Newhouse, whose background is in farming, finished the primary with 25% of the vote but got about two-thirds of it in November running against a Democrat.
Trump calls news conference at Mar-a-Lago, proposes debates with Kamala Harris as Democrat rises in polls

Former President Donald Trump on Thursday proposed a series of three debates with Kamala Harris in September, as he seeks to stem a sharp rise in support for the Democratic candidate.

Addressing a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort home, Trump said he had agreed to two additional debates on Sept. 4 on Fox and Sept. 25 on NBC.

The Harris campaign has only agreed to one clash, on Sept. 10 on ABC and the network said Thursday that Trump has also agreed to that one.

The other side has to agree (but) Id like to have three debates, Trump said.

With Harris and newly minted vice presidential pick barnstorming battleground states, Trump summoned a group of reporters to the resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump presided over a freewheeling session with reporters touching on the campaign, abortion and his claim that Harris somehow cheated her way into the Democratic nomination.

He claimed without offering any evidence that President Joe Biden is very angry at his decision to step down from the race and hand the baton to Harris.

He had the right to run and they took it away, Trump said. Hes a very angry man right now. Hes not happy with any of the people who forced him out.

He had a rough debate but you dont just take it away from him, Trump added.

On abortion, Trump again dodged question about how he will vote on Floridas referendum to restore abortion rights, which polls say has overwhelming support.

Even before the press conference, Trump had showed signs that Harris is starting to get under his skin.

If Kamala has 1,000 people at a rally, the press goes crazy, and talks about how big it was, Trump said. When I have a rally, and 100,000 people show up  they refuse to mention crowd size.

Trump Wednesday softened his ultimatum that Harris agree to participate in a debate on Fox News and suggested he is open to negotiations over the details of a clash with the Democratic standard bearer.

Trump has taken the week off the campaign trail, only planning a single event in Montana, a reliably Republican state, on Friday. Instead hes left it to his controversial vice presidential pick, JD Vance, to shadow the Democratic ticket as they hopscotch across the swing states that will likely determine the winner of the November election.

Trump praised Vance, saying he has really stepped up and is doing a fantastic job, shooting down rumors that he was considering booting Vance off the ticket.

The last time Trump vowed to hold a press conference was on May 31, after his conviction on 34 felony counts in the Manhattan hush money case.

After summoning reporters to the lobby of Trump Tower, he gave a rambling speech denouncing the verdict and left without responding to shouted questions.

Harris has come under criticism for declining to hold any press conferences or a sit-down interview since she took over the Democratic presidential ticket. She does speak to reporters off the record during campaign trips.

I dont think shes smart enough to have a press conference, Trump said.

Trump insiders say the former president may have called the press conference to recapture the attention of the media, which has mostly ignored him and focused on Harris as she launches her inspirational bid to become the first Black woman president.

Stephanie Grisham, a former Trump spokeswoman turned critic, said calling the press conference suggests Trump is panicking over the rise of Harris, who took the baton when President Biden stepped down from the race.

He thinks his team is failing him & no one can speak better/save his campaign/defend him but him, Grisham tweeted. He hates the coverage Harris is getting & thinks only he can fix it.

Harris now leads in most polling averages and grabbed a healthy 50%-42% advantage over Trump among likely voters in a Marquette University Law School survey released late Wednesday.

Trump has been searching in vain for an effective message to attack Harris since she launched her campaign last month.

He made the false claim that Harris only recently identified as a Black person in a stormy sit-down with reporters at the National Association of Black Journalists.

Trump then posted the far-fetched claim that Biden was considering jumping back into the race.

Trump is reportedly pointing fingers at aides over his dip in fortunes, which ended a seemingly unending streak of good news for him, including surviving assassination and presiding over a unified Republican National Convention.

Weve hit a few speed bumps, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) conceded to The Washington Post. Theres been a rough spot.

_____
The long-running refrain about when JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon will retire has been five yearsunchanged during the nearly two decades hes run the $570 billion bank. Accordingly, he sent shock waves through the business community earlier this year when he announced at an investor event that the timeline was not five years anymore.

In an interview on Wednesday with CNBC, Dimon, who turned 68 in March, confirmed that he will, indeed, retire at some point.

Eventually, I have to leaveI know that, he said. Weve got great people out there.

He also confirmed that the banks emergency CEO successor remains Daniel Pinto, calling him the hit by a bus pick. A native of Argentina, Pinto was named copresident and chief operating officer of JPM in January 2018, and became president and COO in January 2022. According to Dimon, the banks leaders are exceptional, and not just in business. Their heart, their curiosity, and the respectthey engender respect from our employees, our customers, making them a cut above, he said. It will make the boards succession planning run smoothly.

Dimon also hinted that he might stick around as chairman for a year or two before he fully departs from the company, but said JPMorgans board members would ultimately make that call. I have a while to go before Im out of the company, he added.

Succession planning at large-cap companies is often an important issue for investors, and JPM is no different, particularly given Dimons high profile among clients and the public. His timeline took on additional importance following Morgan Stanleys 2023 announcement that new CEO Ted Pick would take over for James Gorman, who led the bank for 14 years. Dimon also suffered an aortic tear in 2020 that nearly killed him, bringing into even sharper relief the need for stability in the CEO transition.

Analyst Mike Mayo, a favorite of Dimons, said on CNBC that Dimon has two years left on his contract and noted that plenty of institutional investors query him about succession planning at the bank. In fact, given Dimons recent public comments about the need for more collaboration in crafting public policy, it may be that he could get more closely involved in politics. For his part, Dimon has remained noncommittal; he did not endorse a presidential candidate and would only say that he loves what hes doing when asked whether he might be interested in government service.

Still, he didnt say no, said Mayo. So that certainly comes to the fore a little more during an election period like that.

Story continues

Mayo estimated that if Dimon left, JPMorgan Chase stock would drop about 5%, shaving $25 billion off the banks market cap, making Dimon the $25 billion man. However, Dimons public comments, including in a recent Washington Post op-ed and his CEO letters have also indicated a willingness to personally invest in a public service role.

In his April 2024 letter to investors, Dimon wrote: Heart cannot be overstated when it comes to leadership.

Heart matters, Dimon wrote. And it makes a difference when people know and see that you actually care.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
The debate is onagain.

During a free-wheeling press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Thursday, Donald Trump re-committed to taking part in ABCs Sept. 10 debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, reversing his stance that the network was too conflicted over his pending lawsuit against it.

I think its very important to have debates, Trump said on Thursday.

He also claimed he agreed to two other debates, a Sept. 4 one hosted by Fox News and a Sept. 25 one hosted by NBC. Harris campaign has not agreed to either the NBC or Fox News debate, and it did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump Claims He Has 30 Times the Crowd Size of Harris

A source familiar with the negotiations told The Daily Beast the ABC debate, moderated by anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis, is expected to take place in Philadelphia. The negotiations for it were led by ABC News Washington Bureau Chief Rick Klein and Executive Editorial Producer John Santucci.

A source familiar with NBCs negotiations said Trump first confirmed the Sept. 25 date during Thursdays press conference, and that the network had not heard back from Harris campaign as of Thursday afternoon.

Thursdays debate reversal came after the former president publicly see-sawed between accepting the ABC debate. He backed out of the square-off last week, claiming he had only agreed to debate President Joe Biden, and that he had a conflict of interest with ABC over his lawsuit against it and anchor George Stephanopoulos over a March interview Stephanopoulos did with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.). He instead suggested he would do Fox News proposed Sept. 4 debate, which the network said could be moderated by anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum.

The vice presidents campaign has attacked Trump for backing out of the debate, holding Trumps previous commitment to it against him.

Ill be there on September 10th, like he agreed to. I hope to see him there, Harris wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Former president Donald Trump came out swinging in a press conference on Thursday, aiming insults at his political rival Vice President Kamala Harris.

In a press conference at his Mar-A-Lago home that lasted over an hour, former president Trump hammered Vice President Harris with attacks ranging from the personal to the political.

Kamalas record is horrible. Shes a radical left person at a level that nobodys seen, Trump said.

He criticized Harris for not holding a press conference since she has become the candidate.

She doesnt know how to do a news conference. Shes not smart enough to do news conference. And Im sorry, we need smart people to lead this country, Trump said.

Plus, he insisted the Team Trump strategy hasnt changed even though the candidate hes running against has.

Its the same policies: open borders, weak on crime. I think shes worse than Biden, Trump said.

Out on the campaign trail, Vice President Harris delivered a message of unity to UAW labor union workers.

We believe in our country, we believe in each other, we believe in the collective. Were not falling for these folks who are trying to divide us, Harris said.

She left her running mate, Governor Tim Walz, to take on their Republican opponents and go after Trump.

Stay out of our business, Walz said. He doesnt know you, he doesnt care about your family and his running mate is just as dangerous backward as he is.

While Democrats say they see energy and momentum building for the Harris-Walz ticket, Team Trump insists theyre in a honeymoon phase that wont last.

They talk about oh the enthusiasm. Let me tell you, we have the enthusiasm. The Republican party and me as a candidate, Trump said.

The candidates are about to get a chance to fight it out face to face. Former president Trump says hes agreed to three debates on three different TV networks in September.

So far, the Harris campaign has only agreed to one of those debates: On September 10th on ABC News.

I look forward to the debates, because I think we have to set the record straight, Trump said.

Glad that hes finally agreed to a debate on September 10th. Im looking forward to it, and I hope he shows up, Harris said.

Vice President Harris added that she is open to discussions about more debates, after the one on September 10th.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally outside Schnecksville Fire Hall on April 13, 2024 in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania. Hundreds of supporters waited hours in a line stretching for more than a mile to see Trump speak in a suburb of Allentown, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to be in Bozeman on Friday for an 8 p.m., rally at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse at Montana State University. While rallies of presidential candidates are known to bring large crowds and media attention, they also bring a slew of logistical and technical challenges.

Large political rallies like this arent common, says Montana State University spokesman Mike Becker, adding that the last time the Fieldhouse hosted a political rally of this scale was during Obamas visit in 2008. We use the same processes of working through the logistics of the event, but itll be unique to work with the Secret Service.

For Secret Service, the indoor venue is a welcome change from Trumps typically outdoor rally sites, but indoor venues located in the heart of cities rather than at the airport, as Trump so often prefers, require far more safety precautions and coordination.

The logistics

Trumps Sept. 6, 2018 rally in Billings at MetraPark, for example, necessitated a multitude of security measures, including protection, crowd control and traffic management. According to 2018 press releases by both the Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office and the Billings Police Department additional assistance was also required from outside agencies Montana Highway Patrol, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, the Laurel Police Department, and both Rosebud County and Carbon County Sheriffs offices. Even Billings Public Works employees were called on to use large city vehicles to help block off two square blocks of downtown Billings for close to 20 hours.

Its usually a pretty all-hands-on-deck situation, says Billings Police Department Public Information Officer Lt. Matt Lennick. We work closely with the Secret Service and usually have to bring in extra staff, because at the same time we still have to monitor our calls for service and respond to calls within the city. Its pretty extensive for our department and costly because of the amount of overtime and things like that.

That cost can quickly add up, and for many municipalities its often impossible to predict ahead of time what that cost will be. As Billings Police Chief St. John told the Billings Gazette in 2018 in preparation for Trumps rally in Billings, We wont have any idea of the cost (of Trumps visit) until we get the final bill.

And its something that cant be stuck in a budget plan.

Ive never seen the situation where we knew ahead of time in a budget year that we were going to have a visit because they (candidates) dont put out their schedules that far in advance. My understanding is we normally recoup whatever cost we can on the backside, Lennick said.

Attempting to recoup those costs is what the Billings Police Department, years later, is still trying to do.

The taxpayer burden

Trumps campaign has been notorious for flaking on bills for security. According to a 2019 report from the Center for Public Integrity, Trump owed more than $840,000 to various city governments, and likely more, as Trumps campaign does not acknowledge a single one of these city governments as debt in his federal campaign financial disclosures.

In Billings, the protective measures put in place for his September 2018 rally resulted in 1,362 overtime hours between Billings PD and the Yellowstone County Sheriffs office: 951 hours from the former, and 411 hours from the latter, bringing the total cost to $58,830.

While the Yellowstone Sheriffs office did not bill Trumps campaign for the $12,930 cost it incurred  a standard practice the office follows for all political campaigns  Billings PD did, and as of the publication date of this article, that $45,900 bill has been left unpaid.

Earlier that year, Vice President Mike Pence and Donald Trump Jr. also made stops in Billings. The vice president spoke at a public rally on July 25, also at MetraPark, organized by America First Policies. Donald Trump Jr. spoke at the Republican Convention in Billings on June 22.

According to an internal memo sent to city council on Sept. 13, 2018, Vice President Mike Pences July 25 visit required 647.50 hours of overtime pay, totalling $31,200. Donald Trump Jr.s visit ran $5,000 in overtime pay, bringing the total amount spent by the Billings Police Department alone on security for Trumps campaign rallies in Billings in 2018 to $82,100.

Billings isnt alone. Missoula county commissioners also sent a bill to the Trump campaign in 2018 for nearly $13,000 for public safety staffing costs. The county requested $10,835.41 for officer salaries, $1,059.26 for dispatcher salaries, $693.72 for Office of Emergency Management salaries, and $334.43 for miscellaneous expenses. According to Missoula County Communications Manager Allison Franz, that bill has also not been paid.

Some municipalities, like Great Falls, dont submit requests for payment, instead eating the cost from their own budgets. The Great Falls Tribune reported Trumps July 5 visit to Great Falls cost the city, Cascade County and Montana Highway Patrol a total of $57,236, none of which was submitted for payment to Trumps campaign.

In total, in 2018 alone, Trumps campaign cost various city and state departments  whether they billed for reimbursement and werent paid, or never billed at all  at least $150,000 in taxpayer money.

Its a lot for a budget, Lennick said. Its not something thats built into our initial budget that we plan every year.

A different ballgame

Trumps rallies, while similar in size to other candidates, consistently have higher security costs. For one, he is a former president, which comes with an added layer of security compared to other candidates.

For example, Trumps October rally in Missoula had an estimated 8,000 attendees and cost Missoula County nearly $13,000 while Bernie Sanders 2016 rally had 9,000 attendees and the mayors spokeswoman told NBC Montana that the cost to the city was minimal, resulting in only five paid hours in police overtime. The rest of the cost was covered by Secret Service.

Trumps rallies are also known for their large crowds of protestors, an added safety concern for all parties involved.

Its important that your local sheriff is the one handling protestors because we know these people, says Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter, adding that no matter the cost law enforcement will always be up for the job. As local law enforcement its our duty to protect the process of our elections and keep our community safe when candidates and presidents show up.

The total cost for Gallatin remains to be seen. Sheriff Dan Springer declined requests for comment and City of Bozeman Communications and Engagement Specialist Allison Killip directed all questions regarding potential costs to Trumps campaign.

Its unknown whether or not the assassination attempt at Trumps July 13 Pennsylvania Rally will drive security costs further.

Montana State University however, will at least get some money ahead of time.

Anyone who rents the Fieldhouse has to put down a deposit, says university spokesman Mike Becker, which amounts to the first days cost of $3,250. If they cancel, theyd owe $6,500.
Former President Donald Trump re-committed to a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris on ABC on Sept. 10, after backing out last week.

At a rare press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump added that he would participate in an additional debate on Sept. 25 on NBC, with a fairly full agreement in place, and also reiterated his support for a debate on Fox News on Sept. 4. In his remarks, Trump confused the dates for the ABC and NBC debates, though a spokesperson later clarified his comments.

Harris campaign previously agreed to ABCs debate proposal after President Joe Bidens withdrawal from the race. But the vice president hasnt agreed to either the Fox News date, which Trump had previously floated, or the NBC News debate, which Trump suggested for the first time on Thursday.

Trumps reversal comes as the Republican nominee confronts Harris rising poll numbers and has privately expressed frustration with the status of his campaign in the wake of Harris ascension to the top of the Democratic presidential ticket. Trumps comments appear to increase the odds that Harris and Trump will face each other on the debate stage before voters go to the polls this fall.



Trump said Thursday that his campaign had spoken with the heads of ABC, NBC, and Fox News, with whom the details of each debate had been settled except for whether an audience will be present and where each face-off will take place. He said the Harris campaign still has to agree to the proposals, though a Harris spokesperson last week said in reference to the ABC debate: Mr. Anytime, anywhere, anyplace should have no problem with that unless hes too scared to show up on the 10th.

ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis were set to moderate the Sept. 10 debate when the initial agreement was reached between the Trump and Biden campaigns earlier this summer. Trump previously expressed support for the Fox News debate to be held in the swing state of Pennsylvania and be moderated by Fox anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum.

Trump said he was seeking the debates to set the record straight about Harris, who he painted as too liberal and stage-controlled, accusing her of avoiding media interviews and promoting harmful policies on the border and the economy.

And he also suggested that his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, would participate in a vice presidential debate on CBS. The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Natalie Allison contributed to this report.
Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump gave a blunt assessment of the nation before revealing a series of dates his campaign has agreed on for presidential debates with Vice President Kamala Harris at a press conference Thursday.

I think that our country is right now in the most dangerous position its ever been in, from an economic standpoint, from a safety standpoint, the former president said. We have a lot of bad things coming up. You could end up in a depression of the 1929 variety. Trump also said he sees the possibility of another world war.

Trump then directed attacks at his presumptive opponent in November, Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she didnt go through a primary process and pointing fingers at her horrible record in California, where she was a district attorney and state attorney general. He also attacked her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, for his progressive policy stances. He offered a pointed criticism against the Harris-Walz ticket. Trump said several times that the Harris campaign is avoiding reporters.

Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, the press conference marked Trumps first public appearance since Harris tapped Walz to be her running mate for the 2024 presidential election.

Harris and Walz headlined their first rally together in Philadelphia on Tuesday before embarking on a cross-country tour, holding rallies in seven battleground states over five days, as the Deseret News reported. At one such campaign event in Detroit, Harris faced interruptions during her remarks from pro-Palestine protesters.

You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, Im speaking, Harris said before giving the protesters a long stare. As USA Today reported, the heated exchange shows the existing fractures within the Democratic Party over the Israel-Gaza war, a likely challenge for the Harris-Walz ticket.

Trump slams Harris for lack of unscripted media appearances

At the press conference, Trump gave out details about the agreements his campaign reached with television networks for three presidential debates. He said Fox News will broadcast one on Sept. 4, NBC News on Sept. 10 and ABC News on Sept. 25.

We have spoken to the heads of the network, and its all been confirmed, other than some fairly minor details, he said, like whether there will be a live audience, and the specific locations. But all things that will be settled very easily. ... The other side has to agree to terms. They may or may not agree.

She hasnt done an interview, she cant do an interview, shes fairly incompetent, and she cant do an interview. But I look forward to the debates, because I think we have to set the record straight, Trump continued.

Trump spent around 45 minutes answering questions from reporters, from debating over the number of attendees his rallies garnered compared to Harris to what billionaire Elon Musks endorsement means to him.

His latest criticism focused on Harris not giving unscripted remarks and stumbling on the odd occasion she does go off script.

This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy and understands the strength that rests in understanding the significance of diplomacy and strengthening alliances, Harris said last week upon the return of several American prisoners from Russian prison.

The press conference isnt Trumps only media appearance as of late. On Wednesday, he phoned into a Fox News studio and took questions from reporters at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Trump: Biden had a right to pursue a second term

Trump spoke in defense of President Joe Biden, saying although he isnt a fan of the Biden White House, Biden didnt have the opportunity to seek a second term, as granted by the Constitution.

People were saying he lost, after the debate he couldnt win. Well, I dont know that thats true, necessarily, but whether he could win or he couldnt win, he had the right to run, Trump said. And they took it away, referring to former President Barack Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who reportedly exerted pressure on Biden to step down behind closed doors.

Im not complaining, Trump added. The former president also claimed Biden is unhappy and angry with the top Democratic Party minds who went against him.
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have agreed to a debate.

ABC News confirmed Thursday afternoon that the two candidates would stick to the Sept. 10 debate date originally set when President Joe Biden was still running for re-election.

Trump confirmed that he had accepted the invitation once again during a news conference at his Florida estate Mar-a-Lago.

I think its very important to have debates, Trump said Thursday. I look forward to the debates because I think we have to set the record straight.

Harris later wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she heard Trump has finally committed to debate her.

I look forward to it, she wrote.

RELATED STORIES:

After Harris entered the race, Trump said he would debate Harris if it was on Fox News, saying ABC was biased.

Harris has accused Trump of running scared and trying to back out of the debate.

During his news conference Thursday, Trump repeatedly suggested Harris was not intelligent enough to debate him. Harris, for her part, has tried to goad Trump into debating and told an audience in Atlanta recently that if he had anything to say about her, he should say it to my face.

Trump grew visibly perturbed when pressed on Harris crowds and newfound Democratic enthusiasm, dismissing a question about his lighter campaign schedule as stupid.

Trump says he has not recalibrated his campaign despite facing a new opponent, a dynamic some Republican strategists have quietly complained about.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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After China announced broad measures to rescue its economy, Chinese stocks surged, our Chart of the Week shows. It's not the first time the country has attempted to get out of the recent doldrums, but the market's reaction says this time might be different.
Trump recommits to a Sept. 10 debate and lashes out at Harris at news conference

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP)  Donald Trump recommitted to debating Vice President Kamala Harris after recently backing out, holding a lengthy news conference Thursday in which he taunted his new rival, boasted of his crowd on Jan. 6, 2021, and lashed out at questions about the enthusiasm her campaign has been generating.

As the Republican presidential nominee addressed reporters at his Palm Beach, Florida, estate, ABC announced that Trump and Harris, the Democratic nominee, have agreed to a Sept. 10 debate, setting up a widely anticipated faceoff in an already unparalleled election. Trump said he had proposed three debates with three television networks in September.

Trump again wrongly insisted there had been a peaceful transfer of power in 2021 and renewed attacks on Republican rivals like Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, whom Trump has harshly criticized since Kemp refused to go along with his false theories of election fraud.

In taking questions from reporters for more than an hour, Trump tried to draw a contrast with Harris, who has not held a news conference since President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race.

Another key moment in the election is set

Trump's decision to go on ABC sets up a high-stakes moment in an election where Biden's catastrophic performance in the last debate set in motion his withdrawal.

Just five days earlier, he had declared he would not debate on ABC and said his agreement with the network had been terminated. He wrote on his social media site that if Harris wouldnt appear on Fox News on Sept. 4 instead, I wont see her at all.

On Thursday, he announced a change of heart  and tried to pressure Harris to agree to two more September debates on Fox and on NBC.

Asked what he will do if a Harris only agrees to the ABC debate, he said: I dont know how thats gonna work out. Wed like to do three debates. We think we should do three debates.

A few hours after the news conference, Harris told reporters she was "glad he has finally committed to debate her on ABC on Sept. 10, the date that had originally been set for a Biden faceoff against Trump and which her campaign has long stuck to.

I'm looking forward to it and hope he shows up, she said.

Thursday's event was Trump's first public appearance since Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Trump called Walz a radical left man.

Between her and him, theres never been anything like this, Trump said. Theres certainly never been anybody so liberal like these two.

He repeatedly suggested Harris was not intelligent enough to debate him. Harris, for her part, has tried to goad Trump into debating and told an audience in Atlanta recently that if he had anything to say about her, he should " say it to my face.

Trump grew visibly perturbed when pressed on Harris crowds and newfound Democratic enthusiasm, dismissing a question about his lighter campaign schedule as stupid.

Trump says he has not recalibrated his campaign despite facing a new opponent, a dynamic some Republican strategists have quietly complained about.

When asked what assets Harris possessed, Trump said: Shes a woman. She represents certain groups of people.

Trump has repeatedly  and falsely  accused Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, of previously downplaying that she is Black.

Trump acknowledges weakness with Black women

Trump recognized some changing patterns with his new opponent, acknowledging he may not be as popular with Black women, one of Democrats key voting blocs. He expressed a lot of confidence in his support from Black men.

It could be Ill be affected somewhat with Black females but were really doing well, he said. And I think ultimately theyll like me better because Im going to give them security, safety and jobs. Im going to give them a good economy.

Trump campaign officials told reporters ahead of the news conference they believe Harris is currently enjoying a honeymoon period.

They argued the fundamentals of the race have not changed and the mood of the country remains sour, with Americans frustrated by the state of the economy, the administration and the countrys directions. They say that while Harris has energized the Democratic base, she will not be able to win over Republicans or convert independents or the persuadable voters they are focused on targeting.

Trumps campaign plans to spend the next three months hammering Harris as failed, weak and dangerously liberal, blaming her for every one of the the Biden administrations unpopular policies and mocking her mannerisms and speaking style.

Trump takes questions about abortion

Trump suggested abortion will not be a major issue in the campaign and the outcome in November.

He insisted that the matter has become much less of an issue since the Supreme Court ended the federal constitutional right to abortion services and returned control of the matter to state governments. But the issue is widely seen as a general election liability, and Trump named states such as Ohio and Kansas that have since voted to protect abortion rights.

Trump also said he expected Florida will go in a little more liberal way than people thought when it votes to repeal an abortion ban later this year, but he did not respond to questions asking how he would vote.

Trump argued that Democrats, Republicans and everybody are pleased with the results of the 2022 ruling that overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

Trumps actions within the GOP, however, suggest he knows that Democrats already have capitalized on Republican opposition to abortion rights and could do so again this fall. Trump single-handedly ensured that the Republican Party platform adopted at the 2024 convention in Milwaukee does not call for a national ban on abortion, and he has said repeatedly that hardliners in the party could cost the GOP in November.

The courts decision, issued months ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, is widely cited as a reason that Democrats fared much better than expected in House and Senate contests. And Democrats have hammered Trump in paid advertisements blaming him and the justices he appointed for ending Roe.

Trump again makes false claims on Jan. 6

Trump falsely claimed during the press conference that nobody was killed on Jan. 6, the date in 2021 when pro-Trump rioters breached the U.S. Capitol amid Congress effort to certify Biden's 2020 election victory after Trump refused to concede.

Ashli Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from San Diego was shot and killed by a police officer as she climbed through a broken part of a Capitol door during the violent riot that breached the building.

To be sure, Trump has often cited Babbitts death while lamenting the treatment of those who first attended a rally outside the White House that day, then marched to the Capitol, many of whom fought with police and entered the building.

I think those people were treated very badly. When you compare it to other things that took place in this country where a lot of people were killed, Trump said Thursday.

He also falsely claimed more people attended his speech at a Stop the Steal rally before the riot than the famous March on Washington in 1963, the iconic event at which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his I Have a Dream speech.

Trump was asked about Biden's comments in a CBS interview that he was not confident there would be a peaceful transfer of power if Trump were to lose.

He should have brought this up at the debate if he had a problem. Of course there'll be a peaceful transfer, and there was last time.

While Biden was inaugurated on schedule, Washington was on lockdown that day, with the streets patrolled by military personnel and domestic police two weeks after Trumps supporters had attacked the Capitol. ___

Associated Press writers Will Weissert in Washington and Darlene Superville in Romulus, Mich. contributed to this report.
Trump and Harris to debate on ABC; Trump says he wants two more

Trump and Harris to debate on ABC; Trump says he wants two more

By Jeff Mason and Nathan Layne

DETROIT (Reuters) -U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Democratic opponent Kamala Harris will debate on Sept. 10 on ABC, setting up the first face-to-face match-up between the rivals in what polls show is a close race.

In a news conference at his Palm Beach, Florida, residence, Trump said he wanted additional debates on Sept. 4 and Sept. 25 that would air on Fox and NBC .

Harris said in a post on X that she was looking forward to the Sept. 10 debate after Trump "finally committed."

She told reporters after a Detroit-area campaign stop that she was open to discussing more debates, but a campaign official reiterated their position that a Sept. 4 Fox debate is off the table.

Discussions on future debates depend on Trump's participating in the Sept. 10 debate on ABC, the official said. The Harris campaign had already opposed a Fox debate, saying the host network should be one that sponsored recent primary debates by both parties.

Trump previously suggested he might back out of the ABC debate, scheduled before Harris, the U.S. vice president, replaced President Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential candidate less than three weeks ago, upending the contest. The Sept. 10 debate on ABC was to be the second of two agreed upon between Biden and Trump, following their June 27 debate on CNN.

An Ipsos poll published on Thursday found Harris has widened her lead over Trump since late July. She leads Trump 42% to 37%, compared with a July 22-23 Reuters/Ipsos survey that showed her up 37% to 34% over Trump.

Thursday's Palm Beach news conference was Trump's first public appearance since Harris selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate on Tuesday.

Harris and Walz have headlined rallies in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin this week, drawing tens of thousands of attendees in a fresh sign of how her late entry into the race has galvanized Democrats. Thursday's stop by the Democratic pair at a union hall came as the campaign said it sees labor groups as a key to tipping the balance in the election.

Harris' rapid rise has sent Trump's team scrambling to recalibrate its strategy and messaging. Opinion polls show Harris has erased the lead Trump had built over Biden, and Democrats have raked in hundreds of millions of dollars from voters and big donors since she became the party's candidate.

Trump insisted on Thursday he has not altered his approach to the race. In a question-and-answer session with reporters that stretched beyond an hour, Trump hopped from topic to topic and said Harris and Walz are weak candidates.

Nevertheless, Trump lamented that he isn't able to face Biden in the Nov. 5 election, suggesting the president was a victim of a plot to dislodge him from atop the Democratic ticket.

Biden dropped his faltering reelection bid under pressure from fellow Democrats worried about his chances of victory after a poor debate performance against Trump.

Asked about his controversial comments last week that Harris, who is of Black and Indian decent, recently "happened to turn Black," Trump said: "You'll have to ask her that question, because she's the one that said it, I didn't say it. ... To me it doesn't matter. But to her, from her standpoint, I think it's very disrespectful to both, really, whether it's Indian or Black, I think it's very disrespectful to both."

Trump's initial comments, delivered to an audience of Black journalists, drew widespread condemnation and left donors and aides baffled and alarmed. The Trump campaign didn't immediately comment further to provide evidence of remarks by Harris that Trump said he was referring to.

Trump on Thursday also mocked the size of Harris' campaign crowds, even though they have matched his of late. He falsely claimed the size of the crowd he addressed on Jan. 6, 2021  the day his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol  was as large as those who packed the National Mall in Washington for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963.

"We actually had more people," Trump said. "But I'm ok with it, because I liked Dr. Martin Luther King."

King delivered his speech to an estimated 250,000 people in August 1963, according to the National Constitution Center. Trump's rally on Jan. 6, 2021, drew about 53,000 supporters, according to the House of Representatives Select Committee's "187 minutes of dereliction" report.

Echoing a recent attack line from his campaign, Trump criticized Harris for not doing a press interview since launching her campaign.

"She can't do an interview. She's barely competent," Trump said, later again calling her "nasty," a go-to line that he often uses to disparage female critics.

Trump has conducted a steady stream of media interviews, though they are usually with friendly, right-leaning outlets and reporters. On Wednesday, he called into the "Fox & Friends" morning program and took questions from the program's hosts.

Trump announced the Palm Beach news conference on Thursday morning on his social media platform. Only a select group of reporters were given the advance notice needed to travel to his Florida resort in time. Reuters was not extended an invitation.

Harris answered a handful of questions from reporters after meeting with auto workers in Wayne, Michigan, on Thursday, following the United Auto Workers union's endorsement of her candidacy. She said she wants to schedule a sit-down interview "before the end of the month."

(Reporting by Jeff Mason in Detroit and Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut; Additional reporting by Nora Eckert, Trevor Hunnicutt, Jarrett Renshaw, James Oliphant, Alexandra Ulmer and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Joseph Ax; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Jonathan Oatis, Alistair Bell and Leslie Adler)
Former President Donald Trump spent nearly an hour at his Palm Beach, Florida, social club on Thursday ranting to a room full of reporters as he tries to grab the spotlight from a resurgent Democratic ticket fronted by Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

The ex-presidents campaign had called the hand-picked group of journalists to Mar-a-Lago, where he attacked Harris as a radical left person during a rambling monologue in which he claimed that America is in the most dangerous position it's ever been in and very close to a world war without offering evidence to support those assertions. In one bit of news, Trump said that he has agreed to debates hosted by Fox News on September 4, ABC on September 10, and NBC on September 25.

We have spoken to the heads of the network, and it's all been confirmed, other than some fairly minor details, he said.

But only the September 10 debate on ABC has been agreed on by both the Trump campaign and the Democratic campaign now headed by Harris after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race last month.

Approximately 12,000 people came to watch Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz at their first joint appearance (AP)

Trump had previously backed out of the debate in a fit of pique after Bidens exit from the race in favor of Harris last month, but in a post on X, ABC Washington Bureau Chief Rick Klein confirmed that both the Trump and Harris campaigns have agreed to participate in a face-off on the Disney-owned network.

The Harris campaign has not agreed to participate in any other debates, but the former president suggested that her failure to do so would be evidence that shes incapable of debating even though she has run for office and debated opponents on numerous occasions.

I don't know if theyre going to agree they she hasnt done an interview, she cant do an interview, she's barely competent, and she cant do an interview. But I look forward to the debates, because I think we have to set the record straight, he said.

The ex-president also took a swipe at the record crowds drawn by Harris and Walz, claiming at one point that one of his events drew more people than the 1963 March on Washington featuring civil rights activist Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr. That event drew more than 250,000 people  far more than have attended any of Trumps political rallies.

Harris and Walz have been filling venues to capacity since they were rolled out as a ticket, with more than 12,000 people attending their first joint event in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Trump went on to attack Biden, who is no longer running for president, calling him the worst president in the history of our country and repeating an oft-told lie that other countries are deliberately emptying prisons and mental institutions and sending their former inmates to the United States.

He also complained that Harris is now leading the Democratic ticket, calling her a vice president who is the least admired, least respected, and the worst vice president in the history of our country, the most unpopular vice president, who is now running in Bidens stead because of political reasons ... even though she never received a vote.

In reality, Harris and Biden both received more than 81,000,000 votes when they ran against Trump and then-Vice President Mike Pence in 2020, defeating them in both the popular vote and the electoral college.

But Trump continued to fixate on Harriss previous record in presidential politics, citing her unsuccessful 2020 campaign which ended before the Iowa caucuses, and suggested that Biden, who has said picking Harris to run with him was the best decision he ever made, might not be happy with the move because she has now succeeded him on the Democratic ticket.

Donald Trump holds a rambling press conference at his Mar-a-Lago club on August 8 (AP)

The presidency was taken away from Joe Biden, and Im no Biden fan, but I tell you what, from a constitutional standpoint, from any standpoint you look at, they took the presidency away, and people were saying he lost after the debate, he couldnt win. Well, I dont know that that's true, necessarily, but whether he could win or he couldnt win, he had the right to run. And they took it away, he said.

He added that he is now running against someone else  Harris  and claimed that hes still leading even though many recent opinion polls show him trailing or in a statistical tie with her since she became the Democrats presumptive nominee.

Asked if he was changing anything about his campaign now that Harris is his opponent, Trump replied: I haven't recalibrated strategy at all.

In a press release, the Harris campaign called Trump the most insecure man in America.

Campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa said Trump was throwing tantrums online and today at his country club for the media because he wasnt getting the attention he craves.

The self-obsessed, convicted felon is incensed hes not in the spotlight as Vice President Harris and Governor Walz barnstorm the nation talking about their vision for an America of opportunity and security  where freedom and democracy are protected and everyone has a fair shot not just to get by, but to get ahead, he said.

Trump has no vision, he has no solutions, and he is running a campaign of revenge and retribution to enact his Project 2025 agenda and make peoples lives worse. Its why voters will reject him again at the ballot box this November.
A federal judge imposed a $125 million fine on Ripple after finding last year that its institutional sales of XRP violated federal securities laws.

The judge reiterated her view that Ripple's programmatic sales of XRP to retail clients through exchanges did not violate federal securities laws.

A federal judge ordered Ripple to pay $125 million in civil penalties and imposed an injunction against future securities law violations on Wednesday.

District Judge Analisa Torres, of the Southern District of New York, imposed the fine after finding that 1,278 institutional sale transactions by Ripple violated securities law, leading to the fine. The $125.035 million fine is well below the $1 billion in disgorgement and prejudgment interest and $900 million in civil penalties the SEC sought.

Wednesday's order on remedies follows the judge's July 2023 ruling in the case itself, finding that Ripple violated federal securities laws through its direct sale of XRP to institutional clients, though she also ruled that Ripple's programmatic sales of XRP to retail clients through exchanges did not violate any securities laws.

The SEC tried unsuccessfully to appeal that portion of the ruling while the case was ongoing.

Judge Torres also banned Ripple from future violations of federal securities laws on Wednesday, saying that while she isn't making a judgement that Ripple has violated any laws after the SEC filed its lawsuit, the company may well "cross the line" in a section referring to Ripple's "on demand liquidity" offerings.

"Rather, the Court finds that Ripples willingness to push the boundaries of the Order evinces a likelihood that it will eventually (if it has not already) cross the line," she said. "On balance, the Court finds that there is a reasonable probability of future violations, meriting the issuance of an injunction."

The injunction document requires Ripple to file a registration statement if it intends to sell any securities.

The SEC is likely to appeal the July 2023 ruling now that the judge has imposed a sentence, after the same judge denied the SEC's motion for an interlocutory appeal last year.

The SEC and Ripple settled charges tied to CEO Brad Garlinghouse and other executives after that interlocutory appeal was denied.

The price of XRP rose 3 cents, or around 2%, after the judgement was published.
Trump keeps calling Harris Kamabla but nobody seems to know the meaning behind it

Donald Trump has tried out a number of nicknames as he tries to define Kamala Harris in the presidential race. There was Laffin Kamala, and there was Lyin Kamala but there has been none so confusing as simply Kamabla.

Because nobody knows what it means.

During the 2016 campaign, as he took on the Republican establishment in the GOP primary, he called former Florida Governor Jeb Bush Low-energy Jeb, Texas Senator Ted Cruz was also Lyin and then there was Florida Senator Marco Rubio who was targeted as Liddle Marco.

More recently, in the 2020 election cycle, it was Sleepy Joe Biden. He has also gone after the New York attorney general as Letitia Peekaboo James.

On Monday night, Trump took to Truth Social, writing, People vote with their STOMACH, and food is now at an all time high because of Kamabla/Biden INCOMPETENCE. With them in charge, IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE!

Ten minutes later, he added: Kamabla has stated, over and over again, that she wants to DEFUND THE POLICE AND, WITHOUT QUESTION, BAN FRACKING. NO MORE FOSSIL FUEL. This quadruple the cost of energy in America! DEPRESSION ANYONE!

Trump has kept using Kamabla and crazy Kamabla in his Truth Social posts, without expanding on what he means by it.

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during a campaign rally. He has started to call his rival Kambala but nobody seems to know why. (REUTERS)

North Dakota governor and former Trump VP contender Doug Burgum deflected when asked about the nickname on CNN.

I cant comment on that but I do know when voters are making a decision, theyre going to vote in many ways their pocketbook, he said.

The man Trump eventually picked to be his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, laughed when asked if he knew what the nickname meant and said hes not planning on using it, adding that he hasnt spoken to Trump about it.

I think the president, obviously, he loves to give people nicknames and I think that hes going to keep on doing that, he said, according to Semafor. I would be shocked if its the last nickname he gives her before the end of the election.

Kamabla represents all the hurt and misery the Biden-Harris administration has brought to every single American, the Trump campaign told the Intelligencer.

Trump hasnt yet used the name during a rally or other public appearance leaving it unclear how he would pronounce it. But one guess is trying to add the word blah to Kamalas name, possibly in an attempt to brand her as dull or incoherent.

Trump could also be trying to combine the names Kamala and Obama. Earlier in the campaign, he claimed the former president was in charge of the Biden administration, and he has said Obama when he intended to say Biden on a number of occasions.

Trump could be trying to combine the names Kamala Harris and Barack Obama. Earlier in the campaign, he claimed the former president was in charge of the Biden administration, and he has said Obama when he intended to say Biden on a number of occasion (AP)

On Tuesday, Trump made clear in a post on Truth Social that Obama continues to be on his mind.

What are the chances that Crooked Joe Biden, the WORST President in the history of the U.S., whose Presidency was Unconstitutionally STOLEN from him by Kamabla, Barrack HUSSEIN Obama, Crazy Nancy Pelosi, Shifty Adam Schiff, Cryin' Chuck Schumer, and others on the Lunatic Left, CRASHES the Democrat National Convention and tries to take back the Nomination, beginning with challenging me to another DEBATE, he wrote.

He feels that he made a historically tragic mistake by handing over the U.S. Presidency, a COUP, to the people in the World he most hates, and he wants it back, NOW!!! he added.

It could simply be a misspelling that Trump is using to show dominance. For instance, he called Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Rob for some time during the primary campaign.

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi has used a similar tactic against the former president, saying Now mind you, just to remind, when whats-his-name was president and the Republicans were in power... during a 2021 CNN appearance.

Trump has also called Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren Pocahontas after she noted her Native American heritage and he has called Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnells wife Elaine Chao, his former Labor Secretary, Coco Chow.

Both nicknames have been widely panned as racist. Similarly, Trump attacked former UN Ambassador and primary rival Nikki Haley by noting that her birth name was Nimarata Nikki Randhawa in an attempt to claim that she was hiding her true identity. Trump frequently misspelled her name as Nimrada or Nimbra.

Some have suggested that Trump is trying to target Harriss Indian heritage or that hes trying to shoehorn the word Black into her name.

The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.
As Donald Trumps allies are desperately trying to dig up dirt on Kamala Harris newly-named running mate, Tim Walz, many have criticized Walzs handling of the 2020 protests following the murder of George Floyd  while Trump himself praised the Minnesota Democrat at time.

On Tuesday, Trumps vice presidential pick, Senator J.D. Vance, claimed that Walz was cheering on rioters in Minneapolis as the city burned. The false statement was echoed in a press release by the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee, and the MAGA Inc. super PAC, per NBC News. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) wrote on X that Walz let rioters burn Minneapolis to the ground in 2020, while House GOP Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) posted that Walz supported Defund the Police BLM that torched cities to the ground.

Despite the slew of Republicans denouncing Walz, audio obtained by ABC News reveals that Trump told a group of governors during a phone call that he was very happy with the Minnesota governor for bringing in big numbers of law enforcement into the city and pointed to his leadership as an example for others to follow.

I know Gov. Walz is on the phone, and we spoke, and I fully agree with the way he handled it the last couple of days, Trump said on the June 1, 2020, call, adding that Walz was an excellent guy.

I was very happy with the last couple of days, Tim, Trump continued. You called up big numbers and the big numbers knocked them out so fast it was like bowling pins.

Elsewhere on the call, Trump asserted that he had encouraged Walz to call in the National Guard and commented, I said, you got to use the National Guard in big numbers. According to ABC News, a Harris-Walz campaign spokesperson said this was not true.

Unearthed audio: Trump tells Tim Walz in 2020 he is very happy with his handling of George Floyd protests: I fully agree with the way he handled it [Tim Walz is an] excellent guy



(Trump is now trying to criticize Walz over the same issue) pic.twitter.com/5Ii1EhBZo4  Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) August 7, 2024

Despite his favorable sentiments at the time, Trump called Harris choice for vice president a shocking pick. During a Wednesday interview on Fox News Fox and Friends, Trump said, I never thought this was going to be the one who was picked. The ex-president said Walz was a very liberal man, adding, I could not be more thrilled.

Trump also claimed that Walz was as liberal as Bernie Sanders. But, as The Hill pointed out, Walzs voting record shows hes much more moderate than the independent senator from Vermont.

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  While former President Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance have been hammering Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over his response to the violence that erupted after George Floyds murder, Trump told the governor at the time that he fully agreed with how Walz handled it.

What they did in Minneapolis was incredible. They went in and dominated, and it happened immediately, Trump told Walz and other governors and officials in a phone call on June 1, 2020. The Associated Press on Wednesday obtained an audio recording of the call, which has taken on new significance now that Walz has been tapped as Vice President Kamala Harris running mate against Trump and Vance.

Other administration officials on the call included Defense Secretary Mark Esper; Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Attorney General William Barr.

ABC News reported on the call earlier Wednesday, a day after Harris introduced Walz as her vice presidential pick. CNN posted a transcript of the call back in 2020.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks at a campaign rally Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Romulus, Mich., with Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Protests erupted in Minneapolis and around the world after Floyd was murdered by Derek Chauvin, a white former officer who knelt on the Black mans neck for nearly 9 1/2 minutes, on May 25, 2020. A bystander video captured Floyds fading cries of I cant breathe. His death forced a reckoning with police brutality and racism. Some of the protests turned violent.

Walz mobilized the Minnesota National Guard three days later to help restore order to Minneapolis after rioting that included the burning of a police station and numerous businesses. Trump offered federal help to Walz later that day, but the governor did not take him up on it.

During a May 2024 fundraiser in St. Paul, Trump repeated a claim he had been making lately that he was responsible for deploying the National Guard. The entire city was burning down.  If you didnt have me as president, you wouldnt have Minneapolis today, Trump told a Republican audience. Trump made similar claims at a rally in St. Cloud last month.

It was actually Walz who gave the mobilization order in response to requests from the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Although Walz came under criticism at the time for not moving faster. There was finger-pointing between Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Walz on who bore responsibility for the delays.

Trump, in the June 1, 2020, call, described Walz as an excellent guy and later said: I dont blame you. I blame the mayor. The president didnt criticize the governor at the time.

Tim, you called up big numbers and the big numbers knocked them out so fast, it was like bowling pins, Trump said.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at the National Association of Black Journalists, NABJ, convention, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

But Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt put a different spin on the call in a statement to the AP on Wednesday.

Governor Walz allowed Minneapolis to burn for days, despite President Trumps offer to deploy soldiers and cries for help from the liberal Mayor of Minneapolis, Leavitt said. In this daily briefing phone call with Governors on June 1, days after the riots began, President Trump acknowledged Governor Walz for FINALLY taking action to deploy the National Guard to end the violence in the city.

Walz did thank Trump on the call, as well as Esper and Milley, for your strategic guidance, very helpful.  Yeah, our city is grieving and in pain.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
Donald Trump delivered an hour-long rambling press conference on Thursday, telling reporters that he has no plans to recalibrate his strategy in the wake of polling upheavals and demanding debates against Harris, despite past attempts to back out of an already-set ABC News face-off.

Answering questions at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the former president made his first public appearance since Vice President Kamala Harris selected Tim Walz as her running mate on the second anniversary of a federal raid to re-capture classified documents that Trump retained after his term.

Our country right now is in the most dangerous position its been in, Trump opened in his doom-and-gloom remarks. You could end up in a depression of the 1929 variety, he said, adding that the country was very close to that.

Trump, seemingly failing to find his words, charged Walz as a radical left uhh man, later saying the Minnesota governor was heavy into the transgender world.

Despite a sparse rally schedule this week, Trump called the presser amid Harris surge in the polls. Recent counts have Harris up nationally by three points, while she took the edge in several key swing states. Asked if the momentum swing would affect his electoral strategy, Trump denied it.

"I haven't recalibrated strategy at all, its the same policies, he said, before attacking a reporter who asked why he backed off the campaign trail in recent days.

Trump shared details of a potential NBC debate on September 10, as well as debates on Sept. 25 and his hopes for a Fox debate on Sept. 4, flipping the script on the ABC debate hed previously agreed to on the 10th. Per an ABC News statement shared by reporter Brian Stelter, Trump misspoke and was recommitting to that ABC News debate. The network now expects the former president's attendance.

On policy questions, Trump argued that abortion has been very much tempered down as a campaign issue and likely wouldnt be a top concern for voters, instead attacking Harris personally.

After defending January 6th rioters and calling their deadly attempt to keep President Joe Biden from being officially certified as the winner of the 2020 race a peaceful protest, Trump doubled down on his claim that the presidency was taken away from Joe Biden.

Were leading, Im not complaining, Trump said, before arguing that Democrats should have conducted a primary race instead of selecting Harris.

Elsewhere, he made the wild claim that nobody has ever spoken to crowds bigger than he has, not even Martin Luther King.

Trump on his January 6 speech: "Nobody has spoken to crowds bigger than me. If you look at Martin Luther King when he did his speech, his great speech, and you look at ours ... we had more." pic.twitter.com/i9DL82vuLg  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 8, 2024

Many immediately pointed to Trump's rambling, unfocused comments and answers as a sign of the 78-year-old's cognitive decline, including conservative political commentator S. E. Cupp.

"Trumps not OK," Cupp wrote in a post to X. "Without the laugh and clap track of his rallies, his incoherent rambling seems even more unhinged, panicked, and desperate."
Donald Trump said he would be willing to do three debates against Kamala Harris after previously backtracking on his commitment to the Sept. 10 debate hed previously agreed to when Joe Biden was the presumptive nominee.

Weve agreed with Fox on a day of Sept. 4, the Republican nominee told reporters in a Mar-a-Lago news conference on Thursday, reiterating the Sept. 4 Fox News debate hed floated on social media  Vice President Harris has yet to agree to that date. Trump when on to note that hed agreed to debates on ABC and NBC, though he mixed up the dates in his remarks  ABC later confirmed that Trump and Harris have both agreed to debate on the network on Sept. 10.

The other debate floated by Trump would be on NBC on Sept. 25, though its unclear if the Harris campaign will agree to that one either. I look forward to these debates. I think its really important that we have them. He noted that Harriss team would have to agree to the terms hes agreed on with the networks hosting these events.

Trumps remarks to members of the press come after Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate on Tuesday. The former president said that, with these agreements with various networks, the vice presidential debate between Walz and Trumps running mate J.D. Vance would be aired on CBS.

During his press conference, Trump bragged about the sizes of his crowds and complained that the crowd at Harris rallies havent been as large, which he wanted the media to point out. However, she has thrown some massive rallies recently with around 10,000 in attendance at one of her appearances this week alongside Walz.

The former president also sparred with the press, telling one of the reporters they were asking a stupid question, as well as spending time during his appearance praising nations led by autocrats. Trump defended people convicted of rioting on Jan. 6 as well, calling his own remarks on that day peaceful and patriotic, as well as bragging that it was the biggest crowd hed ever spoken in front of. Hes previously said that he would pardon people convicted of attacking the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The GOP nominee slammed Harris intelligence, claiming that she is worse than Biden, while also insulting the president and saying, Im not a big fan of his brain. He surprisingly praised Hillary Clintons intelligence, stating that shed done bad things but that he thought it was terrible that the government was considering putting the wife of a former president in jail. Trumps own rallies were often filled with chants of lock her up.

Trump began Thursdays news conference by turning to his talking points on immigration and the southern United States border, where the number of people illegally crossing the border has recently dropped. I think that our country is, right now, in the most dangerous position its ever been in from an economic standpoint, from a safety standpoint  both gangs on the street and, frankly, gangs outside of our country, in the form of other countries that are, frankly, very powerful.

We have leadership who has no clue how to handle them, or how to handle any other situation, he claimed, before arguing that the country was on the verge of a depression or even facing a world war. You could end up in a depression of the 1920-variety  were very close to that and were very close to a world war.

I think Im going to do well with everybody, especially when the facts are out, Trump asserted on Thursday. The fact that you can get no votes, lose the primary system  and that you can then be picked to run for president seems to me actually unconstitutional, perhaps its not.

Despite the trio of new dates, the question of how many of these will actually take place remains to be seen.

Trump told Fox & Friends anchors on Wednesday that it is important for the country that he and Democratic nominee Harris debate. He previously proposed a Sept. 4 debate on Fox News, complaining that ABC and anchor George Stephanopoulos represented conflicts of interest for him and stating that he was in litigation with them. Trump has mockingly called the respected ABC anchor George Slopadopolus multiple times.

Its interesting how any time, any place becomes one specific time, one specific safe space.



Ill be there on September 10th, like he agreed to. I hope to see him there. https://t.co/zqng89X8QD  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 3, 2024

Mike Roe also contributed to this report.

The post Trump Recommits to Debating Kamala Harris Before Election | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
(Bloomberg) -- Eurogroup chief Paschal Donohoe said the prospect of a second Donald Trump presidency is an impetus for the European Union to prepare itself by making its economy less dependent on the US.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg Radio, the Irish minister for public expenditure said that while its up to the American people to choose their next leader, the region should be ready for any eventuality.

Donald Trump has outlined a very different agenda with regard to tariff levels and with regard to trade, Donohoe said. We need to continue to deepen our own economic autonomy, to deepen the performance of our economy and the strength of our economy here in Europe, so that were in a stronger position to deal with the kind of changes that may come out of America.

The remarks build on those of other EU officials such as European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, who said earlier this year that the region should brace for harsh decisions in the event of Trump getting another White House stint. She has pushed for capital markets union as a way of shoring up Europe in advance of that.

Its a really serious issue that could develop across next year, Donohoe said. Im confident well be well positioned to be able to continue to develop the relationship with the US, but within a way that from a European perspective is stronger.

Polls show the November elections to be a tight race. A July Bloomberg News/Morning Consult survey found Vice President Kamala Harris had wiped out Trumps lead among voters in seven battleground states, with the Democrat now ahead 48% to 47%  a statistical dead heat.

Donohoe, who chairs meetings of euro-area finance chiefs, also expressed confidence in the ability of indebted countries such as France to curb deficits, even as that country copes with political upheaval.

Of course, in order for a budget to be passed within the French Parliament, there needs to be a government in place and there needs to be the political consensus to implement that budget, he said. That work is under way, and Im sure will only intensify in the aftermath of the Olympics.

Donohoe acknowledged that investor scrutiny of public finances within the euro zone is intense and will remain so.

We all appreciate this is something the financial markets do monitor and do respond back to in terms of the cost of borrowing, he said. All finance ministers do recognize that that, of itself, will create a dynamic that allows borrowing across next year in particular to come down gradually and to come down credibly.

Donohoe also said:

He hopes the EUs new capital markets commissioner will outline a strengthened action plan on capital-markets union in the early part of next year. I believe a majority is there within the European Parliament to make that happen. And I am very confident that when the new commission is put in place within a matter of months, well see signs of ambition to make that happen.

Irelands nominee to serve as the countrys next EU commissioner  Michael McGrath  would be a great candidate to become capital markets commissioner or any senior role.

--With assistance from Laura Noonan.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican candidate Donald Trump said on Thursday that U.S. presidents should have a say over decisions made by the Federal Reserve, the most explicit indication so far of his interest in infringing on the central bank's independence should he regain the White House.

"I feel the president should have at least (a) say in there," the former president told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. "I think that in my case, I made a lot of money, I was very successful, and I think I have a better instinct than in many cases, people that would be on the Federal Reserve or the chairman."

Trump allies have drafted proposals that would attempt to erode the Fed's independence if he wins, the Wall Street Journal reported in April. The Trump campaign distanced itself from the report at the time.

But his remarks on Thursday indicate he is squarely aligned with one of the proposals' main thrusts: If he becomes president, Trump should be consulted on interest rate decisions, and Fed banking regulation proposals should be subject to White House review.

The Fed chair and the other six members of its board of governors are nominated by the president, subject to confirmation by the Senate. But the Fed enjoys substantial operational independence to make policy decisions that wield tremendous influence over the direction of the world's largest economy and global asset markets.

Among the pegs supporting the U.S. dollar's stature as the world's reserve currency, for instance, is the Fed's ability to set monetary policy on its own without political oversight. That status in turn is key to granting the U.S. government a nearly unchecked ability to borrow on global bond markets at relatively low interest rates despite having a $35 trillion debt load, dubbed the "exorbitant privilege."

'FOUGHT HIM VERY HARD'

The next president - Trump or Democratic candidate Kamala Harris - will have a chance to select the next Fed chair within the first two years of their term.

One path for intruding on the Fed's independence would be to select - and win confirmation for - a nominee willing to be compliant with Trump's wishes to hold sway over the central bank.

Economists worry that could result in the type of policy missteps that occurred in the early 1970s, when Fed Chairman Arthur Burns was pressured by President Richard Nixon - who had appointed him - to maintain expansionary monetary policy ahead of the 1972 election despite evidence of inflationary pressures building.

By 1974, inflation was running above 12% and would remain a persistent problem for the next decade until it was brought under control by Fed Chairman Paul Volcker through crushing interest rate increases that caused two recessions in the early 1980s.

Current Fed Chair Jerome Powell's term as chief expires in 2026, while his seat on the Fed board expires in 2028.

Powell was first appointed to the Fed board by former President Barack Obama, but it was Trump who picked him to lead the central bank, a post Powell assumed in early 2018.

Trump turned against him soon after, railing against the interest rate hikes that the Fed delivered during Powell's first year at the helm.

"I used to have it out with him, I had it out with him a couple of times very strongly," Trump said in his remarks on Thursday. "I fought him very hard."

Indeed, Trump went so far as to discuss firing the Fed chief, although Mick Mulvaney - a former chief of staff to the president - later said Trump came to the conclusion that he likely did not have the power to do so.

That did not stop Trump from continuing to threaten Powell throughout his presidency, a practice President Joe Biden, Trump's successor, has refrained from during his term.

In a Bloomberg interview published last month, Trump said he would not try to oust Powell if he becomes president.

(Reporting by Gram Slattery and Dan Burns; Editing by Ross Colvin and Jamie Freed)
As he refused to answer questions about whether hell accept the results of the 2024 election and avoided acknowledging where he stands on that thorny issue of a peaceful transfer of power, Donald Trump on Thursday painted a rather stark portrait of how exactly he might try to undermine the results of the election if he loses.

His impromptu press conference, seemingly scheduled to fling himself back into the news cycle and counterprogram the press coverage of the Democratic ticket, was vintage Trump: off-the-rails, complete with talk of how he couldve locked up Hillary Clinton when he was president and harping on his crowd sizes. But rather than diving in too deeply on the old hits about how the 2020 election was stolen from him through COVID mitigation measures and other assorted conspiracy theories, he dug in on a fresh rationale he and his allies seem prepped to use in November if they lose.

The Republican Party has been resurrecting old myths about non-citizens voting this spring and summer, a baseless concern that, as my colleague Khaya Himmelman has reported, the party seems to feel has some rhetorical value. Trump and his allies, like House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), have braided the much-hyped border crisis together with unfounded fears of undocumented immigrants heading to the polls en masse to vote for Democrats; House Republicans have pushed legislation that would block non-citizens from voting in federal elections  the fact that this is already illegal and, also, barely ever happens be damned.

In his tirade on Thursday, Trump all but confirmed that this form of election denialism will be in heavy rotation in a few months if Harris beats him, suggesting some amorphous them is trying to flood America with migrants.

Per my colleague John Light:

He then moved into Great Replacement-adjacent territory, wondering why the other side, in his telling, is allowing immigrants to come in, and landing on the conclusion that theyre trying to sign them up to vote. And they have to stop, he added. They cannot let illegal immigrants vote in this upcoming election.

Because this is not actually happening and has never happened, its been somewhat unclear, up until this point, how exactly Republicans and MAGA activists will argue that their loss was actually due to illegal, non-citizen voting on a massive scale. But that didnt stop them in 2020. And Trumps allies in the right-wing media are helping him create datapoints to gesture toward, too. Just this morning the RNC put out a press release highlighting a Breitbart story about one singular undocumented immigrant receiving (but seemingly not even voting with) a mailed-in ballot. The RNC:

As first reported in Breitbart,the RNC and MN GOP have discovered that a non-citizen, legally residing in the U.S., received a primary ballot in Minnesota. This is an alarming failure in Minnesotas election system, potentially not an isolated incident, and a predictable result of poor verification systems. The RNC and MN GOP are demanding answers, citizenship verification prior to registering to vote, and an immediate review of the voter rolls.

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Former President Donald Trump flew on a private jet with the president of the Heritage Foundation, the far-right think tank behind Project 2025, on his way to a conference the institute held in 2022, according to a new report.

The Washington Post obtained flight tracking data and a photo of Trump traveling with Kevin Roberts in April 2022. The image seems to further undercut Trumps claims that he has no idea who was responsible for the controversial conservative blueprint  even though more than a hundred people who worked in his administration had a hand in producing it.

Roberts took over as president of the Heritage Foundation in 2021 and was a key architect of Project 2025, a 920-page document with policy aims that include replacing federal employees with political appointees and eliminating the Department of Education.

Theyre going to lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will do, Trump said in a keynote speech at a Heritage Foundation conference after the 2022 flight.

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts and former President Donald Trump. Associated Press photos

Roberts told the Post in an interview last April that he had discussed Project 2025 with the former president as part of a briefing the Heritage Foundation offered to anyone hoping to win the White House.

I personally have talked to President Trump about Project 2025 because my role in the project has been to make sure that all of the candidates who have responded to our offer for a briefing on Project 2025 get one from me, Roberts told the newspaper.

Trump, for his part, has continued to deny he had any knowledge of the blueprint, and his spokesperson told the Post that Roberts never briefed him. A Heritage spokesperson told the Post that Trump seemed uninterested in what Roberts had to say during the flight.

Trump, the Republican nominee for president, has moved to distance himself from Project 2025 amid fierce criticism from Democrats, and the Heritage Foundation replaced the director of the project last month.

Project 2025 has never and will never be an accurate reflection of President Trumps policies, the spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, told the publication. As President Trump himself and our campaign leadership have repeatedly stated, President Trumps 20 promises to the forgotten men and women and the [Republican Party] platform are the only policies endorsed by President Trump for a second term.

Roberts also postponed the release of a new book this week, which includes a foreword written by Trumps running mate, Sen. JD Vance, until after the November election.

The Democratic Party quickly pounced on the Posts report, calling Trump a liar and saying the photo confirms how the former president and his running mate are fully connected to this dangerous plan to rip away our freedoms, threaten our democracy, and take our country backward.

While Trump and Vance desperately try to distance themselves from their own ultra-MAGA platform, voters are learning more and more about Project 2025s wildly unpopular proposals every day  and are ready to reject this extreme, far-right blueprint at the ballot box in November, Alex Floyd, the Democratic National Committees rapid response director, said in a statement.

Related...
An aerial drone photo shows emergency workers clearing a section of the national highway No. 318 hit by a flash flood and mudslide in Ridi village of Kangding city, southwest China's Sichuan province, Aug. 5, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Early warning systems and rapid response efforts by the Ministry of Natural Resources have prevented the deaths of over 2,400 people in geological disasters triggered by heavy rains this year, officials said on Tuesday.

Zhang Huichang, deputy director of the ministry's geological disaster prevention division, said 15 working groups have been dispatched to supervise disaster prevention efforts in 30 provinces, regions and municipalities this flood season.

To respond to geological disaster risks, 66 ministerial-level experts were deployed to frontline areas. Over 200 ministerial-level experts also provided technical support at the grassroots level by visiting villages and households, said Qi Gan, deputy director of the China Institute of Geo-Environmental Monitoring's geological disaster coordination office.

At the community level, China has established a network comprising over 260,000 people for community-based disaster monitoring and prevention. Surveyors from natural resources departments have been working alongside local officials and community members to conduct dynamic inspections and investigations of hidden dangers and risk areas, Zhang said.

To enhance disaster prevention efforts, China has employed advanced technologies, including high-resolution remote sensing, satellite-based surface deformation monitoring, aerial and drone remote sensing, and laser-based terrain measurement. The technologies have helped identify over 270,000 geological disaster risks across the country, said Ge Daqing, head of the China Aero Geophysical Survey and Remote Sensing Center for Natural Resources' Remote Sensing Technology Research Institute.

Automated monitoring and early warning equipment has been installed at more than 50,000 risk points, generating data and warning information around the clock. The data is integrated into the national geological disaster monitoring and early warning system, enabling rapid assessment and response to major disasters nationwide, said Ma Juan, deputy director of the China Institute of Geo-Environmental Monitoring's geological disaster technical methods office.

The office's director, Zhang Mingzhi, said automated monitoring systems have issued early warnings for 68 potential disasters this year, preventing injuries or deaths for 216 people.

In the first half of this year, China recorded 2,146 geological disasters, including 1,039 landslides, 931 collapses, 117 debris flows and 59 ground collapses. Since the onset of the flood season, there have been 253 successful early warnings and forecasts of geological disasters, effectively preventing potential injuries or deaths, the geo-environmental monitoring institute reported.
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - MG Motor plans to build a manufacturing plant and a research and development center in Mexico, the carmaker said on Wednesday, adding that it would bring the additional benefit of gleaning market intelligence specific to Latin America.

The firm joins other electric-vehicle makers with plans to build plants in Mexico, the United States' largest trade partner, such as BYD and Tesla, although the latter recently put its plans on hold.

The move will allow MG, a formerly British brand now owned by China's SAIC Motor Corp, to "not only produce vehicles, but to also produce market intelligence specifically designed for and by Latin America," country head Zhang Wei said in a statement.

The firm did not say how much it plans to invest or provide a construction timeline, however.

MG Motor said its plant would aim to "make Mexico a pole for growth and expansion for SAIC Group and MG Motor in Latin America and the Caribbean."

It did not mention the United States, but added that sister brand IM, a luxury electric-vehicle line, also plans to enter the Mexican market.

In April, Reuters reported that Mexico's federal government, under pressure from the United States, would no longer offer incentives to Chinese automakers to invest.

Chinese automaker BYD has said the Mexico plant will not serve the U.S. market. In May, U.S. President Joe Biden rolled out steep tariff hikes on Chinese EVs.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said the plans to build a plant in Mexico are on hold to see if Republican candidate Donald Trump wins November's presidential elections, as the former president has said he would levy heavy tariffs on EVs made in Mexico.

(Reporting by Kylie Madry; Editing by Sonali Paul and Clarence Fernandez)
Donald Trump is pummeling Kamala Harris over a potential vulnerability that may be difficult for the Democratic presidential nominee to deflect much longer: her avoidance of the media.

Trump scheduled a press conference for 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida in an attempt to give the issue momentum. It will be his first open meeting with reporters, albeit by invitation only, since Harris clinched the nomination.

Political reporters who have captured everything that appears to drive Trump crazy about Harristhe electrified energy among the Democratic base, her enormous crowds, and record-shattering fundraisinghave not been given a chance to ask the nominee questions in an unscripted setting.

Harris has largely avoided the press corps since her damaging interview with Lester Holt on NBCs Nightly News in June 2021, when she struggled to defend her reasons for not visiting the U.S.-Mexico border.

Her media engagement since then has included a taped appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show in April in which Barrymore pleaded with her to be Momala to a nation and an extended sit-down with Rolling Stone magazine. And on the night of President Joe Bidens disastrous debate with Trump, she appeared on CNN with Anderson Cooper to defend her boss and almost immediately afterward did the same on MSNBC.

The issue is now a key campaign talking point for the Trump team. Thought you guys might be lonely because the vice president doesnt answer questions from reporters, Vance told unsuspecting reporters on Wednesday as he and his entourage walked from his plane to Air Force Two when both landed at the same airport in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said Wednesday that in the 17 days since Kamala Harris replaced her mentor atop the Democratic presidential ticket, she has dodged press interviews every single day.

But now mainstream journalists are starting to agree that the Trump campaign has a pointpossibly stung by the widely acknowledged failure to hold Biden and those around him to account for his apparent cognitive decline.

Some had been willing to give Harris a pass for ignoring their requests for interviews given her hectic few weeks during which she had to seal up her nomination in the wake of Bidens exit, vet and choose a running mate, and plan a rollout of the campaign amid extraordinary circumstances.

But starting right now, every day shes not talking to the media is political malpractice, Ron Fournier, the veteran ex-White House correspondent for the Associated Press, told the Daily Beast. Its political malpractice not to do it. And No. 2, its not good for democracy.

Progressive New York Times columnist Lydia Polgreen agreed that its time for Harris to start engaging with reporters.

As a journalist and a citizen I think it would be very good for the Democratic ticket to sit for big interviews and routinely answer on the record questions from reporters on the trial, Polgreen posted on X. It is disappointing that this has not happened.

Harris campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz told the Daily Beast that, given the time constraints and fragmented media environment, the campaign has chosen to be "strategic, creative, and expeditious" in reaching voters "in the ways that are most impactfulthrough paid media, on the ground organizing, an aggressive campaign schedule, and of course interviews that reach our target voters."

"Its a far cry from Trumps losing, ineffective strategy of rage-posting, accosting reporters, and insulting the voters hell need to win," he said.

Two people familiar with the campaigns thinking told Politico there are discussions underway about Harris and running mate Tim Walz doing a joint interview ahead of the Democratic National Convention, which starts on August 19.

Its the medias job to push for as much access as possible for the public, Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginias Center for Politics, told the Daily Beast. Each candidate calibrates his or her response based on whats best for the campaign. I dont think the public cares whether there are press conferences or not. Maybe they should care, but they dont.

Its unheard of for someone to become the nominee of a major American political party without granting interviews or giving press conferences. But then again, what is unprecedented in this extraordinary moment in history, Sabato says, is a nominee for president in all but name steps down, and someone else is thrust into the position without time to plan.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Trump was said to have been upset by Kamala Harris's poll ratings and media boost - Christian Monterrosa/AFP

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Donald Trump has said Kamala Harris was picked for politically correct reasons and is not as smart as Joe Biden, at a press conference in Mar-a-Lago.

The Republican candidate agreed to debate Ms Harris on Sept 10 on ABC News but complained about Mr Bidens withdrawal from the race.

It comes after reports Trump was unnerved by Ms Harriss surge in the polls and was questioning the performance of his campaign team.

Trump struck a defensive tone when reporters at Mar-a-Lago asked him about the size of the crowds Ms Harris had drawn in recent days.



Nobody has spoken to crowds bigger than me, he said, claiming to have attracted a larger crowd for his speech on Jan 6 in Washington DC than Martin Luther Kings 1963 I have a dream address.

Rev Kings historical speech was delivered from the steps of the citys Lincoln Memorial to an estimated crowd of 250,000.

If you look at Martin Luther King, when he did his speech, his great speech, and you look at ours, same real estate, same everything, same number of people, if not, we had more, added Trump.

The Harris-Walz campaign has enjoyed a spike in donations - Kevin Mohatt/REUTERS

He also proposed two other dates in September to challenge Ms Harris.

In a rambling press conference of over an hour at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, the former president finally agreed to debate Ms Harris on ABC News on Sept 10. He had previously suggested he would skip the appearance.

Kamala is not as smart [as Joe Biden] is and I dont think hes very smart either. Im not a big fan of his brain, the 78-year-old said, before suggesting Ms Harris was selected because of being politically correct, in an apparent reference to her race.

He went on to argue he was still doing very well with black voters, before conceding its possible that I wont do as well with black women.

Trump complained about Mr Biden being removed from the 2024 Democratic ticket. He had a rough debate but that doesnt mean you just take it away like that, he said.

Questioning campaign direction

The Republican nominee was reported to have grown uneasy over the direction of his campaign team as the latest opinion poll, conducted by Marquette University Law School, gave Ms Harris a six-point lead among likely voters.

Trump had been complaining relentlessly about her positive media coverage and asking friends about the success of his campaign, The Washington Post reported.

Despite weeks of speculation that Mr Biden would step aside, allies fear Trumps camp was still caught off guard when he was replaced by Ms Harris.

Trump claimed the media were overstating Harris's crowds - Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty

If Kamala has 1,000 people at a rally, the press goes crazy and talks about how big it was  and she pays for her crowd. When I have a rally, and 100,000 people show up, the fake news doesnt talk about it, Trump wrote on his Truth Social online platform.

Republicans believed Trump was heading for a landslide victory after the unsuccessful attempt on his life on July 13.

But the mood has changed, with the Harris-Walz campaign not only enjoying a poll boost, but also a spike in donations.

Earlier this month official figures showed that Ms Harris had received $310 million (242 million) in July, more than double the $138.7 million (108 million) given to the Trump campaign.

Back to business?

Richard Porter, a former member of the Republican National Committee, told The Telegraph: Trump is going to have to win this election a second time.

Jeff Lord, who worked for Ronald Reagans administration, said there was no need for the Trump campaign to press the alarm button. That kind of thing happens all the time. When you get a new nominee there is a surge in the polls and then you get back to business, he said.

There will be more after the Democratic convention, once thats over things will get back to normal. When it settles in and you have the two tickets facing each other, thats when you have to take notice.

Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House, said she joined others in trying to persuade Mr Biden to stand down because she feared the president was placing rose petals in Trumps path to victory.

She admitted she had not spoken to Mr Biden since he dropped out of the race.

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 15: (L-R) Tucker Carlson, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, Republican vice presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) appear on the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 15, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Delegates, politicians, and the Republican faithful are in Milwaukee for the annual convention, concluding with former President Donald Trump accepting his party's presidential nomination. The RNC takes place from July 15-18. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump doesnt like being called weird, but emails coming out of the Trump-Vance campaign in recent days could at least be described as peculiar.

Among their other dubious claims, emails have gone out since Sunday claiming that even in the whirlwind of a national campaign, the two had time to discuss obscure individual voters by name and profess their personal love for them  before asking for money.

After a June 27 debate with a spectral President Joe Biden, the Trump campaign was riding high. But its struggled to find its footing since Trump picked Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate on July 15.

Biden withdrew from the race a week later. Vice President Kamala Harris quickly consolidated support to be his replacement and revived flagging Democratic hopes as she did.

Republicans already had a problem with women  especially since GOP appointees to the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 ended national abortion protections under Roe v Wade.

It didnt help when, a week after Vance was picked, a 2021 interview resurfaced in which he attacked Harris for not having biological children. He claimed the country was run by Democrats and that they were a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that theyve made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too.

Then last week, Trump appeared at a convention of Black journalists and called ABCs Rachel Scott, who is Black, nasty and hostile for confronting him with some of his earlier racist statements. An angry Trump then falsely stated that VP Harris misled voters about her race. He claimed she had only embraced her Black ancestry recently and implied that she had only done so to seek political advantage.

Harris mother is Indian and her father is Jamaican. She attended a historically Black college and joined a historically Black sorority, so Trump at least should have known that the claims he was making to Black journalists were untrue and that many in the audience would find them offensive. His performance dominated the news cycle.

In the midst of these and news of more controversial statements by Vance, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, started calling Trump and Vance weird. It caught on.

Trump fired back, saying hed never been called weird  in response to being called weird.

Theyre the weird ones, he said. Nobodys ever called me weird. Im a lot of things, but weird Im not. And Im upfront. And hes not either, I will tell you. JD is not at all. They are.

Harris named Walz as her vice presidential pick on Tuesday, so the debate over whos weird and whos not is likely to continue.

Meanwhile, the Trump-Vance campaign started over the weekend to send out a spate of emails that seemed kind of weird.

President Trump & I love you, *****, said the subject line of an email from Vance that greeting an unsuspecting reader at 8:12 a.m. Sunday. It named a person Vance had never met, but had passed on a Cincinnati sidewalk  once.

It would be President Trumps and my great honor to be endorsed by YOU, *****, the body of the email said, before promising to do such things as DEMOLISH the Deep State, and EXPOSE the Dangerous Liberal Agenda.

It included three buttons that led to a donation page where you can contribute amounts including $20.24, or $47 IF YOU THINK TRUMP IS THE GREATEST PRESIDENT OF ALL TIME!

And it quotes Trump saying, I am Donald J. Trump. FEAR NOT! I will always love you for supporting me. Unity. Peace. Make America Great Again.

The recipient of that email might already have been flattered by the personal attention lavished by two such important figures, but that wasnt the end.

At 6:42 p.m. Sunday, Vance sent another email, the subject of which said, I just got off the phone with President Trump  He had a lot of great things to say about you.

*****, you came HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by President Trump himself, Vance said in the email, addressing the same person hed never met. So now that Im recruiting the strongest MAGA Republicans to join my Official Vice Presidential Advisory Board, I want to extend the VERY FIRST invitation to YOU!

If those werent flattering enough, an email came in at 8:13 a.m. Monday from the big guy himself.

The MAGA revolution will not be televised  *****, I cant take down the deep state without you, the subject line said, again naming the person he and his running mate love, but havent met.

ARE YOU STILL VOTING FOR ME after the DEEP STATE kicked Joe out of the election, and replaced him with Dangerously Liberal Kamala? it asked in italics before adding. Im SICK of listening to vicious lies from the FAKE NEWS MEDIA.

Which was weird, because the recipient  whom Vance and Trump supposedly love  is a member of that news media.

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MIAMI  Former President Donald Trump wouldn't say Thursday how he'll vote on a proposed Florida state constitutional amendment that would overturn the state's six-week abortion ban, adding that he predicted the vote on it would wind up in a more "liberal way" than might be anticipated.

Trump made the comments during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach. A POLITICO reporter asked how he  as a Florida resident  would vote and he demurred, adding that he thinks abortion has "become much less of an issue."

When pressed later in the press conference about the proposed amendment, which Floridians will vote on in November, he promised to hold a press conference on the matter "sometime in the near future."

"So I dont want to tell you now," he continued. "But Florida does have a vote coming up on that and I think probably the vote will go in a little more liberal way than people thought. But Ill be announcing that at the appropriate time.

The abortion amendment, known as Amendment 4, would undo the current six-week restriction on abortion signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a former rival to Trump in the Republican presidential primary, as well as other restrictions such as waiting periods. It would allow access to the procedure up to viability, with exceptions later in a pregnancy for health reasons.

Trump is wading into an issue that became a back-and-forth between himself and the Florida governor. DeSantis attacked Trump during the primary as not being "pro-life" while Trump called it a "terrible mistake" for DeSantis to have signed the six-week restriction into law.



DeSantis himself isn't on the ballot in November, but he's raising money to fund committees that urge voters to oppose the abortion amendment and has addressed questions about it during press conferences. He has argued that amendment language gives too much leeway to health care providers to determine when an abortion is necessary for health reasons and to decide what constitutes "viability." Many doctors generally understand viability to mean 24 weeks into a pregnancy, but that can vary with health conditions and other factors.

The Republican Party of Florida also passed a resolution to oppose the abortion amendment.

Trump similarly demurred on Thursday when asked about another contentious amendment in the state that would legalize recreational marijuana for adults at least 21 years old, promising to make a statement "fairly soon." DeSantis opposes this amendment as well.

Democrats running for office in Florida have been leaning on the abortion amendment hoping that it will result in greater turnout for them and energize voters to their cause, given that congressional Democrats credit the issue with helping them hang onto more seats than they anticipated in 2022. They've also warned that Trump will ban abortion nationwide.

Trump supported a 20-week limit on abortion when he was president but has said during his 2024 campaign that he wants the states to decide the issue, after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. He also reiterated on Thursday that he supported abortion exceptions for rape, incest and when a pregnancy has life-threatening complications.

Trump's appointees to the high court were crucial in overturning the protections on abortion rights.

At Trump's behest the Republican National Committee changed its position on abortion to be more in line with his.

Now the states are voting on it," Trump said. "The vote of the people is taking care of it."

Natalie Allison contributed to this report from Palm Beach, Florida.
Trump's press conference was more of what you'd expect from him: Rambling nonsense

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is still struggling to cope with Vice President Kamala Harris as his opponent. Look no further than his Thursday press conference for proof.

The former president focused more on bashing President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential nominee Harris than anything he's actually running on. And while he did make some news about an impending debate with Harris, most of his time was spent talking about, well, nothing.

"I think that our country is right now in the most dangerous position its ever been in, from an economic standpoint, from a safety standpoint," Trump said, adding that the country is heading into World War III and an economic collapse akin to the Great Depression.

He must not have heard that stocks are surging again and mortgage rates are at their lowest point this year.

Trump continues his conspiracy that Biden somehow wants back in

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Aug. 08, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla.

Several times, he mentioned that Biden is "very unhappy" about having to leave the race, something I'm sure he knows for a fact. It's an extension of a Truth Social post he shared Tuesday.

"What are the chances that Crooked Joe Biden, the WORST President in the history of the U.S., whose Presidency was Unconstitutionally STOLEN from him by Kamabla, Barrack HUSSEIN Obama, Crazy Nancy Pelosi, Shifty Adam Schiff, Cryin Chuck Schumer, and others on the Lunatic Left, CRASHES the Democrat National Convention and tries to take back the Nomination, beginning with challenging me to another DEBATE," he wrote on the platform.

'Kamabla'? Trump isn't just losing the election, he's losing his mind.

Trump also gave his thoughts on Harris' position on Israel. He incorrectly said she supports an arms embargo on Israel, even though her national security adviser said the opposite was true.

Trump also said that Jewish people who vote for Democrats "should have their head examined." I'll leave that for the group to chew on.

What is Trump actually worried about?

Maybe Trump's campaign is concerned about polling. The vice president has pulled ahead of him in FiveThirtyEights polling average and is leading the former president 51%-48% in a new NPR/PBS/Marist poll.

While polls never tell the full story, they can determine the next steps for a campaign and set the course for the rest of the election. These new polls also show that Harris is a political threat to Trump that Biden might not have been.

On campaign donations, Trump has also been getting outraised by Harris since Biden announced on July 21 he was dropping his reelection bid. The Democrats have raised more than $310 million since Harris began her presidential campaign. Since selecting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate Tuesday, her campaign announced, she has raised an additional $20 million.

Meanwhile, Republicans raised less than $140 million in July and continue to get outspent in advertising.

'Tampon Tim'? Really Republicans, that's the best you can do? A compliment?

Trump also announced that he has agreed to three debates next month. ABC News has confirmed a debate between Harris and Trump on Sept. 10.

Hopefully, Trump will pronounce Harris' first name correctly after mispronouncing it repeatedly throughout the news conference. This Monday, he will be interviewed by Elon Musk in a conversation that is bound to be as coherent and truthful as his appearance Thursday.

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After an hour of talking, Trump failed to discuss his own plans for a future presidency and instead resorted to hyperbole about his record and his opponent's. It would have been nice to hear him talk about policy and his plans for the campaign leading up to November.

After eight years of this, however, most of us have learned not to expect anything substantial from him. So we'll all just wait for his next rambling news conference.

Follow USA TODAY elections columnist Sara Pequeno on X, formerly Twitter, @sara__pequeno

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump says he'll debate Harris on ABC, then devolves into conspiracies
Trump's press conference was not good. But he's still better for America than Harris.

A Donald Trump press conference is like a ride on the fastest rollercoaster at an amusement park. It's simultaneously thrilling and boring, fast and slow, fun and terrifying. There are ups and downs, smears and self-congratulations, facts and myths all packed into one dizzying ride.

The former president's question-and-answer session with reporters on Thursday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida was classic Trumpian stream of consciousness. The Republican presidential nominee smeared his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, and her new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. He repeatedly slammed the state of the country, citing myriad issues, including inflation, the cost of electric vehicles and the chaos at the border.

It wasn't great; it wasn't terrible. But a few things stood out.

Trump did show up. He should get credit for that. Harris has been on the campaign trail for nearly three weeks and has yet to hold a similar news conference, complete with questions from reporters. She also has refused interview requests since late June.

Trump on Thursday showed some chutzpah, which Harris has yet to show.

During the news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said a few things that made sense  and a lot of things that didn't quite make sense.

He also said he has agreed to debate Harris on Sept. 10 on ABC News. The network released a statement saying that Harris also has agreed to the debate.

Trump smears Kamala Harris' intelligence

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on Aug. 08, 2024.

A Trump press conference is a fact-checker's nightmare. He speaks without notes, without pausing  and much of what he says seems off-base, if not blatantly fabricated. However, every now and then, he throws in a few incisive comments to keep Republicans smiling.

Trump took umbrage, as he should, at the fact that Democratic primary voters supported President Joe Biden for a second term and now Harris is running for president without facing the primary gauntlet. It's not unconstitutional, but it's not exactly democratic, either.

Trump is correct that we have all witnessed a historic turn of events, and that it's not how the election process is supposed to work. A lot of conservatives have struggled with how Harris captured the nomination. The fact that Biden was pushed aside and Democrats embraced Harris with glee, and with little scrutiny, still seems strange.

"The presidency was taken away from Joe Biden  and I'm no Biden fan," Trump said.

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Trump also said that when it comes to leftist policies, Harris "is worse than Biden."

"If she becomes president, our country is going to be a giant fail," he said. "Kamala's record is horrible; she's a radical left person."

Republicans agree on those charges for sure.

With Walz as her VP, Harris doubles down on her far-left plans. Republicans must use this.

However, Trump couldn't resist predictable and superficial attacks.

"I'm not a big fan of his brain," Trump said about Walz, "but I think that (Harris is) actually not as smart as he is."

Trump also said Harris isn't "smart enough to do a news conference." If she is smart, she'll take him up on that challenge.

Trump says the country is in a 'dangerous position'

Trump led off his remarks with concern about the country, specifically the economy. He's right to do that. It's the issue at the forefront of most Americans' minds.

"Our country is right now in the most dangerous position it's ever been," Trump said, when it comes to our economic position. "We have leadership that has no clue."

Are we heading to a recession? As stock markets plummet, ask yourself: Do you really want Harris running the economy?

While Trump didn't go into detail on what his fiscal policy would look like in a second presidential term, he did tout the idea of eliminating the federal income tax on tips.

The proposal, a regular part of his campaign messaging, might actually gain bipartisan support. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has already introduced the proposed tax cut in Congress.

Trump's style isn't improving

In typical Trump fashion, the news conference gave him a platform to praise himself. Donald Trump's praise for Donald Trump is often effusive, superficial and wrong.

On Thursday, he claimed that he had drawn a larger crowd than the one that gathered to hear Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963. In reality, an estimated 250,000 people attended the March on Washington, where King spoke.

That's Trump. He's narcissistic and full of braggadocio, heavy on innuendo and false claims, light on facts and details.

Trump is not a great politician, a gifted speaker, a kind man or a compelling candidate. Yet, he is who the Republican Party has chosen. His press conference Thursday was further proof that he is not the best choice to represent the GOP, conservatives or America.

But is he better than Harris? I believe conservative policies are better for the country, so if he can implement those, then yes.

Harris is a more conventional politician, but she's also to the left of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Trump is a stranger to facts, but he does hold some conservative ideas.

The bar for the presidency is so low it's been buried. This is America 2024.

Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.

You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump is better than Harris. And America, we're in deep trouble
Ahmed Hachani, Prime Minister of Tunisia, attends the G7 summit in Italy. Tunisian President Kais sacked Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani and replaced him with the social affairs minister. Michael Kappeler/dpa

Tunisian President Kais sacked Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani and replaced him with the social affairs minister.

Saied issued a decision on Wednesday evening, appointing Minister of Social Affairs Kamal Al-Madouri to the post of prime minister, within a partial amendment.

The premier was removed from his post a year after taking office. The reason behind the decision was not known.

Al-Madouri, 50, is a specialist in law and administration and worked as a director in social funds before he was appointed by the president as minister of social affairs last May.

This step comes a few months before the presidential elections scheduled for October 6, and amid economic difficulties in Tunisia.

The Tunisian government is facing a series of challenges, including to revive the economy, create job opportunities, limit price rises and confront the risks of water scarcity due to the ongoing drought that has lasted for several years.

President Saied, who overthrew parliament and the political system in 2021, two years after assuming power under the pretext of combating corruption and chaos in state institutions, has submitted his candidacy for a second term.

His opponents accuse him of undermining the foundations of democracy, strengthening his control over government, and obstructing his competitors from running in the presidential race.

Tunisian President Kais Saied while taking the oath as the new president at parliament in 2019. Khaled Nasraoui/dpa
(Bloomberg) -- Turkey blocked access to kids gaming platform Roblox due to content that a top official said could lead to child abuse.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The legal ruling was based on a law that regulates broadcasting over the internet, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said in a statement on X.

According to our constitution, the state is obliged to take the necessary measures to protect our children, he said. Use of technology in a negative way cannot be accepted.

We respect the laws and regulations in countries where we operate and share local lawmakers commitment to children, Roblox said in an emailed response to Bloomberg. The company said its looking forward to working together to ensure Roblox is back online in Turkiye as soon as possible.

The ban follows a similar move against Instagram after a senior aide to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the social media platform for censorship of posts related to the death of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh.

(Adds company statement in fourth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Turkey Creek under system-wide boil advisory

EVANGELINE PARISH, La. (KLFY)  The Turkey Creek Water System has issued a system-wide boil advisory until further notice, the utility announced Wednesday night.

The village of Turkey Creek said in a news release that the boil advisory is because of a loss of water pressure.

According to a social media post by the utility, customers have been without water because the water tower was closed due to high usages during high-heat days and because the water system experienced a loss of power from the grid.

In a normal power outage situation with a 1/2 to 3/4 full tower we can sustain the water p.s.i. for a short time until we get the generators running and the wells pumping but due to no water in the tower we experienced no pressure as soon as we lost power, the social media post read.

We understand the difficult situation this may have caused customers, especially with the new school year starting tomorrow, the social media post continued. Please understand this was out of our hands and due to LDH regulations we will have to issue a system wide boil advisory.

The utility said in the social media post that samples will be collected Thursday for testing, and hopefully be cleared Friday.

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Ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies (UBER) has gained nearly 175% since July 2022, so if you invested in it back then, congratulations. But what if you did not get in on that trade? Dont worry, Ubers Asian cousin, Grab (GRAB), might be the potential multibagger (a stock that multiplies in value several times over) youre looking for.

Grab is a Singapore-based company that offers delivery, mobility, and digital financial services in Southeast Asia through its everyday everything app. Its one of the biggest names in Southeast Asia when it comes to ride-hailing and food delivery services and operates in eight major countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Despite its poor stock performance, I am bullish on Grab because of its near-monopoly position in Southeast Asia, growing total addressable market (TAM), and potential to become profitable.

How Grab Developed a Near Monopoly Position

Grab has emerged as Southeast Asias leading super-app, and its not done yet. Most investors are not looking at the quiet moves the company is making. Grab is here to take share, even if its through buying small competitors. Since 2017, the company has acquired payment services platforms, grocery store chains, taxi operators, food review websites, and more.

Grab has completed about 10 acquisitions over the past eight years. One of the deals that did not fly under the radar of investors was back in 2018, when it acquired Ubers Southeast Asian operations in exchange for a 27.5% stake in Grab.

In 2023, Grab signed a deal to acquire Singapores third-largest taxi operator, Trans-cab. But that deal didnt go through and both parties withdrew from it after the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore said it would strengthen Grabs already dominant position and result in a lessening of competition within the ride-hailing market.

Regulators are blocking its deals now because they acknowledge its near-monopoly position in a highly competitive market. This is why Im not too worried about the competition Grab faces from rivals, including Delivery Heros (DLVHF) Foodpanda, Seas (SE) ShopeeFood and ShopeePay, GoTos GoJek, and the list goes on.

Regardless, Grab is not slowing down any time soon and will continue its M&A streak. About two weeks ago on July 23, it bought Singapores dining reservation platform Chope for an undisclosed price.

The competitive landscape in Southeast Asia, with both established players and new entrants, can lead to price wars. Consequently, Grab has been growing its market share by heavily incentivizing users, which has impacted its profitability. While it might have to continue doing that for some time, Im confident in managements ability to improve margins and become net income profitable over the next several quarters.

Story continues

Grabs Total Addressable Market Is Expanding

According to a Momentum Works report, the total gross merchandise value of Southeast Asias food delivery platforms grew by 5% year-over-year in 2023 to $17.1 billion. Grab has over 50% share of the food delivery market in key Southeast Asian (SEA) countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Similarly, Grab has the lions share of the mobility and ride-hailing market in SEA countries. A Measurable.AI report shows that Grab controls over 50% of the ride-hailing scene in Singapore and Indonesia and dwarfs competitors Gojek, ComfortDelGro, and Ryde.

Grab has a lot of untapped opportunities to cash in on. Consider the digital payments business it has. Though its burning cash right now, I believe it wont stay unprofitable for long. According to the World Economic Forum, over 70% of the population in Southeast Asia is either underbanked or unbanked. Digital financial services are solving this problem, and online payments in the region are expected to cross $1 trillion by 2025 (as per estimates by Bain & Company).

Grabs total addressable market is expanding, and theres a lot of opportunity, considering its low market penetration rate. The companys Monthly Transacting Users (MTUs) grew by 16% year over year in Q1 2024 to 38.5 million, and the population of Southeast Asia is about 685.75 million. Therefore, Grabs market penetration rate is just 5.6%.

Grab and the Road to Profitability

Grab doesnt have any real earnings yet, thats what makes its valuation all the more tricky. But can it reach net income profitability? Grabs earnings are due in a week, and analysts are expecting it to report revenue of $676.16 million. If Grab beats analysts revenue estimates, as it has over the past eight quarters, its revenue will grow by at least 19% year-over-year. Its growth is slowing down, but thats what happens when a business starts maturing.

In Q1 2024, Grab was again adjusted-EBITDA profitable and posted a record-high figure of $62 million. Its net loss shrunk to $104 million, down 57% year-over-year from a loss of $244 million in Q1 2023.

Grab shrunk its regional corporate costs by 20% and cut operating expenses in its GrabFin division by 15% year-over-year in Q1 2024. The companys margins are also improving. Grabs Deliveries segments EBITDA margin improved to 1.6%, while its Mobility segments margins improved to 8.9%.

Managements long-term margin targets are 4%+ for the Deliveries segment and 9%+ for the Mobility segment. For the Payment Services business, the company expects to reach a break-even point by the second half of 2026.

Management is guiding to $250 million to $270 million in adjusted EBITDA (prior range was $180 million-$200 million). Lets see if we get a raise again when it posts Q2 earnings after a week.

As management continues cutting costs and improving margins, Grab can reach net income profitability and positive free cash flow in the upcoming quarters. I dont see Grab not being able to fund its growth for some time, given the $2.1 billion of cash and cash equivalents it had as of March 31.

Grabs Valuation

Grab has grown its revenue at a compound annual growth rate of 57% over the past three years. Additionally, analysts expect its sales to grow by 17.5% this year and 17% in 2025.

If Grab continues compounding at mid-teens over the next several years, it may not be too expensive while it trades at 4.6 times this years expected sales.

Is GRAB Stock a Buy, According to Analysts?

GRAB stock has a consensus Strong Buy rating based on 12 unanimous Buy ratings. The average GRAB stock price target of $4.67 implies an upside of 47.3% from current levels.

See more GRAB analyst ratings

The Takeaway

Grab has a near-monopoly position in an emerging market thats experiencing robust economic growth. However, it needs to improve its margins and translate its large market share into real earnings. If that happens, GRAB stock can be a true multibagger.

Disclosure
Two arrested after well-being check on children in southeast Kansas, facing child endangerment charges

CRAWFORD COUNTY, Kan.  Crawford County deputies arrested two people after they were called to a well-being check on four kids in McCune.

Clayton Hiben, 42, and Athena Siu, 48, are being held in the Crawford County Jail without bond on allegations of aggravated child endangerment and interfering with law enforcement.

Wednesday morning, deputies say they removed the children, whose ages range from 16 to 3 years old, from the residence due to hazardous living conditions. Officials placed them in police protective custody before releasing them to relatives.

Prosecutors filed five counts of aggravated child endangerment and one count of interfering with law enforcement against the two on Thursday.

On Friday, the two made their first appearance before a judge via video from the Crawford County Jail in Girard. The judge lowered their bond to $10,000 cash or surety and set a new court date of September 10.

The sheriffs office says Hiben and Siu are the childrens parents. Siu is currently under a court diversion agreement for Medicaid and welfare fraud.

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Two civilians killed in morning Russian strike on Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast

The aftermath of the Russian attack on the town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast. Photo: Vadym Filashkin on Telegram

Two people were killed in a Russian attack on the town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast on the morning of 8 August.

Source: Vadym Filashkin, the Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote from Filashkin: "Two people have been killed in a bombardment of Kostiantynivka. The Russians targeted the town this morning, hitting a residential area."

Details: Early reports indicate that the Russians deployed artillery for the attack. The police are working at the scene.

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Two men were stabbed, one fatally, with a meat cleaver in an unprovoked attack inside a Bronx laundromat early Thursday, police said.

In video obtained by the Daily News, the assailant was carrying shirts when he walked into 303 Laundromat, which is open 24 hours a day, on E. 170th St. near College Ave. about 2:40 a.m., according to ABC7 New York.

He knifed a 47-year-old man in the back and another man  who wasnt immediately identified  in the legs and torso before running south on College Ave. The attacker was still on the loose Thursday night.

Medics rushed both men to Lincoln Hospital, where the unidentified man died. The other victim was in stable condition.

Cops recovered two meat cleavers from the scene.

Surveillance footage from inside the laundromat  and viewed by the Daily News  shows a man wearing a black and green shirt using a kitchen knife to viciously stab a man in the lower back, and possibly once in the leg, as he sat in a chair. The victim is seen bleeding profusely on the laundromat floor as the attacker calmly walks away.

The suspect is described as a man in his 30s, about 5-foot-8, and weighing 140 pounds. He was wearing a green-and-black shirt, black pants and a black-and-white hat, ABC7 New York reported.

Customers said the block is a magnet for drug activity.

There are drugs, said a man who works next door at Barese Pizza. All this street  drugs.

He said a fight broke out just hours before the savage slaying across the street.

A customer who gave his name as Guy said he washes his clothes once a week laundromat, and generally feels safe in the neighborhood  except when hes on the corner where the laundromat stands.

Ive lived here for 20 years so I feel safe, he said. When bad things have happened, they happen here. This is a bad corner.

The gruesome attack at 303 Laundromat follows Wednesdays arrest of Feruz Radjabov, a homeless man accused of stabbing two men in a matter of minutes during separate random attacks in Queens.

Radjabov, 40, is accused of stabbing a 25-year-old man at a Mobil gas station on North Conduit Ave. near Cohancy St. in Ozone Park about 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, cops said.

He then fled into the Aqueduct-North Conduit Ave. train station about a block away  and slashed a 69-year-old man in the neck on the Far Rockaway-bound platform, according to police.

The unprovoked attacks sent the older victim to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition; the younger man escaped Radjabovs stabbing spree with non-life-threatening injuries and is recovering at the same hospital, cops said.
Sir Keir Starmer is quite right to condemn the violence against police officers during the appalling riots that have played out on our streets over the past week. Our police deserve our support, the Prime Minister has said. Whatever the apparent cause or motivation, we make no distinction. Crime is crime.

I totally agree. There is, however, one thing that puzzles me.

On June 6, 2020, 14 police officers were injured in London after a Black Lives Matter protest turned violent. One female officer suffered a broken collar bone, broken ribs and a collapsed lung after a protester threw a bicycle at her horse, causing it to bolt. The next day, at another Black Lives Matter protest in London, a further eight officers were injured. One was pictured with blood pouring down his face.

Then, two days after that, Sir Keir Starmer chose to publish a photo of himself, solemnly taking the knee.

Given all the injuries to police in the preceding days, did it not occur to Sir Keir that this gesture might look just a touch crass? If he believes theres no excuse for violence, whatever the apparent cause or motivation, shouldnt he have avoided this photo op? Or are violent protests after the killing of a man in the US somehow more excusable than after the killing of three girls in Britain?

Personally, I think not. But, if anyone is wondering why Elon Musk has started referring to the PM as Two-Tier Keir, I suspect that this may have something to do with it. The PMs new nickname  which has also been used by Reform UK, among others  reflects growing fears of double standards. And not just from the PM, but from police chiefs.

Sir Keir has dismissed claims that we now have a system of two-tier policing. So has the head of the Met, Sir Mark Rowley  who, when asked by a reporter whether were going to end two-tier policing, simply shoved the microphone aside and strode off.

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If people do believe the system is two-tier, they can hardly be blamed. Look at the Mets soft-touch handling of the pro-Palestine marches. When marchers chanted for jihad, the Met actually excused them, by insisting that the word has a number of meanings. Yet, when a lone counter-protester waved a sign that read Hamas is terrorist (a statement that reflects UK law), he was arrested (police de-arrested and released him shortly after, claiming he had been held for his own safety).

If that wasnt two-tier, what was it?

Equally troubling were comments this week by an officer from West Midlands Police. Sky News covered a counter-protest in Birmingham by masked men who had initially gathered outside a mosque and local Islamic Centre in the Bordesley Green area. Their reporter asked the officer why there had been such a low-key police presence when an awful lot of people [were] armed with various weapons (including a man wearing a balaclava and clutching a knife, who followed the Sky News crew after theyd finished broadcasting).

Sky News reporter Becky Johnson was recently surrounded by counter-protesters concealing their faces

The officers reply? Apparently, the police had had conversations beforehand with community leaders in order to understand the style of policing we needed to deliver, and our policing response had been commensurate with that. The officer added that the communities were trying to make sure that [the counter-protest] was policed within themselves as well.

Sorry, what? Do all communities have community leaders, who are invited to set out the style of policing they wish to receive? Who is my community leader? And are all communities entitled to police within themselves?

Language like that is bound to undermine faith in the way this unrest is being handled. And if Sir Keir fails to convince the public that it isnt two-tier, well be in even graver trouble than we are now.

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Two Wisconsin-based companies pay over $10M to resolve allegations of defrauding the government

(WFRV)  Two Wisconsin corporations paid over $10 million to resolve allegations that the companies failed to pay millions of dollars in customs duties on goods imported from the Peoples Republic of China.

According to a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Precision Cable Assemblies, Inc. (PCA), Global Engineered Products, Inc. (GEP), and their principals, Ryan Schmus and Richard Horky, paid to resolve the allegations.

Massive deli meat recall linked to more listeria illnesses and deaths in Wisconsin

PCA and GEP are Wisconsin corporations with principal places of business in Brookfield. PCA sells wire harnesses, battery cables, and other wiring products. GEP sells power distribution products. Both companies import goods from China.

The release says that when a company such as PCA and GEP import goods to the United States, the importer is required to file entry documents with the Department of Homeland Security, Customs, and Border Protection (CBP), including information about the value of the goods.

Additionally, the importer must declare that the reported values are true to the best of its knowledge and belief. The amount of duties owed depends largely on the value of the goods and the applicable tariff rate.

According to the release, the United States alleges that PCA and GEP submitted and caused the submission of false commercial invoices to CBP that significantly undervalued the goods imported from China from 2016 through November 2021.

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More specifically, two Chinese suppliers sent PCA and GEP invoices in electronic spreadsheet format with the full, actual price of the goods. PCA and GEP falsified the invoices by altering the spreadsheets to reduce the prices, generally by 70%, and then provided those altered invoices to its customs broker, who, in turn, unknowingly submitted the false invoices to CBP.

The release states that the United States alleged the defendants avoided payment of millions of dollars of duties on the imported goods, especially after additional duties were imposed on certain goods imported from China in 2018.

GEP initially paid CBP around $4.2 million in duties lost from this undervaluation scheme. Pursuant to a settlement agreement with the United States Attorneys Office, the defendants paid the United States another $6 million to fully resolve its liability for the alleged evasion of duties, including its potential liability under the False Claims Act.

The United States Attorneys Office is committed to preventing fraud, said U.S. Attorney Gregory Haanstad. Companies that import goods into the United States must provide Customs and Border Protection with truthful information and pay all of the applicable duties owed. This settlement sends a strong message to companies and their owners that they must follow the customs rules.

Renovation project underway at Green Bays Resch Center

LaFonda Sutton-Burke, the Chicago Director of Field Operations for CBP, added, Entities that attempt to defraud the U.S. Government, the American people, and our economy will not succeed.

Along with auditors, import specialists, attorneys from CBP, and agents for Homeland Security Investigations, Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Carter and Carter Stewart of the Eastern District of Wisconsin handled the matter.

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TYLER, Texas (KETK)  Caldwell Arts Academy, a Tyler Independent School District magnet school, now has a one-of-a-kind mural in its halls.

Junior Olympics champion, Tyler ISD student makes waves

Courtesy of Tyler ISD

According to the district, the mural will be unveiled Thursday afternoon during the middle schools meet the teacher event.

We are excited to partner with the City of Tyler and Caldwell Arts Alliance to bring Brady Smith, an illustrator and actor, to create a unique mural inside Caldwell Arts Academy, Principal Dr. Bobby Markle said.

Smiths bright, colorful artwork, that he refers to as Tex-mex, is inspired by southern Texas where he grew up.

Courtesy of Tyler ISD

Courtesy of Tyler ISD

This mural will bring out the imagination and wonder in Caldwell students daily, Tyler ISD said.

Smith will also be at the unveiling with students and their parents in attendance at 5:30 p.m.

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How U.S. citizen became a victim of Dominican official when trying to cross into Haiti

Retired U.S. Army sergeant major Guy Theus knows that trying to cross into Haiti from the neighboring Dominican Republic can be a chaotic venture as motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians all compete at once for passage through wrought-iron gates.

But what he was unaware of is that trying to cross the border on the island of Hispaniola, which the two nations share, could also leave him with a bruised right temple after a Dominican official assumed he was because is he Black he is Haitian  and that he could do anything to him and get away with it.

Theus, 63, says he was physically assaulted Tuesday morning while trying to cross into northern Haiti from the Dominican town of Dajabon, where a request to see his passport at an immigration and customs checkpoint turned into a verbal altercation, than a punch to the face and a slap from a Dominican government employee working the border. The incident happened in the presence of several people, including two Americans Theus was also trying to help after they were reportedly told that U.S. citizens could not cross the land border into Haiti.

On Wednesday, with the help of Mariot Noel from the Haitian Consulate in Dajabon, Theus filed a legal complaint against the accused officer. He was given a 10 a.m. Tuesday court hearing, Noel said, explaining that because of his injuries the court gave Theus several days to recover before hearing the complaint.

Because he was told by both Dominican and U.S. embassy officials hes not allowed to cross into Haiti, Theus said he was forced to book a ticket to Miami in order to fly to Cap-Haitien in order to drive to the northeastern border town of Ouanaminthe, where his wife was waiting on him at the time of the incident. Marie-Paule Dupiton said whats happened to her husband is difficult to swallow.

Its mind boggling, Dupiton said. If a U.S. Army retired sergeant major of 34 years can be assaulted at the border, who else will not be?

READ MORE: American missionary in Haiti: I feel like a sitting duck ready to be shot

A New York pediatrician, Dupiton has been running a summer camp in Ouanaminthe with her husband for the past eight years. Several years ago, the couple bought a condo in the Dominican city of Santiago, which is where Dupiton left her husband on Sunday when she crossed over into Haiti with the help of a pastors wife to prepare for his arrival with camp supplies.

Theus says he was at the customs office on the Dominican side of the border trying to get permission to cross Tuesday morning when the incident with the officer happened.

He arrogantly told me, Get the passport, dont let me ask you again for the second time,  Theus said, recalling the exchange between him and the Dominican officer who spoke broken Haitian Creole.

After the two engaged in a brief argument, Theus said, things got physical.

The guy then threw a punch, hitting my right temple and my eyes, Theus said.

Its when I collected myself I realized the guy just punched me. I walked after him and said, You just punched me. He turned around and then slapped me, Theus added. After Theus walked into a building to ask to see a supervisor, the officer, Theus said, turned around again and then grabbed the back of his pants and physically removed him.

Moments later, another officer approached Theus and the two other U.S. citizens whom he was with. When he finally handed over his passport, which had been in his parked car, Theus said the officer let out an expletive. It was an American passport, not Haitian.

I guess he assumed Im Haitian and he can do anything he wants to me, Theus said of the first officer.

Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez confirmed to the Miami Herald that there was indeed an incident at the border where Theus was handled improperly and it is currently being investigated. It is unclear, Alvarez said, if the accused is an immigration officer or worked for another agency at the border, which has come under tighter restrictions since armed gangs tried to overthrow Haitis government earlier this year.

Tensions along the border

Tensions along the islands border crossings are not unheard of and a State Department official confirmed the agency is aware of reports of incidents involving U.S. citizens encountering challenges with Dominican officials at border crossings.

The State Department declined to go into details, citing privacy concerns. However, earlier this year several Black U.S. Peace Corps volunteers were detained in the country, which led to concerns among both U.S. embassy and Biden administration personnel.

In its 2023 state of human rights report for the Dominican Republic, the State Department said there was evidence of racial prejudice and discrimination by the security forces and other government offices against persons of darker complexion, in particular Haitians, Dominicans of Haitian descent, or those perceived to be Haitian.

Those concerns in 2022 led to diplomatic spar between the country and the United States after the State Department took the unusual step of issuing a travel warning for darker-skin U.S. citizens and those of African descent traveling to the Dominican Republic. Black travelers were warned that they could be detained due to their complexion and an increase in immigration enforcement actions against Haitian.

Theus, who contacted both the Haitian consulate and U.S. embassies about the altercation, says he is in the process of filing a complaint against the officer. Late Tuesday, he was told he needed to go see a government-approved physician to document his injury before taking legal action.

Haitis northeast land border with the Dominican Republic in the city of Ouanaminthe is one of the busiest and leads in terms of deportations of migrants who are forcefully returned.

The airspace between Haiti and the Dominican Republic has been closed for several months, however, reports have been mixed about whether the land border is also closed. While some U.S. citizens have told the Herald that they are not allowed to cross, others reported crossing without problems.

Theus said during a call with the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo to report what had happened, he was informed that U.S. citizens are not allowed to cross the border into Haiti. A spokesperson for the State Department said no such directive exists.

However, Haiti is currently under a Level 4 Do Not Travel Warning and if U.S. citizens travel there  even to northern Haiti, which doesnt have the gang problems plaguing Port-au-Prince at their own risk.

We do not make specific requests of foreign governments to limit the movement of U.S. citizens, the spokesperson said. The U.S. Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of all U.S. citizens overseas, including working to ensure that they are treated fairly and equitably while traveling, regardless of their race, ethnicity and skin color.
U.S. housing officials to scrap a rule that denies housing to the most disabled veterans

A homeless veteran sits outside his tent along Veterans Row on a Saturday morning along San Vicente Boulevard in an unincorporated area near Brentwood three years ago. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Responding to months of pressure from veterans advocates and elected officials, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Thursday that it will change a widely criticized rule that excludes the most disabled veterans from subsidized housing designed for them.

The rule, which HUD officials had previously said they could not change, counts service-related disability benefits as income. That compensation, based on the percentage of the veterans disability up to 100%, can raise a veterans income above the maximum allowed for housing restricted to low-income residents.

The days of a Veteran having to choose between getting the VA benefits they deserve and the housing support they need are finally over, Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough said in a statement. This is a critical step forward that will help Veterans nationwide  and bring us one step closer to our ultimate goal of putting an end to Veteran homelessness for good.

Iraq war veteran Lavon Johnson, 35, plays his piano inside his tent along Veterans Row along San Vicente Boulevard in an unincorporated area near Brentwood three years ago. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Looks like weve got a hell of a victory, said Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), who had introduced a bill to change the rule but also pushed former HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge to find a speedier solution.

Veterans who have served our country should never have to choose between housing and their disability benefits, said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who pushed for the change. I wholeheartedly thank the Biden-Harris administration and the many leaders who helped enact this significant policy change which will save lives and bring more veterans inside into permanent housing.

Reps. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) and Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) outside the U.S. Capitol. "Looks like we've got a hell of a victory," Sherman said of the HUD rule change. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

In a class-action case brought by veterans over a host of complaints against the VA, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter ruled in May that the policy discriminates against disabled veterans. Those who gave the most cannot receive the least, he wrote.

HUDs announcement came on the third day of a nonjury trial over the lawsuit in Los Angeles that was partly to establish what remedy Carter would order to end the discrimination.

The change is welcomed but years overdue, said Mark Rosenbaum, an attorney with Public Counsel and counsel in the veterans lawsuit. It shouldnt take a lawsuit and a federal judges ruling that a cruel and insane policy that has kept our most disabled veterans on the streets instead of in housing is unlawful and discriminatory to finally bring it to an end.

Long a source of frustration and anger among veterans, the issue gained political traction as new housing was being built on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles campus and veterans living in a tiny-home village there learned that they could not qualify for it because their income exceeded the limit for veterans subsidies called HUD-VASH vouchers.

In January, Sherman grilled Fudge in a congressional hearing, saying that, though he was pushing legislation, he thought the solution did not require a change in the law.

Your department is more functional than Congress, Sherman told Fudge. So Im hoping that rather than turn to us and say, heres what we should do, I can turn to you and say heres what you can do.

If I could do it today, I would do it, Fudge, who retired in March, replied.

Sherman attributed the eight-month delay to bureaucracy but said he thought a conversation he had with acting Secretary Adrianne Todman had helped.

I think she moved on it more, he said.

Bass also pressed Todman for the change as a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. In April, more than 50 mayors from across the country raised the issue in meetings with key members of the Biden administration, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives.

A sign in support of housing homeless vets is seen on Veterans Row in West L.A. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

HUD also awarded $20 million available for additional administrative funding to 245 public housing agencies in 43 states to expand their housing search assistance to support veterans, expand landlord recruitment for the program, offer incentives and retention payments, help veterans with security deposits, and provide landlord-tenant mediation activities.

The new policy also requires public housing agencies that administer HUD-VASH vouchers to set the income eligibility for veterans at 80% of the area median income, up from the 50% that generally applies. This expanded eligibility will allow for more veterans to be housed.

Under the new policy, disability compensation will still be counted as income for calculating the amount the veteran must pay for rent, but not for eligibility. Tenants in subsidized housing are required to pay 30% of their income in rent.

Sherman said he held back on the rent calculation in his legislation because a change would have had budget implications making it harder to pass.

I wanted to go with eligibility first and then come back and deal with the rent calculation, he said.

Sherman said he thought the policy change was better than a ruling out of U.S. District Court would have been because it is not subject to appeal.



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With federal data showing that weighted sleep products for infants may have been connected to the deaths of at least five babies, lawmakers in the U.S. are now seeking to ban it. But companies that make the garments say its safe and can help babies get better sleepand help parents by helping fussy babies fall asleep faster.

The debate comes as a growing number of medical experts, safe-sleep advocates and government regulators have cautioned parents and other caregivers against using weighted sleepwear. Many of them say there isnt definitive proof its safe for infants, and they say it could actually get in the way of babies ability to breathe, pump blood, and move around freely.

The stakes are simply too high to allow weighted infant sleep sacks and swaddles to stay on the market without evidence that they are safe, democratic Connecticut State Sen. Richard Blumenthal said in a statement.

The Safeguarding Infants from Dangerous Sleep Act has now been introduced in both the House and the Senate. If passed, it would ban wearable blankets, sleep sacks, and swaddles that contain extra weight for a purpose other than insulation or decoration for babies under a year old.

In todays world, many consumers believe that if a product is sold it must be safe, especially those for babies. However, this isnt always the case, Michelle Barry, founder and president of the nonprofit Safe Infant Sleep, said in a statement. This legislation is a crucial step in safeguarding our youngest and most precious citizens.

The proposed law is getting some pushback, though. Manasi Gangan, CEO of Nested Bean, a company that makes and sells weighted infant sleepwear, called it anti-science.

The bill proposed by Senator Blumenthal and [democratic California] Congressman [Tony] Cardenas doubles-down on unreasonable government overreach without any data and does not serve the publics best interest, she told NPR. While our business has suffered due to reckless statements from government officials, our customers  each one a loving parent, grandparent, or caregiver  are standing with us.

Earlier this year, major American retailers Target, Walmart, Nordstrom, and Babylist announced they would stop selling these products in the interest of safety.

Exhausted parents shouldnt have to become part-time product safety regulators, but our current system forces them to by allowing infant products onto the market without evidence they are safe, said American Academy of Pediatrics President Benjamin D. Hoffman, MD, FAAP.

We need a proactive approach that keeps infants safe and gives parents the peace of mind they deserve. The American Academy of Pediatrics proudly endorses the Safeguarding Infants from Dangerous Sleep Act and commends Sen. Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Rep. Cardenas (D-Calif.), and Rep. Schrier (D-Wash.) for their leadership.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, five infant deaths have been associated with weighted sleepwear. They all occurred between 2022 and 2024, and the children who died ranged in age from one to six months old. The CPSC, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health are also among medical agencies that have raised concerns about the safety of weighted infant sleepwear.
Sellers have been resisting putting their homes on the market to avoid dealing with elevated mortgage rates. Lilit Amirkhanian/Getty, Tyler Le/BI

A paper found that the housing market's lock-in effect cost the US economy $20 billion over a year.

High mortgage rates led to economic stagnation and reduced housing activity.

Researchers estimated Americans who moved paid an extra $21 billion a month in mortgage payments.

High mortgage rates cost the US economy billions of dollars last year.

A new National Bureau of Economic Research paper from the economists Jack Liebersohn and Jesse Rothstein examined the burden of high borrowing costs on prospective homebuyers.

High rates have discouraged homeowners from moving over the past few years as many cling to low rates they secured years ago. The researchers said that dynamic, known as the lock-in effect, was particularly acute in 2022 and 2023, when rates were hovering at a multidecade high.

Liebersohn and Rothstein estimated that higher mortgage rates led to a 1.2-percentage-point increase in Americans who didn't move but would have in that period had they not been held back by high borrowing costs.

"This implies a deadweight loss of about $296 per household in from 2022q3-2023q2, the last year of the sample," the paper said. "In aggregate, these losses amount to around $20bn in that year."

Households that did move were also weighed down by higher mortgage rates. The researchers estimated that altogether, Americans who moved in 2022 and 2023 paid an extra $21 billion a month in mortgage payments, amounting to $215 billion in extra costs through the period.

High mortgage rates have stalled activity in the housing market since 2022, after interest-rate hikes from the Federal Reserve influenced mortgage rates to rise.

Rates have cooled from their peak in late 2023, but borrowing costs remain elevated overall, with the 30-year fixed rate clocking in at 6.47% for the past week, according to Freddie Mac.

Housing demand, meanwhile, remains anemic, despite expectations for rates to continue easing through the rest of the year. Existing-home sales dropped by 5.4% year-over-year in June, according to the National Association of Realtors. That's a mild decline compared with what was recorded in June 2023, when existing-home sales plunged by 19.3% on a yearly basis.

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U.S. mens volleyball will play for bronze medal

The United States mens volleyball team will play for a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Team USA lost to Poland on Wednesday morning in five sets, 25-23, 25-27, 25-14, 23-25, 15-13.

Kamehameha grad, setter Micah Christenson had 60 assists and seven digs for the U.S. as Former University of Hawaii middle blocker Taylor Averill posted five kills.

Punahou alum Erik Shoji added 10 digs as fellow former Buffanblu standout Micah Maa served twice.

Team USA will look to win its first medal since 2016 when they play for bronze against Italy on Friday at 4:00 am HST.

Poland, ranked No. 1 in the world in the FIVB world rankings, has not won a gold medal at the Olympics since 1976. Theyll get that chance on Friday vs. defending Olympic champion France. The Olympics final is scheduled for 1:00 am HST on Saturday.

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By Nandita Bose and Kanishka Singh

DETROIT (Reuters) - United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain on Wednesday criticized Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's ties to billionaire Elon Musk while campaigning for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

Musk endorsed Trump for November's election after the former president survived an assassination attempt in July. Later that month, the Wall Street Journal reported Musk planned to commit around $45 million a month to a new pro-Trump super political-action committee. However, after that report's publication, both Musk and Trump said the Tesla CEO never pledged any such donation.

"For months, Donald Trump has gone around trashing our state, trashing our industry, trashing the American autoworker, saying he was against electric vehicles. And then something happened," Fain said on Wednesday while campaigning for Harris.

"We saw Elon Musk announce he was going to give Donald Trump $45 million dollars a month. And all of a sudden, guess what, Trump changed his tune," Fain added, calling Trump a "sellout."

Trump has opposed any electric car mandate and been critical of EV policies under Democratic President Joe Biden but he has said recently he supports electric vehicles.

"I'm for electric cars. I have to be, because Elon endorsed me very strongly. So I have no choice," Trump said at a weekend rally, but added he supports electric vehicles "for a small slice." He went on to add: "You want to have gas-propelled cars, you want to have hybrids, you want to have every kind of a car imaginable."

UAW has endorsed Harris, who became the Democratic presidential candidate recently after Biden stepped aside as candidate.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Chris Reese)
The head of the United Auto Workers (UAW) tore into former President Trump and rallied support for Vice President Harris in Detroit on Wednesday in front of a crowd of thousands.

Shawn Fain, who has sparred with Trump for months, blasted the former president as a scab who doesnt know s about the auto industry. He called on working-class Americans to back Harris, citing her record of supporting striking workers and taking on corporations.

To me, this elections real simple. Its about one question. Its a question weve made famous in the labor movement. Which side are you on? Fain said at a Harris campaign event that took place in an airplane hangar.

And this is a simple question in this election, because on one side youve got a billionaire that serves himself and his billionaire buddies. He lies, he cheats and he steals his way to the top. Hes a lap dog for the billionaire class, Fain said. And on the other side weve got a strong, intelligent, and  Im just gonna put it bluntly  a bada woman  who stood on the picket line with striking workers.

Fain praised Harris as a leader who has taken on corporate greed as a prosecutor and as a champion for the working class. And he embraced her choice of running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), who Fain had lobbied for as one of his top choices when Harris was deliberating.

Fain noted that Ford and General Motors saw auto plants close during the Trump administration in Ohio, Baltimore and elsewhere. He contrasted that with Harris, who joined striking UAW workers on the picket line in 2019.

The UAW previously endorsed President Biden, who has touted himself as the most pro-union president in history. The group last week backed Harris, who quickly consolidated Democratic support to become the partys nominee after Biden announced he would not seek reelection.

Trump and Fain have traded attacks for months, with the former president calling the UAW leader stupid, a dope and a stiff and suggested union members would back him in November.

Trump has repeatedly criticized the industrys shift toward electric vehicles, which has been incentivized by the Biden administration as it seeks to address climate change while creating additional manufacturing jobs.

However, the former president last weekend told supporters at a rally he has no choice but to support electric cars because he was endorsed by Tesla founder Elon Musk.

Union workers could play a key role in Michigan, the home of the U.S. auto industry. Michigan broke from decades of steady Democratic support to elect Trump in 2016 before Biden flipped the state back in 2020.

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UGA students arrested during pro-Palestine protest banned from campus until next year

Half a dozen University of Georgia students arrested during a pro-Palestine rally on campus in April have been suspended for the rest of the year.

Around 17 protesters were arrested on the UGA campus after some students and some Athens community members gathered for a demonstration. University officials say six of those protesters are UGA students.

University spokesperson Greg Trevor says the students were charged with multiple violations of the Universitys Code of Student Conduct and requested a formal hearing before the student-led University Judiciary.

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Those hearings are typically closed, but the students involved requested the hearing be made public. The July 30 hearing lasted more than 13 hours.

According to the panel of two students and one full-time UGA faculty member, the students were found to be in violation of several conduct regulations.

They were suspended for the Fall 2024 semester and will be on probation for the rest of their time at UGA, meaning any Code of Conduct violation will earn them another suspension.

The students are also not allowed on UGAs campus until January 1, 2025.

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Out of the thousands of expressive activities held on campus at the University of Georgia last academic year, only one led to arrests: the morning of April 29, 2024, when well-organized protesters planned an event in willful violation of University policy, formed a clearly prohibited encampment on our historic North Campus Quad, and refused repeated warnings to either comply with policies or disperse, Trevor said in a statement.

The students will be allowed to appeal their decisions with university administrators.

The organization Students for Justice in Palestine at UGA shared a lengthy statement with Channel 2 Action News in which they called their suspensions unconstitutional and said they plan to appeal.

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(Bloomberg) -- UK spies are stepping up efforts to tackle cyber and artificial intelligence threats from hostile foreign states, including the sort of online manipulation that helped foment rioting across the country in the past 10 days.

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GCHQ, the UKs national security listening post, is working with Prime Minister Keir Starmers administration on a Laboratory for AI Security Research, people familiar with the matter said. The new body would unify work by government departments and intelligence officials to study how Britains enemies might use AI offensively, they said. GCHQ did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The center would look at the full range of dangers, according to the people, ranging from the spread of the online misinformation  such as the kind that played a role in sparking riots over the past two weeks  to AI-made bio weapons.

Cyber and AI threats to the UKs national security have come into increasing focus in recent months. Amid a recent spate of rioting and violent disorder sparked in part by online misinformation about the suspect in the killings of three young girls, British authorities suspected foreign state-backed actors used bots to amplify anti-immigration sentiment on the social media platform X.

The new organization would in time seek to work with technology companies and academic experts, as well as international allies, to counter AI-based threats to national security and British businesses, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the project has not been made public. They warned that the plans were not yet finalized and could still be changed.

The Group of Seven nations and the European Union made combating Russian disinformation and influence operations a top priority at a leaders summit in Italy earlier this year. Those efforts included publicly exposing Russian campaigns and methods, sanctioning outlets and individuals, and coordinating responses to Moscows actions, as well as striving to prevent disinformation spreading on major technology platforms.

Hacking has been another area where the UK and its allies have seen hostile foreign state activity. In May, British officials said China was the likely culprit in a cyber-attack that gained access to the personal data of UK military personnel. Just two months earlier, the UK had accused Chinese hackers of targeting politicians, companies and dissidents, as well as stealing troves of British voter data. Beijing denied all those allegations.

Giving some insight into the work GCHQ does, its director-general Anne Keast-Butler said last year that the eavesdropping agency contributed vital intelligence to shape the Wests response to the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine; helped disrupt terrorist plots; and worked tirelessly to tackle the ongoing threat of ransom-ware, the impact of which costs the UK dearly.

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UK records record level of antisemitism in first half of year, charity says

Protest against the lack of police action during pro-Palestinian demonstrations and to condemn the increase of antisemitic hate crimes in London

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain saw almost 2,000 antisemitic incidents in the first half of 2024, a record figure for the first six months of any year, a Jewish advisory body said on Thursday.

The Community Security Trust (CST), which advises Britains estimated 280,000 Jews on security matters, said more than half of the incidents recorded were related to Israel, Gaza, Hamas or the current conflict in the region.

"The disgraceful surge in British antisemitism is further evidenced by these latest figures," said CST Chief Executive Mark Gardner. "It happens across society, including in schools, campuses, places of work, public transport and on the streets."

Between January and July, there were 1,978 incidents of antisemitism, the CST said, more than double the number reported during the same period last year. It said there was also a significant increase in online incidents and school-related anti-Jewish hate.

In February, the CST said 2023 had been the worst year for antisemitism in Britain since it began recording data after a surge in hatred following the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.

Last year, the government granted the charity an extra 3 million pounds ($3.8 million) in funding to help provide security at Jewish institutions.

"The soaring levels of antisemitic hate outlined in this report are truly appalling, and we must never relent in our work to root out this hatred in all its forms," Home Secretary (interior minister) Yvette Cooper said.

"There is no place in Britain for this vile hatred and we are absolutely clear that those who push this poison - on the streets or online - must always face the full force of the law."

($1 = 0.7881 pounds)

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Kate Holton)
Ukraine has asked the Mexican government to arrest Russian ruler Vladimir Putin under an International Criminal Court warrant if he attends the inauguration of President Claudia Sheinbaum on 1 October.

Source: Embassy of Ukraine in Mexico on Facebook, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The embassy acknowledged the fact that Mexico invites representatives of all countries with which it has diplomatic relations to the inauguration, but it reminded the country of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) warrant for Putin's arrest.

Quote: "We hope that the Mexican government is aware of the fact that Vladimir Putin is a war criminal suspected of abducting and forcibly deporting Ukrainian children to Russia, whose arrest warrant has been issued by the International Criminal Court, whose jurisdiction Mexico recognises...

We believe that Mexico will execute the international arrest warrant by handing over the abovementioned [individual] to the UN judicial body in The Hague."

Background:

Earlier, it became known that the team of Claudia Sheinbaum, the newly elected President of Mexico, in coordination with Juan Ramon de la Fuente, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, began sending invitations to presidents of different countries to attend Sheinbaum's inauguration on 1 October. One of the official invitations was sent to Putin.

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian ruler Vladimir Putin, finding him guilty of illegally deporting thousands of children from Ukraine.

The issuance of the warrant means that Putin can be arrested if he travels to any ICC member state.

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Russian sovereign territory is once again under attack after Ukrainian forces launched an ambitious operation across the state border in Kursk Oblast in large numbers on Aug. 6.

This time, the attack is led not primarily by small units of pro-Ukraine Russian nationals and other assorted foreign formations, like in the numerous incursions conducted over 2023 and early 2024.

As of the second day of the incursion, a mix of sources, including the Russian Defense Ministry itself have reported a larger offensive involving a Ukrainian force likely numbering hundreds of troops and dozens of vehicles strong.

While previous incursions focused on other sectors of the border, this push is centered on the area around Sudzha, a small town in Kursk Oblast with a population of just over 6,000 that lies around 10 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

As of the early hours of Aug. 8, very little independently verifiable information is available on the specifics of which settlements in the area are currently under the control of Ukrainian forces as fighting continues.

Kyiv has so far refrained from official announcements on the offensive, with President Volodymyr Zelensky simply saying in an evening address that he had spoken to his Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, and that details would follow later.

Requests for comment sent by the Kyiv Independent to Ukraines military intelligence agency (HUR) and the General Staff of the Armed Forces have so far been declined or left unanswered amid a country-wide policy of silence.

Visibly frustrated in a short public address after an emergency meeting with top security officials on the afternoon of Aug. 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the offensive a large-scale provocation, further accusing Ukrainian forces of shelling residential areas in the region.

A few hours later, Valery Gerasimov, Russias Chief of the General Staff and overall commander of the war against Ukraine, said that Kyivs attempts to push deep into Kursk Oblast were stopped, and that the operation will end with the rout of the enemy and the return to the state border.

Information from the ground is largely limited to drone footage and anecdotal reports circulated mostly by Russian Telegram channels.

Run by semi-independent commentators often known as milbloggers, these channels, while fervent supporters of Russia's war, are known for posting news often diverging from the official Kremlin line.

Kursk Oblast is one of three Russian regions (along with Belgorod and Bryansk oblasts) bordering Ukrainian territory under the control of Kyivs forces.

The region lies directly across from Ukraines northeastern Sumy Oblast, from where the Ukrainian incursion was launched.

The attack comes at a tumultuous stage in the war, as, hundreds of kilometers to the south, overstretched Ukrainian brigades continue a desperate defense against relentless Russian attacks on multiple sectors of the front line in Donetsk Oblast.

This, combined with the little tangible gains of Ukraines previous raids into Russia, has raised questions about whether the resources committed and potential losses suffered by Kyiv in the incursion will ultimately be justified by its possible strategic achievements.

Control over Sudzha and reported losses

Towards the end of Aug. 7, more Russian sources varyingly reported the occupation of Sudzha or at least the presence of Ukrainian forces inside or nearby the town.

Video footage posted on social media showed the streets of the town empty, with considerable damage visible from what was claimed to be recent Ukrainian shelling.

According to Russian milbloggers, fighting was reported in a number of Russian villages south and particularly northwest of Sudzha, where the main push of the offensive took place.

One map posted on Aug. 7 by Rybar, one of the most popular milblogger channels, showed a large blue bulge shaded in to represent alleged Ukrainian control of territory.

However, in this early phase of the offensive, where front lines are yet to crystallize and attacking forces are often led by a vanguard of reconnaissance or sabotage troops, the reports of fighting alone do not necessarily correspond to such control.

A map of fighting reported during Ukraine's August incursion into Kursk Oblast in Russia, as of Aug. 7, 2024. (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent)

As has been the case throughout the full-scale war, each sides estimates of the personnel or equipment losses on either side are not independently verifiable.

As claimed in Gerasimovs evening briefing to Putin, Ukraines attacking force had taken around 315 personnel casualties, 100 of which were killed in action.

The top general also claimed that Russian forces had destroyed 54 Ukrainian armored vehicles, including seven tanks.

In reality, the only verifiable losses for equipment are those with geolocated footage; the quantity of which circulated online does not come close to reflecting Gerasimovs claims.

Within the first 24 hrs of the offensive, Russias defense ministry posted videos showing several hits on high-value Ukrainian equipment, including 2 Buk-M1 mobile air defense launchers and Stryker armored fighting vehicles, the latter of which likely belonged to the elite 82nd Air Assault Brigade.

High quality video of the group of Russian POWs in Kursk region was published. https://t.co/glF9wquFlQ pic.twitter.com/zF1Bde8LqW  Special Kherson Cat  (@bayraktar_1love) August 8, 2024

On the Russian side, imagery posted to social media over Aug. 6 and 7 showed a small but diverse selection of destroyed Russian equipment, including a Ka-52 attack helicopter allegedly downed near the village of Nizhny Klin.

Among a handful of other visually confirmed losses, two Russian T-62 tanks were also seen destroyed near the border.

In a groundbreaking incident that once again proved the boundless possibilities of drones, a Ukrainian FPV (first-person view) drone recorded a strike against a Russian Mi-24 helicopter mid-flight, although milbloggers reported that the crew did end up managing to land safely.

In one dramatic piece of footage, dozens of what are claimed to be Russian border guards at the Sudzha border crossing are seen taken prisoner by Ukrainian soldiers.

Russia's fragile defense

Far away from the saturated, contested front line that runs across southern and eastern Ukraine, the border where Ukraine launched its incursion in Kursk Oblast has so far proved much more vulnerable.

Russian forces remain committed in large numbers to the ongoing battles in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, and though reserves are being prepared in the rear, parts of the border are ultimately left with a thinner, lower-quality defending force on the ground.

Exploiting this less capable defense, the Ukrainian attacking force has found tactical success in a rare example of maneuver operations at this stage in the war, piercing distances allegedly up to 15 kilometers into the Russian rear in a short space of time.

On top of the border guards taken prisoner at the Sudzha crossing, Ukrainian Telegram channels also reported the capture of Russian conscript soldiers, by law not allowed to be sent to Russias war, but who are often given border guard duty instead.

While Ukraine seems to have a clear advantage in numbers and force quality on the ground, the ability of Russian forces to spot and strike Ukrainian targets from the sky remains a threat, thanks to Moscows formidable array of aviation, missiles, and drones.

Russia still has a lot of ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), and those often provide quite persistent coverage behind Ukrainian lines, said Rob Lee, senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, to the Kyiv Independent.

This is a key aspect to this operation, because if they spot Ukrainian armor, Russia will have Lancet (suicide drones) and other guided munitions they can launch.

According to the expert, one of Russias trump cards  the cheap but destructive glide bomb  is nonetheless made much less effective by the frantic pace of fighting in Kursk Oblast.

One of the risks for Russia here is that if they're operating their aviation, but Ukrainian special operations are further ahead, they may not know where the forward line of Ukrainian units is, he said.

That could give Ukrainian special operations units an opportunity to shoot down helicopters or other things with MANPADs (man-portable air-defense system), or even FPVs, as we have seen.

Ukraine's unclear aims

With Ukraines offensive into Kursk Oblast still in its early stage, it remains difficult to say with certainty what the larger strategic aim of the operation is.

The regional capital of Kursk is over 81 kilometers from Sudzha, and although some Russian milbloggers floated the idea that Kyiv could be aiming to capture the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, the plant  itself still a daunting 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border  is almost surely out of reach.

In Ukraine and among observers in the West, debate on social media has not been about far-flung territorial goals, but more about whether the operation was motivated more by military sense or a desperate need for positive PR.

Although they grabbed headlines, previous incursions into Russian border territories  led primarily by anti-Putin Russian units such as the Freedom of Russia Legion, far-right Russian Volunteer Corps, and Siberian Battalion  have been criticized in the past for the unnecessary loss of valuable personnel and equipment, including T-64 tanks and U.S.-made HMMWV armored vehicles.

Given the repeated decision to conduct the raids several times despite similar, predictable results, especially the most recent incursion launched in spring 2024 amid an already worsening overall battlefield situation for Kyiv, the operations have been described as carrying more of a political character than much military value.

With the greater scale and complexity of this attack, the fate of the Kursk incursion likely depends greatly on whether Kyiv intends to dig defensive positions and attempt to hold Russian territory in the long term.

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Senate Palace of the Kremlin in Moscow on July 24, 2024. (Contributor/Getty Images)

Losing territory inside sovereign Russia comes with inherent political embarrassment for Moscow, and a Ukrainian hold on part of Kursk Oblast could be used as leverage in future negotiations.

Without that, argued Lee, just the fact of localized chaos in Russias borderlands would be unlikely to provoke serious political strife.

There are a lot of Russian Telegram channels who were critical of the lack of preparation and maybe the effect it (previous raids) had on Russian civilians in the area, he said.

Maybe Russian forces get pushed back, but it doesn't seem as though they had a really significant domestic political ramifications for Putin.

Beyond politics, Ukraines plan could be similar to Russias cross-border offensive into Kharkiv Oblast in May, which was eventually stopped after advances up to 10 kilometers deep.

That operation was widely seen as designed to divert Ukrainian forces away from their defense of the front line in Donetsk Oblast, and online commentators have argued that Kyivs aim could be comparable: to force Russia to dial down their offensive in Donbas in order to stop the Kursk incursion.

At this early stage, there is no publicly available evidence of Russia moving significant battle-capable units away from Ukraines east.

Ultimately the question is: can Ukraine translate tactical successes into future gains? said Lee.

Thats possible, but when you look at what happened in May 2023, that operation was tactically successful and I think it was an effective kind of economy of force operation, but it didn't really draw many Russian units away from the front line.

Whether or not the final results end up justifying the costs, some unexpected voices expressed their praise for the incursions element of surprise, large scale, and coordination.

I don't know the operation's goal, but damn, this is how it should be  finally, we're growing up, read an Aug. 7 post on X by Bohdan Krotevych, the chief of staff of the Azov Brigade, who had launched a public attack in June against high-ranking general Yurii Sodol for, among other accusations, a careless approach to the lives of his soldiers.



If we are to dig in, tough work lies ahead; if it's just a raid, it will be just as challenging to withdraw without significant losses.

Note from the author:

Hi, this is Francis Farrell, reporting from yet another awfully weird day in Russia's war against Ukraine. As much as I have enjoyed all the fantastic memes about the Kursk Oblast incursion, it is always worth remembering that these are real people, real Ukrainians out there taking this risk on. In a case like this, when the fog of war is thicker than ever, we are working hard to bring what we know straight to you. Please consider supporting our reporting.

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Ukrainian forces are continuing to advance deeper into Russia's Kursk region, expanding their area of control on the third day of their major incursion, with the situation worsening for Russian forces, according to a key pro-Kremlin Russian military blogger.

Rybar, a blog closely linked to Russia's defense ministry, reported Thursday that Ukrainian armored units have reached the village of Bolshoe Soldatskoe, roughly 18.5 miles inside Russia's border.

Heavy fighting is now also reported only 9 miles from the town of Lgov, which straddles a crucial highway.

PHOTO: An image taken from a handout footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry on August 8, 2024, shows a Russian drone attack on Ukrainian armoured vehicles outside the town of Sudzha, Kursk Region. ( Russian Defence Ministry/AFP via Getty Images)

"Despite the attempts of the Russian joint forces group to stop the advance of Ukrainian mobile groups, the scale of the crisis is widening," Rybar wrote on Telegram.

Rybar and other pro-Kremlin military bloggers are contradicting the claims of Russia's defense ministry that the Ukrainian advance has been stopped.

Ukraine's attack appeared to be a large-scale offensive operation, involving at least two Ukrainian brigades, rather than a less significant cross-border raid. As the scale of the attack was becoming clearer on Thursday, it appeared to be one of the most significant military developments in the war in months.

At least 66 people have been injured as a result of shelling in the Kursk region since Tuesday, the Russian Ministry of Health reported Thursday.

The railway stations in three settlements in the Kursk region -- Sudzha, Korenevo and Psel -- are closed amid the invasion, the press service of the Moscow Railway reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for "courage" in the region.

"This requires you, and the current situation requires a certain amount of courage and concentration on ways to solve these complex, difficult, extraordinary tasks that are now facing all branches and all levels of government," Putin said at a meeting with the acting governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov, on Thursday.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian adviser to the head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office, commented Thursday for the first time on the operation, saying one goal was to alter the Russian perception of the war, a shift that could potentially affect any eventual negotiations.

MORE: Ukraine launches attack into Russia, marking biggest incursion since war began

"This increases the cost of the war for Russia quantitatively. More armored vehicles have been destroyed, the Russian Federation has lost territories, and there have been more casualties. Will this affect how they perceive this war? Undoubtedly," Podolyak said in a live discussion on Ukrainian TV.

Zelenskyy praised the Ukrainian army on Thursday for its ability "to surprise" and achieve results, though made no direct reference to the situation in Kursk.

"Everyone can see that the Ukrainian army knows how to surprise. And knows how to achieve results," Zelenskyy said at an event in Kyiv. "This is demonstrated by the battlefield, where our soldiers not only withstood the overwhelming force of the occupiers, but also are destroying it in the way necessary to protect Ukraine -- our state and independence."

PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Federal Security Service Chief Alexander Bortnikov, and Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, on the situation in Kursk region, in Moscow on Aug. 7, 2024. (Aleksey Babushkin/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool via AP)

The Ukrainian incursion began on Tuesday when a Ukrainian force numbering in at least the hundreds crossed over the border near the village of Sudzha, with tanks and heavy weapons, according to official and unofficial Russian public sources. Catching Russia off-guard, Ukrainian soldiers quickly seized a handful of villages, advancing up to 6 to 9 miles, according to the pro-Kremlin Russian military bloggers.

Since then, Ukraine has moved in significant reinforcements and its forces were continuing to try to press forward but were being held on Thursday at the village of Korenovo, according to multiple pro-Kremlin bloggers, who are close to Russia's military. Heavy fighting was also focused on Sudzha, which Ukrainian troops were reported to have largely surrounded.

Russia's defense ministry on Thursday claimed to have halted the Ukrainian advance and to have inflicted hundreds of casualties on Ukrainian troops. But reports from the Russian military bloggers suggested a far more chaotic situation, with unconfirmed reports that Ukrainian forces had continued to reach deeper in some places into the Kursk region.

One of the best-known pro-Kremlin military bloggers, Two Majors, reported that six or seven Ukrainian tanks were fighting in the village of Ivnitsa, roughly 18.5 miles from the border.

He also reported gunfire, likely from Ukrainian reconnaissance special forces units, in the village of Anastasevka, more than 18.5 miles from the border and about 28 miles from the Kursk nuclear power station.

Multiple military bloggers also reported gunfire, likely from Ukrainian reconnaissance special forces units, in the village of Anastasevka.

They also reported Ukraine engineering equipment to try and dig in and hold ground.

PHOTO: This photo released by the acting Governor of Kursk region Alexei Smirnov telegram channel , shows a damaged house after shelling by the Ukrainian side in the city of Sudzha, Kursk region that borders Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (AP)

Ukrainian officials have been almost entirely silent on the operation, with speculation swirling around its possible goals. Ukraine may be seeking to pull Russian forces from elsewhere in Ukraine, as Ukrainian troops are under intense pressure in the Donbas region near the key city of Pokrovsk, although most analysts believe Russia likely has sufficient forces to continue its operations there unchanged.

Russian analysts have also suggested that Ukraine could be seeking to seize the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, which is located roughly 50 miles from the border, but most analysts were deeply skeptical that the Ukrainian force is large enough to reach it.

Podolyak's comments on Thursday appeared to perhaps support another theory that Ukraine could be seeking to capture Russian territory with the goal of trading it for Ukrainian-occupied land in potential future peace negotiations. Podolyak said he expects the Kursk attack to impact Russian society, bringing clear signals of the ineffectiveness of Putin's strategy closer to home, at the same time as potentially strengthening Ukraine's position in negotiations.

"Do they respond to anything other than fear?" he told Ukrainian television. "No, we need to finally realize this. Any compromise is perceived by Russia as your weakness and readiness to kneel before them. When can they sit at the negotiating table, and can something be achieved? Only if they understand that the war is not going according to their plan."

Some Ukrainian and independent military analysts have expressed doubts about the wisdom of such a risky operation when Ukraine is suffering from severe manpower shortages in Donbas, where Russia in recent weeks has been making rapid advances towards Pokrovsk, prompting fears Ukrainian lines near there are in danger of cracking. Russian forces overnight reportedly again made advances in that area, capturing another small village, according to Ukrainian military analysts.

ABC News' Natalia Popova contributed to this report.

Ukraine continues major incursion into Russia, with reports of advances amid heavy fighting originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Ukraine has evacuated 1,010 children from Donetsk Oblast in three days  video

A child being evacuated. Photo: Screenshot from video by the National Police

Ukraine has evacuated 1,010 children from 756 families across 28 settlements in Donetsk Oblast in the first three days of evacuation operations. In addition, 3,723 children remain to be evacuated.

Source: National Police of Ukraine (NPU)

Quote: "During the first three days of evacuation efforts, 1,010 children from 756 families have been rescued from dangerous areas. The evacuation took place both independently by families and with the help of task groups. All of them are now safe and receiving the necessary assistance."

Details: Mandatory evacuation of civilians from 28 of the most dangerous settlements in Donetsk Oblast has been ongoing since 5 August. At present, 3,723 children still need to be evacuated.

There are 20 teams working on the evacuation of children, consisting of White Angel crews, police paramedics, State Emergency Service personnel, patrol police, and representatives of military administrations.

In addition, the police stressed that mandatory evacuation continues throughout Donetsk Oblast.

Background:

Earlier, Ukraine's Interior Ministry reported that as of 6 August, 372 families with 481 children had left 28 settlements in Donetsk Oblast, where evacuation was announced.

On 7 August, Volodymyr Artiukh, Head of Sumy Oblast Military Administration, reported that mandatory evacuation had been announced in 23 settlements across 5 hromadas of Sumy Oblast bordering Russia. (A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.).

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By Sinead Cruise

LONDON (Reuters) -NatWest wants to bolster its lending firepower. To do so it plans to cut deals with investors to offload some of its loan risk, to make its capital go further and preserve dividends, executives told Reuters.

The domestically-focused bank, still 19% taxpayer-owned since its 2008 bailout, joins a wave of peers seeking to shed some loan exposure using private deals with investors that can trim regulatory demands for capital by hundreds of millions of pounds.

Robert Begbie, CEO of NatWest's Commercial & Institutional division, said significant risk transfer (SRT) transactions, which the bank had also used in the past, would spur new lending and help maintain shareholder payouts.

SRTs enable a bank to shed lending risk to a third party via derivatives or guarantees that offer protection to the lender in the event of losses on a loan.

Bankers are exploring ways to mitigate new Basel regulations that will impose higher risk weightings on certain loans from 2025, forcing lenders to park more capital against those assets and potentially squeezing access to credit for some borrowers.

"Our Commercial & Institutional business consumes the largest amount of capital across our three customer businesses," Begbie told Reuters.

"The onus is on us to walk the talk in relation to better capital management activities," he said, explaining the decision to relaunch its SRT programme after a four-year hiatus.

Using an SRT, the bank doesn't dispose of the underlying loans and preserves its relationship with the customer, but crucially, the trade enables the bank to unlock some of the capital tied up against those assets.

Investors who sell this protection to banks get exposure to high-quality loan risk and returns that are typically less volatile than publicly-traded fixed-income securities.

NatWest, formerly known as Royal Bank of Scotland, was forced to embark on a massive restructuring in the years following its 46 billion pound ($58.5 billion) bailout in 2008.

A wave of asset sales left the bank with an abundance of excess capital, which management has steadily reinvested or returned to investors, including the government.

Now, NatWest wants to use SRTs to fuel faster lending growth in Britain, where a new Labour government faces pressure to regenerate a low-growth economy and depleted public purse.

NatWest hired Rob Lloyd from Lloyds Bank late last year to help lead a reboot of its capital management programme, which has drawn in staff from the restructured NatWest Markets -- its securities arm -- to explore how it can maximise the efficiency of its balance sheet.

Story continues

"We are spending a lot more time thinking about allocation. And we're absolutely looking at how we recycle assets on our book, whether it be via SRTs, via credit insurance, or other capital management tools," Lloyd said.

Currently one of Britain's biggest lenders to small and medium-sized businesses, NatWest's future loan origination activity will not depend on its SRT market activity but it will be "beneficial and supportive," Begbie added.

The executives declined to say how many transfers NatWest aimed to achieve this year or give details on the asset risk shared.

NatWest shares have risen 48% over the past 12 months. In its first half results, the bank reported a return on tangible equity of 16.4% -- a measure of profitability -- and a 6-pence interim dividend, taking total shareholder distributions for the first half to 1.7 billion pounds.

BASEL BOOM

While the latest Basel rules are broadly expected to incentivise more SRT activity in potentially larger deal sizes, some analysts said lenders may find it harder to secure the same quantum of capital relief on certain trades under the new rules.

Regulators must evaluate each proposed transfer of lending risk before approving the capital relief sought by the bank.

"The simple narrative is that Basel is going to increase risk weights - and therefore capital charges - on certain types of assets. And this is pushing banks to be more creative about managing their balance sheets," Andrew South, Head of Structured Finance Research at ratings agency S&P, told Reuters.

"But what you hear much less about is how Basel 3.1 might also introduce challenges to the economics of SRTs," he added, with banks likely needing to pay more to investors to reap the same capital relief.

NatWest's Begbie and Lloyd were however confident in the benefits offered by these tools and rising demand for such assets from pension funds, insurers and private equity houses.

S&P's South said investor demand for SRTs would likely exceed supply, although he declined to offer a prediction on 2024 volumes, on the basis that volumes recorded in 2023 are unclear because the deals aren't public.

Data published in May by the European Central Bank showed lenders under its supervision struck around 317 billion euros ($345.88 billion) of SRTs in the two years to end-2023.

The Bank of England keeps data on SRT volumes confidential.

Jose Manuel Campa, chairperson of the European Banking Authority (EBA) told Reuters he was aware of some criticism among banks concerning how long it typically took supervisors to sign off on SRTs.

Supervisors are obliged to assess each transfer on its own merits, to "go in, ask questions and that process takes time," he told Reuters in an interview last month.

"From my perspective, banks who really want faster progress in using SRTs to reduce capital requirements should consider coming forward with a standardized product," Campa said.

"That's how to grow this market as well, to have a degree of consistency in your product."

($1 = 0.9165 euros)

($1 = 0.7865 pounds)

(Reporting by Sinead Cruise; Editing by Elisa Martinuzzi and Sharon Singleton)
Ukraine controls the Sudzha gas metering station, located about five miles (about 8 km) inside Russian territory.

Source: adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told The Washington Post on condition of anonymity

Details: The adviser to the president noted that the station is unlikely to be used as leverage, as the pipeline still passes through Ukraine, and Kyiv could cut off the flow at any time.

Updated: The 3rd paragraph of the news piece has been corrected. Due to an incorrect translation, inaccurate information was covered. The Ekonomichna Pravda editorial team apologises to our readers for this error.

Gas continued to flow through Sudzha, the last functioning transfer point for the pipeline that supplies Russian natural gas to Europe via Ukraine, on Thursday.

Background:

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Ukraine may use German-supplied equipment in Kursk Oblast, Bundestag defense committee chair says

German-supplied equipment may be used in Ukraine's "completely legitimate" incursion into Russia's Kursk Oblast, the Bundestag's Defense Committee Chair Marcus Faber said on Aug. 8 after Russia claimed that German armored personnel vehicles were involved in the operation.

"With the handover to Ukraine, these are Ukrainian weapons," Faber told German newspaper Berliner Morgenpost, specifying that this applies to all material, including Leopard 2 tanks.

"With the Russian attack on Ukraine, the territory of both states is a war zone. The use of the weapons is subject to the provisions of international law."

Ukrainian forces crossed the border into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6, resulting in clashes on Russian soil that were described by Russian President Vladimir Putin as "a large-scale provocation."

Kyiv has largely refused to comment on the operation in Kursk Oblast, which takes place just as Russia is ramping up attacks in Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast.

Faber also posted on X that Ukraine's incursion "forces Russia to withdraw forces from the east" and is "completely legitimate and makes military sense."

"Ukraine is proving its ability to act" and is showing the Russian population that Russia's "war of aggression concerns them too, not just the Ukrainians," he said.

"Anyone who starts a war of aggression against their neighboring country is also turning their own territory into a war zone."

"We can only wish the Ukrainian defenders every success, including in Kursk," Faber said.

"The more successful they are, the sooner the Kremlin will understand that there is nothing to be gained in Ukraine."

Initially a hesitant partner, Berlin has become Ukraine's second-largest military donor after the U.S., although German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is still reluctant to supply some key capabilities, namely Taurus long-range missiles.

Read also: Ukraines unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast brings war back to Russian soil

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Updated Aug 8, 2024, 8:16am EDT politics security Europe

The News

A surprise Ukrainian offensive into western Russia forced Moscow to evacuate villages and redeploy troops, as analysts said they were puzzled by Kyivs strategy.

The assault in the Kursk region appeared more organized and better equipped than prior raids, and came after Moscows forces made advances elsewhere in eastern Ukraine.

Washington said the attack did not violate US rules on the use of its weapons, but added it was unclear on Ukraines objectives, the Kyiv Post reported.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Attack marks a shift in strategy for Ukraine

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Ukraines decision to carry out an incursion into Russian territory is something completely new, Ruslan Pukhov, director of the defense think tank CAST, told The Wall Street Journal. Hundreds of Ukrainian troops have been deployed over the border, and Kyiv is using Stryker armored fighting vehicles and tanks, alongside drones, to carry out the operation. The incursion seems to have taken Moscow by surprise, the Journal noted, and while the objective of Ukraines advance is currently unclear, it is possible that Kyiv is trying to force Russia to move its forces out of the Donbas region. But its not possible for Ukraine to open up a second front, one defense expert told the paper. They need to stabilize the front line in Donbas.

Ukraine will need to tie up major Russian resources

Source: Black Bird Group

Russias border defenses are likely prepared for small incursions, rather than the large-scale operation Ukraine is carrying out in Kursk, one Ukrainian military analyst said. Russian commanders might have ignored Ukraines preparations, and as a result, Russia has to scramble" local forces to respond, John Helin, of the think tank Black Bird Group, wrote on X. But the success of the offensive remains uncertain, he added. To offset the use of manpower and resources and help the crisis areas in the east, Ukraine would need to tie up 2-3 times as many Russian reserves from Donetsk, he added.
The Ukrainian embassy in Mexico on Aug. 7 asked the Mexican government to arrest Russian leader Vladimir Putin if he attends the inauguration of president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum. The embassy called Putin a war criminal and expressed gratitude to Mexico for inviting President Volodymyr Zelensky to the ceremony on Oct. 1.

"We trust that the Mexican government will comply with the international arrest warrant and hand over the aforementioned (Putin) to the United Nations judicial body in The Hague," the embassy said.

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin over allegations of war crimes, specifically the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia following Moscow's invasion in early 2022.

Juan Ramon de la Fuente, selected to be Sheinbaum's foreign minister, explained that it is "standard protocol" to invite the leaders of all countries with which Mexico has diplomatic relations, including both Russia and Ukraine, to the inauguration.

While Russia is not a member of the ICC, Mexico is. Despite this, the two countries have been strengthening their relationship. Putin congratulated Sheinbaum on her victory in June, referring to Mexico as Russia's "historically friendly partner" in Latin America.

Sheinbaum, poised to become Mexico's first female president, won a historic victory in the general election on June 2 and will commence her six-year term in October. Both Putin and Zelensky were among the world leaders who congratulated her.

Read also: Mexico invites Putin to its presidential inauguration, Russian media reports

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With NATO's 75th anniversary summit concluded, it's worth taking stock of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's comment about an "irreversible path to NATO membership" for Ukraine. It was a bad idea two years ago for Ukraine to seek the NATO mantle for its own sake, which played directly into the Russian narrative of an external threata narrative critical for Russian President Vladimir Putin to maintain internal stability and his grip on powerand it's a bad idea now. Ukraine should stay out of NATO, not only because Ukraine is better off independent but also because a formal alliance will only delay Russian disintegration.

To be clear, this is not a "don't poke the Bear" argument commonly made from dismayingly pro-Kremlin quarters. Rather, the argument here is that the fastest way to see an end to the bloody Ukraine-Russia war is by absolutely crippling the Russian Bear. And the best way to do thatcounterintuitive as it may seemis not through expanding Western alliances but by supporting the significant internal discord within the Russian Federation itself. Give the Kremlin the fewest possible reasons to project a common foe and instead lend a hand to the common people of its fraying association of independence-hungry republics.

The Bear is on the attack because it is dying from cancer: in this case, a growing separatist sentiment among the diverse peoples of its vast territory, be they Karelians, Tatars, Ichkerians, or Yakuts. Talk of Ukraine joining NATO is a distraction from this important development and only goads Russia into a frenzy that postpones the internal rot.

(https://www.reddit.com/r/FreedomofRussia/comments/10hgkv8/mapping_separatism_in_russia_partisan_actions/#lightbox)

Moreover, NATO doesn't really mean it. There is no such thing as an "irreversible path" any more than there's a predictable arc to history. Any number of things can happen that could permanently alter Ukraine's accession, not least being the eruption of hostilities between NATO and Russian forces in, say, Kaliningrad and the Suwaki Gap. Ukraine's gold-trimmed invitation would be immediately forgotten as an embarrassing excess amid the fallout from a major escalation in the Baltic. NATO nations are deeply and understandably divided over admitting a member that sits directly on the threshold of an implacable enemy engaged in active hostilities, and all talk of pathways and invitations will remain just thattalk.

In the second place, many in the West labor under the misperception that Ukraine's NATO membership would substantially alter the Kremlin's calculus. Paul Grod, writing for the Atlantic Council, believes membership would "end Russian imperial ambitions in Ukraine." Nonsense. NATO integration, while seen as some sort of Easy Button in international affairs, is no more likely to end Russian ambitions in Ukraine than Cuba joining the Warsaw Pact would have ended American interests in ending communism.

Rather than end Putin's ambitions, in fact, Ukraine's accession to NATO is Putin's ambition. By manipulating state-controlled media, Putin has masterfully promoted the myth (both at home and here in the States) that his invasion of Ukraine was a defensive move against NATO ambitions. Further talk of NATO accession merely plays into this lie.

This doesn't mean Ukraine is to be left out in the coldquite the reverse. Ukraine has been extraordinarily effective in the conflict and can be stronger still. The entire free world (not just NATO) can supply a great deal more, and a great deal better, firepower. And Ukraine can draw on far more than its current draft demographic starting with 18- to 25-year-olds. As Grod correctly points out, "Ukraine boasts one of Europe's largest, most capable, and innovative armies." Moreover, it now possesses the world's most cutting-edge, battle-hardened, and tactically trained units, especially in the realm of drone technology and deployment. Falling under a NATO command structure is likely to degrade this world-class experience as it gets diluted amid a dithering, increasingly moribund political structure. Ukraine's defensive decisions would be filtered, for example, through NATO's risible diversity and equity initiatives or its new Center of Excellence for Climate Change and Security.

No, Ukraine, you don't need that level of distractionNATO is increasingly dysfunctional and only likely to get more so as it grows its geographical and political footprint.

Nothing prevents motivated NATO nations from continuing to provide the kinds of weapons Ukraine needs to fend off Russia's merciless invasion. The equipment stream can continue unabated, free from the kinds of institutional restraints likely to rear their heads if Ukraine were formally admitted. In fact, if Ukraine were to accede to NATO ranks, it would likely see a decrease in these voluntary weapons deliveries, since some nations would undoubtedly view their contributions as completethe abstract "alliance," they would inevitably come to believe, would take care of any pressing needs in Ukraine. Bureaucracies have a way of swallowing initiative.

Many sensible Ukrainians recognize these facts and are eager to maintain their defensive autonomy. Denys Yaroslavsky, a frontline brigade commander, has long argued that building a social-industrial defensive bulwark in the Israel model is a far more effective strategyone that can be better supported, he told Reason, by bilateral treaties with "countries that understand the threat of Russian invasion." NATO membership, requiring a formal military subordination to Brussels and Washington, will only diminish the strategic and operational maneuvering space needed to hit Russia where it is most vulnerable. Can any sober-minded advocate realistically envision, for example, a NATO-sanctioned sabotage operation deep within the Russian heartland?

NATO advocacy, in short, is a bad ideanot only for Ukraine, where it will bind the country's hands in red tape, but also in the informational campaign against Russia, where it only serves to dilute the separatist internal pressures most likely to bring the Russian Bear to heel. As unappealing as it may sound, the current strategy of vigorous, coordinated free-world support is the right one. There are tens of thousands of willing, trained, and newly equipped Russian separatists currently fighting their Russian oppressors in Ukraine. As they start their eagerly anticipated journeys home, they will be exhorting their fellow men that independence is an entirely feasible opportunity as the Bear reels from its terrible miscalculation in Ukraine.

A decisive disintegration of the Russian Federation is more probable now than ever. While deeply complex, it is hardly a recipe for disaster. Lending moral and physical support to those who wish to be free should be NATO's focus, not idle and counterproductive talks over "irreversible paths" to Ukraine's alliance.

The post Ukraine Is Safer If It Stays Out of NATO appeared first on Reason.com.
Ukraines Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it regretted the decision of the government of the Republic of the Niger to break off diplomatic relations with Kyiv, rejecting any accusations and stressing that such a decision was a gesture of solidarity with Russia, which is waging war against Ukraine.

Source: the statement by Ukraine's Foreign Ministry

Quote: "Ukraine has taken note of the decision of the authorities of the Republic of Niger of 6 August 2024 to break off diplomatic relations with Ukraine. The accusations against Ukraine contained in the statement of the representative of the government of this country do not stand up to any criticism, are groundless and untrue."

Details: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that Ukraine strongly rejects any accusations against it of allegedly "supporting international terrorism, violating the UN Charter and international law".

Ukraine also believes that Niger's decision is a gesture of "solidarity" with those who have chosen to move closer to the Russian Federation, which has been waging a full-scale war against Ukraine for more than two years.

The Ukrainian ministry stressed that Russia has been destabilising the international security and political situation, spreading chaos and confrontation in all parts of the world, including the African continent.

"It is regrettable that the Nigerian authorities have decided to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine without conducting any investigation into the incident in Mali and without providing any evidence regarding the reasons for such a step," the Foreign Ministry stressed.

At the same time, the ministry said, Ukraine is sincerely determined to continue building mutually beneficial relations with all African states on the basis of equality, non-interference in internal affairs, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries within internationally recognised borders and strict adherence to international law, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

Previously: On 6 August, Al Arabiya TV channel reported that the African country of Niger had severed diplomatic relations with Ukraine, following Mali, "with immediate effect". This comes two days after Mali accused Kyiv of allegedly supporting Tuareg rebels who recently defeated a convoy of Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group.

Background:

The Malian army and its Russian allies have suffered losses from Tuareg rebels. On Saturday, Tuaregs from the CSP-PSD movement showed photos and videos of a destroyed Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) convoy.

The fighting took place in the town of Tinzaouatene, near Mali's border with Algeria, on Thursday, 25 July and Friday, 26 July. At least 20 Wagner fighters were killed and the rest were captured.

In addition to the deaths or capture of scores of Russian Wagner mercenaries in Malis north, a Russian mercenary propagandist and administrator from the Grey Zone Telegram channel was killed.

Tuareg rebels in Mali were photographed holding a Ukrainian flag after killing dozens of Russians from the Wagner PMC.

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(Reuters) - Ukraine's foreign ministry said on Thursday Niger's decision to cut diplomatic ties with Kyiv was "regrettable" and that Kyiv saw the move as based on groundless and untrue allegations.

Niger's junta said on Tuesday it was acting in solidarity with Mali which earlier broke off ties with Kyiv over remarks by a Ukrainian military intelligence official that it said showed Kyiv's support for rebels fighting in northern Mali.

"It is regrettable that the authorities of Niger have decided to terminate diplomatic relations with Ukraine without conducting any investigation into the incident in Mali or providing any evidence as to the reasons for such a step," the Ukrainian foreign ministry said.

Tuareg rebels said they killed at least 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries during fighting in July in what appeared the heaviest defeat for Wagner since it stepped in two years ago to help Mali's military authorities fight insurgent groups.

Wagner, a private army, played a major role in the war in Ukraine until last year when its forces mutinied in Russia and its leader died in an air crash a month later. It still has operations in a number of African countries.

The row stems from televised remarks by Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's military spy agency, who said that Malian rebels had received the "necessary" information to conduct their attack.

In its statement, the Ukrainian foreign ministry said Kyiv rejected any allegations of its support for "international terrorism".

"The accusations against Ukraine cited in the statement by a representative of the government of (Niger) do not stand up to any criticism, are groundless and do not correspond to reality," it said.

Ukraine is locked in heavy fighting with Russia in the third year of Moscow's full-scale invasion, and trying to win over international support, in particular in the Global South.

(Reporting by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Peter Graff)
After more than two years of being subjected to Russian military aggression, Ukraine is on the offensive. On Tuesday morning, at least 300 Ukrainian forces crossed the Russian border into Kursk. After attacking border patrols in Nikolayevo-Darina and Oleshnya, Ukrainian forces swiftly occupied 350 square kilometers of Russian territory and took dozens of Russians as POWs.

Ukraines offensive operations in Kursk show no sign of slowing down. Overnight, Ukrainian forces reportedly seized control of Sudzhna, reached the outskirts of Korenevo and advanced northward to Malaya Loknya. In less than forty-eight hours, Ukraine has captured more territory than during the entire ill-fated summer 2023 counter-offensive.

In keeping with operational secrecy protocols, Ukraines General Staff has not commented on the Kursk incursion. Notwithstanding Kyivs radio silence, it is abundantly clear that the Kursk offensive advances three key Ukrainian objectives.

The first is siphoning Russian forces from offensive operations in Donetsk. Over the past week, Russian forces have seized control of the villages of Progres, Yevgenivka and Niu-York. These advances are part of Russias strategy of consolidating control over Toretsks logistical centers and elevated terrain. Although Ukraine disputes Russias claimed seizure of Niu-York, Zelensky recently admitted that Its difficult all along the Eastern Front. As the prospect of major gains in Kharkiv is remote, Russia could redirect even more conscripts to Donetsk in the weeks ahead. Ukraines Kursk offensive complicates that process.

The second is sowing discord within Russia. Since Russia regained marginal offensive momentum in early 2023, pro-Ukrainian Russian partisans have made periodic incursions into Russian territory. In May and June 2023, the Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russian Legion briefly occupied several border settlements in Belgorod. These cross-border operations extended to Kursk in March 2024. Much like the Kremlin UAV episode, these raids aimed to smash Russias increasingly fragile sense of security and show the Russian public that the war can come to them.

Ukraines current offensive in Kursk picks up from where these abortive raids left off. Although the Russian Defense Ministry swiftly claimed that it was destroying the 300 Ukrainian militants who crossed the border into Kursk, President Vladimir Putin was forced to call a security council meeting and publicly attack Ukraines major provocation. Russian pro-war Telegram channels have defied the Ministry of Defenses calls for calm by highlighting the gravity of the situation and expressing frustration with the slow deployment of reinforcements to Kursk. After days of showcasing itself as the winner from the prisoner exchange deal, the Kremlin has been embarrassed.

The third is to advance a land swap deal during future talks. The Discord Leaks revealed that Zelensky pondered the occupation of Russian villages as a means of getting leverage over Moscow. Zelensky advisor Mykhailo Podolyak stated that Ukraine launched its Kursk offensive to bolster its future bargaining position. A Kharkiv-for-Kursk land swap is being mooted. While it is unclear whether Ukraine can hold villages in Kursk, the offensive has shown that breaching Russian territory is easier than destroying Russias fortifications in eastern Ukraine.

Despite their initial momentum, Ukraines advances in Kursk are likely to be short-lived. Western and domestic pressure will likely force Kyiv to change tack. The US is apparently mystified by Kyivs actions and European gas prices have risen to 2024 highs over Ukraines seizure of Sudzha gas export hub. Domestic criticisms of the diversion of precious manpower away from the core frontlines and civilian costs could convince Kyiv to stand down. The threat of more intensified Russian strikes on Sumy, which is adjacent to Kursk, forced 6,000 people to evacuate.

Nevertheless, the Kursk offensive shows that Russia has not learnt its lessons from the Wagner Groups lightning seizure of Rostov during its June 2023 mutiny. Aside from predictable threats of annihilating Ukraine and using tactical nuclear weapons, Russia has not responded meaningfully to the Kursk offensive. With F-16 jets also arriving on the frontlines, Putin has plenty of reasons to worry.

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Key developments on Aug. 8:

Battles in Kursk Oblast ongoing in two districts, Russia claims

'Many' Russian soldiers captured in Kursk Oblast battles, Ukraine's state project claims

Russia closes 3 train stations in Kursk Oblast for passenger transport

Any Ukrainian operations in 'Russian border regions' will benefit future talks with Moscow, presidential advisor says

Russian airstrike against Sumy Oblast kills 2, including 6-year-old child

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on Aug. 8 that its forces continue to engage Ukrainian troops in the Sudzhansky and Korenevsky border districts of Kursk Oblast.

Ukrainian forces crossed the border into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6, resulting in clashes on Russian soil that were described by Russian President Vladimir Putin as "a large-scale provocation."

Kyiv has largely refused to comment on the operation in Kursk Oblast, which takes place just as Russia is ramping up attacks in Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast.

Russia's Defense Ministry also claimed that "the enemy has been prevented from advancing," echoing Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.

One day earlier, Gerasimov reported to Putin that the Ukrainian military's advance deep into Kursk Oblast had been stopped.

In turn, Russian Telegram channels claimed that fighting had already begun in Sudzha, a town of around 5,000 people located less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border with Ukraine.

Geolocation footage indicates that Ukrainian troops have advanced up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) deep into Russia's Kursk Oblast, passing at least two Russian defense lines and a stronghold, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its Aug. 7 assessment.

Kursk Oblast lies on the border with Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, which has been experiencing daily attacks since Russian troops were pushed out of the oblast and back across the border in April 2022.

Read also: Ukraines unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast brings war back to Russian soil

'Many' Russian soldiers captured in Kursk Oblast battles, Ukraine's state project claims

"Many" Russian soldiers were captured in Russia's Kursk Oblast after the incursion of Ukrainian forces, Ukraine's state project "Khochu nayti" ("I want to find") said on Aug. 7.

Among the captives are both conscripts and contract soldiers, according to "Khochu nayti," the project launched in January 2024 by Ukraine's military intelligence for relatives of the Russian military captured in Ukraine.

"There is also information about the dead whose bodies were not taken away by their comrades-in-arms during the retreat," the statement read.

The project published drone footage of what it presented as 32 captured Russian soldiers, adding that eight more did not fit into the frame. The Telegram post did not specify whether this was the overall number of Russian troops captured so far.

The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify the claims.

Read also: Displaced residents of Kursk Oblast will be paid $115, Putin decrees

Russia closes 3 train stations in Kursk Oblast for passenger transport

Sudzha, Korenevo, and Psel stations in Kursk Oblast are "temporarily closed to passengers," Russian state-owned train operator Moscow Railway said on Aug. 8, as Russia claims ongoing battles in the region.

Korenevo is located around 32 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of Sudzha, while Psel station is located in the village of Peschansky, 25 kilometers (15 miles) southeast of Sudzha.

"The stations at Sudzha, Korenevo, (and) Psel are temporarily closed to passengers," Moscow Railway said.

Train services are being carried out as normal in Kursk Oblast with the exception of the Sudzhansky and Korenovsky districts, the company said.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on Aug. 8 that its forces continue to engage Ukrainian troops in these two districts.

"To ensure traffic safety, additional inspections of the infrastructure and briefings for personnel are carried out," Moscow Railway added.

The company reported later in the afternoon that an additional train to Moscow will leave Kursk railway station at 3 a.m. on Aug. 9 "to meet the demand for passenger transportation."

The number of carriages on a regularly scheduled train from Kursk to Moscow "has been temporarily increased to 10," Moscow Railways added.

According to Russian media, several thousand people have been reportedly evacuated from Kursk Oblast.

Read also: Francis Farrell: The difficult road forward to peace without catastrophe in Ukraine

Any Ukrainian operations in 'Russian border regions' will benefit future talks with Moscow, presidential advisor says

Any possible Ukrainian operations in "Russian border regions" will have an impact on Russian society and improve Kyiv's position in future peace talks with Moscow, Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on Aug. 7.

Maintaining the official line, Podolyak refused to comment specifically on the recent cross-border incursion into Russia's Kursk Oblast, saying that the military would provide information if necessary.

"Will the events in this or that Russian border region have a psychological impact on (Russian) society? They will, without a doubt," Podolyak said on national television, implying this will create additional pressure on the Kremlin.

"When you increase Russian losses... when you ramp up their war costs, such as destroyed military equipment, lost territory, lost people, will this affect how they perceive their war? Without a doubt."

Echoing President Volodymyr Zelensky, Podolyak stressed that Ukraine must enter any talks with Russia from the position of strength. Ukraine has said it aims to invite a Russian representative to an upcoming second peace summit, though the Kremlin has been skeptical about attending.

Ukraine's partners, namely the U.S. and the EU, signaled that Kyiv has the right to decide about its own military actions.

"Our partners finally realize that everything connected to Ukraine's military actions is our sovereign right and a step toward de-escalation and the final end of the war," Podolyak commented on the partners' statements.

Read also: Governor declares state of emergency in Russias Kursk Oblast, says situation remains very difficult

Russian airstrike against Sumy Oblast kills 2, including 6-year-old child

Russia attacked a border village in Sumy Oblast on Aug. 8 with KAB bombs, killing a 22-year-old man and his 6-year-old sister, Governor Volodymyr Artiukh said on television.

Sumy Oblast suffers Russian cross-border strikes on a daily basis. The attacks have only intensified this week after Ukraine launched an incursion from there into Russia's Kursk Oblast.

The airstrike targeted the village of Mohrytsia, which lies some 6 kilometers (almost 4 miles) southwest of the border with Kursk Oblast.

The victims were killed in a schoolyard, Artiukh said, adding that their family refused to leave the village just one day earlier. Two other people were injured.

Sumy Oblast authorities announced mandatory evacuations of some 6,000 residents on Aug. 7 as Russia increased aviation activity near the border areas.

"Smy Oblast has never seen such a number of airstrikes per day," Artiukh said, calling the number of attacks "unprecedented."

Read also: Ukraine may use German-supplied equipment in Kursk Oblast, Bundestag defense committee chair says

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Ukraine's foreign minister and his Norwegian counterpart discuss expanding F-16 initiative and Peace Formula

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has had a telephone conversation with his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide, during which they discussed, among other things, the possibility of expanding the F-16 initiative and involving more countries in the Peace Formula.

Source: Kuleba on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: In particular, the Ukrainian minister thanked Norway for participating in the coalition to provide F-16s to Ukraine. "We discussed expanding this initiative," he added.

The parties also agreed upon the next steps for involving more countries in implementing the Peace Formula.

Separately, Kuleba stressed that he appreciated Norway's efforts "to increase its assistance to Ukraine, as well as its decision to take additional steps to strengthen our energy system".

Background:

F-16 fighter jets are being provided to Ukraine by Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Norway.

On 4 August, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the first F-16s had arrived in Ukraine and showed them at a secret air base.

Prior to that, Western media reported, citing their sources, that six fighter jets had arrived from the Netherlands and that several more would soon arrive from Denmark.

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Ocean spot rates have peaked, according to Maersk

Ocean spot rates from China to the U.S. West Coast are starting to look like a two-humped camel. (Chart: SONAR)

The reasons for an expected decline in spot rates from here include an easing in port congestion, expected seasonal declines in freight demand as the end of the year approaches and increases in ocean capacity, which is rising 2%-3% per quarter, according to Maersk. That said, ocean spot rates are still expected to remain at historically high levels since there is no evidence of a resolution of the Red Sea disruption in sight. The largest ocean carrier expects to avoid the Red Sea through at least the end of this year. The impact of the Red Sea attacks has, so far, more than offset the impact of capacity increases and assuaged carriers near-term concerns of an oversupplied market.

Meanwhile, ocean contract rates are expected to take another (perhaps last for a while) step up in the third quarter from second-quarter levels  contract rates generally follow the direction of spot rates, which rose sharply in the second quarter. Therefore, shippers that rely on the contract market should expect to pay more in Q3, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Intermodal is priced well below truckload, according to Hub Group

Domestic intermodal volume began surging in June, partly due to an increase in transloading. (Chart: SONAR)

Last week, domestic intermodal carrier Hub Group reported 8% year-over-year volume growth in its second quarter. That exceeds the 5% domestic intermodal volume growth shown in Q2 via the ORAILDOML.USA ticker and confirms that the company gained share in terms of total loaded intermodal containers. (J.B. Hunts intermodal loads declined 1% y/y in Q2.) However, in Q2, J.B. Hunt and Hub Group had widely different trends in volume by region with J.B. Hunt posting double-digit volume growth in transcontinental shipments outbound from LA while Hub Groups volume was concentrated in the local east lanes, where volume grew 26% year over year.

SONAR data shows the intermodal contract savings rate versus truckload for long-haul, medium-haul and short-haul loads to be 17%, 6% and 4%, respectively. (Chart: SONAR)

The takeaway for shippers is that carriers, such as Hub Group, are willing to work with them on rates to encourage the use of domestic intermodal in Eastern lanes, as opposed to truckload. The carrier said the spread in contract rates between intermodal and truckload in local east lanes is currently about 20% while it is about 30% in longer-haul transcontinental lanes. That 20% spread in local east lanes is likely larger than a lot of shippers realize and represents a strong value proposition considering the currently strong rail service. It should be noted that the carrier was comparing intermodal contract rates to truckload contract rates. Currently, truckload spot rates remain depressed in a lot of lanes, so nimble shippers, likely those moving relatively little volume, may still be better off using the highway in modally competitive lanes.

Story continues

Rail State data shows impact of Jasper Wildfire

(Image: FWTV)

On Mondays The Stockout show, I interviewed John Schmitter, CCO and co-founder of Rail State, a company that collects and provides railroad service data to shippers and government agencies.

Rail State began by placing sensors adjacent to railroad waysides in Canada, collecting data in real time on railroad speed and service levels. The data is of particular value when there are disruptive events such as extreme weather, work stoppages, mainline outages or simply general congestion. Rail States data showed that in late July, the volume of trains on certain subdivisions in Alberta fell from 30 or more per day to zero as a result of wildfires in the province. Other sources of current disruption are related to labor. CNs international intermodal volume is being negatively impacted by vessel diversions away from Canadian ports  Prince Rupert in particular  as some shippers and ocean carriers hedge against labor stoppages by rail and/or port workers.

In addition to volume figures, Rail State provides shippers with estimates of transit times, which is particularly helpful when shippers have the option of using another railway or another mode of transportation. Rail State is also building out its data collection in the U.S., starting with the Southwest. That region has been impacted by extreme heat, which can cause delays associated with additional track maintenance.

Watch Mondays show here or see the full The Stockout playlist here.

The post Ocean spot rates have likely peaked appeared first on FreightWaves.
Ukrainian and Russian forces have clashed 56 times since the start of the day as of 16:00 on 8 August. Ukraine's General Staff notes that the Russians have been intensively using their aircraft near the border areas of Sumy Oblast for the second day in a row. Russian forces are most active on the Pokrovsk front.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 16:00 on 8 August

Quote: "The invaders have intensified the use of aircraft in the border areas of Sumy Oblast. At present, 16 airstrikes involving 23 guided aerial bombs have been reported."

Details: On the Kharkiv front, four combat engagements have taken place near the town of Vovchansk since the beginning of the day, two of which are in progress.

On the Kupiansk front, Russian troops tried to storm Ukrainian positions near the settlement of Synkivka, but to no avail.

On the Lyman front, the Russians mounted attacks near the settlements of Makiivka, Nevske, Terny and Serebrianka Forest. Since the beginning of the day, 15 combat engagements have occurred in this area, and four are still underway. Ukrainian forces are in control of the situation.

The Russians are continuing their attempts to break through Ukrainian defences on the Siversk front but are being repulsed by Ukrainian defenders. The Russians mounted eight attempts to push Ukrainian troops back near the settlements of Verkhnokamianse, Ivano-Darivka, Spirne and Vyimka.

On the Kramatorsk front, Russian forces launched six attempts to drive Ukrainian troops from their positions since the beginning of the day. Ukrainian forces repelled four Russian assaults near the settlements of Chasiv Yar, Kalynivka and Ivanivske. Two more attacks are in progress.

On the Toretsk front, the Russians, supported by attack and bomber aircraft, assaulted Ukrainian positions seven times. Two combat engagements are currently underway near the village of New-York.

The situation on the Pokrovsk front remains tense. Fierce fighting is taking place near the settlements of Kalynove, Vozdvyzhenka, Novooleksandrivka, Zhelanne and Karlivka. The Russians have made ten attempts to storm Ukrainian positions so far. Fighting continues in five spots in the area.

On the Kurakhove front, Russian troops attacked Ukrainian troops once since the beginning of the day. They tried to advance near the settlement of Krasnohorivka.

On the Vremivka front, Ukrainian forces repelled two Russian assaults towards Vodiane and Vuhledar, and another combat is ongoing.

On the Orikhove front, Russian troops mounted one attempt to advance in the area of Mala Tokmachka but faced a fierce rebuff.

Background: A report by Ukraine's General Staff as of 22:00 on 7 August indicated that the intensity of hostilities on the Sumy front had increased.

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Ukraine's incursion into Kursk Oblast 'consistent' with US policy, Pentagon says

Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk region is "consistent with our policy," U.S. Defense Department Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told the press on Aug. 8.

Responding to a question on the reports of the incursion, which began on Aug. 8, and whether Ukraine can use U.S.-supplied weapons, Singh replied that the U.S. has "supported Ukraine from the beginning to defend themselves against attacks that are coming across the border."

Kursk Oblast shares a 245-kilometer (152-mile) border with Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, which has been experiencing daily Russian attacks since the liberation of its parts in April 2022.

Ukraine is taking action "to protect themselves from attacks" and operating "within the U.S. policy of where they can operate our weapons, our systems, our capabilities," Singh said.

Singh declined to provide more details on the operation, responding that it is for Ukraine "to speak to their own operations."

Responding to a question on how far into Russian territory Ukraine is allowed to strike, Singh said that the U.S. does "not support long-range attacks," but refused to specify the exact distance.

"I'm not going to draw a circular map on where they can and can't strike, but we've been very clear with the Ukrainians," she said.

Read also: Ukraines unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast brings war back to Russian soil

Kyiv is "aware of the U.S. policy and what we are supportive of," and Washington is "supportive of Ukraine and their success on the battlefield," she added.

The U.S. provides the most military support to Ukraine, followed by Germany.

Marcus Faber, the German parliament's Defense Committee chair, described the incursion into Kursk as "completely legitimate" earlier on Aug. 8.

German-supplied weapons may also be used in the incursion, as "with the handover to Ukraine, these are Ukrainian weapons," Faber said.

"Anyone who starts a war of aggression against their neighboring country is also turning their own territory into a war zone."

"We can only wish the Ukrainian defenders every success, including in Kursk," Faber said.

Read also: Russia should feel what it has done to Ukraine, Zelensky says

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a joint press conference during the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

President Volodymyr Zelensky has made his first comments on the advance of Ukrainian troops into the Russian border region of Kursk.

"Russia brought the war to our land, and it should feel what it has done," Zelensky said in his evening video message.

He did not mention the fighting by Ukrainian soldiers on Russian territory in the Kursk area. "We strive to achieve our goals as soon as possible in peacetime  under just peace conditions. And it will happen," he said in an English-language transcript of the address.

The adviser to Zelensky's office, Mykhailo Podolyak, pointed to the international reaction to the Ukrainian attack on the Kursk region. The reaction was "absolutely calm, balanced, objective" and based on the "spirit of international law" and the "principles of conducting a defensive war," Podolyak posted on Telegram.

Earlier in the day, the European Union had declared that Ukraine has the right to also attack the territory of the aggressor in its defensive struggle against the Russian invasion.

Adviser says Russia is a legitimate target

"The impossible has become possible, and the mythical Russian brutality and excessiveness have now turned against Russia itself," Podolyak said regarding the situation in Kursk.

A large part of the international community now considers Russia a legitimate target for any operations and weapons, he said.

Ukraine is fighting today not only with the occupying army but also successfully against historically strong pro-Russian sympathies and fears in the West, he said.

Ukraine repeatedly points out that Russia is a defeatable enemy and wants to show with this first invasion of Russia by a foreign army since the end of World War II that the country is vulnerable.

Earlier, according to media in Kiev, Podolyak had explained on television that the battles are meant to strengthen Ukraine's negotiating position. However, it remains unclear whether Ukraine will be successful in the Kursk region.

Zelensky says Ukraine needs these results

"Ukrainians know how to achieve their goals. And achieving the goals at war was not our choice," Zelensky said in his video message.

He had been briefed on the situation in the war zone by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi.

He did not provide details but emphasized that the results were productive and exactly what his country needs right now.

Syrskyi had earlier posted a photo on social media showing him in the staging area  presumably in Sumy at the border, from where Ukrainian soldiers have invaded Russia's Kursk region.

Meanwhile, in the Kursk region, the battles between Russian and Ukrainian soldiers continued.

According to Russian military bloggers, the Ukrainians are partially consolidating their positions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke of a major provocation by Ukraine. According to Russian military sources, hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers have already been killed and injured, and dozens of tanks and other military equipment have been destroyed. These claims cannot be verified independently.
Ukraine now has at least 2,000 troops inside Russia and continues to pour more in.

Ukraines invasion of Russias Kursk region, now in its third day, appears to be gaining steam. A source with direct knowledge of the operation told The War Zone that at least 2,000 Ukrainian troops have been deployed with more pouring in every day.

While the Russian Defense Ministry continues to maintain that its troops are holding the line against this offensive, some Russian military war correspondents say Ukrainian forces are fighting 20 miles north of the border, digging in at some locations and building up a logistics network to maintain the flow of personnel and equipment.

A must-bookmark: a brilliant and constantly updated interactive Google map of the Kursk offensive by my colleague @legal0ve https://t.co/EIBAwGz2U4 pic.twitter.com/MduI2vhU7C  Mark Krutov (@kromark) August 8, 2024

Ukrainian advance visually confirmed in Kursk pic.twitter.com/sR4v1ZtQGe  PS01 (@PStyle0ne1) August 8, 2024

More video emerged of Ukrainian forces inside Kursk in vehicles bearing the distinctive white triangle, a symbol for this operation.

Kursk region



"Despite the complexity of the tasks, we continue our glorious path. The Russian demoralized coward who only fights with missiles against children and does not drag us into a direct confrontation",  Ukrainian Militant pic.twitter.com/L0UWH9fPBR  MAKS 24 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) August 8, 2024

Both sides are getting outside help, with former Wagner Private Military Company fighters aiding the Russians and Georgian Legion forces volunteering with Ukraine.

Meanwhile, as the invasion continues, the Pentagon wants to know more about its objectives, a spokesman told The War Zone Thursday morning.

Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, the Russian MoD said they have the situation under control.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces along with units of the Russian Federal Security Service continue to eliminate armed AFU formations in Sudzha and Korenevo districts of Kursk region immediately adjacent to the border between Russia and Ukraine, the Russian MoD claimed on Telegram Thursday.

Over the 24 hours, active actions of the State Border Covering Force along with border units, reinforcement units and arrived reserves, air and missile strikes, and artillery fire prevented the enemy from advancing. Fire damage is inflicted on the located [Armed Forces of Ukraine] manpower and hardware clusters. Attempts of separate units to get to the depth of territories in Kursk direction were foiled.

Gifts being prepared for the Ukrainian forces in Kursk. pic.twitter.com/UxRBiVzDud  Big Serge (@witte_sergei) August 8, 2024

The MoD also claimed that Ukraine has lost hundreds of troops and scores of vehicles, including eight tanks. In addition, they say they continue to hit marshaling areas in Ukraines Sumy Oblast to blunt the incursion. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has yet to comment on the Kursk push. However, it did acknowledge that Russia has stepped up the use of aviation in the border areas of Sumy region. At present, 16 aviation strikes are known with the use of 23 controlled aviation bombs on Thursday alone.

Ukraine has yet to directly comment on the Kursk invasion, however, President Volodymyr Zelensky teased the effort in praising his troops.

Everyone sees the Ukrainian army knows how to surprise and knows how to achieve battlefield results, he said.

President Zelenskyy:



"Everyone sees that the Ukrainian army knows how to surprise and knows how to achieve results. This is demonstrated on the battlefield, where our soldiers not only stood up to the superior numbers of occupiers but also destroy them in a way that is necessary pic.twitter.com/enz53osBXI  Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) August 8, 2024

One of Zelenskys top aids also hinted about it, suggesting that how Russians react to it will test how much opposition to the ongoing war there is inside that country.

Events in Kursk or Belgorod provide an opportunity for a real-life test, said Mikhailo Podolyak said on Twitter. While Russias oppressive machine smolders, liberated Russians could greet anti-Putin tanks with flowers, signaling finally, freedom! We await such scenes, although their likelihood is already deemed impossible.

The genuine (non-propagandistic) "peacefulness" of the Russian populace is less studied than, say, Mars. The primary theory among foreign Russian opposition and relic Western Russophiles is that "the deep Russian people do not support #Putin or the war with #Ukraine." This is a    (@Podolyak_M) August 7, 2024

As the Kursk incursion steadily grows, Ukraine continues attacking neighboring Belgorod Oblast in Russia.

Several impacts just now in central #Belgorod, according to residents. pic.twitter.com/iLhHERkdYI  The Intel Crab (@IntelCrab) August 8, 2024

The Khorne Group, a unit of Ukraines 116th Mechanized Brigade, expressed surprise at how quickly the incursion is advancing. It posted a video purporting to show Ukrainian equipment moving through Kursk Oblast.

Our vehicles are moving on Russian soil like its our homeland, the unit said on Telegram. We will turn it to Ukrainian soil soon!

As said, the movement of Ukrainian AFVs somewhere in the Kursk region of Russia.



P.S: Compared to the offensives in Ukraine, it is unusual to see that equipment can move so freely deep into enemy territory along roads and fields without fear of mines. Something that hasn't been pic.twitter.com/X11BRBVAd4  Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) August 8, 2024

Ukraine has secured enough territory that its helicopters were seen flying in Kursk, normally something that would be unlikely for normal operations given how vulnerable they are to air defense systems.

Ukrainian helicopters reportedly operating over Kursk. pic.twitter.com/ykia297VxC  Clash Report (@clashreport) August 8, 2024

Russian milbloggers continue to paint far more dour pictures than the Kremlin of whats happening in Kursk. The War Zone cannot independently verify any of these claims, however many generally line up with what our source, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss operational details, told us.

The enemy has brought fresh forces into battle and is trying to break through in the direction of Lgov today, wrote Yuri Podolyaka, a popular Ukrainian-born pro-Russian military blogger on Telegram. Lgov is about 30 miles north of the border.

Russians runs away from Lgov, Kursk region! pic.twitter.com/zrSK7XTBSa  MAKS 24 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) August 8, 2024

Podlyaka added that what initially looked like reconnaissance in force, by the second half of the day turned into a full-fledged battle in the area of the settlement of Ivnitsa, where the enemys mobile armored group has consolidated its position. The fighting has shifted to the next village of Kromskie Byki. This is already less than 30 km as the crow flies to the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant.

Kromskie Byki is about 20 miles north of the border and about five miles north of Ivnitsa.

Google Earth image

Reinforcements are moving towards the enemy along the route from Sudzha, and our drone operators are striking them with kamikaze drones, Podolyaka claimed. Also, having pulled up reserves, the enemy began to clear the formed pocket southwest of Korenevo between the border and the Seim River in order to secure the left flank of its offensive on Rylsk, the right flank of which was provided by enemy forces fighting in the Kromskie Byki area.

In Sudzha, about seven miles north of the border, the enemy is actively using armored vehicles against units of the Russian Armed Forces, which it brought into the breakthrough zone last night, the Russian war correspondent Kotenok Telegram channel wrote. Under the cover of electronic warfare systems that exclude the use of loitering munitions, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles are moving forward to direct fire, firing at our positions.

Ukrainian troops are now digging in and building up their logistics pipeline, Kotenok explained.

According to my information, the enemy has begun to build fortifications [they have begun to dig trenches, dugouts and [defensive structures known as]caponiers for equipment in full profile on the territory of the Russian Federation in the Kursk region, he wrote. In particular, in the area of the regional center of Sudzha, platoon/company strongholds are being deployed for small groups of the Ukrainian Armed Forces with 2-3 units of armored vehicles. The manpower of the Ukrainian Nazis is located in residential buildings, where positions and temporary accommodation points for personnel are being equipped.

Kotenek said Ukraine is pumping reinforcements into Kursk.

The enemy continues to transfer infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, tanks and armored vehicles, including those made in the USA, to the territory of the Russian Federation from the adjacent territory.

Sudzha is lost for us as a whole, the Native Sudzha Telegram channel wrote. And this is a vital logistics hub. And the enemy is trying to play this advantage. From Sudzha there is also a road to the north, to Lgov. Along which he is also trying to advance.

In general, the situation is difficult and continues to worsen, despite the fact that the pace of the Ukrainian Armed Forces advance has noticeably slowed, Native Sudzha wrote. But this is a consequence of the fact that only the 22nd brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is advancing, and the expansion of success reserves have not yet entered the battle.

One resident complained that a Ukrainian flag is now flying atop the city administration building.

A russian living in Kursk ( russia ), sums up today's events in the Kursk region and told about how the russian army is being pushed out of the region by Ukranian army pic.twitter.com/B43fGRFCe0  Intermarium 24 (@intermarium24) August 7, 2024

As the offensive progresses, Russian citizens in the region continue to flee.

PANIC IN RUSSIA



Locals are fleeing, shops are closing, & there are queues at gas stations.



Fear not, Russians! The Ukrainian Army has arrived to liberate you! pic.twitter.com/VSaOQZKG6x  Jason Jay Smart (@officejjsmart) August 8, 2024

New imagery emerged from the early stages of the battle, showing Ukrainian forces pummeling the Sudzha border crossing with first-person view drones, forcing about 40 border guards to surrender.

The outnumbered border guards fought for as long as they could, sustaining heavy casualties, Native Sudzha Telegram explained.

They fought to the death in the Sudzhen commandants office with two dozen AKs and two PKs against the [Ukrainians] on tanks and Bradleys, because there was no order from Moscow to retreat, Native Sudzha said. Today will also be a difficult day. Keep your fingers crossed and pray for the guys.

Russian border guards (and likely also young conscripts) surrender to Ukrainian forces in huge numbers in Russia's Kursk region.



Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/tZtn37jba8  Illia Ponomarenko (@IAPonomarenko) August 8, 2024

BREAKING:



The Ukrainian Army continues to advance in the Russian Kursk region, breaking through additional defensive lines.



In this video, they take 50 Russian soldiers as prisoners of war.



Its the first time in 70+ years that Russia is being invaded pic.twitter.com/DQwNH70K5G  Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) August 8, 2024

Russia is trying to beef up its forces in the area by convincing experienced drone operators from the Zaporizhia region to join the fight.

They are being offered 220,000 rubles (about $2,500) per month to come to Kursk and will have drones provided for them, according to the Russian Thirteenth Telegram channel.

In addition to Russian and Ukrainian forces, Wagner and the Georgian Legion have joined the fray.

Today, the PMC WAGNER arrived on the scene, right now they are driving these pigs out of the country, who rape and kill CIVILIANS! the Wagner-connected War Gonzo Telegram channel wrote. Ukraine deserves to be destroyed and right now I am personally proving it! I am in the combat zone and reporting live. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING! FOR OUR PEOPLE, YOU SON OF BITCHES!!! AND IT WILL BE THE SAME WITH EVERY SCUM!

The Georgian Legion, a group of volunteers from that country, has about 120 fighters aiding Ukraine, said the source with direct knowledge of ongoing operations in Kursk.

Georgians in Kursk People Republic pic.twitter.com/3XBQtb2jtv     (@TheDeadDistrict) August 8, 2024

Some Russian Telegram channels continue to complain that Moscow failed to see the invasion build up and reacted slowly once Ukrainian troops were there.

The reports from the Kursk tactical direction and the North group of forces about problems, about the enemy pulling up forces and preparing to strike with the aim of cutting off Belgorod from the north, were ignored against the backdrop of euphoria, the Kremlin-connected Rybar Telegram channel chided. All this once again confirms that after 2.5 years of the [Special Military Operation], the planning and development of combat operations in the Russian Army works at the operational-tactical level at most. Unfortunately, despite all the efforts of great wise men and the school of the General Staff Academy, they were unable to hammer anything more into the heads of our domestic red commanders.

Select Russian milbloggers heavily criticized the Russian military command for not detecting preparations for or preventing Ukrainian offensive operations into Kursk Oblast. (1/2) https://t.co/xcPQMUBsVB pic.twitter.com/Ft1HdDTFPO  Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) August 8, 2024

As all this unfolds, the Pentagon maintains support for Ukraine but wants to know more about the goals of this operation.

The Pentagon regularly engages in discussions with Ukraine regarding a range of security and operational matters, a Pentagon spokesman told The War Zone. However, I cannot provide specific details about any discussions related to the recent events in Kursk.

Asked about whether the U.S. is providing Ukraine with intelligence or other capabilities for this operation, the spokesman said the United States continues to support Ukraine with various forms of assistance, including intelligence sharing, to aid in their defense efforts. While I cant comment on the specifics of intelligence support, our commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity remains steadfast.

The Pentagon spokesman added, is also reaching out to the Ukrainian military to learn more about their objectives for this specific operation and Ill leave it there.

Yesterday, we noted that video emerged of Bradley Fighting Vehicles in Kursk. Asked about the use of U.S. equipment inside Russia, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters on Thursday that Ukraine has the right to use U.S. equipment in Russia.

It is consistent with our policy, and we have supported Ukraine from the very beginning to defend themselves against attacks that are coming across the border and for the need for crossfires, Singh said. So they are taking actions to protect themselves from attacks that are coming from a region that are within the US policy of where they can operate.

As for specifics, she deferred questions to Ukraine.

You know, our weapons, our systems, our capabilities, in terms of this actual operation thats ongoing, Id refer you to the Ukrainians to speak more to that.

Kursk region: A destroyed Bradley infantry fighting vehicle stands in the middle of various burnt-out vehicles. pic.twitter.com/ePMKejzQU6  SputnikSpreader (@VasBroughtToX) August 7, 2024

Singh added that Ukraine is still not allowed to conduct deep operations into Russia.

Asked about the Kursk operation: @DepPentPressSec says that Ukraine is permitted to conduct cross border operations in Kursk & Belgorod Oblasts but still not allowed to conduct "deep" operations or strikes into Russia; refuses to define "deep".



Pretty much the response I pic.twitter.com/GmmPBu92DI  Colby Badhwar (@ColbyBadhwar) August 8, 2024

Ukraine is also reportedly using German armor in this attack, according to the German Bild news outlet.

Ukraine is using German armour in its incursion into Russia, Bild reports.

German tanks are back in Kursk https://t.co/jmbZ7bvL42  Bojan Pancevski (@bopanc) August 8, 2024

As we noted earlier, one of the goals could be to force Russia to pull troops out of the land they occupy in Ukraine.

Thats something our source with direct knowledge of the operations confirmed.

The goal is to deconcentrate Russian forces, said the source, adding that there is no planned end to this invasion.

We will go as far as our logistics take us, he posited.

Using this incident as a bargaining chip for any sort of peace negotiation, or pressure towards those ends, is also a possibility. The idea that Ukraine has successfully pushed relatively deep into Russian territory with a regular force and has persisted there is clearly a massive propaganda and psychological warfare win.

As for how long this lasts and how such a bold but risky operation will be viewed internally by Ukrainians at a time when the country is struggling to hold the lines within its own borders, time will tell.

Update: 6:17 PM Eastern 

Ukrainian officials are now requesting that the U.S. to allow them to use long-range [Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missiles] to hit airfields that Russia is using to retaliate against them  a policy decision Kyiv believes will allow it to retain a portion of Kursk Oblast, The Washington Post reported.

Ukrainian offensive in Kursk region appeared to be more successful than even many officials in Kyiv expected. Ukrainian officials are now requesting that the U.S. to allow them to use long-range ATACMs to hit air fields that Russia is using to retaliate against them,  WP pic.twitter.com/NjwhCF8Xbe  MAKS 24 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) August 8, 2024

Update: 6:56 PM Eastern 

Video is emerging on social media purporting to be a strike by U.S.-donated M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS on a Russian military column in the Ryslk District of Kursk. Thats about 20 miles due east of Ukraines Sumy Oblast. The Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) munitions have a range of up to 50 miles.

A Russian military column was destroyed on the march by a strike from Ukrainian HIMARS missiles near the village of Oktyabrskoye in the Rylsky District of the Kursk Peoples Republic, Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Butusov wrote on Telegram. The video was distributed by Russian news channels. The highway is completely blocked by burning cars, and frequent detonations of ammunition can be heard. Masterful work by Ukrainian intelligence deep behind Putins troops and the most accurate salvos of Ukrainian missilemen. Good luck!

The Russian Readovka news outlet, which first posted the video, said on Telegram that it was taken from the vantage point of motorists who came upon the scene but could not pass because the roadway was blocked.

Before the fire, residents of the Rylsky district heard several loud explosions, Readovka reported.

Oktyabrsk, Rylsk District, Kursk Region



Russian column on fire pic.twitter.com/KHUZTNusiK  MAKS 24 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) August 8, 2024

A resident of the Kursk region complained bitterly about the Ukrainian invasion and wondered by Putin wasnt doing more to help.

"These are inhumans! Where is our government?. Putin, please help!"  a Russian resident of the Kursk region is clearly dissatisfied with the situation



pic.twitter.com/DGmU2pdyHt  MilitaryNewsUA (@front_ukrainian) August 8, 2024

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
A new picture of a French-supplied AASM-250 Hammer rocket-assisted precision-guided bomb under the wing of a Ukrainian MiG-29 Fulcrum shows the use of a pylon with interesting features.

The best look to date at a French-made AASM-250 Hammer under the wing of one of Ukraines MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters shows the rocket-boosted precision-guided bomb is employed with the help of a specialized pylon. The use of pylons with curious features to mate Western precision-guided munitions to Ukraines Soviet-era combat jets is a trend The War Zone has been following closely. The pylon the Hammer is hanging underneath has the same general form as one Ukrainian MiG-29s have been using together with U.S.-supplied JDAM-ER glide bombs that looks to be designed to help cue GPS-assisted guidance systems.

The new picture of the Hammer-armed MiG-29 showing the pylon, seen at the top of this story, first emerged on social media earlier today, but where or when it was taken is unknown. French authorities first announced that they would be sending AASM-250s to Ukraine in January. Ukrainian Fulcrums have since been observed carrying these munitions and imagery has previously emerged that might point to the countrys Su-27 Flankers employing them, as well. The Ukrainian Air Force has also said Hammer has been integrated onto its Su-25 Frogfoot ground attack jets.

Low pass by a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29, armed with a French-supplied AASM 250 HAMMER extended-range guided bomb. pic.twitter.com/FlibJ9VZfm  OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 15, 2024

Like the U.S. JDAM-ER, Hammer is more of a conversion kit for standard iron bombs of varying sizes, consisting of a guidance section that goes in front and a range-extension kit (REK) containing a rocket motor that goes at the tail end. The 500-pound/250-kilogram class AASM-250 versions that Ukraine has received can hit targets out to a range of at least 43 miles (70 kilometers), if not more, depending on the release envelope, according to the manufacturer Safran.

Safran offers multiple guidance options for Hammer, but the example seen in the newly emerged picture from Ukraine looks to have the baseline GPS-assisted inertial navigation system (INS) nose. The bomb used as the munitions warhead also has a thermal protective coating designed to help delay it from cooking off in the event of a fire.

The pylon that the Hammer is hanging off of has a notable protrusion that extends forward of where the bomb is attached, which has a black-colored antenna at the tip. Overall, the pylon has the same general look as one previously seen on another Ukrainian MiG-29 with a JDAM-ER loaded onto it, which also had an extremely similar, if not identical feature installed at the end of a taper extension in front.

A side-by-side comparison of the protrusions extending from the front of the pylons seen in Ukrainian use in combination with Hammer (at left) and JDAM-ER (at right). via X

The full view of a JDAM-ER attached to the specialized pylon under the wing of a Ukrainian MiG-29. via X A JDAM-ER under the wing of a Ukrainian MiG-29 offering a good look at the specialized pylon used to employ these weapons from those aircraft, as well as Su-27s. via X

JDAM-ER also uses GPS-assisted INS guidance and The War Zone has posited in the past that the pylon design used with that munition is related to the need to cue it before release, writing previously:

The JDAM-ER uses a GPS-assisted inertial navigation system (INS) guidance package to strike a fixed set of coordinates. Those coordinates can be preloaded onto the bomb on the ground or the pilot can program it in flight so long as the appropriate data linkages and user interfaces are present. How those coordinates are derived can vary.

What doesnt change is the bombs need for locational data at the moment of launch to understand its relative position to the target. However, Ukraines MiG-29s and Su-27s do not have the kind of integrated GPS/INS capability and a NATO-compatible data bus that is needed for JDAM-ER. So, the fixture at the end of the pylon could be a GPS antenna that feeds key information into the bombs before they are released. Mounting it on the protrusion would help ensure it has a clear line of sight to the satellite constellation and is not shadowed by the aircrafts wing structure.

All of this would provide a useful and self-contained workaround to help ensure that Ukrainian pilots can employ the JDAM-ER without severely degrading its capabilities and requiring any more complex integration work than is necessary. There is also the possibility that this unique arrangement may be a contributing factor in reports that Russian electronic warfare systems have been able to degrade the effectiveness of Ukrainian JDAM-ERs.

To that latter point, Russias GPS jamming has reportedly had serious negative impacts on the effectiveness of other Western air and ground-launched precision munitions. In May, the U.S. Air Force announced that it was buying home-on-GPS-jam seekers to add to Ukraines JDAM-ERs to help address these threats.

All of this would also apply to Hammer and what would be necessary to integrate it onto Ukraines MiGs and Sukhois. It has also since emerged that the integration at least of U.S.-supplied precision-guided munitions on Ukrainian aircraft has involved the use of an ad-hoc control system that utilizes iPads or similar tablet-like devices installed in their cockpits, as can be seen in the video below. This further underscores the use of more self-contained architectures to get around the limitations imposed by the Soviet-era designs.

Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 Flanker Wild Weasel operations, seen here conducting multiple low level standoff strikes against Russian radars with US-supplied AGM-88 HARMs. pic.twitter.com/7CosjXFNkO  OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) April 21, 2024

There is still the possibility that the black-colored feature at the end of the Hammer pylon is tied to another add-on capability, such as an electronic countermeasures system. However, this seems less likely especially now that this same general design has been observed in combination with two different GPS/INS-guided munitions.

Last month, a picture emerged showing another mysterious pylon under the wing of another Ukrainian MiG-29 with a white-colored antenna or sensor at the front that could be part of an electronic countermeasures system. That pylon was used to attach GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB) loaded on a four-bomb BRU-61/A rack to the aircraft. SDBs also use GPS-assisted INS guidance, but the white fixture seen on the pylon in that instance is positioned more underneath the wing. This would seem less optimal for cueing purposes, where a good line of sight to satellites in space is required.

GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs on a four-bomb BRU-61/A rack under the wing of a Ukrainian MiG-29 with the help of a specialized pylon with a white-colored antenna or sensor at the front. via X

As an aside here, it is interesting to note that the initial tranche of F-16AM Vipers that Ukraine just recently received includes examples with pylons with integrated missile warning sensors and countermeasures dispensers, as you can read more about here. However, the U.S.-made fighters do not need specialized pylons like the ones seen on Ukrainian jets and can take better advantage of U.S.-supplied precision-guided munitions that Ukraine has already gotten, like the aforementioned JDAM-ER and SDB, thanks to their NATO-standard bus architecture. The Vipers can also be used as launch platforms for AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM) and ADM-160 Miniature Air-Launched Decoys (MALD) the Ukrainian Air Force has received from the United States. The NATO-standard systems will make it easier to add other U.S. precision munitions, and potentially other Western types like Hammer, to the arsenals of those jets going forward, as well.

So far, Ukraines new F-16s have been seen with air-to-air focused loadouts consisting of AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air missiles (AMRAAM) and AIM-9L/M Sidewinders. AIM-120s and AIM-9s have already been in Ukraines inventory for some time now, but for use as surface-to-air interceptors.

Ukrainian F-16s is finally here, no more guessing, no more photoshops, It's real pic.twitter.com/nrXaS1hF7W  Fighterman_FFRC (@Fighterman_FFRC) August 4, 2024

However Ukrainian aircraft continue to employ the French-supplied Hammers, those munitions have given the country important new options for conducting precision strikes beyond the front lines while reducing the risks to the launch platforms. The maximum ranges of the Hammer and the JDAM-ER are roughly the same and both bombs need to be released at higher altitudes to get the most reach.

However, Safran says that Hammer, thanks to its rocket booster, can still hit targets at least nine miles (15 kilometers) away even when released at very low altitudes where the aircraft employing it can better hide from enemy air defenses. The AASM-250s flight profile means that it can also be lobbed over terrain, further helping to shield the launch platform from hostile threats. Hammer impacts with a higher-energy state than its glide bomb counterparts giving it that much more capability to punch into harder targets.

Safran This graphic gives a very rudimentary look at the different employment options for Hammer, including launching it up and over terrain at its target. Safran

Not surprisingly, we have already seen evidence of Ukrainian MiG-29s employing Hammers using low-altitude toss-bombing techniques that make good use of the munitions unique design. Unpowered JDAM-ERs can be employed in this way to extend their reach when released at low altitudes, but to a lesser degree.

Footage reportedly showing Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet firing French-supplied AASM-250 Hammer guided bombs at a target in Belgorod Oblast of Russia.



Notice the very low altitude from which the munitions are being launched.



Geolocated impact point: Nekhoteevka border crossing, pic.twitter.com/mGGuqRAmyK  Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) June 27, 2024

The newly emerged picture of the Hammer on the special pylon underneath the wing of one of Ukraines Fulcrums adds to the growing insights into how this and other important Western precision strike capabilities have been added to the arsenals of the countrys Soviet-era jets.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
Ukrainian official dismisses notion of new peace summit as start of Russia talks

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff said in an interview published on Thursday that a second Kyiv-led peace summit should not be treated as the start of negotiations with Russia.

Andriy Yermak, speaking to the media outlet Evropeiska Pravda, said the objective of a second summit would be to agree on a peace plan jointly approved by participants which could then be presented to Russia.

"It is possible for a Russian representative to attend the second summit to whom this plan could be handed over," he said. "One should not treat the second summit as the beginning of negotiations with Russia."

Participants at the peace summit held in June in Switzerland without Russia agreed to take steps on specific issues like food security, humanitarian issues, the return of prisoners and energy. Zelenskiy has said Ukraine wanted to hold a second summit this year with a Russian representative in attendance.

In his comments to Evropeiska Pravda, Yermak said other issues had to be tackled on which a joint position was more difficult to achieve, including the withdrawal of Russian forces and the restoration of the country's 1991 post-Soviet borders.

He said Ukraine wanted matters to proceed quickly, though it was not certain a second gathering could take place in 2024.

"We want this to happen, but there are conditions without which a second summit cannot take place," he said, referring to the drafting of a joint peace plan.

Russia dismissed the first peace summit as meaningless without Moscow's participation.

(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Ron Popeski, Chris Reese and Diane Craft)
Any Ukrainian operations in 'Russian border regions' will benefit future talks with Moscow, presidential advisor says

Any possible Ukrainian operations in "Russian border regions" will have an impact on Russian society and improve Kyiv's position in future peace talks with Moscow, Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on Aug. 7.

Maintaining the official line, Podolyak refused to comment specifically on the recent cross-border incursion into Russia's Kursk Oblast, saying that the military would provide information if necessary.

Kursk Oblast lies on the border with Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, which has been experiencing daily attacks since Russian troops were pushed out of the oblast and back across the border in April 2022.

"Will the events in this or that Russian border region have a psychological impact on (Russian) society? They will, without a doubt," Podolyak said on national television, implying this will create additional pressure on the Kremlin.

"When you increase Russian losses... when you ramp up their war costs, such as destroyed military equipment, lost territory, lost people, will this affect how they perceive their war? Without a doubt."

Echoing President Volodymyr Zelensky, Podolyak stressed that Ukraine must enter any talks with Russia from the position of strength. Ukraine has said it aims to invite a Russian representative to an upcoming second peace summit, though the Kremlin has been skeptical about attending.

Kyiv has largely refused to comment on the operation in Kursk Oblast, which takes place just as Russia is ramping up attacks in Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast.

According to available information, hostilities are centered around Sudzha, a small town in Kursk Oblast.

Sudzha is located less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border with Ukraine. The city of Kursk lies 85 kilometers (53 miles) to the northeast of Sudzha.

Ukraine's partners, namely the U.S. and the EU, signaled that Kyiv has the right to decide about its own military actions.

"Our partners finally realize that everything connected to Ukraine's military actions is our sovereign right and a step toward de-escalation and the final end of the war," Podolyak commented on the partners' statements.

Read also: Ukraines unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast brings war back to Russian soil

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Ukrainian troops were seen pushing 6 miles into Russian territory, and the Kremlin can't decide if it's a 'large-scale provocation' or 'under control'

Ukraine launched an incursion into Russian territory this week, punching into the region of Kursk.

It's said little about the attack, but its forces were spotted at least six miles deep in Russian territory.

Russia has been projecting an image of calm, but reports continue to say the fighting is fierce.

Ukraine launched a rare assault into Russian territory this week, pushing into the Kursk oblast with infantry and armored vehicles on Tuesday.

The Russian region's acting governor, Alexey Smirnov, announced a state of emergency on Wednesday in response to the incursion.

Ukraine has announced nothing officially about the attack, which Russian officials said involved 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers. The Russian Ministry of Defense said that Ukraine had also sent 11 tanks and dozens of armored vehicles.

The exact scale of the resources committed by Ukraine to this attack is still unclear.

However, Kyiv appears to be pushing hard into Kursk in the last two days. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said it had geolocated videos that showed Ukrainian armored vehicles fighting at least six miles from the border on Wednesday.

Notably, two of these instances found by the ISW occurred on roads behind Russian field fortifications which were set several miles behind the border.

The Ukrainian attack has also been reported to have stretched further east to the border town of Sudzha, where Smirnov said people were injured and buildings were damaged.

Kursk is a southwestern Russian region bordering Ukraine, and the fighting there sits just to the west of Belgorod and Kharkiv, where Russia made its own attempted incursion in May.

Authorities have begun sending doctors from St. Petersburg and Moscow to the region.

As local officials ordered the evacuation of nearby cities, Smirnov projected calm on Tuesday, saying that the "situation is under control."

But leaders in Moscow have called the incursion a "large-scale provocation" from Ukraine, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin called a meeting on Wednesday with his security heads to discuss the issue.

Putin held a meeting with his security and armed forces chiefs to address the Kursk attack. ALEKSEY BABUSHKIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

"The Kiev regime has undertaken another large-scale provocation, firing indiscriminately from different types of weapons, including rockets, at civilian buildings, residential houses, ambulances," he said, per state media.

Smirnov, in one of his statements on Tuesday, wrote that Putin is personally involved in dealing with the Kursk attack.

Russia's military chief, Valery Gerasimov, claimed on Wednesday that Ukraine's advance had been halted in Kursk, and said Russian forces now aimed to regain control up to the border.

Russia released a video on Thursday showing it had launched a missile attack on Ukrainian equipment units entering Kursk. Russian Ministry of Defense / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images

Some reports from Russian military bloggers, several of which are known to be closely connected with security forces, appear to contradict Gerasimov's claims that the fighting had come to a standstill.

At least two military bloggers wrote on Wednesday that Ukraine had seized control of a Sudzha facility used by Gazprom to pump gas to Europe.

Rybar, a Telegram channel run by military blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk, reported that Ukrainian units were advancing in the northeast and seizing villages. The channel added that a Ukrainian reconnaissance unit had broken through to almost reach Korenevo, a town about 14 miles from the border.

"The enemy's long preparation for the attack, alas, has borne fruit," the channel wrote, adding that fighting had become "difficult."

Ukraine has not said why it is attacking Kursk. Some observers speculate that the incursion was meant to draw Moscow's attention and resources away from the eastern front, where fighting in the Donbas has been brutal and heavy.

The Ukrainian and Russian defense ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
New UNC-Chapel Hill chancellor to be named Friday. Will Lee Roberts keep the job?

UNC-Chapel Hill will have a new chancellor by the end of the week.

The UNC System Board of Governors is set to meet virtually Friday morning to approve the universitys next leader, bringing to a close a search process that kicked off less than five months ago.

The board will vote on system President Peter Hans nomination of a single finalist, chosen from group of three candidates submitted to him Monday by campus Board of Trustees.

Fridays announcement will end the search four months earlier than Hans originally expected. The search committee changed its initial plan to continue its work into the fall semester to gather additional input from the campus community, a move that likely allowed the process to speed up considerably.

Multiple people have been interviewed for the job. But the accelerated timeline has left some students and faculty concluding that interim Chancellor Lee Roberts will likely be named to the post permanently.

Roberts, a former state budget director under Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, does not have a professional background in higher education. He has held the universitys top post since former Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz left in January, resigning from the Board of Governors to assume the interim role.

Roberts, a private investment manager, has not stated publicly whether he wants the job permanently or has applied. He did not return a phone call from The News & Observer Wednesday.

Faculty, students voice concerns about search

Sue Estroff, a professor in the UNC School of Medicine and an elected member of the universitys Faculty Executive Committee, is among those who expect Roberts to be appointed.

Leaders with influence over the search did not do enough to allay concerns that Roberts was a shoo-in for the job, particularly after the states top Republican legislators  House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger  publicly endorsed him, she said.

Moore and Berger praised Roberts this spring for his handling of pro-Palestinian campus protests, particularly after he led university police in reattaching the American flag to the main campus flagpole when protesters tore it down.

State lawmakers do not hold authority over a chancellor search, but they  using the speaker and Senate leaders recommendations  appoint all members of the UNC System Board of Governors and some members of the campus-level Board of Trustees.

UNC System policy gives both boards official roles in chancellor searches, with trustees recommending finalists to Hans and the Board of Governors voting to approve his selection.

Interim Chancellor Lee Roberts and police officers work to rehang an American flag after it was brought down by demonstrators and replaced with a Palestinian flag Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Moore told reporters in May that he told Hans and former Board of Governors Chair Randy Ramsey that they ought to take that interim title off and name Lee Roberts the chancellor today. Berger said there was no question that Roberts should continue to serve as chancellor, permanently.

A done deal?

Since Republicans took control of the General Assembly in 2010, some groups, including the national American Association of University Professors, have accused the Board of Governors and the broader university system of being unduly influenced by conservative political connections.

Estroff said after Moore and Berger weighed in on the search, that was it  meaning, in her eyes, the search was done. She wondered  and asked the universitys provost on multiple times, she said  how the search would continue to attract candidates, given that some of the states most powerful players had voiced their opinion.

But Cristy Page, the executive dean of the UNC School of Medicine and the chair of the search committee, told reporters last week after closed-door candidate interviews that she did not think Roberts time as interim chancellor, nor Moore or Bergers comments, had impacted the applicant pool.

I feel really good that there has been a lot of outreach to people who are internal and external to North Carolina, Page said. And that doesnt seem to have dissuaded people from their interest and commitment to pursuing our great university.

UNC System policy keeps chancellor searches confidential and dictates that no names or identities of candidates, semi-finalists or finalists may be released to the public, even after a search ends. The only name officially available to the public will likely be the one who is chosen to become chancellor by Hans and is approved Friday.

Process sped up in recent weeks

Though the search process kicked off in March, it sped up considerably in recent weeks.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is among flagship UNC-Chapel Hills landmark buildings.

The search committee last week held two days of candidate interviews in Chapel Hill, on Wednesday and Thursday. Monday this week, the campus trustees met for less than an hour to hear the committees report and select their slate of finalists to forward to Hans.

There were signs as early as April that the search would move somewhat quicker than Hans originally anticipated when he gave the committee its charge five months ago.

Laurie Wilder, president of Parker Executive Search, the firm that led the search, said at the committees second meeting in April that finishing the search in December, or near the end of the year as Hans expected, would be the worst case from a timing perspective.

A longer timeline could expose candidates to more risk, particularly their names becoming public, Wilder and Page said multiple times. Keeping the search confidential and speeding it up would quell candidates fears about entering a search, particularly for sitting university leaders, Wilder had noted.

So with that, and with the market and a number of things, we are paying attention to moving as quickly as possible once we start interviewing people, to limit that time that people are exposed, Page said following the committees fourth meeting, on July 17.

Last month Page said the committee would no longer hold additional listening sessions in the fall, as originally planned, due to the group receiving enough feedback in the initial sessions and a stakeholder survey.

Alexander Denza and Samuel Scarborough are members of the Southern Student Action Coalition and TransparUNCy, an organization that aims to highlight political influences on higher education in the state. In an interview, they said the additional sessions being canceled is a detriment to the search process. Since the listening sessions concluded prior to Roberts actions during the protests, the input students provided in their session might not accurately portray their feelings about the interim chancellor, they said.

If they were to actually hold listening sessions in the fall, theyd get an extreme amount of push back in the community, Denza said.

The faster-than-expected timeline means the new chancellor will be announced about a week before fall classes begin on Aug. 19.

That means that no students are going to be on campus to be able to make their voices heard on what they think of this, Denza said.

Estroff said she hopes she is surprised by the announcement on Friday and that the universitys new leader is someone who is of the calibre that we have had in previous chancellors, with experience in higher education.

Let me say that as strongly as I can: I hope Im wrong, Estroff said, referencing her belief that Roberts will be selected. I hope were all surprised.
A sign outside of the Lomas Clerk's Annex polling site urges voters to pick an Uncommitted choice on the ballot instead of President Joe Biden in the Democratic primary race for the presidency, as a means of protest on his actions in Gaza. (Photo by Danielle Prokop / Source NM).

Palestinian solidarity activists are keeping up the pressure on the White House and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris after the major shakeup in U.S. electoral politics in the last few weeks.

The national Uncommitted movement, which secured 1 in 10 Democratic primary votes in New Mexico, is pivoting from asking for a ceasefire to instead asking for an arms embargo on Israel, under the umbrella of a new national campaign called Not Another Bomb.

The surest way to get a ceasefire is to stop sending the weapons, said Tanya Hyde, an organizer with Jewish Voice for Peace Albuquerque and Vote Uncommitted NM.

President Joe Biden will remain in office until January, and the movement will keep up the pressure on him for an arms embargo, Hyde said.

We can stop it immediately, if we stop feeding them billions of dollars worth of weaponry, Hyde said. Think of all the nice things we could do in this country with that money, if it wasnt going to make rubble into smaller rubble.

While not enough New Mexican voters picked Uncommitted in the Democratic primary to send any delegates to the Democratic National Convention later this month in Chicago, activists have identified delegates who were pledged to Biden but who support a ceasefire, and may support a ceasefire policy in the national partys platform, Hyde said.

There will be 30 Uncommitted delegates at the DNC from across the country, including 11 from Minnesota.

Since all eyes are going to be on the DNC, we want to put Palestine forward in the conversation, Hyde said. Its not just a moral imperative, but its the best way to beat Trump and MAGA extremism.

Uncommitted DNC delegates from other states are circulating a petition calling on the DNC to allow pediatric intensive care and humanitarian doctor Tanya Haj-Hassan to speak on the convention floor about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The day before the convention kicks off, there will be a demonstration for local supporters on the issue at 10 a.m. on Aug. 18 at Tiguex Park in Albuquerque.

Reactions to Harris VP pick

Harris picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Hyde said the choice for Walz over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro gave relief to concerns from the Gaza solidarity movement.

We were very relieved that she didnt go with Shapiro, because we didnt know what we were going to do, Hyde said. But we knew that if she put Shapiro on the ticket, that would have crushed any optimism, as minimal as it was.

Hyde said since Harris launched her campaign, New Mexico Uncommitted organizers have been waiting to see what happens with a measured optimism.

On Tuesday, the group posted on social media to celebrate the pick as a win, saying they showed the Harris campaign choosing an anti-Palestine running mate is a liability.

Hyde said shes personally surprised that in the past couple weeks Biden stepped down and Harris has made a vice presidential pick that is not offensive to the base of the Democratic Party.

Im really pleased that they actually pulled a relatively progressive Democrat as her running mate, Hyde said.

She pointed to Rep. Ilhan Omars endorsement of Walz, and his comments about Uncommitted voters in his home state calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

These folks are asking for a change in course, Walz told MPR when asked about the Uncommitted Movement after it received 19% of the vote in Minnesotas Democratic primary. Theyre asking for more pressure to be put on.

Hyde said they did not want Harris to pick Shapiro because it would be such a slap in the face to this whole Uncommitted movement, and all the people that are fighting for Palestine.

Some Democratic lawmakers and donors privately expressed concerns to people around Harris that Shapiros positions on Israel and the pro-Palestinian movement risked alienating voters who had sworn off Biden but were willing to give Harris a chance, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Bidens exit

Hyde said the Uncommitted Movement was a big part of getting Biden to step down.

Theres some cautious optimism that it would be easier to move her than it would have been to move Biden, she said.

When Biden dropped out of the race, Vote Uncommitted NM called on him to immediately stop all U.S. military aid to Israel and support the resumption of UNRWA funding, an immediate and unqualified ceasefire in Gaza, and Palestinian self-determination.

They also said anyone aspiring to the partys presidential nomination must adopt these same objectives in unequivocal terms.

Hyde said on Tuesday that the Harris campaign has not done that yet.

She has been a part of this administration, Hyde said. The general feeling is that shes not the same kind of a hardcore Zionist.
Paramount Global (PARA) saw its stock rise by 6% in premarket trading on Friday.

On Thursday, Paramount reported a profit within its streaming division for the first time while its linear TV business reported a sharper slowdown than expected as the company took a nearly $6 billion write-down on the value of its cable business.

On a conference call, the company also announced plans to lay off 15% of its US workforce. The layoffs will take place "in the coming weeks and will largely be completed by the end of the year," according to management.

The results come as Paramount prepares for its expected merger with Skydance Media, set to be completed in the third quarter of 2025.

In the second quarter, Paramount reported operating income for its direct-to-consumer (DTC) segment of $26 million, a $450 million improvement from the prior year period. The company reported a loss for this segment of $286 million in the first quarter.

"Our strong performance in Q2 demonstrates that we are delivering on our strategic priorities," co-CEOs George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy, and Brian Robbins said in the release.

"We will continue to aggressively execute on our strategic plan, which focuses on transforming streaming to accelerate profitability, streamlining our organization  including at least $500 million in annualized cost savings  and improving the balance sheet by growing free cash flow and optimizing our asset mix."

Shares moved about 5% higher in after-hours trading as investors digested the results. Coming into the report, Paramount stock was down roughly 30% this year.

Overall, the company reported Q2 adjusted earnings of $0.54 per share, above the $0.13 analysts polled by Bloomberg had expected and higher than the $0.10 Paramount reported in the same quarter last year.

Revenue came in at $6.81 billion, missing consensus expectations for $7.24 billion and an 11% decline compared to the $7.62 billion reported in the year-ago period. Linear advertising revenue declined by double digits in the quarter, falling 11% year over year compared to the 10% drop analysts had expected.

Linear ad revenue enjoyed a 14% rebound in Q1 as a result of record Super Bowl ad sales, but the second quarter highlighted the challenges legacy media companies have faced amid greater cord-cutting trends.

Similar to legacy media competitor Warner Bros. Discovery, the company took a $5.98 billion goodwill impairment charge related to its cable networks.

Paramount CFO Naveen Chopra said the charge comes after the company "assessed the relevant factors that could impact the fair value of our reporting units, including the estimated total company market value indicated by the Skydance transactions and recent indicators in the linear affiliate marketplace."

Story continues

A view of Paramount Studios's water tank in Los Angeles, Calif., Sept. 26, 2023. (REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo) (REUTERS / Reuters)

Despite turning a profit in its streaming segment, Paramount+ shed 2.8 million in the quarter to 68 million, "principally reflecting the planned exit from a hard bundle agreement in South Korea." But global average revenue per user, or ARPU, expanded by 26% year over year in the quarter. That helped boost revenue at Paramount+ by 46% compared to the prior year.

In the six months ending June 30, the streaming division is still operating at a loss of $260 million but the company reiterated previous guidance that it remains on track to reach domestic profitability for Paramount+ in 2025.

On the earnings call, the company said there's opportunity for more strategic partnerships and possible joint ventures among competing streaming platforms in order to drive greater scale.

Meanwhile, revenue in the film division faced its own double-digit decline, falling 18% as the company blamed the miss on "timing of releases in the quarter" and tough comparisons to last year's "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts."

Skydance takeover on horizon

Thursday's results come as Skydance's pending takeover of the company remains on the horizon.

Skydance, which will be valued at $4.75 billion following the all-stock deal's completion, said it would inject $6 billion in cash into Paramount, with $1.5 billion going directly into its debt-ridden balance sheet.

Skydance CEO David Ellison will become chairman and CEO of the combined company, while former NBCUniversal executive Jeff Shell, who was ousted last year over an "inappropriate relationship" with a female employee, will serve as president.

Last month, the new leadership team laid out their strategic vision for Paramount. This includes $2 billion in cost cuts with $500 million already underway. Thursday's layoff announcement highlighted these efforts.

"We love the creative engine of this company. But obviously, a big chunk of the company is in the linear world, and we know linear is challenged and declining," Shell said at the time. "I think a lot of us in the business know we've got to run these businesses in a different way as they decline."

Alexandra Canal is a Senior Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X @allie_canal, LinkedIn, and email her at alexandra.canal@yahoofinance.com.

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FILE PHOTO: United Airlines planes are parked at their gates at O'Hare International Airport ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday in Chicago, Illinois

CHICAGO (Reuters) - United Airlines said on Thursday it has suspended its flights to Tel Aviv for the foreseeable future and plans to resume them when it is safe for its customers and crew.

Many airlines globally are revising their schedules to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace while also calling off flights to Israel and Lebanon amid growing fears of a possible broader conflict in the region after the killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

The Chicago-based airline suspended its daily Newark, New Jersey-Tel Aviv service on July 31, citing security reasons. The flight, however, was available for booking from Sept. 1.

On Thursday, United said it was now removing the Tel Aviv flights from its schedule. Customers can seek refunds or rebook United flights to any city in Europe or the Middle East, it said.

Its rival Delta Air Lines has halted its flights between New York and Tel Aviv through Aug. 31.

(Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
United Way providing disaster relief after Debby. Heres how you can help

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  A local nonprofit is working to provide critical response and recovery support to residents impacted by Tropical Storm Debby.

In partnership with the Chatham County Emergency Management Agency, the United Way of the Coastal Empires Rapid Response Disaster Fund has been activated.

At United Way of the Coastal Empire, we mobilize the caring power of our community to improve lives, said Kimberly Waller, United Way of the Coastal Empire president and CEO. Through this partnership, our role is to harness that caring power by raising funds to address the immediate needs of our neighbors impacted by the storm and related flooding and support the long-term recovery of our community.

Funds will be allocated across the community for short- or long-term recovery efforts as deemed necessary by county officials.

Some Bloomingdale residents ordered to evacuate

Residents impacted by the storm can call 211, email 211@uwce.org or at uwce.org/211.

Those in the position to donate to the Rapid Response Disaster Fund can visit this link to give.

Meanwhile, the United Way of the Lowcountry is helping facilitate relief efforts in South Carolina.

Gifts can be made to the organizations Tropical Storm Debby Recovery Relief Fund to help victims living in Beaufort or Jasper counties.

A spokesperson for the organization tells WSAV News 3 that they are in contact with municipalities throughout their coverage area as well as United Way organizations up the South Carolina coastline.

They expect to receive disaster assessments that are still being conducted shortly and will work to help meet those needs.

Gifts may be made online at uwlowcountry.org/recovery.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
ATHENS, Ga. (AP)  Six University of Georgia students arrested during an April 29 protest against the Israel-Hamas war will remain suspended through the fall semester, the universitys Office of Student Conduct announced Monday.

The students will also remain on probation for the remainder of their academic careers at the university. The decision came after a 13-hour disciplinary hearing on July 30. Students can appeal the ruling to the universitys vice president of student affairs.

An attorney representing two of the suspended students, Josh Lingsch, called the hearing nothing more than a kangaroo court in a Thursday statement

Campus police arrested 16 protesters who set up an encampment near university President Jere Moreheads office on the Athens campus in April. The school suspended the students hours later.

Some students informally resolved charges with the school by acknowledging their violations, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

During the hearing, the six remaining students said they had a right to protest and none of their actions interrupted academic activities. When they tried to comply with orders to move, students said officers used force and tried to end their protest. The students also expressed anger with Israels actions in the Israel-Hamas war and what they say is the universitys support for Israel.

University representatives said that the encampments put students and professors in danger, and that students were warned to disperse.

The University will continue to enforce our policies to protect the free expression rights of all members of our community while recognizing that such activities must comply with applicable laws and policies, university spokesperson Greg Trevor said in a statement.

The hearing, which the six students requested, included a panel of two students and one faculty member.

Protesters chose to be arrested by ignoring the campus rules on demonstrations, administrators wrote in a public letter in May. But 180 faculty and staff signed a petition calling the sanctions unwarranted and antithetical to our educational mission.

Ezra Lewis, who lost her residential advisor position because of the suspension, accused the university of selective enforcement in a Thursday statement.

They have acted like our punishment was content-neutral, but President Morehead has made a clear political stance with Israel and has shown preferential treatment to UGA Hillel, she said in a statement released Thursday. The fact that they are trying to gaslight us into believing that this is a freedom of expression policy violation is ludicrous.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
FAMUs campus, where a search for a new university president is underway. (Photo by Issac Morgan/Florida Phoenix)

A consultant told Florida A&M Universitys trustees as they began their search for a new president that successful university leaders take a business-executive mindset to the job while, in her experience, candidates are less often emerging from within academia.

Artis Hampshire-Cowan, owner of Leverage Leadership Group, shared her perspective on a successful search with FAMU trustees during a virtual meeting Wednesday.

Presidents have to be business executives to be successful and effective; they have to be really good at relationship building and influence  not by authority, but by influence. And so, personality is a factor, and tenacity, Hampshire-Cowan said.

In Hampshire-Cowans experience, qualified academic candidates are passing on the opportunity to serve as university presidents because they dont see it as an opportunity anymore.

Some of the complications as weve talked to a lot of people who would make great presidents but are declining the opportunity really has to do with the complexity of the work now, she said. She emphasized a candidate should be innovative, creative, able to motivate, a believer in strong accountability, and able to manage risk.

Being a great academic and sort of okay manager used to be enough, but now the complexity of university finances, the scramble for resources, and retaining talent pose larger challenges.

We really need to lean into looking for diverse candidates, not just in terms of race but in terms of experience, she said. You know, we typically look for that traditional Ph.D., having come up through the higher ed system, but the new thinking is the skillset now for higher ed is really no different than recruiting for a Fortune 100 company.

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Starting the search

FAMU President Larry Robinson announced last month that he would step down after serving nearly seven years in the job, having originally become a visiting professor in 1995. His departure followed a controversial $237 donation offer, which would have been the largest in the history of any historically black college or university but has been scrapped.

According to a report overseen by the Board of Governors, that donation was determined to be fraudulent, and had been improperly handled by FAMU, as reported by the Tallahassee Democrat.

Hampshire-Cowan said the board should be clear and have a consistent cadence of communicating in selecting a new president. She emphasized the need for alignment, in terms of reestablishing absolute credibility and absence of concerns of missteps that have happened in recent times as weve gone through some headwinds.

The mishandling of the donation aside, FAMU was ranked the countrys top HBCU by U.S. News & World Report and also a top 100 public university.

I want to just make sure we set our sights high as we look for whomever that next person is going to be coming in, because as much as were going to be looking to them, we have a lot to offer ourselves. I just want to make sure that out of the  openings that are out there I perceive ours is the best available, trustee Kelvin Lawson said.

FAMU is not the only state university searching for a president; Florida Atlantic University and the University of Florida are in the process of filling their campus top role.

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This story was updated to correct the name of the organization Artis Hampshire-Cowan represented at the meeting. It was the Leverage Leadership Group.
Unlearn internalized hatred about my natural hair: How N.C. schools handle the CROWN Act

The CROWN Act, a law passed in 25 states that safeguards natural and cultural hairstyles like braids, afros, locs, and cornrows, was recently approved by the Wake County Board of Education.

Created to end race-based hair discrimination in schools and workplaces, the fight for advocates to end such discrimination is ongoing.

Students and teachers have a right to be free from discrimination based on their hair. Here are some questions and answers about how that works in North Carolina.

What is the CROWN Act?

In 2023, a Black high school student in Texas  Darryl George  was suspended for more than two weeks for wearing locs that hung below his ears, according to school administrators, in violation of the districts dress code.

In February 2024, a Texas judge decided that Georges punishment by the school was appropriate since the CROWN Act does not mention hair length. The act became law in Texas in 2023.

In North Carolina, Wake County joined Durham in approving a policy that adheres to the CROWN Act in June 2024.

A woman getting knotless box braids at Top African Hair Braiding in Charlotte on August 7, 2024.

In response to a question about whether Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools adhere to the CROWN Act, CMS said in an email: In accordance with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Code of Conduct Rule 4, all students have the right to wear their hair in a way that reflects their racial, ethnic, or cultural identity without being discriminated against or disciplined.

In January 2019, California became the first state to introduce the CROWN Act, expanding the definition of race in the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and state education code.

What does the CROWN Act stand for?

The CROWN Act stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.

How did the CROWN Act start?

In 2019, Dove and the CROWN Coalition collaborated with California state Sen. Holly J. Mitchell to create the CROWN Act.

How has North Carolina handled the CROWN Act?

Curly-crowned Kiersten Hash, a young Black girl from Winston Salem, was once a Mallard Creek High School student who used to count down the days until she could get a silky Brazilian blowout.

Hash told The Charlotte Observer that much of what she faced growing up made her feel like her curly hair was not considered pretty or professional. Watching messages on TV imply that straight hair was the norm  the standard of beauty, she said in a recent phone interview.

It felt like wearing my natural hair was unruly and that made it difficult to want to wear it, so I had to unlearn internalized hatred about my natural hair, Hash said.

In 2021, while doing community work through her Charlotte-area organization Queens for Change, Hash lobbied for the CROWN Act at the state level and suggested similar protections for students and employees at the school board level.

The Charlotte City Council passed an anti-discrimination ordinance in fall 2021 that included protections for natural hairstyles.

A woman getting colored knotless box braids at Top African Hair Braiding in Charlotte on August 7, 2024.

Was the act passed in North Carolina?

A state law was not passed in 2021. The North Carolina CROWN Act was introduced in the state legislature in winter 2023, but was not passed.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has issued proclamations designating National CROWN Day in North Carolina.

What does research show about hair discrimination?

Charity Brown, an associate professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Winston-Salem State University, has a doctoral degree in psychology and specializes in examining cultural factors that contribute to Black adolescent development.

I have had Black students talk about experiences with hair discrimination, particularly being judged and stereotyped based on their hairstyles, Brown said in a phone interview.

She told The Charlotte Observer that Black males in my study talked about how theyre perceived by adults in the building regarding their locs.

They believe theyre perceived as messy, unclean, or associated with more negative behaviors, Brown said. Black females talked about wearing bonnets, head wraps, and different types of hair pieces that they often felt resulted in punitive action from adults.

Whether it be a request of removal or even if theyre not in the classroom wearing them, but if theyre on the school grounds, its an immediate harsh response of you need to take that off or you need to remove that, she said.

What is Wake Countys new school policy on hairstyles?

The Wake County Board of Education supports state and federal CROWN Act legislation that would provide protections for protective, natural, or cultural hairstyles. In particular, schools must permit protective, natural, or cultural hairstyles, including but not limited to braids, dreadlocks, locs, twists, tight curls or cornrows, Bantu knots, afros, and other culturally expressive hair ties or headwraps. Students are free to adopt hairstyles of their choice, whether short, long, shaved, braided, curled, twisted, knotted, or otherwise.

Work underway at Top African Hair Braiding in Charlotte on August 7, 2024

How does CMS address hair discrimination?

According to Jessica Saunders, a media relations specialist for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, their policies and procedures ensure that neither students nor staff members are disciplined based on how they wear their hair.

We acknowledge the CROWN Act and are grateful for all efforts to expand the understanding of race to include hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles for our employees, Saunders wrote in an email to The Charlotte Observer.

Should schools update language to mirror the act?

According to Angel Nash, a program officer at The Wallace Foundation, based in New York, school district administrators should examine current rules to identify and eliminate any language that conflicts with recently implemented CROWN Act provisions in their state.

Administrators should replace existing language with language that reflects the updated laws that practically include and welcome students hair texture and styles that they wear to express and protect it in its natural state, Nash wrote in PsychoHairapy, a skills-based training course that teaches participants about mental health and hair.
LEWISBURG, Tenn. (WKRN)  Ana Sebastian Lorenzo is a name that has been wrapped in mystery for several years, with many questions still left unanswered.

It was a summer day in 2016 when she disappeared from the small town of Lewisburg. Nestled in the hills of Southern Middle Tennessee, the town is known from its historic charm and natural beauty.

UNSOLVED TENNESSEE: Find more of the states cold cases, missing persons, and other mysteries 

However, what happened to the young girl who once resided in those hills is a mystery that still hangs over the area. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the last time anyone saw Lorenzo was on Aug. 7, 2016, at her Lewisburg home.

At the time, she was wearing a pink shirt, black pants and yellow and black shoes. Its unclear whether she left her home on her own or what direction she may have been traveling. Her case has largely remained out of the public eye, with few other details available.

Ana Sebastian Lorenzo (Courtesy: TBI)

By now, the then 15-year-old girl would be in her early 20s  making her one of at least a dozen of Tennessee children who have remained missing after reaching the age of 18.

Some cases have been open so long that the individuals have been declared legally dead. However, the TBI said all of their disappearances, including Lorenzos, remain under investigation until their whereabouts are discovered.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

When she was last seen, Lorenzo, who is Hispanic, was described as having black hair and black eyes, weighing around 130 pounds and standing at about 5 feet tall.

Anyone who has seen Lorenzo or has any information about her disappearance is asked to contact the Lewisburg Police Department at 931-359-4044 or 931-359-3800. People can also provide tips for the TBI by calling 1-800-TBI-FIND.

To view a list of other unsolved cases involving missing children in Tennessee, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Updated closures and cancellations as Debby prepares second landfall

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  With Tropical Storm Debby drifting off the coast but expected to make a second landfall overnight, some offices will remain closed while others have decided to reopen. Heres the list of whats open and closed.

COLLEGES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Colleton County School District: Colleton County schools will be closed Thursday and Friday due to flooding, road damage and power loss from Tropical Storm Debby, school officials said. All extracurricular activities are suspended. Residents are encouraged to monitor the district website for updates.

Palmetto Christian Academy: The academy will be closed through Thursday and reopen resuming normal operations Friday.

College of Charleston: The College will resume normal operations Thursday, however employees are allowed to work remotely if possible. School officials said supervisors are encouraged to work with their employees dealing with direct effects of Debby.

Charleston County School District: All school buildings will be open for those who wish to go voluntarily on Thursday. The school district will fully reopen on Friday, according to the district website.

Dorchester District Two: The first day of school remains Monday, Aug. 12 for students. Friday will be a work day for teachers and staff. Extracurricular activities will resume Thursday afternoon. For more information visit the district website.

Dorchester District Four: Teachers and staff will continue to work remotely until Friday when they are expected to return for a work day. The district said principals are working to reschedule Meet the Teacher. Students first day is Monday, Aug. 12.

Berkeley County School District: All operations are remote until Friday. All extracurricular activities are canceled until at least Friday.

Charleston Southern University: Employees are scheduled to work remotely through Thursday as well virtual learning for students. The university expects to resume normal operations Friday. Campus dining halls will close at 6:30 p.m Wednesday and reopen at 7 a.m. Thursday.

Georgetown County School District: Georgetown County Schools are on eLearning through Thursday with all extracurricular activities canceled, according to the districts latest update.

Williamsburg County School District: All classes and extracurriculars are canceled through Thursday.

CITY AND COUNTY

Isle of Palms: City administrative buildings and the recreation center are expected to reopen Thursday at noon. All meetings and events for the week will be rescheduled for a later date. All municipal cases have been continued to September. Front Beach public restrooms will be closed through Thursday.

Moncks Corner: All administrative offices will reopen Thursday.

Folly Beach: City Hall will be closed and will reopen on Friday, August 9, 2024. Please direct communication to staff emails and expect delayed responses as all hands are on deck for emergency operation needs. Court is cancelled for Friday, August 9, 2024.

Mount Pleasant: Town hall and town facilities will reopen at noon Thursday. The town asks all employees to return to work at this time.

North Charleston: All city offices will stay closed through Thursday and the city council meeting is canceled.

Georgetown County: All county offices were closed early Wednesday and will reopen Thursday at 10 a.m.

Dorchester County: Dorchester County administrative offices and courts will remain closed until Friday. On Friday, the offices are expected to resume normal operations.

Charleston County: County employees are set to stay remote until Friday when normal operations will resume. Bond court will be in session at 2 p.m. Thursday. Both county council meetings have been rescheduled to Tuesday, Aug. 13.

Goose Creek: City offices will return to normal operations opening 8 a.m. Thursday.

Dorchester County Libraries: All libraries will stay closed until Friday when they will resume normal operations.

Charleston County Libraries: All libraries will stay closed until Friday when they will resume normal operations.

Charleston County Parks: The park facilities will stay closed until site conditions can be assessed.

Dorchester County Parks: The park facilities will stay closed until site conditions can be assessed.

MEDICAL FACILITIES

Medical University of South Carolina: All outpatient clinics will return to normal operations Thursday, Aug. 8. If virtual appointments are preferred, requests will be accommodated. Operating rooms at ambulatory locations will return to normal operations Aug. 8.

Roper St. Francis: All operations will return to normal Thursday including senior centers.

Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System: The Downtown Medical Center, North Charleston, and Trident offices will open Thursday. The Goose Creek office will remain closed Thursday.

OTHER

Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests: Both greenspaces will be closed possibly through Friday, park officials said.

SC Aquarium: The aquarium will remain closed through Thursday.

Charleston Center: All outpatient services will be canceled through Thursday. The opioid dosing treatment programs will resume normal dosing hours Saturday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
Upstate man with ties to Mexican drug cartel gets prison time

GREENWOOD COUNTY, S.C, (WSPA)  A Greenwood County man will spend at least 17 years in prison for cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking.

According to the 8th Circuit Solicitors Office, Moses Alexander Almazon, 42, pleaded guilty to the following charges:

trafficking cocaine, second offense

trafficking methamphetamine, second offense

Almazon was sentenced to 20 years in prison, and according to state law, must serve at least 85% of the sentence before being considered for parole.

Officials confirmed that Almazon has ties to a Mexican drug cartel.

The investigation into Almazons activities started in February and March 2023. Deputies with the Greenwood County Sheriffs Office, SLED and Abbeville County started a joint investigation into the 42-year-old.

Within two months, investigators bought nearly 400 grams of cocaine through informants and undercover officers.

The solicitors office said some purchases were for almost 100 grams of illicit narcotics.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Almazons home, where they found 1,000 grams of meth.

Solicitor David M. Stumbo praised investigators work in the case.

I could not be more pleased with the effort and dedication of the investigators that put this cartel member behind bars for the next two decades, Solicitor Stumbo said. My office will continue to back our brothers and sisters in blue as they continue to fight the scourge of illegal drugs flooding the streets of our communities.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Fact checked by Nick BlackmerFact checked by Nick Blackmer





Key Takeaways

A recent survey showed that many Americans trust convenient care clinics or urgent care to provide routine healthcare services that primary care providers typically perform.

Convenient care clinics are easily accessible to individuals with or without an established primary care provider.

While convenient care clinics fill gaps in primary care, they are not a substitute for regularly seeing a primary care provider.







A recent survey by RegisteredNursing.org showed that many Americans are turning to convenient care clinics and urgent care for healthcare services typically performed by a primary care provider.

For an overwhelming majority of the 1,004 respondents (77%), the reason why boils down to the immediate availability of care. More than half of respondents (54%) simply want faster service.

The survey results come at a time when primary care providers are in short supply. Many primary care providers (PCPs) have a full load of patients each day, so they may not have open appointments when patients are sick and need to be seen on the same day. They may not be taking new patients at all. One in four survey participants said they dont have a PCP.

While convenient care clinics focus on the problem at hand, primary care providers say they consider a patients health from a broader perspective.

Its important to have someone who knows you as a person, Lori Solomon, MD, MPH, Chair and Clinical Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine at New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York, told Verywell.

Related: Preventive Care: What's Free and What's Not

What Are the Alternatives to Primary Care?

Convenient care clinics, often found within popular community locations such as grocery stores or pharmacies, provide walk-in and same-day appointments for routine healthcare. CVS MinuteClinic is one example. Services may include physical exams, vaccines, minor illness or injury care, STI screening, and counseling for chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and depression.

Urgent care centers, on the other hand, can see patients who need same-day care but do not need to be in the emergency room.







What This Means For You

Anyone experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, stroke symptoms, loss of consciousness, or a severe injury should go to the emergency room.







According to the survey, the most common reasons for convenient or urgent care clinic visits include illness or infections, injuries or pain, medical tests, screenings, physical exams, and vaccines.



More Convenient, But Not Always More Preferred

Over half of the respondents say theyve gone to a walk-in clinic, while 82% have gone to urgent care.

The draw isnt just appointment availability, but also ease of access. Urgent care clinics alone are growing at a pace of over 7% per year in the U.S.at the end of 2019, there were 11,481 urgent care centers nationwide. By the end of 2022, that figure hit 14,075.

People are mobile, and when they are traveling, they are going to see whoever is most readily available wherever they are, Caryn Bowden, FNP-C, a pediatric nurse practitioner with Wilmington Health in North Carolina, told Verywell.

Meanwhile, primary care providers are dwindling because of reasons ranging from too many patients and too much administrative documentation to low compensation compared to other specialties.

The American Academy of Family Physicians is committed to increasing the number of family physicians in the United States and ensuring patients have a usual source of care, Sarah Sams, MD, family physician and board member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, told Verywell. We know from research that more than 1 in 10 U.S. children dont have a primary doctor, and more than 1 in 4 adults dont have one either. There has been a nearly 40% jump in the share of U.S. children without a usual source of care over the last decade. This is concerning because we know that patients with a primary care physician have higher rates of preventive care, have improved communication with their care team, and often experience better health outcomes.

Two-thirds of survey respondents said they would prefer to see their regular doctor over a convenient care or urgent care practitioner. Its just not always realistic.

The good news is that the quality of care doesnt seem to suffer. When compared to their primary care provider, 73% of survey respondents felt they received equal or better quality care from a walk-in clinic.

If you go to a convenient care center, you will likely be seen by a nurse practitioner or physician assistant instead of a physician. Each state individually determines regulations regarding nurse practitioner and physician assistant practice. While physicians have more extensive training than nurse practitioners and physician assistants, most communities would be unable to meet their populations healthcare needs if they relied solely on physicians.

Related: How to Pay In-Network Rates for Out-Of-Network Care

Why You Should See a Primary Care Provider If Possible

A doctor who knows your medical history will more likely accurately diagnose your condition, especially if your problem has been ongoing. An urgent care visit will rule out conditions that need immediate attention, but long-term health issues require more in-depth evaluation.

If you must visit urgent care or a walk-in clinic, you should schedule a follow-up appointment with your primary care provider afterward.

Primary care providers have ongoing relationships with their patients over the years. That is key to maintaining health and keeping patients out of the hospital, Solomon said. Primary care providers are going to get a comprehensive picture and do a complete workup. Turning to a walk-in clinic may be quicker, but in the long run, seeing your primary care provider saves more time and energy.

Primary care visits are also an opportunity to check that you are up-to-date on other medical tests or care you may need.

When you utilize quick care, youre missing out on a lot of preventative care, like mammograms and vaccines, that keep you healthy over the long term, Sams said.

Related: Mammograms Should Begin at Age 40, USPSTF Says

Some primary care providers practice within larger hospital systems or healthcare networks. If possible, when you need urgent care, visit a walk-in facility within the same organization as your primary care provider. They often use electronic medical records, and your primary care provider can review the notes from your walk-in visit.

We have a walk-in clinic housed within our office. It is staffed during office hours, and at times, extended hours. Patients can walk in and be seen by one of their doctorss partners, who will have access to their medical records and history, Sams said of her primary care practice. The provider who sees the patient can message or even text the primary care provider during or after the visit.

How to Find a Reliable Primary Care Provider

Almost one-third of the U.S. population does not have a primary care provider, according to the National Association of Community Health Centers. These individuals may be uninsured, live in a community with few primary care providers, or be healthy and not see the need for routine medical care.

If you are looking for a primary care provider, Bowden recommends selecting a convenient care clinic that is affiliated with a larger hospital or healthcare network.

Those providers can say, You need a follow-up, lets get you into one of our providers. Stand-alone clinics dont have those peer-to-peer relationships, she said. Plus, walk-in clinics that are part of larger healthcare systems often use electronic medical records that other providers within the network can view, so a new primary care provider can view your previous convenient or urgent care visits.

If you try a new primary care provider and dont have a great experience, dont be afraid to seek out a new one for your next visit. A solid doctor-patient relationship ultimately depends on whether the personalities and philosophies of each person align.

People avoid going to their physician if they dont feel like its a good match, Sams said.







What This Means For You

If you do not have a primary care provider, ask trusted family members or friends for a referral. It is best to see a primary care provider for routine care, but if you need non-emergency medical care and cannot get into your primary care provider, you can receive safe and effective care from walk-in clinics.







Read the original article on Verywell Health.
US Ambassador to Japan to skip Nagasaki peace ceremony after Israel excluded

US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel will sit out Nagasakis peace ceremony over Israels exclusion from the annual commemoration of the 1945 atomic bombing of the city, the embassy said.

This years ceremony will take place at Nagasaki Peace Park on Friday, where diplomats from more than 100 countries will observe a minute of silence to mark the moment the US dropped the second atomic bomb in Japan during World War II.

Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki told reporters last week that Israel would be excluded due to security concerns, despite warnings from Western nations that there could be implications for the attendance of their own ambassadors.

Should Israel be excluded, it would become difficult for us to have high-level participation in this event, said a July 19 letter to the mayor signed by ambassadors from France, Germany, Italy and the US, as well as the charge daffaires from Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union.

Britain, Germany, and Italy will also not send their ambassadors to Nagasaki, their embassies told CNN on Thursday. CNN has reached out to the other remaining signatories.

The bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and Nagasaki three days later led to Japans unconditional surrender and brought an end to World War II. But it also killed tens of thousands of people, both instantly and in the months and years to come due to radiation sickness.

Each year the two cities hold memorials attended by diplomats to promote global peace and the idea that nuclear weapons must never be used again.

The move by Nagasaki contrasts with that of Hiroshima, which hosted its ceremony on Tuesday and invited Israeli ambassador to Japan Gilad Cohen, whose presence was met with protests from pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

Riot-police guard as anti-war and anti-nuclear protesters gather outside the Atomic Bomb Dome during the 79th Atomic Bombing Day anniversary in Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 2024. - Kyodo/Reuters

Both cities had been under pressure from activists and bomb survivor groups to exclude Israel due to its bombardment of Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed since Israel began targeting militant group Hamas following the October 7 attack.

Russia and Belarus were both disinvited from the ceremonies over Moscows invasion of Ukraine and campaigners had hoped Nagasaki and Hiroshima would similarly exclude Israel.

On Thursday, a US embassy spokesperson told CNN the ambassador wrote to the Nagasaki mayor on Tuesday, calling the decision to exclude Israel political and saying he would be left with no other choice but to pull out.

He will attend a peace ceremony at Zojoji Temple in Tokyo in addition to holding a moment of silence at the embassy, the spokesperson said. The temple holds a memorial service on Friday.

The ambassador had directed other US consulates in Japan to do the same, according to the embassy.

The US government will be represented at Nagasaki by the Principal Officer of Consulate Fukuoka, the spokesperson said.

In an interview with CNN earlier this week, Cohen accused the Nagasaki mayor of inventing security fears and hijacking this ceremony for his political motivations.

Israeli Ambassador Gilad Cohen speaks at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on October 13, 2023. - Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images/File

On Thursday, Mayor Suzuki reiterated that the decision was unrelated to politics, and said he was sorry to hear the US ambassador was unable to attend.

The reason for this is to avoid unforeseen circumstances and to ensure that the ceremony will be conducted smoothly and in a peaceful and solemn atmosphere, he told reporters.

If it was for political reasons, I personally believe that countries in a dispute should be invited, but unfortunately we cannot invite such countries considering the impact it would have on the ceremony.

He said the authorities would continue to seek their understanding by persistently explaining the situation.

Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said the foreign affairs ministry had been in touch with Nagasaki to explain international affairs, but local authorities make ultimate decisions on events they organize.

This article has been updated.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Ramit Sethi

Believe it to achieve it is common advice to help us achieve our career and financial goals.

Check Out: Im an Investor  Im Making These Money Moves Immediately If Trump Wins

Read Next: 6 Money Moves the Wealthy Make That You Can Make Too

However, Ramit Sethi, a personal finance advisor and author of the 2009 New York Times bestseller I Will Teach You To Be Rich, recently explained how this backward belief keeps people from living rich lives.

What is the secret to achieving your dreams? GOBankingRates breaks it down.

Earning passive income doesn't need to be difficult. You can start this week.

Behavior First, Then Attitude

We tend to believe that if we change our attitude, our behavior will follow, said Sethi via his YouTube channel.

Focus on changing your behavior first, Sethi said. Then youll find that your attitude follows.

For example, if you want to buy a new home, dont start the process by creating a vision board or scrolling Zillow.

Instead, calculate the maximum amount youll need for a down payment. Automatically deduct the money each month from your checking account and transfer the funds to a savings account or other low-risk, accessible option.

Learn More: 3 Types of Investments Predicted To Plummet in Value in Summer 2024

Be Honest With Yourself

Believing you deserve a promotion or dream job isnt enough to get it.

Its easy to claim we want that dream job, but theres often a vast difference between what we say and what we do, Sethi said.

Sethi recommended asking yourself three essential questions to close the gap from where you are to where you want to be to get the job that will support your ideal lifestyle. They are:

Have I done anything remarkable enough to be quantitatively measured and added to my resume in the last six months? In the next six months, can I expect a promotion or a higher level of responsibility? Can I reasonably expect to get the dream job (the one with the perks, recognition, schedule, and people to let you live your rich life) within 6-12 months?

Answering the above questions will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses  and align your daily actions with your goals.

Let the Past Go

Keep in mind its been long documented that past behavior generally predicts future behavior, Sethi said.

An American Psychological Association study found that people rely on their past behavior to make future decisions. Sethi suggested letting go of invisible scripts that limit your financial freedom.

Your behavior will drive your attitude, Sethi said. And instead of being controlled by your past behavior, youll be able to chart a new path.

Story continues

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Ramit Sethi: This Backwards Belief Keeps You From Living a Rich Life
FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Department of Justice Building is pictured

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday announced charges against a Tennessee man accused of helping North Koreans land IT jobs with American and British companies to fund Pyongyang's weapons programs.

Matthew Isaac Knoot, 38, helped the North Korean workers remotely access software from unwitting companies, which thought they were hiring American employees, according to an indictment unsealed in federal court in Nashville.

This indictment should serve as a stark warning to U.S. businesses that employ remote IT workers of the growing threat from the DPRK and the need to be vigilant in their hiring processes," Matthew Olsen, the head of the Justice Department's National Security Division, said in a statement, using the acronym for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Knoot faces several charges, including conspiracy to commit computer fraud and money laundering. He has not yet entered a plea.

Attorney information for Knoot was not immediately available.

North Korea has dispatched thousands of IT workers overseas in recent years, to bring in millions to finance the isolated country's nuclear missile program, according to the United States, South Korea, and the United Nations.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
US citizen Ksenia Karelina pleads guilty to treason in Russian court over donation to Ukraine, state media reports

Ksenia Karelina, a U.S.-Russian dual national accused of treason for allegedly raising money for the Ukrainian military, plead guilty to treason, Russian state-run news agency TASS claimed on Aug. 7.

Karelinas lawyer Mikhail Mushailov told TASS that his client admitted to the charge.

Karelina, a 33-year-old resident of Los Angeles, was arrested in Russia earlier this year while visiting her grandparents. Authorities charged her with treason on the grounds that she donated $51.80 to the nonprofit organization Razom for Ukraine.

Karelina was not included in a major prisoner exchange that occurred on Aug. 1, which included 10 prisoners transferred to Russia, 13 prisoners transported to Germany, and three handed over to the United States. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, and Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza were all released as part of the swap.

Karelina's trial began June 20 in the Sverdlovsk regional court and was held behind closed doors. The next hearing date is scheduled for Aug. 8, according to TASS.

Razom for Ukraine said on Feb. 20 that it was "appalled by reports that a U.S.-Russian dual national has been arrested by Russian authorities for purportedly making a charitable donation" to the organization.

Karelina will face up to 12 years in prison during sentencing.

Read also: Gershkovich, Whelan, Kara-Murza released in major prisoner swap between Russia, West

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Bloomberg) -- US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel wont be attending ceremonies to mark the Aug. 9 atomic bombing of Nagasaki over what he called a political decision by the citys mayor not to invite Israels envoy.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Emanuel said in a letter sent to Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki and seen by Bloomberg on Thursday that he cant in good conscience attend the event as hes done previously and the US would be represented at a lower diplomatic level.

I believe your decision is a political one and has nothing to do with the security and safety of the event, especially in light of the caliber of attendees, Emanuel wrote in the letter dated Monday.

In June, Suzuki said he wouldnt be extending an invitation to Israels ambassador and called on the country to accept an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, the Asahi newspaper and other Japanese media reported. Nagasakis mayor told reporters this week the decision to exclude the Israeli envoy wasnt political and was instead done out of worries that unforeseen circumstances such as protests could disrupt the ceremony.

Emanuel said the Nagasaki mayor could still call for a cease-fire and allow Israels ambassador to attend as a member of the diplomatic community, as happened at the Aug. 6 ceremony to mark the atomic bombing of Hiroshima  which the US envoy attended.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida participated in the ceremony in Hiroshima this week and is scheduled to be at the event in Nagasaki on Friday.

The prime minister would not be attending if there was a security threat, or challenge, Emanuel said.

Officials at Israels embassy in Tokyo didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

G-7 Ultimatum

Last month, international envoys from the Group of Seven nations dispatched to Japan and the European Union sent a letter to Suzuki, saying it would be difficult for them to have high-level participation in the event if Israel were to be excluded.

Not inviting Israel to the commemoration of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki city would result in placing Israel on the same level as countries such as Russia and Belarus, who are the only other countries not invited to this ceremony, according to a copy of the letter seen by Bloomberg.

Emanuel pointed out that Russia invaded Ukraine, while Israel was attacked. So, then if its political, you cant draw a moral equivalency between Russia that invaded Ukraine and Israel that was invaded, he said.

Hamas, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the US ad EU, killed 1,200 in its Oct. 7 attack and abducted 250 in one of the deadliest days for Israel since the state was founded.

In the months of fighting that followed, large parts of Gaza has been reduced to rubble and some 40,000 people killed in the process, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Israel has also found itself in greater international isolation as the death toll mounted.

The Biden administration has pressed for months for a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas, trying to prevent a wider conflict that could engulf the Middle Easts.

The anniversary ceremonies for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 are solemn events to remember those who perished in the blasts, with the diplomatic community in Japan typically in attendance. The events are marked by calls to never have another atomic bombing, seek an end to nuclear weapons and work to bring peace.

Japan lists the US as its sole security ally, and the government in Tokyo tried to avoid weighing in publicly on the matter. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a regular news briefing Thursday that the ceremony is hosted by Nagasaki and the government isnt in a position to comment on attendance.

Kishida, a Hiroshima native, made it a point for world leaders attending the 2023 Group of Seven summit in the city to visit a museum that recounts what happened when it was hit by an atomic bomb.

Emanuel said in an interview he will pay homage to what happened in Nagasaki at a temple and there will be a moment of silence at the embassy and consulates for the time of the bombing.

We will pay respect, reverence and remembrance, he said.

--With assistance from Takashi Hirokawa.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Updated Aug 8, 2024, 11:25am EDT politics North America

The News

The flow of migrants crossing into the US from Mexico has diminished precipitously. In July, crossings were at their lowest level since late 2020, falling to about a fifth of their peak over the last four years, reached in late 2023.

The steep decline is largely the result of restrictions brought in by the Biden administration to limit migration to the US, and rules to curb crossings enacted in Mexico, too.

Mexicos so-called chutes and ladders system  where Mexican authorities repeatedly move migrants from the northern border to the south  has kept tens of thousands essentially moving in a loop within the country.

Mexico now functions as a barrier and as a sponge, a migration expert told The Wall Street Journal.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Border security could decide the US election

Sources: Brookings Institute, Gallup, The New Yorker, NBC News

Security at the border ranks high on issues that matter to US voters ahead of the coming election  so much so that it may be the determining factor for who wins the presidency, an expert at the Brookings Institute think tank wrote. A July Gallup poll showed that 55% of Americans want less immigration, the highest percentage since 2001. In the campaigns, Donald Trump has taken a hard line and cited his controversial record as president, while Kamala Harris has been attacked by Republicans for her confusing record on immigration as vice president. However, Harris hasnt shied away from making border security part of her campaign, promising a humane but firm approach that could ultimately help her politically, NBC News noted.

Crackdown could have economic repercussions

Source: Politico

The US economy could have a lot to lose if the crackdown at the border continues, Politico noted. Migration to the US is at least partly to credit for the countrys economic recovery since the pandemic. Job growth in non-farm sectors has largely been driven by immigrant groups, one analysis found, and a congressional agency forecasted that immigrants could boost GDP by $7 trillion in the next decade. Specific industries, like the service sector, restaurants, and construction, rely more on immigrant workers and so would potentially suffer more.

Low numbers may not last

Sources: The Wall Street Journal, BBC

Its unlikely that crossings will remain low for much longer, The Wall Street Journal wrote. Bidens executive order has deterred people for now, but it is facing significant legal challenges, and some experts think itll be doomed, in the same way a 2018 Trump bill that tried to ban certain migrants was deemed unconstitutional. Meanwhile, Mexicos system of redistributing migrants within its interior is essentially putting a cap on migration without addressing its root causes, which are getting worse, an expert told the BBC. Migration out of Venezuela is largely expected to increase following its contested election, and will likely become a huge challenge for the US in the coming months, the Journal noted.
The US Navy says it can't stop the Houthi attacks on shipping with force alone

The US Navy has spent months battling the Houthis in a conflict that shows no signs of ending.

A top admiral said it will take more than military action alone to stop the Houthi attacks.

Vice Adm. George Wikoff said the solution will require a different kind of effort.

The US Navy's counter-Houthi mission will not be enough on its own to stop the Iran-backed rebels from attacking vulnerable merchant ships, the admiral overseeing operations in the Middle East said this week.

Vice Adm. George Wikoff, the commander of US Naval Forces Central Command, said that it will take more than force and firepower to deal with the Houthis. Rather, Washington and its allies must come up with an alternative way to apply pressure on the group.

"The solution is not going to come at the end of a weapon system," Wikoff said Wednesday at an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank. "It's going to be the international community."

For over eight months, US forces have been working to defend key shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden from relentless Houthi attacks. The rebels have been using one-way attack drones, naval drones, and anti-ship missiles to threaten commercial vessels and American warships deployed in the region.

US warships and aircraft have expended hundreds of munitions to regularly intercept Houthi missiles and drones and to strike the rebels in Yemen, targeting assets like weapons, launchers, and radar sites.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely conducts a pre-action calibration practice fire of its 5-inch gun in the Red Sea in March 2024. US Navy photo

Top US officials have repeatedly said that these efforts are intended to strip the Houthis of their ability to conduct attacks. But as of this week, the rebels continue to launch missiles and drones at the surrounding waters.

"We have certainly degraded their capability. There's no doubt about that," Wikoff said. "However, have we stopped them? No."

"Our mission remains to disrupt their ability and try to preserve some semblance of maritime order while we give an opportunity for policy to be developed against the Houthis," he added.

Wikoff said it has been difficult to find a center of gravity for the Houthis that the US can hold at risk over time, making it a challenge to apply a classic deterrence policy in this scenario.

Right now, he said, the idea is for the Navy to maintain the status quo to allow other areas of government and the international community to kick in and pressure the Houthis to stop their attacks.

F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jets fly over the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon during flight operations in the Red Sea in March 2024. US Navy photo

"This is a global problem  the entire globe is impacted by this problem," he said. "We can certainly try with some warships and some sailors and some folks trying their best to preserve maritime security. But this is going to require a global solution."

"The more players on the field that can get involved in the diplomatic and that piece of this, the better off I think we'll be in terms of the odds of success," Wikoff added.

Wikoff's assessment echoes similar remarks made by US officials that the military action taken so far has been unable to stop the Houthis.

His comments also follow warnings from experts and officials that the Houthi conflict is unlikely to end soon, raising questions about the long-term sustainability of the US naval presence in the region and the growing financial costs of the operations.

An F/A-18E Super Hornet launches off the flight deck during flight operations aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea in April 2024. US Navy photo

Earlier this year, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told lawmakers that the Houthi threat is likely to stay active for some time because, among other reasons, the rebels recieve external assistance from Iran while also locally producing their own weapons.

Wikoff said that although Iran continues to back the Houthis, the rebels are "diversifying" where they receive support from and are domestically developing their own capabilities.

"We do believe there's an Iranian relationship here that's well-known and well-documented," he said. "But our assessment right now is  and we're certainly trying to deny that capability to make it in  we do believe that the overall supply of the Houthis is far more complex."

Read the original article on Business Insider
TechCrunch

While companies like OpenAI and Anthropic continue to popularize the idea of using ordinary language to ask artificial intelligence agents for answers to their questions, write their proposals or draw pictures, a London startup called Basecamp Research has raised $60 million to tackle a new frontier. It's building an AI agent that not only answers any question related to biology and the biodiversity of the natural world, but produce new insights that humans could not achieve on their own. "There is an enormous data gap that exists today where people are training [biology] models," said Glen Gower, the CEO of Basecamp Research, in an interview.
Some US soldiers in South Korea will now serve 2-year tours

Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify the history of U.S. troops presence in South Korea.

Certain soldiers embarking to South Korea will call it home for longer than usual, according to an Aug. 1 Army memo.

The memo calls for single soldiers without dependents assigned to the Republic of Korea to serve the accompanied tour length of 24 months versus the typical unaccompanied one-year tour length.

The extension applies to specific occupational specialties and concentration areas, including air traffic control operators (15Q), UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter repairers (15T), working military dog handlers (31K), criminal investigations special agents (31D), counterintelligence agents (35L), signal intelligence analysts (35N) and criminal investigation division special agents (311A).

Soldiers with the listed specialties who have no dependents, are not married to other service members and are on permanent-change-of-station orders to South Korea must serve the 24-month accompanied tour length.

The revision does not apply to soldiers assigned to the defense attache system or security cooperation organizations or to assignments in Korea without an approved accompanied tour, according to the memo.

The extension also does not affect soldiers who were placed on orders or already in South Korea before Aug. 1, according to a service spokesman.

This affects between 100 to 200 soldiers overall in those military occupational specialties, said U.S. Army spokesman Christopher Surridge.

The 24-month requirement, according to the memo, aims to improve readiness in the listed specialties that require soldiers to undergo extensive training and or certification requirements prior to being fully mission capable.

For these seven occupations, it takes an extended amount of time to get them trained and certified to be fully mission capable for the unit, said Surridge.

Several years after Americas occupation of southern Korea, U.S. ground troops arrived on the peninsula July 1, 1950, in response to North Koreas capture of Seoul in the Korean War. The U.S. military has maintained a presence in South Korea ever since.

The U.S. has maintained its military alliance with South Korea ever since, seeking to deter armed conflict in the region, according to the Department of Defense.

Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are based in South Korea as of 2023, according to the Congressional Research Service.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A federal grand jury ruled Thursday that an Ohio mans attack against congregants at a Georgetown synagogue was a hate crime.

Brent Wood, 35, was charged with three counts of obstructing by force or threat of force a persons enjoyment of their free exercise of religious beliefs, while using a dangerous weapon.

The U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) said the indictment stems from an incident outside of Kesher Israel Congregation Synagogue on Dec. 17, 2023.

That morning, Wood allegedly drove a U-Haul truck around security barriers and parked directly in front of the synagogue.

This is not okay: Antisemitic attack at Georgetown synagogue shakes Jewish community

He then sprayed a harmful substance at congregants while yelling Gas the Jews!

Wood faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for each of the three counts.

Classifying the incident as a hate crime increases the guidelines range of the potential sentence, the USAO stated.

He was previously charged in D.C. Superior Court with simple assault  hes currently a fugitive in that case.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy said staff at the agency would like to complete its probe into the Jan. 5 Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 mid-air emergency by early next year.

"I think they would like to finish in 12 to 14 months" from the time of the incident, Homendy told Reuters late Wednesday, adding it depends on the NTSB getting the information it needs. The NTSB also needs to complete a safety culture survey of employees at Boeing's 737 MAX factory in Renton, Washington that it plans to begin soon.

(Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Franklin Paul)
Utah carries out first execution since 2010 as inmate put to death for murder of ex-girlfriends mother

Taberon Dave Honies execution was Utahs first since 2019 (Associated Press)

Utah has now ended its decade-long execution hiatus after an inmate was put to death for the murder of his ex-girlfriends mother.

Taberon Dave Honie died by lethal injection early on Thursday morning at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City.

In his final words, the 48-year-old said: If it needs to be done for them to heal, lets do this.

If they tell you you cant change, dont listen to them. To all my brothers and sisters in here, continue to change. I love you all. Take care.

When the executioner then administered two doses of the lethal drug pentobarbital, Honie reportedly tapped his foot and mouthed I love you to his family members who were watching from the witness chamber.

Warden Bart Mortensen told reporters that Honie also turned and thanked correctional officers for taking care of his family before he lost consciousness.

It took about 17 minutes for him to die.

Honie  who grew up on the Hopi Indian Reservation in Arizona  spent his last evening with his daughter Tressa, who said she felt caught between her mothers family mourning her grandmother and her own grief for her father.

I feel like I have to heal alone, she explained in an interview.

For his last meal, Honie then requested a cheeseburger, french fries and a milkshake.

Taberon Dave Honies execution was Utahs first since 2010 (Associated Press)

His family was given permission to perform a Native American grieving ritual to help free his soul following the removal of his body.

He had been on death row for 25 years after his 1999 conviction for the brutal murder of Claudia Benn in July 1998.

After a day of heavy drinking, the then-22-year-old broke into Benns home in Cedar City before slashing her throat and stabbing other parts of her body.

He was also found to have sexually abused one of Benns two grandchildren  one of them aged just two years old  who were both in the house at the time.

In July, Honies attorneys unsuccessfully petitioned the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole to commute his sentence to life in prison.

The legal team described Honies troubled childhood growing up with parents who abused alcohol and asked that he be allowed to exist so he could support his own daughter. The bid was denied.

As well as being the first since 2010, Honies execution was also Utahs eighth since 1976, when the Supreme Court ruled capital punishment legal in the US.

The last inmate put to death in the state was Ronnie Lee Gardner who chose to be executed by firing squad  the first time the method was used in the US in 14 years. Gardner was shot by a team of five marksmen using .30 calibre rifles.

Douglas Lovell was on death row until July when the Utah Supreme Court overturned his death sentence (Associated Press)

Although Utah had adopted lethal injection as the default execution method in 2004, Gardner retained the right to choose the controversial method as he was sentenced before a change in law.

According to the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC), no other executions are currently scheduled for Utah. There are now five remaining inmates on death row in the state, after Utahs Supreme Court overturned Douglas Lovells death sentence last month.

Lovell was twice convicted for murdering Joyce Yost in 1985 to prevent her from testifying against him on charges that he raped her. Lovells death sentence was overturned after he argued his lawyers rendered ineffective assistance when they failed to object or respond to testimony from bishops of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who volunteered at the prison.

A 2020 poll found 64 per cent of people in Utah supported the death penalty  10 per cent higher than the national average, KUTV reported.

Honies execution marked the second in the US this week, after Arthur Lee Burton was put to death on Wednesday in Texas for the murder of mother-of-three Nancy Adleman in 1997.
Death row inmate Taberon Honie looks on during the Utah Board of Pardons commutation hearing Monday, July 22, 2024, at the Utah State Correctional Facility, in Salt Lake City. | Rick Bowmer

Taberon Honie has spent time with his family in the final hours before the state of Utah is expected to execute him for the murder of Claudia Benn.

Benn, a member of the Paiute tribe, was a substance abuse counselor, mother and grandmother. On July 9, 1998, Honie broke into Benns home and took a butcher knife from Benn, 49, and repeatedly stabbed her and sexually assaulted her with the knife. Her three young grandchildren were in the home at the time.

Honie is scheduled for execution early Thursday morning. Glen Mills, spokesperson for the Utah Department of Corrections, has provided hourly updates since 5 p.m. as to the events transpiring before the execution.

At 9 p.m., Honies time with his family concluded. His mother, father, daughter, three sisters, two cousins and brother-in-law were at the prison to see him. From 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., Honie can meet with his attorneys and clergy. Mills confirmed Honies attorneys had arrived at the prison. After 10 p.m., Honies time for visitation will conclude. From 10 p.m. onward, Honie has spent time alone in his cell listening to music. When offered a Valium, he declined, said Mills.

Mills said Honie had a call with a spiritual advisor on Tuesday. The call was long and included many prayers.

Glen Mills, Utah Department of Corrections spokesperson, talks to media during a press conference inside the Stephen R. Anderson Memorial Building at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City, prior to the execution of Taberon Dave Honie, on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Corrections staff performed a run-through of the execution at 7 p.m., according to Mills. He said it was the seventh time the staff has performed a run-through. The prison has been in lockdown mode since early morning.

The final run-through went smoothly and we are highly confident in our plan to carry this out in an effective manner as we come into the final hours, said Mills.

Mills described the mood among staff as serious.

From a staff standpoint, the feeling is different this week, said Mills. Its not something that anyone whos involved with this looks forward or takes joy in by any means. However, we all see it as a responsibility of ours in the department and we take it seriously, and we intend to carry it out in a caring and professional manner.

When asked for information about the two people who will be the executioners, Mills said he could not provide specific details.

Its an MD, said Mills. I cant really get into many of the details other than that, but they are contracted also. They are not UDC employees.

Outside the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City, prior to the execution of Taberon Dave Honie, on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah executed Taberon Honie early Thursday morning for the 1998 murder of Claudia Marie BennImage. File Photo courtesy of the Florida Department of Corrections

Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Utah executed Taberon Honie shortly early Thursday morning just after midnight at the Utah State Correctional Facility near Salt Lake City.

Honie, who was convicted of the 1998 murder of Claudia Marie Benn, was executed at approximately 12:30 a.m. MDT Thursday by lethal injection.

"Early this morning the state of Utah fulfilled its legal obligation to carry out the execution of Taberon Honie," Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said in a statement. "The actions of Mr. Honie that lead to his death sentence are heinous."

He added, " I hope this brings closure to those impacted by the crimes. My heart goes out to the victim's family."

Utah Department of Corrections announced, "the sentence of Taberon Honie has been carried out."

"From the start it's been, if it needs to be done for them to heal, let's do this. If they tell you you can't change, don't listen to them. To all my brothers and sisters here, continue to change. I love you all, take care," Honie said as the execution began.

A group of journalists and family members of the victim witnessed the execution.

ABC4's Sarah Murphy witnessed it and said in a statement,

"No concept of time in there. Seemed to go very long. All reporters stood to get a better view. Honie strapped to gurney, white sheet pulled up to below his chest. His feet were tapping or moving, possibly along to a song in his head. Movements slowed. Curtains were closed. Medical examiner pronounced him dead."

Dozens of people protested the execution as they sang and prayed in a "free speech zone" over a mile away from the prison.

Rony Charles described himself as a Christian and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints.

"It is barbarism, in my view," Charles said. "Who gives me the right to take someone else's life? I don't think no one should have that right -- that power -- and reason to take someone else's life. It's barbarism killing another human being."

Protesting groups included Death Penalty Action, For Whom The Bell Tolls and Conservatives Concerned About The Death Penalty.
Media witnesses look at the lethal injection table in the execution chamber at the Utah State Correctional Facility after the execution of Taberon Honie, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. | Rick Bowmer

Taberon Honie, who murdered and sexually assaulted Cedar City, Utah, resident Claudia Benn in 1998, was executed in the early minutes of Thursday by lethal injection. The execution was carried out by personnel the Utah Department of Corrections designated, completing a death sentence first given May 20, 1999.

Honie was pronounced dead at 12:25 a.m. Thursday, said Glen Mills, spokesperson for Utah Department of Corrections. This was the first execution carried out in Utah since 2010.

Benn, a member of the Paiute tribe and the mother of Honies then ex-girlfriend, was a substance abuse counselor, mother and grandmother. On July 9, 1998, Honie broke into Benns home and took a butcher knife from Benn, 49, and repeatedly stabbed her and sexually assaulted her with the knife. Her three young grandchildren were in the home at the time.

The first lethal dose of pentobarbitol was administered at 12:04 a.m., said Mills. A second dose was administered nine minutes later. At 12:21 a.m., the EKG showed a flatline and Honie was pronounced dead four minutes later at 12:25 a.m.

Media witnesses examine the lethal injection table in the execution chamber at the Utah State Correctional Facility after the execution of Taberon Honie, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. | Rick Bowmer

Restraints are shown on the lethal injection table in the execution chamber at the Utah State Correctional Facility after the execution of Taberon Honie, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. | Rick Bowmer

The lethal injection table is shown in the execution chamber at the Utah State Correctional Facility after the execution of Taberon Honie, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. | Rick Bowmer

Media witnesses examine the lethal injection table in the execution chamber at the Utah State Correctional Facility after the execution of Taberon Honie, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. | Rick Bowmer

Restraints are shown on the lethal injection table in the execution chamber at the Utah State Correctional Facility after the execution of Taberon Honie, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. | Rick Bowmer

Media witnesses look at the lethal injection table in the execution chamber at the Utah State Correctional Facility after the execution of Taberon Honie, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. | Rick Bowmer

The department will provide support to the staff and around 200 individuals were involved in this situation, Brian Redd, executive director of Utah Department of Corrections, said.

His foot appeared to be twitching, said Ben Winslow, a Fox 13 reporter, who acted as chair of the media witnesses. Winslow said Honies foot seemed to twitch after giving his final words. He mouthed words to the warden that witnesses were unable to hear. A corrections official later said when Honie mouthed the words, he thanked two officials for taking care of his family and told his family he loved them.

Honie took a deep breath and then his breath picked up pace.

But it then slowed down very quickly and then his skin turned pale, turned blue and we observed the EKG being tested to measure his pulse again and again and again, said Winslow. Two other media witnesses said the process seemed to be carried out seamlessly.

Members of the media who were witness to the execution of Taberon Dave Honie describe what they saw during a press conference inside the Stephen R. Anderson Memorial Building at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City after the execution on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Sarah Murphy, ABC4, describes what she saw as she and other members of the media who were witness to the execution of Taberon Dave Honie describe the events of the night during a press conference inside the Stephen R. Anderson Memorial Building at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City after the execution on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Pat Reavy, KSL.com, describes some of his feelings as he and other members of the media who were witness to the execution of Taberon Dave Honie talk during a press conference inside the Stephen R. Anderson Memorial Building at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City after the execution on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Kyle Dunphey, Utah News Dispatch, looks down at the table as he and other members of the media who were witness to the execution of Taberon Dave Honie describe what they saw during a press conference inside the Stephen R. Anderson Memorial Building at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City after the execution on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Ben Winslow, Fox 13, talks as he and members of the media who were witness to the execution of Taberon Dave Honie describe what they saw during the execution at a press conference inside the Stephen R. Anderson Memorial Building at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Brian Redd, executive director of the Utah Department of Corrections, makes a few remarks as members of the media who were witness to the execution of Taberon Dave Honie describe what they saw during a press conference inside the Stephen R. Anderson Memorial Building at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City after the execution on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Members of the media who were witness to the execution of Taberon Dave Honie describe what they saw during a press conference inside the Stephen R. Anderson Memorial Building at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City after the execution on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Early this morning the state of Utah fulfilled its legal obligation to carry out the execution of Taberon Honie. The actions of Mr. Honie that lead to his death sentence are heinous, said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox in a statement. I respect the process of our criminal justice system, and recognize the countless public servants who meticulously planned and approached their responsibilities with professionalism. I hope this brings closure to those impacted by the crimes. My heart goes out to the victims family.

We understand there are deeply held beliefs, powerful emotions and divergent views regarding the death penalty, said Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes in a statement. Death by execution is one of the most extreme uses of government power. Many would argue it is ineffective, improper and beyond the authority of man to exercise. Many would disagree.

Reyes said society does agree that taking an innocent life is deemed by society to be most vile, repugnant and punishable by the harshest measures possible. In states like Utah, that includes the death penalty.

As such, the State of Utah approached the exercise of its power and attendant responsibilities with the seriousness and solemnity that such an act merits. We hope opponents of the death penalty allow grace for those who carried out their duties as required by the law and did so with respect, professionalism, and, in some cases, in spite of their own personal views, said Reyes. We also hope that this act is a deterrent to other heinous crimes and pray it provides some measure of comfort to those who have been awaiting justice for decades.

Utah Department of Corrections spokesperson Karen Tapahe announces that the sentence has been carried out during a press conference inside the Stephen R. Anderson Memorial Building at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City, after the execution of Taberon Dave Honie, on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

In the hours leading up to his execution, Honie was visited by his daughter, mother, father, three sisters, two cousins, brother-in-law and aunt, said Mills. Mental health workers also checked in on his well-being. Around 30 protesters gathered to protest the execution at a designated free speech zone.

Mills said Honie spoke with a spiritual leader Tuesday for a long period of time. The call involved several prayers.

Honie was convicted of aggravated murder and he was sentenced to die on May 20, 1999. The last execution carried out in Utah previous to Honies was Ronnie Lee Gardner on June 18, 2010.

It was not a sentence I gave to the defendant; he earned it. If this isnt a death penalty case, I dont know what is, 5th District Judge Robert Braithwaite said at the time.

After an initial appeal, Honies case was heard by the Utah Supreme Court in 2002, which upheld the sentence. He appealed his sentence again in 2013, claiming his defense did not show enough evidence of mitigating circumstances  substance abuse by both him and his parents. The Utah Supreme Court again denied his appeal.

In 2015, Honie filed a petition to ask another court to hear his challenge to his sentence. His petition was denied in 2019 and though he appealed, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the decision to deny the petition in 2023.

Death row inmate Taberon Honie arrives for a Utah Board of Pardons commutation hearing, Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at the Utah State Correctional Facility, in Salt Lake City. | Rick Bowmer

In June, Honie asked the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole to commute his sentence. In Utah, governors cannot commute sentences  that power belongs to the five-person board. The board denied the request in July.

We did not ask for you to take my aunt the way you did. Nor did we ask you to hurt the girls, Trevia Wall, Benns niece, said at the the hearing in July. You did all that. And again, this sentence is what I feel is best and is what youve earned. Youve earned that sentence.

Another family member, Benns daughter Benita Yracheta, said at the hearing that when she thinks of her mother, she now thinks of the crime scene.

I cant pick up a phone and call her anymore, said Yracheta. I cant wish her a happy birthday or Mothers Day. I have to go to the cemetery for holidays, Mothers Day, her birthday. I go down on the anniversary of her death. We cant make no more memories with her, no more pictures with her. We just have to live with the memories we have.

Honies attorney, Therese Day, said she provided more details about his upbringing, especially the role of substance abuse, and argued for clemency. This request is something hes struggled with because he believes he is deserving of nothing. Hes not asking to be let out of prison nor does he think he deserves it.

After the hearing, the board issued a statement saying they reviewed testimony from Honie, his witnesses and family members as well as from the victim representatives and denied clemency.

After carefully reviewing all submitted information and considering all arguments from the parties, the Board does not find sufficient cause to commute Mr. Honies death sentence.

Attorneys for Honie wrote Cox a letter requesting Cox delay the execution, arguing the Utah Department of Corrections engaged in a rushed process. The department denied the process was rushed.

Cox denied the request in a letter sent Tuesday. He said Honie exhausted all his appeals and he does not think a temporary reprieve is warranted.

Randy Gardner, brother of Ronnie Lee Gardner and Abraham Bonowitz, co-founder and executive director of Death Penalty Action, deliver letters of concern and petition signatures to stop the execution of Taberon Honie to the governor's office at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

National advocates against the death penalty arrived in Utah days before the execution to lead efforts to protest it. Abe Bonowitz, co-founder of Death Penalty Action, along with SueZann Bosler, founding board member of Journey of Hope, and Randy Gardner, brother of Ronnie Lee Gardner and on Death Penalty Actions advisory committee, have held a public meeting and spoken to press to protest the execution.

A group of anti-death penalty advocates presented Cox with a petition requesting he stay the execution. The group gathered on the steps of the Utah Capitol to protest the execution. The Utah Department of Corrections set up a designated free speech zone for those who wanted to protest against or for the death penalty.

Mills recounted Honies final words as, From the start, its been if it needs to be done for them to heal, lets do this. If they tell you you cant change, dont listen to them. To all my brothers and sisters here, continue to change. I love you all, take care.

While Honie is scheduled for execution, the impact of his actions will continue to resonate deeply with those who knew and loved Claudia, said Restoring Ancestral Winds in a statement, a coalition with the purpose to end violence in Native communities. She was a beloved mother and grandmother and a beacon of strength and resilience in her community. Claudias precious grandchildren who witnessed the attack, still feel her loss.

The emotional and psychological scars borne by her grandchildren are a painful reminder of the ongoing consequences of this tragic event, continued the statement. We call attention to the high rates of violence against Native American women which have a profound impact on future generations within Native American families and communities.

The Utah State Correctional Facility is seen from a free speech zone established by the Utah Department of Corrections near the facility in Salt Lake City before the execution of Taberon Honie on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Restraints are shown on the lethal injection table in the execution chamber at the Utah State Correctional Facility after the Taberon Honie execution Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (Pool photo by Rick Bowmer/AP)

As a lethal dose of pentobarbital moved through an IV line and into his veins, Taberon Honie turned to the room where his family sat. The glass was reflective, and he couldnt see who was in the room. But he knew.

I love you, he said.

On the other side of the glass was his mother. Cancer took one of her children years ago, and during a Utah Board of Pardons and Parole hearing in July, she said another child was recently diagnosed. As she sat in a small room with her family, watching her sons final moments, she responded: I love you, son.

At 12:25 a.m. Thursday, Honie, Utahs first death row inmate to be executed since 2010 was pronounced dead, 22 minutes after he gave his final statement and the lethal injection was administered.

From the start its been, if it needs to be done for them to heal, lets do this. If they tell you you cant change, dont listen to them. To all my brothers and sisters here, continue to change. I love you all, take care, Honie said as the execution began.

Honie, 48, died from two doses of pentobarbital. He was sentenced to death in 1999 for the violent murder of his ex-girlfriends mother, Claudia Benn. Prison officials moved forward with the execution after Honie exhausted years of unsuccessful appeals, including a recent commutation hearing and a petition to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.

Utah News Dispatch was among the media witnesses for the execution. The witnesses agreed the death was quiet, with no outward signs of suffering.

The execution of Taberon Honie

At 11:35, the seven media witnesses were led through a security checkpoint; Kyle Dunphey with Utah News Dispatch; Sarah Murphy with ABC4; Pat Reavy with KSL.com; Hannah Schoenbaum with the Associated Press; Jessica Miller with The Salt Lake Tribune; Jim Spiewak with KUTV; and Ben Winslow with FOX 13. Glen Mills, communications director for the Utah Department of Corrections, also accompanied the media.

Witnesses were given a notepad and mechanical pencil, but everything else was left behind, including watches. As the execution unfolded, reporters noted how disorienting it was with no way to keep track of time.

Death row inmate Taberon Honie arrives for a Utah Board of Pardons commutation hearing Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at the Utah State Correctional Facility, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool)

After a short trip to the Antelope Unit, the prisons maximum security unit, reporters filed into the witness room, a small area no more than 10 by 15 feet, possibly less. In the other four rooms sat members of Benns family, Honies family and state officials.

Despite the curtain being drawn, muffled voices could be heard through the door. At one point, someone referred to something flowing perfect, presumably talking about the IV lines. After the execution, director of prison operations Randall Honey said the process of setting the IV lines was seamless, only requiring one poke in each of Honies arms. He reportedly told staff it was painless.

Right around midnight, the curtain opened.

Honie lay still, wearing an orange jumpsuit with his arms and legs strapped to the gurney and an IV line going into each arm. His hair appeared freshly cut, with a long, braided ponytail. He wore his black framed glasses, blinking rapidly as he stared at the ceiling. A white sheet was pulled up slightly above his stomach and next to his head was an electrocardiogram reading his pulse. He would move occasionally during the process. But for the most part, he appeared calm.

The prisons warden, Bart Mortensen, read the death warrant at about 12:02 a.m. Then came Honies last words.

Honie spoke quickly yet was composed. His demeanor remained calm. Honey would later tell reporters: He appeared to have accepted it.

At 12:04 p.m., the lethal injection began. Pentobarbital acts as a barbiturate, depressing brain activity and ultimately the nervous and respiratory system.

As the injection began, Honie turned to the two officials in the room, telling them, Thank you for taking care of my family.

Honies left leg twitched nervously. His eyes remained open, momentarily looking around the sterile, white concrete room, illuminated by harsh fluorescent lights. Suddenly, he sat up as much as the gurney would allow and took a deep breath, his mouth wide open. His head rested back on the gurney and his eyes closed. His breathing grew rapid. Then it slowed. Within a minute or two, his chest stopped moving and his skin turned a palish blue. He would never move again.

At 12:14 a.m., a second dose of pentobarbital was injected through the IV line. The doctor present advised that it be used, since it had already been prepared.

Honie laid there, motionless, his eyes shut and his mouth slightly agape, just enough to see his teeth. It almost looked like he was grinning. His right arm remained in a relaxed fist.

At 12:21 a.m., the EKG near his head indicated his heart had stopped and Honey and Mortensen placed the white sheet over his head. Then the curtain closed. The last thing reporters saw was his right arm poking out from under the sheet, still in a relaxed fist.

After he was pronounced dead, Honies father and cousin were let into the room. As members of the Hopi tribe, they believe the soul can be trapped in the body. They performed a quick ceremony with some bird feathers and cornmeal, laying a path for the soul to leave the room. Honey described it as very quick and simple.

A cleaning crew then came in and through the curtains in the media witness room, a mop could be heard. Seconds later, the smell of bleach seeped into the room. At about 1:30 a.m. when the witnesses were allowed into the execution chamber, the aroma was overpowering.

Media witnesses look at the lethal injection table in the execution chamber at the Utah State Correctional Facility after the Taberon Honie execution Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (Pool photo by Rick Bowmer/AP)

For some, what happened during the early morning hours at the prison resembled a medical procedure. It almost looked peaceful. If someone with no knowledge of the execution somehow walked in during Honies final moments, it could have looked like a man falling asleep.

The reality is far different. Honie spent the day talking with his family. He ate a cheeseburger and drank a milkshake. He met with counselors and attorneys. He spoke with a spiritual leader from the Hopi Tribe. Then, the state of Utah executed him. A far cry from an act carried out under the admonition to do no harm, the analogy of a medical procedure is not accurate.

What he felt in his final moments will remain a mystery.

If done, an autopsy could show signs of a pulmonary edema, a potential side effect of a lethal dose of pentobarbital where the lungs fill with blood and the person feels like theyre drowning.

But an autopsy cant show pain and it cant show fear.

In a statement after the execution, Honies attorneys Therese Day and Eric Zuckerman described him as a proud member of the Hopi-Tewa Tribe from First Mesa, Arizona.

Mr. Honie always accepted responsibility for his crimes and expressed deep remorse for his actions, which were committed while he was extremely intoxicated from drugs and alcohol. Over the past 25 years, Mr. Honie worked on himself to become a better person, they said. Today, he was not the same man he was 26 years ago when he committed these crimes. We are saddened that despite this change, the State of Utah did not grant him mercy. Mr. Honies life had value  he was worthy of redemption, and not being judged solely by his worst actions.

Taberon Honies final hours

Shortly after 6 a.m., Honie was led into an observation room in the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City, where prison officials say he slept for about two hours. By 7 a.m., both that prison and the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison were placed on lockdown.

Honie was given a tablet to watch movies and entertainment, but as of 6 p.m corrections staff said he hadnt used it  instead, he spent his time meeting with family.

That included his daughter, mother, father, three of his sisters, two cousins, a brother-in-law and his aunt. For security reasons, he was only able to see two people at a time. No physical contact was permitted as he spoke to them through a glass pane. He did not have a window with an outside view.

His mood has been described by our team who have interacted with him as gracious and appreciative throughout the day, said Glen Mills, communications director for the Utah Department of Corrections.

The Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City is pictured on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 as the state prepares to execute death row inmate Taberon Honie just after midnight. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Honie also had three mental health checks through the day, but Mills said he did not accept any medication.

Technically, Honies last meal was a cheeseburger, french fries and milkshake. But Mills said Honie wanted his last meal to be remembered as one he had with his family previously on the prison campus.

By about 8:30 p.m., a deputy warden walked into the observation room, telling Honie and his family to prepare for their final goodbyes. Honie had declined to see his attorneys during the visitation time, opting instead to spend it with his family.

Shortly after the deputy warden walked in, Honie said goodbye to his family, Mills said, leaving them with one last message: Keep your heads up.

There were lots of emotions and tears, Mills said.

Honie then used his tablet for the first time Wednesday, listening to music before he met with his attorneys. Mills described his mood at that point as jovial.

Honie talked with his attorneys until the 10 p.m. deadline, Mills said. Once they were gone, prison officials offered Honie a Valium, which treats anxiety. He declined.

Honies final two hours were expected to be spent alone, listening to music on his bed. Mills wasnt sure what kind of music.

At about 11:30 p.m., he was to be led into the execution chamber, where he would be strapped to a gurney.

There, a team of six people would begin to administer pentobarbital, a drug often used to quell seizures, but which is now commonly used in lethal injections. Two of the team were Department of Corrections officials, the prisons warden and the chief of prison operations.

The department declined to disclose any identifying information about the other four individuals  for instance, their medical qualifications or place of employment  but said they made up a two-person IV team and a two-person execution team. All of them have some kind of medical experience, the department said.

Meanwhile, outside and nearly 2 miles away in a designated free speech zone, a crowd of about two dozen protesters had been building through the night, denouncing Honies execution and Utahs death penalty laws. The prayed, sang and spoke together as they awaited word of his death.

People protest the death penalty in a free speech zone set up near the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City just after midnight on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024 as the state prepares to execute death row inmate Taberon Honie. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Who is Taberon Honie?

Honie was 22 years old when he broke into Benns home. Benn, a member of the Paiute Tribe, was a substance abuse counselor in the Cedar City area who relatives described as a pillar in the community.

Leading up to that moment, Honie had struggled with addiction for much of his life. He likely experienced fetal alcohol syndrome, and at just 12 years old started drinking and using drugs regularly. During his commutation hearing in July, witnesses said he suffered several traumatic brain injuries which impacted his decision making. Honie is also a member of the Hopi Tribe, and experts called to testify during his hearing said hes a victim of intergenerational trauma.

Honie said he had been drinking since 8 a.m. on the day he murdered Benn in July 1998. He claims he doesnt remember most of that night. But court records and witness testimony paint a gruesome picture of the crime.

According to court documents, Honie took a taxi to Benns home at about 11:20 p.m. He proceeded to argue with her through a glass door, before using a rock to break into the home. With her three young grandchildren inside  including Honies own daughter  he beat Benn before cutting her throat. Court records show he mutilated her body, stabbing her multiple times in the genitals. Prosecutors say he had intended to rape her, but stopped only when he realized she was dead.

Two of the three children inside had blood on them when police arrived and court testimony would later reveal Honie admitted to molesting one of them.

In 1999, Honie was sentenced to death.

During his commutation hearing in July, Honie told the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole he was a changed man, comparing himself to fertilizer helping things grow in the prison.

Over 26 years of incarceration, Honie earned his diploma and the trust of prison staff, while supporting his daughter as she struggled with addiction, he said.

Ive shown you that I can exist in prison. Im not a threat to the public, Im not a threat to anyone, Honie told the board.

But Benns family, who spoke during the hearing, pushed back on Honies testimony, calling for an eye for an eye.

Where could we have been if she had survived? We could have accelerated as a tribe, individuals and family, but it was torn apart that dreadful day, said Benns cousin, Betsy China. The best thing for me, my choice, would be the death penalty. Lets get this over.

Honie will be Utahs first inmate killed by lethal injection since Joseph Mitchell Parsons was executed in 1999. In 2010, Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed by firing squad.

Death row inmate Taberon Honie arrives for a Utah Board of Pardons commutation hearing Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at the Utah State Correctional Facility, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool)

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Utah Supreme Court will meet for an emergency hearing on Friday, Aug. 9, to hear oral arguments regarding mail-in ballots in Utahs 2nd congressional district primary race.

Congressional candidate Colby Jenkins challenged the results after losing the primary election to incumbent Congresswoman Celeste Maloy in June by just 214 votes. Jenkins requested a recount but still lost the race despite narrowing the margin to 176 votes.

Jenkins alleges that over 1,100 mail-in ballots went incorrectly uncounted due to being processed and postmarked in Las Vegas despite being mailed out of Utah by the mail-in deadline.

According to the lawsuit, the voters placed their ballot in the mail before the deadline, the day before Election Day. However, those ballots were collected and sent to an out-of-state processing center, resulting in them being postmarked in Las Vegas after the deadline.

Jenkins appealed to the Utah Supreme Court to order those ballots to be viewed as valid and counted in the race. With the narrow margin between the two Republican candidates, the more than 1,100 ballots have the potential of swinging the results in either direction.

A representative for Celeste Maloy told ABC4.com that her campaign would be withholding comment, pending the hearing.

ABC4.com also reached out to Jenkins campaign for comment and is awaiting a response. However, Jenkins posted on social media saying, We have come so far in our fight to ensure that every legal vote gets counted. Please pray for wisdom for the justices and courage to allow every legal vote to see daylight and be counted.

Colby Jenkins had previously filed a lawsuit against the Washington County clerk, alleging the clerk failed to release voter information whose ballots had not yet been cured.

Jenkins said his intent was to get the contact information of the voters to help notify them that their ballots needed to be fixed. A Washington County judge dismissed the lawsuit saying the release of that information was at the county clerks discretion.

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Utahs 2nd Congressional district debate between Colby Jenkins and Congresswoman Celeste Maloy at the KUED studios at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Monday, June 10, 2024. (Pool photo by Scott G Winterton/Deseret News)

The Utah Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on Friday morning as it considers a petition from Colby Jenkins, Rep. Celeste Maloys Republican opponent, attempting to challenge the results of the GOP primary for Utahs 2nd Congressional District  which he lost by a fraction of a percent of the vote.

Ahead of the hearing, the Utah Attorney Generals office on Thursday filed a response to Jenkins petition on behalf of Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson urging Utahs highest court to dismiss his challenge, which demands state and local election officials disregard clear statutory language and count ballots that are not valid under Utah law, attorneys wrote in the filing.

Respondents take their jobs as election officials seriously, state attorneys wrote in the response. They work diligently to comply with the states election laws to ensure wide access to voting and that all validly-cast ballots are counted. And they did so in the primary election.

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While state and local election officials are sensitive to the issues in this case and find it unfortunate that some voters ballots were not postmarked on time, state attorneys continued, they do not and cannot control the Postal Service. Nor can they ignore the clear dictates of the law.

The ultimate responsibility for ensuring that a ballot is returned on time, they concluded, lies with the voter.

Jenkins lost to Maloy by 176 votes, or just 0.16%, after a recount earlier this week garnered him 38 more votes but not enough to flip the race despite razor-thin margins. Last week after calling the recount as allowed under Utah law, Jenkins also filed a separate legal challenge seeking to contest the election results over 1,171 ballots that were disqualified because they were postmarked late.

Utah law requires vote-by-mail ballots to be postmarked no later than the day before Election Day. Jenkins petition alleges voters in nine rural counties were treated differently than voters whose ballots were processed in the U.S. Postal Services Salt Lake City facility, and accuses election officials of doing nothing to inform voters of this issue.

Jenkins challenge revolves around what he has called the Vegas Cancellation, referring to ballots in certain southern Utah ZIP codes that were processed and postmarked at the U.S. Postal Services Las Vegas facility before being sent back to county clerks, resulting in delays that voters mailing their ballots were unaware of and causing their votes to be disqualified.

In their response to Jenkins petition, state attorneys argued Jenkins continued efforts to bring the same unfounded legal arguments in an effort to change the official results of the election are interfering with state and local election officials efforts to prepare for deadlines relating to the rapidly approaching general election in November.

And they undermine the publics confidence in the election process, state attorneys wrote, urging the Utah Supreme Court to put an end to Jenkins challenge so that Henderson and county clerks  as well as the successful candidate, Maloy and the public  can have certainty in the process as they proceed to the general election.

State attorneys wrote county clerks in all nine of the counties Jenkins is attempting to challenge expressly notified its voters of the postmark deadline.

Many counties went even further  encouraging voters returning their ballots by mail to do so early to ensure they would meet the postmarking deadline, the states response says. That some voters chose to return their ballots by mail  instead of using one of the other failsafe methods  and missed the postmark deadline, does not mean that their constitutional rights were violated or that their ballots should be counted in violation of (Utah election law).

While Jenkins contends that the fact that mail in certain ZIP codes is routed to Las Vegas resulted in a violation of those voters state constitutional rights, state attorneys disagree, and they argue that granting his petition would also create its own equal protection problems by forcing county clerks to count ballots that were postmarked late.

These are invalid ballots. But (Jenkins) does not suggest any articulable standard for which invalid ballots should be counted or in what circumstances, state attorneys wrote. Should respondents only count ballots they received the day after election day? Two days after? Ten days after?

The states 28-page response includes many more pages of exhibits, including affidavits from clerks from all of the nine counties Jenkins names in his challenge.

In a declaration from Washington County Clerk Ryan Sullivan  whom Jenkins unsuccessfully sued in attempt to obtain the countys list of uncured ballots  said of the 659 ballots that were rejected in his county because they werent clearly postmarked or otherwise marked by the Postal Service on time, 415 of those ballots were processed or postmarked in facilities other than a Las Vegas postal facility.

Of those 415, Sullivan wrote 372 were processed locally in St. George, while 43 were processed in facilities all across the nation. Only 244 of the 659 late-postmarked ballots came from Las Vegas, he wrote.

Most of the late ballots came from our local St. George postal facility, he wrote.

Washington County was a stronghold for Jenkins, who lives in St. George. Recount results show Jenkins led Maloy in that count with over 59% of the vote. Maloy, however, beat Jenkins handily in other large counties including Salt Lake County, with over 57% of the vote.

Jenkins, in a post on X Monday, celebrated the Utah Supreme Courts move to grant oral arguments in his campaigns case as huge news.

We have come so far in our fight to ensure that every legal vote gets counted, Jenkins said. Please pray for wisdom for the justices and courage to allow every legal vote to see daylight and be counted.

Read the states full response to Jenkins challenge here:

Lt. Gov. Henderson's Response to Petition 2024 0815 (1)

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Uvalde Teacher Who Was Falsely Accused of Leaving Door Open: 'I Am Still Not OK'

A photo shows a memorial at Robb Elementary School on May 31, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas, following a school shooting that killed 21 people. Jae C. Hong via Associated Press

A teacher who was falsely accused of leaving a school door open on the day of the May 2022 mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, said she is unable to claim disability insurance, adding that two years after the attack, I am still not OK.

Emilia Amy Marin posted a TikTok video over the weekend to explain her struggles with workers compensation and insurance.

I am the teacher that was blamed for leaving the door open. I know the truth, and I know what I did, she said, tearing up. For two years, Ive been struggling in every which way that you could think of.

She said that she had been receiving workers comp but that at the end of May  the two-year mark of the shooting at Robb Elementary School that killed 19 children and two teachers  the workers comp ended. Marin said she then applied for disability through my work and received a denial last week, but that she plans to appeal. She said she is seeking disability money to go to her orthopedic doctor, adding that she hurt her foot while running and hiding on the day of the shooting.

Marin, who had been one of the people to call 911 about the gunman, said she is still employed with the local school district, but has not returned to work since the attack.

As a victim and survivor of this mass shooting, I feel that Ive been treated like the bad person, she said. Everything that I apply for, I get denied. I dont understand how they can think that Im going to heal if every time I apply for something, Im denied. How am I supposed to heal?

In the days following the shooting, Col. Steven McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said an unnamed teacher had left a door propped open and thats how the gunman was able to get inside the school. His assertion was retracted a few days later, but the damage was done, as people had already linked McCraws claim to to Marin. She told ABC News in October 2022 that she was struggling with post-traumatic stress.

I died that day, Marin told ABC News. Right now, Im lost. Sometimes I go into a dark place. And its hard when Im there, but ... Im a fighter. I will be okay. Im going to learn to live with this.

She added that what I go through, McCraw doesnt know. Nobody knows. But it was very easy for him to point the finger at me. Marin said she even felt that, given her unbearable pain since the attack, it wouldve been better if shed been shot.

And when you have people who are higher up in ranks like McCraw, you would think that they know their job well. He has no idea what his words did, she said.

Nearly 400 law enforcement officials arrived on the scene amid the attack, and after 77 minutes they confronted the gunman. McCraw has called their response an abject failure and Pete Arredondo, the former police chief of the school district, was indicted on child endangerment charges earlier this year. He pleaded not guilty.

Marin said in her TikTok video that she is not giving up on claiming disability insurance.

I want the world to see that as a victim and a survivor, two years later I am still not OK, she said. And instead of being denied, somebody needs to show compassion and say, Were here to help you.

Related...
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) approached Air Force Two to check out the plane after both he and Vice President Harris landed at the same airport in Wisconsin.

When he told gathered press what he was doing, Vance also attacked Harris for not answering questions from the media.

I figured that I would come by and get a good look at the plane because hopefully its going to be my plane in a few months, Vance said in front of Air Force Two. I also thought you guys may get lonely, because the VP doesnt answer questions from reporters.

Harriss campaign responded to Vance approaching Air Force Two by calling it weird.

Just to clarify, Harris spokesperson Ammar Moussa wrote. JD Vance is flying around the country following Vice President Harris. He approached her plane today because he just wants to talk. And now hes begging her for a debate?

This is getting weird, he added.

KamalaHQ, the campaigns social media arm, has also responded to Vances troll with its own TikTok edit.

KamalaHQ posted a video showing Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), speaking to children after landing in Wisconsin. Then, Vances plane arrives, and a voiceover says, I hear this agitating, grating voice, a meme from Abby Lee Miller of Dance Moms.

Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) also weighed in on Vances decision to approach Air Force Two, making a dig about the size of Vances crowds at rallies. She quote-posted Vances post of a photo of him walking away from Harriss plane with about a dozen people.

Looks like @JDVance brought all his rally attendees to the airport with him today, she wrote.

On Tuesday, Harriss campaign on TruthSocial made similar digs about the smaller crowd sizes of Trump-Vance campaign events compared to recent Democratic rallies.

Trumps campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, also weighed in on Vances appearance before Air Force Two, responding to Vances post on social platform X, saying, Make sure AF2 is deep cleaned because Lord only knows what Kamala Harris and her team have done on there.

The smell alone on that plane must be crazy, Cheung added.

Vance has hit Harris in recent days for not holding press conferences or unscripted events. He doubled down on those attacks outside of Air Force Two.

Have they given you guys explanations about why she hasnt answered questions, Vance asked reporters outside of Air Force Two. Well I hope she changes her mind because it would be good for the American people and for all of you if she ran a real campaign instead of one from her basement and a teleprompter.

Its just disgraceful, he added.

Since taking over as the Democratic nominee, Harris has appeared at rallies and fundraisers but has not sat down for any interviews or taken questions at press conferences.

As Vance walked away from Air Force Two, a reporter asked him what questions he would like Harris to answer.

Id love her to answer what she wants to do and also explain why every position she has ever had has changed, he responded.

He pointed specifically to her past as a prosecutor and calls for defunding the police, as well as her record on the border.

The Hill reached out to Harriss campaign.

During his campaign event in Eau Claire, Vance doubled down on the criticisms of Harris, saying she deserved to be fired.

President Trump and I will go anywhere, will answer any question because we respect the American people enough to actually ask them for their vote rather than sit in front of a teleprompter, read scripted lines and run away from every reporter, Vance said.

Vance also challenged Harris to appear at a debate next week that was scheduled when Harris was still President Bidens running mate.

So heres my offer to Kamala Harris: If shed like to do a debate with me on August 13, Ill do it, Vance said Wednesday in Eau Claire. I dont think she wants to anymore because one, she probably doesnt even know that shes going to be the Democratic nominee, and two, we dont know who the vice presidential nominee is going to be either.

Vance has said he will debate the Democratic vice presidential nominee, but he has not committed to a date. During the rally, he said he would not commit to a date until both Harris and Walz were the official nominees because Democrats have pulled a bait and switch before.

Hes got a lot of skeletons coming out of the closet today, Vance said. Well see if the Democrats pull a bait-and-switch on Tim Walz or Kamala Harris, just like they did with Joe Biden.



On Tuesday, Harris and Walz officially became the Democratic nominees for president and vice president after the Democratic National Committee concluded a virtual roll call vote certifying the candidates ahead of the Democratic convention later in August.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Heekyong Yang

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's environment ministry said on Thursday it plans to hold an emergency meeting next week to discuss fires involving electric vehicles (EVs), including a blaze that caused extensive damage, and draw up measures to prevent such incidents.

The ministry said the land and industry ministries will join Monday's meeting as well as other state bodies, such as the National Fire Agency, adding that the government planned to announce comprehensive measures regarding EV fires soon.

The move comes as analysts warn that authorities and the EV industry need to find ways to allay public worries on safety in a sector already suffering a slowdown in sales.

Yonhap news agency said the government would unveil the new measures early next month.

Separately, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper cited an unnamed transport ministry official as saying South Korea planned to require EV makers to disclose the brand of batteries in cars.

Automakers in South Korea currently need to provide certain information about vehicles, such as fuel efficiency, but only limited details on batteries and do not have to name the manufacturers, the newspaper said.

The transport ministry declined to give an immediate comment on the report.

Last week, a Mercedes-Benz electric sedan with batteries made by Chinese company Farasis Energy caught fire in the underground garage of an apartment in the South Korean city of Incheon, according to media reports.

The blaze took more than eight hours to extinguish and damaged about 140 cars and 23 people were hospitalised due to smoke inhalation, Yonhap reported.

Mercedes-Benz Korea said in a statement it took the incident very seriously and planned to cooperate with authorities to determine the cause.

Farasis did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters in a report published in February said 1,399 fires occurred in underground parking lots in South Korea between 2013 and 2022 with 43.7% attributed to vehicles. It said electrical sources accounted for 53% of car fires in underground garages.

"A series of EV fires occurring in underground parking lots have been linked to growing consumer distrust of EVs, which could prolong the current EV downturn," said Esther Yim, an analyst at Samsung Securities, calling on the industry to come up with measures to reassure consumers.

Last month, Hyundai Motor said it would expand hybrid line-ups as demand for EVs eases globally.

Meanwhile, battery maker LG Energy Solution, whose customers include Tesla, General Motors and Hyundai Motor among others, cut its annual sales target on a slowdown in global EV demand.

(Reporting by Heekyong Yang; Editing by Ed Davies)
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  Virginia Beach Police Department is asking for assistance in identifying a woman that is receiving medical treatment.

Officers responded to a medical emergency and are looking to identify the woman in order to ensure she receives the support she needs, police said. She is safe and receiving treatment.

If you recognize her or have any information regarding her identity, please contact us via the non-emergency number: 757-385-5000.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
After a week of unrest and rioting in Britain, far-right protesters were overwhelmed on Wednesday evening by peaceful demonstrations against racism.

Veep creator Armando Iannucci was among those who saw the images of counter-protesters thronging British streets and thrust the images under the nose of Elon Musk.

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You seeing this, he asked Musk, reposting an image of demonstrators forming a ring around anti-immigration protesters in Brighton. Civil society, not civil war. Do please repost, Iannucci added.

The Twitter/X owner has spent days stoking tensions in the UK, attacking Prime Minister Keir Starmer and claiming that Britain is on the brink of civil war.

Musk has also allowed misinformation to spread on his platform and posted a series of memes arguing that UK authorities were attempting to oppress free speech.

At the time of publication, Musk had not commented on the counter-protests or the largely peaceful night in the UK.

He did, however, repeat his attack on British authorities for cracking down on social media users who incite racial hatred. The Woke Stasi, he claimed.

The Woke Stasi https://t.co/ffNKIWdJM8  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 8, 2024

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Veep creator Armando Iannucci is taking aim at tech mogul Elon Musk after the billionaire was accused of fanning the flames of the U.K.s far-right movement, which has led to nights of riots, looting and vandalism.

On Wednesday, police were told to brace for over 100 anti-migration protests with more than 6,000 riot police deployed across the country. Employees at Skys west London campus were issued a memo to stay home or leave work early as a protest was planned for nearby Brentford.

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Instead, anti-racism rallies took hold of Britains streets and deterred further violence. In Brighton, Walthamstow, Liverpool, Oxford and Bristol, thousands of people were on the street holding up signs such as: Refugees welcome here and Hate not welcome here. A few serious incidents still occurred, but it was largely a peaceful night.

The chief of Londons police force, the metropolitan police, said it had been a successful night. Mark Rowley told the BBC: We put thousands of officers on the street and I think the show of force from the police and frankly the show of unity from communities, together defeated the challenges that weve seen.

The unrest began after the stabbing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, England, on July 29. False claims circulated on social media that the suspect, now known to be 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, was an asylum seeker. Rudakubana, whose parents emigrated from Rwanda, was a British national born in Wales.

Minorities, in particular, have been the target of the violence. Over 400 arrests have been made as U.K. Prime Minister promised perpetrators would face the full force of the law, later adding that we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or on Muslim communities.

But Elon Musk emerged as an apparent instigator in the unrest, by allowing disinformation to spread so rapidly on his platform, X (formerly Twitter). Far-left politicians in the U.K. have began to call for X to be banned after Musk replied to a post of a riot in Liverpool that civil war is inevitable.

When a Southport mosque was attacked as part of Islamophobic attacks, Musk responded to Starmers comment about protecting Muslim communities: Shouldnt you be concerned about attacks on *all* communities?

Glasgow-born screenwriter and producer Armando Iannucci has been vocal on X about Musks posts. The Emmy-winning satirist, who also created British political sitcom The Thick of It, responded to photos of the anti-racism crowds: Civil society, not civil war. Do please repost, #Elon.

He quote-posted another photo, showing a handful of far-right protestors surrounded by hundreds of peaceful demonstrators, with You seeing this, @ElonMusk? He told the X owner earlier in the week: You have no idea what our wonderful country is really like and are, like the planet Mars, both toxic and empty. Musk has not, so far, responded.

The PM has blamed social media for the escalation in the aftermath of the stabbings. Let me also say to large social media companies and those who run them: violent disorder was clearly whipped up online. That is also a crime. It is happening on your premises, and the law must be upheld everywhere.

Iannucci told The Hollywood Reporter in July that his X feed has become full of weirdness.

Certain people make a lot of noise and we take the noise seriously, and therefore think they must have a wide following, Iannucci said. And thats not necessarily the case. Its just that theyre very good at being loud. We mustnt fall for that just because we hear them at full volume.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter
The closed westbound portion of the Washington Bridge is seen in March 2024. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Eleven vendors were willing to provide feedback when state transportation officials went looking for guidance in preparing a new request for proposals (RFP) to rebuild the westbound Washington Bridge.

The public knows the names of the 10 companies and one trade group because they have been listed on the Rhode Island Department of Transportations (RIDOT)s online procurement portal on Aug. 2, the deadline to respond to a request for information (RFI).

Heres who responded to the states request for information:

American Bridge Company

American Council of Engineering Companies of Rhode Island

GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

Halmar International LLC

International Business Machines Corp.

J.H. Lynch & Sons, Inc.

Kiewit Infrastructure Co.

Michael Baker International, Inc.

Michels Construction, Inc.

Skanska USA Civil Northeast Inc.

Walsh Construction Company II, LLC

But the information they gave is being kept under wraps. RIDOT has declined to publish what the firms submitted.

Not even Gov. Dan McKee has been briefed on what was said.

The Governor will be briefed when the RIDOT team has completed its RFP revision process, McKee spokesperson Olivia DaRocha said Wednesday.

That could be weeks from now.

The timing of a revised RFP depends on the complexity of the comments and subsequent changes, RIDOT spokesperson Charles St. Martin said Monday.

Rhode Island Current reached out to all 11 vendors about what feedback they provided. Most did not respond to immediate requests for comment, while two declined and one referred all questions about the Washington Bridge to RIDOT.

The western side of the Washington Bridge was abruptly closed last December after engineers discovered broken anchor rods that put it at risk of collapse. At the time, the state said the span carried approximately 96,000 vehicles a day.

RIDOT posted the RFI on its portal on July 22 giving vendors until Aug. 2 to provide feedback on the states first RFP for bids to rebuild the Washington Bridge. The initial RFP  posted April 30 with a July 3 deadline to respond  drew no bidders. State officials said they believed the original timeline of August 2026 to complete the project was too aggressive even though it offered $10 million in incentives based on per-day rates ranging between $5,000 to $7,000 to get the job done as quickly as possible. Potential contractors faced daily penalties of $30,000 for exceeding the completion date.

Depending on the language that the vendors used, were likely to learn some of them looked at the unrealistic time frames of this thing and thought, You guys are smoking something good.

 Ken Block founder of Watchdog RI

Common Cause Rhode Island Executive Director John Marion expressed disappointment over RIDOTs decision to withhold the RFI responses.

If there ever was a contract where public interest was paramount, this is it, Marion said. From the beginning, the Washington Bridge fiasco has shown a lot of problems with transparency in Rhode Island government and it continues to be a problem.

Ken Block, a two-time gubernatorial candidate and founder of Watchdog RI who has been a vocal critic of McKees administration, called the state lack of transparency bogus.

Materials submitted by vendors answering the question of why you didnt bid should fall squarely into the realm of public information, he said in an interview. An RFI is not part of the RFP process  they are disconnected from each other.

Responses available upon a new contract

In the states refusal to publicize the comments from the 11 vendors, Department of Administration spokesperson Cassius Shuman said information would only be disclosed via an Access to Public Records Act (APRA) at the time of a final contract award of a subsequent, related procurement.

In laypersons terms: Responses wont be released until the state picks a vendor to rebuild the bridge.

McKees office declined to state if the governor plans to set a firm deadline for the new bid process.

Clearly, he would like it issued as soon as possible, but he also understands that the team of experts creating the RFP needs time to analyze the suggestions made through the RFI process and incorporate the appropriate ones into a revised RFP, DaRocha said.

Shuman on Friday said the reason responses wont be public yet is because RIDOT may incorporate feedback and requirements into a future solicitation for the Washington Bridge.

Therefore, the records submitted by vendors in response to the RFI are considered work product, notes and impressions, and are part of a larger deliberative process to develop a new solicitation, he said .Releasing this information prematurely may also place vendors responding to the RFI at a competitive disadvantage during a subsequent procurement.

The informational request also states all information received in response to the RFI and marked as Proprietary will be handled accordingly. But what is seen as proprietary could always be redacted, said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Lou DiPalma, a Middletown Democrat.

If the whole thing is proprietary, thats another story, DiPalma said in an interview. But its hard to believe the whole thing is proprietary.

Waiting for a lawsuit

The states record of transparency has been mixed.

The state was quick to publicize details of requests for proposals and information  along with creating an online dashboard showing real-time travel estimates along impacted routes. But officials also delayed the release of a forensic analysis detailing what led to the bridge to be in such poor condition  which McKee initially promised to release in March.

Max Wistow, part of the legal team hired by the state to pursue litigation against those determined to be at fault for the bridges emergency closure, told reporters last month the forensic analysis could be made public as the legal process unfolds. But the state has yet to file a lawsuit. Wistow and co-lead attorney Jonathan Savage said in a joint statement Friday they intend to file no later than Aug. 19.

And McKees office earlier in the year charged WPRI and the Providence Journal hundreds of dollars in fees to obtain records related to the Washington Bridge closure  though those outlets were subsequently refunded by the governor.

From the beginning, the Washington Bridge fiasco has shown a lot of problems with transparency in Rhode Island government, and it continues to be a problem, Marion said. I cannot think of another time where information was so hard to come by that the legislature had to pass a special law.

Marion was referring to the law introduced by East Bay legislators during this legislative session mandating RIDOT publish monthly reports on the status of whats being done to replace the bridge connecting East Providence and Providence via Interstate 195.

The state has so far published three 22-page reports detailing whether RIDOT has achieved its project timelines, along with a list of traffic accidents on the open section of the bridge and average travel times. In addition to its online publication, the report is due on the first of each month to the House speaker, Senate president, chairpersons of the House and Senate Finance Committees, and the governors office.

If there ever was a contract where public interest was paramount, this is it. From the beginning, the Washington Bridge fiasco has shown a lot of problems with transparency in Rhode Island government and it continues to be a problem.

 Common Cause Rhode Island Executive Director John Marion

DiPalma said the monthly snapshots have a lot of necessary information, but are still far from sufficient.

Whats sufficient in the end is getting the bridge rebuilt, he said.

Secrets only lead to speculation

Another East Bay lawmaker, Rep. John Edwards, a Tiverton Democrat, said the optics of RIDOT not disclosing the RFI responses raises concerns.

When theres no transparency, people tend to think that people are hiding something, said Edwards, a member of the House Committee on Oversight. In government you dont want people to think youre hiding anything.

Block said he thinks the state is holding onto the RFI responses for a reason.

Im sure that the reason theyre not releasing it is because its going to be embarrassing, Block said. Depending on the language that the vendors used, were likely to learn some of them looked at the unrealistic time frames of this thing and thought, You guys are smoking something good.

This is a reckoning of the DOTs own doing, he added.

Block suggested the RFI comments might reveal that some vendors who might have worked on the bridge in the past feared pending litigation.

Why would they bother to bid if theyre threatening to sue? Block said.

Ironically, the transparency the public wants might only happen in court records, Marion said.

Much of this will become public in the end, Marion said. So why not show your cards now?

This story was updated Aug. 9 to include why the state has shielded the RFI responses behind the APRA law.

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This article was originally published in Mississippi Today.

Spring 2024 preliminary state test results reported to districts across the state were scored incorrectly according to the Mississippi Department of Education, leading the agency to end a contract with the company responsible for the error.

School districts across the state were left scrambling to re-assess the corrected data, which they use to make determinations about everything from graduation requirements to instructional strategies for the 2024-25 school year, which for some districts has already begun. Some students ended up meeting graduation requirements and graduating in the summertime.

The majority of initial data was incorrect due to erroneous scoring by the Northwest Evaluation Association  the Oregon-based company the state contracted with to provide and process the tests. In a July 18 meeting, the State Board of Education voted to sever their contract with the company, which the state has been working with since 2015. The Mississippi Academic Assessment Program measures student achievement in English Language Arts, mathematics, science and U.S. history.

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The average yearly contract with the company has been $8,161,518.84.

We were not aware that there was any type of error when we initially received the files from the vendor, but we were concerned, Paula Vanderford, chief accountability officer for MDE, said.

At the state level, the dip in proficiency scores raised eyebrows, but MDE staff was unable to identify anything that would confirm the scores were inaccurate.

The results were then shared with school districts. Many districts reported knowing that something was wrong as soon as the scores were returned to them, because of their ability to look at individual student performance.

The word I kept using was unexpected, said Ryan Kuykendall, chief accountability officer for DeSoto County Public Schools, the largest public school district in the state. We do a lot of assessments throughout the year to track student progress and adjust our instruction, so the hope is that when the state assessment comes back you sort of know where the students are. So, the results were unexpected.

The data was released to school districts on June 17. By July 2, after communication with districts about their concerns, the state confirmed that the data was erroneous and that they would be receiving a new batch of data.

This put a squeeze on central offices across the state, who had to process the test results for a second time, in a fraction of the time.

It was extra work. Theres no way to deny that. The way I viewed it and tried to get across to our department is that were just after the correct results. Whatever the correct results are, are what we need, Kuykendall said. But I cant pretend that it didnt make our administrative schedule very difficult and tight.

MDE identified the error, but it had to rely on the vendor to fix the programming error that led to the erroneous scoring and provide the state with correct data.

Though a different vendor processes the 5th and 8th grade science, biology and U.S. History MAAP assessments, all state test results were processed again to ensure accuracy, State Superintendent of Education Lance Evans said.

MDE was unable to provide details about the severance of its contract with NWEA, but awarded an emergency contract to Data Recognition Corp. for the upcoming school year. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, of which NWEA is a division, will continue to be the provider for the states alternative assessments.

In short, faulty item parameters used in our scoring process resulted in incorrect achievement level thresholds, which determine how students perform on an assessment, Simona Beattie, communications director for NWEA, said in an email. While we are disappointed in the decision made by the Mississippi State Department of Education to terminate our contractwe understand the states frustration and are focusing on our continued work with MDE to provide its alternative state assessments.

Statewide, the Mississippi Department of Education has been notified of 12 students across seven districts who became eligible to graduate after the assessments were rescored, and graduated this summer. None of the scoring changes resulted in those students passing the tests  Mississippi students who score well enough on subject area tests can graduate if their class scores are high enough.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's top prosecutor Tarek Saab said on Wednesday he would open a criminal investigation into the publishers of a website showing election tallies collected by the country's opposition, which contests the July 28 election.

"It was decided to launch a criminal investigation against those responsible for the publication and maintenance of the website," Saab said in a statement, citing forgery of public documents, computer crimes and conspiracy.

(Reporting by Kylie Madry and Deisy Buitrago)
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 24-year-old Venezuelan man, who had been arrested and released by ICE only a few days prior for smuggling attempt, was arrested again for smuggling of persons, Texas DPS announced on Tuesday, Aug. 6 via its X account.

DPS said human smuggling scout and alleged Tren de Aragua gang member Maikel Diaz-Guerra, 24, of Venezuela, was wearing an ICE Tracking Watch when he was arrested during a traffic stop in El Paso.

Guerra was serving as the lookout for the other driver involved, Gildardo Perez III, 17, according to DPS.

DPS said they found three migrants concealed in the rear seat. Guerra and Perez were booked into jail for smuggling of persons.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
One man died and another was in critical condition after a shooting inside a grocery store Tuesday evening near Thomas and Scottsdale roads, police said.

According to Scottsdale police officials, the two men had an argument inside an Albertsons, which escalated to both men shooting each other. No bystanders were injured in the shooting, police said.

Both men were taken to a hospital with life-threatening gunshot injuries and one died at the hospital, police said.

Officers responded to the grocery store around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday after several people inside the store called 911 to report the shooting, police said. Because of the volume of calls that reported multiple gunshots, officials said police responded as if it were an active shooter situation.

More Scottsdale news: Michelin star Chinese restaurant Din Tai Fung is coming to metro Phoenix. Here's where

Officers quickly responded to stabilize the scene, locate any suspects, protect innocents, begin assisting anyone wounded and locate any witnesses, the Scottsdale Police Department said in a news release. Responding officers thoroughly searched the store, looking for anyone else involved, injured, or still hiding.

The incident was being investigated as an isolated incident between three men engaged in an argument that ended in a shooting, police said. It was unclear at the time whether the two shooters knew each other prior to the incident.

The third man was found by detectives and interviewed, the release noted. However, it was unclear at the time what his involvement was.

None of the three men involved in the altercation was identified by police.

Reporter Vivian Barrett is a 2024 Pulliam fellow and covers breaking news for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at vivian.barrett@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 1 dead, 1 in critical condition after shooting at Scottsdale store
Originally posted at MyNorthwest.com

Officials at Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman decided in July to eliminate annual funding for the schools academic publisher WSU Press. The roughly $300,000 cut is effective at the end of December, and the press would be shut down then.

WSU Press, which is part of WSUs Department of Marketing and Communications, was founded 96 years ago. It employs three full-time and one part-time staff and publishes a range of titles from dozens of authors focused on the history and culture of Washington and the Pacific Northwest.

Linda Bathgate is editor-in-chief and has worked for WSU Press for nearly five years. She told KIRO Newsradio Tuesday afternoon that she learned of the cuts and the impending shutdown in early July.

With the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1, 2024, Phillip Weiler, whos our VP of University Marketing and Communications, had to make a 7.5% cut in the budget for the group, and he decided to cut the funding for the University Press, Bathgate told KIRO Newsradio. We would close down as of December 31, 2024.

Bathgate is clearly disappointed at the prospect of WSU Press going away.

Were the only publisher that really covers the Inland Empire, Washington, Idaho, Oregon  and we work a lot with tribal communities to provide an outlet for their stories, Bathgate said. So we feel that this was a very short-sighted, and maybe not a well-thought-out decision, maybe just a financial decision, but without consideration to the repercussions.

I think it will give WSU a lot of poor press, Bathgate continued, because nobody likes to see these kinds of institutions disappear, and we are part of the land-grant mission that WSU has, to provide an outlet for research to educate the community.

It feels like the efforts that weve been doing for the past 96 years are really just not even considered, are just tossed away and that theyre not of any value in todays academic community, Bathgate said. So its very discouraging.

More from Feliks Banel: Street hydros captured the imagination of Seattle youth

Bathgate, who KIRO Newsradio contacted after information about the funding cut was posted Tuesday on Facebook by the WSU English Department, has not been actively spreading the word in hopes of finding some means to continue operations beyond the end of December. However, book publishing often follows timelines that stretch for a year or more from when a contract with an author is signed, to when books are printed and shipped.

Bathgate wants to be sensitive to the authors with whom she and her WSU Press predecessors have cultivated long relationships with, some stretching for decades.

Im very gradually notifying authors, because I want them to understand why there may not be movement on their project, Bathgate explained. And even if they want to take the project to another press, since Im not able to guarantee that well have a home for it, Im allowing that.

Rather than cease operations, Bathgate hopes to find a new home for WSU Press, perhaps within another department at WSU, or perhaps as part of a publishing consortium managed by the University of Colorado  so that the nearly two dozen books already in the pipeline to be published by WSU Press will still be able to be produced.

I tend to be cautiously optimistic, Bathgate said. And if the president of WSU, Kirk Schulz, if he determines that its appropriate to keep the press at WSU, I think there will be a way to find funding to at least bring it back, even at a reduced level. I do think its important for the president to hear how valued the press is amongst the community, even outside of the state of Washington.

If WSU Press does find a new home at WSU, Bathgate said the publisher will likely look very different from the current operation.

I think that we may have to make some changes, Bathgate said. We may have to slim down a bit. Weve done our own warehousing and distribution traditionally; we may have to outsource that because we wont be able to support (employing) an order person.

In fact, Bathgate said, while she and the WSU Press marketing person will be kept on the payroll at least until the end of 2024, the order persons position was cut effective in mid-July  leaving Bathgate and her colleague to pick up the slack on all that persons order fulfillment duties.

More on MyNorthwest: Ferguson, Reichert emerge as top contenders in governors race

Phil Weiler is Vice-President of Marketing and Communications at Washington State University and the WSU official who made the decision to cut funding to WSU Press.

Weiler told KIRO Newsradio Tuesday afternoon that its too early to report on the imminent closure.

I guess the issue is that there will be a change in six months, but we dont know what that change is, so I would say the story is premature, Weiler told KIRO Newsradio. Once we know what the plan is, we will obviously share that with authors, with readers, so that everybody knows, but we havent had the time to be able to determine what our next steps are.

We just know that by the end of the year, there will be some sort of a change, but we havent figured out what that change is going to look like yet, he continued.

We have a fiscal year that we need to plan for, and so this was a decision made for the current fiscal year, Weiler said. And so we are being able to take the next six months to figure out what we can do with the operation so that authors and readers arent disrupted by the change in the funding.

Is one option restoring the funding, so that WSU Press would remain within the Department of Marketing and Communications after the end of 2024?

Thats certainly a possibility, Weiler said. I dont think thats a likelihood, but thats certainly something were looking at.

Weiler was not able to provide a timeline for when an alternate plan to find a new home for WSU Press might be hatched.

Well let the public know as soon as we have a better sense of which options are still viable, Weiler said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

You can hear Feliks Banel every Wednesday and Friday morning on Seattles Morning News with Dave Ross and Colleen OBrien. Read more from Feliks here and subscribe to The Resident Historian Podcast here. If you have a story idea or a question about Northwest history, please email Feliks. You can also follow Feliks on X.

Follow @https://twitter.com/feliksbanel
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon has charged actor Gabriel Olds with allegedly sexually assaulting three women whom he dated in the Los Angeles area between 2013-2023, the office said Thursday.

Olds was charged with three counts of forcible rape; one count of rape of an unconscious or asleep person; one count of sodomy by use of force; one count of assault with intent to commit a felony; and one count of injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiance, boyfriend, girlfriend, or child's parent.

If convicted as charged, Olds faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, according to the DA's office.

The actor was arrested and booked on seven felony sexual assault charges on Wednesday, LAPD said earlier Wednesday. Olds' bail was set at $3.5 million.

Police are asking additional alleged victims of Olds or witnesses to the incidents to come forward.

PHOTO: In this Oct. 17, 2018 file photo, actor Gabriel Olds attends the premiere of 'Apartment 407' at the Landmark Theater in Los Angeles. (Paul Archuleta/Getty Images, FILE)

MORE: Man accused of poisoning child with eyedrops after allegedly killing wife same way

On Jan. 19, 2023, a 41-year-old woman reported that Olds raped her in her home in LA, according to police. Two other adult victims later came forward and made similar reports dating back to 2013, describing consensual dating encounters that allegedly ended in violent sexual assault, police said.

Olds, a Yale University graduate, has worked as an actor and screenwriter dating back to the early 1990s, according to police. He has made many one-off guest appearances in popular shows like "Criminal Minds," "Heroes," "Boardwalk Empire" and "NCIS: Los Angeles."

PHOTO: The Los Angeles Police Department have released this booking photo for Gabriel Olds. (Los Angeles Police Department)

MORE: Detective says 'a switch just flipped' before he strangled wife: Police

His victims reported that he used his status as an Ivy League alumnus to meet women and arrange dates, police said. Several women in recent years have also reported meeting him on dating applications.

"The pain and suffering these victims have endured is beyond words and no one should ever experience such a betrayal of trust. Consent is never optional," Gascon said in a statement Thursday.

Gascon called the actor's actions "utterly inexcusable and a grave violation of these womens rights."

"We are steadfast in our commitment to prosecute this case and ensure that the offender is held fully accountable," he added.

Police said they have identified three women that Olds allegedly assaulted and two other women who reported lesser violent sexual conduct. Investigators believe there could be more victims nationwide due to Old's travels.

"We heard the same story again and again," LAPD detective Brent Hopkins said in a statement. "Mr. Olds started off charming, but then used brutal violence to carry out these rapes. Some of these survivors suffered in silence for years before finding the strength to speak up. Now that he's off the streets, we want to make sure everyone has a chance to be heard."

Olds is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 8.

ABC News wasn't immediately able to locate a legal representative for Olds.

Veteran actor Gabriel Olds charged with alleged sexual assault of 3 women: DA originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A growing number of customers are abandoning Starbucks in favor of alternative coffeehouses selling reasonably priced drinks and food.

Last week, CNN reported that Starbucks sales dropped 3% globally at stores open for at least a year, including a 2% drop in its North America market. Total transactions at North American stores open for at least one year fell 6% last quarter  which CNN explained was offset, in part, by higher prices.

The recent statistics mark Starbucks second-straight quarter of sales declines.

CEO Laxman Narasimhan told CNBC that more consumers are buying the brands line of packaged coffee at grocery stores, but a challenging consumer environment continues to threaten sales at its cafes. Starbucks  which has long been a welcoming third-spot for customers to lounge, work or socialize in  joins a list of restaurant chains that are experiencing decreased consumer demand due to rising food costs. Earlier this year, McDonalds sparked a national debate after a restaurant in Darien, Connecticut, charged a whopping $18 for a Big Mac combo meal. The backlash compelled McDonalds CEO Chris Kempczinski to announce that the company would make affordability a priority in 2024 during a Feb. 5 earnings call. McDonalds has since released several limited-time offers, including a $5 value meal, in hopes of wooing its customers. Wendys, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut are just a few other chains that have followed suit.

In California, Starbucks prices have increased by about 7% on average from February to April 2024, according to Kalinowski Equity Research (KER). That statistic was obtained after analysts compared menu prices at 25 individual restaurant locations before and after Californias $20 minimum wage mandate went into full effect on April 1. KER also found that a venti iced caramel macchiato costs 8.4% more than it did two months ago, while a venti caffe latte costs about 5.5% more than it used to.

In addition to price hikes, Starbucks faces increased pressure from rival drive-thru coffee chains that are attracting more price-conscious customers. Upstarts like 7 Brew Drive Thru Coffee, Scooters Coffee, Dutch Bros. and Ziggis Coffee are currently dominating the industry with quick service and creative menu options.

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More than 70% of Starbucks sales come from mobile app and drive-thru orders at its approximately 9,500 company-operated stores across the nation. The bulk of sales are also from cold coffee beverages, teas and lemonades rather than hot coffee.

Story continues

Starbucks is hoping to win back customers with its very own value menu, called the Pairings Menu, which includes a drink and a breakfast item for either $5 or $6. According to CNN, the company said its new menu is proving to be beneficial and encouraging customers to make more multi-item orders.

Additionally, Starbucks introduced the Siren System, new technology that helps eliminate long customer wait times for cold drinks. The system includes faster blenders and new dispensers for milk and ice are set up in a line, allowing employees to quickly prepare drinks without reaching under or over the counter for key ingredients.

During a call with analysts Wednesday, Narasimhan said the recent plans are beginning to work.

Were rebuilding the operational foundation of our stores and supply chain, he added.
Authorities identified the victim of a deadly stabbing over the weekend on Thursday.

45-year-old Daniel Coke of Jamaica Plain was found by officers suffering from a stab wound in the area of 10 Armory Terrace around 4:45 p.m. on Sunday, according to Boston Police.

He was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The facts and circumstances leading up to the stabbing are under investigation and no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact the Boston Police Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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PERKINS, Okla. (KFOR)  Hundreds of Oklahomans are able to put food on their table each month thanks to a volunteer  who works around the clock without pay  to fill bellies and hearts.

Each month, about 400 hungry mouths come from multiple surrounding towns to Perkins First United Methodist Church, where Maria Boyles works tirelessly to feed them.

Pay it 4Ward: A heart full of gold for helping seniors

Shes selfless. She worries about everybody in this whole community besides herself, said Marias friend of 40 years, Deneen Howard. Shes here almost any hours. She was here early this morning and shes not even supposed to be here today.

Maria leads the donation-based Neighborhood Ministries, which provides bags of food and utility bill assistance to the neediest of Oklahomans.

Photo: Neighborhood Ministries via Perkins First United Methodist Church

From sun up to sun down shes doing something for her church or for the food bank, Deneen said.

After Marias 30-plus years at Ripley Public Schools, the retired librarian lives by the teachings of the Good Book.

She follows Christs recommendations that you should love your neighbor, you take care of who needs taken care of. Shes just the sweetest person in the world, Deneen said.

Because of her selflessness and generosity, Deneen nominated Maria for a $400 Pay It 4Ward award from First Fidelity Bank.

And with the 400 dollars in hand, Deneen and our News 4 crew surprised Maria, who, unsurprisingly, was at church.

I kept saying, theres a man out there with a camera, whats he doing out there? Maria said. News 4s Heather Holeman responded with, Hes here for you!

Because we love you, and because youre such a treasure, and you have changed so many lives, and you have helped so many lives, we figured from librarian to life changer,' Deneen said as she handed the money to Maria.

Doing this is a blessing and I have more than what I need, and I think that I need to share. And this is a wonderful way to share, and theres a lot of people that need help, Maria said.

Deneen and Maria have been friends for more than 40 years.

Other volunteers help Maria collect and sort food from places like Dollar General, Panera Bread in Stillwater, the Regional Food Bank, and the USDA, among others, to help fill hundreds of bags with fresh produce, meats, breads, and snacks.

We move about 6,000 pounds a month, Maria said. We have a big freezer and we freeze a lot of things. We have bread thats from Walmart, and meat bags, and donuts Different things that get donated.

Sometimes we help with utilities, or gas to get to the doctor, and at the end of the year we usually help in the local pharmacy for prescriptions, she said.

So, how many hours do you think you work? Heather asked Maria. Oh my goodness, this week it was quite a few  and this was my off week! What do you get in return? Heather asked. A lot of love, and Ive made wonderful friends.

Indigenous Oklahoma woman paves the way for a beautiful tomorrow

And so, the former school librarian, with tons of story times under her belt, is now the main character in her own story The true tale of a heroine fulfilling her purpose by filling a need for both hungry neighbors  and for herself.

Its just the best thing thats ever happened to me in my life. You know, its changed my life, Maria said smiling.

Neighborhood Ministries could always use donations, especially with Thanksgiving around the corner. You can call Perkins First United Methodist at (405)547-2481 if youd like to help.

In order to receive bags of food, financially-qualified residents must first be approved.

Pay It 4Ward is sponsored by First Fidelity Bank.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A vote for the removal of Jennifer Hobbs as the mayor of Wynne, Arkansas will appear on the November 5 ballot, Always A Jacket announced Thursday morning.

This comes after Always A Jacket, a ballot question committee in Wynne, submitted a petition to remove the citys mayor on August 5.

They had a total of 1,207 signatures on the petition to remove Hobbs.

ORIGINAL STORY: Wynne, AR residents submit petition for removal of mayor

The group says they reached the requirement of having 1,092 signatures from registered voters, which was certified by the Cross County Clerk, Mary Beth Sanders on August 7.

Sanders released a statement saying, Yes, the group had enough signatures of valid registered voters to qualify the matter to be on the November 5, 2024 General Election Ballot.

According to the Arkansas Constitution code 14-42-199, If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question at the election vote for the removal of the officer, a vacancy shall exist in the officer. The officer shall vacate the office immediately upon certification of the election.

The following referendum will be placed on the November ballot:

FOR the removal of Jennifer Hobbs from the office of Mayor

AGAINST the removal of Jennifer Hobbs from the office of Mayor

The petition was filed in response to the residents apparent disapproval of how Hobbs handled recovery and restoration efforts after a devastating tornado ripped through the city in March 2023.

Princella Smith, spokesperson for Always A Jacket, says For months, a number of volunteers in Wynne went door to door on foot in the hot sun to secure signatures in order for this referendum to appear on the ballot. I am so proud of them, and I am so proud of Wynne voters for standing up for themselves. By securing these signatures and getting them certified by the county clerk, they have given their community a chance to blaze a new way forward by installing new leadership. Just as importantly, they have given those who have been silenced a chance to have their voices heard. A positive, new way forward is on its way to Wynne because they have taken ownership of their towns future. They should enjoy this win as one step on the path to the ultimate victory of voting to remove Hobbs on November 5th.

 See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South.

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Mayor Hobbs released a statement on Monday in response to the petition for her removal.

To say that I have anything but the best intentions for the community of Wynne is ludicrous. I will continue to do my job to the very best of my ability, said Hobbs who says she has lived in the community for over 30 years.

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Voters have a right to know: Experts react to the FBIs seizure of Rep. Ogles phone

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The day after celebrating his Tennessee primary election victory, Republican Congressman Andy Ogles said that he got a visit from the FBI.

It has been widely reported for months that my campaign made mistakes in our initial financial filings, Ogles wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Last Friday, the FBI took possession of my cell phone. It is my understanding that they are investigating the same well-known facts surrounding these filings.I am confident all involved will conclude that the reporting discrepancies were based on honest mistakes, and nothing more.

Congressman Andy Ogles confirms FBI seized cellphone

In January 2024, the Campaign Legal Center sent a letter to the Office of Congressional Ethics raising concerns about financial discrepancies in Ogles 2022 campaign filings. According to the letter, Ogles initially reported making a $320,000 personal loan to his campaign, more than he disclosed he possessed at the time.

He later amended this filing, stating he had only loaned $20,000. Danielle Caputo, legal counsel for ethics at the Campaign Legal Center and co-author of the letter, said the original report and the amendment were eye-catching.

Thats a pretty large discrepancy, Caputo told News 2. Were not entirely sure how that came about.

According to the Associated Press, Ogles claimed that the $320,000 was a pledge mistakenly reported as a loan in campaign documents. However, Caputo expressed skepticism, emphasizing the importance of transparency.

Voters have a right to know what holdings and what other conflicts of interest their representative may have, Caputo said. By trying to hide that or obfuscate that, it really begs the question of, you know who may you be beholden to.

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, law professor at Stetson University, said that he FBI does not take seizures lightly.

The FBI would only seize a cell phone of a sitting member of Congress with probable cause that it contained evidence of a crime or crimes, Torres-Spelliscy wrote in an email to News 2. The DOJ has jurisdiction over the enforcement of federal campaign finance laws. Thus if the DOJ is investigating a potential campaign finance crime, that could explain why they would focus on his cell phone.

Torres-Spelliscy also explained the process of campaign finance law enforcement.

Campaign finance laws are jointly administered by the FEC [Federal Election Commission] and DOJ. The FEC deals with civil enforcement and DOJ deals with criminal violations, Torres-Spelliscy added. Each case is unique. In some cases, the evidence will be in a campaign account or a bank account or phone or in a freezer (see Rep. Jeffersons case where money was found in a freezer).

Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom

Torres-Spelliscy noted there are real criminal implications to violating campaign finance rules, noting that willful lying in filings violates federal criminal code.

[A]ny criminal case will depend on whether a jury thinks what happened was an innocent mistake or was willfully done to mislead the voting public and federal regulators, Torres-Spelliscy wrote.

The Campaign Legal Centers complaint also alleged that Ogles failed to report a $700,000 line of credit he opened in 2022.

Ogles attorney has not responded to requests for comment.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  Hes full of adventure, full of love, hes Boss.

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A 36-pound, one-year-old terrier mix, Boss is the perfect companion for an active family that loves to go on adventures.

With his goofy and playful personality, Boss is sure to bring joy and laughter to your home.

Jersey wants your love for Wags n Whiskers Wednesdays

Boss is a Reid Krucky recipient, which means his adoption fee is waived, and hell go home with an adoption starter kit to help him get settled with his new family.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

You can meet Boss at the Hawaiian Humane Societys Moiliili Campus at Hoopili.

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In wake of Columbus ransomware attack, cyber expert offers tips to protect yourself

As the City of Columbus continues to grapple with a ransomware attack that reportedly took place July 18, concerns about the threat of data breaches to large organizations and even individuals have also surfaced.

The Dispatch reported Wednesday that the cybercriminals continued to blackmail the city of Columbus by threatening to publicly release a huge trove of stolen information unless someone purchased it on the dark web for roughly $1.7 million by Wednesday morning.

City departments have been impacted by this breach which have not only hindered the ability to make ticket and permit payments, but also personal information leaks caused the city to offer credit monitoring services for affected employees.

Now a major concern for Columbus residents, Benjamin Dalton, who has been the director of information security at Columbus State Community College for seven years, breaks down the threat of data breaches and what to do if your data is compromised.

What is a data breach?

There are many ways sensitive data can be compromised, yet Dalton says recently ransomware and phishing are the most common.

Large organizations and institutions are especially prone to data breach attempts because they often host large amounts of data and personal information. Stolen information can easily make its way to the dark web to be sold and extorted.

"Ultimately they sell your data for a price so people can use on the dark web to find additional targets," Dalton said. "This would be another mechanism for those malicious actors to sell information to other folks that are looking for it which makes it easy for them to not have to hack in to steal the data themselves."

What is ransomware?

Ransomware occurs when a malicious actor compromises the security of an organization. They obtain access into computer systems through phishing emails or other means to retrieve data and then prevent the data from being read by the organization through encryption or by making copies of the data.

"They're holding your data for ransom in that scenario, so it actually prevents the IT teams from unlocking the data," Dalton said.

Although some corporations have necessary backups to recover the data, Dalton said some organizations have to weigh the pros and cons of paying the ransom to get their data back.

How to avoid ransomware data breaches:

Use a long, strong password (avoid commonly used words).

Include a minimum of 12 characters in passwords.

Use multi-factor authentication.

Keep software up to date.

What is phishing?

Phishing is a scam to trick you into divulging personal information or installing malicious applications on your computer by posing as an authentic entity or member of an organization. This is typically done through text, emails or phone calls.

"Phishing has become so sophisticated now these days they've become so customized and tailored," Dalton said. "Sometimes it's hard just to be aware of what type of messages are coming in."

How to avoid phishing data breaches:

Scrutinze unexpected emails or messages.

Don't respond to a suspicious email.

Never click or download software.

Authenticate the sender of an email.

Do not overshare personal information (bank account, social security or date of birth).

How to avoid personal credit theft:

Regularly monitor accounts by submitting requests for a free credit report.

Review credit reports for unusual activity.

If unusual activity is suspected, follow up with a credit reporting agency.

What to do if data is compromised

Just as the city of Columbus has learned in the past few weeks, the possibility of a data breach is extremely likely as cybercriminals and ransomware groups like Rhysida become more sophisticated in data theft tactics.

In the event a data breach occurs, this may lead to identity theft for individuals. Dalton said it's important to take appropriate action as soon as possible.

"We do ask people to stay calm and really secure that verification process," Dalton said.

Here are some other suggestions he gave if you become a victim of identity theft.

Verify the breach is authentic (beware of fake breach notifications). Contact the organization that has notified you of a breach. Review the materials you have been provided about the breach.

Change password immediately.

Report the breach to local authorities and the Federal Trade Commission.

For credit theft, place a fraud alert through Experian, Equifax or TransUnion.

ABayo@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What is a data breach and how do I avoid it? Cybersecurity expert explains
WALKER, Mich. (WOOD)  Police say a pedestrian was hit by a car while crossing the road in Walker.

It happened Thursday afternoon on Wilson Avenue NW south of Leonard Street NW, according to the Walker Police Department.

A man was crossing the road mid-block when he was hit by a northbound car, police say.

The pedestrian, a Walker resident, was taken to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, according to the police department. The driver, a woman from Walker, was not hurt.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Southbound Wilson Avenue was temporarily closed because of the crash but has since reopened.

Police are investigating.

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(Bloomberg) -- The public finance desk at Wells Fargo & Co., Bank of America Corp., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and other Wall Street banks just sidestepped a potential ESG fight in Louisiana.

Most Read from Bloomberg

In a quick meeting that lasted less than 10 minutes on Thursday, members of the states bond commission approved the firms as part of a group of managers that the state can hire on debt deals. The underwriting pool lasts until 2027.

The officials did so despite misgivings about the banks climate change commitments as members of the Net-Zero Banking Alliance  an organization that is a frequent target for Republican politicians over pushback on environmental, social and governance policies.

There is also a new law in Louisiana that restricts work with companies that discriminate against firearm entities or trade groups. The legislation is similar to a Texas law that has whipsawed banks public finance businesses in the state.

Its the latest salvo in a long-fought fight between banks and Republican politicians who say ESG policies go against their partys beliefs. Louisiana has targeted large Wall Street banks over their positions on guns and fossil fuels before, barring Bank of America from managing a state bond deal in 2018.

Republican State Treasurer John Fleming said he had concerns about big banks limiting business with firearms entities and Christian organizations. However, he acknowledged that it is difficult to restrict business with the biggest firms.

We have to balance that with the reality that virtually all of the big banks are a member of the Net Zero Alliance, he said at the meeting. Only a small number, relatively speaking, of banks actually qualify to do the level of business that a state treasurer requires.

Spokespeople for Bank of America and Wells Fargo declined to comment. A spokesperson for JPMorgan didnt provide a comment.

State officials considered underwriters responses to a request for qualifications for underwriting services earlier this year.

The attorney generals office asked banks about their energy policies, according to Chief Deputy Attorney General Larry Frieman, who spoke at the meeting.

We do recommend proceeding under a yellow caution flag, he said. We will continue to do our due diligence and evaluate and monitor the companies behavior and report to the commission any adverse findings we discover in the future.

Louisiana also hired Wells Fargo as senior managing underwriter of a tender transaction of gasoline and fuels bonds.

(Updates with response from bank in eighth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Aerial photo taken on Aug. 25, 2022 shows a view of Maowei floating photovoltaic power station on water in Gucheng Township of Yingshang County, east China's Anhui Province. [PhotoXinhua]

China has released a plan to standardize carbon emission calculations across key sectors, as part of efforts to meet its carbon reduction targets.

By the end of 2024, 70 national standards on carbon accounting, footprint, reduction, capture, utilization and storage will be published, covering all key sectors and companies, said the plan issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Ministry of Emergency Management.

In the following year, a standardized calculation and evaluation system will be in place for businesses, projects and products, with key sectors and products meeting world-leading benchmarks for energy consumption control, according to the plan.

In particular, efforts will be made to accelerate the formulation of national carbon footprint standards for new energy vehicles, photovoltaic products and lithium batteries, which are emerging as new drivers of the country's export growth.

China will also work to standardize the carbon footprint of products such as electronics, plastics and construction materials, the plan said.

In a crucial document unveiled recently, China has pledged to improve the mechanisms for green and low-carbon development, saying it will enhance the cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions, and move toward reaching peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality.

The country aims to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
The Triangle will have one fewer company on the stock market after the Durham cancer treatment firm G1 Therapeutics announced Wednesday it is being taken private in a $405 million merger with the Danish pharmaceutical company Pharmacosmos.

The deal values G1 Therapeutics at a 68% premium above its final closing price.

G1 has spent years developing its flagship drug trilaciclib, sold under the brand name Cosela. In 2021, Cosela became the first and still only therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to address a certain type of small cell lung cancer. That year, G1 had around 125 employees at its headquarters on the RTP Frontier campus, a collection of converted IBM office buildings near the center of Research Triangle Park .

But Cosela has stumbled in two recent clinical trials. In early 2023, G1 stopped a late-stage study into the drugs effects on treating a certain kind of colon cancer after disappointing trial results. Then this June, G1 announced trilaciclib failed to improve life expectancy in a breast cancer trial. The shortcomings plunged the companys stock price, which went from a high of $68 in 2018 to ending Tuesday at $4.11 a share.

Following the disappointing breast cancer results, G1 said it would discontinue the study and make targeted headcount reductions outside of the existing commercial organization. The company informed The News & Observer it has already made these layoffs.

Pharmacosmos has agreed to purchase G1 Therapeutics at $7.15 per share. The Danish firm focuses on developing treatments for iron deficiencies, and in a joint statement, the two companies said the merger will make Cosela available to more people worldwide who live with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

I am proud of all that the G1 team has accomplished over the years, thankful for their great effort, and excited about whats possible by the combined Pharmacosmos/G1 team as we meet the needs of more cancer patients, G1 Therapeutics CEO Jack Bailey said.

The two companies will continue to operate independently until the deal closes, G1 spokesperson Will Roberts said in an interview Wednesday. He anticipates the merger finalizing around the end of September, after which, Pharmacosmos will decide whether to keep G1s local office. Roberts added his company currently has around 80 employees, close to 50 of whom report to the RTP building.

Fewer public companies is a trend

Founded in 2008 under the name GO, G1 Therapeutics benefited in its early years from local funding. The North Carolina Biotechnology Center lent the company $250,000 in both 2011 and 2012. Around that time, G1 received $600,000 in seed money from the Durham biotech investment firm Hatteras Venture Partners.

Story continues

G1 Therapeutics went public in 2017 at $15 a share. In exiting the stock market, G1 Therapeutics joins other erstwhile public Triangle companies like ChannelAdvisor, an e-commerce cloud platform company taken private in 2022.

In 2019, G1 Therapeutics moved into offices at the Frontier campus in Research Triangle Park.

The number of publicly traded companies has dwindled in recent decades, with around 40% fewer companies listed on the stock market today compared to the 1990s. The most recent Triangle-area companies to file for an initial public offering were the Durham biotech businesses Humacyte and Bioventus in 2021.

There used to be a fair amount of appetite for micro-caps, which would be companies (valued at) under $1 billion, Scot Wingo, a Triangle entrepreneur who cofounded ChannelAdvisor, told the N&O this spring.

Youve got to be bigger, youve got to be better to go public, added Paul Clark, cofounder of VentureSouth, a regional early-stage investment fund in Greenville, South Carolina.

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Tim Walz was just starting to flex his macho side when his inner Minnesota nice took over.

I can outshoot these guys, Walz, a hunter, boasted during a campaign speech in Wisconsin, referring to opponents of gun safety laws, when suddenly he stopped.

Ope! he exclaimed, stepping out from behind the podium. Can we get somebody to help? Somebodys hot. Somebodys hot, can we get somebody to help?

He pointed to an audience member as the heat bore down. You okay? he asked, sounding more like a worried dad than a pheasant killer. Drink some water, folks, it is hot out.

He stood in silence for several seconds before thanking the help that arrived. Rally goers began chanting theyre so weird, a reference to the attack he coined against the Republican ticket. Walz chuckled, and put his hand to his heart.

Thank you all for helping, he said. Grateful. Thank you. Thank yall. Take care of one another on this. This is why we gather.

He used the opportunity to argue for taking the high road, suggesting he and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris are more about caring for our neighbor and kindness" than their GOP opponents Donald Trump and J.D. Vance. It was the duo's second campaign appearance together since Harris picked Walz as her running mate.

Thats who we are, he said. Its not about mocking. Its not name-calling.

Walz looked back at the audience member, confirming to someone offstage that all seemed fine..

Well get em taken care of, he said, before returning to remarks about what freedom means for him.

The interruption lasted more than a minute.

Heat-related illnesses have become common at campaign rallies, which often involve hours of standing around in the sun in tightly packed spaces. In June, a heat wave sent nearly a dozen Trump supporters to the hospital for heat exhaustion, prompting former President Trumps campaign to take precautions for his Las Vegas rally days later, including providing water bottles, and installing misting stations and air-conditioned tents with medics on site.

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CINCINNATI (AP)  Minnesota Gov. Tim Walzs military record has come under scrutiny since he was named as Vice President Kamala Harris running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket, with Republicans questioning both Walzs characterization of his time in uniform and his departure from service.

Heres a look at Walzs record and how its become a campaign issue:

FILE  Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the running mate of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, is pictured at a campaign rally in Philadelphia, Aug. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Army National Guard service

Walz served a total of 24 years in various units and jobs in the Army National Guard before retiring in 2005. Its that retirement that Republicans have criticized in the presidential campaign.

According to the Nebraska Army National Guard, Walz enlisted in April 1981  just two days after his 17th birthday  and entered service as an infantryman, completing a 12-week Army infantry basic training course before graduating from high school.

While attending the University of Houston in 1985, he was reclassified as a field artillery cannoneer as a member of the Texas Army National Guard, later serving as an instructor with the Arkansas Army National Guard.

In 1987, Walz returned to Nebraskas Guard detachment, continuing field artillery assignments while he completed a college degree. By 1996, he transferred to the Minnesota Army National Guard. In 2003, he deployed to Italy in a support position of active military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan but not to a combat zone himself.

As he ramped up for a congressional bid in 2005, Walzs campaign in March issued a statement saying he still planned to run despite a possible mobilization of Minnesota National Guard soldiers to Iraq. According to the Guard, Walz retired from service in May of that year.

In August 2005, the Department of the Army issued a mobilization order for Walzs unit. The unit mobilized in October of that year before it deployed to Iraq in March 2006.

Despite his having retired several months before the deployment order was issued, its the fact that Walz left the service ahead of his units departure that Republicans have pointed to in attempts to argue that he was aiming to avoid being sent to a combat zone.

By the time Walz left the military entirely, he had achieved the rank of command sergeant major, one of the top ranks for an enlisted soldier. But personnel files show that he was reduced in rank months after retiring, leaving him as a master sergeant for benefits purposes. Minnesota National Guard officials have said that Walz retired before completing coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, along with other requirements associated with his promotion.

Republican criticism

Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Donald Trumps running mate and himself a Marine Corps veteran, is among those who have called Walzs service into question.

Earlier this week Harris campaign circulated on X a 2018 clip of Walz speaking out against gun violence, and saying, We can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, are only carried in war.

As he campaigned in Michigan on Wednesday, Vance said he felt Walzs implication that he had served in combat was stolen valor garbage, decrying his opponents characterization of his military service.

Do not pretend to be something that youre not, Vance said during an event at the Shelby Township Police Department. Id be ashamed if I was saying that I lied about my military service like you did.

Vance enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating high school, serving four years as a combat correspondent, a type of military journalist, and deploying to Iraq in that capacity in 2005.

Neither Trump nor Harris has served in the U.S. military. Trump received a series of deferments during Vietnam, including one attained with a physicians letter stating that he suffered from bone spurs in his feet.

Democratic response

In a statement provided to The Associated Press, the Harris campaign pushed back on the GOP characterization of Walzs service, also pointing out his advocacy for veterans while in the U.S. House.

After 24 years of military service, Governor Walz retired in 2005 and ran for Congress, where he chaired Veterans Affairs and was a tireless advocate for our men and women in uniform  and as Vice President of the United States he will continue to be a relentless champion for our veterans and military families, the campaign said.

As for Vances characterization of Walzs weapons comment, Harris campaign said Walz would never insult or undermine any Americans service to this country and thanks Senator Vance for putting his life on the line for our country. Its the American way.

In a post on X, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg  who as a Naval intelligence officer deployed to Afghanistan in 2014  said Thursday that Republicans criticism of Walz was strategic, arguing that the Trump campaign needs us tied up in debates over pre-retirement conditional rank promotions because they are desperate NOT to discuss their (unpopular) policies, like tax cuts for the rich and banning access to abortion.

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Tim Walz, center, then the ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee, and then-Chairman Phil Roe, right, R-Tenn., pictured during a March 7, 2017, hearing about reforms at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.

WASHINGTON  Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president, spent 12 years as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives before winning election to his home states highest office.

That tenure on Capitol Hill gives him insider knowledge about many of the lawmakers who will be instrumental in advancing or blocking Vice President Kamala Harris legislative agenda, should she become president.

Walz, who was elected in 2006 to represent Minnesotas 1st Congressional District, was particularly active on issues before the House Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committees. He also sat on the Armed Services and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.

During his dozen years on Capitol Hill, Walz developed a reputation for working across the aisle while supporting his partys priorities on health care and the Iraq war.

Walz, who represented a rural swing district, was rated as one of the more bipartisan and effective members of the House during his last term in the chamber.

The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University ranked Walz as the 88th most bipartisan out of the 436 members who served at one time or another in the House during the 115th Congress.

Walz earned an even higher score from The Center for Effective Lawmaking, a partnership between the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University that measures how successful members are at advancing their bills and other legislative proposals.

It rated Walz as the seventh most effective among the 203 Democrats in the House during his last term.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on MSNBCs Morning Joe this week following Harris selection of the Minnesota governor as her running mate that Walz was a heartland-of-America Democrat who was in the ideological center on policy decisions.

Its mystifying to me to see someone that I worked with, shall we say, right down the middle, characterized on the left in this regard, Pelosi said, referring to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump calling Walz liberal.

Iraq concerns and ACA support

Walz joined Congress halfway through President George W. Bushs second term, when there was divided control of government and significant frustration about the war in Iraq.

During Democrats weekly radio address in January 2007, Walz said that as the highest ranking enlisted soldier to ever serve in Congress and a veteran who served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom he shared many voters concerns about the war.

Our military men and women know that it is their duty to execute their mission without question, he said. But so too is it our duty to question the mission on their behalf.

Walz said the United States needed diplomatic and political solutions in Iraq, not more American troops.

Walz was a member of the Nebraska National Guard from 1981 to 1996 and a member of the Minnesota National Guard from 1996 until 2005, according to his congressional biography.

He was still relatively new to Capitol Hill when Barack Obama won the Oval Office and Democrats secured significant majorities in the House and Senate in November 2008.

One of the more difficult tasks in the years ahead was brokering agreement within the party on what would become the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare  sweeping legislation that changed how health insurance and health care worked throughout the country.

The law passed in two parts during March 2010 and each time Walz voted to approve the final version.

Middle class families in southern Minnesota want to visit their doctor and get the care they need without insurance company or government control, Walz said in a statement. They want hassle free coverage they can count on and they want peace of mind knowing that if they get sick, they will not have to worry about insurance companies dropping them.

Stocks ban bill

Walz was one of the lawmakers pushing to approve legislation in 2012 that explicitly barred members of Congress, staff and numerous other government employees from participating in insider trading.

The law, titled the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 or STOCK Act, also required lawmakers to file regular public reports on their individual stock trading.

During House floor debate on the bill that February, Walz said the final legislation represented six years of work by several lawmakers who wanted to restore some trust in Congress as an institution.

The perception is that members of Congress are enriching themselves  thats not only an affront to our neighbors that were not playing by the rules, it is a cancer that can destroy the democracy, Walz said. Each member of Congress has a responsibility to hold themselves not just equal to his neighbors but to a higher standard.

In a rarity for public officials, Walz reported owning no securities or other major assets on a state financial disclosure form that was updated in January of this year.

Walzs last financial disclosure filing as a member of Congress showed he hadnt traded individual stocks and that he had assets in a Minnesota Education pension plan, a 529 education savings account and some rental income from a room in his primary home in Mankato.

Bucking his party

Walz hasnt always voted in line with his party, including in June 2012 when he was one of just 17 Democrats to vote to hold former Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena.

Walz said in a statement released at the time the vote was consistent with one he made previously.

Five years ago, when I voted to hold President Bushs Administration Officials in contempt, I said we have to stay consistent in our oversight of executive branch officials, Walz said. After reviewing the facts carefully, I have come to the same conclusions as I did in 2007. There are just too many unanswered questions surrounding Fast and Furious, and the American people deserve to know more.

The Fast and Furious operation involved federal law enforcement agencies  including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives  allowing illegal purchases of weapons in an attempt to track them.

Some of the more-than 2,000 firearms sold during the operation were used in crimes in the U.S. and Mexico, including in the shooting death of Customs and Border Protection Agent Brian Terry, according to a 2012 inspector general report.

VA waitlist

Just two years later, in 2014, Walz found himself working across the aisle as one of the lawmakers looking into the Department of Veterans Affairs lengthy waitlists as a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee.

During a hearing with VA whistleblowers that July, Walz criticized the department for having a goal but no strategy to address its shortcomings.

I would submit to all of us here, the watchdog on this and the outside agency to look at this is here, its us. Were given the constitutional right to do it, Walz said. When I go home Im asked about this and I should be held accountable.

Walz co-sponsored several bipartisan bills addressing the structure of the VA in the months that followed and voted to approve legislation overhauling aspects of VA healthcare in July 2014 after being named to the conference committee that negotiated the final version of the bill.

Make no mistake, this bill isnt perfect. It will not solve all of VAs problems, but it does allow us to take a step forward in reforming the VA to provide veterans and their families with real solutions, Walz said in a statement released following the Houses vote to approve the measure.

Walz would go on to seek the top Democratic seat on the Veterans Affairs Committee a few years later, eventually securing the title of ranking member during his last term in Congress from January 2017 to January 2019.

Tennessee Republican Rep. Phil Roe, who was chairman of the panel at the time, released a written statement that he was thrilled to hear that my good friend and fellow veteran was selected by Democrats as their top member on the committee.

Rep. Walz has been a tireless advocate for veterans, and I know he will continue that fight as Ranking Member, Roe said. I look forward to working alongside Rep. Walz as we strive on both sides of the aisle to improve the lives of our nations heroes.

Farm bill frustrations

Walz maintained his tenure on the Agriculture Committee throughout his time in Congress, including when that panel debated the farm bill, sweeping legislation thats written roughly every five years to address the needs of farmers as well as nutrition assistance for low-income families.

Walz was on the panel for the three separate farm bills. Toward the end of his tenure, he voiced frustration that the legislation had become another partisan battle.

In April 2018, during the committees markup of the bill, Walz noted that he grew up on a farm that remained in his family and that his district was one of the top food-producing regions in the country.

I came to Congress to write farm bills, I came to get policy right, I came to work with you, Walz said, before rebuking the GOP for excluding Democrats from writing the original version of the bill in that chamber.

If we wonder why we rank between North Korea and headlights in popularity in Congress, this is why, he said. If its not us to fix this problem, who the hell is going to?

Walz urged Republicans on the panel to work with Democrats to get a bill that could make it through Congress and become law.

You are not going to get this bill through and signed into law with the way things are at, so why burn the House down and why sever friendships and why create mistrust in this, when youre doing it simply to make a point? Walz said.

He voted against the original bill when it came to the House floor in June 2018, writing in a statement that drafting, debating and approving the farm bill used to be an example for how things are supposed to be done in Washington.

Today, Republicans chose to once again follow the lead of Speaker Ryan and steamroll the bipartisan process the Agriculture Committee once championed, Walz wrote, referring to then-Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin. This cannot continue to be how things are done in Washington.

Later that year, Walz was placed on the conference committee that negotiated a final version of the farm bill, which went on to pass the Senate following an 87-13 vote and the House on a 369-47 vote. Walz, whod been elected governor a month earlier, was marked as not voting on that final version.

In a statement released in September 2018, after being named to the bipartisan, bicameral conference committee, Walz said he hoped compromise could be found.

No Farm Bill is perfect, but if we reject radical ideology and embrace bipartisanship, I am optimistic we can pass a meaningful Farm Bill that works for Minnesotans, beginning farmers, veterans hoping to start a career in agriculture, and our environment, he wrote.

Opposing Trump

Walz was reelected to Congress several times and remained there for half of Donald Trumps presidency, often voicing opposition to executive orders and GOP legislative goals.

Following Trumps first address to a joint session of Congress in March 2017, Walz wrote in a statement that he did share some common ground with Trump, though he distanced himself from the more partisan rhetoric.

Walz said he agreed with the sections of the speech that called for bolstering care for veterans, helping military service members and lowering the cost of health insurance.

But populism without a plan isnt leadership, and unfortunately, the address lacked significant policy detail and specific plans on how to move forward, Walz added. That said, it is clear that we dont agree on how to move forward with improving our health care system. The answer is not to tear it down without offering a sound plan to replace it. Instead, the answer is to build upon the gains of the Affordable Care Act by repairing the parts where folks are falling through the cracks.

When Trump instituted a ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military, Walz said in a statement that those troops are not a burden but heroes.

After 24 years of service as an enlisted soldier, I know what it takes to build cohesive teams in our military, Walz wrote. This President, who hasnt served a day of his life in uniform, does not.

When the Trump administration began separating undocumented immigrant children from their families in the summer of 2018, Walz released a statement arguing the policy was unacceptable.

He then co-sponsored legislation to end the practice, calling it barbaric and immoral.

Im proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Keep Families Together Act and want to thank Ranking Member (Jerry) Nadler for his leadership at this critical time, Walz said in a statement in June 2018, referring to the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. Ripping children out of their parents arms at the border is a human rights violation and we cannot tolerate such abuses as a nation.

The same day, he urged Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to resign from her post in another statement.

Other positions

Walz weighed in on numerous issues outside the scope of House legislation throughout his 12 years on Capitol Hill.

When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June 2015 to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide, Walz issued a statement supporting the decision.

Ive always believed in marriage equality and applaud the Supreme Courts ruling, he wrote. Todays decision makes clear that our LGBT brothers and sisters are entitled to the same rights as the rest of us; that the pursuit of happiness cannot be limited because of who you love. Yes, today is a landmark day in our nations history and I could not be more proud.

Walz announced support for the Obama administrations nuclear deal with Iran in August 2015, writing that his decision followed weeks of careful consideration and study, meetings with experts, and talking with Minnesotans with passionate views on both sides.

This deal is far from perfect, and I harbor no illusions that the hate and violence of the Iranian regime will fade after it goes into effect. I expect Iran will continue to be a destabilizing force in the region and a threat to America and our allies, Walz wrote. But, I believe this agreement is our best path forward. The economic sanctions have played a critical role in getting us to an agreement, but I do not believe they are a long term solution.
Wanted man arrested after 3 men catch him touching child near Worcester pond, police say

A man wanted by police was arrested Wednesday after three men intervened when they spotted him inappropriately touching a child in Worcester, authorities said.

Officers responding to a report of an older man behaving inappropriately toward a child in the area of Coes Pond learned the incident was interrupted by three men, who followed the suspect to an address and notified law enforcement, according to the Worcester Police Department.

In a statement, Worcester police said, The suspect has been the subject of multiple complaints from residents for similar incidents and had an active arrest warrant for a similar offense.

The name of the suspect wasnt immediately made available and no additional information was released due to the nature of the charges, but he was taken into custody, according to police.

The suspect was arrested for his warrant and is facing new charges for this incident, the department added.

An investigation is ongoing.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Dollar Tree was ordered to pay a fine and improve product testing after an investigation in Washington found illegal levels of toxic metals in childrens products, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Wednesday.

These terms were agreed upon by Greenbriar International  doing business as Dollar Tree  in a nationwide agreement in King County Superior Court.

The agreement comes after testing by Washingtons Department of Ecology found four-times the legal limit of toxic metals, including lead and cadmium, in childrens bracelets and pencil pouches sold in the state in 2018, 2019, and 2021, officials said.

Missing woman in Clark County presumed dead as detectives seek remains

The department turned over their testing results to the attorney generals office for investigation and enforcement under the Consumer Protection Act and the federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

When the attorney generals office told Dollar Tree about the findings, the company provided documentation from labs outside of the U.S. showing legal levels of the toxic metals; however, an independent review of the tests found those results had errors or missing information, Fergusons office said.

Dollar Tree cooperated with the investigation and removed the products from stores, officials said.

WATCH: Alaska Airlines plane makes wobbly emergency landing at Portland International Airport

When I buy products for my kids, I expect them to be safe from toxic metals, said Ferguson, who is also a candidate in Washingtons gubernatorial race. Companies that sell products to children must ensure they are safe. If they dont, they will hear from my office.

Per the agreement, Dollar Tree must pay $190,000 and update product testing to ensure labs outside of the U.S. follow testing procedures for lead and cadmium that are audited and verified by independent experts.

Testing updates also include using X-ray fluorescence technology to screen samples of childrens products from outside the U.S., and rotating testing through different third-party labs annually.

WSDOT delays reopening of Mount St. Helens Johnston Ridge Observatory

In a statement to KOIN 6 News, a Dollar Tree Inc. spokesperson said Dollar Tree is committed to selling quality products, maintaining a safe environment for associates and customers, and complying with all laws and regulations. We have an advanced product testing program and will further enhance the product testing processes for our vendors and their products with the third-party testing laboratories. We have worked cooperatively with Washington State to resolve this matter.

According to the attorney generals office, large amounts of lead can cause several neurological issues in kids, which can lead to organ failure and death.

Federal law bans levels of lead over 100 parts-per-million in a childrens product and cannot exceed 90 ppm under state law.

Cadmium, officials said, is known to cause cancer and cannot exceed 40 ppm under state law or 75 ppm under federal law.

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The The Retreat fire, seen here, is burning about 14 miles southwest of Naches, Wash. As of Aug. 8 it was around 44,588 acres and 64% contained. (Courtesy InciWeb)

As the state enters what is historically its toughest month of the year for wildfires, large blazes continue to burn in central and eastern Washington and smoke could be on the horizon on the west side of the state.

But state officials arent too worried  yet.

Washingtons wildfires have burned more acres than the last two fire seasons, but the number of overall ignitions remains low, resources arent severely stretched, and large fires are being contained.

Weve made it through July, weve made it through the first week of August. Getting through the rest of the month will determine what sort of season this ends up being, said Thomas Kyle-Milward, a Department of Natural Resources spokesperson.

More than 265,000 acres have burned so far this year in Washington on both state and federal lands. Thats compared to last years total of 165,000 acres and the 10-year average of roughly 470,000 acres.

Although more acres have burned compared to last year, the number of overall ignitions remains well below previous years, Kyle-Milward said. On Department of Natural Resources lands alone, there were 585 ignitions so far this year. Last year, there were 806.

As of Thursday, the states biggest fires include the Pioneer fire east of Lake Chelan, threatening the remote town of Stehekin, the Retreat fire along Highway 12 outside of Yakima, and the Cougar Creek fire in the southeast corner of the state.

Some of the regions big fires, especially those near the Cascades, could burn until significant rain or snow hits the region this fall, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Heavily-treed forests provide fuel to sustain fires for extended periods, and remote locations can be difficult for fire crews to access.

As widespread lightning could strike this month, fire managers are determining how to handle these long-duration fires. Strategies will likely include preparing containment lines to stop fires from reaching structures, power lines or water systems.

Our planners are taking a realistic look at current wildfires, expected new fires, and the resources we have to help us safeguard human lives and property while enhancing our ability to respond to wildfires in high-risk areas, Jacque Buchanan, Pacific Northwest regional forester at the Forest Service, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Northwest Interagency Coordination Centers seven-day outlook for wildfire shows the potential for large fires in some regions of the Pacific Northwest is above normal.

Currently, Kyle-Milward said the state has adequate resources to deal with the fires on Washingtons lands. Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz asked Gov. Jay Inslee to call in the Washington National Guard last month to help. Since then, two Guard helicopters have helped drop water on fires throughout eastern Washington.

Kyle-Milward said the state also has some out-of-state resources assisting with larger fires, but as the rest of the West Coast burns, federal and out-of-state crews and equipment could become stretched.

Oregon is on track to set a new record for the amount of land burned in a wildfire season. The state has already seen 1.3 million acres burn this year and now has 34 large fires, with five over 100,000 acres each.

Kyle-Milward urged the public to be fire-conscious. Yard equipment, loose chains dragging behind vehicles and cigarettes can all be enough to spark a fire in dry summer conditions. And even small fires can strain local and state resources to fight larger fires elsewhere, Kyle-Milward said.

A statewide burn ban remains in effect on all state lands.

Weve still got a lot of potential on the landscape for fire, Kyle-Milward said. Weve still got a lot of fire weather in the forecast. Its going to continue for at least another three weeks.

Smoke incoming

Meanwhile, hazy skies and poor air quality could be on the way for western Washington residents as smoke from eastern Washington and Canadian fires move in.

Bellingham, Mount Vernon, and other interior parts of the state could start to see moderate air quality starting Thursday, according to the Northwest Clean Air Agency. Moderate means air quality is good, but there could be some risk for people who are sensitive to air pollution.

In coastal areas of western Washington, air quality is likely to remain somewhere between good and moderate, according to the agency. Smoke that stays at a high altitude could make skies look hazy, but air quality on the ground could still be good.

Much of central and parts of eastern Washington had moderate air quality, as of Thursday, and it was likely to remain that way into Friday.

Southwest Washington, including Vancouver and the Columbia Gorge could see air quality at moderate or unhealthy for sensitive groups as smoke moves south from the Williams Mine fire, burning southwest of Mount Adams in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Big fires

The most-watched fire in the state right now is the Pioneer fire, which started in June northwest of Chelan.

As of Thursday, nearly 37,000 acres had burned and it was still only 13% contained. The fire was burning within 100 feet of structures in Stehekin, a remote town only accessible by boat and trail that had been under an evacuation order since July 27. There were about 653 personnel fighting the fire, as of Wednesday.

The Easy fire along the Highway 20 corridor in the North Cascades had burned more than 1,700 acres, as of Thursday. The fire closed the highway between mileposts 148 and 157 starting on Sunday.

The Retreat fire outside Yakima had burned more than 44,500 acres. It was 64% contained, as of Thursday. The fire has closed U.S. Highway 12 near White Pass between mileposts 151 and 173.

The Cougar Creek fire in southeast Washington near the Oregon state line had burned nearly 21,000 acres and was 35% contained on Thursday. There were 483 personnel assigned to fight the fire, including 10 crews, three helicopters and 33 engines.

The fast-growing Williams Mine Fire in southeast Washington is now at 4,500 acres after winds pushed it south. Evacuation notices are now in effect for Trout Lake. The Mt. Adams Wilderness area and other recreation areas outside the fire are closed.

For more information on wildfire incidents in Washington, visit InciWeb.
DENVER (KDVR)  While dealing with the Quarry Fire, authorities also dealt with treacherous terrain in Jefferson County, facing anything from thick brush to rattlesnakes.

On Wednesday, the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office reported stumbling upon a (roughly) 13-year-old rattlesnake on the road while working on containing the Quarry Fire.

Wheat Ridge police officer finds live rattlesnake in car during drug bust

In the video posted on X, the snake was rattling its tail. The video shows the snakes tongue out and head cocking side to side. Still, deputies said they made sure the snake wasnt hit by a car while the snake escaped the fire.

Rattlesnake

Rattlesnakes were a continuing problem for authorities while they worked to contain the Quarry Fire. According to the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, last week firefighters had been dealing with a rattlesnake problem along with rough terrain.

In a press briefing on July 31, the spokesperson said there was not only thick brush but there was even an area called Rattlesnake Gultch where rattlesnakes are very prevalent.

Luckily, as of Wednesday, the Quarry Fire was 100% contained.

Finding a rattlesnake while on the job isnt all that uncommon for authorities in Colorado. In May, a Wheat Ridge police officer found a rattlesnake in a bin while searching a car.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand has approved incentives for joint ventures (JV) between Thai and foreign companies to manufacture automotive parts for vehicles using all types of propulsion systems, its Board of Investment said on Thursday.

Thailand is Southeast Asia's biggest autos production centre and an export base for some of the world's top carmakers. The government is heavily promoting investments in electric vehicles in particular, with incentives to lure major firms.

Both new projects and existing parts manufacturers that are already enjoying promotions but are transforming into a JV are eligible for two years of additional tax exemption, capped at eight years, providing they apply before the end of 2025, the BOI said.

To qualify, a new JV must invest at least 100 million baht ($2.82 million) in the manufacturing of auto parts and comprise a Thai and foreign company, with the local firm required to be at least 60% Thai-owned and provide a minimum 30% of the JV's registered capital, it said.

On Wednesday, the BOI approved south Korean auto maker Hyundai Motor Company's investment worth 1 billion baht ($28 million) to set up a facility to assemble EVs and batteries in Thailand.

($1 = 35.48 baht)

(Reporting by Orathai Sriring and Kitiphong Thaichareon; Editing by John Mair, Martin Petty)
Aug. 8 (UPI) -- A herd of water buffalo escaped from a Nashville farm and went wandering through a neighborhood twice in a matter of days.

A Nashville resident identified only by his first name, Jeff, captured video of the water buffalo wandering through his neighborhood east of downtown on Sunday evening.

Jeff said the incident came just two days after the water buffalo were last seen wandering loose.

A group of neighbors worked to keep the water buffalo contained until their owner could return them to the property.

"We were going forward and backward trying to keep them in that certain area so they wouldn't go anywhere until the farmer came to retrieve them," Jeff said.

Jeff later learned the water buffalo, a species native to Asia, had escaped due to a fence being left open.

An escaped herd of water buffalo previously visited an Essex, England, family's swimming pool and caused more than $31,000 in damage in 2022. An escaped water buffalo was found roaming down a Fresno, Calif., road that same year.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida deputy is being hailed a hero after he rushed into a large pond to save a 5-year-old boy with autism who wandered away from home Tuesday night.

The family of the boy called 911 shortly after 7:30 p.m., when they were alerted to the boys disappearance via an alarm they had set on a second-story door. Upon arrival, began by searching the home but soon focused on nearby ponds and lakes in the Valmont Lane neighborhood after learning the boy was attracted to water.

Body-camera footage shows Deputy Wes Brough searching near a pond near the familys home when he hears the childs voice.

Hes out here somewhere. I got him! I got him! the deputy can be heard shouting to fellow officers.





The video then shows Brough dashing into the water once he spots the 5-year-old clinging to a log. Brough scoops up the boy and carries him to safety.

The sheriffs office said the 5-year-old was reunited with his family shortly afterward.

In a Facebook post accompanying the video, deputies also assured viewers that the family had indeed taken several measures to secure the house, including installing the alarm system that had alerted them to the boys disappearance.

Missing hiker in California rescued after 10 days: A very emotional and raw moment

When asked about the rescue, Deputy Brough said he was thankful to God for putting me in the right place at the right time.

I have three children of my own, one being a 5-year-old. So, to have him hold onto me, tightly like that, it really felt like it was my own kid holding onto me, Brough said in a reel shared by the sheriffs office.

Viewers on Facebook also heaped praise on Brough, calling him a true hero and lauding him for his dedication.

Kitten born with 4 ears rescued after being abandoned in box in Tennessee

This just brought tears to my eyes, one Facebook user wrote. Way to go Deputy Brough and so many kudos to the family for having the alarm.

So glad this was a happy ending, another said.

The Volusia County Sheriffs Office, in its post, added that all deputies undergo Autism Awareness Training to help prepare for a wide variety of calls, including missing children.

Great job to all involved on this call, the department wrote.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, talks to reporters after walking over from looking at Air Force Two - Alex Brandon/AP

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JD Vance attempted to confront Kamala Harris on the Tarmac as they landed at Eau Claire County Airport in Wisconsin at the same time as part of their rival tours of battleground states.

The Republican vice-presidential candidate was filmed marching over to Air Force Two, telling reporters he hoped it would be my plane soon.

I figured Id come by and just get a good look at the plane because hopefully its going to be my plane in a few months, the Ohio senator said on Wednesday afternoon, minutes after Ms Harris had left the airport.

Ms Harris was holding a nearby rally with her running mate Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor who joined the Democratic presidential ticket on Tuesday.

Mr Vance added: I also thought you guys might get lonely, because the vice-president doesnt answer questions from reporters and hasnt for 17 days. It would be good for the American people and for all of you if she ran a real campaign instead of from a basement with a teleprompter.

Ms Harris and Mr Walz kicked off a five-day campaign blitz on Tuesday, starting with a packed debut joint rally in Pennsylvania, followed by night stops in Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Nevada.

Mr Vance, meanwhile, has been trailing in his Democratic rivals wake, with smaller campaign events in the swing states that both sides see as essential to the outcome of the presidential race.

Ms Harriss campaign quickly responded to the incident with a video that mocked Mr Vances arrival as an unwelcome, grating interjection on an otherwise sunny day.

The clip first showed the Democratic nominee shaking hands with Girl Scouts, before zooming in on the Make America Great Again plane as it landed along with the viral TikTok sound: All of a sudden, I hear this agitating, grating voice.

The plane wars continued when Steven Cheung, the spokesman for the Trump-Vance campaign, tweeted back: Make sure AF2 is deep cleaned because Lord only knows what @KamalaHarris and her team have done on there.

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Kamala Harris warned anti-Israel hecklers at a Democrat rally they risked handing Donald Trump victory in the presidential election.

The vice president was speaking in Detroit on Wednesday night when the pro-Palestinian activists interrupted her.

Kamala! Kamala! You cant hide! We wont vote for genocide! they chanted.

You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, Im speaking, Ms Harris scolded.

Before shutting down the hecklers, the Democrat presidential nominee said, Im here because we believe in democracy. Everyones voice matters, but I am speaking now.

A member of Ms Harris's team holds back the hecklers as they interrupt her speech - Rebecca Cook

Her behaviour contrasts with how Trump reacted to hecklers in previous campaigns. In 2016 in Nevada, he said he would like to punch a protestor in the face.

You know what they used to do to a guy like that in a place like this? Trump said. Theyd be carried out on a stretcher, folks.

The heckling of Ms Harris was significant because it is the first time she has been targeted over Israels war on Hamas, which has divided some Democrat voters.

Michigan, the state where the rally was held, has a significant number of Arab and Muslim voters.

President Joe Biden, who stepped down as a candidate in favour of Ms Harris on July 21, was regularly heckled on the campaign trail by activists decrying him as Genocide Joe.

Ms Harris was joined by her vice president pick Tim Walz - Anadolu

Pro-Palestinians have accused his administration of being too soft on Israel over its retaliation for the Oct 7 terror attacks.

Ms Harris has said she supports Israel but has also criticised Benjamin Netanyahus government.

After meeting the Israeli prime minister on July 25, she said that Israel had killed far too many people in Gaza and warned: I will not be silent.

Earlier, she boycotted Congress when Mr Netanyahu spoke there before their meeting in Washington.

The Israeli prime minister had a close relationship with Trump when he was president. The two men met in July at the Republican candidates Florida Mar-a-Lago estate.

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President Joe Biden will host the Texas Rangers at the White House on Thursday to celebrate the 2023 World Series champions for their first-ever winning title.

The Rangers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in the most recent World Series, winning the five-game series with a 5-0 shutout.

The team lost, 6-0, against the Houston Astros on Wednesday.

The Rangers will play a three-game series against the New York Yankees on Friday, followed by a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park next week, before returning home to Globe Life Field to play against the Minnesota Twins.

Watch live: Texas Rangers visit Biden, White House

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Livestream: Biden hosts 2023 World Series Champions Texas Rangers
Vice President Harris and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) are holding an event Wednesday evening at Detroit Metro Airport, rounding out a day of campaign appearances in the upper Midwest swing states by both parties.

Their itinerary, which included a rally in Eau Claire, Wis., earlier in the day, is the mirror image of that taken by GOP vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio). Vance visited a police station in suburban Detroit Wednesday morning before heading to Eau Claire. At the Wisconsin appearance, Vance told journalists hed taken a look at Air Force Two at the airport, quipping, I just wanted to check out my future plane.

The prime-time visit by Harris and Walz follows a wave of strengthening support in Michigan for the Democratic ticket following its change in lineup.

Among a substantial list of Democratic Party heavy hitters on Wednesday evenings program are Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain  plus retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and the candidate who hopes to succeed her, Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.).

The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT.

Watch the live video above.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
ROWAN COUNTY, North Carolina (KMID/KPEJ)  Deputy Jeremy Crew saw an injured alligator crawling across Long Kerry Road early Sunday morning, not even pushing with four feet.

The North Carolina Wildlife Department was still 45 minutes away, but Corporal Randal Addison was nearby. So, the K-9 handler responded with some enthusiasm.

Like once I said I was going to do it, I couldnt back out because Ive got five guys behind me that were hold me accountable, said Corporal Addison.

My cousins a big outdoorsman down there, so I just watched him. I told him later, and he was like ahh thats cool, but deep down I know he was likethat aint nothing.When we found out wildlife was 45 minutes out, my Seargent  he didnt say I could do it outright, but gave me the head nod, continued Addison.

Corporal Addison then put a rain jacket over the gators face.

He snapped and everybody backed up. Some faster than others.

He reminded me Im a lot older and cant move as fast haha, said Deputy Crew.

On the second try, the gator didnt snap back, allowing the Corporal and deputies to catch him, tape his snout, and move him into Addisons K-9 cage.

Oh I learned a lot while watching him. Hes very impressive haha, said Crew.

Glad I can add that to thing Ive experienced here in Rowan County. Its proof that you never know what to expect here in Rowan County, added Addison.

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CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY)  The Perseid meteor shower is a weeks-long, fireball-filled event that happens every year, but the meteor showers peak will take place this Sunday night. If you want to catch a glimpse, there are a few things you should know if you plan to get the best possible view in north central West Virginia.

CHIFENG, CHINA  AUGUST 14, 2023  The Perseid meteor shower is seen over the Ulanbum grassland in Chifeng city, Inner Mongolia, China, August 14, 2023. (Photo by Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

What time is it?

According to NASAs prep guide for the 2024 Perseid meteor shower, the peak of activity is expected to be the night of Sunday, Aug. 11 into the morning of Monday, Aug. 12.

In north central West Virginia, the moon will set shortly before midnight at around 11:30 p.m. That means the sky will be close to peak darkness and should give you the best conditions to see some meteors. You can find the exact time the moon will set in your area by using Stellariums interactive night sky map.

The only one that can: Green Bank Telescope to search for liquid oceans in our solar system

However, while this Sunday night will be the most active time for the meteor shower, youll still be able to see Perseid meteors after this weekend. In fact, you may have seen some already. The American Meteor Society says meteor shower activity will still be strong the night before and the night after the maximum on Sunday.

In 2023, the Perseids lasted from July 14 until Sept. 1, so its still possible to witness the phenomenon outside the peak, youll just need to get lucky.

Real-Time Perseid from Sept. 8, 2018. Credit: Till Credner, AlltheSky.com

You mentioned there would be fireballs?

Yes! Perseid meteors are cast-off debris from the Swift-Tuttle comet, an unusually large comet about 16 miles in diameter. Because of its size, the comet creates a large amount of meteoroids; these meteors only need to be one millimeter across or larger to have the ability to produce a fireball. Its because of this that the Perseid meteor shower makes more fireballs than any other, and is why NASA considers it the best meteor shower of the year.

Where you can watch it

Depending on where you live, you may not even need to leave your backyard for a great view of the Perseid meteor shower. Keep in mind that urban areas have more light pollution than rural areas, which can make it difficult or even impossible to see some meteors depending on how bright they are.

Mystery dark galaxy planned for future study at Green Bank

But, if you live in a city, you dont have to travel hours away to a completely dark area to get a decent view. Going just a few miles out of town can dramatically improve night sky visibility. If you want to find a suitable location with minimal light, websites like Light Pollution Map or Dark Site Finder will show you the levels of light pollution in your area.

If you want the absolute best possible view, Spruce Knob is one of West Virginias premier star-gazing destinations thanks to its remote location and lack of artificial light. Alternatively, you can read a full list of West Virginias top stargazing spots in 2024 right here.

If you do see a fireball, you can also report it to the American Meteor Society.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
A word of warning: If youre afraid of snakes or blood-sucking insects, then this video showing a giant python being eaten alive by hundreds of ticks will almost assuredly give you the creeps. Its worth watching anyway.

Mike Kimmel, a nuisance wildlife trapper whos better known as the Python Cowboy, recorded the video recently while he was out with clients on a guided python hunt in South Florida. The roughly 10-minute clip was uploaded to YouTube on Aug. 1, and it recaps an intense night of snake hunting in the Everglades. The real highlight of the hunt is when Kimmels tracking dog, Otto, finds a huge Burmese python thats absolutely covered in ticks.

Probably the worst Ive ever seen, Kimmel writes in the videos description, referring to the sheer number of engorged ticks they found on the snake. We probably did this girl a favor by taking her out.

Read Next: Florida Python Trackers Remove Two Giant Mating Balls in Record Day of Snake Hunting

The nightmarish discovery comes as Otto works ahead of the hunters and sniffs out the python thats hiding in the sawgrass. Good dog bubba, Kimmel tells his dog around the four-minute mark as he follows Ottos nose and sees just a sliver of a Burmese python buried in the thick brush. It turns out to be a big female thats guarding its nest, and the hunters walk around the area to figure out their best approach. The snake hisses as they dig through the grass to try and find the snakes head. Thats when Kimmel sees the hundreds of fat ticks already latched onto it. Some are as big as grapes.

Thats gonna be a juicy grab for somebody, a man jokes off camera.

As the hunters move around the brush to get a good angle on the snake, Kimmel points out that the female is guarding a clutch of eggs and unwilling to leave its nest. But the snake is also exhausted from all the ticks that are feeding on it and sapping its energy. When one of the hunters grabs it near the back of its head, the python uncoils without putting up much of a fight, revealing the 17 eggs in its nest.

Related: Can Ticks Kill Fawns?

The first thing I noticed after the eggs was how this python was just covered in ticks like I have never seen, Kimmel says, recapping the footage toward the end of the video. This snake was just being chewed to pieces. It had well over a hundred ticks on it, probably hundreds.

After humanely killing the snake (which happens offscreen), the hunters remove the python eggs from the nest, doing their part to chip away at the Everglades python problem.

Kimmel is one of many government-approved contractors across the state who specialize in hunting pythons and can get paid through incentive programs to kill as many of the snakes as possible. A large number of these snake hunters, along with python enthusiasts from all over the country, will gather this week in South Florida to compete in the Florida Python Challenge.

Read Next: Watch: Snake Hunters Catch the Longest Python Ever Recorded in Florida

The snake-hunting competition is a team event that will run from just after midnight on Aug. 9 to 5 p.m. on August 18. Interested participants must complete an online training course and be aware of all contest rules, including prohibitions on firearms and the use of hunting dogs. Prizes will be awarded in several categories, including the longest Burmese python caught, and whichever team catches the most snakes wins the ultimate grand prize of $10,000.
(Bloomberg) -- Tokyo Electron Ltd. raised its profit forecast for the fiscal year to March after reporting a better-than-expected surge in sales.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Japanese provider of semiconductor-patterning systems said it sees operating profit for the full year reaching 627 billion ($4.3 billion), up 8% from its previous guidance. Citing strong growth trends from the previous fiscal year, primarily due to investments in mature generation of semiconductors in China, the company on Thursday also raised its outlook for sales and profit for the period from April to September.

Revenue in the quarter to June was 555 billion, beating the analyst consensus of 500 billion and snapping a streak of year-on-year declines dating back to 2022. Operating profit for those three months was 165.7 billion, also above expectations.

Tokyo Electron has had a turbulent year, as artificial intelligence demand initially lifted its prospects along with the wider chipmaking industry, but a US push to curb tech exports to China has provided headwinds. As of March, more than 47% of Tokyo Electrons revenue came from China, in part because the Asian nation has been stockpiling equipment ahead of potential elevated sanctions by Washington. The company in recent weeks gave up all gains made this year, shedding $44 billion in market capitalization since its all-time high in April.

Tokyo Electron sees no sign of stricter US curbs on chip tools incoming, finance division officer Hiroshi Kawamoto said on a call after its earnings report. The company continues to monitor the situation closely, he added.

The chip gear maker has historically relied heavily on Intel Corp., the US chip pioneer thats recently struggled to keep up with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Samsung Electronics Co. in the race to fabricate the most advanced chips. While those two companies are also Tokyo Electron customers, the decline in orders from Intel has played a role in making Tokyo Electron more reliant on China.

Alongside Dutch supplier ASML Holding NV, Tokyo Electron plays a critical role in the chipmaking supply chain, providing the equipment and expertise to manufacture cutting-edge processors and memory chips. The Biden administration has asked the Netherlands and Japan to tighten restrictions on advanced tech outflows to China, in line with curbs on US firms.

Story continues

(Updates with further details from companys report)

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Ten arrests for antisocial behaviour in Croydon on Wednesday evening were not linked to the far-Right riots happening elsewhere in the country, the Metropolitan Police has said.

The force made 15 arrests across London with officers detaining ten people on North End Road, Croydon, for offences including assault on an emergency worker, breaching a section 35 dispersal order, going equipped for arson and violent disorder.

An image posted on Twitter by the police force shows officers wearing riot gear appearing to arrest an individual wearing a black tracksuit and balaclava. Further footage shows officers running down the road with shields.

The force said the arrests were not related to any riots, but that a small group were intent on causing trouble.

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A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: Approximately 50 people have gathered in North End Road, Croydon.

Theyve made clear their intention is to cause disruption and fuel disorder. Theyve dragged and thrown objects down the road and thrown bottles at officers.

This is not linked to the protest, this appears to be pure anti-social behaviour. Officers are moving in numbers to make arrests.

Mass demonstrations failed to materialise on Wednesday despite fears of widespread riots erupting across the country.

The policing minister claimed tougher sentences handed out to rioters were helping calm unrest on Britains streets.

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Dame Diana Johnson told Times Radio: Last night we didnt see the levels of criminality that we perhaps could have done after the events of recent days.

And I think thats because of the presence of the police on our streets and also the response from the criminal justice system, that if you get involved in criminal activity in the way thats happened in the last few days, you will be held to account.

Andy Valentine, deputy assistant commissioner for the Metropolitan Police, said: More than 1,000 officers were deployed in London ready to respond to events planned across the city.

They were ready to protect our communities from hateful, divisive and violent behaviour. Officers did face anti-social behaviour from a small group in Croydon who were not related to any protest, but were intent on causing trouble.

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WATCH: In True 'Black Auntie' Form, Kamala Harris Shuts Down Protesters and Then Gives A Side Eye

Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris walks on stage as she is introduced during a campaign event on August 7, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan - Image: Andrew Harnik (Getty Images)

Things got rowdy during a Harris-Walz rally, but in true Black momma or auntie fashion, Vice President Kamala Harris checked disturbers and gave them an ultimatum.



Harris and her recently announced running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, are on a swing-state tour. At their latest stop in Detroit, however, the campaign felt some static on the long road to Nov. 4.

In the midst of the crowd of 15,000 people, a group of pro-Palestine protesters stood, calling out the vice president on her involvement in the ongoing Gaza crisis. In the middle of Harris speech, they began shouting Kamala, Kamala, you cant hide, we wont vote for genocide.

As the chants quickly filled the venue, Harris supporters were quick to come to her defense, chanting Kamala! Kamala! to try to drown out the noise in response.



Pro-Palestine protesters just disrupted Kamala's speech in Michigan.



Her response: "If you want Donald Trump to win say that. Otherwise, Im speaking. pic.twitter.com/Mf0CdEbDQg  Read No Shortcuts (@JoshuaPHilll) August 8, 2024

At first, Harris played it cool, settling the crowd and saying its all good. But then she went on to address the protesters directly, telling them Im here because we believe in democracy. Everyones voice matters. But I am speaking now.

The Democratic nominee continued with her speech, but when the protesters resumed their disruptive chants, Harris simply couldnt take it anymore. With a straight face and laser set eyes, Harris said, You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that...otherwise, Im speaking.

The moment was reminiscent of Harris clapback at former Vice President Mike Pence in 2020. During their formal vice presidential debate, Pence repeatedly interrupted Harris until she shut him down saying Mr. Vice President, I am speaking.... kay?

Before the rally began, Harris and Walz briefly met with leaders from the Uncommitted Movement, a pro-Palestinian liberation organization. During the meeting, two founding leaders of the organization expressed their concerns about U.S. funding Israel to continue to the war, according to Detroit Public Radio. They also demanded an immediate ceasefire.



Despite Harris efforts to appear firm in her commitment to end the Israel-Gaza war, the protesters in Detroit are a clear cut example that many Americans remain critical of the Biden-Harris Administrations handling of the war.

According to the Guardian, the rally disturbers were not affiliated with Uncommitted.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Officials with the Utah Department of Corrections and State Correctional Facility said the execution of death row inmate Taberon Honie went as smoothly as they could have hoped for this morning, Aug. 8.

Honie was pronounced dead by a medical examiner at around 12:25 a.m. Thursday morning after he was administered two lethal doses of pentobarbital starting at 12:04 a.m., according to prison officials. Honie, who had been seen moving his feet either out of nervousness or as one witness speculated, to a song in his head, slowly stopped moving.

LIVEBLOG: Taberon Honie executed by State of Utah

Media reporters, for their part, described the execution as watching someone fall asleep, which was a stark contrast to the violent firing squad execution of Utahs prior death row killing, Ronnie Lee Gardner 14 years ago. The reporters generally agreed, however, that they lost all sense of time in waiting for Honie to be declared dead. In actuality, the entire process took about 17 minutes.

In his final moments of consciousness, Prison Chief Randall Honey reported that Honie thanked the prison staff for taking care of Honie and his family and then turned toward the room where his family was watching and said, I love you. Honies mother reportedly replied back to him that she loved him, too, though he would not be able to hear her.

Who was Taberon Honie? A timeline of the crime, recent proceedings that led to his execution

While those were Honies actual last words, he made the following statement before the injection began: If it needs to be done for them to heal, lets do this. If they tell you you cant change, dont listen to them. To all my brothers and sisters here, continue to change. I love you all. Take care.

Immediately after Honies EKG readings stopped, family members were allowed to perform a short ceremony to help Honies soul along, in accordance with his familys Native American traditions. Honey said bird feathers and cornmeal were used to create a path to help Honies soul from becoming trapped within the room.

Daughter of Utah death row inmate navigates complicated dance of grief and healing before execution

Onhand to watch were half a dozen members of the media, including ABC4.coms Sarah Murphy, another half dozen Honie family members, seven family members of Honies victims, and a host of state legislators and law enforcement officers, including Iron County District Attorney Scott Burns, who originally prosecuted Honie. Staff members from Gov. Spencer Coxs office and the Utah Attorney Sean Reyes office were also in attendance, though neither official was.

Both offices released statements overnight, however.

Early this morning the state of Utah fulfilled its legal obligation to carry out the execution of Taberon Honie, stated Cox. The actions of Mr. Honie that lead to his death sentence are heinous. I respect the process of our criminal justice system, and recognize the countless public servants who meticulously planned and approached their responsibilities with professionalism. I hope this brings closure to those impacted by the crimes. My heart goes out to the victims family.

Reyes acknowledged that the controversy surrounding the death penalty is divisive.

But, there is no dispute that the violent and unprovoked taking of innocent lives from fellow human beings is among the crimes deemed by society to be most vile, repugnant, and punishable by the harshest measures possible, stated Reyes. In states like Utah, that includes the death penalty.

He asked that opponents of the death penalty would allow grace for those who carried out their duties as required by law, while noting that even among members of the execution team some were performing those duties in spite of their own personal views.

Its important: Veteran reporter reflects on witnessing hundreds of executions in Texas

Utah Department of Corrections Executive Director Brian Redd explained that the doctor in charge of lethal injection had recommended Honie be given two fatal doses of pentobarbital 20 minutes apart. Since the second dose had already been readied and could not be reused, the dose was actually administered after only five minutes.

A panel of media members who served as witnesses for Taberon Honies execution and prison officials. (KTVX)

Redd said around 200 people were involved in the execution this morning, which did not count other prison staff on hand to keep the facility operating. While the prison has been on lockdown since 7 a.m. Wednesday morning for security reasons, normal operations are expected to resume by 6 a.m. Thursday morning.

UDC Communications Director Glen Mills said the lack of problems during the execution were a result of a lot of planning and no less than seven dry runs with a UDC employee roughly Honies size and weight.

We went into it very confident in the planning, said Mills. I would say as a result of what happened, that showed tonight.

Redd and Mills both said, however, members of the department will be debriefed over the next couple of days to make sure everything really did go to plan. A report will also be filed with the court, in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, staff members and inmates alike will have access to mental health evaluations and treatment as needed. At the same time, however, Redd noted that situations like this mornings execution are part of the job, as difficult as it may be to do.

A lot of it is, we need to check our feelings at the door, said Redd.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
MIAMI, Okla.  A major break in a water line closes a busy road in northeast Oklahoma.

Miami utility crews closed off 22nd Streetalso known as Veterans Boulevard  and B Street due to the break. Roadblocks were also placed at 22nd and Main to C Street.

City officials say residents may have experienced low water pressure or disruption of service. Crews have been working throughout the day to repair the line.

City officials say crews are now finished with repairs after more than 6 hours, and all roads are now open.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
Wearing masks in public is now illegal in this New York county, with exceptions

Wearing masks in public is now illegal in this New York county, with exceptions

Lawmakers in a suburban New York county approved a bill to ban masks in public spaces, saying concealing your identity is a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to a year of jail time and a $1,000 fine.

Proponents of the Mask Transparency Act in Nassau County, Long Island, say the ban will combat crime during protests.

It was introduced in response to "antisemitic incidents, often perpetrated by those in masks" in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, Legislator Howard Kopel said during a public meeting on the mandate this week.

PHOTO: Protesters march in Freeport, NY, June 07, 2020. George Floyd's death, the most recent in a series of deaths of African Americans by the police, has set off days and nights of protests across the country. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

The ruling does have exceptions, however, with individuals wearing face coverings for religious or health reasons being exempt.

MORE: North Carolina lawmaker fights state anti-masking legislation

"This legislature finds that masks and facial coverings that are not worn for health and safety concerns or for religious or celebratory purposes are often used as a predicate to harassing, menacing or criminal behavior," according to the bill.

The bill gives local authorities the right to demand individuals remove their masks during a traffic stop or "when the officer has reasonable suspicion of criminal activity and/or intention to partake in criminal activity."

PHOTO: Members of the the Muslim community of Nassau County gather for a rally in support of Palestine and to protest the Israeli bombardment of Gaza in Mineola, NY, Oct. 15, 2023. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)

Those opposing the bill say it threatens protesters from expressing their views anonymously and could lead to retaliation, as well as posing a health risk with COVID-19 on the rise across the country.

"Nassau County's mask ban is a dangerous misuse of the law to score political points and target protestors," Susan Gottehrer, regional director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement.

"Making anonymous protest illegal chills political action and is ripe for selective enforcement, leading to doxxing, surveillance and retaliation against protesters," Gottehrer said.

MORE: Doxxing campaign against pro-Palestinian college students ramps up

The Mask Transparency Act, approved this week, saw a split decision between local leaders with 12 Republicans supporting the legislation and seven Democrats opposing it.

The bill is headed to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman's desk to sign into effect.

PHOTO: Protesters gather in Washington Square Park and march towards Times Square to call for justice in the police killing of 36-year-old Sonya Massey, New York City, July 25, 2024. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)

"Unless someone has a medical condition or a religious imperative, people should not be allowed to cover their face in a manner that hides their identity when in public," Blakeman said Monday after the vote.

Positive cases of COVID-19 are on the rise in the U.S., with the CDC reporting over a 16% increase in cases between the end of July and the start of August.

MORE: What to know about the updated COVID vaccines coming this fall

Gottehrer warns that this mask ban could endanger the health and even lives of residents, saying, "face coverings are critical to protecting the health of an individual, their family, and their community."

"Nassau County police officers are not health professionals or religious experts capable of deciding who needs a mask and who doesn't," Gottehrer added.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has also considered a mask ban on New York City Transit with support from NYC Mayor Eric Adams.

"On a subway, people should not be able to hide behind a mask to commit crimes," Hochul said.

Wearing masks in public is now illegal in this New York county, with exceptions originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Candidates and voters seeking different news from the primary election results were disappointed Wednesday when new vote counts showed little movement in any of Washington states statewide or federal races.

The race for Commissioner of Public Lands  a wide open race because DNR chief Hilary Franz is running for Congress  continues to be unresolved, with at least three candidates in contention for the two spots on the November ballot.

Here are the latest results of that and other contested state and federal races.

These numbers are as of 6 p.m. Wednesday from the Washington Secretary of States website. More than 1.2 million ballots have been counted so far, with an estimated 500,000 more to go.

Commissioner of Public Lands

The top three finishers remain exactly the same, with the same percentage of the votes: Former Republican congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler continues to lead with 22.6% of the vote. Right behind Beutler are fellow Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson with 20.7% and Dave Upthegrove, a Democrat, with 19.9%.

But not far behind are the rest of the candidates. The four remaining Democrats are Patrick DePoe with 13.4%, Allen Lebovitz with 10.6%, Kevin Van De Wege with 8% and Jeralee Anderson at 4.8%.

Additional ballots will have to be counted statewide before the top two candidates will be determined to advance to the November general election.

U.S. Senator

Incumbent Democrat Maria Cantwell, first elected in 2000, is leading with 57.4% of the vote tally as of Wednesday night. Unless something dramatic happens in remaining vote tallies, she will be facing off against Republican Dr. Raul Garcia, who so far has tallied 21.8% of the vote.

As a child growing up in Cuba, I could only dream of one day living in America, a place I loved before I ever stepped foot on it, said Garcia, who fled communist Cuba with his mother at age 11. To not only achieve the American dream by becoming a citizen, and building a family and a career, but also now to be a candidate for United States Senate, is something that could only happen in this great country.

There were 11 candidates on the primary ballot for the position.

Governor





Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, is leading with 45.1% of vote. He will be facing off against Republican Dave Reichert, who had tallied 28.1% of the vote.

Only two other candidates in the 28-candidate field garnered substantial support in early returns: controversial Republican nominee Semi Bird with 9.9% of the early tallies, and Mark Mullet with 5.9%.

There is no incumbent in this race because current Gov. Jay Inslee, 73, who has served since 2013, is retiring.

Lt. Governor

Democratic incumbent Denny Heck is leading with 48.5% of the vote so far. Initial results indicate he will be facing off against Republican Dan Matthews, who has received 22.9% of the vote so far.

The other candidate in the five-way race with a substantial number of votes is Republican Bob Hagglund with 16.8% of the vote.

Attorney General

Republican Pete Serrano continues to lead the field with 42.2% of the vote so far. Results indicate he will be facing off against Democrat Nick Brown, who so far has tallied 35.5% of the vote.

Democratic legislator Manka Dhingra is running in third with 22.2% of the vote.

Obviously the results are disappointing, but I am so proud of the campaign we ran to lift up critical issues like abortion rights, worker protections, and the needs of marginalized communities, Dhingra said in a statement issued Wednesday night. Congratulations to Nick Brown on his victory. I am resolved to continue fighting for the rights and protections of all Washingtonians in the State Senate.

Secretary of State

Democratic incumbent Steve Hobbs is leading the four-candidate field with 48.7% of the votes so far. He will be running against Republican Dale Whitaker, who has so far tallied 37% of the vote.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Incumbent Superintendent Chris Reykdal is leading the four-candidate field with 39.4% of the vote. So far results indicate he will be facing off against David Olson, who won 31.4% of the vote.

Reid Saaris is running in third with 23.4% of the vote.

Insurance Commissioner

Democrat Patty Kuderer is leading the eight-candidate field with 44.7% of the vote. In second place is Republican Phil Fortunato, who has tallied 28.4% of the vote so far.

Eight candidates appeared on the primary ballot for the wide open seat. Incumbent Democrat Mike Kreidler, who is 80, is stepping down after serving six four-year terms.

State Treasurer

Incumbent Democrat Mike Pellicciotti so far has garnered 58.3% of the votes tallied, while his only opponent Republican Sharon Hanek has 41.6%.

State Auditor

Incumbent Democrat Pat McCarthy has 58.8% of the votes so far, while her only opponent, Republican Matt Hawkins, has 41.15%.

U.S. Congressional District 3

Incumbent Democrat Maria Gluesenkamp Perez is leading with 46% of the vote. And it appears it will be a rematch of 2022 against Donald Trump-backed Republican Joe Kent, who has so far tallied 39.2% of the vote.

Republican Leslie Lewallen is trailing with 12.4% of the vote.

I got into this race to protect and grow the Republican majority in the House of Representatives. I couldnt sit on the sidelines while the people, values and country I love fall apart, Lewallen wrote in a statement released late Tuesday.

I believe in this country and will continue to fight for conservative principles. We are at a pivotal crossroads right now between strength and success and weakness and failure. There is no margin for error and we have to flip this seat. I support Joe Kent in his campaign to defeat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. We need to get this country back on track because Southwest Washington deserves better.

U.S. Congressional District 3 encompasses southwest Washington, including part of southern Thurston County.

U.S. Congressional District 10 Representative

Incumbent Marilyn Strickland, a Tacoma Democrat, is leading with 54.4% of the vote. Initial results indicate she will be facing off against Republican Don Hewett, who has tallied 27.5% of the vote.

The ballot included seven candidates, but the only other candidate with a substantial number of votes is Nirav Sheth, a Republican, with 11.5% of the vote.

The South Sound needs a voice in Congress who is committed to delivering results over making headlines, and bipartisan progress over extremism, Strickland said in a statement issued Tuesday night. Im honored to work on behalf of the people I represent throughout the district, and I will continue to focus on making progress to address our biggest challenges.

U.S. Congressional District 3 encompasses most of Thurston County and Northwest Pierce County, including part of Tacoma.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  School is just around the corner but summer isnt over yet. 2 NEWS compiled a list of events happening all across Dayton this weekend.

County Fair Outlook

Champaign County  Runs through Aug. 9.

Mercer County  Starts Aug. 8 through Aug. 14.

Miami County  Happening from Aug. 9-15.

Friday, Aug. 9

VOA Country Music Festival  7850 VOA Park Drive, West Chester. Some of country musics biggest names will be performing all weekend at this annual festival. Learn more.

Germanfest Picnic  5 p.m., 1400 E. Fifth Street, Dayton. Celebrate German traditions with food, music and more, with festivities centered at the Dayton Liederkranz Turner Clubhouse. Learn more.

First Annual Sober Masquerade Ball  7 p.m., 400 Linden Ave., Dayton. Harmony Womens Recovery and the Temple of the Rebel Goddess will host their first annual masquerade ball. Learn more.

Local Back-to-School event offers free art museum visit, prizes

Saturday, Aug. 10

Friends of the Dayton Metro Library Book Sale  9:30 a.m., 300 E. Central Ave., West Carrollton. Shop from thousands of books and media for all ages at the Dayton Metro Library West Carrollton Branch. Learn more.

40th Annual Art on the Lawn  10 a.m., 118 East North College Street, Yellow Springs. More than 100 regional artists will gather to show and sell their art. Learn more.

Dayton BBQ Fest  5 p.m., 700 E. Fourth Street, Dayton. Yellow Cabs food truck rally this week will focus on all things barbeque. Learn more.

College Prep Night returning to Dayton

Sunday, Aug. 11

Miami County Fair  650 N. County Road, Troy. As county fair season winds down for the Miami Valley, there are still lots of fun activities to experience in Miami County, with their fair running until Aug. 15. Learn more.

Englewood Arts Festival and Charity Car Show  9 a.m., Union Road, Englewood. A car show will take place to raise money for Community Table, happening during the annual Arts Fest weekend. Learn more.

Barrel Room Record Fair  Noon, 1475 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs. The Yellow Springs Brewery will host a record fair in collaboration with Alematic Artisan Ales and Blind Rage Records. Learn more.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
(NewsNation)  A group of lawmakers is seeking to ban weighted blankets, swaddles and sleep sacks for babies, citing multiple infant deaths.

Congressman Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., Congresswoman Kim Schrier, D-Wash. and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-N.Y., introduced the Safeguarding Infants from Dangerous Sleep Act on Friday. Weighted swaddles, sleep sacks and blankets can obstruct babies movement and make it difficult for them to breathe during unsupervised overnight sleep, the lawmakers said in a news release.

The bills introduction comes after similar warnings from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Titan submersible explorers family seeks over $50M for wrongful death

The American Academy of Pediatrics, which endorses the bill, has also warned that such products present the risk of brain damage.

Exhausted parents shouldnt have to become part-time product safety regulators, but our current system forces them to by allowing infant products onto the market without evidence they are safe, AAP President Benjamin D. Hoffman said in the release. We need a proactive approach that keeps infants safe and gives parents the peace of mind they deserve.

Earlier this year, Target, Walmart, Nordstrom and Babylist announced they would stop selling weighted infant products for safety reasons.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
J.D. Vance is begging people to stop calling him and Donald Trump weird.

During a campaign stop in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, Vance was asked to respond to the whole weird thing, which was popularized by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz before he was tapped to be Vice President Kamala Harriss running mate.

The Republican vice presidential nominee attempted to dispel rumors of his weirdness.

I think that what makes Donald Trump and I good candidates and a good team is that were normal guys who wanna make this country great again, and we want Americans to be able to live the American dream, he said.

Vance quickly pivoted into slinging some dirt of his own. He called Walz pretty weird for not kissing his wife onstage during his rally in Atlanta, which drew a crowd of more than 12,000 people. At Vances rally across town, the Ohio senator attracted a group of just over 200 people, according to local news outlet WHYY.

Throughout Vances appearance Wednesday at Wollard International, an airplane part manufacturer, Vance made his best case for just how normal the Republican ticket is. But for Vance, even softball questions elicited strangely hostile, awkward answers.

At one point, Vance was asked why people in Wisconsin would want to get a beer with him.

I guess, I guess theyd wanna have a beer with me because I actually do like to drink beer, he said, signaling his apparent normalcy. I probably like to drink beer a little bit too much, but thats OK, Im sure the media wont give me too much crap over that.

Vance proceeded to gush about his running mate, saying hed never met someone who likes normal people more than Trump.

"Why would people in Wisconsin want to have a beer with you?"



VANCE: "Hahahaha. Uh well, I guess, I guess they'd, they'd like, they'd want to have a beer with me because I actually do like to drink beer and um, I probably like to drink beer a little bit too much, but that's ok." pic.twitter.com/Qkqo0nA0cB  Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) August 7, 2024

This week, Vance has been traveling solo, stopping in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, never far from the Harris-Walz campaign. On Friday, he will be rejoined in Montana by former President Donald Trump, who hasnt campaigned all week.


CEBM Group, a research firm that counts China's top mutual fund houses as its clients, has suspended operations amid a financial squeeze as Beijing intensifies a crackdown on illegal behaviours and steps-up efforts to eradicate extravagance in the country's securities sector.

CEO Qu Chen of the Shanghai-based consultancy told employees in a letter that they would all be placed on unpaid leave until the company can wade through the current turbulence. He did not give a timeline.

"The company has to make this hard decision to reduce costs," he said in the letter dated August 5, which was seen by the Post. "Urgent actions must be taken to help us survive the 'nuclear winter' because some of the brokerage clients are unable to clear their accounts payable."

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"CEBM became the victim to a chain of bad reactions as the asset-management and brokerage industries took a beating from a slowing economy and a beleaguered stock market," said Ivan Li, a fund manager at Loyal Wealth Management in Shanghai. "Business morale among securities industry employees appears to be low, and it will take some time before the fund managers, analysts and traders regain their confidence in the A-share market."

CEBM could not be reached for comment.

Qu pledged in the letter that the employment status of staff members would be maintained despite the temporary halt to operations. The company would also continue paying into their pension and provident fund accounts, he added.

According to two fund managers briefed on the matter, CEBM's capital crunch resulted from delayed payments by clients and dwindling sales after mainland China's securities regulator set a cap on management fees collected by mutual-fund firms last year.

In July 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission capped such fees at 1.2 per cent, costing fund houses about 20 billion yuan (US$2.8 billion) in revenue compared with previous fees, which in turn slashed their spending on research reports. Management fees levied by China's mutual-fund firms averaged 1.42 per cent in 2022 and 1.41 per cent in 2021, according to Tianfeng Securities, an investment bank based in Wuhan, capital of central Hubei province.

CEBM conducts economic research, studies commodity markets, analyses key industries and offers investment advice. Founded in 2005, it has about 50 employees, according to Tianyancha, which profiles financial companies.

Story continues

A Chinese flag flies outside the China Securities Regulatory Commission building in Beijing on February 8, 2024. Photo: Reuters alt=A Chinese flag flies outside the China Securities Regulatory Commission building in Beijing on February 8, 2024. Photo: Reuters>

The mainland's top mutual fund management firm, China Harvest, is among CEBM's clients. The firm is also a partner with Caixin, the mainland's top financial media outlet, which compiles economic indicators such as the Caixin purchasing managers' index, a gauge of China's economic performance.

China's stocks have been struggling to find a fresh catalyst as the nation's economy struggles with headwinds from weak consumer spending and a lingering downturn in the property market. Demand for stocks has also been waning after a rebound triggered by state intervention ran out of steam as investors shifted their focus to growth prospects and corporate earnings. The CSI 300 Index is down almost 10 per cent from a high in May.

The flagging stock market has taken its toll on the brokerage industry, which was already under pressure from regulatory tightening of new share sales and a government mandate to cut salaries.

Some 51 publicly traded Chinese brokerages posted an average 23 per cent year-on-year decline in first-quarter profit as revenue decreased from the investment banking business. The industry suffered from a second straight year of pay cuts last year, with such reductions at the top 10 companies ranging from 1.2 per cent to 27 per cent.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Were just really sad: Local woman flew to Austria for now-canceled Taylor Swift concert

A local woman traveled from Pittsburgh to Austria to see Taylor Swift.

Now shes heartbroken and scared after finding out the concert was canceled because of a planned terrorist attack.

>> Organizers cancel Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna over fears of an attack

We were really, really excited, really looking forward to the show and then we got the notification that it was canceled, Christina McLauchlan, of Bellevue, said.

Disappointed doesnt begin to describe how McLauchlan and her friends are feeling.

Once the confusion settled, we really were scared, she said.

Police arrested two men in connection to the planned attack. One of them allegedly pledged his allegiance to ISIS.

For McLauchlan, the reality of the situation is still sinking in.

We are okay. were fine. we dont feel unsafe in any way. At this point, were just really sad, McLauchlan said. It could have been a lot worse. It could have really ended in a really bad way.

McLauchlan said shes seen Taylor Swift perform before and is sad others wont get to have that experience.

There was a woman at our hotel with a 13-year-old daughter and she came up to us and was like, Were you guys gonna go to the show? and were like, Yeah, were really sad, and she was like How do I break the news to my daughter? she recalled.

McLauchlan and her friends spent thousands of dollars on the trip.

While they wont get to see their favorite artist, theyre still hoping to make the best of it before flying home on Friday.

What I will say, something about Swifties is that we are resilient, she said.

Police had reportedly planned to step up security for the shows after the arrests but Taylor Swifts team made the decision to cancel.

McLauchlan says she and her friends are getting refunded for their tickets.

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Stepping Stones in Lavalette, W.Va., is part of the states Transitional Living for Vulnerable Youth program. Young men transitioning out of foster care can live individually in a tiny home as part of the program. (Susan Fry | Courtesy photo)

West Virginia leaders are expanding their support for young adults who are aging out of foster care and in need of housing, education and employment support as they transition to independent living.

The Department of Human Services has funded additional programs around the state in its Transitional Living for Vulnerable Youth program, which serves youth ages 17 to 21.

There are 5,991 children in West Virginias overburdened foster care system, according to DoHS data. The highest rate of those children  nearly 2,000 kids  are in the 13- to 17-year-old age range.

The transitional program offers young adults  some of whom have experienced multiple foster placements or a failed adoption  a place to live.

National data shows that more than 40% of youth aging out of foster care can experience homelessness by age 26.

The program also provides youth a chance to learn independent living skills, like financial management and cooking. It connects them with mental health and educational resources, including help enrolling in universities and vocational schools.

Expanding the TLVY program is a critical step in providing West Virginias vulnerable youth with the tools and support they need to succeed independently, Cammie Chapman, DoHS deputy secretary of children and adult services, said in a news release on Monday. We are committed to helping these young adults build a strong foundation for their future and become thriving members of our community.

In July, the TLVY program expanded to five providers with the additions of Burlington United Methodist Family Services Family Services in Keyser and Youth Services System Inc. Tuel Center in New Martinsville, bringing the total number of beds up to 49.

The state first launched its TLVY program in 2023 with three providers, including Stepping Stones in Wayne County.

Stepping Stones in Lavalette is in need of volunteers to help build additional tiny homes for young men who are in the program. Additionally, the program is in need of volunteers who can teach music classes and with job skills, including construction and insurance sales. Contact Stepping Stones Executive Director Susan Fry at stepupsrf@aol.com.

The program has six tiny homes in the town of Lavalette, where local young men transitioning out of foster care each live in 320 to 350 square feet while learning to cook, manage their finances and more. The young men grow produce and herbs then sell it to local markets as part of their income.

Theyre actually working, earning money, opening checking accounts and learning wants versus needs, said Stepping Stones Executive Director Susan Fry.

The young men who enter the program have lived in group homes, kinship or foster care homes. Others have arrived after a failed adoption or after experiencing homelessness.

Fry noted that some may have no contact with family members.

Many of them have no support, she said. Theyve been through the [foster care] system, and theyre through with the system, and you cant blame them because their lives were controlled by others.

The TLVY has offered steady state funding, Fry said. She currently accepts around four or five young men but plans to build additional tiny homes to accept more individuals.

Through the program, residents can earn their high school diploma and be connected with educational opportunities at nearby Marshall University. The young men also have the option to enter apprenticeship programs with local unions, Fry explained.

Whatever pathway they want to pursue, we help them with that, she said. What were trying to do is that nice hand off to the community, so that theyre already connected to our universities and to our workforce  because its hard if youre not connected.

The TLVY program also includes Golden Girl Group Home in Ceredo and Stepping Stone in Fairmont. Plans for an additional eight-bed facility are currently underway, according to DoHS.

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JERUSALEM (AP)  Israel's Western allies have condemned remarks by the country's far-right finance minister who suggested that the starvation of Gaza's population of more than 2 million Palestinians might be just and moral until hostages captured in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel are returned home.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in a speech on Monday that Israel had no choice but to send humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Its not possible in todays global reality to manage a war  no one will allow us to starve 2 million people, even though that might be just and moral until they return the hostages, he said at a conference in support of Jewish settlements.

Smotrich, a key partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition, supports the reoccupation of Gaza, the rebuilding of Jewish settlements that were removed in 2005, and what he describes as the voluntary migration of large numbers of Palestinians out of the territory.

The European Union on Wednesday condemned his remarks, noting that the deliberate starvation of civilians is a war crime.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the remarks beyond ignominious," saying "it demonstrates, once again, his contempt for international law and for basic principles of humanity.

David Lammy, Britain's new foreign secretary, said there can be no justification for Minister Smotrichs remarks.

We expect the wider Israeli government to retract and condemn them, he wrote on the social media platform X.

Germany's ambassador to Israel, Steffen Siebert, called the remarks "unacceptable and appalling.

It is a principle of international law and of humanity to protect civilians in a war and to give them access to water and food, he wrote on X.

Egypt's foreign ministry on Thursday also condemned Smotrich's remarks, describing them as shameful statements unacceptable in form and substance and a violation of international humanitarian law. Such irresponsible statements create incitement against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the ministry added.

The ongoing war sparked by Hamas' attack has plunged Gaza into a humanitarian catastrophe. The vast majority of its population has been displaced within the blockaded territory, often multiple times, and hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid tent camps. The leading international authority on the severity of hunger crises, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, said in June that Gaza was at high risk of famine.

Aid organizations say efforts to deliver food and other assistance have been hindered by Israeli restrictions, ongoing fighting and the breakdown of law and order. Israel says it allows unlimited humanitarian aid to enter and blames U.N. agencies for failing to promptly deliver it.

Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people in the surprise attack into Israel that triggered the war and took around 250 hostages. Some 110 hostages are still being held in Gaza, though Israel believes that about a third of them are dead. Most of the rest were released during a weeklong November cease-fire.

Israel's ongoing offensive has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, and has caused widespread devastation.

___

Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
The Whatcom County Sheriffs Office on Wednesday announced five arrests have been made as part of a Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force (WGDTF) investigation of a drug trafficking organization suspected of distributing controlled substances within the county for years.

The investigation led to the seizure of more than 70 pounds of narcotics, according to a Sheriffs Office press release.

Authorities suspect the organization is led by Mikel Leandro Escandon Tibillin, 37, of Everett, where the drug distribution cell is based. Escadon Tibillin was arrested by the Sheriffs Office on Tuesday.

In May, investigators were monitoring suspected drug and firearm trafficker Austin Grimme, 34, of Bellingham. Grimme met with individuals linked to Escandon Tibillin while investigators were monitoring him, according to the news release.

Grimme was arrested May 17 after authorities found 3 ounces of suspected fentanyl-laced powder in his vehicle during a traffic stop. Investigators also learned Grimme was using a 3D printer to manufacture automatic firearms. He was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to deliver, three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree and manufacture of undetectable firearms.

Washington Mishael Ruiz Bomboza, 22 and Edwin Lenny Vite Delgado, 26, also were arrested this week for their suspected involvement in drug trafficking, as detectives observed them making regular trips to Whatcom County.

Katerin Arangure-Arangure, 26, was arrested with Vite Delgado at their Everett apartment on suspicion of money laundering and possession of controlled substances with intent to deliver.

The drug distribution network worked like a dispatch service, with drugs ordered over the phone and couriers filling the orders, the release said. Investigators ordered drugs twice using the service, confirming the involvement of Escandon-Tibillin, Ruiz Bomboza and Vite Delgado.

Ruiz Bomboza and Escandon-Tibillin were arrested Aug. 5 while they met in a Bellingham parking lot. A search of the vehicle turned up mutliple types of narcotics, and Escandon-Tibillin was arrested on suspicion of delivery of a controlled substance, leading organized crime and money laundering.

Investigators served search warrants Aug. 6 on two Everett apartments linked to the investigation.

Katerin Arangure-Arangure, 26, and Vite Delgado were contacted by law enforcement during the search of the apartments. Arangure-Arangure was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and possession of controlled substances with intent to deliver.

Seizures made at the apartments included:

24 pounds of suspected cocaine or fentanyl-laced powder

32 pounds of suspected fentanyl-laced pills

12 pounds of suspected methamphetamine

3 pounds of suspected heroin

Over $60,000 in suspected drug proceeds

Other agencies involved in the investigation include the Bellingham Police Department, Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force, Washington State Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine.
Today is a glorious day for us, Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus told reporters as he touched down at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Thursday, ahead of his inauguration as the head of Bangladeshs interim government. Bangladesh has created a new victory day. Bangladesh has got a second independence.

But the reality is more fragile for the beleaguered South Asian nations 4.1 million garment workers, who together contribute nearly 85 percent of Bangladeshs $56 billion in annual exports. The country was already awash in chaos and uncertainty before former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas dramatic resignation and flight to India in the turbulent final hours of Monday. The curfews and communications blackout her government had imposed in the preceding weeks in response to student protests over quotas in government jobs spawned profound manufacturing, banking and logistical disruptions that only exacerbated existing supply chain headwinds, including the still-simmering Red Sea conflict.

More from Sourcing Journal

The unrest has left its mark, according to the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka and Policy Exchange Bangladesh, which revealed Thursday that the countrys Purchasing Managers Index dropped by 27 points in Julyits first contraction since the benchmark was launched in Januarysignaling significant declines in new orders, exports and supplier deliveries that were already on a downward trajectory.

Last month, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, better known as the BGMEA, said that the industry was shedding $150 million a day at the height of the curfews, which kept factories shuttered for five days. And Munir Mashooqullah, founder of apparel supply chain firm M5 Groupe, expects 15-to-25-day delays in deliveriesa lifetime for retailers gearing up for back-to-school season and Christmaswhich could spell further trouble for future orders, though he noted that other sourcing countries have a smaller capacity than Bangladesh making it hard to replace.

Many concerned retailers continue to keep a close watch on Bangladesh, he said.

For garment workers, the issue is more acute. Most of them didnt receive their July wages on Wednesday, according to Scott Nova, executive director of the Worker Rights Consortium, a Washington, D.C.-based labor organization. Because of what amounts to chronically low payBangladesh has a 62 percent gap between minimum and living wages, according to The Industry We Want, a multi-stakeholder initiative that tracks social and environmental progressmany already live hand to mouth, with little savings and fewer social protections to speak of.

The two big questions are how soon will people get paid and will they be paid the full months wages or will the factory owners dock their pay for the days the factories were shut down? he said.

Miran Ali, vice president of the BGMEA and managing director of the Bitopi Group and Tarasima Apparels, said several days of bank closuresplus the fact that many are still struggling to come fully back onlinehave stymied factories ability to make payments.

Weve been working primarily on reopening factories and weve accomplished that, Ali said. From Sunday, which is our next working day, we will be starting to work on clearing the backlog of payments. This is not a problem of intentions and our trade union colleagues and our workers are well aware of the situation and weve asked them to be patient.

The IndustriALL Bangladesh Council, which is made up of affiliates of IndustriALL Global Union, which represents some 50 million workers in more than 140 countries, said it has engaged with both the BGMEA and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, or BKMEA, to demand that all workers receive their wages for the curfew period, ensure that no worker is fired or harassed as a result of the ongoing situation, and to respect and protect the safety and rights of all workers and their families. The council also urged the interim government to restore human rights and equity for victims of state violence by improving wages and workplace conditions.

Workers and their families have been severely affected by the recent unrest, blockades, and curfew, A.M. Nazim Uddin, president of the IndustriALL Bangladesh Council, said in a statement. Hundreds of thousands of precarious workers, including those in the garment, chemical, and shipbreaking industries, have lost their earnings in recent days. Commodity prices have also surged. We appeal to the government led by Dr. Yunus to restore and uphold human rights and to ensure the development of human-centered policies.

The BGMEA, which is currently caught in a battle over its leadership, has said that buyer representatives have promised not to cancel orders or request discounts or chargebacks for falling behind schedule. H&M Group, Bangladeshs largest buyer of apparel, told Sourcing Journal that it would not seek any price cuts due to delays under current circumstances, although its assessing the situation daily. A spokesperson for C&A said that delivery delays are expected, which the Belgium-headquartered retailer is managing together with our supplier base.

Other prominent buyers, including Gap Inc., Zara owner Inditex, Levi Strauss & Co., Puma, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger operator PVH Corp., The North Face parent VF Corp., Target and Walmart either declined or did not respond to requests for comment about late penalties. The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, an international nonprofit, said that it, too, has reached out to brands, but responses and its analysis of them wont be available until the end of the month.

Of the brands contacted, only H&M and Puma said that they have not changed their sourcing strategy in Bangladesh.

Shelly Heald Han, executive vice president and chief of staff at the Fair Labor Association, a multi-stakeholder organization whose members include Adidas, Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing and Patagonia, said that it issued an alert last week asking brands to stay in close touch with their suppliers.

One important reason for this is to make sure that workers are paid for the public holidays that were declared by the government of Bangladesh during the recent unrest, she said. Looking ahead, we encourage all companies sourcing from Bangladesh to continue to place orders and support the workers and the suppliers during this time of transition.

Han also noted the lesser-known risk faced by Bangladeshi workers who participated in solidarity protests in countries such as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. She said she recommends that members sourcing from those geographies check with their suppliers and watch for potential negative repercussions.

Fashion supply chains are human-led, labor-intensive socio-economic systems, said Hakan Karaosman, associate professor at Cardiff University, chief scientist at Fashions Responsible Supply Chain Hub and chair of the Union of Concerned Researchers in Fashion. Canceling orders, suspending payments or demanding discounts can leave suppliers financially vulnerable, creating financial and psychological pressures that cascade onto garment workers, he said.

Let us remember that the fashion industry is characterized by power imbalance, and that fashion brands are financially powerful thanks to garment workers, Karaosman said. This crisis emerges as a pivotal moment to channel the responsible leadership we desperately need. It is time to put garment workers front and center. It is our moral duty to protect them.

Nova agreed that brands should maintain existing payment schedules rather than paying suppliers later if orders take longer to arrive.

Suppliers expectations in this regard will affect the decisions they make about wages, so it is important for brands to make clear to suppliers now that they will not penalize them, he said.
Where can I get free back-to-school supplies in the Milwaukee area?

Families nationwide are expecting to spend hundreds of dollars as their children prepare for the first day of school, according to the National Retail Federation.

Some local organizations are stepping up and offering free back-to-school resources in Wisconsin to help mitigate the financial stress on families. Here's where you can find those resources in and around Milwaukee:

Where can I find free school supplies in Milwaukee?

Here's a list of organizations providing free school supplies in the Milwaukee area.

If we missed an event you'd like to include, please let us know by emailing agroth@gannett.com

South Division High School Back-to-School Community Fair

South Division is hosting it's 3rd annual Back-to-School Community Fair. Come for resources, free backpacks and school supplies. Tickets are not needed for this event.

When: Aug. 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: South Division High School, at 1515 W. Lapham Blvd.

Hmong American Friendship Association's 17th Annual Back-to-School & Health Resource Fair

The Hmong American Friendship Association is hosting its 17th annual Back-to-School and Health Resource Fair. The event offers free school supplies, community resources, free food, games, activities and live performances. Registration for free school supplies will done in-person at the event.

When: Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: 3824 West Vliet St.

Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center's Back-to-School:

Gerald L Ignance Indian Health Center will be handing out backpacks and school supplies, and there will be a cook-out meal, frozen treats, and activities. This event is for Native households only. You must provide Tribal ID or proof of descendance.

When: Aug. 22 from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Where: Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center, at 930 W. Historic Mitchell St.

Blessed Savior Catholic School Back-to-School Kick-off

Blessed Savior Catholic School is hosting its Back-to-School Kick-Off. The event includes school supplies and bookbag giveaway, free food, music, community resources, bounce houses and face painting, free haircuts and hair braiding.

When: Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Blessed Savior East Campus, at 5140 N. 55th St.

Wellpoint Care Network Back-to-School Bash

Wellpoint Care Network is hosting its third annual Back-to-School bash. Children will receive free backpacks filled with school supplies. There will also be free haircuts, health screenings, dental cleanings and more.

When: Aug. 8 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: 3950 North 92nd Street

United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County

United Way provides school supplies for the students in need who attend Milwaukee Public Schools, Waukesha County schools, Germantown School District and Ozaukee County schools.

Milwaukee Public School students attending one of the Milwaukee Community Partnership Schools can contact their guidance counselor for resources.

Waukesha County students attending Hadfield, Hawthorne and Heyer Elementary schools and Waukesha South freshman, can contact their guidance counselor for resources.

Families in Germantown School District can contact School Social Worker Stephanie Kaebish at 262-502-7121 or at skaebish@gsdwi.org.

Families in Ozaukee County can contact Melissa Parchim at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ozaukee County at melissaap@bbbsoz.org.

RELATED: Heading back to school? Here's what supplies in Milwaukee area schools could cost you.

RELATED: With Arrowhead heading to a $261M referendum this fall, see this list of largest Wisconsin school referendums in the last decade

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Where to find free back-to-school supplies in, near Milwaukee
Over the last 7 days, the Indian market has dropped 4.7%, driven by pullbacks in every sector. In contrast to the last week, the market is up 39% over the past year, with earnings forecast to grow by 17% annually. In such a fluctuating environment, dividend stocks can offer stability and income potential for investors looking to navigate these market conditions effectively.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In India

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Balmer Lawrie Investments (BSE:532485) 3.61%  D. B (NSEI:DBCORP) 5.17%  HCL Technologies (NSEI:HCLTECH) 3.26%  VST Industries (BSE:509966) 3.63%  Indian Oil (NSEI:IOC) 8.13%  Bharat Petroleum (NSEI:BPCL) 6.11%  Redington (NSEI:REDINGTON) 3.22%  NMDC (BSE:526371) 3.17%  Bank of Baroda (NSEI:BANKBARODA) 3.12%  PTC India (NSEI:PTC) 3.72% 

Click here to see the full list of 18 stocks from our Top Indian Dividend Stocks screener.

Here we highlight a subset of our preferred stocks from the screener.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Coal India Limited, along with its subsidiaries, is involved in the production and marketing of coal and coal products in India, with a market cap of 3.28 trillion.

Operations: Coal India Limited generates revenue primarily from its coal mining and services segment, amounting to 1.35 trillion.

Dividend Yield: 4.8%

Coal India, with a dividend yield of 4.8%, ranks in the top 25% of Indian dividend payers. Despite earnings growth of 38.6% last year and a low payout ratio (42%), its dividends are not well covered by free cash flows due to a high cash payout ratio (1226%). The company's P/E ratio (8.7x) suggests good value compared to the broader market. Recent strategic alliances may bolster future stability but past dividend volatility remains a concern.

NSEI:COALINDIA Dividend History as at Aug 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (NSEI:ONGC) explores for, develops, and produces crude oil and natural gas in India and internationally, with a market cap of 3.85 trillion.

Operations: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited's revenue segments include 96.69 billion from operations outside India, 5.72 billion from refining and marketing within India, 441.92 million from onshore exploration and production in India, and 953.81 million from offshore exploration and production in India.

Dividend Yield: 3.7%

Story continues

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) has a dividend yield of 3.72%, placing it in the top 25% of Indian dividend payers. Despite a low payout ratio of 31.3%, recent earnings reports show a decline in net income to 99.36 billion from 146.44 billion year-over-year, potentially impacting future dividends. The company's P/E ratio of 9.3x indicates good value compared to the broader market, but past dividend volatility remains an issue for investors seeking stable income streams.

NSEI:ONGC Dividend History as at Aug 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Uniparts India Limited, with a market cap of 22.47 billion, manufactures and sells engineering systems, solutions, assemblies, and components for off-highway vehicles in India and internationally.

Operations: Uniparts India Limited generates 11.40 billion in revenue from linkage parts and components for off-highway vehicles.

Dividend Yield: 3.9%

Uniparts India has recently started paying dividends, making it too early to assess reliability or growth. The companys dividend yield of 3.93% places it among the top 25% in the Indian market. Despite a recent decline in net income to 1.25 billion from 2.05 billion year-over-year, its dividends are covered by earnings (62.6%) and cash flows (53.9%). A P/E ratio of 18x suggests good value compared to peers and industry standards.

NSEI:UNIPARTS Dividend History as at Aug 2024

Taking Advantage

Delve into our full catalog of 18 Top Indian Dividend Stocks here.

Are any of these part of your asset mix? Tap into the analytical power of Simply Wall St's portfolio to get a 360-degree view on how they're shaping up.

Simply Wall St is a revolutionary app designed for long-term stock investors, it's free and covers every market in the world.

Seeking Other Investments?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include NSEI:COALINDIA NSEI:ONGC and NSEI:UNIPARTS.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
The nameplates across the office doors at the renamed ASU FIDM fashion school in Los Angeles are made of paper, an indication that everyone at the desks is a relatively new hire.

The halls in the enormous building are a little quieter these days with the upcoming fall semester expecting only 147 fashion and design students who will be studying at the downtown campus that once saw as many as 3,280 full-time students, including well-known L.A. designers Monique Lhuillier, Kevan Hall and Karen Kane, who have their own successful self-named fashion companies.

More from WWD

Last year, the 170,000-square-foot building, housing the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising since 1990, was acquired by Arizona State University for $15 million even though its assessed value was $52.7 million. In addition, FIDMs intellectual property such as trademarks and copyrights, its textile lab, extensive library, sewing machines and its 15,000-piece fashion collection went for $13 million.

Renamed ASU FIDM after the acquisition, the campus is now an extension of Arizona State University, a mammoth teaching institution in the Phoenix/Tempe area with some 177,000 full-time students and four campuses in Arizona. ASU also has another relatively new downtown Los Angeles campus at the historic Herald-Examiner newspaper building where space is leased for classes in journalism, law and film taken by hundreds of students.

While ASU FIDM took over the fashion design classes once offered at FIDM, the legacy FIDM continued to work on graduating its remaining fashion and design students, which happened in June when 1,200 graduates received their diplomas.

With its fashion classes winding down over the past 15 months, the legacy school has laid off 524 instructors, department heads, administrators and maintenance employees between April 2023 and June, according to notices filed with the California Employment Development Department.

Because ASU didnt want to take over FIDMs creative business classes, the legacy fashion school continues to teach those classes in a nearby office building to have the last of its 400 business-oriented students graduate in March. (ASU offers its own business track classes.)

Students working in a fashion studio at ASU FIDM in Los Angeles. Courtesy: ASU FIDM

The old FIDM thought it had a deal for the Skema Business School in France to assume the classes. But that deal fell apart at the last minute earlier this year. Now it is hoping another educational institution takes over the creative business classes. Skema was brought to us by a friend, and we were devastated when it didnt work out, said Barbara Bundy, the longtime vice president of education for the legacy fashion school. We are in talks with a couple of institutions about moving the legacy of our creative business classes forward. We have some interested people and should know more in another month. We have been approached by a couple of universities.

The demise of the old Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, founded by Toni Hohberg in 1969, is the story of many U.S. private fashion, art and design institutes with high tuitions hovering around $20,000 to $50,000 a year. Many students have been looking for cheaper outlets, such as online courses or community colleges where tuition can be as low as $1,100 a year. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 exacerbated the situation when many classes moved online.

Student departures have resulted in financial difficulties at several schools. In 2022, the San Francisco Art Institute, with a 1931 Diego Rivera mural valued at $50 million in its historic building, closed its doors due to a looming $20 million debt. Earlier this year, a nonprofit led by Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple founder Steve Jobs, bought the campus and the mural for $30 million. An unaccredited art institution is planned for the space.

Last year, the Art Institutes, a nationwide network of private art schools, closed its remaining eight campuses, including those in Dallas, Houston, Miami and Atlanta, due to a nearly $100 million Department of Justice judgment against it for misleading students about its post-school career salaries and prospects. The campuses also faced declining enrollment and mounting debt.

Back in Southern California, Woodbury University, a small private liberal arts school in Burbank with a number of architecture, animation, interior design and fashion design classes, was acquired recently by the University of Redlands, also in Southern California. Woodbury was facing mounting debt that started in 2015 with falling student enrollment. In 2019, the year before the pandemic, Woodbury had 1,355 undergraduate and graduate students. By fall of 2023, that had dipped to 855 students.

At the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, student enrollment began declining in 2011 and financial debt had been accumulating since 2016, according to the WASC Senior College and University Commission, which inspects and accredits higher-education institutions. The institutional leadership has moved slowly in taking necessary steps to cut costs and to look for new ways to increase enrollment and revenue streams, the commission said in a March 2021 report. The legacy FIDMs accreditation was in jeopardy.

Looking to address falling enrollment, the legacy fashion school closed its satellite campuses in San Francisco, San Diego and Irvine, Calif., after the institution projected a $10 million loss in fiscal-year 2020-21. The following year, a $5 million loss was foreseen as well as a $1.6 million loss expected in fiscal year 2022-23. The fashion school also had a long-term $28 million debt scheduled to mature in fiscal year 2024, which happens to be the same sum ASU paid for FIDM.

With revenues that had gone from $68.3 million in early 2020 to $44.2 million in 2022, the old FIDM began looking for a lifesaver. Thats when Arizona State University stepped in. With a relatively new fashion school launched seven years ago, ASU wanted to expand.

Dennita Sewell. Courtesy: ASU FIDM

Now, the expanded ASU FIDM school and its Phoenix counterpart are being guided by Dennita Sewell, the ASU fashion programs founding director, a professor of practice, fashion and an internationally renowned curator who organized more than 50 exhibitions when she was the curator of fashion at the Phoenix Art Museum. Dividing her time between the Los Angeles and Phoenix/Tempe campuses, she is busy charting the schools future with programs that will expand the schools offerings.

Now Los Angeles has the resources of a big, innovative Research One university that has international reach, Sewell explained. For example, if you wanted to be a French minor, you could go to a Phoenix campus and be a French minor and a fashion major.

ASU has some unique offerings, including two research projects at its Arizona campus focused on sustainability.

Starting in 2025, ASU FIDM will launch a semester in Los Angeles program for Arizona-based students to study in Los Angeles, and this past summer there was a five-day fashion summer camp at both campuses for high school and community college students. It introduced students to potential fashion careers and the academic campuses.

ASU FIDM also offers a Turn Around Bus trip between the two campuses. During the first trip in February, fashion students in Phoenix took a six-hour bus ride to spend three days and two nights in Los Angeles.

While at the L.A. campus, students saw Professor Deborah Young demonstrate how to use the schools textile testing lab. They toured the ASU FIDM library and saw its extensive resources, including decades of bound Vogue magazines, an archive of trend forecasts and years of research. They also saw items from the ASU FIDM museums collection of 15,000 vintage clothing pieces spanning four centuries and toured the nearby Los Angeles Fashion District filled with fabric stores, fashion showrooms and design studios.

Sewells energy for building the new ASU FIDM into a fashion powerhouse starts by expanding its programs, including developing a bachelors degree in costume design and technology for the creative industries for fall 2025. Three online degree programs are also in the works.

She also has her eye on building buzz through the schools gallery space, which has a history of mounting annual exhibitions on film and television costume design, with well-attended opening parties. On Sept. 5, Fashion Statements, the inaugural fashion exhibition at the ASU FIDM Museum, will open featuring more than 70 works from the 18th century to the present selected by guest contributors including designers Jeremy Scott and Lisa Eisner, costume designer Arianne Phillips, stylist B. Akerlund and burlesque queen Dita Von Teese.

Sewell also wants to see professors move back and forth between campuses to offer lectures on specialized topics. Recently, Galina Mihaleva came from Phoenix to give a workshop on wearable technology. Every institution has something to offer their students, and were excited that we have all of these resources, Sewell said. We want to take people on as students and help them gain the skills they need for a career and a better life.

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In a surprising turn of events for the gaming industry, Turkey has decided to ban the renowned childrens gaming platform Roblox. The embargo was sanctioned just days after they issued a nationwide blockade on Instagram reportedly over censorship issues. But, why has Roblox been blocked in Turkey?

Here are all the available details regarding the controversy involving the Middle Eastern country and the popular online gaming platform.

Turkey bans gaming platform Roblox, claims report

As per recent reports, Turkey decided to employ a ban on Roblox for housing content with the potential of inducing child abuse.

The digital barricade was imposed without any prior warning, causing users to flock online for answers. Upon launching the application, Turkish gamers were bombarded with a statutory message stating that the platform was not accessible. The decision to ban Roblox was taken sometime after Turkey officials imposed a similar siege on Instagram for censorship issues.

The nations judiciary wing has since issued a statement to explain the reasoning behind their controversial step. A top official from the Turkish bureaucracy conveyed that the Roblox application contained content that could lead to child abuse. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc even referred to the countrys internet broadcasting laws while explaining the decision. As reported by Bloomberg, Tuncs statement read, According to our constitution, the state is obliged to take the necessary measures to protect our children. Use of technology in a negative way cannot be accepted.

Ever since the ban was imposed on Roblox by Turkey, the gaming company has reportedly lost considerable business. According to a social media data specialist page named OffPathGames, the platform has experienced a 2.5% drop in concurrent users following the blockade. At the time of writing, it is unclear when the said embargo will be lifted, if at all. Notably, the Instagram application has remained inaccessible to Turkish users since its unfortunate ban.

The post Why Did Turkey Ban Roblox? Reason Explained appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Why will flags be flown at half-staff Saturday in Florida?

Why will flags be flown at half-staff Saturday in Florida?

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  Flags will be flown at half-staff on Saturday to honor a fallen Master Deputy Sheriff, Governor Ron DeSantis office announced.

On Aug. 2, Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Link was fatally shot in the line of duty at just 28 years old, leaving behind his wife and parents.

Officials identify Florida deputy killed in shooting that wounded 2 other deputies

Lake County officials revealed that a 911 caller said 48-year-old Julie Sulpizio was assaulting people in his year, acting religious, and calling them sinners. The woman also said she had to trick Lucy, who deputies said was her name for the devil.

When deputies entered the home to conduct a welfare check on her husband and their daughters, a man believed to be Michael Sulpizio, the husband, fired a shot at Master Deputy Link.

According to the sheriffs office, they stormed the home to rescue Link, who was shot and trapped inside, when a person inside fired back at deputies. Two suspects were killed and a third was injured.

Law enforcement investigate the home where a sheriffs deputy was killed and two other deputies wounded Friday night in Eustis, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel via AP)

Master Deputy Link served with the Polk County Sheriffs Office for two years and was a United States Army Reserves veteran before he joined the Lake County Sheriffs Office.

Link displayed bravery and valor in his efforts to protect his community and will be remembered for his sacrifice, DeSantiss office wrote in a press release.

The Master Deputys commitment to service will be honored on Saturday, with flags being flown at half-staff at the Lake County Courthouse and the City Hall of Clermont.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Why is health care in RI so expensive? What a report found about overhead costs

The reason why you look at hospital costs is because hospital costs are the largest medical component of commercial premiums.  Al Charbonneau, RI Business Group on Health Care

PROVIDENCE  Its not cheap to run a hospital these days.

There are supply costs  from intravenous solutions to operating tables and bed linens  and administrative expenses such as marketing, payroll and benefits, not to mention utilities and rent.

These overhead costs add up to a pretty penny  nearly $210 million annually for the average hospital, according to one estimate  and though not billed directly to patients, indirectly they trickle down via insurance premiums.

Al Charbonneau, executive director of the Rhode Island Business Group on Health Care, a public-policy nonprofit representing about 90 companies with around 80,000 employees, spends a lot of time thinking about how hospital overhead expenses cost consumers.

Ambulances at the Rhode Island Hospital complex in Providence. Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children's Hospital are the only Level 1 trauma centers in southeastern New England.

The reason why you look at hospital costs is because hospital costs are the largest medical component of commercial premiums, Charbonneau explained.

In a recently released report, RIBGH tried to quantify how much hospital overhead costs have risen over the years. Using data from the federal Medicare Cost Report, which hospitals must file annually, the group found that between 1996 and 2022, hospital expenses increased by $2.7 billion in Rhode Island, with overhead costs accounting for 51% of the total.

Compared nationally, Rhode Island is in the upper tier of hospital overhead expenditure. Nationally, overhead costs accounted for 41% of total hospital expenses. Only New York, at 53%, had higher overhead expenses than Rhode Island.

Rhode Island faces a unique challenge because of its small population, Charbonneau said, noting that some people leave for neighboring states to get health care.

When you overlay total costs over the population, we end up with a number that's pretty high, and it basically says that we're not achieving scale. And my feeling is that we won't achieve scale until we really raise the question of how to do that and begin to focus on what would it take to begin, Charbonneau said.

The hospitals high operating costs also raise a question about efficiency. The hospitals rake in about $3 billion annually, according to Charbonneaus estimate, but it is unclear how this revenue is spent.

We really don't have any metrics of hospital efficiency. The hospitals are very opaque organizations, Charbonneau said.

A factor likely raising costs is hospital mergers. Charbonneau said research indicates that mergers lead to increased operating costs and, as a result, higher insurance premiums. In another report earlier this year, RIBGH found that family insurance premiums in Rhode Island rose to 28% of the median household income in 2022, up from 23% in 2012.

One potential solution to improve hospitals finances is the AHEAD Model, also known as the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development, a federal program that aims to curb the growing cost of health care. Participating in the program could help stabilize hospitals revenues, allowing them to focus on their expenses, said Charbonneau. U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse is one Rhode Island leader who is pushing for the state to participate in the AHEAD Model. The deadline for applying to the programs next cohort is August 12.

Charbonneau reckons Rhode Island needs to consider solutions such as the AHEAD Model and focus on improving hospitals efficiency if the state is going to be able to rein in the cost of delivering health care.

My feeling is that if we don't change something dramatically, we're going to continue to get the same results that we're getting from our hospital systems, Charbonneau said.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Report: RI hospitals have second-highest overhead costs in the nation
Why students at this Middle Tennessee school will be locking their cell phones away in pouches

School is back in session, and for students in one Middle Tennessee county, that means beginning the school year with a new cellphone policy. The Warren County school district has adopted a personal device prohibition policy, aimed at limiting distractions and enhancing the learning environment.

The idea behind the policy emerged from a recent school board discussion, where members highlighted ongoing concerns raised by teachers and the community, Director of Warren County Schools Grant Swallows said in an email to the Tennessean.

"If we can provide our schools with the chance to see a decrease in discipline rates and an increase in achievement rates, why wouldn't we give this a try? We aim to reduce distractions and foster more connectionnot only with their schoolwork but also with others," said Swallows. "We've truly missed out on that."

In a Facebook post, the Warren County School district, which serves the cities of McMinnville and Centertown, announced there have been challenges implementing policy changes, however, school administrators have been working on adjustments to improve efficiency.

According to Swallows, the school district has received repeated support from both teachers and parents. While the administration believes it would be better if students didn't bring devices at all, they understand and recognize that some students need their device for after-school practices or different bus routes.

New Message from Warren County SchoolsGood evening. Today was the day in Warren County we have been preparing for... Posted by Warren County Schools, TN on Tuesday, August 6, 2024

"Our utmost responsibility is to keep the students safe and ensure they have everything they need throughout the day. Parents trust us with their children every day, and we're asking for that trust again with this policy," said Swallows.

"The district's goal is not to punish or make life harder for them, but to create a better environment for their children."

The policy will remain in effect until the board considers any changes. Swallows doesn't anticipate that being anytime soon, he said.

What is Warren County School's new cellphone policy?

The policy defines personal electronic devices as cellphones, airpods, earbuds, Bluetooth connected headphones, smartwatches, fitness trackers and other devices with an internet connection. Upon arrival, students will be required to place their devices in Yondr pouches.

The pouch will be locked at the start of the school day and will remain locked until the 2:45 p.m. bell. Any devices larger than the pouch, such as tablets or laptops, will not be permitted on campus.

Warren County in Middle Tennessee is among the school districts enacting a stricter cellphone policy for students that includes them placing them in these Yondr pouches, which can only be unlocked with a magnetic device.

The pouches and related supplies were a "significant cost to the district," said Swallows, but are nonetheless considered a "valuable privilege" to students. The school district has ordered the pouches and are currently waiting on the shipment. They are expected to be delivered in the following weeks.

Exceptions to the policy will be made for students with medical necessities. Even then, devices are only to be used for their intended medical purpose and any other use will be prohibited.

Consequences for violating the policy vary by number of offence. For students in pre-K through eighth grade, the consequences for violating the policy include: getting their device confiscated, detention, suspension, or other forms of disciplinary actions. Consequences for high school students include revocation of parking privileges and restriction of attendance at school-sponsored events.

What is a Yondr pouch? How does it work?

A locked Yondr pouch rests next to Ellet CLC junior Jackson Fisher works on a computer in honors English on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 in Akron.

Yondr pouches are used to maintain spaces "phone-free," while still being in possession of one's device. The pouches are often used by artists, comedians and other organizations including schools. According to Yondr's website, the company works with thousands of schools across the country and world.

Upon entering a space, phones and other devices are placed in Yondr pouches which then become locked. In order to unlock a pouch, students will need to hold the pouch up to a Yondr magnet available at exits as they leave the building. Placing devices in a Yondr pouch does not affect devices in any way, said Yondr.

Do other Tennessee school districts ban cell phones?

With the "Personal Electronic Device Prohibition Policy," Warren County Schools has become one the first districts in Tennessee to enact such an anti-cellphone policy, according to a statement.

Other school districts also prohibit cell phone use in class. The Metro Nashville Public Schools' handbook prohibits students from using personal technology, including cell phones, iPads and portable gaming devices, during instructional periods except when used as part of the instruction, as directed by a teacher.

Shelby County Schools prohibits students from possessing cell phones that are turned on or visible during school time. Knox County Schools has a similar policy on cell phones. The devices must be turned off and kept in a backpack and can only used with permission.

In January, an attempt was made to ban cell phones and other devices in school, unless authorized or provided to the student by local education agencies. The bill was introduced by Rep. Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough, however it failed to make it past the Education Administration committee.

Do other states have cell phone bans?

Three states recently passed laws banning or restricting cell phone use in schools, as previously reported by Knox News. Florida was the first to do so in 2023. In 2024 alone, lawmakers in at least eight states have considered passing legislation to do the same.

Earlier this year, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a bill that requires school districts to limit cell phone use during class time. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a similar bill in May that requires every school district to establish an official policy governing cell phone usage during school hours.

Oklahoma, Washington, Kansas, Vermont, and Connecticut have all introduced similar legislation.

Knox News contributed to this report.

Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Cellphones in schools: Tennessee district aims to reduce distraction
Misty Grace of Green Bay, Wis., center, who describes herself as a follower of Jesus Christ, prays during a rally for former President Donald Trump at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wis., on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

As he eyes a return to the White House, former President Donald Trump is laying out his pitch to Christian voters. His campaign launched a Believers for Trump initiative, while he has vowed to aggressively defend religious liberty.

Buried in the Republican Partys new platform, Trump extends another promise: to protect U.S. Christians from anti-Christian persecution.

Near the bottom of the 5,000-word document, a short section on religious liberty proposes a new Federal Task Force on Fighting Anti-Christian Bias, focused on investigating all forms of illegal discrimination, harassment, and persecution against Christians in America.

The platform includes no further details, and for the first several months of his campaign, Trump mentioned the idea only in passing: in a February appearance at the National Religious Broadcasters meeting, and in a December campaign speech in Iowa.

As the Nov. 5 election approaches, Trump has begun to resurface the idea. During a recent appearance at Turning Point USAs Believers Summit, Trump called for the creation of the task force, reading the platforms verbiage word-for-word. Hes paired the promise with attacks on his electoral opponents, saying the Biden-Harris administration weaponized the federal government to target religious believers.

The reason Biden, Harris and their thugs are so desperate to stop us, Trump said at the Believers Summit, is that they know we are the only ones who can stop them.

As concerns about discrimination against minority religious groups, including Jews and Muslims, is growing, the idea of an initiative to investigate anti-Christian bias is garnering mixed reviews.

Do Christians face persecution in the U.S.?

The creation of a federal task force to investigate religious or ethnic discrimination is not a novel concept. In recent years, the Biden-Harris administration has launched national strategies to combat Islamophobia and antisemitism.

Where Trumps proposed task force would be unique, though, is its focus: instead of investigating discrimination against a religious or ethnic minority group, the task force would focus on Christians.

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults identify as Christian, and though the share of religiously unaffiliated Americans is growing, Christians still make up  by far  the largest religious group in the U.S.

That doesnt mean that Christians havent faced instances of discrimination, said Dr. Michael A. Helfnad, the Brenden Mann Foundation Chair in Law and Religion at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law.

We certainly have seen confirmed instances of the failure to adequately protect the religiously Christians in the United States, Helfand said. The highest court in the country has itself found such occasions.

Helfand pointed to several Supreme Court cases dealing with religious liberty  including Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission and Fulton v. Philadelphia  in which the court ruled Christians beliefs were not respected.

But it is difficult to measure whether these are one-off instances of anti-Christian bias, or part of a larger wave of anti-Christian discrimination. What is clear is the U.S. has seen a spike in reported antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents over the past year.

We have not heard or seen the same kind of spike of anti-Christian hate crimes, Helfand said. But maybe what you need is somebody to study it, to see whats going on. And a task force is a good thing to do that.

Dr. Gary Doxey, associate director for the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at Brigham Young University, suggests that a federal effort to investigate anti-religious discrimination include other faith groups beyond Christians.

We ought to get some perspective from history, Doxey said. We also ought to remember that that perspective suggests that Christians arent the only victims. In fact, many of the more egregious cases include non-Christians as the victims.

Its very plausible that todays hyper-politicized environment has seen an increase in hostility toward Christians, Doxey added. But I would suspect that the task force would be more viable if it didnt just simply focus on Christians.

He defends people of faith

Whether or not a Christian discrimination task force is feasible or necessary, it makes for a strong pitch to Trumps base  many of whom view themselves as victims of anti-religious discrimination.

White evangelical Christians, the most pro-Trump religious bloc in 2020, widely view themselves as being discriminated against. According to a 2023 survey conducted by the Survey Center on American Life, 60% of white evangelicals say they face a lot of discrimination in the U.S.

Trumps appeal to these voters does not occur in a vacuum. A pair of Deseret News/HarrisX surveys conducted in late 2023 found that Republicans view Trump as a person of faith  not because of his perceived religious devotion, but because they view him as a defender of religious people.

A September 2023 poll found that Republicans were more likely to say Trump was a person of faith than any other politician, including former Vice President Mike Pence; Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah; and President Joe Biden.

When a second Deseret News/HarrisX survey in November 2023 asked the same question, an even larger share of Republican voters  64%  said Trump was a person of faith.

In explaining why they believe this, respondents were less likely to say Trump performs religious acts or lives a religious lifestyle. Only 26% of respondents said they believe he is actively involved in religious and faith communities, and a minority of Republicans  43%  said he has a strong moral compass.

But they nonetheless view Trump as a person of faith because he defends people of faith in the U.S. (67%); he supports policies that focus on families (60%); and he cares about people like me (54%).
Why Ukraines generals may have rolled the dice on an incursion into Russia

Kyiv needed a win, but not a gamble.

Ukraines decision to launch a large amount of its scant military resources across the border into Russia - in pursuit of headlines but, thus far, an unclear strategic objective  marks a moment of either desperation or inspiration for Ukraine. And it does perhaps herald a new phase of the war.

Not because incursions into Russia by Ukraine are somehow new  they have been happening for over a year, mostly by Russian citizens, fighting for Ukraine with obvious Ukrainian military assistance but no official, public role.

It feels new because this is, according to Russia at least, the regular Ukrainian army mounting an attack on Russia, and a rare roll of the dice by a Ukrainian top brass whose movements have been criticized mostly in the last 18 months as being too slow and conservative.

On Tuesday, Kyiv took badly needed resources and fresh troops and launched them well inside Russia. The immediate effect satisfied two needs: a headline that involved Russian embarrassment and Ukrainian forward motion, and another that Moscows troops should scatter to reinforce their borders. After weeks of bad news for Kyiv, in which Russian forces have slowly but inexorably moved towards the Ukrainian military hubs of Pokrovsk and Sloviansk, Moscow is left scrambling to shore up its most essential front line  its own border.

But even as Kyiv declined to say anything Wednesday about what Russian President Vladimir Putin had called a major provocation, the wisdom of this gamble was openly questioned by some Ukrainian observers.

There may be a larger strategy at play here. Sudzha, now at least partially under Ukrainian control, is next to a Russian gas terminal, right on the border, which is key to supplying gas from Russia, via Ukraine, to Europe. That arrangement is said to close end in January, and this may be a bid to curtail a lucrative source of funding for Moscow that has angered Kyiv since Russias full-scale invasion began in 2022. (As of Thursday, there were no public indications of gas supplies being affected).

Yet until the wider importance of this incursion emerges, there remains a huge question mark over the strategic goals of Oleksandr Syrskyi, the comparatively new commander of Ukraines forces. Splits in his command have simmered into public view recently, with younger subordinates questioning Syrskyis willingness to endure significant casualties in frontline battles of attrition, in which Russias superior manpower usually prevails.

It is a Soviet mindset, and Syrskyi is from that era. But those dying or returning home as amputees are often from a younger generation who value dexterity and guile perhaps more than brute persistence.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, is pictured on July 2, 2023 in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. - Yuriy Mate/Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images

Ukraine has for months exceled at targeting  often with what appears to be Western help  Russias internal infrastructure, chewing up runways, naval bases, and oil terminals in a bid to cause long-term damage to Moscows economy and war machine. But this is different: It is sending a large ground force miles into enemy territory, where Ukrainian supply lines are more fraught and objectives are by definition tougher to pursue.

The move comes at a time when the Ukrainian effort has begun to see a concrete benefit from Western weapons finally arriving.

F-16 fighter jets are new to the front lines but may be able to dent Russias withering air supremacy in the coming months. That could mean fewer gliding bombs hitting Ukrainian frontline troops and fewer missiles terrorizing Ukraines urban communities. Ammunition remains a problem for Kyiv, according to some accounts, but surely Western supplies may eventually plug that gap.

So why this high-risk move now? If we look beyond the immediate positive news cycle for President Volodymyr Zelensky, other goals emerge. For the first time in the war, talk of talks has begun. Russia may be invited to attend the next peace conference held by Ukraine and its allies. The proportion of Ukrainians who approve of negotiations, while a minority, is marginally growing. And the possibility of a Trump presidency is glowering above Kyiv.

US Vice President Kamala Harris may retain the same steadfastness as President Joe Biden over Ukraine. But it is important to remember that Western foreign policy is a fickle and easily exhausted beast. NATOs persistent backing for Ukraine is an outlier. And as the war edges towards its fourth year, questions about how this ends will grow louder.

Ukrainian F-16 fighting aircrafts are seen in the air during marking the Day of the Ukrainian Air Forces, in an undisclosed location, Ukraine, August 4, 2024. - Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

Is there any real merit to Ukraine fighting and dying with no real prospect of retaking occupied territory from Moscow? Does Russia want an indefinite grind forward, in which it loses thousands of men for hundreds of yards advance, and sees its wider military capability slowly worn down by longer-range Ukrainian strikes?

With the prospect of a negotiated settlement now less distant, both sides will scramble to improve their battlefield position before sitting down at the table. It is unclear if Ukraines move into Kursk is motivated by that, or a simple move to inflict damage where the enemy is weak.

But it marks a rare and substantial gamble with Kyivs limited resources, and so may herald the Ukrainians belief that greater change is ahead.

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Kyivs audacious cross-border assault into Russias Kursk region has certainly ruffled feathers in Moscow. Vladimir Putin denounced it as a large-scale provocation while his officials have lined up to tell him the situation is under control  despite fighting continuing into a third day on Thursday and thousands of people having to evacuate the area.

Ukraine has an issue with the number of soldiers it can put on the battlefield and has been trying to up recruitment, so some may ask why it would commit resources to an incursion into Russia, especially when Moscows forces are putting Kyivs troops under pressure on other points of the 600-mile frontline, including around the key eastern town of Pokrovsk, several hundred miles away in the region of Donetsk.

However, while the operation into Kursk is unlikely to create a long-term strategic opportunity for Kyiv, given that troops will be unable to hold any gained land for long, there are plenty of more symbolic reasons for bursting through the border. The two major reasons are to boost morale and make both Moscow and Western allies think.

Taking the latter of those first, breaking through two sets of Russian defensive lines and making it between six and 10 miles into Russia will force Moscows military into restocking their lines, likely pulling troops from an offensive in Ukraines Kharkiv region, just across the border, which is where it had been making gains against Kyivs soldiers. That will both alleviate some of the pressure on Ukraines own defensive lines  even if only for a short period  and should also make Moscow more wary of overcommitting around the Kharkiv region and leaving themselves open like this again.

It also shows Kyivs allies in the West that its army is still capable of battlefield surprises even when it is under pressure, and can keep operations secret from their enemy. Kyiv will hope that such an ability to manoeuvre will remind its backers that sending more long-range weapons, shells and jets will not be wasted and that it can act nimbly and swiftly even when outnumbered and outgunned. While senior Ukrainian officials have not referred directly to the raid, president Volodymyr Zelensky praised his armys ability to surprise and get results during a public appearance on Thursday.

Ukraine will also never miss an opportunity to embarrass Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin, and this is an embarrassment. Whether it was hundreds of troops or 1,000, the attack shows the Russian people that Moscow can make mistakes and reminds them that this invasion can come home to roost. While in the public statements about the cross-border assault Russian officials say it is under control, those claims are made a mockery of by the three days of fighting (and potentially more).

On the other side of the coin, the attack is a big morale boost for both troops on the front and the Ukrainian people across the country who have faced repeated and increasing drone and missile attacks on their cities in recent months. The incursion has been tracked and celebrated, while the pronouncements of the Ukrainian advance Russian military bloggers that tend to give a more accurate  if not entirely accurate  picture of the battlefield than the Kremlin have been eagerly devoured.

The attack into Kursk will not fundamentally alter the trajectory of this war  but its symbolic importance should not be underestimated.
MAUI, Hawaii  The aftermath of a devastating wildfire on August 8th has left a lasting mark on Lahainas vital infrastructure, prompting urgent efforts to restore essential services crucial for community well-being.

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Clean water is fundamental to daily life, but the recent wildfire that torched over 2,000 properties dealt a severe blow to Lahainas water and sewage systems.

Since the wildfire, officials have been working to repair and restore the damaged infrastructure.

Kimo Landgraf, Director of Water Supply, highlighted the ongoing challenges: Theyre still under the unsafe water advisory, which means you cannot drink the water and you cannot cook with it.

Landgraf emphasized the difficulty in assessing the full extent of the damage caused by the fire, necessitating extensive testing and the replacement of approximately 29 miles of water lines.

Its not going to be months, its going to be years Maui Strong Fund leader details recovery

Amidst the reconstruction efforts, crews are actively replacing contaminated water pipes and inspecting sewer systems. The goal is to fully restore the wastewater infrastructure by January 2025, a task Shayne Agawa, Director of Environmental Management, acknowledged as daunting due to the toxins released by the fire.

The fire created a lot of toxins from burning debris, impacting our sewer treatment facility and compliance with state health regulations, Agawa explained.

Beyond the technical complexities, there is a personal stake in Lahainas recovery for many officials involved.

My wife and I lost about a total of nine family homes in Lahaina, said Agawa.

Its very taxing emotionally, but we have to keep our composure and continue to serve all the people of Maui County.

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Mayor Bissen provided reassurance that progress is being made towards restoring safe drinking water by mid-August and fully recovering the wastewater system by January 2025.

UPDATE As of August 7, 2024, Maui County officials say the water in Lahaina is now 100% safe for use.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The Franklin, Tenn. square, featuring a statue of a Confederate soldier erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1899. (Photo: John Partipilo)

The Franklin, Tenn. square, featuring a statue of a Confederate soldier erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1899. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Williamson County may remove an image of the Confederate flag from its official county seal, a Davidson County Chancellor ruled Tuesday.

The decision comes after a years-long legal battle over plans to remove the flag from the so-called Great Seal of Williamson County, an official marker of public business displayed on public buildings and county records.

In May 2022, the Tennessee Historical Commission ruled that the seal is not an official historic memorial, and county officials could alter or replace it as they wished.

The Williamson County-based Major Nathaniel Cheairs Camp 2138 Sons of Confederate Veterans group, which seeks to promote Confederate-era history, filed a challenge citing the Tennessee Heritage Protection Act  a law that explicitly disfavors altering or removing monuments and markers of the War Between the States.

In her ruling, Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal affirmed the historical commissions decision that the seal is not a historic monument and is not subject to the protection act, clearing the way for the county to update its seal.

The seal  a circle divided into four quadrants, each containing a different tableau  was first adopted in 1968 at the height of the civil rights movement. The Confederate flag and canon are in the upper left quadrant, while other quadrants depict a bible in front of a church window, a school house and a pasture with animals.

In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police, the seal drew increased public criticism. A task force convened by the county first recommended removing the Confederate flag image.

Williamson County confederate seal court order
Uganda has become the latest country to join Africas solar revolution as Dubai-based renewables developer AMEA Power begins construction of the countrys 24MWp (megawatt peak) solar project.

The $19m Ituka solar photovoltaic (PV) project spans 52 hectares and is located in Ombachi Village, 450km from Kampala.

Once commissioned, the project will be the first and largest utility-scale grid-connected solar PV project in the West Nile region of Uganda.

It is also AMEAs first operational asset in the country.

Power from the site will be distributed through the newly constructed Lira-Gulu-Nebbi-Arua 132kV transmission line operated by the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company.

Like most African countries, Uganda suffers from electricity blackouts, among other issues with its energy infrastructure.

The Ituka solar project is a significant step in resolving such challenges in the West Nile region, contributing to much-needed energy infrastructure development in the continent.

In 2022, the International Energy Agency reported that despite having 60% of the worlds solar resources, Africa only accounted for 1% of global installed solar PV capacity.

Power Technologys parent company GlobalData reported that the Middle East and Africa combined registered the lowest percentage share of global cumulative installed solar PV capacity (2.41% in 2023) and generation (2.83% in 2023).

Despite registering these figures, 2023 saw a record number of solar modules being installed across Africa.

With the price of solar modules declining by 99% in the past 40 years, solar power was deemed the most appropriate solution to the continents struggles with electricity accessibility.

Robin Mills, a non-resident fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy, told the Telegraph: In Africa, the electricity supply is very poor. So, if solar can fix that, that is enormously helpful. It could be the basis for industrialisation and manufacturing because that is what Africa really needs.

The Emerging Africa Infrastructure fund has been incredibly influential in supporting solar development across Africa. It is the sole lender for the Ituka project as well as the $20m Cuamba solar project in Mozambique and the $35m Kesses solar project in Kenya.

The implications of the solar revolution in Africa are notable. Projects like the Ituka solar power station will connect remote regions to the grid for the very first time.

Various solar technologies are also being deployed across the continent to support agriculture, as farmers will be able to carry out their tasks without power outages and increase the countrys food security.

Story continues

However, the solar revolution must be paired with other energy developments. It will be difficult to integrate renewable technologies into the existing infrastructure, given the lack of reliable, extensive electricity grids across the continent. An established reliance on conventional fossil fuel sources could also deter investment away from renewable development.

Nevertheless, with the development of solar projects in Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique and Uganda, among others, and African governments pledges to move from fossil fuel-based electricity to renewables, Africa is on the right path to unlocking its full potential for clean energy.

"Uganda breaks ground on Ituka project, joining Africas solar revolution " was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.







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How Wilson County Schools is navigating TN's new book restrictions. Are libraries open?

Wilson County Schools is working to comply with a new state law that prohibits books and materials with references to sex and violence in public school libraries.

However, the district does not intend to close libraries, contrary to other media reports.

The state legislatures changes to amend the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 went into effect on July 1.

We will fully comply, and the process to remove materials will happen in a productive and expedited process," Wilson County Schools Public Information Officer Bart Barker said. "But closing libraries is not our intent as we navigate through this new legislation.

The Green Hill High School media center in Wilson County.

The legislation has drawn criticism that includes PEN America's Freedom to Read Director Kasey Meehan, who called the mandate "draconian." PEN America is a nonprofit that advocates for free expression of literature.

As teachers and librarians prepare for the school year, they should be focused on helping students, not cleansing books from shelves, Meehans statement included.

There have been reports that Wilson County's Green Hill High School had closed its library to go through the process of compliance with the new legislation.

The district maintains that Green Hill library and other libraries are used as a hub to distribute Chromebooks and textbooks to students at the start of the school year, before other checkouts start.

Wilson County students returned to class on Aug. 1.

Normal library operations will resume when Green Hill and other schools using libraries to issue Chromebook and textbook materials are finished, Barker said, estimating that the process would be completed by the end of the week.

Director of Schools Jeff Luttrell told board members at the August meeting that the new law will require some books to be removed.

Thousands of books and materials will need to be crosschecked with media specialists and library staff incorporating their regular work with compliance on the new legislation, according to Barker.

We will comply, but at the same time not instill fear in our administrators, teachers and staffs as we navigate through this library transition involving certain materials and titles, Barker said.

Wilson County parents generated new legislation

The legislation prohibits materials containing nudity or describes or depicts sexual excitement, sexual conduct, excess violence or sadomasochistic abuse, according to state obscenity laws. It also mandates material that "appeals to the "prurient interest" should not be considered appropriate for school age students.

State Rep. Susan Lynn was the legislation's primary sponsor of the legislation, which amended the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 requiring public schools to maintain and post on the school's website a list of the materials in the school's library collection.

It also requires each local board of education and public charter school governing body to adopt a policy to establish procedures for the development and review of school library collections.

"Unfortunately, continued complaints from parents in the Wilson County School District proved that sexually explicit books remained in our schools despite the law," Lynn said in a statement. "Therefore, this bill clarifies the law, so hopefully there will be no misunderstanding about what constitutes sexually explicit materials."

The Williamson County School Board approved a policy in June that school librarians are responsible for materials at that schools library, which includes compliance with state law.

Rutherford County Schools has also addressed the new legislation with a policy that says materials found in violation are to be removed and periodic reviews of library content should take place. The school board is expected to vote on the policy Thursday, district spokesperson James Evans said.

There have been questions about whether the new legislation would apply to the Bible.

"However, the law is very clear about community standards and by any standard in Tennessee, the Bible has always been acceptable, Lynn said.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Wilson County Schools on Tennessee book law, keeping libraries open
In his 34 years working in elections, Wesley Wilcox had never experienced what happened to him just a couple of weeks ago. A woman who said she was involved with the conspiracy theory group True the Vote came to his office with a list of names about 2,500 entries long, spanning about 800 printed pages.

She was challenging thousands of her neighbors eligibility to vote, and was urging Wilcox, the supervisor of elections in Marion County, Florida, to investigate them, and potentially, remove them from voter rolls altogether.

This is by far the largest set of challenges that have ever been delivered to this office, Wilcox told HuffPost. Exponentially so.

And Wilcox isnt alone. Since Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and falsely blamed widespread voter fraud, right-wing activists have sought to clean the election system by deleting tens of thousands of their neighbors from voter rolls.

Theyve been aided in their work by groups like True the Vote and the Election Integrity Network, which have promoted software that makes it easy to challenge the eligibility of thousands of voters at a time, simply by comparing U.S. Post Office change-of-address data to voter rolls and other lists. Across the country, activists are taking these lists to their local election officials, urging them to purge voters.

As Wilcox looked through a sample of the 2,500 names that were challenged in Marion County, he told HuffPost, he couldnt find a single valid challenge. Instead, the challenges had been filed against a mix of legitimate, eligible voters; voters who simply shared common names like David Martin or Rebecca Bennet; and names that Wilcox had already removed from the voter rolls himself ages ago, either because the voter had died or moved out of the county. In short, he said, the underlying data was inaccurate and unreliable.

I have yet to find one of them that I felt was credible enough for me to actually file documentation for that voter, he said. So as a good steward for voter registration, which is what Im charged with doing, I should not act upon stuff that is proven to be not credible.

This year, election officials like Wilcox have spent valuable time sorting through pages of these mass voter challenges. And voting rights advocates worry that the trend could result in eligible voters being removed from the rolls, or from accommodations like being on lists to automatically receive ballots in the mail.

Last month, the Texas secretary of states office sent a memo to election officials throughout the state reiterating Texas legal requirements for registration challenges, and state officials in Michigan, North Carolina and Nevada have sent out similar memos, according to documents reviewed by HuffPost.

But experts and election officials who spoke to HuffPost said voters should confirm their registration status now  before the November election season heats up  just to be safe.

Voter challenges have been sold to citizens as a means of civic engagement  and I think what gets lost in the picture is that there are real voters on the other side of the screen, Alice Clapman, senior counsel in the Brennan Center for Justices voting rights program, told HuffPost. This activity, which seems to some people like a constructive way to help election officials, is actually making their jobs harder, and risking disenfranchising their neighbors and people in their community.

The Era Of Mass Voter Challenges

Laws allowing challenges to voter registrations have existed, and been abused, for years. But the trend of mass challenges accelerated after Trumps 2020 loss.

The month following that election, True the Vote teamed up with Georgia Republicans to challenge the eligibility of more than 364,000 voters in the state, based in part on U.S. Postal Service address-change data.

The mess that followed showed the flaws in the mass voter challenge process. The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported that challenged voters included a man whose son had the same name as him and had moved to New York, and other people who had moved out of state to take care of family members before moving back to Georgia.

Some voters only found out their registrations had been challenged when they didnt receive requested ballots in the mail for Georgias January 2021 U.S. Senate run-off election. Ultimately  after courts stepped in  the vast majority of these challenges were rejected. True the Votes list utterly lacked reliability and verge[d] on recklessness, a federal judge later observed.

As a good steward for voter registration, which is what Im charged with doing, I should not act upon stuff that is proven to be not credible.Wesley Wilcox, Marion County, Florida supervisor of elections

But True the Vote wasnt done. The group, which was featured in the endlessly debunkedconspiracy theory film 2000 Mules, has spent years working to create the false perception that U.S. elections are plagued by widespread fraud. Four years before the 2020 election that he tried to steal, Trump cited True the Votes Gregg Phillips to assert that millions of ineligible voters cast ballots in the 2016 election. The claim, of course, was nonsense.

Now, True the Vote has turned its voter challenge technique into an app, called IV3, to allow activists across the country to create mass voter registration challenge lists based on Postal Service address-change data, local voter rolls and other information. The data is often well out-of-date, and there are lots of reasons people might legitimately change their address without changing their voter registration  such as students who temporarily relocate to college campuses or servicemembers located overseas.

Other seemingly suspicious records are easily explained. In one instance reported by CNN, True the Votes Catherine Engelbrecht told a webinar about a sketchy address in Phoenix that hundreds of people had purportedly listed on their voter registration, saying she would probably challenge the registrations. The address, it turns out, was legitimate  a local nonprofit offers it as a mailing address for homeless people.

Other challenges targeted assisted living facilities and nursing homes, CNN reported. Engelbrecht has claimed that hundreds of thousands of challenges have been filed with IV3.

In Travis County, Texas  home to around 900,000 registered voters  election officials have seen an unprecedented number of challenges, somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 this year alone, Chris Davis, the countys voter registration director, told HuffPost. More than half of those challenges came from one woman, he said, though the majority of challenges rely on U.S. Postal Service change-of-address data, with many challengers saying they were volunteering with True the Vote.

What weve seen is a lot of folks just taking that list and not doing a whole lot of work or research, [then] turning around and submitting it to us, and saying, I hereby challenge the voter registration of all these individuals on the grounds of residence, Davis said.

The vast majority of challenges were irrelevant, he said, as they applied to people county officials had already put on the inactive voter list. Whats more, the challenges largely didnt meet the requirement in Texas law for personal knowledge of the relevant challenge to the voters eligibility, Davis said, nor are most of the challenges sworn statements, which need to be made before an authorized person such as a notary.

Across the country, election officials are receiving similar challenges that dont meet legal criteria. But many are still investigating them.

The Left Will Hate This

True the Vote is not alone. Multiple right-wing groups have developed theirowntechnology to empower volunteers to file mass voter challenges, all of which depend in some form or another on publicly available data like Postal Service change-of-address information and voter rolls  meaning theyre extremely susceptible to producing out-of-date or even harmful challenges.

One program, EagleAI  pronounced Eagle Eye  has been promoted by Cleta Mitchell, the conservative attorney who infamously participated in the 2020 telephone call in which Trump demanded Georgias secretary of state find the votes necessary for Trump to win the state.

Mitchell leads the Election Integrity Network  which itself is part of the Conservative Partnership Institute, a home base for former Trump administration officials and allies  and in that capacity, she has built a network of volunteers across the country.

The left will hate this  hate this. But we love it, Mitchell said of EagleAI during one presentation reported on by The Associated Press and NBC News. The elite Christian conservative fundraising group Ziklag announced plans to invest $800,000 in EagleAI, according to ProPublica and Documented, an investigative watchdog that has worked to keep track of registration purges.

At least one Georgia county has signed a contract to use the software, and in May, the director of the Florida Division of Elections sent county officials a list of 10,000 names to review that a local concerned citizen had generated with EagleAI.

Nonetheless, even grassroots right-wing activists appear to be growing frustrated with both EagleAI and IV3, calling data produced by the programs completely nonfunctional and significantly inaccurate, NBC News reported last month.

Other efforts are state-based, including the Pigpen Project in Nevada and Soles to the Rolls in Michigan. Some even go so far as to go door to door to ask voters to confirm their information, raising concerns about intimidation. The Republican Party is also involved in the effort  in June, a federal judge rejected a GOP lawsuit alleging Nevada officials had failed to properly maintain voter rolls. (The GOPs data was highly flawed, the state said.) A similar suit, against the state of Michigan, isongoing.

And some states have made mass challenges even easier. In Georgia, S.B. 202, passed in 2021, allowed anyone to formally challenge an unlimited number of registrations, and S.B. 189, passed this year, requires voters to defend their registration against even frivolous challenges, sometimes at in-person hearings. It faces a lawsuit.

People attend a voter registration event on May 6, 2022, in Griffin, Georgia. Elijah Nouvelage for The Washington Post via Getty Images

One irony of the mass challenge trend is that there is already a widely credible, bipartisan tool for making sure states voter lists are up to date  and red states have left it en masse since last year.

ERIC, or the Electronic Registration Information Center, works to keep member states voter lists up to date by creating a central clearinghouse where members can share information  including change-of-address data, but also more sensitive information like drivers license records.

ERICs membership peaked in 2022 when 34 states were part of the compact. But ERIC is yet another victim of the Republican Partys relentless conspiracy theorizing about elections.

Thats because, in addition to helping maintain voter rolls, ERIC also requires member states to take steps to register eligible voters. That part of the compact wasnt controversial until 2022 when the conspiracy theory website Gateway Pundit falsely said the rights favorite bogeyman, George Soros, had founded and funded ERIC and that the multistate agreement was a left wing voter registration drive.

The lie spread, and nine Republican-led states ultimately left ERIC. As HuffPost reported last September, they havent been able to replace the service.

That void, in turn, has allowed an unauthorized private group to swoop in and conduct a function that belongs to the state, voting rights groups in Ohio, one state that left ERIC last year, said in a letter to Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) last month, referring to the Ohio Election Integrity Network, a local group that has challenged registrations.

The Risks of Purging Voters  And What You Can Do

Even if many challenges are rejected by election administrators, many are not. And given that Americas elections  including its voter rolls  are largely administered on the local level, theres always a chance that purges go unnoticed.

In Waterford Township, Michigan, for example, the local clerk removed 1,000 people from voter rolls  including an active-duty Air Force officer, who was incorrectly purged  after activists challenged the registrations based on Postal Service change-of-address data. The clerk sent certified mailers to the list and removed any voters from the rolls who did not respond. The purge only became news months later when The New York Times reported it.

The challenges also add more work to election administrators full schedules  when their responsibilities already include voter registration list maintenance.

Weve got all we can say grace over just doing what were required to do, so someone dropping 2,500 [names] on us is a recipe for, Hey, were just not going to have the capacity to get it done, Wilcox said, noting that the lengthy list of names reminded him of another trend  inundating election offices with public records requests.

There are federal protections in place for voters benefit. According to the National Voter Registration Act, a voter can only be removed from voter rolls due to a change in residence if they request the removal or confirm their change of address  or, if neither condition is met, the voter fails to respond to a mailed notice and fails to vote during the next two federal general election cycles after receiving the notice.

On top of that requirement, the NVRA prohibits election offices from systematically removing ineligible voters from registration lists within 90 days of a federal election, which was Wednesday, Aug. 7, this year.

But voters should remain vigilant. Georgias new law, for example, allows voters to be removed from the rolls up to 45 days before an election. And Davis, from Travis County, Texas, said theres an additional concern that voters inadvertently removed from the rolls may not realize that until much closer to Election Day.

Clapman, from the Brennan Center, said that even voters who remain registered could find themselves on inactive lists, meaning  depending on local and state rules  they might not receive a mail-in ballot even though theyd previously been on a list to receive one automatically. If all else fails, she said, voters who find themselves kicked off voter rolls should insist on a provisional ballot.

But theres still time to avoid that hassle. The election officials HuffPost spoke to stressed that, as November draws nearer, their offices will become bee hives of activity. Its better to confirm your registration status sooner than later, they said. Check your state or countys online voter registration portal, if there is one, or simply call your local election office to ask about your registration status.

Or, if you really cant figure out your status, feel free to submit your registration application again. Election offices have processes in place for updating old registrations if they receive a duplicate, and sometimes its helpful simply to update your address on file or the signature you use to verify your ballot. But be wary. Some states registration deadlines occur days or even weeks before Election Day.

Do yourself a favor, do the elections office a favor  and dont wait, Wilcox said.

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On Tuesday (Aug. 13) Wisconsin voters have an opportunity to reaffirm that the Wisconsin Constitution is about sharing power. Our constitution should not allow the governor to unilaterally spend billions of dollars taxed from our citizens by the federal government and then sent back to the state without input from the peoples elected representatives in the legislature.

The reasoning behind the proposed constitutional amendments is simple. Our Constitution prohibits the state government from spending money unless it is appropriated by law. The power to make law  to legislate  is vested exclusively in the legislature. While the governor may veto legislation (subject to override), he or she may not make law. This legislative power to appropriate money and make law is also a responsibility. It ought not to be unconditionally delegated to a governor. Our constitution, like that of the United States, limits the concentration of power. It establishes a separation of power in which the exercise of authority is checked and balanced. The legislature cannot simply give that away.

Vote no: Why fix a system that is not broken?

During the recent pandemic, the governor was able to spend $ 5.7 billion dollars on behalf of the state of Wisconsin without input of the body which actually has the constitutional duty to make law and appropriate funds. The proposed amendments make clear that the legislature may not delegate its responsibility to the governor who may not unilaterally spend taxpayer dollars. Thats quite the slush fund with very little restrictions and oversight. Disturbingly, the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau found that the governors Department of Administration could not produce any materials to show how it decided to spend $412.6 million of those dollars.

This money is not free. Wisconsin citizens paid the taxes that created this fund and both the legislature and the governor should have a role in determining how to spend billions of dollars. No single branch of government would have sole power over spending. In allowing this concentration of spending power, Wisconsin has been an outlier. Most states require that the power to spend federal dollars be shared between the legislative and executive branches.

Special interests pay for misleading ads for Wisconsin primary

As Wisconsinites prepare to vote, they will be bombarded by gaslighting ads, largely financed by special interests who receive taxpayer money. Naturally, they want to keep this unchecked gravy train rolling. They will tell you they are protecting the Constitution while seeking to continue this federal evasion of its terms. Theyll say they are defending checks and balances while what they are really doing is keeping them from being rebuilt. The legislature cannot fix this alone because the governor will veto any attempt to do so.

Critics of the amendments will say that the legislature and governor will be gridlocked. But that doesnt happen in other states. Democracy can be messy, but let's demand our elected officials work together rather than throw up our hands and anoint one branch as a dictator over the use of these federal funds.

More confusing referendums on ballot: If they pass, expect more gridlock in Madison.

The most specious charge being made by critics of the proposed amendments is that they are some kind of power grab by the legislature. But legislative Republicans cannot possibly think there will never be a Republican governor  or a Democratic legislature  again. There are no permanent victories in politics and all of us  Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives  should not want this kind of power concentrated in one set of hands. Even if you love what Gov. Evers did with the federal COVID-19 dollars, we guarantee you that someday there will be a governor who you wont love.

The founders of our Constitution loved democracy and they were suspicious of the concentration of power. In the 21st century, federal dollars have come to play an outsized role in state budgets. Sometimes they must be spent according to federal restrictions. But when our state is free to choose how they are to be used, lets allow full participation by the elected representatives who make the law and the governor who administers the law. Vote yes on these important amendments.

Rick Esenberg is President and General Counsel at the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty. CJ Szafir is the CEO of the Institute for Reforming Government.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin primary election 2024 includes referendum questions
A doctor who witnesses said hit a patient during surgery has agreed to have his license placed on probation for five years.

The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure released the agreement with Dr. William R. Martin this week.

Martin, an orthopedic surgeon in Owensboro, denied hitting the patient, but agreed to a period of probation in lieu of having the board issue a complaint against him, according to the order.

The incident happened in August 2023 at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital.

One witness who was in the operating room said Martin was having trouble removing an instrument from a tube placed in a patients shoulder during surgery.

Martin raised his voice, and after getting the instrument out, hit the patient on the right side of the face with his hand, the witness said.

A second employee who was there said Martin was visibly upset while trying to pull out the instrument and punched the patient, according to the KBML order.

A third employee said when Martins use of the instrument wasnt going like he wanted, he got mad, yanked it out and hit the patient in the face, according to the order.

Martin told a hospital committee that he had no recollection of the event but that he would never intentionally hit a patient.

He also said he didnt think it would be possible to hit the patient in the face given their relative positions.

Martin told the committee he may have moved a surgical drape, but reiterated he would never hit someone, according to an order from the licensure board.

The hospitals Medical Executive Committee voted to terminate Martins privileges at the hospital.

Martin later told the licensure board that he believed he had batted at the drapes, which others misinterpreted as hitting the patient.

He also suggested the executive committee at the hospital was biased against him because it was made up of doctors employed by the facility, which he alleged was in competition with his orthopedic group, according to the board order.

The board said that based on the facts stipulated in the case, Martin engaged in conduct that violated a provision of state law.

That provision allows the board to impose sanctions when a hospital has terminated a doctors privilege to practice if that discipline was based on what the hospital found to be unprofessional conduct.

Under the agreement with the board, Martins license will be on probation for five years and he must undergo an assessment at a behavioral health program.
A woman died Thursday morning at Chicago's O'Hare Airport after becoming entangled in baggage machinery in a non-public baggage handling area near Terminal 5, according to Chicago Police and Fire Departments. File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI

Aug. 8 (UPI) -- A woman who became pinned in machinery at Chicago's O'Hare Airport died Thursday after she became entangled in a baggage conveyer belt system, according to the Chicago Fire Department.

The victim, in her 40s, died at the scene.

The Chicago Fire Department told WGN News they believed it was an industrial accident that happened in a baggage handling area not open to the public.

In a brief statement, Chicago police said the victim was "unresponsive and was pronounced on scene" in the 100 block of West Terminal Street shortly before 2:30 a.m. Thursday.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office hasn't identified the woman.

The death happened in a Terminal 5 airport baggage handling area.

Police detectives are investigating pending an autopsy.
Woman killed in baggage conveyor belt accident at OHare airport, fire official says

CHICAGO  Police have opened a death investigation after a woman was discovered dead at a terminal early Thursday morning at OHare International Airport.

The Chicago Fire Department was called out to Terminal 5 at OHare Airport for a report of a woman pinned in machinery around 7:45 a.m., according to department spokesman Larry Langford.

When firefighters arrived they found a woman approximately 40 years of age entangled in the conveyor belt system used to move baggage in terminal 5. Paramedics confirmed the woman was deceased at the scene, Langford said.

The womans identity has not been released.

The area was declared a crime scene and the incident was handed over to Chicago police, Langford said.

Detectives were investigating pending autopsy results scheduled for Friday.

____
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A North Las Vegas woman told 8 News Now she is still trying to come to terms with what happened after she was the victim of a violent carjacking.

I didnt know if I was going to die, Nitalia Ragonese-Albert said.

Ragonese-Albert walked 8 News Now through what she called the most terrifying moment of her life.

I havent been able to sleep, she said. I struggle to eat now.

The 19-year-old said she was visiting an apartment complex near Losee Road and Centennial Parkway last Wednesday night when she said two men in masks approached her.

A North Las Vegas woman told 8 News Now she is still trying to come to terms with what happened after she was the victim of a violent carjacking. (KLAS)

They had the ski masks, she recalled. The ones where you can literally only see eyes.

Ragonese-Albert said they pulled her out of her car, threw her to the ground, and held her at gunpoint while stealing her things. She said they then drove away in her car.

My purse falls, he snatches my purse, she recalled. Hes trying to grab my phone from me. Im stuck on the floor.

The vehicle was recovered a day later, according to North Las Vegas Police, but officers said they are still searching for the thieves.

Its scary knowing that they are still out there, Ragonese-Albert said.

She told 8 News Now that she hopes her story will encourage anyone who has seen something to come forward.

I am just so traumatized by it, she added. Because I have never had that happen before.

Ragonese-Albert said she also wants to remind others to always be aware and ready in case the worst happens.

You really just have to be cautious, she concluded. Because anything can happen at any moment.

Anyone with any information on the case should contact North Las Vegas Police at (702)-633-9111 or call Crime Stoppers to stay anonymous at (702)-385-5555.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Vice President Kamala Harris elevation to the top of the Democratic ticket has more members of the party enthusiastic about voting in November. But Harris also gins up enthusiasm among some Republicans. (Photo by Chris duMond/Getty Images)

Within days of Vice President Kamala Harris announcing she would seek the presidency this November, Geri Jannarone said her phone buzzed nonstop from women reaching out to find ways to get involved.

Jannarone is the head of Emerge New Jersey, an organization that aims to increase the number of Democratic women in public office. She said the surge in interest in the race for the White House didnt just come from politically active women, but also from those who have never labeled themselves as political people, she said.

Weve never seen anything like it, not since the Obama campaign, said Jannarone. Its really exciting and important to have someone like Kamala at the very top because it is so representative of who New Jersey is, who we are, and what makes us.

Jannarone is one of the many Democrats celebrating their partys new ticket, with Harris at the top and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Jannarone believes Harris as the partys standard-bearer will inspire more women to run for office, and shes seen a new excitement over the campaign in communities of color and among younger voters.

Some polling backs her up. An Aug. 4 CBS News poll found younger and Black voters are more likely to go to the polls now that Harris is the nominee. The poll says 74% of Black registered voters say they will definitely vote, compared to 58% in July, when President Biden was still planning to seek reelection.

Marilyn Davis of public affairs firm MDD Connections said her 20-year-old niece, who wasnt planning to vote for Biden in part because of his failed attempt to fully forgive student loans, is eager to campaign for Harris, Davis said.

Im like, What? In a nanosecond, youre not only ready to support the vice president, but actually go out on the campaign trail, which youve never done in your life, Davis said. So there is absolutely so much excitement about her candidacy.

Davis previously worked with the Democratic National Committee during Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign. Now, shes helping organize virtual fundraisers for Harris, create county-level teams to boost her campaign, and shift some resources over to Pennsylvania.

Harris campaign may resonate with women not just because some want to see a woman win the White House but because of how front of mind reproductive rights is in this election, Jannarone said. She also noted former President Donald Trump showed us who he is again after telling a group of Black journalists last week that Harris happened to turn Black  Harris is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother who both immigrated to America  and that undocumented immigrants are taking Black jobs.

Those comments absolutely offended communities of color, said Davis. And, she added, who is Trump to define someones race?

Republicans have blasted Harris promotion to the top of the Democratic Partys ticket as one that disenfranchised 14 million primary voters who cast their ballots for Biden.

Jeanette Hoffman, a Republican public affairs strategist, said New Jersey Republicans are happy to have women as their partys leaders, noting that New Jerseys only woman governor, Christine Todd Whitman, is a Republican and former Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno was the Republican nominee for governor in 2017 (Whitman this week endorsed Harris over Trump).

But Hoffman added Trumps running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, isnt doing any favors to gain support from voters, pointing to comments he made in a 2021 Fox News interview saying that people without children dont really have a direct stake in the nation.

Republicans always need to work harder to appeal to women voters, and J.D. Vance and his childless cat women comments certainly isnt helping that mission, she said.

The CBS News poll also showed a third of Republicans are more motivated to vote now that Harris will be Trumps opponent. Christine Fano, who chairs the Republican Committee of Montville Township, said Harris leftist policies and Walzs extreme views have suburban moms afraid of what a Harris presidency would look like.

This is basically, its a call  we have to save America, she said.

Fano said she doesnt believe suburban moms are connecting with Harris. People want to hear more about kitchen table issues, she said, like the skyrocketing cost of groceries, gasoline, and housing.

They dont buy what shes selling. They feel as though shes a phony, Fano said. She didnt really have any accomplishments before she became vice president. I think many women believe its wonderful someone who is in leadership be a woman, but she really has to have merit.

Amid Democratic excitement for the new ticket  Davis said she joined a Zoom call with tens of thousands of Black women that was organized within hours of Harris campaign launch  some Democrats remain trepidatious.

Earlier this month, former Assemblywoman Sadaf Jaffer joined a similar Zoom call for South Asians supporting Harris. She said numerous messages in the chat asked what Harris would do to bring a cease-fire in Gaza and how her approach to the war in Gaza would be different than Bidens.

Jaffer said its definitely powerful to have a Black and South Asian woman on a major-party ticket, but said she and others remain cautiously optimistic. While Arab American communities are relieved that Biden isnt seeking reelection, families are also grappling with losing dozens of members amid the war, she said.

Jaffer wants to see more outreach from the Harris campaign to Muslim communities and Arab Americans in New Jersey. With their priorities and perspectives heard, the Harris campaign would have a winning strategy, she said.

We have to be consistent as Democrats  if we say that we believe in equality, and that every persons life is valuable and deserves dignity and safety, that has to apply in our international endeavors as well, she said.

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Vice President Kamala Harris elevation to the top of the Democratic ticket has more members of the party enthusiastic about voting in November. But Harris also gins up enthusiasm among some Republicans. (Chris duMond/Getty Images)

This story originally appeared on New Jersey Monitor.

Within days of Vice President Kamala Harris announcing she would seek the presidency this November, Geri Jannarone said her phone buzzed nonstop from women reaching out to find ways to get involved.

Jannarone is the head of Emerge New Jersey, an organization that aims to increase the number of Democratic women in public office. She said the surge in interest in the race for the White House didnt just come from politically active women, but also from those who have never labeled themselves as political people, she said.

Weve never seen anything like it, not since the Obama campaign, said Jannarone. Its really exciting and important to have someone like Kamala at the very top because it is so representative of who New Jersey is, who we are, and what makes us.

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Jannarone is one of the many Democrats celebrating their partys new ticket, with Harris at the top and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Jannarone believes Harris as the partys standard-bearer will inspire more women to run for office, and shes seen a new excitement over the campaign in communities of color and among younger voters.

Some polling backs her up. An Aug. 4 CBS News poll found younger and Black voters are more likely to go to the polls now that Harris is the nominee. The poll says 74% of Black registered voters say they will definitely vote, compared to 58% in July, when President Biden was still planning to seek reelection.

Marilyn Davis of public affairs firm MDD Connections said her 20-year-old niece, who wasnt planning to vote for Biden in part because of his failed attempt to fully forgive student loans, is eager to campaign for Harris, Davis said.

Im like, What? In a nanosecond, youre not only ready to support the vice president, but actually go out on the campaign trail, which youve never done in your life, Davis said. So there is absolutely so much excitement about her candidacy.

Davis previously worked with the Democratic National Committee during Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign. Now, shes helping organize virtual fundraisers for Harris, create county-level teams to boost her campaign, and shift some resources over to Pennsylvania.

Harris campaign may resonate with women not just because some want to see a woman win the White House but because of how front of mind reproductive rights is in this election, Jannarone said. She also noted former President Donald Trump showed us who he is again after telling a group of Black journalists last week that Harris happened to turn Black  Harris is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother who both immigrated to America  and that undocumented immigrants are taking Black jobs.

Those comments absolutely offended communities of color, said Davis. And, she added, who is Trump to define someones race?

Two men in dark suits, one in a red tie and one in a blue tie

Republicans have blasted Harris promotion to the top of the Democratic Partys ticket as one that disenfranchised 14 million primary voters who cast their ballots for Biden.

Jeanette Hoffman, a Republican public affairs strategist, said New Jersey Republicans are happy to have women as their partys leaders, noting that New Jerseys only woman governor, Christine Todd Whitman, is a Republican and former Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno was the Republican nominee for governor in 2017 (Whitman this week endorsed Harris over Trump).

But Hoffman added Trumps running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, isnt doing any favors to gain support from voters, pointing to comments he made in a 2021 Fox News interview saying that people without children dont really have a direct stake in the nation.

Republicans always need to work harder to appeal to women voters, and J.D. Vance and his childless cat women comments certainly isnt helping that mission, she said.

The CBS News poll also showed a third of Republicans are more motivated to vote now that Harris will be Trumps opponent. Christine Fano, who chairs the Republican Committee of Montville Township, said Harris leftist policies and Walzs extreme views have suburban moms afraid of what a Harris presidency would look like.

This is basically, its a call  we have to save America, she said.

Fano said she doesnt believe suburban moms are connecting with Harris. People want to hear more about kitchen table issues, she said, like the skyrocketing cost of groceries, gasoline, and housing.

They dont buy what shes selling. They feel as though shes a phony, Fano said. She didnt really have any accomplishments before she became vice president. I think many women believe its wonderful someone who is in leadership be a woman, but she really has to have merit.

Amid Democratic excitement for the new ticket  Davis said she joined a Zoom call with tens of thousands of Black women that was organized within hours of Harris campaign launch  some Democrats remain trepidatious.

Earlier this month, former Assemblywoman Sadaf Jaffer joined a similar Zoom call for South Asians supporting Harris. She said numerous messages in the chat asked what Harris would do to bring a cease-fire in Gaza and how her approach to the war in Gaza would be different than Bidens.

Jaffer said its definitely powerful to have a Black and South Asian woman on a major-party ticket, but said she and others remain cautiously optimistic. While Arab American communities are relieved that Biden isnt seeking reelection, families are also grappling with losing dozens of members amid the war, she said.

Jaffer wants to see more outreach from the Harris campaign to Muslim communities and Arab Americans in New Jersey. With their priorities and perspectives heard, the Harris campaign would have a winning strategy, she said.

We have to be consistent as Democrats  if we say that we believe in equality, and that every persons life is valuable and deserves dignity and safety, that has to apply in our international endeavors as well, she said.

New Jersey Monitor is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. New Jersey Monitor maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Terrence T. McDonald for questions: info@newjerseymonitor.com. Follow New Jersey Monitor on Facebook and X.

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USS pension scheme insists its move to sell Israeli assets was driven by financial interests and not concerns around the Gaza war - REUTERS/Amir Cohen

The universities pension scheme has been criticised by Israeli groups for selling 80m of assets in the country after a campaign by pro-Palestine activists.

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), Britains largest private sector pension fund, has materially reduced its investments in Israel in recent months including the sale of government debt and currency, the Financial Times reported.

David Davidi-Brown, chief executive of non-profit organisation New Israel Fund UK, said that cutting investment to Israel undermines efforts to bring peace to the region.

He said: As an organisation working with Jewish and Palestinian led organisations, we understand the concern over inadvertently contributing to human rights abuses in Gaza or the West Bank.

Yet rather than turning away from all Israeli companies and society, we must increase our investment  financial and otherwise  in the people, projects and companies bringing Jews and Palestinians together and creating the possibility of a safer shared future.

A USS spokesman said: These are relative value decisions, not exclusions. It would be wrong to state or imply these decisions were made for anything other than financial reasons.

We can only make investment decisions on financial best interest grounds, so this isnt a result of the range of views members may have or any form of comment on events other than the financial circumstances.

The 79bn pension scheme has faced pressure from members to withdraw from Israel over concerns about its human rights record in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The organisation is made up of more than 520,000 active and retired workers across higher education institutions across the UK, including academics at Oxford and Cambridge.

It follows a wave of student-led protests across the UK demanding that universities cut financial and academic ties with Israels government and Israeli companies which operate in occupied Palestinian territory.

It is understood that USS investment decisions are made purely on financial reasons, rather than based on the views of members about the conflict.

In February, the USS rejected demands from the The University and College Union (UCU), which represents more than 120,000 academics and support staff, to dump its investments linked to Israel.

The calls came after findings by the International Court of Justice that the conflict in Gaza could be branded genocide. The ruling was rejected by Israel.

Dame Kate Barker, chairman of USSs board of trustees, at the time refused to consider divestments and said it was premature to condemn the Israeli government.

Story continues

A UCU spokesman said: We welcome what they [USS] have done by disposing of Israeli government bonds and currency, but we want them to go further and divest the companies that are supporting the Israeli government in its conflict in Gaza.

USS previously confirmed that it has reduced its exposure to the region in response to the financial risks coming out of the Oct 7 attacks and subsequent conflict in the Middle East.

In its latest accounts published in July, USS said that it engaged with stakeholders throughout the year about broader responsible investment matters about the events which unfolded in the Middle East.

The Liverpool-based pension scheme said that it appreciated the diversity of views relating to the conflict among those who share hopes of peace in the region.

However, the USS said it had a legal duty to invest in the best financial interests of our members and beneficiaries, rather than making decisions for any wider reasons.

It added: We continue to keep our portfolio and broader positions under regular review.

USS is not the only pension fund to reduce its exposure to Israel in recent months.

KLP, Norways largest private pension fund, in June divested from US industrial group Caterpillar over concerns that bulldozers were being allegedly weaponised by Israels military.

USS was approached for comment.

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He won the NYC housing lottery after applying more than 60 times. Now, he pays $2,300 in rent for his Brooklyn apartment.

Josh Ayala found his first apartment through the New York City Housing Lottery. Josh Ayala

Josh Ayala, 26, won the New York City affordable-housing lottery after applying for about a year.

His monthly rent for a studio apartment in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, is $2,345.

The average ratio for the housing lottery is 450 applications for each rental unit.

When Josh Ayala first received a call about a Brooklyn apartment he'd applied for under New York City's affordable-housing lottery, he was surprised.

It was February 2023, more than 8 months since he sent in his application for that apartment building.

"I was like, wait, what? I totally forgot I applied to this," Ayala, 26, told Business Insider.

The affordable-housing lotteries are run by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, or HPD, and the Housing Development Corporation.

Ayala was 21 when he first learned about the program from a colleague at his old job.

Josh Ayala was 21 when he first learned about the NYC housing lottery. Josh Ayala

"Someone was talking about the New York City Housing Connect, and they mentioned how you could move into new buildings with affordable rent," Ayala said. "I wasn't ready to move out yet, but I thought it was a good program. I want to make sure I apply to this when I do want to move."

Fast-forward two years, and it was finally time for him to strike out on his own.

He was coming from a three-bedroom home in Queens, where he lived with his family.

At that time, Ayala had just left his job to pursue his passion in the creative field and was accepted into One School, a program aimed at helping Black creatives craft a portfolio to work in the ad industry.

"I had already been applying for homes during the program," Ayala said. "Literally, as soon as I ended that program and got recruited for a job, that's when I started to hear back from places."

Ayala's studio apartment in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Josh Ayala

One apartment to 450 applicants

To qualify for a lottery apartment, each household must meet specific income requirements, which vary across developments depending on unit size and location.

Both rental and homeownership units are available, and application is free.

While applicants don't need to be US citizens, NYC residents get priority, Aileen Reynolds, the assistant commissioner of housing opportunity at HPD, told BI.

But competition is stiff: According to the HPD, on average, there are 450 applications received per rental unit.

Ayala, an art director, said he sent out more than 60 applications for different buildings all across NYC. He wanted a spacious apartment with plenty of natural light.

The sleeping area in the studio apartment. Josh Ayala

"I feel like in New York, so much of the year is cold or gloomy during the winter. If I'm going to be in a small space and then not have light, it's going to be very bad for my mental health," Ayala said. "I was also looking at proximity to things to do and the subway  I didn't want to be very far removed from things happening."

Despite viewing a couple of different apartments prior, none of them stood out to him like his current place  in Greenpoint  which checked off all the items on his list.

The studio had large windows and came with both a washer and dryer and a dishwasher. It was also six minutes from an East River Route ferry terminal, with East 34th Street in Manhattan as the next stop, and an eight-minute walk from the Greenpoint Avenue subway station.

Ayala knew he'd found the right space. Within a month of the viewing, he was offered the apartment and signed the lease. In June 2023, he moved in.

He recently renewed his lease for another year and now pays $2,345 in rent monthly and $230 for the building's amenity fees.

The living area and entryway. Josh Ayala

The median monthly rent for a studio apartment in Greenpoint is $3,988, according to the latest August data from RentHop.com.

"Lease offers are always one or two years  it's the applicant's choice  and then they have to be offered a renewal," Reynolds said. "The city's rent stabilization program also restricts how much the rent can go up each year."

And the income and household size requirements apply only during the initial move-in, Reynolds added.

"Of course, if they're anticipating a change in their household that they know about at the time of move-in, they should disclose that. But if it's something that unexpectedly happens several months or even years in, there's no impact on their lease or their apartment situation," Reynolds said.

An apartment of his own

Ayala said the day he moved into the apartment felt surreal because it was his first home.

"And I didn't have anything really yet because I've never been in an apartment, so I had to buy all new things or find things for my space. So it felt like a very blank canvas," he added.

He estimated the apartment to be about 500 square feet but said the abundance of natural light made it feel more spacious.

"In a way, I'm glad. If it were any bigger, it would be more complicated to clean, maintain, and furnish," Ayala said.

Ayala's apartment is cozy, colorful, and filled with art pieces  many of which are his own.

Ayala said he'd invested in quality furniture pieces that could last him a long time. Josh Ayala

It's hard to describe his space as any one theme, though he said he liked midcentury and Scandinavian styles. One thing's for sure  he believes in investing in quality furniture pieces.

"I have spent a good amount of money on my couch, my table, and stuff like that. But to me, the way that I view it is there are pieces that can last me literally forever," Ayala said, adding that he could always resell them or give them away if he didn't want them anymore.

Moving into this apartment also got him even more interested in interior design  so much so that he's even started a TikTok channel to document his journey transforming and decorating his space.

"I would say investing in your space and making it your style is also important. I'm not just filling a space because I need a couch, so I'm just going to buy any couch and throw it out when I get my dream house," Ayala said. "To me, that's wasteful too."

Ayala's kitchen counter. Josh Ayala

A life-changing opportunity

Living in NYC doesn't come cheap, and housing is an even bigger headache: The median sales price for homes hit $785,000 in early 2024, while the median rent in NYC is $3,684. All while city housing inventory is at its lowest since 1968.

Not only that, but rents in NYC increased seven times as fast as wages from 2022 to 2023, a StreetEasy analysis found. Even the city's tech workers  who make $135,000 on average  can't afford to rent most of the apartments on the market.

And that's why Ayala is also passionate about sharing his housing-lottery journey with his followers on TikTok.

"I'm surprised at how many, who are from New York and have lived there their whole lives, don't know that this program even exists, Ayala said.

Ayala recommends sending in applications for as many places as possible. Josh Ayala

Even though it takes time  sometimes even years  for people to hear back or be successful in their bid, winning the housing lottery could, quite literally, be life-changing.

That's why he recommends applying to as many places under the housing lottery as possible.

"I feel like a lot of people close the door on opportunities that could potentially come their way before even applying," Ayala said. "Be open to exploring different areas of the city because you literally never know when you'll get a call back or get the chance to view an apartment."

He suggests keeping important documents  such as birth certificates, bank documents, and pay slips  on hand so that they can be easily retrieved when required during the housing-lottery application process.

It also helps to ensure the files are labeled correctly for ease of review.

"The person who is going to review the applications is not going to know what it is, and they're going to have to go in and see what each thing is," Ayala said. "But if you make that process easier for people, it also makes it easier for them to reach out to you more quickly."

Have you recently built or renovated your dream home? If you've got a story to share, get in touch with me at agoh@businessinsider.com .

Read the original article on Business Insider
Iowa State University researches hope more studying of woodchip bioreactors will lead to better water quality. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded Iowa State University roughly $750,000 to improve water quality through woodchip bioreactors.

A woodchip bioreactor works by intercepting drainage water and transporting it to an area that has a carbon substrate, such as woodchips, and denitrifying microorganisms to remove nitrate from the water. The remaining water is released back into a waterway.

The process allows for cleaner water, but poses problems related to the woodchips and cost, Iowa State agriculture and biosystems engineering professor Michelle Soupir said.

Theres only two sources for the woodchips because woodchips need to be a certain size so its kind of difficult to secure the material, Soupir said. Also, we want to make sure that the carbon that were putting into these bioreactors is working the best, so we want to get the best investment in dollars that were using to invest in these conservation practices.

Soupir said as part of the project, the researchers hope to work alongside landowners and those clearing out timber. By examining the effectiveness of different types of wood on the bioreactors, researchers hope to have a better understanding of the most efficient types of wood to use.

Theres a big outreach piece with woodland management and timber buyers and foresters to try and look at ways to have healthy woodlands that can also benefit water quality, Soupir said.

With more effective bioreactors across Iowa, water quality throughout the state can be improved, Soupir added.

Soupir said Iowa State will use the money from the grant to pay a graduate student and staff member as part of the research.

The grant is intended to support research focused on water conservation and water use efficiency, according to a press release. Soupir said the primary goal of the project is simply to clean the water.

The USDAs Institute of Food and Agriculture also awarded grants to 14 other universities, besides Iowa State, worth around $6.25 million.

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WOODLYNNE  The borough's police force, described as understaffed and in need of extensive reform, is to consolidate with Camden County Police Department, officials said Thursday.

The county department expects to begin "supplemental patrols" in the borough on Sept. 1, Woodlynne's County Police Chief Gabriel Rodriguez said in a statement.

"Moving forward we will be consolidating the boroughs existing officers into our operation," Rodriguez said.

The change comes after a law enforcement group's evaluation found the Woodlynne department "is experiencing a crisis in all the identified critical areas."

Targeting a longtime problem: Camden fights illegal dumpers with cameras, education and a reward offer

The report, prepared earlier this year by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, found the department's "investigative function was merely ink on paper and was not being completed" and evidence was not properly secured.

Among other problems, It also noted the lack of a school security program, and said 2021 "was the last year of record for training for any Woodlynne officer."

Edwin Ramos, the borough's public safety director, noted Woodlynne currently has eight sworn officers, but only four will be available shortly due to a combination of departures and extended leaves.

Ramos also noted he plans to resign from his civilian post on Aug. 15.

In a letter requesting emergency assistance from the county, Ramos said the departures will make it "unsustainable" for the department to provide police service and would jeopardize the few remaining officers.

As part of the consolidation, the county department will take on three Woodlynne officers currently in a police academy.

Woodlynne, which shares a border with Camden, has 2,900 residents in about one-fifth of a square mile.

It previously was in a shared service agreement for police services from Collingswood that ended in 2009.

The pending change would follow extended oversight of Woodlynne's force by the county prosecutor's office, officials noted.

Woodlynne residents will pay for the county's cost of protecting the borough, but that number's not known yet, said Camden County Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr.

He also said the county does not expect to use the borough's outdated police station in the basement of the municipal building. A future site for a local substation is not yet known.

The consolidation will "provide a level of service that has long been missing in Woodlynne," said Rodriguez, whose department was formed in May 2103 to replace Camden's municipal police force.

"Residents will have the ability to get to know the command staff and utilize technology to speak with law enforcement that would never exist in the current department," he said.

Rodriguez also said his department has emphasized community policing for "a proven track record of success in Camden City."

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Woodlynne police department, in need of reform, to join county force
WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI)  Have you recently been contacted by someone claiming that your Wi-Fi, TV or bank account was hacked?

According to the Woonsocket police, it is most likely a scam.

In recent weeks, overseas scammers have reportedly stolen about $100,000 from people who live in the Woonsocket area.

SIMILAR: MassDOT warns of text message scam

Police said the scammers typically call victims and say their online accounts or services have been compromised. The caller then instructs the victim to go to an ATM and send Bitcoin to a digital wallet to resolve the issue.

Police are urging residents not to send money or cryptocurrency.

If you believe you have been targeted by this scam or know someone who has, contact Woonsocket police at (401) 766-1212.

NEXT: Watch out for scams at home during the 2024 Paris games

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World Central Kitchen said one of its Palestinian team members was killed in Gaza on Wednesday  about four months after an Israeli airstrike killed seven of its workers.

The nonprofit organization, founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, said Nadi Sallout was killed Wednesday near Deir al-Balah, Gaza. The organization described him as an integral member of our warehouse team from the early days of our response in Rafah and a humanitarian at his very core.

World Central Kitchen noted that it is still looking into the incident, but it believes he was off-duty at the time.

Our thoughts and support are with Nadis family and the rest of our dedicated team around the world as we mourn this tremendous loss. We will update our website as we learn more, World Central Kitchen said in a statement posted on the social platform X.

World Central Kitchen announced it would be resuming its operations in Gaza just weeks after an Israeli airstrike killed seven of its workers April 1. At the time, the organization demanded an independent investigation into the attack that killed the workers.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed responsibility for the tragic event in which our forces unintentionally harmed non-combatants in the Gaza Strip. The incident prompted global outrage.

World Central Kitchen said in an update posted last week that the situation in Gaza continues to worsen. The organization said numerous of its kitchens in the region have had to stop cooking, while others have been cut off from their aid.

Areas near our kitchens have become the focal point of Israeli military operations. As a result, we can no longer get critical resupplies of ingredients and equipment to several WCK-supported community kitchens, the organization said in its July 30 update.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Evan Garcia

GEORGETOWN, Texas (Reuters) - As with any desktop 3D printer, the Vulcan printer pipes layer by layer to build an object  except this printer is more than 45 feet (13.7 m) wide, weighs 4.75 tons and prints residential homes.

This summer, the robotic printer from ICON is finishing the last few of 100 3D-printed houses in Wolf Ranch, a community in Georgetown, Texas, about 30 miles from Austin.

ICON began printing the walls of what it says is the world's largest 3D-printed community in November 2022. Compared to traditional construction, the company says that 3D printing homes is faster, less expensive, requires fewer workers, and minimizes construction material waste.

"It brings a lot of efficiency to the trade market," said ICON senior project manager Conner Jenkins. "So, where there were maybe five different crews coming in to build a wall system, we now have one crew and one robot."

After concrete powder, water, sand and other additives are mixed together and pumped into the printer, a nozzle squeezes out the concrete mixture like toothpaste onto a brush, building up layer by layer along a pre-programmed path that creates corduroy-effect walls.

The single-story three- to four-bedroom homes take about three weeks to finish printing, with the foundation and metal roofs installed traditionally.

Jenkins said the concrete walls are designed to be resistant to water, mold, termites and extreme weather.

Lawrence Nourzad, a 32-year-old business development director, and his girlfriend Angela Hontas, a 29-year-old creative strategist, purchased a Wolf Ranch home earlier this summer.

"It feels like a fortress," Nourzad said, adding that he was confident it would be resilient to most tornados.

The walls also provide strong insulation from the Texas heat, the couple said, keeping the interior temperature cool even when the air conditioner wasn't on full blast.

There was one other thing the 3D-printed walls seemed to protect against, however: a solid wireless internet connection.

"Obviously these are really strong, thick walls. And that's what provides a lot of value for us as homeowners and keeps this thing really well-insulated in a Texas summer, but signal doesn't transfer through these walls very well," Nourzad said.

To alleviate this issue, an ICON spokeswoman said most Wolf Ranch homeowners use mesh internet routers, which broadcast a signal from multiple units placed throughout a home, versus a traditional router which sends a signal from one device.

The 3D-printed homes at Wolf Ranch, called the "Genesis Collection" by developers, range in price from around $450,000 to close to $600,000. Developers said a little more than one quarter of the 100 homes have been sold.

ICON, which 3D-printed its first home in Austin in 2018, hopes to one day take its technology to the Moon. NASA, as part of its Artemis Moon exploration program, has contracted ICON to develop a construction system capable of building landing pads, shelters, and other structures on the lunar surface.

(Reporting by Evan Garcia, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
(Greenleaf123 | Getty Images)

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals released an order this week upholding a lower courts decision to remove two Jefferson County commissioners from office due to their refusal to attend meetings or perform their obligatory duties as elected officials.

The order came after former Jefferson County Commissioners Jennifer Krouse and Tricia Jackson filed an appeal on July 31 asking the state Supreme Court to reconsider a May 1 decision from a three-judge panel that immediately removed them from their elected positions.

According to the filing, a more detailed opinion outlining the basis for the ruling will be released in due course. Wednesdays order was filed on an expedited basis due to the immediacy of the matter at hand.

The May ruling at the center of the appeal came from Judges Joseph K. Reeder, of the 29th Judicial Circuit; Jason A. Wharton, of the 4th Judicial Circuit and Perri Jo DeChristopher, of the 17th Judicial Circuit.

They ruled that Krouse and Jackson were derelict in the duties they took an oath to perform when they took office.

Krouse and Jackson were arrested in March on 42 misdemeanor charges each, including charges related to conspiracy for their coordination to keep the commission from meeting quorum, failure to perform their official duties and failure to fill the vacant county commission seat, among other charges.

The women intentionally missed every Jefferson County Commission meeting between Sept. 19 and Nov. 16 for what they called a protest against the procedure for filling a vacant commission seat. Over this time, they continued collecting their paychecks for serving on the commission. Each earned about $8,800 in taxpayer funds.

Without their attendance at the meetings and with the empty seat, a quorum couldnt be met, leaving crucial county business  approving payment of bills, filling county employee vacancies and renewing contracts  unfinished.

While missing meetings, the women took to social media, making multiple posts explaining how their absences were orchestrated as a purposeful tactic to keep the commission from filling its vacant seat with a candidate who was not a true conservative.

Several of those social media postings were used as evidence in the removal order, with judges saying they show that the two lawmakers were conspiring. The missed meetings, the judges wrote, were more than just casual disregard for their office and duties. Instead, they were a knowing refusal to comply and a weaponization of their ability to deny quorum and hold up county business.

Eventually, on Nov. 30, Jackson and Krouse returned to the county commission after a judge ordered their attendance. At that meeting  and ironically, as the order reads  the commission vacancy was filled.

This refusal to meet until ordered to do so removes all doubt that [Jackson and Krouses] actions are a willful and deliberate disregard of law, according to the removal order.  The Court therefore finds [Krouse and Jackson]  prioritized their own agendas over the needs of the citizens of Jefferson County and weaponized their deliberate and intentional refusal to attend meetings and appoint a fifth commissioner in order for [them] to advance their own agenda.

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Kratos, manufacturer of the XQ-58 Valkyrie, has confirmed that a new version of the drone is in the works that will feature built-in landing gear, which points to a larger derivative possibly with greater performance.

A new version of the stealthy XQ-58 Valkyrie with built-in landing gear is in the works the drones manufacturer Kratos has disclosed. The addition of internal landing gear points to a potentially larger, heavier, and higher-performance derivative of the XQ-58 that could be better positioned to meet the requirements of the U.S. Air Forces Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program and compete for other opportunities.

Eric DeMarco, Kratos CEO, confirmed the development of the landing gear-equipped version of the XQ-58 during a quarterly earnings call earlier today. Very soon were going to have a Valkyrie with its own internal gear, which will also have internal weapons, flying, he said.

Kratos had previously announced that a third launch and recovery method for the Valkyrie was on the horizon, but without providing specific details. The drone was originally designed to be entirely runway-independent, getting into the air using a static ground-based launcher with the help of expendable rocket boosters and then using a parachute recovery system at the end of a sortie.

An XQ-58 parachutes back down to Earth after a sortie. USAF

Last month, the company also announced that it had developed a special launch trolley that allows existing Valkyries without built-in landing gear to make use of traditional runways. While being able to operate without the need for a runway has definite advantages, it does impose limits on takeoff weight and, by extension, on range and payload capacity.

Were definitely giving the different customers who have different priorities options, DeMarco added during todays earnings call. We will have the entire [Valkyrie] portfolio flying, demonstrated, for the various customer[s].

DeMarco did not say which customers or potential customers specifically prompted the development of the new Valkyrie version with landing gear.

Valkyrie is now in source selection on certain opportunities. So, I am not able to make any specific program opportunity or customer-related comments on Valkyrie at this time, he explained. I can say that we have completed our planning for the next serial production run of Valkyries, including with our key suppliers. And we are ready to move forward once we have certain additional information on the potential opportunities, including the final version and capability mix of the aircraft.

The new production lot of Valkyries will be the third to date. Kratos has also previously disclosed the existence of at least five different Valkyrie variants. This includes a Block 2 runway-independent version able to fly further and higher, and with a heavier overall weight, than the baseline type. Existing XQ-58s can carry weapons and other stores in an internal bay, as well as a single hardpoint under each wing.

A rendering of an XQ-58 with a pair of AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles under its wings. Kratos

There are currently only two known XQ-58 operators, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Marine Corps, both of which have been operating their examples in the runway independent mode in a very limited capacity for test and evaluation purposes. Kratos and the Marine Corps have both talked about plans to operationalize Valkyrie for that service, including as an electronic warfare platform intended to work very closely with crewed F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, as you can read more about here.

The War Zone has noted in the past that the XQ-58s runway independence would be highly advantageous for the Marine Corps. For some years now, the service has been developing and refining new expeditionary and distributed concepts of operations with a particular focus on island-hopping scenarios in the context of a potential future high-end fight in the Pacific against China. The services short takeoff and vertical landing capable F-35Bs can already operate from locations that other fighters cant, so a drone that does not need a traditional runway would be an ideal companion.

A US Marine Corps XQ-58 flies with a pair of US Air Force F-35As during a test. USAF A U.S. Marine Corps XQ-58A drone, at left, flies together with a pair of U.S. Air Force F-35A Joint Strike Fighters off the coast of Florida on February 23, 2024. USAF

As already noted, the addition of landing gear, especially for a version of Valkyrie that is still able to carry weapons and other stores internally, points to a derivative that will likely be larger and heavier than existing variants. The new XQ-58 version with built-in landing gear could also be higher performance as a result.

A US Air Force XQ-58 releases a smaller ALTIUS-600 drone from its internal bay during a test. USAF An Air Force XQ-58A releases a smaller ALTIUS 600 drone from its internal payload bay during a test in 2021. USAF

Though the Air Forces CCA requirements remain closely guarded, what has emerged so far has pointed to a demand, at least initially, for greater performance than is offered by existing XQ-58 variants. Given its history with work on Valkyrie and other drones for the Air Force, it was still curious that Kratos was absent from the competition to build the first tranche of CCA drones.

However, the company has expressed a clear interest in taking part in the CCA programs planned future iterative development cycles, or increments. In April, General Atomics and Anduril were selected to move ahead in the first increment of the program, and there is a possibility that both designs could ultimately go into production. The Air Forces goal is to kick off the second increment sometime in the 2025 Fiscal Year, which starts on October 1 of this year.

The known CCA performance requirements have also prompted concerns about those drones costing more than expected. The Air Force has said in the past that the goal is for each of the Increment One drones to have a price tag between one-quarter and one-third of that of an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Based on publicly available data, this would be between $20.5 and $27.5 million.

A US Air Force XQ-58 flies together with an F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, seen in the middle, and an F-22 Raptor stealth fighter, at top right. USAF A US Air Force XQ-58A, at bottom left, flies together with an F-35A, in the middle, and an F-22 Raptor stealth fighter at top right, during a test. USAF

As I mentioned in the prepared remarks,  we remain laser-focused on affordability, attritability, and hitting cost points so affordable mass can really be achieved with things that are flying today, not potentially seven years, DeMarco said in response to a question in part about the CCA program and its known requirements.

Kratos told The War Zone earlier this year that the unit price range for existing XQ-58 variants is roughly between $4 and $6 million. The company has said in the past that its goal is to drive that down to around $2 million, which would be comparable, if not cheaper price-wise to the cost of many expendable missiles.

Especially given DeMarcos comments today, there could well be other customers or potential customers for the Valkyrie beyond the Air Force and Marine Corps, including ones outside of the United States. Among those could be parties interested in a more traditional runway-capable arrangement.

Kratos full drone portfolio extends well beyond the XQ-58 family, too. This includes the stealthy Thanatos, the first rendering of which was only unveiled last year, and that looks to be a higher-end design than the Valkyrie, as you can read more about here.

The only rendering released to date of Kratos secretive Thanatos drone. Kratos A rendering of Kratos Thanatos drone. Kratos

Apollo is now under contract and Athena has been down-selected and is expected to be under contract this quarter, DeMarco said on todays earnings call. Kratos has previously disclosed the existence of these two drones as part of its tactical portfolio, which also includes the XQ-58 and Thanatos, as well as the UTAP-22 Mako and Air Wolf, but has not provided any details about them to date.

A slide from a 2019 Kratos briefing slide that mentions Apollo and Athena, as well as other classified drone programs. Kratos A slide from a briefing Kratos gave to investors in 2019 that mentions Thanatos, as well as other classified projects. The Air Forces Low Cost Attritable Strike Demonstrator (LCASD) program, under which that service acquired Kratos XQ-58As, is also mentioned here. Kratos

All this being said, the XQ-58 continues to the most visible of Kratos tactical drone offerings. The newly announced version with internal landing gear, which could be of great interest to the Air Force, shows that work is still being done to significantly expand the scale and scope of capabilities found within the still-growing Valkyrie family.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
Ya never know whats going to happen, Rowan County deputy catches gator

Ya never know whats going to happen, Rowan County deputy catches gator

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Rowan County Sheriffs Deputies and NC Wildlife Resources Commission Offices have continued to track down answers as to how a three-foot-long gator ended up in Spencer, N.C., an area where you dont typically find gators.

In Rowan County, ya never know whats going to happen, explained RCSO Corporal Randal Addison.

Unusual Sight: Alligator found early Sunday morning in Rowan County

The corporal and other agents with the office responded to Long Ferry Road early Sunday morning when Sergeant Crews told dispatch that he had encountered a gator in the middle of the road.

Cpl. Addison recalled that it took him a while to get out what he was seeing.

When he arrived, he noticed that the gator appeared to have been injured but not seriously hurt.

He also would not move out of the road, which later caused a small traffic backup.

While the sheriffs deputies called the NC Wildlife Rescue Commission to assist in the gators removal, they were roughly 45 minutes away.

Corporal Addison holds the animal (RCSO)

RCSO crew poses for a photo (RCSO)

Cpl. Addison volunteered to try and capture the gator before it caused more traffic troubles.

Once I said I was going to do it, I couldnt back out because Ive got five guys behind me that are gonna hold me accountable, he explained of his reaction to the situation.

He, however, was more qualified than most on the scene, because he spent some of his childhood around a Florida man, his cousin.

My cousins a big outdoorsman down there, so I just watched him wrestles alligators in his pond, he explained.

He was able to quickly remove the gator and hold it until help arrived.

The gator was reportedly taken to the nearby zoo where it is being treated.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Pump jacks drill for oil in the Monterey Shale California Thomson Reuters

US oil production hit a record of 13.4 million barrels per day last week.

The EIA predicts global oil consumption will continue to rise this year.

Oil prices have dipped recently amid worries of an economic slowdown.

US oil production notched an all-time high of 13.4 million barrels per day last week, according to data from the Energy Information Administration.

That number is up from 12.6 million barrels each day a year ago, making for an 800,000-barrel increase.

The new production record comes just months after the EIA announced in March that the US produces more crude oil than any other country.

US crude prices were up 2.8% on Wednesday at 3:40 p.m. ET, trading at $75.28 a barrel. Both US and international oil prices have dipped in recent weeks as energy traders eye a possible slowdown of the US economy.

In its latest short-term energy outlook, the EIA said it expects natural gas inventories in the US to reach 3,954 billion cubic feet by the end of October, which is the most natural gas the country has had in storage since 2016.

And as US oil production continues to increase, the EIA predicts global consumption will only keep growing (though slightly less than previously predicted, due to slowing economic growth in China that's expected to stall its gas usage).

The administration expects that oil prices will rise in the latter half of the year as global oil inventories fall, partly driven by OPEC+ production cuts enforced on member countries. It expects an annual average Brent crude oil price of $86 per barrel in 2025.

Goldman Sachs analysts also say they foresee a recovery for oil prices.

"We expect oil prices to recover on solid Western demand and a likely positioning rebound," the analysts said in a note on Tuesday.

Oil prices are down about 7.5% from last year as traders adjust their outlook for disruptions stemming from geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, as well as concerns of a slowing US economy.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Yazoo County inmate dies after being found unresponsive in cell

YAZOO COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  Agents with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) are investigating the death of a Yazoo County inmate.

Mississippi man charged in three 1977 homicides in California

Yazoo County Sheriff Jeremy McCoy said deputies were dispatched to the Yazoo County Regional Correctional Facility just before 11:15 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6. He said the inmate, Darryl Brown, was found unresponsive in a single cell.

The sheriff said no further details could be released at this time.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.
Is New York City ready for Debby? Why some local residents say theyre skeptical

Is New York City ready for Debby? Why some local residents say theyre skeptical

KINGSBRIDGE HEIGHTS, the Bronx (PIX11)  On Wednesday, it rained off and on in the Bronx, following a drenching that many parts of the borough got on Tuesday evening and night.

All that rain, though, is just a preview of whats anticipated here and throughout the region at the end of the week, when remnants of Tropical Storm Debby could possibly inundate the tri-state.

Some people in the city say that city agencies are taking storm-related actions now, leaving them wondering how prepared New York is for the coming storm.

New York City forecast and PIX11s Weather Center

On Wednesday morning, one clear sign of preparation was visible on the Major Deegan Expressway in the Morris Heights section.

There, a work crew was positioned in the middle of a small convoy of vehicles, the biggest of which was a 10-wheel truck with a large apparatus on its bed. Called the VACTOR 2100, its a massive vacuum unit. Workers from the citys Department of Environmental Protection moved an oversized hose connected to the truck into drainage grates in the roadway. The vacuum cleared out the pipes below each grate to help prevent what happened on Tuesday evening on the Deegan.

Some cars got stranded there when the drains backed up during the heavy rainfall, flooding the roadway. E.J. Ayala lives near the Deegan service road.

It was crazy because of the traffic and the flood, he said. It was the flood, and there was the whole traffic [situation]. It was crazy.

On Tuesday night, the Cross Bronx Expressway was in a similar situation when an NYPD unit had to rescue a half-dozen motorists from flood conditions. Nobody was hurt, but cars had to be abandoned.

More Bronx News

Another effect of Tuesdays deluge was about two miles north of the Cross Bronx, in the Highbridge Heights section. A four-story-tall tree fell onto two cars parked on either side of Claflin Avenue, damaging one and totaling another.

Its brand new, said David Becceril, who lives a couple of houses away from one of the affected cars. She just got it a few months ago, he said about the electric blue Acura that was totaled.

Hes friends with the cars owner. PIX11 contacted her through him, but she chose not to be interviewed.

Becceril, however, spoke about the situation with the fallen tree, which he said hed worked hard to prevent from happening.

I saw the uprooting of the tree, so I called 311 and they sent an inspector over, Becceril said.

He showed PIX11 the citys record of his complaint, which was opened and closed on July 31.

They were like, Theres nothing we can do,' he said about the response he got from the citys parks department.

I found that weird, he continued, that there was no work to be done there when you could visibly see the concrete coming up and the tree leaning over.

On Wednesday afternoon, the parks department removed the tree.

The situation represents concerns that various people in the neighborhood have, as rains from Debby threaten to inundate the area soon. They ask whether or not they can count on the city to be prepared for whats coming or if the city can only respond to problems after the fact.

For its part, the New York City Parks Department issued a statement, through a spokesperson, about people having filed complaints about the tree before it fell.

We conduct tens of thousands of inspections on our trees every year, the statement began. Our inspectors are urban forestry professionals, many of whom have advanced certifications from the International Society of Arboriculture (I.S.A.).

In this case, the tree was inspected by our arborists about a week ago, on July 31. While the tree was slated for removal, the risks it presented did not indicate an emergency situation or need for imminent removal. Ultimately, it was the extreme weather conditions [that] caused the tree to fall.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  A woman was allegedly held captive and abused by a York County man for multiple days, police say.

Penn Township Police said in charging documents that Anthonio Hill, 51, of Hanover, allegedly kept the woman locked in a room for five days this month.

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During that time, Hill is accused of strangling her multiple times to the point shed pass out, punching and hitting her with glass bottles which caused serious injuries to her chest, abdomen, and face/head, threatening her with a knife, and kicking her down the stairs when she tried to leave, the charges say. Hes also accused of not letting her use the bathroom, giving her a bucket, and preventing her from calling 911.

Police were able to make contact with the woman at WellSpan York Hospital where she was treated for her injuries.

York County man charged for road rage shooting involving child

Hill is charged with felony counts of aggravated assault and strangulation. He also faces misdemeanor counts of unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Hill is locked up in York County Prison with his bail denied and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 17.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
NEW YORK STATE (WETM)  Hunters can now buy their New York State hunting and trapping licenses for the 2024-2025 season.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced on Tuesday that hunting licenses, trapping licenses, and deer management permits are now on sale. The licenses are valid from Sept. 1, 2024, through Aug. 31, 2025.

More Local News

This hunting season is the first time sporting licenses and tags will be printed on plain paper instead of plastic stock. This means that hunters who purchase their licenses online or over the phone can print them at home instead of waiting for them to come in the mail. Sporting licenses will still be available for purchase in person through DEC-authorized vendors, and lifetime license holders will get their licenses and tags in the mail by Sept. 1.

DEC continues to modernize the sporting license system and improve the license-buying experience for the public, said Interim DEC Commissioner Sean Mahar. The ability for people to receive their license electronically and print tags at home will make it quicker and easier to get outdoors and connect with nature through hunting and fishing.

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PIX11 News Headlines

This hunting season will also be the first time hunters in New York wont have to wear back tags while afield. Theyre still, however, required to carry proof of licensure in the field, and this can either be a physical paper license or an electronic copy through the HuntFishNY app.

People printing their own licenses and tags need to make sure they are printed on separate pieces of paper because hunters are still required to physically tag their animals. The DEC recommends that hunters who are worried about tags getting wet or ruined can place their tags in a reusable plastic tag/ID holder or a plastic sandwich bag after filling them out.

More information about New York States 2024-2025 hunting season is available on the DECs website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Police are looking for help in finding a missing 16-year-old girl.

Investigators are looking for Tessa Joy-Dixon, who was last seen Saturday leaving a residential facility in the 700 block of Early Road on the East Side.

Tessa is described as 50, 150 pounds, with a large scar on the top of her right arm. She was last seen wearing a black wig, white shirt, black shorts with holes and sandals with white socks.

Police believe she may be trying to make her way to Cuyahoga County.

Anyone with information on where she is can call the departments Special Victims Unit at 330-743-9380 or 330-742-8929 after hours.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Yunus sworn in as head of Bangladesh's interim government

Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, speaks at a panel discussion at the Digital Life Design (DLD) innovation conference. Nobel laureate Yunus back home to head Bangladesh interim government. Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as head of an interim government in Bangladesh on Thursday, three days after prime minister Sheikh Hasinas government was ousted in the face of deadly student protests.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to Yunus, 84, as chief adviser to the interim government at the presidential Bangabhaban palace in Dhaka.

The swearing-in ceremony was aired live on television from the palace.
ZEELAND, Mich. (WOOD)  A lot can change in 100 years, but for Roger Brinks and Ted Vandenbrink of Zeeland, at least one thing has remained the same.

Im going to be 95 years old August 20, and Ive been coming here since I was about 15 and a half years old, Brinks said.

Well, Im only 88.Im a long way behind him and Ive been going here probably since I was 16, 17 years old also, Vandenbrink said.

Theyre talking about Franks Restaurant in Zeeland, where they now stop in for lunch daily.

Ted Vandenbrink (left) and Roger Brinks in Franks Restaurant on Aug. 8, 2024.

Zeeland community celebrates Franks Restaurant Appreciation Day

Its fantastic. Waitresses are good, and we enjoy the food, and we just have a lot of fellowship around this table together, Brinks said.

Each day, the round table in the center of the restaurant is marked with a reserved sign just for them.

We usually spend about an hour, hour and a half here every noon, Brinks said.

The people at the table with them have changed throughout the years.

Girlfriendsyeah, oh yeah, I had some nice ones, Brinks joked.

I cant recall if I brought any girls here. Come here for eating, Vandenbrink chuckled.

The food is what keeps them coming back.

We are known for our hamburgers, said Franks employee Jill Raak. Really, any toppings you get on it, its going to be good.

A burger at Franks Restaurant in Zeeland on Aug. 8, 2024.

Now the longest-standing restaurant in the Zeeland and Holland area, Franks came from humble beginnings: two Italian immigrants with an American dream.

In 1924, the original Frank and his wife Mary started this. It was a confectionary, and they also sold fruit. And it was considered exotic to have oranges back then. So they started that way, Raak explained. It kind of just slowly morphed into the soda fountain and then during World War II, they put in the grill and the fryer and just started serving burgers, and it just became a hot spot for high schoolers to hang out.

To this day, many of those high schoolers still come in, cherishing the decades of fond memories theyve made inside the building at 134 E. Main Ave.

We hear old stories about Frank, the original Frank and then Frank Jr. and then Jan and Lynn and Pat everybody, Raak said.

The restaurant draws in all different types of people, and you can feel the energy the moment you step through the door.

Everybodys always happy when they come in. Everybodys so friendly. Its a great atmosphere. Its always positive, Raak said.

The restaurant has already left a lasting legacy, which Zeeland Mayor Kevin Klynstra recognized by proclaiming April 5 Franks Restaurant Appreciation Day.

Now, staff are getting ready to celebrate the community that has helped them build it. Through the Great Depression, a recession, a global pandemic and lots of construction, Franks has never wavered. The restaurant even added a liquor license in 2022 and opened Franks East.

On Thursday, staff kicked off the restaurants 100th birthday celebration by dressing in costumes from different decades. Fourth-generation Franks owner Shane Hammer also celebrated his birthday on Thursday. Hammer will return to the restaurant to work the grill and catch up with staff and customers on Friday.

On Saturday, Franks will host its main celebration with the community in the back parking lot. There will be cake, food, live, music, games, giveaways and more. The event goes from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. More information about the party can be found here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the meeting with a bipartisan delegation from the US House of Representatives. Stock photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with a bipartisan delegation from the US House of Representatives  Donald Norcross, Celeste Maloy and Jimmy Panetta  on Thursday, 8 August.

Source: European Pravda, with reference to the Office of the President of Ukraine

Details: Zelenskyy and the US officials discussed strengthening Ukraines defence capabilities and the most pressing needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The Ukrainian president stressed the importance of additional air defence systems for Ukraines ability to protect its civilians and critical infrastructure from Russian attacks. He also said the expansion of training programmes for Ukrainian pilots and technicians in the US was highly desirable for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy thanked the US for its participation in the inaugural Peace Summit in Switzerland, which was held in June, and outlined the steps towards the implementation of the decisions made during the summit and the promotion of Ukraines Peace Formula.

Background: During a NATO summit in July, US President Joe Biden said that the US will provide Ukraine with five additional air defence systems, including Patriot systems.

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As I expected, Nvidia's (NASDAQ: NVDA) rocket-ship rally is beginning to stall, with shares down by roughly 21% over the last 30 days. And while Nvidia is still a great company, the combination of a high valuation and low diversification leaves room for continued downside. Let's explore how recession fears and artificial intelligence (AI) fatigue could play out over the next three years.

Economic storm clouds gather

It is impossible to predict a recession for sure, but data is pointing toward a possible slowdown in economic activity. In July, the U.S. only added 114,000 jobs compared to expectations of 175,000, while the unemployment rate hit 4.3% -- its highest level since 2021. And while the Federal Reserve is expected to stimulate growth by cutting interest rates, it might be too little too late to avoid a so-called hard landing. Rate cuts can be a helpful tool, but they can't magically fix every problem in a shaky economy.



For Nvidia, a recession could be a disaster. While the company has dominated the AI industry by producing cutting-edge graphics processing units (GPUs) needed to run and train these complex conversational algorithms, it can't prevent its business model from being undermined by macroeconomic factors outside its control.

Nvidia sells luxury products

Nvidia's business has historically been cyclical. When money is tight, consumers are less likely to spring for expensive computer upgrades, instead opting for cheaper used options -- or foregoing them altogether. While a shift to enterprise-level hardware shields Nvidia from the whims of PC gamers, similar dynamics could also arise in the market for AI chips.

Analysts are beginning to sound the alarm about the billions being spent on AI hardware with limited results on the bottom line. Goldman Sachs analyst Jim Covello puts the situation in stark terms, stating: "Despite its expensive price tag, the technology is nowhere near where it needs to be in order to be useful. Overbuilding things the world doesn't have use for, or is not ready for, typically ends badly."

Image source: Getty Images.

While tech companies are content to speculate on unprofitable AI investments when the economy is good, the current level of spending may not hold up when conditions weaken. During recessions, businesses usually downsize their non-essential and non-profitable segments first, and right now, AI seems to fit solidly into that troubled category.

Nvidia may be underdiversified

Nvidia's first-quarter revenue jumped 262% to $26 billion, driven by data-center chip sales, which rose by an eyewatering 427% to $22.6 billion. But while this growth is impressive, it puts most of Nvidia's financial eggs in one basket. Data-center sales now represent 87% of total revenue driven by a few flagship products, such as the A100 and H200, which power typical large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT.

Other segments, like gaming (10% of revenue) or professional visualization (2% of revenue), have faded into irrelevance in the current market, making Nvidia vulnerable to any potential slowdown in demand for AI accelerator chips.

Is Nvidia stock a buy?

After rising by over 450% over the last three years, Nvidia stock has historically been a spectacular investment. And there is still a lot to love about the company because of its industry leadership in the global-chip industry. That said, shares seem to have peaked for now.

With a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 42, Nvidia's valuation prices in future growth that may not materialize, especially if the U.S. economy begins to slow and enterprise clients start to rethink their massive AI chip purchases. Nvidia looks overexposed to this fragile industry and may experience a major correction in the coming years.

Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now?

Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Nvidia wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $638,800!*

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Will Ebiefung has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Where Will Nvidia Stock Be in 3 Years? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Zelle operates at such a large scale  $806 billion transferred in 2023  that even a tiny percentage of scam and fraud problems translates into a large amount of money. (Nikolas Kokovlis / Associated Press)

The online-payment platform Zelle is extremely popular with consumers, which helps explain why it's also become a hit with scammers.

Another reason: Zelle payments can't be reversed once they're sent. They're a nearly instantaneous transfer of cash from your account to someone else's, and if that someone else is a scammer, you can't simply stop the payment (like a check) or dispute it (like a credit card).

Now, the federal regulator overseeing financial products is probing whether banks that offer Zelle to their account holders are doing enough to protect them against scams. Two major banks  JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo  disclosed in their security filings in the last week that they'd been contacted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

According to the Wall Street Journal, which reported the filings Wednesday, the CFPB is exploring whether banks are moving quickly enough to shut down scammers' accounts and whether they're doing enough to identify and prevent scammers from signing up for accounts in the first place.

The CFPB declined to comment on the story, and none of the banks contacted by The Times would talk about the details of the CFPB's probe. JPMorgan Chase's official response, though, was combative, suggesting the bank would fight the regulators if the CFPB demanded significant new protections for consumers.

"The CFPB is fully aware we already go above and beyond what the law requires, reimbursing for all unauthorized transactions and even for certain types of scams, so they should expect to be challenged to ensure their actions stay within the bounds of the law," a spokesperson for the bank said in a statement. "Our customers love Zelle, among the safest ways to pay people you know and trust, in real time and at no extra cost, and if necessary we will not hesitate to seek assistance from courts to uphold the integrity of how these services are provided."

Here's a rundown of the issues and how Zelle users might be affected by the CFPB's inquiry.

Are scams a problem on Zelle?

A J.D. Power survey this year found that 3% of the people who'd used Zelle said they had lost money to scammers, which was less than the average for peer-to-peer money transfer services such as Venmo, CashApp and PayPal. The chief executive of Early Warning Services, which runs Zelle, told a Senate subcommittee in July that only 0.1% of the transactions on Zelle involved a scam or fraud; in 2023, the company said, that percentage was 0.05%.

But Zelle operates at such a large scale  120 million users, 2.9 billion transactions and $806 billion transferred in 2023, according to Early Warning Services  that even a tiny percentage of scam and fraud problems translates into a large number of users and dollars.

Scam activity generally is rising fast. According to the Federal Trade Commission, more than 41,000 consumers reported scams involving online-payment apps in the first half of 2024, with losses amounting to $171 million. That's well over the pace of scams reported in 2023.

Early Warning Services insists that Zelle is bucking the rising tide of cons. From 2022 to 2023, Zelle cut the rate of scams by nearly 50% even as the volume of transactions grew 28%, resulting in less money scammed in 2023 than in 2022, said Ben Chance, the chief fraud risk management officer for Zelle.

The company didn't disclose the amounts involved, but if 0.05% of the $806 billion transferred in 2023 involved scam or fraud, that would translate to $403 million.

Do Zelle users get reimbursed for scams?

Only in certain cases, and this is where the banks that offer Zelle have drawn the most heat.

If you use Zelle to pay a scammer, banks say, that's a payment you authorized, so they're not obliged under law to refund your money. Federal law requires reimbursement only for unauthorized transactions, such as when someone hacks into your account or surreptitiously uses an app on your phone to make payments. Those transactions are what banks categorize as fraud, not scams.

In June 2023, Zelle started requiring banks to reimburse customers who were duped into paying scammers who posed as representatives of the bank, the government or a service provider with whom the customer had an existing business relationship (for example, a phone company). The policy is similar to one Bank of America adopted in 2021.

That change led to banks reimbursing more customers who were scammed on Zelle  according to a Senate report, reimbursements totaled $18.3 million in the last half of 2023  but 80% to 85% of the consumers who reported being scammed still got none of their money back, the report said.

What do banks and Zelle do to try to stop scams?

The heart of the CFPB's inquiry appears to be focused on this question.

Chance said that, under Zelle's rules for participating banks, whenever a consumer reports a scam or fraudulent transaction, the bank has to report that to Zelle, which will in turn inform the receiving bank of the complaint. That's true even for transfers within the same bank. The receiving bank is then required to conduct a fraud investigation on the recipient and report back to Zelle.

Some banks, such as Bank of America, say they will put a freeze on transfers by a suspected scammer as soon as a report comes in, then investigate and, if the report is substantiated, seize and return the money. But that works only if the scam is reported right away, before the scammer has the chance to withdraw the funds  which many will do immediately, said Iskander Sanchez-Rola, director of innovation at the cybersecurity company Gen.

Plus, the bank has to agree that a scam occurred. Adylia Roman of Los Angeles said she fought in vain with Bank of America for months to recover $2,700 lost from her savings account through Zelle; the bank insisted that the transfer was authorized by her son, who says he did no such thing and had no idea who the recipient was.

If there is a second complaint about an individual committing scams or fraud, Chance said, Zelle will probably suspend that person's access to the network until an investigation is completed. But Zelle can't freeze the money in dispute  it's up to participating banks to decide how to respond to the reports that Zelle forwards.

Early Warning Services also requires banks to take more steps to ensure that customers know the people they're sending money to and that they understand the risk. Before allowing a transfer to a new recipient, Zelle requires banks to send in-app alerts showing the verified name of the person holding the account where the money is being sent, and then warning that money should be sent only to people the user knows and trusts because the transfer is irrevocable. The user has to accept those terms before the transfer can be completed.

At the same time, Chance said, Zelle sends screening information about the recipient to the sender's bank, which the bank uses to decide whether the transaction is too risky to approve.

How might consumers get more protection?

One change that could make a difference would be to limit when funds transferred via Zelle are available for withdrawal, as banks do with check deposits. That would give senders time to call off transactions they realize are suspicious.

Anything less than near-instant transfers, however, would probably drive users to other instant-payment services, Sanchez-Rola said.

Banks could also impose more restrictions on how Zelle users add new recipients. Although banks tell consumers that Zelle is designed for sending money to people they know and trust, there's nothing stopping them from sending money to complete strangers, as long as contact information is available. That openness makes it easier for criminals to pull off their scams.

PayPal and Venmo address this issue through a buyer protection system for goods or services that's mandatory on PayPal and optional on Venmo. Under this approach, the recipient of a payment has to pay a fee that helps reimburse consumers who are scammed.

Perhaps the biggest issue is making Zelle users more attuned to risks. Sanchez-Rola said that many people assume Zelle is risk-free because they access it through a regulated bank, and because people they know and trust use it for everyday things. So when someone they don't know asks to be paid via Zelle, they're not as skeptical as they should be.

"You shouldn't use these kinds of [payment services] unless you fully trust the person," he said. "That's what they were designed for. They are not for getting your concert tickets quickly from some unknown guy."

Sanchez-Rola suggested that Zelle could send more information about the recipient of a proposed transfer to the sender, displaying any potential red flags before the money is sent. He also recommended that Zelle users employ cybersecurity products that help detect scams and phishing attempts. (Gen owns Norton and Avast, which make cybersecurity products.)

"Having solutions that can help people is important," he said. "You cannot just fully trust your bank."

Some consumer advocates are calling for a more sweeping approach, amending the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to require banks to reimburse consumers who are duped into authorizing payments to scammers. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced bills in the House and Senate this month to do just that.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
NEW Zoo mourning the loss of second red wolf in three months

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  Staff at the NEW Zoo and Adventure Park say they are mourning the loss of Mayo the red wolf.

According to a post on social media, Mayo was born on May 5, 2009 (Cinco de Mayo) at the Western North Carolina Nature Center and came to the NEW Zoo in 2013.

Renovation project underway at Green Bays Resch Center

Zoo officials say Mayo died overnight at the age of 15 on July 31 and was discovered in the morning by her zookeeper.

A necropsy was performed and the exact cause of her death was undetermined but there were several age-related complications that they feel likely played a role in her death. Staff members add that all indications from the necropsy suggest Mayo died peacefully in her sleep.

Officials report that Mayo was sedated for an annual routine exam at the end of May and was looking great at the time for her age. Just last week Mayo was seen initiating play behaviors with the Canda Lynx in the habitat next to hers.

Mayo was 15 at the time of her death and was the second oldest living red wolf in the world. Her death comes less than three months after the NEW Zoo mourned the death of Jason the red wolf.

Jason the red wolf was humanely euthanized by the NEW Zoo staff in May after he was found to have aggressive oral and nasal cancer.

Neville Public Museum unveils pair of antique Green Bay Fire Department helmets now on display

Since the death of Jason, officials say the NEW Zoo has been working with the American Red Wolfe SAFE program to find a new male wolf to bring to the zoo.

With the recent passing of Mayo, Zoo staff reportedly plan to continue working with the American Red Wolf SAFE program and now hope to introduce a new wolf pack to the Green Bay community soon.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
This airport will soon be able to automatically ID passengers using controversial new tech: No government should be trusted

Biometric identification will soon be fully in place at Abu Dhabi's airport.

Face it  times are changing.

Facial recognition technology will soon be enabled at every security checkpoint inside Abu Dhabis Zayed International Airport  a global first, CNN reported.

The Smart Travel project, currently being implemented inside the futuristic flight hub serving the capital of the wealthy United Arab Emirates, will replace the traditional screening process  and the whipping out of travel documents, like a passport or ID card.

Abu Dhabi is moving towards biometric identification throughout its major airport. Alamy Stock Photo

The capability will reportedly also be implemented at duty-free shops, lounges and boarding gates as well.

The goal is to have the biometric concept  which has courted controversy in the United States  fully running in 2025 at nine locations.

Some parts of the airport have already incorporated the tech, as has Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabis hometown carrier.

The facial ID technology is meant to speed up checks at airport security. Shutterstock / Daniel Pawer

Its designed with no pre-enrollment required, passengers are automatically recognized and authenticated as they move through the airport, significantly speeding up the entire process, said the airports chief information officer Andrew Murphy.

He bragged about its traffic-altering capabilities.

People are reporting going from the curb into the retail area or to the gate in less than 15 minutes, the spokesperson stated.

To be able to move through an airport of that size in just a matter of minutes is really groundbreaking, he added.

Last year, a survey from the International Air Transport Association found that 75% of surveyed passengers supported the initiative to move towards biometric identification.

In the U.S., where the TSA announced a planned rollout in more than 400 American airports, backlash over the concept has largely been related to privacy concerns.

Abu Dhabi is leading a move into biometric facial recognition technology at airports. NurPhoto via Getty Images

The TSA program is a precursor to a full-blown national surveillance state, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley.

Nothing could be more damaging to our national values of privacy and freedom. No government should be trusted with this power.

In Abu Dhabi, people can reportedly still opt for traditional scans.
This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, Digital Trends and Yahoo Inc. may earn a commission.

If youre looking for a virtual private network (VPN) for school, one of the most important considerations is that it will work on your institutions Wi-Fi network. If thats not possible, youd have to rely on cellular data.

The best VPNs are fast enough for video streaming, keep your privacy secure, and let you browse globally as if youre a local. When you connect from school, you also need a VPN that can break through network restrictions so you can access your favorite content as you would from home.

These are our recommendations for robust and affordable VPNs that are best for school.

NordVPN

Overall best VPN for school

NordVPN is one of the few virtual private networks with a custom protocol. NordLynx is based on the WireGuard protocol, but boasts privacy, security, and speed upgrades. That makes it particularly useful on school networks that might recognize and block the more common OpenVPN and standard WireGuard protocols.

Like most top-rated VPNs, NordVPN supports split-tunneling. That means you can connect to a remote server in your browser to bypass limitations, while accessing local content normally in another app.

If your school has overly tight restrictions, this could be the solution you need. NordVPN is also affordable with a $60 annual subscription. To save even more, choose the two-year plan.

NordVPN is based in Panama, so it's outside the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, ensuring greater privacy. With 6,400 servers in 111 countries, you can browse globally to find information from every perspective.

NordVPN

Overall best VPN for school

ExpressVPN

Best VPN for speed

ExpressVPN is recognized as one of the fastest VPNs available. It uses a custom-made Lightway protocol that's built for speed without sacrificing security. Its advanced obfuscation feature disguises VPN traffic as regular HTTPS data, helping to bypass network restrictions.

It's more expensive than most VPNs, but a quick connection could be worth the extra money. If the $80 cost for the first 15 months seems too steep, you can always get the $13 monthly subscription on the occasions you need more speed.

Like every other VPN on this list, ExpressVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find it doesn't work at your school.

ExpressVPN

Best VPN for speed

Proton VPN

Best free VPN for school

Proton's Stealth protocol is based on WireGuard, but it uses some advanced techniques to make VPN traffic look normal, so it gets past network detection and bypasses firewalls.

Proton VPN is one of very few services to offer a completely free version. While some free VPNs are capped, Proton Free doesn't limit data usage. There are no ads and your activity isn't logged.

A $66 annual Proton Plus subscription is worth paying for since it supports up to 10 devices and unlocks more and faster servers that support high-quality video streaming and torrenting. Proton VPN has a monthly plan, but you'll get the best deal by paying for one or two years of service in advance.

Proton VPN

Best free VPN for school

Surfshark

Best unlimited devices VPN

Surfshark is a good choice if you own many devices or if you want to share a VPN with your family. There's no limit on the number of simultaneous connections. That's one of the reasons it's a good alternative to NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

Your school might try to block VPNs, but Surfshark's Camouflage mode disguises VPN traffic when you use the OpenVPN protocol. It's not as fast as WireGuard, so you should only pick OpenVPN if you have trouble connecting to your favorite websites.

You might expect unlimited device support to be expensive, but Surfshark has the lowest prices on this list. For $45 per year, you get a high-quality VPN with over 3,200 servers in 100 countries.

Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, which is part of the Nine Eyes intelligence alliance. That means Surfshark data might be subject to government surveillance.

Surfshark

Best unlimited devices VPN

CyberGhost

Best for user-friendly design

CyberGhost is one of the easiest VPNs to get started with and a great place to start if using a virtual private network sounds like a lot of work. There are presets optimized for gaming, torrenting, and streaming so you don't have to tweak the settings to get good performance.

To help mask VPN traffic, CyberGhost's random port feature automatically switches on each new connection. You can choose between WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols if you still have trouble.

CyberGhost is the only VPN on our list that offers a free trial. It's just for 24 hours, but that's long enough to verify if it work well on your school's network. A six-month subscription costs $42, which is quite expensive, but if you pay for 26 months in advance, it's just $57. Beware of an increase in year three.

CyberGhost

Best for user-friendly design

Mullvad VPN

Best for anonymity

Mullvad VPN is quite unique as it's a completely anonymous service. When you sign up, you're assigned a random account number that's used to connect to your account. Mullvad doesn't require a name, email address, username, or password. You can even pay with cash or crypto to keep your financial data private.

As you might expect, Mullvad VPN obfuscates VPN traffic to hide it from network monitoring and blocking. Nothing is logged, so your privacy is secure even though Mullvad is based in Sweden, a Fourteen Eyes alliance member.

Mullvad VPN costs $5.50 per month, the lowest monthly cost available. It's not the fastest and it only supports five devices, but it might be the best pick for completely hiding your identity.

Mullvad VPN

Best for anonymity

Private Internet Access

Best for customization

Private Internet Access (PIA) supports an unlimited number of devices, obfuscates VPN traffic, doesn't log your activity, and offers many ways to customize your connection.

There's a lot to like about PIA but it's expensive. A six-month subscription costs $45. If you like this VPN, the two-year plan is the way to go. For $57, you get unlimited device support with plenty of options like split-tunneling, multi-server hops, and port forwarding for two years.

Note that PIA is located in the U.S., so Fives Eyes surveillance is possible.

Private Internet Access

Best for customization

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and Fourteen Eyes alliances?

The Five Eyes alliance is an intelligence-sharing network between the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The purpose is to prevent terrorism and aid national security.

Nine Eyes and Fourteen Eyes alliances represent agreements among larger groups. Nine Eyes includes France, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway. Fourteen Eyes adds Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and Sweden.

If your VPN has good encryption and a no-logging policy, there won't be much data to share in the event of a legal demand. However, using a VPN in a country with stronger privacy protections is a good idea if you have any concerns about surveillance.

You school might have legitimate reasons for limiting access to the internet, so remember to use caution when visiting fringe websites. Fake news is rampant and downloading apps can be dangerous. A VPN protects your privacy, but might not block malware.

Hackers are quite sophisticated, so stepping beyond the safeguards your school set up could put your personal data at risk. To complete your cybersecurity measures, check out our guide to the best antivirus software solutions.
We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Dividend Aristocrats with Over 3% Yield. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) stands against the other dividend stocks with over 3% yield.

When it comes to investing in stocks, high-growth companies often steal the spotlight. However, during uncertain times, dividend stockscompanies that regularly pay out quarterly dividends to shareholderscan serve as safe havens, helping to build wealth regardless of market conditions. Historically, dividends have played a significant role in stock market gains. Since 1930, dividends have contributed about 40% of the S&P 500's total returns. When it comes to dividend stocks, companies that consistently increase their dividends hold special importance for investors. These companies provide shareholders with a steadily growing income.

One popular dividend strategy to invest in dividend growth stocks is dividend aristocrats, which are the companies that have raised their payouts for 25 consecutive years. Though the dividend aristocrats index is lagging this year, delivering a little over 5% return year-to-date, it has performed well in the long run, especially during market downturns. Phillip Brzenk, S&P's global head of multi-asset indexes, studied the performance of dividend growth strategies, focusing on times when the market performed negatively. He discovered that since the end of 1989, there have been six years when the broader market experienced negative returns. In each of those years, the Dividend Aristocrats index outperformed the benchmark by an average of 13.28%. Notably, the Dividend Aristocrats even achieved a positive total return in three of those years.

Given the strong returns of dividend growth stocks, numerous companies are keen to enhance their dividends. In the second quarter of 2024, there were 539 dividend increases, a 17.2% rise from the 460 increases in the same quarter of 2023. The total dividend hikes amounted to $20.4 billion for the quarter, significantly up from $9.8 billion in Q2 2023, according to a report by S&P Dow Jones Indices. These dividend increases arent just a quick fix to attract investors; it's supported by strong corporate balance sheets and increased cash flows. According to Janus Henderson, corporate cash flow remained solid across most sectors in 2023, providing ample resources for dividends and share buybacks. Consequently, global dividend growth increased by 5% for the year, following the long-term trend. The firm also gave an optimistic outlook for dividends in 2024, predicting $1.72 trillion in dividends for the year, marking a 3.9% increase on a headline basis, equivalent to a 5% growth rate.

Story continues

Dividend aristocrat stocks are renowned for their growing income, but that doesn't mean they lack solid yields. Many dividend aristocrats provide above-average yields along with decades of consistent dividend growth. This combination is particularly advantageous for income investors, as it offers the best of both worlds: robust yields and steady growth. Let's now take a look at some of the best dividend aristocrat stocks with over 3% yield.

Our Methodology:

For this list, we looked at a group of 67 dividend aristocrat companies, which are known for raising dividends for 25 years or more. From this list, we chose 10 stocks with dividend yields above 3%, as of July 17, and arranged them in order from lowest to highest yield. We've also mentioned the hedge fund sentiment for each stock, which was sourced from Insider Monkeys database of 920 funds as of Q1 2024.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).

A close-up of an assembly line with a blend of tobacco products.

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Dividend Yield as of July 17: 8.02%

An American manufacturing company, Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) tops our list of the best dividend aristocrat stocks. The company specializes in the manufacturing and production of cigarettes, tobacco, and other nicotine products. The tobacco industry has enjoyed steady profits thanks to the persistent smoking habit among people. Despite a long-term decline in smoking rates in the US, the industry's pricing power has sustained its cash flow for years. Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO), which owns Marlborothe leading cigarette brand in the countryholds around 42% of the total retail market and dominates 60% of the premium segment. In the first quarter of 2024, the company reported a revenue of $4.7 billion, a slight decrease of 0.9% compared to the same period last year.

In June, the FDA approved the marketing of four of Altria Group's, Inc. (NYSE:MO) e-cigarette products following a detailed scientific review. This decision is significant because it marks the first time the agency has granted marketing orders for non-tobacco flavored vapor products through the premarket tobacco application process. The FDA noted that evidence from the company demonstrated these menthol-flavored products provide substantial benefits for adult smokers by encouraging them to completely switch from traditional cigarettes, which outweighs the risks, including the potential appeal to youth.

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO), one of the best dividend aristocrat stocks on our list, has been rewarding shareholders with growing dividends for the past 54 years. The company currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.98 per share and has a dividend yield of 8.02%, as of July 17.

Insider Monkeys database of Q1 2024 showed that 38 hedge funds owned stakes in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO), compared with 42 in the previous quarter. These stakes are collectively valued at over $823.3 million.

Overall MO ranks 1st on our list of the best dividend aristocrats to buy. You can visit 10 Best Dividend Aristocrats with Over 3% Yield to see the other dividend aristocrats that are on hedge funds radar. While we acknowledge the potential of MO as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than MO but that trades at less than 7 times its earnings and yields nearly 10%, check out our report about the dirt cheap dividend stock.

READ NEXT: Analyst Sees a New $25 Billion Opportunity for NVIDIA and 10 Best of Breed Stocks to Buy For The Third Quarter of 2024 According to Bank of America.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Seven chambers of commerce in Hong Kong have jointly held a seminar to study the spirit of Chinese President Xi Jinping's reply letter to representatives of Hong Kong entrepreneurs of Ningbo ancestry in East China's Zhejiang Province.

Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said at the seminar that Hong Kong's business community should assume the roles of a stakeholder, trailblazer, contributor and innovator, mindful of Hong Kong's mission and responsibilities in further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese-style modernization.

Financial Secretary of the HKSAR government Paul Chan said the HKSAR government will strive to unite the strengths of patriotic, Hong Kong-loving and hometown-loving communities, and give full play to their respective advantages to integrate into national reform and development.

Ningbo is well-known for its large numbers of overseas Chinese entrepreneurs like Pao Yue-kong and Run Run Shaw. Descendants of the pioneering generation of Ningbo-born Hong Kong entrepreneurs including Pao Pui-hing and Chao Kee-Young recently wrote to Xi to report on their efforts to support national development and express their commitment to the motherland's modernization drive.

"Hong Kong's prosperity and stability rely on the support of the motherland. We must bear in mind President Xi's entrustment and make new contributions to realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation," said Pao Pui-hing.

Representatives of seven chambers of commerce, including the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association and the Hong Kong Chinese Importers' and Exporters' Association, said they will study and implement the spirit of the reply letter, grasp opportunities and play their part in the country's continued reform and opening up.
Shares of leading South Korean e-commerce retailer Coupang (NYSE: CPNG) have risen by 7% as of 4 p.m. EDT on Thursday, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Growing its active customers, sales, and gross profits by 12%, 25%, and 41% during the second quarter of 2024, Coupang continued its lengthy run of above-average growth and steady margin improvements. While the market initially reacted negatively to the company's results as it slightly missed analysts' sales expectations, Coupang shares have risen over 10% across the last two days.

Coupang keeps firing on all cylinders

Making Coupang's revenue growth of 25% even more impressive is that it would have been 32% if not for an accounting change made by management last year. While the company may not be a "hypergrowth" stock like it once was, this 32% growth is rather promising, especially considering it only has $27 billion in sales versus a South Korean retail market worth $560 billion.

Adding further excitement to the company's quarterly earnings call was that free cash flow (FCF) over the trailing 12 months grew to $1.5 billion, compared to $1.1 billion last year. This FCF growth occurred despite Coupang's ongoing integration with luxury platform Farfetch, which it purchased for $500 million in early 2024 as the latter was battling indebtedness and heavy losses.

Perhaps the most exciting growth story from the earnings report was the 150% year-over-year growth in the number of sellers joining the company's Fulfillment and Logistics by Coupang (FLC) network. This rapid growth seems to be a testament to the broader ecosystem Coupang provides to its sellers and highlights the value of its offerings.

Trading at 27 times FCF, Coupang still looks attractive, especially with management as optimistic as ever about expanding into Taiwan.

Should you invest $1,000 in Coupang right now?

Before you buy stock in Coupang, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Coupang wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $606,079!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

Story continues

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of August 6, 2024

Josh Kohn-Lindquist has positions in Coupang. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Coupang. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Why Coupang Stock Jumped Today was originally published by The Motley Fool
Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said that operations of the "Brussels lies factory" were unceasing despite "its continual failures".





Szijjarto said on Facebook on Wednesday that the attacks on Prime Minister Viktor Orbans peace mission to Kyiv, Moscow, Beijing and Florida had failed.



Orbans visits were followed by talks between the defence ministers of the US and Russia, the foreign ministers of Switzerland and Russia, the foreign ministers of the US and China, while the prime ministers of Italy and Ukraine travelled to Beijing, and the Ukrainian president called former US President Donald Trump by phone, he added.



Szijjarto also insisted that Brussels mask slipped as it had failed to conceal its enthusiasm for the Ukrainian measures that resulted in two European Union member states, including Hungary, facing severe energy supply risks due to the oil taps being shut off.



The minister said that after these two failures, Brussels bureaucrats had come forward with another lie suggesting that Hungary was letting spies from Russia and Belarus into the EU.







Szijjarto: Suggestion Hungary Letting Russian, Belarusian Spies into EU 'Complete Lie'

Hungary has already clearly explained to the representatives of Baltic states why the suggestion by Brussels bureaucrats that Hungary was letting spies from Russia and Belarus into the European Union was a complete lie, but it appears that facts do not bother either them or Manfred Weber, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.



The EPP presidents Hungarophobia is known far afield: hes in a huff about Hungarians and is unable to accept that he could not become the European Commission president, Szijjarto said on Facebook.



And its easy to see that he is frustrated by the stronger-than-expected unity of real right-wing parties in the EP, he added.



Szijjarto said Weber must obviously know that every EU member state carries out for itself all the procedures linked to third-country citizens residency, employment and visa affairs.



These procedures in Hungary are strict, comprehensive and give absolute priority to national security interests, he said.



Kovacs: National Card Applicants Required to Undergo 'Same Screening As in Case of Any Other Residence Permit'

Applicants for Hungarys National Card will go through the same migration and security screenings as applicants for any other residence permit, the state secretary for government communications said on Facebook.



Zoltan Kovacs responded to European concerns suggesting that the Hungarian programme could offer easy access for Russian and Belarusian spies, and dismissed suggestions of Hungary hosting such spies as fiction.



Kovacs said the cards could be obtained for a stay between 90 days and two years, for employment purposes, adding that the applicant was required to have an employer and an actual position. Holders of the card need to reapply if they change their job, he added.



The state secretary also noted that the National Card programme had been in place for quite some time, yet, it had not received criticism from the EU.



If it was all right earlier, why are we getting attacked now, while the regulations and the practice have been unchanged? he asked.



Citing Eurostat figures, Kovacs said over 718,000 Russian citizens had been staying in the EU in January 2023, with fewer than one percent of that group in Hungary, adding that the same ratio applied to Belarusian nationals.



In view of those figures Brussels worries about Russian spies in Hungary seem a bit unrealistic.



He also added that huge masses of Russians lived in the Baltic states, which he said were most critical of Hungarys National Card system and the alleged risks around it.



Hungary Hits Back At Baltic And Nordic Critics Of Visa Scheme for Russians And Belarusians







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The fresh newsletter for the International Community in Hungary - described by readers as a "Great read each week" - is now available for your interest and use via the link below.

You can see the new edition of the Xpat E-Magazine here:

https://xpatloop.com/newsletters/2024/8-august.html



1. As the largest entertainment festival here has just started, here's a reminder of the top acts:

Quick Guide: Top 15 Concerts at The Island of Freedom" - 30th Sziget Festival in Budapest



2. Below you can see a great variety of hand-picked Events for Xpats from our Handy Calendar:

E.g. Gigs at Sziget also feature RAYE, and elsewhere in the city there's jazz and punk-rock concerts.
In hope for peace, the Budapest Festival Orchestra (BZF) will give a free concert featuring guest musicians from Ukraine, Russia, Israel and Palestine at Heroes Square in Budapest on 31 August.

Starting at 7pm, the concert aims to call attention to human suffering caused by armed conflicts and wars in the world while advocates peace, respect and the values of friendship and love, it said.



Sharing the same stage in Heroes Square, the international guests will be proof that music has the power to temper mutual fear and distrust, the orchestra said in a statement.



The programme will open with contemporary American composer Augusta Read Thomas short title Plea for Peace, performed by BZFs chamber orchestra and German soprano Mirella Hagen.



It will be followed by J.S. Bachs Concerto for Two Violins in D minor featuring Diana Tishchenko from Ukraines Crimea and Alexander Sitkovetsky born in Moscow.



Next, Israels Idan Raichel will recite three of his compositions accompanied by Palestines Taiseer Elias playing the Arab folk string instrument oud. Closing the concert, BFZ will perform the Finale of Mahlers 3rd Symphony under the baton of Ivan Fischer.



More:

bfz.hu/en



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XRP Surges 26% as Ripple Nears Settlement in SEC Lawsuit

XRP skyrocketed by 26% following a pivotal move by a New York federal judge in the ongoing securities lawsuit against Ripple Labs. On August 7, the judge ordered Ripple Labs to pay a $125 million civil penalty and prohibited the company from violating U.S. securities laws. This development marks a crucial step toward concluding the case initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in December 2020.

Following the announcement, XRP rallied to $0.63, recovering much of its losses from the recent crypto crash, according to data from CoinMarketCap. XRP is currently trading at $0.61, gaining over 20% over the past 24 hours.

Ripple Labs CEO Brad Garlinghouse celebrated the ruling, calling it a victory for Ripple, the industry, and the rule of law. He noted that the SEC's challenges against the XRP community were now over. Meanwhile, co-founder Chris Larsen expressed hope that this decision would mark the end of what he described as the SECs unhinged campaign against XRP and the "war on crypto."

The price surge took futures traders by surprise, liquidating 40% more short positions than long ones within four hours. According to CoinGlass data, $5.4 million in short positions were wiped out after the surge. If XRP reaches $0.65, another $20 million in short positions could face liquidation. However, a decline to $0.55 could impact long positions, potentially affecting $25 million worth.
CIB Bank has been awarded the "Best Bank for ESG" accolade by Euromoney financial magazine, recognizing its leadership in sustainable banking and bank insurance services in Hungary.

CIB Group, a key player in the Hungarian banking sector and a member of one of the worlds strongest banking groups, Intesa Sanpaolo, received this international recognition after winning the Euromoney Award for Excellence in the Diversity and Inclusion category last year.



This year, the magazine honored CIB Banks lending practices, product portfolio, corporate governance system, and support policies centered around sustainability with the Best Bank for ESG award.



In 2022, CIB Bank developed a business strategy valid until 2025, which prominently includes the implementation of its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy, according to a press release sent to the Budapest Business Journal.



To achieve this, the bank restructured its organization and processes, appointing the deputy CEO of CIB Bank to oversee the progress of the adopted ESG plans. Additionally, several roles were created to coordinate tasks and processes related to ESG, manage the risks associated with the new lending practices, and support ESG reporting.



As part of its ESG strategy, CIB Bank has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 and meeting its energy needs exclusively from renewable sources. The bank is also dedicated to implementing the environmental guidelines set out in the EU Taxonomy Regulation and the green recommendations of the Hungarian National Bank, integrating sustainability considerations into business decisionmaking, the bank tells the BBJ.



Being a key player in the domestic banking system, we recognize that our activities can significantly contribute to the fight against climate change and the shaping of societal attitudes. We aim to encourage our clients and partners to support global sustainability goals through their investments.



ESG aspects have therefore been integrated into our lending decisions, credit risk models, and product and pricing policies, setting an example for the entire domestic financial sector. We are honored and delighted that our efforts have been recognized with an award from one of the worlds most respected financial magazines, said Alberto De Stavola, deputy CEO of CIB Bank responsible for ESG.



As part of its ESG risk management policy, CIB Bank has established an ESG Exclusion List of activities it will not financially support due to their detrimental environmental impacts, following the guidelines of its parent bank. It evaluates industries and individual investment or loan applications from this perspective.



The banks ESG risk monitoring system assesses clients based on their sustainability performance, continually evaluating risk factors and taking necessary measures to eliminate or mitigate them.



Euromoneys experts also acknowledged CIB Banks emphasis on financial security for its clients, protecting them from increasingly prevalent financial fraud, and ensuring transparency and efficiency in communication. To this end, the bank provides special training for its employees.



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Since their creation, social media platforms have connected people and communities. That connectivity is often positive. High school friends can reconnect after decades. Grandparents can see photos of loved ones who live far away. Yet we cant ignore the dangers of these platforms, especially to our young people. When it comes to kids, safety should be the default. This week, my Senate colleagues and I passed two bills to better protect children and teenagers from these dangers online.

Weve seen the horror stories. Predators use social media to target kids online. Videos go viral that promote self-harm and eating disorders. Bullies spew hateful comments, destroying the mental health of our children. We must do better.

The two bills we passed represent an important step towards protecting online privacy and safety. They also give parents new tools, safeguards, and needed transparency.

I co-sponsored the Kids Online Safety Act with Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). Our bill requires social media platforms to put the well-being of kids first. It requires platforms to provide minors with options to protect their information. It gives an option to disable addictive product features that promote doom-scrolling. It would also allow minors to opt-out of personalized algorithmic recommendations. These tools will protect against the excessive consumption of negative content which can facilitate anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.

Additionally, our bill creates a duty for online platforms to prevent and mitigate specific dangers to minors. This includes content that promotes suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse, sexual exploitation, and illegal products like alcohol. Companies in every other industry must take steps to prevent users from being hurt. Social media companies should do the same. Our bill makes that a reality.

We also passed an updated Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). My colleague Senator Cassidy called it COPPA 2.0. The current online privacy laws for children hadnt been updated in 25 years. A lot has changed since then. This update was long overdue. It expands age protections from 13 years old to also include teenagers under 17 years old. It bans targeted advertising toward minors. It limits data collection and strengthens parental controls.

Increasing protections for kids online is common-sense. These are major wins for child privacy and safety. But its just the first step. We must also continue our fight against Chinese Communist Party-controlled TikTok. The Justice Department just announced it is suing TikTok over massive scale violations of existing COPPA privacy laws of children under 13. In recent court filings, the Justice Department also claimed China has used TikTok to to illicitly interfere with our political system. Theyve also used it to push their communist agenda and spy on Americans. We took action to ban Chinas ownership of TikTok earlier this year. I also banned it entirely on state devices when I was Governor.

While nothing will ever replace active parental supervision and involvement, Im confident these bills force social media companies to do more to keep kids safe. We need to give kids and parents the tools, safeguards, and transparency they need to stay safe. I encourage the House to pass both these bills and send them to the presidents desk.

My team and I are here to serve you. Contact us anytime by phone at 202-224-4224. You can also view my website at www.ricketts.senate.gov/contact.
New Delhi: Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday pledged to establish a government that guarantees safety for its citizens of Bangladesh. He returned from Paris to take the oath as the head of the interim government after Sheikh Hasinas removal.

Yunus, an 84-year-old, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his groundbreaking work in microlending, was appointed head of the interim government after President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved parliament on Tuesday after Hasina resigned as Prime Minister post.

He was attending the Olympic Games in Paris and returned to Bangladesh via Dubai. An Emirates flight (EK-582) carrying Yunus landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2:10 pm local time.

Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, senior officials, student leaders and civil society members went to welcome him at the airport.

While attending a press conference at the airport, Yunus expressed his gratitude to the youth who played a crucial role in making the protest against Hasina.

"We have got independence for the second time. We have to protect this independence," he said, PTI reported.

"The nation is in your hands now. Now you have to rebuild it as per your aspirations. You have to use your creativity to build the country. You have earned independence for the country," he added.

"We have to form a government which assures safety to its citizens," he said.

He also asked the citizens to save the country from the chaos created during the violent protests.

"Bangladesh can be a very beautiful country and we can make it one," further added. Yunus also paid tribute to Abu Sayed, one of the first victims of police gunfire during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
A new controversy has emerged in Muzaffarnagar over the application of mehndi during the festival of Hariyali Teej. The Kranti Sena's Women's Front has announced that if any Muslim youth is found applying mehndi to Hindu women during this festival, they will face consequences from the Kranti Sena.

Poonam Chaudhary, the district president of the Kranti Sena Women's Front, stated that Hariyali Teej is a significant festival for Hindus and that no Hindu woman should have mehndi applied by a Muslim youth, as this is considered disrespectful to their festival.

Poonam Chaudhary further warned that if any Muslim youth is found applying mehndi to Hindu women during this festival, the Kranti Sena will take matters into their own hands. She also mentioned that she and Poonam Chawla are organizing a celebration for Teej, which will include dance, dialogues, and various games, including a matchstick game with prizes for those who collect the most matchsticks quickly.

She added that the Kranti Sena routinely monitors such activities and will take action if they find any Muslim youth applying mehndi to Hindu women, as they believe it to be an affront to their religion.

The controversy follows a previous dispute in Muzaffarnagar related to the labeling of shops during Kanwar Yatra, now focusing on the issue of who should apply mehndi during Hindu festivals.
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India arrived in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday for a two-day visit to review preparedness for assembly polls. During their visit, they met with representatives of several national and regional political parties.

The Commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, first arrived at Srinagar and met with various political parties, police officials and civil administration officials at the Sher-I-Kashmir International Conference Centre.

National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, Bhartiya Janata Party, and Congress Party were among the political parties who met with the ECI team.

After meeting with the political parties, they said they all had urged the ECI for early elections in Jammu and Kashmir. They mentioned that the commission had given them a patient hearing and expressed positivity about conducting the elections. The Election Commission is expected to announce the election dates for the Union Territory, as the Supreme Court of India has set a deadline for holding the elections in Jammu and Kashmir before September 30.

We have informed them that it has been ten years since assembly elections were held here, and although they have visited many times in the past, they now need to come up with a decision, as we dont see any hindrances. We are hopeful that the elections will be held before September 30, said Nasir Aslam Wani, NC provincial president.

We have informed them that it's been ten years since assembly elections have taken place here, and although they have visited many times in the past, they now need to come up with a decision, as we dont see any hindrances. We are hopeful that the elections will be held before September 30, said Nasir Aslam Wani, NC provincial president.

Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party stated that they had made multiple visits to Jammu Kashmir in the past and that elections should now be announced.

Khursheed Alam, PDP Leader said We informed them that around one crore tourists have visited the J&K, the parliamentary elections were held and the Amarnath Yatra has taken place peacefully. Now what is stopping them from holding elections? In parliament, the Prime Minister and Home Minister both said that the situation has improved, then what is stopping them from holding elections? We hope this is our last meeting before the elections now

Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Kashmir Valley have also supported the idea of holding elections and demanded the same.

R S Pathania, BJP Leader said BJP today apprised the CEC of the preparedness for the assembly elections. We also gave them the suggestion to hold elections as soon as possible. The central government should hold the elections before September 30.

Indian National Congress Party leaders were seen on the same page and pressed CEC for early elections.

Ravinder Sharma, Congress Leader said We have given a memorandum that we are ready to fight elections. We hope that elections will be held before the deadline.

On August 9, the ECI team will meet with top officials, including the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, before heading to Jammu for further discussions with enforcement agencies and holding a press conference.

If the elections are announced Jammu and Kashmir will witness elections after a gap of ten years as the last assembly election held was in 2014.
New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday asserted that education is the best weapon to combat the social menace of child marriage.

Launching the Rs 1,500 crore 'Nijut Moina Scheme' to provide financial assistance to girl students from higher secondary to post-graduate level in government and aided institutions, the chief minister said that most girls drop out of schools after class 10 and their parents then marry them off.

The scheme has been launched to curb child marriage by increasing the enrolment of girl students in higher education.

The 'Nijut Moina' scheme is aimed at protecting children's rights to education and health, empowering girls to make informed choices, delaying marriage till they gain emotional, mental and physical maturity and reducing teenage motherhood incidences, Sarma said.

''This is not a scheme to create beneficiaries but to ensure a long-term social impact," he added.

Girls from all families, irrespective of their economic condition, are eligible for this scheme.

Girl students of Class 11 will receive Rs 1,000 per month, while those in their degree first year will get Rs 1,250 per month and those in post-graduation and B.Ed will receive Rs 2,500 per month.

The scheme will cover 10,000 students who will get the amount for 10 months and not during summer vacation in the months of June and July.

The students will get the benefits in the next year provided they fulfill the necessary percentage of attendance in class and are not involved in any criminal activities or ragging, among others.

Married girls, except in PG and B.Ed categories, and in-service B.Ed candidates, daughters of ministers, MPs and MLAs and those receiving scooters under the Banikanta Kakati Award, unless they opt out of the scooter award, are not eligible under the scheme, Sarma said.

The last date for submission of forms is August 31 and the scheme will be implemented from October 10.

''Our analysis has shown that 80-85 per cent of the girls study till class 10 but they drop out after that as many villages lack higher secondary schools and they have to go to the nearest town for further studies.

"This leads to dislocation and higher transportation costs while many parents also face the challenge of admission fees which the government has tried to solve by introducing free admission," Sarma said.

On child marriage, he said that the state government has taken steps such as arrests under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) but this is not enough as education is the key to check child marriages and teenage pregnancy.

Assam Police will launch another drive against child marriage in November this year but ''we are sure that there will not be many arrests this time as compared to the first drive in February 2023''.

Several NGOs have conducted surveys on the impact of the drive against child marriage in the state and they have pointed out that there has been a decline in this social menace, Sarma added.
Jagdeep Dhankhar on Opposition: The disqualification of Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the Paris Olympics has sparked widespread support for her. This issue has also caused significant turmoil in the Parliament building, leading to another uproar in the Rajya Sabha today.

Vinesh Phogat Row

Vinesh Phogats disqualification from the Paris Olympics has caused nationwide outrage. Both Parliament and social media are abuzz with support for her. Today, the Rajya Sabha witnessed a major commotion over this issue, prompting Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to leave the house.

Opposition leader Kharge attempted to raise the Vinesh Phogat issue in the Rajya Sabha, but Chairman Dhankhar did not permit it. When TMC MP Derek O'Brien tried to voice his concerns, the Chairman issued a stern warning, indicating that Derek would be expelled if he repeated such behavior. In response, opposition parties, including Congress and TMC, staged a walkout.

Chairman Dhankhars Reaction

Following the walkout, the frustrated Chairman Dhankhar remarked, "The senior-most leaders of Congress are members of this House. I have observed their recent actions, including challenges made through words, letters, and newspapers. I have seen numerous incorrect comments. These challenges are not directed at me personally but at the office of the Chairman. They believe that the individual holding this position is unworthy."

Dhankhar continued, "Do not undermine the dignity of the House. Avoid indecent conduct. Jairam Ramesh, stop laughing. I am aware of your habits. Some MPs make improper comments. I have not received the necessary support from the House. There is no deficiency in me. I will not shy away from my oath. Today, the member's behavior, both physically and verbally, has made it impossible for me to remain here."
New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency charge-sheeted four persons on Wednesday, including a Pak-based terrorist, for the killing of two non-local civilians by Lashkar-e-Taiba and its offshoot, The Resistance Front in Kashmir in February this year.

In a statement issued by the NIA, the anti-terror agency said that the accusednamely Adil Manzoor Langoo, Ahran Rasool Dar, Dawood, and their Pakistan-based handler Jahangeerhave been charge-sheeted under various sections of the IPC and UA(P) Act.



The statement stated that the NIA special court in Jammu has already issued an open-ended non-bailable warrant against the absconding accused Jahangir.



All four accused were involved in the brutal killing of two civilians on the evening of 7th February 2024 at Karfali Mohalla, Shala Kadal, Srinagar. NIA took over the case from the in June this year and re-registered it as RC-01/2024/NIA/JMU, the statement reads.

It added that NIA investigations revealed that Adil Manzoor Langoo, who joined LeT in 2023, had been motivated by Pakistani handlers to enhance the terror outfits activities in Srinagar.

He had also been involved in previous terror attacks in the Kashmir Valley. He, along with his close associates Ahran Rasool Dar and Dawood, was working under the directions of Jahangeer, who had motivated them to unleash fear and terror among the non-locals to wage war against the Government of India, it added.



The statement reads that the trio had conspired with their handler to kill the innocents at Shala Kadal, Srinagar. On the directions of Jehangir, Adil and Ahran had received arms and ammunition which were used subsequently by Adil to commit the crime. Dawood had helped Adil destroy the evidence of the crime, Statement further added.



It further reads that the NIA has been cracking down on terrorist organizations active in Kashmir.

LeT, the largest terrorist group in the region, has been working through various offshoots to carry out its operations after it was banned by the Government of India. LeT/TRF has been luring unemployed youth into terrorist activities by using social media extensively to propagate its dangerous agenda and promote its activities. Further investigations are continuing in the case, Statement reads.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay a three-day visit to the Maldives beginning Friday, in a first high-level trip from New Delhi after the island nation's pro-China president, Mohamed Muizzu, assumed office nearly nine months ago. Muizzu visited India in June and attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union council of ministers.

"External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay an official visit to Maldives from August 9-11," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. "The visit follows the recent visit of the President of the Republic of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu to India for the swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet and Council of Ministers," it added.

Jaishankar had previously visited the Maldives in January 2023. "Maldives is India's key maritime neighbour and an important partner in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and our Vision 'SAGAR', that is, Security and Growth for All in the Region," the MEA said in a statement.

"The visit is aimed at strengthening the close partnership between the two countries and to explore avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship further," it added.

India's Push To Revive Strained Ties With Pro-China Muizzu

The ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain since Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office. Muizzu came to power on an anti-India plank. He ran the campaign, 'India Out' - which he said was to check New Delhi's influence in the island nation.

Soon after taking over as President, Muizzu asked India to withdraw its military personnel and signed a deal to buy Turkish drones to patrol its exclusive economic zone in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives has also allowed China to dock its research naval ship in Male.

The Maldives is one of India's key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean region and the overall bilateral ties, including in the areas of defence and security, witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous government in Male.
We recently compiled a list of the 7 Best Restaurant Dividend Stocks to Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) stands against the other restaurant dividend stocks.

The restaurant industry is facing challenges this year due to shifting customer preferences. The 2020 pandemic had already prompted a move towards digital solutions, which were initially thought to be a long-term fix. However, the landscape continues to evolve, and now consumers are shifting their preferences again. Customers are being more cautious when dining out, opting for fewer items, cutting back on alcohol, and favoring value-menu options over premium ones. People are now prioritizing grocery shopping over dining at quick-service restaurants due to tighter budgets. As consumers become less inclined to spend extravagantly on eating out, quick-service restaurants are under pressure to maintain performance. To attract budget-conscious diners, brands are likely to increase promotional offers. Overall, same-store sales and customer traffic are declining as high prices and reduced savings take their toll on consumer spending. The Dow Jones U.S. Restaurants & Bars Index is down by nearly 3% this year so far.

High prices aren't the only issue when it comes to dining out. Food delivery apps have reacted to new wage increase mandates for gig workers by raising their fees. This has led to frustrated customers, a drop in restaurant orders, and a decrease in delivery drivers. A Wall Street Journal report highlights that in cities like Seattle, Uber Eats orders fell by 45% In the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same time last year due to these higher fees. This decline in consumer orders means restaurants have fewer deliveries to make, and drivers have fewer jobs, impacting the entire delivery ecosystem. Experts believe it's too soon to determine the long-term effects of the wage increase on fast-food restaurants and whether it will result in significant layoffs or closures. Historically, wage hikes haven't always led to job losses. For instance, a University of California, Berkeley study found that when California and New York raised their minimum wage to $15, nearly doubling the federal rate of $7.25 per hour, job growth continued.

Despite challenges, the restaurant industry isn't entirely faltering this year. RSM Global reports that, while demand might be softer than expected, retail sales are still growing, driven by increased real income and stronger consumer sentiment. The report further mentioned that in 2024, the restaurant sector is expected to see annual sales growth of 2% to 3%, in line with the inflation rate. To succeed in this competitive environment, businesses need to focus on automation and maintaining robust operating margins for scalability. Integrating smart technology is crucial to meet rising consumer expectations and boost operational efficiency. Retailers and restaurants should strategically invest in these areas to capitalize on growing consumer spending.

Story continues

Given the optimistic forecast and shifting investment trends, investing in restaurant stocks, particularly those offering dividends, seems like a prudent choice. The consumer discretionary sector, which includes restaurants, saw its annual dividends increase to $106.8 billion in 2023, up from $84.6 billion in 2022, according to a report by Janus Henderson. In this article, we will take a look at some of the best dividend stocks from the restaurant industry.

Our Methodology:

For this article, we sifted through ETFs and screeners to identify dividend-paying companies that operate in the restaurant industry. These companies typically own and operate various types of restaurants, including fast-food chains, casual dining establishments, fine-dining restaurants, and quick-service restaurants. After careful consideration, we selected 10 stocks from this list based on their popularity among hedge fund investors. We then arranged these stocks in ascending order of hedge fund sentiment.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).

20 Most Valuable Fast Food Companies in the World

A chef in a kitchen preparing a fast food meal of chicken, pizza and burgers.

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 35

An American multinational fast-food holding company, Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) ranks third on our list of the best dividend stocks from the restaurant sector. It is one of the biggest players in the fast food industry, with a portfolio that includes top fast food chains like KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. The company recently reported its second-quarter 2024 earnings that showed declines in same-store sales for both Pizza Hut and KFC. According to the company's CEO, the Middle East conflict and a more cost-conscious consumer have posed challenges to same-store sales. Around 200 of Yums restaurants are temporarily closed in the Middle East, Malaysia, and Indonesia. However, he noted that sales trends in the U.S. have shown improvement compared to the previous quarter, largely due to value meals like Pizza Hut's $7 Deal Lovers. The stock surged by 2.65% on August 6, after announcing its quarterly earnings and year-to-date, its returns came in at over 6%.

Taco Bell experienced a 5% increase in same-store sales for the quarter. With most of its locations in the U.S., Taco Bell's focus on value has helped it navigate the slowdown in consumer spending. The chain saw growth in same-store sales across all income groups. Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) aims to boost profitability for its Taco Bell division by expanding the use of artificial intelligence in drive-thru lanes. By the end of the year, it plans to implement this technology across hundreds of Taco Bell locations in the U.S.

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM)'s balance sheet reflects a robust cash position, making it attractive to income investors. As of the latest quarter, it holds $680 million in cash. Over the past twelve months, its operating cash flow reached $1.62 billion, while its levered free cash flow was $1.17 billion. In addition to this, the company has been growing its dividends consistently for the past seven years, which makes it one of the best dividend stocks on our list. It currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.67 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.96%, as recorded on August 6.

Insider Monkey's database of Q1 2024 indicated that 35 hedge funds held stakes in Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM), up from 33 in the previous quarter. These stakes are collectively valued at over $584.4 million. With more than 1.4 million shares, Cantillon Capital Management was the company's leading stakeholder in Q1.

Overall YUM ranks 3rd on our list of the best restaurant dividend stocks to buy. You can visit 7 Best Restaurant Dividend Stocks to Buy to see the other restaurant dividend stocks that are on hedge funds radar. While we acknowledge the potential of YUM as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than YUM but that trades at less than 7 times its earnings and yields nearly 10%, check out our report about the dirt cheap dividend stock.

READ NEXT: Analyst Sees a New $25 Billion Opportunity for NVIDIA and 10 Best of Breed Stocks to Buy For The Third Quarter of 2024 According to Bank of America.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Amidst speculations of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeking asylum in the UK, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar received a call from his British counterpart, David Lammy. They discussed the unfolding events in Bangladesh and West Asia. "Received a call from UK Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy today. Discussed the situation in Bangladesh and West Asia,"wrote EAM Jaishankar in a X post

The Ministry of External Affairs' spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, mentioned in the weekly press briefing that the ministers' discussion covered the recent events in Bangladesh and West Asia. The political climate in Bangladesh remains volatile following Sheikh Hasina's resignation on August 5 amidst escalating student-led protests.

Received a call from UK Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy today.



Discussed the situation in Bangladesh and West Asia.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 8, 2024

The protests, initially focused on ending the quota system in government employment, have now expanded into wider anti-government demonstrations. Sheikh Hasina's next steps remain uncertain, with no clarity on whether she will stay in Delhi or relocate.

Contradicting reports of her asylum plans, Sheikh Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, dismissed them as "rumours," according to The Daily Star. He confirmed that his mother would remain in Delhi for the time being. "Sheikh Hasina is currently in Delhi, accompanied by my aunt who resides there. She's in good health but understandably distressed," he shared.

Meanwhile, Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn-in as the Chief Advisor of the Bangladesh's interim government on Thursday, as announced by Bangladesh's Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Yunus pledged to establish a government committed to the safety of its citizens and called for their support in reconstructing Bangladesh. This came as the Nobel laureate arrived back from Paris to lead an interim government in the wake of Sheikh Hasina's removal.

At 84, Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient in 2006 for his groundbreaking efforts in microfinance, was appointed to head the interim government. This followed the dissolution of parliament by President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday, subsequent to Hasina's resignation as Prime Minister and her departure to India amidst extensive protests against her administration.
The ruling coalition MPs were up against the Opposition Member of Parliament after Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju moved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha. Members of DMK, Congress and Samajwadi Party termed it an attack on the federal system and constitution, while the BJP and its allies defended the move. Congress said that despite being Hindus, they respect the other religion. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi termed it an attack on Muslims while the NDA allies including the JDU defended the Bill saying that it's aimed at bringing transparency.

Opposition Protests

Congress MP KC Venugopal said, "...We are Hindus but at the same time, we respect the faith of other religions. This bill is specialized for the Maharashtra, Haryana elections. You do not understand that last time the people of India clearly taught you a lesson. This is an attack on the federal system...This bill is a fundamental attack on the ConstitutionThrough this bill, they are putting a provision that non-Muslims also be members of the Waqf governing council. It is a direct attack on freedom of religion...Next you will go for Christians, then Jains...People of India will not buy this kind of divisive politics now."

Opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in Lok Sabha, DMK MP Kanimozhi said, "It is a direct violation of Article 30 which deals with minorities to administer their institutions. This bill targets a particular religious group." She asked whether the government will allow Muslims to be a part of the Hindu temple's governing bodies.

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said that the bill is a proof that the NDA government is anti-Muslim. "This bill violates the principles of Articles 14, 15 and 25 of the Constitution. This bill is both discriminatory and arbitrary...By bringing this bill, you (the Central govt) are doing the work of dividing the nation not uniting it. This bill is an evidence of the fact that you are an enemy of the Muslims," he said.

Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024 mulk ko baantne ke liye laya gaya hai, jodne ke liye nahi. Aap musalmano ke dushman hain, yeh bill iss baat ka saboot hai.#AIMIM #AsaduddinOwaisi #Parliament #WaqfBoardBill #waqf #WaqfActAmendmentBill pic.twitter.com/pCrsyoFOWg August 8, 2024

RSP MP NK Premachandran in Lok Sabha said, "You (The government) are totally disempowering the Waqf Board and the Waqf council...You are dismantling the system. It is against the principles of the Constitution."

NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule urged the government to either withdraw this bill completely or send it to a standing committee.

Government Defends Move

Defending Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 , Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju said, "With this bill, there is no interference in the freedom of any religious body....Forget about taking anyones rights, this bill has been brought to give rights to those who never got them...."

"They (Opposition) are misleading Muslims...Till last night, Muslim delegations came to me...Many MPs have told me that the mafia has taken over Waqf boards. Some MPs have said that they personally support the bill but can't say it due to their political parties...We have held multi-layered country-wide consultations on this bill..." said Rijiju.

#WATCH | Defending Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 , Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju says, "With this bill, there is no interference in the freedom of any religious body....Forget about taking anyones rights, this bill has been brought to give rights to those who never got pic.twitter.com/cnn10PzwhT  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2024

#WATCH | Speaking in Lok Sabha on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju says,"...This bill being brought today is based on the report of Sachar committee (which called for reform) which you made (Congress)..." pic.twitter.com/ud6VKg2l0k  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2024

BJP ally and JD(U) MP & Union Minister Rajeev Ranjan rejected the allegation that the Bill is against Muslims. He said, "How is it against Muslims? This law is being made to bring transparency...The opposition is comparing it with temples, they are diverting from the main issue....KC Venugopal (Congress) should explain how thousands of Sikhs were killedwhich taxi driver killed Indira Gandhi? Now, they are talking about minorities."

BJP MP Hema Malini said, "...The opposition always opposes, that's their work. They label good things as bad. The PM has brought many good schemes but they say that all these things are wrong. I have also seen it from the last 10 years."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democtratic Alliance (NDA) government is slated to introduce the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha today in a bid to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, that gives the Muslim board vast powers. The Bill brought by the BJP-led government seeks to address issues related to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments. Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju is likely to table the bill in the Lok Sabha. As many as 40 changes may be proposed in the bill. Here are 10 things to know:

1. The opposition led by the Congress has urged the government to send the Bill to the Standing committee. Standing Committees are permanent and regular committees which are constituted from time to time in pursuance of the provisions of an Act of Parliament or Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.



2. The government has also decided to withdraw the Waqf Properties (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants), Bill, 2014 which was introduced in Rajya Sabha in February 2014, when Congress-led UPA government was in power. The Bill is listed for withdrawal from Rajya Sabha today.

3. Apart from introducing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Rijiju will also introduce The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024 which seeks to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Waqf Act provides for the renaming of the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.

4. The Waqf amendment bill seeks to clearly define "waqf" as waqf by any person practicing Islam for at least five years and having ownership of such property and ensure that creation of Waqf-alal-aulad does not lead to the denial of inheritance rights to women.

5. The bill also seeks to omit the provisions relating to the "waqf by user", provide the functions of the Survey Commissioner to the Collector or any other officer not below the rank of Deputy Collector duly nominated by the Collector for the survey of waqf properties, provide for a broad-based composition of the Central Waqf Council and the State Waqf Boards and ensure representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims.

6. The bill seeks to provide for establishment of separate Board of Auqaf for Boharas and Aghakhanis. It provides for the representation of Shia, Sunni, Bohra, Agakhani and other backward classes among Muslim communities, streamlining the manner of registration of waqfs through a central portal and database and providing for a detailed procedure for mutation as per revenue laws with due notice to all concerned before recording any property as waqf property.

7. The bill seeks to omit section 40 relating to the powers of Board to decide if a property is waqf property, provide for filing of accounts of waqf by mutawallis to the Board through a central portal for better control over their activities, reform the Tribunal structure with two members and provide for appeals against the orders of the Tribunal to the High Court within a specified period of ninety days.

8. The bill mandates the appointment of a full-time chief executive officer for the Waqf Boards by the state government. This officer must hold a rank no lower than that of a joint secretary in the state government and does not have to be a Muslim.

9. A significant proposed amendment is the repeal of Section 40 of the current law, which gives Waqf Boards the authority to determine if a property is a Waqf asset. The amendments also include changes to the composition of Waqf tribunals and allow for appeals against their decisions in high courts within 90 days.

10. As a result, the current provision stating that "the decision of the tribunal in respect of such matter shall be final" will be removed. This provision, introduced in 2013 during the Congress-led UPA government, has been controversial. Additionally, the issuance of a 'Waqf deed' and certification will be required for new properties under assessment.
New Delhi: After the recent attack on the Hindu communities in crisis-hit Bangladesh, the Hindu Jagran Manch staged a protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Kolkata on Thursday.

The Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council (BHCUC) said that approximately 200-300 Hindu homes had been vandalised after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister on Monday, Hindustan Times reported citing Reuters.

Reportedly, Hindus make up 8 per cent of Bangladesh's 170 million population and have traditionally been supporters of the Awami League party.

VIDEO | Hindu Jagran Manch stages protest outside Bangladesh High Commission in Kolkata over the issue of attacks on Hindus in crisis-hit Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/zylFSXMG1F August 8, 2024

Following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Hindu temples, households, and businesses have been vandalized, women assaulted, and at least two Hindu leaders affiliated with the Awami League party were killed in Bangladesh. In absence of Hasina's government over the past week has opened up violence against vulnerable populations such as Hindus, Christians and Buddhists. As per the Zee News Television, Hindu minorities have fled to the Indian border seeking refuge.

The protesters massively attacked the houses of Hindu minorities, burning everything, including rice and other essential supplies. Reportedly, not even police or army personnel have come to rescue them.

On the other hand, the Muslim minority sect of Ahmadis had also been torched on Monday after the fall of Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League's government in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, 84-year-old, Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient in 2006 for his groundbreaking efforts in microfinance, has taken an oath today as a head of the interim government.
Mumbai: Naga Chaitanya and actress Sobhita Dhulipala have got engaged in a private ceremony this afternoon. As the news of the rumoured couple getting engaged is going viral, this old statement of Naga Chaitnayas father Nagarjuna is creating quite a stir on the internet for would be daughter in law.

Nagarjuna once called Sobhita attractive

At one of the events talking about would be daughter in law Sobhita, Nagarjuna called her attractive, "Ok Sobhita Dhulipalashe was so good. I mean I should not say it like this. She was hot in the film. I mean there is something that is just so attractive about her. Nagarjuna was talking about the film Goodachari as he was present at the success event.

The Reddit users cannot keep calm and are calling the comment gross. One user wrote, Gross. These men give themselves away all the time. Another user said, Babes sometimes it's better to not let your intrusive thoughts win in all seriousness, even though this is from 2018 when Naga Chaitanya and Samantha were still together, it's so weird to say this about a younger new actress like just say she's attractive and alluring or captivating or some shit no and its not just me he also agrees the phrasing is wrong.

Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala are officially engaged

"We are delighted to announce the engagement of our son, Naga Chaitanya, to Sobhita Dhulipala, which took place this morning at 9:42 a.m.!!

We are overjoyed to welcome her into our family.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness.  pic.twitter.com/buiBGa52lD  Nagarjuna Akkineni (@iamnagarjuna) August 8, 2024

Nagarjuna took to his social media and shared the first engagement pictures of Chay and Sobhita and wished them a lifetime of happiness We are delighted to announce the engagement of our son, Naga Chaitanya, to Sobhita Dhulipala, which took place this morning at 9:42 a.m.!! We are overjoyed to welcome her into our family. Congratulations to the happy couple! Wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness. God bless! 8.8.8 A beginning of infinite love.

Chay and Sobhita have been reportedly dating for years now and finally, they are engaged.
New Delhi: The buzz about Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala's romance kickstarted soon after the former got separated from wife Samantha Ruth Prabhu in 2021. And after keeping their alleged affair hush-hush, looks like soon the couple is going to take the first step towards making it official. According to a report in The Great Andhra, the couple is getting engaged at a private ceremony today, August 8, in Hyderabad. However, it is not confirmed.

NAGA CHAITANYA-SOBHITA DHULIPALA ENGAGEMENT?

Neither Naga nor Sobhita have made any statement about the development so far. The duo has not really spoken about dating each other either but have been spotted together on holidays, adding more fuel to fire.

According to reports, the couple's engagement pictures will also be shared online.

Earlier, when Sobhita was asked about dating Naga Chaitanya, Filmibeat quoted her as saying, "Im very fortunate of having a chance to work with beautiful films. Im a classical dancer and I like dancing. To have performed on three AR Rahman songs in Mani Ratnams film is a very big thing for me. I am focused on it right now. For people who speak without knowledge, I dont think I need to answer them. I dont feel the urge to clarify things when Im not doing any wrong and it is not my business. Instead of answering or clarifying things people write with half-knowledge, one must focus on your life, improve it, be calm, and try to be a good person."

Naga was earlier married to Samantha Ruth Prabhu but the ChaySam, as fans called them announced their separation in October 2021.

On the work front, Naga is shooting for 'Thandel' with Sai Pallavi meanwhile, Sobhita Dhulipala was last seen in Dev Patel's 'Monkey Man'.
New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday proposed measures to speed up clearance of cheques from cycle of up to two working days to just a few hours.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, announcing the outcome of the three-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting proposed to transition Continuous Clearing of Cheques under Cheque Truncation System (CTS) to continuous clearing with 'on-realisation-settlement', that will reduce the time of clearance of cheques in a few hours.

"Cheque Truncation System (CTS) currently processes cheques with a clearing cycle of up to two working days. To improve the efficiency of cheque clearing and reduce settlement risk for participants, and to enhance customer experience, it is proposed to transition CTS from the current approach of batch processing to continuous clearing with 'on-realisation-settlement'. Cheques will be scanned, presented, and passed in a few hours and on a continuous basis during business hours. The clearing cycle will reduce from the present T+1 days to a few hours," said Governor Das.

He added that detailed guidelines in this regard shall be issued shortly.

Meanwhile, Reserve Bank of India has also announced that the UPI limit for tax payment matters has been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per transaction. This will ease the process of tax payers with higher tax liabilities to pay their dues quickly and without any hassle.
New Delhi: There is no proposal to increase the time limit for central government employees to switch from the National Pension System to the old pension scheme, the government said on Wednesday.

The NPS was introduced for central government employees in 2003.

NPS is mandatory for all new recruits in the central government service from January 1, 2004 (except the armed forces), Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

In pursuance of court judgements, the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare issued instructions on March 3, 2023, giving a one-time option to the central government civil employee for inclusion under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021) who have been appointed against a post or vacancy which was advertised or notified for recruitment/appointment prior to notification for NPS on December 22, 2003, he said.

The extant procedures state that it is for the appointing authority of the post in the ministry concerned against which such an option has been exercised to examine and decide applicability of these instructions, Singh said.

"Fixed time schedules stipulated for every activity to be performed for examination and decision of the options exercised by the employee," he said.

The time limit for submission of option by employees was August 31, 2023, while the time limit for examination and decision on the option by appointing authority concerned was November 30, 2023, he added.

There is no proposal to issue any further instruction with respect to the order issued on March 3, 2023, the minister said.

Manjeet Singh Patel, national president of the All India NPS Employees Federation, asked the government to extend the date to benefit the eligible employees.

"A lot of NPS employees are still deprived of this benefit and seeking extension in time limit. We request the government of India to extend the date to provide benefits to the remaining eligible employees," Patel said.
New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday said that the UPI limit for tax payment matters has been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per transaction. This will ease the process of tax payers with higher tax liabilities to pay their dues quickly and without any hassle.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, announcing the outcome of the three-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting said UPI transitions can be done up to Rs 5 lakh from the existing Rs 1 lakh for tax payment purposes.

"UPI has become the most-preferred mode of payments, due to its seamless features. Currently, the transaction limit for UPI is capped at 1 lakh. Based on the various use-cases, the Reserve Bank has periodically reviewed and enhanced the limits for a few categories like capital markets, IPO subscriptions, loan collections, insurance, medical and educational services etc. As direct and indirect tax payments are common, regular and high value, it has been decided to enhance the limit for tax payments through UPI from 1 lakh to 5 lakh per transaction. Necessary instructions will be issued separately," Governor Das said.

Ranen Banerjee- Partner and Leader Economic Advisory, PwC India said, "A very important announcement has been on delegated payments in UPI. This will be game changing as far as base expansion for digital payment adoption and financial inclusion is concerned."

However for general transaction limit, it is Rs 1 lakh.

NCPI FAQ mentions, "For normal UPI the transaction limit is up to Rs 1 Lakh per transaction. For few specific categories of transaction in UPI like Capital Markets, Collections, Insurance, Foreign Inward Remittances the transaction limit is up to 2 lakh and for Initial Public Offering and Retail Direct Scheme the limit is up to Rs 5 lakh per transaction."

Rahul Jain  CFO, NTT DATA Payment Services India said this initiative will strengthen the tax-collection system, reduce the cost of tax-collection, and make tax-payments more convenient for taxpayers.

"This also means more benefits to taxpayers in terms of seamless, transparent, secured, and ease of making high value transactions," he added.
New Delhi: Disney Plus is following in Netflixs footsteps and will soon crack down on password sharing. This means that people will no longer be able to share their Disney Plus passwords with anyone outside their household. Disney CEO Bob Iger announced during an earnings call that starting this September, the company will strictly enforce these new rules to prevent password sharing, as per reports by The Verge.

Password Sharing Rules Get Clearer

Disneys stance on password sharing has been unclear until now. In February, they hinted at a possible paid sharing model and started notifying users about upcoming changes. By June, they had introduced paid sharing in a few countries but hadn't specified when it would come to the US. Now, Disney plans to extend paid sharing to more subscribers by September though they haven't yet revealed how much it will cost.

Following Netflix's Strategy

Disneys strategy has been similar to Netflixs which started paid sharing last year and charges an extra 7.99 dollars per month to add another user to an account. Even after the initial worries Netflixs crackdown on password sharing has been mostly accepted by users. Disney CEO Bob Iger mentioned that Disney hasnt faced any major backlash from users about the notifications and steps they've taken so far.

Subscription Prices Going Up

Along with cracking down on password sharing, Disney will also raise subscription prices for Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus starting in October. CEO Bob Iger is confident that these price increases won't lead to a significant loss of subscribers. He highlighted that Disney plans to add more value with new content, like ABC News Live and curated playlists to justify the higher prices and strengthen their offering.

The price hikes and crackdown on password sharing come after Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus turned a profit for the first time this quarter. Disney is keen to keep this profitability by boosting revenue through paid sharing and higher subscription prices. By taking a similar approach to Netflix, Disney aims to reduce password sharing and ensure its streaming services continue to thrive financially.
A Spotsylvania County man was arrested Tuesday in connection with a 2022 fatal accident in Charles City County, court records show.

Jules Jamar Stewart, 32, is charged with aggravated involuntary manslaughter, a felony offense that carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison. He was placed in the Rappahannock Regional Jail following his arrest.

The charge stems from an Aug. 23, 2022, two-vehicle collision in Charles City County that resulted in the death of 27-year-old Abbigail C. Breeding of Hopewell. According to Virginia State Police, Stewart allegedly ran a stop sign and his Ford Focus struck a Ford Explorer driven by Breeding.

The impact caused Breedings vehicle to overturn and she was ejected. Breeding, who police said was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene.

Stewart was indicted by a Charles City County grand jury in May of last year and was listed as a fugitive until this week. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Charles City County Circuit Court on Aug. 16.
The recent overthrow of Sheikh Hasina's government in Bangladesh and the installation of an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus have raised serious questions about India's relations with its neighbors. India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, launched with great fanfare by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has failed to yield the desired results. Instead, the country has seen five of its allies drift closer to China in the past decade. The collapse of Sheikh Hasina's government in Bangladesh has added to India's woes, raising questions about the capability of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the Modi government's foreign policy approach.

India's relations with its immediate neighbours, including Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and now Bangladesh, have faced significant challenges in the last few years. Of these six nations, a regime change has taken place in Maldives, Nepal, now Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Pakistan went to the elections where Shehbaz Sharif retained power by forming a coalition government. Of these, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh now have a leadership which is pro-China. Sri Lanka also underwent a regime change following economic crisis. Lanka and Bhutan are maintaining a neutral stance towards China and India, with a slight tilt towards New Delhi are present.

The rapidly changing situation in Bangladesh has given a big blow to India, with concerns rising about the potential for Bangladesh to become a hideout for terrorists and infiltration problems in North-Eastern states.

The Bangladesh 'Failure'

Sheikh Hasinas government in Bangladesh had been a relatively stable partner for India, helping to manage anti-India sentiments and supporting trade and border security. But with Hasina out of power and Muhammad Yunus set to lead an interim government, India now faces uncertainty. Theres worry that Bangladesh might become a hotspot for extremist activities, which could lead to increased security issues in Indias northeastern states.

The BNP, which has a rocky relationship with India, is likely to be a stakeholder in the interim government in Bangladesh. The party has used anti-India rhetoric and policies to harm Indian interests and further its domestic political goals.

The 'India Out' campaign, which gained steam in Bangladesh after the Maldives, had caused concern in New Delhi. The campaign, inspired by a similar movement in the Maldives, has led to a decline in India's relations with Bangladesh. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has rejected suggestions that India's foreign policy is failing, but the reality on the ground suggests otherwise.

Declining Relations With Immediate Neighbors

This isnt just about Bangladesh. Indias relationships with several neighboring countries have taken a hit. In the Maldives, President Mohamed Muizzu has pushed an India Out campaign, reflecting growing discontent with Indian influence. Hes even asked India to pull out its military personnel and signed deals with Turkey and China, showing a clear tilt away from India.

Nepal, once a close ally, has also started leaning towards China. This shift is concerning given Nepals strategic importance. Relations with Sri Lanka have been shaky too, and the ongoing tensions with Pakistan are no surprise. The Talibans rise in Afghanistan has added another layer of complication to Indias regional strategy.

What Jaishankar Says?

When questioned about Indias foreign policy and the increasing influence of China, Jaishankar acknowledged the competition but seemed to downplay concerns. There are two realities we must recognize. China is also a neighboring country and in many ways will, as part of competitive politics, influence these countries (Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh)." The minister made this statement in response to a question during a session with students at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Mumbai in January this year.

He added, I dont think we should be scared of China. I think we should say, okay, global politics is a competitive game. You do your best, and I will do my best. China is a major economy, it will deploy resources. It will try and shape things in Chinas way. Why should we expect otherwise? But the answer to that is not to complain about what China is doing. The answer is, you are doing it. Let me do better than.

Is India's 'Neibhourhood First Policy' Actually Working?

Prime Minister Modi's tenure has been marked by a paradox in India's foreign relations. While there has been notable leadership in the Global South and engagement with major powers, relations with immediate neighbors have seen a regression. This is in spite of India's ongoing development partnerships, project acceleration, and humanitarian and technical assistance.

The subcontinent is rife with terrorism and insurgencies. India's neighbors are diverse in geography, society, economy, demography, and especially politics, with many facing chronic social and political unrest. Their significant disparities in growth, resources, population, and size compared to other regions' neighbors compound these challenges.

Modi 3.0's foreign and security policies are expected to maintain continuity, but there is room for improvement in South Asia. A more sensitive approach to India's relations with its neighbors could foster better understanding and cooperation.

The dynamics of coalition politics may prompt the BJP to moderate its Hindutva stance, which has raised concerns across South Asia, including in Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan, and Nepal, which transitioned from a Hindu kingdom to a secular republic.
As Bangladesh continues to reel under violent protest despite appeals from opposition leaders and the army, all Indian visa application centres in the country have been shut until further notice. The violent protests have forced Sheikh Hasian to resign as the Prime Minister and flee the country while many judged have been forced to resign. The violent mob has continuously been damaging the state properties as well as the Hindu community.

All Indian visa application centres in Bangladesh will remain closed until further notice after unrest in the neighbouring country forced Sheikh Hasina to resign as Prime Minister and flee the country. The online portal to apply for an Indian visa now has a message, "All IVACs will remain closed till further notice, due to an unstable situation. The next application date will be informed through SMS & It is requested to pick up the passport on the next working day."

This comes a day after New Delhi evacuated non-essential staff and their families from its High Commission and consulates in Bangladesh amid the volatile situation in the country. Indian diplomats, however, remain in the country and the missions are functional, sources in the government have said.

India has a high commission in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka and consulates in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet.

India has earlier warned its residents to not travel to Bangladesh while cautioning those in Bangladesh to stay alert and avoid local travel while minimizing movement. "In view of the ongoing situation in Bangladesh, the Indian community members and the Indian students residing in Bangladesh are advised to avoid local travel and minimize their movement outside their living premises," said the Indian Embassy in Bangladesh.
Egypt instructed all of its airlines to avoid Iranian airspace for three hours in the early morning on Thursday (August 8) amid tension between Israel and Iran. Many airlines are revising their schedules to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace while also calling off flights to Israel and Lebanon as many fear a possible broader conflict after the killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

A Flightradar map captured after the statements were published showed limited air traffic over Iran, while many flights continued to pass over neighbouring countries.

The NOTAM, a safety notice provided to pilots on Wednesday (August 7), said the instruction would be in effect from 0100 to 0400 GMT. It provided no further details as to why the notice was issued.

"All Egyptian carriers shall avoid overflying Tehran (Flight Information Region). No flight plan will be accepted overflying such territory," the notice said, referring to the three-hour period specified. Egypt's civil aviation ministry later confirmed on Wednesday the notice was intended to reduce flight-safety risks in light of a notification it received from Iranian authorities.

"Military exercises will be conducted over Iranian airspace on Aug. 7 from 11:30 to 14:30 and from 4:30 to 7:30 on Aug. 8 Tehran time," the statement said. The ministry's press statement followed an unnamed source quoted by the state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV as saying that Iranian authorities had said to avoid flying in Iranian airspace because of "military exercises."
Dhaka: Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus is all set to head interim government on Thursday, amid an appeal for calm and non-violence. As the country grapples with widespread unrest following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation and departure, Yunus has called on all citizens to seize this opportunity for positive change and unity.

As authorities scrambled to bring the law and order situation under control, Army chief Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman on Wednesday announced that the interim government will take oath around 8 pm on Thursday. He said the advisory council may have 15 members. Gen Zaman further said that the armed forces will provide all possible support to 84-year-old Yunus after Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled the country following violent anti-government protests spearheaded by the Students Against Discrimination movement. Yunus is now in Paris and was headed to Dhaka.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party(BNP) chairperson and ex-premier Khaleda Zia, who was freed from house arrest on Tuesday, echoed the views of Yunus, saying it is not "anger" or "revenge" but "love and peace" which will rebuild the nation.

Businesses demanded immediate restoration of law and order to ensure the safety of their production units amid attacks on factories over the last two days. They said factories were reopened on Wednesday, particularly the garment units, but many cannot run properly fearing unrest and vandalism, the Daily Star newspaper reported.

With police absent from their duty to keep law and order or manage traffic, students carried out traffic management as volunteers for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper said. There were reports of attacks on police stations and facilities across the country on Tuesday, resulting in numerous police casualties, it added.

Yunus, whose name was first proposed for the top job by the coordinators of the students movement, congratulated the "brave students" who took the lead in making, what he said, "our Second Victory Day possible", and appealed to all students, political parties and non-political people to stay calm.

"Let us not miss the chance by going into any senseless violence. Violence is our enemy. Please dont create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country," he said in a statement.

"If we take the path of violence everything will be destroyed. Please stay calm. Help those around you to stay calm."

"Let us make the best use of our new victory. Let us not let this slip away because of our mistakes," the economist said. "I fervently appeal to everybody to stay calm. Please refrain from all kinds of violence."

Bodies of at least 29 supporters of Hasinas Awami League party were recovered across the country through Tuesday, taking the overall death toll to 469 in almost three weeks since the protest first started in July, according to local media reports. Sheikh Hasina flew to Hindon air base, near Delhi, by a Bangladesh military aircraft on Monday.

Yunus' appeal comes as the Army chief acknowledged there were incidents of looting and anarchy after Hasina's ouster. He said the police forces became "totally dysfunctional and it was not possible on the part of the military along with the navy and air force troops to "fill up the void".

"But we will do everything possible to bring the culprits to justice.

In his statement, Yunus also called Bangladesh a "beautiful country with lots of exciting possibilities. We must protect and make it a wonderful country for us and for our future generations."
Hundreds of Fremont residents were at John C. Fremont Park on Tuesday, Aug. 6, to celebrate and honor local law enforcement officers and first responders as part of the annual National Night Out event.

Members of the Fremont Police Department, the Fremont Fire Department, the Dodge County Sheriffs Office and the Nebraska State Patrol were present for the 90-minute festival that also included several informational booths and a performance by a local martial arts club.

Dodge County Sheriff Dustin Weitzel was at the event with county deputy Sgt. Brie Frank, meeting and greeting children, parents and other residents and talking about their jobs protecting the community.

FPD Lt. Ed Watts was one of five officers representing the city police department, and as he has done at other community events, helped show children and others the ins and outs of a police cruiser, pose for photographs and talk about the job of a police officer.

Kelli Stuehmer, an FPD community services officer, was also present with her personal dog, and she interacted with kiddos and took photos with the little pooch.

McGruff the Crime Dog was also on hand to meet with children, hand out treats and pose for photographs.

Unlike other communities across the United States where National Night Out is celebrated with numerous neighborhood block parties, the Dodge County and Fremont event is hosted at one central location.
A federal judge concluded last month that evidence showed a former Denver Health paramedic was not fired because of his sexual orientation, as he alleged, but because his employer believed he exhibited poor judgment and resisted efforts to coach him professionally.
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This photo taken on March 6, 2023 shows the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Futabacho, Futabagun of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. [Photo/Xinhua]

Despite persistent opposition at home and abroad, Japan on Wednesday started its eighth round of release of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean.

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the plant's operator, will discharge about 7,800 tons of wastewater from storage tanks into the Pacific Ocean until Aug. 25.

The Chinese Embassy in Japan on Wednesday expressed firm opposition to this irresponsible move of ocean discharge, noting that discharge concerns the health of all mankind, the global marine environment and the international public interests, and is by no means a private matter for Japan.

Without addressing the international community's concerns about the safety of such discharges, the long-term reliability of purification facility, and the effectiveness of monitoring arrangements, Japan's continued release of nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean shifts the risk of potential contamination to the whole world, a spokesperson for the embassy said.

The spokesperson called on the Japanese side to fully cooperate in setting up an independent international monitoring arrangement that remains effective in the long haul and has substantive participation of stakeholders.

Hit by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and an ensuing tsunami on March 11, 2011, the Fukushima nuclear plant suffered core meltdowns that released radiation, 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 water tainted with radioactive substances from cooling down nuclear fuel in reactor buildings. The contaminated water is now being stored in tanks at the nuclear plant.

Despite opposition from local fishermen, residents and the international community, ocean discharge of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water began in August 2023.
Get complete coverage of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua's presence in Aurora and across the state of Colorado from the staff at The Denver Gazette.
The U.S. Air Force Academy class of 2028 transitioned from basic cadets into fourth-class cadets Wednesday morning.

Amid the August heat, more than 1,000 freshmen cadets along with the upperclassmen marched onto Stillman Field for the Acceptance Day parade and ceremony to mark the completion of the grueling 6-week long basic training.

During the ceremony, cadets received their first shoulder board rank insignia.

Commandant of cadets, Brig. Gen. Gavin P. Marks, addressed the cadet class of 2028 with a reminder: that they are entrusted with the safety of the nation.

The coming days, he said, may be trying, but also rewarding.

"I guarantee you I'm going to push you hard," said Marks.

"World class is our standard."

The celebration was the first time since In-Processing Day on June 26 that cadets could speak to or see their families.

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And for most international cadets, the wait to see loved ones continues.

Gabrielle Milan, a fourth-class cadet from Wiesbaden, Germany, described the complexities of being far from home. Having to schedule different phone call times and letters taking longer to arrive contribute to the strain, she said.

"They can't be here today ... but I'll see them when I can," Milan said.

She did not visit the Air Force Academy before she made her decision to become a cadet.

"I saw it for the first time on I-Day," Milan said.

Since then, she has forged bonds "that are not going anywhere" with fellow cadets through the shared challenges of basic cadet training, including what several cadets expressed was the toughest obstacle: the assault course at Jacks Valley.

"It almost felt like during basic it would never end ... so today was just like, 'ah finally,'" said fourth-class cadet Vanessa Carrington from Cincinatti, Ohio.

Now officially part of the cadet wing, the class of 2028 is ready to embark on its first academic year at the Academy.

"We're a little nervous, but they prepare us pretty well," said Milan.
One person was injured in a shooting inside The Citadel mall Wednesday, according to Colorado Springs police.

The shooting was reported to police at 3:25 p.m. One adult male was confirmed to be hospitalized with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Police said the man was shot in the leg following an altercation between two people.

Police Department spokeswoman Caitlin Ford said during a news conference that the two individuals were inside an employee-only area when at least one round was fired. Mall security said that the wounded person was an employee of the mall, a shoe-shiner, and had one gunshot wound.

Law enforcement confirmed that the incident was not an active-shooter situation, but rather believed that it was an isolated incident. The mall was on a brief lockdown but was reopened to the public late in the afternoon. A nearby school, Coperni 3, also went into lockdown briefly, but reopened. People were seen entering and exiting the mall and the school, specifically.

More than eight squad vehicles could be seen near the north entrance into the mall, which leads into the food court, shortly after the shooting. A few other cars were spotted on the opposite side of the mall as well.

A witness told a Gazette reporter that he saw a man running away from the scene after one loud "bang" coming from the food court just before the call came in to police.

No suspect was reported to be in custody, police said late in the afternoon.

Some law enforcement were likely to remain on the scene for several hours, police said.

Anyone with information or who was a witness is encouraged to call 719-444-7000 or Pikes Peak Crime Stoppers.

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The Wednesday shooting follows a recent ban prohibiting Colorado Springs-area uniformed military members from going to The Citadel mall. Shortly after the news broke, exceptions for visits related to education or religion were allowed.

Last year, on Christmas Eve, three people were shot and one, Teryus Thomas, 18, was killed inside the mall. Alleged shooter, Josiah Brown, 22, is facing 11 charges in the shooting.

Brown faces two counts of first-degree murder, four counts of attempted first-degree murder, four counts of first-degree assault and one count of weapon possession by a previous offender.

Brown's next appearance in court will be Nov. 1 with his jury trial scheduled to start in January.

The Citadel, which opened in 1972, is one of the Springs two enclosed regional shopping malls, along with the north side Chapel Hills Mall that opened a decade later.
An investigation is underway following the assault of a woman staying in a camper in Teller County overnight on Aug. 7.

The woman is reported to be in extremely critical condition by the Teller county Sheriffs Office.

According to Teller County Sheriffs Office Commander Sven Bonnelycke, at 12:43 a.m. on Aug. 7, officials received reports of a violent assault against a woman and her dog inside a camper located outside of Cripple Creek in unincorporated Teller County.

Officials said the female victim was transferred to a nearby hospital, where she remains in critical condition due to injuries sustained amid the attack. The condition of the dog is unknown at this time.

The Teller County Sheriffs Office alongside the Colorado Bureau of Investigations is investigating.

According to the Sheriffs Office, the dog, named Ida, is doing well, though surgery was needed to remove a damaged left eye. Swelling has since gone down from her injuries and despite a skull fracture, she is expected to make a full recovery with the exception of the missing eye.
Editor's Note: An initial news release from the Teller County Sheriff's Office incorrectly indicated that the victim of the assault had died earlier today. This version of the story lists the victim's current listed medical status.

A investigation is underway following the assault of a woman staying in a camper in Teller County overnight Wednesday.

The woman is reported to be in "extremely critical condition" by the Teller County Sheriff's Office, as of Wednesday afternoon.

According to Teller County Sheriff's Office Commander Sven Bonnelycke, at 12:43 a.m. Wednesday officials received reports of a violent assault against a woman and her dog inside a camper located outside of Cripple Creek in unincorporated Teller County.

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Officials said the female victim was transferred to a nearby hospital, where she remains in critical condition due to injuries sustained amid the attack. The condition of the dog is unknown at this time.

The Teller County Sheriff's Office alongside the Colorado Bureau of Investigations is investigating, a Wednesday afternoon announcement states.

Officials are currently processing the scene and conducting interviews.
Two gun shops in Colorado Springs were burglarized overnight Thursday, police said.

Police Department spokeswoman Caitlin Ford said that a stolen car with multiple people inside crashed through the front of the Spartan Defense Armory & Training gun store in the northeast part of the city, just off Barnes Road and Powers Boulevard.

Multiple firearms were stolen before the car was ditched, police said.

Spartan Defense General Manager Steven Kinder said he was notified of the break-in at the store at 3:30 a.m.

According to Kinder, the thieves moved a concrete post that was being installed and rocks from the front of the building to access the front window with the vehicle  physical deterrence methods meant to prevent an incident like the one Thursday.

They hit the building with the car five times before four of them wearing masks and gloves came running in, Kinder said.

Kinder said the group didnt go for big-ticket items, ignoring one case holding thousands of dollars in merchandise. Instead, the thieves went for items that could be used to practically arm an individual.

They took handguns, ammunition and rifles, between eight to 12 guns, Kinder said.

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Kinder said while the help of the public and fellow gun shop owners was kindly received in the aftermath of the incident Thursday morning, there is a lingering safety concern because of the damage done to the business.

Its a safety hazard, for sure. We used to have roll-down steel shutters, now we have a giant hole in the front of the store. Its a big hurt to the community, Kinder said.

Ford said the same Hyundai that was left at Spartan Defense along the 6100 block of Barnes Road was used in an attempted robbery at a gun store along the 4700 block of Peace Palace Point, just off Garden of the Gods Road and Centennial Boulevard.

Police said a bumper at the Peace Palace Point store, DCF Guns, matched that of the vehicle left at Spartan Defense. DCF Guns did not have weapons stolen because the suspects were not able to get through both sets of doors that act as a security measure, reported Gazette news partner KOAA.

Thursdays series of burglaries and attempted crimes follows a similar case July 31 when a group of thieves stole multiple handguns.

Owner of Spruce Defense, Connie Rogers, said the storefront received between $20,000 and $30,000 in damages stemming from the incident  the second time the local gun store had a stolen vehicle ram into the front of the business in a six-month period.

Police have not announced arrests in either the July or Thursday break-ins and thefts.
When class resumes across Colorado Springs School District 11 Monday, it will mark the beginning of a major shift in the presence of cellphones in its schools.

Starting in the 2024-25 school year, they will become the first school district in El Paso County to prohibit the use of all students' personal technology devices during instructional time. Along with personal smartphones, this includes smartwatches, tablets, laptops, audio/video devices and any other electronic devices not issued by the district.

The policy change marks the district's effort "to protect the learning environment" as described in the policy approved earlier this year.

"I'm glad that we were able to see this through, because this is something that I campaigned on," Board Vice President Jill Haffley said. "I think it's a great solution to a problem, because we're not taking away the students' phones  they just can't use them during school."

To ensure that these devices aren't a distraction during the school day, each middle school and high school student will be assigned a personal pouch for their phone, smartwatch and earbuds designed by the company Yondr.

On entering school, students will turn their phones off and place their devices in their pouch in front of staff. Once inside the phone-free area, the pouch will lock and students will keep their phones with them. They can use their phone at the end of the school day, during lunch and free periods by tapping their pouch at an unlocking base.

Exceptions outlined in the new policy include students with medical conditions that use their phone to monitor their health. In these cases, they will be assigned a pouch with a Velcro closure to allow them access for these purposes.

Elementary school students will not receive pouches and will be required to keep their phones in their backpacks during school time.

Yondr pouches have gained traction in recent years at other schools and have also been implemented at live performances, meetings and other events seeking to be "phone free."

Phone use during class time has been attributed to distracting students, while their use in general hall has been linked to emotional distress, social media harassment and even physical conflicts.

D-11's approach is a more direct response at addressing phone use in school, with other neighboring districts having a less-regulated approach in place. D-49, D-20, D-38, D-12, D-3 and D-2 all have similar policies with slightly different language that state students' phones must be turned off or turned to silent during instructional time except in emergencies or according to staff allowance.

The private school St. Mary's High School prohibited student phones last year. The charter school Thomas MacLaren has restricted cell phones and other personal technology device usage during the school day since it opened in 2009 while the charter Eastlake High School became the first school in El Paso County and the fifth in Colorado to enact a Yondr policy earlier this year.

Eastlake Principal Cassandra Berry said she first heard about the pouches while watching the "Today" show, but only learned about their effectiveness on seeing comedian Dave Chappelle perform in 2022.

And when I went to the show, he Yondrd up everyones cellphone and I thought, This is interesting. Im a grown woman, and youre telling me I cant have my phone? she recalled. "But then I kind of liked it, because it allowed me to focus, and I didn't have to worry about checking it constantly."

During the 2023-24 school year, Eastlake bought around 80 pouches for its student body through grant funding to address student mental health and specifically cyberbullying. Berry said the program has been a resounding success, with teachers and parents feeling less of a burden in regulating phone use and students paying greater attention during class.

"There were a couple that pushed back (at first) but then some came back at the end of the year and said, 'thank you,'" she said.

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The recent push by schools to limit screen time comes following multiple studies on the impacts of personal technology on overall well-being.

The prevalence of social media use by adolescents prompted U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy to issue a warning on its effects on mental health in 2023. Worldwide, a 2016 study found student performance in high stakes exams increasing in four English cities with phone bans while a 2021 study found physical activity increasing after a four-week ban in six Danish schools.

Not everyone believes the policy is the answer, though. Palmer High School student Michelangelo Krewson is concerned it will increase student anxiety and cut off direct contact from friends and families during school emergencies.

Every student I know is against it. And every parent Ive heard from is also against it," she said. They want to know (immediately) if something happens. And I know that if there is an emergency, they'll come straight to the school."

She added that students involved in off-campus activities during and after school would complicate the policy's effectiveness while also affecting families' travel schedules before and after school.

Krewson admitted that phone use in classrooms can lead to learning loss, but added that the funding used to implement this program could also be used toward other needs.

I agree that they can be a distraction and it just hurts to know that there isnt a happy medium," she said. "Its part of adult life  to have your phone  and part of that life is learning how to manage it.

Charles Johnson, co-chair for the D-11 chapter of Neighbors for Education, a local coalition advocating for quality education in local school districts, said he has heard from a number of parents and teachers both for and against the new policy.

Some that he spoke with echoed Krewsons concerns regarding the lost communication during emergencies and the inherent role that the technology now plays in most people's lives. He added that some wished there was more public input before district administrators approved the policy.

Collectively, yes, we are for improving student achievement and mental health," he said. "There are some of us, however, that feel like this policy was rushed and there werent enough opportunities to gather input from the community to hear all their perspectives.

One D-11 parent who asked to remain anonymous told The Gazette that they wholeheartedly supported locking phones, agreeing that such devices are ultimately a distraction and that existing channels of communication available in the schools are appropriate.

During the Wednesday night meeting, multiple members of the public expressed either support or opposition to the policy during the meeting's public comment period.

Later in the meeting, the board approved to transfer $304,000 from the district's general fund contingency toward purchase of the pouches for every student along with additional pouches in the case some may need to be replaced.

Before the vote, during board members' reports, board secretary Jason Jorgenson shared studies and statistics on the negative impacts of smart technology and social media on youth mental health in recent years to elaborate on why he and other board members felt the investment was necessary.

Additionally, near the beginning of the meeting, board President Parth Melpakam took a moment to address the various public concerns he and other board members had heard regarding the policy.

"Let me be clear, this board is taking a strong and clear stance on this issue for one reason: Minimize distractions in the learning environment and maximize the learning potential of our students and being responsive to the support our teachers wanted," he said. "This plan has overwhelming support from our teachers. Enforcement of this policy now does not fall on the teacher, allowing our teachers to teach and students to learn."

More information on the new cellphone policy can be found on the district's website.
A new action plan for the citys response to homelessness  which Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade has called one of Colorado Springs top public safety issues  will be ready by the time Mobolade delivers his State of the City address on Sept. 10, according to city employees.

While Mobolade has identified six key focus areas for addressing homelessness, residents have two chances to air their views for the next step of specifying how those will be accomplished.

Both public meetings will be held on Thursday, Aug. 15. An in-person session will be from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the City Administration Building, 30 S. Nevada Ave., in room 102.

A virtual meeting will happen that night, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., accessible at this online link: ColoradoSprings.gov/2024HomelessnessResponse.

The mayor developed the key areas based on feedback he's received from residents since he took office last June, said Katie Sunderlin, the citys acting housing and community vitality officer.

Internal emails and phone calls, the mayors listening tours and other group meetings produced the comments to date, she said.

What we are doing now is we will go through those high-level points with the public with more depth and give people an opportunity to respond to what is going to be most impactful and what are we missing in our homelessness response, Sunderlin said Wednesday.

Mobolade's defined areas are:

 Increase street outreach and availability of need-based shelter options;

 Enforce and protect people, property and the environment;

 Expand employment opportunities, such as the WorkCOS program, which provides jobs;

 Prioritize prevention of homelessness through mental health care;

 Increase the number of housing units for very low-income residents and housing that provides supportive services for people exiting homelessness;

 Provide transparent, proactive and accessible communications to the public.

While the goals will cost money, it is not yet known how much.

Our plan is more like a strategic plan  not just these are the six things with this price tag associated, Sunderlin said. These are long-term goals.

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For example, increasing affordable housing units requires partnerships and tax credit awards and many people, so its not cut-and-dried, she said. This is not like a capital project.

The document will help prioritize funding requests, said Max DOnofrio, a city spokesman.

Departments are scheduled to begin presenting budget requests to City Council for the coming year on Oct. 1.

The citys commitment to support local homeless shelter operations with about half a million dollars annually will continue as usual, Sunderlin noted.

This year, three organizations received a cut of the line-item funding: Springs Rescue Mission, which operates the citys largest shelter for homeless adults and related programs; the El Paso County Corps of the Salvation Army, which runs the largest family shelter; and The Place, which provides the only shelter for independent teens and young adults.

This administration is taking a very forward stance in response to both to homelessness and housing, Sunderlin said.

The mayor is prioritizing both highly, and our department is working with him and community partners to make sure our piece to the response is beneficial and impactful, she said.

A housing-needs assessment is underway, Sunderlin said, to help us do a deep dive into the housing landscape to come up with a new roadmap for housing solutions, a blueprint to move forward on affordable and attainable housing.

The previous administration under former Mayor John Suthers met accomplishments of its five-year plan, such as starting the WorkCOS employment program in conjunction with Springs Rescue Mission, adding 1,000 affordable housing units to the market yearly, reducing the homeless population and attaining other objectives.

Here, we have a new strategic plan with smaller plans for individual departments with clearly defined goals based on input from the community, D'Onofrio said.

During a media briefing on July 23, Mobolade said the strategic plan for 2024-28 that he released in June prioritizes public safety, economic vitality, infrastructure, housing solutions and community activation.

With homelessness, weve made a lot of progress over the last year (and) theres still a lot of work to be done, he said. 

Hes also met with nonprofit providers, and a public session with business owners has been scheduled for further input.

Meanwhile, the mayor said, the citys fire and police departments will continue with their street outreach and safety and law enforcement programs, camp cleanups are ongoing through the Neighborhood Services department, a new Urban Trail Rangers program is active, and local organizations are meeting employment, health and shelter needs.

This will continue to be an all-out effort to ensure homelessness will be brief, rare and non-recurring, Mobolade said.
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The Ukrainian authorities ordered a forced evacuation from 23 settlements in the northeastern Sumy region, the Sumy Regional Military Administration said on Wednesday in a statement on Telegram.

"I signed the order on the mandatory evacuation of 23 settlements in 5 communities of the Sumy district. It enters into force from the moment of signing," said Volodymyr Artyukh, Sumy regional governor.

According to him, about 6,000 people, including 425 children, will move to safer places under the evacuation efforts.

The evacuation will be carried out "in order not to endanger the population," said Artyukh, noting that the situation in the area is currently under the control of the Ukrainian army.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the air-raid warning lasted more than 24 hours in the Symu region.

The Sumy region borders Russia's Kursk and Belgorod regions in the east and Bryansk region in the north.
East China cities implement energy-saving measures amid sweltering heat

09:12, August 08, 2024 By GT staff reporters ( Global Times

Multiple cities in China have implemented measures to promote energy conservation, such as suspending unnecessary landscape lighting, adjusting industrial production schedules to avoid peak periods, and encouraging the use of energy-efficient equipment, in response to the high demand for electricity during the summer months, especially in regions experiencing sweltering heat.

Since the start of August, Hangzhou, the capital of East China's Zhejiang Province, has experienced the third wave of high temperatures this year, leading to a record high electricity load. To ensure power supply, the city has suspended unnecessary landscape lighting and light shows from Monday to Friday, the city authorities said on Tuesday.

Along with Hangzhou, other cities such as Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, and Hefei, East China's Anhui Province have also released proposals calling for energy conservation in the face of the recent high temperatures.

China's National Meteorological Center on Wednesday morning continued to issue an orange alert for high temperatures as multiple regions in the country continue to experience sweltering heat, with some parts of Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces recording temperatures of above 40 C.

In the three-tier warning system for high temperatures, red represents the most severe warning, followed by orange and yellow on the lower scale.

Industrial enterprises are required to scientifically optimize production schedules and avoid production during peak times. They're encouraged to use energy-efficient products and equipment that comply with national standards, said the Nanjing authorities.

The authorities in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu have called for government agencies and public institutions to turn off office equipment when not in use, set air conditioning to no lower than 26 C, turn off lights and electronic devices when leaving a room, and use stairs instead of elevators for floors below the third floor.

During extremely hot weather, it is essential for everyone to join in to save electricity. "Moving forward, we may need to explore new strategies. China has been leading the way in energy transition by embracing new sources of energy like solar and wind power," Ma Jun, director of the Beijing-based Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Enterprises in China are encouraged to cooperate and implement measures to save electricity and shift peak electricity consumption. This is important as industrial electricity consumption is high in some developed areas. The local authorities need to ensure industrial electricity supply while enterprises should focus on energy conservation as well, said Ma.

Chinese cities have been accelerating green and low-carbon transformation. The Global Times learned from State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Co that the peak power generation output of renewable energy in Shanghai's power grid exceeded 3 million kilowatts for the first time on July 28, reaching a peak at 3.1 million kilowatts, marking a new breakthrough in the utilization of renewable energy in the city.

It is predicted that the annual total generation of wind and solar energy in Shanghai will exceed 5 billion kilowatt-hours, equivalent to saving 1.5 million tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 4 million tons, said the company.

Li Yawei contributed to this story

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Liang Jun)
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Palestinians return to the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis after the Israeli army withdrew from the eastern part of the city, on July 30, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

A seemingly endless cycle of violence-induced displacement is making it increasingly difficult for Gazans to access the assistance they need, UN humanitarians said on Wednesday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that relentless hostilities and recurring evacuation orders force displacement.

"When malnourished children in Gaza have to flee suddenly, it is extremely challenging for humanitarian partners to monitor and follow up with the necessary services and for displaced families to carry the malnutrition prevention and treatment supplies they need," OCHA said.

The office said repeated displacements, insecurity, access constraints and other challenges hamper the early detection of children and women needing nutrition services and constrain humanitarian partners' ability to scale up their operational presence and store life-saving supplies.

The humanitarians said some partners working on the shelter response in Gaza continue to monitor the movement and needs of newly displaced people in Deir al Balah and Khan Younis and provide support. Since July 22, they have provided hundreds of tents to families displaced in southern, central and northern Gaza.

"Between July 22 and Sunday, 48 of our partners working on the health response in Gaza reached more than 250,000 people across the (Gaza) Strip," OCHA said. "There are also more than a dozen emergency medical teams supporting local health-care workers, including three in northern Gaza."

The office said hostilities and the constant bombardment of Gaza caused numerous mass casualty incidents in recent weeks that have stretched humanitarian organizations' ability to respond to trauma and emergency cases. Poor water, sanitation and hygiene conditions, and overcrowding are also driving disease outbreaks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported it is working with the UN Children's Fund and the Gaza Ministry of Health on a range of measures, including polio vaccination campaigns, following the detection of a variant of poliovirus type 2 in environmental samples.

Hanan Balkhy, WHO's regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said that although no clinical cases were detected, the risk to children is high.

"We must move rapidly to prevent and contain the spread of the virus," she said, adding that a ceasefire, even temporarily, is critical to successfully undertake vaccination campaigns. Balkhy warned that otherwise, the virus could spread further, including across borders.

"The killing and displacement of Palestinians and the demolition of their homes and the destruction of the public infrastructure they rely on continue unabated," OCHA said. "The United Nations and humanitarian partners in Gaza remain committed to delivering critical assistance to people across the Strip wherever and whenever possible."
Paul Prentice is a retired economist who taught economics at the Hasan School of Business, Colorado State University, Pueblo. He is also a senior fellow at the Independence Institute.
The regions congressional delegation is calling on federal regulators to quickly and thoroughly investigate explosive greenhouse gas at Coffin Butte Landfill as the operator's application to expand the dump works its way through Benton Countys planning department.

In a letter to sent to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan on Wednesday, Aug. 7, the state's two representatives in the U.S. Senate and the local House representative urged continued attention to address constituents worries about safety and environmental harm.

Surrounding communities have long been concerned about methane leakage that contributes to fire risk and climate change, strong odors, and ultimately jeopardizes worker safety and public health, Sens. Jeff Merkley, Ron Wyden and Rep. Val Hoyle said in the letter.

Field representatives from Merkleys office talked with some who live near the landfill during a July 31 tour of the landfill's perimeter, where expansion opponents described risk of trash fires and arsenic found nearby in groundwater.

Merkleys press secretary for Oregon said the lawmaker likely heard about Coffin Butte in the winter.

The senator certainly heard about this issue during his Benton County town hall in February, Molly Prescott said by email in mid-July.

Wyden had his own town hall planned for 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, at Philomath High School.

Republic Services applied July 19 to expand the landfill, north of Corvallis near Adair Village.

As Republic Services and Benton County consider the potential for expansion of the landfill, it is more important than ever to have all the facts, legislators said in the letter.

The comments echo those residents made earlier this week in front of the Benton County Board of Commissioners.

County Administrator Rachel McEneny did not respond to a voicemail seeking comment before this story published.

County officials and Republic Services representatives have maintained that expansion plans are subject to state land use laws, and that potential harm from the landfill to air or water are separate concerns to be handled by environmental authorities.

Regan told Merkley at a budget hearing in May that Coffin Butte is subject to an active enforcement situation.

Merkley asked during subcommittee proceedings about EPAs 2022 inspection, when an environmental scientist recorded methane well beyond explosive concentrations where it was seeping from the landfill.

The agency measured methane beyond its safety threshold of 500 parts per million at 61 sites.

EPAs scientist ran out of flags marking wells of excess gas, and methane at three sites overwhelmed the handheld probe used to measure toxic vapors  a device with a maximum measurement of 50,000 parts per million.

In July, investigators from EPA and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality again inspected Coffin Butte.

The state issued a warning letter, advising Coffin Butte to correct testing procedures on a flare, where operators burn off methane gas piped from inside the landfill.

There are no open enforcement actions for water quality violations, said agency spokesperson Dylan Darling in an email.

Related stories:
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A truck loaded with medical aid delivered by the World Health Organization (WHO) is seen at Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Aug. 7, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

A Chinese envoy on Wednesday reiterated the call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

"As we speak, conflict in the Gaza Strip has been going on for over 300 days, with more than 10,000 women killed and over a million Palestinian women and girls facing famine," said Dai Bing, charge d'affaires of China's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, at the Security Council briefing on sustaining WPS (women peace and security) commitments in the context of accelerated drawdown of peace operations.

Dai reiterated the call on all parties to respond to the "overwhelming consensus of the international community" and to jointly promote the "full and effective" implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, to put an end to the humanitarian catastrophe, and to contain the spillover of the conflict.

In his remarks, the ambassador emphasized that all efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts and to create a peaceful environment for civilians, including women, are key prerequisites for advancing the WPS agenda.

"No matter what transitions or adjustments peace operations go through, the promotion of political settlement of hotspot issues should always be the most fundamental mandate," he said.

With the changes in factors such as the situation on the ground and the will of the countries concerned, some UN missions need to withdraw, downsize, or make adjustments, he noted, adding that how to achieve smooth transitions while maintaining peace and stability in the countries and regions concerned is an important topic for council members.

China supports the United Nations and the Security Council in formulating clear and feasible transition plans and exit strategies for peace operations based on fully heeding and respecting the will of the countries concerned and aligning with the national development strategies and priority areas of the countries concerned, so as to ensure a smooth transition, he said.

Noting that women are important stakeholders in peace operations, Dai said Security Council Resolution 1325 explicitly supports women's equal and full participation in peace processes, and calls for enhanced protection of women and girls in conflict areas.

"We support the countries concerned in elevating the protection of women's rights and interests to the level of national will and, along with the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, making sustained investments in women's empowerment and development, so as to continuously enhance women's representation and voice in political, economic, cultural, and social affairs," he said.
We know that if life ever existed on the Moon, there would be signs of life there. But numerous excursions to the Moon have failed to provide us with any sign of life. So there has never been life on the Moon.The pattern of reasoning in the argument above is most similar to that in which one of the following?(A) We know that the spy is a traitor. We do not know that the general is a traitor. So the general is not a spy.(B) If we have any mayonnaise, it would be in the refrigerator. But the refrigerator is almost empty. So it is unlikely that we have mayonnaise.(C) Hendricks will win the election only if voters are concerned primarily with fighting crime. Hendricks is in favor of tougher criminal penalties. So voters will probably go with Hendricks.(D) If rodents are responsible for the lost grain from last years harvest, we would find signs of rodents in the warehouses. And we have found signs of rodents there. So rodents are responsible for the lost grain.(E) If their army is planning an attack, there would either be troop movements along the border or a transfer of weapons. But intelligence reports show no indication of either. So their army is not planning an attack.
ABINGDON, Va.  The Abingdon Police Department hosted its second annual National Night Out event, which attracted a large crowd of children and adults to The Meadows earlier this week.

Town Police Officer and Community Relations Coordinator Kayla Richardson said National Night Out is an excellent way for law enforcement and local organizations to connect with the members of the community that they serve.

This event is a great way for first responders, law enforcement, fire, police, EMS, for everybody to get out and interact with the community, Richardson said. Were building relationships between first responders and the public and were also giving the public access to resources that can help them.

Its awesome to have everybody out here supporting this event as well and supporting our community members, Richardson added.

Several organizations, such as Feeding Southwest Virginia, the YWCA of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, the William King Museum, and the American Red Cross had booths at the event.

Virginia State Police Senior Trooper William Harrison spoke to community members about the states Youth of Virginia Speak Out traffic safety program and how important it is for them to connect with the community.

The program was started in Southwest Virginia and expanded statewide in 2007. It is about peer-to-peer education and prevention program about young driver and passenger safety. Today, the program has active safe driving and traffic safety clubs at high schools, middle schools and youth groups.

We like coming out and spending time with the youth, getting to know the youth and getting to meet people in a different format than what we normally do, Harrison said.
Elisa Lam, a 21-year-old student from Vancouver, was reported missing at the beginning of February 2013. She had been staying at the hotel in a section offering hostel-like accommodations to foreign tourists. (The hotel also had another part with private rooms for regular guests and a third section with low-cost "single room occupancy" and shared bathrooms, for long-term residents.)

" " The exterior of the Cecil Hotel is seen in Los Angeles on Feb. 20, 2013, around the time the body of Elisa Lam was found in a water tank on its roof. ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

By the middle of the month, building occupants had reported instances of low water pressure, as well as discolored and malodorous water dripping from the taps. Maintenance workers opened the hotel's water cistern and found Lam's body inside.

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Surveillance video from the elevator, which is still online, seems to portray a young woman in distress. Lam enters the elevator, pressing multiple buttons, peering in and out of the elevator as if she's being pursued, and wildly gesticulates as if she's having an animated conversation with someone.

Could she have ingested too many recreational drugs? Was she being harassed or stalked by a murderer? Or was she having a psychotic breakdown?

To this day, no one knows exactly how Lam's naked body wound up in the water tank. The door to the roof was locked. And no one can explain how the cistern's heavy lid was closed behind her.

"To me, the fact the Lam's phone was never found  or at least the police have never released that it was found  is the most enticing aspect of the case," said Meares. "Think of what that phone could tell us!"

Officially, Lam's case is called an accidental drowning, and her bipolar disorder is sometimes cited as a potential cause of her strange behavior. Experts interviewed for the Netflix series hypothesized, based on a toxicology report, that she'd been taking too little of her medication for her bipolar disorder, experienced a psychotic episode and climbed into the water tank for protection.

With all of the strange and awful incidents that happened there, it's easy to wonder: Is the Cecil Hotel some sort of a magnet for evil that draws out the worst in human nature? Or is it simply that in an area so permeated with suffering and depravity, it was bound to be the scene of countless acts of violence and despair?

The Cecil is known  unsurprisingly  for hauntings and paranormal activity. Ghost hunters have scoured its halls for clues to supernatural events. And its creepy past inspired the fifth season of American Horror Story.

The Cecil closed in 2017 and reopened in December 2021 as a "supportive housing project" open to any Los Angeleno with a government housing voucher. But the Los Angeles Times reported in December 2022 that two-thirds of it was still unoccupied. "Even with solid funding and the best of intentions, the Cecil project has struggled to overcome a system beset with a slow-moving bureaucracy and multiple failure points, and to offer a housing stock that serves a population with myriad needs," the paper said.

Now That's Interesting In 1987, rock band U2 wanted to make a raucous live music video for their hit song, "Where The Streets Have No Name." The band skirted authorities and filmed in downtown L.A. amidst rowdy fans and Skid Row residents. You can see the Cecil Hotel in the background as they perform.
Finnish telco vendor Nokia launched its inventory capability for Autonomous Inventory Monitoring Services (AIMS) to enable warehouse operators use autonomous drones to count items such cases or cartons in any racked inventory location accurately.

Warehouse shrinkage can account for 3-5% of a companys revenue and 25% of shrinkage is due to administrative errors, according to Gitnux Report 2024.

This combined with continued pressure to fulfill orders rapidly has pushed warehouse operators to a tipping point of futureproofing and automating operations to gain a business edge.

The new inventory counting capability is an addition to Nokia AIMS current features of finding misplaced and lost inventory, as well as empty bin detection.

Identified inventory counts are then compared with warehouses existing WMS or ERP systems to identify any quantity mismatches.

Whereas typical cycle counts use the ABC method, where inventory is counted based on varying frequency, Nokia AIMS checks every location much more frequently, to ensure customers get a more accurate, reliabl, and complete picture of their inventory.

Nokia AIMS is delivered as a service in a complete solution comprising of drones, software and a cloud-based user interface.

A Nokia AIMS drone can complete cycle counts approximately 7-10 times faster than human workers or around 300 inventory locations per hour. AIMS can provide customers with a 40% or greater ROI and deliver immediate value on the day it is launched, Nokia said.

Inventory counting capability is now available to customers in the United States.
The capability provides 24x7 monitoring of both shore-ends (from cable landing station to first repeater) as well as the terrestrial network connecting the two landing stations, providing total always on cover.

The integration of the FiberSense DigitalMarine service in New Zealand is the first stage of the SX rollout plan of the new technology.

Both companies expect the roll out will be installed on all critical terrestrial links and out to first repeaters of the SX network in Australia, New Zealand, and the US West Coast by the end of Q3.

Companies claim the benefit includes improved algorithms and techniques to detect seabed interaction events (such as anchoring and fishing), and greater accuracy in detecting cable exposures along with better integration with AIS for vessel identification.

The integration was executed seamlessly, and our network is seeing the benefit of the real time asset protection capability against potential external threats, says Southern Cross Cable Network director networks of vice president operations Dean Veverka.

Operation of the sensing service via the Marine Interface Unit means that cable operators no longer need to reserve an unused or dark fibre core exclusively for monitoring.

FiberSense has developed a proprietary coupling methodology to ensure that the sensing signal does not interfere with the operation of the communications traffic including fault states.

Subsea networks are an increasingly vital part of the modern digital and AI era. We continue to be very grateful for the partnership we have with the exceptional team at SX as we continue to innovate and push the boundaries of what is possible in improved awareness and resilience for submarine cable systems, says FiberSense founder and CEO Mark Englund.
The Federal Court has today ordered that Secure Parking Pty Ltd pay $10.95 million in penalties for making false or misleading claims about its pre-book Secure-a-Spot online parking service, following ACCC action.

Secure Parking admitted that, between July 2017 and June 2022, it made false or misleading representations to consumers by using the name Secure-a-Spot and when it represented in marketing material that consumers using the Secure-a-Spot service would have a parking space reserved for them at a particular time and date, when that was not the case.

Secure Parking did not generally reserve car parking spaces for Secure-a-Spot customers. The company admitted that sometimes car parks reached capacity and, in some cases, customers with a Secure-a-Spot booking arrived to find the space they had booked was not available to them.

Secure Parking did not provide customers with the service it advertised, and it denied customers the opportunity to make an informed decision about which parking service best suited their needs, ACCC Commissioner Liza Carver said.

Customers may have been seriously inconvenienced when they arrived at their chosen car park to discover the parking space they thought they had booked was not available to them.

This penalty sends a strong message to all businesses that making misleading claims to consumers about the nature of the services provided can attract substantial penalties, Ms Carver said.

Secure Parking promoted its services to consumers via its website, direct email marketing and social media channels and its marketing materials included phrases such as, BOOK PARKING IN ADVANCE AND SAVE and Book online for a guaranteed spot.

More than ten million Secure-a-Spot bookings were made during the five-year period.

In addition to ordering Secure Parking to pay penalties, the Court also ordered Secure Parking pay part of the ACCCs costs, publish corrective notices, and review its complaints handling systems.

Secure Parking admitted liability and made joint submissions with the ACCC in relation to the penalty and other orders.

Background

On 5 July 2023, the ACCC instituted Federal Court proceedings against Secure Parking for allegedly breaching the Australian Consumer Law by making false or misleading claims about its Secure-a-Spot car park booking service.

Secure Parking operates more than 600 car park facilities in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Hobart. It is owned by a Japan-based car park operator, Park24 Co Ltd.

Secure Parking offers parking services, including drive-up parking and online bookings.

Secure-a-Spot was offered throughout the relevant period at 104 car parks in each of the cities in which Secure Parking operates. In June 2022, Secure Parking rebranded the service to Secure Parking  Book Online.
COMPANY NEWS: Known Pty Limited, trading as Kudosity, a leading player in the messaging technology industry, has announced two new partnership agreements with Ortto and MoEngage, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing channel growth strategy. These collaborations are set to enhance Kudositys already robust SMS platform, providing clients with seamless integration and expanded capabilities.

Alex Macpherson, chief executive officer and co-founder, Kudosity, said, Aligning with industry leaders like Ortto and MoEngage positions Kudosity to offer unparalleled value to its customers, helping them achieve their business objectives through enhanced communication strategies. These collaborations represent a significant step forward in Kudositys growth strategy, demonstrating a continued commitment to innovation and excellence in the messaging technology space.

Partnering with Ortto and MoEngage lets Kudosity enhance its capabilities and support customers with the tools they need to succeed in a competitive market. These partnerships reflect Kudositys dedication to delivering the best possible solutions, empowering organisations to streamline their communication efforts, improve customer engagement, and drive growth.

Kudosity customers can leverage Ortto's powerful automation and customer journey mapping tools, combined with Kudositys cutting-edge messaging technology. This partnership will offer businesses a comprehensive solution for managing customer interactions, enhancing engagement, and driving growth through personalised and automated messaging strategies.

Peter Bartlett, director of product, Ortto, said, More of our customers are using SMS in omnichannel lifecycle campaigns than ever before, and theyre doing so with increasingly clever and complex targeting and messaging. With this increase in demand, we wanted to partner with a messaging platform that is aligned with our values; one that is innovative, builds with the customer front of mind, and allows marketers to bring their best ideas to life. Kudosity checks all the boxes.

Our partnership will let marketers use their customer data in targeted and behaviour-based SMS campaigns, and track results in intuitive reports and dashboards. We cant wait to see what our collective customer base will do with this integration.

Similarly, the partnership with MoEngage will bring together Kudosity's advanced SMS platform with MoEngage's insight-led customer engagement solution. This integration will empower businesses to deliver consistent, relevant, and personalised messages across multiple channels, enhancing customer experiences and fostering deeper relationships.

Sanjay Kupae, head of alliances and partnerships, MoEngage , said "We recognise the challenges that consumer brands face when navigating a market saturated with outdated technologies that hinder their ability to truly understand and engage their users effectively. Through our partnership with Kudosity, we aim to introduce a new level of agility and flexibility. Combining MoEngage's scalable, insight-led customer engagement platform with Kudosity's additional messaging channels will empower consumer brands to drive stronger retention and unlock new possibilities for growth. We're excited about the potential of this partnership and committed to delivering ongoing value to consumer brands, helping them to thrive in today's competitive environment."

The new partnerships build on Kudositys broader channel growth strategy, which will expand the company's reach and impact. Collaborating with industry leaders means Kudosity can offer a more comprehensive suite of solutions, helping businesses navigate the complexities of customer communication in today's digital landscape.

Kudosity has consistently achieved impressive year-over-year (YoY) revenue growth since its inception. This success is largely attributed to the company's unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality products and services that meet its customers evolving needs. The calibre of Kudositys team, expertise, creativity, and dedication continues to drive innovation and push the boundaries of what is possible in the messaging space.

Following its proven success in the Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) markets, Kudosity is well-positioned to expand its footprint across Asia and the United States (US). It will bring its extensive experience and industry knowledge to help businesses thrive in an increasingly digital world as the company grows into these regions.

These partnerships will play a crucial role in driving the company's success as Kudosity continues to grow and evolve. Its focus on innovation, customer-centric solutions, and strategic collaborations equip Kudosity to lead the way in the messaging technology industry.

Alex Macpherson said, Kudositys goal is to provide businesses with the tools they need to connect with their customers in meaningful ways. The integrations with Ortto and MoEngageare critical to this strategy, offering enhanced functionality and greater flexibility for customers.

About Ortto

Ortto (formerly Autopilot) brings customer data, marketing automation, and analytics together to help marketers engage at every stage of the customer lifecycle. Launched in 2015, Ortto has team members across Australia, Europe, and the US. To date, the company has raised $35M in venture funding from backers, including Blackbird, Rembrandt, and Salesforce Ventures.

About MoEngage

MoEngage is an insights-led customer engagement platform trusted by more than 1,200 global consumer brands such as 13 Cabs, Canstar, MyDeal, McAfee, Dominos, Nestle, Adidas, Garmin, and more. MoEngage empowers marketers and product owners with insights into customer behaviour and the ability to act on those insights to engage customers across the web, mobile, email, social, and messaging channels. Consumer brands in over 60 countries use MoEngage to power digital experiences for over 1.2 billion customers every month. With offices in 13 countries, MoEngage is backed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, B Capital, Steadview Capital, Multiples Private Equity, Eight Roads, F-Prime Capital, Matrix Partners, Ventureast, and Helion Ventures.

About Kudosity

Kudosity is a messaging technology company that has been at the forefront of innovation for more than 20 years. With a focus on humanising business through conversation, Kudosity empowers businesses to build meaningful relationships with their customers through frictionless messaging experiences. Kudosity offers a range of capabilities, including global messaging and connectivity access, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) messaging platforms with advanced contact, and campaign management, alongside limitless automation to empower businesses to communicate at scale while maintaining a personal touch.
Picking out an omikuji (Photo courtesy of Cordelia Ding)

Omikuji are written fortunes offered at shrines and temples in Japan. Usually, omikuji require a small offering ( 100 usually), and are chosen randomly from a box. At Senso-ji Temple (Asakusa Kannon Temple), Tokyo's oldest temple, in Asakusa you can pick up an omikuji to try your luck.

Each shrine and temple has different ways of offering omikuji, but at Senso-ji, you place a 100 coin into a a lot on the counter, as a voluntary and expected offering. You are then to pick up a metal box that has a tiny, rounded slot at the bottom where a stick will come out from. You can shake the box a few times, in hopes of receiving a good fortune. After you are satisfied with the shaking, turn the metal container over to drop out a stick with a number - the stick will fall out of the bottom of the container. If you are unable to read the Kanji numbers, do not worry, simply look at the characters and play a little "Eye Spy" as you match the characters to the ones on the drawers in front of you. The numbers will lead you to a specific drawer filled with omikuji, which you can then read and decipher. Some places even offer translations, but sadly, Senso-ji did not have a setup translation available.

After receiving your omikuji, if it is a good fortune and one that you would like to come out, you can take it home with you, as it symbolizes the fact that you are bringing the good fortune back with you. If it is a fortune that isn't as good, and one that you do not want to come true, you may tie the omikuji onto one of the omikuji "trees," nearby, symbolizing the fact that you are leaving this fortune behind and you hope to find a better one.

The experience of receiving an omikuji is definitely one that every traveler in Japan should go through at least once. It is a step towards understanding Shinto, Buddhism and Japanese culture, so if you are looking for the full and authentic Japanese travel experience, be sure to test your luck and pick out an omikuji! If you are in Asakusa, make sure to try some Monja-yaki (Japanese pan-fried batter in the Kanto region that is like Kanto-style okonomiyaki) to celebrate your fortune, or to celebrate a future with better fortune!

More info Find out more about Sensoji Temple.
Windsor Harvest

5K signup set

WINDSOR  The Windsor High School Class of 2025 is sponsoring this years Windsor Harvest 5K Run in conjunction with Windsor Harvest Picnic on Saturday, Aug. 17.

Registration can be found on the Windsor High School website or runners may sign up the morning of the race.

The registration fee is $20 and includes a T-shirt.

There are six age divisions and medals will be given to the top male and female winner in each division, as well as overall best time and eldest racer.

Runners will meet at 7 a.m. at the Windsor City Park pavilion, 1109 Ohio Ave., for check-in and same day registration. The race will begin at 7:30 a.m.

A portion of the race proceeds will be given to a scholarship fund.

Thresherman show

coming to Altamont

ALTAMONT  The Mill Road Thresherman's Association returns to the Effingham County Fairground in Altamont from Aug. 8-11.

Explore a century of farming through field demonstrations and a variety of tractor pulls, alongside car shows, a parade, an auction, live bluegrass music, flea market, petting zoo, and more.

More about the show and a full schedule can be found at millroadthresherman.org.

Pickers Market

back at Litchfield

LITCHFIELD  The Litchfield Pickers Market returns Sunday, Aug. 11, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. in downtown Litchfield.

The market is the largest open-air pickers market of its kind in the region, and includes antiques, collectibles, vintage items and refurbished items.

Arts and craft vendors, as well as a farmers market, will be on Monroe Street.

Music will begin at 8 a.m. in Carnegie Park with Dave Horton, followed by Downstate at 11:30 a.m.

Limited picnic tables are provided in the park area, but the public is encouraged to bring a lawn chair. Food vendors will be onsite.

For more information go to Litchfield Pickers Market Facebook page.

Celebration set for

Champaign-Urbana

CHAMPAIGN  Champaign-Urbana Days will be held from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, and from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at Douglass Park, featuring live music, local cuisine, and a marketplace featuring community and merchandise vendors offering free back-to-school supplies.

Also on Saturday, kids can enjoy inflatables, face painting, caricatures, balloon animals, and more fun activities throughout the day.

For seniors aged 50 and over, the free Senior Luncheon will be held at the Douglass Community Center from noon-2 p.m. Saturday , providing a complimentary meal and BINGO with prizes.

For more information visit champaignparks.org

Hanfland's art

at Effingham Library

EFFINGHAM  The Suzette Brumleve Memorial Effingham Public Library is hosting the work artwork of Crosby Hanfland in the Art Gallery through Sept. 27.

Hanfland, an Effingham native, has been drawing since she was five-years-old. It was during her years at Lake Land College that she began to use acrylic paints as a medium.

The exhibit is free and a library card is not required to view the exhibit.

Photos: A look back at 50 years of the Special Olympics Vintage: Special Olympics turn 50 Special Olympics turn 50 Special Olympics turn 50 Special Olympics turn 50 Special Olympics turn 50 Special Olympics turn 50 Special Olympics turn 50 Special Olympics turn 50 John Glenn Special Olympics 1970 Special Olympics 1973 SULROTH, VANTONGEREN, CAMPBELL ASHLEY KILL PRUITT ZABALA PECOR Yao Ming Kennedy Special Olympics 1976 Special Olympics Bush Reeve 1981 MURRILLS GREECE SPECIAL OLYMPICS PA Special Olympics Special Olympics Opening Ceremony 1995 SPECIAL OLYMPICS HAYNES Arnold Schwarzenegger
HanesBrands Inc. has branched outside the Triad with its back-to-school warehouse concept by holding a sale Thursday through Sunday at the State Fairgrounds facility in Raleigh.

The Raleigh sale will feature Champion apparel, footwear and accessories with no item more than $10, along with daily doorbuster deals.

The local back-to-school sale is an offshoot of Hanesbrands annual community sale, which features discounted items from brands such as Bali, Champion, Hanes and Maidenform. The 2022 sales raised more than $200,000.
HanesBrands Inc. has sold its portfolio of Hanes and Maidenform outlet stores  while keeping its Thruway shopping center location  as part of its pivotal post-Champion back-to-basics reset.

Stephen Bratspies, HanesBrands chief executive, said the decision was part of several strategic actions that have fundamentally strengthened and simplified our business, better positioned the company for consistent revenue growth, higher profit margins and strong cash generation.

HanesBrands announced June 5 plans to sell the iconic global Champion brand for between $1.2 billion and $1.5 billion to Authentic Brands Group.

The pairing had been rumored by industry analysts and media sources since Nov. 1  about six weeks after HanesBrands board of directors and executive management said selling off Champion was an option as part of a broad range of alternatives to maximize shareholder value.

HanesBrands lists on its website 165 retail and outlet stores, primarily operating under the One Hanes Place brand. There are nine in North Carolina that includes Thruway.

Hilco Consumer-Retail released a news release discussing its plans for the stores, but did not include a purchase price. Hilco could not be immediately reached for comment on how many stores it acquired. Terms were not disclosed.

Even though HanesBrands completed the sale on July 27, it didnt formally disclose the deal until Thursday.

The stores we are exiting include Hanes and Maidenform outlet locations in the U.S. HanesBrands said in a statement sent Thursday to the Winston-Salem Journal. Locally, Thruway will stay open and remains under Hanesbrands ownership.

The reason for the exit is to focus on serving our consumers through our digital channels and retail partners.

Bratspies told analysts that HanesBrands had been considering exiting the outlet store business for some time and quite frankly, weve been reducing the number of stores  10% to 20%  the last couple of years. It has not really been used to clear excess inventory.

The way I look at it, were predominantly a wholesaler. Thats what we do really, really well. These stores do not have a lot of volume. They were already very profit-challenged, and they became significantly profit-challenged without Champion (apparel).

We thought it was the right time to make this move and to focus on the parts of the business where were really strong.

Hilco plans

Ian Fredericks, Hilcos president and chief executive, said we are thrilled that Hanes selected us to continue their retail brick and mortar operations, and we are excited to hit the ground running with the dedicated store teams to improve our customers experience.

Hilco said it is establishing new corporate and operational leadership over the stores with plans to retain each stores staff.

These HCR team members have begun reaching out to all store teams to ensure clear communication and a smooth transition, Hilco said.

Hilco said the purchase will be made in part to leverage HCRs revolutionary RevUp program, which combines a virtual store management platform with retail experts to increase inventory turns, boost sell-through, drive profitability, reduce costs, and most importantly, improve team morale and customer experience.

Our customers should continue to expect great brands and great products at great values and should also expect a new in-store experience rolled out over the coming weeks.

Reactions

The divesting of the outlet store portfolio is another example of how Hanesbrands is narrowing its focus, said Roger Beahm, a marketing professor at Wake Forest University,

Its not just horizontally through the sale of Champion, but vertically by now divesting itself of its retail outlet business.

Having outlet stores has made sense for an apparel manufacturer as a way to capture value from its seconds, overruns and returns, Beahm said.

With Champion being sold off and HanesBrands consolidating its manufacturing operations, Beahm said the need for its outlet business  as well as the value from it  is diminished.

Beahm said Bratspies is correct in saying the outlet stores were profit-challenged since profit margins in retail are typically smaller than those of a manufacturer.

With Hanesbrands now focusing on improving profit margins and narrowing its product offerings, divesting the retail portion of its business seems to make sense.

If ever there was a time for Hanesbrands to stick to its knitting, that time is now.
Two Anson County men pleaded guilty this week to federal robbery and gun charges in connection with armed robberies in Winston-Salem and Liberty in 2022, authorities said.

Brandon Drelle Wall, 35, of Wadesboro and William Chavis Dunlap Jr., 29, of Morven pleaded guilty this week to interference with commerce by robbery, displaying a gun during a violent crime and being a felon and possessing a gun, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Greensboro said Wednesday.

Wall and Dunlap pleaded guilty to charges connected to the armed robbery of a sweepstakes business in Winston-Salem in June 2022, and another sweepstakes business in Liberty in August 2022, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

The men face sentences of at least seven years in federal prison, fines and other penalties, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Wall and Dunlap will be sentenced Oct. 30 and Oct. 31 in U.S. District Court in Greensboro.

According to court documents, Wall and Dunlap wore masks and threatened employees with guns to gain access to business safes, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

At 12:23 a.m. June 22, 2022, Winston-Salem police officers responded to a reported armed robbery at the Fish Hut Arcade in Winston-Salem, federal prosecutors say. An employee told officers that two men entered the business, and one of the men threatened the employee with a gun.

Wall and Dunlap then stole the employees phone and wallet, $1,400 from the register and two guns from the business, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

At 2:36 p.m. on Aug. 5, 2022, Liberty police responded to reported robbery at Mega 1, an internet sweepstakes business, federal prosecutors say.

Wall and Dunlap entered the business with guns and wearing masks, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. The men then forced patrons to the floor at gunpoint and threatened the employees with their guns, federal prosecutors say.

Wall and Dunlap are accused of stealing $8,650 from the Liberty business, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Investigators linked the men to both robberies, federal prosecutors say. After their arrests, Wall admitted that he also robbed a gas station in Richmond County, and Dunlap admitted to robbing a discount store in Anson County.
A 31-year-old Lincoln man was arrested Wednesday in connection with two O'Reilly Auto Parts store robberies last month, the Lincoln Police Department said.

Jamal Carr was arrested on suspicion of two counts of robbery.

The first robbery occurred July 14, at the O'Reilly store at 2710 N. 83rd St. Officers were sent to the auto parts store at about 9 p.m. on reports of a robbery, Capt. Todd Kocian said at a press briefing the day after.

There were two employees inside the store when two men walked in, one of whom was brandishing a shotgun, the employees told police.

The employees were directed into the store's office and ordered to open a safe. The amount of cash taken was not disclosed.

More than a week later, on July 24, police were dispatched to another O'Reilly Auto Parts store at 1201 N. 48th St., on reports of a robbery, police say.

According to LPD, two men came into the store, pointed a gun at an employee demanding money, and left with an unknown amount of cash.

No injuries were reported in either of the robberies.

On Wednesday, members of Lincoln-Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force took Carr into custody in Waverly, police say.

Carr was charged with first-degree assault, burglary and terroristic threats on June 13 after he allegedly beat a man with a handgun in May, according to the probable cause affidavit.

The victim, a 30-year-old man, awoke at about 2:25 a.m. to a loud noise at his girlfriend's residence, where he had stayed the night. When the man went to investigate, he was confronted by Carr pointing a handgun at him, according to the affidavit.

The 30-year-old told officers he began to fight Carr and was hit multiple times with a handgun in the head, causing lacerations to his face, missing teeth and a broken jaw.

During the investigation, police found three live 9 mm rounds and various pieces of a handgun, but no gun was located.

Carr was later released after paying his bond amount.

He is currently being held at the Lancaster County jail.

According to LPD, Rodney Ross, who police also believe to be connected to the robberies, was arrested Saturday in Jackson, Michigan, by the Jackson County Sheriff's Department.

Ross is being held in Jackson until officials make arrangements for extradition to Lancaster County.

Top Journal Star photos for August 2024
1. Yes. They look better and require less maintenance. Most high-end housing areas have them.

2. Yes. Wood fences can weather and look unsightly, plus masonry walls help to block sound.

3. No. Residents should have a choice of what kind of barriers are put up near their homes.

4. No. Allowing a variety of materials will be better for aesthetics, and costs may be lower.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say. Masonry walls may be sturdier, but mandating them is problematic.

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NAIROBI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Kenya seeks to leverage foreign funding and technology to boost the mining sector, a government official said Wednesday.

Through international partnerships, the contribution of the mining sector can expand from the current 0.7 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) to 10 percent by the year 2030, said Sophie Kutiti Olesambu, chairperson of the state-owned Mineral Rights Board, in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.

"The mining sector is very capital-intensive, and so we need foreign investors to help Kenya achieve its full potential," Olesambu said at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Jialin East Africa Mining Company Limited and Sinohydro Corporation on the Sokoke titanium mining project, in Kilifi County.

A stronger mining sector will help improve Kenya's socioeconomic development, as most mines are located in arid and semi-arid areas that lack access to key social services such as education and health, Olesambu said.

Duan Juan, chief executive officer (CEO) of Jialin East Africa Mining Company Limited, said mining at the Sokoke project is expected to begin by December.

Jialin East Africa is committed to improving the livelihoods of the community near the titanium mine by providing employment opportunities, she said.

Her company will invest in infrastructure to speed up the development of port and logistics facilities in Kenya, Duan said. 
"We have to build that trust before we're going to see a lot of building of support, I think," Rep. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie, said.
A 30-year-old La Crosse man faces a felony charge after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman June 19 in La Crosse.

James A. Day was charged in La Crosse County Circuit Court with a felony count of second-degree sexual assault and two misdemeanor counts of bail jumping.

According to the criminal complaint, a woman told police she was sleeping in her residence when she was awakened by Day, who shared the residence with her. She said one of Days hands was inside her pants and underwear and that he sexually penetrated her. She said Day didnt have consent to touch her in that manner.

Police interviewed Day a short time later. The complaint says he admitted to being heartbroken over a pending breakup with the victim, but he denied there was any physical contact with her.

Day signed a $2,000 signature bond but is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on a probation hold. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing and has a pre-trial conference scheduled for Aug. 23.
On 7 August Mexicos foreign ministry (SRE) responded to the decision by a federal US judge to dismiss much of the lawsuit it had presented against seven major US gun manufacturers and one wholesaler.

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An American judge has ruled that Google violates U.S. trade laws by operating its search engine as an illegal monopoly.

The ruling accuses Google of paying smartphone makers to ensure that Googles search engine is set as the default system on new devices. The U.S. Justice Department brought the antitrust case against Googles parent company, Alphabet.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said his decision took into account all evidence and statements presented during the trial, which ended in May. When the first part of the trial ended, it was up to Mehta to decide whether any of Googles operations were illegal.

Mehta wrote in his ruling, Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly." Technology experts have estimated Google enjoys control of about 90 percent of the online search market and about 95 percent of smartphones.

A recent study by the California-based investment company BOND found that Google's search engine processes an estimated 8.5 billion requests per day worldwide. That result was nearly double the number of daily search requests recorded in 2012. Googles online advertising business helps fuel the majority of Alphabets $307 billion in yearly revenue.

The ruling could open the door for a second trial for the court to establish ways for Google to fix its operations to obey current laws. Some experts say one possible fix could be for Googles current business structure to be broken up. Such changes could greatly reshape the current systems for online advertising.

Alphabet criticized the courts ruling and said it plans to appeal. "This decision recognizes that Google offers the best search engine, the company said in a statement. It added, however, that the ruling does not permit the company to make it easily available.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland called the decision "a historic win for the American people. He noted, "no company, no matter how large or influential should remain above the law.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the decision a "pro-competition ruling and a victory for the American people." She said she believes all people "deserve an internet that is free, fair, and open for competition."

In explaining his ruling, Mehta noted Google had paid $26.3 billion in 2021 alone to make sure its search engine was included as the default system on smartphones and browsers.

Such payments, the judge wrote, have permitted Google to keep its strong market share over worldwide internet search. Keeping the default position represents a huge business advantage for Google over its competitors, Mehta added.

The judge noted that under the current system, it would be nearly impossible for any other company to secure the same kind of default agreement with smartphone makers. Such a deal would require a company willing to pay partners upwards of billions of dollars in revenue sharing, Mehta said.

Discussions in court about how Googles operations should change are set to begin on September 6 in Washington D.C.

The ruling is the first major decision in a series of cases brought against big technology companies in recent years, including Google, Apple, Meta and Amazon. Those cases involve antitrust, privacy and other issues.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

Quiz - Judge Rules Google Has Illegal Monopoly over Search Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_________________________________________

Words in This Story

monopoly  n. complete control of the entire supply of goods or of a service in a certain area or market

default  n. what exists or usually happens if no changes are made

antitrust  adj. related to efforts to prevent companies from working together to unfairly control prices or create a monopoly

maintain  v. keep something going

revenue  n. income a government or company regularly receives

deserve  v. to earn or be given something because of things you do or qualities you have

dominant  adj. more important or notable than anything else of the same kind

advantage  n. a condition that provides a greater chance of success
For many years, cups of instant noodles have been a favorite among Korean Air passengers. However, they will no longer be available for economy-class travelers starting August 15, said a spokesperson for the Seoul-based airline.

Korean Air said its decision was a safety measure to deal with increased turbulence, aimed at preventing burn accidents. Turbulence, or irregular movements from up and down air currents, can cause the hot cups of noodles to spill.

In addition to regular meals, instant noodles are currently part of Korean Airs self-service food, for economy passengers on long trips. In this weeks announcement, the airline added that it will offer other food items for economy travelers. The new offerings include sandwiches, corn dogs, and hot pockets.

However, business-class and first-class passengers will still get their noodles. Korean Air told the BBC that the noodles are brought individually to business-class and first-class travelers. This reduces the risk of spills and burns.

Concern about the dangers of serving hot food and liquids on airplanes is not new. Over the years, several airlines have faced legal actions from travelers who say they suffered serious burns after having hot coffee, for example, spilled on them during a flight.

In 2019, the European Unions highest court ruled that an airline can be held responsible if a passenger is injured in this way. This is the case even if turbulence or other flight-related reasons did not cause the spill.

But turbulence, of course, still adds to the risk. Flying through unstable air can make balancing something like hot soup or drink much more difficult.

Several turbulence-related injuries have been reported over the years. But most injuries are minor. And airlines have made continuous improvements in reducing the number of in-flight accidents. Those include stopping service when needed or taking extra care when giving out certain drinks.

Still, rough air might be getting harder and harder to avoid. Weather and airline experts note increasing reports of turbulence. They point to the possible effects climate change may have on flying conditions.

Im Anna Matteo.

Wyatte Grantham-Philips reported this story for the Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English.

_____________________________________________

Words in This Story

instant  adj. premixed or precooked for easy final preparation

turbulence  n. irregular atmospheric motion especially when characterized by up-and-down currents

flight  n. a trip made by or in an airplane or spacecraft

We want to hear from you. What are your thoughts on this topic? In the Comments section, you can also practice using any of the expressions from the story. Our comment policy is here.
HONG KONG, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A program to improve vision health in Laos and Cambodia has received additional financial support, a fresh boost to the initiative which is expected to provide at least 1,500 free cataract surgeries in both countries.

The donation, made by the Hongkong Bank Foundation, will support the operation of the "cataract blindness elimination program" led by the GX Foundation in Laos and Cambodia over the next two years, and sponsor students from Hong Kong to participate in internships in these project countries, fostering international collaboration and offering Hong Kong youth valuable learning opportunities.

GX Foundation is a Chinese medical humanitarian aid charitable organization established in Hong Kong in 2018. It aims to provide medical and public health humanitarian assistance in the Belt and Road countries, embodying the spirit of "people-to-people" connectivity.

Leung Chun-ying, chairman of GX Foundation, said that the generous donation will be put to good use. "We hope to receive support from different enterprises and community sectors, together we shall spread the kindness of Chinese people to the entire world," he said.

Peter Wong, chairman of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and the Hongkong Bank Foundation, said that through supporting the cataract blindness elimination program, the Hongkong Bank Foundation aims to nurture sustainable enhancements in people's quality of life and create a brighter future of the underprivileged.

"Furthermore, our goal is to equip students with vital resources to create significant changes in our community and beyond. We believe this program will inspire them to contribute more to society," Wong said.

Under the cataract blindness elimination program, over 14,000 free surgeries globally have been completed, among which more than 7,800 were conducted in Laos nationwide and Prey Veng province in Cambodia, bringing light and hope to local patients.

The GX Foundation said that it will continue its work in a new province in Cambodia as well as the existing project in Pakse, Laos, to help restore sight for more people in need. 
A new study suggests that particles found in wildfire smoke could increase the risk of getting dementia.

Dementia is a progressive brain condition that causes thinking problems and other health issues. There are several forms of dementia, including Alzheimers disease.

Researchers reported the new findings about wildfire smoke at the recent Alzheimers Association International Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The study centered on a substance called PM2.5. The substance is known as particulate matter, a mixture of small, solid particles and water droplets found in the air.

PM2.5 particles are about 30 times smaller than a human hair. They can be breathed into the lungs and then move on to the blood stream. Existing evidence shows this kind of pollution  from traffic, factories and fires  can cause or worsen heart disease. The new study finds it could also raise dementia risks.

Claire Sexton is the director of scientific programs for the Alzheimers Association. She said in a statement the study shows that increasing wildfires, especially in the American west, are an increasing threat to brain health. Sexton added that the findings demonstrate the importance of enacting policies to prevent wildfires and investigating better methods to address them.

Researchers from the University of Washington and the University of Pennsylvania carried out the study. They examined health records of 1.2 million older adults in Southern California between 2009 and 2019. The scientists used air quality monitoring and other data to estimate how much PM2.5 was released from wildfire smoke or other ways over three years.

The study found the risk of being diagnosed with dementia increased about 21 percent for every 1 microgram increase in the concentration of wildfire particles. That compared with a 3 percent increased risk for every 3 microgram increase in non-wildfire particles.

It is not clear why this difference exists. But with wildfires increasing, this issue needs more study, said Alzheimers Association chief science officer Maria Carrillo. She said it is especially important because the risk of Alzheimers  the most common form of dementia  is higher for lower-income populations who may have a harder time avoiding unhealthy air.

Carrillo noted that health warnings urge staying indoors when air quality is poor. But she added, there are a lot of people who don't have the option to stay home or they work outside.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English.

_________________________________________________

Words in This Story

address - v. to speak about a particular subject or issue

monitor  v. to watch something carefully and record the results

diagnose  v. to say what is wrong with a person who is sick

concentration  n. a large number or amount of something in the same place

option  n. something that may be chosen
A Chinese American scholar was convicted yesterday [Macau time] of U.S. charges of using his reputation as a pro-democracy activist to gather information on dissidents and feed it to his homelands government.

A federal jury in New York delivered the verdict in the case of Shujun Wang, who helped found a pro-democracy group in the city.

Prosecutors said that at the behest of Chinas main intelligence agency, the Ministry of State Security, Wang lived a double life for over a decade. He held himself out as a critic of the Chinese government so that he could build rapport with people who actually opposed it, then betrayed their trust by telling Beijing what they said and planned, prosecutors said.

The indictment could have been the plot of a spy novel, but the evidence is shockingly real that the defendant was a secret agent for the Chinese government, Brooklyn-based U.S. attorney Breon Peace said in a statement after the verdict.

Wang had pleaded not guilty. His lawyers cast him as someone who was forthcoming with U.S. authorities about activities he saw as innocuous, and they disputed that his communications were truly under Chinese officials direction or control.

The jury felt they were and that was enough to convict him, even though there was no evidence that what he did caused any harm, was of any benefit to the Chinese government or that Professor Wang is anything other than a patriotic American who has devoted his life to fighting the authoritarian regime in China, attorney Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma said after the verdict.

Wang, 75, was convicted of charges including conspiring to act as a foreign agent without notifying the attorney general. The charges carry the potential for up to 25 years in prison, though sentencing guidelines for any given case can vary depending on a defendants history and other factors.

Wangs sentencing is set for Jan. 9. Meanwhile, four Chinese officials who were charged alongside him remain at large.

They are among dozens of people whom U.S. prosecutors have pursued to fight what Washington views as transnational repression, or deploying government operatives to harass, threaten and silence critics living abroad.

The Chinese embassy in Washington disputes that the country engages in the practice, saying that it doesnt interfere in other countries internal affairs, abides by international law and respects foreign nations judicial sovereignty.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy, said in a statement that he was unaware of the specifics of the Wang case but that China opposes the United States slander, political manipulation and malicious fabrication of the so-called transnational suppression narrative and its blatant prosecution of officials from relevant Chinese departments.

Wang came to New York in 1994 to teach after doing so at a Chinese university. He later became a U.S. citizen.

He helped found the Queens-based Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang Memorial Foundation, named for two Chinese Communist Party leaders who were sympathetic to calls for reform in the 1980s. A message was sent to the foundation seeking comment on Wangs case.

Prosecutors say that underneath a veneer of advocating for change in China, Wang acted as a covert pipeline for information that Beijing wanted on Hong Kong democracy protestors, advocates for Taiwanese independence, Uyghur and Tibetan activists and others in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Wang composed emails  styled as diaries  that recounted conversations, meetings and plans of various critics of the Chinese government.

One message was about events commemorating the 1989 protests and crackdown in Beijings Tiananmen Square, prosecutors said. Other emails talked about people planning demonstrations during various visits that Chinese President Xi Jinping made to the U.S.

Instead of sending the emails and creating a digital trail, Wang saved them as drafts that Chinese intelligence officers could read by logging in with a shared password, prosecutors said.

In other, encrypted messages, Wang relayed details of upcoming pro-democracy events and plans to meet with a prominent Hong Kong dissident while the latter was in the U.S., according to an indictment.

During a series of FBI interviews between 2017 and 2021, Wang initially said he had no contacts with the Ministry of State Security, but he later acknowledged on videotape that the intelligence agency asked him to gather information on democracy advocates and that he sometimes did, FBI agents testified.

But, they said, he claimed he didnt provide anything really valuable, just information already in the public domain.

Wangs lawyers portrayed him as a gregarious academic with nothing to hide.

In general, fair to say he was very open and talkative with you, right? Margulis-Ohnuma asked an undercover agent who approached Wang in 2021 under the guise of being affiliated with the Chinese security ministry.

He was, said the agent, who testified under a pseudonym. He recorded his conversation with Wang at the latters house in Connecticut.

Did he seem a little lonely? Margulis-Ohnuma asked a bit later. The agent said he didnt recall.

Wang told agents his diaries were advertisements for the foundations meetings or write-ups that he was publishing in newspapers, according to testimony. He also suggested to the undercover agent that publishing them would be a way to deflect any suspicion from U.S. authorities.

Another agent, Garrett Igo, told jurors that when Wang found out in 2019 that investigators would search his phone for any contacts in the Chinese government, he paused for a minute.

And then he said, Do anything. I dont care, Igo recalled. JENNIFER PELTZ, NEW YORK, MDT/AP
The government will open the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) station at the Islands Hospital on Sep. 1, the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raimundo do Rosario, announced at the Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday afternoon.

In response to an inquiry from lawmaker Ngan Iek Hang, Rosario noted current advancements that have been achieved to date and planned throughout the rest of this year. From Sep. 1, we will open the Islands Hospital [LRT] Station, he said, although noted that the Seac Pai Van Line would not begin operations yet.

The Secretary explained that only the station facility would be open to the public. This would allow pedestrians to transfer from the Lotus Station through a passageway to the Islands Hospital Station, facilitating direct access to the hospital without using other transportation or walking at the street level.

Rosario also reiterated the governments intention to open the Seac Pai Van Line and the Hengqin Line, which connect to the Taipa Line of the LRT, until the end of this year as a compromise.

Until the end of the year, we will open both the Seac Pai Van and Hengqin Lines and I believe that more people will use Taipa Line after this, he said. He also expressed hopes that the East Line, linking Pac On area in Taipa to the Border Gate, will open in 2029.

Lack of mobile payment methods to continue

One of the questions raised by lawmaker Ngan was in relation to the ticketing and payment methods for the LRT. This has been raised on many occasions, however, the government has yet to find a solution.

As our network expands and adds more stations and lines, we will need to evaluate the current ticketing system, the secretary said. He explained that the government aims to spend the five years between 2024 and 2029 (being the date of the East Lines opening) to modernize the ticketing and payment system. He suggested that the current aim by authorities is to change the current system prior to the East Line becoming operational.

The director of the Public Works Bureau (DSOP), Lam Wai Hou, noted that as the Hengqin Line reaches the final stages of construction, train testing will commence on the line by the end of this month or alternatively in September.

We are at the last phase of the work. All construction, including of access points and links to other transportation, will be completed by November this year for the Hengqin Line, Lam said. Regarding payment methods, Lam said, To improve the gating system, we need to consider the compatibility of other stations and lines. Hardware and payment systems will need to be replaced. At present, the extension lines to be opened are currently linked to and dependent on the Taipa Line. We cannot change anything for the time being, he said.

In response to intervening comments by lawmaker Ngan and other lawmakers, Rosario explained that in addition to the costs associated with changing the gates and payment methods, time pressure also poses challenges. He noted that to change existing systems would require significant time investment. Given that maintenance work for the LTR occurs between midnight and 6 a.m. the following day, there is not enough time to proceed with such works without interfering with the LRT operations.

In opposition to this statement, lawmaker Ron Lam said that given the LRT currently carries a relatively low number of passengers, this would be the ideal opportunity to change to the QR Code reading system. This would ensure that systems were already in place by the time the Taipa Line receives a surge of passengers due to the opening of the Seac Pai Van and Hengqin lines.

Interchange with buses also a problem

Ngan and other lawmakers also raised concerns about connectivity between the LRT and other public transportation such as buses.

Lawmakers warned government officials that an increase in LTR passengers could create chaos if the current systems flaws were not addressed.

In response, the DSOP director said that the authorities will adjust bus routes before opening new lines, as we did before the opening of Barra station. However, Lam did not elaborate on the changes the government intends to make in that regard.

Govt admits closing again LRT stations for crowd management

In response to follow-up questions from several lawmakers including Ella Lei, Rosario admitted that the government would consider closing the LTR stations again for crowd management. This measure could be necessary to address service capacity issues, particularly for large-scale events at the new outdoor venue the government is setting up in Cotai.

Rosario said that the closure of the LRT Stations of Stadium and Jockey Club, which occurred in late January this year when the Korean band Seventeen performed at the Olympic Stadium in Taipa, might occur again in the future, should this be the decision of multidepartment groups responsible for evaluating the associated risks.

The decision to close station access during the concert was a risk mitigation strategy to avoid potential stampedes. We closed the stations so that the crowd could be dispersed to several locations. There is also an LRT station near the new concert venue, so we need to continue to evaluate these risks, he said. Further, he noted, We have also tested this during this years Walk for a Million event. In this case, we did not need to close Barra station. It all depends on the risk assessment made at the time.
The Macao Foundation (FM) approved nearly 700 applications for financial support in the second quarter of 2024, granting a subsidy amount of over MOP198 million, a 3% increase compared to the previous quarter.

The Macao General Union of Neighborhood Associations (UGAMM) continued to receive the most subsidies, totaling over MOP19.2 million, or nearly 10% of the total amount granted. The Macau Portuguese School Foundation received MOP3.6 million in financial support, down from MOP4.5 million in the previous quarter.

The foundation provided financial support to over 400 entities and individuals, covering nearly 700 applications. The total amount of MOP198.8 million marks a significant decrease of 27.8% compared to the same period last year, when MOP275.6 million was approved.

Other notable recipients include the Casa de Portugal in Macau, which received 3.4 million, and the Macao Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM), which ranked second among entities with the most financial support, totaling over MOP15 million.

The FM has already provided MOP391.3 million in financial support between January and June this year, equivalent to an annual growth of 14% compared to the first half of 2023. NS
MGM has been working with stakeholders in Macau to promote responsible gambling (RG) through various initiatives aimed at building a healthy and sustainable society.

Earlier this year, the company unveiled the MGM Financial Education School Tour 2024  Hero of Egg Waffle. This program features an interactive musical drama that conveys positive messages about financial awareness and gaming prevention to students.

Tian Han, executive vice president of Gaming Operations & Strategic Marketing at MGM, said the school tour visits 20 local primary and secondary schools annually, reaching over 3,000 students.

MGM has also partnered with City University of Macau to launch the Responsible Gaming Project at Campus, providing RG training and lectures to university students.

Beyond the education sector, MGM has organized public awareness initiatives such as a photo exhibition exploring the history of Macaus gaming industry and RG efforts.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will head Bangladeshs interim government after longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country amid a mass uprising that left hundreds of people dead and pushed the South Asian nation to the brink of chaos.

The decision, announced yesterday by Joynal Abedin, the press secretary of the countrys figurehead President Mohammed Shahabuddin, came during a meeting that included military chiefs, organizers of the student protests that helped drive Hasina from power, prominent business leaders and civil society members.

A longtime political opponent of Hasina, Yunus is expected to return soon from Paris, where he is advising Olympic organizers, media reports said.

An economist and banker, he was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his work developing microcredit markets. Yunus has been hailed for bringing thousands out of poverty through Grameen Bank, which he founded in 1983, and which makes small loans to businesspeople who wouldnt qualify for regular bank loans.

Other members of the new government would be decided soon, after discussions with political parties and other stakeholders, Abedin said. The president had dissolved Parliament on Tuesday, clearing the way for an interim administration and new elections.

Shahabuddin also ordered the release of opposition leader Khaleda Zia from house arrest, a longtime Hasina rival who was convicted on corruption charges in 2018.

The streets of Dhaka, the capital, were calm, a day after violence swept parts of the country amid Hasinas sudden departure. On Tuesday, jubilant protesters thronged the ousted leaders residence, some posing for selfies with soldiers guarding the building after Mondays wave of looting.

The Bangladesh Police Association went on strike after police stations and security officials were attacked across the country Monday. The association said many officers had been killed but gave no number. Officers would not return to work unless their safety is assured, the association said. It also apologized for police attacks on student protesters, saying officers were forced to open fire.

Yunus, who had called Hasinas resignation the countrys second liberation day, had faced corruption charges during her rule that he derided as politically motivated. He could not immediately be reached for comment, but a key organizer of the protests, Nahid Islam, said he had agreed to head the interim administration.

Islam said protesters would propose more names for the Cabinet and suggested that it would be difficult for those in power to ignore their wishes.

Hasina fled to India by helicopter as protesters defied a military curfew to march on the capital, with thousands eventually storming her residence and other buildings associated with her party and family.MDT/AP
In his Nobel acceptance speech in 1957, 31-year-old physicist Tsung-Dao Lee reflected on how his breakthrough discovery of the violation of the principle of parity was built on existing knowledge produced by many other scientists.

It is often the reaping that is remembered but the tilling forgotten, said Lee, who shared the Nobel Prize in physics with Yang Chen-Ning and remains the second-youngest winner of the award.

Lee died at his home in San Francisco in the United States on Monday. His death triggered a wave of condolences from top universities and research institutions that extolled not only his scientific achievements, but also his commitment to advancing science education in China.

As one of the first Chinese-born Nobel laureates, Lee strove for breakthroughs in quantum field theory, elementary particle theory, nuclear physics, statistical mechanics, fluid dynamics, astrophysics and many other areas  and made lasting and significant contributions to the development of physics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the China Center of Advanced Science and Technology said in a joint eulogy this week.

It added that Lee also translated his love for his motherland into promoting high-energy physics research in China and establishing academic programs, research funds and facilities in the country.

Tsinghua University said in a statement released on Tuesday that the China-US Physics Examination and Application program, or CUSPEA, initiated by Lee in 1979 had helped over 900 Chinese researchers study abroad by 1988.

The program nurtured a batch of top researchers and created a model for cultivating urgently needed high-level talent, it said.

Lee was also one of the earliest advocates for establishing postdoctoral programs in China in the 1980s, and he set up another academic foundation in 1998 to fund basic research for undergraduates and proposed a special education pathway for gifted young people. MDT/China Daily
The United States, Australia, Canada and the Philippines held air and naval maneuvers yesterday in what they said was a show of force to promote the rule of law in the disputed South China Sea, where China has increasingly asserted its territorial claims. In an apparent response, China said it conducted air and sea combat patrols on the same day.

Adm. Samuel Paparo, who heads the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and top military and defense commanders from Australia, Canada and the Philippines said in a joint statement that they stand together to address common maritime challenges and underscore our shared dedication to upholding international law and the rules-based order. They said they were staging the two-day exercises to uphold unhindered passage in the Indo-Pacific region.

China has long claimed much of the South China Sea, a key global trade and security route, and vowed to defend its territorial interests at all costs. Its claims overlap those of smaller coastal states, including the Philippines and Vietnam, hampering their access to traditional fishing areas and disrupting oil and gas exploration in their internationally recognized exclusive economic zones.

The naval and air force units of participating nations will operate together, enhancing cooperation and interoperability between our armed forces, the commanders said. The activity will be conducted in a manner that is consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other states.

A Philippine military official said the navy ships and fighter jets would conduct anti-submarine warfare drills, combined sea passage maneuvers and communications checks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the release of specific details of the maneuvers.

A Philippine navy spokesperson, Rear Adm. Roy Trinidad, said the exercises are not directed at any country but are a collective expression of support for a rules-based international order.

China said it held joint sea and air combat patrols yesterday near Scarborough Shoal, a disputed territory in the South China Sea, in an apparent response to the exercises.

A short statement from the Chinese militarys Southern Theater Command indicated that it was aware of military activities that disrupt the South China Sea and that they were under control. China regularly accuses the U.S., the Philippines and others of undermining regional peace and stability though their military activities.

Paparo and the other military commanders, Adm. David Johnston of the Australian Defense Force, Gen. Jennie Carignan of the Canadian Armed Forces and Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said their countries uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect for maritime rights under international law.

They did not mention China by name but said their nations affirm a 2016 arbitration ruling on the South China Sea disputes as a final and legally binding decision on the parties to the dispute. The ruling invalidated Chinas expansive claims in the South China Sea, but Beijing refused to participate in the Philippines-initiated arbitration, rejected the decision and continues to defy it.

Hostilities in the disputed waters have flared particularly between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces at two disputed shoals since last year, renewing fears that the confrontations could degenerate into a larger armed conflict involving the United States, Manilas longtime treaty ally.

After an alarmingly violent June 17 confrontation at Philippine-occupied Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, China and the Philippines reached a temporary agreement last month aimed at preventing further clashes. JIM GOMEZ, MANILA, Philippines, MDT/AP
Starkweather Brewings signature food item is its chicken wings, which took third in Madison Magazines Best of Madison competition last year. Starkweather is nominated for wings, cheese curds and best brewery this year.

What Starkweather should win an award for is its buttermilk chicken tenders ($11), if only there was a category for that. The menu describes the tenders as hand-breaded and that fact was immediately obvious. The breading was delicate, crinkly and well-seasoned.

They came with a choice of dipping sauce and the homemade ranch was excellent, as was the coconut curry (50 cents), which provided a nice contrast.

Chef Steve LaPean said he makes all the sauces himself. Before coming to Starkweather, he worked at Tower Inn on Broadway in Monona for 15 years.

Starkweather, which took over for Next Door Brewing on Atwood Avenue in February 2022, didnt open with a food menu, but rectified that situation three months later.

Thomas McVary, who owns Starkweather with Peter Schroder and Michael Chronister, said the brewery is continuing to develop what foods it offers.

Theres not a lot to the food menu, but we had some other successes beyond the tenders. Our greatest luck came with the beers.

My brother and sister-in-law, who recently made a stop in Madison from their #vanlife tour of the United States, have worked in bars and restaurants and both have level 1 sommelier certification. My brother has cicerone certification, too, so hes basically also a sommelier for beer.

I have no special knowledge, but I know what I like, and the three of us liked almost everything we tried at Starkweather, which has 15 beers on tap.

The beers are brewed by Schroder, who was brewmaster at One Barrel Brewing, formerly also on Atwood. Schroders resume includes MobCraft in Milwaukee, Ooga Brewing in Beaver Dam and CheezHead Brewing in Beloit.

My sister-in-law got a 16-ounce Jamestown Jackdaw, an extra Irish stout ($8) that was rich and filling. She called it coffee-like and roasty.

I wasnt able to figure out how Starkweathers beer flights worked, but we ordered five other beers in 5-ounce glasses to be able to sample more.

De Standaard ($4 for 5 ounces) is a Belgian tripel, a full-bodied, fruity, high-alcohol beer with a subtle pear flavor.

Spilling the Tea, a farmhouse ale or saison beer, was too bitter for me. My brother likes this style of beer and said he expected more of an Earl Grey tea or flowery flavor. The menu says it was brewed with our dear friends at A Room of Ones Own!, the bookstore nearby.

McVary explained that one of the stores owners brewed it with Schroder, helping him walk through the process.

This is similar to a fun friend request series of beers the brewery does in which beers are named after people important to Starkweather. The current one, Friend Request Isaac, is named for Isaac Semrow, who helped design the tap handles. A black IPA, it was my brothers favorite. He said it didnt have a lot of aftertaste, just cleanses the palate.

Atwoods Amber lager was crisp and not as malty as youd expect in an Amber. I enjoyed my Sweet Heat Shandy, a light lemony beer that is the epitome of summer. Tastes like youre on the patio under an umbrella, my brother said.

Starkweather has cozy outdoor seating under a pergola attached to the building with a charming mural and flower boxes. But we sat inside, where we had a great little room all to ourselves that was separated from the rest of the taproom, where a game night was underway.

My sister-in-law was happy with her Johnsonville brat ($6) with pickle relish and spicy brown Dusseldorf mustard, and remarked that the way the mustard was snaked over the brat was photogenic. She appreciated that the roll had a little sweetness. The mustard, she said, held up well against the plump brat.

The skins-on fries ($3 with the brat) were particularly noteworthy: long, flat and hand-cut. They show that someone cares, she said. Its the little things.

LaPean said he got the idea for the deep-fried chickpeas (small $3, large $5) from Eataly in Chicago. I got the small, and when McVary brought out our food I thought there mustve been some mistake because the order was humungous. They would make a great bar snack, but it took me a while to warm to them.

Customers choose from nine dry rubs. I was in a curry mood, but after trying a few, I wished I had gone with one of the others. LaPean said the barbecue rub works best.

A SuperCharge! spring roll ($5), made by the Madison microgreens business, was tightly wrapped in rice paper and sported a colorful mix of purple cabbage, golden beet, carrot and microgreens along with black sesame seeds. The best part was sunflower sauce on the side, also made by SuperCharge! It was a nice break from the typical peanut sauce.

The cheesecake ($7), made in-house, was dense and creamy and came with a choice of two glazes made with Starkweather Brewing beer: raspberry sweet heat or coffee chocolate stout. We got a side of each and both were equally good, the sweetness offset by the alcohol.

We ordered our food and beer at the bar and the bartender was exceptionally friendly and helpful.

So, if you go to Starkweather, get the chicken tenders, get the fries. And dont forget about Friend Request Isaac.

Diner's scorecard Restaurant: Starkweather Brewing Location: 2439 Atwood Ave. Phone: 608-467-6949 Website: starkweatherbrewing.com Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 2 to 10 p.m. Friday; noon to 10 p.m. Saturday; noon to 8 p.m. Sunday Prices: Appetizers $3 to $13.50, salad $6, cheesecake $7 Noise level: Medium Credit cards: Yes Accessibility: Yes Outdoor dining: Yes, small attached patio plus an expanded side patio that goes from the front of the building to the back Drinks: Beer only for now Gluten-free: GF chicken tenders and a few other options. Can accommodate. Vegetarian offerings: Many Kids menu: No, but lots of food that could appeal to children Parking: Street parking, limited lot parking Service: Amazing Bottom line: Great space, excellent beers, fantastic bartender and plenty of appealing food options.
BELGRADE, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic hosted a reception at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade on Thursday for students embarking on a cultural exchange program to China.

Vucic emphasized China's rapid development and modernity, urging the high school and university students to use the knowledge gained from their experiences to contribute to Serbia's advancement.

"What you will see and learn in China's cities, factories, and companies will stay with you for a lifetime," Vucic told the students. "I wish you a successful journey and encourage you to bring back your experiences to benefit both your personal growth and Serbia."

Vucic also underscored the importance of enhancing trade relations with China and the impact of the free trade agreement between the two countries, which is expected to yield significant benefits in the coming years.

During the reception, Angela Mitic, a student from the Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, expressed her pride in being part of the inaugural delegation to China. "Since this is the first exchange of its kind, I genuinely hope it will become a tradition in the years to come," Mitic said.

Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming praised the initiative, noting that Serbian students will have the opportunity to explore both China's ancient traditions and modern advancements. He expressed gratitude to President Vucic for his role in strengthening the ironclad friendship between the two countries. 
Almost 90% of Wisconsin residents with a bachelors degree from the Universities of Wisconsin were still living in the state five years after graduation.

That compares to 10% of graduates who were originally from Minnesota and 16% of graduates from other parts of the country or world, according to data from 2021. These findings, and more, were shared in a report the system released Wednesday. The report, Facts and Trends, includes information on state funding trends, enrollment and participation rates, affordability and tuition.

Facts & Trends describes the challenges facing our universities while also demonstrating the incredible value we offer to our individual students, our communities, and the state of Wisconsin, said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman in a prepared statement.

Other facts from the report include:

The proportion of Wisconsin high school graduates going to college, including private and technical institutions, is lower than the national average and the rates in most surrounding states.

The total average cost of attendance for resident undergraduates in the 2024-25 academic year will increase approximately 3.8% when room and board costs are included.

In 2022-23, about 60% of all students attending the Universities of Wisconsin received financial aid.

Wisconsin ranks 43rd out of 50 states in public funding of four-year higher education.

International student enrollment has rebounded from the drop during the COVID-19 pandemic and is growing.

Enrollment among veterans is declining.

Nearly four in 10 degrees conferred are in STEM or health care fields, and nearly 70% of new programs are in STEM fields.

A previous version of this report was released in May 2023. Other data can be found online on a public dashboard.
The State Building Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved the states plans to spend $9 million to buy the Downtown Madison building that houses the Wisconsin Veterans Museum  a decision that brings closer plans to demolish the aging building and construct a new, state-of-the-art facility in its place.

The money set aside for the Veterans Museum will go toward buying the museums current site at 22 and 30 W. Mifflin St.  one of the preliminary steps toward replacing the facility with a proposed five-story museum. The current building is owned by EMI and the states lease allows a purchase before the lease expires.

The Wisconsin Veterans Museum has thousands of stories, but the public can only see 3% of them The museum, celebrating its 30th year at the top of State Street, has outgrown its space and hopes to develop a new facility at the same site.

Veterans Museum Director Chris Kolakowski described the commissions decision to purchase the roughly 0.3-acre plot as highly significant. The $9 million in funds was originally approved in the states current two-year spending plan, which was signed last summer.

This is the first step from which everything else will flow, Kolakowski said. Getting control of the location secures the future of the Veterans Museum in Downtown Madison for the foreseeable future.

Kolakowski said approval of the sites purchase also will help shore up private investments in the project.

The absolute key step thats going to unlock everything else that needs to happen for the new Veterans Museum is getting control of the building and getting control of the site, he said.

About $40 million of the estimated $140 million project is planned to come from private donations raised by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation. Last spring, philanthropist W. Jerome Frautschi pledged $10 million, but those funds will not be provided until the current site is purchased by the state and the full $40 million is pledged.

Theres a lot of people, from what I can gather, who are awaiting the outcome of the acquisition, Kolakowski said. At the same time, I will say theres a lot of interest in this project. People want to make sure the location is nailed down.

The state Department of Veterans Affairs has been leasing about 28,300 square feet of space in the current building, a privately owned 10-story building constructed in 1948 and 1964, for more than 30 years.

Overall, the buildings condition is proportionate with its age of 60-76 years, a project description document states. There have been an increasing number of leaks and other maintenance problems over the last few years.

Museum officials say the museum only can display about 3% of its collection at the current site, while the proposed new building would allow the museum to display at least 20% to 25%.

The project description document also states that the new Wisconsin Veterans Museums location at the top of State Street is ideal, sitting in close proximity to the Capitol building and Madison Childrens Museum. The site is also near the soon-to-be-built $160 million Wisconsin History Museum.

Its a once-in-a-generation project, and you build it so it can be changeable and expandable, and it can be a great community asset to Madison and the state of Wisconsin, Kolakowski said.
Gov. Little expands paid parental leave benefits for foster families

Right now, we have more children in need of a foster family than we have families to help them. We are seeking to change that, he said. Foster parents are heroes. They give of themselves and their resources to make a loving home available to children in need. We need to do all we can to make it easier for foster families to bring these children into their lives and homes. Earlier this summer, we rolled out a series of improvements in the child welfare system with my Promoting Families and Protecting Children executive order. And now, we are stepping up to do more.
TWIN FALLS  In August 2022, Shandra Sterner rushed to the hospital in labor, preparing to give birth to her fourth child. Then, things turned sideways.

Sterner was in labor for 26 hours and was sent into an emergency cesarean section. After her son, Kyler, was delivered safely, everything was fine for a short moment. She began losing a lot of blood and went under seven surgeries in a span of four days while in a medically-induced coma.

Sterner lost 88 units of blood.

With the help of American Red Cross, Sterner was given 88 blood transfusions that kept her alive. The organization, she said, has made an incredible impact on her life.

If they wouldnt have had that blood available, she said, then I would not have been here today.

Every day, the organization helps people like Sterner, and generous donors have the power to help save a life.

Reported last month, the Red Cross is facing a nationwide emergency blood shortage  donations have dropped by 25%. But every two seconds, someone needs a life-saving blood transfusion, Matt Ochsner, regional communications director of the American Red Cross in Idaho, Montana and East Oregon, told the Times-News.

On average, only 3% of the population donate their blood. Every day, the organization needs to collect at least 12,000 units of blood to help patients across the country.

The summer is a difficult time to collect blood, Ochsner said, and the challenge is especially worse this year due to a period of record heat. The rising temperatures have led to blood drives being canceled and donors canceling their appointments.

Before, donors have never been asked, he said. Were asking now.

Ochsner said the Red Cross is looking for first-time donors who want to save lives. This month, donors will receive a $20 Amazon gift card for their time. Although the need for blood hasnt reached a critical stage yet, the Red Cross needs all the help that donors can provide.

There are so many people who need blood donations, he said. (We need donors) who are raising their hand, rolling up their sleeve, and giving the gift of life.

When Sterner woke up from her coma and recovered surrounded by loved ones, a nurse told her that if shed had her emergency two months ago, she wouldnt have survived due to the lack of emergency blood donations.

The October after her health emergency, she hosted a blood drive and it was completely full. Since then, she has been hosting virtual blood drives and theres still a great turnout. Its also a family affair  Sterner has encouraged her family to donate their blood on a regular basis as well.

Now, she donates her blood every chance she gets. Sterner donated for the first time in July, and her next appointment is scheduled for later this month.

Her first blood donation was an emotional moment as she came full circle from her health emergency two years ago, Sterner said.

When I donated, it was emotionally challenging, she said. My mom and my cousin were both there comforting me and making sure that I was okay during it. It was, actually, kind of easier than I ever thought it would be.

It was rewarding to know that I just gave the first unit back. Now, my goal is to hit that 88 and just keep on going with it.

Before partnering with the Red Cross, Sterner said that she was never one to do interviews, but whenever the organization asks, shes always up for whatever they need.

I am 100% there every time, no matter what it is. When I woke up from being in my coma and hearing they were getting the blood from Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Boise, I mean, just everywhere It really sticks close to home. I healed the part of my heart that I didnt know needed healing.

Become a donor today, save a life tomorrow The American Red Cross is hosting a series of blood donation drives throughout the Magic Valley in August. Donors who give blood, platelets or plasma will also receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card by email. CASSIA 8/9/2024, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Impact Athletic, 1150 E. 16th St.

8/27/2024, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Community Council of Idaho, 437 E. 13th St.

8/29/2024, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Burley Idaho West Stake Center, 2420 Parke Ave. MINIDOKA 8/13/2024, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Rupert Idaho West Stake, 26 S. 100 W.

8/20/2024, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ambulance Bay/shop Area, 1224 8th St. TWIN FALLS 8/14/2024, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Twin Falls Idaho South Stake Center, 541 Orchard Drive

8/15/2024, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Twin Falls County Building, 630 Addison Ave. W.

8/21/2024, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 847 Eastland Drive N.

8/22/2024, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Twin Falls Idaho South Stake Center, 541 Orchard Drive If you can't donate, you can also volunteer at blood drives and help donors schedule their next appointment. For more information about volunteering or to become a donor, visit https://www.redcrossblood.org/.

Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in the Magic Valley, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Times-News app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
HOUSTON  A Utah man was executed on Thursday for the 1998 murder and sexual assault of his ex-girlfriends mother, the second execution this week in the United States.

The execution warrant for Taberon Dave Honie has been carried out, the Utah Department of Corrections said.

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The execution of Honie, 48, is the western state of Utahs first execution in 14 years.

On Wednesday Texas executed a man for the 1997 murder of a woman who was jogging in her Houston neighborhood.

Arthur Lee Burton, 54, was put to death by lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, and pronounced dead at 6:47 pm, officials from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said.

Burton was convicted of the July 1997 murder of Nancy Adleman, a mother of three who was attacked while out jogging.

Adleman was strangled with her own shoelaces.

Burtons lawyers appealed to the Supreme Court to stay his execution but the request was denied without comment.

His attorneys had argued that Burton should be constitutionally exempt from being put to death because he is intellectually disabled.

To all the people I have hurt and caused pain, I wish we didnt have to be here at this moment, but I want you to know that I am sorry for putting yall through this, Burton said in his final statement.

Including Burton, Texas has carried out three executions since January and there have been 12 in the United States this year so far.

The death penalty has been abolished in 23 US states, while six others  Arizona, California, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee  have moratoriums in place.
DETROIT  President Joe Biden said Wednesday (Thursday Manila time) he is not confident Donald Trump would concede peacefully if he loses the US election, as the Republicans rival Kamala Harris warned a Trump victory would usher in a lawless administration set on curtailing Americans freedoms.

Trump has been impeached twice and indicted twice over various alleged attempts to cheat in the 2020 election  which he still has not acknowledged he lost  and was convicted of 34 felonies over a hush money scheme to deceive voters in 2016.

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His false claims of widespread fraud in 2020 preceded the storming of the US Capitol  and the wounding of more than 100 police officers  by a violent mob determined to prevent the certification of his defeat.

If Trump loses, Im not confident at all, Biden told US network CBS after he was asked if he expected a peaceful transfer of power in 2025.

He means what he says. We dont take him seriously, Biden warned. He means it.

The presidents remarks, which air fully on Sunday, came soon after Harris had sounded the alarm over Trumps conduct in the opposite scenario  victory for the 78-year-old billionaire.

Speaking to a crowd in Eau Claire, Wisconsin as part of a multi-day tour of swing states, she used the former presidents own words  as well as his felony convictions  to argue that a second Trump term would be a disaster for America.

She pointed to his vow to be a dictator on day one, his threats to weaponize the Justice Department against his political enemies and his 2022 comment demanding the termination of constitutional provisions over his 2020 election defeat.

Someone who suggests that we should terminate the constitution of the United States should never again have a chance to stand behind the seal of the president of the United States, Harris said, exhorting Americans to reject the chaos, fear and hate of Trumpism.

Harris reprised the theme hours later at a rally in Detroit, where she called herself and her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, joyful warriors in the White House battle.

The 59-year-old vice president was on day two of a blitz of the most closely-fought election battlegrounds as she seeks to capitalize on a surging excitement since she replaced Biden atop the Democratic ticket in July.

Harris and Walz will take their double act to further stops through Saturday in racially diverse Sun Belt states Arizona and Nevada.

In Wisconsin and Michigan, they sketched out a vision of future prosperity for the middle class, repeatedly speaking of their national pride and making a virtue of the patriotism more associated with Republican rhetoric in the pre-Trump era.

But Harris cautioned that allowing Trump back into office would take the country backwards.

Recalling that while she took on frauds and sexual abusers as Californias attorney general, Trump had been found liable for the sexual assault of a New York writer and had been both convicted and sued for millions of dollars for fraud.

In this campaign, Ill tell you, I will proudly put my record against his any day of the week, she said.

The rallies came a day after Harris and Walz held a huge event in front of a raucous crowd of 14,000 in crucial swing state Pennsylvania.

It was the biggest of the year  until Michigan, where Walz said he had been told the event at an airport, with Air Force Two as a dramatic backdrop, was the largest rally of the campaign.

In Detroit, Harris found herself repeatedly interrupted by protesters dissatisfied with Biden administration policy on Gaza.

If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, Im speaking, she said, her expression hardening as she sought to quell the disruptions.

Seen initially as an outsider for the VP pick, Walz enjoyed viral success in distilling Democrats attack lines against Republicans into a relatable one-word characterization  weird  that propelled him up Harriss shortlist.

The 60-year-old former Army National Guard officer railed against the dangerous and backward beliefs of Trump and his running mate, US Senator J.D. Vance, leading a chant of the Harris campaign slogan Were not going back.

Trump has declined to focus on his opponents vulnerabilities on policy, instead favoring personal attacks against Harris that have had little impact on her rise in polls.

She has a 51-48 percent lead over Trump in the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist survey and has edged ahead by 0.5 percentage points in the RealClearPolitics nationwide average of polls.

The organization had Trump three points ahead of Biden when the president made way for Harris, 17 days ago.
JERUSALEM Israel has vowed to eliminate new Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, the alleged mastermind of the Oct. 7 attack, with regional hostilities threatening to boil over as the Gaza war enters its 11th month.

The naming of Sinwar to lead the Palestinian militant group came as Israel steeled itself for potential Iranian retaliation over the killing of his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh last week in Tehran.

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Speaking at a military base on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was determined to defend itself.

We are prepared both defensively and offensively, he told new recruits.

Army chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi vowed to find him (Sinwar), attack him and force Hamas to find someone to replace him.

Sinwar  Hamass leader in Gaza since 2017  has not been seen since the October 7 attack, the deadliest in Israels history.

A senior Hamas official told AFP Sinwars selection sent a message that the organization continues its path of resistance.

Analysts believe Sinwar has been both more reluctant to agree to a Gaza ceasefire and closer to Tehran than Haniyeh, who lived in Qatar.

If a ceasefire deal seemed unlikely upon Haniyehs death, it is even less likely under Sinwar, said Rita Katz, executive director of the SITE Intelligence Group, adding Hamas would only lean further into its hardline militant strategy.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said it is up to Sinwar to help achieve a ceasefire, saying he has been and remains the primary decider.

Civilians in both Israel and Gaza met Sinwars appointment with unease.

Mohammad al-Sharif, a displaced Gazan, told AFP: He is a fighter. How will negotiations take place?

In Tel Aviv, logistics company manager Hanan, who did not want to give his second name, said Sinwars appointment meant Hamas did not see fit to look for someone less militant, someone with a less murderous approach.

Hamass Lebanon-based ally Hezbollah has also pledged to avenge the deaths of Haniyeh and its own military commander Fuad Shukr in an Israeli strike in Beirut.

In a televised address to mark one week since Shukrs death, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said Tuesday his group would retaliate alone or in the context of a unified response from all the axis of Iran-backed groups in the region.

The United States, which has sent extra warships and jets to the region, has urged both Iran and Israel to avoid an escalation.

President Joe Biden this week spoke with regional leaders, while Blinken told reporters the message of restraint had also been communicated directly to both Israel and Iran.

French President Emmanuel Macron told Netanyahu on Wednesday to avoid a cycle of reprisals, after earlier delivering the same message to his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian, the French presidency said.

Pezeshkian told Macron in a separate telephone call that the West should immediately stop selling arms and supporting Israel if it wanted to prevent war, his office said.

Israel has not commented on Haniyehs killing in Iran, but it has confirmed it carried out the strike on Shukr in Beirut.

Hezbollah has traded near-daily cross-border fire with Israeli troops throughout the Gaza war.

On Wednesday, a Lebanese security source said that a Hezbollah fighter and a civilian were killed in an Israeli strike near Jouaiyya close to the border. The Israeli military said it had eliminated a Hamas commander in the area.

The Israeli military later said its jets had destroyed a launcher on Wednesday night that had been used by Hezbollah to send drones towards the Golan Heights earlier in the evening.

Numerous airlines have suspended flights to Lebanon or limited them to daylight hours due to security fears, while Egypt said Iran had warned civilian airlines to steer clear of its airspace as it will be conducting military exercises overnight.

The United Nations said it was temporarily reducing the presence of UN staff family members in Lebanon, although it was not moving its staff.

The Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, triggered by the Palestinian groups unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, has already drawn in Iran-backed militants in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.

The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Palestinian militants seized 251 hostages, 111 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 39 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israels retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 39,677 people, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry, which does not give details of civilian and militant deaths.

Israels army said early Thursday that a strike in Gaza late last month had killed senior Hamas member Nael Sakhl, whom it said was involved in directing terror activities in the occupied West Bank.

The war has created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with almost all of its 2.4 million people displaced and suffering from food shortages.

Israels far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich drew sharp condemnation from some allies on Wednesday for suggesting that it might be justified to starve the besieged territory.

No one in the world will allow us to starve two million people, even though it might be justified and moral in order to free the hostages, he said at a conference earlier this week.

The EU said Smotrichs remarks showed contempt for international law and for basic principles of humanity.

France expressed its deep dismay at the comments, while UK Foreign Minister David Lammy called on the wider Israeli government to retract and condemn them.
Rezbin clinched the grand prize in the Philippine search for the local KPMG Global Tech Innovator (GTI) during the recently concluded 4th KPMG in the Philippines Innovation Summit at the Fort in Taguig City. Rezbins Chief Executive Officer Mari Martirez impressed the judges with how he turned a common dilemma into a strategic and profit-generating enterprise. He is bound for Lisbon in November to represent the Philippines at the KPMG GTI finals.

On its second year, the KPMG Global Tech Innovator 2024 in the Philippines was chosen by an impressive panel of judges including last years GTI winner Mr. Nel Laygo, Peddlr co-founder and CEO, along with Ms. Sharon G. Dayoan, KPMG in the Philippines Chairman and CEO; Mr. Ben Alderson, Head of Strategy, Investments and Partnerships, QBO Innovation Hub; Professor Philip Teow Huat Kwa, Clinical Professor and Academic Program Director at the Asian Institute of Management; and Mr. Gil Genio, of the Analytics and AI Association of the Philippines.

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Tech Horizons: Unleashing the Future of Innovation

The responsible use of Artificial Intelligence, building digital trust, unlocking the value of digital evolution, and tech sustainability were the hot topics of discussion at the KPMG PH annual Innovation Summit tagged Tech Horizons: Unleashing the Future of Innovation. With over a thousand live and online participants, the summit in its 4th year has become KPMG in the Philippines annual way to gather emerging tech and business leaders to harness the transformative power of technologies as catalysts of progress and instill the importance of responsibility and sustainability to its use.

KPMG in the Philippines Chairman and CEO Sharon Dayoan welcomed guests and participants comprising tech and business leaders from different industries by reiterating the companys primary focus on technology and its role in promoting growth for businesses and consequent national development. She revealed that the driving force behind the annual Innovation Summits success since its inception in 2021 is KPMG in the Philippines commitment to harnessing technology to streamline operations, drive efficiencies and enhance stakeholder experiences, consequently contributing to economic advancements.

Delivering the keynote address, Peter Maquera, CEO of Microsoft Philippines remarked that the integration of AI can significantly enhance the principles of transparency, accountability, and fairness, ultimately improving performance and shareholder value of companies.

Noel Bonoan, Vice Chairman and COO, Head of Advisory of KPMG in the Philippines, in his speech about their digital transformation debunked the perception that people become irrelevant with Artificial Intelligence, saying new jobs will replace the ones that are lost. Bonoan said that technology and innovation, if done right and collaboratively, can catalyze business growth and help with economic development and nation building. This is why KPMG in the Philippines has invested time and resources to ensure a robust and responsive Technology Consulting practice working shoulder to shoulder with their clients in their own digital transformation journeys.

AI Unleashed: Shaping Tomorrow Responsibly

Dr. David R. Hardoon, CEO of Aboitiz Data Innovation and Sr. Advisor for Data and AI of the Union Bank of the Philippines treated the summit participants with a fascinating discussion on the responsible use of AI. He emphasized that if AI is used responsibly, it can augment human capacity by enhancing decision-making processes through data-driven insights. This capability can lead to more informed and accurate decisions ultimately improving shareholder value.

However, he said these advantages will not benefit users if they are not managed responsibly. Companies need to adopt good governance practices to ensure that their AI initiatives are safe and have a positive impact on society. This includes addressing the potential job displacement effects of AI and implementing strategies to support affected employees, such as retraining programs.

Digital Trust: Building Confidence in the Digital Age

Significant security measures are needed to ensure digital trust. It was the bottom line during the first panel discussion tagged Digital Trust: Building Confidence in the Digital Age moderated by Mr. Frits Enriquez, KPMG in the Philippines Technology Consulting  Cybersecurity Principal.

According to Dr. Erik Capistrano of the University of the Philippines Diliman, people need to feel confident that their personal information is safe from cyber threats such as hacking, data breaches, and identity theft, and from negligence such as lax practices. Organizations must implement strong encryption, secure authentication methods, and regular security audits to protect user data.

Panelist Dennis Omila, Chief Transformation Officer of Union Bank of the Philippines said being transparent about how data is protected can reassure users that their information is secure. Clear and transparent privacy policies are also essential because users are often wary of how their data is collected, stored and used. Companies should also inform users on the details of data collection as well as provide an opt-out choice to help users gain the confidence to go the digital path.

The discussion also tackled education and collaboration among stakeholders to further reinforce trust and promote digital adoption enabling society to fully benefit from digital enhancements.

Panelist Carlos Tengkiat, Chief Information and Security Officer RCBC said that breaches in security happens because even if a company is careful of its privacy measures, it becomes vulnerable if it works with third party contractors that dont have the same level of care to ones data. That is why companies should ensure security measures and protocols and extend its standards to its business partners. It is also vital to address the challenges of educating the consumers to do their part in exercising these data protection protocols.

Sustainability Meets Tech: ESQ and AI in Corporate

Governance Speaker Rafael Dionisio, Co-founder, MAD Travel, Circle Hostel and Director of Lighthouse Legacy Foundation said in his speech that the intersection of sustainability and technology, specifically the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors with Artificial Intelligence (AI) in corporate governance, represents a significant development in business practices. This convergence not only addresses global challenges but also improves organizational resilience, stakeholder trust, and long-term value creation.

Transformation to Profit: Unlocking the Value of Digital Evolution

The pandemic era enabled a lot of enterprises to adapt to the need of the market, using ecommerce and multiple channels to expose their products. According to panelist Dennis Velasco, the CEO of Prosperna, digital transformation goes beyond mere automation of tasks, encompassing a holistic rethinking of business models, customer experiences, and internal processes, it also refers to the integration of digital technology in all areas of a business, fundamentally changing how companies operate and deliver value to customers.

Esel Madrid, SVP and Head of Data Science and AI Center of Excellence, Security Bank Corporation, said that leadership makes a huge difference in embracing change like digital transformation. She said that while many organization initiate digital transformation with the goal of modernization, the true value of data and ai is unlocked when business embeds the learnings and translates it into action and measurable outcomes.

Mark Gersava, Executive Cabinet Member, National Innovation Council said that strategic alignment is key in turning digital transformation into profit. By setting clear and measurable goals, organizations can track the impact of digital initiatives. He said the objective of the council is to make sure that the environment is ripe for innovation enabling the improvement of innovation governance in the country and the adaptation of long-term vision. It is pertinent to remove the obstacles in innovation and adapt the regulatory frameworks to support the infusion of digital transformation.

Today, GCash remains a market leader in making financial services accessible & affordable to the masses. A key step to this is establishing a financial identity, which we have made easier with simple full verification within the GCash app. Tek Olano, Chief Financial Officer of GCash, cited the companys own example of problem-solving expertise in a market that is not well-equipped with financial tech capabilities. Olano stated that if the process is easy, people will adopt it, especially if it offers the advantages of having a financial identity.

Dick Chiang, CEO of Dragonpay, emphasized the importance of studying the market when creating platforms for convenience. By addressing the markets purchase needs, businesses can drive digital transformation. However, measuring digital success goes beyond transaction numbers; it involves metrics related to customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, revenue growth, and cost reduction.

KPMG in the Philippines and the Exciting Race to Digital Transformation

With another Innovation Summit concluded and a new Global Tech Innovator in the Philippines proclaimed, the firm celebrates the agility and optimization that innovation brings to businesses not just in the Philippines but worldwide. Its annual pursuit of a GTI continues to celebrate innovators for being a guiding light in the race for digital transformation where everyone is going at their own individual pace and merits.

KPMG in the Philippines is always committed to provide insight and guidance tailored to meet organizations in whatever stage of their digital transformation. It remains to be one of the most trusted professional services firms in the country, providing audit and assurance, tax, advisory and tech consulting services.
Predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen on Tuesday (Aug. 6) attacked Christian farmers in Plateau state, wounding four of them, sources said.

In Lwa village of Bachi District, Riyom County, three of the Christians were attacked as they worked on their farms, while one was ambushed as he tried to escape, said Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, president of the Berom Youth Moulders Association in a press statement.

Mwantiri said the Christians were able to identify some of the 20 heavily armed assailants as local Muslim Fulani herdsmen living in settlements near the predominantly Christian villages of Lwa, Fan, Shonong, Dum, Rachid and Bangai.

The farmers were working on their farms around the Seheng area of the village, and as a result of the attack on the farmers, four of them sustained varying degrees of injuries, Mwantiri said. One of the Christian victims, Caleb Bachen, 32, was shot and wounded. One of his hands was fractured and shattered.

Bachen said from his health center bed that he was working when he heard sounds of gunfire from a nearby farm.

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Suddenly, I heard cries of anguish from other farmers who were working on their farms close by, Bachen told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News by telephone. I heard them screaming and calling for help. At this moment, I knew theyre being attacked by herdsmen.

He quickly left his farm and tried fleeing to his village, he said.

But as I made my way back home, some of the herdsmen who were armed with guns and machetes ambushed and attacked me, Bachen said. I lay there bleeding when they left, thinking I was dead. After the attack, I was rescued and taken to the hospital.

Police in Plateau state confirmed the attack and said investigations had begun.

Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, according to Open Doors 2024 World Watch List (WWL) report. More kidnappings of Christians than in any other country also took place in Nigeria, with 3,300.

Nigeria was also the third highest country in number of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings such as hospitals, schools, and cemeteries, with 750, according to the report.

In the 2024 WWL of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, as it was in the previous year.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report.

They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.
The Angolan government on Tuesday August 6 launched the Angolan National Employment Fund (FUNEA), worth $500 million (462 million), to create and support public and private initiative projects that generate employment.

According to the Minister of State for Economic Coordination, Jose de Lima Massano, FUNEA will benefit cooperatives through financing or lost fund incentives.

Jose de Lima Massano stressed that FUNEA is the financial arm of the National Employment Agenda and was set up with the aim of guaranteeing the allocation of financial resources to promote employment, including the integration of recent graduates and unemployed citizens into the labor market.

The Angolan official stressed that the National Employment Agenda sets out the guidelines for coordinated action by the various players, both public and private, in the field of promoting employment, with a view to reducing the unemployment rate in the national economy, which currently stands at 32.4%.

For her part, the Minister of Public Administration, Labor and Social Security (MAPTSS), Teresa Dias, said that the institutionalization of FUNEA has at its disposal a set of financial assets, essentially term and demand deposits, aimed at creating public and private projects and initiatives that generate employability and jobs.

Teresa Dias pointed out that, with the launch of this fund, the National Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (Inefop) will submit local employment and labor market insertion contracts for immediate approval by FUNEA, an initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Territorial Administration, which aims to promote employability through social, community and economically useful work for society.

By way of example, a group of five or six young people, aged between 18 and 40, gathered in cooperatives, will be able to sign contracts of 180 to 360 days with municipal and communal administrations, to provide local development services, whose activity is economically and socially viable, she said.
The President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, announced on Wednesday August 07 before the parliament an agreement with Renamo to build a National Peace Memorial in the Gorongosa Mountains, the place where the end of hostilities was agreed upon in 2019.

We exchanged this vision with the Renano leadership. The memorial will pay tribute to the protagonists of the peace processes in Mozambique and make Gorongosa a national and international benchmark in the construction of peace, tolerance and reconciliation, announced the Head of State, while giving his annual assessment of the state of the nation at the Assembly of the Republic in Maputo.

On August 1, 2019, the Agreement for the Definitive Cessation of Military Hostilities was signed in Gorongosa between the government and the leader of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), Ossufo Momade, after years of talks in that mountain range in central Mozambique with the historic leader and founder Afonso Dhlakama (1953-2018).

The Peace and National Reconciliation Agreement was signed in Maputo on August 6, 2019 between the current Mozambican head of state and the president of Renamo.

Last week marked five years since the signing of these last two agreements, which are still in force and led to the demilitarization of Renamo.
Dr. Abdul Jalloh, once Sierra Leones sole practicing psychiatrist, has spearheaded a remarkable transformation in the countrys mental health care. Taking charge of the nations only psychiatric hospital six years ago, Dr. Jalloh abolished the inhumane practice of chaining patients to beds and initiated sweeping reforms.

With support from a U.S.-based nonprofit NGO and the government, the hospital has expanded its staff to 135 professionals, including three psychiatrists and seven doctors in a groundbreaking residency program. The facility, formerly known as the Crase Yard, has been rebranded as the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Teaching Hospital, shedding its stigmatized reputation.

Despite these advancements, challenges persist. Mental health services remain scarce outside the capital, and many still rely on traditional healers. The country grapples with the lingering effects of civil war, poverty, and high addiction rates, particularly to a local drug called kush.

Efforts to modernize mental health legislation and increase funding face hurdles. The outdated 1902 Lunacy Act continues to stigmatize mental health issues, contributing to low funding and resource allocation. However, the government is taking steps to improve care nationwide, implementing WHO training programs for healthcare workers.

Dr. Jalloh acknowledges the ongoing challenges, particularly in dealing with the addiction crisis. Despite the toll on his own mental health, he remains committed to transforming the hospital from a place of suffering to a sanctuary. As partners in this effort note, transforming mental health is a long-term process requiring time, cultural alignment, and local leadership.
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The African Union's health watchdog said on Thursday it was "likely" to declare a public health emergency next week over the growing mpox outbreak on the continent.

The decision will unlock funding to combat the outbreak, including the procurement of much-needed vaccines, and trigger a coordinated continental response to the virus.

Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said during an online media briefing that the declaration of the health emergency was "likely" next week.

At least 16 countries of the continent's 55 nations have been affected with mpox, according to the Africa CDC.

Some 38,465 cases and 1,456 deaths have been reported in Africa since January 2022.

Of these, 887 cases and five deaths were reported last week, according to data from Africa CDC.

"We are moving from two outbreaks per week to three new outbreaks per week," Kaseya said, adding that there was a shortage of vaccines on the continent.

Formerly known as monkeypox, mpox is an infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals but can also be passed from human to human through close physical contact.

The disease causes fever, muscular aches and large boil-like skin lesions.

The World Health Organization announced Wednesday it was urgently convening an expert committee to advise on whether the growing mpox outbreak in Africa should be declared an international emergency.

"The committee will meet as soon as possible and will be made up of independent experts from a range of relevant disciplines from around the world," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference.

The committee will advise him on whether the outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)the highest alarm the WHO can sound.

Only Tedros, as the WHO director-general, can declare a PHEIC, based on the expert committee's advice. A declaration then triggers emergency responses in countries worldwide under the legally binding International Health Regulations.

Deadlier strain

Mpox was first discovered in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

There are two subtypes of the virus: the more virulent and deadlier Clade I, endemic in the Congo Basin in central Africa; and Clade II, endemic in West Africa.

In May 2022, mpox infections surged worldwide, mostly affecting gay and bisexual men, due to the Clade IIb subclade.

Deadlier and more transmissible than previous forms, the mpox strain surging in the DRC since September, known as the Clade Ib subclade, is spread person-to-person.

The Clade Ib strain causes skin rashes across the whole body, unlike other strains where lesions and rashes are usually limited to the mouth, face and genitals.

 2024 AFP
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Now that the vast majority of Americans don't smoke, it's hard to know what we're supposed to do about the recent news that 40% of cancer cases are preventable. Drinking alcohol is one of the top risk factorsand yet doctors aren't talking to patients about its connection to cancer.

Alcohol was third behind obesity and smoking among the "modifiable" risk factors according to this new study. You can't walk into a doctor's office without being put on a scale, and everyone knows smoking causes cancer, but drinking a glass of wine or two every night? Not long ago, that was considered healthydue, researchers now say, to a systematic error in several widely publicized earlier studies.

And drinking is a bigger cancer risk factor for women than it is for men. About 300,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the US each year. It's by far the most common potentially lethal cancer among nonsmoking women.

Alcohol consumption accounts for about 16% of breast cancers, said the lead author of the study, Farhad Islami of the American Cancer Society. Most of the increased risk is attributable to people who exceed the current health guidelines of no more than one drink a day for women. But even a drink a day raises riskespecially if you're filling up a big wine glass.

Drinkers of both sexes have an increased risk of liver cancer, esophageal cancer and other malignancies of the digestive tract, but these are not nearly as common as breast cancer.

There are still many critical questions that experts can't answer until there's more research: How much is a woman's lifetime breast cancer risk elevated by heavy or binge drinking in college and early adulthood? How much can a woman reduce her risk by going from moderate drinking to abstaining? Are there women with certain risk factors that make them more prone to cancer induced by alcohol use? How and why does alcohol raise breast cancer risk?

There are a few studies suggesting that alcohol can cause breast cancer by increasing the amount of estrogen circulating in the bloodstream. Should women taking hormone replacement therapy skip the daily glass of wine? It might make sense, but it remains in the realm of things that need more study.

Instead, doctors usually recommend diligent annual screening mammograms if you want to try HRT, but of course, screening doesn't prevent cancer. In the most optimistic estimates, programs of regular screening mammograms reduce cancer death by 20%, but more recent studies show less benefit along with a serious risk of unnecessary treatment.

In one of the many articles on the limitations of mammography, professor of medicine Russell Harris of the University of North Carolina suggests it's more important for doctors to council women to stop smoking, maintain a healthy weight and cut back on drinking.

In June, the New York Times tried to quantify the risk of moderate drinking. One researcher said drinking seven drinks a week only costs you about two and a half months of life. The researcher, Tim Stockwell of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, emphasized that was an averagemost people may lose nothing, but a few will lose a lot.

It's hard to isolate the effects of drinking because it's tied up with other behaviors and conditions, he told me. Take the "sick quitter effect," he said.

People who get serious warnings from their doctors often quit drinking, and so studies can show a correlation between quitting drinking and getting sickbecause getting sick caused people to quit. And some people don't ever drink because they have health problems or are on medications. Missing that link is one reason earlier studies showedwronglythat moderate drinking was beneficial.

Some people who don't drink any alcohol might compensate with other unhealthy behaviors. For example, consumption of sugary soda might explain a high incidence of heart disease and diabetes in Middle Eastern countries where many people never drink alcohol for religious reasons.

With alcohol, risk is associated with lifetime consumption, Stockwell said, and some studies show that a long-term pattern of youthful excess puts you at higher risk of heart disease when you're older. We need more research to know how lifetime patterns of drinking affect cancer riskall we know is that if you want to minimize your risk, it's better not to drink.

But of course, minimizing risk isn't everything. Drinking is an important part of celebrations and socializing, and we have to weigh those benefits against the health risks. Some people have a highly tuned palate and get enormous pleasure from fine wine, while some of us are just as happy with a fake beer as long as the company is genuine.

It's also a major quality of life issue to be cancer-free, rather than facing surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. To estimate the trade-offs, we deserve better informationboth from researchers and from our doctors.

2024 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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CARD14 directly binds and regulates MYC, a protein involved in controlling cell growth that can contribute to cancer when it malfunctions. A study published in Cell Reports shows that the proper interaction between these two proteins is important for a healthy skin barrier. Credit: Cincinnati Children's

Our skinthe body's largest organprovides the first line of defense against infections and many other threats to our health. Decades of research has shown that a wide range of diseases can occur, or become worse, when the skin cannot form an effective barrier.

Now, experts in human genetics and asthma research at Cincinnati Children's report discovering a novel molecular signaling pathway that plays a crucial role in maintaining our skin barrier. The far-reaching findings eventually may lead to new ways to prevent and treat inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD, or eczema) and psoriasis.

The study was published online Aug. 6, 2024, in Cell Reports. The team of 22 co-authors was led by first author Stanley DeVore, Ph.D., and corresponding author Gurjit Khurana Hershey, MD, Ph.D.

"Our research discovered a previously unknown cellular pathway involving the protein CARD14," DeVore says. "When this protein works properly, it keeps our skin barrier healthy, but when CARD14 is not working properly, it promotes the development of skin disease.

"We found that CARD14 directly binds and regulates MYC, a protein involved in controlling cell growth that can contribute to cancer when it malfunctions. Our study shows that the proper interaction between these two proteins is important for a healthy skin barrier and protecting against eczema and psoriasis. Additionally, given the association of MYC with cancer, our findings also suggest that dysfunctional CARD14-MYC signaling may contribute to certain types of cancer throughout the body."

Barrier protection that goes deeper than the skin

Previous research has focused on the CARD14-NFB signaling pathway, which is thought to promote psoriatic diseases when elevated and to promote atopic dermatitis when reduced. Millions of people are affected by these and other inflammatory skin disorders.

"However, that model does not fully explain the variability in CARD14-driven diseases," says Hershey, who directs the Division of Asthma Research at Cincinnati Children's. "This new CARD14-MYC signaling pathway strengthens the link between CARD14 and skin barrier health. Its signals regulate the function of MYC in the most common type of skin cell."

Study co-authors say that CARD14 regulates skin barrier function through two mechanisms: stimulating NFB to establish an antimicrobial barrier and stimulating MYC to help build a physical barrier.

The study further explores how various mutations in CARD14 can promote different skin diseases, including AD and psoriasis. Importantly, the study reports that altered CARD14-MYC signaling could affect barrier function and allergic diseases in other tissues, contributing to asthma by affecting airway tissue linings or contributing to eosinophilic esophagitis by affecting the digestive tract. The novel pathway may also contribute to certain cancers that begin in epithelial tissues.

Next steps

DeVore says the hunt is on to identify small-molecule agents that can safely influence the CARD14-MYC pathway. In fact, aspects of the study have been included in a recent patent filing.

"Our ultimate goal is to develop novel therapeutics," DeVore says. "We also are conducting studies aimed at identifying cancers that may be affected by CARD14-MYC signaling."

In the meantime, co-authors plan to share their findings at the 2025 Joint Conference of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) and the World Allergy Organization (WAO), to be held Feb. 28 to March 3 in San Diego.

Co-authors from Cincinnati Children's include Matthew Schuetz, BS; Lauren Alvey, BS; Henry Lujan, Ph.D.; David Ochayon, Ph.D.; Lindsey Williams, BS; Wan-Chi (Daisy) Chang, MS; Alyssa Filuta, MS; Brandy Ruff, BS; Arjun Kothari, MEng; Eric Brandt, Ph.D.; Latha Satish, Ph.D.; Krishna Roskin, Ph.D.; Andrew Herr, Ph.D.; Jocelyn Biagini, Ph.D.; and Lisa Martin, Ph.D.

More information: Stanley B. DeVore et al, Regulation of MYC by CARD14 in human epithelium is a determinant of epidermal homeostasis and disease, Cell Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114589 Journal information: Cell Reports
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Common antibiotics carry serious risk of life-threatening drug reactions, but safer options exist. Credit: ICES

Two classes of commonly prescribed oral antibiotics are associated with the greatest risk for severe drug rashes that can lead to emergency department visits, hospitalizations and even death, according to a new study.

Researchers from ICES, Sunnybrook Research Institute and the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine suggest that prescribers should consider using lower-risk antibiotics for their patients when clinically appropriate.

Serious cutaneous adverse drug reactions (cADRs), or severe drug rash, are a group of rare but potentially life-threatening delayed reactions involving the skin and, often, internal organs. Some of these reactions carry mortality rates from 20 to 40%. While many different classes of drugs can cause serious cADRs, antibiotics are among the most commonly reported triggers for these reactions.

"Clinicians have speculated that certain antibiotics carry greater risk for these severe reactions, but no study has ever confirmed these claims," says Erika Lee, an allergist and a trainee with ICES and Temerty Medicine's Eliot Phillipson Clinician-Scientist Training Program. "Our objective was to explore the risk for cARDs in a population of older adults, who tend to receive disproportionately more antibiotic prescriptions than younger adults."

The study, "Oral antibiotics and the risk of serious cutaneous adverse drug reactions," was published in JAMA. The case-control study used health care data from ICES of adults 66 years or older who received a prescription for at least one oral antibiotic between 2002 and 2022 in Ontario, Canada.

Over the study period, 21,758 adults had an ED visit or hospitalization for a serious cADR following oral antibiotics and were matched with 87,025 controls who did not have a reaction.

Risk highest for two classes of antibiotics

"The good news is that most patients who visited the hospital with these reactions were discharged without being admitted, so that should be reassuring to providers and patients," says Lee. "However, of those who were admitted to hospital with the most severe reactions, 20% were treated in the ICU, and 5% of hospitalized patients died, which underscores the need for careful prescribing practices."

The most commonly prescribed antibiotics were penicillins (29%), followed by cephalosporins (18%), fluoroquinolones (17%), macrolides (15%) nitrofurantoin (9%) and sulfonamides (6%). Less commonly prescribed antibiotics were grouped together and accounted for 7% of prescriptions.

Key findings include:

All antibiotics were associated with a higher risk of serious cADRs relative to macrolides, but sulfonamides ("sulfa drugs") and cephalosporins were associated with the highest risk.

There were two cADR-related hospital visits for every 1,000 antibiotic prescriptions dispensed.

About one in eight patients presenting to the ED with antibiotic-related cADRs were hospitalized, likely because their reactions were more severe or because of concerns about potential complications.

20% of hospitalized patients with the most severe forms of cADRs were treated in a critical care unit, and 5% of those patients died.

Greater awareness needed

"While rare, these severe drug reactions can be life-threatening. Patients should be aware of rash, fever, and other symptoms, which can start weeks after a prescription has been started and even after the course of antibiotics has stopped," says David Juurlink, a staff internist and head of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, senior core scientist with ICES and professor of medicine with Temerty Medicine.

"It's also one more reason why antibiotics should be prescribed only when they're truly needed," he adds.
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The war in Ukraine highlighted the vulnerability of the global food supply system. With this visualization (https://vis.csh.ac.at/food-supply-shocks/), users can see which food products are lost and which countries are most affected when a specific supplier stops producing a specific food product. The visualization shows a variety of scenarios related to Ukraine, including the one showing what would happen if Ukraine could no longer produce wheat. Credit: Complexity Science Hub

Researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine used the setting of the man-made Ukrainian Holodomor famine of 19321933 to examine the relation between prenatal famine and adult type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

They studied 128,225 type 2 diabetes cases diagnosed between 20002008 among 10,186,016 male and female Ukrainians born between 1930 and 1938.

Individuals who were exposed in early gestation to the famine had a more than two-fold likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those unexposed to the famine, according to a study led by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The results are published in the journal Science.

The famine led to 4 million excess deaths in the short-term and losses were concentrated in a six-month period. The Holodomor far exceeded other famines in terms of its intensity. Life expectancies at birth in 1933 were only 7.2 years for females and 4.3 for males.

"The Ukraine setting provided an unusual opportunity to investigate the long-term impact of the Holodomoror death by hungeron type 2 Diabetes Mellitus cases diagnosed seven decades after prenatal famine exposure," said L.H. Lumey, MD, professor of Epidemiology at Columbia Public Health.

"With the famine concentrated in a six-month period in early 1933, we are able to pinpoint the timing of famine together with extreme variations in intensity across provinces."

This concentration was the result of Stalin's use of famine as a weapon of terror against Ukrainian farmers. When Ukraine could not fulfill its grain procurement quotas to the Soviet Central Government, having not enough for themselves, drastic measures were implemented to fulfill the quotas, under the excuse that counter-revolutionary elements sabotaged grain procurement.

A countrywide campaign of searches of peasants' homes looking for "hidden" or "stolen" grain was launched in late 1932 and expanded in early 1933. All or most of the food was confiscated during many of these searches, leaving families without any food for the rest of the winter. In addition, measures were implemented that curtailed Ukrainian peasants' travel in search of food.

These measures created a perfect storm. Many rural families were left without any food; avenues to search for food were closed and grain reserve funds were depleted.

Thousands of rural families were condemned to a slow death by starvation in their villages. The result was an extraordinary increase in Holodomor excess deaths between January and June 1933.

At the peak of the famine in June 1933, there were, on average, 28,000 famine-related deaths per day caused by the famine, equivalent to 1,167 deaths per hour or 19 per minute.

"Our study into the long-term health impact of the Holodomor famine offers several critical lessons for addressing health challenges posed by national disasters," observes Lumey.

"It underscores the necessity for a comprehensive health care and policy framework that takes into account the lasting effects of early-life adversities on population health and their potential long-term repercussions on chronic diseases and mental health."

While individuals diagnosed with T2DM in 20002008 may also be overweight or obese and have other risk factors for the disease, the relation between adult T2DM risk and the place and date of birth at the time of the famine is so specific that famine exposure in early gestation appears to be the dominant factor that overrides all others, according to the research team.

"This awareness should prompt a proactive approach among policymakers and public health officials to anticipate the increased health care needs among populations affected by national disasters. It also highlights the importance of raising awareness about the potential long-term health effects of early-life adversities," observed Lumey.

"Besides the need to develop policies for addressing long-term health challenges after a national disaster, the results of our study underscore the importance of policies aimed at preventing events like the Holodomor from happening again. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 shows that history repeats itself," points out Dr. Wolowyna of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"The three-month siege in 2022 of the city of Mariupol during the current war in Ukraine to starve the population into surrender serves as a reminder of a current and real danger. The blockade of Ukrainian ports to prevent the export of Ukrainian grain to developing countries in Africa and Asia, has increased the danger of starvation for millions of persons in these countries."

More information: L. H. Lumey et al, Fetal exposure to the Ukraine famine of 19321933 and adult type 2 diabetes mellitus, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adn4614. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adn4614 Peter Klimek, The lasting effects of famine, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adr1425. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adr1425 Journal information: Science
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Dual actions of a single compound with both antibiotic and immunomodulatory effects can suppress inflammation and promote tissue regeneration. Fast-dissolving microneedle patch enables minimally invasive and local delivery of biodegradable microparticles as distributive depots for sustained release of therapeutics in diseased tissues. Credit: authors

Periodontitis is initiated by dysbiosis of the oral microbiome. Pathogenic bacteria elicit ineffective immune responses, which damage surrounding tissues and lead to chronic inflammation. Although current treatments typically aim for microbial eradication, they fail to address the significance of immune cell reactions in disease progression.

The team led by Song Li from University of California, searched for small molecules as drug candidates and identified a bifunctional antibiotic, azithromycin (AZM), that not only inhibits bacterial growth but also modulates immune cells to suppress inflammation. They further engineered a dissolvable microneedle patch loaded with biodegradable microparticles for local and painless delivery of AZM to the gingival tissues.

The study is published in the journal Med-X.

Inflammatory cytokines were decreased while anti-inflammatory cytokines and M2 macrophage were increased with AZM treatments in vitro. In vivo delivery of the AZM-loaded microneedle patch demonstrated the same effects on cytokine secretion and the promotion of tissue healing and bone regeneration.

In addition, microparticles containing anti-inflammatory interleukin-4 alone or in combination with separately-formulated AZM microparticles, had similar or slightly enhanced therapeutic outcomes respectively.

The bimodal action of AZM obviates the necessity for separate antibacterial and immunomodulatory agents, providing a practical and streamlined approach for clinical treatment. The use of a microneedle delivery system enhances the targeted and painless administration of the therapeutic agent to the gingival tissue.

The dual action of AZM in suppressing bacterial growth and modulating immune responses demonstrates its potential as a comprehensive therapeutic strategy for periodontitis. These findings provide a basis for further research and potentially pave the way for the development of novel and effective treatment options for this prevalent oral disease and more chronic inflammatory diseases.

More information: Xuexiang Zhang et al, Dissolvable microneedle patch enables local delivery of immunomodulatory microparticles containing bifunctional molecules for periodontal tissue regeneration, Med-X (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s44258-024-00023-5

Provided by Shanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

It's not easy to make public health decisions without access to good data. And epidemiologists and public health workers for Native American communities say they're often in the dark because state and federal agencies restrict their access to the latest numbers.

The 2010 reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act gave tribal epidemiology centers public health authority and requires the federal Department of Health and Human Services to grant them access to and use of data and other protected health information that's regularly distributed to state and local officials. But tribal epidemiology center workers have told government investigators that's not often the case.

By July 2020, American Indians and Alaskan Natives had a COVID-19 infection rate 3 times that of non-Hispanic whites. Problems accessing data predated the pandemic, but the alarming infection and death rates in Native American communities underscored the importance of making data-sharing easier, so tribal health leaders and epidemiologists have the information they need to make lifesaving decisions.

Tribal health officials have repeatedly said data denials impeded their responses to disease outbreaks, including slowing contact tracing during the pandemic and an ongoing syphilis outbreak in the Midwest and Southwest.

"We're being blinded," said Meghan Curry O'Connell, the chief public health officer for the Great Plains Tribal Leaders' Health Board and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. The sharing of data has improved somewhat in recent years, she said, but not enough.

Federal investigators and tribal epidemiologists have documented a litany of obstacles keeping state and federal public health information from tribes, including confusion about data-sharing policies, inconsistent processes for requesting information, data that's of poor quality or outdated, and strict privacy rules for sensitive data on health issues like HIV and substance misuse.

Limiting the ability of tribes and tribal epidemiology centers to monitor and respond to public health issues makes historical health disparities difficult to address. Life expectancy among American Indians and Alaskan Natives is at least 5 years shorter than the national average.

Sarah Shewbrooks and her colleagues at the Great Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center are among those who've found themselves blinded by bureaucratic walls. Shewbrooks said the data dearth was particularly evident during the COVID pandemic, when her team couldn't access public health data available to other public health workers in state and local agencies. Her team was forced to manually record positive cases and deaths in the 311 counties of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowathe region the center serves.

Shewbrooks, director of the center's data-coordinating unit and its lead epidemiologist, estimates staffers spent more than a year's worth of their time during the pandemic scraping together their own datasets to steer information to tribal leaders making decisions about closing down reservations and asking residents to isolate at home.

She said the process was frustrating and stressful, especially since it robbed her team of hours they could've spent trying to save lives in the communities they serve. The tribes in their region were doing "incredible things," she said, by providing food and shelter for people who needed to quarantine.

"But they were having to do it all without being given real-time understanding of what's going on around them," Shewbrooks said.

Contact tracers who work for state governments cover Native American populations, but it's important to have people from within the community take the lead, Shewbrooks said. Tribal workers are better equipped to move around within their communities and meet people where they are.

Shewbrooks said state contact tracers relied on calling and texting patients, which is often not the most effective method. Tribal members can be a hard-to-reach community for state workers whose protocol is to move on to the next case if they don't get a response.

"So many cases were just getting closed," Shewbrooks said.

In 2022, the Government Accountability Office published a report that confirmed concerns raised by tribal health officials, including at the Great Plains tribal epidemiology center. Federal investigators found that health officials working to address public health issues in Native American communities dealt with federal agencies lacking clear processes, policies, and guidelines for sharing data with tribal officials.

In one example, officials said that as of November 2021, 10 of the 12 tribal epidemiology centers in the U.S. had access to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID data, but not all had full data. Some centers had access to case surveillance data that included information on positive cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Only half said they also had access to COVID vaccination data from HHS.

The GAO report also found that staffers responding to data requests at HHS, the CDC, and the Indian Health Service did not consistently recognize tribal epidemiology centers as public health authorities. Center officials told federal investigators that they'd sometimes been asked to request data they needed as outside researchers or through the Freedom of Information Act.

The report recommended agencies make several corrections, including responding to tribal epidemiology centers as required by law and clarifying how agency staffers should handle requests from epidemiology centers.

HHS officials agreed with all the recommendations. The agency consulted with tribal leaders in fall 2022 and, this year, published a draft policy that clarifies what data centers can access.

Some tribal leaders say the proposal is a step in the right direction but is incomplete. Jim Roberts, senior executive liaison in intergovernmental affairs at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, a nonprofit organization that provides care and advocacy for Alaskan tribes, said the GAO report focused on tribal epidemiology centers, which operate separately from tribal governments, each serving dozens of tribes divided into regions. The report left out tribes, which he said have a right to their data as sovereign nations.

HHS officials declined an interview request, but Samira Burns, principal deputy assistant secretary for public affairs, said the agency is reviewing feedback and recommendations it received from tribal leaders during consultation on the draft policy and will continue to consult with tribes before it's finalized.

Stronger federal policy on tribal data sharing would help with relationships with states, too, Roberts said. Tribal officials say problems they've experienced at the federal level are often worse in states, where laws might not recognize tribes or tribal epidemiology centers as authorities that can receive data.

At the Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center, which works on behalf of tribes in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, forging a data-use agreement with state governments in Washington and Oregon before the pandemic helped their response by providing immediate access to near real-time data on emergency room and other health care facility visits. The center's staff used this data to monitor for suspected COVID-related visits that could be shared with tribal leaders.

It took seven months for the center to get access to COVID surveillance data from the CDC, said Sujata Joshi, director of the Northwest center's Improving Data and Enhancing Access project, and about nine months for HHS vaccination data after vaccinations became available. Even after getting the information, she said, there were concerns about its quality.

2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
China has positive, open attitude to enhancing exchange, cooperation with U.K.: Chinese foreign ministry

Xinhua) 09:34, August 08, 2024

BEIJING, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- China has always taken a positive and open attitude toward enhancing exchange and cooperation with the United Kingdom, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday.

Mao made the comment when asked to confirm whether British Foreign Secretary David Lammy was considering a visit to China.

Not long ago, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Lammy in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, Mao noted.

China and the U.K. are both permanent members of the UN Security Council and major global economies, she said, adding that increasingly stable, mutually beneficial bilateral ties between China and the U.K. serve the fundamental interests of both peoples, help both countries respond better to global challenges together, and contribute to world peace and global development.

China hopes to work with the U.K. to make new progress in bilateral relations based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation, and to bring improved benefits to the two countries and the world, the spokesperson said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Zambia is mourning the death of celebrated gospel musician Mathew Ngosa, who passed away on August 1, 2024 at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka after battling liver cancer. Matthew, 46, left an indelible mark in the gospel music industry as some of his songs were played in churches and night clubs over a two decade career.

Ngosas brother, Pastor Boyd Ngosa said Matthew was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024. We took him to India, and when he returned, he began undergoing chemotherapy. Yesterday (a day before he passed on), he was doing some routine exercises as he usually did. He was in a jovial mood, strong and even partook in his daily holy communion, said Pastor Ngosa in a tribute.

Boyd said Matthews songs have been a blessing to many in Zambia and that he will be dearly missed by family and friends.

Matthews faith was beyond this world. He was a prayerful person and he dedicated his time when he struggled with cancer in prayer. Matthew was full of life and never lost his joy and laughter that we will always remember him for, said Boyd.

Matthews singing career started when he teamed up with Boyd and their younger brother, Hezron, after high school. Matthew and Hezron later formed a duo called The Ezma Brothers within a larger group known as The Tribe Called Christians. Mathew would later join to polish his skills at Lusakas Northmead Assemblies of God Church, The Christ Ambassador Choir.

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A sendoff service held at the Praise Christian Centre, Lusaka, brought together church leaders, gospel musicians, politicians and family and friends to celebrate the life of Ngosa. Former Zambian Vice President and founder of Victory Ministries International, Dr. Rev. Nevers Mumba said Ngosas life and legacy had united people of all walks of life.

Despite being a great gospel legend and a pioneer in gospel music with his brothers, Matthew was very humble and down-to-earth. Todays gathering of thousands of people is a reflection of who Matthew was. Titles and positions come and go, but one thing that remains steadfast in our lives is our Lord Jesus, Dr. Mumba noted.

Some of the Ngosas gospel hits include Ndakunkula, Shakapanga, Leka Kemba, Lesa Wandi and Twimbe among others. His debut album in 2004, Umutima Wandi (My heart), dominated music charts in Zambia.

Hezron Ngosa told the BBC that his brother was very strong even in sickness. He was a man of faith and a mentor. When I recorded my first song, I took it to him to critique and thats why I have never gone astray. He was more than a brother," said Hezron.

After a Send off service, Matthew Ngosa was laid to rest at Memorial Park. His music and the values he embodied will continue to inspire and uplift future generations.

In these difficult times, let us find solace in the legacy he leaves behind  a legacy of faith, hope, and love. We mourn his loss deeply and celebrate the extraordinary life he lived, said Socialist Party President Fred Mmembe.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A discovery by a three-member Albert Einstein College of Medicine research team may boost the effectiveness of stem-cell transplants, commonly used for patients with cancer, blood disorders, or autoimmune diseases caused by defective stem cells, which produce all the body's different blood cells.

The findings, made in mice, were published in the journal Science, in a paper titled "Regulation of the hematopoietic stem cell pool by c-Kit-associated trogocytosis."

"Our research has the potential to improve the success of stem-cell transplants and expand their use," explained Ulrich Steidl, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair of cell biology, interim director of the Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, and the Edward P. Evans Endowed Professor for Myelodysplastic Syndromes at Einstein, and deputy director of the National Cancer Institute-designated Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center (MECCC).

Dr. Steidl, Einstein's Britta Will, Ph.D., and Xin Gao, Ph.D., a former Einstein postdoctoral fellow, now at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, are co-corresponding authors on the paper.

Mobilizing stem cells

Stem-cell transplants treat diseases in which an individual's hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells (HSCs) have become cancerous (as in leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes) or too few in number (as in bone marrow failure and severe autoimmune disorders). The therapy involves infusing healthy HSCs obtained from donors into patients.

To harvest those HSCs, donors are given a drug that causes HSCs to mobilize, or escape, from their normal homes in the bone marrow and enter the blood, where HSCs can be separated from other blood cells and then transplanted. However, drugs used to mobilize HSCs often don't liberate enough of them for the transplant to be effective.

"It's normal for a tiny fraction of HSCs to exit the bone marrow and enter the blood stream, but what controls this mobilization isn't well understood," said Dr. Will, associate professor of oncology and of medicine, and the Diane and Arthur B. Belfer Faculty Scholar in Cancer Research at Einstein, and the co-leader of the Stem Cell and Cancer Biology research program at MECCC.

"Our research represents a fundamental advance in our understanding, and points to a new way to improve HSC mobilization for clinical use."

Tracking trogocytosis

The researchers suspected that variations in proteins on the surface of HSCs might influence their propensity to exit the bone marrow.

In studies involving HSCs isolated from mice, they observed that a large subset of HSCs display surface proteins normally associated with macrophages, a type of immune cell. Moreover, HSCs with these surface proteins largely stayed in the bone marrow, while those without the markers readily exited the marrow when drugs for boosting HSCs mobilization were given.

After mixing HSCs with macrophages, the researchers discovered that some HSCs engaged in trogocytosis, a mechanism whereby one cell type extracts membrane fractions of another cell type and incorporates them into their own membranes.

Those HSCs expressing high levels of the protein c-Kit on their surface were able to carry out trogocytosis, causing their membranes to be augmented with macrophage proteinsand making them far more likely than other HSCs to stay in the bone marrow.

The findings suggest that impairing c-Kit would prevent trogocytosis, leading to more HSCs being mobilized and made available for transplantation.

"Trogocytosis plays a role in regulating immune responses and other cellular systems, but this is the first time anyone has seen stem cells engage in the process. We are still seeking the exact mechanism for how HSCs regulate trogocytosis," said Dr. Goa, assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI.

The researchers intend to continue their investigation into this process. "Our ongoing efforts will look for other functions of trogocytosis in HSCs, including potential roles in blood regeneration, eliminating defective stem cells and in hematologic malignancies," added Dr. Will.

The study originated in the laboratory of the late Paul S. Frenette, M.D., a pioneer in hematopoietic stem cell research and founding director of the Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Research at Einstein.

Other key contributors include Randall S. Carpenter, Ph.D., and Philip E. Boulais, Ph.D., both postdoctoral scientists at Einstein.

More information: Xin Gao et al, Regulation of the hematopoietic stem cell pool by c-Kit-associated trogocytosis, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adp2065. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adp2065 Journal information: Science
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Data from nearly 6,000 smokers with cancer show that it may be easier to predict who will stop smoking than was previously thought.

It is often important to get cancer patients to quit smoking, but it is not always that easy.

"Data suggest that between 15% and 60% of people who smoked before they were diagnosed with cancer continue to smoke after their diagnosis. It is crucial to help people with cancer quit smoking, because it will lead to better cancer treatment prognoses, prevent secondary cancer, and increase quality of life," says Ruben Rodriguez-Cano, an associate professor at NTNU's Department of Psychology.

Degree of addiction

Because smoking and cancer often go hand-in-hand, it is especially useful to determine how addicted people are to smoking. That makes it possible to estimate how likely it is that people will manage to quit, and consequently predict cancer patients' chances of surviving.

The researchers may also be able to use a similar approach to estimate the risk that smokers who are still healthy have of developing cancer at a later date.

"We are currently conducting another study on the risk of developing lung cancer, which is being led by Professor Oluf Dimitri Re. Among the variables are nicotine addiction, smoking history and BMI," says Rodriguez-Cano.

However, investigating smoking addiction requires considerable resources. Therefore, Rodriguez-Cano wanted to find out whether there is a more efficient way of measuring the degree of a smoker's addiction.

He collaborated with people from one of the foremost cancer hospitals in the world, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Their study is published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

Long and short tests

Several tests can be used to ascertain smoking addiction. The gold standard is the Fagerstrom Test for Cigarette Dependence (FTCD).

"But this test is too extensive when we want to check a large number of patients to assess smoking risk at group level," says Rodriguez-Cano.

So, is a longer test really necessary? A simplified version called the Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI) comprises only two questions:

How many cigarettes do you smoke per day?

How soon after you wake up do you smoke your first cigarette?

And these two questions are sufficient. Try it yourself.

Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI)

1. On the days that you smoke, how soon after you wake up do you have your first cigarette?

A. Within 5 minutes (3 points)

B. 6- 30 minutes (2 points)

C. 31-60 minutes (1 point)

D. After 60 minutes (0 points)

2. How many cigarettes do you typically smoke per day?

A. 10 or fewer (0 points)

B. 11-20 (1 point)

C. 21-30 (2 points)

D. 31 or more (3 points)

Scoring:

0-2: low addiction

3-4: moderate addiction

5-6: high addiction

A simplified test is often sufficient

"We investigated nearly 6,000 cancer patients to see if it made any difference whether they took the full test or the simplified one," says Rodriguez-Cano.

It generally did not make a difference.

"The results in predicting cigarette addiction were equally good for both the full and the simplified tests.

In addition, the simplified test is just as good at predicting smoking abstinence at 3, 6, and 9 months after quitting smoking following specialized treatment," says Rodriguez-Cano. However, it is not that straight forward.

but not for all smokers

For some reason, the simplified test does not work as well for everyone.

"The effectiveness of the simplified test for men and women depends on the patient's race," Rodriguez-Cano explains.

Basically, the shortest test did not work as well for Non-Hispanic Black people with a cancer diagnosis. The researchers do not know whether this is due to social or genetic factorsor a combination of both.

"Both the full test and the simplified test are useful tools, but our research shows that it may be necessary to tailor the tests for different groups," says Rodriguez-Cano.

Nevertheless, the research may make it easier to investigate smoking addiction than before. This can reduce the burden on the health care system as well as on cancer patient treatment.

More information: Ruben Rodriguez-Cano et al, Comparing the Fagerstrom Test and Heaviness of Smoking Index in Predicting Smoking Abstinence in Cancer Patients, Nicotine and Tobacco Research (2024). DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntae120 Journal information: Nicotine and Tobacco Research
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Credit: JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2024.05.022

Weight loss surgery may reduce the risk of developing heart failure for people living with obesity by improving blood flow through their heart muscle, according to a new study led by UCL researchers.

People living with obesity are at increased risk of heart failure. It's thought that this may be due, in part, to reduced blood flow through the small vessels in their hearts.

The study, from UCL and King's College London researchers, published in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging, suggests that these harmful effects of obesity may be at least partly reversible.

Heart scans from 27 patients showed that, six months after bariatric surgery, blood flow through these small blood vessels had increased, alongside improvements in other well-known risk factors for developing heart disease.

Professor Charlotte Manisty (UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science), who led the study, said, "Previous research has suggested that weight loss surgery can reduce the risk of developing or dying from cardiovascular disease in people living with obesity. Our work provides a new, additional explanation for the benefits of this intervention."

Researchers scanned patients' hearts before, and six months after they underwent bariatric surgery. The team used a technique called quantitative perfusion magnetic resonance imaging, which allowed them to measure blood flow through the smallest vessels in the heart muscle.

Before their surgery, patients had a median body mass index (BMI) of 44kg/m2. Compared to volunteers the same age and sex, and with an average BMI of 25, patients had thicker heart walls (a sign that the heart is having to work harder to pump blood) and lower blood flow through their heart muscle.

Six months after their surgery, patients had lost an average of 29 kg, and 13 of the 17 patients with type 2 diabetes before surgery were in remission at follow up.

When the team repeated the heart scans, they found that blood flow through patients' hearts had increased. In addition, levels of triglycerides (a type of fat) in patients' blood had decreased, while their levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol increased. Patients also had less fat around their livers (a marker of the levels of fat stored around the abdominal organs) and lower blood pressure than before their surgery.

Dr. George Joy (UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science), who was also involved with the study, said, "These promising results offer important insights into how weight loss associated with bariatric surgery could help to improve outcomes for patients living with obesity.

"With trials of other approaches to weight loss, such as medications, also reporting positive effects on the heart, more research is now needed to understand whether similar mechanisms could be contributing to these effects."

Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation and consultant cardiologist, said, "This research yet again underlines the connection between obesity and the risk of developing heart disease. While not everyone will need surgery or medication to lose weight, it's important that weight-loss treatment and support are available to everyone who needs it.

"We know that the world around us doesn't always make it simple for the healthy option to be the easy, affordable and accessible option. We must press ahead with actions that address our food environment, including implementing restrictions on junk food advertising, so that everyone is supported to maintain a healthy weight."

More information: James D. Crane et al, The Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Coronary Microvascular Function Assessed Using Automated Quantitative Perfusion CMR, JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2024.05.022
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Amazonians are as genetically different from Andeans as Europeans are from East Asians when it comes to genetic variants that affect the response to certain drugs, according to a commentary published August 8 in the journal Cell.

These genetic variations can affect what side effects an individual experiences and influence drug dosage recommendations. Taking the genetic diversity within indigenous groups as an example, the scientists highlight the need to address the diversity gap in genomics research.

Historically, Native American populations have been viewed as a homogeneous group, a bias and oversimplification that researchers argue persists to this day. But the reality is much more complicated. Factors like environment, history, and culture have led to important genetic differences between populations living in the South American Andes and Amazon forests, which are only 150 to 200 miles apart.

"A low-oxygen and dry, high-altitude environment characterizes the Andean region, while the Amazon region is a low-altitude tropical forest. These vastly different environmental stressors can drive genetic changes and biological adaptations," says corresponding author Eduardo Tarazona-Santos of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.

"The Andeans and Amazonians also developed distinct languages, social structures, and agricultural practices, which can further contribute to their differentiation through natural selection over time."

The researchers analyzed the genomic diversity of 294 individuals from 17 indigenous Peruvian groups in the Andes and Amazon regions. They found that certain genetic variations make the Amazonians and Andeans respond to medicine differently.

For example, a higher percentage of Amazonians have a variation that makes them respond better to rosuvastatin therapy, often prescribed to lower cholesterol levels and prevent cardiovascular events, but also gives them higher risks of side effects.

Based on clinical guidelines, only 2% of indigenous Andeans require a lower initial dose of rosuvastatin to prevent side effects, compared with 16% of indigenous Amazonians. The findings underscore the need to incorporate genomics research to ensure the effective application of precision medicine.

When it comes to warfarin, a medicine that treats blood clots, dosage is key. Too little warfarin renders the therapy ineffective, while too much can put patients at risk for heavy bleeding. Based on the genetic variations, 69% of indigenous people from the southern Andes region need a lowered warfarin dosage, compared with 93% of indigenous Amazonians.

"These pharmacology-affecting genetic differences observed in the Andeans and Amazonians are even larger than those seen between Europeans and Asians," says Tarazona-Santos.

While there are alternative drugs to warfarin that do not need critical control of dosage, they are ten times more expensiveout of reach for many people in developing countries. Understanding the genetic factors that influence drug dosing is crucial for ensuring the safe and effective use of affordable medicine in resource-limited settings.

Learning from the genetic diversity within indigenous populations, the commentary cautions against conceiving of ethnic groups as a single entity in human genomics study. It also calls for inclusive genomics research that encompasses diverse populations to ensure equitable health care outcomes worldwide.

Tarazona-Santos concludes that including people from diverse socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds in research groups is very important for human genomics studies like this one. "It makes research and community engagement easier, offering transparency and confidence," he says. "It makes people more comfortable seeing familiar faces from the same community."

More information: The need to diversify genomic studies: insights from Andean highlanders and Amazonians, Cell (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.07.009. www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(24)00769-4 Journal information: Cell
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a scary reality facing 13 million Americans, acutely affecting veterans who risked their lives to serve our country and resilient survivors of sexual assault and domestic abuse. Helping these individuals find relief where they can is imperative, and one federal agency is considering action that could do just that.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to vote on the approval of MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) to treat PTSD in the next few days. Unlike the only two drugs currently on the market to treat this illness that do nothing to actually address the root cause of the disease, MDMA-AT actually has the potential to help patients overcome the root cause of their diagnosis, and its backed by science.

Every day we wait for MDMA-AT to get approved, another veterans life is put at risk. Our nations veterans are experiencing a suicide epidemic with an estimated up to 16,000 veterans currently dying from suicide each year, coming out to a staggering 44 veterans per day. Our veterans cannot wait another day.

During a phase three clinical trial of this innovative drug, 71% of participants no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis, and 86% experienced clinically significant reductions in their symptoms. These results surpass the efficacy of the only two drugs currently on the market to treat PTSD.

Seven Veterans Affairs (VA) clinics across the country are currently practicing MDMA-AT, with the VA even requesting federally funded studies to test the therapy to treat veteran PTSD.

The FDA has already shown wide support for the drug, including designating it as a Breakthrough Therapy in 2017 for its efficacy and granting it expanded access status in 2020 so individuals experiencing severe, life-threatening forms of PTSD could be given this treatment by their mental health professional without having to participate in a trial.

Despite the science and the support from the FDA and VA pointing to every reason as to why MDMA-AT should get approval, the FDAs Advisory Committee (AdComm) voted to not recommend approval of MDMA-AT. If the FDA chooses to follow the AdComms recommendation, ignoring data and their own previous support, it will be the millions of PTSD patients who will have to suffer longer before they can get the treatment they need.

During my work in the Montana Legislature and with veterans groups across our state, I have been at the forefront of advocating to advance treatments that could help treat PTSD, and with more than 78,000 veterans living just in our state, I have seen firsthand the dire need for more therapies that could get to the root cause of the illness. Action by the FDA to approve MDMA-AT would provide sweeping advancements in this regard.

Science exists to bring great innovations to the forefront to help those who are suffering, which is why it is imperative that the FDA approve this new medical treatment.

Looking beyond Montana, we have strong leadership in Congress, such as Sen. Jon Tester, chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, who we hope will take the lead on encouraging the FDA to follow the science by voting in favor of MDMA-AT approval.

We would also encourage the Biden Administration to urge the FDA to approve MDMA-AT.

Montanans, like me, will continue to do our part to push for innovative new treatments like MDMA-AT to help patients suffering from PTSD. It is my hope that our partners at the federal level will do the same.
China is big! This is a simple fact, yet it is difficult to grasp even for seasoned China watchers. Why? Because it is too big. Stagnant, confused, and gloomy? True. Vibrant, determined, and optimistic? Also true.

Since 2017, China has gone through dramatic political left-turning, with stricter laws and regulations regarding media and online spaces, and sudden and violent economic conflicts with major economies, not to mention the incomprehensible COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged lockdowns. Life is difficult for anyone living in China, but probably true to say it is even more so for Chinese churches.

Also, since 2017, foreign missionaries have flooded out of China, mostly involuntarily. It didnt matter if you had been there for over 15 years, had a successful business, or were even married to a Chinese national. Once tagged, you were likely forced out within one week or, by Gods grace, one month.

The government places a particular focus on religious facilities. For all legitimate facilities, prominent crosses could not be observed outside. Within the facilities, the national flag was raised, the core values of socialism and other slogans were hung conspicuously on walls, and HD cameras were everywhere. Unregistered churches were all closed... at least, in theory.

Between 2018 and 2023, Christian gatherings were harassed by police officers, brothers and sisters were taken into custody for up to two weeks, and pastors and publishers were sentenced to jail from seven to fourteen years. An exodus of Chinese Christians and pastors was noticeable. In the US, South Korea, Thailand, and elsewhere you can easily recognize passionate Chinese Christians eagerly attempting to start a new life and ministry for the Chinese diaspora.

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Does this drain of Christian leaders and educators result in a Chinese church meltdown? Does it all crumble into ashes? Far from it. What God has called us to do for the past forty years is not a mirage but a true manifestation of the kingdom of God.



It is true that from 2019 to 2022 Chinese churches, in general, went through a period of panic and confusion. Various ideas and prophecies appeared and disappeared. Warnings, false hopes, and drastic suggestions overwhelmed many. The lockdowns, Zoom gatherings that spread fear, and turbulent domestic and international events all continue to fuel this frenzy.

Under tremendous pressure from outside and inside, registered and unregistered churches are shaken, and some have disintegrated. So we now see waves of Christian refugees wandering from WeChat groups to Bilibili videos, Zoom meetings to TikToks, searching for spiritual and biblical nourishment.

Not just Christians, but the whole of China is shaken and crumbled. Broken businesses, broken families, and broken hearts are everywhere. People have never been so eager to hear about the gospel because their lives and hopes have never been so dampened in the past four decades.

From an outsiders perspective China looks horrible, like hell. Can you imagine your emails and social media constantly being watched? Or police officers showing up at your front door because two months ago you bought a Christian book or are in a WeChat group that you barely checked? Or having your job and social security threatened if you attend a church service or share your perspectives about current events?

Yet, from the insiders perspective living in China is simply life. Like a deep-water creature, we get used to the darkness, cold, and pressure. If you live in the surface water, the deeper conditions are unbearable. But we have learned how to share the gospel, pastor our churches, and advance Gods kingdom in deep water. Some might think that deep water is not fit for life, but if you find yourself there, you might be surprised by how resilient life can be, and how resilient you can be. You simply need to do it, and you can.



Around 2022, we started to sense a rebound from the depths of despair. People began to accept reality. We could not give up on the commission Jesus gave us. We could not leave Gods sheep to die. And we simply cannot stay paralyzed despite what has happened. So, what should we do? What are our responses? Or, more to the point,what is Gods response?

First, a wave of new warriors are responding to God's call. These young, energetic, and creative young men and women of God are quite different in appearance, philosophy, and practice from the older generation. They stand upon and continue previous works but are drastically transforming the demography of spiritual leadership.

Second, the Lord forces us to invent and try previously unimaginable ways to do ministry. The combination of online and offline ministry, community building across a city or a province, the mobile church that can be relocated at any time, and flexible but integrated training systems for young leaders are only a few examples of the creative explosion of ministry methods over the past few years.

Third, primarily due to online ministry but also due to the mobility of Christian refugees, Chinese churches have never been so interconnected in all its history. Many pastors become nationally well-known. Ministries easily jump from one city to another city, one province to another province. New ideas and methods spread like wildfire. In early 2020, Zoom was practically unknown to the vast majority of Chinese Christians. But by May 2020, a grandma in a remote area of Sichuan province taught her eleven group members how to download, install, register, and log into Zoom for daily Bible classes.

Of course, creative endeavors involve high risk; many will fail. But we will learn, and eventually, some methods will stick. Some might even become classics.

This wave of new leaders, methods, and interconnections has just begun. Its true effect on Chinese churches and society may not be established and recognized until 2030, with its main impact climaxing and apparent around 2035. It is indeed an exciting and transformative period for churches in China.

Is it all bright in China? Far from it. We are in deep waterthats a fact. Yet it is my firm conviction and hope that out of ashes, new life will arise. Darkness is real, but so is our living Lord!



Originally published by ChinaSource. Republished with permission.
HELENA  The Montana Department of Commerce announced Wednesday that more than $10 million of grant funding has been allocated to six Montana communities and affordable housing organizations to help reduce homelessness and increase housing stability.

One of the six was Butte-Silver Bow, which received $1,485,000 of HOME-ARP grant funding for the construction of permanent supportive homes in Butte to help those experiencing chronic homelessness.

The funding is through Commerces HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program. The Montana Department of Commerce granted these funds to eligible applicants who proposed activities to benefit qualifying populations.

For more details about the HOME-ARP program, visit www.housing.mt.gov.
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has introduced updates to Kenyan currency notes to align with constitutional standards. The changes will affect the Kes.50, Kes.100, Kes.200, Kes.500, and Kes.1,000 notes. CBK clarified that these new notes will circulate alongside the existing ones.

Key updates to the banknotes include:

a. The signature of CBK Governor Dr. Kamau Thugge.

b. The signature of Principal Secretary for the National Treasury Dr. Chris Kiptoo.

c. The year of print2024.

d. New security threads with color-changing effects unique to each denomination.

The rollout of the updated notes will begin with the Kes.1,000 denomination, with other denominations to be released in the following months.

The rest of the features will remain the same as those in the 2019 series. All banknotes currently in circulation will remain legal tender and will be used alongside the new notes, the statement said.

The new currency notes will have a distinct texture that is noticeable when you run your fingers over them. The words Kenya, the denomination, and the edges will be well-defined and textured. Holding the note up to the light will reveal a watermark with the lions head, the text CBK, and the notes value.

The security thread on the notes will appear as a continuous line and will change color when tilted. Under ultraviolet light, the golden band on the note will display the denomination.

These changes comply with Section 22 of the Central Bank of Kenya Act, which requires the Central Bank, in consultation with the Minister, to determine the features of notes and coins. The Bank must inform the public of these updates through the Gazette and other media channels.

The full statement by CBK below;
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi has reportedly launched his campaign to run for the presidency in 2027.

To bolster his bid to become Kenyas sixth President, Matiangi has reportedly hired the globally recognized firm Dickens and Madson, based in Canada. This firm will receive Kes.32.5 million to lobby the executive and legislative branches of powerful nations, including the US, UK, Japan, and Kenya, as well as any other mutually agreed countries and international organizations, on Matiangis behalf.

According to an agreement signed on July 13, 2024, and reported by The Africa Report, The firm will also provide services to help devise and execute policies for the beneficial development and stability of your political goals and to assist you in attaining the Office of the President of the Republic of Kenya.

Matiangi, who earned the nickname super CS during retired President Uhuru Kenyattas administration, aims to leverage his track record from his tenure in the ministries of ICT and Education.

While serving as ICT Minister, he successfully led the migration from analogue to digital TV broadcasting. During his time at the Ministry of Education, he introduced measures to curb rampant exam cheating between 2015 and 2018, earning widespread praise for his efforts.

Also Check Out  Matiangi Lists His Achievements in Farewell Message to Kenyans
The government is poised to gain the authority to set prices for essential goods, aiming to stabilize the market and protect Kenyans from exploitation.

If passed into law, the Price Control (Essential Goods) (Amendment) Bill, 2024, grants this power, allowing the government to regulate retail and wholesale prices for key commodities.

Essential commodities such as maize, maize flour, wheat, wheat flour, rice, cooking fat or oil, sugar, and prescribed pharmaceutical drugs will fall under state-regulated prices.

This Bill aims to amend the Price Control (Essential Goods) Act, 2011, to regulate the prices of essential commodities, ensuring their availability at reasonable prices for all Kenyans, especially low-income earners, the Bill states.

Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda introduced the proposed law in the Senate for its First Reading. The Bill specifies that The Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury shall, by order in the Gazette, fix the minimum and maximum retail and wholesale prices for essential goods.

Beyond the listed commodities, the Bill permits the CS to declare additional goods as essential by order in the Gazette. The CS can also set minimum and maximum prices for these commodities in consultation with the industry and determine the categories of persons to whom these prices will apply.

In setting these prices, the Bill requires the CS to consider minimizing restrictions on competition, maintaining normal market conditions, and addressing severe market disturbances that cause price fluctuations.

The CS must also evaluate the importance of the essential goods in promoting economic development and maintaining consumer purchasing power.

The proposed law seeks to prevent sudden price variations of essential goods that could reduce purchasing power and harm overall consumer welfare. Additionally, it aims to stop monopolies and oligopolies from exploiting their dominant positions to artificially inflate prices, taking advantage of consumers lack of alternatives.

The purpose of this Act is to guarantee access to crucial goods during crises such as natural disasters or public health emergencies, the Bill states.
Police have arrested a man in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that killed a Napa woman in St. Helena last Sunday.

Dominic Carvalho, 43, of Yountville was booked on multiple felonies including felony hit-and-run resulting in death or injury, the St. Helena Police Department announced Thursday.

Napa County Jail logs indicate Carvalho was arrested late Wednesday night and booked a few hours later. He was still in custody Thursday.

At about 10:19 a.m. Sunday passersby found Jackie M. Rhodes, 81, of Napa lying in a ditch along Highway 29 south of Charles Krug Winery with major head injuries. She was initially conscious and alert but later died at Queen of the Valley Medical Center.

Police describe Rhodes as an "avid walker" who used to live in St. Helena and still walked there regularly. They say she was walking northbound in the bike lane on the shoulder of Highway 29 when she was struck and thrown into the ditch.

Police say they quickly identified the suspect vehicle using FLOCK automatic license plate reading cameras. They located and apprehended Carvalho with help from the Napa County Special Investigations Bureau, Napa County District Attorney's Office, Napa Police Department and Napa County Sheriff's Office.

"We extend our sincere thanks to all the partner agencies involved in this investigation for their prompt and effective collaboration," the police department said in a press release, adding that the incident "has deeply affected our community."

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Officer Randall Stephenson at 707-312-1212.
A local architect, designer and construction professional has become the newest member of Napa's city Planning Commission.

The Napa City Council on Tuesday appointed Lindsay Owen to the city's land-use advisory body, choosing her from a field of six candidates. Owen will take over the seat held by the late Bob Massaro and serve through 2026.

Council members at their City Hall meeting interviewed four men and two women who applied for the commission seat of Massaro, a longtime home builder and advocate of environmentally sustainable construction who died of a heart attack May 29 at age 71.

Owen was selected on a 3-2 vote with support from council members Liz Alessio, Mary Luros and Beth Painter.

Mayor Scott Sedgley cast his vote for Andrew MacLaggan, a partner in a San Francisco architectural firm. Councilmember Bernie Narvaez vote for Alonso Corona, executive director of the Napa County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

According to the city Planning Division, Owen will be sworn in at the city clerk's office within the next two weeks. The commission's Aug. 15 meeting will be canceled, and Owen's first meeting is anticipated to be on Sept. 5.

Introducing herself to the council, Owen, who is married with two children, said she moved with her family to Napa in 2017, and that her parents followed her to Napa from Arizona the following year.

Owen described herself to the council as a multi-skilled and well-rounded housing designer and architect.

Having worked in design and construction on all sides, as being the hired consultant, working on behalf of the homeowner, the contractor and developer, I believe these perspectives will enable me to better serve our community as a planning commissioner, she said.

Napa's newest planning commissioner currently owns her own full-service design firm, Lindsay Owen Design, which is involved in architectural design, new home construction, commercial tenant improvements, construction management and interior design.

From dirt to draperies, I will walk my client through the design (and) permitting, help them manage through the construction and bring their home to life, Owen said.

During a question-and-answer session, the council asked her thoughts on Napa's biggest challenges to development, her experience with the citys planning process, working within the city's general plan, and dealing with controversial projects.

Painter, a former planning commissioner, asked Owen how she would approach a project that faces opposition during a commission review. Owen replied that success would require community outreach and is dependent on the project's scope.

(It means) really hearing the community, listening to the community, but at the same time we have ordinances," she said. "If were going to implement codes, how can we do it with their understanding and concern behind it? Owen responded.

Owen wrote in her application for the post that she is most intrigued by development in the Jefferson Street corridor and would like to get involved in making it a success for the community.

Sedgley took a liking to that answer.

Thats spot-on," he said. "A lot of us, me particularly, look at that. Especially north of Lincoln (Avenue), theres a lot of opportunity there.

Before starting her own firm, Owen worked as a design director in Napa from 2018 to 2021 at David Langon Construction, where she managed design decisions for new homes and contract work.

Owen spent the first part of her career at the San Francisco architectural firm Custom Home Studio, working on designing homes. Later, she pursued development and contracting work with Denova Homes in Pleasanton from 2015 to 2018, where she managed land acquisition and entitlements.

Other candidates for the Planning Commission included Eryn Ebach, a land-use and development planner, and attorney Alan (Chuck) Dell'Ario.

Richard Tippitt, an associate with GRID Design Build, also applied for the position. GRID was founded by Massaro and his wife, Lisa.
A Muslim mob in Pakistan on Wednesday (Aug. 7) attacked and tried to kill a Christian mother accused of blasphemy, sources said.

The mob in Kathore village, in Gojra tehsil of Faisalabad District, Punjab Province tried to kill Saima Masih, a 32-year-old mother of two children, after Muhammad Haider accused her of hurting Islamic religious sentiments by desecrating pages of the Quran, said attorney Akmal Bhatti, chairman of the Minorities Alliance Pakistan (MAP).

The mob would have lynched Saima if the police had not reached there on time and rescued her, Bhatti told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. The mob also reportedly attacked some other Christian residents of the village, forcing them to flee their homes and hide in the fields to save their lives.

The attorney and political leader said he and his team tried to reach the village as soon as they received information about the incident. There are 30 to 35 Christian families in the village.

When news of the alleged desecration spread, a crowd of nearly 250-300 Muslims blocked the main highway in protest, refusing to let anyone pass, Bhatti said.

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We contacted our sources in the village, and they informed us that the Muslims had beaten up some Christians, raising fears of violence against the community, he said.

Tensions were high due to the involvement of extremist Islamist groups, he said, adding that the Catholic mother has been arrested and charged, and her family has gone into hiding due to security fears.

Our sources in the village have told us that Saima denied desecrating the Quran, Bhatti said. She reportedly said that her neighbor, Haider, had asked her for an empty sack, which she gave him. However, after some time Haider returned with some other Muslims and accused her of placing defiled pages of the Quran in the sack, which she repeatedly denied.

He added that the allegation against the Christian woman could be rooted in a personal vendetta of her Muslim neighbors.

The MAP president said that the Gojra Saddar police registered a First Information Report (FIR No. 924/24) against Masih under Section 295-B for desecrating the Quran, which carries a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

According to the complainant, the accused woman put defiled pages of the Quran in a sack in front of her home, which he discovered as he worked collecting scrap paper.

The police saved Saimas life but registered a blasphemy case against her under the pressure of the mob, which is very unfair, Bhatti said. The poor woman will now have to suffer in prison for years while her two children will be deprived of her love and care.

He added that he regretted that the government was taking no action against blatant abuse of the blasphemy laws. The MAP chairman said that inaction against perpetrators of violence on the pretext of blasphemy allegations was emboldening Muslim extremists.

Christians in Punjab are increasingly being targeted through blasphemy accusations, yet our state is not bothered at all, he said. If the state had properly prosecuted the accused involved in the Jaranwala incident and the lynching of Nazeer Masih Gill in Sargodha, we could have seen some change in the situation, but unfortunately it seems all of this has some kind of official patronage or our state is too weak to confront these extremist groups.

Multiple churches and homes of Christians were ransacked and burned by Muslim mobs in Jaranwala on Aug. 16 after two Christian brothers were accused of writing blasphemous content and desecrating the Quran. While the brothers have been cleared of charges, most of the Muslim suspects in the attacks have been released on bail due to defective police investigation and weak follow-up by Christian leaders.

In Sargodha, all of the suspects in the lynching of the 74-year-old Gill and the burning of his house and small shoe-manufacturing factory have also been released on bail because of improper police investigation.

Samson Salamat, chairman of Rawadari Tehreek, or Movement for Equality, said the case against Saima Masih and the reported attempt to thwart planned protest gatherings by Christians on Minorities Day on Sunday (Aug. 11) by the Islamist Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) showed that the government lacked the political will to protect Christians from Muslim extremism.

The state claims it is committed to protecting us, but on the other hand our people continue to be victimized by the draconian blasphemy laws and we are being stopped from expressing our resentment against the misuse of the harsh laws, Salamat said. Our voices are being muzzled by the state through their proxy groups.

The Rawadari Tehreek has given a call for a hunger strike on Aug. 10-11 against religiously-motivated violence to draw global attention towards the persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan under the guise of violation of blasphemy laws.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.
Napa County Undersheriff Cullen Dodd came to work on Tuesday knowing full well how he would end his day: soaked from head to foot.

Dodd had volunteered to be a dunkee at a dunk tank set up at the Napa Valley College parking lot for National Night Out.

National Night Out is an annual event that encourages community-police partnerships, crime prevention and neighborhood camaraderie, according to a news release.

Tuesday afternoon, while perched on a thin red plank over a large tank of water, Dodd gamely waited for the inevitable splashdown as Napans of all ages lined up to dunk him. Over and over again.

You can't prepare for it, he said of the repeated immersions. It's just really fast  and all of a sudden you're in the water.

But he accepted it with a smile.

I gotta support our people who organized the afternoon event, and come out and see our wonderful community, said Dodd.

Many locals joined Napa's National Night Out on Tuesday night, hosted by the Napa County Sheriff's Office and Napa Police.

Visitors could see a police helicopter, motorcycles, talking drones, robots, a boat, a Jet Ski and even a SWAT vehicle. A scavenger hunt with prizes encouraged visitors to roam across the parking lot. Free games, activities, snacks and drinks were also offered.

Dozens of law enforcement groups and teams including a mounted posse, marine patrol, bomb squad, K-9 units, search and rescue, and crime scene investigations participated. Social service agencies and other nonprofits were also on site.

Justin Bolter of Napa brought his three children to the Napa National Night Out after picking them up from summer day camp. Let's go check it out, he told the kids.

Bolter said he wants his kids to know its good to support the police and all they do since they take care of us and help us out.

Deya Eusevio came to National Night Out with her kids because I wanted to get them out of the house, she said with a smile. While school starts next Wednesday, its still summer, this mom noted. As music played and a helicopter swirled above, she helped her children complete a scavenger hunt.

Venecia Cabrera of Napa said shes always looking for things to do with her kids, especially toward the end of the summer.

Napa is focused on tourists, but the city also needs less expensive activities for families and children to be able to do in the community, she said.

Events like National Night Out help people know who can advocate for them. If you get to know the officers, you have a connection and might feel more comfortable asking for help, she pointed out.

Napan Natasha Doyle said shes always been interested in law enforcement. In fact, she and a friend enrolled in the Napa sheriff's Citizens Academy last year.

Its a good idea to have such gatherings, she said. School-age kids need to understand that these are all safe people that they can call and be OK with talking to about problems (or) something happening that's wrong. There's people that they can trust.

National Night Out is a chance to interact with who's here protecting us, making sure everything's going smoothly with our town, said Fatima Mendoza of Napa.

Mendoza said she was impressed by the technology that law enforcement uses, such as an automatic CPR machine. I had no idea that they did that, Mendoza said.

Joanna Duran, 13, gave Napas National Night Out a thumbs-up.

I think it's really fun because there's a bunch of games, she said. It's really interesting how they have three robots. Its really cool.

Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Pann explained how the bomb squad robot works. We use the robot when we feel that it's unsafe to send in a person into a place or building, said Pann.

The robot can be used to pick up anything from a pipe bomb to an old grenade, or something that looks suspicious, Pann said. It can X-ray items and even travel up and down stairs.

There are many reasons to host National Night Out events, according to Pann.

It inspires young kids to see something like this, something to learn, something to be excited about, said Pann. I think it's cool for the community to get together with the police officers and the deputies  it kind of removes that barrier.

Some people in the community might only see us in the worst of circumstances, added Pann, and National Night Out events "kind of helps humanize the badge and build relationships.

Mark Renspurger II with the California Highway Patrol's Napa bureau echoed those comments.

There has been some distrust between the public with law enforcement over the years, he acknowledged.

Events like this really help bridge that gap (and) galvanize that idea of trusting the police in your community around the area that you live, said Renspurger.

Law enforcement wants to educate people about whom to call or contact for what kind of help or resources, he said.

Margo Slack of Napa and her two granddaughters were also at the college on Tuesday.

I think this is our third or fourth year attending the Napa National Night Out, said Slack. It's kind of nice that theyre learning about community services before any emergency happens, she added.

The girls remembered what they had learned at past events, such as what to do or say in an emergency, Slack said.

Matt Meyer staffed a booth for the Napa K9 Association, a nonprofit that was recently launched to raise funds to help care for Napa Police dogs, especially those that are retired.

Meyer was accompanied by Dex, a 7-year-old Dutch shepherd/Malinois born in the Netherlands. Dex was described as a tenacious worker (who) loves to bark and is certified in patrol and detection.

The dogs may look fierce, but theyre also typical family pets, explained Meyer. They go home with us every day. They sleep next to my bed. They play with my kids, he said.

Its good to get awareness out about police dogs and how they can help the community, Meyer added.

Mark Leonardi of the Michael Leonardi Foundation hosted a booth at the event as well. We want to make people aware of the dangers of fentanyl and what's in the drug supply, he said.

That included education and awareness but also giving out free Narcan and fentanyl testing kits.

Leonardi definitely supports such community events.

I myself did not know the amount of law enforcement divisions that we have  from hospital police to college police to the CHP to the helicopter guys  and who shares what responsibilities" he said. "Its great to know that they're all here and we're all working towards the same thing.

Photos: Napans meet up at National Night Out National Night Out 7 National Night Out 6 National Night Out 1 National Night Out 2 National Night Out 3 National Night Out 4 National Night Out 5 National Night Out 8 National Night Out 9 National Night Out 10 National Night Out 11
Counter protestors gathered en masse across England yesterday (Aug. 6), taking a public stand against far-right extremist riots. Many created human shields outside asylum centers and held placards daubed with a simple message: Refugees Welcome. Christian leaders in the U.K. and beyond applauded the gospel-like response.

The counter protestors appeared in their thousands, of varying ages, racial backgrounds and beliefs, reportedly including the cities and towns of Accrington, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Harrow, London, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, North Finchley, Oxford, Sheffield, Southend, Southampton and Walthamstow.

Reports say the counter protestors' initiative seemed to have quelled the racist and Islamophobic riots for now, while law courts have begun sentencing rioters for various offenses.

Commenting to Christian Daily International, Christian leaders applauded the heartening response by the counter protestors, highlighting that the message of welcoming immigrants reflects the values of the gospel. Churches have a particular role to lead by example in showing love as the situation evolves, they said.

Rev. Jan Wessels, General Secretary of the European Evangelical Alliance, commented, As our Lord Jesus Christ has called us in the Sermon on the Mount to be merciful and peace makers (Matthew 5:7-8), one of the marks of Good News People is their hospitality to strangers, i.e. migrants (Matthew 24:35).

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Contrasting the positive attitude of the counter protestors with the hatred displayed in the violent riots, Wessels emphasized, The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control instead of hatred, discord, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and other acts of the flesh (Galatians 5:22-23).

And the apostle Paul in the same letter admonishes us to do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:10)  and many of the migrants coming to Europe and to the U.K are indeed [believers].

Wessels also pointed to the importance of churches as centers of communications that will remain active beyond the momentary counter-demonstrations.

I think it is clear what the stance of followers of Jesus Christ and Christian churches is, and where their support should be as Good News People, and especially as communities of dialogue and reconciliation.

We really have a much 'higher' way: that of Love (1 Corinthians 13). That is where the Church has always been able to make a difference and even change difficult situations.

In the face of extremism, Wessels called upon Christians to reclaim their identities as people of the gospel, saying, Let us be that Good News People again: towards all those angry people and towards all those migrants that have left everything behind; risked their lives many times in search of peace, of security, of freedom, of a future for themselves and for their children.

Just imagine what we would do in their situation.

And then again, Jesus says: in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12), he said.

Echoing Wessel's comments, Dr. Krish Kandiah, director of the Sanctuary Foundation supporting refugees arriving in the U.K, said, It was very encouraging to see the streets of cities and towns of Britain filled with people peacefully demonstrating that they were against racism and xenophobia.

Many had banners that proclaimed that refugees are welcome. Christians believe that God is a God of welcome and mercy and so we should be using our voices to speak against xenophobia and racism and modeling the hospitality of God in our homes.

It has been a privilege to see so many Christians across the U.K. welcome and support refugees and asylum seekers in ongoing and practical ways.

Emily Shepherd, chief executive officer of Welcome Churches, a church-based charity supporting refugees, shared on social media that more than 50 churches held a call to explore their reaction to the far right riots.

It was SO encouraging to hear what churches have been doing around the country to support their communities at this time - from buddy systems for their refugee friends, to supporting shop owners, and A LOT of prayer! Shepherd said.

I was especially amazed to hear how many prayer meetings were happening across the country last night, as the protests were meant to be happening - I think we are seeing God answer those prayers today.

Police forces up and down the country staged the largest mobilization in their history yesterday, to control the situation in case the riots, sparked after the murder of three girls in Southport, Merseyside, happened again.

As Christian Daily International reported yesterday, the Christian Police Association had called upon fellow believers to pray for and support police officers who had to deal with the violent riots. The CPA's statement referenced James 5:16 that says, effectual and fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
14:45





In an exclusive interview with PTI, Joy said although 76-year-old Hasina would definitely return to Bangladesh, it is not yet decided whether she will be back as a "retired or active" politician. He also asserted that the members of the Sheikh Mujib (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) family will neither abandon its people nor leave the beleaguered Awami League in the lurch.





He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for protecting his mother and appealed to India to help build international opinion and exert pressure for the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh.





"Yes, it is true that I had said she wouldn't return to Bangladesh. But a lot has changed in the last two days following continuous attacks on our leaders and party workers across the country. Now we are going to do whatever it takes to keep our people safe; we are not going to leave them alone."





"Awami League is the largest and oldest political party in Bangladesh, so we cannot just walk away from our people. She will definitely return to Bangladesh once democracy is restored," he told PTI over the phone.





Terming Awami League as an "all-weather ally of India", he said India must ensure the security of Awami League leaders in Bangladesh by building international pressure. With Bangladesh set to get an interim government, Joy also urged it to restore law and order, noting that "the country is turning into a state of anarchy and becoming a second Afghanistan in the region."





He said he also expects the interim government to create a level playing field whenever democracy is restored and fresh elections are held.





"You cannot exclude the Awami League and have a representative democracy in Bangladesh ever. Whatever his (Mohammed Yunus) personal views are, he has said that he wants a government of unity and wants to move forward and not let the mistakes of the past cloud over the future. I hope he stays true to his word," he asserted.





Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus is set to take oath as the head of Bangladesh's interim government on Thursday. Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country following violent protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs.





She flew to the Hindon air base, near Delhi, in a Bangladesh military aircraft on Monday. Joy mentioned that once democracy is restored, either the Awami League or BNP will come to power, and the "Mujib family and Sheikh Hasina will be around."





"She has been in touch with all our party leaders for the last two days. My mother was going to retire anytime soon, so we thought now that she is gone, they (rioters) would leave our party people alone, but that did not happen. Instead, they started attacking," he said.

Sheikh Hasina, who quit as prime minister and fled Bangladesh, will be back in the country as soon as democracy is restored, his son Sajeeb Wazed Joy said on Thursday and blamed Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, for fuelling the ongoing unrest in the country.
Team China sealed four gold medals on day 13 of the Paris Olympics, with an athlete from Hong Kong breaking ground by becoming the SAR's first Olympian in his sport.Elsewhere, the megastars of American basketball narrowly survived, Pakistan made history with its first gold medal for an individual and there was a new world record in the women's 400 metre hurdles.Overall, China now sits second in the medal table with 29 golds, just behind the USA's 30. Hong Kong, China remains in 26th place.Hong Kong, Chinas Lo Wai-fung wasnt able to make a comeback in the mens Taekwondo 68kg category, losing to national team athlete Liang Yushuai in the repechage.Lo lost in the round of 16 to defending champion Ulugbek Rashitov of Uzbekistan, but was able to get into the contest for bronze because the Uzbek made it to the final. After becoming the first Hong Kong participant in Olympic taekwondo, he said he hoped to inspire others.China's Xie Siyi successfully defended his diving crown in men's 3m springboard, with teammate Wang Zongyuan taking silver.The result means the national team has now sealed six diving golds in its quest for a clean sweep in Paris, with just two more left to contest.China's weightlifter Luo Shifang set three new Olympic records as she claimed gold in the women's 59kg category. Luo, making her Olympic debut, lifted 107kg in the snatch and 134kg in the clean and jerk for a winning total of 241kg, all new highs at the Games.It's the third weightlifting gold for the national team in two days.The national team's Liu Hao and Ji Bowen surged to Olympic gold in the men's canoe double 500m race at Paris' Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.Italy's Gabriele Casadei and Carlo Tacchini took silver, while Spain's Joan Antoni Moreno and Diego Dominguez clinched bronze in a photo finish.China overpowered hosts France to book their place in the men's team table tennis final at the Paris Olympics. China will face Sweden in Friday's final, with France playing Japan for bronze.The national women's team will face Japan in Saturday's final after seeing off South Korea.Chinese boxer Chang Yuan dominated from the opening bell to land gold in the women's 54kg final. The 27-year-old from Hebei province landed a series of blows on her opponent, Turkey's Hatice Akbas, to win a unanimous points victory from the judges.Another Chinese fighter, Li Qian, made it to the women's 75kg final thanks to a victory by unanimous decision over Caitlin Parker of Australia in Friday's semi-final.The United States kept the dream alive with a stirring fourth quarter rally to tame feisty Serbia 95-91 and move into the men's basketball gold medal final against hosts France.Steph Curry made a three pointer for an 87-86 lead with around two minutes to go for the Americans' first lead since the first quarter, as they hung on for the victory.American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone obliterated her own 400 metres hurdles world record with a time of 50.37 seconds to retain her Olympic title.Earlier, Letsile Tebogo became the first African to win the Olympic 200 metres title when he powered clear of American duo Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles in 19.46 seconds to claim Botswana's first Olympic gold medal.Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem won the Olympic men's javelin title, his country's first individual gold at a Summer Games. Nadeem threw an Olympic record of 92.97 metres for victory ahead of India's defending champion Neeraj Chopra.All of Pakistan's previous three gold medals came in hockey, with their team winning gold in 1960, 1968 and 1984.France's Benjamin Thomas recovered from a late crash to win gold in a pulsating men's omnium race and send the home fans wild inside the National Velodrome.Earlier, New Zealand's Ellesse Andrews surged to gold in the Olympic track cycling women's keirin. The 24-year-old hit the front early, held off Britain's Emma Finucane around the final bend and powered across the line.
Doctoral student Alexander Koaw Zaczek works on one of three 600-gallon tanks holding largemouth bass at a research fishery south of Carbondale. SIU is working with partners using a $324,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve intensive aquaculture methods for the fish. BELOW: SIU research assistant Asyeh Sohrabifar, left, and Zaczek,run tests on samples at a lab on the SIU campus as part of the largemouth bass study. (Photos by Russell Bailey)

$345K SIU study focuses on how to keep farmed largemouth bass from eating their own

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill.  The largemouth bass is a popular sportfish among anglers, who know that familiar thump. But researchers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are looking to find better ways to farm it to the table for humans by keeping the infamously cannibalistic species decidedly off its own menu.

Using a two-year, $324,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, SIU researchers are working with Purdue University and local industry partner Big House Fish Farm on improving intensive aquaculture methods for largemouth bass and getting a more productive and predictable yield. The study will conclude this fall.

In addition to providing recreation, largemouth bass are also one of the most popular table fares, especially in live Asian markets. Largemouth bass have been farmed for nearly a century, although the target market typically is anglers fishing small lakes and impoundments for fishing.

In Southern Illinois, the market is growing, generating at least $3 million a year for local fish farmers with room for more, said Jim Garvey, director of the Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences at SIU and a co-leader of the study along with Habibollah Fakhraei, assistant professor of environmental engineering. The acceptance of largemouth bass as a food fish in live markets is relatively new, and raising them in high densities to maximize production in small ponds has presented challenges.

Largemouth bass are top predators in lakes and are not really adapted to living at high densities, Garvey said. In the wild, they eat live prey and often eat each other. Its not unusual for a pond containing a bunch of little bass to produce one or two surviving big bass that have eaten their brothers and sisters.

The research, therefore, is aimed at determining ways to increase survival by reducing cannibalism in largemouth bass while encouraging them to eat formulated feeds.

A team effort

Along with Garvey, SIU researcher Hannah Holmquist, research assistant Asyeh Sohrabifar, post-doctoral student Giovanni Molinari, and doctoral student Alexander Koaw Zaczek are working on the project, which takes place in nine ponds near SIUs Touch of Nature Environmental Education Center south of Carbondale.

Zaczek said the team is using three of the ponds to supply water to three 600-gallon tanks holding largemouth bass. Researchers also partitioned three other ponds to keep the fish separated, while three other ponds hold control group fish. The team is studying how the various holding methods impact the fishes survival and growth.

Fencing and netting prevent hungry local predators such as otter, great blue heron and great egret from enjoying the buffet, which totaled more than 11,000 fish at the projects outset. Strict protocols govern the researcher teams day-to-day interaction with the specimens and include feeding, cleaning, aeration, waste management, equipment maintenance and other factors, Zaczek said.

Close quarters being the order of the day, the team takes a particular interest in nitrogen cycles of each enclosure, watching for signs of trouble with the waste generated by the fish overwhelming the environment.

The team collects samples daily and weekly to run lab tests and monitor nutrient data and other factors, Zaczek said.

We're looking to see, particularly in the split-ponds, if the ammonia that is generated by the fish waste is processed via the nitrogen cycle and more conducive to fish health compared to the control ponds, he said. Basically, the hope is that the ammonia released by the fish is broken down into nitrite and then nitrate in the non-fish-containing portion of the ponds so that the returned water to the fish of the pond contains minimal to no ammonia.

Cutting down on cannibalism?

Encouraging fish to eat more evenly across the population might prove easier in denser populations, Zaczek said.

Were trying to get all the fish to take to the feed early, he said. In a big pond, where the fish are spread out, it becomes more difficult to ensure even feeding, and its harder to get fish to take to the feed early. The fish that do take to the feed early get a head start, grow big and are more likely to eat their cohorts.

With the fish living in such conditions, cannibalism can certainly take a bite out of the bottom line. Discouraging this behavior in largemouth bass is a challenge, Zaczek said.

Well, thats something easier said than done, he said. The hope is the confined space and higher fish density will cause the fish to take to the feed better and eat more similarly, which also would encourage similar growth rates. They are less likely to eat each other if they are the same size.

A growing market

With largemouth bass becoming a more popular culinary item, Zaczek said, the teams research could help open important revenue paths for fish farmers. If either the tank-side or split-pond method prove to be more efficient, producers efforts might result in more fish surviving at more predictable sizes.

Success also might lead to other fish farmers experimenting with such methods on their own properties using other common species found in aquaculture such as catfishes.

Buyers are happier if fish are of similar size, and sellers are happier when they are capable of delivering more product, he said. As in most industries, efficiency is always the goal in aquaculture.

(Note to editors: Zazcek is pronounced ZAY-check; Asyeh Sohrabifar is pronounced ah-SEE-yeh soh-RAH-bee-far).
A leading evangelical body in Switzerland has lambasted the creation of the Sarco pod as the latest invention to assist people choosing to die  as the first person to use the suicide chamber is reported missing after concerns emerged about her mental health.

Person X, aged 55, as the American woman listed to euthanize herself on July 17 is known, had traveled to Switzerland, according to reports, but Zurich Cantonal Police confirmed that her current whereabouts were unknown. Reports say she had been told that she was not a suitable euthanasia candidate for the capsule, dubbed the Tesla of death by popular media due to its visual appearance - although there is no association with Elon Musk's electric car manufacturer.

A press release for euthanasia rights group Exit International confirmed that Philip Nitschke, 76, inventor of the Sarco pod and known in popular press as Dr Death, said the arranged suicide had been permanently postponed because of the womans deteriorating mental health.

Given her situation, it is clear that this is a person who should now be receiving mental health care, rather than any suicide assistance, Nitschke reportedly said.

Nitschke had been warned by prosecutors in the Swiss Schaffhausen Canton that he faced legal repercussions if the assisted suicide went ahead, although the Swiss Criminal Code allows someone to help a person to die if the motives are altruistic.

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Designed to be 3D printed anywhere

The original suicide death capsule designer Alexander Bannink, from Alexander Bannink Industrial Design, in Heemstede, Netherlands told Christian Daily International that he did not want to comment on the death capsule project, which he has not been involved in for the past three years: In the beginning, to my understanding, this project was not what it currently has become.

He emphasized strongly that he wanted to distance himself completely from discussing the project unless he received a signed declaration of consent from Nitschke.

Christian Daily International also reached out to the designer of the third iteration of the pod (Sarco 3.0) based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. No response had been received at the time of publication.

Similarly, a request for comment sent to Nitschke about the project remained unanswered to date.

Nitschke has previously commented that people told him the strong association in Europe between gassing someone to death in a Sarco pod and the gas death chambers used in the Holocaust would be too strong. Yet, he found that it doesnt seem to be so bad after all.

The Sarco website explains, however, that the pod is not actually a gas chamber as it involves a low oxygen environment, rather than poisonous gas. The pod allegedly kills someone within five to ten minutes as it produces a rapid decrease in oxygen levels while keeping low carbon dioxide levels at the same time, akin to the experience of an airplane depressurising.

The pod had been inspired by Tony Nicklinson, from the U.K. who had locked-in syndrome and his lawyers asked Nitschke to explore technology to help him die. He suffered a serious stroke in 2005 leaving him paralyzed and he died of pneumonia in August 2012, after refusing food, and in the company of his wife and daughters.

The Sarco's inventors suggest that the pod is intended to be used anywhere, with the help of 3D printing, taking a month to print and at a cost of 17,000 Euros (18,000 USD).

According to the Sarco website, All you have to do as a patient is answer three questions to determine your presence of mind. Who are you? Where are you? And do you know what happens when you push the red button?

'Life is gift of God', 'man not meant to control death'

Meanwhile the Schweizerische Evangelische Allianz (SEA), the body uniting evangelicals in Switzerland, stated that they unequivocally reject any form of assisted suicide regardless of the chosen method.

What particularly irritates us about the suicide capsule and the organisation behind it is the attitude that control over one's own death is a fundamental human right, SEA spokeswoman Daniela Baumann said. For us, man is the administrator and not the owner of life: life is a gift from God and man has no right of disposal over it.

The spokeswoman also expressed concerns about the seeming commercialisation of suicide methods.

Yes, we see a danger that suicide will be trivialised and banalised and that the decision will not be examined seriously enough. This can be seen, for example, in the fact that the promoters of the suicide capsule do not want to involve a doctor. This contrasts with the current methods of assisted suicide in Switzerland, where a doctor must always be involved.

However, the spokeswoman was less concerned that Sarco will be adopted widely across Switzerland and further afield.

We are sceptical that this will happen: Some cantons have already made it clear that they will not authorise the use of the suicide capsule on their territory. Other euthanasia organizations have also expressed their opposition.

As Christians, we should not only speak out against the use of Sarco, but also explain that we are in favor of life and why: because life is a gift from God; because God gives every human being, as his image, unlosable and inviolable dignity and accepts and loves them regardless of illness, disability or other suffering.

Baumann also opined that extremely unwell people, feeling desperate enough to kill themselves via a Sarco capsule or any other method, can be helped if the appropriate medical and pastoral care is provided, according to the type of suffering.

In the case of an incurable illness, palliative care can alleviate the symptoms. Also, psychological and pastoral support and counseling, understanding and compassion can help a person to cope better with their suffering and, ideally, regain a sense of purpose and joy in life.

Reflecting on the reality that assisted suicide has been an accepted practice in Switzerland for decades, Baumann asked for prayers, for a society that recognises the value and dignity of every life and makes decisions about assisted suicide on this basis. And for people who want to die to be able to experience themselves as people loved and wanted by God, regardless of their life situation.

This article discusses suicide. If you struggle with suicidal ideation, there is help available.

Correction Aug 28, 2024: Upon request, the name of the designer has been removed from the article for reasons of personal safety.
Higher ed veteran named SIU Carbondale associate provost for student success

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Shelly Gehrke, who has more than 20 years in higher education experience in academic success and enrollment management initiatives, will become Southern Illinois University Carbondales associate provost for student success, effective Sept. 9.

The associate provost for student success provides strategic leadership and a focus on innovation for institution-wide Saluki student success initiatives that will inspire the faculty, students and staff to greater academic excellence. Creating and filling the position aligns well with SIUs Imagine 2030 strategic plan, which includes improving student retention and creating a strategy for fostering post-graduation success, said Sheryl Tucker, SIU Carbondale provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.

I am delighted that Dr. Shelly Gehrke will be joining SIU to coordinate and elevate our student success efforts, Tucker said. Her many years of successful experience in various student-facing roles will provide foundational knowledge of best practices as she collaborates with campus partners to enhance the ultimate success of our students as they graduate and move into the workforce. We look forward to introducing Dr. Gehrke to the broader campus and local communities this fall.

Gehrkes hire follows a national search, which included on-campus interviews in July. People who interacted with Gehrke were impressed by her extensive experience and track record of success.

I am excited to collaborate across the SIU campus and within the regional community to provide holistic support for students, Gehrke said. By leveraging our strengths and expertise, we can enhance equity and access, offering students greater opportunities to clarify and achieve their goals.

She emphasized the importance of enhancing the student experience throughout the entire collegiate journey.

Student success is not just an individual achievement; it creates a ripple effect that transforms lives and benefits the entire community, she said. Student success is our success!

Gehrkes experience includes nearly 14 years at Emporia State University in Kansas, where her roles included vice president for enrollment management and student success. Among her accomplishments was restructuring student services to strengthen the seamless, holistic focus on student recruitment, access, success and graduation with intentional student support wraparound initiatives.

Gehrkes professional experience also includes serving as director of academic advising at the University of Minnesotas Institute of Technology and academic adviser at The University of Texas at Austins College of Natural Sciences.

She earned her doctorate in higher education administration and masters degree in college and university student personnel administration, both from The University of Texas at Austin, and bachelors degrees in environmental science and public relations from Stephen F. Austin University.
BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], August 8: The Open Group, the vendor-neutral technology standards organization, unveiled winners of the Awards for Innovation & Excellence 2024, recognizing outstanding achievements in the adoption of open standards and open source software. The ceremony took place in New Delhi recently, where industry experts and technology enthusiasts assembled for The Open Group NextGen Digital for the Techade event. The Open Group India Awards celebrates industry excellence, innovative practices, leadership qualities, and contributions to society across South East Asia, India, the Middle East, and Africa. A jury panel comprising of thirty expert executives from seven nations held the judging responsibilities. All nominations are assessed for effective adoption of open standards across banking and insurance, agriculture, oil and energy, sustainability, transformative programs for women, and many more. The INITIATE Enterprise Architecture (EA) Student Competition was also featured, garnering 22 teams from a range of universities. The competition aims to deepen students' understanding of EA by challenging students to solve practical business problems with guidance from experts. Steve Nunn, President & CEO, The Open Group commented: "Open standards are instrumental in fostering global collaboration, facilitating international product and service exchange, enhancing regulatory compliance, and promoting interoperability. We're delighted to see so many successful use cases enter and be recognized by The Open Group India Awards." Dr Pallab Saha, General Manager, The Open Group India, stated: "The winners have demonstrated the use of open standards and have benefitted from them, becoming examples and role models for the wider industry." To find out more about The Open Group India Awards and the winners, please click here. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
NewsVoir New Delhi [India], August 8: 30% of Nifty 100 companies, including marquee names such as Kotak, Cholamandalam, Titan, Trent, and many more, use apna.co for their diverse hiring needs, forming a significant part of their growing base of paying customers. Apna.co has facilitated 1000+ job applications per day in the last 12 months for these companies. Of these applications, 50% were for roles in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sectors, while other sectors gaining traction included Automotive, Retail, Consumer Durables, and Information Technology. Interestingly, nearly half the job postings were for roles in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities such as Jabalpur, Rajkot, Indore, Lucknow, Guwahati, Raipur, Varanasi, and Visakhapatnam, indicating a growing demand beyond metro areas. Non-metro cities contributed to 45% of the job applications coming from these regions, showcasing a rising talent pool in smaller cities. Key roles in demand included Financial Advisor, Field Sales Executive, Retail Store Manager, Financial Consultant, Life Insurance Advisor & Customer Support Executive amongst others. Notably, 35% of the job applications were from women applying for roles such as Financial Consultant, Telesales Executive, HR Executive, Retail Relationship Manager and Customer Care Executive. This highlights increased female participation in securing positions at large corporations. This trend aligns with the Periodic Labour Force Survey, which showed that the participation rate of women in the workforce grew from 23.3% in 2017 to 37% in 2023. Additionally, around 50% of young job seekers with 0-6 months of experience have shown keen interest in roles posted by Nifty companies. All these achievements are a result of apna's consistent effort & commitment to finding quality talent from large metros to smaller towns across 850+ cities in India. apna's cutting-edge AI matchmaking algorithm has empowered over 5 Crore candidates and 7 lakh employers with opportunities across 200+ job categories. Features like hyperlocal search, bulk WhatsApp message integration, and a candidate walk-in feature have connected, and continue to connect, companies with millions of relevant candidates efficiently, saving significant time, costs, and resources. All of this has attracted a growing base of enterprise paying customers. Speaking on this development, Nirmit Parikh, CEO of apna.co, said, "Apna.co is not just connecting job seekers with employers; we are building the foundation for India's next billion. By empowering top Nifty 100 companies and driving economic progress across Metros, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, we are paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future. Our enterprise business has seen substantial growth, with the number of paid customers increasing by 40% year-on-year. This reflects our successful shift towards monetization while continuing to expand our reach and impact." Founded in 2019, apna.co is India's largest early talent hiring platform dedicated to helping India's rising workforce unlock unique professional networking and skilling opportunities. Apna is on a mission to enable livelihoods for billions in India. With more than 5 Crore candidates in 850+ cities and counting and more than 7 Lakh employers that trust the platform, India has a new destination to discover relevant opportunities, enabling jobs in 200+ categories across industries. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 8: Positron Energy Limited, engaged in the Management & Technical Advisory Services of Oil and Gas Industry, has announced its plan to go public with an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on August 12, 2024. The company is aiming to raise Rs 51.21 Crores at the upper band through this IPO, with shares set to be listed on the NSE Emerge platform. * Total Issue Size - 20,48,400 Equity Shares of Rs 10 each * Issue Size - Rs 51.21 Crores (At Upper Band) * Price Band - Rs 238 - Rs 250 Per Share * Lot Size - 600 Equity Shares The issue size is Up To 20,48,400 equity shares at face value of Rs 10 each. * Equity Share Allocation * QIB Anchor Portion - Not more than 5,83,200 Equity Shares * Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIB) - Not More than 3,88,800 Equity Shares * Non-Institutional Investors (NII) - Not Less than 2,92,200 Equity Shares * Retail Individual Investors (RII) - Not Less than 6,81,600 Equity Shares * Market Maker - 1,02,600 Equity Shares The net proceeds from the IPO will be utilized to meet working capital requirements, and general corporate purposes. The bidding for Anchor portion will open on August 09, 2024, the issue will open for subscription for all other category from August 12, 2024 and closes on August 14, 2024. The Book Running Lead Manager to the Issue is Beeline Capital Advisors Private Limited. The Registrar to the Issue is Link Intime India Private Limited. Rajiv Shankarankutty Menon, Managing Director of Positron Energy Limited expressed, "Our dedication to providing comprehensive solutions for gas distribution and management consultancy services has established Positron Energy Limited as a distinguished leader in the oil and gas sector. Our services are consistent round the year. We are a quality conscious company. We are constantly striving to expand our service portfolio and we always look forward to complementing projects of our clients. Our Company has entered into collaboration agreement with ICOM North America LLC (New Hudson, MI) for installation of ICOM Dual Fuel LNG conversion systems in on-road trucks weighing over 3.5 tons in India. The new system will result in reduction in emissions with the utilization of LNG contributing to environmental sustainability. The dual-fuel system allows for cost-effective operation with the flexibility of fuel ratios. The fund raised will be primarily used for funding of working capital requirement." operating conditions, ensuring optimal performance and reliability. We are currently in the process of obtaining technical approvals from the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 8: SIP Academy celebrated its 21st Anniversary on 5th Aug by announcing creation of two more Miyawaki forests in India - one in Bangalore and one in Haryana. SIP Academy had previously created two Miyawaki forests successfully - one in Thiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu and another in Jalgaon, Maharashtra.

The initiative aims to sensitize the upcoming generation about climate change and the importance of nurturing the environment they live in.

"SIP Academy has completed 21 years of impacting children's potential positively. Over these 21 years, we have trained over 1 million children.We have also strived to give back to society in any way possible. With Miyawaki forests we seek to inspire and cultivate the importance of nurturing the environment to tackle climate change among kids.", said Dinesh Victor, Managing Director of SIP Academy.

SIP Academy is a well known skill development firm for children with four programs - SIP Abacus, Globalart India and CriCo in the B2C space and Mikids in the B2B space. Established in 2003 at Chennai, SIP Academy operates 1000+ franchises with more than eighty percent being run by women. SIP academy is present in 24 states in India and also expanding abroad with presence in 11 countries. Along with Miyawaki forests, SIP Academy is also involved in other CSR initiatives to support skill development and education.

For more information about SIP Academy, please visit: sipacademyindia.com

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN New Delhi [India], August 8: greytHR, a full-suite HRMS provider, announced that it has secured its largest investment, in the Series F funding round, from Apax Digital Fund II ("the Apax Digital Funds"), advised by Apax, a leading global private equity advisory firm. The company will use the funds to leverage the significant growth opportunities in the cloud-based HR software market. greytHR offers 40+ tools for automating HR, payroll, leave & attendance, and performance management, along with an employee self-service portal and mobile app. Serving over 23,000 customers in 25+ countries, it is a comprehensive HR ecosystem featuring HR professionals, experts, and chartered accountants. greytHR's customer-centric services include a community, training academy, compliance website, resources, webinars, and an award-winning podcast series. "We're excited to welcome Apax as part of our growth journey, marking a significant milestone for greytHR. This substantial investment will enable us to further enhance our product portfolio by adding more strategic HR modules focused on recruitment and talent management. We also plan to accelerate growth and expansion into new customer segments, cementing our position as a market leader. We look forward to further accelerating our growth with the backing of Apax and our continuing shareholders Info Edge and GMO. Greytip wouldn't be where it is today without the support of our customers, resellers, affiliates, and the entire greytHR community. We thank them for their support and confidence in us," said Girish Rowjee, Co-founder & CEO of greytHR. "This funding provides a significant boost to our plans for enhancing the customer experience and advancing our research and development initiatives. We are committed to continuously enhancing our platform to meet and exceed the dynamic needs of our users, ensuring they gain unparalleled value and efficiency from our offerings. Through our world-class HR tech solutions, we have already started adding and building out AI-enabled modules and other value-added services to help our customers optimize their investment in greytHR," added Sayeed Anjum, Co-founder & CTO of greytHR. Mark Beith, Partner and Shashwat Shukla, Vice President at Apax Digital, commented: "Small and mid-sized companies are pillars of the economy but have been underserved by legacy payroll and HCM solutions. greytHR enables businesses to save time and money by moving from complex and error-prone manual work to an automated and accurate next-gen solution with a mobile-first interface that delights employees. Drawing on our experience in the sector from previous Apax Fund investments, such as Paycor and Zellis, and having tracked the company for over two years, we are thrilled to partner with Girish, Sayeed, and their team to take greytHR to new peaks." greytHR's team, now present across India, has been a key part of its success, laying a strong foundation for the company's achievements. As greytHR looks to the future, the team remains committed and will continue to push the boundaries of innovation and deliver even greater value to customers. About greytHR (https://www.greythr.com/): greytHR is a full-suite HRMS platform that simplifies, expedites, and even automates complex, recurring, and yet critical functions of HR and payroll, in a compliant and secure way. greytHR offers productivity tools for better people management, simpler HR processes, and professional delivery of HR and payroll services. While it has a vast portfolio of HR products, greytHR's deep product expertise lies in administrative HR, payroll, workforce management, and employee engagement. The platform also offers an app marketplace (to enable affinity use cases), mobile employee self-service, and lossless implementation. While other HR products barely scratch the surface, greytHR has productized deep and complex HR tasks. greytHR software is currently used by 23,000+ organizations and 2.3 million users across India and 25+ countries. greytHR has grown to almost 700 employees, serving India, the Middle East, and beyond, with a fast-expanding partner network. About Apax and Apax Digital The Apax Digital Funds specialize in growth equity and growth buyout investments in high-growth enterprise software, data, and technology-enabled services companies worldwide. The Apax Digital team leverages Apax's deep tech investing expertise, global platform, and specialized operating experts, to enable technology companies and their management teams to accelerate the achievement of their full potential. For further information, please visit www.apaxdigital.com. Apax Partners LLP ("Apax") is a leading global private equity advisory firm. For over 50 years, Apax has worked to inspire growth and ideas that transform businesses. The firm has raised and advised funds with aggregate commitments of more than $77 billion. These funds provide long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. For further information, please visit www.apax.com. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL Amritsar (Punjab) [India], August 8: On a heartwarming afternoon, the International Youth Development Foundation (IYDF) partnered with Amritsar Foundation to host a special charity event at The Central Khalsa Orphanage. This event, organized by Mr. Gurinder Singh Johal, aimed to provide essential supplies and emotional support to underprivileged children. The event saw the enthusiastic participation of volunteers Khusbu, Manmeet Kaur, Sunny, and Shallu, who dedicated their time and effort to ensure the success of the initiative. They provided a variety of supplies, including drawing books, sketch pencils, watercolor sets, notebooks, biscuits, chocolates, chips, badminton rackets, and shuttlecocks. These items were generously donated by the Amritsar Foundation and aimed at enhancing the children's daily lives and educational experiences. The Central Khalsa Orphanage, a highly respected charitable institution, is chaired by Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjer. The event was attended by 26 children who received the donations with joy and gratitude. The day's activities included poetry recitals and drawing competitions, which brought smiles and laughter to the children, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere. Gurinder Singh Johal expressed his heartfelt emotions at the conclusion of the event, stating, "Spending time with these children and witnessing their dreams and hopes for the future was a deeply rewarding experience. Their joy and enthusiasm are truly inspiring, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in their lives." He emphasized the importance of supporting vulnerable children, particularly girls, and expressed his desire to continue participating in IYDF's initiatives to bring hope and assistance to more children in need. Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjer, speaking on behalf of the orphanage, expressed profound gratitude for the support and generosity shown by IYDF and Amritsar Foundation. "The aid we received today will significantly improve the daily lives of our children. The love and care demonstrated by the volunteers have given our children new hope and inspiration," he said. The successful execution of this event underscores the importance of community involvement and the positive impact of collective efforts. The IYDF and Amritsar Foundation have set a powerful example of how organizations can work together to support and uplift vulnerable children. Looking ahead, IYDF and Amritsar Foundation are committed to continuing their collaboration, aiming to extend their reach and provide even more comprehensive support to children in need. This event has not only brought immediate relief and joy to the children but has also highlighted the enduring power of compassion and community spirit. Through such impactful initiatives, IYDF and Amritsar Foundation strive to foster a society where every child can thrive and achieve their full potential. They call on more organizations and individuals to join their mission, ensuring that every child receives the care, support, and opportunities they deserve. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) launched its inaugural "IACC-MSME Centre of Excellence" on Thursday at the KCG auditorium, i-HUB campus in Ahmedabad. The Centre of Excellence was inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, during his address, emphasized the role of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Gujarat's economy. Patel said, "With 19.80 lakh registered MSMEs operating in Gujarat, MSMEs are the backbone of the economy. Under the guidance of the Prime Minister, the quality of ancillary services including electricity, roads and roads has improved in the state. As a result, Gujarat has become the first choice location for setting up the industry. IACC's 'Centre of Excellence for MSME' will further strengthen India-US industrial relations. The government is making responsible efforts for the development of industries in Gujarat." Patel added, "1.07 crore people are getting employment through it. Having 5 per cent land area in the country, Gujarat contributing 8.63 per cent to GDP is a matter of pride for all of us." Chief Minister Patel reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of providing a global platform for Gujarat's industries, referencing the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. Patel said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's idea is to provide a global platform to the industries of Gujarat in the foundation of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit." Speaking on the occasion, IACC President Pankaj Bahora highlighted the significance of the Chief Minister's presence as a testament to the strong industrial ties between Gujarat and the United States. The Centre is designed to provide micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with essential skills and knowledge to navigate global markets and enhance their export capabilities. This initiative is part of IACC's broader strategy to bolster US-India economic relations by addressing the challenges faced by Indian MSMEs and facilitating their access to the American market. Pankaj Bohra, National President of IACC, highlighted the significance of the Centre, stating, "The launch of the IACC- MSME Centre of Excellence marks a significant step towards empowering MSMEs to tap into the vast opportunities presented by the US market." He added, "By addressing the challenges faced by exporters and providing them with the necessary tools and guidance, we aim to build a robust supply chain from India to the US. We will also connect them with American companies. This initiative will go a long way in supporting the growth of Indian MSMEs. We aim to launch similar Centres of Excellence in many more cities." The IACC has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the National Skill Development Corporation and other organizations dedicated to supporting MSMEs. Additionally, the IACC is working in collaboration with the US Embassy to ensure the success of this initiative. The launch event will feature a day-long Conference on MSMEs, with sessions focusing on key areas such as empowering MSMEs for future-ready exports, the availability of export finance, and export incentives and benefits. Key industry leaders will share their insights, providing valuable information and resources to help MSMEs navigate the complexities of international trade. (ANI)
PRNewswire Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], August 8: Nava Limited, a leading diversified conglomerate with business interests in metals, energy, mining, commercial agriculture, and healthcare is pleased to announce its financial results for the quarter ended 30th June 2024. Key Highlights * Maamba Energy Limited (formerly Maamba Collieries Limited) has started discharging the dues to Nava Bharat (Singapore) Pte Ltd (NBS)* NBS paid maiden dividend of US$ 10 Mn to Nava Limited, since its investment in Maamba Energy Limited* NAVA declares interim dividend of Rs. 4 per share* Achieved highest-ever quarterly Income and PBT of Rs. 1258.4 cr and Rs. 530.8 cr respectively* PAT increased to Rs. 445.9 cr aided by strong operational performance of Energy division in India & Zambia and supported by increased realisations in FAP & Mining divisions* Increase in Consolidated Profit by 30.1% and Consolidated Revenue by 16.7%, Y-o-Y* Increase in Standalone Profit by 80.0% and Standalone Revenue by 24.4%, Y-o-Y NAVA is delighted to announce its quarterly results, reflecting significant financial growth and strategic advancements. The impressive performance can be attributed to the diversified portfolio and robust business model, enabling it to navigate market volatility effectively. Strategic focus on operational efficiency and cost optimization has yielded positive outcomes, ensuring sustained profitability. Financial Performance Highlights: * Improved profitability and free cash flows across all business verticals enhancing the shareholder value, generating reserves for future growth capital and higher dividend payouts.* Standalone total income witnessed revenue and PAT growth of 24.4% and 80.0% respectively Y-o-Y with increased demand for power and higher operational parameters of all power plants* MEL 300 MW power plant operated at a record 100% plant availability and 99.9% PLF.* NBEIL's 150 MW power plant operated at a healthy PLF of 91.2%* Metals division has witnessed overall positive contributions with spurt of prices in May 24.* Mining division sustained coal sales and revenues Standalone Performance * Revenue and profitability growth were aided by excellent operational performance of all power plants aided by bilateral contracts and higher merchant tariffs* Energy division reported increase in revenue and PBT by 21.8% and 63.8% respectively* Telangana Operations - blended coal costs are expected to come down through coal from multiple sources* Metals division reported PBT of Rs. 23.2 cr Vs Rs. (1.6) cr for June 23 with the higher realisations* Product diversification of Ferro Silicon has yielded positive results* Captive power was opportunistically diverted for merchant sale at higher tariffs in April and May months.* Odisha Operations - received insurance claim of Rs. 15.1 cr for the accidental outage in FY 2024. Consolidated Performance Maamba Energy Limited (MEL) - Formerly Maamba Collieries Limited (MCL): * Operational Excellence: MEL achieved close to 100% Plant Load Factor (PLF), showcasing exceptional operational efficiency.* Distributions to sponsors: MEL has commenced discharge of outstanding dues to the Sponsors, paying US$ 40.8 Mn to both the sponsors since Apr 24* Mining division has maintained the external coal sales and optimum supplies to power plant* Total income and profits grew by 6.6% & 9.2% respectively to Rs. 559.3 cr and 254.7 cr respectively.* Organic Expansion: MEL is set to commence construction for additional 300 MW by mid-August which is expected to be completed in 2 - 2.5 years. The project has a capital outlay of US$400 million, with a debt of US$300 Mn and equity of US$ 100 Mn to be funded by its sponsors - NBS and ZCCM-IH. * Signed a 20 year Power Purchase Agreement with ZESCO - year 1 tariff would be US$ 9.5 cents /kWh.* Appointed Runh Power as EPC contractor* Tie up for long term debt aided by Anchor loan of US$ 200 Million from NAPSA* Loans have no recourse to NAVA and are purely project finance based. Nava Bharat Energy India Limited (NBEIL): * 150 MW power plant operated at a PLF of 91.2% during the quarter Vs 60.7% for June 23* Received coal allotment of 4.0 lakh MT from Singareni Collieries Co Ltd under Shakti B-III scheme, landed costs to come down aiding the competitiveness in low tariff market.* Recorded total income of Rs. 201.5 cr and PBT of Rs. 68.2 cr for the quarter with a cash balance of Rs. 77.7 cr which is a significant financial turnaround for the Company. Agribusiness: Nava Avocado Limited has successfully completed plantation in Division A with 91,500+ trees. Planting in Division B with 100,000 trees to commence in Oct/Nov 24. The growth of the planted trees and the ones in the nursery are good and healthy. The farm is set to get grid power and road connectivity shortly, paving way for other lucrative growth opportunities in commercial agriculture and processing. Ashwin Devineni, CEO of NAVA Limited, commented on the results saying, "We are thrilled with our performance this quarter, which is a testament to our strategic focus and operational excellence. The rebranding of Maamba Collieries to Maamba Energy Limited signifies our commitment to energy production and growth. The upcoming Phase-2 expansion is a significant milestone that will further strengthen our position in the energy sector. Additionally, our efforts in sustainable agriculture with the avocado plantation align with our long-term vision of environmental stewardship and community development." "We remain dedicated to our long-term goals, including further diversification and global expansion. The strategic advancements made this quarter are in line with our vision of becoming a leading player in the industry. Our efforts to strengthen our supply chain, optimize resource utilization, and foster sustainable practices underscore our commitment to achieving sustained growth and creating value for our stakeholders," he added. Quantitative Table of Operational Data (Sales Qty): About Nava Limited: Nava Limited founded in 1972, is a listed MNC with business interests in metals, energy, mining, healthcare and commercial agriculture. Nava is one of the leading Ferroalloy producers in India, with about 175,000 MT capacity per annum. Besides India, Nava operates Zambia's largest mine-to-mouth powerplant. As a multinational company today, Nava is investing into commercial agriculture with one of the largest avocado plantations in Zambia and into emerging businesses such as Healthcare in South-East Asia, creating a strong global footprint. For more information about the Company and its businesses, please visit www.navalimited.com For More Information, Contact:Mr. VSN RajuCompany Secretary and Vice PresidentNava LimitedTel: +91 40 23403501/+91 40 67283333mail id: investorservices@navalimited.com Nava will host a conference call to discuss the quarterly financial results in detail on the 08th of August 2024 at 4.30pm (IST). Investors and others may visit our website for more details. Media Contact for Nava Limited:Ms. Lisa Rufus G.Ph: +91 91542 40656 Note: This document may contain forward-looking statements about the Company & its subsidiaries, which are based on the beliefs, opinions and expectations of the Company's management as of the date of this press release. The company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Consequently, readers should not place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The information provided in this press release is based on the financial data available at the time of drafting. Any updates or revisions to the financial results may not be reflected in this document. Please refer to the official financial statements and disclosures released by NAVA LIMITED for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2272192/4394670/Nava_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN Toronto (Ontario) [Canada], August 8: SkyTrust, a known name in the digital industry, is bringing in The SkyTrust Network, a data-driven platform designed exclusively for BDMs worldwide. This network provides BDMs with top-notch tools, insights, and resources, that'll ultimately help them drive growth and success. The SkyTrust Network is pushing the "platform working culture" - something that never existed before. Apparently, the platform stands out as a comprehensive digital ecosystem that empowers BDMs to navigate the complexities of today's dynamic environment. With a primary focus on enhancing efficiency and delivering actionable intelligence, the Network is set to become an indispensable asset for BDMs aiming to excel in their existing roles. Features that make SkyTrust Network standout * Platform Culture: The SkyTrust Network offers a culture that promotes the concept of "digital nomads" - meaning you get to work from wherever you want, whenever you want. * Advanced Analytics and Insights: SkyTrust Network is powered by cutting-edge analytics tools that offer deep insights into market trends and competitive landscapes. * Resource Hub: The network houses a comprehensive resource hub featuring industry reports, case studies, and best practices, ensuring BDMs have unlimited access to the latest strategies. * Customized Dashboard: SkyTrust Network offers a feature-packed dashboard that allows BDMs to track their performance, monitor key metrics, and stay on top of their priorities. * Seamless Integration: It integrates seamlessly with existing CRM systems, ensuring a smooth and efficient workflow for BDMs. "At SkyTrust, we are all about digital transformation. The launch of SkyTrust Network marks a significant milestone in our quest to empower business development professionals with the tools they always needed to thrive in this ever-evolving industry," said Prabhjot Rajput, Co-founder & Director at SkyTrust IT Solutions. "We believe that this platform will revolutionize how BDMs approach their roles, fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth," said Anshul Bhardwaj, Co-founder at SkyTrust IT Solutions. As businesses continue to find their way to the top in this over-competitive market, SkyTrust Network acts as a beacon of innovation and support for BDMs looking forward to making a significant contribution. With its launch, SkyTrust stands to its commitment to empowering professionals with the technology and resources they need to succeed. Visit SkyTrust Network's official website to learn more about its features. SkyTrust has a global reputation for digital transformation. The company is known to be ranked among the prominent leaders in the industry with a dominating presence in North America, EMEA, APAC, and India. This latest innovation exemplifies the promising future of business transformation. Contact Info: Name: Anshul Bhardwaj & Prabhjot Rajput Email: Send Email Website: https://skytrust.ca/ & https://skytrustit.com/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Authorities in Turkmenistan have threatened a church pastor with prison and pressured his non-Christian relatives to urge him to stop practicing his faith, according to rights group Forum 18.

The Rev. Rahymjan Borjakov, 44, leads a non-registered church in the village of Dogryyol, Charjew District, in eastern Lebap Region, some 15 miles northwest of regional capital, Turkmenabat. The pastor of the church, which is formally banned from meeting for worship, is often under surveillance by state authorities, according to Forum 18.

A mosque official in Dogryyol identified as Juman Illiyev reportedly told mosque attendees at a meeting in early July that Pastor Borjakov will sooner or later be locked up and work is already underway on this. No further details were given about where Illiyev obtained this information or why he disclosed it publicly.

Non-Christian relatives of the pastor, however, began receiving threats about two weeks after the public remarks. An officer of the Ministry of State Security secret police and a regional religious affairs official visited Pastor Borjakovs family home in Dogryyol.

They sought information about his brother and cousins, taking car numbers and details of their places of work or study, a Christian unnamed for security reasons told Forum 18. Pastor Borjakov was not present at the time of the state officials visiting his home.

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The Christian told Forum 18 that the relatives were not Christians and remained afraid of reprisals.

Thats why theyre afraid, the source said. They fear problems at their places of work or study because of him.

State police are believed to be using this pressure on relatives to curb Pastor Borjakovs freedom of religion or belief.

Relatives also reportedly suffered threatening and insulting phone calls from a phone number linked to a man known as Ylham. He is an officer of the Polices 7th Department, which controls religious activity, according to Forum 18.

The rights group called his phone number on July 24, but the man answering refused to confirm or deny whether he was Ylham and declined to answer questions.

Forum 18 also telephoned Lebap Regions Religious Affairs Department in Turkmenabat about the pressure put on Pastor Borjakov and his relatives. Each call went unanswered.

When the group called the Cabinet of Ministers Religious Affairs Department in Ashgabat, an unnamed official refused to confirm if Pastor Borjakov was facing arrest and denied that his relatives were threatened.

This didnt happen, he reportedly said.

Yusupguly Eshshayev, chair of the Human Rights Committee of the parliament, which was not freely elected, put the phone down each time Forum 18 called seeking answers about why state authorities had targeted Pastor Borjakov.

State authorities pressured the pastor earlier this year. When he tried to board a flight at Ashgabat Airport leaving Turkmenistan, migration officials prevented him. He had a valid passport and flight ticket.

Officials refused to give him an explanation, an unnamed Christian told Forum 18.

Pastor Borjakov wrote an official complaint to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov about the arbitrary denial of the right to leave the country. It is not known if Berdimuhamedov responded, but the flight ban has reportedly been lifted.

Forum 18 also reported that Orthodox churchgoers were under pressure to stop attending worship meetings. Numbers of Slavic believers, including Ukrainians and Russians, have declined to attend services in recent years, reducing the number of people at state-permitted Russian Orthodox churches.

The rights group said that both police and secret police officers, alongside local administration officials, had pressured ethnic Turkmen, Tatars, Uzbeks and Tajiks and their families to convert to Islam and not attend Orthodox churches.

Berdimuhamedov, a Muslim like his father, former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, attends openings of state-controlled mosques, Forum 18 reported. At the same time, officials have destroyed pig farms in Charjew, Danew and Farap Districts and closed two enterprises producing pork sausages in Turkmenabat. The rights group linked the crackdown on pork production to Berdimuhamedovs Islamic faith, which prohibits Muslims from eating pork.

Turkmenistan ranked 29th on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List (WWL) of the 50 countries where Christians face most persecution.

Although Turkmenistans constitution allows for religious freedom, in reality, there is little room for Christians to breathe, with tight restrictions and close surveillance making it very difficult for believers to express and share their faith, the WWL report states. The totalitarian government of Turkmenistan uses a huge body of state agents, such as police, secret services and local imams, to closely monitor all religious activities.

Any printing or importing of Christian materials is controlled and restricted by the regime, according to Open Doors, which supports oppressed believers.

Historical Christian communities such as the Russian Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic churches largely abide by government restrictions and so face less interference, although Sunday services may be monitored, the WWL report states. Unregistered churches, however, such as Baptist, Evangelical and Pentecostal groups, suffer from raids, threats, arrests and fines.

Christians converting from Islam face more extreme oppression from families, friends and community, as well as from state authorities.

Men can experience beatings, threats, disinheritance and boycotting of businesses, while women can face house arrest, forced marriage, verbal abuse, threats, social rejection and sexual assault, the WWL report states.
NewsVoir Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], August 8: Decentro, India's leading fintech infrastructure platform, has announced the global expansion of its comprehensive suite of the Ledgers module. Already empowering companies across India & Singapore, the company is looking to expand further across the world, with a focus on India, SEA, and MENA to name a few, in the next couple of quarters. Decentro's Ledgers module empowers businesses of all sizes, in any country, to streamline and automate their data recording & reconciliation processes. Built in India, for the world, this module is already capable of handling 1000+ entries per second of any kind, and of any possible transaction type or currency. Decentro's mission is to simplify the complexities of any kind of money flow by providing a robust infrastructure that is fully cloud native & automated from day 1. The company's Ledgers module stands at the forefront of this mission, offering businesses a single, scalable system of record for all transactions and balances of any nature. By providing such comprehensive & scalable solutions, Decentro is reinforcing its commitment to "Building in India, for the world." Ledgers is an all-encompassing solution for tracking and reconciling data records in terms of consumer or business journeys. Businesses can ensure that every financial transaction of any nature is accurately recorded and easily accessible with the double-entry accounting system. The product is designed to support a variety of use cases, such as: * Consumer apps & platforms that wish to track consumer loyalty & reward points globally * Financial institutions or fintechs looking to build a mini-LMS (Loan Management System) in-house on the cloud. * Companies looking to build an in-house or external treasury solution across geographies & currencies. * B2C chains with multiple outlets looking to track payables or wallet balances across their stores in multiple cities. & many more. Commenting on this milestone, Rohit Taneja, Co-founder & CEO, Decentro said, "We are excited to publicly announce Ledgers as a solution that transcends borders and industries, providing a unified platform for data recording and management. Whether companies are managing loyalty programs, loan systems, or cross-border treasury operations, Ledgers offer the flexibility and reliability needed to support their growth without them getting distracted from their core products. Businesses can use the platform for dynamic calculations, setting up multiple journals to manage different transaction types, and end-to-end reconciliation for their funds. Since implementing Ledgers, our early customers in Singapore have reported a 7% improvement in their monthly operational costs and a reduction in the time spent in their reconciliation/accounting departments by more than 10%. This comprehensive approach ensures that all financial activities are accurately tracked and reported, reducing the risk of human errors and improving overall financial transparency." Omni-channel retail & D2C brands like Owndays (part of Lenskart now) went live with the Ledgers module in January this year, to manage their loyalty points across multiple geographies, thus leading to an amazing customer experience with 300+ data entries per day. MFIs are also looking to integrate and leverage Ledgers to track all their loans, and repayments via various payment modes across Africa. Ledgers offer several key benefits to businesses, enhancing financial operations and efficiency: * Single source of truth: Provides a single and scalable system of record for all transactions and balances. * Easy integration: REST APIs can be used on mobile apps or web applications, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems resulting in more than 10% reduction in operational overheads. * Multi-currency support: Supports multiple ledgers across any currency or merchant, catering to diverse business needs when it comes to recording money movement. * Comprehensive reconciliation: Ready-to-consume reconciliation APIs ensure that all financial activities are accurately tracked and reported. Decentro expanded into Southeast Asia in March 2023 by launching its payments module in Singapore. With Asia-Pacific being a hotbed for digital banking solutions, Decentro aims to double its regional business growth by the end of 2024 to process 5M+ transactions on a recurring basis outside India. Founded in mid-2020, Decentro is a full-stack fintech infrastructure platform built from India. With their products - Flow (Payment Collections & Settlements) and Fabric (Banking as a Service), they now have around 10 powerful modules across identity and payments. Decentro powers more than 900 companies, including CashE, Shiprocket, MoneyTap, AU small finance bank, and many more, in terms of plug & play SaaS. Decentro was founded by Rohit Taneja and Pratik Daudkhane and is backed by investors like Y-Combinator, Rapyd Ventures, and Uncorrelated Ventures, among many others. For more information please visit: decentro.tech. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL New Delhi [India], August 8: 'The Stories of Palm Oil', a five-part documentary series sheds light on the social, economic, industrial and environmental impact of Palm Oil on the world. The series offers a comprehensive view about the production, consumption and sustainability of Palm Oil. As the world's second-largest producer of palm oil, Malaysia plays a crucial role in meeting global demand, with India its largest importer. Through a detailed report, the series draws attention to the significance of Palm Oil in global food security and bilateral relations between India and Malaysia. The documentary showcases the health benefits of palm oil, noting its rich natural nutrients, including tocotrienols, which support cardiovascular health and offer antioxidant properties. Additionally, it is an excellent source of fatty acids, free of trans fats, and contains lower levels of omega-6 compared to oils like sunflower and sesame, which reduces its inflammatory potential. Palm oil is safe for consumption in moderation and has a high smoke point, making it ideal for frying while preserving nutritional integrity and flavour. Palm oil also has a significant role to play in heart health, brain function, and addressing vitamin A deficiency. Its antioxidant properties also aid in conditions such as Alzheimer's and Dementia. Malaysia has been instrumental in aiding support to India with high-quality seeds and technological expertise. In the process of becoming 'Atmanirbhar,' India's NMEO-OP initiative has witnessed growth in the production of PO indigenously from 300,000 hectares to 450,000 hectares recently. The government aims to expand this to 1 million hectares by 2027. Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Malaysia's Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, emphasised the economic significance of palm oil, stating: "Palm oil is a very significant commodity for us. It contributes roughly 3% to our GDP, which is about $400 billion USD. Palm oil cultivation covers about 5.7 million hectares in Malaysia. Large companies employ around 1 million workers, while smallholders support about 450,000 households. This activity generates significant income and revenue for these communities." Belvinder Sron, CEO of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), highlighted the sector's importance in meeting food security, with significant exports and a focus on refining and processing techniques. She said: "The flourishing industry, resulting from over 100 years of persistent effort and strategic planning, has been bolstered by good government policies, incentives, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks. We have invested significantly in refining cultivation and processing techniques, increasing productivity and quality. Last year, we exported about 24 million tonnes of palm oil and products, valued at around $22 billion USD, highlighting the sector's importance in meeting food security." In Malaysia, the export of palm oil generates around $20 billion USD annually and provides substantial tax revenue of about $4 billion USD. The industry supports around 30 companies, serves 4 million customers, and produces approximately $3.5 billion USD worth of products. The series highlights technological advancements in agriculture, focusing on Malaysia's investments in refining cultivation and processing techniques. Initiatives like the Felda land settlement scheme have boosted palm oil cultivation and reduced poverty. The industry has embraced mechanisation and precision farming to align with global standards and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Technology, including drones and AI, enhances operational precision and productivity, while companies commit to forest conservation, land restoration, and biodiversity preservation. The Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme supports various United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and ensures adherence to environmental and sustainability standards which covers 98% of oil palm planted areas in Malaysia, equivalent to 5.5 million hectares, and represents around 300,000 smallholder farmers nationwide. Sustainable palm oil production has also bolstered Malaysia's oleochemical industry, which contributes 20% of the world's total oleochemical capacity. The sector's growth potential in India is significant due to increasing use and high demand for palm oil-derived biodiesel and other products. In conclusion, palm oil is GMO-free, cholesterol-free, and trans fat-free, making it a preferred choice for cooking and baking. Palm oil's versatility extends to its use in cooking oils, oleochemicals, and various products including soaps, shampoos, detergents, and chocolate. Its efficient production ensures affordability and a consistent supply without compromising quality. Palm Oil is well positioned to improve the relationship between India and Malaysia. Through improved imports in addition to technological and research collaborations, both nations can benefit on economic and environmental fronts. About 'The Stories of Palm Oil' documentary: This documentary deals with the facts about the Palm Oil industry. It is the biggest ground report on Palm Oil from Malaysia. An in-depth analysis into the pivotal role of Malaysian palm oil in boosting the economy, supporting local communities, and feeding the world. The documentary helps in highlighting the versatility and numerous health benefits of Palm Oil along with how Palm Oil ensures food safety on a global scale. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
NewsVoir Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 8: Dapper Dude, a leading men's grooming brand from the house of Skin Miracle, is thrilled to announce acclaimed Bollywood actor Neil Nitin Mukesh as its new brand ambassador. Known for his impeccable style and charismatic presence, Neil Nitin Mukesh embodies the essence of the Dapper Dude brand, making him the perfect choice to represent the brand's commitment to quality and innovation in men's grooming. Neil Nitin Mukesh's association with Dapper Dude marks a significant milestone for the brand. With a legacy of excellence, Skin Miracle has been catering to beauticians for over a decade, offering products formulated in France and manufactured in Malaysia to suit Asian skin. Dapper Dude continues this tradition, providing top-notch skincare solutions tailored for men. "I am excited to be associated with Dapper Dude, a brand that stands for quality, innovation, and the modern man's grooming needs," said Neil Nitin Mukesh. "As someone who values skincare and grooming, I am thrilled to represent a brand that offers comprehensive and effective solutions." "We are thrilled to have Neil Nitin Mukesh join the Dapper Dude family. His sophistication and commitment to grooming excellence mirror our brand's ethos. This partnership marks a significant step in our journey to redefine men's grooming in India," Vishal Baid, Founder of Dapper Dude. Dapper Dude offers a complete range of skincare solutions designed specifically for men, including skin brightening, instant lifting, anti-aging, hydration, beard growth, lip care, and under-eye care products to name a few from many. All Dapper Dude products are SLS free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, pH balanced, and free from bleaching agents, ensuring safety and effectiveness. Dapper Dude's parent brand, Skin Miracle, has been a trusted name in the beauty industry for over twenty years. Dapper Dude aims to serve over 5,000 salons across India and neighboring countries, aspiring to become a leading name in the skincare category. With Neil Nitin Mukesh as the brand ambassador, Dapper Dude is set to reach new heights, expanding its presence both nationally and internationally. For more information about Dapper Dude and its products, please visit www.dapperdude.in, Dapper Dude, a premier men's grooming brand under T and V Beauty Indulgence Pvt Ltd, is dedicated to providing top-quality skincare solutions tailored for modern men. With a legacy of excellence from its parent brand, Skin Miracle, Dapper Dude offers a comprehensive range of products including skin brightening, anti-aging, hydration, beard growth, lip care, and under-eye care. All products are dermatologically tested, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, pH balanced, and free from bleaching agents. Committed to innovation and quality, Dapper Dude continues to set new benchmarks in the grooming industry. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
NewsVoir Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], August 8: TVS Motor Company (TVSM), a leading global automaker that operates in the two and three-wheeler segments, today announced the launch of new colour variants to the TVS NTORQ 125 and the Race XP series. The new options will appeal to varied preferences. The TVS NTORQ 125 targets young professionals seeking a perfect blend of style and performance. The Race XP is designed for thrill-seekers who look for unparalleled power. There has been a notable shift in consumer preferences towards minimalist and modern product designs. TVS NTORQ 125 is therefore widening its base with a trio of vibrant and striking colour options - Turquoise, Harlequin Blue and Nardo Grey. Additionally, TVS NTORQ Race XP has launched a matte black special edition that combines multiple textures on black, ranging from matte and glossy piano black. The new colour variants of TVS NTORQ are done as an expression of the rider's vibrant personalities. Key Highlights TVS NTORQ 125 * LCD instrument console SmartXonnectTM features* Bluetooth connectivity* Navigation Assist, Caller ID, last Parked Location Assist TVS NTORQ Race XP * Dual Ride Modes* LCD instrument console* SmartXonnectTM features* Bluetooth connectivity * Caller ID* More than 20 commands for Voice Assist* Last Parked Location Assist* Features call alerts, SMS alerts, lap timer, acceleration timer, turn-by-turn navigation Commenting on the launch, Aniruddha Haldar, Senior Vice President, Marketing - Scooters, Commuter Motorcycles & Corporate Brand, TVS Motor Company, said, "At TVS Motor, it is our endeavour to provide a platform for self-expression to our customers. The TVS NTORQ 125 and TVS NTORQ Race XP exemplify our commitment to this vision. The new striking colour variants showcase a modern approach to scooter design, seamlessly combining excitement with self-expression." Complementing the TVS NTORQ 125's stylish palette is a robust 124.8 cc, three-valve engine, producing 9.5 PS at 7,000 RPM and 10.6 Nm of torque at 5,500 RPM. It is equipped with practical enhancements, including bluetooth connectivity, a fully digital display, dual ride modes, and signature LED headlamp. The scooter offers an exceptional riding experience that combines performance, convenience, and style. The TVS NTORQ Race XP edition is engineered for thrill-seekers, and is built for ultimate adventure. It has a powerful 124.8cc three-valve engine, producing an impressive 10.2 PS at 7,000 RPM and 10.9 Nm of torque at 5,500 RPM, making it the most powerful scooter in its class. With aggressive styling and sharp graphics, the Race XP stands out on city streets. It is crafted to be an essential part of the rider's night-time experiences, making it the perfect choice for those who look for excitement and performance. The new variants of TVS NTORQ 125 and TVS NTORQ Race XP are now available at authorized TVS Motor Company dealerships across India starting at Rs 86,871 (Ex-showroom Delhi) and Rs 97,501 (Ex-showroom Delhi) respectively. TVS Motor Company (BSE:532343 and NSE: TVSMOTOR) is a reputed two and three-wheeler manufacturer globally, championing progress through sustainable mobility with four state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities located in India and Indonesia. Rooted in our 100-year legacy of trust, value, and passion for customers, it takes pride in making internationally accepted products of the highest quality through innovative and sustainable processes. TVS Motor is the only two-wheeler company to have won the prestigious Deming Prize. Our products lead in their respective categories in the J.D. Power IQS and APEAL surveys. We have been ranked No. 1 Company in /the J.D. Power Customer Service Satisfaction Survey for four consecutive years. Our group company Norton Motorcycles, based in the United Kingdom, is one of the most emotive motorcycle brands in the world. Our subsidiaries in the personal e-mobility space, Swiss E-Mobility Group (SEMG) and EGO Movement have a leading position in the e-bike market in Switzerland. TVS Motor Company endeavours to deliver the most superior customer experience across 80+ countries. Additional details and updates are available on www.tvsmotor.com. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Pulling a thread from where Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman left yesterday during her discussion on Finance Bill 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha, she said on Thursday fitment committee that looks after GST related proposals have members from all states, including from the Opposition ruled states. Speaking in Rajya Sabha today, she particularly took names of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Karnataka. To the Opposition members who raised various concerns, including seeking exemption of GST on medical insurance premiums, the finance minister suggested that they should take it up with their recommendations with their respective state's finance minister, so they can subsequently bring it up in the GST Council meeting for deliberation. Speaking on the suggestions by many Opposition members to reduce GST on health insurance premiums, Sitharaman reiterated today that taxes were imposed on such items even before the GST regime came into effect in 2017. States form two-thirds of the GST Council, which is a constitutional body, she said. Both life insurance and medical insurance premiums attract a GST rate of 18 per cent. Recently, many leaders from Opposition ruled states have requested Finance Minister Sitharaman to reduce GST on insurance premiums. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has requested the central government to withdraw the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on life insurance and health insurance premiums, terming the taxation on such items as "anti-people." She also informed the Rajya Sabha today that the matter (GST on insurance premiums) was discussed in the 31st and 37th and 47th meetings of the GST Council. Further, citing a newspaper report, which headlined central government pocketed Rs 24,529 crores on health insurance premium, she rubbished it and explained how those taxes were shared with states. If GST is 18 per cent on some item, here it is health insurance premium, 9 per cent goes to the state and the rest 9 per cent comes to the central government. Of the central government's portion, another 41 per cent goes to the states. So, in total, approximately 73-74 per cent the GST collected on health insurance premium goes to the states. Against that context, she again asked the members to write to their respective state's finance minister so that they could take it up in the GST Council meeting. The INDIA alliance leaders held a protest against the Central government outside the Parliament on Tuesday, demanding to roll back GST on health and life insurance products. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also joined the protest. Besides, some of the members also raised this matter during the ongoing Parliament session. Today, in her address in Rajya Sabha, she outlined how her government provided relief to middle class on the tax front and how capex spending has had a multiplier effect on the economy, making the country the fastest-growing emerging economy. "Since COVID, with this emphasis given on capex whose multiplier effect and traction is so much in the economy, which is an established theory. You spend on capital and you reap the benefit of sustained growth. Whereas if you spend on revenue, where you don't get that kind of return or the multiplier effect. That multiplier effect has sustained in India as a fastest growing economy continuously since after Covid. We shall be fastest growing even this year. That's not just me saying, global observers have said," she explained the benefit of capex spending. Further, Sitharaman said that the government has taken several steps to provide relief to the middle class. Replying to the opposition members who repeatedly accused the government of burdening taxpayers both through direct and indirect taxes, she said that government has raised standard deduction for salaried employees, increased the limit of exemption of capital gains on certain listed financial assets and abolished angel tax. For the benefit of the lower and middle-income classes, Sitharaman in her Budget speech on July 23 proposed to increase the limit of exemption of capital gains on certain listed financial assets from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.25 lakh per year. Coming to personal income tax rates, she had two announcements will help those opting filing returns under new tax regime. First, the standard deduction for salaried employees is proposed to be increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000. As a result of these changes, a salaried employee in the new tax regime stands to save up to Rs 17,500 in income tax. Similarly, deduction on family pension for pensioners is proposed to be enhanced from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000. The Lok Sabha took up discussion on the Finance Bill after the Appropriation Bill for the central government's expenditure for 2024-25 was passed by the House on Monday. Today, the Finance Bill 2024, the Appropriation Bill 2024, and the Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bill 2024 were returned by Rajya Sabha to Lok Sabha. The passage of the Finance Bill by Parliament completed the budget process. The Finance Minister has proposed an amendment in the Finance Bill to give big relief on capital gains tax in property transactions. The proposed amendment implies that taxpayers on property transactions can avail either a lower tax of 12.5 per cent without indexation or a higher rate of 20 per cent with indexation, if the property is acquired before July 23, 2024, the day the union budget was presented in the Lok Sabha. July 23, 2024, is now set as the cut-off date for the calculation of the capital gains versus the earlier cut-off of 2001 that had caused a lot of concern and triggered a debate over its impact on long-time owners of property assets. To bolster the Indian start-up eco-system, boost the entrepreneurial spirit, and support innovation, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech proposed to abolish the so-called angel tax for all classes of investors. This was a proposal from the industry for a long time, and this announcement is expected to drive more investments toward startups in particular. Startups function as engines of economic growth, playing a crucial role in generating new jobs, ideas, products, and services. As per definition, angel tax refers to the income tax levied by the government on funding raised by unlisted companies, or startups, if their valuation exceeds the company's fair market value. Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2024 in Parliament on July 23, marking her seventh consecutive budget and eclipsing the late Moraji Desai's record of six consecutive budgets. The interim budget, tabled on February 1, took care of the financial needs of the intervening period until a government was formed after the Lok Sabha polls. The budget session of Parliament began on July 22 and, according to schedule, will end on August 12. (ANI)
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, speaking at the India International Footwear Fair (IIFF) 2024 on Thursday, asked the footwear manufacturers to aim USD 50 billion export target by 2030. As per industry estimates, India's footwear exports are now at a mere USD 2 billion. India is the world's second-largest manufacturer of footwear, and Goyal said the country has to become the world's largest manufacturer going ahead. "Today you are creating more than 40 lakh jobs. My own sense is, this will go up to 1 crore jobs. You have the ability. We have the market. We have the world market to capture," he told the industry people. "It only needs a little bit of self-confidence, open mind to accept change. Change is always a little difficult initially." Footwear sector almost contributes 2 per cent to GDP, and it employs 40 per cent women. Nearly 90-95 per cent of the manufacturers are MSMEs. "My doors, the doors of my ministry, or any other wing of the government, led by Prime Minister Modi, is always there for you, is always there to support you, You have unique capabilities, whether it's traditional footwear, whether it's modern footwear, both leather or non-leather, whether it's open shoes, sandals, kolhapuri chappals, track shoes, or high-quality leather wear." "I think India is poised to be a market leader in the world in each of these sectors." Goyal requested the footwear markers to leverage the free trade agreements (FTAs) that India has already signed with various countries. "As we enter into more and more FTAs, please leverage our FTAs and work to make the Indian brands truly global." During the footwear fair, the minister announced that he will ensure a footwear council is constituted. Naushad, President, Confederation of Indian Footwear Industries said, "On behalf of footwear Industry we thank the minister for his announcement to constitute a domestic council for footwear. A lot of discussion has been done in past and it was a long due demand of industry. To grow the industry we need an ecosystem. Domestic Council will help us grow faster. This will be constituted soon." The minister also apprised the footwear industry about India's toy industry, due to recent government interventions. He said from shortage of toys, every Indian manufacturer is now twice the size what it was two years back. The toy exports have increased to nearly 150 per cent or 200 per cent. "And our imports have reduced to probably half of what they were three years ago," Goyal said. "But our Indian consumers today will get quality toys, whether imported or Indian. We don't stop imports, but we stop substandard, low-quality imports." As part of the Local for Vocal initiative, India is making a strong course correction in the toy manufacturing ecosystem. The country's massive toy demand was till recent years met mainly through imports, largely from neighbouring China. India's toy imports from China have reduced by an estimated 70 per cent over the recent years. Policy interventions, such as raising import duty to discourage cheap imports, emphasis on quality and incentives have created an ambient atmosphere for the firms in this largely unorganized space. Pushed by the self-reliant India initiative and renewed focus on enhancing domestic manufacturing post-Covid, a large number of small and big players have forayed into this area once perceived as not so lucrative proposition. (ANI)
Yash has begun shooting for his new film 'Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups'. 'KGF' fame shared a glimpse from the sets. For the first day of the shoot, Yash opted for a white shirt with a pair of jeans. He was seen in a short hairdo. https://x.com/TheNameIsYash/status/1821377440045998115? Sharing the photo from the first day on the film set on his X handle, Yash wrote, "The journey begins #Toxic." The film went on floors on August 8 in Bengaluru, as per the information obtained from the PR team of the 'Toxic' project. Ahead of the start of the shoot, Yash recently visited Shri Sadashiva Rudra Surya Temple, Shri Manjunatheshwara Temple in Dharmastala, and Kukke Subramanya Temple in Subramanya, in Karnataka. Geetu Mohandas has come on board to direct 'Toxic'. Lately, several media reports suggested that actor Tara Sutaria is the second female lead in the film and will essay the role of Yash's love interest. Reacting to such reports, Tara in July, took to Instagram and penned a cryptic note. In the note, she wrote that the "articles released over the last few days about a project and her" were not true. Without mentioning the film's name, Tara posted, "Hello all! The articles released over the last few days about a project and I are false and not shared by me."She added, "Whenever there is something to share, I will share it with all of you! My love always. PS - Nobody is second to anyone." 'Toxic' was announced in December 2023. Taking to Instagram, Yash shared a post, which he captioned, "'What you seek is seeking you' - Rumi A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups #TOXIC." Helmed by Geetu Mohandas, the film is all set to hit the theatres on April 10, 2025. The film is touted to be an action-oriented film set against the backdrop of the drug mafia. Earlier, actor Kareena Kapoor Khan was also rumoured to be a part of the film. However, an official announcement regarding the film's female cast has not been made yet. (ANI)
The story revolves around Qais and Laila, two Kashmiri lovers who are unable to reconcile because of the hostility from their families. But destiny steps in, and Laila marries another man as Qais travels to London.

Laila Majnu stars Avinash Tiwary and Triptii Dimri in the lead roles and is directed by Sajid Ali.

On Wednesday, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali celebrated this milestone by sharing a series of photos on her Instagram handle.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-X7fD1tIYX/?

Along with the pictures, he shared a gratitude note.

The note read, "Laila Majnu back on popular demand!!! gratitude to your love that pulled it into theatres again after six years!! re-realising 9th Aug '24 in cinemas nationwide (check picture) congratulations team LM."

As soon as the news was shared, fans chimed in the comment section.

One of the users wrote, "Superb !!!! This is going to be EPIC. Congratulations to the entire magical people who created this magical movie."

Another user commented, "Wow. A movie that deserved to be back in theatres! Happy for the entire team!"

The movie didn't get much of a positive response from the audience but the soundtrack of the movie was a massive hit and got a few awards as well.

The background music was produced by Hitesh Sonik. Mohammad Muneem, Mehmood Gaami, and Irshad Kamil wrote the lyrics.

The songs were composed by Niladri Kumar, Joi Barua, and Alif. Niladri Kumar won upcoming Music Composer of The Year at Mirchi Music Awards in 2019 and in the same year he also won Rd Burman Award For Upcoming Talent in Film Music at 64th Filmfare Awards. (ANI)
With a few months left for Durga puja, the artisans at Kolkata's potters' hub Kumartuli, known globally, are busy diligently giving the final touches to the idols of the goddess ready to be sent abroad. Speaking to ANI, artisan Mintu Pal, who has been associated with the idol-making business for more than 35 years said, "We have received more orders of Durga idols this year as compared to last year. This year, we have got orders of 21 idols against last year's 14, and most of the orders are from the USA, like from New Jersey, Texas, and Florida. Durga Puja is happening more in all these places this year." He said that many idols will also be exported to Canada, Germany, France, Britain, Singapore and New Zealand. "Last year idols were sent to Sharjah too, this year will be sent to Dubai. After getting UNESCO approval, Durga Puja is happening in all the countries of the world." https://x.com/ANI/status/1821326672647573654 According to Mintu Pal, the cost of making a Maa Durga idol was equal to the cost of sending it. He added, "If we talk about the cost, then the cost of a clay statue of this size is 40 to 50 thousand rupees and the cost of a statue made of fibreglass is higher, the fibreglass statue costs between Rs 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh and taking it abroad costs 1 to 1.5 lakh rupees separately. If we look at the total, then the budget for sending a statue is 3 to 4 lakh rupees for each statue. We have also sent a statue bigger than this to Spain. It was the biggest statue that has been sent. The height of the statue was 7 feet including the background and it was 10 feet in total. A big statue has also been sent to Texas." "All these are artistic works and if we talk about the materials, if we spend Rs 100 on an idol, then we have to spend Rs 200 due to compulsion. First it has to be made in clay and then it has to be made in fibreglass, which is why it costs high. Mostly the idols go abroad by ship. The orders for all these are received between December and February. We deliver all the idols from May to July because the agents take at least 3 months or about 50 days to deliver the shipment," Pal continued. Talking about the time it takes to make idols, he stated, "The time taken to make the idol depends. In an emergency, it takes 15 to 20 days to make a fibreglass idol. If it is made properly, it takes a month to make a fibre idol. I make 50 to 55 idols every year. I don't get time to make more, and space is also required." Celebrated in Shukla Paksha of the month Ashwin in the Hindu calendar, Durga Puja is the major annual festival in West Bengal. It is also celebrated in other parts of India, especially amongst the Bengali diaspora. The significance of Durga Puja goes beyond religion and is revered as the celebration of compassion, brotherhood, humanity, art and culture. The city of Kolkata turns into a dazzling diva with the decoration of colourful lights. (ANI)
Colman Domingo, the Emmy Award-winning actor known for his role as Ali on HBO's 'Euphoria,' has expressed his astonishment at becoming a heartthrob at the age of 54. Domingo, who plays Rue's (Zendaya) sponsor on the popular series, shared his unexpected experience during a recent interview reported by The Hollywood Reporter. "It's really kind of incredible," Domingo remarked. "They're like, 'Oh my god, Ali!' And usually what's so sweet, they look at me and they want me to be their big brother, their father figure, their counselor or something," he said during the interview, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Domingo also recounted a humorous encounter with younger fans. "I was literally driving down the 405 in L.A. and a group of young girls kept looking at me and my husband was like, 'Those girls are looking at you. Is something wrong?'" Domingo recalled. "I don't know, but they kept looking and then eventually, I waved, and then I literally heard [screams]. So I'm a 54-year-old heartthrob as well," he added. The actor, who recently won an Emmy for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Ali, took the surprising turn of fame in stride. "It's happened," Domingo said with a laugh. "I never knew it would happen, but it's happened at the ripe old age of 54. Listen, as long as it happened at some point in my life, right?," he added. Domingo is set to return as Ali for the third season of 'Euphoria,' which is scheduled to begin filming in January 2025. Despite ongoing speculation and challenges surrounding the show, including recent tragedy and trauma, Domingo remains optimistic. In response to concerns about the production environment on 'Euphoria,' Domingo addressed the claims made in a 2022 report obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, which suggested a "toxic production." "I'm not gonna invalidate [anyone's] experience," Domingo told a publication in November 2023, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "But working in television is long hours. Sometimes you work up to 14 hours a day, and then you have to go home and prep. You have to really live and work in a very methodical way. A lot of young actors may not be up for the task or have that same work ethic," he said. He added, "I've been in this business for 32 years. I know what hard work is. So, when I heard those 'reports', I thought, 'Where is this coming from? That's just a normal work day.' Be a professional." (ANI)
"Particle Fever" is set to hit Broadway, inspired by the acclaimed 2013 documentary of the same name.

Producers Annie Roney and Megan Kingery expressed, "Theater artists, like scientists, are called to probe the biggest, most confounding questions in the universe," as reported by Deadline.

"How lucky we are to have such a stellar team of fellow explorers to collaborate with on 'Particle Fever.' As anyone who has followed their careers would expect, David Henry Hwang, Bear McCreary, Zoe Sarnak and Leigh Silverman are creating something brilliantly authentic with this work."

"Even more impressive - they've uncovered the inherent hilarity and joy that lie at the heart of human ambition, making this journey every bit as entertaining as it is enlightening."

The "Particle Fever" musical will also feature a book by Tony Award winner David Henry Hwang and musical scoring by Bear McCreary and Zoe Sarnak.

It follows an exciting journey of scientists who discovered the Higgs boson, known as "The God Particle," and its impact on our understanding of the universe.

A private reading of the musical was exclusively held for industry insiders in New York, supported by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which also contributed to the original movie.

According to Broadway in Boston, what sets Hwang, McCreary, Sarnak, and Silverman's work apart is the way they have skillfully revealed the humorous and uplifting aspects of human aspirations.
Her family shared the sad news on the social media handle. However, the cause has not been disclosed.

The South African government paid tribute to Chiume on X. "Our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of multi-award winning and legendary actress Connie Chiume. Her outstanding work will always be remembered."

In the late 1970s, she joined a travelling musical group before being cast in the South African stage musical Ipi Ntombi. Subsequent stage credits would include roles in Porgy and Bess and The Little Shop of Horrors.

After receiving several honours for her performances in television drama series in the early 2000s, she later played Mamokete Khuse in the serial opera Rhythm City in 2015.

She portrayed Zawavari, the Mining Tribe Elder, in 'Black Panther'.

She also appeared in the TV series Heart of the Hunter and Soon Comes Night, and featured in Beyonce's visual album Black is King (2020). The survivors include three children and five grandchildren, reported Deadline. (ANI)
To mark the special occasion, his wife Miheeka took to her Instagram account to drop an adorable picture of the couple from one of their trips abroad.

Along with the picture, she wrote an emotional note. "Skipping along the road of life has never been more fun! Through the chaos and madness you're my stillness and happiness. Amongst a sea of change I'm so glad to be able to call you my constant. There isn't a love I have that is deeper than the one I have for you (sic)."

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-ZM1dGo-4Q/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Rana and Miheeka were married on August 8, 2020, in a traditional ceremony at Ramanaidu Studios during the Covid pandemic.

On the work front, Rana Daggubati has commenced shooting for the second season of the series 'Rana Naidu'.

Last month, streaming giant Netflix shared an update by giving a sneak peek into some BTS clips from the sets.

The clip shows actors Rana Daggubati, Venkatesh Daggubati and Arjun Rampal in gripping avatars.

Produced by Sunder Aaron and Locomotive Global, the series is created by Karan Anshuman and directed by Karan Anshuman, Suparn S. Varma and Abhay Chopra.

The first season received appreciation globally and in India with audiences viewing characters, their conflicts, and the chaos that ensues when strong personalities from the seedy underbelly of power and celebrity clash with each other.

'Rana Naidu' marked the first collaboration of the 'Baahubali' actor Rana Daggubati with his uncle Venkatesh Daggubati.

The first season was released in 2023. (ANI)
He also inspected the development works and railway facilities in the New Bongaigaon area. Neeraj Gupta, Divisional Railway Manager of Rangiya, and senior officials of headquarters and division accompanied the General Manager during the inspection, the Northeast Frontier Railway said in a release.

At New Bongaigaon Workshop, he inspected the carriage repair shop, wagon repair shop, LHB component repair shop, LHB Bogie shop, Bearing shop, Train lighting and Air Conditioning shop, etc.

He also reviewed the infrastructure upgradation works that are undergoing in the workshop for better maintenance of rolling stocks and held discussions with officials on yard remodelling for better marshalling of rolling stocks.

Later, the general manager inspected the supervisor's training centre adjacent to the workshop.

There, he scrutinised various training modules that are being imparted to the trainees, who play a very crucial role in safe train operations.

The general manager also inspected the crew lobby at New Bongaigaon station to check the facilities being made available to Loco Pilots and Asst. Loco Pilots.

Later, the general manager held a review meeting with the workshop officials on various other developmental aspects to make the workshop future-ready in line with the speedy modernisation of Indian Railways.

The general manager's visit was aimed at reviewing the progress of various developmental works, assessing the facilities at different locations, interacting with officials, and discussing plans for infrastructural development.

His positive assessment of the ongoing work reflects the dedication and efforts of Northeast Frontier Railway's commitment to providing safe, efficient and comfortable travel experiences for passengers, said the railway. (ANI)
During the trip to the United States, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and World Bank President Ajay Banga held discussions and decided to forge a roadmap to partner on several fronts and projects, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a release on Wednesday. According to the release, the potential areas for partnership being outlined through explorations and deliberations would include initiatives on skills development, urban rejuvenation and reimagination, Net Zero developments, citizens' healthcare, diagnostics and electronic records, among others. In the over-an-hour-long meeting between the head of the World Bank and the Chief Minister and his team, it was decided to create a cross-functional team to conceptualise viable projects in each of the areas in an accelerated mode. People, planet, sustainability, health, skills and jobs were the major themes of the discussions between the two leaders. The World Bank backing would give a massive boost to several of the key visions of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, including the Musi River rejuvenation project, Skill University, Future City, Citizen Healthcare and the development of Hyderabad 4.0, the CMO said. "The World Bank, while expressing delight and optimism about the balanced vision of the Chief Minister for Telangana and Hyderabad, highlighted how the bank has enjoyed success in generating positive outcomes in the region with several project initiatives earlier. He also showcased a great interest in backing the vision for the creation of a Net Zero city," the CMO said in its release. Chief Minister Reddy expressed delight after the marquee endorsement of several key initiatives of the state and promised to ensure each project is followed up on mission mode to ensure ambitious impact and outcomes but with the highest transparency. It is the first time the state of Telangana has chosen to explore working with any of the Bretton Woods institutions. The Telangana team gave an overview of several other developments that impact the lives and livelihoods of citizens, the environment and sustainability in the state. IT & Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, Telangana Chief Secretary A Shanta Kumari, and other officials including Jayesh Ranjan, Ramakrishna Rao, V. Sheshadri, Vishnu Vardhan Reddy and Ajith Reddy attended. World Bank executive director Parameswaran ('Param') Iyer, who also attended the discussions, praised the Telangana government for its holistic, balanced, sustainable and impactful vision, keeping the state and people first, the CMO added. (ANI)
On National Handloom Day, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu urged people to wear traditional handlooms at least once a month with pride. He said that his government is committed to helping the weavers' community and restoring the glory of Andhra Pradesh's handlooms. "On National Handloom Day, I urge everyone to wear traditional handloom at least once a month with pride. Today, I met with the weavers of Andhra Pradesh and admired the devotion with which they keep the rich tapestry of our heritage alive," CM Naidu said in a post on X. "Our government is committed to helping the weavers' community overcome all challenges and restore the glory of the handlooms of Andhra Pradesh. A new handloom policy, GST relaxations, promoting APCO, providing health insurance, and developing handloom clusters are some of the steps we are prepared to take," the CM said. "We will also open up newer markets for our weavers through ONDC, expanding the scope of their business and bringing further recognition for their beautiful craft. P.S. I also brought two sarees for my wife on the occasion," he added. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended greetings and expressed pride over the rich heritage and tradition of handlooms across the country. "Greetings on National Handloom Day! We take immense pride in the rich heritage and vibrant tradition of handlooms across our nation. We also cherish the efforts of our artisans and reiterate our commitment to be 'Vocal for Local.'," PM Modi posted on X. The Central Government started celebrating National Handloom on August 7, 2015. The date was specifically chosen to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement which was launched on August 7, 1905 and encouraged indigenous industries, particularly handloom weavers. National Handloom Day seeks to honour handloom weavers and provide motivation and a sense of pride to the handloom industry by appreciating their contribution to the cultural, traditional and economic landscape of the country. The celebrations aim to generate awareness about the importance of the handloom sector and its contribution to the socio-economic development of the country. (ANI)
According to officials, The incident occurred on Tuesday morning at a ready-to-eat food processing unit. Among those hospitalized, a woman is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for better care and monitoring.

Narayan Deshmukh, a senior inspector with Yavat Police, said that the gas leak incident affected 17 individuals, all of whom were taken to the hospital.

While their condition was said to be stable and out of danger, they remain under observation as a precaution, the officer said.

"The woman who was near the leakage point has been admitted to the ICU for better care and monitoring," he added.

A team from the Pune Rural Police visited the factory to assess the circumstances of the leak. The factory's internal safety system quickly brought the leak under control, police said.

More details are awaited. (ANI)
Also, police have raided several places and arrests in this regard.

On Monday, the police seized a huge amount of Chinese manjha from a house at Fayaz Ganj in the Azad Market area. One person was arrested during the raid.

According to the police, they conducted the raid after getting a tip-off about the sale of Chinese manjha from the house. The arrested person was identified as Asjad, 22. A case was registered against him under the relevant sections of the BNS and the Environment Protection Act.

Earlier this week, in another raid, a person was arrested in Rohini for selling prohibited Chinese Manjha. He was identified as Amit Kumar Jain (40). The police team seized 45 rolls of Chinese manjha from him.

Last week, Delhi Police raided a godown at Naharpur Market in Rohini and recovered a huge amount of Chinese manjha. The police have arrested the owner of the godown, identified as Premchand. (ANI)
Given the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, the North East Students' Organisation (NESO) has sought the intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure that no illegal enters the North Eastern states from Bangladesh and also requested not even a single Bangladeshi should be granted asylum or rehabilitate in the entire North East region. In a letter sent to the Union Home Minister, NESO said that, at this juncture, it is also imperative for the Government of India to ensure that the border between North East India and Bangladesh is thoroughly and strictly manned to detect attempted illegal migration from across the border. North East Students' Organisation (NESO) is a conglomeration of eight student bodies representing the seven states of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura and comprises the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), Khasi Students' Union (KSU), Garo Students' Union (GSU), All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), Naga Students' Federation (NSF), All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) and Twipra Students' Federation (TSF). "The NESO would like to draw your attention to the tumultuous events in the neighbouring country of Bangladesh where a civil war-like situation is taking place. Such a situation can have serious ramifications in India, especially in the North East Region where four states share a common international boundary with Bangladesh. Tripura shares a boundary of 856 kilometres with Bangladesh, Meghalaya shares a 443 km long boundary, Mizoram shares a 318 km long boundary and Assam has a common boundary of 262 km with Bangladesh. The ongoing crisis in Bangladesh will and may lead to an exodus of its nationals into our country especially in the North East region. Past events indicate that whenever there is a civil war or a riot in Bangladesh, the North East region always had to bear the brunt of mass illegal immigration from the country," the North East Students' Organisation said in the letter. It also stated that, during partition in 1947, lakhs of Bengalis from East Pakistan illegally crossed the border and forcibly occupied lands in Assam and Tripura (then a Union Territory). "Similarly in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, again lakhs and lakhs of East Pakistanis, migrated into India territory including North East India creating a demographic imbalance, especially in the states of Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya (then a part of the composite state of Assam). This unabated flow of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh (East Pakistan) brings forth an air of tension and stiff competition in the North East. The North East region is home to a plethora of Indigenous communities which are microscopic in numbers and live amongst their communities in traditionally marked territories," said the letter. "The arrival of millions of illegal foreigners from other countries led to a contestation of space, forced cultural assimilation, economic competition and distrust between the indigenous populace and the foreigners. These illegal foreigners settled in the lands of the indigenous communities without the consent of the community leaders and thus created a sense of animosity between the two groups. The illegal settlement of these millions of foreigners led to a drastic alteration of the demographic structure in most regions of the seven North Eastern states. Owing to the small populations of indigenous communities, the illegal foreigners overwhelmed the minuscule indigenous populace overnight," said the letter. "Land grabbing became the order of the day and the traditional way of life of the natives is being outrightly disregarded by these migrant foreigners whose ulterior motive is to forcibly carve a new homeland in the region at the cost of the dignity of the indigenous populace. Tripura, under the onslaught of mass migration since 1947 saw a dramatic rise in Bangladeshi populations leading to the native tribal population being reduced to a mere 30 per cent in their homeland and state. This even led to the snatching of political power by these immigrants and the native tribals have become second-class citizens,' said the letter. "The tribal citizens of Tripura have to face discrimination, violence and marginalisation daily. It is worth noting that Assam has and is still experiencing a mass influx of illegal migrants which led to a six-year-long Assam Movement, causing martyrdom to 860 lives which eventually led to the signing of the historic Assam Accord which promised to deport illegal Bangladeshis from Assam. Similarly, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh witnessed mass movements in the past and till date demanding the immediate deportation of all foreigners from their states after migrants overwhelmed the indigenous communities in many pockets of their respected states," said the letter. The Students' Organisation of North East also said that such unabated flow of immigrants into the region thus led to insecurity, agitations, riots and clashes between these foreigners and the indigenous people. "Therefore, the NESO humbly seeks your immediate intervention to ensure that no illegal enters the North Eastern states from Bangladesh and also requests that not even a single Bangladeshi should be granted asylum or rehabilitated in the entire North East region. At this juncture, it is also imperative for the Government of India to ensure that the border between North East India and Bangladesh is thoroughly and strictly manned to detect attempted illegal migration from across the border. That Sir, this appeal is made for the overall interest, welfare and safeguarding of the microscopic indigenous people of North East India and NESO is looking forward to a positive and swift response from your esteemed office," said in the letter. (ANI)
Speaking with ANI, the pilgrims expressed satisfaction with the arrangements and hoped for better weather to complete the journey.

Sita Devi, a pilgrim from Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, shared her experience of the Yatra.

"We felt very good. We had all the amenities, from bathing to food and it was a pleasant experience. I would recommend everyone to visit here every year." Sita Devi said.

Another pilgrim showed enthusiasm and recommended the devotees to visit the Amarnath temple.

"The facilities here are very good, and the officers are cooperative. We feel very happy to be here," Pilgrim said.

Due to recent terrorist activities in Poonch and Rajouri areas, the army has increased the security arrangements for pilgrims. Pilgrims said that they were excited about the Yatra and had no fear and Security forces had made good arrangements for security.

Earlier on Sunday, another batch of pilgrims left from the Srinagar base camp towards Pahalgam for the Amarnath Yatra.

The Yatra, conducted by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, is divided into two routes: one through Pahalgam and the other through Baltal in the Ganderbal district of Kashmir. Baltal serves as the camping ground for pilgrims.

The Yatra, which officially began on June 29 from the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps, is scheduled to conclude on August 19.

This year, the Amarnath Yatra is taking place amidst a significant increase in terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier, on July 24, Inspector General of Police Kashmir VK Birdi convened a joint security review meeting at Nunwan Base Camp, Pahalgam. The IGP directed all security agencies to coordinate closely to ensure a safe and secure Amarnath Yatra.

The meeting also addressed strategies to counter terrorism and maintain law and order, highlighting the commitment of all stakeholders to the safety and security of the Yatra pilgrims. (ANI)
The CM further said that his death was an irreparable loss to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Furthermore, CM Sharma prayed to God to provide strength to his family members in this hour of giref.

Taking it to a social media post on social post, Bhajan Lal Sharma wrote, "Very sad! I am shocked by the news of the demise of BJP MLA from Salumber Assembly Constituency, Shri Amrit Lal Ji Meena due to heart attack. This is an irreparable loss for the BJP family. I pray to Almighty God to give his holy soul a place in his feet and provide strength to his family members in this hour of grief. Om Shanti!"

https://x.com/bhajanlalbjp/status/1821366068163584041?s=48

Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Prem Chand Bairwa also expressed shock and grief over the death of Amrit Lal Meena.

In a social media post on X, Bairwa wrote, "I am shocked by the news of the demise of Shri Amrit Lal Ji Meena, BJP MLA from Salumbhar and our friend. This is an irreparable loss for the BJP family. I pray to Almighty God to give his holy soul a place in his feet and provide strength to his family members in this hour of grief. Om Shanti!"

https://x.com/drprembairwa/status/1821363460409622741?s=48

Salumber MLA Amrit Lal Meena died of a heart attack.

He was a Member of the Legislative Assembly from the Salumber seat of Rajasthan from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Salumber is a legislative assembly constituency in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan which is reserved for the Scheduled Tribes. (ANI)
Performers from throughout the world are getting ready to pack up and ship off to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is an annual, three-week performance festival that takes place in Edinburgh Scotland. It is one of the largest Fringe Festivals in the world.

Many well-known shows have gotten their start at the festival. One notable alumna is Phoebe Waller Bridge, who performed the one-woman show version of 'Fleabag' in 2013. The hit Broadway musical 'Six,' a show about the six wives of Henry VIII, also got its start at this multi-week summer event.

Here are seven New York born shows you should definitely check out at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer.

1. 'Best Stand Ups Of Edinburgh'

New York City comedian Sean Conrad's comedic stylings will be showcased alongside the talents of other hilarious performers that have made their way to the festival.

The unmissable performances will be taking place at the iconic Voodoo Rooms  an award-winning bar and restaurant in the heart of the city. Spanning several nights, 'Best Stand Ups of Edinburgh' will be held at 1AM. It is a perfect show for laughter-inclined late nighters, pub crawling their way through the historic city.

'Best Stand Ups Of Edinburgh' will span the month of the festivals, with performances running from August 3rd to August 24th. As the site exclaims, tickets sell out fast. They can be found here!

2. 'How To Give Up On Your Dreams'

After a lifetime pursuing a career in dance, Meg Chizek is bringing her show 'How To Give Up On Your Dreams' to the fringe festival this year. The show gives a heartfelt, hilarious, and cuttingly honest look into show business's metaphorical man-behind-the-curtain. Whether or not audiences can relate to a career in the arts, everyone will see a bit of themselves in Chizek's dissection of her life choices and her bravery in working to define what she really wants out of life.

Bitten by the performance bug at a young age, Chizek loves to entertain. The talent told ENSTARZ "I'm excited to be part of this massive arts festival and share my passion with a larger audience."

The show will have a relatively short run at the festival, playing from August 19th to 24th at Greenside Venues.

3. 'DISCOunt: The Disco Variety Show'

For those looking to add some variety to their watch schedule at this year's festival, look no further than 'DISCOunt: The Disco Variety Show.' This critically acclaimed night of fun was created by New York City comedians Kendall Davis and Christopher Morucci. The two talents will be appearing in the show themselves alongside various performers from the festival.

Audiences can expect the entertainingly unexpected as the show features a limitless range of awe-inspiring acts. In previous renditions of the show, they have featured comedians, drag performers, and more. Davis herself described the show to Enstarz as, "a clown-filled and chaotic evening all about the 1970s."

This energizing show will be running from August 1st to August 11th at Just The Tonic at The Caves. Tickets to this show are on a pay-what-you can scale.

4. 'Molly Brenner: Inhibited'

Molly Brenner is another Edinburgh Fringe returnee, and her 2024 show 'Molly Brenner: Inhibited' promises to be a night of intimate hilarity.

Brenner told ENSTARZ her show is "about how I finally got something that I really, really wanted after years of obsession (hint: it was an orgasm). But we're never really satisfied, are we? It's a followup to my 2019 show 'I'm Coming' because several years later, I see myself and the Big O very, very differently. I wrote the show, and it's directed by the fantastic Elizabeth Bennett (not the 'Pride and Prejudice' character."

After receiving rave reviews in the United States, 'Molly Brenner: Inhibited' will be performed at The Stand Comedy Club from August 13th through August 25th. Tickets can be found here.

5. 'Proud Raccoon'

Comedian Chloe Radcliffe, a veteran of the Fringe Festival, just wants to perform an hour of "pure fun!"

'Proud Raccoon' is that hour. The show was born out of a realization Radcliffe had that she could feel her past, positive energy beginning to wane. In this show she makes a triumphant attempt, and succeeds in, making a prodigal return to her fun, upbeat, and optimistic presence, filled with silly jokes and feral humor.

"I have never found a major city with worse cell service than Edinburgh, Scotland," she told ENSTARZ. "The city looks like it's out of a fairy tale, and they really decided to embrace fairy tale realism with the attitude of, 'No one used cell phones in fairy tales, so you shan't be able to use one now.'"

'Proud Raccoon' will be performed at Pleasance Courtyard with show dates spanning from July 31st to August 13th. Tickets can be found here.

6. 'An Asian Queer Story: Coming Out To Dead People'

Ricky Sim, who is preparing for the second Edinburgh Fringe Festival run of the show, is bringing the show back with even more accolades and rave reviews than it had a year ago.

He told ENSTARZ, "I can't wait to be back to Edinburgh again. I miss the creative energy during the Fringe and meeting artists and performers who are passionate about their projects. And I miss doing my show and connecting with audience members!"

The show will run from July 31st to August 12th at Roxy Downstairs. Tickets to this well-loved show can be found here.

7. '10 Pound Baby'

Comedian Leah Renee is getting ready to deliver "her massive comedy show '10 Pound Baby' " at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Through this show, Renee questions the price of believing in herself.

Renee described the show to ENSTARZ as "somewhat of a coming of age story as I grew up and out of Mormonism and American exceptionalism. As someone who takes things too seriously, I really enjoyed living in the UK where people 'couldn't be bothered.' Although I was a very devout Mormon, served a mission, married in the temple and kept all the rules, I had hidden resentfulness towards the patriarchy. It didn't fully surface until I began having children."

It is her goal that '10 Pound Baby' is able to skate the middle line between differing points of view: a mission that has become increasingly difficult in recent years. "As a recovering black and white thinker, I'm hoping my show communicates a "middle way" approach that often comes from walking a mile in someone else's shoes. My family of five (I have three children) lived nomadically over the UK and USA in 2022. I began to feel comfortable with uncertainty and shed my dogmatic ideas and be a better listener and observer."

The show will run from August 1st to August 25th. Tickets are being offered on a pay-what-you-can scale and can be found here.
Adish Aggarwala, the outgoing president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), has requested Mahbubuddin Khokon, the president of the apex court bar association in Bangladesh, to ensure that Hindus are not intentionally targeted amidst the turmoil in the neighbouring country. His appeal underscores the need for safeguarding religious minorities and preventing targeted violence against them during periods of unrest in Bangladesh. He emphasized the role of the legal profession in protecting human rights and expressed concern over reported violence against Hindus in the neighbouring country, urging the Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association to ensure their protection from persecution. Adish Aggarwala, addressing the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Bangladesh, also referred to recent reports urging India to arrest former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana. He pointed out that under the 'Treaty between India and Bangladesh relating to Extradition,' signed on January 28, 2013, and ratified on October 23, 2013, extradition requires that the individuals be charged with or found guilty of an extraditable offence. Aggarwala requested information on any criminal charges against Hasina and Rehana and any formal extradition request made by the Bangladesh government to India. He highlighted the strong collaborative relationship between the legal communities of India and Bangladesh. He also highlighted his role in leading delegations from the Indian Bar and expressed appreciation for the recognition he has received from the Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association on various occasions. Additionally, he mentioned that several former Chief Justices of Bangladesh have participated in international conferences organised by the Indian legal community in London and New Delhi. Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina tendering her resignation from her post on August 5 in the wake of mounting protests in the country. A day after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister of Bangladesh and left the country, President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced the dissolution of the country's parliament to make way for the formation of an interim administration, Dhaka Tribune reported. (ANI)
Congress Lok Sabha MP KC Venugopal on Thursday submitted a notice to oppose the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha. Congress MP Mr Hibi Eden also gave notice to oppose the bill. The Samajwadi Party will also oppose the Waqf Bill in Parliament. Notably, the BJP-led government is slated to introduce the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha on Thursday to amend the Waqf Act, 1995. The bill seeks to "effectively address issues" related to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is listed for introduction by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju in Lok Sabha. Congres MP K Suresh who is the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha said that the opposition is not in favour of the bill. "In the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told us that the government will introduce the Waqf Act Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha today after the Question Hour. Opposition parties including Congress, TMC, NCP (SCP), Samajwadi Party and DMK opposed the bill. We said in the meeting that this is a hasty decision. Without any discussion with the concerned Muslim organizations and the concerned stakeholders, you are bringing this bill for some political gain or polarization in the upcoming elections. The government is not ready to withdraw its proposal. We demanded that this bill should be sent to the Standing Committee for evaluation or thorough verification... The entire opposition is strongly opposing this bill," Suresh said. Congress MP Manickam Tagore said, "Parliament is functioning peacefully and the Parliament is discussing many important things including the budget and all other things. The government wants to have a diversionary tactic. The government wants the budget not to be discussed...We will ask for these amendments to be referred to the Standing Committee..." Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MP ET Muhammed Basheer said that the issue is serious as the government is attempting to capture the rights of the Waqf Board. "It is going to be tabled today and we will surely oppose it vehemently. I think everybody is united in this... I feel that some of them who are giving support (to govt) may also join us in this protest. The issue is very serious, they are capturing the entire rights of the board and handing it over to the government," Basheer said. Apart from introducing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Kiren Rijiju will also introduce The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024 which seeks to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Waqf Act provides for the renaming of the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995 It seeks to clearly define "waqf" as waqf by any person practising Islam for at least five years and having ownership of such property and ensure that the creation of Waqf-alal-aulad does not lead to the denial of inheritance rights to women. It also seeks to omit the provisions relating to the "waqf by user", provide the functions of the Survey Commissioner to the Collector or any other officer not below the rank of Deputy Collector duly nominated by the Collector for the survey of waqf properties, provide for a broad-based composition of the Central Waqf Council and the State Waqf Boards and ensure representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims. According to the statement of objects and reasons, the bill seeks to provide for the establishment of a separate Board of Auqaf for Boharas and Aghakhanis. It provides for the representation of Shia, Sunni, Bohra, Agakhani and other backward classes among Muslim communities, streamlining the manner of registration of waqfs through a central portal and database and providing for a detailed procedure for mutation as per revenue laws with due notice to all concerned before recording any property as waqf property. The bill seeks to omit section 40 relating to the powers of the Board to decide if a property is waqf property, provide for filing of accounts of waqf by mutawallis to the Board through a central portal for better control over their activities, reform the Tribunal structure with two members and provide for appeals against the orders of the Tribunal to the High Court within a specified period of ninety days. (ANI)
The BJP-led government is slated to introduce the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha on Thursday to amend the Waqf Act, 1995. The bill seeks to "effectively address issues" related to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments. Even as the INDIA bloc decided to oppose the bill the BJP lashed out at the Congress and its allies claiming that they were standing in the way of much-needed reform. "It is a very commendable initiative by the government of PM Narendra Modi, who in response to the various demands and representations made by the affected members of the Muslim community have decided to introduce these amendments. The Waqf Act was enacted by an Act of Parliament in 1954, but the intended objective has not been achieved, which is why there have been so many representations from the affected community. It is very well within the purview of parliament and the deserving, and disadvantaged Muslim members of the community have been denied their rights," BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan said. "In many instances, misappropriation and misuse in the management of properties have happened. Now that this bill, which has the rightful amendments to redress the lacunae is being introduced, we are very sure that the disadvantaged, deserving and poor sections of the Muslim community will be empowered. This bill will usher in transparency, will usher in accountability and also inclusivity in the management of Waqf properties henceforth," he added further. Lashing out at the centre over the introduction of a Bill further to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party on whether the Bill had been discussed with their allies. "The way this bill is being brought, I would ask if it has been discussed within their alliance (NDA). Have JDU and TDP seen this Waqf bill and have given their consent? If it has not been done, then it is only important that whenever such a bill comes, all the stakeholders, parliamentarians must be heard and amendments to be made if needed," said Priyanka Chaturvedi. Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MP ET Muhammed Basheer said, "It is going to be tabled today and we will surely oppose it vehemently. I think everybody is united in this... I feel that some of them who are giving support (to govt) may also join us in this protest. The issue is very serious, they are capturing the entire rights of the board and handing it over to the government..." Meanwhile, Congress Lok Sabha MP KC Venugopal on Thursday submitted a notice to oppose the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha. Congress MP Mr Hibi Eden also gave notice to oppose the bill. The Samajwadi Party will also oppose the Waqf Act Amendment Bill in Parliament. (ANI)
The DGP Punjab Police Gaurav Yadav on Thursday posted on X that after working on technical inputs, the Counter Intelligence Amritsar (CIA) team of District Ferozpur conducted the operation near the border and made the seizure.

The DGP Gaurav Yadav further informed that the FIR against the drug dealers was registered on Wednesday and police are investigating the case to establish the forward and backward linkage of trans-border narcotic smuggling networks.

"Punjab police is committed to dismantling the drug network and making our state drug-free as per the directions of the Hon'ble CM Bhagwant Mann" DGP Yadav posted on X.

On August 7, Punjab Police conducted a massive state-level Cordon and search operation under the name of 'Operation Eagle V' to target drug hotspots across Punjab Range ADGPs/IGPs/DIGs and CPs/SSPs personally supervised this operation in each police district.

Over 500 Police Teams with 4000 pls police personnel deployed. They inspected 512 identified drug hotspots in Punjab, apprehended 82 suspicious individuals and registered 61 FIRs. 270 grams of Heroin, Rs 15210 drug money, 1868 intoxicant tablets, 74 kg poppy husk, 2 kg ganja, a substantial quantity of lahan and licit liquor were also seized in the operation.

Last week, Punjab police also seized over Rs 1.07 crore of drug money and apprehended two operatives of foreign-based top drug smugglers Gurjant Singh alias Bholu and Kinderbir Singh alias Sunny Dyal, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav.

Those arrested have been identified as Dilbag Singh, a resident of village Lohka in Tarn Taran and Kamaldeep Singh, a resident of Patti in Tarn Taran. Apart from seizing drug money, Police teams have also recovered one money counting machine and two mobile phones from the possession, besides, impounding their Maruti Swift car.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the Counter Intelligence Amritsar has received intel inputs that foreign-based drug smugglers Gurjant Bholu and Sunny Dyal are running an organised crime syndicate involved in drug trafficking and illegal weapons distribution across the state and have tasked their operatives to collect the drug money and send them using Hawala route. (ANI)
Ahead of Independence Day, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday hoisted the national flag at his residence here as part of the BJP's 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to launch the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign across the nation from August 11. The ruling party at the Centre will also conduct Tiranga Yatra from August 11 to August 14. During this period, the national flag will be hoisted on every house, shop, and office. A cleanliness drive will also be carried out. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently appealed to the citizens to hoist the national flag at their homes as part of the party's 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign on the occasion of the 78th Independence Day on August 15. In the 112th 'Mann Ki Baat' on July 28, Prime Minister Modi called upon all Indians to take part in the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign to celebrate Independence Day. He highlighted the growing trend of taking selfies with the national flag and sharing them on social media. He urged party leaders and workers to ensure that the national flag is hoisted on houses, offices, and shops. 'Har Ghar Tiranga' is a campaign that forms part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. It was started in 2021 to encourage people to bring the Tiranga home and to hoist it to mark the 75th year of India's independence. The idea behind the initiative is to invoke the feeling of patriotism in the hearts of the people and promote awareness about the Indian National Flag. 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. This Mahotsav is dedicated to the people of India who have not only been instrumental in bringing India thus far in its evolutionary journey but also hold within them the power and potential to enable PM Modi's vision of activating India 2.0, fuelled by the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. (ANI)
MPs from different political parties in the opposition held a protest against the price rise of onions and other vegetables, outside the parliament on Thursday. As a mark of protest, MPs also wear garlands made of onion as they raise the slogan 'pyaaj ka daam kam karo...'. Launching a scathing attack against the centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RJD MP Manoj Jha said, "Legal guarantee on MSP is a huge issue. A govt which gives an account of expenses made on athletes in Parliament...It has no shame...An account should be given of how much taxpayer's money is spent on the PM and the Cabinet ministers." Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said that onion farmers in Maharashtra are permitted to export their produce while onion farmers in Gujarat are allowed to. "Farmers are demanding that a government which promised to double farmers' income should at least give MSP. Maharashtra onion farmers are not allowed to export their produce, while onion farmers in Gujarat are allowed to. Our protest is against this," said Chaturvedi. Meanwhile, the BJP-led government is slated to introduce the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha on Thursday to amend the Waqf Act, 1995. The bill seeks to "effectively address issues" related to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is listed for introduction by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju in Lok Sabha. Congress Lok Sabha MP KC Venugopal submitted a notice to oppose the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha. Congress MP Mr Hibi Eden also gave notice to oppose the bill. The Samajwadi Party will also oppose the Waqf Bill in Parliament. Congress MP K Suresh who is the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha said that the opposition is not in favour of the bill. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will hear an appeal on August 9 against the Bombay High Court order upholding the ban by a Chembur college on students wearing burqa, hijab, niqab, stole or cap on the campus. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said that the hearing will be conducted on Friday after the matter was mentioned by the petitioner's lawyer for early hearing. Challenging the High Court order, the advocate of the petitioner urged the apex court to hear the case today itself as exams start today. "Are you being stopped from appearing in the exam?" asked the bench. To this, the counsel said, "If students do not adhere to the uniform... please hear it today." "It is coming up tomorrow," said the bench. In June, the Bombay High Court dismissed the plea filed by a group of female students challenging the ban imposed by a college in Mumbai on wearing hijab, niqab, burkha, stole, caps or any kind of badge in the classroom. It had said that it was not inclined to interfere in the decision of the college administration. The students were from Chembur Trombay Education Society's NG Acharya and DK Marathe College. The second and third years of B.Sc and B.Sc (Computer Science) programmes claimed that the new dress code violates their fundamental rights to privacy, dignity, and religious freedom. The college had told the High Court that the ban applies to all religious symbols and is not targeted at Muslims. The High Court in its order had stated, "We are satisfied that the instructions issued by the College under which a dress code has been prescribed for its students do not suffer from any infirmity to violate provisions of Article 19(1)(a) and Article 25 of the Constitution of India. The objective behind issuing the same is that the dress of a student should not reveal his/her religion which is a step towards ensuring that the students focus on gaining knowledge and education which is in their larger interest. (ANI)
Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, along with the other MPs of the party attended the meeting of Congress Lok Sabha MPs on Thursday. The meeting was conducted in the Parliament House Annexe in Delhi today. Notably, the meeting was called ahead of the introduction of the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Parliament on which Congress and other parties of the INDIA alliance showed their opposition. Furthermore, the meeting was also called to discuss various ongoing issues including the Bangladesh crisis, China issues and judgements of the Supreme Court. LoP Rahul Gandhi was spotted arriving with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, Manickram Tagore and other MPs of the party. Speaking with ANI, Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi said, "Today we had a meeting of Lok Sabha members of the party in which the LoP Rahul Gandhi was also present. We discussed different issues - be it the Bangladesh issue, regarding China, judgements of the Supreme Court and today's business of the Parliament. It was a positive discussion and he encouraged us all to raise the issues of the people... Different parties have opposed the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the House. When it will be brought into the business, we will clear our stand on why we are opposing the bill." Earlier in the day, ahead of the introduction of the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament today, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala slammed the opposition and said that the leaders of the INDI alliance people are trying to oppose the pro-transparency and pro-good-governance bill. Adding further, Poonawala said that the opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill by leaders of the INDI alliance shows that they are not pro-Muslim instead they are pro-land grabbers. Meanwhile, lashing out at the BJP-led NDA government on the Waqf Act Amendment Bill, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said that in the disguise of amendments, BJP is trying to sell the lands of Waqf Board and instead of 'Janata' in BJP, they should add 'Zameen' in it. Hitting out at the BJP, Yadav alleged that the amendments in the Waqf Bill were issued in the interest of the BJP and it's just another link in the chain of the schemes that benefit BJP. SP chief further demanded for a "written guarantee" that Waqf Board's lands would not be sold. Congress Lok Sabha MP KC Venugopal submitted a notice to oppose the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha. Congress MP Hibi Eden also gave notice to oppose the bill. The Samajwadi Party will also oppose the Waqf Bill in Parliament. Notably, the BJP-led government is slated to introduce the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha on Thursday to amend the Waqf Act, 1995. The bill seeks to "effectively address issues" related to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is listed for introduction by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju in Lok Sabha. Apart from introducing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Kiren Rijiju will also introduce The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024 which seeks to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Waqf Act provides for the renaming of the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995. It seeks to clearly define "waqf" as waqf by any person practising Islam for at least five years and having ownership of such property and ensure that the creation of Waqf-alal-aulad does not lead to the denial of inheritance rights to women. (ANI)
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar stopped presiding over the House for a brief while on Thursday and left the House saying that he did not "get the support he should have received." Rajya Sabha on Thursday witnessed dramatic events as the members of the opposition walked out after their demand to discuss the disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the Paris Olympics 2024 was not taken up for discussion in the House. Dhankar expressed anguish at opposition members showing "disrespect" to the Chair. "For some time...unable to sit, (leaving) with heavy heart," he said. On his leaving the House, the Chairman said that he was not "running away" from his oath. "Iss pavitra sadan ko arajakta ka akhada banana" is against democratic values and there is an attempt to challenge the dignity of the House," Dhankar said before leaving the chair. "I did not get the support I should have...," he added. Referring to Vinesh Phogat's disqualification, he said the entire country is in pain and "To politicise it is to show disrespect" to athletes. He added that the Haryana government has extended all support and announced awards given to medal winners. "You set aflame democratic traditions...insult to the chair," the Rajya Sabha chairman said referring to the protests in the House. Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha JP Nadda said that the way opposition members have behaved is condemnable. He said there is freedom of expression but it should not cross boundaries as it is an attack on democracy. He said the entire country is with Vinesh Phogat. "The behaviour of Congress, TMC towards the Chair is condemnable, there is a need for introspection. The way the Chairman has been hurt...I condemn it," Nadda said. INDIA Bloc MPs staged a protest at Parliament on Wednesday also seeking justice for wrestler Vinesh Phogat following her disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024 hours before the final. In a big blow to India's medal hopes in the wrestling arena, grappler Vinesh Phogat was earlier today disqualified from the 50 kg women's wrestling event. Vinesh was scheduled to take on United States's Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the Gold Medal match. A statement issued by the Indian Olympic contingent said that Phogat had tipped the scales above the 50 kg mark and was disqualified. Vinesh Phogat had entered the Gold Medal bout after beating Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semi-finals on Tuesday night. (ANI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray visited Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal, at the latter's residence in the national capital on Thursday during the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief's three-day visit to Delhi. Uddhav Thackeray was accompanied by his son and party MLA Aaditya Thackeray and party leader Sanjay Raut during the visit. AAP MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha were also present. Speaking about the meeting, MP Sanjay Singh said that the former Maharashtra CM extended his support to Sunita Kejriwal and the Delhi CM's parents. "Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray along with his son Aaditya Thackeray, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut came to meet Sunita Kejriwal and Arvind Kejriwal's parents. In Arvind Kejriwal's case, for the first time in the history of the Indian judiciary, his release was stopped without a copy of the order. A new CBI case was made and he was forcibly kept in jail. So all these points were discussed," he said. "Through ED-CBI they (Govt) want to suppress our voice. But we will all fight this government together. Everyone is standing with each other in this. Uddhav ji gave this assurance to Sunita Kejriwal and her family," Singh added. The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case concerning the Excise Policy matter. Delhi High Court stated that it cannot be said that the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was without justifiable reason. In the case, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has requested a short adjournment to address its plea for the cancellation of bail granted to CM Kejriwal. The Delhi High Court has questioned the ED on whether cancelling Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's bail would lead to his re-arrest. The court's inquiry aims to clarify the implications of the ED's plea for bail cancellation. The court adjourned the matter for September 5, 2024. Earlier on Wednesday, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief met with Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in Delhi in the run-up to assembly elections in Maharashtra. Party leader Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray were also present. Thackeray is on a three-day visit to the national capital meeting with major opposition leaders bracing up for the upcoming state assembly polls likely to be held later this year. The state is likely to poll for the 288-member legislative assembly later this year, as the tenure of the current government ends in 2024. However, the Election Commission has yet to announce the dates. In the recent Lok Sabha elections 2024, the ruling BJP dipped to a mere nine seats in Maharashtra against 23 in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The vote share stood at 26.18 per cent. The Congress, on the other hand, marginally improved its seat share by securing 13 seats in the state. The Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won seven and one seats respectively, taking the total tally of the Maha Yuti alliance to 17. The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) got nine seats while the Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar won eight seats. (ANI)
You cant break into a car legally in Texas to rescue a pet, but you can call people who can. Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo/Getty Images

Last year, we faced many days with temperatures soaring over 100 degrees. This year, however, has been relatively pleasant in comparison. Nonetheless, it is crucial to understand that it is never safe to leave a pet in a parked vehicle, even for a short period. Parking in the shade or leaving a window cracked open does not mitigate the danger. The temperature inside a vehicle can quickly rise to 102 degrees within minutes, even when it's only 85 degrees outside.

PET SAFETY: How to protect your pets from Texas summer heat

According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 163 heat-related deaths of dogs, cats and other animals left in hot cars or outside during hot weather were reported in 2023. Additionally, 855 animals were rescued from such conditions. These figures have more than doubled since 2022, which saw 58 heat-related pet deaths and 490 rescues. The increase raises questions about whether the problem is worsening or if there is simply greater awareness and reporting now.

Across the United States, 31 states have laws that either prohibit leaving an animal in a confined vehicle under dangerous conditions or provide civil immunity for a person who rescues a distressed animal from a car. These laws often allow the rescue of the animal, which may involve forcibly entering the motor vehicle to remove the trapped animal. These new rescue laws typically require would-be rescuers to follow specific steps, such as ensuring the vehicle is locked and forcible entry is the only means to retrieve the animal, calling 911 or local enforcement first, leaving a note indicating the safe location of the animal and remaining on the scene until law enforcement or other first responders arrive.

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Parking in the shade or leaving a window cracked open does not mitigate the danger of leaving a pet in a vehicle. jennyfdowning/Getty Images

What about Texas? Well, if you see a pet in distress in a locked car, there is no state law that allows you to take immediate action to get the pet out of the vehicle. Lawmakers have tried to pass legislation that would allow this, but it always fails. However, San Antonio city ordinance permits both animal care officers and the police to break a car's window if an animal is endangered inside that vehicle. So, while you cant break into a car legally in Texas to rescue a pet, you can call people who can.

But it could be worse. Indiana stands out as the only state that requires the person who forcibly enters a vehicle to rescue an animal to pay half the damages. And, things could be better. There are states, like West Virginia and New Jersey, that criminalize leaving a pet unattended under dangerous conditions.

So, as we enjoy the relatively cooler temperatures this summer compared to last summer, let's stay vigilant and protect our furry friends from the dangers of heat so our neighbors dont have to call the police or animal control to rescue them. Dont leave pets outside in the heat all day without proper shelter, cool water and care. Their safety depends on our awareness and action.
Launching a blistering attack on the union government on the Waqf Act Amendment Bill, Congress MP KC Venugopal called the move an attack on the federal system of the country. Venugopal, who represents Kerala's Alappuzha constituency, while addressing the lower house, said, "We as Hindus respect the faith of other religions but this bill is a fundamental attack on the Constitution. Through this Bill the Centre is trying to attack freedom of religion, he asserted, adding that the people of this country won't accept this 'divisive politics'." "We are Hindus but at the same time, we respect the faith of other religions. This bill is specialized for the Maharashtra and Haryana elections. You do not understand that last time, the people of India clearly taught you a lesson. This is an attack on the federal system," Venugopal said. "This bill is a fundamental attack on the Constitution. Through this bill, they are putting a provision that non-Muslims also be members of the Waqf governing council. It is a direct attack on freedom of religion...Next, you will go for Christians, then Jains...People of India will not buy this kind of divisive politics now," he added. Meanwhile, launching an attack against the opposition parties over opposing the Bill to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday that they (the opposition) want to misguide some people in the community and are trying to tarnish the image of India. "We are not targeting anyone. They (Opposition) want to only create an atmosphere. Our minister will explain in detail when he introduces the bill. They want to misguide some people in the community. They are trying to tarnish the image of India. We are one of the best democracies in the world..." said Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also lashed out at the BJP-led NDA government on the Waqf Act Amendment Bill, Thursday saying that in the disguise of amendments, the BJP is trying to sell the lands of Waqf Board and instead of 'Janata' in BJP, they should add 'Zameen' in it. On X, Yadav wrote, "All these amendments of the 'Waqf Board' are just an excuse; Selling lands like defence, railway and Nazul land is the target." Hitting out at the BJP, Yadav alleged that the amendments in the Waqf Bill were issued in the interest of the BJP and it's just another link in the chain of the schemes that benefit BJP. The tweet added, "Waqf Board lands are just another link in the chain of 'schemes for the benefit of BJP' after Defence land, Railway land and Nazul land. Why doesn't BJP openly write: 'Issued in the interest of BJP'? "SP chief further demanded for a "written guarantee" that Waqf Board's lands would not be sold." A written guarantee should be given that the Waqf Board's lands will not be sold," the tweet added. Attacking further, SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav said that the Bharatiya Janata Party should add 'Zameen' in their name instead of Janata, as they are working like a real estate company. "BJP is working like a real estate company. It should change its name by adding 'Zameen' instead of 'Janta': Bhartiya Zameen Party #nhiiN_caahie_bhaajpaa." Notably, the BJP-led government is slated to introduce the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha on Thursday to amend the Waqf Act, 1995. The bill seeks to "effectively address issues" related to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is listed for introduction by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju in Lok Sabha. Apart from introducing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Kiren Rijiju will also introduce The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024 which seeks to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Waqf Act provides for the renaming of the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995It seeks to clearly define "waqf" as waqf by any person practising Islam for at least five years and having ownership of such property and ensure that the creation of Waqf-alal-aulad does not lead to the denial of inheritance rights to women. It also seeks to omit the provisions relating to the "waqf by user", provide the functions of the Survey Commissioner to the Collector or any other officer not below the rank of Deputy Collector duly nominated by the Collector for the survey of waqf properties, provide for a broad-based composition of the Central Waqf Council and the State Waqf Boards and ensure representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims. According to the statement of objects and reasons, the bill seeks to provide for the establishment of a separate Board of Auqaf for Boharas and Aghakhanis. It provides for the representation of Shia, Sunni, Bohra, Agakhani and other backward classes among Muslim communities, streamlining the manner of registration of waqfs through a central portal and database and providing for a detailed procedure for mutation as per revenue laws with due notice to all concerned before recording any property as waqf property. The bill seeks to omit section 40 relating to the powers of the Board to decide if a property is waqf property, provide for filing of accounts of waqf by mutawallis to the Board through a central portal for better control over their activities, reform the Tribunal structure with two members and provide for appeals against the orders of the Tribunal to the High Court within a specified period of ninety days. (ANI)
Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankar on Thursday convened a meeting of the floor leaders in both Houses of the Parliament on Thursday. This was after the Chairman was forced to leave the upper house amidst a continuous uproar from the opposition benches who were raising the Vinesh Phogat disqualification. Dhankar said that the "scene" created in the House was "unprecedented, indigestible". "It is our bounden duty to take tough decisions. Sublimity has been misunderstood as fragility, persuasion has been misunderstood as weakness," he added. Earlier, Dhankar stopped presiding over the house for a brief while on Thursday and left the House saying that he did not "get the support he should have received." This came after the members of the opposition walked out after their demand to discuss the disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the Paris Olympics 2024 was not taken up for discussion in the House. "Making this sacred House a centre of anarchy, attacking Indian democracy, tarnishing the dignity of the post of the Speaker, this is not just indecent conduct, this is conduct that crosses all limits... What I have been seeing in recent days and the way the challenge is being given through words, letters, through newspapers, how many wrong comments have been made. This challenge is not being given to me but this challenge is being given to the post of the Chairman. And this challenge is being given because they (opposition) think that the person sitting on this post is not worthy of it..." Dhankar said. Dhankar expressed anguish at opposition members showing "disrespect" to the Chair. "For some time...unable to sit, (leaving) with heavy heart," he said. On his leaving the House, the Chairman said that he was not "running away" from his oath. "You set aflame democratic traditions...insult to the chair," the Rajya Sabha chairman said referring to the protests in the House. INDIA Bloc MPs staged a protest at Parliament on Wednesday also seeking justice for wrestler Vinesh Phogat following her disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024 hours before the final. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala also raised questions on the 'silence' of the government. "The whole country is hopeful that she will rise again and fight. But why is the Government of India silent?" Congress MP Surjewala said. MP Randeep Surjewala further urged the Indian Olympic Association should talk to the International Olympic Association talk to the International Olympic Association. "The previous day when she won three matches, her weight was less than 50 kg. So if the weight is more on the next day then how can it affect the previous day's win? Indian Olympic Association should talk to the International Olympic Association," MP Surjewala said. Surjewala further added, "Not only to Vinesh, this medal belongs to the whole country and BJP needs to understand that." (ANI)
The Haj Association of India welcomed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, moved in Lok Sabha on Thursday and called it a "big initiative" by the government of India. Haj Association of India chairman A Aboobucker said that this bill will be "good for women's empowerment" and also help the poor. "On behalf of the Haj Association of India, New Delhi, we welcome this amendment as this Act is quite old. As per the current scenario, some amendments need to be made. Govt of India has taken a big initiative and we welcome that, there is no doubt," Aboobucker said. He also criticised those opposing the bill and said that "some of the organisations and political parties, a few are opposing this at the pan India level, I think it will be good for women's empowerment and will help the poor people." The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Waqf Act provides for the renaming of the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995. Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju moved the bill in Lok Sabha on Thursday. The bill seeks to "effectively address issues" related to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments. While speaking in the lower house after moving the bill, Kiren Rijiju said, "With this bill, there is no interference in the freedom of any religious body. Forget about taking anyone's rights, this bill has been brought to give rights to those who never got them. This bill being brought today is based on the report of Sachar committee (which called for reform) which you made (Congress)." However, the members of the opposition parties made an all-out attack on the Centre as the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was moved in Lok Sabha. Congress MP KC Venugopal opposed the bill in the House and dubbed it an "attack on the federal system." NCP (SCP) MP Supriya Sule urged the government to either withdraw the bill completely or send it to a standing committee. "Please do not push agendas without consultations," Supriya Sule said in Lok Sabha. Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MP NK Premachandran in Lok Sabha said that if this law is put through judicial scrutiny then it will be "struck down." DMK MP Kanimozhi said that it is a direct violation of Article 30 which deals with minorities to administer their institutions. "This bill targets a particular religious group," Kanimozhi said. Opposing the bill, Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav said, "Yeh bill jo introduce ho raha hai woh bahut sochi samjhi rajneeti ke tehat ho raha hai. Speaker sir, I heard in the lobby that some of your rights are also going to be taken away and we will have to fight for you. I oppose this bill." AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that the bill violates the principles of Articles 14, 15 and 25 of the Constitution. Earlier this week, All India Sufi Sajjadanshin Council (AISSC) welcomed the central government's proposed amendments to the Waqf Board Act and appealed to everyone to "cooperate" with the government. Addressing a press conference in Delhi on August 6, AISSC Chairman Syed Naseruddin Chishty said, "From time to time, we have given memorandums to Govt of India demanding amendments in Waqf Act. It is very important that the position of the dargahs is defined and they are protected. I appeal to all including all political parties that politics should not be done on this issue as Muslims are connected to Waqf. I appeal to those opposing it should take part in the discussion on it and cooperate with the government to pass this bill." He said that there must be transparency in the Waqf Board as he highlighted the various corruption issues in Waqf boards across states. (ANI)
A miscreant was injured after an encounter broke out with police officials in the early morning of Thursday in the Mau district of Uttar Pradesh, said police. The encounter took place in the Raini village of Pardaha block of Mau district at around 4.30 am on Thursday. The miscreant has been arrested and is taken to the hospital where his treatment is underway. In the retaliatory action, he was shot in both legs. The arrested individual has been identified as Aaftab who had a bounty of Rs 50,000 and was a resident of Azamgarh district in Uttar Pradesh. Along with the arrest, the police have also recovered a pistol, two live ammunitions, two cartridges and a bike from him. Speaking with ANI, the Additional Superintendent of Police of Mau, Mahesh Singh Attri said, "As part of the Mau police's campaign to eradicate the crime, during checking in the Raini village, an encounter broke out between police officials and a miscreant. The miscreant was injured in the retaliatory action by the police as he was shot in both legs and was arrested from the spot. He has been identified as Aaftab, son of Haleem and is a resident of the Azamgarh district on which there was a bounty of Rs 50,000." He further informed about the recovered materials and said, "Along with it, the police have also recovered a pistol, two live ammunitions, two cartridges and a bike. He has been admitted to the hospital where his treatment is underway. The law and order is in control and peace is maintained in the area." The arrest comes in the wake of Mau Police's campaign to eradicate crime from the district. (ANI)
Special judge (CBI) Kaveri Baweja on Thursday extended the Judicial custody of Arvind Kejriwal till August 20. CBI moved an application seeking an extension of judicial custody.

CBI has already filed a charge sheet against Arvind Kejriwal on July 29. He was arrested by the CBI on June 26.

Kejriwal was granted interim bail in a money laundering case by the Supreme Court on July 12. Earlier he was granted regular bail by the trial court on June 20.

Earlier, he was arrested by the ED in the money laundering case in March. The court has already taken cognizance of the supplementary charge sheet against Kejriwal.

He was granted a bail in money laundering case by the trial court which was under challenge before the Delhi High Court.

In this, CBI has also arrested Former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, BRS leader K Kavitha and others accused.

In the Delhi Excise Policy case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) requested the High Court on Wednesday a short adjournment to address its plea for the cancellation of bail granted to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The court expressed confusion about the potential consequences of canceling the bail, questioning whether such a move would result in Kejriwal's re-arrest and saying, "I am confused. Are you going to arrest him again?"

The Delhi High Court questioned the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on whether canceling Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's bail would lead to his re-arrest. The court's inquiry aims to clarify the implications of the ED's plea for bail cancellation. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court has granted anticipatory bail to a home tutor in an alleged rape case. The court while granting bail, noted that physical relations between the petitioner and prosecutrix continued for about two years before lodging the FIR. The accused, who is 10 years younger than the complainant, has cooperated with the investigation, and a chargesheet has been submitted. However, allegations of blackmail and threats to disseminate the complainant's photographs have not been substantiated, as the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report is still pending. "Considering the totality of facts and circumstances, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, in the event of arrest, the petitioner be admitted to bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety in the like amount," said the bench of Anoop Kumar Mendiratta. The FIR was lodged in the present case upon a statement of a lady who alleged that she appointed the accused as a tutor to give home tuition to her children. Petitioner expressed his intentions to marry her, and on aforesaid assurance, he established physical relations with prosecutrix against her will. She further alleged that she paid a sum of Rs 7 lakh to the petitioner for the completion of his MBA. However, the accused married someone else in the year 2021. Advocates Ravi Drall and Aditi Drall, who appeared for the accused, argued that relations between the petitioner and prosecutrix were consensual, as both of them had been closely known to each other for many years. Drall argued that before the registration of the present FIR, the prosecutrix had visited the house of the petitioner and created a scene, on which a complaint was registered under sections 323/452/506/34 IPC with the police. Upon examination, no photographs or videos of the complainant were found on the accused's mobile phone, which has been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for further analysis. It was noted that the complainant, a widow and a professional teacher, was an adult who was aware of her actions and their implications. On the other hand, the Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) for the State, along with a prosecutrix, opposed the application. It was urged that the relationship was established on the pretext of marriage, and the petitioner also threatened to make the photographs of the prosecutrix viral. APP also informed that the mobile phone of the petitioner has been sent for FSL examination and a report in this regard has yet to be received to corroborate the allegations. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday attended an Interactive Session on Investment Opportunities in Madhya Pradesh being held in Bengaluru and invited industrialists to invest in the state. The two-day interactive session on investment opportunities began on August 7. CM Yadav also interacted with industrialists on the occasion. "Bengaluru is a very good place from the investment point of view. People from here should also invest in Madhya Pradesh and also stay connected with Karnataka. I am happy to say that many people are working in this direction, who have their business here as well as in MP," CM Yadav told reporters after the event in Bengaluru. "Many industries prepare goods here and supply it there (MP). In view of the future, there are many possibilities in different sectors like IT, energy, mining etc in Madhya Pradesh. I met many investors and industrialists, everyone has shown a lot of enthusiasm. The MP government is ready to support in all possible ways. We all together should take Bengaluru, Karnataka as well as Madhya Pradesh forward. I have come to Bengaluru to open new avenues for the state," the CM said. Several proposals for the investment in Madhya Pradesh have been received and industrialists are ready to invest in the state on a larger scale, the CM said. "A regional Industry Conclave is going to be held in Gwalior on August 28 and I am inviting people to participate in the conclave. We are visiting across India for the investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh and we are receiving favourable offers from everywhere," he added. "We are assuring that all types of infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh are quite good. There is no problem of law and order in the state. We are energy surplus and there are various other favourable conditions in the state," the CM said. The Interactive Sessions are being held as a pre-event of the "Invest Madhya Pradesh-Global Investor Summit-2025". GIS-2025 is proposed to be organised in Bhopal on February 7 and 8 next year. The main objective of the GIS-2025 is to establish Madhya Pradesh as a favourable investment destination and to include it among the leading states of the country by highlighting the capabilities, abundant resources and favourable industrial environment of the state. (ANI)
Targeting the Opposition over "misleading Muslims" on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju said on Tuesday that Muslim delegations approached him alleging mafia has taken over Waqf Boards and there is a need for amendments. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Rijiju said, "They (Opposition) are misleading Muslims. Till last night, Muslim delegations came to me. Many MPs have told me that the mafia has taken over Waqf boards. Some MPs have said that they support the bill but can't say it due to their political parties. I will not take anyone's name so that their political career is not ruined." He also asserted that the government has held multi-layered country-wide consultations on this bill. The Union Minister also emphasized that the work of active consultation started after 2015. "We have held multi-layered country-wide consultations on this bill. All the backward Muslims and the chairman of the Waqf Boards of 19 states and UTs started the discussion. A discussion was held with common Muslims in 2023. At that time a meeting was held in Mumbai and suggestions were made as to what should be done to improve the State Waqf Board. In the Lucknow meeting, discussions were held with the top-level people of the UP State Waqf Board, and the views of the common people were also heard. They all said that this amendment is needed," Rijiju said. Kiren Rijiju also mentioned that this bill being brought today is based on the report of the Sachar Committee (which called for reforms) that Congress made. "The Sachar Committee has said that priority should be given to women and children. If someone has given his will and is not given to Muslim women and children, should the government sit quietly? It is our responsibility to this House and the government that if there is any shortcoming in providing justice to poor women, then it should be made up. All the provisions have been made in this amendment. The population of the Bohra and Ahmadiya communities is less, so shouldn't their voices be heard?" he said. The Minority Affairs Minister, further mentioned that it is not right to associate Members of Parliament with any religion. "We are not saying that people of different religions should be made a part of the Waqf board. We are saying that a Member of Parliament should be a member (of the Waqf board). Now, if the MP is a Hindu or Christian, then what can we do about it.? Now, if an MP is added to the Waqf Board by him/her being an MP, then should we change the MP's religion?" he added. Rijiju added that this bill has been now titled - 'United Waqf Act Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act', 1995- 'UMEED'. "We are not running away anywhere. So, if this has to be referred to any committee, I would like to speak on behalf of my government - a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) be formed, this Bill be referred to it and detailed discussion be held," Kiren Rijiju said. (ANI)
In order to create a sense of security among locals at the India-Bangladesh border, the Border Security Force (BSF) held a coordination meeting in border villages on Thursday. "We organised village coordination meetings at various villages located near border outposts to sensitize present situation in Bangladesh and other border issues in presence of prominent locals, Sarpanch and Pradhan in order to create a sense of security," said a senior BSF officer. On Aug 07, Bangladeshi nationals were observed gathering near the International Boundary (IB) in two sectors. These gatherings were prompted by fears of attacks by protestors within Bangladesh. BSF personnel, demonstrating exceptional vigilance and proactive measures, swiftly responded to these situations, ensuring the security of the border and the safety of the gathered Bangladeshi nationals . In one sector, efforts made by BSF, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and local civil authorities to reassure and return the gathered individuals to their homes, approximately 35 civilians returned to their home. BSF has deployed additional forces to manage the situation effectively. In another sector, a group of villagers from Bangladesh approached the IB, causing a brief commotion. BSF personnel promptly engaged with the group, and the situation was peacefully resolved without any adverse incidents. The villagers returned to their homes, and BSF forces remain on high alert. In another incident, a significant infiltration attempt was thwarted when a large Bangladeshi crowd was observed near the border. BSF personnel quickly mobilized and, with the cooperation of BGB, dispersed the crowd, preventing any violation of the International borders. Contrary to certain rumours, the BSF clarifies that there is no widespread movement of the minority population from Bangladesh towards the Indian border. The individuals gathered were primarily motivated by fears of local unrest. The BSF, in coordination with BGB and Bangladeshi civil authorities, has reassured these individuals of their safety and encouraged them to return to their homes. The BSF North Bengal Frontier remains committed to maintaining border security and ensuring the safety of all individuals in the region. Our forces continue to monitor the situation closely and are prepared to respond to any development. (ANI)
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday participated in the 'Interactive session on Investment Opportunities in Madhya Pradesh' being held in Bengaluru and said that the investment made by the industrialists in the state would be profitable. A two-day Interactive Session seeking investment in the state began on August 7 and will conclude on August 8. It is being held as a pre-event of the "Invest Madhya Pradesh-Global Investor Summit-2025". GIS-2025 is proposed to be organised in Bhopal on February 7 and 8 next year. Addressing the session on Thursday, CM Yadav said, "India has been renowned as the golden bird in the world for centuries. This identity in the world is a symbol of India's entrepreneurship, intellectualism, imagination and business expertise. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has got the country a place in the five largest economies in the world on the strength of available resources and intellectual capacity. Industrialists also have a special contribution to this achievement." "In the changing scenario, along with favourable opportunities, many challenges exist in front of the country. But on the basis of our capabilities, it is believed that our future is bright. Under the guidance of PM Modi, the country is continuously moving on the path of progress. With proper guidance, the use of modern technology, desire to move ahead and tradition of new research with dedication and hard work, India is making its place in the world as an industrial centre. New startups started in the country are also playing an important role in this," the CM said. He further said, "India has a tradition of effort and valour. In the Indian tradition, the form of governance has been to provide assistance. Entrepreneurship begins only by providing help to the person who wants to move ahead in any field, and the entire society gets the result of the person's efficiency and hard work. As a result of this system existing in India, Indian culture has always been respected in the world." "The Madhya Pradesh government is working with this spirit. Whoever is willing to move ahead in any field is being provided appropriate help and guidance as an encouragement. As a result, there has been equal progress in all sectors of the state. Whatever is necessary for business, the state government is ready to make all the appropriate arrangements, Madhya Pradesh is inviting industrialists for industry and investment. The investment made by industrialists in Madhya Pradesh will be profitable," the CM added. "Madhya Pradesh is currently known as a surplus energy state, renewable energy contributes 23 per cent to energy production. There are ample possibilities in IT, energy as well as tourism. There are ample possibilities in the field of religious-health tourism as well as education, MSME, and food processing," the CM said. Additionally, Madhya Pradesh has the highest growth rate in agriculture. Along with supplying the highest amount of wheat in the country, the state is also a leader in pulses production. The state has made a lot of progress in the field of horticulture in a short time, he concluded. (ANI)
The San Marcos police officials say a Leander man died after San Marcos officers tased him and restrained him while taking him into custody on Tuesday. Pablo Martinez Monsivais, STF / Associated Press

A Leander man is dead after San Marcos Police Department officers shocked him with a Taser and restrained him, city officials said.

San Marcos officers used a Taser, handcuffs and a "wrap restraint" on Dennis Thornton, 43, as they were taking him into custody on Tuesday, according to a news release from the city.

READ MORE: San Marcos releases ID of man shot, killed by police

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Officers approached Thornton an Interstate 35 overpass above Posey Road after a 911 call reported a man on the overpass "throwing objects and yelling," according to the city.

An officer tried speaking to Thornton but he didn't respond, according to police. After Thornton "began moving toward" the officer, the officer backed away and ordered him to get on the ground. When Thornton didn't do so, the officer "deployed his Taser," and Thornton fell, according to the city.

After more officers arrived, they placed Thornton in handcuffs after he resisted for about two minutes, according to the city. They also used a "wrap restraint," according to the city.

The city did not release the names of the officers involved in the incident.

"Due to his behavior on arrival, officers on scene suspected Thornton may have been experiencing a medical emergency and immediately transported Thornton to Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in a patrol vehicle for medical evaluation," the city's release says.

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Thornton was pronounced dead at the hospital at 8:20 p.m. after receiving medical treatment for 51 minutes. The Travis County Medical Examiners Office will conduct an autopsy, according to the city.

The Texas Department of Public Safety's Texas Rangers Division will investigate Thornton's death, according to the city, along with investigations by the San Marcos Police Departments Criminal Investigations Division and Office of Professional Conduct.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed condolences following the passing of former West Bengal Chief Minister and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Thursday in Kolkata. Bhattacharjee was suffering from old age-related ailments. Telangana CMO, in a post on X, said, "Chief Minister @revanth_anumula expressed deep grief over the passing of former West Bengal Chief Minister and CPM leader Buddhadev Bhattacharya. He honoured Buddhadev's 11 years as CM and five decades of public service, calling him a pillar of righteousness. Condolences to his family and the CPM community." Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee served as the chief minister of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011. He was the second and last CPI (M) leader who served as the CM of West Bengal, succeeding Jyoti Basu. In 2011 assembly polls, Bhattacharjee-led CPI (M) lost to Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, which ended a 34-year communist rule in West Bengal. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, in her condolence message on X, said, "Shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of the former Chief Minister Sri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. I have known him for last several decades and visited him a few times when he was ill and effectively confined to home in the last few years. My very sincere condolences to Meeradi and Suchetan at this hour of grief." Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also offered his condolences. "He served the people in a political career spanning more than five decades, " Kharge said in a post on X. West Bengal Leader of Opposition, BJP's Suvendu Adhikari said, "I am deeply saddened to learn that former West Bengal Chief Minister; Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has left for his heavenly abode. Condolences to his family members and admirers. I pray that his soul finds eternal peace." CPI (M) West Bengal State Secretary Md Salim said, "It's very sad news for us and the state and all those people of the country who think about the labourers and common people." "As a good administrator, honest person, aggressive secular and such a leader, losing him is a loss for all of us." Md Salim further added. (ANI)
The Rouse Avenue court on Thursday directed complainant BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor to supply the videos of the conference, a copy of the statement of witnesses to Delhi Minister Atishi by the next date. She is an accused in a defamation case filed by BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Tanya Bamniyal is to supply copies of the video of the press conference of January 27, 2024 and April 2024 and copy of pre-summoning evidence adduced by the complainant and documents sought by the counsel for the accused by the next date of hearing. The Court on July 23 granted bail to Delhi Government Minister Atishi. She was summoned on May 28. On the last date, she had appeared virtually. However, the court refused to issue summons to Arvind Kejriwal. He was also named in the complaint filed by Kapoor. Before filing the complaint, the Delhi BJP Leader sent a legal notice to AAP leader Atishi over her claims that the BJP approached her through a "very close" person to join the party. The notice sent by Delhi BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor stated that on April 2, 2024 Atishi held a press conference and claimed that she was approached by BJP to join the party. Notice sent through Advocate Satya Ranjan Swain on behalf of Praveen Shankar Kapoor had stated that Atishi deliberately and with malicious intent made statements which are not only false, scandalous, concocted and illusionary, but defamatory to harm the reputation of BJP but also of its members. In the entire speech, she neither revealed specific information about the source of information nor did she give any details about the act of BJP. Devoid of any specifities your statement is an intentional endeavor to reflect your imagination and apprehension, stated the legal notice. The notice requested Atishi to immediately withdraw the said speech and telecast your apology prominently on television and social media. AAP Leader and Delhi Minister Atishi had alleged that she was approached by the Bharatiya Janata Party to join them or else she'd be arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the coming days. While addressing a press conference here, the AAP leader said, "The BJP, through one of my close aides, approached me to join their party to save my political career, and if I do not join the BJP, then in the coming month, I will be arrested by the ED." The AAP leader accused the BJP-led Centre of trying to threaten the party by using probe agencies. "I want to tell the BJP that we will not be scared of you. We are the soldiers of Arvind Kejriwal. We are aides of Bhagat Singh. We will continue to save the Constitution and will work to give the people a better life under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal," she said. She further alleged that in the coming two months before the general elections, a few more leaders, including Raghav Chadha and Saurabh Bharadwaj, will be arrested by the central probe agency. (ANI)
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed grief over the passing away of former West Bengal Chief Minister and CPI (M) veteran Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Thursday and said that he had the benefit of receiving his wise statesmanship counsel. Taking to his social media handle on microblogging site X, Vice President Dhankhar said, "Grieved to learn about the sad demise of Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, former Chief Minister, West Bengal. Many a time as Governor of West Bengal, I had the benefit of his wise statesmanship counsel." Bhattacharjee served as the 7th Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011 and was a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He was the second and last CPI (M) leader who served as the CM of West Bengal, succeeding Jyoti Basu. In 2011 assembly polls, Bhattacharjee-led CPI (M) lost to Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, which ended a 34-year communist rule in West Bengal. Vice President Dhankhar also offered his condolences to the bereaved family members and relatives of the veteran. "My heartfelt condolences to all the family members and relatives. I pray the Almighty bestows eternal peace on the departed noble soul and gives fortitude to the bereaved family to bear this huge loss," read the post. Former Chief Minister of West Bengal and CPI (M) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passed away at the age of eighty on Thursday morning in Kolkata after suffering from old age-related ailments. West Bengal CM, Mamata Banerjee, in her condolence message on X, said, "Shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of the former Chief Minister Sri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. I have known him for the last several decades and visited him a few times when he was ill and effectively confined to home in the last few years. My very sincere condolences to Meeradi and Suchetan at this hour of grief." Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, West Bengal Leader of Opposition, BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also expressed grief over the death of the former WB Chief Minister. CPI (M) West Bengal State Secretary Md Salim said, "It's very sad news for us and the state and all those people of the country who think about the labourers and common people."As a good administrator, honest person, aggressive secular, and such a leader, losing him is a loss for all of us." Md Salim further added. CPI(M) also expressed its profound grief at the passing away of Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. He joined the Party in 1966 in his student days. He participated in various struggles of the student and youth movements. He became the state secretary of the West Bengal Democratic Youth Federation in 1968. He was elected to the West Bengal state committee of the Party in 1971 and became a state secretariat member in 1982. In this period, Buddhadeb emerged as an important Party leader who undertook various responsibilities as a dedicated cadre. Buddhadeb became a member of the Central Committee of the Party at the 12th Congress of the Party in 1985. He was elected to the Polit Bureau in 2000. As a member of the Polit Bureau till 2015, he made important contributions in shaping Party policies. Buddhadeb's distinctive role was as a minister and Chief Minister of the Left Front government, in which he served nearly three decades. He succeeded Jyoti Basu as the Chief Minister in November 2000 and was sworn in after that for another two terms. He thus played a key role in the approach and policies of the Left Front government. Buddhadeb made a significant contribution to the development of cultural institutions and sustaining progressive cultural values. His passion was literature. He was a poet, playwright and writer. He translated many international literary works into Bengali. He wrote extensively on changes in China and published a book on the subject. Buddhadeb, as a dedicated Communist, led a simple life and throughout his tenure as Chief Minister and subsequently, lived in a modest two-room apartment. (ANI)
A Nepali national has been arrested from a hideout in Delhi for operating a fake visa racket. He used to lure people with the promise of easy money and a better livelihood abroad, according to the Delhi Police. The accused, identified as Sunil Thapa, was arrested for arranging a fake Hong Kong visa on an Indian passport for a female Nepalese passenger with the help of his associates. "One female passenger, namely Sabina Gurung, holding an Indian passport, arrived at IGI Airport, Delhi, from Hong Kong on August 5, 2024", said an official of Indira Gandhi International Airport Police Station. During scrutiny of her travel documents, the passenger was found to be a Nepali national who fraudulently obtained an Indian passport. "A case with FIR number 563/2024 under sections 318(4)/336(3)/340(2) BNS and the 12 PP Act was registered on August 4, 2024, at PS IGI Airport, New Delhi, and an investigation of the case was taken up," added the police. During the investigation of the case, Sabina Gurung (27), a resident of Nalma district, Lamjung, Nepal, was arrested. On interrogation, she disclosed that she wanted to go abroad for a better livelihood but she was told by some friends that it was very difficult to go abroad on a Nepali passport and that she could go easily on an Indian passport. "She further disclosed that in the year 2018, one of her relatives arranged an Indian passport for her based on fake documents," said the police. The passenger further disclosed that later she met the accused agent, Sunil Thapa, who had been working in Delhi for the last few years, after which he arranged a Hong Kong visa for her journey in lieu of Rs 1 lakh. She went to Hong Kong on a work visa in December 2023 and came back in Jan 2024. The passenger also revealed that in September 2024, the agent Sunil Thapa again arranged a Hong Kong visa for her journey with the help of his associates, in lieu of Rs 1 lakh but her entry was denied at Hong Kong Airport due to the fake visa. Thereafter, human intelligence was gathered and based on local intelligence and technical surveillance and after sincere and dedicated efforts, accused agent Sunil Thapa alias Raj (28), a resident of Village Butwal, Rupandehi district, Nepal, was nabbed from one of his hideouts in Delhi on the instance of the passenger arrested in the case. On sustained interrogation, he confessed his guilt and revealed that he had studied up to 7th grade and that some of his friends were working as agents who used to dupe people on the pretext of sending them abroad. So, he also started working with them on a commission basis. The accused further disclosed that he, along with the help of his associates, arranged a fake Hong Kong visa for her journey in lieu of Rs 1 lakh. An investigation of the case is in progress to unearth the involvement of other associates, scrutinize the bank accounts of the accused persons, and trace his possible involvement in other similar complaints or cases as well. (ANI)
Addressing these issues, he has issued several directives aimed at improving traffic management and ensuring smoother commutes.

To combat these challenges, joint enforcement teams comprising Traffic Police and the Transport Department will be established to monitor and prevent the overloading of commercial vehicles and overcrowding of passenger buses.

The Traffic Police will also identify vulnerable traffic congestion points and deploy dedicated teams to ensure smooth traffic flow.

Additionally, the process of issuing challans via WhatsApp will be expedited, providing timely information to violators and enabling them to pay fines anytime and anywhere, thereby increasing the rate of challan realization.

Furthermore, AI-based Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will be installed to capture traffic violations, with consequent challans issued through SMS and WhatsApp, reducing human intervention and improving coordination between the Transport Department and Traffic Police.

A plan will also be submitted to relocate ISBT Kashmere Gate to alleviate traffic congestion in the area. A drive will be conducted to impound illegal e-rickshaws operating without valid registration, as they contribute to congestion and pose passenger safety risks.

The Transport Department, along with the MCD and Traffic Police, will present an action plan to implement the Parking Policy, and joint drives by the Traffic and Transport Departments will be conducted to ensure compliance with PUC certification and enforcement.

Special drives will also be conducted to enforce bus lane regulations, particularly on Ring Road, Airport Road, and national highway stretches, with zero tolerance for deviations.

These measures aim to significantly improve road safety and traffic management in Delhi, addressing the pressing issues of illegal parking and traffic violations. (ANI)
Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt General KT Parnaik (Retd.), inaugurated the 3-day 'Chintan Shivir cum Education Conclave 2024', themed 'Shikshit Arunachal - Viksit Arunachal', at the DK Convention Centre in Itanagar on Thursday. In his inaugural address, the Governor exhorted all stakeholders to develop a physical, mental, and moral foundation for the students to mould them into good citizens, who would be 'Shiksit, Anushasit, Prerit aur Viksit' (educated, disciplined, Inspired and advanced), which in turn will aid in 'Shiksit Arunachal' becoming 'Viksit Arunachal'. The Governor, underscoring the impact and importance of education, said that formal education is about gaining the knowledge and skills needed to become a better person and create a better society to live in. He said, "Proper education sets people up to grow personally, professionally and socially. It awakens joy, curiosity and a deep desire to pursue leadership roles and positively impact those around them." "Education is the most potent means for social transformation and universities, colleges and schools have to play a role of change," the Arunachal Pradesh Governor said. He emphasised 'Guru-Shishya Parampara' and said that the centre of all efforts is the teachers, who must tell, explain, demonstrate and inspire their students. He suggested impactful and innovative-oriented training programmes for teachers. The Governor called for implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and stressed the roles of various stakeholders in improving education. "NEP 2020 advocates for a holistic, integrated, enjoyable and engaging curriculum emphasising the development of critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills," the Arunachal Pradesh Governor said. He advised creating a curriculum that reflects the principles of NEP 2020 while incorporating the rich cultural heritage and history of Arunachal Pradesh. The Governor also spoke on the Mission 'National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy' (NIPUN Bharat), Prime Minister Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI Schools), and innovative digital initiatives. He said that by adopting best practices and innovative approaches, the institutes will set new benchmarks for excellence in education. The governor commended the state Education Minister and officials for their initiatives to conduct an education conclave and expressed his hope that the conclave would be a cornerstone in laying a strong foundation for the educational scenario of the state. He appealed to the participants to actively engage in meaningful discussions and deliberations, focussing on the comprehensive development of education in Arunachal Pradesh. State Education Minister PD Sona, MLA cum Advisor to Education Minister Mutchu Mithi, Commissioner Education Amjad Tak and Secretary Education Duly Kanduk also spoke at the inaugural session. State Minister Ojing Tasing, MLAs, Deputy Commissioners, Deputy Directors of School Education, principals of higher secondary schools, headmasters, state-level functionaries, professors, scholars, and representatives from various NGOs and educational organisations attended the session. (ANI)
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday four persons, including a Pak-based terrorist, for the killing of two non-local civilians by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its offshoot, The Resistance Front (TRF), in Kashmir in February this year. The accused, Adil Manzoor Langoo, Ahran Rasool Dar alias Tota, Dawood, and their Pakistan-based handler Jahangeer alias Peer Sahab, have been charge-sheeted under various sections of the IPC and UA (P) Act. The NIA special court, Jammu, has already issued an open-ended non-bailable warrant against absconding accused Jahangir alias Peer Sab. All four accused were involved in the brutal killing of two civilians on the evening of February 7, 2024, at Karfali Mohalla, Shala Kadal, Srinagar. NIA took over the case in June this year and re-registered it as RC-01/2024/NIA/JMU. NIA investigations revealed that Adil Manzoor Langoo, who had joined LeT in 2023, had been motivated by Pakistani handlers to boost the terror outfit's activities in Srinagar, Kashmir. He had also been involved in previous terror attacks in the Kashmir Valley. He, along with his close associates Ahran Rasool Dar and Dawood, was working under the directions of Jahangeer, who had motivated them to unleash jehad in Srinagar area to spread fear and terror among the non-locals to wage war against the Government of India. The trio had conspired with their handler Jahangir alias Peer Sahab to kill the innocents at Shala Kadal, Srinagar. On the directions of Jehangir, Adil and Ahran had received the arms and ammunition which were used subsequently by Adil to commit the crime. Dawood had helped Adil destroy the evidence of the crime. NIA has been cracking down on terrorist organizations active in Kashmir. LeT, the largest terrorist group in the region, has been working through various offshoots to carry out its operations after it was banned by the Government of India. LeT/TRF has been luring unemployed youth into terrorist activities by using social media extensively to propagate its dangerous agenda and promote its activities. Further investigations are continuing in the case. (ANI)
The Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced on Thursday that it will reward Vinesh Phogat with all the benefits of a silver medalist, despite her disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024. "Not just Haryana, but the whole country is proud of our daughter Vinesh. Some problems arose which led to her disqualification. Despite everything, the state government has decided that we will reward her with all the benefits that a silver medalist is entitled to. How can we let her morale down," CM Saini said while addressing a press conference in Chandigarh on Thursday. Wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the 50 kg women's wrestling event on Wednesday. Vinesh was scheduled to take on United States's Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the Gold Medal match. A statement issued by the Indian Olympic contingent said that Phogat had tipped the scales above the 50 kg mark and was disqualified. Vinesh Phogat had entered the Gold Medal bout after beating Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semi-finals on Tuesday night. He criticised the opposition for indulging in politics over the disqualification matter and highlighted the central government's efforts to "boost the morals" of sportspersons in the country. "I have also invited bronze medalists Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh to my residence tomorrow. Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the entire opposition indulge in politics in everything, including sports. Whatever our government has done for our players and the policies brought for them to boost their morals, no government has been able to do," he added. Briefing the reporters regarding the decisions taken during the cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister announced a job security guarantee to contractual workers of the state government. He said that this will benefit those who have been working with the government for more than five years. "We have passed an ordinance for this. The services of all contractual workers employed in various ministries of the state government, in addition to services of all contractual workers employed under the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam, have been safeguarded till their age of retirement. 1,20,000 employees will benefit from this act," CM Saini said. He added that the salary structure and benefits of these workers will match that of permanent employees of the government. The state cabinet also decided to provide bonuses to farmers on Kharif crops considering the less rainfall received during May, June and July in the state. "Due to less rainfall, the expenses of the farmers have increased, so today the cabinet has decided that a bonus will be given for the current Kharif crops This year, a bonus of Rs 2000 per acre will be given on Kharif crops. An appeal to farmers is that farmers should register their crops on the portal by August 15," CM Saini said. The CM said that if a farmer has less than one acre of land, he will also get Rs 2000 and added that he is the son of a farmer and understands their pain. On journalists' pension, the Chief Minister said, "If both husband and wife in a family are journalists, then they will get a pension, earlier only one used to get a pension." (ANI)
Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, alleged that a delegation of fishermen who had arrived to meet him in Parliament was stopped on Thursday. Speaking to reporters, the Leader of the Opposition said that the Fisherman had some issues related to Sri Lanka. "It is our right to meet anyone. But they are not allowing it. I had spoken about farmers. Speaker told the House that they are not being stopped. Now they have been stopped again. There is a Sri Lanka issue of farmers. There were also people from Child Welfare...I keep doing this (meeting delegations)...My life becomes a bit more difficult as it is easier to meet them there (LoP Chamber in Parliament). Otherwise, now I have to keep coming here," said Rahul Gandhi Earlier, Rahul Gandhi headed to the reception area of the Parliament and was accompanied by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi. "LoP Rahul Gandhi meets delegations from the Right to Food Campaign and fishermen from across India, listening to their concerns and standing up for their rights!" Congress posted on X. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said that Rahul Gandhi is going to meet the students because his resolve of 'Bharat Jodo' continues. "A student delegation has not been able to enter the Parliament yet and meet LoP. Rahul Gandhi is going to meet them because his resolve of 'Bharat Jodo' continues," Gogoi said. Earlier, members of Safai Karamchari Andolan and people involved in the practice of manual scavenging met Rahul Gandhi. "Members of the Safai Karamchari Andolan and people involved in the practice of manual scavenging met the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi at his office in Parliament today. The Modi government claims that the practice of manual scavenging has been eradicated from the country, but the ground reality is different. Government data shows that in the last 5 years, 377 people lost their lives while cleaning and tanks. The government needs to pay attention towards their safety and better life and this is possible only when the government accepts the truth," Congress posted on X. Earlier today, Lok Sabha LoP, along with the other MPs of the party attended the meeting of Congress Lok Sabha MPs. The meeting was conducted in the Parliament House Annexe in Delhi today. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which amends the Waqf Act, 1995, was introduced by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to "effectively address" issues related to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments, was introduced in Lok Sabha. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday expressed his heartfelt condolences following the death of Rajasthan BJP MLA Amrit Lal Meena from Salumber, Rajasthan due to a heart attack. Shah also praised the BJP MLA for leading the development of his region and strengthening the BJP in the state. In a post on social media platform X, Shah wrote, "The death of BJP MLA Amrit Lal Meena from Salumber, Rajasthan, is an irreparable loss for the BJP family. Amrit Lal ji, while holding various posts, was always dedicated to the development of the region and strengthening the organization. In this hour of grief, my condolences are with his family and supporters. May God give a place to the departed soul in his lotus feet. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti." Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma also expressed his grief over the demise of the BJP leader. Taking it to a social media post on X, Bhajan Lal Sharma wrote, "Very sad! I am shocked by the news of the demise of the BJP MLA from Salumber Assembly Constituency, Shri Amrit Lal Ji Meena due to a heart attack. This is an irreparable loss for the BJP family. I pray to Almighty God to give his holy soul a place in his feet and provide strength to his family members in this hour of grief. Om Shanti!" Babulal Kharadi, who is the Cabinet Minister in Rajasthan government also expressed his condolences and said "A very important member of our party has passed away today. He was like a brother to me, and I had a close relationship with his family. No one would be able to fill in the emptiness he has left in our lives. Finding someone like him is very rare. My condolences to his family." 64-year-old Bhartiya Janata Party's (BJP) three-time tribal MLA Amritlal Meena, passed away due to a heart attack on Wednesday. Amritlal Meena was a member of the Salumber Sarada Panchayat Samiti in 2004 and was also a member of the Udaipur Zila Parishad from 2007 to 2010. Meena was elected as the BJP MLA for the first time in 2013 after defeating Basanti Devi Meena of the Congress party. He was re-elected in 2018 and 2013 against Congress member Raghuvir Meena. (ANI)
Floral expert dedicated to developing new varieties of Chinese roses

People's Daily Online) 10:14, August 08, 2024

Photo shows the base of Rosa chinensis, commonly known as the Chinese rose, established by Li Shubin and his team in Yongde county, Lincang city, southwest Chinas Yunnan Province. (Peoples Daily Online/Cai Shujing)

A village in Yongde county, Lincang city, southwest Chinas Yunnan Province presents a stunning view: neatly arranged rows of blooming Rosa chinensis, commonly known as the Chinese rose, stretch out like a sea of flowers.

For a long time, despite its rich germplasm resources, Yongde has been overlooked as a major player in the rose industry, much like how a good wine can go unnoticed if its too far off the beaten path.

This was a nationwide issue, as discovered in 2012 by Li Shubin, a doctoral student at the time. During a research visit to Frances National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), he realized that the lack of Chinese developed varieties of the Chinese rose was perplexing even to foreigners.

That was particularly striking given that China possesses about half of the worlds wild Rosa chinensis and Rosaceae resources and Yunnan accounts for half of the national total.

Members of Li Shubins team work at the base of the Chinese rose in Yongde county, Lincang city, southwest Chinas Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of Li Shubins team)

After extensively studying the breeding and marketing of roses in Europe, Li returned to Yunnan, dedicating himself to developing new varieties of the flower.

The road of scientific research is long and arduous. Faced with challenges such as the lack of Chinese intellectual property rights for rose varieties and difficulty surpassing foreign varieties, Li led his team step by step.

Breeding requires time for innovation; without core competitiveness, one will be eliminated by the market, and the team will struggle to continue, he said. Guided by market demand, he combined academic research with practical application, establishing an enterprise-oriented approach to integrating industry, academia, and research. To accomplish this, he established a research and development (R&D) center to improve industry-research integration.

For nearly a decade, Li and his team traveled across China collecting germplasm resources, covering a distance of over 500,000 kilometers. Through rigorous selection, the team cultivated nearly 100 varieties, with five obtaining new variety patent certificates and gaining market recognition.

Photo shows a variety of the Chinese rose developed by Li Shubins team. (Photo courtesy of Li Shubins team)

Attracted by Yongdes rich germplasm resources of Chinese roses, suitable climate for the large-scale cultivation of high-quality Chinese roses, and supportive environment for innovation, Li moved and expanded his R&D center and established a company in the county in 2022, focusing on the development of the industry of Rosa odorata, a hybrid flowering plant of the genus Rosa native to Yunnan.

Currently, Lis team has established a 100 mu (about 6.67 hectares) Chinese rose germplasm resource base in Yongde. It serves as a laboratory for rural revitalization, a gene bank, and a new type of research institution, gathering talents and platforms to build an integrated industrial innovation system with enterprises at the core, driving the development of Lincangs floral industry and Yongdes rose sector.

Among our four R&D centers, the one in Yongde is of crucial significance because it houses over 200,000 breeding materials for Rosa odorata from abroad, including 30 ancient varieties and over 1,000 pieces of germplasm resources of more than 20 wild varieties, many of which are variants unique to Yongde, Li said.

Lis presence isnt only helping to improve the state of roses in Yongde, but also improving the lives of those that live there. Villagers in the area have leased their land to the company, and in return receive rent rates higher than normal. The villagers can also receive training to become workers for the company, allowing them to work near their homes and together grow with the roses on a path to prosperity.

Photo shows a variety of the Chinese rose developed by Li Shubins team. (Photo courtesy of Li Shubins team)

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
Oscar Cruz checks his surroundings during a firearm drill at the handgun range at the San Antonio Police Training Academy on June 24, 2017. The Bexar County District Attorney's Office said Tuesday that a charge of deadly conduct against Oscar Cruz Jr. was dismissed Friday due to insufficient evidence to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Lisa Krantz/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

The deadly conduct case against a former San Antonio police officer accused of shooting two teens who were running away has been dismissed.

The Bexar County District Attorneys Office said the case against Oscar Cruz Jr. was dismissed due to insufficient evidence to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. No further charges will be brought against Cruz in the case.

The case was a rare instance of an officer being criminally accused of using excessive force.

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On March 9, 2020, Cruz responded to the 9500 block of Five Forks Drive on the West Side, where he witnessed two juveniles pulling on vehicle door handles, according to police disciplinary records.

He was running after one teen when the other threw something and hit his head. He then told the teens to stop running or he would shoot, using explicit language. Cruz fired two rounds at the teens. Records did not indicate if either teen was injured.

When backup arrived, Cruz pointed the muzzle of the firearm toward the officer while gesturing where the teens had fled, police records state. The action demonstrated a lack of sound judgment, police said.

After the incident, the department issued Cruz an indefinite suspension, tantamount to firing, in October 2020. San Antonio police said Cruz was still on indefinite suspension as of Tuesday.

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Police officials concluded that Cruz had used excessive force and that his actions brought reproach and discredit on himself and the San Antonio Police Department.

Cruz said in the past that he planned to appeal the firing.

After the firing, a deadly conduct charge was brought against Cruz by the District Attorneys Office civil rights division, a team of prosecutors assembled to review police use-of-force cases that result in deaths or injuries. The team was formed the same month that Cruz was fired.

The indictment alleged that Cruz did knowingly discharge a firearm at the two juveniles while serving as a public servant.

The case saw a mistrial in January when a miscommunication between the juvenile and civil rights divisions resulted in information not being shared with Cruzs defense attorney, KSAT 12 previously reported.

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Ultimately, the case against Cruz was dismissed Friday, signed by outgoing director of the civil rights division, Daryl Harris, the District Attorneys Office said.

In an emailed statement, the Bexar County District Attorneys Office said the division has obtained seven convictions for excessive force and it has six indicted cases pending.

When the District Attorneys Office created the civil rights division, the goal was to find the best practices to evaluate, investigate, and litigate these very complex cases. I believe that the civil rights division has made great strides toward achieving that objective.

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Each case began with an investigation and filing by a law enforcement agency to the District Attorneys Office, officials said, including those filed by SAPD. The civil rights division then reviews the evidence provided by the agency. If evidence exists to prove criminal conduct, the case is presented to a grand jury, officials said.
Leader of Opposition of Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday met the delegations from the Right to Food Campaign and fishermen from across India and said that it is their right to meet anyone. "It is our right to meet anyone. But they are not allowing it. I had spoken about farmers. Speaker told the House that they are not being stopped. Now they have been stopped again. There is a Sri Lanka issue of farmers. There were also people from Child Welfare. I keep doing this (meeting delegations). My life becomes a bit more difficult as it is easier to meet them there (LoP Chamber in Parliament). Otherwise, now I have to keep coming here," Rahul Gandhi told reporters on Thursday. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi headed to the reception area of the Parliament and was accompanied by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi. "LoP Rahul Gandhi meets delegations from the Right to Food Campaign and fishermen from across India, listening to their concerns and standing up for their rights!" Congress posted on X. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said that Rahul Gandhi is going to meet the students because his resolve of 'Bharat Jodo' continues. "A student delegation has not been able to enter the Parliament yet and meet LoP. Rahul Gandhi is going to meet them because his resolve of 'Bharat Jodo' continues," Gogoi said. Earlier, members of Safai Karamchari Andolan and people involved in the practice of manual scavenging met Rahul Gandhi. Members of the Safai Karamchari Andolan and people involved in the practice of manual scavenging met the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi at his office in Parliament today. The Modi government claims that the practice of manual scavenging has been eradicated from the country, but the ground reality is different. Government data shows that in the last 5 years, 377 people lost their lives while cleaning and tanks. The government needs to pay attention towards their safety and better life and this is possible only when the government accepts the truth," Congress posted on X. Earlier today, Lok Sabha LoP, along with the other MPs of the party attended the meeting of Congress Lok Sabha MPs. The meeting was conducted in the Parliament House Annexe in Delhi today. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which amends the Waqf Act, 1995, was introduced by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to "effectively address" issues related to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments, was introduced in Lok Sabha. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted his administration's focus on identifying and fostering opportunities within both the public and private sectors and said that the state government opened the door for investment and jobs in the state after organizing the Investors Summit in 2018. Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister said, "Along with providing more than 6.5 lakh government jobs, transparently, we have also opened the door for investment in the state after organizing the Investors Summit in 2018." Addressing attendees at the inauguration of Health City Vistaar, a 300-bed super specialty hospital in Gomti Nagar Extension, on Thursday, CM Yogi also lauded the Rs 200 crore healthcare facility as a tangible outcome of the UP Global Investors Summit. Before 2017, CM Yogi noted that the state was unsafe for both women and investors. However, after the BJP came into power, they established a strict stance against crime and criminal activities. "Before 2017, no investor was eager to come to UP. Investment has the first condition--the rule of law, which was not there in UP. Neither the daughters nor the investors were safe in the state. After coming to power, we made it clear that the government would have zero tolerance towards crime and criminals," he said. Adding further, he said, "I am happy that the step that we have taken, the country accepts as a model and believes that such steps are required for the rule of law." Notably, the rule of law is a political ideal that states that all citizens and institutions in a country, state, or community are accountable to the same laws, including lawmakers and leaders. It's sometimes stated that "no one is above the law." Earlier on Wednesday, CM Yogi paid floral tribute at the site of Paramhans Ramchandra Das Maharaj in Ayodhya and said that the revered saint will always be remembered for his incomparable contributions to the progress of Sanatan Dharma and Ram Mandir construction. Taking to the social media platform X, the Chief Minister wrote, "Humble tribute to the revered saint, the late Mahant Paramhans Ramchandra Das Ji Maharaj! He will always be remembered for his incomparable contributions to the progress of Sanatan Dharma and the construction of the grand temple of Lord Shri Ram." (ANI)
Antara Sarkar, BJP MLA in Kamalasgar constituency, Sepahijala district, spoke about the elections and said, "Three-tier panchayat elections in Tripura began this morning in different parts of Tripura.All the voters cast their votes in peace and comfort."

"Under the leadership of Chief Minister Manik Saha, everything has been conducted very nicely," she said.

Dipak Kumar Sutradhar, Presiding Officer, at 77 Champamura HS School, South Part, Sepahijala District, said, "Panchayat election vote casting started this morning at 7 am. We prepared everything on time, and people came to cast their votes amidst security arrangements."

Purna Debbarma, a voter, also spoke on the three-tier panchayat polls and said, "I am happy to cast my vote. I like this comment and I want this government to continue forever."

Tania Nandi, another voter, said, "I cast my vote in Rabindranath Tagore College. I had no issues casting my vote. I hope there is development in this area."

Earlier, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha expressed confidence in the BJP's victory in the upcoming three-tier panchayat elections in the state.

On the last day of the nomination submission for the election, the Chief Minister also visited Mata Tripuri Temple and offered prayers.

In a significant move aimed at boosting employment, the Tripura government had earlier announced plans to release over 10,000 job opportunities following the completion of the Panchayat elections.

This decision was made by Tripura's Chief Minister, Manik Saha, with his commitment to the state's development and the welfare of its youth.

Chief Minister Saha had instructed officials to expedite the release of pending job offers.

Following the panchayat polls, approximately 10,000 job offers, including positions in the Tripura Police, Junior Recruitment Board Tripura (JRBT), and Special Executives, will be released.

This move is expected to significantly reduce unemployment and contribute to the overall development of Tripura. (ANI)
The Haryana Cabinet which met under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in Chandigarh on Thursday approved to give a bonus on Kharif crops in Haryana. With this decision, farmers will receive Rs 2000 per acre one-time bonus for all Kharif and Horticulture crops. The farmers and other Kisan Organizations of the State were raising issues of high input costs due to adverse weather conditions this year for Kharif Crops. This year, heat waves/stress caused more water consumption and other crop-maintaining inputs. Further, it has also been observed that there is a deficit in the rain by 40 per cent, which increases the input cost. The increased input cost is, in part, directly related to extreme weather events during critical growth phases of crop development. Pests and diseases can also cause significant crop damage, which is indirectly related to climate conditions. Pest and disease occurrences often coincide with extreme weather events and anomalous weather conditions. To protect crops against these effects, farmers' input costs are higher this Kharif season. Therefore, accepting the demand of the state's farmers, the government has decided to give bonuses for Kharif Crops. The Cabinet has approved the one-time bonus of Rs. 2000 per acre independent of crops grown, the financial implication is around Rs. 1300 crore. The first release of the bonus will be paid by August 15, 2024, to all farmers of all crops registered on Meri Fasal Mera Byora (MFMB), who have or will register by August 14, 2024. As the MFMB registrations progress the new farmers will also receive a bonus. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Congress delegation submitted a memorandum in the name of the Director General of Police (DGP) in his office on Thursday demanding a probe in lathi charge incident by Indore police on state Congress chief Jitu Patwari and party workers during a protest in Indore. Former Union Minister Arun Yadav, former Minister PC Sharma, Congress MLA Arif Masood, State Congress Media In charge Mukesh Nayak and other leaders reached the DGP office at Police Headquarters (PHQ) in the state capital and submitted the memo to officer Vineet Kapoor. Congress leader Mukesh Nayak told ANI, "We came to give a memorandum to the Director General of Police (DGP) regarding the brutality and cruelty that the Indore police had committed during the peaceful protest of Congress on August 6 in Indore. We demanded that the brutality with which the police had beaten our president Jeetu Patwari is not acceptable in any way and it should be investigated. Congress's agitations will continue till it is investigated." The Congress party also resolved that they would never forget the incident and whenever they get time, they would react to it, he added. Former Union Minister Arun Yadav said, "During a protest in Indore on August 6 in which I and many senior leaders, including our state president Jitu Patwari were present, our workers were brutally attacked (Lathi Charge) by the police, which was not needed. In this regard, a memorandum was submitted to the DGP today. We demanded that the matter should be investigated and action should be taken against whoever is found responsible for it." Notably, Congress leaders staged a protest in front of the Indore Municipal Corporation office in connection with scams on August 6. State Congress chief Jitu Patwari, former minister Sajjan Singh Verma, former Union Minister Arun Yadav and other Congress leaders and party workers participated in the protest. When the Congress workers along with state chief Patwari were heading to submit a memorandum to the Divisional Commissioner's Office, the police stopped them by barricading them on the way. During this, some party workers tried to climb over the barricade and the police used water cannons to stop them. (ANI)
Puja Khedkar, a former IAS officer, has moved Delhi High Court challenging a district court's decision denying her anticipatory bail. The FIR against her alleges that she faked her identity to gain more attempts than permitted in the civil services examination. The bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad at the Delhi High Court is set to hear Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar's anticipatory bail plea on Friday. This follows the dismissal of her plea by Delhi's Patiala House Court last week, which found the allegations against her--related to falsifying identity for extra attempts in the civil services examination--to be serious and in need of thorough investigation. The trial court Judge said, custodial interrogation of the accused is required to unearth the whole conspiracy and to establish involvement of the other persons involved in conspiracy. In the present facts and circumstances, I am of the considered opinion that it is not a fit case to exercise discretionary powers of anticipatory bail in favour of the accused, said Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala. Court noted that in the present case the applicant/accused has been charged for Commission of offence punishable under Section 420/468/471/120B IPC and 66D IT Act and 89/91 Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016. The applicant/accused has cheated the complainant by mis representation. The complainant/UPSC in order to attain the mis representation has got preparedvarious documents to support her claim. The conspiracy has been hatched in a pre planned manner. The conspiracy was executed by the applicant/accused in many years, said the court The applicant/accused alone could not have executed the conspiracy without the assistance of some outsider or insider. It is also contended by lawyer for Delhi Police that the OBC(non creamy layer) status and person with multiple benchmark disability is also under scrutiny and investigation, noted the Court. The court futher said, the complainant/UPSC being a Constitutional body, is conducting the exams for the prestigious posts to which the aspirants from the whole country are applying. Therefore, the complainant is required to maintain highest degree of transparency and fairness in its standard operating Procedure. It is an admitted case of the complainant also that its standard operating procedure(SOP) has been breached by the applicant/accused, therefore, the complainant should introspect because its scrutiny system has fails to curb the breach. The present case may be only tip of the iceberg because if the applicant/accused can breach the scrutiny system of the complainant, why not others. Therefore, in order to maintain reputation, fairness, sanctity and faith of aspirants and general public, there is need on the part of the complainant to strengthen its SOP to ensure that such an event does not occur in future. The complainant also needs to relook its recommendations made in the recent past to find out the candidates (a) who have illegally availed the attempts beyond permissible limits; (b) who have obtained the OBC(non creamy layer) benefit despite not being entitled; (c) who had obtained the benefits of persons with benchmark disability, despite being not entitled, said the court. The investigating agency also needs to widen its scope of investigation. Hence the investigating agency is directed to conduct its investigation in all fairness to find out the candidates recommended in recent past (a) Who have illegally availed the attempts beyond permissible limits; (b) who have obtained the OBC(non creamy layer) benefit, despite not beingentitled; (c) Who had obtained the benefits of persons with benchmark disability, despite being not entitled and (d) the investigating agency shall also find out whether some insider from the complainant side has also helped the applicant to attain her illegal goals, stated the court. Recently Delhi High Court has granted liberty to Former probationary IAS Puja Khedkar to approach the appropriate forum to challenge the cancellation of her candidature. Meanwhile the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has informed the Court that it will provide Puja Khedkar with the order cancelling her candidature within two days. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that innovation is the key to taking Assam to a higher growth trajectory. He, therefore, asked the teachers to take special care to spark the innovative ideas of the students and hone their innovative talents. Addressing the students at the 34th Foundation Day celebration of Sonapur College at Sonapur on Thursday, Chief Minister Dr Sarma said that India retained the 40th position in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2023. He said that the unprecedented fillip given by the present government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi enabled India to better its innovation index and also added that the start up proliferation in the country can be attributed to the innovative skills of the youth. On the occasion, the Assam Chief Minister also asked the Sonapur College teaching fraternity to take special steps to hone the innovative faculty of the students. Dr Sarma said that Sonapur College is known for its courses, which have the potential to stimulate the entrepreneurial skills of the students. He said that the Department of Travel and Tourism Management, Department of Retail Management and IT, Department of Theatre, and Stage Craft have the potential to stir the entrepreneurial acumen of the students and make them job creators instead of job seekers. Congratulating the college fraternity on stepping into 34 years of its academic journey, Chief Minister Dr Sarma paid his rich tributes to those stalwarts who are responsible for transforming Sonapur College to its present position. Stating that the college has been playing an important role in furthering higher education in Sonapur and its adjoining areas, the Chief Minister said that the college is also playing a crucial role in empowering the people of Sonapur and its adjoining areas belonging to diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds of the region and beyond. The Chief Minister on the occasion also announced Rs 2.5 crore for the construction of an auditorium at Sonapur College. He also announced Rs 50 lakh for setting up a skill lab for skilling the students on semiconductor. He also said that Commerce Stream will also be introduced in Sonapur College from the next year. Fulfilling a demand of the college, Chief Minister Dr Sarma said that Vigyan Mandir at Sonapur will be brought under Sonapur College in two months. Dr Sarma also asked Sonapur College to introduce a course on semi conductor. He said that setting up of Semiconductor Assembly, Test, Marketing, and Packing unit at Jagiroad will open up new vistas for employment. He, therefore, asked Sonapur College to take advantage and empower its students to take up jobs in the semiconductor sector. He, moreover, said that Industry 4.0 which demands delivering real time decision making, enhanced productivity, flexibility and agility, the students should learn the special traits and make them competent to reap the benefits of the fourth industrial revolution. The Chief Minister said that since every youth is endowed with unique abilities, the colleges across the state should prepare an agenda for skilling the youth. Chief Minister Dr Sarma also asked Sonapur College to intensify its outreach programme as a part of its social responsibility and adopt villages and spread the seeds of education among the villagers. Stating the transparent mode of appointment unleashed by the government, he said that the youth thus educated from the colleges across the state, will get good opportunities to secure government jobs in the state. The Chief Minister on the occasion felicitated Lachit Kathar the person who composed the college song and Anwar Hussain who created the college logo in 1991 the year when Sonapur College was established. MLA Atul Bora, President Sonapur College Managing Committee Dr Jitram Dutta, Principal of the college Dr Debabrata Khanikar, and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court's bench, led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, has directed the Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) to inspect the conditions of washrooms and toilets in all jail complexes in Delhi. Additionally, the court has instructed the Delhi Government to ensure the appointment of sufficient staff for the regular cleaning and maintenance of these facilities. The court was dealing with a petition that raised concerns about inadequate facilities for inmates in jail complexes. The authorities' report, which was reviewed by the bench, indicated that there had been no incidents of manual scavenging by inmates. However, the report also revealed unsatisfactory conditions in the jail washrooms, with cleaning being performed either voluntarily or inadequately compensated. Court noted deficiencies in cleaning equipment and toiletries, as well as some toilets being non-functional and in need of renovation. The court also directed the Delhi Government to consider seeking assistance from NGOs or hiring contract workers to manage toilet cleaning in jails, if needed. The bench also ordered that inmates performing voluntary cleaning work be paid at least minimum wages. Additionally, the court mandated the provision of cleaning gear, such as gloves, masks, and boots, along with necessary toiletries for inmates involved in these tasks. The court also instructed that the inspection of washrooms be completed within two weeks. If any renovations are deemed necessary, proposals for such work should be submitted within an additional two weeks. Renovation should be carried out in phases to ensure that washrooms and toilets remain accessible to all inmates throughout the process, said the court. Additionally, the court ordered the immediate construction of septic tanks if required, and mandated that all renovation work be completed within four months. The court also instructed the Delhi Government to increase the number of toilets if needed. The government was directed to submit an action taken report within eight weeks. The case is scheduled for review on October 22 to ensure compliance with the court's directives. (ANI)
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held a meeting to discuss about the upcoming Haryana and Delhi Assembly polls on Thursday. Rajya Sabha MP and senior party leader Sanjay Singh said the party has set a target of holding 45 public meetings in 15 days. Speaking after the meeting, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, "Today, a meeting was held of party leaders and discussions were held on how the party will start its campaign at the booth level. We will provide information about announcements related to electricity, water, education and the scheme of giving Rs 1000 to women." He said the party has started public meetings in Haryana, and they will also launch Arvind Kejriwal's 'guarantee card' in the state. "We have started public meetings in Haryana. The target of 45 public meetings in 15 days will be conducted by August 12. Apart from this, Arvind Kejriwal's guarantee card will also be launched in Haryana," he said after the meeting. Sanjay Singh also attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party over the incarceration of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the liquor policy case. He alleged that Kejriwal is "being punished" for working for the people of Delhi. "Arvind Kejriwal's sugar level has gone below 50 several times. Despite this, Arvind Kejriwal is not being released from jail. Arvind Kejriwal is being punished for working for the people of Delhi. A fake CBI case has been lodged against him. Aam Aadmi Party will also convey this issue to the people through its campaign and public meetings," he added. Other than Sanjay Singh, the meeting was attended by AAP Delhi convener Gopal Rai, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha. The Haryana assembly election is scheduled to be held later this year. The BJP has been in power in the state since 2014 but will face strong competition from the Congress, which won half of the Lok Sabha seats in Haryana during the last general election. Earlier, Haryana BJP launched a "Jan Samvad" campaign for the assembly polls. The assembly election in Delhi will be held next year, where AAP will be aiming to win its fourth straight term in power, at a time when CM Kejriwal in in jail and opposition BJP is attacking AAP heavily over the alleged liquor scam and local issues. (ANI)
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Thursday said that Kashmir is moving ahead in the direction of peace, adding that tourists are visiting the valley from all across the world. Ramdas Athawale met Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on Thursday. The meeting, which lasted for half an hour, was held in Raj Bhavan, Srinagar. Later, addressing a press conference in Srinagar, the Union Minister said, "We are looking at Kashmir with good intentions. The situation in Kashmir is changing. Kashmir is moving ahead in the direction of peace. Sproadic incidents of terrorism are taking place." Addressing the security concerns of the tourists, he said, "There is no fear for the tourists to come here. Tourists are arriving here from all over the world.". Citing the latest data, he said that over 2. 11 crore tourists have visited Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. He also said that the Lieutenant Governor of (Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha) has devised a "good plan" to address the unemployment woes of youth in Kashmir. I held a meeting with LG Sahab for half an hour.". Meanwhile, a delegation of the Election Commission of India (ECI) led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar reached Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar on Thursday to review poll preparedness ahead of the upcoming assembly polls in the Union Territory. The dates for the Assemby polls have not been announced yet. Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu were part of the delegation. As part of the review process, the ECI delegation will meet with the various stakeholders including officials and leaders of different political parties in the UT. In August 2019, the Centre revoked Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the region into two Union Territories- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. (ANI)
A picture of Alexandra Shay West Seybert and Blue, her Great Dane, is shown to the jury as her mother Barbara West testifies during Alexander Castros sentencing trial at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The jury found Castro not guilty of manslaughter but guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the July 2022 death of 24-year-old West Seybert. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Prosecutor Jason Garrahan displays a picture Alexandra Shay West Seybert took on her cell phone of a wrong-way crash she encountered before her own car was hit by Alexander Castros truck. The jury found Castro not guilty of manslaughter but guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the July 2022 death of 24-year-old Alexandra Shay West Seybert. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

As a Bexar County jury decides whether a Schertz man convicted of criminally negligent homicide will get prison or probation, it will do so knowing about the life of the woman he killed.

The recent University of Texas at San Antonio graduate who was killed in the horrific car crash suffered a massive head injury that exposed her brain in two places.

Alexandra Shay West Seybert of Bulverde was 24 years old.

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She had graduated from UTSA just two months before she was killed.

Barbara West, mother of Alexandra Shay West Seybert, shares memories of her daughter on the witness stand during Alexander Castros sentencing trial at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The jury found Castro not guilty of manslaughter but guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the July 2022 death of 24-year-old West Seybert. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

Barbara West testified that her daughter had graduated from UTSA with a degree in kinesiology just two months before she was killed. She wanted to be a physical therapist. She was loving and caring, always checking on her grandmother, her mee maw.

Alex was my baby, said West, who had Seybert just three days before she turned 40. I have two older children, and Alex is my husbands only child. She was his everything.

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Seybert and her father were partners in crime, from the time she was very young.

He built homes, and she had a little pink hard hat, she told the jury. Every day, she had breakfast with him. They went grocery shopping. She liked that time with her dad.

Barbara West, left, mother of victim Alexandra Shay West Seybert, embraces Denise Romero, West Seybert's aunt, after Wests testimony in the sentencing trial of Alexander Castro, 38, at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The jury found Castro not guilty of manslaughter but guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the July 2022 death of 24-year-old West Seybert. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

The night Seybert died, her father was the first family member to reach the hospital. He was so distraught that he couldnt make decisions about organ donation.

Her mother made the choice.

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God allowed her to hold on until West could sign the donation paperwork. For that reason she continues to live, I feel she is here, West told the jury.

West said her daughter loved helping people and spending time with her family and her boyfriend. And her 150-pound great Dane, Blue, had her heart.

The last selfie in Seyberts phone was with her dog. When Seybert was killed in the crash, she was heading home to check on him. The final photo she took was of the standstill traffic before she was hit.

Testimony in the weeklong trial established that Alexander Castro, 38, was driving at least 90 miles per hour when he crashed into Seybert, 24, of Bulverde, a UTSA graduate who was stuck behind traffic, around 2:20 a.m. on U.S. 281 near TPC Parkway. She had nowhere to go when Castro slammed into her vehicle, went airborne, rolled and struck a Volkswagen Atlas SUV, and nearly clipped an H-E-B 18-wheeler.

Sequestered jurors spent seven and a half hours over two days to acquit Castro of manslaughter and convict him Tuesday of criminally negligent homicide, siding with the defense that said Castro was not reckless, but negligent. Had he been convicted of manslaughter, he would have faced up to 20 years in prison. Although his conviction is a state jail felony, he faces up to 10 years in prison because the jury found that the pickup was a deadly weapon.

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Castros mother, Irma Rodriguez, testified that her son as a kind, quiet man, who has never been in trouble. She gave condolences to Seyberts family but asked the jury to not take her grandchildrens father away from them, noting that his daughter, 16, and son, 20, need their father in their lives.

Irma Rodriguez, mother of defendant Alexander Castro, testifies during his sentencing trial at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The jury found Castro not guilty of manslaughter but guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the July 2022 death of 24-year-old Alexandra Shay West Seybert. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

Prior to the mothers' testimony, jurors heard from San Antonio Police Sgt. Bianca Martinez, who collected data from the Chevrolet Silverados GPS tracking that showed the vehicles location coincided that night to several places where bars were located. Although she could not say if Castro was inside the vehicle or those establishments during those times, the information showed the areas where the pickup had been.

San Antonio police officer Bianca Martinez listens to a question from Prosecutor Daniel Escobar during Alexander Castros sentencing trial at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The jury found Castro not guilty of manslaughter but guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the July 2022 death of 24-year-old of Alexandra Shay West Seybert. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

In her closing argument, defense attorney Jasmin Olguin asked the jury to give Castro probation, offering options for 10 years and five years. She said community supervision is allowed for people who do not have prior convictions, such as Castro.

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Olguin said Seyberts death was a tragedy, and nothing could bring her back. She said Castro will always be a convicted felon.

Prison means sending him away for one mistake he made in his life, killing someone, she told the jury. Were asking you to give him another chance.

Alexander Castro, 38, listens to his defense attorneys during his sentencing trial at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The jury found Castro not guilty of manslaughter but guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the July 2022 death of 24-year-old Alexandra Shay West Seybert. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

In his closing argument, prosecutor Jason Garrahan showed the grisly pictures from the crash scene that showed Seyberts exposed brain.

Probation? What do you have to do to get to prison. My God, Garrahan told the jury, as Seyberts relatives wept silently, her grandmother shaking.

He got a big second chance, Garrahan told the jury, as he gestured toward Castro. Hes had more second chances than a cat has lives.

Garrahan reminded the jury that Castro never hit the brakes, did not take evasive action, and blamed Seybert for the crash.

San Antonio police officer Bianca Martinez points out areas on a map for Prosecutor Daniel Escobar during Alexander Castros sentencing trial at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The jury found Castro not guilty of manslaughter but guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the July 2022 death of 24-year-old of Alexandra Shay West Seybert. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

He said Seybert will never hug her mom, go to the grocery store with her dad, or hug her dog, he told the panel. He took away a life and only has to give up 10 years of his life. He took away 50 years of her life.

On Wednesday afternoon, the jury was still deliberating. The case was heard in the 187th District Court, Judge Stephanie Boyd presiding.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Vishnu Deo Sai on Thursday held a Janata Darshan at his residence where the CM personally heard the grievances of citizens for the third time. People from across the state gathered to present their issues, with a significant number of differently-abled individuals among them. Komal Lahre, a differently-abled person, arrived at the Jan Darshan program with his wife Gauri Lahre, who is also differently-abled. They came with the hope of seeking financial assistance. "We are both disabled and survive by begging. We have two sons, and today, we have come to the Chief Minister's Jan Darshan to seek help. We want financial support so that our children can grow up to become IAS or IPS officers," Komal Lahre shared. His wife, Gauri Lahre, echoed his sentiments, expressing, "I am illiterate and cannot read or write. We struggle by begging, but we wish for our children to become educated and achieve great things in life." Sukh Sagar Kevat, another differently-abled individual, traveled from Janjgir-Champa to attend the Jan Darshan program. He shared his request, saying, "We are here today to ask the Chief Minister for a tricycle. In the previous Jan Darshan program, the Chief Minister had provided tricycles to some differently-abled people, and we hope to receive the same assistance." The Jan Darshan program continues to be a crucial platform for citizens to directly communicate their issues to the Chief Minister, who is committed to addressing their concerns. Earlier this month, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held 'Janata Darshan' in Gorakhpur, where he addressed the grievances of the people who had come from different districts. During the 'Janata Darshan', the citizens presented a range of issues to which CM listened patiently and forwarded their letters to the concerned authorities present there and issued necessary directions for the speedy and satisfactory disposal of their issues while at the same time assuring people that no injustice would be done to anyone under his tenure. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Thursday stayed the order passed by the Chief Information Commission (CIC) directing an inquiry into alleged irregularities and impersonation during an examination conducted by the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB). The board has challenged the order passed by the CIC on September 14, 2022. CIC had passed the order on the appeal of one Mahavir Singh. Justice Sanjeev Narula issued a notice to respondent Mahavir Singh. The matter has been listed on October 21, 2024. Respondent Mahavir Singh moved an RTI application and sought the information regarding a candidate's Roll No. and his address. This information was denied to him, after which he took the matter upto the CIC. On September 14, 2022, the CIC directed the petitioner (DSSSB) to conduct an inquiry into the irregularity alleged by the respondent (Mahavir Singh) in the said examination, regarding the improper modes used during the examination and take appropriate action against the erring personnel. During the hearing on Thursday, advocate Avnish Ahlawat, counsel for DSSSB argued that such a direction is beyond the scope and ambit of the Right to Information Act, 2005. She further argued that as per the scheme of the Act, the jurisdiction of the CIC is only to investigate whether the information sought by the respondent has been provided or not, and the CIC could not have directed an inquiry, as has been done in the present order. After hearing the submissions, the bench issued notice to Mahvir Singh and said, "For the foregoing reasons, till the next date of hearing, the impugned order dated 14th September 2022 shall remain stayed." On February 14, 2024, the predecessor bench granted two weeks' time to DSSSB to file an affidavit indicating whether any inquiry was conducted pertaining to the complaint of the Respondent and the steps taken by the Board to check impersonation of candidates in the examination conducted by the Board. (ANI)
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday said that the people have rejected the BJP-JDS padayatra as it lacks meaning and purpose. Speaking to reporters, he said, "The BJP-JDS padayatra has received poor response from the people as it is not pro-people and lacks purpose. S M Krishna had done a padayatra for Cauvery water, Rahul Gandhi had taken up Bharat Jodo yatra to fight price and unemployment, we had taken up Ballary padayatra to protest against the mining scam. I had taken up padayatra for Mekedatu." "What is the purpose of BJP-JDS padayatra? They are doing this because they can't digest the fact that an OBC leader has become the CM for the second term. People are not responding to their padayatra. JDS workers are not actively participating in the yatra. If you watch the TV reports, you will know that there were hardly any JDS workers. The BJP has brought party workers from other states," he said. "The BJP-JDS have not answered any of the questions that we have asked them about their scams. We had asked some specific questions to Kumaraswamy. He has not answered any of those questions. Instead, he is making some baseless allegations against my family. Kumaraswamy needs to answer how his brother accumulated thousands of crores of wealth," he demanded. When asked about the allegation of Governor's reluctance to give sanction to prosecute Union Minister Kumaraswamy in a mining case, he said, "Kumaraswamy had illegally approved mining in an area of 550 acres in Sandur when he was the CM in 2007. I have read reports regarding this in the media. I am told a chargesheet has been filed and Lokayukta has sought permission from the Governor to prosecute him. The Governor has not approved the request yet. I don't have much information on this but this needs to be investigated fully. Let us wait and see what the Governor decides on this matter." Asked about former prime minister H D Deve Gowda's calling on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he said, "He has to meet the Home Minister to protect his family. Attempts are on to put me and Siddaramaiah behind the bars. We are ready for everything." Asked if he would release the list of assets of Kumarswamy's brother, he said, "Of course, it needs to be released. It will be done at an appropriate time." Replying to a query on Kumaraswamy's refusal to debate the corruption allegations in the Assembly, he said, "I have invited him for a debate twice but he has not come. He can send the documents to his brother Revanna for a debate. If we debate this in front of the media, it will die down after a couple of days. It will be recorded for the posterity in the records if debated in the Assembly." (ANI)
As the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was tabled in the Lok Sabha by the Union government today, the Congress denounced the bill as "draconian" and an "attack on the Constitution," adding that "this is a draconian law and a fundamental attack on the Constitution." Opposition parties including the Congress, DMK, NCP, Trinamool Congress and AIMIM strongly opposed the introduction of the bill, saying its provisions were against federalism and the constitutional provisions. While some members demanded the withdrawal of the bill, many suggested that should be sent to a standing committee. Congress leader KC Venugopal, who had previously submitted a notice to oppose the Bill, said people taught the BJP a lesson for its divisive politics but it was continuing with the same, keeping in mind the upcoming assembly elections in states such as Haryana and Maharashtra. "We are Hindus but at the same time, we respect the faith of other religions. This bill is specialized for the Maharashtra and Haryana elections. You do not understand that last time the people of India clearly taught you a lesson. This is an attack on the federal system," Venugopal said. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said that religious matters are very sensitive, adding that the opposition demanded to send this bill to a JPC. "Religious matters are very sensitive. We were always asking the government to not make decisions in a hurry. But it is now very clear that they do not intend to work for anyone's welfare and focus only on politics, and appeasement, and to save themselves in the upcoming elections in Maharashtra and Haryana... We demanded to send this bill to a JPC," Gogoi said. Rashtriya Loktantrik Party MP Hanuman Beniwal said that they demand a Standing Committee or JPC. "The government wants to get it passed by introducing it in the Parliament. The Opposition registered its strong opposition. We said that this would hurt public sentiments. Waqf has been formed under Constitutional rights, you can't overrule it...We demanded a Standing Committee or JPC. Due to the objection of Opposition, NDA sent it to JPC. This happened due to our objection, otherwise they would have passed it today," Beniwal said. DMK MP Kanimozhi said that it is a direct violation of Article 30 which deals with minorities to administer their institutions. "It is a direct violation of Article 30 which deals with minorities to administer their institutions. This bill targets a particular religious group," Kanimozhi said. Congress MP K Suresh said that the INDIA bloc's demand was for a Standing Committee to look after this Bill. "INDIA bloc's demand was for a Standing Committee to look after this Bill. But they sent it to JPC without consultation of the Opposition..." He also says, "The abrogation for Article 370 was introduced in the House. CAA also moved there. They said the same at that time too, that it is not anti-Muslim Bill...Who will believe that? Only BJP. The Muslim community will not believe that," K Suresh said. TMC MP Shatrughan Sinha said that it is good that they have decided to form a JPC to look into it "The government understood that it would be difficult to pass the bill because many are of the opinion that even though the BJP is showing that it is working for the minorities, they don't have even one MP or leader in top positions from the Muslim community... Seeing everything, it was clear that the government would not be able to sail through it. It is good that they have decided to form a JPC to look into it," Sinha said. Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) MP Chandra Shekhar Aazad said that he doesn't want politics over Hindu-Muslim, there should be issue-based politics "We need to think, is the Government a well-wisher of Muslims? Have they formed any laws in the interest of Muslims? Has the Government brought any scheme in the interest of Muslims?... You scrapped Maulana Azad scholarship, you finished the aid to madrasas...This Government is not at all a well-wisher of Muslims. It should answer how did they overrule the Constitution?... We will not sit idle at any cost if you violate the Constitution...The Government has a majority, it can get it passed. We can't stop it. But we will raise our voices if something wrong happens. This is not justice, this is repression...When a JPC will be formed, we will register our objection...You want to weaken Muslims...We have borne the brunt of partition earlier. I don't want politics over Hindu-Muslim, there should be issue-based politics," Aazad said. National President of All India Muslim Jamaat Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi said that Waqf should be looked at from a completely Islamic point of view. "Waqf should be looked at from a completely Islamic point of view... Waqf board was formed to maintain the land given by the elders... In the new era, the property of the Waqf has increased by many times. An amendment is necessary... Waqf Board chairman, members and officials were buying and selling land with the help of land mafias... Waqf board diverted from its purpose and got involved in gathering money. We support the amendment but we are against the appointment of non-Muslim members in it. We are against the appointment of a district officer... Appointment of non-Muslims is against the Shariat and the law. Giving the authority to the DM is also wrong... These points must be removed from the amendment," Barelvi said. The Bharatiya Janata Party later proposed sending the Bill to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC). "We are not running away anywhere. So, if this has to be referred to any committee, I would like to speak on behalf of my govt - a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) be formed, this Bill be referred to it & detailed discussion be held," Kiren Rijiju said. Rijijiu gave a detailed reply to the points raised by opposition parties and said the government was acting on recommendations made by a panel constituted when the Congress-led UPA government was in power. BJP leader Smriti Irani said that this is a very constructive step taken by the government to ensure that the rights of poor Muslim families, especially women and children are protected. "For years on end, the Muslim community faced challenges with regards to the Waqf Boards in various states, there has been a demand for a change in how a Waqf Board operates... There has been a huge demand from Muslim women in their community for protection. Their inheritance rights were usurped. Women also struggled in some states when the Waqf Boards were giving 'khullas', which means that they were adjudicating on issues of divorce, marriage, and annulment... I am delighted that the provisions of the act and how the Waqf Board are now functions will also leverage technology at a large end... Irrespective of the fact that the government answered every question that the opposition had posed in a collaborative attempt a JPC was formulated... Every Indian under the constitution has the right to ensure that their properties are duly certified by revenue officers, and the new amendment provides for it. Every citizen in the country has the right to approach a court of law which was disallowed by the amendments that were brought forth by the UPA government led by the Congress. The amendments presented today give those rights to the citizens," Irani said. Delhi State Haj Committee Chairperson, Kausar Jahan said that the amendment is a major and important step towards making an impactful law towards transparent, accountable and equal representation. "Under this amendment, a provision has been made for the participation of all sections of Muslim community. The most important demand of the 21st century, the hour of the need, is the inclusion of women. So, what is Opposition's problem? Are they anti-women? Secondly, Waqf properties should not be misused. Waqf properties should be fairly identified. If there is any dispute, there should be a legal solution. So, what is the issue? I think that with this amendment, Waqf Board would be responsible and accountable. I think this will bring down the chances of corruption...This Bill is important," Jahan said. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said the only goal of the Opposition is to oppose. "There were a lot of controversial cases about land being grabbed by the Waqf Board. These kinds of activities will stop because of the bill... The only goal of the Opposition is to oppose. They oppose everything that the government does... In Uttarakhand, a drive to free illegally encroached land was going on. It was on hold due to monsoon. It will resume after the rainy season. 5000 acres of illegally encroached land have been freed till now," Dhami said. Kashish Warsi, the President of the Indian Sufi Foundation demanded a debate on this Bill and it should be passed. The Bill has been referred to JPC. It is a new initiative, and suggestions have been invited and the same should be offered...As far as Shariat is concerned, it has nothing to do with Shariat...I say this responsibly - radicals are controlling the Waqf properties today, they are enemies of Sufism. Properties should be freed of them, a committee of Sufis should be set up. Secondly, dargah and mazar are for offering food to the poor, and not to fill one's own pockets. Mazars are being controlled by radicals, they are filling their pockets. There should be a good debate on this Bill and it should be passed," Warsi said. Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde claimed that the Waqf Bill is in the true sense, for the betterment of the minority Muslim community. "There has been no prior amendment to the Waqf Bill... Even today, the opposition is against it because they do not want Muslim women to get representation... Congress is repeating its mistake during the Shah Bano case... No one can name any Waqf property that has been put to good use like schools, colleges, or hospitals. This bill will bring about transparency and accountability," Shinde said. JD(U) MP and Union Minister Rajeev Ranjan said that this law is being made to bring transparency. "How is it against Muslims? This law is being made to bring transparency...The opposition is comparing it with temples, they are diverting from the main issue....KC Venugopal (Congress) should explain how thousands of Sikhs were killed...which taxi driver killed Indira Gandhi? Now, they are talking about minorities," Ranjan said. BJP MP Arun Govil said that Waqf is an organisation that manages properties and the revenue generated from them. "I dont think its about religion. Waqf is an organisation that manages properties and the revenue generated from them. It should not be linked to religion. Kiren Rijiju answered all questions of the opposition with utmost clarity leaving no ounce of doubt. The opposition opposes everything just for the sake of it. If mistakes made during the Waqf Board Amendment in 1995 need to be rectified and it is a good thing... This is not anti-muslim," Govil said. Former Karnataka CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai said that For different reasons including the vote bank, the opposition tried to stall the Bill. "This is one of the most progressive bills which will take care of the minority Muslim community a great deal and save their properties and more so, all the proceeds of the Waqf should go to women and children... For different reasons including the vote bank, the opposition tried to stall it. But our government's intentions are very clear to do good for minorities. This is drawn from the Sachar Committee and the Rehman Khan Joint Parliamentary Committee, which was formed by Congress and the recommendations are being implemented. It has been a practice of the Congress to disown their own policies," Bommai said. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said that the opposition is just trying to provoke the Muslim community. "The opposition is just trying to provoke the Muslim community. When the Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju defined and put forward the entire matter, the opposition was rattled... All the complainants are from the Muslim community. The agenda of the opposition to provoke the Muslim community has failed. I urge everyone to listen to the definition put forth by the minister so that it becomes clear how the Waqf Board was misusing the rules and regulations," Tiwari said. BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad appealed to the opposition to support the Bill. says, "Something that which could not be done by Congress-UPA Government, despite all recommendations, is being done by Narendra Modi Government. Be it concern for the poor of the Muslim community, or children or women or the backward or Bohra Muslims and others - so what is the issue here? What problem do you have in giving an account of the land held by you?... I would like to appeal to them that they should support this Bill, this is in the support of the Muslim community." On the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam said that those who are opposing the amendment bill, are doing so to gain Muslim votes. "The fact is that a common Muslim has nothing to do with the Waqf board. The government has no control over it and there is no transparency in its functioning. This amendment is to stop the board from dominating the common man and bring more transparency," Nirupam said. Meanwhile, Janata Dal (United) and TDP supported the Waqf Amendment Bill and YSRCP opposed the Bill. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Waqf Act provides for the renaming of the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995. (ANI)
Puneet Roy Kundal, currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Portugal, the Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. Kundal, an Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1996 batch, is expected to assume his new role shortly. He previously served as the Ambassador of India to Tunisia and is an alumnus of Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, and Jawaharlal Nehru University. (ANI)
The ward building of Dhulikhel Hospital in Dhulikhel Municipality in Nepal's Kavrepalanchowk, funded by the Government of India, was inaugurated on Wednesday. The project was inaugurated by Avinash Kumar Singh, First Secretary, Embassy of India, Kathmandu. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Nepal said, "India-Nepal partners in Development, Ward Building of Dhulikhel Hospital at Dhulikhel Municipality, Kavrepalanchowk was inaugurated today by Shri Avinash Kumar Singh, First Secretary." https://x.com/IndiaInNepal/status/1821177484697907400 The post further stated, "This High Impact Community Development Project #HICDP is built with Government of India's financial assistance under 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation'." https://x.com/IndiaInNepal/status/1821177506449248633 The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said in a statement that the project was completed at a total cost of Nepalese Rupee (NPR) 42.60 million under 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation'. "The Government of India grant under 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation' was utilized for the construction of ward building with other facilities for this hospital. The project was taken up as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) under an Agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Nepal. This project was implemented through Dhulikhel Municipality, Kavrepalanchowk. The project is an important example of the robust development partnership between India and Nepal," the release stated. The mayor of Dhulikhel Municipality, Political representatives and Executive Director, and Administrative Director, of Dhulikhel Hospital in their remarks appreciated the continued developmental support of the Government of India in the upliftment of the people of Nepal in priority sectors. The setting up of ward buildings will help to provide quality infrastructure and an improved environment for health care service to the people in Nepal. Since 2003, the government of India has taken up over 551 HICDPs in Nepal in various sectors and has completed 490 projects. Among these, 106 projects are in Bagmati Province, including 7 in Kavrepalanchowk. India has also gifted 1,009 ambulances and 300 school buses to hospitals, health posts, and educational institutions in Nepal, with 236 ambulances and 98 school buses in Bagmati Province, including eight school buses and 16 ambulances in Kavrepalanchowk District. Notably, an Advanced Life Support ambulance was gifted to Dhulikhel Hospital in January 2021. This Ambulance serves in the first line of treatment and contributes significantly to emergency health care. "As close neighbours, India and Nepal share wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation. The implementation of HICDPs reflects the continued support of the Government of India in bolstering the efforts of the Government of Nepal in upliftment of its people, augmenting infrastructure in the field of priority sectors," the release from the embassy stated. The inauguration event was attended by the mayor, Dhulikhel Municipality officials, political representatives, government officials, hospital management, and social workers. (ANI)
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed deep concern on Wednesday over reports of rape, torture, and abuse against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention. During a press briefing, Jean-Pierre emphasized that the US has always been clear and consistent with Israel on its stance that the latter must treat detainees humanely. "The reports of rape, torture, and abuse are deeply, deeply concerning. And we have been clear and consistent with Israel that it must treat all detainees humanely and with dignity in accordance with international law, must respect detainees' human rights, and must ensure accountability for any abuses or violations," she stated. She said that the US told Israel that it must treat all detainees in accordance with international law, must respect detainees' human rights, and must ensure accountability for any abuses or violations. The US will have conversations on the investigation of the Israeli Defence Forces into the alleged abuse of Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli soldiers. "We support an IDF investigation into allegations of serious abuse of Palestinian detainees by IDF soldiers. It is essential that the rule of law and due process prevail," Pierre added. Pierre said that it is essential that the rule of law and due process prevail. She added that the leaders have "closed some important gaps," and "Our focus is going to continue to have those diplomatic conversations with Middle East leaders on de-escalation and the tensions there in the region, obviously bringing in the ceasefire and hostage release deal to a conclusion." "This is something that the president has talked about for some time now. And his -- he and his team are going to continue to work around the clock to get that deal done," she said. Pierre, talking about the broader spectrum of the Middle East, said that President Joe Biden's focus is de-escalation. "We want to see a de-escalation in tension," she added. (ANI)
US President Joe Biden on Wednesday said he is not confident about a peaceful transfer of power if Republican Donald Trump loses the upcoming presidential election. In a recent interview with US-based media house CBS News, the first after announcing his withdrawal from the Presidential race, Biden expressed doubts about a peaceful transfer of power and said, "If Trump loses, I'm not confident at all." The interview was conducted in the White House and will be aired on August 11. The two spoke about Biden's decision to withdraw his candidature, his outlook on the country, his reflections on American democracy, and much more. Biden said that he is not confident about a peaceful transfer of power if Trump loses, as a rhetoric on the former President's comment that the only way he would lose is if "the election is stolen from him", CBS News reported. "If Trump loses, I'm not confident at all. He means what he says. We don't take him seriously. He means it, all the stuff about, 'If we lose, there'll be a bloodbath, it'll have to be a stolen election,'" Biden said when asked if he was confident about the transfer of power in January 2025, CBS reported. The 'bloodbath' Trump referred to was when he said that the US auto industry and the country would be in a 'bloodbath' if he lost the Presidential election, CNN reported. However, Harris's campaign teams jumped upon the comment, accusing Trump of threatening political violence. US Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, has described her campaign as "not just a fight against former US President Donald Trump" but a "fight for our future." She said she is fighting for affordable housing, child care, and healthcare. "Look what they're trying to do now in the local election districts where people count the votes, or putting people in place in states that they're going to count the votes, right?" CBS quoted Biden. The Democratic Party's presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, made the remarks at her first rally with running mate Tim Walz. (ANI)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], August 8 (ANI/WAM): The United Arab Emirates is alarmed by the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan, with severe food insecurity affecting over 25 million Sudanese citizens. We express our deepest concern over the declared famine in parts of North Darfur, particularly in Zamzam camp, which shelters over half a million displaced people, the likelihood of famine in the Abu Shouk and Al Salam camps, and the nine additional Sudanese states where people are living in catastrophic hunger conditions. The UAE welcomes today's UN Security Council meeting which highlights the urgency of the situation of famine in Sudan. It is imperative that the international community maintains its focus on Sudan. The UAE affirms that the humanitarian crisis in Sudan demands an emergency response that helps secure a ceasefire and facilitates the swift delivery of humanitarian aid. Trucks full of lifesaving aid are held on the border of Sudan while thousands starve across the country, including in Zamzam Camp and Northern Darfur. The Sudanese Armed Forces must lift its restrictions on humanitarian access and the Rapid Support Forces must ensure that organisations and humanitarian workers are allowed to operate safely, without fear of attack, in order to reach people in need. The UAE unequivocally condemns the use of starvation as a weapon of war, the denial of humanitarian access for civilians in need, and the indiscriminate attacks that make it impossible for people to receive assistance - all these are clear violations of international humanitarian law. The UAE stresses that the harrowing developments on the ground require the urgent scale-up of cross-border and cross-line humanitarian access to save millions of lives. The international community cannot allow the people of Sudan to be used as a political bargaining chip. The UAE calls on the Security Council to utilise all the tools at its disposal to address the catastrophic situation in Sudan. This includes considering, if necessary, authorising UN humanitarian agencies to reach people in need across the country, through both cross-line and cross-border routes. The Council's decisive action can be critical in coordinating international efforts to bring in the aid necessary to stop this famine through neighbouring countries. The UAE once again reiterates its call on the warring parties to agree to an immediate and permanent ceasefire and to prioritise human life over military objectives, allow for unhindered, safe, rapid and sustained passage of humanitarian assistance across the country, and engage in peace talks in good faith towards a civilian-led transition. To that end, the UAE appreciates the efforts of the United States in organising the upcoming ceasefire talks in Geneva and those of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Switzerland for co-hosting. The UAE will continue to support all ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a peaceful resolution to this conflict. The UAE remains committed as a long-standing humanitarian partner in Sudan. The UAE allocated USD 70 million to address the urgent humanitarian needs in Sudan, through UN agencies and humanitarian organisations, and USD 30 million to regional countries to support regional Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries of Sudan. (ANI/WAM)
The day began with high tension and the possibility of violence, but the situation calmed down in major cities like Liverpool and London as counter-protesters turned out in large numbers.

As the anti-racist counter-protesters appeared, the far-right protesters became more subdued, Al Jazeera reported.

The Northampton police asked the counter-protesters to disperse as the far-right protesters mellowed.

"Protest Update- One hour since planned protest was due to start and there has been no disorder tonight. Police are now asking the crowd of counter-protesters to disperse peacefully for the evening. Kettering Road still partially closed for now #Northampton," the Northants Police said in a post on X.

https://x.com/NorthantsPolice/status/1821275082569748740

Hundreds of protesters in solidarity with immigrants gathered in London against the far-right, chanting slogans like "refugees welcome," "London against racism," "Migration is not a crime," and "stop the far right."

In Walthamstow, where violent far-right protests were expected, people were stunned to see anti-Fascist groups, Palestinian and LGBT flags, and immigration-friendly signboards, Al Jazeera reported.

A police officer said that they made a few arrests, but the crowd's mood shifted with drummers playing on the streets and giant bubbles floating across the evening sky, Al Jazeera reported.

The UK has struggled with the greatest social unrest it has seen in years following a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class in Southport. Several rioters on Sunday set fire to and broke into hotels housing asylum seekers in northern England.

The far-right was accused of inciting anti-Muslim and anti-immigration demonstrations by spreading misinformation, including the false allegation that the assailant was a Muslim immigrant. However, the police confirmed that the suspect was born in Britain. (ANI)
Councilwomen Melissa Cabello Havrda was seen with members of AFSCME Local 2021 during a joint session to vote on charter amendments on Thursday, August 8, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Guillermo Vazquez, AFSCME Area Field Services Director, was seen making remarks to members of San Antonio City Council and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg during a joint session to vote on charter amendments on Thursday, August 8, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Ryan Lugalia-Hollon was seen making remarks to members of San Antonio City Council and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg during a joint session to vote on charter amendments on Thursday, August 8, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Athny Perez (left), Sarah Montejano (center) and Krystal Conner (right), were seen holding signs while Members of San Antonio City Council and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg spoke during a joint session to vote on charter amendments on Thursday, August 8, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Councilwomen Melissa Cabello Havrda was seen making remarks to members of San Antonio City Council and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg during a joint session to vote on charter amendments on Thursday, August 8, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Councilwomen Adriana Rocha Garcia was seen making remarks to members of San Antonio City Council and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg during a joint session to vote on charter amendments on Thursday, August 8, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Mayor Ron Nirenberg was seen during a joint session to vote on charter amendments on Thursday, August 8, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Bonnie Prosser-Elder, co chair for the Charter Review Commission, was seen while members of San Antonio City Council and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg spoke during a joint session to vote on charter amendments on Thursday, August 8, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Dwayne Robinson, committee member for the Charter Review Commission, was seen while members of San Antonio City Council and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg spoke during a joint session to vote on charter amendments on Thursday, August 8, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer

City Council will ask voters in November for a big pay raise and to extend the length of members' terms.

Those were two of the six charter amendments that Mayor Ron Nirenberg and council on Thursday placed on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.

The pay and term amendments split the council, with a handful of members voting against the versions of the charter changes that will appear on the ballot.

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Council Members Melissa Cabello Havrda, Manny Pelaez and Marc Whyte voted against asking voters to boost council pay by more than $24,000 (to $70,200) and the mayors salary by about $26,000 (to $87,800)  raises their colleagues said were needed to encourage a more economically diverse group of candidates to run for city office.

If we keep the salary lower, then we might just become a council with only members who are attorneys, said District 7 Council Member Marina Alderete Gavito.

Three lawyers sit on council: Cabello Havrda, Pelaez and Whyte.

Pelaez, who is running for mayor, dismissed his colleagues assertion that higher pay would result in more professional and harder-working politicians and better local government.

I will tell you that City Council  with all this talk of service and humility and all that  is the closest thing to royalty in San Antonio that you can get, he said. We get to park wherever the hell we want to. All of us get invited to every Spurs game and high-ticket concerts.

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And by the way, those of us up here who talk about regular-ass people and regular folks and being poverty pimps and all that stuff  youll see them all in the suites, at the luxury suites and at luxury events and galas, he said.

District 5 Council Member Teri Castillo shot back on social media platform X, jokingly encouraging readers to seek Pelaezs office records because, I need to know who is not inviting me to spurs games and suites.

Whyte and Pelaez joined Alderete Gavito in voting against the amendment that would extend mayor and council terms from two to four years.

The mayor and council voted 11-0 to call the city charter amendment election but voted 8-3 on separate motions for the council pay and terms amendments.

Nirenberg defended the charter amendments that made it on the ballot. He described the charter changes as a way to reinvigorate the purpose that we serve, which is to make a better city for our community going forward and for future generations.

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Last fall, the mayor appointed 15 members to the Charter Review Commission and tasked the group with considering potential amendments related to pay and tenure caps on the city manager, council pay and terms, and other provisions of the city charter.

The one amendment on the November ballot that the commission didnt recommend would allow city employees to campaign for or donate to council or mayoral candidates  something the city charter currently prohibits.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees lobbied the commission, unsuccessfully, to add this change to its list of proposed amendments but found an opening with council members.

Here are the six propositions that voters will decide in the Nov. 5 election:

Prop A: Would add a definition of conflicts of interest to the charter and would require sufficient funding for the Ethics Review Board. It would also authorize the board to accept or decline ethics complaints that have been resolved by an entity other than the board.

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Prop B: Would revise the charters language to remove outdated and superseded provisions.

Prop C: Would return to the City Council the authority to determine the city managers salary and length of service. Currently, the charter limits the city manager to no more than eight years in office and caps the salary at no more than 10 times what the lowest-paid city employee earns.

Prop D: Would allow city employees to campaign for or donate to candidates running for council or mayor.

Prop E: Would raise the annual salaries of council members and the mayor, with annual adjustments tied to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department median income for a four-member family in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan area. Currently, council members receive a salary of $45,722, and the mayor earns $61,725.

Prop F: Would extend the terms of council members and the mayor from two to four years, and it would change their term limits to two four-year terms.

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All but one of the propositions would take effect immediately. Prop E would apply to the council members and mayor who take office after the May 2025 municipal election.

If voters approve Prop F, it would set up special elections for a handful of current council members, who, if they seek reelection, could hit the eight-year limit in the middle of a term.

For example, were any of the council members currently in their first term  Sukh Kaur, Alderete Gavito and Whyte  to be reelected in 2025 and again in 2029, they would reach their eight-year limit in 2031. That would require a special election in May 2031 to elect representatives to serve the remaining two years.

One change that some members of the community sought, and made a final push for Thursday, did not make it to the ballot.

Dozens of supporters of UP Partnerships proposal to build a childrens fund through the charter filled council chambers to speak in support of the idea. The education nonprofit wanted to amend the charter to devote 20% of annual city revenue growth to children and youth.
US Vice President Kamala Harris shut down pro-Palestine protestors who interrupted her speech at a rally in Detroit. Demonstrators in the crowd repeatedly shouted out, "Kamala, Kamala you can't hide, we won't vote for genocide," the US daily The Hill reported. The crowd at the Detroit airplane hangar, however, booed and drowned out the protesters with chants of "Kamala," as per the American media outlet. "I'm here because we believe in democracy. Everyone's voice matters, but I am speaking now. I am speaking now," Harris said. When the protestors did not relent, she said, "You know what, if you want Donald Trump to win then say that. Otherwise, I'm speaking." Harris after a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel last month had stated that she would "always ensure that Israel is able to defend itself, including from Iran and Iran-backed militias, such as Hamas and Hezbollah." "I've said it many times but it bears repeating, Israel has a right to defend itself, but how it does so matters," Harris said after the meeting with Netanyahu. She also said that she is committed to "a path forward that can lead to a two-state solution." According to an analysis by the Hill, Michigan is home to a particularly high Arab American population, especially in the Detroit suburbs. Some Democrats have worried that the Biden administration's handling of the war in Gaza could cost them votes in November. Meanwhile, Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz traveled Wednesday to Wisconsin and Michigan. At the Detroit rally, head of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Shawn Fain tore into former US President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and rallied support for Harris in front "of a crowd of thousands." Union workers could play a key role in Michigan, the home of the US auto industry. Michigan broke from decades of steady Democratic support to elect Trump in 2016 before Biden flipped the state back in 2020. (ANI)
US Congressman Rich McCormick denounced the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, and said that he is deeply disturbed by the reports of sectarian violence targeting members of the Hindu minority in the country. McCormick's remarks come at a time when Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina tendering her resignation from her post in the wake of mounting protests on August 5. The protests, led mainly by students demanding an end to the quota system for government jobs, evolved into anti-government demonstrations. Sharing a post on X, McCormick wrote, "I'm praying that the people of Bangladesh will know peace and stability again soon. I'm deeply disturbed by the reports of sectarian violence targeting members of the Hindu minority and will work with my colleagues on the House Foreign Affairs Committee to help promote a peaceful democratic transition in Bangladesh." https://x.com/RepMcCormick/status/1821301875297448092 A day after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister of Bangladesh and left the country, President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced the dissolution of the country's parliament to make way for the formation of an interim administration, Dhaka Tribune reported. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed as the head of Bangladesh's interim government, the report said. Bangladesh President's Press Secretary, Joynal Abedin, made the announcement. In a statement issued by the Yunus Centre, the Nobel peace laureate said, "I fervently appeal to everybody to stay calm. Please refrain from all kinds of violence. I appeal to all students, members of all political parties and non-political people to stay calm. This is our beautiful country with lots of exciting possibilities. We must protect and make it a wonderful country for us and for our future generations." Members of the interim government led by Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus will take oath on Thursday night, the Daily Star reported. Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has indicated that the interim government may have 15 members for now. The names of the members of the interim government have not been disclosed. (ANI)
Republican vice-presidential candidate and Ohio Senator JD Vance tried to confront Vice President Kamala Harris on the tarmac as their planes arrived at about the same time in Wisconsin. The video captured by Reuters shows Vance approaching a press gaggle at the airport and said to have a closer look at Air Force Two. He said that Kamala Harris does not respond to reporters. Speaking to reporters, he said, "I figured I'd come by and just get a good look at the plane because hopefully, it's going to be my plane in a few months." "But I also thought you guys might get lonely because the Vice President doesn't answer questions from reporters and hasn't for 17 days," he added. "Have they given you guys an explanation for why she won't take questions from reporters? No. Nobody? Okay, great," he asked the reporters. He said that Kamala Harris should change her mind, as it would be good for the Americans. Vance said, "Well, I hope that she changes her mind, because it'd be good for the American people, and I think it'd be good for you all.She actually ran a real campaign instead of one from a basement with a teleprompter." Mentioning the encounter on X, Vance stated, "I thought the reporters traveling with Kamala might be a little lonely given that she never answers questions from them, so I figured I'd come say hello and check out my new plane while I was at it." Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, posed for pictures with Girl Scouts Troop #3307 on the tarmac shortly before Vance spoke to reporters. The two leaders appeared to have left seconds before their rival walked over, New York Post reported. Harris' campaign tried to make fun of Vance by sharing a video of his plane landing at Eau Claire airport with the TikTok-style oral caption, "all of a sudden, I hear this agitating, grating voice." In response to their post, Donald Trump-Vance campaign spokesman Steven Cheung stated, "Make sure AF2 is deep cleaned because Lord only knows what @KamalaHarris and her team have done on there." "The smell alone on that plane must be crazy," he added. Vance's statement comes after he accused Walz of "stolen valour" and criticized Harris' performance as US President Joe Biden's designated point person on reducing illegal immigration at a Michigan event earlier in the day, New York Post reported. He called it "insulting" to Americans that Harris has not been giving interviews. He said, "I'd love her to just answer what she wants to do and also explain why every single position she has has changed." Criticising Harris for her decisions regarding US border, Vance said, "She pretends to be a tough on crime prosecutor and yet here she is wanting to defund the police. She's the border czar, yet she's opened up the American southern border." Vance also slammed Walz after the Minnesota governor mocked him at his first rally as Harris' running mate in Philadelphia on Tuesday, according to New York Post report. "What bothers me about Tim Waltz is the stolen valour garbage," Vance said of Walz, who left the National Guard in 2005 shortly after his battalion was ordered to deploy to the Iraq War. Vance asked Walz not to pretend to be something that he is not. JD Vance, who did serve in the Iraq War, said: "Do not pretend to be something that you're not. And if he wants to criticize me for getting an Ivy League education, I'm proud of the fact that my mamaw supported me, that I was able to make something of myself. I'd be ashamed if I was him and I lied about my military service." (ANI)
Members of the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will take the oath tonight. Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said on Wednesday that the oath-taking ceremony is likely to be held at 8:00 pm (local time) in the presence of some 400 dignitaries, Daily Star reported. The oath-taking ceremony will be held three days after the cabinet was dissolved following the resignation of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Waker-Uz-Zaman indicated that the interim government might comprise 15 members. However, he did not mention their names and possible tenure of the government. He spoke to reporters at the Army Headquarters on Wednesday. General Waker-Uz-Zaman expressed hope that normalcy would return within three to four days as the situation in Bangladesh is improving significantly. He said that those involved in the crimes committed over the past few days will not be spared and legal action will be taken against them. Earlier on Tuesday, Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin agreed to the proposal of the key student protest organizers to make Yunus the head of Bangladesh's interim government. Since then, the people of Bangladesh have wanted to know when the government would take charge and bring the situation across the country under its control. On Tuesday, General Waker-Uz-Zaman said he had spoken to Muhammad Yunus and felt "very good talking to him, Daily Star reported. He said, "I felt very good talking to him. It seemed to me that he was very eager to take up the responsibility. I'm certain that he will be successful in taking us to a democratic process, and that we will benefit from it." General Waker-Uz-Zaman said they have spoken with political parties and protest organizers about making Yunus the interim government chief. He said they spoke to the Bangladesh President and made the proposal. He expressed hope that Yunus would receive support from all political parties and students, and would be successful in performing his duties. He said, "The navy chief, the air force chief and I ... We all will support him." Bangladesh army chief appreciated the students and volunteers who were working to maintain traffic on the city streets in the absence of traffic police and clean vandalized places. He requested them to continue the good work. He said students, after his request, worked to stop looting and other criminal activities committed outside Dhaka. The Bangladesh army chief said he had spoken to commanders and general officers commanding (GOC) and came to know that the situation was improving significantly. General Waker-Uz-Zaman called on the people not to believe any rumours involving the army. He said work is being done to revamp the police force as a new inspector general of police has already been appointed and expressed hope that police personnel would begin performing their duties soon. He said, "I want to assure that the army, navy, and air force were with the people and will be with them." When asked about people's concerns regarding the recent incidents of looting and vandalism, General Waker-Uz-Zaman said he has taken responsibility for all people and requested cooperation from political leaders in this regard as there were possibilities of such incidents during the transition of power. He said, "They [political leaders] assured me of their best possible cooperation. Even though some incidents took place there are some reasons behind it. The situation, however, is getting normal." General Waker-Uz-Zaman said police personnel were not on the ground and it was not possible to fill the void with the army personnel. He said that the army personnel were trying their best and they rescued thousands of people, and police personnel and were guarding places like the airport. He said, "I'm very sorry and embarrassed for what has taken place in the first one or two days." He stated navy and air force personnel were also working. Bangladesh army chief said, "We have tried our best. But still, some incidents happened. It is simply because we did not have enough strength. But I'm sure when the police force gets revamped, the void will easily be filled." "But I want to say that we will try our best to bring those involved in such [criminal] activities to book," he added. When asked if he had any plan to increase the number of force on the ground, he responded, "All the personnel we have in the military have already been deployed and they are working," Daily Star reported. In response to another question, he stated, "Politicians asked me to take the responsibility [of people's safety]." He stated, "Somebody has to take it [responsibility]. There was no one to take it and thus I shouldered the responsibility. I have to take the responsibility if there is any failure here. I have tried my best and normalcy will return within a very short time." He added, "But we have a lot to do. Give me some more time." Meanwhile, Muhammad Yunus has called violence an "enemy" and stressed that people must protect and make Bangladesh a wonderful country for them and future generations, Daily Tribune reported. In a statement, he stated, "Our youth is ready to give this leadership in creating a new world. Let us not miss the chance by going into any senseless violence. Violence is our enemy. Please don't create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country." Yunus congratulated the students who took the lead in making their "Second Victory Day" possible, Daily Tribune reported. He said, "Let us make the best use of our new victory. Let us not let this slip away because of our mistakes." He urged people to stay calm and asked them to "refrain from all kinds of violence." He called on all students, members of all political parties, and non-political people to stay calm. He said, "This is our beautiful country with lots of exciting possibilities. We must protect and make it a wonderful country for us and our future generations." "If we take the path of violence everything will be destroyed. Please stay calm. Help those around you to stay calm," he added, according to a Daily Tribune report. Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina tendering her resignation from her post in the wake of mounting protests on August 5. A day after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Bangladesh PM and left the country, Mohammed Shahabuddin announced the dissolution of the country's parliament to make way for the formation of an interim administration. (ANI)
Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) has "strongly" condemned blasphemy accusations against the two Christian sisters named Sonia Masih and Saima Masih. The incident took place in a village in Toba Tek Singh district of Pakistan. HRFP President Naveed Walter expressed his deep concerns over the false accusation of Sonia Masih and Saima Masih and arrests with blasphemy allegations against all other Christians, according to a HRFP press release. He stressed that the new incidents have witnessed a rise and previous cases have been occurring for too long without any resolution. "As like, last year, a horrific incident occurred in Jaranwala, where a violent mob set fire to and vandalized Churches and homes. Sadly, another incident just occurred in May 2024 where a mob allegedly violence to Nazir Masih and family, resulting in his tragic death," Naveed Walter stated in a press release. "The Christians will never forget the tragic incidents in Gojra and Koriyaan in 2009 and in a same city an incident took place again where the Christian family has been attacked," he added. He emphasised that this cycle of violence through false blasphemy accusations must come to an end. Naveed Walter stated that Christians don't feel safe and secure in Pakistan as they are a minority. He added that being a minority should not deprive anyone of their rights, according to HRFP press release. Naveed Walter called on the government to prioritize the protection of minorities and accused the authorities of neglecting this issue, letting the perpetrators go unpunished while unfairly punishing innocent people as in the Jaranwala issue, where a Christian youth Ehsan Shan was accused and sentenced to death. However, the real perpetrators were released from prisons and let go without facing any consequences. He further said, "It's time for the government to take decisive actions against real culprits and facilitators of Gojra's blasphemy accusation on two innocent sisters and bring justice to those who take the law into their own hands for the personal scores." Naveed Walter said the HRFP team is working closely on Sonia Masih and Saima Masih's issue for more facts and helping with the provision of legal, and other immediate assistance and mentioned other recent issues, like the Mariam Bibi case of Sahiwal, who was abducted on June 7, 2024, when she was on a way to employer's house for her work as a housemaid. Walter said that her father Rafique Masih visited the HRFP Office and shared details that Muhammad Hamza with facilitators took her to Faisalabad and he forcefully converted her to Islam and got married forcibly while she was already married to a Christian man, HRFP stated in a press release. The accuser, Mohammad Haider, alleged that on August 6, he saw Sonia Masih putting trash in a bag and taking it to an empty area to dispose of it. He claimed to have seen pages of the Quran in the trash, along with a phone number and the name of Emma Faryad Gill on the pages. In a statement, HRFP stated, "The accuser Haider Ali stated further that later, on next day on August 7, 2024, at 11:30 in the morning, he joined Hammad Ali and Khan Suba to visit the girls' house to investigate the matter. During this visit, Sonia's sister Saima Masih said some inappropriate things, which further reinforced the accuser's confidence that both sisters had committed the blasphemy." "Haider Ali claimed that he displayed the pages also to the police that they had found as evidence. The First Information Report (FIR) has been filed at the local police station of Saddar Gojra with number 924/24," it added. In the press release, HRFP also mentioned another such case of Sahiwal, where Natasha Razzaq, a 9th-grade student, was sexually abused, harassed and attacked by Muhammad Bilal on May 6, 2024. It also said that Mariam Gulzar of Okara was abducted at gunpoint by Ali Raza, Mohammad Riaz, and others on April 17, who took them to Quetta. It said that Mariam Gulzar returned to home with a woman's help. In another incident, Ali Azeem, Nabeel, and Atif tried to abduct Asia Bibi of Faisalabad's village on June 26, 2024, when she was returning from work to home. It said that she started screaming and was able to escape successfully from the abuse and abduction through someone's help. (ANI)
In a significant move to draw international attention to human rights violations in their regions, a high-level delegation representing Afghans, Pashtuns, and Kashmiris met with Pope Francis in the Vatican City on Wednesday. Invited by the Afghan Community in Italy, the delegation sought to brief the Pope on the ongoing situation and advocate for global support and intervention. The delegation included notable figures such as Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, the exiled Founding Chairman of the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP); Mashriqwal Kaihan, a prominent Afghan community leader; leaders of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement; and Asif Abbas, General Secretary of the UKPNP Europe Zone, among others. During the meeting, Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, Mashriqwal Kaihan, and other delegates highlighted the urgent need for international attention to alleviate the hardships faced by people in their troubled regions. They expressed hope that with Pope Francis's support, their cause would gain greater visibility, leading to meaningful actions towards peace and justice. Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri provided historical context, explaining the origins and subsequent turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir, especially the region under Pakistani occupation. A statement issued by UKPNP said, "The leaders emphasised that Pakistan occupied Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, parts of the former princely state under Pakistani control since 1947, suffer from political repression, lack of development, and systemic corruption imposed by Islamabad". The UKPNP has consistently opposed Pakistan's use of the region as a base for proxy wars and terrorism, which began in 1988 and continues to this day. The party condemns discrimination against religious minorities across the globe, particularly in Pakistan, including attacks on Christians, forced conversions of minor Christian and Hindu girls, and the misuse of blasphemy laws. "The UKPNP has raised these issues at international forums such as the United Nations Human Rights Council, the European Parliament, and the UK House of Commons and will continue its efforts", said a statement. The delegation expressed deep gratitude to Pope Francis for granting them the opportunity to discuss the plight of their people. They detailed the severe human rights abuses and ongoing suffering faced by innocent civilians in their regions, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan. The delegation earnestly requested Pope Francis to use his influence to advocate for the protection and well-being of those affected by conflict, oppression, and discriminatory laws. (ANI)
Members of the Sheikh Hasina entourage, who reached India with her on Monday, have now started departing from India for their next destinations. Along with the two sisters, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, a significant number of associates had also come to India on August 5. Most of the members of the entourage have now started leaving India for their next destinations, sources told ANI. Sheikh Hasina and her sister, along with other associates had to flee Bangladesh in a hurry to save their lives. All the team members in her entourage came to India in a hurry, as many of them could not even carry clothing or any other daily-use items with them. The Indian protocol officials deployed with the entourage helped the members of Hasina's team to buy clothes and other items, they said. The team members were in a state of shock due to the experience and scenes witnessed by them back home in the last few days, the sources said. The number of associates of the two sisters from the most reputed political family of Bangladesh are in double digits and they arrived in India along with her, the sources said. Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was constantly in touch with the officials and met Hasina as soon as she landed in Delhi. The team was provided immediate help and taken to safe houses in Delhi, they said. Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina, 5, tendering her resignation from her post on August 5 in the wake of mounting protests. The protests, led majorly by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, took the shape of anti-government protests. Members of the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will take the oath tonight. Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said on Wednesday that the oath-taking ceremony is likely to be held at 8:00 pm (local time) in the presence of some 400 dignitaries, The Daily Star reported. Waker-Uz-Zaman indicated that the interim government might comprise 15 members. However, he did not mention their names and possible tenure of the government. General Waker-Uz-Zaman expressed hope that normalcy would return within three to four days as the situation in Bangladesh is improving significantly. He said that those involved in the crimes committed over the past few days will not be spared and legal action will be taken against them. (ANI)
Holding Israel "fully responsible for the heinous attack" that killed Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Iran on July 31, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has requested "immediate and effective intervention" by the UN Security Council for maintaining international peace and security. In a statement issued after its extraordinary meeting in Jeddah on Wednesday, the OIC termed Israel's action, a "flagrant violation of international laws, the UN Charter, and a serious infringement of the sovereignty, and territorial integrity" of Iran. "Strongly condemns the assassination of Mr. Ismail Haniyeh, former Palestinian Prime Minister, while he was in Tehran, capital city of Iran, and holds Israel, the illegal occupying power, fully responsible for this heinous attack, which constitutes a crime of aggression, a flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter and a serious infringement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran, warns that the ongoing crimes of Israel, the illegal occupying power, undermines security and stability in the region, and requests immediate and effective intervention by the UN Security Council, within its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security," the OIC said. The meeting was held to discuss the "ongoing crimes" by Israel against the Palestinian People and its infringing on the sovereignty of Iran. In the statement, the OIC condemned the "continued war crimes, aggression and genocide committed by Israel, the illegal occupying power, in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including the City of Al-Quds Ash-Sharif. It has demanded an immediate end to "Israeli aggression and the policy of torture, starvation, and collective punishment against the Palestinian people" and rejected by all possible means any attempt at displacement, expulsion, or forcible transfer of the Palestinian people from their land. The members of the OIC have urged the United Nations and the UN Security Council to put an end to the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, to ensure adequate and sustainable access to humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip, as per resolutions 2720 and 2728, and to provide protection for defenceless Palestinian civilians. It urged all States to take the necessary measures to stop Israel from continuing its "crimes against the Palestinian people" and to ensure respect for and implementation of the relevant UN resolutions as well as the ICJ provisional measures on the crime of genocide. In the statement, the OIC stated, "Calls upon all OIC Member States to stand in solidarity against the illegal acts by the Israeli occupying power, which exacerbate the conflict in the region and threaten regional peace and security, through taking the necessary diplomatic, legal and political measures to reverse the escalation in the region, and striving to find a path towards regional and international peace and stability." It warned against the continued "incursions" into the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, particularly incursions by the Israeli Minister of National Security, which it termed as a "provocative action" and condemned it in the "strongest terms." The statement issued after the meeting stated, "Stresses the need to respect the legal and historical status of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Al-Quds, including the role of Al-Quds Waqf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department of the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf Islamic Affairs and Holy Places, as the sole authority with exclusive jurisdiction responsible for managing all the affairs of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque (Al-Haram Al-Sharif), and regulating entry into the Mosque, under the historical Hashemite guardianship of the holy sites." The OIC members urged all States to refrain from engaging in any kind of assistance or cooperation with Israel and said that it "would prolong Israel's illegal occupation of the Palestinian territory, grant it impunity, and embolden it to continue its crimes and flagrant violations of international law and relevant UN resolutions." The statement said, "Affirms its support for efforts to hold Israel, the illegal occupying power, accountable for its ongoing violations and crimes against the Palestinian people, and welcomes, in this regard, the recent ICJ legal advisory opinion that affirms the illegality of the presence of Israel and its colonial settlement in the occupied Palestinian territory, and calls, in this regard, for taking the necessary measures to end Israel's illegal occupation of the Palestinian territory as soon as possible." Furthermore, the OIC members urged the International Criminal Court to expedite the investigation into the war crimes and crimes "committed" by Israel against the Palestinian people. During the meeting, Saudi Arabia's deputy foreign minister, Waleed al-Khereiji, said his country rejects "any violation of the sovereignty of states or interference in the internal affairs of any country," Al Jazeera reported. Hamas and Iran have blamed Israel for Haniyeh's killing in Tehran on July 31. However, the Israeli government has not made any statement on Haniyeh's killing. Gambia's Foreign Minister, Mamadou Tangara, said Haniyeh's "heinous" killing and the ongoing war in Gaza could cause a regional conflict. He termed the killing a "violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of Iran. "This heinous act serves only to escalate the existing tensions potentially leading to a wider conflict that could involve the entire region," he added. In his remarks at the OIC meeting, Tangara called for "durable peace that addresses the root causes of the [Israeli-Palestinian] conflict," Al Jazeera reported. He called it "crucial" for the international community to come together to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need and to work towards a sustainable political solution that promotes peace and security for all people in the region. Tensions in West Asia have escalated after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on July 31 that Ismail Haniyeh had been killed in an attack in Iran's capital, Tehran. In a statement, the IRGC said that Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed when their house was hit in Tehran. So far, Israel has not issued any statement on the killing of the Hamas political bureau head. Haniyeh, who was based in Qatar, was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian. Haniyeh has been replaced by Hamas's Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar. (ANI)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called an emergency meeting to discuss the surge in Monkey Pox (mpox) cases spreading from Congo. Sharing a post on X, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that a committee of independent experts will meet as soon as possible to look into the issue. "In light of the spread of #mpox outside #DRC, and the potential for further international spread within and outside Africa, I have decided to convene an Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations to advise me on whether the outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern," the WHO chief stated. https://x.com/DrTedros/status/1821199556647764234 The cases of mpox have surged in the Central African nation since last September. A strain of the virus has now been detected in its neighbouring countries. "The committee will meet as soon as possible and will be made up of independent experts from a range of relevant disciplines from around the world," Tedros posted on X. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the announcement amid an outbreak that has seen nearly 27,000 cases in the DRC and claimed about 1,100 lives, many of them children, according to Al Jazeera. The mpox has been detected in 10 African nations this year, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said last week. Citing the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Al Jazeera reported that over 96 per cent of the cases are located in DRC. The agency further stated that the cases are up 160 per cent this year, with deaths surging by 19 per cent. The disease also appears especially prevalent among the young, with 70 per cent of cases and 85 per cent of deaths in the DRC occurring among children under the age of 15, reported Al Jazeera. The WHO declared mpox, also known as monkeypox, a global emergency in 2022 after it spread to more than 70 countries. (ANI)
Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna has urged Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus to uphold the rule of law and stop the targeting of temples or people of any political party from violence. Ro Khanna's remarks come at a time when Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation, with Sheikh Hasina tendering her resignation from her post in the wake of mounting protests on August 5. The protests, led mainly by students demanding an end to the quota system for government jobs, evolved into anti-government demonstrations. Taking to X, Ro Khanna stated, "Bangladeshi students had just human rights concerns against PM Hasina. It's good she is gone. But the violence now targeting Hindus is wrong. PM Yunus must uphold the rule of law & prevent the targeting of temples or people of any political party or faith from violence." A day after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister of Bangladesh and left the country, President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced the dissolution of the country's parliament to make way for the formation of an interim administration, Dhaka Tribune reported. Members of the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will take the oath tonight. Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said on Wednesday that the oath-taking ceremony is likely to be held at 8:00 pm (local time) in the presence of some 400 dignitaries, The Daily Star reported. Waker-Uz-Zaman indicated that the interim government might comprise 15 members. However, he did not mention their names and possible tenure of the government. He spoke to reporters at the Army Headquarters on Wednesday. General Waker-Uz-Zaman expressed hope that normalcy would return within three to four days as the situation in Bangladesh is improving significantly. He said that those involved in the crimes committed over the past few days will not be spared and legal action will be taken against them. On Wednesday, General Waker-Uz-Zaman said he had spoken to Muhammad Yunus and felt "very good talking to him, The Daily Star reported. He said, "I felt very good talking to him. It seemed to me that he was very eager to take up the responsibility. I'm certain that he will be successful in taking us to a democratic process, and that we will benefit from it." General Waker-Uz-Zaman said they have spoken with political parties and protest organizers about making Yunus the interim government chief. He said they spoke to the Bangladesh President and made the proposal. He expressed hope that Yunus would receive support from all political parties and students, and would be successful in performing his duties. He said, "The navy chief, the air force chief and I ... We all will support him." The Bangladesh army chief appreciated the students and volunteers who were working to maintain traffic on the city streets in the absence of traffic police and clean vandalized places. He requested them to continue the good work. He said students, after his request, worked to stop looting and other criminal activities committed outside Dhaka. When asked about people's concerns regarding the recent incidents of looting and vandalism, General Waker-Uz-Zaman said he has taken responsibility for all people and requested cooperation from political leaders in this regard as there were possibilities of such incidents during the transition of power. He said, "They [political leaders] assured me of their best possible cooperation. Even though some incidents took place there are some reasons behind it. The situation, however, is getting normal." General Waker-Uz-Zaman said police personnel were not on the ground and it was not possible to fill the void with the army personnel. He said that the army personnel were trying their best and they rescued thousands of people, and police personnel and were guarding places like the airport. He said, "I'm very sorry and embarrassed for what has taken place in the first one or two days." He stated navy and air force personnel were also working. Bangladesh army chief said, "We have tried our best. But still, some incidents happened. It is simply because we did not have enough strength. But I'm sure when the police force gets revamped, the void will easily be filled." "But I want to say that we will try our best to bring those involved in such [criminal] activities to book," he added, according to The Daily Star report. When asked if he had any plan to increase the number of forces on the ground, he responded, "All the personnel we have in the military have already been deployed and they are working." (ANI)
Troy Castro, a resident at Westwood Plaza Apartments, hands cases of water to Ray Diaz who also lives at the complex and works as a maintenance man. Water was brought in by the owner of the complex after the San Antonio Water System in June shut water off to residents due to non-payment by the owner of the complex. Jessica Phelps

Two San Antonio City Council members say they want to prevent future water disconnections at apartment complexes, after the San Antonio Water System temporarily cut service to four complexes in June.

Marina Alderete Gavito, who represents District 7, and Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, who represents District 2, filed a policy proposal Wednesday aiming to change how the city and the city-owned water utility handle delinquent water payments at multifamily properties.

On June 18, SAWS officials turned off water service to more than 600 units at four complexes due to unpaid bills. Service was restored the same day at three locations, Roselawn Apartments, Westwood Plaza and Serenity Residences, after the landlords made payments within hours of the disconnection.

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SAWS President and CEO Robert Puente called the strategy very successful in prompting owners to make payments on their overdue balances, and said he hoped it motivated other delinquent landlords to pay up or face a very serious disruption.

Its about 15 to 20 that could potentially be on our list for us to do what we did, as far as a blitzkrieg of cutting off service and forcing them to pay, he said.

But the council members' proposal aims to avoid that possibility, and instead identify methods for SAWS to recover the outstanding payments without affecting tenants.

At most apartment complexes in San Antonio, residents are charged for water as part of their monthly bills, but the payment to SAWS is made for the entire building or complex and is owed by the property owner.

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When landlords neglect their duty of care, the consequences of that decision should fall upon them, not their tenants, the council members wrote in the proposal, which is formally called a Council Consideration Request.

SAWS officials received the proposal Wednesday afternoon and are reviewing it.

"We just learned about this and are looking into it," spokeswoman Anne Hayden said.

The request asks that the city and SAWS reevaluate and eliminate current processes of debt collection from landlords and apartment complexes that threaten the health and safety of tenants, and develop ordinances and practices to put the burden on owners.

That includes changes to the citys Proactive Apartment Inspections Program, in order to issue fines to landlords who are behind on utility payments.

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Under that program, which started in 2023, the citys Code Enforcement staff inspect apartments and keep a list of complexes that are cited for code violations at least three times within six months. Those apartments are fined $100 per unit. Once they address the violations, they graduate from the program, but remain on probation for four years, and can be listed again for at least a year if more violations are found.

McKee-Rodriguez and Alderete Gavito propose to add landlords or management companies who are consistently late in paying SAWS bills to that registry, and subject them to the same fines.

Two of the complexes that were disconnected in June are already on that list: Westwood Plaza is currently enrolled, while Serenity Residences graduated on July 31, according to city records.

The council members proposed requiring that delinquent complexes must be managed by a reputable management company that isnt listed on the registry of violators, and ensuring SAWS reports to the citys legal and financial departments to respond and coordinate as needed about apartments subject to disconnections.

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Under the new proposed changes, landlords or managers would also have to notify their tenants in writing when a complex enters a SAWS payment plan due to overdue payments, and the names and addresses of complexes that are behind on SAWS payments would be posted on the citys website.

The city should also review and recommend changes to SAWS' policies for payment arrangements, fees and notifying owners before shutoffs are scheduled, the request said.

The council members said the request is intended to address the water system, but any changes should also prevent similar actions by other utilities.

Council requests need signatures of support from other members to move forward; the proposal was also signed by District 1 Council Member Sukh Kaur, District 6 Council Member Melissa Cabello Havrda and District 10 Council Member Marc Whyte.

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SAWS officials have defended the decision to disconnect the complexes, saying an extraordinary action was necessary to get the owners into compliance after months of attempts and after the owners fell behind on payment plans.

Apartment complexes are one of the ones that we try the hardest to resolve, Hayden said in June. But while SAWS officials know tenants will bear the brunt of the shutoff, its unfair for other SAWS customers to underwrite commercial apartment landlords, she said.

Puente said the utility works with all customers to resolve issues, but cant give one the benefit of the doubt over another. He said the attention brought by the shut-offs prompted other delinquent owners to reach out to SAWS about catching up.

We got a lot of publicity on this, which serves as a notice to all of the other delinquent nonpayers that we are serious, he said.
This initiative is part of the UAE's ongoing efforts to provide a decent life and suitable housing for all citizens, meeting their needs, enhancing their stability, and improving their quality of life.

The UAE government prioritises the housing sector, which constitutes a critical strategic axis of the federal government's work in coordination with local governments and relevant authorities. This effort aims to provide all means of support and factors of social stability, most notably adequate housing.

The number of approvals issued by the program during the first half of this year amounted to 2,618 housing approvals worth more than AED 2 billion. These approvals were distributed between 631 grants worth AED 430.922 million, and 1,987 housing loans and financing worth AED 1.597 billion.

The housing sector has been a priority since the establishment of the UAE, one of the fastest-growing countries in the world. This rapid growth requires good planning and integrated investment in housing to meet the needs of its citizens. (ANI/WAM)
In a post on X, Pabitra Margherita stated, "Had a productive interaction with Ambassador of Uruguay @AlbertoGuani. Reviewed entire gamut of bilateral relations & resolved to further deepen and diversify our partnership, especially in DPI, pharmaceuticals & infrastructure."

Earlier in February, then-Union Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, met Uruguay Foreign Minister, Omar Paganini, on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

The two leaders held talks on exploring opportunities to strengthen India-Uruguay cooperation across various areas, including tourism, trade, and investment.

"Had a fruitful meeting with Eng. Omar Paganini, Foreign Minister of Uruguay in Rio on the sidelines of G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Explored opportunities to enhance India-Uruguay cooperation across various areas including trade, investment, Ayurveda, and tourism," Muraleedharan stated in a post on X.

Muraleedharan was representing India at the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM) in Rio de Janeiro from February 21 to 22.

Notably, the Embassy of India in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is concurrently accredited to Uruguay. The diplomatic ties between the two nations were established in 1960, according to MEA. Uruguay has an Embassy in New Delhi and an Honorary Consulate in Mumbai. (ANI)
During the meeting, the two sides discussed several topics to further advance collaboration in the fields of technology, AI, digitisation, and smart applications.

Al Shamsi highlighted the launch of the "UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (AI)," which aims to achieve the objectives of UAE Centennial 2071.

The strategy also aims to enhance government performance across all levels, utilise a comprehensive smart digital system to overcome challenges, and provide efficient solutions, ensuring the UAE is first in the domain of AI investments in various sectors and creating a new vital market of high economic value.

The meeting also focused on joint projects between the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation in Colombia and Emirati companies.

Furthermore, the two sides affirmed the importance of this cooperation in reinforcing the use of modern technology and AI in various vital areas such as trade, the economy, and cybersecurity.

The meeting demonstrates both countries keenness to collaborate within areas of technology and innovation, which serve to enhance sustainable development and economic prosperity. (ANI/WAM)
In an effort to bolster trade ties, India and New Zealand are set to ink an agreement on customs procedures, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. The agreement comes on the heels of President Droupadi Murmu's visit to the island nation. MEA Secretary East, Jaideep Mazumdar on Thursday said that both countries are interested in helping the farmers of both countries to export things like fruits and vegetables. "During this visit, we are signing one particular agreement on customs procedures which would certainly assist trade between the two countries and we wish to proceed step by step to see what other things we can do. Certainly, on both sides, we are both interested in helping our farmers to export things like fruits and vegetables to one another at the moment," Secretary East said at a special briefing on President Murmu's visit to New Zealand. He said that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) continues to remain an "aspirational target" not only with New Zealand but also with other countries. "The free trade agreement is always a very aspirational target and not just with New Zealand I think for countries around the world that is the ultimate objective to enter into a free trade agreement. However, there are many things in between that can be done," the MEA Secretary said. "New Zealand could export some of their, say fruits and vegetables and we could export some of our fruits and vegetables to New Zealand..." he added. Earlier today, New Zealand Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro warmly received President Droupadi Murmu, who was welcomed with a traditional Maori "Powhiri" ceremony in Wellington. She was also accorded the Guard of Honour. In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "Energising India - New Zealand partnership! President Droupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn warmly received by Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro of New Zealand at the Government House in Wellington. President was welcomed with a traditional Maori "Powhiri" ceremony. She was also accorded Royal Guard of Honour." She arrived in Wellington on a State visit to New Zealand. President Murmu's substantive talks with the New Zealand leadership aim to give a fillip to ties between the two nations. President Murmu departed from New Delhi on Sunday for a six-day visit to Fiji, New Zealand, and Timor-Leste, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. In the last leg of her tour, President Murmu will travel to Timor Leste at the invitation of the President of Timor Leste, Jose Ramos-Horta, following which she will hold engagements on August 10. (ANI)
The Israel Defence Forces said it received intelligence verifying that Nael Sakhl was killed in an airstrike on July 24.

For over a decade, Sakhl operated in Hamas' "West Bank Headquarters," which directed terror activities in Judea and Samaria. According to the IDF, Sakhl was also involved in financing and supplying weapons to the terror cells planning attacks against civilians and soldiers.

Sakhl was one of 1,027 prisoners freed in the 2011 Gilad Shalit deal. He was serving a life sentence for his involvement in a 2003 suicide bombing.

At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 111 remaining hostages, 39 have been declared dead. Hamas has also been holding captive two Israeli civilians since 2014 and 2015, and the bodies of two soldiers killed in 2014. (ANI/TPS)
India's BRICS Sherpa, Secretary (Economic Relations) Dammu Ravi on Thursday participated in a meeting hosted by Russia. Russia is notably holding the BRICS chairmanship for the year 2024. "India's BRICS Sherpa, Secy (ER) Dammu Ravi participated in a meeting hosted by the current BRICS Chair, Russian Federation," the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, wrote in a post on X. "Secy (ER) conveyed views on a range of issues being discussed in the BRICS format," the post further read. The Foreign Ministers of BRICS nations met in June this year in Russia. They held a meeting in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod. Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations), at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), led the Indian side at the meeting, in what marks the first foreign assignment for India's foreign policy under the third consecutive term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The joint statement of BRICS Foreign Ministers read, "The Ministers expressed strong condemnation of any acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed. They strongly condemned the inhumane terrorist attack on 22 March 2024 at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow." "They reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border terrorism and terrorism financing and safe havens. They reiterated that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group and that all those involved in terrorist activities and their support must be held accountable and brought to justice in accordance with international law," it said. It was the first meeting of foreign ministers since the expansion of BRICS in 2023. The 10 full members of the association include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa with new members Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia joining the grouping in 2023. (ANI)
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called on President Droupadi Murmu and held discussions on issues ranging from cultural ties to regional and global security. President Murmu, who is on a three-nation visit currently, reached New Zealand on Wednesday. "Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand called on President Droupadi Murmu. Both the leaders held discussions on various issues ranging from deepening cultural ties to commitment for regional and global security," President Murmu said in a post on X. https://x.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1821476050737791207 Earlier, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters called on President Murmu. Both leaders acknowledged the progress in bilateral relations and deliberated upon ways of enhancing cooperation in several areas Moreover, they also laid a wreath at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington, New Zealand. New Zealand Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro warmly received President Murmu, who was welcomed with a traditional Maori "Powhiri" ceremony in Wellington. She was also accorded the Guard of Honour. Today, in a special briefing, the MEA said that India and New Zealand are set to ink an agreement on customs procedures, to bolster trade ties. MEA Secretary East, Jaideep Mazumdar on Thursday said that both countries are interested in helping the farmers of both countries to export things like fruits and vegetables. "During this visit, we are signing one particular agreement on customs procedures which would certainly assist trade between the two countries and we wish to proceed step by step to see what other things we can do. Certainly, on both sides, we are both interested in helping our farmers to export things like fruits and vegetables to one another at the moment," Secretary East said at a special briefing on President Murmu's visit to New Zealand. During her State visit, President Murmu will hold a meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and will address an education conference and interact with the Indian community and friends of India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. Before New Zealand, the President visited Fiji, where she was conferred with Fiji's highest civilian award, 'Companion of the Order of Fiji.' President Murmu called it an honour that reflects the deep ties of friendship between the two nations. President Murmu departed from New Delhi on Sunday for a six-day visit to Fiji, New Zealand, and Timor-Leste, according to MEA. In the last leg of her tour, President Murmu will travel to Timor Leste at the invitation of the President of Timor Leste, Jose Ramos-Horta, following which she will hold engagements on August 10. (ANI)
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) has issued a heartfelt plea to the US lawmakers, urging them to take immediate and decisive action in response to the alarming escalation of violence against the Hindu minority in Bangladesh. Over the past few days, reports have emerged of widespread attacks, including the killing of dozens of Hindus, the vandalism of temples, and the systematic targeting of Hindu homes and businesses. The harrowing situation has sparked widespread fear among the Hindu community, both in Bangladesh and among the diaspora in the United States. According to CoHNA, the violence has reached a terrifying scale, with reports of sexual violence against Hindu women adding to the community's distress. "The situation has drawn disturbing parallels to the atrocities committed during Operation Searchlight in 1971, when Bengali Hindus faced genocide", CoHNA said in a statement. The Coalition fears that the current wave of violence could lead to another catastrophic loss of life if immediate action is not taken. The CoHNA's statement highlighted the ongoing persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, noting that despite comprising less than eight percent of the population today, they continue to face existential threats. It added, "Historical data underscores the gravity of the situation: in 1971, a US State Department report revealed that more than 60 per cent of the Bengali refugees who fled to India were Hindus, despite Hindus making up less than 18 per cent of the population in East Pakistan at the time." The Coalition is particularly concerned about the lack of media coverage of the targeted nature of this violence. The focus has largely been on the broader geopolitical tensions, with little attention given to the plight of the Hindu minority. CoHNA is calling on US lawmakers to acknowledge this crisis and act to prevent further atrocities. In their appeal, CoHNA has urged US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the US State Department to closely monitor the situation and ensure that the Bangladeshi authorities take immediate steps to protect their Hindu citizens. They have called for the perpetrators of the violence to be held accountable and have requested that the US facilitate the resettlement of the most vulnerable Bangladeshi Hindus through the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). "We cannot afford to be silent," said CoHNA in their statement, adding, "The United States has a moral responsibility to prevent another genocide and to stand up for the rights of religious minorities. We urge our lawmakers to issue strong public statements condemning the violence and to take concrete actions that will bring international attention to this crisis." CoHNA has also requested an urgent meeting with US lawmakers to discuss both short-term and long-term solutions to the crisis. They emphasized that silence is not an option and that decisive action by the US could make a significant difference in preventing further violence and protecting the Hindu community in Bangladesh. The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) is an advocacy group dedicated to promoting the rights and well-being of Hindus across the continent. They work to raise awareness of issues affecting the Hindu community and to foster a greater understanding of Hindu culture and values. (ANI)
The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) has expressed deep concern over the escalating situation in Bangladesh, which has been rocked by massive protests and severe violence leading to the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Amidst the unrest, there have been alarming reports of atrocities against minorities, particularly Hindus. Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina, 5, tendering her resignation from her post on August 5 in the wake of mounting protests. The protests, led majorly by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, took the shape of anti-government protests. Extremist groups like Jamat-e-Islami, which has been banned from contesting polls in the country, are being accused of committing severe acts of violence, while police are absent from the streets and the army is not enforcing the curfew. With the police absent from the streets, the army not enforcing the curfew, and the administration seemingly paralyzed, extremist groups like Jamat-E-Islami have been reportedly committing severe acts of violence. "FIIDS has been closely monitoring and analyzing the situation. On 7th August, FIIDS held a panel discussion featuring experts such as India Foundation Executive Director Captain Alok Bansal, HRCBM Executive Director Priya Saha, and FIIDS Chief of Policy and Strategy Khanderao Kand to deliberate on the crisis and compile a set of recommendations," the release stated. FIIDS has urgently called on US President Joe Biden, the US State Department, the IRF Ambassador, and presidential candidates to take immediate action to ensure peace is re-established in Bangladesh and that minorities are protected, "preventing another potential Hindu Genocide." It has called on US elected officials, particularly members of the Human Rights Commissions, Foreign Affairs Committee, India Caucus, Hindu Caucus, and similar groups, to issue strong statements condemning the ongoing violence against minorities in Bangladesh. It has also requested the United Nations to deploy observers and peacekeeping forces to contain the situation on the ground in Bangladesh and ensure the protection of vulnerable communities. The UN has also been requested to convene a special session focused on the condition of minorities in Bangladesh, bringing international attention and action to the crisis. FIIDS has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar to leverage their influence with the new government and military of Bangladesh to establish peace and safeguard minorities. "Furthermore, India should prepare to set up temporary shelters along the Bangladesh border to protect those fleeing the violence," it stated. It has asked the Indian American community to actively engage with their elected officials, urging them to take a firm stand to protect minorities in Bangladesh. The Indian community leaders have been requested to organize vigils and other peaceful demonstrations to raise awareness about the plight of minorities in Bangladesh and "work towards preventing any potential genocide." FIIDS, in the statement, has termed the situation is a dire reminder of the "nation's bloodied history," where "genocidal acts in 1971 led to the killings, rapes, and forced migration of millions, drastically reducing the minority population from 22 per cent to approximately 8 per cent by 2022. "It is crucial that the international community, led by the United States and the United Nations, act swiftly to prevent further atrocities and uphold human rights for all," FIIDS stated. (ANI)
The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh is likely to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus. The interim government in Bangladesh will be sworn in later in the day. Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi social entrepreneur and founder of Grameen Bank, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts to create economic and social development through microcredit. This comes as Bangladesh is facing a fluid situation after student protests turned into intense anti-government protests forcing Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee from the country. "I saw reports that the swearing-in ceremony is to be held this evening. I don't know the exact time, somewhere around 8'o clock. Diplomatic community members have been invited. It is likely that our High Commissioner will participate," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at the weekly press briefing on Thursday. Being asked about the condition of Indian diplomatic missions in Bangladesh, the MEA said that non-essential staff and their families have been pulled back amid the situation and normal functioning will start once law and order is fully restored. "There are four more assistant High Commissions other than the High Commission. We are in constant touch with them (Bangladesh authorities) for this and our nationals' safety there. We expect that law and order will improve as soon as possible so that our High Commission becomes functional again," Jaiswal said. "We only have our non-essential staff members and their family members have come back...this is also the situation with other embassies, they have also pulled back their non-essential people. We hope that normalcy returns so that our High Commission and Assistant High Commission can begin their normal work as soon as possible," he added. Referring to the situation of minorities in Bangladesh, the MEA said it is monitoring the situation and welcomes steps by groups and organisations to ensure the protection and well-being of minorities. "We are also monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities. There are also reports of various initiatives by groups and organisations to ensure protection and well-being of minorities...We welcome these steps, but will naturally remain deeply concerned till law and order is visibly concerned," Jaiswal said. "It is the responsibility of every government to ensure the well-being of all its citizens. We hope for early restoration of law and order situation in Bangladesh. This is both in the interest of Bangladesh as a whole and the larger region as a whole," he added. (ANI)
VIA Metropolitan Transit will begin operating the Little Runner electric shuttle service in parts of the downtown area. The transit agency is also expanding its Via Link ride-hailing program to include downtown. VIA Metropolitan Transit A map provided by VIA Metropolitan Transit shows the planned new service areas for the Via Link service. VIA Metropolitan Transit

Along with Uber and Lyft, downtown visitors soon will be able to hail rides from VIA Metropolitan Transit after the agencys board of trustees agreed this week to bring its VIA Link ride-on-demand service to the downtown area.

On Sept. 2, the agency will begin operating a VIA Link zone downtown, adding it to the four service zones it already has in other parts of San Antonio.

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The new VIA Link areas boundaries will extend as far west as Medina Street, as far south as Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard, as far east as Interstate 37 and as far north as Quincy Street. Anywhere in that area, customers will be able to use the VIA Link app or call a phone number to request a ride in one of the agencys white vans. As in the other VIA Link zones, each trip will cost $1.30, which can be paid through VIAs app, with cash or with a VIA bus pass. The usual VIA fare discounts will apply.

The new VIA Link zone promises to ease movement across a downtown that is expected to be remade in the coming years with the continued expansion of UTSAs campus, the reimagining of Alamo Plaza, a new minor league baseball stadium and possibly a new Spurs arena at Hemisfair.

VIA also will take over, and make permanent, the Little Runner e-shuttle service the University of Texas at San Antonio and the downtown nonprofit Centro San Antonio launched as a pilot this year to ferry UTSA students and others across the sometimes forbidding distances between downtown landmarks. VIA helped fund the pilot program and will begin operating the Little Runner shuttles starting Sept. 2.

Little Runners free e-shuttles will run on a fixed loop between Interstate 35, Dolarosa Street, Flores Street and Nueva Street, linking UTSAs downtown facilities.

Fernando Reyes, chair of VIAs board of trustees, expressed concern during Tuesdays board meeting that VIA Links downtown service could become so popular that it would overwhelm the agencys system for taking ride requests.

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When its peak time, like Fiesta, its very difficult, unless youre very fortunate, that they answer the phone when you call, he said of VIA Link. He added, As people use this, theyre going to like this  Thats what we need to be prepared for, or were going to get complaints.

Jeffrey Arndt, VIAs president and CEO, responded by noting that VIA Link has delivered 1 million passenger rides in its four existing zones  on the Northeast Side around Nacogdoches Road, on the Northwest Side around Bandera Road, on the South Side around Palo Alto College, and on the East Side around Old Seguin Road  and said customers have rated it highly.

VIA launched VIA Link in 2019 on the Northeast Side, replacing the three bus routes that had served that zone, with an aim of providing more flexible transit to areas of the city that are difficult to serve by bus.

Unlike in the four existing VIA Link zones, bus routes will not be eliminated downtown when the new zone is created, VIA communications director Josh Baugh said in an email.

The new VIA Link zone will encompass landmarks such as UTSAs downtown facilities  both the campus just west of downtown and the newly constructed buildings along San Pedro Creek Culture Park  the San Antonio Central Library, the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and the tourist district around the Alamo. It also will take riders to set points at the Pearl and in Southtown.

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The service will be offered between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Monday through Sunday, according to a presentation given by Sandip Sen, VIAs director of planning and scheduling. The agency expects an average wait time of 10 to 15 minutes, an annual ridership of 56,075, with an average of 175 riders per weekday and 100 on a weekend.

The estimated annual cost is $838,421, or $14.95 per passenger, according to the presentation.

UTSA and Centro debuted Little Runner as a pilot program in March. UTSA had approached Centro last autumn about a desire for a micro-mobility transit option to help students make their way between parking areas and classrooms, Trish DeBerry, Centros CEO, said in a phone interview.

Since opening its 18-acre campus just across I-35 from downtown in the 1990s  and especially in the seven years since Taylor Eighmy became president  UTSA has worked to establish a thriving campus spanning much of west downtown. Eighmy has said he hopes to increase the universitys downtown enrollment to 15,000 students.

UTSA and Centro both contributed $100,000 to the Little Runner pilot, and VIA put in $60,000, DeBerry said. The Austin company eCab has operated the electric-powered shuttles, she said. The services have proved popular, offering up to 500 to 600 rides a week, she said.

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We consider the program to be a huge success, DeBerry said. They attract attention; theyre fun. They only go up to 25 miles an hour, so its not like theyre speeding through downtown.

She cited the pervasive construction downtown and the high cost of parking as reasons to offer downtown visitors a micro-mobility transit option.

In May, Centro submitted a request for proposal to hire a company to operate the service permanently, but the nonprofit halted the process after it became clear that VIA was interested in taking over the service. Centro and UTSA will still help fund the marketing of the Little Runner route, she said.

I think what we have proven with the pilot is that people are hungry for micro-mobility options, she said. Downtown is at a tipping point that we havent seen before. Its more than buses, its more than cars, its more than bikes  we need multiple transportation options.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has expressed deep concern over the recent surge in violence targeting minorities in Bangladesh and emphasized that they are closely monitoring the situation and its implications for minority communities in the region. Emphasising India's 'deep concern' over the attacks on the minority situation in Bangladesh, the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday, said that this concern comes amid reports of attacks on Hindu temples, homes, and businesses, as well as targeted killings and violence against women. "This particular issue was also addressed by the external affairs minister in his suo moto statement. We are also monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities. There are also reports that various initiatives have been taken by groups and organizations to ensure the protection and well-being of minorities," Jaiswal said. While addressing the media briefing on Wednesday, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that according to reports, some groups and organizations have taken various initiatives to ensure the protection of minorities. Meanwhile, the Indian government has urged the Bangladeshi government to exercise restraint and protect the rights of all its citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs. He further reiterated External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's statement and said that India hopes for early restoration of law and order in Bangladesh. "We welcome these steps, but will naturally remain deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored. Having said that, we also want to make it clear that, you know, it is the responsibility of every government to ensure the well-being of all its citizens. We hope for early restoration of law and order in Bangladesh," he said. The MEA Spokesperson stressed that this is both in the interest of the country itself and for the region as a whole or the larger region as a whole. Jaiswal said that the majority of the students in Bangladesh have come back to India. "External Affairs Minister had informed that there are 19,000 people in Bangladesh, out of which 9,000 are students, majority of them have come back," he said, adding that there are many left, who also want to come back. "There are many who want to come back and our High Commission is assisting them. Several people have reached out to our High Commission and Assistant High Commission, and support will be rendered to Indian nationals," he added. Moreover, Jaiswal said that the situation in Bangladesh is "still evolving", adding that there will be a swearing-in of the interim government today evening. "Once, those things take place, I would like to emphasise one thing, for the government and the people of India, the interest of the people of Bangladesh is foremost in our minds...," he said. (ANI)
Families of forcibly disappeared Baloch protesters have announced that they will be holding a rally in Quetta on August 12 demanding information about the whereabouts of their loved ones. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee organised the Baloch National Gathering on July 28 in Gwadar, which was met with violent repression by Pakistani security forces, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries among peaceful protesters. Pakistani security forces have allegedly arrested hundreds of people in Quetta in the wake of the Baloch National Gathering over the past two weeks, many of whom later forcibly disappeared, including Jayand Baloch and Sherbaz Baloch. Despite inquiries from all police stations and jails in Quetta, the administration and police are not providing any information to their families about their loved ones. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), spearheading protests across Balochistan has highlighted the crackdown by Pakistani security forces over their struggle. The state forces have registered several cases against their supporters and abducted several peaceful sit-in protesters in Gwadar, Quetta and various other areas. In a post on X, the BYC said it fully supports the struggle of Jayand and Sher Baz's family and requested the Baloch people to participate in the rally in Quetta and be the voice of the families of the victims of enforced disappearances. https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1821283810756980967 "Hundreds of people were arrested in Quetta during preparations for the Baloch Raji Machi, many of whom were later forcibly disappeared, including Jayand Baloch and Sherbaz Baloch. No information is being given to their families. After inquiring from all police stations and jails in Quetta, the administration and police are not providing any information to the relatives about their loved ones," BYC said on X. "In this regard, the families of Jayand and Sherbaz have organized a rally in Quetta on August 12. The Baloch Solidarity Committee fully supports this rally and requests the Baloch people to participate in this rally and be the voice of the families of the victims of enforced disappearance," it added. On Wednesday, Mahrang Baloch, a prominent BYC leader, criticized the Pakistani security forces for labelling the Baloch Yakjheti Committee as "proxies for terrorist organizations." She noted that since July 27, the entire Gwadar town has been disconnected from the rest of the country, and the internet has been shut down. Yet, the government claims the BYC has created chaos. Activists say that Baloch people have long been victims of so-called military operations, stereotyping and abductions by the Pakistani state to exert control over the region. (ANI)
Amid reports of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's plans to seek asylum in the UK, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday, received a call from UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. EAM Jaishankar and his UK counterpart discussed the situation in Bangladesh and West Asia. "Received a call from UK Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy today. Discussed the situation in Bangladesh and West Asia," EAM Jaishankar said in a post on X. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1821481489093059015 Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while addressing the weekly briefing said that the two spoke about the developments in Bangladesh and West Asia. Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina tendering her resignation from her post on August 5 and coming to India, in the wake of mounting protests, majorly led by students. These demonstrations, largely driven by students demanding an end to the quota system for government jobs, have evolved into broader anti-government protests. It is not clear if Sheikh Hasina will continue to stay in Delhi or move to another location later. However, on Wednesday, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said that his mother has not made a decision on whether her plans for asylum are in the United States or the United Kingdom, and called it all "rumours," The Daily Star reported. Sheikh Hasina's son further added that she will be staying in Delhi for a while. When the interviewer asked about Hasina's plan for asylum in the US and UK, he said, "These are all rumours. She has not made a decision on that yet. She is going to stay in Delhi for a little while." "Sheikh Hasina is well and now in Delhi. My sister is with her. My sister lives in Delhi... She is well, but very upset," he added. Members of the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will take the oath tonight. Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said on Wednesday that the oath-taking ceremony is likely to be held at 8:00 pm (local time) in the presence of some 400 dignitaries, The Daily Star reported. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay an official visit to the Maldives from August 9 to 11, and the visit will aim to strengthen the partnership between the two countries and explore avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship further. EAM Jaishankar's visit marks his first visit to the island nation after his re-appointment for the second term. His visit follows the recent visit of the Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, to India for the swearing ceremony of the new Cabinet and Council of Ministers. "The External Affairs Minister (EAM) of India, Dr. S Jaishankar will pay an official visit to the Maldives from 09-11 August 2024. The visit follows the recent visit of the President of the Republic of Maldives, H. E. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, to India for the swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet and Council of Ministers," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. Moreover, Jaishankar previously visited Maldives in January 2023. Maldives is India's key maritime neighbor and an important partner in India's 'Neighbourhood First' Policy and our Vision 'SAGAR' i.e. Security and Growth for All in the Region. "The visit is aimed at strengthening the close partnership between the two countries and to explore avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship further," the statement added. Earlier this month, India announced two additional ports for the export of essential commodities from India to the Maldives for the financial year of 2024-25. The two new ports announced are namely: Kandla Sea (INIXY1) and Vishakhapatnam Sea (INYTZ1). Kandla and Vishakhapatnam Customs Sea ports have been added to the list of ports allowed for Export of Essential Commodities. This is in addition to four ports which were already in use. Shortly after Mizzu was sworn in, he stirred bilateral tensions by demanding the removal of approximately 88 Indian military personnel from the Maldives. These personnel were repatriated from three aviation platforms and replaced by Indian civilians by the May 10 deadline set by President Muizzu. Moreover, recently, Muizzu's government in the Maldives took a reconciliatory tone after ties between the two nations soured, leading to a diplomatic row in January after three Maldivian deputy ministers made derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his pictures from the visit to Lakshadweep. (ANI)
The youth of the Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan, which is frustrated with unannounced power outages, held a protest against the PoGB government by blocking roads on Wednesday, PoGB-based news outlet Pamir Times reported. According to the report, the Pakistani government has miserably failed to address the power crisis, despite making lofty promises and claims to the people of PoGB. The general public expressed their angst by raising slogans against the local administration for neglecting the issues faced by the people of PoGB. One of the protesters present at that location said the PoGB government should stop playing "bluff games" with them. "PoGB can produce around lakh megawatts of electricity and today we cannot even generate 10 megawatts. They should stop playing bluff games with us on the schedule they give to us, we arrange everything according to that, but everything happens according to them and when. This is their responsibility to inform the public in advance so that the least public could prepare accordingly," he said as quoted by the report. Attacking the "poor governance", he further stated that no one is answering their calls in the electricity department, which reflects poor governance. He said, "This is a conspiracy against the people of PoGB and urged the government to stop providing special lines to hotels. He also urged that only hospitals should receive such benefits as they treat the needy." The protestor further warned that if the issue of lead shedding is not resolved within 2-3 days, they will again hold a heavy protest. "Previous officials have not made any significant improvements. Currently, only three flights operate from the Gilgit Airport, and the Chief Minister of PoGB uses the Skardu airport to travel to Rawalpindi. If load shedding does not stop within 2-3 days, they will take the issue to the streets and start a protest very soon," he further stated. Noticeably, load shedding and major power cuts have been a long-standing issue in PoGB and the locals have highlighted these issues several times. There have been several protests over these issues in recent months, but the administration has continued to ignore people's plight and has taken no steps to ease their problems. (ANI)
They organized a sit-in protest in Turbat on Wednesday to highlight the atrocities committed by Pakistani security forces in Balochistan and committed to continue the sit-in protest until justice is served.

Additionally, the BYC also held seminars focusing on the Pakistani government's abuses toward the Baloch community on the sidelines of Baloch Raji Muchi.

Various individuals from political, social, and literary backgrounds expressed their views on human rights abuses committed by Pakistan security Forces.

The seminar concluded with a resolution to continue the sit-in protest until justice is served and the rights of the Baloch people are recognized and respected.

The speakers also highlighted the ongoing human rights violations and the unjust treatment of the Baloch community.

https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1821289876362526948

The BYC also condemned the repressive measures and emphasized the urgent need for international attention.

The participants further reiterated their commitment to peaceful protest, called for the immediate release of detained individuals from Pakistan Security Forces, and urged Pakistan to address their legitimate demands and end the oppression against the Baloch community immediately.

Another similar seminar was organized by the BYC leader at the Gwadar sit-in hub.

The main focus of this seminar was to shed light on Pakistan's violent behaviour, human rights violations, and political movement.

Prominent activists Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch, Sabghatullah Baloch, Seema Baloch, and other speakers addressed the seminar.

https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1821193217217372369

The speakers also emphasized the struggle of the Baloch people and the importance and necessity of the current movement and discussed Pakistan's barbarism and violence approaches in detail.

A massive number of people attended the seminar, and various issues of Baloch were thoroughly discussed.

Earlier on July 28, a peaceful protest organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee in Gwadar was met with violent repression by Pakistani security forces, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries among peaceful protesters.

A few weeks ago a prominent activist Manzoor Baloch criticised Pakistani security forces for mistreating peaceful Baloch sit-in protesters who were demonstrating against atrocities by the Pakistani state and its security forces. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday wished Professor Muhammad Yunus on assuming his new responsibilities as the head of Bangladesh's interim government and emphasised bringing about an early return to normalcy and ensuring the protection of the Hindu minority. "My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development," PM Modi said in a post on X. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1821574094195769549 Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the head of Bangladesh's interim government on Thursday after former PM Sheikh Hasina resigned amid escalating student-led protests, demanding an end to the quota system for government jobs. The political situation in Bangladesh remains volatile and has evolved into broader anti-government protests. Yunus, 84, took oath at a ceremony in Dhaka on Thursday night, amid massive unrest in the country after weeks of student-led protests forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee to India. Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi social entrepreneur and founder of Grameen Bank, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts to create economic and social development through microcredit. The key tasks for Yunus will now be to restore peace in Bangladesh and prepare for the new elections. Bangladesh's figurehead President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to Yunus for his role as chief advisor, which is the equivalent to a prime minister, as per Al Jazeera. The ceremony was held in the presence of foreign diplomats, civil society members, top businessmen and members of the former opposition party at the presidential palace in Dhaka. However, no representatives of Sheikh Hasina's party, Awami League were present. Upon arriving in Bangladesh earlier in the day, the Nobel laureate made a heartfelt appeal to his supporters and urged the people of Bangladesh to maintain calm and end chaos, stressing that it is the "first responsibility" to ensure that no attack is carried out against anyone in the country, Daily Star reported. He further stressed that Bangladesh has tremendous potential but the first priority is to save the country from chaos so that the country can proceed on the "path shown by students." "If you have faith in me and trust me, then ensure that there will be no attack anywhere in the country. This is our first responsibility," Yunus told a crowded press briefing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon his arrival on Thursday. (ANI)
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has highlighted the case of Pakistani journalist Usman Khan, whose house was raided by the authorities three times in quick succession, forcing him into hiding and urged police to halt atrocities against him. Khan was targeted for covering protests against human rights abuses in south-western Balochistan, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said. Reportedly, journalists in Pakistan for a long time have witnessed severe abuses of freedom of expression at the hands of Pakistani authorities and the defence forces. The journalists who express their critical opinions against the state are often faced with threats, torture, physical and mental abuse, and even death. Lih Yi Beh, the Asia Program Coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists asked Pakistani police to "immediately cease" attempts to detain Usman Khan and must do more to protect independent voices across the country. "Pakistani police must immediately cease their attempts to detain independent journalist Usman Khan and allow the media to report on current affairs without fear of intimidation or arrest. Pakistani authorities must do more to protect independent voices across the country. We have seen an alarming uptick in attacks on the press in Pakistan, with seven deaths so far this year," she said. The CPJ report claimed that Khan from an undisclosed location informed that uniformed and plainclothes police officers raided his home on July 31, August 2, and August 5, but he managed to escape. Khan said he knew that authorities planned to arrest him over his coverage because military officials questioned protesters about him. https://x.com/usman231010/status/1817970993484460406?s=46 Khan as a journalist reported extensively on the army's crackdown on demonstrators marching to the port city of Gwadar to attend a July 28 protest against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan. Three people were killed in clashes with security forces. The same report by the CPJ claimed that an email requesting comment from Abdul Khaliq Sheikh, Inspector General of Police in Quetta, did not receive a response. Previously, prominent Baloch leader Maharang Baloch also condemned the abuses orchestrated by the Pakistani defence forces. In a post on 'X', she stated, "I strongly condemn the raid on journalist Usman Khan's home. Usman is a brave and dedicated journalist who, for performing his journalistic duties and covering the Baloch National Gathering, is being harassed along with his family". https://x.com/MahrangBaloch_/status/1819332872345735445 She added, "I appeal to the journalistic community and human rights organizations to raise their voices to ensure Usman Khan's safety, as his life is currently threatened by the military and intelligence agencies of the state of Pakistan for fulfilling his journalistic duties." (ANI)
A panel of UN Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights wrote a letter to the Chinese authorities expressing serious concerns at the conviction and imprisonment of Uyghur doctor Gulshan Abbas without due process and not even informing her family on her whereabouts. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Abbas is believed to be serving a 20-year sentence since 2019 on terrorism-related charges. The authors of the letter included the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defender, Mary Lawlor; the Special Rapporteur on the right to Health, Tlaleng Mofokeng; and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Margaret Satterthwaite. https://x.com/UyghurCongress/status/1821450620290670598 "We express serious concern at the conviction and imprisonment of Gulshan Abbas without due process. We are further concerned by the alleged failure of the Chinese authorities to provide any information to Abbas' family regarding her legal situation, and her whereabouts, thereby denying them the opportunity to request to visit her or her health condition," the UN panel of special rapporteurs stated. "We are concerned that these measures may have been taken in retaliation for the human rights advocacy carried out by her sister, Rushan Abbas, on behalf of the Uyghur people," it added. The rapporteurs further said that states must take necessary measures to protect the lives of individuals deprived of their liberty, adding that inadequate conditions of detention can be a factor contributing to serious harm in detention, including injury and even death. "We reiterate our concern at the alleged denial of due process of Gulshan Abbas, including in connection to her access to legal counsel and the alleged breach of her right not to be arbitrarily detained or deprived of liberty," it stated. Previously, at its 95th session, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued an opinion determining that Dr Gulshan Abbas' deprivation of liberty was arbitrary. They also expressed concerns about the "total secrecy that appears to surround the fate and whereabouts" of Abbas. Furthermore, former High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet in her assessment of human rights concerns in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), said the "widespread arbitrary deprivation of liberty" of Uyghurs has led to many families being separated and unaware of the whereabouts of their loved ones. "The widespread arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim communities in XUAR, often shrouded in secrecy, has led to many families being separated and unaware of the whereabouts of their loved ones. This has been particularly so for the diaspora community where there have additionally been allegations of reprisals and intimidations against those seeking information about their family members or expressing concern publicly," it added. On September 5, 2018, Rushan Abbas, US-based Uyghur human rights defender and sister of Gulshan Abbas, spoke at a public event at the Hudson Institute in Washington DC, USA, in which she criticised alleged human rights violations against the Uyghur population in China. Six days after her speech, on September 11, 2018, the family of Gulshan Abbas reported that they were no longer able to make contact with her. (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu addressed the New Zealand International Education Conference on Thursday, where India is the 'Country of Honour' this year. President Murmu is on a three-nation visit to Fiji, New Zealand and Timor Leste from August 5 to 10. New Zealand Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro hosted a State Banquet in honour of President Droupadi Murmu at Government House on Thursday. The banquet was attended by several New Zealand dignitaries, including Prime Minister Luxon, and eminent representatives of the New Zealand Indian community. President Murmu said that there is a renewed momentum in our bilateral relations, generated by high-level contacts and increased engagement across a range of sectors. Further, Governor General Dame Kiro hailed President Murmu for her commitment and initiatives for the upliftment of all sections of society. "We both value diversity and inclusiveness, which is evident in the multicultural fabric of our societies. Our rich cultural exchanges and robust people-to-people ties have played a pivotal role in fostering mutual understanding and goodwill between our nations," President Murmu said. She further welcomed New Zealand's ratification of the International Solar Alliance which would offer us opportunities to collaborate on joint research and development in the field of solar energy. "Also, we will be opening our Consulate in Auckland shortly, which is another step towards enhancing our diplomatic ties," she emphasised. The President, while speaking at the State Banquet, expressed delight to share that companies of the two countries are already collaborating under the "Make in India" initiative of the Government of India. "The utilization of chips manufactured by a New Zealand company in our 'Chandrayaan' space Mission, is an example of our business ties and potential collaboration," she said. President Murmu landed in Wellington, New Zealand on August 8 on the second leg of her state visit to Fiji, New Zealand, and Timor-Leste. Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro of New Zealand received President Murmu at the Government House. She was welcomed with a traditional Maori "Powhiri" ceremony and accorded Royal Guard of Honour. "During the meeting, both leaders hailed the warm and friendly relationship between India and New Zealand and discussed cooperation across various sectors," the President's Secretariat said in a statement. They further agreed on the need to continue efforts to widen the scope of the India-New Zealand economic relationship by establishing mutually beneficial collaborations and partnerships, especially through trade and business. Following this, the President addressed the New Zealand International Education Conference, where India is the 'Country of Honour' this year. President Murmu, while speaking at the conference, elaborated on the rich Indian tradition of pursuit of knowledge and the contemporary progress in the field of education, including the National Education Policy aimed at transforming the Indian education landscape by promoting multidisciplinary learning, critical thinking, and global competitiveness. She added that New Zealand is renowned for its high-quality education with a focus on research & innovation, inclusivity, and excellence. Moreover, many Indian students are gaining access to quality education at various institutions in New Zealand. The President encouraged more educational exchanges and collaboration between our institutions, particularly in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, vocational and skills-based training, climate and environment studies, cultural exchange programs, research and innovation. Earlier in the day, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called on President Murmu. Both leaders held discussions on various issues ranging from deepening cultural ties to commitment to regional and global security. Earlier, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters also called on President Droupadi Murmu. Both leaders acknowledged the progress in bilateral relations and deliberated upon ways of enhancing cooperation. "The President also paid floral tributes at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Wellington Railway Station and laid a wreath to pay tribute to martyred soldiers at the Pukeahu National War Memorial in Wellington," the President's Secretariat added in their statement. Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro joined the President on both occasions. In the last official engagement in Wellington, President Droupadi Murmu attended a banquet hosted in her honour by Governor General Kiro. In her remarks on the occasion, the President said that India and New Zealand have, over the years, developed a warm and friendly relationship anchored by shared values rooted in democracy and the rule of law. We both value diversity and inclusiveness, which is evident in the multicultural fabric of our societies. The President said that as we look to the future, there is immense potential to deepen our engagement and explore new avenues of cooperation with New Zealand. The fields of artificial intelligence, green technologies, agricultural technology, and commercial space explorations offer exciting opportunities for collaboration. The President was happy to note that in the global arena, India and New Zealand have consistently worked together to address pressing challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, and international peace and security. The exceptionally warm and cordial interactions between the two leaders during the State Visit brought out a special connection and affinity between them. Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro is the first woman of Maori origin to hold the post, while President Murmu is the first woman President of India from a tribal community. The two leaders also share a common interest and experience in the field of education. After the successful completion of official engagements in Willington, the President left for Auckland where she will address the Indian community tomorrow. (ANI)
Four employees working at a Hyatt Hotel in Milwaukee are facing felony murder after pinning a man down to the floor as he repeatedly pleaded for help.

Arrest warrants were issued for the hotel security guard Todd Erickson, front desk worker Devin Johnson-Carson, bellhop Herbert Williamson and security guard Brandon Turner.

Surveillance footage from June 30 shows D'Vontaye Mitchell, a Black man, desperately running into the lobby's hotel and then into a gift shop before entering the women's restroom.

Turner, who was off duty at the time, pulls Mitchell into the lobby by his shirt, and the two begin to scuffle when Turner punches him six times, knocking him to the floor.

JUST IN: Prosecutors charged four men with felony murder in the death of DVontaye Mitchell, ruled a homicide due to restraint asphyxia and toxic effects of cocaine and methamphetamine



Police said that DVontaye Mitchell caused a disturbance and was pinned down by four hotel pic.twitter.com/VMysLJvg81  Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) August 6, 2024

Mitchell can be seen on video as he's dragged and held down on his stomach for eight or nine minutes before police and emergency responders arrived, according to the Associated Press. One employee told investigators that Mitchell was struggling to breathe and was repeatedly pleading for help. Turner told a detective that he heard women screaming in the bathroom after Mitchell entered, leading him to believe the victim was on drugs. Johnson-Carson told investigators that Mitchell was not in a "stable sort of mind," and he was speaking "gibberish." He admitted that Mitchell said "stop," "why" and "something about breathing" during the assault and told Williamson to stop applying pressure, which he allegedly did. Johnson-Carson said that Mitchell displayed "clear signs of extreme distress, including gags, distressed breathing, and repeated pleas for help," according to the criminal complaint. It went on to state, "All of these factors - the gasping, the actions and words of DM, the distress that he was in - show that all four defendants were aware that holding DM face first on the ground was 'practically certain' to cause impairment of his physical condition." An autopsy found that Mitchell was morbidly obese and had cocaine and methamphetamine in his system. The county medical examiner ultimately determined Mitchell died of "restraint asphyxia" and could have lived had the employees allowed him to turn onto his side. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, one of the lawyers representing Mitchell's family, revealed that a video recorded by a bystander and circulating on social media shows security guards with their knees on Mitchell's back and neck. Crump posted a statement on X on Tuesday evening, calling the charges "a significant step towards justice for the family of D'Vontaye Mitchell!"

Four Hyatt employees involved in the death of DVontaye Mitchell have been charged  a significant step towards justice for the family of D'Vontaye Mitchell! https://t.co/UD5DHKsC91  Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) August 7, 2024

DeAsia Harmon, Mitchell's widow, commented that the decision to charge the employees was a relief but questioned why it took weeks.

"These people are on camera taking my husband's life," she said.

"They should have been charged the moment they did that."

The company that manages the hotel, Aimbridge Hospitality, announced that several employees involved in Mitchell's death have been fired.

Mitchell's mother, Brenda Giles, created a GoFundMe to assist with the immediate needs of his children and family.

Giles described her son as a caring and loving soul who was a devoted father and cherished husband.
Saima Wazed, daughter of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said on Thursday that she would not disclose her mother's location, emphasizing the need to protect her whereabouts amid the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh. Wazed added that she would continue her work as the Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region. "To everyone who has shown concern: as much as I would love to see Ma, I don't want to compromise her whereabouts in any way. In the meantime, the work of improving the public health of @WHOSEARO continues!" Wazed said in a post on X. https://x.com/drSaimaWazed/status/1821560176488624345 Earlier, Saima Wazed had expressed sadness over not being able to "hug her mother" during difficult times. She also conveyed her heartbreak over the loss of lives in Bangladesh. In a post on X, Wazed wrote, "Heartbroken with the loss of life in my country Bangladesh that I love. So heartbroken that I cannot see and hug my mother during this difficult time. I remain committed to my role as RD @WHOSEARO @WHO #HealthForAll #OneWHO." https://x.com/drSaimaWazed/status/1821348386886324579 Saima Wazed assumed charge as the Regional Director for WHO's South-East Asia Region in February this year. She is the first Bangladeshi and only the second woman to hold this office. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended his best wishes to Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus on assuming his new role as the head of Bangladesh's interim government. He emphasized the need for an early return to normalcy and the protection of the Hindu minority. "My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development," PM Modi said in a post on X. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1821574094195769549 Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the head of Bangladesh's interim government on Thursday after Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of Prime Minister amid escalating student-led protests demanding an end to the quota system for government jobs. (ANI)
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Thursday that the United States hopes the new interim government in Bangladesh will pave the way for a democratic future. Miller noted that the US has been in communication with the interim government, including attending the swearing-in of Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus as the country's chief advisor. "There has been communication with the interim government. Our charge d'affaires attended his swearing-in today. I don't know if she spoke to him at the swearing-in, but she did attend communication with the interim government, not necessarily him personally," Miller said in a press briefing. "One of the things that we have made clear is that we want to see the interim government chart a democratic future for the people of Bangladesh," he added. Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the head of Bangladesh's interim government on Thursday night, just three days after Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of Prime Minister and left the country amid widespread unrest. Yunus, 84, took the oath at a ceremony in Dhaka. The key tasks for Yunus will now be to restore peace in Bangladesh and prepare for the new elections. Bangladesh's figurehead President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to Yunus for his role as chief advisor, which is the equivalent to a prime minister, Al Jazeera reported. The ceremony was attended by foreign diplomats, civil society members, top businessmen, and former opposition party members at the presidential palace in Dhaka. Notably, no representatives from Sheikh Hasina's party, the Awami League, were present. Upon his arrival in Bangladesh, Yunus made a heartfelt appeal to his supporters, urging the people to maintain calm and end the chaos. He stressed that it is crucial to ensure no attacks occur against anyone in the country, according to the Daily Star. (ANI)
Cameron expressed her gratitude to Adityanath for his insights and efforts to advance the India-Britain partnership.

"Thank you Chief Minister @myogiadityanath for sharing your valuable insights and driving forward the Britain-India partnership during my first visit to #UttarPradesh (and first meeting with a Chief Minister). Lots to take forward - higher education links, business opportunities, EVs and more," she said in a post on X.

https://x.com/Lindy_Cameron/status/1821520055634624529

Yogi Adityanath shared a peacock memento with Cameron, noting in a post on X, "Had a courtesy meeting with the British High Commissioner to India, Ms. Lindy Cameron at my official residence in Lucknow today."

https://x.com/myogiadityanath/status/1821518072261288077

Earlier, Lindy Cameron congratulated India and the United Kingdom on the ongoing multilateral exercise Tarang Shakti and said the defence and security cooperation between the two countries extends beyond sea, land and air.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) of the United Kingdom joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) and counterparts from Germany, Spain, and France in the first phase of the IAF's maiden multilateral exercise, Tarang Shakti, on Tuesday.

The RAF contingent, comprising 130 personnel, six Eurofighter Typhoons, two A330 Voyager air-to-air refuellers and an A-400M military transport aircraft, arrived at Sulur Air Force Station in Tamil Nadu.

Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, said: "I congratulate the Indian Air Force on organising its first multilateral air exercise, Tarang Shakti, and am delighted that the Royal Air Force is one of the key participants."

"Our cooperation in security and defence extends across the seas, land, and air. It is crucial that our armed forces work together to preserve stability and enhance prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," she added. (ANI)
Louisiana Supreme Court building in New Orleans (Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator)

NEW ORLEANS  Louisianas Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal must decide before Thursday evening whether all three candidates in the newly created majority-Black election district for the Louisiana Supreme Court can stay in the race.



All 12 judges on the appellate court presided over a short hearing Wednesday afternoon in the lawsuit seeking to throw two of three Supreme Court candidates in District 2 off the Nov. 5 ballot.

Regardless of their ruling the case is expected to go the Louisiana Supreme Court for review before being settled.

If successful, the lawsuit would make John Michael Guidry, chief judge for the First Circuit Court of Appeal in Baton Rouge, a new Louisiana Supreme Court justice by default because he would be the only remaining candidate in the race.



A Baton Rouge voter who is a plaintiff in the lawsuit, Elise Knowles Collins, testified at a district court hearing last week that her daughter works for Guidry as an attorney. Collins wasnt present for Wednesdays appellate court hearing, but Guidry and his wife attended in person.

In the lawsuit, Collins alleges Leslie Chambers, chief of staff for the Louisiana Housing Corporation, should be disqualified as a Supreme Court candidate because Chambers is not a resident of the district where she is seeking office. District 2 is centered around Baton Rouge and extends up to Monroe, but it does not include Ascension Parish where Chambers lives.

The lawsuit also seeks to knock Chambers and Marcus Hunter, a judge with the Second Circuit Court of Appeal in Monroe, out of the race for not filing their taxes every year over the past five years, which is a requirement for candidates in the race. Its alleged Chambers did not file her 2022 tax return and Hunter didnt file returns for 2021, 2022 or 2023.

Collins attorney, David Bienvenu, spent almost all of his time before the appellate judges Wednesday making the case for why Chambers should be removed from the race. He barely addressed Hunters failure to file taxes.

Its not clear whos paying for Bienvenu or the rest of the legal team behind Collins lawsuit. Bievenu said Wednesday it would be inappropriate for him to reveal who is paying him.



The appellate judges gave no indication where they might land on the case. Only six of the 12 judges spoke during the hearing, and just five asked questions to attorneys.





Residency challenge

State law requires election candidates to live in the district where they run for office for at least a year before signing up as a candidate. Bienvenu pointed out that Chambers, who has admitted to never living in District 2, cant even vote for herself in the election where she is seeking office.

Chambers attorney, Gray Sexton, argued his client doesnt have to live in the district to be a candidate in this particular race because the new Supreme Court districts were only approved in early May, less than three months before people were asked to sign up for the race in July.

District 2 was moved out of northwest Louisiana to Baton Rouge and Monroe, and none of the candidates lived within its old boundaries, Sexton said. For example, Chambers lived in the old District 5, which used to include Baton Rouge before it was moved to District 2. Now, District 5 is based on Louisiana Gulf of Mexico coast.



Sexton said the Louisiana Supreme Court previously ruled that local government officials and state legislators can run for office in districts where they werent residents as long as the district overlaps with a portion of an old seat where they live. Chambers would meet this requirement.

Bienvenu countered that this exception to the residency rule only applies to state legislators, as explicitly stated in the Louisiana Constitution, and candidates for police juries and town or city councils. To apply it to the judiciary would require a state constitutional amendment that needs voter approval, he said.



Fourth Circuit Judges Daniel Dysart, an independent from District 3, and Rosemary Ledet, a Democrat from District 1, appeared sympathetic to Chambers arguments about her residency.

Ledet questioned whether any of the candidates met the state constitutions residency requirement for District 2, if none of them lived in District 2 when it was based in northwest Louisiana earlier this year.

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Tax filing challenge





Chambers and Hunter have also argued they submitted their late tax filings in June and July of this year  before they signed up to run for the Supreme Court  but their paperwork might not have been transmitted properly or received.



On Wednesday, Sexton reiterated that Chambers has filed all of her tax returns through TurboTax and never faced a problem, except with the possibility of her 2022 return. He then said he believes Chambers made a good faith effort to file her 2022 tax return because TurboTax told her she was entitled to a refund of more than $4,500.



A couple of the appellate judges asked whether Chambers, who did not attend Wednesdays hearing in person, had any more records to show she had submitted her taxes.



Is there anything to show there was a transmittal? Judge Sandra Cabrina Jenkins asked Sexton. Any physical evidence?



Sexton replied that Chambers testified under oath that she tried to file the taxes. She also submitted to the court a copy of a draft of her tax refund with TurboTax, indicating she was owed a large tax refund.

A candidate who is entitled to a refund is  not trying to avoid paying her taxes, Sexton said. She did everything she could reasonably do.

Daniel Hunter, the brother and attorney for Marcus Hunter, said Marcus Hunter submitted his 2021 tax return last year and attempted to submit his 2022 and 2023 tax returns in July, though they were ultimately rejected over a technical issue.

Hunters certified public accountant sent Hunter a letter indicating his 2022 and 2023 tax returns had been filed July 16, the day before he signed up to run for Supreme Court. Marcus Hunter believed the letter indicated he met the requirements to qualify for the election, Daniel Hunter said.



Marcus Hunter didnt learn that his tax returns werent accepted until Collins lawsuit was filed in late July. His accountant had entered the incorrect personal identification number.



Our client, in good faith, filed taxes through their CPA, Daniel Hunter said.



Bienvenu argued a good faith effort doesnt meet the threshold set out for candidates in the law.



The law doesnt allow a candidate to say I sent it in, he told the judges.

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New Black justice coming to the court regardless

Whatever the outcome of the Supreme Court race, District 2 will be sending a second Black justice to the Supreme Court.

Chambers, Hunter and Guidry are all African American Democrats.



Black residents, who make up a third of Louisianas population, have long sought more representation on the Louisiana Supreme Court. It took almost three decades for a governor and state lawmakers to approve a new high court election map that includes two majority-Black districts among the seven seats.



Prior to the new maps approval in May, the court only included one majority-Black district in the New Orleans area. District 2 presents a brand new chance for Black residents in Baton Rouge and Monroe to elect a justice of their choice.

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, a powerful business group that has taken an interest in reshaping Louisianas courts, has endorsed Guidry. Trial attorneys are backing Chambers.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark  The Arkansas Department of Transportation said the Natural State is among the first states to bring a potentially lifesaving system to interstate exits.

The system works when a camera detects a car going the wrong way. Lights will flash around a sign to warn drivers and an alert will be pushed to law enforcement.

Little Rock police officer involved in crash on Stagecoach & Baseline Road

Dave Parker with ARDOT says around 20 wrong-way interstate crashes happen a year in Arkansas and almost all are fatal.

Any fatality, any accident, any crash that we can do something to try and lower that number, were certainly going to do it, Parker said.

The state is installing 160 sensors to combat the problem ARDOT officials said is growing nationwide.

During a test phase months ago in Little Rock, five drivers over a month made the mistake of turning into the wrong ramp. Four of them corrected themselves when the system activated blinking warning signs. One kept going nearly hitting another vehicle. In those instances, ARDOT can and will notify police.

Arkansas is on the leading edge. I dont know if were the first state to do this, but were definitely in that top two, three, Parker explained. Thats how serious we take this.

Man pleads no contest in Wyoming crash that killed Sylvan Hills students in 2023, mother looks toward healing

The $55M project starts in Little Rock. 10 sensors and cameras are being installed on I-430 this August. By August 2025, there will be 160 cameras between Little Rock and Memphis, mostly along Interstate 40.

That is on the opposite end of the state from Arkansass latest deadly crash involving a wrong-way driver. Gabby McLaughlin of Conway died on Aug. 4. She was cresting a hill near Van Buren on I-40 when she had a head-on collision.

McLaughlins aunt, Danielle Woodard, said bringing these sensors to exits at state borders like the one McLaughlin died at should happen as soon as the state can manage.

It should be a priority because life matters. An 18-year-old lost her life. She would be 19 on the 16th of this month. She lost her life too soon because someone was going the wrong way, Woodard said.

Devastating: Connecticut state lawmaker killed in crash involving wrong-way driver

McLaughlins cousin, Amber Koller said, Its finally time to, a little too late actually, to implement it in everyday lives cause I mean people travel every single day so its definitely something that could prevent more tragedy.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Dusty Johnson denies trying to help company shield itself from existing Roundup cancer lawsuits

Rep. Dusty Johnson takes a selfie with parade-goers during the St. Patricks Day parade on Saturday, March 16, 2024 along Phillips Avenue in Sioux Falls.

U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, denies allegations that a provision he helped insert into a draft of the federal farm bill would protect the maker of Roundup from pending lawsuits claiming that frequent use of the herbicide causes cancer.

Our legislation doesnt do anything in the courts, Johnson said Wednesday in an interview with South Dakota Searchlight at the Sioux Empire Fair in Sioux Falls. If somebodys got a legitimate claim in court today, there isnt anything that we would do to adjust their claim from a backward-looking perspective.

Questions remain about the forward impact of the legislation. The Washington Post reported in June that Bayer, the manufacturer of Roundup herbicide, is seeking a blockade against future lawsuits.

The Post also reported that Bayer helped Johnson and Rep. Jim Costa, D-California, draft a measure thats since been included in the House version of the farm bill. Johnson declined an interview request from the Post.

On Wednesday, South Dakota Searchlight asked Johnson if he worked with Bayer on the legislation.

Listen, anytime youre writing legislation, you need to be talking to a broad cross-section of stakeholders, Johnson said. Shame on any member of Congress who thinks they have all of the answers and just goes in and tries to make law for the whole country without talking to people who were affected.

The measure would affirm federal authority over warning labels, which Johnson said would ensure a science-based, evidence-based approach aligning with federal guidelines.

He also said a national standard is necessary to prevent a patchwork of state regulations. He highlighted California as a state that has enacted its own labeling requirements.

We cant have effective interstate commerce if we have every single state doing their own label on these herbicides, pesticides, Johnson said.

Attorneys general in 11 states, including South Dakota, took a similar position Wednesday by asking the Environmental Protection Agency to stop a patchwork of state labeling efforts. The attorneys general of Nebraska and Iowa announced the effort in Omaha, along with two farmers and state agricultural officials.

The Posts June story cited legal experts who said the farm bill provision could effectively shut down some lawsuits against Bayer. The measure would prohibit state and local governments from penalizing or holding companies liable for pesticide warning rules that differ substantially from the federal governments. Currently, the EPA does not recognize glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, as a carcinogen.

Roundups uses range from residential weed control to large-scale farming. Bayers Roundup Ready Corn, for example, is genetically modified to tolerate applications of Roundup for weed control in fields.

A 2019 report from Investigate Midwest said farmers used an estimated 287 million pounds of glyphosate in 2016. Nearly 6% of that estimated usage  about 17 million pounds  was in South Dakota.

Critics of Johnsons legislation, including environmental groups, argued in the Post story that the legislation undermines state autonomy and public health protections. They fear that by creating a single federal standard, the bill could limit the ability of plaintiffs to argue that they werent adequately warned about the dangers of Roundup.

Bayer has faced expensive litigation from plaintiffs alleging links between Roundup and cancer. In 2020, the company agreed to pay approximately $10 billion to settle lawsuits involving roughly 125,000 claims, without any admission of wrongdoing.

According to Open Secrets, a nonprofit that tracks money in politics, Bayer has spent $9.7 million on lobbying during the current election cycle. Open Secrets also reports that Johnsons campaign committee received $1,000 from political action committees affiliated with Bayer in each of 2020 and 2022.

The House has not yet scheduled a vote on the 1,000-page farm bill. The current version of the bill expires Sept. 30.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Johnson denies trying to help company shield itself from lawsuits
With the announcement that he won his reelection universally challenged, Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro is moving quickly to transform his regime into a more brutal dictatorship that in all likelihood will trigger a flood of refugees that will cause havoc in neighboring countries as they try to move towards the U.S. border.

And the reaction of regional leaders, including the United States, to the alleged electoral fraud has been so timid that the refugee scenario at this point looks almost like a certainty, warned former National Assembly president Julio Borges, one of the top figures of the Venezuelan opposition.

The political response has so far fallen short, Borges told the Miami Herald in a telephone interview. We are very concerned about the passage of time. It has been 10 days after the election, and our fear is that if we dont soon see a bold proposal on the table, one that recognizes the results of the July 28th election, we will soon find ourselves immerse in a labyrinth of devastating consequences for the region.

A number of polls conducted before the election showed that 20% of the Venezuelan population have decided to leave the country if Maduro is not removed from power this year. That would translate into another five million Venezuelans seeking refuge in other countries. But in comparison to the estimated 7.7 million who fled the regime over the past 10 years, the new exodus could take place quickly.

The Venezuelan opposition, led by leader Maria Corina Machado, claims that their presidential candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, the former ambassador to Argentina, resoundingly defeated Maduro in the election, getting more than 65% of the votes, with Maduro obtaining about 30%.

This claim is disputed by the countrys elections board, an agency tightly controlled by the regime that lacks independent monitoring, which on election night claimed that Maduro won with just over 51% of the vote.

The oppositions results, however, are backed by the official paper tallies of more than 80% of the countrys voting stations, while the regime has so far been unable to provide the official tallies supporting its claim of victory despite repeated calls from the international community to provide the evidence.

Regional leaders, including the United States, expressed doubts about the credibility of the regimes claim and have said Gonzalez won the election. But they then proceeded to adopt a wait and see attitude to allow countries such as Mexico, Brazil and Colombia to begin negotiations with the regime. That is a big mistake, Borges said.

We are now under a sort of paralysis, since they are now giving time for this alleged process of negotiations to work, without any sign that it is actually moving forward, Borges said. There are reports that the regime has hired representatives to conducting a major lobbying effort in Colombia, Mexico and Brazil to convince their governments to stop asking Maduro to produce the official voting tallies that confirm his claim of victory, he added.

Under those conditions, Maduro will most likely conduct the negotiations into a quagmire from which it will never emerge, a successful tactic the regime has used in the past.

Meanwhile, Maduro is wasting no time. Given the collapse of the strategy that he had set out for the election, he is now moving quickly to transform his authoritarian regime into a full pledged dictatorship, which is bound to be even more brutal than the one currently in control of Cuba, and one willing to strictly adhere to the interests and control of Beijing and Moscow, Borges said.

What Maduro is seeking at this point is to formally graduate as a dictator. He wants Venezuela to become a business branch for Russian, Chinese and Iranian interests. And this must be understood in the context that Venezuela has no less than a quarter of the worlds oil reserves and the eighth largest gas reserves in the world, he added.

The move that Maduro made after July 28 is much bigger that could be seen in terms of its grave consequences... and seem destined not just to turn Venezuela into another Cuba, but into North Korea, he said.

The Caracas regime has launched a brutal crackdown following the oppositions claim that he is trying to steal the election. Machado said last week in an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal that she is in hiding and that she fears for her life and her freedom. Maduros security forces have arrested at least 2,000 people since the election.

Human rights groups have said that at least 20 people have been killed since the crackdown began and dozens more have been injured, while armed paramilitary groups roam the streets, at times firing on protesters.

Maduro has also announced plans to shut down social media apps, claiming that they are being used to coordinate rebellious acts.

Commenting on a recent Maduro pronouncement to stop the usage of Whatsapp in Venezuela, Borges said he takes the remarks seriously because it was made amid the regimes plans to begin to use technological tools to restrict the usage of social media in the country.

The transformation of a Caracas regime into a full-blown dictatorship would without doubt be a tragedy for Venezuelans, but it also poses grave security threats for Colombia and Brazi _ with which it shares long land borders  but also for Mexico and the United States, said Borges, one of the founders and top leaders of the opposition party Primero Justicia.

Not all governments have come to understand the risk posed by the totalitarian path adopted by Maduro in the aftermath of the election, the opposition leader said.

The left-leaning presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Colombia, Gustavo Petro, which have traditionally been considered allies of Maduro, need to realize that this is no longer an issue of political ideology, but one that threatens devastating consequences to their own countries, Borges said.

Miami Herald staff writer Ana Claudia Chacin contributed to this story.
A lawsuit filed last week accuses a Delaware State Police officer of abusing his police authority to rape a Georgetown woman in 2022.

The lawsuit, filed in Delaware District Court, claims that Trooper Kenneth L. P. Haynes referenced a then-pending criminal investigation against the plaintiff before raping her in August 2022. It claims this occurred after he had responded to multiple domestic disturbance calls at her home that year.

In a series of emails, Delaware State Police spokespersons did not comment directly about the allegations, citing the "early stages" of their criminal investigation. The spokespersons said they were "notified of this" on July 29 and immediately began an investigation in tandem with the Delaware Department of Justice's Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust and the Office of Professional Responsibility.

They said the department takes such allegations "very seriously" and that Haynes had been suspended with pay, per department policy, pending the outcome of their investigation. Their statement emphasized a commitment to conduct a "thorough and impartial review" of the allegations.

"We ask for the community's patience and partnership as we work through the investigative process," India Sturgis, a state police spokesperson, wrote in an email.

Editor's Note: Options to submit any tips or information about the claims against this trooper can be found at the end of this story.

The Delaware Department of Justice, the state entity responsible for criminally prosecuting crimes, declined to comment. Court records indicate Haynes has not been charged with any crime.

Kristie Parker, the woman who filed the suit, said she was interviewed by a police detective on Monday. The lawsuit was filed recently, so no evidence sharing or depositions have occurred as part of the civil litigation. It was filed by Dover attorney Ron Poliquin on behalf of Parker.

Parker said in the past two years, her husband died, she resolved her own, unrelated criminal case and she's been coming to terms with other family-related grief in her life. She said she has been in counseling and recently decided she needed to confront what happened.

"The only way people can heal is tell the truth and tell what is bothering them and what is hurting their heart," she said. "I just want to breathe, and the only way I can do that is to tell my story."

How the woman and the trooper knew each other

During 2022, Haynes became a semi-regular character in Parker's life, according to the lawsuit and an interview with Parker. Her adult son has special needs as a consequence of a traumatic brain injury. In May 2022, she called 911 because her son had recently changed medication and was hearing voices," according to the lawsuit.

He was walking away from home and it was getting dark, she said. Haynes responded, calmed her son and they returned home, the lawsuit states. Parker described that interaction with the trooper as "great."

"He became someone everyone could actually trust," Parker said. "He wasn't irate or mean."

She said Haynes would ultimately respond to multiple calls related to her son and husband. She said he told them parts of his life story to relate to them.

"I feel like he groomed us and took advantage of my life at the time," she said.

In August 2022, she called 911 again due to her husband having a violent outburst after consuming illegal drugs and alcohol," the lawsuit states.

She said her husband, who died in December, suffered from addiction. Haynes and another officer responded that day and eventually an officer took her husband from the home, according to the lawsuit.

Sometimes, the police would take him to lockup, sometimes to a rehab and sometimes, to a hotel she would pay for, she said in an interview. The lawsuit said the trooper contacted her later that night and said he needed to speak to her about her husband but could only do so over Snapchat, a messaging app.

She said they never messaged on Snapchat about her husband. But later that night, around 11 p.m., Haynes arrived back at the home and instructed her to come outside, according to the lawsuit.

Ron Poliquin

She lives in a wooded area, out of neighbors' sight. The lawsuit states that Haynes' patrol vehicle laptop was turned off along with his body camera at the time. She said he exited the vehicle and clutched her against his chest from behind.

At the time, Parker was under investigation by federal authorities for illegally distributing narcotics through a pain clinic she co-owned in Maryland. The investigation would later become a federal indictment and she would eventually enter a guilty plea.

In August 2022 when the lawsuit said the rape occurred, she had not been indicted. But federal authorities had already raided her home and business, she said.

As Haynes held her that night, he said he had friends who were federal agents and that he could help her, she said.

"He could help or hurt, that's how I took it," she said in the interview.

The lawsuit states that she was frozen due to the fact that he had just arrested her husband and she was facing federal charges. He pulled her by her right arm to the drivers side of his police SUV as she protested his sexual advances," according to the lawsuit.

Why are you doing this ... what are you doing, the lawsuit quotes her saying at the time.

It states she tried to dissuade him: You know my son, you know what Im going through.

In an interview, she emphasized that the physical contact was not consensual. The complaint states that he pushed her face into the drivers seat of his vehicle, pulled down her pants and raped her.

It states he instructed her to pull her pants up and that her son came out of the home and saw her crying as she pulled her pants up.

"The first thing he said to me was, 'You didnt even fight me,'" she said in an interview. "He was so mad. You could see his eyes. He wanted me to fight him."

The lawsuit and Parker in her interview said he told her that he had fantasized about taking a woman's husband to jail and coming back to "rape the wife."

At some point, Haynes became aware that another officer was approaching their location. The officer arrived and asked him if everything was alright because he had "been off grid for a while," Parker said in an interview.

Haynes told the officer that he was taking down information about a drug dealer, according to the lawsuit. The officer then left and Haynes wrote some information down. He told her not to tell anyone, she said.

"I went in my room and I showered and I cried," she said.

Why this woman came forward now

She said she didn't tell anyone  from the police to her best friend  partially because she felt people would see her as "the scum of the earth" on top of them already judging her for her criminal case. She also thought about her husband's reaction: whether he would think she was having an affair or whether he'd want to hurt Haynes.

"There was already enough trouble in my life," she said. "I just wanted to hibernate and stay in my home."

She also feared Haynes could potentially cause trouble knowing about her criminal case, as well as the challenges and vulnerabilities presented by her son's needs and her husband's addiction.

"He knew everything about my life, my son and my stress," she said. "He knew everything."

And so, she stayed quiet, she said.

Two months later, she was driving near the Royal Farms in Frankford when Haynes saw her and flagged her down with a wave. He asked if she was OK. She said she was angry and late to work.

"I left it alone, so leave me alone," she recalled thinking at the time.

The lawsuit claims Haynes asked her if she planned on telling anyone what happened and inquired as to whether shed be interested in a threesome. She said no and asked to be left alone, according to the lawsuit.

"I think he thought he could wiggle into my life to get me to willingly do something with him so he could say he did not rape me," she said.

Eventually, she felt the need to confront the issue. She also started thinking about whether he had hurt someone else, she said.

"I dont wish him any harm at all," she said. "I want to make sure he cant do this again and I can heal. I want to be able to live in peace and not carry around all this anger."

Contact Xerxes Wilson at (302) 324-2787 or xwilson@delawareonline.com.

State police asked that anyone with information about this case contact Sgt. P. Taylor by calling (302) 698-8434. Anonymous tips can be routed through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-847-3333.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware State Police officer accused of raping Georgetown woman: suit
A Florida woman is accused of luring officers to her home, where her husband and two adult children ambushed deputies as they entered the home, killing one and injuring two others, all in the name of God.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office announced the death of Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link, 28, and confirmed deputies Harold Howell, 41, and Stefano Gargano, 28, are recovering from injuries sustained in the incident.

Sherif Peyton Grinnell told reporters at a press conference on Friday that the deputies had received a call about a woman trespassing and assaulting people at a home in the 3800 block of Brookside Drive.

The woman, identified as Julie Sulpizio, 48, claims she was "Helen under God's will" and made several other religious statements to detectives during the investigation.

Grinnell said Sulpizio allegedly convinced deputies to go and check on her husband and two adult children.

Law enforcement arrested Sulpizio while the other three officers made their way to the home.

Upon arriving, the deputies tried to make contact with the occupants; however, they received no response despite hearing movement inside the home.

They noticed two dead dogs lying in the front yard and an open window with the screen kicked out, leading them to believe it may be a home invasion.

After nearly an hour of trying to get a hold of the people inside, Link, Howell, and other deputies entered the home.

Link walked through a laundry room and into a hallway, where his body camera captured a man wearing a black shirt and body armor holding a rifle on the arm of a couch "waiting to ambush deputies," according to Grinnell.

Rounds of gunfire shot out and struck Link in the back multiple times, while a bullet hit Howell in the wrist.

Julie's husband, Michael Sulpizio, continued to shoot at Link as he tried to crawl to safety when someone else in the home began shooting at deputies outside.

Attempts to negotiate with the suspects to rescue Link were unsuccessful.

"My king will kill all of you," a woman inside the home yelled, according to the Miami Herald.

"You are Lucifer's children."

The SWAT team arrived on scene and entered the home with a ballistic shield to save Link, but they were also met with a barrage of bullets.

Gargano was shot through a wall several times with a high-caliber weapon and is in critical condition.

"Heroes," Grinnell said of the rescuers.

When officers heard the suspects mention suicide followed by three gunshots, they found 23-year-old Savannah Sulpizio and 22-year-old Cheyenne Sulpizio deceased on the couch from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Michael Sulpizo suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was rushed to the hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

"Throughout the residence, anti-government propaganda was observed, along with conspiracy-theory media," Grinnell told reporters.

During her interview with detectives, Julie Sulpizio claimed to be God and said that God speaks through her.

She stated that she was trying to lure the neighbors to her home so that her husband could kill them.

"They were not successful because of our deputies," the sheriff added.

Prosecutors charged Sulpizio with first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, seven counts of attempted murder, felony battery/strangulation, two counts of battery, and battery on a law enforcement officer.

The state may seek the death penalty against her, said Bill Gladson, Lake County State Attorney.

"This was nothing short of an ambush," Gladson stated.

"The evidence will show that. It's absolutely indescribable."
Pontiac leaders plan to vote on a second sales tax ordinance

Pontiac city leaders acted a little too fast to implement a new 1% sales tax last month.

Pontiac City Council approved an ordinance July 1 that would have allowed the city to start collecting an additional 1% sales tax on purchases within the city limits on Jan. 1.

But that was before Gov. JB Pritzker signed House Bill 3144 which gives local municipalities the authority to add the tax without having to win a voters referendum.

City Administrator Jim Woolford explained at the July 15 meeting that the council's action was premature, making the council's July 1 vote invalid.

We will look at the whole process whenever the governor signs the bill or if it becomes law after 60 days, Woolford said.

Pritzker signed the bill on Aug. 5.

Pontiac City Council asked residents to pass a referendum for a sales tax increase three times in recent years, and each time, the referendum failed.

Woolford said the city would pass a similar ordinance after the bill was signed into law.

It is specific that the sales tax can only be used for public infrastructure defined by statute as municipal roads and streets, access roads, bridges, and sidewalks; waste disposal systems; water and sewer line extensions, water distribution and purification facilities, storm water drainage and retention facilities, and sewage treatment facilities, Woolford said.

Illinois cities must file their ordinances with the Illinois Department of Revenue by the end of October in order for the new tax go into effect Jan. 1.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Pontiac leaders plan to vote on a second sales tax ordinance
Preparing to again defend Israel, US presses Iran and Israel to de-escalate

While the American military is rallying allies to yet again help defend Israel against an expected Iranian attack, top American officials are simultaneously pressing partners to push Iran to not carry out a strike  or coordinated strikes with its proxy groups  and asking Israel for restraint to prevent a widespread war in the region.

In just the past few days, President Joe Biden and his top diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have held a flurry of calls with counterparts across the Middle East. They have each had numerous exchanges with the leaders and foreign ministers of Jordan, Qatar and Egypt with a message of de-escalation.

Weve been engaged in intense diplomacy with allies and partners communicating that message directly to Iran. We communicated that message directly to Israel, Blinken said on Tuesday. Everyone in the region should understand that further attacks only perpetuate conflict, instability, insecurity for everyone.

The looming Iranian attack would come in response to Israel last week killing the top military commander for Irans most powerful proxy, Hezbollah in Lebanon. The next day, Israel is widely believed to have assassinated Hamas political leader in Tehran, which Israel has not admitted to carrying out.

Iran and its proxies have been seen beginning to make some preparations for a potential retaliation against Israel, according to two US officials familiar with intelligence. The sources would not elaborate on what kind of preparations are being made.

Multiple US officials have told CNN that the US expects an attack against Israel in the coming days. It remains unclear whether there will be a coordinated response between Tehran and Hezbollah.

Officials have also told CNN that Iran is still believed to be deliberating the scope of its response.

One US official and one western intelligence official told CNN that fears are higher now about Hezbollah taking action than Iran, raising the prospect that the Lebanon-based militia group  which is funded, equipped and trained by Iran  may act without them.

With American and Israeli officials believing an attack by Iran and its axis may just be a question of when, what happens after that then falls to Israel. Much will depend on both what is targeted  military or civilian sites  and the deadliness of those strikes.

People walk next to the apparent remains of a ballistic missile, in the desert near the Dead Sea, following a massive missile and drone attack by Iran on Israel, in southern Israel April 21, 2024. - Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

While the US does hold secret, indirect talks with Iran  often in Oman  other countries like Qatar and Jordan speak with Tehran directly and openly. Jordans foreign minister made a rare trip to Tehran over the weekend, and Qatar often acts as a go-between for the US.

New Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Jordans Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Sunday that Haniyehs assassination was a major mistake by the Zionist regime (Israel) that will not go unanswered, according to Iranian state TV.

On Wednesday, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation will convene in the Saudi Arabian port city Jeddah at Irans request to discuss Haniyehs killing. The Hamas official had been in Iran for Pezeshkians inauguration, which has added to the Iranian anger at Israel for carrying out such a brazen murder of their guest in their capital.

Arab foreign ministers are expected to continue pressing Iran for restraint while also criticizing Israel for Haniyehs killing.

The day before Haniyeh was killed, Israeli jets carried out a targeted strike in southern Beirut targeting Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shakr. At least three others were killed, according to Lebanese media.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said Tuesday that they will respond against Israel regardless of the consequences to avenge the assassination, but keeping Israelis waiting is part of the punishment.

The growing fears of what may unfold comes just under four months since a huge attack by Iran against Israel, which saw more than 300 missiles and drones fired against Israel in waves.

In that case, Irans unprecedented direct attack against Israel was an attempt to avenge another Israeli strike in the Syrian capital of Damascus against a diplomatic facility that killed seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force.

Almost everything Iran fired was intercepted by Israels air defenses but with significant help from the US, UK, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The American military commander for the Middle East, General Erik Kurilla, was back in Israel on Monday as the US tries to resurrect a similar multi-national effort to shield Israel for the attacks. But its unclear to what extent critical Arab allies will participate given their anger over the assassination of Haniyeh, which US officials were also frustrated by.

Its not helped, Biden told reporters on Thursday.

CNNs Katie Bo Lillis, Natasha Bertrand and Michael Conte contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Sunday, Aug. 11, is the deadline to register to vote to be eligible to participate in the Sept. 10 primary. (Elena Sunagatova/ iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Calling all eligible Rhode Island voters: The deadline to register to vote or change your affiliation in time for the state primary is fast approaching.

Voters have until Sunday, Aug. 11, to register or change party affiliation ahead of the Sept. 10 primary. Both can be completed online at vote.ri.gov, or by mailing or dropping off a paper form in person at your municipal board of canvassers office. Each municipality also has a designated drop-off location that will be open on Sunday for completed voter registration or affiliation forms.

Rhode Island voters who are registered as Republican or Democrat can only participate in that partys primary. Independent voters can vote in either partys primary, which automatically changes their affiliation to that party. However, for the first time this year, independent voters no longer have to fill out paperwork to disaffiliate after casting their primary ballot, but will be automatically returned to their prior status as unaffiliated following the primary, thanks to a new law signed by Gov. Dan McKee in June.

As of this month, more than 720,000 eligible voters were registered, according to the Rhode Island Department of States online database. Nearly half, 47% were registered independents, while Democrats comprised 38% of those registered, and Republicans made up 14%.

Close behind the registration deadline is a second key date for primary voters: the deadline to apply for a mail ballot. Applications are already available online, due back no later than 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20. Applications sent by mail must be postmarked by the Aug. 20 deadline.

For more information about upcoming elections and key deadlines, visit the Department of State website.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
UIHC settles with family of 16-year-old for $1.2M after 2020 death

The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has reached a $1.2 million settlement with the family of a 16-year-old who died in 2020.

Emma Nugent was a City High student who "was evaluated over a period of time in 2020 through the UIHC Influenza-Like Illness COVID-19 program," according to a report delivered to the State Appeal Board of Iowa.

On July 6, 2020, Nugent "became unresponsive and died despite extensive resuscitation efforts."

Death caused by "pulmonary embolism"

Doctors determined that Nugent died from a pulmonary embolism.

Nugent's parents later filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the University of Iowa.

The lawsuit alleged that "personnel failed to meet the standard of care" by not ordering more extensive diagnostic testing that they believe would have led to an early diagnosis and treatment of the embolism.

There was "expert support" that hospital staff "acted within the standard of care," with recognition that additional testing "may have been helpful in an early diagnosis."

The state opted to settle the case with the family instead of taking it to trial. If the case went in front of a jury, the verdict "had the potential to be financially substantial," the civil attorney for the university wrote in his report.

The judge in the Johnson County District Court, where the suit was filed, accepted the settlement in late July.

The Cedar Rapids-based attorney for the Nugent family, David Wenzel, declined to comment.

The $1.2 million settlement will cover the family's attorneys' fees, not to exceed 40%. The family will directly receive at least $720,000 as part of the final agreement.

The Iowa Appeals Board approved the settlement during its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 7.

Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: UIHC, family of late City High student reach $1.2 million settlement
The young woman emailed me on a Saturday morning in late January 2022.

She was 22 years old and a college senior. Four-and-a-half years earlier, when she was 17 and still had a provisional drivers license, I'd reported on her arrest.

She was driving a friend in Forsyth County, Georgia  where I worked at the time  when she turned left in front of another car. The crash pushed the 18-year-old male driver into the opposite lane. A third vehicle hit the young mans car, killing him.

At the time, I didnt think twice before using the 17-year-olds mugshot. For years, it remained on the newspapers website.

Then, I received her email.

It has been the hardest thing I have ever dealt with in my life (and) I know this is the same for his family, too, she wrote. I spoke with the boy's family and apologized for the pain my mistake put them through. They said they didn't wish any harm to me.

She explained that she had completed two years' probation and 250 hours of community service under Georgias First Offender Act (neither drugs nor alcohol were factors in the crash). She then said she worried the mugshot you and a few other sources posted will keep me from getting a job.

She wasnt asking to take down the story. She understood if I couldnt remove her name.

I am just asking for a chance, she wrote.

Rockford Center discharge paperwork for Rafael Murillo classifies his capacity for self-harm/harm to others as "severe".

For decades, news outlets nationwide have unnecessarily inflicted harm through their crime coverage. While all communities have been affected  this particular woman was white  minorities have been disproportionately targeted.

I dont believe its intentional  for me, it simply wasnt something I had ever really discussed until I came to Delaware Online/The News Journal. But rethinking crime coverage, as this newspaper has done markedly since I started here almost five years ago, is necessary everywhere.

Here, the nixing of mugshots was only the beginning.

We rarely cover nonviolent crime anymore (though we will turn a series of catalytic converter thefts into a larger piece looking at the uptick and why its happening). We typically dont name those charged with low-level offenses unless theyre believed to be a danger. And when we do name people, its only after asking: Are we going to follow this through the courts and also report on the outcome?

To be sure, there are exceptions: We used a mugshot last year, for example, during the search for Danelo Cavalcante after his prison escape.

But overwhelmingly, we try to stick to guidelines that urge do no harm  while also ensuring that our readers understand why bad things happen.

Rafael Murillos case, I believe, is what our re-thought crime coverage should look like.

Rafael Murillo's mother shows a picture of him with his cat, Moko, on her cell phone.

I wrote an initial story about his arrest on attempted murder charges, using his name. We didnt post his mugshot, though, given he was no longer a danger to the community.

Then, I pulled the court documents and realized there was something worth delving much deeper into: Murillo had a history of violence during psychotic episodes and his mother had long begged for help managing them. Something in the system was broken.

Of course, its impossible to produce a monthslong, three-part series for every crime we have, and will continue to, cover. Yet I believe this is what our coverage should look like when possible.

As for the woman in Georgia, my former employer did take down the mugshot. Other outlets still have it up, just as many other Delaware and Philadelphia outlets still cover nearly every news release police send out. Theres nothing we can do about that (and I am certainly not suggesting this newspaper is perfect, either.)

But we must always work toward improvement.

READ THE MURILLO SERIES:

Part 1: She feared schizophrenia would leave her son dead or in jail. Then, he nearly killed a man

Part 2: He had a history of violent psychotic episodes. Why was he allowed to refuse treatment?

Part 3: He lives comfortably with schizophrenia. What led to this outcome when so many fare worse?

Isabel is an investigative reporter covering breaking news and public safety, with an eye toward some of Delaware's most vulnerable: children, those struggling with addiction and those with mental illness. She can be reached at ihughes@delawareonline.com or via X at @izzihughes_

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: News outlets must continue to strive to do a better job covering crime
A former city council candidate addressed his notice to dismiss a lawsuit filed over the results of the June Republican primary at a press conference Wednesday in front of city hall.

Peter Alexander, who sought the Republican nomination for the Ward IV city council seat held by incumbent Vice Mayor Chris Faraldi, filed a lawsuit on June 28, asking for a three judge panel to hear evidence in hopes the judges will issue an order invalidating the results of the primary.

On Aug. 2, Alexander filed a notice of nonsuit to dismiss the lawsuit, saying information his team requested, which could have made a difference in the election, were not obtained.

The former Ward IV candidate said he cannot disclose what items specifically.

We found ourselves in the position where we actually had to not sue, he said.

In terms of the election process, Alexander said it was a travesty to not have a firehouse primary  where members of the party can only vote in their primary.

It makes absolutely no sense folks, it has to be corrected, he said.

Alexander also addressed comments from Chris Faraldis attorney, Zachary Werrell, on WLNI Radio.

Alexander said Werrell referred to some people in his campaign as cabals, stating it was deeply offensive and called for an apology.

He also addressed Werrells comments around paying back lawyer fees and how the fees extracted a pound of flesh out of Faraldi. Alexander said Werrell had no clue about their overall campaigns.

Werrell also referred to the lawsuit as a waste of time and money which Alexander disagreed with, stating it challenged the integrity of the electoral process.

I did not want to squander peoples money that actually contributed to my campaign  to file a lawsuit and I didnt want that for my opponent, he said.

Alexander went on to say that it wasnt his preferred method to go through the court and overall he wishes Faraldi the best.

It was not my intention to actually cause any monetary harm to Mr. Faraldi, however the law of Virginia states if we actually contest an election, it has to be between two candidates, he said.

Alexander said overall, his team ran an upright campaign.

Alexander said he doesnt know if he will run again for Ward IV. He said he has been solicited to run as a write-in candidate in November but isnt willing to do that, because it could cause a split in the vote and allow a Democratic candidate to step in.

Alexander said he will support both Faraldi and state Sen. John McGuire, R-Goochland, who is seeking the 5th District Congressional House seat, in Novembers election.

Alexander went on to say he would campaign with Faraldi for the cause of the Republican Party.

You will always have clashes, however, if he puts the cause first, I have no problem campaigning with him, he said.

In response to the news conference, Faraldi said in a statement:

We are grateful the lawsuit is over with, it was a waste of time and distraction from winning in November. Republicans are united, and Chris Faraldis campaign will be one that emphasizes serving Lynchburg and delivering real results for the city. Lets get to work.
Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance accused Gov. Tim Walz of "stolen valor" during a campaign stop in Michigan on Wednesday.

Vance, who served in Iraq as a U.S. Marine, claimed that when Walz was asked to go to Iraq, he dropped out of the Army and "allowed his unit to go without him."

He said it was "shameful" to have his unit go without him and called Walz "dishonest."

Vance brought up a statement the Harris campaign put out about gun control saying guns of war shouldn't be on American streets.

"I wonder Tim Walz, when were you ever at war?" Vance questioned.

"What bothers me about Tim Walz is the stolen valor. Do not pretend to be something you are not," Vance said.

Walz is a retired Army National Guard noncommissioned officer. He enlisted in 1981 and retired in 2005, Miltary.com reported.

He deployed to Italy to support U.S. operations in Afghanistan according to Minnesota Public Radio.

His opponent in the 2022 Minnesota governor's race claimed Walz quit the Guard to avoid a deployment to Iraq.

Walz said he retired to run for Congress, the Star Tribune reported.
A U.S. soldier was laid to rest at Fort Hill Memorial Park in Lynchburg on Wednesday, the 80-year anniversary of his death on a World War II battlefield in France.

Army Sgt. Mayburn Hudson, who was killed in action on Aug. 7, 1944, near Saint-Malo, France, when his unit came under heavy fire from German forces, grew up in Lynchburg and joined the U.S. Army when he was only 17 years old.

At the burial service, Lynchburg Mayor Stephanie Reed, who described herself as a proud granddaughter of a World War II veteran, read a proclamation declaring Aug. 7, 2024, as Mayburn L. Hudson Day.

The proclamation states that Hudson was initially listed as missing in action after his death but then declared killed in action in January 1945. While his remains had yet to be identified, Hudsons name was inscribed on the World War II Memorial on Monument Terrace in Lynchburg when it was installed in 1986, according to the proclamation.

Many of Hudsons family members were at Wednesdays burial service, including his sister, Anne Hudson Miller of Madison Heights, and his niece, Julie Allsep of Forest. Also in attendance were state Sen. John McGuire, the Republican candidate for the 5th Congressional District, and Hung Cao, the Republican candidate running against incumbent U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., in this falls election.

Cao said he attended the service to help bring closure to the Hudson family and to honor a member of the Greatest Generation, the generation of Americans who served as enlisted forces in World War II.

A decorated Navy veteran, Cao said one of his duties while in uniform was recovering the remains of lost service members, helping to bring closure to their families.

Also in attendance were Del. Wendell Walker, R-Lynchburg; Lynchburg Fire Chief Gregory Wormser and several other local officials and veterans.

For nearly 75 years, Hudsons remains were buried at the U.S. Military Cemetery in Saint-James, France, known today as the Brittany American Cemetery. His family had known he was killed in a battle at the age of 21 but did not know the location of his remains.

In June 2019, Hudsons remains were exhumed from the cemetery for laboratory analysis and identification. His family was informed in December 2023 that his remains had been positively identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, a part of the Department of Defense that works to recover service members who became missing during their service.

Allsep said she learned her uncles dog tags were blown off when he took a direct hit from a German shelling in the coastal area of France, two months after the D-Day invasion, when Allied Forces came ashore in Normandy.

Hudsons remains arrived at Richmond International Airport on Saturday morning before making their way to Lynchburg for his burial on Wednesday.

The Rev. Charles Johnson of Forest United Methodist Church and Mount Zion United Methodist Church in Rustburg told The News & Advance that he felt honored to be asked by the family to preside over the burial service.

Johnson, a Vietnam veteran, said the family allowed him to view the book that the U.S. military had provided Hudsons family. The book included letters and documents as well as a photo of Hudsons bones that were exhumed from the grave in France in 2019 and brought back to Lynchburg.

Paraphrasing from a Bible chapter, Johnson said if the bones buried on Wednesday at Fort Hill Memorial Park help to instill the value of service and dignity in current generations, then yes, these bones have spoken.

Hudson was born on Feb. 26, 1924, in Logan County, West Virginia, where his father had moved from Nelson County to work in the coal mines. Soon after Hudson was born, the family moved back to the Tye River area of Nelson County.

He spent most of his childhood with his Aunt Cora Mae Hudson, next to whom he was buried at Fort Hill Memorial Park.

Hudson was living in Lynchburg when he enlisted in the Army on Feb. 27, 1941. Six months before he was killed in action in 1944, Hudson was stationed at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky, when he married Minnie Chittum. After his death, a news article reported that Hudson had been on overseas duty two years and seven months before being sent to combat.

The date of Hudsons burial  Aug. 7  is Purple Heart Day, which commemorates the creation of the oldest American military decoration for military merit. The Purple Heart medal is presented to service members who have been wounded or killed as a result of enemy action while serving in the U.S. military.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued a proclamation this week, recognizing Aug. 7, 2024, as Purple Heart Day and calling the observance to the attention of all our citizens.

Mark Hand, 434-385-5556
Chidimma Adetshina, a Miss South Africa contestant, whose Nigerian heritage sparked a national controversy and a government investigation withdrew from the beauty pageant Thursday.

Adetshinas announcement that she would not take part in Saturdays final came a day after the Home Affairs ministry accused her mother of fraud and identity theft.

After much careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and wellbeing of my family and I, Adetshina, 23, wrote on Instagram.

Adetshina, a law student, has been the subject of vicious, xenophobic attacks on social media since she was announced as a finalist in July. Many, including cabinet ministers, questioned her credentials because of her Nigerian descent.

Adetshina has previously told local media she was born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a South African mother of Mozambican descent.

The ruckus led to an investigation into her citizenship following a request from the pageants organisers.

On Wednesday, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, said the investigation uncovered prima facie indications that Adetshinas mother might have committed fraud and stolen the identity of a South African woman.

The ministry said it was obtaining legal advice on the implications of this on the citizenship of Adetshina. Chidinma was an infant at the time of the alleged fraud.

South Africa grants citizenship by birth to anyone born in the country after 1995 to a South African parent or permanent resident.

Adetshinas participation in the pageant stoked anti-foreigner sentiment in the nation. It has witnessed violent and, at times, deadly attacks on immigrants in the past.

Politicians, celebrities and ordinary citizens weighed in on the debate. While many came to her defence, others argued she should be disqualified.

Announcing her decision to quit, Chidinma thanked everyone who stood beside me right from the start of my Miss South Africa journey.

I am really grateful for all the love and support I have been shown, she wrote.
By Udeze Ekene

Former vice president, Atiku Abubakars Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Paul Ibe, has called on the Presidency to apologize to Nigerians for the misleading appeal video of President Bola Tinubu posted on his X handle on Wednesday.

Paul Ibe said Nigerians thought President Tinubu showed empathy to their course through the video, only to realize they were misled.

Ibe argued that the controversy from the video showed lack of coordination among the Presidents inner cabinet. He accused the presidency of spreading fake news to citizens and engaging in misinformation.

On Thursday, Atikus aide said, The video went viral on social media and it was adjudged to have shown more empathy for the concerns of protesting Nigerians, unlike the shambolic speech by the President on Sunday that will forever be remembered in ignominy.

Curiously, much later in the evening of the same day, presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, made a post on his X handle telling the country that the video clip that was posted on the Presidents handle, is not a new video. Its a clip from a broadcast he made last year.

The scenario says a lot about the character of the Tinubu presidency, the proficiency of his media managers, and the attitude that the presidency accords the current #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest.

For a start, what the Tinubu presidency did with the old video is to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians, with a view to distract them. Its a mannerism that is symptomatic of this presidency.

This president and his media managers are a class act in propaganda.

It is indeed shameless that in a time where misinformation is being blamed for public outrage in many parts of the world, the Nigerian government is caught red-handed in the act, adopting it as a state policy, Ibe said.

He added that Tinubus administration is deficient in credibility. Ibe said inefficiency of Tinubus media aides, regarding the Wednesday video, explained the reason for current economic hardship.

The flip-flopping episode that played out in the management of the Presidents social media handle typifies the Tinubu administrations policy flip-flops and trial-and-error policies. It is for this very reason that the country has been on a tight noose since the beginning of the administration.

Obviously, the presidents media team knew they did a poor job in the Sunday broadcast by the president and in trying to make amends, came out to do what they know how to do best: deploy propaganda.

This type of dysfunctional narrative is why Nigerians have lost confidence in the Tinubu administration. It is obvious even to the blind and the deaf that this government is deficient in credibility.

As a matter of urgency, the Nigerian people deserve an unreserved apology from the Tinubu presidency for leading them into a tailspin of misinformation and the attendant consequence of bad governance, he added.
Centennial & Noon Rotary

The two Rotary Clubs of Council Bluffs  Centennial Club and Noon Club  are joining forces with a $10,000 district grant that is supported by both clubs, Rotary District 5650 and Rotary International.

The Rotary clubs will partner with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to make a big difference in the lives of children living here in the community.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a nonprofit dedicated to providing beds for children who have never had one.

"We fully believe that a bed is a basic need for the proper physical, emotional, and mental support that a child needs," the group says.

Nationally, 5,266 beds are needed. Their mission is to help children sleep better. All children deserve a safe, comfortable place to lay their heads.

This grant will help us to provide a bed to at least 40 children in Council Bluffs who may not have ever had a bed of their own," said Steve Nelson, president of Rotary Club of Council Bluffs Centennial. "The funds provided will impact the lives of these families and children today and for years to come.

Together, the Rotary clubs are hosting a build day on Aug. 17 from 9 a.m. to noon to build twin beds and bunk beds children who need them the most. Volunteers from both clubs will be cutting and sanding wood, drilling holes, staining wood and even branding the beds.

After the beds are build, the clubs will be delivering the bed, including installation, to families in the Council Bluffs community.

I couldnt be more excited about this project and collaboration with the incredible members of the two Rotary Clubs of Council Bluffs and partnership with Sleep In Heavenly Peace organization, grant chair Chris Reed said.

Lets make sure every child has a bed to sleep in and make sure no child sleeps on the floor. If you are interested in learning more about Rotary or this project, contact Reed at creed1907@aol.com or 712-435-9461.

Find more information about Sleep in Heavenly Peace at shpbeds.org.
Plans are in the works for redeveloping the former Glenwood Resource Center into 1,000 housing units, according to members of a local group overseeing the centers future use.

It would be a mix of new single-family homes and apartments, said Andrew Rainbolt, executive director of Mills County Economic Development Foundation.

Its a good plan, added Larry Winum, CEO of Glenwood State Bank. I think it has potential.

However, Winum was quick to add this conversion could be a long process.

This housing plan came from a feasibility study of the campus by HDR, an Omaha architectural firm, which included numerous public meetings for input, Winum said.

The architectural firm was hired by the state, which still owns that campus.

The firm reached the conclusion that the best use of that land was residential, he said.

For decades, the GRC housed hundreds of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. However, its closure on July 1 was the climax of a recent troubled past for the facility.

About four years ago, federal investigators found some senior staff conducting harmful human subject experiments, as well as providing poor medical care.

There was also a spike in deaths there, plus the center was unable to recruit the medical staff needed to keep the residents safe.

In 2022, state leaders announced the closure of the center with a two-year process of moving residents out.

According to information provided by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, 147 residents were impacted by the closure. Many were transferred to the Woodward Resource Center, while others were placed elsewhere, including nursing and hospice facilities.

This total number did not include five deaths that occurred at GRC prior to placement, according to the department.

There were 14 residents who died within one year of their new placements. The average age of those individuals who died either after leaving the GRC or died before being placed was 64.

Many of them were transferred directly to hospice, while some were transferred to hospice after being cared for in the community, the department said. The causes for these deaths included cancer, respiratory conditions, cardiac arrest, was well as other chronic illness.

Currently, the campus is being used by an assisted living facility in the smaller homes, along with the Glenwood Community School District for office space and a daycare center until a new building is completed elsewhere next year.

The Glenwood Redevelopment Corp. was recently formed to oversee the centers future use.

Winum said some buildings will have to be torn down, plus theres an antiquated power system.

The main issue is the utilities, Rainbolt said. We have to redo that infrastructure.

Nevertheless, there are some buildings with historical significance that could be rehabbed into new housing, he said. The housing project would be built by private developers, he added.

The corporation is working with the state for improved access to the planned project from U.S. Highway 34, Winum said.

A walking trail around the grounds is also planned, he said.

This project could create new residents for the community, especially those across the Missouri River, Winum said.

One of our goals is to get residents on the Nebraska side of the river to our side, he said.

Meanwhile, the closure continues to stir feelings of disappointment and concern from various comments around town.

Glenwood Mayor Angela Winquist remains "very sad" the state decided to close the facility.

"I wish they would have gone a different avenue to keep it open, but they didnt, Winquist said.

The mayor said its still early to say what how much the closure will actually affect the community.

I anticipate well have a negative impact," she said.

Its likely some of the employees who lived in the community may leave to find jobs elsewhere, and those who live in other cities will no longer to do business in town on a frequent basis as before, Winquist said.

We could foresee an impact on our businesses, she said.

The Mills County Chamber of Commerce did hold a work post for the displaced local workers, she added.

Others had similar views on the closure.

It did seem a shame to close it, as all residents had to be relocated, causing hardship to them and their families, said Glenwood City Councilman Michael Lines. And it definitely was a great loss of jobs to the community.

Grant Dean, president of Glenwood State Bank, said losing a larger employer will always have an impact in a community.

Carol Vinton, a Mills County supervisor, was even more blunt, describing the impact to the employees as devastating.

People who worked there did not want to see this. It is devastating to those people, Vinton said.

Its actually hard on everyone, including businesses.

It supported lots of small businesses. You lose that economy, she said.

Despite the consequences, the state has tried to do its best to help Glenwood.

Its unfortunate that it had to come to this, but the state has been a good partner in this transition, Winum said. I think the states goal is to do something positive for the community. Its going to be a long process, but were optimistic to get this done and get it shovel ready.
Enforcement has begun for Iowas ban on most abortions as early as six weeks of pregnancy, but medical professionals say there is still uncertainty about what qualifies as a medical emergency exemption under the law.

Iowas abortion law went into effect July 29 after years of court battles blocking the so-called fetal heartbeat law from enforcement. The measure, passed in a special session in 2023, makes most abortions illegal after cardiac activity can be detected in an embryo, which can occur as early as six weeks of gestation.

There are some exceptions outlined in the law, allowing abortions in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the pregnant person. There are designated timelines for exceptions in cases of rape and incest if reported to law enforcement, a public health agency or doctor.

However, there is less guidance about what qualifies an abortion as legal. The exception stipulates that an attending physician certifies that the fetus has a fetal abnormality that in the physicians reasonable medical judgment is incompatible with life or that an abortion is necessary due to a medical emergency.

Dr. Emily Boevers, an obstetrician-gynecologist practicing in Waverly, said she and most other OB-GYNs she knows are interpreting the law as meaning that for an abortion to be performed, the pregnancy must be actively putting the mothers life at risk, or that the continuation of the pregnancy could cause very serious medical complications. Complications might include requiring a hysterectomy or loss of an organ, or causing liver failure or another unrecoverable organ function.

Boevers said she was in a unique position as the only practicing OB-GYN at her hospital. However, at many practices, she said, medical professionals would come together to make a decision about how to ensure they are practicing within compliance of the law  but that these conversations are happening internally by practitioners at health care institutions.

This is not a decision that any one person wants to make in a vacuum, Boever said. But the reality is, is that theres no more guidance than that. Its, its truly  do you think the life or health of the mother is at risk? Do you think this patient  might have disease that is so severe that she might die or need a hysterectomy? Thats how Im thinking of it.

The Iowa Board of Medicine set rules for the abortion law in February, months before the Iowa Supreme Court ordered the injunction to be lifted. Reproductive health care advocates, including those affiliated with Planned Parenthood, have said the rules do not clarify how medical providers should evaluate when a fetal abnormality or medical emergency poses a large enough threat to constitute an abortion.

The rules state that attending physicians must certify that the diagnosis of a fetal abnormality and the doctors decision to perform an abortion must be reached in good faith following a bona fide effort, consistent with standard medical practice and reasonable medical judgment, to determine the health of the fetus.

Exceptions challenged in other states

The language for these exceptions  and lack of specific guidance  have been a point of contention in other states with restrictive abortion bans. In Texas, the state Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the law banning abortions that asked for clarification from the state on when people facing serious medical complications caused by pregnancies can receive an abortion.

The Center for Reproductive Rights, the legal advocacy organization that filed the Texas lawsuit on behalf of women who said their lives were endangered by the state abortion law as well as two doctors, has also made challenges calling for more information on medical exceptions to abortion bans in Tennessee and Idaho.

Sally Frank, a law professor at Drake University, said in an interview that Iowa could see similar challenges to its six-week abortion ban in the future by people whose lives were endangered because of a lack of clarity on when an abortion qualifies as legal under the exception. Medical professionals may be less likely to provide an abortion, even when the pregnancy could cause a risk to the persons life or health, because of the law, she said, as providers could face disciplinary action like losing their medical license for violating the ban.

Peter Im, staff attorney at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in July that the organization is considering a challenge to the Iowa Board of Medicine rules on the law. However, there has not yet been action on this potential challenge.

Boevers said OB-GYNs are already constantly evaluating the health of the mother and of the pregnancy while caring for patients, but that the lack of guidance could hamper health care providers ability to effectively address potentially fatal pregnancy complications.

To put physicians in a position where they have to be doing this constant evaluation with a patient who is potentially, you know, severely ill, and having to make these decisions around if theyre ill enough to qualify for a life-saving exception or not  it adds an extra layer of stress to that evaluation, she said. Were always watching for our patients to try to try to deter any threats to life. We are always watching, trying to be prepared for what might go wrong next, but to put the threat of action from the Board of Medicine or some sort of scrutiny from the government or the Attorney General on that, into that assessment and evaluation, is a tremendous burden on the health care system.
Conspiracy theorist Chuck Johnson leaked private text messages to the Washington Post that show Donald Trump's running mate JD Vance discussing UFOs and Jeffrey Epstein's death.

The 20-month long correspondence began in 2022, when Johnson sent Vance a congratulatory text for getting elected to the U.S. Senate. After that, their texts developed into regular consultations from Vance asking Johnson for his thoughts on several different topics.

Vance asked Johnson about his "read" on UFOs and discussed Republican's outlook on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asking "What is GOP Bibi problem?" He also wondered about Epstein and asked Johnson if he thought he "actually killed himself."

According to the Post, Vance said of Epstein: "Also haven't followed story closely but he seemed like a genuinely bad dude."

On the topic of assuming responsibility for the Nord Stream gas pipelines being sabotaged, Vance pointed to the Ukrainian government.

"Dude I won't even take calls from Ukraine," Vance told Johnson in October. "Two very senior guys reached out to me. The head of their intel. The head of the Air Force. Bitching about F16s."

In another message, Vance talked about Republican Sheldon Adelson who died in January of 2021.

"I'm pretty sure he gave me shit," Vance wrote in response to Johnson suggesting he should read about Adelson's influence. "Never met him ... Hes dead. Don't care."

When JD Vance's name was being floated in the media as a potential veep pick for Trump, Johnson warned him against taking the position.

"Congratulations. Good luck," said Johnson.

Vance reportedly took six days to reply. He said: "For what?" and "You assume too much!"

To which, Johnson warned him saying: "Don't take it when it's offered. It's a trap."

Vance wrote back: "Haha" and "Doubt it's offered. We'll see."

The texts were sent using Signal, an encrypted messaging app. Vance's spokesman William Martin claimed the two never had any type of relationship and do not share the same politics.

"Chuck Johnson spam texted JD Vance," Martin said. "JD usually ignored him, but occasionally responded to push back against things he said."
With a filling rate that has been reduced to 28% in August, Moroccos water ministry cut short the delivery time of 14 key dams under construction to eight months instead of 3 years, Abdelaziz Zerouali, director of research and planning at the ministry said.

Morocco has currently 5 billion cubic meters of water stored in its 154 dams and consumes 1.4 billion cubic meters annually, he told le360.

While major cuts have affected dams serving irrigation purposes, urgent action is required to ensure steady supply of drinking water. Hence the need to speed up construction of new dams, he said.

Some 14 billion dollars have been allocated to the water plan over 2020-2027, which also includes investment in desalination, such as Casablancas plant which will be the largest in Africa operating on renewable energy.

Morocco is also investing in waterways connecting water rich northern basins with water-stressed ones.

In the Throne Day speech last month, King Mohammed VI highlighted the need to speed up desalination and waterways projects following six years of consecutive droughts.

Desalination plants would help Morocco cover more than half of its drinking needs by 2030 and supply 1.7 billion cubic meters of fresh water annually, said the King.

This will also make it possible to irrigate vast farming areas, thereby helping to enhance the countrys food security, he said.
Spanish Checkin Hotels group has announced the opening of two new tourist establishments in Morocco, reinforcing its presence in the kingdom as part of its strategic expansion, the group said in a statement released on Wednesday.

The first, DWO Marrakech Ennakhil, is a luxurious 5-star hotel situated in the vibrant city of Marrakech. The hotel boasts 230 rooms, offering a blend of opulence and comfort to its guests.

The second tourist facility, DWO Golden Camp Merzouga, offers a unique experience in the heart of the desert. Located amidst the stunning dunes of Erg Chebbi, this establishment features 32 khaima (tents), each equipped with modern amenities, providing a luxurious camping experience.

These two distinct concepts allow guests to enjoy breathtaking landscapes and the renowned hospitality of the country, with comprehensive vacation services, the Spanish hotel chain emphasized in the statement.

These new establishments, already operational, enhance Checkin Hotels portfolio in Morocco. The chain had previously inaugurated its first Moroccan hotel, DWO Le Bedouin, a 4-star complex located in the Agafay desert near Marrakech, in March of this year.
The United States said it will offer the DR of the Congo $414 million to help the country address its worsening humanitarian crisis.

The DRC is a vast country where at least a quarter of its population depends on humanitarian aid, notably in the war-torn east, where rebel groups have taken vast sqathes of territory.

Reuters, citing U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, Jeffrey Prescott, said a significant amount of that money would go to United Nations agencies and aid groups providing urgent food assistance, healthcare and nutrition support, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene.

This would bring total US aid to DRC since October to $838 million.

Nearly 65 per cent of the countrys population, or just under 60 million people, lived on less than $2.15 a day. Nearly one in six people living in extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa live in the DRC, according to the UN.

A U.N. aid appeal for $2.6 billion for DRC this year is only one-third funded and the World Health Organization warned last month that more than one million children are at risk from acute malnutrition in Congo.
Comoros President Azali Assoumani has granted his son, Nour El Fath, extensive new powers, fueling speculation about potential succession plans. The 40-year-old El Fath, recently appointed as secretary general of the government, now has the authority to evaluate ministers and intervene in all stages of government decision-making.

Critics view this move as preparation for El Fath to succeed his father when the presidents term ends in 2029. Assoumani, who first came to power through a coup in 1999 and has won four elections since 2002, has faced accusations of voter fraud in his recent re-election.

The government maintains that the presidential decree merely clarifies El Faths role. However, political commentators see it as a clear sign of Assoumanis intentions to groom his son for leadership.

Comoros, an island nation off Mozambiques coast with a population of about 800,000, has a tumultuous political history. It has experienced around 20 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. Constitutional reforms in 2018 extended the presidential term rotation among the three main islands from five to ten years.

For El Fath to be eligible for the presidency in 2029, further constitutional changes would be necessary. This situation adds another layer of complexity to the countrys political landscape, raising questions about the future of democracy and governance in Comoros.
Photo: Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Before Joe Bidens withdrawal from the presidential race, you werent hearing quite as much talk as usual about Republicans scheming to overturn the presidential election results for the simple reason that most Donald Trump fans thought the White House was in the bag. Now with Kamala Harris leading Trump in all the national polling averages, and with Democrats giving rave reviews to their new nominee and her running mate Tim Walz, theres less buzz over the size of Trumps landslide in November and more anxiety about the GOPs erratic warrior king and his weird sidekick, J.D. Vance.

So Republicans may have to pursue Trumps many threats to overturn another rigged election after all. Heres how theyre laying the groundwork.

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Obviously, Trump and his supporters will jump on any election irregularities that favor Harris as they arise (or are fabricated). But Trump has already accused Democrats of committing election interference, which in his eyes makes any Harris victory illegitimate. Chief among these alleged dirty tricks are Trumps many legal problems, including his felony conviction in New York; according to MAGA gospel, these cases are all completely made up for the sole purpose of keeping Trump from becoming president again.

This means that no Trump defeat, however overwhelming, need be accepted, no matter what happens between now and November 5. The case for a rigged election is already closed in the court of Donald Trumps fever dreams.

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One arm of Republican election preparations involves ongoing efforts to prevent a Democratic victory by suppressing potentially pro-Democratic votes. Trump has not revived the wholesale attacks on voting by mail that drove many Republicans to abandon convenience voting in 2020 and served as a principal rationale for his efforts to overturn the results of the last presidential election. But Republicans are still fighting in courts and in state legislatures to restrict the practice, at least where it might help Democrats.

Some of the early-voting rules and practices adopted in 2020 by both Republican and Democratic jurisdictions were dropped once the COVID-19 pandemic abated. But 17 states (plus D.C.) have adopted or retained one relatively novel rule: the acceptance of mail ballots postmarked by Election Day and received afterwards (usually by a specified date). Republicans are fighting to stop postElection Day ballot receipt altogether, based on the belief that late voters-by-mail tend to skew Democratic (a hypothesis sometimes called the blue shift since it can produce Democratic gains as the last-cast mail ballots are counted). NPR reports:

So far the Republican National Committee and others have filed ballot return challenges in Nevada, Illinois, Mississippi and North Dakota.

Early this year, the North Dakota case was thrown out of court. And last month, judges in Mississippi and Nevada also threw out the lawsuits filed by the RNC aiming to disqualify ballots that arrive after Election Day.

Republicans base these challenges on the legal theory that the receipt of ballots after the general-election date abrogates the federal law specifying that date. They are appealing the Mississippi and Nevada decisions in hopes of finding a conservative appeals court that will agree with them. Nevada, of course, is a key battleground state where 40,000 ballots were received and counted after Election Day in 2020. In Pennsylvania, another battleground state, theres a federal court battle over a state-legislative mandate that mail ballots include an accurate date indicating when they were filled out; an estimated 10,000 ballots could be affected.

In 15 state legislatures they control, Republicans have been tightening voter ID laws that tend to trip up entirely qualified voters who dont have the requisite documentation handy; they tend to skew low-income and Democratic.

Perhaps the most rapidly growing technique of voter suppression this year has been citizen-initiated challenges to the eligibility of likely Democratic voters, particularly by the hoary vote suppressors of the Texas-based True the Vote organization. As Wired recently reported, the organization has been racing to purge as many voters from the rolls as possible prior to the federal August 7 deadline for voter challenges in federal elections:

Catherine Engelbrecht, the founder of True the Vote, has argued for more than a decade that mismanaged voter rolls have led to widespread voter fraud. Recently, she wrote in her newsletter that True the Votes revamped IV3 tool, designed to automate the process of challenging voter registrations, was used by more than 35,000 volunteers. To date, 6,937 citizens have completed 645,610 challenges across 1,322 counties, she wrote. In a later interview on the right-wing War Room podcast, Engelbrecht said the number of challenges facilitated by IV3 was now more than 700,000.

The Georgia Republican Party was recently fined by the Federal Election Commission for illegally coordinating with True the Vote.

Some Republican-controlled states are trying to restrict or inhibit voter-registration drives. One typical example is in Florida, which now imposes serious fines on canvassers for even minor mistakes in registration forms. One important 2020 resource for both voter assistance and election office administration will largely just go away: The Mark Zuckerbergfounded Center for Tech and Civic Life will greatly ratchet down the grants it offered in 2020 to small and midsize communities for election administration, a practice Republicans demonized as Zuckerbucks on grounds that it tended to support Democratic-controlled jurisdictions (which also happened to be the neediest jurisdictions).

All these efforts may or may not reduce Democratic voting enough to make a difference, but by and large, Team Trump is leaving nothing to chance or to actual voter preferences.

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Aside from the end of pandemic conditions, the most important change in circumstances since 2020 was the passage of the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022. This law made the kind of end-game coup Donald Trumps campaign attempted last time around significantly more difficult, principally by clarifying the process for the state certification of winners and thus electoral-vote slates. But on the other hand, we wont see a repeat of Team Trumps highly improvised 2020 election-litigation strategy; his legal beagles have had nearly four years to examine where Rudy Giulianis lawyers went wrong.

It appears from activities in various states that a principal Trump strategy for setting up and even executing election challenges will be to slow down the certification of the results at the local level from the get-go, as the Washington Post reported in June:

When a member of Georgias Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections refused to join her colleagues as they certified two primaries this year, she claimed she had been denied her right to examine a long list of election records for signs of fraud or other issues.

Now the board member, Julie Adams, an avowed believer in the false theory that the 2020 election was stolen from former president Donald Trump, is suing the board, hoping a judge will affirm that right and potentially empower others in similar positions elsewhere to hold up the outcome of elections. 

In addition to Georgia, local officials in at least four other battleground states have made pushes to seize control of the certification process, heightening worries that pro-Trump forces will try similar moves in the fall.

In Georgia, the Republican majority on the state election board is giving potential certification footdraggers a big boost, as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported:

A new Georgia election rule approved Tuesday requires an undefined reasonable inquirybefore certifying results, potentially giving partisan county election board members more discretion to reject the outcome.

The Georgia Election Board voted 3-2 to finalize the rule, which was supported by the same three Republican members that Donald Trump praised at a rally Saturday in Atlanta. A crowd of mostly Republican voters at the meeting cheered when the rule passed.

And in Pennsylvania, Republican legislators very deliberately threw sand in the election-certification gears by refusing to modify an archaic law that prevents the counting of mail ballots before Election Day, which was a major reason the count in that state was so slow in 2020.

What will Team Trump do with the flammable raw material of delayed election certification? Well, for one thing, the former president himself will almost certainly repeat what he did on Election Night in 2020 and prematurely claim victory even if the trends foretell defeat. But this time around, the violence we saw on January 6, 2021, could occur much earlier in the process, perhaps as understaffed local election offices struggle to count and certify the votes. For that to happen, Republicans would need to ramp up the paranoia and the sense of urgency about obstructing normal procedures.

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Aside from Trumps claim that this election has already been fatally tainted by Democratic interference, his allies can be expected to ramp up the unsubstantiated allegations that Democrats are systemically cheating, which makes cheating right back almost a moral obligation. Donald Trump Jr. already accused Kamala Harris of being a massive fraudster in a Fox News op-ed published last weekend:

[Democrats] have put America last, and non-citizens first, by opening our borders, dismantling election safeguards and embracing non-citizen voting. We deserve a secure system where our future is decided by our citizens, not this anti-American version of the Democrats. Led by Vice President Kamala Harris, they have undermined our country at every turn, welcomed the invasion at the border and encouraged non-citizens to cancel the voice of Americans.

This is entirely imaginary, since theres no evidence of widespread noncitizen voting (the best available study found 30 incidents in the entire 2016 election), and its already a crime punishable by prison and deportation. But the claim that Democrats have deliberately engineered an open border (also a lie) in order to harvest illegal votes has been embraced not only by Donald Trump but by Speaker Mike Johnson and many other Republicans. And lest we forget, in 2016, even in victory Trump insisted that millions of illegal votes were cast by noncitizens, principally in California  thats right, Kamala Harriss California. So we are going to hear a lot on this subject between now and November 5.

If you dont think a fired-up MAGA base convinced that Harris is letting illegal aliens steal the presidency will take extraordinary measures to keep that evil plot from being consummated, then you have extraordinary confidence in the ability of Trumps warriors to lay down the weapons they brandished on January 6.
49 items in this article 49 items on sale! Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

Back-to-school shopping is well underway. Stuff for every age is on sale, including lunch boxes and sneakers for kids as well as wall art and iPads for college students. I also spotted some things that would be great for back to work, like Rothys washable ballet flats, jackets from Patagonia, and travel mugs. (And if you need help sorting out what you need for college, we rounded up the 100 very best things for any college students dorm room.)

Below, Ive organized the deals alphabetically by merchant. Ill be checking back in to add even more sales as they roll in  and if you dont want to miss any sales coverage, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter for the latest.

Amazon At Amazon, your best bet is tech, specifically from Apple: I spotted plenty of tech we rarely see go on sale, including the most recent MacBook Air. And of course, there are plenty of other good move-in essentials, including mattress toppers and plenty of vacuums.

Calpak Calpak makes some of our favorite bags, whether for travel or work. Select best sellers are up to 50 percent off through today, August 13.

Caraway If youre kitting out a new apartment for the school year, Caraways all-in-one Meal Prep Bundle is $250 off when you use the code BACKTOSCHOOL24 through September 1.

Ember A selection of Embers temperature-controlled cups, travel mugs, and tumblers are 20 percent off through August 13 when you use the code B2S20.

Gap Everything (even the Doen collab!) is 40 percent off at checkout through August 19, no code needed, so the whole family can stock up on back-to-school (or back-to-office) clothes. Sweats and tees are even cheaper at 50 percent off.

J.Crew At J.Crew, late-summer styles are up to 50 percent off, and already-on-sale items are an extra 50 percent off with the code EXTRA through August 19.

Macys Macys has a great selection of kids clothes on sale  including uniforms  for up to 50 percent off.

Nordstrom Rack There are plenty of back-to-school and back-to-work deals on apparel and accessories at Nordstrom Rack  particularly basics like T-shirts, underwear, jeans, and jackets.

Rothys This isnt technically a back-to-school sale, but its a good one  and one well suited to any college student who wants to stay comfy and stylish. Select Rothys shoes and bags are deeply discounted through August 19. (Note that some discounts vary by color.)

Society6 If youve got a dorm or new apartment to decorate, select items are 25 percent off at Society6. That includes school-adjacent gear like the fish-printed laptop case below.

Target Target has a lot of good deals on kids clothing, school supplies, and lunch boxes. And if youre a Target Circle member, there are even more deals, like 30 percent off kids uniforms.

Under Armour Under Armour is offering 25 percent off select backpacks.

Walmart Walmart is your best option for ultra-inexpensive school supplies like glue sticks, notebooks, folders, and scientific calculators.

get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly planning to move himself and his family into an underground bunker complex in Jerusalem ahead of an anticipated attack by Iran.

The bunker is designed for top officials in case of such an attack on Israel and is where the prime minister is expected to manage the country, according to The Jerusalem Post.

The Israeli Security Agency organized the command bunker, which is located deep underground in Jerusalem.

It's a secret, sensitive facility that cost billions following the Second Lebanon War. The nuclear complex is greatly protected and allows encrypted communication and high-level security.

Sources told the paper that Netanyahu's wife, Sara, and their son, Yair, are also considering spending the night in the bunker but the prime minister's office denied these claims, calling them "fake news."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his family plan to enter the underground bunker complex in Jerusalem, designed for top officials in case of an Iranian attack on Israel. This information comes from sources close to Netanyahu, as reported by Walla.https://t.co/l5B3NjIoD6  The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) August 7, 2024

"We will not settle for less than Netanyahu's head," an Iranian MP warned. In Iran's previous attack on Israel in April, Netanyahu and his wife moved into the home of billionaire Simon Falic's family in Jerusalem, which reportedly has an advanced anti-missile shelter.

After October 7, the family allegedly alternated between Falic's home and their private residence in Caesarea.
Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers, Getty

For many students, moving into a dorm will be their first time setting up a home (okay, room) of their own. Sure, its fun to call the shots, but it can be a little overwhelming, too. You might need twin-XL sheets, but which ones are the best? How about a laundry basket  standalone or backpack-style? And what about a mini-fridge? Not to mention the decorations  like string lights and posters  that personalize a room (and might fend off some homesickness).

To help make packing for college a little easier, weve interviewed hundreds of college students and recent graduates about what was on their dorm shopping lists. Weve tested the furniture and bedding that are the foundation of any living space (and especially small spaces like dorms, where every inch counts) and tried out everything from springy mattress toppers to microwaves. And as relatively recent graduates ourselves, weve thought about what items made us feel best equipped for our own college experiences  and about the things our friends loved, too.

Here, in the Dorm 100, youll find those essentials and more. Studying is  or should be  the main focus at school, so weve included plenty of academic tools, from a posture-friendly standing-desk converter to a less-than-$500 laptop that our tech writer recommends to all students. We also thought about day-to-day college-life necessities, including communal-shower-proof shoes and supremely comfortable jeans. Plus, there are ice-breaking card games for new roommates and, of course, a weekend bag for visiting home. Happy packing.

get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us.

The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
[ Spoiler (click to open) ]

So the main character, Lily Blossom Bloom who owns a flower shop (yes, I'm serious), meets gorgeous, rich, perfect neurosurgeon Ryle (pronounced like Kyle with a R) Kincaid on a rooftop. She's there after her abusive father's funeral where she couldn't say anything positive about him, but sees this hot guy throwing chairs and thinking "oh he's so sexy".



The novel gives flashbacks (with her writing diary entries/letters to ELLEN DEGENERES) of her falling for her first boyfriend, Atlas (what is with these names?) who was homeless and later joined the marines. Her abusive father caught them having sex and beat him up.



She says her father was only abusive towards her mother, but never to her (which is a lie).



Months after that first meeting with Ryle, after she starts planning out her (gothic) flower shop (cause she's not like other girls), a woman, Allysa with 2 Ls, walks in asking to work for free. Turns out, she's Ryle's sister.



Ryle shows up to her apartment knocking on every door of the building until she agrees to have sex with him. She agrees because he's wearing scrubs and he's soooo hot. He falls asleep.



53 days later, the flower shop finally opens, and who's the first customer? Ryle!



At a party, Lily notices that Ryle has a blown-up photo of her in his apartment that he took of her that first night without her knowledge. She says this is weird, but ignores it. He then assaults her, her gay friend does nothing to stop it.



Ryle previously wasn't into long-term relationships, but Lily's just ~different~ so he's in love with her.



We learn Allyssa isn't just working for free because she's bored, but also because she's dealing with infertility. Of course, she gets pregnant anyways.



Lily and Ryle go to a restaurant, who's there? Atlas! But oh no, she can't have her ex and her new bf in the same room!



Turns out Ryle and Allysa had another sibling: a brother named EMERSON who died when they were kids.



Ryle hurts his hand after dropping a casserole and Lily laughs. What does he do? He pushes her. But it's all her fault, she shouldn't laugh at him, he's a SURGEON, he NEEDS his hands! He apologizes and all is good.



Back to the restaurant: Atlas sees her bruise, confronts her, says she needs to leave him, but she denies it. Later Atlas gives her his number in case she "needs" it. He puts it on a piece of paper rather than in her phone.



Ryle said in the beginning he didn't want kids. Allysa says "he'll change his mind."



Suddenly Ryle and Lily go to Vegas and elope. They've been dating 6 months.



Ryle finds Atlas' number and pushes her down the stairs. He insists "you fell!" Allysa thinks Ryle should tell the truth to Lily of what happened with their brother, Emerson: when Ryle was a kid, he accidentally shot him, so he has a lot of anger issues and PTSD. Lily forgives him AGAIN.



Ryle buys a new apartment without Lily knowing.



Allysa names her daughter Rylee after her shithead brother who she knows is an abuser.



Ryle finds her old diary entries/letters to Ellen and thinks she's still in love with Atlas, and r*pes her. She fights him off while defending herself. She runs to Atlas for help. She goes to a hospital but she can't go to the one Ryle works at, not because she's afraid of running into him, but because she doesn't want him to lose his job. She doesn't report the attack. But she can't have a CT scan anyways because, what do you know, she's pregnant!



Lily's not too happy about the pregnancy, and wishes to keep it a secret until she can't anymore. Abortion is never brought up as option, it just doesn't exist. Meanwhile, Ryle leaves to study in England for a bit.



Lily tells Allysa all the abuse she suffered, and Allysa is surprisingly supportive (never mind the fact she just excused his behavior earlier). Ryle returns and sees she's pregnant.



Lily can't decide if she'll stay with Ryle or not til after the baby's born (because apparently pregnant women can't make decisions).



Lily tells him "I would never keep you from your child"



Her water breaks, Ryle's there, she takes a shower, he sees her belly for the first time and tells her how beautiful she is while pregnant with his baby *barf*



She gives birth immediately after arriving in the hospital. Names the baby (a girl) after Emerson (nicknamed Emmy) after Ryle's brother (why?). 30 seconds after the baby's out says "I want a divorce" cause pregnant women can't make decisions but she's not pregnant now, so it's all good.



Allows Ryle to have unsupervised contact with the baby and a co-parenting relationship. Because abusers and rapists always deserve to have custody of their children, right? "He only hurt me, he won't hurt the baby! That never happens!"



Tells her baby "it ends with us" (meaning the cycle of abuse), but does it really?



Epilogue: they're now divorced. She drops her baby off with Ryle, meets with Atlas, tells him the baby's middle name: Dory (after Finding Nemo, she's an Ellen fan!), she restarts things with Atlas. Final line: "You can stop swimming now, Lily, we finally reached the shore."



[ Spoiler (click to open) ]

Struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh is hired by Jeremy Crawford to finish his incapacitated wife, best-selling author Verity Crawford's series.



Lowen first meets Jeremy after witnessing a very graphic car crash and gets blood on her shirt, so he offers her his shirt in a bathroom (why?).



Jeremy's eyes are chartreuse.



Lowen had an ex-boyfriend named Amos who liked to choke her (as a kink), because kinky sex is bad.



Jeremy and Verity had twin daughters, Chastin and Harper who have both since died. They have another son Crew, who was conceived in a canoe.



Lowen (having never read any of Verity's works) is going through her things to get inspiration for the project and discovers a manuscript of an autobiography Verity wrote. (here's like a story within a story).



Quick rundown of the autobiography: Verity writes how she fell in love Jeremy because the sex was just sooooo hot, then she got pregnant with the twins and wasn't too happy about it but Jeremy loved her pregnant body while she struggled with body dysmorphia and tried to give herself an abortion (cause legal abortions, again, don't exist, even though this book is set in modern times and was published in 2018, before Roe was overturned), but fails. She also struggles with post-partum depression and has a hard time bonding with her twins. Verity gets their sex life back by sucking him while he sleeps (!). She starts to believe Harper will one day kill her sister, so she now loves Chastin and hates Harper. Jeremy doesn't like that Verity loves one child and not the other, so Jeremy angrily throws a plate of food. She conceives Crew in a canoe to keep Jeremy around and hires a nanny to raise him since they have money now. Then years later Chastin dies of an allergic reaction and Jeremy never wants to have sex anymore cause he's grieving, so then Verity kills Harper in a "canoe accident" with Crew in the canoe. She then intentionally crashes her car in a tree, leaving her incapacitated.



Lowen repeatedly says Verity is "evil" because she wasn't happy about being pregnant and tried to terminate "Jeremy's" babies and she didn't deserve to have her babies. Because apparently women who don't like being pregnant or try to have an abortion are evil and are going to murder a full-grown kid later!



Lowen meanwhile falls for Jeremy (even though he's married and his wife is incapacitated) and sees him as this poor, poor guy who lost his beloved children to this evil woman and he has no idea about it.



Jeremy slut-shames a random woman he knows who he runs into in the store for cheating on her husband (foreshadowing hypocrite much?). Lowen's turned on.



Youngest child Crew plays with knives and says "mommy talks to me".



Lowen's 32 and worries about having a baby and since Verity didn't deserve to be a mom, she thinks she'd be better at it.



Jeremy mentions never taking Verity's writing career seriously, saw it as a "just a hobby".



Verity left teeth marks on the bed post (!), so Lowen jerks off.



Lowen thinks Verity could she be faking her injuries even though we saw her brain scan and does things to provoke her. Lowen and Jeremy have unprotected sex on her birthday and it's soooo hot.



Lowen thinks Crew could be evil since he saw his sister die, similar to how Verity thought her daughter was evil. Since Verity's not here to take care of him, Lowen needs to stay around and put Verity in a home.



Verity interrogates Crew who says "mommy told me not to answer these questions" and he cuts his tongue on the knife.



Lowen tries to convince Jeremy that Verity's faking her injury, so she gives him the manuscript to show what a horrible person Verity is. He threatens to go to the police unless she stops faking it. Verity snaps out of her "coma" and tries to explain (what about the brain scans?)



Jeremy doesn't let her explain, instead just tries to strangle her. Lowen says "no don't! Let's not strangle her, let's asphyxiate her and make it look like an accident!" Verity's now dead.



Seven months later: Lowen's 7 months pregnant now (do the math). Lowen then finds a letter Verity wrote explaining that the manuscript was really just a writing exercise recommended by her publisher and her daughter's death was truly an accident. Jeremy found the manuscript, thought Verity was guilty, so he tried to kill her by driving the car into a tree and placing her in the driver's seat (how?). She then faked her injuries and brain damage (again, HOW?!). However, Lowen decides, "well, Jeremy and I killed her, I can't tell him this, he'll be too upset, so I'm just gonna eat this letter (literally) and pretend this didn't happen, so now me, Jeremy, Crew and our new baby will be a happy family without that baby-killing evil bitch".



[ Spoiler (click to open) ] kills his wife (whether or not it's for justifiable reasons is up to the reader)

So as this long-awaited movie based on the book "It Ends With Us" is coming out soon, I hate to do any promotion for it, but I think it's important to list the reasons why this book and it's author are terrible, and why you shouldn't see them. I've only read two of her books, this one and "Verity", so I can't comment on her other ones that I know are also highly problematic but since I haven't read them, I'm only reviewing these ones.In this video, youtuber "SAVY WRITES BOOKS" made, she gives a rundown of the book, why the main relationship in this book is toxic, abusive, and all around awful.For those who don't wish to watch the whole video, here's a rundown of the book. TW: DV, SAThis other book of hers, thriller "Verity" contains a lot of pro-life propaganda. TW: violence, child death, abortion, anti-abortion rhetoricOther controversies/discussion:-For those who didn't read all that, both of those two books feature toxic relationships with terrible men that we as the readers are supposed to admire. In Verity a male characterand a female character is okay with it because "she deserved it".-In It Ends With Us, main character falls for a clearly toxic guy who essentially stalks her until she gives into him, but we're meant to see it as okay because "he's hot", while she constantly makes excuses for his behavior. While one could interpret this is how abuse victims can often "love" their abusers despite their behavior, many readers blame Lily as the "bad one" for causing his toxic behavior by still harping feelings for her ex (or you know, you can't just discuss things with your spouse rather than resort to violence?)-A female character can't exist in a Colleen Hoover book without either having kids or being pregnant by the end of the book. And not only that, but a female character must love being a mom or love being pregnant and if she doesn't, it's considered "bad" or "evil". Abortion (through legal means) is never discussed, no matter what the woman's current relationship status is, or whether this is wanted pregnancy, it's never presented as an option. If a female character becomes pregnant, that's it, she's having a baby, whether or not she wants to, and regardless of how shitty the dad is, he has to stay around because "babies need their dads".-Releasing a coloring book for "It Ends with Us". Because we all need a coloring book for a book about domestic violence that appeals to young teens! The book was later pulled.-In 2022, a Twitter user posted something about Colleen's son Levi sexually harassing her when she was 16 (he was 21 at the time). Colleen then blocked her.-Actual quote from her book "Ugly Love":sources: 1
Im still pissed one of these fuckheads pledged to the islamic state which means more unwanted hate on mulsim.awful

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sure lets focus on that

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I'm so tired of sick fucking men.

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I'm so glad they prevented anything from happening, and I hope her future shows are safe. It makes me really nervous that she has US shows in October and early November.

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Im going to Wembley next Friday, and I am wondering if it is going to go ahead or not. Hopefully there is no more rioting in the UK.

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I hope everyone can go and be safe.

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17 and 19. jfc

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The guys that stabbed those kids at a Swift themed dance class was 17 too. wtf is happening with young men/boys being radicalised like this??

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I don't think we know much about the stabber to put them under the same umbrella like that. These guys seem to have acted on behalf of Islamic State. This, i think, makes the answer to your question more straight forward.



It is unclear that the british guy acted on behalf of any radical religious organization.



Edited at 2024-08-08 08:37 pm (UTC)

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It was one guy. And motive hasn't been established.

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a lot of mass shooters are teenagers too.

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How fucking terrifying. I'm glad they were able to stop it ahead of time. People really can't go to a fucking concert without the threat of being murdered.

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Ngl its to terrifying to think if they hadnt caught these guys I couldve been murdered 

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glad you're safe!! 

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glad you're safe. Both my sisters were gonna attend as well, I'm so glad this could be stopped in time.

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Glad your sisters are okay 

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I know three people that were supposed to go and see her. The thought of them potentially getting hurt is terrifying.

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Glad you're safe and hope that you still somewhat enjoy your stay in vienna.

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omg i'm so sorry cause i'm high but with your username for a second i thought you were doing a bit and i was like bitch that's not appropriate! lol i'm glad you're safe <3

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If you look on social media, there are some nice moments coming out of this. Businesses and museums are giving discounts or freebies to people who have tickets to the concerts. Swifties are gathering in the streets, exchanging bracelets, and singing and dancing like they would at the concert.

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i've seen some fans that had tickets for multiple shows for the uk dates or who were going with a boyfriend or parent or friend that maybe isn't that huge of a fan offering to sell their tickets to fans that didn't get to go to vienna and i thought that was sweet

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Honestly the vibe in Vienna rn is so lovely, despite the unfortunate situation 

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I work in the inner City and I have to say it was so nice to see all these Fans there trying to cheer each other up.

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list here Btw if anyone on here missed the concerts and is still in vienna here's a list of Discounts or things you can do/get with your ticket. Unfortunately in german but i think google translate should work.

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this and the fact no one was hurt or lost their lives makes me happy

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aw, that's really nice. I'm glad everyone is safe

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those fans must've been so disappointed but also relieved that they're safe!!

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Fucking hell! I honestly didn't know I could feel anymore tired and depressed at the state of the world for women, POC, queer people etc. I'm so thankful they were caught. If anything had happened, I wonder if there woulda been riots in Austria like there were (and are!) in the UK atm

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I know many people who had tickets for this since Vienna is so close and it's just so disappointing. Many of them stayed in Vienna anyway because they had hotels booked etc. But better than risk it, i think calling it off was a smart move.

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All of the information coming out about this is so terrifying. Extremism of any kind is so so so scary. And the ages? 17 and 19? Where are these boys learning this stuff?? Im just glad the plot was foiled and no one got hurt.

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They live online, so that's likely where...

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But like what is the impetus for falling down into this stuff??? Its just so scary that there are people who wish such harm onto others.

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this is so awful, i really hate how a lot of these attacks seem to target woman-oriented events, at this point the "lock up all men and let them out once prove they can be out in the world" phrase feels like the only alternative

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Without sounding too much like a disney princess or barbie how the hell are people this evil??



I know people have always been evil, but it just seems to be so much more common now. I think back to how rare the oklahoma city bombing was at the time. Was it actually or was it America just being focused on America?

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i think its more common because of the internet and such. its sooooo easy these days to access dangerous sites that indoctrinate you, and so easy to find extremists to follow and be brainwashed by

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Dehumanization and othering. If women are just pieces of meat or those that believe different than you are rodents to be exterminated for a better world it is very easy to do shit like this because they are not people. Plus see above RE extremism, isolation, post Covid world, etc.

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Nothing is new under the sun. Of course none of this is new. Things like plane hijackings were happening like every month in the 70s and 80s, look at this whole list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_hijackings Nothing is new under the sun.

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I mean, the level of casualties is new.

The first passenger casualty wasnt until 1972 and there had been probably 60-80 hijackings before. Three more passengers died in 1976 so 4 total in the 70s. Nine total innocent casualties including airline employees/police.

1986 had 85 passengers deaths and 4 more in the late 80s.



So yah, hijackings were happening but your odds of survival were a lot higher..

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I don't think they are evil, honestly. Don't islamic extremists believe that killing all non-believers and setting up a world wide islamic state is THE way to live a godly life.



We may also have different definitions of evil...



Eta: and i honestly think the world is "less evil" now than, say, 100 years ago. There are just MANY more of us (humans) here.



Edited at 2024-08-08 08:23 pm (UTC)

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can't imagine what it must feel like to have tickets to any of these shows and know what could have been. obviously not the worst case scenario considering, but still must be really strange thing to deal with

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I'm guessing this likely means the end of people who couldn't get tickets congregating outside in large crowds to listen to the concert, which is a shame

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rip into him like a boss kamala

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I heard his press conference was a shit show.

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really? is there footage? i got popcorn ready

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Its of clips posted here: https://x.com/KamalaHQ

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Some highlights



Bacon is expensive

Nancy Pelosi stole the election from Biden and gave it to Harris

Biden was unfairly treated and hes not old and senile

Once a baby is born, the baby is put aside and they decide if they want to kill the baby

Harris is not a good debater

People were mean to Hilary, but he loved her

Harris did not pass the bar

Transgender people will raise our taxes

Elon full throated him

People love guns, and people got shot in Chicago

Something about Willie and a plane crash

They are leading in the polls biggly

Harris trampled San Francisco

He loved Hilary and they were friends, but she was evil



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That press conference was such a sad but hilarious mess.



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oh this time again? sure

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I need a fact checker for this

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Almost nothing he says is true, so you should be safe.



When a person can go full on and say that doctors and parents are giving birth to babies, setting the infant on a table and then making the decision to "abort" or not, there is nothing of value to be had.





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I just need him to be called out for lying by the moderator



I remember Romney saying Obama didn't do something and they had to inform him he was wrong and Obama had called it an act of terror.

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I've seen man-on-the-street interviewers talk to MULTIPLE people who actually believe post-birth abortions exist.

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i'm kinda surprised tbh

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There's still plenty of time for him to drop out before September 10th. He's not leading in any poll and his numbers will get even worse after the Democratic convention.

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I don't believe for one second that the debate will happen as planned. If Harris Walz can avoid too many unforced errors and this guy keeps spiraling, no way will he actually show up. He'll make up some excuse about the deep state and renege at the last possible moment.

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I also wanna know when Walz and Vance are gonna debate because lol I really want that contrast between Vance's weirdness and Walz's normalness.

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I am very very anti-corporal punishment but if Walz puts JD over his lap and gives him a good whooping followed by a talking to, so be it.



Edited at 2024-08-08 07:39 pm (UTC)

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Followed by "I'm not mad, just disappointed"

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honestly i'm more interested in their debate lol

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i need walz to get a couch shaped lapel pin.

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I hope he rambles about racist Mountain Dew!

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Ah he caved. I guess not to look like a scardy cat cause she was going to be there no matter what.

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It's weird because everyone keeps talking about how much crazier Trump is and like...I don't remember him being any less out there in 2016? I just have this memory of us all watching this and thinking how insane it was that this utterly unhinged person was running for president at all. I still feel like we need some kind of methodical breakdown of how that happened in the first place. The scientists of the world need to get on it.

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Maybe some people didnt pay attention because they thought Hillary was winning

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The media didn't really give his weirdness oxygen so a lot of people erroneously believed he was normal. If you happened to be paying close attention, however, it was very clear that he was cracked like a bad egg.

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His 2016 debates were word salad too, but everybody just seemed to let it slide

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ia though I think part of the issue was his insanity was normalized. like he was invited on late night TV and treated like a harmless threat??

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Im so excited!!!! I have a weird feeling he is gonna end up dropping out after just like Biden did. He is gonna have to go into hiding after she tears him to shreds so publicly.

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I wish. He is not going away quietly.

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A few people in his circle think its possible. If it becomes clear he wont win, he is gonna try to cut a deal to not go to prison is exchange for dropping out. I really do believe MAGA is coming to an end and at some point he wont want the embarrassment.

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we won't be free of him until he has his not coming soon enough heart attack

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I don't know the exact rules but he's already accepted the nomination. At this point isn't it too late to install a new candidate less than 90 days before the election?

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No chance he drops out. This election is all that stands between him and prison. Not to mention millions in fines. He needs to win. He can ride this to the very end, just hoping something happens at the last second, a la Hillary/Comey emails.



That being said, I totally believe the conspiracies that he isn't trying to win any more. He is spending the RNC money to block the election results. The GA electors are just the start.



That is not to say I think he will succeed. But I do think they have been planning a more organized form of challenges than they had last time, and a bigger Jan 6. The problem is, his base is clearly smaller and not as inclined to get federally charged any more. And while he might have the crooked Supreme Court on his side, the sitting President and Senate majority will still be Democrat.

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I hope he's not muted. Let him hang himself by acting up.

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I was starting to think he was giving up on campaigning and assuming his fix would work

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Edited at 2024-08-08 07:32 pm (UTC) FINISH HIM!!!

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i really did not like kamala's response to the protesters at her rally. i assumed that, after a series of surprisingly good decisions from the dems, that they had learned their lesson that "but trump!" is not a winning strategy. she needs to figure out a better message. (also did not like the usual suspects on twitter defending kamala by saying protesters were being racist/sexist for speaking over a woc. she's running for potus, not leading a corporate boardroom meeting, you freaks.)



i was happy/enthusiastic about harris/walz in the last post, but we can't let this lull us into a sense of complacency re the palestinian genocide bc vibes.



eta: also did anyone else see that clip of the couchfucker trying to confront kamala on her plane, but it turned out that she wasn't even there?



Edited at 2024-08-08 07:34 pm (UTC)

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She needs a more definitive message on the Middle East.

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I liked her response. She had already met with them before the rally so they had no business interrupting her. She had listened to their demands. They accomplished nothing and didn't bring anyone new to their side.



She's also correct. If you're interfering with getting her elected, you're helping Trump. You can't have it both ways.

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https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNpRJaWg/ I agree. This video breaks it down a bit more of what happened up to her saying the comment.

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Yeah I was thinking she could have easily made a comparison between Netanyahu and Trump and how they're both full blown fascists and she does not want what Bibi is doing to Israel - turning it into a fascist state - to happen in America



(Obviously Palestine is the victim here and not Israel but just trying to imagine how she could have curate the message in a PC way sigh)



Anything but what she did "I'm speaking" is just a girlboss Clintonesque move that's beyond outdated and inauthentic.



I was happy about Harris/Walz move but protestors 10000% need to keep pressuring the Dems.



Edited at 2024-08-08 07:44 pm (UTC)

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couchfucker



i really hope people scream that at him everywhere he goes 

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People on Twitter Girl Bossing her genocide defending ass were pathetic.

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You would think she would have had a better response in Michigan, which has a significant Muslim and Arab American population. College is also starting up within the next month, so shes going to need a good response to any potential student protests that pop up.

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Yelling at someone who isn't president yet, while NEVER yelling at the other guy who literally wants to nuke Gaza, is dumb.

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Im excited to hear what they are cooking up as a retort for harping on her LAUGHING. Why does a women being happy bother you, Donald? Is that why no one has ever seen Melania smile? You dont let her? Were we wrong to assume it was because you make her miserable? Good news, under the expansion of healthcare Americans will get under a Harris administration we will get you a therapist to help you get to the bottom of this.

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Women expressing genuine joy in his presence is a very foreign concept and he finds it threatening "Men are afraid women will laugh at them. Women are afraid men will kill them."- Margaret Atwood.

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lmaoooo of course he caved and accepted the actual real date & time. I might have to find a viewing party at a gay bar or something.

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So he says, but in essentially the same breath he said he's agreed to three debates. One on the 4th of Sept. on Fox, the ABC one on the 10th, and then another I can't recall.



Harris has already made it clear she will not being attending any debate before the already agreed upon one on the Sept. 10th. So, we'll see...

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There were no three debates. The only debate both parties agreed to is on ABC, September 10th. Everything else is Donald's fantasy.

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Which is my point. I'm not convinced he's going to do the ABC debate.





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Safety 2024: ASSP Expert Panel Tackles AI

Experts discuss AI's transformative role in enhancing productivity, safety and innovation.

Safety 2024, this years event annually hosted by the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), has seen record attendance, as guests gained valuable insights and industry connections. But among the topics is one at the top of everyones minds.

In an upcoming panel session on August 8, experts will delve into the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of environmental health and safety (EHS). The session, titled "Artificial Intelligence in EHS: Conquering Fears and Embracing Frontiers," addresses AIs impact on workplace safety and productivity.

Moderated by Kevin Slates, clinical associate professor of applied health science at Indiana University, the panel will feature notable speakers including Matt Law, manager of safety strategy at W.W. Grainger Inc.; Natasha Porter, chief customer officer at Benchmark Gensuite; and Boris Kiprovski, EHS Director at Skanska USA Building Inc.

The panel aims to address the benefits and concerns associated with the integration of AI in EHS. As AI technologies continue to evolve, their application in safety processes can enhance productivity and streamline operations within organizations. The discussion covers practical strategies for leveraging AI to drive innovation.

One of the key points of the session will be dispelling common fears surrounding AI. The panelists will provide actionable insights to help professionals navigate these challenges and embrace AI's emerging opportunities. Attendees can expect a discussion that will empower them to confidently integrate AI into their safety practices.

As AI continues to shape the future of work, sessions like this are crucial for professionals looking to stay ahead in the EHS field. By understanding the capabilities and limitations of AI, organizations can better prepare for a future where technology and human expertise work hand in hand to create safer and more efficient workplaces.

For more information on the Safety 2024 schedule, visit the events official website.
Natural gas flows from Russia to Europe via Ukraine continued on Thursday despite clashes at the Russia-Ukraine border near the only gas metering station that still sends Russian gas west to Europe.

Unconfirmed reports emerged on Wednesday that Ukraine had seized Sudzha gas metering station in the Russian region of Kursk, a theater of heavy clashes in recent hours after Ukrainian troops crossed into Russian territory with tanks and armored vehicles earlier this week.

The Ukrainian ground assault on Russian regions across the border continued on Wednesday for their second day, forcing Russia to evacuate residents from the Kursk region, sparking a backlash against President Vladimir Putin for failing to thwart the attacks.

Reports of Ukrainian troops seizing the Sudzha gas transfer and measuring stations in the Kursk region of Russia have not been confirmed.

After the Sokhranivka entry point for Russian gas transit via Ukraine was closed, Gazprom had to divert all the gas it can send to the Sudzha entry point.

Russian gas deliveries to Europe have fallen off a cliff since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but some European customers in central Europe  including Slovakia and Austria  continue to receive Russian gas via the route through Ukraine and a pipeline via Turkey.

On Thursday, gas transit at Sudzha for delivery west to Europe continued.

Gazprom is supplying Russian gas for transit through the territory of Ukraine in the volume confirmed by the Ukrainian side through the Sudzha gas metering station  37.3 million cubic meters(1.3 billion cubic feet) as of Aug. 8, Gazprom representative Sergei Kupriyanov said, as carried by Russian news agency Interfax.

Data from European information platform ENTSOG also shows that the flow of natural gas leaving Ukraine for the EU remains uninterrupted.

Due to concerns about the flows of Russian gas to its few remaining customers in Europe, the Dutch TTF Natural Gas Futures, the benchmark for Europes gas trading, surged by 5% on Wednesday to their highest level so far in 2024 and were rising by 3.5% as of 1:23 p.m. in Amsterdam on Thursday.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
However, the country's trade deficit widened as exports accounted for only 23% of the total turnover.

Tajikistan's foreign trade turnover grew by 22% in the first half of 2024, reaching $4.41 billion.

What do Switzerland and Tajikistan have in common?

The answer is gold: Tajikistan mines it, and Switzerland wants it. And according to official Tajik trade statistics, Switzerland was Tajikistans most lucrative export partner during the first half of 2024, primarily due to shipments of the precious metal.

Tajikistans overall foreign trade turnover registered a 22 percent increase during the first half of 2024, but that encouraging news was tempered by the fact that exports lagged far behind imports, the Asia-Plus news agency reported, citing government statistics.

Combined turnover amounted to $4.41 billion during the first half, compared to $3.42 billion during the same period the previous year. Exports for H1 2024 totaled about $997 million, only 23 percent of the turnover total. Nevertheless, the export earnings for H1 this year represented a big jump over 2023s figure for the same period.

Almost 30 percent of Tajik export earnings were derived from shipments of gold and other precious commodities to Switzerland. Other top-ranking export destinations, in terms of the value of goods and services, were China ($186.8 million); Kazakhstan ($118.7 million); Turkey ($111.1 million); and Uzbekistan ($80.4 million). Russia ($36.1 million) lagged far behind the top five buyers of Tajik goods.

Beside precious metals, the top export earners for Tajikistan were cotton, aluminum and antimony, an element often used in the manufacture of semiconductors.

While Tajikistan runs large deficits with most if its major trade partners, especially China, Dushanbe typically enjoys a very healthy surplus with Switzerland. Bilateral trade has exploded over the last decade, driven by Tajik exports of gold, and, to a lesser extent, other precious metals and minerals.

By Eurasianet.org

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Chinese banks have tightened their restrictions on payments from Russia out of fear of triggering U.S. secondary sanctions.

Will this make an impact in choking off Russias war machine?

Finding Perspective: The latest batch of information on this comes from the Russian newspaper Kommersant, which reported at the end of July that trade between Russia and China is getting ever more difficult, with some payments between partners taking up to six months to be processed.

About 80 percent of bank transfers made in the Chinese yuan are also getting bounced back with no explanation after being stalled for weeks while banks decide whether they can go ahead, the newspaper reported, citing anonymous sources.

This follows a report from July 17 by Bloomberg in which several major Russian commodity exporters said that trade with China had become increasingly difficult due to direct payments made in the Chinese yuan getting stuck indefinitely or delayed.

In June, the Russian division of the Bank of China stopped processing yuan payments with Russian banks that had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), China CITIC Bank, and most other large Chinese lenders have made similar moves.

How Did We Get Here? Beijing has emerged as a top partner for Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with analyses of Chinese customs data showing that in 2023 90 percent of dual-use goods deemed high priority and used to make Russian weapons came from China.

The United States and its allies have been intensifying restrictions in recent months after multiple senior U.S. officials said that the supply of dual-use goods by China has had a substantial impact for Russian forces on the battlefield.

This latest round of pressure originated back in December 2023 when the United States authorized secondary sanctions targeting financial institutions involved in trade linked to Russia's military industry.

This prompted global banks from China to the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Austria to reduce transactions with Russia to avoid getting in the crosshairs.

The payment issues were also exacerbated in June when the U.S. Treasury rolled out a new package of expansive sanctions against Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, forcing the Moscow Exchange to halt dollar and euro trade.

Why It Matters: Sanctions and finding ways around them is a constant game of cat and mouse.

In early July, a top Russian banker said the sanctions-evading methods should be made a state secret because they kept getting shut down so fast.

Andrei Kostin, the head of Russias second largest lender VTB and the banker who made those comments, called for a greater use of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets to facilitate payments, something that Bloomberg reported is increasingly being done in Hong Kong via Central Asia-based intermediaries at a growing frequency.

Worried about being targeted by U.S. secondary sanctions, Chinas big banks have limited their cross-border transactions involving Russia and Russian firms of late, with Chinese companies that trade with Russia instead moving to smaller banks or underground financing channels that are difficult to track and have less exposure to the international financial system.

Tom Keatinge, director of the Center for Financial Crime and Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute, told me that this makes up a burner bank strategy.

This is where Chinas trade with Russia becomes concentrated increasingly into institutions that are unlikely to have a contagion effect on the countrys economy and that also are set up with no need for access to the international banking system and thereby limit the reach of U.S. sanctions.

By RFE/RL

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Brent crude oil is closing in on the $80 price point Thursday afternoon, with WT reaching above $76 per barrel on healthy U.S. economic data combining with a force majeure at Libyas largest oilfield and mounting tensions between Israel and Hamas.

At 2:19 pm CDT, WTI crude was trading at $75.99 per barrel, a $0.76 (+1.01%) increase on the day. Brent crude was trading up $0.66 (0.84%) on the day at $79.04.

Geopolitical uncertaintiesheightened by the killing of a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirutand a force majeure on Libyas largest oil field, Sharara, have trumped the narrative of weak oil demand from the worlds largest oil importer, China. And fears of a potential recession in the United Statesthe worlds top oil consumerwere at least partially laid to rest on Thursday with favorable jobs data that exceeded market expectations.

Up until a few days ago, oil analysts suggested that a significant disruption in oil supplies would be necessary to sustain price increases for the commodity. Todays news of Shararahs force majeure seems to have contributed to the price hike, although whether that will be sustained has yet to be seen.

Despite oils recent lackluster price trend, global oil inventories, helped along by the OPEC+ production cuts, are drawing down. According to the Energy Information Administrations recent Short Term Energy Outlook, global oil inventories will decrease by 800,000 barrels per day in the second half of the year, and decline even further in Q1 of next year before starting to grow again in Q2 2025, with production growth outside of OPEC+ expected to be strong.

By Julianne Geiger

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Exxon has begun to restart some units at its refinery in Joliet, Illinois, after a three-week outage.

The 251,800-bpd facility was shut down in the middle of July following a power outage caused by a storm. The refinery produces about 9 million gallons daily of gasoline and diesel.

Situations like this take time to recover as they will have to see if the sudden shutdown did damage to any of the units, an unnamed source close to the company told Reuters at the time.

It later emerged that the power outage had affected 16 units at the refinery, including a vacuum distillation unit and a catalytic cracker unit.

The outage at the Joliet refinery deepened the discount of heavy crude from Canada to West Texas Intermediate because the facility is a major consumer, but the news about its restart tightened the price difference in anticipation of a pickup in demand. As of the time of writing, the discount had narrowed from about $15 per barrel to some $13 per barrel.

Exxon earlier this month beat Wall Street estimates with the second-highest earnings for the second quarter in a decade as the acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources fueled a record quarterly production and the highest oil production since the Exxon and Mobil merger.

The company reported last week that its second-quarter 2024 earnings came in at $9.2 billion, or $2.14 per share assuming dilution.

That was higher than the analyst estimate of $2.02 compiled by The Wall Street Journal.

The $60-billion Pioneer acquisition, which Exxon completed during the second quarter, contributed $500 million to earnings in the first two months post-closing with record production, and integration and synergy benefits are exceeding expectations, Exxon said.

The transaction handed Exxon access to over 1.4 million net acres in the Delaware and Midland basins in the Permian.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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